Lifestyles After 50 Southwest March 2014 edition

www.lifestylesafter50fl.com • Southwest • FREE

Vol. 25 • March 2014

Peace & Serenity

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Traditional Irish Fare Patient Advocates Navigate the Healthcare System Learn to Capture the Magic Happenings & Events Around Town

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 2

Getting Off the Beaten Path Can Lead to Little-Known Gems of Discovery

Dear Readers,

J

ust look at that cover photo—a boardwalk leading to somewhere we can’t see. Knowing it is in Florida, we Janice Doyle, might guess there’s Editor a swampy area ahead (read: gators and cypress trees). I suppose we all feel like getting away sometimes. We think we’d like to get off the beaten path or boardwalk and go far from the busyness of the interstate highways and crowded shopping malls.

It’s fun just to take a path, walk on it and enjoy peace and tranquility—at least for a little while. I’m afraid I’ve become so tied to my technology (gotta check the iPhone—someone might be texting me!) and conveniences (run up to the store and get eggs) that I’d not be a good candidate for being REALLY REALLY far off the beaten path very long.

Getting off the beaten path means we pay less attention to comfort, convenience and what others consider best or right or timely and change to thinking more about a “fit” for our own needs. It’s times we find new thoughts, new ideas and perhaps new people. It means having less attachment to what we usually do or what others think about what we do.

I want to follow such paths, but where? when? how? I started by

Black Bear Scenic Byway

Punta Gorda’s Third Annual Pedal and Play in Paradise

Live Oak’s Spirit of the Suwannee Music Events Wine & Cheese Cruise on Homosassa Springs

leaving my comfy living room reading chair and taking a new book out into Dear Husband’s beautifully landscaped back yard. Why not read outside? I just hadn’t done it for years. Now I have.

And I’ve lived here over 30 years and had never gone to the every-single-Saturday-night rodeo at River Ranch. Now I have, and it was so very colorful and such fun—read about it in this issue.

After more thought and research, DH and I are ready to load up the cooler and the lawn chairs and start checking out some of Florida’s more unique places.

No mouse ears for a while, please!

From the website visitflorida.com’s section “Off the Beaten Path,” here’s our start-up list of places and events: 13th Annual Sopchoppy Worm Gruntin’ Festival (April 13) Wild Horse Rescue in Mims—volunteer for a day

Black Bear Scenic Byway Drive 15th Annual Antique & Classic Boat Show in Apalachicola

It’s Greek to Me: Take Bouzouki Lessons in Tarpon Springs (Only $5)

Yalaha Bakery in Lake County for the fresh bread Find some of Florida’s Historic Cemeteries

Festival of Bacon in Orlando October 5 (Who knew?)

Greenville, Florida: Childhood Hometown of Ray Charles

So, Readers, I’ll see you on the Black Bear Byway or in a cemetery or on some other off-the-beaten path adventure! Enjoy!

Lee, Collier & Charlotte 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 Office Manager Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com Administrative Assistant Nancy Spencer nancy@lifestylesafter50.com Production Supervisor/Graphic Design Kim Burrell kim@lifestylesafter50.com Associate Editor/Production Assistant Tracie Schmidt tracie@lifestylesafter50.com Distribution (941) 284-2930

Advertising Sales Lee/Collier and Charlotte Nancy Kuehne: (239) 822-6150 Sarasota/Manatee Dave Tarantul: (941) 284-2930

Veterans: We’re looking for

one-time military cooks to tell their stories. Send an email with a little about your experiences to: janice@lifestylesafter50.com.

Snail mail with your contact phone number: Attn: Janice Doyle, News Connection USA, Inc. PO Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583.

Customer Service (941) 284-2930 dave@lifestylesafter50.com

News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638 Seffner, Florida 33583-0638 (813) 653-1988 • 1-888-670-0040 Fax: (813) 651-1989 www.lifestylesafter50fl.com Our other editions: Sarasota Edition: Sarasota/Manatee Hillsborough Edition: Hillsborough County Suncoast Edition: Pinellas/Pasco Counties Lake Edition: Lake/Marion Counties To learn more, call 1-888-670-0040

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 Apr. 2014 issue is Mar. 15, 2014. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 3

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Around Town

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G M A R C H 2 0 1 4

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hrough 16 “I Remember Mama” on stage at Cultural Park Theatre, Cape Coral. $18. 239-772-5862.

Parkinson’s Exercise Class. Every Thursday. 11 am at N. Ft. Myers Park Center. 239-985-7727.

– 8 Shell Festival, Sanibel Community House. Shells, food, entertainment, raffles, more. Free fair admission /$3 donation to shell show. Info at 239-472-2155. http:// www.sanibelcommunityhouse.net/

– April 5 “Romance, Romance,” a set of one-act musicals about romance. At BIG ARTS Herb Strauss Theater, Sanibel. 239-472-6862. $42.

8

“March in the Park” – plant and garden art fundraiser sale presented

by The Garden Club of Cape Coral at Jaycee Park in Cape Coral. 9 am to 3 pm. 60 vendors. Master gardeners answer questions. Food, music, raffles.

Parking/admission free. Info at gardenclubofcapecoral.com or 239-257-2654.

8

and 9 Fort Myers Beach Shrimp Festival and Parade. Queen, crafts, lots of seafood. At Lynn Hall Park. Sponsored by Lions Club. 239-848-6568.

14

Mangrove Mazes of Matlacha Pass Kayak Tour with GAEA Guides. 10 am – 2 pm in Matlacha.

See “Nature’s Cathedrals,” birds, fish and critters. $50 per person.

Reservations at 239-694-5513.

14

Erich Kunzel Community Concert at Edison State College Collier Campus Auditorium, Naples. 7 pm. $20 tickets at www. bayshorecapa.org or 239-775-2800.

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and 15 2014 Southwest Florida Reading Festival. Meet 30 best-selling authors; book discussions. Harborside Event Center and Centennial Park in the Fort Myers River District. Times, author info and more at readfest.org or 239-479-4636.

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and 15 Bonita Blues Festival, national and regional blues bands. $30/advance weekend pass;

$50/gate. Riverside Park, Bonita Springs. Details at 239-898-2939.

– 29 “The Whale” stage presentation at Foulds Theatre in The Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd., $20. More info at artinlee.org or 239-939-2787.

15

Craft and White Elephant Sale at Palmetto Palms RV Resort, 19681 Summerlin Rd, Fort Myers. 239-466-5331.

– 23 Fort Myers Film Festival, local and international works.

See fortmyersfilmfestival.com for schedule. More info: 239-810-6323.

20

Greeters Club Lunch at Colonial Country Club, 9181 Independence Way, Fort Myers. 11:30 am. Speaker Dr. Emie Kuyumjian from Lee Memorial about memory loss. $20.

Contact: greetersclub@gmail.com.

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– May 11 “The Dixie Swim Club” at Off Broadway Palm Theatre. Four gatherings of a female college swim team over 33 year period. $29 to $49. 239-278-4422.

26

Exploring Ethnobotany, how indigenous plants can be used for food, shelter, medicine, etc. 4th Wednesdays. Matanzas Pass Preserve, Fort Myers Beach. leeparks.org or Belinda Harper at 239-229-7356.

28

Despicable Me 2 outdoor family-friendly movie shown at Alliance for the Arts, 10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers. 8 pm. $5 donation. 239-939-2787.

29

Beautiful Birds of Bunche Beach Walk with Bird Patrol Guide.

18201 John Morris Rd., Ft. Myers Beach.

8 am. Free/$1 per hour parking fee.

Info: 239-707-3015 or birdpatrol.org.

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.)

Free Tax Assistance

A

ARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free help for older taxpayers and people with limited incomes. Go to the site listed below at a time listed to schedule an appointment unless a number is given. Do not call a public library to make an appointment.

Lee County

Cape Coral Library (Weds., 9:30 am – 7:30 pm and Thurs., 9:30 am – 2 pm) South County Library (Check schedule weekly at the library) Sunny Grove Park 20850 S. Tamiami Tr. (Thurs., 9 am – 3 pm and Fri., 9 am – noon) Lakes Library, Fort Myers (Mon., 9:30 am – 7 pm; Tues., 9:30 am –1:30 pm)

East County Library, Lehigh Acres (Weds. and Thurs., 9:15 am – 3:30 pm) North Fort Myers Community Center (Mon., Weds., Fri., 9 am – 1 pm)

Grace Community Center N. Fort Myers (Weds., 10 am – 5:30 pm; Thurs., 10 am – 4 pm) North Fort Myers Community Center 949-829-2433 (Sun., 1 – 5 pm; Mon., 9 am – 1 pm; Tues., 1 – 9 pm; Weds., 9 am – 5 pm) VFW 17770 Pine Ridge Rd., Ft Myers Beach (Tues., 9:30 am – 4 pm) Northwest Library Cape Coral (Fri., 9 am – 5 pm) Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 5

Have a Healthcare System Problem? Hire a Patient Advocate

BY PAUL WYNN

W

highlighted the dysfunction of the healthcare system and showed the growing distance between people who need healthcare and people who provide healthcare, says Vicki Breitbart, director of the health advocacy program at Sarah Lawrence College in New York. “Patient advocates can help bridge that gap.”

in their infancy that are still creating standards and a code of ethics, says Breitbart.

hen questions arise over medical bills, treatment options, insurance claims, Advocacy in action undiagnosed symptoms, who do To find a health advocate, you turn to for help? Doctors, AdvoConnection.com is a nurses, loved ones—maybe good place to start. All you Google. Turns out there are need to search the free directory professionals who can offer is an email address and zip answers—and provide help. code. There are about a half These professionals are dozen advocates on the called patient advocates, West Coast of Florida. sometimes known as health One of them is Lea Ann advocates or patient navigaBiafora with Beacon Ontors. While the profession cology Nurse Advocates in is in its infancy, it is slowly Saint Petersburg. Biafora achieving greater recognihelps patients and their tion as more people learn families work through about how patients can multiple issues related to benefit from their services. cancer—from evaluating “Just as many people now medical records, questions have a financial advisor, to ask their doctors to personal trainer or life treatment options and coach, more people are financial issues. “Our goal learning that they can hire Navigating the healthcare system can is to empower patients a patient advocate with and help them become be less confusing with a patient advocate insider knowledge and knowledgeable and by your side, but be prepared to pay direct experience about understand their treatment out-of-pocket for their services. how the healthcare system options,” she says. works,” says Elisabeth Paying for an advocate Schuler Russell, founder of Currently, there are an will most likely come out of Patient Navigator consultancy estimated 150 patient advocates your own pocket. Advocates’ and president of the National in the United States, composed services are generally not Association of Healthcare Adof nurses, physician assistants, covered by health insurance. vocacy Consultants (NAHAC). social workers, medical billers, It’s important to find out how Patient advocates provide insurance advisors and many much an advocate charges. a wide range of services. caregivers whose personal There’s no standard fee These services may include experience helping parents for patient advocates, but managing medical and hospital or loved ones with healthcare hourly fees range from $60 bills, filing insurance claims, decisions motivated them to to $250. Some advocates will choosing health or Medicare get involved in the profession. waive their fee for an initial plans, finding the right doctor, Russell says that as the baby consultation to learn more challenging insurance denials, boomers age, new insurance about your unique needs. researching medical conditions, options emerge through the Russell recommends asking accompanying you or loved ACA and treatment options for a written agreement or ones to medical appointments, become increasingly complex, contract that lists out the among many other things. there’s a growing need for services to be provided, patients to work with patient estimated hours and how Emerging trend advocates. But skeptics warn long the service will take.

The Affordable Care Act patients that there currently is “Most advocates will put (ACA) most recently fueled the no certification or state litheir information and answers need for “insurance navigators” censure for patient advocates to you in writing without to help consumers research and no actual qualifications hesitation,” she explains. and enroll in health insurance are required. This is not “Don’t rely on verbal exchanges. The ACA has also uncommon for professions promises or commitments.”

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 6

Finding a Patient Advocate

Hallmarks of an ethical and effective patient advocate:

Experience

Experience as a healthcare professional can be helpful in understanding the nuances of the medical system, but non-clinical backgrounds prove useful as well. Find out how much experience they have in handling similar cases.

Credentials

Some advocates may have earned local certificates from universities or online training programs, but there is no national certification or licensure for patient advocacy.

Affiliation

Does the advocate belong to professional associations such as the National Association of Healthcare Advocacy Consultants (NAHAC) or the Alliance of Professional Health Advocates (APHA)? Membership is no guarantee for ethical behavior, but these two associations have set standards for their members.

Ethics

Members of APHA and NAHAC abide by a code of ethics with the goal of providing compassion and respect to patients and their families. Other ethical conduct includes being transparent, maintaining patient privacy and avoiding discrimination.

Specialization

Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find an advocate. However, each advocate specializes in different areas so match your specific needs to someone with a track record and relevant experience.

Work Load

Ask how many projects the advocate works on. It’s normal for advocates to be juggling a few cases at one time, but make sure your needs get the attention you deserve.

Check AdvoConnection.com online.

Florida Patient Advocates include:

Compass Care: 813-501-2000 Professional Advocacy: Partners: 352-326-2030 Aging Wisely: 727-477-5845 Patient Advocacy Group: 972-390-1101 Florida Patient Advocacy: 352-379-8259 Beacon Oncology Nurse Advocates: 855-490-8777 Paul Wynn has covered healthcare trends for the past 20 years as a freelance writer.

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 7 12/12/13 4:08 PM

He Keeps the Allemande Left and Do-Si-Do Alive

BY JANICE DOYLE

F

olk dance, square dance, barn dance. There was a time when these terms were a part of America’s basic social life. Traditional square dances, often called barn dances, were a vital element to a community’s social life. Any group of eight people of any ages could enjoy completing a set pattern of easily learned moves.

In the post-WWII era, organized square dancing really took off!

Wes Morris and his wife Joy have been square dancing for over 45 years.

He calls square dances regularly for two local groups and enjoys calling a “barn dance” for groups when invited.

An old fashioned barn dance, Morris says, “…gets people out who don’t know how or never have square danced, and we give them an evening of square dancing just for fun. I get them started and then introduce simple easy steps and make it fun. It’s intended for just one

SHELL POINT For t Myers, Florida

Wes and Joy Morris

night of fun without thinking about taking it any farther.”

The Pine Island retired couple began square dancing in New Jersey and Wes became a caller and teacher because they wanted their children to learn. He says, “My wife told me I could do better than the 4-H leader who was teaching them.” He’s been doing it ever since, going to a couple of schools along the way to learn more about calls, choreography, how to move the dancers around the floor, voice diction, stage presence.

Square dancing, says Morris, is the perfect exercise, combining the positive aspects of intense physical activity with none of the negative elements. Besides the physical aspects of raising the heart rate and using muscle groups, the clapping and foot movement contribute to positive mental workouts. A dancer must hear a call, figure out what to do and then do it quickly—all the while (hopefully!) keeping with the music and interacting with the others in the square. Whew!

No wonder Morris can say, “We have some dancers in their 90s who are still going strong.”

Another real benefit of square dancing is what Morris calls the “social factor,” having a group of positive friends.

Square dancing has changed since those early days. In Modern Square Dancing

there are no set patterns for a dance (remember the traditional Texas Star?).

Instead, the dancers learn a number of moves—or calls—which the caller then puts together to choreograph the dance.

Morris says, “Square dancing today has expanded with more calls. It makes dances more interesting as people learn each level.” The levels are mainstream, plus, advanced, then challenge.” His job is to make it fun!

Morris said, “Last week we had a young family with teens come to our class and they learned very quickly.”

And Morris? Well, he felt right at home teaching a new generation.

Join Morris: Thursdays: Lake Kennedy Senior Center, Cape Coral, afternoon class and evening dances.

Tuesdays: Horizon Village, North Fort Myers, evening dances. To contact Morris, call 239-282-6322 or email him at j.h.morris@embarqmail. com. To find other square dance locations, see dancinglist.com/ Dancelist/florida/southwestcoast.

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 8

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 9

Bald and Kind of Beautiful

BY SY ROSEN

I

was standing in line at the bank and noticed that all four men in front of me were bald, and the row of round, gleaming heads seemed kind of funny to me. I know it’s creepy, but secretly laughing at other people is one of my small pleasures in life. There was a young guy with a full head of hair behind me and I decided to share the joke, whispering, “I feel like I’m in a bowling alley.” The young guy smiled and then said, “I guess that happens when you guys hit a certain age.”

Humor We were two compadres, sharing a private laugh when suddenly the words “you guys” registered. And then I did a double take. Was my former compadre saying I was also bald? But I wasn’t bald.

Or was I? I hadn’t looked at the back

of my head in an awfully long time.

I anxiously continued my business at the bank. I was tempted to ask the teller if I was bald. However, maybe the bank has a special service charge for telling someone if they’re bald— they have charges for everything else.

I went home and used the double mirror technique to look at the back of my head. And sure enough, there was fairly large bald spot back there.

It was like a large pink grapefruit juice stain on a gray carpet.

I felt like I was punched in the stomach— I realized I looked older than I thought I did. It was reminiscent of the first time I was given, unasked for, a senior discount.

My first thought was that I was being punished for making fun of those other bald guys. But that was silly. My hair couldn’t fall out because of a bad joke. If that were the case, I would have been completely bald years ago.

My second thought was to change the term bald to balding. That little “ing”

made me feel somewhat better. I wasn’t quite bald yet. Of course “balding” is an active word and it meant the spot was growing, spreading, taking over my head.

My third thought was to fix the problem. I researched hair transplants, hair thickening, laser therapy, herbs, wigs, the Donald Trump comb-over, and that spray that kind of looks like you’re putting shoe polish on your head. I even thought of turning to religion. I’m a Reform Jew but if I became Orthodox I would always wear a yarmulke—hiding my bald spot.

Okay, I realized I was going a little crazy. I also realized, during my research, that baldness isn’t necessarily a sign of getting older.

There were many young people who were bald (and that made me happy). And also, there were some really good looking bald men. There was Bruce Willis and there’s, uh, Bruce Willis, and did I mention Bruce—okay,

I can’t think of anyone else right now but I’m sure there’s lots of them. Anyway, I decided to accept my situation.

I wish I could say I learned some moral lesson about all this—don’t make fun of people because it will come back and bite you. However, the following week I was again at the bank and this time the four guys in front of me all had long shaggy hair. I turned to the man behind me and whispered, “I feel like I’m at the Westminster Dog Show.” And we both laughed (yes, I know it’s sad).

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8 Simple Stressbusters

BY HENRY S. MILLER

G

ot stress? Stress is a part of a normal life that you can’t really avoid. The good news? You have more power than you realize to control stress before it prevents you from living the life you want to lead. Here are eight simple stressbusters to help you: 1. Breathe Slowly and Deeply Before you react to the next stressful event, first take three deep breaths and consciously release each breath slowly. If you have more time, try a relaxation technique, such as meditation or guided imagery, before deciding how to handle the situation.

2. Speak More Slowly If you feel overwhelmed at any time, deliberately slow down the pace of your speaking. You will appear less anxious and more in control of the situation. Stressed people tend to speak fast and breathlessly. If you slow down, you’ll find you can think more clearly and react more reasonably to stressful situations.

3. Take a Break Outdoors Take advantage of the healing power of fresh air and sunshine. Just five minutes outside on a balcony or terrace can be rejuvenating. If you have more time, 30 minutes of sunshine has proven positive benefits.

4. Check Your Posture Hold your head and shoulders upright. Avoid slumping or stooping: bad posture leads to muscle tension, pain and increased stress. If you are behind a desk during the day, avoid repetitive strain injuries and sore muscles by making sure your workspace is ergonomic, and take five minutes every hour to walk around or stretch.

5. Drink Plenty of Water and Eat Small, Nutritious Snacks Fight dehydration and hunger—they can provoke aggressiveness and exacerbate feelings of anxiety and stress. Drink plenty of water and always have small and nutritious snacks on hand, such as fruit, string cheese or a handful of nuts.

6. Do One Thing Today Take control of your time. Every day, do at least one simple thing you’ve been putting off: return a phone call, make a doctor’s appointment or file the paperwork piling up on your desk. Taking care of one nagging responsibility will energize you and improve your attitude!

You might even find that completing one task inspires you to move on to the next one. At the end of each day, try planning your schedule for tomorrow.

7. Reward Yourself after a Stressful Day At the end of the day, set aside any work concerns, housekeeping issues or family concerns for at least a few minutes. Allow yourself a period of time to fully relax before bedtime each day—even if it’s only 30 minutes.

Remember, you need time to recharge.

Don’t spend this time planning tomorrow or doing chores you didn’t get around to during the day.

8. Practice Letting Go When your next inevitably stressful situation comes up, make a conscious choice not to become upset. Just let it go. Don’t waste your energy on situations where it is not deserved. Managing your anger is a proven stress reducer.

There’s no way to avoid stress, but you can be proactive in managing it. Here’s wishing you a happy life with less stress!

Miller is the author of “The Serious Pursuit of Happiness: Everything You Need to Know to Flourish and Thrive.” He is a speaker, trainer, and consultant.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 11

Learn to Capture Magic Every Day of Your Life

BY EVELYN MACKEY

I

t’s never too late to have dreams.

Reaching mid life doesn’t mean dreams have to end. One man who dreamed big and acted on his dreams every day of his life was Walt Disney.

Recently, the movie “Saving Mr. Banks” provided insight into the way Disney saw his past and present. Near the end when he revealed details about his childhood, audiences gained new respect for him. At no time had he let his past define his present or ruin his dreams.

One book about Walt Disney, “How To Be Like Walt: Capturing the Disney Magic Every Day of Your Life” also presents the man behind the myth. Authors Pat Williams and Jim Denney conducted over 1,000 interviews and then tied them all together

to share lessons You and Walt they gleaned How can you be like Walt from this icon of Disney? How can you American family make your own dreams entertainment. come true? The authors Williams, whose made 16 observations from personal fascinathose 1,000 interviews. tion with Disney If your life seems to lack began when direction or if you’re asking he relocated to yourself “What next?” this Orlando in 1989 list may help you begin to to build a new “capture the Disney magic NBAA basketball every day of your life”: team, considers Tomorrow can be a Walt Disney wonderful age. to be one of his mentors. In fact, his team, the Magic, was named in honor of one of Disney’s The way to get started is to quit talking most famous creations, and begin doing. —Walt Disney the Magic Kingdom.

The book is part biography, Live the Adventure part motivational speech, part self-help Be a Salesman book, part business guide, and it offers • Dare to do the Impossible many of Disney’s best features and • Unleash Your Imagination enduring qualities to incorporate into your own life. No matter your age.

• Become an Animated Leader

• Take a Risk • Deal with Loss • Plus Every Experience • Be a Person of Stick-To-It-Ivity • Be a Sponge for Ideas • Ask Yourself – ‘How About Tomorrow?’

• Live for the Next Generation • Build Complementary Partnerships • Stay Focused • Accept Your Mortality • Make Family Your Top Priority How To Be Like Walt follows Disney from his humble childhood years on a farm until his death in December of 1966. What is clear throughout the book is a life of imagination, perseverance and optimism.

The Walt Disney Family Museum, located in a building in The Presidio in San Francisco, also traces Walt Disney’s life and work. His dream?

Oh, he never had just one at a time – he just kept adding new ones.

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 12

Natural Relief

For the Love of Music

Enjoy these in March:

T

uesdays and Saturdays throughout March: Sanibel Music Festival. Musicians from around the country play at Sanibel Congregational Church, Sanibel Island. $35/ ticket or $240/all. 239-344-7025.

7

and 8“The Sound of Musicals”

by Symphonic Chorale of SW Florida. 8 pm. B.B Mann Hall.

Tickets: $20 and up. 239-418-0996.

9 16

Lee Community Band Concert at Cape Coral High School. 3 pm.

Information at leecountyband.org. and 17 The Drifters, doo wop, R&B/soul vocal group. Hear “Under the Boardwalk,” “Yakkity Yak,” more. Broadway Palm Dinner Theater. $35/show only or $58/ dinner and show. 239-278-4422.

21

– 30 “High Society” is the theme for Southwest Florida

Symphony Society’s Designer Show House at Tarpon Point, 6061 Silver King Blvd., #1203 in Cape Coral, Florida. $20 tickets available at the Orchestra office, 8290 College Pkwy, Ste. 103, Fort Myers or at the Showcase. Information at 239-482-7008.

24

John Denver Tribute Concert at Broadway Palm Theatre.

Tickets/info at 239-278-4422.

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 13

Knee Pain: Protect Your Knees

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nee pain is common for many athletes and individuals who are aging across the U.S. It is responsible for nearly a third of doctor visits related to muscle and bone pain. Major reasons for knee pain include overuse injuries to the meniscus and knee ligament injuries to the ACL (anterior cruciate ligament), MCL (medial collateral ligament), and PCL (posterior cruciate ligament). Regardless of the activity of choice, whether its running, playing basketball, tennis or other activities, avoiding knee pain must include choosing activities wisely and ensuring proper technique is adhered to.

The knee is the largest joint in the human body and is highly susceptible to trauma. Oftentimes, years of running causes what’s called “runner’s knee,” which is caused in part by the heavy stress placed on the front of the knee during the activity. Other vigorous activities that contribute to such stress on the knee joint include skiing, cycling and soccer. On the other hand, one of the best knee-friendly activities for those that have experienced knee pain or injury is swimming. Swimming is considered low-impact and, like other low-impact activities such as yoga, this protects joints from overuse.

Because knees can be so easily injured, stretching is a critical component to lifelong protection and health for knees regardless of activity level or athleticism.

For those who have suffered reported knee overuse or ligament injuries, many knee conditioning treatment programs will incorporate a combination of stretching and flexibility to target

muscle groups such as the quadriceps and hamstrings (front and back of thighs), abductors and adductors (outer and inner thighs), and the buttocks muscles.

With the aging population, knee pain risk increases due to a few other variables beyond athletic injury. As people get older, the cartilage that protects the bones will begin to break down in the knees. The risk of osteoarthritis, which is often considered the “wear and tear” arthritis, becomes greater. Factors such as obesity and muscle loss in the body can also leave people highly vulnerable to knee pain as they age.

Those experiencing knee pains must not ignore the pain. Feeling pain in the knee joint during activities, whether it’s just sitting, walking or exercising is a clear sign to visit with your orthopedist.

Accurate diagnosis and proper treatment requires a very thorough understanding of the patient’s activity levels, pain patterns and medical history. Since knee pain can be a source of disability, restricting physical activities, taking steps to ensure prevention and seeking treatment at the first signs of pain will enable the best possible outcome.

With offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres, Athletic Orthopedic and Reconstructive Center (AORC) is devoted to providing the highest level of quality care and treatment of the musculoskeletal system, which includes the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and nerves. AORC specializes in total joint replacement, fracture care, sports medicine, hand surgery, neurology, podiatry and general orthopedics. For more info, call 239-936-6778 or visit www.bone-fix.com.

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239-368-8277 Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 15

Professional Golfer Sees Results After Using Low-Intensity Vibration Professional golfer Peter Jacobsen, “After about 10 days—20 sessions— 59, understands the importance of the fasciitis was gone in my foot.” maintaining a healthy lifestyle. That’s Not only was Peter astounded by the why he purchased a LivMD from results he has seen, he was also impressed Marodyne Medical to help combat with how easy it was to use LivMD. conditions associated with aging such “I plugged it in, it beeped at me and as osteoporosis, osteopenia, plantar started vibrating,” Peter said. “It’s about fasciitis and joint problems. as big as home plate— Peter began using LivMD—a kind of like a bathroom low-intensity vibration device scale—and doesn’t designed to help fight against take up a lot of space.” conditions such as osteoporosis and osteopenia—to maintain “My legs feel like they have renewed energy,” his overall health and quality of he said. “By activating the muscles in your legs, life. In the past, Peter had a hip and knee replacement and was it relaxes your whole body.” diagnosed with joint problems Unlike other vibration machines on and plantar fasciitis—a Peter uses his condition that causes painful LivMD for 10 minutes the market, LivMD’s vibrations are inflammation in the connective two times per day. mild and safe. LivMD was developed tissues in the sole of the foot. Pro golfer Peter Jacobsen During his sessions, based on The Occupational Safety Although Peter has he’ll watch TV, and Health Administration’s (OSHA) only used LivMD for a short check email or do some exercises safety standards. The device, which time, he has seen great results. such as squats, twists or knee bends. emits a vibration of 0.3 at 30HZ, is “It’s been eye-opening. I didn’t expect “You’ll be surprised how quickly safe to stand on for up to four hours to have results this fast,” Peter said. 10 minutes goes by,” he said. per day, according to Marodyne.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 16

“LivMD emits a very low vibration. It’s very slow and not intense,” Peter said. “I find the vibration relaxing.”

Peter has noticed small changes that affect him in a big way. He has more energy and his mobility and strength have improved since using LivMD. “My legs feel like they have renewed energy,” he said.

“By activating the muscles in your legs, it relaxes your whole body.”

Using LivMD for 10 minutes daily has helped Peter improve his health so he can continue doing the things he loves—like spending time with his grandchildren and golfing.

“I’ve already told many people about it,” Peter said. “They’re going to be surprised by the results. I had a lot of little aches and pains go away.”

For more info about LivMD or Marodyne Medical, visit Marodyne. com. You can learn more about Peter Jacobsen at PeterJacobsenSports.com.

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 17

LAW OFFICE OF

ROBERT H. EARDLEY, P.A. PRACTICE CONCENTRATING IN: • Wills and Revocable Trusts • Probate Administration • Estate Tax Planning • Elder Law • Prenuptial Agreements • Florida Tax Residency Planning • Powers of Attorney/Living Wills Robert H. Eardley, Esq., LL.M. Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorney Master of Laws Degree in Estate Planning

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Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.

It’s All Coming Back to Me Now:

Researchers Find Caffeine Enhances Memory

F

or some, it’s the tradition of steeping tea leaves to brew the perfect cup of tea. For others, it’s the morning shuffle to a coffee maker for a hot jolt of java. Then there are those who like their wakeup with the kind of snap and fizz found in a carbonated beverage.

Regardless of the routine, the consumption of caffeine is the energy boost of choice for millions to wake up or stay up. Now, however, researchers at the Johns Hopkins University have found another use for the stimulant: memory enhancer.

Michael Yassa and his team of scientists found that caffeine has a positive effect on long-term memory in humans; in fact, caffeine enhances certain memories at least up to 24 hours after it is consumed.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 18

“We’ve always known that caffeine has cognitive-enhancing effects, but its particular effects on strengthening memories and making them resistant to forgetting has never been examined in detail in humans,” said Yassa.

“We report for the first time a specific effect of caffeine on reducing forgetting over 24 hours.”

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 90 percent of people worldwide consume caffeine in one form or another. In the U.S., 80 percent of adults consume caffeine every day. The average adult has an intake of about 200 milligrams—or roughly one strong cup of coffee or two small cups of coffee—per day.

Newswise (Study published in Nature Neuroscience)

The Second Marriage Estate Planning Dilemma “Inheritance Rights” for the Surviving Spouse and Stepchildren

SUBMITTED BY ROBERT H. EARDLEY

Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates attorney

O

ne in every two marriages ends in divorce. Other marriages endure until death. In either situation a second marriage often occurs and a blended family forms.

Not surprisingly, most seniors in a second marriage desire their separate property to be inherited by their own children—not the stepchildren.

However, Florida inheritance law can ultimately divert a large portion of a deceased spouse’s estate to the stepchildren.

Specifically, Florida law provides a surviving spouse a “statutory inheritance” regardless of the terms of the deceased spouse’s Will or Trust.

The two main inheritance rights are (i) Homestead, and (ii) Elective Share.

Homestead Homestead law provides that the home must be bequeathed outright to the surviving spouse—any other bequest is statutorily void. If the bequest is void, then the surviving spouse automatically gets a “life estate” in the home (or in lieu of the life estate the survivor may elect to claim 50% ownership of the home).

In either case, Homestead rights present difficulties.

For example, the life estate naturally affords the surviving spouse rent-free use of the home for life but the surviving spouse is not required to use the home as a residence. Instead, the spouse may rent out the home or cohabit there.

And in either scenario, upon a sale of the home all owners (the surviving spouse and the deceased spouse’s heirs) split the proceeds.

Elective Share Elective Share (or “ES”) gives the surviving spouse the option to claim an “Elective Share” of the deceased spouse’s estate—which is 30 percent of the value of the deceased spouse’s estate.

The Dilemma Many spouses would decline to claim inheritance benefits—whether

homestead or ES. However, at a future point in time the surviving spouse may become incompetent and thus unable to decline.

Example Mr. and Mrs. Smith are in a second marriage and each is 70 years old. They orally agree that the survivor will decline inheritance rights. Mr. Smith owns a $500,000 home and a $1 million IRA. Fast forward 15 years. Mr. Smith has passed away, 85 year-old Mrs. Smith has had a stroke, and Mrs. Smith’s son Tom now handles her financial affairs under a Power of Attorney.

Despite Mrs. Smith’s oral commitment to decline inheritance rights, Tom has no obligation to honor it.

Moreover, Tom has a legal duty (as Mrs. Smith’s Power of Attorney) to collect all assets available to her— including inheritance rights. So Tom claims Homestead and ES: 50% of the home and $300,000 of the IRA.

Options Fortunately, techniques exist to address inheritance rights. One is for the spouses to enter into a Postnuptial Agreement to legally waive inheritance rights.

A second technique—if one spouse is uncooperative—is for the other spouse to create an estate plan which legally satisfies the 30% ES right but keeps assets “in his family.”

This technique would place a portion of the “concerned” spouse’s estate, after death, in a statutory “ES Trust” for benefit of the surviving spouse. And at the surviving spouse’s later death the ES Trust assets pass to the “concerned” spouse’s heirs.

Other techniques exist which are best addressed on a case by case basis.

Robert H. Eardley is a Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts and Estates attorney, holds his J.D. degree from the University of Kentucky College of Law and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) degree in Estate Planning from the University of Miami School of Law. Mr. Eardley is in private practice in Naples and can be reached at 239-591-6776.

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Veterans Corner

“War Stories and Free Beer” Bridges Military/Civilian Gap

Sophie Pollitt-Cohen of GORUCK says, lder veterans “The goal of our remember coming event is to bridge the home from their war civilian-military-gap experiences to a country and break down some that seemed not to care. language barriers— One man is trying to in an atmosphere change all that for today’s anchored by a Army Special Forces Staff universal love of beer. soldiers. Army Special Sergeant Jason McCarthy Often when it’s over Forces Staff Sergeant Jason McCarthy told and it’s the free beer CBS News he feels “we time, people talk and can impact society for that’s when people the better sooner” by can talk individually telling war stories from to the participants. It’s Iraq and Afghanistan a very intimate time now to create underfor sharing stories.” standing. McCarthy went on to say One of the guest speakers for that public support for the military is the Largo GORUCK event will strong but that very few people know be Major Ceasar Civitella. MAJ someone in the service personally.

Civitella served in WWII with the McCarthy is founder of GORUCK, Office of Strategic Services, the a company that makes backpacks and predecessor to the CIA. He was one other military-grade gear used today by of the first to be recruited for the individuals and miltary. He sponsors newly formed U.S. Army’s Special War Stories and Free Beer to tell the Forces. Later, MAJ Civitella worked military story. McCarthy said that havfor the CIA where he was awarded ing served in the military doesn’t have the Intelligence Medal of Merit. to be the proverbial “elephant in the These are not open mic events, room.” Instead of just hearing people according to Pollitt-Cohen. The men say “Support the troops,” McCarthy have told their stories before. And wants to answer questions like “What McCarthy said beer will always be did you do in the war?” or maybe provided at the events because it “What was it like?” He wants people serves as a symbol, “…just one of to know who they are supporting. those things that makes you smile.”

GORUCK’s War Stories and Free There won’t be dress uniforms, and the Beer is coming to Largo, Florida’s environment is set up to be as unthreatArmed Forces History Museum ening as possible. It will be a time to Officers Club on Thursday, March 6. learn about the life of a deployed miliDuring the two-hour event, four veterans tary service member in today’s world— will each share a deployment story, along and maybe share the understanding of with personal photographs, followed by what it meant to you in another time. a Q and A time. The stories are meant to If you go: 7 pm to 9 pm. $10 donainform and humanize as well as entertain. tion/tickets may be purchased online The Navy Times reported that Capt. at goruck.com. Proceeds benefit David Waikart, a military intelligence the Armed Forces History Museum officer, “had the crowd roaring as he as well as Iraq and Afghanistan poked fun at the Special Forces and Veterans of America. Armed Forces Rangers who ‘take themselves too seriHistory Museum – Officers Club, ously in their black Oakley sunglasses.’” 2050 34th Way North, Largo.

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 20

The Intraocular Lens Implant That’s Right For You

BY JONATHAN M. FRANTZ, MD, FACS

I

ntraocular Lens Implants (IOLs) are the artificial lenses that replace the eye’s natural lens removed during cataract surgery. Dr. Frantz will help you select an implant that fits your specific lifestyle, whether you’re having Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery or traditional surgery. Your lens options:

1. Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery, with: a. a ReSTOR or Crystalens IOL and Limbal Relaxing Incisions (LRI) to greatly decrease your dependence on glasses, b. a Monofocal Toric IOL to treat the cataract and correct your corneal astigmatism at the same time. c. a Standard Monofocal Lens with LRI to correct a lower amount of astigmatism during your cataract surgery.

2. Traditional Cataract Surgery with Standard Monofocal Lens: you may have both eyes corrected for distance and wear

reading glasses, both eyes corrected for near and wear glasses for distance, or monovision where one eye is corrected for distance and the other for near.

Dr. Frantz is the first and most experienced surgeon in southwest Florida offering Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery, which is considered a refractive surgery. We can discuss out-ofpocket charges during your cataract evaluation. Your insurance will be billed for the actual cataract removal.

To make an appointment visit bettervision.net or call the Fort Myers office of Frantz EyeCare at 239-418-0999.

Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, is named in The Guide to America’s Top Ophthalmologists. He and his team of doctors at Frantz EyeCare offer a broad spectrum of patient-focused comprehensive care from eye exams and eyewear to bladeless laser cataract removal, treatment of eye diseases, bladeless iLASIK laser vision correction, and eyelid surgery with office locations in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Lehigh Acres, and Naples.

Frantz Bladeless LASER Cataract Surgery Another FIRST in Cataract Surgery Technology Dr. Jonathan Frantz now offers the area’s first LASER-guided technology with VerifEye to further customize your surgery and enhance your vision.

Trust your eyes to our area’s most experienced laser cataract surgeon.

To schedule your appointment:

Call 418-0999 or visit BetterVision.net

Accepting United Healthcare, Medicare, and most major insurances for cataract evaluations and second opinions.

Senior Care Industry Leader Recognized

E

ntrepreneur Magazine’s Annual Franchise 500© rankings for 2014 recently recognized Comfort Keepers® as the #1 franchise within the senior care category as well as #59 among the top 500 franchises.

Tom and Kim Dean, owners of Comfort Keepers of Lee and Collier Counties, are thrilled about this accomplishment, indicating, “This kind of recognition among all franchises, nationally, is rare. It’s something all of us at our office, as well as the 700+ locations around the world, can be proud of. Ultimately, it is what we do each and every day

that matters most: we help seniors to live independently within the comfort of their own homes.”

Entrepreneur’s 35th Annual Franchise 500 ranking reveals the impact of the newest trends and the industries poised for growth.

All companies, regardless of size, are judged by the same criteria: objective, quantifiable measures of the franchise operation. This is the second year in a row that Comfort Keepers has earned the distinction of being #1 in senior care which is among the top growing demographic categories on a national basis.

For more information about the Comfort Keepers or to schedule a free in home consultation, visit their website at ComfortKeepers.com/ office-131, or call 239-590-8999.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 21

March 2014

S 8 13

aturdays Bingo: 11:45 to 3:30 pm.

The Best of Charlotte County

Greg and the Groovemakers. 7 to 10 pm, Centennial Hall, $10/person.

Day Trip with Happy Travelers: Tarpon Springs Sponge Boat Cruise. $69. 941-625-4175 x204.

22

“Memories” Shower of Stars Tribute Show. Medley of songs giving tribute to icons Dolly Parton, Barbra Streisand, Elvis, Louis Armstrong and more. $17. 7 pm.

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

FEATURED EVENTS

17

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration featuring Lee County Pipes & Drums, 5:30 – 6 pm, followed by Emily Ann Thompson Band from 6 – 9 pm. Fishermen’s Village. For more info, please call 941-575-3067.

• Charlotte Harborfest. Mar. 22 and 23. 10 am to 7 pm. Seafood festival, kid’s fishing tournament, carboard boat race, kayak fishing tournament, fishing and boat show with seminars, live music, vendors and more. Laishley Park, Punta Gorda. 941-743-1900.

• 34th Florida International Air Show. Mar. 29 and 30. 9 am.

Aerial stunts, high-speed military jets and acrobatic pilots are some of the thrills you can expect during the air Show at the Charlotte County Airport in Punta Gorda. $20. www.floridaairshow.com.

Join Us For Our Mar. 2014 Edition!

Helping Hands

10

Open Mic Night, 6:30 – 8:30 pm, Center Stage. Read, sing, listen and enjoy. Info: 941-637-3514.

• 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.

National Womens’ History Month

Senior Centers and Resources • Senior Friendship Centers: 941-255-0723 or friendshipcenters.org.

• Senior Choices of Southwest Florida: 1-866-413-5337 or srchoices.org.

• O.C.E.A.N. (Our Charlotte Elder Affairs Network): 941-235-4500 or ocean-fl.org.

16

Classical music performance by the Northport Woodwind Quintet, 12:30 - 2 pm, Center Stage.

21

“Charlotte Players present Cahal Dunne in concert. 7:30 pm; Charlotte Cultural Center. $20. 941-625-4175 ext. 220.

Tommy O’s Saint Paddy’s Day show.

Tenor sings Irish music and popular favorites. 2 pm at Charlotte Cultural Center. $15. 941-625-4175.

• 9th Annual Peace River National Art Festival. Mar. 15 and 16.

10 am to 5 pm. Outdoor art show sponsored by the Visual Arts Center. $3. Laishley Park and Marina, Punta Gorda. 941-639-8810.

6

14 16

• Dancing With the Charlotte Stars, Mar. 7, 6 pm. Local celebrities put on their dancing shoes to compete in a night of entertainment to raise funds for the Arts & Humanities Council of Charlotte County.

Takes place at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center.

Tickets at www.charlottearts.org. 941-764-8100.

Muttini Mingle, Pawtastic Yappy Hour, 5:30 – 8 pm, Center Court.

Enjoy live music by Stone Gypsy. 941 575-7599.

LuckO' TheIrish

Come enjoy the big band sounds of The Top Hats Band, 5 – 9 pm Center Stage.

Fishermen’s Village is on the waterfront in Punta Gorda. Call 941-639-8721 for details.

Charlotte County!

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

888-670-0040

Lifestyles After 50 Is Your Connection To The Seniors Of Charlotte County Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 22

Tips to Help Seniors Downsize D

ownsizing can be a daunting task for seniors, especially when moving to a retirement community. It requires not only packing and relocating, but the possibility of separating from sentimental items. However, if older Americans take the right steps to downsize their homes, they can find that it will be a smooth transition and cause less stress once completed.

Contrary to popular belief, no matter the circumstances, seniors can downsize with a sense of pride and even create great memories along the way.

The SearStone continuing care retirement community in Cary, N.C., offers the following tips:

Retirement Living • Get a head start. One common mistake seniors make is waiting until the last minute to start packing. The National Association of Senior Move Managers (NASMM), a leading organization with more than 800 senior moving companies, reported that more than 50 percent of the move managers were contacted two to four weeks prior to a senior’s move, while only 37 percent were contacted one to six months prior. However, the earlier the start, the more effective the process will be. An earlier start allows less stress, more time to consider what items to discard or keep, and more time to hire additional help if needed.

• Know the new space/floor plan. This is extremely important.

Knowing the floor plan allows you to plan what can realistically fit into the space you will be moving into.

Often, retirement communities come with amenities such as bed linens, kitchenware, etc. This information

should be easy to receive from the community’s office. Maybe they’ll even have some suggestions on what to bring. It will ultimately eliminate many items right from the start.

• Get help. Older adults should consider family first; family can make the experience more personable and affordable. However, if family is not nearby or not available, they should research senior moving companies. Specialized senior moving companies are more apt to cater to older adults’ needs through understanding and patience.

• Downsize step-by-step. Seniors should go room-by-room or spaceby-space, beginning in areas that are not used frequently. Start with large items and work toward smaller ones.

This establishes a sorting system.

• Decrease junk. This can be one of the hardest parts of downsizing for seniors. Separating from sentimental items is difficult, but there must be a realistic perspective on what can or can’t be taken to the new home.

Here are some questions older adults should ask themselves when deciding on whether or not to discard or keep an item: • When was the last time I used this?

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• Does this have sentimental value?

• What purpose does it serve for me, and will it serve a purpose in my new home?

• Is it in good shape?

With these tips, seniors can have a smooth transition. Downsizing still requires time, but if they plan accordingly, the move will not be half as exhausting as previously thought.

Morgan Lamphere is director of sales and marketing at SearStone, a continuing care retirement community in Cary, N.C. Contact her at mlamphere@searstone.com.

Free Tax Assistance

A

ARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free help for older taxpayers and people with limited incomes.

Go to the site during times listed below to schedule an appointment or call the number given below.

Cultural Center of Charlotte County: (Mon. 4 – 8 pm; Tue. – Sat. 9 am – 1 pm; make required appointment at the Cultural Center: 941-625-7757.

South Punta Gorda Heights Civic Center: (Mon. 9 am – 1 pm; Thurs. 10 am – 6 pm; Fri. 9 am – 2 pm; appointment at 941-268-8280.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 23

Make the Fox River Cities Area Your Summer Destination The Paper Discovery Center in an old paper f you’re traveling mill presents an through Wisconsin opportunity to this summer, stop in imagine our counthe area known as the try in the days Fox River Cities, just when water was south of Green Bay. king of manufacThe Fox River was Crafting at the Paper turing and production.

Discovery Center. an early power source Take a look at the Fox and the industries, money and River from the overlook. The Center technology that power created have brought Appleton a long, rich heritage shows all facets of paper-making from tree to finished product. And since it’s of interesting people and events. sponsored by Kimberly Clark, there’s a section explaining the many health and hygiene paper products we use. See how they make those tissues so soft!

From the youngest visitor to the Drawing from a wide area oldest—even grumpy old of northeastern men—all enjoy actually Wisconsin, Appleton making their own sheets is a regional hub of paper. The Center is of activity. a winning spot to visit.

BY JANICE DOYLE

I

Travel

Think shopping!

2. Houdini unwrapped.

That would be the Fox River Mall.

Faces and facts that define the area can be found in the History at the Castle. The castle experience begins with beautiful stained glass windows in lobby depicting the four seasons in the area.

Then think culture.

That would mean attending the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center and its staging area that brings a world class schedule of events to the area.

Think heritage. Check out the work-

ing Dutch windmill in Little Chute.

Here are other reasons to visit the area 1. Paper. Appleton’s core industry using the Fox River’s power has been paper-making. The first hydroelectic power plant in the U.S. was on the Fox River and the first home in the world to be lit by hydro-electricity is Hearthstone Historic House with its original light fixtures (and a learning center in the basement).

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 24

W

For a time Harry Houdini’s family called Appleton home, and the hands-on displays about Houdini are fun and engaging as visitors get an inside look at the renowned magician and performer. The idea of the museum is to reveal his secrets of illusion, so visitors can try duplicating some of Houdini’s tricks, picking locks on handcuffs, and so on.

Trivia: Houdini’s massive head of hair? Good for hiding things in. Well, there were other body parts he used for hidings, too.

Other displays: Bottoms up! the tavern history of the area; Spearfishing for sturgeon (see a fully equipped ice shanty); Food of the area from early settlers to recent settling by Hmong tribes.

3. Say Cheese! This is Wisconsin

where macaroni and cheese takes on a whole new meaning! Try local cheese every chance you get. Simon’s Specialty Cheese, for example, creates cheese specialties and also offers locally produced wines, beers and sausages.

4. Add local color! Nearby

Neenah’s downtown makes the

hen you’re in Wisconsin, you’re in Packers territory, so enjoy a meal at Lombardi’s Steak House in downtown Appleton. Filled with more than 400 Lombardi memorabilia and photos donated by his son and daughter, it’s part museum and part restaurant. Spend some time looking around. See hand drawn football plays, Lombardi’s draft card, three Coach of the Year trophies, a replica of the Lombardi Trophy.

Lombardi’s “Commitment to Excellence” has been passed to the staff and menu choices. The food is superb: entrees such as prime cuts of beef and seafood entrees, family-sized side dishes and amazing desserts. The Steakhouse has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence every year since 2005 for having one of the most outstanding wine lists in the world.

Trivia: Lombardi Steakhouse hosts each challenging team for dinner the night before their game against the Packers. Lombardi would approve!

Find savory cheese and wine at Kerrigan Brothers Winery.

perfect spot to join the locals for dining and shopping of any sort you want. Kerrigan Brothers Winery nearby in Freedom offers the latest in Wisconsin fruit wines and an owner who is a world-renowned cheese carver.

5. Milwaukee baseball fans will want to see the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (the Brewers’ Class A affiliate) at their newly renovated stadium – the Time Warner Cable Field.

6. Get out in nature. The Fox River

is a sportsman’s haven. From walleye in the spring to waterfowl in the fall, the river is a perfect backdrop to a good sports tale. Add Lake Winnebago and the area’s parks for hiking, biking, boating and it’s a perfect place for a vacation.

For more information about the area, go to foxcities.org.

The World Traveler’s Favorite Cruises

BY CONNIE MOODY, CTA, DS Senior Cruise Specialist

A

s a veteran of over 80 cruises to 105 countries, I’m often asked “You’ve taken so many cruises, what are your favorites?” Here are three of mine, all taken on the beautiful, all-inclusive small ships of Silversea.

Singapore to Hong Kong aboard the Silversea Silver Cloud Asia is my favorite place to cruise, and the combination of ports of call on this trip was especially fascinating. We started the trip with two pre-cruise nights in Singapore. Dinner on Thanksgiving was at an outdoor Muslim kitchen at the Boat Quay, an area of shops and restaurants. We cruised up the Mekong and docked in downtown Saigon. We cruised in a junk on Halong Bay, a UNESCO world heritage site, saw the Orangutans at the Sepilok Refuge on Sandakan Island, were captivated by Catholic school girls we met on Romblon Island in the Philippines, climbed Mt. Kinabalu in Borneo, and visited the sultan’s mosque in Brunei.

A highlight of the cruise was a visit to Corregidor, a short boat ride from Manila.

Athens to Dubai aboard the Silversea Silver Whisper The island of Rhodes is one of the best in Greece as far as the charm of the city center, the museums, and shopping. A highlight of the cruise was the visit to St. Catherine’s monastery on the Sinai Peninsula. The days spent cruising through the waters infested with pirates, drug runners and human traffickers and the preparations the ship took to insure our safety made for three of the most fascinating days I have spent at sea. Strolling the souk in Oman by myself at a leisurely pace was certainly an added treat. And at the end there was Dubai, long on my bucket list, and it did not disappoint.

Roundtrip Miami on the Silversea Silver Spirit The ports always included on this cruise are San Juan, St. Barts, Tortola, and Turks and Caicos. Perhaps it is the familiarity of going to these same ports that I find so enticing. I always go to the Museum of Art of Puerto Rico in San Juan, and am thrilled to see that the Barbershop installation is the same. On St. Barts, I stroll the Promenade, marveling at the yachts docked and moored there, visit the Anglican Church, and then return to the ship on another street, while window shopping at the boutiques that are a trademark of this very chic, very French island. Tortola means a cab to Cane Garden Bay, a bit of sun, a good book, and lunch with frozen concoctions at Myett’s Grille on the beach.

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I always stroll through the handicraft shops on my way back to the pier. The Turks and Caicos have a wonderful new port facility with Margaritaville and what I consider to be one of the best duty free shops in the islands. But it also has one of the best beaches in the Caribbean at the pier. For a couple of dollars, a beach attendant will set up a lounge chair and umbrella for you. The water is crystal clear, and you can stand waist deep in water and have fish swim around you.

I didn’t get to mention Istanbul, the Baltic, Canada and New England, the British Isles and India. As my colleagues say, Connie’s favorite cruise is always the last one from which she returned. And they are right.

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Wilma Boyd - CEO Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 25

Westgate River Ranch Vacation: Close to Nature Yet Far Enough Away to Be a Real Vacation

BY JANICE DOYLE

Y

ee haw! Ride ‘em cowboys. Not long ago we had a hankerin’ to get out the Western shirts and boots and spend a weekend in the great Florida outdoors. Out where the star sightings aren’t filtered by city lights. It was a good reason for a trip to Westgate River Ranch east of Lake Wales. The River Ranch has been around for decades and has recently been renovated as part of the Westgate Resort family.

It’s the largest dude ranch in Florida and a clean, safe place to go alone or with the whole family. Here’s what to look for:

1. Activities for everyone and for all ages: sit in the quiet with a book, go to The Saloon for a drink (including non-alcoholic), ride a mechanical bull, play mini golf. How about horseback riding, skeet shooting, swamp buggy, air boating, fishing or archery? On weekend nights there’s line dancing,

live music, bonfires, hayride/cookout, a small adventure park and the rodeo.

2. Try Glamping (glamorous camping). Each Glamping site is a sturdy fully-furnished canvas tent set on a platform in a wooded area complete with microwave, mini fridge, AC. Glamping sites include a key to a private bathroom facility with shower.

3. Convenient accommodations include new and older cabins and the renovated Lodge as well as a beautiful RV park.

4. Yee haw! It’s a Wild West rodeo every Saturday night! Eight seconds

may not seem like a long time, but when you’re watching a bull rider trying to stay on a bucking bull, it seems like an eternity. This rodeo is fun. Professional—and colorful—lady horseback riders make their acts seem easy and there’s a hilarious “calf scramble” for kid cowpokes. It’s a very patriotic, feel-good-to-be-an-American event with lots of red, white and blue and Lee Greenwood’s “God Bless the USA.” A Rodeo Dance immediately following the rodeo is an open time for everyone to dance to slow tunes, boot-scootin’ boogie and fun stuff like “Macarena.”

5. Natural Florida is right outside the door. From watching bison and horses in the pasture to hiking trails through ancient live oak woods along the water, you may find your only distractions to be the birds and critters.

6. The easy life is here. On site, the Smokehouse Grill, the Saloon

BEFORE

AFTER SHOT OF EYES

and the Deli at the General Store serve up meals. And there’s a Dinner Hayride. No Western wear?

Buy a nifty cowboy hat or outfit at the onsite Western Store.

7. One-of-a-kind staff. Everyone is terrific and attentive—like they want to be there, and we found many who had worked at the ranch for years.

These guys may be bull riders for the weekend rodeo, but they make great trail ride guides during the day!

Days and hours of operation for restaurants vary by season; call ahead before visiting to know if you need to stop on the way for groceries.

Accommodation prices: Lodge: $99 and up; Cottages and Cabins: $150 and up; Glamping tents: $179 and up; tent sites: $20; RV sites: $40.

Sample activity prices: Rodeo: $15.50. Pontoon boat rental: $65/ hour + tax. Swamp buggy ride: $25.

To learn more, call 863-692-1321.

Order online at www.rtfacelove.com or by phone Toll Free 1.855.502.3002.

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 26

Can A $50 Bill Try a Little Ruin Your Day?

T H AT

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Sit down at almost any baccarat table and you will find pencils and scorecardsOmaha providedSteaks for the players to and Save World-Famous ear Mark: Do you74% knowon why track the outcome of each hand. What $50 bills are unlucky in a casino? they are doing is analyzing their card My husband will never accept them for trends as winning hands switch from a cashier, but can’t explain back and forth between the Player why except to say that they are and Banker. Personally, I believe they jinxed. Have you ever heard of such are wasting their a thing? —Jackie H. time. Assuming, as you should, The fiftythat the shoe and dollar bill ($50) dealer are legit, is a denominathe next hand is tion of United an independent, States currency random event. that has the 18th U.S. President, It is unclear where the bill’s Ulysses S. Grant, featured on the unlucky reputation comes from, obverse, with the U.S. Capitol on the reverse. Hardly anything here but legend has it that mobsters draws on superstition, that groundless used to tuck $50 bills in the belief in a supernatural agency. Yet, jacket pockets of victims they your husband is far from alone. buried in the desert. Bugsy Many gamblers are dead set against Siegel three on him when The Family Combo he was had accepting them, and Value many casinos snuffed out by the mob. will not even hand them out.

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Omaha victims buried in the desert.Franks does add some excitement to the game 4 (3 they oz.) Gourmet Jumbo of Baccarat. The strategy that I would Bugsy Siegel had three on him when 4 Stuff ed Baked Potatoes recommend is that since the house he was snuffed out by the mob. edge for the Bank hand is slightly 49381KWF When I worked at the Cal Neva $ lower than for the Player hand (1.17% Reg 154.00 Now Only... at Lake Tahoe, |the long-time vs. 1.36%), just keep betting on the casino cage manager named Mae, banker and pass on the scorecards. who was even there when Frank Now, please allow me to contradict Sinatra owned the joint, told me PLUS, 4 More myself. Sure, I advocated betting the that the $50 bill was seen by Asian Banker hand and dismiss scorecards, gamblers as god-awful unlucky. At figuring the numbers support the the Cal Neva, we could take them Banker bet as the statistically better in, but we didn’t dole them out. wager, even if the difference between Tell your husband that within the to every shipping address the Player and Banker hand is ever casino walls, the only way you in your order from this ad. so slight. The problem playing this can bring luck onto yourself is way is that the game action becomes through smart wagering. Hence monotonous. Who wants to sit my motto; “the smarter you Limit 2 of each selection at these special prices. Your 4 (4 oz.) burgers will ship free per address and must ship with your order of $39 at a Baccarat table and bet the play, the you’ll be.” S&H will be applied perdown or more.

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 27 2/13/14 1:14 PM

Pedal and Play—Bicycle Rides BRIDGE BITES

B

icyclists of all skill-levels are invited to Punta Gorda on April 5 to Pedal and Play in Paradise, with proceeds benefiting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and TEAM Punta Gorda and its bicycle-friendly initiatives.

Participants have five bicycle rides to choose from: 15-mile, 30-mile, 62-mile, a 10-mile Mystery Poker Run and the City Manager’s/History Tour with Punta Gorda’s City Manager, Howard Kunik.

Participants meet at Laishley Park Pavilions, Punta Gorda, for a pre-stretch at 6:40 am followed by breakfast from 7 am to 9 am. Rides start at 8 am. Enjoy live music and lunch from 11 am to 2 pm. Pre-register by Mar. 25 for $35 and receive a free T-shirt. Registration between March 26 and Apr. 2 is $40.

Day of event registration at 7 am is $45.

Register at: pedalandplayinparadise. com/; or call for info: 941-639-8326.

From The American Contract Bridge League

BY BRIAN GUNNELL

Y

ou could play a lifetime of bridge without pulling off a Devil’s Coup, but it’s worth a look purely for its entertainment value.

Back To The Age of Jazz

S

lip back in time on March 15 to the fun-loving Jazz Age with toe-tapping music and plenty of refreshments. Mix in a worthy fundraising cause and you’ve got the Third Annual Cypress Cove at HealthPark Florida benefit Gala – “Steppin’ Up – A Celebration in the Jazz Age.” Tickets are $100 per person and include food, drinks, entertainment, an array of silent auction packages and many other surprises, including

being chauffeured from parking areas to the gala’s “club” entrance in classic Jazz Age period motorcars.

Festivities begin at 6:30 pm at Cypress Cove, 10200 Cypress Cove Dr. in HealthPark, Florida. Proceeds support the care of individuals with memory loss. Tickets are available through the Cypress Cove Community Advancement office. Please RSVP to Jean Christensen at 239-415-5100.

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 28

Coastland Center, near Dillard’s Naples, FL 34102 (239) 649-5777 Bridge Plaza 12901 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers, FL 33919 (239) 278-5511 Port Charlotte Town Center, near Sears Port Charlotte, FL 33948 (941) 625-8820

It looks like Partner has overbid again because you find yourself in the dreadful contract of 6♠. West cashes the ♥A at Trick 1 and now the success of your slam depends upon losing no trump tricks, missing QJ873.

The chances of one defender holding QJ doubleton are pretty remote (8%, actually) and you can do better by not drawing trumps.

The Devil’s Coup At Trick 2, you ruff the Heart continuation, cash three Diamonds (ending in Dummy), ruff another Heart, cash ♣A and ♣K, and ruff a Club, reaching this position, with the lead in Dummy: Do you see how to win the rest of the tricks? Sure you do! You ruff Dummy’s ♥Q (even though it is a winner!) and, when the ♣T is led, the defense is toast. If West ruffs low then Dummy overruffs and you score the last two tricks with the ♠A and ♠K … if West ruffs high then Dummy overruffs and there is now a finesse position against East’s Queen! Devilish indeed!

To bring off this small miracle, West’s distribution had to be precisely 3=4=3=3 or 3=5=3=2 and he had to hold one of the missing Spade honors. We don’t know if that offers better odds than the aforementioned 8%, but we are sure that bringing off the Devil’s Coup is so much more fun!

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.

Last Month’s Answers

February Sudoku

Barb Kemp is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

Word Search

March Sudoku

Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.

The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well.

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: NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583 Mystery Prize!

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES! (Sudoku must be received by March 21, 2014.)

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

Elsie Drew is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

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, 2014.)

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 29

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Plus, you’ll laugh all over again at some of the all-time greatest stand-up comedians including Jerry Seinfeld, George Carlin, Roseanne Barr, Robin Williams, Ray Romano, Eddie Murphy, and Drew Carey, many of whom made their first national television appearance on The Tonight Show.

Enjoy rare bonus features including a trip home with Johnny to his native Nebraska, a classic Johnny Carson special before he took over The Tonight Show, and a special look behind the scenes of The Tonight Show.

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Signature © 2013 Direct Holdings Americas Inc. StarVista is a registered trademark of Direct Holdings Americas Inc. TIME LIFE and the TIME LIFE logo are registered trademarks of Time Warner Inc. or an affiliated company. Used under license by Direct Holdings Americas Inc., which is not affiliated with Time Inc. or Time Warner Inc. • Terms & Conditions: Allow 4-6 weeks for processing mail-in orders.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 30

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• Three Decades of Timeless Entertainment • The Final Two Episodes • Hilarious Stand-Up Comedy • Animal Hijinks • PBS American Masters Special

Seniors Getting Together attention sgters!

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

WoMen seeKing Men 4119 seeKing christian gentleMan Former airline stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., widow, slender, white with Ph.D. in healthcare.

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Men seeKing WoMen 4340 appreciate, f, free, self, conscious, bliss, being, non state, NS. WM 65, youthful, 6” 165 lbs., long brown hair, short beard. Organic gardener, canoeist, bicyclist, movies, art, music, yoga, swim, friend, partner, abide synchronicity.

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

Ad Copy • Please Print Neatly • 30 Word Limit

Title (First 4 Words):

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

Writing for SGT

Guidelines to help you in your search.

• Always be honest about who you are and never lie about your age.

• Note the number of good things that you have to offer a new relationship.

• Have a sense of humor. Not everyone is playing with a full deck!

• Take it one day at a time. Every “no” brings you to the next “yes.”

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. to respond to an ad

Write a letter to the person you want to contact. Place that letter in a stamped envelope and write the ad number on the bottom left hand side of the envelope. Place your stamped, numbered envelope(s), along with $2 for each letter enclosed, into another envelope and address it to: News Connection USA, Inc. Seniors Getting Together P.O. Box 638,Seffner, FL 33584

Lifestyles After 50 Advertisers Say...

Paula Sepulveda of Juniper Village says,

I would like to say a “BIG” thanks to Nancy and the staff at Lifestyles After 50.

Almost immediately after Juniper Village placed our ad in the Southwest Edition, we started to receive phone calls and one has already turned into a resident move in!

Charles M. Costello, CSA

Got a call from a gentleman in Naples with terminal disease. He requested a copy of the Checklist and then went on to profusely praise the entire publication, telling me how great and informative it is and what a great job I am doing. He wanted my assurances that he would continue to get it every month.

Advertise with us! Call Nancy Kuehne at (239) 822-6150

City (No Charge):

If more room is needed, please use separate sheet. Mail this form along with $6 for each ad per month (add $4 for each additional edition/market in the same month).

We cannot accept your ad without it. This information is confidential.

Name: Address: City: Phone:

State: E-mail:

Zip:

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

Make Friends; Live Longer A

t age 80, Sunie Levin wrote a book: Make New Friends... Live Longer. She says she found herself feeling and acting much younger than many of her calendar-year friends and acquaintances. She saw many of her friends spend their days watching the days pass them by instead of “meeting the unlimited supply of new people out there just waiting to be met. That’s when it hit me. I’ve been making new friends, who keep me interested in life.” She wrote her how-to’s in her book. More at sunielevinbooks.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 31

T

raditional Irish fare like this is good any time of day. Use up your leftover corned beef (or buy some at the deli) in a tasty quiche and serve it up with warm Irish soda bread.

Crustless Corned Beef and Cheese Quiche 2 Tbsp butter 1 onion, chopped 1 c chopped celery 1 c cooked corned beef, diced 1 c jack cheese, shredded 4 eggs 1 c heavy cream 1 c milk Salt and pepper to taste

Irish Soda Bread

2 1/2 cups flour 1/2 c sugar 2 tsp caraway seed 1 1/2 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp salt 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 cup raisins or currants 1 1/4 c buttermilk 2 eggs 1/2 tsp vanilla

Saute onions and celery slightly in butter. Add corned beef. Heat through and spread in buttered quiche pan (or ramekins). Add cheese. Whisk eggs, cream milk and seasoning together and pour into pan. Bake at 425 about 25 minutes.

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 32

NAME ADDRESS CITY/STATE/ZIP

Please send your tax-deductible gift to:

The Salvation Army 10291 McGregor Boulevard Fort Myers, FL 33919

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Child Advocate Volunteer Orientations Announced!

Wednesday, March 12th @ 5 pm - 6 pm or Tuesday, March 25th @ Noon - 1 pm

Who speaks up for abused, neglected and abandoned children living in our area? Guardian ad Litem volunteers, supported by staff, advocate for our most vulnerable children in court, the child welfare system and the community. If you are a Florida resident, at least 21 years old, with 8-10 hours monthly to volunteer, you’re invited! The exact duties and time required will be discussed and all of your questions answered on Wednesday, March 12th @ 5 pm - 6 pm or Tuesday, March 25th @ Noon 1 pm at the Guardian ad Litem Office - 2075 West First Street, Suite 300, Fort Myers. To make an online inquiry, please visit www.VoicesForKids.org. For more information and to reserve your orientation spot, please contact Suzanne Flinn at suzanne.flinn@gal.fl.gov or 239-357-9889.

Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 33

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 34

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SD cards and thumb drives basically use the same technology. A thumb or flash drive plugs into a USB port and it is quickly removed so you can take it with you. Its small size also makes it easy to misplace, so if your life is lacking drama and you enjoy a good adrenaline surge periodically, thumb drives are the way to go.

In your situation, you can’t go wrong with either. I have external drives, which serve me well, but recently I have gravitated toward flash or thumb drives because of their size and convenience.

SD Card vs Thumb Drive vs External HD How can I print a web page when there is no printer icon or no “printed version” link for the item?

Your browser should have a print command on the Menu bar, so click File > Print and you should be able to print it. CTRL + P is also a fairly universal Print command, so give that a try.

Is there a way to set a default font style and size in Gmail?

If you are not enamored with the font Gmail uses when you compose an email, you can change the default font. You can even change the color of the font, but before you go crazy with color creativity, have mercy on the eyes of your recipients.

To change the default font, log into Gmail then go to Settings (the little gear icon to the far right). Locate the Default Text Style section on the General tab. Choose your text style using

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That type Through the eyes other things. Aren’t there laws against of Unsubscribe link is designed of someone with to this? What can I do toThe prevent it? trick you into verifying your address AMD Effect: Ruining Your advanced AMD. it can then be sold to other spamGranddaughter’ssoBallet Recital While there are federal and mers at a premium. (Of all the nerve!) state laws against email “spoofI recommend having a minimum ing” and other forms of misleading of two email addresses, one being AMD Ruining or deceptive onlineThe practices, theEffect:your primary Your address that you use to Granddaughter’s Ballet Recital problem is tracking down and communicate with friends, family and prosecuting the perpetrators. other trusted and another Early detection is key to saving your sight fromindividuals, age-related Onmacular its face itdegeneration probably appears address that you use for all (AMD), the leading cause of blindnessother in thatpeople a despicable human bean purposes, including making online 55 and older. (don’t email me)toisnotice the culprit; purchases and registrations.

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or call 1-800-771-2255 Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 35

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Where Do You Fit? Facts About American Eating Habits

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Free InFormatIon ServIce Lifestyles After 50

for information please return completed form to:

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

Name:

M

y, how times have changed!

Look at our nation’s mealtime choices and behaviors as found by the Institute of Food Technologists.

1. In a single day, Americans typically eat and drink 14 different kinds of food and beverages from sandwiches, fruit, vegetables, carbonated soft drinks, milk, coffee, potatoes, salty snacks, juices and ready-to-eat cereal.

2. The largest restaurant chains in America from highest grossing are McDonalds, Subway, Starbucks, Wendy’s, Burger King, Taco Bell, Dunkin’ Donuts, Pizza Hut, KFC and Chik-fil-A.

Health 3. Forty-five percent of Millennials and 24 percent of boomers have adopted a special diet (e.g., gluten-free or vegan). One-third of all Millennials’ eating involve global cuisine; 56 percent of Millennials want something healthy for their next snack.

4. Millennials are round-the-clock eaters; 12 percent of their eating occasions are for breakfast, 16 percent are for morning snacks, 15 percent lunch, 17 percent afternoon snacks, 18 percent dinner, and 20 percent evening snacks.

5. Snacking now accounts for just over half of all eating occasions. One in five people eat one snack per day; 41 percent have two, 24 percent have three, 13 have four and 4 percent have five or more.

6. Consumers are most interested in savory flavors, including spicy, smoky and tangy flavors; sour and bitter flavors are also drawing increased interest from consumers.

7. For the first time, a majority of consumers say they prefer hot or

Address: spicy sauces, dips and condiments and bolder flavors. Chile sauce, cayenne, Sriracha, and habanero and ancho peppers are delivering the “new” heat.

8. Specialty cheeses account for more than two-thirds of deli cheese sales.

Gouda, Brie, bleu and goat cheese are increasingly strong sellers as are Mediterranean and Hispanic cheeses.

More U.S. cheesemakers and retailers are embracing affinage, the art of aging cheeses.

9. More than half of adults buy specialty chocolate, oils and cheese.

10. The percentage of all meals eaten and prepared in the home in 2013 was exactly the same as in 2012—73 percent, up from 70 percent five years ago.

11. Half of adults bought prepared foods at a convenience store in 2013.

Hot dogs, followed by deli sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, pizza and other breakfast foods were the popular items.

12. Forty percent of specialty food consumers bought food online.

13. About one-third of adults are devoted breakfast-eaters who never pass it up.

Information published in the January edition of Food Technology.

City: Phone:

State: Age:

Zip: Date:

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 pERSONAL HEALTH: FINANCIAL/ LAW: o Hospitals o Document Preparation o Physicians o Retirement planning o Dentists o Trusts o Eye Care o Estate planning o Orthopedic o Funeral Planning o Pharmacies o Senior Topic Speakers o Home Health INSURANCE: o Prescription Drugs o Medicare o Hearing o Health o Cancer Treatment o Long-term care o Medical Supplies o Auto o Home o Life HOUSING OpTIONS LEISURE TIME: o Independent o Golf o Assisted Living o Biking o Senior Apartment o Theater o Dance o Continuing Care/LifeCare o Flea Markets o Consignment/Thrift Shopping RESIDENTIAL LIVING: o Jewelry o RV Resort o Gambling o Apartments o Villa/Condo/Single Family HOME IMpROVEMENTS: o Golf Community o Screen Enclosures TRAVEL: o Pools/spas o Cruises o Air Conditioning o Land Tours o Home Modifications o Hotels/ Resorts o Home Security Systems o Local Attractions o Cleaning Services o Getaway Packages o Upholstery OTHER: SW

Entries will be collected by News Connection U.S.A. for future promotions, special offers, and marketing.

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 Winners Were: P

P Paula Delaney — Congratulations! P Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 37

The Video Games Challenge

I

t’s true that playing video games challenges older people to stay sharp, alert and well-coordinated. A recent survey suggests that growing awareness among seniors of the positive effects of playing video games is a leading factor in the rapid rise in video games’ popularity among people over 65.

Although some survey respondents were drawn to entertainment-oriented games such as Angry Birds and slot games, the majority indicated a preference for strategy games, spelling games, word games and puzzle games such as Candy Crush and Pet Rescue.

The University of California, San Francisco study involved the yearlong development of NeuroRacer.

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ebecca Jaffe, M.D., a family physician, says, “Sedentary lifestyles often have consequences in people of all ages, but exercise is medicine.

Just by doing some form of activity, older women possibly gain benefits that overshadow their chronic ailments.”

Jaffe said almost all older adults can do some form of physical exercise on a regular basis but motivating them to do so is another thing. Just do it!

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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2014 • page 38

on a controller when a green circle appears. As a player improves, the level of challenge increases accordingly.

NeuroRacer was first tested on people aged from their 20s through their 70s and showed a decline in multitasking ability with advanced years.

Next, subjects aged 60 – 85 years spent 12 hours each over a month-long period playing a version of NeuroRacer. These subjects attained better multitasking levels than 20-year-olds who did not train with the game. The seniors maintained superior levels for six months after the training period ended.

Games such as Nintendo’s Brain Age and their Wii games often provide the opportunity to enjoy physical benefits associated with certain familiar sports and games while minimizing the risk of injury.

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