Low Country Sun_ April2010

8/9/2019 Low Country Sun_ April2010

1/32

Visit us online at www.lowcountrysun.sc

Serving Berkeley, Dorchester

and Charleston Counties

Volume 9, No 4 APRIL, 2010www.lowcountrysun.sc

Page 4April Alamanac

Page 9

Changes to 2009 Taxes

Page 15

Quick Look at theHealth Care Bill

Page 27

Ode to the Front Porch

INSIDELowcountry Sun

The Tri-Contys Premier Pblication for the Yong and Active After 50

By Don Gordon

They came to Charleston from widelyseparated places for totally different rea-sons and met at the local census ofces,where they both worked in 2000. The re-sult was not only a life partnership but onein which their talents and interests comple-mented each other to a remarkable degree.

William Thomas-Moore is a mastercraftsman and model shipwright, who alsodoes some acting. His wife, Diane Scher,is a writer and a public relations executivewith signicant performing arts education

and background.So it was entirely reasonable that one

of the rst things the two did after theyconnected was to produce a play, one inwhich they would comprise the entire castThe story was about the Confederate sub-marine H.L. Hunley, a subject on whichThomas-Moore is an authority. I wentto one of his lectures on the Hunley at the

Citadel, Ms. Scher recalled. She offeredsome of her own input on the subject, andthings progressed from there.

The couple performed the one-act playcalled, Romancing the Hunley, at vari-ous venues in the South for several yearsand now are reviving the performance forthree months at the Powder Magazine inCharleston. The rst showing is scheduledfor April 4 and will be repeated each Sun-

day afternoon through June.Ms. Schers role portrays a modern-day

reporter going back in time to interview thectional ships doctor, Dr. Moore, in hisTradd street ofce. The time is February1864, three days after the disappearance ofthe vessel. For the play, Ms. Scher adoptsthe style of Hollywood columnist HeddaHopper, complete with the large hat.

I wear many hats, she commented,meaning that both literally and gurative-ly. She also fullls many roles in life, suchas artist, freelance journalist, copywriter,public relations marketing consultant andarts promoter. More than that, both she andThomas-Moore work as docents at historic

home tours in Charleston.As for Thomas-Moore, he has been a

professional ship model builder for 50 ofhis 69 years to the point that his eminencein the craft is widespread. But that wasnthis full-time line in the beginning. Icouldnt make a living at it until I achievedan international reputation, he explained.

He remembers the rst model he sold.It was 1960, and his father had broughthome a piece of mahogany from an oldship that had sunk in Boston Harbor. Fromhalf of that piece, young Thomas-Mooreconstructed a ship model.

Ship Shapescontinued on page 2

Ship Shapesof Charleston

William Thomas-Moore

and Diane Scher

Master craftsman and model shipwright Bill Thomas-Moore works on a commis-

sioned restoration on his back porch-turned model shipyard on James Island.

A completed model rests prodly ondisplay.

Weve just seen the rst pitched battle

in the next war -- The War Between the

Generations. It will be a war that divides

America in a way we havent seen since

the Civil War. Unlike the recent political

battles between red states and blue, or the

liberals vs. the conservatives, this battle

will not be a matter of choice. It will draw

its lines of distinction based on age -- and

wallets.

I rst wrote about this topic exactly

six years ago in a column titled Medicare

Drain Heralds Generation Warfare. In it,

I pointed out the growing conict between

the generations -- the huge number of baby

boomers who have been promised benets

in their retirement years -- and the smaller,

but equally vocal generation that will be

taxed to pay for those promises.

Until now, the focus has been on the

federal government, but now the battle has

moved to the state, city and local level. Un-

like the federal government, states cannot

simply print or create the money, or run

budget decits. So theyre forced to raise

taxes or make spending cuts -- or both. The

pain is starting to be felt.

The rst pitched battle was staged last

week -- at college campuses across the

country. The younger generation -- college

students, high school students and some in

grade school -- joined to protest the rising

cost of college tuition, along with cuts in

resources at all levels of public schools.

In Chicago, the public school district

is cutting back some spring non-varsity

sports and eliminating lacrosse and water

polo, and facing other funding decisions

because of its budget crisis.

Battle continued on page 2

Battle of the Ages: Boomers vs. the Yong


2/32

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Ship Shapescontinued from page 1

It was on the mantle of ourhome. An executive for Goodyearsaw it and asked me how muchI wanted for it, Thomas-Mooresaid. Young Bill thought he had

named a ridiculously high pricebut got a surprise. He said ne,Ill take it, Thomas-Moore re-called.

The early stage of Thomas-Moores working life was as anadministrator at Kent State Uni-versity in Ohio and as an execu-tive at Goodyear Tire and RubberCo. in his native Akron. Thomas-Moore was at the university dur-ing the Vietnam anti-war proteststhat led to the fatal shootings inMay 1970. Of his experiencethere, Thomas-Moore said, Iwas a conservative in a very lib-eral environment, which wasntvery comfortable.

Thomas-Moore arrived inCharleston in 1989 by way ofAtlanta because his wife at thattime had been transferred here.In the meantime Diane Scher wasfacing life issues of her own. Anative of Detroit, Mich., she hadbeen schooled in performing artsand journalism, had performedand done public relations work inNew York and eventually settledin San Jose, Calif.

My mother had died, andmy daughter was married, Ms.Scher recalled, indicating shewas ready for a change in scen-

ery. The seacoast, one or theother, was her preferred locationand when a friend suggested shecome to Myrtle Beach, she madethe move, later migrating south toCharleston.

Im in love withCharleston, she ex-claimed. We would nevermove. Of her life withThomas-Moore, she said,We have done more in 10years together than mostpeople do in a lifetime.

The lives of the cou-ple relate largely in oneway or another to Thom-as-Moores virtuosity withship models, from theplay to her promotion ofhis work to their teamingto teach what they calledModeling 101, by whichthe master builder seeks to

share his talent with oth-ers. They no longer holdclasses at schools but hetutors students privately.

It was the love ofthe sea, Thomas-Moorecommented, that motivat-ed him to build his models. In hisyouth, his family spent summersat the coast in Massachusetts.Moreover, Thomas-Moore is anavid sailboat sailor in his ownright.

His models have been of his-toric sailing vessels, all of whichhe builds to various scales, his

work ranging in size from sixinches to eight feet. Authenticitydown to the smallest detail is key,which necessitates extensive re-search. About one quarter of my

work is in doing the research,he said. Thomas-Moores studiois his back porch at the couplesJames Island home.

Thomas-Moores credits in-clude some impressive items,starting with the original Hunleymodel for which he was commis-sioned. His ve-foot model, in

fact, formed the basis of the full-size replica of the submarine thatwas later constructed. His modelof Blackbeards Queen AnnesRevenge is on display at a res-

taurant of that name on

Daniel Island.Restoration is also amajor part of Thomas-Moores work, includingthose of models dating asfar back at the 18th and19th centuries. He referredto two so-called bonemodels, one vintage 1770and the other from theearly 1800s. They werebuilt by French ofcersheld captive by the Britishusing cooking bones fromthe kitchen and humanhair for the rigging. Thosewere details that Thomas-Moore managed to dupli-

cate. The models are worthas much as $100,000, andfor restoring them, Thom-as-Moore earned substan-tial fees.

Obviously, his workdoes not come cheap. For

new models, custom-ordered, hisbeginning price range is $6,000 to$10,000. But building a model isno rapid process. He estimates thetime frame to be anywhere fromsix months to two years, thoughhe never has just one project go-ing at any given time. The workis too tedious for that.

Acting provides him a breakfrom model-building. Thomas-Moore has considerable experi-ence acting in period costumesand has appeared as an extrain several movies lmed in the

Charleston area.Even though Romancingthe Hunley has been and willbe performed repeatedly, it doesnot grow stale for the perform-ers. Thats because, as Ms. Scherexplained, the actors improvisewith new dialogue at times whileremaining within the basic storyline.

In short, the two do not fol-low a rigid script in the play, nor,one suspects, in life itself. Thatmay explain Diane Schers state-ment of enthusiasm for what thecouple has experienced togetherover the past 10 years.

Romancing The HunleySundaysApril 4th - June 27th, 3:30 PMTickets: $15Powder Magazine79 Cumberland StreetDowntown Charleston

For information and tickets:843-722-9350.www.powdermag.org.

For more information aboutShip Shapes of CharlestonE-mail: [email protected],website: www.shipshapesof-charleston.blogspot.com.

Battlecontinued from page 1Across the nation, from New

Jersey to California, after-schoolactivities are being cut for lackof funding. That hits workingparents hard and creates a newgeneration of latchkey kids andat-risk children.

Students typically dont havea voice that can compete with theMedicare lobby. But in the lastweek, as part of the March 4thDay of Action to Defend Pub-lic Education, demonstrationsraged on campuses and in front ofstatehouses from Berkeley, Calif.,to Tennessee to the University

of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to theUniversity of Texas in Austin, toAuburn in Alabama. The youngergeneration has found its voice.

Gone are plans for earlyretirement -- a concept that hasbeen replaced by hanging on aslong as I can. Working longergives boomers an opportunity to

rebuild devastated 40l(k) plansand hope that theyll be ableto sell their homes at a reason-able price, when theyre ready todownsize into retirement commu-nities.

But will younger workershave the income to purchaseboomers homes -- if they cant

get boomers jobs? A crunch isdeveloping, a logjam at the topof the pyramid as boomers stub-bornly refuse to give up theirjobs.

Its not surprising that onereason the health care debateis stalled revolves around thecritical issue of saving moneythrough cuts in Medicare reim-bursements. The huge -- and ac-tive-voting -- boomer generationis about to demand that the con-tributions theyve made into thesystem now be used to take careof them in their senior years, eventhough the cost will be greaterthan their payments.

Boomers grew up expect-ing the best of everything -- andgetting it. Now they will turn vi-ciously on anyone who suggestsany form of rationing of healthcare -- whether by price, avail-ability or cost. If the governmentcuts back on Medicare reimburse-ment to physicians, who in turndecide not to take on new Medi-care patients, the impact will befelt at the polls.

The cost of caring for the ag-ing population of our country willpit seniors against the next gen-eration of workers who will betaxed to pay for the benets thatboomers have been promised.

Pitting Grandma and Grandpaagainst their children and grand-children is a cruel war.

There is only one way out:economic growth. Only if wehave a growing economy do westand a chance of making good onall our promises. Thats the chal-lenge we face -- not tomorrow,but now.

Courtesy Terry Savage

Bill and Diane rehearse their roles for Romanc-ing the Hnley, the stage play they not only enjoy

together as actors, bt prodcers.


3/32

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That was then. This is now.

A few years ago, a credit

score of 620 or higher was goodenough. That increased to 680 inearly 2008. Then it jumped to 720in April last year and 740 in Au-gust, says Rodney Anderson, se-nior managing partner of Plano,Texas-based Rodney AndersonLending Services.

In the past, any score of 700or higher would get a doublethumbs-up from credit experts.Now, rate adjustments begin kick-ing in at 740, with every 20-pointdrop adding another adjustment.

In other words, many peoplewho were taking pride in theircredit habits either must pay sig-nicantly higher or try to makequick changes to nudge theirscores upward.

I have clients all the timewho literally wind up with ascore of 739, 719, 699, 679... andit costs them money to either x itor pay for it, Huettner says.

One of Huettners clients,who always had a score of about740, went to do a renance andfound her current score at 719.The reason was, she put a newwasher and dryer on a store creditcard, he says. Many store cardsare actually revolving credit,which means your limit is essen-tially your starting balance. So

that purchase maxed out her cardand caused about a 20-point scoredrop.

Another wrinkle in todaysmarket: Even those with FICOscores of 740 or higher are penal-ized for buying in a geographicmarket on the downswing. Thisadjustment affects all borrowers,regardless of score, if in a de-clining market, says mortgagebroker Jim Heidelberg, presidentof Heidelberg Capital Corp. inTampa, Fla.

In many cases, the addedcosts of rate adjustments areenough to make a renancethat would otherwise make sense

have no benet to the borrower,Huettner says.

The road to new scoring

How did we get to this new

reality?The nations two largest

mortgage lenders, Fannie Maeand Freddie Mac, suffered majorlosses in the market last year andthen redened risk, announcingprice adjustments for borrow-ers with FICO scores below 720,says Sean Cragg, vice presidentof sales for Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Gold Star Mortgage Finan-cial Group.

And, in case you were won-dering, these fees have noth-ing to do with your mortgagecompany or its various productsand cannot be negotiated away,Cragg says.

All mortgage bankers, bro-kers and credit unions must com-ply with the higher interest ratesand delivery changes in all tra-ditional mortgages, says Heidel-berg. Only entities intending tohold the mortgages in their ownportfolios can follow their ownguidelines.

Srprise, srpriseJoe and Jane Homeowner

have likely heard of the new cred-it restrictions. But the actual costto them is often a surprise whenthey sit down with a broker.

Often, lenders will quoterates that include the adjustments,

without calling attention to them,in order to avoid a negative reac-tion from their customer, saysJames Guthrie, a partner in NewHome Finance in Suwanee, Ga.

Less surprising are other fac-tors that go into securing nanc-ing for a new or existing mort-gage. Paola Kielblock, nationalproducts manager for Sun Prairie,Wis.-based Fairway IndependentMortgage Corp., claries todaysrequirements:

Good credit.

Stable job, with a minimum oftwo years of employment.

Reserves after closing, includ-

ing a minimum of two to sixmonths of mortgage principal, in-

terest, taxes and insurance.

Down payment from the bor-

rowers own funds.

Low debt-to-income ratio. Therequired ratio varies betweenbanks but is generally less than40 percent, according to many inthe industry.

Good loan-to-value percentage.It also varies, but its often citedas less than 80 percent.

Having equity in your home is amajor factor in getting approvedfor a renance and in nding thebest rate. The more equity in thehome, the less risk there is to thelender if the home is repossessed.

Taking action on yor score

What can a homeowner whowants to renance do with a

good FICO score thats not goodenough? Heres what to do.

1. Check your credit free at www.annualcreditreport.com. Find out

what might have gone wrong.Applicants should know theircredit score, understand what itmeans to their loan rates and asktheir loan ofcers to use creditanalysis on their behalf, says

Chung. Credit analysis tools are asimple way to identify key scoreinuencers by scrutinizing the in-formation contained in each of anindividuals three credit reportsto look for inconsistencies, errorsand omissions that may articial-ly depress the score.

2. Correct any inaccuracies. Al-though consumers can improvescores on their own, Kielblocknotes that credit agencies offer

services to mortgage brokers tohelp consumers raise their credit

scores if something is reported in-accurately and there is proof of a

discrepancy.3. Decrease the percentage ofavailable credit used. This canbe done by paying down bal-ances or increasing credit limits,says Guthrie. Ideally, this meanskeeping balances as close to zeroas possible, and denitely below30 percent of the available creditlimit, experts say.

Weve seen people increasetheir scores by as much as 90points or more, simply by pay-ing off the right cards, Andersonsays.

4. Move things around. If oneincome can be used to qualify

for the loan, transfer accounts topark the debt in the other par-tys name, Guthrie says.5. Get a rapid rescore. Its theonly way to nd out fast if anattempt to improve a score wassuccessful. Its done through yourlender and a rescoring company.

Aside from working towarda better score, there are two ad-ditional options. One is payingpoints to buy down the interestrate. This is only a good ideaif the borrower will then live inthe house beyond the break-evenpoint, meaning the time wherethe money theyve paid in points

is made up for by way of less ex-pensive monthly payments, saysFindlay.

The other option: shoppingaround. Some lenders, such asPalo Alto, Calif.-based AddisonAvenue Federal Credit Union,have loans, known as portfolioloans, that arent subject to blan-ket rules on credit scores becausethe lender intends to keep themrather than sell the loans in thesecondary market.

In a perfect world, anyonecontemplating a renance or anew mortgage anytime within thenext year or so would start work-ing on getting the ideal credit

score now.

Good Credit SCoreof PaSt Not So Good NowWith historically low rates, many homeowners are watching closely for the right time to renance their mortgages. Those with good

credit may well recall being showered with praise by a mortgage broker during the initial purchase for that solid credit score.

Make sre yo check yor credit often. Know yor score and beaware of how scoring works.

In spite of a strugglingeconomy and an attitudinalshift toward living a more en-vironmentally friendly lifestyle,the top-selling vehicle of 2009was the Ford F-Series pickuptruck. According to Cars.com,a leading online resource ca-tering to online car shoppers,Ford sold more than 413,000F-series trucks, easily distanc-

ing itself from the runner-up.That distinction belonged tothe Toyota Camry, as Toyotasold more than 356,000 Cam-rys in 2009.

Often considered to be incompetition with the HondaAccord, the Camry outsoldits supposed counterpart bynearly 70,000 units, as Hondasold a little more than 290,000Accords in 2009. That wasgood for fth place on the best

seller list, trailing the ChevroletSilverado and Toyota Corolla,

which were third and fourth,respectively. The rest of thetop largely reects a consumermindset that sought fuel-ef-cient vehicles, as only one ofthe remaining 10 best-sellerswas a larger vehicle:

6. Honda Civic: 259,7227. Nissan Altima: 203,5688. Honda CR-V: 191, 2149. Ford Fusion: 180,67110. Dodge Ram: 177,268

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There are many reasons tomove away from the U.S. duringyour retirement years. One of themost important is that your mon-

ey will buy you more. Anotherbig reason is inexpensive healthcare and affordable prescriptiondrugs.

The laws of various countriesshould inuence those planningon living there as some penal-ize the wealthy and others makeit difcult for those that are notwealthy.

Other important factors toconsider are the crime rate, thedistance from your home in theU.S. if you plan to return oftento visit friends and family and, ofcourse, the lifestyle you are seek-ing.

List what is important to youas this should inuence your de-cision:

Climate: Hot, cold, temperate; doyou want a beach or mountains orboth?

The arts: Museums, opera, sym-phony, ballet, theater.

Sports: Do you wish to play golf,tennis, ski, run, bike and do youwish to be able to watch profes-sional or amateur sporting events?

Healthcare: Do you have medicalproblems that require you be neara hospital that can provide qualitycare? Do you need prescriptiondrugs regularly?

Cost of living: What can you af-ford to pay for your monthlycomfort? What kind of lifestyledo you plan? Luxurious, Simple,Moderate?

Langage: Are you comfortablein a country where English is notthe native language and perhapsis not spoken or understood bymany of the natives?

We cover some of the pos-sible destinations that meet someor several of these criteria, butwe urge you to do substantial re-search as well as spend time inthe location you think you wishto retire to prior to your actualmove. Every country has its plus-es as well as its minuses.

Many U.S. Citizens are retir-ing to Central and South America.Housing as well as the cost of liv-ing is usually substantially lessthan in the states. Costa Rica isone of the countries that has alarge contingent of retirees. CostaRica allows U.S. citizens regis-tered under its pension systemto pay into the countrys social-security system. Less than $40 amonth qualies you for full hos-pitalization and pharmacy cover-age.

Many retirees in Costa Ricause the local public-health admin-istration as a backup for emer-gency care and rely on privateclinics for most of their care. The

immigration ofce is difcult,

and many have reported it is nextto impossible to get a landlinephone in a reasonable time. CostaRica, however has its share of

violent crime and, as Forbes re-ported (Oct. 22, 2008), it also hasit share of land title scams.

Land scams are prevalent inmany countries where Americansplan their retirement. In Mexicos

Baja peninsula a few years ago,many U.S. retirees learned thatdeeds on their beachfront prop-erty were not valid as they didnot meet certain provisions of anational-security statute that per-mits only citizens to own land onMexicos coasts

Millions of Americans have

retired to Mexico but depending

on where you live the crime ratehas risen to dangerous levels andsome retirees have been forced tohire bodyguards for protection.

Belize, Panama, Hondurasand Nicaragua also have a goodsized population of U.S. retireesand they actively court Americanretirees by offering tax-free statusto anyone willing to buy or build

a house there. Moving to Brazil isgreat choice as it is relatively in-expensive and has much to offerwith regard to climate and ame-nities but Brazils murder rate isfour times that of the U.S.

Excellent and inexpensivehealth care is available in France.Insurance companies there are

prohibited by law from drop-

ping you or raising your premi-ums.

Thailand also has good qual-ity and affordable hospitals and

Thailands O visa is availableto any American retiree with atleast $24,000 in the bank and aminimum of $1,935 in monthlyincome.

Australia is a particularlygood choice for many Americansas it is relatively inexpensive,English is the native language andit offers most of the amenities re-tirees are seeking; however Aus-tralias investment retirementvisa requires that an immigranthave at least $56,000 in annualincome ($43,000 if you settle ina rural area) and you must beprepared to invest a minimum of$650,000 locally ($430,000 in arural location).

www.boomersabroad.com

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9/32


As the economys recovery

contines, the nmber of tem-

porary jobs cold triple in 2010,

clearing the way for thosands of

seniors, boomers and retirees to

retrn to the workforce in exec-

tive, managerial and professional

positions.

Estimates suggest that tem-porary employment could in-crease its penetration from thecurrent 13 percent of employeesto 39 percent. 73% of employersare planning to increase their useof contingent labor.

The countrys economic re-covery could be particularly ben-ecial for boomers and seniorslooking for jobs after retirement,as estimates suggest that contin-gent labor could increase its pen-

etration from the current 13 per-cent of employees to 39 percentin 2010.

This is good news for boom-ers, seniors and retirees, as thisdemographic is often more likelyto be hired on a part-time, tempo-rary or project assignment basis,said Art Koff, founder of www.

RetiredBrains.com, a job and in-formation service for Americans50 and older.

Many older workers donot require the company benetsof full-time employment, saidKoff. They are often in a betterposition than their younger coun-

terparts who must receive com-pany benets for themselves andtheir families.

Depending on the hours

worked, the length of the assign-ment and other factors, employ-ers can save on contingency laborby avoiding expensive companybenets. It is also a great deal easi-er to off-board contingency work-ers than full-time employees. Andemployers with a departmental orcompanywide hiring freeze canhire temporary employees froma different budget, thereby avoid-ing hiring freeze limitations alto-gether.

The number of Americansworking part-time or temporaryjobs for economic reasons (most-ly because they are unable to ndfull-time jobs) has doubled since

the recession began, to 9.2 mil-lion workers. Its a trend that seesAmerica catching up to Europe,where employers use a muchhigher percentage of temporaryand part-time workers than theirU.S. counterparts.

According to a WorkforceManagement article by Irwin

Speizer quoting a recent study,73% of responding employersare planning to increase their useof contingent labor.

And while jobs are still toughto nd, there are ways for boom-ers and retirees to maximize theopportunity. The key is knowingwhere to look and what to do toimprove your chances of beinghired once an opening is located.Temp employment and freelanc-ing are two of the few sectors ofthe labor market that are growingrapidly and should be exploredby all job seekers, regardless ofage or the type of position thatssought, Koff said.

Dont assume because youare an executive, a professionalor in management that temporary jobs or project assignments are

not for you, Koff pointed out.In 2009, rms like Kelly Ser-

vices, Aerotek, Adecco and Man-power placed many thousands including company presidents,lawyers, controllers, sales manag-ers and senior level managers inassignments that paid anywherefrom $80,000 to several hundred

thousand dollars a year. Retireesand Boomers who have the skillsand experience can often ndmany project assignments and

earn more than if they workedfor a single company. These typesof jobs usually provide no healthinsurance, sick days, vacation, re-tirement benets, severance, ac-cess to unemployment insuranceor stock options for top-levelexecutives, all of which makesthem a particularly good t formany older workers who can ac-cept temporary or retirement jobswithout benets.

The web site Koff founded in2003, www.RetiredBrains.com,offers links to hundreds of thou-sands of employment opportuni-ties and retirement jobs for boom-ers, seniors and retirees. Jobs can

be searched by areas of experi-ence, geographic preference, full-time or part-time opportunities,and temporary and project as-signments. The site links to sea-sonal jobs and jobs with organi-zations like the census bureau orthe Peace Corps.

Temporary Employment Set to Increase

With fll time jobs hard to nd, many

job hnters are discovering part time

or temp jobs are jst as fllling as a

fll time position.

More people are looking forward totax time this year. More than 25 tax cutsfor 2009 federal returns have been passedto help those struggling in the downturnedeconomy. Many states are also offering taxbreaks this year.

Virtually everyone is el igible for newtax credits, deductions and other changeson their federal tax returns, says Jessi Dol-mage, spokeswoman for 2nd Story Soft-ware, Inc., makers of TaxACT. Dolmagesummarizes seven changes that could im-pact your bottom line.

The Making Work Pay credit replacedthe 2008 federal stimulus checks for 2009and 2010. The refundable credit is worth6.2 percent of your earned income, up to$400 for individuals and $800 for marriedcouples ling jointly. The credit phasesout for married couples ling jointly with

a modied adjusted gross income (MAGI)between $150,000 and $190,000, and forsingle taxpayers whose MAGI is between$75,000 and $95,000.

Most taxpayers already received thecredit for 2009 through reduced federalwithholding starting in April 2009, result-ing in an increase of $10 to $13 per pay-check. Even if you received the credit inyour paychecks, you generally still needto claim the credit on your federal returnto make up for the reduced withholdingthroughout the year. If you dont withholdfederal taxes, you must le a return to re-ceive the credit.

If you received the one-time economicrecovery payment or qualify for the Gov-ernment Retiree Credit, the amount mustbe subtracted from any Making Work Pay

credit amount. TaxACTs Making WorkPay Calculator (www.taxact.com/recov-ery-act) can estimate your credit amount.

For the 2009 tax year, your standarddeduction may also include state or localreal estate taxes of up to $500 ($1,000 formarried ling jointly) and net disaster loss-es that occurred before Jan. 1, 2010.

The rst $2,400 of unemploymentcompensation is exempt from 2009 federaltaxes. Any amount over $2,400, as well asseverance pay, is taxable income.

If you purchased a home in 2009, youmay qualify for the rst-time homebuyercredit. Keep in mind the name of the creditis deceiving, as current and past homeown-ers may also qualify. The credit is equalto 10 percent of the purchase price, upto either $6,500 or $8,000, depending onthe purchase date, price, whether youveowned a primary residence and when youlast owned a primary residence. Incomelevel and ling status also affect eligibility.Those claiming the credit must mail theirfederal returns along with certain docu-mentation for the home.

Energy efcient improvements madein 2009 and 2010 may give homeownersup to $1,500 through the Nonbusiness En-ergy Property Credit. Up to 30 percent ofthe costs for qualifying improvements to aprimary residence can be claimed.

The modied HOPE credit, the Amer-ican Opportunity Credit, is equal to 100percent of the rst $2,000 and 25 percentof the next $2,000 (totaling up to $2,500per student) for tuition, related fees andrequired course materials. It applies to therst four years of post-secondary educationin 2009 and 2010. The refundable creditphases out at MAGIs of $80,000 for indi-viduals and $160,000 for joint lers.

Finally, if you made a cash contribu-tion towards earthquake relief efforts inHaiti after Jan. 11, 2010, and before March1, 2010, you can deduct it on your 2009 or2010 return (but not both).

To ensure you get all the tax breaksyou qualify for, Dolmage recommends ado-it-yourself tax solution like TaxACTthat includes a maximum refund pledge.

The program will break down all the taxlaw changes in an easy-to-understand andeasy-to-follow format and point out poten-tial deductions and credits you may over-look on your own. TaxACT users can e-letheir federal return free, so they can havetheir refund in as few as 8 days with directdeposit.

For information about all 2009 taxlaw changes, visit www.IRS.gov and www.TaxACT.com.

Changes to watch for onthe 2009 tax return


10/32


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Crossword Soltionfrom page 30

James Dean(February 8, 1931- September 30, 1955)

Best known for his role in the1955 movie

Rebel Without a Cause

playing James Jim Stark

Answer to Who Am I?Page 31

Capt. Gary Powers U-2 Spy Plane Shot DownOver Russia.

Israelis Kidnap Adolf Eichman fromArgentina to Jerusalem.

Khrushchev at U.N . Pounds Shoe In Anger.

John F. Kennedy Wins Democratic Nomination,Nixon wins GOP.

Kennedy Wins Presidency, Democrats SweepCongress.

Two White Public Schools in New OrleansAre The First To Integrate.

House Committee Looks Into Payola AmericanBandstand DJ Dick Clark Involved.

Alan Freedman Eight Arrested In Taking Radio Payola.

Soldiers stop riots at Newport Jazz Festival.

Enovil 10, rst contraceptive pill soldfor .50 cents each.

Two airliners collide over Staten Island, 134 die.

Howdy Doody show ends after 13 years.

African -American Sit-ins Integrate Lunch CounterIn Greensboro. North Carolina.

Floyd Patterson is rst ghter to regain titleby beating Ingemar Johanson.

Castro Nationalizes all American property.

Black runner Wilma Rudolph wins 3Olympic gold medals.

Kennedy and Nixon meet in rst televisedPresidential debate.

Emily Post, Queen of etiquette dies.


12/32


20 Tips to Help You Prepare for Surgery

After the decision is madeto have joint replacement sur-gery, typically arthritis patientsgo through an intense phase ofbecoming both physically andpsychologically ready for the pro-cedure. If the patient can go intothe operation with a sense of pre-paredness and peace of mind, thechance of a successful outcomeincreases. Here are 20 tips to helpyou get ready:

1 - Find the right DoctorFind an experienced surgeon withwhom you feel comfortable. It isimperative that you feel you candevelop a longterm relationshipwith the surgeon. The surgeonwill become an important personin your life.

2 - Edcate yorself

Make sure you ask yourdoctor all pertinent details aboutyour surgical procedure. Educateyourself about the surgery. Learnas much as possible ahead of timeabout post-op care, precautions,and possible complications.

3 - Possibly seek a second opinion

If you have any doubts, seeka second opinion from anotherwell-respected surgeon.

4 - Plan ahead

Schedule the surgery at atime when you can afford timeoff from work and when it will beleast disruptive to your family.

5 - Reconcile risks and benets Weigh the risks versus thebenets and reconcile that inyour mind. Dont go into surgerydwelling on risks or potentialcomplications.

6 - Have a positive approach Feel encouraged and havea positive attitude. Focus on thehigh rate of success of joint re-placement surgery.

7 - Gain perspective

Talk with others who havehad the same procedure done.

Talk with some of your surgeonsother patients in order to gainperspective. Other success storiescan remarkably ease your mind.

8 - Visalize life after srgery

Recognize that the pain anddeterioration of your joint has di-minished your quality of life. Vi-sualize yourself getting your lifeback after surgery.

9 - Acknowledge anxiety

Realize that you may feel in-creasingly tense or anxious as thesurgery date approaches. Dontght it - its normal!

10 - Commit to the process

Make a commitment to doyour part to ensure a positive out-come. Actively participate in theprocess and assume responsibili-ty for your own care (for example- follow precautions, do exercisesdaily).

11 - Practice sing crtches If you have spent time oncrutches before, reacquaint your-self with them. Practice on yourcrutches, so the awkwardness isnot overwhelming just after sur-gery.

12 - Invest in yor rehabilitation

Dont view the recoveryperiod as time lost, but rather astime to rest and recuperate. Real-ize that the time you will invest inthe rehabilitation process is nec-essary for better health.

13 - Prepare for physical therapyRealize that physical therapy

is critical for a successful out-come. Envision each exercise asa stepping stone toward improvedstrength, range-of-motion, andfunction.

14 - Keep organized

Remember that you will belaid up for several weeks. Orga-nize your life! Schedule appoint-ments and take care of businessas much as possible in the weeksprior to surgery.

15 - Follow proper ntritionTake multi-vitamins and eat

well-balanced meals in the weeksor months prior to surgery, so thatthe healing of surgical woundswill be promoted.

16 - Watch for signs of infection

before srgeryInfection can be a devastat-

ing complication of joint surgery.If any sign of infection exists any-where in the body, surgery mustbe postponed.

17 - Sign p for atologos blooddonation

In the weeks prior to surgery,donate autologous units of bloodto be held for your operation.

18 - Do yo need to stop any med-

ications?Ask your doctor if you need

to stop any of your medicationsprior to surgery.

19 - Seek assistive devices andadaptive eqipment

Make your environmentready for your homecoming be-

fore you go into the hospital.Have assistive devices and

other adaptive equipment avail-able, such as: raised toilet seats,reacher aids, shower benches

20 - Arrange for help

Arrange for someone to bewith you, especially the rst weekor two after you go home fromthe hospital. If no one is avail-able, make arrangements to entera post-op inpatient rehabilitationfacility until you become inde-pendent and are able to care foryourself at home.

Yor Goals

Never lose sight of your

goals. The surgeon and surgicalteam do their work in the operat-ing room - the rest is up to you.Be inspired and work hard duringthe rehabilitation phase of yourrecovery.

Are you facing surgery? You are not alone. Every year, more than 15 million Americans have surgery. Mostoperations are not emergencies and are considered elective surgery. This means that you have time to

learn about your operation to be sure it is the best treatment for you. You also have time to work with your

surgeon to make the surgery as safe as possible. Be active in your health care to have quality care.

Knowing what to expect with srgery before yo get to the hospital can make

yo less anxios abot yor srgical experience - and less stress helps aperson recover faster.

As you get older, good nutrition plays anincreasingly important role in how well youage. Eating a low-salt, low-fat diet with plentyof fruits, vegetables, and ber can actually re-duce your age-related risks of heart disease,diabetes, stroke, osteoporosis, and otherchronic diseases. By eating a wide variety offoods, you can pretty easily get what your bodyneeds, including:

Protein, which is needed to maintain and re-build muscles. You can get low-fat, quality pro-tein from poultry, sh, eggs or egg substitutes,soy, and limited amounts of nuts and low-fatmeat and dairy.

Carbohydrate, which is the bodys preferredsource of energy. There are two main sourcesof dietary carbohydrates: simple sugars, suchas sucrose (the rened white sugar added tosweets and desserts), fructose (the sugar con-tained in fruit), and lactose (milk sugar); andcomplex carbohydrates, which come fromvegetables and grains. Unlike rened sugars,fruits contain vitamins and ber, dairy prod-ucts contain nutrients such as calcium and vi-tamin D, and complex carbohydrates containvitamins, minerals, and ber. Get most of yourcarbohydrate calories from vegetables, grains,and fruits. And try to replace fat calories withcomplex carbohydrates in your diet.

Fat, also provides energy. To help keep yourblood cholsterol levels low, get most of your

limited fat intake from the polyunsaturated fats(as in liquid corn oil or soybean oil) and mono-unsaturated fats (in olive oil, avocados, andnuts). Limit saturated fats (beef, pork, veal, but-ter, shortening, and cheese). You can do thisby eating these foods less often, having small-er servings, choosing less fatty cuts of meat,and by using stronger tasting cheeses so youcan use just a little and still get the cheese a-vor. Try to avoid the trans fats (hydrogenatedfats) found in stick margarine and in many pro-cessed foods such as crackers and cookies.Trans fats are now shown on the nutrition factslabels found on most packaged foods.

Water, to replace water lost through activity.Because your kidneys gradually become lessefcient at keeping your body hydrated, makea conscious effort to get six to eight glasses ofwater a day. Courtesy about.com

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By Dr. Eric Stem

The initial management ofhip arthritis can include activity

modication, weight loss, use of acane, medications, and injections.When the pain from hip arthritis

progresses to the point that it is nolonger controlled by medical andnon-operative treatments, surgery

may be considered.

Total hip replacement is the

nal treatment option for hip ar-

thritis. In this surgery all of the

remaining cartilage is removed

from the hip by replacing the balland resurfacing the socket. Once

the remaining cartilage has been

removed, the arthritis is gone and

cannot return.

The hip is a ball and socket

joint that is composed of the junc-

tion between the acetabulum (the

socket portion of the pelvis) and

the femur (thigh bone). In hip re-

placement surgery, or total hip re-

placement (THR), the native ball

and socket are replaced with a

mechanical ball and socket joint.

A small number of muscles are

cut during the surgery, which are

typically repaired at the end of

the procedure. After the hip joint

is opened, only a small amount of

bone is removed during the sur-

gery. All of the soft tissues, which

include all of the ligaments, ten-

dons, and muscles, remain in place

around the hip.

During the procedure, all of

the damaged cartilage is removed

from the socket and the socket is

reshaped with a round shaver. A

metal shell is then impacted into

the newly reshaped socket. The

socket is tightly placed, so it will

not move. Screws can also be

used for additional xation to the

bone. Over time, bone grows into

the coating on the shell, which

provides long term stability to the

socket. After the socket is xed in

place, an insert is placed inside theshell, which serves as the bearing

surface. This insert can be metal,

ceramic, or high density polyeth-

ylene (a high tech plastic). Occa-

sionally, the socket is cemented

in place, due to poor bone quality

or anatomical considerations. The

worn out ball is then cut off of the

end of the femur. This is replaced

by a new prosthetic ball, which is

attached to a stem that ts inside

the femur (thigh bone).

Two types of stems can be

used, either cemented or unce-

mented. With the uncemented

stem, the bone grows to the coat-

ing on the stem. The femur (thigh

bone) is prepared to accept thestem by removing a small amount

of the soft bone from inside it. The

stem is then either cemented or

impacted tightly into the femur de-

pending on the type of stem being

used. After the stem is rmly xed

in the femur, a new prosthetic ball

is placed on the top of the stem.

This ball can be either metal (co-

balt-chrome) or ceramic. The ball

is carefully placed into the socket

and the soft tissues around the hip

are repaired. There is no linkage

between the ball and socket. Con-

necting the ball and socket creates

high stresses on the implants and

this leads to early failure of the

prosthesis. The prosthetic joint is

held together by the natural mus-

cles, ligaments, and tendons.

After the surgery you can be

partially or fully weight bearing

on the operative leg, depending onyour surgeons recommendation.

Getting started in therapy as soon

as possible after surgery is impor-

tant, because it starts the muscles

on the road to recovery and de-

creases your risk of developing a

blood clot. The risk of develop-

ing a blood clot after hip surgery

is high. This risk can be decreased

by wearing compressive stockings,

taking a blood thinner, and moving

the muscles in the legs.

Since the ball and socket are

held together by the tension of the

soft tissues around them, it is pos-

sible to dislocate the hip, or pop

the ball out of the socket. A hip

dislocation is more common in the

rst six to eight weeks after hip re-

placement, but it can occur at any

time. Dislocations typically occur

when the hip is put in certain po-

sitions, either a highly exed or

highly rotated position. Discuss

the risky positions with your sur-

geon and therapist so you will have

a good understanding of which po-

sitions are safe. Hip dislocations

can typically be treated without

surgery. If the hip dislocation re-

curs multiple times, revision sur-

gery may be indicated. Prevention

of the rst dislocation is better than

treating a dislocated hip.

Hip replacements can lastmany years, fteen to twenty years

on average, but they can wear out

or loosen over time. Joint replace-

ments wear out faster in younger

patients due to increase activ-

ity levels and increased demands

placed on the implants. Conse-

quently, it is important to have

regular periodic check-ups with

an orthopaedic surgeon in order to

check an x-ray to insure that the

hip implant is holding up.

Most problems are easier to

correct if they are identied early.

Unfortunately, a failed implant

usually does not cause symptoms

until a signicant amount of dam-age has occurred.

Hip replacement surgery is

a safe and extremely successful

surgery with 90 to 95 percent of

patients having good to excellent

relief of their pain after surgery.

There are a small number of risks

involved in the surgery, which in-

cludes the risk of anaesthesia, frac-

ture, dislocation, infection, blood

clots, leg length inequality and

implant failure. Only you know if

your hip pain is limiting enough to

make the benets of surgery out-

weigh the risks.

For additional information

regarding hip replacement or any

other orthopaedic problem, pointyour internet browser to the Amer-

ican Academy of Orthopaedic Sur-

geons web site, www.orthoinfo.

org.

Dr. Eric Stem is an Ortho-paedic Surgeon with sub-specialty training in jointreplacement and recon-struction.

Eric S. Stem, M.D.Hip and Knee CenterLowcountry OrthopaedicsNorth Charleston, S.C.,29406(843)797-5050

This article is for providedfor general information onlyand is not a substitute forseeking appropriate medi-cal care.

Hip and Knee News

By Dr. Eric StemHip & Knee News

HiP rePlaCemeNt SurGery

The patients is replaced with the ball of this ball-and-socket joint replacedby a metal head that is set in the thighbone or femr and the socket replaced

by a white plastic cp. Hip replacement is crrently the most sccessfl andreliable orthopaedic operation[citation needed] with 97% of patients reporting

improved otcome.

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For help in understanding and nding help for asenior alcohol or drug abuse problem, visit:http://www.drug-rehab.com.

Its About Your Health

The consumption of alcohol slows down brain activity. For a ma-

ture adult who may already have issues with senility, excessive

drinking can be fatal. There is the risk of falls or accidents. As we

age our bodys ability to absorb and dispose of alcohol changes.

Over time, heavy drinking permanently damages the central ner-vous system, the brain, liver, kidneys, stomach and heart. The

anesthetic effects of alcohol can dull the warning signs that could

signal a heart attack. The effects of alcohol can also make medi-

cal problems hard to diagnose. Alcohol changes the heart and

blood vessels. For older Americans with Alzheimers, the risk is

ten fold, for alcohol increases the problem of forgetfulness and

confusion. Alcohol is a drug and is often harmful when mixed with

prescription or over-the-counter medications, which the majority

of older adults take. Even just mixing alcohol with aspirin can

cause a much higher risk of bleeding in the stomach and intes-

tines. None of this has even really touched on the social stigma

that is attached to being a drinker of a certain age.

If you are a older adult and suspect that you may have a drinking

problem, you can be comforted with the knowledge that there is

plenty of help out there. You could start by contacting your clergy

or your local social services agency. Or there is AA. In every town

across the nation just pick up a phone book and you will nd an

Alcoholic Anonymous chapter near you. Most people know what

AA is but if you dont, it is a voluntary fellowship of alcoholics who

help themselves and each other get and stay sober. The National

Institute on Aging also offers resources on health and aging and

will help you get the help you need.

Courtesy www.associatedcontent.com


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President Obama and Demo-crats in Congress have come tothe end of a 14-month health careodyssey. The result is a historic

new health law that will makesweeping changes in our healthsystem over the next few years.They include new consumer pro-tections, coverage of millions ofuninsured people, penalties forindividuals and businesses whodont buy insurance, attempts tocontrol rising costs, and Medicaresavings and new taxes to pay forit all. Here is a year-by-year lookat whats in store:

2010

Adults who cant get cov-erage because of a pre-existingmedical condition can join a high-risk insurance pool (this is an in-

terim step pending the launch in2014 of competitive health insur-ance marketplaces and premiumsubsidies).

Insurance companies willhave to issue policies for chil-dren with pre-existing conditions.They will not be allowed to re-voke existing policies if peopleget sick. Lifetime limits on cover-age will be banned in new cover-age and annual limits will be re-stricted. Preventive services willbe fully covered, with no co-paysor deductibles. Coverage will beavailable for dependent childrenuntil they turn 26.

People in the Medicare pre-

scription drug program will re-

ceive a $250 rebate as the rststep in closing the coverage gap,or doughnut hole, that requiresthem to pay full freight after they

have spent $2,700 on drugs. Thegap would be phased out entirelyby 2020.

Certain small businesses willstart getting tax credits to offsetup to 35 percent of the cost of in-suring their employees. That willrise to 50 percent in 2014.

Plans must have an effec-tive apeals process for decisionsand claims. States will get grantsto set up programs that help con-sumers with complaints or ques-tions about health insurance. Thefederal government will set up awebsite to help people in differentstates gure out their insuranceoptions.

The rst tax increase kicks in: A10 percent tax on indoor tanningservices.

2011

Medicare changes will in-clude free annual wellness visits;little to no cost-sharing for pre-ventive care, like immunizationsand cancer screenings; bonuses toprimary care doctors and generalsurgeons; a new Center for Medi-care and Medicaid Innovation totest ways to provide better, moreefcient care; and, the start of aphase-out of overpayments toprivate Medicare Advantage in-surers. People in the prescription

doughnut hole will receive dis-counts on prescriptions.

2012

There will be new money forprimary care services and newincentives to encourage doctorsto join together in accountablecare organizations. The govern-ment will track re-admission ratesat hospitals and impose penaltyfees on hospitals with the highestrates.

2013

This is when higher taxes willbegin for households with incomeabove $250,000 and individualsabove $200,000. The Medicarepayroll tax on earnings abovethose amounts will rise from 1.45percent to 2.35 percent. Unearnedincome above those amounts,

such as dividends, will now besubject to a 3.8 percent tax.In addition, maximum contri-

butions to pre-tax Flexible Sav-ings Account contributions willbe limited to $2,500 a year (downfrom the current $3,050 for indi-viduals).

There will be a new 2.9 per-cent excise tax on medical devic-es.

Medicare will sponsor a na-tional pilot program on paymentbundling -- paying hospitals,doctors and other providers basedon patient outcome, not servicesprovided.

2014

More consumer protections

begin. Insurance companies willnot be able to deny policies toanyone based on their healthstatus or to refuse coverage of a

treatment based on pre-existinghealth conditions. Their abilityto charge higher rates to peoplebased on age, geography, familysize or tobacco use will be lim-ited. Annual limits on coveragewill be abolished.

Each state will open a healthinsurance exchange, or market-place, for individuals and smallbusinesses without coverage.People will be able to compari-son shop for standardized healthpackages. There will be a multi-state private plan available na-tionwide, supervised by the U.S.Ofce of Personnel Management.Tax credits will be available to

make insurance and care afford-able for people who make toomuch to qualify for Medicaid, buthave incomes below 400 percentof poverty.

Most people will be requiredto buy insurance coverage or paypenalties that start at $95 in 2014and rise to $695 or 2.5 percent ofincome in 2016. Employers with50 or more workers who do notoffer coverage will have to payannual fees.

Medicaid eligibility will in-crease to 133 percent of the pov-erty level ($14,404 for individu-als) for everyone under 65 (whenthey qualify for Medicare).

2015

A new Independent PaymentAdvisory Board will be formedto come up with ways to lower

Medicare costs and promote bet-ter care. The recommendationswill go to Congress and privateinsurers.

2018

This is when the most con-troversial new tax begins, a 40percent excise tax on insurancecompanies and plan administra-tors for any family plan that costsmore than $27,500. The tax ap-plies to the cost above that thresh-old. There are higher thresholdsfor retirees over 55 and plans thatcover workers in high-risk jobs.

2019

The new system will have

reduced the number of uninsuredpeople by 32 million, accordingto the nonpartisan CongressionalBudget Ofce. That will leavean estimated 23 million unin-sured, one-third of them illegalimmigrants. Coverage of legalresidents too young for Medicare(under age 65) will be 94 percent,up from 83 percent now.

Sources: House Energy and

Commerce Committee, Speakers

Ofce, WhiteHouse.gov, Kai-

ser Health News, Congressional

Budget Ofce.

Understanding the Health Care Bill

Caregivers not only haveto deal with a loved ones healthissues, they also have to stayt themselves. As life expec-tancy increases, (it is currently81 years for men, and 84 yearsfor women) the likelihood of acaregiver having to deal withtheir own health issues as wellalso increases. Caregiving fora loved one can be one of themost stressful events you everexperience. In fact, the 25 mil-lion Americans currently act-ing as caregivers for their lovedones are often referred to ashidden patients because theirown health is often neglected.

Caregiver Health Tips:

Find your sense of humor.Laughter releases positive emo-tions that can get you through al-most anything in life. Exercise isimportant. But exercise doesntnecessarily mean having to be-long to a gym to work out. Gofor abrisk walk on the beach or atyour favorite park. This will helpwork out those stressful thingsthat ail you on a daily basis.

Keep a journal of your caregivingregimen. This will inject perspec-tive into the bigger picture.

Featred Caregiver

The Lowcountry Sun willfeature Charleston resident,Dewey Teske, in the May edition.Dewey is a baby boomer with adistinguished naval career. Heis also an unpaid caregiver de-voted to the well being of a lovedones life. The Lowcountry Sunweb site ---www.lowcountrysun.sc--- will also host your care-giver stories come May, as we

dedicate a forum and build acaregiver blog for those wantingto share their own hardships, tri-umphs, advice and overall expe-rience of having two lives.

Thanks to Lowcountry Yan-kees fan, Tom Sweeney, for hispower of suggestion.

Spotlight on CaregiversThere are only four kinds of people in the world those who have been care-givers, those who currently are caregivers, those who will be caregivers andthose who need caregivers - Former First Lady Rosalynn Carter

Dr. Eric Stem, M.D.Dr. Richard Zimlich, M.D.

2880 Tricom Street

North Charleston, SC 29406

843.797.5050

www.lowcountryortho.com

Comprehensive Joint Care

We specialize inthe treatment of

hip and knee pain

One-stop shopping for hip and knee problems

The only fellowship-trained joint replacementsurgeons in the North area

Emorys Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing in

Atlanta received $8.16 million from the Bill & Melinda

Gates Foundation for a project designed to improve ma-

ternal and newborn survival rates in rural Ethiopia. This

is the largest gift in the schools history. The Gates Foun-dation continues to be the most generous philanthropic

vehicle in the world donating an average of $800M per

year amounting to billions of dollars for various charities

since its inception.

Emorys School of NursingReceives Large Gift


16/32


Preserve Your Independence

Stay in the home you love with confidence

and help 24/7 with the push of a button.

Call 720-8440Roper St. Francis Lifeline

865 Riverland Drive, Charleston, SC 29412

(843)762-9555

Award Winning Fitness Programs For Adults Age 50+

THE CHARLESTON REFERRAL ExCHANGE

Meets every Thrsday morning from 8a.m. 9:15 a.m. in the Rooftop Resta-rant at the Holiday Inn Riverview; 301Savannah Highway (known as theRond Holiday Inn jst over the bridgefrom Charleston on Highway 17.) Pleasecome as or gest. For more information,please call Nancy Green at 843-364-8465.

1 START SMART PLAYTIME

Hael Parker Playgrond, 70 East Bay St.Downtown Charleston6 sessions beginning April 1st

10am -10:45am Age: 2 to 3 years oldCost: $20Children will brn off some energy in thismini sports program. Game stations are

set p so that children can try different activities at their own pace. Theirwill be bowling stations, target throwingstations, basketball shooting stations,

golf stations, soccer kicking stations andmch more. *Each child mst be accom-panied by an adlt.for mor info, www.charlestoncity.info/dept/?nid=22

3 HAT DIVAS SOCIETY INC.12 NoonAnnal Easter LncheonHigh Cotton Restarant199 East Bay St. CharlestonFor info and membership: call Belinda

843-330-1395

6 THE HEART OF THE CAREGIVER

BIBLE STuDY9 AM - 10:30 AM, Seacoast ChrchLongpoint Road, Mt. Pleasantdeveloped for women who are car-ing for someone in their family whois chronically ill or disabled. Theessence of this stdy is that caregiverswill come to see themselves, their sitation, and the person they are caring for ina whole new way throgh the light ofGods amaing love. Small fee for workbook.Contact [email protected] more information and to sign por contact Abbie Kowalke @ 486-0193et. 1601

6 AARP MOuNT PLEASANTEAST COOPER CHAPTER5:30 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant Senior Center (Card Room)Von Kolnit Road. For more information,contact Debra Whiteld, presidentat 856-8800

7 COMPuTER CLASSES9:30-10:30amWWW What? An Introdctionto the InternetDorchester Conty LibrarySmmerville BranchSign p at the library.Contact Kathy Marrah at 871-5075

8 COMPuTER CLASSES9:30-10:30amEmail BasicsDorchester Conty LibrarySmmerville BranchSign p at the library.Contact Kathy Marrah at 871-5075

10 ESTATE PLANNING SEMINARKhn & Khn10:00 AM - 12:00 PMand 6:00 PM - 08:00 PMTown & Contry Inn, West Ashley2008 Savannah Hwy.

10 APRIL IN MEGGETT ARTS ANDCRAFTS FESTIVAL10am - 3pm

Town Center at 4776 Hwy 165

Meggett, SCThe festival featres Lowcontry Artistsand Crafters, St Pals Garden Clb Flower Show will be on display, EdcationalDisplays, Food Vendors, Antiqe Trac-tor Display, Silent Action, Rafes andmch [email protected]

10 FIRST ANNuAL CAPTAINS CHOICE GOLFTOuRNAMENT

Tee-Off 1:30pm -Shotgn StartShadowmoss Golf ClbSnacks * Cookot * Pries20 Dnvegan Drive, Charleston, [email protected] or843-574-6655Sponsored by: Chapter 266 -Mended Hearts Inc.

10-18FAMILY CIRCLE CuPFamily Circle Tennis Center,Daniel IslandWorld No. 1 Tennis Champ Serena Wil-liams faces Caroline Woniacki, VictoriaAarenka, Jelena Jankovic, Samantha Stosr and many more-world cass tennis players.

10 7TH ANNuAL PARK CIRCLE PLANT SWAP 10am set-p and browse....11am swap...

immediately afterwards...LuNCH!Park Circle, North Charleston, by the Gaebo. What kind of plants shold I bring?The motto is: If it grows, It goes!! Shrbs,Hoseplants, Annals, Perennials, YardArt, Tools, Seeds, Pots, if it is garden related... BRING IT!! Bring a Pot Lck dish. Emailfor more info and directions, [email protected]

11 ESTATE PLANNING SEMINARKhn and Khn10:00 AM - 12:00 PMHampton Inn, Mt. Pleasant1104 Isle of Palms Connector

12 ESTATE PLANNING SEMINARKhn & Khn10:00 AM - 12:00 PMand 6:00 PM - 08:00 PMTown & Contry Inn, West Ashley2008 Savannah Hwy.

12 CITIzENS OF THE WORLD PRESENTED BYPRuDENTIAL4:30pm - 7:00pmCelebration of diversity inspired by tennislegend Arthr Ashe.Family Circle Tennis CenterDnlop Sport / Playmate Ball Machine

tennis games, Lowcontry TennisAssociation tennis clinics, City ofCharleston Toch-a-Trck program,live msic, face-painting, CoastGard / Navy / Air Force F-16/ C-17displays, a ight simlator, ArmedForces football toss challenge, a militaryBattle of the Branches contest, NavyPRIDE band, College of CharlestonMens Basketball team, Soth CarolinaStingrays, Charleston Battery, Charles-ton Conty School District QickstartSpirit Award competition, mascot appearances from local sports teams, and ameet and greet with cast members of thehit Lifetime show Army Wives.FREE

13 LIVING WELL:East Cooper Commnity Otreach

Tesdays, April 13-May 18, 12:30-3pm.Join this innovative workshop designedspecically for people with diabetes,arthritis, asthma, heart, back or otherongoing health conditions. Learn newways to take charge. This si-week workshop is free for members and nonmembers. A $15 donation is appreciated tocover the cost of the book yo keep.

SENIOR SERVICESServices for shut-ins and disabled gentlemen

843.303.3168

Sitting Shopping

Doctor Appointments

Errands Personal assistant

Let us take care of your needs

[email protected]


17/32


13 ESTATE PLANNING SEMINARKhn and Khn

10:00 AM - 12:00 PMContry Inn & Sites, Smmerville220 Holiday Dr. (Eit 199-A)

14 COST-EFFECTIVE DIVORCE SOLuTIONS10am-11pmFree Seminar, Klok Law Firm, LLC, 1002Anna Knapp Blvd., Site 103, MontPleasant, SC 29464, please contactSanne Klok at 216-8860 to register orto schedle a free initial consltation.

14 COMPuTER CLASSES9:30-10:30amWord BasicsDorchester Conty LibrarySmmerville BranchSign p at the library.Contact Kathy Marrah at 871-5075

15 COMPuTER CLASSES

9:30-10:30amResme WritingDorchester Conty LibrarySmmerville BranchSign p at the library.Contact Kathy Marrah at 871-5075

15 KNOW YOuR COMMuNITY 10am - 11am

Lowcontry Senior Center, 865 RiverlandDrive, CharlestonTrident Area Agency on Aging: Or localcommnity has many resorces to offer its citiens. Come nd ot more abotthe Trident Area Agency on Aging andwhat services and information they canoffer older adlts. Free for members andnonmembers. 843.762.9555.

16 - 18 THE CIVIL WAR BATTLE OF CHARLESTON .Legare Farms, Johns Island. Living HistorySchool Day, Infantry, Calvary, Artillary, FieldHospital, Civilian Refgees, Sttlers & More!Call 843-559-0788 for info.

17 HAT DIVAS SOCIETY, INC.2:30 - 4:30 P.M.

TEA with HABITAT for HuMAN-ITY, to benet the Women BildSea Island,The Charleston Tea Plantation,Wadmalaw Island.Wonderfl food, msic, silent action, andbeatiflly decorated tables. Pblic is in

vited, 30.00 Per person, for ticket info:Molly Coffey 843-768-0998

17 INDOOR JuRIED ART ExHIBITION PICCOLOSPOLETO

Deadline for Entries: 5pmThe City of Charleston Ofce of CltralAffairs and the Charleston Artist Gild arecollaborating to prodce the 2010 JriedArt Ehibition at Piccolo Spoleto thisMay-Jne in Charleston, SC. MargaretHoybach and Jack Alterman will jry theehibition. Artists from across SothCarolina are encoraged to sbmit theirworks for consideration of being incldedin this ehibition.Please send yor Name and EmailAddress to [email protected] to be added to the ApplicationEmail List.

21 COST-EFFECTIVE DIVORCE SOLuTIONS10am-11pmFree Seminar, Klok Law Firm, LLC, 1002Anna Knapp Blvd., Site 103, Mont

Pleasant, SC 29464, please contactSanne Klok at 216-8860 to register orto schedle a free initial consltation.

21 VISIONS OF THE uNIVERSEDorchester Conty LibraryTraveling photographic ehibit covering 400years of space eploration and is presentedby the Space Telescope Science Institte,Baltimore, Maryland; the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, Massa

chsetts; and the American Library Associa-tion, Chicago, Illinois, throgh fnding pro

vided by the National Aeronatics and SpaceAdministration.Visit www.dcl.lib.sc.s for specic daysand times and registration informationfor these events. Individals may alsocall the library for frther information at871-5075(Smmerville) or 563-9189(St.George).

22 HEALTH & WELLNESS2:30-1:30pmLowcontry Senior Center, 865 RiverlandDrive, CharlestonAlheimers vs. Forgetflness:John Kleckley, MD of LowcontryGeriartrics is the speaker.Free formembers, $5 for nonmembers.843.762.9555.

23 - 24OLGC MEMORIAL GARDEN YARD SALE

8:00 AM ntil 4:00 PM each day.Or Lady of Good Consel Parish MemorialGarden Committee Proceeds will be sedfor the Parish Memorial Garden net to thechrch on Center Street. Appliances, giftware, hosehold goods, kitchen items,knickknacks, ladies & mens accessories,linens, and otdoor frnitre. Donations arebeing accepted.Father Kelly Hall at 105 West Hdson Ave.Folly Beach. Nancy Biddlecom at 795-0002or Tom Bahringer at 406-0004.

23 2010 NORTH CHARLESTONARTS FESTIVAL GALA6:30-11:00PMCharleston Area ConventionCenter BallroomHeavy hors doevres, Leonard Schoolof Msic Ja Combo, the Fablos Chi-

nese Acrobats, gymnastics, balancing,jggling, dance, comedy, and magic.Desserts and dancing to Heart & Sol.Tickets: $75 each Grop discontsavailable. Ticket packages inclde parking, pre-performance reception & entertainment, performance, and post-perfor-mance party w/ dessert and entertain-ment.Tickets: $75 eachPam Smith at 843-740-5854

24 SELL FOR A CuRE-YARD SALE!Rain or shine, 8-5Goose Creek Wal-Mart605 St. James Ave.Fndraiser! Breast Cancer AwarenessLimited tables, Please RSVP. Call for moreinformation.Evelyn 843-901-0976

Dtch 843-906-690024-25 THE ISLAND CRAFTERS GuILDSPRING SHOW

9 to 5, Satrday -1 to 5, SndayMasonic Lodge,Ft. Johnson Road, James

Island. Thirty local crafters will be there witha variety of handmade items for sale. Lnch

will be available.Ramona Small, Chairman Ad Committee/IslandCrafters Gild, [email protected].

26-30ST. PHILIPS TEA ROOMParish Hall, at the corner of Chrch andCmberland Streets.11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.Charleston Receipts okra sop, classicchicken salad and shrimp salad. Desserts,made by parishioners, inclde HmmingbirdCake, Cocont Cake, Hgenot Torte and awide variety of others.Tyler Love, [email protected] Brns, [email protected] Doyle, [email protected]

28 COST-EFFECTIVE DIVORCE SOLuTIONS10am-11pmFree Seminar, Klok Law Firm, LLC, 1002Anna Knapp Blvd., Site 103, MontPleasant, SC 29464, please contactSanne Klok at 216-8860 to register orto schedle a free initial consltation.

28 ROMANCING THE HuNLEY, CIRCA 1864Powder Magaine, 79 Cmberland Street,3:30 PMThe story of the Confederate SbmarineTickets are $15.This charming, tragic, bt entertaining, drama is short and sweet. It is basedon an intimate dialoge between Wil-liam Thomas-Moore, who portrays thectional character, Dr. Moore, thephysician to the crew and residents ofCharleston, and Diane, a modern day

news reporter. Call 843. 722-9350.For online ticket sales: www.powdermag.org. There is limited seating.

30 MAY 8,2010 NORTH CHARLESTONARTS FESTIVALOne of the most comprehensive arts festivals in the Lowcontry, The Main Event,held May 1 & 2 at the North CharlestonPerforming Arts Center & Charleston AreaConvention Center Comple. Free admission and parking. Jdged art, photography,and ne craft ehibitions, a gem & mineral show, childrens activities, Art & Craftbooths, and an Otdoor Food Cort. Fireworks over the Cooper River at the GrandFinale at Riverfront Park on Satrday, May8. Info: www.northcharleston.org.Contact: 843-740-5854Michelle Whitbeck, 843-720-8505

[email protected] information abot the CharlestonMens Chors, call 843-720-8505 orwww.cmchors.com.


18/32


The U.S. Census -- whichcomes around every 10 years -- isharmless, right? Actually, no. Itcould be very bad for you if you

get caught in one of the censusscams oating around.

The 2010 U.S. Census sur-vey has been mailed to all U.S.residents, opening the door to conartists who will use the programas an opportunity to swindle peo-ple out of their money and theiridentity.

The Census questionnaireasks 10 questions, none involvingpersonal nancial informationsuch as bank account or creditcard numbers or your Social Se-curity number.

Already, there have been re-ports of people identifying them-selves as Census ta

Documents

Low Country Sun_ April2010