Prime Time May 2015 by AIM Media Indiana

PRIME TIME May 2015

Bob Anderson

Focusing on the arts

Connie and Rod Radovanovic | Music lessons | Credit scores | Geneva and John Foster

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Editor’s note As I write this, spring is desperately trying to close the door on a winter that isn’t quite ready to leave for good. I’ve mowed the lawn several times, yet some mornings I’m still pulling my heavy jacket out of the closet. But the worst is definitely over, and I, for one, am thrilled. I don’t like winter; I tolerate it. I used to moan and groan about how much I hated it, but finally figured out all my whining was only making things worse. So now when an icy wind cuts me in half, I try to think happy thoughts of spring and summer. The way I look at it, the next five or six months are a reward for surviving winter’s test. Sure, winter has Christmas and college basketball, but that’s about it. Spring and summer, on the other hand, are chock full of the things that make life fun. While I’m not particularly crazy about cutting grass, it’s a small price to pay for looking out my window and seeing all the green instead of all the gray. I love being greeted by pots full of colorful flowers as I walk up the front steps in the evening. Now is the time for farmers markets, outdoor concerts, hanging out by the pool and growing and eating fresh vegetables, especially tomatoes. These are the days for taking long walks after work, both for exercise and to admire the beautiful lawns and gardens of those neighbors who work much harder at it than I do. I really appreciate your efforts. It’s time to pump up the tires on my bicycle, visit Victory Field and try yet again to successfully grow grass in the front yard. It’s time to hang out with the grandchildren, root for them at softball games and laugh at them as they swim in the backyard pool. It’s time for dripping popsicles, ice cream cones and watermelons. It’s time for the county fair, pineapple whips and dodging manure in the livestock barn. It’s time for the Indianapolis 500, Major League Baseball, golf and picnics by a lake. Yes, in my humble opinion, this is the best time of the year. You might even say it’s the Prime Time of the year.

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contents 4

This & That

Bob Anderson

Music lessons

Geneva and John Foster

Credit scores

A visit to Maui

Connie and Rod Radovanovic

Keep moving

Calendar of events

Sharon Mangas column

2 â&#x20AC;˘ MAY 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ PRIME TIME

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This & That Green acres This time of year thoughts turn to sweet corn and sunshine. Farmers markets provide both. Columbus Spring Farmers Market is running 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Saturday through May 30 on Fourth Street, between Jackson and Washington streets. Starting June 6, two more markets kick into action. The Downtown Columbus Farmers Market is open from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Saturday in the Cummins parking lot on Brown Street between Fifth and Eighth streets. This market features food, local music from bands such as The Banister Family Bluegrass Band and Cottonpatch, and children’s activities organized by kidscommons children’s museum. Information: columbus-farmers-market.herokuapp.com. Columbus City Farmers Market runs from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturdays in the Fair Oaks Mall parking lot, 2380 25th St. Look for pulled pork sandwiches, fresh herbs, oils, beans, coffees and teas, watermelon, cantaloupe, fall pumpkins, locally authored novels, floral arrangements, roasted corn, apples, homemade bread, honey, eggs, farmed-raised meats. Information: 812-3780539, Columbus City Farmers Market Facebook page. Both summer markets run through Sept. 19.

Bring your lawn chairs and your ears Another popular summertime tradition is the JCB Neighborfest free monthly concert series, held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in downtown Columbus in front of The Commons. The 2015 series kicks off June 4 with Soulshine Band. The remainder of the schedule is: July 2, The Tides; Aug. 6, Alan Kaye & The Toons; and Sept. 3, Carson Diersing Band. So come on out and enjoy a variety of great music. You can even buy dinner, a beer and other refreshments. Neighborfest is presented by Columbus Area Arts Council. Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org.

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New tunes for boomers Randy Bachman, “Heavy Blues” (Linus Entertainment) Where has this been for the past four decades? Randy Bachman, who made classic rock history with BachmanTurner Overdrive and The Guess Who, has recorded his best album since 1976. The name says it all: heavy blues, delivered with help from an All-Star cast of guests, including Neil Young, Peter Frampton, Joe Bonamassa, Robert Randolph and Jeff Healey. If this was 1975 and the radio still played rock, there might be a half-dozen hit singles on “Heavy Blues.” The opening track, “The Edge,” sounds like BTO playing a mashup of “You Ain’t Seen Nothin’ Yet” and The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” The catchiest track on the album is “Wild Texas Ride,” featuring a boogie drum beat over raw guitars and enough cowbells to make even Will Ferrell happy. It’s really good to see Bachman takin’ care of business again.

Reba McEntire, “Love Somebody” (Starstruck/Nash Icon/Big Machine) “Love Somebody” is Reba McEntire’s best album of the 21st century because it draws on her strengths: That is, subtly and powerfully interpreting substantial story songs about adult relationships set to contemporary country music. At 60, the performer — she bills herself by her first name these days — remains a remarkable vocalist, capable of stunning ferocity and dramatic nuance. She’s one of the great traditional country singers of her time, but she prefers pushing herself to stay current. Always ambitious, she errs only when she tries to appeal to radio with material that’s too lightweight for her talent and maturity. “Love Somebody” strikes a perfect blend, especially on songs like “She Got Drunk Last Night,” written by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, and the title song, co-written by Sam Hunt, which finds McEntire rising to a challenge of mixing tongue-twisting stanzas with a testifying chorus. With “Love Somebody,” McEntire proves she still has far too much to say to rest on her laurels.

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[this & that]

The Reading Room “Live Right and Find Happiness (Although Beer is Much Faster)” (G. P. Putnam’s Sons), by Dave Barry 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. His weekly essays in newspapers around the country have 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. Barry’s heart and soul come across on the page even as he throws out another groan-inducing joke. Fans will love this, and newcomers not familiar with his work will find enjoyment as well.

“A Lucky Life Interrupted” (Random House), by Tom Brokaw Brokaw, the former NBC anchor, is sharing the news about his battle with cancer in this memoir. The book draws upon a journal he began keeping in 2013 after learning he had multiple myeloma. Brokaw, 75, said in a statement issued through Random House that he hoped his book would “help others dealing with this unwelcome condition.” His previous books include the best-selling “The Greatest Generation” and “A Long Way From Home: Growing Up in the American Heartland in the Forties and Fifties.”

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Sharpen your brain Whether you want to design your own website or learn computer coding to enhance your chances for employment, Codecademy (codecademy.com) is the place to head. Founded in 2011, the website has more than 24 million students from 190 countries, including former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Why? Because it’s fun and free. After registering, you can select to concentrate on job skills or specific computer languages (including HTML and CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, PHP, Python and Ruby), or just explore on your own. The beginner HTML and CSS course, for example, takes about seven hours to complete. SITE: codecademy.com DESCRIPTION: Free, hands-on lessons in coding and website creation. TARGET AUDIENCE: Everyone BOTTOM LINE: Go from zero to hero in computer skills. — Staff and Wire Reports

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PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 7

Cover Story

Photo

opportunities Stillframes’ Bob Anderson is the picture of an arts supporter By Barney Quick photos by Joe Harpring and Andrew Laker

ob Anderson seems like a longtime Columbus fixture, given his considerable involvement in the local arts scene and the business community. It’s a little surprising to realize that he’s been here only since 2001. The owner of Stillframes Photography and Imaging and organizer of Artfest, which will take place for the sixth year in a row this summer, is a Wyoming native. He grew up in Casper, where he and his father raised horses. “I actually broke and trained them until my 20s,” he says. He was something of a vagabond as a young adult and lived for a while in Florida, where he discovered his real life passion. “I’d go scuba diving in clear water springs with two photographer friends,” he recalls. “Having reminders of those experiences was great. I got my own camera, and I was hooked.” He eventually moved back to Wyoming. “There was a place called Hole in the Wall, where the Old West bandits had hung out. People actually wanted to buy my photographs of that.”

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[Cover Story] He also found some work photographing weddings. Before long, he decided to formally study the art form at Northwest College, which is where he met his wife, Harumi. While working on his associate degree there, he also took journalism classes. After graduating, he worked for a small newspaper in Lander, Wyoming, and taught at a community college. The next step was earning a bachelor’s degree in fine art photography from Arizona State University. “My original intent was to do more teaching, but I went into Web design, photography and graphic arts.” He worked for a time at Earth 911, helping to create public service announcements about the environment. During that stint, he met actors Ted Danson and Tippi Hedren, who starred in PSAs for the organization. Harumi took a job with a manufacturing company with a facility in Seymour, which is what brought them to the Columbus area. He quickly became involved with an important visual arts group of the period, ArtColumbus, and by 2002 was the director. The organization staged art fairs, an event type about which he had to quickly come up to speed.

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“I had no idea what an art fair was,” he confesses. “I got a booth. I was totally shocked when people bought my photographs.” He started participating in other art fairs, at one point exhibiting in 25 a year. He’s pared down that activity to the 10 to 15 range these days. He embarked on the activity that is the crux of his business, printmaking, for his own needs. “Through my connections with artists, I started doing prints of paintings.” The method he uses is called giclee, which is French for “spray.” The technique, which involves pigmented inks, makes possible archival-quality reproductions of paintings and photographs. He describes his work as being “like getting to go to a gallery every day. I see the new works of 200 or more artists on a regular basis.” Taking his own photographs is still the most special aspect of his professional activity. “The artist C.W. Mundy said that to do your best, you have to focus on your passion.” He takes trips to scenic locales as often as possible and has amassed a body of work capturing places as disparate as West Virginia, Wyoming and Japan. He

Anderson and shop assistant Donna Bullard work on a project together at Still Frames.

and his wife get to Japan every two or three years, and Anderson says that her family sees to it that he has access to some inspiring scenery. For all his travels to places of noteworthy natural splendor, he makes an interesting observation. “I really think moving to Indiana made me a better photographer. In Wyoming, with all the majestic scenery, it’s hard to take a bad picture. Indiana is beautiful in a more subtle way. I’ve had to stop and really consider what I was shooting.” Stillframes is currently at 811 Lindsey St. In its prior space at 408 Washington St., it served as a gallery space, hosting receptions for shows, as well as Americana music presentations by folksinger Tim Grimm, a poetry reading by Matthew Jackson and a spoken-word presentation by multifaceted performer Robert Hay-Smith. “It wasn’t profitable, but it was fun,” says Anderson, noting that it gave those strolling downtown on a Friday evening something unique to investigate. Anderson says that it was “pretty much at the urging of the downtown merchants that we brought Artfest into being.” The layout of Artfest puts the booths in the center of the street, to allow attendees

to patronize stores as they wander through. The event has customarily been held in August but is being moved to mid-September this year to hopefully catch better weather. There will also be more music. “I want to see Artfest become more of an entity that increases arts awareness and fosters collaboration,” he says. Anderson has even been onstage, having performed in various Dancers Studio productions for the last nine years. “When I was with ArtColumbus, we shared a space with the studio, and I got to know Alma [Wiley, the co-director]. She asked me to be in ‘The Nutcracker,’ so I volunteered. The past few years, I have played Claire’s father in the party scene. I’ve also been the front end of the caterpillar in ‘Alice in Wonderland.’ It’s fun to feed off the energy of the kids and watch them grow.” Chris Crawl, who has worked with Anderson running the sound system for Artfest’s musical acts, sees him as an understated presence: “Bob is one of those in the community that you might not notice, but you do notice all he does. He quietly enriches our lives and the world we live in.” PT PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 11

lifestyle

Facing the music Adults with a touch of gray hope learning an instrument helps keep them forever young By Barney Quick n photos by Greg Jones

Evidence mounts that learning new skills in one’s later years has physical and mental health benefits. Taking up a musical instrument after the age of 50 is having a discernible impact on the outlook and vitality level of a number of area residents. That effect has a scientific basis. The Making Music and Wellness Project, a study conducted by a multidisciplinary team led by Frederick Tims of Michigan State University’s music therapy department, has established some specific ways that music enhances lives. In the late 1990s, participants in its study were carefully screened and divided into an experimental group and a control group, receiving and not receiving music instruction respectively. Findings not only included reduced depression and anxiety in the group that took keyboard lessons, but an increase in levels of human growth hormone as well.

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Taking advantage of a beautiful spring day, Joe Sage practices on his guitar under the overhang of an outbuilding at his rural Bartholomew County home. PRIME TIME â&#x20AC;˘ MAY 2015 â&#x20AC;˘ 13

[lifestyle] Joe Sage, 73, says that increased confidence is a major result of his exploration of the guitar after never having played anything. “Anyone who says you can’t teach an old dog new tricks needs to come see me,” he asserts. He’s been taking lessons from Max McGuire for about a year. He began with weekly sessions, with the frequency decreasing to once a month as the material McGuire gives him to study gets more advanced. “My wife’s brother was critically ill in Florida,” he explains. “We decided to go be with him. So I bought a guitar at Pickett’s [Music Center, a local equipment and lesson store] before we left. I learned how to play a few songs crudely while I was down there. I signed up for lessons when we got back.” McGuire taught Sage how to read music and introduced him to scales and chords. At this point, his repertoire includes “She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain,” “Red River Valley” and “The StarSpangled Banner.”

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He plays with others occasionally. A pianist sisterin-law sometimes joins him. Sage also speaks highly of a seventh-grade next-door neighbor who plays guitar. “He has confidence coming out his ears,” says Sage. He mentions patience as the trait of McGuire’s that has most facilitated his progress. “He’s really helped me through spots where I needed more confidence.” Steve Garrison, age 60, takes bass lessons from Les Wilson at Guitar City. He likewise had no previous experience, although he grew up with two musician brothers. “The economics were never there in my case,” he says. “Then I got to be about 58 and decided there wasn’t any reason I couldn’t.” A son working construction in Florida came into a bass guitar as partial payment for a project. He gave it to Garrison, who then signed up for lessons. “I had known Les for some time,” he notes. “He’d played in a band with my brother.” Wilson started Garrison out with the notes on the neck of the guitar. He’s presently learning scales and how to read music. He tries to keep to a regular lesson schedule but avers that “sometimes work interferes and life gets in the way.” He points out that “I wouldn’t call myself an accomplished musician by any means, but Les is very, very patient.”

Teacher Les Wilson, left, listens as Steve Garrison plays his bass guitar during a practice session at Guitar City in Columbus. Garrison gets together with his brother occasionally to try some tunes. “Being from a musical family, I’ve always had an appreciation for music, and learning bass has enhanced that. I can listen to a piece of music and pick out the bass line.” He also intends to learn another instrument once he’s gained a bit more mastery of the bass. Jeri Cannon, now 62, was just about 50 when she took up violin. “Some years before that, I’d gone up to [local musician] Liz Bohall at a performance and asked her if I could run her bow across the strings. That was it; I was hooked. Then I bought a cheap violin and just took to it. I took it home and played ‘Mary Had a Little Lamb.’” She made the acquaintance of Indianapolis-based jazz violinist Cathy Morris. “I didn’t take actual lessons from her. We just hung out and exchanged ideas.” Formal teachers through the years have included Carolyn Dutton, Roger Banister and Vanessa Edwards. She is currently taking lessons from Cami Kincer. “Cami’s very good with adult students,” says Cannon. “They don’t have the same goals as kids.”

She currently focuses on the standards, mentioning “Summertime,” “The Glory of Love” and “Georgia on My Mind.” She has both an electric and an acoustic violin. “They’re completely different instruments,” she notes. Cannon is candid about the challenges peculiar to learning an instrument after 50, such as dexterity and eyesight. “I don’t have much vibrato in my playing, and that’s because I haven’t been playing since I was a kid.” Cannon prefers not to practice alone, although when between teachers, she has worked out of books. “The more people you hang around with who play, the better you get.” Kincer says that age is not the determining factor in how she teaches particular students as much as individual aptitude and learning style. “You do use different language with adults. Mature students want to make sure they don’t waste time,” she notes. What is clear is that age is no barrier to the world of music and that music really does have the power to soothe the soul. PT PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 15

profile

45 frequency

years of radio

The Fosters have built a strong foundation in Columbus By Sharon Mangas n photos by April Knox

hen John and Geneva Foster moved to Columbus from Mansfield, Ohio, in the summer of 1994, they were newly minted emptynesters. John was looking forward to his new radio job at White River Broadcasting. But when they attended their first community event, fireworks at Ceraland, it suddenly hit home. They didn’t know a soul. “I grew up in Mansfield, and we lived there until we moved to Columbus,” says John. “I was used to being a big frog in a small pond. I knew everybody in Mansfield. That night at Ceraland, our daughters, Nikki and Stacey, who were visiting from Ohio, felt so 16 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

sorry for us that one of them sprinted ahead and came running back yelling, “Hey, look, it’s the Fosters! So good to see you!” Not long after John and Geneva settled in Columbus, their daughters followed suit and moved to Indiana. Nikki, 42, lives in Columbus, and Stacey, 39, lives in Indianapolis. Between them, they’ve graced John and Geneva with five beloved grandchildren, ranging in age from 20 to 5. John and Geneva met in high school band — he played drums and she played trumpet — and were married in 1969 when John was in the Air Force. He

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[profile] was 19 and Geneva had just turned 20. “I had to get permission from my mom to marry,” John says with a laugh. “You had to be 20 in Ohio to marry without your parents’ consent.” It didn’t take long for the Fosters to acclimate to Columbus. With his background in communications, he doesn’t know a stranger. He’s been in broadcasting for 45 years. “My first radio job could’ve been my last, though,” he says. “When I was in broadcasting school, I worked midnight to 6 a.m. for a religious station. This was before contemporary Christian music was around. The station played old hymns. One night around 3 a.m., I got the bright idea to play a popular song of the time, Norman Greenbaum’s ‘Spirit in the Sky.’ I figured it had a religious theme … and I thought no one would be listening at that hour. “Well, the phones exploded with complaints. The station engineer called from home to ask what in the world I was doing. The next day I was called into the program director’s office, sure I was going to be fired. Luckily my only punishment was a strong reminder to follow station format, and my career was saved.” Today, he is station manager and director of programming for White River Broadcasting, and he keeps his announcing skills honed hosting the morning show on WCSI-AM. His long career in radio is unusual. “There were 83 people in my class at broadcasting school,” says John, “but within 10 years, only two of

This bathroom was one of Geneva’s first projects. 18 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

Geneva and John Foster sit in their homemade sleigh. us were still in broadcasting. Very few people make a career in this business. The money’s never been great in radio, but that’s not the motivator for me. I love what I do. And thankfully, Geneva’s always been supportive of my career.” WCSI Sports Director Sam Simmermaker — another broadcast veteran — enjoys John’s camaraderie. “It’s an absolute joy, privilege and honor to work alongside him,” says Simmermaker. “John’s the quintessential radio man. No task is too daunting. And he’s

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[profile] a man of many talents,” continues Simmermaker. “John can do anything … and Geneva’s a carbon copy. Between the two of them, they can tackle any project and accomplish it with aplomb.” The Fosters believe in service to others. Mike Sullivan, manager of creative services at White River Broadcasting, is in awe of all they do. “John volunteers for many organizations, such as March of Dimes and veterans organizations, and he doesn’t do it in name only. He’s fully involved and emotionally attached to every group he’s involved with. He gives 100 percent. I have a lot of respect for both of them.” Geneva, who has worked in the admissions office at IUPUC for 20 years, has been instrumental in organizing service projects on campus. One special project she established benefits the Salvation Army Angel Tree at Christmas. She asks for the entire list of senior citizens who’ve been identified by the Salvation Army, and faculty and staff fulfill gift requests. Last December, the campus made Christmas meaningful for all 114 needy seniors on the list.

They also crafted their living room cabinetry. 20 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

This clock is a recent project.

Susie Blizard, director of admissions at IUPUC, values Geneva as a co-worker and friend. “It’s a real honor to work with Geneva. She’s very knowledgeable, responsible and has made significant contributions to our campus,” says Blizard. Near and dear to John’s heart is his involvement with veterans organizations. He has a long family history of military service. “I feel an obligation to do what I can to support the military and to encourage others not to forget our soldiers. I have a passion for it.” This weekend, he will perform at Mill Race Center as emcee for the Lasting Impressions group’s USO-style variety show, “Tribute to Our Troops.” The Fosters are known to family, friends and neighbors as die-hard do-it-yourselfers. Geneva is the creative one, in charge of designing their remodeling projects, and John puts in the muscle. “We’re in our element when we’re in our garage covered with sawdust,” he says. “Every time we go to Menards and come back with wood,” adds Geneva, “our neighbors are probably thinking, ‘Now what?’” “The worst thing that ever happened to us was HGTV,” says John, shaking his head. “She looks at a show and says, ‘We could do that!’” Her most unique creative endeavor was painting animals for Carousel Works in Mansfield, a company

that builds and refurbishes carousels. It has clients around the world. One of the horses Geneva painted is on the Smithsonian Carousel in Washington, D.C. Her former employer even brought projects to her in Columbus for a few years. “Some of the animals are valued over $150,000” says Geneva, “so I worried about having them in my garage.” The couple, both 65, are giving more thought to retirement these days. They plan to stay in Columbus. John will eventually step down from administrative duties at White River Broadcasting but wants to keep his on-air morning gig. Their love of music has filtered down to their grandchildren, and they enjoy attending their band competitions and other activities. Remembering those first lonely days in Columbus, John reflects on how different things are now. “Today, if I don’t know who to call about something, I know someone to call who can tell me who to call.” Just as in Mansfield, he’s collected a wide circle of friends, acquaintances and contacts. The Fosters are native Buckeyes — yes, they still root for Ohio State University — but they’ve put down roots in the Hoosier state. Columbus is home now. PT

The Fosters used their woodworking skills in their remodeled kitchen. PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 21

MONEY

Keeping score Older borrowers still need to maintain strong credit history

By Jennifer Willhite

o matter how old you get, it seems credit will always be a necessity. By the time people are in their 50s, most have a tendency to have an established and higher credit score because they’ve had quite a while to work on building it up, says David Hodapp, director of consumer lending operations for Centra Credit Union. Several factors help to determine your credit score regardless of your age, including past payment history, any delinquency in past payment history, and the length of time you’ve been in the credit bureau, he says.

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“Usually people who are older than 50 have been in the bureau for quite some time,” he says. “As long as they don’t have any delinquency credit on their history, they have higher scores and wellestablished credit.” Taking proactive steps that you believe may help boost your credit can, in fact, affect it in a negative way, Hodapp warns. For instance, if you have had several established revolving lines of credit, such as credit cards, over the years and you are looking to close some of those accounts because you don’t use them, exercise caution, he says.

Closing open lines of credit, even if it is to lessen your risk for identity theft or credit fraud, and paying cash for everything can be a catch-22, says Bill Mahoney, vice president of indirect lending for Centra. “If you go three years with no open lines of credit, your credit score will go back to zero,” he says. Adversely, opening too many credit cards in a short time also can negatively affect your credit score, Hodapp says. Carrying balances on your credit cards for extended periods of time, even while making timely payments, can drop your credit score, Mahoney says. And if you want to borrow money, that can potentially mean trouble. Say you have a credit card with a $5,000 credit limit and you carry a balance of $4,000, lenders are going to interpret that balance as what they term a credit utilization of 80 percent, meaning available credit you have used, he says. According to the Fair Isaac Co. (FICO), one of the main credit scoring companies, borrowers with a high utilization percentage are often considered to be high risk, so the lower your credit utilization, the better. “Most lenders don’t have one rate that is pass/fail anymore,” Mahoney says. “They have a tier structure of rates called risk-based pricing, meaning your credit score determines at what rate you are approved.” Eric Johnson, business manager for Acra Automotive Group in Columbus, says nearly 90 percent of the banks Acra works with base financing terms, interest rates, length of loans and loan approval directly on the customer’s credit score. Describing credit as “everything,” Johnson advises those who are working to boost their credit score to offer some cash as a down payment to lessen the bank’s risk and get more favorable loan terms. “The thing about it is, if you don’t do anything, your score doesn’t increase,” he says. “The only way to improve your score is to get back in the game and start borrowing money.” Credit can significantly impact not only loan terms and interest rates, but things you normally may not think of, like home and auto insurance rates and leasing rates if you rent your home. “Credit scores are very fluid,” Mahoney says. “They can change significantly in a short period of time based off of credit events.” When checking your credit score, it’s important to understand where the scores come from. That way if there are any mistakes, they can be addressed. “The credit scoring system is comprised of FICO, which includes TransUnion and Experian scores, and Beacon, which includes Equifax,” Mahoney says.

As a rule, it’s good to check your credit report annually, Hodapp says. If you’re computer savvy, you can visit annualcreditreport.com to get a free copy of your credit report. The report will simply list your credit history, but to have your credit scored, you do have to pay a fee since credit scores are considered to be proprietary information, Mahoney says. Many online credit reporting services offer a mimic model that estimates your score, so if you don’t see terminology, like FICO or Beacon, the score you see may not be as accurate as you think. If you find a mistake on your report, contact the appropriate reporting agency’s website to dispute it, Hodapp says. If you let mistakes go, your credit score will continue to suffer. Adopting a debt-free lifestyle and avoiding the whole credit situation sounds ideal in theory, but with that too comes risk. “It would seem the prudent thing to do to eliminate debt,” Hodapp says. “And from that standpoint, you need to ask yourself if you’re prepared to live in a completely cash world.” Oftentimes, people are not prepared for the changes that will take place to their income when they retire, he says. “If you’re buying homes and vehicles with mostly financed payments or are carrying a large credit card debt, it may be easy to pay while you’re working,” Hodapp says. “But when you retire and your income changes, you need to be appropriately prepared for that debt load to accommodate to that lower income level.” PT PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 23

travel

The red sand beach at Kaihalulu Bay in Hana, Hawaii. Towering cinder cliffs surround the bay, and the ocean swirls along the sandy shore. A large lava rock reef juts out in the bay, slightly protecting the beach from harsh waves, but swimming is not advised. | Associated Press photos

Affordable ways to enjoy Maui, from beaches to scenic drives By JOHN MARSHALL n Associated Press

he perception of Maui as a destination for the rich is only partially true. Hawaii flights and hotels can be pricey. The only down season is for about two weeks at the start of December. But the island has many affordable options for food, lodging and entertainment, and some attractions — the beach, beautiful drives — are free. “There’s such natural resources around that it’s easy to enjoy yourself without spending a lot of money,” said Keli’i Brown of the Maui Visitor’s Bureau. “There are lots of opportunities, a lot of ways to save.” Here are a few ways to take an affordable trip to Maui.

24 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

Beaches

Maui is known for its world-class beaches. Enjoying them usually doesn’t cost anything, except for a few in resort areas that have pay parking lots. The island has 81 beaches and 120 miles of coastline, with sands of gold, black, green, red and white. Kaanapali and Wailea beaches are in resort towns and tend to be the most popular. Other beaches are less crowded, like Big Beach in Makena State Park on the south shore. The water is spectacular for snorkeling, filled with colorful tropical fish and majestic sea turtles. Equipment rental for a week is typically inexpensive — around $20 — and some hotels offer free gear when you stay there. Ho’okipa Beach on the north shore is one of the world’s best places to watch windsurfers, too.

Go for a drive

The road to Hana is one of the most famous scenic drives in the world, a winding 52-mile road along the north shore that has 54 one-lane bridges and is lined with waterfalls, incredible tropical foliage and lava shores. Another option is to take Highway 340 between Kahului and Kapalua around the rugged northwest end of the island. The narrow, winding road is a little more dangerous than the Hana Highway, though is certainly manageable if you drive with caution. The trip is worth it, filled with spectacular views of the coast, fruit stands set up by the locals and along the way, a blowhole where water spurts up through a rock formation. Watch out for the free-range chickens.

Culture Hawaii is known for luaus, traditional feasts usually accompanied by live entertainment. But those can be expensive, many starting at $90 or more. An easy way to get a taste of Hawaiian culture without paying a big price is to find local performers around hotels and resort areas. The Lahaina Cannery Mall has free hula shows and offers ukulele lessons weekly. Many hotels along Kaanapali Beach have nightly performers in bar areas, including Whaler Village and Kaanapali Beach Hotel. Performers also occasionally show up along the walkway between the hotels and nearby beaches.

Food

The curvy Hana Highway cuts through Maui’s valleys and mountains and slithers above its coastal shores.

Maui is known for five-star restaurants and for good reason, with some of the best dining anywhere. But there are also plenty of inexpensive, often hole-inthe-wall choices. The Kihei Caffe has a nice mix of American and Hawaiian breakfast food. Taqueria Cruz has tasty seafood tacos on its menu. Lahaina has several good-and-cheap options, including Ono Tacos, CJ’s Deli and Diner and Star Noodle.

Lodging

Three waterfalls are visible from the highway. The road winds past sugar cane fields and has ocean views with kite surfers. The notorious curves don’t appear until well into the drive when the fields and ocean give way to tropical flowers and jungle greens.

Hotels in Maui can be expensive, many starting at $300 nightly to much higher. There are a few properties that are clean and have reasonable rates, including Kaanapali Beach Hotel, Maui Coast Hotel in Kihei and Napili Kai Beach Resort. Another option is to rent a condo. Those may cost a little more, but will save in other areas. Most have kitchens, so you can cook and save on eating out. A condo with a washing machine even means packing less to save on luggage fees. PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 25

[travel] Hiking

Maui is crisscrossed by hiking trails, from easy strolls to strenuous climbs. Some trails pass through rain forests that have waterfalls and plunge pools for swimming. The trails at Haleakala Crater, a national park that requires a fee, takes hikers through a lunar-like landscape. There also are plenty of hikes near the coast. Or just start down the beach and see how far it takes you before turning back. Maui has song birds that are found nowhere else in the world and a dazzling array of colorful tropical flowers, so there’s plenty to hear, see and smell while hiking.

A tourist takes photos of a rainbow on the road that leads to Haleakala National Park on Maui. The trails at Haleakala Crater take hikers through a lunar-like landscape.

900 LINDSEY STREET • COLUMBUS, IN 47201 812.372.6415 • www.justfriendscolumbus.com 26 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

Whale watching

Watching whales on Maui is seasonal, running from November to May, when humpback whales fill the waters between the southern shores and the islands of Molokai and Lanai. Paying to ride in a charter boat will get you closer to the whales, but they are easily visible from the shore as they leap or raise their enormous tails out of the water. PT

A humpback whale in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Maui. Tourists by the thousands load boats each winter to view the whales as they migrate through the area.

Experience Aging Well! at Mill Race Center

Did you know there are 6 Dimensions to Aging Well? Join us at Mill Race Center to learn more. Annual membership is just $50/year and we are currently offering a 30 day FREE trial membership. Mill Race Center is a community center for active adults located in Mill Race Park in Columbus. The purpose of Mill Race Center is to develop a nationally recognized model for dynamic comprehensive, collaborative programming for those over 50. For questions email: info@millracecenter.org

900 Lindsey Street • Downtown Columbus www.millracecenter.org • 812.376.9241 PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 27

profile

Spirit of giving grows from little seeds

The Radovanovics have engineered a life filled with learning and sharing By Sharon Mangas n photos by April Knox

od Radovanovic, a courtly gentleman from Eastern Europe, and Connie Kovac, a demure Southern belle, met while working on their Ph.D.s at the University of Alabama in the 1970s. Rod, a native of Yugoslavia, was in Tuscaloosa on a Fulbright Scholarship, studying for a doctorate in mechanical engineering. Connie was working on her dissertation in European history. “I was working in the interlibrary loan department,” says Connie, “when an engineering student stopped by, requesting reference materials from Georgia Tech. When he left, I turned to my co-worker and said, ‘I wonder if he could help me with the documents I

28 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

need translated from Serbo-Croatian?’ My co-worker said, ‘Well, go out in the hall and meet him.’ I was very shy and said, ‘Oh I can’t do that. I’m not that assertive.” Her co-worker practically pushed her out the door, and the tall, polite engineering student agreed to help Connie translate the documents. One thing led to another. “We met for coffee,” says Rod, “started dating and fell in love.” Melinda Johnson, who has worked as a teacher for Connie, the founder of Little Seeds Preschool, since 1989, attests to their affection. “Rod and Connie may seem like complete opposites, but they are joined at the hip.”

PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 29

[profile] The Radovanovics married in 1977 and moved to Columbus in 1978 when he accepted a position with Cummins Inc. “Rod had job offers in Detroit, but when we came to Columbus to interview, I loved the landscape, especially the farmland,” Connie says. A country girl at heart, she grew up on a big family farm in Louisiana. “Rod and I liked that Columbus was close to Bloomington, too. I knew some people at IU and thought I might find a teaching job at the university.” Connie taught American and European history for seven years at IUPUC, but after their children, daughter Mila, now 35, and son Michael, 33, were born, her priorities began to shift. “I wasn’t happy with the preschool program Mila attended. Several friends said that with my background in education, I should start my own.” In 1983, with a wish and a prayer, she launched Little Seeds Preschool, now in its 32nd year. The program is poised to move to Community Church of Columbus soon. “I only had six little ones that first year. I wasn’t quite sure what I was doing, but I had so much fun.

Rod points out a sugar maple tree to Little Seeds preschoolers. | photo by Andrew Laker 30 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

After my own children finished at Little Seeds, I was having such a good time, I didn’t want to give it up. I love my job. It’s not work.” Friend Jan Kiel, whose children attended Little Seeds, knows about her dedication to the preschoolers. “I’ve marveled over the years at the sustained investment and love she pours into the lives of the kids and parents. Rod and Connie attend countless events of former Little Seeds students. They care, they love and they share their lives.” Rod had a long and distinguished career at Cummins, retiring in 2004 as director of advanced engineering. “I knew from high school I wanted to be an engineer. My father was an engineer, and he was a big influence. I learned to work on equipment, machines and cars from him. My dad could fix anything.” His parents supported his decision to study in the United States. “My dad thought the field of internal combustion engines was more advanced in America, and back then, Yugoslavia was under communist rule.” Lest it seem that Rod is all science all the time, he has a secret talent for making pastries. “My maternal grandmother owned a pastry shop in Vienna before moving to Yugoslavia in the 1920s. When I was a child, I used to help my mom out in the kitchen. I

Rod designed the couple’s home, which employs passive solar heat. PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 31

[profile] loved all the sweets and chocolates. I still have recipes committed to memory.” The Radovanovics’ acreage off Lowell Road is a testament to their love of nature and their many talents. Rod designed their house, built in 1987, which employs passive solar heating, utilizing a two-story south-facing brick wall in their sunroom. “We only use our wood stove for heating at night and on cloudy days,” he says. “I was ‘green’ before green was cool. I grew up a city boy, but I’ve learned to love it here. Chopping wood is good exercise.” A new endeavor for Rod is tapping their maple trees. He processes several gallons of syrup every spring. “When we hear the sandhill cranes overhead, we know it’s sugaring time,” says Connie. “It’s a wonderful spring ritual.” Connie, 70, tends a large organic garden, growing many kinds of fruits and vegetables. “I preserve a lot of what is produced, and we give much of it away,” she says. “We spend little on groceries. My brother who farms in Louisiana keeps us supplied with pork and beef.” She enjoys cooking and often shares her bounty. Neighbor Mark Newell’s family has been a recipient. “Connie and Rod are very genuine with their generosity, both in time and talents,” says Newell. “Connie’s been known to walk fresh baked goods to our house. In fact, she’s been seen walking the roads with goody bags for various neighbors. Our kids all attended Little Seeds, and Connie still sends notes to them. Connie

32 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

Connie prepares “krem palacinke,” cream pancakes, a recipe handed down from Rod’s mother from Yugoslavia.

Rod made this highchair that turns on its side to become a rocking horse or a desk.

and Rod do an excellent job modeling how to take care of others.” While their life together has been filled with blessings, they faced a challenge early in their marriage when Rod applied for U.S. citizenship. “Fulbright Scholars aren’t supposed to take jobs in the countries where they study,” recalls Connie. “Even though we were married, we weren’t sure we’d get to stay here.” After several years of appeals, they received a medical dispensation due to her having a long-standing thyroid condition. He was granted citizenship in 1983. Rod, 73, finished his third post-retirement consulting job earlier in the spring and says he’s finally fully retired. “Now that we have grandchildren, (Micah, 9 months, and Caleb, 6 months) we want to spend more time with family. Connie and I married late and weren’t sure we’d ever have grandchildren.” While some travel may be in their future, they are content with their lives in the country. “Our lives … much of our hobbies and interests … revolve around this beautiful piece of land,” says Connie. “It’s our retreat.” She hopes to retire in a year or so, once Little Seeds is firmly planted in its new home. As Connie gently presses homemade noodles and produce into a protesting visitor’s hands, she says, “My mother always told me, ‘You can’t out-give God.’ That’s a philosophy of life for the Radovanovics. For this couple, sharing comes as naturally as breathing. PT

PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 33

Upward

health

mobility

‘Sit’ and ‘stay’ are commands good only for dogs

By Jennifer Willhite

hile sitting at a computer for eight hours might sound easier than chopping wood, in the long run it could be much more harmful to your health. “Obviously, our bodies are made to move,” says Makenzie O’Neal, physical therapist and director of physical therapy at Therapy Works in Columbus. “In order to maintain strength, range of motion and flexibility, you have to keep moving.” However, when you are sitting for hours on end at work or at home, that simply isn’t happening, she says. Area experts agree that the greatest health risks associated with prolonged sitting are chronic neck and back pain. In the long term, spinal compression may also develop, says Dr. Lawrence Schneider, of PromptMed in Columbus. “Usually, spinal compression arises from prolonged sitting in what would be described as a static posture, like slouching,” he says. “This increases stress

34 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

in the back, back muscles, spine and spinal disks, especially in overweight people and those not taught good body mechanics.” Over time, stress placed on the back and spinal disks can cause them to collapse, which can lead to compression fractures and slipped disks, he says. Ideally, correct, neutral sitting posture requires your hips and knees to be at a 90-degree angle, says Ron King, physical therapist with Physiotherapy Associates in Columbus. Depending on your height, if you don’t maintain proper posture while sitting, you risk either jutting your head forward, leading to rounded shoulders and slouching, or leaning backward to maintain balance. Either position puts everything from your head, back, spine and hips in a stressed position. Holding those positions for extended periods contributes to muscle inflexibility, joint stiffness, nerve pinching and headaches, King says.

“Posture is the most important thing to remember,” he says. Prolonged improper sitting posture puts abnormal weight on the spine, which can cause arthritic conditions and muscle imbalance, King says. As a result, some muscles may shorten and tighten or lengthen, making them unstable. According to Schneider, ergonomic studies have revealed poor body mechanics, especially slouching in office chairs, prolonged sitting activities without breaks, repetitive motions, such as typing, and general fatigue are the biggest contributors to workplace injuries. “They have also found that accidents occur even while sitting and working,” he says. “Especially if some unexpected event triggers perhaps a heavy load shifting that results in a fall or strain. And, strangely enough, getting up too quickly from a seated position and striking your head on an open cabinet door is another potential workplace injury that can occur.” Generally, recurrent and chronic back and neck pain are good indicators that something is stressed, strained or out of alignment, Schneider says. “If the person is hurting, they’re going to want to get up more frequently,” King says. Aside from musculoskeletal issues, vascular concerns may also arise if you’re one of those people who have a tendency to cross your legs while sitting. “There is some thought that when people are crossing their legs, it’s actually a protective response to make themselves more comfortable,” King says. But it causes more harm than good. When your legs are crossed, blood flow becomes im-

paired and can lead to pooling in the veins of the lower extremities, Schneider says. In some cases, a condition known as deep vein thrombosis can develop. “If you experience pain radiating from your buttocks into your legs, that could be indicative of nerve injury in the roots of the spinal cord,” he says. “Pain and swelling on one side or one lower extremity are a distinct feature of blood clots.” The best way to avoid adverse health effects associated with prolonged sitting is to take short, hourly breaks, Schneider says. This is especially important if you have an existing health condition, such as diabetes or are prone to blood clots, he says. O’Neal recommends taking short walking or standing breaks throughout the day, even if it’s just for a minute or two. If you’re unable to leave your workstation or cubicle for a short walk, get creative and take phone calls while standing. Another option could be to walk to the printer each time you print something rather than waiting until lunch or closer to the end of the day to collect items. She also recommends gentle movements to keep stiffness from setting in, such as moving your neck from side to side and forward and backward. Simple back stretching and shoulder rolls won’t hurt either, she says. “Listen to your body,” King says. “If you don’t feel right, have someone check you out. Even if it’s a pride thing, seek help and take care of yourself. You don’t want to get to the point where you’re grumpy and angry because you feel you’re on an island by yourself. That’s what we’re here for.” PT

PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 35

Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Salute Concert

calendar of events may MAY

30 — 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. Information: columbus-farmers-market. herokuapp.com.

— 32nd Annual Doll and Bear Show and Sale. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds Community Building. Free admission, door prizes. Antique, modern, collectible and original dolls. Sponsored by Dolls Night Out Club of Columbus. Information: 812-376-9124

— Literacy Festival. 3 p.m., Central Middle School campus. Enjoy the 10th annual festival with a book character contest, over 50 literacy activities, food, music, games and door prizes. Sponsored by Bartholomew County Literacy Task Force. Information: bartholomewreads.org.

36 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

— Fiesta Time. 7 to 10 p.m., The Commons. Dance Indiana, along with the Cummins GOAL organization, will host this multicultural event with a variety of Latin music ... salsa, merengue, rumba, cha-cha and samba. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. for socializing, appetizers and cash bar. Tickets: $20 via email or at door. Information: danceindiana@ gmail.com or 812-376-2681.

-17 — “A Tribute to Our Troops.” USO musical revue presented by the Lasting Impressions. 6 p.m. May 16 and 1 p.m. May 17, Mill Race Center, 900 Lindsey St. Buffet dinner. Tickets $18 including dinner and the show, available at MRC, Sadie’s Family Dining and from cast members. Information: 812-376-6612 or 812-342-6473.

— “Elvis: Down in the Jungle Room.” 6:30 p.m., Bartholomew County Public Library. Elvis impersonator Dave Ehlert returns and asks you to join the “King” down in the Jungle Room singing his personal favorites. This unique performance provides an intimate look at the music that made Elvis a legend. The Jungle Room is one of the rooms

in Graceland, decorated with an African motif, in which Elvis recorded a few of his albums. Sponsored by the Bartholomew County Library Associates. Information: 812-379-1255 or mybcpl.org.

— Carl Fisher. 6:30 p.m., Bartholomew County Public Library. Jeff Kuehl portrays visionary and automotive icon Carl Fisher. Born in nearby Greensburg, Fisher quit school when he was 12 and opened a bicycle repair shop, which later became the first automobile dealership in America. He was the main investor behind the development of Miami Beach, Florida, and Montauk Island, New York. In 1909 Fisher, along with three other businessmen, invested in what later became the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Sponsored by the Bartholomew County Library Associates. Information: 812-379-1255 or mybcpl.org.

— Afternoon for the Arts. 2 p.m., Mill Race Center, 900 Lindsey St. An afternoon of live entertainment by The Reen Family Singers and dessert by Caryn Wiggins of Desserts Etc. Tickets: $4 for MRC members, $10 for nonmembers. Information: 812-376-9241 or shannon@ millracecenter.org.

— Columbus Indiana Philharmonic Salute Concert. 7 p.m., courthouse lawn, downtown Columbus. The philharmonic’s hometown concert in honor of those who have served and still serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. Performed annually on the grounds of the Bartholomew County Memorial for Veterans. Information: 812-376-2638, ext. 111.

Artz Daze

— Colts Fan Fest. 5 to 7 p.m., The Commons. Includes live music, autographs from Colts players and cheerleaders, free Colts giveaways and Colts In Motion, the team’s traveling museum. Information: 317-997-6900 or email stephanie.pemberton@colts.nfl.net.

— Richard Smith. 7 p.m., The Harlequin Theatre. National fingerstyle guitar champion and world famous guitar virtuoso performing music from Bach to the Beatles. Tickets $15 in advance at Viewpoint Books, Fair Oaks Mall office or theater box office, $18 at the door. Cash bar available. Information: 812-343-4597 or theharlequintheatre. com.

— Tour de Trails Bicycle Challenge. 20K, 50K and 75K rides. Rolling start for all rides begins at 9:30 a.m. at Mill Race Park. Information: 812-376-2680.

june June

Literacy Festival

— JCB Neighborfest with SoulShine Band. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., 300 block of Washington Street, downtown Columbus. Free. SoulShine Band features members from legendary acts such as Henry Lee Summer, Carl Storie, The Why Store and The Bob and Tom Band. SoulShine combines original music described as a new millennium version of a funky ’70s horn band with covers from such artists as Blood Sweat and Tears, Aretha Franklin, Earth Wind and Fire, and Rare Earth. Presented by Columbus Area Arts Council. Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org. PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 37

— Artz Daze. 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., 300 block of Washington Street, downtown Columbus. Free program providing no-cost, hands-on learning opportunities for people of all ages on four days in the heart of the Columbus Arts District. The arts council will deliver arts programming that introduces a wide range of cultural arts. No experience necessary. All activities are outdoor and free and open to everyone. Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org.

Sept. 19 — Downtown Columbus Farmers Market. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Saturday in the Cummins parking lot on Brown Street between Fifth and Eighth streets. Purchase fresh produce and plants grown by local farmers and gardeners as well as crafts. Information: columbus-farmers-market. herokuapp.com.

Sept. 19 — Columbus City Farmers Market. 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Saturday in the Fair Oaks Mall parking lot, 2380 25th St., Columbus. Information: 812-378-0539, Columbus City Farmers Market Facebook page.

— Youth Fishing Derby. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Round Lake at Mill Race Park. The event is for ages 3 to 15. All must be accompanied by an adult. Registration: 5:30, fish: 6-7:30. Cost: $5. Rain date: June 14.

— “A Night at the Movies” with Columbus Symphony Orchestra. 7:30 p.m., Mill Race Park. Tickets $10 at the door.

— Girlfriend Ride. Registration 7:30 a.m., ride begins at 9 at the Columbus Learning Center. This is a bicycle ride for women only. You can go 10K, 25K or 50K. Ride for a good cause, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services in Columbus.

Girlfriend Ride 38 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

Noon Kids Concerts: Marc and Max the Moose

— A Country Gathering. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Nichols & Dimes Antiques & Collectibles, 101 Pennsylvania St., Elizabethtown. This antique show and sale will have over 35 dealers ... early American, country and primitive furniture, early lighting, textiles, treenware, quilts, china, baskets, stoneware, ironstone, garden and architectural accents, and food. Information: 812-579-5267 or nicholsndimesantiques.com.

— Noon Kids Concerts. Noon to 1 p.m., Donner Park shelter house. Free. Paul Odenwelder’s Heroes and Legends of America Music show. It’s about stories; it’s about songs; it’s funny and has lots of audience participation. Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org.

— Live On The Plaza featuring MarchFourth. Free, 7 p.m., Bartholomew County library plaza. MarchFourth Marching Band (M4) is a kaleidoscope of musical and visual energy that inspires dancing in an atmosphere of celebration. Aside from their marching band themed costumes, M4 is far from a “marching band” in any traditional sense. The show will take you on a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the gypsy camps of Eastern Europe to the African jungle by way of Brazil, echoing the deepest grooves of American funk, rock and jazz, then boiling it all together in cinematic fashion with high-stepping stilt-acrobatics and dazzling dancers. Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org.

august August

— Neighborfest: Alan Kaye & The Toons. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., downtown Columbus. This is not your ordinary run-of-the-mill band. It is a rock and roll show ... Beatles, Tom Petty, Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Led Zeppelin, Dave Matthews, Bruno Mars ... a variety of songs people know and love. Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org.

Bartholomew County 4-H Fair

— Noon Kids Concerts. Noon to 1 p.m., Donner Park shelter house. Free. Marc and Max the Moose. Marc Thomas and his puppet buddy Max the Moose are bringing their “Moosical Fun” to town. Thomas entertains children and parents in a show that gets the whole audience involved. Performing his popular songs and ventriloquism, he brings to life his friend Max the Moose for lots of comical moose mischief. Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org.

july July

— Neighborfest: The Tides. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., downtown Columbus. Get swept away by this talented band with a music mix from the ’60s to modern day — served with a twist. A blending of unusual instruments, along with great vocals and creative arrangements of songs you know, makes this group something special and different from the rest. Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus. org.

— Rock the Park. 6 to 11 p.m., Mill Race Park. The Columbus Area Arts Council welcomes the Charlie Daniels Band. Southern rock and country icon Charlie Daniels is an American musician, singer and songwriter, perhaps best known for his No. 1 country hit “The Devil Went Down to Georgia.” He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2008, and the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2009. Winner of Teen Battle of the Bands will open the concert. Tickets available beginning June 15, $18 advance/$20 gate. Information: 812-376-2539 or artsincolumbus.org.

— Bark in the Park and End of Summer Doggie Swim. Donner Aquatic Center. Vendors, 6 to 8 p.m.; Indy Dog & Disc Club entertainment 6 to 7 p.m.; doggie swim 6:30 to 8 p.m. Each dog must be accompanied by an owner or handler. Information: 812-376-2683

— Family Service Golf Scramble. Join Family Service at Harrison Lake Country Club for a day of golf, starting with lunch in the club dining room. Bring a foursome and enjoy the slightly rolling terrain on this classic golf course. Food, door prizes, yardsticks, mulligans available for purchase. Cash prizes for first and second place, 50/50 drawing, and networking. Lunch at 11:30 a.m., golf at 1 p.m. Information: 812-372-3745 or familyservicebc.org.

-18 — Bartholomew County 4-H Fair. Bartholomew County 4-H Fairgrounds, State Road 11.

— Biggest Block Party Ever. 5:30 to 11 p.m., downtown Columbus. The Johnson Witkemper Insurance Biggest Block Party Ever is the party of the year with bands playing on three stages, including The Woomblies, Punkin’ Holler Boys, Too Hot to Handle, and more. There will be special food from downtown restaurants, beer/wine, and a kids fun zone. All proceeds benefit the Columbus Area Arts Council. Admission: $8 (12 and under free). Information: 812-376-2534.

Biggest Block Party Ever PRIME TIME • MAY 2015 • 39

M y Back Pages Sharon Mangas

The power of one teacher At age 49, in 2000, I enrolled at IUPUC to finish what I started in 1969. I was pleased to learn most of the credits I earned during my first time around in college would transfer. But when I found out I had to take at least two math classes to finish my degree work, panic set in. Back in the old days, IU allowed students to substitute science classes for math requirements. No dice in the 21st century. Today you have to solve for X, whether you want to or not. I thought I was doomed. The only math I could do was with a calculator. But I found out the secret to passing college algebra. I call it the Power of One. One person made a difference. Her name is Peggy Kleine, my math instructor. She never made me feel too old, out of my element or incompetent — things I was thinking. Instead she gave quiet encouragement and extra help anytime I needed it. For the first time in my life, math didn’t seem like a foreign language. I found that when I relaxed, concentrated and used logic, solving for X was almost as fun for me as solving a crossword puzzle. Under the auspices of a good teacher, I flourished, instead of failed. I made A’s in both college algebra and finite math. I experienced other Powers of One at IUPUC. Professor Judy Spector gave me the encouragement I needed to take my first stab at writing for publication. She critiqued my writing in constructive ways, helping me become a better writer without undermining my confidence. Jay Howard, professor of sociology, helped me hone my critical thinking skills. He was a master at helping students see the importance of understanding all sides of an issue before drawing conclusions. For the sheer joy of learning, I took “History of Jazz” and “History of Rock” from Barney Quick.

The depth and breadth of his musical knowledge were astounding. When I got my undergrad degree in 2003, it was a team effort. I couldn’t have done it without the support of my instructors and other ancillary staff at IUPUC. The first teacher I remember having an impact on my life was Miss Hoffman, my second-grade teacher at Harrison School in Vincennes. She sparked my love of reading and writing, explaining the intricacies and magic of language. I learned the importance of using proper grammar, correct spelling and accurate pronunciation. She never had a cross word for a student. Next to parents and family, teachers are arguably the biggest influences in our lives during our formative years. We often take great teachers for granted. I wish I could let Miss Hoffman know how much she meant to me, but it’s too late now. But thank you, Peggy, Judy, Jay, Barney and everyone at IUPUC who offered their encouragement and helped me finish my degree. In the next few weeks, there will be a flurry of graduations from high schools, colleges and universities — graduations that wouldn’t be possible without great teachers. If you don’t have a beloved teacher of your own still around to thank, consider taking a moment this spring to thank one of your children’s or grandchildren’s teachers. Write a note, make a phone call or give a shout-out on social media to a teacher you know and love. Teachers, whatever grade or course you teach — and whether you’re new to teaching or a seasoned veteran — thanks for your service. Your encouragement and dedication make a difference in the lives of students every day, no matter what their age.

Sharon Mangas can be reached at sharon.d.mangas@gmail.com. 40 • MAY 2015 • PRIME TIME

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