August 2010 “Celebrating Age and Maturity�
Great Places to
Beat the
Priceless Presort Standard U.S. Postage Paid Shreveport, LA 71103 Permit No. 6
Willis-Knighton Medical Center
Willis-Knighton South & the Center for Women’s Health
WK Bossier Health Center
WK Pierremont Health Center
Many hospitals offer surgical services. Only a small percentage of hospitals across the country gain national recognition for patient care. Among them is Willis-Knighton. Surgery is serious. Because people react differently to surgery, even a minor outpatient surgery can develop complications. That’s why it is important to have surgery at a place that offers exceptional surgical and recovery services and a full range of critical care and support services if the need arises. Willis-Knighton has been recognized for quality of care and is a leader in minimally invasive surgery, now featuring the option of robotic assisted surgery utilizing the da Vinci® Si Surgical System. This demonstrates Willis-Knighton’s commitment to excellence in surgical services.
We hope you won’t need surgery, but if you do, choose Willis-Knighton. Because where you are treated matters.
WK Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center
WK Bossier Medical Pavilion
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August 2010
www.wkhs.com TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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August 2010
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August 2010 • Vol. 19, No. 8 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 TheBestOfTimesNews.com
Publisher Gary L. Calligas Gary.Calligas@gmail.com Editor Tina Miaoulis Calligas Editor.Calligas@gmail.com Account Executive Philip Maxfield philip.maxfield@gmail.com Design & Layout Jessica Rinaudo Katherine M. Branch Webmaster Jason P. Calligas Writer Mary Flanders Contributors Jason Alderman, Lee Aronson, Al Bolton, Randall Franks, Andrea Gross, Mirabai Holland, Lizzie Lyles, Dr. Renard L. Murray, Terri Schlichenmeyer 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 © 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 financial, medical, legal or emotional matters. We cannot accept liability for omissions or errors and cannot be responsible for the claims of our advertisers.
I
INA’s URN
am definitely a southern girl. I'm not a fan of cold weather and typically enjoy the long, lazy, and yes, even the hot days of summer. Perhaps, global warming has led to this year's unusually blazing, humid weather or it could be my advancing age has resulted in an intolerance for the sweltering temperatures. Whatever the reason, I've been looking for entertaining ways to beat the heat. If you're also looking for fun things to do indoors or if you have out-of-town company that you want to introduce to the uniqueness of our area or if the economy has turned your vacation into a "staycation," you'll be thrilled to read our centerspread feature where Mary Flanders reacquaints us to area museums that are filled with a wealth of fascinating treasures that you can explore... and, all in air-conditioned comfort. But before you run off, you'll want to grab a glass of ice-cold lemonade and finish reading the rest of this issue. Along with all of your usual favorites, make sure to turn to page 32 to read a new regular column by Randall Franks. That's right. The awardwinning musician, singer and actor will join us monthly to help put a smile on your face with his folksy commentary. Until next month, enjoy the rest of your summer! Tina
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Radio Hour
Hosted by Gary Calligas Broadcasting every Saturday morning from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. on AM 1130 KWKH, A Gap Broadcasting Radio Station in Shreveport, LA.
AUGUST 7 “Health Care Decisions” Susie Paulovich, RN with HealthGuide www.heathguidenurse.com AUGUST 14 “The Ten Best Museums” Nita Cole, Curator with Louisiana State Exhibit Museum in Shreveport, www.sos.louisiana.gov AUGUST 21 “Mind Over Fat Matters” Lavinia Rodriguez, PhD, www.fatmatters.com AUGUST 28 “Popular Family Tourist Destination – Branson, Missouri” Kim Heminger, Media Relations Manager with the Branson Convention and Tourist Bureau, www.explorebranson.com Streaming live on the internet www.KWKHonline.com
Previously aired programs are available at www.TheBestOfTimesNews.com Do you have a question for one of our guests? Call 320-1130 during the broadcast or email Gary.Calligas@gmail.com prior to the show. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
The Best Of Times
August 2010
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BRIEFLY
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8 In the News
10 STAT! Medical News
SPECIAL REPORTS 12 W omen Starting Over: How to Take Charge of Your Financial Future 14 A ffordable Care Act Will Close the Doughnut Hole
ADVICE
COLUMNS 23 W eather Facts for Thought by Al Bolton 24 T raveltizers by Andrea Gross Traveling in the Past
16 M arci’s Medicare Answers Skin Cancer Screenings, Medigap Plans & Medicare Summary Notice Mistakes
32 S outhern Style by Randall Franks A Tool Bag Full of Answers
18 M oney Matters by Jason Alderman Financial Help for Seniors
34 The Bookworm by Terri Schlinchenmeyer Review of “Furious Love” by Sam Kashner & Nancy Schoenberger
20 L aws of the Land by Lee Aronson No Job for You 22 M oving Free with Mirabai® by Mirabai Holland Anti Drill Sergeant Personal Training
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36 I n Profile by Mary Flanders A Passion for History: Collection Connection
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38 Restaurant Review by Lizzie Lyles The Market
IN EVERY ISSUE
FEATURE 27 G reat Places to Beat the Heat by Mary Flanders
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40 Answers from the Experts
41 Volunteer Salute
42 What’s Cooking?
44 Get Up & Go
46 Our Famous Puzzle Pages
48 Gold Pages
51 Parting Shots TheBestOfTimesNews.com
age comes wisdom.
They say with
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BlueChoice 65 refers to contracts #40XX0420, #40XX0421, and #40XX0425 and is not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. government or the federal Medicare program. Please see your agent for benefit exclusions, limitations and reductions. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana has contracted with the federal government to offer RxBLUE PDP, a stand-alone prescription drug plan with a Medicare contract. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, but not a comprehensive description of available benefits. Additional information about benefits is available to assist you in making a decision about your coverage. This is an advertisement; for more information contact the plan. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana incorporated as Louisiana Health Service & Indemnity Company 01MK3028 3/10 The Best Of Times
S5937_032210AFU August 2010
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in the NEWS
Grandparents: Generous with Money, Not with Advice Almost two-thirds of America’s grandparents have provided financial support to their grandchildren during the last 5 years, 40% for general purposes and 26% for education, according to the MetLife Mature Market Institute’s QuickPOLL, Grandparents: Generous with Money, Not with Advice. The average amount provided was $8,661, or about $370.7 billion total in the last five years. One-quarter (25%) say the economic downturn has caused them to increase the help they give to their grandchildren.
Caregiving Booklet Debuts Online The National Alliance for Caregiving, a national advocacy organization for family caregivers partnered with Emblem Health to create a short, easy-to-read and colorful booklet that covers the basics of family caregiving, tips, financial and legal matters, and resources for more help. The booklet also highlights a number of family caregiving stories. The addendum to the booklet provides an overview of additional resources from authors and organizations dedicated to advocating for family caregivers. To view the guide go to www.caregiving.org/data/ Emblem_CfC10_Final2.pdf.
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August 2010
VA Medical Center Receives Donated Vehicles Two new 2010 Ford Explorer XLTs, valued at over $62,000, were presented to the Overton Brooks VA Medical Center in Shreveport on July 26, 2010. The vehicles were donated by the Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Chapter 30 with financial assistance from the Barksdale AFB Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), Chapter 615. Dr. Virginia Short, Acting Medical Center Director said, “The Volunteer Transportation Network (VTN) at Overton Brooks VA Medical Center operates 7 vehicles which transport more than 5000 Veterans annually to appointments at the medical center. Veterans who do not have transportation to the medical center can use the VTN which has pick-up points in Longview, Texas, Texarkana, Arkansas and Monroe and Zwolle, Louisiana. The two new Ford Explorers are replacing two high mileage vehicles and will ensure the continued safe transportation of our Veterans."
Social Security Showcases History in 75th Year What you may not have realized when you rang in 2010 was that you also were ringing in the 75th anniversary of Social Security. On August 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. Since then, Social Security has been a cornerstone of the nation, touching the lives of almost every American at one time or another. When President Roosevelt signed Social Security into law, he said, “The civilization of the past hundred years, with its startling industrial changes, has tended more and more to make life insecure. Young people have come to wonder what would be their lot when they came to old age. The man with a job has wondered how long the job would last. This law, too, represents a cornerstone in a structure which is being built but is by no means complete. It is, in short, a law that will take care of human needs and at the same time provide the United States an economic structure of vastly greater soundness.” Change and economic insecurity were regular parts of everyday life in those days, just as they are today. Social Security administration will be commemorating the anniversary by showcasing milestones in Social Security’s 75-year history on their website at www.socialsecurity.gov/history.
Growing Number of Boomers Head to AgeRestricted Communities Many Baby Boomers, like their parents, are choosing to “age in place,” but a large and growing number - more than 1.2 million households - are choosing to move to communities designed to meet their needs, according to a report released by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) and the MetLife Mature Market Institute (MMI). The data Examples of Housing Trendsis significant because by 2010 the Boomers will represent one-quarter of the U.S. population - a group that will greatly impact the choices available in the housing market. The report showed that an increasing number of 55+ consumers will opt for age-restricted communities designed to attract “active adults” with a heavy emphasis on lifestyle. The analysis also confirmed that while most consumers were generally happy with their current homes, residents of age-restricted active-adult communities had the highest satisfaction rates. (Housing for the 55+ Market: Trends and Insights on Boomers and Beyond) TheBestOfTimesNews.com
Be Wary of Unclaimed Property Finders By State Treasurer John Kennedy The Louisiana Department of the Treasury’s Unclaimed Property Division has received several complaints from Louisiana residents who have been contacted by individuals offering to help locate unclaimed property for a fee. These people are known as “finders.” They are not affiliated with the state’s Unclaimed Property Division. Louisiana residents who have been contacted by finders wonder if it would be easier to pay someone to help them locate their unclaimed property. You do not have to pay for this service, because the state offers it for free. A finder may contact you by phone, letter, email or pop-up Internet message. The finder will say that he or she has found lost money for you or can locate missing money for a price. The cost of the service can be anything from a flat rate, a percentage of the money found, the price of postage, or a donation for the services performed. It is against Louisiana law for finders to charge fees in excess of 10% of the value of the property. Even if a finder contacts you directly, it does not necessarily mean you are actually owed unclaimed property. The worst unclaimed property finder scams prey on Louisiana citizens who need extra money the most, like the poor and elderly. The Treasury gets in new, lost money almost daily and they have information on $437 million in unclaimed property belonging to Louisiana residents. They have the most current and complete unclaimed property records out there. If you are owed unclaimed property, a finder will have no more information about it than you could find on your own using the department's free tools. To search for unclaimed property for free in Louisiana, visit the Treasury’s official website at www.latreasury.com. Citizens without Internet access can call the Unclaimed Property Division toll-free (nationwide) at 1-888-925-4127 to search for missing money or to report scams. The office is open Monday-Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The Best Of Times
August 2010
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STAT!
Statins May Stave Off Gallstones
Long-term use of cholesterol-lowering statins appears to reduce the incidence of gallstones and the need for surgery to prevent the excruciating pain they cause, a new study indicates. (JAMA)
Skirt Alzheimer's
Exercising for 20 to 30 minutes a couple of times a week not only slashed Alzheimer's risk by as much as 60 percent in a study but also cut the risk of regular dementia in half. (RealAge.com)
Eat These Foods for a Disease-Free Stomach
You could cut your risk of stomach cancer by a whopping 33% if you adopt a Mediterranean-style diet That means bulking up on fruit, vegetables, legumes, and healthy fats from olive oil, nuts, seeds, and fish. And taking it easy on red meat, dairy, and alcohol. (RealAge.com)
Exercise To Prevent Falls
Remaining physically fit and sticking to a regular exercise routine could lower your risk of taking a tumble, finds a new research study. About 19,000 people die each year in the United States from falls and about 8 million undergo treatment in emergency rooms. Falls are the leading cause of injuries among people age 65 and older. The researchers concluded that individuals need about two hours of regular exercise a week to lower the risk of falling. Those who exercised less − or not at all − did not have the same protection. (American Journal of Preventive Medicine)
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August 2010
Create a Family Health History At your next family reunion, consider discussing a family health history. Older family members are uniquely positioned to help create a family health history. Knowing what diseases run in the family is important for you, your children and grandchildren. A family health history, especially as one ages, can be used by health care providers to assess individual health risks and employ prevention strategies to avoid a variety of health conditions, from cardiovascular disease to cancer. Find out how to collect, organize and use information about your family’s health at Creating a Family Health History (www.nihseniorhealth.gov/creatingafamilyhealthhistory/toc.html).
Protect Your Pancreas from Cancer
Pancreatic cancer is relatively rare but, unfortunately, often fatal. Scientists have pinpointed five key ways to reduce risk. The list contains some of the usual good choices: Exercise, lose the spare tire, and ditch the booze and the cigarettes. But here's the twist: Adding a Mediterranean-style diet - one that emphasizes fruit, veggies, and beans along with healthy fats from fish and nuts - cuts the risk of pancreatic cancer by more than half. Adopting even just a few of the five habits can help diminish the risk, but according to a recent survey, healthy people who adhered to all five lifestyle factors - versus none -- had the biggest benefit: a 58% lower chance of developing pancreatic cancer. (RealAge.com)
Working Through Grief: It’s Different for Everyone A death of a loved one, a job loss, the end of a marriage, an illness or disability. Everyone faces losses and grief, but the toll that grief can take on the mind and body can catch many people by surprise. In years past, grief often was described as following a certain pattern from one feeling to another. People who are grieving experience many different emotions. They may include denial, sadness, anger, confusion, despair and even guilt. Physical reactions can include sleeping problems, changes in appetite, a drop in energy level, body aches and pain or the development or worsening of an illness. To help cope with grief: • Express feelings. Friends, family or members of the religious community often can be a source of support and comfort. Other options are support groups or grief counselors. • Delay any major decisions or changes: Decisions that affect life and lifestyle, such as housing changes or new ways of handling finances, should wait a while. Advice from a trusted family member or friend, financial adviser or attorney may be helpful. • Take care of personal health: Eating right, getting adequate sleep and limiting alcohol are important. Regular exercise can relieve stress and anxiety. • Be patient: Time spent grieving varies. Expecting to simply “get over” grief is unrealistic. Ups and downs may last for weeks or months following a loss. Though some feelings of loss may never fully go away, the most intense signs and symptoms of grief typically diminish over time, within six months or so. Grief that is prolonged and debilitating may be a sign of depression. A doctor should be consulted for treatment options. (Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource) TheBestOfTimesNews.com
Too Hot for Your Health
Hot summer weather can pose special health risks. Hyperthermia is an abnormally high body temperature caused by a failure of the heatregulating mechanisms of the body to deal with the heat coming from the environment. Heat fatigue, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after prolonged exposure to the heat), heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke are commonly known forms of hyperthermia. Lifestyle risks can include not drinking enough fluids, living in housing without air conditioning, lack of mobility, overdressing, visiting overcrowded places and not understanding how to respond to hot weather conditions. Health-related risk factors include being dehydrated; age-related changes to the skin; heart, lung and kidney diseases, as well as any illness that causes general weakness or fever; high blood pressure or other conditions that require changes in diet; reduced perspiration, caused by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers and certain heart and blood pressure drugs; being substantially overweight or underweight; and drinking alcoholic beverages. Heat stroke is a life-threatening form of hyperthermia. Someone with a body temperature above 104° Fahrenheit may have symptoms of confusion, combativeness, strong rapid pulse, lack of sweating, dry flushed skin, faintness, staggering, possible delirium or coma. Seek immediate emergency medical attention for a person with any of these symptoms. If you suspect that someone is suffering from a heat-related illness: • Get the person out of the sun and into a shady, air-conditioned or other cool place. Urge them to lie down. • If you suspect heat stroke, call 911. • Encourage the individual to shower, bathe or sponge off with cool water. • Apply a cold, wet cloth to the wrists, neck, armpits, and/or groin, places where blood passes close to the surface of the skin. • Offer fluids such as water, fruit and vegetable juices, but avoid alcohol and caffeine. For a free copy of the National Institute on Aging’s AgePage on hyperthermia, call 1-800222-2225 or go to http://www.niapublications. org/agepages/hyperther.asp. The Best Of Times
August 2010
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How to take charge of your financial future
W Family Features
omen are more educated, earn higher incomes and have a more powerful role in the workplace than women of previous generations. But in spite of this progress, 90 percent of women say they feel financially insecure, according to the 2007 Allianz Women, Money and Power Study. The vast majority of women will need to take financial responsibility at some point in their lives, so it is vital that they have the knowledge and confidence to take charge of their financial future.
Women at Risk
A 2009 report by The Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement (WISER) says that women are particularly vulnerable going into retirement. The findings in “How Can Women’s Income Last as Long as They Do?” show that: • Women at age 65 are expected to live, on average, another 20 years - four years longer than men. That means they will need to save more for retirement. • Less than one third of retired women today receive pension income. And less than half of today’s working women have access to a pension or retirement savings plan through their jobs. • For more than 40 percent of older women living alone, Social Security is virtually all that they have. This group is four to five times more likely to be poor than married couples. “Each stage of life holds events that can shape your financial needs and impact your ability to achieve long-term goals,” says Katie Libbe, vice president of Marketing Solutions for Allianz Life. “Divorce and widowhood are two stages that have significant financial impact for women, so they need to learn how to take control of their financial futures.”
Tips for Starting Over
Losing one’s spouse through divorce or death means a change in financial needs and responsibilities. Here are some tips to help
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August 2010
begin the process of starting over. Find Your Starting Place. Before you begin any new journey, you need to know where your starting place is. Gather all the information you need to evaluate your current financial situation. These include: • Checking and savings account statements • Credit card information • Tax returns • Social Security records • Investment information - stocks and bonds certificates, mutual fund statements • Insurance policies - homeowner’s, life, auto, health, long-term care • Retirement assets - 401(k), pension, IRA, ROTH IRA, annuity statements • Deeds • Wills and powers of attorney Know Your Benefits. As a divorced spouse, you may still be eligible for certain benefits from your partner’s retirement plan and Social Security payments. • You may be able to obtain rights to a portion of your spouse’s retirement benefits. In most plans, this is done using a Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO). Find out from the plan’s administrator what requirements must be met. • If you are divorced after at least 10 years of marriage, you can collect retirement benefits on your former spouse’s Social Security record if you are at least age 62 and if your former spouse is entitled to or is receiving benefits. • If you have filed joint tax returns, you may be able to apply for Innocent Spouse Relief, which frees you from the responsibility of paying taxes attributable to your former spouse. As a widow, you can explore the following options: • You are allowed to rollover an IRA you may have inherited from your husband into
Illustration courtesy of Getty Images
your own IRA. • Be sure to contact the Social Security Administration to apply for the $250 death benefit under your spouse’s Social Security benefits and to determine your new benefit amount. Typically you will receive the greater of his or your benefits, but not both. • It’s important to file estate taxes within nine months of your husband’s death to avoid any interest penalties. Develop a New Budget. • Evaluate how much money you will need for the next six to 12 months and keep that money in an easily accessible account in your own name. • Pay Your Bills. Failure to pay your bills can result in bigger problems due to late payment fees, interest charges, and damage to your credit history. • Take it Slow. Don’t make any major purchases or changes right away. Give yourself time to heal emotionally before rushing into major decisions. Don’t Go It Alone. If you don’t already have a financial advisor, it may be advisable to get one. “A professional financial planner can help you improve your current financial management and help you through these challenging changes,” says Libbe. “Their expertise and objective perspective can save you time, and TheBestOfTimesNews.com
help you invest for your future.” To find a qualified financial advisor, you can ask trusted friends or professionals, such as lawyers and accountants, for references. You can also get references from professional associations such as the Financial Planning Association, the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors, or the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants. Make sure that you have a support network made up of trusted family, friends and professionals who can give you feedback, go with you to meetings and help you follow up on the actions you need to take. Starting a new phase of life can be challenging, and there are a lot of uncertainties. But by taking action now, you can take control of your finances and give yourself a more secure future. For more information on
finding a financial advisor and to download free financial checklists for the widowed or divorced, visit www.allianzlife. com/womenmoneypower/ consumerinformation.aspx.
Learn More
It’s never too late - or too early - to start learning about financial matters. Here are some online resources to get you started. • 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy - www.360financialliteracy.org • The Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement - www. WiserWomen.org • The Women’s Institute for Financial Education - www. Wife.org • U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission - www. MyMoney.gov • Free brochure, “Suddenly Single,” from the National Endowment for Financial Education — www.nefe.org
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August 2010
13
special REPORT
Affordable Care Act Will Close the Doughnut Hole By Dr. Renard L. Murray Millions of Americans on Medicare are asking what the new Affordable Care Act will mean for them. During the political debate over health care reform, pundits tossed around many charges and countercharges. So it’s understandable that people have questions about how the new law will affect the health care they receive through Medicare. Here are the facts. Everyone on Medicare will continue to be guaranteed all of Medicare’s basic benefits. And those benefits will be improved, with better coverage for preventive care and lower costs for prescription drugs. Let’s look closely, for example, at how the Affordable Care Act will fill in Medicare Part D’s coverage gap.
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August 2010
“The doughnut hole,” as the gap is called, has been anything but sweet for the millions of people whose drug expenses are high enough to push them into it each year. In 2010, people reach the hole after they and their private drug plans spend a total of $2,830. Some people on limited incomes avoid the coverage gap by qualifying for Medicaid or other help that continues to pay their out-of-pocket costs after $2,830. Others enroll in an enhanced drug plan that covers their medications through the gap, usually for a higher premium. Otherwise, people who hit the doughnut hole pay the full cost of their drugs until they spend another $3,610 of their own money. They then become eligible for Medicare Part D’s “catastrophic” drug coverage and pay five percent of their medication costs for the rest of the year. People sometimes can’t afford their drugs once they fall into the gap. They’re forced to choose between buying medications and paying household expenses. Or they start splitting pills in two. Most suffer from chronic conditions and are on many pre-
scriptions. So a decision to skip or cut back medications can have serious consequences to their health. By eliminating the doughnut hole, the Affordable Care Act will help millions of people on Medicare pay for their drugs and avoid more intensive and costly care later. The law provides immediate relief with a $250 rebate this year and then closes the gap over nine years. People who reach the gap and don’t qualify for any extra help with their prescription costs will receive their one-time rebate beginning in mid-June. There’s no application to complete. An estimated 4 million rebate checks will be mailed directly from Medicare this year. Once the mailings start, you should expect your check within 45 days of hitting the doughnut hole. But be careful of con artists. Please don’t give your personal information, such as your Medicare number, Social Security number or bank account number, to anyone who calls you and claims to need it to process your rebate. The person who says so is lying and probably trying to steal your identity. Hang up immediately. Then call Medicare at 1-800-6334227 and report it. The rebate this year is just a first step in making your drugs more affordable. Starting on Jan 1, 2011, people who fall into the coverage gap will receive a 50-percent discount on brand-name drugs and a seven-percent discount on generic prescriptions. Over the following nine years, the discounts for brands and TheBestOfTimesNews.com
generics will grow. By 2020, the doughnut hole will be eliminated, and you’ll pay just 25 percent of your drugs’ costs until you reach catastrophic coverage. That’s the same percentage you now pay for prescriptions after you’ve met your annual deductible and until you hit the gap. Also, between 2014 and 2019, the Affordable Care Act will shrink the doughnut hole, lowering the out-of-pocket amount that qualifies you for catastrophic coverage. That will further reduce the personal costs for anyone with high medication expenses. The Affordable Care Act will strengthen Medicare and make your health care more secure than ever before. If you’d like to find out more about the new law, please refer to the brochure, “Medicare and the New Health Care Law – What It Means for You,” which Medicare has mailed to you. Or visit Medicare’s newly redesigned website, http:// www.medicare.gov. The more you learn about the law, the more you’ll be able to take advantage of its benefits. Dr. Renard L. Murray is the Regional Administrator for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
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August 2010
15
medicare ANSWERS
Skin Cancer Screenings, Medigap Plans, & Medicare Summary Notice Mistakes Dear Marci, I get sunburned very easily, and I would like to get screened for skin cancer. Will Medicare cover these screenings? - Tatiana Dear Tatiana, No, Medicare will not cover screenings for skin cancer. If, however, you see a suspicious-looking mole, you should make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible. Medicare will cover a diagnostic doctor’s visit and any diagnostic tests your doctor considers medically necessary. You may be able to find a doctor who will give you a free skin cancer screening by visiting the American Academy of Dermatology’s website (www.aad.org/public/exams/screenings/index.html). ~Marci Dear Marci, I heard that there are new Medigap plans
available this year. How are these different from the current plans? -Joel Dear Joel, You heard correctly. Starting June 1, 2010, two new Medigap plans will be sold. Medigap plans are supplemental coverage policies that fill gaps in Original Medicare. The new plans, Plan M and Plan N, will cover the basic Medigap benefits and some additional benefits. The basic benefits include: • hospital coinsurance coverage, • 365 additional days of full hospital coverage • Full or partial coverage for the 20 percent coinsurance for doctor charges and other Part B services • Full or partial coverage for the first 3
pints of blood you need each year • Full or partial hospice coinsurance for respite care and prescription drugs New Plan M will pay all of your costs for the basic benefits and also cover half of the Part A deductible, skilled nursing facility coinsurance, and some of the cost of foreign travel emergencies. New Plan N will also pay all of your costs for the basic benefits except for $20 copayments for office visits and $50 copayments for emergency room visits. Plan N will also offer foreign travel emergency coverage and cover the full Part A deductible as well as skilled nursing facility coinsurance. Remember that not all Medigap plans are available in all areas. ~Marci
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Dear Marci, My most recent Medicare Summary Notice lists some services that I never received. What should I do? -Fran Dear Fran, If you think a mistake has been made in a bill, call your doctor, hospital or other provider first. It may have been a simple, honest error. If the provider’s answer does not satisfy you, you can call Medicare at 800-MEDICARE (800-633-4227) or the Inspector General’s fraud hotline at 800-HHS-TIPS (800-447-8477). When it investigates the potential fraud, Medicare will not use your name if you do not want it to. ~Marci Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights. org), the nation’s largest independent source of info and assistance for people with Medicare. To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114. To subscribe to “Dear Marci,” the Medicare Rights Center’s free educational e-newsletter, e-mail dearmarci@medicarerights.org. To learn more about the services that Medicare will cover, log on to Medicare Interactive Counselor at the Medicare Rights Center’s website at www.medicareinteractive.org.
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Money MATTERS
Financial Help for Seniors
S
enior citizens and others living on a fixed or low income know how difficult it is to make ends meet, especially when costs for essentials like health care, food and energy increase faster than their sources of income. Here are a few cost-saving benefits available to people on fixed incomes – especially seniors:
help people with limited income and resources pay for medical coverage, including Medicaid and Medicare. For a good roundup of these programs, go to www.medicare. gov and click on "Get Financial Help." • Ask your doctor about using lower-cost generic drugs and providing cash discounts for expenses not covered by your insurance. • Several provisions of the recently signed health care reform bill will gradually reduce Medicare drug costs between now and 2020. For example, this year seniors who reach the so-called "doughnut hole" coverJason age gap ($2,380 in 2010) will Alderman receive a $250 rebate to lessen the financial burden.
Prescription Drug Assistance Programs Most pharmaceutical companies offer patient assistance programs (PAPs) that provide uninsured and low-income people access to prescription drugs they couldn't otherwise afford. Ask your doctor, pharmacist or health clinic for details. Other good resources include: Medicare's alphabetical list of drugs available through PAPs, with links to detailed eligibility information (www.medicare.gov/pap/index.asp); Partnership for Prescription Assistance (www. pparx.org); RxAssist (www.rxassist.org); and NeedyMeds (www.needymeds.com). Other money-saving ideas for medical expenses include: • Government-provided programs that
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August 2010
Rules are complex, so read IRS Publication 502 at www.irs.gov and consult a tax advisor before claiming such deductions. • Free tax return preparation assistance and counseling from IRS-trained volunteers is available to people over age 60, as well as low-to-moderate income folks and military families (search "Free Tax Preparation" at www.irs.gov). • Publication 554 contains additional help for seniors when preparing their tax returns. Government Programs Many government-sponsored benefits, grants and financial aid programs exist to help seniors, low-income families and others
Tax Advantages The IRS tax code includes several benefits that target seniors (and often, other lowerincome taxpayers), including: • A higher standard deduction amount for most people who don't itemize deductions, if they and/or their spouse are over 65 or blind. • An additional tax credit for lowerincome people who are over 65 or disabled and file a 1040 or 1040A tax form. (For full details and eligibility, see IRS Publication 524 at www.irs.gov.) • Certain home improvements made to accommodate medical conditions or disabilities with a doctor's recommendation may be deducted if you itemize deductions.
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pay their bills, including: • LIHEAP, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, which provides grants to help pay utility bills. To see if you qualify, go to www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ ocs/liheap. • SNAP, the USDA's Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly known as food stamps), helps millions of lower-income Americans buy nutritious food each month. Visit www.fns.usda.gov/ snap for qualification requirements. • Rental assistance for low-income families is available from several U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development programs as well as other state and local agencies (see www.hud.gov/renting/ index.cfm for details). • Go to www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/ Benefits.shtml for a comprehensive overview of additional aid programs. And of course, don't forget to ask about senior discounts whenever you shop, travel or buy insurance – 10 percent here and there can really add up. Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs. To Follow Jason Alderman on Twitter: www.twitter.com/PracticalMoney
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LAWS of the land
No Job for You
A
dam worked for Amtrak. He had worked there for over 30 years, but one day, while working as a ticketing agent, he hurt his arm and had to have surgery. After the surgery, Adam’s doctor told him that he could return to work but that he should not do any heavy lifting. (Adam’s name has been changed but the basic facts of his case, which took place in Seattle, Washington, are true.) When Adam went back to work with his doctor’s note explaining that Adam should “not lift more than 20 pounds on frequent basis and 25 pounds on an occasional basis,” Amtrak told Adam that he could no longer be a ticket agent because ticket agents were often required to handle passenger baggage. Adam understood this. But he wasn’t ready to retire, so he asked that he be given another job besides ticket agent. Over his 30 years of employment with Amtrak, Adam had done many different jobs. And not all of them required lifting. And Adam thought that being reassigned to a different position shouldn’t be a big deal because Amtrak had all kinds of job openings in Seattle: they were advertising for help wanted all the time. So Adam said something like, “I want to go back to work. I understand that I
can’t do my old job of ticket agent because Adam’s. I’ve read that “as managing an it requires some lifting, but I would be employee return to work process can be willing to do anything as long as it didn’t very difficult,” some employers, in order to involve heavy lifting. Can you reassign me treat everyone the same, require that before any injured employee returns to work, the to a different job?’ employee must be 100% healthy. And Adam said that Amtrak But getting back to Adam: he responded by saying something had been with his employer for like, “Even if we have other job a long time and he was angry at vacancies that are available, and the way he was being treated. Nor even if these job vacancies are did he think that their policy was for jobs that don’t require any fair. So he sued. lifting, we can’t just reassign His lawyer pointed out that you. You see, we have a policy. under a federal law called the And our policy says that when Lee Americans with Disabilities Act, an employee gets injured on the Aronson employers are required to make job, we do not let that employee come back to work at all unless he gives us a an “individualized assessment” when doctor’s note saying that he is 100% healthy. deciding whether an employee can return And Adam, because your doctor says you to work. One Court interpreted this law can’t do any heavy lifting, you’re not 100% to mean that “while an employer is not required to create a light duty position healthy, so no job for you.” That’s not an exact quote, but for our where none exists and the Americans with purposes, let’s says that’s the position the Disabilities Act permits job requirements that are job-related and consistent with a business necessity, a 100% healed or fully-healed policy is per se a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act.” So in Adam’s case, when Amtrak tried to get the case thrown out, the Judge refused. The Judge stated that “A 100% healed or fully healed policy discriminates against qualified individuals with disabilities because such a policy employer took in this case. Apparently such permits employers to substitute a determicompany policies are not uncommon. I’ve nation of whether a qualified individual had a couple of people come into my office is 100% healed from their injury for the recently who were in situations similar to required individual assessment.” The Judge
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wanted an “individual assessment” done on Adam to determine whether Amtrak could make some kind of accommodation that would allow Adam to do his job of ticket agent. And if no such reasonable accommodation could be made so that Adam could work as a ticket agent, then, as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission puts it: “Where an employee can no longer perform the essential functions of his/her original position, with or without reasonable accommodation, because of a disability related occupational injury, an employer must reassign him/her to an equivalent position for which s/he is qualified, absent undue hardship. If no equivalent position (in terms of pay, status, etc.) exists, then the employee must be reassigned to a lower graded position for which s/he is qualified, absent undue hardship.” Amtrak appealed this ruling, but they lost. What happened next isn’t published in any legal casebooks, but I’m betting the case settled and Adam got to go back to work. Lee Aronson is an attorney with Legal Services of North Louisiana. His practice areas include consumer protection law, housing law, and health care law.
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thumb technique. Give the client what she/ he needs to thrive. The whole idea is to find someone who you like, and who likes you to be your teacher and motivator. Your trainer should teach you to exercise safely and effectively when you’re alone and motivate you to love exercise by making it fun. And if you love friend was describing her exercise, you can get and stay fit personal training sessions for a lifetime. to me the other day, and she Certification by a national certisaid, “ there’s a fine line between fying organization and experience coaching and abuse” are also key. Make sure your trainer Sadly, I was not shocked to here is certified and has several years of that statement. Lots of trainers experience. think clients need a drill sergeant, Meet the person, and make sure Mirabai you click. If you’re not sure, keep to whip them into shape, and push Holland looking. them to do the things they’re just too lazy to do. Don’t be shy about asking to see her/his Small wonder those trainers experience a personal training certification. Ask for client large client turnover. references too, (and call them). In my opinion, good training technique Top certifying bodies in the USA are: can be described in one word, NURTURE! • American College of Sports Medicine The technique that works out the best is • National Strength & Conditioning one where there is a partnership between Association trainer and client. The trainer needs to • National Academy of Sports Medicine meet you where you are now, and guide • American Council on Exercise (ACE) you to where you want to be, cheering you • Aerobics & Fitness Association of on, not tearing you down. It’s the “green America
MOVING free
Anti Drill Sergeant Personal Training
A
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Finding the right trainer can be a daunting task but when it’s right, its music. By the way, this training partnership is a two way street. No trainer wants to be treated like a servant or even an employee. Treat your trainer as you’d like to be treated and you may make a lifelong friend. Mirabai Holland M.F.A. is one of the leading authorities in the Health & Fitness industry, and is a public health activist who specializes in preventive and rehabilitative exercise for people. Her Moving Free® approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn't feel like work. For more info please visit www.EasyExerciseVideos.com.
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Al Bolton’s Weather Facts for Thought The month of August could very well be a very hot, dry month. Out hottest temperature of record was 110° recorded on August 18, 1909. Last August our hottest temperature was 95° on the 17th and the 20th. Coolest temperature was 63° on the 23rd. Rainfall measured 1.69 inches. Our normal August rainfall is 2.71 inches. Our coolest August of temperature of record was 53° on the 17th in 1912. In August of 1956 there were fifteen consecutive days when the temperature reached 100° or higher. The hottest temperature during that period was 103° on the 16th. Louisiana's hottest temperature of record was 114° at Plain Dealing on August 10, 1936. The hurricane season began on June 1st and will continue through November. August, September, and October are the most active months for tropical storm development. More tropical storms develop during the month of September, on the average, than any other month during the hurricane season. Al Bolton, a member of the American Meteorological Society and the National Weather Association began reporting with KSLA-TV in February, 1954 and for The Best of Times in February, 2002.
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Traveling in the
Past by Andrea
Gross
Biplanes soar over Polk County Florida, approximately midway between
Orlando and Tampa.
(Photo: Fantasy of Flight)
A
s I sat squashed in the middle seat of the jumbo jet’s Row 32 — a woman with a screaming infant on one side of me, a man reeking of aftershave on the other — it was easy to fantasize about old-time travel. Was it really as unhurried, comfortable and, yes, romantic as I imagined? My husband and I decided to find out. We’d fly in an open cockpit airplane, sleep in a Victorian-era railroad car, visit a 1930’s luxury ocean liner and, for good measure, see some bigfinned, gas-guzzling autos.
This is not at all like sitting in the center seat of Row 32! I’m at Fantasy of Flight, the brainchild of avid aircraft collector Kermit Weeks. In addition to the biplane flights, the attraction features a museum with 40 rare and vintage aircraft and several interactive exhibits. Visitors can climb through a real WWII bomber, tour the restoration area or try hanggliding through a state-of-the-art simulator. A place where fantasies come true? You bet! (www.fantasyofflight.com)
Flying in Florida
Vintage Trains in Chattanooga
We begin in Florida, where a tall man who calls himself “Waldo the pilot” hands me a helmet, goggles and scarf. Feeling like Snoopy, I climb into the open-cockpit biplane and, a few minutes later, I’m soaring above a patterned landscape of blue lakes and green farmland. The wind blows in my face, and the view, unencumbered by small glass windows, stretches forever.
Trains are parked behind Chattanooga’s old Terminal Station, which now serves as a hotel. (Photo: Irv Green)
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August 2010
No one knows exactly which train inspired “Chattanooga Choo Choo,” the song made famous by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, but there are several contenders parked behind the southern city’s grand Terminal Station. The station, which now serves as the lobby of a Holiday Inn, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The old baggage area has been turned into a restaurant that, in addition to down-home food, features up-and-coming Chattanooga performers. The trains have 48 sleeper cars filled with Victorian-era ambiance yet replete with queen size bed and wireless Internet connection. All that’s missing is the familiar clickety-clack rattle of the wheels as the trains carried their passengers into what was then one of the major terminals in the United States. Now really, couldn’t they have piped in the sound? (www.choochoo.com)
An Auto Museum in Reno
It’s hard to decide which car I prefer. Elvis’s 1973 Cadillac Eldorado Custom Coupe is certainly attractive, but John Wayne’s 1953 Corvette 2934 convertible also has a certain cachet. The National Automobile Museum in Reno showcases more TheBestOfTimesNews.com
than 200 classy cars, most of which were owned by Bill Harrah, the late casino magnate. To get the full flavor of the collection, I walk through the galleries in chronological order, starting with Gallery 1, which features cars from the 1890s to 1910s, and working my way up to Gallery 4, where the oldest car is from 1950. But it’s the “streets” that most capture my imagination. Here, parked in front of periodauthentic shops and gas stations, the cars represent more than a mode of transportation; they depict twentieth-century America. (www.automuseum.org)
A Luxurious Liner in Long Beach
Do I really want to spend the night aboard the Queen Mary? On one hand, the ship ferried the likes of Greta Garbo, David Niven, Charlie Chaplin and Clark Gable across the Atlantic. On the other hand, since its retirement and subsequent opening as a museum/tourist attraction/hotel in Long Beach harbor, the ship has also become known as a haven for ghosts. (Not that I’d mind being visited by the ghost of Gable, but his is not among the 150 reported spectral sightings.) I settle for a tour that takes me through some of the 314 original staterooms. The standard rooms are small, but the larger ones remind me that once upon a time journeying to a destination was as much fun as what you did when you got there. (www.queenmary.com)
The Queen Mary, one of
the world’s great luxury liners in the 1930s, is open to the public.
( Photo: The Queen Mary)
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August 2010
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Great Places to
Beat the by Mary Flanders
Seek shelter from the summertime blues and oppressive heat at museums in the Shreveport-Bossier area.
Top: Clementine Hunter paintings at the Louisiana State Museum. Right: Entrance map at the Louisiana State Museum. ugust - It’s way too hot to work in the yard; you can’t float in the pool forever; and escaping to a cooler climate for the rest of the summer is out of the question. What are you going to do? Don’t sit still and swelter, try a little getaway right here in Shreveport. We’ve got some great ideas for you to get out of the heat for the day and exercise your brain without breaking a sweat, or take a cool stroll down memory lane. Discover a little about your heritage, about long ago and not so long ago. Right here in Shreveport and Bossier City, there are some pretty cool places to look and learn. The first thing you’ll learn is that in the Ark-La-Tex, museums are not dusty old barns filled with dead dinosaur bones and fossilized fish. When you think of museums in Shreveport, the most well known, the one everyone is familiar with is the Louisiana State Exhibit Building, now the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum on the State Fairgrounds. If you grew up in Shreveport, at least one of your classes took a field trip to the museum. Remember the huge map at the entrance? It helped many children understand why it took so long to get from Shreveport to Baton Rouge. It’s the largest topographical map of Louisiana in existence. And the dioramas? They are still there. You’ll find them even more interesting now as technology is so very different today. The museum opened in 1939, and featured large murals and frescos of scenes of Louisiana. Years of wind and rain and sun damaged the exterior frescos, but in 2002 they were all lovingly restored to their original beauty. The museum hosts several traveling exhibits throughout the year and also hosts exhibits by local artists and photographers. Besides the dioramas, the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum has designated permanent exhibits including a very extensive collection of
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Native American artifacts focused on the Caddo Indians who were indigenous to this area. The Louisiana State Exhibit Museum is the only Louisiana museum that is a member of the Smithsonian Institution Affiliations Program which allows it access to the traveling exhibits and educational resources. For those with special needs, the museum is wheel chair accessible and there’s plenty of free parking. The Louisiana State Exhibit Museum admission is free. You can learn more about what is going on at the Museum and if you wish, become a financial friend of the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum by logging on to their website. The Spring Street Historical Museum is located in downtown Shreveport and features an extensive collection of china and everyday living items from over 100 years ago. You might remember something from your grandmother’s kitchen. Originally built in 1865, the museum is listed in the National Register of Historic Places and is one of Shreveport’s oldest structures. When you’re there, check out the unique interior shutters on the second floor and no visit would be complete without stepping into the former bank vault. The Spring Street museum contains historical memorabilia including uniforms from the Civil War, World War I and World War II, and antiques that exemplify Shreveport’s history. Located in downtown Shreveport, admission is free. You can also park free in the lot on the south side of the museum. The Pioneer Heritage Center on the campus of Louisiana State University Shreveport in south Shreveport was established in 1977. When you take a tour, your guide, dressed in a period costume, will demonstrate the history of Louisiana during its formative period from the 1830’s through the 20th century. You’ll be able to see seven buildings representing the traditional architecture of early Louisiana including a log dogtrot home. All of the buildings were originally located in North Louisiana but were moved to the Pioneer Heritage Center. Director Marty Young says, “It’s the best out of class room educational facility in the area.” Two of the historic buildings at the Center, the Caspiana House and the Thrasher House, are listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Webb and Webb Commissary, the blacksmith shop, the Caspiana House, the Thrasher house, the detached kitchen and the Doctor’s Office are furnished with period antiques. Work is in progress on the Riverfront Chapel. Presently the pews are being restored and it has a pump organ. If you are interested in being a volunteer and Director Marty Young says there are many opportunities from becoming a guide to helping with restoration, please call him. Donations of money and artifacts are always welcome. If you have furniture you would like to donate, Mr. Young will be happy to come to you to take a look at it and arrange for it to be moved to the Museum. The Pioneer Heritage Museum is open by appointment only; please call before you come - (318) 797-5339. Two of the buildings are handicap accessible. Please be aware, only 3 of the buildings are air conditioned, so be prepared for a true pioneer experience. Cost of the tour is $2 per person and you can park in the lot adjacent to the Center. If you’ve ever wondered how that pure clean drinking water gets to your glass, you’ll be fascinated by this look into our past, the Shreveport Water Works Museum. This is one of the most unique museums in the South.
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Listed in the National Register of Historic Places and also as a National Historic Landmark, a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and an American Water Landmark, the Shreveport Water Works Museum contains the original McNeill Street Pumping Station, which in 1887 became one of the first facilities in America to practice water filtration and chlorination. A masterwork of the Industrial Revolution, you can still see the original steam pumps that were used until the 1980s and are quite possible are the last of their kind in existence. Admission is free. The Main building is handicapped accessible. First time visitors sometimes have difficulty finding it. It’s at 142 N. Common Street on the east side of the street 1/4 mile north of the intersection of Common with Caddo St. There is a “Shreveport Water Works Museum” sign in the front yard, as well as a large blue and white sign marking the driveway entrance. The McNeill Preservation Society is looking for volunteers who would like to help with the restoration of the vintage steam engines at the Pumping Station. If you’re interested in volunteering, you can use the on-line information form on the web site or call (318)221-3388. Near Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City is the Eighth Air Force Museum, The outdoor exhibits include a large collection of airplanes that were flown in battles during World War II, the Vietnam War and Desert Storm.
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inspections and no backpacks, briefcases or large bags are allowed in the museum. The museum is and is completely handicapped accessible and there is a gift shop with a wide variety of aviation oriented items. If you are looking for a more hands on experience, Volunteer Coordinator, Nikki Brown, is always looking for volunteers. Currently they are restoring several historic aircraft. This is your chance to put your mark on a piece of genuine American History. Calling all Elvis fans, and there’s a lot of you out there! Fans come from all over the world to see The Stage of Stars Museum, in the historic Municipal Auditorium at 705 Elvis Presley Ave., Shreveport. The Municipal Auditorium is a local treasure with a rich history but is probably best known as the home of the Louisiana Hayride. This was the site of “The Louisiana Hayride” radio show broadcast in the 50s and 60s, and the stage where Elvis Presley, Hank Williams, Sr., Johnny Cash, and George Jones have performed as well as former While it may be a little warm this time of Louisiana governor, Jimmie Davis year to spend much time, step in to the air who wrote “You Are My Sunshine.” conditioned museum. Everyone remembers It was here that Frank Page first spoke where they were on September 11, 2001. those immortal words, “Elvis has left At the Eighth Air Force Museum you can the building.” The museum contains see objects from the area used by President rare photographs, memorabilia, and George W. Bush when he was flown to musical instruments played by the Barksdale Air Force Base for protection immediately after the terrorist attacks on New famous entertainers on the Municipal Auditorium’s stage. One of its most York City. The Eighth Air Force Museum is open every day but Thanksgiving, New Years prized possessions is an outfit worn by Hank Williams Sr. Tours of the and Christmas. Because it is adjacent to an active military base, all vehicles are subject to Municipal Auditorium are given each
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Saturday from 11am - 2pm and it is a $5 donation per person, $3 children 12 and under. Private tours are available for parties of 8 or more and are a $10 donation per person. To insure tour date and time, call at least a month in advance.
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Last year the Municipal Auditorium was featured on the Discovery Channel show, “Ghost Lab.” Paranormal activity was witnessed and recorded including mysteriously slamming doors. Tour Guide Teresa Micheels says she’s never seen Hank Sr. or Elvis there, except for their pictures, but she has seen and experienced a lot of strange things there. You can see for yourself with a tour into the paranormal occurrences at the Municipal Auditorium. Regularly scheduled haunted tours are available in September and October. Other times of the year you can schedule a private Haunted Tour. The building is handicap accessible and you can park in front or to the side of the building. There is a gift shop open during tour hours. If you are looking to become more involved in a very interesting chapter in Shreveport’s History, The Municipal is always looking for tour guides and for events at the Auditorium. You will receive training before you serve. To schedule a tour or for more information on
volunteering, contact Teresa Micheels at munitours@hotmail.com The Ark-La-Tex Sports Museum of Champions in the Shreveport Convention Center features memorabilia such as trophies, uniforms, jerseys and news stories from each of the 110 athletes from this area, all in air conditioned comfort. Notable athletes include Terry Bradshaw, Joe Ferguson, Golfers Hal Sutton and David Toms, world renowned motorcycle racer, Freddy Spenser and professional baseball pitcher Vida Blue as well as broadcast legend Tim Brando. Originally opened in 1991 on Clyde Fant Parkway, it was closed in 2001 when the building was demolished. The Museum re-opened in 2007 in the Convention center ground floor. There is no admission charge, but there is a charge to park in the adjacent parking garage. It is open 9am to 5 pm Monday through Friday and on the weekends when there are functions at the Convention Center. President of the Board of Directors, Dr. George Bakowski invites everyone to the yearly Induction Banquet on August 7 at 7 pm at the Shreveport Convention Center. Tickets
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are $35 per person. This is the perfect time of year to visit The Touchstone Wildlife and Art Museum in Haughton. Completely indoors and air conditioned it’s like going to a frozen zoo. Hundreds of animals, large and small, all completely accurate are exhibited in their natural habitat. A showcase for the art of taxidermy, the 2 story museum features more than 1,000 incredibly lifelike, mounted animals. From bear and deer and other local animals to exotic African species, even a giraffe, Touchstone Wildlife Museum has carefully mounted the animal and created the background to give you a true image of the creature. The newest exhibits are the black leopard and the caribou. A display on Australia is a work in progress. The Touchstone Museum is a great place to take the kids. Ask Miss Lura and she’ll open the zebra case and the giraffe case. The children can sit by the zebra and you can take pictures, or they pet the giraffe. Also on display is an extensive collection of Indian Artifacts from this area. For an extra hands-on experience, on the grounds of the Museum, there’s a herd of deer
you can feed. There is a $2.50 charge per person, children 5 and under are free. We’ve barely scratched the surface, but you can see Shreveport has a long and colorful history. We are most fortunate to have a great deal of it expertly and lovingly preserved for us and for our children and grandchildren. From the Indian Tribes that inhabited North Louisiana to the early settlers, from the Civil War to the Great Depression, from World War II to September 11, 2001 right up to today, a lot has happened right here in this corner of the world. If you find yourself spellbound by one of the wonderful museums, (and you will) you can easily turn that fascination into action. Volunteer opportunities abound in many areas of the museums from tour guides to restoration work, to helping sweep up. Take that interest and turn a
casual day trip into a lifetime of learning. When you step in to the Louisiana Exhibit Museum and remember going there with your third grade class, or see the aircraft at the 8th Air Force Museum, and remember the toy plane you played with every day, or see china at the Spring Street Museum that is just like the dishes your grandmother had, you’ll feel like you’ve turned back the calendar, stepped back in time. You’ll feel like a kid again. Escape the heat this summer and learn a little. l
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project, I’d run in and ask, “Dad when will you be done?” He’d say, “Soon son, soon. When I get these tools cleaned up.” My father was a man of tools, and with them he accomplished great things. The tool bag to him was like a doctor’s stethoscope or a preacher’s Bible - it helped to solve the mysteries in his life. ith my nose pressed He had the ability to fix against the window, almost anything. I am sad to say I anxiously watched the mechanically-minded trait for the arrival of my father from did not pass down in my genes. work. With him he would often Much of what my father did carry a large, black leather tool for a living rotated around his bag, which, for a little boy like ability to fix things. me, held a world of adventure. During his life, he worked After dinner, Dad would Randall for several companies fixing spend time at the kitchen taFranks everything from Singer sewing ble working on various fix-it machines to Royal typewriters. The job he projects. I would walk by the table where he was retired from spoke highly of his abilities to working on some gismo. It is amazing how adapt to new technologies. He was responmany little parts would be meticulously set sible for keeping the computers at the IRS out where they could be cleaned, re-worked running. I’m not talking about these little personal computers. I’m talking about when and replaced. Every tool had its purpose. super computers ruled the world, and they “Can I help you daddy?” “Yes, son. Get me my pliers out of my took up the space of nearly a football field. tool bag,” he said. I would search through the bag to find the pliers. With each odd looking tool I would say, “Daddy, what do you do with this?” He would tell me, even though he knew I would ask again the next time. Finally, I would find the tool he asked for and hand them over. When he passed years ago, many of his He would say, “Just in time.” He would do some little something with it and then tools came to me. Some are still packed away as he left them. Many of the tools I set it neatly with the other tools. Thinking back, he probably did not need have no idea for what they could be used. those pliers, but he found a use for them I keep them simply because they were his. More and more, I find myself doing varianyway just so I could say I helped him fix ous jobs around the house. While I am still whatever it was. Usually as he was nearing the end of his not mechanically inclined, with patience
southern STYLE
A Tool Bag Full of Answers
W
I usually manage to figure out how to fix whatever it is. Many times I find myself looking through his tool bag for tools that might be put to use in my objective. The late Carroll O'Connor and I were once standing in a pawnshop set looking into a case of tools and knives. We talked about how you can often judge the character of a man by how he cares for his tools. If he has respect for them, that will be reflected in his life. My Dad took care of his tools and he shared that respect with me. Today we often depend upon others to fix things we cannot. Oftentimes this tendency carries over into other aspects of our lives as we look to others to fix things that are broken. Patience and respect will lead you to solutions that can solve many problems. The tools to fix them are often just inside your own tool bag; you just need to take the time to look.
"The tool bag to him was like a doctor’s stethoscope or a preacher’s Bible - it helped to solve the mysteries in his life."
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Randall Franks is an award-winning musician, singer and actor. He is best known for his role as “Officer Randy Goode” on TV’s “In the Heat of the Night” now on WGN America. His latest CD release, “An Appalachian Musical Revival,” is by www.shareamericafoundation.org. He is a member of the Atlanta Country Music Hall of Fame. He is a syndicated columnist for http://randallfranks.com/ and can be reached at rfrankscatoosa@gmail.com.
TheBestOfTimesNews.com
The Best Of Times
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“Furious Love” by Sam Kashner & Nancy Schoenberger ©2010, Harper $27.99, 512 pages
P
urely from a geologist’s viewpoint, it isn’t much. Basically, it’s just a rock somebody pulled from the
dirt. But if someone offered you one of those rocks, you wouldn’t turn it down. You’d gladly wear it on your finger, your earlobe, or your throat - although you’d probably call it a diamond or an emerald or a sapphire. Still, it’s a rock. A little something plucked from the Earth just for you, you’re welcome. When Elizabeth Taylor was married to Richard Burton, she collected those expensive rocks and “played” with them. In the new book “Furious Love” by Sam Kashner & Nancy Schoenberger, you’ll read about the box office bombs and boons, the baubles, and the battles. Elizabeth Taylor didn’t think much of Richard Burton the first time she met him
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while at a pool party in 1953. Already into her second marriage, she was just 21 and a genuine Hollywood diva. He was 28, recently “plucked from the London stage”, and drunk. Nine years later, they met again on the set of the epic movie, Cleopatra. She was then on Marriage Number Four to Eddie Fisher; he had wed to a solid hometown Welsh girl. But “Dick and Liz” (a nickname they hated) were fire together. He stood up to her and wasn’t afraid to insult her. She had a bawdy side that delighted him. Their affair started quietly – until the paparazzi caught on. After sneaking around for awhile, they openly flaunted their passion in front of photographers. Richard’s wife refused to grant him a divorce. Elizabeth tried to commit suicide. He called the whole thing Le Scandale. In 1964, Richard Burton married Elizabeth Hilton Wilding Todd Fisher and afterward, released a simple statement that said “Elizabeth Burton and I are very happy.” But it wasn’t Happily Ever After. Richard and Elizabeth both loved to
Terri Schlichenmeyer
the BOOKWORM
drink, fight, and make up. He draped her in expensive, famous jewels. They fought over who was “more Jewish”. They shared a blended and beloved brood of children, but could never have a child together. Her career overshadowed his, then vice versa. They fought, divorced, reconciled and remarried, fought and divorced again, and almost reconciled a third time. Instead, she married other men (plural). He married another woman. When Richard Burton died, his new wife asked Elizabeth Taylor to stay home. Remember the guilty, furtive pleasure of poking through a pile of your grandma’s old TV and Movie Screen magazines? Yep, “Furious Love” is that kind of fun. Authors Sam Kashner & Nancy Schoenberger dug deep for the dirt on “DickandLiz”, Hollywood’s most beloved, most vilified, most-married couple, to present a snarky love story that seems tame now but was gasp-worthy then. I think that’s why I loved this book: it took me back to a relatively innocent time when a Hollywood affair was an honestto-goodness scandal worthy of Vatican comment and Congress condemnation. If you’re looking for some old-school gossip to pass the summertime, you’ll find this book to be irresistible. For you, “Furious Love” is a true gem. 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 her two dogs and 12,000 books.
TheBestOfTimesNews.com
For people with Alzheimer’s there’s no time to lose. Alzheimer’s Clinical Trial If you are age 50 or older and have a diagnosis of probable Alzheimer’s disease, you may be eligible to participate in this study. Throughout the 12 week study, participants will receive the investigational drug, study related physical exams and laboratory services at no charge. All participants will be monitored by a medical team, including a physician, nurse and study coordinator. For more information call:
J. Gary Booker, MD or Keith B. Kessel, MD at
318.227.9600 jgarybookermd.com
The Best Of Times
August 2010
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in PROFILE
A Passion for History:
Collection Connection by Mary Flanders
W Judy Talley poses with some of her favorite collection items.
“Immediately she was struck
by the graceful lines of the pitchers and the connection to every day life so long ago.”
Empress pattern green and gold syrup pitcher.
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hen you walk into to Judy Talley’s South Shreveport home, you instantly know someone who is fascinated by history and loves beautiful things lives there. When Judy Talley talks about her collections her eyes sparkle brighter than the beautiful crystal glassware that fills her home. An avid history buff, she treasures above all the connection between her antique glassware and the history behind it.
Her passion for collecting began twenty five years ago when she happened to read an article about antique syrup pitchers in a magazine. Immediately she was struck by the graceful lines of the pitchers and the connection to every day life so long ago. “I’ve got to have that,” she said when she saw a delicate pressed glass syrup pitcher in Sak’s Fifth Ave, an antique shop on 5th Avenue in Ouray Colorado. And thus it began. Judy began her collection with a single small pitcher. Now her collection has grown to over three hundred and fifty different patterns, shapes and sizes. The oldest, made of blue ceramic dates back to the late 1700’s, but most date from the mid 1800’s to the early 1900's. Some of the rarest pieces include the fan and band pattern ruby flash pitcher, and the green and gold empress pattern. Anything that has a connection to history fascinates Judy. She is filled with information about her collections, about history and she loves to talk about it. “I love the idea that they have survived. That they have history too,” she says as she points out a syrup stain on the spout of a pitcher from the late 1800’s. Looking at it, you can just imagine it sitting on the table of a family as they gather for their meals. Listening to her talk, you can understand the connection Judy feels between the item and the idea. Seeing one of the pitchers you might even remember sitting on your mother’s table when you were small. A native of New Jersey, Judy and her husband, Ken, spend their time at their home in South Shreveport, their hay farm in near Mount Pleasant Texas and traveling across the country, camping in their pop up camper. In their travels they prowl antique shops from the Northeast TheBestOfTimesNews.com
to the Southwest, from Natchez Mississippi to Fredericksburg Texas in search of the thrill of “the Find” as Judy puts it. Often, Judy says, it’s not the acquisition of the item, but the finding of it and knowing it exists. As she puts it, “I found it, now I can leave it.” Ken, who is retired from IBM, is a collector in his own right. He collects antique cast iron waffle irons and spider pots. Looking at some of Ken’s waffle iron patterns, you can see the appeal of them. From spider webs to hearts and stars, it’s fascinating to see something so utilitarian and so lovely. Together they share the joy finding anything truly unique and different like an amazing antique pencil sharpener labeled “what is it? $5.” Immediately, Judy and Ken made it a part of their collection. It has appeared on the “Antiques Road Show” and later they found a photo of it in an antique collectors book listing its value at $95. Now, that’s a “Find.” Judy says her husband is her best friend and they enjoy camping, collecting and everything else together. Collecting runs in the family, as her brother has also embraced Judy’s passion for historical treasures. He’s even taken it up a level with his collection of 700 different syrup pitchers. They share the enthusiasm and they discuss different patterns of glassware. It seems the family that collects, connects. On occasion friends have given Judy some additions to her syrup pitcher collection but mostly she thinks they think she’s a little eccentric. Not only does she collect syrup pitchers, but also more unusual items such toothbrush holders and razor blade banks. Tennis is her second love and the main reason she returns to Shreveport from the farm every week. She’s been playing tennis for thirtyfour years. For many years she Above: played tournaments and now she Antique plays with SALT, the Shreveport Pencil Association of Ladies Tennis. sharpener Splitting her time between Texas and Louisiana gives her the best of both worlds, she says. “At the farm I love to cook, in town, I love to go out to eat.” Judy’s enthusiasm is contagious. Her passion for collecting, for history, for her family and for life surrounds her like a glowing aura and will envelop you too when you see her. Her advice to those wishing to start collections? “Pick something interesting, read about it, start looking”, she says, but always be open to something new. “Syrup pitchers picked me!” she laughs. The Best Of Times
August 2010
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Restaurant Review
The Market
T
he Market has a peculiar history of housing fine things. It was once a general store and filling station that housed several photographs taken by Ansel Adams, the great American photographer famous for his black-and-white photographs. The photographs and gas pumps are long gone and the little country tavern now houses this small restaurant that serves casual dishes with fine, zippy flavors. Don’t be fooled by the Market’s location (off the beaten path on Norris Ferry Road), façade, gravel parking lot and interior: it’s not a barbeque joint. Instead, the Market features a fresh menu that changes weekly and “follows the seasons,” which tests the chef ’s creativity. Decorations are minimal, lighting is low and floors, walls and arched ceilings are clad in wood paneling maintaining the Market’s cozy tavern feel. The dining area is small and may have some diners feeling like they are in close quarters with others. Pair this with the heat of a summer evening and the atmosphere can get a little stuffy. The front bar area offers a larger space to enjoy a drink and sink into a handsome leather chair. The Market did not draw much of a crowd the Friday night that we dined there. It’s low noise level makes it suitable for a quiet night out and allowed us to eat, drink and chat at a leisurely pace. Among the appetizers and entrees we ordered, we found a theme of freshness and zing. There was no need to shake the salt and pepper. We started our dinner with California red wine, Goat Cheese with Roasted Red Peppers and Sundried Tomatoes ($9.95) and Fire Cracker Shrimp ($10.95) suggested by our friendly server Sydney. A large portion of fried shrimp was served with two sauces, creamy green wasabi and sweet-and-spicy chili. The shrimp were light and crisp, not too greasy, but needed the sauces for flavor and spice, just enough to tickle your taste buds. A large round of goat cheese was served warm with a crispy outer shell covered with spicy peppers and tomatoes and served with small, lightly buttered toast points. Market salads are large and made with crisp greens and produce without excess dressing. Tina had a Stuffed Portabella salad ($9.25) with a thick
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10539 Norris Ferry Road Shreveport, LA 71106 318-797-4375 grilled portabella mushroom served over a bed of spinach and tossed with sweet onions and feta cheese. It tasted herby with a slight tartness of capers in the vinaigrette. Gary loves blue cheese, so he enjoyed his Blue Cheese Salad ($8.25), a wedge of ice berg lettuce with a light and creamy blue cheese dressing, bacon and avocado. My Market Greek Salad ($8.25) was a mix of organic spring greens, feta, kalamata olives, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, marinated purple onions all tossed in a peppery herb vinaigrette. Fresh flavors continued in our entrees. Gary’s New York Strip ($25.95), 10 ounces of Aged Angus beef in a peppercorn demiglaze, was cooked to order, tender and “very good.” I tried Broiled Salmon with Tarragon Sauce ($20.95), a plump filet of salmon served over cooked spinach and drizzled with creamy tarragon sauce with a hint of mint. The tarragon sauce pulled the flavors and textures together as the salmon was cooked mushier than expected and the spinach tasted wilted and salty. Tina enjoyed the Red Snapper with Crabmeat ($22.95), a sizeable filet of sautéed red snapper topped with crabmeat, cherry tomatoes, fresh herbs and lemons. She was pleased to have a sizeable amount of crab meat piled on top of the fish. Each of our entrees was served with sides of grilled vegetables and mashed or new potatoes. Sides are generally used as plate fillers and have little to no flavor. We could taste that extra attention was given to these veggies and potatoes, which were herby and well-seasoned, if not too seasoned. The potatoes even had a red pepper kick. For dessert we split a Molten Chocolate Cake with Peanut Butter Filling ($7.25). Rich chocolate with crunchy peanut butter was a heavy note to end on. The chocolate cake lacked fluffiness, but was served with warm, freshly prepared chocolate sauce and whipped cream. The Market offers a no frills, but full flavor dining experience. For the restaurant’s atmosphere, service, quality of food, flavor and price, we hold up 4 forks out of 5. Reviewed by Lizzie Lyles
TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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ANSWERS FROM THE EXPERTS Ophthalmology
Nursing Home Care
hospice
I have heard that Glaucoma is a painless disease. How often should I get checked for Glaucoma? Glaucoma is considered the silent thief of sight. It is painless, progressive, and can cause complete blindness. Every person over the age of 40 should be checked, if they have never had a glaucoma check, and then every 2 - 3 years after that. Glaucoma is more prominent in the elderly, so persons over the age of 65 should be checked yearly, especially if you have a family member with the disease. Glaucoma can be successfully treated with medicine and/ or surgery to help prevent the loss of sight.
In considering a nursing home for future placement of a family member, I am told that I should review the home’s most recent state survey. Where can I obtain one? Survey results are posted online at www.medicare.gov/NHCompare. You may search the site by city, zip code, or the name of the particular homes. It will give you a comparison of each home to the state and national averages of issues cited. If you do not have Internet access, you may ask the nursing home staff to see the survey since homes are required to display a copy of their most recent survey in a public area.
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.
Chris Shelby, MD
Vicki Ott
Rick Bauer
Orthopaedics
Neurosurgery
social security
I broke a bone last year. Do I have osteoporosis? This is a question that should be asked after a fracture? In certain high risk groups the risk of a serious fracture can double after a first fracture. Those who experience an osteoporotic hip fracture have a 24% increased risk of dying within one year following the fracture. This is not only a disease of aging white women. Osteoporosis occurs in all racial groups and men have a 1:8 chance of having an osteoporotic fracture. Although there is no specific cure, you can: Get enough Vitamin D and Calcium. Get regular exercise (weight bearing and low impact). Do balance exercises to avoid falls (Tai chi decrease falls in older individuals) and if you have a broken bone talk to your doctor about a bone density test.
Who are candidates for balloon kyphoplasty to relieve back problems? The best candidates for balloon kyphoplasty are those who have new (within a few days or a couple of weeks) fracture. Fractures are most common in older patients with osteoporosis and the typical symptom is severe, immediate onset back pain. Kyphoplasty has to be one of the most satisfying procedures - there is practically immediate relief in most cases, and people go home with only 2 tiny needle incisions. We treat other backrelated problems which affect pain down the legs of ‘fatiguing” down the legs, and not every patient needs surgery - just an honest assessment.
How do I find out exactly when I will be of “full retirement” age? Full retirement age gradually increases based on the year of your birth. Those born in 1937 and before reached full retirement age at 65 years old. Those born in 1938 or later will see a gradual increase in the full retirement age with those born between 1943-1954 reaching full retirement age at age 66 and those born in 1960 or later becoming eligible for full retirement benefits at 67 years old. No matter what your full retirement age is, you may start receiving reduced benefits as early as age 62 or a larger benefit by delaying retirement as late as age 70. For more info, visit our www.socialsecurity.gov or call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
Pierremont Eye Institute 7843 Youree Dr. Shreveport, LA 1105 318-212-3937; www.ShelbyEye.com See our ad on page 39.
John J. Ferrell, M.D. Mid South Orthopaedics 7925 Youree Drive; Suite 210 Shreveport, LA 71105 (318) 424-3400
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NurseCare Nursing and Rehab Center 1736 Irving Place Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 221-1983 See our ad on page 54.
Dr. Ravish Patwardhan The Comprehensive Neurosurgery Network 8001 Youree Dr., Ste 970 Shreveport, LA 71115 (318) 797-5543 www.neurosurgery.ws
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 5.
Dora Miller
Social Security Admin. Public Affairs Specialist 1-877-319-3074 www.socialsecurity.gov TheBestOfTimesNews.com
The Best of Times & Caddo Bossier RSVP Salute Volunteer of the Month Dr. Grace Bareikis By Linda Mullican Dr. Grace Bareikis has been an active volunteer with Literacy Volunteers at Centenary College (LVCC), a station of Caddo/ Bossier RSVP. She has been with LVCC since March, 2000. Grace tutored literacy students in Advanced English as a Second Language and has served on LVCC’s Board of Directors since July, 2000 and at present time is taking a sabbatical from the tutoring aspects of LVCC to be involved in other aspects of the program such as heading the program committee to make improvements in their program for a three year strategy plan. Grace also works with the Tutor Trainers which provides training for new volunteers to become certified in the Centenary Literacy Program. She is involved with their annual Scrabble Fundraiser which raises funds for the literacy program. Grace has been an active Caddo/Bossier RSVP volunteer since January, 2002. She also donates her time in serving on the Board of Summer Music Festival for Centenary College and the Board of the Meadows Museum, serving as President for two years. Grace presently serves on the Women’s Endowment Quorum (a group of women who support Centenary College). She donates 30 hours a week to the Centenary Book Bazaar which holds an annual sale of donated books each September. The funds collected from the sale are given to the Centenary Muses which helps support their program. According to Sue Lee, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers at Centenary, “Grace is a vital part of the success of the literacy program at Centenary and has been outstanding in donating her time and expertise to assist in making a difference in not only their literacy program but for many organizations in our area.” If you are interested in volunteering, please call the Caddo/Bossier RSVP office at (318) 676-5187 or e-mail lmulliccoa@ yahoo.com The Best Of Times
When you go to a nightclub,
ALL LOUISIANA
SINGS.
When you’re a tourist in your own state, the whole state benefits. In fact, the Louisiana tourism industry has an annual economic impact on our state of $9.4 billion. And when you invite your friends and family to visit you in Louisiana, the impact is even greater. For a complete calendar of events, visit our website. ite.
LouisianaTravel.com
© 2010 The Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism
August 2010
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Delicious Summer Dishes
I
Family Features
talian food is at the top of many people’s list of favorite cuisines - and for good reason. Chef Fabio Viviani, “Top Chef” contestant and owner and Executive Chef of Firenze Osteria Italian Restaurant and Martini Bar in Los Angeles, knows that the combination of fresh ingredients, Chef Fabio Viviani flavorful herbs and healthy, high quality olive oil makes Italian cuisine a go-to choice for al fresco summer dining. To bring families together for a summer meal, Chef Fabio has created delicious summer recipes that can be made indoors or on the grill.
Roasted Tomato & Zucchini Salad
6 Roma tomatoes 4 zucchini Extra Virgin Olive Oil 2 garlic cloves, minced Salt and pepper (to taste) 2 6-ounce balls of buffalo mozzarella, cut into 3/4-inch slices Approximately 10 large fresh basil leaves Shaved Parmesan cheese Dressing 1 Tbs. balsamic vinegar 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon paprika
Grilled Chicken Skewers with Sausage & Pancetta
3 chicken breasts (cubed) 5 to 6 sausages 8 to 10 thin slices of pancetta Sauce 20 cherry tomatoes (cut in half) Handful of fresh basil (chopped) 4 Tbs. Extra Light Tasting Olive Oil Salt and pepper (to taste) Alternate pieces of chicken and sausage on skewers and brush with olive oil. Wrap skewers with slices of pancetta, approximately two pieces per skewer. Place on grill. Grill until chicken is cooked, approximately 5 to 10 minutes. In a cast iron pan on grill, place cut tomatoes, basil and olive oil. Sauté until tomatoes are almost stewed. Season with salt and pepper. Place the cooked skewers on a plate and top with cherry tomato sauce. Garnish with fresh chopped basil.
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Filet with Farro Salad
Cut tomatoes into 1/2-inch slices, and zucchini lengthwise into 1/8inch ribbons. Season both with minced garlic, salt and pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Roast on grill with cut side up for about 10 minutes, or until nice and evenly roasted. To assemble the salad: Place the tomato, zucchini (folded) and mozzarella on top of each other, like a tower, with a basil leaf in between layers. Season layers with salt and pepper and a drizzle of dressing. Sprinkle with shaved Parmesan on top.
1 8-ounce filet mignon 8 ounces farro or couscous 10 cherry tomatoes, quartered 1 zucchini, diced 2 Tbs. Extra Virgin Olive Oil 5 to 6 leaves basil, sliced in half lengthwise 1 cup shaved Parmesan 1/2 cup pine nuts Salt and pepper Season filet with salt and pepper and grill to medium rare. Let the meat rest. Slice meat when you are ready to serve. Prepare farro by cooking in salted boiling water for 12 minutes and drain. Mix farro with the remaining ingredients in serving bowl. Serve on plate and place sliced filet on top. All recipes serve 4 and are courtesy of Chef Fabio Viviani. For additional recipes, visit www.BertolliOliveOil.com. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
Š2010 HARveSt mAnAgement SuB, LLc 0331
Fun, stress-free and all-inclusive. The way retirement living should be. Discover how simple and enjoyable Independent Retirement Living can be when you leave life’s daily details to us. tour today and learn about our current move-in specials! Welcome to Holiday. Welcome home.
Summerfield Estates Independent Retirement Living
9133 Baird Road, Shreveport, LA 71118 318-688-9525 | summerfieldestates.net
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August 2010
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Get Up & Go!
Cooking School
Taste of Home Cooking School - September 18. Bossier Civic Center. Vendor show 4:00 - 6:30 p.m.; Show starts at 6:30 p.m. Sponsored by Gap Broadcasting. Games, entertainment, door prizes, complimentary goodie bag containing over $30 of coupons, samples and freebies. Seating is limited. Tickets are $10 general admission, $35 for center VIP, $30 for outer section VIP. Purchase at Gap Broadcasting, 6341 West Port Ave (off Pines Rd). Call 318-6881130 ext 119 for more info.
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. • August 3 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. 4 hr. Class (Lunch Provided). Trinity United
Methodist Church, 1000 West Woodward, Ruston LA. Contact: Chris Allen – 318251-0750; Instructor: Ray Branton
Tours/Exhibits
KREWE OF ELDERS
The Krewe of Elders is having a party on Sunday, August 8 from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., at the American Legion Hall located at 5315 South Lakeshore Drive, Shreveport. Entertainment provided by Along for the Ride. $7.00 per person. Food available for purchase. Cash bar, door prizes, 50/50 raffle. Open to public. Info 635-4901, 752-9175, 518-8092. The Krewe of Elders Coronation Bal XIII will be held on Saturday, August 28 from 6:00 until 11:00 p.m., at the American Legion Hall located at 5313 South Lakeshore Drive, Shreveport. Entertainment provided by Bobby Langston and Shree. $40.00 per person in advance. $45.00 at door. Open to public. Dinner Buffet, cash bar and silent auction. Send check payable to Krewe of Elders, P.O. Box 6484, Bossier City, LA 71171. Info 635-4901, 752-9175, 518-8092.
Silver Screenings
Matinee and Luncheon for Seniors - "Sabrina" starring Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden. Tuesday, August 17 at 10:30 a.m. $5.75 for the film only; $14 for film and lunch. Call (318) 459-4122 to RSVP.
Bierstadt-EmigrantsRestingatSunset
Bowling
Holiday Lanes 50th Anniversary Celebration - Friday, Aug. 6. 10 - 11 a.m. Holiday Lanes Bowling Center, 3316 Old Minden Rd, Bossier. Free cake and soft drinks, free bowling from 10:30 - 11 (Timed bowling. First come, first served), behind the lanes walking tour, door prizes. Coupon for free gift on page 19. (318) 746-7331.
on Thursday, August 12 from 8:00 – 10:00 am and 5:00 – 7:00 pm. She will guide you through electronic filing for Social Security Retirement or Medicare Bring your own laptop or use Dora's.
First Saturday Tour - August 7 at 2 p.m. at R.W. Norton Art Gallery, 4747 Creswell Avenue, Shreveport. “Sunset Tour,” a chronological and geographical ramble across America featuring paintings of sunsets. FREE. Ansel Adams: The Masterworks - August 17 through end of the year. R.W. Norton Art Gallery, 4747 Creswell Avenue, Shreveport. Showcases forty-eight gelatin silver prints from the “Museum Set” of seventyfive photographs that Adams chose as his best works. Hours are Tuesday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and weekends, 1 to 5 p.m. There is no admission charge.
Veteran's Luncheon
All military veterans of all our Nation’s Wars from World War II to the present conflict are cordially invited to the Annual Veteran’s Luncheon at Barksdale AFB on Friday, August 27 at 12 noon. The luncheon Social Security will include much military pageantry inEnrollment cluding Arc of Swords, band, gifts including Are you planning to file for Social coins and caps and more. The cost is $15 per CHINA 1,306,313,812 PEOPLE EAT CHINESE EVERY DAY.are Security Retirement or IN Medicare in the person. Seating is limitedFOOD so reservations near future? Why wait inCome, line?letJoin Dorayouon firstthe come seating. invitaus remind whya it’s mostgets popular food For in theyour world. Miller, Public Affairs Specialist for the Social tion and/or information call 318-456-5976 Security Administration at the Cupcake or 456-4480 or FAX 456-3520 or email Gallery, 7436 Youree Drive in Shreveport RAO@Barksdale.AF.mil.
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 44
August 2010
Hill Crest Memorial 601 Hwy. 80 East Haughton, LA 71037 (318) 949-9415
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Across 1 Stop at sea, with "to" 6 CD changers, at times 9 Tossed in 14 Seasonal flue shouts 19 "The Wizard of Oz" tunesmith 20 __ race 21 NPR host Hansen 22 Critic with an influential thumb 23 Protective gear for public disorder? 25 Crossword components 26 Roger Bannister, notably 27 Handlers in a bucket 28 Condiments aisle dispute? 30 Slip 31 "Evita" role 32 Certain dancer's hope 33 Ending with Japan 34 Poking tool 37 Talk turkey? 40 Diet guru Jenny 42 Worry 43 Looker in a free-for-all? 47 __ avail 48 Monogram pts. 49 Lecture site 50 Dagger handles 54 Knotty situation? 56 Solid alcohol 58 Bookplate words 61 Dogsledding gear 63 Like some Byzantine art 65 Bodybuilder's target, briefly 66 Rep. 67 Hostility between pinky wrestlers? 69 Couple that's always at it? 72 Eroded, with "away"
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73 Bit of baloney 74 Flap-doored homes 76 Redder inside 77 Agate and jasper 80 "m" and "n" sounds 82 Like 2-Down 84 Binge 85 Broadway successes 87 Pro follower 89 Some fuel suffixes 90 Grammar class skirmishes? 95 Drama opening? 98 Main blood line 99 Golfer's "flat stick" 100 Baseball's Durocher 101 Botanist Gray 102 Gardner that sounds like a peer 103 Kid 104 Double-digit sign? 106 Table game for tusslers? 110 Ice cream order 115 It's trolled at Christmas 116 Like fall air, often 117 Pasta before an affaire d'honneur? 118 Bizet work 119 Some jazz combos 120 Uplifting garb 121 Boobs 122 Principle 123 Skillful 124 Nile snake 125 Not a good way to come up Down 1 Spy name 2 "The Red" guy 3 Burn balm 4 Stingray, e.g., for short 5 Swallow greedily 6 __ race 7 Honey holders 8 Part of EST: Abbr.
Them's Fightin' Words
By John Lampkin; Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
(Solution on page 49)
9 Pool owner's concern 10 Tabloid fodder 11 Speaker's platform 12 Like minor hardships 13 Very blue state 14 Bodybuilder 15 Ultimate words? 16 With 55-Down, Beatles song with the line "You may be a lover but you ain't no dancer" 17 Ultimatum words 18 Mason's assistant 24 Open, as a scroll 28 Toque wearer 29 Anaheim stadium nickname 31 Shaved to the max
34 Env. directive 35 Celebrate in a big way 36 Listen 38 Alphabetical orders? 39 Jeeves's boss __ Wooster, in Wodehouse novels 40 Communion cups 41 Confed. monogram 42 Bodybuilder's target 44 Village 45 Tele- ending 46 "Song of Myself" poet 51 Like the Elks 52 Agate relative 53 Ret. fliers 55 See 16-Down 57 Mouse order 59 T-shirt orders
60 "If I Were King of the Forest" singer 62 McCain's st. 64 Empty, as a desk 67 Online sidebar headings 68 Charge card charge 70 Like italics 71 Cheering in a big way 75 Tense time? 78 Taken-back auto 79 Curlew or plover 81 Ballpark figure 83 Old U.S. gas 86 Violin add-on 88 Brit's school exam 91 Peer that sounds like a Gardner 92 Italian cornmeal dish 93 Apple product
94 Citrus drinks 95 Smokey Bear, e.g. 96 Beach book genre 97 Polo designer 102 Key of four Beethoven piano sonatas 103 Lovers' liaison 105 It's disposable online 107 Shout after a hook, maybe 108 Andy's kid 109 Per 110 Nuptial pronoun 111 Twice-monthly tide 112 Ballpark figure follower 113 FrĹ ulein's upper 114 Sibilant signal 117 Corp. alias 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.
Singing Praises (Solution on page 49)
Museum Word Search
At Snell’s Orthotics and Prosthetics, we often hear praises from patients and members of the medical community alike. But rarely are those praises sung so beautifully as when Eddie Mae Montgomery bestows accolades upon us. You see, music is an important part of Eddie Mae’s life, and for more than forty years she has ministered to others through her music at St. Mary Baptist Church in Shreveport. Together she and her husband direct the church’s choirs. “I wouldn’t want to go to anybody else,” says Montgomery. “They take the time necessary to understand their patients’ needs, and work hard to exceed expectations. I always recommend Snell’s to anyone who has needs similar to mine.” When you have a special orthotic or prosthetic need, it pays to work with a team that has the experience and long-term commitment that we do. We 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 humanity rather than science. Which is precisely why compliments from those we serve are always music to our ears.
Returning independence to our patients since 1911
Airplanes Animals Antique Artifacts Collection Costumes Diorama The Best Of Times
Education Exhibit Field trip Habitat History Landmark Maps
Memorabilia Museum Photographs Tours Trophies Uniforms Unique
ORTHOTICS • PROSTHETICS
1833 Line Avenue • Shreveport • (318) 424-4167 • Toll-Free 1-800-219-5273 8730 Youree Drive, Building A • Shreveport • (318) 795-0953 211 Hall Street • Monroe • (318) 388-3126 • Toll-Free 1-800-685-2268 1404 Jackson Street • Alexandria • (318) 443-6391 • Toll-Free 1-800-289-3260
www.SnellsOandP.com Serving Shreveport (2 locations), Bossier City, Monroe, Alexandria, Ruston, Minden, Natchitoches, Coushatta, and Mansfield.
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old
Pages
Ambulance Services
ResCare Home Care (318) 678-1890
Cemetery Upkeep and Flowers
Balentine Ambulance Service (318) 222-5358
Seniors Club Personal Care Services (318) 635-0010
Flowers Forever, LLC (318) 925-2323
Artificial Limbs and Braces
Cemeteries/Funeral Homes
Snell’s Orthotics and Prosthetics (318) 424-4167
Centuries Memorial (318) 686-4334
Associations and Organizations BluePrint Louisiana (866) 483-3920 Bossier Council on Aging (318) 741-8302 Caddo Council on Aging (318) 676-7900 Sci-Port Louisiana’s Science Center (318) 424-3466
Hill Crest Memorial (318) 949-9415
Clinical Research Studies Clinical Site Services (800) 817-4009 Dr. Gary Booker (318) 227-9600 Dr. James Patterson LSUHSC Psychopharmacology Research Clinic (318) 813-2070
Counseling Services
Shreveport Little Theatre (318) 424-4439
Health Guide (318) 780-4307
The Robinson Film Center (318) 424-9090
The Center for Families (318) 222-0759
The Best of Times (318) 636-5510
Educational Courses
Webster Council on Aging (318) 371-3056
Care Providers Comfort Keepers (318) 934-0090 Elder Kare (318) 469-1711 Elite Health Solutions (318) 213-5483 Entrum Care, Inc. (318) 949-1828 Family Care Services (318) 671-1799
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Hearing Care Services Better Hearing Systems (318) 747-9191 Shreve Hearing Aid Service (318) 797-7733
Home Health Care (Medicare Certified) Ark-La-Tex Home Health, Inc (318) 747-6180 Medistar Home Health (318)742-4026 Synergy Home Care (318) 550-0285
Hospice Care Providers Hospice Compassus (318) 524-1046 LifePath Hospice (318) 222-5711 St. Joseph Hospice (318) 222-8723
Minden Medical Center Joint Center of Excellence and Joint Camp (318) 382-4083 Willis Knighton Medical Center – North Shreveport (318) 212-4000 Willis Knighton Medical Center – Bossier (318) 212-7000 Willis Knighton Medical Center – South Shreveport (318) 212-5000 Wilis Knighton Medical Center – Pierremont (318) 212-3000
Insurance Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (800) 495-2583
Medical Supplies and Equipment FastServ Medical (318) 741-9586
Restaurants and Catering
Summerfield Estates (318) 688-9525
Skin Care/Hair Care
Cupcake Gallery (318) 752-2253
Jeany Mitchell’s Skin Technology (318) 347-3567
Imperial Wok Chinese Restaurant (318) 687-6668
Sam Stroope, Hairstylist (318) 868-8708
Senior Living Options
Travel Services
Azalea Estates Assisted Living (318) 797-2408 Horizon Bay Assisted Living (318) 747-2114 Kingsley Place of Shreveport (318) 524-2100
Cruises, Inc (318) 746-3745 Fly Branson Airline Services (888)359-2541
Telephone Book User-Friendly Phone Book (318) 865-1280
Physician Services
Emergency Response Systems
Home Infusion Services
Dr. Gary Booker (318) 227-9600
Acadian OnCall (800) 259-1234
IV Plus (318) 683-5139
Mid South Orthopaedics (318) 424-3400
Financial Planning/ Legal Services
Hospitals
The Law Practice of Joseph Gilsoul (318) 222-2100
Holiday Lanes Bowling (318) 746-7331
Southwood Square (318) 671-1888
L’ll Rascals Pet Sitting (318) 573-6672
Dr. James Patterson (318) 813-2070
Minden Medical Center (318) 377-2321
Recreation Activities
Southwood Gardens (318) 682-4022
Pet Sitting Services
Willis Knighton Hospice of Louisiana (318) 212-4697
Serio Investments – Phillip Serio (318) 221-0889
KWKH AM 1130 Radio Station (318) 688-1130
NurseCare of Shreveport (318) 221-1983
Medtronics – XSTOP Spacer (866) 580-5242
Bible Correspondence Course (318) 797-6333
Brentwood Hospital (318) 678-7500
Radio Stations
Pierremont Eye Institute Dr. Chris Shelby (318) 212-3937 Vision – Source Dr. Larry Chism (888) 243-2020 TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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louisiana-stylE luxury and grandEur A new concept in active, healthy living
ExpEriEncE living in affordablE luxury 24/7 security and staffed gatehouse Choose from 17 apartment floor plans, many with lake views Dining options including bistro, fine dining and al fresco dining on the terrace Housekeeping and linen service Concierge and private transportation services Cultural, educational and social programs Spa & Wellness Center with heated indoor saltwater pool
Call today to schedule your private appointment 600 E. Flournoy Lucas Road Shreveport, Louisiana
(318) 212-OAKS (6257) www.oaksofla.com 50
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Share your photos with us. Email to editor.calligas@gmail.com
Forrest Dunn, LA State Exhibit Director Retires (right top) Louisiana Secretary of State Jay Dardenne presents Forest Dunn with a proclamation honoring his many years of service as the director of the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum in Shreveport (right middle) Dr. Philip and Alma Rozeman (right bottom) Debbie Grand with Wayne Waddell. Congressman Waddell was named as the new Director of the museum the next day. (below) Donald Webb and Judy Christie
Glover Re-election Party
“Memoir” Opening Night Reception Actress Rosemary Prinz (left) greets Shirley and Lionel Eltis at a reception following the opening night performance of “Memoir” presented by the River City Repertory Theatre. 90th Birthday Celebration
Carr Wedding Reception Live Oak “Founding Fathers” Presentation Joy Dunkleman attended the presentation of “Founding Fathers” by Gary Joiner at Live Oak
Mayor of Shreveport Cedric Glover with Anna Marie Arpino and David Lockwood at the Glover re-election announcement party held at the Barnwell Garden and Art Center on July 1st.
Mr and Mrs Edgar C Bland celebrate with Maurine Fulkerson at her 90th birthday party held on July 10th at Springlake Guest Care. Jessie Klonaris (center) is all smiles at her grandson Conley Carr's wedding reception. With her are son Monty Klonaris and Kakie Duren. Mrs. Springlake crowned
NWLA Empty Bowls Board Chairman Ray Bragg and Executive Director Martha Marak at the Food Bank of NWLA Empty Bowls event
The Best Of Times
Maureen Fulkerson was recently crowned Queen of Springlake Guest Care. Celebrating with her are daughters Dianne Brock (left) and Linda Johnson
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Paid Advertisement
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, Albuquerque, 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. Richard J. Shuldiner and East Texas optometrist, Dr. Larry Chism, are using miniaturized binoculars or telescopes to help people who have lost vision from macular degeneration 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 television 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 progression 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 Macugen injections try to prevent leakage. “Our job is to figure out everything and anything possible to keep a person 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. August 2010
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*Advertised public charter fares are one-way, do not require a round trip purchase, and include Federal Excise Tax of 7.5%. Fares are capacity controlled and some advertised airfares not be available on all seats on all flights. Airfares do not include September 11th Security Fees of $2.50 per person per enplanement, Federal Flight Segment Taxes of $3.70 per person per flight segment, Passenger Facility Charges (PFC) of up to $4.50 per person each way. Advertised fares cost $11.25 more per person each way when booked by calling 1-888-FLY-BKG1 or through BransonAirExpress.com. Tickets purchased at the airport are not subject to this increase in price. Fares are subject to availability at the time of booking, and are subject to change. A $15.00 checked baggage fee will apply for the first checked bag and $25.00 for a second checked bag per person. Each checked bag weighing over 51 pounds will be assessed a fee of $40 in addition to the checked bag fee.
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