Marion Healthy Living October 2016

Freedom Health is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Florida Medicaid program. Enrollment in Freedom Health depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. This plan is available to anyone with Medicare who has been diagnosed with Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Chronic Heart Failure, or a qualified Chronic Lung Disorder, such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) or Asthma. Benefits, premiums and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. The Formulary, pharmacy network, and/or provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. (1) You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. (2) Limitations, co-payments and restrictions may apply. (3) Amount varies by plan and county. A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodations of persons with special needs at sales meetings call 1-888-796-0946. TTY: 711. Freedom Health, Inc. complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Español (Spanish): ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 1-800-401-2740 (TTY: 711). Kreyòl Ayisyen (French Creole): ATANSYON: Si w pale Kreyòl Ayisyen, gen sèvis èd pou lang ki disponib gratis pou ou. Rele

(TTY: 711) For Member Services call: 1-800-401-2740

U KNEE QUE

Mako™ partial knee replacement is the only truly patient-specific procedure, planned from a 3-D model of your knee and performed with proven, highly accurate Mako™ robotic-arm assisted surgery.

Compared with manual Oxford® procedures, Mako™ partial knee replacement offers:

• Less post-op pain from Day 1 up to 8 weeks 1

• Increased knee functionality at 3 months post-op1

• 9 times lower failure rate at 2 years2

Mako™ partial knee replacement is available at Ocala Regional Medical Center.

Just like fingerprints, no two knees are the same. You deserve a knee procedure customized just for you.

1. Blyth MJ, Smith J, Jones B, MacLean AD III, Anthony I, Rowe P. Does robotic surgical assistance improve the accuracy of implant placement in unicompartmental knee arthroplasty? AAOS 2013 Annual Meeting, March 19-23, 2013, Chicago, IL.

Roche MW, Coon T, Pearle AD, Dounchis

knee surgical procedure,

Live Your Life IN MOTION

We’re committed to making a difference.

When you live life “on the go,” you don’t want chronic joint pain to slow you down. That’s why Ocala Health takes a leading-edge, comprehensive approach to the treatment and rehabilitation of joint pain – designed to return you to maximum function as quickly and safely as possible. Our exceptional outcomes and shorter average length of hospital stay is among the best in the country.

Highly trained board-certified orthopedic surgeons and a multi-disciplinary patient care team work with you and your primary care physician to develop a customized treatment plan. If you need surgery, we offer the most advanced surgical procedures using the latest technologies, including minimally invasive techniques with the MAKO robotic arm.

To be connected with our award-winning team of physicians, please call 1-800-530-1188 or visit us at ocalahealthsystem.com.

We perform the following specialized joint surgeries:

• Knee replacement

• Partial knee replacement

• Knee resurfacing

• Hip replacement using both anterior and posterior approach

• Shoulder replacement

• Reverse shoulder replacement

• Arthroscopic sports medicine

ADVISORY BOARD

HEALTHY LIVING MAGAZINE has brought together a group of medical experts and community leaders to serve on our advisory board and share their expertise and insight with our readers.

Craig Ackerman Public Information O cer FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH IN MARION COUNTY

Ashley Hersey Clinical Liaison KINDRED HOSPITAL OCALA

Ashley Cauthen, M.D. Cosmetic And Clinical Dermatology MIDSTATE SKIN INSTITUTE

Derek Farr, D.O. Orthopedic Surgeon TWIN PALMS ORTHOPEDICS

Joseph Foster Senior Solutions Director SUPERIOR RESIDENCES OF LECANTO

Carmen M. Hernandez Health Education Program Manager FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Michael Holloway, M.D. Physician-Directed Weight Management & Medical Aesthetics LIFESTYLE SOLUTIONS MEDSPA

Mark Jank, M.D. Ophthalmology OCALA EYE

Amy McLaughlin, APR, CPRC Director, Marketing & Communications SEVEN RIVERS REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER

Katie Myers, APR Director Of Marketing And Public Relations CITRUS MEMORIAL HEALTH SYSTEM

Navinderdeep Nijher, M.D. Plastic Surgery OCALA PLASTIC SURGERY

Chris Okonkwo, M.D. Pediatrics CHILDREN’S HEALTH OF OCALA

Amanda Ostrom Director of Marketing and Communications RADIOLOGY ASSOCIATES OF OCALA, P.A.

Jayanti Panchal, M.D. Internal Medicine And Medical Weight Management SUCCESS BY DESIGN

Carolyn Reyes, MPA, M.Ed. Community Liaison, Citrus & Hernando Counties COMFORT KEEPERS

Suzanne Santangelo Director, Marketing OCALA HEALTH

Linda M. McKenna Director of Professional Relations CHAPTERS HPH HOSPICE

Meghan Shay, CFRE Director Of Public Relations And Development THE CENTERS

PUBLISHER

Kathy Johnson kathy@healthylivingmagazines.com

OFFICE/PRODUCTION MANAGER

Cynthia Brown art@healthylivingmagazines.com

EDITORIAL

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Karin Fabry-Cushenbery karin@healthylivingmagazines.com

MANAGING EDITOR

Melissa Peterson melissa@healthylivingmagazines.com

ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Katie McPherson katie@ocalastyle.com

EDITORIAL ASSISTANT & SOCIAL MEDIA SPECIALIST

Cealia Athanason cealia@ocalastyle.com

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Brett Ballantini

Jim Gibson

Laurel Gillum

JoAnn Guidry

Bonnie Kretchik

CynthiaCarltonMcFarland Reese

EDITORIAL INTERNS

Allyson Montoya

Molly Norman

ART art@healthylivingmagazines.com

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jason Fugate

ART DIRECTOR

Jessi Miller Castro

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Christina Geiger

PHOTOGRAPHERS

John SheilaJernigan fotolia.comHartley

SALES DIRECTOR OF SALES

Dean Johnson deanjohnson@healthylivingmagazines.com

SALES MANAGER

Sharon Morgan

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Anne Farrior anne@healthylivingmagazines.com

Lori Tani

Skip Linderman

Peggy Sue Munday

Liza Fritz

Tammy Walters

Dawn Anderson

DISTRIBUTION

Dave Adams

Debra McQueen

Rick Shaw

Listen Up, Ladies (And Men)

This fall, the Ladies First Half Marathon & 5K will be returning to Ocala, and all proceeds will benefit the Florida Breast Cancer Coalition Research Foundation.

New this year is a costume contest, so start brainstorming now! The race will be held at the Hilton Ocala, and divisions include Open Ladies, Masters Ladies, Open Girls and Open Men. All participants will receive a dri-fit shirt as well as some nice race bling. Each hydration station will provide water, food and other necessities to keep you going, and when you’re finished with the race, you can enjoy a breakfast bu et courtesy of the Hilton.

Fall Festivities

Have some family fun this fall in and around Marion and Citrus Counties.

Pumpkins, festivals, corn mazes, yard games and cooler weather are on the way—it’s what makes the season fun. Gather the family together and hit the farm. There’s something exciting for everyone!

AROUND CITRUS COUNTY

Scarecrow Festival

Pioneer Florida Museum and Village, Dade City

Oct. 8, 9am-3pm

A giant candy-stu ed pumpkin drop and a make-your-own scarecrow activity is just the beginning of this can’t-miss festival. pioneerfloridamuseum.org

Fall Corn Maze

Sweetfields Farm, Masaryktown Select dates in Oct. and Nov. Wind your way through a corn maze labyrinth by following clues at various checkpoints. Pick a pumpkin or two, and be sure to let the kids meet the farm animals. sweetfieldsfarm.com

San Antonio

Rattlesnake Festival and Run

Rotary Club, San Antonio

Oct. 15 and 16

A snake show, a challenging one- or five-mile run, gopher races, Cowboy

Tom’s Wild West Show, pumpkin picking, food and craft vendors, farmers market goods and fun games are more than enough to entertain the whole family for the weekend. rattlesnakefestival.com

2016 Hernando Untapped: Craft Beer And Wine Festival

American Aviation Flight Academy, Brooksville

Oct. 21, 6-10pm

Unlimited craft beer and wine, unique food truck o erings and live music by The Bearded Brothers Band are the makings of a great time. General admission is $25, VIP admission is $50 and designated driver admission is $10. (DDs, you get complimentary soda, entertainment and food—sorry, no tasting glass for you.) hernandochamber.com

Camping With The Blues Music Festival

Sertoma Youth Ranch, Brooksville

Oct. 21-24

Camp out to your favorite blues music all weekend. Lisa Mann, the Lionel Young Band and more are part of this year’s lineup. Plus, there’s a jam session each night so pack your instrument. campingwiththeblues.com

The Great American Cooter Festival

Liberty Park, Inverness

Oct. 28-30

When the music plays and the cooters race, we know you’ll be having a great time at the Cooter Festival. This three-day event will keep you and your family busy with cupcake wars, a zombie run, carnival rides and more. cooterfestival.com

Lake Hernando Dragon Boat Festival

Lake Hernando Park, Hernando

Nov. 12, 8am-5pm

Gather your team of 11 or 21 friends for a giant boat race. Or, come and watch, enjoy live music, arts and crafts, a dragon drum and dance group, food and drink, and a play area just for kids.

lakehernandodragonboatfestival.com

6th Annual Corn Maze Festival

Timberline Farm, Belleview

Oct. 1-30

Good ol’ country charm awaits the whole family at Timberline Farm this fall. Go any Friday, Saturday or Sunday in October for music, pony rides, face painting, food and craft vendors, and more. timberlinefarm.net

The Pickin’ Patch

Dunnellon

Through Oct.

Pick the perfect pumpkin straight from the patch. We’re predicting a great photo op for little ones! dunnellonpumpkinpatch.com

Coon Hollo Corn Maze

Micanopy

Oct. 7-Nov. 6

Fall just isn’t fall without Coon Hollo. With so many things to do and even several new activities— like pig racing and a country carousel—you’ll go one weekend and then come back another. coonhollocornmaze.com

Oktoberfest

Reilly Arts Center, Ocala

Oct. 8, 3-7pm

A beer garden by Infinite Ale Works, German food, a marionette show and an authentic German polka band are all on tap for the day. Finish it o by watching the UF vs. LSU game inside the Reilly. reillyartscenter.com

McIntosh 1890s Festival

Van Ness Park, McIntosh

Oct. 22, 8am-5pm

Stepping back into the late 1800s has never been more fun than at the McIntosh 1890’s Festival. More than 280 arts, crafts and antiques vendors will fill this smalltown festival. friendsofmcintosh.org

FAFO’s 50th Annual Ocala Arts Festival

Downtown Ocala

Oct. 22-23

Four panel judges bring in a minimum of 155 artists from all over the country to showcase their work and compete for prizes. Plus, there will be a student’s art tent and live music. fafo.org

6th Annual Ocala Pumpkin Run & Car Show

Castro Farms, Ocala

Oct. 28-30

Classic cars, BMX stunts, motocross tricks and fall festival activities to boot. Need we say more? ocalapumpkinrun.com

Micanopy Fall Festival

Cholokka Boulevard, Micanopy

Oct. 29-30

The Micanopy Fall Festival is still going strong after 42 years. Besides arts and crafts vendors, onstage music will keep you in a good mood all day long. Bring the kids—it’ll be a good time for everyone. micanopyfallfestival.org

Downtown Festival and Art Show

Downtown Gainesville

Nov. 5-6

Serious art meets serious entertainment for two festival days you can’t miss. gainesvilledowntownartfest.org

Feel Downtown LIVE Harvest Fest

Tuscawilla Park

Nov. 12, 12-10pm

Celebrate Veterans Day with a bang at Harvest Fest. It’s Ocala’s biggest music festival with multiple stages and bands performing all day long—one national headliner and eight regional artists. Vendors and food trucks will be there, too. feeldowntownlive.com

Coon Hollo Corn Maze

McIntosh 1890s Festival

FAFO Ocala Arts Festival

The Pickin’ Patch

Ocala Pumpkin Run & Car Show

Healing Through Yoga

› By JoAnn Guidry

For Jennifer McCracken, yoga played a key role in her healing journey from trauma victim to survivor. So much so that she became a yoga instructor and then established Blissful Life Corporation, a donation-based yoga and wellness center.

“I’m a survivor of domestic violence and childhood sexual abuse. And while I was doing conventional talk therapy, I found that my trauma was not completely healing,” says McCracken. “Then I began taking yoga classes 17 years ago at a hospital wellness center. Almost immediately I felt my mind and body respond in a positive way. I knew I had found a path to healing.”

The effect of yoga was so profound on McCracken that she also began training to become a yoga instructor. Eventually receiving the highest credentials rating given by the National Yoga Alliance, McCracken initially worked as an independent yoga instructor. For a while, she taught a weekly yoga class at the Ocala Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault Center. McCracken opened her own yoga studio in Ocala four years ago.

“It was at that initial studio that I began realizing that many trauma victims weren’t attending yoga classes because they couldn’t pay for them,” says McCracken, who is also a certified yoga therapist. “So I applied for non-profit status and threw out the fee schedule. Now all our classes are on a donation basis,

and this has made it possible to serve more people who could benefit from yoga.”

The new 501(c)(3) nonprofit donation-based business model also allowed McCracken to move her studio to a more centralized location near downtown Ocala, off Silver Springs Boulevard.

“Our initial location in Silver Springs Shores made it difficult for many to get to us,” explains McCracken. “Many domestic violence victims are struggling to get back on their feet and have limited resources. Many don’t have a car, and public transportation did not stop close enough to the studio. Our new location downtown is more accessible, and we can now serve more people.”

McCracken teaches Kripalu yoga, which she describes as “very practitioner-based and offers a lot of opportunity for self-exploration.”

“I see yoga as a spiritual practice that should be available to anyone,” says McCracken. “We are open to all domestic violence and trauma survivors as well as anyone else who feels they could benefit from a mind, body and spirit union. I know from experience the amazing things yoga is capable of doing for a broken soul and for fostering healthy, happy and productive members of our community.”

Ocala-based Blissful Life Corporation

offers yoga for domestic violence victims as well as anyone dealing with trauma in their life.

Almost immediately I felt my mind and body respond in a positive way.

I knew I had found a path to healing.

› Jennifer McCracken

Photos by Lisa Anderson, Create My Story Photography

To a New Dimension

Get into the groove of a new dimension of detection.

RAO leads the way with the most advanced technologies in breast health, including 3D Mammography™ exams for 40% better accuracy at discovering invasive cancers and eliminating false positives. We offer screening mammograms without a doctor’s referral, as well as referred services like breast MRI, ultrasound, stereotactic biopsy and more for quick, accurate answers from Board Certified radiologists who sub-specialize in women’s health imaging. Because peace of mind is a beautiful thing.

Saving Lives

The College of Central Florida was recently awarded a $294,930 Campus Suicide Prevention Grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The funds will be used to implement a college-wide suicide prevention project. The project will allow the college to develop and implement an infrastructure that will promote education and awareness, incorporating the philosophy that it is everyone’s responsibility to be knowledgeable on suicide awareness and to know the signs, symptoms, strategies and resources for dealing with suicide. It is estimated that a minimum of 800 CF students, faculty and staff, and family members will receive formal education and training on suicide prevention and mental health issues through classroom-based instruction, a series of seminars/workshops and guest speakers. Many more individuals will gain awareness through print materials and social media.

Help Is Here

If you worry about the way you eat or suspect food rules your life, Overeaters Anonymous may have the answer for you. It is not a diet club but a fellowship of people recovering from compulsive overeating. OA offers mutual support. The only requirement for membership is a desire to stop eating compulsively—no weigh-ins, dues or fees. Check with OA.org for information on meetings, and join the group on Tuesday nights at 5pm at the Citrus County YMCA in Lecanto.

Make Way For Change

Seven Rivers Regional Medical is excited to announce its new medical staff leadership appointments. Bhadresh Patel, M.D., will serve a two-year term as chief of staff, Siddharth Mathur, M.D., will serve a one-year term as chief of medicine and Robert Goethe, M.D., will serve a one-year term as chief of surgery. Dr. Patel, who has been a member of the medical staff since 1995, completed an internal medicine residency at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. Dr. Mathur, appointed to the medical staff in 2012, specializes in gastroenterology. Dr. Goethe, board certified in anesthesiology, has been affiliated with the medical staff since 2010. The hospital extends gratitude to outgoing leaders Aparna Chunduri, M.D., past chief of staff, Ghassan Hasan, M.D., past chief of medicine, and Adnan Mohommadbhoy, D.O., past chief of surgery.

6 Years Strong

Ocala Health has once again received the Get With The Guidelines®-Stroke GoldPlus Quality Achievement Award for implementing specific quality improvement measures outlined by the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association for the treatment of stroke patients. This is the sixth consecutive year that Ocala Health has received this award. Get With The Guidelines-Stroke helps hospital teams provide the most up-to-date, research-based guidelines with the goal of speeding recovery and reducing death and disability for stroke patients.

“Ocala Health is dedicated to improving the quality of stroke care, and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines-Stroke helps us achieve that goal,” said Ann Szapor, chief nursing officer, Ocala Health.

SERVICES INCLUDE:

CLINICAL DERMATOLOGY:

Acne

Eczema

Psoriasis

Skin Cancer

Vitiligo

Sun Spots

Liver Spots

Rosacea

COSMETIC DERMATOLOGY:

Botox

Fillers

(Juvederm/Restylane)

Laser hair removal

Photofacials for rosacea

& sundamaged skin

Laser treatments for

acne scarring

Individualized skin care regimens

VelaShape cellulite reduction treatment

Melissa Singleton, PA-C

Dr. Ashley Cauthen

Dr. Christina Mitchell

For 25 years, we have been committed to creating an environment where our residents feel secure, cared for and loved. We would be honored to care for your loved ones in their time of need.

Services Offered:

In-House Psychiatrist

Podiatrist

Ophthalmologist

Dermatologist

Nurse Practitioner

Organized Social Activities

Church Services

Daily Living Assistance

We are currently accepting referrals

Ocala’s Best-Kept Secret

Prestige Manor

Assisted Living Facility

6333 SE Babb Rd. | Belleview, FL | 352-307-6333

prestigemanorassistedliving.com

Carrol Dillon-Smith Administrator/Owner Megan Christine Forrest Director of Operations

Ice Bucket Breakthrough

Remember back in 2014 when Facebook was filled with people pouring ice-cold water over their heads? Well, it paid off—literally!

The viral fundraising campaign raised more than $100 million for the ALS Association. Some of the money raised was used for “Project MinE” to help determine genetic drivers of ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. The ALS Association reported that Project MinE researchers have identified the NEK1 gene’s connection to ALS. With more of an understanding of this gene’s role, experts will hopefully be one step closer to developing a new target therapy for ALS.

“Global collaboration among scientists, which was really made possible by ALS Ice Bucket Challenge donations, led to this important discovery” says John Landers, Ph.D., one of the lead researchers.

Raising Awareness

In October, we wear pink. Raid your closet and break out your ribbons—this month we fight together.

Breast cancer is one term that holds a lot of weight. The disease holds the title as the second most common kind of cancer in women, and statistics have found one in eight women will be personally a ected. As jolting as these statistics are, some women still don’t take perventative action again breast cancer.

National Breast Cancer Awareness

Month exists to raise awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer. The best way to fight breast cancer, along with any other cancer, is to have a plan that helps you detect the disease in its earliest stages.

According to the American Cancer Society, when breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the

five-year relative survival rate is near 100 percent. With self exams, clinical exams and routine mammograms, the chances of stopping breast cancer in its tracks increases. Here’s a brief description of a few of the preventative options available.

SELF-EXAMINATIONS. Women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month. According to statistics

from Johns Hopkins Medical Center, 40 percent of diagnosed breast cancers are first detected by women who feel a lump.

CLINICAL BREAST EXAMS. Completed by a health care provider such as a physician, nurse practitioner or other medical staff, this exam is to help find lumps that may have been missed at home. This exam is often done as part of your yearly gynecological exam.

MAMMOGRAMS. An annual X-ray taken of the breast, a mammogram is usually used to screen for breast cancer in a woman experiencing no symptoms. Mammograms, however, can also be used in women who have breast cancer symptoms, such as a lump or pain. The test is painless for most, reliable and is over in a matter of minutes.

ULTRASOUNDS. An ultrasound is used to see whether a breast lump is filled with fluid, as in a cyst, or if it is a solid mass. An ultrasound does not replace a mammogram’s necessity but is often used to check abnormal mammogram results.

THERMOGRAMS. Screening thermography is used to detect breast cancer in the earliest stages of development. The technology detects the heat created by increased blood vessel circulation and metabolic changes related to a tumor’s genesis and growth. It’s even possible to detect pre-cancerous changes using thermography.

How To Perform A Breast Self-Exam

› In the shower, raise your arms over your head. Using the pads of your fingers, move around your breast in a circular motion, moving from the outside to the center, checking the entire breast and armpit area.

› Visually inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides in front of the mirror. Next, raise your arms over your head. Look for any changes in shape, swelling, dimpling of the skin or changes in nipple appearance. Rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match, but look for any notable di erences in shape or size between the two sides.

› When lying down, place a pillow under your right shoulder with your right arm behind your head. With your left hand, use the pads of your fingers to move around your breast in a circular motion, moving from the outside to the center. Squeeze the nipple to check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for both breasts.

What Else Can You Do?

Changes in lifestyle have been proven to decrease the risk of breast cancer, even in highrisk women. Take a look.

1 2 3 4 5 6

Limit alcohol. Limit yourself to less than one drink per day.

Don’t smoke. Particularly in premenopausal women, accumulating evidence has shown links between smoking and breast cancer.

Control your weight. Especially true if obesity occurs after menopause. Being overweight increases the likelihood for developing cancer.

Be physically active. Hand in hand with weight management, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity.

Avoid radiation. Reduce excessive exposure by having tests that use high doses of radiation performed only when absolutely necessary.

Maintain a healthy diet. Women who eat a Mediterranean diet supplemented with extravirgin olive oil and mixed nuts may have a reduced risk of breast cancer. The Mediterranean diet focuses on mostly plant-based foods, such as fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes and nuts, and steers clear of red meats.

Harness Your Body’s Best Anti-Agers

› By Michael Roizen, M.D., and Mehmet Oz, M.D.

In a recent experiment that grabbed headlines around the world, Stanford University researchers saw one in three stroke survivors who received stem-cell injections directly into the brain achieve dramatic improvements. Although this amazing stem-cell therapy is decades away from widespread use, it got us thinking about the power of stem cells and what you can do to keep yours healthy.

Turns out, stem cells hang out virtually everywhere in the human body, from your brain (the researchers used some from volunteers’ own brains for that study), bones and bloodstream to your muscles, skin, teeth and heart. When needed, they spring into action to repair or replace damaged tissue. But stem cells can die off or become less active as we age, slowing the body’s ability to repair itself.

Protecting or even lengthening your telomeres—the protective caps on the ends of the DNA in cells, including stem cells—can help your stem cells remain more robust. You see, telomeres get shorter with age and from not-so-healthy habits. But the right moves can maintain or even lengthen them, which science suggests could give your stem cells a new lease on life.

Although no one has done a study that follows the health of people who’ve lengthened their telomeres yet, as one of the researchers observed: “Telomere shortening increases the risk of a wide variety of chronic diseases. We believe that increases in telomere length may help to prevent these conditions and perhaps even lengthen lifespan.”

The exciting part? There’s plenty you can do to keep your stem cell repair-and-rejuvenation team in tip-top shape.

On the “don’t” list? Smoking, which speeds telomere aging by 18 percent, and being obese, which accelerates telomere aging by a scary 30 percent.

On the do-this-more-often list? Four steps in one study lengthened telomeres by an impressive 10 percent over five years:

1. SMART FOOD SWAPS. Skip added sugars and simple syrups, most saturated fat, all trans fats and any grains that aren’t 100 percent whole. Load up on vegetables, fruit and plant-based proteins like beans and tofu.

2. 30 MINUTES OF ACTIVITY EVERY DAY. Take a walk or a spin on your bike. Go for a swim or stroll on your treadmill. Do it daily; break it into two, 15-minute chunks if time is tight. Exercise may help two ways: It seems to lengthen telomeres and can also help ease mild depression, which can cause telomere shortening.

3. MELT STRESS TODAY AND AGAIN TOMORROW. In the telomere study, men spent an hour a day practicing stress-reduction techniques. If you don’t have a spare hour to cultivate serenity, don’t sweat it. We’ve seen evidence that even five minutes of tension-melting meditation can make a big di erence.

4. HANG OUT WITH YOUR FAVORITE PEOPLE. A growing stack of research finds associations between feeling tense and worried and shorter telomeres. Feeling loved, comforted and safe can ease anxiety. So spend time weekly (or more often) with the folks who know and love you.

When needed, stem cells spring into action to repair or replace damaged tissue.

3-D Mammography at Radiology Associates of Ocala

3

-D mammography (a.k.a. tomosynthesis) is the new standard for screening exams and diagnostic breast imaging. It utilizes X-ray imaging and low-level radiation to capture numerous images of the breast, which form a 3-D composite.

“A normal mammogram takes four pictures, two on each side. Now, when we’re doing each one of those pictures, the machine is taking slices through the breasts rather than just four pictures. Sometimes now we have 100 to 300 pictures, so obviously we’re seeing a lot more of the tissue, and basically now we’re seeing inside. Each slice is about 1 millimeter thick, which is extremely thin, and it’s some of the highest resolution we have in radiology,” says Dr. Amanda Aulls, radiologist at RAO.

Tomosynthesis allows radiologists to examine breast tissue

from varying angles, ensuring they can identify cancerous abnormalities and differentiate them from normal, healthy structures in the breast that may overlap during imaging and look suspicious. That means fewer women will be called back for secondary imaging they don’t need and spared the anxiety associated with a follow-up.

“The hope for 3-D is that we don’t have to have as many patients come back for additional imaging,” Dr. Aulls explains. “With 2-D mammography, about 10 percent of women get called back because we think we see something, but they usually don’t have something. I do feel like we’re calling fewer people back.”

So what’s the process like for patients? No different than usual. Patients still have to deal with the compression positioning, but 3-D mammography adds no more than a few extra seconds to the screening.

Patients with Medicare will be pleased to know 3-D mammography is covered by their insurance. Patients with other providers can call RAO at (352) 671-4300 to find out if they’re covered (but if not, 3-D mammography costs just $50 more for the extra imaging and accuracy).

“Usually insurance companies follow along with Medicare, so every year we’re hopeful they’ll follow suit,” Dr. Aulls says. “We try to educate people by sending them a letter before their appointment and educate them here as well if they have questions. 3-D is definitely something I recommend for the majority of women and would want for my family and myself to have. The best treatment outcomes come from finding cancer really

early.”

Breast Cancer Awareness Month isn’t just important for survivors—it reminds us all to make annual mammograms and early detection a priority. Radiology Associates of Ocala, P.A. helps patients detect abnormalities as soon as possible using 3-D mammography to optimize the imaging process.

The best treatment outcomes come from finding cancer really early.

› Dr. Amanda Aulls

Life At Its Best

Home Sweet Home

Lucy Blanchard’s desk is organized with a stack of open letters, ready to be replied to. At 90 years old, Lucy sits on the couch in her well-lit living room describing a trip she took back to her hometown in Western North Carolina. She grew up there, came from a family of six—something she’s proud of.

Now, four stepchildren and seven grandchildren later, she’s as happy as can be in her home of three years at The Estates, Hawthorne Village of Ocala’s independent living community.

“I lived alone for eight years after my husband died, and my house was too much,” says Lucy. “I came here and fell in love the first time. The next morning I was here at 10am to sign the papers. I’ve been here ever since.”

Lucy’s surrounded by all the things she holds near and dear from her former home, especially her photos neatly displayed in rows on her refrigerator and in two recently completed albums. She can look out from her apartment and see the beautiful courtyard outside.

“That’s why I picked the first floor,” she says.

Lucy doesn’t have to worry about anything anymore. Everything is taken care of, including transportation to doctor’s appointments, weekly housekeeping and linen service, all utilities except for telephone and life-enriching social activities. Lucy especially loves playing a good game of dominoes!

“I’ve made a lot of friends here, and the management is superb,” says Lucy. “It’s the perfect place for me.”

The Right Fit

When Annette Remisiewicz was looking for the right place to live, she was concerned with finding not only the right price but the right people, as well. She has now been at The Estates since last November.

“Hawthorne met all my needs,” Annette says. “The staff is fabulous. Everybody helps everybody. It’s a very family-like place.”

Within the first week of living there, she felt comfortable and considered it her new home. She loves her corner apartment home, and she’ll often leave her door open for friends to stop by for an impromptu visit.

“This is my home. I can laugh here, and people laugh with me,” Annette says.

At 78 years old, Annette maintains an active, independent lifestyle. She enjoys driving and aims to exercise at AJ’s Fitness Center—the community’s state-of-the-art gym—three days a week. The specialized machines use air resistance to overcome the initial resistance of static weight, which makes it possible for her to get the exercise she needs. Annette agrees with other tenants that it is

For Hawthorne Village of Ocala tenants of The Estates, life doesn’t get any better than this.

Lucy Blanchard

Jeanette Murillo and Annette Remisiewicz

a good and worthwhile choice to utilize the free membership to the on-site AJ’s Fitness to maintain her good health and independence.

“We have so many activities here,” Annette says. “I love our bingo and weekly family activities.”

But she says the people are what is most special about the community.

“Here, they take care of you.”

A Place To Grow

Donald Beaudoin heard about the beautiful retirement apartment homes of The Estates from a co-worker while volunteering at Munroe Regional Medical Center. Donald had spent 25 years as a volunteer at MRMC and felt that he would need an active retirement setting if this was to be his next move.

“I did want to make a change. I was trying to sell my home,” Donald says. “I thought, ‘I can grow with this place.’”

That’s exactly what he’s done. The first year he was there, he acted as the host in the lounge during the weekly happy hour, engaging in conversation and getting to know his Estates neighbors. Donald has a light-hearted, pleasant demeanor and has built many meaningful relationships at The Estates.

“People make up an organization,” he says. “They’re great people here.”

Donald has three kids, and one of them lives close by. There’s a Cracker Barrel halfway between them, and they’ll sit on the porch there and catch up with each other several times a year. Donald enjoys the freedom he has as an independent living tenant of Hawthorne Village, and often gets in his car for lunchtime excursions. But, he reserves daily dinner at The Estates for him and four close friends.

He says the community offers him peace and tranquility, a respect for his privacy.

“For me, I’m a very quiet person. Between reading and TV, I get my kick,” Donald says.

Though he keeps peaceful pastimes, this 86 year old is dedicated to AJ’s Fitness, even joking, “the gym and I are married.” He has two trainers and works on his strength on Tuesdays and Thursdays and then on his balance on Fridays.

He can’t say enough good things about the people of Hawthorne Village of Ocala. Across the board, everyone he meets at this retirement community are good, caring and friendly people.

“You can have the best thing in the world, but if you don’t have the people… This place has the people,” Donald says.

Tenants of The Estates can truly enjoy a happy, engaging and worry-free retirement. For Lucy, Annette, and Donald, choosing Hawthorne Village has made all the difference!

All-Inclusive, Worry-Free Living

Hawthorne Village of Ocala, is a not-for-profit, full-service retirement community, conveniently located near Paddock Mall, major health care providers and a variety of cultural and historical venues. The Estates of Hawthorne Village offers exquisite apartment homes for the independent retiree who seeks an active lifestyle with an all-inclusive monthly rent. Worry-free and maintenancefree living awaits you at The Estates, as weekly housekeeping and linen service, two restaurant-style meals per day, transportation to medical appointments and scheduled life enrichment activities are just a sampling of what is available to the tenants. The Inn at Hawthorne Village of Ocala, is a lovely, home-like setting for those individuals who need assistance with daily self-care in a supportive and attractive environment.

As part of a full-service retirement community, Hawthorne Village of Ocala provides a variety of care options to meet your health care needs, including a state-of-the-art inpatient and outpatient Bounce Back Rehab and skilled nursing. All of this, on one beautifully manicured and easily accessible campus.

Donald Beaudoin

(and beyond)

With a plethora of camping choices in this beautiful state, here’s a take on the best of the best.

By Brett Ballantini

With more than 160 state parks in Florida, there’s no definitive list of camping hot spots. And because the state boasts one of the best park systems in the country, you truly can’t go wrong camping in any of those locations. However, our informal survey yielded these as the hottest spots to pitch a tent and take in nature.

Anastasia State Park St. Augustine

Anastasia boasts four miles of pristine beach and incredible canoeing, kayaking, surfing and fishing. Paddlers can navigate the park’s tidal salt marsh (Salt Run), while hikers explore a nicely shaded nature trail. To catch your breath afterward, stand anywhere near the middle of the beach and it seems like the surf and sand run on forever.

floridastateparks.org/park/Anastasia

(904) 461-2033

Bahia Honda State Park Big Pine Key

This one is a haul (12 miles south of Marathon) but well worth the e ort, because when you arrive, you’re in paradise. Undeniably deep blue waters, tropical breezes and endless sunshine could convince campers that they’ve been transported to a Virgin Island getaway—only one with the amenities of two boat ramps and three di erent campsites. Obviously, the beaches and snorkeling are not only as good as you’ll find in the state but the entire country. The coral reefs o the Keys are accessible, as well.

floridastateparks.org/park/Bahia-Honda

(305) 872-2353

Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park Key Biscayne

Florida’s oldest standing structure, the Cape Florida Light (built in 1825 and reconstructed in 1846) is a highlight. This park was also once a stop on the Underground Railroad. In recreational terms, Cape Florida boasts a mile of sandy Atlantic beachfront. Visitors can bike or kayak, and the seawall along Biscayne Bay provides amazing fishing. Tours of the lighthouse are available, and there are two Cuban restaurants on the grounds as well. Overnight boat camping is available in No Name Harbor.

floridastateparks.org/park/Cape-Florida

(305) 361-5811

Blue Spring State Park Orange City

Not just a fun campsite, it’s also a designated manatee refuge! Blue Spring is the winter home of a growing number of West Indian manatees. Stretching more than 2,600 acres, Blue Spring also includes the largest spring on the St. John’s River. During designated swimming months, visitors scuba or swim in crystal-clear, 73-degree water. The St. John’s River also o ers canoeing, fishing and boating. In addition to a full-facility campground, Blue Spring hosts the historic Thursby House, built in 1872, and three covered pavilions for picnicking.

floridastateparks.org/park/Blue-Spring

(386) 775-3663

Photo by Joe Dube

Photo by Kimberly Eisele

Photo by Ebyabe Other park photos courtesy of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Gadgets Galore

Once you’ve picked a spot to take in nature, be sure you’ve got the latest camping gear. We’ve got you covered.

Caladesi Island State Park Dunedin

Not only is Caladesi Island a spectacular Gulf Coast beach, it’s a rarity in that it has been kept completely natural. Swimming, sunbathing and beachcombing are musts here. Saltwater fishing is available by boat or o shore. Two three-mile trails, one for hikers and another for kayakers, are available. Overnight boat camping is available, and access to the island is only available by boat or ferry.

floridastateparks.org/park/Caladesi-Island

(727) 469-5918

Cayo Costa State Park

Boca Grande

This is a great gulf-view campsite and is only accessible by boat or ferry. Cayo Costa is incredibly private (o ering nine miles of deserted beach) and surrounded by water. Tent sites can accommodate up to eight; public restrooms, showers and potable water are available. If you want fishing, kayaking, snorkeling or swimming to be part of your camping experience, you can’t beat Cayo Costa.

floridastateparks.org/park/Cayo-Costa

(941) 964-0375

Falling Waters State Park Chipley

You won’t find many waterfalls in Florida, but you will at Falling Waters: a 73-foot limestone cli that spills water into a huge sinkhole. (The sinkhole itself is a 100-foot deep, 20-foot wide pit.) The water’s final destination is unknown. Falling Waters also boasts a butterfly garden and o ers a lake for swimming. Campsites are nestled among the shady pines of this North Florida getaway.

floridastateparks.org/park/Falling-Waters

(850) 638-6130

Florida Caverns State Park

Marianna

The standout characteristic of Florida Caverns is right there in the name: The park boasts dry (airfilled) caves and is the only park in Florida to o er cave tours. You’ll see limestone stalactites, stalagmites, soda straws, draperies and flowstones. Outside of the caves, there’s the Chipola River and Blue Hole Spring to o er boating, canoeing and fishing. Another rarity: Florida Caverns boasts a nine-hole, New Deal-era golf course. floridastateparks.org/park/Florida-Caverns

(850) 482-1228

Fort Clinch State Park Fernandina Beach

The centerpiece of Fort Clinch is its namesake, a well-maintained 19th century U.S. fort. Troops occupied Fort Clinch during the Civil War and the Spanish-American War, although they never saw combat. Unsurprisingly, Fort Clinch is one of the oldest state parks in Florida. The park boasts a sixmile hiking/biking trail as well as superb fishing and swimming. There are two separate campsites, one at the beach and the other near the Amelia River.

floridastateparks.org/park/Fort-Clinch

(904) 277-7274

BioLite Campstove with Portable Grill

Make fire with a snap of the fingers—and that cooking heat charges the battery pack. Then, the battery pack can charge your USB devices! Talk about a multitasker. biolitestove.com, $190

biolitestove.com

CamelBak All-Clear Bottle

Dirty water gets cleaned in one minute. A USB plug is needed to recharge, but each full charge cleans 80 bottles. camelbak.com, $89

Eton Scorpion

NOAA weather/AM/FM radio with an LED flashlight. Rugged and splash proof, the radio is also capable of charging your other devices using a hand crank or solar panels.

shopetoncorp.com, $50

Garmin

The Quatix ($400) is a wristwatch that provides hands-free navigation with a built-in GPS, compass, thermometer, altimeter and barometer. Connects wirelessly to smartphones and heart rate monitors and can be recharged via USB. And for a GPS that’s nearly a smartphone, get the Monterra ($650), with Android and Google Play apps, Wi-Fi, 3-D maps, camera and a touch screen.

buy.garmin.com

JakPak Waterproof Jacket

This do-all jacket converts to a sleeping bag and a tent.

jakpak.com, $200

LifeProof Braven BRV-1

These waterproof Bluetooth speakers are built tough for the outdoors.

lifeproof.com, $180

Lumix TS5 Tough

This camera is dustproof, shockproof, freeze proof and waterproof with Wi-Fi capability to wirelessly transfer content. shop.panasonic.com, $400

Photo by Deborah Phillips

Photo by Karen Boudrie

Photo by D Harrison

Fort De Soto County Park

Tierra Verde

Fort De Soto is a huge Pinellas County park, boasting 238 campsites and full services. The park is made up of five o shore keys. True to its name, Fort De Soto is a historical park, and on its grounds crossed Spanish explorers, Native Americans and Civil War soldiers. It’s very familyfriendly, with washers and dryers, electricity, fresh water, picnic tables and grills, restrooms, showers, and even a camp play area and store. Families can enjoy more than seven miles of waterfront, including sand dunes, nature trails, a paved bike trail, a canoe trail and two fishing piers. pinellascounty.org/park

(727) 582-2267

Grayton Beach State Park Santa Rosa Beach

If a magical sunset is an integral part of your camping experience, there’s no better spot in the country than Grayton Beach. But before the sun drops, hit one of the park’s nature trails, taking you through terrain that seems ripped right from a rain forest. There are more than four miles of trails for cyclists and hikers, while hitting the water in a canoe or kayak will lead you to a salt marsh, Western Lake. floridastateparks.org/park/Grayton-Beach

(805) 231-4210

Gamble Rogers Memorial State Recreation Area Flagler Beach

Not many parks are named after folk singers, but this is one. And at Gamble Rogers, you can enjoy the music of the waters of the Intracoastal Waterway and the Atlantic Ocean, which means there are tons of boating options available. The 34-site campground is full-service and abuts the Atlantic Ocean.

floridastateparks.org/park/Gamble-Rogers

(386) 517-2086

Little Manatee River State Park Wimauma

The Little Manatee River, named an Outstanding Florida Water, runs for four and a half miles through the park, through 11 unique natural communities. The river, and its expertly maintained natural areas, makes Little Manatee a true treasure for nature lovers. The park features the Oxbow Nature Trail for hiking, as well as canoeing and horseback riding options.

floridastateparks.org/park/Little-Manatee-River

(813) 671-5005

Long Key State Park Long Key

In Long Key, your tent abuts the Atlantic Ocean itself. There are 60 waterfront campsites, with the ocean as close as 100 feet away. That means you are mere steps from catching a fish for your dinner—you can’t get one fresher than that! Picnic tables and grills are part of each campsite. The highlight of Long Key’s nature trails is a special trail for kayakers that traverses a shallow lagoon.

floridastateparks.org/park/Long-Key

(303) 664-4815

pine scrub forest, hence the nickname “Big Scrub.” Ocala’s 75-mile portion of the 1,300-mile Florida National Scenic Trail is breathtaking, comprising 360,000 acres on which to hike. More than 600 lakes, rivers and springs are on the property, including three first-magnitude springs in which visitors can dive, snorkel and swim year-round.

fs.usda.gov/ocala

(352) 625-2520

Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park Micanopy

In 1971, Paynes Prairie became the first Florida state preserve and is now a National Natural Landmark. There is an extraordinary variety of animal life at the park, including 270 bird species, wild horses, bison and alligators. Visitors can map out their preferred hiking/horseback riding/bicycling trail (of eight total) from the panoramic view atop a 50-foot high observation tower. Feel free to fish on Lake Wauburg, although gasoline motors are not allowed.

floridastateparks.org/park/Paynes-Prairie

(352) 466-3397

Courtesy of Pinellas County Communications Department

Sebastian Inlet State Park Melbourne Beach

This Treasure Coast park boasts top-tier fishing and surfing on three miles of beach. Kayaks and canoes can navigate the Indian River Lagoon. Best of all, campsites are mere minutes’ walking distance from the beach.

floridastateparks.org/park/Sebastian-Inlet (321) 984-4852

St. Andrews State Park Panama City Beach

Despite its lineage as a former military reservation, St. Andrews’ boasts sugar white sands and emerald green waters. Almost two miles of beach can be enjoyed on both the Gulf of Mexico and Grand Lagoon. Obviously, water sports are big here, including canoeing, kayaking, swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. There are ample opportunities for bird watching and fishing as well.

floridastateparks.org/park/St-Andrews (800) 233-5140 Ext. 5141

T.H. Stone Memorial St. Joseph Peninsula State Park St. Joe

Another campsite that is also considered a top U.S. beach-going (and bird-watching) destination, T.H. Stone o ers double-water access to both the Gulf of Mexico and St. Joseph Bay. The peninsula has recorded sightings of around 250 bird species. T.H. Stone is divided into two areas, totaling 119 campsites: Gulf Breeze (open-air and accommodating to large campers) and Shady Pines (smaller and more secluded).

floridastateparks.org/park/St-Joseph (850) 227-1327

Torreya State Park Bristol

Torreya is named for a rare species of tree that grows on the blu s along the Apalachicola River. In the 1930s, the Civilian Conservation Corps created the park, which is now a great spot for camping, hiking, bird-watching (more than 100 species have been recorded at Torreya) and picnicking. Heavily forested, the park o ers 16 miles of hiking trails and 29 campsites.

floridastateparks.org/park/Torreya (850) 643-2674

Take Note!

Particularly in the winter months and on all weekends, each of Florida’s parks may fill to capacity. It’s strongly recommended that visitors call ahead to make campsite reservations.

Meet Earl Survival Tablet

This multifaceted tablet acts as a GPS, weather sensor, AM/ FM/SW/LW radio, Bluetooth 4.0, walkie-talkie (20-mile radius), barometer, thermometer and compass. Plus it’s solar charging and features Android 4.4 technology. The best part? The excellent battery life. meetearl.com, $299

MPOWERD Luci

This solar lantern capable of lighting 15 square feet with 80 lumens. mpowerd.com, $15

Nemo Helio

Bagged pressure shower operates by foot pedal, with water warmed by the sun. nemoequipment.com, $100

Olympus OM-D E-M5

You can’t preserve memories better than with this, a weatherproof camera that takes 1080p video and 16.1- megapixel photos. getolympus.com, $1,300

Petzl NAO

A lithium-ion headlamp with a light sensor to automatically shine the amount of light you need for map reading or hiking. petzl.com, $140

Sawyer Squeeze

The Sawyer Squeeze is a bagged water filtration system for hikes and climbs. sawyersafetravel2.com, $60

Sony Digital Reading Binoculars

No mere binoculars with 25x magnification, these also record video in H-D and 3-D modes. store.sony.com, $2,000

Victorinox Expedition Kit

This 41-function, multi-tool kit features an LED light, thermometer, barometer, altimeter and alarm clock. victorinox.com, $185

X-1 Surge

This contact headset boasts waterproof earphones and a built-in microphone in case you prefer music to the sounds of nature. X-1.com, $70

Better Together

Most of us with siblings couldn’t imagine growing up without them. The shared laughs, adventures and even disagreements are woven together into the very fabric of our childhoods. The relationships with our siblings can be the longest-lasting family bonds that we have, but for children in our community who are transitioning into foster care or adoption, it is often a struggle to stay together.

More sets of siblings have entered the local child welfare system in recent months, especially those ages 9 to 15. The reasons for this are varied and complex, ranging from tough economic times putting additional pressure on vulnerable families, to parents struggling with addiction, mental illness or even generational cycles of abuse. But the challenge is simple and direct: These children and youth need safe, loving foster and adoptive homes where they can live and grow together with their siblings.

Children who have suffered abuse and neglect from parents or other caregivers often form especially close bonds with their siblings. Research has proven that these children have better outcomes if they share a foster or adoptive home with their brothers and

sisters. They experience fewer behavioral and emotional difficulties. They are more likely to settle into their new home successfully. And they enjoy greater levels of support, as older youth help their younger siblings adapt to their new surroundings. When siblings move into a new home together, the positive benefits touch every aspect of their young lives.

Local people choose to become foster or adoptive parents for sets of siblings for many reasons. Some seek to welcome a “ready-made” family into their homes. Others are moved by the children’s stories. Many foster or adopt brothers and sisters because they understand how vital the sibling bond is. Almost all who do so act from a deep sense of calling—a spiritual conviction that this is their purpose.

Only you can decide if you feel called to open your heart and home as a foster or adoptive parent to siblings. The need is real, it is now and it is right here in our own backyard. Please ask yourself if fostering or adopting is right for you and consider making a difference for life.

To learn more about becoming a foster or adoptive parent, please call Paula Mealy of Kids Central, Inc. at (352) 387-3487 or visit KidsCentralFosterParents.org for more information. Kids Central, Inc. is the nonprofit lead agency charged with caring for abused, neglected and abandoned children in Citrus, Hernando, Lake, Marion and Sumter Counties.

Finding parents for local siblings.

When siblings move into a new home together, the positive benefits touch every aspect of their young lives.

FINDING YOUR WAY OUT OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP

By Cynthia McFarland

THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, SHE DIDN’T KNOW WHAT HIT HER. LITERALLY.

WHEN LINDA’S* BOYFRIEND SLAPPED HER SO HARD SHE FELL OFF THE KITCHEN STOOL, HER IMMEDIATE REACTION WASN’T ANGER OR FEAR BUT COMPLETE SHOCK.

“I JUST COULDN’T BELIEVE HE DID IT,” SHE SAYS.

She and Ron* had been living together for a few months. Almost 10 years older than Linda, who was in her late 20s, Ron was charming and the life of the party. A Vietnam veteran and retired homicide cop, he had a dominant personality and could be loud and aggressive around other people, but until that particular day, he’d never acted that way toward her.

Ron followed the incident with flowers, gifts, attentiveness and promises that it would never happen again.

He lied.

“If they hit you once, they will hit you again. There is no ‘one time.’ It was like that first time opened a door. Because I didn’t leave, in his mind that gave him license to continue,” recalls Linda, who began looking for reasons, trying to understand how she’d made him mad. “He always had an excuse: what he’d seen in ‘Nam, that he’d been a cop, that he was raised in a violent home.”

She stayed.

The couple moved to the Northeast where both had goodpaying, professional jobs and an active social life. Linda began to dread events where alcohol was present because whenever Ron drank, he became abusive.

Gradually, he began doing many of the classic things that abusers do: controlling all the finances even though half the income came from Linda’s job, isolating her from family and friends, becoming extremely possessive and threatening to kill her if she tried to leave. He even told Linda that if her brothers came to get her, he’d kill them, too.

“When we moved up north near Ron’s mother, I soon realized she was terrified of him, too. I found out her husband had abused her,” says Linda, who until then had never personally known anyone who’d been in an abusive relationship.

Linda didn’t tell anyone about the abuse, not even Ron’s mother, who obviously saw the signs.

“I knew if I told someone, they would ask me why I was still there, and I didn’t have an answer,” Linda admits. “I didn’t want them to think he was a bad person, because if he was such a bad person, what would that say about me being with him? In order to protect myself and what people would think, I ended up protecting my abuser.”

The violence escalated. Instead of open-handed slaps, Ron was now punching her, dragging her by the hair, pushing her down stairs. She called the police on several occasions, but Ron played the “good old boy” card when they arrived, talking up his own law enforcement past.

Linda was hospitalized twice. When one doctor sent Ron out of the room and asked Linda if he was beating her, she denied it.

“I didn’t tell the truth because I knew when they released me I was going back home with him. I didn’t see a way out.”

Linda finally decided the only way to escape was suicide, even though this went against everything she believed in. One night when Ron was out drinking, she set in motion her final plan. She’d already made arrangements for a friend to take her dogs because she knew Ron would kill them. She’d written the goodbye letters to her family. She would take her life with the revolver Ron had bought her as a gift.

“I kissed my dogs goodbye and knelt by the side of the bed,” says Linda. “If you’re going to commit suicide, don’t pray first. I had a vision of my grandmother in her rocking chair where she sat and prayed for us kids. I heard the Lord say, ‘If you do this, she will never understand.’”

By the time Ron came home late, drunk and angry, Linda was ready and waiting for him at the top of the stairs, the loaded gun in her hands.

“I told him, ‘This ends tonight.’ I knew in that moment I was fully prepared to take his life,” Linda remembers. Ron apparently realized it, too, because he ran out of the house and drove to a friend’s.

When he returned the next day, sober, the two sat down and tried to talk things out, but Ron’s solution was to blame all his problems on other people and circumstances. Linda hoped the “show down” would turn things around, but nothing really changed.

About a year later, they moved to a different state and Ron was hospitalized and diagnosed with cancer, but the illness didn’t mellow him. He struck Linda on one of her visits to the hospital and a nurse witnessed the incident.

“I DIDN’T TELL THE TRUTH BECAUSE I KNEW WHEN THEY RELEASED ME I WAS GOING BACK HOME WITH HIM. I DIDN’T SEE A WAY OUT.”

“The hospital psychiatrist came and talked to me and told me I had to leave him. He said Ron had made me the focus of his anger, and that because his cancer had advanced, he had nothing to lose. I went home, packed what I could fit in my car, took my dogs and drove 4 1/2 days to my family’s home in Georgia,” says Linda, who at that point had been with Ron for eight years. Ron made one threatening call to Linda’s father’s home, but she never saw him again. She learned that he died two years later from the cancer.

Linda, now 62, lives in Citrus County and regularly serves as a sounding board for women finding their way out of abusive relationships.

WHAT IS ABUSE?

“At least he doesn’t hit me.”

If you’re breathing this with a sigh of relief, it doesn’t mean you aren’t being abused. Abuse is all about one person exerting power and control over another. The situation doesn’t have to include physical violence to be considered abuse. Many abusers control their victims emotionally and psychologically.

“IF THEY HIT YOU ONCE, THEY WILL HIT YOU AGAIN. THERE IS NO ‘ONE TIME.’ IT WAS LIKE THAT FIRST TIME OPENED A DOOR. BECAUSE I DIDN’T LEAVE, IN HIS MIND THAT GAVE HIM LICENSE TO CONTINUE.”

NATIONAL STATISTICS

ON AVERAGE, NEARLY 20 PEOPLE PER MINUTE ARE PHYSICALLY ABUSED BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER IN THE UNITED STATES. ON A TYPICAL DAY, THERE ARE MORE THAN 20,000 PHONE CALLS PLACED TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINES NATIONWIDE.

72% OF ALL MURDER-SUICIDES INVOLVE AN INTIMATE PARTNER; 94% OF THE VICTIMS OF THESE CRIMES ARE FEMALE.

1 IN 3 WOMEN AND 1 IN 4 MEN HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF [SOME FORM OF] PHYSICAL VIOLENCE BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER.

1 IN 5 WOMEN AND 1 IN 7 MEN HAVE BEEN VICTIMS OF SEVERE PHYSICAL VIOLENCE BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER.

WOMEN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 18-24 ARE MOST COMMONLY ABUSED BY AN INTIMATE PARTNER.

19% OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE INCIDENTS INVOLVE A WEAPON.

ONLY 34% OF PEOPLE WHO ARE INJURED BY INTIMATE PARTNERS RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR INJURIES.

Take a hard look at your relationship. If you answer yes to one or more of the following, reach out to a trusted friend or relative, or call an abuse hotline number to find out how to get help. (The same holds true for those outside the relationship. If you notice a friend or family member with a partner who does any of the following, have a private conversation with them and don’t judge. Offer assistance and encourage them to get help.)

DOES YOUR PARTNER...

• demand to know where you are and who you are with at all times?

• isolate you from acquaintances, friends, family members?

• act overly controlling and/or possessive?

• act jealous of your pets/children/friends?

• humiliate you in public? (They may say they're “just teasing.”)

• blame you for their mistakes/problems/poor decisions?

• force you to have sex or perform sexual acts?

• control all finances or require you to ask permission to spend money?

• get angry easily, especially if you don’t follow their advice or have the same opinion as them?

• act one way in public and very differently in private?

• constantly criticize you?

• blame their ex(es) for their problems?

• act secretive about their past?

• act/speak violently toward animals or other people?

• threaten you (or your animals or loved ones) if you talk about leaving?

GETTING OUT

Victims don’t fit a stereotype and are found in every community, ethnicity, religion, economic background and at every level of education.

“When you are a victim of abuse, your trust is shattered, and that makes it almost impossible to leave. You can’t trust the person you’re with, and when you lose your self-esteem, you can’t trust yourself,” says Linda. “You can make a decision to just survive or to overcome. When you decide to overcome, you realize you don’t have to become the emotional hostage or victim of your circumstances.”

BUT NO ONE CAN HELP YOU IF THEY DON’T KNOW THE TRUTH.

Talk with someone who understands or has gotten out of an abusive relationship themselves. Call a shelter or hotline if you don’t personally know someone. Come up with a step-by-step plan of who you can call and where you can go to be safe if your partner becomes abusive. In Marion County the Ocala Domestic Violence/ Sexual Assault Center offers counseling, temporary safe housing and legal and medical referrals to female victims of domestic violence and/or sexual assault and their children.

“WHEN YOU ARE A VICTIM OF ABUSE, YOUR TRUST IS SHATTERED AND THAT MAKES IT ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO LEAVE. YOU CAN’T TRUST THE PERSON YOU’RE WITH, AND WHEN YOU LOSE YOUR SELF-ESTEEM, YOU CAN’T TRUST YOURSELF.”

PRACTICAL MEASURES

Documents and paperwork may be the last thing on your mind, but it’s essential to have certain items when you actually leave an abusive relationship. These can verify your identity, as well as help you get access to resources you’ll need. You should have in your possession:

• driver’s license or state identification card

• passport (if you have one)

• birth certificate

• social security card (as well as your children’s cards)

• any credit/debit cards in your name

• checking/savings books

• bank statements

• paycheck stubs/records

• W-2 forms

• insurance policies

• rental policy/deed (if in your name)

• utility bills (if in your name)

• vehicle title (if you have a paidfor vehicle)

• medical records

• police reports/photos relating to the abuse

If at all possible, keep this paperwork together in one place so you can easily take it with you when you leave. If for any reason you need to return to a residence you’ve shared with an abuser to gather personal items, for safety’s sake, do not go by yourself. Bring friends or family members along, or ask the police to accompany you.

CONFRONTING THE PAST

“People tell me I’m very courageous, but I always feel like I was a coward. I felt so much shame. My self-esteem was so battered, I really didn’t think I had the strength and intelligence to make it on my own,” says Anna Potter, who finally found the strength to leave an abusive marriage after 20 years.

In hopes of helping other women in abusive relationships, Anna tells her story in her recently published book, Cans In The Dryer (Why Can’t I Just Leave?) Although Anna’s husband rarely hit her, the emotional and mental abuse were continual.

“There were many times I wished he’d hit me hard enough to leave a bruise so I’d have ‘proof’ that I was being abused,” she remembers.

Raised in a home where dysfunction was the norm, as a child and young woman, Anna felt responsible for her father, who had tried to commit suicide. It took decades to understand that the traumatic bonding she experienced with him carried over into her marriage, making it almost impossible

to leave the abusive husband she feared, yet pitied.

“Trauma in childhood can carry over into a marriage,” says Anna, whose husband was diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive personality disorder toward the end of their marriage. “I had complex post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from my childhood, but I didn’t know that, and the abuse in my marriage just added to it.

“I had to figure this out on my own; I didn’t get any real help from the church leaders and therapists I went to. I felt I was supposed to tell my story to help other women to look back before you can move forward, to see what’s in your past that’s holding you in a bad marriage.

“I never lost my faith through this,” adds Anna. “I wanted children badly but never had them because of the situation I was in, so I think of this book as my legacy.”

Now happily remarried and living in Marion County, Anna regularly shares her story at events like Night of Hope to encourage other women.

THE NATIONAL DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HOTLINE

(800) 799-7233 (SAFE)

NDVH.ORG

NATIONAL SEXUAL ASSAULT HOTLINE

(800) 656-4673 (HOPE)

RAINN.ORG

NATIONAL DATING ABUSE HELPLINE

(866) 331-9474

LOVEISRESPECT.ORG

AMERICANS OVERSEAS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CRISIS CENTER

INTERNATIONAL TOLL-FREE (24/7)

(866) USWOMEN

(879-6636)

866USWOMEN.ORG

OCALA DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/SEXUAL ASSAULT CENTER

(352) 622-8495

OR (352) 622-5919

OCALADVSHELTER.ORG

NATIONAL CHILD ABUSE HOTLINE/CHILDHELP

(800) 4-A-CHILD

(800-422-4453)

CHILDHELP.ORG

FLORIDA COALITION AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

(800) 500-1119

FCADV.ORG

CITRUS COUNTY ABUSE SHELTER ASSOCIATION

(352) 344-8111 OR (800) 500-1119

CASAFL.ORG

We specialize in quality care and lifestyles for those afflicted with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Unlike other communities, we are licensed to care for them at every stage of illness. Lecanto and Cala Hills both offer separate neighborhoods for each stage of care—so this can be their home for life.

Here families have peace of mind knowing their loved ones receive expert care in our secure, compassionate community.

TWO

FitTube

Yep, there are YouTube videos out there that could actually make you healthier. Now, get up, put on your running shoes and… head to the computer.

› BeFit is a fitness-inspired YouTube channel dedicated to toning, strengthening and sculpting your body to perfection. You’ll have your pick of workouts, ranging from yoga to cardio, and leading your routine will be professional trainers like Jillian Michaels and Denise Austin.

› Getting in shape means you have to start eating healthy, too. The Domestic Geek is a channel dedicated to meal prepping and healthy dinner ideas, and it’s one of our favorites. Tune in on Mondays and Thursdays when new videos are posted.

Who knew YouTube could be used for something other than watching silly cat videos?

Keep Calm (And Buy Shoes)

Want to go for a run?

It’s important to make sure the shoe fits your foot correctly. Here are a few things to consider the next time you want to buy new running shoes.

Shoe-Buying No-Nos

BUYING FOR LOOKS. Have you ever heard the phrase “beauty is pain?”

1. Heel. Your heel should fit snug in your shoe, not tightly.

2. Instep. The upper part of your shoe should fit snug and secure around your instep. Your instep is the middle part of the top of your foot, located between the toes and the ankle.

3. Width. Your foot should move side to side without crossing over the edge of the insole. The insole is the inner sole of the shoe that can be either removable or fixed to the inside bottom of the shoe.

4. Length. There should be a thumbs width of space between your longest toe and the end of the shoe.

5. Flex. Check the flex point before you put on the shoe, it should bend and crease along the same line your foot flexes.

6. Feel. Know your arch type as well as its contours and movements. Your shoe should complement and support your stride, not alter it. There are a number of ways to find out your arch type. Some speciality running shoe stores will perform tests to determine your arch type. You can also do it at home using the “wet test.” Find out more by visiting runnersworld.com/running-shoes/the-wet-test.

Woe Is Me

This does NOT apply when buying athletics shoes. If you buy solely because they’re colorful or cute, you will most likely be heading back to the store to purchase a new pair.

BUYING SHOES THAT ARE TOO SMALL. Blisters are gross. Buy the correct shoe size.

ASSUMING YOUR SIZE. Every brand of shoe runs differently in terms of size. Have your feet measured every time you buy shoes, and try them on and walk around a bit before any final purchases.

It may sound weird, but buying the wrong running shoe can create hip, knee and back pain, and no one wants that. These ailments, of course, are easy to prevent if your shoes are the culprit. Made your final shoe decision? Slip on your brand-new kicks, make a killer playlist and head to the nearest track to show o your newest purchase.

Finding the best-fitting shoe among the many choices available isn’t easy and can be pretty overwhelming.

Tobey Phillips beat breast cancer – twice – thanks to advanced treatment at RBOI.

No one expects to get breast cancer at 24. Due to Tobey’s young age at the time of diagnosis, there was no clear path for treatment, but in a two-hour meeting that included Tobey, her family, Dr. Bennett and his team of RBOI experts, they created one. After an initial surgery and radiation, then a double mastectomy, Tobey was declared cancer free. She is now happily married with a son — who will someday learn all about how brave his mom really is. We helped Tobey write her success story. Let us help write yours.

My son loves when I do the monster voices. He doesn’t know I already beat the biggest monster of all.

Don A New Do

The Short Shag

Both longer and looser than a bob, this hairstyle is perfect for those who are tired of the maintenance of long hair and are looking for something fresh and new. This haircut hits right at your shoulders, making it easy to wear both up and down.

The Happy Medium

Hair trends change every year, from the classic highlights to the mermaid inspired pink and teal hair. Not sure what hair route to take this year? We may have a few ideas for you. Here are the top six trending hair colors and styles for this fall.

For those tired of last season’s lob (long bob) but still aren’t ready to fully commit to long hair, medium-length loose waves suit all face shapes and hair textures.

Long Layers

Looking for a change, but don’t want to get rid of your long locks? Try long layers! This will give your hair more volume while also offering a youthful look.

Wispy Bangs

Soft, wispy bangs are great for every hair length. They are versatile—you can either pin them back with bobby pins or secure them with a cute headband.

Braids

Braids are perfect because they keep your hair out of your face while still looking chic. There are so many options, from French to fish tail. You may have to check out some YouTube videos to figure out how to do the fancy ones, though!

Dark Hair Colors

If summer is all about lighter hair colors, then fall definitely gets a little darker. With the sun’s rays being not quite as powerful as during the summertime, your new hue is less likely to fade in the fall and winter months. These colors include ashy browns, soft blacks and even sandy blondes. You can even spice things up a bit with a more reddish hue. Think auburn, rose gold, copper and even a warm peachy shade—all these colors will be popular this season.

Go Natural

The simple low ponytail is making a comeback, with a “less is more” mantra taking center stage. (So don’t feel too badly when you hit the snooze button one too many times and have to throw your hair into a pony and run out the door.)

Sources: bustle.com, harpersbazaar.com, instyle.com, elle.com, goodhousekeeping.com

Fall is such a fun season to look forward to. It’s finally cooler outside, sweaters become somewhat acceptable, oh, and of course, we get to try out a new hair trend!

Going Green

› Recycle. Use your curbside recycling box to its fullest potential. Don’t live within city limits? Check out marioncountyfl.org and search “solid waste” or citrusbocc.com/pubworks and click on “Solid Waste Management” for recycling locations.

› Be mindful with water. Keep showers short and sweet; every two minutes can use up to 10 gallons of water.

› Adjust the thermostat. Set your thermostat one degree higher than normal in summer, and one degree lower in the winter. Every degree could save 10 percent on energy use.

› Meatless Mondays. Eating one less meat meal per week can save both water and trees. How could you say no to that?

These ideas may seem like no-brainers, but they’re great reminders on how to make the Earth a happier place.

Medicare Manual

Whether this fall is your first time enrolling in Medicare or you’ve navigated your way through the process before, isn’t insurance always (at least a little) confusing?

We’ve outlined some changes coming to Medicare in 2017 and compiled some extra info to make it all (at least a little) easier.

Open Enrollment

Just like last year, the open enrollment period is from October 15 to December 7. Changes made during this time become effective January 1, 2017. Those who have existing Medicare plans will be able to change the following during this time:

› You can switch from Original Medicare coverage to Medicare Advantage or from Medicare Advantage to Original Medicare.

› You can switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or you can switch from one Medicare Part D plan to another. (Even if you like your Part D plan, it’s wise to review it and compare it with others—covered medications, premiums and out-of-pocket costs tend to change each year.)

› If you did not enroll in Medicare Part D when you were first eligible you may do so now, although a late enrollment penalty fee may pop up.

› If you’re already enrolled in a Medicare Part D prescription plan or a Medicare Advantage plan and don’t want to change your coverage for 2017, you don’t need to do anything during open enrollment. Hooray!

Changes To Come

Whether you have an existing policy or you’re enrolling in Medicare for the first time, it’s important to stay abreast of upcoming changes. If you receive an Evidence of Coverage or an Annual Change of Coverage letter in the mail, review the updates to your policy to ensure your plan will still meet your needs in 2017. Here are some major changes coming this year:

MEDICARE RECIPIENTS IN “THE DONUT HOLE” (THE GAP IN PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE) WILL BENEFIT FROM BETTER PRESCRIPTION

DRUG DISCOUNTS. The donut hole starts when someone reaches the initial coverage limit ($3,700 in 2017), and coverage resumes when they reach the out-of-pocket spending limit. Medicareresources.org states that “for 2017, while in the donut hole, enrollees will pay 40 percent of the cost of brandname drugs (down from 45 percent in 2016) and 51 percent of the cost of generic drugs (down from 58 percent in 2016).” The Affordable Care Act has been working to eliminate this coverage gap, and it will be fully closed by 2020.

MEDICARE PART B PREMIUMS WILL INCREASE FOR ENROLLEES WHO DID NOT EXPERIENCE AN INCREASE IN 2016.  In 2015, most Part B enrollees paid $104.90 a month for their Part B premium (except enrollees with income above $85,000, who had higher premiums). Part B premiums came in at $121.80 for enrollees whose premiums are not deducted from their Social Security checks or enrollees new to Medicare in 2016. For the 70 percent of enrollees who have their Part B premium deducted from their Social Security checks, no increase could be made, as it would have decreased their net Social Security check, which is prohibited by law. This year, Social Security will make a cost of living adjustment (COLA), so the $121.80 per month for Medicare Part B is expected to apply to all enrollees (with higher premiums for those with higher incomes).

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE PLANS

CHANGE ANNUALLY.  Medicare

Advantage plans are extremely popular—about 30 percent of Medicare recipients were enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan in 2015. However, providers can change the coverage options offered from year to year, so it’s essential you stay up to date and read through the latest material on your policy so these updates don’t become upsets later on.

Documents On Deck

Want to gather your materials before sitting down to start your enrollment? Here’s what you’ll need to provide when signing up:

› Your original birth certificate or a copy of your birth certificate certified by the issuing agency

› Proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status if you were not born in the United States

› A copy of your W-2 form(s) and/or self-employment tax return for last year

› If applicable, a copy of your U.S. military service paper(s) (e.g., DD-214 - Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty) if you had military service before 1968

How Can I Apply?

Career Coach

Choosing the right career path can be pretty tough for some people, so once you find your job, make sure you’re performing at your best level. Your boss will be certain to notice. Not sure how to maximize your potential? Check out the following books we found that can help you do just that. Now, turn o Netflix, you’ve got some reading to do!

Maximize Your Potential: Grow Your Expertise, Take Bold Risks & Build an Incredible Career.

Looking to take your career to the next level?

This is the perfect book. It offers insight from leading minds from all over the world and gives the reader advice on how to build relationships in the workplace and create new opportunities.

Thrive: The Third Metric to Redefining Success and Creating a Life of Well-Being, Wisdom, and Wonder. This book is great for trying to find balance both at work and home. It reminds you that there is more to life than earning money, and it’s important to mix selfcare into your daily life.

Moving the Needle: Get Clear, Get Free, and Get Going in Your Career, Business, and Life. If you’re feeling stuck in your career, this book provides a system for people who want to make a change.

The 7 Habits of Highly E ective People. If you’re interested in developing better work habits, this book will teach you ways to change your perception of how the world around you works.

The Up Side of Down: Why Failing Well Is the Key to Success. If you’re trying to recover from a career failure, this book can help you turn your failures into learning experiences. You can read real stories from people in many different careers who have experienced failure and how they overcame it.

Job Searching with Social Media for Dummies. Social media—and the internet in general—can be an intimidating arena when it comes to searching for a new job. Let this book show you strategies for using all the most popular platforms to move ahead in your career.

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More music & less talk.

We know why our audience listens to our stations…because they LOVE THE MUSIC! So we avoid DJ chatter and deliver the greatest Top 40 and Classic hits of all time, along with important information like news, sports and weather. As a result, our listeners listen longer!

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Classic Hits

Classic Hits