July 2010 “Celebrating Age and Maturity�
FEATURES Moore Than a Soldier Finding Peace in Hiroshima No Man Left Behind
Remembering
D-Day in Normandy
Priceless Presort Standard U.S. Postage Paid Shreveport, LA 71103 Permit No. 6
Willis-Knighton has been designated as a Louisiana Blue Distinction® Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, and that’s good news for our community. Blue Cross Blue Shield Association’s experts have evaluated facilities based on stringent criteria that include a hospital’s broad range of services, experience and training of surgeons, quality management programs, streamlined care and patient education. This is great news for Blue Cross customers and great news for our community.
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INA’s URN
July 2010 • Vol. 17, No. 7 Founded in 1993 as Senior Scene News ISSN Library of Congress #1551-4366
W
hat do a stage and TV actress, a D-Day veteran, an American hero who is the only living member on a list of the "Top 100 Generals of All Time," Mel Gipson, and a tribal fusion belly dancer have in common? You'll find all of them in this issue of The Best of Times. We also travel to Normandy and Hiroshima, board a windjammer, and learn some tips to help prevent crime and protect our identities. We've had a blast working on this issue and I think you'll agree that this is one of our best ever! As we celebrate our country's independence on the 4th of July, enjoy your freedom, and please take a moment to remember the sacrifices of all the brave men and women who currently serve in our military, as well as our veterans and those who paid the ultimate price. We are all eternally grateful to those who deserve the credit for preserving liberty and protecting our country. We are already working on our next issue and it promises to be a doozy!! See you then. Tina
A monthly publication from TBT Multimedia, LLC P.O. Box 19510 Shreveport, LA 71149 (318) 636-5510 TheBestOfTimesNews.com
Original content not published in this issue can be found at
TheBestofTimesNews.com June Release Blu-Ray/DVD Reviews Book Review of “Red Hats” by Damon Wayans Hiring a Geriatric Care Manager Asparagus is Good Medicine Recipe for Zucchini Boats Stuffed with Turkey Crossword & Suduko Puzzles
Radio Hour
Streaming live on the internet www.KWKHonline.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 Writers Bob Corley, Mary Flanders, Russell Hedges,Tim Lennox, Lizzie Lyles, and Jessica Rinaudo Contributors Jason Alderman, Lee Aronson, Judge Jeff Cox, Andrea Gross, Mirabai Holland, and Bob Moos
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Council of Advisors Terri Brock, Senator Sherry SmithCheek, Clara Farley, Dora Miller, Raymon Owens, Mary Anne Rankin, and Mary Alice Rountree Captain Bouzakis
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.
JULY 3 “Having the Best of Times Cruising the Mediterranean,” Apostolos Bouzakis, Captain of the Celebrity Cruise ship Equinox. www.celebritycruises.com July 10 “211 - Linking People with Social Services,” Terri Brock, Executive Director of Centerpoint. www.centerpt.org JUly 17 “Better Business Bureau Services for Individuals and Businesses,” Andy Fisher, President of BBB of Central Louisiana and Ark-La-Tex. www.shreveport.bbb.org
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 advertisers.
JUly 24 “Social Security and Medicare UPDATES,” Dora Miller, Public Affairs Specialist with Social Security Administration. www. socialsecurity.gov JUly 31 “Cardiac PET Imaging,” Dr. Phillip Rozeman with Cardiovascular Consultants. www.cardioconsult.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.
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31 26
July
Contents BRIEFLY
31 Moore Than a Soldier by Bob Corley 34 No Man Left Behind by Tim Lennox 36 Finding Peace in Hiroshima by Jessica Rinaudo
COLUMNS 38 PROFILE IN PIZZAZZ by Mary Flanders Gotta’ Dance!
10 STAT!
40 TravelTizers by Andrea Gross Blow Your Worries Away
SPECIAL REPORT
IN EVERY ISSUE
12 New Medigap Insurance Plans on the Way
42 What’s Cooking? Simple Summer Solutions
ADVICE
46 Get Up & Go! Fun things to see and do
14 ASK DR. Marion by Marion Somers, Ph.D. Safety Tips to Prevent Elder Crime
48 Our Famous Puzzle Pages Crossword, Suduko, and Word Search
16 Laws of the Land by Lee Aronson Should Death Certificates be Public Record?
50 Gold Pages Resource Directory of businesses, services, and organizations for “those of us 50+”
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News & Info
18 Money Matters by Jason Alderman Identity Thieves’ Latest Scams 20 From the Bench by Judge Jeff Cox Wills Must Follow Form 22 Moving Free with Mirabai by Mirabai Holland Be Water Safe This Summer
PHOTO FEATURETTES 53 SHREVEPORT HONORS CENTENarians 55 PARTING SHOTS
24 Rosemary Prinz by Russell Hedges 26 Remembering D-Day in Normandy by Lizzie Lyles July 2010
On the Cover
July 2010 “Celebrating Age and Maturity”
FEATURES
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FEATURES Moore Than a Soldier Finding Peace in Hiroshima No Man Left Behind
Remembering
D-Day in Normandy
Priceless Presort Standard U.S. Postage Paid Shreveport, LA 71103 Permit No. 6
“The Spirit of American Youth Rising from the Waves” stands in the semi-circular colonnade of the American Cemetery on Omaha Beach in Normandy, France. The bronze statue honors those who did not rise following the landing on the Normandy beaches. Photo by Lizzie Lyles.
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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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July 2010
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News Info
Project Gathers Social Security Stories A new effort to gather stories about the importance of Social Security in our society has been launched. The Social Security Stories Project is seeking story submissions from the public for possible inclusion in a new book to be published in honor of the 75th anniversary of Social Security on Aug. 14, 2010. Those who have received Social Security as well as those who know of a friend or family member whose life was impacted are encouraged to submit their stories. Online submission is easy and requires less than 400 words or a short video. Stories may be about how: • Social Security helped a family after a tragedy • Social Security is helping with retirement even in these tough financial times. • children were left without a working parent or were orphaned, but Social Security provided economic security. • Social Security helped ensure someone received an education. • a veteran was able to live in dignity. There are three ways to submit a story: 1. Upload a video on YouTube (less than 3 minutes in length) and include a link to the video with the submission form available at www.SocialSecurityStories. org. 2. Fill out the simple form on the website (400 words or less). 3. Send a hard copy of your story in regular mail to: Social Security Stories Project, Frances Perkins Center, PO Box 281, Newcastle, ME 04553 Full details and a submission form are available at www.SocialSecurityStories. org. Deadline is July 31.
Medicare Provides "Extra Help" More Medicare beneficiaries will qualify for “Extra Help” with their prescription drug costs, and be eligible to pay no more than $2.50 for generic drugs and $6.30 for each brand name drug thanks to changes to Medicare’s Low-Income Subsidy Program (also known as LIS or “Extra Help”) that take effect this year. Changes in the law enacted in the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 make it easier for Medicare beneficiaries to qualify for “Extra Help”. When determining eligibility for “Extra Help,” the Social Security Administration will no longer count life insurance policies as a resource. In addition, help received from
family and friends to pay for household expenses like food, mortgage, rent and utilities will no longer count as income. To qualify, Medicare beneficiaries’ incomes must be less than $16,245 a year (or $21,855 for married couples) and have resources limited to $12,510 (or $25,010 for married couples). Resources include bank accounts, stocks, and bonds, but do not include houses, cars, or life insurance policies. There is no cost to apply for “Extra Help.” Apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp or call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs.
Get Help Obtaining Needed Prescription Medications While prescription drugs can improve and prolong life, too many people fail to take their medicines as prescribed. According to the National Institutes of Health, millions of people with chronic conditions are not getting the medication they need because they do not have health insurance coverage or are struggling financially. The Partnership for Prescription Assistance (PPA) is a nationwide effort to help uninsured and financially struggling Americans connect with patient assistance programs that provide medicines at low or even no cost. People who qualify may have access to more than 2,500 brand-name and generic prescription medicines. In addition, the PPA provides information on over 10,000 free clinics. PPA now has a text hotline and smart phone application to ensure 24/7 access to information about the more than 475 participating programs. Anyone needing help with medicines can call (888) 4-PPA-NOW to talk to a trained operator or go to www.pparx.org. It takes only 10 to 15 minutes to find out if you qualify for free or nearly free medications. (NAPSI)
CCOA Moving
The Caddo Council on Aging (CCOA) offices will be moving on July 15, 2010. Their new address will be 1700 Buckner Street, Suite 240, Shreveport, LA 71101. The new phone number will be (318) 676-7900. Certain CCOA departments and programs will be located at this new location. RSVP program will be located at 705 Elvis Presley Blvd in Shreveport, LA 71101. Their new phone number will be (318) 676-5186.
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July 2010
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STAT! Medical News
Don’t Let Arthritis Put the Kibosh on Exercise Achy knees and joints caused by arthritis are not reasons to stop exercising. Regular, modest exercise improves joint stability and strengthens muscles, according to the Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource. Exercise also improves mood, sleep, energy levels and day-today functioning. Best of all, people with arthritis who exercise regularly report less pain. A physical therapist or trainer can tailor exercise programs to health conditions and fitness levels, including: • Range-of-motion and flexibility exercises such as yoga and tai chi. • Low-impact aerobics improve overall fitness and endurance as well as muscle function and joint stability. Options include water aerobics, swimming, walking. • Strengthening: Strength training builds the muscles around the joints to provide better support. These exercises may be done with one’s own body weight for resistance, with hand-held weights, resistance bands or weight machines. • Lifestyle: Many everyday activities - gardening and housework - provide the health benefits of moderate physical activities. For some, high-impact activities can make arthritis pain worse. It’s wise to consult with a physician before starting a new exercise regimen. (Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource)
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Eat Nuts for Heart Health
Eating nuts may help your heart. Consuming more nuts appears to be associated with improvements in blood cholesterol levels, according to a pooled analysis of data from 25 trials and reported in the Archives of Internal Medicine. Participants in the trials consumed an average of about 2.4 ounces of nuts per day. This was associated with an average 5.1% reduction in total cholesterol concentration, a 7.4% reduction in low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or “bad” cholesterol) and an 8.3% change in ratio of LDL cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or “good” cholesterol). In addition, triglyceride levels declined by 10.2% among individuals with high triglyceride levels (at least 150 mg/dl), although not among those with lower levels. Nuts are rich in plant proteins, fats (especially unsaturated fatty acids), dietary fiber, minerals, vitamins and other compounds, such as antioxidants and phytoesterols. As much as 80 percent of a nut is fat. Even though most of this fat is healthy fat, it's still a lot of calories. That's why nuts should be eaten in moderation. And stay away from nuts covered in chocolate, sugar or salt.
In a study of older adults, those who lived a goal-driven life were 57 percent less likely to die during the 5-year study period compared with those who didn't have much direction or purpose.
Life after Cancer Treatment Older adults who have survived cancer can find out what to expect once treatment ends in Life after Cancer, the newest topic on NIHSenior Health (www. nihseniorhealth.gov/lifeaftercancer/toc.html). Visitors to the site will learn about managing follow-up care, physical and emotional changes, and relationships with family and friends. The topic also addresses how a person’s age and health status can affect recovery and survival. This is important information for older adults who make up about 60% of cancer survivors and whose cancer treatments may be complicated by other aging-related health conditions.
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The Wonders of Walking In a large, long-term study of 39,315 female h e a l t h p ro f e s sionals, with an average age of 54, it was found that women who walked an average of two hours or more a week or who were fast walkers had a significantly lower risk of stroke than women who didn't walk. When comparing brisk walkers with non-walkers it was found that they have a 37% lower risk of any type of stroke. Women who walked for two hours or more a week also had a 30% lower risk of any type of stoke. (American Heart Association)
The Best Of Times
July 2010
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special report
New Medigap Insurance Plans On the Way By Bob Moos Anyone who shops for “Medigap” insurance to supplement Medicare’s traditional coverage can expect to see some changes in the policies. Many people on Medicare buy these private insurance policies to pay some of the out-of-pocket expenses that Medicare doesn’t. As their name suggests, the policies fill many of the “gaps” for deductibles, co-payments, co-insurance and other charges not covered. A Medigap policy can protect you from high out-of-pocket costs. Under traditional Medicare’s coverage, for example, you pay a $1,100 deductible for the first 60 days you are in the hospital and a fee for each day after that. Medigap can pay for some of those charges. The new federal standards for Medigap won’t affect you if you already have supplemental insurance. Your coverage will continue as long as you pay your premiums. But the changes do apply to policies that take effect June 1 or later. For the tens of millions of baby boomers who are about to reach 65 and join
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Medicare, the updated standards will be especially important. The best time to buy a Medigap plan is within six months of turning 65 and enrolling in Medicare’s Part B insurance. Part B covers doctor visits and other outpatient care. During that time, insurers can’t refuse to sell you a plan, or charge you more, because of a pre-existing health problem. If you wait, your options may be more limited. To help you understand what you’re buying, the government standardized the Medigap benefits years ago and labeled each kind of plan with a letter. As of June 1, there are 11 stan-
dardized Medigap plans, including one high-deductible alternative. All insurance companies selling Plan A, for instance, must offer the same package of benefits. But there can be big differences in the premiums the companies charge for the same coverage. So you should always check with more than one insurer. Congress worked with state insurance commissioners to modernize and streamline the Medigap insurance market. As a result, four plans are being eliminated this year, two new ones are being introduced, and several existing plans have changed some benefits. Among those reforms: All plans now have a hospice benefit, covering all or part of the coinsurance charge that traditional Medicare has required for prescription drugs and respite care. The preventive care benefit has been removed from Medigap plans, since traditional Medicare now covers more tests and screening procedures. The two new plans, M and N, offer lower premiums in return for higher costsharing. Plan M, for example, pays half of the hospital deductible but not the
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outpatient deductible. Plans E, H, I and J have been shelved because traditional Medicare’s recent improvements in coverage have made them unnecessary or too similar to other plans. Not everyone should consider buying a Medigap policy. You don’t need to supplement your Medicare coverage if you’re on Medicaid or enrolled in a private Medicare Advantage plan or a group health plan through an employer or former employer, like the government or military. Also, Medigap insurance doesn’t plug all the holes. It’s not a way to pay for long-term custodial care, dental care, eyeglasses, hearing aids or private-duty nursing. And new Medigap policyholders need to buy separate prescription drug coverage under Medicare’s Part D if they want it. Still, for many people, adding a Medigap plan to traditional Medicare coverage can make out-of-pocket health care expenses more predictable and easier to budget. If you’re interested in supplemental insurance, here are four steps to follow: First, decide which benefits you want and which standardized Medigap plan meets your needs. For an overview of benefits, visit www.Medicare.gov or call 1-800-633-4227 and request a free copy of the Medicare publication, “Choosing a Medigap Policy.” Next, find out which companies sell Medigap policies in your state. Visit www. Medicare.gov for a comparison of supplemental plans. Or call your State Health Insurance Assistance Program (1-800-2595301 in Louisiana) or your State Insurance Department (1-800-259-5300). Then, call the insurers that interest you. Compare premiums, since they differ company by company. But also understand that premiums may be based on your age or where you live. Check the companies’ financial strength by consulting independent ratings services like A.M. Best and Standard & Poor’s. Your State Insurance Department may also keep a record of complaints against companies. Finally, pick the policy that best fits your individual needs. Read your policy as soon as you receive it. If you’re not satisfied, you can return it within 30 days and get your money back with no questions asked. Otherwise, you can keep your insurance as long as you pay the premiums.
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Bob Moos is the Southwest regional public affairs officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The Best Of Times
July 2010
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ask Dr. marion
Q:
Safety Tips To Prevent Elder Crime
I’m concerned for my parent's safety now that they are both frailer and less aware of their environment. Do you have a few suggestions? ~Lillian Many elderly are staying more active later in life, and that’s great, but it has also resulted in a sharp increase in elder-related crimes. Whether your elder is in the home or traveling far away, he or she can become a target. I don’t mean to scare anyone with this frank talk, but you need to know how your elder can avoid most problems. Below are some safety tips to consider when your elder ventures outside of the home. 1. Wear shoes that are comfortable and in good repair. 2. Carry a purse or wallet with a firm grip and keep it close to the body.
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3. When shopping, use a cart, since it can help with balance. 4. Don’t attempt to carry too many goods home – you can often have packages delivered as well. 5. Don't leave notes on the exterior of the door when going out. 6. Leave the light on in the home, as well as the TV or radio. 7. Put a rubber band around your wallet and put your wallet in an inside pocket if possible. 8. Have keys in hand when you arrive home or when approaching your car. 9. If you must ask for directions, yell them out from a distance. 10. Don’t wear headphones – they are distracting and cut you off from your environment. 11. Take medication along if you’ll be gone for an extended
period of time. 12. Carry a whistle and blow it, or yell “Police!” or “Fire!” to get attention if needed. 13. While driving, put any purse on the passenger side floor, out of sight, or in the back. 14. Keep the windows up when driving. Dr. Marion 15. Don’t open the trunk of the car with Somers others around. 16. When possible, travel well-lit streets and highways, or travel during daylight hours. 17. Let someone know where you’re going and the route you plan to take. 18. Keep emergency items in the car such as a hat, suntan lotion, a shovel, bottled water, a battery charger, a spare tire, a flashlight, an umbrella, and maps. 19. Have a cell phone (with charger) in case of an emergency. 20. While banking, be aware of who is around the automated teller machine, and use direct deposit when possible. 21. Keep money out of sight and in a safe place. 22. Never leave valuables unattended. 23. Count money during all transactions. Over the last 40 years, Dr. Marion has worked with thousands of seniors and their caregivers as a geriatric care manager and elder care expert. It is now her goal to help caregivers everywhere through her book (“Elder Care Made Easier"), iPhone apps (www.elder911. net) web site, columns, and public service announcements For more information, visit www.DrMarion.org
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Giving the Human Touch
The hours James Nix spends with his grandchildren are perhaps his most cherished time. After all, he almost never got the chance to even see his grandchildren. Back in 1981, while working for the electric company, James came in contact with some high voltage that left him seriously injured and burned. Both of his arms were amputated as a result, but with strong determination James has been able to overcome new challenges one day at a time. “It all just depends on you and your positive attitude about things,” explains Nix. “When somebody tells you that you can’t do something, prove them wrong!” That same kind of determination drives our practitioners and technicians to keep improving the devices we fit and fabricate. We want to make life a little easier for those we serve. But we also believe that while biomechanics, technology, and mathematical precision play a large part in the services we provide, the true heart of our work is based on the human touch rather than the scientific one.
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www.SnellsOandP.com Serving Shreveport (2 locations), Bossier City, Monroe, Alexandria, Ruston, Minden, Natchitoches, Coushatta, and Mansfield.
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July 2010
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LAWS OF THE LAND
Should Death Certificates Be Public Record? Have you ever seen a if someone died of AIDS, you could find that out death certificate? It contains all kinds of by looking at their death information about the de- certificate. The certificate cedent. (Decedent is a fancy will also state whether the legal term for dead person.) decedent was pregnant in A death certificate lists the last 90 days. So here’s my question: the decedent’s social security number, date of birth and should death certificates be public record? address. The cerL ouisiana is tificate will also list a public record the names of the s t a t e . T h a t ’s parents of the debecause our cedent, including State Constituthe mother’s maiden tion makes the name. Everything a public’s right of thief needs to steal a access to public redead person’s identity. And the certifi- Lee Aronson cords a fundamental cate will also list some more right. The Louisiana Supreme personal information such as Court has stated that “the right the occupation of the dece- of the public to have access to dent, his or her educational the public records…must be background and the diseases, construed liberally in favor of injuries or complications that free and unrestricted access caused the decedent’s death. So to the records…Whenever
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there is doubt as to whether the public has the right of access to certain records, the doubt must be resolved in favor the public’s right to see.” And what exactly is a public record? Almost everything the government ever had to do with. The definition of public record includes “all records…and papers…having been used… prepared, possessed or retained for use in…any…work…which was conducted…under the authority of the constitution or laws of this sate.” There’s no doubt that death certificates are prepared under the authority of the laws of this state. And that would make them public records. But there are some exceptions to the fundamental right to access public records. And death certificates are one of these exceptions. The only people who are entitled to access death records are members of the decedent’s immediate family or a person who is the beneficiary of an insurance policy or trust. So let’s say there’s a woman named Alma who never got married and never had any kids. Her brother, who was her only sibling, died many years ago. But this brother had 2 kids and as they were the only surviving family Alma had, she was very close to her niece and nephew. When Alma died, the niece was 40 years old TheBestOfTimesNews.com
and the nephew was 37. Should they be allowed to get Alma’s death certificate? Well, according to state policy, they would not be entitled to the death certificate. That’s because a state policy defines “immediate family” as the decedent’s surviving spouse, parent, adult child, sibling grandparent or adult grandchild. But what if Alma had a will that left everything she owned to her niece and nephew? Would they then be able to get the death certificate? They would need it in order to inherit. But they still wouldn’t be able to get Alma’s death certificate without a court order. And even with a court order, they wouldn’t be able to see the death certificate. Louisiana law states that even with the court order, only the Judge would be able to review Alma’s death certificate and “no copies of the death certificate may be issued by the court to the litigants in the proceeding. The death certificate must be destroyed at the conclusion of the proceedings after all appeal delays have lapsed.” 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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money matters
Identity Thieves' Latest Scams If the financial consequences weren't so damaging, you might almost find humor in how identity theft has butchered the English language in recent years. "Phishing," "pharming" and "vishing" are just a few ways criminals access personal information they'll use to open illicit accounts, rent apartments, or even charge medical procedures to someone's insurance plan. Unfortunately, every time authorities plug one hole, crafty criminals figure out new ways to trick unsuspecting victims. Some now even steal children's Social Security numbers, ruining their credit long before they've opened a single account. To protect yourself and your family, beware of these scams: Phishing: Where you receive an email, purportedly from a trusted source like a government agency or your bank, asking you to supply or confirm account information, log-in IDs or passwords. Legitimate outfits never ask you to verify sensitive information by email (or over the phone). When in doubt, contact the organization yourself. And never click on the link provided within the email – it could take you to a copycat website capable of infecting your computer. Smishing (for "Short Message Service"): Like phishing, only it uses text messages sent to your cell phone. Vishing (voice phishing): An automated voice message that directs you to call your bank or credit card company. Under the pretext of clearing up a problem (like theft), you'll be asked to share
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personal or account information. Keep a list of company toll-free numbers handy so you can call them directly without fearing you've been given bogus information. I also program my banks' and credit card issuers' phone numbers – but not account numbers – into my cell phone in case I'm traveling. Pharming: Where hackers redirect you from a legitimate website to an impostor site to harvest (farm) personal data you've been asked to provide. Social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter increasingly are being targeted.
Skimming: Where crooks use an altered ATM slot and cameras to record account information; also, when dishonest store or restaurant employees use a portable card reader to skim credit or debit card information. Spyware: Illicit software you unknowingly download when you open an email attachment, click on a pop-up window or download a corrupted song
or game. The spyware can then record your keystrokes to obtain account information or ferret out confidential information on Jason your computer. Alderman Don't forget goodold-fashioned pickpocketing, mail theft and rooting through your trash. To reduce your risk of identity theft, always: • Shield keypads from the eyes of "shoulder surfers" at stores and ATMs. • Shred paperwork and receipts containing personal or account information. • Lock up your Social Security card and unneeded credit cards. • Carefully scan monthly credit card and bank statements for erroneous charges. • Monitor your credit reports for errors or fraudulent activity. You can order one free report per year from the three major credit bureaus at www.annualcreditreport. com. • Refrain from making online purchases from unfamiliar websites; and look for "https" in the address. These are only a few of the precautions you should routinely take to protect your personal information. For more tips, visit Practical Money Skills for Life, Visa Inc.'s free personal financial management program (www.practicalmoneyskills.com/security). Jason Alderman directs Visa's financial education programs. Sign up for his free monthly e-Newsletter at www.practicalmoneyskills.com/newsletter.
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From the Bench
Wills Must Follow Form In one case, the witnesses In the last few months, I have been reading cases did not sign the will. Louisiregarding wills that have ana Civil Code Article 1577 come out of our state appel- requires that in a notarial will, late courts. In reading some the signature of the witnesses of these cases, it has been must follow a clause specificalamazing to me why the wills ly indicating that the testament has been declared by cited in these cases the testator to be his do not follow the or her last will and form required by that the testator has L ouisiana law. signed at the end The L ouisiana and on each other Civil Code is very separate page in the specific in the form presence of the wita will must take when it is signed. Judge Jeff Cox nesses, testator, and notary public. The Although the Louisiana Civil Code allows a court complete absence of any attesto try to find the will meets tation clause by the witnesses the requirements of the Code, simply cannot be cured, and if the will does not follow the the failure to include it results requirements set out by the in an absolute nullity accordCode, the appellate courts have ing to Louisiana Civil Code been more strict in interpreta- Article 1573. This means that tion and have been declining to the will was given no effect and the person died without a will, follow the defective will.
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or intestate. In another case that I read, the person making the will did not follow the Louisiana Civil Code. The testator had originally made a will following the prescribed manner under the Louisiana Civil Code. In the second will that the person attempted to make, the testator signed the will but did not follow the prescribed Code article. The court declared the second will null because it did not follow the form prescribed by the Louisiana Civil Code. The court went on to state that although the will did not meet the form prescribed the Louisiana Civil Code, it did show an intent by the person to renounce the earlier will since he signed the document before a notary and two witnesses. The court determined that both wills failed and then determined that the person died intestate. These cases strongly indicate that form is critical in wills. If the form is not followed, the will shall be declared invalid and the person will die intestate. Using forms off the internet or trying to do your own will in order to save money may costs you more than you saved. It is always a wise idea to consult a specialist in this area and allow them to assist you. Judge Jeff Cox is the 26th Judicial Court Judge for Bossier/Webster Parishes, Division C.
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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
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July 2010
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moving free with mirabai
Be Water Safe This Summer I was shooting an exercise here’s my take on keeping video on the beach this week yourself water safe in summer. in 90-degree heat. I got on Our bodies are about 60% a roll and forgot about the water, and that water plays a time. Less than an hour in role in just about every bodily I started to swoon. Not a function. We could go a month good shot on a fitness video. without food but we can only I realized immelive a few days without diately what had water. happened; I’d gotIf you exercise outten so involved I doors, you may notice forgot to drink wathat as the weather ter between takes. gets hotter you have Dehydration causes trouble keeping up so many summer exeryour usual pace. ActuMirabai cise accidents because ally your body is telling Holland, it creeps up on you you to slow down and MFA just like it did me. So you need to listen!
Water helps to deliver oxygen to your muscles and prevents your cardiovascular system from becoming over-taxed. It takes about 2 weeks to get used to exercising br iskl y in warmer weather. You need to acclimate slowly to higher temperatures. Here are a few pointers to help you do that. When you exercise in the heat you can lose up to five cups of water per hour. So it's important to drink water before, during, and after vigorous exercise. The rule of thumb is to drink 2 cups of water a couple of hours before you start exercising so you are fully hydrated. Then a cup of water every 15 minutes or so while you are exercising. Don’t wait till you’re thirsty. If you’re thirsty, you’re already dehydrated. Remember to bring that water bottle with you! But you’re not done yet. You need to drink another 2 cups over a two-hour period after exercise. Sounds like a lot of water. It’s not. It’s just making up for the water you lose when you exercise in the heat. Give yourself a break. Try exercising if you can when it's cooler, early mornings or late afternoons when the sun is less direct. Try finding shady areas. Instead of keeping up your brisk pace for the whole workout, break it up. Go at normal pace for a bit, do a short light interval and then pick up your speed again. Wear light colored, comfortable fitting clothes. Avoid tightly woven fabrics that don't breathe. And don't forget the sports sunscreen. Mirabai Holland M.F.A. is one of the leading authorities in the Health & Fitness industry, and public health activist who specializing in preventive and rehabilitative exercise for women. Her Moving Free approach to exercise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn't feel like work. www.movingfree.com, Send your questions to askmirabai@ movingfree.com
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Skin Technology Has Moved! 1958 E. 70th, Suite C Shreveport, LA Jeany Mitchell Licensed Esthetician & Make-up Artist East Kings Highway
1958 E. 70th, Suite C Shreveport, Louisiana
Skin Technology
Post Office
Salon @ 1935
CPA Cynthia Brook
Elgin Street
Rivergate Shopping Center
East 70th Street
318-347-3567
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July 2010
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Rosemary by Russell Hedges
S
Prinz
tage and TV actress Rosemary Prinz hasn’t written a memoir. Spend a little time with her and you come away thinking that perhaps she should. She would certainly have many entertaining stories to tell about a show business career that has spanned almost 64 years. The 79-year-old Prinz, who made her stage debut at 16, is in Shreveport this month starring as famed French actress Sarah Bernhardt in John Murrell’s play Memoir. The two-person drama is set in the last year of Bernhardt’s life. Bernhardt, her memory dimming, has decided to dictate her memoirs to her assistant, Georges Pitou (Brian Mathis).
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“It’s all about memory and improvisation,” said the petite Prinz before a rehearsal at Neil Johnson’s photo studio in Shreveport. “He’s my secretary and I improvise scenes from my life so I can remember. And he and I play the scenes together. It’s not a monologue. It’s a beautiful play.” The play is the final one of the River City Repertory Theatre’s fourth season and the 12th overall for Shreveport-Bossier City’s only professional theatre company. It opens at River View Theatre on July 7. Prinz relishes playing the role of Bernhardt. “She was very flamboyant,” said Prinz, punctuating her comments with a circular wave of her right hand. “She lived exactly as she wanted. She did not conform to the mores of the day.” Prinz came to the role through River City Artistic Director Patric McWilliams, also the play‘s director. Prinz and McWilliams both live in New York City, and he said he connected with her through friends of friends. The two also crossed paths more than 20 years ago during the initial run of Steel Magnolias off-Broadway. Prinz originated the role of M’Lynn (played by Sally Field in the movie), while McWilliams worked on costumes for the show at one point. McWilliams said Prinz brings “experience and phenomenal talent” to the role of Bernhardt. “Rosemary just has this ability to, when I’ve seen her on stage in other roles, dig down and bring that inner
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life of the character up and out and that, of course, is so important for this show,” he said. Regional theatre is nothing new for Prinz, who has appeared in more than 300 productions. The project -- and the reputation of McWilliams and River City -- drew her here. “I heard they do very good work here,” she said. Over the years, Prinz has played such diverse characters as Maria Callas in Master Class and Annie Oakley in Annie Get Your Gun. She remembers her time as M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias fondly. The play was set in the fictional town of Chinquapin, La., and the movie was filmed in Natchitoches, hometown of playwright Robert Harling. “That was a wonderful experience,” Prinz said. “It was a huge hit in New York.” Despite her prodigious stage work, Prinz is perhaps best know for her TV role on the soap opera As the World Turns. As Penny Hughes, she was one of the most popular characters in daytime from 1956-68. During that time, she also performed in 20 plays. “I fought to get the time off to do them,” she said. After she left, Prinz made brief appearances on As the World Turns over the years and also
What: Memoir When: July 7-10, 7:30 p.m. July 11, 3 p.m. Where: River View Theatre) Tickets: $35; $10 Rush tickets available to students and military with current ID a half hour prior to curtain Reservations and more info: 318-868-5888 or visit www.rivercityrep.org
appeared in All My Children and Ryan’s Hope. She doesn’t keep up with soaps now. “I know the shows are very different,” she said. “When I did it it was live. You learned a script every day which started at 7:30 in the morning. It went on air at 2, and at 2:30 we’d start cutting and timing the next script.” On stage, Prinz has acted with such noted actors as Art Carney and Jack Lemmon. Early in her career, she co-starred in a road production of Joan of Lorraine with the late Diana Barrymore, a member of the Barrymore family acting dynasty and aunt of Drew Barrymore. “She was a kook and a half,” said Prinz with a laugh. “She played St. Joan drunk every night, and I was playing the King’s mistress at 16.” Despite her age and the toll travel takes, Prinz has no intention of slowing down. She recently appeared in a production of Neil Simon’s Lost in Yonkers. “I love it and I’m pretty good at it and the combination makes me want to keep going,“ said Prinz, who has been married to jazz drummer Joseph Patti since 1967. And as for writing that memoir one day? “My former analyst told me I’d have to wait until everybody dies,” she said with a laugh.
S h r e v e p o r t l i t t l e t h e at r e
laSt oF the reD hot loverS September 9 - 19, 2010 i love YoU, YoU’re perFeCt, NoW ChaNGe November 4 - 14, 2010 a StreetCar NaMeD DeSire January 6 -16, 2011 little Shop oF horrorS March 3 - 13, 2011 pippiN April 28 - May 8, 2011
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BroaDWaY BelterS: A Benefit for SLT’s Phoenix Project x2 June 25 - 27, 2010 piNKaliCioUS December 4, 2010 a ChriStMaS Carol This Holiday Season!
leS MiSeraBleS July 22 – August 1, 2010 reNt October 14 - 24, 2010 pippiN
(a co-production with SLTAcademy & SLT’s Mainstage)
Call (318) 424-4439
or email Sportlittletheatre@gmail.com Or Visit Our Box Office - 300 OCKLEY at Youree Dr. www.shreveportlittletheatre.org July 2010
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Remembering
D-Day in Normandy Story and Photos by Lizzie Lyles
Y
ou are about to embark on the great crusade toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you… I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty and skill in battle. –General Dwight D. Eisenhower On a sunny, cool spring day in April with brisk coastal winds on the Normandy beaches in France, it’s hard to imagine the beaches as anything but serene and beautiful, not as they once were on June 6, 1944. The D-Day landing beaches. Bloody Omaha. Visitors can experience the beach’s natural beauty and brutal history at the American Cemetery at Omaha Beach in Colleville-sur-Mer, France. My parents and I visited the Normandy American Cemetery in April. Our visit began at the Visitor Center near the cliffs and coast of Omaha Beach. An introductory film set the tone for our visit and gave an intimate look into the lives of the American servicemen and what they witnessed during the Normandy Campaign. Family members of servicemen recalled handwritten letters from their men and boys overseas, their personalities and their dedication to the cause for which they were fighting. After the film, visitors filtered into a small museum where we were surrounded by video projections, radio clips and scenes from the beaches on D-Day. One film focused solely on the planning of D-Day and the events, reports and moments leading up to General Eisenhower’s final decision to launch Operation Overlord. Weapons, uniforms, medicines, maps and radios were also displayed.
It’s a lot to take in for such a small museum. The flashing projections and noise of gun fire, explosives and voices from the films dissipated when we walked out of the museum and through a quiet hallway where sunlight poured in through a glass ceiling and illuminated photographs of handsome young servicemen who fought on the beaches. It was a quiet, peaceful transition that led us outside and along the coastal cliffs to the cemetery’s entrance, a pavilion and a view of the cemetery’s layout: a reflecting pool, a chapel, statues and rows of impeccably aligned white crosses. A total of 9,238 Latin crosses and 149 Stars of David stretch far across the cemetery’s perfectly groomed lawn to the west. Every day at 4:30 pm a Lowering of the Colors
D-Day Veteran, retired Colonel Robert J. Rosa fought in the 7th Infantry at Utah beach. 26
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ceremony takes place at the cemetery. I could see through the lens of my camera that an honorary someone was taking part in the ceremony and was attracting quite a crowd. My parents and I politely waited around to see who it was. We introduced ourselves to him, a D-Day Veteran, retired Colonel Robert J. Rosa who fought in the 7th Infantry at Utah beach. Mr. Rosa was an active 95-year-old veteran and avid golfer living in Georgia. It was his first time back to France and the landing beaches since the war. Mr. Rosa’s family – his son, daughter-in-law and grandson – beamed with pride to stand by him on such a memorable day. Mr. Rosa spoke slowly and humbly. “I don’t know how we got Omaha,” he told us. “I know how we got Utah. I was there. But Omaha? I’ll have to research more about that.” We thanked him and he thanked us in return. “I’m just so fortunate and thankful to be back.” We told him that he is a true hero, but Mr. Rosa shook his head and said, “No, I’m not. They’re the real heroes.” The thousands of men and women buried beneath the rows of white crosses. The American Cemetery and Visitor Center at Omaha Beach is a site that all Americans should visit. But for those who can’t make it across the Atlantic, video clips and more information can be found at the American Battle Monuments Commission’s website, http://www.abmc.gov/ home.php.
“A total of 9,238
Latin crosses and 149 Stars of David stretch
far across the cemetery’s perfectly groomed lawn to the west.”
North Louisiana’s Oldest Hospice
318-212-2170
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Invasion Date June 6, 1944 – The D in D-Day stands for “day” since the final invasion date was unknown & weather dependent. Allied Forces
156,000 Allied troops from The United States, The United Kingdom, Canada, Free France and Norway Areas of Invasion The Allied code names for the beaches along the 50-mile stretch of Normandy coast targeted for landing were Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword. Omaha was the costliest beach in terms of Allied casualties. The Armada 5,000 ships and landing craft; 50,000 vehicles; 11,000 planes Commanders United States: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley; The United Kingdom: Bernard Law Montgomery, Trafford Leigh-Mallory, Arthur Tedder, Miles Dempsey, Bertram Ramsay; Germany: Erwin Rommel, Gerd von Rundstedt, Friedrich Dollmann Casualties Numbers represent killed, wounded, missing or captured United States – 6,603 (1,465 killed) United Kingdom – 2,700 Canada – 1,074 (359 fatal) Germany – Estimated between 4,000 – 9,000 The Outcome By June 11, with the beachheads firmly secured, more than 326,000 troops had crossed with more than 100,000 tons of military equipment. Paris was liberated on August 25. Germany surrendered on May 8,
1945. Veterans Today The number of remaining D-Day vets is estimated anywhere between 8,000 and 60,000. The Veterans Administration has detailed numbers on total WWII vets remaining available at www.nationalww2museum.org/ the-greatest-generation Provided by The National World War II Museum in New Orleans. For more information, call 877-813-3329 or 504-527-6012 or visit www.nationalww2museum.org.
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Moore Than a
Soldier by Bob Corley
H
al Moore likes country music, books that challenge his intellect and BLTs on toast. He loves his country, his family and his God. He hates airports and that “...damned big box in the room,” the television. A retired U.S. Army Lt. General, Moore is the embodiment of the ancient concept of the warrior-philosopher. “Life on earth,” he says, raising his arm, “is a snap of the fingers.” Down comes his hand. Snap! “You can’t get caught up in the temporal things of life.” Moore knows a lot about the finger snap separating life and death. He’s heard that snap more times than he cares to count (see "No Man Left Behind" by Tim Lennox, page 34). Pushing 90, he’s no longer young, but he’s still a soldier, in his heart, his bearing, his attitude and his philosophy. But things have changed. He used to run five miles a day. Not anymore.
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“You have to accept the aging process,” he says, gray hair shining in the late morning sun. “If you fight the fact that you’re getting older, you’ll lose that battle.” Reading is his self-described ‘addiction,’ history in particular, but also historical fiction, “...only if it’s well-researched.” A New American Bible rests next to his favorite reading chair, a dog-eared volume with a frayed cover, bookmarks protruding from the pages like misplaced leaves. If anyone has earned the right to a soft couch and a sedentary life, it’s Hal Moore. But he still has a long way to go. His mother lived to be 101, residing in the same Kentucky home from birth to death, raising a family, attending church and selling Avon© products. And while he’s slowed down, Moore still finds the energy for three or four speaking engagements each month, recently with the St. Louis Cardinals and a group of international businessmen. He often speaks about leadership, offering his audience a unique perspective gained under the most brutal of conditions, the crucible of combat. Yet nothing from his combat experience, from his decades in the military, from his years at West Point, prepared him to be where he finds himself today, a place, if we’re lucky, we’ll all inhabit at some point. “It’s tough being alone. I lost my wife a few years ago,” he says, a momentary melancholy passing over his face. “But I have my books, my memories, my church, my children.” Speaking in 2008 to an organization in Philadelphia devoted to care of the elderly, Moore was blunt and to-thepoint, the common traits of an uncommon man. “... I believe we all live with fears. As I grow older,” he told his audience, “I also have fears – not of dying, but of living life in a state of loneliness. Thank God, I have my God. But, even with God, it is the honest fear of loneliness in old age that can bring one to a premature state of unhappiness, poor health and death. No longer being an important part of another life, of being forgotten and left for dead…while still breathing – even generals like to be loved.” During his speech Moore reminded his audience that Thomas Jefferson planned the University of Virginia between the ages of 86 and 92, cautioning that their goals need not be so lofty. “There is nothing so precious about life,” he told them, “than sharing it with others.” It is this temporal life, this snap of the fingers, that Moore
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still relishes even as he prepares for what comes next. “My purpose in life is to prepare for eternity,” he says, gesturing with his Bible - his go-to weapon in the fight against age, infirmity and grief. “I’m here on this earth to qualify to get into Heaven.” From anyone else, these words would be just so much verbal clutter in a cynical world inhabited by TV evangelists and radio preachers. But from Moore, these words are
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ammunition for the soul as he continues his qualifying round to get into Heaven. As his ninth decade draws to a close, Moore marshals his forces in a battle against a common enemy - time. It’s a fight we all will lose, but which few have fought so well. Bob Corley is the publisher of Prime Montgomery. Reprinted with permission. www.PrimeMontgomery.com.
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No Man Left Behind by Tim Lennox
A
short drive from Montgomery, Alabama, near the university town of Auburn, lives a retiree whose walls echo a military career filled with extraordinary leadership and bravery. The centerpiece of that long career came in November, 1965, when then-U.S. Army Lt. Colonel Hal Moore commanded a battalion of soldiers in the first large scale battle between U.S. and North Vietnamese regular forces. It happened in the Ia Drang Valley, in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. The story was told in the Mel Gibson movie We Were Soldiers, based on the book Moore and journalist Joe Galloway wrote about the three-day struggle, We Were Soldiers Once, and Young. At 88, retired Lt. General Moore is the only living member on a highly-respected list of the “Top 100 Generals of All Time.” Call him a hero and he’ll brush aside the compliment. “I just did the best I could in two wars, in Korea and in Vietnam. I tried to save as many soldiers’ lives as possible,” he
Moore and Sgt. Major Basil Plumley following the Ia Drang battle. 34
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Moore in Vietnam af ter his promotion to Colonel. says softly. Moore promised his troops he would never leave a man behind, dead or alive. He promised he would be the first person off the first helicopter and the last person to board the final flight. When fighting ended in the Ia Drang Valley, and he stepped aboard the last chopper carrying his soldiers from the battlefield, Moore told the pilot (later awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery during the battle) to circle the area so he could memorize the scene. Below him lay many hundreds of enemy bodies. Moore’s own battalion suffered 79 killed and 121 wounded. True to his word, not one of his soldiers was left behind. General Moore’s life is not without its ironies. While working toward a West Point appointment in 1945 he was also contemplating a very different future. His father had taken him to a Trappist monastery near his home in Kentucky, a visit which left Moore with thoughts of becoming a monk. West Point won out over the monastery, but his sense of spirituality remained a lifelong companion, influencing his late-life perspective on current events. Nations must find a way to solve their differences, he says, without sending their sons and daughters off to kill each other. Although his son served as a U.S. Army Colonel in Afghanistan, Moore sees no reason for that war, “unless it is oil.” Moore’s approach to his last years is, in many ways, an extension of the battleground philosophy he used in Korea and Vietnam and, later, in business: • There is no “three strikes and you’re out.” There is always something else you can do to impact a situation. • No matter what the situation is, pause a moment and ask, “What am I doing that I should not be doing, and what am I not doing that I should be doing?” Tim Lennox is a morning TV anchor, public affairs program host, and dedicated blogger in Montgomery, AL (http://timlennoxonline. blogspot.com/). Reprinted with Permission Prime Montgomery. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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hen traveling in Japan two years ago, there were many sites I was looking forward to, the temples of Kyoto, the castle in Osaka, the famous temple of Miyajima, and the visit to Hiroshima. I didn’t know what to expect when I stepped off the Shinkansen (bullet train) into the city of Hiroshima. Maybe evidence of the horrific atomic bomb dropped there in 1945, perhaps rows of graves and a somber atmosphere. What I found instead was a beautiful, thriving city that paid homage to this travesty and embraced a spirit of peace. Stepping off the trains, I was met with two fountains, shaped like mushroom clouds, but softened and beautiful. This theme persisted as we took the trolley car into the heart of the city. I was stunned at the beauty of the lake, the wide green fields and the bustling tourist groups. After taking in the bright city as we rode in on the Hiroden streetcar, I was suddenly stunned when I saw the Atomic Bomb dome and building, looming over the peaceful city. It’s crumbling walls, iron railings and scorch marks gave it the feel of an ominous, decaying skeleton. It’s size and presence staggered me, and with a shock, I could easily imagine what the entire city must have looked like on August 6, 1945 and the years following. The Atomic Bomb Dome is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and is preserved in its destroyed state as a reminder of the tragedy of that fateful day. In fact, a large part of the city is dedicated to various peace monuments and memorials, each with its own special story. The Children’s Peace Monument, for example, represents the children who died when the bomb went off and from the subsequent radiation. The monument was inspired
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by the story of Sadako Sasaki, a young girl who eventually died from effects of radiation poisoning, To this day, children from around the world fold paper cranes and send them to this statue, where their colorful paper forms are housed in cases behind the memorial. There are countless other memorials around the city, each dedicated to a form of peace or remembrance. As I browsed through the statues, plaques and epitaphs, I secretly worried what the Japanese people would think of two Americans awing over these memorials. But I had nothing to fear. Not only were there countless Americans, as well as travelers from across the globe, but the Japanese people readily embraced us, happy to explain things when they could. In fact, as we were reading about the Children’s Peace Monument, a young school girl came up to us and asked in broken English if she could interview us about our experience as Americans in Hiroshima. We happily agreed, answering her questions about history and tourism as best as we could. Shortly thereafter, we started hearing drums. Following their noise, we came upon the Agon Shu World Peace Prayer Service for the victims of the Atomic Bomb. A sign noted that it was a Hiroshima Goma Fire Rites Ritual by Shinto-Buddhists. We were shocked to see a blazing bonfire of Aggie proportions surrounded by about twenty Buddhist priests, in their longsleeved uniforms covering their entire bodies. In the 95 degree heat no less! Tents were set up for those who chose to watch the service, and television cameras were on site, taking it all in, It was an amazing site to stumble upon and we shared
TheBest BestOf OfTimes Times The
surprised looks and smiles with fellow traveling Americans. We stayed and watched the ceremony, even though the heat was oppressive. And while we couldn’t understand the Japanese words, the message was clear: never forget what happened and continue to pray for world peace. •
July2010 2010 37 37 July
Gotta’ Dance!
by Mary Flanders
hat do a financial advisor and a tribal fusion belly dancer have in common? They’re both the same person! Kathy Fontaine, Director of the Port Belly Project and owner of Lotus Studios, also known as “Kahina” has been dancing for over ten years. A native of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Kathy moved to Louisiana in 1979 to attend LSU Baton Rouge. She fell in love with Louisiana and a man named John Fontaine, and now they have 2 daughters, Jackie who lives in Ruston and Susan who recently graduated from LSU and is returning to Shreveport. When asked about dancing, Kathy’s eyes shine. Ask her to talk about tribal fusion belly dance and instantly she comes alive. It’s easy to see her passion for it. She’s quick to point out that tribal fusion belly dance isn’t what you would expect. It’s not the glitz and glitter of the Hollywood image of belly dance; it’s not the free form of American Tribal belly dance. Tribal fusion incorporates props such as silk veils and swords and choreography for energetic modern American belly dance. It may be modern but its roots are in folk dance from the Middle East, from Spain, from Eastern Europe, from central Asia, from all over the globe. It’s vigorous, joyous, and most of all it’s done by women, for women with women celebrating being together. Kathy’s close friend Rebecca Prosino was the one who introduced her to tribal fusion belly dance at a party ten years ago. When Kathy learned Rebecca was going to perform, she was under whelmed at the idea, but as she tells it, “When Rebecca come out in her costume and turban, I was blown away. It wasn’t what I was expecting.” At that time, hitting her forties, Kathy had starting running,
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riding bikes and paying attention to her body to try and stay healthy. Belly dance fit right in to her fitness regime. When she began to belly dance. “It was so hard when I first started. It was physically demanding and emotionally hard to do,” she says, “I always remember how difficult it was for me to learn when I teach a class.” But with confidence born of hours and hours and hours of practice, Kathy says, “now when I perform I don’t even get butterflies. I’m mainly concerned with the technical issues, will the music play right? Are my props all here? ” Kathy began learning with Rebecca right away. Kathy says it took her awhile, but in a couple of years, they began performing together. In 2005 Rebecca and Kathy began the
The troupe performs at venues all across the Arklatex including the Red River Revel, The Aseana Festival, and The Four Winds Renaissance Festival in east Texas. Port Belly Project to provide dance opportunities for women, to change the general perception of belly dance and to educate the public about this beautiful form of women’s dance. With the beginning of the Port Belly Project a dynamic group of women began to come together and grow. In 2007 Kathy, with the support of her husband, took a giant step and opened Lotus Studios at 444 Olive Street in TheBestOfTimesNews.com
Shreveport to teach dance classes. Since then the studio has expanded. Now various instructors teach Yoga, hand drumming and Karate as well as more diverse classes such as poi spinning and hula hooping for fun and fitness. It is also home to Logjam, the drum troupe that often accompanies Port Belly Project. As Director of the Port Belly Project, Kahina, as she is known as, is always busy. The troupe performs at venues all across the Arklatex including the Red River Revel, The Aseana Festival, and The Four Winds Renaissance Festival in east Texas. Kahina also teaches workshops and acts as wardrobe consultant for the colorful costumes and accessories the dancers wear for performance. Kathy’s classes on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday are filled with ladies who all look like they are having a great time. On Monday nights, finger cymbals, called zills ring and clack as the Port Belly Futures work with drummers to learn new choreography
Kathy Fontaine, “Kahina,” is Director of The Port Belly Project and owner of Lotus Studios.
and zill patterns. One of the dancers likens it to rubbing your tummy and patting your head in time to music. On Thursday nights, silk veils float gracefully as the ladies move in beautiful turns across the floor. When you see a performance of the Port Belly Project, you’ll want to do it too. You’ll love the music, the moves, and the colorful costumes. You’ll immediately want to be one of those beautiful dancers. You can be. You’re never too old to begin. Kathy’s advice to others thinking about giving tribal fusion belly dance a try? “You never know until you try. Give it a shot.” And if you take her classes at Lotus Studio? “I guarantee you’ll have fun.” For more information, visit the Port Belly Project and Lotus Studions online: www.portbellyproject.com www.lotusstudio444.com
Senior Care at Brentwood Hospital Levels of Care • Inpatient • Partial Hospitalization (Day Treatment) • Outpatient
Call us, we can help!
Brentwood Senior Care Unit (318) 678-7500
The Best Of Times
Warning Signs That May Indicate the Need for Treatment
• • • • • • • •
Depression, extreme sadness Confused thinking, difficulty concentrating Hallucinations; hearing voices Misuse of alcohol or medications Disorientation Numerous unexplained physical ailments Difficulties coping with daily living Excessive fears, anxieties or suspiciousness July 2010
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Blow Your Worries Away Story by Andrea Gross • Photos by Irv Green
he first night I crack my head when I sit up in bed. No headroom. The second day I strain my back when I help hoist the sails. No know-how. But by the third day I’ve caught the rhythm. I’m sea-steady if not exactly sea-savvy, acclimatized if not accomplished, and completely relaxed. “Wicked nice, isn’t it?” says my fellow passenger, a bornand-bred New Englander. I start to answer but the wind whips my words away, and I can only nod happily. We’re doing 12 knots, the deck is pitched at 45 degrees and the sky is cloudless blue. Wicked nice? You bet. My husband and I are aboard the American Eagle, an authentic Maine windjammer and National Historic Landmark. Eighty years ago she was hauling fish off the shores of Gloucester; today, having been lovingly and expertly refurbished by owner/captain John Foss, she carries passengers on three-to-six-day cruises around Penobscot Bay, 95 miles north of Portland. As newbie sailors, we’ve a lot to learn, beginning with an understanding of the type of ship we’re on. A windjammer, we’re told, is simply a vessel powered by wind. The term originated around the turn of the 19th century and was used by the owners of newly developed steamships to denigrate their more primitively powered competitors. That’s the technical definition. In common usage, “windjammer” refers to a special type of wind-powered boat, a schooner, which means they have two or more masts, the aft ones as tall or taller than the others. Gradually we make the transition from landlubber to sealover, learning to read the charts, raise the sails and, under Captain John’s watchful eye, steer the ship. When the wind blows hard, we seem to fly, skimming
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July 2010
over the water with deck tilted and passengers cheering. But mostly the boat moves slowly, giving a sensation of drifting. Time has no meaning. There’s no schedule, no itinerary. The weather is mostly glorious — blissfully blue skies with white fluffy clouds and enough wind to give us some good rides. The old-timers discuss the best month for windjamming. June can be chilly but has the longest days. July and August tend towards foggy mornings and warm afternoons. September is colder but the winds are stronger and therefore the sailing is faster. “All the summer months are good,” concludes one passenger, and the rest agree. The Maine Windjammer Association says 50 per cent of its travelers are repeats. We have two murky mornings, during which Captain John anchors near small towns where we climb steep hills, poke through small shops and buy tasty treats by the pier.
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Afternoons are spent sailing or exploring some of the 3000 islands off the coast of Maine, many with summer cottages, others completely deserted. We have a lobster bake on the gravelly beach of one deserted isle and collect colored stones on the rocky shores of another. Hearty meals are creatively prepared in the tiny galley and, weather permitting, served on deck. Accommodations are spartan. Our cabin has a small sink, two reading lights, seven pegs for clothing and under-the-bunk space for luggage. The toilet is in a center hall, to be shared with other passengers. As for the shower, it’s in the mid-section of the boat, and it’s not until day three that I’m brave enough to use it. The water’s nicely warm but maneuvering to wash and dress in a telephone-booth size enclosure takes some doing. But the best part of the day is after dinner, when we sit around playing cribbage, cards or word games. One night Captain John reads aloud from a book of maritime tales. It reminds me of listening to stories around the campfire, and it occurs to me that windjamming is really camping at sea. Information: The Maine Windjammer Association consists of 12 schooners, and accommodations and atmosphere vary from ship to ship. See www. sailmainecoast.com.
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Summertime entertaining should be easy and fun. And it can be - with some simple and fresh recipes. Holly Clegg, the “Queen of Quick,” is a best-selling cookbook author who knows how to keep things sweet and simple. She’s teamed up with the American Chemistry Council to offer helpful tips and recipes to make your summer entertaining a breeze. For more tips on ways to make summer entertaining a breeze, visit www.PlasticsMakeitPossible.com. (Family Features)
Start with Simple Recipes n For
this tropical dessert pizza, make the cookie crust the day before. Mix the filling and store it in an airtight plastic container, then cut up fruit and store in individual resealable plastic bags. Be creative and substitute your family’s favorite fruits. n Three ingredients plus three minutes equals one tasty marinade. Pour the ingredients into a resealable plastic bag to flavor juicy pork tenderloins with a subtly sweet, spicy marinade. n The combination of crisp watermelon, juicy tomatoes and fresh basil with balsamic vinegar creates a fantastic and refreshing light salad. Just cut up ingredients and store in separate plastic containers, then toss together right before the party to keep the flavors fresh.
Watermelon and Tomato Salad
Makes 10 (1/2-cup) servings
4 cups scooped out watermelon balls or chunks 1/2 cup chopped red onion 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved 2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar Salt to taste 1/3 cup crumbled reduced fat feta cheese, optional In bowl, combine watermelon, onion, tomatoes and basil. Whisk together oil and vinegar and toss with salad. Season to taste. Refrigerate until serving.
3-Ingredient Marinade for Pork Tenderloin
Makes 6 to 8 servings
2 1-pound pork tenderloins, trimmed of excess fat 1/4 cup reduced sodium soy sauce 1/4 cup roasted garlic seasoned rice vinegar 2 tablespoons honey Preheat oven 350°F. In bowl, combine all ingredients except tenderloins. Place meat in dish or large resealable plastic bag, pour marinade over meat. If time permits, refrigerate overnight, turning meat several times. Bake 40 to 45 minutes or until meat thermometer inserted into the thickest portion of the tenderloin registers 160°F. Slice tenderloin, serve.
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July 2010
Tropical Fruit Dessert Pizza
Makes 12 servings
1 18-ounce roll refrigerated ready-to-slice sugar cookie dough 1/3 cup sugar 1 8-ounce package fat-free cream cheese 1 teaspoon coconut extract 1 1/2 teaspoons grated orange rind 1 cup fat-free frozen whipped topping, thawed 1 26-ounce jar mango slices, drained, or 2 fresh mangoes, sliced 1 16-ounce can pineapple slices, drained, or 1 fresh pineapple, sliced 1 11-ounce can mandarin orange segments, drained 1/2 cup apricot preserves 2 Tbs. orange liqueur or orange juice 2 Tbs. coconut, toasted, optional Preheat oven 350°F. Press cookie dough into a 12 to 14-inch pizza pan coated with nonstick cooking spray. Bake 12 minutes, cool completely. In medium mixing bowl, blend together sugar, cream cheese, coconut extract until well mixed. Stir in orange rind and whipped topping, mixing until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture on top of cooled crust. Arrange mango slices around edge of iced pizza. Then, arrange pineapple slices around edge. Next, arrange mandarin orange slices in another ring to fill center of pizza. In small saucepan or in microwave, heat apricot preserves and orange liqueur just until melted. Spoon glaze over fruit. Sprinkle with toasted coconut, if desired. Refrigerate until serving. TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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July 2010
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ANSWERS FROM THE EXPERTS Ophthalmology
Nursing Home Care
hospice
I have heard about a couple of supplements that have been advertised on the radio that may help with eye problems. Can they help me? This is a very common question. Certain forms of Macular Degeneration can be helped by using high doses of antioxidant vitamins. A daily multivitamin and a healthy diet is usually enough to satisfy the daily requirements. If you have been diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, you can purchase Ocuvite or other eye vitamins at a health food store or drug store. Regardless of your ocular status, it’s always a good idea to take a daily multivitamin.
My father is taking many prescription medications and is about to be admitted to a nursing home for rehab care from hip surgery. How will he get prescriptions refilled and will Medicare cover them? The hospital’s discharging physician will write orders for medications. Generally, the nursing home’s primary pharmacy will dispense the meds and they will be delivered to the center the same day. As to cost, if your father admits under Medicare Part A, the medications are paid for by the nursing center. If he admits as private pay, either your father or his prescription drug plan will be billed for the costs. If he is eligible for Medicaid and has been awarded benefits, the pharmacy will bill Medicaid for reimbursement.
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
My grandchild complains of shoulder, neck and back pain when in school. Could this be due to his heavy backpack? Yes. Backpacks are designed to distribute weight to larger muscle groups that can handle the load. Backpacks should have 2 padded wide shoulder straps, a padded back, and a waist strap (for heavier loads). Also backpacks should light and not add to the load. Rolling backpacks are an alternative, although stairs are a problem. Your grandchild should use both shoulder straps, tighten straps so the pack is 2 inches above the waist and closest to the body, not pack more than 20% of the child’s body weight in the backpack, and pack only what he needs. Pack heavier items close to the back and unpack unnecessary items in the locker.
My daughter has epilepsy. Are there new treatments? Epilepsy affects 1 out of 100. While many have seizures controlled by medications, onethird don’t. For those who still have seizures, they can’t drive, be employed in unsupervised positions, or enjoy independence (because a seizure can occur at any time). For these people, two more common procedures are options. With careful screening and a multidisciplinary team, we have cured about 8 patients recently using temporal lobectomy, some of who have had seizures for over 30 years...none of these have any permanent problems otherwise. Another option is vagus nerve stimulation, which reduces seizures by about 30 - 60% but rarely cures them. This involves putting a pacemaker-like device around a nerve in the neck.
I know my wife, who hasn’t worked outside the home, doesn’t qualify for Social Security or Medicare on her own record. Can she qualify on mine? This answer applies to husbands as well as wives. A spouse who has never worked under Social Security can receive a benefit equal to one-half of your full retirement amount at his or her full retirement age. However, your spouse cannot receive benefits on your record until you begin receiving retirement benefits. We have a page at our online Retirement Planner dedicated to benefits for spouses. You can visit that page at www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/ yourspouse.htm.
Pierremont Eye Institute 7843 Youree Dr. Shreveport, LA 1105 318-212-3937; www.ShelbyEye.com See our ad on page 17.
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 56.
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 30.
Dora Miller
Social Security Admin. Public Affairs Specialist 1-877-319-3074 www.socialsecurity.gov TheBestOfTimesNews.com
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East Texas Eye Doctor Helps Legally Blind to See Again Diplomate in Low Vision Care trains Dr. Larry Chism to help those with macular degeneration to keep reading and driving. By Elena Lombardi Freelance Writer
Donald Paquette, 72, a former assessor from Anaheim, California thought that his driving days were over. “I could not read the street signs soon enough and I couldn’t pass the vision test at the DMV office.” Gonzalo Garcia, 74, 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. July 2010
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Get Up & Go! CLASSES
Noel Community Arts Program Choose from the variety of classes being offered in the upcoming weeks. Contact Erin Fort at 573-5913 for more info. All events are held at Noel UMC, 520 Herndon, Shreveport. • Creative Computing, July 7-28, Wednesdays, 6:00-7:30 p.m. • Elementary Art, July 9 & 10 or July 16 & 17, Friday & Saturday, 9:00 a.m.12:00 p.m. • Digital Photography, July 10-31, Saturdays, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
EVENTS
12th Annual Breast Cancer Survivor Luncheon - The Northwest Louisiana Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will be holding the 12th Annual Breast Cancer Survivor Luncheon on Friday, July 30th at 11:30 am hosted by the Eldorado Resort Casino in the Grand Ballroom. The theme of the luncheon will be “Cirque du Survivor – Navigating the Circus of Breast Cancer”. The whimsical theme was chosen to celebrate survivorship. Live entertainment and extravagant silent auction. Attendees are encouraged to wear bright colors, especially bold pink, and any combination of black and white attire. Glamorous style show featuring breast cancer survivors modeling the latest fashions from Harley Davidson biker chic to Knox Goodman elegance. Komen
marketplace with the latest gear to show support of survivorship and fun photo booth opportunities. Tickets are $15.00 for breast cancer survivors and $25.00 for guests and will only be available with reservations. All of the proceeds will benefit the Northwest Louisiana affiliate. To secure reservations, you must mail your name, address and payment to NWLA SGK for the Cure, Attn: Survivor Luncheon, P.O. Box 4269, Shreveport, LA 71134. If including guests on your reservation, list the name and address of each guest along with their payment. All reservations and payment must be postmarked by July 16. For more information, please visit www.komennwla.org or call 318 220 7050. The Ark-La-Tex Genealogical Association, Inc. Meeting - 1 PM, Saturday, July 10 at the Randle T Moore Center, 3101 Fairfield Ave, Shreveport. Guest speaker will be Don Weathersby whose topic will be “Peter Youree and his Impact on Shreveport”. Admission is FREE. For more information call 318-746-1851. 5th Annual Taste of Culture - The Multicultural Center of the South will hosts its “5th Annual Taste of Culture” on Saturday, July 24th from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at the Sky box at Independence Stadium located at 3301 Stadium Drive in Shreveport. Attendees will be able to
sample cuisine and wines from around the world while enjoying live entertainment provided by local cultural organizations and artists. Tickets are $35 per person. For information, call (318) 424-1380 ext 206 or visit website at www.msscouth.org. Tickets also can be purchased at the door on the day of the event. Bowl for Veterans - At Holiday Lanes, 3316 Old Minden Road, Bossier City. Sunday, July 4. Benefitting The Bowlers to Veterans Link, which is a non-profit organization that supports veterans in VA hospitals and beyond. A $15 ticket includes 2 games of bowling, shoe rental, your choice of a Bar-B-Q plate and soft drink from Striker’s Café. Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the door.
Exhibits
Great Women In History - Through Saturday, August 28. Wednesdays through Saturdays, 10 am - 4 pm. Presented by Karpeles Manuscript Library Museum, 3201 Centenary Boulevard, Shreveport. Amongst great women celebrated in this exhibit you will find: Eva Peron, Golda
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Meir, Indira Ghandi, Lucretia Borgia, Joan of Arc, Catherine de Medici, Catherine the Great and Lise Meitner, the Austrian Physicist who discovered nuclear fission. FREE! For more information call 318-861-7615.
Health FAir
WK Fitness and Wellness Center Health Fair - WK Pierremont Health Center auditorium from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on July 31. Offering a free mini fitness assessment that includes height, weight, body fat analysis, blood pressure and flexibility. A cholesterol screening will be available for $5. Informational booths, demonstrations and short seminars. Door prizes will be presented every hour. Visit wkhs.com for additional info.
lectures
Fourth Friday Astronomy - Every Fourth Friday of the Month - Presented by Sci-Port: Louisiana's Science Center, 820 Clyde Fant Parkway, Shreveport. FREE with admission! Learn about the latest space missions, recent discoveries and other news from space! Free with admission. Call (318) 424-3466 for more info. Pioneering the Louisiana Frontier - Saturday, July 10 at 2:00 p.m. at R.W. Norton Art Gallery, 4747 Creswell, Shreveport. Marty Young, Director of the Pioneer Heritage Center, will share insights into Louisiana's frontier past in honor of the nation's birthday. FREE! For more information call 318-865-4201.
Silver Screenings
"Show Boat" - Tuesday July 20 at 10:30 a.m. Starring Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, and Ava Gardner. Robinson Film Center, 617 Texas Ave. in downtown
The Best Of Times
Shreveport. A matinee and lunch for seniors. $5.75 for the movie only, $14 for the movie and lunch. Call 318-459-4122 to RSVP.
Theatre
"Memoir" - Presented by the River City Repertory Theatre and starring Broadway/TV veteran Rosemary Prinz and Brian Mathis. The play is about the seventy-seventh and last summer for Sarah Bernhardt, the most famous and revered actress in history. She’s taken the season to dictate her memoirs to her loyal manservant, Georges Pitou. As she digs deeply into her memory, her private and professional recollections flow together to recreate a past filled with theatrical highs and personal heartbreak. Memoir opens July 7 th with additional performances July 8 - 10 at 7:30 p.m. and July 11th at 3:00 p.m. Riverview Theatre, 600 Clyde Fant Parkway in downtown Shreveport. For tickets call 318-868-5888 Monday – Saturday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. or visit the Box Office at 2829 Youree Drive. All tickets: $35.00. $10.00 Rush Tickets available to Students and Military with current ID a half hour prior to curtain (no reservations can be made for Rush Tickets). For more information visit www.rivercityrep.org.
Sam Stroope Hair Replacement Specialist and Hair Stylist
990 Quail Creek Rd. (Inside Pinnacle Fitness)
Shreveport
318-868-8708
tours
Oakland Cemetery Tour - Saturdays, 1 p.m. Enjoy a 90 minute tour of Oakland Cemetery, the oldest landmark in Shreveport, established in 1847, and learn about the lives of some of its “citizens”. The tour also includes a walk down Austin Place, past the haunted Logan Mansion and Municipal Auditorium on Grand Avenue, now Elvis Presley Boulevard. $10 per adult, $5 for children 12 and under. Tours are cancelled during inclement weather.
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Across 1 Long cold spell 7 "The Whiffenpoof Song" words 11 Big bang 16 Mil. decoration 19 Grand Canyon nester 20 Quartet named for its singers 21 Alice's husband in '50s TV 22 Reine's spouse 23 Angler's go-to lure? 26 Hole puncher 27 Dustin's "Kramer vs. Kramer" co-star 28 "Jingle Bells" contraction 29 Some nest eggs, briefly 30 Mirrored 32 Sign that makes an angel happy 33 Religious symbol 35 "Hold on __!" 36 Say over 37 Intermittent photo session? 40 __ White 41 '90s Olds 44 Work at assiduously 45 Took potshots 47 Lugs 48 "A Doll's House" heroine 50 PassŽ platters 52 Candy named for its creators 55 Overrun en masse, as ants 57 Pedal pusher 59 Minsk's home 60 Where wildebeest roam: Abbr. 61 Possess, to Burns 63 Two bells, at sea 65 Admission of defeat 66 Palindromic Altar 67 "Father Knows Best," to some 71 Ale servings: Abbr.
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72 Yorba __, Calif. 74 Cockamamie 75 Here, to Pierre 76 Letters before a 76-Down 77 Blues Brothers toppers 79 Like some outfield walls 82 Quartz compound 85 Quakers in the woods 86 These, to Thérèse 87 Formerly, formerly 89 Suitable spot for a statue 90 Has the last of 92 TV Guide abbr. 93 Director's doovers 95 Sword handle 97 Zigzags? 101 1980s-'90s N.Y. senator D'Amato 103 "Denial __ just a river in Egypt": Twain 104 State with conviction 105 Sleep lab acronym 108 Bump off 109 Anthem starter 110 Expected 111 Typical start? 113 GP's gp. 114 Wavering conservative faction? 118 Where the Blues Brothers began, briefly 119 Taken as a whole 120 __ worlde: quaintly fashionable 121 Echo 122 "Rebel Without a Cause" actor Mineo 123 World carrier 124 Lanolin source 125 Fuel in a can Down 1 Some WMDs 2 Semicircular
"The Ends Justify the Meanings" By Ed Sessa; Edited by Rich Norris and Joyce Nichols Lewis
(Solution on page 51)
utensil 3 Hot time in Chile 4 Beatles' "__ in the Life" 5 Sanctity 6 '70s NOW cause 7 Villains often come to one 8 Mass. or Miss. 9 "Aladdin" monkey 10 Make happy 11 Dam damage 12 "__ and the Real Girl": 2007 film 13 Franklin's 1936 foe 14 Mid-race statistic 15 Part of a Simon & Garfunkel quartet 16 Thrill from using a mouse? 17 Johannesburg area 18 Shower problem 24 Reagan
speechwriter 25 Spanish crowd? 31 Military depot 34 Cleveland hoopster, for short 35 Company with a spokesduck 36 Charge carrier 37 Crude carrier 38 Venue for Minnie Pearl 39 CIA predecessor 41 Sashimi fish 42 Birds named for an island group 43 Fancy dance marathon? 46 Monty Python member 49 Neptune's domain 50 O'Brien's successor 51 Type of school 53 Pencil or toothbrush, e.g. 54 Retd. boomers
56 Howe'er 58 Ran easily 59 College QB, often 62 "Time's Arrow" author 64 Bases' antitheses 66 Bravo preceder 67 Seine tributary 68 Kitty pickup spot 69 Spiral molecules 70 Grafton's "__ for Ricochet" 73 Argumentative cry 76 See 76-Across 78 Second 80 Coming-out 81 Part of Q.E.D. 83 Make sense of 84 DDE adversary 86 Audit rep 88 Hot-pot support 91 Somme one 92 Wally Cleaver portrayer 94 Reno-to-Elko
dir. 95 Bust chops 96 Wellesley grad 98 Some sonorant sounds 99 "Gorillas in the Mist" subject Fossey 100 Victory emblem 102 Ancient Nile Valley kingdom 105 Ham's "Gotcha" 106 Frome of fiction 107 Words often etched in stone 109 Sooner St. 110 Birdbrain 112 Ready to pluck 115 Baseball "Iron Man" Ripken 116 Waitress at Mel's 117 86-Down billing units TheBestOfTimesNews.com
SUDOKU - Fill in the blank squares in the grid, making sure that every row, column, and 3 x 3 box includes all digits 1 through 9.
(Solution on page 51)
Allied Axis Bravery DDay Heroes Hiroshima Hitler The Best Of Times
Honor Medal of Honor Memorial Nazi Normandy Omaha Beach Peace
Pearl Harbor Roosevelt Soldier Troops Valor Veterans Victory July 2010
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G
old
Ambulance Services Balentine Ambulance (318) 222-5358 Artificial Limbs and Braces Snell’s Orthotics and Prosthetics (318) 424-4167 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 Shreveport Little Theatre (318) 424-4439 The Robinson Film Center (318) 424-9090 The Best of Times (318) 636-5510 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 ResCare Home Care (318) 678-1890
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Pages
Seniors Club Personal Care Services (318) 635-0010 Cemeteries/Funeral Homes
Cemetery Upkeep and Flowers
Flowers Forever, LLC (318) 925-2323
Centuries Memorial (318) 686-4334
Lex Plant Farm – Cemetery Services (318) 797-6035
Hill Crest Memorial (318) 949-9415
Hearing Care Services
Counseling
Better Hearing Systems (318) 747-9191
The Center for Families (318) 222-0759 Educational Courses Bible Correspondence Course (318) 797-6333 Emergency Response Systems Acadian OnCall (800) 259-1234 Financial Planning/ Legal Services Jeff Guerriero, attorney (318) 841-0055 Serio Investments – Phillip Serio (318) 221-0889 The Law Practice of Joseph Gilsoul (318) 222-2100
Shreve Hearing Aid Service (318) 797-7733 Home Services Doug Weatherton Handyman Services (318) 868-9993 Stanley Steamer Carpet Cleaner (318) 631-6655
LifePath Hospice (318) 222-5711 St. Joseph Hospice (318) 222-8723 Willis Knighton Hospice of Louisiana (318) 212-4697 Home Infusion Services IV Plus (318) 683-5139 Hospitals
L’ll Rascals Pet Setting (318) 573-6672 Your Pet’s Nanny (318) 868-9993 Physician Services Dr. Gary Booker (318) 227-9600
Pierremont Eye Institute Dr. Chris Shelby (318) 212-3937
Willis Knighton Medical Center – Bossier (318) 212-7000
Regional Urology LLC (318) 683-0411
Willis Knighton Medical Center – South Shreveport (318) 212-5000
Insurance
Hospice Compassus (318) 524-1046
Kingsley Place of Shreveport (318) 524-2100
Willis Knighton Medical Center – North Shreveport (318) 212-4000
Ark-La-Tex Home Health, Inc (318) 747-6180
Hospice Care Providers
Pet Sitting Services
Mid South Orthopaedics (318) 424-3400
Home Health Care (Medicare Certified)
Synergy Home Care (318) 550-0285
Horizon Bay Assisted Living (318) 747-2114
Brentwood Hospital (318) 678-7500
Wilis Knighton Medical Center – Pierremont (318) 212-3000
Medistar Home Health (318)742-4026
Medtronics – XSTOP Spacer (866) 580-5242
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (800) 495-2583 Medical Supplies and Equipment FastServ Medical (318) 741-9586 Home Health Medical Supply (318) 631-1466
Vision – Source Dr. Larry Chism (888) 243-2020
NurseCare of Shreveport (318) 221-1983 Southwood Gardens (318) 682-4022 Southwood Square (318) 671-1888 Summerfield Estates (318) 688-9525 The Waterford at Shreveport (318) 524-3300 Spas/Skin Care/ Hair Care Jeany Mitchell’s Skin Technology (318) 347-3567
Radio Stations
Sam Stroope, Hairstylist (318) 868-8708
KWKH AM 1130 (318) 688-1130
Travel Services
Restaurants
Cruises, Inc (318) 746-3745
Cupcake Gallery and Coffee Shop (318) 752-2253 Imperial Wok Chinese Restaurant (318) 687-6668 Senior Living
Fly Branson Airline Services (888)359-2541 Telephone Book User-Friendly Phone Book (318) 865-1280
Azalea Estates Assisted Living (318) 797-2408
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
Hill Crest Memorial 601 Hwy. 80 East Haughton, LA 71037 (318) 949-9415 TheBestOfTimesNews.com
When you go camping in Louisiana,
WE ALL SLEEP BETTER.
When you’re a tourist in your own state, the whole state benefits. In fact, tourism generates more than $850 million in state taxes annually. 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.
LouisianaTravel.com
© 2010 The Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism
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age comes wisdom.
They say with
As Louisiana’s oldest health insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana proudly offers Senior Solutions to our members with Medicare. Senior Solutions includes Medicare supplement plans, BlueChoice 65, as well as Medicare prescription drug coverage, RxBLUE PDP.
Consider these solutions from BlueChoice 65: • Affordable rates • Freedom of choice • Benefits that travel when you do • No waiting period on pre-existing conditions • Automatic claims filing – no time-consuming paperwork for you
Call us today at 1.800.593.9701 to find out more about Senior Solutions
RxBLUE PDP helps pay for your prescriptions and protects you from high out-of-pocket drug costs, with features including: • Low monthly premiums • Coverage for all Medicare Part D-approved drugs • Protection from catastrophic drug costs • Most major pharmacies in network • Automatic claims filing – virtually no paperwork for you
(TTY 1.800.947.5277). One of our courteous agents will contact you with more information.
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 52
July 2010
S5937_032210AFU TheBestOfTimesNews.com
Shreveport Honors Centenarians
S
hreveport recently honored the areas oldest citizens with a reception at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church as part of Older Americans Month. The festive gathering was sponsored by Hospice of Shreveport/Bossier and the Caddo Council on Aging.
Mayor, Mary Alice Rountree, Mary Ann Rankin and Jeff Everson
Mississippi Winn 113
Frances Pernici, 100
Beatrice Thomas, 100
Henrietta Witfield, 100
Ann Spencer, 101
Ray Tiner, 101
Harold Wright, 102
M
ississippi Winn is the eighth oldest person in the world, the oldest resident in Louisiana, the oldest African American in the world, and the last child of slaves according to census records.
Eliza Barfield, 103
Mayor Cedric Glover and Ophelia Burks 106 The Best Of Times
Mittie Bryan, 103
Ophelia Burks 106
Lizzie Johnson 103
Sammie Holt 106
Lila Smith 103
Frances Bolt, 108 January 201053 1 July 2010
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July 2010
TheBestOfTimesNews.com
1. Some of the hostesses for the 2nd annual Pitch & Bitch are (l to r) Holli Askew, Claudia Lyles, Vicki Franks, Dianne Lane, Karen Kennedy, and Karol Fontaine. 2. Attending a special showing of "A Hero's Welcome" at the Robinson Film Center are (l to r) Col. Steve dePyssler, Whittney and Mike Harper. 3. Over 100 attended the Robinson Film Center’s June Silver Screenings of the classic movie “Swing Time” and enjoy an delicious lunch at Abbey Singer’s Bistro. Winners of the door prizes were (L to R) Suzanne Clark, Pat Key, and Evelyn Ashley. The Rose City AARP chapter held their monthly meeting on June 7th with Gary Calligas as the speaker. Some of the attendees included: 4. (L to R) Walter Laney, Bobbie Evans, Ben Fusco, Lena Boyte, Christine Homan, Marilyn Varnell, Nick Nicholas, Doris Turner, Gwen McRae, and Mary Mathis. 5. Bob Huff, Jim Bush, Nick
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Nicholas, Carolyn Franklin, Hazel Bush, Robert Franklin, Aggie Merello, Ottis Littlejohn, and Christine Homan 6. Media Specialist Eric Gibson (right) is Gary’s special guest during the live remote broadcast of The Best of Times Radio Hour on June 5th at Sci-Port. 7. Dottie Bell, Former NFL Pro Bowl MVP James Shack Harris and Sparkle Marshall at the Shack Harris & Doug Williams Foundation annual Celebrity Golf Classic Pairing Party. 8. Teresa and David Allen and Claudia and Ted Lyles are all smiles as they celebrate their respective 30th wedding anniversaries with a crawfish boil and street dance. 9. Veterans walked in the Parade of Heroes and were thanked by dignitaries including Col. Steven L.Basham, commander of the 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale and Maj. Gen. Floyd Carpenter, Commander of 8th Air Force at Barksdale.
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