Prime December 2014/january 2015l

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December 2014/January 2015

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December 2014/January 2015 | www.primemontgomery.com2

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Editor’s Notes

Quick Reads

Who ARE these people?Help identify Montgomery citizens

Money Wi$e5 Year-end Gift Ideas

Yard ‘n GardenComposting

A Gracious PlentySpicy Cranberry & Pork Loin

Happy Birthday, ElvisRemembering the King’s movies

Holiday ShippingSunday Delivery?

In Every Life Risks with over-the-counter drugs

Social Security Benefits for children

Around the World in 103 Days Planning your Trip-of-a-Lifetime

Being Generous How to teach your grandchildren

Tybee Island, GA Hospitality, Southern island style

Puzzles

Healthcare Check your coverage for 2015

Arthritis-friendly vehicles

Dec. and Jan. in Alabama History

Prime Diversions December DVD Releases

Off the Beaten Path Woodrow’s Home

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11

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15

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28

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Ever dream of traveling around the world? Judy and Mark Weaver did, and did just that. “Trip of a Lifetime” (pg 18) will guide you through the process, from flights to accomoda-tions to dining tips, so you can start planning your on adventure.

December 2014Table of Contents






Prime magazine is working with the Alabama Dept. of Archives and History to identify individuals and locations in photographs from their collections, and you can help. (Page 8)


EDITOR’S NOTE

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

PrimeMONTGOMERY

December 2014/January 2015 Vol. 5, Issue 9

PUBLISHERBob Corley, [email protected]

EDITORSandra Polizos, [email protected]

ART DIRECTORCallie Corley, [email protected]

WRITERSKara Ford, Andrea Gross,

Cindy Richards, Judy Stone

CONTRIBUTORSNiko Corley, Mark Glass, Andy Jackson,

Kylle’ McKinney, Bob Moos, Arlene Morris, Nick Thomas, Alan Wallace

PHOTOGRAPHERSIrv Green, Geoff L. Johnson, Jim Peppler,

Horace Perry, John E. Scott,Tybee Historical Society

SALESBob Corley • 334-202-0114,

[email protected] McFarland, • [email protected]

Prime Montgomery7956 Vaughn Road, #144

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

ISSN 2152-9035Prime 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.

On Christmas Eve my mom and dad would pack my brother, sister and me into the car, load

the trunk up with a menagerie of gifts wrapped in every imaginable style of Christmas paper, and journey for what seemed like an eternity to the homes of one of my Dad’s siblings. It was, without question, the most exciting trip of the year. Not exactly “over the river and through the woods” (it only took ten minutes across paved Montgomery streets) but nonetheless, it was thrilling. Three fami-lies crowded into the same living room to fellowship, have a meal, and exchange purposefully-selected gifts…a navy scarf for Aunt Katie, a pair of brown slip-pers for Uncle Gus, a green wool shirt for Dad — to say nothing of the gifts we children received and shared with each other for hours on end. My lingering memory is one of comfort, fun, and the security I felt in being happily together with the people I loved best. Aunts, uncles, cousins, parents and siblings. All was right with the world. With some modification Bob and I continued that holiday tradition well into our

married life, spending many happy Christmas Eves with my parents and siblings as our children grew from toddlers to adolescents.Lucky for us, holiday celebrations between Bob’s and my combined families never conflicted. Thanksgiving was the command (and much anticipated) performance in my husband’s family, but Christ-mas was a more relaxed gathering, occurring on the weekend closest to the big day — or as soon as we could get family together from near and far. Regardless of when we celebrated, it was a joyous occasion. Every new member of the Corley family received a special velvet Christmas

stocking my mother-in-law herself had sewn. From in-laws, to grandchildren, and even great-grands, Mama imaginatively crafted and personalized each one. The stockings, topped with rabbit fur and lovely in their detailed beadwork, are now the stuff of family legend, a valued keepsake treasured by anybody lucky enough to receive one.After my mother-in-law’s health declined, her daughter - my sister-in-law -

bravely took on the stocking mantle. Creative in her own right, she’s done a remarkable job making at least five of these Corley heirlooms. But creating them is time-consuming, tedious work and this year, she finally cried “Uncle” (or rather, “Great-nephew,” as that’s whose stocking now needs to be made.)As the grandmother of the newest grandchild, I’ve been named this year’s

Corley stocking maven. Never a seamstress, I’m intimidated by the process, and yet somehow also inspired at continuing this unique family custom. Taking deep breaths to settle my nerves, I’ve realized 2014 has been a year of many firsts for me: first grandson, first Thanksgiving hosted at my home, and now first Christmas stocking. Who knew, even at 62, life would bring such exciting, new challenges?May this holiday season hold happiness and exciting challenges for all of you, too.

Sandra Polizos Editor

P.S. I’ll post a picture of the completed stocking on Prime’s FB page in Decem-ber! Wish me luck!


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QUICK READS

6(NOTE: Information presented here, and elsewhere in Prime, is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician.)

If You Can’t Run, WalkRunning can be a daunting if not

impossible activity, especially if you’re not in the best of health. However, you can walk your way to the same rewards you’d get by running. Over a six year period researchers analyzed more than 33,000 runners in the National Runners’ Health Study, plus more than 15,000 walkers in the National Walkers’ Health Study. Study participants were 18 to 80 years old, with most in their 40s and 50s.

Researchers focused on time, not distance, and found that brisk walking (considered moderate intensity), com-pared to running, produced similar risk

reductions for hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and possibly heart disease.

While running significantly cut the risk for first-time hypertension by 4.2%, walking cut the risk by 7.2%. Similar risk reductions were found for first-time high cholesterol (4.3% for running, 7% for walking) and first-time diabetes (12.1% for running, 12.3% for walking).

Most adults should get 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity exercise, with at least two days of strength-train-ing exercises.

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. John Hopkins Health Alert,

www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com

Mother DOES Know BestThe amount of education a mother

attains, and the age at which she has children, can help predict her children’s success in reading and math. A new study from the University of Michigan says children of mothers 19 and older usually enter kindergarten with higher levels of achievement than children of mothers 18 and younger. The good news is that the children of teen mothers who continue their education after having children do better academically than children of teen moms who did not con-tinue, though the study predicts children of younger mothers never catch up.

Data analyses took into account mothers’ educational expectation

for their children, the home environ-ment and other characteristics, such as household income, that may influence children’s achievement.Trends indicate that mothers who give birth during ado-lescence have much lower rates of high school completion and college enroll-ment in comparison to their counter-parts who delay pregnancy.

These patterns highlight the impor-tance of investing in early interventions that target adolescent mothers to provide them with the skills needed to promote their children’s learning.

Journal of Research on Adolescence, University of Michigan,

posted by Science Daily, www.sciencedaily.com.

Beware of the “Health Halo”When consumers see a company performing good deeds, they often assume the com-

pany’s products are healthy. According to a new study this may be far from true, and the company’s socially responsible behavior may be creating a positive feeling in consumers, termed a ”health halo,” that carries over to unhealthy foods.

According to the study, a collaboration between the University of Kentucky, Westminster College and Florida State University, consumers often infer a company’s product is healthy based on that company’s good deeds, often showcased in advertising and marketing cam-paigns. This “health halo” encourages overconsumption and underestimation of calories.

The study warned that consumers seeking healthy food choices should not base their selection on companies with strong reputations for corporate social responsibility.

Journal of Public Policy & Marketing. Posted by Science Daily, www.sciencedaily.com.


Exercise and Cognitive Decline: Good NewsAll mental functions, including memory, depend on

an adequate supply of blood to the brain. Regular physical activity promotes better mental functioning by improving cerebral blood flow. Research based on objective assessments of physical activity has begun to help doctors determine how much activity might make a difference.

For their four-year study, researchers recruited 716 individuals with an average age of 82 who did not have dementia. Initially, participants wore an actigraph for 10 days. This device provides an objective measure of all physical activity, including such things as washing dishes and playing cards. Memory and cognitive abilities were assessed yearly and participants self-reported physical and social activities. Over the course of the study, 71 participants developed Alzheimer’s disease.

People in the bottom 10% of total daily physical activity were more than twice as likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease as people in the top 10%. Those in the bottom 10% of intensity of physical activity were almost three times as likely to develop AD as people in the top 10%.

These findings don’t prove physical activity can ward off Alzheimer’s disease, but do suggest all types of physical activity are beneficial.

Journal Neurology, posted by Johns Hopkins, http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/.

Your Eyes and DementiaChanges to the eyes might help diagnose

the onset of frontotemporal dementia (FTD), the second most common form of

dementia, according to new research from scientists at the Univer-

sity of Alabama at Birming-ham, Gladstone Institutes and the University of

California, San Francisco.Findings published

in the Journal of Experimental Medi-cine show a loss

of cells in the retina, even before any changes

appear in their behavior, is one of the earliest signs of FTD

in people with a genetic risk for the disorder.The researchers studied a group of indi-

viduals who had a certain genetic mutation that is known to result in FTD. Before any cognitive signs of dementia were present, these individuals showed a significant thin-ning of the retina compared with people who did not have the gene mutation.

“This finding suggests that the retina acts as a type of window to the brain,” said Erik Roberson, M.D., Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Neurol-ogy at UAB and a study co-author.

Although it is located in the eye, the retina is made up of neurons with direct connections to the brain. This means studying the retina is one of the easiest and most accessible ways to examine and track changes in neurons.

This and other stories available at www.uab.edu/news.


FEATURE

Prime is teaming up with the Alabama Department of Archives and History to present a different

group of photographs each month in an effort to identify the individuals depict-ed. The photos are from the collections of three Montgomery-based photog-raphers active in the mid-twentieth century, Horace Perry, John E. Scott, and Jim Peppler.

Perry and Scott were based in Mont-gomery, in business together from about 1947 to 1952. They each continued working independently after that, Perry until about 1959 and Scott until the late 1980s. Peppler was a staff photographer for The Southern Courier, a newspaper serving the local African American com-munity from 1965 to 1968. After leaving the Courier he continued his career at

Newsday in New York.In addition to identifying individu-

als, Archives is interested in any other details about the images, including cor-rections to the descriptions. If you have information about these photographs contact Meredith McDonough, [email protected], or call 334-353-5442. You can also e-mail Prime at [email protected].

Help Us “Remember When”

Jim Peppler (above: photo Dec. 1967)Children in the group “Buds of Promise”

from Mt. Zion AME Zion Church in Montgom-ery, singing to an elderly woman in her home. The group was led by Mrs. Bertha D. Howard. The day this photo was taken, the children sang Christmas carols in the homes of nine ill or shut-in people. The image was taken for, but not used in, the article and photo spread “Black Christmas” which appeared on pages 2 and 3 of The Southern Courier for December 30-31, 1967. This issue is available online (not on the ADAH website), at http://www.southerncourier.org/low-res/Vol3_No53_1967_12_30.pdf.

John E. Scott (right: photo Dec. 18, 1952)Members of the Salvation Army board of coun-

selors at the Christmas donation booth in front of the Kress store, 39 Dexter Avenue, downtown Montgomery.

Horace Perry (photo Dec. 1952)Interior of the First National Bank in

Montgomery, decorated for Christmas. A security guard is giving candy to three children.


MONEYWI$E

For many reasons this is the time of year when people commonly think of

giving, sharing and generosity. One reason is the celebration of Christmas and Hanukkah with their traditions of gift giving. Another is that year-end marks the deadline for charita-ble gifts that are tax deductible. If you are feeling magnanimous, here are five ideas that you

might wish to consider before acting on a generous impulse.

First, while most people give to charity by means of a check or cash, other alternatives may be more efficient for larger donations. For example, if you have appreciated stocks or mutual fund/ETF shares that you have held for more than a year and a day, a gift of shares will yield the same deduction as an equal cash contribution, but you will avoid paying tax on the asset’s appreciation.

Second, if you want to donate before year end to capture a deduction, but are not sure where you want the gift to go, here is a solution for you. Many foundations offer an option called a “donor-advised fund” which lets you give now, get a deduction this year, and later recommend where you want the money in your donor-advised fund to go. Organizations offering them include the Central Alabama Community Foundation, Fidelity Charitable, the National Christian Foundation, Schwab Charitable, and Vanguard Charitable. Each has a minimum amount that they will handle and administrative charges, but generally they work the same way. You can check them out on the web.

Third, charitable organizations are not created equal. For instance, some are very efficient, using a large majority of donor funds for charitable activities. Others are less so and may have relatively high expenses for staff (and executive) salaries, fund-raising and promotion, etc. There are easily accessi-ble sources of data on many charities. These allow you to comparison shop for those or-

ganizations that meet criteria important to you. Among these are www.guidestar.org, www.charitywatch.org, www.charitynavigator.org, and for many Christian charities, www.ecfa.org.

Fourth, if you have been involved for some time supporting one or more charitable causes, you might want to consider includ-ing it or them in your estate plan. One of the best and easiest ways to do so would be to add the charity(ies) as a beneficiary for part of your traditional IRA or other non-Roth retirement account. Since an individual beneficiary would owe tax on a retirement account distribution you leave them, a dollar withdrawn by them would yield less than a dollar of benefit. Because a properly func-tioning charity pays no taxes, a retirement distribution to charity avoids the tax bite which individual heirs cannot. Therefore, leaving a gift to charity from your retirement account is more tax efficient than a chari-table gift from other assets.

Finally, the ideas above are most appropri-ate when relatively larger gifts are contem-plated. But even a small act of sharing can dramatically impact the life of another, espe-cially when the recipient is not looking for it and the donor derives no benefit, including a tax deduction. The blessings of generos-ity in its purest form often result from such simple acts as a cash gift to a person in need who is not asking for help, taking an unsolic-ited meal to an elderly or shut-in person, or volunteering to give a bit of your time and energy to a worthy cause to help others. All that is necessary is to tune in to people and circumstances around you. Chances are, you’ll see lots of opportunities. Why not engage in a few small ventures in generosity during the 2014 giving season and see what happens?

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

Give & Save: 5 Year-end Ideas

Alan Wallace


YARD ‘N GARDEN

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

For a free copy of ITEC’s Viewpoint newsletter call 334-277-9111.Visit ITEC’s website at www.eyes-itec.com

E Y EF A C T S

• You take certain antibiotics, estrogen pills, or non-steriodal anti-inflammatory drugs.

• You have hazel, green or blue eyes;Your risk of eye disease can increase if :

My wife and I bought a house in 1999 with a very large back yard. There were a number of ma-

ture oaks, with much of the yard in deep shade. Due to lack of light, competition from tree roots, and damage from the previous owner’s dogs, there were large areas with no grass. Even worse, the top soil had washed away over the years leav-ing a subsoil consisting of a hard-packed clay/gravel mix that, while excellent road bed material, was useless for growing even shade-tolerant grass.

Using composted organic matter to im-prove soil quality is an age-old technique. For many centuries it was about the only way to do so. Over the years a variety of other techniques emerged, including the well-know compost pile – created simply by putting waste vegetative matter into a large pile and periodically turning it until it decomposes into compost. The process was improved by using bins or containers to concentrate the heat generated by de-composition and to retain moisture. Use of green manure — planting a cover crop, then plowing it into the soil and letting it decompose there — is another old-time method. All of these techniques, however, are fairly labor intensive, and I am not a labor intensive guy. But back to my yard problem.

Each autumn I was presented with a huge volume of oak leaves, which I gathered with the mower, piled up, and composted. My wife, not pleased with the big piles of leaves sitting in the back yard, bought some fancy composting bins which sped up the process. I dug up a patch to plant vegetables, and utilizing the compost, converted the hard packed subsoil into a soft, crumbly soil that absorbed water quickly and was very easy to work. But spading up the rock hard clay, breaking up the clods, and mixing in large amounts of compost was hard work. Using this method to improve the large areas with no grass or topsoil would require lots of physical labor.

I considered buying a power tiller or

bringing in a couple of truckloads of topsoil, but dismissed these as they still required a high level of physical exertion. Finally, I found a method that appealed

to me. I discovered a small composting book by Stu Campbell, Let It Rot! Home Gardeners’ Guide to Compost-ing, which discussed sev-eral methods of composting, including one I’d never heard of — sheet composting.

Sheet composting consists of depositing a thick layer of leaves, grass clippings, and other organic matter evenly over a fairly large area, and allowing these items to decom-pose, adding new material every year, replicating what occurs natu-rally on a forest floor. Leaves in excess of what would fit in my compost bins were dumped and scattered over the area. During the summer, grass clippings were dumped and scattered as well. No other activity was needed. For a lazy man, what could be better?

Year after year, leaves and grass clip-pings were added. Amazingly, the depth of un-decomposed material never reached more than three to four inches. It seemed the more material I added, the faster it decomposed, leaving the duff and humus. When I dug into the soil, I was amazed to find the humus only about two inches

deep, and the clay in the subsoil radically transformed. No longer just red, the clay had darkened up

to eight inches deep, greatly due to the organic matter dramatically

improving the soil.My next step is to seed the area

with a shade tolerant variety of St. Augustine grass, which

still has to compete with the oak tree roots and thrive with limited sun. But at least now the soil will be recep-

tive to grass roots, and the roots will have a

fighting chance.

Andy Jackson, a Master Gardener in the Capital City Master Gardener Association, lives in Montgomery. For information on becoming a master gardener, visit the website, www.capci-tymga.org or e-mail [email protected].

Sheet Composting

Intern classes for becoming a Master Gardener begin in February. For more information call 270-4133.

By Andy Jackson


A GRACIOUS PLENTY

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VINTAGE

The holiday season tends to overflow with traditions – recipes passed down through generations, annual family gath-

erings, tree trimming parties and gift exchang-es, to name a few.

But it’s also a time filled with opportuni-ties for the traditional to meet the modern as Christmas includes potlucks and parties with friends, coworkers and family from near and far, from a variety of backgrounds – and with all different kinds of tastes.

So how can you put a modern spin on your holiday menu? It’s simple: add bold, exciting flavors to your home-cooked holiday favorites.

For example, you can start with the tra-ditional – tart, sweet cranberries and pork tenderloin – and add a twist, like jalapenos, to create robust, complex flavor. With seven total ingredients and less than an hour of total cook time, Spicy Cranberry Pork Tenderloin is a celebration-worthy meal that will delight your taste buds and your guests with the perfect combination of classic meets new inspiration.

For a garnish, sprinkle freshly chopped sage on top of the finished product. Serve the pork and spicy cranberry sauce with roasted sweet potatoes, skinned and mashed with butter and honey.

IngredientsServes 6-8

2 pork tenderloins, about 1 pound each2 limesKosher salt and freshly ground black pepper1 teaspoon vegetable oil1 (12-ounce) bag fresh cranberries2/3 cup light brown sugar, packed1 jalapeno, seeded and finely chopped

Preheat oven to 400°F. Finely grate zest from limes. Juice limes (about 4 tablespoons). In small bowl, mix half lime zest (about 2 tablespoons) with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper. Brush tenderloins with oil.

Place tenderloins in nonstick roasting pan, fat side up. Roast, flipping them over after 8 minutes. Add lime zest mixture to top, and continue roasting until digital meat thermometer reads between 145°F. (medium rare) and 160°F. (medium), about 35-40 minutes.

Meanwhile, in medium saucepan, mix 1 cup water with cranberries, brown sugar, jalapeno and remaining lime zest and juice. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer, stirring oc-casionally, until berries have burst and juices thickened, about 5 minutes. Set aside.

Transfer pork to carving board and let stand for 3-5 minutes. Mean-while, in roasting pan, bring cranberry sauce to a boil over medium heat, scraping up any browned bits in pan with wooden spoon. Carve pork and serve with sauce.

(Family Features, National Pork Board)

Spicy CranberryPork Tenderloin


TINSELTOWN TALKS

For many, the title “King of Rock and Roll” is re-served for one man: Elvis Presley. Had he lived, the King would have celebrated his 80th birthday on

January 8, 2015.Unlike most departed singers who are remembered

largely for their music, Elvis lives on through a phenom-enal number of appearances in scripted motion pic-tures – 31 in all – beginning with “Love Me Tender” in 1956 and ending 13 years later with “Change of Habit” in 1969. His movies provide a unique glimpse into another dimension of one of the twentieth century’s greatest entertainers.

Although his films were often dismissed due to weak and predictable scripts, critics generally regarded Elvis as a surprisingly good actor. But what did costars think about working with Elvis? In 1966, 10-year-old Donna Butterworth costarred in “Paradise, Hawaiian Style,” the second Elvis film set in Hawaii.

“My mom and dad took me to see ‘Blue Hawaii’ when I was just a little girl and I fell in love with him right then and there,” said Donna. “I used to listen to his records and I couldn’t get enough Elvis.”

Donna recalls filming her first scene on the cliffs of Makapuu, on Oahu.

“I had to run up into his arms and call out ‘Uncle Rick, Uncle Rick,’” she remembers. “But I had only met him a few minutes before that.”

When the director called “action,” she ran into his arms, then found Elvis’ face very close to her’s.

“After all the anticipation of meeting Elvis Presley and working with him, I just froze,” she said. “I couldn’t be-lieve I was so close to this beautiful man! All the crew cracked up because they knew I was so enamored. In fact, Elvis laughed the hardest – he just loved to laugh.”

Unlike Donna, 7-year-old Susan Olsen wasn’t an Elvis fan when she briefly appeared in the talent contest au-dition scene in Elvis’s second-to-last film, “The Trouble

Remembering

Elvis the ActorBy Nick Thomas

Above: Donna Butterworth, Presley in “Paradise, Hawaiian Style.”Below: Marlyn Mason and The King in “The Trouble with Girls.”

On his 80th birthday


with Girls” (1969).“I couldn’t understand all the hype over

him and I didn’t even think he was good-looking!” said Susan, who went on to play youngest daughter Cindy on the popular ‘60s TV show, “The Brady Bunch.”

That changed after their first brief encoun-ter.

“I remember that a bunch of the kids’ mothers suddenly started screaming. Elvis had come out of his dressing room and they crowded around him for autographs. So I thought, ‘What the heck! I’ll get one too.’ So I went up to him – and I’m not making this up – when he looked at me I thought, ‘Oh, I get it! I see why they like him so much.’ He had this special aura about him. I was just dumbstruck, I couldn’t say anything. He signed the photo, handed it to me, and said. ‘Here ya go darling.’”

Elvis’s leading lady in “The Trouble with Girls” came away with more than just an autograph. Marlyn Mason snagged an on-screen kiss.

“It was a comedy kiss,” said Marlyn, indi-cating that the only fireworks were the real ones in the movie scene.

She took an unusual approach to get the

required reaction from Elvis. Just after the fireworks scene, Elvis comes up behind her and starts rubbing her shoulders.

“I just turned around, off camera, and started undoing Elvis’s belt and trousers!” Marlyn recalled. “Well, I didn’t get very far because it wasn’t a long scene. Elvis got this funny look on his face which you can see in the film. He was great fun to work with, because I could throw anything at him and he’d just throw it right back.”

She also recalls a private moment when Elvis shared thoughts about his acting.

“The saddest thing Elvis said to me was ‘I’d like to make one good film because I know people in this town laugh at me.’ I’ll never forget that,” Mason said. “But he was always down to earth and comfortable with himself. Some of that dialogue was so corny, but he managed to bring a realness to it. And I think that’s just how he was in real life. He was a natural comedian, and his timing was just impeccable. I just found him to be a very genuine person.”

Despite his fame, Will Hutchins says Elvis didn’t play the celebrity although he was usu-ally accompanied on most of his films by pals – the so-called Memphis Mafia.

Wilda Taylor as Little Eqypt,’with Presley in “Roustabout.”


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“On the set, Elvis was like a host – a Southern gentleman – making sure everyone was having a good time,” said Hutchins, who first worked with the star in “Spinout” (1966).

The following year he costarred with Elvis in “Clambake” which fea-tured a lot of ad-libbing and fooling around on the set.

“It was more-or-less a defacto stag party because Elvis was getting married soon after the filming was finished,” Hutchins said.“Elvis and his buddies would set off firecrackers. It was pretty wild, but a lot of fun. For the director’s birthday, they had a cake and pushed it right in his face!”

Wilda Taylor appeared in three Elvis Presley films, but strut-ted into Elvis movie history as exotic dancer Little Egypt in “Roustabout” (1964).

“We rehearsed for about two weeks,” said Taylor. “Elvis was in and out of the rehearsal hall every so often between his other busy filming days for the other scenes. He knew his

material and music well, and I grew to admire him a great deal. It’s amazing, through the years, how many people know about me and Little Egypt from that film. Oddly enough, I really didn’t know much about Elvis before we worked together, but I found him to be a lovely, darling person, and I was just pleased to be a small part of his life.”

With each passing decade since his death in 1977 at age 42, the Elvis legend and legacy continue

to grow. When viewed in the context of the often zany

‘60s TV and film period, it is gratifying that there exists such an extensive film library of the most celebrated entertainer in history.

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 450 magazines and newspapers.

Will Hutchins and Elvis in “Clambake.”


If one of your holiday tasks is shipping gifts to family and friends across the country, these tips and tricks will ensure your packages ar-

rive in time for the festivities.The big news for this holiday season is Sunday

package delivery in major cities and high volume areas. For those expecting packages at home, U.S.P.S. officials say Prattville, Wetumpka, and Montgomery area zip codes fall within the new Sunday holiday delivery service guidelines.

From shipping deadlines to packaging, there are many factors to consider when sending gifts, especially during the busy holiday season. Fortunately, there are dozens of resources available to help make shipping holiday gifts more convenient than ever.

The U.S. Postal Service lets you order free Priority Mail shipping supplies from usps.com and delivers them right to your door - from boxes to envelopes and stickers.

”Priority Mail is a convenient and afford-able shipping option for holiday gifts,” said John Budzynski, consumer advocate at the U.S. Postal Service. “It offers features like package redirect, free package pickup and text update alerts.”

Be informed about policies for handling frag-ile gifts or items that may be hazardous, such as perfume, cologne and other liquids.

Always include a return address. It tells the shipper where to return the pack-age if it can’t be delivered.

Print postage at home using Click-N-Ship from the U.S. Postal Service at usps.com/clicknship. It not only saves time, but money too; you can receive up to an 11 percent discount by buying postage online.

Don’t get caught in the holiday rush. Schedule a free pack-age pickup from your home or office.

Stay updated on the status of your package.

Use Priority Mail to receive tracking to moni-tor your package’s progress toward its destina-tion. You also can sign up for text and e-mail alerts through my.usps.com to help you track package delivery.

Check key shipping dates to ensure your package arrives in time for the holiday. The U.S. Postal Service provides these deadlines to help you plan ahead for delivery by Dec. 25:

Dec. 2 - International First-Class MailDec. 2 - Priority Mail InternationalDec. 10 - Priority Mail Express InternationalDec. 15 - Standard PostDec. 17 - Global Express GuaranteedDec. 20 - First-Class Mail/Priority Mail/ Dec. 20 - Priority MailDec. 23 - Priority Mail Express

Note: Priority Mail Express postage refund eligi-bility is adjusted for shipments mailed December 22-25.

“The U.S. Postal Service prepares all year for the holidays,” Budzynski said. “This is our season. We are ready to help customers ensure their packages are packed, tracked and delivered with ease.”

For more shipping tips and online tools, visit usps.com.

Holiday Shipping 101 FEATURE

Courtesy: Family Features


IN EVERY LIFE

Over the past few months, the impor-tance of evaluating health information in the media has been discussed in this

column. Manufacturers of over-the-counter (OTC) products present potential benefits, but it is often difficult to evaluate if you should pur-chase these to meet your needs, or if possible risks outweigh potential benefits. The plethora of advertisements for products classified as complementary or alternative medicines (CAM) is of particular concern.

The term “complementary” refers to a product or treatment used in conjunction with another one. “Alter-native” refers to products or treatments used instead of other(s). One risk of CAM treatments is termed opportunity cost--the potential of losing the opportunity for another treatment that may be effective only during a specific time within the course of an illness. Another risk in-volves potential interactions with concurrent prescribed medications.

Products classified as CAM are evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) using differ-ent criteria than for pharmaceuticals, which contributes to variations in their strength. Some manufacturers label their products as independently monitored for strength and quality, but the amount per dose can vary, making comparative research difficult. This variability also makes predicting potential interactions with other medicines or treatments difficult. Further information can be obtained at the FDA website. See http://www.fda.gov/forconsumers/consumerupdates/ucm118079.htm

Two additional risks of CAM are the lack of large peer-reviewed research that provides evidence of the treatment’s effectiveness, and lack of knowledge about how a CAM treatment may interact with other ongoing treatments. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has a repository of information about CAM at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM). See http://nccam.nih.gov/

Potential for altering effectiveness of concurrent prod-ucts is based on the principle that all substances taken into or applied to the body go through four processes:

1) Absorption2) Metabolism3) Distribution4) ExcretionEach person’s body functions uniquely, and the time for

completing each of these processes varies, making it diffi-cult to predict how any product will be processed. Chang-es that accompany aging affect the length of time for these processes to be completed, posing a risk that one dose may not be fully metabolized, distributed, or excreted by the time the next dose is taken, leading to overdosing and further complications. An additional concern is that one substance may block absorption of another, or possibly

increase the action of each product. For example, the actions of anti-

coagulant medications such as Coumadin are increased by

supplements such as Gingko, po-tentially leading to hem-orrhage. Furthermore,

variations in strength complicate the risk for interacting or interfer-

ing with other substanc-es or body functions.

Another example is Benadryl, an OTC antihistamine that can be

purchased in varying strengths. It is also marketed as a sleep aid due to

its side effect of drowsiness. However, its antihistamine properties can reduce bodily fluids and cause confusion or diz-

ziness. A list compiled by Dr. Mark Beers is available to review medications that are of higher risk for older adults. See http://www.ngna.org/_resources/documentation/chapter/carolina_mountain/Beers%20Criteria%20Literature.pdf

Although a product may be effective for one person, it may not work that way for you. All products and treat-ments should be listed with times, doses and intended purposes and discussed with healthcare providers at each visit. OTC medications are convenient, but they do pose risks. If you are considering adding a product, discuss this first to avoid interactions or complications.

Arlene H. Morris, EdD, RN, CNE, is Professor of Nursing, Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing, and Immediate Past President of the AL State Nurses Association. Reach her at [email protected].

Over-the-Counter Risks

Arlene Morris


SOCIAL SECURITY

With holidays and vacations, De-cember is often considered a time to focus on the children

in our lives. Whether we’re taking the kids to visit Santa, buying Hanukkah gifts, or volunteering for a toy drive, children are at the heart of the holiday season. And Social Security definitely knows a thing or two about helping children.

Social Security issues numbers for children, typically during the first weeks or months of their life. For informa-tion read Social Security Numbers For Children, available at ww.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. A child needs a Social Security number if he or she is going to have a bank account, if a relative is buying savings bonds for the child, if the child will have medical coverage, or if the child will receive government services. You’ll also need a Social Security number for a child to claim him or her on your tax returns. Typically, the hospital will ask if you want to apply for a Social Security number for your newborn as part of the birth registration process. This is the easiest and fastest way to apply.

If you wait to apply, you will have to visit a Social Security office and you must:1. complete an Application For a Social Security Card (Form

SS-5);2. show original documents proving your child’s U.S. citizen-

ship, age, and identity;3. show documents proving your identity.A child age 12 or older requesting an original Social Secu-

rity number must appear in person for the interview, even though a parent or guardian will sign the application on the child’s behalf.

You can imagine the many diverse needs children around the world have. Children in some countries aren’t as

fortunate, and don’t have the strong social safety net we have in the United States. Social Security works to protect the needs of children, particularly if one or both of their parents are disabled, retired, or deceased. These benefits for children provide necessities, and help many minors complete high school. You can learn more by reading Benefits For Children, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Children with disabilities are among our most vulnerable citizens. Social Security helps those with qualifying disabilities and their families through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. To qualify for SSI:1. The child must have a physical or mental condition, or a

combination of conditions, resulting in “marked and severe functional limitations.” This means that the condition(s) must severely limit your child’s activities;

2. The child’s condition(s) must be severe, last for at least 12 months, or be expected to result in death. If your child’s condition(s) does not result in “marked and severe limita-tions”, or does not result in those limitations for at least 12 months, your child will not qualify for SSI;

3. The child must not be working and earning more than $1,090 a month in 2015. (This amount usually changes every year.) If he or she is working and earning that much money, your child will not be eligible for disability benefits.

Learn the details by reading Benefits for Children with Dis-abilities, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/people/kids to learn more about what Social Security does to care for children. Caring for the next generation is a national priority, during the holidays and all year long.

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

Benefits for Children

Kylle’ McKinney

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FEATURE

Above: A lesiurely cruise past the Eiffel Tower, Paris.Right: Judy and Mark Weaver, Cape Sounion, Greece.

Mark Weaver diving on the Great Barrior Reef, Australia.


A trip around the world may sound a bit over the top, but if you take time to plan it, based on your available funding and time, it could be a cherished trip-of-a-lifetime. Our experience (and mistakes) from the year 2000,

when my husband and I traveled to 10 countries in 103 days, is shared here to assist with the fun creation of your own trip.

Planning your Air TicketDesigning an around-the-world itinerary begins with your bucket-list — the

places you want to visit as well as the time and budget you can devote to your travels. Typically, purchasing an around-the-world ticket is cheaper than booking individual flights. You must travel in one direction, east or west. There are other rules, as well, such as a minimum and maximum number of stopovers and the duration of the trip.

The price point is based on the number of miles and stop-overs you plan. Today, there are several on-line planners that help you experiment with your itinerary, the dates of travel, and the cost. For example, using Delta’s www.skyteam.biz plan-ning template, I just created a three-month, 31,646-mile itin-erary that costs $5,610 plus tax and fees, for one economy class ticket. (The business class version costs $12,210.) Originating in Atlanta, the itinerary has stops in Dublin, Athens, Rome, Paris, Oslo, Singapore, Perth, Sydney, and back to Atlanta.

Using www.Staralliance.com, another possibility for around-the-world tickets, the same economy itinerary priced out at an estimated $4,815 plus tax and fees. The business class version costs an estimated $9,986. (The taxes can add as much as $2,000, depending on which airports you’re flying into.)

But don’t book your tickets just yet…

Trip-of-A-LifetimeBy Judy Stone Weaver

Planning Your


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Searching for Reasonable Accomodations Try to plan your accommodations before you lock in your flight schedule. The fun is just beginning! There are so many online sites to research affordable places to stay during your trip.

If you can spend a week at some of your destinations, apart-ments may be cheaper by checking in and out on a particular day of the week. Two-star hotels are typically good, just look at photos of the bed size and bathroom and send the owner an e-mail if you have questions. Your research will give you a good idea of what your accommodation budget is going to be. My personal goal is to average between $150-200 per night for accommodations.

Finding Culinary Delights Within Your BudgetDepending, of course, on where you are,

the cost of food can be controlled with an adventurous spirit and a love of markets, street food, and picnics. In Paris, nothing beats the Rue Cler market for fresh, deli-cious, and eating like a Parisian. Watching the locals is always helpful. Best of all, you can justify indulg-ing in gor-geous pastries, delightful cheeses, crusty French bread, and local wines with all the walking you will do.

Don’t be afraid to ask. My husband ordered andouille sausage and pommes frites in a Paris café. The waitress asked if he knew what it was. He replied, “Oh yes, I’m from Louisiana.” It was cooked beautifully and served in a white wine sauce, but cutting into it, he realized the sausage casing was stuffed with intestines. Yikes! He ate every bite. Sure enough, his French phrase book said, “Andouille sausage is made of intestines.” We still laugh about the dessert he ordered to clear his palate.

Budgeting $100 per-day for two to cover food, local trans-

portation, and entertainment is doable if you schedule some “light” days along the way.

Tips To Travel By Uber PlanningDon’t be surprised if it takes many days of your time to look

at maps and research the general area where you want to stay in each location, as well as the accommodations, the flight itinerary, the sites you want to see, and all the details that will make your trip a joy.

Pack smartRick Steves (and numerous other travel

sites) have so much advice on how to

pack for a trip. Flying economy,

you can check one 50-pound suitcase for free, so plan

carefully. Busi-ness class allows two 50-pound bags, but prac-

tice walking up and down your driveway rolling two bags and a backpack before you com-mit. Use a secure backpack for medicines, cosmetics, money, credit cards, pass-

port, and travel papers.

Emergency ServicesWe are MedJet members now for almost 20 years. Knowing

we have options in case of illness overseas is reassuring.

CommunicationWe are all “airplane mode all the time people,” using wi-fi

for all our communication while we are traveling out of the country. Phone cards, purchased as needed, are cheap if you


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need to make calls. Of course, a tablet or e-reader for books is a big space saver and handy companion.

Credit CardsMake sure you travel with a credit card that does not charge

foreign transaction fees. All credit cards charge big interest for any cash you withdraw using your credit card. A debit card for your currency needs is a must.

Keep a daily journalRecording the details of your trip will be so meaningful

later. When you read it three, five or 10 years after your trip around-the-world, you will laugh, cry, and start planning your next adventure.

Giant Yard Sale. Dec. 5,6, 7 a.m.-noon. Indoors. Books, tools, household, seasonal, electronics, more. Montgomery Area Square Dance Association, 2200 Poplar St.Wetumpka Depot Players, Eggnog and Fruitcake. Dec. 11, 12, 18, 7:30 p.m. (Dec. 14m 2 p.m.). For tickets call 334-868-1440, or visit www.wetumpkadepot.com.Christmas on the Coosa. Dec. 13, Wetumpka. Gold Star Park. Arts, crafts, parade, food, quilt show, classic cars, entertainment, ending with fireworks; http://www.cityofwe-tumpka.com.Joe Thomas Jr. 3rd Tuesday Guitar Pull, Dec. 16, 7 p.m. Cloverdale Playhouse. Rae Fitzgerald, Will O’Rear, Elisha Tatum.

Yard Sale, Theatre, Music & More


FEATURE

The holiday season is a time for giving, but is the message of sharing the wealth getting lost in the commercial clutter?

It doesn’t have to. Grandparents around the country are finding ways — some subtle, some not so subtle — to drive home to their grand-children the idea that it can be fun to give. Follow these tips to follow their lead.

Teaching Grandchildren Generosity

By Cindy Richards, grandparents.com


1. Be a Role ModelThe first step towards help-

ing your grandchildren become more charitable is to model charitable behavior for them, says Susan Beacham, CEO of Money Savvy Generation, a company helping parents and grandparents teach kids how to be financially fit. Tell your grandchildren about the causes you support and let them see you write a check. Better yet, take them along the next time you volunteer.

2. Start SmallMany groups have programs that

arrange for children to buy holiday gifts for kids from needy families. Contact your place of worship, the United Way, or another local charity to find such a program in your area, and ask to be matched with a family that has kids your grandchildren’s ages. Then take your grandchildren to the mall, give them a budget, and let them pick out the gifts.

That’s how the Tuohy family of Chicago started its Christmas tradition. Instead of buying gifts for each

other, they now get presents for 1,200 needy people across the city. Tom Tuohy started the Dreams for Kids foundation

19 years ago at the urging of his mother. His niece, 19, has never done anything else on the Sat-

urday before Christmas but attend the family’s Dreams for Kids Holiday of Hope charitable party, an annual event that now takes place in more than 35 cities across seven countries.

3. Make It a TraditionCarol Weisman of St. Louis, Mo., the

author of Raising Charitable Children, (F. E. Robbins & Sons) calls her fam-ily together each year on Christmas

for a "Joy and Sadness Meeting." At the meeting, everyone shares what made them

happy or sad during the year, and then lobbies for a cause that deserves the family's philanthropic support in the year ahead.

The tradition started when Weisman’s kids were in grade-school, and she plans to pass it along to her grandchildren, the first of which is now just an infant.

“One year, one of the kids was talking about how it irri-tates him that all of his professional decisions are based

on the need to have health insurance,” Weisman says. That “sadness” turned into a plan to pay for a year’s worth of health insurance for a single mom whose daughter had asthma.

4. Make It MeaningfulYou can turn holiday traditions into opportunities for

giving. Marianne and Stuart Taussig of Illinois buy each of their eight grandchildren two gifts every Chanukah. One is for the child, and the other is a bookmark explaining that a book was purchased in his or her name and given to a needy child in Israel. “We try our best to do these subtle things to help our kids not only appreciate what they have, but know that not everybody in the world is as lucky as they are,” says Marianne Taussig, whose oldest grandchild is 13. “They all love books, so they know that getting a new book is a very special thing.”

For Rose Logston of Ohio and her grandchildren, baking cookies together is a holiday tradition that continues even though her oldest grandchild is now a teenager. The cook-ies aren't just for their own holiday table, though: They bring the treats to residents of a nearby senior high-rise (housing Logston's mother), as well as to groups helping local needy families. Logston says the senior residents enjoy the delivery visits from her grandchildren even more than the cookies themselves.

Grandparents.com is a lifestyle site that celebrates the grandpar-ent community by providing trusted information about family & relationships, health & well-being, travel & retirement, and more. Follow the site on Twitter (@grandparentscom) and on Facebook (facebook.com/grandparentscom).


TRAVEL

Drive 20 minutes east of Savannah, Georgia, through a few miles of wide sky and salt marshes, and at

the end of the road is beautiful Tybee Island. One of Georgia’s 17 barrier islands, Tybee is one of the most laid back, authentic south-ern beach towns on the East Coast.

Named after a Native American word for “salt,” Tybee Island has been a popular desti-nation for more than a century. In the early 1930s it welcomed up to 20,000 people each weekend to its serpentine shoreline for daytime beach fun and dancing under the stars. For decades, Tybee was one of the busiest seaside resorts in the Southeast. Its appeal is timeless, and people come here for slightly different reasons than they once did. Today, it’s a place where just “being” is enough.

This quirky oceanfront community has a rich and fascinating history. Over the years,

a number of different flags have flown over the island, claiming this coastal paradise for Spain, England, France, the Confederacy and even bands of pirates.

“Tybee Island has a fascinating past,” said Sarah Jones, executive director of the Tybee Island Historical Society. “There's so much more to Tybee's history than meets the eye, from Native American history to 19th and early 20th century military influence to unique barrier island architecture, especially what is known as the historic Tybee ‘Raised Cottages.’”

Known as “Savannah’s Beach,” Tybee Island first became a popular vacation destination in the 1800s, when ocean breezes were recommended as a remedy for a host of ailments. In the years following the Civil War, visitors arrived by steamship. In 1897, the Central of Georgia Railroad built a line from Savannah to Tybee Island, making the

By Kara Ford

Tybee IslandUnhurried, Uncrowded

>

Biking along one of Tybee’s beaches. Photo by Geoff L. Johnson, courtesy Visit Tybee.


beach more accessible. By the 1920s the road now known as Highway 80 connected Tybee Island with the mainland, and auto transportation became the preferred mode of travel.

With its spacious dance floor, the popular Tybrisa Pavilion on the strand served as a fre-quent stop for popular musicians including Duke Ellington and Cab Calloway. Although the origi-nal pavilion burned in 1967, the Tybee Pier and Pavilion was rebuilt and re-opened in 1996, and is once again one of the most visited and visible attractions on the island.

“Tybee is unhurried and uncrowded,” raved best-selling author Mary Kay Andrews, who owns a beach cottage on the island and has written sev-eral popular novels about Tybee. “Tybee Island is the perfect place to go when you crave a slower, simpler pace.”

Only four of Georgia’s barrier islands are de-veloped and accessible by bridges, including Tybee. But you can still enjoy wild, unspoiled beaches on nearby Little Tybee, Ossabaw and Wassaw Island, each just a short boat ride away.

“There’s something magical about exploring these primitive sea islands rich in native coastal wildlife, maritime forests, protected marshes and more,” said Sara Lane, director of Visit Tybee. “Birding enthusiasts will find native coastal birds

Coco’s Sunset Grille. Photo by Geoff L. Johnson, courtesy Visit Tybee.


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like egrets, herons and osprey year-round, as well as wood storks and other migrating birds.”

History buffs will be enchanted by Ty-bee Island Lighthouse, built in 1773. It has the distinction of being one of America’s most intact lighthouses as well as Georgia’s oldest and tallest. It has guided mariners safely into the Savannah River for more than 270 years and remains a functioning navigational aid. The station’s light, courtesy of a first order Fresnel lens, can be seen 18 miles out to sea.

Active adventurers can climb its 178 steps to enjoy one of the most breath-taking views in Georgia. Visitors can also drop by the Tybee Island Museum, lo-cated in an 1898 coastal Georgia artillery battery at Fort Screven, for impressive artifacts and enlightening exhibits about the island’s rich history.

Northwest of Tybee Island is Fort Pulaski National Monument. The historic 1847 fort played a key role during the Civil War, when Union troops bombard-ed this Confederate fortification with rifled cannons. Visitors can still see the damage caused by the cannon fire. With Kayaking on Tybee Island. Photo by Geoff L. Johnson, courtesy Visit Tybee.


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Fellowship Series Cello, November 13 • 7:30pmViolin, December 4 • 7:30pmCello, January 13 • 7:30pmViolin, February 10 • 7:30pmCello, March 29 • 2:30pmViolin, April 16 • 7:30pm

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its unique military history, daily cannon firings and miles of pet-friendly hiking and bike trails, Fort Pulaski offers a full day of fun and exploration.

Days on Tybee Island are as active, or lazy, as the mood demands. Explore local galleries and shops, ride bikes across the island or down the Rails to Trails crushed stone path, kayak or paddle board on Tybee’s Back River, or simply kick-back on the beach and watch the ships come into port from the Atlantic Ocean into the Savannah River. An easy drive will take you into beautiful historic Savannah for a taste of true Southern decorum and plenty of boutique shopping along bustling Broughton Street.

Many of the raised beach cottages, one of Tybee’s defining historic architectural styles, are available for rent by the day or week. From cozy beach bungalows, to luxurious ocean-front homes and condos, to B&Bs, most lodging accommoda-tions are a short walk or bike ride to the beach and other local attractions, including popular restaurants.

Seafood is fresh, plentiful and delicious on Tybee, with an array of restaurants and bars ranging in atmosphere from beach-chic to dining dives. There’s no pretense, and flip flops are a wardrobe staple.

A visit to Tybee Island provides an authentic southern beach town experience, where you can kick off your shoes and cast off the worries of the week. It’s a place where kids can ride their bikes to the local ice cream parlor and families can spend quality time together. Many visitors come back year after year, even generation after generation. Before long, they find themselves looking for a little place to call their own.

Above: Raised cottages are signature historical Tybee Island dwellings.Below: Bright, airy interior of Mermaid Cottage. Photo by Beth Bryan.


GAMES

Crossword and Sudoku answers on page 30.

Across1 Lies as a whole?5 King who raged to Edgar

on the heath9 Turbaned Punjabis14 Matty or Felipe of baseball15 Puffs additive16 Pistons great Thomas17 Hog product18 *Madonna20 Leave open-mouthed22 Gets under control23 *Ivy League professional

school26 PC brain29 Skier's challenge30 Tuna holder31 Sci-fi hybrid33 Running or jumping36 Mideast flier37 *Fruity dessert with

sweetened crumbs42 Wrath, in a hymn43 Writes to, nowadays44 Green stuff47 Transfer __48 Orchestra site51 Say more52 *"The Lord of the Rings"

genre56 Liszt or Schubert

57 Plaque honoree58 Prize for an aspiring musi-

cal artist, perhaps from the first word of the answer to a starred clue

63 Avatar of Vishnu64 Congo critter with striped

legs65 Golden St. campus66 Grace ender67 Concise68 Use FedEx, say69 Male deer

Down1 Versailles attraction2 Los __: Manhattan Project

site3 Pink shades4 Invasive vine5 WC6 Actor Roth7 Arterial trunk8 Kingly9 Like the village blacksmith's

hands10 Philosophies11 Rio automaker12 Laugh syllable13 Shunning the spotlight,

maybe

19 Computer that may use Snow Leopard21 Toastmaster24 Caustic comeback25 Accustom (to)26 Firearms pioneer27 Backside28 Hard to look at32 Nectar collectors33 High spirits34 Pierre, e.g.35 Friend of Snow White37 Verdi opera with pyramids38 Nudge39 Tex's bud40 NPR correspondent Totenberg41 Short on taste45 "__ Melodies": Warner Bros. shorts46 Tablet debut of 201048 Land on an isthmus49 Chemical relative50 Oppressive ruler53 River near Karachi54 Austerlitz native55 Holy ark contents56 Dandies58 Decompose59 __ out a living60 One may be hired61 Onetime ring king62 Track circuit (c)2014 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, INC.


More than 7 million Americans, in-cluding 97,870 Alabama residents, got coverage through the Health

Insurance Marketplace during the pro-gram’s first open enrollment period a year ago. Now’s the time to check your health care coverage for 2015 or sign up for the first time.

If you bought a health plan last year, you’ll want to review it to make sure it still meets your needs. Every year, insurers make changes to premiums, out-of-pocket costs and benefits. Look for a letter from your insurance company explaining how your costs and benefits may change for 2015.

Even if you’re satisfied with your cur-rent coverage, it’ll be smart to log into your marketplace account at www.health-care.gov and update your information on household income and family size. You may also contact the marketplace call center at 1-800-318-2596 to do that.

Updating your personal information is important, because you may be eligible for lower costs than last year. Seventy-nine percent of the New Mexico residents who signed up during the first enrollment period qualified for help with their premi-ums. That help reduced their costs by 76

percent on average.Generally, if you bought a plan last year

and do nothing this year, you’ll be auto-matically re-enrolled. Yet as tempting as “doing nothing” sounds, you could be missing out on a better deal.

Nationally, 25 percent more insurers will offer coverage through the marketplace in 2015. By comparing all the available plans in your area at www.healthcare.gov, you may find one that saves you more money, offers more services or includes more doctors in its network of providers.

The open enrollment season runs until Feb. 15. But if you want any changes in your coverage to take effect on Jan. 1, you must act by Dec. 15.

Like last year, this year’s open enroll-ment gives the uninsured the chance to obtain coverage through the marketplace. The private health plans all cover a com-prehensive set of benefits, including doctor visits, hospital stays, preventive care, preg-nancy and prescription drugs.

Health plans sold through the market-place must treat you fairly. Insurers can’t deny you coverage because you have a medical issue, such as cancer or diabetes. Nor can they charge you more than they would someone who’s in good health.

By completing an application at www.healthcare.gov, you’ll find out if you qualify for savings you can use right away to lower your premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. The application has been streamlined since last year so that it requires less time and work from most new enrollees.

The marketplace simplifies your shop-ping for coverage by letting you make con-venient comparisons of health plans. You’ll get a clear picture of what benefits you’d get and what premiums and deductibles you’d pay. Then you can enroll in the plan that best fits your needs and budget.

If you expect frequent doctor visits or need regular prescriptions, you may want to pick a plan that has higher monthly pre-miums but pays more of the costs when you require care. If you don’t foresee many visits through the year, you may prefer a plan with lower premiums.

Also, before you buy a plan through the marketplace, check whether your doctor is in the plan’s network. Your out-of-pock-et costs will be lower. The most direct way to find out is to call the insurance compa-ny’s customer service line. You can get the number through www.healthcare.gov.

The website has been improved over the last year so that it can better accom-modate the heavy demands that will be placed on it as millions of consumers shop, compare and enroll. If you like, you’ll be able to access the website on your cell-phone and sign up for coverage.

At the marketplace call center, an addi-tional 1,000 customer service representa-tives have been hired to assist consumers who call 1-800-318-2596. You can also visit localhelp.healthcare.gov/ to locate the organizations in your community that will assist you in signing up for coverage.

For most people, the open enrollment period from Nov. 15 to Feb. 15 is the only time during the year when you can buy health insurance through the marketplace. So don’t delay. Start shopping today.

Bob Moos is Southwest public affairs officer for the U.S. Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

Check Your 2015 Health Care Coverage By Bob Moos

MEDICARE


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PrimeCelebrating Midlife and Beyond

November 2014

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Finding anArthritis-Friendly

Vehicle


Pain, fatigue, reduced joint range of motion, loss of muscle strength -- experiencing any one of these arthritis-related symptoms can make driving a challeng-ing proposition. In fact, according to a recent study in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, many drivers with arthritis report that symptoms affect their ability to perform even the most basic driving maneuvers, such as steering, checking blind spots, reversing and responding to sudden changes.

Fortunately, in most cases, there’s no need to give up the car keys if you have arthritis. By purchasing a vehicle with arthritis-friendly features or by making adaptations, you’ll be able to maintain your independence without putting your safety or that of others at risk.Buying a new car. If you are ready to purchase a new

vehicle, here are some important arthritis-friendly fea-tures to keep in mind.

• Automatic transmission • Remote key and starter • Running boards and assist handles on sport utility vehicles and vans • Adjustable steering wheel (up and down and

telescoping) • Fully adjustable seats (height, distance from

pedals, tilt and lumbar support)• Adjustable pedals

• Padded steering wheel• Easy-to-grasp controls within easy reach

• Dashboard-mounted push-buttonignition switch• Seat belts that are easy to reach, lock and release• Cruise control• Easy-to-use door handles• Easy-to-adjust mirrors and sun visors• Easy-to-access trunk or rear door• Shorter turning radius to ease

maneuvering

And don’t be afraid to discuss your driving difficulties with your physician or to seek the services of a reha-bilitation specialist. Some people with arthritis fear that admitting their physical limitations behind the wheel will

ultimately cost them their driver’s license.

(Courtesy, Johns Hopkins Health Alerts, http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com/. This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician.)

Finding anArthritis-Friendly

Vehicle


Dec. 6, 1847 — The Alabama legislature begins its first session in the new capital of Montgomery. The capitol building cost $75,000 to build and was paid for by the citizens of Mont-gomery. It was destroyed by fire two years later. Dec. 11, 1919 — The boll weevil monument is dedicated in Enterprise, but without the weevil statue. That was added 30 years later.

Dec. 14, 1819 — Alabama becomes a state. Dec. 14, 1849 — On the thirtieth anniversary of Alabama statehood the capitol in Montgomery is destroyed by fire.

Dec. 16, 1898 — U.S. President William McKinley visits Tuske-gee Institute at the invitation of Booker T. Washington, the school’s president.

Dec. 19, 1871 — The city of Birmingham is incorporated by the legislature, with the governor appointing the first mayor and eight aldermen.

Dec. 21, 1956 — The Supreme Court ruling banning segre-gated seating on Montgomery’s public transit vehicles goes into effect. Dec. 23, 1813 — In the midst of the Creek War, American forces defeat Creek warriors in the Battle of Holy Ground, a sacred town on the banks of the Alabama River.

Dec. 25, 1956 — The home of Birmingham minister and civil rights leader Fred Shuttlesworth is bombed.

Dec. 29, 1835 — The Cherokee Indian Treaty Party signs the Treaty of New Echota, ceding their lands east of the Missis-sippi River to the U.S. government.

Jan. 1, 1900 — The New Year begins with cold temperatures and snow in Birmingham and Montgomery.

Jan. 1, 1926 — The University of Alabama football team wins the Rose Bowl, the first of six Rose Bowl appearances, and the first time a southern team was invited to a national bowl game.

Jan. 1, 1953 — Legendary singer-songwriter Hank Williams

dies at the age of twenty-nine. Over 20,000 people attend his funeral in Montgomery.

Jan. 3, 1978 — Louphenia Thomas is the first black woman elected to Alabama Legislature.

Jan. 4, 1861 — A week before Alabama secedes from the Union, Gov. A. B. Moore orders the seizure of federal military installations Fort Gaines, Fort Mor-gan, and the U.S. Arsenal at Mount Vernon.

Jan. 9, 1965 — The battleship USS Alabama is dedi-cated in Mobile as a World War II memorial. Com-

missioned in August 1942, the Alabama served primarily in the Pacific, earning nine battle stars.

Jan. 10, 1957 — Six pre-dawn bombings in Montgomery dam-age four black churches and two ministers’ homes, including that of Montgomery Bus Boycott leader Ralph Abernathy.

Jan. 11, 1861 — The Alabama Secession Convention passes an Ordinance of Secession by a vote of 61-39, becoming the fourth state to secede from the Union.

Jan. 12, 1951 — Annie Lola Price of Cullman becomes the first woman to serve on the Alabama Court of Appeals when she is appointed to the court by Gov. Jim Folsom.

Jan. 16, 1967 — Lurleen Wallace is inaugurated as Alabama’s first female governor and only the third nationwide. She died in office of cancer on May 7, 1968.

Jan. 19, 1818 — The first legislature of the Alabama Territory convenes at the Douglass Hotel in the territorial capital of St. Stephens.

Jan. 20, 1702 — French colonists, led by Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, establish Fort Louis de la Mobile on a bluff twenty-seven miles up the Mobile River from Mobile Bay.

Jan 26 1983 — Retired University of Alabama football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant dies suddenly from a heart attack.

Jan. 28, 1846 — Montgomery is selected as capital of Alabama by the state legislature on the 16th ballot.

Jan. 30, 1956 — During the Montgomery Bus Boycott, segre-gationists bomb the home of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jan. 30, 1966 — Alabama experiences its coldest ever record-ed temperature of -27°F at New Market in Madison County.

Jan. 31, 1902* — Tallulah Bankhead, star of stage, screen, and radio in the 1930s, ‘40s, and ‘50s, is born in Huntsville. Daugh-ter of U.S.Congressman William B. Bankhead, she was most famous for her flamboyant lifestyle, throaty voice, stage role in The Little Foxes (1939) and her part in the film Lifeboat (1943). *[Generally accepted birthdate.]

December andJanuary in

Alabama History(Courtesy, AL. Dept. of Archives & History)


PRIME DIVERSIONS

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, The Hundred-Foot Journey & Guardians of the Galaxy

Recent dvd releases

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (PG-13) I’m starting to OD on big-budget

action flicks featuring massive com-puter-generated battle sequences. Even so, there’s something to like about this sequel to 2011's Rise of the Planet of the Apes. The saga re-sumes about 10 years later, with Caesar (Andy Serkis), the simian who learned how to speak, having established a thriving colony in Muir Woods, not having seen any human survivors of the global viral epidemic for a long time. Then a few show up. There are en-claves of us; one in nearby San Francisco. They need to reactivate a dam that’s on Caesar’s turf. Neither side understands or trusts the other. Apes were the source of the devastating pathogen; humans had a longer track record of mistreating their ancestors (zoos, lab experiments, habitat destruction, etc.). Not the climate for warm fuzzies among the warm or the fuzzy.

Some well-intentioned leaders work out a tentative truce, while other hawkish, paranoid members of both species under-mine the prospects for peaceful coexistence. There’s not much one could call novel about the story, but the execution is com-mendable. It takes a while to tell which ape is which, since they’re not distinguishable by clothing, as in the original series of films from the 1970s. Some of the “dialog” is subtitled. Analogies to his-torical and current political events and polemics are anything but subtle, but still valid. Mayhem staging is quite good. Enjoy the ride; another sequel is in the works. (Blu-ray/DVD release December 2)

The Hundred-Foot Journey (PG) For those craving a nice little dramedy aimed for older audi-

ences, this one should fill the bill nicely. A family of restaurateurs from Mumbai is forced from their home by political unrest. After

a failed attempt to re-start in England, they’re driving through France when their car breaks down in a remote village. The patriarch (Om Puri) senses their destiny lies there in an abandoned eatery, despite its proximity to an elegant one-star Michelin Guide establishment directly across the road. The star of the enterprise

is Hassan, who inherited his late mother’s instincts for creating unique and wonderful dishes, and just needs the chance to let his gift blossom, as Harry Potter needed his Hogwarts education.

The locals, knowing nothing of Indian cuisine, are skeptical. The rival owner (Helen Mirren) is initially dismayed by the gaudy col-ors and pungent odors invading her turf, then threatened by the awareness of some serious competition. The two sides engage in various tactics to mess with each other, even as one or two possible romances stir across the battle line. There’s not a lot of novelty in the screenplay, but the settings are lovely and foodies will salivate over the kitchen and dining table closeups. The story

plays out with a lyrical sweetness despite some ethnic unpleasantness in the mix. Mirren and Puri aren’t the stars, but they’re the ones who make it all work as well as it does. (Blu-ray/DVD release December 2)

Guardians of the Galaxy (PG-13) Though I’ve never met him, I’ll bet St. Louis native James Gunn

knows how to have fun while surviving in Hollywood. His scripts for Dawn of the Dead and Slither deftly combined horror and humor. Now he shines as the writer and director of this light-hearted big-screen incarnation of a Mar-vel Comics superheroes-in-space series. Compared to the recent onslaught of big-budget productions tending to be dark in tone, or otherwise taking them-selves far too seriously for fantasy fare, Guardians stands out as a breath of fresh air.

We’re shown the origins of what becomes a team of one roguish, Han Solo-esque Earthling (Chris Pratt); a foxy green as-sassin (Zoe Saldana); a diminutive, sarcastic humanoid racoon lab experiment (voiced by Bradley Cooper); a hyperthyroid sourpuss (David Bautista) who makes The Hulk seem perky; and a big locomotive tree with limited vocabulary, but surprising skills (Vin Diesel at his most appealing...just the voice). This motley crew of crooks and grudge holders winds up as unlikely allies against a galactic megathreat.

To Gunn’s credit as a writer, he lays out a surprisingly coher-ent screenplay, considering the large number of characters, exotic alien life-forms, planets and backstories he’s cramming into two hours. Lacking any previous awareness of The Guardians, I have no idea how true he is to their pulpy roots. Yet bringing newbies like me up to speed so efficiently, while delivering plenty of laughs and splashy action along the way, makes his directing admirable, as well.

Pratt’s character is just starting to find his place in space. Cooper’s is the source of most of the laughs; others come largely at Bautista’s expense; Saldana would be sexy reading from a phone book in a muumuu. The creators wisely chose not to aim for the emotional depth or sense of wonder we got from the original Star Wars trilogy. Nor are they competing with the likes of Batman and Spiderman for angst-driven heroics, even though these protagonists have all suffered hard knocks of their own. This adventure hits all the right notes for large-scale f/x action sequences, mind-blowing sets and species, suspense and comedy. I’ve rarely left the theater after one of these sci-fi epics so ready for its inevitable (in this case, scheduled for 2017) sequel. (Blu-ray/DVD release December 9)

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

Mark Glass


OFF THE BEATEN PATH

"Sorry, but a couple wood ducks are not worth a 3 a.m. wake up," they'd say when he'd ask. It was all the same to him, the invita-tion being obligatory anyway to appease his wife when she worried about him hunting alone.

"Couldn't get anyone to go," he'd respond.But he wasn't alone. He had the Lab, whose company he pre-

ferred to most people's. Wintry Saturday mornings were spent shivering in the stillness of early morn, the pair of them sharing barely a square foot of cypress stump, hoping to see ducks. Should luck fly their way, the double-stacked Browning would go to work.

Their perch was nearly bark-less, shredded in that way only a dog desperately grasping for purchase before blastoff can do. He had watched her launch fearless into the black muck after countless fallen fowl, glad that was her task in the partnership.

The air was crisp, a light fog settling over the water. Save for the occasional tail splash of a beaver or hoot of an owl, there was only the familiar silence of the swamp. This was Woodrow's home.

They'd hiked in long before dawn and he knew the warm dampness beneath his waders would turn cool just before the first birds came. He always allowed himself a small indulgence of hot coffee, to fend off the chill, before breaking the Browning over his right knee and filling the chambers. She watched him patiently. Knowledge of his routine was the only tool by which the Lab could measure time, anticipating every step in the pro-cess, knowing each one brought her that much closer.

She always heard the wing beats long before he would see their silhouettes zipping through the bare treetops and take aim. Scanning the moonlit sky above, she rested, but at the ready.

It amused him how she sprung to attention at the "click" of his safety. He sometimes did it just to make sure she was paying attention, which she always was. After all, this was what she lived for. Patting her head, their eyes met, and without any sign between them, both knew it would begin soon.

Her eyes broke left, tracking something not yet visible through the trees. She let out a soft whine, he hearing only her whimper and knowing exactly what it meant. He reached for the Brown-ing as two ducks came in high and fast. As they passed directly overhead he let loose with both barrels, nearly falling off the stump, coffee and shells spilling everywhere.

BOOM! BOOM!And then, nothing. She sighed, shoulders slumped in disappoint-

ment. He dared not look at her, better instead to pretend the two misses hadn't happened and beg her forgiveness later.

Behind them, two splashes broke the silence. She spun around

before he could turn his head, crouched like a swimmer waiting for the gun, claws firmly dug into the stump face. When he gave the word, she would be off like a four-legged rocket through the swamp. It was the moment for which they'd risen so early, for which they'd trudged through bramble and mire in the dark. He wished to savor every second, but she could hardly contain herself.

"Back," he whispered, the "ck" still on his tongue when she hit the water, steady strokes cutting a long, deep wake toward the barely visible pair of dark shapes floating still in the broken fog. "Drive," they call it; a dog is either born with it or it isn't, and she had it in spades. While training can hone and focus, there's no way

to build without a solid foundation.She returned with the first bird, a

drake, placed it in his hand, and went back for the other without further instruction. He hoped it too was a drake, realizing he'd fired excitedly without first making out the birds. As she swam closer, he squinted intently, saw the white chinstrap of a wood duck drake, and felt relief.

They settled onto the stump, back to back, smiling in their own ways and ready for the next flight. After half an hour without even a merganser to show for it, he laid the shotgun across his lap and was reaching for the thermos when a single "quack" turned them both to stone.

Two sets of eyes - human and canine - followed the pair of mallards until they showed tail feathers. He pulled the call to his lips and uttered three soft, distinct notes.

"Quack ... quack ... quack."The ducks turned, interested. They

circled the naked trees surrounding the water hole, just out of range, before heading off on their original course.

"Quaaaack, quack, quack, quack, quack," went the call. The ducks turned back once more to investigate, this time found the wind to their liking, dropped their landing gear and descended. Had they even seen him or the dog it wouldn't have mattered, for there'd have been no time to react. The Browning barked twice and the ducks hit the water, skipping like stones to within a few feet.

At his command, she did what she was born to do, and two plump mallards joined the wood ducks on his game strap. Laying the shotgun across his lap, he settled back on the worn stump to finally enjoy that cup of coffee, scratching her ears with the other hand. This was Woodrow's home, but it was theirs just the same.

Niko Corley, a licensed charter boat captain, spends as much of his free time as possible on the water or in the woods. He can be contacted at [email protected].

Woodrow’s Home

Niko Corley


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