Senior Connection Hillsborough Nov. 2011 edition

Boomers In Style

Ne

w

VOLUME 22, NUMBER 11

w

at : .com e fl it bs tion e r w nnec u it o co Vis nior . se w w

USS Alabama

• The Perfect Holiday!

• It’s a Small World After All...

• Into America’s Wild West • Facts On Aging

HILLSBOROUGH

NOVEMBER 2011

Veterans Day 2011—A Time for Honor The Sole Purpose of Honor Flights: To transport WWII Veterans to Washington, D.C. to be honored at their memorial

Dear Readers,

H

onoring the group Tom Brokaw referred to as our Greatest Generation has become a pasJanice Doyle, sion to some in this Editor country. Among other things, Honor Flights from all across the country daily deliver groups of WWII veterans to Washington, D.C. They go to visit the WWII Memorial, the Iwo Jima Memorial, Arlington Cemetery, the Korean Memorial and the Vietnam Wall. The veterans marvel at the size of the Pentagon, which was built during WWII. And some who go have never flown on commercial flights before.

If all goes as planned, by the time you read this, I will have served as escort to one of three female WWII veterans among the 71 heroes on the fourth Honor Flight of West Central Florida group—watch for story and photos in our December issue.

Honor Flight History In May, 2004, when the World War II Memorial was dedicated in Washington, D.C., some older veterans dreamed of going but realized they would not be able to make the trip. They lacked the ability to make the trip alone, and their families and friends often lacked the resources and time to complete the trip to the nation’s capital.

Honor Flights began in 2005 when six small planes flew out of Springfield, Ohio, taking twelve World War II veterans on a visit to the Memorial.

A waiting list of veterans wanting to make the trip led to flights on commercial airline carriers. Today, hundreds of veterans make the trip every week (except during the coldest winter months) and thousands of people support and honor them along the way.

The flights include wheelchairs and walkers for the aging veterans, and loading and unloading the planes and buses takes more time than usual— much more time than it took the men to get around during WWII, for sure.

The Ocala Honor Flight, making its fourth flight late in October, will take 98 veterans. Organizer Jim Hilty says, “We will have 98 veterans, 74 guardians, 6 paramedics, 3 doctors, 3 nurses and other medical staff going.”

Trips are free for the veterans; guardians pay their own way. Hilty says each trip for the Ocala group costs $80,000. Many companies as well as individuals help support the flights financially.

Honor Flights depart (very!) early in the morning and return late at night.

Those from longer distances (like South Dakota, etc.) spend the night in Washington before the flight home.

From the beginning, citizen support for Honor Flights has been terrific!

All across the country, huge groups of ordinary citizens meet at the local airports to cheer for the men and women as they leave and as they return—no matter the hour.

What they say Reports always say the Honor Flights are very moving, beautifully patriotic and an absolute joy to witness.

A guardian from the Midwest told me this about leaving the plane with his veteran after the long day: “This was not a usual 10 p.m. deplaning process. Police and Boy Scouts lined

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 2

the walkway saluting each hero. Flags waved. Inside the terminal was a crowd of hundreds—cheering, waving, crying, clapping, smiling, hollering, hugging!

The heroes were in no hurry. They shook hands. They smiled. Johnnie (my veteran) had remained stoic and unemotional all day, but now he truly felt the love and admiration being poured on him. He felt appreciated. A Shriner’s band played the Army Song, the Navy song, the Marine song, the Air Force song. Johnnie just stopped and stared and took it all in. He was finally getting his hero’s ‘Welcome Home,’ 60 years late. After a while he said, “I’m ready to go home now.”

All Honor Flight groups need financial support and volunteers, including citizens to greet the veterans at the airports.

Note: Even though there’s a national Honor Flight website, always get applications and contact information through your local group’s website: Honor Flight West Central Florida: honorflightwcf.org Ocala Honor Flight: ocalahonorflight.org Southwest: pchonorflight.org The Villages: villageshonorflight.org

Hillsborough, Pinellas/Pasco Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc.

Publisher, President: Kathy J. Beck kathy@srmagazine.com Editor: Janice Doyle Accounting: Vicki Willis Production Supervisor Graphic Design: Kim Burrell Production Assistant: Tracie Schmidt Customer Service: 1-888-670-0040 customerservice@srmagazine.com Advertising Sales: Hillsborough/Pinellas 1-888-670-0040 Tampa Bay Area Dena Bingham: (813) 653-1988 Pinellas/Pasco Judy Floyd: (727) 678-0315 Chuck Bingham: (813) 293-1550 Sun City Center Judy Coleman: (813) 653-1988 Glenn Bornemann: (813) 500-6190

Distribution 1-888-670-0040 Corporate Advertising Office: P.O. Box 638 Seffner, Florida 33583-0638

(813) 653-1988 888-670-0040 Fax: (813) 651-1989 www.srmagazine.com Send press releases to:

janice@srmagazine.com

News Connection U.S.A. Inc., is also the publisher of

Amazing Numbers: During WWII, the Coca-Cola Company sent 64 complete bottling plants to locations in Europe, Africa and the Pacific.

Over the course of the War, more than five billion bottles of Coke were distributed to grateful GIs – for a nickel a bottle.

Lee/Collier and Charlotte Counties: Southwest Edition Sarasota/Manatee Counties: Sarasota Edition

Lake/Marion Counties: Lake Edition

888-670-0040

ATTENTION READERS: The articles printed in Senior Connection and Mature Lifestyles do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. The Senior Connection/ Mature Lifestyles endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Senior Connection/Mature Lifestyles reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for the December 2011 issue is November 15, 2011.

Magazines are out by the 7th of each month.

All rights reserved.

“We can get MORE!” Plans with up to

96

$

40

of your Part B premium back each month(1)(2)

People on Medicare Plans with up to

50

$

in over the counter health items each month(2)(3)

Benefits & Savings you can use Everyday!

“They put us on the VIP plan, and it included so much more. We actually get over-the-counter drugs on the plan” Mr. & Mrs Phil Laing, Freedom Health Members

0

$

H Monthly Plan Premium(1) H Preventive Services (4) H Primary Care Visits H Up to $50 Every Month in H Copay for Tier 1 Preferred Personal Health Care Items(3) Generic & Brand Drugs H Dental, Vision & Hearing Benefits(3) H For Gym Memberships(3) and much more...

H Transportation to Doctor Visits(3)

Join us to learn more about Freedom Health HMO Plans Tampa Golden Corral 6942 West Hillsborough Ave. Nov. 4, 18, 25 at 2:00 pm Nov. 11 at 11:30 pm Brunchies 14366 North Dale Mabry Nov. 4, 11, 18 at 9:30 am

Tampa continued Outback 11308 N. 56th St. Nov. 4 at 2:00 pm

Tampa continued Tampa Buffet 3904 S Dale Mabry Hwy. Nov. 2 at 2:00 pm

Red Lobster 11601 North Dale Mabry Hwy. Nov. 9 at 11:30 am picadilly 11810 North Dale Mabry Hwy. Nov. 23 at 11:30 am

BRandOn Golden Corral 815 Providence Rd. Nov. 3, 17 at 11:30 am Nov. 10 at 2:00 pm

Call Now

1-866-442-9015

www.freedomhealth.com

pLanT CiTy Buddy Freddys 1101 Goldfinch Dr. Nov. 16, 30 at 2:00 pm

Sun CiTy CenTeR dennys 3747 Sun City Center Blvd.

Nov. 28 at 10:00 am & 5:00 pm

TempLe TeRRaCe Golden Corral 11801 N 56th St. Nov. 1, 8, 22, 29 at 2:00 pm Nov. 15 at 11:30 am & 5:00 pm

Outback 1203 Townsgate Ct. Nov. 9 at 2:00 pm

dennys 3808 Sun City Center Blvd.

Nov. 3, 9, 15, 22, 29 at 11:30 am

RuSkin Ozzies 3074 College Ave. East Nov. 7, 21 at 11:30 am Nov. 14 at 1:30 pm

TTY/TDD

1-800-955-8771

Dates Days October 15, 2011 to February 14, 2012 7 days a week

Times 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

February 15, 2012 to October 14, 2012 Monday through Friday

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

October 15, 2012 to December 31, 2012 7 days a week

8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Ranked #1 Best Benefit Value by Medicare NewsWatch the Last 5 Years Running

10

$

Gift Card

when you attend a seminar with no obligation to enroll 2010

(5)

Featured 2 years in a row as one of the fastest-growing private companies in America by Inc. 500 Magazine, August 2009 and September 2010(7)

Freedom Health is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Florida Medicaid program. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, but not a comprehensive description of available benefits. A sales person will be present with information and applications (enrollment begins Oct. 15th); The sales person will discuss HMO and HMO-SNP plans. For accommodations of persons with special needs at sales meetings call 1-888-796-0946. TTY/TDD -1-800-955-8771. (1) For plans with part B reimbursement, you must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premiums. (2) Amount varies by plan and county. (3) Limitations and restrictions may apply. (4) Primary Care Physician Copay is $0. Specialty Physician co-pay varies by plan and county. You must receive all routine care from plan providers. (5) Medicare NewsWatch is a division of HealthMetrix Research, an independent research company. The study reviewed cost comparisons for over 150 Medicare Health Plans in 80 cities. SCGA has been awarded for best benefit value from 2007-2011. (6) Freedom Health is accredited by NCQA and received a “Commendable” rating. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of healthcare organizations and manages the evolution of HEDIS®, the performance measurement tool used by more than 90 percent of the nation’s health plans. Freedom Health passed these rigorous standards and reported their performance in dozens of clinical areas to earn the NCQA seal of approval. (7) INC 500 Magazine ranked Freedom Health one of the fastest growing private companies in America, 2009 & 2010.

H5427_NP_2_FileandUse_09282011 Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 3

FREE PARKING & ADMISSION Presents the 7th Annual...

FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS

Hey Seniors!

Join Us For the Best

Premiere Sponsor

Event of the Year!

$1000s in Prizes & Giveaways!

FREE BINGO!

• Cholesterol • Blood Pressure • Bone Density • Glucose • Waist Circumference • Body Mass Index Plus: Memory & Ear Checks

Nov. 17, 2011 • 10am–3pm

Richie Merritt

Bill Castner

Denise Looney

Karen Kallin

GRAND PRIZE

Call 1-888-670-0040 or go to www.seniorconnectionfl.com

WIN A TWO NIGHT STAY at the GAYLORD PALMS RESORT, Orlando

Largo Cultural Center 105 Central Park Dr. • Largo, FL 33771

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Russell Cortese

SENIOR FRIENDLY

LUNCH

Only $3.50

Denise Looney, The DJ With a Twist Bill Castner, King of Dance Richie Merritt of the “Marcels” Karen Kallin, Little Miss Dynamite Tommy Johnson, The “Real” Boogie Man Russell Cortese, “Elvis” Plus More of Your Favorite Entertainers!

Tommy Johnson

Make a difference.

Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to Neighborly Care Network.

FREE

COFFEE & GOODIES

EDUCATION • INFORMATION • ENTERTAINMENT Join the Fun! One mile “walk” around Largo Central Park, November 17, 9:15 am, $4 minimum donation for Meals on Wheels. Enjoy...

Continental Breakfast, T-shirt, Sponsor “Goodie Bag” & Prizes to the Winners! Call 1-888-670-0040, go to www.seniorconnectionfl.com (MAIL DEADLINE 11/10/11) or sign up Thurs., Nov. 17 at 8:45 am.

Sponsored by...

Information & Directions call: 1-888-670-0040 • www.seniorconnectionfl.com Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 4

Around Town

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 1

S

aturdays Free Recreational Boat Safety Inspections by U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary—Flotilla 75, Ruskin.

No-obligation Vessel Safety inspections for recreational boaters. 10 a.m. to noon at Simmons Park, Ruskin. (1st and 3rd Saturdays) (813) 645-6984.

16

USCG Auxiliary FL75 Ruskin monthly meeting at Ruskin Rec Center. 7:30 p.m. New or prospective members welcome. (813) 938-1746.

18

“Musical Picnic in the Park” by Northdale Civic Association. Free. Bring blankets and chairs, picnic meal and your beverages. Music by White Hot Grill. 6 to 9 p.m. Details at (813) 968-8460.

T

hrough Jan. 7 “Out of This World: Extraordinary Costumes from Film and Television” at Tampa Bay History Center, 801 Old Water St. Costumes from such films as Star Wars, Blade Runner, Terminator, Star Trek, Battlestar Galactica and Batman. $12.

Details at tampabayhistorycenter.org and (813) 228-0097.

7

Holiday Shopping Day at Plant Museum Store. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

10 percent discount. Museum admission price not required to shop. Call (813) 254-1891.

9

Balancing Wellness presentation featuring Cathy Rigby at MOSI Auditorium. Noon – 1:30 p.m.

Luncheon and presentation. $30 per individual. Reservation or details at (813) 987-6030 or kchavez@mosi.org.

12

Ybor Photo History Safari presented by Tampa Bay History Center and Florida Museum of Photographic Arts. $60 tickets. 1 to 4 p.m. Phone: (813) 221-2222.

12

Fun Brigade Fun Talent Show at United Community Church, 1501 La Jolla Ave., Sun City Center. 1 p.m. Please call (813) 633-6739 to be part of the fun.

13

Tampa Bay Symphony presents Sibelius’ Symphony No. 2 at Straz Center for the Performing Arts. $20 at the Box Office. 4 p.m.

Tickets and info at (727) 595-0345.

19

Silverliners (former Eastern flight attendants or other airlines) meet at Southeastern Guide Dogs in Palmetto, 9:30 a.m. for tour and check presentation. Lunch in Ellenton. Info at (813) 671-3078.

22

Volunteer at Metropolitan Ministries with the Northdale OWLS. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Donate holiday non-perishables; drivers needed for volunteer day.

Call Mary at (813) 961-5649.

14

– 21 America Recycles Week at MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) Snap a picture on your phone of your blue recycling bin (with recyclables, of course) and post it on MOSI’s Facebook page. Show the picture at the box office and receive $3 off general admission to MOSI. (Cannot be used at MOSI in any other way than stated.)

D

ec. 2 – 11 Footloose presented

by Masque Theatre at Omar K. Lightfoot Center, 10901 N. 56th St., Temple Terrace. (813) 983-1710.

Send Around Town news to Senior Connection Magazine, 1602 S. Parsons Ave., Seffner, FL 33584; fax (813) 6511989. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e.

November 10 for December event.)

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 5

Thanksgiving—the Perfect Holiday

BY JANICE DOYLE

• Except for the WWII years of 1939 to 1944, the Detroit Lions have hosted a football game every Thanksgiving since 1934.

I

t’s easy to love Thanksgiving Day as a holiday. It’s not political, and you don’t have to buy gifts for anyone.

It’s a holiday with a few longstanding traditions, all fairly innocent in the long run. It’s just about a big meal with a few standard dishes, morning parades and afternoon football. No gifts, just family and friends. No big expense for decorations, just a pumpkin or two sitting around and a pie in the oven.

I keep hearing it called “Turkey Day.” Good grief! Every major religion’s checklist surely includes being thankful. Can we really have become a nation running scared of saying and showing thankfulness? I don’t think so.

Here are a few ideas to make your Thanksgiving Day interesting.

Turkey Trivia: • The long fleshy skin that hangs over a turkey’s beak is called a snood.

• The color of a wild turkey’s naked head and neck area can change to blue when mating.

• When turkeys reach maturity they can have as many as 3,500 feathers!

• John F. Kennedy spared a turkey on November 19, 1963, three days before he was assassinated. There was at that time no tradition of turkeys being granted presidential pardons around Thanksgiving; Kennedy simply did it spontaneously.

• Faster than a speeding bullet—wild turkeys can run up to 55 miles an hour!

• Approximately 88 percent of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving, but more than 94 percent of Thanksgiving dinners include cranberry sauce.

• In the past ten years, more men are enjoying cooking the traditional Thanksgiving meal.

• The busiest air travel day of the year in America is the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The second-busiest day is the Wednesday before.

• For the first few years of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade, animals from the Central Park Zoo marched along with bands, other entertainers and store employees. 1927 saw the appearance of the first big-animalshaped floats, such as Felix the Cat, but they were filled with air, not helium.

The following year, floats were filled with helium. The rest is history.

Thanksgiving Jokes To Share The pro football team had just finished their daily practice session when a large turkey came strutting onto the field. While the players gazed in amazement, the turkey walked up to the head coach and demanded a tryout.

Everyone stared in silence as the turkey caught pass after pass and ran right through the defensive line. When the turkey returned to the sidelines, the coach shouted, “You’re terrific! Sign up for the season, and I’ll see to it that you get a huge bonus.”

“Forget the bonus,” the turkey said, “All I want to know is, does the season go past Thanksgiving Day?

Q: What’s a turkey’s favorite song?

A: “I’m Dreaming of a White Christmas”

An industrious farmer was experimenting with breeding to perfect a better turkey.

His family was fond of the leg portion for dinner and there were never enough legs for everyone. After many frustrating attempts, the farmer was relating the results of his efforts to his friends at the general store get together.

“Well I finally did it! I bred a turkey that has six legs!”

They all asked the farmer how it tasted.

“I don’t know,” said the farmer. “I never could catch the darn thing!”

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 6

Frank Sinatra’s Special Thanksgiving

On the day Frank Sinatra died in 1998, Patsy’s Restaurant in New York City was packed with his friends and fans. Why? It was his favorite restaurant. Here’s the story: Sinatra’s career and personal life was in a serious decline in 1952 before his Oscar-winning performance in From Here to Eternity and before his reinvention as a crooner of the 1950s from his boy next door image of the 1940s. Patsy’s Restaurant owner and chef Scognamillo says Sinatra was alone at the restaurant the night before Thanksgiving, and many of the other customers walked right past him without acknowledging him. He was depressed.

Sinatra said he wanted to eat Thanksgiving dinner at Patsy’s, and the owner didn’t have the heart to tell him that the restaurant was normally closed for the holiday. They made the reservation, called up the staff and told them to bring their families in for Thanksgiving and invited some other guests to fill out the restaurant.

They opened for Thanksgiving for Sinatra who had a 3 p.m. reservation, and only later did Sinatra find out that it had been opened just for him.

Final Thought

Take time to be thankful.

Remember the words of this old hymn: Count your many blessings; name them one by one.

Count your many blessings; see what God hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one, And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

SrConnectionsAd_31274 1011:FileUse10252011

10/21/11

Look what’s new from

Blue

11:49 AM

Page 1

*

Monthly Plan premiums on Regional PPO and HMO** plans, and more!

We’ll help you find a Medicare plan that’s right for you Free seminars going on in your area!

Call toll-free 1-866-644-5271, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET, seven days a week to attend a seminar or speak to an agent.

TTY users dial 1-800-955-8771. If you need special accommodations, please let us know when you call.

Please use the appropriate RSVP code for your area: • Hillsborough, Pinellas, and Pasco counties: N32922 • Sarasota and Manatee counties: N32924 • Marion, Sumter, and Lake counties: N32923 • Charlotte, Collier, and Lee counties: N32925 Visit bluemedicarefl.com for more information.

ANNUAL ENROLLMENT NOW IN PROGRESS—ENDS DECEMBER 7, 2011. *You must continue to pay the Medicare Part B Premium unless paid by Medicaid or another third party. ** In select counties.

A salesperson will be present with information and applications. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) and Health Options, Inc. (HOI) is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and Medicare approved Part D sponsor. These contracts are renewed annually and availability beyond the end of the current contract year is not guaranteed. Exclusions and limitations may apply.

The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, not a comprehensive description of benefits.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Y0011_31274 1011R File & Use 10252011 Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 7

Join The Florida Orchestra for

Music in the Mornings at one of our two matinee series!

Photo credit: Thomas Bruce Studio

Coffee Concert

Jazzy Classics

Progress Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater

Sponsored by:

Coffee Concert Series

Enjoy complimentary coffee and doughnuts as well as lively commentary by the conductor and Pre-Concert Conversations in the hall one hour before curtain. Concerts in Clearwater and St. Petersburg.

Progress Energy Morning Masterworks

This new 3-concert matinee series is designed for fans who love hearing our traditional, classical Masterworks programs and prefer attending daytime concert performances. Series prices start at $90.

Subscribers to both series receive all of the Fixed Package benefits, including premium reserved seats and free flexible ticket exchanges.

727.892.3337 or www.FloridaOrchestra.org For group benefits (10 or more) : 727.362.5443 Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 8 TFO-Senior Connection-Nov.indd 1

R

elive the great songs of Frank Sinatra when The Florida Orchestra presents “The One and Only Frank Sinatra” concert November 25, 26 and 27. With guest vocalist Steve Lippia’s velvet voice, you can remember what it was like to have it “My Way.” America’s first real pop star, Sinatra was the right man at the right place during WWII, becoming the husband or boyfriend substitute through his songs. After the war, his timeless love songs carried through two more generations.

And today? A younger generation has found that his songs have words they can identify with and feelings they are either experiencing or are longing to experience.

Steve Lippia as Frank Sinatra.

Think “Fly Me to the Moon,” “I’ve Got the World on a String,” “The Best Is Yet to Come” and so many more.

Join The Florida Orchestra and Frank Sinatra on November 25 at the Straz Center, November 26 at Mahaffey Theater or November 27 at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Call (800) 662-7286 or visit floridaorchestra.org.

One in Four Older Americans Makes Community Impact T

Stuart Malina conducts this morning Coffee Concert that features Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, Bernstein’s Times Square from On the Town, and Rodgers’ Slaughter on Tenth Avenue. Don’t miss the pre-concert conversation and complimentary coffee and doughnuts one hour before the concert.

Thu, Dec 8, 11am

Frank Sinatra Night

10/12/2011 11:18:56 AM

he Corporation for National and Community Service indicates that 18.7 million older adults—more than a quarter of those 55 and older—contributed on average more than 3 billion hours of service in their communities per year between 2008 and 2010. The yearly economic benefit of this service to the nation equals more than $64 billion.

Robert Velasco II, acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service said, “We celebrate the impact of the more than 450,000 Senior Corps volunteers who are helping to solve problems ranging from poverty and illiteracy to helping seniors continue to live independently.”

Three Senior Corps programs—Foster Grandparents, RSVP and Senior Companions—contribute to the health and vitality of their communities by meeting critical local needs.

Last year 29,100 Foster Grandparent volunteers provided one-on-one tutoring or mentoring to more than 200,000 at-risk children.

RSVP, Senior Corps’ largest program, celebrates its 40th anniversary this year and engages more than 400,000 volunteers served 62 million hours through more than 65,000 organizations.

Senior Companions support independent living of older adults. Last year, 14,684 Senior Companion volunteers provided 12 million hours of service to more than 60,000 elderly adults, allowing them to maintain independent living in their own homes.

To learn more about these programs, visit GetInvolved.gov. To read volunteer stories, check out the national service blog at NationalService.gov.

To learn more locally, please call (813) 276-2936 or (813) 272-5430.

Local Hikers See the World on Foot, Mile by Mile

The Andersons visit Israel.

BY CHERYL JOHNSTON

T

ampa bay residents Andy and LuAnne Anderson share a purposeful case of wanderlust. They recently hiked 700 miles in Israel, sharing whatever they could with whomever they met and the hospitality they received in return overwhelmed them. In 2006, the two began a “Walk Worthy” trail ministry using their passion for hiking to help other wilderness pilgrims and to talk about God’s guidance in their lives.

Together the 56-year-old Andersons have hiked 15,000 miles including the Appalachian Trail (Georgia

to Maine), the Pacific Crest Trail (California/Mexican border to the Canadian border) and the Florida Trail. In hiking circles, their trail names are “Chuck Norris” (Randy) and “Tigger” (LuAnne).

Their most recent adventure was prompted when they met eight Israeli hikers on the Pacific Crest Trail who invited them to hike Israel’s national footpath known as “Shvil Israel” (Path of Israel).

The Israel they experienced impressed them by the hospitality they experienced on their trek, including frequently being invited to stay in homes along the way. “Israelis are incredibly appreciative of Americans who take an interest in their ‘Path of Israel,’ Randy said. “We were asked why we were hiking in Israel when our country is so big and beautiful?”

“We would tell them a little about our faith and how much we love the Bible. That usually opened up great discussions,” LuAnne said.

“Even if they don’t believe as we do, they love the name of Yeshua.”

Israeli hikers, they note, are serious hikers, content to use the heavier, military type packs left after their required tour of duty in the Israeli Defense Force. Randy says, “Europeans and Americans hike for fun, memories and the beauty aspect. Israelis see it more as an athletic challenge, hiking in duty to and respect for their country.”

Jewish hikers invited the Andersons to join their families for the Passover celebration where they heard the detailed story of the meal’s symbolic elements. Randy calls the experience “meaningful and humbling because they were so proud to have us in their home.”

It takes planning to be able to travel months at a time. Randy explains, “Once our kids left the nest, we downsized to the extreme. We live a frugal lifestyle, work seasonal jobs and keep expenses to a minimum in our 34’ travel trailer so we can travel

for six months.” Randy is a painter and LuAnne is a financial analyst.

Randy continued, “We have traded a mortgage and possessions for time.

We love the sense of freedom to go as God leads and do as we like. We don’t put anyone down because of their lifestyle. We’ve just made this choice. It’s easy for us to let go.”

Healthwise, LuAnne enjoys the “sense of equilibrium within the body” achieved by the hiking.

Although both genders build stamina, male hikers tend to lose weight while females build muscle mass. Both benefit from increased serotonin levels that increase happiness.

The Andersons each carry a fifteenpound loaded backpack and their typical hiking day begins before sunrise and ends at sundown. Randy says their pace is never rushed because “nothing in nature is in a hurry.”

To ask questions, share a thought or join the next hike en route, visit trailjournals.com/chucknorrisandtigger.

Check Us Out Online!

Senior Connection is now on

and

“Follow” us or “Friend” us to keep up with Mature Lifestyles news, the latest information and fun events in your area, and share your comments with us!

Search for our Facebook page under “Senior Connection and Mature Lifestyles.”

Our link: facebook.com/pages/ Senior-Connection-and-MatureLifestyles/139650756073347

Or visit us on Twitter at www. twitter.com/MaturLifestyles (without the “e”).

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 9

Selecting Clothes for the Boomer Woman I

t’s hard to be women “of a certain age.” Relationships, bodies and fashions change – and here’s the boomer woman trying to decide how to develop a personal style that doesn’t look too young. Worse still, she doesn’t want to look frumpy either.

Writers at Health.com made a list of mistakes boomer women need to avoid. Mistakes include: 1. Not realizing you need to change.

You do!

2. Not accessorizing. Go after jewelry to rejuvenate your look.

3. Wearing “mom” jeans. At any age, it’s time well spent to find well-fitted jeans.

4. Being self-deprecating. Don’t draw attention to “this old thing,” etc.

5. Not spending enough on your clothes. That purple button-down shirt on the JC Penny clearance rack is $15.

Why would you shell out $120 for pretty much the same thing at Nordstrom? Because it’s worth it. Clothes that fit right make all the difference in how good you look and feel. If they cost more, it means the designers have more spent time and effort making sure the piece will flatter its owner.

6. Comparing yourself to you 20 years ago. Don’t waste time pining for your “glory” years. Be the woman people say looks better now than she ever did 20 years ago.

7. Thinking there are hair rules.

Hair varies as much as body type, so the same rules don’t apply for everyone. Consult with your stylist —or your friends—to decide what look suits you—just don’t be afraid to change for the better look.

8. Using the wrong makeup. Just because you’ve always used a certain color on your eyes, cheeks or lips doesn’t mean it still looks good. As your face ages, make sure that your makeup choices and application techniques adapt with it.

9. Wearing the wrong bra. Over 80 percent of women wear the wrong bra size. It’s unlikely you’ll stay the same bra size throughout your whole life, so spend 10 minutes and get properly measured at Victoria’s Secret or a department store. The right undergarment can have a huge effect on how the rest of your clothes fit, giving your figure— and your self-confidence—a boost.

Here’s how to do it right!

If these are what you can do wrong, what can you do right?

Kate Forgach has these suggestions for boomer women.

Shop for the right things. Look for tailored outfits that set off your best features without flaunting them.

Well-cut fashions will look pulled together without screaming OLD!

Buy for your curvier shape. Especially larger ladies have a much harder time walking the fine line between too tight and overly ample—and risk looking frumpy if it’s not right. Shop well.

Décolletage doesn’t do well on older bodies. Have a stock of chemises in the closet to fill in the gap of low-cut tops. Old cleavages aren’t usually fun to look at!

Granny arms? Bat wings? Whatever you call them, they’re part of aging.

Cover them with lightweight cardigans with raglan sleeves and slenderizing styles easily available today. And shop thrift stores for great jackets—and love that air conditioning in Florida!

Do Power Bars Pack Extra Energy?

Y

ou can’t walk into a drugstore or supermarket without seeing shelves lined with “power bars” claiming to boost your energy. The manufacturers claim the bars are superior to candy bars because they contain an “ideal ratio” of simple to complex carbohydrates, along with protein and fat. However, there’s no proof that such an ideal ratio exists.

An Ohio State University study compared the glycemic index of typical energy bars with other sources of carbohydrates.

The power bars were no better than a candy bar at providing sustained energy.

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 10

31 Years, Tampa Bay Senior Games T

he Games were held last month, Oct. 3 – 14, and celebrated the 31st year. Over 800 seniors participated in Hillsborough County.

The Florida Senior Games State Championships and Florida International Senior Games will be held Dec. 3 – 11, 2011 in Polk County, Florida.

Details: Florida Sports Foundation, (866) 354-2637; games@flasports. com or www.flasports.com.

A big thank you to Marty Bradley, General Chairman, (pictured left) for making the Games a success this year.

Congratulations to Ruth Odum, age 96 (pictured right) for winning the Overall Trophy for the 95 and above age group.

Doris Prokopi, (right) a Land-o-Lakes resident originally from Germany, has competed in the Senior Games for the last 15 years.

At 59, she decided to learn swim strokes and at 60, joined an adult swim team.

She will compete in swimming and other sports at the State Championships this year.

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 11

G

Veterans Corner

2011–2012 SEASON PRESENTED BY HOMES BY HELEN

RAND OPERA AT ITS GRANDEST !

SUBSCRIBE NOW!

THE ANTON COPPOLA FOND FAREWELLS CONCERT Feb. 18, 2012 Feb. 19, 2012

Jan. 27, 2012 Jan. 29, 2012

In t Concer

April 20, 2012 April 22, 2012

JOSÉ CARRERAS March 2, 2012 PRESENTS

OPERA TAMPA SERIES MEDIA SPONSOR

ANDREA BOCELLI

Sponsored in part by an award from the National Endowment for the Arts

In t Concer

Dec. 4, 2011

St. Pete Times Forum

813.229.STAR (7827) • OPERATAMPA.ORG

BRANDON HEARING CENTERS You’ll hear the difference!

Patty takes pride in her service to the community, celebrating more than 45 years in Brandon and Sun City Center.

Patty Paddock, BC-HIS Best of Brandon & South Shore 2007-2010 “We work together to find the best Hearing Aid for your need.”

–Patty Paddock

• Call for A FREE Hearing Test • Credit and debit cards accepted nd the Gra ur e t a r b e l • We clean and service most makesCe e-opening of o ffice R er O ty Cent d i C and models of hearing aids. n u S c. 3r 2 locations to better serve you.

681-2622

De on 9–12 no

634-1154

205 E. Brandon Blvd., #C 1517 #C Shopping Center Dr. Brandon, FL 33511 Sun City Center, FL 33573 E-mail us at: BrandonHearingCenters@yahoo.com Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 12

The USS Alabama—“Damn the Torpedoes, Full Speed Ahead”

BY DAVID LALMOND

M

obile Bay went into U.S. Naval history because of the famous order issued by Admiral David Farragut at the Battle of Mobile Bay during the American Civil War: “Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead!” Through the years, the saying became a part of American slang—it felt good to use the word “damn” and have it be in a famous quote. Who could argue with that?

Keeping Mobile military history alive today is the WWII Battleship USS Alabama (BB60) which rests in Mobile Bay as a part of Battleship Memorial Park. The ship served in the Pacific during WWII, earning nine Battle Stars and shooting down 22 enemy airplanes.

A tour of the Alabama is an impressive experience.

The massive warship is 680 feet long (half as long as the Empire State Building is tall) and displaces more than 44,500 tons of water.

Each of her four propellers weighed more than 18 tons and combined could move her through the water at speeds of up to 28 knots (32 mph). The Alabama is 194 feet tall (more than a 20-story building).

Visitors have access to every part of the ship and see what conditions the sailors had to endure during their time aboard. Today’s visitor can walk the decks. From the main deck there are seven decks to explore upward and four decks below the main deck that are open to explore.

Three tour routes are suggested and they include the bridge, the galley, the bunks and even a visit to the brig.

Many visual displays of memorabilia bring memories of days past to visitors, especially former members of the Navy.

Uniforms and equipment authentic to the naval service are displayed.

The stories of men who served aboard the Alabama are presented in a video that runs continuously aboard the ship.

The Alabama has been used for various events including the Hollywood movie “Under Siege.” On the grounds of the park there are displayed many aircraft of vintage WWII through Iraqi Freedom. Also for visitors is a WWII submarine, the USS Drum (SS-228).

You may walk the deck and “go below” while visiting the submarine that earned 12 Battle Stars during WWII. The Alabama, the Drum and the museum are great places to take grandchildren for a half day of exploration. There are no elevators.

Veterans Promotion— AARP Driving Course is Free during November

A

ny military personnel—active duty, retired, guard, or reserve —is eligible to receive a free DSP (Driver Safety Program) classroom course during November. Spouses (including widows and widowers) are also eligible to take the class as space permits.

All registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

The offer does not apply to Online Courses. There are no exceptions to this rule.

To locate a course, call the national toll free number 1-888-227-7669 or online at aarp.org/findacourse.

Average

$ Savings: 802

*

NOW THAT’S A LOT OF BUCKS FOR THE HOLIDAYS! AAA Package Policy for Home & Auto • Covers both home and auto in a single policy that saves you money.

• Includes real advantages like accident forgiveness** and one deductible on a covered loss that affects both your home and auto.

• Helps Florida homeowners with the challenge of getting home insurance.

• Backed by AAA—we’ll be there when you need us!

• AAA members save up to 7%† in addition to other savings & discounts.

Contact your local AAA insurance agent today.

AAA Brandon (813) 681-5761 AAA.com/Brandon

AAA Carrollwood (813) 963-2121 AAA.com/Carrollwood

AAA New Tampa (813) 929-3430 AAA.com/NewTampa

AAA Sun City Center (813) 633-4880 AAA.com/SunCity

AAA Westshore (813) 289-5800 AAA.com/Westshore

*AAA Insurance products are underwritten by Auto Club Insurance Company of Florida (ACICF). Savings figures developed using data that reported the dollar differences between customers’ prior carriers and ACICF for customers who switched in January 2011. Applies to site-built homes only, and availability is subject to meeting underwriting criteria. **Accident forgiveness program covers first at-fault accident after holding Package Policy for Home & Auto for two years. † Discount applies to select auto coverages only and is based on number of years as a AAA member.

11-IA-1225B

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 13

Fall For Exercise

BY DR. BOB ENCINOSA

T

10931 Boyette Road, Riverview

671-3400

A Complete Medical, Dental and Surgical Facility

• Blood Analysis • Xrays • Behavioral Consultation • Lab Work • Boarding & Grooming Facilities • Reptiles & Birds welcome too!

Office Hours By Appointment Mon. – Thurs. 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Fri. 7 – 6:30 p.m.

Sat. 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

his time of year, everyone writes articles warning pet owners about the dangers of holiday foods. While this is a worthy subject, you’ve heard it all before. Don’t let your dog eat candy and chocolate, and don’t let pets indulge in too many fatty treats or foods. That just about covers it.

Caring For Your Pet When I think of fall, I think of the cooler mornings and evenings. Dogs and cats naturally get more active, and the Florida bugs finally begin to take a break. For pets and owners who retreated to air-conditioned comfort in May, this is the perfect time to break out the leash and walking shoes and get moving. Controlling food intake is great for all animals, but it’s even better to burn off the extra calories by exercising.

Roar n’ Soar $2 OFF for

seniors

Come meet “Winter” the dolphin who lost her tail in a crab trap, now swims freely.

Senior $2offAdmission

(55+)

Good for up to 6 people. Not valid with other offers.

Expires December 31, 2011. Code XSCA

Clearwater Marine Aquarium 249 Windward Passage • Clearwater, FL 33767

(727) 441-1790

www.SeeWinter.com

F

antasy of Flight brings back the Roar n’ Soar, a two-day, family-friendly, all-American themed event on Nov. 12 – 13.

Roar n’ Soar combines cars on the sanctioned Slalom Course, a regatta of classic race boats and their modern racing counterparts on Lake Agnes, some of the hottest vintage aircraft in the world plus powered paragliders and hang gliders. Kid’s activities too.

Fantasy of Flight is at exit 44 off I-4, between Tampa and Orlando, in Polk City. Call (863) 984-3500.

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 14

The majority of dogs and cats are overweight and under-exercised, and the same can be said of people. The simple fact is that Florida summers are a tough, even miserable, time to exercise outdoors. It’s particularly hard to begin an exercise regimen in the summer. The truth is that we are spoiled by air-conditioning, as are many of our pets.

Fall is the perfect time to turn off the TV and get off the couch. The physical benefits of exercise are only part of the story. The mental benefits are perhaps even greater, and that goes for pets as well. Half an hour of walking each day can extend the life of people and pets by years. Dogs, especially, derive great enjoyment from the sights, sounds and smells of an outdoor walk. This is the best time of year to get everyone back in shape. There is a lower risk of heat stress for overweight pets and people, and the cooler weather makes it safer for those suffering from heart or respiratory disease.

Once acclimated to exercising in cooler weather, people and pets can more easily transition to exercising in warmer weather as summer approaches. And, by then, everyone is leaner, making warm weather exercise more tolerable.

Speaking of exercise, check out our new pet exercise video. Go to BoyetteAnimalHospital.com and click on the link. At the end of the video, you’ll find instructions for sending us video clips of you and your pet exercising. From the clips you send us, we’ll make more videos starring you and your pet.

Are your retirement funds hemorrhaging ?

Does your retirement plan need CPR? If you’ve lost money in the last ten years and are willing to think and act outside the box, Contact Jon Lynn at 813-774-1862 or clynnlutz@aol.com Learn the advantages of a Bonus Index Annuity !

• Participate in economic upswings.

• Suffer no losses in economic downturns • Protect your assets from creditors • Initial bonus offered

$

$

Hot! Hot! Just off the Press

PRESENTS THE ALL NEW

www.seniorconnectionfl.com WEBSITE

• Local and World News

• Great Stories & Information

• All Your Favorite Events

• Travel, Finance, Health & More!

Join Us ....

Dec. 6, 2011

Hey rs! o Seni

Senior Friendly Sports Center Play & Win!

10 am – 3 pm

2202 W. Reynolds St. Plant City, FL Dancing • Live Music Free Health Screenings BINGO • Games and Lots More!

Fritzy

Denise Looney

Ken Brady

Richie Merritt

Tommy Johnson

Presented by...

FREE

and

FREE PARKING

SENIOR FRIENDLY

LUNCH

Only $3.50

rry At the Strawbe ds Festival Groun

Plant City

$1000s in Prizes & Giveaways!

Free Coffee & Goodies

William “Duece” Hulett

“Senior Friendly” Exhibitors Meet Santa!

Denise Looney, The “D.J. With a Twist,” Remember the ‘60s & ‘70s with Richie Merritt of the Marcels, Ken Brady of the Casinos, Tommy Johnson, The “Real” Boogie Man, William “Duece” Hulett, Best in Country Entertainment, Fritzy “The One Man Circus,” juggling, unicycle, comedy-variety show.

EDUCATION • INFORMATION • ENTERTAINMENT

Premiere Sponsor

Call: 1-888-670-0040 for information • Directions: 813-752-9194 Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 15

Tried-and-True Advice for Medicare Enrollment

I

f there’s one mantra for the open enrollment season, it’s “review your options.” Every year, the Medicare Rights Center advises people with Medicare to carefully consider how they get their Medicare benefits; most people are allowed to make a change only during Fall Open Enrollment (through Dec. 7). Certain universal advice applies, no matter what Medicare coverage you have:

• Review all of your coverage options even if you are happy with your current coverage because plans change their costs and benefits every year.

• Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which lists changes in your

plan, such as the premium and copays, and will compare the benefits in 2012 with those in 2011. Many plans make changes every year, and your current plan may not be your best choice for 2012.

• Shop around to find a plan that best meets your needs and makes the most financial sense to you.

If you have Original Medicare and a supplemental plan (often called a Medigap) and are happy with your coverage, you do not need to make a change.

If you decide to enroll in a new plan, do so by calling 800-MEDICARE rather than the plan itself.

How to Stop Your Foot Pain!

BY DR. BONNIE SANCHEZ, DPM Board Certified ABPOPPM

Y

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 16

our foot hurts because you are injuring it with every step you take. What I have found is that over the years your tendons, muscles, and ligaments have been stretched out like an overused rubber band, creating laxity in your feet and ankles. This laxity causes a misalignment of the joints and bones of the feet and ankles. All of this leads to tired, painful feet.

You have tried more expensive shoes, or shoe inserts from the drug store, or even possibly some very expensive inserts for your shoes that did not work. But, all you want is only to be pain free.

My solution is to solve the underlying problem of this constant re-injury

of your feet and ankles every time you take a step. I do this by holding your feet in their unique ideal position with every step you take. I use full contact therapeutic orthotics that capture your ideal arch. The orthotics go into your shoes and, by holding your arch in your ideal position, your muscles, tendons, ligaments, muscles, bones and joints can again work together properly.

My patients have experienced relief from years of foot pain. Some even no longer need a cane or walker, and many have also experienced relief of ankle, knee, hip and back pain. If these are the types of results you are looking for, please contact my office to schedule an appointment and evaluation.

In Pinellas: (727) 824-5100, and in Hillsborough: (813) 645-1993.

WITH A BIGGER SOCIAL SECURITY CHECK, I CAN AFFORD THE $4 A GALLON.

– I am well cared for.

FREE

$10 Wellness Card

Get your $10 Walgreens Gift Card just for having an appointment.

With WellCare, I’ll keep over $1,150 extra in my Social Security check this year. So the money I save makes getting the things I need a little easier.

At WellCare we'll help you – and your money – stay in good health. Our Medicare Advantage plans give you great benefits like...

• Over $95 monthly in your Social Security check • $0 or low co-payments • Prescription drug coverage

• Dental, vision or hearing coverage • FREE fitness center membership • FREE rides to your doctor

MEDICARE ENROLLMENT IS NOW OPEN! ARE YOU WELL CARED FOR? YOU CAN BE. LET’S TALK! ™ 1-800-378-9976 | TTY 711 | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. www.WellCareNow.com Find out more at an event in your area.

41183 72545

WellCare is a Coordinated Care plan with a Medicare Advantage contract. Benefits, limitations, co-payments and restrictions may vary by plan and by county. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1, 2013. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, not a comprehensive description of benefits. For more information contact the plan. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. WellCare uses a formulary. A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-800-378-9976 (TTY 711). A variety of Medicare Advantage, Part D and Special Needs plans may be discussed. Limit one per person. There is no obligation to enroll. Please contact WellCare for details. † Other pharmacies/physicians/providers are available in our network.

Y0070_NA016232_72555E_WCM_ADF_ENG File and Use 09172011 ©WellCare 2011 GB07_FL057_HILLSBOROUGH_11/1/2011 NA_08_11 J30739_W41183_GB07_10x9.8125_ENG_NE_WG_HISC_110111_72545.indd 1

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 17 10/11/11 11:02:19 AM

A Clear Vision of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

BY STEPHEN ROSE, PH.D.

But as the disease advances, they may experience blurring in their central vilurry vision and blind spots sion, especially during detail-oriented may be more than just signs of tasks like reading. Doctors diagnose aging—they can be indicators of AMD by identifying yellow deposits age-related macular degeneration called drusen that collect underneath (AMD). This complex disease affects the retina. Most people initially suffer more than 10 million Americans and from dry AMD, which occurs when is the leading cause of blindness for the cells in the eye’s macula slowly people over 50. Promising research break down to gradually blur central is advancing new treatments and vision. Some cases of dry AMD teaching us more about the disease, progress to the wet form, which causes but people must take preventive rapid, advanced vision loss because measures and understand the imporabnormal blood vessels grow under tance of early diagnosis to protect the macula and leak blood and fluid. their sight; especially as aging baby A person seeing straight lines as wavy boomers are becoming more at risk. is a classic symptom of wet AMD. Genetics often play a role in AMD, but the heredity link is complicated as many people develop the condition without family history of it, while Early diagnosis depends on detecting those with affected parents may warning signs and making regular vis- never suffer vision loss. A number of its to an ophthalmologist. A person suf- additional factors are associated with fering from the early stages of AMD AMD, including cigarette smoking, may not notice changes in their vision. bright sunlight, cardiovascular disease,

B

Health

hypertension and diet.

The National Eye Institute conducted the AgeRelated Eye Disease Study (AREDS), which found that a dietary supplement containing a combination of vitamins and minerals reduced people’s risk of developing advanced AMD. The supplement is available over the counter, but should only be taken after consulting a doctor. Studies have also linked consuming lower amounts of dietary fat to decreased chances of developing advanced AMD. Foods high in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish and nuts, as well as colorful vegetables rich in carotenoids may also help prevent AMD. Current research holds promise for new AMD treatments. The biopharmaceutical company Advanced Cell Technology recently launched a clinical trial of a cellular therapy derived from stem cells that could preserve

and restore vision of AMD patients. Oxford BioMedica is conducting a gene therapy human study that could be a long-lasting approach to halting vision loss from AMD, with only a single treatment. And, Regeneron is seeking FDA approval of a therapy for wet AMD that requires less frequent treatment injections than existing treatments like Lucentis, which is FDA-approved for AMD, and Avastin, a cancer drug which is often prescribed off label to AMD patients.

Dr. Stephen Rose is the Chief Research Officer for the Foundation Fighting Blindness, a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing research for AMD treatments and the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases. Additional AMD information and research updates are available at FightBlindness. org or by calling (800) 683-5555.

Allied Veterans of the World aff. 90

H INTERNET CENTER H OPEN 8 a.m. to Midnight • Sunday through Saturday

H Surf the Web H Grand Opening H Promotional Sweepstakes H Print

REVEAL & WIN!

H Fax H Copy H Reveal Sweepstakes

No purchase necessary to participate in Sweepstakes.

H POP3 Email H Web Email

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

HELPING PEOPLE STAY AT HOME & HEALTHIER LONGER

A licensed, bonded and insured home care agency providing quality and compassionate assisted living in the comfort of your own home.

Entries

Caregivers assist you and your family with: • Personal Care • Safety Monitoring • Transportation • Medication Reminders • Homemaking • Companionship • Bathing and Dressing • Home Cooked Meals

H Search the Web

H Sweepstakes Readers H Microsoft Office* H Online Games

H Full Internet Access

No minimum number of service hours

H Internet Phone*

* At select locations

813-938-1183

3804 Sun City Center Blvd. • Ruskin, FL 33573

H Everyone Receives 100 Entries Each Day! H Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 18

H BONUS PROMOTION H For a limited time purchase $20 worth of internet time at the cashier and receive an additional $5 worth H of internet time. H

Call today for a complimentary care assessment

Hillsborough & Manatee

813-651-1300 License #HHA299993385

Pinellas & Pasco

727-579-9414 License #HHA299993144

For a full list of services please call or visit us online arcadiahealthcare.com/stpetersburg • arcadiahelathcare.com/tampa A tradition of quality and dependability since 1978

Sleep and Aging A

University of Chicago research team kept a group of healthy young college men in their 20s up until one o’clock in the morning every night for six nights. Then they woke them at five in the morning. After just six nights with only four hours of sleep, the young men had the cortisol levels typical of men in their 60s.

Simply put, chronic sleep loss or inadequate sleep is aging and disease promoting, according to the book The Life Extension Revolution by the Life Extension Foundation.

They offer these helps for those with occasional or chronic insomnia:

l. In general, vitamins tend to be stimulating, while minerals are lightly sedating. Take your vitamins in the morning and any additional mineral supplements at night.

2. Baths with Epsom salts can also

help promote sleep. The salts contain high amounts of magnesium, which is absorbed through the skin. Use several

3. Exercising in the evening can create a surge of stimulating hormones that make it difficult to fall asleep. Try to exercise in the morning or afternoon.

of Brandon

“One Step Closer to Home”

4. If your hormone regimen calls

for progesterone, take it in the evening as it tends to be sedating.

5. Melatonin is a hormone produced

by the pineal gland that can help induce sleep by regulating the body’s circadian rhythms (the synchronization of our sleep/wake cycles with day and night). Published studies have found that 3 mg of melatonin at bedtime can increase the speed of falling asleep, the duration of sleep and the quality of sleep.

Neuropathy & Other Foot Problems?

Yes, You Can Feel Great About Your Feet Again!

We Have Your Treatment Plan New Location & Expanded Hours

Dr. Bonnie Sanchez

Hawthorne Village

handfuls of Epsom salts in a bath of warm water and soak for 15 to 20 minutes.

Bunions Heel Spurs Come See Orthotics My New Neuropathy Office Hammertoes Tendon Strain Plantar Fasciitis Ugly/Painful Toenails Diabetic Footcare & Shoes

Why suffer any longer? Come see us, your gentle touch Doctor of Podiatry.

Call to see the Doctor (727) 824-5100 or (813) 645-1993 Medicare, United healthcare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Other Insurance

Hawthorne Health and Rehabilitation Center • Assisted Living • Independent Living AL Lic. #9949

Hawthorne Health and Rehabilitation Center, Hawthorne Inn Assisted Living, and Hawthorne Independent Living are the premier facilities in the area. A variety of services are available for all your needs. We provide care in a comfortable and refreshing environment that is surrounded by beauty and nature. Come take a tour and see the difference for yourself.

Our Customers enjoy: • Qualified nursing services • Physical, occupational, and speech therapy • Regular physician on site visits • Laundry and chef prepared meal service • Licensed massage therapy • Outpatient,Vital Stem and ETPS therapy

851 W. Lumsden Road • Brandon, FL 33511

813.661.8998

www.hawthornevillageofbrandon.com

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Online C

aring.com is an online destination for family caregivers. The website includes Steps & Stages™ which includes a custom care guide, stage-based newsletter and online support groups for caregivers.

After completing a brief stage assessment, each caregiver receives a personalized care

guide which can be updated as new symptoms arise.

Stage Groups connect caregivers whose loved ones are at a similar stage of dementia, a place where caregivers can share their experiences, get advice, feel less isolated and laugh and cry with those who understand.

To join, visit caring.com/ alzheimers-support.

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 19

BOARD CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST n Diagnosis & Treatment of Skin Cancer n Treatment for Spider Veins n Treatment for Rosacea n Treatment for Acne and Scarring n Glytone Peels & Facial Products n Botox and Restylane n Special line of Glycolic Products for the following: n Heel & Elbow Treatments n Fine Lines n Dry Skin

Specialist in Aging Skin Same Day Appointments Free skin screenings Call for an appointment

Herpes zoster (shingles)

Dr. Robert A. Norman Se Habla Español

Healthcare Physicians Hero Award 2008 Psoriasis Treatment

Tampa

All appointments made through our Tampa office

813.880.7546

8002 Gunn Hwy.

800.488.7336

6322 U.S. Hwy. 301

Riverview

www.drrobertnorman.com

Zephyrhills

ACCEPTING MEDICARE & MEDICAID. Other Insurances accepted:

38034 Medical Ctr. Ave.

Unitedhealthcare, Cigna, BC/BS, Humana, Tricare, Citruscare, Aetna, Cigna, Medipass, HCH, Pinellas Care and Amerigroup.

Sumterville 1425 South U.S. 301

Holiday Shopping Extravaganza Get an early start on Christmas Shopping Five Vendors in One Location

November 14, 2 – 4 p.m.

V “31” Purses V Pampered Chef V Avon V Premier Jewelry V Mary Kay

Holiday Music and Refreshments

What You Should Know About Shingles Description: Viral infection dormant in a dorsal root ganglion, also known as shingles, reactivated in an immunocompromised adult.

Vesicles appear and later form crusts.

It is possible to get herpes zoster more than once, so the vaccine is most important even if you had the infection before!

Signs/Symptoms: The disease is caused by reactivation of a previous infection with the herpes zoster virus (also named varicella-zoster virus or chickenpox virus) that results in a painful localized skin rash, usu-

Elder Helpline 1-800963-5337 www.aging florida.com

Savannah Court of Brandon 824 N. Parsons Avenue • Brandon, FL 33510

(813) 643-6767

www.SavannahCourtBrandon.com Assisted Living Facility License #9353

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 20

ally with blisters (fluid-filled sacs) on top of reddish skin. The pain may be felt before, during, and after (postherpetic neuralgia) the vesicular eruption.

Prevention: Zostavax vaccine.

Covered by most insurances for those 50 and older.

Contact Dr. Norman today at (813) 880-7546 and schedule an appointment for the vaccine that prevents the awful shingles!

Dr. Robert Norman and Associates are at five locations for all your skin care needs. Phone (813) 880-7546.

Call Today!

• Pre-Planning Available • Cremation • Local Burial • Out-of-State Burial/Transfer • Anatomical Donation • Grief Counseling/Grief Support • Spacious Chapel and Family Rooms • Children’s Play Room • Conveniently Located in Sun City Center • Hearing Impaired Service Available • Golf Cart and Wheelchair Accessible • Sponsor of Toys for Tots Program • Member of Apollo Beach, Riverview, Ruskin and Sun City Center Chambers of Commerce • We Accept all Insurance Funded Pre-Arrangement

1851 Rickenbacker Drive Sun City Center, FL

(813) 634-9900 or 1 (877) 346-5600

Still the Leaders in A HearUSA Company

I apply online for Q Can retirement benefits? :

A: Yes. It’s quick and easy. Apply online and save yourself a trip to the office. Once you submit your online application electronically, in most cases, you’re done. There are no forms to sign or documents to send in. If we do need more information to process your application, a representative will contact you. For more information about applying online, visit our website at www.socialsecurity.gov or call us toll-free at 1-800772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).

Hearing Health

Q: If both my spouse and I are entitled to Social Security benefits, is there any reduction in our payments because we are married?

A: No. We independently calculate each spouse’s Social Security benefit amount.

Each spouse receives a monthly benefit amount based on his or her own earnings. Couples are not penalized simply because they are married. If one member of the couple earned low wages or did not earn enough Social Security credits to be eligible for retirement benefits, he or she may be eligible to receive benefits as a spouse.

Best V al in Hea ue ring Aids!

For over 25 years, our patient care has come first, and we are proud of our 96% patient satisfaction rate. The professional staff at your local HEARx is dedicated to you.

While we specialize in hearing assessments and hearing aids, it’s our ongoing education and consultation that has helped us maintain your hearing health.

Dedicated to your hearing health today AND tomorrow

• Providing the latest technology in a wide range of hearing aids • Employing qualified licensed professionals and hearing providers • Partnering with over 200 health plans across the US • Referred by over 25,000 physicians • Offering outstanding value, dependable service - 96% Patient Satisfaction

Use your history to help change your financial future

Visit your HEARx to let our hearing health professionals find a solution that will enhance your life and fit your lifestyle.

Visit your HEARx today!

Using your prior year’s tax form, Thrivent Financial’s “What-If” tax calculation program can help you understand how changes in your financial situation might affect your tax liability. We have tax-efficient financial strategies that can help, too. For more information, call today.

FREE

cleaning and check of hearing aids

FREE*

pack of hearing aid batteries for stopping by *Limit one pack of batteries per person.

1/2 price off all repairs on most makes and models

Call today to schedule a free hearing screening

Pam Markle, ChFC, CLU, CASL Financial Associate 17535 Darby Ln, Ste 311 Lutz, FL 33558 813-443-5088

BRANDON 813.653.4582

TAMPA** 813.908.7472

SUN CITY CENTER 813.633.6767

EN ESPAÑOL 800.878.0759

**

Se Habla Español

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and its respective associates and employees cannot provide legal, accounting, or tax advice or services. Work with your Thrivent Financial representative, and as appropriate, your attorney and/ or tax professional for additional information.

21573C R8-10 ©2011 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans 201003719

WEL COME HUMANA MEMBERS

Find us online!

Your insurance plan may cover hearing aids. Call today to inquire.

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 21

To Have a Will or Not Have a Will?

Dr. Marion Answers The Question “H

ow important is it to have a will?”

– Jeremy in Georgia, 67

A

will is a crucial document that must be taken care of well in advance of the end of your elder’s life. Do not allow your elder to die intestate (without a will). When your elder doesn’t have a will, the state may take over. It can become very complicated, and you’re sure to lose a hefty percentage of the true value of the estate. By making a will and assigning power of attorney, an elder will feel comforted that his/ her wishes will be carried out.

Finance Wills are often changed, so be ready to execute more than one

document over time. And remember, anytime someone signs a will, there must be a witness. The original should be kept with the lawyer and a copy should be included with your elder’s other legal documents.

Complications also arise when a second family or step-family is involved. All variables should be well thought out, such as who is included and not included in the will. One way to leave someone out of a will is to give them $1. This way, they can’t say they were overlooked or that your elder was incompetent. A plan was put in place to include them. I’ve seen this happen far too frequently. Anyone who contests a will can hold up the process for years, even if they have limited legal grounds to stand on.

It’s very important to appoint the right person as executor or executrix of the will. Your elder must have

confidence that he or she will carry out the full instructions of the will. Often, the executor of a will has retired or died or moved or is otherwise unreachable. This is one reason why the executor is usually a family member, a trusted family friend or a lawyer. Someone must be named as the beneficiary to your elder’s estate or it will be left to the state. Sadly, I’ve seen this happen many times, and family members can do little except deal with their shock.

Don’t draft your elder’s will yourself or allow him/her to do it either. If a will is not prepared in accordance with state laws, it could easily be challenged by other heirs and family members who are unhappy with its contents. This leaves the estate open to hefty legal fees and prolonged maneuvers that could have easily been avoided.

A word about taxes. When a will is executed after someone has passed away, the executor has the responsibility to pay all of the bills and taxes before the heirs can be paid. The law allows only nine months to pay the taxes for the estate that is being probated. After nine months of non-payment, additional fines and penalties are imposed on the estate. So make sure this is handled well ahead of time to lessen any loss to your elder’s estate.

Editor’s note: It is always wise to consult with an elder law attorney for help with all legal matters.

Dr. Marion (Marion Somers, Ph.D.) is a geriatric care manager and elder care expert. She is author of “Elder Care Made Easier”), iPhone apps (www. elder911.net) website, columns, public service announcements, and more. For more information, visit DrMarion.com.

Properly Liquidate a Loved One’s Home W hen a loved one will no longer be returning to their home, the family needs to secure the assets in the newly abandoned home. Here’s how: • Secure the contents by changing the locks since you don’t always know who may have keys.

• Remove gold and precious stone jewelry from the house.

• Remove small valuable items such as sterling silver flatware, gold pocket watches, etc.

• Have an appraiser identify items of significant value to be transferred to a more secure location.

• After this process, the family needs to look for money which may be hidden in the house.

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 22

• Start in the bedroom closet.

Look in pockets, linings, shoe boxes, old purses, zippered compartments, etc.

• Check dressers, commonly top drawers.

• In the rest of the house, look for cookie jars, false bottom cans, freezer areas including ice cube trays for jewelry and coins.

• In the garage, look for canning jars and cans which may have been used to hide money.

When you liquidate items of unusual value, make sure you know the market value of the item by using a professional estate liquidator and/or estate sale company.

Information from Dale Smrekar, Professional Estate Liquidator. Call (813) 244-4160 or visit online at downsizingadvisoryservice.com.

New Armrest Provides Comfort and Relief to Sore Elbows

hether for a few days or long term, sitting in a wheelchair just got a lot more comfortable. The Wheelchair Friend is an ergonomic armrest cushion that replaces the existing armrest and offers plush, bean-bag style comfort for your elbows. It was designed specifically with the recognition of the short- and long-term needs of both wheelchair users and their caregivers.

It offers superior comfort to the hard gels and weak foams currently available and conforms to the shape of the individual’s body. It’s durable, removable and washable, will stay cool under arms, is guaranteed and comes in full-length and desk-length versions with simple E-Z attach universal bolt-on hardware.

The designers based the Wheelchair Friend on the Patent-Pending original Elbow Friend, available for most other types of chairs, including office/home,

auto, waiting room, patio furniture, etc.

It is available at WheelchairFriend.com, where you can watch a demonstration video, and other vendors such as Amazon. Upgrade your wheelchair to first-class comfort.

Ultra-Plush E-Z Attach Stays Cool Washable Por table Durable

“Helps to reduce the pressure placed on the elbow and forearm when seated. I found it to be especially effective.” —Theresa W., OTR. For more information, or to place an order, visit their website at www.WheelchairFriend.com.

Serving The Dental Needs of the Community Since 1974

Open Mon. – Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

5811 E. Broadway Ave. Insurance and Medicaid Accepted

623-1014

Major Credit Cards Accepted

Full Service General Dentist

Special

!

W

$50.00 off each denture reline In House Lab

New Patient Special $99-includes Exam, Bite Wing and Panorex x-ray

Offer not combined with insurance.

Offer not combined with insurance.

Expires 11/30/11

Expires 11/30/11 Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 23

When the Nurse Comes to Your House

BY FRANCES C. HANSEN

T

he scene is getting increasingly familiar. A knock on the door and the patient opens up to a strange person with a couple of bags hanging off her shoulders. “Hello. I’m your home care nurse.” From total knee replacements to infected wounds and from pneumonia to post-operative status, home care is on the increase.

With limitations on the number of days people can stay in the hospital for specific diagnosis, technical assistance has found its way into the home.

What do patients and families look for when the nurse comes to their home? At their door is another stranger in the medical field with which they must establish trust. With staffing down in all areas, patients may, in fact, see several nurses during the course of their recovery.

In essence, home care has become like a mini-hospital on wheels with the objective being to

teach, comfort and prevent further complications that might mean going back into the hospital.

The nurse usually comes in on the day of hospital discharge or the next day to see you, the patient. You must endure the home visit, which can take up to two hours and even longer if the nurse hasn’t honed her interview skills. The patient then will undergo a head-to-toe assessment.

The nurse needs to ensure that the patient understands proper medication, dosage, side effects and changes to report to the physician. Follow-up visits to the doctors are documented.

Patients may be assisted with appointment calendars and medication pre-pours. Do they understand their diagnosis and treatment? Are they compliant with their blood sugar checks as the doctor ordered?

The nurse establishes a care plan with the patient, including how many visits are anticipated in the sixty-day certification period and specific steps

The Luggie Scooter Anywhere, Anyplace, Anytime.

of care to follow. Patients must be educated on changes to report to the medical staff, signs of infection and other diagnosis-specific functions.

If the patient needs care beyond the certification period, orders are obtained from their physician to extend it, all within compliance with Medicare and Medicaid guidelines or private insurance authorization.

Physical therapy, occupational therapy or social work may follow.

The aim is to guide the patient and their family to independence.

Patient and Nurse Responsibilities It is important for the patient and family to realize the truth that the health providers are there to serve them, not the other way around. If they find that the nurse is rude and seemingly has no “bedside” manner, they need to speak up about it.

Someone close to the patient may help mediate between the patient and the nurse.

Time is another factor. The nurse is a professional and should demonstrate responsibility when it comes to arranging the visit time and then be there on time or let the family know they’ll be late. The patient needs to understand that the nurse has others to see and that she schedules patients to work progressively in the area. Openness and honesty are important. No questions should be off limits, such as knowing the purpose of a medication—even if the nurse needs to investigate it with the physician. It could be that you don’t need the medication anymore.

In summary, an informed patient is a happy patient. Less anxiety by the patient and more trust in the home nurse help the healing process. Open communication is a must for both sides.

Hopefully the time of recovery in your home will become a thing of the past that you can look back on with accomplishment and satisfaction, knowing that you participated in the plan of care to help yourself get better.

The Easiest Folding Scooter in the World Airline Safe Cruise Ship Friendly

Available in 5 Designer Colors

Luggie Scooters 1-866-217-1757 Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 24

www.luggie-scooters.com

Quick Facts About Aging

Boomer Athletes Go for Broke ar more than earlier generations, Boomers are pushing their aging bodies to stay in sports contention—and they are paying the price in doctors’ bills.

The 55-and-over contingent makes up an ever-larger percentage of fitness and sports club memberships while physicians report a surge in serious sports-related injuries in that age group. Advances in medical technology have kept many Boomer athletes in the marathon or on the tennis court, but there are limits. Some surgeons draw the line at repairing ancient joints and offer joint replacement instead, which can handicap athletic performance. One way to reduce the likelihood of injury: cross-training.

From The Washington Post, Aug.2011.

F

Professor, 90, Has No Retirement Plans Aaron Beck, a 90-year-old professor emeritus of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, still maintains a full work schedule training therapists, writing books and pursuing research topics.

As experts in the field of happiness know, meaningful work is a key component of contentment. And Beck, despite some physical disabilities, has a very positive attitude. That’s no surprise: he’s widely recognized as the father of cognitive therapy which holds that you can help yourself feel good by thinking positive thoughts.

Cognitive therapists help patients develop skills to change their negative view of themselves and their future.

From The Philadelphia Inquirer, Aug. 2011.

Retirement Confidence Dips Workers’ faith in their ability to afford a comfortable retirement has dropped to a record

low, according to the annual retirement confidence survey from the Employee Benefits Research Institute.

Twenty-seven percent of 2011 respondents said they were “not at all” confident about their retirement future compared to 22 percent in 2010.

From The Washington Post, Aug.2011.

Employees Baffled

By Too Many 401 (k) Choices Presented with a plethora of retirement options, workers are more likely to select those that are less advantageous—or to select none at all—a according to a paper in the Journal of Public Economics.

Whenever 10 extra funds were added to the possibilities for the 401 (k) plans, the workers’ investment in equities decreased more than 3 percent and the likelihood that there would be no such investment increased 2.87 percent. The more complicated the choices the employees were given, the research found, the more they were apt to pick simpler options that were less profitable. The results held for employees of all ages.

Discover the FreeDom ADvAntAge A Life Care Community Exceptional Experiences Every Day 1010 American Eagle Blvd., Apt. 114 Sun City Center, FL 33573 www.brookdaleliving.com SM

Fashionable Resort Living

Clubs • Movies • Trips • Socials • Woodworking shop • Billiards • Card Room Graduate School for Seniors • Library • Beauty Parlor/Barber Shop

Chef Prepared Meals

Traditional and Eclectic Menus Served in five distinctive dining rooms, the French Café or the Pub

Sports and Recreation

18-hole Executive Golf Course • Pickleball • Bocce Ball Indoor and Outdoor Swimming Pools • Indoor Track and Fitness Rooms

Peace of Mind

Maintenance-Free Lifestyle • Priority Access to Quality Healthcare Predictable Long-Term Care Cost, if ever needed

Please Call today to plan your visit! (813) 634-1824 or (800) 678-7684 Exceptional Experiences Every Day is a Service Mark of Brookdale Senior Living Inc., Nashville, TN, USA. Sponsored by the Retired Officers’ Corp. Open to folks from all walks of life. • 51111EF-RES06-0411

From Employee Benefit News, July 2011.

Older Entrepreneurs Coming on Strong Workers 55 and over are going into business on their own at a faster rate than their younger counterparts, the U.S. Dept. of Labor reports. After 33 years as a corporate executive, Barry Meinerth was forced to retire at age 60. He now spends his days running his own alpaca farm in Pawlet, Vermont. He sells the wool he harvests wholesale and through a small shop he’s set up on the farm.

His real chance for profit, though, and the ability to hire some full-time help, lies in breeding alpacas. One of his animals, he says, could fetch $30,000.

From ABC News, July 2011.

Meet Pam Iorio for her FIRST Book Signing from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

From the MetLife Mature Market Institute.

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 25

&

Mr. Modem

by Richard Sherman

C

an you explain Net Neutrality and what all the fuss is about in layman’s terms? I am against the government running anything, but I don’t understand the issue here.

It’s a complex subject about which volumes have been written, but in its simplest form, net neutrality is the principle that says that all information flowing across the Internet should be treated equally.

With more people streaming data-rich video, Skype (Internet telephone), playing online games, watching full-length movies, and using social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, etc., the Internet itself faces significant traffic congestion, which can manifest itself in sluggish or even nonexistent access to Internet-based data.

The Fuss About ‘Net Neutrality’ Explained Questions then arise such as, “Should Internet access providers be able to sell multi-tiered access to accommodate heavy users? Should sites that generate massive traffic and thus contribute to the congestion pay additional fees which would undoubtedly be passed on to consumers? Should the historically free information superhighway become a toll road?”

The U.S. government is examining net neutrality and its financial, legal and social implications. The debate then becomes, “Do we need federal intervention to ensure fairness, or is this an issue for the free market to work out, bearing in mind that the Internet itself is global, so the U.S. government’s jurisdiction would be limited to U.S.-based providers?” The debate and discussion to follow promise to be heated and prolonged, so stay tuned.

I have Firefox configured to automatically open four sites when I launch it. Can Internet Explorer perform the same function?

Start by creating a tab (CTRL + T), type in an address and go to that site. Repeat the process for each site you want to open automatically. Let’s say you create four tabs to display the four different sites you display in Firefox.

If you want all four to appear when you open IE, click the little down arrow next to the House icon (Home page) on the toolbar and select “Add or Change Home Page.”

Click “Use the Current Tab Set as your home page,” select “Yes,” then close IE. That’s all there is to it.

Quick Review: To configure Firefox to open multiple pages, click Tools > Options > General tab. Under Startup, “When Firefox starts:” select “Show my home page.” In the Home Page field, enter the URLs of the sites you would like to launch automatically, separated with a pipe mark (|), which is vertical line, usually located above the back-slash (\) key. Click OK when you’re done.

I know how to delete individual files, but I can’t remember how you said we can use the keyboard to highlight a block of files for moving or deleting. Thanks, Mr. M.

To select multiple files, hold down the SHIFT key and click the first file to select it, then scroll down to the last file and click that to highlight (select) all files in between.

If the files you want to select are non-contiguous files—which is just a fancy-shmancy way of saying files not located next to each other—use the CTRL key instead of the SHIFT key to select specific files.

For answers to your questions, or to subscribe to Mr. Modem’s weekly newsletter, visit MrModem.com.

Mr. Modem’s Don’t Miss ‘Em Site of the Month Bidding for Good: This site brings together cause-conscious consumers and organizations attempting to raise funds to support their various missions. All of the items found in their ongoing auctions raise funds for the nonprofit running the auction. BiddingForGood.com.

Stay Connected!

and

H Places

to Go H Things to Do H Contests

H Great

Local Stories H Great Events

H Be Inspired H Find Great Recipes H Read Your Paper Online

Senior Connection and Mature Lifestyles

Go to: www.seniorconnectionfl.com Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 26

Who To Trust When It Comes to Trusts

BY WILLIAM R. MUMBAUER, Attorney

www.flwillstrustsprobate.com

Don’t put off estate planning any longer. Call

A

30YRS

William R. Mumbauer, P.A.

205 N. Parsons Ave., Brandon

reader asks: I recently received an advertisement in the mail suggesting that all seniors would greatly benefit from a “Living” Trust. The company that sent the advertisement wants to send a representative to my home to discuss the benefits of a trust. Should I respond to this advertisement?

The Law And You

• Free, no obligation consultation.

• Single will $150 • Husband and wife wills $200 Costs, if any, extra The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask the lawyer to send you free written information about his qualifications and experience.

My recommendation is to ignore the solicitation. Misinformation and misunderstanding about estate taxes and the length or complexity of probate provide the perfect cover for scam artists who have created an industry out of older people’s fears that their estates could be eaten up by costs or that the distribution of their assets could be delayed for years. Some unscrupulous businesses are advertising seminars on “living” trusts or sending

The Federal Government reduced the Medicare Budget by 500 Billion Dollars, how will this affect you?

Do you have a Medicare Advantage HMO plan or PPO plan?

Do you have an employer sponsored retirement plan with out of pocket medical costs?

Does your plan have Maximum Out of Pocket deductibles that have to be reached?

Does your plan have daily out of pocket hospital costs and out of pocket ambulance costs?

*If you answered “YES” to any of these questions and you would like more information, please give us a call to see if there are immediate benefit options available that you qualify for.

postcards inviting consumers to call for in-home appointments to learn more about “living” trusts. In these cases, it’s not uncommon for the salesperson to use high-pressure sales techniques and to exaggerate the benefits or the appropriateness of the “living” trust and claim—falsely—that locally licensed attorneys will prepare the documents.

And often the prices quoted are three to four times higher than what your neighborhood attorney would charge.

Still other businesses are using estate-planning services to gain access to consumers’ financial information in hopes of selling them other financial products, such as insurance annuities.

What’s a consumer to do? It’s true that for some people, a “living” trust can be a useful and practical tool. But for others, it can be a great waste of money and time. But how can you tell which tools and strategies will work best for your particular circumstances?

It’s always best to seek the advice of an experienced estate-planning attorney.

Most attorneys do not charge for the initial conference and at this meeting all of your questions regarding whether or not a “living” trust is right for you or if other estate planning methods are more appropriate can be fully answered.

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.

Automobile Accidents

We provide prompt, aggressive representation for victims of automobile accidents.

*Must be at least 64 1/2 years old to meet minimum eligibility guidelines. *Protect your financial assets from potential health problems!

Providence Financial and Health Services • Lifetime Income Strategies • IRA & CD Rollovers • 401K, 403B & DROP Acct. Rollovers

• All Medicare Insurance Options • Family/Individual/Corporate/Small Business Health Plans • Life Insurance Plans

James Cabble Manager

6919 Providence Rd. • Riverview, FL 33578 Phone: 813-245-6656 jcabble@providencefinancialandhealthservices.com www.providencefinancialandhealthservices.com Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 27

IT’S FALL TUNE UP TIME!

Is Your Central A/C & Heating System Ready for Winter?

BRIDGE BITES

From The American Contract Bridge League

It Pays To Count

BY BRIAN GUNNELL

B

UP T0 *12 MONTHS SAME AS CASH. *REBATES UP TO $2,495 AND *TAX CREDITS UP TO $300!

265-3247

efore seeing the auction, imagine that you are South, playing in 2♠. Looking just at the N-S hands, how would you tackle the trump suit?

The percentage play to avoid a second loser is to cash the Ace (a precaution against West having the singleton King), then cross to Dummy and lead towards the Queen.

That gets the job done whenever East has the King and it is doubleton or tripleton.

As you can see, that is not a success on the actual hand. Declarer loses two trump tricks and ends up going down one. Now let’s replay the hand, this time bearing in mind the auction.

265-3247

265-3247

265-3247

265-3247

265-3247

265-3247

265-3247

West leads the ♣A and East plays the Queen (showing the Jack). Clubs are continued and you ruff the third round. Next, you cash the ♠A, and lead a Heart which East wins. A Heart comes back, won on the board, and it’s time to lead a Spade. Is there any reason for Declarer to be inspired

now and play a low Spade from hand?

Yes, there is! Declarer needs only to remember West’s Double of 1♠ and do some counting. West has 7 points in Clubs, a maximum of 3 in Diamonds and none in Hearts. That’s not enough for his bidding! He surely has the ♠K and Declarer’s only chance is that West started with King doubleton.

Such an easy hand for those who take the trouble to do a little counting.

Visit www.acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email marketing@acbl.org.

To find a bridge club in Florida, go to http://www.district9acbl. org/D9Clubsmap.htm.

Bridge article provided courtesy of St. Petersburg Bridge Club; online at stpetebridge.org.

ONE-OF-A-KIND

THE CURIOSITY SHOPPE 265-3247

www.EASYAC.com

COLLECTIBLES, ANTIQUES, UNIQUE GIFTS AND MORE!

Find special antiques, real fossils and crafts, and more!

We rent booths or spaces month by month, you set up your items and we sell it for you.

1335 “C” W. Brandon Blvd. • Brandon FL 33510 WE SERVICE ALL BRANDS Free service call with repair.

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 28

7 DAYS A WEEK!

(On 60 Hwy. Across the street from Dunkin Donuts)

(813) 685-5508

Open 7 days! M-W 9am–6pm, Th–Sat 9am–8pm, Sun 12–6pm

November 2011 Fishing Forecast A

n improving snook Tampa Fishing Outfitters population will head Radio will be setting up into the rivers and deeper food drop-off points where water of Tampa Bay you can drop off your looking for warmth. The nonperishable foods prior snook bite will be tough to the November 19 event. again this year because of Drop point collections the low number of survi- Capt. Danny Guarino will be on November 18. vors of the 2010 freeze.

Drop-off points are Tampa Trout will be on the deeper grass Fishing Outfitters, 3916 W. Osborne and some of the deeper spots in the Ave., Tampa, Southshore Bait and Manatee and little Manatee Rivers.

Tackle, Ruskin and Marine America, Use Live shrimp as your bait.

3701 50th Ave. South, St. Petersburg.

Please check your regulations for —Capt. Danny Guarino; D.R. the closed season in November and Guarino Charters; (813) 956-2010; December for the southern region.

E-mail shpoint@aol.com; or visit Redfish will move near the many oyster fishingguidetampabay.com. bars that fill the back country of Tampa Bay. Try using a pin fish under a bobber.

Register for the SouthShore Another good way to catch Red fish is Professional Fishing Tournament, to use cut lady fish or cut up pin fish.

May 10 – 11, 2012. The tournament I can’t go into November without a is hosted by The Resort and Club mention of the Fishing for Hope food at Little Harbor, 611 Destiny Drive, drive held each year. This year’s event Ruskin. For more information, visit will be held on November 19, 2011 at www.southshoreprofish.com. the Metropolitan Ministries. ESPN’s

Word Search

Last Month’s Answers

Oct. Sudoku

Lyle Sands is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

Win Great Prizes!

New winner selected each month

Good Luck!

Nov. 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 Nov. 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 NOV. 21, 2011

Word Search Nov. 2011 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?

Answers From

October 2011

Wafa Munzer is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

&

Florida’s Award Winning Senior Magazine

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

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on November 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 Nov. 21, 2011.)

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 29

Into America’s Wild West

BY TRACIE SCHMIDT

S

unscreen. Check. National Parks passport, check. Stetson and riding gloves? Check and check.

Look out, Wild West, here I come.

This year, I left for Wyoming to fulfill a lifelong dream to visit Yellowstone and the Tetons, and to see how people live, work and play at one of the oldest dude ranches in the state.

The 7D Ranch Early in the morning, I headed north from Cody, WY to the Chief Joseph Scenic Highway, a wild ride across mountain passes and canyon lands. Halfway through, a road branches off into a wide valley rimmed with glacier-capped mountains. This is the Sunlight Basin, home to the 7D Ranch. It was purchased in 1958 by Dr. DeWitt “Doc” Dominick, and it’s been in their family ever since. Meade and Andrea Dominick run the show now, and they do their best to make every guest feel like part of the family.

Travel

The ranch is around 275 acres of aspen, pine and fir forest, red and yellow rim rock, meadows of aromatic sage and grazing land for herds of cattle and horses. They can accomodate up to 32 guests in spacious, cozy cabins and meals are home-cooked with ingredients straight from the ranch.

This was my first time at a dude ranch, and I wasn’t sure what to do first. As it turned out, they had quite a

day planned. After a hearty breakfast, I met my companion for the trip—a spunky horse named Red Wyatt—and I was off for a day of riding. With trails named “Skyline,” “Indian Caves” and “Screaming Woman,” you were sure to find adventure no matter which one you picked. My group set out on a trail named “Memorial”—Doc Dominick’s favorite spot—and enjoyed a bird’s eye view of the ranch and the Abrasoka mountains. It was breathtaking.

Days are filled with riding, fly fishing, skeet shooting, cookouts, children’s activities, games in the recreational hall or just lounging in a hammock. Pack trips and day trips into Yellowstone are also popular. At night, s’mores by campfire, hayrides or a Wicki-Up—a traditional Indian sweat lodge—are the order of the evening. I enjoyed a quiet night with new friends and saw a presentation on wolves by a local wildlife biologist.

Then it was off to my cabin for a snooze by a crackling wood stove.

The ranch is open from mid June to mid September, and different activities are available depending on the season. The 7D is a great place to bring your grandkids, but during adult-only weeks, it also offers a peaceful refuge.

Norma Price, 86, was visiting with her daughter Nancy and son-in-law Tom. Tom and Nancy had spent their honeymoon on the ranch, and for the three of them, vacationing at the 7D was a tradition.

I asked what brought them back.

“The scenery, and the riding when I was able,” Norma said fondly.

For Nancy, the variety of activities and accommodation of the staff make the ranch special. “Whatever you want to do—if you want to go fishing or go out on a hike, just ask; they’ll make it happen,” she said.

To book a stay at the 7D Ranch, visit 7dranch.com or call (307) 587-9885.

Learn more and start your own Wyoming adventure: visit wyomingtourism.org.

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 30

Yellowstone

O

ur national parks are our birthright as Americans, preserved so that every citizen can experience the same thrill of discovery that our country’s first explorers felt. You can spend weeks discovering all there is to see in Yellowstone. But if you are only there for a couple days, here are some must-sees.

Old Faithful Inn and Old Faithful: Visit the century-old rustic log resort, see the worldfamous geyser and other geothermal features, easily accessible by boardwalk.

Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone: Follow trails along the canyon’s rim for spectacular views, or take a short hike down to Lower Falls.

Mammoth Hot Springs: Explore an alien landscape of calcified waterfalls and multi-colored pools. The Roosevelt Arch is five miles north.

Animals: Herds of bison and elk, as well as the occasional wolf pack or grizzly bear, frequent The Lamar River Basin and Hayden valley. Best times: according to locals, early spring and fall. Bring binoculars.

Best Stays in the Park – Hotels: Old Faithful Inn, Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel, Roosevelt Lodge, Canyon Lodge, Lake Hotel. Reservations recommended at least 4 –6 months in advance. RVs: Fishing Bridge.

Camping: Canyon, Madison, Indian Creek and Norris.

Good Eats: Old Faithful Dining Room (RSVP: 1-866439-7375); lunch at Lake Hotel’s 1920’s-style dining room; or Roosevelt Lodge’s Old West Dinner Cookout.

For more information, visit nps.gov/yell or reserve at yellowstonenationalparklodges.com.

Grand Teton

A

bout an hour south of Yellowstone is Grand Teton national park. Its highest peak reaches 13,775 ft., and this majestic range is a favorite spot for hikers, photographers and nature-lovers alike.

Here are some ways to explore this amazing park: Ferry/Hike: At Jenny Lake, catch a ferry across to the base of the Tetons and enjoy a scenic hike to Hidden Falls, Inspiration Point or Cascade Canyon.

Scenic Drives: Take the 43 mile Scenic Loop Drive, accessed at Jackson Lake Junction, Moran Junction and Moose Junction. Side trip: Snake River Overlook for a panoramic view of the Tetons.

Aerial Tram: At Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, catch a cable tram ride to the top of Rendezvous Peak, 10,450 ft. $20 – $25. Visit tram-formation.com.

Whitewater Raft or Float Trip: The Snake River flows past the base of the Tetons. Spot wildlife, enjoy mountain scenery or ride the rapids. Dave Hansen Whitewater & Scenic River Trips: (800) 732-6295.

Best Stays in the Park: Jackson Lake Lodge; Jenny Lake Campground (tents only); Colter Bay Village campground and marina.

More info: nps.gov/grte or gtlc.com/lodging/.

It’s A Small World, After All W hen Henry Biernacki was 17 years old, he hopped a Greyhound bus from Colorado to Mexico with nothing but a small backpack, the clothes on his back and a few bucks in his pocket.

He hasn’t stopped moving since. Today, Biernacki is an airline captain with Virgin America and he has traveled to more than 120 countries, but his travel habits haven’t evolved much since his teen years. No five-star hotels or limousines for him. Most of the time, he’ll get on a plane the same way he boarded that bus—backpack, clothes on his back, a few bucks in his pocket.

In fact, back in 1997, he toured 40 different countries over 11 months, spending only $3,700 the entire trip.

He slept on the streets, in airports and, at times, in a guest house. And that’s why he thinks he’s been so fortunate.

For him, it wasn’t about seeing the world—it was about meeting the people along the journey.

“I know how to speak four languages, but I found the one universal language is human kindness,” said Biernacki, author of No More Heroes (globalhenry. com), a novel loosely based on the true stories of his travels.

“Once you get past the politics and the religions and the cultures, people all around the world value pretty much the same things we do.

They respect a hard day’s work, learning about someone new and living a healthy pleasant life.”

Insurance Discounts �����������

��������

for Mature Drivers

������������������

����������������� ����������������� ����������������� ���������������� ���������������������� ���������������������� � �����������������������

Give your Holiday Getaway some Character at Gaylord Palms, starting at $199* November 16, 2011 - January 2, 2012 407-586-6789 | ChristmasAtGaylordPalms.com Refer to promo code GP0627

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

FEATURING

To Register go to:

ICE! PRESENTED BY

www.seniordriverclass.com

or call 1-800-771-2255 Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicle Approved Course

*Per person, based on double occupancy and availability, plus taxes, Osceola Assessment Fee, resort fee and parking. Extra adult and child rates available. See website for offer and restrictions. • Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, and all related characters and properties © 2011 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. • Shrek the Halls © 2011 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. • © 2011 The Coca-Cola Company. “CocaCola” is a registered trademark of The Coca-Cola Company. All rights reserved.

Senior Connection GP-0627-11 Sr Connection/Mature Life Mag - ACC Ad [4.9167x9.8125].indd 1

• November 2011 • page 31 10/13/11 9:52 AM

When the Frost Is On the Pumpkin...

A

ssociated mostly with the fall months, it’s time once again to enjoy one of fall’s most familiar sights—pumpkins at your neighborhood fruit stand.

Archeologists throughout North and South America dig up pottery representing the many varieties of pumpkins and squashes grown by Native Americans who were growing these tasty vegetables for hundreds of years before the Europeans arrived.

Recipe Native Americans of the eastern U.S. considered them nearly as important as corn and beans. Even the seeds were ground into meal for gruel or bread. Colonists ate them daily, according to food historians.

Today gardeners revel in growing bigger and better pumpkins for

personal satisfaction. One World Pumpkin WeighOff winner last year was over 1,500 pounds.

It’s time for the pumpkins to arrive. Some say the smaller the pumpkin, the better the flavor. Others say the bigger the pumpkin, the better the jack-o-lantern.

Have it your way.

Pumpkin is rich in phosphorus, calcium, iron and vitamins A and C. So, what can you do with a pumpkin besides make a jack-o-lantern? Roast the salted seeds at 250 degrees for 30 to 60 minutes, cool and enjoy.

For cooks who like to take the easy way, try this easy cake. Just “dump” the ingredients in and bake!

1 tsp. allspice 1 yellow cake mix 1 cup butter, melted 1 cup chopped nuts

Easy Pumpkin “Dump” Cake Ingredients: 1 lg. can pumpkin (29 oz.) or use fresh 1 can evaporated milk 4 eggs 1 cup brown sugar 2 tsp. cinnamon 1/2 tsp. nutmeg

Preparation Directions: 1. Mix first 7 ingredients well.

2. Pour into 9 x 13 greased pan.

3. Sprinkle dry cake mix on top of mixture.

4. Sprinkle nuts over cake.

5. Pour butter over cake.

6. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until cake tester comes out clean.

Variations: • Mix up a boxed cheese cake mix and swirl it into the pumpkin.

• Substitute spice or butter pecan cake mix for the yellow cake mix.

• Drizzle cream cheese icing over the cake once it is baked and sprinkle with pecans or walnuts.

Please enclose this form with your entry. (make sure to sign the bottom) Mail to: News Connection USA, P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583-0638 Presents...

Enter Now! GRAND PRIZE WINNER

Will receive a 2 NIGHT STAY AT THE THE GAYLORD PALMS RESORT, ORLANDO FOR 4.

Could Your Grandchild’s Photo be a Winner?

Including Ice!, ShrekFeast and much more

Selected photos will be published in upcoming issues of Senior Connection magazine. Photos will be on display at the Senior Friendly Extravaganza, November 17, 2011 at the Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Dr., Largo FL 33771 Call 1-888-670-0040 for more information.

X1st Place Winner $75 X 2nd Place Winner $50 X 3rd Place $25 X GRAND PRIZE WINNER X Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 32

RULES:

Photos should be: Maximum size 8 1/2” x 11”, printed on photo paper only. Maximum 5 entries per person.

NO professional photos. Please no photos by e-mail.

Grandparent Name Address City

State

Zip

Phone Photo Title Sender’s Age(s)

Subject’s Age(s)

Subject’s Name Photo release signature Entries must be received by Nov. 8, 2011 to be entered in the Photo Contest. (Send your photos in early so we can share them with our readers). Photos will be returned within 45 days after contest ends, if you include a self-addressed stamped envelope (large enough to fit your photo) and name and address on the back of the photo.

LC

Introducing

DoubleTime!

Double your monthly minutes for life with activation by 01/03/2012

Finally, a cell phone that’s… a phone!

“Well, I finally did it. I finally decided to enter the digital age and get a cell phone.

My kids have been bugging me, my book group made fun of me, and the last straw was when my car broke down, and I was stuck by the highway for an hour before someone stopped to help. But when I went to the cell phone store, I almost changed my mind. The phones are so small I can’t see the numbers, much less push the right one. They all have cameras, computers and a “global-positioning” something or other that’s supposed to spot me from space. Goodness, all I want to do is to be able to talk to my grandkids! The people at the store weren’t much help. They couldn’t understand why someone wouldn’t want a phone the size of a postage stamp. And the rate plans! They were complicated, confusing, and expensive… and the contract lasted for two years! I’d almost given up when a friend told me about her new Jitterbug phone. Now, I have the convenience and safety of being able to stay in touch… with a phone I can actually use.”

minutes I’m never going to use? And if I do talk more than I plan, I won’t find myself without any minutes like my friend who has a prepaid phone. With Jitterbug, there are no contracts, no cancellation fees and now, when you sign up for our Basic 19 plan, you’ll double your monthly minutes for the same price. The U.S.–based customer service is second to none, and the phone gets service virtually anywhere in the country.

The cell phone that’s right for me. Sometimes I think the people who designed this phone and the rate plans had me in mind. The phone fits easily into my pocket, and flips open to reach from my mouth to my ear. The display is large and backlit, so I can actually see who is calling. With a push of a button I can amplify the volume, and if I don’t know a number, I can simply push “0” for a friendly, helpful operator that will look it up and even dial it for me. The Jitterbug also reduces background noise, making the sound loud and clear. There’s even a dial tone, so I know the phone is ready to use.

Affordable plans that I can understand – and no contract to sign! Unlike other cell phones, Jitterbug has plans that make sense. Why should I pay for

Order now and receive a FREE Car

Charger and a FREE Leather Carrying Case for your Jitterbug– a $43.99 value. Call now!

Basic 14 Monthly Minutes

50

Basic 19 DoubleTime 200

100

$14.99

$19.99

Operator Assistance

24/7

24/7

911 Access

FREE

FREE

No add’l charge

No add’l charge

FREE

FREE

YES

YES

30 days

30 days

Monthly Rate

Long Distance Calls Voice Dial Nationwide Coverage Friendly Return Policy1

More minute plans available. Ask your Jitterbug expert for details.

Available in Graphite and Red.

Call now and get a FREE Car Charger and FREE Leather Carrying Case – a $43.99 value. Try Jitterbug for 30 days and if you don't love it, just return it1. Why wait, the Jitterbug comes ready to use right out of the box. If you aren’t as happy with it as I am, you can return it for a refund of the purchase price. Call now, the Jitterbug product experts are ready to answer your questions.

Jitterbug Cell Phone Ask how you can get DoubleTime for Life!

Please mention promotional code 42664.

1-888-779-5928 www.jitterbugdirect.com

47507

We proudly accept the following credit cards.

IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: DoubleTime offer valid on Basic 19 plan and applies to new Jitterbug customers only. Offer ends 1/3/12. Offer valid until plan is changed or cancelled. Jitterbug is owned by GreatCall, Inc.Your invoices will come from GreatCall. All rate plans and services require the purchase of a Jitterbug phone and a one-time set up fee of $35. Coverage and service is not available everywhere. Other charges and restrictions may apply. Screen images simulated.There are no additional fees to call Jitterbug’s 24-hour U.S. Based Customer Service. However, for calls to an Operator in which a service is completed, minutes will be deducted from your monthly balance equal to the length of the call and any call connected by the Operator, plus an additional 5 minutes. Monthly rate plans do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges. Prices and fees subject to change. 1We will refund the full price of the Jitterbug phone if it is returned within 30 days of purchase in like-new condition. We will also refund your first monthly service charge if you have less than 30 minutes of usage. If you have more than 30 minutes of usage, a per minute charge of 35 cents will apply for each minute over 30 minutes. The activation fee and shipping charges are not refundable. Jitterbug is a registered trademark of GreatCall, Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and/or its related entities. Copyright © 2011 GreatCall, Inc. Copyright © 2011 by firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc. All rights reserved.

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 33

Pinellas Auditions: January 18 - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Japanese Garden Mobile Estates 19709 U.S. Highway 19 North Clearwater, FL 33764-1006 Senior Talent Show: February 11, 2012 - 2:00 p.m.

Largo Cultural Center 105 Central Park Drive • Largo, FL 33779 SENIOR IDOL SHOW – APRIL 4, 2012 – 7:00 p.m.

Ruth Eckerd Hall 1111 McMullen Booth Road • Clearwater, FL 33759

Hillsborough Auditions: January 18 - 9:00 a.m. to noon Sun City Center Chamber of Commerce 1651 Sun City Center Plaza • Sun City, FL 33573 January 25 - 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m Brandon Community Center 502 East Sadie Street • Brandon, FL 33510 Senior Talent Show February 18, 2012 - 3:00 p.m.

Spoto High School 8538 Eagle Palm Drive Riverview, FL 33578

Participants must be at least 55 years young. Only solo & duet acts, no groups please. Please bring your own instruments and your own tape/cd or accompanist to the audition. A piano will be available. Audition on first-come first-serve basis. No Entry Fee to audition.

Ten Acts will be chosen from the auditions to perform at the show!

For Information call: Pinellas: 727-329-2618 – Susan Juhl and Nicole Woodring Hillsborough: 813-436-2296 – Andrea White and Chrissy Crumpton Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 34

Hero Dog Hallmark Special

E

very dog has his day—and this is it. Exclusively on Hallmark Channel Friday, November 11 at 8 p.m., the inaugural American Humane Association Hero Dog Awards™, presented by Cesar® Canine Cuisine, will celebrate the special relationship between canine and human and recognize extraordinary acts of heroism performed by ordinary dogs. Winners will be presented in categories including Law Enforcement and Arson Dogs, Service Dogs, Therapy Dogs, Military Dogs, Guide Dogs, Search and Rescue Dogs, Hearing Dogs and Emerging Hero Dogs.

The winner of the top prize of American Hero Dog for 2011, a guide dog named Roselle, was

honored for having led her blind master down 78 flights of steps at the World Trade Center following the 9/11 attacks. Hosted by Carson Kressley, the 90-minute Hallmark Special will also feature presenters Betty White, Paula Abdul, Faith Ford, Julianne Hough, Michael Vartan, Peter Fonda and many others.

Enjoy an Evening at the Orchestra

BY HENRY ADAMS

C

irque de la Symphonie returns to kick off the Raymond James Pops series with a breathtaking variety of acts by accomplished veterans of Cirque du Soleil and other troupes. Among the performers are aerial flyers, acrobats, contortionists, dancers, jugglers, balancers and strongmen.

Under the baton of guest conductor Stuart Chafetz, The Florida Orchestra accompanies these artists with everybody’s symphonic favorites.

Concerts are Nov. 4, 5 and 6 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater.

Hailed as “a legend in the making” by the Chicago Tribune, American violinist Stefan Jackiw joins the orchestra to perform Beethoven’s rhapsodic Violin Concerto on a

program which includes Prokofiev’s Symphony No. 6. Stefan Sanderling conducts these St. Petersburg Times Masterworks concerts on Nov. 11, 12 and 13 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater.

Get into the swing of things with the dance band sounds of Tommy Dorsey as part of a tribute to the velvet voice of Frank Sinatra, featuring vocalist Steve Lippia in such signature hits as “Come Fly with Me,” “The Best is Yet to Come,” “Fly Me to the Moon,” and “New York, New York.” Principal pops conductor of the Rochester Philharmonic Jeff Tyzik conducts The Florida Orchestra for these concerts on Nov. 25, 26 and 27.

Enjoy new lower ticket prices of $15, $30 and $45 for the Masterworks and Pops concerts. Visit floridaorchestra. org or call (727) 892-3337 details.

Christmas Tea December 3, 2011 $20.00 per Ticket Gift with Purchase

A Rural Living History Museum Call 813-627-4225 to reserve your place. Space is limited.

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 35

Seniors Getting Together

WOMEN SEEKING MEN

4065 HISPANIC, 70, FIT, LOOKS YOUNGER, feels 30, likes gym, travel, dancing, dining out, beaches, adventures, church and family. Seeking younger man, 56 – 65, fit, active and same likes. Tampa.

4067 ISO BICYCLING COMPANION, 62 to 70 YO, who likes to ride on paved trails. I am a 67 YO SF who loves the outdoors and prefers to live a simple life.

4069 1943 CLASSIC SEEKS TALL, sincere gentleman for meaningful relationship. I enjoy most anything two people can do both indoors and out, but going out 2x week is a must. Send phone number. Tampa.

4023 SEEKING CUTE 59 –65YO HONEST, ONE-WOMAN MAN. IQ, “Patriotic,” conservative with SOH. Love travel, have 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! Florida.

4055 HISPANIC LADY 70 YO, 5’3”, C, WW, NS, ND, good values, loving. Likes gym, travel, music, gardening, reading, etc. Seeking nice gentleman. Please send a recent photo.

4057 ATTRACTIVE BLONDE, 5’5”, HWP, NS. Looking for caring, honest, faithful SWM 75+. I enjoy movies, travel, dancing, dining out, time at home. Lets share good times. I’m caring. Zephyrhills.

4061 PRETTY DBF, 54, CURVY, looking for a S/DWM who can be monogamous, sensual, funny and patient, and can picture himself in LTR with me. Pinellas County.

4063 HEALTHY, SLENDER ,ATTRACTIVE, CARING, WWF seeks 75-plus gentleman friend for togetherness, sharing good times. Enjoy life’s many pleasures, like dancing, beaches, dining, travel, having fun, much more. St. Pete.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN 4046 4-STAR 24 CARAT SERIOUS ROMANTIC desires that one special lady to adore, pamper and spoil.

Total, complete and utter devotion and commitment from both parties a must.

Age not important—seriousness is.

4050 NEEDED SLIM ROMANTIC HEALTHY female, nonsmoker, able to relocate to my new home, share new life, love, companionship, each other.

I’m SWM, 66, 5’8”, 155 lbs. Your photo description gets mine – thanks.

4064 RETIRED BI-LINGUAL PASTOR, in excellent health, no medications, NS, SD, ISO affectionate caring lady, 65+, SOH, who enjoys music, reading and traveling. LTR. Bay Island, South Pasadena area. South Pasadena.

4066 RETIRED WW, NS, ND, likes to play cards, eat out. Very friendly. Go to movies. SOH, W, American. Dade City.

4068 SEEK CARING LADY, late 60, early 70. I am 74. Going for walks, dining out, relax at home, movies, flea markets. Share life together. Brandon.

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.

AlarmCare—Live Independently SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER and Securely at Home Personal Ad Placement Only $6 to

RUN YOUR AD FOR ONLY $6 A MONTH Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month prior to placement.

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):

E

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: Address: City: Phone:

State:

Zip:

E-mail:

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

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 36

veryone wants to live at home without worry, regardless of their age or medical condition, but sometimes it’s not as easy as we’d all like. However, there are certain devices that provide peace of mind by giving people the ability to get help at the push of a button. These systems are called Personal Emergency Response Systems and one of the most trusted is AlarmForce’s AlarmCare.

AlarmCare is a two-piece system that consists of a pendant and the Alarm-

Care unit. The pendant is worn either as a necklace or a bracelet and the unit is placed on a counter. With AlarmCare a user can get help by simply pressing the button on their emergency pendant. At that point they are connected live with the AlarmForce Central Station through a speaker. The Operator can then hear what’s happening and, if needed, contact EMS. The Operator can also access the AlarmCare user’s medical information kept on file.

AlarmCare is an essential tool for living at home, regardless of your age or medical condition.

AlarmCare costs $0/down and only $28/month. In addition, there’s no contract required.

To get an AlarmCare system, call AlarmForce at 1-800-267-2001.

Last Month’s Answers

Last Month’s Winner Is Bill Swain Congratulations!

Enter to Win!

ALARMFORCE

PROTECTING OVER 250,000

PEOPLE ACROSS NORTH AMERICA

WITH LIVE TWO-WAY VOICE

HOME ALARM SECURITY SYSTEM

HOME ALARM

This Enter To Win! month’s winner is

ONLY 25 $

Myron L. Guisewite

/ MONTH

with

ADD LINE-CUT PROTECTION FOR ONLY $ 99 + $ 4. 9 5 / month more

FREE!

Congratulations !!!

LIVE TWO-WAY VOICE WIRELESS ACTIVATION WARRANTY

1.800.267.2001

Last Month’s Answers

CALL NOW AND SAVE BIG! See more AlarmForce advantages at alarmforce.com Certain conditions may apply.

Perfect For Seniors

wanting to live independently in their own home.

ALARMCARE FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!

Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on Nov. 19 will receive $20 cash!

Send to: News Connection USA, Inc., 1602 S. Parsons Ave, Seffner, FL 33584

I am interested in: Travel / Cruises Recreation / Leisure Entertainment / Events

Insurance Elder Law / Financial Housing Options Reverse Mortgages

Personal Health & Fitness Home Improvements Automobiles

Name Address City

Age

Phone

E-mail

State Zip

by

Help is yours with the push of a button!

1.800.267.2001 Personal Emergency Response System Only $28/month. With No Annual Contract.

FREE Live Two-Way Voice, Installation, Activation and Warranty.

myalarmcare.com

Certain conditions may apply.

SC/Hills and Sun

FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!

Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on June 19th will receive $20 cash! Send to: Mature Lifestyles, 220 W. Brandon Blvd., Suite 203, Brandon, FL 33511

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 37

Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 38

u 212

American Legion Hall

Unique Vacation Hotel for Cats Only! ✦ Featured on Nationwide TV ✦ Reasonable rates ✦ Huge windows on tropical gardens ✦ Vet on call ✦ Soft music, lots of loving & petting

15501 Boyette Rd. Riverview

We Seniors!

BINGO Post 26

Plant City, FL Baker & Woodrow Wilson

Every Sat. night 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.

Public Welcome

(813) 752-8608 MOTORCYCLE FOR SALE 2008 Honda CBR600RR $2000 Contact: jamesjohntz@gmail.com

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

LUNCH & DINNER BUFFET Breakfast ~ Lunch ~ Dinner Welcome Back Friends!

Evening Entertainment! starting at 6pm Tuesday – Saturday

OPEN FOR FAMILY THANKSGIVING

veterans for their service, the AARP Driver Safety Program (aarp. org/home-garden/transportation/driver_safety/) is offering a free classroom course to all military personnel—active duty or past duty—regardless of age, from Nov. 1 – Nov. 30, 2011.

You can find a classroom course location by checking the online course locator (aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/searchDspLocations.action) or by

is required and participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Be sure to mention the “Veterans Promotion.” When you show up for the course, you will need to present a form of military identification.

Examples include but are not limited to a military ID, discharge papers (DD Form 214), American Legion card, dependent ID card (DD Form 1173), or a Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) card.

Refreshments will be provided.

BYOB. Tickets are available at Kings Point Box Office or at the door.

Tram service is available for Kings Point residents. It will be a delightful evening of fun for only six dollars.

For more info, call Mary Hilderbrand, Publicity Chairman for Kings Point Chorus, at (813) 634-5685.

Best Fried Chicken in town

Lobster or Best Jamaican Jerk Chicken Crab Dinner

Healthy Choices Available Hours: Mon. – Thurs. 11 a.m. – 8 p.m SENIOR Fri. – Sat. 11 a.m. – 8:30 p.m. Sun. 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Catering & Take-out Available • Banquet rooms Available DISCOUNT

3074 E. COLLEGE AVE.

O

with 2 sides.

Ruskin, FL off 674

n November 19 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., the Friends of the Oldsmar Public Library will have a used book sale in Teco Hall at the Oldsmar Public Library, 400 St. Petersburg Drive East,Oldsmar.

Come and buy fiction and nonfiction books, magazines, movies, and children books. There is something for everyone! For more information, please call (813) 749-1178.

Holiday Fun with Kings Point Chorus K ings Point Chorus is presenting “Holiday Party In Our Town” on Sunday, December 11 at 7 p.m. in the Borini Theatre in Kings Point. It will be a cabaret-style concert with a variety of holiday music including solos, small groups, singa-longs and choral numbers, directed

by Chuck Wirick.

American • Caribbean Italian • Oriental

Buffet not included

Free AARP Driving Course Used Book Sale o recognize and thank military calling (888)227-7669. Pre-registration

T

NOW SERVING Crab Legs & Whole Lobster Specials

PH. (813) 641-1300

Located at Sun Port Plaza

FREE DIABETIC BRACELET Are you a Diabetic?

Join America’s Diabetic Savings Club MEMBERSHIP IS FREE!

Maximize your buying power.

Get great discounts and special offers!

call now

888-295-7138 FOR RENT on TAMPA BAY

from your friends at:

Manufactured Home $600/mo.

2/1 Modular, Carport Remodeled & Furnished at REGENCY COVE 50 +

813-546-8532 Senior Connection • November 2011 • page 39

0

$

Zero.

Zip. Zilch.

DON’T FORGE Enrol T! lment ends Decem ber 7 th.

Nothing.

Yes, nothing. Humana’s 2012 Medicare plan premium is $0.

Get the benefits you want with Humana Gold Plus® (HMO) ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲ ▲

▲ ▲ ▲▲ ▲ ▲

$0 monthly plan premium Doctor’s office visits and hospital coverage Prescription drug coverage Convenient mail-order delivery of prescriptions Fitness program - gym membership at no additional cost Rides to your doctors

Preventive coverage 24-hour nurse hotline Meals delivered to your home after you’ve been in the hospital Wellness program Emergency coverage at home and when you travel And more we haven’t listed!

Call to schedule an in-home appointment or to find a seminar near you.

BRANDON Golden Corral 815 Providence Rd. Nov. 1st, 8th, 15th 2:00 pm TAMPA Lee Roy Selmon’s 4302 W. Boy Scout Blvd.

Nov. 3rd • 2:00 pm Nov. 15th • 10:00 am

RUSKIN Ozzie’s Buffet 3074 College Ave. Nov. 1st, 8th, 15th, 29th 2:00 pm SEFFNER Cracker Barrel 6150 Lazy Days Blvd.

Nov. 3rd, 10th, 17th 2:00 pm

TAMPA Piccadilly 11810 N. Dale Mabry Nov. 2nd, 10th, 17th 10:00 am

PLANT CITY Buddy Freddy’s 1101 Goldfinch Dr. Nov. 3rd, 5th, 17th • 10:00 am Nov. 10th • 10:00 am (Spanish)

RIVERVIEW The Alley 10221 Big Bend Rd. Nov. 2nd, 9th, 16th 2:00 pm

TAMPA TGI Friday’s 2501 E. Fowler Ave. Nov. 2nd, 16th, 30th 11:30 am

VALRICO Beef O’Brady’s 4330 Bell Shoals Rd. Nov. 3rd, 10th, 17th 2:00 pm

TAMPA TAMPA Lander’s Steakhouse Golden Corral 4744 N. Dale Mabry 6942 W. Hillsborough Nov. 9th, 23rd Nov. 9th • 4:00 pm (Spanish) 11:30 am Nov. 19th • 10:00 am (Spanish)

ZEPHYRHILLS WESLEY CHAPEL LAND O’LAKES ZEPHYRHILLS Humana Guidance Center Holiday Inn Express Village Inn Golden Corral 7400 Gall Blvd.

27615 Wesley Chapel Blvd.

2003 Collier Parkway 6855 Gall Blvd.

Every Weekday Nov. 1st, 15th, 22nd, 29th Nov. 3rd, 10th, 17th, 22nd Nov. 2nd, 7th, 9th, 14th • 9:00 am at 3:00 pm 10:00 am 2:00 pm Nov. 16th, 21st, 23rd, 28th, 30th • 9:00 am

TAMPA Ranch House Grill 4426 W. Gandy Blvd.

Nov. 10th, 17th 2:00 pm

SAN ANTONIO Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club 10641 Old Tampa Bay Rd. Nov. 9th, 16th • 9:00 am

1-800-336-6714 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week

New Medicare enrollment dates! The dates to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for 2012 have changed. The new dates are October 15th - December 7th.*

A Health plan with a Medicare contract. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. If you are a member of a qualified State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, please contact the Program to verify that the mail-order pharmacy will coordinate with that Program.

The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, but not a comprehensive description of available benefits. For more information contact the plan. A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-800-336-6714 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus H2949-012 (HMO). *Some exceptions may apply.

H2949_GHHH4CTHH CMS Approved 07262011

TMP 11/11