Senior Connection Dec. 2012 Suncoast edition by Lifestyles After 50 Magazine

Honor Flights VOLUME 22, NUMBER 12

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• Volunteer With Passion • Alabama: Prepare to Be Surprised • Keeping the Family Cool During the Holidays • Home For the Holidays & Every Other Day

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DECEMBER 2011

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A Kid Just Wants to Play; This Volunteer Makes It Happen BY JANICE DOYLE

She has been interacting with kids twice a week at All llness takes no holidays, even for Children’s for more than 15 children. Young patients waking years. “Besides giving parents up on Christmas morning at Alla break, there are children Children’s Hospital in downtown St. with no one to visit them,” Pete will find a wrapped gift at their she says. “We get foster bedside. Volunteers at the hospital’s children. And many single Santa’s Workshop will make it happen. mothers, with demanding But volunteers are important yearwork schedules or other round; after all, kids need to play. children at home, can’t come, Perhaps especially when they’re sick! so we may be the only ones And playing with kids is what volunwho visit some children.” Photo by Andy Merhaut / All Children's Hospital teer Ruth Gluth knows how to do! The staff at All Children’s Ruth says, “It’s a fun place to work. knows they can count on Ruth Mike Alstott and his wife to “stuff” I play with kids in the play room for special holiday festivities. She’s at and dress their own animals. or go into the rooms and play with their Thanksgiving feast when the chilThis mother and grandmother says the child while the parents go have dren and family members are brought a volunteer who does what she does a meal or take a break.” She works to a decorated cafeteria for dinner. She has to “love children and be able to with the Child Life department and recently helped with the Halloween connect with them.” When children takes with her an activity cart filled parade when the children put on doare in and out of All Children’s over with games, crafts, puzzles, books nated costumes and went from nurse’s a long period of time, Ruth gets to and stuffed animals to the children. station to station (many in wheelchairs, know them. “There’s a little one, “A lot of the crafts are for creations of course) getting treats at each stop. about 18 months old, up on eighth they can hang in the window—like Every Valentine’s Day, Ruth and floor. I go there a lot and she’s a sun catchers,” she says. other volunteers join football star fun one for me to play with.”

Seriously sick kids need the level of medical expertise provided by the All Children’s Hospital staff. The Child Life Specialists help kids learn about their illnesses and how to cope with them. But it’s volunteers like Ruth who help provide little patients with that universal need just to play, at whatever level they are physically able. There’s always a need for volunteers at All Children’s. Avril Osburn, Manager, Volunteer Resources, says, “Having volunteers allows us to continue to provide focus on family-centered care. We are privileged to have so many volunteers who give their time and talent working with not only patients and families during their stay, but also our staff.” To learn more about volunteering, call (727) 767-4254.

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 3

‘Tis the Season! Make It Easy, Make It Fun, Make It Classy! Dear Readers,

y trusty Bulova watch stopped in November, 2010. It was a sleek little number, with a gold rectangular face I’d grown accusJanice Doyle, tomed to. The narrow Editor black leather-look band was feminine and accentuated my thin wrists (which are the only part of my body I can call thin). I’d bought that little gem on a sale table for $13 in 1997 because another lady looking at the watches raved about it. She picked it up and said to no one in particular that it was the “classiest” watch on the table. I have very little flair about such things, so I snapped it up the second she laid it back on the table. Classy, I wanted! The watch became my all-in-one accessory piece, and I wore it daily. Admittedly, as the years passed and my vision changed, I learned how to angle my wrist so I could read the time. “Where is that minute hand?” I would ask myself. Still I never considered getting rid of it and replaced the band many times. When it stopped last year, I went totally out of character—I told my family that the only thing on my Christmas list was a watch. I even encouraged them to have fun with that request, to go a little crazy if they chose to. It seemed a ‘no-brainer’ for all concerned. Watches, after all, are easy to find, come in all price ranges and make an uncomplicated package. From my point of view, watches don’t take up much room and could even be re-gifted. I might even learn to like changing things up a bit! Reactions varied. My step-daughter Whitney is a discriminating, thoughtful and creative gift-giver. She didn’t particularly like the idea that everyone would be getting me watches. To her, it meant if she got me one and other

people did too, her gift wouldn’t be so special. (Instead, she gave me my all-time favorite pink knit robe.) From my two daughters-in-law, I do believe I heard an audible sigh of relief when I told them. This would be easy, I imagined them thinking—check off the motherin-law gift at the first store! So the word went out, and I sat back to see how people interpreted my wish.

It was great fun! I got a whimsical frog watch which I especially love wearing when I’m going to be with children. There was a unique red one—a large, round red watch face with the letters spelling out Liz Claiborne where the numbers would be (advertising and style all in one!) A very utilitarian LL Bean watch gives me time and date and is even waterproof. Two others are ordinary inexpensive watches to slip on quickly when I’m in a hurry. They are meaningful because they represent a decision, a choice about what Janice would like, and that makes them special. I didn’t hear my dear husband David’s actual sigh of relief at being given a gift idea, but I’m sure there was one. His watch came first, as my early December birthday gift.

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 4

It, too, has a rectangular face, only this one is surrounded by tiny diamonds and has a lovely gold band. The perfect gift, lovingly chosen. This year? I’ve spread the word that I’m collecting scarves—bright, jewel-colored scarves. Let the shopping begin! And, yes, it’s that season again! We remember Christmases past, enjoy the seasonal music and look forward to being with friends and family perhaps. One of my Christmas memories almost seems unreal. I wonder if I would react the same way today. This would have been in the ‘70s when my three children were small. A young family’s car broke down on a highway near our house on Christmas Eve and a neighbor called to see if we could help them. Two young parents—very broke— were traveling from Illinois to Texas with a three-week-old baby named Elvis. Calls were made. Our church provided them a motel room for two nights. We picked them up for Christmas dinner with us. A parent wired money for their car repair the next day and they went on their way to family. I sometimes wonder what happened to baby Elvis. It reminds me of that other and familiar story of a baby far from home with his young parents. The difference is that I don’t know what happened to baby Elvis, but I do know what happened to the other baby, the one born some 2000 years ago. That was the baby whose life changed the world. The reason for the season! Blessings! Cover photo courtesy of SantaOnVacation.com

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

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

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ATTENTION READERS: The articles printed in Senior Connection and Mature Lifestyles do not necessarily reﬂect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. The Senior Connection/ Mature Lifestyles endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Senior Connection/Mature Lifestyles reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for the January 2012 issue is December 15, 2011. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

Around Town Boca Ciega Dr. M.A.D.D. Festival of Trees sale of trees and wreaths. 10 St. Pete Beach Holiday Land Parade with floats, bands, puppies and Santa. Call (727) 363-9245.

9 9

Boat Parade. St. Pete Beach. 6 p.m. For more information, please, call (727) 363-9245.

hrough Jan. 3 Oakdale Christmas Display. Stroll through millions of colored lights, bring the family for children’s activities and more. 6 – 10 p.m. at The Oakdale Christmas House, 2719 Oakdale St. S., St. Petersburg. Details at (727) 896-6500.

It’s a Wonderful Life downtown movie. State Street, W. Oldsmar (Lot next to City Hall) 6:30 p.m. Free. Bring a chair and a blanket. Concessions available. (813) 749-1152.

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hrough 18 Miracle on 34th Street by St. Petersburg City Theatre, 4025 31st St. South. Call (727) 8661973 for $22 tickets. Online: splt.org. hrough 24 An Ideal Husband, an Oscar Wilde comedy by American Stage Theatre Co. At Raymond James Theatre, 163 3rd St. N., St. Pete. $29 – $47. (727) 823-7529; americanstage.org.

Senior Fun Fest and Jamboree! Live entertainment, free Bingo, free health screenings, goodies, fun games and prizes, great information and more. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Strawberry Festival Grounds in Plant City. (813) 752-9194.

The Rising Tide of Hate in America program. 7 p.m. Florida Holocaust Museum, 55 Fifth St. S., St. Pete. $9 admission. Call (727) 820-0100.

General Motors retirees meet at Clearwater Country Club, 525 Betty Lane N., Clearwater. 11:30 a.m. lunch and entertainment. Call Beverly for info: (727) 524-9136.

St Pete Beach Boat Parade. Viewing Party Tree Lighting and Concert in Horan Park, 7701

Christmas and Holiday Parade. Downtown Dunedin. 4 to 9 p.m. Call (727) 812-4530 for info.

The Four Freshmen in their holiday show plus old favorite hits like “Mood Indigo” at Largo Cultural Center. 7 p.m. $33/advance, $38/day of show. LargoArts.com or (727) 587-6793. Christmas Concert—The Florida Orchestra Brass Quintet. 2 p.m. at the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, 324 Pine St., Tarpon Springs (inside the City Hall building).$22. Call (727) 942-5605 for more info.

The EASY BOARDING Bicycle by • Unisex step-through design engineered in Germany • Cross bar is only six inches from the ground, so you can easily step-through the bicycle

Suncoast Dixieland Jazz Society plays at the Bilmar Beach Resort, Treasure Island. 7 p.m. $7 admission. 18 at Florida Botanical Gardens, Largo. $2 admission. Concert free. (727) 522-6877.

• Upright seating position for less back pain & clear view of the road

Palm Harbor Community Chorus Holiday Concert. 1:30 p.m.at Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave. Free admission; donations accepted. Call (727) 786-2610 for details. Send Around Town news to Senior Connection Magazine, 1602 S. Parsons Ave., Seffner, FL 33584; fax (813) 651-1989. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. December 10 for January event.)

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For more dealers contact Biria USA: Tel: 201-461-1980 www.biria.com Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 5

How to Volunteer with Passion “I

f you want to feel good, volunteer,” said Sellman, a volunteer with 16 different groups and author of the children’s book The Legend of the Wolves of Gunflint Lake. “There are few ways to feel as good about yourself as volunteering.” The key to discovering that feeling is to let your passion guide you when you decide to volunteer, she added. Her tips for beginning volunteers include: • Choose Wisely—Many people get “roped into” volunteering for an organization because their boss or family member is involved. Those can be rewarding ways to enter volunteerism, but only if the project is a match for your personal interests. The most important aspect to volunteerism is to find what you love. Just pick the right one, and your volunteer time won’t be a chore—it will be a joy.

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 6

• Watch Your Schedule—As much as you want your passion to direct your choice of project, you don’t want those volunteer projects to rule your schedule. Most organizations will take as much time as you offer them, but if you only have an hour or two each week, they’ll take that time, too. Your volunteer life should not consume your work or home life.

• Have Fun—Helping others is its own reward, but it shouldn’t feel like a chore. Even the most mundane task can be fun if you manage it with a sense of humor and passion for helping others. More at lisasellman.com.

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Ten-Dollar Christma$ BY TERESA AMBORD

ot much money for Christmas presents this year? That might give you the blues, but it shouldn’t. Look at this as a chance to readjust your focus. If you put your heart into it, when your family and friends look back on this holiday, it won’t be the lack of presents they remember.

We divided it, and each set out with ten dollars to spend on the other. I shopped carefully for Mike’s present, then wrapped it and hid it. Looking back, I can’t remember what I bought for him. But I’ll never forget what he gave me. Years ago, the economy was thriving, but my husband and I were in our own recession. As a young man, Mike’s temper and other habits caused him to lose job after job. We barely covered our basic expenses every month. So at Christmas time we assumed we would not be able to buy gifts for each other at all. That was our life then. One year, some friends gave us a small Christmas tree which I decorated with hand-me-down ornaments. Just before Christmas, Mike got paid and we wrote out our bills as usual. To our amazement, there was an extra 20 dollars in the bank. It wasn’t much, but to us, it felt like found wealth. We divided it, and each set out with ten dollars to spend on the other. I shopped carefully for Mike’s present, then wrapped it and hid it. Looking back, I can’t remember what I bought for him. But I’ll never forget what he gave me. A couple of days before Christmas he went shopping. He was gone a long time, then ﬁnally he poked his head in the front door.

“I’m going next door to wrap your presents,” he said with a huge smile. An hour later he returned, carrying a bag and wearing a Santa hat that our neighbor, Pam, had given him. He made me close my eyes while he hid the bag. The next morning Pam came over for coffee after Mike went to work. “Mike must really love you a lot,” she said. “I hope so,” I said, wondering what made her say that. “When he showed me what he bought you, he was so excited his hands were shaking. It was so sweet. I had to cut the paper for him,” she said. Pam’s words were exactly what I needed to hear. My life with Mike was so full of difficulties that each day felt like a struggle. I knew he loved to give gifts. But I wasn’t so sure that he still loved me. Finally it was Christmas morning. As soon as the smell of coffee reached him, Mike bounded out of bed and dug in the closet. Then he appeared, carrying four small presents as if they were fine china. He set them in my lap, then sat on the floor in front of me, watching my face and waiting for my reaction.

The ﬁrst package held green socks—my favorite color. Happily, I put them on. Then Mike handed

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 8

me the next package, which was also socks, but red. He pulled off one of my green socks and replaced it with a red one so that I looked more Christmasy. “I got those because your feet are always cold,” he said. “And I know you love new socks.” He was right. I still love new socks. It felt good to know that, even in the chaos of our daily lives, he remembered the things and colors I liked best. Quickly he urged me to open the other two packages, one of which turned out to be a tube of mascara, and the other, a container of eye shadow. They were exactly what I would’ve bought for myself if I’d had a few extra dollars. The colors and brands were perfect. But I was bafﬂed. Mike never paid attention to girly things like makeup. “How did you know what I wanted?” I asked. “I was almost out of both of these. And how did you know the colors and brands I like?” “Before I left for shopping, I looked in your makeup bag. I wrote down what you were running low on. I know you like to have makeup and nice things. But with our money, you can never buy anything for yourself.” My mouth fell open. I pictured my tall, rough-around-the-edges husband, plodding down the makeup aisle at the drugstore looking for the things on his list. Knowing Mike, I assumed the list was written on his hand, and it was. The thought he put into buying these things for me was amazing. No amount of money could’ve replaced that consideration.

That’s the Mike I want to remember. He was a troubled soul with seriously destructive habits that took a heavy toll on our family and on his body. Because of that, he passed away too young. Our years together were tumultuous, but they weren’t all bad. Some stand out like pockets of calm in a long storm. For me that Christmas, it boiled down to one thing. Mike knew me. He could have bought any old thing. Instead he went to great effort to see me smile when I opened his packages. That was the true gift. That was 26 years ago. But today when I think of Mike, that Christmas is the memory I choose. Whether or not money is short this Christmas, our extravagances should not be in the money we spend. It should be in the thought we put into ﬁnding what warms the hearts of our loved ones and makes them smile down to their souls. Anyone can do that. Teresa Ambord is a full-time business writer who works from her home in rural upstate California. For fun she writes family stories, with the inspiration and assistance of her small dogs.

Congratulations, Mature Lifestyles and Senior Connection!

Dear Readers, very month, Senior Connection and Mature Lifestyles magazines look forward to bringing you the latest and best information on health and wellness, travel, finances and retirement living. We celebrate our local heroes and encourage seniors like ourselves to stay connected to their community and live life to its fullest. We are proud to announce that Senior Connection and Mature Lifestyles magazines have won awards for excellence at the 2011 North American Mature Publishers Association (NAMPA) convention last month. We could not have done it without the support of our readers and sponsors. Thank you!

Awards and NAMPA Comments: General Excellence, Second Place: Mature Lifestyles, Florida This publication showcases the personalities, events, news and features that fit its readership with strong, clear writing

and cheerful, effective design. It packs a wealth of content into each issue, making it a good investment in the time spent reading it. Travel, First Place: Kathy Beck, “Belfast’s Iconic Titanic Comes to Life,” Senior Connection, Florida In this first-person account, the writer takes us along as she visits both a historic city and the museum dedicated to its most famous ship. Detailed writing and the accompanying photographs put us in the scene. Profile, First Place: Tracie Schmidt, “Elie Wiesel Connects Cultures, Generations Through his Work,” Senior Connection, Florida Elie Wiesel is internationally known for his retelling of the Holocaust story and his pursuit of its perpetrators. At 83, he reveals his private life, including his love of his grandchildren. To learn more, visit maturepublishers.com or seniorconnection fl.com.

We Have A Ton of Manufacturer’s incentives to share with you! • Receive a FREE in home estimate and get dinner for two! • 60% off labor • $200.00 gas card with purchase • In order to qualify, your windows must be at least 10 years old Hurry! These factory incentives end December 15, 2011.

Fun Santa Facts

anta is a man of many names. In the United States, Santa is called St. Nick and sometimes Kris Kringle. He’s called Father Christmas in England, Christkindli in Switzerland, Pere Noel in France, Babbo Natale in Italy and Weihnachtsmann in Austria. Where does Santa go on vacation? You can visit Santa’s Beach House Village in Panama City, Florida. See visitpanama citybeach.com. U.S. scientists calculated that Santa would have to visit 822 homes a second to deliver all the world’s presents on Christmas Eve, traveling at 650 miles a second. NORAD, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, tracks Santa Claus’s sleigh ride across the globe every Christmas Eve and posts realtime updates via the internet. Visit noradsanta.org.

Santa’s traditional suit depends on which country you’re in. In England and the U.S, he wears red and white. In some European countries, he was said to have worn a red or black bishop’s cloak with bishop hat, and sometimes a long green furry robe. On Santa’s blog on santaflorida. com, one reader asks: Does Santa Claus have swimming trunks? His reply: Indeed I do, and I use them regularly. I like to swim best in the summer, but I am known to jump into the icy cold water and play with polar bears. I always make sure the Elf lifeguards are on duty. Every year in California, a “Surfing Santa” contest is held to benefit charities. See surfingsantacontest.org. From internet sources.

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Enjoy the Sparkle of the Season

t’s time to enjoy a local holiday tradition—Holiday Lights in the Gardens at the Florida Botanical Gardens. The gardens are open daily from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. through New Year’s Day. Visitors enjoy 30 acres of manicured gardens glowing with more than half a million energy-saving LED lights. Enjoy food, hot beverages and unique holiday gifts from local vendors and these special events:

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 10

D D

ec. 11, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.—Gift and Plant Sale

ec. 31, 1 p.m.—Dog parade; prizes for Best Dressed, Largest, Smallest, and Best Ability to Understand the Owner is Boss. Registration: $10 per dog. The Gardens are free for children with a $2 donation suggested for adults. The Florida Botanical Gardens is located at 12520 Ulmerton Road in Largo. For more information, visit flbg.org or call (727) 582-2100.

December at Ruth Eckerd Hall

On stage this month:

6 Celtic Woman Christmas 10 A Thousand Cranes 13 Tony Orlando’s Great

American Christmas (1 p.m.)

15 Judy Collins and Arlo

Guthrie Home For The Holidays

17 – 18 My Mother’s Italian, My Father’s Jewish, and I’m Home for the Holidays 19 The Irish Tenors 21 Woody Allen 27 – 28 The Nutcracker by

Moscow Ballet and Florida Orchestra

31 Salute to Vienna music and dance Artists on Display

The Exhibiting Society of Artists (TESA) will be exhibiting works by area artists at Ruth Eckerd Hall

through February 2012. Artwork by TESA’s 50 professional artist members includes media works available for purchase. TESA exhibitions are in the East and West Galleries, upper level of the main theater area. The galleries are open for viewing by Ruth Eckerd Hall ticket holders during scheduled performances. For information, call (727) 791-7400.

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 11

Wrap Up the Savings this Holiday Season

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Visit: http://prospect.presidioproperty.com • On Site Wellness Center • Heat lamps and grab bars in tubs and showers • Maintenance work orders completed within 24 to 48 hours • Lighted parking on site • Exterior windows open for fresh air • Small pets welcome (15 lbs. limit) • Subsidized TV cable.

oliday time is fast approaching, and along with it, all that fun holiday shopping. With the average American family spending upward of $800 on gifts, chances are, you’d welcome any opportunity to have a little extra spending cash. So AAA Insurance Agency has put together some ways to save on auto insurance that can help put the jingle back into your pocket.

If you have more than one automobile and they’re insured with separate companies, wrap them up with one company and you could get yourself a gift with the savings. Start by thinking long-term. When your policy comes up for renewal, go for an annual policy instead of a six-month policy if you have the option. Why? Because you lock in the rate for the whole year. Knowing what to budget each month for auto insurance, especially during the holidays, can keep you feeling more like Santa than Scrooge.

It may also help to consider packaging all your insurance needs with the same company. For example, if you have coverage for your boat, motorcycle, RV or home with one company and auto with another, you could receive a discount if you insure them all with the same company. Discounts for multi-policies might save you enough for a new HDTV. Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 12

The same applies if you have more than one automobile and they’re insured with separate companies. Wrap them up with one company and you could get yourself a gift with the savings. The holidays could be a little cheerier for drivers age 55 and older if you’ve taken a driver improvement course. Some insurance carriers offer discounts for successfully completing the course. Talk with a AAA Insurance Agent about what carriers provide this discount, how much you could save and when you can sign up for the next AAA Senior Defensive Driver class. Who wouldn’t like a new iPod this holiday season? Well, one quick way to put some money toward that goal is to talk with your insurance agent about increasing your deductible. Believe it or not, deductibles can be increased or decreased any time during the policy’s duration. To find out what you could save, ask a AAA Insurance Agent. And Santa isn’t the only one who gives gifts to nice girls and boys. If you have a student on your policy and they are getting good grades (GPA of 3.0 or higher), you could be eligible for a discount that might pay for a stocking stuffer of music downloads. For more ways to save on auto insurance, contact a AAA Insurance Agent and ask for a free policy review. See ad on opposite page to find your local AAA office.

Switch your auto insurance to AAA and save more dough for the family

Compare up to 6 quotes in minutes! AAA Belleair Bluffs (727) 584-7678 AAA.com/Belleair

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AAA Seminole AAA St. Pete Downtown (727) 398-3120 (727) 826-3600 AAA.com/Seminole AAA.com/StPeteDowntown

AAA Trinity (727) 375-2404 AAA.com/Trinity

Switch to AAA from* Allstate and save: $529 Geico and save: $450 State Farm and save: $480 AU TO

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H E A LT H

*Average annual savings was developed using information provided by new policyholders reporting the dollar differences between prior carriers and AAA Insurance Agency from January 1, 2010 to September 30, 2010. For qualified drivers only. Rates vary by state and insurance company. 11-IA-1225A

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 13

Home for the Holidays—and Every Other Day Is There a Kipper in Your House?

own Under in Australia, they call them “kippers”—“kids in parents’ pockets eroding retirement savings.” The 2010 U.S. census figures indicate that more than 80 million so-called American “empty nesters” now find themselves with at least one grown child living at home. U.S. pundits refer to these adult children as the “boomerang” generation. Some kids return home for economic reasons—this year over 18 percent of 16-to-24-year-olds were unemployed vs. 8.7 percent for people over 25. College grads with college loans may move back in with their parents— where life is comfortable and rent is either low or nonexistent—while they get their finances in order.

Of course, some return for personal reasons, to recover from a divorce or an illness, or just because they cannot afford their parents’ lifestyle living on their own. Focus on the Family, which has an extensive family-related website, offers these tips for maintaining a healthy relationship with your adult child: • Trust your adult children to make wise choices, even if they sometimes don’t. They’ll eventually figure things out. After all, didn’t you learn much the same way?

• Squelch the impulse to give advice unless it’s asked for. That’s easier to do when your kids are out of your radar range, but when they’re sleeping just down the hall, selfcensorship can be more difficult. You don’t want to sound like a nagging broken record of “You shouldn’t have” and “Why didn’t you?” • Communication is key. Set a regular time to discuss issues, clarify expectations or simply clear the air. Pray together regularly. • Practice grace—everyone. We all have bad days. Three or more adults living in one house is a challenge whether you’re related or not. Give each other some space! A New York Life spokesman notes that the return by adult children to the nest can become a financial burden that can derail the parents’ plans and jeopardize their financial future, especially their retirement, as they try to do too much for their children.

They offer these key suggestions for dealing with debt and helping your children out financially: 1. Help them restructure debts, rather than simply bail them out. Then teach them how to avoid new debt. One option is to match debtreduction payments with the understanding that they put away credit cards and live within their means. 2. Do not sacrifice your own financial future. Decide how much you want and can afford to help. Children tend to think their parents are wealthy, while some parents provide more financial support than they can afford. Having your children return to the safety net of your home can be a wonderful time of family closeness. Setting the tone, laying out the ground rules and making smart-money financial decisions can help create a positive, supportive environment that is in the best interests of you and your returning family members. Your role is to guide them.

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

Presents...

Grandparent Name Address City

State

ZIP

Phone Nothing Captures the love of a grandparent for a grandchild more than a great photo!

Could Your Grandchild’s Photo be a Winner?

Selected photos will be published in upcoming issues of Senior Connection magazine. Photos will be on display at the Senior Fun Fest, January 19, 2012 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 Hwy. 301 N.,Tampa, FL 33610 Call 1-888-670-0040 for more information. X1st Place Winner $75 X 2nd Place Winner $50 X 3rd Place $25 X Grand Prize Winner 2 Tickets to Busch Gardens

RULES: Photos should be: no larger than 8 1/2 X 11”printed on photo paper Maximum 5 entries per person. NO professional photos. Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 14

Photo Title Email Sender’s Age(s)

Subject’s Age(s)

Subject’s Name Photo release signature

Entries must be received by Jan. 12, 2012 to be entered in the Photo Contest. (Send your photos in early so we can share them with our readers). Photos will be returned within 45 days after contest ends, if you include a self-addressed stamped envelope (large enough to fit your photo) and name and address on the back of the photo.

FAIR

The Healthy Geezer

BY FRED CICETTI

. What is acetaminophen

and why do I see it listed on so many products in my medicine cabinet? A: Acetaminophen is the most widely

used pain-reliever and fever-reducer in the world. It is contained in more than 100 products. Tylenol is the best known over-the-counter (OTC) acetaminophen product. It is also a component of well known prescription drugs such as Darvocet and Percocet. Acetaminophen also is known as paracetamol and N-acetyl-p-aminophenol (APAP). Acetaminophen is available without a prescription. Follow the directions on the package label carefully. If your doctor prescribes it for you, the prescription label will tell you how often to take it. Taking too much acetaminophen can lead to liver damage. The risk for liver damage may be increased if you drink three or more alcoholic drinks while using medicines that contain acetaminophen. The maximum daily dose of acetaminophen is 4 grams in adults. The toxic dose of acetaminophen after a single acute ingestion is about 7 grams in adults. The at-risk dose may be lower in some susceptible populations, such as alcohol abusers. When dosing recommendations are followed, the risk of liver toxicity is extremely small. Acetaminophen is one of the most common pharmaceutical agents involved in overdose, as reported to the American Association of Poison Control Centers. One of the problems with acetaminophen is its widespread use. You have to check your medicine cabinet to see what products contain acetaminophen. Then, if you’re taking more than one medication, be sure you don’t exceed the maximum daily dose. Adults should not take acetaminophen for pain for more than 10 days without talking to a doctor. Acetaminophen should not be taken for high fever, for fever lasting more than three days, or for recurrent fever without a doctor’s supervision. There are basically two types of over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers. Some contain acetaminophen and others contain non-steroidal anti-

inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Examples of OTC NSAIDs are aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen sodium (Aleve), and ketoprofen (Orudis). NSAIDs are associated with stomach distress. You should talk to your doctor before using NSAIDS if you are over 60, taking prescription blood thinners, have stomach ulcers or other bleeding problems. NSAIDs can also cause reversible damage to the kidneys. The risk of kidney damage may increase in people who are over 60, have high blood pressure, heart disease or pre-existing kidney disease, and people who are taking a diuretic. You should talk with your healthcare professional if you have questions about using an OTC medicine before using it in combination with other medicines—either OTC or prescription medicine. Combining prescription medicines and OTC medicines can lead to problematic drug interactions. All older adults should consult their doctors before taking any OTC medication or herbal. Often, older adults use many drugs at the same time, including prescription and OTC drugs. They also process drugs differently than younger adults. This is why older adults need to be especially careful about drug-drug interactions. If you’re a senior, talk with your doctor about all of the drugs and herbal health products you take. He or she can tell you whether you are at risk for having a bad reaction from taking an OTC drug. If you would like to read more columns, you can order a copy of “How to be a Healthy Geezer” at healthygeezer.com. All Rights Reserved © 2011 by Fred Cicetti.

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Friendships: A Key to Longevity “M

ake two friends and call me in the morning.” The next time you ask us how to get healthy and live longer, that may be our answer. No, don’t go crazy signing up new “friends” on Facebook. It’s about quality, not quantity; about having the kinds of friends you can hang with for hours, call with big news or give a kidney to. If you’ve got friends like this, you have a 50 percent better chance of living longer than people who don’t have good friends, says a startling new analysis of 300,000 people and their pals. Put another way: Having friends is as powerful as quitting smoking (and way more fun). Not having them is even more life-threatening than becoming obese or so inactive that just

getting off the couch involves grunting. So making new friends and keeping the old ones near should be at the top of your healthy to-do list. Try this: • Get physical. Take exercise classes together, help in each other’s lawns, do early morning laps around the mall.

• Go out and give. Need a bigger social circle? Volunteer for a community center, a hospital or a park cleanup. You’ll connect with people who care about the same things you do.

• Organize a reunion. Don’t wait for a funeral to get together; have a happy gathering. Family pals are some of the closest friends you’ll ever have.

• Keep these important relationships alive. They’ll do the same for you.

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Veterans Corner

A Day With a World War II Honor Flight WWII Memorial: H onor Flights are flights to transport WWII veterans to Washington, DC to be honored at the WWII Memorial. A day spent with 75 or more of the 85- to 100-year-old veterans starts early and ends late and is filled with smiles, tears, old memories and new friends.

4:30 a.m.: Arrive at

airport where veterans and their guardians (sometimes family members) meet for a 6 a.m. departure by chartered flight to Washington, DC. Veterans wear one color shirt; guardians wear another color.

Veterans spend time, often telling stories as memories rush in. Many groups are personally greeted at the memorial by former U.S. Senator and Republican presidential candidate Bob Dole (a World War II veteran who received two Purple Hearts and a Bronze Star).

Army Nurse Hazel Murphy sat on a rainy visit remembering her four years of duty in the Pacific.

Washington arrival: Local volunteers cheer the group and assist in getting to chartered buses. One man, dressed in a WWII Army uniform, brought smiles with his sign “Lookin’ for Kilroy.” Remember Kilroy?

First stop: Iwo Jima Memorial

for a group picture. Other stops: Arlington Cemetery, the Vietnam and Korean Memorials.

Mail Call:

Aboard the flight home, veterans open letters from a thankful nation. Letters come from school classes and friends as well as from anonymous strangers grateful to live in a free country. One seventh grader’s letter read, “Politicians say they’re going to Do It, Do It, Do It. You’re one who went out and Did It.” In the hometown airport, hundreds of people dress in red, white and blue to celebrate their heroes.

God bless America!

Improve your VA health beneﬁts with Humana.

Would you like to keep your VA drug benefits and get up to $1,156.80 back in your pocket in 2012? Being a veteran has its advantages. Humana Gold Plus® (HMO) is designed for you: • $96.40 refunded to your Social Security check every month • Doctor’s office visits and hospital coverage • Fitness program - gym membership at no additional cost • Over-the-counter medication benefit • Vision coverage • Preventive coverage • 24-hour nurse advice line • Emergency coverage at home and when you travel • And more we haven’t listed! The dates to enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan for 2012 have changed. The new dates are October 15th - December 7th.* Call to schedule an in-home appointment or to find a seminar near you.

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A health plan with a Medicare contract. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, but not a comprehensive description of available benefits. For more information, contact the plan. A salesperson will be present with information and applications. For accommodations of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-800-336-6728, TTY: 711, 8 a.m. - 8 p.m., seven days a week. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus H1036-119(HMO). * Some exceptions may apply. H1036_GHHH6CAHH CMS Approved 10282011

TMP 12/11 Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 17

Affordable Housing For Senior Citizens

Health Benefits of Broccoli Require the Whole Food, Not Supplements

BY DAVID STAUTH

Creekside Manor I & II

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ew research has found that if you want some of the many health benefits associated with eating broccoli or other cruciferous vegetables, you need to eat the real thing—a key phytochemical in these vegetables is poorly absorbed and of far less value if taken as a supplement. The study is one of the first of its type to determine whether some of the healthy compounds found in cruciferous vegetables can be just as easily obtained through supplements. The answer is no. And not only do you need to eat the whole foods, you have to go easy on cooking them. “The issue of whether important nutrients can be obtained through whole foods or with supplements is never simple,” said Emily Ho, an OSU associate professor. “Some vitamins and nutrients, like the folic acid often recommended for pregnant women, are actually better-absorbed as a supplement than through food,” Ho said. “Adequate levels of nutrients like vitamin D are often difficult to obtain in most diets. But the particular compounds that

we believe give broccoli and related vegetables their health value need to come from the complete food.” A necessary enzyme called myrosinase is missing from most of the supplement forms of glucosinolates, a valuable phytochemical in cruciferous vegetables. Without this enzyme found in the whole food, the study found that the body actually absorbs five times less of one important compound and eight times less of another. Intensive cooking does pretty much the same thing, Ho said. If broccoli is cooked until it’s soft and mushy, its health value plummets. However, it can still be lightly cooked for two or three minutes, or steamed until it’s still a little crunchy, and retain adequate levels of the necessary enzyme. Although broccoli has the highest levels of glucosinolates, they are also found in cauliflower, cabbage, kale and other cruciferous vegetables. The same cooking recommendations would apply to those foods to best retain their health benefits, Ho said. But for now, if people want the real health benefits of broccoli, there’s a simple guideline. Eat your vegetables. Information from the Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University.

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Five Things You May Not Know About Second Opinions M ost people face at least one major medical decision in their lives. Sometimes the treatment choice is clear-cut—but when it isn’t, getting a second opinion is recommended. Second opinions can lead to less expensive tests and treatments, so insurers have an incentive to allow—and may even encourage— second opinions. Here are five other observations about second opinions from the Health Letter editors: 1. They’re less common than you think. A recent poll showed that about 70 percent of Americans don’t feel compelled to get a second opinion or do additional research. 2. Your doctor won’t be mad. It can feel awkward to bring up, but doctors generally welcome having their patients seek second opinions. 3. You may need to make your priorities known. Although your

primary-care physician may know you well, a specialist providing a second opinion may not focus on different aspects of the treatment. For example, cancer treatment patients may be more likely than providers to focus on possible side effects.

4. The first opinion may affect the second. An orthopedic surgeon may, for instance, be more prone to recommend surgery if a first physician has advised it, rather than a conservative approach. (However, no such effect was found among the neurologists.) 5. You may need to bridge a communications breakdown. Patients should contact the office of the second opinion doctor to see what medical records they should bring with them or have sent. Information from October Harvard Health Letter.

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Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 19

Discover The Springs South Pasadenaʼs Hidden Treasure

Welcome to The Springs at Boca Ciega Bay, located in beautiful South Pasadena on the campus of The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay. We’re not your typical skilled nursing facility. We are a 109 bed Medicare certified Rehab Center offering a variety of health care services: • Skilled Nursing • Wound Care • Social Services • Full scale beauty salon • Individualized activities • State-of-the-art Rehab. We offer Customized Rehab programs 7 days a week both in-patient and out-patient including Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy. We specialize in: • Orthopedic • Stroke/Neuro • Cardiac programs by utilizing state-of-the-art equipment including Anodyne therapy and Natilus equipment, just to name a few. We make admissions easy! We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our experienced and licensed Nurse Liaison, will meet you at hospital bedside or in your home. If you have a surgery planned, why not come in for a tour and take the mystery out of the admission process. Call (727) 599-1390.

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Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 20

Handling Family Tension During the Holidays BY LISA M. PETSCHE

he holiday season is a hectic time for many people. Staying sane is even more of a challenge for those who don’t get along well with their extended family. Every family has dysfunction, of course, because no member is perfect. But some families are prone to more interpersonal tension than others, due to diverse personalities, circumstances, values and lifestyles among members. Read on for some tips on how to cope with the almost inevitable stress inherent when relatives get together for the holidays.

Retirement Living Preparation Make it a point to practice self-care at this time of the year. Eat healthy foods, make time for exercise and get adequate sleep. Allow plenty of time to get ready for a family event, so you’re relaxed and feel your best. Conjure up compassion for relatives who emanate negativity, bearing in mind that they are unhappy individuals. Try to feel pity rather than anger towards them. Set realistic expectations about family members’ behavior. The narcissist, non-stop talker or chronic complainer is not going to change. Plan to steer clear of them if possible, otherwise limit the amount of time you spend with them. Give yourself a pep talk. Reassure yourself that you are up to the challenge of gracefully handling a few hours with anyone. If you are particularly anxious about a gathering, invite a friend along for support. Aim to cut your visit short as a last resort. Plan something to look forward to afterwards. During a Gathering: Do’s and Don’ts Avoid consuming alcohol; otherwise, limit yourself to one or two drinks. Disinhibition can cause you to say things you may regret.

Practice good listening skills: pay attention, don’t interrupt and ask open-ended questions. Be conscious of your non-verbal language, keeping your posture open (avoid crossing your arms), making eye contact and nodding periodically. Show courtesy towards everyone. When you can’t manage any more politeness towards a particular individual, find a reason to excuse yourself and move on. Count to ten and refuse to take the bait when someone tries to one-up you or goad you into an argument. Instead, adopt a “stupid and cheerful” demeanor – signature advice from syndicated radio host and licensed clinical psychologist Dr. Joy Browne. Stay away from contentious topics and change the subject if others raise them. Don’t participate in gossip or put-downs of others, or bring up unpleasant events. Engage relatives positively by reminiscing about pleasant times or inquiring about something meaningful to them, such as their children or grandchildren, work, a hobby or a recent vacation. Breathe deeply if you find yourself getting stressed. If that doesn’t help, head to the washroom or step outside, to compose yourself. Parting Thoughts If you keep in mind that you can’t change anyone’s behavior except your own, and that it’s always within your power to be civil and, yes, even kind to a certain degree, you will make it through family events, perhaps even better than you anticipated. If things don’t go well in spite of your best efforts to be congenial, plan a vacation over the holidays next year, so you can have a guilt-free break from family functions - and other sources of seasonal stress - and thoroughly enjoy yourself. Lisa M. Petsche is a social worker and a freelance writer specializing in inter-generational issues.

Medicare: What You Need To Know

he health reform law has made some important changes to Medicare that go into effect in 2012.

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• Make way for baby boomers qualifying for “Original Medicare” at age 65. This year, baby boomers begin turning 65, which means more people will be enrolling in Medicare this year than in the past. All of these new enrollees will put more stress on Medicare enrollment experts.

• “Newbies” be aware of deductibles, coinsurance, out-of-pocket limits and prescription drugs. If you’re new to Medicare, it’s important to know that both parts of Original Medicare (A and B) have deductibles. And, the deductibles are not tied to a calendar year like they are with

• Get “star power” in 2012. The Affordable Care Act (health reform) requires a star rating system to be used for Medicare Advantage plans, beginning in 2012. Plans get a rating of 1 to 5, with a 5-star rating equating to an “Excellent Performance,” and a 1-star rating equating to a “Poor Performance.” If you’re lucky enough to have access to a 5-star plan, consider it as an option for your coverage. One beneﬁt of a 5-star plan is that you can enroll in it any time, even outside of Medicare’s annual enrollment period. Ross Blair is President and CEO of Plan Prescriber, Inc. (www.PlanPrescriber.com)

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operating system, without the cluttered look of the Have you ever said to yourself “I’d love to get a computer, if normal computer screen. The “buttons” on the screen are easy only I could figure out how to use it.” Well, you’re not alone. to see and easy to understand. All you do is touch one of them, Computers were supposed to make our lives simpler, but from the Web, Email, Calendar to Games– you name it… and they’ve gotten so complicated that they are not worth the a new screen opens up. It’s so easy to use you won’t have to ask trouble. With all of the “pointing and clicking” and “dragging your children or grandchildren for help. and dropping” you’re lucky if you can figure out where you are. Plus, you are constantly worrying about viruses, I just wanted to tell firstSTREET that I Until now the very people who spam and freeze-ups. If this sounds familiar, we am having a great time on my WOW have great news for you. There is finally a computer computer. I am learning something could benefit most from Email, that’s designed for simplicity and ease of use. It’s new everyday. I am 79 years old and the Internet are the ones the WOW Computer, and it was designed with you and cannot believe that I am that have had the hardest time in mind. typing and sending e-mails to all my accessing it. Now, thanks to the friends now. My daughter and WOW Computer, countless older This computer is easy-to-use, worry-free and granddaughter are so excited now Americans are discovering the literally puts the world at your fingertips. From the that I have a computer. They use wonderful world of the Internet moment you open the box, you’ll realize how computers on their jobs everyday, every day. Isn’t it time you took different the WOW Computer is. The components but they cannot believe what part? Call now, and a patient, you can do on this computer. It is knowledgeable product expert will are all connected; all you do is plug it into an wonderful... Thanks. tell you how you can try it in your outlet and your high-speed Internet connection. – Johnnie E., Ellijay, Ga home for 30 days. Call today. Then you’ll see the screen. This is a completely new

…”surf” the internet Get current weather & news. Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 22

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HOLIDAY CELEBRATION Come Rock And Roll With Us

C 22 29

heck out this calendar of events at Barrington Terrace Assisted Living & Memory Care Community: – Caregivers Support Group at 10 a.m. – Holiday Celebration – Great Music, Holiday Cheer, Tasty Delights and Tours of the Community. 1:30 p.m. Location: Barrington Terrace 333 16th Ave. SE., Largo, FL 33771 RSVP – (727) 588-0020 All events are open to the public at no cost!

Thursday December 29th at 1:30 p.m. Enjoy A Tour of the Community Great Music, Holiday Cheer and Tasty Delights

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8640 Seminole Blvd. • Seminole, FL 33772 www.deloachandhofstra.com Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 23

Pinellas Auditions: January 18 - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Japanese Garden Mobile Estates 19709 U.S. Highway 19 North Clearwater, FL 33764-1006 Senior Talent Show: February 11, 2012 - 2:00 p.m. Largo Cultural Center 105 Central Park Drive • Largo, FL 33779 SENIOR IDOL SHOW – APRIL 4, 2012 – 7:00 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall 1111 McMullen Booth Road • Clearwater, FL 33759

Hillsborough Auditions: January 18 - 9:00 a.m. to noon Sun City Center Chamber of Commerce 1651 Sun City Center Plaza • Sun City, FL 33573 January 25 - 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m Brandon Community Center 502 East Sadie Street • Brandon, FL 33510 Senior Talent Show February 18, 2012 - 3:00 p.m. Spoto High School 8538 Eagle Palm Drive Riverview, FL 33578

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

For Information call: Pinellas: 727-329-2618 – Susan Juhl and Nicole Woodring Hillsborough: 813-436-2296 – Andrea White and Chrissy Crumpton Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 24

The Greatest Human Strength Is Will Power R

epeat after me: “I will not eat ice cream, I will not eat ice cream, I will not eat ice cream.” Now, behold the luscious waffle cone heaped with scoops of rocky road and vanilla caramel ripple? Repeat after me: “Well . . . maybe just a little taste . . . .” Arrgh—don’t do it! At least not until you’ve read Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by FSU Professor Roy F. Baumeister. Baumeister learned that willpower “gives people the strength to persevere, how they lose self-control as their willpower is depleted and how this mental energy is fueled by the glucose in the body’s bloodstream.” His research shows that selfregulation, like a muscle, can sometimes be worn down. When

subjects were given a task that required them to resist something—like a sweet treat or not thinking about a certain kind of animal—they didn’t perform as well on a subsequent assigned task involving willpower, a result of what Baumeister calls “ego depletion.” Even more interesting was that when the subjects were given a sugar-sweetened drink, self-control actually improved. Apparently, the sugar provided fuel for the brain to get back to work and restore the person’s willpower. And when subjects were asked to make moderate lifestyle changes, such as exercising, they eventually displayed greater overall self-control in their lives, which showed that willpower can be beefed up much like an unused muscle. (Newswise)

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Local Senior Meets Alex Trebek, Attends Jeopardy Taping

Last Month’s Answers

Nov. Sudoku

Sylvia Foster is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

Win Great Prizes!

New winner selected each month

Good Luck!

Dec. Sudoku

Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well. Good luck! The first correct answers selected from the drawing on Dec. 21 will win. Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: SENIOR CONNECTION OR MATURE LIFESTYLES 1602 S. PARSONS AVE., SEFFNER, FL 33584

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

SUDOKU MUST BE RECEIVED BY DEC. 21, 2011

Word Search Dec. 2011

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

hirley Smallwood, 83, resident of Grand Court Tampa, recently had her lifelong wish granted to attend a taping of the TV quiz show Jeopardy and meet her idol, Alex Trebek. Her wish was provided through Brookdale Senior Living and Jeremy Bloom’s Wish of a Lifetime. Every weeknight at 7:30 p.m., Smallwood can be found listening intently to her favorite show, Jeopardy. Smallwood listens, but does not watch the show. Despite being blind, Smallwood sits in front of the television and actively listens to Alex Trebek ask questions. Smallwood is also host of Grand Court Tampa’s Jeopardy Club, which she has been running for eight years. During each episode of Jeopardy, Smallwood records ideas for questions for her Jeopardy Club. She then meticulously uses her Braille machine to make her cards for the games at Grand Court.

Word Search

Shirley Smallwood shakes hands with Trebek on the game show’s set.

Wish of a Lifetime grants lifeenriching wishes to older Americans with consideration to how the granting of the person’s wish experience relates to the six dimensions of Optimum Life: emotional, social, physical, intellectual, spiritual and purposeful. Grand Court Tampa is a Brookdale Senior Living Retirement Community at 4902 Bayshore Blvd., Tampa. (813) 835-4475.

Answers From

November 2011

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

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

MYSTERY WIN! WIN! WIN! MYSTERY SENIOR CONNECTION or PRIZE! PRIZE! MATURE LIFESTYLES GREAT PRIZES! 1602 S. PARSONS AVE. SEFFNER, FL 33584 (Puzzles must be received by Dec. 21, 2011.)

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 26

Coretha Givens is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

Florida’s Award Winning Senior Magazine

Join The Florida Orchestra for Don’t-Miss Matinee in the Mornings Moments in December Music at one of our two matinee series!

BY JUNE HURLEY YOUNG

Anna Kate Mackle, Principal Harp © Thomas Bruce Studio

atinees are a wonderful way to take advantage of the season:

At Word of Life Ministries in Hudson hrough 11 “Christmas, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year” playing Wed. through Sun. afternoons, 2 p.m. Tickets: $14 to $20. It’s Christmas 1945 in Act I. Act II is the portrayal of the true Christmas Story. Luncheon buffet is $10. Box office: 1-866-412-8687.

Treat your grandchildren to the “Animal Party Concert” with The Laurie Beckner Band at 1 p.m. Dickens’ A Christmas Carol at 2 p.m. REH box office is at (727) 791-7400.

At the Asolo Theatre in Sarasota hrough 24 My Fair Lady. Box office: (941) 351-7010.

The Florida Orchestra Offers Jazzy Classics and Christmas at the Pops

BY HENRY ADAMS

oncertgoers can enjoy complimentary coffee and doughnuts at the next Coffee Concert with conductor Stuart Malina leading The Florida Orchestra in a morning of Jazzy Classics. Malina is also the soloist in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue on a program with Shostakovich’s Suite for Jazz Orchestra No. 1, a medley of Duke Ellington favorites and more. The conductor talks to the audience about the music and the composers during this performance on Dec. 8, at 11 a.m. at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts, Mahaffey Theater, in St. Petersburg. At the next Raymond James Pops concert, the 140 soaring voices of The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay join the orchestra for everyone’s favorite Christmas carols along with the “Hallelujah! Chorus” from Handel’s The Messiah, together with such beloved musical chestnuts as Jingle Bells, Frosty the Snowman and more. Grammy Award

winner Victor Vanacore conducts these concerts on Dec. 9, 10 and 11 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. The St. Petersburg Times Masterworks series continues with a celebration of the music of English composer Frederick Delius. Baritone Leon Williams and The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay join Stefan Sanderling and the orchestra for Delius’ Sea Drift and Appalachia: Variations on an Old Slave Song on a program that includes Beethoven’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage and Copland’s Lincoln Portrait. There are two performances at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts—Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, the first of which launches the new Morning Masterworks series: Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. and Jan. 7 at 8 p.m. The concert repeats on Jan. 8, at 7:30 p.m. at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater. Enjoy new lower ticket prices of $15, $30 and $45 for the Masterworks and Pops concerts. Visit floridaorchestra.org or call 1-800-662-7286 for more info.

New Progress Energy Morning Masterworks

Celebrate Delius

Baritone Leon Williams and The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay join the orchestra to celebrate Frederick Delius with his Sea Drift and Appalachia: Variations on an Old Slave Song along with Beethoven’s Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage and closes with Copland’s Lincoln Portrait. Stefan Sanderling conducts. Join us after the concert for “Lunch with the Musicians” for $25. Concert tickets start at $15.

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At St. Petersburg City Theatre in St. Pete and 18 Miracle on Thirty-Fourth Street. Call (727) 866-1973 for tickets.

At Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater “Tony Orlando’s American Christmas” concert at 1 p.m.

Progress Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater

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

TFO-Senior Connection-Dec.indd 1

Senior Connection • December11/14/2011 2011 •3:43:33 page PM 27

BRIDGE BITES

From The American Contract Bridge League

A Little White Lie

BY BRIAN GUNNELL

n defense, sometimes a little white lie is necessary in order to point Partner in the right direction. No more clues, here’s your problem:

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Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 28

You are sitting East, trying to beat 4♥. Partner leads the ♣A. Where can you find four defensive tricks? No doubt Declarer has the ♠A and the ♥A for that opening bid, so at first glance it may appear that the best the defense can do is to take its two Club tricks and the ♦A. Any ideas for an extra trick? OK, now that you’ve solved the problem, the full hand: That’s right, at Trick 1 East falsecards with the ♣8, showing a doubleton! East’s plan is to conjure up a

More Activities

A 10 10 18

t the Palladium: (727) 822-3590 or mypalladium.org

Holiday Candlelight Concert Chorus and Madrigalians, 3 p.m.

“Uncalled For Christmas.” Humorous holiday stories and music for all ages. 7 p.m.

Tierra Verde Island Singers Holiday Concert, 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.

trump trick out of thin air. Look what happens! West next cashes the ♣K, and East completes his fake high-low. Then West plays a third round of Clubs and who can blame Declarer for ruffing that trick high in Dummy? Obviously he doesn’t want to get overruffed by East, and, anyway, squandering that high trump costs nothing if the trumps are 3-1 or 2-2. But they are 4-0, so East gets a trump trick and it’s down one! It was necessary to fool Partner as well as Declarer. If East had signaled honestly in Clubs, then, at Trick 3, West would no doubt have shifted to the ♠Q, hoping that East has the Ace and trying to grab a couple of Spade tricks before they disappear on the Diamonds. Visit acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or e-mail 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; online at stpetebridge.org.

Mobile, Alabama…Prepare to be Surprised! On the edge of Mobile Bay, the Five Rivers Delta Center offers outdoor activity and adventure in the scenic waterways, woods and wetlands where ﬁve rivers converge. The interpretive center presents background, live exhibits and is adjacent to the Bertram Canoe Trail. I enjoyed a kayak trip but guided trips are also available on pontoon boats.

BY DAVID LALMOND

n Mobile, Alabama, the coastal way of life is lived out every day in food, music and festivals. Mobile still holds surprises for the traveler, whether for a day or a week. Prepare to be surprised as you eat your way along the bay, visit dozens of historical sites and get out on the water. Or join one of their many festivals. It’s worth a stop!

Travel

Or go to Mobile when the gardens are in bloom, and that is When to go year-round in Mobile at BellinMARDI GRAS grath Gardens and Home – the in Mobile…the house that Coke built. Mr. Walter surprising original! Bellingrath was an early franchise The first known investor in the Coca-Cola CompaAmerican Mardi ny and today his famous 75-yearClimb aboard a real Gras celebration Mardi Gras float at the old estate on 65 acres presents took place in MoMardi Gras Museum. a horticultural bouquet where bile in 1703, even there are blooms most every day before New Orleans had one. Visit of the year. World-renowned for its Mobile Carnival Museum to see a secamellias in winter, 2,000 rose bushes lection of jeweled robes and crowns of in summer, dozens of azalea bushes past celebrations. Go aboard an actual in spring, magnificent Christmas float and learn about the two weeks lights and much more. Popular among of celebrations that culminate on “Fat travelers, it’s an easy drive off I-10. Tuesday” each year. Docents take you through the cultural and social aspects of local Mardi Gras traditions.

Or maybe go for New Years. On New Years Eve, you can relax with an RC Cola and a Moon Pie (or champagne) in Mobile. At midnight a twelve-foot illuminated MoonPie descends from a 34-story tower to usher in the new year, Mobile style. (Mobile consumes four million Moon Pies annually, so many that the city has adopted the delicious treat as an informal emblem.) So...enjoy MoonPie Over Mobile next New Years Eve.

In the Museum of Mobile, a “Human Cargo” exhibit shows how slaves were transported from Africa in the hold of a ship.

What to see In the Museum of Mobile, innovative and state-of-the-art exhibits help you relive the journey of some of the earliest Americans. Particularly impressive were the African-American stories and their inﬂuence in arts, sports and leadership. Civil War soldiers tell their stories. Natural disasters are portrayed as their impact changed the commercial fortunes of Mobile.

Get up close and personal with the human heart at The Gulf Coast Exploreum

The Gulf Coast Exploreum is a kid’s ﬁeld trip delight and the only science center between Houston and Tampa along the Gulf coast. High tech adventure in heart health awaits the visitor. The Ciba Lab offers lab coat and goggles so you can try your hand at table-top experiments. Hands-on interactive exhibits offer a chance to strum a tune on a laser harp. The Virtual Journeys Digital Theater uses powerful computers and digital projection systems the size of an 18-wheeler. You can relive baseball’s glory days at the Hank Aaron Childhood

Jubilee! N

home and museum. His childhood in Mobile is presented at the Hank Aaron Stadium where the Mobile Bay Bears play (afﬁliated with the Arizona Diamondbacks). A walk through downtown Mobile, takes you to A & M Peanut Shop with an original Planters peanut roaster still in operation and Three Georges Ice Cream Shop. Stop for lunch at the Spot of Tea and then be sure to see the old Saenger Theater and the beautiful 19th century cathedral.

Where to stay The newly remodeled Battle House Hotel is one of the grand old hotels of the South. Located in downtown Mobile, the Battle House Hotel opened in 1852 and has been opened and closed a couple of times, but the recently completed renovation easily makes it the most desirable hotel stay along the coast. Rooms are luxurious, the pool and ﬁtness area exceptional and service is genteel Southern. If you don’t have the time or inclination to stay at the Battle House, tours are available through the Beaux Art style lobby. Unique to the second ﬂoor is the “whispering arch” where one may whisper at one end of an arch and be clearly heard 35 feet away at the other end of the arch. For information, visit mobilebay. org or call 1-800-5MOBILE. Oysters at Wintzell’s Oyster House in Mobile, served “fried, stewed or nude” since 1938.

ear Mobile, the town of Daphne is world-known for the unusual phenomenon of “jubilee.” Once or more a year, environmental factors deplete the water of oxygen drawing shrimp, flounder, crab and other fish up to the surface close to the shore. The word goes out, phones ring all over the area—“Jubilee!”—and residents rush with their coolers to the area to collect immense numbers of fish, free for the picking up. Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 29

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 30

Travel: To Shop or Not to Shop BY YVONNE CURLEY

hopping can be a big part of travel. Unique wares and low prices draw us to products created in exotic locations. But consider the cost and difficulty of getting it home before you buy. It seems easy enough to say, “I’ll have them ship it.” Not so fast. A fellow traveler at a pottery shop in Peru purchased pottery knickknacks for gifts and told the clerk to pack them for shipping. It turned out that the packing and shipping charges were $95 for her $50 purchases. I bought one very nice bowl and several smaller pieces and decided to carry them home. The shop wrapped them securely in a cardboard box, but I knew it wouldn’t fit in the overhead bin or under the seat. What to do? I

• Shopping ~ Dining ~ Lighted Canal Cruises through Dec. 31st, 2011

later bargained at the outdoor market for an inexpensive cloth bag which would fit under the airplane seat. Since then, I carry a very lightweight nylon duffel bag in my suitcase in case I find irresistible items. If I do, I pack the nylon bag with dirty clothes and extra shoes and check it as a second piece of luggage. My larger suitcase can be packed with my purchased treasures safely wrapped in other clothing or wrapped in native newspapers. Some travelers pick something specific and easy to carry to shop for in each location, such as unframed pen and ink drawings or watercolor prints or perhaps embroidered pieces which can be framed at home. To shop or not to shop? Why, shop, of course!

• Festival of Lights Daily through Dec. 31st, 2011 • Extended shopping hours • Daily live entertainment/ events

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Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 31

Hey Seniors... SIGN UP TODAY!

One mile “FUN” Walk around Florida State Fairgrounds Walkers Receive: T-Shirt, Continental Breakfast, Sponsor “Goodie” Bag & PRIZES to the Winners!

Jan. 19, 2012

Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 Hwy. 301 N. • Tampa, FL 33610 Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. • $3 Parking

he car color you choose may say a lot about you. In fact, according to a recent survey, it may indicate where you live. Gray and silver are most popular in New York and Los Angeles. San Franciscans like white and Bostonians like black.

Meanwhile, in other parts of the U.S., customers have different preferences. Red is popular in the Midwest. Drivers in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh like green. And in Phoenix and Miami, customers like warm colors: orange and gold.

Five Things Worth the Splurge I

Warm Up by Silver Sneakers Walk starts at 9:15 a.m., $3 minimum donation for local charity displays.

t will cost you more in the long run if you try to save money on these five items:

Please make checks payable to: News Connection USA, Inc. er Join us Aft . the Walk..

FREE!

Car Colors: Personal, Regional, Fashionable T

Jan. 19, 2012 • 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. • Florida State Fairgrounds Join the Fun! SEND This Walk Form Today!

Fill out this form and mail it with your $3 donation to:

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

l. Interior paint. Good quality paints look great and are easier to apply. 2. Estate planning. It’s a complex issue and an attorney will know if you’ve covered all the bases.

3. Mattress. It’s the key to a good night’s sleep. 4. Kitchen knives. You want the best balance, comfort and cutting capabilities. 5. Running shoes. Cheap shoes will have insufficient cushioning and support. Information from USAA Magazine.

Senior Friendly Extravaganza!

YES! I would like to join the Senior Fun Walk Jan. 19, 2012! MAIL DEADLINE Jan. 8 or Register at the Florida State Fairgrounds 8:30 a.m., Jan. 19, 2012 Walk starts at 9:15 a.m. Congratulations to our Fun Walk Winners! Men: 1st – Jeffrey Beamer; 2nd – Bob Perrault; 3rd – Herb Smithson. Women: 1st – Holly Jameson; 2nd – Claudia Assini; 3rd – Kathleen Parlato.

Age

Name Address City

Zip

E-mail Address Signature Sponsored by...

Date

In consideration of our acceptance of this entry, I for myself, my heirs, devises, executors, administrators and assign hereby waive, release, discharge any and all claims against Florida State Fairgrounds or News Connection USA, Inc., or anyone sponsoring or conducting this event or their employees, representatives or successors for any and all damages or injuries I may suffer. I hereby, grant permission for the free use of my name and pictures in any broadcast or account of this event.

FAIR

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 32

ain did not stop our Senior Friends from coming out for the 7th Senior Friendly Extravaganza last month. Over 70 seniors joined in the early morning fun walk to benefit Meals On Wheels. By 10 a.m. the sun came out and made for a beautiful day. Thousands of seniors enjoyed the day inside the Largo Cultural Center and the lively outside entertainment in the park. During the day, hundreds of free health screenings were given along

Lucy French was our Grand Prize drawing winner! She won two round trip airline tickets and a stay at Beau Rivage in Biloxi.

with health education seminars. Other vendors stayed busy talking to seniors and providing information. Mary Elling said she enjoyed playing Bingo and the bean bag toss. “It was like Woodstock for Seniors.” The listing of the “Grandkids are the Greatest” photo contest winners are on the next page. Thank you to all of the vendors and sponsors and everyone who came out to enjoy the event. Our next Senior Fest is Dec. 6 inside the Expo Hall at the Strawberry Festival Grounds. Call 1-888-670-0040. See ya there!

Winners!

Senior Friendly Extravaganza, Largo Cultural Center, Largo

Lots of great photos were sent to Senior Connection magazine for the latest Grandkids Are The Greatest Photo Contest. Check out the winners that were selected at the Senior Friendly Extravaganza last month. The judges had a lot of fun looking through all of the photos and it was tough to pick the winners. Thanks to everyone who shared their memories with us!

Grand Prize

First Prize

Second Prize

Third Prize

“Are You Going to Wake Up?” Submitted by She won a two night stay for four at the John Hanrahan Gaylord Palms in Orlando, including four tickets He won $75! to ICE! featuring DreamWorks’ Shrek the Halls!

“I’m Ready for the World” Submitted by Doris Prokopi She won $50!

Opera Offerings

Seniors, Join Us!

“And Mom Didn’t Think I Could Handle It”

Submitted by Elaine Nadeau

“E

venings with the Maestro” Bohemian Rhapsody plus seasonal presented by St. Petersburg favorites. Lake Seminole Square, Opera, followed by conversation and 8333 Seminole Blvd., Seminole. 7 p.m. $12. refreshments at a local restaurant. Seasonal Sparkle: Holiday Bohemian Rhapsody: Extravaganza. Choruses, soloists, Featuring La Bohéme. Music dancers. 7:30 p.m. Palladium Theater, Gallery, 5990 Ulmerton Rd., 253 Fifth Ave. N. St. Pete. Tickets: Clearwater 6 p.m. (third Thursdays). $21.50 to $64.50 online: stpeteopera.org, Admission: $12/seniors. or call (727) 823-2040.

Getting the Gift of Social Media

f your family is giving you a gift of social media this holiday, help them understand that it’s more than just wrapping the iPad, iPod or computer and placing it under the tree. Remind them that with the gift, you may need help with the following:

• Arranging online access, often through cable TV or other providers.

• Setting up access to desired social networks. • Establishing privacy settings and practices.

• Learning to use the programs well enough to allow you to communicate with loved ones on a regular base to form and keep the habit.

“Noah Milking a Cow” Submitted by Mrs. Wesley Snyder She won $25!

At t h e

Senior Fun Fest and Jamboree! Dec. 6

$2 OFF for

seniors

10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Enjoy live entertainment, free Bingo, free health screenings, goodies, fun games and prizes, great information and much more!

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Meet Santa! Strawberry Festival Grounds, 2202 W. Reynolds St., Plant City, FL

(813) 752-9194

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

Good for up to 6 people. Not valid with other offers. Expires December 31, 2011. Code XSCA

Clearwater Marine Aquarium 249 Windward Passage • Clearwater, FL 33767

(727) 441-1790

www.SeeWinter.com Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 33

Florida Residents Can Enjoy Biking Every Day!

hat is Florida living without a bike? We have the ultimate climate that is conducive to bike exercise. You can do it virtually every day of the year from January to December. In the cooler winter months, what could be more beautiful than biking on a sunny afternoon? Or in the summer, just get up early to beat the heat and watch our gorgeous sunrises. Either way, you are guaranteed to be able to use your bike to exercise and build good healthy habits every day. Many people want to ride bicycles but find getting on and off of one more than what they can handle. Biria USA is producing bicycles, called the Easy Boarding, that are specifically geared towards this growing market. The “Easy Boarding” bike makes cycling easier for older adults because it has a frame bar that is only six inches off the ground, creating a step-through frame that is extremely easy to mount. Riders can mount the “Easy Boarding” bike simply by lifting their leg less than 6 inches rather than up and over the bike’s frame, like on traditional designs. With such advanced, seniororiented features as upright seating (for less back pain), relaxed arm position (for more control), and a unique step-through design (making it easier to get on the bike), Biria bikes can be just the thing for the active senior! Imagine – healthy exercise, good conversation, fresh air,and a feeling of freedom, all while burning off fat and improving your health! Isn’t that why we live in Florida? For more information on Biria bicycles or to find a Biria distributor near you, visit www.biria.com or call 1-201-461-1980. Please consult your doctor before beginning any exercise regimen.

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 34

For Healthy Holiday Recipes, Get Creative With New Ingredients

ating healthy during the holidays can be difficult. There’s no need to entirely forgo your favorite festive foods this season. Try substituting healthier ingredients into your favorite recipes. Instead of mayonnaise or cream cheese, use Chobani Greek Yogurt. It’s a great way to cut out extra calories without sacrificing taste. Greek yogurt also has two times more protein than regular yogurt and it’s a great source of calcium. Have fun in the kitchen with these two delicious and nutritious recipes. Find more at chobanikitchen.com. (Family Features)

Recipe Turkey Potpie

Yield: 4 servings 1 small onion, chopped 1 medium carrot, chopped 1/2 cup peeled potato, diced 1/4 cup celery, chopped 1/4 cup butter, cubed

1/3 cup all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 1/4 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed 1/4 teaspoon rubbed sage 1/4 teaspoon pepper 1 cup chicken broth 2 cups cooked turkey, cubed 1/2 cup frozen peas 1 cup 0% Plain Chobani 1 sheet refrigerated pie pastry

In large saucepan, sauté onion, carrot, potato and celery in butter until tender. Add flour and seasonings until blended; gradually add broth. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in turkey, peas and Chobani; divide mixture among four ungreased 5-inch pie plates. Divide pastry into quarters. On a lightly floured surface, roll each quarter into a 6-inch circle; place over filling. Trim, seal and flute edges; cut slits to vent. Cover and freeze two potpies for up to 3 months. Bake the remaining potpies at 375˚ F for 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

To use frozen potpies: Remove from the freezer 30 minutes before baking. Cover edges of crusts loosely with foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 375˚ F for 30 minutes. Remove foil; bake 15 – 20 minutes longer or until golden brown and filling is bubbly. Nutritional Information: Calories 510, Calories from Fat 240, Total Fat 27g, Saturated Fat 12g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 90mg, Sodium 900mg, Total Carbohydrate 36g, Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 7g, Protein 31g

Cranberry Orange Bread Yield: 10 (3/4-inch) slices

2 cups allpurpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup 2% Plain Chobani 1 cup sugar 1 egg 3/4 cup orange juice

1 tablespoon grated orange zest 1 1/2 cups fresh cranberries 1/2 cup walnuts, lightly toasted and chopped coarsely Preheat oven to 350˚ F. Spray a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray. In medium bowl, combine dry ingredients. Set aside. In large bowl, mix together Chobani and sugar. Add egg and combine. Stir in orange juice. Add dry mixture to wet mixture. Mix only until just combined. Carefully, fold in orange zest, cranberries and walnuts. Pour into prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Carefully invert pan to remove, and finish cooling on rack. Wrap in plastic and foil. This bread is extra delicious on the second day. Nutritional Information: Calories 160, Calories from Fat 30, Total Fat 3.5g, Saturated Fat 0.5g, Trans Fat 0g, Cholesterol 15mg, Sodium 230 mg, Total Carbohydrate 31g, Dietary Fiber 1g, Sugars 15g, Protein 5g

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Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 35

Seniors Getting Together Attention SGTers!

Screen respondents carefully. Always meet in public places and have your own transportation. Don’t divulge your home address. Be sure to provide a way for your correspondent to respond to you – phone number, e-mail address or Post Office Box address. Contact the authorities if you feel threatened or harassed by an individual. Be patient and careful – a good relationship and your personal safety are worth the wait!

WOMEN SEEKING MEN 4023 SEEKING CUTE 59 –65YO HONEST, ONE-WOMAN MAN. IQ, “Patriotic,” conservative with SOH. Love travel, have RV? Love Ford Mustangs (rear-drive), beaches, sm Dogs! NS/SD/ NDrg. I’m 5’5”, HWP, Pretty w/blonde hair. Let’s dance—make Bucket list! Florida. 4061 PRETTY DBF, 54, CURVY, looking for a S/DWM who can be monogamous, sensual, funny and patient, and can picture himself in LTR with me. Pinellas County. 4067 ISO BICYCLING COMPANION, 62 to 70 YO, who likes to ride on paved

trails. I am a 67 YO SF who loves the outdoors and prefers to live a simple life. 4072 FSW ISO SOH NS SD F, Hoping to meet someone, a senior who would enjoy another and would like to go places: movies, dinners, any fun outing. Just need a friend, a buddy like. Thank you. Gulfport. 4074 PLAIN AND FANCY GAL lSO fit/fun gent to enjoy life’s journey of events. WD, NS, ND, W, F, C, 70s. 4076 RETIRED WW, NS, SD Seeks gentleman for friendship, age 65 – 75. Enjoys music, movies, reading, travel, intelligent discussion, eating out. Brandon area. 4080 SEEKING NICE GENTLEMAN White, Christian female, never smoke, wine with my dinner (a glass). Honest, healthy, music, exercises, travel, etc. Please send a recent photo.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN 4071 I AM 64, MALE, TALL, profession Asian. Seeking a white, petite, attractive, spiritual in yoga around 60 – 69 young. LTR.

RUN YOUR AD FOR ONLY $6 A MONTH

SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER Personal Ad Placement

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

4073 HAPPY-GO-LUCKY GUY wants to meet a pretty, slim, happy lady 60 – 65. LTR, NS. I’m attractive, youthful 70, 5’8”, 155 lbs., trim. Good cook, dancer, dresser, neat, romantic, active, lots of fun. 4077 HEALTHY, SINCERE, CARING RETIREE 76, HWP, financially secure, W, WW, NS, NDrg, seeking woman of high caliber who is, above all, honest and sincere, in her 60s or 70s. Photo would be nice. Tampa. 4081 EAST INDIAN MALE, 64 YEARS, professional, seeking a soulmate. White female, petite, attractive, into the spiritual nature. Photo. St. Petersburg.

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

TO RESPOND TO AN AD

Write a letter to the person you want to contact. Place that letter in a stamped envelope and write the ad number on the bottom left hand side of the envelope. Place your stamped, numbered envelope(s), along with $2 for each letter enclosed, into another envelope and address it to: News Connection USA, Inc. Seniors Getting Together 1602 S. Parsons Ave.,Seffner, FL. 33584 TO PLACE AN AD

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

Meet Other Seniors Online!

Only $6 to place an ad!

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

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

Get Connected to Friends; Make New Friends with SeniorAve.com! To celebrate its new Internet home, SeniorAve. com is hosting an iPad giveaway to one lucky registered member (always free to register). City (No Charge):

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

Name: Address: City: Phone:

State:

Zip:

E-mail:

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

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 36

Registering also allows you to become part of an online neighborhood of constant communication and ever-changing information. As a member, you can connect with others who share similar interests, send and receive friend requests, take part in live chats with other members, participate in discussion forums, and browse an extensive article database with information relevant to your generation.

Visit www.SeniorAve.com

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Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 37

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 38

Insurance Discounts

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Opportunities for Holiday Support

he Shepherd Center in Tarpon Springs has places for you to help the North Pinellas County area. What you can give: • Money is always needed. • Food donations and laundry items from individuals or groups. • Unwrapped gifts for Angel Tree children. • $25 gift cards (used for families or for seniors) from Dollar General, Walmart, etc. Speakers are available to talk to church or civic groups any time of year about The Shepherd Center. Please contact Lisa Hughes at (727) 939-1400, ext 403.

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Mark Your Calendars! Th e Senior Fun Fest and Jamboree!

White Doves Released For Your Loved Ones! Wings of a Dove

On the wings of a snow white dove He sends his pure sweet love A sign from above On the wings of a dove When troubles surround us When evils come The body grows weak The spirit grows numb When these things beset us He doesn’t forget us He send down His love On the wings of a dove

is coming to town on Dec. 6 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

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Meet Santa!

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From all of us at

BRANDON Auto Clinic of Brandon ...... 813-654-8686 Xtreme Powersports ......... 813-626-6060 BROOKSVILLE Sunrunner Automotive ...... 352-596-2314 Napa Auto Parts ............... 352-796-4936 Master Auto/Air ................. 352-799-6444 Brooksville Transmission.. 352-796-6544 General Auto Parts ........... 352-796-2522 CLEARWATER M & M Ultrasports ............. 727-412-8020 Stouts Auto Service .......... 727-216-6622 DADE CITY Reliance Auto Center ....... 352-567-5281 HOLIDAY NAPA Auto Parts .............. 727-934-4651 HUDSON White’s Quality Trans ........ 727-862-1968 County Line Collision........ 727-861-7009

Don’s Love Doves • (727) 856-1571 www.donslovedoves.com

OLDSMAR Murray Motive ................... 813- 854-5115 PINELLAS PARK George’s Performance ..... 727- 521-2206 PORT RICHEY Parts Depot ....................... 727-844-5588 RUSKIN Thompson’s Auto Parts .... 813-645-3204 Walker’s Tire & Auto ......... 813-645-0736 ST. PETE Park Auto Service ............727-521-2910 Royal Edger ......................727-573-1700 Bob Lee’s Tires.................727-822-3981 Complete Auto Parts ........727-895-3821 Miles Automotive ..............727-323-0180 J.C. Automotive ................727-866-0044 St. Pete Power Sports ......727-456-6088 Suncoast Auto & Tire .......727-520-1148 SEFFNER Schembries Auto Serv...... 813-685-5654

SUN CITY Killingsworth Automotive .. 813-634-4758 Sun City Automotive ......... 813-634-4758 TAMPA John Erb’s ......................... 813-908-3333 Storm Automotive ............. 813-469-0055 Atlantic Automotive ........... 813-936-1510 Tony’s RamTech................ 813-877-6642 Insty Tune & Lube ............. 813-960-3908 Santiago Chopper ............. 813-671-9097 Xtreme Powersports ......... 813-626-6060 Mad Hatter ........................ 813-933-4179 Mad Hatter ........................ 813-374-9230 Mobile Auto Serv. ............. 813-892-3603 ZEPHYRHILLS “A” Team Cycles................ 813-763-3013

If you or your business would like to get AMSOIL products at Wholesale CALL 800-411-6160

Senior Connection • December 2011 • page 39

Doctor appointment? Humana will take you. When you’re a member of Humana Gold Plus® (HMO), we’ll pick you up and take you to your doctor’s ofﬁce. It’s just one of the many beneﬁts of being a Humana member.

In addition to UNLIMITED rides to your doctor, with our plan we offer: • $0 monthly Plan Premium • Doctor’s office visits and hospital coverage • Prescription drug coverage • Convenient mail-order delivery of prescriptions • Fitness program - gym membership at no additional cost • Vision coverage • Preventive coverage

ET! G R s O T F t end ’ N DO en th. m l ol r7 Enr embe Dec

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

Call to schedule an in-home appointment or to ﬁnd a seminar near you. ST. PETERSBURG CLEARWATER CLEARWATER Harold Seltzer’s IHOP Chili’s 3500 Tyrone Blvd. International House 5430 East Bay Drive Dec. 1st • 2:00 pm of Pancakes Dec. 2nd • 2:00 pm (on US 19 just south of Curlew Road in Palm Harbor) SEMINOLE DUNEDIN 30200 US Hwy 19 Super Buffet Kally K’s Dec. 1st • 9:00 am 11227 Park Blvd. 1600 Main Street Dec. 5th • 2:00 pm Dec. 5th • 10am & 2pm

ST. PETERSBURG Red Lobster 6151 34th Street N. Dec. 2nd, 7th • 1:30 pm

LARGO Golden Corral 10050 Ulmerton Rd. Dec. 3rd • 2:00 pm

PINELLAS PARK Hibachi Buffet (formerly King Buffet) 7610 49th Street N. Dec. 3rd • 2:00 pm

ST. PETERSBURG Obistro’s 6661 Central Ave. Dec. 6th • 2:30 pm

CLEARWATER Red Lobster 26320 US Hwy 19 Dec. 6th • 2:00 pm

TARPON SPRINGS Hampton Inn & Suites 39284 US Hwy 19 Dec. 7th • 10am and 2pm

1-800-451-7382 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., 7 days a week

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

A Health plan with a Medicare contract. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. If you are a member of a qualified State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, please contact the Program to verify that the mail-order pharmacy will coordinate with that Program. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, but not a comprehensive description of available benefits. For more information contact the plan. A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-800-451-7382, (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus H1036-025, 040, 052, 054, 062, 067, 068, 074, 081, and 164 (HMO). *Some exceptions may apply. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus H1036 (HMO) in Florida. H1036_GHHH532HH CMS Approval 08262011

TMP 12/11