12} Things

{12 Things} for active boomers and beyond March 2020

MONTEVALLO, ALABAMA Festival of Tulips at the American Village American Village, Montevallo, AL Through March, every day, weather permitting

The field of over 100,000 tulips, with replicas of some of America’s most historic places as a backdrop, creates a one-of-a-kind 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. American Village is located at 3727 Highway 119. Montvallo, AL. For more info visit www.americanvillage.org

WETUMPKA, ALABAMA Simple Sundays Jasmine Hill Gardens and Outdoor Museum, 3001 Jasmine Hill Rd. Wetumpka, AL Sundays, 1-4 pm

On Simple Sundays, we offer a variety of activities in our beautiful garden spaces for people of all ages. Each week will be different as friends enjoy art making, music playing, gardening workshops, kid games and more. Every week, we'll host a yoga instructor at 2:00, so bring your mat and join us in the sunshine! Pack a picnic and stroll our pathways to enjoy the flowers and sculptures under our majestic trees. There is so much to discover as our amazing hilltop changes with every season. We look forward to seeing you along with your friends, family and butterflies! Admission $10.00 – Adults, $8.00 – Military & Senior Citizens, $6.00 – Children ages 3-12, FREE – Children 2 and under. www.jasminehill.org

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA ALABAMA STORY ASF-Octagon Stage March 5-22 It’s 1959, and the Civil Rights Movement is starting to grip

America. In Montgomery, Alabama, a gentle children’s book stirs the passions of a segregationist senator and a no-nonsense librarian. A contrasting story of childhood friends — an African-American man and a woman of white privilege who are reunited in Montgomery that same year — provides private counterpoint to the public events of the play. Political foes, star-crossed lovers, and one feisty children’s author inhabit the same page to conjure a Deep South of the imagination. Octagon Stage | 2 hours, plus intermission. Recommended ages 12+. For tickets www.asf.net

PIKE ROAD, ALABAMA Pike Road Arts Council's 9th Annual Art Market Pike Road Town Hall (9575 Vaughn Rd) Sarturday, March 7, 9-4 pm

Call your friends for the Pike Road Arts Council's 9th Annual Art Market on Saturday, March 7th from 9 am - 4 pm at Pike Road Town Hall (9575 Vaughn Rd). This event is free to enter and features artists and artisans from the River Region and beyond. A local British Car Club will be showcasing their cars in the parking lot outside Town Hall during the event. Those interested in learning more can contact the Town of Pike Road by visiting www.pikeroad.us, calling 334.272.9883, or emailing info@pikeroad.us.

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA 44th Annual Zoo Weekend Montgomery Zoo Saturday and Sunday, March 7-8, 9-6 pm daily

During this two-day event the Montgomery Zoo is transformed into a amazing carnival like atmosphere for everyone from two to 92, with two stages of entertainment, games, rides, bouncy houses, giant inflatable slides, pony and camel rides, petting zoo, animal encounters, Montgomery Fire Department’s Smoke House, Montgomery Police Department K-9 Unit, live animal presentations, concessions, baked goodies, and more. Special appearances include Zoobeedoo, Big Mo, McGruff the Crime Dog, 501st Legion Vader’s Fist Star Wars characters, and the characters from Lisa’s Party Palace. Zoo Weekend is our biggest fundraiser of the year. All proceeds from this event will be contributed to the construction of a new reptile facility with its featuring animals including the critically endangered, Indian Gharial, Komodo Dragon, and King Cobra. For more vist www.montgomeryzoo.com

CALERA, ALABAMA St. Patrick's Murder Mystery Dinner Theater Corbin Farms Winery March 13-14, Friday, Saturday, 6:30 pm

Come join us for a St. Patrick’s Day themed murder mystery dinner theater on Friday, March 13th or Saturday, March 14th! This event will begin at 6:30 and end around 9:30. Plan to arrive at 6:30 and stay for the entire event! We will be serving some Irish favorites at Seamus O'Malley's Pub as well as great wine! Our menu is as follows: 1st Course: Irish Pub Salad and Irish Soda Bread, 2nd Course: your choice of entree *make your entree selection when purchasing your tickets* - Shepherd's Pie- Bangers & Mash- Baked Chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans, 3rd Course: Irish Cream Brownie Trifle. 21+ ONLY event. Tickets are $52.55 and include a 3 course dinner, 1 glass of wine, an evening of fun, Eventbrite fees, taxes, and gratuity! For more info visit www.corbinfarmswinery.com

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA Nitty Gritty Dirt Band MPAC, Downtown Montgomery Thursday, March 19, 7:30 pm

With a refreshed lineup and newfound energy, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band remains one of the most accomplished bands in American roots music. Following an extended 50th anniversary tour, the ensemble grew to a six-piece in 2018 for the first time since their early jug band days. The group now includes Jeff Hanna (acoustic guitar, electric guitar), Jimmie Fadden (drums, harmonica), Bob Carpenter (keyboards), Jim Photoglo (bass, acoustic guitar), Ross Holmes (fiddle, mandolin), and Jaime Hanna (electric and acoustic guitar). All six members also sing, and when their voices merge, the harmonies add a powerful new component for the legendary band. And with the fatherson pairing of Jeff and Jaime Hanna, the band carries on a country music tradition of blood harmony. For tickets visit www.mpaconline.org.

MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA SLE Rodeo Garrett Coliseum in Montgomery, AL March 19-21, 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 2020 SLE Rodeo will be held March 19-21 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 Awaken, River Region Worship Gathering Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium March 28th, 6-7:15 pm

Our first Awaken night of 2020 is March 28th, from 6pm-7:15pm, and is coming up soon. Please plan to be with us, and invite anyone you can! --Philippians 2:1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. for more visit the Awaken facebook page.

ENTERPRISE, ALABAMA Piney Woods Arts Festival (A Juried Arts & Crafts Show) Enterprise State Community College Saturday and Saturday, April 4th & 5th

The 46th annual Piney Woods Arts Festival takes place April 4 (9 am – 5 pm) & April 5 (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 16th Annual Autism Crawfish Boil Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium April 4th, 12-4 pm The BEST crawfish boil in the GUMP along with live music and cold beverages will happen Saturday, April 4, 12 – 4 pm at Montgomery Riverwalk Stadium. 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/

SANDESTIN, FLORIDA Sandestin Wine Festival The Village of Baytowne Wharf, Miramar Beach, FL 32500 April 16 – 19 The 34th Annual Sandestin Wine Festival will take place April 16-19, 2020. 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. www.sandestinwinefestival.com

Eating Smart with Tracy Bhalla Food for Eyesight

I have been reading a great book – “Dr Duke’s Essential Herbs” by James A. Duke, Ph.D. Duke is a fully qualified and respected botanist who worked for the US government for many years in that capacity. He is now retired and lives in Maryland, but what I like about his book is how clear and well written it is and how it explains both the chemistry and in layman’s terms how herbs and plants can help our bodies heal.

Now I’m sure we all grew up being told that if we ate our carrots, we would be able to “see in the dark” or at the very least have good eyesight. Indeed carrots are packed with beta-carotene and other carotenoids, the precursors of Vitamin A. Vitamin A is essential to make the visual pigment in our eyes, but it is not only found in carrots, but also in any red, yellow or orange fruit or vegetable – think bell peppers, cantaloupe, yellow squash, etc.

What you may not know is the power of the Bilberry! In fact, you may not even have heard of a bilberry, it being a small shrub that thrives in England, Scandinavia and Siberia; in fact it grows wild on the hillsides where my family lives in England and I remember well going with my Grandma with a basket and picking the tiny little dark berries which she would later make jam out of.

Dr. Duke says they are the same size as a blackcurrant, but I remember them being even smaller! Either way, they are very tiny. Smaller even than your wild blueberries (which are a LOT smaller than the cultivated ones.) It is also

known as Whortleberry, Black Whotles and Bleaberry. Due to the fact that they are more plentiful in Europe than here, they are more widely known for their powers to help vision there too. In fact, in WW2 the British sent their pilots off on night flights after giving them bilberry products to eat/drink so as to improve their night vision.

Billberry can be used to treat a variety of vision problems:

1) Cataracts – basically a clouding of the eye’s lens. Two significant studies have shown that taking bilberry extract and vitamin E can arrest the progression of cataracts – in 90% of cases!!

2) Glaucoma – basically a build up of fluid pressure within the eye. A combination of bilberry, vitamin C and rutin has been found to lower the pressure within the eye and keep the eyes healthy. The vitamin C and rutin help lower the pressure and the bilberry compounds – anthocyanosides – retard the breakdown of the vitamin C thus allowing it to protect your eyes for longer.

3) Macular Degeneration – no known cause but often linked to aging, diabetes and UV light. Bilberry can help slow down the degeneration process by preventing free radicals from damaging the macula and also by strengthening the capillaries in the retina – in fact, this is one of bilberries best known strengths!

4) Poor night vision (cue RAF) -As you age your pupils don’t dilate as well as they used to, so working or driving at night becomes more difficult. Bilberry can help compensate for that by increasing rhodopsin production within the eye. Rhodopsin is a pigment in the retinal rod cells, the cells used for night vision.

5) Retinopathy – a gradual visual deterioration caused by reduced circulation in the blood vessels that supply the retina, common in diabetics. Bilberry helps strengthen blood vessels leading to the eye, improving circulation to the retina, thus enabling it to function better. Studies have shown that 400mg of bilberry extract per day reduced the tendency toward eye hemorrhaging in retinopathy patients.

If you think you may want to try a bilberry supplement, aim for a daily dosage of between 320 to 480mg. There are no known contraindications with any other supplement or prescribed drug. You can sometimes find bilberry leaf teas – be careful with those as too much of the leaves can be toxic, but you can eat as much of the fruit as you want! If you can find bilberry jam, it is truly delicious!