Southside Boomers - Spring 2015

SOUTHSIDE

BOOMERS

SPRING 2015

A DAILY JOURNAL PUBLICATION

Cycle of Life Longtime runner started riding at age 46 to save wear on his knees.

And he’s glad he did.

INSIDE

Historic Auto Club of Central Indiana

Is hormone replacement therapy right for you?

Travel: There’s plenty of life in Death Valley

SOUTHSIDE

BOOMERS

SPRING 2015

on the cover SOUTHSIDE

BOOMERS

SPRING 2015

A DAILY JOURNAL PUBLICATION

Cycle of Life Longtime runner started riding at age 46 to save wear on his knees.

And he’s glad he did.

INSIDE

Historic Auto Club of Central Indiana

Is hormone replacement therapy right for you?

Travel: There’s plenty of life in Death Valley

Staying Active Local man switches athletic endeavors from running to biking./Photo by Mark Freeland

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So Alive

4

You might be surprised at what you find in Death Valley.

Classic Rides

Cake in a Cup

Historic auto club members enjoy their vintage vehicles and their friendship.

Check out our recipes for these tasty treats.

ALSO INSIDE Sharon Randall column...........................................3 Dave Barry’s newest book......................................11 Review of Bob Hope biography.............................11 Hormone replacement therapy..............................12 Health and fitness briefs........................................13 Southside Boomers is published by the DAILY JOURNAL

c/o Daily Journal 30 S. Water St., Suite A Franklin, IN 46131

Filing taxes for a deceased relative........................16 Divorce after 50 might affect retirement savings....17 How to make a metal pipe coffee table..................20 Attract butterflies by planting Black Adder.............21

● For editorial content, contact Paul Hoffman in the Daily Journal special publications department at 317-736-2721 or by email at phoffman@dailyjournal.net

For advertising content, contact the Daily Journal advertising department at (317) 736-2730

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southside boomers

spring 2015

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COMMENTARY

SHARON RANDALL Dipping into the larger life truths at swim class

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t the shallow end of an indoor Olympic-size pool, he waits for a signal from the instructor to join the class.

“Come on in, Randy,” she calls, and he wades right in, grinning and unafraid, a 4-year-old Neptune splashing boldly into his watery kingdom.

And suddenly the room grows brighter.

Randy is my grandson. He shines like the sun. And I’m not the only one who thinks so.

A leggy little girl waves both arms, begging him to join her. He does, and they sit together on the side of the pool, talking, laughing, adjusting their goggles and waiting for class

to begin.

It’s a small class today, just Randy and two other children, both girls, 3 or 4 years old.

I wish you could see them.

Meanwhile, in the middle, deeper part of the pool, another class is warming up to “oldies” music from the ’60s, which for them is not all that old.

Twenty some “seniors” stand shoulder-deep in water trying to follow (more or less, depending on ability or desire) directions from their instructor, who stands on the side of the pool, bending and stretching, demonstrating exercises and calling out encouragement.

Nearby in adjoining pools, adults of vari-

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ous ages swim laps at their own pace, or take a break to steam in a sauna, while a lifeguard circles like a shark in an aquarium, keeping a wary eye on young and old alike.

I wish you could see all of them, too.

Maybe you have. It’s a common scene repeated daily in sports centers everywhere.

The contrast between ages 70 or 80 or more years apart, is all the more striking when stripped down to a soaking wet swimsuit.

The little ones, so fresh from God, move like tadpoles in the water with their perfect pink bodies glistening and gliding, kicking and splashing, reveling in a beautiful abandon seldom seen beyond childhood.

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But the seniors seem to be having a pretty good time of it, too, in a grown-up kind of way. No kicking or splashing, just bouncing, swaying, dipping and swishing, keeping hairdos and dignity high and dry.

Occasionally somebody needs a bathroom break. The little people get escorted by a parent or grandparent and are back in the pool in two minutes tops.

The seniors need a bit longer to work their way to the steps, take one step at a time, grab their walkers and push off to the restroom. If class is nearly over, they don’t bother coming back.

At one point, the instructor for Randy’s

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spring 2015

COVER STORY

Riding a new chapter Cycling gave rural Bargersville man new lease on fitness STORY BY AMY MAY

A

t age 53, John Schmitz is in better shape than many 20-year-olds, displaying not an ounce of fat on his body, even when wearing form-fitting spandex.

This might be because he pedals a bicycle about 6,000 miles a year.

His rides are not leisurely pedals around his neighborhood, either, but blood-pumping, all-out racing.

Schmitz, who began riding at age 46, competes in approximately 50 races per year, averaging 200 miles a week in the summer. The events include the races at the velodrome, a lap race on a banked oval; cyclocross, a cross-country race on dirt; and street races. He’s a member of Team Indiebike, a group of a dozen or so adult cyclists of all ages. The team has a sponsor, IU Health, and members get discounts at area bike shops on their equipment, which can be quite expensive.

“I won a race and they wanted me on their team. We were the Speedway Wheelmen, then went to Indiebike,” Schmitz said.

He’s won many of his races, sometimes against competitors half his age. He came in fifth overall and was first in his class in last year’s Mass Avenue Criterium, a late-summer street race conducted in downtown Indianapolis.

John Schmitz, 53, shows off some cycling gear at Gray Goat Bicycle Co. in Franklin. Schmitz started competitive biking at the age of 46 and has become very successful at it./PHOTO BY MARK FREELAND

spring 2015

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Schmitz has been a fitness buff most of his life, Schmitz grew up on the southside of running track in high school and college. He ran Indianapolis, graduating from Perry Meridian in the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon for 12 years in High School. He earned a degree in graphic a row, typically placing in the top 200, and has design at Ball State University, but never even traveled to other states, worked in that field, instead including New York, to run in going into construction other competitions.

“I took it up for the fitness after college.

“I always said ‘I’ll run until He is always looking for aspect. I wanted to do something breaks.’ But it was things to do and ways to something that wasn’t expand his horizons; he has getting too tough on my going to tear me up.” knees,” he said. “I really had his ups and downs. begrudgingly went to riding.

As a builder, he briefly John Schmitz on taking attempted land developI’d see the guys riding and up cycling think ‘I don’t want to do ment, buying acreage to that.’ Little did I know two start a subdivision. The last years later, I’d be riding,” he recession nixed that plan, he said. “I took it up for the fitness aspect. I said. He used to have a farm with beef cows wanted to do something that wasn’t going to and hayfields, but had to sell that acreage tear me up.” when the recession hit.

When he’s not racing bicycles, Schmitz “I am down to one chicken,” he said. works as a masonry contractor and owns his He still enjoys rural living and has a home own company, Adams Masonry. He has laid near the Johnson-Morgan county line near bricks for homes and commercial buildings, Bargersville with his wife, Lisa. He has four including a funeral home and churches. children from his previous marriage, which “I did construction work in college at Ball was another casualty of the recession, he said.

State. My company is named after the guy His sons, Corbin and Palmer, also enjoy bicy- John Schmitz competes in the Mass Avenue Criterium in Indianapolis last year. He finwho taught me how to lay bricks,” he said. cling and sometimes ride with him. ished fifth overall and first in his class./PHOTO BY DON MEYER

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He is an ordained minister and looks for ways to serve others. He bought a building in Mars Hill, on the west side of Indianapolis, and plans to turn it into a community center He got his master’s degree in 2009 in psychology and would like to offer relationship and addictions counseling, as well as classes in fitness and ceramics, a hobby of his. He owns a potter’s wheel and makes his own glaze out of specialty chemicals and ground-up rocks.

The biker community Cyclists have their own community and culture, Schmitz said. When he started riding, he didn’t know the etiquette of riding in a group, but the others instructed him pretty quickly, he said. Once he won a race, he gained some respect as a new rider and made friends.

Most competitive riders have nicknames.

Schmitz is known as “Suitcase” among his fellow racers. When he was training, he would put a loaded pack, his “suitcase,” on his bicycle to make it heavier.

Bicycle racing has a ranking system. Schmitz began as a Cat 5, meaning a new rider who has won few races in the beginners’ category.

Since he’s won more than 35 races in his career, he is Cat 2 now.

Bicycle races vary by length and terrain.

A criterium, or “crit” race is a timed event, usually done on city streets, with laps less than a mile in length. It lasts about an hour.

Track cycling races take place on banked tracks or velodromes. Hoosier bicyclists race at Major Taylor Velodrome near Marian University. Events can be individual, teams, groups or mass start races.

Cyclocross originated as a sport for racers Schmitz, left, watches as Freddie DeMott, manager of Gray Goat Bicycle Co., adjusts the during the off season to vary their training rear caliper and brake of Schmitz’s bike./PHOTO BY MARK FREELAND during the cold months. Races usually take place in the fall and winter and consist of laps that include pavement, wooded trails, grass, steep hills and obstacles requiring the rider to dismount, carry the bike and get back on.

Schmitz said the races often draw the most Home Care By Seniors For Seniors spectators and it’s a rowdy atmosphere that • Companion Care • Housekeeping Services sometimes includes heckling.

• Meal Preparation/Cooking Bicyclists can travel all over the country to • Transportation/Shopping • Doctor Appointments compete in USA Cycling or other sanctioned • Overnight Care events, gaining points and ranking. Schmitz • Handyman Services • And More! has done some traveling, but usually stays close to Indiana.

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“I pretty much race all year long. But I only www.seniorshelpingseniors.com race half the ’cross section for some rest.”

spring 2015

Wanna go for a ride?

Competitive bicycling takes dedication and time, but anyone can reap the benefits of bicycling on a smaller scale. Community bicycling events, such as the Indianapolis NITE Ride, include everyone from little kids to senior citizens.

“You’re never too old to start up,” Schmitz said. “When I was younger, I thought when I was 50, I’d be in a wheelchair, not racing kids on bikes.”

Many people ages 50 and older are now enjoying trail riding/dirt biking or just pleasure rides around their neighborhood.

Schmitz and his wife occasionally ride a tandem bike. He also goes out to “just ride, go see the sights” maintaining a speed of 18 to 20 mph. By comparison, competitive bicyclists average 30 to 40 mph in their various races, depending on the terrain and proximity of other riders.

Schmitz said his fastest-ever clocked speed was 54 mph, reached on a downhill.

Boomers don’t have to race like he does

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southside boomers

spring 2015 to enjoy bicycling for the exercise and the camaraderie. There are area organized rides, such as the Hilly Hundred in Bloomington, that are good ways to test yourself as a beginner and meet other cyclists, Schmitz said. There used to be a regular Johnson County CIBA (Central Indiana Bicycling Association) ride. It was dropped from CIBA’s schedule, but local bikers still get together and do it, Schmitz said.

He is glad to see growing public acceptance of bicycling and the addition of bike lanes in more cities and towns to make it safer.

The possibility of injuries and accidents is foremost in the minds of many cyclists.

Helmets are a must, both in competition and pleasure riding, especially if you are riding on public streets. The most common serious injury for cyclists is a broken collarbone, which they get falling off the bicycle and trying to catch themselves with a hand, Schmitz said.

Bicyclists also get skinned knees and elbows, which is one reason why competitive cyclists shave their legs, he said.

Cyclists use a variety of quick energy bars and drinks to get through long races./PHOTO

BY MARK FREELAND

“It’s so it doesn’t hurt when you pull the bandages off.”

Schmitz said bicycling is ideal for boomers who spent their younger days running but can’t do so anymore, usually due to knee issues.

“Lots of bikers are former runners.

Running is harder on you, but biking actually works more muscles,” he said.

Bicycling uses most of the body’s muscles, especially if you take care to change positions while riding, Schmitz said.

7 Calves and thighs become heavily muscled, rear ends get leaner and firmer, arms and shoulders get a work-out and even core muscles get taxed while riding.

According to bicycling.com, a 150-pound person will burn 680 calories on a onehour ride pedaling 14-16 mph.

Using a stationary bike can also deliver many of bicycling’s benefits, but it’s not as much fun, Schmitz said.

“I taught a spin class at L.A. Fitness for a few years. It’s a totally different kind of riding. It’s more about the music,” he said. “But I hate (using) the trainers. I have six stationary bikes in my shop, but it seems like it’s easier to ride with a group. It motivates you more.”

Motivation doesn’t seem to be much of a problem for Schmitz, though. He is looking forward to the upcoming racing season and planning to improve his record.

“I think it’s the most fun when you have younger guys who are trying to beat you. I hope to have a good year this year. I want to dominate.” B

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spring 2015

HOBBIES

appreciatINGtheCLASSICS Members of historic auto club enjoy cars, camaraderie

T

hey share an obvious passion for classic automobiles but members of the Historic Auto Club of Central Indiana seem to be almost as interested in the fellowship generated by club meetings and excursions as they are in talking about an Oldsmobile Cutlass, a Cadillac sedan or a Pontiac GTO. “We go out two or three times a month and we’re always looking for a good restaurant,” said Allen Distler, a former president and board member who has been involved with the club since the late 1990s.

“We’re considered to be a social club and we like to get together. In fact, some members get together at least twice a week.”

The club originated as the Indianapolis Chapter of the Veteran Motor Car Club of America in 1960 but group members elected to create an independent organization in the early 1980s and first met under their current name April 22, 1982.

Today, the club is open to anyone interested in preserving and encouraging ownership of classic cars.

STORY BY GREG SEITER / PHOTOS BY DON MEYER “You don’t even have to own a car,” Distler said.

Aside from a $10 initiation fee to join, membership dues, which help cover minor group expenses, are only $20 per year.

“While we’re gone, we drive primarily on back roads or highways rather than on interstates and we stop to see and do things along the way.”

Allen Distler “We normally have between 60 and 65 members at any given time and a lot of our people live in central Indiana but everyone is welcome. In fact, one fellow lives in Tampa, Florida,” Distler said.

“There are some people who have been in this club for 15 or 20 years.”

According to Distler, bylaws require the group to meet at least once a month, so January, February and March gatherings are typically held at a restaurant. Monthly drive tours take place from April through November and a year-end holiday gathering is held in December.

“Most of our short tours, sometimes two or three times a month, last one day and may have 12 to 15 cars involved,” Distler said. “We may drive to a museum somewhere or even just to a restaurant and then back home. Or, it may be a mystery tour where people won’t know where we’re going until we get there.”

One multi-day tour is also a yearly tradition for the club.

Previous excursions have included drive trips to places like Iowa, Michigan, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

“If someone comes forward and says they would like to lead a long tour, we could be gone for several days,” Distler said.

“They plan everything out.

spring 2015

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“While we’re gone, we drive primarily on back roads or highways rather than on interstates and we stop to see and do things along the way.

“We may only drive 300 or 350 miles in a single day but we take pictures and keep a daily log.”

Spouses are also invited to participate.

“We have some widowers with us but a lot of spouses come along on tours, too, because we try to include activities and visits to places like antique stores and shopping malls that are attractive to everybody,” he added.

Planning ahead Obviously, any time motor vehicles are driven, the possibility of a mechanical breakdown exists, so members of the club must plan ahead before driving the likes of a 1927 Studebaker Avanti or a 1935 Auburn any significant distance.

“There are companies you can contact that specialize in restoration parts for older cars but sometimes, you may just have to go to a junk yard to find a window crank or a regulaOpposite page: The grill of a 1963 red Pontiac Grand Prix, owned by Allen Distler, former president and board member of the Historic tor,” said Distler, who owns a 1968 Auto Club of Central Indiana. Above: Some club members met at Kacey’s restaurant in Whiteland recently. From left, Lynn Smith, Allen Oldsmobile, a 1963 Pontiac Grand Prix and a Distler, Val Weakley, Scott Jones, Tom Metzler, Lew Trent and Mike Rhoda.

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southside boomers

spring 2015 At left: Dan Sheek’s 1940 black Cadillac 60S sits in the Kacey’s restaurant parking lot in Whiteland. Below: The interior of Scott Jones’ 1968 Pontiac Grand Prix. Bottom: The engine of a 1953 Hudson Hornet owned by Lew Trent.

Top: The hood ornament from a 1940 black Cadillac 60S owned by Dan Sheek. Above: A hood ornament from the 1953 Hudson Hornet owned by Lew Trent.

1950 Chrysler Windsor 4-door sedan. “We keep a file and everybody has a book that lists places where you can go for repairs, painting and replacement parts.”

Tour participants, who communicate with one another via citizen’s band radio while out on the road together, are asked to bring easy-to-replace spare parts with them as a precautionary measure.

Having mechanically inclined co-travelers is also beneficial.

“We have a few members who worked for Allison or Ford and several who are backyard mechanics. In fact, we have some guys who own six or eight cars,” Distler said. “So, when we go out on the road, we usually have two or three of them with us and if a breakdown occurs, they work together to resolve the issue.”

Whether driving to Illinois for what Distler calls a “moonshine burger” or to a local spot for salad and a pizza, members of the Historic Auto Club of Central Indiana seem to share a bond that stretches well beyond white wall tires and chrome bumpers.

“We’re not the type of club that participates in typical car shows,” Distler said. “We’re not trailer queens. We drive our Top: The back of a red 1959 Chevrolet Corvette owned by Tom Metzler. Above: A gray 1928 Ford cars because that’s what they were made for.

Model A owned by Val Weakley.

“Sometimes we just sit around and lie to one another but we love to have people come up to our cars and ask about them.

“We’re more than just a club. We consider ourselves family.” B

spring 2015

southside boomers

Dave Barry’s new book of essays filled with humor and insight

By JEFF AYERS Associated Press

“L

ive Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster),” Dave Barry’s latest book of essays, might be thin on page count, but it’s worth every penny when it comes to humor and insight.

Barry’s weekly essays in newspapers around the country has been missed by many for some time now, so it’s wonderful to see that he hasn’t stopped writing about our foibles and his somewhat unique perspective on what makes us tick. And he’s able to do it while invoking out-loud laughter.

Parents will appreciate his concerns regarding his teenage daughter getting her learner’s permit and the various issues he sees regarding the drivers in the state of Florida where he lives. (According to his observations, being legally blind does not matter when it comes

to having a driver’s license there.)

Barry’s wife, Michelle Kaufman, is a sportswriter for the Miami Herald, and thanks to her, he’s exposed to the joys and sorrows of soccer. He becomes jealous of star David Beckham’s good looks after he learns she’s going to interview him, and a trip to Brazil to watch the World Cup begins with fear about being robbed, thanks to the shady tour guides he studies in advance. Barry does an amazing job demonstrating why soccer is so beloved — yet not so much in the United States. He uses sarcasm to prove the game isn’t quite as boring as a non-fan would believe, and worthwhile even if your child isn’t playing in some youth league.

Barry’s heart and soul come across on the page even as he throws out another groaninducing joke. Fans will love this, and newcomers not familiar with his work will find enjoyment as well. B

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BOOKS Hope biography makes case for ‘entertainer of century’

By DOUGLASS K. DANIEL Associated Press

A

t one time, Bob Hope was the hottest thing in comedy, a fresh face with a fresh delivery. Really. He was cutting edge in the 1930s, practically inventing the monologue as a delivery system for jokes. Hope went on to reach the top of every entertainment medium he tried — vaudeville, theater, movies, radio and television — and became omnipresent in American life.

One thing Hope couldn’t do was walk away from the limelight. Long before he died in 2003, at the age of 100, he became the symbol of a bygone era of entertainment, a beloved relic for those who bothered to notice. Such is the danger of one curtain call too many and a hundred more after that.

In “Hope: Entertainer of the Century,” (Simon & Schuster) author Richard Zoglin doesn’t ignore SEE HOPE, PAGE 22

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spring 2015

HEALTH

Women have options regarding hormone replacement therapy

By Cheryl Fiscus Jenkins Correspondent

L

ike many women her age, Jan Williams realized she needed medical attention when night sweats and difficulty sleeping interfered with her daytime routine.

She was difficult to be around, she said, and lacked interest in everything. Age 45 at the time, she experienced all of the common symptoms associated with maturing and menopause, but she wanted more out of herself and of her life.

Her physician prescribed hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, which she took for years and which made her feel better. Yet later reports and controversy surrounding HRT’s potential risk for increasing cancer and cardiac disease concerned her.

She didn’t want to give up the positive effects of hormone replacement, so seven years ago she sought an alternative to traditional medicines Jan Williams, 77, started a regimen of plantbased hormone replacement in her mid 40s.

The Indianapolis resident says she’s glad she did./SUBMITTED PHOTO

and attended a seminar while in California on bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.

Bio-identical hormones are identical in molecular structure to the hormones women make in their bodies, but they are synthesized from a plant chemical extracted from yams and soy.

By comparison, commonly prescribed HRTs that are not bio-identical include Premarin, which is made from pregnant horse urine, and Cenestin,

knows the benefits of staying well. She has a daily vitamin regimen, exercises often and watches what she eats. She is a sales representative for Carlisle Clothing out of New York and travels when she can.

She said help from hormone replacement was a gradual process, taking a month to feel some effect and up to six months for maximum benefit. She now sleeps better, is able to control her

“It allows me to do all of the things I like to do.

I have plenty of energy, and I feel well.”

Jan Williams which is made from plants but is not bio-identical to a woman’s premenopause hormones.

Williams, now 77, feels the plant-based version of hormone replacement is better suited to her because it is more natural and doesn’t cause the swelling she experienced with other drugs.

“It allows me to do all of the things I like to do,” said the Indianapolis resident. “I have plenty of energy, and I feel well.”

A former public health nurse, Williams

weight and has noticed improved skin.

Insurance doesn’t pay for her bio-identical hormones, which she estimates cost $130 for a three-month supply. Three years ago, after originally having the medicines shipped from California, she contacted Indianapolis’ Dr. Harry Stoller to manage her condition locally.

Stoller, of Advanced Metabolic Solutions, SEE HORMONE, PAGE 22

southside boomers

spring 2015

Eating whole grains could help you live longer

By THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

A

new observational study suggests that eating whole grains can decrease the chance of premature death by 9 percent.

Researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, reviewed two studies that examined the eating habits of more than 100,000 participants who were periodically questioned about meals over a span of 14 years. The people who ate at least 33 grams of whole grain a day not only increased longevity but cut their chance of getting heart disease by 15 percent.

The researchers also found that participants who ate whole grains in place of red meat reduced their chance of dying from cardiovascular disease by nearly 20 percent.

Whole-wheat flour, oatmeal, whole cornmeal, brown rice and bulgur are common whole grains identified by the American Heart Association.

According to the Harvard study, “These findings further support current dietary guidelines that recommend increasing whole grain consumption to facilitate primary and secondary prevention of chronic disease and also provide promising evidence that suggests a diet

enriched with whole grains may confer benefits toward extended life expectancy.”

Flu-free travel Whether you’re heading to a tropical island or the snow-covered slopes, make sure the flu is not your travel companion.

Here are some simple things you can do to take care of yourself and keep others well during your vacation: l Avoid close contact with sick people. l Travel only when you feel well. l Cover your coughs or sneezes with a tissue.

No tissue? Then cough or sneeze into your sleeve, not your hands. l Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based sanitizer. l Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.

Source: cdc.gov

Watch out for diet claims “This year, I’m going to lose some weight.”

If you find yourself making this common resolution, know this: Many so-called “miracle” weight-loss supplements and foods (including teas and coffees) don’t live up to their claims. Worse, they can

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HEALTH cause serious harm, say FDA regulators.

The agency has found hundreds of products that are marketed as dietary supplements but actually contain hidden active ingredients (components that make a medicine effective against a specific illness) contained in prescription drugs, unsafe ingredients that were in drugs that have been removed from the market, or compounds that have not been adequately studied in humans.

“When the product contains a drug or other ingredient which is not listed as an ingredient we become especially concerned about the safety of the product,” says James P. Smith, M.D., an acting deputy director in the FDA’s Office of Drug Evaluation.

Potential warning signs of tainted products: l Promises of a quick fix, for example, “Lose 10 pounds in one week” l Use of the words “guaranteed” or “scientific breakthrough” l Products marketed in a foreign language l Products marketed through mass emails l Products marketed as herbal alternatives to an FDA-approved drug or as having effects similar to prescription drugs Source: FDA.gov B

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spring 2015

Plenty of life in

TRAVEL

DEATH VALLEY

By Christopher Reynolds Los Angeles Times (TNS)

I

t took me several trips here to realize this, but if you know where to look and time it right, Death Valley is one giggle after another.

Sure, it’s vast, wind-raked, sun-baked and emptyseeming. Yes, it will confirm your puniness in the universe. And it might kill you if you’re in the wrong place at the wrong time without water or cover.

But there’s plenty of weird science, quirky history and plain fun in these 3.4 million acres of dry lake beds, towering dunes and wind-scoured mountains, which have been a national park since only 1994. The last time I made the 215-mile drive from Los Angeles to Death Valley, in December with Los Angeles Times photographer Mark Boster, seemed especially revealing.

Part of this was the weather. The first storm in a year had just dumped a burst of rain, leaving puddles and green stubble in a place that’s famous for lacking them.

The other factor was where we went. This time, between visits to well-known spots such as the salt flats at Badwater (the lowest spot in North America, at 282 feet

Top: There are places in the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes where dried mud forms a patchwork of hard tile-like formations in Death Valley National Park.

Above: A visitor performs her best gymnastic moves on a hill of sand at the park./AP PHOTOS

below sea level) and Dante’s View (where the wind threatened to blow us into Nevada), we spent hours in a Jeep on back roads in Titus Canyon and Racetrack Valley.

Those narrow, rocky, twisting routes weren’t especially comfortable, but they allowed us to see the landscape in a new way.

On Day 1, following California State Route 190 from the Owens Valley and down into Death Valley, we fell

into a race with the setting sun and reached Badwater in the nick of time.

Pools of water gleamed on the crusty salt flats. Snow shone on Telescope Peak, about 10 miles west. Half a dozen French tourists took turns hollering “echo!” at the mountains rising abruptly in front of us — audio selfies. Affixed to the rock more than 280 feet above us, a small white sign marked sea level.

As the purple sky darkened, the distant ridgelines seemed to sharpen. The French fled for dinner. Suddenly it was very quiet, and I felt as alone as one of those golf balls the Apollo astronauts left on the moon in 1971.

If you’re carrying a camera, sunrises and sunsets matter here. Photographers scheme endlessly to capitalize on every one of them (especially in winter, when the sun comes up at a more civilized hour). But distances change those ambitions. Badwater is 41 driving miles from the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes. Which are 65 miles from Dante’s View. Which is 96 miles from Scotty’s Castle.

Which is 29 miles (mostly gravel) from the Racetrack.

If you’re not careful — or even if you are — you may end up the way we did on Day 2, rushing from Scotty’s Castle to the dunes at Mesquite Flat but arriving too

southside boomers

spring 2015 late to catch the last of the golden light.

All that was forgotten on Day 3, when we turned off the pavement at Ubehebe Crater and rumbled onto 27-mile Racetrack Road.

People mostly talk about the road’s eerie destination. But if you’re a driver who likes kicking up a little dirt and a few loose rocks (in the right kind of vehicle), the road alone is notable.

Right away, a wild valley opens up. A washboard path winds through a Joshua tree forest as sprawling and Seussian as any in Joshua Tree National Park. At mile 20, you reach Teakettle Junction, a strange metallic oasis of dangling cookware where dozens of campers have autographed their kettles and hung them on the sign. At mile 27, you park and walk.

If you had asked me that night, I would have said Racetrack Road was the most fun I’d ever had driving in the park, even though we never got over 25 mph.

Ah, but then came Day 4. Titus Canyon Road, another unpaved 27-mile wonder, is a one-way route that begins just west of the park boundary and the Nevada state line. Once you’ve reached the gravel turnoff on Nevada SEE VALLEY, PAGE 23

Clockwise from top left: Vegetation dots the landscape at the Mesquite Flat Sand Dunes in Death Valley National Park. Visitors to the Badwater Basin find the lowest spot in North America at 282 feet below sea level. The highest spot in the park, Telescope Peak (11,049 feet above sea level) is reflected in the water. Cross country bicyclists pedal through the park on their way to Beatty, Nevada.

15

southside boomers

16

taxes

spring 2015

How to file taxes for a deceased relative

A

By STEPHANIE FARIS GOBankingRates.com

fter a family death, the last thing a grieving person wants to deal with is a pile of paperwork. But in addition to all the personal matters that must be sorted, surviving family members are usually tasked with dealing with IRS paperwork at tax time. When a loved one dies during a tax year, a final tax return may need to be filed with the IRS, but first the family must decide who is responsible for handling it.

When someone dies, an estate is created that collects all of the deceased’s debts and assets. Generally a person is named the executor of that estate, either through the late person’s will or by the laws in that state. If there is a surviving spouse, that person will take precedence, but if there’s no spouse the deceased’s children, parents or siblings will shoulder the responsibility, in that order.

While the executor of the estate is ultimately responsible for ensuring the return is filed, that person doesn’t have to do the work alone.

The return will need to be submitted by the April 15 tax-filing deadline to avoid penalties.

The return will be filed using the same method a living person’s tax return is filed, with two major exceptions. The word “deceased” should be placed in parentheses after the decedent’s name and the date of the taxpayer’s death should be written at the top of the tax return.

If the deceased taxpayer is entitled to a tax refund, the executor will need to file Form 1310, which is a request for a refund due to a deceased taxpayer. Complete this form even if you’re a surviving spouse filing jointly with your late husband or wife. Having the supporting documentation will help if the IRS has questions about your return.

When the tax return is signed, it should be signed by the appointed personal representative for the deceased taxpayer. If no personal representative has been appointed, the spouse can sign the return and note next to the signature, “Filing as surviving spouse.” In the absence of either of those, the person who is in charge of the deceased’s property should sign the return and note that he is signing it as the individual’s personal representative.

When claiming the taxpayer’s income, claim everything from the beginning of the year to the date of death. It’s important to

distinguish whether the taxpayer uses the cash or accrual accounting method, since that will determine whether the income is considered income in respect of a decedent. When classified as such, the money passes through the estate as income, rather than through the deceased’s tax filing.

When a taxpayer dies with investments and pensions, much of that income is taxed to the person who inherits those funds. One exception is the Roth IRA and Roth 401(k), which are tax-free at the point of distribution as long as the investment was made five years prior to the person’s death. If less than five years has transpired, the surviving family members can have the inherited IRA rolled over into a Roth IRA until the five years is up. If a deceased’s assets are exceedingly high in value, Form 706 may be required to figure the estate tax imposed by the IRS. This applies to estates valued above $5.34 million.

Unless the deceased was a meticulous record keeper, it may be challenging to collect all of the tax deductions he or she incurred from the beginning of the year until the date of death. Deductions must stop at the point of the person’s death, including monthly recurring expenses.

One item that can be claimed after death is any medical bills that were incurred prior to death. Those can be claimed as long as they’re paid within a year of the person’s death. If a family chooses not to itemize on a return, the IRS will allow the full standard deduction to be claimed, regardless of when the person’s death fell within the tax year.

The spouse of a decedent can also file as a qualifying widow or widower for up to two years following the death of a significant other. In doing this, the spouse will be able to enjoy the benefits of filing jointly for as long as possible.

This can help relieve some of the financial burden that comes with losing a significant other.

Filing on behalf of a deceased loved one doesn’t have to put an additional worry on your family. If you feel as though you need help, don’t hesitate to ask a loved one to assist you in preparing the appropriate tax forms. You’ll likely find you have more support than you realize was available. B

southside boomers

spring 2015

RETIREMENT

By Janet Kidd Stewart Chicago Tribune (TNS)

17

How divorce after 50 may affect your retirement savings

ly doubled between 1990 and 2013, and 30 There are often more illiquid investments, “They’re mature enough to know they’re going to keep seeing each other through percent of divorced women 62 and older and more paycheck uncertainties as older adult children and grandchildren,” so they who are still single live at or below the feder- workers struggle to stay employed at their etting unhitched this year? If opt for a less adversarial split, she said. al poverty line, said Susan Brown, a Bowling current salaries. you’re past 50, it’s critically Maintaining the peace is particularly Green State University professor who has “Most people treat retirement plans as a important to pay attention to important when there are illiquid assets, chronicled gray divorce trends. last item on the list, below the house and how your retirement savings such as a pension, that can’t be cashed out Her research on poverty and divorce, jewelry,” Howard Phillips, L I F E said GE TTIN G C author O M PofL I C A T E D ? weathers the storm. by one party, said Wendy Wood, an attorney which she expects to publish in an academic “Dividing Retirement Plan Assets in a Divorce filings tend to surge at the beginpaper, found that 14 percent of men who Divorce” (divorcepensionrights.com). While in Bryan, Texas. ning of the year, experts say, whether from “My preference is always to make a clean divorce after 62 are in poverty. Just 4 perthe present value of a retirement plan might pent-up demand after the holidays or to break” when dividing assets, Wood said. In cent of couples that age — the age of Social actually be a couple’s largest asset, couples avoid having to endure another loveless real life, however, that’s not always possible.

Security eligibility — are at or below the pov- going through crisis tend to worry most Valentine’s Day. Government workers, for example, might be erty line. about current cash flow and assets they use Parents with kids in school tend to hold in line for rich traditional pensions but have “It’s scary, because the gray divorce demo- every day, he said. out until the end of a school year, but when few liquid assets with which to cash out a graphic group is growing,” Brown said.

That may be changing, however. it comes to couples in middle age and spouse.

And divorce can be particularly complex Fifty-plus couples account for a big share beyond — the so-called gray divorce — the Retirement plan divisions in a qualified for people getting close to retirement, even of those choosing collaborative divorce, a beginning of the year is often clean-slate domestic relations order are also notoriously if there are no children’s custody issues type of representation that involves both time, said Tracy Stewart, a certified divorce vague, so paying more attention to the because of an empty nest. Beyond simply fig- sides committing to working out the best financial analyst, accountant and financial details now is crucial, Phillips said. One proForest Creek Commons is an community uring out potential spousalauthentic Social Security long-term financial outcome for both focused parplanner in College Station, Texas. benefits for marriages of 10 or more years, ties, rather than fighting through a judge or posal might call for a 50/50 split of assets in And the overall numbers are getting big. on respect and independence, while living with the freedom, Forest Creek Commons is an authentic community focused SEE DIVORCE, PAGE 21 Divorce rates among 50-plus couples rough- there are typically more assets to divide. mediator, Stewart said.

G

Experience the Freedom

EXPERIENCE FOREST CREEK EXPERIENCE FOREST CREEK COMMONS

comfort and security of knowing someone is always on respect and independence, while living with thethat freedom, EXPERIENCE FOREST CREEK COMM MO ON NS S there when you need them. comfort and security of knowing that someone is always LIFE GETTING C CO OM M P L II C CA AT TE ED D ??

Forest Creek Commons is an authentic community focused there when you need them.

Forest Creek Commons an with authentic community focused on respect on respect and independence, whileisliving the freedom, comfort and security of knowing someone is always Enjoy luxury living at our community. and independence, whilethat living with the freedom, comfort and security there when you need them. of knowing that someone is always there when you need them.

Experience the Freedom Enjoy luxury living at our community.

Enjoy luxury living at our community.

• A library with • House keeping • A library•withActivity • House keeping at• our Activitycommunity.

Enjoy luxury living multiple and linen service programs and multiple and linen service programs and • A library with • House keeping • Activity • computers A library with multiple computers outings • Scheduled transportation beauty computers outings multiple and linen service programs and •• Showplace Housekeeping and linen• On-site service • Scheduled theatre room salon • 24-hour Inn programs emergencyand outings • Access to the Activity computers outings •• Garden • Showplace transportation • On-site beauty restaurant response system • Scheduled interstate and day dining) • (all Showplace •theatre Pet Friendlyroomshopping theatre room salon • Showplace transportation • 24-hour• On-site beauty • Scheduled transportation 6510 U.S. 31 South • Indianapolis, IN 46227 theatre room 317-783-4663 • Garden Inn emergency salon • On-site beauty salon • Access to the • 24-hour www.ForestCreekCommons.com • Gardeninterstate Inn restaurant (all and day dining) restaurant response system • Garden Inn emergency • Access to the GARDEN HOMES • INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • RESPITE/SHORT-TERM STAYS • 24-hour emergency response system (allrestaurant day dining) response shopping system • Pet Friendly interstate and • Access to the interstate and shopping (all day dining) shopping • Pet Friendly • Pet Friendly 6510 U.S. 31 South • In IN 46227 E X P E R I E N C E F O R E S T C R E E K C O M M O N S 6510 U.S. 31 South • Indianapolis, 317-783-4663 Forest Creek Commons is an authentic community focused 317-783-4663 www.ForestCreekCom Peton respect and independence, while living with the freedom, Friendly ©2014 Five Star Quality Care, Inc. comfort and security of knowing that someone is always www.ForestCreekCommons.com therePet when you need them.

Friendly ©2014 Five Star Quality Care, GARDEN HOMES • INDEPENDENT LIVING • Inc. ASSISTED LIVING • RES Enjoy luxury living at our community.

•A library with • House keeping •• Activity GARDEN HOMES INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • RESPITE/SHORT-TERM STAYS multiple and linen service programs and Pet Friendly

computers

• Showplace theatre room

• Scheduled transportation • 24-hour

outings

• On-site beauty salon

©2014 Five Star Quality Care, Inc.

southside boomers

18

Who says cupcakes are passé?

spring 2015

cooking

By Susan Selasky Detroit Free Press

T

he metro Detroit chain Just Baked is not alone in closing its corporate-owned cupcake shops. Crumbs Bake Shop, based in New York City, shut the doors on all 48 of its stores in July. (They’ve since reopened a store in Manhattan.)

And while you might have heard some folks say cupcakes are passé, we in the Free Press Test Kitchen disagree. Since the cupcake craze started more than 10 years ago, the little cakes have come a long way from the standard-variety school birthday treat we remember from childhood.

Here are five reasons why we will always love cupcakes (plus some of our favorite cupcake recipes, too): 1. What’s on top: We love the creativity fostered by frosting — from gussied-up buttercreams in wild colors and flavors, to light and airy meringues and decadent chocolate ganache. And then there’s the endless array of decorations available. Of course there are the simple sprinkles, chocolate curls and candy. But so many went further with toppings like candied bacon, pretzels, potato chips, mini-action figures and dolls.

2. What’s inside: Cupcakes jumped from using a plain boxed cake mix to doctored-up mixes with the addition of puddings, spices or nuts or having a theme. There are red velvet, rocky road brownie, peanut butter-infused and even cheesecake cupcakes. Injecting a baked cupcake with jams, cream fillings and frosting is the norm.

3. The pretty presentation: Those fluted paper or foil liners have come a long way. Tons of colors, designs, sizes are sold at grocery stores, craft stores and big box retailers. There are even holders for the cupcakes already in liners. Cupcakes have become the centerpiece of many dessert tables, whether they are displayed on tiers, turned into tasty towers or frosted together to form cakes for any special occasion.

4. Kid-friendly: Cupcakes have always been — and continue to be — a favorite among the younger set. They are the perfect size for smaller hands (unless you splurge for the gargantuan size) and decorating them can be fun for all ages (just watch for the little finger-lickers).

5. Travel well: These tasty treats can travel in style (not the foillined shirt boxes you might remember from decades past). Now, there are a variety of handy cupcake carriers, in many shapes and sizes, for easy transport so there’s less mess and fewer frosting mishaps from cupcakes slipping and sliding along the way.

——— CHOCOLATE CHERRY CUPCAKES WITH VANILLA BEAN FROSTING Makes: 16 / Preparation time: 10 minutes Total time: 50 minutes The cupcakes get an antioxidant and fiber boost from dried cherries.

1 cup dried cherries 1 cup water 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 4 ounces bittersweet chocolate (60 percent cacao), broken 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 3/4 cup light brown sugar 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch of salt 4 large eggs 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon baking soda 2 vanilla beans, split 1 package (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese (Neufchatel), softened 1/2 cup plus 1 tablespoon confectioner’s sugar Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line 2 muffin pans with 16 paper liners.

In a small saucepan, combine cherries with water. Bring to a boil.

Transfer mixture (cherries and water) to a food processor. Add cocoa, chocolate and butter, and pulse until combined. Cool 1 minute. Add brown sugar, vanilla extract and a pinch of salt, and puree until almost smooth.

Pulse in eggs until well combined. Whisk together flour and baking soda in a bowl and add to food processor. Pulse until just combined.

Divide batter evenly among pans. Bake in upper and lower thirds of oven until tops are slightly domed and firm to the touch, 18 to 20 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool cupcakes in pans on rack for 10 minutes.

Remove from pans and cool completely on rack.

Scrape vanilla bean seeds into bowl. Add cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar and beat well. Pipe or spread frosting onto cupcakes.

From Prevention magazine, January 2012 issue.

Tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen.

BANANA CUPCAKES WITH CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING Makes: 28 / Preparation time: 15 minutes Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes This recipe makes a little more than you may actually need.

3 cups sifted cake flour (not self-rising) 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda 3/4 teaspoon baking powder 3/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon 6 ounces (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 1 1/2 cups packed light-brown sugar 3 large eggs 4 very ripe large bananas, mashed (about 2 cups), plus sliced bananas for garnish 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk 1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1 cup chopped pecans CARAMEL BUTTERCREAM FROSTING 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar 1/4 cup water 1/4 cup heavy cream Swiss Meringue Buttercream (see recipe) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and cinnamon. In a mixing bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

In a separate bowl, mix together the mashed bananas, buttermilk and vanilla.

Add the flour mixture in three additions alternating with the banana and buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with the flour. Stir in the pecans.

You can leave out a small amount of chopped pecans to sprinkle on the tops if desired.

Scrape sides of bowl. Divide the batter among muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake for 25 minutes. Remove from oven and cool.

To make the frosting: Bring 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar and the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Wash sides of pan with a wet pastry brush to prevent sugar crystals from forming. Cook, undisturbed, until caramel is dark amber. Remove from heat and add cream slowly, stirring with a wooden spoon until smooth. When cool, fold in Swiss Meringue Buttercream.

Once cupcakes are cool, frost tops with caramel buttercream. Frosted cupcakes will keep, covered and refrigerated, for up to 3 days. Top with banana slices before serving.

Adapted from Martha Stewart Living magazine, February issue.

Tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen.

spring 2015 CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH RASPBERRY FILLING Makes: 24 / Preparation time: 25 minutes Total time: 1 hour, 10 minutes The cream filling in these cupcakes is a terrific addition. This frosting is simple and gets a creamy boost from marshmallow crème.

1 box (18.25 ounces) chocolate cake mix 1 container (8 ounces) frozen nondairy whipped topping, thawed 1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup seedless raspberry preserves 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar AMARETTO FROSTING 1/2 cup butter, softened 1 jar (7 ounces) marshmallow crème 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 cups confectioners’ sugar 2 tablespoons almond-flavored liqueur or 1/2 teaspoon almond extract GARNISH (optional) Toasted sliced almonds Fresh raspberries Prepare the cake mix following cupcake instructions.

Let cupcakes cool completely.

In a medium bowl, beat together the whipped topping and cream cheese at medium speed until smooth. Add the preserves, beating until the mixture is smooth.

Gradually beat in the confectioners’ sugar until the mixture is smooth. Spoon the mixture into a squeeze bottle or use a pastry bag with a narrow (about 1/8-inch) tip. Insert tip into the top of each cupcake and squeeze a good tablespoon of filling into each center. It’s OK if some seeps out the top. Repeat with all cupcakes.

To make the frosting, in a medium bowl beat the butter and marshmallow crème at medium speed with an electric mixture until smooth. Gradually beat in 2 1/4 cups of the confectioner’s sugar. Add more if it is not sweet enough. Add the almond liqueur and beat until smooth.

Frost the cupcakes and garnish with sliced almonds and raspberries, if desired.

From Cooking with Paula Deen magazine, February 2009 issue. Tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen.

BROWN-SUGAR POUND CUPCAKES WITH BROWN-BUTTER GLAZE Makes: 29 / Preparation time: 15 minutes Total time: 1 hour 10 minutes.

The Brown Butter Glaze, different from standard cupcake frostings, adds a rich buttery taste. These are best served immediately.

CUPCAKES 3 cups sifted all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened 2 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar 4 large eggs, room temperature 3/4 cup low-fat buttermilk BROWN-BUTTER GLAZE 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter 2 cups sifted confectioner’s sugar 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 2 to 4 tablespoons whole milk Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line standard muffin tins with paper liners. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the flour mixture in three additions alternating with the buttermilk, beginning and ending with the flour.

Scrape sides of bowl. Divide the batter among muffin cups, filling each 3/4 full. Bake for 25 minutes.

Meanwhile make the glaze: In a saucepan, heat the butter over medium heat until golden brown, about 5 to 10 minutes. Carefully pour butter into a bowl, leaving sediment behind.

Add the sugar, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons milk to the butter and stir until smooth. If glaze is too thick, add more milk.

Set rack with cooled cupcakes over a parchment-lined

southside boomers baking sheet. Spoon glaze over cupcake tops, and let stand until set. If glaze gets too hard, reheat it gently so you can spoon it. Serve glazed cupcakes immediately.

From Martha Stewart Living, February 2009 issue.

Tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen.

PIÑA COLADA CUPCAKES Makes: 24 / Preparation time: 15 minutes Total time: 1 hour A well-drained 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple will yield about 1 1/4 cups of pineapple juice, the amount called for in this recipe.

24 (2 1/2-inch) foil baking cups or floured baking spray 1 package (18.25-ounce) trans-fat-free white cake mix 1 1/4 cups pineapple juice or water 3 egg whites 1/4 cup canola oil 2 tablespoons dark rum or 1 teaspoon rum extract 3 teaspoons coconut extract, divided 1 can (20 ounces) crushed pineapple packed in juice, drained, juice reserved, divided 1 container (8 ounces) fat-free whipped topping 1/4 cup toasted coconut (see note) Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a medium muffin cup baking pan with foil liners or spray with baking spray and set aside. In a large bowl, combine the cake mix, pineapple juice, egg whites, canola oil, rum and 2 teaspoons coconut extract, and beat according to package directions. Fold 1/2 cup drained crushed pineapple into cake batter. Fill each baking cup 3/4 full with batter and bake for 16 to 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Allow muffins to cool completely on a wire rack.

In a small bowl, combine the whipped topping, remaining drained, crushed pineapple and 1 teaspoon coconut extract. When ready to serve, top each cupcake with 2 tablespoons whipped topping and sprinkle with toasted coconut.

To toast coconut, spread out shaved or shredded coconut on a foil-lined baking sheet. Place in 350-degree oven for about 6 to 8 minutes. Stir it once it starts to lightly brown. Watch because it burns easily.

Created by Ashlee Carnahan, Henry Ford Hospital dietetic intern for Heart Smart, and tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen.

SWISS MERINGUE BUTTERCREAM Makes: 5 cups / Preparation time: 30 minutes / Total time: 30 minutes 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar 5 large egg whites (at room temperature) 1 pound (4 sticks) unsalted butter, softened, cut into pieces 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract In a heat-proof bowl, place the sugar and egg whites.

Set bowl over a pan of gently simmering water, and whisk until sugar has dissolved and mixture registers 160 degrees, about 6 minutes.

Transfer the mixture to the bowl of an electric mixer.

Using the whisk attachment, beat on high speed until mixture has cooled completely and formed stiff and glossy peaks, about 10 minutes.

Add the butter, one piece at a time, and beat until incorporated. If the buttercream appears curdled after all the butter has been added, don’t worry. It will become smooth again with continued beating. Add the vanilla, and beat just until combined.

Switch to the paddle attachment, and beat on the lowest speed to eliminate any air pockets, about 5 minutes. If using buttercream within several hours, cover bowl with plastic wrap and set aside at room temperature in a cool environment. Or transfer to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator, up to 3 days. Before using, bring buttercream to room temperature and beat on the lowest speed with the paddle attachment until smooth, about 5 minutes.

From Martha Stewart Living, February 2009 issue.

Tested by Susan Selasky for the Free Press Test Kitchen. B

19

What Matters Most to You is What Matters Most to Us.

In 1897 the J.C.Wilson Funeral Home, which later became the Wilson St. Pierre Funeral Home, opened to offer Greenwood families an affordable and dignified option for quality funeral service. Today, nearly 120 years later, the sixth generation of the St. Pierre family continues a tradition of sensitive, professional service, competitively priced.

Peace of mind is important. Families like knowing their loved one is treated with dignity and respect which is why we own and operate our own crematory. They want to remember their loved one, which is why we offer memorial tribute jewelry and other forms of tribute.

It’s not the 120 years that matter, but the thousands of families that placed their trust in us.

Wilson t. Pierre C A R I N G S I N C E 18 97

Funeral Service & Crematory

www.wilsonstpierre.com Greenwood Chapel 481 W. Main St. Greenwood, IN 46142 (317) 881-2514

Chapel of the Chimes 1234 Prospect Street Indianapolis, IN 46203 (317) 632-9431

Stirling-Gerber Chapel 5950 E. Thompson Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46237 (317) 783-3653

Lahm Chapel 211 E. State St. Pendleton, IN 46064 (765) 778-2136

southside boomers

20

Make your own stylish metal pipe coffee table

spring 2015

DO IT YOURSELF

By Traci Arbios The Fresno Bee (TNS)

O

ne foggy Saturday afternoon I found myself looking critically at the house, as if seeing for the first time in months all the niggling tasks that lay in wait: walls to paint; floors to scrub; laundry to fold. I was so overwhelmed by my growing chore list that I almost got up from the couch and set down my sandwich and plate of chips. ALMOST. That was yet another problem: how could I loaf in front of the TV, effectively cataloging all the chores that awaited, when I had no place to set down my lunch plate?

And that’s when it hit me: There was no way I could take care of all my life’s problems without a coffee table.

It was just humanly impossible; anyone could see that.

Like the diligent, focused person I am, I carefully balanced my plate on a sofa cushion, grabbed my laptop and began perusing Pinterest for coffee table ideas. Finding a coffee table that would fix my ENTIRE LIFE wasn’t just some simple folly; it required research.

After some time and some more chips and maybe a cookie or two, I found a table style I loved that I could also put together myself. A DIY coffee table?

PERFECT! One quick trip to the hardware box mart and I had all the makings of a wood and metal pipe table.

The project is relatively simple and takes about three hours, start to finish — and most of that time is waiting for paint to dry.

What you’ll need: l 24” x 48” table top l 8, 6” pipe nipples (3/4 inch diameter) l 6, T shaped connectors (3/4 inch diameter) l 4, 10” pipe nipples (3/4 inch diameter) l 8 flanges (3/4 inch diameter) l 1, 36” long pipe (3/4 inch diameter) l 36 wood screws l Rust-Oleum metal spray paint (optional) l 4 cups vinegar (distilled white or apple cider) l 4 cups water

bucket rags Cleaning the pipes: Many pipe tables are made with aged or painted pipes. The pipes you’ll find at the hardware store are likely made of a galvanized steel and are silver in color. If you like this color, go with it. If you’d like your pipes to have an aged look, instructions for that process can be found on the Internet.

If, however, you think you’d like to paint the pipes (as in my version), there’s some necessary prep work.

The hardware professional I spoke with advised me to first clean the pipes with a one-part vinegar, one-part water solution. Such cleaning removes a factory laid coating, which will then allow for the paint to adhere to the pipes.

For quick removal: In the bucket, mix a 1:1 solution of water and vinegar. In a well-ventilated area, submerge all the pipe nipples and fittings in the solution for about a halfhour. (NOTE: Chemistry is taking place in the bucket, and a slightly nasty smell may arise.)

While the fittings soak, thoroughly rub down the long center pipe with a solution-soaked rag. Remove l l

the fittings from the vinegar solution and wipe all the pieces dry with a clean rag. (SUGGESTION: Wear a pair of latex household gloves during this process.)

Building the base: Each vertical table leg is composed of a flange, a 6” nipple, a T connector, a 10” nipple and topped with a flange, all in that order.

The horizontal bars, then, are composed of is a 6” nipple, a T connector and a 6” nipple in that order.

Each horizontal bar connects 2 vertical legs.

At this point, you have 2 separate sets of legs, each connected by a horizontal bar. Screw the long, 36” pipe to the T connectors in the center of the horizontal bars, thus connecting both sets of legs.

Painting the base: Once all the pipes are dried and fitted together, your table base is now ready for painting. In a wellventilated area, lightly spray the pipes with the metal spray paint. Let the pipes dry and repeat the process until the desired look is achieved.

Once dried completely, connect your table top to the base via wood screws, screwing from the underside of the table. B

southside boomers

spring 2015

Black Adder the star of butterfly season

By Norman Winter McClatchy-Tribune News Service

B

lack Adder brings in butterflies like there is no tomorrow. The anise hyssop has been one of my favorite perennials for years not only for the bottlebrushlike spikes of blue flowers but also for attracting every bee and butterfly in the neighborhood. I’ve treasured Blue Fortune and Honey Bee Blue, but now that we are in peak butterfly season in Savannah, Ga., it is Black Adder that has captured my heart.

We planted Blue Fortune first and they did everything we wanted. But I jumped at the opportunity when I had a chance to get a flat of the Black Adders. We put them in our daylily garden, where I parented them not only with daylilies but society garlic, Kim’s Knee High Echinacea and Silky Gold asclepias.

The marriage has been absolutely heavenly.

Black Adder is similar to Blue Fortune in that it is an anise hyssop hybrid. The parents are the U.S. native Agastache foeniculum and

the Korean Agastache rugosa. The resulting cross is an award winner in my opinion and should become your must-have plant for the future.

Herb lovers have been growing anise hyssop for years and relishing not only its culinary properties but its beauty and tough nature.

Beekeepers and connoisseurs treasure the honey produced from anise hyssop, and this cross keeps all of the great traits from both parents. I’ve noticed that as I walk this garden I do get more of the fragrance permeating the air. It is very pleasing and even more so when I take the opportunity to take some cut flowers or even do a little deadheading.

Botanically speaking, Agastache is related to other well-known garden plants like salvia and coleus. It is hardy from Zones 3 to 9, meaning virtually everyone can grow it. The staggering temperatures that we experienced this summer only seemed to make the plant bloom better.

Black Adder seems a little more compact in habit, reaching 24 to 30 inches tall or more.

With this height, try grouping them in informal drifts, letting them serve as a terrific partners for the complementary orange and gold gloriosa daisies. Pink, purple and blue will look equally stunning. Our partnership with echinacea and milkweeds has kept us in a state of butterfly feeding frenzy.

Select a site in full sun for best blooming and to keep the plants compact and better branched. The soil should be fertile and well drained. Wet feet will spell doom for the anise hyssop during the winter, so incorporate organic matter to loosen the soil or plant on raised beds. Consider planting after the last spring frost, in full sun spacing 18 to 24 inches apart.

Though the plant is drought tolerant, watering during prolonged dry periods will pay dividends with added flower production.

If you have an established clump, feed with spring growth using a light application of a slow-release, fertilizer. Another application in mid-summer will keep the plants at peak for the fall. B

21

Divorce FROM PAGE 17

a 401(k) plan, for example, which sounds straightforward enough. But is it 50 percent of the entire account, or just the amount earned and invested during the marriage?

And don’t forget to scrutinize your beneficiary designations. Some states treat divorce as an event that essentially nullifies existing designations, and federal labor laws generally prohibit prenuptial agreements from dictating survivor rights when it comes to retirement plans, Phillips said.

Finally, acknowledge the fear surrounding the process as a way to deal with it and move on, suggests Stewart.

“I remember a client who told me she was scared down to her toes by the whole process, and I think most husbands and wives alike are really scared,” she said. “They’re going forward (with the split) but don’t know how much they’ll get or really whether they’ll be able to supplement it because it’s hard to step up a career after 50, particularly when their personal life is in disarray.” B

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southside boomers

22

Randall

Hormone

FROM PAGE 3

FROM PAGE 12

class gathers her young charges in a soggy little cluster (picture sea otter pups clinging to their mother) and together they float down to the deep end of the pool to practice more advanced maneuvers.

To get there, they paddle through the the seniors’ class. This causes a brief but welcome disruption as the elders make way, clearing a path, smiling and waving to the little ones, while the Beattles sing “All You Need Is Love.”

It’s a fitting theme song for both classes.

The young love to move, especially in water.

They are fish born to swim. And the old?

They love life. To live well, they know they need to keep moving as best they can, hips, knees, hearts and minds.

The rest of us — parents and grandparents, sitting on the sidelines, frizzy-haired and damp from steam — we’re there just to cheer them on.

But in the pool of life, we all need one another. Shallow, middle, deep end or cheering section, we’re all in it together, trying our best to stay afloat.

After class, I wrapped Randy in a towel and took him to the dressing room. I was kneeling on the floor tying his shoe when suddenly he began to shiver.

He threw his arms about me, buried his face in my neck and I held him tight to warm him.

“Nana?” he whispered, as the shivering stopped. “I like it when we hold onto each other. I feel good. I feel ... safe.”

I grinned into his wet curls.

“I know,” I said. “I do, too.” B

said the majority of his hormone replacement patients are women in menopausal years who want to feel better.

“When we get them straightened out, they bring their husbands in,” he joked. But he said more men are seeking hormonal support these days for andropause, the male counterpart to female menopause.

Stoller is board certified and has attained an advanced fellow credential from the American Academy of Anti-Aging/Regenerative/ Functional Medicine.

He treats a host of illnesses in his practice and also focuses on lifestyle modification for overall health and well-being. He spent decades in family practice but became intrigued with bio-identical hormone replacement after attending a conference on the subject in the 1980s.

After returning, he said he took many women off of commonly prescribed hormones because of the risks associated with the drugs. He received push back as some female patients left his practice for other physicians who would prescribe the medications.

Stoller uses 24-hour urine tests to determine hormonal levels because of greater accuracy over

Sharon Randall can be reached at P.O. Box 777394, Henderson NV 89077, or on her website: www.sharonrandall.com.

Did you know that you can read past issues of Southside Boomers online?

Go to dailyjournal.net, click on ETC. tab, then Special Publications

Hope FROM PAGE 11

Hope’s insatiable ego and other flaws but also doesn’t allow them to overwhelm his considerable talents. It’s a finely balanced and detailed

spring 2015

blood tests and writes prescriptions for compounding pharmacies to fill. He said male replacement hormones are typically injectable, while women’s are usually in cream form.

Stoller sees a high success rate in natural bioidentical hormone treatment with his patients and said most individuals are very educated on

gen drug, for vaginal dryness and pain with sexual intercourse.

“There are so many options out there,” she said. “The key to hormone replacement and menopause is that it’s not one size fits all.”

Smidt factors in a patient’s medical condition and health history when determining appropri-

“There are so many options out there. The key to hormone replacement and menopause is that it’s not one size fits all.”

Dr. Veronica Smidt Gynecologist the subject when they come to him. He never uses traditional hormone replacement medications these days.

Dr. Veronica Smidt, a board certified gynecologist with Obstetrics and Gynecology of Indiana South in Franklin, believes HRT medications still have a place in women’s care and maintaining quality of life. The treatment, however, is not for everyone, and she often seeks alternatives to hormonal medications for help with menopause.

She has found some anti-depressants and other medications that will treat hot flashes, night sweats and other menopausal symptoms.

She also prescribes Osphena, a newer non-estro-

ate treatment. She may prescribe HRT drugs for a short period but does not use them long term.

She also avoids giving them to patients who are poor candidates for the therapy, including individuals with a history of blood clots or stroke.

She said bio-identical hormones also play a part in treating symptoms of menopause, but she recommends using U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved versions for better regulation.

“Using something that is FDA approved and that is regulated is preferable in my opinion because of safety issues,” she said. B

biography that explores, explains and ultimately celebrates an uncomplicated man who probably made more people laugh than anyone in history.

Zoglin traces the foundations of Hope’s persona to the decade he spent in vaudeville. First, Hope honed his skills as a comic dancer, singer

and skit performer. He stood out as a wisecracking emcee at theaters, then discovered that tailoring his act to audiences generated more laughs.

Zoglin tells a story with insight and honesty, even when the comedian’s pettiness and selfishness cast a shadow on his overall generosity. B

southside boomers

spring 2015

23

Valley FROM PAGE 15

State Route 374, you head straight across a flat patch of desert for several miles, then disappear into a canyon as the Grapevine Mountains rise around you, steadily taller, steeper and redder.

Usually, this is the busiest backcountry road in the park, but traffic was light on this early December weekday, and in three leisurely hours we saw just a handful of other vehicles. As I slowed from 20 mph to 10 and then to 5, the road fell and rose and the turns tightened into a series of hairpins above steep drops. There were limestone formations and petroglyphs.

At a turnout on a rare straight stretch, we stopped to inspect Leadfield, a ghost town that never really lived. Finally we squeezed through Titus Canyon Narrows, a 1½-mile stretch where the canyon walls come within 20 feet of each other, and emerged just in time to catch a pink sunset.

And if you had asked me that night, I would have said that sunset was the happiest surprise of the trip. But then came Day 5.

Rusty old cars still dot the landscape of Leadfield, a ghost town in Titus Canyon in Death Valley National Park.

It was our last morning in the park. We had decided to shoot dawn on the dunes at Mesquite Flat. Sure enough, by 6:30 a.m. the horizon had begun to burn red in the east, despite clouds overhead. We stood under a pair of skeletal trees.

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Then came the raindrops, a strengthening drizzle dappling dunes that get perhaps 2 inches of rain per year. The sun was brighter now, but I had to look away because in the west, beyond the limbs of those skeletal trees, a rainbow arched above the darkened dunes.

Boster went nuts with his cameras, of course. I snapped too, but gave up after a while. In Death Valley that morning, there was more going on than any camera could capture. So I did the next best thing. I stood there, grinning like an idiot. B

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