Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) released the following statement today regarding the killing of Trayvon Martin:

"The killing of 17 year old Trayvon Martin in Florida last month is a tragedy which shocks and dismays me. My family's thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

"The authorities have the responsibility and duty to pursue this matter until justice is served.  Trayvon Martin and his family deserve nothing less."

Some say the '60s hippies are going back to the commune. Others call the growing number of female Baby Boomers rooming together "'The Golden Girls' phenomenon."

Author Martha Nelson, who at 65 is on the leading edge of a tsunami of retiring Boomers, says it's really all about choosing the company of friends.

"As a group, we've been empowered more than past generations of women," says Nelson, whose debut novel, Black Chokeberry (www.BlackChokeberryTheBook.com), is the story of three disparate older women who unexpectedly end up sharing a home. "We're more worldly, stronger, financially savvy and healthier than our ancestors - through no fault of their own - and we know what we want."

Increasingly, what they want is to actively age with the camaraderie, laughter, understanding and support of other women who share their ideas of healthy lifestyles, good food from their own gardens, green living, and myriad activities on a moment's notice.

In 2010, 480,000 Baby Boom women lived with a least one unrelated female, according to an AARP analysis. The growing number of U.S. HomeShare programs, which help connect people interested in sharing a house, say their numbers have been steadily rising since the economy belly-flopped.

"This concept is really trending on the East and West Coasts and is very big in Europe," says Ryan Cowmeadow, vice president of the National Shared Housing Resource Center, an all-volunteer clearinghouse of HomeShare programs.

"Our numbers are up about 15 percent since 2007, and about 75 percent of applicants are female," he says.

"We're hoping to see a real surge with the Boomers entering retirement age now. They're the ones who didn't take 'no' for an answer. Home-sharing just makes sense."

Nelson notes that there are several reasons why women more than men are gravitating to communal living as an alternative lifestyle.

"Women typically live longer than men, and men are more likely to remarry quickly after a divorce or the death of a spouse," she says.

"And fundamentally I think it's as much about the special bonds women share. We form these wonderful, supportive, 'tell the truth' friendships, which survive the demands of husbands, children and careers. Whether living alone or with a spouse or partner, women cling to their friendships. When a woman considers living alone as she ages, it's a natural progression to seek the company of her best friends."

That's what happened to Nelson, a former journalist and educator, whose long marriage ended in divorce when she was in her 50s. In regaining her balance as a single woman, she sought time alone to heal, then turned to her trusted friends as she stepped back into life. Her happiest moments came from long conversations over coffee, laughter over meals and movies, and, occasionally, indulgent tears she felt safe to shed.

"I came to fully understand the importance of women friends in my life," she says. "They are the gold standard and as we age, they are critical to happiness, regardless if one is married or in a committed relationship."

The movement for cohousing - where residents have private living spaces but share common areas, such as dining rooms, and tasks, such as cooking -- started in Denmark and is catching on in the United States. There are model programs in Boulder, Colo., and other communities, including three cohousing projects being planned in the greater Nashville area, where Nelson lives.

Practical considerations of creating close living communities include health and safety, care in times of an accident or medical emergency, and saving money, a concern for many women who find themselves single or widowed after long marriages, Nelson says.

But Boomers are renowned for demanding more than creature comforts from life, she adds.

"We want to be happy; we're healthy, active and we want to enjoy ourselves as we age. We want to travel, go to a movie with a neighbor or housemate, cook a meal, share a garden, and feel that we are contributing to our communities.

"What started with Rosie the Riveter has brought us to this," says Nelson who is happily married again, but fascinated by the new movement of cohousing.

"We're strong women and we can choose to live the way we want as we get older. Very often, that will mean with other women in close knit communities."

About Martha Nelson

Martha Nelson is an award-winning former investigative reporter, columnist and editor at two New York newspapers. She also is a former educational and nonprofit executive, consultant, and chef. She retired in 2010 and settled in to write Black Chokeberry, a coming-of-age novel about three women confronting crisis and change on the other side of 50.

Le Claire, Iowa, March 13, 2012 -River Rose Gin, made locally by Mississippi River Distilling Company in Le Claire, Iowa, has been honored as one of the world's best by TheFiftyBest.com. The website honored River Rose with a gold medal and tied the spirit for sixth place overall in their gin tasting.

MRDC's River Rose Gin was one of only 15 gins awarded a medal in the competition.  River Rose finished the competition just behind some of the world's biggest names such as Tanqueray and  Hendrick's.

River Rose starts with a base spirit made from grain harvested by local farmers within 25 miles of the distillery in LeClaire.  Then a unique blend of a dozen botanicals is added.  The gin is made from a German recipe that dates back to the late 1800s.  That recipe is light on the traditional juniper berries and includes a full body of citrus and floral including orange, grapefruit, lemon, lavender, rose petals and locally grown cucumbers that provide a distinctive finish that sets River Rose apart from any other gin.

"We are excited any time our peers recognize our quality,"  said owner and distiller Ryan Burchett.  "But this honor is particularly exciting because of the competition.  It's really an honor to go toe to toe with the best in the business and come out with recognition like this."

Gin aficionados, wine/spirits writers, and bartenders were the judges at the formal tasting in New York City.  Using professional criteria, the gins were served "blindly" one at a time, and rated on a 1-5 point scoring system with five being the best. The gins were ranked according to the total scores received from the judges.  Double-Gold, Gold and Silver medals are awarded based on a set range of point scores.

TheFiftyBest.com is an award-winning online guide to fine living, featuring rated listings based on unbiased surveys and tastings conducted by food, wine/spirits journalists, professionals and connoisseurs. The complete ranking results, along with tasting notes, are published on TheFiftyBest.com website: http://www.thefiftybest.com/spirits/best_gin/ MRDC's River Baron also received a tip of the hat from TheFiftyBest.com in October when it also received a silver medal and was ranked 8th in the domestic vodka tasting.

The award comes on the heels of another round of success in the marketplace for the small distillery.  On March 2, Mississippi River Distilling Company released their second batch of Cody Road Bourbon.  The release of roughly 900 bottles sold out in just days across Iowa, Illinois and Missouri.  The next batch is scheduled to be released on June 1.

Mississippi River Distilling Company is open from 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday and from 12 to 5 PM Sundays.  Free tours are offered to the public daily on the hour from 12 to 4 PM or by appointment after hours for a small charge.  The tour takes visitors through the entire distilling process.  Tours end in the Grand Tasting Room with free samples of products for those patrons over 21 years of age.

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