L i f e b e g i n s at 50

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PRsRt stDUs Postage PaiD

atHens, gaPeRMit no. 406

Ken Sherman

PEDALINGGOOD CAUSESRetired educator cycles for health and good causes

the benefits ofHORMONE THERAPY

PINOTPINOT

or not

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features faLL 2011

Pedaling Good CausesKen Sherman stays healthy and active

Hormone TherapyFeel younger as you age

The DallmeyersExpeditions help bring life lessons

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departmentsFALL 2011

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L i F e b e g i n s A t 5 0

PUbLIShErScot Morrissey

DIrECTOrAndrea Griffith

EDITOrDon Nelson

MANAGING EDITOr Ivey Hamby

CONTrIbUTING wrITErSBev Bennett

Christopher ElderChristopher Everett

Kate FosterElaine Kalber Don NelsonT.K. Walters

Jordan Woodruff

CONTrIbUTING PhOTOGrAPhErSRichard HammDavid Manning

ADvErTISING DIrECTOrAngela Belvan

LEAD ACCOUNT ExECUTIvERyan Roberts

ACCOUNT ExECUTIvESAlicia Goss

Joanne TidwellJena Wages

ESTAbLIShED jUNE 2009

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Pet TerapyOur fury friends provide health benefits

Red Wine To Pinot or Not to Pinot?

DecoratingSavvy bookshelf decor

Health Insights:Strokes

On Tap:Fall beer selections

Bone HealthWarding off osteoporosis

Take a day tripExplore Crawford and Lexington

Relationship EssayWhat do you really want?

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L i F e b e g i n s A t 5 0ESTAbLIShED jUNE 2009

ADDrESSOne Press Place

Athens, Georgia 30601;(mailing) P.O. Box 912,Athens, Georgia 30603

TELEPhONES 706.208.2329, Advertising706.208.2378, Customer/

Subscription Services706.208.2220, Editorial

editor’s letter

TTree leaves are coloring our landscapes with their changing, brilliant hues and the crisp cool air of autumn is replacing the hot, humid conditions of summer.

Welcome to the fall and our latest edition of NEXT magazine. NEXT celebrates those over-50 people who lead active lifestyles.

We like to present our NEXT readers with a variety of subjects covering health, intimacy, art, food and wine, pets, decorating, travel, exercise, trends and more. And though those of us who work to plan the content of NEXT like to think we know a lot, we do realize it’s impossible to be aware of all the great stories out there pertaining to our senior residents.

I would like to encourage our readers to send us ideas about the men and women leading an extraordinarily active life here in the Athens area, or about trends particularly pertinent to people over 50. Whether it’s a new type of exercise, healthy recipes or an individual who likes to sky dive or explore caves, please contact us with your suggestions.

I can be reached by email at don.nelson@onlineathens.com or via phone at 706.208.2214.

Thanks in advance for your input. And thanks for reading NEXT. We hope you enjoy it.

Don Nelson, editor

Don Nelson, Editor of NEXT

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Pet Therapydogs & cats provide health benefits to aging owners

The smell of puppy breath, the frolicking play of a kitten, sharing the bed with a furry friend, a game of fetch; these things bring tre-mendous joy

to those who choose to share their lives with pet companions.

Take a moment to visualize your own companion’s tail wagging or the joyous purring as you arrive home. Can you feel the stress or tension of the day drifting from your mind, exiting your body? Every day, across America, evidence of the benefits of pet ownership on improved quality of life is demonstrated.

In the United States alone, there are an estimated 70 million dogs and 80 million cats who share their lives with human companions. Yet, feline and canine friends not only provide companionship and improve an individual’s quality of life but

may also significantly impact their owner’s overall health for the better.

Indeed, according to the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, pet ownership may aid in lowering blood pressure, cholesterol and triglycerides (several of the contributors to heart disease) and may diminish feelings of loneliness. Further, pet owners may see bene-fits in the increased opportunities to exercise and socialize afforded by having pet companions. Taking pets for daily walks, for exam-ple, not only improves the pet’s health but can improve cardiovascular fitness for their owners.

Many pets, like their owners, may suffer from degenerative and lifestyle diseases such as osteoarthritis and obesity. The increased exercise afforded by pet ownership may positively impact arthritic pain and obesity-related disease in pets and their people. Both small and large hospitals across the country have begun utilizing pet visitors to buoy the spirits and health of patients suffering from conditions ranging from heart failure to pulmonary disease and depression.

So well recognized is the impact of pet companionship’s benefits to health that many assisted care living facilities for seniors have implemented visitation days for assistance pets. Currently, there are an estimated 50,000 registered handler/pet teams in the United States which visit assisted care facilities. In addition, many assisted care facilities now allow pet companions to reside with their owners in recognition of the many benefits afforded by pets.

Ultimately, it can be quite important to select the right companion for an individual’s lifestyle. From

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the Australian shepherd, a dog needing daily exercise (a great walking/jogging companion), to the diminutive Yorkshire terrier, a true couch potato, there is a canine or feline companion for everyone.

Seeking the counsel of a veterinarian when selecting a companion can be of tremendous benefit. In this way, personality traits of the potential companion as well as any health issues known to the breed can be discussed in advance of bringing that loving new friend home. In addition, your veterinarian may inform you of the routine care needs of your new companion (grooming and other daily care required).

Regardless of what type of companion you select, pet ownership can reap numerous mental and physical benefits for those who choose to share their lives with a canine or feline companion.

• Dr. Christopher Elder is a small animal veterinarian and owner of

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Do red wine’s health benefits add up? Health experts weigh inby bev bennett

Most people have no doubt heard encouraging words about red wine and better health; how that glass of Cabernet Sauvignon with dinner may reduce the risk of heart disease

But before reaching for the corkscrew, exercise caution.“If you’re over 50, and if you don’t drink alcohol, don’t start,” says Christine Gerbstadt, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association.

Despite red wine’s healthy aura, Gerbstadt and other nutrition professionals are wary of promoting it.

They question whether it’s actually beneficial, whether consuming alcohol may lead to other issues and whether people wouldn’t be better off with heart-healthy alternatives.

“There’s no indication that it [red wine] does anything for heart disease,” says Roger B. McDonald, Ph.D., professor, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis.

No scientific comparison trials have been done to determine the specific effect of wine on heart disease risk, according to a statement from the American Heart Association.

“There are compounds in wine shown in vitro [test tubes]

To Pinot or Not to Pinot

“There are compounds in wine shown in vitro [test tubes] to work. Once they get in the body they haven’t been shown to work.”

— Roger B. McDonald, Ph.D., professor, Department of Nutrition, University of California, Davis

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to work. Once they get in the body they haven’t been shown to work,” McDonald says.

If wine doesn’t improve a person’s health, can it have downsides?

Yes, says Dr. Gerbstadt.Wine is caloric. A 5-ounce serving of

red wine contains about 125 calories. If a person drinks a glass a day, she

could be gaining 12 pounds a year if those calories aren’t subtracted elsewhere, Gerbstadt says.

And if people eliminate other foods to accommodate wine calories, they may be missing out on nutritional food choices.

“Wine is luxury calories. The amount of calories in a serving [of wine] doesn’t add significant vitamins or minerals to the diet,” Gerbstadt says.

The alcohol may disrupt sleep and interfere with medications.

But for those drinking wine for the sake of better health, there are inexpensive and low-risk steps one can take to reduce the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease.

Staying active and sticking with a low-calorie diet are your best options, according to McDonald.

THe OTHer reD DriNkRed wine is touted for its heart protective benefits because

it’s rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients (plant substanc-

es) that may increase a person’s “good cholesterol.”

Some of the same antioxidants are found in red grape

juice and red grapes, which don’t have alcohol’s down-

side, says Christine Gerbstadt, physician and registered

dietitian.

“Eat red grapes with the skins; the skin has the benefits.

Slice red grapes into a salad,” she says.

Instead of the glass of wine with dinner, enjoy a grape

juice cocktail. Dr. Gerbstadt suggests mixing a small

amount of grape juice to reduce the drink’s calories.

“Take an ounce of grape juice, add chipped ice and fill

the glass with club soda. You get all the phytonutrients

with far fewer calories; it’s very refreshing,” she says.

(One ounce of grape juice is 2 tablespoons; about 19

calories.)

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Good CausesRetired educator cycles for health and good causes

The rolling hills of a bike trail make a fitting metaphor for life. There are smooth, easily maneuvered patches where

everything is a breeze. Then there are rough, mountainous bumps that force you to struggle with all your might. For Athens resident Ken Sherman, soon to turn 60 years old, a bike trail is more than just symbolism though; it is the place where he sheds blood, sweat and soul until he reaches 150 miles each week. “I fell in love with biking when I was just a little boy growing up in Brooklyn, (N.Y.),” Sherman said. “ It

was my ‘Freedom Ma-chine’. I’ve taken it everywhere — France, England, Ireland, Vermont... — and now I’m riding better and faster than I was 20 years ago.” It’s quite an impressive feat for a man of Sherman’s age. But when

men 20, even 30 years his junior are taking a load off in the physical exercise department, what keeps Sherman so motivated? Sherman thinks of himself as “rolling on a

log,” and he doesn’t plan on falling off anytime soon. “The key to a long and healthy life is staying active,” he explained.

“It’s keeping me young and alive.”

By Kate Foster

Photos by Richard Hamm

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As if biking 7,000 miles in a year — Sherman’s goal for 2011 — wasn’t enough, the retired Clarke Middle School principal is fin-ishing up a successful few months as interim principal at another middle school in the area. He also is president of the Athens Jewish Film Festival and is heavily involved in charity work, most prominently with groups like the Foundation for Excellence for the Clarke County School District and the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Athens, a group of churches that rotate housing homeless families as they work to find transitional housing and a job. Sherman emphasizes that being involved with these causes is both necessary and easy, as he combines charity work with his love of biking. “Every year, we do a two-day bike ride from Athens to Savannah for the Foundation for Excellence (for the school district),” Sherman explained. “We’re in our tenth year now and

have raised over $100,000. It really connects a fun activity with a bigger purpose.” Quite simply, Sherman never stops moving. On Aug. 17, he biked in the Teardrop Metric Century Bike Ride as a board member of IHNA. The ride, with 100 riders turning out and lots of support and sponsorship from local businesses, reminded him of why he loves Athens. But he also gets excited about the everyday Athens biking scene, which Sherman describes as “a wonderful place for cycling. “You can get away for awhile and see beautiful scenery, plus Athens drivers are patient and supportive of bikers,” Sherman said. When asked what motivates him to maintain such a full plate of activities, Sherman points to his educational experiences. “My career in education pushed me to help the homeless,” he said. “I was serving so many amazing families, in both New York and Athens, that were struggling. It impacts all of us. We are our brother’s keeper. It’s our shared community, and we must provide for the vitality of our city and its people,” said Sherman. Everything about Ken Sherman conjures up a picture of youth: the miles he bikes, his passion for living. Even his voice sounds like a teenager’s. And his own words explain his outlook perfectly: “I really love riding. I can keep up with guys 30 years younger than me,” he said. “It’s keeping me young and alive.”

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Many active adults, particularly Baby Boomers, who are feeling the effects of life’s inevitable aging, are turning to bioidentical hormone replacement therapy as a means

to help them recapture some of their youthful energy and vigor. Begun in the 1940s, hormone replacement therapy has undergone it’s own refinements and improvements over the last 60 plus years. The therapy helps replace imbalances most often associated with problems of the endocrine system that includes the pancreas, adrenal and

thyroid glands. These glands make hormones that help regulate things like body temperature, sugar levels, sleep patterns and aging itself. Though most commonly used by women for postmenopausal conditions, hormonal replacement has also been used as a youth replinisher. The practice, most popular with celebrities back in 2006 when actress Suzanne Somers published her controversial book “Ageless: The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones,” bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is becoming more and more commonplace for both men and women these days. “It’s what we do in our office every day,” said Dr. Gregory Zengo, who has been practicing in Northeast Georgia for the past 13 years and has had his New Image Medical Aesthetics and Wellness in Watkinsville for five years now. “Even people in their 30s and 40s when they start to stress, it can start to cause some decline in both mental and physical performance,” Zengo said. “Anyone can get adrenal fatigue or a stress-induced abnormal thyroid but it’s most likely to occur to people in their 50s.” Most people equate hormone therapy with female menopause and andropause — male menopause, but there are many other symptoms related to thyroid and adrenal gland outputs that the treatment might help, Zengo said. Waking carbohydrate cravings, mental fog, irritability, low sex drive, insomnia or poor sleep quality all can be attributed to changing hormone levels, doctors say. Before anyone addresses those symptoms with hormone therapy, though, an individual should visit a doctor and get proper testing, Zengo said. Taking even natural substances like hormones or herbals can be unsafe if the doses are too high, he added. Zengo uses saliva testing for steroid-related hormones which pertain to ovaries testes, and adrenal glands, he said. “We use saliva testing because we feel it’s more precise, and there are hundreds of published papers validating salivary hormone testing,” Zengo said. “We may prescribe therapy based on the results and correlation with symptoms.” Most doctors still use blood tests to determine hormone levels, especially for thyroid-related hormone. Zengo emphasizes that often, hormone imbalances can be attributed to stress coming from many sources.

Striking a balanceMore women and men opting for hormonal replacement

Brian Seagraves at Pharmaceutical Specialty Inc. mixes a hormone prescription.

By Don Nelson Photo by Kavi Vu

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“Our lifestyles are full of distractions; we’re bothered all the time with emails and cell phones,” he said “We have too many channels on TV and places to go on the Internet when we should be sleeping. There’s a lot to do that wasn’t there when were cave dwellers. That’s how we were built — to wake up with the sun and go to bed at sundown.” Three of the major hormones that decline in people as they age are estrogen, progesterone and testosterone, and those can be prescribed by doctors to help alleviate symptoms, but dosages must be individualized, said Brian Seagraves, staff pharmacist with Pharmaceutical Specialties in Athens. Seagraves does compounding pharmacy — custom mixing drugs to fit a patient’s unique needs — which he said is important when dealing with prescriptions for hormone replacement. He said Pharmaceutical Specialties definitely is seeing more demand for compounding hormone replacements. There are commercial hormone products out there, but often patients need individualized doses, and a compound pharmacist can tailor those specific prescription details. Women for example, may need some testosterone, but too much can cause unwanted side effects like hair growth. But a small amount of testosterone — 2 milligrams compared to 25 or 100 milligrams for a man — can improve a woman’s libido — sex drive — Seagraves said. Adjusting dosages to fix estrogen and progesterone levels in women can improve their vitality, he added. In older men, a lower production of testosterone cuts down on their energy level and libido, Seagraves said. “One of the first things is men see their libido go down hill,” he said. For men who are aging and experiencing decreased levels of testosterone, taking commercial testosterone gels can lead to much of it converting to estrogen, which can lead to gynecomastia (enlarged breasts in men) or enlarged prostates, Seagraves said. Some men develop those conditions without taking extra testosterone. Combining an aromatase inhibitor — most often used to stem the production of estrogen in post-menopausal women — with testosterone supplements through compounding can help stave off those potential side effects, Seagraves said. “It makes a big difference for men,” he said.

One major benefit of compounding is that it can combine small doses of different hormones, a point that Zengo sees as important. “The best results tend to come when we do a little fix to a lot of different things,” he said. “You can’t just give large quantities of estrogen or testosterone.” Vitamins for a sluggish adrenal gland and substances like melatonin to help with sleep can enhance the therapy, Zengo said. Like Zengo, Seagraves emphasizes caution when people are considering hormonal replacement therapy. “Wherever you get it done, make sure you get counseled by a doctor and a pharmacist,” Seagraves said. “Have a doctor prescribe it and don’t do it on your own. There are some over-the-counter options but they could be dangerous without guidance from someone who knows.” Athens businessman Howard Scott, 59, sought bioidentical hormone replacement therapy because he wasn’t getting quality sleep. “Like a lot of people, I wasn’t sleeping well, and I didn’t have the same energy level,” Scott said. “But I wasn’t ready to accept just that I was getting old.” Three years into hormonal replacement therapy,

Scott, who also maintains a dedicated exercise program, nutritional diet and healthy lifestyle, has become a strong advocate for hormonal supplements. But he recommends that people who are interested should study up on the medicine first. He also stressed the importance

of eating well, exercising, drinking moderately if you drink and abstaining from smoking. “Those life-style choices go hand-in-hand,” said Howard who gets his analyses and prescription therapy through Renaissance Medical Center in Atlanta. Scott takes his hormonal prescriptions — including melatonin (for sleep), cortisone (for muscle soreness) and fish oil (for memory) mostly in oral form, but he also gets a testosterone shot once a week. The testosterone improves his energy level, and increases the benefits of exercise. “In my workouts, it helps build muscle and burn fat,” he said. “I’ve lost my love handles so to speak.”Before he started the doctor- prescribed regimen, Scott completed a lengthy questionnaire about the different physical symptoms he was experiencing. Once his hormonal levels were analyzed, he began getting extensive blood tests, which he has done regularly. The doctor adjusts the prescriptions depending on those results, he said.

“The best results tend to come when we do a little fix to a lot of different things,”

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David and Dorinda Dallmeyer’s knowledge of Planet Earth is broad and deep, and they are sharing it with older students not only in the

classroom but on journeys that bring the lessons to life.

Since becoming involved with the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at the University of Georgia in 2009, the Dallmeyers have led major geology-themed expeditions to the West Coast, Colorado Plateau, Northwest Georgia and Georgia coast that included six U.S. national parks, as well as day trips to Elberton and Plant Scherer, the largest coal-fueled electric plant in North America. Recently they accompanied a group of 22 participants with three graduate student assistants to the Canadian Rockies for a 10-day exploration from Edmonton to Calgary with six Canadian

national parks on the itinerary.“(The trips are) like, ‘Oh, that’s what he meant,” says OLLI vice president Nancy Canolty, who has gone on all of the trips. “It clarifies what we learn in the classroom, bringing it home and making it real. It gives you a sense of your world, a new way to look at it and a new way to understand a little about it.” The Dallmeyers, who have lectured on cruises to the Artic, Central and South America and 20 times to Antarctica, are a good team, Nancy says, and the tours offer fun along with hands-on learning. David designs T-shirts for each group; the one for the Georgia geology excursion had the legend: “It’s not our fault.” Learning about how Earth works is important, according to Priscilla Golley, a member of the Canadian Rocky contingent.

Bringing Lessons To Life

Dallmeyer Expeditions Help Understand the EarthBy Elaine Kalber

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“If we don’t know what’s under our feet and what’s happening to the globe itself, how are we going to maintain it?” She was impressed with preparations that included a 214-page guidebook, Plate Tectonics and the Geology of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, with advance reading assignments and five classroom sessions. The experience is rewarding for the Dallmeyers.

“The students ask fantastic questions,” says David Dallmeyer, UGA emeritus professor of geology whose research on the processes and chronology of mountain building and plate tectonics has taken him to every continent. “The groups include a whole spectrum of people, and many of them have never really carefully looked at the natural world. It’s not just about rocks.”

Dorinda Dallmeyer, former associate director of the Dean Rusk Center for International Law and now director of the UGA Environ-mental Ethics Certificate Program, also teaches OLLI classes, including one this fall on William Bartram, the naturalist whose 1791 Travels are a natural history of the South at that time. Editor of the anthology

“Bartram’s Living Legacy: The Travels and the Nature of the South,” published by the Mercer University Press in 2010, Dorinda, who is also a contributor to the book, led two day trips in conjunction with the course.

“People are at a stage where they have the time and ability to really look at things they are interested in and they are willing to get down and dirty and pick up things,” she says.

Having an understanding of the workings of the world helps put in perspective issues such as global warming or natural disasters. David says questions to consider include: What has Earth done in its natural cycles and what does Earth do by herself ? It is important to “speak from data,” he says.The perception that natural disasters are increasing is due to today’s instant communication, according to David.“It is a fact that today no place is so remote that things can happen and we don’t know about them. The important thing is to know what causes earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions, being able to predict them and what can be done

Members of the Dallmeyer’s OLLI group admire the Athabasca Glacier along the Icefields Parkway in Jasper National Park, Alberta.Photo by Dorinda Dallmeyer

David Dallmeyer, center in cap, explains some geologic formationsto the OLLI group last spring at the San Francisco Peaks,

north of Flagstaff, Arizona. Photo by Dorinda Dallmeyer

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to mitigate the results.”David earned master’s and Ph.D. degrees from New York State University at Stony Brook and carried out post-doctoral research at Ohio State University. He was attracted to geology because of its complexity.

“I always enjoyed the natural world, and geology is a hybrid with chemistry, physics, biology and math,” he said. “Geology amalgamates all of these things.”

Dorinda, with B.S., M.S. and J.D. degrees from UGA, explained that the purpose of the interdisciplinary environmental ethics program, formed in 1983 by the Institute of Ecology and Philosophy Department, is “to help students to understand different ways of approaching environmental decisionmaking and the values that underlie decisions. A lot of students want to be exposed to a broader picture and a lot of angles.” Bill Alworth, OLLI president-elect and former travel/study chair, points out that although presenters’ expenses are covered, they freely give of their knowledge, which means class fees are modest. “All of OLLI works because of their generosity,” he says.

Bill and his wife Lois are geology-tour veterans.“David and Dorinda put a lot of time and effort into making these excursions both educational and enjoyable, and their contributions are deeply appreciated by all of us,”Alworth said.

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We are entering the holiday season which is great time to get your home’s décor in tip top shape. One area to focus on is your bookcase decor. Shelving offers limitless possibilities and a flexible framework for your favorite things and creates a great conversation piece for your home. Here are a few tips to get you start:

Jordan Woodruff is the owner and designer for The Space Between Interiors, a full-service interior design firm. She can be reached at 706.372.5979 or through her website at www.thespacebetweeninteriors.com.

Bookcase Décor

1. Paint the back wall of the inside of the bookcase with a contrasting color. Try something that is at least two shades darker than the color of the bookcase itself. This will add visual depth and richness to the overall look of the bookcase.

2. Use antique pieces with character and age. Architectural salvage is most beautiful when it’s in relative disrepair. Search for old pilasters, cracked or crumbling pediments or reclaimed letters off old signage.

3. Botanicals, such as dried leaves, or live plants are a great way to add interest and warmth to an empty bookcase. Make sure to store them in the appropriate container for display purposes.

5.Go big. Do not be afraid of using large scale pieces that take up the entire shelf. This creates balance and weight and works well if they are stored on the bottom of the bookcase as an anchor.

4. Stack your books in unique ways. Instead of placing your books on the shelves in the same way, try mixing it up and stacking a few books on some of your shelves, arranging a few between book-ends, and group them together in like sizes.

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Do you know what the third leading cause of death is in the United States? It’s not the Big C (cancer), or heart disease.

Each year around 700,000 Americans suffer a stroke. That means more people die from a stroke than die in car accidents in this country. Did you know that many strokes are preventable and one of the main causes can be detected with a 10-minute ultrasound exam? What is a stroke? A stroke is the brain’s equivalent of a heart attack. Neurons, the nerve cells you are using to process this article, are the most sensitive tissue in your body to a lack of oxygen. These cells will start to die within just a few minutes of starvation. Time is brain, so it is critical that you know how to recognize the symptoms of a stroke (and how to prevent them). Strokes occur in two main forms- a bleeding stroke, also called hemorrhagic, and a low blood flow or ischemic stroke. Both main types of stroke result in a ‘brain attack’- a lack of oxygen that causes death in nerve cells. Portions of the brain are then permanently damaged and fail to function properly. What are the symptoms of a stroke? The sections of our brain that are at risk for stroke

control our movement and our speech. Remember the acronym F.A.S.T. F is for Face- sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face. A is for Arm- sudden weakness in one arm or leg on the same side of the body. S is for Speech- sudden onset in slurred speech or difficultly finding words. T is for Time- call 9-1-1 immediately. These symptoms may last for just a few minutes or they may be permanent. Patients that have a brief episode that resolves after 10-15 minutes are having a mini-stroke or T.I.A. (transient

ischemic attack) and are at very high risk of having a major disabling stroke. A stroke may also affect the artery to the eye and presents with a sudden loss of vision in one eye. It is often described as a shade be-

ing pulled down over one’s eye. Call 9-1-1 or your doctor immediately if you or your loved one develops any of these symptoms. Diz-ziness, vertigo, or blacking out are NOT stroke symptoms but may represent other health problems.

Who is at risk for a stroke? The risk of stroke increases as we age. Up

to 10% of people over the age of 65 will suffer a stroke, with women and men at similar risk (sorry, ladies). Smoking, high blood pressure, and elevated cholesterol all increase your risk. How can a stroke be prevented? One of the most preventable causes of stroke is

FaceArmSpeechTime

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from carotid artery stenosis. Plaque built up in the neck arteries can break off and travel to the small blood vessels in the brain and cause a stroke. If the blockage is severe enough it can occlude the artery, stopping flow to that whole side of the brain. Fortunately even low levels of blockage can easily be identified with a 10 minute ultrasound test. This is good news, considering nearly a third of patients have no warning signs. What treatments are available? A daily Aspirin, keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure controlled and stopping smoking all help. Strong scientific evidence shows that surgery can dramatically reduce the risk of stroke in people with artery blockage of 80% or more by ultrasound. Carotid artery surgery usually only requires an overnight stay in the hospital. Carotid stenting

is also available, but is generally re-served for people at high risk for surgery. If you are over the age of 65 and have risk factors such as smoking, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol, talk to your doctor about having a carotid artery ultrasound performed. Remember, act FAST, because time is brain.For more information see your doctor or a board certified vascular surgeon. On the web visit the National Stroke Association web-page at stroke.org or vascularweb.org

Dr. Christopher Everett is a board certified surgeon and newest member of Athens Vascular Specialists. Originally from Ft. Worth, Texas he attended medical school at the University of Texas- Houston, did his general surgery residency training at the University of Kansas- Wichita and recently completed his vascular surgery fellowship at Greenville University Hospital System in Greenville, S.C.

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Crisp autumn weather rouses cravings for robust, flavorful, seasonal beers, whose striking colors often resemble those of fall leaves. Look for spicy pumpkin ales,

Oktoberfest lagers, and a diverse array of craft beers with an extravagant range of malts and hops brewed in celebration of harvest time. Highlights of a few superlative examples available in the Athens area are included here.

Each autumn, Athens’ own Terrapin Beer Company purchases hundreds of pounds of just-picked hop flowers from the Pacific Northwest for their So Fresh & So Green, Green fresh hop ale. This 6.7 percent alcohol selection offers an appealing nose and flavor of spicy, citrus-like hops, backed by slightly sweet, caramel malts — an ideal way to celebrate the annual hop harvest.

In a similar vein, Peak Organic Brewing Co.’s Fall Summit Ale highlights the piney, spicy, pineapple-like notes of Summit hop flowers grown on an organic farm just a few miles from the Maine brewery. Healthy additions of toasted malts provide a medium body and complex grain character to balance the delicate bitterness of the hop profile. Try this beer alongside butternut squash or a slice of apple pie with cinnamon.

Each fall, craft beer lovers look forward to exciting releases of distinctive pumpkin ales. Delaware’s Dogfish Head Punkin’ Ale, one of the nation’s best

selling beers with pumpkin, is based on a recipe from the early 1990s developed by Dogfish Head owner Sam Calagione. Sam named the beer after an off-centered Delaware festival where attendees invent devices to hurl pumpkins hundreds of feet. A rich brown ale brewed with real pumpkin meat, pumpkin pie spices and organic brown sugar, this enticing 7 percent alcohol brew is sure to warm the spirit during chilly autumn months.

Southern Tier Pumking from New York is packaged in 22-ounce bottles that pack an impressive mouthful of sweet, toasty, spicy overtones of pumpkin and malt. It’s a carefully guarded secret how the talented brewers at Southern Tier create this robust and delightful liquid version ofpumpkin pie.

More like a pumpkin cognac or brandy, Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale from Pennsylvania boasts a warming 8 percent alcohol and a rich body filled with toffee and caramel malt notes balanced by additions of nutmeg, cinnamon and sweet pumpkin. Pair this beer with bread pudding or pecan pie with vanilla bean ice cream.

For a pumpkin treat made closer to home, swing by Copper Creek brewpub in downtown Athens this fall for brewer Matt Buley’s perennial favorite pumpkin ale. Matt chops local pumpkins by hand to add to his seasonal amber brew that usually sells out within a week or so of release.

by owen ogletree

Fall brings rich harvest of craft

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Munich’s annual Oktoberfest celebration actually begins each year in the month of September. Originally held in 1810 as a celebration of the wedding of the Bavarian prince Ludwig, Oktoberfest has grown into the largest beer festival in the world. Munich brewers craft a special amber lager each year for the event. Known as Oktoberfest bier or Märzen, this clean, quaffable brew showcases a slightly sweet, toasty malt profile and spicy, floral German hops.

Flying Dog’s Dogtoberfest, a U.S. interpretation of the Bavarian Oktoberfest style, is released by the Maryland craft brewery each August. It grabbed the coveted gold medal in 2008 and 2009 in the Oktoberfest style category of the Great American Beer Festival. With a touch more sweetness and caramel malt flavor than its Bavarian cousins, Dogtoberfest actually makes a terrific complement to Mexican dishes and sweet Asian sauces. Also from Maryland, Heavy Seas Märzen comes in as another outstanding U.S. craft beer version of the Oktoberfest style. Heavy Seas is owned by Baltimore craft beer pioneer Hugh Sisson who started the city’s first brewpub back in 1989. Sisson embodies a deep appreciation of classic beer styles, and his Märzen is light amber in color with very pleasant notes of toasted bread and caramelized sugars.

Brewed in the tiny village of Aying just south of Munich, Ayinger Oktober Fest-Märzen quite possibly ranks as the most flavorful

and well constructed example of the style produced today. Deep, elegant aromas and palate notes of Munich, pilsner and caramel malts combine with floral/honey nuances of lavish Bavarian hops to produce this outstanding work of brewing art. The soft, dry finish arises from the long period of cold maturation that is typical for “lager” styles such as this.

Looking for a truly one-of-a-kind fall brew? More like mulled wine than beer, The Bruery’s Autumn Maple ale contains cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, maple syrup, molasses, vanilla beans and over 17 pounds of yams in each barrel. This California craft beer is fermented with a Belgian yeast strain that provides complex fruit notes and natural carbonation within the champagne-type bottle. Sip it with a slice of cherry pie.

Owen Ogletree is an Athens beer writer, nationalcertified beer judge and founder/director of the Classic City Brew Fest and Atlanta Cask Ale Tasting.

ON TAP

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W hen you were younger, exercise may have been at the bottom of your to-do list.

Bone-building diet? If you added a splash of milk to your coffee you thought you were set for calcium.

But now that you’re experiencing menopause you may wonder if you’ve set yourself up for osteoporosis.

The answer is probably in your family’s genes, says Richard Dell, MD, orthopedic lead of the Healthy Bones Program at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California.

“Look at your mother. You’re looking in the mirror,” says Dell, an expert in bone health.

You should be paying attention because menopause is when your body goes through accelerated bone density loss as you lose estrogen.

“As soon as you hit menopause you lose 1 to 3 percent of your bone density a year,” says Dell.

But even if you ignored your bone health in your youth, you can take steps to preserve bone or develop greater bone density now, say experts.

Mid-life is a perfect time to talk to your physician about osteoporosis, according to Felicia Cosman, MD, clinical director of the National Osteoporosis Foundation (NOF) in Washington, D.C.

Discuss your risk factors, which include your age, sex, poor nutrition, certain medications, a history of smoking or excessive drinking or lack of exercise, especially weight-bearing routines.

(As many as half of all women and a quarter of men over age 50 will break a bone because of osteoporosis, according to the National Institutes of Health.)

If you fit the osteoporosis profile get screened at age 50, Dell advises. Regardless of your health you should have your bone mineral density checked if you’re a woman over the age of 65.

BONe-UP fOr BeTTer HealTH

Warding off osteoporosis isn’t just

about drinking more milk. learn

understanding nutrition, exercise and family

history can keep bones in peak condition.

“if you’re getting three servings a day of calcium-rich foods you don’t need supplements."

— Dr. Cosman, author of “What your Doctor May not tell you about osteoporosis.”

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And if you’re a man, don’t assume you’ll be spared. The Kaiser Permanente physician advises screening for men over age 70.

Talk about your options. Your physician may suggest exercise routines, taking calcium (1,000 milligrams of calcium daily; 1,200 after age 70) and vitamin D (600 International Units, which is a new recommendation) and perhaps prescription medications.

Improving your diet is a critical step.“The nutrition we think is ideal is high in fruits and

vegetables and calcium rich,” says Cosman, author of “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Osteoporosis” (Warner Books, 2003).

She advises people to get their calcium in foods, not supplements, if possible.

Get three high-calcium foods daily, such as milk, cheese, calcium-fortified orange juice and cereal.

“If you’re getting three servings a day [of calcium-rich foods] you don’t need supplements,” says Cosman.

As clinical director for NOF, Cosman also supports the need for vitamin D and suggests having your vitamin D blood levels checked for adequacy.

Exercise is another beneficial and inexpensive step you can take.

In one of the most positive outcomes, post-menopausal

women who followed a specific exercise regimen and who consumed adequate calcium maintained or increased their bone density, according to research from the University of Arizona, Tucson.

Volunteers who completed one year on the experiment saw improvement at their hips; those who followed the regimen for four years saw improvements in their spines as well, according to Linda Houtkooper, PhD, registered dietitian and head of the Department of Nutritional Sciences.

Exercise that creates torsional stress, slightly twisting the bone clockwise or counterclockwise, was a factor in bone density improvement, according to Houtkooper, co-principal investigator for the BEST (Bone Estrogen Strength Training) Study. (Some women in the study also were on hormone replacement therapy, which was linked to greater bone density improvement.)

“There’s something about the strain that changes the biochemistry of the bone,” says Houtkooper, who advises doing the routine with coaches who are trained in the specific exercises (to view the exercises online visit the website: http://bayerhearts.com/BEST/BEST-Videos.aspx).

Your physician also may recommend medications.Low-dose estrogen when you’re in the very early stage of

menopause might be something to consider to help preserve bone mass, according to Dell.

In the past, women were prescribed drugs when they were diagnosed with osteopenia, below normal bone mineral density.

Experts are rethinking that.“In general, there’s been some over-treatment in

early menopausal women. The idea that all women should be treated is no longer recommended,” says Cosman.

“For osteopenia you need exercise and calcium, not treatment,” says Dell.

That changes if you have osteoporosis.Bisphosphonates, which slow bone loss and help

increase bone density, are often prescribed.However, these are powerful drugs, with potential

complications.Physicians are now recommending taking the drugs for a prescribed amount of time, then taking a rest.

“The new thinking is a drug holiday; not dropping the drug forever,” says Dell.

“There’s new promise in osteoporosis management with new drugs.”

But don’t wait for a drug to save your bones. Get your calcium, vitamin D and exercise, and stop smoking, says Dell, who in the Healthy Bones program reduced the hip fracture rate by an average of 37 percent.

a POTeNTial NeW TreaTmeNT Nitroglycerin, a long-established treatment to relieve chest pain

(angina), may also increase bone mineral density, according to a recent

study from the Women’s College research institute and University of

Toronto, Canada.

Post-menopausal women, who were not diagnosed with osteoporosis,

used either a nitroglycerin ointment or a placebo during a two-year

study. Of the 243 volunteers, those who used the medication showed a

modest increase in bone mineral density and a decrease in bone loss.

The treatment does well in comparison with bone density drugs,

according to Sophie a. Jamal, m.D., PhD at the institute.

She’s enthusiastic about her results because nitroglycerin is

inexpensive and easy to use.

“it can reduce the cost of treatment,” says Dr. Jamal.

Headaches, the most common side effect, are also seen in people who

take nitroglycerin for chest pains, according to the physician.

However, Dr. Jamal cautions that more studies are necessary.

“We need to demonstrate whether it [the nitroglycerin] can reduce

fractures,” says Dr. Jamal, who admits she’s not sure how nitroglycerin

works in bone density.

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Anyone seeking a weekend day trip that doesn’t require a lot of driving but does offer a two-for-one deal can’t go wrong heading to Oglethorpe County and visiting Crawford and Lexington.

Only about a 12- and 15-mile drive respectively east from Athens along U.S. Highway 78, Crawford and Lexington — Oglethorpe’s county seat — are small towns with historic architecture, interesting shops and businesses and some very unique outdoor excursions. Incorporated in 1778, Crawford — representing the larger of the two towns — houses a population of about 900. Though Crawford has fewer points of interest to draw visitors, the small town nevertheless is worth a stop for its historic homes and buildings, small shops and a great new restaurant. “Alon’s in Crawford, (opened earlier this year) has become the real talk of the town and in Oglethorpe County,” said Linda Helmly who runs Oglethorpe Fresh in Lexington. “Alon’s has put a new face on food in Oglethorpe.” Run by chef Alon Wilson, who prepares fresh meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, the small cafe generally

serves his own style of American food. Other Crawford eating establishments include Papa’s Pizza to Go, No. 1 Chinese and Chili Dogs. Whether you eat in Crawford or not, check out the old train depot which is undergoing renovation, said Linda Parrish who handles tourism for Oglethorpe County and runs the 1818 Greek Revival Hummingbird House bed and breakfast on Church Street in Lexington. The old Crawford depot houses the Oglethorpe County Chamber of Commerce and serves as a community meeting space. Parrish expects the renovation of the area around the depot to include constructing a pavilion and park . The spot will serve as a stop on the Firefly Trail, a rails-to-trails walking and biking route between Union Point and Athens. While visiting Crawford, you should stroll down Woodlawn Drive and admire the old Crawford Baptist and Crawford Methodist churches which stand side by side and face a tree-sheltered park-like area featuring several large stone picnic tables. Several beautiful historic homes also can be viewed farther along Woodlawn. On the south side of Hwy. 78, Park Avenue affords

Crawford & Lexington By Don Nelson

Photos: Richard Hamm

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another quick tour of a variety of historic houses and buildings, including an old school house being renovated and used for local theatrical productions. There are not many small shops to explore, but The Art Place on Hwy. 78 in downtown Crawford is worth a stop. In the few miles that separate Crawford and Lexington, there are several more quick food options — Bell’s Food Store, Subway, Blazers, and the Fried Chicken Express. Lexington, with a population of about 260, serves as the county seat of Oglethorpe County and was incorporated in 1806. Visitors can spend a few hours taking in the historic structures in the heart of the small town and venturing to several places of note relatively close by. Helmly and Parrish have both been working to help revitalize the commercial strip into a “mini-mall” in downtown Lexington, and they have concentrated on marketing the town for tourism business. The core of retail businesses comprise “antique” shops that present a mix of merchandise. Lexington Antiques, run by Ronnie Boggs offers more furniture, and probably represents more of a true antique shop, Helmly said. John’s Sordid Past offers surplus goods and some vintage items. Two Sister’s Antiques sells antique pieces and gift items, but also provides pecan cracking. Main Street Treasures, Jim’s Junk Shop and Century House Antiques also provide

some interesting shopping. Adding to the mix of downtown shops is Helmly’s Oglethorpe Fresh Heritage and Art Co-Op which serves multipurposes, including as a meeting place and as a repository for books on Oglethorpe County history. The store also carries arts and crafts from Oglethorpe residents. Visitors to the store may discover decorative eggs, spun and dyed wool, paintings, beeswax candles and other handmade goods. Oglethorpe Fresh also hosts craft classes in bead artistry, canvas art, music lessons and more, Helmly said. “The whole concept of Oglethorpe Fresh is to promote local art,” Helmley said. Across the street, she has organized the Oglethorpe Fresh Farmer’s Market which is held each Saturday during the growing season. Food choices in downtown Lexington are few, but the two options are rated highly by the local folks, Helmly said. Kathy’s Diner, a bakery and cafe serves breakfast and lunch. Paul’s B-B-Q, about a block away represents a seven-decade business run by the Paul family, who only serve their barbecue on Saturday. Helmly and Parrish also have created brochures for a walking tour of the old ante-bellum homes on Church Street, a block north of downtown’s main street — Hwy. 78. The self-guided tour of Church Street

includes the historic Presbyterian Church, and an old graveyard that holds several of Georgia’s governors. Church Street also serves as home to Meson Park, a project to create a community gathering space on the old site of the 1808 Meson Academy, which was the first privately endowed school in Georgia. Meson Academy became a public school in 1917 and later served as Oglethorpe County High School. The building was destroyed in 1970. The park now has a band stand and picnic tables and hosts concerts the second Saturday of each month. Also of note from the historic building perspective are the Oglethorpe County Courthouse in Lexington and the old 1880s jail, which is being restored to make a museum. Both are on Hwy. 78. While on Hwy. 78, be sure to look for the signs to Shaking Rock Park, a picnic area covered with large granite outcroppings. At one time a 27-ton boulder was so well balanced a person could move it by hand. Once you’ve covered downtown Lexington, make sure to make a stop at Goodness Grows, a plant nursery on Georgia Highway 77, just north of downtown. The nursery inlcudes its beautiful gardens and greenhouse space to walk through, as well as a nice gift shop. Your day trip to Crawford and Lexington wouldn’t be complete without taking a slight side trip to Watson’s Mill Covered Bridge State Park. The park offers plenty of amenities from picnic tables to campsites, paddlewheel boats and horse trails, but the major draw is the 168-foot-long covered bridge

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essay BY T.K. WALTERS

The relationship quandary: What do we really want?

In the realm of relationships — or, in the parlance of this column — “sex and intimacy” — there are many ways to go.

Do you want: Marriage? Cohabitation? A one-night stand?Multiple sexual partners? “Friends with benefits”? A strictly platonic friendship? And then, of course, there’s always the issue of what the other person wants, where the overlaps are, and how that might change over time. For many people, the strength of their sex drive wanes only slightly until late middle age, when it may remain strong for some, but falls off considerably for others. Then, the concept of “companionship” often becomes more important — will someone be there for me in my time of need? Who will drive me to the doctor or accompany me on trips or to social events? If you just go out and get a new partner every night, do you sacrifice intimacy, and, at this “autumn” of our lives, what’s more important anyhow? What we wanted in our 20s might be very different from what we want later in life. For my part, I know that even 40 years ago, if I wasn’t in a relationship, I felt like a failure. The relationship could be long-lasting or short-lasting, but my self-image was very tied up with “having someone.” Perhaps it’s a biological urge to procreate with the most desirable mate, but I feel as though my 20s were a time of constant turmoil, new people, testing the waters and trying to figure out who I was. I got married at 30, and we split up 17 years later. After my divorce, I was into proving to myself that even if my husband didn’t want me, other men would. And they did. Although I was in my 40s at the time, I often got into relationships for the same reason I’d

done so in my 20s — to prove I wasn’t a failure. Then I re-married at 58, was widowed at 60, and once I started tentatively dating again, I realized that being in a relationship was no longer what I wanted or needed, and I didn’t feel like a failure at all. I’ve been very happy living without a partner; eating, sleeping and traveling when I decide to do so, and not having to report to anyone else, get another person’s opinion, or follow someone else’s schedule. So I’d more or less settled into a comfort zone of having plenty of women friends and a platonic male friend I see when I need a dose of “male energy.” My thinking was that there was no longer an overwhelming desire to be in a more committed relationship with a man. And yet…I went to a wedding recently at the Peabody Hotel in Memphis (the place with the ducks). The bride’s father and I worked together 25 years ago, and five of our co-workers were also at the wedding. During the ceremony, I sat beside former col-leagues Barb and Bob — a couple I’ve known for 30 years and who have been on the cusp of divorce a million times — but as the bride walked down the aisle on her father’s arm, there were Barb and Bob seated to my left, not bickering for once, holding hands and looking very happy to be together. Then, after the ceremony, when we all went into the ballroom across the hall for dinner, I assumed that I’d be seated with my five work friends, until I realized that they were all there with their spouses, the tables were 10-tops, and suddenly I was seated with all the people who weren’t “paired up.” It was kind of like being stuck at the kid’s table when you’re a teenager. So, on that night, what I wanted

was a partner to sit with, talk to, dance with and share my lovely room at the Peabody. But would I have wanted to listen to him snore, have to deal with his eating habits, rush to the plane if — unlike me, but like most of my former partners — he was a last-minute kind of guy? As you can see, I haven’t been very successful in answering my own question as to what it is I really want. Now I’m not ruling out getting into a relationship again — I swore after my first marriage ended that I’d never get married again, yet that’s exactly what I did 11 years later. So I try not to include “never” in my pronouncements. But I’m working on getting to the core of what it is I want. It surprises me that I’m not frantic about the lack of a partner. After my divorce, I called up a friend to say I had gotten back together with an old flame up in Boston, and her response was, “You’ve only been divorced 15 minutes!” (It was more like 6 weeks, but you get the picture.) Then, once my second husband died, I swore off men again, only to get involved with someone way too soon. It will be interesting to see where I wind up this time, but wherever it is, being frantic will (I hope) not be part of it. As Baby Boomers, I guess it’s not surprising that what we want at this point in our lives is to have it all. Have the companion (without the snoring) as well as the freedom to be alone; have “benefits” when we want and have a platonic relationship as well. I am guilty. And I’d love to know whether you want one or all of the above — or something in between.

• T.K. Walters is an international strategic and marketing consultant. She may be reached at: loupetchien@yahoo.com.

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