Prime Magazine Mar 2014

• Retirees & Taxes: Which State is Lowest • Irish Soda Bread •• Georgia’s “Gone With The Wind” Trail • My Winter Birds •• What BP Numbers Mean • From ‘Lassie’ to ‘Lost In Space’ •

INsIde

Celebrating Midlife and Beyond

FREEMarch 2014Prime

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Editor’s Notes

Quick Reads

Yard ‘n GardenMy Winter Birds

A Gracious PlentySoda Bread or Spotted Dog?

In Every Life Deciphering Your BP Numbers

Money Wi$e Which states tax retirees the least

Medicare No-cost screenings

Social Security Umbrella in the storm

Tinseltown Talks June Lockhart: Lassie’s ‘mom’

What’s that antique worth? There are ways to find out.

Crossword & Sudoku

Gone With The Wind ‘Trail’ Scarlett, Rhett, and Margaret Mitchell

Prime VintageWhat’s in your cheap wine?

Moving Free Exercise for back pain

Prime Diversion DVD Releases for March

Calendar of Events

Off the Beaten Path Dogs, Hawks and Chickens

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Another caffeine study (page 7, Irish Soda Bread explained (page 10), why NASA honored Lassie’s TV mom (page 16), what those confusing blood pressure numbers mean (page 12), where to get your antiques appraised (page 18), and why you should care about the ingredients in the wine you drink (page 28).

on the coverYou’re sure the drop-leaf table inherited from Aunt Martha is worth a fortune. If all you want to do is brag about it, that’s as far as you need to go. But to truly learn its age, prov-enance and value, you’ll need an appraisal. We offer some on-line and in-person resources for antique sleuths, and a few locations to help you snag the ‘big one.’ (Page 18)

Appraiser Linda Ruston Pugh searches a chest-of-drawers for clues to its age and value. (Photo by Bob Corley, Prime magazine.)

March 2014 Table ofContents

March 2014 | www.primemontgomery.com44

River Region Senior LivingJust Got Better!

CaraVita Village

For information/schedule a tour call Tonya or Jodi • 334-284-0370e-mail [email protected]

www.alcco.com/location/caravita-village

4000 Fieldcrest Drive • Montgomery , AL 36111

• Restaurant-style dining (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks)• 1 & 2 Bedroom & Studio Apartments (Regular & Deluxe)

• Housekeeping, Laundry Service, Fitness & Activity Centers• Pool, Beauty/Barber Salon, Transportation to Area Events/Activities

• Pets Welcome (some restrictions)

Comfort and Luxury in aGated Community

Independent Senior Living

OPEN HOUSE coming in MAY!


EdiTor’s NoTE

If you’re 50+ and on Facebook, become a fan of PRIME Montgomery!

PrimeMoNTgoMEry

March 2014 Vol. 4, Issue 11

PUBLISHERBob Corley, [email protected]

EDITORSandra Polizos, [email protected]

ART DIRECTORCallie Corley, [email protected]

WRITERSJanet Adams, Andrea Gross

CONTRIBUTORS

Tina Calligas, Niko Corley, Mark Glass, Mirabai Holland, Kylle’ McKinney,

Bob Moos, Arlene Morris, Lynette Morse, Nick Thomas, Alan Wallace, David White

PHOTOGRAPHERBob Corley, Irv Green

SALESBob Corley • 334-202-0114,

[email protected] McFarland, • [email protected]

Prime Montgomery7956 Vaughn Road, #144

Montgomery, AL 36116 • 334-202-0114www.primemontgomery.com

ISSN 2152-9035

Prime Montgomery is a publication of The Polizos/Cor-ley Group, LLC. Original content is copyright 2014 by The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC., all rights reserved, with replication of any portion prohibited without written permission. Opinions expressed are those of contribut-ing writer(s) and not necessarily those of The Polizos/Corley Group, LLC.Prime Montgomery is published monthly except for the combined issue of December/January. Information in articles, departments, columns, and other content areas, as well as advertisements, does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Prime Montgom-ery magazine. Items relating to health, finances, and legal issues are not offered as substitutes for the advice and consultation of health, financial, and legal professionals. Consult properly degreed and licensed professionals when dealing with financial, medical, emotional, or legal matters. We accept no liability for errors or omissions, and are not responsible for advertiser claims.

River Region Senior LivingJust Got Better!

CaraVita Village

For information/schedule a tour call Tonya or Jodi • 334-284-0370e-mail [email protected]

www.alcco.com/location/caravita-village

4000 Fieldcrest Drive • Montgomery , AL 36111

• Restaurant-style dining (breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks)• 1 & 2 Bedroom & Studio Apartments (Regular & Deluxe)

• Housekeeping, Laundry Service, Fitness & Activity Centers• Pool, Beauty/Barber Salon, Transportation to Area Events/Activities

• Pets Welcome (some restrictions)

Comfort and Luxury in aGated Community

Independent Senior Living

OPEN HOUSE coming in MAY!

Sandra PolizosEditor

With no relatives in this coun-try until the early 1900s, I always felt my family history

hatched on the shores of Ellis Island. My grandparents came here with the barest of items: a suit of clothes, a scarf, a hat. No picture scrapbooks or fancy hand-carved chairs, no antique dressers. There wasn’t room – physically or emotionally – for the sentimentality.By the time I realized some of my

friends’ families owned and valued antique furnishings, I was away at school. My college roommates dreamily spoke of Grandma Jean’s Civil War-era rocker and great-great Uncle Ed’s 18th century writing desk as we decorated our first apartment with Coca-Cola crates. They thrilled at the thought of one day own-ing those old pieces. What was special about old furniture? I thought our Coke bookshelves were tres’ chic. My grandparents’ mahogany table seemed dark, drab, and rickety, while mom and dad’s mid-century modern furnishings were definitely cool.It wasn’t till I married that I realized how older pieces in a house enrich a

home. More than simple furnishings, old end tables and dusty trunks tell the story of my husband’s family through weddings, wars, and mainly, just everyday life. Old metal pitchers and wood-framed levels, turn-of-the-century christening gowns and cut glass bowls suddenly fascinated me. I’d always loved historical items, but had relegated their existence to picture books and museum tours.More than a century now separates me from the time my ancestors first came

to the U.S., and our little nuclear family has acquired collectibles of its own. Whether it’s Mookie’s oak dining table, or my grandmother’s French hand-sewn batiste pillow shams, I love the look of these timeless items and, even more, the sense of “belonging” they inspire. It’s unlikely any of the items we own are valu-able antiques, but the unspoken stories these pieces tell warm our house and emotionally enrich our home.When PBS’ Antiques Roadshow came to Birmingham in 2000 I was lucky

enough to help the show’s production team set-up shop and manage the crowds. It was a long day (with even longer lines) but the items brought through the doors of the Birmingham-Jefferson Civic Center were fascinating. From an ex-governor’s dueling pistols to the simplistic beauty of a handmade quilt, people dragged their heirlooms into the showroom, hoping to learn they owned collectibles of untold value. Few did. Bob and I also took pieces for appraisal: an “antique” copper plate purchased

in Turkey, and a sword my father-in-law had acquired in the Philippines. The plate was worth less than its purchase price, and the sword had an interesting history but was not very valuable. Regardless, the real fun was in discovering something new about our “treasures.” If you have something you’d love to have appraised, don’t miss the show’s return trip to Birmingham June 21. Go with a couple of friends and make a day of it. You may find you really do own something valuable. Better yet, you’ll create a memory that will retain its own value for years to come.


quiCk rEads

Smoking After Cancer Increases Risk of Death Men who continued to smoke after a cancer diagnosis had an increased risk of death compared with those who quit

smoking after diagnosis, according to a study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. Compared with men who did not smoke after a cancer diagnosis, those who smoked after diagnosis had a 59% in-

crease in risk of death from all causes, after adjusting for factors including age, cancer site, and treatment type. When limited to men who were smokers at diagnosis, those who continued smoking after diagnosis had a 76% in-

crease in risk of death from all causes compared with those who quit smoking after a diagnosis.

Driving After A StrokeThough a stroke can cause deficits that impair driving, stroke survivors often resume

driving without being formally evaluated. Research conducted with stroke victims a year after their stroke found the following:n more than 51% returned to driving, many within a month following a stroke;n only 5.6% received a formal driving evaluation;n 11% who returned to driving said the stroke impacted their ability to perform life

activities;n 45% who returned to driving and reported no diminished ability, self-limited their

driving.The information was presented at the American Stroke Association’s International

Stroke Conference 2014, including a suggestion that stroke survivors may benefit from formal evaluation before resuming driving.

(Science Daily, www.sciencedaily.com, provided by the American Heart Association.)

Diet Beverages No Weight-loss SolutionResearchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg

School of Public Health, examining national pat-terns in adult diet beverage consumption and calorie intake, found overweight and obese adults who drink diet beverages consume more calories from food than obese or overweight adults who drink regular soda or other sugary beverages. The reason may be the artificial sweeteners used in diet sodas.

Artificial sweeteners, present in high doses in diet soda, are associated with a greater activation of reward centers in the brain, thus altering the reward a person experiences from sweet tastes. In other words, with diet soda drinkers, the brain’s sweet sensors may no longer provide a reliable gauge of energy consumption because the artificial sweetener disrupts appetite control. As a result, consumption of diet drinks may result in increased food intake overall.

Consumption of diet soda has increased from 3% in 1965 to 20% today. The results are featured in the American Journal of Public Health.

DIE

T S

OD

A


Caffeine MemoriesFor some, it’s the tradition of steeping tea leaves to brew the perfect cup of

tea. For others, it’s the morning shuffle to a coffee maker for a hot jolt of java. Then there are those who like their wake up with the kind of snap and a fizz usually found in a carbonated beverage.

Regardless of the routine, the consumption of caffeine is the energy boost of choice for millions to wake up or stay up. Now, however, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University have found another use for the stimulant: memory enhancer.

The researchers found that caffeine has a positive effect on long-term memory in humans. Their research, published by the journal Nature Neurosci-ence, shows that caffeine enhances certain memories at least up to 24 hours after it is consumed.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 90 percent of people worldwide consume caffeine in one form or another. In the United States, 80 percent of adults consume caffeine every day. The average adult has an intake of about 200 milligrams - the same amount used in the study - or roughly one strong cup of coffee or two small cups of coffee per day.

Exercise Helps Type 2 DiabetesAerobic exercise can help improve blood glucose levels for those

with Type 2 diabetes. A recent study also found improvement in blood glucose levels with resistance (strength) training.

The study found improvements in A1c (a test used to as-sess blood glucose control over the previous two or three months) and insulin sensitivity, as well as reductions in abdominal fat.

The aerobic group showed more improvements in oxygen consumption, and the resistance group showed more improvements in muscle strength.

Guidelines from the American Diabetes Association and American College of Sports Medicine recommend both types of exercises, the combination of which has also been shown to lower heart rate, blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels.

(Johns Hopkins Health Alert,www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com.)

Sedentary Lifestyle Increases Mortality Risks

Older women who spend a major-ity of their day sitting or lying down are at increased risk for cardiovascu-lar disease, coronary heart disease, cancer and death, finds a new study. Women who were sedentary more than 11 hours a day were most at risk.

Women who spent the most time sedentary were more likely to be

white, have a college degree and have higher body mass indexes (BMIs). Sedentary women were more likely to report fair-to-poor health, be smokers, and to have more falls in the past 12 months. Even when factoring in physical limitations due to chronic diseases, which are more likely to affect older women, being sedentary increased the risk of mortality.

(Source: Health Behavior News Service)


yard ‘N gardEN

It was so cold recently there were five cardinals in my backyard. Normally, the married cardinal couple that own my property would not tolerate other adult birds near the feed-ers. But the cold snap had the birds eating shoulder-to-shoulder. I spent every minute I

could watching from my “hide,” two glass doors with reflective film between them making me invisible to the wildlife outside. In the intense cold I spread a lot of seed on the ground, then hurried inside to watch what happened.

A flock of red-winged blackbirds arrived and dispatched quite a bit of the food, but finches, yellow tails, Juncos, wrens and chickadees helped. Since the blackbirds were a flock, the other birds gave them priority. Blackbirds often tyrannize other birds, yet each type of bird had their own way of sneaking seeds away.

Chickadees dart away immediately after they grab a seed. Wrens wait for that time when no one else is there. But finches can be foiled by flocks of other birds, and they look as if they are a little aggrieved by it. The Juncos, being ground feeders, don’t cause any problems, taking whatever falls down.

The best spectacle was seeing the blackbirds disagree with each other. They didn’t hurt each other, but just threatened, sometimes by flapping their wings. No blackbird should trespass on another’s feeder, but if they do, the two birds fly in circles facing each other, making a great flap and displaying their beautiful, flamboyant red underwings.

These were desperate times for the birds, so when the afternoons brought a little respite, I went out to replenish the feeders. I looked for the blackbirds and there they were, in the huge hackberry trees, fluffed out, silent and well fed, a flock of little dark sentinels keeping watch.

Fortunately for the pine siskins I am not a neatnik. I had intended, but failed, to pull up some of the annual native plants that had run their course. These tiny finches emerged and cleaned the dried seeds right off the plants, pulling the stems down to their level so they could gobble them up. In winter it’s usually better to leave the seeds on plants for as long as you can so birds can have the food. I was glad to help out in this way.

The robins looked for water, but every drop was frozen solid. They managed, I’m sure, until we thawed. They’ll be laying their eggs any time now.

What a contrast to summer scenes, with lizards and geckos and frogs. It’s important to have loose soil as well as brush piles so these animals can escape the cold. Further underground, the creatures that make our soil fertile are comparatively unaffected by the freezing temperatures, so there will be a miraculous blossoming when spring arrives. Soil that is chemical-free will help the ecosystem as well as the critters, and the soil will be improved with compost.

When spring does roll around there may be a few sunflowers coming up in the backyard. They’ll be a welcome addition, but there will not be many, because wild creatures don’t waste much, not in this cold.

Here in Alabama spring may be right around the corner. Step back, gardeners! The pace of growth will be fast and furious.

Lynette Morse is a member of the Capital City Master Gardener Associa-tion. For information on becoming a master gardener, visit the website, www.capcitymga.org or e-mail [email protected].

Birds of a Feather


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graCious PLENTy

No one claims the Irish invent-ed Soda Bread - a cake-like bread made with baking soda

rather than yeast - but the cultural identification took hold more than a hundred years ago and continues to this day in the form of Irish Soda Bread. The use and popularity of Soda Bread in Ireland was in fact born out of necessity.

In the 1800s Ireland’s wheat crop was of the ‘soft’ variety, not the ‘hard’ wheat necessary for baking good yeast breads. Since baking soda worked well with the soft Irish flour, a tradition was born.

Flour, buttermilk, baking soda and salt are the basic building block of Soda Bread, with a multitude of recipes (including this one) calling for additional ingredients, including an as-sortment of fruit. According to some, once you add fruit of any kind, the results cannot be properly termed “Soda Bread,” but should instead be labeled “Spotted Dog.”

Whether “Soda Bread” or “Spotted

Dog,” these breads are dense, moist, and often - how can I put this tactfully - visually unappealing. Some say down-right ugly. The appearance, however, has no affect on the taste.

Most recipes call for an “X” to be cut into the top of the bread prior to baking. Irish folklore offers sev-

eral explanations, including making it easier to divide into four pieces, to let the Devil out while it’s baking in the hot oven, and to celebrate Christian holidays with a symbol of the cross.

So crank up the oven, mix up the recipe, bake, cool, slather with good butter and enjoy.

A Short History of an Ugly Bread


From the wreath on the front door to the comfortable chairs on the patio, every detail about the Cottage says we appreciate the little things in life, especially as you and your family face the new challenges of maintaining the quality of life your loved one deserves.

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Combine currants and brandy in a bowl. Let

stand 30 minutes at room temperature.

Preheat oven to 375F.

Lightly grease a baking sheet.

In a bowl, mix the flour, 1 cup oats, baking pow-

der, baking soda, salt.In a separate bowl, whisk 1 cup buttermilk,

honey, egg, butter ‘till blended.

Add this to the dry ingredients, stirring until

just combined. Stir in currants and brandy.

Place dough on a lightly-floured work surface.

Dough will be sticky. Add flours as needed.

Knead 5-6 times, then shape into a ball.

Place on the baking sheet and form into an 8"

hemisphere.Brush the top with the remaining buttermilk

and sprinkle with the remaining oats.

Slash the top of the dough with an “X” (about

1/2" deep).Bake until golden brown and a ‘thump’ yields a

hollow sound (30-40 minutes).

Cool about 10-15 minutes on a rack (but not

so long the butter won’t melt).

IngredIents:n 3 cups flour

n 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon uncooked oatmeal

n 1 3/4 teaspoons baking soda

n 2 1/4 teaspoons baking powder

n 3/4 teaspoon salt

n 3/4 cup currants

n 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon buttermilk

n 1 large, lightly beaten egg

n 2 tablespoons honey

n 1 tablespoon melted butter

n 1/4 cup brandy

IRISH SODA BREAD


iN EVEry LiFE

Knowing what your blood pres-sure (BP) numbers mean, and how your results

trend, can help you be more involved in your health promo-tion and disease prevention ef-forts. The two numbers of a BP reading evaluate multiple aspects of circulation.n Ability of arteries to stretch: Nar-rowed or calcified arteries decrease elas-ticity, the stretch and recoil that accom-

modates the changing volume of the circulating blood.n Volume of circulating blood: the amount of fluid going

through the space within the blood vessels.n Amount of resistance the heart must overcome to

pump blood throughout the body, which involves the thickness (viscosity) of blood

An instrument is used to briefly obstruct arterial blood flow, usually above one elbow. As the obstruction is released, changes in vibrations from blood flow in the artery are measured to assess pressure. The higher number (systolic) measures pressure in the arteries when the heart contracts. The lower number (diastolic) measures pressure in the arter-ies when the heart is relaxed and filling with blood. The differ-ence obtained when subtracting the smaller from the larger number is the pulse pressure (usually about 30 to 50).

The risk if these numbers are not accurately identified is that hypertension will not be recognized, which has contrib-uted to its name “the silent killer”. Inaccurate pressure levels may be documented if the first vibrations are missed when the cuff pressure is not tight enough initially. Or, the first vibrations may be missed if they disappear briefly (called an ausculatory gap). Auscultary gap is more frequent in those with high blood pressure or peripheral arterial disease.

Blood pressure is influenced by several factors:n Artery elasticity decreases due to rigidity or narrowing

from atherosclerosis (fat deposits in the lining of blood vessels) that can accompany aging.n Pressure is usually lower during nighttime, peaking dur-

ing late morning or early afternoon. However, effects of circadian rhythms can be altered by medication times and their peak effect.n Activity or exercise can increase pressure due to more

blood being pumped, but regular exercise helps strength-en the heart to overcome this.n Emotional or painful experiences can increase pressure

by nervous system stimulation.n Lack of hydration or effects of diuretics can decrease

the volume of circulating blood and lower blood pressure.n Salt can cause fluid retention, thus increasing blood

volume and pressure.n Chemicals such as nicotine, caffeine, or cocaine con-

strict arteries and thereby raise BP.

Another important factor is change in position. Pos-tural (orthostatic) hypotension is a sudden temporary

drop in BP when rising from a reclining position. Sudden BP drops can result in dizziness or fainting, increasing risk for falls. This is evaluated by measur-ing BP while lying on your back, then while seated, then while standing.Orthostatic hypotension may only occur after a

meal, when much of the blood volume is diverted to the stomach and intestines to digest food, or after taking

a hot shower or bath when blood volume is near the skin. Resting during these times can decrease fall risk. The Ameri-can Heart Association reports that people with orthostatic hypotension may have a higher risk of developing heart failure.

New guidelines for BP treatment options were developed in 2013 by the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute and the American Heart Association (AHA). Going forward, the AHA and the American College of Cardiology (ACC) have joint management responsibility for developing guidelines. Discuss these changes with your healthcare provider.

Resources: http://newsroom.heart.org (enter ‘sudden blood pressure drop’ in search bar)

Arlene H. Morris, EdD, RN, CNE is Professor of Nursing, Auburn Mont-gomery School of Nursing. Reach her at [email protected].

B l o o d P r e s s u r e D y n a m i c s

Arlene Morris


MoNEyWi$E

Is your primary career over, or nearly so? How would you feel about living somewhere besides the River Region?

(No, I am not trying to run you off.) If so, financial considerations will probably play a role in your decision about where to settle for the rest of your life. Since taxes are a meaningful expense, taking

them into account makes a lot of sense.

While federal income taxes are consistent across the country, every state raises revenue some-what differently. Funds to operate a state typically come from a combination of income taxes, property taxes, and sales taxes. Evaluating the differences among states offers a reasonable starting point for nar-rowing the field.

Best Income Tax States: Seven states levy no income tax on residents—Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Two more—New Hampshire and Tennessee—only tax interest and dividend income.

Many states that collect an income tax exempt certain types of income for retirees. For instance, nine states exempt all income from federal, military and most if not all in-state pensions (not IRA or 401(k) withdrawals). These include Alabama, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New York, and Pennsylvania. Most states exempt

Social Security benefits.Best Sales Tax States: Five states have no statewide

sales tax, although counties and municipalities within some of them may collect a sales tax. The states without a sales tax are—Alaska, Delaware, Montana, New Hampshire and Oregon.

Best Property Tax States: While all states use residential property taxes

as a revenue source, the following have the

lowest rates—Louisiana, Ha- waii, Alabama, Delaware, West Virginia, South Carolina, Arkansas, Missis-sippi, New Mexico and Wyoming (listed lowest to highest). The average annual property tax in Wyoming works out to slightly more than 0.5%

of the property value.Some states allow retirees

to exclude a percentage of their residence value for property tax purposes. Often the amount of the exclusion is tied to household income, with the size of the tax

break declining as income rises.Worst States: To pick the worst tax states for retirees

I compared five different lists of the worst ten. Two states appeared on all five lists, four made four lists, and three more were listed by three raters. The two on all five lists were Min-nesota and Vermont; the four that made all but one list were Connecticut, Nebraska, New Jersey and Rhode Island; Cali-fornia, Maine and New York made three lists. Iowa, Montana, Oregon and Wisconsin achieved dishonorable mention status by appearing on two lists each. You may want to eliminate all thirteen of these from consideration if you dislike paying taxes.

Best Retiree Tax States Overall: Comparing multiple lists to find the best tax states for retirees suggests the following nine. The most consistent choices were: Alaska and Wyoming; listed almost as often—Delaware and Nevada; frequently cited—Louisiana and Mississippi; also popular—Alabama, Florida and Georgia.

Next month we will look at some other considerations when deciding where to spend the rest of your life.

Alan Wallace, CFA, ChFC, CLU is a Senior Financial Advisor for Ronald Blue & Co.’s Montgomery office, www.ronblue.com/loca-tion-al. He can be reached at 334-270-5960, or by e-mail at [email protected].

A Less Taxing Retirement

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Medicare has put a new emphasis on preventive health care. A few years ago, it was mostly concerned with paying for treatment after you got sick. Now, it’s also

focused on helping you stay healthy and avoid diseases and ill-nesses in the first place. People with Medicare are entitled to a broad range of exams, lab tests and screenings to detect health problems early, when they’re most treatable or curable. Many now come at no out-of-pocket cost. Plus, many immunizations are also free.

To make sure you get started on the right foot, Medicare covers a “Welcome to Medicare” visit with your physician during the first 12 months you’re enrolled in the Part B medi-cal insurance program. Your doctor will evaluate your health, discuss any preventive services you may need, like shots or screenings, and make referrals for more care if required. There’s no out-of-pocket cost.

You can make the most of your visit by coming prepared. That means bringing a complete list of your prescriptions, your family health history and your medical records, including im-munizations.

Medicare also pays for an annual wellness visit with your primary care doctor. This isn’t the same as an annual physical exam, but it does provide the same opportunity to discuss your health.

Your doctor will develop a personalized prevention plan to keep you healthy. The visit also includes a review of your medi-cations and routine measurements, like your height, weight, blood pressure and body mass index.

More than 25 million older Americans with traditional Medi-care – including 000,000 Alabama residents -- received at least one preventive service at no cost to them last year. Here’s a rundown of some of these services:n Cardiovascular screenings check cholesterol, other blood

fat levels. Medicare pays for the test once every five years.

n Blood sugar screenings can determine whether you have diabetes. Based on your health, you may be eligible for up to two screenings each year.

n Mammograms check for breast cancer. Medicare covers a screening every 12 months for women 40 and older and one baseline mammogram for women 35 to 39.

n Immunizations typically paid for by Medicare include a flu shot (once every flu season), a pneumonia vaccination (once in a lifetime) and, if you’re at medium to high risk, a hepatitis B shot.

n Colonoscopies can find precancerous growths early. Medicare covers the screenings once every 10 years or, if you’re at high risk, once every two years. You pay nothing for the test itself. If your physician removes a polyp, you may need to pay 20 percent of the Medicare-approved amount for the doctor’s services and a copayment for

the outpatient setting.n Prostate cancer screenings include a yearly PSA test and

digital rectal exam for men 50 and older. The PSA test is free. You pay 20 percent of the cost for the rectal exam, after meeting your deductible.

n Counseling sessions. If you’re a smoker who hasn’t shown symptoms of a tobacco-related illness, you may qualify for eight free session each year to help you quit. If you’re obese with a body mass index of 30 or higher, you may be eligible for up to 22 free sessions during the year to help you lose weight.

Keeping up-to-date with screenings and immunizations is im-portant, so Medicare encourages you to visit mymedicare.gov and register. There, you can see a description of your covered preventive services, the last date you had a particular test, and the next date you qualify for it again.

By eliminating out-of-pocket costs for many screenings and tests, Medicare’s new emphasis on prevention not only can save you money, it can help you take control of your health. It may even help save your life.

Bob Moos is Southwest public affairs officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

No-Cost ScreeningsBy Bob Moos


soCiaL sECuriTy

6912 Winton Blount Blvd.Montgomery, AL 36117

334-281-8400www.allearscenters.com

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Be the 100th “Like” on Facebook in Marchand win a $25 Gift Certificate to Mr. Gus’ Ristorante!Find us on Facebook at All-EARS-Hearing-Centers.

The unusually cold and stormy weather we’ve been experiencing this year makes

it all the more appropriate to recognize Na-tional Umbrella Month in March.

National Umbrella Month is a time to celebrate a useful invention used by most

everyone. It’s no coincidence the month comes at the beginning of the rainy season. April showers may bring May flowers, but the rain starts pouring in March. When the rain pours, an umbrella has you covered. If you work and pay Social Security taxes, we have you covered too.

Whether the storm that hits you unexpectedly is a disability, the loss of a loved one, or an unexpected early retirement (such things can sneak up on you like a sudden storm), Social Security’s umbrella of coverage will keep you protected from the harsh weather.

You qualify for Social Security benefits by earning credits when you work in a job or are self-employed and pay Social Security payroll taxes. In 2014, you receive one credit for each $1,200 of earnings, up to the maximum of four credits per year. Most people need 10 years of work (40 credits) to be eligible for retirement benefits.

The number of credits you need for disability ben-

efits depends on how old you are when you become disabled. For example, if your disability occurs before age 24, you generally need 1 1/2 years of work (six

credits) in the three years before you became disabled. At age 31 or older, you generally need at least 20 credits in the

10 years immediately before you became disabled.

In most cases, you need to have worked about 10 years for surviving family members to qualify for survivors bene-fits. Survivors of very young

workers may be eligible if the deceased worker was employed for 1 1/2 years during the three years

before his or her death.Umbrellas have been around for thousands of

years. Social Security has only been around since 1935. Yet the Social Security umbrella covers an expanded range of services for you and your fam-ily. When you need to learn more about disability, survivors or retirement, the place to go is www.socialsecurity.gov. And you don’t even have to grab your umbrella on your way to apply—just do it online from the dry comfort of your own home or office computer.

Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached in Montgomery at 866-593-0914, ext. 26265, or by e-mail at [email protected]

Umbrella in a Storm

Kylle’ McKinney


TiNsELToWN TaLks

When NASA honored June Lockhart last October, it would have been fitting to borrow the headline lyrics from a popular Simon and Garfunkel song to

salute the 88-year-old actress. Best remembered by sci-fi fans for her role of TV space mom Maureen Robinson in the 60s series “Lost in Space,” June’s recent recognition by NASA was a highlight of her long career, a career that includes a Tony Award, an Emmy nomination, and a couple of stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

“I was presented with the Exceptional Public Achievement Medal for my work with the space agency,” she explained. “I’ve been to two space shuttle launches and worked with NASA since the 1970s, addressing their employees and traveling on NASA’s behalf to promote the agency. So I’m absolutely thrilled by this recognition. No other actress has received this honor.”

One of her memorable experiences occurred during a Space Shuttle mission in 1992.

“I called NASA one day and spoke with astronaut Ken Reight-ler and told him I had a good wake-up song for them to use,” recalled Lockhart, referring to “The World is Waiting for the Sunrise,” a catchy 50s hit by Les Paul and Mary Ford. The song held special significance because the lyrics were written by her father, beloved character actor Gene Lockhart.

“So I went to Mission Control in Houston and at around 2 a.m. they played the song for the crew of the Columbia mission,” she explained. “Then a voice from space came over the speaker: ‘Some of us up here want to know what Lassie’s mother is doing in Mission Control at 2 o’clock in the morning!’”

“Lassie,” one of TV’s longest-running shows (1954-1973), was Lockhart’s other big hit. For six seasons she dispensed maternal wisdom as a farm mom, later morphing from matriarch to medic as Dr. Janet Craig for three seasons on “Petticoat Junction.”

“Petticoat Junction was a delight to do with won-derful scripts,” said June. “It was great playing com-edy after ‘Lost in Space,’ which was more dramatic, and ‘Lassie,’ which didn’t have many laughs.”

On the big screen, 12-year-old Lockhart made her debut in the 1938 holiday classic, “A Christ-mas Carol,” alongside both her parents, Gene and Kathleen Lockhart, who played the Cratchits. While she went on to costar with greats such as Gary Cooper in “Sergeant York” and Judy Garland in “Meet me in St. Louis,” “A Christmas Carol” is special since it was the only time she appeared in a motion picture with her parents. But it was memorable for other reasons, too.

“My daughter, Junie, and granddaughter, Chris-

Here’s to You, Mrs. Robinson

June Lockhart starred in memorable roles during her long TV career, the most recognizable being “Lassie” (above) and “Lost in Space” (below). In 2013, her support of the space program earned an award from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (right).

By Nick Thomas


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tianna, have never let me forget that the first words I ever spoke in movies were: ‘I know, I know – sausages!’” said Lockhart, referring to her on-screen guess for the contents of a food package Mr. Cratchit brings home.

“We all shriek with laugher when we watch it now.”In addition to being an advocate for NASA and other

causes, she continues to work and costarred in the comedy spoof “Zombie Hamlet,” which had its world premiere at the 2012 Palm Beach International Film Festival and was just released on DVD in December. In 2013, she appeared in the interactive movie series “Tex Murphy,” a gaming platform that combines animation with full-motion video of real actors.

“That was a new experience and I really enjoyed it. And in December, I also celebrated my 80th year as a paid performer in the business! I made my debut at the age of eight in ‘Peter Ibbetson’ at the Metropolitan Opera House.”

While actors are used to receiving accolades for ca-reer milestones, Lockhart admits to being overwhelmed by the NASA recognition and is, she says, “over the moon about it!” Congratulations, Mrs. Robinson!

Nick Thomas has written features and columns for more than 350 magazines and newspapers. He can be reached at his blog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com.



If you’re a fan of Antiques Roadshow, you’ve likely gone online to nab one of the free tickets for the upcoming show date June 21 in Birmingham (tick-

et deadline April 7th). If your weekend “best thing to do” involves scouring garage sales and flea markets for the old, the unusual and the (possibly) genuinely valuable antique, then you’re no doubt interested in the elusive answer to the question, “What is this thing worth?” It’s also time to realize that in the antiques as-sessment business—as in most areas of life—there’s no free lunch, even online.

You may have good reason to think your treasure is indeed valuable. Maybe you’ve seen a similar item described on Pick-wick Antiques highly informative educa-tion segment of their website. Or you have a letter stating the item was given to your great Aunt Charlotte by Queen Somebody or Duke So and So. If so, you should engage a reputable appraiser. (Note: Pickwick An-tiques is not a buyer nor an appraiser, but a purveyor of British and Continental antiques.) Locally, there are sev-eral highly-experienced appraisers you can contact.

Linda Rushton Pugh, certified by both the Inter-national Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America in New York, has conducted estate division, estate tax, insurance, IRS donations, and liquidation appraisals throughout the Southeast-ern United States.

According to Frank Powell, who has a stall at Eastbrook Flea Market on Colonial Drive in Mont-

gomery, “...anything that bears an old Coco-Cola label”—particularly old Coca-Cola coolers—is in high demand at the moment. Also, painted furniture from the 1980s-90s is popular. Even the ugliest pieces from that era, he says, attract buyers when “...lavished with paint and new hardware.”

“Persons furnishing a home for the first time,” says Powell, “are look-ing for bargains, and the wide variety of furniture and deco-rative items offered by vendors at East-brook offers buyers the opportunity to give their living space individuality at a budget-friendly price.”

Montgomery Antiques and Interi-ors on the Eastern Boulevard houses 30 to 40 vendors offering a range of what treasure-seekers might term “up-market” antiques. These include jewelry, por-celain, coins, objets d’art, silverware and furniture with many items bearing signatures or proof of provenance.

If you’re not look-ing for treasures to buy, but have to

handle the sale of a family member or dear friend’s estate, there are local specialists in that area.

Michael Respess has been holding estate sales and appraising valuables for Montgomerians and clients in neighboring states for twenty-six years. His guid-ing principle on assessing valuables is to assign “...the best fair market value possible,” which applies to every item in an estate sale whether it’s a garden/lawn tool or a cherished piece of heirloom silver. His

FEaTurE

For What It’s WorthBy Janet Adams

Photos by Bob Corley


commission is an industry standard 25%. If he should find per-sonal letters or other documents, or items that are obviously part of a family’s history, he returns the items. One would not want Great Uncle Charles’ letters to his betrothed discarded or read by non-family members.

“Due to the vagaries of the current economy”, Respess added, “buyers are looking for gold and silver items—including jewelry—as well as diamonds and other precious stones.”

Another local organizer of Estate Sales, Linda Shogren, is a former owner of Old Cloverdale Antiques (open in a new loca-tion with new owners but with the same store name). Linda “...grew up surrounded by antiques and always appreciated the fine workmanship and beautiful woods they embodied.” Linda works with families as well as attorneys, banks and the courts in the disposal of estates in the area as well as surrounding states.

To check current estate sales by these and other organizers, visit www.estatesales.net. Most listings carry photos and prices of items being sold.

Here are some stores you may not have on your list as pos-sible “antiques discovery” places. In addition to Salvation Army stores and Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity on the Southern Boulevard and Willie’s World on Atlanta Highway don’t adver-tise as havens of antiques, but you never know what you might find.

Pawnshops? Maybe… but by all means visit Lulu’s Attic to Antiques at 946 Plantation Way. Proprietor Leigh Lusser offers a really unique range of merchandise from junk to the sublime. If a vintage car or antique metal or wood sign is on your want list, you might find it at Lulu’s. New items mingle with vintage Frank Powell in one of his stalls at Eastbrook Flea Market.


clothing.Your interest in antique items may have led you to invest in

a book or two, and you’ve likely studied any of the informa-tive websites on the Internet. If you enjoy visiting local antique shops, here’s a further sampling of such businesses in the Mont-gomery area.

Cottage Collection Antique ShopOld Cloverdale334-269-4999Continental and American antique furniture and decorative

accessories.Co-owners Elisabeth Byram, Kaye Collet.

Beckett Antiques514 C Cloverdale Road334-546-3602Unusual and traditional iron and gilt wood lighting fixtures.

“Lots of chandeliers,” says owner Rebecca Cumbie, who devel-oped a love of antiques from watching her grandfather, whose sideline was restoring antiques for clients in Mobile, AL.

Nicole Maleine Antiques, [email protected] importer of French antiques and accessories.

The above information doesn’t cover every store or person engaged in appraisals and sales of antiques in the Montgomery area, but does serve as an introduction to the many venues in this historically-rich city. Linda Rushton Pugh uses a ‘loop’ to inspect a piece of silver.

Linda Shogren in one of her display areas at Mtgy Antiques & Interiors. Michael Respess works on the details of an estate sale.


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Fellowship Series Violin, October 29 • 7:30pmCello, December 3 • 7:30pmViolin, January 19 • 2:30pmCello, February 25 • 7:30pmViolin, March 25 • 7:30pm

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gaMEsAcross1 Faux-antique decor11 Nurses15 Words next to many 22-

Down16 Malaysian Chinese shoe

designer Jimmy17 It's hard to write with one19 Cub games setting: Abbr.20 Hidden Valley competitor21 "Hah!"22 Small-screen princess23 Sing ballads, say24 Word in a Le Pew address26 Tab alternative29 Foe of the fictional spy

agency CONTROL30 Pump parts32 Authorizing33 First-aid practitioner,

briefly34 In reality36 Cutting remark37 Don't bother39 Jard'n occupant40 They're built on benches41 Pretends43 Yupik craft45 Thomas who co-created

"Free to Be ... You and Me"46 Spanish autonomy Castile

and __47 Astronomy Muse49 Stick with a spring50 Brief black-and-white

flash?53 Hunter's companion56 Singer of the children's

album "Camp Lisa"57 Prevented from getting

unruly58 Minute59 Biological cooler

Down1 What collaborators should

be in2 Garment feature that's

sometimes detachable3 Family title4 Like some news5 Stock character?6 Dweller on the Red Sea7 Hutch contents8 European trio in a Christ-

mas song9 Soc. Sec. supplement10 Rogers __: Toronto

stadium11 Cheesy stuff12 "Color me surprised!"13 Shot glass

14 Bar supply available at the touch of a button18 Pretentious22 Check alternatives23 "Welcome to the human network" tech giant24 Desert mount25 "GET FIRED UP!" candy26 Passes out27 Phil Jackson, for most of the '70s28 Early birds?29 It may wash up onshore31 Leaving for34 Toots35 2010 Western remake that garnered 10 Oscar

nominations38 Presently40 Success on a mat42 Haunted house sounds44 Farm sound46 Ton o'47 Jamaican hybrid fruit48 Act like a pig, in a way49 Star of Looney Tunes' "for Scent-imental

Reasons"50 Fitness brand51 Ivy League member52 Cultivated54 FF's opposite55 Bent piece

© 2014 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, INC.

Crossword and Sudoku answers on page 27.


FEaTurE

I allow three days to explore the Gone with the Wind (GWTW)Trail in and near Atlanta, but it takes me only one to become a Windie. A Windie is a die-hard GWTW fan, a

person immersed in the history, legends and legacy surround-ing the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel and enormously popular film. Some dream of Rhett; others dream of Scarlett’s fancy clothes or 17” waist. As for me, I dream of publishing a novel that wins one of the world’s most prestigious awards and is turned into a film that earns me millions.

On the surface, GWTW is the wildly romantic tale of Scarlett O’Hara, a headstrong Southern belle (played by Vivian Leigh in the movie) and her love-hate relationship with Rhett Butler, a dashing, successful opportunist (depicted by Clark Gable). But on a deeper level, GWTW is the story of the American South during and immediately after the Civil War, a time when an entire society was challenged and ultimately transformed.

The book, written by first-time novelist Margaret Mitchell, was released to the public in 1936 and became an overnight sensation. David Selznick produced the movie, which is the highest grossing film in box-office history, earning an estimated $3.3 billion in today’s dollars. To capitalize on the public’s interest, the State of George created a GWTW Trail that leads people to five sites that are in some way connected to the book, the film or the author.

Our first trail stop is in Clayton County, where Mitchell’s relatives had a rural home. As a child, Mitchell visited often and listened intently as her family elders told stories about their experiences during the Civil War. Many of these tales were trans-formed into scenes in her novel, leading her heirs to dub Clayton County the “Official Home of Gone with the Wind.” (To Mitchell’s dismay, Selznick upgraded the comfortable farmhouse of Mitch-ell’s memory into Tara, a much grander mansion that he thought would better appeal to movie audiences.)

The Road to Tara Museum has a painting of the old farmhouse, in addi-tion to authentic Civil War items and reproductions of many of the cos-tumes worn in the film, including the green Drapery Dress that Leigh wears in one of the movie’s most memora-ble scenes. But it’s not until I see the display of foreign edition books that I

on the GWTW TrailStory by Andrea Gross Photos by Irv Green


begin to morph from casual tourist to possible Windie.GWTW has been translated into more than forty languages

and sold in more than fifty countries, from Albania and Burma to North Korea and Serbia. Why are people all over the world so intrigued by a story about a war that took place in America so long ago?

We learn the answer the next day when we visit the Marga-ret Mitchell House, where the author lived when she began her novel. It takes only a few minutes to see the small apartment, but much longer to peruse the exhibits in the nearby hallway. There, on a large signboard, is a quote by Margaret Mitchell: “If the novel has a theme, it is that of survival.”

Why, of course. GWTW addresses a basic concern: If their old world is “gone with the wind,” how do people create a new

(Left) Mitchell’s typewriter in the apartment where she began her novel. (Above) Gone with the Wind, the book, has been published in more than forty languages, including Amharic (Ethiopia) and Kamnada (India).

Margaret Mitchell’s heirs dubbed Clayton County, GA, “The Official Home of Gone with the Wind.”


one that will work in their new circumstances? This is a question asked by everyone who has ever suffered a hard-ship, be whatever the cause. When seen in this light, it’s easy to understand the story’s universal and enduring appeal.

Our next stop is Atlanta’s Public Library, where there are more than 1,500 of Mitchell’s personal items, including her old Remington typewriter and 1937 Pulitzer Prize certificate.

We’re even more fascinated by the items on display at the Marietta GWTW Museum, Scarlett on the Square, which holds a treasure-trove of pho-tos and ephemera. I examine the film contracts. Gable got $160,000 plus a bonus that en-abled him to divorce his wife and marry Carole Lombard, the love of his real life. On the other hand, his co-star Vivian Leigh got a mere $30,000. Yes, Gable was a mega-star, but still, I can’t help but wonder what Mitchell, who was quite the feminist for her time, thought of that.

Finally, we double back to Atlanta to visit Oakland Cem-etery, where Mitchell is buried next to her husband. Her tombstone is small compared to many and gives no hint of her fame. It’s simply inscribed with her married name, Mar-garet Mitchell Marsh. Some-one, a Windie no doubt, has decorated the grave with pink flowers, reputedly Mitchell’s favorite color.

I want to extend my stay in Georgia, to delve more deeply into the GWTW phenom-ena and to learn more about the era in which the novel is set. But we have a plane to catch, so I console myself by remembering Scarlett’s words, “Tomorrow is another day.” I’ll be back.

For more information, visit www.gwtwtrail.com.

By the time Mitchell and her husband lived here, this Tudor Revival mansion had been subdivided into small apartments.

Stately Oaks, an 1839 home in Clayton County, GA, bears some resemblance to Tara, the plantation home depicted in the movie, but is much more elegant than the home Mitchell described in her book.


Laughter is brightest where food is best. Old Irish proverb

March 17th is celebrated as St. Patrick’s Day to honor the patron saint of Ireland.

First publicly celebrated in Boston in 1737, it was 200 years before the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was held in Ireland. Other countries celebrating St. Patrick’s Day with parades or other festivities include Japan, New Zealand, Argentina and Canada.


PriME ViNTagE

Although modern consumers are far more concerned about the origins of their food than they once were, keenly eyeing

the source of that organic spinach, their con-cern goes out the window when it comes to wine."

These words appear in The New California Wine, the just-released book from San Francis-co Chronicle wine editor Jon Bonné. It's what he calls the “...Whole Foods gap.”

He claims consumers who shop at that par-ticular upscale grocery store, obsessing about the origins of their food, could care less about where their wine comes from or how it was farmed. Consider the soaring sales of organic food.

In 2012, according to government data, sales of organic food increased 7.4 percent over the previous year – about double the growth rate for food overall. Since 1990, the amount of U.S. farmland dedicated to organic crops and livestock has increased fourfold.

Organic meat and produce often cost twice as much as their conventional counterparts. Americans, beginning to take an interest in where their food comes from, are moving away from industrialized calories and toward production that eschews pesticides and values sustainability, even if it means paying more.

With wine, however, Americans still drink cheap, with little thought to its origin or pro-duction. The average bottle of wine in the U.S. sells for just $6.22. Nine in ten bottles sold cost less than $12. Consider Whole Foods.

TheWhole FoodsGap

By David White

“


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While shopping for free-range chicken, cage-free eggs, and artisanal cheese, consumers are presented with stacks of wine from Three Wishes. Retailing for $3, it's produced for Whole Foods by the Wine Group, the nation's second-largest wine company.

Or consider Trader Joe's. Just feet from where consum-ers pick up local fruit sits a wall of wine from Charles Shaw. Better known as "Two Buck Chuck," the wine is produced by Bronco, the nation's fifth-largest wine company. Wines like these benefit from economies of scale, but also rely on a host of winemaking tricks.

That oaky aroma? It typically isn't from barrels, but rather from oak chips and sawdust dumped into the wine. The juiciness is often the result of acid additions. The weight and texture of inexpensive wine could be from concentrates engineered to fill gaps. It's better wine through chemistry.

The grapes for these wines are generally grown in Cali-fornia's vast Central Valley, where farmers rely on constant irrigation and regular use of chemicals to keep output high.

With California experiencing one of its worst droughts in history, the sustainability of these methods is worth scrutiny.

This isn't to say that inexpensive wines are inevitably bad. There are certainly satisfactory options available for less than $10. But spending so little almost guarantees you'll be drinking industrial wine.

Author Bonné and I recently chatted about this dilemma."I don't think that we should be confronted with the

option of either beautifully farmed but very expensive grapes on relatively expensive land, or somewhat chemically farmed grapes in industrial vineyards, as our only two op-tions," he contended. "I think there has to be some middle ground in which you can farm grapes virtuously for a table wine."

He's right. And even in California, it's possible to find honest wine.One label Bonné recommends is Broadside, a value-

priced side project from two admired up-and-coming vintners. Another is Foxglove, a value-priced offering from the brothers behind Varner and Neely, two highly acclaimed labels. He also suggests Lioco Wines. Lioco's "Indica," a red blend based on old-vine Carignane, is a delightful wine that's reminiscent of both Beaujolais and Côtes du Rhone. Bonné expects more value-priced offerings in the years ahead.

"There is absolutely a mandate,” he insisted, “for newer winemakers in California to take their talent and apply it to less expensive wine." And he's optimistic about the future.

"People who are willing to pay a premium for whatever it is – say tomato sauce made by a small company rather than Ragu – are going to need to extend those values into wine."

In time, they will.

David White is the founder and editor of Terroirist.com, which was named "Best Overall Wine Blog" at the 2013 Wine Blog Awards. His columns are housed at Grape Collective.


6268 Atlanta HighwayMontgomery AL334-356-4662

Mr. Gus’ RistoranteM o n t g o m e r y ’ s F i n e s t

I t a l i a n & G r e e k C u i s i n eTuesday-Friday 11 am - 2:30 pm

4:30 - 9 pm

Saturday *6 am - 2 pm4:30 - 9 pm

* W h e r e M o n t g o m e r y m e e t s f o r S a t u r d a y b r e a k f a s t .

O v e r t h e p a s t f e w m o n t h s c u s t o m e r sw e r e a s k e d t o n a m e a f a v o r i t e f o o d t h e y

r e g u l a r l y e a t a t M r. G u s ’ . H e r e ’ s a p a r t i a l l i s t .( S o r r y i f i t ’ s h a r d t o r e a d . )

Pizza, Gyro, Chicken Souvlaki, Eggplant Parmigiana, Chicken Parmigiana, Chicken Supreme,Spaghetti w/Meat Sauce, Meatball Sub, Baked Penne Pasta, Baked Ravioli, Fettuccine Alfredo, Pastichio,

Moussaka, Baked Cheese Manicotti, Baked Cannelloni, Chicken Marsala, Grilled Chicken,Baked Beef Ravioli, Garlic Bread, Dolmathes, Tiropita, Spanakopita, Bruschetta, Avgolemono Soup,

Minestrone, Veal Marsala, Tuscan Grilled Chicken, Grilled Tilapia, Omelets, Grilled Grouper, Rib Eye Steak, Cheese Calzone, Shrimp and Grits, Grilled Grouper and Grits, Chicken Salad, Greek Salad.

MoViNg FrEE WiTh Mirabai®

Although specialists once thought resting was the best prescription for a bad back, it is now shown that

carefully designed exercises may be more effective in reducing back pain. A sedentary lifestyle and unnatural alignment of the spine have a lot to do with back pain, a condition that affects 31 million Americans at any given time, according to the American Chiroprac-tic Association. One study found half of all

working Americans report back pain symptoms whether they are seated or standing on the job.

If you spend most of your time sitting at a desk, it’s easy to hunch your shoulders and neck forward to look at a computer screen without even noticing. And if you hold that position for hours at a time, especially with your legs crossed at the knees, your spine can really suffer. For women, wearing high-heeled shoes can add to spine stress.

By the time we reach our fifties, many Baby Boomers have created bad habits and bad backs. Luckily, it’s possible to change your posture for the better, standing or sitting, and relieve that chronic pain – as well as the restricted breathing, digestion and circulation that holding an unhealthy posture may cause.

The most effective way to improve your posture is by stretching your spine and strengthening your back and abdomi-nal muscles so your whole core area gets stronger. Exercise also works to remedy sudden injury to back tissue and mus-cles.

One of the most effective ways to relieve back pain is back extension. Back extension helps to reset your vertebrae into proper alignment and to relieve nerve pressure. You can do it standing, sitting or lying face down (‘cobra pose’ for those with yoga experience). Here’s the standing version:n stand with feet comfortably apart;n place hands behind you at the lumbar area;n gently arch your back and look upward without stretching

the neck too far back;n hold for 10-20 seconds;n repeat 3 times. Try this anytime your back feels fatigued. You’ll be surprised

at how much relief it gives you. But don’t do it if you are in severe back pain. In that case it’s time to call your doctor.

Mirabai Holland, M.F.A. is an authority in the Health & Fitness indus-try specializing in preventive/rehabilitative exercise. You can reach her at [email protected], or www.mirabaiholland.com.

Exercise Relieves Back Pain

Mirabai Holland


PriME diVErsioNs

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Philomena and Frozen

Recent dvd releases

Mark Glass

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (PG-13) Now we have two films based on the popular

young-adult novels about the saga of heroic lass, Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence), who is forced into televised combat in a dystopian fu-ture, as a distraction from the wretched lives the era’s One-Percenters are brutally inflicting on the masses. This series of death matches appears to be the natural descent from today’s “reality” pro-gramming, which serves the populace an endless parade of people they can be glad they’re not, in straits worse than their own. In the first, Katniss

and her friend Peeta (Josh Hutcherson) survived and became cultural icons. We now learn that the glory was transitory, and fraught with more dangers from those on high, who fear their popularity could inspire rebellion.

In this round, they’re forced back to the arena against 22 oth-ers, from which only one will be allowed to survive. The dangers and f/x are ramped up from the first, though a considerable, if not excessive, amount of exposition is required to get them there. Elizabeth Banks and Stanley Tucci return in their campy roles. She plays the sort of overly florid ditz usually associated with Helena Bonham-Carter; he epitomizes every smarmy game-show host and carny barker we’ve seen. Donald Sutherland extends his op-pressive presidency, with help from Philip Seymour Hoffman who arrives as the new puppet master for the games. Woody Harrel-son stays on the franchise gravy train for another ride.

The first film was a huge success, and satisfied viewers on its own, even knowing further adventures were lurking on the bookshelves for sequelizing. Partial spoiler alert - after nearly 2 ½ hours, this one finishes with a cliff-hanger that screams for the next feature, akin to the end of the middle segment of the origi-nal Star Wars trilogy. Two more films are in the works. If you lack the patience or life expectancy to wait for them, either read the novels or hold off on seeing this one until the next installment is ready for release.

Philomena (R)Dame Judi Dench takes on a new type of challenge in this

fact-based drama that manages to deliver warm sentimentality and rage at virtually the same time. Stephen Frears directs from a screenplay partly credited to co-star Steve Coogan. At 15, Dench’s Philomena became an unwed mother in 1950s Ireland. Her father dumped her with an order of nuns who ran essential-ly a sweat shop and orphanage. The girls became forced laborers,

with little access to their children, and no rights to oppose or influence their adoptions.

The film opens as the elderly Philo-mena redoubles her efforts to find out what happened to her son that the nuns handed to a couple when he was a tod-

dler. She’s still around the time he’d be turn-ing 50. She’s led a simple life, raising a family after working off her debt to the nuns, but been stonewalled by the orphanage as to his fate. She turns to an out-of-work journalist (Coogan), who needs to rehab his image and career. Their quest is our tale, tak-ing them to the U.S. and some surprising developments.

The script includes moments of levity, but it’s mostly an artfully understated study of the characters, with a scathing indictment of the system that allowed such places to exist not only into the 1950s, but shockingly until the late ‘90s. This presentation is less intense than 2002's The Magdalene Sisters, which featured several of these young women during their period of servitude, but no less appalling. Dench plays a simple soul who still feels guilty about her sin of promiscuity, and clings to a reverence for the Church’s authority that seems baffling to others, considering the way she’d been treated from pregnancy to her old age. Tally one more finely nuanced performance in her lengthy, distinguished list.

Frozen (PG) Disney’s animated musical adventures can be spectacular, but

nothing lasts forever, which may include the allegedly cryogenical-ly-preserved founder of the empire. Walt’s legacy dwindles with disappointing features like this. The musical numbers are pleasant, if overly derivative of others. The art-work is splendid, whether viewed in 3-D or not. But the screenplay is a tedious mess, leading to ill-defined characters in more of a patchwork quilt than a heartfelt tale. That’s the missing touch of yesteryear.

A princess is cursed with a Midas-like touch that turns everything, living and otherwise, into ice. Her parents decide to lock her in a tower, without any explanation to her loving younger sister. When the older one comes of age after the parents have passed on to their own celluloid heaven, it’s time to open the castle for her coronation. Disaster follows. Not only for the kingdom and its subjects, but the audience. As the young ladies and their car-toon cohorts plod through an insipid script, stopping occasionally for a burst into song, or attempt at comic relief, one wonders what happened to the writers who once delivered charming tales and colorful characters to Disney’s legions of gifted animators and tunesmiths, resulting in movies worthy of multiple viewings. Better to rent DVDs of The Little Mermaid, Aladdin or Beauty and the Beast than to endure this one. Unless it’s bedtime, when such snoozefests might prove useful to beleaguered parents.

Mark Glass is an officer and director of the St. Louis Film Critics Association.


20th Annual Culinary Caper hosted by the Mont-gomery Area Council On Aging (MACOA). March 2, 12:30-2:30 pm, Alabama Activity Center. Funds go to Meals on Wheels program. Local chefs donating delicious fare. $75/person. Reservations only. Raffle of a $1,000 VISA gift card. For info. call MACOA, 334-263-0532, or e-mail Karen Allen Green, [email protected].

Contra Dancing 1st and 3rd Friday, 7-9 pm, MASDA Square Dance Center, 2201 Chestnut St., Montgomery. $5/person, $15/family. No special skills required, just an ability to walk to the beat and a willingness to smile. Please dress comfortably for vigorous physical activity and bring com-fortable shoes suitable for hardwood floors. For info e-mail [email protected].

Concert by U.S. Air Force Band, Mar. 7, MPAC. Free. Culmina-tion of the American Bandmasters Conference being held in Montgom-ery Mar. 5-7.

Capitol Sounds Concert Band & Montgomery Rec-reators concert. Thurs. Mar. 20, 7 pm. Taylor Rd. Baptist Church. For info call334-625-4661, or 334-224-4424

Joe Thomas, Jr. Guitar Pull, Cloverdale Playhouse, Mar. 18, 7-9 pm. Live acoustic singer/songwriterssharing their music and stories.Featuring Bubba Hall, Jonathan Tew, Wesley Shearer. $10. For info call 334-262-1530 or visit www.cloverdale-playhouse.org/.

Montgomery Chorale 40th Anniversary Gala Concert & Reception, Apr. 5, 7 pm, St. John’s Episcopal Church, 113 Madison Ave., Montgomery. Performing Bach’s “B Minor Mass” with the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra. Tickets $50 (premium reserved seating, pre-concert recep-tion), $25 (general admission), and $15 (students and seniors). For tickets visit www.montgomerychorale.org.

$10,000 Draw Down Fundraiser for Dixie Sailing Club, Lake Martin. Mar. 28, 6-10 pm, The Stables at Russell

Crossroads, two miles north of Kowaliga Bridge on Hwy 63. Supports infrastructure and future sailing programs. Music, entertainment, silent auction, door prizes, heavy hors d’oeuvres, cash bar. Tickets $100/each, includes Draw Down Ticket; $25/each does not include Draw Down Ticket. Only 400 Draw Down Tickets will be sold. Contact Beth Biggs (Montgomery area), 334-220-8650, or Merry Hardy (Lake Martin area), 256-794-8075, or buy tickets on-line at www.dixiesailingclub.com/tickets.

Annual Minority Business Development Com-munity Forum. Montgomery Area Chamber of Com-merce, Apr. 3, 7:30-8:30 am, Small Business Resource Center, 600 S. Court St., Montgomery. Space is limited,

registration required. For info. visit Chamber events calendar, www.montgomerychamber.com. Guest Presenters are co-founders LaVon Lewis and Sherrod Shackelford, Pencil-worx Design Group.

4th Annual Tennis Tour-nament hosted by Hos-pice of Montgomery. Mar. 13, 8:30-11 am, 12-2:30 pm. Wynlakes CC. Funds provide counseling and bereavement services to families, community education seminars, and care

for terminally ill patients, regardless of their ability to pay. $100/team of 2, $50/person. Includes warm up, breakfast, lunch, player gift and prizes. Reserva-tions required. To register call Wynlakes, 334-273-8425.

Things To Do In March


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The Central Alabama Aging Consortium is spon-soring a Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) consisting of a six-week course designed to teach people with illnesses such as heart dis-ease, hypertension, arthritis, COPD, fibromyalgia, diabetes, chronic pain and other chronic illnesses to manage their diseases, feel better, and lead more productive lives, living life to the fullest.

The program is free and open to those with chronic health conditions as well as their families, friends, and caregivers. Classes are taught by two trained leaders for 2 ½ hours once a week. The workshop is interactive and participants learn skills and strategies for managing their symptoms such as pain and fatigue; they learn about healthy eating, re-laxation techniques, overcoming depression, managing daily tasks, exercising safely, and attain skills in other areas.

The workshop will be held at the Crump Senior Center, 1750 Congressman Dickinson Drive in Mont-gomery, beginning Thursday, March 27, 2014 and end on May 1st. The hours are from 12:30 P.M. to 3:00 P.M. Registration is required and enrollment is lim-ited. There may be funding available for respite care.

To register or for more information regarding future classes, contact Myrtle Scott or Jane Mitchel

at Central Alabama Aging Consortium at (334) 240-4666.

Chronic Disease Self-Management Workshop


oFF ThE bEaTEN PaTh

Niko Corley

Chicken is tasty, on this the dog, the hawk and I agree. Where we diverge, however, is on the subject of entitlement. By design, my flock of biddies keeps me in eggs most of the year. But an unexpected con-sequence of their offerings of fresh, calcium-encased protein, is the struggle against creatures that mistak-enly believe what’s mine is theirs for the taking.

Coco drew first blood. Never one to be con-strained by vertical borders, under cover of dark-ness she scaled the fence of the enclosure the flock

called home and carefully chose her target. I heard the commotion and made for the door, too late to rescue, but in time to see Coco climb back over the fence, limp chicken in her mouth. Had the pullet been a quail, duck or dove, she would have received an en-couraging word and a rub of the ears. Instead, witness accounts indicate she received far worse.

In such instances anger is the logical response. But could she really be blamed? Most dogs are only a natural disaster-away from reverting to dingoes, and the natural instincts she exercised I’d spent consider-able time and money fostering. The fact she drew no distinction between sporting and domestic fowl was a testament to her breeding, training and dedication.

Not believing my verbal admonishment of her would prove sufficient, I installed an invisible fence that ran the perimeter of the garden enclosure. Coco’s midnight marauding ended, and the flock and I breathed a collective sigh of relief. Though minus a bird, eggs were laid and eaten and normality returned.

Until the incident with the hawk.Coming in late one night from the office, I’d forgot-

ten to close the coop door before turning in. The “Poor Richards’” of the animal world, chickens would, if left to their own devices, be out of the coop peck-ing and scratching through the landscape at first light. Such was the case the next morning when we were visited by what I can only describe as a small dragon.

Hen screeches in the pre-dawn hour, clearly utter-ances of distress, disturbed my slumber. The closer

I got to the garden, the larger became the hulking, obsidian-eyed menace, perched atop one of my prize

but lifeless hens. I was unarmed and he was unafraid,

I knowing that even the inverse of the former

would do little against this protected class. I wondered if

he too, knew this. Eventually, prefer-ring to dine alone, he spread his massive

wings, breathed a little fire and flew off. Two birds in two months was too much. The hawk is where I drew the line.

Ritualistically, I began closing the coop door each night, shooing-in any birds late to turn in. On the dawn side, I waited until the last minute to let them out before

leaving for work. Though I’ve kept the flock from shrinking further, I’m not resting on my laurels regard-ing the wildlife interested in my chickens. With an eye toward the sky, I’ve built a covered enclosure where I can only hope my birds will be safe from attacks from above.

As for Coco, she’s adjusted to the invisible fence, though I don’t trust her not to push it. With spring here she’ll likely become pre-occupied with pulling pears from the tree and forget about the birds. Between her and the squirrels, I’ll be lucky to get a pie’s worth of pears from that tree.

If it’s not one thing, it’s another.

Niko Corley spends his free time on the wa-ter or in the woods, and earned his charter boat license in 2012. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Guarding the Hen House


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Prime Magazine Mar 2014