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Sponsored by Vivian O'Nay
Fashion with the Ladies at Vivian O’Nay! Fashion Ideas for Women Over 50
The sun is shining and it’s time to jump into summertime fashion with the ladies at Vivian O’Nay!
one be sure to grab it because they are staying sold out in shops all over the River Region.
A few of the ladies at Vivian O’Nay will be bringing the readers of Boom a column each season and on special occasions with updates on current trends. Each month we will feature a different employee over 50 to highlight her own personal style combined with the trends which are “in” at the moment. This month Gloria Locklin has curated a collection to help us do just that! At Vivian O’Nay we pride ourselves on providing fashions for ladies of all ages and sizes. Gloria, or “GiGi” as we call her at the store, is proud to be curvy and loves helping people find the perfect item to help them feel confident and beautiful in their own skin.
We couldn’t do an article encompassing GiGi’s personal style without mentioning one of her main staples. She loves Ronaldo bracelets and her arms are always stacked high showcasing her collection. Ronaldo offers high quality artist wire bracelets, earrings, and necklaces often with mixed metals and each has its own unique meaning behind it. They have a selection for any person and every occasion whether it be birthday, anniversary, graduation, sympathy, or just because! They make great keepsakes which speak to the heart and offer a personalized touch.
As someone who has worked in retail for many years, she has perfected pairing her own signature look with the latest fashions. Some of her favorite fits which never go out of style are flattering tops with a yoke in the back, V-neck cuts, and a nice amount of upper arm coverage. She loves having versatile pieces which might be chosen for one event but can be styled to be worn multiple ways. She also believes dresses are always better when they have pockets and that a good comfy peep-toe wedge goes with almost everything. For the Summer we have noticed one specific trend which has taken off tremendously- tie-dye! Everything always seems to come back around eventually and this time we are seeing it everywhere. It’s amazing to us how designers can come up with so many variations using one concept. Our personal favorite take on the craze usually also is incorporated in with a wrinkle free material which is ideal for travel. When wearing a pattern like tie-dye we feel it is always best to keep the other aspects of your outfit simple to let the main concept really shine. She is also wearing a pair of our Lemon Jelly shoes with her outfit. These shoes
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GiGi is wearing a tie-dye hi-lo
Gloria Locklin, "GiGi", highlights her personal style with trending items'...
One other line we wanted to mention is new to our store but captured our attention at market- Mariana. The designer believes each piece has the power to uplift those who wear it. The pieces are Lemon Jelly shoes made up of only the highest and Bogg Bags quality materials and are made to last a lifetime. The beauty of Mariana speaks for itself which is why we made sure to include a picture! The gorgeous stones pop and make a beautiful statement on any woman.
are so lightweight they feel as if you are wearing nothing! They have a low platform style heel and slide on easily which makes them a perfect summer staple. When it comes to shoes, comfort is key! Major brands are coming out with more styles focused on offering a substantial amount of cushion while still being fashion Ronaldo bracelets, and forward. Mariana necklaces
Another trend which has become huge in the South seemed to have popped up overnight! Bogg bags (pictured) are selling out at our store the same day we get them in. The bag was created to be large enough to carry everything for a day at the beach or pool; sturdy and durable enough to not tip over and spill everything; and easily cleanable with a quick rinse off. One thing is certain- you will be seeing these everywhere this Summer! If you can get your hands on
In retail things are always changing as far as how people shop and the styles that come and go. We feel one of the most important parts about fashion is feeling you can trust whoever is helping you to be honest and provide feedback for what looks and fits you best. It’s fun to try out fast fashion items like tie-dye, bogg bags, and lemon jelly shoes but also great to know it’s worth the investment to purchase high quality versatile items and jewelry like Mariana and Ronaldo. Until next time… feel your style! Visit Vivian O'Nay and find your fashion sense, they're located at 3500 Wetumpka Highway, Montgomery, AL. You can call 334.290.5268 or visit www.vivianonay.com The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Senior Services Alabama Department of
Helping Seniors, Call Today!
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Alabama Department of Senior Services (ADSS) and our 13 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) have worked diligently to meet the needs of Alabama’s senior citizens. When all senior centers were closed to public activity in mid-March by order of the Governor and the State Health Officer, the AAAs and senior center staff responded with creative ways to provide meals, activities, and connection during this time. During normal times, the ADSS Elderly Nutrition Program provides hot, heathy meals in a congregate setting in senior centers throughout the state. With congregate meals no longer an option,
Food Box-AAA
the Nutrition Coordinators at each AAA had to decide how and what kind of meals senior participants would be served based on the center’s location, storage, transportation, and staffing. Initially, everyone ordered emergency shelf stable meals to pass out to all participants in case staff/volunteers got sick or travel was interrupted. Each box contained 7 meals: canned entrees, fruits, juices, crackers, cereal bars, nuts and nut butters, and dry milk. Frozen
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meals were packaged in boxes of 5 or 7: entrée, two side items, dessert, milk, and juice. Hot meals continued to be served at some senior centers via curbside pick-up and home delivery. Hot meals contained an entrée, two sides, bread, fruit or juice, milk, and dessert. Senior Center managers, staff, and volunteers had to come together, wear personal protective equipment, then dip, serve, and deliver the meals. At other senior centers hot meals were changed to shelf stable meals or frozen meals to ensure our participants did not miss any meals. The frozen home delivered meal
are ok during this time when so many people are isolated from family and friends. Other food programs that have occurred Commissioner - Jean W. Brown are the grocery bag program and the USDA Farmers to Families Food Box Program. In the grocery bag program, there were seniors who couldn’t leave their home or were reluctant to go to the grocery store. In such cases, the local AAA would find out what each person needed, then purchase food items and either deliver the groceries or when feasible, ask the recipient to pick up the groceries from the AAA. Additional money to pay for the increased amount of food and meals is being provided by the Federal Government as part of COVID-19 stimulus emergency funds.
In the USDA program, GA Foods, which provides meals for Alabama’s Elderly Nutrition Program, was awarded a contract to provide a 21- pound combination Food Box Program Pick-Up Delivering Groceries box of perishable foods. This box contained program, with delivery of a 5 or 7 pack fresh fruit, pre-cooked meat (chicken weekly to a person’s home, has continued or pork), cheese, butter, fresh milk, and throughout this time. Some clients assorted fresh vegetables. GA Foods who were unable to come to the center partnered with ADSS and the AAAs to get a hot meal were transitioned to to implement the program. The AAAs this program so they would continue to set up delivery times and worked with receive meals. All across Alabama, people community organizations to get the word stepped up to make sure seniors got out as to when and where people could fed. Senior center managers, staff, and receive the free fresh food boxes. Many volunteers have spent time each week volunteers stepped up to hand out the checking on people and making sure folks boxes of food, battling Alabama’s summer The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
heat and humidity. These deliveries were at least 280 fresh food boxes, and some deliveries were up to 1000 boxes. These Hot Meal Pick-Up deliveries were set up all over the state depending on where the AAA could partner with community groups. Many thousands of pounds of food have been delivered statewide each week. Moreover, these free boxes can be provided by many nonprofit organizations and can go to people of all ages, rather than just to the elderly. Now that summer has arrived, the AAAs are transitioning back to hot meals. With senior centers still closed to the public, all hot meals are packaged at the senior center and are either given out by curbside pickup or delivered to the home of the client. In addition, nutrition education is being provided regularly. Each client receives informative handouts from 1 – 4 times per month during meal delivery. Nutrition counseling is also being provided by Registered Dietitians through telephone calls. Nutritionists at ADSS and Nutrition Coordinators at the AAA level continue to monitor the meal deliveries, food isolation areas. and any nutrition-related services needed by our elderly population. ADSS is also launching a pilot program in all 13 AAAs with Joy for All robotic companion pets. These robotic cats and dogs have built-in sensors which allow the companion pets to respond to presence and touch, and react to their environment, establishing a true two-way companionship between a pet and its Hot Meal Box owner and ultimately The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
bringing comfort, joy, and fun to isolated seniors. Several other states have been using the pets and they have been shown to reduce loneliness and isolation by up to 70%. Using Federal grant dollars, the pets are being purchased for under $100 each. All of the AAAs are eager to use the new pets with their clients. During this pilot program, evaluations will be conducted at delivery of the pet, then at 3 months, 6 months, and a year. ADSS Commissioner Jean Brown learned of this program during a weekly Administration for Community Living (ACL) COVID-19 call where states were encouraged to share what they were doing to help the senior population during the pandemic.
Our vision is to help society and state government prepare for the changing aging demographics through effective leadership, advocacy, and stewardship.
Taking part is your civic duty.
Completing the census is mandatory: it’s a way to participate in our democracy and say
“I COUNT!”
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Pet Program
Commissioner Brown states, “If we can improve our seniors’ lives by spending under $100 apiece for these companion pets, then I certainly want to give it a try. With our loneliness screening tool, we will be able to assess whether the pets are as successful in Alabama as they have been shown to be in other states. I am certainly hopeful about this pilot project during this time when many seniors have been choosing “safer at home” during this vile COVID-19 pandemic.” For more information about the Alabama Department of Senior Services, contact your local AAA and ADRC at 1-800-AGE-LINE (1800-243-5463). You can also find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. We want to help in any way we can.
It's against the law for the Census Bureau to publicly release your responses in any way that could identify you or your household. By law, your responses cannot be used against you and can only be used to produce statistics.
www.alabama2020census.com R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
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BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Contents
July 2020 Volume 10 Issue 11
You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
Facebook.com/RiverRegionBoom C.S. Lewis
Thought Relationships Taste Inspiration
Humor Advice Health Community
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Carl Bard
4 Fashion with the Ladies at Vivian O’Nay! 6 Alabama Department of Senior Services-Helping Seniors, Call Today! 8 French River Cruise Trip 12 Publisher's Column 14 What Retirees Want: A Holistic View of Life’s Third Age
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Features 18 8 Steps to Writing a Great Memoir
22 Ten Ways to Improve Memory Power and Boost Brain Health
42 Gorham’s Bluff: Jackson County’s Hidden Gem with Jeff Barganier
Departments 30 This and That Interesting Stuff
16 CARES Act Expansion-What You Need To Know, Susan Moore 20 AUM OLLI Making Preparations for Fall 24 My Gardening Inspiration By Elijah Pugh
44 Greg Budell Happy 2020.5!
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26 Exercise: More Important Than Ever By Leigh Anne Richards 28 Losing Your Marbles Ask an Elder Law Attorney 31 A Memoir, Don’t Worry About The Mule Going Blind
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32 Life Enrichment Guide 33 BOOM! Reader Discounts 34 Recipe: French Potato Salad with Herbs 36 BOOM! Cover Profile
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Free Subscriptions @ w w w. r i ve rre gio n b o o m.co m
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41 What's in Your Closet? 46 Who grows our food? with Tracy Bhalla
BOOM! The River Regions 50+ Lifestage Magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, P.O. Box 6203, Montgomery, AL 36106. The phone number is 334.324.3472. Copyright 2020 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
What Retirees Want? Are you retired? Thinking about it? As we age, retirement thoughts grab our attention more and more. There’s a whole lot of stuff that goes with those thoughts. Money. Safety/Security. Social Network. Family. Health. New Challenges. Netflix.? Whatever goes through your mind when you think about retirement is probably similar to many of the other 2 billion people over 60 in the world today.
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.
Publisher/Editor Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com
Contributing Writers Kimberly Blaker Jeff Barganier Tracy Bhalla Greg Budell
Stephie Culpepper John Hanc Nina Kynard Susan Moore Elijah Pugh Leigh Anne Richards Raley L. Wiggins
A new book being published this month, What Retirees Want: A Holistic View of Life’s Third Age explains how the people and organizations serving them will view the aging process, retirement being redefined to encourage all of us to thrive in a new era. As the Baby Boomer generation paves the way for an entirely morphed retirement. This exciting third age poses many daunting questions the book addresses, including: How long will we live and what will "old" look like in the years ahead? What incredible new technologies of medicine, life extension, and human enhancement await us in the near future? What new products and services will boom as a result of this coming longevity revolution? Will the majority of elder Boomers outlive their pensions and retirement savings and how can this financial disaster be prevented? How will youth and age get along as the demographic equations shift? Jim Watson, Publisher jim@riverregionboom.com
I don’t know about you, but I want to be part of this transformation of aging, if nothing else, at least staying engaged with what it looks like and the many benefits that will hopefully come from it. In simple terms, as we think through our own sense of “retirement” I think it’s important to be a proactive ager and recognize the changes coming our way. Go with the flow and try not to be left behind.
Cover Photography Total Image Portraits www.totalimage.com
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Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com Please Recycle This Magazine, Share with a Friend!
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We have another wonderful cover profile this month, Nina Kynard, owner of Kynard’s Korner Vintage Boutique. Nina understands the value of vintage clothing and has become an expert and collector over the past 15 years. Her clients come from Hollywood, New York, New Orleans and of course the River Region. Nina married a collector too! A smart matchmaking prerequisite and they’ve been married and collecting together for 39 years! Go by and browse some of the classics of fashion and see what you can add to your wardrobe, they have accessories and men’s fashions as well. Of course, we have plenty more good reads. Greg Budell, is determined to start this year over and get back to the normal we all miss, check it out and see if you agree. Susan Moore, our newest columnist, and financial expert digs into the Cares Act Expansion and what you need to know. Leigh Anne Richards and Elder Law expert Raley Wiggins discuss the physical fitness and your mental fitness as you age, we probably need that! We also offer tips on how to write your memoir and boost your brain and memory. Finally, our good friend and travel writer Jeff Barganier, takes us to Gorham’s Bluff for another cool place to plan a visit. We have a new advertiser starting with us this month and I know all of you will find the shopping experience with Health Wise Foods on Atlanta Hwy a real benefit to your health and well-being. If you’ve been thinking about changing some of your lifestyle habits including food and supplements, owners Steve and Willard can help you find a better, healthier way. We also offer a coupon to get you started on page 33. Tell them BOOM! suggested Health Wise Foods. If you haven’t started receiving the digital version this is a great month to begin. Please subscribe yourself or others at www.riverregionboom.com , IT’s FREE! Please consider all of our advertisers when you have needs, they’re all on the right side of positive aging and would love to do business with each of you. Please share your thoughts on this issue or any other ideas regarding BOOM! I love to listen. Go With the Flow!
Jim 334.324.3472 cell/text jim@riverregionboom.com
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What Retirees Want:
A Holistic View of Life’s Third Age
Today, thanks to extraordinary medical, demographic, and economic shifts, most of us will live unprecedentedly long lives. Consequently, the world is witnessing a powerful new version of retirement—the Third Age—driven by the power and needs of the massive Baby Boomer generation. Consumers over 50 now account for more than half of all spending and control more than 70% of the country’s net worth. How will work, family, health, leisure, money, success, purpose, and retirement be transformed in the years ahead to accommodate two billion people over the age of 60 worldwide? This wide-ranging book, What Retirees Want: A Holistic View of Life’s Third Age, explains how individuals, businesses, non-profits, and governments can best prepare to thrive in a new era—where the needs and demands of third agers will set the lifestyle, health, social, marketplace, and political priorities of generations to come. What Retirees Want, written by Ken Dychtwald, PhD, and Robert Morison, presents the culmination of 30+ years of their groundbreaking research. The book offers an unrivaled, holistic understanding of today’s and tomorrow’s retirees. As the Baby Boomer generation paves the way for an entirely morphed retirement, this exciting third age poses many daunting questions addressed in the book, including: • How long will we live and what will "old" look like in the years ahead? • What incredible new technologies of medicine, life extension, and human enhancement await us in the near future? • What new products and services will boom as a result of this coming longevity revolution? • Will the majority of elder Boomers outlive their pensions and retirement savings and how can this financial disaster be prevented? • How will youth and age get along as the demographic equations shift? Available everywhere books and eBooks are sold on July 15.
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CARES Act Expansion-What You Need To Know In June, the IRS expanded the relief provided by the CARES act in two ways. Now all unwanted Required Minimum Distributions taken from IRAs or company plans in 2020 can be rolled over by August 31, 2020 so that no tax would be due. This includes distributions taken in January which were previously excluded. In addition, the IRS expanded the definition of who is eligible to take penalty-free distributions or loans from their 401(k)s and IRAs. A “qualified individual” is eligible to take up to $100,000 of coronavirus-related distributions (CRDs) penalty-free from employer plans and IRAs and spread the taxes over three years. The IRS expanded the definition of a qualified individual in June to include anyone who has someone in their household, a spouse or a roommate, who was negatively impacted by the virus, including a reduction in pay or having a job offer rescinded. The normal 20% mandatory tax withholding is waived along with the 10% pre-59 ½ early withdrawal penalty. The individual has three years to either pay the tax or to roll the funds over back into the plan or an IRA. The IRS also expanded the ability to take a tax-free loan from a retirement plan, increasing the amount to $100,000 or 100% of the funds in the plan. No interest is due during 2020, and the individual has five years starting in 2021 to pay the loan back with interest to the plan. Employer plans are not required to provide either the CRDs or the expanded loan provisions, but surveys showed that most plans were providing the additional relief. So, the ability to access your retirement plan and IRAs have been expanded. The question is should an individual take advantage of this? If someone has been negatively impacted by the virus, they need to weigh the opportunity
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Financial Thoughts with Susan Moore
complimentary and without obligation. If you would like a consultation, please call 334.270.1672 to schedule an appointment with Susan. Susan Clayton Moore, J.D., is a financial advisor and wealth manager with Moore Wealth Management, Inc., which has offices in Montgomery, Alexander City and Auburn. Susan has been a financial planner for over 37 years. She has been quoted in Kiplinger’s Magazine and Investment News. Susan earned her law degree from Tulane University in 1981.
By Susan Clayton Moore, J.D.
Principal of Moore Wealth Management, Inc.
cost of lost growth in their retirement savings with the immediate need for funds. Another option to consider is taking a home equity loan. Important considerations would be the difference in interest rates and the probability that your job gets eliminated, which could force an immediate repayment of the loan to the retirement plan. One option is to take the CRD so that you can roll it over to your IRA. This would give you the option to convert it to a Roth IRA in a year in which your tax bracket might be lower. Your IRA might have investment options not available in your 401(k) such as annuities with living benefit guarantees. Before taking a CRD and rolling it over into your IRA you would want to compare fees and expenses, investment options, services, the ability to take penalty-free withdrawals, estate planning aspects and tax-treatment of employee stock, among other aspects. The expanded relief offered by the CARES act makes it advisable for qualified individuals to consider their options carefully by consulting both their financial advisor and their accountant. At Moore Wealth Management, our consultations are always confidential,
In this time of coronavirus, Susan is conducting daily market updates by webinar. During the daily market updates, Susan will discuss events that are impacting the markets, sharing her opinion and those of strategists she respects. There will be no specific investment recommendations as to any security or predictions of specific performance. She believes that we are in unprecedented times and that sharing information is a valuable resource to make it through the month ahead. If you would like to be included in the webinar, please contact Sarah at 256.234.2761 or sarah@moorewealthmanagement.com. Securities offered through Kestra Investment Services, LLC (Kestra IS), member FINRA/SIPC. Investment Advisory Services offered through Kestra Advisory Services, LLC (Kestra AS), an affiliate of Kestra IS. Kestra IS or Kestra AS are not affiliated with Moore Wealth Management, Inc. The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and may not necessarily reflect those held by Kestra Investment Services, LLC or Kestra Advisory Services, LLC. This is for general information only and is not intended to provide specific investment advice or recommendations for any individual. It is suggested that you consult your financial professional, attorney, or tax advisor with regard to your individual situation. Comments concerning the past performance are not intended to be forward looking and should not be viewed as an indication of future results.
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Want to Share a Life Experience with Others? Everyone who has ever lived has a story to tell. As you approach mid to later life, you may find yourself reflecting on your past. Perhaps you realize you've lived through significant or relatable events, experiences, choices, and changes that would be fascinating or helpful to others. This is what leads many people to write a memoir. But how do you go about telling your story?
8 Steps to Writing a Great Memoir
1. Decide what to write about and why A memoir differs from an autobiography in that it focuses on one aspect of or time from your life. So before you get started, reflect on the reason you want to write a memoir. Then, to find your focus, write down your ideas using methods such as a mind map or stream-of-consciousness writing. Typically, memoirs that do best have a takeaway for the reader. Although your story can and should be unique or unusual, it should also have a core to which the reader can connect. 2. Define your theme and stick to it Once you've decided what your memoir is about, find its theme. A clear theme like coming of age, dealing with loss, friendship, determination, or overcoming adversity will help you focus your story and connect to readers. Of course, life doesn’t fit easily into a clean theme or narrative. So try to separate the relevant and extraneous details. 3. Refresh your memories Write down all your relevant memories with as much detail as you can remember. Include not only events but also senses and emotions you experienced. Throughout the memoir, remember to show, not just tell, to evoke a more authentic, emotional connection with the reader. If possible, talk to others who were involved in the memories to get their perspective or to trigger memories of details you may have forgotten. Looking at old pictures or journal entries or visiting significant places can also help refresh your memory. If you find this step too challenging, you might not be ready to write about these memories. Perhaps pacing yourself would be easier to manage emotionally. 4. Be Authentic In a memoir, being honest and authentic is essential. If you're not, it will reflect in your writing and result in disengaging the reader. When sharing part of your life with others, vulnerability is necessary, so they'll care about what you're writing. If you hold back, readers can't get a full sense of who you are and why your story matters. Keep in mind that no one is perfect. If we were, we wouldn't have learned or grown. So don't hide your flaws or bad decisions if they're part of your story.
5. Develop a structure Based on your memories and theme, think about how to structure your story. Memoirs often have a personal growth arc, where you learned something or something happened that changed your life. Think about your theme and what you want your reader to get out of your story. An outline can help you stay on the theme while laying out a clear structure that the reader can follow. Find an interesting way to structure your story; you don't necessarily want to start at the beginning. Look for an exciting or notable moment to hook your readers and get them wanting more. 6. Get writing Putting the first draft down on paper can be the hardest part because you're starting from nothing. It may seem intimidating. But remember that no one ever has to see the first draft. It's just you telling yourself the story. Also, don't worry too much about grammar, spelling, structure, or other elements at first because they can distract your train of thought and the flow of writing. Just get your story written down and worry about revision and editing later. If you're really struggling, try recording yourself telling the memories you want to include, or use a talk-to-text converter. Talking may feel more natural and be a less intimidating way to get started. If it helps, ask someone close to you to be in the room while recording and speak directly to them, so it feels more conversational and natural. 7. Put your personality into the writing You're telling your own story, so it should sound like you. Do you often tell jokes? Swear? Use a particular phrase? Include those quirks from your normal speech into your writing. Pay attention to how you talk in your daily life or ask those closest to you for their observations of how you speak. If you use talk-to-text or a recording to do your first draft, that's a great way to notice what your natural speech is like. 8. Be consistent If you're serious about writing your memoir, it's important to intentionally carve out time to write and work. Writing your memoir will take time and dedication, and likely won't be easy. A memoir requires an in-depth, sincere look into your own life and the choices you made. There are also more tedious aspects to writing, such as writer's block, rounds of editing, trying to find a publisher, or figuring out how to self-publish. So it may be helpful to join a writing group or find a writing partner to keep you accountable for making progress. This kind of support can also serve as a resource when you feel stuck or need an outside opinion.
Kimberly Blaker is a freelance lifestyle and senior writer. She's also founder and director of KB Creative Digital Services, an internet marketing agency, at www.kbcreativedigital.com
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AUM OLLI Making Preparations for Fall The Osher Foundation, from which AUM OLLI receives some funding, states its mission as promoting “learning for the joy of learning-- without examinations or grades--and keeping in touch with a larger world.” AUM OLLI seeks to fulfill those goals through course offerings in several areas: study/discussion classes in many fields, do-it-yourself (DIY) classes, and active classes. In addition to these offerings, it creates a community among its members by offering opportunities for visiting and building friendships. The crisis of the coronavirus has complicated the ability to provide all of these activities. When the 2020 spring classes had to be discontinued, AUM OLLI was able to provide some online offerings – a few courses and two book discussion classes. The responses to these options have been quite enthusiastic.
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AUM OLLI has begun planning the fall 2020 schedule considering a number of options that will allow us to fulfill goals and provide for the safety of our members: • Assessing every room for an appropriate class capacity to maintain social distancing; • Considering a different class schedule to limit the number of people in the building and moving from one class to another and to allow for cleaning the rooms between classes; • Offering “hybrid” classes that will allow some members in the classroom while others participate online (classrooms are being equipped with webcams); • Asking participants to bring their own thermoses of water or coffee. Some actions will be added to this list as time passes. For the fall, AUM OLLI will concentrate
on the study/discussion classes, book groups, and perhaps some online lunch presentations because of the difficulty of following safety guidelines in the DIY and active classes. We are developing some exciting new courses to interest members to allow them to continue “the joy of learning” and to “keep in touch with a larger world.” Now is a good time to become a member of AUM OLLI. As we look to the fall, we invite – even urge – new and current members to join us in planning. Recommend courses to add to the schedule – for online or face-to-face offerings (or combined), especially if there is a recommended instructor. We are trying to be flexible in our planning since options are still uncertain. Visit our website at www.aum.edu/OLLI to join and to stay informed.
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Ten Ways to Improve Memory Power and Boost Brain Health As we age, there are proven strategies for nurturing a stronger, sharper memory. You can in fact teach an old dog new tricks, or an old brain as the case may be! Our brains can adapt and constantly change regardless of age. Brains have the potential to create new cells and neural connections. This is called neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to change, grow and improve, as well as to hone it’s memory function. Brains need the proper stimulants to stay well-tuned, however. Not surprisingly, lifestyle and daily habits have a big impact on brain health and cognitive well-being, including memory. A poor diet, lack of sleep, inadequate exercise, and stress for instance, do not make for a healthy brain. As we know, boosting brain and memory health can also help stave off the onset and/or progression of cognitive diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia. 10 Habits that help Improve Your Memory Diet & nutrition. The old adage “you are what you eat” is true. The foods you eat and don't eat play a crucial role in memory health. A diet that includes fresh, versus processed foods is best for the brain, as well as one that is low in sugar and high in healthy fats like omega-3 fatty acids/fish oils, extra-virgin olive oils, and coconut oil. Clinical studies have actually shown that fresh leafy greens and vegetables can help fuel memory power. The Mediterranean diet has long been linked to helping prevent cognitive decline and improving memory. More recently, the Ketogenic diet (one that is low in carbohydrates and high in healthy fats) has
also been proven to improve memory and preserve brain function. Some foods in particular have been identified as memory boosters. Walnuts and blueberries for instance, seem to improve brain function, memory, and concentration. Foods rich in Lutein (a type of vitamin that is related to beta-carotene and vitamin A) such as kale and spinach, avocados, and eggs may also counter cognitive aging and memory loss. Celery, broccoli, and cauliflower contain antioxidants that protect brain health and may actually stimulate production of new brain cells. If you love Indian and Moroccan food, you’ll be happy to know that curry and cinnamon are two spices that are associated with memory improvement. Moderate amounts of caffeine also seem to reverse memory impairment. If you are averse to coffee and caffeine, try peppermint tea which has proven to improve long-term and working memory. Another great memory food of course is chocolate! Yes, chocolate has been found to enhance memory and visual information processing. Exercise. Healthy body, healthy mind, as they say. If you want your memory to stay fit, you need to stay active and keep your body fit. There are many exercises for seniors that improve memory, and brain power. Exercise increases oxygen levels to the brain and can trigger helpful brain chemicals. It also decreases stress and can promote good sleep. Studies have indicated that aerobic activity and resistance training may actually boost brain power and memory in people over the age of 50.
Exercise makes for improved blood flow to your brain which we know enhances cognitive function. A good workout can actually encourage nerve cells to multiply and strengthen their performance. One year-long study showed that individuals who engaged in exercise were actually growing and expanding the brain's memory center one to two percent per year. Doctors recommend exercising at least three times a week. Start with 20-minute walks and build stamina slowly. Expand your exercise program to include longer walks, stretching, core strengthening exercises, and light weight training. Sleep. Scientists say that while we sleep our bodies optimize and consolidate newly acquired information and store it as memory. Adults need 7-9 hours of sleep a night for optimum physical and mental health. A good night’s sleep is one of the simplest things we can do to improve information retention and memory power. A single night of sleep deprivation (only four to six hours of sleep) can impact our ability to think clearly the next day. Sleep deprivation and Alzheimer’s disease have even been shown to be correlated. Twothree consecutive nights of insufficient sleep and our brains are mush! Napping. I am a huge fan of napping. And now I have the perfect excuse -- research has found that adults 65 and older who took an hour-long nap in the afternoon and improved their performance on cognitive tests. Brain games. Just as muscles become stronger with use, memory and cognitive
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skills do too. If we don’t stimulate and challenge our brains with new information, eventually this vital organ will deteriorate. Research on brain plasticity shows that neurons are stimulated by events and information. By providing your brain with the appropriate stimulus you can counter degeneration and memory loss. Stimulating brain games for seniors promote cognitive health and a strengthened memory. Entire websites are devoted to brain games, but you can also do a crossword puzzle or Sudoku every day. Almost every newspaper is chock full of brain puzzles.
a ballroom dance class! Dancing is good for our physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing. Relaxation and stress management. Learning to relax by de-stressing and meditating are clinically proven ways to improve your memory. When we’re calm, we think more clearly, we retain information better and remember more. When we’re stressed and agitated, we tend to be more forgetful and make mistakes. Being calm makes for mental clarity.
Just 25 minutes a day of mindfulness exercises, mediation, or gentle yoga have been found to have a positive effect on mood and to boost brain function. One study showed that daily meditation strengthened the brain’s cerebral cortex, which is responsible for decision making, attention, and memory. Listening to music is also an effective strategy for relieving stress and reversing early memory loss in older adults. Stop and smell the roses, calm your nerves, and relax; your memory will be the beneficiary.
Card and board games. Whether it’s a simple game of Go Fish or Gin Rummy, or a challenging game of bridge, card games require that you count and calculate and think. MahJong, Scrabble, chess and checkers are all games that exercise the memory muscles. Reading. Reading is one of the easiest ways to stimulate your brain. It can be interesting, enjoyable, informative, and requires that you connect the dots. Reading may help promote longevity, as one study has shown. And today, reading material is merely a click away. Magazines, newspapers, and books are all accessible today via your favorite digital device or computer. I still prefer to hold a book and newspaper in my hand, but regardless of how you read, incorporate it into your daily routine. Make a habit of sharing what you’ve read with family and friends every day and it will also help fine tune your memory bank. Master a new skill. Learn to play a musical instrument; take an online art class and learn to dabble with canvas and watercolor paints. Take a course on digital photography or on some other area that interests you. Cognitive stimulation is critical for a healthy, engaged brain, and improving memory. Needlepoint, knitting, woodworking and other DIY projects can all be learned. The key is to find an activity that is stimulating and enjoyable for you. What is a new skill that requires focus and attention and makes you happy? An activity that you look forward to doing? Dancing. The impact of dance on cognitive health is significant. It’s fun, good exercise, social, and it can require hand-body coordination, as well as memory through remembering the steps and moves. It can also be a great antidepressant and antidote for stress. You can dance in the privacy of your own home or engage with others; take
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Master Gardener's Perspective
By Elijah Pugh
My Gardening Inspiration
My interest in vegetable gardening was heightened by my visit to the Callaway Gardens as a parent chaperone for my daughter’s elementary school class field trip. I experienced the magic of the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, the beautiful hiking trails, the excellent educational wildlife exhibits and the culmination of the visit with a tour of the vegetable gardens. After returning home I quickly dug a small garden on the side of my home. A reminder: always call 811, the national call-before-you-dig phone number, before you dig in new areas so that buried utilities and cable lines can be marked with paint or flags. I used a pitchfork to do the digging, but the garden tilter is less back breaking. I started my garden with squash, tomatoes, and bell pepper plants. Eventually, I started planting seeds to get more diversity. Due to the limited planting space, I limited my selection to tomatoes and hot peppers. I planted these tomato seeds: Mr. Stripey (Tigerella), Red Robin, Dr. Carolyn, Sun Gold Hybrid, Sunsugar FT Hybrid, Big Red Dwarf, Snow White, Lemon Cherry VFF Hybrid, Green Doctor, Black Cherry, Red Rose, Sugary, Red Pear, Yellow Pear, Sweet Gold FT Hybrid, Limmony, Sweetie, Cherry Cascade
Hybrid, Micro Tom and Garden Leader Monster. These seeds had maturity times from 55 to 80 days. They grow from heights of 8 inches to long vines in pots or the ground. The tomatoes that have smaller heights, often referred to as “bush” are classified as determinate. These varieties of tomatoes grow a fixed mature size and ripen all their fruit in a short period. The long vine growing tomatoes are classified as indeterminate and keep growing for the whole growing season. I stake both determinate and indeterminate varieties for support, although the determinate variety usually do not need support. I have used almost anything for stakes like wooden and metal broom handles, metal cylinders from broken furniture, cut tree branches, home grown bamboo sticks and have also purchased six feet wooden stakes. I use different length cuts of nylon string with the ends melted to keep them from unraveling. I use slip knots so the strings can be easily repositioned or removed and be washed for use next season. All varieties of tomatoes should be pruned to remove lower leaves and lower suckers. These are side shoots that appear in the junction between the stem and a branch of a tomato plant. This prevents infecting plants with
bacteria from water splashes from the ground and to avoid suckers competing for nutrients with the original plant. When left to grow, suckers will become another main stem with branches, flowers, fruit, and even more suckers of their own. Your plant may have more fruit if you let the suckers grow, but the tomatoes will be smaller and the plant will be more cumbersome, requiring a lot of effort to stake. I am a sucker for suckers. I cannot bring myself to throw away suckers when pruning. Tomato suckers can be used to increase the number of your tomato plants. Suckers can be placed directly into the soil, treated with root growth powder, and placed into the soil or in water until the roots form and then be planted. I grow the seven hottest peppers in the world from seeds. The Carolina Reaper, the present hottest pepper, Trinidad Moruga Scorpion, White Bhut Jolokia, Bhut Jolokia (Ghost) Pepper, Trinidad 7 Pot – Primo, Trinidad Scorpion Butch T, and Big Sun Habanero. I stake the pepper plants in a similar manner as tomato plants. Elijah Pugh, an intern in the 2020 Master Gardener Class, lives in Prattville. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www. capcitymga.org or email capcitymga@gmail.com.
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Exercise: More Important Than Ever My friend, John Hanc, a writer from Long Island, New York, has done several interviews with me over the years about basic fitness trends. He writes for several nationally published newspapers and magazines, including the New York Times and, Runners World about fitness-related topics. I’m excited that this Alabamian and New Yorker can come together to write this article for you! During the pandemic, we talked about how our exercise had been affected and how we were coping. He is an avid runner, works out with a personal trainer and practices yoga. John, like the rest of us, is a BOOMER and exercise has been a part of his life for 40 years. When the stay-at-home order was put in place in both New York and Montgomery, the one thing that was not taken away was going outside to walk, run or do any kind of physical activity in our homes. As most of you are aware, COVID – 19 virus seems to hit the older population
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Fitness over Fifty by Leigh Anne Richards
and the people with chronic diseases the hardest. Some chronic diseases include Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity, etc., all conditions that can be prevented or alleviated with a healthy lifestyle that includes physical activity So if I can shout this from the roof tops (without a mask on), NOW should be a wakeup call to get active! In fact, COVID-19 should be a wake-up call for all of us to get us moving and healthy—not just for our physical health, but our mental health as well. John and I also discussed the importance of mental health during this pandemic. We’ve seen an increase of stress, depression, anxiety, loneliness,
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feelings of hopelessness. Anybody out there struggling with these or still struggling? Research shows that exercise can
Even if you have exercised during the pandemic, a lot of us lost our ability to work out together in a group fitness setting. Yes, you can get those feel-good hormones when exercising at home, but what happens when your time to connect with people and socialize was at your local gym? Even though many of you could not be in your exercise class or your walking group, technology became a way to work out together. ZOOM has become a popular way to get to see your friends and exercise. While you still can’t be in the same room together, sharing the joys and challenges of a Spin class, you are still able to look at the faces, talk and laugh while working out. John pointed out that he felt like us BOOMERS became more familiar with technology during this time in order
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to stay active and be able to keep in touch with people. You had to learn ZOOM to stay in contact with your grandchildren, committee meetings, etc. Heck, even happy hour and cocktail parties have been done through ZOOM. Many of you have had to learn about Fitness apps to stay active with types of exercises you were either doing with your trainer or your exercise class. If you haven’t discovered it already, social media platforms like YouTube, Instagram and Facebook are great sources of information for exercise videos and followalong exercise formats. If social media isn’t your thing, I also have several friends that bought a Peloton bike during the pandemic to stay active. Peloton’s stock has soared because you not only get a bike but so many other exercise formats to do in the privacy of your home. The point? Technology keeps us connected, and we as BOOMERS have been forced to learn. And if we’re honest, we think it’s a good thing for us! John and I agree that the Pandemic has made us appreciate our desire to exercise and stay fit more than ever. Even if you’re stuck at home—it’s never too late to start! It doesn’t have to be extreme or complicated, just find ways to move and have fun! And if you need help figuring out what to do, Google “exercises for Boomers.” I guarantee you’ll find plenty of ideas and videos. Although New York and Alabama are miles apart and culturally very different, the commonality is the importance and value of our health and wellness, with physical activity at the top of the list! John Hanc has authored or co-authored 18 books, including several award-winning memoirs and a number of successful works of prescriptive nonfiction. As a journalist Hanc, is a frequent contributor to The New York Times and a long-time contributing writer for Newsday. His work has also appeared in the Boston Globe, Columbia Journalism Review, Family Circle, Runner’s World, Smithsonian and other publications. Hanc teaches journalism at New York Institute of Technology and is a member of the Harvard Medical School’s annual three -day course Writing, Publishing and Social Media for Health care Professionals Leigh Anne Richards, MEd, Certified Personal Trainer, Group Exercise Instructor, General Manager- MetroFitness. For any questions or comments, contact Leigh Anne at LAMetrofit@aol.com
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Ask an Elder Law Attorney By: Raley L. Wiggins | Attorney at Law | Red Oak Legal, PC
Losing Your Marbles: Competency Issues for the Elderly In the eyes of the law, mental competency is a complex issue. Particularly among the elderly, it is unusual for someone to simply lose their ability to manage their own affairs overnight. It is much more common for one’s memory to slip gradually over time. But, when does memory loss cease being old-age “forgetfulness” and start becoming legal incompetence? As a lawyer, when I am asked whether an individual has legal mental capacity, my first question is always: “Capacity to do what?” To begin with, the law generally presumes that every adult has mental capacity, until proven otherwise. In addition, in the eyes of the law, the level of understanding and mental acuity needed to engage in a given transaction depends substantially on what the transaction is. At the high end of the spectrum is the capacity required to execute a binding contract. To execute a contract, one must have the ability to “understand and comprehend” their actions. A court will not find a contract to be void based upon the signer’s lack of mental capacity unless you can show that they had “no reasonable perception or understanding of the nature and terms of the contract.” At the opposite end of the spectrum is the capacity required to sign a last will and testament. This is a very low standard, which requires only that the person signing the will to be able to recall the property to be disposed of by the will, how it will be generally be divided, and the people they want to receive the property. So, a person may lack the legal mental capacity to sign a binding contract, but still have sufficient mind and memory to execute a valid last will and testament. Each case must be evaluated individually. But, what do you do if you suspect that a loved one is slipping to the point where they can no longer manage their own affairs? There are a couple of options.
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The first and best option is to manage that person’s affairs under a power of attorney executed by the loved one, while they were competent. Of course, once a person’s mental ability has begun to decline, it may be too late to sign a power
a petition is filed with the court stating why the individual needs a guardian and conservator to be appointed. The court will then appoint a lawyer for the allegedly incapacitated individual to protect their rights, as well as a court representative and a physician to examine the individual and Estate Planning and Asset Protection Workshop their living conditions, Wednesday, July 22: 22:Hosted Hostedby byRed RedOak OakLegal, Legal,PC: PC:1:30-3:30 1:30-3:30pm pm Wednesday, July and to submit at the 322Archibald Catoma Street Montgomery. This educational Seniordowntown Center (MACOA) in Montgomery. This a report to the workshop local attorney Raley L. Wiggins covers educationalpresented workshopby presented by local attorney Raley L. Wiggins court. Finally, wills, powerspowers of attorney, advance directives, livingliving coverstrusts, wills, trusts, of attorney, advance directives, the court will conduct a wills, probate probate administration, administration,protecting protectingassets assetsfrom fromcreditors, creditors, hearing, and bankruptcy, divorceand andremarriage, remarriage,nursing nursinghomes, homes,long-term long-term bankruptcy, divorce care either grant care and Medicaid qualification. Registration is required. Call and Medicaid qualification. Registration is required. or deny the 334-625-6774 today to reserve your seatseat or register online at at Call 334-625-6774 today to reserve your or register online petition. www.redoaklegalpc.com. www.redoaklegalpc.com. Once appointed, the guardian and conservator of attorney because they lack sufficient are responsible for looking after the ability to understand and comprehend the individual, and will generally be required to document. However, if they are still able to report to the court from time to time. execute it, a well-drafted power of attorney will permit the agent (the person granted In many instances, the appointment of a power under the power of attorney) to guardian and conservator is appropriate. manage the business and financial affairs That said, it is a proceeding which can of the principal (the person who executed often be avoided by the execution of the document). Similarly, a well-drafted two relatively simple estate planning healthcare power of attorney or advance documents: a durable power of attorney, directive will allow an agent to make and an advance directive. healthcare and other decisions, even if the principal does not have the capacity to do If someone you love is beginning to so themselves. experience some decline in the mental But, what if the individual does not have sharpness, there may still be time to have these simple documents created while they a power of attorney or advance directive? In that case, the only option may be to have sufficient mind and memory to do so. ask the local probate court to appoint a Taking care of this now can avoid a costly court proceeding later. While you’re at it, guardian and conservator. A guardian (similar to the guardian of a minor child) is what about your own planning—do you tasked with looking after the individual’s have these simple documents? well-being, consenting to medical care, As we often say in our business, there’s and determining where they live, among no time like the present. So, what are you other things. A conservator is responsible waiting for? for handling the individual’s money and property.
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Hormones May Explain Greater Prevalence of Alzheimer's in Women Women have more Alzheimer's disease-related changes in the brain than men, and this may be linked to hormonal disruptions at menopause, researchers say. "About two-thirds of people living with Alzheimer's are women, and the general thinking has been it's because women tend to live longer," said study author Lisa Mosconi of Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. "Our findings suggest that hormonal factors may predict who will have changes in the brain. Our results show changes in brain imaging features, or biomarkers in the brain, suggesting menopausal status may be the best predictor of Alzheimer's-related brain changes in women," Mosconi said. Participants had brain scans to determine levels of Alzheimer's-associated beta-amyloid plaques; volumes of gray and white matter; and the rate at which the brain metabolized glucose, an indication of brain activity. "Our findings suggest that middle-aged women may be more at risk for the disease, perhaps because of lower levels of the hormone estrogen during and after menopause," Mosconi said in a journal news release.
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A Memoir, Don’t Worry About The Mule Going Blind
Don’t Worry About The Mule Going Blind, Betty Tucker came of age in Belle Glade, Florida, infamous for its poverty and violence (e.g., see the Wikipedia entry and the 2006 documentary One Percent). Her childhood was one of debilitating poverty, borne of racism: exploitive migrant labor, multiple rapes and other abuse, chronic illness among her family and acquaintances ... the list is long and bitter. Betty survived not only by sheer hard work but also by nurturing a nascent belief that she deserved better. She moved to California, earned her college degree, and raised a family. Then, in 1997, she began a long and eventually successful search for the twin girls she had given up for adoption thirty years earlier. Fear, insecurity, sexual abuse, want, neglect: This memoir will look beyond the description of these difficulties in the author's life to examine how they stifled her ability to shape her own life, how she acquired the tools she needed to take more control of her life, and what impact her choices, both intentional and unintentional, had on her life and those of her children. A native of Troy, Alabama, Betty Tucker has a degree in behavioral science from the University of San Francisco. She also has a Clear Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. She worked for twenty years with the U.S. Postal Service and for twenty years with the San Francisco Unified School District. Author, Betty Tucker She has five children and four grandchildren and now lives in Richmond, California, and in Montgomery, Alabama. You can purchase Betty’s book at www.amazon.com.
Master Gardener Associations Presents Free Lunch & Learn Programs Capital City Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn 2020 the 1st Wednesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They meet at the Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Avenue, Downtown Montgomery. Autauga County Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn 2020 the 1st Thursday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They meet at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 610 Fairview Avenue, Prattville 36066. Elmore County Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn 2020 the 2nd Tuesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They meet at the First Presbyterian Church, 100 West Bridge Street, Wetumpka 36092. For information, please contact the Montgomery County Extension Office 334.270.4133. Also visit www.capcitymga.org.
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Life Enrichment Guide In a world where social distancing and shelter-in-place orders are the new norm, now, more than ever, it’s imperative that we do whatever we can to reduce isolation among the seniors we serve…and that we care about deeply. As Champions of Aging Well, Home Care Assistance has created a comprehensive Life Enrichment Guide, chock full of fun and meaningful activities to keep the mind and body active from the comfort and safety of home. All of these activities can be accessed through a smartphone or a computer, and will open their eyes to a virtual world of possibility — taking tours of impressionist artwork at Paris’s Musée d’Orsay, viewing a timeline of the world at the British Museum, listening to the Vancouver Symphony’s final performance from BeethovenFest, watching the animals at the San Diego Zoo, and so much more! Get your guide today and share with a loved one, https://homecareassistance.com/life-enrichment-guide
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w w w. r i ve rre gio n b o o m.co m June 2020 Caregiver of The Month
Vanity Miller
Vanity is one of the hardest working and most reliable caregivers we have ever had. After her client had surgery in May, Vanity went over and beyond to care for her. She worked extra days, often working 7 days a week, to make sure that her client was taken care of. She never once complained about working so many hours because she knew that she could provide the best care possible. Knowing that the client would feel most comfortable and confident with her, she did not hesitate to step in when needed. Vanity is extremely compassionate and understanding, with a comforting touch and calming spirit. We are so blessed and proud to have Vanity on our team. Keep up the GREAT work, Vanity!
We are proud to have Vanity on our team!
Keep up the good work!! For more information visit www.homecareassistancemontgomery.com
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"Dear Neil Armstrong": Alabamians' Letters to the First Man on the Moon Join Dr. James R. Hansen for “‘Dear Neil Armstrong’: Letters to the First Man on the Moon from Alabamians.” In this presentation, Hansen examines letters written to astronaut Neil Armstrong following the historic moon landing on July 20, 1969 and explores how Alabamians have remembered the astronaut. Hansen also shares his own personal memories of Armstrong as his official biographer for his book, First Man: The Life of Neil Armstrong. Hansen is Professor Emeritus of History at Auburn University. He has written extensively about aerospace history and the history of science and technology for the past thirty years. He has published books and articles on a wide variety of topics ranging from the early days of aviation, the first nuclear fusion reactors, and the Moon landings, to the environmental history of golf courses. His most recent book is Dear Neil Armstrong: Letters to the First Man from All Mankind. Wtach this 45 minute presentation on YouTube here https://youtu.be/MrHmD9jTRL4
The Shoppes at EastChase Farmers Market Saturdays Laura Hicks joined Palomar Insurance in June 2020 as the Communications Director. With 19 years of experience and a strong background in digital media, Laura brings strategic multi-channel programs to life. She will manage corporate communications, digital strategy, and media relations for campaigns in transportation and trucking insurance. A graduate of Troy University, Laura resides in Montgomery, AL where she serves on the Board of Directors for the Public Relations Council of Alabama, Family Guidance Center of Alabama, and various non-profit organizations. In her downtime, she can be found attending music events, traveling, and enjoying southern cuisine. “We’re pleased to welcome Laura to the team,” said Len Skipper, Chief Operating Officer. “Laura will add tremendous value to our communications program and continued support for long-term relationships that we’ve built with our clients, carriers, and staff.” Palomar Insurance delivers effective, tailored insurance programs to U.S. and international companies. Headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama with offices in Georgia and Tennessee, they put their resources and expertise to work for their clients. For more information, call 800-489-0105 or email Laura Hicks at laurah@palomarins.com.
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Faulkner University announces purchase of Montgomery East Plaza Shopping Center Faulkner University announced the recent purchase of the Montgomery East Plaza Shopping Center, which will become the new site for the University’s College of Health Sciences. Located east and directly adjacent to Faulkner’s Montgomery campus at 5345 Atlanta Highway, the purchased property totals 151,000 square feet in store front property and a total of 13 acres of land. It does not include Hardee’s, El Jalisco or Root Salon. “The acquisition of this property provides a tremendous opportunity for Faulkner University to expand our institutional footprint and reinvest in our city,” said Faulkner University President Mike Williams. “As we begin to reimagine this property, the first stage is to repurpose the former Burlington Coat Factory building. This facility will be transformed to Artist rendering of the new Faulkner University College of Health Sciences facility house our new College of Health Sciences. The positive influence it will have on the community is astronomical.” Renovations are scheduled to begin immediately to the vacant storefront section previously housing Burlington. Renovations will include all new frontage and signage, along with interior classrooms, offices and clinical labs. Subsequent renovations will be completed in phases. Once completed, the facility will house all of Faulkner's health science programs including Speech and Language Pathology, Physician Assistant, Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy.
French Potato Salad with Herbs
A light potato salad made with olive oil, lemon juice, champagne vinegar and herbs. Prep Time: 15 minutes, Cook Time: 10 minutes Ingredients: 4 lbs small red potatoes, unpeeled, scrubbed, and cut into 1/4 inch thick slices 4 Tbsp salt 4 medium garlic cloves, peeled 3 Tbsp Champagne vinegar or white wine vinegar 4 tsp whole grain mustard (My favorite is from Trader Joe's) 1/2 cup olive oil 4 Tbsp fresh lemon juice 1 tsp ground black pepper 2 small shallot, minced (about 4 Tbsp) 2 Tbsp minced fresh chives 2 tbsp minced fresh tarragon leaves 2Tbsp minced fresh thyme Instructions: 1. Place potatoes and salt in large pan, cover with water andbring to boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium. 2. Put peeled garlic into simmering water and partially blanch, about 45 seconds. 3. Immediately run garlic under cold tap water to stop cooking and set aside.
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4. Continue to simmer potatoes, uncovered, until tender but still firm (thin-bladed paring knife can be slipped into and out of center of potato slice with no resistance), about 5 minutes. 5. Drain potatoes, reserving 1/4 cup cooking water. Put hot potatoes back into the pot they were cooked in. 6. Press garlic through garlic press or mince by hand. 7. Whisk garlic, reserved potato cooking water, vinegar, mustard, oil, lemon juice and pepper in small bowl until combined. Drizzle dressing evenly over warm potatoes and gently mix; let stand 10 minutes. 8. Toss shallots and herbs in small bowl. Transfer potatoes to large serving bowl; add shallot/herb mixture and mix gently with rubber spatula to combine. Taste and correct seasoning with salt and pepper if needed. Serve immediately. 9. For best flavor, serve the salad warm or at room temperature. To make ahead, follow the recipe through step 7 and then cover with plastic wrap and
refrigerate. Before serving, bring the salad to room temperature, then add the shallots and herbs and toss gently to combine. Notes Test the potatoes early and often; you don't want the slices to break but just be soft enough to slide a fork through. source: www.creative-culinary.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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BOOM! COVER PROFILE
Nina Kynard, "Vintage Lady" This month’s cover profile is a woman with the civil service, working much of her who fell in love with a Breweriana career at Gunter AFB. I have two sisters, collector 39 years ago and she’s been collecting many things since that fateful day. Nina Kynard owns Kynard Korner’ Vintage Boutique clothing store located in Eastbrook Flea Market, and what a huge collection she has! Her store is full of great fashions from decades ago along with accessories to accent. She carries both men and women fashions for the discriminating fashionistas out there in the River Region, she sees many customers, especially the younger ladies who know how to be cool and unique in today’s fashion scene. And the prices they offer represent great value. Her husband Ray collects brewery ads and paraphernalia and together they travel to many parts of the country seeking new items and selling others. Collecting is in the genes and they’ve been Nina and husband Ray...House Divided Masking sharing this passion since their first date in Montgomery. We recently Linda Vickrey Wilson and sat down with Nina and she shared her Teresa Vickrey. We grew story with us, the collecting, her work, up in the Morningview area. retirement, traveling and of course I attended Morningview the sunsets on Lake Jordan. On second Elementary, Capital Heights thought we should have included her Jr. High and Lee High School husband Ray and shared a few cold graduating in 1970. I had ones! I hope you enjoy getting to know two early marriages and have Nina as much as we have. a daughter, Susan Deavers
BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e. where you’re from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, married, family, etc? Nina: I was born in Montgomery on October 2, 1952. I am the daughter of Glenn and Myrtle Pugh Vickrey. My father was the Manager of White Chapel Funeral Home when it was located on South Jackson Street and my mother was
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reside in Montgomery. Our daughter, Kelli and her husband now live in Gulf Shores, Alabama and our son, Craig and his family live in Alpharetta, Georgia. Our children have blessed us with thirteen grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Most of the grandchildren are in Montgomery. BOOM!: You are the owner of Kynard Korner Vintage Boutique, located in the Eastbrook Flea Market at 425 Coliseum Blvd in Montgomery. Please share with our readers how you got involved with selling vintage clothing and accessories? How do you define “Vintage” clothing and accessories?
Nina: I have been a collector most of my life. I had a collection of Breyer horses as a child. As an adult, I collected antiques after I was given my grandmother’s treadle sewing machine. I frequented yard sales and thrift stores early on to help save money while raising our kids and to look for household furniture and antiques. My husband is also a collector of Breweriana (Brewery ads and paraphernalia) so we would hunt together. In 2000, I became a vendor in an antique mall and the following year moved into Eastbrook Flea Market. I sold and a son, Bobby Mills from furniture and my previous marriages. I collectibles. In married my husband, Ray 2004, my son Kynard on Valentine’s Day in gave me the 1981 and we celebrated 39 clothes that Nina and Ray enjoying Fitzgerald Gala years this past February. He belonged to his has three children; a son, Chris Kynard and grandmother who had recently passed twins, Kelli McMahon and Craig Kynard. away. She had kept everything all the We became the Brady bunch with the kids way back to the 40’s. I decided sell them being ages 13, 11 and 5 years old. We and discovered that there were people bought our home in Dalraida at the time interested in vintage clothing. I became we married and we still live there. All of more interested in the clothing and styles our kids were raised here and three still as more people contacted me looking The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
for theater costumes and themed parties. Eventually, word of mouth traveled and some costumer designers from movie productions started contacting me to rent or purchase period costumes. I had discovered Nina and Ray, celebrating another "Kynard" Christmas a niche’ and made taxes. It wasn’t until I the transition to vintage clothing started advertising in Boom within a couple of years. Other vintage Magazine and various store owners buy from me and take other venues that people merchandise back to their stores in could find me without just Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. I happening on my Boutique even have one lady that comes once a while visiting Eastbrook. year who has a store in Miami. Joining the Vintage Fashion Guild enabled me to access information and to become part of worldwide organization that wanted to preserve vintage textiles. Generally, any garment or accessory that is 20 years or older is now considered vintage. Items left in areas that are not climate controlled such as attics or garages can mildew and break down the integrity of the fabric. The older the item, the more elusive it is to find and becomes more valuable. BOOM!: What have been some of the biggest challenges operating Kynard Korner? How do you get your inventory, do you take donations? Nina: The biggest challenge has been letting people know that my business existed. Kynard Korner Vintage Boutique is located inside Eastbrook Flea Market and Antique Mall. I choose to be inside Eastbrook Flea Market because of convenience. I don’t have to be there full time and I just have to maintain my Boutique by keeping it stocked and looking nice. All sales go through Eastbrook Flea Market and they handle the sales
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Nina and Ray, their favorite view on Lake Jordan
Advertising also let people know they could sell directly to me. It introduced me to younger adults who were looking for something different and unique. Vintage Fashion Guild which has a website that lists vintage stores including mine and provides
historical information regarding vintage fashion. I have a business Facebook page (Kynard Korner Vintage Boutique inside Eastbrook Flea Market). I use Facebook and Instagram as another means of advertising. Most of my early inventory came from scouting yard sales and thrift stores. In more recent years, I have been buying directly from people that are cleaning out grandparents’ or parents’ homes. They will call me and I will go to them. I have had people to give me things that they felt could be appreciated and enjoyed by others rather than donating them to a thrift store. Preparing the inventory for sale and keeping the Boutique neat is ongoing. Up until recently, I worked and did not have time to maintain the Boutique appropriately as it grew in size. My friend, Charmaine A Classic Kynard Family Photo Knight is invaluable in helping me with maintaining the Boutique. She also serves as a model and will wear some of the outfits for advertising. I have two other friends, Frances Walker and Becky Cason that help me out when I need their expertise in organizing and display. BOOM!: How have you been dealing with the COVID 19 challenges with your business and personally? Nina: With any business or personal endeavors, you must build up a rainyday fund to cover yourself when sales or income is down. COVID 19 has certainly been hard on all businesses. Many of my sales are for events such as proms, themed parties, theater and movies that are being made in the area. October through May have traditionally been my busy months. Summers are usually slow but I could maintain because of the good months. Everything came to a stop after February. The store was closed for a month. Even
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Nina and daughter Susan at Auburn Game
running a sale for the past two months has not helped much because people are not really shopping now. Money is tight for those that have been laid off and special events are not happening. It does not look much better for the next few months either. I do believe it is safer to be home. My husband and I have been careful because we are in the high-risk category. I do not go anywhere without having a mask on and having hand sanitizer available to use. I go when I think the crowds will be smaller and don’t go out unless I really need something. We have decided to not get into large group settings at this time. I encourage everyone to be careful by wearing your mask and using hand sanitizer when you are out in public and wash your hands frequently. Not everyone wants to wear a mask. I understand because it is not comfortable for long periods of time. I do not see it as a rights issue though. In my opinion, it’s doing the right thing to protect the people around you and your loved ones.
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Nina's daughter Kelli and son, Bobby
BOOM!: You recently retired from The Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group located in Old Alabama Town. Please tell us what your role was and the services
Nina and Ray with daughter Susan and her husband James
the group provides in helping children’s groups? Nina: I retired from civil service in 1999 after working for the Department of Veterans Affairs for 28 years. I had the opportunity to go to work part-time with The Child Welfare Policy and Practice Group, a non-profit organization. Within
Nina and Ray with daughters Susan, Kelli, son Craig
a couple of months, I was hired fulltime as the Business Manager. CWG offers assistance to States, agencies and organizations throughout the United States seeking to improve their ability to protect children from harm, strengthen families and provide permanency and well-being for the children they serve. CWG provides Consultation and Training in all areas of child welfare including System and Organizational Assessments and Quality Service Reviews. As Business Manager, I provided all the administrative support for operating a nonprofit organization. I retired in February after 20 years of service. I continue to provide assistance when needed. BOOM!: What are you most passionate about? Nina: I am passionate about my family, friends, my cats, vintage clothing and its history, supporting my husband’s hobbies and Auburn. I love my blended family.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
scenery was magnificent goodness, my kids and grandkids keep us We are all very close and and The Alaskan Brewery up with anything new. A computer and see each other often. and Haines Brewery the internet is essential. Facebook is a We are blended through sponsored some wonderful resource when used to make marriage and our love for outstanding outdoor connection with friends and family and to Auburn and Alabama. I dinners with fresh advertise. love my friends and care salmon and crab as the about them dearly. My main dishes. Of course, BOOM!: What is it about living in the friends are all lifetime craft beer was featured. Montgomery/River Region area that you friends. I love them all We owned a townhome like? What do we need more of? even if I only talk with for a few years in Gulf them once a year. I love Shores and enjoyed Nina: I love my neighborhood of Dalraida all of my cats and I have our trips down. Our and the surrounding neighborhoods. Our had many over the years. daughter, Kelli owns it area is older and the homes are individual My husband and I are now so we can still visit and don’t have that cookie cutter feeling. craft beer connoisseurs. when we want. Because There are lots of trees and flowers. Our This came about as we neighborhood is beautiful in the spring; explored and traveled Granddaughters, Bella and Willow Mills of my husband’s, hobby, we have traveled all rich with azaleas and blooming trees. over the years. I love over the United States. We My own home is a Auburn! War Eagle!! (My husband and have made some really cottage ranch built in several of the kids and their spouses wonderful friends that we 1947. Many of the are Alabama fans living with Auburn fan would not have now if it families are still here spouses.) We are a house divided but in a was not for this fun hobby after many years and very good way. and trade shows. Our homes have been favorite place though is passed down to the BOOM!: How do you like to relax and wind Lake Jordan where we have next family generation. down from a full day’s activities? our lake home. I love it We are convenient to being only 30 minutes from downtown, Wetumpka Nina: My husband, Ray is a great guy. I Montgomery. We are close and Prattville. We love hanging out with him. He is witty, to Wetumpka and Holtville love Downtown funny and overall pleasant. We both love (Slapout) so we have many Montgomery!! The craft beer. Nothing better than sitting out stores and restaurants just changes over the on our patio and sampling a new craft beer minutes away. The sunrises past 20 years are and just spending time together. He loves are spectacular and it is so awesome and more movies so many evenings, he will find a Grandchildren, Indy and Keegan along are coming. Because peaceful. movie that we can watch together. I prefer with their mother, daughter-in-law, our home is so close mystery, dramas or happy movies with Michelle Kynard BOOM!: Technology is a big to the downtown nice endings. I don’t care for lots of blood part of our lives, what’s your relationship area, we tend to go there for most of our or sinister/bad language movies. with technology? How social events. We love the businesses does technology play a that have opened, the lofts and the BOOM!: What are role in your business? apartments. There are a few things still some of your favorite needed. Downtown Montgomery needs travel experiences? Nina: When I talked more shopping opportunities. A grocery Favorite vacation spot? about marketing my store in the downtown area is needed. Any travel dreams business, I mentioned Something like a Fresh Market, Trader Joe’s planned? Facebook and or Aldi’s would be a great asset. I can Instagram. I like using see Dexter Avenue doing well with more Nina: Ray and I had it for my advertising. boutiques and art galleries. It already has the opportunity to I love the internet to wonderful restaurants, event centers and spend three weeks in look for information. a coffee shop. Lake Jordan falls within the Australia in the early CWG had to stay River Region and we love Wetumpka. 90’s which began our current with new passion/hobby for technology because BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your craft beer. It was a of providing training priorities changed? fabulous trip visiting and reviews to other friends that lived Nina's friend and co-worker, Charmaine Knight agencies. COVID 19 Nina: I had two great careers in my there. Definitely, the has actually forced life. I was young and focused on career best vacation we have us to learn new ways to communicate advancement with Department of Veteran ever had. The second best was a cruise to such as Zoom and Facetime. Thank Affairs. It was rewarding to work with Alaska sponsored by Beer Magazine. The
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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the veterans and how would you describe support them. My this sense of renewal in second career was your life? Any advice for focused on support the rest of us seeking of the people trying renewal? What’s the to make a difference future look like for Nina in child welfare Kynard? How do you view systems throughout the idea of retirement? the United States. Nina's cat family, Longfellow, Bandit and Puddles... Peepers and Lucky Advancement was Nina: COVID 19 has no longer a priority. really changed what we Now that I have retired, I have found that had planned when I retired. We were Kynard and Bobby Mills both attended I have mellowed and don’t worry about planning to make trips to visit friends that AUM as well. My husband is a member little things as much. I am more satisfied we have not seen awhile. My husband of the Dixie Lions Club and I help with any in all aspects of my life. I don’t have will have a BIG Birthday in August so we activities that they sponsor. I donate each to have a new car. I don’t worry about were planning to travel as much as we year to the Easter Seals Autism Mudbug having a dent or scratch in my car. What could, while we could. That will hopefully Ball. I have helped to raise funds for other has become valuable to me is having time still happen but not now. For now, I will charitable organizations over the past with my family and friends. As I have lost research ways to market my business and years. family and friends over the years, it has take a look at new ways to sell. That certainly become important to value the being said, I want to enjoy my retirement BOOM!: How do you and your husband time I do have with those still here. I am so I don’t want to submerge myself like to spend time with family? Describe comfortable with my beliefs but I will not completely into working full-time again. your experience as a mom, can you share let those take precedent over friendships I love the vintage clothing business but I any motherly advice? What do your and relationships with others. It is more want to be able to choose what I want to grandkids call you and your husband? important to love and not judge those that do each day. I don’t want to be dictated do not think like me. That can be hard but by a work schedule. That is how I plan to Nina: When my husband and I married, we it can be done. view my retirement. My renewal comes suddenly had a family of seven in a house from two places right now; enjoying my with one bathroom. I learned to live BOOM!: Give us three words that describe backyard flower gardens and enjoying my with lots of activity and noise. These kids you? Lake Jordan home. There is nothing like learned to be friends as well as brothers/ sitting on the deck looking at the water, sisters. Yes, they fought like all siblings do Nina: Loving, Caring, Social birds and boats to gain that peaceful and but they care for each other and love each renewed feeling. Also, for a collector, other unconditionally. Our family is now BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other renewal comes from that amazing find large and extended. We are very close activities that grab your attention? when you least expect it. It is a euphoria and we usually see the children that live in and good feeling that only a collector Montgomery often. Each year, we have a Nina: History is my passion which is how I knows. I would suggest that renewal large Christmas Breakfast gathering which ended up having the vintage business and comes from finding that place of little we call the Kynard Christmas Chaos. There collecting antiques. My husband’s hobby stress and a sense of peace through prayer. can be anywhere from 25 to 40 family and of Breweriana collecting is also historical. friends gathering each year. Everyone We enjoy traveling to places we have brings a breakfast dish. We play games, We want to thank Nina for sharing her story never been and finding good brew pubs for open gifts and throw balled-up wrapping with us in this month's cover profile. If you food and craft beer. paper at each other. My husband’s exwant to connect with Nina, email her at wife, Jane is also our friend and neighbor. nkynard@yahoo.com or take some friends BOOM!: Do you have time to be involved We learned from the beginning that with you and visit her store in Eastbrook in community, civic or church activities? having good relationships with everyone Flea Market, 425 Coliseum Blvd. Check her involved in our extended family is very Facebook Page too. A special thanks to Nina: I attend Dexter Avenue King Baptist important. Having an Auburn/Alabama Shellee Roberts at Total Image Portraits for Church Bible Study on Wednesdays at house divided can really teach you how to making this month and other cover shots the noon. My daughter-in-law introduced me handle all those other differences. It is all best they can be, you can check them out at to them 6 years ago. I absolutely love the about respect and love. Our grandkids, www.totalimage.com. If you have questions, pastor and the people who attend this depending on their ages have given me comments or suggestions about our cover group. It is open to anyone and the study different names. I am Grandma Nina to profiles, including nominating someone, is wonderful. I have been involved in fund the adult grandkids and I am YaYa to the please send them to Jim Watson at raising events for Auburn/AUM School of younger ones. Ray is Granddaddy. jim@riverregionboom.com. Nursing. My daughter, Susan is an AUM nursing graduate and my family has an BOOM!: Many people as they age seek Read all of the BOOM! Cover Profiles at endowment set up for nursing scholarships new experiences, a renewed sense of www.riverregionboom.com/archive/ in my parents’ names. Our sons, Craig purpose, new goals, even new careers,
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
What's in Your Closet? More than any other century, the fashion of the 20th century changed radically from the 1900’s through the 1990’s. Vintage fashion has surged in popularity over the last few years because of TV programs like “Mad Men” and “Downton Abby” or movies such as the “Great Gatsby”. Hollywood stars have caught our attention by wearing vintage gowns during red carpet events and people are discovering that wearing something vintage or nostalgic can be fun and very stylish. As you read the descriptions of fashion for the decades, you will notice that styles fluctuate. The 20th Century started out Edwardian. From 1900 until 1919, the styles for women were long and with a little flounce. Bustles, corsets, fitted waists and high neck lines gave way to dresses with a looser fit and conservative style. Cotton and silk were fabrics of choice. Hats had lots of feathers, flowers and lace with large brims being the preference. Gloves were a necessity.
Fashion changed more in the 1960’s than any other decade. From the onset the fashions started changing. By 1962, suits and pill box hats were popular, influenced by Jackie Kennedy’s style. The jackets had ¾ length sleeves. Bikinis became popular for swimwear. Ski pants or stirrup pants were popular with fitted ski sweaters. By the mid-1960’s, the Beatles had arrived and so had the London look. Shift style dresses and Empire waist dresses became the rage along with knee high boots. Berets were the choice for hats. Up until now the hemline had been longer with the exception of the 1920’s. Now, hemlines crept higher. By the late 1960’s psychedelic tunics and palazzo pants become stylish along with maxi dresses and mini dresses. Dresses were shift or A-line with no defined waist. Bell bottom pants emerged and short shorts were worn for casual wear. Gloves were no longer a necessity.
The flapper 20’s were very different and fun but with little style accentuating the figure. Many of the dresses were shifts or drop waist designs. Hemlines were shorter and just below the knee or a little longer. Many were made of silk and had lots of beading or flowers in the designs. Hats were cap style fitted with flowers and feathers. Coats were oversized.
The 1970’s led to peasant style dresses for formals. Pantsuits became popular and for the first time ladies were wearing pants to work. Loose style caftans became associated with The Hippie fashions. Halter tops and bell bottom pants were everywhere. One piece “Jumpsuits” were popular in the mid 70’s. Platform shoes became the choice for footwear. Fabric by then was polyester because it was easy to wash and no ironing.
The 30’s attire shifted to being more feminine and the dress designs were fitted with skirts that were longer and cut on the bias. Wide brim hats came back in style. Fitted suits were a preference by the end of the decade.
The 1980’s ushered in the oversize fashions with large padded shoulders. Big jewelry pieces and broaches were popular. Skirts became longer and brightly colored suits were seen in offices. Jeans became popular for casual wear.
The 40’s became more tailored with padded shoulders and long A-line style skirts. World War II had a big effect in the design with more suits being worn and straight leg pants became popular. Gloves became an important part of dress when going out. Hats were cap style and fitted.
The 90’s brought with it a resurgence of stirrup pants and oversized sweaters. This decade also brought in longer dresses with wide collars with lots of floral and printed fabrics. Fashions today mimic many of the 1960’s and 70’s and blue jeans have become a staple. You may want to go check out what might be in your closet. You might just find something vintage and “In”.
The 1950’s were more feminine with shirtwaist dresses, spaghetti strap and halter sundresses with full skirts. Formals were made of tulle and full skirted strapless dresses were popular with long gloves. Two-piece swimsuits were around but most ladies chose a one piece. Ladies still wore gloves. Fitted pants and Bermuda shorts were stylish.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Nina Vickrey Kynard Owner Kynard Korner Vintage Boutique For more, visit Kynard Korner Facebook
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Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier
Gorham’s Bluff:
Jackson County’s Hidden Gem
I’m relaxing on a breezy rock ledge month’s feature.) Once a thriving years old, the Inn at Gorham’s Bluff aptly called textile economy, has the look and feel of a much older Pinnacle. It’s this is now a land structure. It reminds me of the inns in thousands of of encroaching New England, only much smaller, more feet above the high-tech. Nuclear intimate and, of course, Southern. Guntersville reactors roost like It’s the combination of Southern Reservoir in giant, brooding, hospitality, yesteryear ambiance Alabama’s Jackson gray hens. Power and breathtaking scenery that make County. Annoyed lines seem it a fabulous getaway. There are by my presence, omnipresent. And a similarities about Gorham’s Bluff Inn a large hawk flaps ginormous Google that remind me of the inn in the movie back and forth data center is under White Christmas. I’ve watched it many against blue sky construction near times and remember the scenes well. about ten yards in the sleepy, albeit Especially, General Waverly escorted front of and slightly scenic, town of by niece Susan descending the square above me. Its nest Bridgeport just a staircase with straight white spindles. must be nearby. stone’s Like in the The hike up from throw movie, a boy scout camp from the plank took an hour’s wood worth of exertion, walls with Gorham's Bluff Inn and now I need to white trim rest, rehydrate and eat my Fuji apple Tennessee and Georgia surround for energy. I peel it slowly, keeping one lines. large, eye on the hawk. Some meddlesome fieldstone buzzards notice the raptor’s tantrum, Well rested, I hike down fireplaces and appear—as if from thin air—to to the base camp and text in both conduct their own investigation. I Ranger Duane Southers, the dining flash the shiny blade of my pocket informing him that I’m and sitting knife at them as they glide overhead safe and off the mountain. rooms. … and peel a little faster. I wanted to Scottsboro is only minutes These come here because Jackson County’s away; so, I contemplate rooms history, culture and terrain remind me a visit to the famous flank the of my under-contract novel, Lawson’s Unclaimed Baggage Center staircase, Bluff—about a young man who catches but I’m a sweaty mess, begging and kills massive feral hogs with his famished and anxious to get one to View from Gorham's Bluff Inn bare hands as his way of back to beautiful linger and coping with the alleged Gorham’s Bluff where a hot make new friends. There’s a piano over murder of his mother. shower and fabulous dinner which hangs a framed sparkly sweater await me. Cell phone signals once worn by a lady who filled the inn Jackson County is home are spotty in these hills but with music. An oriental rug in shades to amazing caves and as I approach Pisgah, a signal of moss green and rust serve as an cascading waterfalls. is achieved … and verbal anchor for linen-topped dining tables It’s where verdant directions. I’m getting close and antique Windsor chairs. Simple mountains meet scenic now. Like Blackberry Farm in chandeliers hold flickering candles. lakes. And Te-lah-nay’s Eastern Tennessee, Gorham’s Sunsets delight the eye through “singing” Tennessee Bluff is way off grid but worth windows overlooking the Tennessee River snakes through the diligence it takes to find River and distant mountains, even as its valley. (See last it. Only about twenty-five eagles soar over the bluff. Gorham's Bluff Inn Lobby Staircase
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Filet Mignon is on the menu tonight so I dash upstairs, shower and chill for a while on the balcony, enjoying the panoramic view. At Pisgah Gorge six-thirty, Cindy and I stroll down to the dining room where our table is beautifully set, including a personalized menu. (Our names are printed thereon.) Soft music streams from the speakers overhead—the melodious sounds of Paris—hardly the usual toxic racket restaurants seem to think patrons crave. The service and hospitality here are top drawer, and the food is excellent. The inn’s proprietor, Dawn McGriff, takes time to stop at each table and welcome guests. It’s obvious she and staff have gone to great lengths to make the evening special and charming. And it is. This place is naturally romantic. After dinner, Cindy takes my hand and we climb the stairs to the glass observatory atop the inn; and watch the full moon rise, casting its glow over
Jeff at the Pinnacle
the property’s manicured grounds. We step out onto the “widow’s walk,” snap photos, and savor the remarkably cool June breeze upon which is conveyed the song of a distant whippoorwill. The view from up here is spectacular. No wonder Gorham’s Bluff is a popular wedding, honeymoon and anniversary destination. Indeed, everyone we’ve met today is celebrating a wedding anniversary. We’re the exception. But people come here for many reasons as evidenced by the notes scribbled in our room’s guest book. One couple writes: “We came here on a hint from a friend. Wow! What a great place to relax and feel at peace with God’s creation. The food was fabulous! You really feel the balance of nature on this bluff. I don’t think I have ever seen this many June bugs
in my life. All around one of my favorite places to go. We will be back!” Another inks: “We needed a break for a few days so we decided to spend the weekend here at View From the Pinnacle Gorham’s Bluff and we were not disappointed. The view of the river, the scenery, and the stressfree atmosphere were more than we had hoped for.” I wholeheartedly agree. I couldn’t have said it better myself. The inn is set in a neighborhood that reminds us of The Waters in Pike Road where we live. Everywhere, we see the fingerprints of our friend and neighbor Nathan Norris and his colleague Steve Mouzon. They designed both. Our Jackson County to-do list is long but now that we’re here, we hesitate to leave. We prefer to remain at Gorham’s Bluff and marinate in the beauty and tranquility of Jackson County’s hidden gem. For more information visit: www.gorhamsbluff.com.
Jeff S. Barganier is a freelance writer and manages Cindy Barganier Interiors LLC in Pike Road, Alabama. (www.cindybarganier.com) He travels far and wide upon the slightest excuse for something interesting to write about. Contact him at Jeffbarganier@knology.net. Follow him on Instagram #jeffbarganier.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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The Mayor of BOOMTOWN
Happy 2020.5!
By Greg Budell
"A true story from the Greg files" Saturday morning show on NewsTalk 93.1 FM. On 1/1/20 I hadn’t done a live broadcast on a weekend for many years, so going anywhere after a Saturday morning show is unusual for that reason. We launched the program at the onset of the virus lockdown, to inform and keep people company. It’s been well received and appreciated. I plan to continue, not so much because of the virus but all that has followed. Riots. Political mayhem. It’s gotten so ugly in this country we’re well past 1968’s unpleasantness.
I don’t know about you but at noon, on the second day of this month, I am starting this year over! If I make up my mind to declare a new year, tear up the memories of the first six months of 2020, there’s a chance the 2nd half will be a whole new ballgame, right? Ballgame? Heck, “spring training” in baseball begins the day this issue of BOOM comes out, and “Opening Day” will be July 23rd, assuming the coronavirus doesn’t wipe out the season completely. Forget it. I’m delusional. BOOMers, we’ve all seen some strange years from a personal and historical standpoint. For the low, low price of 2 cents, I’d give you back my 1977, 1982, 1991, 2000 and 2004. They were valuable years- each delivering lessons that became building blocks for the very excellent years in between. They were years I’d only want to live one time. Historically, 1968 was unpleasant. Politics, assassinations, riots. I was living in Chicago, where we spent several summer
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Greg celebrating the "new normal' with hairstylist, Debra @Elegant Styles
nights sitting on our rooftop, watching the city burn at night. It was surreal. Speaking of surreal, how about 2020? On its dawn, I had high expectations. Business was humming. Life was “normal”. That seems like light years ago. Today, I went for a haircut after doing my
When I arrived at Elegant Styles, I was cheerfully greeted by my wonderful stylist, Debra- and a receptionist wielding a thermometer. I put on a mask after passing the temperature check, and it stayed on through the clipping. Yes, I want to abide by these rules to be a good citizen but secretly, I’d wear a suit of armor if that’s what Debra required. She’s that good. Otherwise, the mask has become a contentious issue. Thanks to the Internet, there are 500,000 opinions on whether they even work. I know this. I can tolerate it for only a few minutes in the heat, and through an air-conditioned haircut. Please
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don’t tell me this is the “new normal”, a term I’ve come to despise. Somehow, the fatal malfeasance of 4 cops in Minneapolis has metastasized into a call for “defund the police” there and elsewhere. Insane! While I believe police training and procedure can always be improved- much like any profession finds ways to be new and improved- I have always believed the best way to avoid confrontation with a cop is to not break the law. No? The demonstrations following that event in Minnesota were a head scratcher. If everyone agrees something was wrong, who are they trying to convince? Protesting is as old- older, than America. Maybe I’m one of those old fashioned, “get off my lawn” types, but when you throw the first brick, break the first window, set businesses on fire and get people hurt or killed, you’ve become an anarchist. The destruction of property has morphed into the destruction of history. Pulling down statues, vandalizing memorials to people who protected that right to “protest” with their lives and randomly assaulting people for their wardrobe, skin color or just for the heck of it, causes me great distress. If any person, place or thing “triggers” one
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into a destructive act, it’s on the individual. If seeing a statue turns someone into a self-justified maniac, they’ve got bigger mental issues to deal with. The most documented man in history was one of its worst- Adolph Hitler. There are no monuments to him, other than thousands of books and TV shows detailing his rise to and fall from power. Hitler should be studied and remembered so we don’t allow another like him. One thing is clear. He became the “Fuhrer” through intimidation and terror. So, pardon me when he comes to mind as I watch masses destroying anything in their path to make their point. “Chrystal Nacht”, the turning point in Hitler’s ascension was the night his goons terrorized Jews and German citizens by wantonly demolishing homes and businesses. The message? Go with the Nazi party or you’ll be gone. Restarting the year would be much easier if the virus would diminish (remember when we were told by experts it would die quickly in the heat of summer? #WRONG). In part, I blame COVID-19 for the “unrest”. Could the media stop calling this massive vandalism “unrest”? How about a more accurate term, like, say- “massive vandalism”? For months we’ve been confined in a most unnatural way while being told “it’s OK to
not be OK”, and other mind control drivel from the #AloneTogether people. Well, I’m NOT okay with that. The human condition has been pushed to the limit, which IMHO has resulted in a massive population of short-tempered, miserable people. As the onset of COVID, we were watching the Tiger King. Now we’re watching America being devoured by lunatics on the nightly news, sadly with little opposition from authorities. Did you ever think any city would willingly allow armed punks to occupy one of its wealthiest districts to start their own country? No wonder Seattle is sleepless. Worse, their elected leaders enabled this madness! Despite the seemingly relentless gloom, Happy 2020.5 (noon on 7/2)! Celebrate the 4th safely. Tip #1- know the difference between fireworks and gunfire! If you have a comment on this column, email me at gregbudell@aol.com. It's still fun to hear from new people! Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his wife, Roz, and dogs Hershey and Briscoe. He’s been in radio since 1970, and has marked 15 years in the River Region. He hosts the Newstalk 93.1FM Morning Show with Rich Thomas & Jay Scott, 6-9 AM Monday-Friday. He returns weekday afternoons from 3-6 PM for Happy Hour with sidekick Rosie Brock. Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com
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Eating Smart with Tracy Bhalla
Who grows our food? Now more than ever I would sincerely recommend that you shop locally as much as possible – that is to say Farmer’s markets, Farm shops (many have a small outlet on site), CSA’s (Community Supported Agriculture) where you usually sign up for a monthly box of whatever is in season, and local supermarkets that support local farmers. I say “now more than ever” because in these COVID times it is the small businesses that will go under first. I would in fact always recommend buying produce and meat locally as (1) you know exactly where it came from and how it was raised, (2) you are reducing your carbon footprint significantly by doing so, and (3) it is SO much fresher and better tasting than food that has been transported half way round the world in refrigerated containers! There is a great site, www.localharvest.org where you can put in your zip code and it will give you the options in your area. When I put in 36106 it came up with 19 farms that you can buy produce from direct. That’s pretty awesome. Some things, however, we cannot buy locally, be it because they are out of season where you live or just that the climate is not suited to that crop. The supermarket then is our only option. In that case, we are looking for one of two labels – “Fair Trade Certified” or ‘Responsibly Grown Farmworker Assured”, besides of course the USDA Organic symbol. The two labels are from nonprofit certification programs which focus
on improving working conditions for farmworkers and raising agricultural standards internationally. They provide workers with up to date training on health and food safety regulations, including hygiene, proper handwashing, and sanitization. Workers are also trained to identify sexual harassment and what to do about it, advised on health and safety issues, including injury prevention, warm-up exercises and proper use of equipment. Prior to being in these programs, workers feared speaking up about conditions and felt that they had to just keep their heads down and say nothing. Now they are trained to speak up and resolve issues, which ultimately makes them more productive and happier in their job; plus, the produce becomes more superior in quality because it is being treated with greater care and more hygienically. Farms that are certified by EFI (Equitable Food Initiative) or Fair-Trade USA are paid a premium for their products by retailers because they know the quality is high. This in itself should tell you something. For EFI certified produce that premium gets converted into a bonus on the farmworkers paychecks – another reason for them to do a good job and for you to be sure that you’re doing the right thing in buying their produce.
conditions, EFI and Fair-Trade support lessening the environmental impacts of agriculture. For example, by reducing the amount of pesticides used and instead utilizing a variety of pest management systems instead. One example of this is introducing farm-friendly insects such as ladybugs, which eat some of the other pests that are dangerous to crops. Marigolds can be planted at the end of rows to deter unwanted insects (you can try that one at home!), Strips and boxes holding a liquid that attract and trap pests can be placed around perimeters (again, you can try this with a dilution of apple cider vinegar or even Coca Cola – they are attracted to the sugar!) Other techniques to reduce the environmental impact include using rainwater reservoirs for irrigation, using drip irrigation systems, even using beneficial fungi to fight pathogens in the soil. Their philosophy is to “change the hearts and minds (of people working in agriculture). It’s a matter of showing why people need to make the changes…and why treating the environment and the people better is actually good business.” Said Nathalie Marin-Gest, head of fresh goods at Fair Trade USA. Costco consistently buys from certified farms like these – maybe that’s why I’ve always preferred their produce to that in most supermarkets?? Stay safe. Stay healthy.
In addition to improving farmworkers
Tracy Bhalla, Independent Consultant with NYR Organics, website: us.nyrorganic.com/shop/tracybhalla email: nyrbhalla@gmail.com You can also visit Tracy’s blog at Tracybhalla.com, Continuing my obsession with all things organic, I have been working with NYR for two years now, using their skincare products myself for over RiverRegionBoom.com July 2020 25 years! Your skin is the body’s largest organ, it deserves to be well looked after. I am here to answer any questions you may BOOM! Thehave. River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine 46
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