Mature Lifestyles Mar. 2012 Southwest edition by Lifestyles After 50 Magazine

• Travel: Callaway Gardens • Surviving the Unimaginable • Baby, You Can Drive My Car • Help Me Stop Smoking

Tending Our Little Flock— It’s All It’s Cracked Up To Be Dear Readers,

“I

t shouldn’t be this much fun to keep happy healthy chickens in your own backyard… but it is!” (from the online Janice Doyle, blog: Chicken Editor Keeping Secrets) These days if I wonder where Dear Husband is, there’s a good chance he’s out back on a “tour de coup.” Our mixed-breeds “girls”—hens named Katarina and Ophelia (blacks), Click and Cluck (reds) and Dominique (black and white)—require some sort of checking on five or six times a day. Reality? Nothing much changes in their coop or attached chicken yard during any 24-hour period. We find it fun, however, to just go out and watch their antics. Or toss them some (quite expensive) cracked corn. Or just stand and talk to or about our girls. How we became suburban chicken ranchers is one of those marriage things. I said: “I always loved chickens growing up on a farm.” DH heard: “Janice wants chickens.”

The new-aluminum-porch-salesman said: “Hauling away the old wood is included in the cost.” DH heard: “We’re planning to take cedar 4 x 4s and 2 x 8s to the dump! Some of it is past using, but the rest…” A day later I asked: “What’s your new book?”

DH replied: “Raising Chickens for Dummies.” And that’s how DH became Facilities and Maintenance Director for our little chicken ranch and I became Acquisitions and Distribution Manager. His hand sketches and lists of supplies were free. Wire fencing, nails, hinges and locks were definitely not. He was “man, the provider” as Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 2

with the other girls. he flashed his credit To say “sounds like card at Home Depot a bunch of old hens” and wielded his power makes sense as we listen saw on boards stretched to their universal sound over sawhorses. The of braaaaap, braaaap. man and his tools beA good alpha rooster came a thing to behold. tells the world when the And then one day our sun is about to rise and pleasant chicken kingthen crows again when the dom was completed. sun has followed up on Our future girls would the statement. We don’t go in and out from think our neighbors would coop to yard on a clever Katarina enjoy that information, so ladder; their covered there will be no alpha rooster on our yard fence would allow no predators. ranch. That means no fertilized eggs. A wire floor on the raised coop area I never explained that to Katarina, and offered the Maintenance Director she recently tried to “brood,” sitting on easy cleanup for the anticipated six a nest day and night like a good “mothor seven pounds of manure each er hen.” We didn’t leave her “nest egg” chicken is predicted to provide each under her (lest it become “a bad egg”). year (think flower beds here). You get the picture. We have We took DH’s credit card and made our way to the Tractor Supply store in fresh eggs which I, as Distribution Manager, figure are now costing us Plant City to shop for supplies. Waabout $5 each considering expenses terer? Check. Feeder? Check. Grower mash? Check. Magazines for backyard to date. Because of the girls’ mixed heritage, one red hen lays dark brown chicken people like us? Check. eggs, the other lays large creamIt was time to find our first girls. colored eggs, and our little black From ads on Craigslist, we finally hens lay small creamy white eggs. chose four babies and settled in to get For us – empty nesters that we connected in a small way to the earth, to the reality of food sources, to nature. are – raising chickens has become a point of conversation, a joint Cliches based on chickens come endeavor we created together. to mind. The fresh eggs? Well, they’re “Pecking order”: Katarina and really all they’re cracked up to be. Ophelia were—and still are—at the And, if this makes you homesick top of the pecking order. Guess what? to have chickens, it’s cheaper to They’re just a family of siblings watch a flock live on hencam.com. who’ve had to work out how to I’m not kidding! Someone put a live together, as one writer said. webcam on their backyard flock. We added Dominique recently We’ll not be doing that. and discovered that our girls didn’t want a stepsister and the pecking became real. She now has her own little coop next to the bigger yard, and Cluck sometimes still rushes the fence trying to henpeck her. In the ad “Great Senior Events” Ophelia was “mad as a wet hen” that ran in last month’s edition, the when we carelessly left the nest box date for the Senior Fun Fest at the door open and she “flew the coop.” I St. Petersburg Coliseum was incorfound her circling the chicken yard, rectly listed as March 28. The event rushing headlong at the fence every will be held on March 27, 2012. few feet trying desperately to get back

Correction

Lee, Collier & Charlotte

Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc.

General Manager: Dave Tarantul davet@srmagazine.com Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing: Kathy J. Beck kathy@srmagazine.com Editor: Janice Doyle janice@srmagazine.com

Accounting: Vicki Willis Production Supervisor Graphic Design: Kim Burrell Production Assistant: Tracie Schmidt Customer Service: 1-888-670-0040 customerservice@srmagazine.com Advertising Contacts

Lee/Collier and Charlotte Counties – Southwest Edition Dave Tarantul: (941) 375-6260 Sarasota/Manatee Edition Dave Tarantul: (941) 375-6260

Lake/Marion & Sumter Edition 1-888-670-0040 Distribution 1-888-670-0040

Corporate Advertising Ofﬁce: P.O. Box 638 Seffner, Florida 33583-0638 (813) 653-1988 888-670-0040 Fax: (813) 651-1989 www.seniorconnectionﬂ.com

News Connection U.S.A. Inc., is also the publisher of

Hillsborough Pinellas/Pasco County: Counties: Hillsborough Edition Suncoast Edition

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

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Mature Lifestyles â&#x20AC;˘ March 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ page 4

Around Town

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

hrough 18 Tru, a glimpse into the mind of Truman Capote. $40 Tickets. Florida Repertory Theatre. 2267 First St. Call (239) 332-4488.

hrough 31 Brigadoon at Broadway Palm Theatre. Tickets and information at (239) 278-4422.

– 10 Bonita Blues Festival charity fundraiser at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs. Two Day Pass in advance: $30. For more information, visit bonitablues.com.

“March in the Park” plant and garden art sale by the Garden Club of Cape Coral at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral. Garden items, food, music. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Club meets second Wednesday of month, Epiphany Episcopal Church, Cape Coral at 7 p.m. For more information, visit GardenClubOfCapeCoral. com or call (239) 540-7988. Email contact: Huffmom5@aol.com.

Southwest Florida Reading Festival Authors, activities, book signings. Schedule online at readingfestival@leegov.com. Call (239) 337-7323 for more info.

Irishfest with food, drink, dancers, music, more. Bailey Center, 2477 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel Island. (239) 472-1516.

“How to Approach a Parent about Assisted Living” Presentation by Director of Assisted Living at The Springs, Shell Point Community. 6 p.m. Free. Details at (239) 454-2077 or online at Shellpoint.org/events.

The EASY BOARDING Bicycle by

Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival and Parade. Shrimp dinners, entertainment. 10 a.m. Sat. parade. Info at (239) 765-0202.

MozART GROUP concert, a musical cabaret of music and joy, at Village Church, Shell Point Retirement Community. Tickets are $35. To purchase, visit shellpoint.org/ concerts or call (239) 454-2067.

Irish Music by Lee County Community Band. 3 p.m. Mariner High School, 701 Chiquita Blvd., North, Cape Coral. Free. More info at leecountyband.org or (239) 995-2097.

Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra concert at BIG ARTS, Sanibel Island. Tickets: $20 to $60 at (239) 418-1500.

and 17 Sanibel Captiva Arts & Crafts Fair, Community House and Park, Sanibel Island. 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Naples Cyclery 813 Vanderbilt Beach Rd. Naples, FL 34108

Day Trip to West Palm Beach – Zoo (1400 animals), Diva Duck, BB King’s Blues Club. $72/member plus Dutch lunch. Pre-registration required at (239) 574-0575.

239-566-0600

Engel’s Bicycles Int’l 27310 Old 41 Road Bonita Springs, FL 34135

239-498-9913

Fort Myers Schwinn Cyclery 3630 Cleveland Ave. Fort Myers, FL 33901

– 31 Surf & Song Festival at Centennial Park, downtown Ft. Myers. Jazz, blues, country, rock. (239) 321-7530.

pril 1 BBQ, Bands & Brew at Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor, Ft. Myers. $10 general admission. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (239) 939-2787. Send Around Town news to Senior Connection Magazine, 1602 S. Parsons Ave., Seffner, FL 33584; please fax (813) 651-1989. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. March 10 for April event.)

239-939-2899

Acme Bicycle Shop 615 Cross St. #1116 Punta Gorda, FL 33950 • Unisex step-through design engineered in Germany • Cross bar is only six inches from the ground, so you can easily step-through the bicycle • Upright seating position for less back pain & clear view of the road • Relaxed arm position for more control

941-639-3029

www.acmebicycleshop.com EA Bicycles 15630 McGregor Blvd. Fort Myers, FL 33908

239-415-6600

For more dealers contact Biria USA: Tel: 201-461-1980 • www.biria.com Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 5

Live the Sporting Life for

BY EVELYN MACKEY

“W

hen all is said and done, it’s not the shots that won the championship that you remember, but the friendships you made along the way.” Seniors universally know that regular exercise, along with a good diet, good medical care, good genes and a bit of luck, can postpone getting to that place called “old.” And today’s seniors are redeﬁning “sports” as they accommodate damaged knees or hips—or as their bodies just plain say “slow it down, buddy.” The thing is that they want to be outside living the sporting life because they still enjoy competing. An added bonus is that they don’t have to prove anything to anyone anymore as they adapt to less strenuous sports. Here are some of the sports enjoyed in Florida:

Paddling Kayaking has become the favorite water sport for senior paddlers. Kayaks are faster, easier to steer (because of the low proﬁle) and easier to manage in strong wind than canoes. SOTs (Sit On Top) kayaks even come with a small wheel mounted under the stern to make it easy for one person to pick up and walk it to or from the water. Paddle boats are yet another type of kayak propelled by your feet on pedals much like a cyclist would pedal—especially good for those with arm or shoulder problems who can’t wield the conventional paddle. Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 6

Lawn Bowling The sport of lawn bowling takes on the look of a scene straight out of The Great Gatsby with people dressed in white moving gracefully around a green court. It’s a fun lawn or court game where the objective is to roll slightly asymmetric balls so they stop close to a smaller ball (or bowl). Here in Florida it’s an outdoor sport which draws dozens of people who enjoy it as a low impact, therapeutic form of exercise.

Pickleball Pickleball is a court sport, sort of a combination of tennis and ping pong. It’s played with lightweight paddles and whifﬂeballs with four players per court. Look around for a local group.

Shufﬂeboard Now being considered a “retro” sport by a younger generation, shufﬂeboard is a peaceful sport.

Health Fun and

There’s a soothing, quieting effect to the gentle scraping sound of the pucks on the court. Players use broom-shaped paddles to push weighted pucks down a narrow and elongated court hoping they’ll come to rest within a marked scoring area. Of interest: The world-famous St. Petersburg Shufﬂeboard Club is experiencing a surge in popularity by turning the club into a complete Friday night experience for all ages. Hundreds attend for food, music, dance and a feeling of acceptance. Trivia: In its heyday of the ‘30s through the ‘60s, the St. Pete club had 110 playing courts and a membership of over 5,000.

Horseshoes Horseshoes is an old sport, historically played most anywhere horses were found. The goal is to throw horseshoes at a stake in the ground with scoring based on how close the horseshoe gets to the stake. Men and women who love this sport attest to its physical and mental attributes as an aid to staying young. Physically there’s lots of walking, bending, resistance, etc. The mental workout includes using mental math, thinking for strategy, decision-making skills and much more. Add the social component and it sounds like the perfect sport!

Friendship

Cornhole Toss Cornhole or Corn Toss is a great driveway sport for ages 2 to 102. It’s similar to horseshoes except you use wooden boxes called platforms and corn bags. Contestants take turns pitching their corn bags at the platform until a contestant reaches the score of 21 points. This sport is more portable than horseshoes because it doesn’t require sandpits, so once you have your platform it becomes a takealong sport which builds ﬂexibility and balance. It’s also great for those with mobility issues. Other sports to consider are bocce ball, disc golf, badminton, archery—and good, old, free walking! Helen Hayes was right when she proclaimed, “Resting is rusting.” We can’t stop the clock, but we can slow its tick and enjoy life with sports and teammates.

March 2012

Day Trip: Strawberry Festival – Coasters, Drifters & Platters. $65. (941) 625-4175, ext. 204.

8 21

Players Present: USO Memories. Showtime: 7:30 p.m. $15 admission. Spring-o Bingo Extravaganza. Up to $2450 in prizes! $35 dinner/Bingo, 4:30; $25 Bingo only, 6:30. Info at (941) 625-4175 ext. 230.

Elvis: A Concert Experience. Show at 7 p.m. Admission: $16.

All events at Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron Street, Port Charlotte. Tickets, times and info: (941) 625-4175.

The Best of Charlotte County

14 17

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration. Live entertainment, noon to 9 p.m: Celtic fiddler, pipes and drums, Irish tunes, dancing and more. Food specials all day! Free parking /admission. Fishermen’s Village, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, #57A, Punta Gorda. (941) 639-8721.

FEATURED EVENTS • Free Tax Assistance. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free help for older taxpayers and people with limited incomes. Go to the site to schedule an appointment unless a number is given below. Do not call a public library to make appointment. Cultural Center of Charlotte County: (Tues., Wed., Thurs., Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Mon. 4 – 8 p.m.) ; Regions Bank, Punta Gorda: (941) 268-8280, Tues. and Thurs. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Rotunda West Community Church, Rotunda West (Mon., Tues., Wed. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.)

Laughter and Songs from Ireland featuring George Casey and Cahal Dunne. 2 p.m. – $15. 7 p.m. – $17. At the Cultural Center, 2280 Aaron St., Pt. Charlotte. (941) 625-4175, ext. 221.

• Charlotte County “Fit for Life” 2012 Senior Games, March 1 – 18. Open to amateur athletes 50+. Track and field, golf, basketball, tennis, shuffleboard, swimming and more. (941) 627-1074. • Senior Fun Fest! April 12 at the Charlotte Cultural Center. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Live music, free bingo games, free health screenings. Great information, free coffee and snacks, prizes, giveaways and more! Call 1-888-670-0040 for details.

Join Us For Our April 2012 Edition!

• R.S.V.P. (Retired & Senior Volunteer Program): (941) 613-2299. • Meals on Wheels/Friendship Cafe Dining Sites: (941) 255-0723. • Elder Helpline of Southwest Florida: 1-800-398-4233.

Only In Florida!

Senior Centers and Resources • Senior Friendship Centers: (941) 255-0723 or friendshipcenters.org. • Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida: (239) 652-6901 or aaaswfl.org. • O.C.E.A.N. (Our Charlotte Elder Affairs Network): (941) 235-4500 or ocean-fl.org. • Charlotte County Council On Aging: (941) 627-2177 or charlottecoa.org.

“Get Your Green On” Expo, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Free Admission! Visit with experts in the industry about sustainability, green building, healthy living and much more!

Four Leaf Strummers Banjo Group performs, 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Center Stage.

Fishermen’s Village is on the waterfront in Punta Gorda. Call (941) 575-3007 for details.

Charlotte County!

Fun Events In Charlotte County

Helping Hands Worden Farm’s Green Market, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., Organic fruits and vegetables, flowers, seafood, cooking demos, live music and more. (941) 637-3514.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Follow The Florida Wine Trail

Call for Special Rates and Marketing Packages for the Best of Charlotte County!

888-670-0040

Mature Lifestyles Is Your Connection To The Seniors Of Charlotte County Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 7

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Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 8

Avoiding Ruffled Feathers: Safety And Tech Tips For Snowbirds

f you’ve spent the winter here, you’ve joined almost 1 million North American “snowbirds.” With technology has come new considerations for closing up the winter house and heading north. Best tips for leaving a house behind until next winter include:

Security and Remote Monitoring Before the bags are packed, you may want to investigate new products that put technology to work while you’re gone. For peace of mind, new services now remotely monitor and control your home’s security and thermostat from a smartphone or computer. You can remotely arm or disarm the alarm system and control lighting, household appliances and the thermostat. With connected cameras, you can monitor the home from anywhere in the worldeven receive instant text messages when doors are opened or closed.

service provider is different in each location. The best part is, once you are ready to return, you can use the same service again to reverse the process.”

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Don’t Forget the Basics Gizmos are great, but remember to turn off your refrigerator or turn it down to the lowest setting and unplug your electronics. For those items that can’t be unplugged, be sure to use a surge protector. Consider new devices that power down appliances and tech devices that consume phantom power (power you continue to use even after you hit the off button) saving you money on your electric bill. For more tips and ideas on how to smooth your annual snowbird migration, check out cablemover.com. (NAPSA)

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Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 9

Seven Ways to Exercise on the Cheap

BY KATE FORGACH

f you’re having trouble keeping up with highimpact aerobics and jogging, maybe you can still find ways to get your exercise. Try these tips:

1. Go It Alone: It takes discipline to maintain your own workout schedule, but joining an expensive health club isn’t really a necessity. We tell ourselves paying for membership will force us to exercise, but the thinning crowds after January attest to the fallacy of this concept. 2. Bring It Home: More than 10 million Americans use elliptical trainers. An equal number prefer a reclining stationary bike. Both

machines reduce stress on joints while eliminating the aching-back syndrome. Fortunately, a lot of people buy such equipment and then use them as expensive clothes hangers. That means you should never have to buy a new machine. Craigslist is just filled with ads for home exercise equipment and some dealers offer refurbished machines. The key is to give it a whirl before handing over your cash or you, too, might end up with a pricey coat rack. If you don’t already have an MP3 player, this should be your second investment. Nothing impels you through a home workout like hot tunes or an hour-long podcast of “Car Talk.” 3. Stay Limber: Stress is not the only province of youth; nor is muscle elas-

ticity. Yoga helps soothe frayed nerves, improves flexibility and, not incidentally, provides a great aerobic workout. Pilates has many of the same advantages, but without all that Nirvana stuff. There are countless DVDs and CDs to lead you through these exercises at home, but it’s important to be selective. You want an instructor who gives detailed instructions, like “keep your stomach flat,” “push away from the floor,” etc.

4. Get Outside: Recumbent road bikes are fairly expensive, but you can always pick up a traditional bike for cheap at garage sales, thrift stores, FreeCycle.org or the inevitable Craigslist. If you have shoulder or back problems, invest in high-rise handlebars and have a professional adjust the bike to your body shape and size.

5. Walk It Off: It costs nothing to cruise the neighborhood, checking out houses for sale while listening to music that moves you. Walking regularly with

a friend is a great motivator and maintaining a conversation while keeping a steady pace allows you to monitor the amount of exercise you actually get. An article in AARP reports overweight people who walk 30 minutes per day, five days per week, can reduce their risk of diabetes by nearly 60 percent.

6. Pump It Up: Even if you just add weights to your arms and legs when walking, you’ll increase your body strength while getting a good cardio workout. 7. Mix and Match: Performing just one form of exercise won’t ensure you stay fit. A full regimen combines strength, flexibility and balance training (the latter provided by yoga and Pilates). Mixing it up each day also keeps the doldrums away. The author is a Baby Boomer consumer specialist for Kinoli Inc. She has written about senior issues for 11 years as a Cooperative Extension specialist and for a wide variety of newspapers and magazines.

Florida Eye Health Offers Free Cataract Evaluations for New Patients Over 55

In most cases, the improvement in the patient’s vision is profound. Cataract & LASIK Specialist The best time to have a ataracts are one of cataract removed is when it the most curable starts to interfere with the causes of vision loss, yet things you like to do. Free thousands of area residents cataract evaluations are continue to live with performed by our boarddiminished vision simply certified optometrists at because they don’t get an all five Florida Eye Health eye exam that can detect locations. Sorry, but the free the presence of a cataract. evaluation does not include a The doctors at Florida refraction or eyeglass preEye Health offer free Dr. Jonathan Frantz. scription. For more informacataract evaluations for tion, call the main office: NEW patients who are 55 and older to (239) 418-0999 or visit bettervision.net. help debunk the myths about cataracts Dr. Jonathan Frantz and the doctors and remind people they don’t have to at Florida Eye Health offer a broad live with vision loss from cataracts. spectrum of patient-focused care from A cataract is the clouding of the eye exams and eyewear to cataract eye’s normally clear lens, blocking removal, glaucoma care, 100 percent the passage of light needed for vision. blade-free iLASIK, hearing services In cataract surgery, the cloudy natural and eyelid surgery with office localens is replaced with an artificial lens tions in Fort Myers, Naples, Cape to give the eye proper focusing power. Coral, Punta Gorda and Lehigh Acres. BY JONATHAN M. FRANTZ, M.D., FACS

Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 10

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Sterling Flatware, Tea Sets, Bronzes, Silver & Gold Boxes, Enameled Objects, Dolls, Mechanical Toys, Military Items Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 11

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Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 12

Fritzy The One Man Circus

Come Out and Support RSVP of Lee County!

Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 7 p.m. with the Everblades. Tickets are $16. RSVP will receive half of each ticket as proceeds. For additional information or to purchase tickets, please contact Margaret Baugher at (239) 275-1881 or email mbaugher@ friendshipcenters.org.

Free Tax Preparation Assistance M ore than 12,000 free tax preparation sites are open nationwide this year. The IRS sponsors both the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) programs. The VITA program offers free tax help to people who earn less than $50,000. Most locations offer free electronic filing. The TCE program offers free tax help to people who are age 60 or older. Local VITA site information is available through a new online tool on the IRS Website: www.irs. gov. Taxpayers can search the word “VITA” in IRS.gov and click on the option “Free Tax Return Preparation For You by Volunteers,” followed by ”Find a VITA site near you” to access the tool. Site information is also available by calling the IRS toll-free number: 1-800-906-9887. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free help for older taxpayers and people with limited incomes. Go to

BOOST® Sampling Tour Coming To You!

eople in the U.S. are living longer than ever before. Many seniors live active and healthy lives. But the simple fact is that, as we age, our health and nutrition needs change. To stay fit, it’s important to get the right amount of nutrition in your daily diet. But even if you know which nutrients you need every day, if you don’t have much of an appetite or if health problems make eating difficult, it’s sometimes hard to fit in the calories, protein, vitamins and minerals that are essential for healthy aging. Complete Nutritional Drinks can help seniors fill the nutritional gap that their meals don’t cover. BOOST® is offering samples of their product at upcoming Senior Fun Fests in St. Petersburg and Port Charlotte. (Learn more about BOOST Complete Nutritional Drinks at boost.com.) As part of a 20-week Florida Sampling Tour, a number of expos and events attended by senior communities will be offering samples of different BOOST flavors and formulations.

BOOST is also partnering with Walmart to sample the product at more than 70 stores. Giveaways include coupons, educational materials and a BOOST reusable tote bag. In addition, consumers can try the “Which BOOST is Right for You” iPad app. “We are pleased to reach out to the Florida senior community through the BOOST Sampling Tour,” said Abigail Buckwalter, Marketing Manager. “The tour will offer an immersive experience that educates seniors about the benefits of BOOST and inspires them on the road to healthy living.” Join us for a great opportunity to meet our friends from BOOST at these upcoming Senior Fun Fests. March 27 at the St. Pete Coliseum, 535 Fourth Avenue North, St. Petersburg from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m, (727) 892-5202. Also on April 12 at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County, 2280 Aaron Street, Port Charlotte from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (941) 625-4175. For more information about the Senior Fun Fests, call 1-888-670-0040.

Moose Lodge #964, 19090 San Carlos Blvd., Ft. Myers (Tue. and Wed. 9 a.m. to noon.) N. Fort Myers Library (Fri. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.)

Sunny Grove Park 20850 S. Tamiami Tr. (Thu. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Fri. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) the site listed during the following times to schedule an appointment unless a phone number is given. Do not call a public library to make an appointment. For addresses, please visit aarp.org/applications/VMIS Locator/taxAideLocations.action.

Lee County

Cape Coral Library (Wed. 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. and Thu. 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.) South County Library (Thu. 9 a.m. – noon; Fri. and Sat. 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.)

Lakes Library, Fort Myers (Mon. 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Tue. 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.) East County Library, Lehigh Acres (Wed. and Thu. 9:15 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.) North Fort Myers Community Center (Mon., Wed., Fri. 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.) St. James City Civic Association (239) 283-0242 (Thu. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.) Grace Community Center, N. Fort Myers (Mon. and Fri. 2 – 6 p.m.; Tue. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.; Thu. 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.)

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Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 13

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When Should You Worry about “Senior Moments?” E

veryone experiences occasional episodes of forgetfulness. When an older loved one has a few episodes of forgetfulness, friends and family members may wonder whether those misplaced keys or trouble finding the right word in a conversation is the result of normal age-related changes in memory or an early sign of something more serious. The characteristics of these forgetful moments often offer clues as to whether Alzheimer’s disease or another dementia may be the underlying problem. For example: Recognizing and discussing episodes of memory loss. If the person complains about memory loss and can provide details about the episode of forgetfulness, normal aging is more likely. With dementia, it’s common that the person affected will only complain about memory problems if she’s asked about them and won’t be able to recall specific instances. Worry about memory loss. When dementia occurs, the person affected is often much less concerned about memory loss than her family members are. The reverse is true for normal age-related memory problems. Losing the way. If your loved one doesn’t get lost in familiar surroundings but does sometimes pause momentarily to remember the way, normal aging is likely. But if

she gets lost in familiar territory while walking or driving and takes hours to return, Alzheimer’s or dementia should be a concern. Word-finding problems. Occasional trouble finding the right word probably isn’t worth worrying over, but frequent wordfinding pauses and substitutions—for example, calling the telephone “the ringer” or “that thing I use to call you”—are typical of dementia.

Changes in abilities and social skills. While it isn’t uncommon for an older adult to be unwilling to operate new devices or to fumble a bit with their cell phone or DVR, it’s a warning sign if the person has trouble operating common appliances like the dishwasher or has trouble using even simple new devices. Also, if the person has lost interest in social activities or if his or her social skills are in decline, it’s worth noting. Of course, while these tips can help distinguish between normal age-related memory changes and dementia, concerns about memory problems should be brought to the attention of a doctor. The above is from the book“A Guide to Alzheimer’s Disease,” available for $18 from Harvard Health Publications, online at health.harvard.edu/Alzheimers0112 or by calling 877-649-9457 (toll-free)

Check Us Out Online!

Mature Lifestyles Is Now On and

Visit www.twitter.com/MaturLifeStyles or click the Facebook icon on seniorconnectionfl.com for the latest news, contests and fun events in your area. Share your comments with us! Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 14

Mature Lifestyles â&#x20AC;˘ March 2012 â&#x20AC;˘ page 15

Veterans Corner

Ex-POWs: Surviving the Unimaginable and Dealing With It POWs He talked about POWs. “Two things dward Dement, 88, is Commander are foremost in the memories of of the Florida Gulf Coast ChapWWII POWs held in Europe: winter’s ter of the American Ex-POWs and cold and the lack of food. The POWs former National Director of were young, but the the group. It is an elite group ones who suffered who have survived the unmost were the men imaginable and lived to talk who had a wife and about it, if not to outsiders, child back home. then at least to each other. I was assigned to DeMent’s easy smile and deliver mail and I articulate speech make it easy saw their agony.” to forget that, during WWII, Some ex-POWs he and five others parachuted don’t want to join, from a damaged B-24 (part DeMent said, of the 456th Bomb Group) because they don’t in April 1944. He weighed like groups, but he Edward DeMent and 160 pounds that day over feels that as you framed memories of Yugoslavia and remembers get older there’s his POW days. hearing a dog bark as he more locked in landed in a fir tree and fell to the your mind and sharing helps you deal ground, dislocating both kneecaps with it. Men often don’t talk about and suffering many other injuries. their experiences to non-members but The captured men were treated enjoy sharing with other ex-POWs. well for a time in a camp supplied A few years ago, the director of the with food rations by the Red Cross National Prisoner of War Museum and with books and athletic equip(at Andersonville, Georgia) asked ment by the YMCA. (The pilot told DeMent to help them find a way the men to bail out, thinking he to extend the impact of the POW would go down with the plane.) Museum. DeMent has worked with When Russia closed in to liberate the museum in planning and developthe camp, the men were forced ing a new mobile museum called to leave in twenty below zero “Victory from Within: The American weather, marching toward Stalag Prisoner of War Museum.” Luft III outside of Munich. When DeMent will be honored later this that camp was liberated by General year at the unveiling of the 1,200 Patton himself on April 29, 1945, square foot traveling exhibit which DeMent weighed only 110 pounds. will introduce the public to the He went back to Chicago, married, prisoner of war story through worked and raised a family. Like present-day experiences. most POWs, Dement experienced Edward DeMent and others who flashbacks. A picture on the wall survived the unimaginable will of his Temple Terrace, Florida, then have a part of their story told apartment shows the crew of nine more widely. Other parts of their who flew over Yugoslavia on the story they talk about only among fateful day in 1944. Dement is the others who, like them, survived. only one still living. Also on the Other Ex POW chapters meet in wall are his Silver Star, three Purple Spring Hill, Port Charlotte, Sarasota Hearts, two Presidential Citations, and Dunnellon. For information, call four Battle Stars and much more. Edward DeMent at (813) 985-3783. BY JANICE DOYLE

Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 16

Knee Arthroscopy Can Help You Get Back in the Game Faster

For the right candidate, it can be an effective and less invasive alternative onstant knee pain to traditional surgery. that prevents you According to a 2008 from performing everyday study published in activities like walking, Arthroscopy: The Journal bending and climbing of Arthroscopic and stairs, or enjoying a game Related Surgery, more than 80 percent of patients of golf or tennis, can be were able to walk, do difficult. It can certainly yard work and other light limit your quality of life. activity a week after The first step is to try nonsurgery. By four weeks, surgical treatments such as 100 percent of patients a knee brace, pain relievers John C. Kagan, M.D. were active again. and anti-inflammatory Post-surgical physical therapy can medications, steroid injections or help strengthen the muscles and lubricants. But when these options have failed to provide adequate relief, restore motion to the knee. Depending on what was required to repair the surgery may be the best solution. damage to the knee, most patients With the advance of technology, can return to their regular physical patients with disabling knee pain activity within four to six weeks. may be candidates for arthroscopy, a For a consultation, call (239) 936-6778 minimally invasive surgical procedure or visit www.kaganortho.com. performed on an outpatient basis. BY JOHN C. KAGAN, M.D.

Normal T-Score? Skip the Bone Density Test

omen over 67 with normal bone mineral density scores may not need screening again for 15 years, according to a new study. Prior to this, how often women should be screened was a topic that remained controversial and undecided. “If a woman’s bone density at age 67 is very good, then she doesn’t need to be re-screened in two years or three years, because we’re not likely to see much change,” Margaret Gourlay, M.D. said. “Our study found it would take about 15 years for 10 percent of women in the highest bone density ranges to develop osteoporosis. That was longer than we expected, and it’s great news for this group of women,” Gourlay said.

They also learned that older postmenopausal women with a T-score -2.0 and below will transition to osteoporosis more rapidly, while women with T-scores higher than -2.0 may not need screening again for 5 to 15 years, Information from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine.

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Athletic Orthopedic and Reconstructive Center physicians, Drs. David B. Sudderth and Peter B. Walimire, will host a free seminar on foot pain. Topics include causes of foot pain and numbness, including the joints, nerves, illness or other conditions that can result in foot pain. In addition, attendees can ask the physicians questions.

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As I Get Older I Want to Stay at Home—“Aging in Place”

careful. The unlicensed and insured individual, if they are injured while on the Long-Term Care Insurance Specialist job helping you, can turn out to be much his is a relatively new term to some more expensive than you think. Lawsuits abound even though you hadn’t given people in the industry of Longthis any thought at all. And through an Term Care insurance…Aging in Place. agency, the help will be bonded as well. Basically, it means to be able to have This protects your belongings too. enough funds to hire the type of help The fact is that people are living longer, you’ll need to stay in your own home as and families live farther apart. If you opposed to selling the home and movlive long enough, you will eventually ing into an Assisted Living Facility or a need some assistance. Long-Term Care Nursing Home. While staying at home insurance policies provide the dollars is generally the preferred way to go, the you will need to pay for all levels of care cost of care at home is very expensive. in any setting. The cost of premiums Consider this; you have three 8 is much less expensive for younger, hour shifts in a day. We have two 8 healthier applicants. The baby boomers hour shifts when we are awake and are the primary group buying Longanother when we are supposed to be Term Care insurance. I am still finding sleeping. Again, depending on the an occasional senior who is fortunate type of care you need, the cost per enough to be able to qualify for coverhour to hire additional help varies. For age, but it is becoming more rare. example, a sitter, someone to simply be There are many ways to fund the cost a companion to assist with non-medical of care. Using a Long-Term Care policy chores, will cost less than if you need that was purchased early on is the most a nurse’s aide or a registered nurse. affordable way to accomplish this. Call You can have family members pitch me for a free information packet about in to help, but our lives are very busy your options. I am always glad to hear and sometimes geographic limitations from you and to answer your questions. also get in the way. Staying at home Rosemarie Hurley, President of Senior may be preferred, but without help, Insurance Solutions, has worked in the senior it can be very dangerous. Falling is healthcare market for over 20 years. She is probably the worse fate a senior can a Certified Senior Advisor and has been a have. It can lead to a mountain of other Long-Term Care Insurance Specialist for issues. When elderly seniors try to more than 17 years. She is the Past President of Health Underwriters, a Past President of live at home alone, trouble brews. the Rotary Club of Estero, Member of the A companion to be with someone can Bonita and Estero Chambers of Commerce, cost $15+ an hour; actual professional and a graduate of Toastmaster’s Internationcare is much more costly. Hiring a friend al. She represents all of the finest insurance or a neighbor might sound great because companies in the industry. Can be reached at it could be less expensive than going (239) 274-6678 in Estero, or at her website: through a Home Health provider. But be www.longtermcareinsurance-online.com.

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Help Me Stop

ou think you’ve tried everything and your question now is: What can I do to stop smoking if the “standard” treatments don’t work for me?

Q. I am an 84-year-old woman who

recently had stents placed in two coronary arteries. The doctors, of course, told me to quit smoking. I told them, as I have told all of my other doctors, that I have tried to quit but just can’t. I have tried the patch and Chantix, but neither worked. Support groups aren’t for me. I have cut back, but that’s as far as so-called willpower goes. Hearing over and over again that I need to quit leaves me feeling depressed and weak. Is there some news about current or future approaches that might give me and others like me some hope?

A. Before I answer your question,

let me congratulate you for having tried to quit smoking and urge you to try again. It often takes smokers several “tries” before one takes hold. As you have discovered, nicotine is a highly addictive substance. For most smokers, “willpower” alone is not enough. Fortunately, smokers today have a number of tools to fight tobacco addiction. Quit-smoking aids include nicotine replacement (nicotine patches, gums, lozenges, inhalers, and sprays), bupropion (Zyban, Wellbutrin), varenicline (Chantix), counseling and behavior-change therapy, and social support. None are miracle workers. You mentioned having tried the nicotine patch. Dr. Nancy Rigotti, director of the Tobacco Research and Treatment Center at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital, said that some smokers find success

moking!

by adding to the patch a short-acting nicotine replacement product, like nicotine gum, lozenges or an inhaler to handle breakthrough cravings the patch can’t counteract. You also mentioned that Chantix didn’t help you. Some people find that Zyban works better for them than Chantix. Researchers are testing whether combining Zyban or Chantix with nicotine replacement is a safe and effective treatment for smoking cessation. You also said that support groups aren’t for you. You don’t have to join a group to get support. You can get free, helpful support from the comfort of your home by calling the national quit line at 800-QUIT-NOW. For some people, support is the missing piece of the solution, says Dr. Rigotti.

For most smokers, “willpower” alone is not enough. Fortunately, smokers today have a number of tools to fight tobacco addiction. Several new treatments are under development and investigation. On the medication front, a class of drugs called cannabinoid receptor antagonists may someday be used to help smokers quit. Also in the development pipeline are several anti-nicotine vaccines. They prompt the body to make antibodies to nicotine. When nicotine enters the bloodstream, these antibodies bind to it. If cannabinoid receptor antagonists or vaccines pan out as safe and effective smoking cessation aids—and that is a big if—it will be years before they are on the market. Please don’t wait for treatments that may never materialize. You have already made a good start by cutting back. Now work with someone who specializes in smoking cessation to figure out a plan tailored for you. I hope this answer doesn’t make you feel weak but that it gives you some hope and power. —Thomas Lee, M.D., Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter.

Medicare Answers Dear Marci, I just found out I am eligible for a Medicare Savings Program. How do I apply? —Yvonne

edicare Savings Programs (MSPs) help pay your Medicare costs if you have limited finances. There are three main programs: QMB, SLMB and QI. Each program has different income eligibility limits. You should call your local Medicaid office for exact rules on how to apply for an MSP in your state. Many states allow you to submit your application online, through the mail or through community health centers or other organizations. The list of documents that you will need to include with your application varies by state. Contact your local Medicaid office to find out what documents you need. Examples of documentation that may be required include:

• Social Security card • Medicare card • Birth certificate, passport or green card • Proof of your address, such as an electric bill • Proof of your income, such as a Social Security Administration award letter, income tax return or pay stub • Information about your assets, such as bank statements, stock certificates or life insurance policies —Marci Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (medicarerights.org). To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114. Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 19

An Amsler Grid Can Provide Early Detection For Eye Diseases

n Amsler grid is a tool that eye doctors use to detect vision problems resulting from damage to the macula (the central part of the retina) or the optic nerve. The damage may be caused by macular degeneration, glaucoma or other eye diseases, so the Amsler grid is useful in detecting these problems. An early diagnosis means early treatment, so it may help to limit or at least slow the vision loss you experience. If you are at risk for macular degeneration or other eye diseases, you should use this chart at home to monitor your vision. But using the chart doesn’t mean you should skip regular visits to your eye doctor, because you can easily miss signs that only a trained eye care practitioner will find.

How to Test Yourself with the Amsler Grid If you need reading glasses, please wear them while you use the Amsler grid. The grid should be at about the same distance from your eyes that any other reading material would be. Cover one eye, and then focus on the dot in the center. • Do any of the lines look wavy, blurred or distorted? (All lines should be straight, all intersections should form right angles and all the squares should be the same size.) • Are there any missing areas or dark areas in the grid? • Can you see all corners and sides of the grid? • Don’t forget to test both eyes. It’s very important to report any irregularity to your eye doctor immediately. Normal View

Distorted View

Sunil M. Malkani M.D., a fellowship trained retina specialist is now treating patients at Malkani Retina Center with three locations throughout Southwest Florida. During your appointment, he will take into consideration your age, medical history, lifestyle and overall retinal health so he can provide you with the best possible treatment options. Dr. Malkani a renowned vitreoretinal specialist is a graduate of Wake Forest School of Medicine and a former Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at the Sunil M. Malkani M.D. University of Florida. His surgical expertise includes treating Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration, Retinal Detachments, Macular Holes, Epiretinal Membranes and other diseases of the retina. He is currently involved in Macular Degeneration and Diabetic Retinopathy Research and has had his work published in many Ophthalmic Journals and presented at the American Academy of Ophthalmology as well as other national conferences. Malkani Retina Center’s Fort Myers’ office is located at 9201 Cypress Lake Drive. Their Naples office is at 875 105th Avenue North and the Punta Gorda office is located at 2825 Tamiami Trail, Building B, Suite #1. For additional information or to schedule an appointment, please call (239) 324-4888 (Lee and Collier Counties) or (941) 404-4606 (Charlotte County), or visit them online at www.MalkaniRetina@aol.com. Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 20

Quick Facts About Aging

An Upsurge in the 90-Plus Population ver the last 30 years, the ranks of Americans 90 and older have tripled, with three women for each man. They now total 1.9 million, and a report from the U.S. Census Bureau says the number could reach 9 million by 2050. Factors fueling the aging boom include the decline in smoking, improved nutrition and public health, diabetes control and fewer strokes. Another factor: a higher educational level, which has been linked to better health. Forty percent of the men in the 90-plus group were married; 80 percent of the women were widows. “Ranks of people reaching age 90 tripled since 1980: report” Reuters, Nov. 2011

Marathon RecordBreaker Is 100 Years Old It took him eight hours, and he came in dead last, but Fauja Singh was smiling when he crossed the finish line at the Toronto marathon. No wonder. At the age of 100, he had become the oldest person to ever complete the 26-mile run. Singh, who was born in rural India and wore a yellow turban for the race, entered his first marathon at age 89. He attributes his good health and longevity to his vegetarian diet, which does not include alcohol or cigarettes, and daily exercise—a walk or run of up to 10 miles a day. Ed Payne, “Centenarian completes marathon, sets record” CNN, Oct. 2011

Lifestyle Changes May Boost the Memory Some basic lifestyle changes may help with age-related memory loss and perhaps more serious cognitive problems, according to a recent study published in the journal Lancet Neurology. Summarizing evidence from hundreds of studies, the findings indicate that up to half of all Alzheimer’s cases are associated with a group of risk factors that people can control including midlife obesity, depression, smoking and a couch-potato body and brain. Experts also point out that occasional memory lapses are rarely signs of incipient Alzheimer’s or dementia. When younger people are forgetful, it’s usually because they’re distracted and not creating memories efficiently. “Forgetfulness at an early age is rarely a sign of early dementia” The Washington Post, Oct. 2011

International Aging Traditionally, younger members of Canadian families have seen to the care of their parents as they aged. In fact, Canadian friends and family provide 80 percent of such caregiving. But according to a new report from the Institute for Research on Public Policy, that arrangement may be threatened for a number of reasons, including an insufficient number of family members available to provide care. It is estimated that by 2031, 25 percent of women aged 65 or older will have no surviving children. “Caregiver shortage ‘major cause of concern’” The Montreal Gazette, Nov. 2011

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Y ’all Come. Let’s Go to Callaway Gardens! New at the Gardens is an adventurous two hours on the TreeTop Adventure. All four of us are in the very late 60s to mid-70s age range, but there we were lined up in helmets and safety harnesses letting guides get us started on the obstacle ropes and zip line course for all ages. The brochure says you can “leap, swing and whiz” your way through it. We didn’t do any of those speciﬁcally, but we took it one challenge at a time, cheered each other on, laughed a lot at ourselves and enjoyed the whole thing immensely.

BY JANICE DOYLE

“Y

’all come.” The words are the Song of the South. It might be an invitation to experience places with a long history, beautiful flowers, long walks on wooded paths and charming cottages amidst pines and azaleas. So, y’all come and meet us at Callaway Gardens!

Travel If you have friends you’d like to relax with—or if you want to just stop on your way to somewhere else—there’s no place like Callaway Gardens. Any time of year is a good time to be there, but the Gardens are especially wonderful in the spring as the azaleas bloom. It’s time to go! Located on I-85 southwest of Atlanta, it’s a day’s drive from west Florida to Callaway Gardens. My husband and I joined our good friends there. We stayed in one of the two-bedroom, two-bath cottages nestled into the woods, brought our own food, and everywhere we looked for two days, the woods were full of azalea bushes. An inn and villas are also available for lodging, and you’ll ﬁnd several restaurants on the grounds. Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 22

Cabins at Callaway

Year-round fun Every season provides a great reason to visit Callaway Gardens! Beyond ongoing superb golf and tennis possibilities, there’s a full schedule of things to do. Don’t think it’s all about spring azaleas, by any means. Robin Lake Beach turns into the center of activity for family activities and festivals. There’s a hot air balloon festival for Labor Day, a Spangled Beach Party for the 4th of July, a Fall Festival and, during the Christmas season, Fantasy in Lights has become an annual tradition for many people.

Winter at the Gardens (January through March) ﬁnds programs which connect people socially—think of staying in a cozy cottage with a ﬁreplace by night and enjoying social activities like bridge or tennis by day. Maybe you’d like a class or a Mystery Dinner Weekend. The calendar is packed with possibilities, and many special rates are available throughout the winter.

FDR’s “Little White House”

A don’t-miss side trip Warm Springs, a hidden jewel in central Georgia, is a 15-minute drive from Callaway. Franklin Roosevelt’s Little White House is there. It is where he came to soak in the springs. You’ll enjoy the history and learn how the Georgia mountain people affected his presidential decisions. Warm Springs Village is lined with quaint streets and 100-year-old restored buildings—just lovely. For more information, call 1-800-CALLAWAY (225-5292) or visit callawaygardens.com.

What’s at Callaway Gardens? You’ll find floral beauty in the 40-acres of azaleas and other garden delights as you drive the roads or hike the trails through the property. Better yet, pick up a bike and follow the 10-mile paved trail that winds through the woods, with stops at all the major attractions. At the John A Sibley Horticultural Center, it’s easy to spend an hour or more wandering through the five acres of gardens: a tropical rain forest, a Mediterranean garden, a desert plot and much more. We loved the sculptures and the indoor waterfall. Landscape Photography – Azaleas: March 31 – April 1: $115. The Gardens include the Virginia Close-up and Macro Photography – Butterfly: April 21 – 22: $115 Hand Callaway Discovery Center, a lovely building full of Herbaceous Plant Propagation: March 10 or March 17: $75 displays and informaPlant Fair and Sale: March 22 – 25, tion. A Backyard Callaway Gardening School: March 22 – 23, Fees vary. Wildlife Habitat and Vegetable Gardening A to Z: March 30: $55 Birds of Prey program interest the critter Planting your Season Vegetable Garden: April 21: $45 crew in a group. Spring Watercolor Painting: April 21 – 22: $225 More than 1000 Special 3-Day Plein Air Painting: April 23 – 25: $395 The Butterfly Center butterflies live in Pine Needle Basket Making: April 28: $65 the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center. After spotting Gemstones & Freshwater Pearls Jewelry Design and Making: May 5: $115 four or five, we slowed our steps Workshop fees include admission to Callaway Gardens. To register, and looked more closely to find the call 1-800-225-5292 or email education@callawaygardens.com. hidden beauties among the plants.

Spring Workshops and Classes at Callaway Gardens

Family Passes Buy Activity and Beauty for a Year BY AMY WITHEROW

o you need a birthday gift idea for your kids or grandkids but don’t want to add to a pile of toys that will be forgotten once the next best thing comes along? How about a year of new experiences for yourself and a spouse or friend? Think annual passes. They have many benefits including paying for themselves after a couple of visits. Buying an annual pass means you don’t have to try to see everything in one day. You are free to spend an hour or two one day and then return another day to see anything you missed. Many people enjoy annual passes because they can make return visits to enjoy new exhibits as they appear. Gardens at different seasons appeal to others. Buying an annual pass also typically lets visitors know of upcoming special events and speakers as well as gift store and restaurant discounts. Here are some local attractions that offer annual passes:

The Butterfly Estates: Within walking distance of the Caloosahatchee River in downtown Fort Myers, The Butterfly Estates is a botanical garden, butterfly conservatory and a natural park setting. The Estates helps you learn to invite butterflies into your own backyard. Annual memberships start at $24 per person or $60 for a family of up to seven individuals. (239) 690-2359 or thebutterflyestates.com

Imaginarium Science Center: Also in downtown Ft. Myers, the Imaginarium provides hands-on science exhibits. Touch a stingray, feel the winds of a hurricane and run through a rainstorm. Individuals: $55; family membership: $75/two adults and up to four children. (239) 321-7420 or imaginariumfortmyers.com

Naples Zoo at Caribbean Gardens: The Naples Zoo is both a zoo and historic garden with islands of monkeys, lemurs and apes, tropical gardens and live animal shows. Memberships start at $24.95 for children age 3 – 12. Grandparent memberships are available for any grandchild under the age of 21. See napleszoo.com or (239) 262-5409.

Edison & Ford Winter Estates: Visit the winter retreats of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, including restored historical buildings, gardens, the Edison Botanic Research Laboratory and the Edison Ford Museum. Individual memberships: $55; family membership: $85/two adults and two children or grandchildren is $85. edisonfordwinterestates.org or (239) 334-7419. Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples (C’mon): C’mon is in North Collier Regional Park and offers 13 educational exhibits that encourage exploration and discovery. Family memberships: $125 and up for two adults and all children under the age of 18. Visit cmon.org or call (239) 514-0084. Naples Botanical Garden: The Garden combines cultivated tropical gardens with restored natural habitats. Individual memberships: $70. Family memberships: (two adults and all children or grandchildren under 18) start at $95. naplesgarden.org or (239) 643-7275. This area clearly has a lot to do—make the most of it many times with an annual pass!

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14533 Paul Revere Loop, North Fort Myers, FL 33917 • website: www.oldbridgevillage.net • Hours: M – F 9 – 4, Sat. 10 – 3 and Sun. by appt. Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 23

Last Month’s Answers Last Month’s Answers

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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

Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills. The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well. The first correct answers selected from the drawing on Mar. 21 will win. Good luck! Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: SENIOR CONNECTION OR MATURE LIFESTYLES 1602 S. PARSONS AVE., SEFFNER, FL 33584 Mystery WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES! Prize! (Sudoku must be received by March 21, 2012.)

BRIDGE BITES

From The American Contract Bridge League

BY BRIAN GUNNELL

his month we take a look at “trump promotion.” Put yourself in the West seat, defending 4♠.

To start with, please locate a sheet of paper or your morning slice of toast (marmalade side facing up). Place it diagonally across the diagram, so that only the West and North hands are showing. As West, your opening lead is the ♣A on which Partner plays the Seven and Declarer the Nine. Next, you cash the ♣K (everyone following the suit), then the ♥A. You’ve cashed your three winners, where’s the setting trick? A Diamond ruff? No, Partner

A Couple Of Upper-Cuts had two Clubs, and can hardly have more than two Spades. He cannot have 2=9=0=2 distribution, with that shape he would surely have pushed on to 5♥. The only other possibility is a trump trick. Yes, indeed! The magic card here, amazingly enough, is the Spade Six! You lead another Club, and if East ruffs with the Six he forces Declarer to overruff with an honor, promoting a trick for your ♠J! This form of trump promotion is known as an upper-cut, and East must ruff with the Smashing Six to deliver the knock-out blow. Ruffing with the Feeble Four would be no more than a tickle under Declarer’s chin. A Second Upper-Cut! Next, imagine that East is Declarer, playing in 4♥. South cashes the ♠A, ♠K, and leads a third Spade, which North ruffs with the ♥J. Another upper-cut, promoting South’s ♥T? No, Declarer simply pitches away his Diamond loser and makes his contract. Let’s have a do over. After cashing the top two Spades, South cashes the ♦K, and then leads the third Spade. Now Declarer really is done for, this time the upper-cut sets the contract. Visit acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email marketing@acbl.org. To find a bridge club in Florida, go to district9acbl.org/D9Clubsmap.htm. Bridge article provided courtesy of St. Petersburg Bridge Club: stpetebridge.org.

Word Search Answers From

February 2012

Veronica Devine is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

Florida’s Award Winning Senior Magazine

Word Search Mar. 2012

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

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Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 25

Seniors Getting Together Yearning for the Past While WOMEN SEEKING MEN

Driving into the Future

TO RESPOND TO AN AD

4085 W, WIDOW, NEW TO AREA, 70 YO, active, looking for single man for travel. I love to keep busy—couch potatoes need not answer. NS, SD, ND, R, FF. Punta Gorda. 4093 CHRISTIAN WWBF, 63, ATTRACTIVE, honest, sincere, who loves the Lord. ISO a true Christian black gentleman who believes in the same. Love good home cooking, sports, fishing. A good SOH. 55 – 72. FF, write. Tampa.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN 4098 JARHEAD, D, W, C, great SOH, new to SWFL, ND, never used drugs, degreed, retired from own business, sincere, honest, ISO LTR, must enjoy travel, no criminal record. Cape Coral/Fort Myers/Naples/Port Charlotte.

Commonly Used Abbreviations: F-Female, M-Male, S-Single, D-Divorced, WW-Widow, A-Asian, B-Black, H-Hispanic, I-Indian, W-White, C-Christian, J-Jewish, YO-Years Old, YY-Years Young, ISO-In Search Of, SOH-Sense Of Humor, SMSmokes, S-Light Smoker, NS-Non Smoker, ND-Non Drinker, SD-Social (Light) Drinker, DR-Drinks, NDrgNo Drugs, LTR-Long Term Relationship, HWP-Height & Weight Proportional, R-Retired, P-Professional, FF-Friendship First, TLC-Tender Loving Care.

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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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BY JOHN C. LIBURDI

ven though many decades have passed since the Beatles song “Drive My Car” was a hit, Paul McCartney’s words still ring in our collective ears: “Baby you can drive my car.” Given that Paul was to be chauffeuring a lady star of the screen, the car had to be a grand automobile. Such a car was easy enough to find back then, but a magnificent automobile might be rather difficult to find in this era of advanced technology and futuristic vehicles. My senility notwithstanding, one would have to agree that most of today’s cars look to be cold techno toys, not unlike scary UFOs. Back in the day, cars had real personality and powerful presence. I yearn for the elegance of the sculptured fenders that graced my postwar Pontiac Torpedo, beautifully flared out with sweeping curves. Like many other cars of the ‘40s, 50s and ‘60s era, its wheels were adorned with big silver hubcaps, looking like four huge jewels. I also miss the art deco hood ornaments that used to be on those cars, gleaming figures of jet aircraft, exotic animals and semi-nude women, all truly inspiring. Then there were those massive, curvy chrome bumpers of yesteryear, each one heavier than a trendy Smart car. And much like that grouchy old lady at the counter in the burger joint once asked, “Where’s the beef?” I’m asking today’s automakers, “where’s the fins?” The dramatic evolution of the automobile is clearly evident in today’s advertising hype. Forget about the car’s mechanical attributes; instead, everyone is excited about how many channels the satellite radio

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Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 26

The Pontiac Torpedo.

receives, how the navigation system leads the driver by the nose to a given destination, and how upscale cars autonomously maneuver into a parking spot while the stupid humans inside just watch. Now everyone is suddenly fascinated with those highly innovative push-button starters, like our cars had way back when. Of course, people who market high tech autos hide the fact that a driver can’t yell at his kids in the back seat anymore; to do so would get the car’s computer all confused about the voice commands he previously screamed into the dashboard. It’s true that my lingering love for old cars is largely a matter of infatuation, but it’s not that I’m stubbornly stuck in the past. The new cars are just becoming stranger and stranger to me as technology evolves. I guess some of us are simply destined to suffer from future-shock. Indeed, the day is coming when cars will travel without a driver at the wheel. Research engineers are eagerly working to bring that concept into being. When it happens, we’ll all be relegated to mere passenger status and, sad to say, Paul McCartney won’t be able to drive that big car for his Hollywood diva anymore. On the bright side however, the two of them will be able to enjoy more time together in the rear seat, just like we did back in the good old days! (Liburdi lives in the Charlotte, NC metro area. His recent book ItalianAmerican Fusion: Italy’s Influence on the Evolution of America is available at internet bookstores and on the Kindle e-reader.)

Communities Must Be Prepared For The Longevity Revolution

ur local communities are, in many respects, totally unprepared for the volume of older adults aging in their homes and needing some basic support and community infrastructure to do so effectively and safely. For decades in Florida we’ve relied on older adults to fund our school systems and our local governments. Now in their later, frailer years, we are often denying them the societal reciprocity they not only need, but deserve. We must educate and advocate more intensely at the local level to create communities that understand and support the aging process. We all understand the need to balance the state budget. Education, transportation, pensions, and

Legislators –District 8 Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto, District 27; (239) 433-6599; benacquisto.lizbeth. web@flsenate.gov Senator Mike Bennett, District 21; (941) 225-3697; bennett.mike.web@flsenate.gov

Senator Garrett Richter, District 37; (239) 338-2777; richter.garrett.web@flsenate.gov Rep. Paige Kreegel, District 72; (941) 575-5820; paige.kreegel@ myfloridahouse.gov Rep. Gary Aubuchon, District 74; (239) 344-4900; gary.aubuchon@ myfloridahouse.gov Rep. Kathleen C. Passidomo, District 76; (239) 417-6200; kathleen.passidomo@ myfloridahouse.gov

The British are Coming

“The British are coming” is the theme at Lake Kennedy Senior Center Ballroom for The Guardian Angels for Special Populations “Rock N’ Roll Benefit Dinner Dance,” Sat., March 31 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. Live DJ, dining, games of chance. BYOB. Ticket donation: $20. Charge in advance at (239) 574-0574. Senior Center located at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., Cape Coral.

correctional institutions—are all vying for tax dollars. How does the local citizen help legislators make decisions on allocating funds? It is by speaking up…making it clear how YOU want YOUR dollars spent. The Aging Network in Florida has been managing their local, state and federal allocations effectively and efficiently, saving millions of dollars and serving elders in their homes for over 40 years. Tell them that is how you want your dollars spent because it is time that we become prepared for the Longevity Revolution! Educate our legislators in this time of need—call, write and visit. Let them know. Our elders deserve to have their golden years golden—not struggling to receive the help they deserve. Rep. Matthew H. “Matt” Caldwell, District 101; (239) 533-2411; matthew.caldwell@myfloridahouse.gov

Rep. Trudi K. Williams, District 75; (239) 433-6775; trudi.williams@ myfloridahouse.gov Rep. Matt Hudson, District 101; (239) 417-6270; matt.hudson@ myfloridahouse.gov Rep. Ken Roberson, District 71; (941) 613-0914; Ken.reberson@ myfloridahouse.gov Senate President Mike Haridopolos; (850) 488-2742; Haridopolos.mike.web@ flsenate.gov House Speaker Dean Cannon; (850) 488-7146; Dean.cannon@ myfloridahouse.gov Governor Rick Scott; (850) 488-7146; Rick.scott@eog.myflorida.com

The Original Auto-Bus

hen Ed Deets founded Central Florida Coach Lines, AutoBus, in 1974, he wanted to offer a convenient way for travelers along the Eastern Seaboard to avoid a long car trip to Florida but still have their vehicle waiting when they arrived. The company’s “You and Your Car” concept remains popular today, with passengers and their vehicles being transported on a weekly basis to points throughout Florida, including Daytona, Melbourne and Lakeland, Fla. Since his childhood, Deets has been part of the transportation landscape, helping out his grandfather and father’s trucking business. “Mr. Deets puts a great deal of effort into making sure his passengers have a pleasant trip,” said Greg Lukas, MCI Eastern Region vice president. “The coaches all have different interiors, and the interiors are well thought out, providing passengers with extra comfort touches for those long-distance trips.

Auto-Bus takes pride in providing their passengers a comfortable, safe, relaxed and enjoyable trip. Auto-Bus received the Vision Award from United Motor Coach for enhancement of the travel lifestyle for the general public, presented in Orlando, Florida. Auto-Bus was chosen over all the bus companies in the U.S. to transport NBC’s staff with eight coaches throughout the 2002 Winter Olympic evens at Salt Lake City, Utah. Owner Ed Deets was one of four appointed by former President Reagan in 1985 to the National Rate Making Transportation Committee. Deets attributes his successes to determination, hard work and the support of his employees and family. Deets Holding Co. and its subsidiaries employ more than 250 people. His wife, Betty, and daughters Donna, Darlene, Debbie and Diane, work for the businesses as well. For details, call (800) 233-8342 ext. 3.

THE ORIGINAL

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

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Debt Counsel for Seniors & the Disabled Representing Seniors And The Disabled Who Are Living On Social Security, Disability, Pensions Or Federal Benefits And Who Can No Longer Pay Their Credit Card Debt In The Following Practice Areas: • Debt collection abuse • Harassing phone calls • Threats of arrest • Unlawful garnishment of federally protected funds

800-992-3275 ext. 1304 Attorney James S. Giardina Offices: Tampa, FL Mature Lifestyles • March 2012 • page 27

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• Prescription Drug, Dental, Hearing and Vision coverage included • Large Network of participating doctors, hospitals and pharmacies • Exclusive member discount programs and online coupons for popular products

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Call toll-free 1-800-876-2227, 8 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET, seven days a week. TTY users dial 1-800-955-8771.

bluemedicarefl.com

Visit us at a Florida Blue center. floridablue.com

Contact your local agent.

*You must continue to pay the Medicare Part B Premium unless paid by Medicaid or another third party. ** In select counties. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) and Health Options, Inc. (HOI) is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract and Medicare approved Part D sponsor. These contracts are renewed annually and availability beyond the end of the current contract year is not guaranteed. Exclusions and limitations may apply. The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, not a comprehensive description of benefits. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Y0011_31372 0112 File & Use 01252012 BMRPPO, BMHMO, BMPDP