Lifestyles After 50 Southwest/Lee/Charlotte Edition, March 2018

Florida’s Most Read 50+ Publication

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Southwest ~ March 2018 Lee, Charlotte

TPepin Hospita lity Cen tre Tampa March 9:30 a.m 20 .–2p .m.

Spring Training Guide Inside

Bruce is

BACK!

Death Wish Remake Now On the Big Screen

Women’s History Month: Greatest Photographers Spring Festivals in Bloom

Create more Time, Space & Peace Every Day

The Art of Organization

At its Finest

Closets | Garages | Home Offices | Entertainment Centers | Wall Units | Wall Beds | Pantries | Craft Rooms Laundry Rooms | Mud Rooms | Wine Rooms

SChEDulE Your ComPlimEnTarY in-homE DESign ConSulTaTion

Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 2

239-245-9187

www.closetfactory.com 13881 Plantation Road, Suite 7 • Fort Myers, FL

Hello March!

Southwest Edition Published monthly by

News Connection USA, LLC Volume 29, Issue 3

CEO, News Connection USA, LLC Ed Graves Ed@lifestylesafter50.com

Editor

P

repare yourselves. Daylight Saving Time is almost here and we will set our clocks forward, promptly losing one hour of shut eye.

Where’s my caffeine-infused eye cream?

And oh, by the way, didn’t we just fall backwards?

Just when our sleep patterns and circadian rhythms are finally adjusting to the last time change, now we have to spring forward. My knees ache at the suggestion. I know too I will be transforming into various versions of Sleepy, Grumpy and/or Dopey.

Not only that, but DST can actually be hazardous to our collective health.

A study by the Open Heart journal found that the number of heart attacks increased by 24 percent the Monday after spring time changes, while fall time changes were conversely associated with a 21 percent reduction. Workplace injuries, fatal car crashes and cluster headaches are also reported to surge on that Monday as well.

And try to explain the Daylight concept of DST to your dog, Saving Time whose internal alarm clock is starts timed for 6 p.m. Sure, he’ll thank you in the springtime Sunday, but come fall, he’ll be March 11 salivating all over himself, you and the kitchen floor.

At press time for this magazine, the Florida House had overwhelmingly approved a proposal to observe Daylight Saving Time year-round and a similar bill is moving through the Senate. The two bills, called the “Sunshine Protection Act,” would ask Congress to allow Florida to make Daylight Saving Time permanent all year long. It will take an act of Congress to change it, but it approved, Florida would join Hawaii and Arizona in exempting themselves from the 1966 law that calls for

“

Terri Bryce Reeves Terri@lifestylesafter50.com

Website Coordinator

Allie Shaw Allie@lifestylesafter50.com

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resetting clocks on the second Sunday in March and the first Sunday in November.

Thank jokester Benjamin Franklin for bringing up the idea of saving daylight in 1784. In his satirical essay, “An Economical Project,” he claims that Paris would save money by doing away with artificial lighting (candles i.e., 64,050,000 pounds of wax) and living on natural light.

As for those who didn’t wake up when the sun rose: “Let all the bells in every church be set ringing; and if that is not sufficient, let cannon be fired in every street, to wake the sluggards…,” he wrote.

Talk about triggering heart attacks and headaches.

As you peruse this edition of Lifestyles After 50, we hope our stories will inspire you to make good use of that extra hour of daylight: See the new Bruce Willis film. Hit the road for some spring training games. Attend a festival. Grab a bathing suit and head for the beach with the Grands.* You might also write your legislators and let them know how you feel about the concept of year-round Daylight Savings Time. *Please note: Not every story appears in all editions.

Please visit lifestylesafter50.com to access them.

Bruce Willis Cover Photo by Gage Skidmore (Modified)

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Terri Reeves Editor

Don’t forget it’s Daylight Saving Time. You spring forward, then you fall back. It’s like Robert Downey Jr. getting out of bed. ~David Letterman

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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 each issue is the 15th of the previous month. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

As a reader of Lifestyles After 50, you are creating an established relationship with our advertisers. You may be contacted by email, telephone or mail as allowed by law.

Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 3

local events around town • March 2018 Date: Event:

March 4 Bonita Springs National Art Festival Time: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Cost: Free parking and admission ($5 donation) Building: Riverside Park Address: Old 41 Riverside Park Bonita Springs, 34135 Phone: 239-495-8989 Website: artcenterbonita.org/artfest

Date: Event: Time: Cost:

Building: South County Regional Library Address: 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy Estero, 33928 Phone: 239-533-4400 Website: leegov.com

Building: South County Regional Library Address: 21100 Three Oaks Pkwy Estero, 33928 Phone: 239-533-4400 Website: leegov.com

Date: Event: Time:

Date: Event: Time: Cost:

Date: Event: Time: Cost:

Cost:

March 5 & 9 Caribbean Car Show 4 – 7 p.m.

(Get there early!) free

Building: Parrot Key Caribbean Grill Address: 2500 Main St. Fort Myers, 33913 Phone: 239-463-3257 Website: myparrotkey.com

Date: Event: Time: Cost:

March 7 Movie Day: Dunkirk 2 –4 p.m. free

March 10 Ocala Auto Show 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. free

Building: Circle Square Commons Address: 8395 Southwest 80th St. Ocala, 34481 Phone: 352-854-3670 Website: ocalamarion.com

March 13 Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 6:15 – 7:45 p.m. free

Date: Event: Time: Cost:

March 13- 18 Motown the Musical times vary $43. 34 and up depending on seating Building: Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall Address:13350 FSW Parkway Fort Myers, 33919 Phone: 239-481-0326 Website: bbmannpah.com

March 17 Fisherman’s Village St. Patrick’s Day Celebration 12 – 9 p.m.

Free

Date: Event: Time: Cost:

March 23 - 25 Perennial Film Festival 7 – 10 p.m. $15 day pass/ $30 all access pass

Building: The Village Courtyard Address: 1200 W. Retta Esplanade Punta Gorda,33950 Phone: 941-637-1054 Website: fishville.com

Building: Punta Gorda Historical Address: 118 Sullivan St. Punta Gorda, 33950 Phone: 727-798-1101 Website: perennialfilmfestival.com

Date: Event: Time: Cost:

Date: Event: Time: Cost:

March 18 Gartenfest 12 – 5 p.m. $3, free parking

Building: German American Social Club of Cape Coral Address: 2101 Pine Island Road Cape Coral, 33991 Phone: 239-283-1400 Website: gasc-capecoral.com

Through March 25 Night and Day 7:30/8/2 Regular $55/Student $20

Building: Florida Repertory Theatre Address: 2268 Bay St. Fort Myers, 33901 Phone: 239-332-4488 Website: floridarep.or

send your event news to Jenna@lifestylesafter50.coM by the 15th of each Month for publication in the following Month's issue.

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Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 4

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5. Have a plan! What happens if you do fall? Will anyone know? Invest in a fall detection and exercise wearable technology for some added ‘peace of mind’.

2. Make sure your stair handrails are sturdy and functional. If your hand rail seems rickety, you’re not likely to use it for support. Nobody wants to take a fall, much less down a flight of stairs.

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Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 5

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h, verdant springtime! We welcome the season of all things green and gorgeous with a renewing beauty recipe. Think of this yummy blend as your inside out skincare regimen for maximum hydration! Filled with alkalizing ingredients like spinach and lemon, this spring smoothie helps to balance pH levels and quench skin with every sip.

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Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 6

Jess Arnaudin is a licensed esthetician at The Beauty Bungalow in St. Petersburg, FL, a boutique spa specializing in organic facial treatments for simply beautiful skin. Learn more at www.beautybungalowspa.com or (727) 656-9096.

After 50, you’ve earned the right to travel in style …hassle free!

Bathing Suit Blues

I

face March with both anticipation and dread. The anticipation: the visit from my grandkids during spring break. The dread: the visit from my grandkids during spring break.

The reason? They love to swim and spending quality time with them requires I wear a bathing suit.

So far this season, I’ve avoided revealing too many body parts.

The weather has been cooperatively cool, not conducive to swimming.

However, in the spirit of their visit, swimwear is part of the dress code.

I own one suit which I find tolerable. Purchased several years ago, it’s a black, one-piece “miracle suit,” designed to create the illusion of a Weight Watchers success story. It embraces my bosom, so I don’t look like I need milking, and covers enough pelvis to avoid a Brazilian waxing. While not particularly sexy, neither is it dowdy— somewhere between Victoria’s Secret and Talbots, leaning heavily towards Talbots.

Unburying the garment from the bottom-most drawer, I note with alarm that it has developed a noticeable hole. The meaning of this doesn’t escape me—I need a new bathing suit. One must be female and at least middle-aged to fully comprehend the trauma inherent in this situation.

To successfully obtain a flattering garment, I must patronize a shop that employs a good “fitter.”

In swimwear-speak, she’s a woman who’s experienced in minimizing muffin tops and other indignities.

She understands you’re done with sassy and sexy.

Navigating past the tankinis and bikinis, she halts at the garments with magical concealing properties. Facing racks where no teenager would be caught dead, I

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heed her suggestions about necklines, pleats, solids and prints. I reject the flowery pattern reminiscent of a tablecloth I once purchased at Bed Bath & Beyond. I also decide to forgo the animal print, which I fear would make me look like a pregnant cheetah.

Armed only with suits in basic black, I begin the rejection process.

Finally, I try one that passes the upper and lower parts test. I soon realize it’s my old suit, adorned with new flourishes and a serious new price tag. No matter. I’ll take it.

At the beach with my darlings, I shed my robe, as confident as Bo Derek, until I notice my daughter staring at me.

“Mom,” she says, “you’ve had that suit for years. Isn’t it time for a new one?”

Susan Goldfein holds a doctorate in Communication Disorders from Teachers College, Columbia University, and enjoyed a successful career as a clinician, teacher, and consultant. For more essays filled with wit, wisdom and irony, visit Susan’s blog, www.susansunfilteredwit.com. Her book, “How Old Am I in Dog Years?” may be purchased on Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com

Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 7

Women’s History Month

Trailblazing Female Ph tographers

By KATHy MEGyERI

•

I

Annie Leibovitz (1949-) Leibovitz is considered one of America’s finest photographers. Her celebrity portrait photos, often featured on the covers of Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair, feature quirky, dramatic and iconic poses that often reveal character. One of her most notable is the iconic photo of the naked John Lennon, curled up with Yoko Ono. It was shot just a few hours before he was killed outside his apartment. Leibovitz says she hates the word “celebrity” explaining that, “I’ve always been more interested in what they do than who they are.”

n 1987, Congress declared Women’s History Month would take place in March. It’s a time to honor the extraordinary achievements and contributions of women in American history. This year, we celebrate five American photographers—brilliant artisans and trailblazers in their own way— who have documented, and perhaps influenced, history and culture.

• Margaret Bourke-White (1904-1971)

Bourke-White portrayed the harsh realities of war, including images of Nazi concentration camps.

Best known as the first American female war photojournalist, she was allowed to work in combat zones during World War II. She was called “Maggie the Indestructible” because she was torMargaret Bourke-White, Buchenwald pedoed in the Mediterranean, strafed by the Germans, stranded on an Arctic Island, bombarded in Moscow, and pulled out of Chesapeake Bay when her helicopter crashed.

She traveled with General George Patton to the Buchenwald concentration camp and later recalled, “Using a camera was a relief as it interposed a slight barrier between myself and the horror in front of me.”

• Mary Ellen Mark (1940-2015)

Mark was a street photographer who documented the social struggles and issues of the time. She made her name photographing Vietnam war protesters, the women’s liberation movement and the transvestite culture. She established strong relationships with her subjects, living with patients in a women’s security ward of a state Mary Ellen Mark, Children’s West Indian Day Parade hospital and prostitutes in Bombay, India. She published 18 books and was director of photography for more than 100 movies.

“I feel an affinity for people who haven’t had the best breaks in society,” she said. “What I want to do more than anything is acknowledge their existence.”

Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 8

Annie Leibovitz, Beauty and the Beast Dorothea Lange (1895-1965) •Lange was an American documentary

photographer known for recording the faces of the Great Depression. One of her most recognized works is of Florence Owens Thompson called Migrant Mother.

Lange said that the desperate mother of seven told her the family had been living on frozen vegetables from the fields and birds killed by the children. As a result of Lange’s photos, the government rushed to the migrant camp to prevent starvation. In 2003, Lange was posthumously inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame.

Dorothea Lange, Migrant Mother Diane Arbus (1923-1971) •Arbus’ portraits took on a distinctive look

in the early ‘60s when she worked for magazines such as Esquire and Harper’s Bazaar. Her subjects were actors, writers and activists, but the overall look was often somewhat strange. She also created portraits of the not so famous: street people, giants, dwarfs, transgenders, circus performers and others, then thought ugly or surreal. In 1967, the Museum of Modern Art presented her works as a medium that emphasized the pathos and conflicts of modern life. She committed suicide, but through her art, managed to give Diane Arbus, Mexican Dwarf a platform to the marginalized.

Film Camila Morrone, Elisabeth Shue and Bruce Willis star in Death Wish.

Death Wish

By MARK HIGLEy

B

ruce Willis, the sleepyeyed, highly bankable actor who frequently plays wisecracking action hero roles, has said (in 1997, 2001 and 2013) that he will no longer be doing violent action or “save-the-world” movies.

Now he’s starring in Death Wish, a remake of the 1974 Charles Bronson vigilante movie of the same name. The twist in the new version of Death Wish is that Willis’ character is an ER surgeon. He sees the carnage of his city’s violence as one victim after another is rushed into his emergency room. When his wife (played

by Elisabeth Shue) and college-aged daughter (Camila Morrone) are brutally attacked in their suburban home, Paul takes it upon himself to dispense justice.

Challenging an overwhelmed police force, the good doctor finds himself pulling bullets out of one suspect and firing them into another. His character may not save the entire world, but he is certainly adept at ridding the streets of Chicago of some bad guys.

As the anonymous killings of known criminals grab

the media’s attention, the citizens take note and ponder whether the deadly avenger is a demon or a godsend.

Willis is 62, but these days 62 is the new 32 (at least in terms of action heroes). Sure, there is a plethora of Next-Gen Talent, but nothing that can truly light up the marquee like the old guard. Think Liam Neeson, 65, Harrison Ford, 75, and Tom Cruise, 55. Admittedly Willis is not doing as many of his own stunts these days, but he still looks good in a sleeveless T-shirt.

Vincent D’Onofrio, 58, plays Paul’s brother Jack, who tries to reign in his sib’s anger. The supporting cast also includes Dean Norris, 54 (Breaking Bad), along with actors Mike Epps, Jack Kesy, Kirby Bliss Blanton, Beau Knapp, Kimberly Elise and Ronnie Gene Blevins.

Joe Carnahan’s screenplay, adapted from Brian Garfield’s 1972 novel Death Wish, gives the movie a sharp and chilling edge that will challenge assumptions and push buttons with director Eli Roth assembling all the pieces.

Death Wish is rated R for violence. It’s slated release date is March 2.

As for Bruce Willis, who may be nearing the end of his action hero career, a sixth Die Hard – a prequel/ sequel hybrid – is in active development. Some say the films could mean a career renaissance for the guy who can play a smart-alecky macho man quite like no other.

Mark Higley is an Emmy award-winning screenwriter who has written for many soap operas including One Life to Live and Days of our Lives.

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Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 9

Social Security

What Women Should Know

By ROSE MARy BUEHLER Social Security Regional Commissioner in Atlanta

M

arch is Women’s History Month, a time to focus on women’s achievements as well as the challenges women face. In the 21st century, more women work, pay Social Security taxes, and earn credit toward monthly retirement income than at any other time in our nation’s history.

With longer life expectancies than men, women tend to live more years in retirement and have a greater chance of exhausting other sources of income. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a female born today can expect to live more than 80 years. As a result, experts generally agree that if women want to ensure that their retirement years are comfortable, they need to plan early and wisely.

A great place to start is with Social Security’s Retirement Estimator www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator. Plug in different retirement ages and projected earnings to get an idea of future benefit amounts. And visit Social Security’s financial planning website at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners for information about how marriage, widowhood, divorce, self-employment, government service, and other life or career events can affect your Social Security. Create your personal “my Social Security” account to verify earnings and estimate future benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. Find a useful booklet, Social Security: What Every Woman Should Know, online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10127.html.

Florida Strawberry Festival is Ripe and Ready to Enjoy!

BY Jenna Lee Reeves

G

et your daily requirements of Vitamin C and springtime fun at the Florida Strawberry Festival, an 11-day community event celebrating the strawberry harvest of Eastern Hillsborough County. Each year, over 500,000 visitors enjoy the festival’s headline entertainment, youth livestock shows, midway rides and, of course, its endless supply of strawberry offerings.

This year’s theme, “Building New Memories,” points to the new grandstand seating which means, for the first time in festival history the entertainment will perform in a venue designed for concerts.

And what great talent that will be. Reba McEntire, Brad Paisley, Lee Greenwood, Jerry Lee Lewis, Engelbert Humperdinck, the Oak Ridge Boys and Charley Pride are among the 24 topflight entertainment acts at this year’s berry fest.

The Florida Strawberry Festival, running March 1-11, is considered one of the best in the nation and now ranks among the Top 40 fairs in North America.

Concert tickets as well as advance tickets for admission can be purchased online at www.flstrawberryfestival.com, at the Amscot Main Ticket Office located at 2209 W. Oak Avenue in Plant City and over the phone at (813) 7541996. For more information, visit www.flstrawberryfestival.com, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (#berryfest18).

Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 10

It Must Be Tuesday

M

y friend Jacques often says: “My memory is good, but my forgetter is better.” I’ve adopted this quote and find myself using it frequently. However, I’m not one who worries about whether I’m getting early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. I accept that I’ve temporarily forgotten something and that it will come back to me quickly.

It usually does, after I’ve stopped trying to remember it.

Back in my Navy days, remembering names was never a challenge. All I had to do was stand on my tiptoes and quickly glance inside the rim of the other person’s name, neatly stenciled on their white hat. Too bad we don’t all wear stenciled hats these days.

I find that mnemonic devices work well with short shopping lists.

Sometimes word associations can be problematic though. I once had the opportunity to introduce Gary, an acquaintance whose last name

matched that of a particular bird.

“I’d like you to meet Gary Swallow,” I said.

“It’s Sparrow!” he corrected.

I was very embarrassed. I’m sure I turned redder than a cardinal.

Since retirement, “What day is this?” has initiated many conversations between my wife and me. When she asks the question, I respond, “I don’t know, let me check.”

I look at my reference. “It must be Tuesday, because the Monday compartment of my pillbox is empty,” I say.

“Are you sure Mike?”

“Not really,” I sigh. “It might be Wednesday and I’ve forgotten to take my Tuesday pills.”

As a last resort, I look at the wall calendar. From three rooms away I yell, “It’s Sunday the 24th. Wait!

Why am I looking at December?”

“I’m sorry,” she replies. “I wanted to see when Marcel got his last heartworm pill and forgot to flip it back.”

Things are much easier now. I’ve finally developed my new habit of crossing off the date each evening just before my prayer.

“Dear Heavenly Father,” I say.

“Thank you for another day of life and for how you provide for me.

Please forgive my trespasses. Help me to be a better person tomorrow than I was today. But if it be your will Father, please don’t let my forgetter get any better.”

Michael Wright owns several books devoted to improving the memory.

He plans to read them once he finds them. If you know where he may have put them, he can be reached at micwrighthamo@gmail.com.

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Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 11

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nowbirds are returning to southwest Florida, and many of you may be thinking about the advantages of Florida residency.

To establish Florida as your “primary residence” you need to reside in Florida for a minimum of 6 months and this isn’t necessarily contiguous time in the State. There are steps to solidify your Florida residency status: • Obtain a Florida driver’s license • Register to vote • File a Declaration of Domicile with the county Clerk of Courts • File for the Homestead Exemption • Focus one’s major affairs and relationships in Florida Some financial advantages from making the switch to Florida residency are: • No state income tax • No state estate or death tax • 100% Homestead protection secured by the Florida Constitution • Florida Save Our Home Act which exempts a portion of the homestead from taxes and limits property tax increases to 3% per year • Broad asset protection laws such as Tenancies by the Entirety for married couples You might want to have your revocable living trusts, powers of attorney, and medical advance directives reviewed. These documents may need to be updated for Florida law. Make sure that your real property in other states is held or “titled” in your Florida trust in order to avoid the possibility of multiple probates.

So I hope this helps you take care of business and enjoy the Florida sunshine!

Bring in a copy of this add for a $100 discount on your estate planning evaluation.

(Normal pricing is $395.)

Gibbs Law Office focuses on wills trusts & estate planning, including elder law, Medicaid and special needs planning, located at 8870 Daniels Parkway, Suite 101, Ft.Myers. To learn more, call (239) 415-7495 or visit www.GibbsLawFL.com.

IMPORTANT

FACT

IN REACHING THE Does your club or organization have something they are proud of and want to share with the local community?

50+ MARKET: Travel AARP estimates Baby Boomers spend more than $120 billion annually on leisure travel.

In Tampa Bay 48% of the 50+ market purchased airline tickets in the past 12 months, 53% spent at least one night in a hotel room last 12 months and 45% took at least one trip last 12 months.

Toot your own horn and tell us about the award, recognition, honor, achievement or event (fundraiser or other affair designed to benefit the community).

Submit the information (250 words or less) along with a photo of the people involved by email to Terri@Lifestylesafter50.com. Submissions must also include the following: your name, phone number and city of residence, as well as the club’s location and contact info. Put Community Brags in the subject line.

Information must be received by the 15th of the month for consideration in the following month’s issue. Otherwise they may be considered for future issues.

Brags will be published on a first come, first served, space available basis.

Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 12

LA50 LifestylesAfter50.com

AARP reports that Baby Boomers aged 50+ are active travelers, anticipating four or five trips in the next year.

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Safety and convenience are just a couple of benefits of investing in rubber mulch for the home and community.

uch has already been said about how rubber mulch has revolutionized safety in children’s playgrounds.

There are also many advantages of using it as ground cover for homes and gardens.

The good news is that if you are an adult fifty years and above, rubber mulch has some pretty special perks for you, too.

Ease of use If you love puttering about in the garden or re-inventing your landscaping for each season, then rubber mulch is your friend. The ease of use which rubber mulch offers to those who love beautifying their front and backyards has made it popular among older homeowners. There is

no hard labor involved compared to organic mulching, which requires the good part of a day to shovel and lay down fertilizer. You simply calculate how much rubber mulch you need, order it, and then pour it in place to fulfill your gardening project.

Less expense and maintenance Because rubber mulch doesn’t rot like organic materials, there’s no need to replace it yearly. Go ahead and start on those garden and backyard pathway projects, because rubber mulch encourages DIY aesthetics minus the physical labor and expense. It doesn’t compress or get blown away by gusts of wind or rain, either - so don’t worry about muddy and messy gardens after a storm or windy day!

Senior health and safety Safety studies conducted as recently as last year show an alarming rate of almost 80% of playgrounds and parks having unstable surfacing. This is especially concerning given the rising popularity of senior playgrounds in public

parks and private nursing homes.

These specially designed playgrounds are constructed with specific equipment so that senior citizens can remain healthy and active while socializing with others. Mobility and safety are two top priorities for senior playgrounds, and rubber mulch can address both at once. The slipproof springiness of a rubber mulch surfacing won’t strain fragile ankles while giving the kind of shock absorbing qualities that meet the critical fall height.

Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 13

Taxes

G

Possible Tax Credit for Grandparents Caring for Grandchildren

randparents who work and are the primary caretakers of their grandchildren may benefit from the refundable earned income tax credit (EITC). Those who qualify and claim the credit could pay less federal tax, pay no tax, or get a tax refund.

Generally, to be a qualified child for EITC purposes, the grandchild must meet the dependency and qualifying child requirements for EITC. Special rules and restrictions apply if the child’s parents or other family members also qualify for the EITC, if an individual receives disability benefits, or is a member of the military.

To qualify for the EITC, the grandparent must have earned income either from a job or self-employment and meet basic rules.

Eligible grandparents must file a tax return, even if they don’t owe any tax or aren’t required to file.

The government recommends reading Publication 596 on Earned Income Tax Credit and using the EITC Assistant available at www.IRS.gov

Why Annuities May Not be the Best Investment

by DaviD Novak A few weeks ago, I received a call from a retiree saying that she heard annuities were “good” for retirement, and wanted to get my opinion on it.

To lump all annuities into a single category is like saying all cars are the same. And while annuities have changed considerably over the last 1520 years, many large insurance companies have significantly reduced their annuity offerings, or exited the business entirely.

I told this woman what I tell all clients and prospects who ask the same question—once in a great while, an annuity is in fact appropriate for a client’s situation. But the vast majority of the time, in my experience, there are better alternatives.

In more than 20 years in the business, I have found annuities to be the most mis-sold investment and the reason has always been simple—they have traditionally paid the highest commissions of any mainstream investment product. I still get postcards from annuity companies with a picture of a cruise ship on the front.

While any discussion of the issues with owning annuities in retirement accounts would be extensive, let me highlight a few drawbacks: Liquidity—Many annuities charge a surrender fee if liquidated prior to a

period of several years after purchase, which could result in significant penalties.

Tax efficiency—I can’t tell you how many times I have seen a client own a variable annuity, which is a taxdeferred investment vehicle, inside an IRA account, which is a tax-deferred account. Many advisors can’t explain to their clients why it makes sense to pay for this duplication.

Uncertainty of guarantees— While this sounds like an oxymoron, the “guarantees” offered by these products are only as good as the insurance company’s willingness and ability to continue to offer them. Recently a client, who had purchased an annuity years before we worked together, said she received a letter from the company about how the guarantees in her contract would be reduced going forward.

Expenses—This has always been the biggest knock on annuities, and rightfully so. Many times, the all-in internal expenses in a variable annuity can be close to 3% per year, sometimes even more when certain riders are included.

Before you consider an annuity for your retirement account, make sure you thoroughly understand the costs and what other investment alternatives may be available.

David Novak, CFP® is a Certified Financial Planner™ at Novak & Powell Financial Services in Pinellas County.

Please note: he is not an attorney and this article should not be construed as one offering legal advice.

For information about investment decisions and financial planning, contact him at (727) 451-3440.

Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 14

Humor Never miss another edition!

If lawyers are disbarred and clergymen defrocked, then doesn’t it follow that electricians can be delighted, musicians denoted, cowboys deranged, models deposed, tree surgeons debarked and dry cleaners depressed?

Source: Wit & Wisdom by StarGroupBooks.com

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We’ll send you award winning stories, local Around Town events, puzzles and surprises every month for only $15/yr.

Mail this coupon along with your payment to: Lifestyles After 50, PO Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583 Or call our office at 813-653-1988 to pay with a debit/credit card.

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Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 15

Taxes

IRS Warns of Surge in Tax Scams

By TERRI BRyCE REEVES

T

he tax season is underway and the IRS wants seniors to be alert to telephone scammers and phishing schemes. Phishing is a scam typically carried out through unsolicited email and/or websites that pose as legitimate sites and lure unsuspecting victims to provide personal and financial information.

In recent years, thousands of people have lost millions of dollars and personal information to tax scams and fake IRS communication.

Remember the IRS doesn’t initiate contact with taxpayers by email, text messages or social media channels to request information such as PIN numbers, passwords or access information for credit cards, banks or other financial accounts.

Generally, the IRS will first mail a bill to any taxpayer who owes taxes. All tax payments should only be made payable to the U.S. Treasury; checks should never be made payable to third parties.

Remain alert to aggressive and threatening phone calls by criminals impersonating IRS agents. These con artists use fake names and usually alter the caller ID to make it look like the IRS is calling.

They will tell victims they owe money to the IRS and must pay it promptly through a preloaded debit card, gift card or wire transfer. If the victim refuses to cooperate, they are often threatened with arrest.

Alternately, victims may be told they have a refund due to try to trick them into sharing private information. If the phone isn’t answered, the phone scammers often leave an “urgent” call-back request.

“The IRS doesn’t do business like that,” said IRS Commissioner John Koskinen. “We urge seniors to safeguard their personal information at all times. Don’t let the convincing tone of these scam calls lead you to provide personal or credit card information, potentially losing hundreds or thousands of dollars. Just hang up and avoid becoming a victim to these criminals.”

The IRS has identified a new scam whereby cybercriminals steal data from tax practitioners’ computers and file fraudulent tax returns using taxpayers’ real bank accounts for the deposit. The con artists then contact the taxpayers to say a refund was deposited in error and ask the taxpayers to send them money.

Report all suspicious email, faxes, letters and phone calls claiming to be from the IRS or an IRS-related function by emailing phishing@irs.gov. If you’ve experienced any monetary losses due to an IRS-related incident, please report it to the Treasury Inspector General Administration (www.treasury.gov/tigta) using their “IRS Impersonation Scam Reporting” web page or by calling 800-3664484. The IRS encourages taxpayers to visit IRS.gov for information including the “Tax Scams and Consumer Alerts” page.

SPRING TRAINING

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Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 16

2/14/18 4:32 PM

Spring Festivals in Bloom

By TERRI BRyCE REEVES

No state does festivals quite like Florida and springtime is the peak festival season. With our beautiful weather, gorgeous locations and influx of visitors, no wonder fairs and festivals are ubiquitous. The Florida Strawberry Festival runs through March 11 (see separate story); here are a few of our other favorites

bay area renaissanCe FestivaL

Tampa bayarearenfest.com

Time travel is possible—and easy too— when you visit the 16th century at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival. Experience armored jousting; roving jokesters, jugglers and mimes; 12 stages of entertainment; artisans; genre music and food fit for a king. The Ren Fest is open weekends, from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., rain or shine, through March 25. Festival Friday takes place March 23. Special discounts for seniors.

pier 60 sugar sand FestivaL Clearwater Beach sugarsandfestival.com

sarasota Jazz FestivaL Sarasota sarasotajazzfestival2018.org One of the most well-respected jazz festivals in the nation, the Sarasota Jazz Festival returns March 7-10 to th e P er f o r m ing Arts Center at Riverview High School to present “A World of Jazz.” The Jazz Club of Sarasota will showcase 14 exceptional musicians from 7 nations in a series of four concerts. The event also features the annual Jazz Trolley and Pub Crawl on March 7 and live gypsy jazz music with a screening of the film Django March 9.

This 10-day gala celebration pays tribute to Clearwater Beach’s best assets: their famed white sugar sand and gorgeous sunsets. The celebration runs April 13-22 and features the Sugar Sand Walk Exhibit, a walk-through display inside a 21,000-squarefoot tent, showcasing large and elaborate sand sculptures created by master artisans. This year’s theme is Sea America: A Celebration of America’s Treasures. Carve out some extra time for sand sculpting competitions, classes and speed demonstrations; fireworks; beach concerts; films; and nightly sunset festivals.

mayor’s river o’green Fest Tampa riverogreen.com If you’ve never seen a Kelly-green river, aye, this is your chance. The 7th annual Mayor’s River O’Green Fest begins at 11 a.m. March 17 at the Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

This Irish-themed gathering is centered around the Hillsborough River and includes live entertainment, a scavenger hunt, a Leprechaun costume contest, food trucks and beer.

Arrive early for a 9:30 a.m. run/walk around the Riverwalk. Pets welcome.

Lions CLub shrimp FestivaL Fort Myers Beach fortmyersbeachshrimpfestival.com Shrimp lovers, this festival is for you. On March 10 and 11, the Lions Club hosts the 60th annual Fort Myers Shrimp Festival, boasting fresh, locally caught shrimp, boiled in huge pots until they are “pink gold,” and served up with cocktail sauce and coleslaw. Events include a two-mile long parade with Clydesdale horses, coronation of a queen, craft expo with more than 100 vendors and the newly incorporated shrimp-eating contest. Proceeds benefit the community.

Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 17

Tales of Fertility, Easter & Chocolate Bunnies

by KATHy MEGyERI The new animated adventure comedy, “Peter Rabbit,” is sure to reignite our interest in the origins of the mythical creature, the Easter bunny, and how she or he became such an integral part of the Easter celebration.

Apparently, the Germanic goddess of fertility had a lot to do with it.

M

ost historians agree that Easter has its roots in pre-Christian, Anglo-Saxon history. The holiday was originally a pagan celebration that worshipped the Germanic goddess of fertility, Eostre or Ostara (think estrogen). The rabbit was also a popular symbol of spring and fertility. A German legend claimed that after a long winter, the Easter bunny would lay brightly colored eggs in the grass for good children to find.

When the Anglo-Saxons converted to Christianity, the pagan holiday was combined with the Christian celebration of the resurrection of Jesus and given the name Easter. Christians embraced the idea of the rabbit as part of their holiday because of the symbolism of life and rebirth.

The Pennsylvania Dutch brought the idea of an Easter bunny to America. In 1890, Robert Strohecker became the first American shop owner to use a five-

April 25, 2018 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM

foot-tall chocolate hare as an Easter promotion for his Pennsylvanian drugstore. With subsequent publicity, the idea of chocolate bunnies started to spread.

The practice of making the confections hollow began during World War II, when cocoa was rationed. Not only did this save cocoa, but it made Ostara (1884) by Johannes Gehrts the treats easier to bite into and allowed chocolatiers to make larger rabbits.

After World War II, the chocolate bunnies began to be mass produced and the molded versions became regular additions to the Easter basket.

Today, it’s estimated that about 90 million chocolate Easter rabbits are created each year.

t n e v E

V

anita Jones of Cocoa Beach and her grandchildren partake in bunny-making activities every Easter.

Consequently, she has amassed quite a collection of bunny molds in all shapes and sizes.

She buys the tempered chocolate at craft shops and melts it in a double boiler to prevent burning.

To make the rabbits even tastier, she and the grands may add peppermint oil, peanut butter, walnuts, pecans or raisins to the melted chocolate before pouring it into the mold. Once the bunnies have cooled, the young chocolatiers often up the artistry by dipping them into warm salted caramel or a contrasting color of melted chocolate (white, dark or milk).

“My grandchildren love coming up with new and creative ways to decorate and flavor their own Peter Cottontails,” she said. “They say the homemade versions taste better too— especially the ears!”

Fun Fest & Hurricane Preparedness

King’s Point Clubhouse 1900 Clubhouse Dr. Sun City Center, FL 33573 PUBLIC WELCOME. You do not have to be a King’s Point resident to attend.

• FREE Admission • FREE Coffee and goodies.

For Exhibitor Information, Call 813-653-1988 A Lifestyles After 50 Event

Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 18

Exhibitors • Prizes • Live Music • FREE Bingo & Prizes FREE Seminars on Hurricane Preparedness Meet representatives from FEMA

• LIVE MUSIC •

by Denise Looney, DJ with a Twist

CATCH the SPRING TRAINING FEVER One of Florida’s spring rituals is Grapefruit League Baseball. With ballfields scattered all over the state, here are some insider tidbits to keep you in the big league.

By MARK HIGLEy

I

t’s time to dust off that cap, slather on the sunscreen and mustard up the hotdog. Spring Training is in full swing here in Florida. So, hit the road and cheer for your favorites as 15 Major League Baseball teams, all members of the Grapefruit League, prep for their regular season.

St. Louis Cardinals and Miami Marlins: Roger Dean Stadium, Jupiter This $28 million Spring Training complex/stadium was specially designed to house two Major League Baseball teams.

The Bullpen Club is the stadium’s newest addition featuring all-inclusive tickets with drink rail and four-top table seating.

Here’s a guide to the team venues, arranged clockwise:

Washington Nationals and Houston Astros: The Ballpark of the Palm Beaches The 2017 World Series Champion Houston Astros and NL East Champion Washington Nationals are welcoming back fans to their new spring home, the Ballpark of the Palm Beaches, the newest facility in the Grapefruit League – they relocated their last year. This state-of-the -art, 160-acre complex offers fans the latest amenities plus an up-close opportunity to interact with the players.

Tampa Bay Rays: Charlotte Sports Park, Port Charlotte The Rays move 80 miles south for spring training to Charlotte Sports Park, a state-of-the-art facility with a 19,000-square-foot boardwalk ringing the outfield, familyfriendly kids’ play area and upgraded concession stands.

Baltimore Orioles: Ed Smith Stadium, Sarasota Ed Smith Stadium, one of the gems of the Grapefruit League, had a $31 million renovation in 2010, luring the Orioles to Sarasota from Fort Lauderdale. With its modern amenities mixed with historical Florida architecture, this stadium is known as “Birdland South.”

Pittsburg Pirates: LECOM Park, Bradenton The Pirates will be celebrating their 50th season of play in Bradenton this year at LECOM Park, one of the oldest stadiums on the circuit.

Built in 1923, LECOM (formerly McKetchnie Field) has been renovated several times over the years to become one of baseball’s finest facilities.

New York Yankees: George M. Steinbrenner Field, Tampa Steinbrenner Field underwent a $40 million facelift in 2017 with new seats, concessions, and retail spaces. The field itself remains the same with the exact dimensions of the Yankee Stadium field.

Philadelphia Phillies: Spectrum Field, Clearwater Spectrum Field (formerly Bright House) is one of the newer ballparks in the Grapefruit League. Built in 2004, it is a replica of Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, which should make Phillies fans feel right at home.

Toronto Blue Jays: Dunedin Stadium, Dunedin Dunedin Stadium has been the Blue Jays’ spring training home since its creation in 1990.

Seating 5,510, the ballpark includes air-conditioned skyboxes and a craft beer lounge.

Detroit Tigers: Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium, Lakeland Following the historic agreement to ensure the Detroit Tigers winter home remains in Lakeland for an unprecedented 100 years, there are tons of renovations at the Publix Field at Joker Marchant Stadium. More shade, more air conditioning and more box seats, to name a few.

Atlanta Braves: Champion Stadium, Lake Buena Vista Champion Stadium has been the home of the Braves since 1998. Located at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex in the middle of Walt Disney World Resort, the 9,500-seat, double-decker stadium includes luxury sky boxes, multiple open-air suites and patios, and a grassy knoll.

New York Mets: First Data Field, Port St. Lucie First Data Field has been the Mets preseason home since it opened in 1988. The ballpark is a replica of Shea Stadium, the Mets former home in New York City.

Minnesota Twins: Hammond Stadium, Fort Myers Hammond Stadium, modeled after Churchill Downs, was built in1991. The ballpark underwent major renovations in 2015. The stadium is part of the CenturyLink Sports Complex, which features state-ofthe-art softball fields.

Boston Red Sox: JetBlue Park, Fort Myers JetBlue Park, dubbed Fenway South, opened in 2012.

The outfield resembles Fenway Park, including a Green Monster wall where fans can watch the game just as they do in Boston. Get your tickets early as Red Sox seats are usually sold out every game.

Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 19

Sudoku #284

SUDOKU Last Month’s Answers

TriviaPalooza!

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Lifestyles After 50 • Southwest • March 2018 • page 20

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Brain Health

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Video games for aging brains

hose between 55 and 75 years old may want to try playing 3-D platform games like Super Mario 64 to stave off mild cognitive impairment and perhaps even prevent Alzheimer’s disease.

That’s the finding of a new Canadian study by Université de Montréal psychology professors Gregory West, Sylvie Belleville and Isabelle Peretz.

The research team recruited 33 people, ages 55 to 75, who were randomly assigned to three separate groups. Participants were instructed to play Super Mario 64 for 30 minutes a day, five days a week; take piano lessons (for the first time in their life) with the same frequency and in the same sequence; or not perform any particular task.

matter volume in both the hippocampus and cerebellum. Their short-term memory also improved. The hippocampus is the region of the brain primarily associated with spatial and episodic memory, a key factor in long-term cognitive health.

The tests also revealed gray matter increases in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and cerebellum of the participants who took piano lessons, whereas some degree of atrophy was noted in all three areas of the brain among those in the passive control group. When the brain is not learning new things, gray matter atrophies as people age.

“The good news is that we can reverse those effects and increase volume by learning something new, and games like Super Mario 64, which activate the hippocampus, seem to hold some potential in that respect,” said West.

Added Belleville: “These findings can also be used to drive future research on Alzheimer’s, since there is a link between the volume of the hippocampus and the risk of developing the disease.”

Source: Universite de Montreal

The researchers evaluated the effects of the experiment at the beginning and at the end of the exercise, six months later, using two different measurements: cognitive performance tests and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to measure variations in the volume of gray matter. This enabled them to observe brain activity and any changes in three areas: the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex that controls planning, decision-making and inhibition; the cerebellum that plays a major role in motor control and balance; and the hippocampus, the center of spatial and episodic memory.

According to the MRI test results, only the participants in the video-game cohort saw increases in gray

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