FOR YOUR HEALTH: Volunteer Finds Community in Military and Veteran Caregiver Network

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The Towler family takes a portrait at Fort Cavazos (previously Fort Hood) just months before a permanent change of station to Germany. Photo courtesy of Betty Towler

(NAPSI)—If you or someone you care for is ever among America’s more than 2 million military personnel or in their families—or even if you’re not—here’s a story you may find inspiring:

Betty Towler met her husband, U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Nigel Towler, over 20 years ago while stationed in Korea. When they returned stateside, Towler made a professional sacrifice for her family.

“I had to leave the military because my husband was deploying. We already had two kids.”

When her husband returned from Iraq in 2005, Towler started noticing changes.

“He was with us all the time when he came back. He wanted to hang out with his family, but he was drinking and that wasn’t normal.”

Towler had her hands full, raising two children with another on the way and impending permanent change of station orders to Germany. A month later, her husband deployed a second time to Iraq.

“We all felt it when he came back the second time. He would be there, but he was not there. The TV would be on, but he wasn’t watching it. His mind was somewhere else,” Towler recalls. “We could be sitting on the couch and he’s on one end and I’m on the other and it’s like an awkward but a very scary silence. It was like a void. And I felt I could fall into this darkness, and nobody was going to come for me, and nobody was going to help me.”

Towler said she tried seeking help but found little support as a dependent overseas. They turned to religion, but that didn’t bring her family the solace they were seeking either. When they returned stateside in 2011, little had changed.

“Everything was just so overwhelming,” Towler said. “All the things people were telling us to do, all the appointments. It was all too much. Even visiting with family: he hears everybody being loud, laughing and his brain was like, ‘I can’t do this. There are too many conversations going on at the same time. I love them but I can’t be around them. It’s too chaotic,’ he said. He’d be down for 2 to 3 days trying to recover from just hanging out with other adults.”
Then in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred, but their family was largely unaffected. In fact, Towler sees it as a blessing. It gave them time to focus on their health.

“I signed up for a lot of webinars and a lot of online courses,” she shared.

One of these resources was the American Red Cross Military and Veteran Caregiver Network (MVCN), a secure, online community that acts as both a resource directory and peer support network to over 12,000 military-affiliated caregivers. Using evidence-based peer-support programs, caregivers connect, share knowledge, learn new skills, and gain hope. Towler found support and solace from others just like her. Empowered by her newfound communities, she exercised her voice.

“We had to set boundaries. I was like, no, we need to tell them that we can only do two or three appointments in one week. It was too much. I had to learn to speak up, speak up for him and speak up for us.”

Now a Red Cross volunteer, Towler has been involved with the MVCN for the past five years, giving support to other military-affiliated caregivers going through the same challenges she did.

“We have about four calls a month. We’ll have some Zooms and some Slack chats just to really check in with the caregivers. I love how the older caregivers will share their experiences, like, here’s what we had to do, here’s the changes that happened in my house. Being part of this reminded me that I spent so much time caring for this one person, I forgot to make friends.”

Towler cares for her husband following his two deployments to Iraq, and the Military and Veteran Caregiver Network helps her do that by also helping her care for herself.

Learn More

For more information or to join the MVCN community, visit redcross.org/caregivers.

FARMGIRL AT HEART: Bringing coziness to the seasons and some good books to read

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by Virginia Jones

As I go outdoors in the morning to do farm chores I am met with a crisp and cold wind. I notice little changes in the air; the color of the leaves as they shed their coats to bring us brilliant colors and the shade of the clouds as they glide swiftly by. It is these little changes that, if not observed, will go away too fast and then be forgotten.

Autumn is my favorite season with Spring being a second. When I am walking the dogs around the field or bringing food for the chickens and goats, I sometimes stop and look around at all the brilliant colors of the trees in our back field. I smell the scent of pine and fallen leaves underfoot and just pause to be grateful. My husband and I live on six acres which we call home. We are so grateful to have our little farm where we can experience the antics of our chickens and goats.

For some the end of Autumn brings an excitement of winter to come. They look forward to snow and all the activities that it entails. I am not a winter person, so I wish Autumn to last just a little bit longer. I am not quite ready for the leaves to fall away so quickly only to be replaced with a fresh layer of snow. Don’t misunderstand me. I love the first snow, especially at Christmas, I just wish it didn’t stay as long as it does here in Maine. I plan on getting a new perspective on that though.

With the colder weather comes the understanding that we will be shut in for a good part of the winter, unless you enjoy skiing or snowmobiling. I don’t tend to want to be outdoors when the weather drops below forty degrees. I like to be curled up on my sofa with a cozy blanket, a cup of delicious tea and a good book.

Thinking of coziness… there are many ways to bring a sense of coziness to your home. I love to light a few candles to bring a sense of calm to my home. I will put on some soft piano music while I am getting dinner ready. I drape the sofa with a few soft and cozy blankets. I stack a few books in a basket and place them on my coffee table. A simmering pot of orange slices and cinnamon sticks will bring a festive scent to your home. There are even lightbulbs that you can replace the brighter ones with to soften the lighting in your home. I love to have a pot of soup or stew simmering as well on the back of the stove.

Part of having a cozy home is to have house chores done, which isn’t always easy when you have a farm. There is always something to be done which can’t always be put off till tomorrow. When I do finally have my chores done I then like to sit in my lazy boy recliner or on my sofa and dive into a really good book; whether that be a cozy mystery, an interesting biography, or a look into days goneby.

Recently I started reading a magazine called The Cozy Issue published by Bella Grace. They have such good articles about ways to enjoy coziness. You can find this publication and more at www.stampington.com . I long for a simpler lifestyle and they have such a way of showing the reader how to achieve that goal. I usually have at least three of four books going at once. If you love to keep track of books that you read or want to keep a list of books to read you can get an app for your phone called Goodreads. You can challenge yourself and others to a goal of books read per year.

Here are some recommendations for books to read during the cooler seasons and the days when you are snowed in.

Winter’s End (Alaska Wild #4) – Paige Shelton
The Lighthouses of New England – Snow Edward Rowe
The Fellowship of the Ring – J. R. R. Tolkien
The Chronicles of Narnia – C. S. Lewis
The Volstead Manor Series – Anita Higman
The Taster – V. S. Alexander

You can find many books to read during the cooler seasons of the year at your local library. Be sure to thank a librarian for all of their hard work. So steep your favorite cup of tea or cocoa, grab a cozy blanket and dive into a great read.

CRITTER CHATTER: Reminiscing at the Duck Pond Wildlife Rehab Center – Part 2

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Undated photo of Don Cote with rescued baby raccoon. (file photo)

by Jayne Winters

As a follow-up to last month’s stroll down Memory Lane, here is another article Carleen Cote wrote in 2004:

“Over our 40 years, we have cared for every species of Maine mammal except for the Pine Martin [sic]. We have cared for every species of water mammal.

Caring for the mammals every year is one thing. We also needed to have places to release the wildlife back into the wild. Without the wonderful landowners who so graciously allowed us to enter their property to release the wildlife, releasing could have posed a problem. Our ventures into the fields and forests provided us with an opportunity to enjoy spectacular scenery, to enjoy the peace and quiet away from the rush of life, to listen to birds singing, squirrels scolding as we invaded their territory, the rushing and babbling of waters in streams and brooks as they wandered along to their next destination and the wonderful scents of the forest and the colors of fall foliage.”

“Over the years, area veterinarians have generously provided their services to the injured wildlife. They include Drs. Langdon and Peter Davis, Dr. Mike Hersom of Pine Tree Veterinary Hospital in Augusta; Dr. Dale Allerding, Drs. Darryl Praul and Erika Matthies Praul of Windsor Veterinary Clinic; and the wonderful staff of both hospitals.

We have met hundreds of wonderful people who have come to the Center to deliver a bird or mammal in need of human assistance, or who have come for a tour. Hundreds have made donations to help feed and house the wildlife, many of whom have become regular donors. School children have done projects to raise money for the Center. Area businesses have donated meats and produce or placed collection containers for donations. It is truly heart-warming to know that so many care about and want to help the wildlife.

In September 2003, 35 people came to the Center for a work day. These people gave up a day, after working all week, to build new pens, tear down others, and do any other work that we needed done but did not have time to do – as our time was spent in caring for the babies.”

I’ve only been writing this column since 2019 and don’t know all those who have supported Duck Pond over the years, but want to include Dr. Cody Minor and all the vet techs, assistants, and office staff at Windsor Veterinary Clinic who have provided care to Don’s wildlife patients since I’ve come “on board.” I would be remiss not to recognize the most recent volunteers I’ve met: Debbie, Jane, Don, Jeff and the late Amy Messier, as well as the folks who have helped with snow plowing and shoveling, lawn mowing, hauling brush, and making dump runs; Inland Fisheries &Wildlife biologists and wardens; Animal Control Officers and Agents; farmers who provided fresh goat milk for the fawns. Last, but certainly not least, a HUGE thank you to fellow wildlife rehabbers who have been so welcoming and helpful in accepting critter transfers since Don’s hospitalization last May. And, of course, much appreciation is extended to the Natural Resources Council of Maine, The Town Line, and Turner Publishing, for bringing Critter Chatter back to readers, following Carleen’s unexpected passing in April 2018.

In December, I’ll continue down Memory Lane with stories about student fundraisers!

PLEASE NOTE: Due to health issues, Don is not accepting or assessing any wildlife at this time, nor taking phone inquiries or referrals. He has been working with Misfits Rehab, in Auburn (207-212-1039; FYI, Jen accepts bats and mice), Wilderness Miracles, in Bowdoin (207-720-0074), Bridget Green, in Wiscasset (207-631-0874), Critterville Wildlife, in Brooklin (845-549-2407), and Saco River Wildlife (207-702-1405). Mid-coast Maine has a new turtle rehabber! Pam Meier can be reached at The Turtle’s Back (203-903-2708).Please check these websites for a rehabber close to you: https://www.mainevetmed.org/wildlife-rehabilitation or https://www.maine. gov/ifw/fish-wildlife/ wildlife/living-with-wildlife/orphaned-injured-wildlife/index.html In addition, you can contact your local Animal Control Officer through your town office. – PHONE MESSAGES & EMAILS ARE NOT BEING MONITORED AT THIS TIME.

FOR YOUR HEALTH: Help Protect Your Family Against Respiratory Illness Before the Holidays

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You can arm yourself and your family against respiratory illnesses that can ruin the holidays and much more.

(NAPSI)—A bout of COVID-19 or the flu will put a damper on any holiday celebration. One of the most effective ways to help prevent these illnesses is by staying up to date on immunizations. If you haven’t received an annual flu vaccination and updated COVID-19 vaccination yet, it’s not too late to do so. Vaccinations to guard against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and pneumococcal pneumonia are also available and recommended for those eligible.

Who Should Get Vaccinated

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people six months and older, with rare exceptions, should get the updated annual flu vaccine. The CDC also recommends that everyone ages six months and older should get the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine, unless otherwise noted, to help restore and enhance protection against the currently circulating virus variants.

It’s especially important to protect those at increased risk of complications from severe flu or COVID-19 illness, such as adults 65 and older, people with certain immunocompromising or chronic medical conditions, infants, young children and pregnant women.

The CDC also recommends a single dose of any FDA-authorized RSV vaccine for adults ages 75 and older and those ages 60-74 at increased risk of severe RSV. The CDC just expanded the age group that pneumococcal vaccines are recommended for to adults 50 and older (previously it was 65 and older); the vaccine is also recommended for children younger than five years and adults at increased risk for pneumococcal disease.

“Crowded airports and train stations, large gatherings with family and friends and more time spent indoors as temperatures drop are all contributing factors to the spread of respiratory viruses,” said Dr. Sree Chaguturu, executive vice president and chief medical officer at CVS Health. “Immunizations are the best protection against these viruses, and getting vaccinated now, before Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, makes sense because it takes about two weeks for the body to build up protection.”

What Else You Can Do

Chaguturu also recommends covering coughs and sneezes, frequent handwashing throughout the day, and avoiding close contact with those who are sick to help prevent the spread of germs.

Who Can Help

Most insurance plans cover flu and COVID-19 vaccinations at no cost, and other preventive vaccines may be available at no cost, as well. Check with your health care insurance provider to determine coverage.

Getting the vaccines can be easy. One way is to visit CVS.com or the CVS Pharmacy app to schedule an immunization appointment at CVS Pharmacy or MinuteClinic.

VETERANS CORNER: VA not Halloween friendly this year

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Veterans Administration facility at Togus. (Internet photo)

by Gary Kennedy

Well, Halloween has come and gone. Julie and I went to a friend’s house to share with them and to see all the adorable children in their costumes. Our friends give the Cadillac of candies and the children are aware of that. We are always assured of family and friends, which is another plus. We share a great meal which we all participate in its preparation. So for us it is just another time for bonding.

V.A. wasn’t as friendly as they were in years past. It use to be all the check in points had candy and some of the employees even dressed down for the occasion. It was joyful in the old days. It seems the spirit has been knocked out of yesterday’s humanity. Things have changed and the vets and their families can feel it. Now we can only reminisce. Perhaps some management will come along that will instill some of what use to be normal. I for one have a very large soft spot for V.A. Togus as it has been in the center of my life for many years. I have enjoyed a tremendous amount of good fortune for myself, family and veterans in need. There are still many wonderful people working there and supporting our veterans. There are also many employees there for just a paycheck. However, even if it’s just a job, if you do it well, all will benefit from you.

I have received several phone calls and emails regarding a supposed mandate on bathroom facilities. It seems we will be going to UNISEX C.R.’s this coming month. This is one of those political things we have been watching lately. Whoever came up with this idea must be anti veteran. Disabled veterans search out family bathrooms because of medical reasons. Usually there are two people involved in bathroom experiences for many veterans. Sometimes a disabled veteran could need 20 minutes to complete his need along with a caregiver. The system we have now has worked fine for many years. If it’s not broken why try and fix it?

When the veteran is using the bathroom, other veterans are on a waiting list. This can become very difficult. Anyway, I told the veteran who emailed me that I would check it out with Boston on the first of the week. We need to see if this is a national mandate and share our opinion along with the obstacles in case this wasn’t thought through. It’s great to find ways to improve the system but sometimes in so doing, the proposed improvement carried baggage with it. These things need to be thought out carefully. I happen to agree with these veterans. If it’s not broken don’t try to fix it. In the past nearly 50 years I have never seen a problem with the comfort rooms. If there are other opinions out there, let’s hear them.

Another problem we have lately is oversight of the area surrounding building 200 to building 205. The construction company doing the work in that area is not considering those around them. They can follow some of the protocol of other employees. They don’t need to park pick-ups on the sidewalk or in handicap spaces. When they have things to unload that is a different story. The one’s I watched didn’t have that problem. We have such limited parking as it is. Some veterans can’t even walk.

I remember asking if it wouldn’t be good to have veterans help with the solutions. When the advocates first came to Building 200, I mentioned that veterans had a lot to offer and perhaps a group of vets could serve as a committee of unofficial oversight. No one knows better than a vet. Also, it could put purpose in some veteran’s lives. Knowing you and your advice is needed is a powerful tool and in some cases could prove to be valuable. Also, it’s a good way to find out what’s driving the other side. It was accepted as a good idea but didn’t go anywhere. If you have any ideas or suggestions please contact me so I can address them with you. When the world is as it is, there will always be veterans. As long as there are veterans there will always be need.

Never forget, my brothers and sisters, we are in this together and we should always stand tall in helping one another. Don’t be afraid to contact us if you are in need. We have each other you don’t have to go it alone. Also, there are several service organizations, V.F.W., American Legion, D.A.V, Maine Vets, to name some. They all have V.S.O.’s (Veterans Service Officers) to advise you and steer you in the correct direction. Last but certainly not least, you have Veterans Benefits Administration (V.B.A.) they are equipped with V.A.’s finest. It’s best if you call first but they do allow walk-ins. They are there from 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., Monday- Friday.

Our COLA adjustment which is the same as Social Security 2.5 percent. Example: Multiply the amount you are receiving currently by 2.5 and add the result to your check. This is all we have time for this week. God bless you and yours. Have a great and safe weekend.

CORRECTION: This article has been updated to specify Togus Regional Office is open at 8:30 a.m., not 8 a.m.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Palace Records & Taj Mahal

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Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Palace Records

Grieg 2nd Peer Gynt Suite and Liszt 1st Piano Concerto; Kurt Baumann conducting the Viennese Symphonic Orchestra; Palace PST-610, 12-inch stereo LP released mid-1950s.

Palace was one of many record labels that came and went during the 1950s. The jacket had a list price of $4.98 which was the usual retail price for stereo releases on major labels – RCA, Columbia, Capitol , Atlantic, MGM, Decca etc. – and which listed the real names of artists, not pseudonyms such as the non-existent Kurt Baumann and the so-called Viennese Symphonic Orchestra, which were often the practices of the dime store record labels.

However, despite the lack of information on the conductor, the orchestra and, with respect to the Liszt Concerto, the pianist (not even a fake name), the performances of both works were very exciting and the recorded sound quite good.

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal

Taj Mahal – Recycling the Blues and Other Related Stuff; Columbia KC 31605, t12-inch stereo LP, recorded 1972.

Still living at 82, Henry St. Claire Fredericks Jr., better known by the stage name of Taj Mahal, is a multi-talented instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, etc., who could be labeled a blues singer but such a categorization would be a mistake.

Mahal has always been inspired by world music from Hawaii, the South Pacific and Caribbean, India, Africa and elsewhere as well as jazz and gospel, having been exposed to these influences from an early age by his parents owning a shortwave radio, Mahal’s mother singing in the church choir and both of them hosting friends who were jazz singers and musicians, including the great Ella Fitzgerald.

The title of this 1972 album, Recycling the Blues and Other Related Stuff, hints at these eclectic influences while song titles – Ricochet, A Free Song (Rise Up Children Shake the Devil Out of Your Soul), Cakewalk into Town, Sweet Home Chicago – hint at something more positive than the usual focus of the blues on mere misery and despair.

Among the several instruments Mahal has mastered are the piano, banjo, organ, steel guitar and harmonica.

Backup singers on this album include the Pointer Sisters.

Traditional bluesmen who plied the genre without Mahal’s multi-cultural interests have included the gifted B.B. King, John Lee Hooker, Robert Johnson, Bessie Smith, Albert King and Muddy Waters. However, back during the ‘70s when I worked in Boston record stores, I noticed that the records of these blues artists were more frequently bought by whites whereas the soul albums of the Ohio Players, Al Green, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, the Supremes, Temptations, Earth Wind and Fire, Four Tops and Ojays were purchased by African-Americans.

I inquired of an African-American colleague the reason; she replied that the blues artists were considered Uncle Toms by younger people whereas the contemporary soul singers were upbeat, assertive and even confrontational against the racism and other social injustices that unfortunately continue to exist a half century later.

REVIEW POTPOURRI: Dionne Warwick

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Dionne Warwick

Peter Catesby Peter Cates

Dionne Warwick

Scepter records was the label that released albums by the very gifted singer Dionne Warwick. Back in 1968 the first record I ever bought of her was a 45 that I was able to special order from a vendor who set up a consignment rack at the Cates Country Store. Through him, I acquired LPs by Eydie Gorme, Richard Harris, Sergio Mendes, Glenn Yarborough, etc., all within quarter mile walking distance of home and may have been the most frequent customer of discs benefitting Uncle Ben Cates’s cash register.

A month previously, I had seen the movie Valley of the Dolls, a very compelling depiction of Hollywood and its pill culture, based on the novel by Jacqueline Susann and starring Barbara Parkins, Patty Duke and Sharon Tate (Tate and several others would be murdered in the summer of 1969 by members of the Manson gang during a home invasion when she was hosting a social gathering at the house she lived in with her husband Roman Polanski, he not being home that evening).

The movie ended with the gorgeous theme from Valley of the Dolls composed by Dory and Andre Previn and sung by Miss Warwick which was contained on that above-mentioned Scepter 45, along with side 2’s I Say a Little Prayer, a Hal David/Burt Bacharach megahit.

Scepter started a budget classical label Mace records and, as a teenager, I won a free LP from the company for answering questions about composers correctly. That record had the title Unforgettable Folk Music from Germany, most of that music being quite forgettable.

Mace also released several very good LPs – beautifully played Trios for Clarinet and other instruments by Beethoven and Brahms, a wondrously performed Mozart K. 334 String Divertimento and sets of Brahms, Bruckner and Mahler Symphonies that listed fake names but were still satisfying interpretations.

The label had a musicologist Hope Sheridan who very concisely put her finger on why my personal desert island composer Johannes Brahms (1833-1897) achieved the greatness he did in her jacket notes for a recording of the Piano Quartet in G minor, Opus 25, completed when Brahms was only 28:

“A bounding muscular vigor, melodic exuberance, and headlong brilliance characterize this youthful work. This early quartet, in fact, is filled with all the trademarks which later were to identify the bulk of Brahms’s music. For the 28-year-old composer, it was almost a declaration of self. The quartet begins with declamations of a lovesick young romantic, passes through the catalyst of self-analysis, and ends with a declaration of gypsy abandon – specifically, Brahms own decision to lead the life of a ‘gypsy,’ to renounce the bourgeois fetters of a middle-class existence and to follow his muse wherever it might lead him.”

The recording alluded to above was released, not on Mace which frequently used Sheridan’s writing, but on Vox/Turnabout in 1965 and featured pianist Georges Szolchany with three members of the Hungarian Quartet, a group that taught and performed 14 summers between 1960 and 1974 at our own Colby College. And the interpretation conveyed this music’s vigor, exuberance and brilliance in a stunning manner.

Recordings of the same composer’s 4th Symphony proliferate here at the house. A 1941 78 set of five 12-inch shellac discs feature the wired up, very inspired genius Music Director Serge Koussevitzky (1874-1951) conducting the Boston Symphony which he led for 25 brilliant years from 1924 to 1949. The manner in which he nagged, snapped and screamed at the 105 musicians in rehearsals is rumored to have caused 106 ulcers, one man developing two of them.

But the Victor Red Seal records Koussevitzky left posterity were of a consistently sublime quality. He conducted the Brahms 4th with a combination of thick, yet eloquent sonority from the strings, clear as a bell detail from the woodwinds, powerful brass and percussion while the phrasing sometimes verged on the stodgy yet never went overboard.

A couple of other recommendations are the 1927 Beethoven Pastoral and the 1935 Sibelius Second Symphony.

This conductor mentored Leonard Bernstein, but disapproved of Bernstein writing Broadway musicals.

FOR YOUR HELATH: Take Charge of Tomorrow: Preventing Diabetes Health Problems

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(NAPSI)—November is National Diabetes Month, when communities across the country spread awareness about diabetes.

Did you know that at least 1 in 10 Americans has diabetes? That’s 38.4 million adults and children.

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Diabetes can raise your risk of having health problems such as heart attack, stroke, cancer and diseases that affect your kidneys, eyes, teeth or feet. The good news is that preventing diabetes or managing diabetes as early as possible after diagnosis may help you prevent these health problems.

“Managing diabetes is a daily responsibility that can make a huge impact on staying healthy and preventing complications down the road,” said Dr. ­Griffin P. Rodgers, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). “I encourage everyone with diabetes to work with their health care team to learn how they can best manage their condition to maintain an active life and delay or avoid diabetes-related problems.”

Prevent or Delay Type 2 Diabetes

You are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if you are overweight or obese, are age 35 or older or have a family history of type 2 diabetes. Other risk factors include having prediabetes or a history of gestational diabetes.

If you have overweight or obesity, losing 5 percent to 7 percent of your weight can lower your risk of developing type 2 diabetes. For instance, if you weigh 200 pounds, your goal would be to lose 10 to 14 pounds.

Visit the NIDDK website and use the Diabetes Risk Management Calculator to find out how much weight you might want to lose to lower your diabetes risk.

Manage Your Diabetes ABCs

If you have diabetes, managing your diabetes ABCs is an essential first step in preventing diabetes health problems. The diabetes ABCs are:

• A1C blood glucose level.
• Blood pressure.
• Cholesterol.
• Stopping smoking.

Health care professionals give the A1C test to measure your average blood glucose level over the last three months. Some people with diabetes also use devices to track their blood glucose throughout the day and night.

Research shows that keeping your diabetes ABCs in a healthy range can help prevent blood vessel damage and health problems from diabetes. Ask your health care team what blood glucose, cholesterol and blood pressure levels are healthy for you.

Make Lifestyle Changes To Build Healthy Habits

You can help prevent type 2 diabetes or manage your diabetes ABCs by building healthy habits and taking steps to:

• Plan healthy meals and snacks that are lower in calories, sugar, saturated fat and salt.
• Be physically active most days of the week.
• Reach or maintain a healthy weight.
• Stop smoking, vaping or using other tobacco products.
• Get enough sleep and take care of your mental health.

When planning meals, try to choose more fruits, nonstarchy vegetables, whole grains, lean protein foods, and low-fat or nonfat dairy products or dairy alternatives. Drink water instead of sugary drinks.

Walking is a simple way to be active. Invite a loved one or a friend to make walking a social activity. If you’re not active now or a health condition prevents you from being active, ask your health care professional about physical activities that are best for you.

Making lifestyle changes can be hard. Start slow and build healthier habits from there. Ask for help from your family, friends and health care team.

To learn more about preventing or delaying diabetes and diabetes health problems this National Diabetes Month, visit the NIDDK website at www.niddk.nih.gov and follow us on social media @NIDDKgov.

FARMGIRL AT HEART: The history of biscuits and Aunt Ida’s recipe

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by Virginia Jones

What comes to your mind when you hear the word biscuit? Depending on where you live it means different things. In the South, biscuits would be a light and fluffy staple at the dinner table. In the North, the biscuit would be a hardy companion for a hot bowl of fish chowder. If you lived in Europe, you might have a biscuit to accompany your tea time.

So, where did the idea of a biscuit actually originate? In the Medieval times a biscuit was more like what we now know as Biscotti. There was no baking soda or baking powder to be had and so therefore the biscuit would be flat. By 1588 Roman soldiers were eating biscuits as part of their daily meal. If you were a sailor of the British Royal Navy, then the term “hardtack” was a familiar one. Hardtack or a flat biscuit was made using flour, water and salt. It was baked at least four times and made up to six months in advance so that by the time a ship sailed, it was good and ready to survive the journey and would not spoil. They even used hardtack as postcards!

In the 1800s slave labor was used to make the biscuits for many households. The dough was beaten with a rolling pin or mallet for at least an hour to create a cracker like biscuit. The first Beaten Biscuit recipe was published by Mrs. Abby Fisher in her 1881 cookbook titled What Mrs. Fisher Knows About Southern Cooking.

In 1875, Alexander Ashbourne, a slave by birth, invented the spring-loaded biscuit cutter. He was a caterer at the Emancipation Celebration. He noticed that the biscuits being served were irregular in form. He wanted to serve a more precise shaped biscuit. It took him a decade to refine, but on November 30, 1875, he was granted a patent for his invention.

In 1896 the term “drop biscuit” was first recognized in the Boston Cooking School Cookbook. They were also called “emergency biscuits” because they could be made in a hurry. Drop biscuits were not as dense and required more liquid to mix, therefore making them a dough which could not be rolled out.

Biscuits were a main staple of many households and of almost every meal. Few ingredients were needed to put a batch of biscuits in the oven. Wheat; a regular crop on many homesteads, was what made the biscuits hardy. You also had lard and milk which was a staple of the average housewife’s pantry. Biscuits were quick to put together at a moments notice. They could also be variated by using buttermilk, cheese or herbs.

Carl Smith was traveling on a train to San Francisco when he wanted something to eat. Seeing that the kitchen was closed, the cook brought him a fresh plate of hot biscuits. Carl was surprised to have them brought to him so quickly and inquired how it was done. The cook informed him that he kept a batch of premade mix on ice and only had to add wet ingredients to get them ready for baking. By the 1930s, the idea of a premade biscuit mix began to be on store shelves. It was brought to the attention of Carl Smith’s employer in 1930.

In 1931, Lively Willoughby, a Kentucky inventor, patented biscuits in a tube. It was a quick and easy way to get the biscuit dough from the refrigerator to the oven.

By the 1970s, biscuits became even more popular as a breakfast sandwich. Hardees was the first restaurant chain to make this menu item a favorite. The biscuit accounted for nearly 50 percent of the chain’s revenue.

Whether you enjoy a drop biscuit, a biscuit from a tube or an old-fashioned rolled out biscuit, they are a staple that is here to stay. Seeing that we are entering the colder months, why not make up a big pot of clam chowder with biscuits hot from the oven. A recipe included in this article that you might just want to try.

Happy baking,

*Research for this article was obtained from the website https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/blog/2023/01/30/history-of-american-biscuits.

Aunt Ida’s Biscuits

2 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon sugar (optional)
4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
1 beaten egg
2/3 cup milk

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Thoroughly combine dry ingredients. Cut in butter ‘til it is small and crumbly. Beat egg with milk and stir into dry ingredients until flour is dampened. Turn onto floured surface and knead 2 to 3 times. Roll out to 1/2 inch thick and cut with biscuit cutter. Use up all scraps. Place on ungreased baking sheet and bake until risen and golden brown, which will be about 15-20 minutes.

AARP NEWS YOU CAN USE: Welcome to AARP Maine’s News You Can Use

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by Joyce Bucciantini

Each monthly article will focus on seasonal, useful information to keep everyone informed about AARP topics, events, or just fun stuff to do. AARP was founded 60 years ago by a retired school teacher, Dr. Ethel Percy Andrus. Since that time, AARP has been committed to the advancement of livable communities, social opportunities, meaningful advocacy and much more, all in an effort to help older adults and their families thrive as they age.

Late October and early November remain some of the most beautiful months in Maine with vibrant leaves still clinging to the trees before they float down to the ground. Our thoughts turn to apple picking and sampling cider doughnuts at local orchards. The weather is still warm-ish and it is a perfect time to get outdoors to view the autumn splendor. Many communities have walking paths that make for an easy walk and nice views. Medical research as noted on AARP’s web article, Eight Great Reasons to Walk More, shows that regular walking and exercise is good for our longevity, overall health, memory, and even helps with staying calm and getting a good night’s sleep.

One of the most fun facts that my husband and I learned as we turned 65 is that all Maine residents over 65 can visit a Maine State Park for free. And Maine has a lot of State Parks and historical sites! To easily find a State Park near you check out the Maine Bureau of Parks and Lands website. No reservation needed, just pack a picnic lunch, take a walk, and enjoy the natural beauty of the outdoors.

AARP also offers monthly coffee and conversation events in several communities. These coffee groups usually have a local speaker and of course, coffee and conversation. The coffees are an opportunity to gather with community members, learn something and have a tasty little snack.

As an AARP volunteer, I am delighted to be able to write this monthly article to share information with you all. Until next time, I hope you enjoy the Autumn with your friends and family!

Please go to their web address aarp.org/me · me@aarp.org @aarpmaine to find more information about AARP Maine and events near you.