Lifestyles After 50 Suncoast March 2013 edition by Lifestyles After 50 Magazine

March 2013 • Suncoast • FREE

www.lifestylesafter50fl.com

Join us for the

Lifestyles After 50 FUN FEST! St. Pete Coliseum Mar. 28 10 am – 3 pm

Spring

is in the Air...

Move Over, Annie Oakley Women Carrying Guns

plus

Veterans: Bataan March: An Untold Story Travel: Whitewater Rafting & Bluegrass

Find Out How Much Fun Life Can Be at the Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest! offered throughout the day. Put a little bounce in your step with samples of Nestle’s Boost, the complete nutritional drink.

oin us for the 3rd annual Fun Fest! at the St. Petersburg Coliseum, March 28, 2013, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Historic Coliseum is located at 535 Fourth Avenue North, St Petersburg. This event features “Friendly” exhibitors with information on local services, lifestyles, health and wellness, travel and more. A discounted lunch will be available for $5 along with other menu items. Free coffee and goodies will be

Health Screenings Free health screenings will include hearing and eye checks, glucose, blood pressure and bone density checks. Other important health information and services will be provided by St. Petersburg General Hospital.

Thousands of dollars in prizes will be given away, including tickets to Busch Gardens and the Florida Orchestra. The Prize-A-Palooza offers chances to win $100 in cash throughout the day. The Grand Prize drawing at the end of the day will be a two-night stay at the Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, including round trip airline tickets compliments of the St. PetersEntertainment burg-Clearwater International Airport. Enjoy live performances on stage through- Who says Easter Egg out the day. Celebrate the ‘60s and ‘70s Hunts are for Kids? with Richie Merritt of The Marcels, William Join us for the Official “Duece” Hulett—the “Best in Country EnLifestyles After 50 Easter tertaining” as well as Denise Looney, “The Egg Hunt. Colorful easter eggs will DJ with a Twist!” Don’t miss Fritzy the be hidden in the Colisuem throughout “One Man Circus” and his amazing stunts. the day. Find one and win a prize! Games and Prizes Admission and parking are free. Activities of the day include free Bingo For more info, call (813) 653-1988 games and the Senior Friendly Sports or 1-888-670-0040 or go to www. Area. Try your sports skills to win prizes! Lifestylesafter50fl.com. See you there!

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Stephen Weinstock, MD

Robert Weinstock, MD

Neel Desai, MD

The Cosmo Girl Was One Smart Cookie

Dear Readers,

“A

fter you’re older, two things are possibly more important than any others: health and money.”

A perceptive statement. Quick! Who said it?

Janice Doyle, Editor

Hints: The author of the statement died at age 90 last year. Contrary to the way we were raised in the 40s and 50s, she was among the very public females who believed that women were just as smart and capable as men and could achieve anything they wanted. In the 60s she was one of the first women to break through the glass ceiling in the male-dominated business world. Who was it? Helen Gurley Brown, author of the 1962 book Sex and the Single Girl. The younger generation—if they knew of Helen Gurley Brown at all—thought of her as a joke. Just an anorexic old woman who was pictured when she was younger working from a pink silk-walled and leopard-carpeted office. But for an older generation, Helen Gurley-Brown was a the person who, more than anyone else, personified freedom from the personal and professional boundaries set by the women of her day. Decades before there was Sex and the City (which I’ve never watched), there was Sex and the Single Girl in 1962 (which I never read). Still,

I was aware that she shocked the world by publishing attitudes about women and sex that were as liberating as the birth control pill had been to their physical bodies when it was introduced in 1960. In her writing career with Cosmopolitan magazine, she became a powerhouse of business acumen as she put forth her ideas of career advancement for women. What I hadn’t realized until her obituaries is that she had a world of things to say about life and work which are sensible and realistic. Take this for example:

“Never fail to know that if you are doing all the talking, you are boring somebody.”

It pretty much says it all, doesn’t it? We’re often bored by the talkers around us.

Another quote: “I hope I have convinced you that the only thing that separates successful people from the ones who aren’t is the willingness to work very, very hard.”

Helen Gurley Brown’s father died in Arkansas when she was ten (1932) and her mother moved her and her sister (paralyzed from polio) to California. Later Brown wrote: “I never liked the looks of the life that was programmed for me—ordinary, hillbilly and poor.” In high school, Brown set about working harder than anyone else, went to college and worked secretarial jobs before she became the ﬁrst woman

to hold a copywriter position at an advertising agency. She was a hardworking career girl in a man’s world.

“My success was not based so much on any great intelligence but on great common sense.”

As editor of Cosmopolitan magazine she changed the Good Housekeeping type magazine into a publication which, at its height, had three million circulation in 27 countries. She was obviously onto something as a business woman. How did her common sense play into that success? Here’s one example:

“The faster you get back to people, the less brilliant you have to be.”

Wow! Talk about common sense. How much time have you spent waiting on phone calls in the last month? And who cared? She did in her day.

“Dear Pussycat.”

Have trouble remembering names? The older I get, yes, the more often I can’t for the life of me remember people’s names. Even as a young career girl, Helen Gurley Brown simpliﬁed her life by calling everyone “Pussycat,” making them feel loved and desirable and they loved her back. I think the lady was on to something! Her word—pussycat—doesn’t ﬁt my personality, but maybe I can come up with something to be a generic catchall, an endearing loveable title to use when I see you without having to remember your name.. Any suggestions?

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

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

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 3

Around Town

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G M A R C H 2 0 1 3

6 6

Writers Support Group at Beach Library, 365 73rd Ave., St Pete Beach. 1 to 3 p.m. (727) 363-9238.

Boston Pops concert “The Streisand Songbook” at The Mahaffey Theater. Vocalist Ann Hampton Callaway and Ted Rosenthal on piano. Tickets online at TheMahaffey.com, or at (727) 893-7832. Box office:

through April 28 “Murder Among Friends,” a play called “clever, amusing and surprising” by the New York Times. At Early Bird Dinner Theatre, 200 S McMullenBooth Rd., Clearwater. $30 tickets. Reservations at (727) 446-5898. “1964” a Beatles Tribute Band Concert at the Mahaffey Theater. Tickets $35 to $45 online at TheMahaffey.com, by phone at (727) 893-7832 or in person at The Mahaffey Theater Box Office.

Historical Writing Workshop by author Angela T. Pisaturo. At Heritage Village, 11909 125th St. N., Largo. 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. $15. Advanced registration recommended. (727) 582-2233.

8 7

“Ain’t Retirement Grand,” a spoof, at Venue Theatre, 9125 U.S. 19 N., Pinellas Park. $20. (727) 822-6194.

Images: Original National Tour Cast. Photo credit: Carol Rosegg

“Edible Flowers” Cooking Demonstration at St. Petersburg’s Museum of Fine Arts exhibition. 6 and 7:30 p.m. demo. $20/person. Reservations recommended: call (727) 896-2667 ext. 210.

An all-singing, all-dancing celebration of the brilliant music and lyrics of brothers George and Ira Gershwin

On Stage Now Jaeb Theater

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 4

Writers Group (Florida Writers Association Group) monthly meeting. Diane Sawyer, mystery writer, The New World of Publishing. St. Pete Main Library, 3745 9th Ave. N. (727) 893-7724.

Andy Cooney’s “Forever Irish” brings a full cast of talent and a dynamic stage presence to stir your Irish blood with singers and dancers. At Ruth Eckerd Hall. Tickets: $38, $28 and $21.Phone (727) 791-7400.

13th Army Band Patriotic Concert, tribute to all military,

veterans and families. At Boca Ciega High School Auditorium, 924 58th St. S., Gulfport. Phone: (954) 893-5070 or 13tharmyband.com. – April 21 “When the World was Green” (A Chef’s Fable), stage presentation by American Stage Theatre Company, 163 3rd St. North, St. Pete. (727) 823-7529 for info, or online at americanstage.org.

– 24 Pinellas County Fair at Tropicana Field. Rides, food, exhibits, animals, horticulture. Discount tickets available at Walgreens. Advance general admission $5. Info/ showtimes at (727) 541-6941. Stars & Stripes “USA Spirit of America Show” at the Armed Forces History Museum, Largo. Swing dance lesson, dancing and 1940’s USO show begins 7:30 p.m. 10 O’Clock Swing Band Orchestra with Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra impersonators. $24 tickets. Phone: (727) 539-8371.

23 23

Bill Cosby at Ruth Eckerd Hall.Tickets $42, up. Phone: (727) 791-7400 or reh.org.

The Baby Boomer Comedy Show with Kent Rader and Jan Mclnnis (known as the “World’s Cleanest comedians”) at Largo Cultural Center. Tickets: $19.50, up. Info (727) 587-6793.

Needlecraft Club at Mirror Lake Library (2nd & 4th Saturdays). 1 to 3 p.m. All skill levels welcome. Info: (727) 893-7268.

The Real Deal Nonfiction Book Club meets at North Branch Library, 3745 9th Ave. N. 6:30 p.m. Call (727) 893-7928 for info. Send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; fax (813) 651-1989 or email calendar@srnewsconnection. com. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. March 10 for April event.)

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Move Over, Annie Oakley: Women and Guns only thing I do with it...well, I have woodchucks that need to be gone,” said Margaret Dubois from Connecticut.

BY TRACIE SCHMIDT

s I stood there with the gun in my hand, I couldn’t help but notice how shaky my aim was. I was nervous, of course—it was my first time. “Grip it with both hands. Move your thumbs a bit down and to the left. That’s it. Now lean forward some. You want to be in control when it recoils,” instructed Dr. Gerald Colbert, a certified NRA instructor and former naval officer. It was a “dry firing,” part of the First Steps Pistol Course I was taking in Sarasota. One by one, students moved up to the front of the class, aimed at a target and pulled the trigger without ammunition, just to get a feel for how the gun handles. I was surprised by how light it was, by how easy it was to pull the trigger. That’s not all that surprised me. Every student that picked up the gun was female. “The class is typically around 45 percent women,” said Colbert. But he said it wasn’t unusual for him to see a class full. It’s a trend he’s noticed has been growing over the years, especially in response to local crime. Toni Parsons, 81, was taking the class with me. “My son is very much into gun shooting, and he took me shooting a few times. I want to improve at it, but basically it’s self defense,” she said. “I was always afraid to have a gun because I thought that, being a little old lady, a person would get the gun from me and use it on me. That’s partly why I’m taking the course, so I can become proficient in using it and feel that I can use it as protection.” She’s not alone—women over 50 are a growing demographic for gun permits, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Division of Licensing. The number of annual concealed weapon license applications for men and women rose from 28,618 in 1999 to 151,883 in 2012. In the month of January 2013 alone, 77,754 women aged 51 – 65 obtained a conceal carry permit—more than women from any other age group. Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 6

Dr. Gerald Colbert gives Toni Parsons instruction on aiming a firearm.

Put ‘em up? Taken that way, one would start to think that we boomer women are just waiting for the tumbleweed to blow by at high noon; but that’s hardly the case. I put forth the question: Why arm yourself? About thirty women over 50, from different states, political afﬁliations and walks of life, responded back. The overwhelming answer was self defense. Trish Shultz, 54, an Independent from Ellenton, said, “I’m single. I just think that the world has become unpredictable. People just want to protect their family and themselves. I don’t honestly agree with guns because it seems the killings have gone up, but I know I need a gun for self protection.” Earletta Maples, 71, a Democrat from Michigan said, “I carried a concealed weapon when I was a schoolteacher in downtown Detroit, Michigan, in the early 70s. I only had to pull it one time.” One night when she was stopped at a red light, someone approached her car. “He was looking in my window, and when I pulled my gun, he backed up all the way to the other side of the street.” Others carry for sport. Mary Sorge, 66, goes to the shooting range with her husband in Illinois and Arizona. Joann Altergott belongs to the Conto Wisconsin Gun Club. “I shoot mostly for recreation,” she says. According to the National Sporting Goods association, more women are participating in target shooting than ever. From 2001 to 2011, the number increased from 3.3 million women to just over 5 million. For hunting, it’s up almost 42 percent. A few women own a gun strictly for animal control. “I have a .22, and the

The Debate Of the women I interviewed, feelings about gun ownership varied. A little over half were against owning or using a gun personally, but not in favor of denying others the right to do so if they chose. Overall, most were against weapons like assault rifles, and in favor of background checks before weapons can be issued. Those who were for gun ownership believed in the right to self defense, their constitutional right to bear arms, and that stricter gun laws only make it harder for law-abiding citizens to obtain firearms, while criminals find a way to acquire them elsewhere.. Mary L.*, a Republican, worked for the army for 32 years and has been around guns her whole life. “My stepfather had a gun. I’ve never lived in a house where there wasn’t a gun. I decided to carry one for self defense,” she said. “My first husband was in security, and I have his .38, and I believe in the NRA. Who wants to live in a house where you can’t protect yourself?” Those that were against believed that the number of guns in the populace is out of control and that the number of gun-related accidents, suicides and conflict escalations far outweigh the number of people saved by using a gun in self defense. Deborah Healy of Sarasota said, “There are too many guns out there, and there’s just no reason for anyone to have the big, automatic assault rifles. The police officers never know what they are going to face out there. My cousin’s a police officer, and I hear about all the kids that get shot accidentally—there’s no reason for it.” Still others believe that the issue might be resolved with non-lethal crime deterrents, like tasers, mace and so forth. Alice Valentine, 65, of Sarasota, is a firm believer in selfdefense of the four-legged variety. She said: “I’m more into German shepherds than guns. They keep me safe and give you love back.”

Having women weigh in on the debate yielded a familiar question: Does arming more people make a society safer or deadlier? Despite strong arguments on both sides, it’s an issue that the nation has yet to resolve.

Parsons presents her target after finishing the class.

After the Class At the end of the class, all of us ladies headed off to the firing range to practice with live ammunition. Toni Parsons was up first, and after a few minutes of applying what she learned in class, the 81-year-old came back with a target peppered with holes. “I want to bring it home and put it on my door—don‘t dare to enter here: sharpshooter inside!” she said as she held it up. I asked her how she felt after the class. “I feel safer knowing how to use a gun,” she answered. When my turn came, my experience was a bit different. I felt safer knowing how to use a gun as well—but safer from the gun, not necessarily from an assailant. Knowing how to fire it, handle it, store it, and how it worked gave me peace of mind should I ever find myself confronted with one, defensively or otherwise. In this country, everyone is given the right to bear arms to defend ourselves and our fellow citizens, but what we are not given is the responsibility and the competence to do it safely and wisely. That’s up to the individual. Firing a gun for the first time, knowing that I had the power to kill another human being, made me want to be a more responsible person. For all of the women I interviewed, the decision to own a gun was a personal one. All I have to say is: look out, bad guys, Toni Parsons’ in town.” *requested name be changed

YourHealthy Living

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Pain in the Neck...or Back?

Heart Health & Medications

presented by Paula Jewell – Florida Spine and Neuro Center Representative

Dr. Wallace will be speaking about heart health and medications – from prescriptions to supplements. What you should know to keep your heart healthy.

Monday, March 4 • 11:00 a.m. Friday, March 8 • 10:00 a.m.

presented by Kristie Wallace, Rph, Pharmd – Pharmacy Director, Edward White Hospital

Tuesday, March 19 • 11:00 a.m.

Allegro • 4600 54th Avenue South, St. Petersburg

The Centre • 1500 16th Street, Palm Harbor Largo Medical Center • 201 14th Street SW, Largo Hampton Inn • 1200 34th Street N, St. Petersburg

Monday, March 25 • 11:00 a.m.

Wednesday, March 13 • 4:00 p.m.

Holiday Inn Express • 975 Broadway Street, Dunedin

Total Joint & Arthritis

Joint Replacement

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Do your knees, hips, or shoulders bring you daily discomfort? You may be a candidate for a joint replacement. Learn about the treatment options available.

presented by Thomas Mixa, MD – Orthopedic Surgeon

presented by Rafat Nashed, MD – Orthopedic Surgeon

Thursday, March 14 • 11:30 a.m.

Wednesday, March 6 • 12:00 noon

Edward White Hospital Auditorium • 299 9th Ave. N., Suite 1-G, St. Petersburg (one-story office building on the east side of hospital)

Tuesday, March 26 • 12:00 noon

Shingles

Edward White Hospital Auditorium • 299 9th Ave. N., Suite 1-G, St. Petersburg (one-story office building on the east side of hospital) Northside Hospital Auditorium • 6006 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (located on 2nd floor of Medical Office Plaza next to hospital)

What is Shingles? How do we get it? How can it be prevented? What is the treatment? Sponsored by St. Petersburg General Hospital.

Knee Pain? We Have Answers!

Thursday, March 14 • 12:00 noon (Lunch to follow at 1:00 pm)

Physicians at the Florida Knee & Orthopedic Pavilion at Largo Medical Center have performed thousands of minimally invasive surgeries. Learn how Partial or Total Knee Resurfacing can get you back to your active lifestyle.

presented by Syed Rizvi, MD – Internal Medicine/Geriatric Medicine

presented by Pat Kosiba, RN – Florida Knee & Orthopedic Pavilion Rep.

Thursday, March 7 • 11:00 a.m.

Holiday Inn Express • 975 Broadway Street, Dunedin

Wednesday, March 13 • 11:00 a.m.

Hampton Inn • 1200 34th St. N, St. Petersburg

Wednesday, March 20 • 11:00 a.m.

Largo Medical Center • 201 14th Street SW, Largo

Colon Cancer Colon Cancer is the third most common cancer in the United States. Find out what you can do to protect yourself, and learn about the signs and symptoms of colon cancer and the importance of early detection.

Thursday, March 7 • 12:00 noon presented by Abhitabh Patil, MD – Gastroenterologist

Lake Seminole Square • 8333 Seminole Blvd., Seminole

Tummy Troubles Do you have rumblings in your tummy that you can’t identify? Come learn about common stomach issues and the importance of a good diet.

Friday, March 15 • 12:00 noon presented by Beth Anlas, DO – Internal Medicine Northside Hospital Auditorium • 6006 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (located on 2nd floor of Medical Office Plaza next to hospital)

Colon and Rectal Cancer Learn about colon cancer from what causes it, early detection, support resources, making decisions about treatments and more. Sponsored by St. Petersburg General Hospital.

Northside Hospital Auditorium • 6006 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (located on 2nd floor of Medical Office Plaza next to hospital)

Friday, March 22 • 12:00 noon

Know Your A-Fib Options

YMCA/Jim & Heather Gills Campus • 3200 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

New treatment options available reduce symptoms of Atrial Fibrillation and improve the heart’s rhythm, including CryoAblation therapy. Learn more about this innovative procedure which Northside Hospital is the only hospital in the county to provide.

Tuesday, March 12 • 12:00 noon presented by Dennis Cassidy, MD – Cardiac Electrophysiologist Northside Hospital Auditorium • 6006 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (located on 2nd floor of Medical Office Plaza next to hospital)

presented by Derrick Cox, MD – General Surgeon

Reservations Required. Call 1-855-422-2228. Complimentary Refreshments Served.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 7

Club Members Say “Come Quilt With Us” BY JANICE DOYLE

“A

sk not what your fabric can do for you, but what you can do for your fabric.” This quote could be the motto for the Quilter’s Crossing Club in Palm Harbor. The 80 members ranging in age from 30 to 92 years can’t seem to do enough with fabric. Each Wednesday they meet to share ideas and stitch up ‘quilty’ kinds of things. Some of the women started young with grandmothers who quilted; others started later in life. Whatever their reasons for quilting, on March 16—National Quilting Day—the club will offer the community a chance to learn and experience the steps in making a quilt. Rhonda Baker, President-elect of the club, says, “If you’ve quilted in the

be teaching others, sewing for good causes and demonstrating their passion for all things quilty. The club is excited because “People may not have grown up with quilting and this is a chance for them to see what we do. We will have all supplies ready for you to sit down and sew, and our club Meet the Quilter’s Crossing Club, Palm Harbor. members will be assisting with each step.” past or if you want to see what goes They plan to make at least three into making a quilt, come and let us quilts that will be given to Athena help you. We’ll have the pieces cut House in Tampa. Each quilt will be and you can choose your fabric, use the same pattern but different colors. our sewing machines to sew them toBaker says, “For me, quilting is gether and stay as long as you want.” therapy, just sitting and sewing From 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., The Centre in or putting pieces together. I like Palm Harbor will buzz (It’s a quilting bee, after all!) as the local group joins seeing the way what I’ve imagined quilters around the U.S. who will also in my head matches up.”

Quilting started as a utilitarian way to use up scraps of fabric and create necessary covers for sleeping. Today, quilts are often a means of decorating and individualizing the look of a room’s decor. Some members, like Baker, do custom quilting, making a quilt according to what someone else has imagined and wants. Quilter’s Crossing Club’s weekly meetings include workshops and learning sessions as well as times to just “sit and sew” on whatever their current individual projects are. The group also holds quilt shows (their January show had over 200 quilts) and participates in national quilting “challenges.” Their most recent challenge was for members to create a hanging quilt depicting their passion. Try out quilting March 16 at The Centre, 1500 16th Street, Palm Harbor. For more information, please call (727) 430-7620.

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1985 Palm Harbor #41 2 BR, 2 BA. 1344 Sq. Ft. $17,900

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1984 Jacobsen #68 2 BR, 2 BA. 1152 Sq. Ft. $15,000

1992 Jacobsen #163 2 BR, 2 BA. 1056 Sq. Ft. $15,500

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 8

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It’s the Irish In Me, B’gorry W

hatever our roots, St. Patrick’s Day and the wearin’ of the green are a part of March. Be sure to wear the green and enjoy these: Top Irish American Films: In America – an Irish family in New York City

Boondock Saints – twins and the Boston criminal element Far and Away – great fiddle music and Tom Cruise/Nicole Kidman in a weak immigrant story P.S. I Love You – the old Irish sadness and great actresses (Hilary Swank and Kathy Bates) Yankee Doodle Dandy – James Cagney as first generation Irish American George M. Cohan The Sullivans – five Irish American brothers aboard the USS Juneau in WWII.

A Good Irish Joke: The Fame of Red Adair At the height of the 1991 Gulf War, the expertise of Red Adair (that well known fire fighter) was called upon to go out to the Gulf and put out the oil rig fires. On his way his plane landed in Ireland for an overnight stop, so Red took advantage and visited the local bar for a pint of the black stuff. On entering the bar, two old Irish boys witnessed him walk in and one said to the other. “Isn’t that Red Adair?” The other replied, “No.” The old boy then said, “I’m sure it is and I’m so sure that I will bet you a pint if I am wrong.” The doubting one said, “Ok” and they both went over to Red. The one said, “Are you Red Adair?” to which Red said he was. The doubting Irishman said, “Are you still dancing with Ginger Rogers?” How To Say Hello Greetings in Ireland tend to vary

from place to place. In the southeast it might be “Well, boy.” Up north you might be greeted with “Bout ye.” In parts of Dublin, it could be “Howyiz,” while in County Cork you might be confronted with “Howsitgoin’ boy?” A more rural equivalent is “How’s she cuttin’?” A suitable reply is “Grand altogether” if you are in good form, or “Survivin’” if not.

Two Irishman Meet a Swiss Tourist A Swiss man, on holiday in Dublin, needed directions. He was standing outside Davy Byrne’s pub when he saw two youths walking by so he stops them and asks, “Entschuldigung, koennen Sie Deutsch sprechen?”

“Parlare Italiano?” Still absolutely no response from the two lads.

“Hablan ustedes Espanol?” The Dublin lads remain totally silent.

The Swiss guy walks off extremely disappointed and downhearted that he had not been understood. One of the boys turns to the second and says, “Y’know, maybe we should learn a foreign language!” “Why?” says the youth, “That guy knew four languages, and it didn’t do him any good!”

The two lads look at each other blankly and stare back at him. “Excusez-moi, parlez vous Français?” He tries. The two continue to stare.

An Irish Blessing

May the love and protection Saint Patrick can give Be yours in abundance As long as you live.

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St. Pete-Clearwater International (PIE) Unveils New Logo, Marketing

t. Pete-Clearwater International Airport unveiled its new logo and slogan, “Tampa Bay The Easy Way,” at a February 12th airport presentation to the Board of County Commissioners, media and guests. The new logo emphasizes the airport’s three letter identifier PIE and emphasizes our regional identity. “We are very excited about our re-branding. The feedback we receive from the traveling public is that PIE offers easy and convenient travel. Our airport team and airlines focus on our customers and our community. We are proud of our high level of service and will continue to deliver it as we grow in the future— St. Pete-Clearwater International, Tampa Bay The Easy Way!” states Airport Director Noah Lagos. The airport’s permanent 3 letter identifier PIE was assigned to the

airport based on its name in the ‘50s: Pinellas International. After renovating our terminal in 2010, it was time to continue the rebranding, refreshing the image of St. PeteClearwater International, focusing on what our customers love—travel made easy. The airport team worked with FKQ Advertising and Marketing to create the logo, branding, media campaign, and sign design. The airport will also be designing a new website this year with a mobile responsive design, and renovations to the terminal will continue with the addition of new Flight Information Displays and planning for even more improvements to the terminal gate areas. PIE also provides non-stop service to partner destinations like the Beau Rivage Resort in Biloxi, Miss. Learn more at fly2pie.com/ or call (727) 453-7800.

Listen. Laugh. Learn. Join us for an informative event featuring noted gerontologist and personal trainer Lorie Eber where you can listen, laugh and learn about healthy aging. Event:

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 11

Adventures in Oregon Musicians Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum perform on the Rogue River in Oregon.

BY TRACIE SCHMIDT here’s nothing like being on the water to make you forget your troubles. Add a little Bluegrass to the mix, and it’s pure heaven. Once a year, Echo River Trips invites Grammynominated musicians Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum along for the ride on a fourday whitewater excursion on the Rogue River in Oregon. As an avid Bluegrass fan, I jumped at the chance to experience this twist on the traditional rafting trip.

Travel The gang met up in Galice, Oregon to load up and head out on our adventure. It was all adults this trip, many of them with grown children, but that didn’t keep us from acting like kids. On trips like these, days are spent lazing on the gear raft to the steady rhythm of the guide’s oars, enjoying the teamwork of a six-person paddle boat, or braving the Rogue’s class III rapids in a one-man inflatable raft called a “ducky.” The latter was a favorite among the guests. “The scenery is amazing—the adventure’s in the duckies,” said Jeffery Lewis of California, a retiree who spends his free time traveling and enjoying the outdoors. There’s plenty of time to try all three, whether you want to relax during a rough section of the river or test your mettle against the rapids. The guides make regular stops along the way to give everyone a chance to stretch their legs, enjoy a picnic lunch by the river or take in the sights, whether it’s a hike to an old goldLifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 12

panner’s homestead and a dip in a cold spring, or a trip to Zane Grey’s cabin, a famous author of western novels who drew inspiration from life on the river. It’s not hard to see why—with rocky grey cliffs and waterfalls, deep green water, mist-shrouded evergreens and abundant wildlife, there’s no shortage of scenery along the way. Osprey circled overhead as we drifted down the Rogue, and we even spotted deer grazing and a black bear fishing on the banks of the river. After pitching my tent for the night (gear is provided by Echo, or you can bring your own), I sat down to a hearty meal of marinated steak kabobs with onions, peppers and mushrooms, roasted potatoes and blue cheese pecan pear salad. Meals are healthy and savory; there’s always fresh fruit and vegetables on hand to snack on, and vegetarian entrees are served as well. At night, Laurie Lewis and Tom Rozum fiddled, mandolined and sang long after the embers of our campfire died down, while guests shared laughter and stories of their travels. I asked Lewis and Rozem what they enjoyed most about the trip. “Unplugging,” said Lewis with a wry grin. “Getting away from all the sounds of machinery into nature. Into the sounds of water, the river.” “I like everything,” Rozum said. “I just love being outside. It’s important to get out into nature once in awhile.” For me, the best part of the trip was the people. Our guides—Nick, Mike, Kayla and Jennifer—were experienced and friendly. Nick and Mike rescued my wayward ducky on

more than one occasion, Kayla and I geeked-out about our favorite books and Jennifer was a first-class camp chef. Each guide is trained in first aid and swift water rescue and knows every twist and turn of the Rogue. For Nick, the river is like a second home. “Being on the river is such a spiritual place,” he told me. “It’s a lifestyle. Echo is like my family.” For guest Lisa Pratt, it was a chance to spend time with other bluegrass fans and meet two of her favorite musicians. She brought her guitar along for the trip, got a few tips from the pros and had a chance to perform

some original music during an impromptu talent night. “Playing along with Laurie and Tom, it’s something I’ll never forget,” she exclaimed. There were jokes and skits, crazy costumes galore—everyone got involved. And on the last day, we all lashed our rafts together and drifted down the home stretch of the river while Lewis and Rozum sang “I’m In Love With A River Guide” and “Going Away.” It was a bittersweet ending to an unforgettable trip. To plan your own adventure, visit echotrips.com or call (541) 386-2271.

Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park 90 mins. south of Grants Pass. Home to the Grove of Titans, where some of the largest trees in the world are said to be hidden. Visit Stout Grove for a short, easily accessible trail (0.6 mi.) through some truly humbling giants, or take a longer trek on Boy Scout Tree Trail (5.2 mi.) to really explore the park. Stay: The park offers choice camping, but can fill up quickly, so book in advance. Parks.ca.gov/?page_id=413

Grants Pass, Oregon is not only the gateway to the Rogue River, but to the Redwood Highway as well. Check out these nearby must-see must-sees!

Oregon Caves National Monument 30 mins. south of Grants Pass, just outside of Cave Junction. 90-minute tours of the spectacular marble cave system depart from the ranger station every 30 minutes. Bring warm clothes and be in good shape, as the half mile trek through the mountain includes more than 500 stairs. Well worth the trip! Stay: The Chateau at the Oregon Caves—one of the Great Lodges of the National Parks. Open May through Oct. Oregoncaveschateau.com.

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PROFESSIONALS CARING FOR PROFESSIONALS Y

– Sharon St. Petersburg, Florida After having pelvic pain for almost nine years, I found out that I had fibroid tumors and a prolapsed uterus. My doctor recommended minimally invasive, roboticassisted surgery which offers less scarring and blood loss than traditional surgery.

ou’ll think it’s the 40s again and the USO show is in town. Bigger and better than ever this year is The Armed Forces History Museum’s “Spirit of America USO Show” on Friday, March 22. Enjoy the sights and sounds that can take you back in time. The Museum invites you to put on your dancing shoes and experience this authentic 1940’s re-enactment show! A centrally located, raised stage will put the spotlight on the 19-piece 10 O’Clock Swing Band Orchestra and impersonators Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra.

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You’ll love the swing dancing (and lessons), paparazzi, vintage attire, red carpet, USO arm bands, show hostesses and more for a fun evening of entertainment. WWII reenactors from the 1st Infantry Division will be a part of the show. Here are the details: VIP Dinner at 6 p.m. (Limited number of tickets available); 7:30 p.m. general admission open ($24 tickets); 7:30 swing dance lessons; 8 p.m. to midnight the USO Show, dance and salute to the troops. Valet parking will be available for $5 per car. Additional parking is available near the museum on 34th Way North in Largo and golf cart shuttles will be available to shuttle guests to/from the parking lot. Tickets may be purchased online at armedforcesmuseum.com, by calling (727) 539-8371, or in person at the museum.

ear Marci: I need help paying for my prescription drugs. I do not qualify for Extra Help. Are there any programs that can help me? —Daniel Dear Daniel, If you don’t qualify for Extra Help, the federal assistance program that helps people with Medicare pay their prescription drug costs, you may still qualify for other prescription drug assistance programs.

Veterans Corner

An Untold True Story from the WWII Jungles of Bataan, by Bob Welch

luding death. Banding together as one. With character tested, heroes emerge. These themes could apply to many World War II tales, but there are few that take readers to the far-flung Author Bob Welch battlefield of the Philippines during the Bataan Death March, and no other that shares the heroics of Lt. Clay Conner, Jr. He was an unlikely hero whose actions helped him and his men survive thirty-four months amongst an array of enemies. Resolve: From the WWII Jungles of Bataan, The Epic Story of a Soldier, a Flag, and a Promise Kept by military writer Bob Welch is an intriguing blend of courage, perseverance and the absolute resolve to live, even if it meant becoming a member of a native tribe. On April 9, 1942, thousands of U.S. soldiers surrendered as the Philippine island of Luzon fell to the Japanese. A few hundred Americans placed their faith in their own hands and headed for the jungle. Among them was Clay Conner Jr., a 23-year-old Army Air Force communications officer—a Duke cheerleader—who had never even camped out before.

Resolve is the story of how Conner eludes World War II’s Bataan Death March and galvanizes groups of disparate people—among them, a tribe of arrow-shooting pygmy Negritos—to survive the relentless pursuit of Japanese and communist soldiers. As months—and then years—pass, Conner’s mother, Marguerite, refuses to believe her son is dead. Will he prove her right? As in Welch’s previously celebrated titles American Nightingale and Easy Company Soldier, the keen insight into the feelings, fears and foibles of his characters is ever apparent in Resolve. “One’s ability to withstand the toughest ordeals isn’t dependent on who we are when the challenge begins, but on what we become when forced to rise to the occasion or die,” says Welch. Conner persevered, surviving a relentless pursuit of the enemy and to keep a promise, emerging from a Philippines jungle to present an amazed lieutenant general with a tattered American flag on a bamboo pole, symbolic of an unlikely victory won. ““Resolve is more than a book about war,” adds Welch, “but about groups of people whose strength in a common purpose negates whatever differences might threaten to divide them. And, amid a horrific war, about an unlikely hero who forged peace among them—and within himself.” More about the author online at bobwelch.net. Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 15

Diabetes And Eye Health: A Closer Look

hose with diabetes should take a good look at their eye health. That’s the word from the American Diabetes Association. It reports that nearly 26 million people in the United States have diabetes and 12,000 – 24,000 people lose their sight because of the disease each year. The American Optometric Association (AOA) encourages Americans with diabetes to schedule annual, dilated eye examinations to help detect and prevent eye and vision disorders that could lead to blindness.

Health Diabetic Eye Disorders People with diabetes are at a significantly higher risk for developing eye diseases including glaucoma, cataracts and diabetic retinopathy, one of the most serious sight-threatening complications of diabetes. Consider the following:

• Those with diabetes are 40 percent more likely to suffer from glaucoma than people without diabetes.

• Those with diabetes are 60 percent more likely to develop cataracts. People with diabetes also tend to get them at a younger age and have them progress faster. With cataracts, the eye’s clear lens clouds, blocking light and interfering with normal vision.

Eye Health Tips In addition to having yearly, comprehensive eye exams, the AOA offers the following tips to help prevent or slow the development of diabetic eye diseases:

Diabetic retinopathy is a condition that causes progressive damage to the retina, the light-sensitive lining at the back of the eye. Damage to the tiny blood vessels that nourish the retina causes swelling of retinal tissue and clouding of vision. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness. Since early warning signs of diabetic eye and vision disorders are often subtle or undetected, the AOA recommends that people—especially African Americans and Hispanics, who have a higher risk of developing

• Keep glycohemoglobin test results (“A1c,” or average blood sugar level) consistently under 7 percent.

Pain with every step you take? Do you have Diabetes?

Do you suffer from persistent burning, throbbing, or tingling pain in your feet? If so, you could have a condition called Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN). You may be interested in a medical research study using a drug that is approved for neuropathic pain associated with DPN. Individuals who qualify must be: • Men or women who are 18 years of age or older; • Currently diagnosed with Type 1 or 2 diabetes; and • Experiencing moderate to severe pain on walking. To see if you may qualify for this study, please contact:

727-347-8839 4751 66th Street North St. Petersburg, FL 33709 Gigi C. Lefebvre, MD Board Certified, Family Practice

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 16

able aura or dark ring around lights or illuminated objects, visible dark spots in vision or images of flashing lights.

• Take prescribed medication as directed.

• Stick to a healthy diet that includes omega-3s, fresh fruits and vegetables. diabetes—look for initial signs and contact a doctor of optometry if any of the following symptoms are present: sudden blurred or double vision, trouble reading or focusing on nearwork, eye pain or pressure, a notice-

• Exercise regularly.

• Control high blood pressure. • Avoid alcohol and smoking.

For more information on eye health, visit www.aoa.org. (NAPSA)

Fitness Training for Mature Adults

BY JIMMY BOWEN

utlined below are several of the myths you may have read or heard and the truths behind some common wellness issues for senior adults.

your own groceries in your car and returning the cart to the store are all examples of simple weight training exercises. A productive element of resistance training added to your fitness program can be implemented and completed entirely in your own home using items you already have. No expensive machines to buy or need to visit a gym every day.

Myth #1: Improvement of my

heart health can only be attained by completing high intensity aerobic exercise for an extended period of time. If I’m not completely exhausted at the end of my workout I probably didn’t do myself any good.

Truth: A person does not need to

maintain lengthy periods of intense exercise to improve cardiovascular conditioning. A simple, consistent walking program around the neighborhood, at the mall or a local park will help you to increase your heart stroke volume, your energy levels and your well being. Grab a friend and do some walking.

Myth #2: Weight training is for

growing big muscles, and if I try to lift weights I’ll probably hurt myself.

Truth: A significant improvement

in your fitness level can be attained with moderate elements of weight training. Adding a few extra pounds to your shopping cart, placing

Myth #3: Eating healthy is expensive. Truth: It is true that engaging in a 100 percent organic diet is more expensive. But you do not have to exceed your food budget. Eating healthy means limiting high fat content items and concentrating on items that will help you fuel your body the right way. Utilizing a trainer or designing a program on your own will result in many improvements. Be sure to consult with a professional before engaging in any exercise program to be sure the details are right for your conditioning level and physical circumstances. As the famous sportswear company says ‘Just Do It!’

Why Laser Cataract Surgery? 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!"

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The author is a Certified Personal Trainer and Senior Fitness Specialist at 50andBeyondFitness.com or (727) 504-4613.

MOMENTS LIKE THESE ARE PRECIOUS. DON’T LET THEM FADE AWAY. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people 55+, and early detection is key to saving your sight. Protect your vision from fading away. Call the Foundation Fighting Blindness today for a free AMD information packet.

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Baby Boomers Are Not as Healthy as Their Parents

t’s a boom that is turning out to be a bust! In baby boomer’s health, that is. Baby boomers have higher levels of hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and higher rates of disability than their parents. They are also more likely to be obese and less likely to exercise. A new study compared health status, functional and work disability, healthy lifestyle characteristics and presence of chronic disease. “Despite their longer life expectancy over previous generations, U.S. baby boomers have higher rates of chronic disease, more disability and lower self-rated health than members of the previous generation at the same age,” the study authors wrote. “On a positive note, baby boomers are less likely to smoke cigarettes and

experience lower rates of emphysema and [heart attacks] than the previous generation.” Dr. Dana E. King, professor and chair of family medicine at West Virginia University in Morgantown, led the study which found that 40 percent of the baby boomers were obese, compared to 29 percent from the older group. Many fewer baby boomers get regular physical activity as well. A whopping 52 percent said they aren’t active, while only 17 percent of the over-baby boomer-age group could say that. King expressed concern in one interview that boomers may be relying too much on medication to solve their health problems. He added that drugs should be used in conjunction with a healthy lifestyle, not instead of one. Disability was defined conservatively said one researcher. “To be considered disabled you had to be walking only with an assistance device, such as

a cane, or only able to climb up 10 steps, have trouble stooping down or walking a quarter of a mile.” Boomers consistently had a higher level of disability than their parents’ generation. Nancy Copperman, a public health initiatives director, noted that baby boomers are definitely moving less than their parents did. She said, “Our parents didn’t have the conveniences we have. Now, often both parents are working and spending less time doing manual

labor. Instead of mowing the lawn or cleaning the house, they might hire someone to do it,” she noted. Moderate drinking was more common among the boomers compared to the previous generation (67.3 percent vs. 37.2 percent). In addition, while life expectancy is higher for boomers than it was for the previous generation, more boomers are unhealthy by their own admission. Only one in 10 baby boomers reported being in excellent health compared to one-third of their parents who reported the same. It is predicted that as baby boomers move into their 60s and 70s, they will utilize the healthcare system more than ever before. Doctors’ offices will be busier than ever before, and the need for healthcare professionals will skyrocket in the next decade. “The Status of Baby Boomers’ Health in the United States: The Healthiest Generation?,” March issue of JAMA Internal Medicine.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 19

Fad Diets May Be Damaging to the Heart

rash diets and calorie-restricted eating plans can lead to heart damage. Many diet pills being sold under the weight loss umbrella are also not FDA approved and have, in some cases, been linked to heart problems and even death. Repeated crash dieting can increase your risk of a heart attack and severe calorie restriction can cause heart muscle loss. “Cutting out too many calories and going on yet another crash diet could— literally—wear your heart out, says Mohammed Saghir, M.D., Cardiologist at Bradenton Cardiology Center. “The same goes for diet pills containing too much caffeine or other stimulants.” Overuse of diet pills containing caffeine can have very negative ramifications on the heart. “Excessive use may cause arrhythmia (or irregular heartbeat), elevated blood pressure and rapid heart rate. In extreme cases, the pills may trigger ventricular fibrillation, a lethal condition wherein the ventricles of the heart

muscle develop a chaotic rhythm and cease their contractions, upon which the heart stops pumping blood to the rest of the body,” Dr. Saghir explains. While weight control is critical for keeping the heart muscle in shape—the food you eat matters just as much. A heart-healthy diet can reduce your risk of heart disease or stroke by 80 percent, according to the American Heart Association. Dr. Saghir has these tips for healthy weight loss and how to eat to protect your heart in the new year.

1. Don’t “diet.” A crash diet may

work if you’re trying to fit into a dress by next month. But if you’re trying to improve your heart health, cycling through different fad diets won’t help. Diets that demonize one type of food—whether it’s carbs or fat—don’t work either. Instead, take a sensible approach. Focus on lean meats, vegetables and whole grains to get long-term benefits for your heart and your waistline.

2. Avoid caffeine. If you have

atrial fibrillation, caffeine and other stimulants can trigger symptoms.

3. Sea salt is still salt. Most Ameri-

cans think sea salt is a low-sodium alternative to regular table salt. The truth is it has the same amount of sodium. Any type of salt increases your blood pressure. The guideline is no more than a teaspoon a day. If you already have high blood pressure, you should eat even less. And, it doesn’t just come from the salt shaker. Up to 75 percent of the salt we consume comes from processed foods such as soups and frozen meals. If your food comes in a can or a box, check the sodium content.

4. Choose meats wisely. Red meat

is usually high in saturated fat, which is bad for your heart. That doesn’t mean you have to banish meat from your diet. Just be savvy. Choose the leanest cuts and always cut off the fat. Look for cuts such as sirloin, flank, rump roast, and tenderloin.

Or, choose pork tenderloin, turkey or chicken breast, as an alternative.

5. A little wine may be good, but a lot is not. Yes, studies show that

drinking modest amounts of alcohol— not just wine—has heart benefits. “But don’t assume that if a glass is good, a jug must be better,” Dr. Saghir warns. Excess alcohol—more than one drink a day for women or two for men—increases your risk for heart problems. It drives up blood pressure and can trigger irregular heartbeats in people with atrial fibrillation. More information at (941) 748-2277.

Skilled Nursing Unit at Edward White Hospital The Skilled Nursing Unit has been awarded a 5-Star Rating by The Agency for Healthcare Administration (ACHA). This rating is based on nursing home resident assessments conducted by the centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (cMS). edward White hospital’s Skilled nursing Unit excelled when evaluated in three essential areas: health inspections, rn Staffing, and Quality Measures. These key areas can give an indication of the quality of care an individual nursing home will be able to provide.

For more information contact 1-888-243-3627.

Located on the 3rd floor of the hospital this 30-bed unit has 4 private rooms, 13 semi-private rooms, and an Activities Room. The average length of stay for each resident is anticipated to be between 7-11 days.

CoNdiTioNS TReATed iNCLUde:

• Post-orthopedic or other surgery • Medical conditions requiring short-term skilled and rehabilitative services

ServiceS Provided:

• rehabilitation Therapy to increase strength, endurance, range of motion, mobility and coordination. • daily activities to help residents develop personal and social independence. • By referral: dental, Podiatry and optometry/ophthalmology

The uniT iS STaffed By:

Your Community Hospital 2323 9th Ave. N • St. Petersburg, FL 33713 • EdwardWhiteHospital.com Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 20

• unit director • rn’s. LPn’s and cna’s • Physical Therapists • occupational Therapists

• MdS coordinator • recreational Therapist • registered dietician • Social Worker

S RD CKS RO IAN IND

L A R G O

E BAY DR

686

LARGO MEDICAL CENTER MAIN CAMPUS

LARGO MEDICAL CENTER

INDIAN ROCKS RO ROAD CAMPUS

688

P I N E L L A S

ULMERTON RD

686

C O U N T Y

19 SEMINOLE BLVD

693 66TH ST N

PARK BLVD

19 GA

D LV YB ND

275

684

694

NORTHSIDE HOSPIT HOSPITAL

687

54TH AVE N

LV D

38TH A AVE N

34TH ST N

P ET T E R S B U R G

49TH ST N

S T .

ST ST. PETERSBURG GENERAL HOSPIT HOSPITAL

AL EDWARD WHITE HOSPITAL 595

9TH A AVE N 5TH A AVE N

Text “ER” to 23000 for the Average Wait Times of an HCA Pinellas County Hospital Near You. For information about our hospitals or services, call Consult-A-Nurse at 1-855-422-2228.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 21

Discover The Springs South Pasadena’s Hidden Treasure

Welcome to The Springs at Boca Ciega Bay, located in beautiful South Pasadena on the campus of The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay. We’re not your typical skilled nursing facility. We are a 109 bed Medicare certified Rehab Center offering a variety of health care services: • Skilled Nursing • Wound Care • Social Services • Full scale beauty salon • Individualized activities • State-of-the-art Rehab. We offer Customized Rehab programs 7 days a week both in-patient and out-patient including Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy. We specialize in: • Orthopedic • Stroke/Neuro • Cardiac programs by utilizing state-of-the-art equipment including Anodyne therapy and Natilus equipment, just to name a few.

My Heel Hurt So Much in the Morning I Hated to Get Out of Bed

hat sharp, stabbing pain when you first step out of bed is all too common—but it IS possible to find relief. If you suffer from heel pain, you know how much those first few steps of the day can hurt—and how pain throughout the day can keep you from doing all the things you want to do. Most heel pain is actually caused by inflammation of the plantar fascia, the tendon-like structure on the bottom of your foot that runs all the way from your heel to the base of your toes. Tough and strong, it’s built to take a lot of stress. But if your feet aren’t properly supported, or you’re overweight, or you stand or walk all day at work, your plantar fascia can end up strained and swollen, causing the kind of heel pain that’s ruining your day.

At Foot Solutions, our highly trained Fitting Specialists can help you find the relief you need to start your day with a smile. We’ll examine your feet carefully using the latest digital technology. Then we can recommend shoes and arch supports that support your feet and distribute your weight properly to reduce pressure on your feet and eliminate stress. So you can do the things you have to do—and the things you love to do—without worrying about heel pain. Isn’t it time to take back your mornings—and your life? Come see us, and let us give you the help you need to end heel pain. Foot Solutions stores are in Largo Mall and in St. Petersburg. For directions and special offers, check www.TampaBayFootSolutions.com.

Don’t let pain stop you now.

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.

The Springs At Boca Ciega Bay 1255 Pasadena Ave. St. Petersburg, FL 33707

(727) 828-3500

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 22

New styles arriving weekly!

We call it the perfect fit. Our customers call it a life changer. Isn’t it time you consult a Foot Solutions fit expert? Foot Solutions’ highly trained professionals, advanced technology, stylish comfort footwear and custom-fitted, custom-crafted arch supports have helped thousands of people live pain free. Consult a Foot Solutions fit expert today and start living your life to the fullest.

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The Healthy Geezer BY FRED CICETTI

I remember having lots Q of fevers as a kid, but now that I’m older, I don’t get them .

like I used to. What gives?

he immune system doesn’t function as efficiently in older adults as it does in younger people. The body’s fever response to infection is not always automatic in elderly people. More than 20 percent of adults over age 65 who have serious bacterial infections do not have fevers. This brings us to germs, which are defined as microbes that cause disease. Infectious diseases caused by microbes are the leading cause of death. Microbes are microscopic organisms that are everywhere. Some microbes cause disease. Others are essential for health. Most microbes belong to one of four major groups: bacteria, viruses, fungi or protozoa. Bacteria are made up of only one cell. Less than 1 percent of them cause diseases in humans. Harmless bacteria live in human intestines, where they help to digest food. Foods such as yogurt and cheese are made using bacteria. Some bacteria produce dangerous poisons. Botulism, a severe form of food poisoning, is caused by toxins from bacteria. However, several vaccines are made from bacterial toxins. Viruses are among the smallest microbes.They consist of one or more molecules that contain the virus’s genes surrounded by a protein coat. Most viruses cause disease. They invade normal cells, then multiply. There are millions of types of fungi. The most familiar ones are mushrooms, yeast, mold and mildew. Some live in the human body, usually without causing illness. In fact, only about half of all types of fungi cause disease in humans. Penicillin and other antibiotics, which kill harmful bacteria in our bodies, are made from fungi. Protozoa are a group of microscopic one-celled animals. In humans, protozoa usually cause disease.

Some protozoa, like plankton, are food for marine animals. Malaria is caused by a protozoan parasite. You can get infected by germs from other people in many different ways, including transmission through the air from coughing or sneezing, direct contact such as kissing or sexual intercourse, and touching infectious material on a doorknob, telephone, automated teller machine or a diaper. A variety of germs come from household pets. Dog and cat saliva can contain any of more than 100 different germs that can make you sick. Mosquitoes may be the most common insect carriers of disease. Mosquitoes can transmit malaria. Fleas that pick up bacteria from rodents can then transmit plague to humans. The tiny deer tick can infect humans with Lyme disease. We become immune to germs naturally and artificially. Before birth, we received natural immunity from our mothers. Once we are exposed to a germ, we develop natural immunity to it from special cells in our immune systems. Artificial immunity can come from vaccines. Most infections caused by microbes fall into three major groups: acute infections, chronic infections and latent infections. The common cold is an acute infection. Hepatitis C, which affects the liver, is a chronic viral infection. Chicken pox is an example of a latent infection that can emerge many years later and causes a disease called “shingles.” Handwashing is a simple and effective way to stop the transmission of germs. Health care experts recommend scrubbing your hands vigorously for at least 15 seconds with soap and water. It is especially important to wash your hands before touching food, after coughing or sneezing, after changing a diaper, and after using the toilet. 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.

Walgreens now offers the Zostavax vaccine for shingles at all of its locations! If you’ve ever had Chicken Pox, ask your Walgreens Pharmacist about the Zostavax vaccine recommended for those 50 years and older to help prevent shingles.

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Contact us for more information: 1-888-670-0040 Visit us on the web: www.lifestylesafter50fl.com Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 23

Bad Ideas Won’t Solve Bad Hair Days, Says Expert Davis-Sivasothy debunks the following common hair-care myths:

Photo by Noel Hendrickson

isinformation can be just as stubborn as frizz or those pesky flyaways—it’s difficult to manage, impossible to reason with and it just keeps coming back, says longtime hair-care advocate and health scientist Audrey Davis-Sivasothy. “Old wives’ tales and ineffective products that claim to treat or rehabilitate hair often have a placebo effect because people want them to work,” says Davis-Sivasothy, author of Hair Care Rehab. “But many of these ideas and products actually do the opposite of what’s intended, and they delay the user from seeking out real solutions.”

• Myth: There’s a magic pill (or oil, serum or balm) to grow our hair faster, stronger or thicker. Unfortunately, no. Hair growth is genetically predetermined and controlled by our hormones. Unless the magic pill affects our genes or hormones, there’s no hope that it might make our hair grow. (This includes prenatal vitamins. Credit the upsurge in hormone levels during pregnancy for those vibrant tresses!) Basic vitamin supplements can offer slight improvements in hair quality, but only if our body truly lacks the particular vitamin or mineral being taken.

• Myth: Trimming will make your hair grow stronger, longer, faster or thicker. Since hair is dead, cutting the ends has no effect on what happens at the scalp. Strands will grow at the same predetermined rate each month, and individual strands will grow in at the same thickness as before. While trimming or

cutting the hair does seem to give the appearance of thicker hair, this is only because all of the freshly trimmed hairs now have the same, clear endpoint.

• Myth: Expensive products do more! Not necessarily. Always look for ingredients over brand names. There are just as many poorly formulated high-end products as there are bargain ones—and just as many worthy expensive products as there are bargain ones, too!

• Myth: Products made for or marketed to a particular race/ethnicity cannot be used by those of other backgrounds. False! The ingredients in a product matter much more than to whom the product is marketed. In fact, most products have the same set of three to five base ingredients. Products for “ethnic” hair types tend to be more moisturizing and have more oils and proteins than those for other hair types. Damaged hair needs a good dose of moisture, proteins and oil to regain its healthy appearance. The

same holds true for products marketed to those with color-treated hair. Even if your hair is not dyed, using a product for color-treated hair can be beneficial because these shampoo formulas tend to be gentler (to preserve easily washed away hair color) and conditioners tend to be super-conditioning, but lightweight, to help reduce dryness from the coloring process. • Myth: Washing your hair too often leads to dryness. This depends. Hair can be cleansed as often as you like without dryness, provided you use the proper products to retain moisture. Those who generally have naturally drier hair types (including those of us with curls and highly textured hair) often shy away from frequent cleansing—but water is not the enemy! It’s the stripping shampoos and mediocre conditioners we use that are to blame. Using the proper moisturizing and conditioning products at wash time will actually increase your hair’s hydration.

Need A Doctor? Consult-A-Nurse is here for you. Just a phone call away, our registered nurses are at your service, providing free information and prompt answers to your health-related questions. Our nurses do not diagnose conditions, but provide health information in an effort to help you find an answer to your health questions. FREE Physician Referral and Healthcare Information 24/7.

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 24

Cats Bring Good Things to Seniors

he friendly feline eyes his “parent” sit down to watch TV. It is time for the kitty to become a ‘lap cat’ for a lucky cat and its foster parent. Cats can be great companions for seniors who live alone, and cats can make seniors feel needed. A cat helps break the ice and encourages socializing and conversation between people who might otherwise

feel they have nothing in common. And since laughter is important in our lives, a cat’s actions can be entertaining and humorous. The warm touch of a cat is rewarding as well, whether it is curled up in bed or in a nearby chair. Save Our Strays, Inc. is a local agency which offers a selection of felines for adoption or as foster cats. All cats are completely vetted and are microchipped. A no-kill, nonprofit organization, its mission is to rehome abandoned kittens and cats. SOS offers two foster programs for anyone who does not want to adopt a pet. Short-term volunteer foster parents help find forever homes for cats. A permanent foster family cares for an older, hard-to-place cat, in which case, SOS pays the cat’s medical expenses. To learn more, call an SOS volunteer at (727) 545-1116 or check out the website at saveourstraysinc.com. Consider a cat as your new best friend; it’s a win/win situation for you and a lucky kitty.

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Local Author Publishes Memoir REDISCOVER P A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

art truth and part fiction, Headstone is the story of Dunedin author Brian James’ nontraditional relationship with his father. Born in 1915, Brian’s father majored in mischief at an early age. In this book, he relives his father’s antics— from stealing from a pushcart vendor when he was just a young boy to drawing outlandish cartoons on the backsides of local politicians’ signs. The lives of gamblers and gangsters, special agents and inspectors are interwoven in a fun tale of the life and times of a guy named Junior. The stories are the author’s

well-varnished memories of a man he loved and who will forever be his hero. James says becoming a part of local writers groups helped him with the book from writing to publishing and marketing. He has participated in the Story Circle Writer’s Group at the Safety Harbor Public Library and the Suncoast Writers and Author’s Group in Palm Harbor. Headstone is a quick read and a good story with a timeless message—that even though someone may have many faults, you can love them still.

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When To Do Home Improvements Yourself And When To Call In The Pros

ith the kids gone, you may have considered tackling home improvements yourself. However, there are many things to consider before you make the decision to Do It Yourself (DIY) or hire a professional.

Housing What To Consider

STATE CERTIFIED LICENSE #CCC1327406 • CBC 1259006

Affordable Housing For Senior Citizens

Experience and Training: If you have no experience tackling the home improvement needed, consider hiring an expert. Service professionals have years of training and may know how your home works better than you do. Equipment and Tools: Take into account the additional expense of buying new tools that would be needed for what you are considering. Keep in mind that if you aren’t experienced as a do-it-yourselfer, you could end up spending more money fixing your

Fraud Prevention Expo

onsumer authorities agree that individuals over the age of 60 are targeted more frequently by financial fraud and scams. Learn more:

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mistakes than it would have cost to hire a professional in the first place. Commitment and Time: Extensive home repairs can take weeks to complete. Weigh the urgency of the repair and your own availability to take on a home project. When to Call a Professional You know it’s time to bring in the professionals when the project is out of your scope of experience. Prescreening your service professionals is the best way to ensure you have a quality professional that will provide an accurate quote and follow through on accomplishing the project to your specifications. Ask questions. Where to Learn More You can find more information about home improvement, maintenance and repair projects including project cost guides, emergency support and pre-screened professionals at homeadvisor.com. (NAPSA)

March 23 Free Elder Consumer Protection Expo by Stetson University College of Law. On-site free shredding, Do-Not-Call/Opt-Out registration, and free credit reporting

services to help guard against identity theft. Continental breakfast; limited registration required. At Stetson Law’s Gulfport Campus, 1401 61st St. S. To register or request more information, contact Elder Consumer Protection Program administrator Michael Pierce by phone at (727) 562-7888 or by email at elderconsumers@law.stetson.edu.

4-H Benefit Trap Tournament

he Hernando Sportsman’s Club is hosting a 4-H Benefit Trap Tournament on Sat., March 23, at the club’s trap range, located at 16121 Commercial Way (US 19), Brooksville. All proceeds are to benefit the youth of the Hernando Sportsman’s 4-H Club. The trap tournament consists of four rounds of 25 shots each, for a total of 100 shots. Trophies will be awarded from three categories: youth, adult and senior. The winner is determined by most targets hit.

Cost is $40 per trap shooter, $35 if preregistered by March 16. Lunch is provided to all participants. Registration for shooters begins at 8 a.m. Shooting will start at 9 a.m. Please bring your own shotgun, ammo and lawn chair for a great day of fun helping raise funds for the kids of our local 4-H club. For more info, contact Ken at (352) 797-0409.

How to Help Children with Grandparent Divorce BY KATIE SAINT, MA, BCBA

randchildren may be confused, angry and/or sad about grandparents separating. They may have questions like, “If they quit loving each other, will they quit loving me?” The questions they ask can be hard to answer and throw you off guard. You may plan to give my children a short answer as to why Grandma and Grandpa do not want to live together anymore, and hope they don’t bring it up again. Unfortunately the short answer may not satisfy a four-year-old. He may want to know if they would ever get back together, or if the family could teach them to get along. They may be upset because the other grandparent isn’t visiting. To aid in the grieving process, it is good to let children know that the decision to live at separate houses is final. A child having false hope that their grandparents will move back

together is not good for accepting this change. You can say, “They tried everything they could and it did not work. Now they feel the best decision is to live in separate houses.” It is important to point out to children that their love from their grandparents will not change. Just because Grandma and Grandpa do not love each other doesn’t mean they will quit loving the child. Be intentional about having children spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. This can help children see that Grandma and Grandpa are still the same.

Why Risk Your Future? Choose Sound Financial Advice

re you facing a heavy financial decision—such as how to plan for your retirement, mortgage or long term care—and are not sure how to start? The professionals that make up Pierce Financial Advisors, LLC. can help you develop a solution. They are dedicated to educating their clients on advance tax reduction, estate planning, investment and wealth management strategies and much more. “Our advanced asset protection strategies dealing with Medicaid and long term care issues are regularly used, and have helped families save hundreds of dollars in long term care costs,” says Ted Pierce, an asset protection specialist with over 20 years of experience. Pierce has been a member of the Society of Certified Senior Advisors since 1998 and has devoted his career to helping individuals plan for the protection of their assets through the use of Medicaid planning, Long Term

Care and various investment technniques. Pierce has helped his clients, in many ways, to avoid the common mistakes made by most families. He works extensively with elder law attorneys to provide a comprehensive estate plan for his clients.

Pierce Financial Advisors Specializes In: • Health Savings Accounts • Co-Pay Prescription Program • Annuity/IRA Maximization • Tax and Investment Planning • Asset Protection Planning • Cost-Effective Life Insurance Planning • Long Term Care Insurance Options • Mortgages Call Pierce Financial Advisors, LLC., today at (813) 417-7824 to learn how they can help you, or stop by their office at Central Pasco Professional Building, 4111 Land O’ Lakes, FL.

Children may be concerned that Allow children of all ages to ask Mom and Dad will split up too. A as many questions as they like and child may ask the parent when they try to be open and honest with them. are going to move out like Grandma Avoid talking bad about either did. Let the child know that just begrandparent. Keep in mind as you cause Grandma and Grandpa separated talk with them that you would like doesn’t mean Mom and Dad will too. to preserve the relationship between Children often communicate their the grandchild and the grandparent. anxiety with behaviors. Doing things Remember these two important tips: like drawing pictures, asking them 1. If you feel like your children are questions about how they are feeling and reading books like, “When Grand- struggling, and you don’t feel like you have all the tools you want to handle parents Divorce” can help children it, see a counselor. A counselor or adjust more quickly and reduce any therapist can help your whole family negative feelings they might have. process through this major life change. For older children, you can address the issues directly. Explain 2. Any child going through a hard to them what will change and time will benefit from extra quality what will stay the same. time with a loved one. EX: “Grandma will live at ______, and Grandpa will live at ______. Katie Saint is Holidays will be like this. the author of “When Grandma and Grandpa still love you just the same and are excited Grandparents Divorce.” for you to come visit them.”

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 27

Technology Simplified – New and Improved

FREE Automatic Software Updates

WOW… A Computer Designed For YOU, Not Your Grandchildren! …It’s easy to read. It’s easy to see. It’s even easier to understand and use!

This computer is easy-to-use, worry-free and literally puts the world at your fingertips. From WOW! The perfect name for this amazing computer. I have been using it for about a month and thoroughly enjoy the speed and ease in which I am able to download pictures from my camera and share them with family and friends via email. Everything is so easy to use at the touch of my fingertips. To be able to chat with and see my grandchildren is as though they are here with me. I haven't begun to explore all the benefits of this computer. It has opened up a whole new world for me. I love it, love it, love it! – Carol K., Benbrook, TX Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 28

NEW

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designed for SENIORS Big Bright Screen One-touch “zoom” magnification No bulky tower ®

…”surf” the internet Get current weather & news. …send and receive emails, and video chat Keep up with family and friends. …play games online hundreds to choose from! the moment you open the box, you’ll realize how different the WOW Computer is. The components are all connected; all you do is plug it into an outlet and your high-speed Internet connection. Then you’ll see the screen. This is a completely new touch screen system, without the cluttered look of the normal computer screen. The “buttons” on the screen are easy to see and easy to understand. All you do is touch one of them, from the Web, Email, Calendar to Games– you name it… and a new screen

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opens up. It’s so easy to use you won’t have to ask your children or grandchildren for help. Until now the very people who could benefit most from E-mail, and the Internet are the ones that have had the hardest time accessing it. Now, thanks to the WOW Computer, countless older Americans are discovering the wonderful world of the Internet every day. Isn’t it time you took part? Call now, and a patient, knowledgeable product expert will tell you how you can

try it in your home for 30 days. If you are not totally satisfied, simply return it within 30 days for a refund of the product purchase price. Call today.

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Have you ever said to yourself “I’d love to get a computer, if only I could figure out how to use it.” Well, you’re not alone. Computers were supposed to make our lives simpler, but they’ve gotten so complicated that they are not worth the trouble. With all of the “pointing and clicking” and “dragging and dropping” you’re lucky if you can figure out where you are. Plus, you are constantly worrying about viruses, spam and freeze-ups. If this sounds familiar, we have great news for you. There is finally a computer that’s designed for simplicity and ease of use. It’s the WOW Computer, and it was designed with you in mind.

Just plug it in!!!

Pinellas County

Fresh Fru s e i g g its and Ve North

North

Happy St. Patrick’s Day! Blast From The Past!

Richie Merritt

Karen Kallin

3-7pm...

Central

F Foodull Bar & Avai lab

• Richie Merritt of the Marcels • Ken Brady of the Casinos • Bill Castner Mr. Song and Dance • Karen Kallin – Lil’ Miss Dynamite • Art DeMoranville of the Doo Wop Duo

Ken Brady

South Bill Castner

Plus....

• Pinellas Countys Funny Lady Singer & MC Denise Looney Denise Looney

competitions, food and plenty of Irish beverages. On-theday festivities include early morning mass, followed by a parade passing fountains running green! 4. The huge ethnic community Fountains run green in Boston goes all in Savannah, GA. out with parades, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, New York City Irish comedy, theatre and concerts and a 20-site Irish Heritage Trail. 1. New York City sees 150,000 5. San Francisco goes green with marching band members, bag pipers a parade and all-day festival at and members of the Irish community the Civic Center Plaza. Eat your parade along Fifth Avenue. corned beef and cabbage here! 2. Chicago holds its parade the 6. Head for the Quad Cities for the Saturday before March 17. Look for USA’s only interstate parade. Held the Chicago River to run Irish green. on a Saturday, the parade is cheered from Rock Island, Illinois across the 3. Savannah draws 400,000 people to Mississippi River to Davenport, Iowa celebrate Saint Patrick’s contribution by tens of thousands of onlookers. to the Christian faith. Check out two (WorldWeb.com) days of live Celtic music, games, or the Irish and those that love a good party, here are the biggest, greenest and most Irish of all Saint Patrick’s Day Parades in the U.S.

117th Drive, Largo (Corner of Seminole and Walshingham Blvd.)

Join Us on April 7th

A F T E R 50

Central

Sportsters Bar & Grill 727-392-6801

From all of us at

Tickets $10 in Advance • $12 at the Door Call Denise for Tickets • 727-581-8067

South Art DeMoranville

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 29

Easter Trivia

Last Month’s Answers

February Sudoku

1. What does the word “Lent” mean?

Mary M. Brate is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

3. How long will a boiled egg keep in the refrigerator?

Good Luck!

4. A female rabbit is called a what?

Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well. Good luck! The ﬁrst correct answers selected from the drawing on Mar. 21 will win. Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC. P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

SUDOKU MUST BE RECEIVED BY MAR. 21, 2013

Word Search

6. True or false: Eggs contain nearly every nutrient essential to human health. 7. Name the kind of egg that is jeweled and very expensive. 8. True or false: Eggs need to be washed before eating. 9. What famous cartoon bunny is known for saying “Eh, what’s up Doc? 10. What color are the eggs in the classic Dr. Seuss story about eggs and ham?

Answers:

6. True 7. Fabrege 8. False 9. Bugs Bunny 10. Green

Mar. Sudoku

5. True or false: You have to wear a new piece of clothing on Easter or it’s bad luck.

1. Lengthening of days 2. Pink 3. One week 4. Doe 5. True

Win Great Prizes!

New winner selected each month

2. What color is the Energizer bunny?

Word Search March

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

Answers From

February

Joy Riddle is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 30

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

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on March 21 will win. Mystery Prize!

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

Mystery Prize!

(Puzzles must be received by Mar. 21, 2013.)

Sweet Ways to Cook with Sweet Corn F

lorida’s fresh corn is in, and these recipes make the most of it. Executive Chef and Culinary Ambassador, Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services say, “From fritters and soup to enchiladas and corn on the cob with some surprising toppings, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this healthful grain.”

Recipe

each tortilla. Carefully roll up each tortilla, and place seam side down in sprayed baking dish. Pour enchilada sauce over rolled enchiladas, spreading to coat all tortillas. Sprinkle with remaining 1 cup cheese. Bake 25 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees until bubbly. Serve with diced avocado, salsa and sour cream, if desired.

Sweet Corn and Black Bean Enchiladas

10 6-inch corn tortillas 2 c. shredded Monterey Jack cheese, divided 1 8-oz can enchilada sauce

1 Tbsp. oil 1/2 c. onion, chopped 1 c. fresh Florida sweet corn kernels 2 bell peppers, diced 1 tsp ground cumin 1 c. salsa 1 can low sodium black beans, rinsed and drained Salt and pepper

Lightly spray an 11 x 7-inch (2-quart) baking dish with pan release cooking spray. Cook onion, corn and bell peppers for 3 minutes. Add cumin, salsa and black beans, and continue to cook for two minutes. Season. Remove pan from heat and let cool slightly. Place an even amount of the filling mixture and cheese in

Yield: 6 to 8 servings

of corn mixture to hot pan. Cook on both sides until golden brown. Serve with low-fat sour cream if desired. (Family Features)

Sweet Corn and Ricotta Fritters Yield: 4 to 6 servings 2 ears corn, kernels removed 1/2 bunch fresh cilantro, chopped fine 4 oz. low-fat ricotta cheese 2 eggs, beaten 1/3 c. self-rising flour Salt and pepper Olive oil (for shallow pan frying) In medium-sized bowl, combine corn, cilantro, ricotta, eggs, flour, salt and pepper. In a small amount of olive oil in preheated sauté pan, add spoonfuls

elebrating St. Augustine’s heritage means a culinary history like no other. For March (or any other month), eat, drink and be Irish at Meehan’s Irish Pub on the waterfront in downtown St. Augustine. They’re serving up phenomenal food choices and ongoing stories by the staff about close encounters of the “spirit” kind in the 1914-era building. Look for the chef to cook up traditional food like corned beef and cabbage, but he’ll also incorporate Irish influences, such as Beggar’s Purse— pastry wrapped around chicken pot pie with an ale and cheese sauce. John Meehan, owner of Meehan’s, is hosting a 10-day Celtic Festival this month. Last year he brought in 50 musicians from Europe and had 10

Join the official Seniors Fan Club of the Tampa Bay Rays for only $ Season Ticket Holder Price $15

25!

All Rays fans 55 and older can join the Golden Rays and receive:

days of music from 6 to 9 p.m. “Don’t look for green beer,” he says. “Meehan’s will give you the authenticity of both food and spirits.” His staff is trained to help visitors find their perfect combination of the two—and they’ll throw in a good story as well. Out back, Meehan’s Backyard is an island cafe and tropical bar with lighter fare such as Conch Chowder or a Sloppy John.

• Official Golden Rays Tote Bag • Official Golden Rays Visor

• Savings on concession and merchandise purchases • Invitations to exclusive Golden Rays events • Ticket vouchers for select Rays home games

For More Information Visit

Or Contact 727-342-5712 Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 31

Join The Florida Orchestra for

Music in the Mornings

at one of our two matinee series!

2012/2013 Season

Coffee Concerts

Overtures, Intermezzi & Finales Stuart Malina conducts this morning concert with spirited music from Bernstein’s Candide, Bizet’s Carmen and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, among other works. Don’t miss the pre-concert conversation and complimentary coffee and doughnuts one hour before the concert.

Wed, Apr 3, 10am

Dance, Swing and Sing With The Florida Orchestra

St. Louis Blues and more. Jeff Tyzik conducts these concerts on March 8, 9 and 10 in Tamnjoy “Beloved Ballets” pa, St. Pete and Clearwater. with music from TchaiAt the following Tampa Bay kovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Times Masterworks, Stefan Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet Sanderling conducts Mahler’s and Stravinsky’s Firebird, Das Lied von der Erde (The among other works, and Song of the Earth). Inspired the next Coffee Concert. by six Chinese poems, this Conductor Stuart Malina extraordinary marriage of shares anecdotes about the music and composers Trumpeter Byron Stripling orchestra and song, with its blending of touching during the performance. Photo by Will Shively and heart-wrenching moMarch 7, 11 a.m., at the ments, is an expression of the desire to Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg understand life’s melancholic beauty. At the next Raymond James Pops The concert closes with Haydn’s concert, it’s an all-star cast of trumSymphony No. 45, Farewell, featuring peter extraordinaire Byron Stripling, mezzo-soprano Susan Platts and tenor world-class tap dancer Ted Louis Vinson Cole. March 15, 16 and 17 in Levy and Count Basie songstress Carmen Bradford in a swinging salute Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater. For concert details or to order to Harlem’s famed Cotton Club with tickets, visitfloridaorchestra.org or It Don’t Mean A Thing If It Ain’t Got That Swing, Bill Bailey, I Got Rhythm, call 1-800-662-7286. BY HENRY ADAMS

Sponsored by:

Mahaffey Theater

727.892.3337 or www.FloridaOrchestra.org For group savings (10 or more) : 727.362.5443 Lifestyles After 50 •1 March 2013 • page 32 TFO-Lifestyle50-Mar.indd

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

2/4/2013 3:18:23 PM

Clearwater Marine Aquarium 249 Windward Passage • Clearwater, FL 33767

(727) 441-1790

www.SeeWinter.com

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 33

Free InFormatIon ServIce

BRIDGE BITES

From The American Contract Bridge League

Lifestyles After 50

for information please return completed form to:

News Connection USA, Inc. • P.O. Box 278 • Laurel FL 34272-0278

Name: Address: City:

State:

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E-mail: o Single o Married o Are you a Group Leader? Please contact me by: o Mail o Phone o E-mail SEND INFORMATION ON AREA(S) CHECKED BELOW INSURANCE: AUTOMOBILES: o Medicare o Automobile Sales o Health o Life o Maintenance and Repairs o Long-term care o Recreational Vehicles HOUSING OPTIONS RESIDENTIAL LIVING: o Independent Living o Mfd/FactoryBuilt Homes o Assisted Living o RV Resort o Senior Apartment o Senior Apartments o In-Home Care o Villa/Condo/Single Family o Alzheimer’s/Dementia Care o Golf Community PERSONAL HEALTHCARE: CAREGIVER RESOURCES o Rehab Hospital o Family Counseling o Physicians o Caregiver Support o Dentists o Dementia Care o Eye Care HOME IMPROVEMENTS: o Hearing o Sunrooms/Home Improvement o Foot Care/Arch Supports o Pools/spas o Weight Loss o A-C Repair/Plumbing/Electrical o Supplements TRAVEL: o Home Health o Cruises o Land Tours o Prescription Drugs o Hotels/ Resorts o Medical Supplies o Local Attractions LEISURE TIME: FINANCIAL/ LAW: o Golf o Funeral Planning o Gambling o Retirement/Estate planning o Boating o Trusts/Wills o Theater o Medicare/Medicaid Assistance o Dining In/Out o Elder Law/Guardianships o Fitness/Gyms/Spas OTHER: SUN

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Win a $25 Gift certificate to Home Depot! When you complete this form and mail it back, your name will be entered to win a $25 gift certficate to Home Depot. (Drawing held the 20th of each month.)

P Last Month’s Winner Was: P P Lillie B. Upton — Congratulations! P

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 34

Count Signals

could also be fatal. Declarer’s Jack might be singleton in which case, BY BRIAN GUNNELL if you duck, Declarer ruffs another ount Dracula may have been a scary Heart in Dummy, returns to hand with a Club ruff, and draws trumps. Her fellow, but Count Signals can be shape is likely to be 7=3=2=1, and the defenders’ best friend, as illustrated she can now build her 11th trick by in this month’s deal. You are West, leading a Diamond towards Dummy. so try looking at just the N-W hands So, the success of the defense depends and see if you can beat 5♠ doubled. upon West guessing whether Declarer started with one or two Clubs. But no guessing is required for those defenders who give count signals when Declarer leads a suit. If E-W are using this valuable tool then, on the first round of Clubs, East plays low to show an odd number (of Clubs), and high to show an even number. On the actual deal, East plays the Two, so West knows that Declarer’s ♣J cannot be singleton and that he can safely duck that trick. After winning the ♣J, Declarer ruffs another Heart in Dummy, but can score no more than 10 tricks. If East started with ♣8742, he would play the Eight on the first round of Clubs (high to show an even You lead a high Heart, ruffed in number), from which West deduces Dummy. Then a Club is played to Declarer’s Jack. Do you win this trick? that the ♣J is singleton (Jxx is posAnd how do propose to set the contract? sible but less likely) and that the ♣A You could grab your ♣A and lead your must be grabbed and a trump returned. trump. That will stop a second Heart Visit acbl.org for more about the ruff in Dummy. The danger is that, after fascinating game of bridge or email drawing trumps, if Declarer has a second marketing@acbl.org. To find a bridge Club, she will be able to run the Clubs, club in Florida, go to district9acbl. pitching away all her red suit losers. org/D9Clubsmap.htm. Bridge article Does that mean you should duck the provided courtesy of St. Petersburg first Club trick? Not necessarily, that Bridge Club: www.stpetebridge.org.

Tarpon Springs Happenings

9 Jeff Moates, Archaeologist on Mari-

time Heritage and Traditions, Heritage Museum – Craig Park 4 p.m. 16 Vintage Fashion Show, Tarpon Springs Yacht Club – $25. 11 a.m.

16 Irish Eyes are Smilin’ Hootenanny

with Dave Wladaver, Heritage Museum.

16 Flea Market, Tarpon Springs Recre-

ation Gymnasium.

22 – 24 Il Trovatore at the PAC.

23 Gulf Maritime Festival, Sponge Docks.

24 Greek Independence Day Parade, downtown.

29 Tarpon Springs Recreation Division Talent Show, City Hall Auditorium. 30 Easter Eggstravaganza, Tarpon Springs Sports Complex.

Go to VisitGreeceinFlorida.com for more information.

SENIOR IDOL SHOW - April 1, 2013 at 7 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall 1111 McMullen Booth Road • Clearwater, FL 33759 $6 admission per person For Information call: A F T E R 50 Pinellas: 727-329-2618 – Susan Juhl and Nicole Woodring Hillsborough: 813-436-2296/813-436-2114 – Andrea White and Chrissy Crumpton

BREATHTAKING WATER VIEWS!

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 35

Seniors Getting Together

WOMEN SEEKING MEN

animals, spiritual, SD, NDrg, NS, 61YY, seeks sensitive, creative gentleman for 4119 SEEKING CHRISTIAN GENTLE soulmate. Bio/photo please. Tampa. MAN Former airline stewardess and 4232 ATTRACTIVE ITALIAN SWF 65YY model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., widow, slender, white ISO youthful SWM, possible LTR (age with Ph.D. in healthcare. Fulbright scholar, open). Beard a plus. 5’2”, blue eyes, HWP, eats healthy and exercises. Likes sports size 10, R, NS, NDrg, ND (wine occasionand animals. Loves the Lord. Florida. ally), honest, health-conscious, spunky, 4178 SEEKING COMPATIBLE GENTLE SOH. Enjoy simple lifestyle, outdoors, daily MAN 55+ I’m 5’4”, 120, ISO sincere, NS, ND, exercise, music, dancing, laughter, candleunderstanding, FF and companion. I walk, light meals, romantic times. Zephyrhills. read, sight-see, relax, music. HWP, picture. 4236 WOMAN SEEKING NICE MAN SWF Looking for romance. Pasco County. blue eyes, 81, enjoy sports, fishing, dining, to4214 ISO ONEWOMAN MAN Blonde, getherness, country music, cooking, healthy, blue eyes, attractive, white, former model. travel, FF and companion. St. Petersburg. 5’6”, 135 lbs, NS, ND, NDrg, 60. Enjoy all activities. ISO romantic, handsome, financially MEN SEEKING WOMEN secure man. LTR, 55+. Photo. Palm Harbor. 4191 I WOULD LIKE TO MEET A WOM 4228 SEEKING INTERESTING SELF AN in her late fifties or early 60s to go SUSTAINING GENTLEMAN I am Dutchdancing, out to eat, go for walks and stay Canadian-American. 60’s. College. Writer. Casual. Normal BMI. Tall. Health-conscious. home to watch TV. Pasco county only. 4229 SEEKING COMPATIBLE Spiritual. Pets. Hopefully you know computers better than I do, please. East Pasco. LADY SWM, 6’ healthy, exercise, NS, NDrg, 69+. I am 76 years old. Enjoys 4230 ATTRACTIVE PETITE WIDOW, outdoors, have many interests. Photo HWP, blue eyes, curly hair, writer, postplease. Eastern Hillsborough. bacculaureate student, SOH, loves jazz/

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4235 WIDOWER SEEKS WIDOW 78 year old recent widower seeks recent widow ages 60 - 80. Lives both in Florida and New York. 4238 MAN SEEKING YOUNG WOMAN W, M, I, 55, 6’4”, 295 lbs., NS, ND, NDrg. I am looking for a beautiful lady who enjoys good conversation, movies and being spoiled. I am a disabled vet. Lutz. 4239 PINELLAS COUNTY W, M, 58, 5’9”, 160, ISO female 58 to 68, HWP, laidback woman, NS, fishing, beach, taking day trip, looking for romance too. Send photo and letter. Madeira Beach. 4244 SEEKING A SOULMATE I was born in Asia, lived in New York for 40 years. I am a male, tall, 64 years young. I am seeking a soulmate, slim, attractive W F in St. Petersburg. Age between 50 years and 69 years. Write to me with a photo. F-Female, M-Male, S-Single, D-Divorced, WW-Widow, AAsian, 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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Write a letter to the person you want to contact. Place that letter in a stamped envelope and write the ad number on the bottom left hand side of the envelope. Place your stamped, numbered envelope(s), along with $2 for each letter enclosed, into another envelope and address it to: News Connection USA, Inc. Seniors Getting Together 1602 S. Parsons Ave.,Seffner, FL. 33584 TO PLACE AN AD

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

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March 28, 2013, (10am-3pm) 3rd Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest, St. Petersburg Coliseum, St. Petersburg, FL. Live Music & Entertainment All Day, Free Bingo, Free Health Screenings, Free Coffee & Goodies, Sports Area. $1000s in Prizes & Giveaways and more! Free Admission. April 11, 2013, (10am-3pm) 18th Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest, Cultural Center, Port Charlotte, FL. Live 50s & 60s Music, Trivia, Free Bingo Games, Free Health Screenings, Free Coffee & Goodies, Prizes. Antique Car Show. Free admission. May 23, 2013, (9am-2pm) 3rd Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest, Pinellas County, Seminole Recreation Center, Seminole, FL. Exhibitors, Free Entertainment, Bingo, Free Health Screenings, Free Coffee & Goodies, Prizes. Free admission.

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MAIL TO: ATTN. / SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER, NEWS CONNECTION, USA, INC. • P.O. BOX 638., SEFFNER, FL 33583

Lifestyles After 50 ••March Senior Connection August2013 2009• •page page362

June 27, 2013, (9am-2pm) 7th Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest & Jamboree, Strawberry Festival Grounds, Plant City, FL. Live Music, Dancing, Free Bingo, Free Health Screenings, Sports Area, Free Coffee and Goodies. Fun Games & Prizes. Free Parking and Admission. August 8, 2013, (9am-2pm) 4th Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest, Sun City Center Community Hall South Campus, Sun City Center, FL. Denise “D.J. with a Twist!” 50s & 60s Trivia, Sports Area, Dancing, Live Music, Free Bingo Games, Free Coffee & Snacks, Prizes. Free admission.

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A Slippery Slope Insurance Discounts for the Weary Wallet For Mature Drivers

BY MARK PILARSKI

ear Mark: Where I play blackjack, there are only six-deck shoes. They just removed the last single-deck 3/2 games and replaced them with 6/5 games. Do you get more blackjacks on a single-deck game to make up for the reduced blackjack payoff? — John P.

��

Last Month’s Answers

Enter

Last Month’s to Win! Winner Is Patricia Chamberlain Congratulations!

This month’s winner is

Enter To Win!

You’re on to something, John, in that blackjacks do occur more frequently on a single-deck than on multi-deck games. On a single-deck game, if your first card is an Ace, 16 of the remaining 51 cards, or 31.37 percent, are a face or 10-value card that would complete your blackjack. Dear Mark: Who sets blackjack On a six-deck game, 96 of the table limits? Are dealers allowed to remaining 311 cards, or 30.87 percent, raise or lower limits? — Danny B. would give you your snapper. Now Table limits are set to establish both immediately delete the above informathe minimum and maximum amount tion from your brain’s hard Online! drive. Take Your Class of money you can wager on any one Erased yet? Good! bet. wager more than the • Study your leisure, a You day,cannot 7 days a week. True, John, at in the past, I have 24 hours maximum posted on the game recommended that players play materials online and then table • Simply read the course answer nor less than the table minimum. Table on single-deck blackjack games, a few quiz questions. limits can vary from casino to casino, simply because with perfect basic • There is no need to attend boring or listen pit to classes pit, and even table toto table. strategy, the house edge shrinks to As to who sets table limits, generally long lectures. a paltry 0.15%. However, that is it is either a games shift manager based on single-deck gamesofwhere • After completion, course weor will issue a state-certiﬁed a pit boss working that particular blackjacks are paid three to two. certiﬁcate for you to turn intopit, your insurance to based, of course,company on customer LEARN HOW FOR The swizz going on now is that TO PLAN receive your discount for a three year period. traffic. Casinos try their best to casinos like yours are advancing keep the inmates from running the YOUR PETSbutIN AN EMERGENCY Single-Deck Blackjack, offering asylum, soOn youThe won’tInternet! see dealers Take Driver merely 6 toYour 5 for aMature blackjack. With this Course The SPCA’s brochure "Our Best Friends Deserve Better Plans"up has all limits. arbitrarily bumping table new single-deck version, a player’s the latest on Estate PlanningLicense for Pets and If youinformation have a Florida Driver’s andFlorida's are 55 Pet years of blackjack is paid 6 to 5This rather Trust Law and it isjust FREE! brochure helps petMark: ownersInplan for their Dear Pai Gow poker, age orofolder, now eligible to complete motor vehicle than to you 2. Toare illustrate, pets in the caseusual an3emergency or in caseiftheir pets outlive them. Use this is the joker wild in every situation? youaccident bet $10 and get a blackjack, you that—will prevention course allow order form to order your free materials. Jason C. you to receive a getmandatory only $12 instead of the $15 you reduction on your insurance rate for three years. In Pai Gow poker, the joker acts as a onceMe received. The house your Send Information! Clipkeeps and mail this coupon special card, but not in every scenario. hard-earned extra Florida three dollars. Above, Department of Highway Safety Name: The Joker can only benefit your hand I stated that the house edge against & Motor Vehicle Approved Course Address: the perfect basic strategy player was a as an ace, or as a wild card to complete a straight, a flush, a straight flush meager 0.15%; well, now that casino or a Zip: royal flush. (SENIOR WIRE) City: State: advantage has soared to 1.45%. Given a choice between a Work six- Phone: Home Phone: deck game and 6 to 5 single-deck Gambling Wisdom of the Week: E-mail: blackjack, avoid the latter. A “Luck has a peculiar habit of shoe game the is three times six-deck I/We have included SPCA in my/our estate plan. those who don’t depend favoring more advantageous for you than on it.” ~Author Unknown Please me the following information is 6 tosend 5 single-deck blackjack.

Myron L. Guisewite Congratulations !!!

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

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or call 1-800-771-2255

Best Friends Deserve Better Plans brochures Pet Alert Wallet Card In-Case-Of-Emergency Window Decal

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Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on Mar. 19 will receive $20 cash! Send to: News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583

I want information on: Travel / Cruises Recreation / Leisure Entertainment / Events

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FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN Lifestyles MONEY! After 50 • March 2013 • page 37

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

Mr. Modem

by Richard Sherman Is there some way I can print directly from my iPad or iPhone?

iPhone/iPad Printing a breeze ever since and the quality of photo printing is outstanding. There are also third-party apps such as Printopia (http://ecamm.com/mac/ printopia) and PrintCentral (http://bit. ly/ViQHr1), or you might want to go to the Apple App Store and search for other apps that will enable printing to a non AirPrint compatible printer.

Yes, you can print from the iPad or iPhone, though I found I have multiple Gmail acit easiest to purchase an AirPrint counts that I use throughout compatible printer (http://bit.ly/ the day on my desktop, laptop and ruT5I4) as recommended by Apple. tablet computers. When I am in a AirPrint-compatible printers are hurry, I sometimes jump up from one wireless printers approved by Apple Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losing computer and forget to log out of to work with the iPhone, iPad, etc. weight are just two of the ways thatIt’s youoften can several fight hours later Gmail. I have an Epson Artisan 730 printer, osteoarthritis pain. In fact, for every pound you that I remember, andlose, I might not be which is AirPrint compatible, that I that’s four pounds less pressure on each knee. For anywhere near the computer I was primarily use for printing photos taken information on managing pain, go to fightarthritispain.org. with my iPad and iPhone, but it can be using when I forgot to log out. Is there anything I can do when that happens? used for documents, email and other items. It took me about three minutes Gmail has a little-known remote to get it up and running by simply log-out feature that allows you following the instructions that came to exit all your active Gmail sessions with the printer. Printing has been

� � � � ��Discounts �� Insurance ��

For Mature Drivers

SHE SNORES MORE I just bought a new PC with THAN8.I IDO, Windows knowBUT this I STILL sounds crazy, butMY I can’t figure LOVE HUMAN. out how to shut it down. Help! — BANDIT

adoptedyou’re 11-26-09 experiencing is What quite common for users exposed to Windows 8 for the first time. Your old friend, the Start button, is gone (but not forgotten), so shutting down is a bit different than what you were accustomed to in the past. Here’s the secret to this success: Move your mouse cursor to the bottom right-hand corner of the screen, click the Settings icon or just hold down

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Take Your Class Online! ��at�� leisure, �� • Study your 24�� hours week. ��a day, 7 days a�� • Simply the course materials online and then answer a few quiz questions. ��read �� • There is no need to attend boring classes or listen to long lectures. �� • After completion, of course we�� will issue a�� state-certiﬁed certiﬁcate for you to

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�� year ��period. turn into your insurance company to receive your discount for�a�� three ��

Take Your Mature Driver Course On The Internet! If you have a Florida Driver’s License and are 55 years of age or older, you are now eligible to complete motor vehicle accident prevention course that will allow you to receive a mandatory reduction on your insurance rate for three years.

Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicle Approved Course

To Register go to:

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or call 1-800-771-2255

the Windows key and press I. Click the Power button and select Shut Down. In the alternative, if you press CTRL + ALT + DEL and click the Power button in the bottom righthand corner, you will be presented with the same Shut Down option. For users who prefer alternatives to alternatives, if you are on the Desktop, press ALT + F4 and you will be able to choose the Shut Down, Restart, Sign Out or Switch User options. For answers to your questions by e-mail, or to subscribe to Mr. Modem’s award-winning weekly newsletter, visit www.MrModem.com. (SENIOR WIRE) Mr. Modem’s Don’t Miss ‘Em Site of the Month

RetailMeNot.Com: This is one of my all-time favorite sites. Before I order anything online, I check here for applicable promo codes. If a promo code is found, type in the code when placing your order and obtain whatever discount is associated with your purchase. There are scores of coupon and promo code categories

Free Movies

ake advantage of these regular free movie opportunities

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

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2013 • page 38

from just about any computer, tablet or mobile phone that has access to the Internet. To use this feature, log into Gmail using any computer and click the Details link located in the lower right-hand corner. A window will appear that contains the “Sign out of all other sessions” button.

ednesdays Big Screen Biographies, weekly films on the most influential people. 2 p.m. Countryside Library. 2741 State Road 580, Clearwater. Details at (727) 669-1295

hursday afternoon movies. 2 p.m. North Greenwood Library, 905 N. MLK Ave., Clearwater. (727) 562-4970.

nd Wednesdays Films on the Bluff, art house and independent films. Clearwater Main Library. 100 N Osceola Ave., Clearwater. (727) 562-4970

Canadian Brass Performs F ive brass musicians— each a virtuoso in his own right—form the legendary Canadian Brass. They will perform in a concert at the Palladium, Friday, March 15 at 8 p.m. Called “The Kings of Brass” the group has amassed a vast repertoire from Renaissance and Baroque masters to marches,

holiday favorites to Dixieland and jazz to Broadway, creating their own musical world by transcribing, arranging and commissioning more than 200 works. Tickets are $29 to $49. To purchase, call (727) 893-7832 or visit in person at The Mahaffey Theater Box Office.

Salute a Senior Volunteer

he search is on for Florida’s outstanding senior volunteer. The Salute to Senior Service program, sponsored by Home Instead, Inc. honors the contributions of adults 65 and older who give at least 15 hours a month of volunteer service to their favorite causes. Nominations are due by March 31. State winners then will be selected by popular vote at SalutetoSeniorService. com from April 15 to April 30. From those state winners, a panel of senior

care experts will pick the national Salute to Senior Service honoree. Each state winner receives $500 for their favorite nonprofit organizations and their stories will be posted on the Salute to Senior Service Wall of Fame. In addition, $5,000 will be donated to the national winner’s charity of choice. SalutetoSeniorService.com. for info and nomination forms: Completed forms also can be mailed to Salute to Senior Service, P.O. Box 285, Bellevue, NE 68005.

Big Rock

n Irishman by the name of O’Malley proposed to his girl on St. Patrick’s Day. He gave her a ring with a synthetic diamond. The excited young lass showed it to her father, a jeweller. He took one look at it and saw it wasn’t real. The young lass returned to her future husband.and protested vehemently about his cheapness. “It was in honor of St. Patrick’s Day,” he smiled. “I gave you a sham rock.”

The Rose of Tralee It’s March and time to pull those lovely Irish songs out of your memory. Fellas, here are the lyrics of one to sing to your sweetheart. Don’t remember the tune? Go to ireland-information.com/irishmusic/ irishsongs-music-lyrics-midis.htm and get singing! The pale moon was rising above the green mountain The sun was declining beneath the blue sea When I strayed with my love to the pure crystal fountain That stands in beautiful vale of Tralee. She was lovely and fair as the rose of the summer Yet, ‘twas not her beauty alone that won me Oh no! ‘Twas the the truth in her eye ever beaming That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee. The cool shades of evening their mantle were spreading And Mary all smiling was listening to me The moon through the valley her pale rays was shedding When I won the heart of the Rose of Tralee. Though lovely and fair as the rose of the summer Yet, ‘twas not her beauty alone that won me Oh no! ‘Twas the the truth in her eye ever beaming That made me love Mary, the Rose of Tralee.

Ireland and the Shamrock

ven though the Celtic harp is the official emblem of Ireland, in the hearts and minds of people all over the world, the shamrock is the most universally recognized symbol of Ireland. It is the emblem of the official airline of Ireland, Aer Lingus. Every year on St. Patrick’s Day, Aer Lingus flies freshly cut shamrock to the Irish embassies all over the world so that Irish diplomats and

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