Senior Connection April 2012 Hillsborough by Lifestyles After 50 Magazine

How I Overcame Zone Denial and Changed to Avant-Gardening

I laughed the first time our lawn here sprouted clover-looking weeds (Oxalis) f you’re a Florida all a-bloom with little purple flowers. transplant, there’s I had paid $6 to have a shamrock plant a good chance like those shipped to my Kansas house you’ve suffered from one winter years ago. The shamrock some sort of Zone bloomed on my kitchen windowsill, Denial as I have. and I thought it was magnificent. Janice Doyle, I first heard of Now, I was in Florida and it was Editor “Zone Denial” in blooming all over the yard! Amazing! Texas. I was in the process of buyA few years after the Kansas shamrock ing some Antique Roses to bring plant, I paid $5 for a straggly little splitback with me when a fellow leaf philodendron plant in late summer. It traveler, an avid gardener herself, had to be re-potted twice that first winter said, “Aren’t you in Zone Denial?” as it thrived in a south-facing window. On It seems Zone Denial is rampant the move to Florida, “Philly,” as we called everywhere gardeners are found. It’s a it, rode in the back of a pickup, roughly malady for Floridians that comes about stuffed inside a wicker clothes hamper. when you live in west central Florida New neighbor Marti advised us to put and deny the fact that, for gardening Philly outside in the ground. Reverse purposes, we are in Hardiness Zones Zone Denial set in—this was a 10, 9a or 9b, but we buy something that houseplant. It couldn’t just be plopped grows best in another growing zone. in the ground and never dug up again! The Hardiness Zone Map by the But, by rough estimate, Philly is 38 USDA is a way for gardeners to years old now and has a lineup of compare their garden climates with 13 siblings across the back fence. the climate where a plant is known to grow well. The antique roses, for example, were for zones four, five and six. I had a bad case of Zone Denial! The 2012 zone map reflects a new reality: Many areas of the U.S. are designated as warmer by about five degrees. For a gardener, that means plants which in the past wouldn’t thrive here (given the 1990 map) might well survive beautifully now. Let the plant-buying begin! It’s the first time since 1990 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture Janice Doyle and the “fast-growing” squash. has revised the official guide for the nation’s 80 million gardeners, Avant-gardening and much has changed. Nearly Only in the last few years have entire states, such as Ohio, Nebraska enough trees been cut from our and Texas, are in warmer zones. one-third acre yard to create sunny spots for vegetable gardening. Zone Denial history Dear Husband asked where I The first year I lived here, I was an wanted a vegetable garden. We picked avid flower and vegetable gardener a spot in summer’s full sun, and he wannabe who, in reality, needed a constructed two 8’ x 8’ garden boxes of support group to report to. “Hello, landscape timbers. Compost, top soil my name is Janice. I just planted and DH’s sweat equity—tomato and tulips.” Or English peas. Or crocuses. broccoli plants went into the ground

Dear Readers,

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 2

in early February. Then we waited. And waited. And waited. The plants were there, but nothing happened. One day I stood and looked at the pitiful plants and realized that as the sun goes lower on the horizon for the winter (right over there behind the neighbor’s beautiful old live oaks), our garden spot never ever had full sun. Plotting more carefully, DH moved the two garden plots 100 feet across the yard where they now get full sun half the day. And we’re enjoying tomatoes, broccoli, onions and squash. DH is a compostaphile – to rot or not to rot? Rot, of course. An ordinary, overgrown corner of the yard now boasts three piles of matter in various stages of decay. Then he found a “recipe” for gardening which has produced amazing results in a short time. From the St. Pete Times (now Tampa Bay Times), July 10, 2004: “Choose an area 6 feet by 6 feet in full sun; spread a 25 pound bag of cheap dry dog food nuggets, a 20 pound bag of cheap clay cat litter and half of a 50 pound bag of alfalfa pellets. . . Once everything has been applied, use a shovel to turn the soil. Water deeply, then cover the site with overlapping layers of cardboard boxes… Mulch… ripen for two to four weeks…” (You can also find the recipe at baysoundings.com/fall08/stories/grow.asp.) We planted in February, David watered regularly and God gave the increase. Squash plants grew six inches in a week. Tomato and pepper plants shot out of the ground and are full of blooms. No more Zone Denial here. We’ll just accept Florida exactly as it is. You can see the Plant Hardiness Zone Map at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

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SCORE Volunteers Make a Huge Difference LoPresti’s success stories include helping two ladies who wanted to start e all know that a dog grooming business. success is counted in Counseling sessions different ways by different started with the basics— people. A SCORE volunteer they would need a buildsaid, “Success is when you ing. They knew nothing of help people achieve lifetime how to build a building, dreams to become indebut LoPresti did because pendent business owners.” he had owned a construcSCORE (an acronym for tion business. He guided Service Corps of Retired Exthem on where to locate ecutives) is made up of both the business, how to get Joe LoPresti, retired executives and forthe building built and right SCORE volunteer mer business owners whose on through to getting set backgrounds and experience can help up with a banker, attorney and CPA. small business owners be successful. “This is what we try to do—make Joe LoPresti, of Hillsborough people know what’s involved in runSCORE Chapter 203, knows small ning a business to keep them in busibusiness from having owned one ness,” said LoPresti. This is especially himself. He’s chair of the group and true when they have a client who plans has been a volunteer for nine years. to buy out a business he’s been work“Last year the local chapter had 2,475 ing for. An electrician may not realize counseling sessions and nationally it that there’s more than just taking care consistently ranks in the top 10 perof the trade part. SCORE guides them cent of chapters nationwide,” he said. in learning the business side as well.

BY JANICE DOYLE

Free one-on-one business counseling is just one part of the plan. SCORE workshops ($35 each—best bargain around!) keep people on the track to success. Workshops include building a business plan, the legal aspects of business, keeping records of taxes, financing your business, insurance and risk management, marketing and sales and cash flow concepts. About 20 percent of SCORE clients are “wannabes”—people who think they’d like to be in business. They receive counsel, too, even if it’s to let them learn that they don’t belong in business. “We save people a lot of money and discouragement,” LoPresti said. Today’s business world is changing. “You can never get ahead of technology so you have to keep growing with it,” said LoPresti. For SCORE, it has meant adding business technology courses to their course schedule. To keep up, SCORE now has experienced “resource members” who bring highly specialized technology.

Who makes a good SCORE volunteer? LoPresti said, “It’s somebody who wants to give back something they have received. I didn’t reach this point in life all by myself. Many people added to my knowledge. I learned what to do and what not to do. It doesn’t even have to be in your field of expertise. If you’re open and listening and know you don’t know everything—that’s what we want.” He stressed that it’s not a social club, but that SCORE is “a beautiful place to meet bright, intelligent men and women.” If you’re a retired executive or have owned your own small business, you may want to give back to the community through SCORE. You can find more nformation at tampascore.org or (813) 988-1435.

Tai Chi for Health and Well Being Taoist Tai Chi Society® Awareness Day Open House Celebrations Saturday, May 5, 2012 Brandon Center 911 Bryan Rd, Brandon, 33511 11:00 am to 1:00 pm Temple Terrace Location 10919 56th Street (Sherwood Forest) Come join us, watch us practice our Temple Terrace, 33617 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm Tai Chi set and learn a move or two.

Beginner classes start the week of May 7, 2012. We offer morning, evening, and weekend classes, as well as ongoing Health Recovery classes. First class free! Classes held in Temple Terrace, Wesley Chapel, Brandon, Sun City Center and Palma Ceia. For times and locations, please call 1-877-398-1108 or go to www.taoist.org or www.brandon.florida.usa.taoist.org The Taoist Tai Chi Society ® is a charitable organization. Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 4

IF YOU HAVE TEN PEOPLE OR MORE WE CAN PICK UP AT YOUR LOCATION. CALL FOR OUR PICK UP LOCATIONS. APRIL 9, 17 AND 25, MAY 1, 8 AND 22 Hardrock Tampa - Pick up 8:45 a.m., returns 3:30 p.m. Pay $15.00, get $15.00 free play and a $5.00 meal voucher. Evening pick up is at 3:45 p.m., returns 3:30 p.m. Pay $15.00 *get $20.00 free play and a $5.00 meal voucher. APRIL 10 AND 24, MAY 14 AND 21 Seminole Casino Immokalee - Pay $25.00 and get $30.00 in free play and a $5.00 meal voucher. Bus boards 8 a.m. and returns 6:30 p.m. April 11, 16 and 25, May 3, 16, 23 and 29 Tour Of Tampa and Ybor City - 8:30 a.m. ‘till 4:30 p.m., see Tampa’s landmarks and sites, visit Ybor City and Ybor Visitors Center, have lunch on your own at a Cuban restaurant, stop at a Cuban bakery for bread and pastries. Pay $25.00.

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Follow the I-75 Florida Wine Trail Winemaking is Three Centuries Old in Florida BY DAVID LALMOND

eyond the beaches and amusement parks, Florida’s vineyards and wineries open up an opportunity to learn an interesting part of the state’s agricultural history—and to taste some unique wines. Florida is home to the original American wines—native grapes were used for winemaking three centuries before California became a state. But Florida growers faced hot, humid summers which produced diseases other areas did not have to combat. In 1923 a breeding program was initiated at the University of Florida that has resulted in the development of numerous disease-resistant grape varieties suited to Florida’s soil and climate. And for winemaking. Florida wineries utilize native Muscadines and local fruits for wines. How about orange or mango or blueberry wine? Trivia: In 2009, nearly two million gallons of wine were produced in Florida. Only ﬁve states produced more than Florida.*

Travel Using I-75 as your main path, follow a wine trail through Florida this summer as the harvest season runs from May through September. Enjoy the unique sights, tastes and aromas of Florida vineyards and wines at these locations:

Dakotah Winery near Chieﬂand is a family-run business. Since 1985, the Rittgers family has been cultivating Muscadine grape vines. Today there are over 6,000 vines, including 30-plus varieties of Muscadines which begin ripening in August. Not only can you taste authentic Florida wine, you can also take a therapeutic walk over the grounds and see the vines, sheep (which keep the area mowed) and geese (which help prune the vines). (352) 493-9309.

Strong Tower Vineyard & Winery in Spring Hill is Florida’s newest certiﬁed “Florida Farm Winery.” Here you’ll ﬁnd traditional oak-fermented red wines as well as characteristically Southern wines. They offer tours of the vineyard and processing areas plus tastings. (352) 799-7612.

Tangled Oaks Vineyard in Grandin is just east of Gainesville. Think Italian wine here—the vineyard was started by the DaCasto family with roots in Italian winemaking country. (386) 659-1707. Trivia: Muscadines are a Southern specialty, not found anywhere else in the world. Their tough skins make them wonderful for children to squish with their feet, which they can do on special weekends at Lakeridge Winery. Just 25 miles east of I-75 near Clermont is Lakeridge Winery, Florida’s largest. Its buildings and setting make it look for all the world like a small winery in the south of France or California’s Napa Valley. The winery is popular for its tours, which reveal 5,000-gallon stainless steel tanks, crushers, state of the art harvesters, a large tasting room and much more. Lakeridge Winery is a destination for weekend events, specials on wine, daily complimentary tours and wine tasting. 1-800-768-9463. Florida Orange Groves Winery in St. Pete began with packing and shipping citrus and evolved into Florida’s original tropical fruit winery (garnering numerous awards along the way). If you think you can’t make wine out of oranges, think again! These are not fusion or blended grape wines, but 43 varieties of 100% pure tropical fruit wines. (It can take upwards of nine pounds of fruit to produce enough juice for just one bottle of wine.) Try their Mango Mama, which just won “Best of Show Florida Fruit” contest at the 2012 Florida State Fair. 1-800-338-7923.

Lakeridge Winery

Keel and Curley Winery

Trivia: Florida Orange Groves Winery has been invited to the EPCOT Wine Festival nine continuous years. Eden Vineyards Keel and Curley and Winery, Winery near Plant City 10 miles east (10 miles east of I-75 Eden Vineyards and Winery of Fort Myers on I-4) began when near Alva, was the owner needed to planted in the ‘70s with cuttings from ﬁnd new ways to use an oversupply the original hybrid vines at University of fresh blueberries. The winery now of Florida research sites. Since 1986 produces three types of blueberry they have produced six wines on wines as well as fusion wines, made this, the furthest south winery on the by blending grapes with fruit juices. west coast of Florida. Tastings are Try their Peach Chardonnay or Key held every day. (239) 728-9463. West Key Lime, for example. (TastTrivia: Eden Winery is the oldest ings: 11 Wines for $6. Weekend vineoperating Florida Farm Winery in yard tours: $5/ person or $10 comthe state. Their wines have been bined with tasting.) (813) 752-9100. featured at Disney’s Grand Floridian, Located near Bradenton, the Rosa the Palm Beach Breakers Hotel and Fiorelli Winery is based on expertise the Ritz Carlton. the family brought with them from For more information and other Sicily. They pride themselves on wineries, see Florida Grape Growers their ten acres of grapes and with Association at fgga.org or individual over 100 awards under their belts, vineyard and winery websites. it’s still a small, friendly family place *(Information from Alcohol & for a vineyard and winery tour and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.) tasting ($10). (941) 322-0976. Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 5

Join The Florida Orchestra for

Dee Moses, Principal Bass © Thomas Bruce Studio

Music in the Mornings

2011/2012

Coffee Concerts

Celebrate Broadway Stuart Malina conducts this morning concert featuring Gershwin’s Overture to Girl Crazy, Andrew LloydWebber’s The Phantom of the Opera Selections, and Sullivan’s Overture to The Mikado.

Wed, Apr 18, 10am Ruth Eckerd Hall

any of the organizations serving children in our community have seen their budgets cut. At the same time the demand for the services they provide has not gone down. In response to this, the SouthShore Professional Fishing Tournament has been organized. The tournament will benefit three local charities serving children: the Foundation of the Rotary Club of South Shore– Ruskin, The Rural Social Services Partnership and The YMCA’s Camp Cristina in Riverview. The tournament will take place on Thursday, May 10 and Saturday, May 12, 2012 at The Resort and Club at Little Harbor, 611 Destiny Drive, Ruskin. The “Children’s Tournament” will take place May 10 from 4 – 6 p.m. It is designed for children aged 6 – 12 and their favorite adults. Camp Cristina, the Home Depot and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission will offer a variety of activities including fishing off of the pier at Little Harbor. Advance registration is required. Teams of one adult and one

child can register for $10. A family registration for one adult and up to three children is $15. Advanced registration is required and registration forms can be downloaded at southshoreprofish.com. The Fishing Tournament is scheduled for May 12 beginning with breakfast and registration at 7:30 a.m. This tournament is different than most in the area in that when a team registers to participate in the tournament, a local professionally licensed Charter Captain is hired. All the particulars and the registration forms are on the website, southshoreprofish.com. Slots for single anglers are available for $500. Teams of three can be registered to $1250 and a team of four is $1500. All boats will be underway at 9 a.m. and must return by 3 p.m. Anglers will gather and results will be tabulated for an awards ceremony at 4 p.m. at the Captain’s Quarters at Little Harbor. For more information on how you can participate, check out the website or leave a message at (813) 645-3732.

Opera Tampa Presents: Aida

Sponsored by:

Thu, Apr 19, 11am

Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts Mahaffey Theater

Once Upon a Time Featuring Ravel’s Beauty and the Beast from Mother Goose Suite, Tchaikovsky’s Waltz from Swan Lake, and Williams’ ET: Adventures on Earth, Stuart Malina conducts.

Wed, May 16, 10am Ruth Eckerd Hall

Thu, May 17, 11am

Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts Mahaffey Theater Complimentary coffee and doughnuts served before each Coffee Concert!

727.892.3337 or www.FloridaOrchestra.org For group benefits (10 or more) : 727.362.5443

Senior Connection • April TFO-Senior Connection-Apr.indd 1 2012 • page 6

SouthShore Fishing Tournament

3/14/2012 2:04:43 PM

ida, Giuseppe Verdi’s grandest of grand operas, will be presented in the Straz Center’s Carol Morsani Hall on April 20 and 22 as part of the Opera Tampa’s season, presented by Homes by Helen. The opera tells the story of Aida, princess of Ethiopia, captured and brought into slavery in Egypt. Radames, a high ranking military commander, is torn by his love for Aida and his duty to the Pharaoh, with tragic consequences for both. First performed in Cairo in 1871, Aida has come to be the most popular of all of Verdi’s operas and one of the most loved of all Italian lyric dramas. The gorgeousness of the coloring in its pictures, the kaleidoscopic succession of brilliant scenes, the ballets, processions, the glitter of court life and “the pomp, the pride, the circumstance of war” unite with its music to make it an opera for the people as well as for the more conservative connoisseur.

Aida will showcase a stunning international cast, as well as the Opera Tampa Orchestra and Chorus. In his final appearance as Opera Tampa’s founding artistic director, Maestro Anton Coppola conducts a company that features Rosa D’Imperio as Aida, Gustavo Lopez Manzitti as Radames and Stacey Rishoi as Amneris, as well as Gustav Andreassen as Ramfis, George Cordes as the King of Egypt and Mark S. Doss as Ethiopian King Amonasro. Joachim Schamberger will direct. Aida will be sung in Italian with English translations projected above the stage. Performances are Friday, April 20, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 22, at 2 p.m. at Carol Morsani Hall at the Straz Center. Tickets start at $29.50: purchase at (813) 229-STAR (7827) or (800) 955-1045, at the Straz Center Ticket Office or on strazcenter.org. More info at operatampa.org.

Around Town

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G A P R I L 2 0 1 2

hursdays Grief Support Group with Grace Terry, social worker, Bridge Builders Network leader. No fee. Fountainview Estates, 8800 Sheldon Rd., Tampa. Call (813) 412-5213 for short orientation before attending.

12 13 18

“A Garden of Bright Ideas” class at Town & Country Library. 6:30 p.m. Info: (813) 273-3652.

“eBooks And eReaders: An Introduction.” Brandon Library “eBooks For PC, Mac, 4 p.m. Nook, Kobo, Sony, And Other eReaders.” 10:15 a.m. SouthShore Regional Library. Free. Details: (813) 273-3652.

– 29 GODSPELL performed at Masque Theatre, Omar Lightfoot Center, 10901 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace. $12/senior tickets. Masquetheatre.net or (913) 983-1710.

Ruskin PetFest, a day of all things pet-related. Contests food, raffle, music to support C.A.R.E. animal shelter in Ruskin. Dr. Ott’s Off-Leash Dog Park, Ruskin. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. careshelter.org or (813) 645-2273.

Art in the Park at R.E. Olds Park, 107 Shore Drive W., Oldsmar. Free admission, live music, fine arts exhibits and sales. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (813) 749-1260.

– 15 Celebration of the Arts at the Shops at Wiregrass, Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel. Fine arts and fine crafts show and sale. (813) 994-8534.

Ethnic Pot Luck, sharing food from your childhood days, at United Community Church, Sun City Center. 4 p.m. Information: Paula Lickfeldt at (813) 633-6739.

– 22 Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida presented by Opera Tampa at Straz Center for the Performing Arts. Tickets at (813) 229-7827 or operatampa.org.

Earth Day Celebration at Lowry Park Zoo. Animal enrichment activities, educational displays and exhibits. Regular zoo admission. Visit LowryParkZoo.com. (813) 935-8552.

Tampa-Hillsborough County Storytelling Festival at Hillsborough High School, 5000 N. Central Ave., Tampa. Free. 25 regional adult tellers. (813) 918-0354.

Tampa Bay Symphony performance of works by American composers at Ferguson Hall, Straz Center, Tampa; 4 p.m. $20/adult tickets. Featured performer 13-yr. old Nadia Azzi (winner ofTampa Bay Symphony Young Artist Competition). Information at (727) 595-0345.

through Sept. “Mummies of the World,” exhibition of real human and animal mummies and related artifacts at MOSI. Visit mosi.org or call (813) 987-6000.

National Take Back Drugs Day. In conjunction with the DEA, MOSI will be a drop-off site for prescription drugs.10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Information at mosi.org or call (813) 987-6000.

OPERATAMPA

PE SA PR R VE SR OM TIC CO O CO KE E

2011 – 2012 SEASON

PRESENTED BY HOMES BY HELEN

RAND OPERA AT ITS GRANDEST !

GIUSEPPE VERDI’S

April 20

April 22

7:30 p.m.

2 p.m.

Experience the pageantry and passion of Verdi’s most spectacular opera – Aida! The beautiful princess of Ethiopia is enslaved in Egypt but she captures the heart of an Egyptian commander with tragic consequences.

TICKETS START AT $29.50 OPERA TAMPA SERIES MEDIA SPONSOR

TICKETS: 813.229.STAR (7827) • OPERATAMPA.ORG OUTSIDE TAMPA BAY: 800.955.1045 GROUP SERVICES: 813.222.1018 or 1016 Events, days, dates, times, performers and prices are subject to change without notice. *Limit 4 tickets. Not applicable to prior sales. Cannot be combined with any other offer. Subject to availability.

Sea Grapes Fine Wine & Food Festival at The Florida Aquarium. 8 to 11 p.m. Fundraiser event for education and conservation programs. Wine and food samplings from local restaurants. 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa. $95. Info at (813) 273-4000 or visit seagrapes.org.

A Night at the Theatre, favorite Broadway songs and opera arias by Kyoung and Won Cho at Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Rd. $18 tickets/advance. Call (813) 269-1310 or visit carrollwoodcenter.org.

Send Around Town news to Senior Connection Magazine, 1602 S. Parsons Ave., Seffner, FL 33584; please fax (813) 651-1989. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. April 10 for May event.)

Sometimes a bachelor just needs a perfect plan, a strict schedule and a housekeeper who never forgets to change the photographs.

NOW - MAY 6 Tickets & info: 813.229.STAR (7827)

STRAZCENTER.ORG

Group Services: 813.222.1018 or 1016 Events, days, dates, times, performers and prices are subject to change without notice.

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 7

At The Top Of MOSI’s Skytrail

Local senior friend Don Clark and MOSI representative Pat Robison scale the museum’s exciting new 36-foot-high Skytrail ropes course. What a rush! To learn more, call the Museum of Science and Industry at (813) 987-6000.

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 8

You Have A Choice!

Sick of Skin Cancer Surgery?

asal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma are the most common skin cancers in the world. Over two million will be diagnosed in the United States in 2012. Around 400,000 will be diagnosed in Florida alone! And what is the most common treatment for these cancers? If you guessed surgery, you are absolutely right! You know the scenario: painful anesthetic injections, timeconsuming surgery (lasting one or

two days), stitches, changing bandages, post-operative pain and bleeding, stitches, the stitch removal and the scar. Yes, there is another answer: Low dose X-ray. Low dose X-ray can replace surgery with the same or better cure rates. Imagine treatments that last a few seconds. You don’t have to! These treatments that last less than a minute are being used right now in some very prominent dermatology practices. The low dose X-ray is delivered just to the skin and the tumor. The tumor is treated with no shots, no blades, no stitches, no bleeding and...NO SCAR! Yes, this is the cutting edge (actually, non-cutting edge, because we do not use any blades). You are sick of skin cancer surgery! You deserve better! And, now you can have it! To learn more, call Forman Dermatology at (813) 960-2400.

It was painless.

No scar where the cancer was removed.

NO shots! NO stitches! NO pain!

As featured on “THE DOCTORS” NBC affiliate WFLA-8 and CBS affiliate WFTS-10 Seth B. Forman, MD Diplomate, The American Board of Dermatology 4915 Ehrlich Road • Tampa, FL 33624

813.960.2400

www.Formanderm.com New Medicare Patients Welcome

WE LOVE OUR SENIORS. You built our great country. It is an honor to serve you! Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 9

How Do Flea Markets Do in This Economy? Quite Well!

Don Esbenshade (79) has been a vendor at Wagon Wheel Flea Market for 35 years. His specialty now is colorful Murano glassware although, like many long-time flea market vendors, over the years he has followed several trends in products.

flea market fan could make an entire vacation—summer or winter—right here in west central Florida flea markets and probably never visit the same booth twice. In fact, the combination of the weak economy and television programs that showcase auctions, pickers and re-sellers have driven the public’s interest in flea markets to their highest level ever as people look for both great deals and hidden treasures. Whether it’s a roadside table full of a family’s castoffs or a covered building with lighting and concrete floors; whether it’s a man’s second job to feed the family or the retiree’s hobby, flea market outings can provide unlimited wandering and maybe, just maybe, the big “find.”

Webster—an early tourist attraction Flea markets—”swap meets” they’re called out west—actually have a long history in Florida. In the ‘70s, before Disney and Busch Gardenstype attractions, Sumter Farmer’s Market, or Webster Flea Market as it is commonly called, was the 8th biggest tourist attraction in Florida. Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 10

According to Webster Flea Market’s General Manager, Mark Harrell, the original farmers market started in 1937 when local farmers needed a place to sell their surplus produce. And it’s done nothing but grow ever since. During the winter months, as many as 50,000 people make their way through the flea market every Monday. Bus groups come from as far away as Orlando to check out the merchandise. Besides being so huge, Webster Flea Market has made a name for itself because it’s only open on Mondays, while most flea markets are weekends only. New merchandise, used items, an entire wholesale area and every specialty market imaginable fill building after building of stalls. One entire building is for produce. Across the street from the flea and farmers market area is Webster WestSide which showcases antique and collectible dealers. Want a 1920’s Lone Ranger lunch box? Coke collectibles? Militaria? All the many other things your mom threw away? They’re there! Many vendors have spent decades selling at Webster on Mondays, changing their merchandise to meet new needs. Harrell said one mistake novice vendors make is not finding a “niche” market. “If you sell what too many others are selling you won’t last long.”

Wagon Wheel Flea Market Harold Huntley started the Wagon Wheel Flea Market in Pinellas Park 43 years ago and has over 2,000 vendors in winter and 1,000 in summer. Huntley understands both his vendors and his customers. “A good vendor has to use common sense, have a good product and be friendly with the customers.” Internet sites and trade magazines also help vendors know what’s hot and what’s not. “When I started 43 years ago, most everything people brought to sell was used,” Huntley said. “Gradually there was less and less used stuff out there and more new, overstock merchandise. Our customers didn’t like it. They wanted to see the used stuff, so for a few years in the ‘70s or ‘80s, I gave free space to people who would sell used items.”

He continued, “It’s funny because if there’s a table that has disorganized used stuff on it, people will buy because they think it’s a bargain.” Do flea market owners become shoppers? “I love the shopping part of being here,” admitted Huntley who has turned most of the management of Wagon Wheel over to his son. Babe Wright has been a part of the Oldsmar Flea Market since 1980. Have flea markets lost their popularity, I asked. “We have been busy, very busy, all winter. I don’t know if it has anything to do with the economy, but I’m glad.” She helped get it started, she said, “Because a lot of people in this area like to have a little business, something to do, but if they pay big rent they don’t have much left. Here they don’t have utilities or upkeep to worry about either.” She encourages people to visit Oldsmar Flea Market. “Here you can have a beer and look around until you find what you want.” Some area flea markets:

Belleview: The Market of Marion, 12888 SE. U.S. Hwy 441 (352) 245-6766 Belleview: Flea City USA, 12180 Hwy. 441 (352) 245-3532 Bonita Springs: Flamingo Island Flea Market, 1902 Bonita Beach Rd. (941) 948-7799 Bradenton: Red Barn Flea Market, 1707 First St. E. (941) 747-3794 Bradenton: Roma Flea Market, 5715 15th St. E. (941) 756-9036 Clearwater: Forty Niner Flea Market. 10525 – 49th St. N. (813) 473-3367 Dade City: Old Timers Flea Market. N. Hwy. 301 (352) 567-5085 Fort Myers: Fleamasters, MLK Hwy., exit 138 (239) 334-7001 Ft. Myers: Ortiz Avenue Flea Market, I-75 mile marker #24 (941) 694-5019 Oldsmar Flea Market, 180 N. Racetrack Rd. (813) 855-5306 Palmetto: The Country Market, Hwy. 301 & 41 (941) 723-6000 Pinellas Park: Wagon Wheel Flea Market, 7801 Park Blvd. (727) 544-5319 Port Charlotte: Sun Flea Market, U.S. Hwy. 41 & 776 (941) 255-3532 Tampa: Big Top Flea Market, 9250 E. Fowler Ave. (813) 986-4004 Webster Farmers Flea Market, Hwy. 47 N. (352) 793-2021

How to shop at a flea market: If you know what you want, locate the office and ask the staff. They’ll know who sells what you want, from canvas awnings to wooden zebras. No specific item on your radar? Wander and enjoy!

HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital Of Largo Awarded Certification H

ealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo has earned certification for Disease-Specific Care in stroke rehabilitation. The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ was awarded to the hospital for its compliance with the organization’s national standards for healthcare quality and safety for stroke rehabilitation. To earn the certification, HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo underwent a rigorous on-site survey. A surveyor with expertise in the care of patients with neurological issues from the Joint Commission evaluated the hospital’s stroke rehabilitation program for compliance with standards of care specific to the needs of patients and families, including the provision and quality of care, medical staff, leadership and medication management. Studies indicate that 60 percent of stroke survivors can benefit from comprehensive rehabilitation. 80 percent of patients receiving this

level of therapy return to their homes, work, schools or active retirement, according to the National Rehabilitation Caucus. The Joint Commission’s acknowledgement of HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo’s continuum of care for stroke offers patients and families peace of mind in knowing they are getting quality stroke care for maximized results. Founded in 1951, The Joint Commission seeks to continuously improve health care for the public, in collaboration with other stakeholders, by evaluating health care organizations

and inspiring them to excel in providing safe and effective care of the highest quality and value. Learn more about The Joint Commission at jointcommission.org. About HealthSouth Rehabilitation of Largo HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Largo is a 70-bed inpatient rehabilitation hospital that offers comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation services. Serving patients throughout Pinellas County and surrounding areas, the hospital is located at 901 N. Clearwater Largo Road and on the web at healthsouthlargo.com.

About HealthSouth Corporation HealthSouth is the nation’s largest owner and operator of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in terms of revenues, number of hospitals, and patients treated and discharged. Operating in 26 states across the country and in Puerto Rico, HealthSouth serves patients through its network of inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation satellite clinics and home health agencies. HealthSouth’s hospitals provide a higher level of rehabilitative care to patients who are recovering from conditions such as stroke and other neurological disorders, orthopedic, cardiac and pulmonary conditions, brain and spinal cord injuries, and amputations. HealthSouth can be found on the web at healthsouthlargo.com. For more information, please contact HealthSouth Rehabilitation of Largo at (727) 586-2999.

Phone: 727-586-2999

901 N. Clearwater Largo Road • Largo, FL 33770 www.healthsouthlargo.com Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 11

Boomer Women Have Focus on Self-Reliance • As women get older, they indicate they’ve contributed significantly to their children and that the time has come to focus on their own needs for both enjoyment and independence.

others have always been known for their willingness to sacrifice financially if it meant their children could have what they needed. Now, a MetLife Mature Market Institute study shows that boomer women are also placing a strong emphasis on self-reliance and providing for themselves. Here are some results of the study: • Boomer women (in fact women across all generations) desire to be able to give more financially to children or grandchildren. • Boomer women agree that they need to prepare for retirement to avoid depending on family members later in life.

• Boomer women generally would be reluctant to accept financial help from their children. • Boomers feel that they are more financially secure than the other generations of women today. • If given the choice between spending money to enjoy retirement versus saving with the intent to leave an inheritance, boomer women feel it is important to stay focused on enjoying retirement and giving small gifts to children.

• Although they felt they would give financial help to parents and/or inlaws in times of financial difficulty, most boomer women wouldn’t want to accept financial help from their adult children, even if they needed it. • Among women, life insurance is viewed as a key component to

ensuring their family’s financial security. As one respondent to the study said, “I couldn’t imagine not having life insurance. I just can’t imagine there being that added stress for my family.”

• Over half of boomer women said life insurance is to support their spouse if they die prematurely, followed by having money to cover funeral costs. • Few boomer women feel a responsibility to support a grandchild’s education. “What’s apparent from this study is that having a plan for independence is important for family financial security, especially for women as they age; many clearly don’t want to rely on their families,” said Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D., director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute.

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Fares are per person based on double occupancy, subject to availability and change, and include all port charges and government fees. Cruise must be booked through AAA Travel only. Featured physicians and programs are based on 100 paid participants. Airfare to/from Miami is not included. A deposit of $250 per person is due within 5 days of booking; final payment is due 10/12/12. Travel protection insurance is not included, but highly recommended. Other restrictions may apply. Ships’ Registry: Malta Ask your AAA Travel Professional for complete details. The Auto Club Group Southern Region is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the printing of this flyer.

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 12

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How Much Do You Love BRANDON HEARING CENTERS That Doggie in the Window? You’ll hear the difference!

mericans love their pets to the tune of spending $60 billion (Yes, Billion!) per year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. So you get a pet. There are the adoption fees, spaying/neutering, collars, litter boxes, cages, carrier

Fish: $35

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bags, aquariums, training classes, etc. Those are the initial setup costs. What happens after those costs? The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) breaks down the annual costs of pets this way. Cost per year by pet:

Medium dog: $470

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Getting Pious with a Little Help from Social Network and Church

riendships forged at church seem to play a major role in people’s religious activities and beliefs—even when it comes to their views about how exclusive heaven is, according to a national study from Baylor University. “Although church-based friendship networks seem to bolster religiosity across the board, the effect of how enmeshed people are in congregational friendships is stronger on their religious behavior than on their beliefs. “This makes sense—church-goers may not necessarily chat about the finer points of theological beliefs, such as the existence of demons, but they do seem to talk about things like prayer requests or upcoming church events, things that

more directly lead to an effect on religious behavior,” said Samuel Stroope at Baylor. “Also, friends at church can see behavior. Beliefs are harder to monitor.” The study also found a weaker but consistent link between church friends and various religious beliefs. People with no friends at church held fewer supernatural beliefs than people who reported that some or more of their friends attended their church. Meanwhile, when it came to the view of the Bible, drawing a greater proportion of one’s friends from church was associated with increased odds of affirming that the Bible “should be taken literally, word for word on all subjects,” Stroope said. (Newswise)

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Matinee Moments BY JUNE HURLEY YOUNG

t’s not Some Enchanted Evening. It’s an enchanted matinee April 6 at Ruth Eckerd Hall when Rodger and Hammersteins “South Pacific” fills the stage in a larger then life production at 2 p.m. You know the songs. You’re probably humming them right now. Call (727) 791-7400 for tickets. Are you sad when you remember our unforgettable favorite, Judy Garland? “The Judy Garland Songbook” comes to life at 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 24 at the Mahaffey Theatre in St. Petersburg. Lorna Luft sings a tribute to our beloved Judy. “Songs My Mother Taught Me” completes her concert of melodious ballads. Call (727) 892-5798 for reservations.

The matinee mystery/comedy “Catch Me If You Can” plays at St. Petersburg City Theatre April 20 and 27. For tickets, call (727) 866-1973.

“Fallen Angels” are the two married women who are anticipating a meeting with their former lover in several matinee performances at the Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, beginning April 7. A second drama in April at the Asolo is “Red.” This biography explores modern art and the life of abstract expressionist, Mark Rothko. Call 800-361-8388 for dates, times and reservations. The Asolo Repertory Theatre is in the FSU Center for the Performing Arts at 5555 N.Tamiami Trail (Route #41), Sarasota. Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 13

In the Mouth, Smoking Zaps Healthy Bacteria

“The smoker’s mouth kicks out the good ccording to a February 2012 study bacteria, and the by Ohio State University, smokpathogens are called in,” ing causes the body to turn against its said Kumar. “So they’re own helpful bacteria, leaving smokallowed to proliferate ers more vulnerable to disease. much more quickly than Despite the daily disturbance of they would in a nonbrushing and flossing, the mouth of smoking environment.” a healthy person contains a stable The results suggest that ecosystem of healthy bacteria. New dentists may have to offer research shows that the mouth of a more aggressive treatment smoker is a much more chaotic, diverse for smokers and would have good reason ecosystem—and is much more suscep- to suggest quitting smoking, Kumar said. tible to invasion by harmful bacteria. She likens a healthy biofilm to a lush, green lawn of grass. “When you change the dynamics of what goes into the lawn, like too much water or too little fertilizer,” she said, “you get some of As a group, smokers suffer from the grass dying, and weeds moving in.” higher rates of oral diseases— For smokers, the “weeds” are problem especially gum disease—than do bacteria known to cause disease. nonsmokers, which is a challenge for “When you compare a smoker and dentists, according to Purnima Kumar, nonsmoker, there’s a distinct differassistant professor of periodontology ence,” said Kumar. “The first thing you at Ohio State University. notice is that the basic ‘lawn,’ which BY MAUREEN LANGLOIS

Health

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 14

would normally contain thriving populations made of just a few types of helpful bacteria, is absent in smokers.” The team found that for nonsmokers, bacterial communities regain a similar balance of species to the communities that were scraped away during cleaning. Disease-associated bacteria are largely absent, and low levels of cytokines show that the body is not treating the helpful biofilms as a threat. “By contrast,” said Kumar, “smokers start getting colonized by pathogens—bacteria that we know are harmful—within 24 hours. It takes longer for smokers to form a stable microbial community, and when they do, it’s a pathogen-rich community.” Smokers also have higher levels of cytokines, indicating that the body is mounting defenses against infection.

Clinically, this immune response takes the form of red, swollen gums—called gingivitis—that can lead to the irreversible bone loss of periodontitis. In smokers, however, the body is not just trying to fight off harmful bacteria. The types of cytokines in smokers’ gum swabs showed the researchers that smokers’ bodies were treating even healthy bacteria as threatening. Although they do not yet understand the mechanisms behind these results, Kumar and her team suspect that smoking is confusing the normal communication that goes on between healthy bacterial communities and their human hosts. Practically speaking, these findings have clear implications for patient care, according to Kumar. “It has to drive how we treat the smoking population,” she said. “They need a more aggressive form of treatment, because even after a professional cleaning, they’re still at a very high risk for getting these pathogens back in their mouths right away.” (From Newswise)

To Use Generics or Not to Use Generics

. My doctor says I should switch to the generic version of Lipitor, but is it really the same as Lipitor?

A. Many of my patients

are asking the same question. My answer to them and to you is pretty much the standard advice: the generic version of Lipitor, called atorvastatin, is highly likely to be just as safe and effective as Lipitor, and also cheaper for you, because of lower co-pays, not just for the insurance company. A generic drug contains the same chemical as the corresponding brand-name drug. The FDA is legally required to determine that generics are “bioequivalent” to brand-name drugs, which means they produce similar blood concentrations of the same chemical. Independent researchers

have also concluded that generics are just as safe and effective. A Harvard colleague of mine, Dr. Aaron Kesselheim, came to that conclusion after analyzing 47 studies of various heart medicines, including statins. Many generics are produced in other countries, and overseas manufacturers do make mistakes, but that’s also true of U.S.-based manufacturers. The FDA does regulate the manufacture of all drugs sold in the United States, which is reassuring. So I can’t give you an absolute guarantee that generic atorvastatin will be equal to brand-name Lipitor. But I can tell you this: I take Lipitor, and I’ll be switching to generic atorvastatin, so I will be following my own advice (something my wife has suggested that I should do more often). — Anthony Komaroff, M.D.

Front Door Improvements for Aging in Place

good place to start making your house comfortable for aging in place is the front door. Here are four tips:

• Lighting: Increase lighting along pathways and entryways. Motion sensors and timers light the way without the hassle of remembering to flip the switch. • Pathways: Make sure walking surfaces are kept smooth and obstacle-free. If stairs are the only option, be sure to include handrails on both sides. Make the transition at the door threshold as smooth and even as possible to avoid trips and falls. • Resting place: Install a small bench or shelf next to the front door to hold packages or supplies to free up hands when opening the door.

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• Keys: Use Kwikset’s SmartCode deadbolts and handle sets which allow for easy, keyless entry with the touch of a button. SmartCode allows for several codes to be programmed and changed easily, a convenience to allow neighbors and caregivers access without duplicating keys. Kwikset also offers handle sets and levers that make it easier to open and close doors no matter your dexterity. Planning ahead can mean the difference between staying in your own home for years to come.

Call toll-free 1-855-441-2020 to schedule a consultation today. • To help you get rid of glasses and contacts*, we offer a wide range of treatment options that fit your needs, lifestyle & budget. • Our ophthalmologists are some of the most experienced surgeons in the Tampa area. ©2012 LCA-Vision Inc. dba Visium Eye Institute. *Individual results vary, glasses may still be needed. As with any surgery, there are possible risks. Call or visit our website for more information.

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Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 15

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Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 16

The Many Faces of Depression epression isn’t a one-size-fits-all about taking medication or keeping D illness. Just like a rash or heart therapy appointments. Don’t ignore disease, depression can take many comments about suicide. If you forms. As you’ll see, there’s a cluster of symptoms that are typically present, but one person’s experience of depression often differs from another’s. Definitions of depression—and the therapies designed to ease this disease’s grip—also continue to evolve. What is major depression? Major depression may make you feel as though work, school, relationships and other aspects of your life have been derailed or put on hold indefinitely. You feel constantly sad or burdened, or you lose interest in all activities, even those you previously enjoyed. This holds true nearly all day, on most days, and lasts at least two weeks. Signs of depression include changes in appetite and/ or sleep, slowdown in activities or heightened restlessness, feeling tired and/or worthless, feelings of guilt and thoughts of suicide.

What is bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder always includes one or more episodes of mania, characterized by high mood, grandiose thoughts and erratic behavior. It also often includes episodes of depression. During a typical manic episode, you would feel terrifically elated, expansive, or irritated over the course of a week or longer. Symptoms may include grandiose ideas or pumped-up self-esteem, urgent desire to talk and great distractibility. It can include a pleasure-seeking urge that might get funneled into sexual sprees, overspending or a variety of schemes, often with disastrous consequences. Coping with a Loved One Like a pebble thrown into a pond, depression, dysthymia and bipolar disorder create ripples that spread far from their immediate point of impact. Those closest to people who have these illnesses often suffer alongside them. But you can do a lot to help a loved one and yourself handle this difficult period. Encourage him or her to get treatment and stick with it. Remind the person

believe your loved one is suicidal, call his or her doctor or therapist. If neither is available, call a local crisis center or emergency room.

• Care for yourself. Being a caretaker is a difficult job. You may want to seek individual therapy or join a support group. Numerous mental health organizations can provide you with information on the illness and treatments.

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• Offer emotional support. Your patience and love can make a huge difference. Ask questions and listen carefully to the answers. Try not to brush off or judge the other person’s feelings, but do offer hope. Suggest activities that you can do together, and keep in mind that it takes time to get better. Remind yourself that a disease is causing your loved one to act differently or perhaps be difficult. Do not blame him or her, just like you wouldn’t if it were chronic physical pain that caused the person to change in certain ways. • Try to prevent reckless acts during manic episodes. It’s all too common for a person to make poor decisions when manic, so it’s a good idea to try to prevent this problem by limiting access to cars, credit cards and bank accounts. Watch for signs that a manic episode is emerging. Disruption of sleep patterns can trigger an episode, so support your loved one in keeping a regular sleep schedule. Consistent patterns for other activities such as eating, exercising, and socializing may also help. Information from Harvard Health Letter

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lorida’s Long-Term Care Ombudsman Program needs volunteers to join its corps of dedicated advocates who protect the rights of elders who live in nursing homes, assisted living facilities and adult family care homes. The program’s local councils are seeking additional volunteers to identify, investigate and resolve residents’

concerns. Special training and certification is provided. All interested individuals who care about protecting the health, safety, welfare and rights of long-term care facility residents—who often have no one else to advocate for them—are encouraged to call toll-free 1-888-831-0404 or visit the program’s website at ombudsman.myflorida.com.

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 17

Veterans Corner

Questions about Veterans Care BY JANICE DOYLE

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Dr. José Vasquez, M.D.

BAY AREA INFECTIOUS DISEASE ASSOCIATES Dr. Vasquez obtained his medical degree from Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru. His internship and residency in Internal Medicine were done at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, and his Infectious Disease fellowship at University of Cincinnati, Ohio. He then worked as Assistant Professor of Medicine at East Tennessee State University and Chief of Infectious Diseases at the

Veterans Administration Medical Center in Johnson City, Tennessee. Dr. Vasquez moved to Tampa in 1999 to join Dr. Prieto’s private practice. Dr. Vasquez chairs the Infection Control Committee at Brandon Regional Hospital and is member of the American College of Physicians, the Infectious Disease Society of America and the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology.

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Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 18

RSVP with Jan Reserve your seat TODAY

: Is there extra V.A. Help for veterans who are housebound or can’t care for themselves?

A: A low-income veteran with war-

time service who is unable to care for himself or is disabled and housebound might be eligible for V.A. Aid & Attendance (A&A) or Housebound benefits, which can be paid in addition to a low-income, wartime veteran’s basic pension. A veteran must qualify for a low-income veteran’s basic pension in order to also get either A&A or Housebound benefits. A veteran can receive either A&A benefits or Housebound benefits, but not both at the same time. How to determine eligibility: A veteran eligible for a low-income pension may also be eligible for A&A benefits if at least one of the following conditions applies: • The veteran requires assistance from another person to perform activities of daily living (ADLs): bathing, eating, dressing, using the toilet, getting in and out of a bed or chair, walking, taking medication. • The veteran is bedridden, meaning that his condition requires that he remain in bed other than during prescribed convalescence or treatment. • The veteran resides in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity. • The veteran is blind (corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less, in both eyes). A veteran eligible for a low-income pension may also be eligible for Housebound benefits if at least one of the following conditions applies: • The veteran has a single, permanent 100 percent disability (as determined by V.A. disability rules) and is therefore substantially and permanently confined to his residence. • The veteran has a single, permanent 100 percent disability, plus another disability or disabilities evaluated by the V.A. as 60 percent or more disabling.

How to apply: A veteran applies for A&A or Housebound benefits at the regional office that processes the veteran’s pension benefits. If the veteran is just beginning the lowincome pension application process, he can apply for the basic pension as well as A&A or Housebound benefits at any V.A. regional office. For more information on applying for low-income V.A. pension benefits, see “Does the V.A. have a pension for senior or disabled low-income veterans?”

Q: Does the V.A. pay for family as a caregiver when they take care of a veteran’s that is in need of care?

A: The Veterans Aid and Attendance

Pension Benefit can be used as a source of money to pay family caregivers to provide care at home. This benefit, under the right circumstances, can provide up to $1,949 a month in additional income to pay family members to provide care at home. Getting veterans benefits for paid family caregivers is not an easy task. There must be a caregiver contract in place and services for care must be initiated and thoroughly documented before application can be made. In addition, state and federal tax requirements must be met. Getting these applications approved requires an understanding of the documentation requirements. You can visit the National Care Planning Council website for more information. Questions and answers taken from lawguru.com/answers and caring.com.

Take Your Blood Pressure Pills at Bedtime

BY HOWARD LEWINE, M.D., Harvard Health Publications

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” hat oft-quoted Bible passage doesn’t apply just to rending and sewing, weeping and laughing or gathering stones together. Your body has its own set of “seasons,” many of them following the turn of a complete day. Taking some medications at specific times of the day can help them work better. A new study suggests that blood pressure drugs taken at night might improve blood pressure and prevent more heart attacks and strokes than taking the same medications during the day. In one study, after an average of 5½ years, study participants who took at least one blood pressure medicine at night had better blood pressure control. They also were about onethird as likely to have a heart attack or stroke, or to develop heart failure, as those who took morning pills. In most people, blood pressure begins to rise just before getting out of bed in the morning and reaches its peak around mid-day. It falls during sleep, reaching its lowest point of day between midnight and 3 or 4 a.m. This drop is sometimes called “dipping.” But people with high

blood pressure often have little or no decrease in their blood pressure at night. One possible reason for this is blood pressure medicines taken around breakfast time have worn off.

When to take the pills In deciding when to take your blood pressure pills, the most important thing is to pick a time that ensures you will take your medicine every day. If you take only one pill, ask your doctor whether taking it at night might be better for you. If you take more than one drug, then taking at least one of them at night before bed makes sense. Don’t start doing this on your own. There might be specific reasons why your doctor prefers you take your medicine in the morning. For example, older people need to be careful about taking blood pressure pills at night. Standing up too quickly in the middle of the night can lead to a sudden blood pressure drop and a fall.

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Smokers 51-70 yrs old needed for research study If you are a smoker, you may be eligible for a study on smoking and attention This is NOT a treatment study. You can earn about $200 for attending 3 sessions! For more information call 813-745-7863 (9am-5pm; M-F) This research is being conducted by the Moffitt Cancer Center at the University of South Florida.

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 20

Medications Help Medicare Answers Only if You Take Them Also, take advantage of free medication programs sponsored by pharmaceutical companies and the discount plans at large retailers and pharmacies.

Dear Marci, I have been an inpatient in a hospital for a week and am being transferred to a skilled nursing facility for admission. Will Medicare cover the cost of my ambulance transport? —Larry

ear Larry, Medicare will pay for ambulance transport only if you are confined to your bed or your health requires transport by an ambulance. Your trip from the hospital to the skilled nursing facility (SNF) is considered a non-emergency ambulance service because your health is not in immediate danger. For all information about Medicare and ambulance service, log on to medicareinteractive.org. Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (medicarerights.org). To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114.

eople with heart disease and other chronic conditions are usually prescribed one or more medications. But most take them only about half the time. Each year, this high rate of “nonadherence” leads to an estimated 125,000 deaths in the United States and costs the health care system between $100 billion and $300 billion. Here are practical tips to help people take the medications they need.

Cost. When you get a new prescrip-

tion, check with your health plan to make sure it’s the lowest-cost option available. If not, talk with your doctor.

Complexity. If you take several medications with different dosing schedules, talk with your doctor about how to streamline your medication regimen. Also, recent studies have shown that using mail-order pharmacies can improve medication adherence, presumably through convenience and cost advantages. Side effects. Heart medications

come with non-life-threatening but bothersome side effects, including fatigue, nausea, coughing and muscle pain. Both doctors and pharmacists can offer effective strategies to ease side effects, but only if you talk with them about it. From the Feb. 2012 Harvard Heart Letter.

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just threw my watch in the “Ten-ten AM, trash. I got it as a gift a while Thursday, back—and it was something March 29th, else. It had four different 2012” digital displays, about a dozen buttons, was waterproof to about a thousand feet, and I think it could even tell me the weather. I’ll never know, though, because, like I said, it’s in the trash. Turns out it couldn’t do the one thing I want a watch to do … tell me the correct time. It always ran a little slow, which was bad enough, but there were so many displays and they were so small that I couldn’t easy-to-understand voice. So whether tell the time even if it was accurate. you’re driving to an appointment or When I tried to reset it, I pushed the dining in a candlelit restaurant … you wrong button and set it on military time, are sure to know the exact time. Press and I couldn’t figure out how to switch it the button again and it will even tell you back. That was the last straw. Now, I’ve the day and date if you want. There’s got a great watch. It’s super-accurate, even an automatic hourly chime. easy-to-read, and it will even tell … yes tell … me the time. Best of all, I’ll never Try it for yourself… it’s risk-free. have to set it! This is the watch I’ve The US Atomic Clock cost billions to been waiting for. build and maintain, but you can have the next best thing for less than one Whether you travel or not… this watch is hundred dollars. Thanks to a special a necessity. This Talking Atomic Watch arrangement with the manufacturer, from firstSTREET maintains its we can offer you this watch at a phenomenal accuracy because it is special price with our exclusive designed to receive a signal from home trial. If you are not completely the US Atomic Clock in Fort Collins, amazed by the accuracy and quality Colorado. This clock is the standard of this product, simply return it within for time measurement worldwide… it 90 days for a “No Questions Asked” can go 20 million years without gaining refund of the product purchase price. or losing a second! It never needs to Call now. be set, because it automatically adjusts itself for daylight savings time and leap years.

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ike a lot of women, Pam Starobin was petite to begin with. When she realized she was aging and getting shorter, she took matters into her own hands and created the SittingTaller Handbag. It’s basically an unobtrusive adult booster seat in a handbag which adds three inches to your seated height. “Carry your height in your handbag” is the motto for the product which can be discreetly tucked under you when you sit down. “People think I’m just reaching down to put my bag on the floor,” says Starobin. “They don’t notice that I’m sitting on it.” It works in theaters, restaurants, etc. It doesn’t make you ridiculously tall when you sit, says the creator, it just makes you a “standard” height, like everyone around you. Grandchildren will love it too. For photos and order information, visit online at sittingtaller.com or call (914) 582-8027.

Dog Food: What’s Important? BY DR. BOB ENCINOSA

n enormous amount of money is spent on pet food marketing campaigns every year and by dog owners buying food for their pets. I will tell you that spending lots of money on dog food is rarely worthwhile. Most of the modestly priced brand name foods, like Purina, are as good as brands costing three times as much. The major exceptions to that rule are prescription diets specifically formulated for dogs with certain health problems, i.e. bladder stones, kidney failure or diabetes.

Caring For Your Pet I personally avoid the generic brand dog foods, although many of those are quite adequate for most dogs. The fact is that dog food makers adhere to strict government guidelines regarding contents and manufacturing methods.

The cut of meat going into a food is unimportant. What is important is the digestible protein content. Prime cuts of meat don’t go into hot dogs, hamburgers, potpies, canned soups and other prepared human foods, yet many pet owners, without good scientific reason, insist their pets eat better than they do. Like humans, dogs are not strict carnivores, yet people spend extra money buying dog foods that advertise “beef before corn.” Vegetables and certain grains are very good for dogs and diets too high in protein can be detrimental, especially for today’s sedentary animals. Preservatives are as important for safety in dry dog foods as they are in packaged human foods. How well and long foods are stored can vary greatly and preservatives help insure that pets don’t consume spoiled proteins

or rancid fats. If you really want to safely avoid preservatives, try canned or frozen foods, which generally have no preservatives. As veterinarians, we see tens of thousands of dogs from birth to old age, and many veterinarians will tell you most of the hype surrounding expensive dog foods is just that…hype. Here is the biggest problem with dog foods. Owners feed too much of it. At least 60 percent of dogs reflect their humans’ problem with healthy eating; they eat too much and are therefore obese to varying degrees. For humans and pets, eating less, without regard to what is eaten, translates to longer lives, less diabetes, less heart disease, less arthritis, lower blood pressure and even less cancer. So even if you still insist on overspending on dog foods, you can still save money by feeding less of it!

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Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 23

Change Gmail Default Font and Other Hot Tips

Mr. Modem

by Richard Sherman When I compose a Gmail message, I have a choice of colors, fonts and other formatting for that one message. I’d like to make Verdana my default font for all messages. How can I do that? In Gmail, go to Settings > Labs (or select Labs under Quick Links) and enable Default Type Styling. Be sure to click Save at the bottom. Next, return to the General tab on the Settings page and use the font drop-down menu to change to your desired font type, style and size from the list of available fonts. How can I tell if I have a USB 2.0 port? I need that for a new external drive I purchased? Any computer purchased after 2005 is going to have USB 2.0,

but XP users can check by rightclicking My Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager button, then scroll down to Universal Serial Bus Controllers and click the little plus (+) sign. If you’re using Vista or Windows 7, go to Start > Search and look for “Device Manager.” Type “Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller.” The exact wording may vary, but the key is the word Enhanced. If it’s Enhanced, it’s USB 2.0.

My HP printer always prints the last page first. How can I change that so it prints the first page first? Many users, myself included, have their printers configured to print in last-page-first mode because it avoids having to manually sort multi-page documents. If you prefer first-page-first printing, there is a setting within some (not all) printer software that allows you to change this. The precise steps will vary, but generally click Start > Settings

> Printers or Start > Printers and Faxes, depending on the version of Windows that you’re using. Right-click your printer and select Properties > General tab > Printing Preferences. Click the Features tab and look for the “Start printing from last page” option. Click to remove the check mark from that selection and click OK twice to save your changes and exit.

I’m a recent subscriber to your weekly computer-help newsletter, which I really appreciate. Thank you for such a valuable service. Can you tell me how I can save my Favorites to a jump drive? I’m using Vista. Start by inserting your jump drive, which is also called a flash, thumb or USB drive, into a USB port on your computer. When the AutoRun menu appears, select “Open folder to view files,” then drag that window to the side of the screen for the moment. (If AutoRun doesn’t appear, use Windows Explorer to access the drive’s content.)

For answers to your questions by e-mail, or to subscribe to Mr. Modem’s award-winning weekly newsletter, visit www.MrModem.com.

Great Senior Events!

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Just off the Press

May 23, 2012, (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.) Seminole Senior Fun Fest, Pinellas County Rec. Center Seminole Recreation Center Exhibitors, Free Entertainment, Bingo, Free Health Screenings, Fun Fest Free Coffee & Goodies, Prizes.

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Next, click the Start button, then click your username. A window will open that contains your user folders, including your Favorites. Position this second window so that you can see the content of both open windows on screen. (Note: You can manually drag them into position or press and hold the CTRL key, and click the two open windows icons on the Taskbar. Release the CTRL key, right-click and select “Show Windows Side-by-Side” or “Tile Vertically.”) Drag the Favorites folder from your user window to the flash-drive window. When the copying is completed, close both windows. Before you remove the flash drive, make sure you click the “Safely remove hardware” icon in the System Tray, near the time display on your Taskbar. This will prevent any damage to your data.

• Local and World News • All Your Favorite Events • Great Stories & Information • Travel, Finance, Health & More!

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 24

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Plant City Fun Fest & Jamboree

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June 28, 2012, (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.) Senior Fun Fest & Jamboree, Plant City Strawberry Festival Grounds Live Music, Dancing, Free Bingo, Health Screenings, Senior Sports Area, Free Coffee & Muffins. Fun Games & Prizes. Free Parking & Admission. August 9, 2012, (9 a.m. – 2 p.m.) Senior Friendly Fest, Sun City Center Sun City Center Community Hall, South Campus Live 50s & 60s Music, Trivia, Senior Sports Area, Dancing, Free Bingo Games, Free Coffee & Snacks, Prizes.

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…play games online hundreds to choose from! Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 25

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5 Financial Tips Every Baby Boomer Should Know T

oday, 10,000 baby boomers will turn 65, and “hoping for the best” in retirement financial planning is not a strategy. Here are five financial tips every baby boomer should know: 1. It’s never too late. Just because someone has reached retirement age, or is nearing it, doesn’t mean that it is too late to make sound financial plans. It’s never too late to create a plan to successfully navigate the rough financial waters. 2. Re-examine your investment strategy. As the focus shifts from growth to income, one may need to reevaluate their current investment strategy to one that may be more appropriate for retirement. 3. Review your risk management plan. It’s important to have proper insurance and legal allocations in place

to help protect any assets that have been acquired. 4. Review your budget. The budgets we have while we are working may be very different from the budgets we have during retirement. While many save on work related expenses, medical costs and travel expenses may rise after retirement. It’s important to have a handle on the types of adjustments. 5. Get professional help. Working with a financial planner can help make the difference in having a financial plan that leaves one feeling confident. A financial planner assesses, makes sound recommendations and helps create an educated and well-thought-out plan designed to help you achieve your retirement goals. It’s never too late to make a realistic plan to live by.

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How Should Your Car Be Titled? BY WILLIAM R. MUMBAUER, Attorney

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reader asks: I own a car that I intend my grandson to have when I die. I’ve been told to put his name on the title now to avoid probate when I die. Do you think this is a good idea?

The Law And You Absolutely not! First of all, under most circumstances, Florida law exempts a car from probate. All that is usually necessary to transfer ownership of a car after death is for the beneficiary to produce a certified copy of the will at the DMV office. And if probate is necessary, there are usually other assets that require probate, so, under this scenario, adding another person’s name to the car title will not avoid the need for probate. Secondly, and most importantly, it is usually unwise to add another person’s

name to a car title because the new joint owner then becomes liable for any subsequent negligent operation of the car. This is true even if a joint owner is not driving the car when the accident occurs. For example, if a grandmother adds her grandson to the title of her car and she is later sued because of an accident involving the car, her grandson will be sued as well. The grandson may be sued even if the car is stolen and later involved in an accident. With the foregoing in mind, it is generally recommended that a car not be titled jointly and that it be allowed to pass by operation of law directly to a beneficiary named in the owner’s will and in those rare circumstances when this is not possible, the car can be included as part of the probate which may otherwise be necessary for other assets of the decedent’s estate.

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Mr. Mumbauer, a fifth generation Floridian, has maintained a law practice in Brandon, Florida since 1980 with emphasis on estate planning. He takes special pride in representing the senior community by maintaining a sensitive and practical approach to problem solving. He is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar and is a participating attorney in the AARP Legal Services Network. He is also a Mentor in probate law and has been qualified by the Second District Court of Appeal in Florida as an expert witness in matters involving the drafting of wills. Mr. Mumbauer’s Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Rating for Legal Ability is High to Very High and his General Recommendation Rating is Very High. His articles are based on general principles of law and are not intended to apply to individual circumstances.

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800-992-3275 ext. 1304 Attorney James S. Giardina Offices: Tampa, FL Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 27

The Courteous ��Second-Grader? Smarter A � Insurance Discounts ��Than ��Sidestep ��Explained ��

BRIDGE BITES

From The American Contract Bridge League

��

BY BRIAN GUNNELL

e learn to count in first and second grade, but somehow this basic skill deserts many bridge players in the heat of battle.

Our Declarer’s (faulty) Plan B was to set up Dummy’s Diamonds. He won the trump return in hand, cashed the ♦A, then Club ruff, Diamond ruff, Club ruff, Diamond ruff. This line of play required good breaks (such as Spades 2-2 and Diamonds 3-3, or failing that the doubleton ♦K). But Declarer’s luck was out and, as the cards lie, it was impossible to enjoy those long Diamonds. Our second-graders need no luck, instead they’ll do some counting: N-S have 23 HCP, so the other guys have 17. In the Heart suit East showed up with five of those 17 missing HCP. West opened the bidding and surely has the remaining 12 HCP. Once Declarer realizes that West has the missing high cards (obviously including the ♣A and ♣Q), it’s routine to win the trump return in hand, and take ruffing finesses against West’s high Clubs. Declarer leads the ♣K which is covered by the Ace and ruffed. Back to hand with a trump. Then the ♣J is led, and run around if West declines to cover. When the dust has cleared, Declarer will have scored five trumps in his hand, plus two Club ruffs in Dummy, plus two Club tricks, and the ♦A. Ten easy tricks for the second-graders! Visit acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email marketing@acbl.org. To find a bridge club in Florida, go to district9acbl.org/D9Clubsmap.htm. Bridge article provided courtesy of St. Petersburg Bridge Club: stpetebridge.org.

ear Mark: I enjoyed your information recently regarding sports wagers but you haven’t mentioned parlay bets. For one small wager you get to bet multiple teams with a decent payback if you win. Did you accidentally ignore this wager? —Justin B.

��

�� West leads a low Heart and East (correctly) inserts the Jack. Two more Hearts are cashed, followed by a trump shift. “Rats!” mutters Declarer, who had been planning to cross-ruff the entire hand, scoring all nine trumps separately. Those ruffs, plus the ♦A, would be enough to fulfill the contract. But, after the trump return, the cross-ruff leaves Declarer a trick short, so it’s time for Plan B.

Check Us Out Online!

Senior Connection Is Now On and

Visit www.twitter.com/MaturLifeStyles or click the Facebook icon on seniorconnectionfl.com for the latest news, contests and fun events in your area. Share your comments with us! Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 28

For Mature Drivers

BY MARK PILARSKI

Justin; besides, don’t you think it’s tough enough to win one game against the spread, let alone five?

Dear Mark: Where I live, Hooters does reasonably well as a restaurant but their casino in Las Vegas is in bankruptcy. Any reason you can think of for that. —Bruce T.

The convenient answer is casino I purposely snubbed it for two saturation, competition from Indian reasons: Primarily because the reader casinos in Southern California and did not inquire about a parlay wager, declining revenue resulting from the and, more to the point, because the economic downturn. However, here’s exorbitant house edge on parlay bets something to mull over: I don’t know stifles any rational enthusiasm. who makes the decisions in your A parlay bet is a way of simultanehousehold on hotel reservations, but ously betting multiple football games at the N. Michigan compound, it’s with a hope of a much larger payoff my wife, and I hardly think she will than offered by a straight singlebook Hooters for a weekend getaway. contest bet, that is, if you hit them all. Each game generally has the same Dear Mark: I have memorized the point spread as straight bets off the basic strategy charts for video poker board. With parlays, if one game Take Your Class Online! and I believe I play at, or near, an does not win, or at least tie, you can expert level. My wife, who plays next Study atto your leisure, day, daysit.aUnless week.she gets say• goodbye your entire bet. 24 hourstoame, just7wings luckyonline and hitsand a couple four-of• Simply read the course materials thenmore answer a-kinds than I do on any given night, I a few quiz questions. typically come home with more money, • There is no need to attend boring classes or listen to or lose less than her. What percentage long lectures. advantage does the casino have over novice player versus someone • After completion, of course wethewill issue a state-certiﬁ ed using basic strategy? —Jake R. certiﬁcate for you to turn into your insurance company to

Have Florida’s Driver’s License ��a�� age ��or�older? � and are 55 years of��

��

�

Recalling from working slots during receive your discount for a three year period.

my Green Felt Jungle days, without your wifeOn learning strategy for the Take Your Mature Driver Course Thea Internet! video poker game she’s playing, the casino is contentedly holdingofat least If you have a Florida Driver’s License and are 55 years an additional three to fourvehicle percent age or older, you are now eligible to complete motor over your happy-go-lucky Ifaccident one of the prevention games is a tie,course then thatadvantage willcompared allow you tosomeone receivelike a wife with that game is ignored and you are mandatory reduction on your insurance rate three years. you playing at anfor expert level. paid according to games you did

win. The corresponding edge, Floridahouse Department ofGambling HighwayWisdom Safety of the Week: based on the number of games and “The single biggest problem for & Motor Approved Course what the casino typically pays Vehicle is as most intelligent and successful people follows: Three teams pay 6 to 1, with who want to gamble in a casino is a house edge of 12.50%. Four teams that the moment they walk into the pay 10 to 1, with a 31.25% casino casino, they lose their intelligence. advantage, and five teams pay 20 They throw away everything that to 1, with a house edge of 34.38%. has made them successful in the first Your cost—the house edge—on any place.” —Wayne Allyn Root, “The sporting bet where you wager $11 to King of Vegas’ Guide to Gambling.” win $10 is just 4.55%. Big difference, (SENIOR WIRE)

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Orlando Hotels Offer Luxury with Pleasant Twists BY YVONNE CURLEY

hen it’s time to get away for a luxury experience with some pleasant and innovative twists, make your reservations at the Grande Lakes Orlando. Two properties comprise Grande Lakes—a JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton. The two hotels are connected by an enclosed walkway and guests are free to take advantage of both properties. For example, if you enjoy art and antiques, stroll through the Ritz public areas even though you may be staying at the JW Marriott. Ritz Carlton guests can enjoy phenomenal breakfast buffets at the Marriott’s Citron restaurant.

Florida fresh twist Giving everything a nice Florida twist is the citrus theme that begins with citrus-infused water offered in the lobby. A sticky twist (though you won’t get it on your fingers) is the recent addition of honey from a new on-site apiary. The citrusy honey will be found on the restaurant menus and in offerings at the eco-friendly RitzCarlton Spa where guests can take full advantage of the natural skincare benefits of honey with the signature Grande Lakes Honey Treatment. For fine dining, look no further than the on-site Primo restaurant with its twist on offering fresh local ingredients, often from the Marriott organic garden. “What we offer is absolutely terrific food with what we call an Italian sensibility,” said Chef Kelly, a 1999 recipient of the James Beard Foundation Award. Guests can take a walk through the chef’s herb garden where each plant is identified by name. The Bodega Cafe offers organic snacks and local products for breakfast and lunch. Other restaurant offerings in the resort complex include an eclectic sushi bar, sandwich areas and several bar areas.

The twist on activities Here’s a twist for beating the Florida heat as well. The large outdoor swimming

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pool flows into the Lazy River and meanders in and out of several smaller pools, all surrounded by lush gardens and waterfalls. You can grab a swimming tube and a cold drink and float down the river, stopping along the way to get out and sit awhile or refresh your drink at several available stops. It all flows right back to where you started—a lovely way to spend mornings, sunny afternoons, late moonlit evenings. If you happen to have the grandchildren along, they’ll spend hours in the area. Now here’s a new twist. The Grande Lakes Orlando offers Fly Fishing, including lessons to learn to fly fish Grande Lake for trophy largemouth bass. Another activity option is the Eco Tour, a guided canoe or kayak tour of Shingle Creek, the headwaters of the Florida Everglades. For golfers, the Ritz Carlton course winds its way through Florida’s natural surroundings, where you might even spot a gator. No worries—he’ll be sunning and can’t be disturbed by the likes of golfers. You might want to try beach volleyball, bikes or even Bocce ball on the properties as well. The rooms No twists or surprises here! The room details are elegant yet modern with soft and restful decorating tones and state-of-the-art technology. Note that although free wifi is available in the public areas, a daily fee applies in-room. Go ahead. Go online now for your reservations and be sure to check for special package rates. For more information, visit grandelakes.com.

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Armchair Travel at Its Best E

nough with the road less traveled. “The Europe no one knows about” has become a tediously familiar destination in modern travel writing. Europe On Five Wrong Turns A Day: One Man, Eight Countries, One Vintage Travel Guide by Doug Mack is straight-up, cliché-ridden tourism. It’s a journey firmly on the beaten path and an exploration of how the path got so beaten in the first place. Mack stumbles on an inspired idea when he picks up a 47-year-old edition of Arthur Frommer’s classic travel guide Europe on Five Dollars a Day.

He decides to go where millions have gone before but with a hopelessly outdated guidebook nearly a half a century old. The result is a funny and fascinating journey into a new (old) world and a disarming reflection on the ways this experience has and hasn’t changed in the last generation. Spanning eight countries and spending far more than five dollars a day, Mack delivers a unique version of armchair time travel with Frommer—who is much like a character out of Mad Men—in tow. It’s travel, it’s history and it’s funny. Doug Mack is based in Minneapolis with a digital home at douglasmack.net.

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 29

The Florida Orchestra: April Brings Brahms, Broadway and More

Last Month’s Answers

March Sudoku

Robert McKee is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

Win Great Prizes!

New winner selected each month

Good Luck!

Apr. 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 Apr. 21 will win. Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: SENIOR CONNECTION OR MATURE LIFESTYLES 1602 S. PARSONS AVE., SEFFNER, FL 33584

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

SUDOKU MUST BE RECEIVED BY APR. 21, 2012

Word Search Apr. 2012

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?

ailed by England’s Manchester Evening News as “one of the greats,” internationally renowned conductor Günther Herbig returns to conduct The Florida Orchestra on the Tampa Bay Times Masterworks series in a program featuring Principal Trumpet Robert Smith in Hummel’s Trumpet Concerto. The program opens with Schubert’s Symphony No. 6 and finishes with Brahms’ mighty Symphony No. 4. These concerts are April 13, 14 and 15 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater respectively. Enjoy complimentary coffee and Krispy Kreme doughnuts at the next Coffee Concert with Stuart Malina conducting a Broadway-themed program of selections from The Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, Oklahoma and more. April 18 at 10 a.m. at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater and April 19 at 11 a.m. at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg. At the next Raymond James Pops concert, it’s a hit parade of best-loved

Word Search

songs by George and Ira Gershwin, Harold Arlen and Cole Porter, including such favorites as “I’ve Got Rhythm,” “Our Love Is Here to Stay,” “I’ve Got the World on a String,” “Old Black Magic,” “Night and Day” and many more. Featuring vocalists Hilary Kole and Joel Malina, Stuart Malina conducts these concerts on April 21 and 22 in St. Petersburg and Clearwater. At the next Tampa Bay Times Masterworks concert, pianist James Tocco performs the U.S. premiere of Eduard Franck’s Piano Concerto No. 1 with The Florida Orchestra. Stefan Sanderling conducts this program, which also includes the prelude to Wagner’s Die Meistersinger and overtures from Weber’s Oberon, Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Nicolai’s The Merry Wives of Windsor and Lortzing’s Der Waffenschmied. These concerts are April 27, 28 and 29 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. Visit floridaorchestra.org or call 1-800-662-7286 for tickets and info.

Answers From

March 2012

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

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on April 21 will win.

MYSTERY WIN! WIN! WIN! MYSTERY SENIOR CONNECTION or PRIZE! PRIZE! MATURE LIFESTYLES GREAT PRIZES! 1602 S. PARSONS AVE. SEFFNER, FL 33584 (Puzzles must be received by Apr. 21, 2012.)

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 30

Elvia Cacciatore is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

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Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 31

Even Eggs Have Changed Over the Years

“bad egg” is not necessarily a bad egg any more. Twenty years ago, we were told to avoid eggs if keeping our cholesterol in check was a health concern. Guess what? Read this statement: Recent nutritional data from USDA researchers indicates the yolk of a large egg contains 41 IU of Vitamin D which is 64 percent more than in 2002. Cholesterol is down 14 percent to 185 milligrams from a previous level of 220 milligrams.

Recipe It really does say that eggs have changed over the years. And here’s the latest from the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans: Independent of other dietary factors, evidence suggests that one egg (i.e., egg yolk) per day does not result in increased blood cholesterol levels, nor does it increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in healthy people. Consuming less than

300 mg per day of cholesterol can help maintain normal blood cholesterol levels. Consuming less than 200 mg per day can further help individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease. All said, watch what you eat in general and enjoy the occasional egg. Here are some ways:

Baked Eggs and Spinach

Skinny Omelet Wrap

1 10 oz. pkg frozen, chopped spinach, defrosted, squeezed dry 4 eggs ¼ cup chunky salsa ¼ cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

2 large eggs Salt, pepper Chopped chives Dollop of pesto Goat cheese or feta Handful of mixed salad greens

Divide spinach evenly among four greased 6-oz. ramekins or custard cups. Press an indentation (about 2-inch diameter) into center of spinach with back of spoon. Break and slip an egg into each indentation. Top evenly with salsa, then cheese. Bake in 325°F oven until whites are completely set and yolks begin to thicken but are not hard, 20 to 25 minutes. From incredibleegg.com

Beat the eggs and pour in a thin layer in largest skillet. Sprinkle with chives. Let eggs set—15 seconds to one minute. Remove to cutting board, spread with pesto; sprinkle on cheese and salad greens. Roll up and enjoy. (This lends itself to many additions besides the greens—asparagus, mushrooms, etc.) From 101cookbooks.com

�� Insurance Discounts For Mature Drivers Take Your Class Online!

��

• Study at your leisure, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. • Simply read the course materials online and then answer a few quiz questions. • There is no need to attend boring classes or listen to long lectures. • After completion, of course we will issue a state-certiﬁed certiﬁcate for you to turn into your insurance company to receive your discount for a three year period.

Have a �Florida’s ��

Driver’s �� License �� and are 55 years ��of ��age ��or ��older? �� Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicle Approved Course Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 32

Take Your Mature Driver Course On The Internet! If you have a Florida Driver’s License and are 55 years of age or older, you are now eligible to complete motor vehicle accident prevention course that will allow you to receive a mandatory reduction on your insurance rate for three years.

To Register go to:

www.seniordriverclass.com

or call 1-800-771-2255

Seniors Getting Together

WOMEN SEEKING MEN

4106 SEEKING CUTE 59 – 65 YO HONEST, one-woman man. IQ, “Patriotic,” conservative with SOH. Love travel? Rent RV? Love Ford Mustangs (rear-drive), beaches, sm dogs! NS/SD/NDrg. I’m 5-5”, HWP, pretty w/blonde hair. Let’s dance—make bucket list! Bay area. 4117 ENTEPRENEURIAL 70+ FULL TIME Professional ISO 60+ Christian, NS gentleman comfortable with international travel, good conversation, energy, creativity and fine wine. Youthful grandmother at 125 lbs., 5’1”, adept at sailing. Harley O.K. Clearwater, proximal to Gulf. 4119 SEEKING CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN Former airline stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., widow, slender, white with Ph.D. in healthcare. Fulbright scholar, eats healthy and exercises. Likes sports and animals. Loves the Lord. Florida.

4123 JAPANESE, CULTURED, ACTIVE, HEALTHY, intelligent, humorous, slender, 5’, youthful, blonde, 80 YO. Likes outdoors, gardening, swimming, dancing, dining out, cooking, entertaining, socializing and music. ISO clean, respectable, NS, C gentleman. Belleair Beach. 4124 SLENDER ISLAND LADY seeking a or only single serious tall Asian, Spanish, Italian or West Indian men, 55+ for friends and more, healthy, handsome and no financial problems. Hillsborough/Pinellas. 4125 SHF IN SEARCH OF NS, ND, easygoing male no older than 60 – 70 years old who likes the simple life. I enjoy sports. Please, Tampa area. 4126 SEEKING SINCERITY-COMMITMENT-MINDED MALE Tired of being alone, games are not part of our playing. Sharing in fun is a good thing. FF, SOH, NS. Age not big factor. S – young senior, attractive, intelligent. Dunedin. 4128 SEEKING NICE GUY WW, 70+ yrs young, C, NS, ND. I like dining out, dancing, travel and more. Holiday.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN 4113 SCM, 57, ISO HEALTHY YOUNG attitude Christian lady who wishes respect, total love. Let’s travel, walk, talk. Your age unimportant; interest in fitness is. I’m finanially secure. Send photo and phone. St. Petersburg. 4120 WANTED SLIM ROMANTIC FEMALE nonsmoker who’s tired of being alone to relocate to new home, share new life, love, companionship, each other. I’m 68, 5’8”, 150 lbs. Send photo with description.

Commonly Used Abbreviations: 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, SOHSense Of Humor, SM-Smokes, S-Light Smoker, NS-Non 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.

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 number 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: News Connection USA, Inc. Seniors Getting Together 1602 S. Parsons Ave.,Seffner, FL. 33584 TO PLACE AN AD

Send your ad, stating what category you would like it placed in, your edition(s), along with a $6 fee for 30 words (25¢ for each additional word, abbreviations not charged) to the News Connection USA, Inc. address listed above. Ads received by the 15th of the month will appear in the following issue. No more than three ads will be accepted each month per person. The editor reserves the right to edit any ads for space or content. In order to protect our readers’ privacy, we will not include phone numbers, e-mail or home addresses in the ad copy. City or area included at no charge.

RUN YOUR AD FOR ONLY $6 A MONTH

SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER Personal Ad Placement

Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month prior to placement.

Only $6 to place an ad!

Mark The Edition(s) You Would Like To Run Your Ad In: Hillsborough & Suncoast (Pinellas/Pasco) Lake/Marion Counties Southwest/Charlotte (Fort Myers/Port Charlotte)

Ad Copy • Please Print Neatly • 30 Word Limit Title (First 4 Words):

$2 OFF for

seniors

Come meet “Winter” the dolphin who lost her tail in a crab trap, now swims freely. City (No Charge):

If more room is needed, please use separate sheet. Mail this form along with $6 for each ad per month (add $4 for each additional edition/market in the same month). We cannot accept your ad without it. This information is conﬁdential.

Name:

(55+)

Good forGood up to Not Not valid with other for6uppeople. to 6 people. valid with otheroffers. offers. Expires December 2011. Code Code XSCA Expires April 31,31,2012. XSCA

Address: City: Phone:

Senior $2offAdmission

State:

Zip:

E-mail:

MAIL TO: SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER, C/O NEWS CONNECTION, USA, INC. 1602 S. PARSONS AVE., SEFFNER, FL 33584

Clearwater Marine Aquarium 249 Windward Passage • Clearwater, FL 33767

(727) 441-1790

www.SeeWinter.com Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 33

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 34

Titanic Museums Open I

f you’ve always been fascinated by the story of the Titanic, now there’s a musical to enjoy and museums filled with memorabilia. Musical performances, historic ceremonies and appearances by actual descendants open April 14 in both Branson, Missouri

and in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The date is the 100th anniversary of the night the ship struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage. Tickets for the unique historical tribute are available now by calling (800) 381-7670.

Stroll Downe Memory Lapn To The Ho

Bachelors & Belles Friday Night Dances

wirl your partner across the largest wooden floor in Tampa, Zendah Grotto Hall: 4402 W. Ohio Ave., Tampa. 8 p.m. to midnight. Admission is $7 for members, $9 for non-members. Snacks and drinks are available. For more information, contact Bud Collins at (813) 971-0817.

Fabulous 50s Parties & Dances

Class Reunions • Birthdays • Anniversaries Sock Hop Dances • Community Events Retirement Parties • Senior Adult Events School Events • Office or Home/Backyard Parties Original Decorations • Live 50s Characters Dancers • Original 50s Music Contact Us For Your Next Event:

727.348.7532 ✭ 727.277.1355 garye123_99@yahoo.com fabulousfiftiesparties.com

restaurants…one location We Seniors! Doing Our Part uGreatTwofood. Great service. Great night.u This Publication Supports Recycling

THE PRESERVE

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Every Sat. night 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. Public Welcome

(813) 752-8608

THE CREEK

Casual fare offering flat screen TVs, daily drink specials and the best wings in town. Call to hear about our nightly all-you-can-eats!

A stress-free white tablecloth fine dining atmosphere offering a fresh, never frozen menu paired with the South Shore’s finest wine list.

Cypress Creek Golf Club 1011 Cypress Village Blvd., Ruskin 813-634-8888, ext. 2

OZZIE’S BUFFET BAR & GRILL “Great American Home Cooking”

Open for:

Breakfast ~ Lunch ~ Dinner

LUNCH & DINNER BUFFET NOW SERVING Welcome Back Friends! Crab Legs & Whole Evening Entertainment! 6pm – 9pm, Wednesday & Thursday

Lobster Specials

American • Caribbean Italian • Oriental Best Fried Chicken in town Best Jamaican Jerk Chicken

Lobster or Crab Dinner

with 2 sides. Buffet not included. u 212

Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 11 a.m. – 8 p.m Fri. – Sat. 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Sun. 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Catering & Take-out Available • Banquet rooms Available

3074 E. COLLEGE AVE.

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PH. (813) 641-1300

Healthy Choices Available SENIOR DISCOUNT Located at Sun Port Plaza

Senior Connection • April 2012 • page 35

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