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September 2011
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INTRODUCING
Brian Richardson, MD Specializing in Urology
Jackson Hospital is pleased to welcome Brian Richardson, MD, an Alabama native from Mobile. Dr. Richardson completed his general surgery internship training at the University of Florida at Shands Hospital in Gainesville. He then completed urologic surgical training at Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he served as the chief resident of urology. His specialty interests include performing minimally invasive urologic surgery using robotic, laparoscopic, percutaneous and endourologic techniques.
As a young boy I always knew that I wanted to study and practice medicine. I became interested in urology after visiting my grandfather in the hospital who suffered from prostate cancer. That experience helped guide me to choose a career in urology, so that one day I could help treat others who were battling the same disease as my grandfather.
To schedule an appointment call
334-293-8588
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1722 Pine Street, Suite 502 Montgomery, AL 36106 www.jackson.org/clinic September 2011
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
HealthNEWS SEPTEMBER 2011
for Boomers and Beyond
Getting Screened for Prostate Cancer
It’s a question many men have: Should I be screened for prostate cancer? There’s never been a simple answer to that question, and some conflicting results from two major studies may have confused men about the benefits of using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test for screening. If you’re one of those men, you should know this: The PSA test is still a viable option if you want to be screened for prostate cancer—but only after you have carefully weighed the pros and cons of the test with your doctor, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS). The ACS strongly advises men to learn as much as they can about prostate cancer and the PSA test before deciding whether to be screened. That’s because finding and treating prostate cancer early isn’t always a clear-cut choice, as it can be with some other cancers, says Durado Brooks, MD, director of prostate and colorectal cancers for the ACS. Not all prostate cancers are aggressive. In fact, many are so slow-growing that they never become a serious threat to a man’s health or affect how long he lives, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The problem with screening is that it may lead to treating some of these slow-growing cancers that, if left alone, might never pose a problem. And treatment for prostate cancer is not without risk—it can have significant urinary tract and sexual side effects. “I recommend that men above the age of 40 are counseled by their doctors regarding screening,
diagnosis and possible treatment options of prostate cancer,” says Brian Richardson, MD, a urologist with The Jackson Clinic. “Certainly, men with higher risk should be aware that although there are more indolent or slow growing forms of prostate cancer, it remains the number two cause of cancer related death in men.” Prostate cancer death rates have fallen since PSA testing became common, though for reasons that are still unclear. According to Richardson, highly publicized research trials from both the United States and Europe raised the question whether PSA screening actually reduces the risk of dying from prostate cancer. After further analysis of these study results, Richardson believes there is clear evidence that early detection and treatment of prostate cancer does save lives. “If men talk with their primary care provider or urologist, light can be shed on the risks and benefits of screening for prostate cancer,” says Richardson. “It could be a conversation that eventually saves their life.” When Should I Start Getting Screened? Deciding whether to be screened is a personal decision, and one you need to make in conversation with your doctor. The ACS recommends that men start having discussions with their doctor about screening at: • Age 50 for men at average risk of prostate cancer. • Age 45 for men at high risk of the disease—African Americans or those with a father, brother or son who was diagnosed with prostate cancer before age 65. • Age 40 for men at very high risk due to family history— those with multiple family members affected by the disease before age 65.
The Advantages of Robotics in Surgery Every year about 150,000 men have surgery to remove their prostate gland (prostatectomy). This surgery can be performed using traditional surgical techniques. But at Jackson Hospital, we offer another option: robotic surgery with the da Vinci® Surgical System. Prostatectomy is a common treatment for prostate cancer. The da Vinci® system allows this surgery to be performed with small incisions.
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But the da Vinci® system offers men who have a prostatectomy yet another benefit: added precision. Nerves and blood vessels important for bladder control and sexual function are attached to the prostate. The robot gives doctors improved control when removing the gland. As a result, it may be easier to precisely rid the body of cancerous tissue while sparing other parts of the anatomy.
Studies have shown that robotic surgery is safe and effective. And its benefits can be many. Smaller incisions may mean less pain, less blood loss and a quicker recovery. Still, research into this surgery continues. And it isn’t always the best option for everyone. Talk with your doctor about the advantages and potential drawbacks of the da Vinci® system if you’re considering a prostatectomy.
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
BOOM!, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Contents
September 2011
“Though no one can go back and make a brand new start, anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending.”
Volume 2 Issue 2
Carl Bard
Thought Relationships Taste Inspiration
Humor Advice Health Community
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” C.S. Lewis
3 Vintage Olive Recipes 5 Jackson Hospital’s Health News 8 Publisher’s Letter
page 19
21 Junior League & Taste of the River Region 22 Healthy Hearing, What to expect...
Features 14 Money
How to manage money as a couple.
Departments 10 This and That
Something interesting, even for you!
19 Rowing
How it keeps one old man very young.
28 {12} Things
Plenty to do for Boomers and Beyond.
24 Bells-Greg Budell The day, 9/11, that changed our world 10 years ago.
27 Volunteerism & Tribute Highlight 10th Anniversary of 9/11 30 Stick on Lenses
16 EndNotes
Music-Thanatologists
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COVER PROFILE page12
Dinner for Four! Tasty Ticket Giveaway!
page 10
page 16
page 8
BOOM! magazine is published monthly by River Region Publications, 8637 Harvest Ridge Dr., Montgomery, AL 36116. The phone number for voice and fax is 334.523.9510. Copyright 2011 by River Region Publications. No part of this publication can be reproduced without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed in BOOM! 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
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September 2011
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publisher’s letter
I Can Hear You... 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.
When George W. Bush uttered those words and added. “… the rest of the world can hear you and the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon,” I started to heal. The wound on my thoughts inflicted on that dreadful morning 10 years ago would begin to heal, but the memory will always be clear. The utter shock and awe of those days surrounding the worst attack on our homeland were beyond belief. President Bush helped us regain our sense of who we are and we proceeded to dismantle the enemy. I believe he preserved our liberty and freedom. Thank you George W. Bush.
Publisher/Editor
Jim Watson, 334.523.9510 jim@riverregionboom.com
Associate Editor Kelly Watson
kelly@riverregionboom.com
Contributing Writers Dr. Bettie Borton
Elinor J. Brecher Greg Budell Jan Hill Jane Honeck
Cover Photography
Maria Wiggins, Reflections of Grace maria@reflectionsofgracestudios.com www.reflectionsofgracestudios.com
Advertising
Jim Watson, 334.523.9510 jim@riverregionboom.com
Monette Mottenon, 334.523.9510
monette@riverregionboom.com
Design & Layout Lake House Graphics
Distribution
Network Delivery
Printing
Publications Press, Montgomery, AL 334.244.0436
Everyone has a story to tell from that horrifying moment 10 years ago. We asked Greg Budell from Newstalk 107.9 to share his story with our readers Jim Watson, Publisher because he had a unique vantage point as a morning news man in Florida at the time of the attacks on the World Trade Center. His insight and sense of history is an interesting read. As we approach the 10th anniversary of 9/11, our nation is organizing a weekend of volunteer and service that is being organized by the Volunteer and Information Center here in Montgomery along with the City of Montgomery. There will be events where we can come together as a community and serve those in need. There will be projects for businesses to be involved with and individuals too. A tribute to those who gave so much during the 9/11 attacks will be conducted on Sunday, September 11. For more details see the article on page 27 and make plans to be involved.
Since everybody seemed to be heading back to school we decided to do the same. That’s where we discovered Jan Hill, our BOOM! Profile for September. After spending just a short time with Jan I found myself wanting to pull up a little chair and get back to learning, especially when she picked up that bearded lizard. She knows how to get your attention and then teach you something. I think you’ll find her story interesting as she leads the students at Forest Avenue Academic Magnet School. We also have a short story on a 90 year old rower. We may recruit him for next year’s Dragonboat Competition! This month’s issue has many goodies for your reading pleasure such as recipes from the Vintage Olive, the upcoming Taste of the River Region (see below for a chance to win tickets), and money management for couples. Does anyone know what a music-thanatologist is? I didn’t either.
We gave away some Elvis Tribute tickets in August to Kathy Hiebert, Wayne Brown and Glenda Householder, who was very excited to get a chance to experience that wonderful “Elvis Feeling” again. Thanks to all of our readers. I appreciate your feedback and encouragement. Please continue sharing BOOM! with your friends, I know they’ll appreciate it! Remember, it’s a great time to be Booming!
Jim
jim@riverregionboom.com 334.324.3472 cell/text 334.523.9510 office
Win Dinner for FOUR
to the Taste of The River Region, 35 Restaurants, Adult Beverages, Live Music, a Food Party for you and Your Friends! Simply send an email to jim@riverregionboom.com and share why your foursome should be the lucky ones! Good Luck!
Please Recycle This Magazine, Share with a Friend!
The drawing will be September 26th, 5 pm
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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September 2011
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This & tHAT Riverwalk
Wine Festival Do you love wine, food, live music and fun? Come to the Riverwalk on October 8th for the 2nd Annual Riverwalk Wine Festival! There will be tastings from 11 distributors, representing over 100 wineries. Buy your tickets now for this great culinary festival at www.riverwalkwinefestival.com
Questions about God? The Alpha Course is a place for those at any stage in their spiritual journey to explore the meaning of life, discover the basics of what Christians believe and why, and ask questions in a non-threatening, non-judgmental environment. Alpha will meet every Monday night beginning September 12 in the Fellowship Hall at Frazer Church. Each meeting consists of dinner, teaching by Patrick Quinn and other Frazer leaders, and discussion time led by trained small group leaders. Registration is required, but there is no charge for meals or materials. Free childcare through 5th grade with preregistration. Registration deadline for the course and childcare is Wednesday, September 7th. Diane Klaaren - 334.495.6362 or alpha@frazerumc.org. For more information on the Alpha course visit their website at www.alphausa.org
Laugh Out Loud A middle-aged woman had a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. While on the operating table, she had a near death experience. Seeing God, she asked, “Is my time up?” God said, “No, you have another 43 years, two months and eight days to live.” Upon recovery, the woman decided to stay in the hospital and have a face-lift, liposuction and tummy tuck. Since she had so much more time to live, she figured she might as well look even nicer. After her last operation, she was released from the hospital. While crossing the street on her way home, an ambulance killed her. Arriving in front of God, she demanded, “I thought you said I had another 40 years? Why didn’t you pull me out of the path of that ambulance?” God replied, “Girl, I didn’t recognize you”
Cypress Nature Park, Downtown Montgomery Picture a busy downtown in a capital city full of state and local officials, attorneys, bankers, hotels and restaurants; commuter traffic, freight trains, a baseball stadium and 260 acres of an undisturbed, natural watershed habitat. This is a habitat in need of preservation and in need of utilization. What a great testament to the redevelopment of a downtown area to maximize the preservation of the natural resources already in place. This is your chance to develop a part of Montgomery that has been forgotten by past generations. Cypress Nature Park will be created by local residents and businesses who see its potential and realize its necessity in continuing the growth of Montgomery and the River Region. www.cypressnaturepark.org
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Free Broadway Under The Stars Pops Concert The Montgomery Symphony will present its 25th annual Broadway Under The Starts Pops Concert September 15, 2011 at 7:30 pm. Picnic baskets and coolers are welcome at this free concert of Broadway showtunes performed lakeside at the Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Come early and bring your lawn chairs and blankets for this family-friendly event. This year’s concert will feature medleys from My Fair Lady, Chorus Line, Fame, Camelot, Chicago, Phantom of the Opera and Sound of Music. Special VIP Dinner Packages are available which include special seating, a catered dinner, beverage, reserved parking, and shuttle service to and from the picnic area. For more information, call 334-240-4004.
Donation Party for the American Cancer Society’s Vintage Affair at Ted The Wine Guy & Co. September 22, 2011, Donation Party for the American Cancer Society’s Vintage Affair. $10 per person, cash or check preferred. Please call Ashley at the Cancer Society to reserve your glass. (334-612-8178). Here is how it works: The $10 fee covers your wine tasting and hors d’oeuvres. Wine packages will be available for purchase to donate to the Cancer Society. Many critically acclaimed and hard to find wines to choose from. The wines, upon purchase, are given directly to the Cancer Society where they are kept until the Vintage Affair auction in February. You will get a tax form that night for your donation. Also, with each donation you will be eligible to win one of four great door prizes. Great cause and a whole lot of fun!
Calculate Your Lifespan
100
Life is remarkably fragile. You never know when a disease or accident will strike. Everything can change in a second. Still, there’s no sense in dwelling on that. It’s a good idea to live like you’re going to die of old age. Of course, old age is something of a vague term. The way you live can make that come sooner, or much later. You may be engaged in some unhealthy habits that are stealing years. Making changes now might put some of those years back. Living to 100 is a life-expectancy calculator. It’s a simple, 40 question health survey. It calculates how many years your bad habits are taking off your life. At the end of that survey is a list of recommendations for lifestyle changes. You’ll see an estimate of how many years each change can add to your life. www.livingto100.com
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BOOM! COVER PROFILE
Jan Hill, Head of the Class This month’s BOOM! profile is Jan Hill. Many of you know Jan because she has been an educational leader in the River Region for many years. As the principal of Forest Avenue Academic Magnet School, she understands the challenges and rewards of educating young people. She understands so well that her team of educators were recognized nationally as a Blue Ribbon School in 2007. We sat down with Jan during the opening week of school and she shared many of the unique qualities of Forest Avenue Academic Magnet School with us, including the bearded lizard and snake! Jan is one of those Boomers who has a passion for what she does, when she handled the lizard and snake with no fear, the students saw in her the excitement and adventure of learning as they touched and experienced these creatures for the first time. Jan shared some of her life’s journey with us and we think you’ll find her as interesting as her students do. She may even educate you a little bit. Hope you’ll enjoy getting to know Jan as much as we have.
BOOM!: Please give us a brief biography, i.e. where are you from, education, what brought you to the Montgomery area, did you raise your family here, schools, married, family, etc? Jan: I was born in Tupelo, Mississippi (home of Elvis!) but moved to Birmingham early on. I grew up in Birmingham and then went to Auburn main campus. I graduated in special education (speech pathology) and went to The University of Alabama for my masters in speech pathology. My first job, at which I stayed for nearly ten years, was working with severely disabled children at The Children’s Center. I became very interested in working with the deaf and moved to Vaughn Road Elementary to be the speech pathologist specifically with that population. I attended AUM for my certification in Education Administration and moved from the classroom into a Title 1 position called Schoolwide Instructional Assistant at that time. I worked with principals and teachers in Title 1 schools assisting with curriculum and instruction. After several years in this position, I moved to Central Office as an Educational Specialist and concentrated mostly on the magnet programs.
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standards, and follow through with those expectations, students will rise to meet them. Communication between teachers, parents and students is key to the success of our students. Our students work in books a grade ahead of their grade level. For example, third graders are working in fourth grade math, reading, English and spelling books. This is just the beginning. We all realize that maturity level grasping certain concepts is essential and that a third grader is just not developmentally ready to grasp some of the fourth grade concepts until later in the year. Teachers use innovative and enriching methods of teaching these advanced level concepts. We always look at our baseline data, our testing data from the previous year, and at specific standards with which our students typically struggle. Teachers make learning relevant and realistic so the students understand the benefit of learning the material.
I attended the Principal’s Leadership Academy for several years, in training for the principal position I hoped for. Clinton Carter, Superintendent at the time, tapped me for the position of principal at Forest Avenue during the summer of 2003. I have loved the years I have been at Forest Avenue…into my 9th now! The parents, students, and staff are such hard workers and are always supportive of the initiatives and improvements we implement. I have been married to Dave Hill for 33 years and we have one son, Allen. Allen, and his wife Alycia, have been married nearly 4 years and have a precious 3 month old daughter, Kalynn. They are just up the road, in Prattville. Dave and I are active members at Frazer Memorial where I participate in the prayer ministry and we both work in the coffee shop each month. BOOM!: As an educator and principal of Forest Avenue Academic Magnet School how do you consistently create high student achievement levels? Do you set achievement goals each year? Jan: Excellence is our goal every year. We all believe that if we set high expectations and
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BOOM!: What role, if any, can innovation play when improving the education of our grandchildren and children in the Montgomery Public Schools? Jan: What was new and improved just last year, has now been replaced by something else. Students today are in a world that is fast-moving, entertaining, and interactive. That is what interests them in the classroom. Montgomery Public Schools provides a great deal of professional development for teachers to become more and more familiar with this type teaching. Students want to be exposed to new things. Field trips, outdoor experiences, museums, learning new things….these things are exciting to youngsters. BOOM!: What are you most passionate about? Jan: After spending so many years in education, I have to say that I am the most passionate about children. I firmly believe that we are growing the next generation of leaders here at Forest Avenue and I feel very responsible in assuring that they are receiving not only the academic foundation they need for success, but the character development they will need. Character development is a real focus for us at the school. We believe that instilling strong integrity and character traits in young people will go far in their success
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in life. We insist on good manners, respect for others, and honesty in all things while they are at school. Hopefully, the parents are seeing a difference as this is carried outside of the schoolhouse when they go home. BOOM!: How do you like to relax and wind down from a hard day’s work at the school? Jan: Usually my school day doesn’t end until after 5:00 or 5:30, but then I enjoy cooking, but I also enjoy eating out! I read a lot, have really gotten involved with a new IPad that I got this summer, and generally spending time with family. I love spending as much time as I can with my son’s family and my precious granddaughter.
spin we see. If community members could step into almost any of our schools, they would see clean, well-maintained schools. They would feel an atmosphere of caring and dedication to the children. They would witness strong, research-based instruction going on in the classes. Perceptions would be changed.
Jan: I enjoy working with my hands…painting, crochet, cross stitching. My dad is an artist in Birmingham and has taught me a little along the way. I’ve gotten involved in the prayer shawl ministry at Frazer and have enjoyed crocheting prayer shawls to be given to those in need.
BOOM!: What would you be doing if you weren’t educating young children? Any dream jobs?
BOOM!: What future challenges do you have? Would you like to do other things in the education field?
Jan: I honestly cannot see Dave (husband), Jan, Alycia (Daughter in Law) myself doing anything else, and Granddaughter, Kalynn and son Allen Jan: Our challenge at until I retire and become Forest Avenue is keepa full-time Grandmama. I ing our program at the BOOM!: With your busy schedule, do you get really love my job! high and strong level it has maintained since to travel much? Favorite vacation spot? Any its inception. We were recognized as a US travel dreams for the future? BOOM!: For those of us with grandchildren, Department of Education Blue Ribbon School could you explain what a magnet school is? a few years ago, and we take it seriously to Jan: I usually plan several short vacamaintain the standards for which we were tions during the summer and just Jan: A “magnet” school is awarded that honor. I hope to be here at returned from a short beach trip with just as it sounds…a school Forest Avenue for several more years and the ladies from my Sunday School that “attracts”. Any stulook forward to keeping up the hard work and class! Several years ago, Dave and dent who lives anywhere diligent monitoring that it takes. As I look I went with a group on an Alaskan in Montgomery County toward retirement, I will probably always be cruise. I would go back in a heartmay apply to one of the involved in education in some form. beat…and highly recommend every magnet schools. Mont“Boomer” take this trip and experigomery’s magnet school BOOM!: As an educator, are you optimistic ence the majesty of this part of our program started many about the future of how well we educate our country. years ago with a Magnet children? Blue Ribbon Award Event Schools of America grant. BOOM!: What is it about living in the None of the magnets Jan: When parents buy into the education of Montgomery/River Region area that you like? receive federal funding from this grant at this their children and are willing to match the time, but because of strong parental support, diligence of the teachers, students can soar. Jan: The Montgomery/River Region has so have maintained the programs put Parental involvement is essenmuch to offer. The new riverfront developin place at that time. There are four tial, not only to the education of ment and the restaurants and venues there elementary magnets…Forest Avenue each child, but to the success of are such nice places to go. We have been Academic Magnet, Bear Exploration the school. A strong PTA with here for so long that our roots, our friends, Center, Carver Arts Elementary, and strong leadership can support our church life and our work is all here. My MacMillan International Academy. the teachers and staff when state husband is a weekend golfer and has played There are three middle magnets, funding is lacking. I am optimiscourses all around the south, but continues Baldwin Academics, Baldwin Arts, tic of the future of education in to praise the Trent Jones courses here in and Floyd Middle Magnet. There are Montgomery. Alabama. He says there is no better opporthree high school magnets, Loveless tunity to play public courses of this caliber Academic Magnet, BTW Arts Magnet BOOM!: Would you like to see anywhere around. and Brewbaker Technology Magnet. more men teachers in the classEach magnet has a specific focus, with room? Absolutely! Young men BOOM!: Many of us are defined by our work, ours being accelerated and advanced need strong role models, and what does it mean to be an educator in the academics. Parents who wish to apply Jan, The Snake Charmer what better place to find them current atmosphere of negative public distheir child for one of the magnets but in the schools! course towards the education community? must complete an application and submit it during the open application period. Students If you have any questions for Jan you can reach her at Jan: As an educator, one must focus on what 334.269.3673. We want to thank Jan and her team at must maintain a certain grade point averwe can do, and do the best we can do on that age in academics and in conduct in order to Forest Avenuie Academic Magnet School for helping thing. That said, basically focus on the imremain in the magnet programs. us put together this month’s BOOM! Cover Profile. If portant things that make the most difference. you have questions, comments or suggestions, please Perception of what is going on in the school BOOM!: Do you have any hobbies or other send them to jim@riverregionboom.com is so often skewed by the negative media activities that grab your attention?
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How To Manage Money As A Couple Money Coach Offers Tips For Doing It Right Combine the expectation of divorce for new couples hovering around 50 percent with a variety of studies that suggest money is the most divisive topic for couples, and you get a formula for disaster. But one expert thinks it doesn’t have to be that way. Jane Honeck, CPA and author of The Problem With Money? It’s Not About the Money! (www.theproblemwithmoney.com), believes that while a SmartMoney Magazine survey revealed that 70 percent of all couples talk about money at least once a week, the communication isn’t very effective. Honeck has some good advice that can help couples make arguments about money a thing of the past.
“Focusing on an overall vision and money plan will keep both of you moving in the same direction,” she said. “Once you have done that, the small everyday decisions about what to spend your money on take care of themselves with little or no effort. When we have clear communication and know why we do something, the ‘what to do’ with our money is easy.” Honeck’s tips include:
• Talk -- Talk, talk talk. Money like sex is still a taboo topic and we often don’t have a clear idea about how our partner thinks or feels about money. • Find Balance -- Balance power around money. One person making all the decisions and having all the control is a recipe for disaster. Find ways for you both to be equally engaged in all money decisions. • Make Decisions -- Decide together what is mine, yours and ours. Most couples have their own hybrid system for what works best. Find the one that is best for both of you.
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• Define Your System – Have a clearly defined money management system all the way from who handles the mail to who sends out the checks. Without a well thought-out operational plan, things fall through the cracks. • Address Problems – When things get tough, address problems immediately (no secrets allowed). Avoiding the issue only makes it more toxic and drives a wedge in the relationship. • Perform Checkups – Schedule an annual money checkup with each other. Things change and just like our physical health, money management needs an annual checkup to keep it healthy and relevant. • Talk a Little More -- Talk, talk and talk some more. The most important thing is to have open communication with no blame and shame. We all have hang-ups around money. Treat your partner with compassion. “At the end of the day, couples need not argue about money,” she added. “And it’s not just about communication. It’s about making a plan, and sticking to it together. Information gives you power over your finances. Not talking about them, not making a plan and not coordinating as a team makes you a victim of your finances. If you control your finances, they will never control you or your marriage.”
About Jane Honeck Jane Honeck, CPA, is a money coach who specializes in tax and financial planning for professionals, small businesses and individuals. She is also a Certified Empowerment Trainer and has developed Cent$ible Living financial workshops and money coaching sessions to help her clients make meaningful and lasting change in their financial lives.
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DR. BRUCE WILKINSON
YOU Were BORN for THIS
What happens when ordinary people start living a life of everyday miracles? Most of us have experienced at least one “divine coincidence,” a miracle moment that may not have defied the laws of nature, but it clearly demonstrated the love and power of God in an otherwise unexplainable way. But what if God desires to show His power through you on a regular basis? What if you were born to be God’s “miracle delivery agent?”
4-DAY BIBLE TEACHING CONFERENCE OCTOBER 23-26, 2011 Learn the 7 Keys to a life of predictable miracles in this in-depth, practical series by renowned Bible teacher Bruce Wilkinson, the #1 bestselling author of The Prayer of Jabez.
WWW.FRAZERUMC.ORG/BORNFORTHIS
DR. BRUCE WILKINSON Bruce Wilkinson is a popular speaker, #1 New York Times bestselling author, Bible scholar, teacher leader of various global and humanitarian causes, and media producer. He has written over 60 books in 30 languages including The Prayer of Jabez, The Secrets of the Vine, A Life God Rewards, Beyond Jabez, and The DreamGiver. Dr. Wilkinson built Walk Thru the Bible, the largest religious seminar organization in the world, and has been the keynote speaker to Marriage and Family conferences and major national events. He trained 100,000 professional teachers in Teaching for Life Change. Ten years ago, Bruce led a Bible conference on Personal Holiness at Frazer that led to a significant movement of God in Montgomery. Bruce is married to Darlene with three children and six grandchildren. The Wilkinson’s reside in South Carolina.
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EndNotes: Answers to questions about illness, death and grief Q: When my friend was very ill in the hos-
pital, a woman came to his room and played the harp for him. The nurse called her a “music-thanatologist.” What is that? A: Music-thanatologists (from the Greek word thanatos, which means dying) offer music as medicine with harp and vocal music at the bedside of dying or seriously ill patients. The music vigil, typically 30-to-60 minutes long, may offer comfort and pain relief and may reduce anxiety, restlessness and existential angst. The music may also create an environment of peace for the patient and visitors, says Roberta Rudy, a music-thanatologist in the Pacific Northwest. “I am able to offer beauty and peace in times of trouble,” Rudy says. Look at indigenous tribes in various cultures to see how music impacts illness. They often have a healer and almost always there is rhythm or chanting. Music is a calming force that allows emotional and spiritual shifting within a person’s spirit to occur, says Rudy. “Infirmary music” was used in the Benedictine monastery in Cluny, France, as early as
the 11th century when monks would chant at the bedside of ailing community members. So, while music-thanatology was introduced into our Western health care system as recently as the 1970s, many ancient cultures have long used music as a healing modality. Why the harp and voice, but not, say, the electric guitar? The harp is polyphonic – gentle vibration of the strings allows many tones to move at the same time. It is a gentle instrument with soft, versatile sounds. Unfamiliar music is played because familiar music allows our minds to anticipate the next phrase of the music, which is distracting. It’s better if the patient can respond simply to the tonal quality of the music, explains Rudy. Music-thanatology requires education beyond
learning the harp and using voice. Required competencies include physiology, spiritual psychology, music theory and the history of music as a healing modality. Music-thanatologists must understand the dying process, the role of ritual, and how their music vigils can adapt to a patient’s specific culture and medical condition. The music vigils for dying patients may create an environment where loved ones can share intimate feelings of gratitude, forgiveness and love. The calming atmosphere empowers patients to let go and transition into the next life. Our culture still struggles to accept illness and dying as part of living. Music-thanatologists create sacred space making these challenges a more peace-filled experience.
“[It’s]…jump out of your seat, grab the stranger next to you and hang on for dear life fun!” -louisville.com
October 7–30
Adapted by William mcNulty Originally dramatized by John l. balderson and hamilton Deane from bram Stoker’s Dracula
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AlAbAmA ShAkeSpeAre FeStivAl
montgomery, Alabama 1.800.841.4273 www.ASF.net The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Rowing Keeps This Champion Youthful At an age when many Americans consider themselves officially old, Emery Lang was looking to take up a new sport. He was 65, and the athlete’s body of his youth was showing some wear and tear. What could he do to stay fit without destroying his knees? Rowing.
Lang hits Indian Creek by 8 a.m. three days a week in his 28-pound fiberglass rowing shell, and rows for at least an hour: about 7,000 meters.
At 90, Lang is the second oldest competitive rower in the world, just one year younger than Charles Eugster of Switzerland. The days Lang doesn’t row, he swims, goes to the gym at his condo, or works out with the rowing machine on his terrace.
By Elinor J. Brecher
That was 25 years ago, and since then he’s won three gold medals in Hungarian national regattas, and second and fourth-place honors in the senior division at three world championships. “It’s a total sport because you use everything,” said Lang, who lives in Miami Shores, Fla., and belongs to the Miami Beach Rowing Club. “This is a sport you can do forever. It’s good for the balance, because in one second you can be in the water...I get extreme satisfaction knowing I can still do it.”
“In five movements, I’m already at full speed,” said the father of three, grandfather of five. “But I’m not as fast as I was 10 years ago.”
He stands 5-foot-10 and carries about 200 pounds on a muscular frame. He prefers rowing solo because “you’re totally dependent on yourself,” a quality that appealed to the youthful Emery Lang when he took up track and field events like the shot put and discus in his native Hungary before World War II. Emerging from Nazi labor camps having “kept my physique intact,” Lang says he helped rehabilitate Holocaust survivors
Every step you take lights more
A world with less breast cancer is a world with more birthdays. Join us to make strides and create more birthdays. Together, we’ll stay well, get well, find cures, and fight back. Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Montgomery Saturday, October 29, 2011 Registration begins at 7 a.m. | Walk starts at 8 a.m. Huntingdon College For more information, visit makingstridesmontgomery.org or call (334) 288-3432.
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in refugee camps around Europe, then settled in Brussels. He says he joined a soccer team, became a physical trainer and won the Belgian national pentathlon championship in 1946. In 1948, Lang, who lost his family in the war, headed for New York, then “took the Greyhound to Florida.” He hired onto the crew building Miami Beach’s Sherry Frontenac Hotel, and returned every winter for four years as a personal trainer to tourists. “I’m very happy that he has something that interests him,” said Madelaine Lang, his wife of 56 years. “He was always very active, an athlete, and it comes naturally to him ... He has the discipline to do things even when they are hard.” Younger rowers laud Lang as an inspiration.
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“Looking at him makes you feel that old age isn’t so bad,” said 70-year-old Dieter Baumstark, a retired manufacturer. “He’s still not old to me,” added Madelaine Lang, 87. Lang credits a lifetime of fitness for his ability to keep so active. He doesn’t follow a special diet _ breakfast is usually a croissant and coffee, dinner a Hungarian dish and a glass of red wine or a beer. He takes medication to keep his cholesterol in check, he’s had spinal surgery and a double hip replacement. But he can’t imagine surrendering to the stereotypes of aging. “Old people in America play golf,” he said. “They don’t have the background” for a lifetime of strenuous exercise.
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“And the food! Such a tremendous volume of hamburgers and fat.” Vladimir Matovic, a 32-year-old coach at the rowing club, calls Lang “amazing. He drives 20 minutes to get here and gets into a skinny racing boat.” He said that Lang isn’t as flexible as younger rowers but has admirable stamina and speed. He only needs help carrying his boat over “a big step” on the dock, and in keeping the boat steady while he climbs in. “This morning he did 70 minutes!” Matovic said. “Usually some kid can row like that. He’s one in a million. Maybe 10 million!” Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Junior League of Montgomery to Benefit from “Taste of The River Region” The River Region Chapter of the Alabama Restaurant Association announced that the Junior League of Montgomery will once again be the charity benefiting from the proceeds generated from the Taste of the River Region event. The Taste of the River Region, formerly the Taste of Montgomery, is scheduled for October 2, 2011 at the fabulous Renaissance Hotel and Convention Center in downtown Montgomery. The event features restaurants from the river region area, and will showcase various types of food in a fun, lively atmosphere all while giving back to a wonderful cause. There will be entertainment along with food and festivities. It will be an event you won’t want to miss!
Jennifer Price of the Alabama Restaurant Association said “We are now in the planning process to make this an amazing event for all the restaurants, sponsors and the Junior League. We are hoping that it will be an event where the whole community can get involved.” This year’s Taste of the River Region will
where you can buy an advance ticket for $25 and enjoy a very fine meal many times over. All of the proceeds will go to the Junior League of Montgomery and will be put back into the River Region Community to help those organizations with unique needs. This year’s attendance is expected to exceed 1,000 people because it’s becoming the River Region’s biggest and best “Food Party” of the year! Tickets are $25 in advance, $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased online at www.jlmontgomery.org or at the Junior League office at 3570 Carter Hill Rd., call for hours, 288-8816.
The Junior League of Montgomery, has been Chris Leighton with Carrabbas, Eric Duggan with Eastside Grille, part of the community Vince Saele with Rock Bottom American Pub, Jennifer Price and for more than 80 years, Tony Smith with Longhorn Steakhouse. and has awarded millions of dollars and countless volunteer feature approximately 35 restaurants, hours to worthy organizations in the along with beverage vendors providing community. The Alabama Restaurant Asselect beers and wines to complement sociation looks forward to working with some of the best food the River Region this great local charity whose focus area has to offer. is “strengthening families”. The “Taste” is the kind of rare event After careful consideration, the River Region Chapter chose the Junior League because of its significance locally. There are around 800 women in the Junior League that end up volunteering over 20,000 hours to our community every year. Some of the organizations that receive money and service from the Junior League include Adullam House, Boys and Girls Clubs of Montgomery, Family Sunshine Center, Bridge Builders, MACOA Meals on Wheels, Montgomery Cancer Wellness Center and Rebuilding Together. The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
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Healthy Hearing
by Dr. Bettie Borton Au.D. bchampion1@aol.com
Hear, Hear! Hearing Aids Stop The Domino Effect
Call it a “domino effect” or a “chain reaction,” but when it comes to hearing loss, your ears are not the only ones suffering. It’s a common misconception that a hearing loss is a self-contained Dr. Bettie Borton Au. D. condition; in other words, that it does not lead to or cause other ailments. Nothing could be further from the truth. Actually, the fact that hearing loss can seriously impact our overall health, well-being, and safety, is not exactly breaking news. This fact has been documented in many studies, but it bears repeating because, in far too many cases, this warning falls on – no pun intended – deaf ears.
There are some really alarming numbers regarding hearing in the United States today. Hearing loss is the third most prevalent but treatable condition among seniors, behind arthritis and hypertension. In the United States, an estimated 3 out of 10 people over 60 are hearing impaired. Additionally, 1 in 6 baby boomers (ages 41-59); 1 in 14 of those who are 29 to 40; and at least 1.4 million children, have hearing loss. All in all, an estimated 36 million Americans suffer from hearing problems, and many of them do not treat this condition; studies show that while 95 percent of people with hearing loss can be helped by hearing aids, only 23 percent currently use them. Worse yet, the numbers are growing at an alarming rate. Hearing loss is on the rise -and not just for aging baby boomers. Researchers have noted significant increase in hearing problems for children, and today, noise exposure exposure has replaced aging as the number one cause of hearing loss in this country. Most of us who watch our grandchildren use IPods with headphones are not surprised at this statistic. Sometimes, silence is not golden. Stop the domino effect and treat your hearing
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loss! You may wonder why people get help for arthritis and high blood pressure, but neglect their hearing loss. Often, primary care physicians fail to address this concern or refer for screening. Sometimes, folks are not aware of the potential consequences of an untreated hearing impairment. Research has consistently shown that those with hearing loss suffer from embarrassment, isolation, and depression. How can diminished hearing have an impact on your quality of life? Glad you asked. When you can’t hear – or respond to - the sounds around you, when you don’t understand the conversation, when you can’t participate in social activities and interactions, you can become reclusive, and less motivated to participate in the world around you.
Additionally, you are not the only one affected. Your spouse, children, and other members of your family are missing out on a relationship with you. First frustration sets in, then feelings of loneliness and isolation. You may be thinking: “Nobody talks to me;” “Why is everyone shouting at me?” If, at this point, you are still not moved to get treatment, you may end up with a fullblown depression.
And of course, there are safety issues. Imagine what could happen if you are on a busy street and can’t hear the sound of a car honking at you to get out of the way? Or your fire alarm goes off, but you keep sleeping? Fortunately, there is a simple way to prevent this downward spiral and improve your quality of life.
Let’s start with scientific evidence: In its study of 2,000 people with hearing loss and their families carried out three years ago, the National Council on the Aging demonstrated a link between the use of hearing aids and significant improvements in the social, emotional, psychological and physical well-being of the wearer. But that’s not all. The same conclusion was borne out in a “A Systematic Review of Health-Related Quality of Life and Hearing Aids: Final Report of
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the American Academy of Audiology Task Force on the Health-Related Quality of Life Benefits of Amplification in Adults.”
The report’s title may be rather complex, but its message is not: People who wear hearing aids experience a better quality of life than those who do not.The “take home” message here is clear: use of hearing aids has a beneficial effect not only on hearing per se, but also on mental and emotional well-being. How does that work? It’s simple: when you can hear and understand other people, you are more likely to participate in various activities and family events, and generally remain more active. You will not feel isolated, “out of touch,” and ignored by family and friends.
The Better Hearing Institute sums it up best - Hearing Aids can Boost your: •Earning power •Communication in relationships •Intimacy and warmth in family relationships •Emotional stability •Sense of control over life events •Perception of mental functioning •Physical health
Think about it this way: your health, safety, and happiness lie in your (fully functional) ears. See a Board Certified Audiologist today to discover what you’ve been missing. References: Better Hearing Institute (BHI)
To learn more, visit doctorshearingclinic.com or call for an evaluation at (334) 396-1635. Dr. Bettie B. Borton is a licensed audiologist in Alabama, was the first board certified audiologist in Montgomery, and recently served as National Chair of the American Board of Audiology. She and her husband, Dr. Tom Borton, are the only audiologists with ABA certification in the Montgomery area.
The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Third time’s the charm!
It
. take d e t c s t hr e t o r p e e do s y l l u f es of the H P V vacc ine to be The HPV vaccine protects against the two main viruses that cause cervical cancer. Every day 12,000 people ages 15 to 24 are infected with HPV. HPV often has no signs or symptoms. The HPV vaccination series is recommended for females ages 11-26. Dependents up to age 26 may be covered by their parents’ insurance. Talk to your healthcare provider about coverage.
Get in the loop and learn about the HP V vaccine! alabamacancercontrol.org facebook.com/ALCompCancerCoalition
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The Bells
By Greg Budell
MONDAY, September 10, 2001, in South Florida.
It was just another mundane Monday. The day began with a 4AM wakeup. An hour later, I was casually chatting with Susan Wise, the morning “diva” at 101.5 LITE FM in Miami. As usual, we exchanged weekend adventures and discussed potential topics for the morning’s chit-chat breaks. I wrote and produced 7 newscasts every morning during her show, and was somewhat annoyed over the slim pickings awaiting me that day. There were no juicy headlines, remarkably (for South Florida) no scandals, and the kicker material was threadbare. No one had tried to hold up a 7-11 with a banana, so coming up with amusing stories and punch-lines would be quite the challenge.
The show came off without a hitch, as did the rest of the day. I enjoyed a late afternoon nap and awoke around 6PM. I went rollerblading before the sun set, and decided to cap off a pleasant evening with a visit to my daughter’s house. Eleven years old, and two weeks into 5th grade, Janelle has been feeling punky for a couple days. Her Mom said she ate little for dinner and was running a low fever, so we agreed Janelle should stay home from school Tuesday. My little girl also asked if I could bring her lunch after the next day’s morning show. As we stood at the front door figuring out time and details, a familiar sound interrupted the conversation. Group smile! Broadway Joe’s ice cream truck was making the neighborhood
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rounds. The ice cream man was a favorite among Janelle’s childhood rituals. Joe’s truck played a redundant theme, the chimes audible from inside the house. Few children missed the alert, and Joe was no dummy. He knew when most families had finished dinner and his white truck always drew a crowd as he orbited the area.
Janelle’s facial expression was asking for a treat before she needed to verbalize it. I offered, figuring a temporary cure for her illness was somewhere in Joe’s freezer, and her mother also wore the look of a willing accomplice. I handed Janelle a few bucks and she skipped off to the truck, returning with a pair of ice cream sandwiches. She rewarded me with a kiss on the nose, and walked back into the house, as always with the change in her pocket. For the moment, I was eleven, too. Growing up in Chicago, the ice cream truck was a seasonal blessing. The guy who served our neighborhood on hot summer days was also named Joe, and Dad always had the spare change to treat me and my friends. He loved being the “sport of 77th Place”. I’d simply moved the franchise to Maple Lane in Davie. Michele and I exchanged “goodnights” and I returned home, feeling more than a bit sentimental. I arrived early for Tuesday’s morning show to allow extra time for completion of my lunch mission. I scanned the day’s headlines and rolled my eyes. It was even worse than Monday- one of the lamest news mornings in memory! The lead story on every service was Michel Jordan’s “un-retirement”. I found that to be pathetic at best, since every story indicated he was 10 days from making the announcement “official”.
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It was weak-sauce news from every angle. An aging sports icon can’t ‘let go’. Worse, what did it say about America and the media? Priorities seemed somewhat askew at the least. I did 5 stories in every newscast and my last summary was at 8:25. I couldn’t resist turning my annoyance into on-air sarcasm. I wrote Jordan’s pending un-retirement into every story. “An accident on 1-95 this morning involving a limousine … fortunately, it did not involve the limo scheduled to drive Michael Jordan to his un-retirement press conference in 10 days”. Air Jordan was also included in my daily beauty tip. “Witchhazel and canola oil make a nice skin treatment. Michael Jordan should massage his head with it for extra luster when he un-retires in 10 days”. I made my point.
At 8:40, Susan led us through her daily “Susan’s Survey”, a LITE-hearted take on something involving life which allowed listeners to cast their opinion on the station website. I can’t remember the question Susan asked that morning, but I’ll never forget what happened after the mikes were turned off.The 8:40 break was normally my final appearance on the show. As per usual, I began cleaning up the considerable debris field I created through the show. Newscasts, notes, and sections of newspaper were there for the scooping. I gathered up a stack and spun around to return to my work station. I never made it to my chair.
All three of my newsroom TV monitors were showing the same shot. The north tower of the Word Trade Center had a large horizontal scar, with black smoke billowing out. I turned up the volume on my NBC monitor to hear Katie Couric state that a plane, “some type of jet”, had struck the building. I jumped back into my broadcast chair and hit the monitor button which allowed me to communicate room-toroom with Susan. I told her the WTC had been hit by an aircraft. “People had to be killed”, I said. I insisted she put me on the air immediately following the commercial break. “How do you know people were killed?” she asked. My patience was thinning by the second. “Trust me!”, I replied. “There’s no way a hole that size involving a jet aircraft did not kill and hurt a lot of people. It’s Tuesday. That building is loaded with office workers and executives. Please- just give me the mike!” Most radio people are (and should be), reluctant to break a show’s format without permission. I promised Susan I’d take any management flack that might come. She turned my studio on and reintroduced me after the final commercial.
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The tone of the show, the morning and the day turned in an instant. I described the smoking tower as best I could, stating that “while there’s nothing official, a large number of casualties are likely”
As a history buff, I offered a top-of-the-head precedent- recalling a July, 1945 collision between a WWII B-25 bomber and the Empire State Building. It happened on a foggy Saturday morning, killing 13. I’d read a book called “The Sky Is Falling”, an account of that crash and offered as many details as I could. While wrapping up, I realized something. The NBC camera, now fixed on the North Tower, revealed a clear blue sky over Manhattan. How did an aircraft wander off course and hit the building? The thought of terrorism was nowhere in my thinking. When the bulletin break concluded, I phoned Rob Sidney, LITE FM’s program director. Ironically, when he hired me to do the news he asked me just one question. “Will you be OK if the sky falls some morning?” I had no doubts. The line between serious and silly was one I had walked on many somber occasions. The Challenger explosion. John Lennon’s murder. Attempted assassinations of the Pope, Ronald Reagan and Anwar Sadat, one right after the other in 1981.
On September 11, 2001, the sky was falling in a worst-case scenario. Rob said to stay on top of developments and do updates before and after the commercial break scheduled just before 9AM. Before the next break, I maintained vigilance on network coverage, furiously making notes on new information. There wasn’t much of substance. The ‘accident’ was one enormous mystery awaiting resolution.
NBC, however, was openly speculating on the likelihood of numerous casualties. I went with that angle. I reiterated the precedent of 1945, but added that Manhattan’s weather was very clear on the morning of September 11, 2001.
“The aircraft might have experienced a major malfunction after takeoff”, I said. Still, something wasn’t adding up. Following that update, I had about 5 minutes to gather fresh material. By then, NBC was reporting that a commercial airliner hit the building. I studied the size of the smoking scar and it certainly appeared wide enough, but that only made the event seem all the more implausible.
When I rejoined Susan at 9AM precisely, Michael Jordan’s plans were an afterthought. The story of the century was now unfolding. Susan did the usual top of the hour station identification and launched the first song of the hour. I shut my newsroom mike off, The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
and spun around in my chair to watch what remains the most numbing sight I’ve ever seen- the second plane plowing into the south tower.
Absorbing what I’d seen was impossible. The enormity of the second plane’s explosion surely took a serious number of lives. What was causing this? I knew the north tower was loaded with an incredible number of electronics. Were they somehow guiding planes into a deathtrap? My complete misconception was instantly altered when the NBC newsman blurted “This is terrorism!”. I jumped on the intercom and told Susan, who immediately began to fade out of the song we were playing. She looked every bit as dumbstruck as I felt when I told her the country was under attack. When Susan nodded, indicating my mike was live, I spoke words I never dreamed I’d be saying, and in a voice that left no doubt as to the seriousness of the situation. “Brace yourself friends. There is very bad news from New York City this morning. Incredible as it sounds, America is experiencing its second day of infamy- September 11, 2001 will be remembered as the date that two commercial aircraft were deliberately crashed into both towers of the World Trade Center. The damage to both is enormous, and the south tower seems to have been hit harder.” Having watched a replay of the second aircraft striking tower two, I was able to identify the plane as a United aircraft but incorrectly identified it as a Boeing 737. Flight 66, as we would find out, was a 757, similar in design but with a longer fuselage and more passengers.
The sky over New York and America was falling.
the mind boggling improbability of the event, and that many people in those towers were not going to escape with their lives. The burgeoning sense of gravity shifted to overdrive with the bulletin on the Pentagon attack. The Pentagon? How could such a benign day turn so totally inside out? What was next?
By then, rumors were running with realities. No one, at 9:20AM, knew how many planes had been hijacked or what the next target might be. I wired a second mike so I could stay in front of the TV monitors and pass along everything I could gather from the screens in front of me. It hadn’t yet occurred to me that I was telling thousands of people such a horrendous storythat America had been the victim of another dastardly sneak attack.
The Pearl Harbor event had always fascinated me. Prior to September 11th, I’d read every book written about it, always finishing them with the certainty that “it could never happen again”- not in this age of sophisticated defense technologies. There hadn’t been a plane hijacking in years. That three, and possibly more aircraft had been commandeered to deliver death added to the incredulity drowning our senses. Flight 93’s crash in a Pennsylvania farm field was next. Was South Florida in the bullseye? We soon learned the FAA had ordered all aircraft down, and the military was ready scrambling to shoot down any planes not responding to the mandate to land.
We never played another song that day. Our “listen-while-you-work” format was now in an all-news mode, and data was coming at a furious pace. There were few hard facts beyond
At 10AM, Rob decided LITE FM should carry NBC’s feed from New York. They had the resources. He and I walked to his office, where we stood gaping at the unfolding nightmare. As we stared at the screen and began discussing ongoing coverage, I remembered my promise to bring Janelle
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lunch after the show, and mentioned it to Rob. On one hand, it seemed trivial but now there was more than food involved. I did not know what she knew about this and assumed she’d be terrified. Rob never hesitated. “Go”, he insisted. “We’re going to run the network until this thing becomes what it is going to become”. As he spoke, I made an observation. “There’s so much smoke I can’t see the south tower anymore”, I muttered with disbelief. It couldn’t have collapsed …” That simply seemed beyond the realm of possibility. The NBC news anchor immediately rammed the notion into reality.
“The south tower has collapsed”, he said, in a voice rife with disbelief. Rob and I remained transfixed, attempting to believe what we were seeing. The network was estimating that at the start of a business day, each tower would contain about 10,000 workers. There was no way to hope anyone working above the points of impact had any chance of getting out alive. Thousands must be dead or preparing for it. The thought was bone chilling. Soon, the indiscretion of the TV cameras revealed gruesome death leaps from WTC windows. At that point, I had to call Janelle. She was certainly old enough to be just as unnerved as I was. She answered on the first ring, and my first question was “Hi honey, how are you feeling?”.
“OK”, she said matter-of-factly. The tone of her voice told me she was unaware of the day’s events, but to be sure, I asked if she was watching TV. “Yup”, she said. “What channel?”. “Nick”, she replied. I was relieved. Now I hoped to make my sandwich run and get to her house before she knew what was going on. I’d have a little time to figure out a way to explain this insanity to her.
Rob suggested I bring Janelle back to the station. I was gratified by his concern for her as this was rapidly becoming a day nobody wanted to experience alone. Alone was scary. I thanked him and ran to the car. I pulled onto 441 outside LITE’s north Dade location. The first thing I noticed were police cars. They were everywhere, just driving. I was glad to see them because a visible police presence might calm South Florida’s collective edginess. No one knew for sure what might happen next. I stopped at the Subway sandwich stop near Janelle’s house and picked up her food, then drove straight there.
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As I knocked on the door, I hoped like hell she was unaware of the attack, but I was a few minutes too late.
The front door opened to reveal my doe-eyed little girl with tears streaming down her face. She hugged me ferociously and dragged me through the door. “Dad, are they going to attack us here? Are they going to bomb Davie?” This was a benchmark moment in fatherhood. I assured her that the last plane had landed and that we were safe. Over the next half hour, I assured and reassured her that while it was a terrible event, the danger from the sky was over for us. Eventually, she took a reluctant bite of her sandwich.
“I want you to come to the radio station with me. My boss invited me to bring you and I don’t want you alone.” At that point I had no idea where her mother was, or what she knew. In the background, I heard something on the TV about parents showing up in droves at local schools to pick up their children. Everyone wanted to make sure their families were safe. Janelle insisted on staying home once she felt certain there were no planes still flying. Her fear was understandable, as her Davie home is under the Ft. Lauderdale airport landing path. I double and triple checked with her, then returned to the radio station. A million thoughts raced through my thoughts driving back. The day had turned definitively surreal. It felt like an awful, hallucinogenic drug was in my system, making everythingthe sun, the sky, the clouds- seem strange. Again, there were squad cars everywhere. I remember thinking that a nuclear flash would not have come as a surprise at that point on September 11th. A beautiful, insignificant day had gone inconceivably bad.
Once back at the station, the task at hand was plowing through the ongoing flood of information, trying to separate fact from fiction. Hysterical people around the country were reporting planes in the sky long after they’d been grounded. At 5:40PM, LITE FM’s principal news resource reported the crash of a passenger plane near Cincinnati. It turned out to be false of course, and I was glad we held off reporting it. I was incredibly proud to be a part of LITE FM that day. When we interrupted the NBC coverage to provide local information, we did what we were supposed to do. We reassured people. The entire air staff was on hand, and we simply did what everyone else was doingtalking about the event, expressing heartfelt feelings. We let the listeners know we felt what they felt. LITE became a temporary talk
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station, a community resource, fielding calls from people asking questions or simply wanting to express their abundant grief. We could do little more than urge listeners to call the Red Cross, or donate blood. Everyone wanted to do something. The nightmare was indeed galvanizing America. The “me first” attitude so prevalent in South Florida had given way to a reassuring, bonding mindset.
At 7PM, the full-time air staff left to rest and prepare for Wednesday. The crew left behind for the overnight shift had instructions to make phone calls if any type of new terror related effort developed. No one could be sure about anything as the sun set on the day. I lingered around my work station feeling numb, trying to give myself permission to go home and sleep. As I packed to leave, I gazed at several pictures of Janelle positioned around my work station. It wasn’t until then that my emotions came. When the fear my little girl had experienced became real, juxtaposed to pictures of her riding her horse, being a kid- only then could I let loose the damn of tears I had been stuffing behind my eyes all day. It sickened me to comprehend what my innocent daughter- that every innocent child everywhere- was forced to digest on the day our world changed forever.
I walked slowly towards the building exit. Rob was busy at his desk. “I guess the sky fell today”, I said in a monotone. Remembering what he’d said when he hired me, he offered a most meaningful compliment- that in spite of my reputation as a wisecracking news guy, I stepped into the role the day’s events defined for me and did a good job. He was proud of everyone on the staff.
I tucked my stuff under my arm to push open the exit door with my free hand. Once outside, I set my stuff down and paused. The air was exceptionally still. An eerie silence enveloped the parking lot and surrounding neighborhood. It was quieter just after 7PM than it was that morning at 4. The solitary sound was that of my shoes crossing the asphalt. As I reached my car, I set my gear down to unlock the door. Then, the eerie calm was broken by a second and most welcome noise. Music.
When I first heard it, it was as unexpected as that morning’s events. It got louder, eminating from west of the lot, somewhere within the adjacent neighborhood. As the music’s volume increased, I smiled for The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
the first time in hours. The tune was reassuring, and the perfect balm for an exhausted, middle-aged newsman and Dad.
It was an ice cream truck. It wasn’t playing Broadway Joe’s song but it didn’t matter. The bells were ringing out a childlike melody, echoing from a world that seemed to end forever hours before. The person driving the truck will never know how his song helped me in the gloom of the night’s thick silence. With the simple chime of his truck, he was selling a lot more hope than he could ever hope to sell ice cream.
This was a day when history- true to the age old axiom- repeated itself. After the successful attack on Pearl Harbor, Admiral Yamamoto of Japan said “I’m afraid all we’ve done is awaken a sleeping giant and filled it with a terrible resolve”. Yamamoto, of course, was right. And once again, America- trusting nation and people we prefer to be, had fallen asleep- vulnerable to a bold and brilliant attack by a determined enemy. The price tag for our national nap was beyond anyone’s comprehension.
The chime of the ice cream man momentarily took my thoughts off murderous jets, the satanic image of Mohammed Atta, and people choosing to leap from the top of monuments to commerce, rather than burn within them. The bells tolled a message of renewal. We were still America, awakened again. Our country would regroup and stand up. The government and military would plan a response. Meanwhile, the grandkids of the Greatest Generation would still want ice cream and their Dad’s would still want to indulge themand probably nevermore than after dinner on September 11, 2001. The simple song of the bells became a mission statement. Somehow, life would go on. My numbness subsided somewhat as I settled into the car, and placed my gear on the passenger seat. I backed out of the space, then shifted both my vehicle and my thoughts into “forward”. Just like everyone else was trying to do.
Greg Budell lives in Montgomery with his dog Hershey. He’s a 25 year veteran of radio who hosts the morning show, 6-9 am on Montgomery’s Newstalk 107.9 and Happy Hour 3-6 pm also, on Newstalk 107.9. Please share any feedback with jim@riverregionboom.com
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Volunteerism and Tribute Highlight 10th Anniversary of 9/11 disaster preparedness and response information, safety training, a display of first-responder equipment and vehicles and entertainment provided by local musician Ed Pickett and the Alabama Full Gospel Baptist Choir, Gulf South District.
September 11, 2011 marks the 10th anniversary of the terrorist attacks that shocked and changed our great nation forever. In the days and weeks that followed, the country came together in an unprecedented spirit of community and commitment. To commemorate this historic time and pay tribute to those killed and those who rose to service on 9/11, HandsOn River Region, a program of the Volunteer and Information Center, has organized numerous community service and remembrance projects throughout Montgomery, including projects designed for families and children at the Union Station Train Shed. The Volunteer & Information Center, in partnership with the City of Montgomery and the River Region United Way, has planned a powerful weekend of events to engage and inspire thousands of individuals to promote service on this weekend and beyond in honor of 9/11. The weekend begins Friday with United Way’s Corporate Day of Service. Area businesses and others are encouraged to adopt service projects and grant their employees a 3-hour leave to work on projects that benefit our community’s most vulnerable populations. The weekend will culminate on Sunday, September 11th with a full afternoon and evening of familyfriendly activities. Activities around Union Station Train Shed include multiple volunteer service projects,
Activities at the Train Station, from 2:30 – 4:30pm, will be followed by an evening tribute to the victims of 9/11 at the Riverwalk Amphitheater. The Tribute, organized by the City of Montgomery, will begin at 5:00pm and feature guest speaker Chief Lawrence Schultz, Incident Commander and Operations Section Chief with the National Capital Region Incident Management Team. Chief Shultz previously served 25 years with the D.C. Fire Department and led the fire department’s response at the Pentagon on September 11. More than 1,000 local volunteers are expected to serve throughout the 9/11 weekend and join more than 1 million nationwide for this national day of service. National sponsors include American Express, JP Morgan Chase, Glaxo Smith Kline and Best Buy. Local partners with the Volunteer & Information Center include the HandsOn Network, City of Montgomery, River Region United Way and State Farm. To volunteer for a project scheduled during the weekend, please call the Volunteer & Information Center, HandsOn River Region at 264-3335 or sign up on the agency’s website at www.handsonriverregion.org .
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September 2011
{12 Things} for active boomers and beyond
PINSON
MONTGOMERY
Alabama Butterbean Festival September 2-3
Live Music September
Imagine escaping from the everyday life and experiencing two relaxing, fun-filled days with endless family activities in a “Mayberry” setting. If that sounds like a dream come true, then escape to one of Alabama’s premiere festivals, The Alabama Butterbean Festival. You’ll discover downhome entertainment, including a butterbean and cornbread cooking contest, antique car show, the Tail Waggin’ Dog Pageant, arts and crafts, a kid’s zone, children’s parade and more. Downtown Pinson. Free. (205) 390-1952.
MONTGOMERY DOWNTOWN Jazz on the Grass Riverfront Amphitheater Monday, September 5
WVAS-FM and the Alabama Jazz & Blues Federation present the 6th annual Jazz on the Grass at the Riverwalk Amphitheater in Downtown Montgomery. Featuring performances by Hart Ramsey, Reggie Hines, Kim Scott, Roman Street, The Hot 8 Brass Band, The Recreators and much more. Gates open at 10am horns up at 11. Tickets available at Dirk’s Filet & Vine in Old Cloverdale, Ted the Wine Guy, Riverwalk Stadium, Another Chance Package Store and you can go online at etix.com For more information call 334229-4708.
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Thursday, September 8, John Primer 7 PM Capital Oyster Bar at Montgomery Marina. www.capitaloysterbar.com. Sunday, September 18, Bobby Rush, 5 PM Capital Oyster Bar at Montgomery Marina. www.capitaloysterbar. com, Friday, September 23, ARMS 4th Annual Juke, 7 PM, Union Station Train Shed, www.alabamarootsmusic.com Sunday, September 25, Art & Jazz Jam 2-4 PM, Montgomery Museum of Fine Art www.alabamarootsmusic.com
MONTGOMERY
Learn to Play Bridge Tuesday, September 14, 1 or 6 pm Join us; the first 4 weeks are FREE. Easybridge is a class that teaches the student (regardless of age) how to play Modern Bridge. And it does it in an Easy and Friendly approach. Certified Instructor(s). Refreshments served. Partners guaranteed. The Location is the Montgomery Bridge Club, 1711 Mulberry St. , Montgomery. For additional information call 334.244.5052
HARPERSVILLE
Grape Stomp Saturday, September 17, 10 - 4 pm Take off your shoes, jump in barefoot to one of the winery’s many barrels and crush grapes in the style of winemakers of old. Every Grape Stomp participant leaves with their very
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own personal (and purple) souvenir of the day’s events. There’s even a Luck-look-alike contest with cash prizes for those willing to dress up as the ultimate grape-stomper. Music by Bonus Round Admission is $5.00/ person. Parking, winery tours and wine tasting are also included in the admission price. Bring your own food or pick up something from Full Moon BBQ. Approximately 90 miles from Montgomery. 181 Morgan Creek Lane, Harpersville, AL, 205.672.2073, www.morgancreekwinery.com
MONTGOMERY DOWNTOWN Hank Williams Birthday September 17, 11-3 pm
Hank Williams 88th Birthday Celebration & Collectors Fair, Montgomery; Sep 17, The Hank Williams Museum will celebrate its namesake’s 88th birthday with live music and a collectors fair. The music selections will feature tributes to the late great country music star. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. 118 Commerce Street, Montgomery, AL 334.262.3600 or www.thehankwilliamsmuseum.com
MONTGOMERY
Zoobilation, Montgomery Zoo Thursday, September 22, 6 pm Zoobilation 2011 is Thursday, September 22, beginning at 6 p.m. The event will be held at the Montgomery Zoo and the Mann Museum. Hosted by the Montgomery Area Zoological Society, Zoobilation is a funfilled, adult only, cocktail party and fundraiser. Admission is $50.00 per person. Tickets may be purchased online at ZoobilationOnline.com or at the Montgomery Zoo. Proceeds from this The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
year’s Zoobilation will be used to build a touch-and-feel Stingray exhibit. Children and adults alike will be able to gather at Stingray Bay and experience a one-on-one encounter with a multitude of free-swimming stingrays.
TITUS
Titus Bluegrass Festival September 24 Four guys walk on stage with a banjo, a fiddle, an acoustic guitar, a mandolin, and an upright bass. Soon, the sounds of good ol’ bluegrass float across the field. September 24th will be a day where a normally quiet, out-of-theway area in rural Elmore County is magically transformed into a community of great performers, enthusiastic fans, devoted volunteers, nonstop jamming, scrumptious barbeque, and booths filled with crafts, cookbooks, and peanuts. The 11th annual Titus Bluegrass Festival, scheduled to begin at 10 am and continue until 6 pm, allows attendees to relax and enjoy the picking and grinning of live bluegrass music. The Titus Community Center is a shady grove that is the perfect place to enjoy a relaxed day. Admission is $5.00 for adults and children under 12 get in free. The Titus Community Center is located approximately 10 miles north of Wetumpka on U.S. Highway 231, then north on County Road 29. More information is available on the web at http://www.titusbluegrassfestival.com or by contacting Hinton at 334567-9059. Bring your favorite lawn chair and your friends. You can sit back, relax, and enjoy the best of today’s bluegrass music. This is a wonderful festival; a place where you can bring the entire family and have a great time.
MILLBROOK
5th Annual Ready, Set, Grow! Harvest Festival 2011 and Arts & Crafts Fair Saturday, September 24, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Village Green Park, Main St. & Grandview Rd., Millbrook, AL . Come join the fun as we celebrate the little The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine
Alabama growers. Artisans and crafters from the Southeast presenting their unique works. Ready, Set, Grow! Pumpkin weighin 8-10 a.m. Ready, Set, Grow! Pumpkin Party 10 a.m. Magic Show, Live Music, Food Vendors Children’s Art Classes, Prize Drawings throughout the day, Children’s Games – Hoops, Harvest Toy Grab, hildren’s Rides – Train, Swings, Inflated Air Jumps, Jumbo Slide & more, Snow Cones, Shaved Ice, Cotton Candy, Wash-pot Skins, Peanuts (boiled, roasted & fried Fresh Fruits & Vegetables, Berries, and Honey from Local growers Something for Everyone! Free Admission
MONTGOMERY DOWNTOWN “Weird Al” Yankovic Thursday, September 29 at 7:30 pm
“Weird Al” Yankovic is the biggest selling comedy recording artist of all time. Few would have guessed that Yankovic, who as an awkward, accordion-playing teenager got his start sending in homemade tapes to the Dr. Demento Radio Show, would go on to enjoy a varied and successful career that is now entering its fourth decade. Over that time he has won 3 Grammys (with 12 nominations), racked up 31 Gold and Platinum Albums, and won countless awards and accolades for Weird Al classics like “Eat It,” “Like a Surgeon,” “Fat,” “Smells Like Nirvana,” “Amish Paradise” and more. For tickets www.mpaconline.org
MONTGOMERY DOWNTOWN Taste of The River Region Renaissance Hotel Sunday, October 2, 2011 6-8 pm
Formerly know as the Taste of Montgomery, a great event to explore the many tastes of our restaurant community. Plenty of food and drink for in support of the Junior League of Montgomery and the Alabama Restarant Association. Tickets $25 in advance or $30 at the door. Renaissance Hotel & Conference Center. Help raise money for a good cause, so plan to Share a New Experience! tickets at www. jlmontgomery.org or 288-8816
BIRMINGHAM
McWane Science Center IMAX movies: Wild Ocean, Animalopolis, Sea Monsters: A Prehistoric Adventure, (Through Nov. 23) Tornado Alley, (Through Nov. 24) Born to Be Wild. Hours: Mon.-Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., noon-6 p.m. 200 19th St. N., downtown Birmingham. Museum: $12; $9 kids 2-12 and seniors 65-plus; free to children younger than 2; IMAX featurelength movie: $10; $9 kids 2-12 and seniors 65-plus; free to children younger than 2; IMAX educational films: $8.50; $7.50 kids 2-12 and seniors 65-plus; free to children younger than 2; combo museum and IMAX film: $17; $13 kids 2-12 and seniors 65-plus; children younger than 2 free. (205) 714-8300. mcwane.org
MONTGOMERY
Organic Gradening-Planning & Planting Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm Saturday, September 10, 10-12 pm Decisions for the fall/winter garden (Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm) Adults and teens are invited to join us every second Saturday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. throug h November for hands-on, organic gardening sessions with the Hampstead Institute’s own Farmer Anne and Farmer Jetson. Topics will cover planting to harvesting, and everything in between. Participants should be prepared to be outside: water, clothes that can get dirty and sunscreen are essentials! Sign up will begin at 9:30 a.m. prior to each workshop. Cost: $5 per session. For more information on Hampstead Farms or the Hampstead Institute Downtown Farm, visit www.hampsteadinstitute.org or www. hampsteadfarms.com It ’s a Great Time to Be Booming! Please submit any events/pictures to jim@riverregionboom.com
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Stick on Lenses Turn Sunglasses Into Readers Reading glasses are a not inconvenient solution to that increasing inability to focus on close objects as we age. This, of course, most often causes a problem when we’re trying to read – anything: menus, emails on your phone, assembly directions, books. Normal reading glasses are great – problem temporarily solved. But in the sun? Good luck with that glare. As seemingly always, a company has come up with a solution for this problem. Seemores (seemores.com) sells stick-on reading lenses in standard strengths that can be applied to your favorite sunglasses with just water. Our tester did experience a few struggles when using them, starting with opening the container, which she called “a minor frustration.” She then followed the directions to affix the lenses to her sunglasses, but she ended up only being able to see out of one eye. The tester decided she didn’t fiddle with them enough to get the lenses aligned properly. Her verdict? Good in a pinch as long as you take the time to get everything aligned. Here’s one other reason you might want to give them a try: At $19.95 the reusable lenses are considerably cheaper than a pair of prescription sunglasses. (c) 2011, McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.
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The River Region’s 50+ Lifestage Magazine