Lifestyles After 50 Suncoast Jan. 2013 edition by Lifestyles After 50 Magazine

www.LifestylesAfter50FL.com • Suncoast • FREE

January 2013

Defining Moments from 1963 Winter Wonderland Vacation

Discover the Fun at the Florida State Fair Boomer Beat

uper ecipes S R

The Value Of Eyesight BY DAVID JEFFERY, Marketing Director, Eye Institute of West Florida

t is a fact of life that vision changes as you age. But do aging eyes have to compromise your lifestyle? The answer is simple: not any more. By the onset of cataracts, most people would have been challenged by the necessity of having to wear glasses. What if you had the option to remove cataracts and eliminate, or reduce, the need to wear glasses again? What would life be like for you and what is it worth? Technology for cataract surgery has advanced rapidly in the past two years and the results are truly remarkable. To remove a cataract and correct astigmatism using computer guided lasers now allow surgeons to customize vision to individualized specifications

with a very high degree of accuracy. Cataract surgery in the hands of an experienced physician can help make life a lot simpler and comfortable. This new level of precision resulting in better outcomes for patients, allowing for clearer, uncorrected visual acuity, and reducing patients’ need for glasses, comes at a price above standard cataract surgery using traditional methods. Of course, Medicare and private insurance will pay a large portion of standard care, but the result will not eliminate the need for glasses for a full range of vision or correct astigmatism. Life will probably continue as before, wearing glasses daily and dealing with the added expense of maintenance for the remainder of life.

It is not every day we are afforded options like laser cataract surgery to turn back the hands of time to a day when our vision was great. Most surgeons will not over emphasize the prospect of being glasses-free but many patients do report no need for glasses again. For those that do, only a light pair of readers may be necessary to read fine print such as that on a medicine bottle. Many patients who undergo the advanced procedure also report seeing so well they are able to drive the next day and wish they had had the procedure sooner. Depending on the lens implant you choose, you should be able to read road signs

and the car instrument panel and drive safely. Judging distance and speed, bright sunlight or headlights of oncoming traffic at night are no longer a problem, and colors are more vivid. You can enjoy doing all the things you love to do (play golf, tennis, swim) without the hassle of glasses or contacts. For that one chance, which will you choose— the advanced procedure or returning to a lifestyle of glasses for a lifetime? Having to choose one over the other may have you weighing lifestyle versus cost, but know this: cataract surgery can only be performed once. What is your eyesight worth to you? To learn more, call the Eye Institute of West Florida at (727) 581-8706.

BLADELESS LASER CATARACT SURGERY ExpERiENCED phYSiCiANS YoU CAN TRUST Robert Weinstock, MD

727-565-4286

www.eyespecialist.com Clearwater • Largo • St. Petersburg Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 2

Stephen Weinstock, MD

Neel Desai, MD

A Time For New Beginnings

Dear Readers,

t’s that time of year again: Start a new calendar and think about what we want to accomplish in a new year. Janice Doyle, For me, I’m going Editor to start by trying to lose a few pounds and slow down to more fully enjoy beautiful flowers. Dear Husband has worked hours and hours over the past two years we’ve been married creating a backyard full of beautiful plants. This picture is just one of the twelve colors of hibiscus now in bloom. And, because we also need to laugh, I want to share this poem again.

Congratulations! The Winner Of The Book America's Best Pies Was Sylvana Mielke Of Port Charlotte!

The Month After Christmas T’was the month after Christmas, and all through the house, Nothing would fit me, not even a blouse; The cookies I’d nibbled, the eggnog I had to taste, At the holiday parties had gone to my waist; When I got on the scales there arose such a number! When I walked to the store (less a walk than a lumber), I’d remember the marvelous meals I’d prepared, The gravies and sauces and beef nicely rared; The wine and the rum balls; the bread and the cheese, And the way I’d never said, “No thank you, please.” As I dressed myself in my husband’s old shirt, And prepared once again to do battle with dirt, I said to myself, as only I can, “You can’t spend a winter disguised as a man!” So, away with the last of the sour cream dip. Get rid of the fruit cake, every cracker and chip. Every last bit of cheese that I like must be banished, ’Til all the additional ounces have vanished. I won’t have a cookie, not even a lick. I’ll want only to chew on a long celery stick. I won’t have hot biscuits, or corn bread, or pie, I’ll munch on a carrot and quietly cry. I’m hungry, I’m lonesome, and life is a bore, But isn’t that what January is for? Unable to giggle, no longer a riot. Happy New Year to all and to all a good diet!

Senior Entrepreneurs Wanted

Did opportunity for success come knocking at your door? We’re looking for stories of successful senior entrepreneurs! If you took a unique opportunity and ran with it after you turned 50, briefly (100 words or less) tell about yourself and your business. We’ll choose several entrepreneurs to tell our readers about. Send your story by email to janice@lifestylesafter50.com (subject line: Entrepreneur Story) or by snail mail to Attn. Janice, News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number.

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

Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing Kathy J. Beck kathy@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Janice Doyle janice@lifestylesafter50.com Accounting/Ofﬁce Manager Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com Production Supervisor/Graphic Design Kim Burrell kim@lifestylesafter50.com Production Assistant Tracie Schmidt tracie@lifestylesafter50.com

Customer Service 1-888-670-0040 customerservice@lifestylesafter50.com

Advertising Sales 1-888-670-0040

Mid to North Pinellas and Pasco Ken Barham: (727) 210-5120 Tampa Bay Dena Bingham: (813) 293-1262

Hillsborough Chuck Bingham: (813) 293-1550 Lake/Marion/Sumter Rhonda Sakowski: (352) 812-5652 Our other editions: Hillsborough Edition: Hillsborough County Lake Edition: Lake/Marion Counties Sarasota Edition: Sarasota/Manatee Southwest Edition: Lee/Collier & Charlotte To learn more, call 1-888-670-0040 Distribution 1-888-670-0040

News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638 Seffner, Florida 33583-0638 (813) 653-1988 • 1-888-670-0040 Fax: (813) 651-1989 www.lifestylesafter50ﬂ.com

FCOA Attention Readers: The articles printed in Lifestyles After 50 do not necessarily reﬂect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. Lifestyles After 50 endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Lifestyles After 50 reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for the February 2013 issue is Jan. 15, 2013. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 3

Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest! T

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10 FEB. 7, 9, A GALA RA TAMP E P O 9 . B FE

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EXCITING NEW FESTIVAL EVENTS: • Open Rehearsals AND • Cast Meet and Greets MORE! • Sunday Afternoon at the Movies • Bon Appétit – An Opera Comedy • Saks Fifth Avenue Fashion Show

813.229.STAR(7827) • OPERATAMPA.ORG

Group Services: 813.222.1018 or 1016

Events, days, dates, times, performers and prices are subject to change without notice.

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Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 4

he 8th annual Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest! will be held in the Special Events building, (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. Entrance) at the Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, on Wednesday, January 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. This FREE event features over 85 exhibitors with information on health, wellness, lifestyles, travel and more. A friendly lunch will be available for $5 along with goodies from our friends at Costco and Perkins, with free coffee. Entertainment will fill the stage from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and include Richie Merritt of The Marcels, Russell Cortese as “Elvis,” William “Duece” Hulett “Best in Country,” as well as Fritzy the “One Man Circus” and much more. This year’s special treat will be singing sensations the Knockouts, performing all your favorites from the ‘50s and ‘60s. Get your own free caricature drawn by artist, Art Pressman. Check out the Fun Sports Center and take your chance on a hole-in-one to win a

prize. Plus, the all new Prize-APalooza offers chances to win $100 throughout the day. The Grand Prize will be a 2-night Stay at the Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi, including round trip airline tickets for two! Tampa General Hospital will provide total cholesterol and diabetes testing, plus body fat composition and blood pressure. Other screenings will include bone density, hearing and important health information. The annual Fun Walk warm-up and walk will begin at 9:15 a.m. in front of the special events building. Call (813) 653-1988 or 1-888-670-0040 for registration forms, or sign up on the day of the walk at 8:45 a.m. Admission is $3 for charity, and includes parking. Walkers will enjoy free continental breakfast and a T-shirt to the first 120 to register. Admission is FREE. Parking is $3. for directions, call (813) 621-7821 For more info, call (813) 653-1988 or visit online at www.lifestylesafter50fl.com.

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LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

The Knockouts Singing Sensations

Richie Merritt

Denise Looney

FREE HEALTH SCREENINGS FREE

‘50s, ‘60s & ‘70s Music By: Richie Merritt - (The Marcels, The Clovers) The Fabulous “Knockouts”- Singing Sensations Denise Looney - “DJ with a Twist!” William “Duece” Hulett, Best in Country Entertainment Russell “Elvis” Cortese

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Join the Fun! One mile “walk,” Jan. 23, 9:15 am, $3 minimum donation. Enjoy Continental Breakfast, T-Shirt, & Prizes to the Winners! Call 1-888-670-0040, go to www.lifestylesafter50fl.com (MAIL DEADLINE 1/11/13) or sign up, Jan. 23 at 8:30 am.

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Information 813-653-1988 or 1-888-670-0040 • www.lifestylesafter50fl.com • Directions: 813-621-7821 or 800-345 FAIR Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 5

Around Town

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G J A N U A RY 2 0 1 3

ednesdays Tea Dances held at the Coliseum, downtown St. Pete.$7 for dance and $10 for dance and instruction. (727) 892-5202.

Vegetable Gardening in Florida class by Nancy Bevilacqua, Pinellas County Master Gardener. Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor. 2 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. Free, registration requested. (727) 5822603 or lawnandgarden.eventbrite.com.

– 13 Sunshine City Antiques & Collectibles Show. $6 admission. Furniture, art, pottery, jewelry, silver, toys, more. Antique Appraisal Fair Sat. and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. $5/item. (727) 892-5202.

– 13 Jane Seymour Original Art Exhibition and personal meet and greet with artist at Syd Entel Galleries, Safety Harbor. Jane Seymour personal appearances Sat., Jan. 13, 6 – 8 p.m. and Sun., Jan 13, 2 to 4 p.m. 247 Main St., Safety Harbor. Information at sydentelgalleries. com or call (727) 725-1808 to RSVP.

11 • Early Bird Specials, Tues. – Thurs. & Sun., 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. • Live Weekend Music & Dancing • Happy Hour 11a.m. – 6 p.m. Daily

– 13 Gem, Jewelry and Mineral Show sponsored by the Pinellas Geological Society at Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Dr., Largo. Free admission. Club meets fourth Tuesdays at Largo Library at 6 p.m. Information at (727) 894-2440.

19, and 26 Digital Photography Workshop by Parks and Rec Dept. at Land O’Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Pkwy., Land O’ Lakes. $50 for 3 sessions. 1 to 4 p.m. Call (813) 929-1220.

12 FREE Appetizer with Dinner For Two, Lunch or Dinner

Not valid with any other offer.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 6

Buy One Drink Get One Free (House Wine, Well Drink or Draft) One coupon per person.

“Ron & the Classics” live music for dance at Colreavy Hall, 820 Jasmine Way, Clearwater. Clearwater Singles social group. Info at scips.tripod.com. For additional information, call (727) 253-4874 or (727) 461-7104.

through March 3 “The Piano Lesson” by August Wilson by American Stage Theatre. $29 to $59 tickets. Info: (727) 823-7529.

“Do It Again” Jazz CD release with Nicki Parrott and Rossano Sportiello at the Palladium Theater, St. Pete. Call (727) 822-3590 for tickets. Guy Harvey Film Festival: “Mystery of the Grouper Moon.” 7 p.m. at Florida Gulf Coast Fishing Center, 12211 Walsingham Rd., Largo. $5. Phone: (727) 365-4660.

River City Ragtime Band plays for Dixleland & Ragtime Dance at the St. Petersburg Polish American Society, 1343 Beach Dr., SE., St. Petersburg. Dixleland, Mardi Gras, Ragtime Standards, Blues, Swing, Polkas, Waltzes, Line Dances, Skits, Singalongs. 3 to 6 p.m. (727) 518-2939. Door Charge/$5.

– 30 Billy Elliot the Musical performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall. Music, dance, drama. Tickets $50 to $70. Call (727) 791-7400.

Send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; fax (813) 651-1989 or email janice@lifestylesafter50. com. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. January 10 for February event.)

See these in January at the Largo Cultural Center, 105 Central Park Dr. Largo. Info: (727) 587-6793.

5 “The Rat Pack Now,”

Frank-Dean-Sammy act.

13 “Let’s Hang On,” Tribute show to Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons (“Sherry,” “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” more). 2 p.m.

25 – 27 The Stephen Sondheim Songbook, song and dance with music from the composer to raise money for the Suncoast Performing Arts Foundation. All tickets—buy in advance at largoculturalcenter.org or at the door—add $5.

Is Your Hospital In-Network With YOUR Insurance

We are! The HCA-affiliated hospitals in Pinellas County want to help ensure your treatment will be covered. Co m m e r C i a l

i n s u r a n C e

We’re in-network with the area’s largest plans, including:

✔Aetna ✔AvMed

✔Blue Cross Blue Shield ✔Cigna ✔United Healthcare

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We’re in-network with 16 plans, including:

✔Aetna ✔Amerigroup* ✔Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida ✔CarePlus ✔Coventry ✔Freedom Health, Inc ✔Humana ✔Molina Healthcare of Florida

✔Optimum Health Care ✔Physicians United Plan ✔Preferred Care Partners ✔Simply Healthcare Plans, Inc. ✔Sunshine State Health Plan ✔United Healthcare ✔Universal Healthcare ✔Wellcare

Please call 1-800-617-7205 with insurance questions or to verify coverage.

SM T HEERR,, P EERRFFOO RM I N IGN AGT A A TH A IGH T OTGOEGTE H RM HEI RG SHTEARN DSATRADN® D A R D*Largo Medical Center only

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 7

New Options For Why Laser Cataract Surgery? Cataract Patients Bladeless laser refractive cataract surgery is now a reality, and it's available at St. Michael's Eye & Laser Institute in Largo. Traditional cataract surgery is considered to be one of the safest and most successful procedures performed in medicine today. Now, a technological breakthrough with the bladeless laser cataract surgery is available that has significantly improved the precision of several of the most critical steps in cataract surgery. With laser cataract surgery Dr. Michaelos at St. Michael's Eye & Laser Institute will customize your procedure to your eyes unique characteristics, resulting in better visual outcomes while potentially making cataract surgery even safer. Find out why Dr. Michaelos and St. Michael's were chosen to be the first group in Central Florida to perform Laser Cataract Surgery! Your vision will thank you!

"Laser cataract surgery is the most precise and least invasive lens surgery we have ever done. Our patients are seeing our best results ever!"

John L. Michaelos, M.D.

1018 West Bay Drive Largo, Florida 33770 Phone: 727.585.2200 www.stmichaelseye.com

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 8

cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that can affect your vision. There are several reasons why a cataract may form in your eye. Diabetes, smoking and exposure to the sun are often causes. Cataracts affect over 20 million Americans over the age of 40 and, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, cataract surgery is the most commonly performed ophthalmic procedure performed in the USA. St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute of Largo was pleased to be the first practice in Central Florida to perfom the LenSx® laser cataract procedure. The LenSx® procedure is a bladeless, computer-controlled laser that allows Dr. .Michaelos to plan and perform your surgery to exacting, individualized specifications not attainable with other surgical methods. With laser cataract surgery, Dr. Michaelos will customize your procedure to your own eye’s unique characteristics, virtually resulting in better vision outcomes while potentially making your procedure even safer. By adding computer control to key steps of cataract surgery, the LenSx® laser helps ensure the highest-precision surgical incisions. The LenSx® laser is unquestionably the most technologically advanced option for cataract patients. By using the first FDA approved femtosecond cataract laser for the eye, Dr. John Michaelos is able to provide better lens positioning of the replacement lens implant and provide a more gentle surgery. These technologies allow three of the most important parts of cataract surgery (the anterior capsulotomy, corneal incisions and lens fragmentation) to be accomplished safely and accurately before the patient even enters the operating room. The LenSx procedure provides a more precise measurement in the capsulotomy (opening) through which the cataract is extracted during your procedure. It also has the ability

to measure the thickness of your cornea for astigmatism correction. “Laser cataract surgery is the most precise and least invasive lens surgery we have ever perfomed at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute,” said John Michaelos M.D. “Our patients are seeing our best results ever,” he added. Traditional cataract and lens replacement surgeries at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute are among the safest and most successful procedures in medicine today. Due to our experience and commitment to excellence, our complication and infection rates are among the lowest in the world. While we will continue to offer cataract surgery utilizing traditional techniques, blade-free LenSx laser cataract surgery at St. Michael’s offers significant advantages for many patients. To learn more about Laser Cataract Surgery at St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute, please call 1-727-585-2200 or visit www.stmichaelseye.net.

John L. Michaelos, M.D. St. Michael’s Eye & Laser Institute Tampa Bay’s Premier Eye & Laser Center

Work Longer—But How? And Where? BY EVELYN MACKEY

loridians shopping at their neighborhood Publix grocery store are aware of the diversity of ages in the employees. “Not many folks can say that they have four different generations working with and for them,” says Shannon Patten, Media & Community Relations Manager at Publix headquarters in Lakeland. “We hire associates as young as 14 years of age and our eldest, active associate is 96 years young.” She continues, “We find that mature workers come to Publix looking for a second career at a place where they can interact and give back to their communities. Our associates, regardless of age, recognize our family-oriented values and find our track record appealing—in our 82 year history, we’ve never had a lay-off.”

That is not true in many companies today, even though 75 percent of Americans 50 and older expect to work well into the traditional period of retirement—many because they must, and others by choice. Not every company is able to adapt its workplace and job descriptions to accommodate older workers like Publix can. Frank McVay, a registered nurse with WellStar Health Systems in Marrietta, Georgia, thought he would work into his seventies. Nursing, his second career, was his dream. Injured on the job four years ago, Frank called it quits last year when 12-hour shifts and lifting and moving heavy patients became too much. “I just couldn’t keep up with the demands of the job,” he says. He was 58 years old. His story proves nothing is easy. Despite expectations, people continue to retire early—at age 64 for men; 62 for women. For occupations involving work that is physically demanding and mentally taxing, it’s

even earlier. Most nurses, for example, retire at age 55, fully 40 percent of them for health reasons. Karen Mathews, the Director of Work Life Services for WellStar’s 12,000 employees, says she sees too many Franks: “Some of our best people are aging out of the jobs we rely on for quality service.” WellStar’s nurses average 42 years of age, and that’s a big group heading into retirement at the same time that an aging population will increase demand for health services. According to Spiva, the company estimates that replacing an experienced nurse costs between $75,000 and $100,000. “So yes,” she says, “we’d like to hang on to the older worker.” What companies do Harley-Davidson has a gym at its Menomonee Falls, Wis., factory where workers get exercise routines tailored to their jobs. The company also has trainers ready to ice down inflammations between shifts at one of its engine plants.

To avoid the early retirement of key workers, some employers have redesigned work areas to minimize kneeling or awkward twisting of muscles and joints. Others have gone even further. Duke Energy Corp. offers a special stretching program for its line technicians (people who make repairs on power lines) before they start a shift. That’s a skill requiring about eight years of training. And right now, the average age of line technicians at Duke Energy is 50 to 55. Shannon Patton of Publix cites camaraderie, stability and great benefits for having over 25 percent of their workforce composed of associates 50 and over (of 153,500 associates).

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 9

A Few Defining Moments From

he first disco opened in the Whisky A Go-Go night club in Los Angeles.

The first inductees into the Pro Football Hall of Fame were announced. Travel, financial and commercial transactions by U.S. citizens to Cuba were made illegal NASA’s Mercury program, which put men in space, was completed with the June launch of Mercury 9. Bob Dylan released “Blowin’ in the Wind.”

other things. He delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech on the National Mall, putting civil rights at the top of the political agenda. In August, James Meredith became the first black person to graduate from the University of Mississippi.

In September, CBS Evening news began the first half-hour weeknight news broadcasts.

In Britain, the Beatles recorded “Twist and Shout” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand.”

Flight A members, Mercury Program

The “red telephone” was established between the Soviet Union and the U.S. in June.

LSD was taken for the first time in July, opening the way for the drug culture yet to come.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In August, Martin Luther King led a March on Washington, demanding a law prohibiting racial discrimination in unemployment and a $2 per hour minimum wage for all workers among Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 10

Studebaker ceased production in South Bend.

And finally, the Motor Trend’s Car of the Year choice was the American Motors (AMC) Rambler.

Cost of Living

President John F. Kennedy

of president. It was a difficult time to become president with the mounting troubles in Vietnam where the Viet Cong Guerrillas had killed 80 American Advisers and in the U.S. The continued campaign for civil rights by the black community caused violent reactions from whites including Mississippi, Virginia and Alabama where the black civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested.

Technology

1963 was the first year for: • touch tone phones • zip codes • lava lamps • tape cassettes • pull tab cans for sodas

• Yearly Inflation Rate: 1.24% • Year End Close Dow Jones Industrial Average: 762 • Average Cost of new house: $12,650. • Average Income per year: $5,807. • Gas per Gallon: 29 cents • Average Cost of a new car: $3,233. • Loaf of bread: 22 cents • Bedroom Air Conditioner: $149.95

Popular Culture This was the year State Mutual Life Insurance invented the Smiley Face that was soon found on anything and everything around the world.

Popular Musicians • Roy Orbison • Buddy Holly • The Drifters • Jim Reeves Popular TV Programs • The Virginian • Lassie • The Andy Griffith Show • The Flintstones • Mister Ed • The Avengers • The Dick Van Dyke Show Popular Films • The Birds • Cleopatra • The Longest Day • Lawrence of Arabia • Mutiny on the Bounty • To Kill a Mockingbird

News The biggest news from 1963 was the assassination of the U.S. President Kennedy on November 22. This thrust Lyndon Johnson into the role

1963

The “Beatles”

P2033_US_News_F_1_ST

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Visit a TD Bank for all your cross-border banking needs. Visit tdbank.com/locator to find the location nearest you. Call 1-877-700-2913 for more information.3

TD Bank is TD Bank, N.A., a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Member FDIC. Accounts issued by TD Bank, N.A. are not insured by Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation. 1. Subject to credit approval and other conditions. Mortgages limited to property located in U.S. state where TD Bank, N.A. has locations. Equal Housing Lender . 2. Subject to credit approval and other conditions. Applicants must be a resident of Canada or a U.S. state where TD Bank, N.A. has locations. 3. TD Bank, N.A. is located in the United States and its support line and stores are serviced in English. ®/ The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or a wholly-owned subsidiary, in Canada and/or other countries.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 11 P2033_US_News_F_1_ST.indd 1

12/12/12 11:48 PM

BY JANICE DOYLE

ack in the ‘60s, Ray Rourke was a long-haul truck driver in Massachusetts. It was the beginning for later owning his own trucking company. His wife, Jan, grew up in Rhode Island “in a town so small the police and fire station were in the same building,” she says. In his younger years, Ray drove a ‘32 Ford hot rod—today called a Rat Rod. About 15 years ago, the couple got interested in classic cars when Ray got a 1956 Ford pickup and they started going to classic car shows. Now Jan has her own red ‘56 Ford Fairlaine with lake chrome side pipes and a continental kit on the back that says “lost in the ‘50s.” Jan says, “I started thinking it would be fun to really get involved with shows, and that was the beginning of Jan’s Cruiz-Ins. I love meeting the people. They show me

pictures and tell me about Mary Ann says, “They sure all the time and money don’t make them like that they put into their cars.” anymore. Through the years The Rourkes sponsor Jan’s it has never failed us.” Cruiz-In every Tuesday night The car has no air conditioner, at Prime Time Restaurant, although it could have had one. U.S. 19, Port Richey from Jerry once passed up a ’63 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. There’s Chevy for $150 which had an entertainment, music, door air conditioner he could have prizes, plaques, trophies, cash put in his car. Several years later drawings and raffles with he saw an air conditioner like proceeds from the shows to it for sale at $1,000. Oops! benefit charities. (No cruise“Our car drives like a Lincoln ins during July and August.) with its big wheel base,” he says. Cruiz-Ins are always different Among other things, he has added (L to R) Jerry and Mary Ann Kaczmarek and their as 30 to 100 cars come and power steering, steel belted radial ‘63 Chevy Impala; Jan and Ray Rourke. go. During the winter when tires and front wheel disc brakes. all the snowbirds are here, the Taking his car—or his 1931 PonNostalgia for 1963 car shows can draw up to 150 cars. Frequent car Cruiz-In participants are tiac or 1992 Corvette convertible—to At the shows, Jan says, “I dress car shows is a family thing. Jerry says, Jerry and Mary Ann (Jakubiak) Kaczup like Marilyn Monroe, a car marek in their red 1963 Chevy Impala. “Car people are just incredible. It’s not hop, or sometimes a bunch of just a guy thing anymore. It makes me It is a two-door hardtop with a 327 us wear our poodle skirts at the engine and 250-horsepower automatic. feel good that my wife enjoys it too. shows and then you really feel For information, call Janice & They have had the car since 1980 like it is the ‘50s and ‘60s.” Ray Rourke at (727) 841-9122. when it had just 63,000 miles on it.

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It Looks Like Art, But It Feels Like Fun! T

hat is what you will find at Painting with a Twist. It is a little bit of paint…a little bit of wine…and a whole lot of FUN! Painting with a Twist offers painting classes where all your painting supplies are provided. A local artist leads the class and gives step-by-step instruction on how to paint your masterpiece. The “twist” is you can bring your favorite bottle of wine or other beverages to enjoy during the class. You can come alone and make new friends or turn a regular gathering of old friends into something new and different. They’ll have a good time and walk away with a-one of-a kind painting. Join a class or book a private party. senior discounted classes are held on most Wednesday afternoons. Receive

a $10 rebate on these classes. Book clubs, Red Hat clubs, office, sorority, date nights, theme and team building parties are just a few fun events to celebrate here. Paint, canvas and brushes are provided. Local artists will lead you step by step. No experience is necessary. Choose from over 2600 paintings. Two-hour classes are $35 per person and three-hour classes are $45 per person. Located at 2527 Central Ave. in the Grand Central District of St. Pete. Office hours are 2 –7, M-F. Classes are held Monday – Saturday and some Sunday afternoons. Most classes begin at 7 p.m. Go online to www.painting withatwist.com/stpetersburg to see the upcoming classes and prices. Pick a painting on the Calendar Tab and sign up online or call (727) 327-4488.

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STIR UP SOME SUPER BOWL FUN W

hen it’s Super Bowl time— or any party, for that matter —you can stir up some fun with easy-to-make appetizers that are sure to please the whole crowd. These four recipes are a breeze to make and all share one simple secret ingredient—Musselman’s Apple Butter. Here are some delicious ideas for turning these dips and sauces into great party appetizers.

Recipe Quick and Easy BBQ Sauce

Makes: 6 to 8 servings

1 cup Musselman’s Apple Butter 1 cup chili sauce

Mix ingredients. Brush on chicken wings or shrimp during the last few minutes of grilling. It is simple to make BBQ pulled pork, as well as the sauce for a crockpot of meatballs or bacon-wrapped smoked sausages.

Apple Butter Mustard Dip

Kickin’ Horseradish Sandwich Spread

Caramel Apple Dip

1 cup Musselman’s Apple Butter 1/2 cup Dijon mustard

1 cup Musselman’s Apple Butter Creamy horseradish sauce depending on spice level (1/4 cup for light, 1/2 cup for mild, 1 cup for hot)

1 cup Musselman’s Apple Butter 1/2 cup caramel sauce

Makes: 6 to 8 servings

Mix ingredients. Delicious with just hard or soft pretzels. Set out a plate of cheese cubes or mini egg rolls for dipping, and you have easy snacking.

Makes: 6 to 8 servings

Mix apple butter with desired amount of horseradish. This tastes great with roast beef, chicken, or pork—try mini sandwich sliders or pinwheel wraps. Another great idea is to use the spread as a dip for chicken tenders, sweet potato fries or even veggie chips.

Makes: 6 to 8 servings

Mix ingredients. Set a dish of this warm dip on a pretty tray and surround it with freshly sliced apples or pears, and simple gingersnap cookies. For a family fun dessert, dip marshmallows and then roll them in chopped nuts. For more ways to stir up some fun at your party, visit www.musselmans.com. (Family Features)

The Ultimate Burger Super Bowl: Fun Facts

Photo by Redsie

urger toppings are like football teams—everybody has their favorites, and they swear by ‘em. You could do it Philly-style with melted cheese, onions and green peppers; Chicagostyle with fresh relish and spicy slaw; or throw some barbeque sauce and fried onions on top, Texas-style. Swiss and mushrooms, bleu cheese and cajun spices, even mac and cheese—burger toppings abound; but the secret to the ultimate burger is a juicy, flavorful patty. This recipe for the ultimate patty comes from Kittencal at Food.com:

Kittencal’s Juicy Hamburger 2 lbs ground beef 1 egg, slightly beaten 1 ounce envelope dry onion soup mix (can use the whole package if desired) 2 tablespoons fresh minced garlic (or use 1 teaspoon garlic powder) 1/4 cup dry breadcrumbs (or crushed soda cracker crumbs, more if needed) (optional) 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper 1 -2 tablespoon Frank’s red hot sauce (or 1-2 teaspoons crushed chili flakes, or can adjust to heat level) (optional) Directions: 1. In a bowl, crumble the ground beef with clean hands. Add in the dry soup mix, egg, garlic, breadcrumbs or crushed soda cracker crumbs, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper and hot sauce (if using).

2. Mix until combined, adding breadcrumbs or cracker crumbs as needed to hold the mixture together (do not overwork the meat or it will be tough). 3. Divide the ground beef into 6 equal patties (or make 8 small patties).

4. Using your large finger or the back of a small spoon, make a shallow dent into the center of each patty (about 1-inch wide).

5. Place the patties onto a large plate or a small cookie sheet; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 6 – 24 hours to blend flavors. 6. Grill or pan fry the burgers until cooked through (if desired, sprinkle a small amount of seasoned salt on top while cooking the patties). Serve on toasted buns with choice of condiments.

7. For extra juiciness; shape the hamburger into a ball. Press 1 tablespoon cold butter into the middle and seal the meat around the ball, then flatten into patties.

The first Super Bowl was held in Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles on Jan. 15, 1967. The Green Bay Packers beat the Kansas City Chiefs, 35 – 10. Super Bowl Sunday is the second biggest day of the year for food consumption in the US. Thanksgiving is first. Every year, more than 700,000 footballs are made for official NFL use. 72 of them are set aside for use during the Super Bowl. Which NFL team has played in the most Super Bowls? The Pittsburgh Steelers and Dallas Cowboys have each played in 8 of them. The Steelers have won six of those games (also a Super Bowl record). The Cowboys have a 5 – 3 record. The Super Bowl is the second most watched sporting event in the world. The first is soccer’s Champions League Final. (From internet sources)

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 15

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Medicare Answers D

ear Marci, I didn’t sign up for Medicare Part B on time because I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to pay the monthly Part B premium. I have very limited income and was told that I need to sign up for Medicare in order to have my health care services covered. Are there any programs that can help me? —Rebecca Dear Rebecca, yes, you might qualify for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP), which is an assistance program that helps people with limited income pay for the Medicare Part B premium. While the primary purpose of an MSP is to help pay Medicare premiums and Medicarerelated costs, another benefit of this program is that by enrolling into an MSP, you are automatically enrolling into Part B. MSPs also eliminate any premium penalties you may have for delaying enrollment into Part B. To qualify for an MSP, you must have Medicare Part A and meet

Can Seniors Be Safe Drivers? I t’s an ongoing question—can seniors be safe drivers? The answer varies from one person to the next. Here are 8 tips that could save your life: For most Americans, driving is such a regular part of everyday life that we don’t think twice about slipping behind the wheel. Years in the driver’s seat give us a lot of valuable experience, but there’s a downside, too: As we age, our risk of getting in car accidents goes up. Road safety analysts predict that by 2030 when the last of the baby boomers has turned 65, seniors will be responsible for 25 percent of fatal car crashes. Here’s what you can do to stay safe: Listen to your body. Aches and pains can impair your driving ability, but sometimes you can mitigate them with simple adjustments. Do your hands ache from gripping the steering wheel? Try a padded steering wheeel cover. Does you back hurt during longer trips? Get an orthopedic seat cushion. Test your eyes and ears. Today, 6.5 million Americans over age 65 suffer from severe vision loss, according to the CDC. Any changes to vision and hearing can make driving dangerous. Visit your doctor for regular check-ups to make sure your eyes and ears are in tip-top shape. Consider a new car. Many older adults find that a vehicle with large mirrors and dashboard gauges, and that is easy to get in and out of, makes driving a lot more comfortable. Check out carfit.com, a service offered by AAA that tests your vehicle to find out if it’s ideal for you. Stay physically active. Regular exercise can help keep your body performing well behind the wheel. Try yoga to improve your flexibility and sterengthen your core for comfortable long drives and light weight lifting to keep your arms from getting tired.

Drive only in good weather. 17 percent of car crash fatalities occur during bad weather. Stay off the road when the weather is inclement, and you’ll lower your chances of getting in a crash. Limit distractions. AAA estimates that 25 to 30 percent of all accidents are caused by a distracted driver. To keep from being one of them, get settled before you press the gas pedal, choose your radio station and adjust your mirrors and seat. If you’re using directions, make sure you’ve printed out and reviewed them beforehand, or if you have a GPS, enter your destination before you start driving. Put your cell phone in the back seat to keep yourself from answering calls or texts. Know your medications. Some medications can cause drowsiness, which can lead to accidents. Always talk to your doctor or pharmacist about possible side effects. If you’re not supposed to operate a vehicle while taking your medications, don’t. Take a refresher course. If you had to take a highschool biology test now, how well would you do? It’s been that long since you’ve learned the rules of the road, so consider updating your driving skills in a local or online class. Some insurance companies will even lower their premiums if you do. (See the AAA website to find a class.) Info from Griswold Home care.

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Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 17 VERSION: 1

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Our “Go 90” Program - 3 prescription refills in one and for 3 months you’re done! Our Prescriptions Savings Club - Members get special discounts off the cash price of thousands of brand-name and generic medications as well as numerous other benefits when they use their card throughout the store. Our Exclusive savings for AARP members Our Prescription “Auto Fill” Program - Automatically refill your prescriptions from your online pharmacy account and pick up your prescriptions at your local pharmacy or have them shipped for free! Our Durable Medical Equipment - Such As Lift Chairs, Wheelchairs, Walkers and more…

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Total Wellness Fair

isit the Largo Community Center, 400 Alternate Keene Road, on Thursday, January 31 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for “Getting It Together in 2013: Total Wellness Fair,” presented by the city of Largo Volunteer Corps Advisory Board (VCAB) and the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program of Pinellas county (RSVP). The Wellness Fair will feature health screenings, wellness information,

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 18

hands-on activities and healthy living tips, as well as informational displays, product demonstrations, benefit information and educational materials. Enjoy live music, healthy snacks and a chance to win door prizes, raffles and giveaways. You can also take this opportunity to sign up for volunteer service opportunities in the community. For more info, call (727) 518-3131.

Maybe the Problem is Being Almost Addicted E

mergency room visits by people age 50 and older involving pharmaceutical misuse and abuse increased 121 percent between 2004 and 2008. Millions of people worldwide use addictive drugs to feel good, to relieve anxiety, to keep up with friends or to realize any number of other perceived benefits. These occasional users of all ages might fit the definition of “almost addicted.” Between the estimated 10 percent of the population who have a diagnosable addiction problem and those who don’t use drugs at all falls a group of regular users who oftentimes don’t realize how they’ve become almost addicted. Whether their drug of choice is just to “relieve stress” or a hallucinogen, people who find themselves in the almost addicted zone are nearly always struggling with a host of relationship or quality of life issues.

In Almost Addicted: Is My (or My Loved One’s) Drug Use a Problem?, authors J. Wesley Boyd and Eric Metcalf show that the state of being “almost addicted” offers users the opportunity to turn their lives around before sliding into true addiction. A person in an “almost addicted” state is outside of normal behavior but doesn’t meet traditional criteria for substance abuse or dependence. Their behavior, however, causes problems for the person or those around him or her. If not stopped, the person has the potential to progress to a diagnosis of true drug abuse or drug dependence. The book offers insight into helping someone who is almost addicted as well as treatment options. For more info, or to order the book, see TheAlmostEffect.com. Published by Harvard Health Publications.

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8 Ways To Quell The Fire Of Heartburn H

eartburn is a common problem. It’s caused by the backwash of stomach acid into the esophagus, the tube connecting the mouth and stomach. This is formally called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). More than just a minor discomfort, heartburn can significantly reduce quality of life. “Heartburn can cause damage to the esophagus and even increase the risk of cancer if ignored and untreated,” says Dr. William Kormos of Massachusetts General Hospital.

Health These eight steps can help ease heartburn:

1. Eat in a heartburn-smart way. Large meals put pressure on the muscle that normally helps keep stomach contents from backing up into the esophagus. The more you eat, the longer it takes for the stomach to empty, which contributes to reflux.

Try smaller, more frequent meals and don’t wolf down your food. 2. Avoid late-night eating. Having a meal or snack within three hours of lying down to sleep can worsen reflux, causing heartburn. Leave enough time for the stomach to clear out. 3. Don’t exercise right after meals. Give your stomach time to empty; wait a couple of hours. But don’t just lie down either, which will worsen reflux. 4. Sleep on an incline. Raising your torso up a bit with a wedge-shaped cushion may ease nighttime heartburn. Wedges are available from medical supply companies and some home goods stores. Don’t just prop your head and shoulders up with pillows. Doing so can increase pressure on the stomach by curling you up at the waist. 5. Identify and avoid foods associated with heartburn. Common offenders include fatty foods, spicy foods, tomatoes, garlic, milk, coffee, tea, cola, peppermint and chocolate.

E M E R G E N C Y

Carbonated beverages cause belching, which also causes reflux.

6. Chew sugarless gum after a meal. Chewing gum promotes salivation, which helps neutralize acid, soothes the esophagus and washes acid back down to the stomach. Avoid peppermint gum, which may trigger heartburn more than other flavors. 7. Rule out medication side effects. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether any of the medications you take might cause pain resembling heartburn or contribute to reflux.

8. Lose weight if you need to. Being overweight puts more pressure on the stomach and pushes stomach contents into the esophagus. Tight fitting clothing and belts that come with weight gain may also be a factor.

When to consider medication: If the lifestyle steps above don’t get heartburn under control, the most

effective treatment is a type of drug called a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). It works by drastically reducing acid secretion by the stomach. You can get some PPIs over-the-counter—for example, lansoprazole (Prevacid) and omeprazole (Prilosec). Others are available by prescription only. A PPI can get heartburn under control, but many people end up taking one indefinitely. This isn’t ideal since research has linked PPIs to increased susceptibility to bacterial infection and long-term risk of hip fracture, among other potential risks. After a PPI cools your heartburn symptoms, ask your doctor if you can taper it off and then combine good preventive measures with targeted use of other medicines to keep heartburn from returning. H2 blockers are good for this purpose. They include cimetidine (Tagamet), ranitidine (Zantac), famotidine (Pepcid), and nizatidine (Axid). If your symptoms persist, you may need additional testing.

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Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 19

Five Ways to Help Discover The Springs Avoid Caregiver Burnout South Pasadena’s Hidden Treasure E 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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Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 20

lder Care Expert A. Michael Bloom offers these practical coping strategies for the 60 million American family caregivers to recharge their energy while avoiding burnout, and he notes that “the life you save may be your own.”

4. Use High Tech to Deliver High Touch. Free, easy-to-navigate systems to build support networks can be found at seniorcaresociety.com. Through these online communities, family caregivers can post vital medical and support information, use an online calendar to schedule volunteer assistance for activities/appointments and send updates with just the click of a button. 5. Low Tech Packs a Punch, Too. Old school options such as calendars, post-it-notes and dry erase boards are just as effective. Create an information binder for family, friends and volunteers so vital medical and support needs are at their fingertips.

1. Put chocolate in your pill box. Caregivers rarely provide themselves with rewards that release stress. Determine your special “chocolate” (which is a metaphor for something that For caregivers who are serious about provides ultimate joy) and dose yourexploring ways to recharge your careself regularly so you create enduring giving energy now, learn more or take a satisfaction and success during the long Free Caregiving Burnout Risk Assessjourney of care. ment by visiting bloomforcoach.com.

2. Get those stressful thoughts out of your head and say YES to requests for support. Set a 5 – 10 minute time block at least once per week to deal with your stress. Make a list of all the issues rolling through your mind. Put the items on paper and make plans to address them. When a friend or family member asks how they can help, be prepared with this list of tasks that others can perform to lighten your load. 3. Schedule regular breaks. Seek assistance from friends, relatives or volunteers so you take a class, go to the gym, go on a date with your partner or enjoy other fun recreational activities.

The Healthy Geezer BY FRED CICETTI

. I heard that marijuana helps glaucoma. I’d like to try it, but won’t I get in trouble?

arijuana can help your glaucoma and it could definitely get you in trouble because it’s illegal. Marijuana refers to the parts of the Cannabis sativa plant, which has been used for medicinal purposes for more than 4,800 years. Doctors in ancient China, Greece and Persia used it as a pain reliever and for gastrointestinal disorders and insomnia. Cannabis as a medicine was common throughout most of the world in the 1800s. It was used as the primary pain reliever until the invention of aspirin. The United States, in effect, made prescriptions for Cannabis illegal through the Marijuana Tax Act of 1937. The only opponent to the legislation was the representative of the American Medical Association. Marijuana contains at least 60 chemicals called cannabinoids. THC is the main component responsible for marijuana’s mind-altering effect. Marinol (dronabinol), a prescription drug taken by oral capsule, is a man-made version of THC One of THC’s medical uses is for the treatment of nausea. It can improve mild to moderate nausea caused by cancer chemotherapy and help reduce nausea and weight loss in people with AIDS. Older people, especially those with no marijuana experience, may not tolerate THC’s mind-altering side effects as well as young people. Doctors generally prescribe several kinds of newer anti-nausea drugs with fewer side effects before resorting to Marinol. Glaucoma increases pressure in the eyeball, which can lead to vision loss. Smoking marijuana reduces pressure in the eyes.Your doctor can prescribe other medications to treat glaucoma, but these can lose their effectiveness over time.

Researchers are trying to develop new medications based on cannabis to treat pain. THC may work as well in treating cancer pain as codeine. A recent study found that cannabinoids significantly reduced pain in people with multiple sclerosis, a disease of the nervous system. Though some doctors and patients suggest marijuana has a legitimate use, the federal government disagrees. The law classifies marijuana as one of the “most dangerous drugs that have no recognized medical use.” The penalties for possession of marijuana can range from a small fine to a prison sentence. Along with the legal implications of smoking marijuana are the health problems such as memory impairment, loss of coordination and the potential for withdrawal symptoms and hallucinations. And, inhaling marijuana smoke exposes you to substances that may cause cancer. One study has indicated that the risk of heart attack more than quadruples in the first hour after smoking marijuana. The researchers suggest that a heart attack might be caused by marijuana’s effects on blood pressure, heart rate and the capacity of blood to carry oxygen. Most polls show that about three out of four people approve of medical marijuana. This has led to the introduction of bills in Congress that would eliminate federal controls in states that approve medical marijuana. None of these bills has been voted into law. Marijuana is now available by prescription in many states. However, federal agencies control the power to prescribe. If you would like to read more columns, you can order a copy of “How To Be A Healthy Geezer” at www.healthygeezer.com. All Rights Reserved © 2012 by Fred Cicetti.

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U.S. Veteran Charities: Beyond Lip Service SEAL Team 6 Author Discusses Value of Legit Nonprofits

ith the war in Afghanistan set to end in 2014, and the Iraq war having ended two years ago, charities that help veterans and their families may be busier than ever— but without the public awareness generated by an ongoing conflict. Support for the war effort in Afghanistan is on par with the unpopular Vietnam War during the early 1970s, according to a recent Associated Press-GfK poll; only 27 percent of Americans support the effort in Afghanistan. A fundamental difference between then and now, however, is Americans’ nearly unanimous support of U.S. troops, says J. L. Narmi, author of SEAL Team 6, bin Laden and Beyond. “The vitriol expressed toward our Vietnam veterans by many was disgusting, but I think we learned from that injustice, and most Americans think the troops deserve much more support than they’re getting,” says Narmi, who comes from a military family. All proceeds from his book sales will go to support veterans’ charities. “The problem is that funding, whether it’s through government or private charities, doesn’t match the expressed support,” he says. “And I worry that will only get worse as these soldiers move out of the public eye and try to take up peace-time lives.” Narmi cites some good resources for Americans looking for quality charities that support the troops: • The Wounded Warrior Project (woundedwarriorproject.org): With advances in protective gear and life-saving medical technology, fewer troops are coming home in coffins than in previous wars, but more are coming back with lifelong injury. This charity seeks to foster a generation of well-adjusted

wounded service members, and to raise public awareness about their needs and how fellow military men and women can help each other.

• The Navy SEAL Foundation (navyseal foundation.org): As detailed in Narmi’s novel, SEALs are among the most physically and mentally talented individuals in the world. But they, along with their families, endure enormous stressors, many of which are never discussed due to the nature of their duties. This charity supports these elite warriors and their families. • Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org): Whether or not you think you know about the legitimacy of a charitable organization, it doesn’t hurt to take a few minutes to verify an organization’s status. This site is widely recognized by investigative reporters to be a reliable resource in reporting a nonprofit’s activity. The above two groups, in which Narmi has donated money, have been verified via Charity Navigator. Still not sure? …Skepticism is understandable. It seems the more we hear or read about charities, the more we learn that we shouldn’t simply take their word for how donations will be spent. Media coverage spotlights those outlier groups that are clearly fraudulent; however, most charitable organizations are absolutely streamlined, with workers donating their time or receiving a minimal wage. It has never been easier to verify a charity’s reputation. “If everyone who said they support the troops gave just a modest amount to help a veteran who has risked his or her life for our freedom, we would come across far fewer tragedies on the news about vet-related joblessness, homelessness and suicide,” he says.

Bay Pines VA Volunteer Receives National Recognition C

huck Mirasola, a Originally from volunteer at the Buffalo, N.Y., MiraBay Pines VA Healthsola served in the U.S. care System, received Army from 1963 – 65. a national award from Mirasola started volunthe National Council teering at the Bay Pines of Hospice and PalVA in 1997 shortly liative Professionals after a 35-year career at (NCHPP) during the the Ford Motor Comorganization’s clinic pany. He volunteered team conference in in locations all over Orlando, Fla. on Nov. 6. the facility to include The event was held at grounds keeping, the the Walt Disney World information desk and Dolphin Resort in Lake patient transport. Then, Buena Vista, Fla. about eight years ago, The 71-year-old U.S. he started volunteering Chuck Mirasola, Bay Pines VA Volunteer in the hospice and Army veteran was one of only three volunteers palliative care unit. recognized nationally for receiving “I wanted to volunteer in the the NCHPP’s “Volunteers are the hospice unit because of the safe and Foundation of Hospice Award,” caring environment,” said Mirasola. for his commitment and service to “Remarkable things happen on the Veterans and their families during his hospice unit every day—I wanted time as a volunteer in the facility’s to be part of that and thought that hospice and palliative care unit. I could make a difference.”

Find The Medicare Supplemental Coverage That’s Right For You BY ALYN TOWNE, III

sit behind a mahogany desk, I wear a suit, I am a financial planner; I do not sell Medicare supplements! That’s what I told my insurance wholesaler the first three times he tried to make an appointment with me. Then one day he walked into my office, sat down and gave me his pitch. I thought, like most people, that you have to have health insurance; but if you do not use it, it is like throwing your money away. Once I learned about this Medicare supplement, I thought it was the greatest thing since sliced bread. I want to tell everyone about it. The most comprehensive coverage, any doctor, any hospital—we hear that a lot. The first company to issue a Medicare supplement policy where

you keep control of most of your money—I never heard that. Four years ago, my father, who has been in the financial services for more than four decades, turned 65. He made me sit in the meetings when he grilled the salesman about Medicare supplements. He wanted to know all the facts before he chose a plan. Each salesman had their pitch, and when my father probed further they got quiet, closed their brochures and left. When I learned about this supplement, my father was the first person I pitched. If there was an angle I was not seeing, he would find it. Instead, he signed up on the spot. In these tough economic times, don’t waste your money and don’t sacrifice the best coverage. Learn about Medicare supplemental coverage. Call Sterling Insurance, Inc. at (727) 384-5555.

Since his time in the unit, Mirasola has completed more than 12,500 hours of volunteer work performing various tasks from cooking and serving food to listening to war stories, consoling families and honoring the memory of those veterans who pass away. While his jobs are many, Mirasola said his favorite part of volunteering is being able be there for all veterans, but especially those who do not have family available to visit them during the last days of their lives. “I like to be someone (veterans) can talk to; someone they can trust and feel comfortable with,” he said. “It gets pretty emotional sometimes, but I feel like I have a responsibility to take care of them during a time when they may feel uncertain and scared. Sometimes you only have to listen, and that makes all the difference.” Beth Whidden, a nurse manager on the unit, described Mirasola as a vital member of the hospice team and someone who is a “shining star and pillar of support” for veterans, their families and hospice employees.

“Chuck goes above and beyond his duties as a volunteer every day,” she said. “He is a special and caring person that has a real connection with the veterans who come to our unit. While he won’t admit it, he is more than deserving of the recognition he will receive in November and we are all proud of him.” Mirasola is one of approximately 1,450 volunteers currently enrolled through the Bay Pines VAHCS Voluntary Service program. Like Mirasola, these volunteers dedicate their time to veterans and their families while completing various tasks and functions to include parking lot attendants, shuttle drivers, clerical support, patient transport, appointment reminder phone calls, voting assistance and much more. To learn more about how to volunteer your time or donate to the Bay Pines VA, please visit baypines.va.gov/giving.

Affordable Housing For Senior Citizens

Creekside Manor I & II

are federally subsidized apartments for persons 62 and above. Special access apartments are also available. Studio & 1 Bdrm. Apartments. Rent is based on income. Located in a quiet Clearwater neighborhood For appointment

Call (727) 441-8400

TDD: 727-447-3018 TOTAL INCOME LIMIT One person $19,750 u Two persons $22,600 YOUR MONTHLY RENT IS NO MORE THAN 30% OF YOUR ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME. 1318 Franklin Street u Clearwater, Fla. Office Hrs. Mon.–Fri. 8–12 & 1–4 Closed Saturday & Sunday Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 23

January at the Dali

Check out the Dali Museum this month:

8 10 12 15

and 9 The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion. $20/senior. 7 p.m. Dali Condensed – Dali’s Early Years (1910s – 1920s) 6 p.m. $5. Film: Prospero’s Books. 1 p.m. Free

Persistence of Memory Memoir Writing: Finding

Memoir Momentum, by Margo Hammond. 10:30 a.m. $65. The Genius Next Door: An interactive evening with the brightest minds in St. Petersburg. $5. 6 p.m. Film: Romeo & Juliet. 1 p.m. Free

17 19 26

Film: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. 1 p.m. Free. Information: (727) 823-3767

New Book by Local Author

y Buddha Wears Bifocals, a new book by Kathleen Sands of St. Pete Beach, is full of insights into the joys and dilemmas of being a baby boomer. Sands takes the reader with her through loves lost and found, career insights and life-changing

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situations with and about her parents. She shares her insights about her mid-life body and emotions. As she writes, “We come to love our story, if we are lucky, precisely because it is our own.” Fellow boomer women will identify with Sands and her travels into the next stage of life.

Live Your Retirement Dream

f you’ve been thinking about making Florida your home, look no further than Island In The Sun in Clearwater. This active 55+ housing community offers an array of amenities that include a swimming pool and spa, shuffleboard, billiards room, library, state-of-the-art fitness center and community center. But what makes Island In The Sun stand out most is its friendly staff and dedication to meeting the needs of its residents. The community offers onsite management, 24/7.“I want visitors to know that we put residents first,” says Scott Brown, regional sales manager. “We have a wonderful community manager named Robin Grimm who lives there. We feel it is important that whoever runs the community also lives in the community.” Island In The Sun offers double-wide manufactured housing in a variety of styles, as well as lots for custom housing and annual and seasonal rental properties. Houses average around $18,000.

Current special: purchase a home and receive three months free lot lease.

Activities The large community center is a hub for Island- and resident-sponsored clubs and events. You’ll find card games, crafts, bingo, dancing, dinners and social events. And the adventure doesn’t end there—you’re only a short drive away from sunny beaches and local attractions like Busch Gardens, Disney World, the Buccaneer stadium,Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and much more. It’s the perfect location to enjoy a retirement filled with fun and relaxation. Brown invites you to take a tour and experience the Island In The Sun difference yourself. “I think it’s very important when someone is looking for a place to live, that they talk not only to the salesperson and community manager, but to the residents as well,” he said. “Our residents are our best salespeople.” To learn more or schedule a tour, call 1-888-523-1810.

New Books Art f you got “too soon old” without learning to be a great artist, here’s help. The Wrinklies’ Guide to Drawing: New Pursuits for Old Hands by Richard Pomfret is a an easy-to-follow manual to help mature readers exercise their brains and try something new. The book begins with basic drawing techniques and advice on materials and goes on to cover drawing landscapes, animals, cartoons and still life. Other “Wrinklies” easy guide books include The Wrinklies Guide to Gardening, The Wrinklies Guide to Home Computing and The Wrinklies Guide to Keeping Supple.

iPads AARP’s book iPad: Tech to Connect takes the complex little flat-screen iPad and teaches how to tap, swipe and pinch to get places. Then it shows and tells how to download apps and connect with friends before advising on ways to protect and secure the little machine. Large text and clear visuals make the book easy to use.

Computers The easiest way to get what you want from your computer is to use The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Using Your Computer—for Seniors. This book is packed with what a beginner needs to know to get started in every aspect of computers. It is written to be understood and is full of practical, easy tips and instructions.

Caregiving Dr. Ruth’s Guide for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver by Dr. Ruth Westheimer is the author’s simple, straightforward message for caregivers: You are not alone. The book includes resources, strategies, tips, tricks and attitudes to create the most supportive environment possible for both patient and caregiver. She deals with behavior management, home safety, doctor interaction and facilities.

Money If you now have time to learn money management, you might like Managing Retirement Wealth, An Expert Guide to Personal Portfolio Management in Good Times and Bad by Julie Jason. The author is a portfolio manager who includes real-life scenarios, rewards, risks and direction for a variety of investments. The book is written to help retirees establish a system to get on course and stay on course with goals.

{ { Book Giveaway!

We’re giving these books away! Email your name, mailing address, phone number and the title of the book you are interested in winning to janice@lifestylesafter50.com (subject: Book Giveaway) or send by snail mail to Attn: Book Giveaway, News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583. We will draw a name for each of the five books on Jan. 22. Winners will be announced in our February issue.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 25

Winter In Wonderland– O

Great Vacation Ideas

ptions abound for taking exciting winter vacations, whether to mild or snowy climates. Here’s a roundup of ideas to take advantage of.

Yellowstone on Skis for five days of cross-country ski trails (from $1,995) Winter Wolf Discovery (from $705) Winter in Wonderland park exploration (from $1,385)

Getaway Packages and Adventure Packages have different options and prices. Info at 1-307-344-7311 or 866-439-7375 or on their website at YellowstoneNationalParkLodges.com.

Yellowstone “Lodging & Learning” The Yellowstone Association Institute (YAI) offers five “Lodging and Learning” sessions in the winter. Sponsored in part by the Yellowstone National Park Lodges and Xanterra Parks & Resorts (the managing company of park lodging, restaurants and activities), vacation packages offer accommodations in either Old Faithful Snow Lodge or Mammoth Hot Springs Hotel. Rick Hoeninghausen, a director for the program, says, “Our wildlife viewing, cross-country skiing and geology all stand alone as worldclass, but combined they create an unparalleled experience.” Each program includes accommodations, some meals and a “Snow Card” good for 10 percent off meals, in-park transportation, tours, ski shop services and most retail items. Some Lodging & Learning package components vary based on location. Choose from the following:

Old Faithful Winter Expedition (from $1,075/per person/double) Winter Wildlife Expedition for the wildlife observers (from $665)

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 26

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Alberta, Canada

Dragon (“Gum Lung”) It takes a team of over 100 men and women from the martial arts group White Crane to carry this dragon throughout the streets of San Francisco. For info, go to chineseparade.com and make your reservations today!

If you want winter with everything taken care of in grand style, book a winter escape to The Fairmont Banff Springs with genuine Rocky Mountain adventure. Spend your day snowshoeing on top of the world in magnificent Banff National Park or dogsledding in the wilderness of the Canadian Rockies. Then escape to the ultimate in comfort and relaxation at The Fairmont Banff Springs resort.

Travel

Chinese New Year Parade One of the top 10 parades in the world, this year over 100 units will participate in the Chinese New Year Parade in San Francisco on February 23, 2013. A San Francisco tradition since just after the Gold Rush, the parade continues to delight and entertain the many people who come to watch it on the street (or buy bleacher seats on the parade route). Now sponsored by Southwest Airlines, it is one of the few remaining night illuminated parades in the country. Nowhere in the world will you see a lunar new year parade with more gorgeous floats, elaborate costumes, ferocious lions, exploding firecrackers, and of course the newly crowned Miss Chinatown U.S.A. and her court. One entry loved by everyone is the spectacular 268-foot-long Golden

Luxury in the Canadian Rockies

Rodeo San Antonio Dig out the cowboy hat, shine the belt buckle and put on those boots that were made for walkin’ as you head for the mild weather in San Antonio and the annual Stock Show and Rodeo Feb. 7 through 24. You’ll find a roster including 21 rodeo performances, star-studded entertainment as well as a Cowboy Golf Classic, a Texas BBQ Cookoff, and the Go Rodeo Ball. All of the Rodeo staples are included: Grand Entry, Saddle Bronc Riding, Tie-Down Roping, Barrel Racing, Bullriding, Calf Scramble, Steer Wrestling and Mutton Bustin’. Get all the details and order event tickets online at sarodeo.com.

Originally built in 1888 and modelled after a Scottish castle, the hotel has constructed its own upscale version of a mineral pool infused with healing salts from thermal waters in Europe. There’s also an outdoor heated pool and jacuzzi. The hotel offers choices from cozy rooms tucked away in quiet corners of the castle all the way to spacious suites with panoramic mountain views. The Fairmont Banff Springs hotel’s Willow Stream Spa is considered the most deluxe spa in the Canadian Rockies. The spa can be a place to spend your days in indoor luxury relaxation or combined with days outside in vigorous activities. No hurry! Winter lasts several more months in Banff. See package prices at fairmont.com/ banff-springs.

Six Hidden Benefits of Exercise

hysically, when you find you can no longer climb stairs or walk easily from the car to the mall door, it’s time to look to exercise. Otherwise, “It’s possible to find yourself getting into a downward spiral of less and less physical activity,” writes Dr. Miriam Stoppard in her book Defying Age. The benefits of exercise go far beyond how your clothes fit and keeping major diseases like high blood pressure and heart disease at bay. These six hidden benefits of exercise go a long way toward keeping your body, mind and spirit younger longer. With regular physical exercise, you will…

Look good! Exercise

produces younger looking, more blemish-free skin: “The increase in circulation and perspiration that occurs with exercise delivers more nutrients to your skin while allowing impurities and waste to be removed,” says Dr. Eudene Harry, author of Live Younger in 8 Simple Steps. “The result? A healthier complexion!”

Feel great! Physical

activity releases endorphins, the brain chemicals that boost your mood and make you feel happy. They relieve stress and enhance your self-esteem and self-confidence. Exercise has also been shown to increase neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine, which give the body a natural high and promote better sleep. Any type of physical activity increases the rate at which antibodies flow through the blood stream, resulting in better immunity against sickness. The increased temperature generated during moderate exercise makes it difficult for certain infectious organisms to survive.

Eat well! Exercise controls your

appetite, according to Dr. Stoppard. We have an appestat in our brains, which is a switch that tells us when we’re full and should stop eating. Exercise turns it on (stop eating!).

Another effect of exercise is that the muscles tell the brain what they need—and it won’t be fat and sugar. Rather, burning calories will send you toward vitamin-rich fruits and veggies and complex carbs.

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

Think clearly! Scientists believe

that exercise is good for the brain by enhancing the heart’s function, which means there’s a richer supply of blood for your memory and mental function.

Stand tall! In your 20s, you stood

erect; in your 60s, if you stand tall, straighten your shoulders and hold your head up, you can take ten years off your age because back, neck, abdominal and pelvic muscles are toned and strong. Dr. Stoppard also says that erect posture is protection against developing backache, digestive problems and heart disease. An erect spine means lungs work more efficiently and the feet are steadier. Just like your mother told you, stand up straight.

Jan. 23, 2013

Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 Hwy. 301 N. • Tampa, FL 33610 Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. Warm Up by Silver & Fit Walk starts at 9:15 a.m., $3 minimum donation for local Meals On Wheels.

Please make checks payable to: News Connection USA, Inc.

Jan. 23, 2013 • 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

Be constipated? Heavens, no!

Exercise increases the contractions of the wall of the intestine, helping to move things along through the intestinal tract more easily and decreasing the time it takes to pass through the large intestine. Dr. Harry advises waiting an hour or two after eating before exerting yourself since exercising too soon after a meal can divert blood flow away from the gut and toward the muscles, weakening peristaltic contractions (and slowing down the digestion process). Dr. Harry includes the usual caveat for exercising: Talk to your doctor and do not overdo exercising or you won’t see all of these benefits. And research shows that asking a friend to join you in an exercise program increases socialization, a key factor in overall wellbeing and feelings of optimism.

er Join us Aft . .. lk a the W

FREE!

YES! I would like to join the Lifestyles After 50 Fun Walk Jan. 23, 2013! MAIL DEADLINE Jan. 10 or Register at the Florida State Fairgrounds 8:30 a.m., Jan. 23, 2013 Walk starts at 9:15 a.m. Age

Name Address City

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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

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 27

Join us on: February 26, 2013

17th

FREE

Doors open inside 9 am – 1 pm PARKING ONLY $2 DAY OF THE EVENT

ainment Music & Entert ney By Denise Loo t DJ with a Twis

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who attend have a chance to Win tickets to the IMAX Theater Dome at MOSI

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Back Woods Walk starts at 8:00 am

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Fill out this form and mail it with your $8 donation to: Age

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News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638 Seffner, FL 33583-0638 YES! I would like to join the Backwoods Walk at MOSI Feb. 26, 2013! MAIL DEADLINE Feb. 15 or Register at MOSI 7:30 a.m., Feb. 26, 2013 Walk starts at 8:00 a.m. Parking fee included.

In Consideration of your acceptance of this entry. I for myself, my heirs, devises, executor, administratora and assigns do hereby hold harmless MOSI Foundation, Inc. or their employees, representatives or successors, for any and all damages or injuries I may incur. I hereby grant permission for the free use of my name and picture in broadcast or account of this event.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 28

Join Us for...

17th

You Don’t Have to Walk to Enjoy FREE Event Inside Feb. 26, 2013

Starts outside the MOSI Main Entrance at 8 am. Walk Registration Includes: • Packet Pick-up: 7:30 am • Back Woods Walk T-shirt • Continental breakfast • One IMAX® film voucher for use on event day or in the future* *Vouchers not valid for special engagement films

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so there is a 69 percent chance that the dealer does not have a blackjack. Add to that you are sitting on one ten-point ear Mark: I was recently playcard, and with a quick scan of the ing blackjack at one of Detroit’s table, you will probably note additioncasinos, and I was dealt a blackjack al ten-point cards; consequently, the with the dealer showing an ace. I chances now become even greater than opted not to take “even money” as 69 percent that the dealer doesn’t posI had always thought you shouldn’t sess one. Therefore, Suzanne, based on take insurance. After checking her the 3 to 2 payoff that you receive for a hole card and turning over a face card for a dealer blackjack, the dealer blackjack, even if you possess a snapper, you will make more money over told me I was wrong, that it was not the long run by never taking insurance the same as insurance, that it was or even money. Suzanne 1, Dealer 0. free money. Was the dealer correct? As to your second question, when Also, I recently had another situyour dealer’s handicraft at dealing cards ation and wonder if what I did was falters, the dealer is not the one who correct. Playing blackjack again, settles any squabble. All authoritative the dealer inadvertently pulled two moves are made by a pit boss. Now, cards and dealt them both to the first switching hats and speaking as a former player. She called over the pit boss pit boss, my decision would have who proceeded to give the top (first) duplicated the one you received. That card to the first player, burned the is not to say that different pit bosses second card and then had the dealer continue rest of Online! the hands, couldn’t render contrary conclusions. Takedealing Yourthe Class All the same, giving everyone at the including her own. The pit boss then • Study at your leisure, 24 hours a day, 7 days a toweek. table the opportunity withdraw their gave everyone at the table the option wagers was something I always did. • Simply courseback materials online and then answer of playing theirread handthe or pulling Further, on your second question, their abetfew andquiz folding their hand. The questions. an 18 against a face card will NOT dealer showed a face card.toEveryone • There is no need attend boring classes or listen to make you a long-term winner at at the table, except me, pulled back. blackjack; so, you actually should I hadlong a hardlectures. 18. I figured that was have your bet. Even a 19 ed will • After completion, of course we willpulled issue a state-certiﬁ a decent hand and gambled I’d more often thancompany win when the have certiﬁ a chance to win. didn’t. cate for Iyou to What turn intolose your insurance to dealer’s upcard is a 10 or an ace. What should I have done? —Suzanne R. receive your discount for a threeconstitutes year period. a strong hand are those 20’s, which you didn’t get. With a Take Your Mature Driver Course The 10-10 On against anyInternet! dealer’s upcard, this is where you make money over If you have a Florida Driver’s License and run. areApproximately, 55 years of 70 the long age or older, you are now eligible to complete percent of yourmotor overallvehicle winnings at blackjack result from thesea accident prevention course that will allow you to receive two hands: and A-10. mandatory reduction on your insurance rate10-10 for three years. Next time a pit bull playing gambling Safety referee corrects Florida Department of Highway a dealer gaff and gives you When I pitched cards, it amazed & Motor Vehicle Approved Course this same opportunity, yank your me how many players jumped on the bet. The House 1, Suzanne 0. opportunity of taking even money, or insurance, when I showed an ace. Gambling Wisdom of the Week: Except for counting cards, making “Retirement is like a long vacation either of these wagers is fiscally not a in Las Vegas. The goal is to enjoy sound move, even if, as in your case, it the fullest, but not so fully that being dealt a blackjack. The reason being, Suzanne, ten-point cards (10, J, you run out of money.” —Jonathan Q, K) make up 31 percent of the deck, Clements. (SENIOR WIRE) BY MARK PILARSKI

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Television Acoustics Breakthrough

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Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 30

that bring the sound directly to your ears. The hi-fidelity passive noise isolation speakers stay gently in your ears without creating pressure or discomfort. Easy to set-up and use. This plug and play system comes with everything you need and the powerful transmitter covers a room up to 35 by 35 feet. It features rechargeable batteries that give you up to 24 hours of listening from a full charge. Exclusive home trial. Why spend time arguing with your loved ones when you could be enjoying your favorite TV shows and movies together again. The PTLS comes with firstSTREET’s exclusive home trial, so if you are not completely satisfied with it for any reason you can simply return it within 30 days for a full refund of the product purchase price. Call today.

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f there is one thing people like to argue about… it’s television. Even if they can agree what to watch, most people disagree about the volume. That’s because most people require different volume levels, in order to understand and enjoy their favorite shows and movies. What’s more, if one of them is doing something else, like reading or sleeping– the last thing they want to hear is a blaring television. When forced to compromise and listen to TV at the same volume– everyone loses. Now, thanks to innovative digital audio technology, anyone can listen to the TV at the volume they desire without disturbing others. Best of all… the audio is so spectacular you’ll want to use it all the time. Here are a few reasons why the PTLS is the best thing to happen to television since the remote.

isney has been busy over the past several years, cooking up magical new ways to experience the parks. The latest addition has been to the Magic Kingdom, which recently held a grand opening for the New Fantasyland. The renovation walls have come down to reveal an expansion and reimagining of the iconic Fantasyland that includes new characters, stories, rides and restaurants. “Walt Disney once promised that Disneyland, and by extension all of our parks, would never be complete as long as there is imagination left in the world,” said Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Chairman Tom Staggs. “New Fantasyland is a spectacular addition to the Magic Kingdom that delivers on Walt’s promise. We’re thrilled to take guests beyond the walls of Cinderella Castle to discover new worlds featuring iconic Disney characters and stories in ways that are more imaginative, more interactive and more immersive than ever before.” Visitors can travel under the sea with Ariel on the Little Mermaid ride or fly with Dumbo in an expanded version of the original favorite. The Barnstormer Featuring the Great Goofini coaster takes miniature thrill-seekers

on a ride over the big top, while the Princess Fairytale Hall gives guests a chance to meet and greet their favorite princesses. Guests can also take in a circus performance with Mickey and the gang at Pete’s Silly Sideshow. Beauty and the Beast’s castle is a dramatic new addition to the skyline. Visitors can dine inside at the Be Our Guest Restaurant, enjoy “LeFou’s Brew” at Gaston’s Tavern or take part in the story themselves at Enchanted Tales with Belle.

Stay and Play The Art of Animation, Disney’s newest resort, invites guests to stay in the worlds of “Finding Nemo,” “The Lion King,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Cars” after a day at the theme parks. Specially-themed rooms, family suites and hotel exteriors show the process of building an animated world from sketch, ink and color to 3D. Favorite characters come to life in play areas and pools, and the hotel also offers an arcade, pool bar, gift shop, snack bar and food court, as well as free transportation to the theme parks. This three-story value resort offers family suites (two bathrooms, kitchenette and three sleeping areas) from $248/ night, and standard rooms from $94. To learn more about Walt Disney World parks and resorts, to purchase tickets or make a room or dining reservation, call (407) 934-7639.

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BRIDGE BITES

From The American Contract Bridge League

BY BRIAN GUNNELL

erhaps East should have tried 5♦ over 4♠; that would be a cheap sacrifice if 4♠ is making. Instead, she guesses to defend and must find a nice defensive play if she is to justify her shyness in the bidding. You are that shy East, so try looking at only the N-E hands. West leads the ♦K, won by Declarer’s Ace. A Diamond is ruffed in Dummy, followed by a Spade to Declarer’s Ace. Then a Club to Dummy’s Jack and your Queen. What next? At this point, you cannot play a Club or a Diamond without blowing a trick, so you must shift to a Heart. Which Heart? It seems routine to play a low Heart, but let’s stop and think.

We’ve Got You Surrounded

If Declarer has the ♥K it won’t matter what you do, so let’s assume that West has the King. If West has the ♥J to go along with that King, then you can shift to any old Heart; again, it won’t matter. So the case to worry about is the one you see looking at all four hands. Look what happens if you shift to a low Heart. Dummy plays low, West must play the King, losing to the Ace. That’s only one Heart loser for Declarer. The required shift is the Heart Ten! Your Ten and Eight have Dummy’s Nine “surrounded” and that’s what makes the surprising shift to the Ten the winning play. The Ten is covered by the Jack, King and Ace, after which East’s Q8 sits over Dummy’s 92, providing two Heart tricks for the defense. Surrounding plays don’t happen every day, and are easy to miss in the heat of battle. But now that you are an expert on the subject you will no doubt spot this one right away:

East’s J9 surrounds Dummy’s Ten and it is a shift to the Jack which is the winning play, picking up the whole suit. Visit acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email marketing@acbl.org. To find a bridge club in Florida, go to district9acbl. org/D9Clubsmap.htm. Bridge article provided courtesy of St. Petersburg Bridge Club: www.stpetebridge.org.

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Introducing The 2013 Florida State Fair—“Discover The Fun” C

elebrating the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Juan Ponce De León in Florida, this year’s 109th Annual Florida State Fair fully embraces Florida: 500 Years in the Making with a “Discover the Fun” theme. From February 7 – 18, the Florida State Fair deserves a top spot on the calendar as THE go-to destination for fun in February.

The 2013 Florida State Fair is showcasing new and unique agricultural and cultural exhibits such as the new “Discovery Center,” a Tampa Bay History Center curated exhibit, and Florida Department of Agriculture’s new Traveling Exhibit. Get a map at the entrance and explore the “ConquistaTOUR,” a self-guided adventure through the State Fair including the new Florida Cattlemen’s Museum, Florida’s Learning Garden and Cow Hunter’s Camp in Cracker Country. In addition, fairgoers will “Discover Florida” with a Broadway-style musical performance certain to please those who want to learn more about Florida. And new this year, there is a concert series planned including Starship featuring Mickey Thomas and the Bellamy Brothers, among others. Fairgoers can also expect the traditional favorites such as thrilling rides, shopping in Expo Hall, arts and crafts, a giant sand sculpture, tropical fish and more Aquaculture,

the “Mooternity Ward,” horse shows, lots of animals, live entertainment and fun fair food from the traditional corn dog to crazy food on a stick. This year’s fair provides so many new ways to “Discover the Fun.” The Fair’s “COWquistador” logo provides a tribute to the European’s influence in the Sunshine State as well as a highlight of the state’s rich agricultural heritage. “The 2013 Florida State Fair offers many cultural and agricultural highlights,” notes Charles Pesano, Executive Director of the Florida State Fair Authority. “We have added remarkable entertainment, fantastic exhibits and new features to this year’s State Fair that we know everyone of all ages will love.” “The Florida State Fair is not only a destination where families can find good food and great adventures; it’s also a celebration of Florida’s rich agricultural heritage,” said Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture, Adam Putnam. The Florida State Fair is a sure ticket to “Discover the Fun.” For 12 days in February, the Florida State Fair will captivate visitors with special discount days, making it sure to be an excellent overall value. The Fair will be held from February 7 – 18 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 U.S. Hwy. 301 North, Tampa 33610. Admission Tickets and Ride Armbands are $8 for adults or $4 for ages 6 – 11. Children 5 and under are free. Ride armbands are $25. You can purchase tickets online until February 6 at www.floridastatefair.com, or in person at Walgreens stores (beginning January 2) and at the Florida State Fairgrounds Box Office—discounts through Feb. 6. Parking is free. For more information, go to www. floridastatefair.com and Like them on facebook.com/floridastatefairgrounds.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 33

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. The first correct answers selected from the drawing on Jan. 21 will win. Good luck! Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583 Mystery Prize! WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES! (Sudoku must be received by Jan. 21, 2013.)

Word Search January

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?

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December Sudoku Sidney Bobb is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

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If You’re So Smart, Prove It! Back & Forth

Determine the pair of words associated with each pair of clues. One word in each pair is the other one spelled backwards. (Answers are upside down at the bottom.) Example: brief sleep, used on a stove Answer: nap, pan 1. big swallow, a stopper 8. roadside barrier, fibber 2. firearms, tight 9. clothing, boast 3. mouth excretion, pointed ends 10. strong taste, insect 4. cooking container, child’s toy 5. smack, friends 6. foot movements, home animals 7. pierce, cave dwellers

Word Search

1. gulp, plug 2. guns, snug 3. spit, tips 4. pot, top 5. slap, pals 6. step, pets 7. stab, bats 8. rail, liar 9. garb, brag 10. tang, gnat

January Sudoku

Answers From

December

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Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 34

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Pinellas County

Fresh Fru s e i g g e V its and North

North

Get Connected to

Money DOES Grow On Trees

f you’re wondering about adding some landscaping to your property this winter, consider these facts, because it’s possible that money really DOES grow on trees. Landscaping can add between 7 and 15 percent to a home’s value. Mature trees can bring a recovery value of 100 to 200 percent at selling time. (Kitchen remodeling brings a 75 to 125 percent recovery rate, bathroom remodeling a 20 to 120 percent recovery rate, and the addition of a swimming pool a 20 to 50 percent recovery rate.) Landscaping can reduce temperatures by as much as 9 degrees Fahrenheit and can lower air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent by shading the windows and wall of a home. Trees can reduce bothersome noise by up to 50 percent and can mask unwanted noises with pleasant sounds. How much does landscaping add if you’re planning to sell your house? • Manicured, fancy gardens which will require time and money to tend usually won’t add to the offering price. (Landscaping like that is for your own enjoyment.) It may be a

$40,000 investment, but it won’t add $40,000 to the value of your house. The same goes for expensive fences and stone walls. They look nice, but buyers don’t pay up for them. • A house with no landscaping is unappealing. Conversely, you don’t have to spend a fortune on plants, either. Just keep it “typical with the neighborhood” say realtors.

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• Curb appeal. “A good first appearance on a home can add as much as 5 percent to 10 percent to the value of the home,” says John Aust, of the National Association of Real Estate Appraisers. “Homes in a neighborhood tend to vary about 10 percent from house to house, assuming all other things are the same.” Well-landscaped yards with mature trees and bushes that provide privacy not only fetch higher prices—they sell more quickly than houses with little or no landscaping, by impressing buyers before they even walk into a house.

• Shape unsightly or overgrown trees and shrubs. Regardless of the season, it’s a good idea to tackle any overlooked pruning chores because nothing says neglect like a bunch of dead branches. The idea is to show how well not only your house but your garden has been maintained.

South

Information from Gallup, Money magazine, American Public Power Association and Society of Real Estate Appraisers, frontdoor.com and bankrate.com).

South

Firearms Safety Courses Offered

he Hernando Sportsman’s Club is offering firearms safety classes Jan. 19, Feb. 6, Feb. 16 and March 6. A special “ladies only” firearms safety course will be held on March 16. Classes run 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and cover firearms safety, pistol shooting, live fire training on the range. All materials and equipment needed provided. Pre-registration required. Please call (352) 597-9931 to preregister. Cost: $60. The class will be held at Hernando Sportsman’s Club, 16121 Commercial Way, Brooksville. hernandosportsmansclub.com. Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 35

Seniors Getting Together

WOMEN SEEKING MEN

4119 SEEKING CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN Former airline stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., widow, slender, white with Ph.D. in healthcare. Fulbright scholar, eats healthy and exercises. Likes sports and animals. Loves the Lord. Florida. 4178 SEEKING COMPATIBLE GENTLEMAN 55+ I’m 5’4”, 120, ISO sincere, NS, ND, understanding, FF and companion. I walk, read, sight-see, relax, music. HWP, picture. Looking for romance. Pasco County. 4196 WOMAN SEEKING MAN W, WW, in good health, 70 – 79, HWP, SOH, loves fun times, ISO travel partner, cruises, day trips, movies, dining, dancing, NS, ND. Photo appreciated, has transportation. Brandon. 4200 NORTH PINELLAS C, F, W, WW, R, NS, ND, NDrg, petite, attractive, energetic, creative, enjoy learning, economically minded, health conscious, ISO friendship and companionship. 4210 AFFECTIONATE, ATTRACTIVE, SLENDER LADY seeks gentleman for friendship, dating and possible romance.

Enjoys dining out, travel, dancing and togetherness. St. Petersburg. 4212 LADY SEEKING F + COMPANION F, W, D ISO W gentleman, NS, wheelchair bound okay, as long as can drive and take care of self, likes dogs, sightsee, SOH, NDrg, picture please, age 60 – 75. 4214 ISO ONE-WOMAN MAN Blonde, blue eyes, attractive, white, former model. 5’6”, 135 lbs, NS, ND, NDrg, 60. Enjoy all activities. ISO romantic, handsome, financially secure man. LTR, 55+. Photo. Palm Harbor. 4216 ATTRACTIVE ITALIAN SWF 65YY ISO youthful, sincere SWM. Possible LTR (age open). 5’2” HWP, size 10, R, NS, NDrg, honest, caring health-conscious, spunky, witty. Enjoy outdoors, daily exercise, music, dancing, candlelight meals, laughter, basic togetherness, romantic times. Zepyhrhills.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN 4187 LETS TALK W, M, D, 70, 6’, 190, healthy, exercise, NS,

ND, NDrg. You are attractive, slender or petite lady, W, S, NS, ND, NDrg. 4193 GENTLEMAN, W, D, ISO LADIES who do not have children and are D, WW, S, W, NS, ND, NDrg, to start a group for people without children. 4191 I WOULD LIKE TO MEET a woman in her late fifties or early sixties to go dancing, out to eat, go for walks and stay home to watch TV. Pasco County only. 4207 SHARE LIFE’S TREASURES DWM, R, 74YY, SOH, 6’2”, 190 lbs., NS, ND, NDrg. ISO SFW with SOH for possible LTR (age open) to enjoy flea markets, oldies music, old movies and the simple life. (cats ok). Zephyrhills

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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, SOH-Sense 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.

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ome tips that might help you orient yourself to finding a new friend are:

• Always be honest about who you are and never lie about your age. That kind of thing usually catches up with you sooner or later. • Boost your confidence by noting the number of good things that you personally have to offer a new relationship.

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Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 36

• Don’t search for an imitation or replacement for the partner that you have lost. • Have a sense of humor. Not everyone is playing with a full deck!

• Take it one day at a time. Every “no” brings you to the next “yes.” “You mean I’d have to pay for not taking the eggs?” my wife asked incredulously.

e went to breakfast at “YES!” stated the waitress. a restaurant where the ‘senior special’ was two eggs, bacon, “I’ll take the special then,” hash browns and toast for $2.99. my wife said. “Sounds good,” my wife said. “But I don’t want the eggs.”

“Then, I’ll have to charge you $3.49 because you’re ordering a la carte,” the waitress warned her.

“How do you want your eggs?” the waitress asked.

“Raw and in the shell,” my wife replied. She took the two eggs home and baked a cake.

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Chow Crowd to Wiregrass. $8 plus lunch. 10:30 a.m.

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Lowry Park Zoo $26/bus, admission. 10 a.m. Seminole Hard Rock Casino. $5/bus. 9 a.m.

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Clearwater Marine Aquarium 249 Windward Passage • Clearwater, FL 33767

(727) 441-1790

www.SeeWinter.com Lifestyles After 50 • January 2013 • page 37

Join The Florida Orchestra for

Music in the Mornings

at one of our two matinee series!

2012/2013 Season

Progress Energy Morning Masterworks

Tchaikovsky’s Romeo and Juliet The orchestra will perform Tchaikovsky’s sumptuous music inspired by Shakespeare’s plays. In collaboration with American Stage Theatre Company, actors will present a brief scene from each play as a prelude to the music. Sponsored by: Andrew Grams conducts.

Fri, Jan 25, 10am

Progress Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater

Coffee Concerts

War of the Romantics Enjoy complimentary coffee and doughnuts with guest conductor Teddy Abrams leading the orchestra in a program of music by Beethoven, Brahms, Liszt, Wagner and more.

Wed, Feb 6, 10am