Lifestyles After 50 Southwest Edition, April 2024

IN THE GALLERIES

Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Opening April 12 through June 22

Seeing Red: Works by Shell Point Artists & Writers

This exhibition features works in a wide variety of mediums, including ceramics, fused and stained glass, paintings, digital and printed photographs, textiles, wood, and mixed media, along with texts. In addition, RED Makes Us Happy presents artworks from young students of the Heights Center as part of a year-long collaboration between Tribby Arts Center and the school. In the Shell Point and Collaborations Galleries FREE

Artist as Muse: The 20th Anniversary of Art Quilters Unlimited

Member artists created a textile homage to a painting or style of a well-known 20th-century artist, and the resulting exhibition presents a fiber-art survey of major painting styles that distinguished a remarkable century of art. In the Legacy and Overlook Galleries FREE

CONCERTS

Thursday, April 11 • 7 p.m.

Benny Benack III

The Emmy-nominated jazz trumpeter and crooner delights audiences with virtuosic trumpet skills, a smooth voice reminiscent of Sinatra, and a joyful, fun stage presence. Tickets $30

Saturday, April 20 • 7 p.m.

Gulfshore Ballet Presents The Sleeping Beauty

This famous ballet is known for its technical challenges, sumptuous sets and costumes, beautiful music, and its happy ending. Tickets $35; Children $15

Monday, April 29 • 7 p.m.

The Brandon Robertson Trio Featuring Vocalist Piper Kemmerer

Experience an unforgettable evening celebrating the remarkable contributions of women composers in jazz, and the influential singers who have left an indelible mark on the genre. Tickets $30

or visit ShellPoint.org/seminars to save your spot! FREE

ACADEMY OF LIFELONG LEARNING

Wednesday, April 3 • 10 a.m.

South Florida for the Birds: Wind Across the Everglades

Join historian Cesar Becerra to learn about the North American birds who grace our region. Tickets $15

Passion Flower, Helga Weichselbaum

Homage to Paul Klee, Paula Lenahan

April: Festivals, Food Holidays, and Sparkling Sand Beaches

April is one of the most beautiful months in Florida. The weather is perfect, the sun is shining, and the festival season is here! There are literally dozens of festivals available in our part of Florida this month.

Here are just a few: Seven Seas Food Festival (Thursday - Sunday each week in April), Pier 60 Sugar Sand Festival (March 29 - April 14), 1st annual Bonita Springs Food Truck Rally & Music Festival (April 5-7), Sarasota Film Festival (April 5-14), ZooBrews @ ZooTampa (April 6), Keel Farms Blueberry Festival (April 6-7, 1314, 20-21), Festa Italiana’s Wine Fest of Italy (April 7), Tampa Bay Blues Festival (April 12-14), St. Pete Beach Corey Area Craft Festival (April 13), Pinellas Pepper Fest (April 13-14), Bern’s 27th Annual Wine Fest (April 13-21), Mainsail Art Festival (April 20-21), Sarasota Interational Dragon Boat Festival (April 21), Fort Myers Beach International Film Festival (April 26 - May 1), and TASTE at The Straz (April 27).

April is also chock-full of fun holidays, beginning with the very first day, April Fool’s Day on April 1. The Muslim fast

of Ramadan also ends in early April, culminating in Eid-Al-Fitr on April 10. On this festive day people wear new clothes, give gifts, and make formal visits to loved ones (including the graves of their ancestors). Passover begins April 22 (which is also Earth Day). April is also “Keep America Beautiful” month and there is a food holiday every single day in April (my favorite: “National Peach Cobbler Day” on April 13).

April also marks the beginning of the second quarter of the year, so it’s also a great time to check in and see how you’re doing on your New Year’s resolutions. How’s that diet going? Still walking briskly 3 times a week? Have you kept up your habit of reaching out to friends and loved ones on a regular basis? Remember, experts agree that it takes most people about 90 days to form a new habit, so be gentle with yourself and ease back into any resolutions you might have forgotten.

However you plan to spend this beautiful April, I wish you fair winds, white sand, and much love.

Until next time,

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$1 Million in Retirement Savings Might Not Be Enough to Retire in Florida

By Michael Berkhahn, CFP®

According to GoBankingRates, Tampa residents who saved $1 million for their retirement likely will run out of money in 18 years, four months, and 7 days on average. Couple that with a recent Charles Schwab Survey which revealed that the average worker believes they need $1.8 million to retire, and we begin to see a stark contrast when comparing that number to the latest Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, which reports a median retirement account balance of just $185,000 for Americans aged 55-64.

Inflation has always been a threat to retirement savings, but the effects of higher inflation over the past few years have left countless Americans even further behind in reaching their retirement goals. Although inflation rates have eased since 2022, there are still many lingering financial obstacles. Here are five steps you can take to boost your retirement savings.

1. Evaluate Your Budget: A deep dive of spending habits may reveal opportunities to cut back. For example, a survey by C+R Research reports that 42% of consumers pay for forgotten or unused monthly subscriptions. Simply by eliminating unnecessary expenses can help redirect funds toward your retirement savings.

4. Re-Evaluate Insurance Policies: According to the Insurance Information Institute, Florida homeowner’s insurance has increased 102% in the last three years and the cost of full coverage car insurance is 55% higher than the national average.

5. Consider Working Longer: While working beyond the initially planned retirement age may not be ideal, it is a practical consideration for securing your financial future. Delaying retirement results in increased social security benefits, additional contributions to retirement accounts, and one less year of drawing from retirement funds.

The next important step is determining how you withdraw your retirement savings once retired, which is often dependent on current market performance. Being strategic with your withdrawal methods is key to extending your retirement funds and maintaining your quality of life.

2. Pay Down High-Interest Debt: With the numerous rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, interest rates on debts have surged. If you have variable or high-interest debt, develop a strategic repayment plan. Eliminating high-interest debts not only reduces financial strain but also frees up more money for retirement savings.

3. Contribute More to Tax-Advantaged Retirement Plans: For those aged 50 and older, catch-up contributions to retirement accounts can “significantly” enhance savings. In 2024, catch-up contributions for 401(k), 403(b), and most 457 plans amount to $7,500, while the limit for additional contributions to IRAs remains at $1,000.

When pursuing a financially secure retirement, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. However, by combining these tips with a comprehensive financial plan, you can significantly improve your chances of enjoying a stress-free retirement. The key lies in proactive financial management, continuous reassessment, and strategic decision-making to navigate the ever-changing economic landscape.

Michael Berkhahn, CFP® is Vice President of Graham Capital Wealth Management, an independent Registered Investment Advisor that specializes in providing investment management strategies for high net-worth families, foundations and pension plans. As a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ practitioner, Berkhahn is part of an elite group of advisors who have completed the necessary training and requirements to hold the CFP® designation and is a fiduciary committed to complying with its continuing education and ethics standards.

CUTEST PET! CUTEST PET!

honey Bunny

from Apollo Beach

WILLOW

from Cape Coral

Do you think you’ve got the cutest pet?

Show him or her off in the next issue of Lifestyles! We’re looking for the best dressed, most festive OR JUST THE CUTEST companions that our audience has to offer.

For submissions:

Send us a little bit about your pet along with the best photo in their cuteness portfolio and the city you live in to Michele.Baker@lifestylesafter50.com with the words “Cutest Pet” in the subject line, or through our Facebook page www.facebook.com/LifestylesAfter50.

Submissions must be before the 15th of every month, otherwise it will be held for a potential feature in a future publication. Include your name and current Florida city. Submissions are published based on what space is available.

Peanut from cape coral

CREATIVE CORNER CREATIVE CORNER

View of the Myakka

by Nancy Sanders, Myakka City

Untitled by Susan R Pollack, Venice

Music Flashback: Do the Loco-Motion With Me

BY: RANDAL C. HILL

In 1962, fad dances were all the rage among record-buying teens. Included among the steps was the Loco-Motion, where participants shuffled their arms to simulate the driving of steel rods that turned a locomotive’s wheels.

A chug-a chug-a motion like a railroad train now

Songsmiths Carole King and husband Gerry Goffin had created “The Loco-Motion” for 17-year-old Eva Boyd. Called Little Eva on records, Boyd’s million-selling single soared to Number One on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

Fast-forward a dozen years, and “The Loco-Motion” regained the top chart slot again, but this time by a Flint, Michigan power trio called Grand Funk Railroad. Lead singer and guitarist Mark Farner had apprenticed in two bands in high school before dropping out and assembling an eardrum-cracking aggregation with pals Don Brewer (drums) and Mel Schacher (bass). They took their play-on-words name Grand Funk Railroad from a Michigan rail line named the Grand Trunk

Western Railroad.

“Shinin’ On,” the headbangers’ tenth album, included “The Loco-Motion.” Don Brewer recalled that, during a break in the recording studio, Mark had begun singing, “Everybody’s doing a brand-new dance now!”

Farner had been goofing around, but everyone that day declared that the band could possibly pull “The Loco-Motion” off as a valid recording—if it were done right.

Their top-notch producer was Todd Rundgren, who recalled the Beach Boys’ “Barbara Ann” had been done in a studio but made to sound as if at a casual music jam. Rundgren, a wizard at the recording console, made the band’s “The Loco-Motion” sound live. Brewer explained, “Todd could really crank up everything with the hand claps and all of that stuff. It just had this huge sound to it. It sounded like a big party!”

“The Loco-Motion” became the band’s second Number One single. Farner and friends never abandoned their roots. “People want the real thing,” Mark once proclaimed. “As long as there’s room for sledgehammer rock and roll, there’s room for Grand Funk Railroad!”

Movie Preview: “We Grown Now”

BY RANDAL C. HILL

Chances are that few of us grew up having to worry about life-threatening dangers on the streets where we lived. Not so, though, for Malik and Eric, two 12-year-old boys in Chicago who live in poverty in an area redolent with problems.

In “We Grown Now,” both Malik (Blake Cameron James) and Eric (Gian Knight Ramirez) live in the notorious Cabrini-Green housing project. Ratty and rundown and noisy as the apartments may be by 1992—when this story takes place—the cramped rooms inside CabriniGreen represent safe havens from the harshness outside. Here families can relax, bond, share love, even laugh occasionally.

In quieter moments, the boys share their admiration for Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls, as well as talk about their dreams, their aspirations and what awaits them outside of Cabrini-Green, the only world they have ever known.

Dolores (Jurnee Smollett) is Malik’s mother. A skilled accountant, she is

offered a better job in Peoria. This will require a move, something that she badly wants, as she feels that she needs to leave Cabrini-Green for her son’s safety. Dolores knows all too well that her child will eventually have to deal with soul-crushing racism and often-brutal police who hassle the kids from the projects.

Predictably, Malik feels that his mother’s decision to relocate is the worst possible news. He delays telling Eric the life-upending disclosure, and for a while their lives continue on together much as always, including a Ferris Bueller-type fun day off when the pair ditch school for a train ride into the Windy City.

In time, though, the two must face a future in which they cannot always be there for one another.

The Chicago-born producer-director-writer Minhal Baig has painstakingly painted us a cautiously hopeful portrait about coming of age in a place that all but guarantees the sad inevitable.

“We Grown Now” from Sony Pictures Classics opens in theaters May 10.

SEE THE GREAT NORTH AMERICAN ECLIPSE ON APRIL 8

By Michele D. Baker

The Great North American Eclipse is a total solar eclipse that will occur on April 8, 2024. The path of totality will stretch from Mexico, through the United States (from Texas to Maine), and into Canada (from Ontario to Newfoundland). Here are some key details:

DURATION OF TOTALITY: Up to 4 minutes and 27 seconds, almost double that of the Great American Eclipse (August 21, 2017).

START TIME IN THE US: In Texas at 1:27 PM CDT.

END TIME IN THE US: In Maine and Florida at 3:35 PM EDT.

PARTIAL ECLIPSE: Visible across nearly all of North America, including all of southwest Florida.

Witnessing a total solar eclipse is a breathtaking experience. If you’ve never seen one before, get some eclipse glasses (try CVS, Walmart, or get them on Amazon) or make a pinhole camera, mark the date and pick an open viewing spot!

FDA: Florida Can Buy Drugs from Canada

By Michele D. Baker

Adapted from an article of the same name in the March 2024 AARP Bulletin

In January, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved a state program to import prescription drugs from Canada, where the prices for many medications are far lower than in the U.S. The approval allows Florida’s health agency to begin implementing a process for some state programs.

“The FDA approval is evidence that efforts to allow states to safely import prescription drugs from Canada are moving forward,” said Leigh Purvis, AARP prescription drug expert. “This is part of a growing list of efforts to try and reduce prescription drug prices.”

The pharmaceutical industry strongly opposed these efforts and is expected to make a legal challenge; Canadian officials expressed concerns that importation programs would threaten the supply in Canada.

Florida plans to import medicines in bulk for state health programs, prisons, and eventually Medicaid members, so the drugs won’t initially be on pharmacy shelves.

People with Medicare drug coverage will no longer have to pay any out-of-pocket costs after they qualify for catastrophic coverage, thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act passed in 2022. In 2025, a $2,000 out-ofpocket cap on Medicare covered drugs will take effect.

The FDA has set conditions that must be met before Florida can start the program: the state must “demonstrate that the programs would result in significant savings to consumers without adding risk of exposure to unsafe or ineffective drugs,” said FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf.

THE HEALTHY GEEZER

Depression May Be Genetic

Q. Episodes of depression seem to be common over several generations in my family. Is depression genetic?

There is substantial evidence that depression is a hereditary disease. A depression gene known as 5-HTTLPR has been found.

The World Health Organization reports that more than 120 million people worldwide suffer from depression. At least 10 percent of people in the U.S. will experience major depressive disorder at some point in their lives. Two times as many women as men experience major depression.

In 2011, Dr. Srijan Sen, a professor of psychiatry at University of Michigan, and his team of researchers reported that people with a short variation of the serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) gene are more likely to become depressed under stress than those with the longer variation of the gene.

Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, a chemical substance that transmits impulses across the spaces (synapses) between nerve cells (neurons). Alterations in serotonin levels in the brain can influence mood. The 5-HTTLPR gene interferes with the serotonin process in the brain. Some antidepressant medications work by affecting the action of serotonin.

The Michigan research confirmed the findings of a 2003 study in which scientists for the first time established the link between genes and environment in depression. In 2009, however, an analysis in which scientists pooled 14 studies, found no heightened risk of depression among those with different versions of the gene.

Dr. Sen’s team wanted to settle the controversy that arose after the 2009 report. The group gathered all 54 studies on the subject, including data from about 41,000 volunteers. Based on this much broader analysis, the team concluded that 5-HTTLPR does confer a greater risk of depression when combined with stress. “This is the final word,” Dr. Sen said. “This meta-analysis includes three or four times as many studies, and clearly there is an effect.”

One of Dr. Sen’s findings is especially interesting. It seems that people with 5-HTTLPR are more reactive to all events, both positive and negative. Any study of artists reveals a high incidence of depression. Could it be that writers, musicians, painters, and other artists with higher sensitivity have the shorter gene?

In 2011, a British-led international team found a DNA region linked to depression. The researchers said they believed many genes were involved in depression. “These findings will help us track down specific genes that are altered in people with this disease,” said Gerome Breen of King’s College London’s Institute of Psychiatry.

All Rights Reserved © 2024 by Fred Cicetti

Send your general health questions to Healthy Geezer with Lifestyles After 50 in the subject line to fred@healthygeezer.com.

Food. It tickles all the senses.

(Fore)playing with Your Food

By Patricia Horwell

Certainly, food can be hearty and robust, but there is a reason why Omar Khayyam wrote, “A jug of wine, a loaf of bread and thou beside me…” Sharing sumptuous, tantalizing goodies with your lover can positively set the stage for romance, whether you are on the sofa, in bed or on a bearskin rug in front of a blazing fireplace. Flavors, colors and textures all play a part. Juicy, drippy finger foods, like fruit, are often the sexiest. Involving all five senses during foreplay can enhance your sexual experience. By feeding each other or licking dripped food off one another, your connection will deepen.

Chocolate-covered strawberries are still a timeless classic, and dark chocolate is believed to increase libido. It releases serotonin, a hormone that stimulates feelings of happiness and fulfillment. Dark chocolate is rich in antioxidants and high in caffeine, which can increase blood flow and increase sex drive. Are you an artist?

Chocolate body paint is available in stores and online.

Whipped cream can be great fun: no explanation is needed here. Some couples enjoy using honey as well.

Sweet and succulent grapes are perfect for naughty nibbles while fig and prosciutto bites offer a tantalizing blend of sweet and savory.

Besides being tasty, watermelon has been called nature’s Viagra, relaxing blood arteries and therefore increasing performance.

You might enjoy feeding each other luscious sushi with chopsticks. Seafood lovers might add lobster bites. Or take it up a notch with spoonfuls of caviar. (Don’t forget

the tried-and-true oysters.)

Red wine and champagne are both perfect celebratory accompaniments. Don’t hesitate to add your own favorites to the mix.

Finally, remember to take it slow and savor the experience. Relax and have fun!

The Sarasota Players presents The Secret Garden this April

The Sarasota Players presents the classic musicals

The Secret Garden April 3 through 21 at The Crossings at Siesta Key (3501 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34239). This haunting piece is family-friendly and based off the novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

This enchanting classic of children’s literature is reimagined in brilliant musical style by composer Lucy Simon and Marsha Norman, the Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright of ‘Night Mother. Orphaned in India, 11-year-old Mary Lennox returns to Yorkshire to live with her embittered, reclusive uncle Archibald and his disabled son Colin. The estate’s many wonders include a magic garden which beckons the children with haunting melodies and the “Dreamers,” spirits from Mary’s past who guide her through her new life, dramatizing The Secret Garden’s compelling tale of forgiveness and renewal.

Learn more by visiting theplayers.org or by calling our box office at 941.365.2494.

Social Security Celebrates Financial Literacy Month

Information from Social Security Administration

The Social Security Administration celebrates Financial Literacy Month (FLM) every April to promote financial education and well-being in the United States. FLM also serves as a reminder that Social Security is a vital part of any financial plan. Our online tools are here to help you understand your potential Social Security benefits and how they fit into your financial future.

You should periodically review your Social Security Statement (Statement) using your personal my Social Security account at www.SSA.gov/myaccount. Your Statement is an easy-toread summary of the estimated benefits you and your family could receive, including potential retirement, disability, and survivors’ benefits.

If you’re planning to retire, you can visit our Plan for Retirement webpage at www.SSA.gov/prepare/planretirement. Here you can compare how different future earnings and retirement benefit start-dates might affect your future benefit amount.

Please tell your friends and family about the steps they can take to improve their financial knowledge by exploring their personal my Social Security account. If they don’t have an account, they can easily create one at www.SSA.gov/ myaccount.

Jorge L Hernandez, MD Waguih El Masry, MD Bradenton Internal Medicine

Sean Nonnemaker, DO Waguih El Masry, MD Bradenton Internal Medicine

Philippe Noel, MD Noel & Berenstein North Port Internal Medicine

Arlenne Ponce Mendez, MD veriMED Health Group Bradenton Internal Medicine

Lisa Shannon, DO Waguih El Masry, MD Ellenton Family Medicine

Ehab Michael, MD Ehab Michael, MD Internal Medicine

Nicholas J. Angelastro, DO Heal Strong Primary Care South Venice Family Medicine

Loren S. Carlson, DO University Family Healthcare Lakewood Ranch Family Medicine

Anna Berenstein, MD Noel & Berenstein North Port Internal Medicine

Waguih El Masry, MD Waguih El Masry, MD Ellenton & Bradenton Internal Medicine

Alexander Fine, MD veriMED Health Group Sarasota Internal Medicine

Brian D. Carlson, DO University Family Healthcare Lakewood Ranch Family Medicine

Australia: the Outback, Hot Air Balloons & Exotic Animals

By Evelyn Kelly, PhD

After spending the night in Cairns (pronounced “Cans”), we were ready for Aussie fun in a hot air balloon. We would fly over the Outback, a remote inland area with large farms; although the vegetation looks scrubby, farming still occurs.

HOT AIR BALLOON

Sitting in a clearing was a vast strawcolored basket about six feet tall with a wide rim. The basket was tied to the ground by ropes ending in a spike, and the balloon had a huge yellow and blue world map.

The height of the basket was a challenge to climb, but we were helped (pushed) into it.

As we floated forward, we could see parts of the rainforest and see a few sparely located homes. Kangaroos were everywhere in the wild. They hopped as if trying to keep up with us.

We flew through the clouds. Although we fear heights, it was very peaceful and serene in the basket and we felt very secure. At the end, we touched down softly, with men grabbing the ropes to keep it even as we landed. The operator even asked if we would help him fold the balloon, so we followed his directions.

As we waited, we looked up, and above us were various gadgets with gauges. Four round cylinders generated hot air to fill the balloon. So, with lots of whooshing, swishing, and yelling to guys on the ground to unhook the ropes, we were off and gently rising straight up. Once we reached a certain altitude, we crept.

Here was a wealth of jaw-dropping beauty. We looked over and saw some towns: Cairns and Port Douglas. The grass looked autumn-brown but had some trees of color. Other balloons were in the air, too: a rainbow of colored teardrop shapes. One was red and white stripes with a blue bottom; another was yellow with a red top.

ANIMAL FARM

Now that we had seen kangaroos in the wild, we went back to Sydney to see more of them at the Featherdale Wildlife Park. This eightacre park specializes in Australian wildlife and birds. We were able to pet joeys (young kangaroos) and wallabies, a cousin of the kangaroo. The koalas were asleep.

One star we did not see was the white dingo. The dingo looks like a dog…or is it a wolf? Some say it is neither but an early offshoot of all modern dog breeds, somewhere between a wolf and domesticated dogs.

Our favorite was the Tasmanian devil, a small doglike scavenger that is stocky and black with white markings. This marsupial has strong jaws and claws that crush and rend bones and fur, creating a crunching noise when eating.

Seniors + Farmer’s Markets: a great social connection

BY LISA BEKIARIS, THE BLARNEY SCONE HOMESTEAD BAKERY & FARM

Selling at a farmer’s market can be a rewarding and profitable venture for seniors. These markets provide a unique opportunity to connect directly with customers, showcase your passion, and build relationships within the local community. Whether you’re a farmer, artisan, or food producer, participating in a farmer’s market can open doors to meet new people, build customers, and help grow your business and social life.

BENEFITS OF BECOMING A FARMER’S MARKET VENDOR

One big advantage of selling at a farmer’s market is the extra income. By eliminating the middleman and selling directly to the public, you set the scale for the prices of your products and how much you invest to make them. Additionally, farmer’s markets often have lower overhead costs compared to traditional retail spaces, making them a cost-effective option for small-scale producers. By selling directly to consumers, you can educate them about your products, build trust, establish a loyal customer base, and make new friends.

GETTING STARTED

Becoming a farmer’s market vendor involves several important steps. The first step is to research and identify the farmers’ markets in your area. Visit different markets, speak to vendors, and assess the potential demand for your product. Consider factors such as location, foot traffic, and the target audience of each market.

Then contact the manager or organizer to inquire about the application process. Most markets have specific guidelines and requirements for vendors, such as permits, licenses, and insurance. You may be asked to provide samples of your products for review. This is

an opportunity to showcase the quality and uniqueness of your offerings. If approved, you will receive confirmation of your acceptance, as well as information about booth assignments, market rules, and fees.

CHOOSING THE RIGHT PRODUCTS TO SELL

Start by considering your own expertise and passion. What are you skilled at producing or growing? What products align with your values and interests? Choose products that you are knowledgeable about and genuinely passionate about, as this will shine through in your interactions with customers.

Consider the demand for and marketability of your chosen products. Market research can identify trends and gaps in the market. Are there any unique or niche products that could attract customers? Strike a balance between offering products that are in high demand and setting yourself apart from the competition.

Farmer’s markets often attract customers looking for fresh, seasonal produce and goods, as well as unique handmade items. Consider diversifying your offerings throughout the year to cater to changing customer preferences.

With dedication, passion, and the knowledge gained from your own life experience, you can unlock the secrets to a fulfilling and prosperous journey as a senior farmer’s market seller.

Lisa Bekiaris, or “The Scone Lady” has been selling at farmer’s markets, events, and festivals for many years as The Blarney Scone Homestead Bakery & Farm based in Hudson, Florida. Contact Lisa at www. TheBlarneyScone.us.

with The Florida Orchestra

Sun, Apr 14, 2 pm, Mahaffey Theater

HOUGH FAMILY FOUNDATION MASTERWORKS

Saint-Saëns

Organ Symphony

Featuring Faure’s Requiem

Sun, Apr 28, 2 pm, Mahaffey Theater

MORNING MATINEES CONCERT Waltz into Spring

KLINE TOURS

DISNEY ON ICE

Disney on Ice presents Frozen & Encanto at 7:00 p.m. Saturday March 23 at Amalie Arena in Tampa $109 per person. Excellent lower level seating in Section 116.

BILOXI, MISSISSIPPI

4 days/3 nights March 25-28 $469 per person (double occupancy) includes 3 nights at IP Resort Casino and Spa in Biloxi, $50 Slot Play, ($25 from IP Casino, $25 from Hard Rock Casino) $80 in food vouchers.

MEMPHIS ADVENTURE

Monday-Thursday April 15-18 $2199 per person (double occupancy) includes round trip air to Memphis three nights lodging at Guest House at Graceland, Elvis Experience Tour to include Graceland, Sun Studio, Rock n Soul Museum, Duck March at the Peabody Hotel, Beale Street, National Civil Rights Museum, Stax Museum of American Soul Music, Sightseeing

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL PLANT CITY, FL

Thursday March 7 $59 per person (includes admission)

CAPE COD 2024

Sunday-Thursday June 9-13-$1569 per person (double occupancy) includes roundtrip air. Airport transportation, 4 nights lodging, 4 Breakfasts, 4 Dinners including a Lobsterbake Guided tour of the Cape to Provincetown with afternoon Whale Watch Cruise. Cape Cod Canal Cruise, Guided tour of Hyannis, Kennedy Museum, Tour of Sandwich and, round trip ferry to Martha’s Vineyard with tour.

BLACK HILLS, BADLANDS & MOUNT RUSHMORE

Sunday-Thursday July 7-11 $2699 per person (double occupancy includes round trip air to Rapid City from Tampa. round trip airport transportation. Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse Monument, Custer State Park ‘the Badlands, Wall drug Store, tour of Deadwood, tour of Boot Hill, (Mount Moriah Cemetery), free time in Rapid City and Dogwood, six meals.

NEW ENGLAND FALL FOLIAGE TOUR

Featuring Strauss’ Blue Danube, Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty and more. Chelsea Gallo conducts.

Wed, May 1, 11 am, Ruth Eckerd Hall

Thur, May 2, 11 am, Mahaffey Theater

Monday-Friday September 30-October4 $1649 per person (double occupancy),roundtrip air, 4 nights lodging in Tilton, NH, 4 breakfasts, 3 dinners including a Lobster Bake with entertainment, one boxed lunch  Ride on the Cog Railroad to the Summit of Mt Washington and back Cruise on the MS Mt Washington from Weirs to Wolfeboro, Visit to Kennebunkport, Stonewall Kitchen and Nubble Lighthouse, Wine Tasting at Seven Birches Winery.

BRANSON SHOW TOUR

5 days/4nights Sunday October 13- Thursday October 17 $1879 per person (double occupancy, Round trip air from Sarasota or Tampa to St. Louis, motorcoach from St. Louis to Branson, , four nights lodging at Hotel Grand Victorian in Branson, nine meals, seven shows including Yakov Smirnoff. Neil Diamond Tribute, Clay Cooper, Pierce Arrow presents Decades, The Haygoods, Six, Showboat Branson Belle, Dogwood Canyon, Branson

KLINE TOURS

(727)-439-5520 | www.klinetours. net/florida-departures

Fla. Seller of Travel Ref. No ST43118

Serving the Florida Gulf Coast Follow us on Facebook at Kline

Tours Florida Gulf Coast

Chelsea Gallo, conductor

Sarah McElravy, violin/viola

BOOK REVIEW

by Kathy A. Megyeri

The In-Between, Unforgettable Encounters During Life’s Final Moments,”

If there are angels among us on Earth, they are probably hospice nurses. Death is a difficult topic for us all, and it takes a person with empathy and a caring nature to work daily with those who are dying and their grieving family members. The outcome is never going to be a joyful time of family celebration, but as Hadley Vlahos, author of this groundbreaking book says, “I’ve never met someone 100 or older who still wants to be alive. I want us to try to make peace with death, not to extend life.”

For the many people who are dealing with hospice care for themselves or our loved ones, this book is a God-send. A decade ago, 31-year-old author Vlahos was struggling through nursing school as a single mother, but she switched to hospice nursing and was drawn to this most intense, physically demanding and emotionally draining profession. Caring for those at the end of their lives, a time she calls the “in-between,” became the title of her first book, “The In-Between: Unforgettable Encounters During Life’s Final Moments.”

The book is uplifting and a joy to read although it relates Vlahos’s experiences with 12 of her hospice patients – vignettes of guiding the ill and their families through the in-between zone. She notes the commonalities she’s witnessed: patients speaking to those already deceased; those who suffer from COPD, so common as they cope with ragged breathing; and people who have had spiritual encounters. In the end, they all want the same things: “Care, comfort and connection.” After the required

by Hadley Vlahos, RN

protocol of listening for a heartbeat for two minutes and calling out the time of death, she emerges mentally saying, “Thank you for allowing me to take care of you. I really enjoyed taking care of you.”

Vlahos still works as a hospice nurse outside New Orleans and believes the book’s success is due to people seeing their loved ones depicted in these stories. She is surprised when people don’t know what they want at the end of life—do they want to be in a nursing home or at home? Do they want to be organ donors? Do they have directives and living wills? Do they want burial or cremation?

I hope that my own final moments will be serene and under the watchful caring eyes of a hospice nurse such as Hadly Vlahos who’s done her profession proud because she shows that end-of-life care teaches us just as much about how to live life as it does about how we die.

“Nurse Hadly,” as she’s called, is currently establishing a nonprofit respite hospice house, “a serene sanctuary for families to gather and commemorate the lives of their loved ones in an environment of support and solace,” as she describes it. That would certainly be an added benefit of her comforting book’s success and just another way to exhibit her own love, compassion, patience, care, dedication, tenderness and love of humanity.

Sudoku #304

Sudoku #314

Sudoku

Solution #303

Last Month’s Answers Sudoku

SUDOKU

SUDOKU

Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.

Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.

Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.

The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers.

Last Month’s

Last Month’s Winner is Carol Sands, Port Charlotte Congr atuL ations ! Good Luck! Good Luck!

The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers.

The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers.

John

Each row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each row of 9 numbers must include all digits1through9inanyorder.

Each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Win Great Prizes!

Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

New winner selected each month

Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

APRIL Sudoku

Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well. Good luck! The first correct answers selected from the drawing on the 20th will win.

Send your answers along with your name, address, telephone number & email to:

Lifestyles After 50 P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

WIN GREAT PRIZES! Sudoku mu ST b E RE c EI v E d by T h E 20T h of T h E mo NT h.

Bluejay

Canary Crow Cuckoo

837249615

Eagle Egret

542398761

MARCH’S SEARCH

APRIL W ord Sea rch

April Word Search

WORD SEARCH

WORD SEARCH

In the grid below, twenty answers can be found that fit the category for today. Circle each answer that you find and list it in the space provided at the right of the grid. Answers can be found in all directions forwards, backwards, horizontally, vertically and diagonally. An example is given to get you started. Can you find the twenty answers in this puzzle?

In the grid below, twenty answers can be found that fit the category for today. Circle each answer that you find and list it in the space provided at the right of the grid. Answers can be found in all directions –forwards, backwards, horizontally, vertically and diagonally. An example is given to get you started. Can you find the twenty answers in this puzzle?

In the grid below, twenty answers can be found that fit the category for today. Circle each answer that you find and list it in the space provided at the right of the grid. Answers can be found in all directions forwards, backwards, horizontally, vertically and diagonally. An example is given to get you started. Can you find the twenty answers in this puzzle?

Today's Category: Languages of the World

Finnish

Send your answers along with your name, address, email and telephone number to: LIFESTYLES AFTER 50 P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on the 20th of the month will win.

WIN!

What late-night funny man was born on April

also known as The Bard of Avon, was born in April 1564?

Deviled Egg Dip

This easy and delicious recipe is perfect for using up leftover Easter eggs! It is also nearly infinitely customizable. Recipe courtesy of Jennifer Stewart at Take Two Tapas (taketwotapas.com).

Ingredients

• 1 dozen hard boiled eggs (peeled and quartered)

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise (can be light or fat free mayo, or olive-oil based)

• 4 oz. cream cheese (softened) (can be light)

• 2 Tablespoons Dijon mustard (or any mustard you like)

• 2 Tablespoons distilled white vinegar (or red, or champagne vinegar…)

• 2 teaspoons hot sauce

• 1 Tablespoon fresh chives (chopped fine) (or green onions, or scallions)

• paprika for garnish

Method:

1. Peel the hard-boiled eggs and slice them in quarters. Set 1-2 egg quarters to the side to use as garnishes if desired.

2. Place the eggs and cream cheese in a food processor and pulse a few times to get them partially chopped and mixed. Add the mayo and mustard and pulse a few more times.

3. Scrape down the sides of the processor to ensure even mixing.

4. Add the vinegar and the hot sauce and process until smooth. Taste

Easy Blueberry Crisp

Taking advantage of the delicious fresh berries this time of year, this recipe is a timeless classic that is sure to please at any gathering.

Ingredients

• 5 cups fresh blueberries

• 2 Tablespoons sugar

• 3 Tablespoons flour

• 1 lemon

Method:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F.

Ingredients for crisp topping:

• ¼ cup butter, softened

• ½ cup packed brown sugar

• ¼ cup all-purpose flour

• ¾ cup oats (regular or quick)

• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon

• ½ cup almonds chopped (optional)

2. Zest the lemon and squeeze the juice of half of the lemon.

3. Toss blueberries with sugar, lemon zest, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice and 3 Tablespoons flour. Place in a buttered 2-quart baking dish.

4. With a fork, combine the butter, brown sugar, oats, flour, cinnamon and nuts (if using) until crumbled. Sprinkle over blueberries.

and season with salt and pepper if desired.

5. Remove from the food processor and place in a serving dish. Garnish with remaining egg quarters, a dash or two of paprika, and a sprinkle of chopped chives.

6. Feel free to customize! Add crumbled bacon, substitute Boursin cheese for the cream cheese, add shredded cheddar cheese, or dill or sweet pickle relish.

5. Bake 35-40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the fruit is bubbly. Cool slightly and serve warm with freshly whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

WOMEN SEEKING MEN

WOMEN SEEKING MEN

5604 – LOOKING FOR SOULMATE.

4907 - SWF. 59 yo, 5’9”, 160 lbs, smoker, blonde hair, blue eyes. I like shing, movies, traveling, dancing, good food. Seeks SWM who likes the same.

I’m 80 y young, 5’5”, 120#, blonde. Like dancing, Elks, beach, state parks, reading, short trips, museums, picniks in the park, movies. SWCF. Write OK. Largo & Seminole

5409 - WRETCHED old hagg seeking miserable old troll. If U respond U obviously have a sense of humor & R adventurous. I’m 76, blonde, petite, earthy, easy to B with. Love singing, dancing, biking, cooking, vintage cars & vintage men. Must have a little class & a lot of character.

5611 – SUPER SENIOR, active, C, W, WW, HWP, NS, SD, NDrg, HWP, well-adjusted, energetic, uncomplicated. Enjoys music, nature, short trips, animals, dancing, camping, fishing. ISO straight-forward, honest communicator. FF

5422 - VERY PRETTY WWF ISO FF. Long blonde hair, youthful 60’s, 5’4”, slim, ND, NS. Fine dining, dancing, theatre, travel. Looking for retired W gentleman, 5’9”, 6575, HWP, SOH. Will speak soon. Send photo & phone.

5610 – RETIRED ASIAN LOOKING COMPANION ISO life partner between 70-85 yrs old. NS, ND, honest, kind gentleman. I am 5 foot tall, avg build. Loves to travel & am physically fit. Send photo & phone please.

5436 - TAMPA VETERAN NEEDS COMPANION QUICKLY. SW, 60, looking for healthy, W, 45-65 for LTR. Need compuer operations, applications expert and handy homemaker. Quiet music, parks, swimming, local touring. Veteran literary a plus. Tampa.

5613 – NEW TO THE AREA. Fun female, petite, S, C, 70’s, NS, FF, enjoy Happy Hours, short trips, dancing, theatre. Looking for companion, Send letter with phone # and photo.

5618 – VENICE SENIORS SINGING

5427 - SEEKING SINCERE, HONEST GENTLEMAN. I’m 70s, HWP, NS, ND, like to meet SWM with same interest for LTR. Laid back, no drama. Like animals. Hillsborough & Pasco.

Seniors getting Together Seniors

5425 - SINCERE CHRISTIAN WOMAN

TOGETHER. Wanna sing? Men and ladies welcome to sing four-part harmony with the Venice Gondolier Singers Chorus. No previous musical experience required. Just having fun. 941-953-3752.

5619 – INDIAN SINGLE ISLAND

walks, especially ocean walks, people, my toy poodle, and teaching Tai Chi. Looking forward to spending time with you. N Ft Myers.

5419 - HAVE A NICE DAY. SWF, 75 yo, 5’5”, slender, brunette, green eyes, adventurous, love walks, parks, outdoors, healthy food. Am happy, loving, kind. LTR, intimacy? Have photo. Tampa.

5623 – CHICAGO ARTIST RELOCATED to find soulmate. Spontaneity, substance, special, sentiment’s, spacious, scenery, spirituality, spectacular, sunsets. Please contact me.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN

4119 - Seeking Honest gentleman. Former airline stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., slender, white with Ph.D. in healthcare. Fulbright scholar, eats healthy and exercises. Likes sports and animals. WW. Loves the Lord. Florida.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN

5607 – SEXY SIX FOOT TWO EYES OF BLUE. 200 pound athletic boy who looks a lot younger than 62 wants a fun, youthful companion to explore the world with. Come with me! PG, PC, NFM, NP.

5609 – LOOKING FOR A FEMALE

5411 - BM seeks LTR with 50-65 yr old woman of character. I am 6’0”, 180 lbs, 60 year old. NS. Children are adults. Free to travel. I am a one woman man. Race is not an issuecharacter is!

COMPANION in the Tampa Bay area. I am 86 YY, WM, WW, C, NS, 5’9”, 165 lbs., SOH. Excellent health, very active. Southern country gentleman. This is my first experience with this. Homeowner with pool, semi-retired, own truck dealership. Send your number. Let’s talk.

5407 - ISO BF, 50+, slender build who likes to read, go out to eat, movies, laid back, enjoys laughter & is drama free. Look forward to hearing from you. I am a WM, 5’11”, 155 lbs, NS and drama free.

Marvin

seeking t, attractive, female. Very handsome, very t senior. 5’11”, 175, blue eyes, silver hair. Let’s enjoy life’s pleasures. Dunedin.

new carpeting & king bedroom. Likes most everything including spending money on you. St. Petersburg – Tyrone Mall area. Please be local or willing to relocate.

8

5417 - PINELLAS PARK, FUN LOVING SWM, seeking SWW to enjoy sports activities, bridge, dominoes, pinochle and swimming at Mainlands. I’m 88 and very active. Looking for SWW over 70. I’m 6’3”, 235 lbs and a dancer. Pinellas Park.

5618 – VENICE SENIORS SINGING TOGETHER. Wanna sing? Men and ladies welcome to sing four-part harmony with the Venice Gondolier Singers Chorus. No previous musical experience required. Just having fun. 941-953-3752.

5620 – ELDERLY, AFFLUENT, nice looking professional WWM seeking 40-50 trim SWF. Enjoys theater, travel, dinner with wine + conversation in condo overlooking Sarasota Bay. Send photo(s) + resume.

To PLACe An AD: Send your ad, stating what edition(s) you would like it placed in, along with a $6 fee for 30 words (25¢ for each additional word, abbreviations not charged) to the Lifestyles After 50 address listed below. Ads received by the 15th of the month will appear in the following issue.

To ReSPonD To An AD: Write a letter to the person you want to contact. Place that letter in a stamped envelope and write the ad # on the bottom left hand side of the envelope. Place your stamped, numbered envelope(s), along with $2 for each letter enclosed, into another envelope and address it to:

Lifestyles After 50 Seniors Getting Together P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583

CommonLY USeD ABBReViATionS:

5415 - M, WW, NS, SD, HWP, P, FF, likes cards, walks, cooking, travel, fun.

5424 - HI, Lonely guy, WM, 5’8”, 160 lbs, a young mid-seventies, NS, NS, t, active and adventuresome. Seeks lady, mid-sixties to early seventies, HWP, exercises, possible romance, LTR. Let’s be happy and celebrate life.

5622 – HI – A VERY MATURE W, M, 140 lb., white hair, brown eyes, of reasonable looks, 5’8”. In Tampa. NS, SD only. Shall we meet for coffee, and see? Yes, my parents are of Italian descent, but born in the USA. Seeking H, W, P, lady who is mobile and likes life, but wants more. Trump can offer a better life. Now you know how I think.

F-Female, M-Male, S-Single, D-Divorced, WWWidow, A-Asian, B-Black, H-Hispanic, I-Indian, W-White, C-Christian, J-Jewish, YO-Years Old, YY-Years Young, ISO-In Search Of, SOH-Sense Of Humor, SM-Smokes, S-Light Smoker, NSNon Smoker, ND-Non Drinker, SD-Social (Light) Drinker, DR-Drinks, NDrg- No Drugs, LTR-Long Term Relationship, HWP-Height & Weight Proportional, R-Retired, P-Professional, FF-Friendship First, TLC-Tender Loving Care.

desires C-man who really loves God and is active, lives a healthy life, helps his neighbor, enjoys nature (including picnics), canoeing and a friend to all animals. I’m all of the above. I’m a W ,etite lady with long hair and chearful. Age 60’s, Age preferred: Mid 50’s and up. I live in Hillsborough County. Please write me, tell me about yourself.

5608 – TENNESSEE SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN. Venice. Accomplished, 73, W, D, R, P, NS, NDrg, SD, HWP, well dressed, spoken, C, gospel, 70’s, music dancer. ISO active lifestyle, mature passionate F, desiring princess treatment. Send a letter and photo. Guaranteed return response. No disappointments.

WOMAN seeking single W, M, Asian or Hispanic. ND, NS, Long partner 60 plus. Tall & fit. Tampa only. No FB or email. Phone only. Please serious partner.

5431 – LONELY WWF, looking for love & companion. Man should be 70 to 80 yrs old. I am nancially secure, have a car & condo. I live in N. St. Pete.

5617 – SWF LOOKING FOR COMPANIONSHIP. I’m 70, 5’3”, 120 lbs, brown/auburn hair, blue eyes. Retired paralegal. Enjoy dancing, karaoke, restaurants, cooking, beach, flea markets, theatre and traveling.

5618 – VENICE SENIORS SINGING

5429 - HERE, DURING COVID-19 IN S. FT. MYERS. ISO friendship only with W, widower in early 80’s. SOH, honest, NS. I am W, WW, HWP, attractive & intellgent. Please respond with phone/email. Be safe & well.

TOGETHER. Wanna sing? Men and ladies welcome to sing four-part harmony with the Venice Gondolier Singers Chorus. No previous musical experience required. Just having fun. 941-953-3752.

5413 - WW ISO BUDDY, FRIEND to pal around with who’s about my age, 80’s, gal or guy with SOH. Good health, nancially secure to have fun & enjoy life. No Trumpers or religious zealots please. Let the good times roll.

5621 – CWF, 80 yrs, NS, SD, HWP, R, P, FF, TLC. Loves theater, dancing, swimming,

5393 - SWM, 69, 5’11”, AVG. Hair black, thinning, DAV, honest, sincere, relocated Hudson. Retired Leo. ISO WHF, widow preferred, attractive, sm. butt, NS, ND, handy homemaker, intimacy yes, no baggage, drama.

5428 - M, WW, NS, SD, HWP, R, TLC, 70’s. Likes sharing many activities together, quiet evenings; be adventurous.

5612 – YOU + ME = TOGETHER. SWM, SD, NS, SOH, ND, 5’6”, 180 lbs. CONDO – New carpeting + king bedroom. Likes happy hour, restaurants, the Elks, TV, movies, shopping, kissing, holding hands. ISO SWF or Asian. Fun. SOH, easy going, smiles, enjoys life. Pinellas Park. Please be local.

5426 - EASY GOING MAN. I’m 69, 140 lbs, 5’7”, widower, lives alone. Seeking other gentlemen for friendship, to get together and enjoy each other’s company. Will answer alll.

5614 – FIRST AD – RETIRED, SECURE. SWM, spry, easy going, NS, ND, No pets. Seeking small to medium loving, romantic female companion to share my home, RENT FREE. Quiet, peaceful area. Please send phone, photo, description.

5369 – Looking For Ms Right. Retired New York Attorney, former New York Police O cer, looking for loving relationship with kind and sincere, self-caring lady. 65 – 75. Widow preferred. Clearwater area.

5615 – MAN LOOKING for man. Single, widower in Ft. Myers. Age 70’s with open mind. Write to me and say with senior’s lifestyles ad.

5412 - LOOKING FOR ADVENTEROUS WOMAN. SWM, NS, healthy, retired, enjoys country music, home cooking, day trips to scenic attractions, sun rises, sunsets, movies, walks in the park. For more info, write me. Pinellas County.

5616 – LOOKING – LOOKING – LOOKING. ISO SWF or Asian, SOH, NS, ND, SD, fun and easy going, 55-75yy, 4’10”-5’3”, plump ok, for SWM, 70’s, 180lb, NS, ND, SD, SOH, condo w/

5416 - LOOKING FOR COMPANION. SWM

AROUND TOWN

APRIL 5-7: FOOD TRUCK RALLY AND MUSIC FESTIVAL

Old Dog Track, 28001 Old 41 Rd., Bonita Springs

APRIL 6: BILLY PRICE BAND

Centers for the Arts, 10150 Bonita Beach Rd. SE, Bonita Springs

APRIL 6-7: 4TH ANNUAL ROCK THE ARCHES MUSIC FESTIVAL

Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., Ft. Myers

APRIL 11: THE KATIE ENGLESON – LENNY PIERRO QUARTET

The Grill at 1951, 1951 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte

APRIL 13: KONZERT VON RYAN UPCHUCH

The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd., Ft. Myers

APRIL 13: LIVE MUSIC

Eight-Foot Brewing Co., 1520 SE 46th Ln., Cape Coral

APRIL 13: IMPROV FLORIDA

Port Charlotte Library, 2280 Aaron St., Port Charlotte

APRIL 17: TURANDOT

Gulfshore Opera, 9911 Corkscrew Rd. #105, Estero

APRIL 19: THE FOREIGNER EXPERIENCE

Gulf Theater @Military Heritage Museum, 900 W. Marion Ave., Punta Gorda

APRIL 20: TASTE OF THE WORLD FOOD & MUSIC FESTIVAL

Laishley Park, 150 Laishley Ct., Punta Gorda

APRIL 20: HOME & GARDEN SHOWS PORT CHARLOTTE/PUNTA GORDA

Charlotte Harbor Event & Conference Center, 75 Taylor St., Punta Gorda

APRIL 20: THE RED CLAY STRAYS

The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon, 2158 Colonial Blvd, Ft. Myers

APRIL 23: HAMILTON

Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Pkwy, Ft. Myers

APRIL 22-23: LATIN COMEDY NIGHT (R-RATED)

Venturino’s Comedy Club, 10450 Corkscrew Commons Dr., Estero

APRIL 26: THE FROGS LIVE

Pioneer’s Pizza, 4560 Tamiami Trail, Port Charlotte

APRIL 27: CAPE CULTURE FEST

Culture Park, 516 Culture Park Blvd. Cape Coral

WE WANT YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS WE WANT YOUR COMMUNITY NEWS

Boost Your Health with a Cool Treat:

Nutrient-Rich Blueberry Popsicles

If there’s one superfood you need to fit into your diet, it’s blueberries. These little blue gems are packed with antioxidants, which can help protect your body against all sorts of diseases and illnesses. They have been found to maintain healthy bones, reduce blood pressure, manage diabetes, and ward off heart disease.

And that’s not all… Blueberries are also great for your brain! Studies have shown that eating blueberries can improve cognitive function and even help prevent age-related memory decline.

Healthy Blueberry Popsicle Recipe

Ingredients

Blueberries have endless health benefits. One of the best things about these delicious snacks is that you can savor them in various ways. They can be eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner—yes, even dinner. You can also cook them down and make a delicious sauce for meat.

However, given that we are entering our warmer months, here’s a healthy blueberry popsicle recipe. No cooking involved. Just a little blending and freezing.

Not only will they satisfy your sweet tooth, but they’ll also do wonders for your body.

Ready to prioritize your health and wellness?

Take the first step towards a healthier lifestyle by calling VIPcare today to schedule an appointment. 941-909-3224

• 2 cups of fresh or frozen blueberries

• 1 can full-fat coconut milk or 1 cup Greek yogurt

• 2 Tbsp of lemon juice

• Lemon zest

• ¼ cup pure maple syrup or honey (to taste)

• Pinch of sea salt

Directions

1. Place all ingredients into a high-speed blender and blend until completely smooth.

2. Pour blueberry mixture into molds (you can use ice trays if you don’t have popsicle molds).

3. Place a popsicle stick into each mold.

4. Freeze for 4 to 8 hours or until fully set.