Feb2012PrimeMontgomery

Prime

n Bare Plantsn Identity Theft

n German Chocolate (Dog)n Stuffed Chicken Breast

n A Healthy Heartn Know Your SSI

INSIDEINSIDE

Celebrating Midlife and Beyond

40 YearsMarried

&

40 YearsMarried

&Still ValentinesStill ValentinesStill Valentines

4Seeing Stars (at Sea!)4Seeing Stars (at Sea!)4Six Centuries of News4Six Centuries of News

FREEFebruary 2012 MontgoMery

4Tuskegee’s Aviation History4Tuskegee’s Aviation History

February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com2

Will O. (Trip) Walton, IIIWalton Law Firm, P.C.

The Fighter 334.321.3000www.waltonlaw.net

[email protected]

Traumatic Brain Injury • Wrongful Death • Serious Personal Injury

Th e values of a fi ghter are honor, dignity, pride and sportsmanship. Trip embodies all of these, and more. As a Golden Gloves Heavyweight Boxing Champion,Trip learned that hard work, persistence and diligence pay o� - in the ring and the courtroom. Our team always fi ghts for the rights of victims who have been harmed by others. Walton Law Firm’s motto has always been

No representation is made that the quality of legal services to be performed is greater than the quality of legal services performed by other lawyers. Th is is for general information only. For legal advice, contact a lawyer.

2011 Alabama Super Lawyer

“We don’t start the fi ght -we fi nish it!”.

www.primemontgomery.com | February 2012 3

Features

February 2012

9 stars at seaSail the Caribbean with a boatload of film fans and a stellar cast of actors and directors, with

Turner Classic Movie personality Robert Osborne as your host. By Nick Thomas

18 history takes FlightThe unassuming aircraft hanger at Moton Field holds historic details of the birth of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, who broke the color barrier in aerial combat during WWII. By Jake Roberts

22 Frozen roses & broken earringsThese two Montgomery couples have each

celebrated more than 40 years of marriage, a testimony to love that has seen its share of challenges.

By Brenda Robertson Dennis

28 headlines oF historyFrom movable printing type to websites, communication innovations affect how news is gathered and reported. See the long history of news at the Newseum. By Andrea Gross

Columns/Mini-Features

8 In Every Life Consider 7 factors to improve cardio and overall health. By Arlene Morris

7 A Gracious Plenty Stuffed chicken breast in a pastry shell. By Carron Morrow

11 Social Security Start the New Year by looking at your Social Security status. By Kylle’ McKinney

12 Heart Health for Heart Month Signs and symp-toms of hearth attack and how to lower the risk.

14 Moving Free Fitness should directly relate to your everyday life and activities. By Mirabai Holland

15 Yard n’ Garden Let your new plants go “bare” thiswinter. By Ethel Boykin

16 Nursing Home Costs: Who Pays? Medicare? No. Medicaid? More strings than a puppet.

17 Off the Beaten Path Can a retriever point and a pointer retrieve? Here’s proof. By Niko Corley

20 Biannual Art Auction @ MMFA Paintings, sculp-ture, jewelry, glass - something for everyone.

21 Money Wise Protect yourself from ID theft online. (ID Theft, Part 2 of 3) By Alan Wallace

27 Medicare Anwers Your Questions

26 Around Montgomery Find this eagle. He’s not flying, but he’s majestic nonetheless. By Jake Roberts

32 February Calendar of Activities

34 Prime Diversions DVDs this month include two four-star films: 50/50 & Moneyball. By Mark Glass

table of Contents


PrimeMontgoMery


February 2012, Volume 2, Issue 10PUBLISHER

Bob Corley, [email protected]

EDITORSandra Polizos, [email protected]

ART DIRECTORCallie Corley, [email protected]

WRITERSBrenda Robertson Dennis, Andrea Gross,

Jake Roberts, Nick Thomas

CONTRIBUTORSEthel Boykin, Tina Calligas, Niko Corley,

Mark Glass, Mirabai Holland,Kylle’ McKinney, Arlene Morris,Carron Morrow, Jake Roberts,

Alan Wallace

PHOTOGRAPHERSJake Roberts, Heath Stone,

Debby Thomas

SALESBob Corley, 334-202-0114,

[email protected] Crompton [email protected]

Prime Montgomery7956 Vaughn Road, #144

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

ISSN 2152-9035Prime Montgomery is a publication of The Polizos/Cor-ley Group, LLC. Original content is copyright 2012 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.

editor’s note

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

4

What are the secrets to a long and fulfill-ing marriage? It’s a reasonable question, one few of us stop to ponder. In my twen-ties, the idea of being married 40, 30, or even 20 years was unfathomable. As I look back, after more than three decades with a loving and supportive husband, and two grown children who make both our hearts sing, it amazes me how quickly those years have passed.This month, with Valentine’s Day center

stage, Brenda Robertson Dennis talks with two Montgomery couples who have each celebrated more than 40 wedding anniver-saries. Frozen Roses, Broken Earrings (page 22) is their story of finding love, and how their relationships helped them overcome significant challenges. This issue is also filled with stories related to both the big and small screen. Nick Thomas, in his first story for Prime, offers a first-hand account of cruis-

ing with celebrities in Stars at Sea (page 9). During a December trip to Cozumel hosted by Turner Classic Movies, Thomas rubbed elbows with Ernest Borgnine and other stars from years-gone-by, on a unique trip best described as a film-lovers’ fantasy.You may have seen the movie Red Tails, the story of African-American WWII pilots,

trained in Tuskegee, who became known as the Tuskegee Airmen. In History Takes Flight (page 18), we visit the Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site, part of the National Park Service. Whether you’ve seen the movie or not, take the short drive to Tuskegee’s Moton Field and visit the facility where these pilots received their training. You’ll find a dual aircraft display, flight-duty offices furnished as they were in the 1940s, historic photos, and recordings of actual participants in this ground-breaking endeavor.Writer Andrea Gross takes readers to the nation’s capital this month to celebrate

the history of news, from early newspapers to TV to today’s multiple news plat-forms. In Headlines of History (page 28), Andrea takes us through the Newseum, a high-tech, interactive facility tracing the history of news reporting from the 16th century to the present day. From hearts to headlines to Hollywood, we hope you find our first issue of 2012

enjoyable and engaging. Happy reading!

Sandra PolizosEditor

P.S. We’re still receiving comments about our Nov. Big BAM Show feature, most recently from a Beatles’ researcher in Colorado: “I read with interest the story of the Brennans’ and their association with the Beatles. I am in possession of a newly unearthed docu-ment that shows the Beatles were booked to play on a Friday night at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville and then on Saturday at the Crampton [sic] Bowl in Montgomery, and then to Baltimore on Sunday. Brian Epstein wrote an ‘O.K’ checkmark next to the Ala-bama performance. ...Tickets were to be $3 to $6 with an approximate $70,000 gross potential. Crampton’s seating capacity was 26,000. Perhaps the issue of segregation prevented them from playing their [sic] as it was expressly written into the rider that the Beatles would not perform to a segre-gated audience.” We’d love to hear from you! Send your comments to [email protected]. (More comments on page 25.)


news you Can use

Am I Having a Stroke?A stroke happens when blood flow

to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain at-tack."

If blood flow is stopped for longer than a few seconds, the brain cannot get blood and oxygen. Brain cells can die, causing permanent damage.

The symptoms of stroke depend on what part of the brain is damaged. In some cases, a person may not know that he or she has had a stroke.

Warning Signs Of Stroke:1. Sudden numbness or weakness of

the face, arm, or leg, especially on one side of the body.

2. Sudden confusion, trouble speaking, or understanding.

3. Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

4. Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

5. Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.

Known Risk Factors For Stroke:1. Uncontrollable risk factors include

age, gender, race/ethnic groups, family history, and prior stroke or heart attacks.

2. Stroke risk increases if a close family member, such as a parent or sibling, has had a stroke.

3. Prior stroke or heart attack in-creases the risk of having another.

4. Risk factors that can be treated, modified, and controlled are high blood pressure, tobacco use, diabe-tes, heart disease, atrial fibrillation, transient ischemic attack, certain blood disorders, and high blood cholesterol.

(American Heart Association)

Prevent colds and respiratory infections by:

n Washing your hands many times a day with soap and water

n Staying away from crowded areas during the cold and flu seasonn Maintaining good oral hygiene;

avoid germs by brushing your teeth twice a day and seeing your dentist regularlyn Getting a flu vaccine every yearIf you get sick, stay home! Protect

people around you from getting sick until you feel better.

(from the American Lung Association)

Tai Chi for Fibromyalgia?A small but important study in the

New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) suggests that Tai Chi may help relieve symptoms (musculoskeletal pain, poor sleep, depression) of fibromyalgia.

After 12 weeks, the Tai Chi group had a greater reduction in pain and more improvement in mood, qual-ity of life, sleep, confidence in their abilities and ability to exercise than the control group.

People in the Tai Chi group were encouraged to continue their Tai Chi practice after the classes ended using an instructional DVD, and they were still feeling better 24 weeks after the study

began. What’s more, no adverse effects were reported.

Bottom-line advice: Keep in mind that this is just one small study. Still, if you’re seeking a form of exercise that may help improve your fibromyalgia symptoms, Tai Chi appears to be safe, and along with standard treatments such as medication, psychotherapy and education, it just may help you feel better.

Take Your Blood Pressure Medication Before Bed

It’s better to take blood pressure-lowering medications before bed rather than first thing in the morning, accord-ing to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN).

The study followed patients an aver-age of 5.4 years.

Patients who took at least one blood pressure-lowering medication at bed-time had better control of their blood pressure and were about one-third as likely to experience a heart-related event such as a heart attack, a stroke, or heart failure compared to patients who took their medications upon awakening.

Our Interdisciplinary Hospice Team unitesphysicians, nurses, CNAs, social workers

and the clergy to provide the highest quality carefor our patients, and their families.

George Cumuze, RN, Case Manager4150 Carmichael Court • Montgomery, AL 36106

334-270-2274

A family approach to Hospice Care.

contiuned on next page


news you Can use

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ubring this ad for a 10% discountt

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Weight Loss Best Medicine for People with Knee Osteoarthri-tis

According to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, weight loss combined with exercise can improve mobility and reduce pain by as much as 50 percent with knee osteoar-thritis.Knee osteoarthritis is a common form of osteoarthritis, and is caused by cartilage breakdown in the knee joint.

Factors that increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis include being overweight, age, injury or stress to the joints, and family history.

Dine Out & Lose Weight?A study in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue of

the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior demonstrates that individuals can eat out and still lose weight.

Investigators from The U. of Texas at Austin enrolled 35 healthy, perimeno-pausal women aged 40 to 59 who eat out frequently.

They took part in a 6-week program called Mindful Restaurant Eating, a weight-gain prevention plan that helps develop skills needed to reduce caloric and fat intake when eating out. The focus was on preventing weight gain, not weight loss.

It’s important to prevent weight gain in this population as increasing abdomi-nal waist circumference from weight gain is greater during the perimenopaus-al years, which in turn increases the risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

Though the focus was on weight maintenance, researchers found partici-pants lost significantly more weight, had lower average daily caloric and fat intake and fewer barriers to weight manage-ment when eating out.

According to the principal investiga-tor of this study, after completing the program participants reduced their daily caloric intake by about 297 calories, which would explain the weight loss.

However, only about 124 of those lost calories were attributed to eating out, indicating that fewer calories were also consumed at home.

Our Fatty Taste BudsBlame your taste buds for liking

fatty foods. Our tongues apparently recognize and have an affinity for fat, according to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, published in The Journal of Lipid Research. Researchers found that varia-tions in a gene can make people more or less sensitive to the taste of fat.

As people consume more fat, they be-come less sensitive to it, requiring more intake for the same satisfaction. The goal of the research is to understand how the perception of fat in food influences what foods we eat and the quantities of fat we consume, which would have an impact on obesity.


a graCious Plenty

Chicken BreastLightly pound skinless chicken

breast with a mallet until thinned half the size, salt and pepper to taste.

Oil a sauté pan over medium heat. Cook both sides of chicken, 10-12 minutes. Save the drippings, cover the chicken, and place it off the stove until you prepare your puff pastry.

Rice PilafBoil rice pilaf according to package

instructions.Steam small broccoli florets and

mix with the rice.Add chicken drippings and mix well.Stuff the chicken breast with this

mixture by folding the thinned breast over to create a pocket, or if the

breast is too thick to fold, slice it in half and fill with pilaf.

Puff PastryOn a floured board, roll out a sheet

of pastry dough large enough to wrap the chicken.

Place the stuffed chicken breast in the center, brush pastry edges with water, and fold over the chicken.

Cut out a pastry heart, brush with water to make it stick, and place it on top of the wrapped chicken.

Bake pastry until brown.

Lela’s Seafood Saucen 1/2 stick buttern 8 oz. of any of these: crabmeat,

lobster meat, shrimp, chopped salmon

n 2 ½ T. flourn Pinch paprika – pinch of nutmegn ½ cup heavy creamn 3 beaten eggsn ½ cup cooking sherryn 1 2/3 cup of half & halfMelt butter over medium heat and

add flour to make a roux.Stir until very smooth.Add remaining ingredients except

the seafood.Stir until the desired thickness is

achieved, about 6-7 minutes.Add chopped seafood and cook an

additional 3 minutes.(Left over sauce can be frozen. When

re-using it, thaW and add ¼ cup of haLf & haLf.)

If you haven’t started your workout to lose those holiday pounds, you’re not alone. After deciding what this month’s

Valentine’s Day Special would be, I decided to begin AFTER this special day and hope my cardiologist skips the food article this month!

This meal can be a romantic dinner for two or a time to share tradition and love with the whole family.

Red velvet cake at the end makes this the ultimate Valentine’s Day gift for your family or significant other. If you’re feeling

particularly creative, bake the cake in a heart-shaped pan, ice it with cream cheese icing, and write that special someone’s name on top.

The menu is fresh berried fruit (optional poppy seed dress-ing), stuffed chicken breast in pastry dough (recipe exclusive for Prime readers), fresh green bean bundles with red pimento bow, fresh sweet potato medallions, and red velvet cake.

Happy Valentine’s Day!Carron Morrow owns Personal Touch Events, a 35-year-old Mont-

gomery-based company specializing in corporate and personal catering and event planning. Contact Carron at 334-279-6279, [email protected], or visit www.onlinepersonaltouch.com.

Carron Morrow

Instructions for French Green Beans and Sweet Potato Medallions are online at www.PrimeMontgomery.com.

Stuffed(Valentine)

Chicken


in every liFe

In February our thoughts turn to healthy hearts. In their 2012 Update, the American Heart

Association (AHA) reports that cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in the United States. The AHA has established the goal for 2020: “to improve cardio-vascular health of all Americans by 20%, while reducing deaths from cardiovascular diseases and stroke

by 20%”. This can be achieved by promoting seven health factors:n Lean body mass as determined by Body

Mass Index (BMI)n Avoidance of or stopping smokingn Participation in physical activity with a

goal of more than 150 minutes per week of moderate or more than 75 minutes per week of vigorous activity. This can be in increments of 10 minutes three times a day (30 min/day) for 5 of 7 days.

n Healthy diet such as the Dietary Ap-proach to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, which includes:

- more than 4-5 cups/day of fruits and vegetables

- more than two 3.5 oz servings/ week of fish

- more than 3 small servings of whole grains/day

- less than 1500 mg/day of sodium (salt)

- less than 3 sugar sweetened bever-ages/week

n Maintaining total cholesterol less than

200mg/dLn Blood pressure less than 120/80n Fasting blood glucose less than100 mg/

dLCardiovascular health can be rated as ideal

when all seven factors are at the ideal levels. Intermediate or poor levels of cardiovascular health are determined by the number and rating of each of the factors along a scale. Individual choices to actively manage these factors have been shown to reduce devel-opment or progression of cardiovascular disease.

Clear communication with your health care provider can help to assess your risks. Research has shown that people are more likely to adhere to either lifestyle changes or medications if they are involved in set-ting goals for personal improvements, know the reasons that these improvements will be beneficial, and have regular planned times for evaluating their progress toward the goals. An increase in personal involvement in decisions that affect health is a component of person-alized healthcare. To keep a healthy heart, consider discussing your rating for each of these factors with your healthcare provider and challenge yourself to move toward the ideal rating.

Arlene H. Morris, RN, Ed.D. is a Distinguished Teaching Associate Professor in the Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing, where she enjoys teaching content regarding gerontology and professional nursing issues. Email her at [email protected].

Arlene Morris

References: American Heart Association.

Heart Disease and Stroke Statis-tics—2012 Update. Circulation. January 3, 2012.

Retrieved from http://circ.ahajournals.org

Sheridan, S. L., Anthony, J. V., Krantz, M. J., Ice, C. L, Steinman, L. E., Peters, K. E., Kopin, L. A., &

Lungelow, D. Theeffect of giving global coronary

risk information to adults. Archives of Internal Medicine, Vol. 70 (3). Feb. 8, 2010.

“... people are more likely to adhere to... lifestyle changes or medications if they are involved in setting goals for personal improvements...”

7 Heart Health Factors7 Heart Health Factors


There were many reasons why some 2,000 peo-ple from across the U.S., Canada, and Europe made their way to Miami last December for a

four-day round-trip cruise to Cozumel, Mexico. But it wasn’t the golden beaches or sparkling blue waters that united this dedicated band of travelers; it was the onboard events and list of eminent guests.

Celebrity cruises are nothing new, but this one truly was a classic: the inaugural Classic Cruise hosted by the cable channel, Turner Classic Movies, which brought together thousands of film fans with their fa-vorite Hollywood legends. Not surprisingly, this theme cruise appealed to many passengers with fond memo-ries of movies from the 30s, 40s and 50s.

Celebrity shipmates included Ernest Borgnine, Eva Marie Saint, Tippi Hedren, director Norman Jewi-son, as well as TCM hosts Robert Osborne and Ben Mankiewicz. With the average age of the four special

guests around 87, it was clear the crowd appreciated their efforts to join the cruise. Each looked relaxed, healthy, and genuinely pleased to be part of this special event.

After boarding, there was the compulsory lifeboat drill. However, the crew demonstrating safety proce-dures was forced to compete for the crowd’s atten-tion when Borgnine appeared and was mobbed by well-wishers trying to shake his hand. Had the signal to abandon ship come at that point, I suspect many passengers would have preferred to wrap their arms fondly around the film star, rather than a lifejacket, for a floatation device! And by the way, should you ever run into him, he does indeed prefer fans to call him Ernie rather than Mr. Borgnine.

“Oh my goodness, I couldn’t have been treated bet-ter by the TCM folks or fans,” said a humble 94-year-old Borgnine. “I don’t know why, because I certainly

Feature

Stars at Sea: A Classic Movie CruiseBy Nick Thomas

Photos by Debby Thomas

Turner Classic Movie host Robert Osborne (left) at a presentation, and actor Ernest Borgnine (right) surrounded by fans.


don’t deserve it. It’s one thing to like an actor, but the kind of love people have shown me is amazing. I just want to be one of the gang on the ship!”

Borgnine was typical of all the celebrities. Far from retiring to their cabins and emerging only to fulfill their obligations, they regularly roamed the decks, mingling with the passengers, eating at the buffet, chatting, and posing for photographs.

The first scheduled event was the Sail Away Party, and crowds gathered around the small stage area and burst into applause when Robert Osborne appeared.

“We’re delighted that you are all here,” said a relaxed-look-ing Osborne, white hair blowing in the brisk Gulf breeze, “and hope you have a great time.”

Aside from snagging a much sought after celebrity snapshot, film enthusiasts could participate in a selection of scheduled events -- movie screenings (often preceded by introductions with the stars from the films), Q & A sessions with the stars, and panel discussions with Osborne and Mankiewicz.

Surprise guests included veteran game show host Wink Martindale, who hosted movie trivia contests, and Chelsie Hightower and Louis Van Amstel from Dancing with the Stars, who put on a dazzling dance display. When Borgnine and Eva Marie Saint came on stage for a whirl around the dance floor with the youngsters, the crowd went wild!

The ship docked at Key West and Cozumel for passen-gers to go ashore to visit the standard tourist attractions, but these were merely an added bonus. Probably the most anticipated events were the celebrity presentations prior to film screenings.

Saint talked about the making of North by Northwest, Borgnine discussed The Poseidon Adventure (the irony of the latter being shown on a cruise ship caused no end of chuckles among the passengers), Hedren spoke about The Birds, and Norman Jewison featured his film The Thomas Crown Affair. While some of their stories had been told before in autobi-ographies or previous interviews, it hardly mattered to the

devoted throngs of admirers who hung on every word and were thrilled to be seated a few feet from some of their favorite film personalities.

A much anticipated event was the appearance of Saint and Hedren as “The Hitchcock Blondes” in a discussion with Osborne. Saint was in good form, evident by her playful sense of humor.

“If you look at the Hitchcock catalog,” Osborne began, “Ingrid Bergman was not a blonde, Teresa Wright (Shadow of a Doubt) was not a blonde, Tallulah Bankhead (Lifeboat) was not a blond…….”

“So why are we here?” quipped Saint, to the laughter of the audience.

Appreciating the humor, Osborne wondered if the general belief that Hitchcock favored blondes was a myth. Saint wasn’t sure, but Hedren suggested blondes have both an innocence and a sense of mystery, which she thought might have ap-pealed to Hitchcock.

Saint’s sense of humor was also apparent when talking about Osborne, whom she has admired for years, although they met for the first time at a recent TCM Film Festival in Los Angeles.

“I call him the Rock Star of the classic movie world!” said Saint. “I love my husband of 60 years, then Robert Osborne. Fans always ask me ‘What was Marlon Brando really like?’ or “What was it like to kiss Gary Grant?’ But now, they also ask ‘What’s it like to be hugged by Robert Osborne?’”

TCM host Osborne, as charming and knowledgeable as he appears on TV, was clearly delighted by the passengers’ response to the cruise.

“I’ve only been on one other cruise in my life,” said Os-borne, “and that was years ago to Acapulco, so I’m really en-joying this trip and being around so many film fans. Fans have been coming up to me throughout the cruise, talking about their favorite movies,” he added. “I love that, because it really means they love the channel and love the work that I do. I’m the one the viewers see and they think I do it all, but TCM is obviously a team effort by many people.”

This first Classic Cruise was sold-out, and plans are in the works for a second cruise in 2012.

Nick Thomas, a freelance writer and teacher at AUM, was a pas-senger on the TCM Classic Cruise. He recently authored “Raised by the Stars: Interviews with 29 Children of Hollywood Actors”.

Kynard Korner’s Kynard Korner’s Reinvintage BoutiqueReinvintage Boutique

Eastbrook Flea Market & Antique Mall425 Coliseum Blvd. • Montgomery, AL 36109

334-799-0709 • [email protected]

vintage apparel & accessoriesfor every occasion

Mardi Gras • Valentine’sTheme Parties • Plays

vintage apparel & accessoriesfor every occasion

Mardi Gras • Valentine’sTheme Parties • Plays

Tippi Hedren (The Birds, Marnie) was doing TV commercials when discovered by director Alfred Hitchcock.


FinanCial

With the New Year off to a fast start, many of us are hard at work on our list

of goals and resolutions. Allow me to share some New Year’s resolutions you’ll definitely find worth keeping.

Think about retirement.Whether you’re 26 and beginning a

career or 62 and thinking about the best time to stop working, give some thought to what your retirement

plan will be. Social Security is the largest source of income for elderly Americans today, but it was never intended to be your only source of income when you retire. You also will need savings, investments, pen-sions or retirement accounts to make sure you have enough money to live comfortably when you retire. The earlier you begin your financial planning, the better off you will be. For tips to help you save, visit www.mymoney.gov.

Plan ahead.The best way to begin planning for retirement is by

using the free resources provided by Social Security. Start by using our Retirement Estimator, where you can get a personalized, instant estimate of your future retirement benefits using different retirement ages and scenarios. Visit the Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

Make sure you have all your numbers.While tax season may seem far away, now is the

time many taxpayers start gathering records and

documentation for filing tax returns. One of the most important things you need is a Social Secu-rity number for everyone whom you will claim as a dependent. If you don’t have a number for one of your dependents, you need to apply now to have the Social Security number in time to file your tax return. Learn more at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

Do a little light reading. The best way to learn more about Social Security,

the benefit programs, and what they mean to you and your family, is to browse through our online library of publications. You can find overviews as well as more detailed booklets. Our library at www.socialse-curity.gov/pubs is always open.

Help a loved one.Sometimes we get the most satisfaction out of

helping someone else. If you have a grandparent, par-ent, relative, or friend who could benefit from Social Security, share our website and online services with them. You can even help a loved one apply for retire-ment or Medicare benefits — or for Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug costs -- in as little as 10 minutes. Whether you forward a publication or sit down to help someone apply for Social Security, the place to go is www.socialsecurity.gov.

I hope you’ll consider adding these resolutions to your list for 2012.

Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be

reached in Montgomery at 866-593-0914 ext. 26265, or by e-mail at [email protected].

Social Security Resolutions

Kylle’ McKinney


Feature

FOR THE ONLY EYES YOU’LL EVER HAVE

Roy T. Hager, M.D., F.A.C.S. | Charles N. Robbins, M.D.James D. Izer, M.D. | Richard M. Murphy, O.D.

Montgomery4255 Carmichael Court NorthMontgomery, AL | 334-277-9111

Wetumpka8007 U. S. Highway 231Wetumpka, AL | 334-567-9111

www.eyes-itec.com [email protected]

Reader’s Choice Award“best eye care center” “best optical store”

About every 25 seconds an American will have a coronary event. February is American Heart Month, but with such startling statistics, we

need to be aware of the risks of heart disease through-out the year, and the ways in which we can reduce that risk.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. and a major cause of disability.

The most common heart disease in the U.S. is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack.

In 2010, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 a recurrent attack. About once a minute an American dies from a coro-nary event.

Conditions that affect your heart or increase your risk of death or disability include arrhythmia, heart failure, and peripheral artery disease (PAD).

High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, diabe-tes, tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and secondhand smoke are also risk factors.

Be Heart Healthy this Valentines!

Some heart attacks are sudden and intense. However, most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long be-fore getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:

Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pres-sure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.

Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.

Shortness of breath. May occur with or with-out chest discomfort.

Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.

Signs and Symptoms


Diet, Nutrition, Exercise and Fitness Men versus WomenMen

n The average age for a man’s first heart attack is 66 years.n Almost half of men who have a heart attack under

age 65 die within 8 years.n Between 70% and 89% of sudden cardiac events oc-

cur in men.

Womenn Heart disease is the leading cause of death for

women 65+.n Heart disease is the second leading cause of death

among women 45–64.n Heart disease is the third leading cause of death

among women 25–44.n U.S. women account for almost 50% of heart disease

deaths.Taken from material provide by the

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/index.htm

A healthy diet and lifestyle are the best weapons you have to fight heart disease. Many people make it harder than it is. It is important to remem-ber that it is the overall pattern of the choices you make that counts. As you make daily food choices, read nutrition labels and base your eating pattern on these recommenda-tions:n Choose lean meats and poultry without skin and

prepare them without added saturated and trans fat.n Select fat-free, 1% fat, and low-fat dairy products.n Cut back on foods containing partially hydrogenated

vegetable oils to reduce trans fat in your diet.n Cut back on foods high in dietary cholesterol. Aim to

eat less than 300 mg of cholesterol each day.n Cut back on beverages and foods with added sugars.n Select and purchase foods lower in salt/sodium.n If you drink alcohol, drink in moderation. That means

no more than one drink per day if you’re a woman and two drinks per day if you’re a man.n Keep an eye on your portion sizes.

Do you & your sweetheart have a Valentine’s Day tradition or something special planned?Take a picture and send it to us at [email protected].

We’ll pick a few for a future issue of Prime Montgomery! Make sure to include names of everyone in the photo, where they’re from, and some info about what you’re doing.

Montgomery’sFinest

Italian &Greek Cuisine

Saturday breakfast • 6 a .m . - 2 p .m .

•Private BanquetRooms

•Ful l-ServiceCatering

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6268 Atlanta HighwayMontgomery, AL 36117

334-356-4662

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Moving Free with Mirabai©

Mirabai Holland

At this time of year, when we’re struggling with our New Year’s resolutions, I feel a

need to ask and answer this ques-tion. Why is it that so many people who truly want and desperately need to get fit, find it so unattainable? Why do so many start fitness programs only to quit after a few days or a few weeks?

Why is it that many highly trained fitness professionals can’t help us and

can be actually detrimental to our success? There’s this mentality that you have to whip yourself

into shape in order to get in shape. No pain, no gain. And if your body is not hard and ripped and buffed then you’re not fit. NONSENSE!! What is fitness really?

What if getting fit meant that your could get out of a chair comfortably, that you could pick up a coin off the floor, reach for something without pulling something, run for a bus without feeling like you’re going to pass out? Maybe live longer, happier, and reap those health benefits the fit enjoy?

All these things are attainable without knocking your-self out and without having a ripped body. You can have real gain, without the pain. You can be fit and active and take it as far as you want at your own pace in your own comfort zone. All you have to do is stand up (and if you can’t stand up, sit in a chair) and move.

Start slowly, gently, naturally. Just move. That’s the place to start. You don’t need gimmicks, you don’t need machines. Move a little every day. Start with just a few minutes, but do it every day. After a couple of weeks you’ll start to feel better. As you keep it up you’ll want to do a little more. So do a little more and on the days you don’t feel like doing it, just do a little something. You will accu-mulate fitness a little at a time.

Eventually you’ll want to introduce yourself to the

What is fitness, really?

three major components of fitness: Cardio, Strength and Flexibility training. But then you’ll be ready because your body got used to moving again.

It’s not rocket science, but it is science and it does work. Studies show that moderate daily exercise gets you fit enough to reap about 80% of the health benefits fitness has to offer. Not bad.

Mirabai Holland M.F.A. is a leading authority in the Health & Fit-ness industry and a public health activist specializing in preventive and rehabilitative exercise. Her Moving Free® approach to exer-cise is designed to provide a movement experience so pleasant it doesn't feel like work. www.easyexercisevideos.com

Bou Coudancewear & a whole lot more!

JewelryAccessoriesGiftsInvitationsMonogramming

In The Courtyard2101 Eastern Blvd.

(behind Starbucks)

(334) 239-0655www.boucou.net


yard ‘n garden

It’s barely into winter. We sit with garden

catalogs (am I dating myself?) or in front of the computer, looking at things to order for the garden. If the plants you want are listed as being shipped

“bare root”, don’t worry. When it’s cold outside bare is the last thing we want to be, but bare root plants are merely plants without soil. Settlers successfully carried bare root plants across the country, and nurseries have shipped plants this way forever.

As a child I remember the local hardware store had bare root pansies wrapped in newspaper to keep them moist.

You bought them by the bundle, went home, unrolled the newspaper and dis-covered little white roots with a sprig of green at the top. Into the ground

they went, and in weeks the blooms appeared. When buying plants, look first at local garden shops before opening your cata-log or surfing the Internet. Some of the most common plants shipped bare root are hostas, day-lilies and other perennails.

Inspect plants when you receive them. You should see white, fresh roots with no foul odor. Broken roots can be trimmed off, but if you see mold or rotten roots, return the plants to the store or call the shipper and arrange for their return. Never plant a moldy or soft bulb plant.

Plants should feel firm like a carrot, not soft. Don’t worry if green sprouts are emerging at the top, as you can plant them directly in the

ground. Otherwise, plant in a

pot with good potting soil then plant in the ground when tops are up. Prior to planting, soak plants in water for a couple of hours. If you can’t plant right away, you can keep them in the crisper sec-tion of a ‘fridge for about a week.

When planting, make the hole wider than it is deep, and add soil in the bottom to make a mound. Spread the roots over the mound and gently place soil around them. Water lightly, adding more soil to ground level with the top barely showing. Sprinkle it with water, and if it doesn’t rain in a week, water again. If there is sawdust packed with the plants, discard it. Do not use it in the hole.

Once plants emerge in the spring, fertilize with a half-strength solution of liquid balanced fertilizer. Fish fertilizer is also a good choice.

The cost of bare root plants can be less than others, unless you pick a unique plant which can be costly. Re-gardless of the price, always apply the “$5 Hole/50 Cent Plant Rule” -- using the best soil brings the best results, even with inexpensive plants.

I had my first bloom today, and foli-age is popping up everywhere with blooms soon to follow. Once the blooming ends don’t cut the foliage or tie it up in a rubber band. Just let it fade away, as the foliage feeds the bulb for next year.

I hope 2012 will be your best gar-dening year, and that in someway, I’ve helped with your success.

Ethel Dozier Boykin, a Montgomery native, owns Art in the Garden, a land-scape design and consulting company in the Capital City. Contact her at 334-395-5949, or by email at [email protected].

Ethel Dozier Boykin

A bare root plant, ready for the ground.

Going Bare in the WinterGoing Bare in the Winter

February 2012 | www.primemontgomery.com

“Medicare doesn’t pay for long-term care.Medicaid does, but with strings attached.”

16

Nursing home care can be one of the biggest ex-penses of retirement, yet few people plan for it.

If you’re 65, you have just about a 50-50 chance of entering a nursing home at some point. The average cost of a private room now exceeds $75,000 per year, and the average length of stay is almost 2 ½ years. That adds up to more than $185,000.

One reason people don’t give much thought to the high cost of long-term care is that they figure they won’t have to pay for it. If and when the time comes, they tell them-selves, Medicare will pick up most of the tab, the same as it does for hospital stays and doctor visits.

But that’s not the case. It can be a real eye-opener to discover that Medicare typically doesn’t pay for long-term “custodial care” – the kind of personal care that helps you with such day-to-day tasks as getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing and eating.

Medicare does cover some skilled nursing or rehabilitative care if a physician orders it after a hospital stay of at least three days. You pay nothing during the first 20 days of your care and then part of the cost for the next 80 days. After 100 days, you’re responsible for all bills.

Fewer than 10 percent of nursing home residents pay their bills through private long-term care insurance. Buying it requires planning ahead. Generally, people who already have disabilities can’t qualify for the coverage, even if they can afford the premiums.

About a third of nurs-ing home residents cover their expenses out of their own pockets. The high cost of such care, however, can quickly exhaust your life savings. Many people go through their nest eggs after just six months. They then turn to Medicaid for support.

Medicaid is usually seen as the state and federal safety net that provides health care cov-erage to the poor. But it also pays for the long-term care of millions of older and disabled nursing home residents

after they have impoverished themselves.

Medicaid’s eligibility rules vary from state to state. Broadly speaking, you can keep no more than a home, your personal belongings, a car and a small amount of savings (often no more than $2,000). Also, you can have only meager income (usually just hundreds of dollars per month).

When one member of a couple requires nursing home care, the other spouse can hold onto some assets and income over and above the limits

for a single person. A word of caution: You can’t give away

assets or sell them for less than market value to qualify for Medicaid. The state

will look at your financial records for the past five years to check for any improper transfers. If it finds one, your eligibility will be delayed.

Nursing home residents who have been approved for Medicaid coverage must contribute most of their income toward the cost of their care, after deducting a small al-lowance for personal needs, the cost of health care insur-ance premiums and, for couples, an allowance for at-home

spouses. After you die, Med-

icaid also has the right to seek reimbursement from your estate for what it has spent on your long-term care.

To find out more about how to pay for nursing home care, visit with a counselor from your state’s Health In-surance Assistance Pro-gram (see box). Learning now about your options will pay off when the day arrives that you need care.

Bob Moos is Southwest Public Affairs Officer for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Feature

Nursing Home Expenses:

Elder Abuse Information/PreventionThe Alabama Dept. of Sr. Services (ADSS) operates an

elder abuse prevention program in conjunction with the Long Term Care Ombudsman program. The AL. Dept.

of Human Resources (ADHS) and the Bureau of Health Provider Standards (BHPS) are responsible for investigat-ing allegations of elder abuse. Reports of abuse/suspected abuse received by the ADSS are turned over to the ADHS

and BHPS. Contact the Local Area Agency On Aging --1-800-AGELINE (1-800-243-5463).

Financial abuse of the elderly should be reported to the AL. Securities Commission --

1-800-222-1253 (334-353-4858).

Who Pay$?Who Pay$?


oFF the beaten Path

No, it’s not a new wild game recipe, but it could be

the beginning of the next big thing in bird hunting. The story begins more than a year ago with a friend’s German shorthair pointer that was known to wander the neighbor-hood, and wander he did,

right into our backyard when our Chocolate Lab, Bella, was in heat. Puppy love led to an accidental litter of a dozen healthy German Chocolates, one of which stayed with us.

My wife Sally had named Coco, the firstborn of the litter, before she even entered this world. If Bella – who would rather hunt than eat – was “my dog,” early indi-cations were Coco would certainly be Sally’s canine companion, laid back with a tail that even wagged in her sleep. We both laughed at her puppy playfulness, nicknaming her “Coocoo” for her antics.

I worked with Coco on obedi-ence, retrieving and finding dead birds, but I had never trained a pointer and wasn’t sure where to begin. While several of her litter mates had begun pointing by six months, she had yet to point a single bird, either in the backyard or on the dove hunts on which she tagged along. I blamed her lack of pointing on the fact that she lived with a flushing, not pointing, dog. Seems that since pointing is bred into dogs and is instinctual, a dog

German Chocolate

Quail

Bella, Coco & Niko

either points or doesn’t. It can be taught, but it’s easier to build upon instinct than teach a new trait.

Coco made her first point on a walk in the neighborhood. We turned a corner past a hedgerow and she froze, solid as stone, right foot cocked and tail up. A few seconds later, a fat orange house cat flushed from the bushes. At the time Sally and I had a good laugh about our “Alabama cougar hound” and I joked that if the world went to pot, we would at least be able to hunt up a fresh supply of protein. Inside, however, it wasn’t as funny – and a little embarrassing.

On Coco’s first quail hunt, I did not know what to expect. I turned her loose with Bella and the pair tore through the field ahead of us, along a fencerow and down into a shallow ditch, heads down and then up again, noses full of coun-try smells. When they topped the other side of the ditch, a funny thing happened. Coco froze, as she had on our walk when she pointed the cat, and Bella suddenly turned, circling Coco and a patch of brush in front of her. I stiffened, as this was uncharted territory.

As I approached Coco, still solid on point, Bella caught the right

scent trail and dove into the brush as a covey of quail erupted from the grass. I was startled but managed a shot, dropping a single bird as my brother-in-law downed another, which Bella had seen fall and which she was after.

Coco had seen my bird drop and bounded through the brush, pausing to pick up the bird and deliver it back to me. I was more surprised than when she pointed that first cat.

We hunted several more coveys that day which Coco pointed solidly, never breaking, and have hunted up many more since. She has the style and gait of a pointer working a field, but will readily retrieve dead birds to hand like a Lab.

Unlike some pointers I’ve hunted over, Coco knows her job is not over once she points the birds and the guns go off.

As her arrival was unplanned, I wasn’t sure what Coco would bring into our lives. As it turns out, she has found her niche just fine, as both Sally’s and my dog.

Niko Corley spends his free time hunt-ing, fishing and enjoying other outdoor activities. He can be contacted at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter @cootfootoutfitters.


Feature

In 1941, the Army Air Corps began mili-tary flight training of African-American pilots at Moton Field in Tuskegee. Be-

fore training ended in 1946, almost 1,000 pilots and 15,000 support personnel were part of the program, among them, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Herbert Carter (next page, at book signing), a member of the 332nd Fighter Group, the famed “Red Tails” featured in the new film produced by George Lucas.

Interactive displays at the Tuskegee Air-men Museum feature recordings of many who participated in the program. In their own words they relate personal stories of their time at Moton Field, and their expe-riences during WWII. (Photos on this page courtesy Tuskegee Airmen Museum.)

HISTORYTAKESFlightFlight

Story & Photos By Jake Roberts


Tuskegee AirmenNational Historic Site

Tuskegee AirmenNational Historic Site

Features of the Tuskegee Airmen Museum include a short introductory film, historic photos, and rooms outfitted with period fur-niture, clothing, equipment, training materials, and even magazines from the 1940s.You can try your hand at folding a para-

chute, as did Joseph Smith of Enterprise, with the assistance of Carla Graves of the Nation-al Park staff. One of the aircraft on display is

the PT-17 biplane, the pri-mary trainer used by the U.S. during World War II and flown at Moton Field.Museum hours are

daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., except Thanksgiv-ing, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. There is no entrance fee and the museum is wheelchair ac-cessible. There is a scenic overlook for parking and picnicking with a view of the original buildings.

Story & Photos By Jake Roberts


35th Anniversary Season

Concert IV • Monday, February 13 • 7:30pmConcert V • Monday, April 30 • 7:30pm

Davis Theatre240-4004 • montgomery symphony.org

Montgomery Symphony Orchestra

C y b e r S e c u r i t yC y b e r S e c u r i t yThe Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts (MMFA)

biennial fundraiser will be held February 23 and 25. More than 500 works of art will be auctioned to

benefit the museum’s acquisition, exhibition, and education programs.

Works include oil paintings, watercolors, prints, sculpture, jewelry, glass, and fine art crafts.

Among the artists are Bill Berra, Kelly Fitzpatrick, Frank Flemming and Milt Kobayashi.

“The Museum has acquired these artworks at substan-tial discounts,” said Lara Lewis, MMFA Director of Public Relations.With works coming

from galleries as well as individual artists, “...the bidder has an excellent chance to acquire a superior artwork at a very reasonable price,” said Lewis.Works will be offered at vary-

ing price points, providing bidding options for the novice collector as

well as the seasoned con-noisseur.The exhibition opens for

bidding February 4. There is no charge for a bid number, and early and reserve bids are accepted until the ticketed events.

The Silent Auction begins at 6:30 p.m. February 23. The gala begins at 6 p.m. Febru-

ary 25, followed by dinner and the Live

Auction. You can also view the artwork at

www.mmfa.org.If you would like to place a bid, but are unable to

attend the events, reserve bids can be placed dur-ing the two-week exhibition period at no cost. For information, or to make a reservation, call

334-240-4333.Tickets are $50/person for the Silent Auction and $150/person or $250/person (preferred seating) for the Live Auction, which includes admission to the silent auction.

“Psssssst... Wanna Buy a Picasso?”

Frank Fleming Bronze9 X 9.25 X 9.5Retail: $1,650

Starting bid: $1,450

Pablo Picasso Lithograph, 195742 X 21 Retail: $2,850

Starting bid: $2,275

Jamie Chase, acrylic on canvas2011, 20 X 16 Retail: $880

Opening Bid: $780

Feature


Moneywise

While the internet has opened amazing access to useful op-

portunities, it has also become a portal for untold multitudes of unscru-pulous people to take advan-tage of

unsuspecting users. If you use e-mail, buy things online, or download files from the web, you should exercise caution. While following the advice in this column will not protect you completely, it is a good start.

E-mailn Do not open e-mail or attachments from senders

you do not know or from addresses you do not recog-nize. Doing so could introduce a virus, Trojan horse, or spyware program to your computer. (One advantage of Apple products is that they are less susceptible to such problems.)n Even if you recognize (or think you recognize)

the sender, be careful. Hackers can gain access to someone else’s e-mail service and send e-mail that ap-pears to come from them. Verify e-mail requests before disclosing confidential information, responding, or for-warding. There are some very good fakers out there.n Beware of phishing attempts. Phishing is the

term for phony requests for information or assistance. They can take the form of coming from a friend (see # 3 above) or from a business (particularly financial institutions) or governmental organization. It is doubt-ful that the USPS, State Dept. or Fedex will e-mail you. Where would they even get your address? Don’t be tricked by logos and other gimmicks used to make fakes appear legitimate.n Do not send confidential information in the body

of an e-mail (or in an attachment) unless the e-mail (or attachment) is encrypted using a strong encryption program. E-mail can be hacked as it passes through cy-berspace. And if you password protect an attachment, you certainly should not provide the password in the body of the e-mail.

Social Networking Sitesn Do not post confidential information on Face-

book or other social network websites unless you want it to be available to everyone in the world.n Do not post information about travel plans, being

away from home, or other activities that would make you (or your loved ones) a target for criminals.

E-Commercen If you shop online, make sure the vendors you

deal with are legitimate.n Look for the padlock symbol on the vendor’s

screen and https: in the URL before you enter and submit confidential data, particularly credit card infor-mation.

n Promptly verify that your transactions post correctly to your credit card ac-count.n Use PayPal

or another secure method of paying for goods online.Passwordsn Passwords should be at least eight characters

long; consist of letters, numbers and symbols; include both upper and lower case.n Passwords should not be words found in diction-

aries or follow routine sequences, either forward or backward. Password-breaking applications can quickly run through hundreds of tests to break your password.n Do not use the same password for everything. If

you do, a hacker gains complete access if you slip up one time.n You can create a strong password by repeating

a shorter sequence of keys two or three times. The longer the password, the harder it is to break. For example, “*up2U” is a weak password. If you type the same thing three times in a row, it is strong.n Do not write your passwords down or store

them where they can be readily found by the wrong person.n Use a strong power-on login password with your

computer to keep a burglar or other person from ac-cessing your data.

Wireless Connectionn If you have wireless internet at home, set up the

network so it is secure from unauthorized use.n If you connect wirelessly in public through

unsecured networks, do not engage in e-commerce or other activities that expose you to hackers in the immediate vicinity.

Defensive Softwaren Install good quality defensive software on your

computer, including a firewall and anti-virus program.n Set the anti-virus software to update automati-

cally at least a couple of times weekly.n Set the anti-virus software to scan your com-

puter at least a couple of times weekly.Next month we will take our final look at protecting

yourself from identity theft. Until then, surf safely!Alan Wallace, CFA, ChFC, CLU is a Senior Financial Advi-

sor for Ronald Blue & Co.’s Montgomery office, 334-270-5960. Reach him by e-mail at [email protected].

I . D . T H E F T : C y b e r S e c u r i t y

Alan Wallace

C y b e r S e c u r i t yC y b e r S e c u r i t yC y b e r S e c u r i t yC y b e r S e c u r i t y C y b e r S e c u r i t yC y b e r S e c u r i t y

Tips to avoid ID theft:www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft/

Antivirus/firewall software reviews plusother useful technology information:

www.cnet.com


Feature

By Brenda Robertson DennisPhotos by Stone Images Photography

Chuck and Susan Edwards. Married 43 years.

88 Years

Frozen Roses, Broken Earrings, &

of Marriage

Frozen Roses, Broken Earrings, &

Valentine’s Day is upon us, with stores swathed in pink and red, aisles brimming with heart shaped boxes and cards designed

to help us express our deepest feelings for that special someone. To young couples this day might be a hallmark moment in their lives together (no pun intended). But for two local couples whose rela-tionships have stood the test of time, every day is Valentine’s Day.

The Edwards“I fell in love with a saxophone player!” Susan

laughs, as her husband Chuck recounts the tale of how they met.

They were introduced when Chuck’s rock and roll band, the Apaches, played her senior prom in 1965. He was attending the University of Alabama and was friends with her future brother-in-law. But it was Susan’s prom date, in charge of hiring the band, who introduced them.

“It didn’t last long,” laughs Chuck. “We broke up after the summer.”

“He was too old for me,” Susan adds, refer-ring to his being three years her senior.

By the time she moved to Tuscaloosa, Chuck’s father had passed away, and her future husband had left school to return to Montgomery and help with the family busi-ness, Edwards Plumbing and Heating.

“I had run into her from time to time over the next two years” he recalls, “but I hadn’t stopped thinking about her. I called her at midnight one night after I’d come in from another date, I woke her up and said ‘why don’t you come down to Montgomery this weekend?’” She did.

They eloped three months later with both fami-lies’ blessings.

After 43 years of marriage they remain the best of friends. An energetic couple who seem much

younger than their years, they work hard and play

hard,


Dorothy and Roosevelt Calhoun. Married 45 years.

with grandkids and a frisky adopted kitten named Little Sister.

“Our family is very close,” says Susan. “We travel together and en-joy each others company. We’ve been to Australia, Europe… Chuck and I have always liked to travel just the two of us as well. We always knew it was important to have that time to be ‘us,’ not just mom and dad.”

Close family bonds are important in the best of times, but never more so than when a heartbreaking tragedy occurs that places a severe strain on those bonds. The Edwards discovered how strong their family was when their four-month-old son, their fourth child, died of Sud-den Infant Death Syndrome.

“We had seen and heard of couples who had gone through situations like ours and blamed each other. But it just pulled us closer together. Our fam-ily knitted like a very tight woven sweater” says Susan.

“We still go to the cemetery on special days,” adds Chuck. “It’s hard to close that chapter in your life, but you have to move on.”

With three children and seven grandchildren, Chuck and Susan have always tried to lead by ex-ample, and spend as much quality time together with the children as possible.

“Our children could see if we got mad at each other that we’d talk about it,” says Susan. “We didn’t fight. There were no yelling and screaming matches. We traveled with them, spending time with them and let-ting them see how we interacted with each other.”

What advice do the Edwards have for young couples just starting their life together?

“Don’t ever go to bed mad,” says Chuck.“You can’t say that,” Susan interjects playfully, “because

I think we have actually gone to bed mad. But just talk about it. Don’t hold grudges. You might not like what you’re hearing, but you’ve got to accept it and not try to change that person. Don’t go into a marriage thinking ‘he’ll do it my way later on.’”

The ability to laugh doesn’t hurt either.On their first Valentine’s Day as a married couple

Chuck gave Susan a giant bouquet of red roses.“But it was the day before Valentines and he left them

in the truck,” Susan remembers. “It went down to like 17 degrees that night!”

“I walked in thinking I was doing something really great,” recalls Chuck, “and the minute the heat hit them

they turned immediately black and the tops fell off.”They burst out laughing like it was yesterday.

“I just got toothpicks and scotch taped them back together,” Susan says with the sweetest smile.

The CalhounsRoosevelt and Doro-

thy Calhoun met on Christmas night, 1966. Both were divorced.

“My girlfriend came by and got me up out of the bed that day,” recalls Dorothy. “She said ‘we’re going out tonight!’”

They went to a club, where she and Roosevelt met. Dorothy was wearing her sisters’ earrings, and while dancing, one of them fell off and was stepped on and broken.

“I was upset because I had bor-rowed them,”

Frozen Roses, Broken Earrings, &Frozen Roses, Broken Earrings, &


says Dorothy. “Then he (Roosevelt) said ‘well, I can fix it and bring it to you tomorrow.’”

“I didn’t even know how to fix an earring,” Roosevelt says laughing, remembering it was his way of getting to see her again. “I had to look at the other one to figure it out.”

But his makeshift jewelry skills paid off. A few days later, Dorothy arranged for a friend to invite Roosevelt to an event they were at-tending.

That was 45 years, four children, and 10 grandchildren ago. Both are now retired, and as they look back on their life together, you see a loving couple who still have a sparkle in their eyes for one another. Like many couples, they have faced challenges in their marriage — two heart attacks and triple bypass surgeries for Roos-evelt.

The heart attacks resulted in the loss of all of his toes, and grueling recoveries tested them to their limits. But when asked about their greatest challenge, the story they relate ends up being more like a blessing.

“The thing that really made us stronger...well, the thing that made me stronger, was in 1984 I got saved.” says Dorothy. “It made me know that I wasn’t all that and a piece of cake,” she says laughing.

“After I established a relationship with the Lord, I knew that forgiveness was the main part of it. The key in our marriage, as far as I’m concerned, is forgive-

ness and respect, [and] the only person you can change is yourself.”

”But when I got saved it was almost like having the Devil in the bed with [me],” recalls Dorothy. “But I also knew that the Bible says ‘a sanctified wife will sanctify your husband.’”

Roosevelt resisted, reluctant to accept his wife’s transfor-mation.

“But I saw the change in her,” he says. “So she invited me to the church and I got filled with the Holy Spirit right there.”

Today, the Cal-houn’s are charter members of New Life Church of God In Christ, where Roosevelt is the chairman of the Deacon Board, and Dorothy is the Mother of the Church, an advi-sory position to the younger people. Their faith, love, and life experience put them in a unique position to offer advice to young couples embarking on a life together. But their advice is valuable whether the marriage is one year old, or 50.

“There are just three of you in your marriage: you, your spouse, and God. Keep your personal business between you and don’t involve family or friends.”

“Try not to go to bed mad. Some-body’s got to say ‘I’m

sorry’.”“Don’t keep secrets

from each other.”“Be careful what you say because it might just happen.

Instead, speak unity into your marriage.”

Rock and Roll Will Stand (June 2011)

Beth Nielsen Chapman (October 2011)

Big BAM Shows (November 2011)

The Calhouns on their wedding day.


Prime MontgomeryReaders Are Talking...

“I accidently stumbled on this article. Have always wondered what happened to Mr. Grier. He taught me world history in 9th grade. He was such an influence I majored in history at U. of A. I can also remember when my dad took me in the lounge at the Riviera to see him perform with the Sonny Grier Trio. Play on Mr. Grier!” Bill Loving

Rock and Roll Will Stand (June 2011)

“I use to tell my family about you, and I too, smoked with you in the Cloverdale bath-room, and I knew YOU would be somewhere. You have not changed a bit! God bless you.” Sheree Penn Joyce

“What a treasure, and what luck for Montgomerians for us to claim you as one of our own!” Angie Ludell

October 2011 F R E E MontgoMery


nSoup’s On! nRefinance Now?

nGrow Ground CovernBreast Cancer BasicsnMedicare EnrollmentnCrossword & SudokunDVDs & more!

INSIDEBirds: What aTweet!

La$ Vega$: Gambling on a Good Time

BethNielsenChapmanwife, mother, hit songwriter, breast cancer survivor

PrimeBeth Nielsen Chapman (October 2011)

“My buddy Jimmy Adams and I were trapped in that Holiday Inn bar with Peter Noone and Hermans Hermits. The cops locked us in to keep the screaming girls from crashing the doors. It got foggy as the night went on. I think I still have autographs.” Ted Arnold

“I’m from N.C. but spent the summer of ’68 in Wetumpka. Went to the Big Bam concert. Paul Revere & Raiders, Lou Christie, Billy Joe Royal & others. Fantastic and I’ll never forget. It seems there was a show the previous week that I missed. But I remember that the fans mobbed the Hermits and a guitar was lost.” David Thornton

Kenny Rogers & the First Edition

Roy Orbison

Jerry Lee Lewis

Paul Revere& the Raiders

Lou Christie

November 2011 F R E E MontgoMery


America’s First Thanksgiving(It’s not where you think it was.)

PrimeMusicof a Generation:

9 Treasuresfrom Alabama’s past

nFall Flowers nFried Apple Pies

nRefinancing Your HomenHunting & Hearing LossnCrossword, SudokunHospice Explained

nDiabetes

INSIDE

The Big BAMShows

Big BAM Shows (November 2011)


Jan. 27–Feb. 7

February 3–7

A l A b A m A S h A k e S p e A r e F e S t i vA lmontgomery, Alabama 1.800.841.4273 www.ASF.net

February 14: SOLD OUT! Second Show Added! February 13Featuring Scot Bruce as Elvis Presley and John Mueller as Buddy Holly

Coming this Spring!Henry VIII & The Merry Wives of Windsor

$45Tickets starting at

around MontgoMery

This majestic American bald eagle is a fitting Valentine’s month symbol, since eagles, once paired, remain together until one dies. Our eagle is slightly tattered, with frayed wing tips exposing a bit of rebar, and cracks etched across its wings. Its curved neck ends in the characteristic hooked beak (made of keratin) and piercing gaze (they have very good eyesight).

Find our concrete-feathered friend, snap your photo with it in the background (doubtful you can get very close), and send it by February 15 to be entered in a drawing for a gift certificate to Mr. Gus Ristorante. The winner will have their photo printed in the next issue of Prime Montgomery. E-mail photo and contact information to [email protected].

February Mystery

The December/January Mystery location is the obelisk at the Alabama War Memorial. Mack Nixon of Montgomery recognized it and sent this photo. Thanks, Mack! We’ll send along your Mr. Gus Ristorante gift certificate.


• Physical Therapy •• Wellness/Personal Training •

• Physical Therapy •• Wellness/Personal Training •

3442 Eastdale Circle • Montgomery, AL 36117(334) 279-5757

Dear Marci,I receive outpatient mental health treatment

for substance abuse. How much will Medicare pay for my treatment?

— GilesDear Giles, Medicare will help pay for treatment of alcoholism and

drug abuse in outpatient settings if:n You receive services from a provider or facility that ac-

cepts Medicare; n Your doctor states that the services are medically nec-

essary; and n Your doctor sets up your plan of treatment.

Medicare Part B helps pay for outpatient substance abuse treatment services from a clinic or hospital outpatient depart-ment.

In 2012, Medicare will pay 60 percent of its approved amount for mental health services, and you or your supple-mental insurance will be responsible for the remaining 40 percent. You or your supplemental insurance will also be responsible for a coinsurance to the clinic or hospital, which can be no more than the inpatient hospital deductible for that year ($1,156 in 2012).

Covered services include, but are not limited to: n Psychotherapy n Patient education regarding diagnosis and treatment n Post-hospitalization follow-up n Prescription drugs administered during a hospital stay

or injected at a doctor’s office.

Dear Marci,I enrolled in a new drug plan during Fall Open

Enrollment. When I went to the pharmacy in January to pick up my prescription, there was no problem. But when I went to pick up that same prescription this month, I was denied and told that my plan doesn’t cover the drug. Why was the drug approved in January but denied in Feb-ruary?

— Daphne

Dear Daphne, Your drug was covered in January because you were

eligible for a transition refill. A transition refill, also known as a transition fill, is typically a one-time, 30-day supply of a drug that Medicare drug plans must cover when you are in a new plan or when your existing plan changes its coverage. A transi-

tion fill lets you get temporary coverage for drugs that aren’t on your plan’s formulary or that have restrictions on them (such as prior authorization or step therapy).

Transition fills aren’t for new prescriptions. You can only get a transition fill for a drug you were already taking be-fore switching plans or before your existing plan changed its coverage.

All Medicare Part D drug plans must cover transition fills. The rules apply to both Medicare Advantage plans that include drug coverage and Medicare stand-alone drug plans. When you use your transition fill, your plan must send you a written notice within three business days. The notice will tell you that the supply was temporary and that you should either change to a covered drug or file a request with the Part D plan (called an exception request) to ask for coverage.

Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (www.medicarerights.org), the nation’s largest independent source of information and assistance for people with Medicare. To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114. To subscribe to “Dear Marci,” the Medicare Rights Center’s free educational e-newsletter, simply e-mail [email protected].

health

Marci’s Medicare Answer February 2012


Feature

One minute I'm standing in front of eight 4’ wide, 12’ tall sections of the Berlin Wall. A few minutes later, I'm watching videos

of the moon landing, Princess Diana's wedding, JFK's assassination, 9/11.... As I walk through the Newseum, Washington DC’s 250,000-square-foot paean to journalism, I'm reminded of the old adage: Yesterday's news is today's history.

The museum, located on Pennsylvania Avenue just blocks from the National Mall, contains more than 35,000 newspapers, including one from 1718 that heralds the death of Blackbeard, the notorious British pirate, and one started by the brother of Benjamin Franklin. It’s filled with journalistically-relevant artifacts, like the microphone used by Edward R. Murrow for his radio broadcasts during the Blitz and the notebook used by the Newsweek reporter who broke the Monica Lewinsky story.

In addition, the Newseum houses hundreds of videos. A person could spend hours just watching videos—from an eight-minute overview of major events narrated by Charles Osgood to a 25-minute look at the history of sports reporting.

I hesitate before walking into the Comcast 9/11 Gallery. Do I really want to relive that horrible day? But of course I go in and sit spellbound as journal-ists who were there tell what they did to bring the story to the rest of us. The audience is transfixed; the room is completely silent. I feel as if I’m in a church.

All told, the Newseum houses 15 theaters and 14 main exhibits. My personal favorite is The Pulitzer Prize Gallery, a collection of photographs that deliver a gut-punch to the soul. There's the horrified girl who saw her fellow student shot at Kent State, the napalm-burned child running down

Headlines of History

The Pulitzer Prize Photographs Gallery is filled with pictures that have burned themselves into the national consciousness. (Photo by Sam Kittner)

By Andrea GrossPhotos as noted

Washington DC’s Newseum


a street in Vietnam, the flag being raised on Iwo Jima. Video inter-views with the photographers give the story behind the story.

In addition, there are a number of temporary exhibits that will only run until the end of this year. One of the most popular and poignant, “Inside Tim Russert's Office,” shows the famous news-man's desk arranged exactly as it was on the day of his death.

Another, titled “First Dogs,” fea-tures nearly two dozen pets that have provided our presidents with apolitical companionship. These include Coolidge’s white Collie, which was photographed wearing an Easter bonnet; George H. W. Bush’s English Springer Spaniel, which was credited with writ-ing a bestselling book; and Warren Harding’s Airedale, which at-tended Cabinet meet-ings with his master. (One can only wonder what scandals would have been adverted if the dog had barked a few words of caution into the President’s ear.)

On a more serious note, the “G-Men and Journalists” exhibit provides insight into the tension between law enforcement and the press, showing how the press prevents abuses of power but also makes the work of the special agents more difficult. More than 200 arti-facts complement the photos and newspapers, including the cabin used by the Unibomber and the electric chair that ended the life of Bruno Hauptmann, who steadfastly denied that he was the person who kidnapped the Lindbergh baby.

Later, after a quick lunch in the Wolfgang Puck cafe on the lower level, I explore some of the inter-active galleries, which are among the museum's most popular. In

one, reporter-wannabes try read-ing a news report from a Tele-prompter and writing a story on deadline. In another, they confront ethical problems. When is it okay to quote anonymous sources? Is it more important to photograph a dying child who’s about to be eaten by a vulture, and thus alert the world to the plight of the Su-danese, or is it better to drop the camera and try to save the child?*

I wander out on the terrace, where a guide tells me that the Newseum was built on the site of the old National Hotel.

“That’s the hotel where John Wilkes Booth stayed when he plotted the murder of Abra-

ham Lincoln,” he says. Inside I see the newspaper announcing the assassination of the president as well as ones telling of the hunt for Booth.

For contemporary events, there's the broadcast studio where ABC News films its Sunday morn-ing program, “This Week.” Behind the desk where George Stephanopoulos interviews the week's newsmakers is the famous view of the capitol.

But even more interesting is the daily display of the front pages of 80 newspapers from across the United States and around the world, posted every morning at 6 a.m. Washington time. They are a stark reminder that while we in the United States may be absorbed with the presidential primaries, the people in New Zealand are focused on something else entirely.

www.newseum.org *Note: Faced with this dilemma,

Kevin Carter opted to snap the award-winning photo. Afterwards he chased the vulture away, but haunted by the scene and by his own priorities, he committed suicide a few months later.

The Unibomber’s cabin is part of the new “G-men and Journalists” exhibit. (Photo by James P. Blair/Newseum)

The Newseum complex, just blocks from the National Mall, is deserving of a banner headline. (Photo by James P. Blair/Newseum)

A replica of Tim Russert’s office on the day of his death, on display through 2012. (Photo by Maria Bryk/Newseum)


Support the Businessesthat Support Prime Montgomery

When you visit any of these businesses, let the owner or manager know you’re a Prime Montgomery reader,and you appreciate their support of the River Region’s premiere monthly magazine focusing on those of us 50+

(Ad page numbers are listed after each advertiser’s name.)

American Heart Month: Your Heart, Your Hearing


Active Health and Rehab - 27Alabama Artificial Limb &Orthopedic Service - 15

Alabama Shakespeare Festival - 26All Ears Hearing Centers - 36

Bou Cou Boutique - 14Carter PhotoDesign - 30Corner on Dentistry - 6Elmcroft of Halcyon - 11

Hospice Care of Montgomery - 5

ITEC - 12Kynard Korner’s Boutique - 10

Life Alert - 36MCA Fitness Center - 14Montgomery Ballet - 30

Montgomery Symphony - 20Mr. Gus’ Ristorante - 13

Stone Images Photography - 25Taoist Tai Chi Society - 32

Walton Law Firm (Auburn) - 2

Support the Businessesthat Support Prime Montgomery

When you visit any of these businesses, let the owner or manager know you’re a Prime Montgomery reader,and you appreciate their support of the River Region’s premiere monthly magazine focusing on those of us 50+

(Ad page numbers are listed after each advertiser’s name.)

Studies show a healthy cardiovascular system has a positive effect on hearing. Conversely, trauma to your heart, arteries and veins, in particular blood vessels of the cochlea, can cause hearing damage.

All Ears Hearing Centers encourages everyone with heart disease to include ahearing check as part of their routine medical exams. A damaged heart can not onlyaffect your hearing, but interfere with yourability to do simple things such ashousehold chores, shopping, hunting,and even taking a casual stroll.

Research over the past six decades has found that an impaired cardiovascular system adversely affects both the peripheral and central auditory system. Studies also indicatethat improving your cardiovascular system can have a positive impact on your hearing.

6912 Winton Blount Blvd.Montgomery, AL 36117

334-281-8400 www.allearscenters.com

American Heart Month: Your Heart, Your Hearing

31


•Parkinson’s or MS?•Arthritis/Fibromyalgia?•Knee, hip, or back problems?•Diabetes/neuropathy?•Cardiovascular problems?•Poor balance, weak muscles?

Can I Do Tai ChiIf I Have:

•Parkinson’s or MS?•Arthritis/Fibromyalgia?•Knee, hip, or back problems?•Diabetes/neuropathy?•Cardiovascular problems?•Poor balance, weak muscles?

YES!YOU CAN!

www.taoist.org832-1907Taoist Tai Chi Society

of the USA, Alabama Branch

RECURRING EVENTS

THEATRE / MUSIC / DANCE

Exercise Class, Bible Study, Bingo. Various days, times, loca-tions. Mtgy. Area Council on Aging, www.macoa.org, 334-263- 0532.

Zumba. Tues. 5-6 pm, Jackson Hospital, www.jackson.org, 334-293-8978.

Jam Sessions. 2nd, 4th Sat. 9 am-noon, Old Alabama Town, www.oldalabamatown.com. 334-240-4500

Art Class. Tues., Wed. 10 am, Perry Hill United Methodist Church, www.perryhillumc.org, 334-272- 3174

Montgomery Bridge Club. Lessons, games, tournaments. Mulberry St. www.montgomerybridgeclub.org, 334-265-2143.

Docent lead tours. Sundays. Mtgy Museum of Fine Arts. 1-2 pm.

SUPPORT GROUPSHearing Loss. 2nd Thurs., 4 pm, First United Methodist

Church, 334-262-3650.Gluten Intolerance. 4th Thurs. 6-7 pm, Taylor Rd. Baptist

Church. Speaker, research, symptoms, etc. Sample gluten-free food. For info 334-328-5942, http://gfmontgomery.blogspot.com.

Cancer. Tues. 10-11 am, Mtgy Cancer Center. For info 334-279-6677.

Visually impaired. 2nd Tues. 1-2:30 pm, Aldersgate United Methodist Church. For info 334-272-6152.

Fibromyalgia. 3rd Tues., 6-8 pm, Frazer Church. For info, 334-272-8622.

Parkinson. 4th Sun., 2 pm, Cloverdale School, Fairview Ave. For info 334-328-8702 or 334-322-6301.

Alzheimer’s/Dementia. 1st Thurs., 11 am, Frazer Church. For info 334-272-8622.

Feb. 2-12, “The Gin Game.” Cloverdale Playhouse inaugural season. Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. For info 334-262-1530, www.cloverdaleplayhouse.org. 960 Cloverdale Road. $.

Feb. 9-12, “Tuna Does Vegas.” Millbrook Community Players, Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. For info 334-782-7317, www.millbrooktheatre.com. $

Feb. 9-25. “Lend Me A Tenor!” Wetumpka Depot Players. Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. For info, 334-868-1440, www.wetumpkadepot.com. $

Feb. 9-26, “Big River”, Faulkner Dinner Theatre, Faulkner U. 6 pm. For info 334-386-7190, [email protected]. $

Feb. 16-26, “Proof”, Theatre AUM. Thurs-Sat 7:30 pm, Sun 2 pm. For info 334-244-3632. $

Feb. 10, 11, 7:30 pm. Capri Theatre. Clefworks presents postclassical string quartet ETHEL. For info. http://clefworks.org/index.php, www.ethelcentral.com/index.html. $

Feb. 17 (7:30 pm), 18 (2:30, 7:30 pm). “Swan Lake.” Mont-gomery Ballet & Alabama Ballet. Mtgy Performing Arts Centre. For info/tickets 334-481-5100, www.montgomeryballet.org. $EDITOR’S NOTE: The Montgomery Ballet has a new Artistic Director, Darren McIntyre. Originally from Australia, McIntyre is a graduate of the Australian Ballet School and has toured extensively in the U.S., Australia, Asia, Canada, Europe and South America, performing both classical and contemporary works.

Feb. 25, 6 pm, Capri Theatre, Sound of Music Sing-Along Fundraiser. $

OTHERFeb. 10, 11. 4th Annual Southern Studies Conf. AUM. Music,

art show, lectures (geography, art, history, literature, theater, more) For info./register, visit www.aum.edu/aumlac.

Feb. 11, 6 pm. Auction for Missions. St. James United Meth-odist Church. Items include gift certificates, antiques, furniture, oriental rugs, original artwork, more. For info, 334-277-3037.

Feb. 17-18. AUM Homecoming. Alumni reception (17th 6-9 pm), parade with bands, floats, throws (18th 11 am). For info, visit www.aum.edu.

Feb. 21, 1-3 pm, Muscadine pruning workshop hosted by the AL Cooperative Extension System. Barber Berry Farm, 2362 Alabama River Parkway (Millbrook side of the toll bridge). Millbrook. Register by Feb. 17. For info, Elmore Co. ACES, 334-567-6301. $

Feb. 22, 11 am-1 pm. Retired Officers Wives Club luncheon. Arrowhead CC. Open to wives and widows of retired officers and active duty career officers. New attendees only call Janet Lewis, 334-567-9872 or Linda Davis, 334-224-9929 by Feb. 17.

FEBRUARY CALENDAR


Sudoku answers -- page 11Crossword answers -- page 12

PriMe diversions

Across1 Detective Pinkerton6 Bug-eyed with excitement10 Formally give up14 Let, as a flat15 Place for doves, not hawks16 x or y line17 Type of government

spending typified by the Bridge to Nowhere19 Tach measures: Abbr.20 Very old: Abbr.21 More furtive22 Disco __23 Unlike Wabash College25 "Two Tickets to Paradise"

singer29 "Gunsmoke" star James31 "We're outta here!"32 Doctor's request33 Studio warning36 Long, long time37 (At) maximum capacity40 "Because I said so!" elici-

tor43 Bad time for a procrasti-

nator44 Planet's path48 Big honey brand50 Fishing line tangles

51 Classic candy bean55 Michelle of "Crouching

Tiger, Hidden Dragon"56 57-Across brand57 Casual pants59 Bird: Prefix60 Flat-topped rise62 Brew after a shot (and, in

a way, what the end of 17-, 25-, 37-, or 51-Across can be)64 Poet Khayyám65 Beige shade66 Absorb a loss, slangily67 Responsibility68 Eyelid affliction69 Spars on board

Down1 Llama relatives2 "Il Trovatore" soprano3 Grand or petit crime4 Look for answers5 Birds' bills6 Pungent7 Injured in the bullring8 "SNL" alum Cheri9 Hair-holding goo10 Metaphorical incentive11 Broad area12 Lower, as lights

13 Twisting shape18 Quaffs in tankards22 Rock music's __, Lake & Palmer24 Unwilling to listen26 "Splendor in the Grass" director Kazan27 Self-esteem28 Over there, to Milton30 Sleep, informally33 Like the hills?34 Miami Heat gp.35 Prince __ Khan38 Leopold's co-defendant39 Butler's carrying aid40 N.Y. financial paper41 Color42 Bawls out45 Chicken choices46 "That's perfect as is!"47 Casual tops49 Clouded, as vision50 Harmony52 Unique button in 007's Aston Martin53 Suspicious54 Oater star Lash58 Noah's irstborn60 Stylish, in the '60s61 Outback runner62 Teachers' degs.63 Little battery (c)2012 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.


PriMe diversions

Real Steel, 50/50 and MoneyballRecent dvd releases

Mark Glass

Real Steel (PG-13) This near-future sci-fi dra-

ma may look in the trailers like a dystopian high-tech noisefest. The premise is pro boxing, in which human pugilists have been replaced by gigantic humanoid robots, making some sort of convergence between gladiators and monster trucks the rage of the day. Hugh Jackman stars as an ex-boxer who never quite made the Big Time, scrambling to eke out a living by operating whatever level of fighting ‘bot he can patch together from a shoestring budget and the scrap heap. His role is not only underdog, but undermined by exten-sions of the internal demons that short-circuited his promis-ing ring career.

After setting up the fighting and financial plot points, the story adds the existence of an eleven-year-old son he’s ignored while traveling to low-level arenas. His ex and her hubby have vacation plans, leading to a summer visitation deal with plenty of misgivings all around. That shifts the essence of the story from the hustlers and mayhem to a father-son learning and bonding experience. The script derives more from Shane, Rocky and The Champ than from Mad Max. If you can suspend enough disbelief for all the required logical and temporal stretches, the result is a surprisingly effective couple of hours, engaging on both the f/x and sentimental levels. There are few surprises in the story arcs, but the inevitable climactic battle delivers all the literal and figurative punch that genre fans could wish for.

50/50 (R) Unless you’re producing a tear-

jerker for the Lifetime Cable Network, disease movies are tricky business. Sugar-coating the course and effects of the subject illness can render the product anywhere from insipid to offensive - especially to those who’ve lived with that particu-lar reality. As true as that may be for dramas, the juggling act is even harder for comedies. That makes this loosely fact-based account of a seemingly-healthy young man (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) shocked by the diagnosis of a rare, life-threatening spinal tumor such a uniquely satisfy-ing film. The humorous elements come largely, though hardly exclusively, from his best friend (Seth Rogen), as Gordon-Lev-itt copes with every aspect of adjusting to his condition, de-bilitating course of treatment, and their effects on everything he does, and all who know him. How to manage his parents’ reactions; how will his girlfriend handle such a drastic change in their still-emerging romance; how will he deal with chemo-therapy and its side-effects; who can he count on; what can

he expect of himself; most importantly, will he beat it or die before 30? As bleak as that all sounds (not even counting the overcast skies of its Pacific Northwest setting), there’s plenty of heart and humor in Will Reiser’s screenplay that feels completely natural to the premise, with no forced antics or gimmicks to artificially lighten the tone. That adds up to one of the year’s more impressive writing performances, worthy of consideration during Awards Season.

Moneyball (PG-13) Somebody up there must really

like Billy Beane, as firmly proven in this fact-based drama. After wash-ing out as a highly-touted baseball prospect, he found a job most fans and ex-jocks would kill for - general manager of the Oakland A’s. Despite their existence as a small-market team, forcing them to compete on a budget that’s dwarfed by the Yankees, Red Sox and others, the A’s made the playoffs in 2001 as the film opens. But they lost three of their top stars to higher bidders. Charged with rebuilding for the next year, Beane defied all conventions of scouting by turning to a nerdy stats freak (Jonah Hill), who, as a disciple of Bill James and his Sabremetric analyses of teams and players, steered Beane into a number of counterintuitive roster moves. Early failures reinforced all the resistance to this new approach to winning, before the team started clicking, and living up to the actuarial predictions, and providing vindication for managing by math.

Besides his dream job, Beane is played here by Brad Pitt. Clean living clearly pays off. At least that’s the way it seems to one who’d be lucky if his own biopic role were filled by John Turturro, rather than Saul Rubinek. Envy aside, the script artfully mixes the off-field and historical backdrop for Beane’s gutsy moves in the 2002 season with the main theme and action sequences. Then-manager Art Howe (Philip Seymour Hoffman) is not likely to enjoy his depiction, but most view-ers - A’s fans and otherwise - will find a thoughtful insider’s view of The Show. Highlights include the presentation of the team’s dramatic late-season winning streak, and a surprisingly effective understated performance by Hill, showing serious acting chops beyond the lowbrow comedy gigs that made him a minor star. Now he’s showing big-league potential, perhaps with more upside than Beane’s career as a player.

For baseball fans

For everyone else

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


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35

6912 Winton Blount Blvd. • Montgomery, AL 36117334-281-8400 • www.allearscenters.com

“The doctor to see is an ENT.”

A hearing problemnegatively impactsrelationships withfamily, friends andco-workers. If youor a loved one havedifficulty hearing,

All Ears Hearing will determine the

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From simple cleaning, to selecting and fitting a state-of-the-art hearing instrument, tosurgical hearing instrument implantation,

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