December 2010
“Celebrating Age and Maturity�
d n a s d Frien ly Album Fami
Priceless Presort Standard U.S. Postage Paid Shreveport, LA 71103 Permit No. 6
Tower at The Oaks A Premier Healthy Lifestyle Community
Celebrate with Us! Join us for the Tour of Trees at the beautiful Tower at The Oaks. Choose Saturday or Sunday, 1 p.m. or 3 p.m., on one of these dates:
November 27 or 28 December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 or 19 January 1 or 2 Reserve Your Tour Time (318) 212-8225 or request your tour time at oaksofla.com With trees sparkling, fireplaces glowing and garlands adorning balconies, the Tower celebrates its first holiday season in grand style. Residents and staff invite you to enjoy a walking tour through this holiday wonderland. 600 East Flournoy Lucas Road
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The Best Of Times
December 2010
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MEDICARE SUPPLEMENT INSURANCE Need help with your Medicare Supplement Choices? We can help. Cornerstone Financial Services, LLC 910 Pierremont Rd., Ste. 410 Shreveport, LA 71106 318.861.8607 office 318.272.2190 cell
December 2010 • Vol. 19, No. 12 Founded in 1993 as Senior Scene News ISSN Library of Congress #1551-4366 A monthly publication from TBT Multimedia, LLC P.O. Box 19510 Shreveport, LA 71149 (318) 636-5510 www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com For a mailed subscription, send your name & address, along with $15 to cover postage and handling to the above address.
Publisher Gary L. Calligas Gary.Calligas@gmail.com Editor Tina Miaoulis Calligas Editor.Calligas@gmail.com Account Executives William B. Combs Philip Maxfield Stephanie Poole Design & Layout Jessica Rinaudo Katherine M. Branch Webmaster Jason P. Calligas Contributors
Jason Alderman, Lee Aronson, Bud Bradley, Judge Jeff Cox, Joe Gilsoul, Andrea Gross, Mirabai Holland, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Dr. Marion Somers
Council of Advisors Terri Brock, Senator Sherry Smith-Cheek, Clara Farley, Dora Miller, Raymon Owens, Mary Anne Rankin, and Mary Alice Rountree THE FINE PRINT: All original content published in THE BEST OF TIMES copyright Š 2010 by TBT Multimedia, LLC, all rights reserved. Replication, in whole or in part by any means is prohibited without written permission from the publisher. Opinions expressed are the sole responsibility of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect those of the publication, TBT Mulitmedia, its publishers or staff. Always consult properly degreed and licensed professionals when dealing with all matters financial, medical, legal or emotional. We cannot accept liability for omissions or errors and cannot be responsible for the claims of advertisers.
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INA’s TURN It's that time of the year. No, I'm not talking about the holidays. It's time for our annual photo feature. And what a fun album it turned out to be!! Covering seventeen pages, it's our biggest, happiest photo feature ever! Thanks to all who took the time to share their photos. And speaking of fun - what could be better than an end-of-the year contest? Although you won't find my name listed in any of the captions, my photo is lurking about in our Friends and Family album. If you find it, you could win a prize package valued at $400! For details on how you can win, see November was also the time for our annual convention. As noted on page 6, The Best of Times won another slew of awards. Gary and I are very grateful and honored, but the accolades are really a reflection of the hard work and dedication of our graphic designers, contributors and writers. It's their talent and commitment to excellence that brings this publication so much success. KUDOS! As we prepare to celebrate this blessed time of year, I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to YOU, our loyal readers and advertisers. My prayer is that your heart and home be filled with joy and gladness this holiday season and throughout the new year. Tina
The Best of Times
Radio Hour
Hosted by Gary Calligas
Broadcasting every Saturday morning from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. on AM 1130 KWKH, A Townsquare Media Radio Station in Shreveport, LA.
Dec. 4: “Medicare Health Plans” - Billy Justice and Leslie Jones with Vantage Health Plan, Inc. www.vhpla.com Dec. 11: “Memory Evaluation and Improvement” - Donesa Walker and Marie Romano Stroup with LearningRx www.learningrx.com/shreveport Dec. 18: “Who Gets Grandma’s Yellow Pie Plate” - Terry L. Foster with LSU Ag Center. www.lsuagcenter.com dec. 25: “The Toys of Christmas Past”
TINA ?
Where in the Issue is
E
ditor Tina Calligas appears in one of the photos in our Friends, Family and Fun album. If you can find her, you may win a prize package valued at $400!! Let us know what page and which photo and your name will be entered in our drawing to win: • Two season tickets to the remaining performances of the Shreveport Little Theatre’s 2010 - 2011 season ($260 value) • Eight one day admission tickets to Sci-Port Discovery Center or to an IMAX movie ($125 value) • One year mailed subscription to The Best of Times ($15 value) Email Editor.Calligas@gmail.com or mail your submission to The Best of Times, P.O. Box 19510, Shreveport, LA 71149. The winner’s name will be chosen from all correct entries and announced in our January issue. Be sure to include your contact information. HURRY! The deadline is December 20.
What’s YOUR
New Year’s Resolution?
The Best of Times Radio Hour will feature resolutions and how to make them stick on January 1. Don't worry, we won't use your last name. All submissions will be included in a drawing to win a prize package valued at $75: • Four one day tickets to Sci-Port Discovery Center or to an IMAX movie ($60 value) • One year mailed subscription to The Best of Times ($15 value) Email your resolution and contact information by December 20 to Gary.Calligas@gmail.com or mail to The Best of Times. P.O. Box 19510, Shreveport, LA 71149. The winner’s name will be chosen from all submissions.
Jan. 1: “New Year’s Resolutions” - Betsy Williams with The Center for Families. www.thecenterforfamilies.com Streaming live at KWKHonline.com. Previously aired programs available at www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com Do you have a question for our guests? Call 320-1130 during the broadcast or email Gary.Calligas@gmail.com prior to the show. The Best Of Times
December 2010
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Shreveport/Bossier’s Premier Senior Publication
Nationally Recognized NAMPA (N
American Mature Publishers Association) awarded The Best of Times twelve (12) national awards at their annual convention. Member publications are independently judged by the prestigious University of Missouri School of Journalism which is generally considered one of the top journalism schools in the world. orth
— First Place — Best of Show Senior Issues
Lee Aronson’s “Laws of the Land” column
Best Single Color Ad design
Best Banner Urgent Senior Issues
Amanda Newton’s feature article “Finding Love (& Marriage) After 50”
Briefs/Shorts design Web Self Promotion Website General Excellence
— Second Place — Table of Contents design
Briefs/Shorts editorial content
Column Review
Lizzie Lyles restaurant reviews
— Third Place — Feature Layout
Celebrating Age and Maturity...and Publication Excellence 6
December 2010
TheBestOfTimesNews.com
D
ecember c o n t e n t s
Feature 25 - 41 Friends, Family and Fun Photo Album
Briefly 8 In the News 10 STAT! Medical News
Special Reports 12 Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage 14 Holiday Ho-Hum by Dr. Marion Somers
22 Moving Free with In Every Issue Mirabai 45 Answers from the by Mirabai Holland Experts Holiday 46 What’s Cooking? Moderation A Merry Maple Holiday Menu Columns 48 Get Up & Go! 42 Traveltizers A December calendar by Andrea Gross full of place to go and Christmas in America’s things to see Castles 50 Our Famous Puzzle 44 The Bookworm Page by Terri Schlichenmeyer Crossword, Sudoko, “Amos Walker: The Word Search Complete Story 52 Gold Pages Collection”
Advice 16 Money Matters by Jason Alderman Cut Your Taxes 17 Safe Shopping Tips by Bud Bradley
18 Laws of the Land by Lee Aronson Insurance Blues 20 From the Bench by Judge Jeff Cox Custody Disputes: Parents vs Nonparents The Best Of Times
ON THE COVER: Left: "Mimi" Anne Reed Miller with Jordis Anne Reed Top right: Rob Franks & Scott Kennedy at Merion Cricket Club's Invitational Croquet Tournament, Philadelphia, PA, Sept., 2010 which set a record as the world's largest croquet tournament for the Guinness Book of World Records. Bottom right: Kathy Booth (2nd from right) with daughters Shannon Furr, Martha Claire Booth, and Jessica Rinaudo December 2010
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in the NEWS
New Coverage Medicare Rule to Take Effect in 2011 The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released a final rule that implements portions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) that provide greater access to Medicare’s coverage of preventive services. As a result of the new health reform law, beginning on January 1, 2011, people with Original Medicare will no longer have to pay a copay, coinsurance or deductible to receive preventive services that are recommended with a grade A or B by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. The law does not require Medicare private health plans (also known as Medicare Advantage plans) to cover these services without cost-sharing, but many plans already do so. In addition, the rule implements an annual wellness visit, a new benefit under Medicare, for which Medicare consumers will pay nothing out of pocket. During this yearly visit, doctors can update a patient’s care plan, screen for cognitive impairments and measure height, weight and blood pressure, as well as other needed measurements based on the person’s family and medical history. Examples of Medicare-covered preventive services that will no longer require people to pay out of pocket include: screening mammographies, tests such as colonoscopies and barium enemas to screen for colorectal cancer, and Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer. A more detailed list of preventive services that will no longer require outof-pocket payments is available at http:// www.medicarerights.org/pdf/MedicareCovered-Preventive-Services-2011.pdf. The final rule also addresses payment rates to providers, and includes a cut of approximately 25 percent to Medicare Part B physician payments that are required under the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) formula, which was enacted as part of the Balanced Budget Act of 1997.
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The Uninsurable Can Now Purchase Outstanding Health Coverage by Joe Gilsoul If you are unable to obtain health care insurance because of a pre-existing condition, you may be in luck. Under the Affordable Health Care Act, as of July 1, 2010, outstanding coverage is available through the Pre-Existing Condition Insurance Plan (PCIP) if you meet the following conditions: • You must be a citizen or national of the United States or lawfully present in the United States. • You must have been uninsured for at least the last six months before you apply. (Medicaid and Medicare count, so if you are on either you do not qualify. Some people now on Medicaid may go so far as to withdraw from Medicaid and apply for PCIP coverage six months later.) • You must have been denied coverage due to a pre-existing condition. Denial need not be total but may be for only one pre-existing condition. There are no limitations on your income or assets. Even a wealthy person who has been denied coverage may qualify. This insurance is basically the same plan offered to all federal employees, including members of Congress. Unlike Medicaid, which relatively few physicians accept, and Medicare, which more and more physicians are refusing to accept, PCIP is administered by GEHA, a private nonprofit company that administers the federal employee's plan. It is accepted by nearly all physicians and other health care providers, and covers a very broad range of benefits. Coverage starts within two to six weeks of your application. So, if you need a heart procedure that will cost $50,000 but you
are not able to pay for it, if you qualify for PCIP you may schedule the procedure almost immediately. The monthly rates depend on your age and are not affected by your medical condition: • Ages 0 to 34: $317 • Ages 35 to 44: $380 • Ages 45 to 54: $485 • Ages 55+: $675 The deductible for covered benefits is $2,500. After that, you pay $25 for doctor visits, $4 to $30 for most prescription drugs and 20% as a co-pay. Routine health care is free and includes screenings, check-ups, and patient counseling to prevent illnesses, disease, or other health problems. Maximum out-of-pocket costs for the deductible and copays cannot exceed $5,950 per year, presuming you stay within your insurer's network. Louisiana has two other high risk health insurance options, but seldom will either be preferable to PCIP. For additional information about this remarkable benefit, see www.healthcare. gov, and for the other Louisiana high risk plans see www.lahealthplan.org. Joe Gilsoul is an attorney with Weems, Schimpf, Gilsoul, Haines, Landry & Carmouche (A Professional Law Corporation)
Donate Unused Prescriptions If you have unused or discontinued prescriptions (non-narcotics only), the Society of St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) collects them and delivers them to the Northwest LA Interfaith Pharmacy in Shreveport. NLIP is a FREE pharmacy that provides medications at no charge to those who cannot afford them, especially the elderly. Diabetic and heart medications are in great demand. If you have any such medications, you may call Anna at St. Elizabeth Anne Seton Catholic Church (798-1887) to arrange a pick-up. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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December 2010
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STAT!
An Aspirin a Day May Keep Prostate Cancer at Bay Men with prostate cancer who take anticoagulants like aspirin in addition to radiation therapy or surgery may be able to cut their risk of dying of the disease by more than half, according to a large study presented at the 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO). The study involved men with localized cancer whose disease had not spread beyond the prostate gland.
Early Menopause Linked to Future Cardiovascular Disease
Walking May Protect Your Memory Down the Road A new study published in the online issue of NeurologyÂŽ suggests that walking at least six miles per week may protect brain size and in turn, preserve memory in old age. The researchers found that those who walked the most cut their risk of developing memory problems in half.
Zap Cataracts Using a laser to take apart a lens clouded by cataracts can make the tricky eye surgery easier and more precise, doctors recently reported. The surgeons employed a laser to break up the damaged lenses before taking them out and replacing them with an artificial lens. The procedure appears to increase safety, improve precision and reproducibility, and standardizes the procedure. Surgeons at Stanford University in California reported that the new approach could make the procedure less dependent on surgical skill and allow for greater consistency. Cataracts form when the eye's lens is damaged, often aging or long-term exposure to sunlight, clouding vision. The lens is a small bag of fluid that helps focus light in the eye. The U.S. National Eye Institute says more than 1.5 million such procedures are done every year in the United States, making it the most common surgical procedure.
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Women who experience early menopause appear to have more than twice the risk of having a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular disease event later in life than do women who do not go through early menopause, a new study indicates. Early menopause was defined as going through menopause before age 46, either naturally or surgically through removal of both ovaries. Researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham noted that it is important for women to know that early menopause is a potential risk factor for cardiovascular disease so they can be mindful of modifiable risk factors, such as high cholesterol and blood pressure, by exercising and following a healthy diet. Cardiovascular disease is the number one killer of American women.
Not Just for the Holidays Cranberries aren’t just for the holidays. That’s because cranberries contain benzoic acid, which has been shown to inhibit the growth of lung cancer, colon cancer, and some forms of leukemia. Buy bags of cranberries now, while they are in season and at their nutritional peak, and pop them in the freezer for later. (RealAge.com)
Older Adults Watch More TV, But Enjoy It Less Older adults watch two to three times more television than younger people, but they derive much less pleasure and stress relief from it, according to a study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine. The findings came from a sample of nearly 4,000 Americans ages 15 to 98. Among reading, socializing, hobbies and other choices, television was the most popular activity in all age groups. In general, older adults tend to report feeling as happy and satisfied with life compared to younger and middle-age groups, but they watch more TV and enjoy it less than younger people do. Other studies have shown that too much TV-viewing leads to increased risk for obesity diabetes, loss of bone density and dementia. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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December 2010
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Your guide to what's new and what to do for 2011
Family Features
W
hether you’re approaching age 65 or already enrolled in Medicare, the annual enrollment period for 2011’s Medicare plans is an important time. When it comes to prescription coverage, seniors are seeing some of the biggest changes since the Medicare prescription benefit became available in 2006. The changes - from having fewer options to premium increases to new discounts on brand-name drugs — are enough to make anyone’s head spin. But, seniors who don’t take the time to research their options and choose the plan that best suits their needs could leave hundreds of dollars in annual premium savings on the table. In fact, according to a recent study by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, only about 10% of participants change plans annually. Staying put and not investigating your options, however, could impact your overall costs. But how do you know if you have the best plan already or if you should consider a different plan? Luckily, there are a few tools that can help with the decisionmaking process. But first, let’s start with the basics and what is changing this year. Getty Images
Access to private plans
Beneficiaries have access to the Medicare drug benefit, known as Part D, through private plans approved by the federal government, either through stand-alone prescription drug plans (PDPs) or Medi care Advantage prescription drug plans (MA-PDs). According to a Kaiser Family Foundation study in Oct. 2010, of those who purchase Part D coverage, 38% opt for stand-alone plans. Twenty-four percent are enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans.
Plan options in 2011
While shopping around could save many seniors money, some beneficiaries have no option other than to find a new plan for next year. For 2011, the federal government directed insurers to eliminate duplicative Part D prescription drug plans and plans
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with low enrollment. That means a third fewer prescription drug plans will be offered nationwide next year compared to 2010, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, and many of the remaining options may come with higher premiums. And with the federal government changing the way it reimburses health plans through Medicare Advantage, some insurers have quit offering their Medicare Advantage plans for next year. If your plan is no longer being offered, you may need to find alternative coverage.
Enrollment periods
Beneficiaries have a six-week annual enrollment period — from Nov. 15 to Dec. 31 — to pick a Part D plan for 2011. For Medicare Advantage enrollees, it is especially important to pick the right plan during that period. Unlike previous years, people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans can no longer switch to other Medicare Advantage plans during January, February and March. However, while this “open enrollment period” will not be available in 2011, after Jan. 1, enrollees can still leave their Advantage plan and go back to original Medicare.
“Doughnut hole” relief
Here’s some good news: there is a new 50 percent discount on the formulary’s brandname drugs for those who land in the program’s coverage gap, also called the “doughnut TheBestOfTimesNews.com
hole.” In addition, plans will pay 7 percent of the cost for generic drugs in the gap. This applies to drugs that are on the plan’s formulary. If they aren’t on the formulary there may be no discount, so make sure you check.
How to compare plans
Each plan has different features and each person has unique prescription needs so it’s important to find the plan that is best for you. Here are some things to keep in mind: • Cost and coverage: Plans vary in the coverage offered and how much they cost. Consider the cost of premiums and whether it includes prescription coverage while in the gap. • Pharmacy: Some plans restrict where you can use your drug plan. Determine whether your desired pharmacy is included in the plan you choose. For example, new this year are some plans whose monthly premiums fall well below the average price for Part D policies. However, these lower-cost plans come with some restrictions. The copays and coinsurance for prescription drugs are lowest when using preferred pharmacies; they increase for outside pharmacies.
• Formulary changes: Insurers may change drug formularies each year. Make sure you enroll in a Part D plan that covers your medications. • Other limitations: In some cases, a plan may limit the circumstances under which a drug is covered. Certain medications may only be covered after prior authorization, after you’ve tried other drugs through a process called step therapy, or in certain doses and quantities. Comparing plans can be overwhelming, but there are easy-to-use online tools such as www.PlanPrescriber.com that can take you through a four step process to narrow down your options and identify the most costeffective plan. If you have a low income and struggle to pay for your prescription drugs, you may qualify for the Extra Help/LowIncome Subsidy (LIS) program. For more information, go to http://www.PlanPrescriber.com/medicare-part-d/extra-help/ or https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/i1020/main. html. For additional resources on Medicare, go to Medicare.gov. Though it may seem overwhelming at first, taking the time to research your best option for Medicare prescription drug coverage could really pay off.
The Best Of Times
How to maximize your cost savings
In 2011, there are lots of changes on tap when it comes to Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plans. But open enrollment is a great time to review your coverage. These DOs and DON’Ts can help ensure you are maximizing your cost savings.
DO check to ensure your medications
DON’T go on auto-pilot.
DO pay attention to the drug limitations
DON’T be afraid to ask
are still covered. Check your prescrip tion drug plan each year because insurers may change which medications are covered. You can enter your medications on websites like www.PlanPrescriber.com to see which drugs are covered and com pare the projected costs with other plans. in your plan. Even if your medication is on the formulary, a plan may limit the circumstances under which a drug is covered. They may only be covered after prior authorization, after you’ve tried other drugs through a process called step therapy, or in certain doses and quantities.
DO consider all your options. Medicare supplemental plans, or Medigap, have their own six-month open enrollment period, beginning the day you turn 65 and are enrolled in Medicare Part B. The enrollment period for Medicare Advantage and stand-alone prescription drug plans is Nov. 15 to Dec. 31 2010.
Many plans change cost and drug coverage annually. What worked last year for you could cost you more money this year in terms of higher prescription drug costs and other out-ofpocket expenses. for help from qualified professionals. You can get help through your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP), PlanPrescriber, licensed health insurance agents who are certified to sell Medicare, family members or by calling 1-800-Medicare.
DON’T think that stable
premiums = stable coverage. Just because your premiums haven’t gone up doesn’t mean that you are getting the same plan for the same price next year.
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Holiday Ho-Hum How to banish those "bah, humbug" blues
T
to ward off holiday loneliness: he holiday season is a time of happiness and l Build social connections excitement. We start to by joining a group or activity at feel it - as early as November a local senior center, communi- as homes are decorated with ty center or religious institution. lights, stores are overrun with Look for things like Wii tournashoppers and radio stations ments, craft groups, trips to are playing festive music. Of museums, and more. If you've course, the holidays can also recently lost someone close, bring on feelings of sadness, find out if there is a support or nostalgia and loneliness for bereavement group some. But I'm a for people in the same big believer in not boat (widows/widowletting those feelings ers, etc.). This can be a get the best of us tremendous comfort, no matter what the especially at this time circumstances. There of year. are so many ways to find enjoyment in l Take a class the season and bring Dr. Marion at a local university yourself some cheer. Somers or recreation center Consider these ideas
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December 2010
- many offer adult education courses in the arts, music, language, cooking and more. Keeping your mind sharp and using your creative skills truly does wonders. l Volunteering is one of the best ways you can keep feeling young, vibrant and connected to others during the holidays. With my own children spread out across the country, I spent last Thanksgiving morning
peeling potatoes for a local soup kitchen in NYC. It was an incredibly rewarding and satisfying experience. l Honor the name of a loved one. Even if you're not feeling social, you can do something that holds special meaning for a loved one. This can be as simple as planting a tree in their name, sponsoring a brick at Ellis Island or making a contribution of your time or money to their favorite charity.
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What if you're feeling fine, but you're caring for an older loved one who may not be looking forward to the holidays? There are also many ways to help the elderly combat loneliness and participate in the joy of the season. While younger people are often busy running around getting gifts, making food and putting up the decorations for the holidays, elder loved ones may be lamenting past occasions when they were at a happier place in their lives. Others might not even be aware that the holidays are here. But there are a few things you can do to make your loved ones feel like they're a vital part of the holidays. l Communicate early and often. Especially if you're not going to be spending the holidays with an older relative, the sound of your voice over the phone can bring great comfort. Call them while you're trimming the tree, hanging the lights or preparing to sit down and eat so they feel included in your activities. Ask them about their plans as well. Make sure you put any grandchildren and great-grandchildren on the phone, so they can hear their voices too.
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l Send/share family photos. Old family photos can bring back fond memories and remind your loved ones of the important role they still play in your family. Create a scrapbook or photo album that you can mail or - even better - look through together in person. Include names and dates to help trigger their memory. l Include them in the festivities. If your loved one will be with you for the holidays, give them an active role. Involve them in things like wrapping the presents, chopping the nuts or beating the eggs. You could also make your elder the guest of honor who lights the candles or recites a special prayer or story if that occurs in your family. Many elderly also like to sing holiday songs - it's part of their long-term memory and can help them recall good times. Whatever your plan, it has to be something that makes your elder feel present and in the middle of things in a genuine way. Dr. Marion Somers, Ph.D., is an elder care expert and the author of Elder Care Made Easier as well as the caregiving iPhone apps Elder 411 and Elder 911.
Let HealthGuide: * Educate you on management of your disease * Provide tools that will enable you to organize healthcare information * Assist you in establishing goals for optimal health * Guide you through the complicated healthcare system * Empower you to be in control of your own healthcare
For Information, Call
318-780-4307 www.healthguidenurse.com
December 2010
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Exhaust your FSA balances. If you participate in employer-sponsored health care or dependent care flexible spending accounts (FSAs), which let you use pretax dollars to pay for eligible expenses, be sure to spend the full balance before the plan-year deadline (sometimes up to 75 or many, mid-November days into the following year); otherthrough New Year's Day wise, you'll forfeit the remaining is a blur of activity when balance. important tasks get ignored. You can use your health care Who has time to review their FSA for copayments, deductbenefits and tax paperwork ibles and medical devices (e.g., when holiday planning looms glasses, contact lenses, braces); overhead? however, effective January 1, Jason 2011, over-the-counter mediBut what if spending a few Alderman cines will only be eligible with minutes on such mundane tasks could shave hundreds of dollars off a doctor's prescription (an exception is made for your taxes? Here are a few suggestions: insulin), so you may want to stock up now. Read IRS Publication 502 for a complete list of allowable Review your 401(k). If you haven't and non-allowable expenses at www.irs.gov. already maxed out, ask your employer if you can make a catch-up contribution to Charitable contributions. If you itemize deyour 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plan before ductions this year, charitable contributions made to year's end. Most people can contribute up IRS-approved organizations by December 31, 2010, to $16,500 in 2010, plus an additional are generally tax-deductible. (See IRS Publication $5,500 if they're over 50. 78 for a complete list of organizations.) If you've got If you make pretax contributions, your extra cash now and want to lower your 2010 taxes even taxable income is reduced, which in turn further, consider moving up donations you would lowers your taxes. Plus, if your employer have made in 2011. offers matching contributions (essentially, free money), be sure to contribute at Energy tax credits. Allowable tax credits least enough to take full advantage of the for certain energy-efficient improvements to match. The "Retirement Contribution principal residences will be reduced after DecemEffects on Your Paycheck" calculator at ber 31, 2010, unless Congress votes to extend 2010 www.dinkytown.com can help estimate levels. Until then, you can claim a tax credit for 30 percent of the total cost of eligible the impact on your taxes. products purchased in 2009 and 2010, up to a maximum combined credit of $1,500 Note: The maximum 2010 contribuper household. tion to a regular or Roth IRA is $5,000 Eligible products include: biomass stoves; heating, ventilating and air condition($6,000 for those 50 and older), but you ing (HVAC) systems; insulation; roofs (metal and asphalt); windows and doors; and have until April 15, 2011. non-solar water heaters. Carefully review the Energy Star website (www.energystar.gov/ taxcredits) to make sure your purchases qualify.
Money MATTERS
Cut Your Taxes
F
Gifts. You're allowed to bestow a total of $1 million in gifts during your lifetime before the federal gift tax kicks in. One way to exceed that limit – and avoid having to file a Gift Tax Return – is by giving separate, annual gifts of up to $13,000 per year, per person. (Married couples filing jointly can give $26,000 per recipient.) Rules for gift and estate taxes are complex, so read IRS Publication 950 and consult your financial advisor. Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ PracticalMoney 16
December 2010
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Shopping Safety Tips by Bud Bradley, Vice President of Shopping Centers at AlliedBarton Security Services (www.alliedbarton.com) As the holiday season gets into full swing, some crooks and predators are celebrating their “holiday cheer” with assorted mayhem, misdeeds and misdemeanors. Observe these tips for a safe holiday season: • Stay Alert - Thieves and predators are on the lookout for body language that conveys vulnerability. Criminals look for easy marks such as people who are preoccupied with infants or small children, on a cell phone or fumbling with packages. Walk confidently and be alert. Keep your shopping bags in your sight at all times, and don’t burden yourself with too many packages. • Don’t be Flashy – Displaying large sums of cash is a powerful lure to greedy thieves. Use checks or credit cards whenever possible and never leave your credit card on a store counter or out of your sight. Instead of signing the back of your credit card, write “See ID.” Store clerks should verify ownership of the card before processing it. • Keep Your Purse Close – Carry your purse close to your body with the clasp or flap secured and facing toward you. For safety reasons, long straps on shoulder-style bags should never be placed over the head. Never leave your purse on a store counter, or on the floor in a restroom or dressing room. • Stay Together, Shop Together – There is safety in numbers, so shopping with friends whenever possible is highly recommended. However, if you are shopping alone, ask mall security for an escort to or from your car. • Report Suspicious Activity – Report suspicious people or situations to mall security. • Collect Cash with Care – Avoid using unfamiliar ATMs when possible. ATM skimmers are devices that are deceivably placed on the ATM by thieves to access your personal information or account. Avoid this by using ATM machines inside bank lobbies, under video surveillance, that are less likely to be tampered with. Shield the keyboard as you enter your PIN and keep your card in your possession. Don’t accept help from strangers at the ATM and if the machine keeps your card, call your bank immediately. • Avoid Parking Lot Isolation – Parking lots are targeted locations for the theft of valuables from vehicles. Parking in an isolated area rolls out the welcome mat for criminals, so park near other vehicles or in high pedestrian and vehicle traffic areas. Plan your visit so that you are parked in a well lighted area during hours of darkness. You can also avoid becoming an easy target for theft by storing packages and valuables out of sight in your vehicle or placing them in the trunk. Make sure that your windows are closed and doors are locked. • Be Proactive, Be Ready – Avoid becoming an easy mark by being aware of noises and movements and having your keys in your hands, ready to open your vehicle. Be sure to look into the vehicle’s front and rear seat before entering it, and lock your vehicle as soon as you get in. If someone approaches your vehicle inquiring about directions, do not open your door or roll your window down. If you have car trouble, remain in your car and use a cell phone to call for assistance, or return to the mall and notify security. The Best Of Times
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starting immediately, changes would be made in their medical coverage. Although the million dollar lifetime limit would remain, the lifetime limit for one particular diagnosis was changing. There was now a lifetime maximum of $5,000 for benefits payable for claims related to this one particular diagnosis. Care to guess what this one particular diagnosis was? That’s right, it was the serious medical condition that Chops happened to have. No other limitations were placed on any other catastrophic illnesses. Now Chops was worried. With a Back in the late 1980’s there million dollar limit, he didn’t need to worry about paying for his health care was a fellow in Texas who out of his own pocket. But he exhausted the new $5,000 limit on coverage for worked for a music company. his illness in only 5 months. Which meant that the I’m going to call him Chops, insurance company wouldn’t pay another penny which is not his real name. ever again for any more treatment related to this Anyway, Chops had a pretty diagnosis. good job. In addition to his Seem fair to you? It didn’t to Chops. So salary, he also got some nice benLee he sued. The case went all the way up to the efits, including health insurance. But his health insurance had a Aronson United States Supreme Court. The result: “an employer has an absolute right to alter cap: the absolutely positively most the insurance would pay for medical the terms of medical coverage available to plan beneficiaries.” Chops was out of luck. care over Chop’s lifetime was one million And that was the law of the land for the dollars. That’s not something Chops was next 20 some odd years. But due to a new worried about. After all, a million dollars law that just went into effect, not any is a lot of money. He wasn’t even worried when he got di- more. Before this new law, many agnosed with a serious medical condition. health plans set a dollar limit on what they would spend for your He went to his employer and told them covered benefits during the entire everything about his diagnosis in March time you were enrolled in that 1988. Chops followed his doctor’s orders plan: otherwise known as a lifetime and was able to continue to work. But in limit or lifetime cap. But under this new July 1988, the Music Company informed law, The Affordable Care Act, lifetime limits or its employees, including Chops, that
LAWS of the land
Insurance Blues
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December 2010
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caps on health insurance are almost always illegal. Chops would have been pleased. And while I’m on the subject of insurance, I want to tell you about a recent case that involved my old High School. I went to private school in New Orleans. As you can imagine, a private high school has to have a lot of different kinds of insurance. And one of the types of insurance my old high school had was something called a Business Income insurance policy. The way these policies work is if something happens to temporarily shut down your business, like a fire, then the insurance will pay you your lost profit while the business is shut down. In my high school’s case, the something that happened to shut them down was Hurricane Katrina. “The school suffered major damage to its physical structure, which caused the school to be closed for over 2 months. As a result, [the school] suffered a very substantial loss of tuition revenue/income for the school year 2005-2006, totaling approximately [three million dollars.]” So the school asks the insurance company to pay up. The insurance company refused because the Business Income insurance policy the school bought had a $350,000 limit. Because my alma matter felt $350,000 was inadequate to cover three million dollars in lost profit, they sued the insurance company, arguing that no one told them that there was a $350,000 cap on their insurance. They argued that their insurance agent should have told them about the cap and should have advised the school that the amount of insurance it had purchased was not sufficient and should have recommended that they buy more. In the end, the Louisiana Supreme Court held that the school was wrong when it argued that no one told them about the $350,000 limit because it was clearly stated in the written policy. And although the school “was grossly underinsured for the extraordinary loss of tuition income caused by the hurricane…it is not the agent’s responsibility to advise a client that it is underinsured; instead, it is well settled that the necessary coverages are best determined and calculated by the insured.” Lee Aronson is an attorney with Legal Services of North Louisiana. His practice areas include consumer protection law, housing law and health care law. The Best Of Times
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child has been living in a wholesome and stable environment, or otherwise to any other person able to provide an adequate and stable environment.
Custody Disputes Involving Parents versus Nonparents
The parent of the child is always given preference. In reading the comments under Article 133, the courts have interpreted that a parent has a paramount right to raise their child. This right rises to a constitutional right of the parent to raise the child. In order to take a child from a parent, evidence must shown that the child remaining with the parent would result in substantial harm to the child. According to the cases listed in the comments In the last few weeks, I have under Article 133, the evidence must show two had several custody cases involvfactors in order that a child ing parents versus nonparents. be removed from a parent Most of these situations involve and given to a nonparfamily members who are trying ent. The first factor that to get custody of a child from a must be shown is that parent who is not fit to raise the substantial harm would child. The nonparent may be Judge result to the child if a grandparent, aunt, uncle, or Jeff Cox they remained in the even cousins. In a few of these custody of the parent. cases, I have had an unrelated person According to the cases listed in seeking to gain custody from a parent. In the comments under Article 133, looking at these cases, the Louisiana Civil substantial harm can be shown by Code provides guidance. neglect of the parent, behavior of the child when they are with the parent, home of the parent, Louisiana Civil Code and fitness of the parent to raise the child and provide for the child’s education. If substantial harm can Article 133 states: be shown, then the next factor must be considered. If an award of joint custody or of The next factor which has to be considered is the environment of the nonparent and sole custody to either parent would whether placing the child with the nonparent is in the best interest of the child. The nonparent has to provide the child with a wholesome and stable environment. In other result in substantial harm to the words, the nonparent must be providing the child with all the things a parent should be child, the court shall award custody providing the child. These things include but are not limited to education, extracurricuto another person with whom the lar activities, church, adequate meals, and adequate living arrangement. If the person seeking custody is a nonparent, they have a tough legal battle to prove that they are in a better position to raise a child over a parent. Our law gives the paramount right to parents to raise their children, even if they are marginal in their ability to raise the child and another person may do a better job. Nonparents need to give strong consideration when seeking custody of a child where a parent is involved due to the nature of the law written in this area. Judge Jeff Cox is the 26th Judicial Court Judge for Bossier/ Webster Parishes, Division C.
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December 2010
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MOVING free
are a time to embrace life, be social and enjoy activities bordering on the excessive. And when you come right down to it, it’s not what you do during the holidays, it’s what you do the rest year. So, if you really need to hear about moderation in your daily life, here goes. Know that every pound It’s starting again. All that equals 3500 calories and all advice about how not to gain calories are not created equal. weight, how to reduce stress Some are more nutritious and how to stay on your fitness than others and some are program during the holidays. downright empty. Try to Well good luck with that. For make healthy food choices, years I’ve been giving out advice watch your portion size and read of my own. Moderation I’ve Mirabai your labels. always say, “Just take a little taste Holland Get at least a half an hour of of everything”. moderate exercise most days of the week. Exercise on holiday mornings. Huh? Take a few minutes to do something Well, I’m throwing up my hands this year, for yourself, something you like, every kind of. day. I’m not going to tell you to just take For instance, every morning when I get a little taste of pie when you really want up, I kiss my cat. to eat the whole piece, nor to bypass that If you’re already doing this then you’ve great stuffing that you only eat once a got nothing to worry about this holiday year. Life is short and this behavior is not season. the culprit anyway. The fact is holidays
Holiday Moderation: Bah, Humbug!
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East Texas Eye Doctor Helps Legally Blind to See Again Diplomate in Low Vision Care trains Dr. Larry Chism to help those with macular degeneration to keep reading and driving. By Elena Lombardi Freelance Writer
Donald Paquette, 72, a former assessor from Anaheim, California thought that his driving days were over. “I could not read the street signs soon enough and I couldn’t pass the vision test at the DMV office.” Gonzalo Garcia, 74, Albuquer que, New Mexico, wanted to be able to read and write more easily. He wanted to see the nails and screws when he tried to use them in home repairs. He wanted see his grandchildren singing in the church choir. But he thought those days were over when he was diagnosed with Macular Degeneration. California Optometrist, Dr. Rich ard J. Shuldiner and East Texas optometrist, Dr. Larry Chism, are using miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help people who have lost vision from macular degenera tion or other eye conditions. “Some of my patients consider us the last stop for people who have vision loss,” said Dr. Chism, a low vision optometrist who has just completed training with Dr. Shuldiner in California. “Amazing!” says Donald. “I can read the street signs twice as far as I did before and even see the tele vision better!” Dr. Shuldiner also provided special prismatic reading glasses to make the newspaper a little easier to read. Macular Degeneration is the most common eye disease amongst the senior population. As many as 25% of those over 65 have some degree The Best Of Times
Carole Buckels wearing bioptic telescope driving glasses. of degeneration. The macula is one small part of the entire retina, but it is the most sensitive and gives us sharp images. When it degenerates, Macular Degeneration leaves a blind spot right in the center of vision making it impossible to recognize faces, read a book, or pass the drivers vision test. The experts do not know what causes macular degeneration. But major factors include UV light from the sun, smoking, aging, and improper nutrition. Vitamins can help. The results of two studies, AREDS and LAST demonstrated a lowered risk of pro gression by about 25% when treated with a high-dose combination of vitamins. A new, proprietary supplement based on the scientific studies is available from these doctors. Nine out of ten people who have macular degeneration have the dry type. There is no medical treatment except for vitamins. The wet type involves leaky blood vessels that can sometimes be sealed with hot or cold laser. Unfortunately it’s a temporary fix. Newer treatments, such as Macu gen injections try to prevent leakage. “Our job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a per son functioning,” says Dr. Chism. “Whether it’s driving, reading, watching television, seeing faces,
playing bridge…we work with whatever is on the persons “wish list”. Even if it’s driving. Louisiana and Texas allow the use of telescopic glasses for safer driving. Carole Buckles, 71 of Arcadia, California came on the advise of a friend. “I wanted to be able to keep driving and do the fun things in life.” One of those fun things is baseball. “I love going to baseball games and now I can see those close plays again,” she says. Bioptic Telescopic glasses were prescribed to read signs and see traffic lights farther away. As Carole puts it, “These telescope glasses not only allows me to read signs from a farther distance, but makes driving much easier. I’ve also used them to watch television so I don’t have to sit so close. Definitely worth the $1975 cost. I don’t know why I waited two years to do this; I should have come sooner.” “Telescopic glasses usually cost over $2000”, says Dr. Shuldiner, “especially if we build them with an automatic sunglass”. Not all low vision devices are that expensive. Reading glasses start at $500 and hand magnifiers under $100. Every case is different because people have different levels of vision and different desires. Dr. Chism also provides special prismatic reading glasses to make the newspaper a little easier to read. Dr. Larry Chism speaks to every patient on the telephone before scheduling the one hour low vision evaluation appointment.
Call Dr. Chism, toll free, at 1-888-243-2020 for a FREE telephone interview. December 2010
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December 2010
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Queen Mother Lynda Herzog Pope with her Prince Lewis Pope.
puppy & his new d e e R n o Juds
W
Bella Ma inie Kaitlyn O ro, Sara Oberle, V lds, Luc as Mainie ictoria Mainiero , ro
Gofor Clown with Rosie Burks Margaret and Jim Elrod
e annually showcase snapshots of our readers in a special photo section. This year we put out the call for those best of times moments for a “Friends, Family, and Fun” album. The overwhelming response was heart warming. Our album is full of happy, smiling people proudly posing with their friends, children, grandchildren, and pets. You’ll find yourself smiling as well as you page through these pages. Enjoy!
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Denise Grese ns and Donna Cavanaugh
Friends, Family and Fun
December 2010
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Brookie Walker celebrated her 60th with Bridge buddies (standing) Jan Glasgow, Chloe Thornton, Debbie Grand, Abby Averett, Marianne Mosteller, Meg Goorley ; (seated) Brookie, Charlcie Bain, and Barbara Chaney
ort Above: Spar Airp ity un Park Comm mino Center Seniors Do rs ne in Tournament w Combs Refus “Champ” Peck and Henry “Dock” ibodeaux Right: Cheryl Th Barnes, with aunt Mary Clayton, daughter Alison r Lauren and granddaughte Clayton
Bob and Sandra Corley in Branson
Archer Thompson & “Yiayia” Tricia Thompson
ster oyees of Web pl em er rm fo rthday of A reunion of d the 95th bi te ra eb el c ng gi irley, Council on A are Joyce Sh er h h it W . t) ef Woods, and Opal Corbin (l Sibole, Sarah ia th yn C , s ee Patsy D . Nell Blackburn
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December 2010
Christopher Tanner Head as Billy the Exterminator.
Buster, the granddog of Mae Zakris TheBestOfTimesNews.com
The graduation of Gordon Neal Blackman III at Texas A&M. This picture includes three generations of the Blackman family. Left to right are: Gregory with Andrew on his shoulders, Neal, Rachel, Gordon Sr., Gordon Jr., Caroline, George, Michelle, and Mary
nes, Betty Frances Jo Ann Rhads, am d Jim Burh Hensley, an
andson le with gr t it L l y r e Sh ean Connor D The Best Of Times
Mark and Jes dogs Leela sica Rinaudo with their and Bonnie
Jeri Holloway and Eli
Best friends Katelyn Robert s and Kathryn R ogers
90th birthday party for Felix Pinnix – (back): Vickie holding Connor, Clay, Sean with Miles, Melody, Jeff, Thad and Sherry; (front) Patricia, Hope and Kate, Felix, Kelsie and Karolyn December 2010
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Take cha
DON'T TURN YOUR BACK O
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December 2010
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arge
ON BACK PAIN
Standing Tall: What Women Need to Know about Spinal Fractures When you think of women’s health issues, spinal fractures probably don’t come to mind. But they should. These common fractures can not only be disfiguring, but deadly. Spinal fractures are the most common osteoporotic fracture; over 900,000 spinal fractures occur every year in the United States alone, according to industry estimates and research. They occur more often than hip fractures in any one year. They also increase the risk of death. Unlike a hip fracture, the risk of death following a spinal fracture (link to: http://www.spinalfracture.com) continues to increase progressively, so it is important to treat spinal fractures soon after they occur. Sadly, only about one third of these fractures ever receive medical attention. The main cause of spinal fractures is osteoporosis, which silently robs you of the density in your vertebrae — bones we often take for granted. Think of the vertebrae in your spine as a stack of square building blocks with mesh interiors. Osteoporosis causes the mesh architecture inside the blocks to deteriorate, eventually causing micro-fractures. As micro-fractures accumulate, the blocks become weaker and less able to resist the stresses we expect them to handle. Many times, what seems like very minor stress can cause fractures and the vertebrae to collapse, which causes the vertebrae to become compressed. You may notice you are getting shorter, and gradually you will notice a curving forward of your spine. This is called kyphosis. Besides loss of height, some other changes occurring in your body might be due to spinal fractures. Do your clothes not quite fit right? Are you developing a “tummy” that you never had? Do you eat less because you get full so fast? Are you short of breath from small exertions? With spinal fractures, what was once a nice sturdy compartment for your internal organs gradually becomes smaller and smaller, compressing your stomach, lungs and digestive tract. The compression keeps your lungs from expanding fully, makes your heart work harder and your entire digestive track is pushed forward between your ribs and hips. Spinal fractures can occur spontaneously or from the minimal stress of day-to-day activities. Sometimes there is no pain and the fracture goes unnoticed, but sometimes there is extreme pain. For Marian Williams, 80, of Salem, Va., it was both spontaneous and very painful. As she was walking down the stairs in her home, “It felt like something slipped in my back. It started hurting right away, and the pain quickly became unbearable. I couldn’t do anything. Even when I was lying down or sitting down, it hurt,” she said. “It hurt to move. It hurt to
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breathe. I never had pain like that before. It was excruciating.” Marian was admitted to the hospital and referred to Dr. Van Lewis, a neuroradiologist in nearby Roanoke, who recommended a minimally invasive surgery known as KYPHON (R) Balloon Kyphoplasty. During this procedure, two tiny incisions are made in the back and balloons are inserted through small tubes into the fractured bone. The balloons are then carefully inflated in an attempt to raise the collapsed bone. The balloons are then removed, creating cavities in the bone that are filled with bone cement. A clinical study has shown that those who undergo this procedure experience improved quality of life, faster back pain relief and quicker return of physical function than patients who opt for non-surgical treatments such as physical therapy or pain medication. The benefits were sustained on average throughout 12 months. While spinal fractures may be associated with mortality, no data exists currently to show that KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty improves the mortality rate. The complication rate with KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty has been demonstrated to be low. There are risks associated with the procedure (e.g., cement leakage), including serious complications, and though rare, some of which may be fatal. This procedure is not for everyone. A prescription is required. Please consult your physician for a complete list of indications, contraindications, benefits, and risks. Only you and your physician can determine whether this procedure is right for you. Three days after being admitted to the hospital, Marian was treated with balloon kyphoplasty. “When I woke up from the surgery, they took me back to my room and told me to lie flat for two hours ... the excruciating pain was gone,” Marian said. Marian no longer has excruciating back pain and is back to her regular activities, which include lifting light weights, using the weight machines and taking low-impact aerobic classes at her gym three times a week. For a free, informational packet on KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty, potential patients and physicians can call [phone number to be inserted here]. More information about spinal fractures can be found on the Internet at www.spinalfracture.com (link to: http://www.spinalfracture. com/) or www.kyphon.com. (link to: http://www.kyphon.com/us/home. aspx) or by writing to Medtronic, Inc., 1221 Crossman Ave., Sunnyvale, CA, 94089. KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty incorporates technology developed by Dr. Gary K. Michelson.
December 2010
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Brian & Yvonne Davlin, Kaitlin, Susan & Tim Weaver and Mary Yawn
Top Left: Patrice Gaydos, Patricia Thompson, Lily Mijalis, Tina Cosse, Melanie Salter, Sophie Duke, Lisa Skamangas, Sophia Kastanos, Mitzi Theo and Annie Solice
Lane, Cindy Harris Holli Hennessy, Dianne and Claudia Lyles
Above: Jerry Lee, Kim Gaspard, and Bob Brotherton pheasant hunting in S Dakota Sarah and Ryan Wagley with cousin Layne Humphrey
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December 2010
Tricia Thompson with grandchildren Phillip, Thomas, Archer and An na Thompson
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ter Matt Head with daugh Mackenzie
Margaret and Ronnie Wagley, daughter Mary Ann Wagley, and grandchildren Sarah, Jacob and Ryan Wagley
Mary Jo Houston celeb rating her 100th birthday with gra nddaughter Nancy Houston and gre at granddaughter Lindsey Liu
Aaron and Victoria Mainiero with Mason
Wiley Massey Bob Griffin and
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Jessica Lee and Andrew Pate were married on July 24th at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Shreveport. Pictured are (left to right): Jeff Lee, Carrie Beth Burns, Bethany Lawler, Jeremy Rury, Eva Deeds, Jessica Lee Pate, Andrew Pate, Alex Pate, Jonathan Pate, Lauren Pate, Tyler Perkins.
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General and Comprehensive Eye Care for the Family. 32
December 2010
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Larry Lafitte More than a musical performance! Larry engages the audience as he mingles among them, encouraging them to sing along and participate in the fun and laughter. Songs for persons of all ages and musical taste. Performances at nursing homes, retirement communities and other facilities Available for special occasions or monthly engagements To book a performance or for more information call
(318) 393-8287
or email: deposllc@aol.com The Best Of Times
December 2010
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December 2010
Ronnie and Donna Grimaldi
eves Wehlander, and Nell Re Caroline Moore, Jane
Warning Signs That May Indicate the Need for Treatment
• • • • • • • •
Depression, extreme sadness Confused thinking, difficulty concentrating Hallucinations; hearing voices Misuse of alcohol or medications Disorientation Numerous unexplained physical ailments Difficulties coping with daily living Excessive fears, anxieties or suspiciousness
Counselor Pam Reeves, Librarian Penny Boster, ipal er and Assistant Princ Principal Nancy Doern at en for Hallowe Cathy Turner dressed Princeton Elementary TheBestOfTimesNews.com
Margaret d’Aquin emails this photo to family members on their birthday
Melvin Reed & Melvin Melvin Re Reed Jr ed & Melvin Reed Jr
ney and Fred Ray Peebles, Tom Tren concert McClanahan at an organ
Giving the Human Touch
The hours James Nix spends with his grandchildren are perhaps his most cherished time. After all, he almost never got the chance to even see his grandchildren. Back in 1981, while working for the electric company, James came in contact with some high voltage that left him seriously injured and burned. Both of his arms were amputated as a result, but with strong determination James has been able to overcome new challenges one day at a time. “It all just depends on you and your positive attitude about things,” explains Nix. “When somebody tells you that you can’t do something, prove them wrong!” That same kind of determination drives our practitioners and technicians to keep improving the devices we fit and fabricate. We want to make life a little easier for those we serve. But we also believe that while biomechanics, technology, and mathematical precision play a large part in the services we provide, the true heart of our work is based on the human touch rather than the scientific one.
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ley, Debbie Martin, and Edwina Hill, Bryan Woo Earlene Coleman
Pappas on the Constantine and Aliki first day of school
Bill Kent, Kay Kent, Iris Cotton
Ashley Beard, Victoria Mainiero and Kyra Maxey
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Happy Birthday Ch arlie Simmons
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lps Dan Waters (center) he n so gradson Lee (left) and ject Mike with a school pro
Sheryl Little with agley daughters Michelle W ey hr mp and Jennifer Hu
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Cousins Nic Hults & Judson Reed
Mackenzie Head with her date Anthony are ready for homecoming
Leonard and Denise Gr esens
Shawn, son of Joshua and Elizabeth Carroll
December 2010
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December 2010
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Helen Palmer, Lynn Bunko buddies (seated) aney; (standing) Debbie Homza and Barbara Ch enda Kennon, Libby Eason, Debbie Grand, Br , Susan Smelley, Jean Alexander, Med Goorley is Gamble and Judy Brain
Bill Hines with Dee and Billy Palmer
Ed Jacobs and Barbara Colvin at St Pat’s Day lunch
Stephanie Vosley and Mary Anne Rankin at a golf tournament hosted by with BCOA
Garrett Lavell Simmons
unds, JoAnn Quaid, Erma Scull, Carolyn Bo tty Williams Hugh Scott Coyle, Be
edy lin at the John F Kenn Bob and Carolyn Frank Hyannis Museum
l Little, Marcy Everett Linda Goldsberry, Shery and Joan Bergeron The Best Of Times
50th anniversary party for Chris and Anita Miaoulis. Back row: P.J. Lowen tr itt, Tonya Lowentritt, Anita Miaoulis, Chris Miaoulis, Nick Miaoulis, Monique Stubbs and Marc Stubbs, Sr. Middle row: Mar c Stubbs, Jr., M arley Stubbs, Mallory Stubbs and Sherri Miaoul is. Front row: Olivia Lowentritt and Daniel Lowen tritt. December 2010
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ng, Patricia Smithey, and Mamie Organ, Lavada Lo Gerry Jackson
th Paul, Mayor Cedric Glover wi n of dre Kori & Trinity A (chil Stephanie Vosley)
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December 2010
Kay Constantine, Magda lene Calambakas, Kiki Mitchell, and Sandra Po lizos
Tina Yampanis with her aunt Angel Pappas and mom Helen Yampanis
Pyra Calligas with gra ndchildren Alexa, Louis and Jaso n Calligas
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Danny Mark Burley, Jeff Lee, Martin
Connie Waters (left) nominated sister-in-law Mary McIntosh for the LA Volunteer Service award
rm Tawwatters, Angie Rosie Burks, Val and No McFarland.
Aaron Mainiero, Jan St arnes, Lori Mainiero, Victoria Mainiero, Stacey Crews
Indoors tennis team me mbers Debbie Grand, Neal Mottet, Ba rbara Head, Abby Averett, and Susan Sm elley
S h r e v e p o r t l i t t l e t h e at r e
laSt oF the reD hot loverS September 9 - 19, 2010 i love YoU, YoU’re perFeCt, NoW ChaNGe November 4 - 14, 2010 a StreetCar NaMeD DeSire January 6 -16, 2011 little Shop oF horrorS March 3 - 13, 2011 pippiN April 28 - May 8, 2011
The Best Of Times
BroaDWaY BelterS: A Benefit for SLT’s Phoenix Project x2 June 25 - 27, 2010 piNKaliCioUS December 4, 2010 a ChriStMaS Carol This Holiday Season!
leS MiSeraBleS July 22 – August 1, 2010 reNt October 14 - 24, 2010 pippiN
(a co-production with SLTAcademy & SLT’s Mainstage)
Call (318) 424-4439
or email Sportlittletheatre@gmail.com Or Visit Our Box Office - 300 OCKLEY at Youree Dr. www.shreveportlittletheatre.org
December 2010
41
Christmas in America’s
Castles by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com)
Photos:(left and bottom) Christmas at the Biltmore Estate courtesy of Biltmore Company. (Right) Christmas at Hearst Castle, photo courtesy Hearst Castle®/California State Parks
have a hard time imagining what I’d do with a 175,000 square foot home — or even with a relatively small 60,645 square foot home. (For comparison’s sake, the average new home in the United States is 2,500 square feet.) But then, I’m not a Vanderbilt or a Hearst. Their homes — The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC and the aptly named Hearst Castle in San Simeon, CA — are among the largest homes in the United States, and at Christmas they are opulent, outrageous and — in these recessionary times — overthe-top. The Biltmore Estate It’s not easy to impress relatives, especially when their last name is Vanderbilt. But young George III — grandson of Cornelius, the great railroad tycoon — managed to do just that when he invited his family to Christmas Eve dinner back in 1895. His relatives traveled by private railway from New York to the then-small town of Asheville, North Carolina. There amid the mountains of southern Appalachia, George welcomed them to his new home, a luxurious estate that
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rivaled the grandest French chateaux. His niece, Gertrude, was appropriately awed. “I have seldom enjoyed a place so much,” she reportedly exclaimed. Of course, even without Christmas glitter, the estate is statistically and artistically staggering: • The mansion, the largest in the United States, is more than three times the size of the White House, and the grounds are more than nine times the size of New York’s Central Park. • The 250 rooms, about a third of which are open to the public, include 65 fireplaces, 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms,
three kitchens, an indoor bowling alley and a heated swimming pool. • More than 50,000 objects of art are on display, including paintings by Renoir and Whistler and several 16th-century Flemish tapestries. Now add to this the Christmas stats: nearly 100 decorated Christmas trees, ranging from a small, tabletop model to a 35-foot Fraser fir that sits in the sevenstory Banquet Hall; more than 1,000 wreaths and bows; 1,450 poinsettias, miles of evergreen garlands and, according to floral displays manager Cathy Barnhardt, “bazillions of ornaments.” This year the giant fir will be laden with child-pleasing decorations, including dolls, tops and even tricycles and toy trains. This is designed to reflect those early Christmases when the Vanderbilts hosted massive family-friendly Christmas parties for their employees and gave a present to each child who lived on the estate. While Vanderbilt was most concerned with his own home, he also wanted to provide livable space for his workers. In 1889 he purchased property near the estate, tore down the dilapidated buildings and built a planned TheBestOfTimesNews.com
community in which all streets radiated out fan-shape from the focal point, All Souls Church. Biltmore Village was incorporated as a town in 1893, two years before Vanderbilt moved into his own mansion. The first weekend in December the Village ushers in the holiday season by turning on thousands of lights. Strolling vocalists and instrumentalists — all dressed in turn-of-the-century costumes — offer free entertainment. Vanderbilt would have like that and, I must admit, so do I! (www.biltmore.com/ Reservations advised.)
Hearst Castle Some 2500 miles away and several decades later, another American tycoon began building an equally extravagant mansion, this one a Spanish style extravaganza designed by renowned architect Julia Morgan. William Randolf Hearst, the mega media mogul, took 28 years to finish his estate in San Simeon, California. It included one main house, three guesthouses, two pools, several tennis courts, 127 acres of gardens, and a zoo that contained more than 300 animals including zebras, kangaroos and yaks. (The zoo and one swimming pool have since been dismantled.) Many of Hollywood’s biggest stars visited regularly, especially during the holidays. Hearst had the house decorated lavishly during the Christmas season, with huge trees laden with handmade garlands, brilliant poinsettias and elaborate ornaments. Today photos of Hearst’s holiday parties are used to recreate that festive atmosphere from mid-November through December. After Hearst’s death, the family gave the property to the State of California. It has since been deemed a State Historical Monument and is run by the Park Service, which has set up six different tours. I opt for the Evening Tour, when docents dress in period costumes and lights sparkle on the trees. The feeling is magical, and I can almost hear Bing Crosby crooning “White Christmas.” I feel as if — in more ways than one — I’m spending Christmas amongst the stars. (www.hearstcastle.org/ Reservations advised.)
©2010 HARveSt mAnAgement SuB, LLc 0331
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December 2010
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“Amos Walker: The Complete Story Collection” by Loren D. Estleman ©2010, Tyrus Books, $32.95, 600 pgs You’ve got your week all planned out. There’s a detective show on Mondays. Two on Tuesdays, both at the same time (you’ll record one). Wednesdays, there are two of them back-toback. There’s just one you want to watch on Thursday and Friday each, which leaves the weekend to catch up on repeats and the occasional odd cop show. What can you say? You’re a fan. Dying for a decent detective drama? Then shut off the TV and grab “Amos Walker: the Complete Story Collection” by Loren D. Estleman. If you think CSI is the B-E-S-T, just you wait… In 1980, author Loren D. Estleman introduced Private Investigator Amos Walker to the world. Walker is smart but he makes mistakes. He has a sarcastic wit that crooked cops
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and criminals rarely catch. And he has a knack for solving the worst crimes committed in and around Detroit. In celebration of Walker’s 30th “anniversary”, Estleman pulls together every one of his Amos Walker stories, and he gives fans a brand-new one. In “Needle”, an old man with a faded tattoo on his forearm shoots a young intruder lurking in his back yard. When Walker arrives, he finds a tattoo on the corpse’s face: a newly-gotten swastika. It’s a clear case of a homeowner protecting his property, until Walker aimlessly pages through a photo album. Redline Records’ Sheilah Sorrell is in trouble and she won’t say why, but her friend Ansel Albany knows it must be big so he calls his old pal Amos Walker. Sheilah is no more forthcoming to Walker than she is to Albany, but in “Deadly Force”, Walker knows she’s being smacked around by her boyfriend, Ronnie Madrid. When Madrid shows up dead, Sheilah sings a different tune. And when Max the Seeing Eye dog is stolen, his owner grieves. Max was not
Terri Schlichenmeyer
the BOOKWORM
just a working dog, he was a beloved companion and in “Dogs”, his owner hires Amos Walker to find her boy. Walker immediately knows that it’s more than a Cave Canum case; this crime has gone to the dogs in more ways than one. Though the stories in “Amos Walker: The Complete Story Collection” are set in modern times, you have to concentrate to keep that in mind. That’s because each short tale has the distinct feel of a flickery old black-and-white 1930s detective movie, and to fans of this genre, that’s irresistible. Author Loren D. Estleman’s main character, Amos Walker, is a PI with a conscience, a man who gives money back to clients who pay too much, and who remembers his friends, even if they’re in prison. Walker isn’t flashy; he drives an old beater and lives in a flat he barely visits. He’s no womanizer, but he’s good with a gun, he’s got brains, and wow, I liked that. Be aware that “Amos Walker: The Complete Story Collection” is, at 600 pages, a brick of a book. But if you’re a fan of detective novels, get this one and you’ve got the rest of this year all planned out. The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 12,000 books.
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ANSWERS FROM THE EXPERTS Ophthalmology
Nursing Home Care
I am a 50-year-old female who has worn contacts and glasses for my nearsighted condition for years. Will the new eye procedures eliminate my need for contacts or glasses? After age 40, most people become presbyopic, meaning you lose your near vision. There are many options for people who want to reduce their dependence on glasses or contacts. Some people are great candidates for LASIK, while others would benefit more from the ReStor Multifocal Lens Implant. In order to know exactly which procedure is best for you, you should be examined. Call 212-3937 today to learn about all of the options available to you.
My father is taking many prescription medications and is about to be admitted to a nursing home for rehab care from hip surgery. How will he get prescriptions refilled and will Medicare cover them? The hospital’s discharging physician will write orders for medications. Generally, the nursing home’s primary pharmacy will dispense the meds and they will be delivered to the center the same day. As to cost, if your father admits under Medicare Part A, the medications are paid for by the nursing center. If he admits as private pay, either your father or his prescription drug plan will be billed for the costs. If he is eligible for Medicaid and has been awarded benefits, the pharmacy will bill Medicaid for reimbursement.
Chris Shelby, MD
Pierremont Eye Institute 7607 Youree Dr. Shreveport, LA 71105 318-212-3937; www.ShelbyEye.com See our ad on page 32
Vicki Ott
NurseCare Nursing and Rehab Center 1736 Irving Place Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 221-1983 See our ad on page 54
Orthopaedics
hospice
Is Osteoarthritis (OA) hereditary? OA does have a genetic predisposition. Common forms of OA of the hands has a familial component. Obesity is a modifiable risk factor for bilateral (both) knee OA and weight loss will reduce the risk of OA in the knee. Obesity, surprisingly, does not show an increased risk of hip OA, but does show increased risk of hand OA. Whether adipose tissue releases OAcausing growth factors or hormones is not known at present, but what is known is that weight loss does have an identifiable improvement in OA of the knee.
Should I wait for our physician to raise the possibility of hospice, or should I raise it first? The most frequent comment hospice agencies hear from their patient’s and families is “I wish I would have known about ‘it’ sooner.” In 2008, 35.4% of those served by hospice died or were discharged in seven days or less - a timeframe way too short to realize the full benefits of hospice care. Ideally, discussions about adding the benefits of hospice services to an individual’s care regimen should begin when it appears that a cure may not be possible for a life-limiting illness and within the context an individual’s goals for treatment. It would not only be appropriate, but also prudent to initiate the conversation with your physician about hospice services.
John J. Ferrell, M.D. Mid South Orthopaedics 7925 Youree Drive; Suite 210 Shreveport, LA 71105 (318) 424-3400
The Best Of Times
Rick Bauer
LifePath Hospice Care Service 8720 Quimper Place, Ste 100 Shreveport, LA 71105 318-222-5711; 1-866-257-5711 www.lifepathhospicecare.com See our ad on page 21
SHREVEPORT SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA MICHAEL BUTTERMAN, MUSIC DIRECTOR
HOLIDAY POPS
SAT., DEC. 18, 2010—7:30 PM
Riverview Theater Shreveport Symphony Orchestra Kermit Poling, conductor Gale Odom, soprano Seva May, alto Holiday Pops Childrens’ Chorus Connie Lerchie, director A local tradition for many years, the SSO’s Holiday Pops concert will put you in the holiday spirit—guaranteed!
FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE Shuttle picks up at Artspace and Regions Bank parking garage at the corner of Milam & Market Streets.
UPCOMING CONCERTS Go for the Gold | Sat., Jan. 8 A Pair of Fives | Sat., Feb. 5 The Sounds of New Orleans | Fri., March 4 Season Finale | Sat., May 14 All concerts start at 7:30 PM
Come Hear the Music Play TICKETS & DETAILS:
www.shreveportsymphony.com 318.227.8863 Tickets start at $17
December 2010
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A
Merry Maple
Holiday Menu
Family Features
T
he holidays are a time to celebrate the warmth of friendship, the love of family and the joy of the season. And when it comes to the holiday meal, you want a menu to match the mood and make everyone feel at home. Pure Canadian maple syrup is a versatile, all natural ingredient that adds complexity and depth to your holiday recipes. The flavorful, yet subtle sweetness in maple syrup brings out the best in savory dishes like a beautiful rib roast, succulent roasted root vegetables, and an almost decadent sweet potato purée. For more flavorful ways to savor your holiday meals, visit the Federation of Quebec Maple Syrup’s website, www. purecanadamaple.com, and follow on Twitter @PureCanadaMaple.
Maple Rib Roast 6 to 8 servings 5 pound rib roast, bone-in Salt and pepper to taste 1 cup maple syrup 1/3 cup Dijon mustard 2 Tbs. fresh rosemary, finely chopped 2 Tbs. fresh thyme, finely chopped 2 Tbs. freshly ground black pepper Ready-made bordelaise sauce Rosemary sprig for garnish Preheat oven to 400°F. Place roast, with bones side up, in roasting pan. Using a knife, make incisions in the fat. Season entire surface with salt and pepper. Cover ends of bones with aluminum foil. In bowl, combine maple syrup and mustard, and baste roast with mixture. In another bowl, combine herbs and pepper, then season entire roast. Roast for 30 minutes. Reduce temperature to 300°F and cook for another 2 hours until the meat is done, but still rare (around 135°F). Wrap roast in aluminum foil and let sit for 10 minutes prior to carving. Garnish with rosemary. Serve with bordelaise sauce and Maple Caramelized Vegetables.
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Pumpkin & Maple Syrup Mini Tarts 6 mini tarts 6 3-inch unbaked, mini tart crust shells 1 egg 1 cup pumpkin purée 1/3 cup maple syrup 1/8 tsp. ground ginger 1/8 tsp. ground cloves ¼ tsp. ground nutmeg ½ ts. ground cinnamon ½ cup whipping cream Maple syrup to taste Preheat oven to 375°F. In bowl, beat egg with pumpkin purée and maple syrup. Add spices and cream. Mix well to obtain a consistent mixture. Pour mixture into crust shells. Bake in center of oven for 15 minutes, or until pumpkin mixture is firm. Whip cream with a splash of maple syrup (to taste) until stiff. Serve tarts hot or cold with a garnish of whipped cream, and sprinkle with maple sugar.
Maple Caramelized Vegetables 6 to 8 servings 2 medium carrots, peeled 2 medium parsnips, peeled 1 sweet potato, peeled 1 fist-size celery root, peeled 1 zucchini 1 tablespoon butter ¼ cup maple syrup ½ cup broiled whole pecans Salt and pepper, to taste Pieces of maple sugar, to taste Cut vegetables into julienne strips and steam all, except for zucchini, for 5 minutes. Add zucchini strips and steam for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat. Melt butter in frying pan. Add maple syrup and cook for 1 minute while stirring. Add vegetables and coat in maple sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Remove from heat. Serve vegetables with broiled pecans. Sprinkle with maple sugar pieces, if desired.
Sweet Potato Purée with Pecans & Maple Syrup 5 medium-size sweet potatoes ½ cup butter ½ cup maple syrup ¼ cup sour cream 1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped ½ cup oven-roasted whole pecans Preheat oven to 350°F. Using a knife, pierce sweet potatoes several times. Put on cookie sheet and bake for 1 hour, or until soft. Remove from oven and let rest for a few minutes. Peel sweet potatoes. Put in a food processor, along with butter, maple syrup and sour cream, and mix to obtain the consistency of a purée. Put purée in a bowl, add chives, and gently mix together. Put roasted pecans on top and serve. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
The Best Of Times
December 2010
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Get Up & Go! Be The Dinosaur: Life in the Cretaceous Traveling Exhibition - Through January 5. Sci-Port Discover Center, Corner of Lake St. and Clyde Fant Parkway on the Shreveport riverfront. Tuesday - Friday*: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m; Saturday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday: Noon - 6 p.m. Go beyond looking at dinosaur fossils and actually have the opportunity to become a dinosaur! Explore the mysteries and theories of dinosaur behavior in an detailed environment so detailed that digital winds carry virtual odors and photorealistic flora grow. (318) 424-3466. www.sciport.org. Senior 60+ discount available.
Driver SAfety
AARP Driver Safety Program - A 4 hour classroom refresher course for drivers age 50+ which may qualify participants for an automobile insurance premium reduction or discount. Participants must preregister. $14 for non-AARP members; $12 for AARP members (AARP card required at registration). Correct change or checks payable to AARP accepted. • December 9 - 12:00 Noon. Bossier Council on Aging, 706 Bearkat Dr., Bossier City. Contact: Kathy Thomas – 318-741-8302; Instructor: Ray Branton
Exhibit
The Making of...The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore - Through Jan. 29. artspace, 710 Texas St. in downtown Shreveport. Monday 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Tuesday thru Friday 10 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.; Saturday 12 - 5. For more info call (318) 673-6535 or visit artspaceshreveport.com.
family fun
Bring the family for Hands-On Art. Every Saturday 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. and December 27 - 30 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. artspace, 710 Texas Street in downtown Shreveport. $7
Forum
Dementia & Alzheimer's Forum - Presented by the Pennington Biomedical Research Center’s (PBRC) Institute for Dementia Research and Prevention. Tuesday, December 7. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Seating and exhibits will be available at 4:30 p.m. Summer Grove Baptist Church, 8924 Jewella Road, Shreveport. Free and open to the public. Seating is limited. Register early at idrp.pbrc.edu or call 1-877-276-8306.
Genealogy
“The GENCOM Genealogy/Computer Group will have their monthly meeting Sunday, December 5 at 2:00 at the
Hamilton Branch of the Shreve Memorial Library, 2111 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop, Shreveport. The program for the meeting will be “Producing a Family History Portfolio: A Few Features of Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat” presented by Philip Adderley, Certified Genealogist. The meeting is free and open to the public. For information call 318-773-7406.”
holiday
Christmas in Roseland - Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays through December19 . 5:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. American Rose Center, just off I-20, Exit 5 in Shreveport, LA. $5 per person or $20 per carload. Ages 2 and younger are free. Purchase tickets online at www.christmasinroseland.org. Tour of Trees - December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18 and 19; January 1 and 2. 1:00 p.m. or 3:00 p.m. Tower at the Oaks, 600 E. Flournoy Lucas Rd, Shreveport. Residents and staff invite you to enjoy a walking tour through this holiday wonderland. Reserve tour time by calling 212-8225 or request your tour time at oaksofla.com. No charge.
Krewe of Elders
Christmas party - Saturday, December 11, 2010, from 6:00 p.m., until 11:00 p.m., at the American Legion Hall located at 5315 South Lakeshore Drive, Shreveport, Louisiana. Entertainment provided by A.J. Cascio and The Two Tone Band. Buffet dinner. Turkey, Dressing and Ham provided. Members and guests are asked to bring a casserole, covered dish or des-
“We Provide indePendent Medicare SolutionS”
call: 318-213-6432 for More inforMation or See uS online WWW.redriverinSuranceGrouP.coM
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December 2010
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sert. Free if bring food; $10.00 per person without food. Info. 635-4901, 752-9175.
Movie
Silver Screenings Matinee and Luncheon for Seniors - "An Affair to Remember" starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Dec. 14. 10:30 a.m. Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas in downtown Shreveport.. $5.75 for the film only; $14 for film and lunch. Call (318) 459-4122 to RSVP.
Music
Shreveport Symphony Orchestra "Holday Pops" - Saturday, December 18. 7:30 p.m. at Riverview Theatre on Clyde Fant Parkway in downtown Shreveport. Single Ticket Prices: $42, $37, $27 Adults; $17- Students Call 318-227-8863 for tickets. www.shreveportsymphony.com Night of Praise - Presented by Price Harris Ministries. January 7 at 6:30 p.m. Calvary Baptist Church, 9333 Linwood Ave., Shreveport. Guy Hovis and Aaron Wilburn. Choir from Rose Park Baptist Church. The Needham's and The Allen Family. NO CHARGE. Nena Wideman Piano Competition Sponsored by the Shreveport Symphony Guild and hosted at the Hurley School of Music on the Centenary College campus. Preliminaries: December 3, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. and December 4, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Semifinals are Sunday, December 5, 1 p.m. - 6 p.m. Finals: Concert with Shreveport Symphony Orchestra at First Baptist Church, Shreveport on January 8 at 7:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Contributions accepted at the door for the final round.
Support Group
Bereavement Support Group - Every Thursday, 5:30 p.m. Hospice Family Room, 3300 Albert L. Bicknell Drive, Suite 3. The Best Of Times
December 2010
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Across 1 Furtive utterance 5 "The Stranger" novelist 10 Resided 15 Jumble 19 Scale sequence 20 Stove supplier 21 Fiber used for fishing nets 22 Org. concerned with ergonomics 23 School founded by Henry VI 24 Like a ruined roux 25 Nice thoughts? 26 Palindromic time 27 1929 song cowritten by Fats Waller 30 Monetary policy maker, informally 32 "Gotta go!" 33 Time in an ad 34 Broad lowlands 36 23rd Greek letter 38 Snatched violently 40 Shell container? 44 Tenderloin cut 50 Mediation org. established by FDR 52 Express discontent 53 WWII photo site, briefly 54 Bout of indulgence 55 Capital of Delaware? 56 Requiem 57 Record 59 Eleventh hour 63 Name on a compact 64 Not snookered by 65 Fort Erie's prov. 66 Creator of sublime lines 67 Blossom bits 68 Longish coat 70 False appearance 71 Revered Tibetan 72 Firmly
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December 2010
established 75 Tapered transport 76 Court addition? 77 Pain in the neck 81 Year's record 82 "Just passing through" 84 Black, to a bard 85 Blog comments 86 Bit of work 87 Helpless, in a way 89 Govt. smog watchdog 90 Hot pair 91 Cheer alternative 92 Construction site sight 95 Tickle pink 97 Buckwheat noodle 99 Many a bunt, on a scorecard 100 Doesn't split 102 Colorful pet store purchases 106 Reach one's destination 110 Its members travel in a world of their own 113 Gulf War defense weapon 116 Morlock prey 117 Low-tech note taker 119 City on the Po 120 Damaging downpour 121 Pull up stakes, briefly 122 Muscat native 123 You might get a ticket for one 124 Nervewracking exam, for some 125 Finely honed 126 Big name in Russian ballet 127 Has a quick look 128 Cross a stream, say Down 1 Courthouse entries 2 "Socrate"
Tell me no more
By Gail Grabowski; Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
Solution on page 53 composer 3 Rock 4 Old-style photo 5 Colombian city 6 Not to be missed 7 Fast ballroom dance 8 Release, in a way 9 Greet informally 10 Club with a big head 11 Dry riverbed 12 Fix, as text 13 Alibi, maybe 14 Research site 15 Well-meaning error 16 Since 17 Flat, e.g. 18 What a student might raise 28 Boom sites 29 Lots 31 Fathers and sons 35 Avoid a strike, e.g.
37 Self-destruct 39 Consumer application 41 Vital supply line 42 Silent films idol Conrad __ 43 Mini exhibits? 44 Everydog 45 "Bingo!" 46 TV series filmed on Oahu 47 Qom native 48 Daring exploit 49 Figure on a pay stub 51 Belarusian's neighbor 56 Judge 58 Wartime operation 60 Get up on 61 Shoot the breeze, e.g. 62 American of Japanese descent 67 Curfew setters 69 Troubles
70 Sacred river of India 71 Fruit high in vitamin C 72 Palatable 73 Govt. security 74 First name in wilderness photography 75 Part of a hightech tangle 76 Not active 78 Alpine denizen 79 "In your dreams" 80 Tree trunk bulge 82 Prayer object 83 "Platoon" setting, for short 88 Slate and Salon 91 "Don't worry about it" 92 Radio-active sort?
93 Swallow something hook, line and sinker 94 Revue with fancy footwork 96 Old telecom giant 98 Holy Roman emperor, 120915 101 Primitive projectile 103 Itinerary 104 Based on __ story 105 Unsportsmanlike look 107 Jeweled topper 108 Tale of an ancient siege 109 "Ally McBeal" lawyer 110 Schmo 111 S. Grant foe? 112 Lacquered metalware TheBestOfTimesNews.com
SUDOKU - Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column, and 3 x 3 box includes all digits 1 through 9.
Solution on page 53
Blitzen Chimney Comet Cupid Dancer Dasher Donner Elf The Best Of Times
Gifts Nicholas North Pole Prancer Presents Reindeer Rooftop Rudolph
Santa Sleigh Snow Toys Tree Vixen Workshop December 2010
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G
old
Pages
Ambulance Services
Care Providers
Balentine Ambulance Service (318) 222-5358 balentineambulance.com
Comfort Keepers (318) 934-0090 comfortkeepers.com
Artificial Limbs and Braces
Elder Kare (318) 469-1711
Snell’s Orthotics and Prosthetics (318) 424-4167 snellsoandp.com
Associations and Organizations BluePrint Louisiana (866) 483-3920 blueprintlouisiana.org
Elite Health Solutions (318) 213-5483 elitehealthsolution.com Family Care Services (318) 671-1799 familycareservices.net Louisiana CareTenders, LLC (318) 868-3983 louisianacaretenders.com
LearningRX/Shreveport (318)671-0310 learningrx.com/shreveport
St. Joseph Hospice (318) 222-8723 stjosephhospice.com
LearningRX/Bossier City (318) 742-8004 learningrx.com/shreveport
Home Infusion Services
Emergency Response Systems
Arcadian Community Care (888)261-1061 arcadiancommunitycare.com
Estate Planning/Legal Services
Cornerstone Financial Services (318) 861-8607
Guerriero & Guerriero (318) 841-0055 theinjuryattorney.com
Humana (800) 833-0632 humana.com
The Elder Law Practice of Joseph Gilsoul and Kyle Moore (318) 222-2100 weems-law.com
Red River Insurance Group (318) 213-6432 redriverinsurancegroup.com
Cemeteries/Funeral Homes
Caddo Council on Aging (318) 676-7900 caddocoa.org
Centuries Memorial (318) 686-4334 centuriesmemorialfh.com
Sci-Port LA’s Science Center (318) 424-3466 sciport.org
Hill Crest Memorial (318) 949-9415 hillcrestmemorialfh.com
Shreveport Little Theatre (318) 424-4439 shreveportlittletheatre.org
Clinical Research Studies
Home Health Care (Medicare Certified)
The Robinson Film Center (318) 424-9090 robinsonfilmcenter.org
Dr. Gary Booker (318) 227-9600 jgarybookermd.com
Ark-La-Tex Home Health, Inc (318) 747-6180 arklatexhomehealth.com
Counseling Services
The Best of Times (318) 636-5510 thebestoftimesnews.com
HealthGuide (318) 780-4307 healthguidenurse.com
United Home Health Care of Shreveport (318) 798-7777 unitedhomehealthcare.com
Webster Council on Aging (318) 371-3056 webstercoa.org
Educational Courses
Have you made prearrangements for your family, or do you still have that to do? Leaving these decisions to your children on the worst day of their lives is a terrible emotional burden.
Call Today To Receive a FREE Family Planning Portfolio
Centuries Memorial 8801 Mansfield Shreveport, LA 71108 (318) 686-4334 52
December 2010
Hill Crest Memorial 601 Hwy. 80 East Haughton, LA 71037 (318) 949-9415
Insurance
Acadian OnCall (800) 259-1234 acadianmedicalalertsystems.com
Bossier Council on Aging (318) 741-8302 bossiercoa.org
Bible Correspondence Course (318) 797-6333
IV Plus (318) 683-5139
Entertainment Services Singing with Larry Lafitte (318)393-8287
Hearing Care Services Shreve Hearing Aid Service (318) 797-7733
Hospice Care Providers LifePath Hospice (318) 222-5711 lifepathhospicecare.com
Vantage Health Plans (888) 823-1910 vhpla.com
Medical KYPHON Balloon Kyphoplasty (877) 459-7466 kyphon.com
Physician Services Dr. Gary Booker (318) 227-9600 jgarybookermd.com Mid South Orthopaedics (318) 424-3400 Pierremont Eye Institute (318) 212-3937 shelbyeye.com Vision – Source Dr. Larry Chism (888) 243-2020 visionsource-longview.com
Please remember to thank our business partners, for without their support, this priceless resource would not be possible. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
Psychiatric Care Brentwood Hospital (318) 678-7500 psychiatricsolutions_ brentwood.com Red River Behavioral Center (318) 549-2033
Radio Stations AM 1130 KWKH 96.5 KVKI Townsquare Media Radio Station (318) 688-1130 kwkhonline.com
Senior Living Options Azalea Estates Assisted Living (318) 797-2408 azaleaestates.com Horizon Bay Assisted Living (318) 747-2114 horizonbay.com
NurseCare of Shreveport (318) 221-1983 nursecareofshreveport.com Southwood Gardens Apartments (318) 682-4022 Southwood Square Apartments (318) 671-1888 Summerfield Estates (318) 688-9525 holidaytouch.com
Spas/Skin Care/Hair Care Jeany Mitchell’s Skin Technology (318) 347-3567 Sam Stroope, Hairstylist (318) 868-8708
Telephone Book User-Friendly Phone Book (318) 865-1280 www.shreveport247.com
Kingsley Place of Shreveport (318) 524-2100 emeritus.com
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December 2010
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Why Humana Gold Plus is my Medicare plan. ®
“I think my favorite thing with Humana is that I have so much flexibility within the confines of an HMO… because we have such a huge selection of providers.” Bill L. – Humana Gold Plus (HMO) Louisiana member Come to a free information session to find out more: Monroe Catfish Cabin 1400 Louisville Ave. Dec. 1, 15 & 29 11 a.m.
Bossier City Ryan’s – Bossier City 2400 Airline Hwy. Dec. 7 & 15 10 a.m.
Bastrop Granny’s Country Cooking Restaurant 1713 E. Madison Dec. 9 & 23 at 11 a.m.
Shreveport Johnny’s Catfish & Seafood 5130 Bert Kouns Industrial Loop Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 & 30 2 p.m.
Minden Cissie’s Exacta Inn 1404 Sibley Rd. Dec. 7 & 21 9 a.m.
West Monroe Wingate Inn & Suites 228 Blanchard St. Dec. 13 & 27 3 p.m.
Shreveport Piccadilly Cafeteria 1133 St. Vincent Ave. Dec. 2 & 16 11 a.m.
West Monroe Granny’s Country Cooking Restaurant 2400 Cypress St. Dec. 7 & 21 11 a.m.
Call today to reserve your seat:
1-800-219-7542 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week
A health plan with a Medicare contract. A sales person will be present with information and applications. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, but not a comprehensive description of available benefits. For more information contact the plan. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-800-219-7542, (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. H1951_GHA0B60HH File & Use 10202010 The Best Of Times
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Why do I
Love my
Vantage Medicare Advantage?
... Vantage took such good care of me and my medical bills... Dr. Charlie Hennigan, SMS Shreveport, Louisiana 1961 - 1965 Houston Oilers AFL All Star
MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS WITH:* • • • •
No monthly premiums No deductibles $5 Primary Care office visit co-pays X-rays & Lab covered 100%
• • • •
Worldwide emergency coverage Dental and Vision coverage Free generic drugs Great local customer service
Dental & Vision Benefits Now Available
(No separate bills from Radiologists and Pathologists)
1.888.823.1910 www.VHP-Medicare.com
*There are several plans to choose from and all of these benefits may not be available in every Vantage Medicare Advantage plan. Vantage Health Plan is a health plan with a Medicare Advantage contract. You may be eligible to enroll in a Vantage Medicare Advantage plan if you reside in our service area and are currently entitled to Medicare Part A and enrolled in Part B. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, but not a comprehensive description of available benefits. Benefits, premiums, and co-payments/coinsurance amounts may change on January 1, 2012. For more information, contact Vantage at (888) 823-1910 or TTY (866) 524-5144, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. H5576_4002_01_CY11 FILE&USE 10/15/2010 VHP429