Lifestyles After 50 Sarasota/Manatee May 2014 edition

www.lifestylesafter50fl.com • Sarasota/Manatee • FREE

Vol. 25 • May 2014

Mothers Do Make A Difference

• Late Bloomers • Happiness Matters • Angels of Bataan

Foster Mother: One of the Many Faces of Motherhood

Dear Readers,

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otherhood can have many faces. I am an adoptive and a biological mother, a mother-in-law Janice Doyle, and a grandmother.

Editor At one point, I mothered three students from Estonia.

Four years ago I became a stepmother when I re-married.

But before any of those, I became Foster Mother to Christy—a relationship that has lasted over 45 years.

My first husband and I were just 26 when we were asked if we would consider taking a 15-year-old girl into our home. We were told she was very bright. She was responsible for the care of seven siblings, five of whom were under the age of six.

“She needs to be where there are no small children and she can just be a teenager,” the case worker friend said.

Christy, angry and suspicious, arrived in a shapeless gray sweatshirt with a scowl on her face. Tom passed her the butter that first night at supper and when she reached for it, he pushed it forward so her thumb went into the soft butter. She looked up to see him smiling broadly at his playful welcome and she started laughing.

She laughed and laughed—and would later tell us it was the first time she’d really laughed in months.

who live interesting, successful and challenging lives like Christy’s.

We are close friends, Christy and I, and we both realize not all foster parent/child experiences result in a bond like ours. At the same time, we feel blessed to have this incredible extension to our lives.

Being foster parents was not always easy, but we had the privilege of giving her the space she needed to gain her footing for what became an extraordinary life.

We offered her family, extended family, a church family, neighborhood relationships, conversations, canoe trips, books, trips, security and the freedom to be a part of a peer group. And I think we laughed a lot!

Christy has what iconic author Gail Sheehy has called “the spirit of survival.”

She went to college and then moved to California over 30 years ago; for some years, we had random communications Editor Janice Doyle and her foster daughter Christy before settling into a enjoy a 45-year-long relationship. close adult friendship.

In this issue, you will read about Christy earned two masters degrees, some Florida women who choose worked for the Los Angeles Times being foster mothers as their lifestyle. and married a wonderful man.

They get up daily and deal head on Two years ago, I went to Los with children of adults who could Angeles for her 60th birthday party. not make life work out to sustain Ten women each told of the gracious, family life physically and emotionhappy and loving friend, companion, ally. We honor them this month of counselor and confidante Christy has been to them. In the group were fellow May for the lasting changes they may bring to even one child. artists, a college dean’s wife, a poet, a librarian, an internationally recognized ukulele player, a sister-in-law, a Bon Apetit magazine editor—all women

Sarasota/Manatee Edition Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc General Manager Dave Tarantul dave@lifestylesafter50.com

Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing Kathy J. Beck kathy@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Janice Doyle janice@lifestylesafter50.com Office Manager Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com

Administrative Assistant Nancy Spencer nancy@lifestylesafter50.com Production Supervisor/Graphic Design Kim Burrell kim@lifestylesafter50.com Associate Editor/Production Assistant Tracie Schmidt tracie@lifestylesafter50.com Distribution (941) 284-2930

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Sarasota/Manatee Dave Tarantul: (941) 284-2930 Lee/Collier and Charlotte Nancy Kuehne: (239) 822-6150 Customer Service (941) 284-2930 dave@lifestylesafter50.com

News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638 Seffner, Florida 33583-0638

(941) 375-6260 • (877) 535-3749 Fax: (941) 375-8178 www.lifestylesafter50fl.com Our other editions: Southwest Edition: Lee/Collier & Charlotte Hillsborough Edition: Hillsborough County Suncoast Edition: Pinellas/Pasco Counties Lake Edition: Lake/Marion Counties To learn more, call 1-888-670-0040

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FCOA Attention Readers: The articles printed in Lifestyles After 50 do not necessarily reflect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. Lifestyles After 50 endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims.

Lifestyles After 50 reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for the June 2014 issue is May 15, 2014. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 2

Fossil Clubs Unearth The Secrets of Florida’s Past

BY TRACIE SCHMIDT

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f you grew up near Venice, you might remember hunting for fossilized shark teeth on the beach or holding one of the smoothly polished bones in your palm, imagining the creature it once belonged to prowling a shallow sea millions of years ago.

For some individuals, like Roxane Wilson of Arcadia, this joy of discovery never faded and they remain avid fossil hunters to this day.

She’s a member of the Southwest Florida Fossil Society, a group of around 200 enthusiasts that meets every second Saturday of every month in Punta Gorda to discuss all things prehistoric.

Wilson has been part of the club since shortly after it was founded in 1983.

A typical meeting may involve a guest speaker, a fossil show-and-tell or field trips to local phosphate mines, quarries or rivers. Newcomers are invited to bring their finds in for identification or hunting tips from veterans.

“It’s like a treasure Florida natives haven’t hunt; you never changed much over know what you are the millenia—you’ll going to find,” Wilstill find alligators, son says. It could be snakes and turtle fossils the genuine article or in the mix, and even just an oddly-shaped armadillo-like creatures rock. “We call those called glyptodons. (The ‘leavarites,’” Wilson glyptodon, however, was says, “as in ‘leave the size of a VW bus.) ‘em right where “The coolest fossil I’ve you found em’.’” found so far is a giant So what kinds of sloth claw core,” Wilson fossils can you find said of her collection.

Roxane Wilson (R) and club in Florida? No dino- president Chuck Ferrara (L) hunt What do you need to saurs, sadly; Florida hunt for fossils? Aside fossils at a phosphate mine. was underwater when from a mandatory $5 dinosaurs roamed the earth. However, permit, Wilson recommends that you it was high and dry during the Ice Age, be in good physical condition and so a hunter can still find remnants that you bring a backpack, a floating of mastodons or woolly mammoths, sifter (for river hunting), a shovel or saber-toothed cats, horses and more. hand trowel or even just a screwdriver Aquatic fossils are abundant—from for prying up interesting bits. The shells and coral to megalodon jaws—a most important tool is a good eye for prehistoric shark large enough to fossils, something that Wilson says swallow a Great White whole. Other comes with time. “That’s the challenge

of it. I may see something, go and pick it up and say ‘no, that’s just wood.’

You can tell a lot by feel,” she said.

Reference books at club meetings can help sharpen fossil-indentifying skills.

I asked her what draws people to fossil hunting. “Well, I guess what draws them is—it’s really cool,” she replied. “Our club motto is ‘preserving the past for the future.’

Finding a fossil is like finding a piece of history, and when you discover a piece of an animal that lived millions of years ago, it’s pretty remarkable.”

If you want to check out some of their finds, The Southwest Florida Fossil Society and the Manasota Fossil Club have put part of their collection on display through June 4 at the “Digging Up Discoveries” exhibit at the Venice Museum and Archives, 351 Nassau St. S., Venice. 941-486-2487.

If you’re interested in learning more about your local fossil clubs, visit southwestfloridafossilsociety.org or home.comcast.net/~ccopas/manasota.htm.

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 3

Around Town

May is Better Hearing Month!

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G M AY 2 0 1 4

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aturdays (except May 3) Dance party with live band and DJ. 7:30 to 10:30 pm. Free snacks. Singles and couples invited. YMCA, 1075 S. Euclid Ave., Sarasota. $10. 941-756-8303.

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very fourth Saturday Summer Antiques, Arts and Crafts Fair.

9 am to 3 pm. Artists, collectors, tasty treats, tram tours and wildlife rescue preserve. Mixon Fruit Farms, Bradenton. Info: 941-748-5829.

Come Celebrate with Us! In addition to the offers below, you also receive

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hrough 18 “My One and Only” featuring songs from George and Ira Gershwin’s Funny Face and other hits.

Show-stopping song and dance. Manatee Players, Bradenton. Night and matinee shows. Tickets/times: 941-748-5875.

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FREE $100 Dining Card with a FREE Hearing Screening!

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Call toll free today to schedule an appointment for a FREE Hearing Screening and receive your FREE $100 Dining Card if you have hearing loss.

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 4 140501 HearUSA May Ad_Lifestyles After 50_4.9167x9.8125 to run 5-5_03.indd 1

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with purchase of a pair of Siemens Pure 7mi Hearing Aids

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hrough June “Embracing Our Differences” Exhibit. Juried art with billboard-sized images created by artists, writers and students interpreting “enriching lives through diversity.”

Bradenton’s Riverwalk. 941-404-5710.

and 11 “The Merry Widow.”

Highlights from Franz Lehar’s masterpiece operetta. Shows at 2 pm and 7:30 pm at Asolo Theater, Sarasota. Tickets/info: 941-360-7399.

Receive a FREE 40” TV $100

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4/10/14 9:36 AM

“Spirit of America,” Sarasota Orchestra. A family-friendly, outdoor Pops concert at the most American of venues, the ballpark.

Concludes with fireworks.Ed Smith Stadium Complex, Sarasota. 7 pm. $15 – $45 tickets. 941-953-3434.

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and 20 Anna Maria Island Sail and Power Squadron boating education courses. 13: “Reading Nautical Charts,” 6:30 pm – 9:30 pm. $15. 20: “Undertanding GPS,” 6:30 – 8:30 pm. $15. All classes at 1200 71st St. N.W., Bradenton. Register at 941-795-0482.

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“Suddenly Single: Creating A Practical Plan To Move From Surviving To Thriving.” Seminar and support for rebuilding life after the loss of a loved one to death, divorce or dementia. 3 pm to 4:30 pm at North Port Library. RSVP required

by May 12 at 941-861-1307.

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and 17 Gulf Coast Open Fishing Tournament. Four tournaments, over $50,000 in cash and prizes. Supports Make A Wish. Ramada Inn Waterfront, Sarasota. Details/ registration at gulfcoastopen.com.

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Ghost and Spirit Orb Walkabout. Do you believe in the supernatural? Bring cameras with a night flash and find out! 6:30 pm at Bunker Hill Vineyard, Duette. $10.

RSVP required at 941-776-0418.

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History of Celestial Navigation lecture with John Beale at Florida Maritime Museum, Cortez.

3 pm. Please RSVP to 941-708-6120.

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Cat Trivia Contest at Dance Etc. 3372 N. Access Rd., Englewood. $5 per player donation to benefit Puffy Paws cat shelter. 7 to 9 pm. Puffypaws.org or 941-698-4099.

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Send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; fax 813-651-1989 or email calendar@srnewsconnection.com. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. May 10 for June event.)

Dance Party by Manatee Sunrise Kiwanis Club, benefiting Kids Against Hunger. 7 – 10 pm, Moose Lodge 1223, 310 44th Ave. E., Bradenton. Live music, contests, prizes, silent auction, snacks and cash bar. Tickets $6. Info: 941-306-3595.

Selby Gardens Spring Music Series. Concert in the garden from 1 to 3 pm.“Yesterdaze.” $19. Bring blanket or lawn chair. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota. Times subject to change: call 941-366-5731.

and 25 The Palmetto Suncoast Gun Show. Noon to 4 pm at the Bradenton Area Convention Center, Palmetto. $9. (Attendees must abide

by State and local firearm ordinances and laws.) Details at 330-963-6964.

The Very Good News about Knee Replacement Surgery While still an option of last resort for those suffering from chronic nee replacement surgery has knee pain, replacement been in the news lately. Or knee surgery is not only more specifically, on the news. far less invasive now, the Well-known NBC Nightly News results are measurably anchor Brian Williams recently better and last far underwent a very public knee longer. Today, many replacement surgery. WilW. Allen Boyce, MD patients can expect to liams—who took a month-long get 15, 20, even 25 leave from his anchor desk—was very good, active years out of a replacement candid about the surgery, explaining knee. That’s compared to only a fivehow his knee pain dates back about 35 to-10 year lifespan for a replacement years to a crushing hit he took as a high knee as recently as a decade ago. school football player in New Jersey.

Several factors have converged to make In many ways, Williams did a public this surgery a longer lasting and more service in raising awareness about effective answer to a bum knee. For startthe many advancements that have ers, the materials have improved dramatioccurred relating to knee replacement cally. Today, the combination of ceramic surgery. I did my first knee surgery in and polyethylene is remarkably resilient. the late 1970s—about the same time And with ongoing improvements, it that young Brian Williams crumbled is getting more durable all the time. in pain on that football field. And In addition to those improved materials, indeed, the advancements have been enhanced technology and tools now dramatic and many in the years since. allow a surgeon to be far more effective

BY W. ALLEN BOYCE, MD Blake Medical Center

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during the procedure. Advanced computer navigation during the procedure allows for increasingly precise surgery. An even more exciting advancement is the development of customizable instrumentation that can be modified for each specific patient. By using tools designed specifically for the patient being operated on, a surgeon truly has the capacity to get the best possible outcome. I have used this technology at Blake Medical Center for three years now, with remarkable results.

More precise tools and advanced procedures have also made the surgery far less invasive—a major factor when considering surgery. It used to be that a recovery would stretch as long as a year or more. While recovery is still an incremental process, I have patients who are leading a relatively normal lifestyle within two to three months.

Despite all these advancements, knee replacement is still major surgery and should not be rushed into. I have been consistent throughout my career advising patients that surgery is a last resort

after therapy, medication and other treatments yield diminishing or no relief.

When talking about his experience, Brian Williams emphasized that he “just knew when it was time” for knee replacement surgery. I have found that to be true with the vast majority of my patients as well. When agonizing knee pain dramatically reduces your quality of life and nothing provides adequate relief, it is then time to talk to a surgeon about your options.

Such was the case recently with a 60-year-old patient of mine. She was downright miserable and had started to rely on a cane when we finally agreed the time was right for surgery.

Three weeks after the surgery, she was back to work, walking without a cane or a walker—and walking without pain. She was enjoying life again.

She remains ecstatic about the results, and once again I was gratified that I can not just address a medical problem, but return real joy to people’s lives. To me, that is really big news.

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 5

We Honor Foster Mothers Who Pick Up the Pieces of Children’s Broken Lives

BY JANICE DOYLE

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ife is so complex out there. It’s gotten so rough for some of the children,” says Bobbi of St. Petersburg, a foster mother with 31 years of experience.

Today’s foster kids come with lots of mental and emotional abuse.

“We give them something they haven’t had before. And when they are in my home, they are mine.”

Wendy and her pastor husband in Fort Myers have been married 40 years and have raised five kids of their own. Now they are foster parents. She says, “The difficulty comes because the kids all come with some history which may be drug or abuse related. That means they are very scared and very hurt and it takes a while to work through it.”

Peggy in Ocala has been a foster mom 23 years. She says, “You don’t do it for the money, you do it for the kids who need love and care.”

She’s seen older kids come in from parents who have taught them to do the wrong things and the kids don’t want to change. Peggy gives a hearty laugh and says, “But the little ones are still okay. I’ll take the little ones peein’ and poopin’ any time.”

“You have to love them unconditionally so they can heal. They have all been through some sort of trauma and need to heal.

We can help that process,” says Joy in Leesburg.

“I would say the most important challenge is getting to know and understand each child and what they’ve been through and how it has impacted them,” says Victoria from Ocala. “One of the biggest mistakes we made in the beginning was to have the same expectations of foster kids as we did with our own biological kids.”

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 6

These women are all foster mothers Eckerd’s Director of Licensing And so, we honor these and around or beyond the age of 50.

Laurallyn Segur says, “The older all foster mothers, who know that When their phones ring, they may be foster mothers bring experience and every day really is Mother’s Day asked to provide a safe place to live wisdom. They’ve raised families. when you’re making a difference for children who have been removed They understand parenting and in the life of a child. from their family just minutes or love children. Many have a lot to hours before. Many foster children offer and don’t want a house without have major physical issues. children in it. They’re ‘lifers’ as Experienced foster moms keep stashes far as children are concerned.” of clothes and child care supplies in closets and drawers for children who arrive with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Their needs include support, encouragement, reassurance, self-esteem, selfworth and most importantly, love. Oh, and Victoria from Ocala food, schooling and her family. and toys, too.

Foster moms have access to an array of counselors, therapists, Foster mom Bobbi What They Said: doctors and specialists— from St. Petersburg. all a part of the system which • “It’s very fulfilling and I’m never lonely.” tries to pick up the pieces of the broken • “Let it be fun, enjoy them; they will bless your socks off!” lives of families. And at the core of the system is the need for foster mothers.

• “Successes come when there’s an adoption that goes well.

The last infant I had was adopted, and I see him on Facebook all the time. I’m seeing him grow up.”

• “With five kids, the real challenge here is making sure that each child gets quality time in the evenings. And then on the 8th day …God created bedtime!”

• “Every single day, you have to make sure these kids know they are loved and that you are committed to helping them walk through their challenges.”

• “When I have a child at home I’m more organized and stay on schedule.”

• “We have a young lady we had in foster care for two years when she was 9 to 11 yrs old. She’s come back to us at 22 and wants to be part of our family! She never forgot the influence we were in her life!”

Wendy and her husband.

Ft. Myers.

To learn more about being a foster parent, google the words “foster parent” with the name of your city or county and follow the links.

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 7

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Favorite Flower

repare yourself for a full crop of bud-busting trivia and fun. First, some jokes:

Men and Women

A flower vendor was normally successful at unloading his last few bunches of flowers.

Appealing to a businessman who was walking by on his way home, the vendor said, “How about a nice bunch of roses to surprise your wife?”

“I don’t have a wife,” the businessman replied gruffly.

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“Well then, how about some beautiful carnations for your girlfriend?” suggested the vendor without missing a beat.

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” snapped the businessman.

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Like Us

Movies In May

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ondays: Free Monday night movies at Elsie Quirk Library, Englewood. 5 to 7:30 pm. 941-861-1209.

uesdays: Free Tuesday afternoon movies from 2 pm to 4:30 pm at Jacaranda Library, Venice. 941-861-1260.

Discover Some Offbeat Films in May at Venice Public Library. 6 to 8 pm. Free. Details: 941-861-1332.

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 8

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– 18 Bradenton Arts Movieville International Film Festival 2014.

Parties, screenings, expos and more at venues throughout Bradenton. Tickets/ schedule at movievillefilmfestival.com/.

23, 30 Film Fridays. 9: “Hairspray.”

23: “True Grit.” 30: “Mansfield Park.” Drinks/snacks for purchase. 6 to 9 pm at South Florida Museum, Bradenton. $5. RSVP: 941-746-4131, ext. 17.

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Q and A

What do you call a flower that grows in between your nose and you chin?

Tulips What did the bee say to the flower?

Hello, honey.

“You lucky fellow!” the vendor said as he broke into a big smile.

“Buy both bunches to celebrate!”

What are the bees’ favorite flowers?

Bee-gonias

All Around Tours

$24.95 • $12.95 children 12 and under

Fresh Baked Breakfast Pastries • Breakfast Buffet Items Chef’s Famous Short Ribs • Seafood • Wave Favorite Side Dishes

A middle-aged woman convinced her husband to attend a couples retreat.

At the first session the facilitator said, “The fact is, no matter how long we’ve been married, there are many things we don’t know about each other. For example, how many of you husbands can name your wife’s favorite flower?”

The husband smiled knowingly, put his hand on his wife’s knee and said, “It’s Pillsbury All-Purpose, right honey?”

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CASINO TRIPS • SIGHTSEEING TOURS DINING & ENTERTAINMENT OUTINGS HARD ROCK - $20 PER PERSON Thurs. and Sun.

DAY TRIPS 5/6 Sapphire Princess $59 5/10 Ritz Carlton Tea $69 IMMOKALEE - $20 PER PERSON 5/11 Dixie Swim Club $65 Tues. and Sat. 5/22 Music Man $75 EAST COAST OVERNIGHT CASINO TRIP 6/19 Midlife Crisis $75 May 12-13, June 16-17, July 14-15, 6/26 Murder Mystery Train $99 $79 ppdo $109 single, Overnight Casino 7/4 Starlite Dinner Cruise $99 Included…Immokalee, Isle of Capri, 7/10 Joseph Dreamcoat $75 Coconut Creek, Gulf Stream and one night accommodations with continental breakfast 7/24 Yeungling Brewery $55 at La Quinta, free play and food vouchers.

7/30 Caladium $59 PICK UPS IN: MULTIPLE BUSTour CASINO BILOXI • Pt. Charlotte • Sarasota $199 ppdo, June 30–July 3, SPECIAL (limited • Punta Gorda • Venice and Bradenton! space) Staying at the Beau Rivage, 4 casinos- • North Port • Englewood $80 free play,1 lunch- 3 breakfast buffets MORE DATES AVAILABLE CALL FOR DETAILS. OVERNIGHT TRIPS (CALL FOR FLYER) Jun. 3-4 - Chalet Suzanne, $179 ppdo Nov. 26-28 - Key West, $469 ppdo Dec. 23-27 - Smokey Mountain Christmas, $759 ppdo

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New Event Center Brings Entertainment and More To Englewood

BY TRACIE SCHMIDT

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ights, camera, action! In November of last year, Englewood raised the curtain on an all-new event center that has been drawing crowds with a range of performances from stand up comedy and tribute bands to dinner theater.

The Englewood Event Center was funded and established by private individuals to bring the arts closer to Englewood. Their goal was to provide not just an entertainment venue, but a gathering place for the community.

“We have a wonderful community here in Englewood,” says Loren Berry, Events Manager for the Englewood Event Center, “and up until this point there were few local options for entertainment. I’ve had visitors come up to me and say ‘Wow, this is really nice; we don’t have to drive to Sarasota or Fort Myers to see a show anymore.’”

The center comfortably entertains up to 1,000 guests at a time and the space was designed with flexibility in

mind, offering two rooms for rent. A 7,000 square foot space with stage and professional light and sound equipment provides ample room for large events, while a 3,000-square-foot room, also light and sound-ready, is ideal for smaller gatherings.

“You name it, we offer it,” says Berry, “anything from concerts, wedding receptions, catering, conferences and dinners to seminars, special occasions, fundraisers, proms and more.”

The center also offers a full bar and will open a brand new kitchen in coming months.

Visitors have a lot to look forward to when it comes to local entertainment, Berry says. “With many of our guests being retired and some of them on a fixed income, we keep our price point affordable so they can enjoy a night out and take away a great meal and a

great show just down the street from their house, and be home by 10:30.”

Guest Lynn Skulski writes: “What an awesome night! The Eagles tribute band was fantastic, and the food and service were second to none.”

A sample of their May entertainment lineup includes a Mother’s Day All-You-Can-Eat Prime Rib Luncheon on May 11 with a Michael Buble Tribute; $36/lunch and show, $19 + tax/show only. On May 17, the Center

will be showcasing local bands like Copperhead; and on Memorial Day weekend, May 24 and 25, enjoy a special event that includes fashion shows, motorcycle stunt shows, arts and crafts, food vendors and live music all day—open to the public.

Ongoing events include weekly Sleuth Mystery Dinner Shows that invite the audience to join in.

I asked Berry what he hoped visitors would take away from their first experience at the event center.

“I would say that it is a pleasant experience with value for their dollar,” he replied.

The Englewood Event Center is located at 3069 S. McCall Rd., Englewood. For a complete calendar of events or for more information about the center, call 941-270-3324 or visit englewoodeventcenter.com.

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“Comfort Is Cool”

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Listen To Florida’s Air Conditioning Experts Every Tuesday At 11:00am The New Sunny 1450 & 1320 AM Radio

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 9

Call us to help you prepare for Medicare, before your 65th birthday.

Insurance & Benefits Consultants has been a trusted source of information and has helped Floridians with their Medicare decisions since 1978.

Call today to schedule an appointment

941-955-2133

Just give us a call and we can help answer questions like:

Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. ET to speak to a licensed agent.

• What is Medicare? What does it cover?

• How do I enroll? Dates to remember?

• What are my other Medicare coverage options?

• How can I reduce my prescription drug cost?

6000 Cattleridge Drive, Suite 300 Sarasota, FL 34232 You can reach Florida Blue Customer Service at 1-855-601-9465 from 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. ET, 7 days a week from Oct. 1st - Feb. 14th or 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. ET, Mon. - Fri. from Feb 15th - Sept. 30th. TTY users call 1-800-955-8771. Priority Code: 5717000

We offer BlueMedicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plans as well as a variety of BlueMedicare Supplement Insurance policies*.

Florida Blue is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. A Medicare-approve Part D sponsor. *Not connected with or endorsed by the U.S. Government or the Federal Medicare Program. Policies have exclusions and limitations. For costs and complete details of coverage, contact your local agent.

Florida Blue is a trade name of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

53577MS-0213R Y0011_53577 0213R CMS Accepted

Late Bloomer/Baby Boomer

BY PATRICIA FINN

I

am returning to college. I have advised my adult son of that so he can put SHE GRADUATED on my tombstone. When my peers are retiring, I will be entering the job market.

I am learning that if you wait long enough, school becomes fun. Last semester, I sat in a classroom for the first time in thirty years. I loved it.

The procedure is so simple. You are given information, you learn the information and then you are given a reward called a grade. You pay money for this, a lot of money.

I am pleased to scream from the rooftops that I am an A student. I have heard it said that nontraditional students may have acquired time management skills that traditional students

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 10

lack. My best time management skill has been to take one class at a time. I am taking philosophy. I have become very thoughtful, contemplating such thoughts as: If life is one big school, who is the principal? Am I in trouble?

Am I late? Where’s the nurse’s office?

A senior student, not to be confused with a graduating senior, does not have to worry about ruining their future.

This is the future. So go ahead, mess up, it is too late to ruin your life. You might even be surprised and earn an A. Once I have my AA, I will get a BA, an MA and then a Ph.D. Unless I get a RIP. I could be teaching in a university when I am in my seventies.

Another secret to my academic success is the undeniable parallel between age and the progressive

decline in one’s ability to have wild fun. This is very helpful. I have a definite advantage over the twenty-year-old sitting next to me with her head on her desk.

I am paying for my books by selling t-shirts printed with “Late Bloomer / Baby Boomer” with a picture of a turtle kissing a hare. I draw heavily from preschool influences.

I have advice to give to other baby boomers who return to college. We tend to talk a lot. Don’t monopolize the classroom discussions. My next fundraiser is a discussion guide for “Baby Boomers: When Putting Your Foot in Your Mouth Is No Longer Possible.”

Older is wiser. Anyone can be a Late Bloomer/Baby Boomer and return to school. Apply, register, do the process. Be proud, stand tall. Order and wear your Late Bloomer/Baby Boomer t-shirt. A senior student, not to be confused with a graduating senior, does not have to worry about ruining their future. This is the future. So go ahead, mess up, it is too late to ruin your life. You might even be surprised and earn an A. You can reach the author at patriciafinn12@yahoo.com.

When Should You Talk To Your Doctor About Hearing Loss?

A

re you tired of straining to hear conversation? Do family members become frustrated when having to repeat things to you over and over?

If this sounds all-too familiar, you aren’t alone. In fact, the numbers are astounding: More than nine million Americans over the age of 65 (and more than 10 million Americans between the ages of 45 and 64) experience hearing loss. In fact, hearing loss is one of the most prevalent chronic health conditions in the U.S. today.

The good news: According to experts, more than 95 percent of hearing loss can be treated.

What you may be saying:

People probably know at some level, but will not admit to having a hearing loss. There may be vehement, emotional denial when the issue of possible hearing loss is raised. Others know they have a hearing loss but do not realize it is a problem for them or for others.

Sometimes, a physician or other professional gives erroneous and harmful information, such as, “It’s only a mild hearing loss; don’t worry about it unless it becomes severe.”

Hearing loss affects others, and people who have hearing loss are often unaware of the adverse effects of it on other people.

family problem. However, research has shown that the use of a hearing device can improve the quality of life of some people and benefit both their mental and physical states by improving communication.

“I can hear just fine.”

“I have too much going on right now to think about that.”

“I will look old.”

There are plenty of people who don’t know they have a hearing loss. Most of the time, hearing loss has a gradual onset and those affected have adapted to each slight reduction in their hearing ability.

Sometimes, people are well aware that they have a hearing loss, but there are other things happening in their lives that have a higher priority, either a physical condition, work or

that leads others to equate poor hearing with “old.” Hearing aids today can be small and discreet. From ones that are nearly invisible to the traditional (yet streamlined) behind the ear aids, hearing aid design has been revolutionized in the past years.

“They’re too expensive for me to think about.”

“They make places noisier and they whistle.”

Cost is a very real issue for many people who do not have hearing aids, but many find them well worth the cost. You can call and ask your insurance company if they offer a hearing aid allowance, reducing the amount you will have to pay out of pocket.

Hearing aids in the past may not have worked well, but today’s hearing aids are technologically advanced products, like mini-computers in your ears. Once they are set correctly to your needs, you don’t have to fiddle with them. Some hearing aids adjust automatically and others have features that you may use in different situations.

Newer designs do a better job of increasing amplification when you need it, while not increasing background noise or annoying “feedback.”

Talk to a hearing specialist today.

Needing hearing aids may be an unwelcome reminder that you are aging, but hearing aids are not the only sign of aging. Rather, it is the inability of a person to fully understand what is being said to them

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 11

Spring is so sweet!

Veterans Corner

Introducing the Angels of Bataan: Heroic WWII Nurses

BY JANICE DOYLE

T

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 12

oday American women serve alongside men in the military and are trained to face combat. In 1941, that wasn’t the case, but 79 Army and Navy military nurses did face combat and near death. They were left behind when MacArthur was forced to retreat from the Philippines. Taken prisoner by the Japanese and subjected to hunger, disease and repeated bombings, the women survived and were saved when the American liberators arrived.

Mary Cronk Farrell’s book, Pure Grit, pays tribute to the heroism and determination of these extraordinary women who cared for the sick and wounded while facing their own illness, lack of food and supplies, and the knowledge they might never return home.

The stories of the individual women make for fascinating reading. For example, Ethel Thor arrived for duty in 1940 in heels, stockings and gloves. When young Frankie Lewey signed up, she told her mother, “If ever there is a war, I hope I get right in the thick of it.”

Peggy Nash had been supervisor of surgery at US Naval Hospital in Guam and was preparing to leave to get married. In October 1941 she was transferred to Manila and became one of the eleven naval hospital nurses incarcerated in Santo Tomas Internment Camp. Maude Denny Williams ended up leaving her soldier husband behind as a patient in Hospital #2 in Bataan when nurses were evacuated to Corregador. Her husband did not survive to come home.

Millie Dalton, an Army nurse from Georgia, said, “There was no way in the world we were prepared for war.”

Frances Nash, who learned life and death nursing at Grady Memorial Hospital in Atlanta, was told to “prepare to be taken prisoner.” She continued working, destroying paperwork to keep it from enemy hands.

When she did get orders to flee, she took enough morphine pills to provide nurses with lethal doses if needed.

Maude Davidson refused to leave the Filipino nurses behind when the Americans were ordered to evacuate Manila for Corregidor. Sally Blaine managed her hospital ward lying down on her cot suffering from malaria. The nurses ate meager rations and dealt with discomfort, pain and disease.

When their clothes wore out, they made some from what few supplies were at hand.

Through it all, they never forgot that they were nurses and made the comfort and care for any of the patients of utmost importance even after supplies and medicine were gone. Their attitude was always “I was just a nurse doing my duty.”

When events much larger than they could control took over their lives, they chose to summon pure grit moment by moment… and finally were liberated in February 1945.

When the nurses returned home, they began rebuilding their lives. However, there wasn’t the type of counseling or antidepressants needed to help recover (from what today is known as PTSD), so most suffered emotionally in silence the rest of their lives.

The book is filled with photos and details based on research and interviews.

Editor’s note: This book is written for young people. However, I found it fascinating reading myself and a great book to share with young people.

Seniors are Sweet on Pickleball W

hile it was something of an underground sport for decades, pickleball’s time has finally arrived.

A sport that’s been described as being played with an oversize pingpong ball on a badminton-size court with a tennis-size net, pickleball is a hybrid of those sports, with aspects of ping-pong and volleyball mixed in, too. A pickleball court is much shorter than a tennis court and the net is positioned lower, plus the serving is done underhand, so it’s easier on the joints and “tennis elbow” isn’t a problem. Fast-paced and easy to learn, pickleball doesn’t require a big financial investment: just some paddles and balls. Those who’ve tried it call the sport “addictive.”

Pickleball was invented 1965 and gained popularity quietly and gradually for decades. But the number of active pickleball players has nearly doubled in the country since 2010.

According to the USA Pickleball

Association, there are currently 1,900 places to play pickleball in the US with more courts being added each month. It’s popular with players of all ages, but seniors in particular are sweet on the sport as an alternative to tennis because it’s less physically taxing. Some players who’ve been sidelined from other sports with bad knees or feet find that they can play pickleball pain-free.

In West Central Florida, there’s a strong pickleball community. Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation has introduced the sport to some local recreation centers and offers free lessons several days a week at selected locations. The Sun City Center Pickleball Club is one of the area’s largest and Kings Point, Meadow Pointe in Wesley Chapel and Valencia Lakes have pickleball clubs and courts of their own. Pickleball is consistently the biggest event at the Tampa Bay

Senior Games (held each October) according to event organizers.

In addition to being an easy sport to learn (some say it takes only five minutes), pickleball is a very social sport. Some clubs allow those with physical limitations to join as social members and each club typically has an active social schedule. The social nature of the sport in part accounts for its rapid spread. Before the US Pickleball Association was formed in the 1980s, the sport spread primarily through word of mouth. The association now has over 20,000 members.

Wondering where to get started in learning about pickleball? PickleballChannel.com is a new website that just launched, aimed at providing resources for both novice and experienced pickleball players. The channel’s Executive Producer Rusty Howes says that with the lightning-speed growth of pickleball, there was a need to provide exciting digital content online to serve the sport’s growing fan base. Each week, the channel will debut new video content, and they’re always looking for new players, teams and organizations to feature. The site offers advice on anything from what shoes to wear for play to game techniques, as well as insight into the people who play pickleball.

It may have a funny name, but pickleball is gaining a serious following that looks like it’s here to stay.

If you’ve got a great pickleball story to share, email share@pickleballchannel.com. For more info on pickleball, visit usapa.org/what-is-pickleball.

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Available at: Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 13

Older Americans Month Recognized

S

ince 1963 the nation has celebrated May as Older Americans Month. Each year the President signs a proclamation in celebration of the achievements and contributions of the nation’s older persons. This year, we are focusing on injury prevention with the theme Safe Today.

Healthy Tomorrow.

Older adults are at a much higher risk of unintentional injury and even death than the rest of the population.

Unintentional injuries to this population result in millions of medically treated injuries and more than 30,000 deaths every year.

With a focus on safety during Older Americans Month, the Administration for Community Living plans to use

this opportunity to raise awareness about this critical issue. By taking control of their safety, older Americans can live longer, healthier lives.

So, this month, take a fresh look at your surroundings and look for ways you could reduce the risk of accidents. It will help make sure you have the healthiest possible tomorrow.

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855.550.LIFE (5433) Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 15

Finding Peace and Solace After the Loss of a Loved One

BY VICTORIA SCHMIDT

L

osing someone you love is devastating. You have grief, pain, sadness, bewilderment and, even with the comfort of family and friends, you may feel very much alone. But, you are not alone.

There are those you can call on to help you through the four stages of life that lead you to peace and solace…or you may undertake them on your own.

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 16

of your life? Not to worry. The time it takes is different for everyone.

Stage One The First Hurdle: The Shock and the Grief – Grieve. Cry. Talk…a lot.

Grieve more. Grieve as long as it takes.

Don’t punish yourself. Then, let go of your grief. Laugh, a lot. Evangelist Billy Graham, says, “Sometimes we need to be alone with our grief and memories.

We just need to guard against making this our only response, for it’s not healthy.”

Stage Four New Life Options…

Adventures – If you are ready to move on there are limitless options to consider: Single?

A new significant other or a different type of relationship.

Unconditional Love? Adopt a pet.

Volunteer work, a new job, your dream job. Pleasurable pursuits, travel, new friends, take in the arts. Pursuits with a purpose, helping others. Pack up and move, when the time is right.

Stage Three The Bridge…The Passage – Have you achieved emotional and physical renewal along with financial security?

Are you prepared to move on? Or should you repeat some of the steps in Stages One and Two to assure you are empowered to take charge

Victoria D. Schmidt’s book is “Finding Solitary Contentment: Ways to Handle Grief and Embrace a New Life.”

Stage Two The Renewal – Prepare for your life without your lost loved one. Identity crisis? Learn to know yourself. Go slowly. Set goals. Have a plan. If you are alone, enjoy the unexpected gains of life alone: exercise, meditate, relax, be kind to yourself. Attain financial security.

Experiencing even some of the steps of the Four Stages of Life is, in itself, a distraction from your loss and sadness to help you move on. While you handle your grief, achieve renewal and undertake one or more of the adventures, you may come to realize and accept why it is you who are still here. You have happy memories to cherish, wonders in the world to enjoy and rewards from reaching out to help others.

You will find solace and peace. It is just a matter of dedication and time!

Bring Home A Friend

I

f you’ve been thinking about bringing a four-legged friend into your life, there has never been a better time.

Manatee County Animal Services is full and loving homes are needed for dogs.

While taking on a dog is a committment, they can provide years of companionship, help reduce stress, ward off depression and keep you healthy and active.

Taking home a dog is easy; all adoptions include spay/neuter,

vaccinations, health check and microchip. All a resident must do is purchase a county dog license.

Stop by one of the two Animal Services locations: Palmetto, 305 25th St. W.; Bradenton, 1002 B., Manatee Ave. W.; and take advantage of adoption specials today. Every animal deserves a good home.

Preview dogs by visiting mymanatee. org/pets, or call 941-742-5933 for info.

Why Happiness Matters

BY HENRY S. MILLER

A

lthough some would have you think otherwise, the uniquely human pursuit of happiness is not merely some frivolous idle-time activity for the fortunate few. Far from it. Instead, it is a serious pursuit—a duty and responsibility for each of us.

Being in a positive, optimistic and happy frame of mind seems to be what allows some humans to be more successful than others in obtaining life’s essentials: food, shelter, social support, even a mate. So it has always been and so it continues today. And if you still doubt the seriousness of pursuing a happier life, consider your loved ones. Fulfilling the duty of being happy benefits not just yourself but also those closest to you.

The Benefits Most of the benefits of living a happier life are familiar, yet they are powerful and seemingly endless—and they far outweigh the costs and work needed to achieve this state:

• Success. Overall, happy people are more successful across multiple major domains of life including work, social relationships, income and health. In addition, the relationship between happiness and success seems to be reciprocal: not only can individual success—whether in love or at work—contribute to feelings of happiness, but happiness also results in more success.

• Personally. Happy people more frequently exhibit characteristics such as being strikingly energetic, decisive and flexible. They are more creative, more helpful to those in need, more self-confident, more forgiving, more charitable, more sociable, and more loving. Compared to unhappy people, happier people are more trusting, more loving, and more responsive. They have greater self-control, can tolerate frustration better, are less likely to be abusive, are more lenient, and demonstrate enhanced coping skills.

• Socially. Happy people have more friends, richer social interactions, correspondingly stronger social support and experience longer and more satisfying marriages.

• Work. In addition to bringing all their positive personal attributes to work, happy people have been proven to be more likely to perform better, achieve greater productivity and deliver a higher quality work product. They tend to receive a higher income as a result.

• Physical health. Happy people experience less pain, are often in better health, are more active with more energy and even, not surprisingly, live longer. They have lower stress levels and stronger immune systems that fight disease more effectively. By comparison, stressed and depressed people are more vulnerable to various illnesses.

• Mental health. Happy individuals construe daily situations and major life events in relatively more

positive and more adaptive ways that seem to reinforce their happiness.

They are also less likely to exaggerate any criticism, however slight, that they may receive, as opposed to unhappy individuals who react to life experiences in negative ways that only reinforce their unhappiness.

What’s at Stake Remember that one day, you will be sitting on that proverbial rocking chair on some front porch or veranda, maybe overlooking the ocean, and a stranger will sit down beside you and politely ask: “So, what did you do in your life?”

What will you say?

The stakes are high. The price of unhappiness is steep. And life is short.

(Excerpted from the book The Serious Pursuit of Happiness: Everything You Need to Know to Flourish and Thrive)

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 17

Wherever you live in Sarasota County there is a Walgreens store nearby

Open 24 Hours 3601 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota, 34233 ....................... 941-921-4681 3901 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34231..................... 941-926-2522 6465 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34231..................... 941-921-9222 5800 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota, 34233 ....................... 941-377-1589 1120 N. Tamiami Trail, Nokomis, 34275 ..................... 941-441-2909 15180 S. Tamiami Trail, North Port, 34288................. 941-423-6100 1490 Venice Bypass, Venice, 34292 .......................... 941-493-3925 Other Stores - Call For Hours 3506 Clark Rd., Sarasota, 34231 ............................... 941-923-2885 5281 Clark Rd., Sarasota, 34231 .............................. 941-929-9443 3550 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, 34237 .......................... 941-955-4282 1224 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 34239..................... 941-953-9804 1947 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota, 34236 .......................... 941-955-2064 1921 Waldemere St., Suite 201, Sarasota, 34239 ..... 941-955-6012 391 S. Tamiami Trail, Venice, 34285 .......................... 941-244-1977 1405 E. Venice Ave., Venice, 34292........................... 941-488-8122 4105 Pointe Plaza Blvd., Venice, 34293 .................... 941-497-0751 15 S. Indiana Ave., Englewood, 34223....................... 941-473-7787 2940 S. McCall Rd., Englewood, 34223 ..................... 941-475-8030 12600 Tamiami Trail, North Port, 34287 ..................... 941-244-1955 1009 N. Sumter Blvd., North Port, 34286 ................... 941-426-5083 1063 N. Toledo Blade Blvd., North Port, 34286 .......... 941-429-6174 4210 E. State Rd. 64, Bradenton, FL 34208 .............. 941-708-9161 4320 26th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34205 ..................... 941-755-8596 1504 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton, FL 34203 ................... 941-752-0705 1455 Upper Manatee River Rd., Bradenton, FL 34212.. 941-462-1564

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 18

Wherever You Live In Manatee County There Is A Walgreens Store Nearby

Open 24 Hours 6003 14th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34207 ..................... 941-755-8526 4220 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205 ............ 941-749-1561 5945 U.S. Highway 301 N., Ellenton, FL 34222 ......... 941-722-2884 Other Stores - Call For Hours 3248 E. Bay Dr., Holmes Beach, FL 34217 ................ 941-778-0451 3425 53rd Ave. W, Bradenton, FL 34210 ................... 941-752-7997 5896 59th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34209 ..................... 941-792-3817 8315 Market St., Bradenton, FL 34202 ...................... 941-907-2686 14415 Arbor Green Trail, Bradenton, FL 34202 ......... 941-739-5752 3155 University Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34243 ........... 941-351-9290 1700 N. Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota, FL 34234 ... 941-926-6132 930 8th Ave. W., Palmetto, FL 34221 ........................ 941-729-5250 3535 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234 ............... 941-360-3474 4210 E. State Rd. 64, Bradenton, FL 34208 .............. 941-708-9161 4320 26th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34205 ..................... 941-755-8596 1504 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton, FL 34203 ................... 941-752-0705 1455 Upper Manatee River Rd., Bradenton, FL 34212.. 941-462-1564 Ask About: • Our durable goods product lines: lift chairs, wheelchairs, walkers • Our “Go 90” prescription program • Our prescription savings club • Our exclusive savings for AARP members • Our prescription “auto fill” program • Our Balance Rewards Card Enroll in our balance rewards program today and receive instant points and endless rewards.

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Healthy Ways to Spice Up Your Summer BBQ

A

n old-fashioned summer cookout is not always a healthy affair, but you can convert a fatty-food blitz into a healthy and tasty menu:

Blueberry-Bourbon Barbecue Sauce

It is not every day that you get a sweet and tangy barbecue sauce that also boasts a healthy dose of antioxidants. Try it with beef, chicken, pork or grilled shrimp.

• Throw some unexpected foods on the grill, like peaches, asparagus or even bread.

• Incorporate veggies into your BBQ menu by making kebabs instead of burgers.

Recipe • Cut the calories in your potato salad, coleslaw and macaroni salad by using mustard, vinegar or lowfat yogurt instead of mayonnaise.

• Chicken gets a fresh burst of flavor when you cut back on salt and season it with fresh or dried herbs, vinegars or citrus juices.

Calling Nominations For Senior Awards

H

ave you ever witnessed a person or organization making a positive impact on older Floridians? Now you can do something...recognize them!

Nominations are being accepted electronically through May 9 for an annual statewide awards program that honors the efforts of those who work to improve the quality of life of seniors.

Winners will be recognized on August 5 at the 2014 Quality Senior Living Awards Luncheon at the Florida Conference on Aging. The event will be held at the Bonaventure Hotel in Weston, Fla. Winners will receive an awards package valued at over $400.

The four awards categories include: • Public Service • Service to Seniors by an Organization • Senior Vision Media Award • Dr. Carter Osterbind Outstanding FCOA Member Award To nominate someone, or for details, visit fcoa.org or call 850-222-8877.

1 Tbsp canola oil 1 small red onion, chopped 4 cloves garlic, chopped 1 to 2 jalapenos, seeded and chopped 1/2 c bourbon 2 c fresh or frozen (not thawed) blueberries 1/2 c ketchup 1/3 c cider vinegar 2 Tbsp brown sugar 1 Tbsp molasses 1/8 tsp ground allspice Cook onion in oil over medium heat 2 to 4 minutes. Add garlic and jalapeno, stirring and cooking, until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add bourbon, increase heat to high and bring to a boil; cook until most of the liquid has evaporated, about 5 minutes. Stir in blueberries and remaining ingredients; return to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thickened, about 20 minutes.

May be made ahead and refrigerated.

Asian Barbecue Sauce

1/3 cup ketchup 1/4 cup Indonesian Sweet Soy Sauce 2 Tbsp rice-wine vinegar 2 tsp minced fresh ginger 1 1/2 tsp chile-garlic paste

Stir together all ingredients in a small bowl. Brush on meat before grilling.

May be made ahead and refrigerated.

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 19

B

Cruise Host Lorianne Crook

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 20

y the time the Country Music Cruise docked in Fort Lauderdale this past January, passengers had taken to calling it the greatest fan fest on the high seas. They were surprised, and then some, that their weeklong cruise through the Caribbean wasn’t just back-to-back concerts, perfect days by the pool and visits to postcard-perfect island towns. Already the stuff vacation dreams are made of, the Country Music Cruise turned out to be seven days of getting up close and personal with country superstars who dropped by cooking seminars, classes on songwriting, guitar playing and jewelry making, line dancing lessons, and even each other’s concerts.

“The level of interaction between our guests and the country stars was amazing,” explained Mike Jason, Senior Vice President of Live Entertainment, StarVista Entertainment/ Time Life and Executive Producer of The Country Music Cruise.

“We’re so excited about it that we’re planning even more events for the 2015 cruise, with special meet and greets, autograph sessions, photo opportunities, panels where artists share their stories in front of audiences and live interviews. At last count, we had 30 events scheduled and are still developing more.”

That’s music to any country fan’s ears, who will get to sail with Martina McBride, Charley Pride, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, Lorrie Morgan, John Anderson, Aaron Tippin, Darryl Worley, Asleep At The Wheel, Restless Heart, Wade Hayes, Bryan White, The Roys, Canadian newcomer Brett Kissel and Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys when the Country Music Cruise departs from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. on January 18, 2015.

Lorianne Crook of the long running “Crook and Chase” television show will return as the special cruise host.

“To be able to have this many country stars in one place and to really get to sit down with them and talk to them about old times and memories that we’ve shared together is incredible,” said Crook about the star-studded cruise.

“It’s great to be in such an intimate environment and so close to the audience,” added Martina McBride, who is planning something special for fans during her performances on the cruise. “We are incorporating some of the hits into the new show. They will be slightly different arrangements, but of course still recognizable. Me and the band are looking forward changing it up a little bit.”

blue water, this wonderful ship, the great events, the fabulous food, old friends, new friends, what could be bad about that? I love it.”

The 2015 Country Music Cruise will sail from January 18 through 25 with concerts that quite literally fill the days and nights. With more than 50 shows in all, the “floating Nashville” is topped off by a Gospel Hour and a surprise tribute to a country music legend that will bring many of the Country Music Cruise artists together on stage for one all-star performance. Fans will hear 62 number 1 hits and 164 Top 10 smashes, and will have fun guessing which of Charley Pride’s 29 number 1’s he’ll be packing in his suitcase.

The karaoke club, pool parties, trivia and dance contests, country music-themed films and documentaries and the nowlegendary Corn Hole Tournament keep the party—and the fun—going. And the food never stops coming, capped off by a Red, White and Blue Barbeque Martina McBride and special southern food selections at every meal.

Charley Pride This year guests will enjoy a special exclusive afternoon on the private island of Half Moon Cay with its white sand beaches, glittering ocean bay, tropical fare and spirits.

Holland America’s m/s luxurious Eurodam ship will travel from Fort Lauderdale to Nassau (Bahamas), St. Thomas, St. Croix and Half Moon Cay before returning to Fort Larry Gatlin & The Gatlin Brothers Lauderdale. Cabin rates start at just The Gatlin Brothers had such a $2,150 per person, and include tickets great time on January’s cruise that to every single concert, all meals they’ll be coming back to perform and a wide selection of activities. on the 2015 voyage. “When I was Cabins on the Country Music a little boy and they told me ‘we’re Cruise 2015 can be booked going to pay you to sing’—I knew by visiting the website www. that was a good deal,” Larry Gatlin CountryMusicCruise.com or by joked. “When you throw in all that calling (toll-free) 855-332-6868.

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 21

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In June, the comedy “Dixie Swim Club” takes the stage with five unforgettable women who meet every year to recharge their relationships, laugh and meddle in each others’ lives.

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August comes alive with the winner of the American Theatre Critics Association award entitled “Talking With…” by Jane Martin. This extraordinary series of monologues deals with the personal ordeals of 11 compelling female characters.

Regular price for single tickets is $18, so take advantage of the savings that comes from the $45 subscription!

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eclawing is a topic that arouses strong feelings. Some people believe it’s cruel and unnecessary, while others think it has its place. People often mistakenly believe that declawing their cats is a harmless “quick fix” for unwanted scratching. They don’t realize that declawing can make a cat less likely to use the litter box or more likely to bite.

Declawing is an operation to surgically remove an animal’s claws by means of amputation of the last bone of each toe. Potential complications of declawing include pain, post-surgical complications, joint stiffness, arthritis, litter box aversion, increased aggression, biting and death.

Cat scratching is not a behavioral problem, but a natural

and necessary physical function. It removes the dead outer sheaths of the nail and is a vital exercise that stretches and strengthens the upper body.

Alternatives to declawing your cat: • Keep claws trimmed to minimize damage to household items.

• Provide stable vertical and horizontal scratching posts around your home.

• Ask your veterinarian about soft plastic caps that are glued to the cat’s nails.

• Use two sided tape on furniture to deter your cat from unwanted scratching.

Cat Depot, Sarasota, Fla. The human equivalent of declawing would involve the removal of the last bone of each finger.

o Single o Married o Are you a Group Leader?

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INSURANCE: o Long-term o Medicare care o Health o Auto o Life o Home HOUSING OpTIONS o Independent o Assisted Living o Senior Apartment o Continuing Care/LifeCare o Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care FINANCIAL/ LAW: o Retirement planning o Elder Law o Trusts/Wills o Social Security o Estate planning o Funeral Planning o Financial Advisors TRAVEL: o Cruises o Land Tours o Hotels/ Resorts o Local Attractions o Getaway Packages o Bus Tours HOME IMpROVEMENTS: o A/C and Heating o Pools/Spas/Outdoor Living o Cleaning Services Sara

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 23

From Apricots to Computer Chips:

California’s Silicon Valley

STORY BY ANDREA GROSS; PHOTOS BY IRV GREEN

A

life-size model of a cosmonaut floats near the ceiling. A few feet away a green Statue of Liberty holds aloft a plasticized chocolate sundae.

And sitting next to me are two men who might, just might, be making a deal that will change my life.

This is Buck’s of Woodside, a restaurant in the hills surrounding California’s Silicon Valley. It’s a place known for comfort food, quirky décor and big deals, like the ones that resulted in funding for Hotmail, Netscape and PayPal.

Travel

This transformation from a region of bountiful orchards to one filled with some of the world’s most renowned high tech companies began just a few miles from Buck’s in a small garage at 367 Addison Avenue in Palo Alto.

In 1939, Stanford graduates Bill Hewlett and David Packard pooled their life savings ($538) in order to start a small electronics company.

Today Hewlett-Packard ranks 43rd on Fortune’s 2013 list of the world’s largest companies, and the small garage is on the National Register of Historic Places. The sign out front dubs the garage the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley.” My husband dubs the $538 a good investment.

“The Valley,” as it’s generally called, is centered in the fertile farmland between Palo Alto and San Jose. “This area was paradise back in the Sixties,” says Phil Consentino, who owns J & P Farms, the last commercial orchard in San Jose. Since then, the valley’s population has increased six-fold, and flourishing fruit trees have been cut down to make room for middle-class homes and apartments.

The Google Maps Exhibit lets visitors to the Computer History Museum find their own house on a giant screen.

The Google campus is so large that the company provides bikes for its employees.

Stanford University was the incubator for new technology.

Another Silicon Valley landmark, the house where Steve Jobs lived from the mid-1990s until his death in 2011, is a few blocks away at 2101 Waverly Street. The two-story brick home, which sits on about a half acre, is fairly large but at the same time unpretentious and casual.

People walk with purpose in the The garage where Bill Hewlett and Silicon Valley, but the suits of Mad David Packard started their small electronics company has been dubbed Men have morphed into the jeans of geniuses. During our week in Silicon the “Birthplace of Silicon Valley.”

Valley, we see only four men in sports coats, none in ties. (The dress code for women is more liberal. The only rule: save the stilettos for after-hours.)

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 24

Comfortable shoes are a necessity here where workplaces are not clustered in high-rises but sprinkled across “campuses”—a word that connotes low-slung buildings interspersed with large open spaces and youth and conviviality. Some companies provide their employees with bicycles.

Except for the Apple store, the buildings are closed to visitors, so we move on to Castro Street in the town of Mountain View.

Unlike Buck’s, which is the restaurant where people make deals, Castro Street is filled with eateries where folks hatch ideas. Here, over salads and stir-fry, lattes and scones, ideas are floated, debated and often massaged into “the next great thing.”

In the Red Rock Coffee Company we find a packed crowd taking advantage of the café’s free wi-fi. Most people are in baggy shorts, sandals and look to be about nineteen years old.

Finally we set out for the geeky part of our expedition—a visit to three Silicon Valley museums that will, we hope, give us a layman’s overview of high tech wizardry. They succeed beyond our wildest expectations.

At the Computer History Museum we see everything from ancient

abacuses to the first 1976 Apple computer to an interactive display that explains how street-mapping works. At the Intel Museum we learn about semiconductor technology, and at the Tech Museum, which is not as much about how things work as it is about how much fun you can have when they do work, we train like Olympic contenders by virtually bobsledding down a virtual hill.

We spend the final day of our visit strolling among ancient redwoods at Henry Cowell State Park. It’s a delightful as well as humbling experience, reminding us that nature predates even the oldest man-made wonders.

On the plane ride home, we reflect on what makes Silicon Valley so different from other places. Our conclusion: Silicon Valley is a state of mind as well as a geographical entity, a place where optimism and creativity are as much a part of the environment as buildings and museums.

Tip: Silicon Valley lodging can be pricey. By luck we happened upon a modest B&B in a perfect location.

It’s clean, reasonably priced and the owner serves up terrific chocolate chip cookies. madisonstreetinn.com.

I’m Talkin’ Quick Draw McGraw Fast!

BY MARK PILARSKI

D

ear Mark: I attend free slot tournaments when invited and wondered if there are any tips you can give to do well besides hitting the button quickly. —Wayne S.

Gambling Wisdom of the Month: “I’m confident that sooner or later, most race tracks will have a special section reserved for degenerates.”

—John Gillehon, A Gambler’s Bedside Reader (1998).

om Ra Ro fro t m

es

The gist of any slot tournament, Wayne, works like this: Players either congregate in a specific room of the casino, or at the site on the casino floor holding the tournament. Players are then assigned to a specific slot machine, given a set amount of time to play, and the person with the highest number of credits (points) won at the end is the winner.

The tournament format that you were probably playing in is one that uses timed sessions with machines in free-play mode, meaning, you don’t have to put any money in the machine to play. The up-front entry fee, in your case, FREE, is your total cash outlay. Now if the tournament includes a FREE chuck wagon buffet, you just broke the bank.

A typical format when playing free-play tournaments is to give each player 1,000 credits, and 20 minutes to play them, per round. Each time the player taps the spin button, three credits are deducted from their starting credits, and credits that they win are shown on a separate meter. When time has expired, the machine locks up to end play.

As a slot tourney player, you have probably noticed more paying combinations when playing in tournaments than you get with normal play. That is because most casinos have a distinct

slot tournament chip that is used in the machine, one that increases the frequency of winning combinations.

So, Wayne, as your question implies, the real and only trick here is to get your fingers moving at lightning speed, because the more those reels are spinning, the more you give yourself a chance to accumulate points. The faster you get at tapping the max coins button when the reels stop spinning, the better your chances are of winning a slot tournament.

Likewise, it is important to note that the machine will not spin until the winning credits have been tallied and displayed on the screen. Therefore, timing, Wayne, is everything.

You need to be prepared to initiate the spin button INSTANTLY after your credits have been computed.

Also, because any credits that you have not played when the time is up will be lost, you lessen your chances of winning because the players who are super-duper fast at hitting the spin button will have more spins than you, hence, more likely with a tourney chip to have more points.

The bottom line is that in a slot tournament there is but one simple strategy: Get in as many spins as you can. Just keep your fingers on the spin button and get skilled at pushing it with split-second military precision.

Oh, and one other tip. Concentrate on your play, and your play only. Don’t gawk at the scores of the other players. A few precious seconds here or there can sometimes be the deciding factor on whether or not you advance to the next round. (SENIOR WIRE)

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 25

Americans Still Read the Bible

A

three-year Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis study of the Bible’s place in the everyday lives of Americans set out to answer questions of how, where, when and why ordinary Americans use the Bible.

Here are some of their findings:

• The 400-year-old King James Version of the Bible is far from dead (half of the individuals and twofifths of the congregations surveyed still prefer the King James Bible).

• Among African Americans: 70 percent said they read the Bible outside of public worship services (compared to 44 percent for whites, 46 percent for Hispanics and 28 percent for all other races).

• Bible memorization is highest among black respondents, 69 percent, compared to 51 percent among white conservative Protestants and 31 percent

&

Mr. Modem

by Richard Sherman

Click to place a check mark in the box next to Display Delete Confirmation dialog, followed

by Apply > OK. The next time you delete a file, you will be prompted to confirm thethe deletion.

Through eyes

Granddaughter’s Ballet Recital

Diddetection you perhaps speak it Early is key to to saving your sight from aage-related Leaving flash drive harshly?degeneration It sounds like(AMD), your Re-the leading macular causeinofwill blindness plugged have no in cycle Bin settings have changed, adverse effect on the drive. Wear people 55 andmay older. but it’s easy to get them back track: signs, and tear thevision read/ or Don’t wait to notice theon warning likeoccurs blurryduring central Right-click your Recycle and sewrite process, not from a flash difficulty seeing fineBin details. lect Contact Properties. the Global tab, Blindness drive sittingfor idly in a USB port. theSelect Foundation Fighting a free packet on which will encompass all hard drives. preventing and managing AMD. I recommend (and use) a

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 26

• Roughly half of Americans have read religious scripture outside of a public worship service in the past year.

• Most of those people read at least monthly, and 9 percent of all Americans read every day.

• Women were more likely to read than men; older people were more likely to read than younger; Southerners were more likely to read than those of any other region.

• Psalm 23 – which begins “The Lord is my shepherd” – was the most popular Biblical passage.

• Younger people, those with higher salaries and, most dramatically, those with more education among the respondents read the Bible on the internet or an e-device at higher rates. (Newswise)

Flash Drive Longevity

I went to delete a file and it just deleted without asking for of someone with confirmation. I intended delete Effect: Ruining ThetoAMD I use aYour flash drive to back up advanced AMD. it, so the lack of a confirmation my data and I leave it plugged Granddaughter’s Ballet Recital wasn’t a big deal, but I prefer in all the time. Does leaving it having a “safety net” requiring plugged in wear it out quicker, or me to confirm any deletions. Do I be plugging The AMD Effect:should Ruining Your it in only when you know why it would do this?

I need to copy something to it?

(In Windows 7, select the General Tab,888-345-2473 which not many users know was named after General Horatio Tab, FightBlindness.org/AMDnow an unsung hero of the Civil War.)

among white moderate/ liberal Protestants.

rotational flash-drive backup protocol which results in one or more backup flash drives NOT residing in a computer at all times.

In other words, I have two or more flash drives for each computer and each time I back up data, I remove one drive and insert another. So at any time, my flash drives are either current or one backup behind. I also keep my most important data backed up within a free Gmail account I maintain for that specific purpose. To do this, I simply mail (as an attachment) any important files I want to keep safely off-site.

Why do I keep getting a message that my Windows 7 is not genuine? It came installed on my Dell computer that I bought in December 2011.

Windows 7 includes a Windows Genuine Advantage checker that verifies that your copy of Windows is legally licensed. However, sometimes an error may occur which causes Windows to forget it is registered.

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The first step is to look on the back or bottom of your computer for the Windows Authenticity Label. This label will display your Windows Product Key or serial number. Write it down.

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In the window that appears you will be able to enter your Product Key and proceed with activation. You may need to click the Change Product Key button and type the Product Key again.

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Moodiness is often dependent on circumstances. It is normal to feel down when negative things happen to you. Depression may strike for no reason or may occur after a major life trauma. While moodiness comes and goes, depression lasts at least two weeks.

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 27

BRIDGE BITES

From The American Contract Bridge League

BY BRIAN GUNNELL

I 2496 Sylvia Lane, Venice, FL 34292

Venice Ranch is a quiet, clean, 55+ manufactured home community in a Office: 941-488-5672 super location. Here’s what is nearby: www.VeniceRanch.com • Shopping ...............................1/2 mile Hours: Mon.,Tues., Thurs. & Fri. • Hospital ............................ 3-1/2 miles 10:00 to noon and 1:00 to 4:00.

• Restaurants ............................1/4 mile Closed Wed. • Banking .................................1/4 mile Weekends by appointment only.

• Quaint, cultural, and BEST OF ALL …

• Homes starting at $2,000 and up, on larger historic Venice Center ............... 3 miles • Four golf courses ...................1-3 miles than normal manufactured home lots • Beaches ................................... 4 miles • New solar heated pool • Interstate 75 ..........................3/4 mile • We have all kinds of clubs and amenities

f it’s not too late already, try looking at just the N-S hands and decide how you are going to play that Spade suit. Where’s the lady?

Venice Area Chamber of Commerce Recent New Members

• The Sembler Company – Michaelann Murphy – 1091 N. Tamiami Trail, Nokomis, 727-384-6000 (owners of local shopping centers) • Valpak of SW Florida – Vivianne Quinones – 10681 Airport Pulling Rd., #22, Naples, 239-594-3531 (marketing, advertise, direct mail) • Authentic Fusion, LLC – Deb Peters & Lynne T. Murphy – 101 W. Venice Ave., #17, Venice, 813-731-8767 (fitness & wellness) • Babe’s Plumbing Gallery – Teresa Dalton – 116 E. Miami Ave., Venice, 941-485-9102 (kitchen & bath showroom, new construction, remodel) • Fins at Sharky’s – Justin Pachota – 1600 Harbor Dr. S., Venice, 941-786-3068 (fine dining in a casual atmosphere) • G. Fried Flooring – Jack Dean – 4608 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, 941-921-7704 (floor coverings & installation; carpet, wood, laminate, vinyl, tile) • iTeachTech – Gretchen Miscik – 941-786-2617 (technology training classes for iPad, Android, PC’s and apps) • JJ Taylor Distributing – John Williams – 5102 S. 16th Ave., Tampa, 813-248-3545 (beer & ale; wholesale) • NY’s Finest Pool Service – James Crowley – 941-484-8148 (swimming pool maintenance & cleaning, pool service) • Origin USA Inc – Ben Halvorsen – 771 Commerce Dr., #16, Venice, 941-486-4246 (windows & doors, aluminum bifolding door manufacturer) Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 28

That 1NT opening showed 15 – 17 HCP, after which the auction inches its way up to 4♠. West leads the ♦Q, which is won by your Ace. You have one loser in each of the side-suits, so to make your contract you must avoid losing a trump trick.

Cherchez La Femme

In the play of the Spades you could choose to finesse against West, or to finesse against East, or to play “for the drop” (hoping that the suit is 2 – 2 or the ♠Q is singleton). The general rule, when holding a 9-card fit, is to play for the drop, all things being equal that is about a 58 percent chance.

But why settle for 58 percent when you can have 100 percent? Yes, it’s time for some counting. N-S have a combined 22 HCP, that leaves E-W with 18.

West has already played the ♦Q, leaving precisely 15 or 16 HCP in the East hand. As East has already advertised 15 – 17 he must have all the missing high cards with the possible exception of one of the missing Jacks. So at Trick 2 you lead a Spade to Dummy’s Ace and then, when East plays low on the second round, you finesse the Jack with complete confidence.

That’s 10 tricks for those who count, but only 9 for the rule-followers.

Visit acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email marketing@acbl.org. To find a bridge club in Florida, go to district9acbl.org /D9Clubsmap.htm. Bridge article provided courtesy of St. Petersburg Bridge Club: stpetebridge.org.

Forgetfulness—Should I Be Concerned?

E

veryone experiences a decreased ability to learn and memorize things over time, but while some degree of forgetfulness is normal, memory loss is not usual. For instance, it would not be concerning to forget the name of a movie you saw last weekend, but you shouldn’t forget that you saw a movie at all.

Memory loss may be caused by emotional states such as anxiety or depression, uncontrolled metabolic disorders such as diabetes and thyroid

problems, hearing and vision problems, certain drugs, anemia, certain infections and brain tumors.

From The Science of Staying Young by Morley and Colberg.

Word Search

Word Search May

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 April

Nancy Granert is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

Last Month’s Answers

April Sudoku

Alberta Maltby is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: News CoNNeCtioN UsA, iNC. P.o. BoX 638, seFFNeR, FL 33583

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

Mystery Prize!

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(Puzzles must be received by May 21, 2014.)

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 29

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Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 30

Fur Pet’s Sake dominant anti-cat personality, he and The Girls were not disturbed by the other’s presence.

We Are Family! Frankie Sparks flew and His Sisters and Me between Zoe and ove over, sister The Girls, howSledge! There’s a new ever. Lesson: family in town. And, there’ll opposite sex be no “Cats from Hell” in cats have greater this family, Jackson Galaxy! acceptance of Over the past two months each other.

I have shared my story of After two The Brown Feline Family inheriting two cats, and my weeks, the attempts to integrate them Cat Cave door into my existing two-cat was open full time (except at meal family. Most people thought me time). The cat tower was moved to crazy to take two sets of older adult the back porch, with The Girls using cats, throw them into a small home the cat door to access it (dumb and and expect them to live a harmonidumber Zoe and Frankie haven’t ous indoor life together. Well, the figured it out yet). Feather and mouse cats have taught this so-called cat toys were used to entice Zoe and expert a few things along the way, The Girls to bond and display their and I’m thrilled to tell our story. cooperative hunting skills, while Since cat societies are femaleFrankie watched (typical). Everyone centered and hostile to cats unfamiliar got a chance to claim their favorite to the colony, I prepared my home litter box (with no accidents!). Catnip and my cats before moving day. I created abusive drunks, so the home created a safe room (the Cat Cave) for was made drug-free. Bullies were my new additions, and enriched my banished and fed last. Undercats home to provide areas to hide, perch, (feline underdogs?) were rewarded play and enjoy the outdoor wildlife. with treats, other privileges, and fed Pheromones and Prozac, and Cabernet first. Little by little, everyone learned Sauvignon were used to reduce to play nice with one another. their and my anxiety, respectively.

Eight weeks later, all four kids act Lucy and Libby (The Girls) moved like they’ve lived their entire lives into the Cat Cave, separated from together. Three sleep with me and Frankie and Zoe by a door with a they share their toys, food bowls and screened viewing window and curtain. mom. Rarely is a cross word heard.

Libby retreated to the closet and Lucy to the vanity cabinet. Within days, The Girls emerged and started pushing the curtain aside to check out the home and their step siblings, with much trash talking resulting. They checked out the views of the bird feeders and bath and explored the shelves and high perches. I ate breakfast Kate Brown, DVM is the owner and read the newspaper in the Cat and medical director of Brandt Cave so they could get used to me.

Veterinary Clinic in Nokomis, Florida, After one week, I began to leave the a Cat Friendly Practice awarded by door open under supervision. Zoe the American Association of Feline threw a couple of harmless punches Practitioners. Visit their website at at Libby, and Frankie checked out www.brandtvetclinic.com or email their food bowls. Despite Frankie’s her at drkate@brandtvetclinic.com.

BY KATE BROWN, DVM

M

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See DaVinci’s Inventions D

on’t miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view more than 60 hand-crafted inventions built from Da Vinci’s 500-year-old designs at the Da Vinci Machines Exhibition, on loan from Florence, Italy. Showing now through July 7 at the Bradendon Municipal Auditorium, it is one of just three such exhibitions in the world.

See military machines, flying machines, nautical and hydraulic machines

as well as devices and inventions illustrating the Principles of Mechanics. Visitors can touch and interact with these models to gain a first-hand appreciation of how they work.

Explanatory notes and illustrative panels with Leonardo’s drawings from his codices accompany each model.

Senior admission is $13.95. To learn more, visit bradentongulfislands.com /DaVinci or call 941-209-1236.

HAP’S CYCLE SALES ................365-3443 MAXEM MOTORSPORTS ..........780-1333 KESATIE MOTORSPORTS.........378-1630 SARASOTA BRIAN’S AUTO REPAIR.............. 926-2526 SOUTHERN CHEM. & EQUIP..... 713-6544 SUZUKI OF SARASOTA ............. 925-0376 GULF COAST AUTO PARTS ...... 377-1199 AUTOPART INTERNATIONAL .... 361-2495 MOBILE TECH AUTO REPAIR ... 925-2446 JAY & DEAN’S AUTO REPAIR .... 924-2708 SWIFT AUTO REPAIR................. 922-3011 AMER. EUROPEAN AUTOS ....... 925-8863 SUNSET DODGE ........................ 922-0285 TOM DION’S AUTOMOTIVE .......926-4942 DAN’S MOBILE V-TWIN..............806-8712

BRADENTON NAPA AUTO PARTS ....................746-4181 AUTO PART INTL........................727-4121 COME SEE COME SAVE ...........748-5965 TOTAL MOTORSPORTS ............756-6500 BRADENTON LAWN & FUN .......792-1122 THE BIKE SHOP .........................744-0400 ACTION JET SPORTS ................745-9521 ANDE’S CAR CARE ....................753-1182 USA TRANSMISSION .................748-6961 MANATEE SCOOTERS ..............677-2668 H3 PERFORMANCE ...................751-1949 RNR MARINE ...........................840-1767

NORTH PORT ADVANCE AUTO PARTS .........429-0013 ADVANCE AUTO PARTS .........564-0820 PALMETTO NORTHSIDE AUTO PARTS .....722-4581 HHHT AUTO CARE ..................721-3888 PARRISH PARRISH GEN SUPPLY ..........776-2141 VENICE AUTO WORX OF VENICE .......923-1438 ADVANCE AUTO PARTS .........484-6128 ADVANCE AUTO PARTS .........497-7970 NAPA AUTO PARTS .................485-9616 AMERICAN IMPORTS .............484-1340 ENGLEWOOD STIVER’S TIRE & AUTO ..........474-7660

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ALL VETERANS ~ ALL FAMILIES FUNERALS & CREMATIONS

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Always Honor

Never Forget

Monday, May 26, 2014 is Memorial Day

Memorial Day is celebrated every year on the final Monday of May. Memorial Day is a day of remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.

Formerly known as Decoration Day, it originated after the American Civil War to commemorate the Union and Confederate soldiers who died in the Civil War. By the 20th century, Memorial Day had been extended to honor all Americans who have died while in the military service.

Campaign Against Summer Hunger with All Faiths Food Bank

2

1,000 kids (50 percent) in Sarasota County are on free or reduced lunch during the school year.

During the summer, when school is out, those kids may go without regular meals. We are encouraging residents to “empty their shelves” and make a cash gift so no child in our community goes hungry.

Here are ways you can help:

• Visit www.SkipALunch.org and share on Facebook.

• Go to www.SkipALunch.org to donate.

• Find drop off locations for food at www.SkipALunch.org It is so easy to donate. Every dollar donated will help feed a child. All Faiths Food Bank: 941-379-6333.

DANCE PARTY EVERY SATURDAY

7:30 – 10:30pm Except May 3

1075 S. Euclid Ave., Sarasota 34237 (at the corner of Bahia Vista & Euclid)

Lifestyles After 50 • May 2014 • page 31

6/30/14.

6/30/14.

6/30/14.

6/30/14.

THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS A RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAM OR TREATMENT WHICH IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED, REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT. LIC# DN12560