Prime Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016

December 2015/January 2016Prime

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Celebrating Life

Lela Foshee’sRecipe for Life

December 2015 | January 2016 www.primemontgomery.com2

www.primemontgomery.com December 2015 | January 2016 33

Editor’s Note 4

Quick Reads 6 Is junk food an unfair obesity target?

Yard ‘n Garden 9 Gardens require patience

Winter Car Care 10Head-off cold weather problems

Money Wise 11Is a tax-free Roth right for you?

History Mysteries Solved! 12Prime/Archives partnership yields results

What’s on YOUR shoes? 14 3 reasons to check ‘em at the door

Social Security 15Prepare for personal disaster

Tinseltown Talks 16The man with “The $6 Million Man”

All in the Family 18 Generations of family recipes

Camels, Cows & Goats 22 How ‘Heifer’ helps feed the world

Crossword & Sudoku Puzzles 26Answers on page 30

Bridging the Distance 286 gift ideas for long-distance grandparents

In Every Life 31 Paint a family health portrait

Prime Diversions 32 Recent DVD releases: A ‘Mission,’ A Trail, An Ant

Calendar 33

Off the Beaten Path 34 Mitch

December 2015/ January 2016

Table of Contents


EDITOR’S NOTE

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

PrimeDecember, 2015 Vol. 6, Issue 9

PUBLISHERBob Corley, [email protected]

EDITORSandra Polizos, [email protected]

ART DIRECTORCallie Corley, [email protected]

WRITERSEllen Breslau, Andrea Gross,

Elizabeth Incarnation, Sandra Polizos

CONTRIBUTORSNiko Corley, Mark Glass, Cheri Youngblood,

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

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Irv Green, Bob Corley

SALESBob Corley • 334-202-0114,

[email protected] McFarland, • [email protected]

Prime Montgomery7956 Vaughn Road, #144

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

ISSN 2152-9035

Prime Montgomery is a publication of The Polizos/Cor-ley Group, LLC. Original content is copyright 2015 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.

My mother always wrote her Christmas list on the back of an opened piece of mail…an

old church bulletin, an unsolicited sales notice, an out-of-date invitation. Any envelope delivered by the postman – or its contents – was fair game. A pre-schooler during most of the 1950s, I distinctly remember Mama sitting down at the kitchen table to make “the list.” She repeated the names of family and close friends aloud before affixing each to her shopping blueprint. I could barely contain myself. Holiday-themed storefronts were beautiful, but Mama’s list made the season real. Christmas would soon be here.As the oldest (and for several years the only) girl I was my mother’s constant

shopping companion. Young and lighthearted, my mother loved Christmas and all it represented. Talking with me about gifts she might purchase fanned the excitement for us both. Like two buddies on a shopping adventure, Mama never hesitated to ask my opinion on the perfect gift for my grandmother, Dad, or my teachers. But any mention of children’s gifts was strictly off-limits. Miss Open-Heart (and Mouth), the five-year-old me just couldn’t keep all that juicy infor-mation to myself. It was a lesson Mama learned the hard way.Together, we shopped all over downtown Montgomery as she held my hand

and led me into Montgomery Fair, Klein’s, Bon Marche’ and Kress. Were they her favorite stores? I have no idea, but they were all on the same side of Dexter, and my mother was infinitely practical, especially with a child in tow.Neither of us could hold out too long before a treat was in order. The freshly

made popcorn sold just inside the Kress building was my favorite, but occasion-ally Mom would opt for a meal on Montgomery Fair’s mezzanine level. One Christmas season, after I bragged that Mama was taking me there for lunch, my brother scared me witless, warning that “mezzanine” referred to an era when dinosaurs ruled the planet. As my mother dragged me from the elevator, fearful and apprehensive, I anxiously surveyed the premises for prehistoric monsters. Thrilled when none materialized, I eventually relaxed. Dinosaurs or no, this mezzanine luncheonette sold a grilled cheese sandwich that was the bomb, and I wasn’t going to miss it. No one was happier with my new-found courage than Mama. As we ate, my thoughts turned back to Santa Claus and Christmas while Mom updated her list with our most-recent purchases.After weeks of shopping, after I’d watched her neatly wrap and tag each pack-

age, Mama delivered our family’s gifts on Christmas Eve. No one could match her energy for the task, or mistake her excitement and joy in giving. It was a quality anyone who knew her recognized. It was the Spirit of Christmas. This year, as I began my own holiday shopping list and sat down with family to

discuss our seasonal plans, I saw that Spirit alive again – this time in my grown daughter’s eyes. Her dedication to family, her loving heart, and her jubilation in making others happy are abundantly apparent. My mother’s namesake, how could I have expected anything less?May this season be full of love, hope, and happiness for us all. Merry Christmas!

Sandra PolizosEditor


Take your tastes to a different kinda place at Wind Creek Casino & Hotel Montgomery. Get in the winning groove on our gaming fl oor, grab a bite of somethin’ outta sight at one of our three dining venues, then spice up your evening with the soulful sounds of B.B. King’s Blues Club. And if all that action seems too good to leave behind, our stylish hotel will be open December 2015 for you to start spending your winning nights.

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Parental ChallengeTwo-parent households in which both par-

ents work full time has risen to 46%, up from 31% in 1970. In economic terms, families with two full-time working parents are better off than other families, but balancing work and family poses challenges. More than half of all working parents say it is difficult to balance the responsibilities of their job with the re-sponsibilities of their family. Among working mothers 41% report that being a parent has made it harder for them to advance in their career. Twenty percent of fathers say the same thing about their own careers.

In families with both parents working full-time, respondents say they share equally in such tasks as household chores and respon-sibilities, disciplining, and playing or doing ac-tivities with the kids. But many respondents say day-to-day parenting responsibilities fall to mothers.

— Pew Research Center: Social and Demographic Trends

Junk food: Unfair Target?Junk foods are often painted as prime culprits in the national dis-

cussion of obesity. While a diet of chocolate bars and cheese burgers washed down with a soft drink is inadvisable from a nutritional stand-point, these foods are not likely to be a leading cause of obesity in the U.S., according to a new Cornell University Food and Brand Lab study. The study, published in Obesity Science & Practice, finds that intake of

these foods is not related to Body Mass Index in the average adult.Researchers found consumption of soda, candy and fast food is not linked to Body Mass Index (BMI) for 95% of the popula-

tion. The exception is those on the extreme ends of the BMI spectrum: the chronically underweight and morbidly obese.

Researchers concluded that diets and health campaigns aimed at reducing and preventing obesity may be off track if they hinge on demonizing specific foods. The study suggested that if real change is desired, overall diet and physical activity must be examined rather than targeting junk foods.

Clinicians and practitioners seeking to help individuals ob-tain a healthy weight should examine how overall consump-

tion patterns, such as snacking and physical activity, influence weight instead of just eliminating “junk foods” from patient’s diets.

— Cornell University, Food & Brand Lab. ScienceDaily, November 2015.

Long-distance CaregivingTaking care of an older relative or friend in another city or state

can be challenging. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) offers tips to help meet this challenge.

1) Get written permission to receive medical and financial information.

2) Build on each family member’s or caregiver’s personal strengths when sharing responsibilities.

3) Find adult day care, in-home assistance, transportation, and other services in the older person’s area that might be useful.

The NIA provides practical tips and resources on-line. Visit the following:n http://1.usa.gov/1WthoHTn http://1.usa.gov/1NMb6B3

— National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health

QUICK READS


Water Workout For Joint PainExercise is an important tool for anyone of any age aiming to stay

healthy and fit. But for many older people, arthritis and osteoporosis can make movement difficult, causing pain or limiting mobility. The good news is that there’s a kinder, gentler way to improve cardiovascular and muscular strength. Water-based workouts are among the best exercise programs for older adults.

Engaging in water exercise offers a host of benefits while preventing the stress and discomfort of land-based sports. The exercises, similar to those done on land, are performed vertically in shallow water ranging from waist to chest deep, and you don’t need to know how to swim to partici-pate. Because water buoys joints and muscles, there’s a significant reduc-tion in impact and stress on the body as well as a reduced risk of falling.

A recent six-month study of water-based exercises saw improvements in upper- and lower-body strength, flexibility, balance and aerobic capacity, including improved shoulder flexibility measured by the ability to reach various parts of participant’s own backs.

Wear a comfortable swimsuit and invest in aquatic shoes for stability and to protect your feet from rough pool surfaces and fungal infections like athlete’s foot. Pool shoes are a must if you have diabetes.

— Arthritis, November, 2015

Talk Away Winter BluesTalk outshines light in keeping the winter blues at bay, according to a

University of Vermont researcher. More than 14 million Americans suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), ranging from 1.5% of the popu-lation in southern states such as Florida, to more than 9% percent in the northern regions of the country. An estimated 10 to 20% of all cases of recurrent depression follow a seasonal pattern.

In the two-winter study, one group of subjects was given light ther-apy, the other group cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), where they received one-on-one counseling. Of the subjects receiving light therapy, almost twice as many as those receiving CBT reported a recurrence of depression. Depressive symptoms were also more severe for those who received light therapy.

Light therapy requires the subject to take active steps to maintain treatment. After the second winter only 30% of light therapy subjects were still using the equipment. Once SAD sufferers learned the basic skills of cognitive-behavior therapy, it appeared to have a longer-term value. An early study showed both methods were effective in treating SAD during the first winter they were administered.

— University of VermontAmerican Journal of Psychiatry

Colorful, winter-hardy hibiscusLike artists using paint on a palette,

the research team at Texas A&M AgriLife Research center created the first blue-flowering winter-hardy hibiscus three years ago. The same team has now come up with a new salmon-colored garden jewel. According to researchers, until a few years ago hibiscus were available only in white, pink and red. In contrast to its distant cousin the tropical hibiscus, the winter-hardy hibiscus has a very narrow genetic potential for new colors to appear in the process of selective breeding. More time has also been spent in developing new color combina-tions in tropical hibiscus.

To date, the team has created more than 8,000 hybrids among the four na-tive species, resulting in not only the blue-flowering hibiscus, but numerous other colors including maroon, magenta, dual-colored flowers and the newest with salmon-colored flowers.

— Texas A&M AgriLife Communications ScienceDaily, Nov. 2015


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Prime was honored with two First Place national awards for Best Coverage of Topical Issues (“Memories of the March”) and Best Single Ad (All Ears Hearing Centers) at the North American Mature PublishersAssociation (NAMPA) annual convention.

Prime also received four Second Place Honors for Travel, How-To, Briefs and Shorts, and Website excel-lence.

NAMPA represents 38 publications in the U.S. and Canada with a combined readership of five million.

National Awards for Prime

FEATURE

Compiled by Sandra Polizos

For many area residents memories of the Selma-to-Montgomery March are personal. Living in and around the Capital City in March of 1965, they were in the midst of a momentous

news story which led to groundbreaking changes in American society. Viewed from a variety of vantage points, current and former area residents recall their memories

of both the period and the history-altering event.

Memoriesof the

March

Above: Marchers walk past Saint Margaret’s Hospital.Right: Singer Joan Baez (L) and actress Susan Sarandon joined the march.

Topical Issue Coverage

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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

How-To Feature

FEATURE

Walking up Andrew Higgins Drive to the corner of Magazine Street, the National World War II Museum rises

against the New Orleans skyline like a giant stone vault, holding the history, and perhaps some secrets, of what’s been termed Ameri-ca’s “Greatest Generation.”

It’s a history touching every facet of American life. Sixteen million men and women served in the armed forces during

World War II. Inside the museum’s five (soon to be six) buildings are the stories of those lives. For many, those stories are also passed down on family trees from genera-tion to generation.

The Louisiana Memorial Pavilion is the place to start your journey through the Museum. There you can buy tickets and talk to Museum volunteers. With a little luck,

you’ll hear a first-hand account from one of the approximately 20 WWII veterans who volun-teer with the Museum.The Memorial Pavilion is

also where you start your “Dog Tag Experience.”With a general admission ticket to the Museum, you

receive a dog tag allowing you to follow the life of a WWII participant. The Train Car Experience is your

first stop with your dog tag, recreating the first leg of a journey that carried millions of Americans away from their families and into service. Throughout the

museum you check-in at different stations, collecting the stories for your dog tag and learning more about

the person whose life you’re following.If your museum trip starts early, Jeri Nims Soda Shop is a

great place to grab a snack or a quick breakfast, while The American Sector is a full-service restaurant serving lunch and dinner. You can add a little flair to your visit with a live show at Stage Door Canteen, where music of the war years comes to life. Find the show lineup and ticket information on-line before your visit at stagedoorcanteen.org.

Once you leave the Memorial Pavilion, cross the street to the main portion of the WWII Museum. The newest addition, added in 2014, is Campaigns of Courage, considered the heart of the museum experience. The Road to Berlin exhibit showcases the grueling challenges servicemen faced in the European theater, from the deserts of North Africa to Germany’s doorstep. The

Story and photos by Callie Corley

Blood of Heroes

The Atlantic Wall was Hitler’s 3,300 mile defense network. This section was on Utah Beach. The marks are from the thousands of American weap-ons fired on the German-held beach on D-Day.

Travel Feature


Montgomery Bridge Club • 1103 S. Perry St.

American ContractBridge League

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YARD ‘N GARDEN

I grew up in New England and I remember my Grandpa putting a trowel in my hand for the first time

when I was three years old, because I wanted so badly to help him. I was blessed that he was retired and willing to spend his days with an adoring grand-daughter. Our backyards joined at the back of our lots so my mother never worried when I would run out the back door in the morning yelling that I was going to “dig in the dirt.”

Don’t I remember those endless questions Grandpa would kindly answer

for me? “Grandpa, when will the apples be ripe enough to eat? When will it be time for me to help Grandma pick the currants? Can I help you pick the little tomatoes?” I was always ready to do these things, but it was not always the right time to do them. Grandpa would gently tell me things would be ready in God’s own time – not mine – no matter how badly I wanted them.

Twenty years ago I saw a picture of an Amazon Lily in a Wayside Gardens catalogue. I thought it was lovely and immediately ordered it. When the plant came in the mail, there was only a huge bare root in a plastic bag. I planted it according to the directions – another of Grandpa’s lessons – and waited and waited and waited.

I waited 14 long years, as the lily slowly grew in my Orchid house, in the dappled sunshine of the Florida woods. For all those years there was never any more to the plant than five or six bright, shiny leaves. I cannot tell you how many times I nearly tossed that plant right out the door because I was so tired of waiting, but its beautiful, shiny leaves –

sparse as they were – always stopped me. Through-out that time I kept hearing my dear Grandpa’s voice saying, “Patience, Cheri.”

One day, all of a sudden, the lily just woke up. It started growing by leaps and bounds and in no time at all I had my first flower stalk with its cluster of five blooms. They looked like flattened white daffodils and carried a delicate smell.

Finally, a long seventeen years after I had first planted that root, the lily began to produce blooms. Today it fills the corner of my living room – heaven help me if it gets much bigger – and blooms several times a year.

My Grandpa’s admonition, “Patience, Cheri,” was right on the mark.

Cheri Youngblood, a Master Gardener in the Capital City Master Gardener Association since 2014, lives in Montgomery. For more information on becoming a master garden-er, visit our web site, www.capcitymga.org or email [email protected].

Growing Patience

Capital City Master Gardener AssociationFREE LUNCH & LEARN

Noon – 1:00 P.M.

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Classes: Each Thursday Dates: February 18th – May 5th

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Fee: $150.00, paid after acceptance.

Hosted by Capital City Master Gardener Association

For more information, call 334-270-4133, visit www.capcitymga.org or

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By Cheri Youngblood


FEATURE

Harsh winter weather can be tough on

vehicles, and the last thing any driver needs is to break down. Ensuring your vehicle is winter-ready now is a sensible approach to avoid the incon-venience of being stranded out in the cold.

"An investment of an hour or two to have your vehicle checked is all it takes to have peace of mind and help avoid the cost and hassle of car trouble during se-vere weather," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council.

Follow these steps this season to winterize your vehicle:T For good visibility, make sure that exterior and inte-

rior lights work and headlights are properly aimed. Also check to see that heaters, defrosters, lights and wipers work properly. Consider winter wiper blades and use cold weather washer fluid. T Very cold temperatures reduce a vehicle's battery

power so it's important to keep the connections clean, tight and corrosion-free. Batteries don't always give warning signs before they fail completely, so if your vehicle's battery is more than three years old, it's wise to replace it. T Have the brakes inspected and check the tire tread

depth and tire pressure. If snow and ice are a problem in your area, consider special tires designed to grip slick roads. During winter, tire pressure should be checked weekly.T Winter magnifies existing problems such as pings,

hard starts, sluggish performance or rough idling, so have the problems fixed before the temperatures drop. T Clean, flush and put new antifreeze in the cooling

system as needed and have the exhaust system checked for carbon monoxide leaks, which can be especially dangerous during cold weather driving when windows are closed. T Be diligent about changing the oil and filter at recom-

mended intervals. Consider changing to "winter weight" oil if you live in a cold climate. Check the fuel, air and transmission filters at the same time.

T Keep the gas tank at least half full at all times to decrease the chances of mois-ture forming in the gas lines and possibly freezing. T Check the tire pressure of the spare in the trunk and stock an emergency kit with an ice scraper and snowbrush, jumper ca-bles, flashlight, blanket, extra clothes, bottled water, dry food snacks and medication.

T Store important telephone numbers in your cell phone or glove box in case of a breakdown or travel emer-gency.

Courtesy: Family Features. Source: Car Care Council.

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MONEYWISE

A Roth account is the only income tax-free (not just tax-deferred)

account structure available to most people. If you do not have money in a Roth account, keep reading. Even if you are already retired or will soon leave the workforce, you may benefit from a Roth.

Roth BasicsOne of the main attractions of a

contribution to a traditional retirement account (like a 401(k) or IRA) is that it is deductible on your tax return in the year you make it. A Roth contribution is not deductible. However, withdraw-als from a traditional plan are taxable, whereas money taken from a Roth is not if the account has existed for at least 5 years and the owner is more than 59½. Having funds in both types of accounts provides beneficial flexibility in retirement.

New Roth Contributions While WorkingMost people can benefit by funding

a Roth account during their working years. You can contribute to a Roth IRA or, if you participate in a 401(k) with a Roth option, to that employer-spon-sored plan. If you use a Roth IRA, pay attention to the applicable income and contribution limits. If you are over 49 in 2015 you can contribute the lesser of $6,500 or 100 percent of your earned income. You can also fund a Roth for a non-working spouse. Roth contribu-

tion availability phases out starting at modified adjusted gross income of $116,000 for single filers and at $183,000 if married filing jointly.

If your income exceeds the limit, you can circumvent the income limit by making a non-deductible contribution to a traditional IRA and then promptly con-

verting it to a Roth, although some tax may apply to the conversion.

Roth ConversionsA Roth conversion takes place when

someone with money in a traditional IRA moves some or all of it to a Roth. A conversion may make sense whether you are working or have retired. A con-version is subject to the same income tax that would apply if you simply with-drew the money, except that there is no early withdrawal penalty.

The natural question is, “Why would I trigger income tax sooner than nec-essary?” Conversions are most ad-vantageous in years when you would otherwise be in a comparatively low tax bracket. As discussed last month, in some years you might pay only 10 percent or 15 percent federal tax on a Roth conversion, whereas you might owe 25 percent or more in some other years. By forecasting your likely tax situation over a number of years, you can choose to absorb the tax hit at the most opportune time. Also, the sooner you fund a Roth account, which starts

the 5-year clock, the sooner withdrawals will be tax-free.

Here is a twist on Roth conversions for those interested in maximizing the opportunity. The IRS allows “recharac-terizing” a Roth conversion (undoing the conversion) up to the time when you file your tax return for the year in which the conversion took place.

Suppose that you decide $10,000 is the amount you want to convert in 2016 and your investment strategy for your IRA and Roth is half stocks and half bonds. In January 2016, you convert $20,000 and put $10,000 in stocks and $10,000 in bonds. Before filing your 2016 tax return sometime in 2017, you rechar-acterize (unconvert) whichever $10,000 performed less well, pulling those assets back into your IRA. You only pay tax on a $10,000 conversion and keep the one which provided the biggest benefit on the Roth side of the ledger.

Including a Roth in your retirement plan could meaningfully enhance your situation. As always, you should carefully assess your situation before making any decisions. If you need guidance after do-ing your own reading and research, seek the assistance of a qualified professional.

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

Consider Revisiting Roth

Alan Wallace


FEATURE

With the help of Prime read-ers, our partnership with the Alabama Department of Ar-

chives and History has identified many people from our History Mystery photo series begun a year ago. WSFA-TV has also played a valuable role in identifying

these formerly “lost” individuals. Some of those identified gathered at Archives in November to meet each other and share their stories. Here is a sampling of the people who have been identified this year. The History Mystery series will continue in 2016.

All photos remain available on Archives’ and Prime’s websites. If you know anyone in the photos contact Meredith McDonough at 334-353-5442, or [email protected], or e-mail Prime magazine at [email protected].

History Mystery: We know these people!

Right: Charles Brightwell — Brightwell, second from right in the photo, attended the Open House of the Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Montgomery in 1953. Original photo by John Scott.

Charles Brightwell | “I remember vaguely being there for the anniversary but we were 11 years old and not too interested in being dressed up and being nice. So we were all over the place and finally our parents took us home. My father was Assistant Gen. Manager of the Coca Cola Bottling Company at that time so we had to act nice. I was surprised to see my picture show up and that it was still around but then found out that John Scott’s family donated all his photos to the Archives, which was a wonderful thing because there’s about 30 years of wonderful history of the City of Montgomery at the disposal of the Archives now, if they can just identity the people in the collection!”

Above: William Tutt (second from left), and siblings, children of King Tutt, band leader and keyboard player in this June, 1954 photo of their father and his band members. Original photo by Jim Peppler.

William Tutt (son of King Tutt, keyboard player) | “My sister got the photo and she brought it to me. And I said ‘Oh Lord, look here.’ And I thought about it and I said, ‘I used to play with this band when I was 8 years old. And I remember the drum-mer and I remember all the fellas on the picture.’ I’d never seen the picture before so it was great to see it in a magazine now. All these young men in the picture taught me how to play in the band, how to be a man, how to act around people and how to do things.”


Mitch Alton | “I was pretty excited to see the pic-ture — we’d always wanted to be famous. We all look like babies in the picture, but I know we thought we were so cool…The Soul Searchers played together for about 3 1/2 years. Ham Wilson and I are still in a band together, The Gate Band.”

Above: Mitch Alton — Alton, far left in the photo, was a member of the “Soul Searchers,” performing in 1967 at the Montgomery Country Club for an annual dance held for 9th graders. Original photo by John Scott.

Left: Frank Myers — Myers, second from right in the photo, was a Goode Street Elemen-tary School student in Montgomery when this photo was taken in the 1940s or 50. It was Myer’s chicken in the box. Orig-inal photo by Horace Perry.

Frank Myers | “I have not seen this picture in years and years and years, but I do remember it. It was 3rd grade, and those were good years. This is just great. I just love this reliving the third grade.”

Left: Hope Wadsworth Mitchell — Mitchell is in costume as part of a Beef Month promotion by the AL Cattlemen’s Association in September, 1972. Original photo by John Scott.

Hope Wadsworth Mitchell | “The (AL Cattlemen’s) Exec. Dir. asked me if I would be interested in being the Oct. Beef Queen? And so they got me a mini-dress with the cuts of beef on it, took my picture and I was on the cover of their magazine in 1972. It was an exciting time in my life because people all over the United States saw that picture. It was even put in the ‘No Comment’ page in Ms. Magazine!”

Above: Dorothy and LC Handey — Mrs. Handey (with purse in photo). Mt. Zion AME Zion Church in Montgomery. In this De-cember, 1967 photo, the youth group “Buds of Promise” sing for a shut-in. LC Handey (right rear in the photo), drove the group to engagements. Original photo by Jim Peppler.

Dorothy Handey and LC Handey Dorothy: “I was the choir director (in the picture) in 1967. We went and serenaded at the hospital and house to house, at Christmas time and at Thanksgiving.”LC: “I’m just pleased to be able to see this picture again and identity so many children who are now in their adulthood, that I had no idea I’d ever seen them at this age. I was able to recognize the picture after I saw our first baby girl, Victoria — she made me recognize the event.”


FEATURE

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Most of us routinely open the door after being out-side and walk through the house with our shoes on. You likely never even give it a second thought.

But maybe you should think again. Here are three very good reasons why you might want to check your shoes at the front door.

1. BacteriaSome bacteria are good for us, some

harmful. A study conducted at the Uni-versity of Arizona examined germs on shoes and found an average of 421,000 bacteria on the outsides of shoes, with nine different strains of bacteria.

Some of the harmful strains found on shoes included Escherichia coli, other-wise known as E. coli, which can give you intestinal infections, diarrhea and in rare cases, meningitis; Klebsiella pneumoniae, which can cause urinary tract infections; and Serratia ficaria, which can cause respiratory infections. Yuck.

How do the bacteria get there? "We walk through things like bird droppings, dog waste and germs on public restroom floors, all of which are sources for E. coli," says Kelly Reynolds, Ph.D., a microbiologist and professor at University of Arizona.

"The unique thing about the shoe environment is that other things you walk on like leaves and debris, can serve as food for the bacteria and help them grow." That means potentially harm-ful bacteria can survive on your shoes for days or even weeks, Dr. Reynolds says. And that bacteria can be tracked onto your floors and carpets. It's even grosser if you think about resting your shoes on a piece of furniture, or on your bed.

2. ToxinsAnother potential concern are toxins. A study by the Bat-

telle Memorial institute, a nonprofit research group, found that toxins from treating your lawn can easily be tracked into the house. A study from Baylor University found that people

who live near asphalt roads sealed with coal tar have an increased risk of cancer from toxins. The toxins, they found, settled inside the house as dust particles. Those particles can be brought in on your shoes.

"Think about rain water in the street," says Dr. Reynolds. It can have gasoline in it and chemicals, and those get on your shoes and can be brought into your home." Reynolds

says the exposure to toxins would be long-term, but you would most likely have to be exposed many times over the course of your life in order to get sick.

3. Dirt"Dirt isn't harmful on its own," says Dr. Reynolds, but you

probably want to keep it at a minimum, especially if you have toddler grandchildren who play on the floor. "Kids often put their hands in their mouths, or have toys on the floor and put them in their mouths," she says.

One more plus to keeping your shoes at the door: It can cut down on how often you have to clean.

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SOCIAL SECURITY

For many of us, preparing for winter involves pulling out heavy coats from the closet

and making sure our vehicle is ready for intense weather. Wheth-er your winter brings snow, ice, or flooding, you need to be prepared. Preparing for a possible physical or mental disability is the same.

Many people don’t think of disability as something that could

happen to them. Statistics show the chances of becoming disabled are greater than most realize.

Fifty-six million Americans, or 1-in-5, live with a dis-ability. Thirty-eight million Americans, or 1-in-10, live with a severe disability. A sobering fact for 20 year-olds is that more than a quarter of them will become disabled before reaching retirement age.

Disability can happen to anyone. But who is prepared? When disability does happen, Social Security can help

people meet their basic needs. Our disability programs provide financial and medical benefits for those who qualify to pay for doctors’ visits, medicines, and treatments. You can learn more about how you might be covered if you are disabled at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/disability.

Social Security pays benefits to people who worked and paid Social Security taxes, but who can no longer work and whose medical condition meets the strict definition of dis-ability under the Social Security Act.

A person is considered disabled under this definition if he or she cannot work due to a severe medical condition that has lasted or is expected to last at least one year or result in death.

The person's medical condition must prevent him or her from doing work that he or she did in the past, and it must prevent the person from adjusting to other work based on their age, education, and experience.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI), our other disability program, is a needs-based program for people with limited income and resources.

You can find all the information you need about eligibil-ity and benefits available to you by reading our publication, Disability Benefits, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

While extreme winter weather may not affect all of us, the risk of being disabled and needing help isn’t based on geography.

Chances are you know someone who is disabled or per-haps you live with a disability. If you wish to help a friend or family member — or need to plan for disability yourself — visit www.socialsecurity.gov/disability.

Kylle’ McKinney, SSA Public Affairs Specialist, can be reached by e-mail at [email protected].

DisasterPrePareDness

Kylle’ McKinney


TINSELTOWN TALKS

Richard Anderson appeared in more than 200 films and TV shows throughout his career.

But it’s not just his well-known role as security chief Oscar Goldman in “The Six Million Dollar Man” that elicits fan questions on the classic film/television convention circuit.

“They always ask about ‘Curse of the Faceless Man’ which we made in 1958 and was my first lead film role,” said Anderson from Los Angeles.

“It was a low-budget remake of ‘The Mummy’ two decades earlier, featuring a stone monster rather than one wrapped in bandages. I really just learned my lines and tried not to bump into the furni-ture.”

Two years earlier, Anderson appeared briefly in the venerable sci-fi classic “Forbidden Planet.”

“That was the last of two dozen movies I did for MGM,” he said. “Sci-fi feature films were rather new in 1956 and it changed the genre forever.

The whole movie was shot on one stage and as filming progressed, the studio gave us more money and the best production staff. We turned out a first-class movie that’s still impressive today.”

Born in New Jersey and raised in New York, young Dick and his brother Bob were weekend matinee regulars at the 96th Street Motion Picture Theater, ab-sorbed in their favorite films: westerns.

“The stories had heroes and happy endings – I really wanted to live in that world,” recalled Anderson, who out-

By Nick Thomas

Heroes h Happy Endings

Richard Anderson: “The Six Million Dollar Man”

(Above L-R) Alan Oppenheimer, Lee Majors, Richard Andeson in “The Six Million Dollar Man.” (Below) Anderson in “Curse of the Faceless Man.” (courtesy Richard Anderson)


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lined his career in the 2015 autobio- graphy “Richard Anderson: At Last ... A Memoir, From the Golden Years of M-G-M to The Six Million Dollar Man to Now” co-written with Alan Doshna (see www.bionik.com).

But Richard wasn’t the only celebri-ty in his family. “Katharine, my second wife, was the daughter of Norma Shearer and MGM producer Irving Thalberg.”

Richard and Katharine were married in 1961, so he never knew Thalberg who died in 1936, but says he was close to his mother-in-law.

“Norma Shearer was very nice to me, she liked and respected me,” he said.

“She gave us a party when we were married – Judy Garland was one of the guests. Norma had a house on the beach and when we visited her she would talk about her career and how she 'had it all' at one time.”

While Shearer found fame in film and retired just as television was coming of age in the early 40s, it was

TV that made Anderson a household name when “The Six Million Dollar Man” exploded on the small screen in 1974 for five seasons.

“It was a show that brought back the hero and happy endings, so I told

my agent I wanted the part even if I had to pay the producers to let me do it!” laughed Anderson, who also nar-rated the show’s famous introduction.

“‘Gentlemen, we can rebuild him, we have the technology,’” he quoted.

“You can’t imagine how many fans come up to me and say that. It’s the best TV show introduction ever writ-ten.”

Anderson continued his Oscar Goldman role in three seasons of “The Bionic Woman,” becoming one of the few actors to portray the same character in different television series.

As to why he took so long to write a book about his life: “My answer is simple,” says Anderson who turned 89 in August. “I’m still living it.”

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn Univer-sity at Montgomery, Ala., and has writ-ten features, columns, and interviews for over 600 magazines and newspa-

(Top) Anderson today. (courtesy Richard Anderson). (Above L-R) Jack Kelly, Warren Stevens, Leslie Nielsen, Richard Anderson in “Forbidden Planet.” (courtesy MGM)


FEATURE

Lela Foshee’s earliest kitchen memo-ries are of “Little Granny” pulling her up to the table as a small child,

so she could join the adults in cooking for the Elmore County family.

“We had an old iron stove and my Little Granny would make up the yeast bread and put it in that iron skillet. I was only three-or-four-years-old, barely old enough to remember. But the smell of that bread cooking would just permeate the whole house and everybody couldn’t wait to get into it. In fact, that’s one of the recipes in the book.”

“The book” is Foshee’s first cookbook, “Lela Foshee’s Personal Touch Catering: A Family Tradition,” a retrospective of a life spent cooking and feeding thousands of Alabamians for more than 50 years. The 174 entries – from Miss Pearlie’s Favorite Cornbread to Our Famous Buttermilk Chicken to Great Grandmother’s Lane Cake – reflect recipes handed down through generations and perfected by years of professional catering experience. Foshee’s comments on the history of various recipes and notes related to their preparation are interspersed throughout the collection.

“My recipes are handed-down fam-ily recipes. I’ve added a little here, and a pinch of this and a pinch of that at times,” Foshee says. “But then some of them, like my banana nut bread – there must be a hundred recipes to banana nut bread but I tried recipe after recipe and it just wasn’t exactly what I was looking for. So I made up my own and now I’m happy with that.”

Foshee’s Banana Nut Bread is one of Personal Touch Caterer’s best selling items.

Though the octogenarian has been a professional caterer for half a century, her joy in cooking for others began long before that.

All in the FamilyBy Sandra Polizos | Photos by Bob Corley

Continued on page 20


The cake recipes featured in this article are reprinted with permission from Lela Foshee. These and other recipes may be found in Lela Foshee’s Personal Touch Catering: A Family Cookbook Tradition, available through Amazon or by mail: Personal Touch Cookbook, 9920 Wares Ferry Road, Montgomery, AL 36117. For more information, email [email protected].

Lela’s Homemade Red Velvet Cake1-1/2 cups vegetable oil2 large eggs1-2/3 cup granulated sugar1 teaspoon baking soda1 teaspoon white vinegar1 cup buttermilk1 tablespoon cocoa1 teaspoon vanilla1 teaspoon butter flavoring3 tablespoons red food coloring2-1/2 cups White Lily Self Rising Flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On medium speed mix oil, eggs and sugar until

yellow and fluffy.In a bowl, add all dry ingredients together: flour,

soda, cocoa powder; mix well.Pour dry ingredients into the egg and oil mixture.

Add buttermilk, vinegar, flavoring and food color. Mix until completely blended.

Pour cake into two 9-inch greased and floured pans and bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until the cake tester comes out clean. When the cakes come out of the oven, turn the cakes onto cake boards and cool. Frost when the cake is com-pletely cool. (See Cream Cheese Icing, p.21.)

Coconut Cake with Seven Minute Frosting1 cup butter2 cups granulated sugar4 eggs1 cup milk2 teaspoons baking powder1/4 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring3 cups White Lily Plain or All Pur-

pose Flour

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time until they are well-beaten.

Add, alternately, butter, sugar, and eggs until well-mixed. Add vanilla and mix well. Pour the mixture into two 9-inch, greased and floured pans. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 20-25 min-utes or until the cake tester comes out clean. Cool in the pan from 8-10 minutes. Turn the cakes on to cake racks until cool. (See Seven Minute Frosting, p. 21.)


“I’d just give people at the church their wedding cakes. You know, I’d make the cake as a gift. I took great pride in doing that for people who couldn't afford the expense of a wedding.”

Foshee never considered a career in food preparation until her two daughters married, only a few months apart. “I made the cakes, the dresses, the bridesmaids’ dresses – I really just got in over my head there for a while. But it turned out so wonderfully and everybody was so complimentary.”

“A photographer there asked me for a business card. When I told him we only did this for friends he said, ‘You really need to do it as a business and you need to name your place The Personal Touch because you just go all out.’ And that’s how we got started.”

Over the years, Foshee and her daughter Carron Morrow say they’ve cooked and ca-tered for every governor since George Wal-lace, and prepared food for a long and varied list of celebrities – from Reba McEntire to Ozzy Osbourne.

“Hank Williams, Jr. even wanted to take us on the road,” Morrow says, with a wink and a grin.

Of all the meals prepared by the family owned-and-operated business, Foshee says the fried chicken is probably the most well-known and a perennial favorite. Her own favorite recipe?

“My dressing at Christmas and Thanksgiv-ing. Because I boil my chickens and I don’t use any croutons. None of that stuff. With just a couple of small changes, I make the same recipe that my mother made when

I was growing up. And I helped her make just pans and pans of that dressing because she wanted all the shuts-ins and the older people to eat well, you know. She wanted them to have something nice for the holidays.”

At 85, Lela Foshee seems satisfied. She still loves to cook, say-ing it’s a gift from God. “If you enjoy what you’re doing it’s not work. You get tired, but you enjoy it. And you can just continu-ally be blessing somebody else’s life with cooking, with food. I’ve got wonderful children and grandchildren and all the friends that we’ve made in the catering business. I wouldn’t trade any of it for the world. I’ve had a great life.”

Daughter Carron Foshee Morrow (l) and family matriarch Lela Foshee are Personal Touch Caterers’ principals, although thewomen say every member of the Foshee family has worked in the family business at one time or another.

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Buttermilk Pound Cake1-1/4 cup Crisco6 eggs3 cups granulated sugar1 teaspoon lemon extract1 teaspoon orange extract1 teaspoon vanilla1/4 teaspoon baking soda1-1/4 cup of buttermilk3 cups all purpose flour

Cream the Crisco, sugar and eggs until very creamy. Add extracts, milk and soda. Mix well. Slowly add flour and mix well with your mixer on medium speed for about two minutes.

Bake in a well-greased and floured tube pan at 350 degrees for about 1 hour and 20 minutes.

This is a great cake. I have made several of these in a day. They freeze easily. Therefore, bake enough to keep on hand for special occasions. Your friends will think you worked and slaved over a stove all day!

To freeze: Cool the cake and place in a large freezer bag so that it does not get freezer burn. Definitely never freeze a cake in foil. The cake will pick up that frozen, undesirable taste.

Seven Minute Frosting (There is no substitute frosting for this moist cake. Sometimes I juice an orange and pour the juice over the layers before icing.Get your timer out. I admit that seven minutes with a steady hand over boiling water is a sacrifice for your family, but I promise you will be happy you lasted the seven minutes.)1 tablespoon water3 egg whites (no yolk residue)1 teaspoon cream of tartar1-2/3 cup granulated sugar1/4 cup white corn syrup (we love Karo)1 teaspoon vanilla2 cups shredded, frozen coconut

Allow 1/4 pan of water to boil in the bottom half of a double boiler. Place the top boiler over this hot water and mix all of the ingredients with a hand mixer in the top boiler for SEVEN MIN-UTES. Peaks of frosting will begin forming into a light, white cloud of icing. After seven minutes take the top pan from the boiler and begin icing your cooled cake.If your cake is thick enough, we enjoy splitting each layer very carefully with a cake board between each piece. This gives your cake four, thin layers with this wonderful frosting.Moisten your coconut with a teaspoon of milk if not already moist enough for your liking.

Cream Cheese Icing2-8 ounce packages cream cheese1 cup real butter, soft1-16 ounce package confectioner’s sugar, sifted1 cup finely chopped pecans (optional)1 teaspoon vanilla flavoring

Beat the cream cheese and butter together in a mixing bowl on high until icing is fluffy. Scape the bowl with a rubber spatula and mix again until all is well-mixed. Gradually add in the confectioner’s sugar on medium speed.

Lastly, add the vanilla and blend well. Frost your cake and enjoy.


(Editor’s Note: Heifer International is a non-profit organization whose mission is to end hunger and offer a means of self-reliance to the world’s poor. The humanitarian group, based in Little Rock, AR, currently provides livestock, trees, seeds and training in envi-ronmentally sound agriculture to families in 30 countries, including the United States.)

I trudge up steps made of mud and tires, duck under a string of multi-col-ored prayer flags and enter a round

structure with a peaked roof. “You’re in Tibet,” says the guide.

Well, sort of. But this Tibet is in central Arkansas rather than central Asia, part of the Global Village at Heifer Ranch, which in turn is part of an ex-traordinary program that depicts areas

of the world rarely seen by tourists. This Tibet is not one of monks and monasteries, gilded statues and golden Buddhas. Rather it’s the Tibet of oft-forgotten communities, the Tibet of the poor.

My husband and I like to travel for many reasons, but our primary goal is to learn and understand how people live today. Thus, for us, Heifer Ranch – 45 miles northwest of Little Rock – is a grand travel opportunity, a chance to see the world without a passport.

Heifer InternationalHeifer International got its start in

the 1930s when an Indiana aide worker named Dan West realized that starving children needed more than small hand-

outs of rationed food. “These children don’t need a cup of milk; they need a cow,” he said.

To test his theory, he sent heifers to underprivileged families in Puerto Rico with the understanding that the recipi-ents would give the animals’ female off-spring to neighbors, who in turn would pass on that cow’s offspring to yet other families. Eventually, the majority of the villagers owned livestock, and the com-munity became self-sufficient.

As the project expanded, West began raising animals on a ranch in the United States and distributing them to needy families abroad, but soon the cost became prohibitive. Today the Arkansas ranch property is used for educational and inspirational purposes.

FEATURE

Camels and Goodwil lA Holiday Story

By Andrea Gross | Photos by Irv Green

The Heifer Ranch covers 1,200 acres, 200 acres foreducational purposes and 1,000 used in other waysthat help the foundation. (photo courtesy Heifer Ranch)


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In this way, “passing on the gift” has come to mean more than passing on the gift of an animal; it also means passing on the gift of awareness. As visitors to The Ranch become more aware of conditions in poor communities, they share their knowledge, resources and skills to help Heifer attain its goal, which is to do no less than end hunger and poverty around the world.

It’s a noble plan, one that seems particularly apropos now, in the midst of the holiday season. We’re driving to the Visitor Center, the radio tuned to a station that’s playing Christmas songs, when we suddenly spot a camel resting peacefully in a wooden shelter. A camel in Arkansas? It seems that miracles abound at Heifer. All that’s missing is two more camels and three wise men.

An Educational FarmToday the main purpose of Heifer Ranch is as a Learning

Center. The Ranch only provides formal tours for large groups, but staff and volunteers do their best to accommodate indi-viduals. We’re in luck. A recent retiree who’s spending several months working at Heifer offers to zoom us around in a golf cart.

“Camels were used in our Tanzania project,” he explains.

(Above) Hands-on museum explains Heifer’s program and philosophy. (Right) Replica of the home of a nomadic Tibetan family.


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k“Between the gift of a camel and Heifer-provided training in sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry, the villag-ers were able to raise their standard of living consider-ably. The Tanzanian project is a typical success story.”

Our first stop is the Tibetan House. While it’s made of canvas, a sign informs us that in the “real” Tibet, it would be made from yak hair and sheep’s wool. The design allows it to be collapsed as the family follows the yaks from one grazing ground to another.

We move on to see other parts of this recreated world: a Thai shack perched on stilts, a group of African huts with conical roofs, a ramshackle Ap-palachian cabin, a generic urban warehouse cobbled together from scrap metal, and a dilapidated school bus that once served as a home for a family in the Mississippi delta.

Finally we stop at a “Guatemalan” farm consisting of a small cinderblock house, a raised garden bed and, thanks to solar panels, electricity at night. It’s almost luxurious compared to the other homes.

These structures are used in Heifer’s extensive program

of experiential workshops, during which organized groups spend anywhere from a few hours to several days getting a glimpse what it’s like to live in poverty. They milk goats, gather eggs, care for pigs, till the fields and tend to vegetable gardens. If they stay in the Guatemalan house, they may make tortillas; if they’re assigned to the African hut, they may make bricks with primitive tools. During the spring lambing program, women may even help de-liver lambs.

Participants in all Heifer programs invariably say it’s a life-changing experience, one that opens their eyes as well as their hearts. It enables them to see the world and at the same time pass on the gift — be it the gift of a goat to an impoverished village, a basket made by an artisan in a developing country, or simply the gift of spreading the word.

This is travel – and Christmas – at its best.For more on Heifer’s programs and gift-giving opportunities,

see www.heifer.org. To read more information on other exciting destinations, visit www.traveltizers.com.

A re-created Guatemalan farm shows how, with the help of Heifer, an impoverished community can begin to lift itself out of poverty.

5 Things You Don’t Know About HospiceAdvertorial


People who choose hospice live longer than those who do not. “According to a 2010 study in the New

England Journal of Medicine, patients receiving early pallia-tive care experienced less depression, had better quality of life, and survived 2.7 months longer.”

People who choose hospice report having a better quality of life. Pain and symptoms are better man-

aged. Fear and apprehension are reduced. Energy can be used to spend time with loved ones doing enjoyable activi-ties rather than sitting in doctor’s offices and long hospital stays.

Hospice brings healthcare to your home, rather than having to go to the hospital. “Seven out of

10 Americans say they would prefer to die at home, according to a CNN poll, but according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 25 percent actually do.”

Hospice helps the whole family. An interdisciplin-ary team approach is taken to help the patient and

their family or caregivers cope with the challenges they are

facing. Each person is cared for by a Registered Nurse and the care is overseen by a Medical Director (physician). Individuals can choose whether or not they need a Licensed Social Worker, Spiritual Care Coordinator (Chaplain) and a Certified Nursing Assistant. Medical, Social, Emotional and Spiritual Needs are addressed for each person and their support system. As needs increase, hospice care increases.

It is never too early to talk about your wishes. The best time to talk about healthcare choices is now.

Many families are together during the holidays.Perhaps this year is the time to have an open and honest conversation about how you want your life wishes to be honored. Perhaps you need help knowing how. Comfort and Conversation is a program Comfort Care Hospice provides to help guide you through the challenging issues of health care and end of life. Call if we can be of any assistance (334) 514-0244.

(“Why Hospice Is More Important Today Than Ever Before,” by Dan Hogan, National Association for Home Care and Hospice.)

5 Things You Don’t Know About HospiceAdvertorial


GAMESACROSS1 Some portrait frames6 Noble __11 Singsong syllable14 With 15-Across, account-

ing unit15 See 14-Across16 Like some aces17 Manage18 Walking __19 Sound after a satisfying

swig20 Scotch cocktails22 Zenith23 "I won't hurt you"26 Not as deliberate28 Toothbrush-endorsing org.29 With 31-Across, anathema31 See 29-Across32 Worlds35 __ legend37 Question about change,

which hints at the hidden feature of four two-part puzzle answers

42 Blue Grotto locale43 "Ramona and Beezus" co-

star Gomez44 With 47-Across, some

receivers47 See 44-Across

49 Set-__50 Malady in the 2000 film

"Memento"52 Like the best occult films55 It's about a foot56 Yield figures58 Figure under a line59 Fife-and-drum drum60 Two cents64 Bardic before65 With 66-Across, National

Book Award-winning novel by Don DeLillo

66 See 65-Across67 "M*A*S*H" titles68 Private69 Mount

DOWN1 Pigs out (on)2 Center of gravity?3 Presidential nickname4 Petrol unit5 Gave up a seat6 One of six British kings7 Year in Tuscany8 "Wait for me"9 Pension law signed by Ford,

briefly10 Jordan neighbor: Abbr.11 Gillette razor

12 Hole enlarger13 Cleave21 Comes to the surface22 Harsh-sounding, to some23 Traffic stopper?24 Notion25 "Elf" actor27 Shoshone Falls river30 Shroud city33 Chinese evergreen34 Zoo security features36 Droopy-eared hound38 Wonderful container?39 Bordeaux bean?40 "The Dukes of Hazzard" officer41 Tammany Hall caricaturist44 Mortarboard frill45 "That upset me!"46 Speakers of Tolkien's Noldorin language48 Costing more51 Corporate raider Carl53 Jockey's handful54 "This __ a drill!"57 Mechanical repetition59 Prefix with light or night61 "Easy as __!"62 Wear and tear63 Former Ohio Governor Strickland

2015 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, INC.©

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FEATURE

The holidays can be challenging for grandparents who won't be sitting by the tree when kids open their presents. If you can't be there, you can still make sure the kids feel your

presence. When selecting gifts, focus on the personal and meaning-ful; steer away from the latest toys that they will use and set aside before you see them again. The following suggestions can help you start new traditions and create lasting memories for your long distance grandchildren.

Make an ImpressionStart an annual tradition of sending each grandchild a specially

chosen ornament for the family Christmas tree. You might try to get the ornament while you're on vacation and set it aside for the holidays with other gifts from your travels. If your family celebrates Chanukah, give each of your grandchildren a menorah and when you visit, make homemade candles with them to use during the holiday even if you'll be back at home.

Look AheadIf you can't see the kids in December, send them some-

thing special they can enjoy with you when you do get together. Add to their excitement about an upcoming spring or summer adventure by sending a package with everything they'll need. A backyard camping kit might include a tent, sleeping bag, canteen, and flashlight; a beach package could combine sand toys, a beach towel, a child-size chair, and cool sunglasses.

More Than Just the Ticket

Many older kids seem to have every-thing they need, and it's tough to keep up with their tastes in music or fashion, so send them something money can't (entirely) buy — the promise of an all-day, one-on-one experience with you. Sur-prise your grandchild with two tickets to a basketball game or Broadway-style show, as well as gift

Bridging the DistanceBy Elizabeth Incarnation

Six Gifts to Brighten the Holidays


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certificates to their favorite restaurant and arcade. To build their anticipation, include a small souvenir like a team cap or shirt, or the soundtrack to the musical you'll see. Even the most jaded teens will appreciate the special time you'll spend together.

A Library of Love

Many of your grandchildren's gifts will be torn from their packages, overused, and tossed aside by Valentine's Day. But the kids could treasure a collection of great books forever. Foster your grandchildren's love of reading by sending them a collection of classic stories and give it a contemporary spin by mixing in some lesser-known masterpieces. Take it one step further for younger grandkids by making recordings of

yourself reading the bedtime stories you send them. Your grandchildren will hear the love in your voice every time they pull out the books and read along with you.

Commission Some ArtworkArt supplies are a perennial favorite for kids of all ages, but

grandparents don't always get the opportunity to see the enchanting works their favorite young artists create. To solve this problem, include several oversized, self-decorated, self-addressed, stamped envelopes with your art-supply packages. Write your grandchildren a note, with your own artwork in the margins, encouraging them to create some new pieces for your home and to send those drawings or paintings to you.

Make Family HistoryKids love to hear stories about when you (and their

parents) were young. Give them a fuller picture of the old days by putting some of those stories to paper. Go through your old photos and scan and print some of the best snap-shots of you and your kids — or affix the pictures to some heavy-stock paper. Below the photos, write the stories of who's who, where everyone is, and what you're all doing. Use scrapbooking supplies from your local craft store to create a memory book that the kids will treasure for years. As a bonus, send your grandkids pocket digital cameras and journals to record their own life and times for posterity.

Courtesy: grandparents.com, a lifestyle site celebrating the grand-parent community by providing trusted information about family & relationships, health & well-being, travel & retirement, and more. Follow the site on Twitter (@grandparentscom) and on Facebook.


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IN EVERY LIFE

We think of gift-giving at this holiday time. What are some of the most memorable gifts

that you have received? What made those gifts memorable? Was it the thoughtful-ness of the giver or the anticipation of how you would use the gift? Repeat-edly in healthcare, I observe people who treasure the gifts received from family or friends that did NOT come from a store.

When reflecting on their life, often people desire to leave a legacy for family or friends. Some-times this is a financial inheritance, but often the legacy is treasured family recipes, photos or videos, a heritage of com-munity or faith-based service, connections with people, or a special skill set.

Another type of legacy that you may consider is a record of your family history. Who were the people in your family? During what historical periods did they live? Consider the im-pact of contributions from the greatest generation during the early and mid-1900s. Those who lived in other decades faced

challenges of those times. Relating your memories of family members situated in the time in which they lived can provide examples of coping with challenges. Focusing on challenges experienced by different family members, how they coped (or not), and any resultant effects can provide examples for younger generations.

Including health concerns that were experienced and cause of death (if known) provides information that can be used to identify potential genetically linked risks. It can be fascinating to compare treatment and outcomes from past decades with advances that have been made. For example, in the previ-ous century common causes of death included tuberculosis or polio, both of which have been reduced because of the development of specific medications or vaccinations. How-ever, without appropriate use of the medications, there is risk of recurrence or drug-resistance. Additionally, knowing family history can guide decisions regarding genetic testing for potential disease development. Recalling family members’ ex-periences can also prompt family or friends to possibly make a New Year’s resolution to seek health assessment or screen-ing for issues they may not have previously considered.

Developmental theorists actually have identified that during middle and older age, people have a strong desire to pass on lessons learned to contribute to the next generation. This year, consider contributing to your family’s health information by giving a family health history. Information can be shared verbally or in writing. If you desire to use a form, “My Fam-ily Health Portrait,” is an online tool from the U. S. Surgeon General for collecting family health histories. See https://fami-lyhistory.hhs.gov/FHH/html/index.html.

Arlene H. Morris, EdD, RN, CNE, is Professor of Nursing, Auburn Montgomery School of Nursing, and a past president of the Ala. State Nurses Association. Reach her at [email protected]

Gift Idea: A Family Health Portrait

Arlene Morris

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• What’s On Your Bucket List?• Seniors and Social Media• Healthy Eating After 50


PRIME DIVERSIONS

Mission Impossible: Rouge Nation, A Walk in the Woods, Ant-ManRecent dvd releases

Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation (PG-13) It’s true. Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt, the big-screen

successor to Peter Graves’ head of TV’s original IM Force, Jim Phelps, for the fifth time. That’s one shy of Sean Connery’s turns as James Bond; one more than Harrison Ford’s gigs as Indiana Jones; equal to the total of spy flicks in which Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan was played by four different actors, including Ford.

Formulas must be followed. Iconic theme songs must be deployed. Evil-doers and their schemes for global domination must escalate. Check, check and check. And let’s not forget that Cruise, like Chuck Norris before him, must be surrounded by a cast that makes Hunt’s height appear to reach a higher percentile than that of the guy who plays him.

Cruise’s Hunt is poised to stop the creepy dude behind The Syndicate’s sinister blueprint for destabilizing the world we know. For nearly two hours, he and the team chase the baddies through several exotic locales while also dodging Alec Baldwin’s CIA minions, leading to scenarios that are far-fetched even for such espionage fare. The plot is aided by dangled questions of whether several key players’ hats should really be white or black, and what harm any deception will cause.

The film still delivers suitable doses of action, humor, intrigue and scenery that should satisfy franchise and/or Cruise fans, and tide them over until Round 6. That’s more of a “when” than an “if…”

A Walk in the Woods (R) In this amiable dramedy, Robert

Redford plays a respected, mostly-retired travel writer, living pleasantly in New England with a loving family. Some vague residual combination of wanderlust, pride and ennui inspires

him to hike the Appalachian Trail for one final adventure before the ravages of aging take such options off his menu. Unlike a certain former South Carolina governor, his goal is the actual 2,200-mile trek, not a fanciful cover for other types of age-de-nying endeavor. Among the many old friends and colleagues he invites to join him, the only taker is a dissipated former travel companion (Nick Nolte) he hadn’t seen — or missed — for 40 years.

Once they hit the trail, we get a leisurely package tour of their backstories, accented with how they handle the journey and interact with people and challenges along the way. Director Ken Kwapis wisely gives the old pros room to be all they can be, while making the pristine settings a vivid asset, both visually and thematically. Despite my devout aversion to prolonged ex-ercise or any form of “roughing it” ever since infantry training

drained all sense of pleasure from hiking or camping, Kwapis almost made this journey seem appealing.

The package adds up to a pleasant, if not riveting, way to spend a couple of hours in the seats enjoying how two fine actors take care of their busi-ness on the trail. Kristen Schaal, Mary Steenburgen and Nick Offerman stand out among the supporting players. The plot is blissfully free of excess, making the stars and their experience relatively relatable.

Ant-Man (PG-13) Regular readers have likely picked up my

leanings of summers largely dominated by big-budget movies based on comic book super-heroes. I vastly prefer those that have fun with their subject over those taking such fantasies too seriously. Give me Robert Downey Jr.’s wisecracking Iron Man over all the brooding Batman sagas any day. Same for the amiable rogues from Guardians of the Galaxy com-pared to any of their darker, more dramatic counterparts fight-ing evil throughout the cosmos.

So who better than Mr. Nice Guy Paul Rudd to become a reluctant savior with highly unlikely powers courtesy of Marvel Comics? All hail Stan Lee. In this case, a scientist (Michael Douglas) created a supersuit and chemical cocktail that enables its occupant to instantly shrink, as needed, while also com-manding an army of ants via a bonus mind-linking device. Paul’s character is like a Spiderman without all the angst and low self-esteem. We’re given just enough backstory to flesh out a sympathetic sentimental side to his persona, without the other guy’s bouts of guilt and moping.

The plot is typical — demented corporate jerk perverting possibly-beneficial science into an ultimate existential threat – but perfectly suited to introducing newbies to this hero, his family and a few bumbling buddies. For a director whose re-sume shows mostly sitcoms and a couple of rom-coms, Peyton Reed delivers a fine package of pace and character develop-ment, deftly weaving the comedy, sentiment and computer-gen-erated action into a cohesive final product. Sequels are certain, and will be most welcome.

Side note - Gifted comic actress Judy Greer plays a marginal role as Rudd’s ex-wife. Her screen time is comparable to her turn as the mom worrying from afar in the latest Jurassic Park blockbuster. Between the two, her box-office braggin’ rights for 2015 will be off the charts.

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

Mark Glass

December/January Calendar


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Gardening Lunch & Learn: FREE“Succulents are Addictive.” Dec.2. Free. Noon-1 pm. Armory Learning Arts Center, 1018 Madison Ave, Montgomery. Bring sack lunch. Drinks provided. Capital City Master Gardener Assn. For info contact Mtgy. Co. Extension Office (334) 270-4133.

Live MusicOld Alabama Town Revue, Old Alabama Town, Dec. 3, 7 p.m. Songs old and new, along with familiar favorites by a variety of local and regional artists. For info call 334-240-4500.

Joe Thomas, Jr. Guitar Pull, Dec. . 15, 7-9 pm. Cloverdale Playhouse, Old Cloverdale. Songwriters perform/discuss their music. $10 (includes beverages). For info call 334-262-1530 or visit www.cloverdaleplayhouse.org.

Gem, Mineral & Jewelry Show45th Annual Montgomery Gem & Mineral Society show. Dec. 4-6, Garrett Coliseum. Gem stones, finished jewelry, crystals, geodes, tools, demonstrations. $2 or $3 for weekend passes. For info visit www.montgomerygemandmineralsociety.com.

Live Theatre“Radio TBS (Trailer Park Broadcasting Scandals)” Wetumpka Depot Players, 300 Main St., Wetumpka. Dec. 7-15 (staggered dates). Tickets available at wetumpkadepot.com, or by calling 334-868-1440.

“The Long Christmas Dinner,” and “The Santaland Dairies.” Cloverdale Playhouse. Dec. . 10-20. Tickets $18 general admis-sion, $12/person groups of 10+, $10 students. For info/tickets call 334-262-1530 or visit www.cloverdaleplayhouse.

“Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” Alabama Shakespeare Festival. Starts Jan. 28 (see page 30 for ticket contact).

Newcomers Club of MontgomeryMonthly luncheon. Dec. 17, 11:30 am-1:30 pm. Arrowhead CC. $18. Reserve space by noon Dec. 14. Guests will demon-strate Filipino Tinikling Dancing. Call Jan Burdette 334-593-9266, or e-mail [email protected]. For info visit www.newcomersmontgomery.com.

Monthly luncheon. Jan. 28, (same time/location/cost/contact). Reserve space by noon Jan. 25. Guest will discuss Estate Plan-ning.

Brewery Collectibles Buy, Sell, Swap: FREEBrewery Collectibles Club of America. Jan. 16, 2016, 8 am-2 pm, Good People Brewing Company,114 14th St S, Bham, AL 35233. Free admission. For information contact Ray Kynard, 334-272-1823, [email protected].

Support GroupsGrief, Divorce, Adoption. Millbrook First United Methodist Church. Grief: Sundays, 5–7 p.m.; Divorce: Sundays, 5-7 p.m.; Adoption: 4th Tuesday 6-7:30 p.m. For info call the church of-fice, 334- 285-4114 or email [email protected].

VolunteerAlabama Dept. of Archives & History

All ages, with hours to match your schedule. Lead tours, greet visitors, work in the Museum Stores, work with staff in archive collections. Contact Kathy Logan, 334-353-4745, [email protected]. Visit www.museum.alabama.gov/getinvolved.

Mtgy Area Council on Aging— Respite Care: companionship for hospice patients— Medical Outreach Ministries (M.O.M.): office help— Habitat for Humanity: office help— Old Alabama Town: guides, reception desk— Baptist Hospital East & South: reception desks— John Knox Manor: activities with residents Contact Allison Shehane (Mtgy. Co.) 334-782-7254, [email protected]; Shirley Stewart (Autauga, Elmore Co.s), 334-595-0841, [email protected].

December/January Calendar


OFF THE BEATEN PATH

Niko Corley

By the time he came to know “Mitch,” as his grandfather called him, Mitch was an accomplished angler in his own right, though one long-past his prime. Mitch had spent his entire career around the water, fishing both the fresh and the salt. Whether it was his determined work ethic or the fact he could always be counted on when needed didn’t matter; his grandfather admired Mitch greatly.Mitch had countless trophies under his belt, some that prob-

ably still swim. Given his preference, Mitch didn’t fool with small fish – sure, he would pull one in occasionally, sometimes it was unavoidable – but he purposefully targeted big fish. Despite the grandfather’s penchant to fish all day, he always called it quits long before Mitch, who was broad-shouldered, lean-waisted and built to work.Whether it was striper and cats in the fresh, or redfish,

tarpon and gag grouper in the salt, Mitch didn’t care. He was as at home drifting the river channel at the whims of the current, dangling chunks of fresh shad over submerged timber as he was anchored up in the pass on an outgoing tide, free-lining live shrimp and blue crabs down amongst the bridge pilings.“Mitch old boy, they don’t make ‘em like

you anymore,” his grandfather had said dozens of times after particularly good days on the water.Of French descent, perhaps it was the fact they’d both

left Europe by boat bound for America long ago, but Mitch and the grandfather shared a special bond, fishing together for years as often as possible. The grandfather fished with a few Japanese and Swedish fellows from time to time, but targeting big fish meant Mitch was bound to be aboard. Even-tually the grandson started tagging along on the fishing trips and over time he, too, came to admire Mitch. Just like him and his grandfather, Mitch didn’t need much and just like them, he loved to fish.After his grandfather’s death, the grandson made it a point

to ensure Mitch always had a place on the boat even if the old man who’d introduced them was gone. They grew closer, fishing new places, chasing new species, making new memories and co-starring in more than a few tall tales. For several years Mitch was a standard guest aboard whenever the quarry was big fish, posted dutifully at the rear of the lean post, a perch affording more room than alongside the helm of the center console.But time is unforgiving, even to one as able as Mitch, and

eventually the salt spray, sun and hard life of a dedicated fisherman took their toll. After one particular trip to the coast, Mitch developed some instability – a wobble really – that soon grew to affect his movement to the point he could

barely fish. It was clear that for Mitch to have any hope of chasing fins again, significant rehab was likely in order.As they walked through the door together he was unsure

what all was in store for Mitch. The man behind the counter – probably close to Mitch’s age – set them at ease.“Ahh, a Mitchell 402. Looks to be a ...” he said holding the

reel up to the light to make out the worn lettering stamped into the metal. “Yep, a Saltwater edition. This one is vintage for sure.”“It was a gift from my grandfather,” the grandson replied,

“and we caught a lot of fish with it. Is it time to put it on the shelf?”The man gave the reel a once over, slowly turning the handle

and working the bail back and forth.“It’s a little rough on the outside, but these things were built

like tanks,” the man said.As he put the reel through its paces, a subtle

crunching from inside – like sand grinding on met-al – was audible and he popped off the metal side plates for a better look.“Ok. The good news is I can

fix it,” he said, “but honestly, for the price of parts and labor I could sell you a new

Shimano or Abu Garcia. Your call, captain.”The grandson looked down

at Mitch, parts laid bare on the glass counter, and felt a tinge of

guilt for not being more diligent in his maintenance. Directly below Mitch on a shelf with other reels, he could see the new Japanese and Swedish-made models the man had mentioned, along with their three-figure price tags. He swallowed hard. They were shiny and modern-looking compared to Mitch’s chipped paint, but their side plates were plastic, graphite at best. Their internals were certainly more complicated but they also weren’t decades-old. He thought of all the steady pressure Mitch’s drag had placed on hooked fish, allowing them to be worn down and netted or gaffed. He looked down at the new reels and back up at Mitch once more.“Just get him back in fightin’ shape,” he

told the man. “They don’t make ‘em like that anymore.”

Niko Corley is a USCG-licensed charter boat captain and spends his free time on the water or in the woods. To contact him e-mail [email protected].

Mitch

1555 Taylor Road • Montgomery, AL

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Prime Magazine Dec 2015/Jan 2016