1
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
3
4 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Getting To Know You...A BOOM! Advertorial Feature
Daisy's Senior Moves Creating a Positive and Stress-Free Transition
Meet Julia Maher, Senior Move Manager
I have a passion for helping people. I am committed to assisting older adults and their families with the emotional and physical aspects of transitional moving. I want to take the stress off families by treating their loved ones with the utmost care and respect so they can have more quality time to enjoy one another.
helping others with my calling learned from my Grandmother, to help seniors and families through periods of transition.
What is a Senior Move Manager? A professional who specializes in assisting older adults and their families with the emotional and physical aspects of relocation and/or “aging in So why Daisy’s Senior place.” Though many have Moves? My grandmother varied backgrounds, what Daisy who I was very close they all share is a profound to and respected beyond commitment to connecting words, worked for many with older adults and years to advocate for seniors Julia with her best friend, Jäger a desire to perform while serving on her state’s meaningful work. Silver Hair Legislature. Daisy served as president of her counties Council on Aging, as well as, being a Senior Alert Process Advocate in Washington DC. I was always in awe of my grandmother and all that she accomplished. Her knowledge and wisdom inspired me and was part of my development from childhood to adulthood. Through our visits to the Senior Center she helped me to develop the value of service to others and I gained an appreciation for the wisdom of our seniors. “Julia was a dream come true! Absolute life saver! Thank you for making our dreams come true for Mom!!” — Mrs. S
These experiences and the example that my Grandmother provided, taught me that seniors are a valuable part of our community and full of life learnings. I feel compelled to provide this service because it combines my passion for
What Makes a Senior Move Manager Different from a Moving Company? Senior Move Managers provide a multi-faceted approach to the move process, from space planning in the beginning, to postmove support and advocacy. Daisy’s Senior Moves provides full service solutions and hands-on help that include: Developing an overall move or "age in place" plan S Organizing, sorting and downsizing S Customized floor plans S Arranging for the profitable disposal of S
unwanted items through auction, estate sale, buy-out, consignment, donation, or a combination of the above S Packing S Interviewing, scheduling and overseeing movers S Arranging shipments and storage S Unpacking and setting up the new home S Related services, such as cleaning, waste removal, shopping, assisting with selection of a Realtor and helping prepare the home to be sold
Age in Place Remain happy, healthy, and safe where you are...Daisy’s Senior Moves assists with downsizing and simplifying your life so that you can stay home. This may include some or all of the below: S Prioritizing what areas need work, starting with making areas safe and more functional. S Creating a floor plan and looking at your existing space with new eyes and making adjustments so it can work better for you. This may include placing things you use each day in places that make sense for ease of access. S Evaluating what you want and need in your home. S Deciding what will be donated, sold, gifted or discarded. S Identifying home care maintenance concerns. S Reducing home safety concerns and eliminating common in-home hazards.
Begin With a Free Consultation daisyseniormoves.com R 334-322-4509
5
Genghis Khan Invades Downtown Mobile!
Discover the man behind the legend in the blockbuster exhibition experienced by over a million people around the world In the tradition of years past, the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center is proud to announce a return to major blockbuster exhibitions in the Spring of 2019. On the scale of its China and Pompeii exhibits, the Exploreum invites visitors to take a journey back in time with one of history’s most prolific and controversial figures - Genghis Khan. Through artifacts, performers, artwork, and other historically significant items, discover the eye-opening story of the world’s most well-known conqueror, civilizer and innovator in the exhibition Genghis Khan: The Great Civilizer – opening at the Gulf Coast Exploreum Science Center on Saturday, January 26, 2019. Curated and developed by dinosaur expert Don Lessem, the exhibition features more than 300 spectacular objects on display, including rare and sophisticated weapons, costumes, jewels, ornaments, instruments and numerous other fascinating relics and elaborate artifacts from 13th-century Mongolia. “I went to Mongolia to look for fossils and discovered the truth about Genghis Khan, a civilizing genius,” said Lessem. “It’s a great story best told in a major exhibition.” Experience life in 13th-century Mongolia, entering the tents, battlegrounds and marketplaces of a vanished world that was once the largest land empire in history. Explore Genghis Khan’s life and those of his sons and grandsons during the formation, peak and decline of the Mongol Empire. As the exhibit strikingly portrays, Genghis’s reputation as the greatest conqueror is well-deserved – he dominated three times more land in his lifetime than either Julius Caesar or Alexander the Great, a conquest attested to by the formidable array of swords, bows, arrows, saddles and armor included on display in Genghis Khan. In fact, the historic exhibition showcases hundreds of artifacts from Genghis’s 13th century Empire, the largest such collection ever to tour. However, this special exhibition presents a more complete image of the legendary leader whom Time Magazine and CNN named “The Man of the Millennium.” As visitors discover, Genghis not only created the nation of Mongolia and its written language, but his lineage established the modern borders of nations from India to Iran, Korea to China and opened the trade routes that united East and West, forever after. Visitors will experience the exhibition through the eyes of a Mongolian resident, receiving a civilian identity card at the beginning of their journey. From warrior to spy to princess, they will follow this character’s life throughout the rise of the great Mongol Empire across six key scenes: •The Grasslands: Discover the daily life of a nomad on the high plateaus of Central Asia and learn about the outcast Genghis Khan’s earliest struggles. Walk into an ancient Mongol ger (yurt) home. Stand in the midst of a herd of stampeding horses. • Rise of the Mongols: Learn how the young, charismatic Genghis Khan united warring tribes in order to form an unrivaled cavalry. Explore the equestrian culture and innovations in weaponry Genghis Khan mastered to conquer four times more land than any Empire in history. • The Walled City: Enter the recreation of Karakorum, the walled city, which became the capital of the Mongolian Empire after Genghis Khan’s son inherited the kingdom. See how life changed for Mongols once they had vanquished all of their enemies, and arts and diverse religions and cultures flourished as the need for war subsided. • The Silk Road: While Genghis Khan was a ruthless warrior, he was also a savvy statesman and benevolent ruler. He developed a written language and a sophisticated society with fair taxation, stable government, appreciation of the arts, religious freedom and open trade along the Silk Road. Explore this vital trade route which enabled the exchange of both goods and ideas between cultures. • The Palace of Kublai Khan - Enter the sumptuous Chinese palace of Xanadu, the center of the Empire of Genghis’s grandson, Kublai, who united China for the first time. See porcelain treasures and a sword with the emblem of a guardian of Marco Polo, among many others. • Mongolia Today: Trace the influence of Genghis Khan in images of modern Mongolian life. The distinctive horse-based culture of Genghis Khan’s time persists today as the nation and language he created lives on eight centuries after his rule. See how his legend lives on through the namesake of many modern Mongolian brands, and how he was revered as a god among the Mongolian people.
Plan to make the trip to Mobile to see this once in a lifetime exhibit, Genghis Khan, now showing through April 28, 2019.
6 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
7
8 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
9
Please join us as we celebrate
EASTER EASTER SCHEDULE
Maundy Thursday | April 18
Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar at 7:00 pm
Good Friday | April 19
Veneration of the Cross at 12:00 pm | Stations of the Cross with Veneration of the Cross at 7:00 pm
Holy Saturday | April 20
The Great Vigil of Easter with Holy Baptism at 8:00 pm
Easter Sunday | April 21
Sunrise Eucharist in the Courtyard Garden at 6:00 am | Holy Eucharist at 9:30 am
8800 VAUGHN ROAD, MONTGOMERY, AL 36117 | WWW.CHRISTCHURCHMGM.NET | 334.387.0566
BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Contents
March 2019 Volume 9 Issue 7
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
5 Daisy's Senior Moves Avertorial 6 Genghis Khan Invades Downtown Mobile! 12 Publisher's Column 14 MCMO Concert Elias String Quartet
page 20
Features
20 Love Me Now: Being Present With Dementia
15 AUM OLLI Schedules Spring Field Trip
22 Carl Reiner says keeping busy keeps you going
24 Unleash the Hidden Power of Laughing With Your Grandkids
44 Flight of the Falcon, Zip Lining Historic Banning Mills
18 The Importance of Mobility Leigh Anne Richards
Departments 32 This and That Interesting Stuff
48 {12} Things For Active Boomers
46 Greg Budell BIG JUGS CAN MAKE YOU SICK!
16 The Little Garden on the Side of the Road Dawn Mitchell
page 36
26 Why You Don’t Want a Tax Return McDonald Hagen Wealth 28 Chamber Announces New Leadership 30 Know When to Hold ‘Em Ask an Elder Law Attorney 38 BOOM! Cover Profile
page 38
page 14
page 24
page 32
page 22
50 KETOSIS Eating Smart with Tracy Bhalla
page 44
page 36
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 2019 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.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
11
Publisher’s Letter
Talk to the Animals & Learn to Laugh 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 Jeff Barganier Austin Barranco Tracy Bhalla Greg Budell
Kyrié Carpenter Dawn Mitchell Leigh Anne Richards Sandi Schwartz Nick Thomas Raley L. Wiggins Marcia Woodard
Cover Photography
This month’s cover profile is someone who has been making the trains run on time at the Montgomery Zoo and giving you one of the best recreational experiences in the River Region. She is Marcia Woodard, the Director of the Montgomery Zoo/Mann Museum and is the perfect cover profile for the month of March because the annual Zoo Weekend kicks off on March 9th and 10th. Marcia has been part of the Montgomery Zoo team since 1994 and has helped implement many changes and continues looking to the future to make our zoo experience memorable time and time again. She is presently working on building a new Reptile House and securing a Gharial from India, their native land. When she’s not busy talking to the many exotic animals at the zoo, she has a new responsibility of loving on her new grandson, who lives in Jim Watson, Publisher Birmingham. There’s going to be many special zoo visits in his young life! Marcia’s passion for the animals at the zoo was obvious to me when we sat down and shared some memories the other day. We are fortunate to have her leadership when it comes to making the Montgomery Zoo the proud attraction it has become for all of us animal lovers! Enjoy getting to know Marcia as much as I have. Besides our great cover profile, we have an article on how to encourage your grandkids to laugh more often. That sounds like a good idea, especially in the culture we’re in, it just doesn’t seem that many people want to lighten up and laugh a little, maybe it’s because of all the hate we have allowed to poison our thinking. I hope you have a funny bone, it may save your life.
Shellee Roberts Total Image Portraits www.totalimage.com 334.261.2080
Advertising
Jim Watson, 334.324.3472 jim@riverregionboom.com
Our friend Jeff Barganier takes us on an adventure to the Flight of the Falcon. Does he participate? Our columns this month offer some cooking tips from Greg Budell and how the best way to get to the hearts of his radio team is through their stomachs, we should be so lucky! Leigh Anne Richards values mobility and she offers a few simple ways for you to maintain mobility as you age. It’s very important to maintain flexibility, these are simple and doable, where you are. Tracy Bhalla gives us some insight on the Keto Diet, and fat is the key. That sounds good to me :)
Please Recycle This Magazine, Share with a Friend!
Facebook.com/RiverRegionBoom
Nick Thomas reports on Carl Reiner, who turns 97 this month. Carl has a secret to aging well and I think we would all agree, “if you have something to do every day, you’ll hang around.” Please consider 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. Have fun during the Zoo Weekend as you get ready for Spring!
Jim jim@riverregionboom.com 334.324.3472 cell/text
Thanks for Reading BOOM! Free Subscriptions
w w w. r i ve rre gio n b o o m.co m 12 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
13
“Few quartets at any stage of their evolution have this much personality” Philadelphia Enquirer
Montgomery Chamber Music Organization Presents
Elias String Quartet
The Elias String Quartet take their name from Mendelssohn’s oratorio, Elijah, of which Elias is its German form, and have quickly established themselves as one of the most intense and vibrant quartets of their generation. The Quartet was formed in 1998 at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester where they worked closely with the late Dr. Christopher Rowland. They also spent a year studying at the Hochschule in Plan a Cologne with the Alban Berg quartet. Between 2005 and NEW EXPERIENCE 2009 they were resident String Quartet at Sheffield’s “Music in the Round” as part of Ensemble 360, taking Marie Bitlloch-Cello, Donald Grant-Violin, Simone van der Giessen-Viola, Sara Bitlloch-Violin over from the Lindsay Quartet. They are now ensemble in residence at the RNCM and regularly go back there to teach and perform. In 2009 the Elias was chosen to participate in BBC Radio 3’s New Generation Artists’ scheme and was also a recipient of a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award. With the support of the Trust, the Elias Quartet mounted “The Beethoven Project”: studying and performing all of Beethoven’s string quartets as cycles whilst sharing their experience through a special website (www.thebeethovenproject.com) and social media. The project culminated with a cycle at Wigmore Hall, all six concerts recorded live for the Wigmore live label. The Quartet is steadily building a recording catalogue that has been met with widespread critical acclaim. They have recorded the Schumann and Dvorak piano quintets with Jonathan Biss, a Britten Quartets disc for Sonimage, a Mendelssohn disc for ASV Gold and most recently Schumann string quartets for Outhere. Their two mixed programme recordings for Wigmore Live were praised unanimously, the first winning a BBC Music Magazine Newcomers award. The final volume of their complete Beethoven Quartet Cycle had just been released. Montgomery Chamber Music Organization presents Elias String Quartet Thursday, March 21, 7:30 pm at Wilson Auditorium located at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art. For more info visit www.montgomery-chamber-music.org or www.eliasstringquartet.com
14 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
AUM OLLI Schedules Spring Field Trip From time to time during its four terms, OLLI schedules field trips to introduce members to places that they may not have visited. In November of the past three years OLLI groups have gone to Camden for lunch at Gaines Ridge, a pre-Civil War house currently housing a restaurant. After lunch, they visited Black Belt Treasures (BBT) for Christmas shopping. BBT features unique works in many media by Black Belt artists – painting, pottery, jewelry, quilts, sculpture, wood carving, books, candles, food stuffs, and numerous others. In April 2019 OLLI is sponsoring a trip to Selma to visit art galleries – Selma Arts Reviving. The group will visit eight galleries and studios within a couple of blocks:
Selma Art Guild Gallery ArtsRevive Restotonica
(architectural remnants and antiques)
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Tin Man Studio
(Charlie Lucas, internationally known artist and storyteller)
Southland Studio
(A. C. Reeves, artist and teacher)
Look
(antiques and art)
Gallery 905
(art works by Alabama artists)
Bridge Tender’s Cottage (art studio of Anne Strand)
After stops at the Selma Art Guild Gallery and ArtsRevive, the chartered bus will leave the group at a central location to visit the five galleries located within a few blocks for people to visit at their own paces for about two hours. For lunch the bus will take OLLI members to the Downtowner, a meat and three restaurant (with soups, salads, and sandwiches as well), for lunch. The travelers can order and pay on their own.
The trip is scheduled for April 12, 2019, with the bus leaving the Center for Lifelong Learning at 8:45 a.m. and returning about 4:00 p.m. Cost is $30.00 for the bus, with lunch cost in addition. Because of the size of some of the studios, registration is limited. There will be an informational session conducted by Anne Strand and Anne Catharine Reeves, the Selma organizers, on March 11, 12:20 – 1:20 p.m. at the AUM Center for Lifelong Learning. Come and get more details and questions answered. You may also contact Nancy Anderson at nanderso@aum.edu. If you would be interested in participating in this trip and are not a current OLLI member, join OLLI today!! You can join online at www.aum.edu/ OLLI OR contact Brittany Thomasson at 334-244-3804.
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
15
By Dawn Mitchell
The Little Garden on the Side of the Road OK, it’s 1960 and I’m at my Nanny and Granddaddy’s house and of course I was allowed to stay up as late as I wanted, or at least as late as they stayed up. You know, you learn a lot about a man after 8:30 pm, my at-home bedtime. My granddaddy always had time for me (I guess most like to remember it that way, but he really did MAKE the time). We played dominoes, real dominoes, not the kind you order out. We ate ice cream sundaes that my Nanny piled high with made to order toppings. “We” made turkey yelpers; he was known for calling turkeys and he had the beards to prove it! This little stroll down memory lane has caused me to digress, and if you’re still reading, thank you! I’m beginning my fourth class as an intern in the Master Gardner program through the Montgomery County Extension Service and I’m loving every second of it…so glad to be retired, but that’s ANOTHER story, and I’m finally learning just how little I know about gardening. I love to plant flowers, some are actually from SEEDS, and watch them grow and grow as I water and water and water AND water. You see, my Nanny could throw a stick in the yard and up would come roses and daffodils and parsley, and she could drop a leaf in her “homemade” potting soil, she knew just how much perlite and vermiculite was needed for every African violet, bromeliad, fern, you name it…all to become blue ribbon worthy. I’m not quite sure how this green
16 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
curiosities. “We” would fill out the order form for these weird specimens and we’d check the post office box every day anxiously awaiting their arrival. I’m quite sure I’d lost interest or maybe even forgotten and I don’t remember the planting, but I will never forget what came out of that garden!
thumb was handed down to my Daddy, her son-in-law of ALL things, but he had her passion for gardening in the yard when it was a hobby and not the vegetable gardening that we depended on when I was growing up…those vegetables taste better every time I think of them. Back to Granddaddy and his after-hours hobbies. He loved to plant and harvest a backyard garden, that is, when he wasn’t playing dominoes with his buddies at the drug store. So, he would spend some of those “after 8:30 pm hours” pouring over the Burpee Seed Catalog, looking for vegetables that he’d either never heard of, seen and/or definitely never eaten. We would laugh at the “guaranteed” results…doubting that we’d ever see such! It was the unusual he was looking for-the challenge of growing but more the fun he would have showing off these
Remember, it’s 1960…no one had ever heard of or seen or eaten spaghetti squash…it’s 1960…mission accomplished. I have no idea how my Nanny figured out how to cook it without Pinterest, or googling “Healthiest Way to Prepare Spaghetti Squash”. There’s a good possibility that bacon grease was somehow involved…remember, it is 1960. The most memorable for me was the yard long, yes, YARD LONG, green beans. Just one could make a good mess of beans. And they were longer than I was tall!!! Just to be sure “we” measured them all before they were shown to my Granddaddy’s buddies. I inherited the green thumb, ‘kinda’, but I have really big (long) shoes to fill. Most of the 2500 folks in town can attest to seeing some crazy things come out of that little garden on the side of the road. My granddaddy had confirmed that Mr. Burpee was a man of his word…plant it and it will grow. Lots of other interesting vegetables made it to our table in 1960, but it took the 21st century to convince the masses that they were edibles. Dawn Mitchell, a Master Gardener of Class 2018, lives in Montgomery. For more information on becoming a master gardener, visit www. capcitymga.org or email capcitymga@gmail.com.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
17
The Importance of Mobility
Mobility is defined as the ability to move physically or to be moved freely or easily. Mobility is often considered to be a general indicator of healthy aging in older adults. New research is proving this even more. The Journal of the American Medical Association published a clinical review that points to mobility limitations as the litmus test for healthy aging. The review was conducted by geriatricians at the University of Alabama at Birmingham with analyses of studies published between 1985 and 2012 pertaining to mobility issues of aging adults.
The following is a statement by Dr. Cynthia Brown of the UAB Division of Gerontology, Geriatrics and Palliative Care- “The review confirmed that increased physical activity exercises are extremely important for healthy aging. “We’ve also identified mobility limiting risk factors and created an approach to help medical professionals screen for and treat those risk factors. Brown has suggested 2 questions be asked by primary care doctors or you can even ask yourself these questions: 1. For health or physical reasons, do you have difficulty climbing 10 steps or walking a quarter of a mile? 2. Because of underlying health
18 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
1. Upper body clam shell- helps increase shoulder flexibility and stability as well as give your back, chest, and arms a workout. -Start by either sitting in a chair by Leigh Anne Richards in an upright position or standing. Feet are flat on the floor. -Form goal post arms (90-degree angle with upper arms parallel to conditions or physical reasons, have you the floor) modified the way you climb stairs or walk Bring your forearms together in front of a quarter of a mile? your face. -Return your arms to starting positionMobility limitations leads to a loss of squeezing the shoulder blades together function, says Dr. Brown. “A decline in mobility seems to quickly lead to an 2. Semi- sits- These are known as chair across – the- board decline, including squats. These exercises are a great way the routine activities of daily living. to build strength. These will strengthen Mobility is sort of a barometer for how the muscles around the knees and allow well an older person ages.” Mobility is more oxygen and blood to flow around the key to maintaining independence. the joints, helping them to be more Loss of mobility has profound effects on supple. the social, psychological, and physical -Stand in front of a chair with feet hipaspects of a person’s life. width apart -Engage the core muscles (abs, glutes, If joints and muscles are not maintained, inner thighs) basic movements may cause pain or -Slowly lower your body to the chair and injury. Many of the negative effects bend your knees like you are going to sit that come with immobility can often but don’t completely sit be prevented by physical activity and -Touch the chair seat lightly, then come exercise. back to a standing position.
Fitness over Fifty
Here are 5 basic exercises to help maintain proper muscle and joint function:
3. Seated Abdominal Press- This exercise allows you to strengthen your core muscles which is so important in
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
maintaining stability and your overall mobility. -Sit in your chair in an upright position with feet flat on the floor -Place your hands on your knees with your elbows locked -Hold 3-5 seconds and repeat 8-10 times. 4. Side BendsAnother great core exercise that can be done anywhere. Sit with your feet flat on the floor or you many stand. -Place one hand behind your head and the other arm outstretched to one side. Lean over to the side as if you are reaching toward the floor. If standingkeep knees soft. -Contract your muscles of your side body and return to starting position. 5. Low back- rotation stretch. This movement is great for the spine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
-Twist your body so your shoulders rotate to the left side -Hold for 20-30 seconds -Return to starting position -Repeat on the right side.
which is the control center and a source of strength for many activities and the lower region on the spine is the powerhouse of all movements. Stretching your back on a regular basis will improve your range of motion, reduce back pain and increase the flexibility of tendons, ligaments and muscles. Stretching exercises that focus on the low back also help to relieve tension and morning stiffness. -Start by sitting in an upright position with feet on floor. This can be done standing also.
The loss of mobility is a real problem but it’s often preventable and treatable. Mobility exercises have become my new passion to incorporate in my personal workout and my exercise classes. Aging makes you realize the importance of keeping the body mobile and the joints supple. I want you to live the healthiest life possible. Take steps now to make sure you can take the steps in your later years! *"New Study Confirms Importance of Mobility in Seniors", Chicago Methodist Senior Services. * "5 Exercises to Improve Mobility for Seniors", Live Well, October 2017.
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
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
19
By Kyrié Carpenter
Love Me Now: Being Present With Dementia “The mission of my life became to honor him and allow our love to grow deeper,” Sarah Rowan recalls of her husband, post his dementia diagnosis. “Things others would consider embarrassing or silly didn’t really matter to me if he was enjoying his life and not feeling less than.” When she was 51, Sarah’s sweetheart Joe, 61 himself, received a diagnosis of dementia, likely Alzheimer’s. They ‘walked with forgetfulness’ for ten sweet and meaningful years. Fifteen years later, Sarah’s twin sister, who passed away a few months ago, was also diagnosed with dementia. Sarah, now 80, wonders if she will “have the opportunity to go on a dementia journey” of her own. 5 Strategies for Loving Someone with Dementia Over the past three decades, Sarah has honed and shared her joyous way of loving someone with dementia. Here are five steps to get you started down the path she has prepared. 1. Honor your loved one. “I always tried to make sure my words were words of honor for everyone, especially him,” Sarah explains of how she loved her husband Joe through his journey with dementia. “It is just what you do for someone you love.” Throughout Sarah’s anecdotes, in which there is a treasure trove of wisdom, a theme emerged over and over again: honor. She stressed the importance of honoring the personhood of everyone in our lives, especially those living with dementia. “My husband and I had a very rich and full life, and neither one of us thought that it would change the way that it did,” Sarah explained, her experience mirroring so many others, “When the diagnosis came, the changes we were experiencing had a name…not a name that I loved but a name that I grew to understand. It actually made me love him more, not less. I wondered how I could meet his needs in a way that he would feel loved.” This wonder of how to meet needs lovingly is at the core of Sarah’s ethos of honor. Coming from this place of love colored her entire journey with Joe and her twin. Before asking how to get a task done or how to get them to do what she wanted, she asked how she could honor them and meet their needs in a way they felt loved. Ask yourself
20 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
as Sarah does: “What if everything we did to one another was honoring?” How would this change the way you act and how you go about your day? 2. Go with it. Sarah says that Joe “never realized he had something called dementia.” For some people, a diagnosis is comforting because it gives a name to the changes they are experiencing. For others, reminding them constantly of their diagnosis, which in our society has so many negative connotations, can bring about discomfort and suffering. “It was my honor to make sure he lived a life of not knowing it every day,” Sarah shares. Mirroring the tenants of improv, Sarah went with and honored Joe’s reality. Sometimes she did this by not dwelling on his diagnosis. Other times, she went along with his stated desires of the day, even if they contradicted previous desires. She shared a story of taking him to a football game, a past favorite of his. Halfway through the game, he asked to leave. On the way home, he wondered if next time they could see baseball instead. Sarah said sure and was joyful they had the experience they did and was flexible to Joe’s changing desires. 3. Start now. “We need to prepare our heart and soul to love more deeply with everything that comes to us.” Sarah sees everything life throws at us as an opportunity to love and live more profoundly. “We must try in some way to empower ourselves with love of life, love of our loved ones, and love of humanity. Even if it is bad news, not to live in a fearful way.”
Sarah has practiced all of her 80 years living this way. Taking what life has to offer, even the hard stuff, and looking for the opportunity to deepen her love. Talking with her, one gets the sense of being in the presence of one who is wise with time, deep of heart and joyful in life. She shares that her life has taught her that loving and living mindfully makes the tough stuff easier. “If we had the secret to helping someone feel that they are a valued and loved human being deep in their soul from childbirth through aging, think how much kinder and gentler our world would be.” Sarah suggests starting this practice with yourself every morning. Remind yourself daily that you are loved and valued. Then enter the world feeling that way about yourself and looking for ways to make others feel the same. We can only hope to develop this skill as masterfully as Sarah has. 4. Never stop making memories. Often when we hear stories of people living with dementia, it starts with ‘who they were’ and ends with ‘then they got dementia.’ Sarah teaches that the story doesn’t stop at diagnosis. “It was surprising to me to see his freedom. Perhaps it was because he never actually said ‘what’s wrong with me?’” Sarah mused, “what mattered was that he was there. I think sharing experiences as long as we possibly can is so important. Share things they once loved and invite them to new experiences that are not fearful for them.” 5. Guide others with your actions (This advice is two-fold). First, Sarah learned that if she stayed calm and kind, Joe and others living with dementia would match this temperament. She shares a story of when they got a flat tire on the freeway and had to wait for roadside assistance. Sarah stayed calm, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
having observed that he picked up on how she felt. When she realized they would be waiting a while, she told Joe they were going to have a water picnic. Picnics were one of his favorite things. He asked what a water picnic was. She explained that they would climb to the rise of a nearby hill. He would play her songs on his little harmonica from WWII that he carried everywhere, and they would share the bottle of water she had in the car. Forty-five minutes later, the tow truck arrived. They had to ride in the truck with a tow driver and Joe played his harmonica the whole way. When they finally got home, she asked if he was as tired as she was. “Oh no,” he replied, “I wanna go on another water picnic.” What could have been a trying and disastrous day turned into a sweet memory. The second way we can guide others with our actions is for those not living with dementia. People will follow how we react. Sarah recalls being out in public when Joe pulled out his harmonica and began playing. People looked at Joe and then at Sarah for a cue as to how to react. They saw
Sarah smiling and listening and followed suit. Smiles abounded that day rather than scowls. The Sweet Rewards of Loving Through Dementia By following these five tenants, Sarah was rewarded with many sweet and tender memories with Joe during the last decade of their marriage. Sarah knew this was true for Joe, too, when one morning at breakfast Joe said: “Oh, my sweetheart! You know there is something I have wanted to ask you for the longest time.” “Oh well, it seems like a good time for me if it is a good time for you,” Sarah said. “Well, this is important,” Joe said. He was acting uncharacteristically shy. “Oh well, I am ready for it.” “Will you marry me?” Joe asked. “I have wanted to ask you that for the longest time.”
“You better be sure because I am going to say yes,” Sarah responded, smiling. “Oh, that makes me so glad,” Joe said. A diagnosis of dementia is not the end of love or life. I have made many deep relationships that only started postdiagnosis. Sarah is living proof, twice over, that relationships can deepen and evolve past a diagnosis if we, those not living with dementia, can use honor to inform our behavior, go with the reality presented, start practicing living from this generous space now, never stop making memories and guide others with our actions. Resources Sarah Rowan – Walking with Forgetfulness a You Tube Video https://youtu.be/_fdYQKQUYJA About The Author Kyrié Carpenter is a crone-in-training. She is a radically pro-aging and dementia positive coach and thinker. Kyrié’s passion for story led her to a career in film, studies in Depth Psychology, and ultimately her work with aging. She is a book author and blog contributor for multiple platforms.
T This article is sponsored by Home Care Assistance, for more info visit www.homecareassistance.com
Live Well at Home with a Higher Class of Care We do home care differently • 24/7 Live-in and Hourly Care • Balanced Care Method™ to promote healthy longevity • Cognitive Therapeutics Method™ to boost brain health • Hospital to Home Care Call today!
334-593-3988 Changing the Way the World Ages The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
HomeCareAssistanceMontgomery.com
Call Kristy today for your free in-home consultation!
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
21
Tinseltown Talks By Nick Thomas
Carl Reiner says keeping busy keeps you going Turning 97 in March, Carl Reiner shows no sign of slowing down. “I wake up with ideas!” the veteran actor, writer, director, and producer said from Los Angeles.
“I wrote that based on the time my wife and I were away, and she noticed the faucet dripping while taking a bath and wanted to get a plumber,” Reiner recalled.
Reiner says it One of those was important to ideas was to produce colorized colorize episodes versions close to of his crown the originals. television jewel, “The Dick Van “Luckily some Dyke Show.” Two enterprising color episodes photographers were produced were on hand in 2017 and during the original last year Reiner filming and took selected a couple color photos of the Carl Reiner with Betty White, who appear in If You're Not in more favorites, set and actors,” he the Obit, Eat Breakfast - Courtesy of HBO with plots noted. “So some loosely based on his family’s experience, colors are very accurate, like the rooms. which aired on CBS over the holiday Colorization has come a long way and I season. wish we could do all 158 episodes, but it’s very expensive.” “I’ve done a lot in my life but have to say that show is what I’m most proud of,” said Reiner. “We couldn’t afford to shoot it originally in color and make a profit, but I’m so pleased with the colorized episodes – they look fantastic.” In “Where Did I Come From?” young Richie (Larry Matthews) Carl Reiner, front left, with George Shapiro, Mel Brooks, and Norman Lear who questions his parents appear in If You're Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast - Courtesy of HBO about his birth, much like Reiner’s own children did, while in Reiner’s 2017 HBO documentary “If You’re “Never Bathe on Saturday” Laura (Mary Not in the Obit, Eat Breakfast” was also Tyler Moore) gets stuck in a hotel bathtub, recently released on DVD in which he ruining a vacation for hubby Rob (Dick Van narrates a series of interviews with active Dyke). nonagenarians.
22 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
“In my opening section, I’m reading the newspaper obituary section and remark if I’m not in it, I’ll have breakfast,” he said. “They thought that would make a good title.” The documentary features 90+ year-old guests still active in areas such as sports, fashion, music, comedy, and acting such as Dick Van Dyke, Kirk Douglas, and Reiner’s long-time cohort in comedy Mel Brooks. “Truly a collection of remarkable people,” said Reiner.
Colorized scene from The Dick Van Dyke Show episode Where Did I Come From - courtesy CBS
But of all the people Reiner has known, he has the highest praise for his late wife Estelle to whom he was married for 65 years. “While you do live in your memories as you get older and especially after losing a spouse, if you’ve had a good marriage it sustains you,” he said. “She was perhaps the most extraordinary woman I ever met and could do everything better than anyone else. I think about her every night I go to bed, so she’s still alive in me, no question.” A prominent comedy writer throughout his career, Reiner also continues to work on new book projects this year. “If you have something to do every day, you’ll hang around,” he said. Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala, and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 700 newspapers and magazines.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
23
By Sandi Schwartz
Unleash the Hidden Power of Laughing
With Your Grandkids
Sometimes life can be tough. Whether we are feeling anxious about current affairs or dealing with a health issue, something as simple as laughter—believe it or not—can help us persevere.
As adults, we tend to get bogged down with our to do lists and stresses of daily life and forget how beautiful it is to let loose and have a good laugh. Unfortunately, most adults do not laugh enough. In fact, one study found that healthy children may laugh as much as 400 times per day, but adults only laugh 15 times per day. If we stop for a moment and observe our grandchildren, they are probably laughing and playing freely without the weight of the world on their shoulders. We can learn so much from them when it comes to being lighthearted. It is so important that we raise them in such a way that they will continue to experience fun and laughter throughout their lives. We can create a positive environment for them to grow up in by stopping once in a while to have a laughing fit together.
24 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
Why Is Laughter So Important? Science shows us that laughter really is like medicine. According to the Mayo Clinic, laughing is one of the easiest ways for us to reduce stress and anxiety in our lives. Laughing transforms our body and mind in so many amazing ways, boosting positive emotions like happiness, peace, and humor. When we laugh, the ventromedial prefrontal cortex of our brain is activated. This releases feel-good hormones called endorphins that allow us to experience pleasure and satisfaction. Laughing also reduced our stress response because the level of stress hormones like cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), and dopamine are lowered. We feel energized since we take in more oxygen-
rich air when we laugh. Finally, laughing relaxes our muscles, which soothes tension from stress. In fact, a good laugh can leave your muscles relaxed for up to 45 minutes afterwards. The muscles that help us smile also affect how we feel. When we use these muscles, we trigger a part in our brain that improves our mood. One particular research study involved having participants hold a pencil in one of three ways in order to get them to make certain facial expressions without telling them exactly what they were doing. The first group held the pencil sideways in their mouths to
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
force a smile. The second group stuck the pencil in lengthwise to force a frown. The last group, serving as the control group, held the pencil in their hands. Participants were then asked to watch cartoons and rate how funny they were to them. The group with the sideways pencils (the “smiling” group) had higher funny ratings than the lengthwise group (the “frowning” group). The control group scored between the other two groups. This study showed how smiling and laughing can really make a difference in how we perceive the world around us. Researchers also found that facial expressions can reduce negative feelings like pain and sadness. In one study, researchers applied an uncomfortable heat to subjects’ arms and then asked them to make either a relaxed face, an uncomfortable face, or a neutral face. The results showed that the people who made a relaxed face experienced less pain than those who made an uncomfortable or neutral face. This happens because smiling releases endorphins and serotonin, which are thought to minimize any pain we feel. Laughter is beneficial because it also changes how we look at a situation. A silly moment can offer a healthy distraction from negative emotions like anger, guilt, and stress. It sure is hard to feel negatively when you are cracking
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
up! It also gives us a more lighthearted perspective when faced with challenges and helps us view such events as positive opportunities as opposed to threats. Next, laughter builds resilience, the ability to adapt well to adversity, trauma, tragedy, threats, or even significant sources of stress. When children are resilient, they are braver, more curious, more adaptable, and more able to obtain happiness and success. Additionally, resilience can help cushion us from mental health conditions like anxiety and depression because it improves our ability to cope, according to Mayo Clinic. Laughter plays a huge role in how we handle adversity by allowing us to escape from our problems for a little while. By teaching our grandkids to laugh even in times of pain, we are giving them a key tool that will help them be more resilient as they grow older. Laughing with our grandkids is so special because it builds a bond with them. These joyous moments create a more uplifting environment at home. What’s really fun is that laughter tends to be contagious, so before you know it your whole house could be giggling up a storm. Finally, the best part of laughing is that it’s completely free and always accessible to us, without any side effects (except for maybe a few aches on your
side from laughing so hard). So, how can we laugh more with our grandkids? Here are 10 ideas to get you rolling (on the floor) … S Start a laughing contest to see who can make the other person laugh first. S Play fun games like charades, Twister, Pictionary, and Headbanz. S Read joke books and websites, and then share your favorites with each other. S Create funny stories using Mad Libs or whisper down the lane. S Have a family talent show and see who comes up with the funniest routine. S Dress up in silly costumes. S Watch a comedy television show or movie together as a family. S Talk in a silly language like pig Latin. S Keep a collection of funny quotes and pictures that you can bring out at anytime to get everyone laughing. Sandi Schwartz is a freelance writer/blogger and mother of two. She has written extensively about parenting, wellness, and environmental issues. You can find her at www.happysciencemom.com and www.sandischwartz.com. Get her free course on raising happy, balanced kids at bit.ly/2i53TDV.
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
25
Why You Don’t Want a Tax Return
Brandt McDonald introduces his guest columnist, Austin Barranco… From time to time, I will be introducing several of our advisors through this column. They will share personalized insights into financial markets, financial planning, and overall wealth management concepts. At McDonald & Hagen, we have a deep bench of talent that is eager to serve our firm’s clients and our local community. This month’s column is written by Austin Barranco. Austin entered the financial industry in 2014 after earning a degree in Finance from The University of Alabama, with a specialization in Insurance and Risk Management, he has also earned the distinction of a FINRA General Securities Principal held with LPL. Austin and his wife Maghen live in East Montgomery with their dog Chip. In his free time Austin enjoys college football, golf, and traveling the world.
Tax season is here again. If you are like most folks, you spend this time of year frantically gathering tax documents and wait for the day when you can dump this heap of paper onto your CPA’s desk and say, “Good Luck!”… Immediately after you cross your fingers and pray that you don’t get the unpleasant surprise of owing money, or even worse, owing a lot of money. Does this sound familiar? Most of us get excited when our CPA or tax software spits out a nice fat refund rather than a bill to the IRS. Don’t get me wrong, there are many things less pleasant than getting a tax refund; however, getting a tax refund or a large tax refund is not an ideal situation. So, let’s breakdown what actually happens when you get a refund, and present another alternative. In most cases, employees have a percentage of their income withheld for federal and state taxes (yes, other items are withheld as well, but we won’t be diving into those items today). The term “withheld” is just a fancy word that means “giving your money to the government”. That’s right, what you are doing is allowing the government to take an interest free loan on your money that you earned for an entire year. To put this in perspective, try going to a local bank and asking for a 12 month loan. Based on your credit score, you are likely to get approved for a loan with an interest rate between 2%-30%. Even the wealthiest people with the highest credit scores don’t get interest free loans from banking or credit institutions. So, why would you give your hard earned money to the government for free? It makes little sense. I’m sure some of you are thinking, “That’s ok, because they would extend the same courtesy to me… right?” Wrong. The government charges fees for late payments. So, you can overpay your taxes, pay them before the due date, the government will then take your excess tax money and invest it for a return, but when you file your taxes, they only give you back
26 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
Financial Thoughts
with Austin Barranco
the excess amount that you paid in. They do not give you the interest they earned on your money during that timeframe. On the flip side, if you are late paying your taxes, the IRS imposes a penalty. This penalty can be viewed as a way to recoup interest that they were unable to earn while waiting for you to pay your taxes. So, this is not in any way a “two way street”. The government is happy to borrow your money interest free, but they are not in the business of allowing you to borrow their money interest free. This leads us to ask one reasonable question: Why are we so excited to get our hard earned money back with no interest? We shouldn’t be, so stop doing it. Most of us have fairly predictable incomes. Even employees with a year-end bonus should be able to estimate their income with relative accuracy. If you are receiving a large refund every year, this means you are over withholding from your paycheck. The withholding rates are easy to change, and doing this will help you come out a little more even at tax time. Just tell your employer that you want to change your tax withholdings, and they will get you the necessary paperwork to make the change. In addition, I would encourage you to sit down with a tax professional and a financial advisor to get a sense of what your year will look like. In an ideal world these two professionals work together on your behalf. (McDonald and Hagen Wealth Management has a long standing partnership with the Machen McChesney accounting firm for this specific reason). Have the tax professional review your income and deductions, and have the financial advisor recommend
suitable investments for your new found money. After all, if you aren’t investing the excess money that you now get to keep, then you may as well let the government continue to take advantage of you. Consult your tax and financial professionals at the beginning of the year to set your withholdings, and then meet with them again around mid-year to make adjustments that will help minimize your refund. It is also smart to build a small “slush fund” in case you end up owing money. Remember, the IRS charges you a penalty if you pay late, and scrambling to find funds last minute can be stressful, so make sure you are prepared if this happens. I’ve never been a fan of giving free money to the tax man, and I’m sure many of you feel the same way. If this strategy interests you, or if you have any questions about your own financial situation, please do not hesitate to give us a call. Our team of professionals at McDonald and Hagen Wealth Management would love the opportunity to help you and your family pursue financial freedom. Austin Barranco, Financial Advisor Brandt McDonald, Managing Partner McDonald & Hagen Wealth Management LPL Branch Manager www.mcdonaldhagen.com Direct comments and questions to Jennifer.Hunt@LPL.com or 334.387.0094 Securities offered through LPL Financial. Member FINRA & SIPC. Investment advice offered through McDonald & Hagen Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor, and separate entity from LPL Financial. McDonald and Hagen Wealth Management, Machen McChesney and LPL Financial are separate entities. The opinions voiced in this material are for general information only and are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. All performance referenced is historical and is no guarantee of future results. All indices are unmanaged and may not be invested into directly. Investing involves risk including loss of principal. No strategy assures success or protects against loss. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
27
Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce Announces New Leadership The Board of Directors of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce has announced President Randall L. George will retire effective April 1 and Chamber Executive Vice President Anna B. Buckalew has been elected President & CEO effective April 2. "The Chamber has been richly blessed to have had Randy George leading this organization for the past 30 years as president, and, prior to that, serving for 16 years as head of economic development,” said Board Chairman Willie Durham. “After 46 years of leadership, Randy is known throughout the country in chamber and economic development circles as one of the best in the industry. He has led the Chamber through some of the most transformative years in our region’s history,” continued Durham. “Working with this Chamber for 46 years has been an honor and a privilege,” said George. “I have been truly blessed to have worked with incredible business and elected leadership and the most talented and dedicated team of professionals any organization could hope for,” said George. “Given Randy’s tenure, the Chamber began a succession planning process several years ago,” said Durham. “Strong leadership succession is critical to the health of any organization. We were very fortunate that the strongest candidate to succeed President Randy George was already in place, and we will have a seamless transition in April,” said Durham. In 2018, a Transition Committee, chaired by David Reed, Executive Vice President and Chairman of the Board of Goodwyn Mills & Cawood and a former past chairman of the Chamber, was appointed to begin the process of naming George’s successor. “After carefully reviewing the requirements of the position, and after consulting with two independent executive search and management firms, the Transition Committee was unanimous in its decision that Anna’s leadership capacity, combined with her extensive experience and knowledge of the Chamber and the Montgomery area community make her the clear choice to succeed Randy George,” said Reed. Current Board Chairman Willie Durham echoed Reed’s comments. “Anna has worked closely with Randy, the Board and the Executive Committee over many years, and we look forward to what she will bring to the organization as President and CEO. We are confident she possesses the experience, talent, relationships and vision to lead the Chamber moving forward,” said Durham. Randy George
Anna Buckalew
Buckalew stated, “I am honored to be named the next President and CEO of the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce, and I want to thank Randy and the Board for the confidence they have placed in me to lead this trusted organization.” Joining the Chamber team in 1988 and named executive vice president in 2014, Buckalew’s role has included leadership of major Chamber divisions to include membership, convention & visitor bureau, small and minority business development, education, community development, and military and governmental affairs. As chief of staff and executive vice president, Buckalew has been responsible for staff direction, operations and strategic planning. Buckalew currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Chambers of Commerce Association of Alabama, as well as serving as a director on the Board of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Foundation. She is a graduate of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Institutes for Organization Management (IOM) at the University of Georgia, with an undergraduate degree from the University of Alabama. To learn more about the Montgomery Area Chamber of Commerce visit www.montgomerychamber.com
Free Subscriptions
w w w. r i ve rre gio n b o o m.co m 28 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
29
Ask an Elder Law Attorney
By: Raley L. Wiggins | Attorney at Law | Red Oak Legal, PC
Know When to Hold ‘Em When I was in college the No-Limit Texas Hold ‘Em fad was sweeping its way through the dregs of ESPN2 and other cable “sports” networks. It even found its way into my circle of friends, which I found irritating since I wasn’t interested in having a seat at that table. Personally, I’ve always been a gambling agnostic—I don’t particularly have a problem with other people gambling if that’s how they choose to spend their money. I understand that for some, the competition and the little rush they get from winning a big hand is exciting. What I could never understand, what I will never understand, is the appeal of watching other people play poker on television. To each his own. Plenty of people have made analogies about life and card playing. Perhaps the best known example is the Kenny Rogers tune, The Gambler and it’s hook which I’m confident, after you read this article, will be stuck in your head for at least the next several hours: You got to know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em / know when to walk away, and know when to run. / You never count your money, when you’re sittin’ at the table / They’ll be time enough for counting / when the dealin’s done. Since this is an estate planning and elder law column, I’ll do my best to see what we can learn about planning your estate from a classic country song. Know When to Hold ‘Em. Sometimes the best thing you can do is to do nothing at all. Consider this: leaving an inheritance to someone who doesn’t have the tools to manage it can lead to disaster. For example, leaving a teenager even a relatively modest amount of money, without any strings attached, can be a recipe for disaster. Likewise, loved ones may be ill-equipped to handle an inheritance due to substance abuse problems, or even gambling problems. Sometimes the best thing you can do for someone you love is to leave them an inheritance in a way that benefits them, without giving them unfettered access to money that may only exacerbate
30 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
their problems. Consider a testamentary trust provision to protect your heirs from themselves.
truth. We have no way to know who will be alive at the time we die, or what kind of property we will own at our deaths. We may have more property as the result of Know When to Fold ‘Em / Know When successful investments, inheritance, or even to Walk Away. Sometimes you’ve got a the lottery (in another state, of course). On bad hand, and you’re sitting across the the other hand, we may have much less table from someone you can’t bluff. Time property due to poor investments or due to to cut your losses and fold. In my line of the cost of a nursing home stay (currently about $6,000 per month) or some other Estate Planning and Asset Protection Workshop financial pitfall. As a Wednesday, April 24: Hosted by Red Oak Legal, PC: 1:30-3:30 pm result, your at 322 Catoma Street downtown Montgomery. This educational estate plan must include workshop presented by local attorney Raley L. Wiggins covers wills, contingencies trusts, powers of attorney, advance directives, living wills, probate for dealing administration, protecting assets from creditors, bankruptcy, divorce with these ups and downs. and remarriage, nursing homes, long-term care and Medicaid
Attend Free Workshop
qualification. Registration is required. Call 334-625-6774 today to reserve your seat or register online at www.redoaklegalpc.com. business, I sometimes have to counsel clients who, after much angst and heavy thought, decide to disinherit one or more of their children. For whatever reason, the relationship between the parent and child has deteriorated to the point where the parent feels as though leaving that child an inheritance would not be appropriate. This is part of my job that I do not relish, but the fact is that sometimes it is the right thing to do under the circumstances. When a parent has tried everything they can to encourage a wayward child to change their ways, cutting their inheritance may be the last best way to get their attention. Don’t Count Your Money While You’re Sittin’ at the Table. Most people assume that everyone in their family will die when they are “supposed to.” That is, they assume that their children will outlive them, that their grandchildren will outlive their children, and so on. Most people also assume that they’ll die in pretty much the same financial condition as they are in on the day that they create their estate plan. Nothing of course could be further from the
Consider for example that the day you wrote your will you had $220,000 in the bank. Your will leaves a gift of $20,000 to your church, and splits whatever is left between your four children. Ten years pass, and your health declines. After a long stay in a nursing home, you pass away with only $15,000 left in the bank. In that case, your church would receive $15,000, and your children would receive nothing. While leaving it to the church is a good and noble thing to do, it probably wasn’t what you intended when you drafted your will. But, by assuming you know what you will have when you die, your children wound up with no inheritance at all. You never know what hand life will deal you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have a strategy before you ante up and turn your cards over. You have to know when to hold ‘em . . . Raley L. Wiggins Attorney at Law, Red Oak Legal, PC 334-239-3625 | info@redoaklegalpc.com 322 Catoma Street, Montgomery, AL 36104, www.redoaklegalpc.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
31
i
This & tHAT
American Village Festival of Tulips
The American Village Festival of Tulips will once again provide a fantastic outing for clubs, groups, and families. The event is perfect for motorcoach tours as well. The field of over 100,000 tulips, with replicas of some of America’s most historic places as a backdrop, creates a one-of-akind photo opportunity, so bring your camera! As the only you-pick tulip field in the region, visitors can take home armfuls of beautiful blooms. Tulips will be $1.50 each, bulb included. The Festival of Tulips at the American Village will be open Monday-Friday 10-4, Saturday 10-4, and Sunday 12-4 beginning in early Spring, and continuing through March (depending on weather and bloom time). The Village advises that you check their website (www. americanvillage.org) and Facebook page to find out the exact date the tulip field will open. Opening will be determined when approximately 20% of the tulips are in bloom. In addition to experiencing the tulips, visitors can take part in Colonial games, encounter patriots of the past, experience the Continental Army encampment, Colonial Chapel, Randall Museum and National Veterans Shrine. American Village is located at 3727 Highway 119. Montvallo, AL. For more info visit www.americanvillage.org
Daisy’s Senior Moves & Transition Services, LLC Now Serving Older Adults and Their Families The National Association of Senior Move Managers® (NASMM) is pleased to welcome Daisy’s Senior Moves & Transition Services, LLC as its member. “On behalf of NASMM, I am pleased to welcome Daisy’s Senior Moves to NASMM’s family of premier Senior Move Management providers,” said Mary Kay Buysse, NASMM’s Executive Director. “As a member of NASMM, Daisy’s Senior Moves is bound by a pledge of integrity, committed to best practices in client services, business operations, safety and ethics and is dedicated to continuing professional development.” Daisy’s Senior Moves was founded in January, 2018 in Millbrook, Alabama and services the Montgomery Alabama River Region. Daisy’s Senior Moves offers full service solutions to assist older adults and their families with the often-stressful transition that comes with relocating or can assist clients who would rather “Age in Place”. Some of the services that Daisy’s offers are: planning and organizing for the move, developing customized floor plans to help clients determine what will fit in their new residence, downsizing and sorting, profitably disposing of items not needed, arranging for shipping and storage, scheduling and overseeing movers, professionally packing and unpacking, and completely resettling the client at their new home. “Once in a while, if you are very lucky, you have an opportunity to devote your time, energy and talents to a purpose in which you ardently believe. For me, these things came together in the creation of Daisy’s Senior Moves and I am excited to serve my clients and their families with my passion for helping others.” said Julia Maher, Owner. To learn more visit www.daisyseniormoves.com
Free Subscriptions
w w w. r i ve r re gio n b o o m.co m 32 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
BOOMERS, share your stuff with BOOM! We Love to Bring BOOMERS Together, send info and pics to jim@riverregionboom.com
Vann Vocal Institute and Celebrity Recital Return to Delight Montgomery Audiences Since the first Vann Vocal Institute Celebrity Recital was offered at Huntingdon College 12 years ago, stars representing every corner of the operatic universe have amazed and delighted audiences during this annual event. Thursday, March 7, at 7:00 p.m. in Ligon Chapel, Flowers Hall, world-renowned opera singers who normally perform with such landmark companies as the Metropolitan in New York and the Paris Opera will converge on the Huntingdon stage once again for the Vann Vocal Institute Celebrity Recital, a free public concert for the Montgomery community. This year’s concert will feature performers David Cangelosi, lead faculty and artistic director; Steven Crawford, head vocal coach; Thomas Muraco, senior vocal coach; Lori Phillips, soprano; MaryAnn McCormick, mezzo soprano; Dinyar Vania, tenor; and Franco Pomponi, baritone. For more info visit www.montgomerysymphony.org
Joan Baez Fare Thee Well… Tour 2019 Six decades after becoming a regular on the coffee house scene that was emerging around Club 47 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Joan Baez determined that “2018 will be my last year of formal extended touring.” With her 2017 Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame induction topping off a lifetime of awards and honors for her recordings and human rights achievements around the globe, the symmetry of Baez’s decision reverberates. “I’m looking forward to being on the road with a beautiful new album about which I am truly proud,” she said. “I welcome the opportunity to share this new music as well as longtime favorites with my audiences around the world.” Joan Baez will be performing at the Jemison Concert Hall in the Alys Stephens Center on the campus of UAB on Wednesday April 19 at 7 pm. For more info and tickets visit www.alysstephens.org/events/joan-baez
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
33
This & tHAT
i
More
The Capitol Sounds Concert Band/Montgomery Recreators “Swing into Spring” Concert Two of Montgomery’s oldest performing organizations will be in concert together on March 28. The Capitol Sounds Concert Band, organized in 1972, and the Montgomery Recreators Jazz Band, organized in 1974, will “swing into spring” with a concert at St. James United Methodist Church. The Capitol Sounds will perform traditional concert band favorites Folk Song Suite and Sea Songs by Ralph Vaughan Williams, along with Danse Bacchanale from “Samson and Delilah” by Camille Saint-Saëns, as well as Symphony No. 3 “Slavyanskaya” by Boris Kozhevnikov. The Montgomery Recreators will perform a set of classic big band and swing favorites, which will be sure to have a little something for everyone! The event is free and open to the public, but donations are always welcome. For more information please visit: www.montgomeryrecreators.com and www.capitolsounds.org.
Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Festival @ Pratt Park The 2019 Wilson Pickett Music and Arts Festival, April 6, 9 am-4 pm, will feature fun and entertainment for the whole family from 9 am-4 pm at Pratt Park and the Pratt Park Amphitheatre! The first 250 kids through the gates will receive a bag with giveaways inside! The festival features an artist village with local and regional artists for shopping, food vendors for eating, and arts activities for the kids and teens! The stage will feature entertainment all day long, and there are other activities around the park for everyone to enjoy! Pre-register to be a part of the basketball and double-dutch competition, and you may even spot a Mustang or two. Come back after the festival for an evening concert at 6 pm in the stadium and dance the night away to all your favorite songs! Admission is free. For more information, contact the Special Events Office at 334.595.0854. This project is made possible in part by grants from the Alabama State Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts and the Alabama Bicentennial Commission Foundation.
Art Talk & Afternoon Tea featuring Patricia Caldwell Come out for the Pike Road Arts Council's fourth & final Art Talk & Afternoon Tea Sunday, from 2-4 pm on March 10! This relaxing Sunday afternoon gathering will feature Pike Road resident and experienced artist Patricia Caldwell, classic tea-style refreshments from Epicurean Delights, and time to connect with friends and neighbors. All ages are invited to dress for the occasion and attend this unique event that takes place at the Pike Road Town Hall (9575 Vaughn Road, Pike Road, AL). Tickets are $20 per person and can be purchased online: www.pikeroadarts.ticketbud.com while supplies last. Call 334.272-9883 for more information or visit www.facebook.com/events/2080681818687584/
34 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Master Gardener Associations Presents Free Lunch & Learn Programs Capital City Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn 2019 the 1st Wednesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They meet at the Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Avenue, Downtown Montgomery. Mark your calendars, March 6 All Veggies Love a Raised Bed, Mike Forster, Master Gardener and April 3 Growing and Cooking with Herbs, Janell Diggs, Master Gardener. Autauga County Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn 2019 the 1st Thursday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They meet at the Trinity United Methodist Church, 610 Fairview Avenue, Prattville 36066. Mark your calendars, March 7, Growing Herbs, Janell Diggs, Master Gardener and April 4 Fruit Tree Care, Dr. Arlie Powell, Petals from the Past. . Elmore County Master Gardener Association presents Lunch & Learn 2019 the 2nd Tuesday of Every Month from 12-1 pm. They meet at the First Presbyterian Church, 100 West Bridge Street, Wetumpka 36092. Mark your calendars, March 12, Hummingbirds, Fred Bassett, Licensed Bander and April 9, Native Plants for Our Area, Peggy Thompson, Jefferson County MG. For information, please contact the Montgomery County Extension Office 334.270.4133. Also visit www.capcitymga.org.
Home Fruit Production Workshop
April showers bring May flowers, but March brings fresh fruit knowledge! The 2019 Agriculture & Stewardship Seminar Series continues in March with a Home Fruit Production Workshop, led by ACES Regional Agent Gary Gray, Friday, March 15, 9-12 noon at Pike Road Founders Station, 4902 Pike Road, Pike Road, AL 36064. Attendees will learn how to grow & maintain fruit-producing plants from home. Topics to be covered include: Easy fruits to grow, Care, maintenance & pruning, Fruit Pest Management and Pest resistant varieties. Please register by March 13th, contact 334-272-9883 or katy@pikeroad.us
Caring for the Caregiver, Alzheimer/Dementia Support Group Meeting the 2nd Wednesday of each month, 1-3 pm at ChristChurch, 8800 Vaughn Rd. Montgomery, AL. A place for RESPITE: a pause or rest, EXCHANGING: practical information on caregiving problems, possible solutions, and resources in our community, SHARING: needs and concerns, TALKING: through challenges and discovering new ways to cope. Often, we hear caregivers say they are looking for support from people who “really understand because we have been there too.” This group offers just that-a safe place for caregivers, family and friends of persons with dementia to meet and develop a mutual support system. We welcome caregivers. For more info call 334.462.2613.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
35
This & tHAT
i
More
Sandestin Wine Festival April 11-14 The 33rd Annual Sandestin Wine Festival will take place April 11-14, 2019. The Sandestin Wine Festival has been named the “Best Annual Event” by Destin Magazine, and is known as the Best event in the Visit South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival area. The Sandestin Wine Festival at Baytowne Wharf brings an opportunity for discovery. Four days of unique events open up a wide range of experiences from attending wine dinners with celebrity chefs, participating in preview events throughout the year, and taking part in wine tastings that showcase hundreds of wines. Wine novices are able to learn more about wines and sample from a comprehensive selection in all varieties, styles, and price ranges. Wine aficionados enjoy meeting winemakers, asking detailed questions, and acquiring hard to get selections. An added bonus is the opportunity to immediately purchase your favorite selections at the ABC Fine Wine and Spirits Retail Tent at a discounted rate. Everyone gets to enjoy the live music, interactive experiences at the Culinary tents, and shops and dining of the Village of Baytowne Wharf. For more info visit www.sandestinwinefestival.com
14th Annual Autism Crawfish Boil The BEST crawfish boil in the GUMP along with live music and cold beverages will happen Saturday, April 6, 12 – 5:30 pm at Dreamland Bar-B-Que, downtown Montgomery! All proceeds are donated to assist with Autism programs provided by Easter Seals Central Alabama for families in the River Region. These programs include Autism diagnosis which is costly and difficult to receive here in Central Alabama. Autism affects 1 in 88 children... Easter Seals is one of the premier organizations to get help for your loved ones! Early diagnosis is a must for these children. We hope you will help us by supporting this event. Tickets are $35. Ages 3 - 10 are $10. VIP tickets are $75. Tickets can be purchased on eventbrite. For more information, please call 334.262.0080. For more info visit www.autismmudbugball.org/
The Montgomery Art Guild Art Talk Series The Montgomery Art Guild art talk series will feature Winfred Hawkins, Monday, March 18, 6:30 p.m., at the Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library, located downtown at 245 High Street, Montgomery, AL. Winfred Hawkins has loved to draw since he was a child growing up in Montgomery. His portrait of Rosa Parks was presented to her at the dedication of the Rosa Parks Library in Montgomery in 2000, when he was 17. After attending Booker T. Washington Magnet High in Montgomery, he graduated from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) in 2007 with a degree in graphic design. He was commissioned to design ten bronze bas-relief roundels that pay tribute to the everyday men and women—the foot-soldiers—of the Montgomery bus boycott protests. Those roundels, completed in 2007, adorn the Montgomery Street façade of the Rosa Parks Library and Museum. He works as a graphic designer. He draws, paints, and creates graphic design on multi-media and on the computer. Some describe his work as contemporary surrealism. Many of his pieces make use of visual metaphors and relate to the story of his life.
36 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Jeff Goldblum & THE MILDRED SNITZER ORCHESTRA For the first time in the history of the Alys Stephens Center in Birmingham, Jeff Goldblum will take the stage along with The Mildred Snitzer Orchestra for the 2019 VIVA HEALTH Starlight Gala. The Oscar and Emmy Awards nominee is best known for his iconic roles in Independence Day, The Big Chill, Jurassic Park, and, most recently, Thor: Ragnarok. An accomplished pianist, Jeff Goldblum brings light and breezy to his audiences with the help of his band. The evening of June 2nd, the Jemison Concert Hall will be transformed into an intimate production in which Goldblum and his fellow musicians will deliver jazz standards while he riffs on his favorite artists and improvisational comedy. For ticket info visit www.alysstephens.org
The Montgomery Capital Rotary Club Annual Fundraiser “Heart’s for Children" The Montgomery Capital Rotary Club (MCRC) hosted its 3rd annual Fundraiser “Heart’s for Children: A Valentines Gala” in February at Wynlakes Country Club! The Ballroom was stunningly decorated for Valentine’s Day with black table cloths, red carnations and lots of chocolates. Everyone enjoyed carved steak and shrimp and grits dinner and danced the night away with live entertainment featuring Masterpiece Band from Atlanta …10-piece band with horn section. We had lots of great silent auction items and a raffle and…a WINE WALL. The WINE WALL consisted of various whites and red wines valued anywhere from $20 to $400, but all wines were concealed in bags. You purchased a WINE WALL ticket for $20 and picked whatever bag you would like. Upon opening L-R: Barry and Lynna Morton, Joe Hamilton, Tonya Terry and Gerald Jones, facing the camera, Ken Hendrick the bag, you found out exactly how much that bottle of wine was worth…I overheard the woman who picked a $400 bottle say, “I know the perfect occasion to open this”. The master of ceremonies was WSFA’s Tonya Terry. The Gala benefited two charities: one local, Brantwood Children’s Home and one international, Lunches for Learning (L4L). Join us! The Montgomery Capital Rotary Club (MCRC). Our objective is “Service before Self”. We meet for one hour each week at the Wynlakes Country Club for their buffet lunch and to listen to a guest speaker who is knowledgeable of Montgomery. For more info visit www.montgomerycapitalrotary.org, or contact Barry Morton, Membership Chairman, call/text him directly at 334.202.8936 or send email to: barrymorton74@gmail.com.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
37
BOOM! COVER PROFILE
Marcia Woodard, Talks to the Animals This month’s BOOM! Cover Profile is Marcia Woodard. Marcia is a transplant from Ohio, and like many transplants, she has grown roots in Montgomery. Marcia is the Director of the Montgomery Zoo and has been part of the zoo for nearly 25 years. Marcia has been instrumental in making our zoo more user friendly, interactive and future looking by developing plans to create new exhibits and unique experiences for everyone who visits. Most of you have experienced the Montgomery Zoo and many of you volunteer during special events because our zoo is part of the quality of life here in the River Region. We visited with Marcia recently and she has a very special relationship with the animals under her care, she talks to them and they all seemed to listen. Of course, as the Director, Marcia has many responsibilities, managing her team of 45 employees and the eighth most visited attraction in the state of Alabama, but hanging out with the animals is probably the coolest part of her job! We hope you’ll enjoy getting to know Marcia this month and more than likely after you do, your next visit to the Montgomery Zoo will be a little more special, enjoy. BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e. where were you born, education, family, what brought you to the Montgomery area, etc.?
year became the Zoo Director. Would you share some of your journey at the zoo and why you chose to make a career out of it? What
Zoo Director is to oversee the entire zoo operation. I look at it like we are an 8-cyclinder vehicle and I need to ensure that everyone is running like a well-oiled machine. I love that I get to connect people with animals and create an experience where the public understands animals, conservation and why we exist.
Marcia: I am BOOM!: What’s the biggest challenge originally from in managing exotic animals and animal Northeast loving people? How would you describe Ohio. I moved your leadership style? to Montgomery in 1992 when Marcia: The biggest challenge in I married my managing exotic animals and animal husband. So I loving people is striving to provide new am a transplant and exciting animals and exhibits since but I do consider many of our Montgomery visitors are my home now. I local and need Marcia's husband Ken sharing a moment with Marcia have a Bachelor’s to have new degree in Business stimuli to Management from Youngstown State are the main continue to University in Youngstown, Ohio. I responsibilities of a keep coming came to Montgomery because this is Zoo Director? What back to the where my husband was living when we do you love most zoo. My got married. I began working for The about your job? leadership Montgomery Zoo in October of 1994 style is more as the Marketing and Public Relations Marcia: I choose of a take Manager. In 1998, I was promoted to the to make a career charge kind of Assistant Zoo Director, Administration, of working at the person trying in 2001 I was promoted to the Deputy Montgomery Zoo to come to Zoo Director position and then in April because I absolutely a resolution. of 2018 I was named the Zoo Director of love what I do. I am I am more the Montgomery Zoo. in the business of assertive and creating an enjoyable direct in my Marcia and her mom doing a classic selfie BOOM!: You have been working at the experience for zoo approach, Montgomery Zoo for 25 years and last visitors. The main responsibility of a however I love to elicit input from
38 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
employees to always consider other ways of resolving conflicts. I do not like to stand on the sidelines and watch others do the tasks, I like to pitch in to encourage the staff and show them I respect their work. BOOM!: Tell us more about the animal kingdom living at the Montgomery Zoo? Do you have a favorite? What are the most popular exhibits/animals? How do you determine which animals live at the zoo and how do you acquire new animals? Marcia: We have animals from all over the world living at the Montgomery Zoo. We have Lions, Tigers, Giraffes, Elephants, Pygmy Hippos, Chimpanzees, Zebra, Rhinos, Otters, Lynx, Lemurs, many hoof-stock species, birds, etc. My
belong to Zoological Associations. Through these association we are able to post surplus and desired animals. Most zoos offer breeding loans, loans and purchases. If the animal L-R: Marcia, daughter, Lindsey Dunaway, daughter-in-law, Mary Woodard is an SSP and step daughter, Sara Dodd (Species Survival Plan) animal then there is a Zoo & Mann Museum for an entire year coordinator for each species that make for only $100.00. It is really a great the decisions of who they are paired with value. If two grandparents and two based upon the genetic makeup and if grandchildren came to the zoo for one the species should be breeding. visit it would cost $60.00, so two visits to the zoo will more than pay for the BOOM!: Many of our readers are membership. grandparents and they are always looking for ways to interact with their grandchildren, in what ways does the Montgomery Zoo /Mann Museum help make this happen?
Marcia and Ken's Grandson, Claude Riley Woodard
favorite animal is the Giraffe. Early in my career here at the Montgomery Zoo I was part of a team that assisted in the care of a new born Giraffe calf that was rejected by its mother. I literally had to pinch myself when I realized that I was standing eye-to-eye with this 4 hour old Giraffe attempting to give it a bottle. That experience providing me with a lifelong love of Giraffes. We determine what additional animals we will bring to the zoo based upon availability throughout the other zoological facilities. Most zoos The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Marcia: The Montgomery Zoo is a place that appeals to everyone. Grandparents are a very important part of our target audience. Believe me, I am one of them now and yes, my grandson can have whatever he wants, period. We offer a Grandparent membership where grandparents can bring themselves and their grandchildren to the Montgomery
BOOM!: With a busy schedule as zoo director, do you have time to serve in civic groups or church? Why is it important to serve others? Marcia: Yes, I think this is always important. The Zoo is part of this
The Woodard Family
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
39
community so we continue on. My and everyone stays under one roof. need to always mother-in-law This forces us to talk with one another, search for ways always taught play board games, go on hikes, etc. to give to our me that divine My experience of being a grandparent community. I am providence is is beyond awesome. It’s amazing! I an active member something that remember when my nephew was of the Church of is beyond our born, which was my parents first born Highlands. My control and we grandchild. I really didn’t understand husband Ken may not need to why they were making such a big deal and I conduct know why things about him. And, my parents were letting small groups happen, we just him get away with everything! I get it throughout the need to adjust now that I am a grandparent. I choose year for preourselves to our the name of OMA as my grandparent marital couples. new normal. So, name, however my grandson choose We have been I strive to do that another name. He calls me MAWMAW. doing this for a in my everyday So I’m good with that and I think its best few years now life. that he choose the name. and love it. When we first BOOM!: What BOOM!: What are some of your favorite started we really are you most travel experiences? Favorite vacation just thought we passionate spot? Any travel dreams planned? Marcia in Charleston, SC would be helping about? these couples prepare for marriage, Marcia: Some of my favorite travel however we did not realize how much it Marcia: I am passionate about exotic experiences have been to Europe, Puerto would strengthen our relationship and animals at the Montgomery Zoo because Rico, Hawaii and Disney World. I love to marriage. That was just an added bonus. many people that visit our facility would go places where I can learn about their never have a chance to see these animals culture and beliefs. Recently I traveled BOOM!: Many people over 50 and experience how they live if we did to Disney World with just my daughter. experience a renewed sense of purpose, not exist. Furthermore, we continually We had an awesome time. Future travel new goals, or maybe new careers, give contributions to world-wide plans have us going back to Europe and especially if they’ve experienced the organizations that work to save species possibly more areas of the US. empty nest syndrome of their kids and their habitat destruction. I love moving on. How would you describe this being a part BOOM!: How would you describe the sense of renewal in your life? Any advice of something quality of life in the Montgomery/River for the rest of us seeking renewal? that is much Region area? What do we need more bigger than of? Marcia: I think my sense of renewal what we do came through perseverance. I have locally. Marcia: I think the quality of life in been working at the zoo for the past Montgomery and the River Region is 25 years and my goal was to eventually BOOM!: great. I enjoy this City and all it has to be the Zoo Director. I continued to How do you offer. I think adding more businesses work in various positions over the years and your that would waiting until the time was right for me husband like appeal to the to move into the position I hold now. to spend 20-35 year Experiencing the empty nest syndrome time with olds would has been harder than I thought it would family? be great. Marcia's favorite be. I always love having my children Describe This is the animal...Maui at home so I could cook for them and your generation encourage them about life’s issues. My experience as a grandparent? that will be children do visit often and usually send Do you have a grandparent leading our their recommendations for dinner prior name yet? City in the Marcia's other favorite animal...Ruffles to arriving. If I have to cook to keep future so them coming home, that is what I will Marcia: My husband and I love to we need to cultivate activities for them do. I feel that perseverance has been a spend time with our family. We travel so they stay in Montgomery. I know trait that I have dealt with most of my to Nashville and Ohio a couple times a we have started adding businesses life. When things didn’t go as expected year to visit family. My favorite times like Prevail Coffee Shop in downtown I would just pick up the pieces and with family are when we rent a house Montgomery so that is a good thing.
40 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
BOOM!: As you’ve aged, how have your priorities changed?
someone’s attention. I like to read, cook new recipes and travel.
Marcia: My priorities have BOOM!: Many changed somewhat attractions, over time, however including I do still feel like zoos have I am a driven become more person which interactive, keeps me always how has the wanting to attain Montgomery more. Where Zoo/Mann my priorities Museum have changed is become more in myself. I used interactive? to always worry How do you about what people use technology thought about me to enhance or how I looked the customer and I think over experience? Ken and Marcia time I have grown The to accept that God created me for who Montgomery Zoo is Sensory Friendly, I am and what I am and that I should be what does that mean? happy with that. Marcia: The Montgomery Zoo is BOOM!: Give us three words that becoming interactive by creating describe you? environments that allow the zoo visitor to experience the feeding/touching of Marcia: Loyal, Determined, Energetic the animals. We currently have the Giraffe Encounter, Parakeet Cove, Petting BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or Zoo and our newest addition, Stingray other activities that grab your attention? Bay. We also have behind-the-scenes experiences with our Elephants, Giraffes, Marcia: Nothing that really grabs Tigers and Alligators that provide a
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
personalized zoo visit. Zoos of the future must strive to add these interactive activities to create an environment for the public to not only see the animal but to grasp conservations needs of the animals through interactive touch and interpretation. Our goal is to leave the zoo visitor with a message that goes beyond just visiting our zoological facility. We want the zoo visitor to engage in future conservation efforts for many of the animal species. Technology has allowed us to create a more inviting zoo for our guests. We are in the process of having a new app feature where the zoo visitor can download the app and then manage their way through the zoo and when they encounter an animal exhibit with an interactive sign they will scan the sign and then the sign comes to life. So for example, large cats sleep 20-22 hours so a zoo visitor may come to the zoo and the cats are sleeping. Now they will be able to go to the sign, scan and see the large cat running, playing, etc. The Montgomery zoo partnered with Kulture City to become a sensory friendly zoo. This allows us to loan backpacks to families who have members that have sensory issues. In the backpack are items to help these individuals enjoy their zoo visit. Items such as headphones and fidget toys are a few that are included in the bags. We are very appreciative of our partnership with Kulture City.
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
41
BOOM!: What does the future look like for the Montgomery Zoo/Mann Museum Complex?
why volunteers are so valuable to the zoo? How can our readers get involved with your many projects?
Marcia: We are currently fundraising for a new Reptile Facility. The old reptile exhibit was part Marcia: of the original zoo that Volunteers are a began in 1972, so we are very important in need of developing part of our a new exhibit. We are zoo. We utilize in the beginning stages. volunteers for Also, as part of our new our events, to Reptile facility we are assist with daily working on importing office work and Gharials from India. for the more These animals are adventurous critically endangered volunteer, we Marcia with family and only 7 zoos in North have positions America currently house Gharials. Along in our education department where with this goal of importing Gharials we they can help us to interpret animal will be creating a relationship with a knowledge to the public. This past year sister zoo in India to help provide some we started having SERVE days every field study on Gharials. other month where our goal is to bring 100 volunteers in on a Saturday and BOOM!: Volunteers are an important then collectively work on projects. This part of operating the zoo. Please share has become very successful! These
42 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
volunteers are a valuable part of our operation. I am always very appreciative of the volunteers that come out and help us because they make a CHOICE to come out and volunteer. They are not coming for money or status. They are coming because they love the zoo and want to help us move forward. Anyone interested in volunteering can either go to our website www.montgomeryzoo.com and fill out an application or contact the zoo at (334) 625-4900. We would love to have the readers of BOOM! magazine volunteer at the Montgomery Zoo. We want to thank Marcia for sharing some of her story for this month’s BOOM! Cover Profile. If you would like to volunteer at the zoo or just learn more about all that goes on there, visit www.montgomeryzoo.com. We also want to thank Shellee Roberts of Total Image Portraits, www.totalimage.com, for her cover photo for this month's cover. If you have questions, comments or suggestions about our cover profiles, including nominating someone, please send them to Jim Watson at jim@riverregionboom.com Read all of the BOOM! Cover Profiles at www.riverregionboom.com/archive/
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
43
Travel Experiences with Jeff Barganier
Flight of the Falcon
Zip Lining Historic Banning Mills
we drive This is not to nearby a sport one Carrolton and acquires by stroll around osmosis. A its historic modicum of Adamson training is Square. Cindy necessary. loiters in So, at 10 the Square a.m. we Tree House Accommodations for Jeff and Cindy and chats on meet our A cable-suspended bridge leads us to her phone eco-canopy the front door of what is not just any while I step tour guides, tree house, but one that takes the into Horton’s TJ and unique form of a hexagonal room of Books & Gifts, Sean; and Gale and Barb celebrating Barb's birthday latté-colored board and batten walls Georgia’s our fellow with large windows. The inside features oldest bookstore established in 1891. I extremes, Barb and Gale. They’re hardy a thick wooden meet owner Air Force wives who, like their husbands, pole upon Dorothy naturally crave soaring through the wild which the whole Pittman, blue yonder. They met in Alaska sixteen structure clings. hoping she years ago and have been best friends Its furnishings might be ever since. Gale flew all the way from include a interested Spokane in a big jet to celebrate Barb’s comfortable in hosting a birthday with a day of jet-less takeoffs king-sized bed, book signing and landings. As TJ and Sean instruct us large jacuzzi, for me. in the proper use of our harnesses and microwave, Later we equipment, I begin to ponder Cindy’s coffee maker, ease over reaction once we reach the jumping-off TV, VCR, to Plates/ point. I’ve done this kind of stuff. She separate bath Uncorked on hasn’t. Once trained, we climb the first L-R: Gale, Barb, Cindy and Jeff...NO FEAR! with shower and the Square, tower and hook up. Barb and Gale go central air and heat. We step through one of several excellent restaurants, and first, zipping away through the trees the back door onto a balcony in the have a bite to eat. Then we drive back like aces, producing a skill-saw-like treetops overlooking a scenic whitewater to Banning Mills after dark and discover noise as they zip along. Then, to my gorge over which is suspended one of the sleep-inducing effect the highest and longest footbridges of a comfortable bed as I’ve ever seen. Breathing in the fresh enhanced by the boatair and gazing through the majestic like, gentle swaying of eco-canopy of West Georgia, I turn to our arboreal abode. Cindy. “Me Tarzan. You Jane.” She laughs cheerfully and I feel better about coaxing Banning Mills’ 300 acres her along on this new adventure. But, feature 10 miles of zip while the accommodations meet with lines! It’s described as her approval, the real test comes in the “the best and largest zip morning when we’ll climb the first zip line adventure park in the line tower and hook up for flight. world.” Serious zip lining is sort of like flying in a Birthday Barb getting her best "Superman" on With a few hours to kill before bedtime, tiny jet…minus the jet.
44 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
utter amazement, Cindy, not to be out-girled, shuffles forward and hooks up. “I love you,” she says apprehensively, then steps off the platform and zips away! Moments later, I follow. High-in-the-trees, some small platforms are connected only by cables and a few by widely-spaced wooden steps. We lurch across those planks in jerks and starts. During these thrilling passages, we’re constantly tethered to a cable and, while we are at times extremely high in a tree or tower, our safety seems assured. Nerves quickly ease and a special camaraderie develops among us extreme boomers. We pass the day zipping over lush terrain and Georgia’s historic hidden gorge from tree to tree, tower to tower on progressively higher, faster, longer cables until TJ and Sean suggest we’re ready for the mother-of-all-zip-lines: Flight of the Falcon! Cindy and I decide not to climb the Falcon’s tower which I guess to be about 15 stories high. The zip line from the Falcon is 3,400 feet long or about five eights of a mile. We’ll reserve that
experience for our next visit. Instead, we stand below and video Barb and Gale as they zip overhead. Barb even stretches her hands out in front of her like Superwoman as she traverses the longest line on the property at a speed reaching maybe 35 miles per hour over about 1 and ½ minutes. Cindy shouts, “Woo hoo! Go Barb!” Later, Gail says, “I loved it! It was exhilarating!” And Barb agrees. “It was thrilling and breathtaking! It was long enough to appreciate the beauty around you and to get your Superman pose on! We would both do it again!” Banning Mills is not only beautiful, it’s rich in history. In 1846, a
manufacturing community was built on Snake Creek containing up to 10 mills, including two pulp mills, a paper mill, a grist mill and a saw mill. Some of the ruins of these old mills are accessible via a short hike. Banning produced its own electricity before even Atlanta. People would take day-long horse and buggy rides from the big city just to watch its lights come on! The resort has a beautiful Inn overlooking the gorge. Its lobby is like a museum with many stuff animals, a vintage buggy and photographs of the people who worked at the mills during the 1800’s. Generally, breakfast at the Inn is included within the room rate and reservations may be made for dinner. The food and hospitality here are excellent! Chef Johnathan Herndon’s evening meal is fantastic. Mike Holder and his quiet, unassuming family own and operate this laid-back, familyfriendly resort and live on the property. They’re attentive, helpful folks who seem to relish showing others an exhilarating good time. And they’re very good at it. I highly recommend a visit. Tell them I sent you. Happy zipping! For more information visit: www.hortonsbooks.com www.historicbanningmills.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
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
45
By Greg Budell
The Mayor of BOOMTOWN
BIG JUGS CAN MAKE YOU SICK!
The Budells have an old family recipe for homemade BBQ sauce. It’s great on ground beef for Sloppy Joes, pulled pork, ham and sausage.
I mixed the hash brown ingredients thoroughly, dumped them into a large glass baking dish and spread it to the edges, finishing with a flourishshowering shredded cheddar across the top before baking.
I was making some sauce on a recent Sunday afternoon and got stupid.
I grabbed a spoon to test the BBQ sauce, sipping down a mouthful.
The recipe includes equal amounts of ketchup and water, then salt, pepper, dry mustard, butter, chopped onion; dark brown sugar and vinegar added to taste.
Instead of tart and tang I tasted shock and awful! What could have produced such a bitter taste? There was too much something in there. What would Emeril do? So, BAM! I added a half cup of water to thin it out and put it back on the stove to cook down some more. The taste was so heavy I thought maybe I’d put in too much ketchup.
If you like to make chili, you probably add a given amount of ingredients, taste-testing along the way until your pallet says “just right”. My BBQ sauce is similar. I adjust and readjust until I get that one teaspoonful announcing achievement of that delicate balance between tart and tang. As I was stirring the pot, I also had chicken tenders on the outside grill. I was also working a bowl on the kitchen counter in which sat the ingredients for a most excellent hash brown casserole. I was going station to station in the preparation process. My vinegar came from Costco in a plastic jug just smaller than a fire hydrant. I
keep it in our walk-in pantry on the floor behind some large boxes. If I kept it in an accessible spot, the dogs might pee on it. I think I was still in my 50s when we bought it. I tossed ¼ cup of fluid from the vinegar jug after adding the chopped onions and let the whole combination simmer for 20 minutes.
I retrieved a batch of tenders, wrapping them in foil. They’re delicious, but not intended for people. Most of the 3 dozen or so tenders I grill every Sunday are for my dogs, and Rich Thomas’s beloved Bailey. I’m one of her favorite humans. She gets a tender in small portions every weekday during our morning show. Now, back to the saucepan! The mystery miserable taste was giving me a headache. Did the water help?
Greg Budell's column is proudly sponsored by McDonald & Hagen Wealth Management
46 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
I dipped the spoon in and sip-sip-sipped another mouthful of ______ (insert nonfamily friendly word that rhymes with “sip” here). The Gawdawful taste was still there, and most overwhelming.
hardwood flooring. I was working so quickly I failed to notice the liquid wasn’t clear.
A logical chef would discard the contents, and simply start over but that’s not the way I roll in the kitchen. The color of the sauce was right. The consistency was perfect. So what was causing the problem?
The taste mystery is solved. The next question- having ingested 2 tablespoonfuls of poison- will I live to make another batch? What will Rich Thomas, Emily Hayes and Jay Scott do if I’m too dead to do the morning showAND don’t show up with the expected breakfast? Where will Bailey’s morning chicken come from?
Fortunately, the large sauce pan containing cooked-down ground beef awaiting my masterpiece sauce was fine. I broke up the beef into smaller pieces just the right size for Sloppy Joe’s. The morning crew loves my SJs, so I was determined to deliver on a Monday morning breakfast promise. I reviewed everything on the counter top. Ketchup. Onions. Dry mustard. Salt. Pepper. Dark brown sugar. The torpedo sized jug of vinegar. Wait. The jug of vinegar. A second look raised questions. I picked it up and turned it around to read the label. CLEANING SOLUTION! As you can see from the photo, the jugs are of identical size. The cleaning fluid is used to get stains and odors out of
soaked in it overnight and everyone loved the Sloppy Joes on Monday morning. “You don’t look too good today” said my teammates (while they merrily filled their plates the next morning).
It’s a mistake any chef could make, right?
“Thanks-people-I-just-fed-while-almostkilling-myself”, I thought. I eventually explained why I looked a little off. I don’t know why it is but my crew never seems surprised when I tell them a story like this. The headache lingered but we still had a fun show.
2 full tablespoons of BBQ cleaning solution will make you headachy and nauseous!
“What’s on the menu for tomorrow?”, they asked. I enjoy doing a different breakfast for them every day. Good stuff, too! Steak and eggs, omelet’s, sausage, Rueben’s (!) and others.
The phone staff at Poison Control people was very understanding. As my headache worsened, they looked into the product, and while ingestion is not recommended, the quantity I consumed was not lethal. Just enough to produce the symptoms I was experiencing.
I thought for a second and said “scrambled eggs and Tide pods”. They knew I was kidding. I think. Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his wife, Roz, and dogs Hershey and Briscoe. He’s been in radio since 1970, and is marking 12 years in the River Region in 2017. He hosts the Newstalk 93.1FM Morning Show with Rich Thomas, Jay Scott & Emily Hayes, 6-9AM Monday-Friday. He returns weekday afternoons from 3-6PM for Happy Hour with sidekick Joey Clark. Greg can be reached at gregbudell@aol.com
They said everything would be fine after my system processed the floor cleaner (about 36 hours). They recommended I take 2 aspirin. Determined to finish, I fished the vinegar jug out of the pantry and completed a remake of the BBQ. The ground beef
Free Subscriptions
w w w. r i ve r re gio n b o o m.co m The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
47
March 2019
{12 Things} for active boomers and beyond
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA Grandparents Event
Winnie the Pooh, Theatre for Young Audiences ASF, Festival Stage March 3 - May 5
Join Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, and friends in this charming musical adaptation of A.A. Milne’s classic stories. Winnie-the-Pooh spends his days searching for honey, doing his exercises, and playing with his best friends. Adventures ensue as a new animal — a kangaroo — moves to the forest! For more info visit www.asf.net. For more information, call ASF 334.271.5353 or visit www.asf.net
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA Grandparents Event
ZOO Weekend Montgomery Zoo and Mann Museum Saturday, March 9 and Sunday, March 10, 9-6 pm Join the Montgomery Zoo for Zoo Weekend on March 9 & 10, 2019. Enjoy a festive environment with live entertainment, games, rides, concessions and animals from around the world. There will be many activities and fantastic food, so come have fun together at an affordable price. It is also an excellent opportunity to take advantage of discounted memberships. $17 for adults, $13 for children ages 3-12 years old, FREE for toddlers 2 years old and younger and Montgomery Zoo members. Admission includes entry to the Zoo and Mann Museum. Montgomery Zoo, 2301 Coliseum Pkwy, Montgomery, AL 36110For more info visit www.montgomeryzoo.com or call 334.240.4900
PIKE ROAD, ALABAMA
The Waters Neighborhood Yard Sale The Waters Town Square Saturday, March 9, 7-12 pm March 9th, Neighborhood Yard Sale! Come one, come all to The Waters Neighborhood Yard Sale at Town Square! Make your plans to sell, shop, or both on Saturday, March 9, 2019 from 7 AM - 12 PM.
48 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA SLE Rodeo Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, AL
March 14-16, 8-8 pm This rodeo will have more cowboys and cowgirls who competed in the National Finals Rodeo than any other rodeo within 200 miles! The 2019 SLE Rodeo will be held March 14-16 at Garrett Coliseum. The rodeo coming to town means more than just buckin’ broncos, barrel racing and burly bulls. Whether it’s the parade downtown, the Stick Horse Rodeo or the Western Festival, there’s something for everybody to enjoy. Tickets can be purchased through Ticketmaster. For more info call 334.265.1867 or visit www.slerodeo.com
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA The Joe Thomas, Jr Guitar Pull Cloverdale Playhouse March 19, 7-9 pm
The Joe Thomas, Jr Guitar Pull, 7- 9 pm, $10 at the Door. Featured artists vary with each performance. Never the same show twice! Remaining Dates for the 2019 Guitar Pulls: March 19, May 21, June 18 August 20, September 17, November 19. Our Singer/ Songwriter Series is a great night of original music and songwriters talking about how they craft their music and performing original works on the Playhouse’s intimate stage. For more info visit www.cloverdale playhouse,org
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Montgomery Chamber Music Organization Presents: Elias String Quartet @ MMFA Thursday, March 21, 7:30 - 9:30 pm The Montgomery Chamber Music Organization presents the Elias String Quartet to the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts on Thursday, March 21, 2019. The concert begins at 7:30pm. The Elias String Quartet take their name from Mendelssohn’s oratorio, Elijah, of which Elias is its German form, and have quickly established themselves as one of the most intense and vibrant quartets of their generation. There will be a “Meet the Artists” Wine Reception following concert. For tickets and more information, call 334.277-3505. For more info visit www.montgomery-chamber-music.org
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA Steel Magnolias ASF-Octagon March 21-May 5, Various times
The hilarious and heartwarming story of six Southern women who gather and gossip at the local beauty parlor. With wit, warmth, and intelligence, they rise to meet whatever challenges life sends their way. This production features a live music preshow performance. Octagon Stage | 1 hour 45 minutes, plus intermission, recommended ages 12+. Evening shows begin at 7pm; Saturday matinees at 2 pm and Sunday matinees at 3 pm. Call 1.800.841.4273 for more information or visit www.asf.net/steel-magnolias/
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Max Capital City Classic, Alabama vs Auburn Riverwalk Stadium Tuesday, March 26, 6:30 pm The rivalry between The University of Alabama and Auburn University continues! The Montgomery Biscuits, along with the City of Montgomery, have announced that the two schools will play the eighth annual MAX Capital City Classic on Tuesday, March 26, 2019 at 6:30 pm at Riverwalk Stadium. Gates will open at 5:30 pm. For tickets and more info visit www.milb.com/montgomery
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA
Meet the Producers: Ken Burns’ Country Music Department of Archives and History, 624 Washington Ave Friday, March 29, 6-8 pm
Ken Burns' COUNTRY MUSIC (coming to APT/PBS this fall) chronicles the history of a uniquely American art form, rising from the experiences of remarkable people in distinctive regions of our nation. From southern Appalachia's songs of struggle, heartbreak and faith to the rollicking western swing of Texas, from California honky tonks to Nashville's Grand Ole Opry, the documentary series follows the evolution of country music over the course of the 20th Century, as it eventually emerged to become America's music. Directed and produced by Ken Burns, the series was written and produced by Dayton Duncan, and produced by Julie Dunfey. As guests of Alabama Public Television, Dayton Duncan and Julie Dunfey will be visiting the Alabama Department of Archives and History to discuss the documentary series, to share excerpts from it, and to entertain questions and comments from the audience. Alabama Department of Archives and History, 624 Washington Ave, Montgomery, Alabama 36104. This event is free and open to the public -- but seating is limited. Call 334.242.4361 for more information or visit www.facebook.com/events/551472638668850/
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA Arts & Crafts Beer Festival Goathaus BierGarten Friday-Sunday, April 5-7 2-7 pm
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
In celebration of National Beer Day, 21 Dreams + Goathaus Biergarten will present a weekend full of specially crafted brew, signature bar bites, entertainment all intertwined with the creative arts! Live music, performances, live painting, and festivities! VIP Reception on Friday. Full festival day on Saturday, 2pm – 7pm. And Sunday -- Art, Beer & Business Celebration! TICKETS & MORE INFO COMING SOON! Call 334.625.9602 for more information or email info@21dreamsmgm.org or visit www.21dreamsmgm.wildapricot.org
ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA
Piney Woods Arts Festival (A Juried Arts & Crafts Show) Enterprise State Community College Saturday and Saturday, April 13th & 14th The 45th annual Piney Woods Arts Festival takes place April 13 (9 am – 5 pm) & April 14 (12 – 4 pm), on the running track of Enterprise State Community College. One of the oldest juried arts and crafts shows in the area, Piney Woods features original art and crafts by approximately 100 artists, a children’s fun center, food and entertainment. Special events include a Civil War Living Display and the Weevil City Cruisers Car and Truck Show (Saturday only across campus from the arts festival). On Friday, April 12, the Piney Woods Arts Festival is partnering with 321 Films, which will present the Mountain Tales Film Festival, the first ever film festival in Coffee County. Admission is free. For information, call 334.406.2787 or visit www.CoffeeCountyArtsAlliance.com
MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA The Marshall Tucker Band MPAC Thursday, April 25, 7:30 pm
The Marshall Tucker Band got its start in Spartanburg, S.C. when Gray teamed up with Tommy Caldwell and Toy Caldwell, Paul T. Riddle, George McCorkle and Jerry Eubanks, borrowing the name "Marshall Tucker" from a piano tuner whose name was found on a key ring in their old rehearsal space. As we've become older," Gray grins, eyes twinkling, "our Southern heritage seems to come out even more. But no matter how old we get, we can still rock your socks off." Gray also notes that people have gotten "married and buried" to classic MTB songs like "Desert Skies" and "Can't You See". After 40 years, The Marshall Tucker Band continues to be played on classic rock and country radio, and they have never stopped touring. More than 40 years after forming, The Marshall Tucker Band continues to tour, performing more than 130 live dates each year. For ticket info visit www.mpaconline.org
Free Subscriptions www.RiverRegionBoom.com R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
49
Eating Smart with Tracy Bhalla
KETOSIS
So, we’ve all heard of the Keto diet, but what exactly is it? And what are its credentials? Well, once you look into it, they’re pretty damn good. It was actually originally developed as a diet to improve brain function in children suffering from seizures – and it worked! One of the side effects noted was that they were also losing weight, or at least excess fat. So not only did these children eliminate seizures from their life, but they also became healthier, slimmer versions of themselves. This treatment was discovered in 1921 at the Mayo Clinic. Around the same time in Germany it was discovered that cancer cells feed off glucose, unlike other cells in the body, so the conclusion was proposed that the ketogenic diet could also then help treat and prevent cancer. In later years, post WW2, the introduction of seizure controlling drugs and cancer medications meant that the keto diet went out of favor (and drugs took over – such a sad story). Only to be rediscovered in the 1990s when a little boy was not reacting well to the drugs, so his parents found the keto diet online and tried it. Surprise, surprise, it worked! Now thousands of epilepsy sufferers have taken control of their lives again through nutrition and nutrition alone. How much better is that for your body than pumping it full of chemicals??!! But let’s get back to what the diet is and what it actually does to our bodies. The state of ketosis is what you want your body to be in constantly while on this diet. On a normal western diet, we eat large amounts of carbohydrates and therefore glucose, which is what our
50 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
body turns to for its energy. If we did not eat (i.e. fasted) for at least 24 hours, our body would then turn to using fat for energy – that is to say that we do not store more than 24 hours’ worth of glucose. The keto diet then is tricking our body into thinking its fasting by severely limiting the amount of glucose consumed. This can be further enhanced (or speeded up) by intermittent fasting; that is picking a window of 4 to 8 hours in the day, which is the ONLY time you consume food. Even in that small window you must stick to the diet strictly to keep your body in ketosis, but the intermittent fasting does seem to help speed up the weight loss. So, what exactly do you eat? Here’s the surprising thing – the Classic Keto diet (the original) is 90% fat, 6% protein and 4 % carbohydrates. Wow! That is to say that 90% of the calories comes from fat, not that 90% of your plate is covered in it (just thought I’d get that point clear.) Most people go for a modified version, at least if you’re going to stick to it full time. A modified version would be 82% fat, 12% protein and 6% carbohydrates. As you can see, either way your diet is completely turned on its head. MOST of your calories come from fat (I hope I don’t have to add here that clearly it has to be “good” fat, like butter, avocado, olive oil, coconut oil, etc. NOT trans fats and canola oil!)
So, let’s look at a couple of meal options just so you can see what you’d be eating (it’s actually pretty good once you get away from the missing bread and potatoes!)
Lunch – 6oz organic bison cooked in 2 tbsp. coconut oil, 5oz sliced cucumber drizzled with lemon juice, olive oil and seasoned to taste, ½ grapefruit. Dinner – 6oz wild-caught salmon cooked in 2tbsp. coconut oil, 6 oz steamed Brussel sprouts, topped with 1tbsp. flax oil and seasoned to taste. There are many other benefits of this diet than just losing weight. People report better mental clarity, losing that bloating feeling after eating, better sleep, all day energy (no midafternoon slump), healthy blood lipid levels, healthy digestive function. It is a tricky one for many of us to stick to because we are so used to having high levels of carbs at every meal, but equally we all know that’s not healthy, so, give it a shot If it works for you – awesome! From what I’ve read, if you actually stick to it rigidly, there is no one that it doesn’t work for. BUT if you let it slide – even for just a day, then your body slips out of ketosis immediately. It can take days to get back in it. Just warning you – good luck! 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 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 have.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
R ive r Re gio n Bo o m . co m
March 2019
BOOM!
51
52 BOOM!
March 2019
RiverRegionBoom.com
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine