Prime Time February 2014 by AIM Media Indiana

PRIME TIME February 2014

Laurie Wright: Artistic fr ame of mind

Ferdons: called to volunteer | Pet insurance | Military man Ed Morris

Editor’s note

I don’t know about you, but I certainly hope that the rest of 2014 is kinder to us than January was. Winter should be a time for making snowmen and riding a speeding sled down a snow-covered hill, not for warnings such as “Stay inside or you might die!” If I go through the rest of my life without hearing the term polar vortex again, I’ll be a happy man. However, Polar Vortex would make a great name for a heavy metal band, don’t you think? Even better if the female lead singer’s name is Alberta Clipper. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that winter, no matter how nasty, will eventually give way to spring. Until then, put another log on the fire, grab your favorite hot beverage and enjoy this edition of Prime Time. As always, we’ve included profiles on some of the area’s more interesting “Prime Timers,” including our “cover girl,” Laurie Wright. This talented artist is a Columbus treasure. Though she’s worked in a variety of media over the years, these days she specializes in screen printing. Mary and Steve Ferdon are a couple whose strong belief in helping their fellow man has led them to participate in a variety of disaster relief efforts, youth work camps and other projects. Carolyn Behrman worked for Cummins for many years, but always knew that someday she would open a natural foods store. Today, the owner of Natural Choices sells natural food products and shares her knowledge with her customers. Ed Morris is an interesting guy. After retiring from the U.S. Marine Corps, he moved to Brown County. Today he’s working toward his second retirement as head of security for all military installations in Indiana. As anyone who has a dog or cat can tell you, a trip to the veterinarian’s office can produce a bad case of sticker shock. To help ease the financial burden, some pet owners are buying health insurance for their animals. Read about it in this edition of Prime Time. And finally, if the winter weather has you suffering from cabin fever, why not look into volunteering? Inside, you can read about a new study conducted by Purdue University that says volunteering can be good for your health. Helping yourself while you help others sounds like a no-brainer to me. I hope you enjoy this edition of Prime Time. And as you struggle to stay warm, maybe this will help. Our next issue will publish May 14. May … just saying it warms my toes.

PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 1

contents 4 10 15 17 20 26 30 36 38 44 48

This & That Artist Laurie Wright Health benefits of volunteering Senior skiers

Career Marine Ed Morris Pet insurance Health advocate Carolyn Behrman Quiet household products

Mary and Steve Ferdon Calendar of events Sharon Mangas column

26 2 â&#x20AC;˘ FEBRUARY 2014 â&#x20AC;˘ PRIME TIME

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This & That

Good news, bad news The good news is Americans are living longer. The bad is that we’re not living as long as people in other countries. American longevity has dropped significantly since 1979 compared with longevity elsewhere, according to a 2006 report from the National Academy of Sciences. American men live to an average age of 75, about four years less than Australians and Japanese, who live to an average of 79. American women have made the biggest comparative drop, going from being the longest-lived in the 1960s to the 28th today. Japanese women pulled ahead between 1980 and 2006 to an average 86 years, with Italian and French women living to an average of 84 years. During this same time period, American women edged up to an average of 80. There’s no agreed-upon reason for this, according to a 2011 report from the National Institutes for Health. But researchers do cite a tantalizing clue: Americans seem to have their highest vulnerability between the ages of 55 and 75. These are the years when we die from heart disease, diabetes and lung disease more often than those in other countries.

Take the grandchildren

Get ready for spring Believe it or not, spring is just around the corner. Will you be ready? One of the best ways to prepare is a visit to The Republic’s annual Home, Health and Garden Show. The 2014 version will be held April 26 and 27 at Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. Hours for the free event are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. The show will feature dozens of demonstrations and vendor booths to help you turn your ideas into reality. Information: 379-5655. 4 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

Looking for a fun activity to share with your grandchildren? The Bartholomew County Historical Society’s Saturday Samplers would seem to fill the bill. These free, monthly family friendly workshops are catered toward small children. All events are from 11 a.m. to noon, and each month’s program will be presented twice, once at Bartholomew County History Center, 524 Third St., Columbus, and once at Yellow Trail Museum, 644 Main St., Hope. Here’s the schedule of some upcoming topics and locations. — Pack Your Wagon. How did the settlers move from one place to another and what did they bring with them? March 8, History Center; March 15, Yellow Trail Museum — Farm Friends Animals on the Farm. April 12, History Center; April 26, Yellow Trail Museum — Honk! Honk! Cars in Columbus. May 10, Yellow Trail Museum; May 24, History Center. Information: 372-3541 or email arediker@bartholomewhistory.org.

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[this & that] Book Reviews “Andrew’s Brain” by E.L. Doctorow; Random House (200 pages, $26) Doctorow’s 12th novel, “Andrew’s Brain,” is constructed as a dialogue between a cognitive scientist named Andrew and an unnamed interlocutor. It begins by framing an irreconcilable dilemma: “If consciousness exists without the world, it is nothing, and if it needs the world to exist, it is still nothing.” Andrew is talking from an undisclosed location, so indistinct it may not be physical: He could be a phantom of his neurology. “The great problem confronting neuroscience,” he argues, “is how the brain becomes the mind. How that threepound knitting ball makes you feel like a human being.” If that sounds a bit abstract, it can be, although “Andrew’s Brain” is not exactly a novel of ideas. Rather, it is a memory book, a retrospective, in which Andrew looks back over his life to figure out how he came to be wherever he is. His is a hard-luck story, marked by a dead child and a dead wife, and a series of retreats and surrenders, beginning when he was a boy. Even at its best, “Andrew’s Brain” is lesser Doctorow; it lacks the heft of “City of God,” which wrestles with similar considerations, or “Ragtime,” with its exquisite structural unity. Still, when it works, it is because of the tension of not knowing, the information we do not have. — David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times

“Vanished: The Sixty-Year Search for the Missing Men of World War II” by Wil S. Hylton; Riverhead Books ($27.95) Hylton interviews family members and some of the surviving, aging airmen. Some of the most emotional parts of “Vanished” are the letters to and from the airmen as they waited to fly yet another mission, possibly to die in a sky lighted with anti-aircraft fire. Jimmie Doyle writes to his wife, Myrle, in West Texas: “Sweet, my mind is nearly a blank tonight, for I am all took up with thoughts of you and home. Maybe it won’t be too long until the day when I will be home and we will be together again.” Doyle’s plane went down in 1944. His widow never spoke of his death, and she died in 1992. She never let others read the letters and took her pain to the grave with her. — Tony Perry, Los Angeles Times 6 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

How to grow your brain Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh found that walkers increased the size of their hippocampus, the region of the brain that controls new memories, by 2 percent after one year of walking 40 minutes three times a week. The researchers divided 120 older adults, average age 66, who did not have dementia, into two groups: a stretching group and a walking group. The group that walked increased their hippocampus, while the stretching group showed no improvement, according to the 2010 study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. Normally, that area of the brain decreases about 1 percent to 2 percent a year in adults, said Dr. Jay Van Gerpen, increasing their risk for developing Alzheimer’s.

PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 7

[this & that] What — us tired? Elderly people say they feel much less tired than teenagers and younger adults, according to a surprising new study that tracked how nearly 13,000 Americans rated their exhaustion. The results counter earlier studies and defy stereotypes of older people as weak and tired, said Laura Kudrna, a researcher at the London School of Economics and Political Science. What’s even more surprising, she said, is that the unexpected results can’t be explained away by elderly people sleeping longer or doing fewer activities they find tiring. So why might older people report feeling less tired than teens, 20somethings and other adults? Kudrna wonders if technology might be making younger people feel more tired, or if other, untracked health factors are influencing the results. The study, recently published online in the Journals of Gerontology, Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences, urged more research to understand the unexpected results.

Help yourself Want to increase your odds of living a longer, healthier life? Here’s what the experts say. Exercise: 150 minutes per week is optimal, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Sound daunting? A 10-minute brisk walk three times a day, five days a week will give you a total of 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity. Eat right: Avoid processed foods, limit sodium and alcohol, drink four to six cups of water daily and eliminate liquid sugars, particularly the kind found in beverages, the Harvard School of Public Health advises. Harvard nutrition experts recommend a “Healthy Eating Plate” made up of one-half vegetables and fruits, one-quarter whole grains and one-quarter healthy proteins, such as fish, poultry, beans and nuts — not red or processed meats, which can raise your chance of getting colorectal cancer. Don’t smoke: If you smoke, one of the single best things you can do for your health and those you love 8 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

is to quit, according to the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes for Health. Tobacco smoke causes many types of cancers for smokers and nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke. Get screened: Ask your doctor to update you on the most important screenings for your age, condition and genetic risk factors at your annual wellness exam. Consider tests for blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, vascular disease risk, colon cancer and, for women, mammograms and Pap smears. Don’t overlook an annual eye exam, which can reveal early stages of diabetes and hypertension. Enjoy: There’s a clear link between happiness and health, according to a 2011 article from the Harvard School of Public Health. Chronic anger and anxiety can disrupt cardiac function and harm the brain. Conversely, enthusiasm, hopefulness and laughter can help reduce illness and healthfully manage or even ward off heart disease, strokes, diabetes and depression. — Staff and Wire Reports

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Cover Story

10 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

artistic

Columbus’

ICON

Laurie Wright’s screen prints take shape through color and geometry By Barney Quick n photos by Chet Strange

aurie Wright is meticulous about the details of her art, but she also clearly has an understanding of its broader and deeper significance. She chooses her materials and methods based on how they will serve her unique perspective. It’s a perspective shaped by faith, being attuned to nature’s patterns and delight in enriching the lives of others. “Your images become your language,” she explains. “Mine is very geometric.” Anyone familiar with her screen prints will concur. The seemingly whimsical explosions of brightly colored shapes for which she’s known are, upon closer examination, the sum total of disciplined choices about what goes where. “I like the control of doing each shape individually,” she says. When embarking on a commissioned piece, a client usually gives her free rein. “We mainly discuss the size and sometimes the color.” She says, “I’m not known for speed. Projects often take upwards of a year.” She normally starts with a title. “That way, I have the images in my head. I start with a small piece for myself before I do the commissioned work, so I’ll get past being timid with color.” She uses an acrylic custom-mixed with alcohol. Her choice of paper is the result of close consultation with Dolphin Papers, her Franklin-based supplier. Her signature style really came into its own after she and her husband, David, a former Cummins Inc. attorney now with the Laurie Wright works on a screen print at Stillframes Gallery.

PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 11

[Cover Story] Community Education Coalition, moved to Columbus in 1988. While living in Ohio prior to that, she’d earned a B.F.A. in photography and advertising design at the Columbus [Ohio] College of Art and Design. She studied silk screen printing at a community art center in Dayton and the use of acrylic ink in printing at the Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. She was a commercial artist in the Mead Corp.’s school supply division for 20 years. “I retired from commercial art just about the time desktop publishing was emerging,” she says. In 1991, she began making prints in a building behind her house. For two years, she and local designer Bob Schwartzkopf and the late Cathe Burris, a prolific visual artist, shared studio space. Another period of working from home followed. She was associated with the now-defunct Gallery 423 and then moved across Washington Street to share space with Bob Anderson, proprietor of Stillframes Photography. When she and Anderson moved their businesses to the current Lindsey Street location, she focused on framing, which she describes as “a nice way to pay the rent.” She has some printing commissions lined up and is relishing the return to her first love. Lately, she’s been exploring another visual form, religious icons. “I’d been studying gold-leaf application, and a friend emailed me about getting into icons.” She took an iconography class at the Museum of Biblical Art in Dallas in 2010. “Everything about it is so ancient,” she says. “It’s half theology and half technique. Every detail means something.”

12 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

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PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 13

[Cover Story] She explains that the pigments used are mixed with egg yolks and white wine. “Mixing them kind of satisfies your urge to be a mad scientist,” she says. While she has yet to include any icons in collections in shows or at galleries, she has been exhibiting her prints of geometric forms. She recently had a show at the Columbus Learning Center, and she shows at J. Jeffrey Taylor gallery in Fish Creek, Wis., Sunset River Marketplace in Calabash, N. C., and Eye on Art in Carmel. She has amassed some impressive professional accomplishments. She is a board member and past president of the Indiana Artists Club, an association tracing its roots back to T.C. Steele and Marie Goth. She has shown work in its Annual Juried Exhibition at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. When asked about how she achieves balance in her life, she doesn’t try to hide the fact that her passion for art is front and center. “When I have some extra time, I like to work,” she says. “When I took golf lessons some years ago, I thought, ‘I’d rather be in the studio.’” She does note that she and her husband dote on their cat, Fred. Even her involvement at her church, Grace Lutheran, takes the form of artistic contributions. She is on the altar guild, which hangs banners behind the altar in the sanctuary. Her tone becomes a bit wistful when she turns to the subject of how America’s demographic shift affects the art market. “Young people aren’t inclined to be serious art collectors,” she says. “They’re more mobile, and it affects how they decorate their homes. They’re satisfied to put a print rather than 14 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

an original work on the wall. I don’t do large pieces anymore for that reason. It’s hard for a gallery to commit to a big piece. The space for it is valuable real estate.” Twenty-three years in Columbus have sold her on the city she calls home. “David says he’ll have to dynamite me out of here,” she says. “My drive to work is maybe 10 minutes. That hasn’t been the case in other places I’ve lived.” Fellow local artist Jeri Cannon has been a friend for some time. She says of Wright, “She lives her life with character. She’s a gracious friend. Her artistic abilities and good business sense are the main ingredients in her recipe for success.” Given her plans to devote substantial time to a new wave of creative work, Columbus and the art world can look forward to yet more of the Laurie Wright take on color, shape and life. PT

“When I have some extra time, I like to work. When I took golf lessons some years ago, I thought, ‘I’d rather be in the studio.’” — Laurie Wright

health

Purdue finds health benefits in volunteerism By Maryjane Slaby n Journal & Courier LAFAYETTE — Behind a desk at St. Elizabeth East visitors’ entrance, Louise Force’s smile seems to glow. Wearing a light blue-and-gold headband and a pink sparkly gemstone lanyard — from the hospital’s gift shop — she was eager to point visitors in the right direction, deliver flowers or chat with patients as she hands out mail. “I like to go into the rooms as hostess,” the 86-year-old told the Journal & Courier. “Most of them want to talk longer than I have time.” Her smile means a bubbly visitor for patients and their guests, but new research from Purdue University shows it’s also good for Force’s health. Purdue researchers found that for adults 70 and older, volunteering — above other forms of social engagement — helps to give them a younger biological profile. That means they are healthier than people ages 58 to 69 who infrequently volunteer, according to the research.

PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 15

[health] The research used C-reactive protein levels, a marker of inflammation. The levels spike when a person has an infection, the flu, or as a person ages, said Seoyoun Kim, a Purdue doctoral candidate in sociology and gerontology who led the study. Higher CRP levels also can be a sign of cardiovascular and chronic disease. Volunteers have lower CRP levels, meaning lower rates of age-related disease. Even if a person volunteers just several times a year, CRP levels were an average of 15 percent lower for volunteers over nonvolunteers, according to the study. Using CRP levels makes this study based on an objective, physical marker instead of using subjective data from self-reported health or symptoms or physician-diagnosed diseases, such as in previous studies, Kim said. And Force is quick to agree with the findings. “I believe that,” she said. Force said volunteering, which keeps her busy, and eating right help to keep her healthy. Many older people didn’t pursue volunteering and now aren’t healthy enough to do it. About two years ago, Force’s husband, Tom, died. That’s when she decided she needed something to keep her active. She chose the hospital because it was the first place she thought of that would need volunteers. Every Friday she’s there. She said visiting patients and working at the desk keep her busy — something she loves.

Amy Wood, volunteer associate at United Way of Greater Lafayette, said the research only confirms what she’s already seen happen, especially with Read to Succeed. She said older volunteers find fulfillment in giving back to the community, plus it gives them a reason to get out. The research, which focused on data from adults ages 70 to 85, adjusted for factors such as if the older adults had the physical health to volunteer. Kim said next is looking to see if there are cultural or regional differences and to see if volunteers have specific healthy habits that nonvolunteers lack. Force also volunteers at the Open Door Clinic in Frankfort. Although she exercises twice a week, plays golf, bowls and mows her own lawn, it’s really the volunteering that’s key for her health. No other social engagement had a positive relationship with CRP. What Kim didn’t find was a point where too much volunteering was bad for a person’s health in terms of CRP levels. In fact, those who volunteered multiple times a week had CRP levels about 25 percent lower than those who don’t volunteer. She said most older adults lose an institutionalized role such as parent or employee, are empty-nesters and not working. So volunteering is a way to stay active and engaged, and have others rely on them again, Kim said. “It really is something special about volunteering, it’s the act of giving and others caring about you,” she said. PT

Purdue researchers found that for adults 70 and older, volunteering — above other forms of social engagement — helps to give them a younger biological profile.

16 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

health

Slopes’ changing demographics:

more senior skiers Klaus Obermeyer, 93, prepares for a ski run in Aspen, Colo.

By Karen Schwartz n Associated Press

f you’ve walked into a ski lodge the past few years, likely as not you’ve seen tables filled with gray-haired skiers wearing sweaters so old they’re back in style. That’s because the number of skiers on the far side of 50 — some on the very far side — has been creeping up each year, according to the National Ski Areas Association. Credit advances in artificial hips and knees that make it possible for skiers to continue enjoying the sport; shaped skis, along with better snowmaking and grooming that make skiing easier; and high-speed lifts and luxury touches like ski valets that make it more pleasant. “There are no excuses,” said 93-year-old Klaus Obermeyer, the Aspen-based skiwear designer. Despite breaking his leg in a wipeout two years ago, Obermeyer still skis each day. Sure, younger people still make up the majority on the slopes — the average skier is 38.5 years old — but “The person who skis the most in a given year is 65 and older,” said Michael Berry, president of the NSAA, based in suburban Denver. PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 17

[health] Bragging rights go to those age 68 and older, who averaged 9.5 days skiing last season. Boomers — those age 49 to 67 this year — also skied more than the national average of five times per year, according to an NSAA survey released in August. “You don’t want to sit in your rocking chair and look at the view,” said 70-year-old Billy Kidd, who won a silver in the slalom at the 1964 Olympics. “You want to remember your days of youth and you love that feeling of adrenaline and dealing with the variables of skiing.” Clearly, others old enough to remember Kidd in his heyday feel the same way. Those ages 45 to 54 made up 20 percent of skiers last winter, up from 14 percent in the 1997-98 season; the 55 to 64 age group made up 12 percent, up from nearly 5 percent, and those 65 and older rose to 5.5 percent from 2.5 percent, according to the NSAA study. Kidd, who skis nearly daily in his role as an ambassador for the Steamboat Ski Resort in Steamboat Springs, Colo., said one thing that has changed as he’s gotten older is his gear. Indeed, Kidd is a walking billboard for the latest innovations. His skis and poles are lightweight carbon fiber. His Osbe helmet does away with goggles and replaces them with a built-in visor that provides

18 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

better peripheral vision. He traded in traditional ski boots for soft Apex boots, which provide support through an external frame. (For putting on traditional ski boots, many older skiers swear by the Ski and Snowboard Boot Horn.) “At 20 years old I didn’t care about comfort,” Kidd said. “I still have to have control, but the top priority for me is comfort.” Certainly, there are challenges as skiers age, not the least of which is finding friends who are also still skiing. Clubs like the 70+ Ski Club, based in North Kingstown, R.I., with more than 4,000 members, and the Over the Hill Gang International based in Colorado Springs with 3,000 members, offer camaraderie, discounted tickets and ski trips near and far. Even those who retire to Florida still pursue their passion. The Florida Ski Council has 17 clubs in the state and at least one trip going every week of the ski season. The largest club, the Tampa Bay Snow Skiers

and Boarders, takes about 1,000 people a year skiing, said Clair Quenzler, the council president. These dedicated watchers of the discounts for skiers agree that the perks seniors used to get from ski resorts have been reduced as their numbers increase. Several resorts have raised the eligibility age for discounted lift tickets, or they’ve limited deals to weekdays. “To be fair to the ski areas, it’s a business for them as well,” said Doug Lofland, 56, one of the owners of the Over The Hill Gang International. So what suggestions do experts have to help the rest of us ski into our Golden Years? — Stay in shape. — Try to choose slopes with less traffic so you can safely ski a little slower. — Think about afternoon sun and shadows. A

west-facing slope will have better definition. — Be cognizant of higher altitude and hydration. — Walking in ski boots can be more challenging than skiing, so companies have developed lightweight shoes, like Pakems, that you can carry with you during the day for a quick change. — Consider taking a gondola or chair lift down the mountain if weather sets in or you’re tired. — Consciously choose your danger level. “The repercussions of making a mistake are too great,” Kidd said. And finally, enjoy, like the 89-year-old who sent the 70+ Ski Club a photo of herself skiing with her great-grandchildren. “There are not many sports four generations can do together like that,” said club president 42-year-old Richard Lambert. PT

Above: Olympic silver medal winner Billy Kidd, 70, skis daily as an ambassador at Steamboat Ski Resort. Opposite page: Last winter Dee Wang, 89, of Shelburne, Vt., skied with her great-grandchildren in Park City, Utah. PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 19

profile

always to a cause Career Marine turns to state military security for his second act

By Jeff Tryon n photos by Greg Jones

d Morris is a man of two careers. His first took him to every corner of the world before he retired. The second career finds him settled into a long-imagined permanent home in the hills of Brown County, anticipating a second retirement. Morris, who joined the U.S. Marine Corps as an expression of patriotic fervor after the 1983 suicide-bombing attack on a Marine quarters in Lebanon, discovered a career he loved as a helicopter crew chief. “I actually joined the Marine Corps because two of my best friends, who I had gone to high school with, died in the Beirut barracks bombing,” he said, recalling his anger. “I was 19 years old and bullet-proof.” The bombing killed 299 American and French members of a multinational peace-keeping force during the Lebanese civil war.

Opposite page: Retired Marine Ed Morris stands in the basement of his Brown County home. It features a custom-built bar that is the focal point of his Marine memorabilia room.

20 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 21

[profile]

When truck bombs destroyed buildings housing the First Battalion, Eighth Marines, 241 American servicemen were killed — 220 Marines, 18 sailors and three soldiers — making it the deadliest single-day incident for the Marine Corps since the Battle of Iwo Jima, the highest single-day death toll for the U.S. military since the first day of the Tet Offensive and the deadliest single attack on Americans overseas since World War II. “Ronald Reagan was president, and actually, I thought we were going to war,” Morris said. “I thought I would pick which service I was going to instead of waiting to be drafted.” His father had been in the Air Force, but no one else in his family had ever been in the military. He chose the Marines because that’s the branch of service in which his high school friends had served. That decision turned into a 25-year career that took him to 43 different countries, including three tours in Iraq. “I was a CH-46 helicopter crew chief for 20 years,” Morris said. “It’s a cargo and crew helicopter, a tandem rotor, the baby sister of the big one the Army has.” The Boeing Vertol CH-46 “Sea Knight” is used by the Marine Corps to provide all-weather, day-ornight assault transport of combat troops, supplies and equipment. It also comes in handy for other combat support missions, such as search and rescue, refueling and rearming support, and “tactical recovery of aircraft and personnel.”

Above: Ed Morris, with his wife, Elissa, daughter, Gabriella, 2, and their dog, Blu, in the living room of their Brown County home. Opposite page: An outdoor view of the home Morris spent eight months helping to build eight years ago.

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“We would get the aircraft ready, go out and make sure everything was functioning right, sealed up, all the parts were tight, everything was good,” he said. “We’d do the cargo, the ammo, whatever our task was that day.” After 25 years of service, Morris found himself entering a new phase of his life, whether he liked it or not. “I was always a lead-from-the-front type of guy, always one to set an example of what was right. But at some point, my mind still said ‘ooh-rah,’ but my body said ‘hell no!’” he joked. “They offered me a desk job and different things like that, but that just wasn’t me. So I just decided I would go out the way I wanted to go out, with the guys I wanted to be with.” He retired from the Marines in 2007. Luckily for Morris, during his years in the military he had discovered his own Xanadu — in the hills of Brown County.

at Mill Race Center

812-372-6415

900 Lindsey Street • Columbus, IN 47201 admin@justfriendscolumbus.com • www.justfriendscolumbus.com Continuous activities • Flexible scheduling (as needed basis) Nursing & social work support • Financial assistance available VA, Medicaid Waiver, CHOICE and private pay

“Here When You Need Us!” PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 23

[profile] “My brother-in-law worked for Cummins, and they moved here from Ohio,” said Morris, who is originally from Dayton, Ohio. “I would visit them when I was on leave from the military, and I actually just fell in love with Brown County. “When a 50-acre plot came open, I bought it,” he said. “We love it.” “We” includes his wife, Elissa; son, Luke, 12; and 2-year-old daughter, Gabriella. Asked whether the family has any animals, Morris replied, “I’ve got 50 acres in Brown County. I’ve got animals everywhere, whether I want them or not.” As for retirement, however, Morris wasn’t quite ready for it. “I tried to stay retired for about four months, but I just couldn’t do it,” he said. So he started a second career, as the state superintendent of security forces, head of security for all military installations in Indiana. “It goes all the way from Stout Field in Indianapolis down to Muscatatuck and Atterbury,” he said. “I run the security guards for all those bases.” At 51, Morris said his goal is to complete a career with the state, which could happen as early as 2027,

A model of the helicopter he flew, and a plaque from the unit in which he served. Top: A helmet, flak vest and other gear are part of the equipment Morris wore on ground duty overseas. 24 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

Right: This field radio came from a Russian tank that Iraqi forces had driven into one of their minefields. It became immobilized when it struck a mine and blew a track off. Morris hovered over it in his helicopter, was winched down on a cable for a look around and brought the radio back up with him. Below: Morris holds a helmet he wore during his days of helicopter flying. Behind him is a titanium and carbon fiber tail rotor decorated with stickers that all have a story to tell.

and receive two pensions — one from the Marines and one from the state. “If I work a full 20 years for the state, I’ll get a full retirement from them also,” he said. Morris said his basement “man cave” is the repository of a career’s worth of memorabilia, including all of his medals, citations, certificates, recognitions and promotions. He has various mementos given to him by guys when he was leaving the unit, along with his uniforms. “I have a flag that flew over Wake Island and Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima the same day,” he said. “I was flying the commandant of the Marine Corps on a C-9 aircraft, doing a tour of the Far East,” he said. “I actually got the flag on Wake Island, and then we went to Iwo Jima and I climbed Mount Suribachi and flew it up there the same day. “I actually have a picture of me and the guys reenacting the flag raising on Iwo Jima.” Morris said he isn’t really involved in any activities or organizations in Brown County. “I keep pretty busy,” he said. “But I’m always looking for some good cause to join. “I’ve got a pond that’s stocked; I like to fish,” he said. “I have a good time with the family up here on the hill. “Like they say, it’s ‘God’s country’ up here.” PT PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 25

MONEY

in case of

emergency Pet insurance brings owners peace of mind By Jenni L. Muncie-Sujan n photos by Chet Strange

“W

e dog people treat our dogs like real people,” said Carol Dickson. Keeping health insurance for her dogs has been a standard practice since she got her Yorkshire terrier, Maddy, in 2000. A friend recommended she purchase the insurance. In late November 2002, a house fire took the life of Maddy. While the policy Dickson owned covered injury and illness, it did not cover death. Still, she was pleased that the company acknowledged her beloved pet’s passing with a card and a donation in Maddy’s memory. She said the remaining balance of the policy was refunded to her without hassle. Dickson’s home owner’s policy covered the “life insurance” portion of Maddy’s passing. Since then, Dickson has owned two more Yorkies, Lily and Daisy. Lily, now 11, has coverage for accidents and cancer — and gets a special card in the mail each time her birthday rolls around.

Opposite page: Carol Dickson feeds a treat to her Yorkshire terrier, Lily, at their home in Columbus.

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[MONEY]

While Dickson has never stopped carrying a said. “It’s a good program from the standpoint of policy on each of her pets since 2000, over the years catastrophic events. We’ve looked into whether it was she has altered her policies. Adjustments, such as beneficial to do the health/wellness package, and it reducing them from the top-of-the-line versions that seems to be a break-even kind of thing.” covered dental cleanings to essential points of coverWagner said that the significant benefit of carrying age, such as illness, have insurance shows up in one saved her money while serious illness or injury. still providing the protec“Typically your pretion she feels comfortable miums are not that high having on her pet. throughout the year,” he “With the insursaid, “but in the course of ance company and Dr. one event, you’ve probWagner, I feel good about ably paid for a couple how Lily is taken care years of premiums.” In the of,” Dickson said. case of pets that “are runDr. Brock Wagner, ownning the roads and they er and veterinarian at Best get hit by a car,” Wagner — Dr. Brock Wagner Friends Animal Healthcare estimated that major sur& Laser Center, said that gical intervention would multiple forms of insurance are made available to his be required to stabilize the animal, with a price tag clients through brochures in the office. for the pet owner that ranges from $3,000 to $5,000, “Pets Best and VPI have been around for a while, without insurance. and most of our clients use one or the other,” Wagner Wagner said the filing process is handled by the

“Typically your premiums are not that high throughout the year, but in the course of one event, you’ve probably paid for a couple years of premiums.”

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Just in case Check out pet coverage on these websites: VPI Pet www.petinsurance.com Pets Best Insurance www.petsbest.com Trupanion www.trupanion.com Pet Assure www.petassure.com Healthy Paws Pet Insurance & Foundation www.healthypawspetinsurance.com Petplan Pet Insurance www.gopetplan.com Embrace Pet Insurance www.embracepetinsurance.com PetPremium Pet Health Insurance www.petpremium.com ASPCA Pet Health Insurance www.aspcapetinsurance.com PetFirst www.petfirst.com

client, through forms provided by the insurance company. He sees no trend in the age of the client who is buying pet insurance. “For us, it is across the board.” For pet owners who are willing to take the risk of illness and/or injury but would like a policy that works like life insurance, Kelly Sullivan, a sales associate in the State Farm Insurance office of Gil Palmer, offers an option called a “personal articles” policy. Separate from a homeowner’s policy, this insurance covers against accidental direct physical loss of a dog, cat or horse with a registered pedigree. The policy does not cover illness or injury, and the rates are based on the value of the animal, as established by registration information. Essentially, an appraisal on the pet establishes the basis for the value, and the annual rate is calculated from that number. Dog owner Terri Waltz pays under $100 annually to insure all four of her pets through Pet Assure. She has used pet insurance for nearly four years. A couple of months after she purchased the policy with a Groupon offer, it had already paid for itself. “They’re there pretty regularly, so it would be scary to be without it,” Waltz said of her dogs’ trips to Dr. Daniel Vermillion at Columbus Animal Hospital, where pet insurance is part of the patientintake process. According to a representative, each new puppy that becomes a patient at the facility is provided a 30-day free trial of pet insurance through Trupanion. While the incentive to try insurance is offered through a specific brand, the hospital takes various forms of insurance. Some pet policies give the savings to the client immediately at the time of service, reimbursing the veterinary office. But most companies reimburse the client after the services have been paid in full to the animal clinic. Claims cover services from wellness visits to accidents to illnesses, according to the specifics of the policy. Dickson’s recommendation to pet owners is that they purchase the policy when a pet is young. “The sooner you get the policy, the cheaper it is,” she said. “That’s why I usually get it when they’re born.” While many options exist for the pet owner, Dickson said that finding a policy is not difficult through the insurance company’s website. Online, the ranges of coverage and cost can be explored without hassle. And some of the sites offer an option to chat with an online representative, to ask questions and discuss individual situations. “I would not have another animal without VPI insurance,” Dickson said, “It makes you feel like you are giving them the best you can.” PT PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 29

natural

profile

it was a

choice

Carolyn Behrman pursues a second career urging healthier lifestyles By Sharon Mangas n photos by Greg Jones

t an age when many baby boomers are considering retirement, Carolyn Behrman, owner and manager of Natural Choices for Healthful Living, is fully engaged in her second career. She’s an advocate for healthy living. It’s her passion. There’s nothing she likes better than helping area residents learn to eat right, exercise and stay healthy. At age 66, slowing down doesn’t suit her. Behrman moved to Columbus in 1971 from her hometown of Terre Haute. At 22, she started working at Arvin Industries in the burgeoning field of computer technology. She studied computers at Indiana State University, knowing there would be plenty of job opportunities in the developing discipline. She later went to work for Cummins. “I always knew this (the store) would be a second career for me, but I kept my dream on hold while I pursued a career in IT.” She met her husband, Dennis, a Columbus native, at Cummins. They have three grown sons and four grandchildren. Oldest son Ryan lives in Colorado, Brooke is in Illinois and Champe resides in California. Behrman left Cummins in 1996 and opened her first natural foods and nutrition shop in a modest house just a few doors south of her current (and third) location at 1825 Central Ave.

Opposite page: Carolyn Behrman is a proponent of the health benefits of indoor plants and has them throughout her store. 30 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

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[profile]

Above: Behrman checks the organic produce sold at Natural Choices for Healthful Living. Right: She also sells organic seeds for people who wish to raise their own food. Opposite page top: Behrman and staff member Angela Bradley check inventory. Opposite page bottom: Dennis and Carolyn Behrman in their store on Central Avenue.

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“I was ready to make a change. I had planned to open a store, but I didn’t know how receptive the community would be to the idea. Dennis and I talked it over and came up with a plan. I planned enough cushion to float the business for six months. Luckily, the community embraced us, and 18 years later, we’re still in business and growing. We’re Columbus’ ‘whole foods’ market.” Known by many as a walking compendium of health and nutrition information, Behrman has taken nutrition classes and routinely does research on nutrition and natural remedies. “From a young age, I had a keen interest in the natural world,” she said. “I had this innate sense that nature provides for all our needs. Throughout my life, I’ve read about diet, nutrition, exercise and natural healing and their impact on the body. “When my boys were growing up, I’d study between ferrying them to and from their activities. I still do a lot of research on healthy living. When I can share my knowledge to help someone else, I’m always happy to do so.” Customers are appreciative of her breadth of knowledge. Clint Goodin has been shopping at Natural Choices since Behrman opened her first store. “She’s been a great help to me over the years, offering tips on proper diet and good nutrition,” he said. “She always goes the extra mile. She’s always doing research to keep current, and she shares what she knows with anyone who asks. I trust her opinion.” Behrman’s customer service skills and devotion to the well-being of her customers are at the heart of her success. PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 33

[profile]

“I’m very customer-focused,” she said. “I try to satisfy our customers, and I work hard to find the right solution for the individual. We refer out to physicians, chiropractors and massage therapists when appropriate. Unlike most grocery stores, Dennis and I do this because we believe in what we’re doing. We’re not in it for the money.” Dennis calls himself the “silent partner.” He works behind the scenes, using skills he developed at Cummins to keep the store organized and the finances straight. “I don’t interfere with Carolyn’s decisions on what to order or how to market the store … and I don’t advise customers. That’s her arena. Carolyn will tell you that I was a hard nut to crack when it came to believing in the benefits of all this. But when I saw how many of her customers began feeling better after talking with her about diet, exercise and nutrition, I was sold.” Lynne Hyatt, owner of Lockett’s Ladies Store, serves with Behrman in Zonta International, a service club for business and professional women. She praises Behrman’s business acumen. 34 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

“As a fellow business person, I admire her creativity. She’s got a real level head. She truly understands her customers and their needs, and that speaks to her success. I’m amazed at how she’s grown her business over the years. She started out with a very small store, and now she has a large, flourishing market in a building that once housed a conventional grocery store.” While giving a visitor a tour of the store, Behrman points out something she’s especially proud of, the play area for customers’ children. “This was important to me. I would’ve loved play areas in stores when I was a young mom out shopping with my boys.” Kim Shewmaker brings her young ones to the store, and she’s appreciative of the welcoming environment at Natural Choices. “Carolyn has helped our family countless times. I’m not one who likes using over-the-counter drugs on my little ones, or on my husband, or on myself for that matter. She’s a wonderful resource for our community when it comes to thinking outside the box, especially if you’re interested in pursuing a more holistic approach to your health.” When the subject of retirement comes up, Dennis stops arranging shelves and leans in to listen. “I want

to hear Carolyn’s answer,” he chuckles. He admits he’s ready to “taper back” but knows convincing his wife to slow down will be a challenge. Behrman takes a moment to contemplate her future. “I’ll probably be in the store less as time goes by, but I don’t have plans to retire. Every time I talk with friends who’ve retired, it doesn’t sound like the right option for me. I’m a very structured person. I like staying busy. “I’m sure Dennis and I will spend more time visiting our sons and grandchildren, and I’ll stay active in our church (St. Bartholomew Catholic), where I’m a lector, communion minister and a member of the Parish Life Commission. But retirement? Not now.” With that, she’s off to the races: greeting a longtime patron, conferring with an employee and fielding a phone call. For Behrman, staying active is what retirement looks like. She’ll be the first to remind you: Purposeful activity is part of healthy living, too. PT

Opposite page: Fresh, organic fruits and vegetables comprise the ingredients for a juicing demonstration.

PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 35

home

Quieter, please:

New products keep it down a bit

By Kim Cook n Associated Press

omeowner Christine Igot knows one thing for sure. “I will not have a fridge in my kitchen ever again,” she says firmly. In the new house she’s building, in Annapolis Royal, Nova Scotia, the 51-year-old is putting the refrigerator in a pantry off the kitchen and will double insulate the walls. Why? All that noise, noise, noise. Her present house has an open plan, and the sound of the fridge drives her crazy. “I tried to get used to it. I had an appliance man come to see if it was running properly.” It was — it just emitted a high-pitched whine. Roxanne Went uses her car as “a cone of silence” to escape the noise of leaf blowers outside her suburban West Chester, Pa., home and of family members’ blaring music inside. For baby boomers, noise matters. “Decreased tolerance for loud sounds is a fairly common symptom of age-related hearing loss, as the range of comfortable listening levels seems to shrink,” says Ted Madison, an audiologist in St. Paul, Minn., and a representative of the American SpeechLanguage-Hearing Association.

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Beyond creating stress and annoyance, loud noises can cause hearing loss, according to experts. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health reckons that noise over 85 decibels may cause hearing loss. So what are the loud products we live with at home? According to the American Speech-LanguageHearing Association, based in Rockville, Md., the “very loud” range includes blenders, blow dryers, vacuum cleaners and alarm clocks, all in the 80 to 90 decibel range. “Extremely loud” — in the 100 to 110 decibel range — are snow blowers, gas lawnmowers and some MP3 players. In Brighton, England, a Noise Abatement Society fields complaints from citizens about annoyances ranging from neighbors’ power tools to barking dogs to wind chimes. Managing director Poppy Elliot says her team decided to channel the collective angst over unwanted noise into “Quiet Mark,” a seal of approval they give to products designed to be quieter. So far more than 35 products have received the designation, from hair dryers to commercial tools, and Elliot said the organization is expanding globally. “The ultimate aim is to encourage industry across the board to put a high priority on factoring in low noise at the design stage. Investment in acoustic design and sound quality of a product should be just as important as energy efficiency or visual design,” Elliot says. Manufacturers are responding to concerns about noise with new, quieter products. LG has several — including the TrueSteam dishwasher — that use a direct drive motor, an alternative to the noisier beltand-pulley system of traditional motors. Swiss-based Liebherr uses low-sound dual air compressors and cooling circuits in its high-end fridges. And Samsung’s dishwasher has extra insulation, which cuts the sound. Range hood fans can often by noisy. Italian firm Falmec makes a line that uses a perimeter extraction method rather than one single vacuum vent; the air is drawn evenly into the hood’s edges more quietly than being sucked straight up.

Jerek Bowman, a chef in Toronto, recommends sous vide cooking, using a thermal circulator and heating the food in water, as a quieter way to go. “There’s simply no noise. You can use it the same way you would for roasting, stewing or braising,” he says. A side benefit? With the equivalent of only a light bulb to heat the water, there’s some energy savings as well. Food processing pioneer Magimix has a new multitasking mixer that chops, slices, whisks, grates, kneads and mixes all in one machine, and does it quietly with an induction motor. Induction motors, which don’t use stiff brushes to transfer electricity, mean a weightier but quieter appliance. Rowenta’s noise-reducing inventions include the Turbo Silence home fan and the Silence Form Extreme vacuum cleaner, which emits a decidedly timid 65 decibels. Electrolux’s Ultra Silencer canister vacuum comes in at 68 decibels. As for hair dryers, the Centrix Q Zone and Biolonic IDry Whisper Light are two low-noise options; the latter was one of the first products to receive the Quiet Mark designation. And Stihl has a line of lithium-ion battery yard gear — including a leaf blower, mower and trimmer — that are much quieter than gaspowered equipment. PT

Associated Press photos

Opposite page top: An LG washing machine with a direct drive motor runs quieter than conventional machines. Opposite page bottom: LG’s TrueSteam dishwasher Right: BioIonic’s Whisper Light hair dryer was one of the first global products to receive the Quiet Mark designation.

PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 37

profile

a lifetime of

service

Working through their church Disaster Response Team, Mary and Steve Ferdon have never been afraid of a little dirt By Paige Harden n photos by Greg Jones

ary and Steve Ferdon say they feel blessed to be able to give up a week of vacation for manual labor. For the past nine years, the couple has served with their church on an annual work trip to disasterstricken areas. They have helped people in seven states rebuild their homes and their lives. The list includes recovery from Hurricane Katrina in Mississippi; Hurricane Ike in Texas; flooding in Iowa, Tennessee and Florida; and tornadoes in Alabama. While the Ferdons disaster recovery work began nine years ago, their service to others goes back a lifetime. They especially wanted to show their sons, Andrew and Sam, the importance of giving to others. “We wanted to teach them that when things happen there are people who run to the fire and there are people who run away,” Steve said. “I think God calls us to run to the fire. You can accomplish big, audacious things when you are led by the Holy Spirit and God’s purpose.” Opposite page: Executive Director Mary Ferdon stands next to an inspirational painting in the office at Volunteers in Medicine bearing the mission statement of the organization.

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[profile] For numerous years, Mary and Steve helped organize Asbury United Methodist Church’s youth mission trips. The church would send up to 20 teenagers to an impoverished area of the country to repair homes. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Mary and Steve knew something had to change. “When Katrina hit, we wanted to do something historically significant. The Lord pushed us to Gulfport (Miss.),” Mary said. “We wanted the kids to think bigger and to be a part of something big.” Just eight months after the hurricane, a group of 30 Asbury members packed up vans and a trailer full of equipment and headed for Gulfport. “We learned so much that first year,” Steve said. “They were not at all organized when we got down there. We met with the wife of a pastor at one of the area churches who was handling everything she could

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by herself. There were 140 volunteers sleeping in that church the first night.” Steve said Asbury essentially took the lead the week they were in Gulfport. “We organized on the fly,” he said. “We had a very strong leadership team of adults, and from our previous experiences our teens already knew how to build and knew how to interact with people. But it was very chaotic.” Upon returning from their first disaster relief trip, Steve and Mary knew these trips were going to need much more organization. Along with a handful of other passionate church members, the couple founded the Asbury Disaster Response Team, or DiRT. The group decided the objective would be to stabilize homes and collect damage reports in towns throughout the country impacted by natural disasters.

Committed to community Volunteer work: Members of Asbury United Methodist Church’s Disaster Response Team (DiRT) States traveled to for volunteer disaster recovery work: Mississippi, Texas, Iowa, Tennessee, Alabama and Florida. Why disaster recovery: “We feel we have been called to do this work. This work is a good fit for us. It’s a lot of fun. We feel very fortunate to be able to do it together. We want to do even more when we retire.” Steve’s occupation: Director of engineering services fuel systems, Cummins Inc. Mary’s occupation: Executive director, Volunteers in Medicine Years married: 31 Children: Andrew, 24, and Sam, 20 Year moved to Columbus: 1992 Mary’s hobbies: Hiking, reading, travel Steve’s hobbies: Golf, hunting, backpacking, building things Mary’s hometown: Valparaiso Steve’s hometown: Fort Wayne Mary’s education: Bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of North Carolina, master’s degree in public administration from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Steve’s education: Bachelor’s degree in engineering from Purdue University.

Submitted photo

The Asbury Disaster Response Team has plenty of roofing experience. Ferdon spent many hours shuttling shingles to the crews during a 2012 trip to Alabama.

Ferdon and Lyle Leitholt discuss a medication as he fills prescription orders at Volunteers in Medicine. PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 41

[profile]

The file room contains information on more than 10,000 patients who have been helped at the Volunteers in Medicine clinic.

From the beginning, DiRT developed a close working relationship with the United Methodist Church Committee on Relief, a nonprofit organization dedicated to alleviating human suffering around the globe. UMCOR provides humanitarian relief in more than 80 countries, including the United States, when war, conflict or natural disaster disrupts life to such an extent that communities are unable to recover on their own. “With disasters, there is an immediate rush of help and then it trails off. The community works together for a few months, and then they become emotionally and physically exhausted,” Steve said. “Those with funds and insurance get back to life, but others remain without homes for years.” Mary said the trip each year is all-consuming. “You learn so much about yourself. The impact is profound and has a multiplying effect,” she said. 42 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

“God definitely works miracles. If anyone needs proof of God, all they need to do is wait and see what God does after a disaster.” Steve said the trips are a major commitment, but the benefits far outweigh the effort. “It’s a lot of hard work, and you don’t get much sleep,” he said. “But it’s such a wonderful feeling to know that you are impacting people’s lives through your faith and giving them a safe place to live. You feel like you are part of something big.” Mary said her work with DiRT has prepared her for her latest career development. In August, she was named executive director of Volunteers in Medicine. VIM serves the medically uninsured in Bartholomew County. A dedicated group of volunteer physicians, dentists, nurses and community volunteers enables the clinic to offer every citizen access to diverse and far-reaching health care services. “I’m really ecstatic and honored to have been selected. It’s a very well-respected organization in the community that provides such a needed service,” Mary said. “In the United States, we understand that a lot of critical, important work is done by volunteers.

Volunteers contribute professional expertise in many areas and provide disaster care, fight fires, tutor and educate children, build homes, provide medical services, coach youth, mentor business owners, deliver meals to homebound seniors, monitor help lines, save animals, fund art, and the list goes on and on. One reason Columbus has achieved so much is because of the value provided by volunteers in this community.” Julie Abedian, Columbus Regional Health Foundation president, and Beth Morris, Columbus Regional Health Community Health Partnerships director, agree that Mary is a perfect fit for the job. “The Volunteers in Medicine board feels extremely fortunate to have Mary as the administrative leader of the VIM team,” Morris said. “Mary has extraordinary ability to plan and execute on a daily basis, all the while understanding the bigger picture of the clinic’s role in the health care system.” “VIM is a critical medical safety net in our community,” Abedian said. “The next few years will bring unprecedented change to the clinic, and luckily for the community, Mary has the ideal set of skills, experiences and personal characteristics to lead this change.

“She has tremendous organizational development and project management skills. She thinks strategically and knows the community. She believes in VIM’s mission and vision and has a wonderful combination of brains and heart. Mary’s leadership through the coming changes at VIM will ensure that our community’s medically underserved will continue to receive high quality care provided in a dignified and caring environment at the lowest possible cost to the community.” PT

Submitted photo

Steve Ferdon takes a quick phone call while repairing a roof in Alabama with youths from Asbury United Methodist Church in 2012.

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calendar of events

Hop on down to the annual Easter egg hunt at Donner Park April 19.

February February

-23 — Columbus Canstruction. Free. 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Fair Oaks Mall. Teams of architects, engineers, businesses and community groups compete to design and build objects made from thousands of cans of food, which will be donated to fight hunger.

— Yes Comedy Showcase with Nick Griffin. 8 p.m., Yes Cinema, 328 Jackson St. Admission: $20 advance/$25 door. Information: 812378-0377 or info@lcnfc.org. Proceeds benefit LincolnCentral Neighborhood Family Center.

— Dance Indiana’s Sweetheart Dance. 7 to 10 p.m., The Commons, 300 Washington St. Featuring music by The Sound of Dreams, light

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appetizers and a cash bar. Admission: $25 per ticket (nonrefundable). Information: 812-350-5545 or email danceindiana@gmail.com.

— Columbus Symphony Orchestra “Themes and Variations,” 3:30 p.m., Erne Auditorium, Columbus North High School. Information: csoindiana.org.

March March

— Pink Power 5K. 9 a.m., Hamilton Center Ice Arena, 2501 Lincoln Park Drive. Crossroads of Indiana Race Series. Proceeds benefit the Mammography Assistance Program of the Breast Health Center at Columbus Regional Hospital. Admission: $20 by Feb. 15/ $25 after. Information:

812-447-5528 or email crossroadsofindiana@gmail. com.

— First Fridays for Families “The Wild Rumpus World Circus.” Comedy and juggling. Free, 6 p.m., The Commons. Information: 812-3762539.

— Saturday Sampler: Pack Your Wagon. How did the settlers move from one place to another and what did they bring with them? We’ll discover the trials of moving pioneers, and you will get a chance to see what you would take with you if you were traveling to the frontier. Our free Saturday Samplers are monthly family friendly workshops catered toward small children. 11 a.m. to noon, Bartholomew County History Center, 524 Third St. Information: 812-372-3541 or email arediker@ bartholomewhistory.org.

— Old Timers Reunion. Sixteenth annual event for those who remember Columbus Speedway and 25th Street Raceway. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Community Building at Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. Bench racing, memorabilia, racing videos, vintage and modern race car display, tabletop sprint car racing for the kids, etc. Bring your scrapbooks, photos and posters. Information: Greg Littleton, 378-2060 or email roadsters@comcast.net.

— Saturday Sampler: Pack Your Wagon. How did the settlers move from one place to another and what did they bring with them? We’ll discover the trials of moving pioneers, and you will get a chance to see what you would take with you if you were traveling to the frontier. 11 a.m. to noon, Yellow Trail Museum, 644 Main St., Hope. Information: 812-372-3541 or email arediker@ bartholomewhistory.org.

Columbus Canstruction takes shape Feb. 15.

-April 1 — The Paul Rand Workshop Big Art Bang Event. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Ivy Tech School for Fine Arts & Design, 4475 Central Ave. Free. Paul Rand was one of the most recognized graphic designers of the 20th century. This newly donated collection includes a range of works spanning over three decades and is the impetus for The Rand Workshop. Big Art Bang is a think tank, two-day design conference for art and design. Information: 812-374-5139 or rbrooks12@ivytech.edu.

April April

— First Fridays for Families “Peter and the Wolf.” Free. 6 p.m., The Commons. Information: 812-376-2539. Presented by Dancers Studio students.

5 The Paul Rand Workshop Big Art Bang Event will be March 31 and April 1.

— Columbus Indiana Philharmonic “Brahms Requiem: Comfort & Joy.” 7:30 p.m., Erne Auditorium, Columbus North High School. Admission: $10 to $45. Information/tickets: 812376-2638, ext. 110 or tickets@thecip.org. Brahms’ rich harmonies and beautiful melodies will envelop you in his choral-orchestral masterpiece, “A German Requiem.” PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 45

[calendar]

Dig all the information at The Republic’s Home, Health and Garden Show April 26 and 27.

— Saturday Sampler: Farm Friends Animals on the Farm. We’ll learn all about the furry and feathered friends on the farm and make some animal crafts too. 11 a.m. to noon, Bartholomew County History Center, 524 Third St. Information: 812-372-3541 or email arediker@ bartholomewhistory.org.

— Annual Easter Egg Hunt. 10 a.m., Donner Park. Free. For children ages 1 through 8. Children should provide their own bag or basket. There will be designated areas for various age groups. If raining, eggs and candy will be distributed inside Donner Center.

— Very Special Arts Festival. 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., The Commons, 300 Washington St. This festival is for physically and mentally challenged students to allow them to participate in a range of arts.

46 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

The Kelly Miller Circus is coming to town May 2.

– May 17 — Columbus Spring Farmers Market. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Saturday, Fourth Street, between Jackson and Washington streets. Purchase fresh produce and plants grown by local farmers and gardeners.

— Columbus Symphony Orchestra “An Intimate Gathering.” 3:30 p.m., Columbus North High School auditorium. Includes selections from Mozart, Strauss, Elgar and Wagner. Information: csoindiana.org or 313-687-4201.

— Yes Comedy Showcase with David Dyer. 8 p.m., Yes Cinema, 328 Jackson St. Admission: $20 advance/$25 door. Information: 812378-0377 or info@lcnfc.org. Proceeds benefit LincolnCentral Neighborhood Family Center.

— Saturday Sampler: Farm Friends Animals on the Farm. 11 a.m. to noon, Yellow Trail Museum, 644 Main St., Hope. Information: 812-372-3541 or email arediker@ bartholomewhistory.org.

— The Columbus Indiana Philharmonic “Celebrating America.” 7:30 p.m., Erne Auditorium, Columbus North High School. Admission: $10 to $45. Information/tickets: 812-3762638, ext. 110 or tickets@thecip.org. Kate Hamilton sings favorite songs, from “Blue Skies” and “So in Love” to “Another Openin’, Another Show,” “Shenandoah” and “God Bless America.” Plus music from “West Side Story” and Dvorák’s celebrated masterpiece, New World Symphony.

-27 — The Republic’s Home, Health and Garden Show. Free, Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday; noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. Demonstrations and vendor booths to help you turn your ideas into reality. Information: 812-379-5655.

— Bubbles, Bags & Brunch. 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Hotel Indigo. Nearing Mother’s Day, activities are geared to pay tribute to the special women in our lives. “Bubbles, Bags & Brunch” is designed to do just that. Women may drop in to enjoy a light brunch, fine music or a hand or chair massage, and to browse our selection of new and gently used purses, handbags and more. Presented by the Granny Connection, proceeds will go to help grandmothers in Africa who are caring for millions of children orphaned by AIDS. Tickets are $20 and may be purchased at Viewpoint Books, from Granny Connection members or at the door.

May May

— Kelly Miller Circus. Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds. Sponsored by the Columbus Lions Club and the Bartholomew County Reserve Sheriff’s Deputies. This family friendly event starts at 9 a.m. with an old-fashioned tent raising, using elephants. This free program lasts approximately one hour. Circus performances are at 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Advance tickets ($10 adults, $6 children) will be on sale at area MainSource Bank branches during business hours from April 7 through May 1, and at Kroger April 11, 12, 18, 19, 25 and 26, plus until 9 p.m. May 1. Tickets available at the show for $15 and $7. For more information: Jerry Simo, 343-1648, or jerrysimo@sbcglobal.net.

— Saturday Sampler: Honk! Honk! Cars in Columbus. May is the month of speed in Indiana, and Columbus has an exciting legacy of racing. We also have a great history of all types of cars and even manufactured an eight-wheeled automobile. Our free Saturday Samplers are monthly family friendly workshops catered toward small children. 11 a.m. to noon, Yellow Trail Museum, 644 Main St., Hope. Information: 812-372-3541 or email arediker@bartholomewhistory.org.

— Salute 2014. 6 p.m., Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans, 234 Washington St. Columbus Indiana Philharmonic presents its free hometown concert in honor of those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Information: 812-376-2638, ext. 110 or email tickets@ thecip.org.

— Saturday Sampler: Honk! Honk! Cars in Columbus. May is the month of speed in Indiana and Columbus has an exciting legacy of racing. We also have a great history of all types of cars and even manufactured an eight-wheeled automobile. 11 a.m. to noon, Bartholomew County History Center, 524 Third St. Information: 812-3723541 or email arediker@bartholomewhistory.org. PRIME TIME • FEBRUARY 2014 • 47

M y Back Pages Sharon Mangas

Love is grand

mour, amor, amore. No matter what language you speak, when February rolls around, we all start speaking the language of love. There’s no avoiding it. After all, advertisers have been reminding us since Dec. 26 that Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Forget those deals on Christmas wrap and ribbons; get your Valentine’s cards and candy now. Next year we’ll probably see Christmas ads the day after Labor Day ... but I digress. If you’re an English speaker, the words available to define love are limited. To test that statement for truthfulness, I consulted an online thesaurus to get synonyms for the word love. Eight word choices came up, one of which is “be keen on.” I rest my case. English needs some serious language expansion when it comes to love. So today, I’m adding a new “love word” to the English lexicon. This new word — which you can steal and share freely — is gr’amour. OK, it sounds a little French, but the French know a thing or two about love, n’est ce pas? Gr’amour: the love that’s born when your sons and/or daughters (who gave you all that gray hair) finally grace you with the loves of your lives: grandchildren. I experienced gr’amour for the first time in March 2012, when my first grandchild, Lillian Ruth, was born. Cupid drew back his bow and got me good that day. I cried, I laughed and I counted the hours until I could hold her in my arms. Love at first sight may be rare in adult couples, but ask any grandparent about the first time they snuggled a grandchild ... they all say the same thing: It’s love at first sight. Lillian and her new baby sister, Catherine, have enlarged my world in ways I never knew possible. Last fall, as the flowers of summer were fading, Lil and I took a walk in Chicago’s Oz Park, just a hop, skip and a jump and a “Grammy let’s watch

the dogs” away from where Lillie lives with her mommy and daddy. The roses in the “Emerald Garden” still had fragrant blooms on them, so we stopped and smelled them. Actually, Lil did more of a “reverse sniff,” but she got the idea. It was the first time I’d stopped to smell the roses in a long time. After we tired of that, I gathered up a pile of fallen leaves and showed my granddaughter how much fun it can be to jump in them, or toss them high in the air. Gr’amour. In December, my son put a Cajun-flavored Christmas song on the CD player, and 21-monthold Lil danced around the kitchen with wild abandon. Her Grampy danced with her, and when she gazed at him with those big blue eyes and said “Again?” Grampy danced along four more times. That’s gr’amore. The best thing about gr’amour is it works in reverse. I experienced that for the first time not long ago. Lillie and I were sitting together on a futon in her bedroom. She pointed a chubby finger at me and said, “Gammy,” then pointed to herself and said, “Illie.” The icing on the cake came a few minutes later as I helped her get dressed. For the first time ever, she put her little arms around my neck and gave me a big hug. Gr’amourific! For years, I wondered if I’d ever have grandchildren. Now I can’t imagine life without them. No one has to miss out on this wonderful experience. If you don’t have a grandchild of your own, or your grandchildren live far away, consider being a foster grandparent in a school, or volunteer at a day care center, or the nursery or toddler room at your church. Opportunities abound. And the best thing about gr’amour ... there’s always more than enough to go around, both directions. Happy Valentine’s Day!

Sharon Mangas can be reached at sharon.d.mangas@gmail.com. 48 • FEBRUARY 2014 • PRIME TIME

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