HealthNEWS
October 2014
for Boomers and Beyond
Menopause
Dealing with Diabetes If you’re a woman with diabetes, the years leading up to menopause—a time known as perimenopause—can present challenges. And since women with diabetes sometimes experience premature menopause, you should talk to your doctor about managing your diabetes as you head into the change of life.
In particular, you might want to inquire about these possible scenarios: 1. Estrogen and progesterone levels begin to drop during perimenopause. And that can cause your blood glucose levels to fluctuate— or even go out of control. 2. You might mistake a hot flash caused by perimenopause for a symptom of diabetes. If you respond by consuming extra calories to increase your blood glucose level, you could cause blood sugar to surge.
3. Perimenopausal night sweats can disrupt sleep. So can the low blood sugar that may occur more often in midlife. And not getting enough sleep might make your diabetes harder to control.
Ask about hormones If you’re thinking about hormone replacement therapy for relief from perimenopausal symptoms, your doctor can help you weigh its benefits against its risks. And if you use oral contraceptives, ask about those with very low doses of estrogen—they’re considered safer for perimenopausal women than higher-dose ones. With help from your health care team, the change of life doesn’t have to change how you live your life with diabetes.
If you need help managing diabetes, make an appointment with The Jackson Clinic Endocrinology at (334) 293-8877. Pictured on right:
Dr. Basil Burney and Dr. A. Bahadir Ergin The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Join us at Frazer for a year of preaching through this life-changing book that will show you exactly who Jesus Christ is. “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.” –John 20:30-31 THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 2014, Pastors Tim Thompson and Patrick Quinn will be preaching verse by verse through the gospel of John in all of Frazer’s Sunday morning worship services. Jesus made the remarkable claim that He came to give you life—real, abundant, overflowing life right now, and eternal life in the world to come. This teaching series will lead you to the heart of who this Jesus is and what it means to believe in Him.
Frazer Church: find hope, Follow Jesus • Sunday worship 8, 9:30 & 11AM 6000 atlanta Hwy. Montgomery • frazerumc.org • 334.2728622 •
BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Contents
October 2014
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Volume 5 Issue 4
Carl Bard
Thought Relationships Taste Inspiration
Humor Advice Health Community
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis
3 Jackson Hospital’s Health News 6 Publisher’s Letter 7 WIN Tickets Riverwalk Wine Festival 8 Alabama’s Fall Color Trail 9 Beauty Tips for Cancer Patients 10 Dating Advice How To find successful men? 11 M.A.N.E. Raise the Roof 16 BOOM! Cover Profile
page 8
19 David Barranco Breast Cancer Story
Features 25 OTC Medicine Problem with over-thecounter cold pills
Departments 12 This and That
Now You’re “In the Know”
20 Breast Cancer Awareness
28 Easy Rider
Moped lover, 80, lives life in the slow lane
23 Micro Needling Dr. Thomas Cawthon
38 Bucket List Adventure Riding the Pullman Rails, a rail journey of a lifetime
26 What Can Celebrities Teach Us? Ask an Elder Law Attorney 30 When It Comes to Your Hearing…?
44 {12} Things
Solutions for Bored Boomers
46 Greg Budell
COUGARS & OTHER WILD LIFE
31 Ongoing Learning 32 Weight Loss After 50 34 What’s Your Game Plan? with Brandt McDonald
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37 Carol Barksdale Art & Soul
COVER PROFILE page 16
42 Eating Smart with Tracy Bhalla
page 11 page 44 page 40
page 14
page 12
BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, 6398 Eastwood Glen Pl., Montgomery, AL 36117. The phone number for voice and fax is 334.523.9510. Copyright 2014 by River Region Publications. No part of this publication can be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the owners, nor do they constitute an endorsement of products and services herein.
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publisher’s letter
My Breast Cancer Story Many of you have one. Mine began with my wife. Each year during October I share my Breast Cancer Story with our readers. Everyone who has experienced Breast Cancer knows the bond we all share yet everyone’s story is unique. I consider my experience a blessing.
The mission of BOOM! is to serve the folks of the River Region age 50 plus with information and ideas to inspire new experiences, better quality of life and new beginnings.
Breast Cancer’s Blessing Could life be any better? My wife and I were truly enjoying the fruits of our labor. We were business partners, she was the boss and I was her advisor. We had been publishing Montgomery Parents for eight years, and serving our community with Jim Watson, Publisher something we thought was worth doing. We were “empty nesters”, and our schedules allowed for travel and plenty of time to love on the grandkids. Through our effort we had discovered the joy of “made for each other”, because both of us brought something to our marriage and business relationship the other didn’t have. We became a complete work of love. After a 40 year relationship stemming from a 9th grade history class encounter, Marty and I had discovered the “sweet spot” of happiness and we were enjoying the blessing of God’s design. And then we weren’t.
Publisher/Editor
Jim Watson, 334.523.9510 jim@riverregionboom.com
Associate Editor Kelly Watson
kelly@riverregionboom.com
Contributing Writers Sandi Aplin David Barranco Tracy Bhalla Aimee Blanchette Greg Budell
In April of 2003, our lives changed. Marty and I were sitting in our living room as our family doctor told Marty she had metastatic breast cancer. We were paralyzed by the thought. It’s as if our brains were frozen. It was a Friday afternoon so we would have to spend the weekend with this intruder; we were being held hostage by breast cancer until Monday’s appointment with the oncologist. We both struggled to understand the why. I researched breast cancer and learned too much while Marty began sharing with family and friends the “news” no one wanted to hear. As an optimist I was going to get to the bottom of this problem and find a solution. Marty, who had a deep faith, knew the solution was with God. Of course, we both would press and probe our doctors for answers and hope and got some of both. But in the end, our journey with breast cancer led to God and the peace that only He can provide. Breast cancer changed our lives, but God was the director.
Dr. Tom Cawthon Lisa Copeland Brandt McDonald Peggy Perdue Leigh Anne Richards Katie Slade Brittany Spahr Wina Sturgeon Raley L. Wiggins Kathy Witt
Cover Photography Kim Bethea The Studio @ EastChase
I became a caregiver, and like many men, was pretty unfamiliar with the job description. But when your wife has breast cancer and every day together is truly precious, you ask a lot of dumb questions and you get smart quick. I’m not talking medical stuff, I’m talking laundry and cooking and pill organizing and, most importantly, serving. Marty lived 30 months after her diagnosis and I wouldn’t trade one moment of serving her for anything in this world. The blessing of serving is hard to realize and appreciate because we all want for ourselves. Our nature is to be selfish. But when you serve someone you forget about your needs and value someone else’s. I learned that from Marty. She was a selfless, caring person and when I took on that role in our lives it was an abundant blessing. Marty showed me where to find hope and how to never lose it. Our hope was and is in God. God’s blessings aren’t about being in the best place of your life, they’re about being in the best place with Him.
thestudioateastchase@gmail.com
www.thestudioateastchase.com 334.239.3196
Advertising
Jim Watson, 334.523.9510 jim@riverregionboom.com
Design & Layout Lake House Graphics
Distribution
Network Delivery
Printing Publications Press, Montgomery, AL 334.244.0436
As unique as my story is, our Cover Profile this month has one more so. His name is David Barranco, and he was diagnosed with Breast Cancer ten years ago. He’s a survivor. His story will inspire both men and women to know more about the importance of early detection. After you read David’s story, I hope you’ll share it with everyone you know, especially men. There’s plenty more to this month’s issue and I hope you’ll sit back grab your favorite beverage and enjoy the best reading experience for the 50+ community in the River Region. Please share BOOM! with your friends and your comments with me. I’d love to hear from you. Remember, you can read and share the Digital & Interactive BOOM! online at RiverRegionBoom.com. Thanks for being part of our BOOM! Community.
Jim
Please Recycle This Magazine, Share with a Friend!
jim@riverregionboom.com 334.324.3472 cell/text 334.523.9510 office
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Alabama is beautiful throughout the year but especially in the fall. As the greens of summer surrender to glittering yellow poplars, scarlet dogwoods, orange maples and golden hickories, Alabama unfolds its patchwork quilt of color. This blend of brilliant autumn foliage, coupled with cooler temperatures and an occasional gentle breeze, makes for an unforgettable experience. Fall colors will begin showing in the mountains of North Alabama in early October and then sweep across the region. Colors will be at their peak from late October to early November.
Alabama’s Fall Color Trail
View map at alabama.travel/trails/fall-colortrail At Oak Mountain State Park in Pelham, take in the view from Peavine Overlook and Peavine Falls. Head north to Oneonta/ Blount County and enjoy the color from Horton Mill, Old Easley or Swann covered bridges and Palisades Park. Take the drive on I-59 up Whitney Mountain near Oneonta, and proceed up U.S. 231. In Cullman/ Cullman County, the Ave Maria Grotto and the 277-foot-long, 90-foot-high Clarkson Covered Bridge offer excellent views, as do
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Trail and its overlooks. Take scenic drives U.S. 72 out of Scottsboro and U.S. 431 out of Guntersville. A recommended viewing spot in Scottsboro/Jackson County is Russell Cave National Monument. Scenic drives: AL 79 across Skyline Mountain, AL 279, AL 65 through the Paint Rock River Valley, and U.S. 72.
See Lake Guntersville State Park rom the lodge atop the mountain, then take AL Photograph by Pat and Chuck Blackley 227 through the park and into Buck’s Pocket State Park and nearby DeKalb and Etowah counties. In Gadsden/Etowah County, Noccalula Falls Park provides a bounty of fall color, as do drives on US 278, 11 and 411. Head to Ft. Payne and check out DeSoto State Park and Lodge, DeSoto Falls and Little River Canyon. Lookout Mountain Parkway, DeSoto Parkway and Old DeSoto Parkway provide lovely views. AL 176, part of Lookout Mountain Parkway, includes scenic overlooks of Little River Canyon. Finally, Cheaha State Park is the highest point in the state at 2,407 feet above sea level. Enjoy fall color from Bald Rock and Pulpit Rock trails as well as Talladega Scenic Drive, Skyline Drive and Skyway Motorway. For more information alabama.travel/trails/ fall-color-trail
Cheaha State Park
scenic drives U.S. 31 and 278. From Bankhead National Forest, take AL 195 to Double Springs, to AL 33, then take Forest Service roads 249, 262, 245 and 255 to CO 63 and back to AL 33. Developed from a network of Indian trails between Natchez, Miss., and Nashville, Tenn., the Natchez Trace cuts diagonally across the northwestern corner of the state. Follow the entire 33 miles of the Trace through Alabama and head to Joe Wheeler State Park. Admire the view from the Joe Wheeler Dam near the cabin area on the Lawrence County side. After leaving U.S. 72, take a four-mile scenic drive into the park’s resort area on the Lauderdale County side. In Huntsville, Monte Sano State Park offers beautiful foliage on Warpath Ridge
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Beauty Tips for Cancer Patients I believe in manicures. I believe in overdressing. I believe in primping at leisure and wearing lipstick. I believe in pink. I believe happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and....I believe in miracles. Audrey Hepburn What a wonderful quote from a beautiful actress many years ago and very apropos for Breast Cancer Awareness month. Attitude is everything! The right skin care and makeup can give chemotherapy patients a beauty and mood boost by giving a glow to their skin. The beauty issues facing women undergoing chemotherapy may seem trivial in the big picture, but they are still a concern. Hair loss during chemotherapy treatments is expected, as well as other effects including loss of eyebrows and lashes, a grayish pallor, and dry skin. Professional beauty tips can help correct these concerns. Beauty tip for dry skin - The perfect thirst quencher for dry skin is hyaluronic acid. This key ingredient keeps skin hydrated with its ability to hold up to 1,000 times its weight in
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
water. Apply it first before moisture; as a serum it will supercharge your moisturizer’s performance. Choose a moisturizer infused with vitamin C to brighten your skin and give it radiance. Beauty tip for grayish pallor - To boost the luster and color of the skin tone, apply a sheer liquid foundation or mineral powder with light reflecting properties that gives a luminous finish in a cool or neutral tone. The color palette for your cheeks and lips should be rose to coral tones (avoid muted tones). Beauty tip for loss of eyebrows Drawing on eyebrows without any hair can be tricky. This is where you may need some professional help with the placement, shape, and color. A sharp brow pencil for shaping the brow and brow powder to add volume to the pencil strokes are your best
By Peggy Perdue
tools. A finishing spray will set the brows in place and help them last. Beauty tip for loss of lashes - Define the lash line with a waterproof pencil in a dark brown or charcoal to accentuate the shape of the eye. Line the eye along the upper lash line and underneath the upper lash line in the waterline. Dot the eyeliner along the lower lash, then smudge. Use rosy brown eye shadows to accent the eye (avoid gray, grey-brown, and purple eye shadows which give a tired look). Using these simple tips, you can put on your feel-better face and keep a positive outlook throughout your treatment. Peggy Perdue, Studio owner, Merle Norman, Shoppes at EastChase
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DATING Advice
With Lisa Copeland
How do I find successful men?
Dear Lisa,
My question is regarding your comment in your book,”The Winning Dating Formula for Women Over 50,” ‘Men our age like being the one to make first contact with a woman online ... most will fizzle if you’ve made the first move.’ But then you say,”Spend at least 20-30 minutes per day browsing men’s profiles, writing to men you are interested in and responding to emails.” So my question is should I be the one to send an initial email or sit back and wait for the man to make the first contact? Also, I did receive an email from a possible match. He sent me a two-line message, asked me a question about my musical interests and commented on my favorite travel places. I replied back, but he has not. I was surprised as he did make the first move, but then went away. Should I pursue or just assume he found someone better? Thanks for any advice. This is all new to me and a bit scary at times too. _ Shirley
Shirley,
Great question. Let’s address first contact with a man. To get noticed by a man you can send a flirt or favor him. Doing this, you’ve told him it’s safe to write to you. You’re interested. If you think you like a man and want to make first contact with him, you’ll want to be super clever about what you say. And make it very short and sweet. You’re only expectation is to get his attention to see if he’s interested in you. So why did the guy who contacted you disappear? Here are 3 possible reasons... He’s writing a lot of women at the same time and your emails got lost in all of that. He’s found someone else. He stopped being interested. Try not to get too focused on only one guy at a time. Emotionally, it’s so much easier on you when you are talking with
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a couple of guys at the same. This way, when one disappears, it’s not so devastating.
Dear Lisa,
I bought your book and I still have one question. I am divorced from two very financially successful men. Financial stability and success is an important quality. Help! Thank you. _ MM
MM,
Dear Lisa,
It’s true, men who make a lot of money can take you wherever you want to go and can wine and dine you in some of the finest restaurants in the world. For a man to continuously make this type of money, he often has a mistress named Work. And she takes a lot of his time and energy.
Vickey,
Here’s the thing MM, I totally understand where you’re coming from with financial success being an important quality. It’s often used as the gold standard for measuring who a man is. Yet money does not make a quality man and money may even have been part of the reason your two relationships failed.
A man who is financially successful is happy to pay for you, believing his action of spending money shows you how much he loves you. However, what most women are longing for is a man who she can share her life with on all levels without competing with someone or something else. Could you be happy with a man who could financially hold his own on a smaller scale, plus be there for you emotionally? Or are you okay with the man who will pay to make you happy but may not be there to wipe your tears when you’ve had a tough day?
Is there anything wrong with saying I just do not want to date right now or I am not looking for a relationship. I have been doing online dating for the past 2 years and I have met a lot of men that are interested in me. But it feels like I am trying to make myself interested in them. I am 58, looking younger and in good shape. Now I feel like I am not really interested in dating. I have an active social life with friends and family. I actually feel like I am okay being single. What is your take on this? I really do not feel lonely. _ Vickey
What you are feeling is quite normal. The main purpose for finding a man when you were young was to create children who will carry on the lineage of your families. Today when you date, you don’t have to do that. You have choices. You can date to look for a mate, you can date to date and have dates with men when you want and on your terms or you can take a break from dating...something I recommend doing from time to time anyway to find yourself again. It sounds like you have a great life. Enjoy it! One more thing ... men are interested in you because you love your life so much. This type of passion is very appealing to a man. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
American Masters: THE BOOMER LIST Baby boomers – many now known as senior citizens – will be featured on a new PBS series named American Masters: The Boomer List will be aired Tuesdays at 8 p.m. The hour-and-a-half weekly shows will tell the story of this influential generation through the lives of 19 iconic boomers - one born each year of the baby boom.
Join MANE for their Raise the Roof Seafood Celebration on Thursday, October 16th, 5:30- 9 pm. Fabulous, fresh seafood will be grilled/prepared on site by Wintzell’s Oyster House to benefit their Tri-county therapeutic riding center for children and adults who have physical, cognitive, and developmental disabilities. Country music will be performed by The Whiskey River Band. Tickets are $75 per person. Call 213-0909 for reservations. For more information visit maneweb.org
From the time of its birth, the baby boomer generation (1946-1964) has significantly and uniquely changed our world. Steve Wozniak (b. 1950) cofounder, Apple Computer, recalls how he set out to build a computer he could
Erin Brockovich
afford, and in doing so, paved the way for millions of others to afford one, too. This year, 2014, marks an important shift in American culture, as the last boomers turn 50. Boomers featured in this series will include New Age guru Deepak Chopra (b. 1947), singer-songwriter Billy Joel (b. 1949), fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger (b. 1951), author Amy Tan (b. 1952), actor Kim Cattrall (b. 1956), environmentalist Erin Brockovich (b. 1960) and artist David LaChapelle (b. 1963). For more information visit Boomers@50+ The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Alabama Roots Music Society Concert Series@Kiwanis Park The 2014 ARMSChair Concert Series continues with Roman Street on Sunday, October 12. Enjoy acoustic instruments played by talented people who love what they are doing. Guitarists and brothers Noah and Josh Thompson from Daphne, Alabama, specialize in improvisational fusion of Classical, Gypsy and Contemporary Jazz, Latin, and Nuevo Flamenco. The duo’s song, “Caravan,” was voted Billboard’s #24 song of the YEAR! (2012 Smooth Jazz). If you enjoy acoustic guitar, you have to hear Roman Street on October 12th! Beatles Tribute Concert to feature Spike Graham Orchestra. Join the Alabama Roots Music Society and the Spike Graham Orchestra for an evening of “The Music That Made The Beatles” on Friday, Oct. 24th. The annual tribute concert continues a fall tradition of great music in a casual and affordable setting. Gates open at 6 pm, music will start at 7 pm, come early and enjoy a picnic with your friends, coolers and lawn chairs welcome. Admission $2. Kiwanis Park, Old Alabama Town - 301 Columbus St. Downtown Montgomery. For more information visit alabamarootsmusic.com
Greek Ladies Philoptochos Bake Sale! All proceeds are donated to charity by the Ladies Philoptochos [friends of the poor] Society. Offerings this year include, BAKLAVA - layers of crisp philo pastry filled with nuts and topped with honey syrup..$2 each, KOURABIETHES - rich butter cookies covered with powdered sugar..$2 each, KOULOURAKIA - traditional twisted Greek butter cookies..$6 per bag, PAXIMADIA - also traditional, these are crisp ‘dunking’ cookies..$6 per bag, TYROPITES - layered philo pastry filled with feta cheese and herbs..$12 per dozen, SPANAKOPITES - golden philo pastry filled with feta cheese, spinach and herbs..$12 per dozen. Orders should be in by November 1st. Email orders to cypriotlady@gmail.com, or visit agocmal.org
Junior League of Montgomery Holiday Market Junior League Holiday Market will kick off the Holidays at the Multiplex at Cramton Bowl, on Madison Avenue Thursday October 16-Saturday October 18, 9 am - 9 pm. Four days of shopping fun. You will walk into a gift-buying paradise and be awed by unique items from vendors all over the country. There will be live entertainment from local children, a café, cooking demonstrations and lots of free samples. Make your Christmas and birthday lists and wear some comfortable shoes – you will shop til you drop! For more information visit jlmontgomery.org
Best Boston Butts in the River Region! St. Michael and All Angels, 5941 Main Street, Millbrook, Alabama will be sponsoring their annual Angel Fest on Saturday, October 18th from 9 am - 1 pm. Angel Fest is a combination of bake sales, silent auction, concessions, childrens’ carnival, entertainment, and lots of vendors selling unique wares...and last, but not least is the sale of the Best Boston Butts in the River Region! Proceeds from Angel Fest go to outreach projects for Miillbrook and western Elmore County.
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BOOMERS, share your stuff with BOOM! We Love to Bring BOOMERS Together, send info and pics to jim@riverregionboom.com
CHIP-The Complete Health Improvement Program The local chapter of CHIP, Montgomery Area CHIP or MACHIP, begins its series of health classes October 5. CHIP - The Complete Health Improvement Program is an affordable, lifestyle enrichment program designed to reduce disease risk factors through the adoption of better health habits and appropriate lifestyle modifications. The goal is to lower blood cholesterol, hypertension, and blood sugar levels and reduce excess weight. This is done by improving dietary choices, enhancing daily exercise, increasing support systems and decreasing stress, thus aiding in preventing and reversing disease. MACHIP meets every Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday for the month of October at the Goode Building of the Jackson Hospital campus. For more information, please contact Christine Kilpatrick at 334.324.2700 or email MACHIP2014@gmail.com. You may also visit the website chiphealth.com and register online using the “Locate CHIP” tab at the top of the webpage.
Attend Free Workshop
Wednesday, October 22, 2014: FREE estate planning and asset protection workshop hosted by Red Oak Legal, PC: 2-4 pm at Archibald Senior Center. This educational workshop presented by local attorney Raley L. Wiggins covers wills, trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, living wills, probate administration, protecting assets from creditors, bankruptcy, divorce and remarriage, nursing homes, long-term care and Medicaid qualification. Registration is required. Call 334.625.6774 today to reserve your seat or register online at redoaklegalpc.com.
Montgomery Lions Club Chili Cookoff This years Chili Cookoff will take place on November 1st at the Riverwalk Stadium between 11am-1pm. Reserve your spot today by filing out a registration form below! Get your business in front of the public eye and win their hearts with your best chili recipe. All team sponsorship proceeds go toward Montgomery Lions Club charities. This is the event the whole River Region looks forward to every year! Attendance grows every time, and this year will be no exception. And don’t worry about competing with the restaurant pros. We have amateur and restaurant categories to level the playing field. Get your team and call 334.356.1180 or email montgomerylionsclub@gmail.com For more information visit montgomerylionsclub.com
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Auburn Writers Conference Annual Gathering of Writers and Readers The Auburn Writers Conference presents our 5th annual gathering of writers and readers, October 17th and 18th in Auburn, Alabama. We’re calling it The Inspired South, but we’re talking about more than a geographic location. Whether local, global, or diasporic, the writers living in the South, and those whose roots are in the South, find in this place a particular richness that keeps the neurons firing and the ink running. The authors that have called the South home are known to us formally—Eudora Welty, William Faulkner, Natasha Tretheway—and informally, too, as if we might call them kin—“Buddy” Nordan, “Nelle” Lee. It’s a place that carries the troubled weight of history along. It’s a place that bears witness. It’s a place that knows the value of sweet tea in a cold, sweating glass. It’s Muscle Shoals and Little Five Points, Nashville and Savannah, Baton Rouge and Tuscaloosa. It’s gleaming new buildings and bumpy clay roads. It’s poets and memoirists, graphic novelists and short story writers, bringing all of these things together in new and important ways. It’s The Inspired South. For more information visit auburnwritersconference.org
Dracula Back by popular demand, ADT will present “Dracula”, a ballet to die for October 30, November 1 and 2, at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Sink your teeth into this thrilling vampire drama and see Alabama Dance Theatre’s dramatic adaptation of Bram Stoker’s gothic masterpiece “Dracula”. Choreographed by ADT’s own award winning Sara Sanford, “Dracula” is a must see and is sure to entertain the audience as one of our culture’s most familiar stories. Performances will be held October 30 and November 1 at 7:30 p.m. and November 2 at 2:30 p.m. A special “Mistletoe” featuring all of your “Favorite Dances of Christmas” will be performed Saturday, November 2, 2014 at 2:30 p.m. at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. For more information visit alabamadancetheatre.com
4th Saturday Outreach River City Church, a United Methodist congregation, invites the entire community to their 4th Saturday Outreach event on October 25th from 9-11 am at the church, located at 301 Dexter Avenue. Admission is free. There will be blood pressure/ glucose screenings, dental screenings, career services, free haircuts, hygiene items and canned goods. Participants can register for a drawing for a weekly bus pass. During the 2-hour period, attendees can speak with prayer partners, and purchase items in the River City Rummage Sale located on the lower level of the church. Nurses will screen for diabetes (glucose testing), blood pressure, and other vital signs. Volunteers will also provide homework help and a craft for children. For more information, please call 263.0549 or visit rivercityumc.com.
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Top Ten Reasons Seniors Shouldn’t Trick or Treat 10. You keep knocking on your own front door. 9. You remove your false teeth to change your appearance. 8. You ask for soft high fiber candy only. 7. When someone drops a candy bar in your bag, and you lose your balance and fall over 6. People say: ‘Great Boris Karloff Mask,’ And you’re not wearing a mask. 5. When the door opens you yell, ‘Trick or...’ And you can’t remember the rest. 4. By the end of the night, you have a bag full of restraining orders. 3. You have to carefully choose a costume that doesn’t dislodge your hairpiece. 2. You’re the only Power Ranger in the neighborhood with a walker. 1. You keep having to go home to pee.
14th Walk N’ Wag Have fun with your dog at the 14th Annual Walk ‘N Wag one-mile pledge walk in Blount Cultural Park on Saturday, 8-12, October 4th. Hundreds of pets and pet lovers will participate in this pledge walk to support the over 8,600 homeless animals in the Montgomery area. Registration Information: Early Registration-before Saturday, October 4th all participations are $20 per person, register on-line, by mail, in person, event day registration, 8 - 8:45 am Saturday, October 4th. All participants are $25.00 per person (which includes an official 2014 Walk ‘N Wag t-shirt). Children ages 6 and under are FREE. Pet Contests: Best Canine Singing Voice, Longest Tail, Owner/Pet Look-a-Like, Best Pet Halloween Costume, Biggest Lap Dog, “Frosty Paws” Treat Eating Contest. For more information visit montgomeryhumane.com
Slow Flow Yoga
New Lunchtime Yoga Classes at Old Alabama Town. Take a break from your computer desk and relieve your body of all that stress with some slow flow yoga! Instructor Juliet Thomas will be coming to Old Alabama Town on Tuesdays and Thursdays during lunch, providing downtown workers with a convenient way to stretch and reenergize before going back into the office. Beginners welcome! No registration needed, just come on to 310 N. Hull Street (Lucas Tavern) and we will direct you to a place to change and set up your mat. Yoga classes will be held Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 11:30-12:15, and 12:30-1:15. Drop in fee : $12.00 Arrival: Avoid a big meal before class. Please arrive 5-10 minutes early. What to wear: Comfortable clothing, something to easily move around in. Mats and props are provided if needed, although students may prefer their own mat after few yoga sessions. Bring water to hydrate on your walk back to the office! No sugary drinks or other food allowed. For more info contact us at 334.240.4500, or Juliet Thomas at 334.207.0909 or juliet.yoga@icloud.com
Square Dance Classes Begin October 7th
Beaux and Belles Square Dance Club will host two Open Houses in September, with actual classes beginning on October 7. For more information please call Terese Goodson, 354-2854.
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BOOM! COVER PROFILE
David Barranco, Family Man This month’s BOOM! profile is David Barranco of Chappy’s Deli. David has probably served you breakfast lunch or dinner at one of the Chappy’s locations in Central Alabama because he loves to interact with his customers and listen to their stories. That’s one of the reasons we wanted to profile David, because we thought our readers would want to listen to his story. Not only about his successful family owned restaurant business, but about his Breast Cancer story. He is a genuine man who loves God, Family and of course Chappy’s Deli! We think you’ll enjoy getting to know David and listening to his story, it’s worth sharing.
Jeanne & David with the “Grands”, L-R, (front row) Thomas 1, Maddie 2, Hadley 3, (back row) Peyton 6, Cara 5, Addison 7mos, JR- 4mos, Sophia 1
My brothers Nap, Carl, Bill and I all stayed and grew up in Montgomery, BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, met our wives and raised our families i.e. where you’re from, here. My wife education, what brought you to Jeanne’s (McGinty) the Montgomery area, did you family also lived in raise your family here, schools, Montgomery: Shea & married, family, etc? Sid Schroll, Maureen & Arthur Britton, and David: Born in Birmingham Charlie & Yvonne AL, we moved to Montgomery McGinty Jr. My wife’s when I was still in diapers. My Mom still lives in Dad died right after the move Montgomery…… and my Mom, Dolly, was left David’s Inspirational Mom, Dolly Jeanne or Nan as the with 4 boys in a strange city, grandkids call her. no job, little money, …but a very strong faith. I met Jeanne when we both attended She taught each of us how to work, how Montgomery Catholic High School. We to pray, how to treat and care about married in 1976 the month after we both people and the value of family. As time graduated from Auburn University. passed we all gathered at her house each Sunday evening for a meal or “Family” Jeanne and I have 5 married children and as it became known, a tradition that still continues every Sunday evening.
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8 “grands” …and they are GRAND! Jeff & Beth (Peyton, Cara, Hadley & JR), Charlie & Rachel (Maddie & Sophia) Ben & Alana (Thomas) Andy & Jenny (due in January), and Laura & Shawn (Addison) BOOM!: Chappy’s Deli has become an eating out tradition in the River Region, especially for its Kids Eat Free offer. As one of the owners, tell us about your business, what have been some challenges? What about the rewards of owning your own business? Any lessons you can share with other aspiring entrepreneurs? David: We are blessed that we have been embraced by the River Region community. We have the absolute best customers and we are most grateful for the opportunity to serve each and every one. We have also been abundantly
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blessed by a caring team and workforce and on . Plenty to do here and it’s easy to energizers. Every day is filled with these that IS Chappy’s Deli…..and it takes get anywhere even during rush hour. three (except Chappy’s Deli is closed on a team. Sunday) Thankfully we BOOM!: As a busy entrepreneur, you all share the still find time to be involved with our BOOM!: How same basic community, what’s your philosophy on do you like to values and serving others? relax and wind principles. down from a hard Every business David: We are supposed to serve..we day’s work at the has daily joke that luckily we get paid to serve! restaurant? challenges Giving back is how we were raised. Mom and ours are had to have help; she and we never David: By the probably no forgot it… she taught us, in whatever way time I get home different than we could, pay it forward. (Can you tell after 11-12 hour Barranco Brothers: Bill, Carl, David, Nap anyone else’s. yet how much Mom meant to me?) day…. I’m usually We lean heavily, as Mom taught, on help toast. I reset with dinner and catching up from above to shoulder those challenges. BOOM!: You work closely with your with Jeanne, a good night’s sleep, early Work, and work hard, be extremely family at Chappy’s Deli and your son Jeff morning prayer time, and a jog several flexible and learn to adapt. Have a love has become a radio mornings. of people and what you do! personality along with Mike Castanza, BOOM!: BOOM!: Many of us in the Boomer how much fun do Favorite age look forward to the time when the you have working vacation kids are finally out of the house, on with your family spot? Any their own, or off to college, then we every day? travel experience that “empty nest” syndrome. dreams What kind of experience has that been David: My brother planned for you? Nap along with for the Carl, Bill & I started future? David: In the past 6 years our 5 children Chappy’s Deli as a all married, but having a large family and Family run business David: all living close to home, we have never in 1989. (and Jeanne been true empty nesters. Thankfully it’s what tremendous and I enjoy David and Daughter Laura a rare day that goes by without talking, mentors they are the coast seeing and/or being with family. It’s still trying to “straighten me out”). Nap, and the mountains. Work makes it a little the same with my brothers and their Jeff, my son Ben and I work in the day hard to get away when we would like. families. Every year we vacation as a to day operations, along with niece (Jeanne is very patient in waiting for the family together which now numbers 80 Holly…. but a lot of our children, nieces, day that I slow down from working 6 plus. A niece nephews, friends, church & school days.) joked since family, etc have worked there. (All still we don’t pitch in when needed). Family is how BOOM!: What get to see we are built and Mike Castanza and is it about enough of team have the same mindset and are living in the each other… a natural extension of family. At some Montgomery/ we all go point we have all laughed, cried, joked, River Region on vacation consoled, helped, prayed and cared for area that you together. each other, etc…just what families are like? supposed to do. Being with Family is BOOM!: fun, working with Family is likewise fun… David: It’s my What are and we are all Family. We likewise try to Home, it’s you most treat everyone that comes in as Family. the People, passionate (maybe not the Family discount!) its Family, My Four Sons: Andy, David, Charlie, Jeff, Ben about? it’s Friends, BOOM!: What would you do if you didn’t it’s my Church Family (St. Bede Catholic David: Faith, family, and work are the key operate Chappy’s Deli? Any dream jobs? Church) it’s Chappy’s Deli Family, and on
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David: Fortunately I’m at my dream job, I love it and I thank God for it.
• Gathering for the Holidays and Chappy’s food is required. • A Marine serving us overseas comes in upon his return craving Chappy’s while gone. • Our staff adopting and embracing our special needs workers. • And many, many more that keeps blowing me away.
BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other activities that grab your attention?
BOOM!: What future challenges do you have? Would you like to expand your business? Start new ones? Or just take it easy for awhile? David with the “Grands” at the Beach
David: Other than those previously mentioned, grilling out, college football, tinkering with repairs, I enjoy technology, (i-pads & i-phones) maybe a little too much BOOM!: Tell us about your grandchildren? We assume they eat free? What do they call you? David: Since we have 5 kids, eating out was pricey…that’s the reason Chappy’s Deli has a kids eat free menu. Like every granddad, or Popi as I’m called, I do my very best to spoil, play with, give in to, and stop what I’m doing whenever one of the Grands ask. Its easy now since the oldest is just 6. All have found a way to steal Popi & Gigi’s heart.
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BOOM!: Many of us are defined by our work, what does Chappy’s Deli mean to you? David: Again, I’m blessed to be able to work at what I love. Of course being the business that my family began makes it special. But a lot of the “stories” are the defining highlights… • A 3 year old’s first choice is to go to Chappy’s Deli. • After a funeral the grieving family comes in to their Dads favorite spot. • A worker delivering Mom’s recipe Chicken & Rice soup to a fellow worker when sick.
David: Never happy to sit back, always looking for opportunities to improve, expand, tweak, and do better. We opened the Prattville location last year; currently we are totally redoing Perry Hill, and will remodel the Baptist South location next. We are always open to opportunities for expansion and growth as they come up. If you have any questions for David, drop by Chappy’s Deli...he may be the one serving the food! Chappy’s Deli has locations on Perry Hill Rd, Peppertree on Vaughn Rd, Baptist South, Prattville and Auburn. For more info visit chappysdeli. com. Thanks to Kim Bethea from The Studio @ Eastchase for her professional cover photos. If you have questions, comments or suggestions, please send them to jim@riverregionboom.com
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My Breast Cancer Story moment is forever frozen in time. Bad news travels fast, but that was OK because the prayer support also happened fast. And I can pin-point the hour it kicked in. No way could I have gotten through it all without my faith, family, church, friends and my Chappy’s Deli family. Between my D-Day (discovery day) and mastectomy, I learned several lessons very quickly. My 60-plus-member family rallied and surrounded me with love and prayer. Almost every family member altered their plans to come and see me that day.
David Barranco
In 2004, David Barranco, 50, of Montgomery was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although he never dreamed he would battle what is often considered a woman’s disease, he was treated and ended up having a mastectomy. Here Barranco, whose family owns Chappy’s Deli, talks about his experience:
Thanks be to God that the pea-size lump in my right breast was painful and just would not go away. It was July 2004, and my wife, Jeanne, insisted -- no, demanded -- I have it checked out. Thankfully, she was relentless! A man with breast cancer? Come on! I think God was ready to lighten things up a bit. Was it just a coincidence that the song playing over and over on the radio was Shania Twain’s “Man, I Feel Like A Woman”? Male breast cancer? That stuff happens to someone else, somewhere else, not in Montgomery, Ala., and certainly not to me at age 50. As far as aches, pains and such, I’m a guy. Doctors? Us guys, we tough things out. The journey began for me with several “forwomen-only” tests. Talk about awkward. My first mammogram, I struggled to answer some questions like “When did menopause begin?” Then came an ultrasound followed by a needle biopsy (Ouch -- no fun!). And then I was told those dreaded words: “You’ve got cancer.” That The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Some very special family memories: My then-90-year-old prayer warrior Mom (Dolly), never having heard of a guy with breast cancer, jokingly questioned my gender and then administered heavy doses of God’s comfort, love and guidance. A note from my son on how we encounter God so much closer in our suffering and what a gift that was. A priceless card from my little nephew saying: “Uncle David, good luck on your surgery and if you don’t make it -- you were my favorite.” Likewise, the support from friends was overwhelming -- the calls, the cards, the visits, the hugs, the tears, the offers of prayers. Lady friends with breast cancer stopped by to “talk shop.” A special call from a friend with cancer: He was told get his affairs in order; he had a couple of months to live. He told me that he loved me and was praying for me. But the main purpose of his call was to offer hope. He was given two months to live -- more than 20 years ago. On the day of my mastectomy, a lot of new words and terms that were meaningless a week earlier be-came very meaningful: sentinel node, clean margins, Stage 1 invasive ductile carcinoma, no lymph nodes involved and estrogen positive. Thankfully, it was caught very early. Early detection without a doubt saved me. The team of doctors and nurses caring for me were incredible. Dr. Cindy Lorino, when I needed to hear it the most, told me she was praying for me. My admitting nurses,
Serita and Dee, (guess they saw through my “tough guy” act) were very special messengers saying: “If you’re going to pray, don’t worry; if you’re going to worry, then don’t pray.” Dr. Duncan McRae, what a blessing to have him as the surgeon; a gentle, caring giant. Their example, prayers and support helped ease the cross I had to bear. I got to know another caring, very special person, Dr. Steve Davidson. Along with Kristi and the team at Montgomery Cancer Center, they made the 20 weeks of chemotherapy much more tolerable. They were always positive and upbeat, always caring and funny! I discovered that there is a major league bond between every cancer patient. My prayer list quickly grew with those I met in treatment and for my doctors and nurses also. Likewise, there is a special bond with those whom I went through chemo with who are no longer here. Now, cancer and chemotherapy aren’t all bad: My hair actually grew back over some bald spots. I used to have a “cul-de-sac” up there. A lot of new games at the beach with my little nephews -- we play “What’s missing?” I overheard them talking that Uncle Dave scrubbed too hard and it fell off in the shower. And, thanks be to God. He kept surrounding me with that gift of humor. A lady friend and breast cancer survivor started signing notes to me “BB” -- not her initials. When I asked her, she said we are “Bosom Buddies.” She also gave me a brown magic marker to use at the beach so I could even out both sides. A friend recently told me: “Cancer was the best thing that ever happened to you.” I try to hold on to the many lessons learned, but I’m still far from being perfect. Looking back ten years later, I see clearly that “kick-in-the-pants” was a very special gift from God. Strange as it may seem, if I could choose, I would not change a thing. Previously published in the Montgomery Advertiser January 2010
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October is breast cancer awareness month, and while the primary focus is on women, the truth is that men can also get breast cancer. Annual Mammogram Screenings Critical to Breast Cancer Awareness With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Montgomery Breast Center is reminding women about the importance of scheduling an annual screening mammogram. “An annual screening mammogram should be a fundamental part of every woman’s overall health program,” said Manager of Breast Imaging Tina Hodge. “It’s even more important than a yearly physical or a regularly scheduled dental checkup.” Hodge emphasized that the mammogram procedure is quick and easy, and having it performed each year is one of the surest ways to identify breast cancer. “Not counting non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer that affects women,” she said. “In order to detect it in its early stages, especially after age 40, a yearly mammogram is crucial.” Hodge added that mammography and clinical breast examination by a breast imaging specialist are far more sensitive than breast self-exams (BSEs) for finding small cancers. Regular mammograms can identify cancerous tissue up to three years before it can be felt. “Women don’t have to wait or wonder,” Hodge said. “They need to go ahead and schedule that mammogram. By coming to Montgomery Breast Center, not only do we have the advanced digital technology to find problems early, but we also offer patients same-day test results in most cases.” Women can schedule an annual screening mammogram today by calling Montgomery Breast Center at 334.387.1120. Montgomery Breast Center, a subsidiary of Montgomery Cancer Center, is a nationally recognized leader in breast imaging. With a stated commitment to personal care and minimally invasive, state-of-the-art technology, the center offers some of the region’s most advanced screening, diagnostic and treatment services all under one roof. For more information visit www.montgomerybreastcenter.com.
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How can men get breast cancer when they don’t have breasts? Even though men don’t generally develop full breasts like women, there is a small amount of breast tissue present. In fact, boys and girls have a very similar breast tissue structure until puberty. Girls then produce the hormone necessary to form full breasts, while boys do not. Breast cancer in men affects the small amount of breast tissue present in the chest. How common is male breast cancer? Male breast cancer is relatively rare: Only 1% of all breast cancer cases affect men. An estimated 2,190 cases were diagnosed in 2012. Breast cancer causes about 400 male deaths annually (versus almost 40,000 female deaths). Men have a lifetime risk of being diagnosed of about 1 in 1,000. What are the risk factors for male breast cancer? While it is rare for men under 35 to be diagnosed with breast cancer, it does happen. Generally, risk increases with age. Other risk factors include: * Family history of breast cancer in a close female relative * History of radiation exposure to the chest * Abnormal enlargement of the breasts in response to drug or hormone treatments * Having Klinefelter’s Syndrome (a rare genetic condition) * Severe liver disease * Diseases of the testicles such as mumps orchites, a testicular injury, or an undescended testicle What are the symptoms of male breast cancer? Symptoms of breast cancer in men are similar to symptoms in women. These may include: * A lump in the breast * Nipple pain * An inverted nipple * Clear or bloody discharge * Sores on or around the nipple * Enlarged lymph nodes under the arm
How is breast cancer in men diagnosed? The same diagnostic procedures used to diagnose female breast cancer are used for men, including X-rays, biopsies, and ultrasound. Men usually suspect a problem when they discover a lump or abnormality in their chest. However, the cancer often goes diagnosed in its early stages. Many men don’t seek treatment until advanced symptoms (like bleeding from the nipple and abnormalities in the skin) develop. Also, because men have much less breast tissue, it’s harder for them to notice lumps in that area. Most cases are diagnosed between the ages of 60 and 70, but can occur at any age. How is breast cancer treated in men? Breast cancer in men is treated much the same way as in women; surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and endocrine therapy. The biggest difference is that men seem to respond much better to hormone treatments than women. The cancer cells present in men have more estrogen receptors open, and so this type of therapy is more likely to be effective. The good news is that cancers of all types can be largely prevented by a healthy lifestyle! You will be right on track for a health-filled life when you: * Include plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables in your diet * Drink alcohol in moderation (if at all) * Quit smoking * Get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity a week * Manage the way you respond to stress The most important thing to know about male breast cancer: Don’t wait! If something seems abnormal, make a doctor’s appointment now.
Source: UPMCMyHealthMatters.com
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Making Strides Against Breast Cancer November 1st, Riverwalk Amphitheater LEAD A TEAM + VOLUNTEER + GIVE The journey to end breast cancer starts with a single step. Take that step with the Montgomery Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walk. Just a few hours of your time will help bring a lifetime of change for people facing breast cancer and their families. Plan your teams now and get ready to make a difference in the lives of friends and family. Passion drives us to walk in and raise money for Making Strides. Passion for those we wish we could have back in our life, for those battling the disease, and for a world without breast cancer. This year’s walk is Saturday, November 1, at Riverwalk Amphitheater, Downtown Montgomery. Registration, 7:30 am, Program and Walk begins at 8:30 am. For more info contact Angela davis at MontgomeryAL.Strides@cancer.org or 334.288.3432 or visit makingstrideswalk.org
Cancer Wellness Foundation On October 9, 2014, the Cancer Wellness Foundation will hold the 2nd Annual No Putts, No Glory Mini Golf (Putt Putt) Tournament, at the Biscuit’s Riverwalk Stadium. Montgomery area architects, builders, designers and landscape professionals will build one-of-a-kind miniature (putt putt) golf course holes in support of local cancer patients. Two ninehole courses will challenge participants putting skills in an evening of competitive fun! For more information visit cancerwellnessfoundation.org
Trick or Pink, October 25th, The Shoppes at EastChase
When breast cancer is detected early, in the localized stage, the 5-year survival rate is 98%* *National Cancer Institute
The best way to fight breast cancer is to have a plan that helps you detect the disease in its early stages. Create your Early Detection Plan to receive reminders to do breast selfexams, and schedule your clinical breast exams and mammograms based on your age and health history. Do you have an Early Detection Plan? Start now by going to EarlyDetectionPlan.org
There’s even an APP for your Early Detection Plan!
Fall Harvest Market & Trick or Pink come together for a night of family fun at The Shoppes at EastChase on Saturday, October 26, from 5 – 8 p.m. The Fall Market will feature vendors with seasonal produce, unique gifts and arts and crafts, food samples from vendors and a Fashion Preview of various retailers throughout The Shoppes. Trick or Pink will bring the Pink Pumpkin Patch, Halloween costume contest for the kids and hayrides around The Shoppes, which will all benefit the Joy to Life Foundation. In addition, cancer survivors will have the opportunity to come together to celebrate survival by taking part in forming the pink human ribbon around the fountain. theshoppesateastchase.com The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Micro Needling Presented by River Region Facial Plastics
Hello, this is Dr. Tom Cawthon. At River Region Facial Plastics, we are forever scrutinizing new and innovative products that reportedly will produce phenomenal facial enhancement. There are so many lasers, products, injectables, and surgeries that there is confusion for the patient on what to do for their own facial harmony and refreshed appearance. While it is easy to jump in with both feet and endorse a new product, I have to consider whether or not a product or modality will do what it is purported to do and at the same time, I try to ensure my patients will have long-lasting, fulfilling results. I want to be sure that what I recommend for a patient would be what I would recommend for a friend, a relative, or a spouse. At RRFP, we are truly blessed. We have a wonderful staff that not only works hard to help our clients, but they become willing subjects for a new product when we physicians endorse them. There is nothing better than a satisfied client, and if our staff has received a great result with a product or modality they are honestly able to recommend it to others. About four years ago, I was introduced to “micro needling” at a meeting, and although the concept was intriguing, I was not enamored with the results shown in the before and after patient photographs. The concept was adopted from knowledge that skin penetration to a prescribed depth can trigger collagen stimulation and help with elasticity. The original product was made up of rolling small cylinders filled with small needles. It was designed to be rolled over the skin’s surface and penetrate the skin at varying depths. There was little
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trauma to the skin, and the procedure could be done fairly comfortably with topical anesthetic cream. Results were somewhat inconsistent. Throughout time, multiple products have come to the market claiming to support evidences of collagen stimulation, scar improvement, wrinkle reduction, and improved overall texture of the skin. We (at RRFP) have researched many micro needling offerings, and we have determined that the concept developed by Dermapen® holds the utmost merit for delivering the best results. Dermapen® is a precision-engineered medical instrument, which can be used in physician offices or medical spas. It is a simple handheld mechanical “pen” that has 11 surgical micro-needles, which stamp the top layers of the skin without damaging the skin. As you stamp the Dermapen® over your skin, it creates micro point punctures into the skin simply pushing your pores open temporarily. This is perceived by the body as an injury, which stimulates the release of growth factors that trigger the production of collagen and elastin. Your skin reacts to any injury by initiating a healing process. This encourages the skin to continue healing and improving through this micro needling process. Within a very short period of time the texture of your skin evolves into a smoother, more even tone with a sense of tightness that is not only tactile but visible. Sounds painful… but with topical numbing cream the procedure is painless. Treatments such as Dermapen® are applicable anytime of the year; however, they are most applicable during the summer months when you might be
taking a break from chemical peels and IPL treatments. This treatment is safely performed by our medical aesthetician, Amy Bierly, and usually requires a series of four treatments about one month apart. Immediately following the procedure, SkinMedica® TNS Recovery Complex (Growth Factor) will be applied every four hours until bedtime. By aerating the skin with the micro-needles, the stimulating growth factor can penetrate deeper into the skin to support new collagen growth. Of course there will be before and after instructions for the treatment, so we welcome you for a complimentary consultation to learn how Dermapen® can enter your anti-aging arsenal. There is significant data to support improvement of acne scarring, stretch marks and overall improvement of skin texture. We suggest a topical numbing cream before the treatment to optimize your comfort. Simply arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment so that we may apply the topical numbing cream. We are excited to offer Dermapen® treatments at Radiant Skin Medical Spa located inside River Region Facial Plastics. We welcome you to visit with us for a complimentary consultation so that we may determine the best course to meet your needs. Your beauty coaching team will await your arrival to Do Something Beautiful! All the best, Dr. Thomas H. Cawthon 334.270.2003 Questions? Email us at Doctors@RiverRegionFacialPlastics.com
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Enjoy Hearing. Enjoy Life. “Make sure you or a loved one are making the most of the fall and hearing loss isn’t preventing you from JOINING IN AND HAVING FUN.”
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Like us on Facebook/HEARINGLifeUSA Follow usBOOM! on Twitter/HEARINGLife October 2014 RiverRegionBoom.com Enjoy Hearing Again! www.hearinglife.com
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Brittany Spahr, Au.D., FAAA Doctor of Audiology
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ACCREDITED The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine BUSINESS ®
PROBLEM? over-the-counter cold pills It started with a conversation about insomnia. My friend smiled, as if she were giving a wonderful gift. “Don’t spend money on sleeping pills or take a narcotic. Cold pills will do the trick,” she said. So I began taking them. The prescribed dose was two cold and flu “night time” capsules, every evening. Not only did I sleep soundly for eight hours or more, but I also had wonderfully vivid dreams. Problem solved! But about three months later, something began affecting my mind. During conversations, I would blank out on words; I’d stutter and verbally stumble. I’d forget names of friends and people I knew well, even those I was actually speaking with at the moment. Who was this person? I’d forget appointments, assignments, things I was supposed to do. I’d purchase something, pay for it, then walk away, leaving my items at the counter. It was awkward, and alarming. These increasingly serious symptoms had come on so fast, could I have had a stroke or something?
Leigh Anne Richards
Tammy Griffin
Puzzled and frightened, I finally began researching possible side effects from the cold pill ingredients. These over-the-counter pills are not harmless. They may, and often do, have major side effects on the brains of those 50 and older with long term use. Cold pills containing the drug diphenhydramine can cause symptoms similar to dementia. Here’s the science: A healthy brain depends on neurotransmitters, which are natural chemicals that allow brain cells to communicate with each other. One of the most important neurotransmitters is acetylcholine, a hormone that is essential for memory and learning. Those with Alzheimer’s disease have much lower levels of this chemical in their brains. Diphenhydramine, which is an antihistamine, can block acetylcholine from being used by the brain. Luckily, brain functions that have been affected by OTC cold medicine aren’t permanent. The brain can recover once acetylcholine is allowed to build back up to normal levels. The restoration of this neurotransmitter in the brain usually will
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Lynn Mathison
start as soon as the affective medications are stopped, returning your brain to its normal function. This doesn’t mean you can’t take antihistamine medications once in a while to relieve symptoms if you get a cold. But taking them for a period of weeks or months, or using them for sleeping pills, can be a risk. Of course, it goes without saying that you should talk to your doctor before taking any OTC medication. Wina Sturgeon is an active boomer based in Salt Lake City who offers news on the science of anti-aging and staying youthful at adventuresportsweekly.com. Distributed by MCT Information Services
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Dr. Thomas Cawthon
Read About Them @ RiverRegionBoom.com Allison Posell
Leah Leal
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Betty Roberts and Dale Gulledge
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Ask an Elder Law Attorney By: Raley L. Wiggins | Attorney at Law | Red Oak Legal, PC
WHAT CAN CELEBRETIES TEACH US... ABOUT ESTATE PLANNING?
We live in a technological age. Whenever a high-profile celebrity dies, Americans take to their smart-phones, tablets and computers to collectively mourn their passing. We demonstrate our grief over the loss of someone we never really knew by sharing stories about them on Facebook, by watching an actor’s movies on Netflix, or by downloading a musician’s greatest hits on iTunes. Of course, celebrities are people, too. They have ordinary families like the rest of us. And, like the rest of us, those families are often interested in what we happen to their loved one’s estate. Sometimes things go smoothly, and sometimes families wind up feuding over who gets what. Philip Seymour Hoffman, the actor who portrayed everyone from Truman Capote to Plutarch Heavensbee in the Hunger Games franchise, died earlier this year with an estate worth over $30 Million. Hoffman reportedly was reluctant to undertake any comprehensive estate planning because he was concerned that his kids would be spoiled “trust fund babies.” As a result, his estate faces a huge estate tax bill (which may be as high is 40%) which could have been avoided with some proper planning. Most of us can’t relate to the estate tax problem faced by Hoffman’s estate. But there are other reasons to have your affairs in order as well. For example, leaving a substantial inheritance to a 19-year-old may be a recipe for disaster. Even adult children can be negatively affected by an inheritance if they have a substance abuse problem, or if they are going through a bankruptcy or divorce. The late Elizabeth Taylor is an example of proper celebrity estate planning. She created the Elizabeth Taylor Trust during her lifetime. These kinds of living trusts are used to manage assets during life, and then distribute assets to your heirs at death. So, what do we know about
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Liz’s estate plan? Not much. That’s because her trust-based estate plan is a private document that does not require any involvement from the probate court. Instead of a high-profile story about her heirs fighting over her assets, almost nothing is known publicly about who got what.
Financial success may also trigger a need to review your planning. While I have seen families fight over very little, the chances of a postmortem court battle go up as the value of your assets increase. And even if you have strong family relationships, you want to be sure that you’re not giving Uncle Sam any more of your money than you have to.
Robin Williams, on the other hand, tried but failed to keep his estate planning It can be hard to identify with the kinds of documents out of the public eye. After “Hollywood” problems faced by famous one of the actors, co-trustees athletes and Learn More-Attend Free Workshop named in the musicians. Wednesday, October 22, 2014: FREE estate document But their planning and asset protection workshop hosted passed estates are by Red Oak Legal, PC: 2-4 pm at Archibald Senior away, the subject to Center. This educational workshop presented by remaining the very local attorney Raley L. Wiggins covers wills, trusts, co-trustee same laws powers of attorney, advance directives, living wills, petitioned that your probate administration, protecting assets from the court estate and to appoint my estate creditors, bankruptcy, divorce and remarriage, a new one. must follow. nursing homes, long-term care and Medicaid Even though Although qualification. Registration is required. Call 334-625the cothe details 6774 today to reserve your seat or register online trustee was of your at www.redoaklegalpc.com. required to estate aren’t file the court likely to be petition, the trust documents themselves published in People magazine, doesn’t shouldn’t have been made public, and mean that the problems are any less failing to file them under seal may have important to you and the loved ones you violated the terms of the trust itself. As leave behind. the saying goes, you can’t “un-ring the bell.” Once the information has been It can be hard to make estate planning a made public, there is no way to reign priority. Most of us are too busy living it back in in this age of instantaneous to spend much time contemplating our communication. deaths. Perhaps you’re just not ready to dust off your old will (or draft your first So, what can we learn from celebrity one) right now. But next time you read estate planning mistakes? The primary about a high-profile celebrity death, let it lesson is that estate planning is a process, serve as a little reminder for you to work not a one-time chore you check off your on getting your own affairs in order. to-do list. As your life changes, or as the Raley L. Wiggins law changes, your estate planning needs Attorney at Law, Red Oak Legal, PC change as well. If you have children, 334-239-3625 | info@redoaklegalpc.com you need to update your plan to name a 401 Madison Avenue, Montgomery AL 36104 guardian for them in the event that they www.redoaklegalpc.com become orphans. Likewise, if you get married, divorced or remarried, it’s time to take a fresh look at your estate plan.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Easy Rider
Moped lover, 80, lives life in the slow lane
By Aimee Blanchette
Jac Kelvie was holding court in the parking lot of Dulono’s Pizza amid a cloud of exhaust, cigarette smoke and machismo. Hundreds of bikers turned out for the regular “First Thursday” event in south Minneapolis to show off their Harley Sportsters and Ducati Monsters and talk shop. While others revved their engines, Kelvie used bungee cargo nets to secure a single change of clothes, a toothbrush and a walking cane to his moped. A red plastic gas can was strapped to the front fender. Passersby in leather vests paused to gaze at the 5-foot-4 man in polyester pants with a layer of long underwear as he was outfitting his short-range vehicle for a long trip.
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Kelvie was preparing his 1984 Honda Urban Express 50cc to head off on a 315-mile ride to Dubuque, Iowa. He would pass through the river bluffs of the Wisconsin-Minnesota border, sticking to roads suitable for the vehicle’s top speed of 30 miles per hour. “I can go wherever I want to on this moped,” Kelvie said proudly. “It’s not about how fast you go, the slower you go, the more you see.” At 80, Kelvie has spent the better part of his life on a motorcycle or, later in life, a moped. In fact, he rarely gets off two wheels. Whether it’s a bicycle trip to New Mexico or a moped trip to Sturgis, S.D., Kelvie often sleeps on picnic tables, behind truck stops or sometimes even upright hunched over the handlebars.
“You can go a long way on three hours of sleep,” he said. With each trip comes a story, like the time he went to see a lady friend in New Orleans for pie and coffee, then turned around and came right back home. Kelvie’s stories of the road sound like tall tales, and his physical stamina defies common sense. But with each mile he travels, Kelvie proves you don’t have to live fast to be a true adventurer. DRIVEN TO TAKE TWO WHEELS Jac Kelvie has always traveled at his own pace, even as a child. With an absent father and a mother who worked long hours, Kelvie recalled the time he went from south Minneapolis to his grandmother’s on the North Side, pushing a scooter. He was 4 years old. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
“I’ve always been bullheaded and strongwilled,” he said. Since buying a 1948 Harley 125 at the age of 15, Kelvie remembers only two times in his life when he wasn’t riding. One was when his real estate career took off in the 1970s. Kelvie was uneducated, but he had a way with people. When he sold his first house, he couldn’t read the purchase agreement, and the other Realtor had to read it for him. Kelvie had a wife and five children to feed, so that night he went home and memorized the document from top to bottom. That kind of tenacity propelled him to a successful career. “He is proud of what he did, and he did awfully well,” said his son, Chad Kelvie, 52, one of the adult children Kelvie is still in contact with. “He always had the topof-the-line everything, he drove a Buick convertible.” Kelvie also was sidelined by illness in 2004. He was diagnosed with cancer, then suffered a heart attack and a recurrence of cancer. Two divorces compounded by those health issues ultimately drained his savings. In 2012, on a whim, Kelvie decided to take a chance and get back into real estate after having been retired for nearly three decades. While driving through Minneapolis on his moped one afternoon, he saw a realty sign and decided to approach a man walking out of the building. It was Carson Brooks, the owner of Exit Realty. “Not to profile people, but I’d never had an agent come up on a moped looking like Mighty Mouse in a yellow helmet,” said Brooks, who nonetheless hired Kelvie on the spot. LIFE IN THE SLOW LANE Even though Kelvie goes to the office five days a week and still works as a home inspector, his career isn’t what it used to be. He no longer owns a home, but rents a room in a south Minneapolis house. He talks to only two of his children and has come to regret the kind of father he was. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
“I ruled with such a heavy hand,” he said. “I hate to say it, but I was a monster to be around. I had little man’s syndrome. I had to be the boss.” Sometimes he feels like his stories and his moped are all he has left. Over the years, Kelvie has softened. Most who know him now would be surprised to hear him describe himself this way. To them, he’s the little old man on the moped or the smiley guy in the corner of the coffee shop with blue eyes that sparkle. In many ways, he’s like any 80-year-old guy. He plays Free Cell on his iPhone to improve his fading memory. He tacks photographs of his great grandchildren to his cubicle walls at the realty office. He seeks out the best $2 breakfasts in town. And he always keeps a bag of Salted Nut Bars in his Dodge Caravan (which he drives in the winter and uses to transport his moped to the shop).
‘THAT’S JUST JAC’ When Kelvie isn’t making the coffee at Exit Realty or mopeding around town, he can usually be found chatting with fellow twowheelers at Bob’s Java Hut, a biker-friendly coffee shop in Minneapolis. “I’ve had hundreds of cups of coffee with him,” said Clayton Manthe, 41, of Maple Grove. “Physically, he does things a 14-year-old would do. I swear, someone’s gonna run him over on that moped one of these days. But worry all you want, that’s just Jac.” Kelvie had been back from his trip to Dubuque for a few days when he pulled up to the coffee shop on his moped. He ordered a mocha, then reached for a maple syrup dispenser tucked behind the counter.
Kelvie also has a MacGyver kind of ingenuity.
“I like things sweet,” he said. He found a table in the back and opened up the “Notepad” app on his iPhone. “I kept some notes from the trip,” he said, then started rattling off details from his two-day adventure.
He modified his moped’s throttle with a ponytail binder for what he calls “custom cruise control.” He douses himself with a water bottle to beat the heat while riding and calls it “air-conditioned long underwear.” And he sits on wet sponges while riding, because “it feels like a feather bed,” he said.
He drove through the night to get to the shop where his moped was purchased by its original owner 30 years ago. “Yeah, he was here. Holy crap, I can’t believe he did that,” said Eric Avenarius, a parts guy at the shop. “That thing is kind of like a pedal bike for how big it is. Not too many people would try that at his age.”
There have been countless trips to Duluth, Minnesota, and back, for coffee. At a biker rally in Milwaukee, Kelvie got a trophy for having the smallest bike. To celebrate his 50th birthday, he rode a bicycle to New Mexico to visit his mother.
Kelvie spent a few hours sharing stories with guys at the shop, took a nap behind the building, snapped a picture with the employees and headed for home. He made it to Red Wing, Minnesota, before he was sidelined with a flat tire. Flat tires are par for the course when you’re driving a moped on debris-laden highway shoulders.
Kelvie’s trip list includes a ride to Churchill, Manitoba, one of the few human settlements where polar bears can be observed in the wild. He crashed his bike before arriving and spent a week in the hospital. A year later, he tried again and made it. In 2005, Kelvie embarked on one of his most daring rides: He drove his moped to Sturgis, South Dakota. The trip took him 47 hours to go 536 miles. Top speed: 23 mph. “It’s hard for someone to understand. I just like riding,” he said. “I like the breeze and the feeling of going someplace.”
“After he made that last trip, it was pretty much the end of the bike’s life,” said Todd Moen, the owner of C&M Cycle Services, the Minneapolis shop where Kelvie gets his bike fixed. “It has 40,000 miles on it. I’ve never even seen one with that many miles.” Moen said he’s looked online for the same bike with fewer miles, but Kelvie is insistent on keeping this one. “I’m still using it,” he said. “For now, this is all I need.” (c)2014 Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Distributed by MCT Information Services
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When It Comes to Your Hearing‌What Are You Afraid Of?? Getting a hearing evaluation at Doctors Hearing Clinic is nothing to be afraid of. The process is quick, painless, and non-invasive. You have nothing to lose by having your hearing checked. So what are you waiting for? A detailed evaluation is necessary to determine whether a hearing loss is present. With the results of the hearing evaluation and case history, the audiologist can recommend the best options for treatment. At Doctors Hearing Clinic, we have two licensed audiologists with doctoral degrees who can provide the most accurate diagnosis and treatment options for individuals with hearing loss. At Doctors Hearing Clinic, we strongly encourage you to bring a loved one to the appointment – especially the first appointment. Having someone there that you trust will help to ease any anxiety, and make it a more enjoyable experience for you. When you bring a companion with you to your appointment, a more thorough case history can be taken, a familiar voice can be used for hearing demonstration purposes, and it allows the audiologist to provide communication strategies to both the patient and their loved one. The appointment begins with a thorough case history. The audiologist will ask you questions about your overall health, your ears, hearing ability and your current communication difficulties. After a detailed case history is completed, the audiologist will examine your eardrums and ear canals with an otoscope to check for occluding wax or any abnormalities that might be present in the outer ear. Following the otoscopic examination, the audiologist will assess middle ear function using a technique called tympanometry. Tympanometry uses changes in air pressure to help the audiologist obtain information about the space behind the eardrum that cannot easily be seen. The changes in pressure can replicate the feeling of being on an airplane. Next, the hearing thresholds for each
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ear should be measured. This testing the evaluation with you and provide their should be performed in a sound-treated recommendations, which may include test booth to obtain the most accurate hearing aids or assistive listening devices. results. Be cautious of any hearing test If hearing aids are a recommendation, a that is not conducted in a sound-treated demonstration of the most appropriate environment, as the reliability may be technology can be completed at the compromised. Tones of varying intensity appointment, as well as a second test and pitch, along with speech stimuli, with repeating the words of their loved will be presented to each ear through ones to compare to their first test headphones. You will be asked to press a without amplification. button or raise your hand for each sound presented to you; additionally, you will More than 36 million Americans have repeat the speech that is presented to hearing loss, and recent studies have you. The threshold results collected for indicated that not providing stimulation each pitch per ear will be plotted on a to your ears can cause auditory graph called deprivation, which an audiogram. may cause atrophy These results of the auditory By Dr. Brittany Spahr and Dr. Katie Slade represent the nerve or interfere levels that were with your future just barely ability to process audible that you speech. Providing consecutively amplification can responded to. assist with increased Speech testing word understanding yields word and help avoid discrimination the consequences scores, which of auditory inform the audiologist how well the brain deprivation. Most types of hearing is processing the auditory information. loss will not improve on their own, so The word discrimination scores also help it is important to have your hearing the audiologist predict how you will evaluated to determine the appropriate perform with hearing aids. treatment. With proper amplification and communication strategies, your Additional testing may be completed communication with friends and family during the hearing evaluation, which may improve. might include listening to tones and understanding words with various So what are you waiting for?! Get started levels of noise in the background. by making an appointment with the These additional tests are completed audiologists at Doctors Hearing Clinic for to examine your ability to listen and your hearing evaluation today! understand in different listening Information obtained from the National Institute environments. If a loved one is present of Deafness and Communication Disorders: http:// at the appointment, supplementary www.nidcd.nih.gov/ testing may be performed. This might include having the loved one read a list Dr. Brittany Spahr is a licensed audiologist in of words or sentences aloud, and asking Alabama and is a fellow of the American Academy the patient to repeat what was said, in of Audiology. Co-authored by Katie Slade, a Board order to assess how well the patient Certified Audiologist in Alabama, and Amy Davis, understands what was heard in the Doctoral Extern, University of South Alabama. familiar voice.
Healthy Hearing
After the testing portion is completed, the audiologist will review the results of The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Ongoing Learning
Go back-to-school with some amazing and free online resources available from top universities. These institutions offer many of their courses in the form of video lectures, audio transcripts and online quizzes. Always wanted to go back to College? Now’s your chance. Here are the online education offerings from the top U.S. universities that we think are worth checking out.
Stanford Free Courses Stanford University, located in Stanford, California, offers an especially rich bounty of material for its amateur online learners. Classes are offered on multiple platforms, letting you watch videos lectures, participate in discussion forums and chats, complete quizzes and even participate in group projects. A wide range of courses are available, from Cryptography to Game Theory to Writing in the Sciences. There are courses on stock market investing and running your own business, too – stuff that you can actually use to benefit your family. Self-paced courses are also available, including the popular Computer Science 101. You can check out Stanford’s collection of online courses by visiting online.stanford.edu/courses. Webcast.Berkey The University of California, Berkeley is one of America’s most esteemed public universities. So, as you might expect, its online course catalog is one of the most serious of the bunch. You’ll find multiple webcasts on biology, chemistry, engineering, physics, history, health, political science, sociology and statistics. UC Berkeley’s catalog of webcast courses is available for review and viewing at webcast.berkeley.edu. Duke University North Carolina’s Duke University offers a number of interactive, free online courses through the Coursera platform. Lectures in subjects like English Composition and Genetics are offered, with videos broken up into easily digestible YouTube clips; some courses offer online assessments The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
as well. To take a look at Duke’s free online course offerings and register for classes, visit coursera.org/ duke. You can find plenty of other universities and classes available on Coursera as well.
Harvard Open Courses World-famous Harvard University teamed up with nearby MIT to create the edX learning platform, which currently offers 42 of its classes for free online. Many of these classes on edX, like Introduction to Computer Science, are self-guided and ready to start anytime you are. Others, like AnatomyX, run on a fixed schedule. You can browse Harvard’s online course listing at edx.org/school/harvardx. Carnegie Mellon Open Learning Initiative Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon currently offers 21 open and free courses via its Open Learning Initiative (OLI) platform. You can take scientific courses like Biochemistry and Modern Biology if that’s your thing, or plan your vacation to Paris while taking Elementary French I and II. OLI makes it easy to track your progress, while “targeted feedback” and online assignments give you an idea of how well you’re absorbing the material. You can browse what Carnegie Mellon’s OLI has to offer at oli.cmu.edu. iTunes U Okay, so maybe this one isn’t an actual college. Still, if your hunger for knowledge knows no bounds, you’ll definitely need to check out Apple’s iTunes U application. Inside, you’ll be connected to thousands of free course offerings from schools all around the globe. iTunes U offers tools to start discussions and ask questions of teachers and students. And since everything is rated on a 5-star system, you’ll be able to easily hunt down the best courses in the subjects most interesting to you. You can download iTunes U onto your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch through the Apple App Store.
Whether an individual, group or corporation - HandsOn River Region is here to help you realize the benefit each and every person can be to their community. We coordinate and manage volunteer projects throughout the River Region for over 200 non-profits. And we’ve been doing this for over 40 years! Search for volunteer opportunities on our website or call us for assistance in locating the perfect volunteer opportunity for you! Get involved and Serve Today, visit handsonriverregion.org or call 334.264.3335
Source: Techlicious.com
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Weight Loss After 50 Once we reach the age of 50, every calorie counts. Most of us tend to continue to eat like we are still 25. That is a problem because our metabolic rate has decreased 5-8% per decade. That means we have to adjust our eating to the slower metabolic rate. We must realize just because we eat “healthy and organic” that does not equal weight loss. If you are thinking I’ve cut out all processed foods, eat organic, and I eat salmon and use olive but I’m not losing weight- think again. Remember that word called “servings” or portion size? A half a cup of brown rice is the same as a half a cup of white rice. Your body knows no difference. Yes, brown rice has more fiber and other nutrients but will it make you lose weight over the white rice – No. Can I eat more because it is healthier? No Portion size is an essential concept to grasp because so many people assume eating healthy foods like sweet potatoes, salmon, avocado; etc means free rein to eat unlimited portions. It’s all about portion control, no matter how heart healthy, organic, gluten free, low fat, low carb it may be. There is a hormone called Ghrelin (pr. GREL-in) that controls hunger. It is one of our body’s survival tactics- a hormone secreted in the stomach to make sure we eat. Research now shows that Ghrelin (GREL-in) spikes due to lifestyle behaviors like skipping meals, lack of sleep, after exercise (especially in females), avoiding carbohydrates and even the act of losing weight. Here are just a few pointers to keep Ghrelin (GREL-in) in control and lose weight: • Eat breakfast within a hour of waking. It helps control how much you are going to eat at 4:00 pm. It will help control ghrelin and set you up for success • Do not skip meals. Depending on you and your waking hours you may need 3 -4 small meals a day. Some people may need 6. Notice the word small
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• Combine carbohydrates and proteins at every meal and snack. This way you get the optimal blend of nutritional elements to fight cravings, control hunger, gain energy, and stimulate fullness. The protein increases your metabolism because the body has to work harder to break it down while the carbs lower ghrelin and help with brain function and decrease cravings.
activity has a stronger effect in preventing weight gain and maintaining weight loss. For most healthy adults the following is recommended:
Aerobic activity- Get a least 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise. However to effectively lose weight some people may • Don’t need up to focus on 300 minutes the time of moderate you stop exercise. eating. You can do a by Leigh Anne Richards Instead combination follow of moderate the and vigorous 70/30 activity. rule Moderate which means you should eat 70% of your exercise includes activities such as brisk calories before dinner time and 30% at walking, swimming, mowing the lawn. dinner, whatever time that might be. Make Vigorous activities include running, sure you allow about 90 minutes to digest spinning class, aerobic dance. so you can sleep comfortably Strength training- Strength training • Stay hydrated. Drinking water is exercises need to be done two times essential for keeping energy up and aiding a week. American College of Sports metabolism. Water is the fluid your body Medicine recommends working all the needs for life. It is instrumental part of major muscle groups of the body with 8-12 weight loss and the best choice of fluids repetition using the 2 set method. This because it is calorie free. Thirst can can be done with machines, free weights confuse ones sense of hunger so make and even resistance tubing. Remember sure you stay hydrated. strength training increases muscle mass which is like a metabolic furnace. Fat just What about exercise and weight loss? sits and does not need much of anything Being active is an important part of to survive while muscle must be fed. For any weight loss or weight maintenance every pound of muscle you have you can program. When you are active your body burn an extra 35-50 calories. uses more energy (calories). When you burn more calories than you consume, you Bottom line, weight loss is not easy lose weight. especially after the age of 50. We have to eat less and exercise a little more. Simple One pound of fat is equal to 3500 calories. as that- no hidden secrets, no pill you can You need to burn 3500 calories more swallow, nor any cream to rub on you that than you take in to lose one pound of fat. will eliminate fat! Push away from the Therefore, if you cut 500 calories a day table and move more from your diet you would lose about a Information taken from pound a week (500 calories x 7 days = 3500 Mayoclinic.org/healthy-living- weight loss calories). Because of changes that occur in The Boomer Brief- “ Losing Weight after 50”, the body over time, however, calories may Manuel Villacorta, MS, RD need to be decreased further to continue the weight loss. Leigh Anne Richards, MEd, Certified Personal
Fitness over Fifty
While diet has a stronger effect on weight loss than physical activity does, physical
Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, General ManagerMetroFitness. For any questions or comments, contact Leigh Anne at LAMetrofit@aol.com The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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What’s Your Game Plan? As I sit here and tap the keys in writing this article, I hear the words of our Federal Reserve Chairwoman, Janet Yellen bounce around in my head like fireworks going off on the fourth of July. Today she is providing the world with the U.S. Federal Reserve’s stance on economic projections and forward looking interest rate policy. It is absolutely amazing to me the amount of power that is controlled by so few people around the globe. Nowadays, we all sit around and wait for these “central planners” to speak as if our financial lives depended on it. And, for those of us who have any amount of capital invested in various asset classes, you can bet that if you’re not paying attention to what these people are saying, it could cost you dearly. Currently, the Federal Reserve has pegged short term interest rates at near zero. The reason for this is to keep “the price of money” cheap in an attempt to stimulate growth in the U.S. economy. But, this policy action by the fed comes at a steep price over the long term. How many of you reading this have had to pull money out of your bank account and seek out potential alternatives because the rate you were earning in the bank was just too low? Whenever policies are in place that essentially forces individuals and institutions to invest their money in ways that they normally would never contemplate, trouble often follows. This is part of what I call the “unintended consequences” of the current zero interest policy. In the past five years, the U.S. stock market has raced to new highs and most everyone who has had money in the stock market is grinning from ear to ear. For those who didn’t, they are rushing to the join the party. My concern is that the vast majority of individual investors really do not completely understand what is going on around the globe, especially when it comes to monetary policy and crony capitalism. These two things are wreaking havoc on what should be a normal and healthy economic recovery led by the United States. I have spent
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years trying to deliver a message to the investing public that we are in a new age of government and global finance. In order to have the type of life and retirement that we all dream of it will require comprehensive, ongoing management with of everything Brandt McDonald you own and everyone you owe. Set it and forget it is yesterday’s model.
Financial Thoughts
“I just want my investments to grow some. But I don’t want to lose any money!” It seems that this is the most common answer I get when I ask a client to express what it is they specifically want me to help them with regarding their investments. The vast majority of our clients here at McDonald, Barranco, and Hagen (MBH) are between the ages of 55 and 85. No matter the age or where they are in the retirement planning lifecycle, they all have a common message – “I just want to know that my family and I will be OK in retirement and that my family will be taken care of when I’m gone.” The sequence of events over the last 15 years has rocked the retirement community to its core and it’s no surprise that there is still an incredible level of anxiety when it comes to managing one’s own investments. In my opinion, the number one cause of this anxiety is a complete lack of understanding as to what it is you own and why you own it. A secondary cause is attempting to digest the massive flow of news around the world and its impact on your investments. How do we mitigate the anxiety? By becoming educated and following rules and discipline in accordance with a customized financial plan. By far, the most critical aspect of retirement planning is having a well thought out, comprehensive plan. I’m talking about a plan that clearly takes into account all of the critical facts
surrounding your personal situation. These would include all assets and liabilities, income sources, insurance, geographic location, health, and a whole host of unique family dynamics. Once the fact finding mission is completed, a thorough analysis ultimately leads to a broad range of “what-if” scenarios that can then be fine-tuned to establish a proper “game plan” as you move through life. This plan is the cornerstone of a written, customized risk profile with clearly stated goals and objectives for you and your family. Without this plan in place, it is nearly impossible to implement an investment strategy. In fact, I often tell people that investments are usually the very last part of the planning process. Too often, I find that the majority of people get this backwards by focusing solely on investment ideas first with total disregard to fees, risk characteristics, and suitability. Never leave your money to chance. Whether it’s McDonald, Barranco, and Hagen or another firm, find someone you trust. Don’t allow yourself to be sold anything. Rather, become an investor by deploying your capital into assets that you understand thoroughly and makes sense as a part of your overall plan. As I always say, never run with the herd, always be thankful, and look to the future with anticipation of what’s yet to come. In the meantime, we will keep a watchful eye on Mrs. Yellen for you! Brandt McDonald, Managing Partner McDonald, Barranco & Hagen Wealth Management LPL Branch Manager MBCapitalWealth.com Direct comments and questions to bailey.worrell@lpl.com
Securities offered through LPL FINANCIAL, Member FINRA/SIPC
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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OCTOBER EXHIBITION: Gallery One Featured Artists
Two Wheeling 30x24 oil on canvas Pam Wesley Copeland
Mountain Trail II 24x36 oil on canvas, Anne Hugghins
Evening 14x11 oil on canvas Anita Westerberg
Spring is Here 36x24 acrylic on canvas Shirley Esco
Abstract 9x6 Gouache, Richard Mills
Laced 6x10 Sculpture Ken Lever
Through the Window (2 panels) 24x72 oil on canvas-diptych John Mazaheri
Kathleen Never Went Home Again 36x30 oil on canvas, John Wagnon
Early Morning 36x36 mixed media, Carol Barksdale
Carnival I 36x48 mixed media, Cecily Hulett
Great Expectations II 48x36 Acrylic on canvas Jane Segrest
Wednesday Morning Meeting 36x24 oil on canvas, Ginnylu Greene
By Sandi Aplin
Art & Soul
Carol Barksdale’s Wonderful World of Watercolor This has been a very busy year for Gallery One Fine Art member artist, Carol Hutchins Barksdale. Last September she began working on a year- long mural project which is nearing completion, she and Walt McGriff married the day after Thanksgiving and she volunteered with the Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery for the Smithsonian project “The Way We Work in Alabama. “
Carol paints in oil, acrylic and mixed media, however, she really enjoys the freedom of watercolor. Five years ago, she was asked by the City of Montgomery to create the artwork for the 1st Annual River Walk Wine Festival. She has just completed the artwork for the City of Montgomery’s 5th Annual River Walk Wine Festival (she was commissioned to create the artwork for four of the five years). She will be signing limited edition posters the day of the Wine Festival, October 11th from 2-5 pm.
filler obscuring the pigment colors. I have had the pleasure, on several occasions, to watch Carol teach painting classes at our museum and the Lifelong Learning Institute at Auburn University of Montgomery using watercolor as the medium. This medium, I feel is one of the hardest to master, it requires a high skill level as the artist can make few mistakes. If it isn’t painted correctly, there is no covering up as it is with other medium, like oil or acrylic. Carol continues, “The colors themselves are fascinating as they blend wet, one into another. This is the beauty of watercolors, inviting them to do what they are created to do. As an artist, it’s a vibrant part of the process that is exciting and just plain fun.” Carol has taught art for 30+/- years in public and private schools as well as individual classes.
Carol Barksdale the night of her Retrospect Show in the Ferguson Gallery on the campus of the University of Alabama. This one woman show consisted of twenty seven of her paintings which hung for 30 days.
Sandi Aplin, Director of Gallery One Fine Art A freelance writer living in Montgomery, AL sandiaplin@aol.com galleryonefineart.com
Carol and Walt traveled to Santa Fe, New Mexico in August. She was seeking inspiration and subject for one of her upcoming watercolor shows next year. Carol says, “I love the immediacy of watercolors. They are a good example of less is more.” Wikipedia defines watercolor painting method in which paints are made of pigments suspended in a watersoluble vehicle. They are visually transparent and appear luminous because the pigments are laid down in a relatively pure form with few The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Bucket List Adventure by Kathy Witt
Riding the Pullman Rails
Your berth has been turned down, your shoes shined, your nightcap delivered by the porter. Nothing left to do but drift off to sleep to the rocking of the train on the tracks. It isn’t the late 19th/early 20th century during the Golden Age of Rail Travel, but it is Pullman, the company founded in 1862 by a man who was inspired to hit the drawing board after sitting up all night on a train. George Pullman pioneered luxury rail travel by creating the very first first-class sleeping car, and then he combined this rail experience (which also included onboard libraries and card tables) with peerless customer service. TRAVEL BACK IN TIME IN STYLE In late fall 2012, Chicago-based Pullman Rail Journeys resurrected the experience, putting vintage rail cars – including a Pullman-built 1917 round end sleeperobservation car that was originally a coach and all faithfully restored to the original blueprints – back on the rails. The company rolled out overnight service between Chicago and New Orleans via the Illinois Central line. In October, service will be expanded to include excursions between New York and Chicago on the eastbound Lakeshore and westbound Cardinal lines. The first thing passengers notice when boarding these gleaming beauties is the Art Deco design that was endemic to the Pullman aesthetic. Restoring the cars was a painstaking process to achieve the historical accuracy of the original
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Pullman style. Diligence to detail can be seen in the company’s re-creation of textiles, bedding, plates, utensils – and even company uniforms. Linens are white, as in the old days. A North Carolina mill has replicated the trademark mattress ticking that Pullman used from the 1890s until the end of its operation, as well as the blankets used during this period. Towels have been authentically re-created, woven especially for Pullman Rail Journeys and bearing the signature Pullman blue stripe. Bedrooms have either a picture window or a large single window and are equipped with a porter call button and a shoe locker. (A hallmark of the original Pullman service, the shoe shine has also been returned.) They also have a private toilet in an annex within the bedroom, along with a sink, all the comforts of home. For passengers tucking in for the night in a Pullman sleeping car back in the late 1800s and early 1900s, the experience would have been nothing short of luxury. Today, a Pullman Rail Journey is fully first-class and feels like a time capsule adventure to the glory days of train travel, but one with complimentary Wifi and cell phone accessibility. Dining is a highlight, and meals are presented rather than simply served and accompanied by liberal pours of wine, beer and cocktails. Tables are cloaked in white linens. Courses are unhurried.
Dinner begins with the old-school relish tray, celery sticks, olives stuffed with pimento, spiced watermelon cubes, a tasty delight that needed to be returned to the culinary landscape. One doesn’t simply pass the time while aboard but enjoys time passing in a steady unwinding of scenery. It’s a heartland view of America you don’t get from the highway, rural and farming landscapes lush in greenery, old railroad and industrial towns all but forgotten, fields with grazing horses, tiny church-steeple communities, and raw urbanscapes. You can keep watch through the window in your compartment or in the airy lounge where the windows offer vistas from both sides of the car. A mesmerizing view is offered compliments of the rear of this car: receding tracks vanishing around the bend. It’s relaxing and peaceful, and you can enjoy it while getting to know fellow time travelers over free-flowing drinks. SPECIAL PACKAGE New Orleans is home to the National World War II Museum and world-class exhibits exploring the history and impact of WWII and the Greatest Generation. The “Greatest Generation-Discover New Orleans” package, good through March 25, 2015, departs from Chicago and is priced from $569 per person. Included are overnight accommodations aboard Pullman Rail Journeys; three nights’ accommodations at the New Orleans Hotel Monteleone; museum admission; The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
and a $100 dining certificate at a premier New Orleans restaurant. MORE INFORMATION Pullman Rail Journeys depart Chicago’s Union Station every Thursday at 8 p.m. CT and arrive into New Orleans’ Union Station the following day at 3:30 p.m. CT, a 20-hour excursion that travels 934 miles. Northbound departures from New Orleans are at 1:45 p.m. CT Sundays with arrival into Chicago the following day at 9 a.m. CT. There is a VIP check-in area for Pullman passengers, with snacks and refreshments provided. For more information about Pullman Rail Journey excursions or packages, visit www.TravelPullman.com or call 888-9785563. ADVENTURE GUIDE TO DON’T-MISS MOMENTS Relax in a dining car booth and enjoy a dinner that begins with the classic relish tray and progresses through a salad dressed with Pullman vinaigrette, an entree along the order of roast beef tenderloin, pan seared filet of salmon or spinach stuffed ravioli with tomato cream sauce and concludes with frozen
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chocolate mousse with raspberries or fresh strawberry parfait with balsamic, whipped cream and cookie crumb topping. All served on napery draped tables, of course, and accompanied, with quite a free hand, by wine or spirits. Wake after a restful night in time to photograph the sunrise and then watch the morning unfold from one community to another with a mimosa or Bloody Mary in hand. Close your eyes and listen to songs pulled from the classic American songbook on departures featuring a variety of artists from the Old Town School of Folk Music, Chicago’s premier institution dedicated to the preservation of folk music. Music is scheduled twice-monthly and takes place in the lounge car. Travel between the dining car and your sleeper room, an adventure in itself. Sometimes the train glides so smoothly along you’ll feel like you’re on a riverboat on the calmest of waters; other times, watch out! It’s rollicking from side to side so energetically you’ll need both hands free for grabbing and balancing.
ADVENTURE GEAR TO TAKE ALONG Luggage space on a train, as you might imagine, is at a premium. Most sleeper rooms can handle two “Pullman” size cases (24- to 26-inch suitcases) and at least one carry-on or cosmetic case, and back in the day, all ladies boarding the train would have had their cosmetic case firmly in hand. Andiamo Luggage, an award-winning brand recently reintroduced by 24-7 International, has a piece that feels like it was designed with train travel in mind. The Wheeled Business Overnighter (www.AndiamoLuggage. com) from Andiamo’s Avanti collection is compact yet will hold your laptop, tablet or other 21st century tech gear in a padded compartment and any clothing and accessories you need for a short getaway. There are plenty of pockets and compartments to keep all your travel essentials neatly organized and accessible. The case is sturdy yet has a tailored look and is finished with a luxurious lining, top-grain leather trim and Made in the USA Thin Guard zippers, the kind used by the U.S. military and First Responders. Author, travel and lifestyle writer, and travel goods expert Kathy Witt feels you should never get to the end of your bucket list; there’s just too much to see and do in the world. She can be reached at KathyWitt24@gmail.com or KathyWitt.com. Distributed by MCT Information Services
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Hospice: There’s More to Know When asked about hospice, many people know that it provides pain management, emotional support, help with family caregiving, and spiritual care to patients and their families when a cure is not possible. However, many people may not know that hospice provides what the majority of Americans say they want at the endof-life…excellent pain management, comfort, and support for the patient and the family. Hospice is not a place but a concept of care that is recognized as the model of quality, compassionate health care delivery for people facing a life-limiting illness. Everyone seems to know a family or friend who was helped by hospice when faced with a serious illness and/or death of a loved one. More than 1.4 million people were served by the nation’s hospice programs last year. Yet for every person that received hospice care, it is estimated that another individual would have benefited from the services of hospice but didn’t get this compassionate care at the end of their life.
• Hospice care is available as long the patient meets the eligibility criteria. • Hospice professionals can help people document their wishes for end-of-life care and offer assistance with important documents such as advance directives. • While most hospice services are provided in the home, care is also available in most skilled nursing facilities, residential care settings, and inpatient hospices. • Hospice offers grief support to those families served by hospice, as well as anyone in the community who is grieving. • One of the most common sentiments from families who have been helped by hospice care is, “We wish we had known about hospice sooner.” That’s a common comment we hear many times here at Hospice of Montgomery. There are so many advantages hospice has to offer that the sooner you get to know hospice, the sooner we can begin to provide the care you need.
• Hospice care is fully covered by Medicare, private insurance, and in most states by Medicaid.
If a person isn’t facing decisions about care at the end-of-life for themselves or a family member, it’s likely that a close friend, neighbor or coworker is struggling with these difficult issues.
• In addition to quality medical care from nurses, highly-trained social workers, clergy members, volunteers and others comprise a team of professionals offering comprehensive support and respite care.
Often, family members and caregivers are the first to notice changes in a loved one with a serious illness.
Did You Know…
• Hospice care is available for those with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/ AIDS--anyone who is facing a serious, lifelimiting illness. • The hospice benefit pays for medications that manage symptoms related to the terminal diagnosis and medical equipment to keep the person safe and comfortable.
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Hospice Questions
If you answer “yes” to four or more of the following questions for someone you care for then you may want the support of hospice. > Been making more frequent phone calls to your doctor’s office? > Been to the emergency room or hospitalized several times over the past six months? > Started spending more time in the bed or chair? > Started taking more medication for pain? > Started feeling more tired or weaker? > Fallen several times in the past six months? > Experienced weight loss and/or lack of appetite? > Experienced more shortness of breath, even while resting? > Needed more help from others with two or more of the following— bathing, dressing, walking, eating, getting out of bed? > Needed more assistance in the home? > Been told by a doctor that life expectancy is limited? Knowing your eligibility and deciding when to initiate hospice services is a personal decision and should be determined by you, your family, and your physician. When it comes to hospice care you have a choice. Hospice of Montgomery offers quality and compassionate care by a highly trained and experienced staff and is available to anyone with a life limiting diagnosis and those who wish to focus on comfort or palliative care. If you are considering hospice care ask for us by name or just call Hospice of Montgomery at 334-279-6677 or visit us at www.hospiceofmontgomery.org.
Alabama’s First Hospice. Still Local. Still Non-Profit Providing uplifting care to the River Region since 1976.
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Cancer & Your Diet My grandfather died of lung cancer when I was just 16. Clearly, working in a coal mine and smoking 40+ a day did not help the issue, but I also remember never seeing him eat any vegetable other than peas and carrots. We’ll never know if a more varied diet would have helped his body fight off the big C, but it certainly wouldn’t have done him any harm. My parents and I spent the following few years slowly convincing my grandma that fruits and vegetables were there to be enjoyed and celebrated, not avoided. Fear was the main factor; just a simple fear of the unknown. She hadn’t eaten a star fruit in her 70 years of existence, so why should she now? Well, Grandma, you might just like it: and, you know what, she did. Grandma just turned 91 this year and eats as varied a diet as we give her (which, believe me, is pretty varied). Hopefully she’ll live another 10 years or so and see Ashton graduate from high school. If there’s one thing that’s certain the old adage of eating “a balanced diet, with a plate full of (natural) color” has never been more important than today. There are so many artificially colored and modified foods about, which give little or zero nutritional value; why not just eat the real thing?! If everyone ate a diet based on the following recommendations, we would have a significantly healthier society, lower occurrences of cancer and heart disease, diabetes and other illnesses, and our health care system would not be in the mess it’s in today. The American Heart Association, the Department of Agriculture’s Dietary guidelines and the American Cancer Society (to name but three) all give guidelines that are virtually identical: 1) Eat 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables every day. 2) Choose healthy fats, including omega-3 fatty acids, rather than saturated fats or trans fats.
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3) Select proteins that are low in saturated fat, such as fish, lean meat, eggs, nuts, seeds and legumes.
org to be particularly informative, giving you access to a whole range of food items, in-depth information on the studies done on them and how successful they were against specific types of cancer. It also goes on to give you recipes and guidelines on how to incorporate them into your diet.
4) Opt for healthy sources of carbohydrates, such as whole grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables.
There are a few foods which we may all consider eating more of as so many studies have been done on them and they have all been proven to reduce the risk of multiple The combination of foods that you choose types of cancer. The first I will mention to eat is is what is known what makes as cruciferous sure that vegetables. you have Research has all the shown, through vitamins and multiple studies, nutrients that regular you need consumption to make of cruciferous your body, vegetables – including which includes your cauliflower, immune broccoli, cabbage, system, collard greens, strong – or mustard greens, not. If you radishes, Brussels eat a healthy sprouts and kale balanced – has been shown Tracy with her son Ashton, the healthiest eating diet you to reduce the risk 6 year old you’ll ever meet! should not of several types need to be taking artificial additives, such of cancer; most conclusively, lung cancer, as vitamin pills, as you would be getting all upper digestive tract cancer and lymph you need from the natural source. node cancer.
Eating Smart with Tracy Bhalla
Your plate should be colorful. The more color the better! Especially easy in the spring and summer months when we have such abundance of fresh fruit and vegetables grown right here in the South. There is no specific anti-cancer diet that has been discovered, but rather many different fruits and vegetables, oils and spices that have individual properties which can help your body to protect itself in a myriad of ways. The only way to protect yourself as fully as possible, therefore, is to consume as wide a range as possible. Don’t restrict your diet to just a handful of items that you have become comfortable with. Expand your horizons, try new recipes, help yourself become a healthier person. There are many websites dedicated to enlightening you about the specific cancer beating properties of different foods. Personally I have found www.eattobeat.
Also any of the acclaimed Superfoods, which are anti-oxidants, such as asparagus, pecans, prunes, apples, cherries, most berries and beans will help an anti-cancer diet. This is due to the very nature of cancer being the attack of cells of the body via biochemical reactions including oxidation. Any anti-oxidation is therefore welcome. This should not, however, form your whole diet, but it should be incorporated into it as much as possible. Tracy Bhalla, Owner/ Manager of Cool Beans Restaurant 115 Montgomery Street coolbeans.mgm@gmail.com facebook.com/coolbeans.mgm Trained as an architect! Worked as a teacher of product design and graphic design for 9 years in England and Bermuda. Always had a love of healthy, good-for-you food. Always cooking for friends and family. Married a cardiologist in 2007. We have a shared passion about eating healthily (and wine) and both love to cook, so when Cool Beans became available we jumped at it. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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October 2014
{12 Things} for active boomers and beyond
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Who can resist a trip to the fair? Whether it is the homemade fudge, the candy apples, the rides, the livestock or the live music, you can’t miss a night on the midway. This year’s musical Entertainment includes Styx, Kool and the Gang, Easton Corbin and Joe Nichols. For more information visit alnationalfair.org
Saturday, October 11th, 2-5pm, Downtown Montgomery in the Riverfront Park. Come spend an afternoon on the river sampling delicious wines from different regions. Your $25 ticket includes a commemorative etched wine glass, discounts on bottled wine, sampling of new flavors and live music. If you want to spend the night at the Renaissance Hotel and continue enjoying downtown Montgomery, call the hotel’s reservation desk at 334-481-5000 and don’t forget a ride on the Harriot II. For more information visit riverwalkwinefestival.com.
Alabama National Fair Garrett Coliseum, Montgomery Friday October 3 thru Sunday October 13
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA Food Invasion Hampstead Farms Thursday, October 9th, 6-9 pm
Tickets are now available for the 5th annual Farm-to-Fork Food Invasion featuring Chef David Bancroft of Acre in Auburn. The 5th annual farm dinner celebration and fundraiser is set for Thursday, October 9 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the EAT South Farm at Hampstead. Tickets are $75 and all proceeds benefit EAT South’s education programs in Montgomery. For more information visit foodinvasion.com
Riverwalk Wine Festival Riverwalk, Downtown Montgomery Saturday October 11th, 2-5 pm
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA Fall Harvest Market The Shoppes at Eastchase Saturday, October 11, 8 am 12 noon
The Fall Harvest Market will take place each Saturday morning beginning October 11th thru November 15th from 8am-noon at the Shoppes at EastChase. Shoppers will continue to find unique, local items such as organic meats and goat cheese, pumpkins, honey, cakes, and seasonal vegetables and fruits. For more information visit theshoppesateastchase.com or call 334.279.6046.
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA
Third annual Art in Concert featuring Alabama’s own, The Pine Hill Haints. The traditional bluegrass, folk, honky tonk, and country band is known for their songs, “Ghost Train, “ “When You Fall, “ and “Walking Talking Deadman.” Also scheduled to perform that night is The Owsley Brothers. The concert will be on the lawn of the Museum. Food and beverages available for purchase. Blankets and lawn chairs welcome, no coolers please. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the gate. Tickets can be purchased at mmfa.org until October 8 or by calling 334.240.4333.
Experience Camelot’s “one brief shining moment” as Lerner and Loewe envisioned it in one of theatre’s most legendary musicals. Recount the time-honored legend of King Arthur, Guenevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table in an enchanting fable of chivalry, majesty, and brotherhood in this four-time Tony Award-winning show. For ticket information visit magicspace.net/birmingham
Art In Concert Museum of Fine Art Friday, October 10th, , 7-11 pm
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Broadway in Birmingham Presents Camelot BJCC, Birmingham Saturday/Sunday, October 11/12, various times
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MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
SANDESTIN, FLORIDA
The #1 longest-running American musical in Broadway history is coming to the Montgomery Performing Arts Centre! Winner of Six 1997 Tony Awards Including Best Musical Revival. A true New York City institution, CHICAGO has everything that makes Broadway great: a universal tale of fame, fortune and all that jazz; one show-stopping song after another; and the most astonishing dancing you’ve ever seen. No wonder CHICAGO has been honored with 6 Tony Awards®, 2 Olivier Awards®, a Grammy® and thousands of standing ovations. For more information visit mpaconline.org
Time to roll out the barrel and discover unique suds & ales! The Village of Baytowne Wharf at Sandestin presents the 7th Annual Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest on October 17 & 18. American specialty beers from around the nation will be available for participants to sample and savor. The main event on Saturday, October 18th will feature more than 200 domestic and international craft beers available for sampling. Brewery representatives will be available at the event, offering an opportunity to learn about the different types of lagers and ales from a variety of styles. Live music will be also featured during the festival. For more information visit baytownebeerfest.squarespace.com
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
BRUNDIDGE, ALABAMA
Join us for 11 nights of horror and fun at Zoo Boo. Climb aboard the thrill ride of a life time Haunted Hay Ride or mosey on over to the Pumpkin Pull for a good, ole fashioned, non-scary, traditional hay ride. Enjoy games, bouncy castles, concessions and much more at Zoo Boo. Gates open nightly at 6pm, and the first Haunted Hay Ride will pull out at dusk. $15 (ages 3 years old and older). Ticket includes entry, one ride on either the Haunted Hay Ride (scary ride) or the Pumpkin Pull Hay Ride (non-scary) and one sheet of game tickets (10 tickets per sheet). Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Parkway, Montgomery. For more information visit montgomeryzoo.com
The town of Brundidge pays tribute the foodstuff that sustained it during the Great Depression and to the little nut that continues to provide a giant boost to the local economy with the annual Peanut Butter Festival harvest and heritage celebration. The Festival gets underway with the 5K Peanut Butter Run and continues until dark catches us with non-stop entertainment, the Peanut Butter Recipe Contest, the Peanut Butter Kids Contest, old-time demonstrations, games and contests, the construction of Alabama’s Largest PB&J Sandwich, exhibits, a George Washington Carver presentation, arts, crafts, food and everything peanut butter, the Nutter Butter Parade of nutty people and nutty things and a street dance under the stars. For more information visit piddle.org
Chicago, The Musical Montgomery Performing Arts Center, 201 Tallapoosa St. Monday/Tuesday, October 13/14, 7:30 pm
Annual Zoo Boo Montgomery Zoo, 2310 Coliseum Parkway Thursday - Sunday October 16-31 6-9 pm
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA Old Alabama Tavern Fest North Hull Street, Montgomery Friday October 17th, 6-10 pm
Celebrate history with live music, food, dancing, and craft beer tasting. Live music from the Courtyard Saints, craft beer, wine, tavern fare by Jennie Weller, silent auction, and more! Private porch packages available - enjoy the evening from your own private table on the porch of a lovely Hull Street cottage. For more info call 334-240-4500. $10 advance, $15 at the gate. For more information visit oldalabamatown.org
Baytowne Wharf Beer Fest Village of Baytowne at Sandestin Friday/Saturday, September 17/18, All Day
Peanut Butter Festival Downtown Brundidge Saturday, October 25th, all day
PIKE ROAD, ALABAMA
Pike Road Arts & Crafts Fair Pike Road Saturday, November 1st, 8-4 pm The 48th Annual Arts & Crafts Fair is a wonderful holiday shopping opportunity! More than 250 artists and craftsmen will display their wares at the historic Marks House (circa 1825). Enjoy BBQ, fried chicken and other specialties. $5 admission. 890 Old Carter Hill Road, Pike Road, AL. For more information and directions visit pikeroadartsandcraftsfair.com
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By Greg Budell
The Mayor of BOOMTOWN
COUGARS & OTHER WILD LIFE Women have it made. If a 45 year old woman dates a 25 year old guy, society applauds her achievement and she becomes known as a “Cougar.” It’s a nice marketing touch. “Cougaring” has become a national phenomenon. Celebrity Cougars like Cameron Diaz and Jennifer Anacin (I spell her name that way because she gives me a headache) get rewarded with magazine covers and praise for attracting handsome, much younger men. On the other hand, if a 45 year old guy dates a 25 year old woman he is known as a Dirty Old Man and is mocked for dating a chick young enough to be his daughter. Unlike the Cougar, the marketing term for men who pursue significantly younger women is less flattering. They are called “Perverts”. I work with a very talented woman named Susan Woody. She’s been an A-list radio personality in Montgomery for, well… See? This is what I mean. It is so unfair! If I tell you she’s been on the air for any amount of time that even infers her age, I will have broken another rule. I risk making her mad, and by rote, all women. I have learned that if you do wrong by one woman, you may as well buy prime time TV spots on all the major networks
and announce, “I am a despicable, thoughtless, utterly contemptible jerk of a man”. NBC, CBS, and ABC have nothing on the Chick Network when it comes to letting the world know what you are. Nor can I say Susan “looks great for her age”. She just looks great. She is NOT an old lady, but does qualify for the senior discount at Publix… for that matter, so do I. Not long after she joined our radio station, she told me of a 30-something “good looking” guy in her neighborhood who came on to her during a backyard chat. Though she enjoyed the flattery of a younger man’s attention, Susan is not that kind of girl, so the whippersnapper’s desires were dashed. I have since dubbed Susan “The Cougar”. She has become something of a sex symbol here in town and deservedly so. She is very attractive. In keeping with the Great Double Standard, Susan has returned the favor by turning me into a different kind of sex symbol, calling me “Greg ‘yes I look like a 70s porn star but I’m really a nice guy’ Budell”.
I lose again (and I lost that particular mustache years ago). I was “cougared” eons ago at age 20 while working for ABCFM in Chicago. The program director had hired a strip- I mean, a very attractive music librarian – a 27 year old woman whose primary talents exploded under a skin tight blouse. One day, I, the very young and innocent Gregory Benjamin Budell was in the station music library searching for an album when I heard the door close behind me. I turned around, and there she was, peeling off (appropriate term since it fit like the skin on an apple) her top, asking if I wanted to have “some fun”. I know how that scene is supposed to play out in a movie. Her aggressive approach, however, freaked me out. She was just too old!! In my 20 year old eyes, a 27 year old woman looked positively ancient. Really. I was also still somewhat nerdish in those days and the idea that our station manager might walk in and catch us was too much. My budding career was the great love of my life then and I was not about to toss it away for a great story to tell the other DJs. She had me pinned against a big stack of boxes containing Steely Dan albums we’d ordered for a contest (Ironically it was “Can’t Buy A Thrill”).
Greg Budell's column is proudly sponsored by McDonald, Barranco & Hagen Wealth Management
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Facing certain suffocation, I slid downward and bolted for the outer office where I escaped to safety. Don’t get me wrong. It’s not the Cougar and subsequent trophy taking behavior I find troubling- just the double-standard. Still, there is one group of men who overcome age, obesity and homeliness to snag that young hottie- without societal disapproval. They’re called “rich”. See what I mean?
Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his wife, children and dogs. He’s a 25 year veteran of radio who hosts the Greg & Susan morning show 6-9 am and Happy Hour 3-6 pm on NEWSTALK 93.1, Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com
The Capital City Artists will host an opening reception for their Tenth Annual Art Exhibit on Sunday October 5th, from 2-4 pm at the Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Avenue, Montgomery. The exhibit will continue for the month of October. Every year the artists select a theme for their annual exhibit and one wall of paintings is dedicated to that theme. This year’s theme is “Reflections”. Each artist will submit a painting representing this theme. The exhibition will also include non-themed works, including still life, landscapes, portraits and new this year will be a section dedicated to a group of smaller paintings (10 x 10). Most pieces will be for sale, with prices beginning at $75. The Capital City Artists is a group of men and women that meet and paint together once or twice a week at the studio of Judie Hooks. Judie is a full time artist. Some members of this group of 22 have been painting together for over twenty years, others are new to the class. Everyone in the group started out as a student, but several artists have paintings in shops and galleries throughout the state and others are art teachers in area schools. Most members work in oil; some use acrylics. Many of these artists continue learning about different methods and styles of painting through local, regional and out of state workshops. Judie reminds her students “All artists remain in a stage of learning; as painting is a never ending process.”
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A Business Mini is a little fatter than your old business card and for a limited time we are offering a Business Mini to fit your budget. Fifty dollars will get your business message in front of thousands of people over 50 who have the money to buy stuff. Every business needs one more customer, where will yours come from? Call today and get your $50 Business Mini, 324.3472 or jim@riverregionboom.com
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