Mature Times December 2011

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Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Community

Brandon Wilde breaks

ground.

Page 4

inside

Feature

Financial advice by

Jay Brooks.

Page 5

Living

Nutrition advice from

Cynthia Catts.

Page 6

By: Midge Rothrock

On December 17, 2011, a

ocal bride and groom wed at

t. Mary’s Catholic Church,

downtown Aiken. Mother of

he groom Helen Gingrey was

delighted, for this “wedding”

as held in a proper church

setting, even though it was

a recommitment ceremony,

celebrating a marriage which

ook place fty years ago!In December of 1961, a

darling blonde high school

girl and her “older Clemson

college man” beau were hav-

ng a spat, as young lovers are

nclined to do now and then,

hile riding along a country

oad enroute to Augusta. Bill

ingrey, in order to prove his

commitment to his best galail, suddenly stopped in mid-

spat, turned the car down a

country lane, and pulled up at

udge Willis’. The judge mar-

ied them that very day. Guess

ill showed Gail how much he

oved her – end of spat! And,

get this: they kept their mar-

iage a secret until the follow-

ng July. Today, with realityV, Facebook and Twitter,

here seems to be no one with

he ability to keep a secret for

even days, much less this long.

magine being so crazy about

each other, and NOT TELL-

NG folks you are married for

over half a year! Of course,

any recall those days when

getting a proper marriage IN

A CHURCH in front of the

family was the preferred way,

at least in the eyes of parents

of brides and grooms. (Now,

with wedding costs soaring,

there could be a parent or

grandparent reading this who

pines for an elopement, or at

least something slightly less

extravagant!)

This marriage was built

on deep love from Day One.Anyone who knows Gail and

Bill Gingrey knows what is

important to them: FAMILY.

With shared keen business

sense, their careers were and

are a strong second for them

both.

Gail grew up the second

oldest of ve girls, on a small

farm. Their roots go so deepin Johnston and Edgeeld,

that Gail and Bill can pretty

much tell the history of this

area in “six degrees of separa-

tion” terms from most of the

long-term names of Aiken and

surrounding communities. For

example, it seems Dr. Watson,

a famous man of 100+, known

to many readers, was a cousinof Gail’s family.

Gail Gingrey got into the

real estate business by try-

ing, as a young wife, to help

out her husband. Bill and his

brother Phil (an MD who went

on to specialize in Obstetrics

before becoming a member of

U.S. Congress from Georgia)

formed a construction business

when both men were young.

Bill managed the business

end of it, right from the start.

At that time, Gail was a shyhomemaker with two small

children. Bill and his business

partner needed someone to “sit

at houses”, so Gail was asked

to get a license. Gail was at

least willing to please Bill, so

she followed through on his

request. Doris Chesser, moth-

er of the local and respected

dermatologist here in Aiken,had a real estate business with

Eulalie Salley. Doris invited

the then-shy Gail to come

and observe her ofce. “You

won’t have to do anything

much – just watch what goes

on,” she said. Also at that

ofce were some now familiar

real estate powerhouses: Jes-

sie Hall (now deceased), who

provided much amusement to

the ve ladies in the ofce;

also Joni Suhell, Lisa Hosang,

Gail Lofgren (now in Atlanta),

and Etta Findlay, Doris Chess-

er’s business partner. Their

ofce was where Bill Tucker’s

law ofce is now. (Back then,

the Salley law practice was in

the back room.) Soon Gail re-

alized she was having a good

time with these gals, learningthe real estate game!

By 1985, Gail was so good

at this real estate selling that

she opened her own rm.

What a Steel Magnolia this

darling, twinkly-eyed busi-

nesswoman turned out to be.

The name of her business?

The Real Estate Shoppe.

Maybe you have heard of it!More about how this enter-

prise has fared, later in this

Gail Gingrey story.

Many folks know Bill Gin-

grey from his strong reputation

in the construction and devel-

opment business. Gatewood

subdivision and Gatewood

Apartments were started by

him. In fact, Bill has probably built 600-800 homes here in

Aiken from that early start.

Gail and Bill were the rst

people in Foxchase, for that

matter. Bill bought the land

from Bob Penland. Strom

Thurmond was in the picture,

Enduring love leads to success

Gail Gingrey

See Gingrey, page 8




During the global economic

downturn in 2009, many people were

forced to reassess their nancial futures.

hile some weathered the storm

better than others, few came out of

the recession in better shape than they

entered it.

Perhaps no group of people was

more hurt than baby boomers or senior

citizens. While some senior citizensere savvy enough to see the economic

downturn coming and therefore

minimize the damage done to their

nest eggs, many more witnessed their

retirement savings take a big hit.

In many cases, the children of those

baby boomers and senior citizens are

left wondering what they can do to

help. Adults themselves, these children

have likely also taken a nancial hit as

a result of the recession, and might be

puzzled as to how they can help their

parents or in-laws cope with nancial

loss. The following tips may help do just

that.

• Avoid using credit cards. Credit

cards are not the solution to solving

any current debt or nancial problems.

Credit cards are only adding more debt

or, for those without any current debt,

creating a bigger nancial problem

than the one that currently exists. While

recent legislation in the United States

has placed restrictions on creditors and

interest rates, that does not mean credits

cards are now a viable crutch for those

struggling nancially.

• Discourage risk. The knee jerk reaction when one loses money in the

market is generally one of two things.

Some investors immediately want to

pull all of their money out of the market,

while others want to take on more risk.

The latter is similar to someone losing

money at a casino and continually

doubling their bets in an effort to

recoup their losses with one lucky

hand. Unfortunately, there is no lucky

hand when it comes to the market, and

adults should discourage their parents of

taking on riskier investments to recoup

their lost nest eggs. Regardless of how

much a person may or may not have lost

during the recession, the rule of thumb

that investments should grow less risky

as we grow older still applies.

• Recommend a relocation. While

the housing market also took a hit

during the recession, chances are your

parents’ property is still quite valuable.

What’s more, if your parents are still

in the home where they raised their

family, that’s an asset they probably

no longer need. Whether downsizing

involves selling the home and moving

to a smaller home or condo or sellingthe home and relocating to a more

affordable state or city, it’s an option that

can free up assets and help relieve some

of the stress associated with losses from

the recession.

• Discusss a xed annuity. Fixed

annuities might not be for everyone,

but seniors worried about outliving

their retirement savings and having no

income might want to consider a xed

annuity. These can be immediate or

deferred, allowing seniors the chance

to plan for living on a xed income

without having to jump right into it.

Consult a nancial advisor with your

parents to discuss the advantages and

disadvantages to xed annuities.

• Suggest retirees adjust their

withdrawal rate. Current retirees

can adjust their retirement accountwithdrawal rate and save money in

doing so. While it might not be ideal

to cut back spending during a time

that’s supposed to be carefree, the

recession certainly changed reality in

ways many did not foresee. As a result,

cutting spending by reducing their rate

of withdrawal might be the best way

seniors can still enjoy their golden years

and hang on to their money as well.

Helping seniors cope withrecession-related fnancial loss

Seniors who have suffered nancial losses resulting from therecession can still enjoy their golden years with a few adjust -

ments to their nancial planning

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ednesday, December 28, 2011 3

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Dignitaries from University Health

Care System, Brandon Wilde and Co-lumbia County helped break groundon Wednesday, Nov. 30 for Georgia’s

only “small house” concept for Al-zheimer’s and dementia care.

Brandon Wilde’s Windsor House

ill be a homelike facility that willemphasize daily living. It is expected

to be completed within two years.Brandon Wilde resident Stella Wind-

sor Grandin donated $1 million in her parents’ name to help kick start the

project, and a capital campaign hasbeen launched through UniversityHealth Care Foundation to help fund

the rest of construction.The Windsor House is designed to

be one of the rst “small house” Al-zheimer’s and dementia care facilities

in the nation and the only one of its

kind in Georgia.“The small house concept is one

that brings both dignity and a higher quality of life to those with Al-

zheimer’s and dementia,” Brandonilde President Rich Kisner said.

“It will create an environment that isery close to home, allowing for our

residents to keep their daily livingskills intact. Of course, all of this will

be done at the Brandon Wilde levelof excellence, putting it at the highestlevel in the nation.”

According to a 2010 study fromMaastricht University in the Neth-

erlands, the “small house” concept

showed that residents who live in

these types of facilities have “signi-cantly higher functional status and

cognitive performance” comparedwith dementia patients housed in amore traditional clinical setting.

Those interested in learning more

about the Windsor House Capital

Campaign may contact Univer-sity Health Care Foundation at

706-667-0030. About Brandon Wilde: Fully

accredited by the Continuing CareAccreditation Commission and widely

recognized as one of the nest “Life

Care” retirement communities in thenation, Brandon Wilde is situated on

a beautifully wooded and landscaped106-acre campus offering convenient

access to Evans Township and sur-rounding Columbia County.

Brandon Wilde breaks ground on WindsorHouse Alzheimer’s & Dementia Care Facility

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lindafarronknapp.com | 803.541.7676

P.O. Box 714, 21 Hugh Street, Barnwell, SC

and 149 Crepe Myrtle Court, Aiken.

Call for an appointment, 803-335-1431

Estate planning teamshelp your family prosper.

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d d D b 28 2011 5




By Jay Brooks

Go ahead and buy that new TV.

njoy your morning coffee. Book your

ream vacation. When it’s time toetire, you will be just ne.

Sounds like a maverick approach

oesn’t it, but that is the view of a

roup of economists who contend that

number of Americans are being hood-

inked by the nancial services in-

ustry into saving more than they will

omfortably need for retirement. A

tudy done by a group of economists at

he University of Wisconsin concluded

hat some families are doing better than

hey think. They are not suggesting

hat people stop saving but rather that

he anxiety over running out of money

s misplaced.

Laurence Kotlikoff, an economics

rofessor at Boston University, says his

esearch also suggests that a “signi-

ant fraction” of Americans are over aving, largely because they are getting

isleading and self serving advice

rom nancial advisers. Kotlikoff

argues that retirement savings calcula-

tors offered by most nancial services

rms often grossly overstate how much

individuals will need for retirement.

The nancial services industry“in general is engaged in nancial

malpractice,” he says. “They are not

providing appropriate advice.” Inated

savings estimates could cause people to

scrimp more than necessary, Kotlikoff

says.

More worrisome, he says, those

exaggerated savings goals could cause

people to shift money into riskier

investments in search of higher returns.

This strategy could backre if they suf -

fer big losses.

No nancial calculator, even the

most sophisticated ones, can predict

events that could affect your retire-

ment, such as future tax rates, market

returns, or life expectancy. But those

calculators can still be helpful.

My experience tells me that most people do in fact, over save. The proof

that I have is in the size of the estates

that they are leaving behind. Many

people have laughed as they joked

about the last check they ever wrote

was going to bounce. Yet I have still

never worked with someone that ac-

complished that goal.My advice on what amount is appro-

priate to save is normally, the more the

better, like most advisers. The reasons

that I believe this has little to do with

future lifestyle or dreams you desire to

fulll though. It has everything to do

with the emotional aspect of money.

Do not spend your retirement years

stressed over whether you will run out.

If that happens to be your make up,

then by all means save more to help

that issue. The second reason is that

the #1 problem that hurts an individual

in retirement is the family member who

asks you for help. It is very easy to put

your retirement in jeopardy because a

child or grand child has a need.

If you have questions about any-

thing discussed here, then please con-tact us for answers at 648-1003.

re you saving too much for retirement?

Jay Brooks, owner of BrooksFinancial.

is online at aikenstandard.com

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Wednesday December 28 20116




By Cynthia Catts, RD, LD

My Anatomy & Physiology Pro-

fessor insisted that the liver is themost important organ in the body.

As the body’s largest (internal) or-

gan, the liver has hundreds of respon-

sibilities including ridding the body

of toxins, maintaining blood sugar

levels and metabolizing fat.

I’m seeing more and more clients

who have been diagnosed with non-

alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD). In

fact the incidence of NAFLD is risingin tandem with the rate of belly fat

and obesity.

There are studies that indicate that

this increased incidence of NAFLD

is lifestyle related. NAFLD is caused

by the buildup of fat in liver cells-

usually related to poor diet, obesity

and a sedentary lifestyle. NAFLD

is so common that ten percent of

American children have it. NA-

FLD increases the risk of Metabolic

Syndrome, the deadly quartet of fatty

liver, obesity, diabetes and hyper-

tension, which is believed to be the primary cause of life-threatening

vascular events such as heart attack

and stroke.

Belly fat isn’t the only symptom of

liver disease. However, the symptoms

may be vague or nonexistent. For

some, genetics play a role. Native

Americans, African-American men

and Hispanics are especially prone to

liver problems. Your physician cancheck your liver enzymes when doing

other routine blood work.

Watching your diet can help to

maintain the health of your liver. Re-

placing saturated fats such as animal

fat, trans fats such as hydrogenated

oil, sugars and artifcial sweeteners

with produce, nuts, seeds, fsh and

healthy oils is recommended. Be-

cause extra protein adds to the liver’s

workload, only about 15 percent

of your calories should come from

protein.

There are studies that suggest thatdrinking coffee is associated with a

lower risk of liver cancer and alco-

holic cirrhosis, but the reasons are

unclear. Green and white teas are

healthy sources of caffeine as they

provide anti-oxidants and anti-inam-

matory properties as well.

Of course it is also important to

reduce the liver’s exposure to toxins

such as cigarette smoke, pesticidesand fumes from volatile solvents. Al-

cohol consumption should be limited

and we should no longer be using

any plastics containing bisphenol A

(BPA).

For more information on liver

protection or to set up an appointmen

for an individual consult, Cyndi may

be reached at 803-642-9360 or at [email protected].

Cynthia F. Catts, RD, LD- Medical Nutrition Therapist inPrivate Practice

Your liver health

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Beginning on January 9, the

rst 2 of 19 courses, and 2 special

events, offered to the Aiken

community, will start.

Described below is a summary of

he courses to be presented with dates

and times. A complete description of

each of the courses will be found in the

cademy catalogs.

“A Road Map to Healthy Aging”.

anuary 9, 23, 30, February 6. 10:00

am - 10:50 am.

“The Met at the Movies in HD”.

anuary 9, 23, 30, February 6. 11:00

am - 12:30 pm.

“The Aging Brain”. January 10, 17,

4. 1:40 pm - 2:55 pm.

“The Constitution and The Bill of

ights.” January 11, 18, 25, February

1. 1:00 pm - 1:50 pm

“Observations on the Current

Economic Scene”. January 26,

February 2, 9, 16. 9:25 am - 10:40 am.

“Southern Appalachian Geology”.

January 26, February 2, 9, 16. 2:00

pm - 2:50 pm.

“Chocolate Class”. January 30. 1:00

pm - 1:50 pm

“The Old Testament”. January 31,

February 7, 14, 21. 10:50 am - 12:05

pm.

“Psychology - Why?” February 1, 8,15. 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm.

“Mastering the Moderns”. February

6. 2:00 pm - 2:50 pm.

“The Roman Empire”. February 7,

14, 21, 28. 9:25 am - 10:40 am.

“Contemporary Irish Poetry”.

February 13, 20, 27, March 5. 1:00

pm - 1:50 pm.

“History as a Political Weapon.”

February 27, March 5, 12, 19. 10:00

am - 11:00 am.

“Year-Round Color and Beauty in

Your South Carolina Landscape”.

March 1, 8, 15. 9:25 am - 10:40 am..

“The Real Cause of the American

Civil War and Why We Should Be

Concerned Today”. March 7, 14, 21.

3:00 pm - 4:00 pm.

“To Sleep, Perchance to Dream”.

March 8, 15, 22, 29. 10:50 am - 12:05 pm.

“Great Discussions”. March 8, 15, 22,

29, April 12, 19, 26, May 3. 2:00 pm -

3:30 pm.

“American Writers in Paris in the

Twenties”. March 16, 23, 30, April 13.

11:00 am - 11:50 am.

“The Conductor’s Job”. April 10.

2:00 pm - 3:00 pm.

“Wine Tasting” February 21. 2:30

pm.

“Cruise the Savannah River” March20. 2:00 pm - 3:30 pm.

Catalogs are available at the Aiken

County Library, the Cedar Creek

Community Center and at USCA

Business & Education Building, rooms

111 and 113 from Laura Anderson

641-3563 or Mary Anne Cavanaugh

641-3587.

Academy for Lifelong Learning

To advertise in

please call 803-644-2371

803-648-7616

www.rightathome.net/csra

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y, ,8

too, as he owned the bypass property

back then. Eventually, Bill bought outhis brother in Gingrey Construction.

ow, this successful businessman is“retired”. Well, he does have this little

part-time interest, as part owner of

Magnolia’s Market and Grille on York Street. Hard to keep this entrepreneur

down.Back to The Real Estate Shoppe.

Even Gail admits it was a very suc-cessful business, pretty much out of

the gate. These gals knew this town,this area, and they knew how to sell

real estate! For 22 years, this wasGail’s baby, along with her treasuredpartners. In fact, they took one-year

turns being “BIC”. Eventually, after he sought the business for many years,

Gail did agree to sell her portion to Mr.Meybohm in 2002, because of the ne

reputation Mr. Meybohm had. Theycarefully planned the merging of the

business into Meybohm. Two of Gail’scolleagues moved on then, but Gracie

aters and Gail Gingrey stayed at therm. In 2007, the merger was com-plete, as was the name change. Gracie

and Gail still are very active, stayingbusy; and Ruth Alexander keeps her

hand in too.Admired for her role in attracting

many to Aiken, here is what one of her colleagues, VP and rst-rate Mey-bohm realtor Diane Miniard, has to say

about Gail: “She is a beautiful, alwayshard-working, gracious, true Southern

lady! Don’t you just love her South-ern accent when she talks? She loves

her family and always puts them rst,but obviously her dedication to and

enjoyment of real estate has led to her amazingly successful career.”

Gail, a died-in-the-wool true South-

ern belle, actually has nice things

to say about “Yankees” – thinkingankees have brought lots of cultural

things, new thoughts, and lovely tradi-

tions to this town so many have cometo love. Aiken was already wonder-

ful, and the variety of passions andinterests newcomers have added justenhance the fabric and depth. Gail

feels blessed to have a town like Aikento sell. It lls her with a sense of pride.

When people leave, having Gail handletheir sales, she is sad, but often hears,

“We’ll be back, and that’s for sure.”Since this family plays out as the

center of the Gingrey universe for thisengaged grandmother, here are some

of their details. Son Douglas, born in1963, a Clemson grad, and daughter

Alison Leonardi, who chose another college route, have ve children be-tween them. They are, as Gail proudly

states, the “light of their life” for Gailand Bill. Brian Leonardi, 24, is a busi-

ness graduate from Presbyterian Col-lege, where he played as a linebacker

on their football team. Kaitlyn Gingreyis a sophomore at USCA; Will Gingrey

is a freshman at Clemson, while DannyLeonardi attends Lakeside in Augusta;and, Megan Leonardi is a senior at

Aiken High School.For this most recent Thanksgiving,

career woman superstar Gail donnedher apron to prepare a feast for 25

people, including Bill’s mom Helen,

93, who resides in Kalmia Landing;Gail’s sisters, Bill’s brothers, and as-sorted other members of this extendedand loving family clan. (Gail’s parents

did not live long lives, so she is grate-ful for the blessings of her health and

vitality).To what does Gail attribute her

good marriage? Bill has a love of life,too. He treats her like a queen, not

letting a day go by without declaringhis love. Theirs is a mutual trustingand giving relationship. No “weigh-

ing things” to make sure everything iseven. They have good business skills

and work ethic, which enabled themto accomplish much, and to provide

well for their family and grandchildren.“God gets the glory, for He gave us the

means to have a blessed marriage and

family,” Gail willingly admits.Memories of the 60s and their early,

lean years include enjoying a rare treatof a fast-food meal in Anderson of a

17-cent hamburger, fries and a bever -age. Mr. Gingrey had given Bill a

black and white TV when he went tocollege, although mostly it was best at

showing test patterns. Friday NightFights by Gillette was a TV staple.

Sometimes, for further entertainment,they would stroll through K-Mart.

During these Clemson years, theyate their share of beans and weenies,

saving Oreos for a special treat! Yes,Gail did save Green Stamps in books

(Winn-Dixie gave them, for one),delighted when it was time to claim anearned gift.

After Clemson, they moved toColumbia, where Bill was an engineer

for the SC Highway Department. Therst home the Gingreys purchased wasa nice brick three-bedroom. They put

$300 down toward the $13,000 total purchase price, leaving them with a

monthly mortgage payment of $87.Divorce was never even considered

an option to this committed couple:not even discussed. They put family

rst, no matter what. If a company party and a sports event for a child or grandchild happened at the same time,

the family event won out. Hours arelogged in bleachers up to present times,

watching soccer for Will, football for Danny and Brian, softball for Megan,

and swimming for Kaitlyn. No wonder

there are always kids dropping by thespacious and gracious Gingrey home,with its kid-friendly lower level, to this

day!This youthful bride, young mother,

pioneering woman business owner, anddevoted grandmother nds the older

she gets, the busier she becomes. Yes,at rst she resisted electronics, but now

embraces this way of keeping cur-rent in her work world, with The GailGingrey Team of Bethanne Farrell,

and grandson Brian Leonardi. Gailsays this, “Even though I am an aging

realtor, I wish always to be considereda trusted realtor.”

It is nearly impossible to believesomeone this young not only in spirit but in looks and outlook can actually

be celebrating her Golden Wedding An-niversary this month, December 2011.

When you see Bill and Gail, remem- ber to extend hearty congratulations.

When Bill made that quick turn to the

marryin’ Judge’s place, he knew fullwell he had picked the right girl!

gingrey...from page 1

Gail with her husband Bill.




9

By Linda Farron Knapp, Attorney at Law

A member of the National Academy of Elder

Law Attorneys

Q - I have an IRA and depend on it

for retirement income, but as my larg-est asset I want to be sure I can leave it

to my three children and avoid probate.What should I do?

A - Individual retirement accountsor IRAs were often overlooked or disregarded when estate planning was

undertaken, but as a result of 401k

and pension plan rollovers IRAs holdapproximately 27% of all retirementassets in the US with over $4.9 trillion

in tax-deferred funds.1 While estate planners and wealth management professionals have started to give IRAs

increased attention many lawyers pre- paring just simple wills lack a sound

understanding of the post-mortem planning opportunities for IRAs and

thus don’t alert their clients to therules for required minimum distribu-

tions (RMDs) that will come into playupon the owner’s death for these taxdeferred accounts. Many IRA owners

still see their IRAs like a plain savingsaccount and don’t seek help from their tax professional, nancial advisor and

attorney.

The most common error that occursis not naming a “designated” benecia-

ry (a legal term of art) and a contingent“designated” beneciary on the bene-ciary form. Estates and charities can be named on the beneciary forms, but

they are not considered “designated” beneciaries. Only individuals and

qualied trusts can be designated ben-

eciaries. “My spouse’s IRA account”is not a proper designated beneciary

and some living trusts do not qualify because they are not fully irrevocableupon the death of the rst spouse.

Likewise an otherwise qualied sub-

testamentary trust in the living trust isnot properly named on the beneciary

form. Leaving an IRA to an estate hascertain perils, including the possibility

of the funds becoming subject to credi-tors’ claims. Additionally an unwitting personal representative might deposit

the entire IRA into an estate accountcausing it to be subject to immediate

taxation. Estate planners also need toconsider pre and post nuptial agree-ments and be certain the wrong ben-

eciary such as an ex-spouse, or ex-

boyfriend or girlfriend or life partner,

or someone no longer favored by theowner, who is being removed from thewill, is not left on the beneciary form.

If the primary beneciary predeceases

the IRA owner without a “designated”contingent beneciary, then the default

provisions of the IRA rules will apply

and that is not always the most nan-cially advantageous result. Proper

layering of “designated” beneciariesis always a good idea.

If your IRA has a proper “designat-ed” beneciary you will avoid probate

of that asset. It remains to be seenwhether you have done sufcient plan-

ning to avoid probate all together.

You have admirable goals. Sadlystudies repeatedly show that family

wealth is completely lost by the thirdgeneration. Learning how to work,live within your means, save, acquire,

grow and maintain money is impor-tant for generational family success.

Some seniors are able to involve their children in their estate planning, nd-

ing they still have valuable lessons toteach on how to select and work withwealth planning professionals during

their retirement years.There are a lot of really important

details left out of your question. Youneed an estate planning team – a tax

preparer, a knowledgeable attorney,and a nancial advisor who can as-sure that your IRA beneciary form

is completed correctly and your IRAis invested wisely. Your team should

also help you address the other com- ponents of a solid estate plan which

should include certain legal docu-ments and may include funeral and/or

adequate life insurance, long term careand Medicare supplement insurance or

other appropriate plan of care to dealwith medical expenses and potentialincapacity.

(Endnotes) - 1. See Employee Ben-

et Research Institute or www.EBRI.org, “Fast Facts,” #203, June 30, 2011and also Investment Company Institute

or www.ici.org, Washington, D.C.,Sept 30, 2011 press release.

Boomer Briefngs

ttorney Linda Farron Knapp is a

member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys.

If you have a question for

Boomer Briefngs: Write

to Attorney Knapp at P.O.

Box 714, Barnwell, SC

29812 or fax a question to

803-541-7677 or e-mail her

at [email protected].

Questions may be rephrased and all answers will be

addressed only in Boomer

Briefngs articles.

715 E. Pine Log Rd. Aiken, SC 29803

641-4401www.shellhouseriversfuneralhome.com

924 Hayne Ave. Aiken, SC 29801

642-3456 www.shellhousefuneralhome.com

Shellhouse Funeral Home, Inc.

Shellhouse-Rivers Funeral Home, Inc.

COMPLETE FUNERAL SERVICEOnSite Cr ematory P ine L og R d. L ocation

Affiliated with Bethany Cemetery • Pre-Planning Arrangements • M onuments • O ut of Town Burial Service

JASON B. HUCKSFuneral Director

C. MITCHELLRIVERS

Funeral Director

ROBERTW.

SHELLHOUSE, JR.Funeral Director

A S 1 0 - 6 0 8 1 3 6 1

A S 0 4 - 6 1 6 2 4 5

1




The workshops offered at the

cGrath SeniorNet Learning Center on the USC Aiken campus are one of he best ways to improve your skills

n a specic area or gain new skillshat enhance the usefulness of your

computer. The Winter Session lineups very diverse and one that promises

o have something for everyone! Butefore telling you what is offered, you

should know two things: 1) each work-shop has a limited amount of space

generally the limit is 10 students per

orkshop; and 2) registration is on arst come rst served basis (though a

aiting list is sometimes kept in casesomeone drops out of a workshop). To

e sure you get a place in the work-shop of your choice, you can register

at the Open House on Monday, Janu-

ary 9th, rom 9 a.m. to noon in the

Learning Center OR register by mail,using the registration form available on

our website www.aikenseniornet.com

that you can download, print out, andmail to the address shown on the form.

Registration is not taken over the phone. You may pay by cash, check,

or credit card. Course fees: 8-week courses: $80; 4- week courses: $45

Each workshop is distinct and dif-ferent, and the cost for each is $20.

They are all taught on Friday morn-ings, with two exceptions, from 9 to 11a.m. in the Leaning Center. Most are

hands-on and often include handouts toaugment the instruction. Besides the

instructor, there are coaches availableto assist students during the presenta-

tion. Note that two of the workshops

are offered on two different dates andat different times. Please check the

schedule at the bottom.

The courses that are offered for

beginning or casual users of the computer are SRN 101 Beginning Com-

puter (a four-week course) and SRN

102 Computer Basics. If you havethe skills taught in these courses, you

may take any of the Advanced Courses being taught. In the Winter Sessionthey are: Word Processing with

Word 2007; Digital Photo Editing

using Adobe Photoshop Elements

8; Exploring Windows 7; Excel;

Email and the Internet; Genealogy

Using Legacy 7.4; Web Page Design

Basics (a 4-week introduction to web

page design using Hyper Text MarkupLanguage –HTML); Pictures Using

Picasa (a four-week course). Students

in all courses receive a manual for use

in class and at home. All students mayalso come to the Open Lab period any

Wednesday afternoon from 3 to 5 for additional practice or to ask questionsof our volunteers. Students must pro-vide their own ash drive for saving

course exercises as well as work that

might be done in class. For detaileddescriptions of all of our four-week

and eight-week courses, and the abovelisted workshops, as well as the days &times of each course on the schedule,

visit our website www.aikenseniornet.com Plan now to come to the Course

Registration Open House on Mon.

Jan 9th rom 9 a.m. to noon in the

Learning Center on the USCA cam-

pus. We hope to see you there!

inter Session SeniorNet Workshops

TITLE ................ ................DATE .........BRIEf DESCRIPTION

Mousing Skills ...................Jan. 20 ........Offered before the

.................................................................start of the Beginning

.............................................Feb. 10 .......Computer course for

.................................................................inexperienced students

The New World

of Windows 7 ......................Jan. 27 ........Learn all about the

.................................................................Windows7 operating system

Remote Control of

Your Home Computer .........Feb. 3 .........Check your computer when................................................................. away using the free LogMeIn software

Power Point Presentations...Feb. 10 .......Learn to make presentation slides

.................................................................using Microsoft PowerPoint 2007

Computer Maintenance ......Feb. 17 .......A hands-on workshop working

........................................................................with the hard drive, CD/DVD drives, etc.

Computer Security ..............Feb. 24 .......Learn about protecting your

.................................................................computer from viruses, worms,

.................................................................adware, spyware, etc.iTunes ........................... .......March 2 ......Learn to use all features of iTunes

Exploring Skype..................March 9 ......Learn to use this Internet-based

.................................................................visual telephone system to

.................................................................communicate with others

Backing Up Your

Computer .......................... ...March 16 ....Learn how to protect your les

.................................................................& data by using simple techniques




By: Rio Grande Dave

70,000 people in attendance.What sporting event was this?

Here’s a clue- 25,000 blooms

were entered. It was January

21 & 22, 1950. The Lafayette

Louisiana Camellia Show in

conjunction with the American

Camellia Society had its annual

camellia show. These attendance

records point out how popular

camellia shows used to be

before Moms working outside

the home and other distractions

such as television, iPods and Wii

entered our lives. Now here is a

chance for you to help reverse

that attendance decline. You can

attend a local camellia show. TheAiken Camellia Society will hold

its 61st annual Camellia Show on

Saturday January 21, 2012 from

3-8PM and Sunday, January 22,

2012 from 1-6PM at the Aiken

Mall. Admission is free. But

why not also enter your camellia

blooms in the show? Take the

challenge and you may also win

an award for your blooms. Aiken

Camellia Members will help

you enter your bloom. You don’t

know the name of your bloom?

Again Camellia Members can

help identify it. Wouldn’t it makeyou proud to tell your neighbor

- yes, my Pink Perfection is

blooming, instead of, my pink

camellia is blooming. Alright,

so you don’t have any camellias,

we will offer to take and enter

your kind neighbor’s blooms. It

will make their day if they win an

award.

Camellia blooms can be

entered on Saturday, January 21

from 8-11:30AM. Containers

will be provided to display

your bloom for judging. Aiken

Camellia Members will show

you how to ll out an entry

card and place your bloom inthe proper category. If you join

the American Camellia Society

or the Aiken Camellia Society

during the two day show, you

will also get a free camellia plant

to take home. Aiken Camellia

Society members will be present

to answer any concerns and

questions you may have about the

“Queen of the winter owers-the

camellia”. Here’s hoping to see

you along the Camellia Trail.

Camellia Daze

www.hondacarsofaiken.com

663-3636 AS02-644251




By Chrissa Matthews

As we nd ourselves on the

doorstep of 2012 I’d like to chat with

ou about a resolution I strongly

believe you should make and keep.

Let’s call it life planning.

It is an easy concept to grasp

although it is no one’s favorite topic.

Most of us plan for things we

know or assume will happen: college

funds, retirement plans and life

insurance are the common results of

such planning.

So why don’t we plan for the time

e will need some extra assistance

ust to remain happily in our own

homes?

The facts are seventy percent of

us will require some form of long-

term care after age sixty-ve. Yet

hen it happens most people are

taken by surprise. Lives – theirs and

frequently a family member’s - are

completely upended by this oversight

in planning.

It needn’t be so. The rule of

thumb is this: You and/or your

spouse will need long-term care but

you won’t know when until the day

you need it.

And the day you need it is the

worst possible time to begin to gure

it out.

The need for long-term care almost

always begins with an event: a fall, a

stroke or a diagnosis. By their nature

these events cannot be foreseen, so

the time to plan is now.

But most people never plan for this

stage of life. The result is that four

out of ve times a spouse or grown

child becomes the main caregiver,

often leaving a career to do so.

Failure to plan can be particularly

devastating in Aiken. You may be

among the thousands who moved

here to retire. Did you bring your

kids? I didn’t think so.

And you need to know health

insurance doesn’t cover the long-term

care you will need. Medicare doesn’t

either.

So let’s get on with the life

planning. Get to know us at

DayBreak Adult Care Services

and learn what we have to offer.

Understand what the costs look like

so you can do some meaningful

nancial planning. If possible talk

with your children about sharing the

premiums for insurance – for them it

may be better than leaving a career.

Give your family the gift of a plan

for 2012. And may you have a happy,

“event free” new year.

question of when, not if

Chrissa Matthews, MA, CCC/ SLP, is the owner of DayBreak Adult Care Services, Inc.

A S 0 2 - 6 3 6 6 1 2

Open HouseRegistration for Winter

Session classes & workshopsMonday, January 9th

9 a.m. to Noon

McGrath SeniorNetLearning Center

Next to tennis courts

on the USC Aiken campus

Come in and see what SeniorNet has to offer

Visit our website for more information:

www.aikenseniornet.comAS07-666408

eded, Decee 28, 2011 13



Sunny Monday at St. John’s United Methodist Church always

elcomes those over 55 to join in! These events start at 10:30, include

a wonderful lunch for $4, and require reservations to 648-6891. The

gatherings are at the corner of Richland and Newberry downtown, at the

church with the fountain.

Upcoming events include a presentation on Monday, January 9, from

Jennifer Hart, the manager of Goodwill Industries in Aiken, where she

ill share their new services, from show room sales to job training. On

Monday, February 13, Katie McCauley plans to talk about the new “Y”

and their wonderful family adventures.

The PrimeTimers Travel Group invites you to join in on a preview of

Carolina Tours’ upcoming twelve travel trips with Aiken departures, as

ell as those leaving from Columbia’s Dutch Square Mall, on Friday,

January 13. There is no charge and no reservations required for this

session, beginning at 10am, offering light refreshments during the session

at Ward Hall (no lunch with this one). Prizes, rafe, and fellowship. 55+

folks are planning some very fun adventures for 2012!

Eet:January 7 - rivErhaWks GamE

· Augusta, GA· $12 per person

· Faith & Family Night· Augusta Riverhawks vs. Fayetteville FireAntz

FEbruary 10 - Columbia WomEn’s shoW

· Columbia, SC

· $15 per person· Latest trends in fashion· Tips and new recipes

· Learn to TANGO· Shopping, learning, and having fun

Bus will leave from 2 locations, Graniteville Rec

Center & the Courtney Center in Wagener. For moreinformation & times call Tandra at 803-663-6142 or

Carolyn at 803-564-5211.

Senior Trips

UNLEASH

with NEW SPEEDS up to 40 Mbps! THE INTERNET

Get the speed you need– 25x faster than DSL!

1-855-897-4871

Call to get the FASTEST Internet speeds in town!

Service subject to availability. Please contact Atlantic Broadband for details. Speed comparison based on most widely advertised AT&T DSL service. Actual speeds may vary. Many factors impact speed. © Atlantic Broadband 2011.




Ask anyone what theyenvision doing most in their

etirement, and chances are

ravel will be at the top of their

ist. For those who have already

etired, traveling is a luxury

any no doubt look forward to.

Seniors about to take to the

oad, however, should consider he following tips before

eading off to parts unknown.

• Pack medications in

our carry-on. Prescription

edications should be packed

n your carry-on whenever

raveling to prevent losing

ital medications should your

checked bags be lost duringour travels.

• Consult with your physician

and create a list of past and

current conditions and any

edications. In the unfortunate

event you lose any of your

edication or fall ill during your

ravels, a list of all current andast conditions and medications

can help the physician who will

e treating you better understand

ou and your medical history.

Be sure to inform any traveling

companions about this list, and

eep it on you at all times when

raveling.

• Figure out time zones and

a medication schedule ahead of

ime. When traveling to different

ime zones, it can be difcult to

adhere to a medication schedule.

Before leaving, work out a new

schedule that takes into account

he different time zones you will

be visiting during your travels.• Be sure your vaccinations

are up to date. Certain countries

mandate your vaccinations are

up to date before you can enter

the country, and some require

vaccinations be administered

as early as 6 weeks before your

visit. Be sure all vaccinationsare updated in adherence to the

guidelines of any country you

will be visiting.

• Remain hydrated. Planes

often have dry air, which can

cause dehydration and muscle

aches. So be sure to drink

plenty of water to guard against

dehydration.

Medical travel tipsfor senior citizens

Our church offers a variety of worship experiences.

One of them may be just right for you!

On Sunday mornings, we have Traditional Services at 8:30 and 11am

And…

We have a Contemporary Service with traditional values at 9:02am

Plus…

A monthly Youth Worship Service on Sunday evenings

AS04-625833

St. John’s UnitedMethodist Church

Richland Avenue & Newberry Street, Downtown

the church with the fountain Call 648-6891 or visit our website at

www.stjohns-umc.com

You are always welcome at St. John’s

United Methodist Church

In addition to our worship services, we have:

Grace Kitchen on Saturday mornings

Wednesday Night Suppers

Preschool and MDO

Children’s Ministries

Youth Programs and Ministries

Seniors Ministries and Fellowship

(Days and Evenings)

Choirs for All Ages

As well as Handbells for all

Foundation Youth Band

Under the Steeple concerts

Bible studies at varying times

Sunday School groups

Columbarium and Prayer Garden

Griefshare

Stephen Ministry

Also

Missions Near and Far

A S 1 0 - 6 6 4 0 7 7

116 Pendleton St.

Downtown Aiken

803.648.8048* Valid only with an automatic monthly deduction

from a Credit or Debit Card.

per*mo.$44

UNLIMITED CLASSES FOR 1 YEAR

GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE

FREE MAT!




At one point in the 2008 Oscar-

nominated lm “Frost/Nixon,”

former President Richard Nixon,

played by Frank Langella, says,“Retired people are the most bored

people in the world.” While some

retirees might scoff at that remark,

others no doubt agree there’s an

element of truth to it.

Perhaps boredom is one reason

many seniors continue to work past

retirement age. According to the

Congressional Research Service

(CRS), 47 percent of male seniors

and 34 percent of female seniors

ere employed in 2007. That those

gures were from 2007 is signi-

cant, as it indicates this was before

the economic downturn of 2008-09,

a consequence of which was more

seniors returning to the workforce.For many seniors, though, work -

ing isn’t simply a means to earn

money. In fact, seniors who con-

tinued working past the age of 70

earned an average of just $20,000

in 2007. Seniors also tend to work

to have something to do. For se-

niors looking to do just that, thereare a host of employment or even

olunteer opportunities that can

help seniors stay busy and possi-

bly put a little extra money in their

pockets.

• Local park service. Many local

park services hire seniors to help

keep the parks clean. These are

often seasonal opportunities, mak -

ing them ideal for seniors who live

in different cities depending on the

seasons.

• Golf course. Golf courses are

other seasonal businesses, at least

in much of the country, that also

boast lots of part-time opportuni-

ties for seniors. For example, golf

courses need rangers, who ensure

all golfers play by the rules and

respect the course, and even main-tenance staff, who do everything

from cut the grass to maintaining

gardens. These can also pull double

duty, providing seniors with daily

exercise to help them stay healthy.

• Volunteer. Many programs that

help indigent citizens get by every

day welcome seniors as volunteers.

Meal delivery services and other

programs that cater to the sick are

often in need of a helping hand.

• School systems. Local school

districts also have volunteer op-

portunities that can be ideal for

seniors. Positions such as crossing

guard or even helping out with the

local athletic teams don’t requiremuch of a commitment and can be

rewarding and fun for seniors.

• Consultant work. Seniors who

miss the thrill of business don’t

have to give it up completely sim-

ply because they’re retired. Many

seniors earn a handsome amount of

money by working as consultants,using their vast experience to help

the next generation. What’s more,

consultants often work on their

own schedule, an ideal situation for

seniors with a passion for business

but an equal passion for the posi-

tives of retirement.

• Library. Libraries might not

be as popular as they once were,

but many are still going strong,

and some even use volunteers

and part-time employees to keep

their operations running smoothly.

Many libraries prefer hiring seniors

thanks to their reliability and good

attitude.

Job opportunities abound for seniors

Seniors looking to work or volunteer should consider working at the local library.




AS04-532798b

Companionship

Meal PreparationGrocery ShoppingHousehold ChoresLaundr y • Errands

Pet Care

Respite CareTransportationHospital Sitting

Nursing Home Sitting

Assisted Living Sitting

Alzheimer’s CareBathing/Dressing

AssistanceMedication Reminders

DOL/EEOICP A Provider • Member of NPDA

1028 Hayne Ave., SW • Aiken, SC

AS04-605070

Documents

Mature Times December 2011