14th Annual Bar Pool Tournaments - Phatt Boyz

Join us Sunday, March 6, at
Phatt Boyz Bar
3046 M-32 West, Alpena
for the first 9-Ball Tournament of 2011. This is Phatt Boyz first year to participate in the annual fund raising event for the Alzheimer's Association. Welcome Phatt Boyz!

Registration - 11:30am
Pool Play begins - noon
Costs - $5.00 per player
Lunch provided to players by Phatt Boyz
Non-players lunch for $5.00 donation to the Alzheimer's Association
50/50 raffle
$500 cash prize raffle (drawing 04-15-11)
32 or less players - double elimination
33 or more players - singles elimination

Aging Boomers

The Baby Boomers started turning 65 as of January 1st this year at the incredible rate of 10,000 per day. We know that 1 in 8 persons (roughly 13%) age 65 and older will develop Alzhimer's. Statistically, that means 1,300 of the 10,000 daily Boomers reaching 65 will develop the disease.


What can we do to be ready for the staggering numbers ahead? Personally we can take better care of our own overall health. Proper diet, exercise, and living a socially active life are proven methods to staying healthy longer


Locally we can support Walk to End Alzheimer's and keep our services available, most free of charge, to the people who need them. The more education, counseling, and support we provide to families, the longer they can care for their loved one at home. Nursing facilities are expensive and the decision to admit a loved one is gut-wrenching. Enabling and supporting home caregivers benefits the family as well as the person with dementia.


Nationally we can write to our senators and represenatives and demand that they take this crisis seriously. More money is needed for research. Alzheimer's research is tragically under-funded compared to other diseases.


The power of the Boomers has always been its numbers. It's time to use those numbers in another positive way, by supporting the Walks in Alpena and Traverse City, and by contacting our State Senators, State Representatives, U.S. Senator Carl Levin, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, and our U.S. Congress Representatives. Together we will make a difference.

Oven-Baked Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potato fries are a fun alternative to traditional potato fries. Make them without the mess of frying with this oven-baked recipe from PositScience. Sweet potatoes and olive oil add beneficial folic acid and antioxidants to any meal.

1 pound sweet potatoes peeled and cut into 1/2 inch strips

1/4 cup olive oil

1 teas salt

1/2 teas cayenne pepper (or regular pepper to taste)

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminium foil or parchment paper. Put all incredients in a large sealable bag and toss several times to coat. Spread onto baking sheet. Bake 30 - 40 minutes, turning 3 or 4 times. Drain on paper towels.

Walk to End Alzheimer's

The Alzheimer's Association has re-branded Memory Walk into Walk to End Alzheimer's. This is the first year under our new name. By changing the name to include the word Alzheimer's, as well as firmly indicating our goal to find the cure, we hope to attract more people and raise more awareness of this disease and the families affected by it.

Here in Northern Michigan we have two walks already scheduled. The web pages are up and active. Today is the perfect time to sign up your team, or join an existing team, and get involved.

Remember, you do not have to attend the walk to participate! We understand that people are busy and Saturdays in the fall are not always convenient. By raising funds through the spring and summer months, you can still be an irreplacible part of this year's Walk to End Alzheimer's!

Another way to participate is to support a registered walker. Click on their name to make an on-line donation to the walker of your choice. You can make your donation in memory of, or in honor of, the person you choose. Click on the links below for the walk closest to you:

Alpena - Walk to End Alzheimer's

Traverse City - Walk to End Alzheimer's

Thank you for helping us make this inaugural year of Walk to End Alzheimer's a successful event! We wouldn't be here without the support of friends like you!

Chewy Oat-Nut Cookies

Another sweet recipe from PositScience to deliver important antioxidants, complex carbohydrates, and omega 3 fatty acids.

10 Tbsp unsalted butter

1/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 egg

1 teas vanilla

3/4 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 teas baking soda

1/2 teas salt (omit if using salted butter)

1 1/2 cups oatmeal (not quick oats)

1/2 cup pitted prunes, chopped into raisin sized pieces

1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

1/2 cup flaked, unsweetened coconut

Heat oven to 375 degrees. Cream butter and sugars with a mixer. Add egg and vanilla, beat well. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt, mix just until combined. Stir in oatmeal, dates, nuts, and coconut. Spoon large tablespoons onto baking sheet. Bake 8 - 9 minutes. Allow to cool on the baking sheets 4 - 5 minutes before removing. For easiest removing, line baking sheets with parchment paper before baking.

Oatmeal with Almonds and Dried Cherries

Try this for breakfast, a bowl full of delicious antioxidants, complex carbohydrates, omega 3 fatty acids, and lean protein. Feel your health blossom with every bite! Another great recipe from PositScience.

Oatmeal is always a good choice for breakfast, brunch or anytime you need a warm bowl of health "comfort food". Avoid loading it up with refined sugars by adding fruit, fresh or dried, or honey to sweeten it up.

3 1/2 cups lowfat or skim milk

1 teas cinnamon

2 cups oats (no quick oats)

1 cup dried unsweetened cherries, cranberries, blueberries, or raisins

2/3 cup slivered almonds

maple syrup or honey to taste

Heat milk and cinnamon in a saucepan just until boiling. Add oats and cook, stirring, over medium heat until it reaches the desired consistency, about 5 minutes. Add fruit and stir. Turn off heat, cover and let set for 5 minutes. Spoon into serving bowls and top with almonds. Drizzle with maple syrup or honey to taste.

Happy Valentine's Day

From the Staff and Volunteers

of the Northern Michigan Region!

Spinach Scramble

Antioxidants, folic acid, lean protein, and omega 3 fatty acids are all combined in this tasty breakfast or brunch scramble. Another recipe from PositScience.

6 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1 teas salt

1/4 teas pepper

2 cups fresh spinach, chopped

1 Tbsp + 2 teas olive oil, divided

4 -5 green onions, finely chopped

Whisk eggs, milk, salt & pepper in a mixing bowl. Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil in a non-stick saute pan over medium-high heat. Add spinach and cook 2-3 minutes, tossing to wilt. Remove spinach from pan and set aside. Turn heat down to medium. In the same pan, add remaining 2 teas oil and heat. Add eggs and cook, scraping bottom and sides, folding them over continuously until cooked through. Turn off heat, stir in spinach and green onions, serve with whole wheat toast.

Medicare's Annual Wellness Visit

Under the Affordable Care Act (the health care reform law), Medicare will now pay for an annual wellness visit, which will include the creation of a personalized prevention plan and detection of possible cognitive impairment. This new benefit began on January 1, 2011.

For more information about who is eligible, what to expect, and how to prepare, visit the Alzheimer's Webpage here.

Espresso Brownie Cake

There has been some research to support that drinking coffee may be beneficial for staving off the onset of Alzheimer's. That research is not conclusive, but it gives coffee drinkers one more reason to have a cup! For the non-coffee drinkers out there, here is a sweet way to slip a little coffee into your diet while adding beneficial antioxidants.

1 cup flour

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup butter

1/2 cup strong coffee

3 Tbsp cocoa powder

1/4 cup buttermilk

1 egg

1/2 teas baking soda

1 teas vanilla

1/2 teas cinnamon

1 cup chopped dark chocolate

Heat oven to 400 degrees. Spray 8" or 9" square pan with oil. Combine flour and sugar in mixing bowl. Heat butter, coffee, and cocoa in a saucepan, bring to a boil. Pour hot mixture over flour mixture and stir well. Add buttermilk, egg, baking soda, vanilla, cinnamon and chopped chocolate. Mix well. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 20 - 25 minutes. Let cool, sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired.

Potato Cauliflower Mash

Enjoy the goodness of mashed potatoes with added nutrition of cauliflower added. This recipe includes complex carbohydrates and omega 3 fatty acids, both essential to overall good health. This is another recipe from PositScience.

3 large russet potatoes, peeled and cut into chunks
1 head cauliflower, trimmed and cut into chunks
4 green onions, finely chopped
1/2 cup butter, cut into small pieces
1 cup light sour cream
salt & pepper to taste
milk as needed for consistency

Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add potatoes and boil for 15 minutes. Add cauliflower and boild another 5 - 7 minutes, until soft enough to mash, drain. Add butter and begin mashing. Add sour cream, green onions, salt & pepper to taste. Continue mashing until smooth, if needed, add milk.

Meeting with Senator John Moolenaar

Pegg Thomas, Alpena Office Coordinator, had an opportunity to speak with new State Senator John Moolenaar on January 31st while he was in Alpena. Senator Moolenaar represents the counties of Alcona, Alpena, Crawford, Iosco, Montmorency, Ogemaw, Oscoda and Otsego within our Northern Region. He is the Vice Chair of the Appropriations Committee.

Money is tight all across the state, including within the government, spending what we have wisely is more important than ever. One wise choice is to support an organization that helps people provide high quality care at home for their loved ones with dementia as long as possible. Senator Moolenaar is willing to listen and we need to reach out to him with our concerns and with our stories.

Please consider e-mailing Senator Moolenaar, or calling him at 517.373.7946, concerning support for the Alzheimer's Association here in Northern Michigan. We currently receive no funding or support from the state since the Healthy Michigan Fund monies were cancelled in 2009.