made.

ana Phiasiripanyo,
is making simple
I feel like nowamuch fusion, so I
things were done
esh as possible,
cept that we are
ble.

The people, the community, is what

Phiasiripanyo loves the most about being in the
restaurant business. Teaching his staff of cooks
so that when they leave one day they will be able
to sustain and cook really well.

makes The Hash

urants is that they
For example, our
uit that we see at
ll turn that into a
the day, says
e our own honey

Some of the classic breakfast staples you will

find on The Hash menu include eggs, bacon,
French toast, omelets, pancakes, and loaded
hash. Lunch staples include different types of
burgers, chicken sandwiches, chicken pot pie,
grilled cheese, and different salads including
Phiasiripanyos favorite, the spinach salad with
onions, apples, cranberries, tomatoes, candied
pecans, feta and bacon crumbles.

e restaurant busig many different

staple, says
Italian cooking,
hich are more like
t and lunch, it is a
meone coming into
keeping them satnging to me.

The restaurant is open from 6:00am to

2:00pm, seven days a week. Stop by for breakfast or lunch this week to see why many are
already regulars.
Alexx Harms

THE HASH
RETRO DINER

471-6747
1149 E. 2ND STREET

The Hash will have daily specials in the future

as well as a gluten-free and vegan menu.
Currently they are offering a pound burger
special with a drink for only $5.99.

get started on fitness

u-

is

as-

e-

i-

se

and they are getting serious

about exercise and nutrition
changes that the physician and I
correlate on.
It is very refreshing to see
Physicians trying this approach as
opposed to simply writing a prescription for more drugs. Many
times patients simply take the
mind set that if their blood pressure is down from the medication
then they will simply continue on
with their normal habits. That
should not be the way to approach it. I have seen many people reduce or eventually
completely quit their medication(s) after following a strict nutrition and exercise lifestyle plan
for a significant period of time. It
is important to understand that
they only altered their meds
based on their Doctors recommendation, not mine or their
own.
Cardiovascular exercise such as
walking, jogging, or biking will
improve the hearts efficiency and
lower our risk of coronary heart
disease. It does this by reducing
blood pressure, increasing the
HDL (good cholesterol), and consequently reducing risk of heart
attacks. Strength training will help
our muscle size, strength, and en-

durance as well as strengthen the

tendons and ligaments which in
turn improve our joint strength
and stability. Strength training
can also improve our posture if
we isolate certain muscles with
proper exercise choices and execution of those exercises. Regular
stretching and core exercises can
limit low back pain which will affect approximately 80 percent of
Americans in their lifetime.
Aging is a factor we have to
address well. The elderly are more
likely to lose joint mobility due to
inactivity and therefore daily exercise and flexibility become important for just maintaining a better
quality of life. The elderly are
also more likely to have more special needs and therefore I suggestgetting a physical from your
physician and then have a college
educated, nationally certified
trainer design you a program. The
internet or fitness magazines can
be great resources but they do
not know you and your individual
needs.
I know for many, starting an
exercise program is overwhelming. We always think about
time and cost but you must
start thinking about YOURSELF
and that you cant afford NOT to
do it. You have to stop and ask
yourself what other things do you
really need to cut out and is exercise really the thing to cut out of
your life? Your insurance premium will go up a lot higher than
that if you start having heart disease. Dont you want to have all
the great benefits of a healthier
body and start enjoying that
today? Dont have preconceived
notions of thinking people will
judge you for being out of shape
when you first start. You dont
have to be great to get started
you just have to start to be
great!
(Brian Attebery is a Degreed/Certified Trainer. He owns
and operates Results Fitness and
Nutrition Center, L.L.C. in Edmond.

Charitable donations
and tax credits
By John Pickens
Q: I routinely contribute to various charitable organizations
throughout the year, including my
church. Without itemizing my return, I am unable to take advantage of the tax savings. Is there
anything that can be done to
lessen my tax burden?

Pickens
A: IRS standard deduction
thresholds ($6,200 single,
$12,400 married filing jointly) make it difficult for
most households to itemize their deductions. The
state of Oklahoma, however, provides relief beyond deductions in the form of credits. The credits
can be taken regardless of whether you itemize or
not. Form 511CR located on the Oklahoma Tax
Commissions website lists more than 30 credits including economic, environmental, agricultural and
more.
Q: What kind of credits would I be able to apply
for?
A: The simplest credit for any household to qualify for is the Credit for Biomedical Research Contribution. This is a win/win as it benefits
life-saving research and helps the taxpayer. The
credit is for 50 percent of the amount donated,
but may not exceed $1,000 ($2,000 for a married
filing joint return). In other words, a married couple donating $2,000 toward a qualified research
institute would receive a $1,000 credit on their
state tax return. While this credit will not apply to
your federal return, you may still claim it as a standard deduction.
Q: What is a qualified biomedical research institute?
A: Some examples of a qualified institute are:
Curesearch Childrens cancer research (curesearch.org), Alzheimers Association Alzheimers
education and research (alz.org) and the American
Heart Association heart disease and stroke prevention (heart.org). To receive the credit you will
need to fill out tax form 511CR with your state return. This form along with other qualifying organizations can be found at the Oklahoma Tax
Commissions website (tax.ok.gov).

John Pickens is a tax specialist at Arledge and

Associates, PC, an Edmond-based accounting firm.
Arledge & Associates, PC is a recognized leader in
the accounting industry offering practical solutions
in the areas of tax planning, auditing, consulting,
accounting advisory services and client accounting.