Northeast Ohio Boomer | July August 2023

Photo by Kim Stahnke

Boo Crew

HUNTING FOR MEMORIES

It occurred to me, there’s not much difference between childhood memories and the gentle ghosts they leave behind. The scary part is how quickly time passes. My cousin and I share much-loved, long-gone relatives and snapshot experiences: playing cards on the porch, skinny dipping in the dam, swinging from vines over a gully. We were looking for ghosts as adults without realizing we have plenty of sweet, good-spirited ones that have been with us all along. We don’t need The Ghost Meter to find them.

July/August 2023

Northeast Ohio Boomer is a property of Mitchell Media LLC

PO Box 1088 Hudson, OH 44236 330-822-4011 NortheastOhioBoomer.com

/NEOhioBoomer /NEOhioBoomer

PUBLISHER - Brad Mitchell brad@northeastohioboomer.com 330-714-7712

EDITOR - Marie Elium marie@northeastohioboomer.com

Igot a ghost detector for my birthday, but I’ve been too scared to use it.

The size of a TV remote control, The Ghost Meter ($49.95 on Amazon) requires only a 9-volt battery and an open mind. It was a gift from my husband, the same man who gave me a pearl necklace when we were dating. Thirty-seven years later, our lives are in a different place, a far more frightening one, judging by his gift.

The Ghost Meter detects EMF waves (electromagnetic field radiation), known as ghost energy among devotees. I’ve never encountered a ghost, but I know people who have, so the meter’s been on a shelf for months.

Fast forward to the other weekend when my cousin and her husband came in from Pennsylvania for a visit. We rode bikes, stopped by our parish festival for a few Bingo games, watched fireworks then wandered back to our patio. That’s when I mentioned The Ghost Meter. My cousin was on board to try it; our husbands, not at all.

She and I tested the meter in my backyard, but the sensor didn’t budge and the lights didn’t flash. We ventured around town, seeking dark spaces and haunted places, two cousins ghost hunting on a summer night, looking to scare ourselves like we did as kids when we walked on dirt roads through twilight woods.

Meanwhile, we’re in the thick of summer wonders with Northeast Ohio Boomer’s July/August issue. Ghosthunting may not be in your vacation plans, but regional festivals and fairs will keep you busy from now through fall. We highlight some of our favorites in this issue.

As you can see by our cover, we caught up with former TV anchor Romona Robinson. She’s been busy spreading her inspiring message to people here and throughout the country. We found her charmingly candid about her encore career and her next chapter.

If technology is making you crazy, you’re not alone. At a recent tech fair for older adults in Geauga County, we heard all about how folks struggle with their smartphones, tablets and apps. Read what they had to say and then find out how technology can help people who are hard of hearing. Columnist Tak Sato fills us in.

I hope you’re having a scare-free summer. Go out for a nighttime walk and see what benevolent memories you can stir up.

I almost forgot to mention, my cousin and I found two ghosts. I won’t say where; you know how weird ghost people are.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR - Estelle Rodis-Brown estelle@northeastohioboomer.com

EDITORIAL SUGGESTIONS editor@northeastohioboomer.com

CALENDAR LISTING SUBMISSIONS calendar@northeastohioboomer.com

CONTRIBUTORS

Jennifer Beach, Margaret Briller, Estelle Rodis-Brown, Kathryn Kilpatrick, Traci McBride, Mary Mihaly, Mike Olszewski, Linda Peavy, Donna Robinson, Tak Sato, Karen Shadrach

ART DIRECTOR- Laura Chadwick laura@northeastohioboomer.com

ADVERTISING SALES

Chris Geer, 330-614-8471 chris@northeastohioboomer.com

Janyse Heidy, 330-671-3886 janyse@northeastohioboomer.com

Sherrie Kantarovich, 216-299-5455 sherriek@northeastohioboomer.com

Samantha Olp, 330-636-6127 sam@northeastohioboomer.com

Yvonne Pelino, 440-971-0595 yvonne@northeastohioboomer.com

Michelle Vacha, 440-463-0146 michelle@northeastohioboomer.com

OFFICE MANAGER

Kathleen Mitchell, 440-533-1208 kathleen@northeastohioboomer.com

EVENTS MANAGER

Lilia Lipps lilia@northeastohioboomer.com

DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES info@northeastohioboomer.com

PUBLISHER OF

PHOTO: MARIE ELIUM

NEO BOOMER EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Mindi Axner

Executive Director National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland

Sharon Dundee Director of Marketing & Communications

Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center

Dr. Ardeshir Z. Hashmi Cleveland Clinic Director Center for Geriatric Medicine

Kathy M. Hirko Owner KAZ Company

Kathryn Kilpatrick President Communication Connection LLC

Kelsey Loushin President

Eldercare Professionals of Ohio

Stephanie Manning

The American Heart Association, Cleveland

Steven Marsh Dr. Steve Marsh, DDS

Fatima Perkins Director of Community Outreach Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging

Bob Pontius

Director of External Relations Danbury Senior Living

Coming in the September/October Issue

beginning September 19

REFLECT, RESET

Spas • Retreats • Travel

Cultural Events • Relationships

Enrichment/Education • Style

Leslie Royce Resnik

President

Royce Public Relations

Beth Silver

Director of Public Relations and Marketing

Menorah Park

Laurie G. Steiner Partner

Solomon, Steiner & Peck, Ltd.

Candyce Traci

Vice President

All Media Design Group

Nancy Udelson

Retired CEO

Alzheimer's Association Cleveland Area Chapter

WORTH NOTING

Compiled by Marie Elium

YOUR SPACE, YOUR STYLE

TRACI MCBRIDE JOINS THE NORTHEAST OHIO BOOMER MAGAZINE TEAM

Stop for a minute and consider your living space. Does it suit your or your lifestyle? — Not the life you lead when you were raising kids, or building a career (unless you’re still doing both), but your authentic, where-you’re-at-now life.

If there’s still too much of your old life hanging around and you want to do something about it, then you’ll like our new columnist, Traci McBride.

McBride is already a feature writer for Northeast Ohio Boomer magazine, but is expanding her role as a columnist, starting in this issue with Life Spaces. She brings decades of style experience to our readers. A Realtor for more than 25 years, she was staging homes long before home staging was a profession. Now she inspires and consults for home decor inside and outside, covering gift giving, holiday decorating and entertaining.

She says we can live our best lives while using “the good stuff.” So go ahead and pull out the good dishes, the good towels, the items you’ve set aside for special occasions. Our everyday lives are worthy of our best.

A believer that style is everevolving, McBride says we don’t have to give up style while we navigate life challenges. She loves helping others determine what is important to them now and how they can reflect that evolved style in their spaces.

Learn more about McBride’s decor styling (Zhooshing Spaces with Tee) at Zspaces.TeeMcBee. com or contact her at Traci@ TeeMcBee.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF TRACI MCBRIDE

Y Not?

TRAVEL, EXERCISE, AND MAKE FRIENDS AT THE YMCA OF GREATER CLEVELAND

Cool Stamps & Collectors

If you’re curious about stamp collecting (philately for the uninitiated), then head to the free Great American Stamp Show, Aug. 10-13 at the Huntington Convention Center in downtown Cleveland, where you’ll find hundreds of people eager to talk stamp stuff.

The show is open 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. It’s the largest gathering of stamp enthusiasts in the nation with 80 dealers and 300 exhibits.

The U.S. Postal Service will release new stamps that weekend, and there’s an area for beginners to learn about collecting and to get free stamps and supplies.

Northeast Ohio resident and longtime collector Dennis Sadowski is helping organizers get the word out about the show. Stamp collecting, and hobbies in general, have waned in popularity because folks turn to electronic media and smartphones for entertainment, he notes. A show like the one coming here may ignite an interest that becomes a lifelong hobby. Stop in and see. Cleveland last hosted the national show in 1999.

Art, culture, history, geography and more: if there’s a story to be told, it’s probably found its way on a stamp. Learn more about stamp collecting and the Great American Stamp Show at stamps.org.

No matter how old you are, taking care of your body is important. That’s old news. But what you may not realize is that for those of us 50 and older, it is especially important because something as simple as a fall or common cold could cause longterm complications. The YMCA of Greater Cleveland has all sorts of programs to accommodate the interests and abilities of older adults with classes that are not only fun but also functional.

The YMCA’s Active Older Adults (AOA) programs include water exercise, strengthening and cardio classes, yoga and stretching classes, and walking clubs.

And the YMCA of Greater Cleveland also sponsors trips. This is a perfect opportunity for the single traveler or friends who want to leave the planning to someone else. The Y has more than 55 trips this year; some local day trips to museums, and others as far-flung as Iceland and Ireland.

Learn more about the YMCA of Greater Cleveland at clevelandymca.org. For trip information, contact Loni Beverly at lbeverly@clevelandymca.org.

Quick: Who won the 2023 Mind Challenge for the New Majority?

If you answered “Broadview Heights,” then maybe you should join a trivia team.

Now in its fifth year, the wildly popular trivia competition pitting teams from Northeast Ohio senior and rec centers against each other

wrapped up the season in June. The Broadview Heights team (shown above) took the title for the third consecutive year, beating

Willoughby Hills in the finals. Dozens of teams competed throughout the spring in lively trivia competitions. Two-time champion Mentor finished third and Beachwood landed in fourth place.

Broadview Heights won $2,500 for their city. Willoughby Hills got $1,500, Mentor received $1,000 and Beachwood brought home $500. The tournament was founded by Phil Levine and Art Greenberg. Dates for the 2024 tournament will be posted at themindchallenge.com.

A young collector checks out the offerings at last year’s Great American Stamp Show in Sacramento, California.

When You Can’t Hear,

TURN TO YOUR SMARTPHONE

By Tak Sato

I’ve always had a glass-half-full outlook. In retrospect, it has helped me cope with and overcome many challenges. I also am proud to call myself an old geek with over 30 years in the digital world, using the knowledge I’ve gained to help older adults master technology.

When I lost my hearing in 2020 for unknown reasons, “idiopathic” in medical parlance, I went into a problem-solving mode to cope with the world of silence I suddenly landed in. My goal was to maintain normal communication, as normal as possible, anyway, with family and friends. As you’d expect from a geek, the solution was under my nose via technology.

Although a cochlear implant (CI) brought back my hearing in the summer of 2021, I used my smartphone while deaf for 14 months leading up to CI surgery. For many older adults, being hard of hearing (HoH) is a spectrum; some people have a difficult time making out all the words in a spoken sentence while on the other extreme, some people are legally deaf.

A SMARTPHONE TO THE RESCUE

Smartphones have many built-in features. One of them is their ability to transcribe or translate speech-totext. Simply tap the microphone icon on the virtual keyboard that pops up on the screen when you want to type something within an app. Whether you are HoH or not, this handy feature

“reads” what the other person is saying and transcribes it to the screen. Anyone can use this built-in speech-to-text feature instead of trying to type into the phone’s virtual keyboard.

All smartphones, regardless of make or model, have an “Accessibility” category in their “Settings” app. The items under Accessibility include features to (hopefully) make it

easier to use your smartphone when your body’s senses — auditory, visual and motor skills — present challenges. Accessibility enables you to manipulate audio sounds, increase text size, activate your smartphone using your voice, and more.

“Live Transcribe,” an item within Accessibility under “Vision,” which also has a standalone app that is made by Google for Android, is free and what I relied on heavily during the 14 months before CI. I still use it occasionally. The list under “Vision” has expanded; “Live Caption” for Android captions anything that is playing, including what is streaming, on your smartphone.

WHAT ABOUT IPHONES?

Has Apple been sleeping at the wheels? Hardly. Last fall it introduced its own Live Caption Accessibility feature for iPhones. Apple’s version does it one better than Google’s Live Caption by also captioning telephone conversations in real-time.

Captioning telephone conversations is currently exclusive to Google’s “Pixel” Android smartphones. I hope that this feature will be enabled for other Android smartphones from all manufacturers soon.

Although the label says “BETA,” I’ve tested Apple’s Live Captain Accessibility and it is quite good already. If you carry an iPhone that is supported by Apple and receives operating system updates (currently version 16.x), try enabling Live Captions under Accessibility to see for yourself (“Settings” app → scroll down to “Accessibility” → turn on “Live Captions”).

Wider availability of telephone conversation real-time captioning, regardless of the make or model of the Android smartphone, will help HoH people of all ages. We’ve been given a tool with unlimited potential. Why not maximize it?

Tak Sato is the founder of the Cleveland-area nonprofit Center for Aging in the Digital World (empowerseniors.org) which teaches digital literacy to people 60+ through the free Discover Digital Literacy program.

iPhone settings

Android keyboard

IOS keyboard

Technology & Older Adults

OUR LOVE-HATE RELATIONSHIP

By Estelle Rodis-Brown

It’s complicated.

When older adults talk about their relationship with technology, they enjoy its benefits yet complain about the frustrations it causes.

Older adults born into an analog world still prefer handson, face-to-face, mechanical interactions. Regardless, they’ve adapted to digital ways of doing business and managing everyday interactions, from online banking to entertainment streaming, telemedicine appointments and Zoom calls.

But sometimes, the pace of change in the digital world is overwhelming, and older adults are frustrated that freshly-acquired digital skills quickly become useless due to constant updates on digital platforms.

This is what the Northeast Ohio Boomer magazine team heard from people aged 63-87 who attended the free Geauga Senior Technology Expo recently at the West Geauga Senior Center in Chesterland, co-sponsored by University Hospitals Geauga Medical Center, Ohman Family Living, and Geauga Department on Aging. The event provided tech

information, speakers and hands-on help to community members.

Northeast Ohio Boomer magazine surveyed participants to gauge how adults 50 and older use technology. We found mixed results. On the positive side, most agreed with Mary Ann Sheranko, 85, of Chardon, who says technology has allowed for “communication with old friends and more opportunities to know what’s going on in the world.” And yet, “constant changes and the need to purchase new equipment” were top frustrations among most attendees.

While they are determined to stay engaged, the process can be overwhelming for older adults. Amy Katz, 63, of Newbury, said, “I want to be able to hook up electronics and get it running without calling my son.”

Some attendees felt lost in the digital world. One woman confessed, “I had to call my sister to see if my phone is a smartphone or not. She said, ‘Your phone is smart; not sure about its user!’’’

The most-used digital devices among attendees were smartphones (100%), followed by tablets, desktop computers, then smart TVs.

The most popular tech applications were email, texting, then phone calls. (Social media, games and news were identified as the most-used secondary digital pastimes. Respondents’ top three wishes were to use their smartTV, smartphone and computer more easily.

As it turns out, our Geauga neighbors are representative of older adults throughout the nation. According to Consumer Affairs (which interviewed over 1,000 people over age 45 about their ability to adapt to and use new technology), 91% of Gen Xers and Baby Boomers feel overwhelmed by technology. Over one-third of them are overwhelmed by technology every day (38%) while another 26% feel it at least a few times a week.

Computers, social media and smartphones cause the most frustration and confusion. Since computers double their capabilities every two years, this leads to numerous changes for users to adapt to and is probably why computers were named the most overwhelming form of technology, with Instagram and Facebook close behind.

There is a silver lining. When necessary (as during the COVID pandemic), older Americans eventually used tech to get things done, from paying bills to ordering groceries online.

Both Gen X and Baby Boomers have also learned to entertain themselves online through video and music content, especially by watching Netflix (62%) and enjoying music on YouTube (38%).

While it’s clear that tech advances can create challenges, older adults ultimately demonstrate resilience, motivation and hope regarding technology and its always-changing upgrades. When it comes to tech, many are finding, “If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.”

Estelle Brown is NEO Boomer magazine’s associate editor.

A Mature Wardrobe

FASHION BASICS FOR EVERYONE

By Linda Peavy

Need to know the essentials for a modern and marvelous mature wardrobe? We have you covered. But first things first. The most important component of a basic wardrobe is fit.

To find your fit, find your shape. Are you a pear, apple, banana or hourglass? Knowing your body proportions is the beginning of great-fitting clothes. Visit our Style Stop blog, Dressing for Your Body Shape, on northeastohioboomer.com to determine your shape and get suggested style ideas.

FASHION STAPLES

A Fitted Blazer — Blazers with darts add curves to mature bodies and create an hourglass silhouette for curvy figures. Wear one to dress up an outfit, create a polished look, or jazz up a shirt and jeans for brunch.

One Classic Black Dress — This fashion staple will always be on the best-dressed list, especially for mature bodies, because it creates a sleek appearance and hides flaws.

One Great Red Dress — Infusing color into a mature woman’s wardrobe is essential. Nothing makes skin glow like a red dress. This bold color brightens up any skin tone.

White Button-Down Shirt — One of the most versatile garments, a white buttondown shirt looks great with jeans, khakis, or tucked in a skirt for a professional look. Buy one with darts for shaping and spandex for stretch.

Great Fitting Jeans — There are very few pieces of clothing that jeans don’t complement, from a designer blazer to a casual blouse. Bootcut jeans are great for mature women because they

CHECK OUT THESE LOCAL RETAILERS FOR FRESH FINDS

Belle Soire, Eleanor & Hobbs, Haven, Nouveau Vie, Steven DiFranco, and Toni in Style. Plus-size friendly stores include Fashion by Fowler, Renee’s Unique Boutique, Styles of Imagination and Our Favorite Things.

provide more room through the thighs and flare gently at the knee, creating a flattering silhouette. For curvy figures, choose brands that offer height sizing for a better fit.

ACCESSORIES

Jewelry — Keep high-quality jewelry that includes earrings, a necklace and a bracelet in a versatile design for any occasion. Think diamond hoop earrings and small gemstone necklaces.

Scarves — A colorful scarf instantly takes an outfit from boring to blazing, warms up a complexion, and conceals the neck.

Stylish Low-Heel Shoes — From brunch to retail therapy, ballet shoes will keep you in comfort and style. Choose materials like leather for durability. For dressier occasions, the kitten heel, at 1.5 to 1.75 inches high, is the perfect mix of

DON’T FORGET THESE FABULOUS FASHION TIPS

Wear leopard. Leopard print provides a neutral color set and adds modern chic to any garment. Get a professional bra and shoe fitting. Breast and shoe sizes can change with age, so adjust as needed.

Don’t follow every fashion trend. Not every new style works for every body.

Keep your closet purged. Donate or consign clothes if you didn’t wear them in the past year or if they are two sizes too small or too large.

fashion and chic for mature knees that have abandoned stilettos.

Handy Bags — A versatile tote bag is essential for travel, outdoor excursions and shopping trips. For special occasions, choose an evening bag. Most practical in basic black, this bag should be small enough to handle with one hand but large enough for a cell phone. Stylish Hats — Whether a floppy or fedora, a hat has year-round use, frames any size face, masks bad hair days, and protects mature skin from the sun.

Great Fitting Bra — 80% of women wear the wrong size bra. Breast size and firmness can change with age. More support is often needed.

Linda Peavy is a Cleveland-based fashion influencer with a global reach, providing body positivity presentations internationally as the founder of Cultured Curves (culturedcurves.com).

Linda is an NEO Boomer columnist and blogger with Style Stop, your one-stop source of fashion tips that will keep you looking sensational at any age.

A Sand-tastic Good Time

BEACH BUMS

By Karen Shadrach

If a backyard pool and Popsicles aren’t cutting it with the grandkids, maybe it’s time to escape to the beach. Sure, you could travel hours to dip your toes in the ocean. But here in Northeast Ohio, we’ve got plenty of sandy beaches of our own.

Ohio’s North Coast is home to a surprising number of public beaches along Lake Erie’s shoreline, extending through Erie, Lorain, Cuyahoga, Lake and Ashtabula counties. The only questions are which ones to visit and what to pack for a day at the beach?

SUN & SAND

Different ages have different needs and preferences, but sand toys such as buckets, shovels, sand molds, a beach ball and Frisbee hold wide appeal. Pack towels, sunscreen and sun hats. Include a blanket to lie on, one that’s lightweight, waterproof, and made for the beach with nylon webbing to let the sand fall through.

Water shoes are great for lakeside beaches since small stones hurt tender feet. Pack lots of water or other beverages and snacks. Bring diaper wipes to remove sand from feet, hands and anything (everything) else that needs cleaning off. Use a large beach tote to carry things across the sand. Include a beach umbrella if you’re sensitive to the sun, and a few chairs if you don’t want to sit on the ground.

After finding your spot on the sand, the grandkids will have no problem amusing themselves. If they need suggestions, have them dig a large hole or make a sand castle with a moat. The kids can play sand games, such as tic-tac-toe, hopscotch, or handwriting in the compact sand by the water. Have them go on a scavenger hunt to find special shells, stones, driftwood or sea glass.

Sandusky’s shoreline in Erie County is probably the largest, with a mile-long Cedar Point Beach stretching out along the lake. Without paying to get into the park, you can enter the beach by driving to the Breakers Hotel and then walking from their (pay) parking lot. You’ll have access to restrooms and restaurants nearby plus shoreline snack shacks. Our grandkids love this beach, especially on windy days when the waves are high.

Lakeview Beach, part of the Lorain County Metro Parks, is on 20 acres along West Erie Avenue in Lorain. It is

known for its Historical Rose Garden, a short walk from the beach. The Sunset Café (formerly Rose Café) serves lunch during the summer in the shoreside bathhouse, offering the perfect spot for lunch and a sunset view. The one-third-mile beach is protected by three breakwaters, with lifeguards on duty, noon-6 p.m. There’s even a small playground and library (which provides free Wi-Fi access to a range of 100-150 yards).

Edgewater Beach in Cuyahoga County is part of the Cleveland Metroparks system and is accessible from both the upper and lower sections of Edgewater Park. The 2,400 beachfront includes 1,000 feet of swimming access and a dogfriendly westernmost portion. There are shady picnic tables and a paved walkway along the breakwater rocks. The renovated Edgewater Beach House includes clean restrooms and a concession stand. The balcony offers a view of both downtown Cleveland and the entire beach area.

Headlands Beach State Park in

Mentor is the longest natural beach in Ohio with 35 acres of beach plus picnic areas and concessions. It is located between the Mentor Marsh and the Grand River.

Geneva State Park in Ashtabula County includes four beaches. The largest, Breakwater Beach, has 600 feet of natural beach with nice sand and clear water. The Lodge at Geneva-on-the-Lake (GOTL) is a great spot to cool off, grab lunch, and use the beach house for changing, showers and restrooms. Nearby GOTL has a frozen-in-time feeling with mini golf, ice cream, shops, food stands, restaurants, amusement rides and arcades.

Choose a beach near you this summer, or go for a day trip to experience one you’ve never visited for a mini vacation that’s close to home.

Karen Shadrach is a Northeast Ohio on-the-go, in-the-know grandmother of two sets of twins. Read her grandparenting blog at northeastohioboomer.com.

Sandusky’s shoreline in Erie County is probably the largest, with a mile-long Cedar Point Beach stretching along the lake.

SUNDAYS

Family FUNday. Family-friendly games, movement-based activities, art and more. First Sunday of each month. 1-4 p.m. Community Arts Center, West 25th St., Cleveland, clevelandart.org

7/23

Valley City Frog Jump Festival. Family fun day with music, food, activities, frog jump and more. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Liverpool Mill Stream Park, frogjump.valleycity.org

7/30

Jazz It Up Flower Show. With its musical theme, the show features inspired floral designs and horticulture exhibits. Noon3 p.m. Brecksville Community Ctr., 1 Community Dr., emeraldnecklacegardenclub. org. FREE

8/20

International Kite Festival. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Edgewater Park, 6500 Memorial Shoreway, Cleveland, osekcleveland.org

WEDNESDAYS

Seiberling Explorers. Join in on select Wednesday mornings, Wed nesday evenings or Saturday mornings for a variety of interactive adventures. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org

THURSDAYS

Storytime Stay & Play at the Maltz Museum. Come for storytime and then explore the museum. Through 8/24. 10:30 a.m. 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, maltzmuseum.org

FUN WITH THE GRANDKIDS

8/3

Bindlestiff Family Circus. Laugh one minute—gasp with wonder the next! 7 p.m. Cain Park, 14591 Superior Ave., Cleveland Heights, cainpark.com

SATURDAYS

STEAM Team Saturdays. On the second and fourth Saturday of each month, children, ages 5-11 discover the wonder of S.T.E.A.M. 12 p.m. Akron Children’s Museum, 216 S. Main St., akronkids.org ok to remove

Family Saturdays at Skylight Park-Tower City. Games, crafts, live entertainment and more. First and third Saturdays. 12-4 p.m. 230 W. Huron Road, Cleveland, towercitycenter.com

8/12

Fun Fest. Free family festival with arts, crafts, music, and more. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Downtown Massillon, massillonmuseum. org/fun-fest

THROUGH 8/6

Fin Fest: A Celebration of Sharks. Build a broader appreciation for the diversity, importance and plight of these JAWsome animals. Through 8/6. Greater Cleveland Aquarium, 2000 Sycamore St., Cleveland, greaterclevelandaquarium.com. FREE-$19.95

7/21-23 & 7/28-30

Madagascar: A Musical Adventure Jr. Follow your favorite friends as they escape from Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey. French Creek Theatre, 4530 Colorado Ave., Sheffield Village, loraincountymetroparks.com

7/28-30

Solon Home Days Community Block Party. Weekend-long annual city festival. Solon Community Park, 6679 SOM Center Road, Solon, solonohio. org/1444/Home-Days

Northeast Ohio Parent Events. Free, family-friendly entertainment with activities for kids, northeastohioparent.com

LIFE SPACES

Paring Down

WITHOUT SACRIFICING STYLE

By Traci McBride

An essential part of my life has been the times I have reevaluated my stuff: items I’ve purchased, inherited or been given. We change, grow and evolve. Why keep things that don’t serve us, bring us joy, and reflect who we are now?

I love self-expression. It started early in life when I shared my space with my sisters. Even as a girl, I was fiercely connected to my space, wrestling with my sister over decorating our shared bedroom and feeling centered only when my room reflected who I was. And as I moved on, I continued this desire to express myself in my various apartments with roommates, on my own and in homes with my husband and family.

Self-expression is a process that encompasses not only our homes but also our personal fashion style and general approach to life, changing with an ebb and flow.

We frequently hear about downsizing and the popular Marie Kondo method of “letting go.” What we don’t hear about are the internal changes necessary to take these steps. Clearing out the abundance of belongings allows us to cut away the things that don’t reflect who we are anymore. It enables us to redefine who we are now, not who we were. It’s freeing, but it’s not always easy.

PLAN, THEN DO

Time has a way of triggering us to find a way to sort through life’s trinkets and treasures. Unplanned life events also force an evaluation: an unexpected retirement, adult children or elderly parents moving to your house or you moving to theirs.

Merging styles and accommodating everyone’s needs require patience and communication. Bringing in an outside point of view from a professional organizer, designer or decorator

can help prevent conflict as you make changes. Streamlining and organizing go hand in hand; you can’t do one without the other.

When you’re reevaluating your possessions, create a step-by-step plan with a checklist on a whiteboard, marking off each task when it’s finished.

Pace yourself and start where it’s the easiest to make progress. This will motivate you to keep going as you move through your rooms.

Create a space you don’t want to leave. A clean, organized, attractive home is emotionally therapeutic and mood-boosting. A home should provide comfort, belonging, identity and privacy.

Reduce, reuse and recycle regularly. The more you make this a daily habit, the easier it is to control. To stay on track, keep a medium-sized box in the garage and a tote in the closet to place items you like but no longer are passionate about. If you haven’t thought about using or wearing it in six months, donate them to a thrift shop.

TRY THESE STYLE-REFRESH IDEAS

— Rotate the art you have decided to keep; if you’ve seen it in one space for years, try another. How does that make you feel?

— Honor the abundance of kids’ art by framing a few favorites and hanging them in a mini wall-style gallery in an unexpected place.

— Modernize by using a fresh color scheme. The fail-safe approach uses three colors: 60% decorating with your dominant color, 30% in a secondary color and 10% in an accent color.

A local professional organizer at whollyorganized.com shared these tips with me to help evaluate items:

. Would you take it with you if you moved?

. Can you get it again if you find you need it?

. Could someone use it more than you?

. How many do you have and need?

. Do you plan to use the thing in a reasonable time frame?

Traci McBride is a Northeast Ohio lifestylist of wardrobes and homes who helps people create spaces that reflect their evolved style. You can find her at Zspaces. TeeMcBee.com or contact her at Traci@ TeeMcBee.com.

Next Chapter Romona’s

Romona Robinson steps gingerly over tree roots to a shade-dappled outlook in Cleveland Metroparks Bedford Reservation. She strikes a practiced and picture-perfect pose, again and again, for our photographer, looking much as she did when she was one of Northeast Ohio’s most recognized and honored TV news anchors.

Robinson was the first black woman to anchor an evening broadcast in Cleveland and the first solo woman to sit in the evening anchor chair. She’s won eight Emmy awards, crisscrossed the country covering news stories and newsmakers, and snagged an exclusive interview with President Barack Obama.

After decades in the news business, Robinson chose to redirect her skills, in her case to writing and public speaking. “I knew from the time I was in my 30s I’d retire in my 50s,” she said during an interview in a nearby picnic pavilion after the photo shoot.

She says her calculated and, as it turns out, satisfyingly successful transition to a new career required money, time and preparation. With her eye on her next career, she remained at WOIO Channel 19 for a year after writing her first book, “A Dirt Road to Somewhere” to make sure people were interested in what she had to say. They were. Robinson has never looked back.

Born in Wilson City, Missouri, a village near the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, Robinson today lives in an eastern suburb with her husband of 19 years, Rodney Tyler.

In addition to “A Dirt Road to Somewhere,” she wrote “Your Voice is Your Power.” Her latest book, “Poor Girl Rich Life,” came out earlier this year. When she’s not writing, Robinson is a popular public speaker who focuses on empowering her audience with a positive, faith-filled message.

Robinson participated in a Q&A with NEO Boomer contributor Donna Robinson (no relation). We hope you enjoy the interview.

– Marie Elium, Northeast Ohio Boomer magazine editor

Photography by Kim Stahnke

Q: When did you retire from WOIO Channel 19, and what drew you to retire?

A: Haha! I always tell people I am not retired. I left television in January 2019 to become an author and speaker. I have three books now, and I couldn’t be happier. I have been crisscrossing the state and country, trying to empower and inspire people to live their best lives. I loved my 31 years in broadcasting in Cleveland, but as the news industry started to change and the journalistic lines of integrity began to blur, I knew it was time to pursue my other love, writing.

Q: Your first book, “A Dirt Road to Somewhere,” which was published in 2017, is based on your childhood and life. What inspired you to write your first book?

A: I’ve always loved motivating people to do better… to push past adversity. It’s probably because I faced so many struggles growing up. Raised in poverty in the backwoods of rural Missouri by a single mom who worked a factory job to care for her 11 kids, things were always bleak. Refusing to accept welfare, she taught us the responsibility of hard work and perseverance. She always told us we were being raised on the end of a dirt road but were going somewhere, hence the title.

Q: How was it to share your life in the contents of your first book, even the struggles?

A: I struggled with revealing too much of my life with the public. But in the end, God kept telling me, ‘Your story will help thousands,’ and I knew it’s what I had to do. I talk about racism, sexism, sexual harassment, my miscarriages. It was really tough to open up so many old wounds. I cried a lot while writing it, but there was also a lot of laughter.

Q: What lessons do you want readers to get from “A Dirt Road to Somewhere?”

A: My wish in writing “A Dirt Road to Somewhere” is that people be moved and motivated to walk in faith and not fear. At the heart of the book is the message that not every closed door we encounter is a bad thing. God knows that, as long as we’re

comfortable, we won’t move. We’ll stay stuck. We don’t always like it when God tests our faith. It may not feel good, and we may not understand the reasons for it, but we have to have faith God is working on our behalf, and we will come through the storm. At times, God sent turmoil, betrayal, and loss into my life in order to force me into my purpose. I am a living testament that, through faith and believing, your life can be changed.

Q: Not giving names, give a few heartfelt examples/stories you will never forget from writing “Your Voice is Your Power.”

A: My favorite is the young woman from Alabama who moved her kids to Cleveland to be with her husband who again cheated on her. She came to my book signing asking me what should she do? I was dumbfounded. Heartfelt but in shock. It’s something that’s never happened to me. She had heard about my book and said she could relate. She was depressed, devastated and had lost her voice and her power. I asked her to wait until after my speech so we could talk. It was such an incredible time with her, I will never forget it.

Q: What are the key lessons you want the reader to know as they read your book, “Your Voice is Your Power?”

A: That you have the power to change things in your life. Your voice truly is your power. We are bombarded by thousands of voices from the time we awake. Some positive, but many negative… telling us who we are, who we should be and who we will never be. It’s nothing but fear. And, you have the power to block the noise. I think this book helps the reader to do that.

Q: Your third book, “Poor Girl, Rich Life,” was published this year. How do you feel your inspiration from God helped you to “prosper and have purpose” yourself?

A: I grew up in the bottom 99 percent of this country and God would propel me to the top of my career. I shared more of the story of my early childhood in a dirt-poor community in Wilson City, Missouri, where most

folks lived on less than $5,000 a year. We didn’t possess financial literacy or generational wealth… and yet, my mom still sent nine of us to college. Through hard work and determination, God would later “set me on a path to prosperity and purpose.” I share how He did it in this book and how He can do it for you.

Q: What lessons do you want readers to know as they read “Poor Girl, Rich Life?”

A: This book challenges the reader…no matter your age, to look below the surface and pinpoint the financial baggage they may have been toting around since childhood that has shaped their relationship with their money today. It’s called “money trauma.” It’s something we all suffer from, but many of us don’t know it. However, it determines how we will spend, save or share our money. Also, the book is filled with both spiritual insight and practical advice you can instantly use in growing your godly wisdom that will allow God to prosper you.

Q: Speaking straight from the heart, what gratification did you derive from not only being in broadcasting, but also being an accomplished author of three books? How were both equally satisfying?

A: They both gave me a platform to reach people, and in doing so, I could do God’s work. I could spread love, kindness, respect and integrity. We live in such a tumultuous world right now with so many voices, many of them negative and downright evil. I hope my years in television reflected a spirit of hope, of goodness and unity.

Q: What is the best way one can purchase your books?

A: You can purchase my books at Amazon, Barnes & Noble or wherever you buy your books.

If you’d like an autographed copy, you can go to my website at romonarobinson.com.

A journalist for 22 years and a resident of Northeast Ohio, Donna Robinson enjoys telling the stories of positive people.

Morris Everett

CLEVELAND’S CARETAKER OF CINEMA HISTORY

By Mike Olszewski

Collector Morris Everett and his wife Diana.

One of the thousands of posters in Everett’s collection.

Morris “Morrie”

Everett can take you on a trip through time, not with that machine from the 1960 film of the same name, although he’s well acquainted with it. His portal is a doorway in Chesterland that leads to the world’s most extensive collection of movie posters and photos on the market.

That’s not an exaggeration; no one else comes close. Everett lovingly preserves this vital segment of pop culture history at The Last Moving Picture Company on Chillicothe Road, a perfect place it turns out, for the collection he’s amassed.

“More movie posters were lithographed in Cleveland in the 1920s and ’30s than any other city,” Everett says. Just a few years ago, thenMayor Frank Jackson gave landmark status to the old Otis, and later Morgan, Lithograph building at

East 30th and Payne. The company produced some of the most iconic movie posters of the era. Folks would stop by to get print overruns and use the rolled posters as wallpaper or insulation for their homes. It’s not too far-fetched that there may be millions of dollars in posters hidden in the walls of houses in that neighborhood.

CHOOSE AN ERA

Everett has a worldwide reputation and set numerous records for poster prices at his auctions over the years. They’ve drawn winning bids from folks like Clint Eastwood, Peter Bogdanovich, Leonardo DiCaprio and others, but you don’t have to be in their tax bracket to collect movie ephemera. Everett tells us, “There is something for everyone with prices ranging from $10 to several thousand,” and enthusiasts have

plenty to choose from in their favorite film era. There are a lot of popular posters from the ’70s and ’80s, and as Everett tells us, “Most are available and not too expensive. “Jaws,” “Blade Runner,” “Halloween,” and “Star Wars” are a few of the more expensive ones. Locally, “A Christmas Story” continues to increase. That movie was shot in Cleveland and still draws crowds to the house where it was filmed.

Everett cautions that if you’re making a serious investment, you have to be careful. With decades of experience, he’s developed a keen eye for reproductions, and now and then he’ll spot one of questionable provenance.

“Usually, you can tell by the shiny paper but not always,” he says. Everett’s advice? Do no harm; preservation is vital. Use a frame that allows the poster to be easily

removed, and beware of natural light, which can fade colors. With a good eye and a bit of care, anyone can enjoy a piece of art that reflects both movie history and Northeast Ohio’s role in that history. The auction of Everett’s collection of 400 lots of still photos, posters and lobby cards is being handled by Premier Auction Galleries (premierauctiongalleries. com) and opens for online bidding on October 14. Better yet, stop in at The Last Movie Picture Company. A conversation with Everett is worth the trip.

Mike Olszewski bases most of his life decisions on classic movie lines. He’s Northeast Ohio Boomer magazine’s pop culture columnist.

“More movie posters were lithographed in Cleveland in the 1920s and ’30s than any other city,” Everett says

Wine, Women and … More Wine

Sampling Fermented Grapes in the Finger Lakes

By Mary Mihaly

When my niece Emily suggested a road trip à la Thelma and Louise (minus the grim ending, of course), my first idea was the Finger Lakes. We’ve both studied wine and love our vino, so we never pass up a chance to explore wine regions.

It’s a short drive (especially

when you’re catching up on family gossip) — just over four hours from Cleveland’s West Side to our first stop, Billsboro Winery in Geneva, New York. It was a good choice, thanks to our server, Cary Becraft, who poured our flights and updated us on who’s producing what on Seneca Lake in April. “A few wineries aren’t on summer schedules yet,”

she said, “but you’ll still find plenty of great wine.”

Did we ever. We focused on Seneca because, of the 130 wineries in the Finger Lakes, more than half are in the Seneca Lake AVA (American Viticultural Area). We had less than

A FEW TIPS:

• Don’t try to conquer all 130 wineries in one trip. Seneca Lake is easy to find, easy to get around for your first trip, and provides all the diversity and tastes you could want. Slow down, pick a few stops and take in the scenery.

• Prepare for weather that might be slightly warmer than Cleveland’s. The lake moderates temperatures, which helps to keep the grapevine roots from freezing.

three days, and while we wanted to hit as many wineries as possible, we also wanted to relax and relish the breathtaking scenery.

FIRST OF MANY

We sat in the sun at friendly Billsboro, sampled their citrusy dry Riesling and peachy Albariño, and set off

• Collect all the maps and literature you can and don’t rely on one; some are produced by associations that not all wineries belong to. Shalestone, for instance, doesn’t appear on some winery trail maps and if you want a fine red, you’ll want to go there.

• At this writing, you can find some 17 breweries and five distilleries along the Seneca Lake shore. If you feel like a beer (or a beer flight), give them a shot (pun intended).

for Anthony Road Wine Company— where, not coincidentally, Cary’s husband, Peter Becraft, is head winemaker. We were surprised by the sweetness of their Lemberger (also known as Blaufränkisch), which to me tasted like a fruity cold cereal in spite of its peppery, earthy notes. Their rosé of Cabernet Franc was more mellow.

Tasting throughout the Finger Lakes (FLX) helps keep your getaway affordable. This ain’t Napa, where many tastings are by appointment only and can cost $100 or more. In the FLX, most wineries charge $10$15 for a flight and welcome walkins. A few more of our Seneca Lake favorites:

WHERE TO STAY

bottle I won’t come home without: their Seyval-Chardonnay. The Seyval cuts through what could otherwise be Chardonnay thickness, and it’s delicious.

I’ll risk my reputation here and declare that Damiani Wine Cellars is one of the two finest red-wine producers in the Finger Lakes. Like many great winegrowers, they limit the amount of grapes that mature on each vine so the flavors are concentrated and complex, yet the wine is silky-smooth. Tastings here are $15, the pours are generous and you get to keep the glass (don’t you love your souvenir glass collection?) Take a seat on the balcony and enjoy the lake view while you sip Meritage, Saperavi and an extraordinary Cabernet Franc.

• el Lago Resort & Casino, dellagoresort.com

• 41 Lakefront Hotel, Trademark Collection by Wyndham, wyndhamhotels.com

• Belhurst Castle and Winery, belhurst.com

At Prejean Winery, we were reminded that two of the same varietals, even of the same vintage, can be vastly different. Prejean’s 2021 Goldfinch Chardonnay and Reserve Chardonnay were anything but identical, though the only difference in production was the barrel. The Reserve was fermented in American oak, while the Goldfinch was in Grand Vosges (French) oak. Don’t forget to greet Scrappy, the sweet geriatric dog.

You get a vineyard view from the deck of Bagley’s Poplar Ridge Vineyards on Seneca’s eastern shore. Enjoy it with the one white

If you love red wine and know the Finger Lakes, you’ve already guessed that my other red producer of choice is Shalestone Vineyards—whose sign in front declares, “Red Is All We Do!” Shalestone, too, produces a big, heady, dense Saperavi, and like all of their reds, the tannins are barely detectable. But my favorite bottle here is Cross Rows, a blend of Merlot, Syrah and Lemberger—a smooth, fruity wine that reminds me of melons topped with my grandmother’s sweet black raspberries.

For discovering new, cool-climate wines, you can’t top the Finger Lakes.

Mary Mihaly is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) who lives in Cleveland.

Fair Days

TO HOLD ON TO SUMMER

From the sweet taste of funnel cakes to salty, fresh-cut fries, festivals and fairs call us back for a season of fun from now through early fall. With post-pandemic fears quieted, folks are coming out in droves to see, do and eat their way through Ohio’s midways and fairgrounds.

“We are definitely seeing a strong return to festivals and events,” says Anne Guggisberg, President of the Ohio Festivals and Events Association. “Being able to get out and about has not been

By Margaret Briller

easy with COVID. I believe life has finally returned to normal.”

With so many popular festivals and fairs, it’s hard to pick which to attend. “Every festival that the OFEA supports is unique,” Guggisberg says. “I think, if anyone went to an OFEA festival, they would enjoy the atmosphere: live entertainment, food vendors, rides, games, parades and much more. Our website (OFEA.org) can give you a list of all our festivals throughout Ohio and what they have to offer.”

LOCAL FAVORITES:

JULY 27-30. Fairview Park Summerfest, Fairview Park. Rides, a parade, fireworks and more. Bohlken Park. fairviewsummerfest.com

JULY 27-30. Sts. Constantine and Helen Greek Festival, Cleveland Heights. Music, Hellenic Dancers, a big food tent, souvlaki, gyros, baklava and other food/dessert items, plus church tours. Taverna for beer, wine and spirits. stsconstantine.com

Aug. 4-5. Vintage Ohio Wine Festival, Kirtland. Sample wines from Ohio wineries. Scrumptious food, cooking school demonstrations, two stages of live music entertainment, artisans and shopping. Named “one of America’s Top Wine and Food Events” by USA Today. visitvintageohio.com

Aug. 4-6. Twins Days Festival, Twinsburg. The past 43 festivals have seen over 77,000 sets of twins and multiples, national and international media coverage, a visiting delegation of nine sets of twins from the Soviet Union, as well as on-site research by companies and universities. It is recorded as the “Largest Annual Gathering of Twins in the World” by the Guinness Book of World Records. twinsdays.org

Aug. 6. Chardon Square Arts Festival, Chardon. This juried, outdoor show hosts over 100 artists, both local and out of state. chardonsquareassociation.org

Aug. 11-13. North Ridgeville Corn Festival, North Ridgeville. What started as the city’s observance of Lorain County’s bicentennial has turned into a three-day fest of all things “corny,” complete with a Grand Parade, live entertainment, a corn-eating contest and more. nrcornfest.org

Aug. 18-20. Donauschwaben Sommer Oktoberfest, Olmsted Township. Join “Ein Prosit” under the tent for live music, great German food and plenty of good times. donauschwabencleveland.com

Aug. 26-27. Garlic Festival, Shaker Square. Affectionately known as “the stinking rose,” bulbs of garlic are roasted, toasted, fried and dried. You’ll find garlic fries, beer and ice cream, too. There is also a garlic cook-off, where local chefs are challenged to incorporate garlic in new and exciting ways into four dishes—chicken, beef, pork and vegetarian meals. northunionfarmersmarket.org

Sept. 8-10. Mantua Potato Festival, Mantua. Wide assortment of potatothemed contests and potato favorites made by members of the community. Smorgasbord of pierogis, potato pancakes, fresh-cut fries, etc. Live music. mantuapotatofestival.org

Oct. 13-15. Ashtabula County Covered Bridge Festival, Jefferson. Visit 19 beautiful covered bridges, including the longest covered bridge in the U.S., with a free driving tour map. Food vendors, crafters and free entertainment. coveredbridgefestival.org

AND DON’T FORGET THE FAIRS…

JULY 25-30. Calling itself “The Best Kept Secret in Summit County,” the Summit County Fair promises grandstand shows with “Smoke, Fire & Bucking Bulls.” summitfair.com

JULY 25-30. A magician, exotic animals and vegetable displays, too? It’s the Lake County Fair in Painesville Township. lakecountyfair.org

JULY 26-AUG. 6. If you have never been to the Ohio State Fair in Columbus, this is the year to go. Visit the famed butter calf, see baby animals being born, and listen to the sounds of the All-Ohio State Fair Band & Youth Choir. Don’t miss the free petting zoo, live music, livestock shows, entertainment stages, impressive magicians, an Ohio arts gallery, family-friendly shows, pop-up entertainment performances, costumed characters, award-winning crafts and an eight-acre natural resources park with free youth fishing. ohiostatefair.com

JULY 31-AUG. 6. With bull riding, a battle of the bands and more, the Medina County Fair in Medina offers entertainment for just about everyone. medinaohiofair.com

AUG. 8-13. The 126th Annual Cuyahoga County Fair, Middleburg Heights. Except for one year during the Depression (1932) and two years during World War II (1942 and 1943) the event has been held each year since 1893 at the Fairgrounds in Berea. Get exhibitor information and an event schedule at cuyfair.com

AUG. 22 - 27. Portage County Randolph Fair, Randolph. Plenty of art, farm goods and more are on display. randolphfair.com

AUG. 31-SEPT. 4. The Great Geauga County Fair in Burton, which began in 1823, is Ohio’s oldest continuous county fair and one of the oldest existing agricultural fairs in the nation. geaugafair.com

Margaret Briller is

writer in Northeast Ohio and a festival fanatic.

Your Life Philosophy

CHOOSING HAPPINESS

By Jennifer Beach

Do you know someone who finds happiness despite the challenges they are given? Do you know others who cannot see anything but their problems and experience very little happiness?

Most of us have been told how our attitude, perspective and overall philosophy of life determine our reactions to events, both positive and negative. Taking time to think about, understand and realize we have and need a philosophy of life is vital to our happiness. Without a philosophy of life, we do not know how to react to what life deals us. Our happiness bounces up and down, determined by the day’s events and our emotions.

We need a life philosophy to put events into perspective; otherwise, we are at the mercy of events. It’s like going on a trip without a destination. We need to know where we are going and have a plan or a map to help us get there while preparing for detours and delays.

GETTING THERE

Our philosophy of life helps us accept, process and continue to choose to find happiness despite the many challenges life’s journey gives us. Some philosophies that enable individuals to get through difficult times are:

“That which does not kill me makes me stronger” by German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. This is not always true; sometimes, horrible things make people weaker, not stronger. Overall, though, most people are stronger when facing and surviving adversity.

“Every cloud has a silver lining.” It is a classic of the Victorian Era’s “Despair not; strive for better

things” sentiment. The philosophy conveys that, no matter how bad a situation might seem, there is always some good aspect to it.

“To love is to suffer,” said Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoyevsky. This has been true throughout much of history, although suffering was different in previous centuries than the suffering in today’s developed world. This philosophy means pain and loss are normal parts of life.

Belief in an afterlife. Belief in an afterlife where ultimate justice somehow unfolds has enabled people to cope with suffering more so than perhaps any other philosophy. There are many beliefs centered around an afterlife that people have written, discussed and challenged since the beginning of time. The main point is, there is much more beyond our worldly life, offering hope to those who have endured terrible and unjust suffering.

Developing a framework for a philosophy of life gives our lives meaning, helps us to make sense of it, and enables us to consciously choose happiness. No matter how old we are, it is never too late to think about, re-examine or develop a philosophy of life. It can allow us to bring more happiness into our lives, regardless of our situations.

Further, sharing our philosophy of life with our children or others can be a priceless gift to help them choose happiness, despite the challenges that they may face.

Jennifer Beach is an Advanced Aging Life Care Professional. She established Advocate for Elders (advocate4elders.com) in Rocky River and has 25 years of experience working with and advocating for older adults and their families.

In the Shadows

FRIEND, RELATIVE, THIEF

By Marie Elium

Older adult maltreatment — elder abuse — holds its grip on society’s vulnerable adults with an uncomfortable frequency, hiding behind trusted relationships, isolation and illness.

This story is the second of a three-part series on elder abuse. We’ve defined the issue with facts and numbers in our first story, “In the Shadows: The Elder Abuse Epidemic,” in the March/ April issue of Northeast Ohio Boomer magazine. You can find the story online at northeastohioboomer.com.

In this issue, we introduce you to the most common and under-reported form of elder maltreatment: financial abuse. We’ll offer an action plan In our September/October issue for victims and families.

— Marie Elium, editor

“How much this time?”

The conversation between a Lake County man and his 83-year-old mother follows a predictable and heartbreaking script. He knows by his mother’s voice that it’s happened again; his younger sister has pressured her to give her money. Reluctantly, Mom complied.

His sister doesn’t have a job. She has something better: access to her mom and to her bank account.

To most people, the badgering and bullying is a simple case of theft wrapped in a cloak of elder abuse. To those dealing with the situation, there’s nothing simple about it, says the older brother, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect his mother’s privacy.

Here’s the problem: Sometimes, his mom doesn’t mind giving her daughter money. After all, she reasons, her daughter occasionally takes out the trash or picks up groceries. But when the money doesn’t come fast enough or falls short of her spending needs, the daughter threatens to hurt herself. Mom gives in. She can’t bring herself to file a police report, no matter how many times her family asks her to.

This time it was $35,000. A few months ago, it was $12,000. No one knows what the money’s for, although the daughter gets packages every few days that clutter the house and a storage unit. What the family does know is their mom’s once-substantial retirement savings are slipping away.

The siblings have gone to the family attorney for help and have made inquiries with the police. Few parents—especially vulnerable older adults—have the mental strength to file charges. This mother doesn’t want to give up control of her bank and credit cards. Her finances are one of the few ways she maintains her independence.

Uncooperative victims and the crimes against them are tough to prosecute. As a result, financial abuse is one of the least-reported but likely most common ways older adults are mistreated, says Elliot Kolkovich, an assistant prosecuting attorney and community outreach representative for the Summit County prosecutor’s office.

ANOTHER STORY

A Parma woman, 68, says her grown daughter lives with her. She doesn’t steal money but she uses her computer and other items without her permission, and is verbally abusive. “I’m not afraid of her, I just don’t trust her anymore,” she says.

With her privacy gone, the woman lives under a barrage of verbal abuse. “Mental abuse can be worse because nobody sees it but you,” she says. “It’s constantly on your mind.”

Financial abuse at the hands of a family member or friend often starts with verbal abuse. The abuser has easy access to the victim and wears them down through intimidation and threats, according to people who study elder abuse.

“It’s shocking to see the ways (the) elderly are abused,” Kolkovich says. With fully competent victims, like the Lake County mother and Parma woman, getting a criminal case through a grand jury and to trial is difficult without the victim’s cooperation.

The prosecutor’s office has formed the Summit County Multidisciplinary Team to support evidence-based prosecution for elder abuse when the victim is unwilling to cooperate with authorities. It’s a strategy used for domestic violence cases, which often have a cycle of violence followed by regret on the part of the abuser and embarrassment for the victim. The goal is to understand the victim’s reluctance to press charges while acknowledging that a crime was committed and should be prosecuted.

Kolkovich says the local county office of adult protective services is the best place to start if a family suspects an older adult is being abused.

All this leaves concerned family members in a tough position. No one wants to take advice from their child, no matter how old that child is, Kolkovich says. He recommends pulling in a trusted outsider to talk about the abuse.

“Nobody likes to admit they can’t do what they want to do,” Kolkovich says. “Try not to be so judgmental. Come from a position of assistance” when a loved one confides that someone is forcing money from them, stealing items or abusing them in other ways.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE MONEY?

Signs of Financial Abuse

• Sudden changes in bank accounts or banking practices, including an unexplained withdrawal of large sums of money by a person accompanying the older adult

• The inclusion of additional names on an older adult’s bank signature card

• Unauthorized withdrawal of the older adult’s money using their ATM card

• Abrupt changes in a will or other financial documents

• Unexplained disappearances of funds or valuable possessions

• Substandard care or bills left unpaid despite the availability of adequate financial resources

• Discovery of a forged signature for financial transactions or for the titles of the older adult’s possessions

• The sudden appearance of previously uninvolved relatives claiming their rights to an older adult’s property or possessions

• The unexplained sudden transfer of assets to a family member or someone outside the family

• The provision of services that are not necessary

• An older adult says someone’s stealing from him

Source: The United States Department of Justice

Marie Elium is editor of Northeast Ohio Boomer magazine.

Estate Planning for Property Owners

PROTECT YOUR ASSETS

By Amy Turos

If you own real estate, chances are, you have unique needs when it comes to estate planning. Here’s the breakdown!

Estate planning is a plan that you put in place to make sure your assets transfer to your loved ones without probate court. With proper estate planning, there is no need for probate court. Some questions to consider are, Will your loved ones encounter debt when settling your affairs? What about property tax payments on the Estate you pass down? How will your assets transfer to your loved ones?

Estate planning is an important part of planning for the future, especially for real estate owners. There are a vast number of estate planning tools to accomplish estate planning goals. Every family is unique, so not all estate plans are the same.

ESTATE PLANNING FOR REAL ESTATE OWNERS

An estate plan can be a tailor-made, legally binding series of documents that outlines your last wishes for yourself and your assets after death.

An estate plan keeps your properties and possessions safe during life and ensures that they get to where you intend them to go after death.

With real estate, we have to know how the property is titled and if there are any mortgages or liens on the property.

ASSET PROTECTION

Many real estate owners will accumulate one-of-a-kind properties. A trust-based estate plan is a comprehensive way to protect your assets in life and after death. For real estate owners, a trust can also provide legal protections for the trustees.

With proper estate planning, you can maintain your real estate assets for future generations, or if you have minor children. You can place just about anything in a trust for safekeeping. Typically, when you fund a trust with real estate, you are transferring the ownership of that property from yourself to your trust. This keeps it safe for your beneficiaries after death.

There are numerous types of trusts, so it’s important to know which type of trust is right for you and your family. If there is debt enumerated on the property, that must be addressed before the property can be transferred to the trust.

AVOIDING PROBATE

Probate court handles transferring of assets when there isn’t a proper estate plan in place. It can also come with its own set of fees, long waits, and lots of paperwork. If there is no executor named in an estate plan, it can take the probate court weeks or months to appoint an executor and get the process started. And that wait may cost you, even if it’s not contested.

When a will gets stuck in the probate process, the estate is responsible for paying the fees and taxes related to it. Depending on the size of the estate, probate could eat into an inheritance. It may even require you to sell off assets to pay off the debts of the estate. You lose control, time, money and resources with probate court.

To avoid probate, real estate owners have many estate planning options. They can put their properties into a trust or they may also set up Joint Tenancy or Transfer on Death Deeds in states that permit it, which would transfer ownership of a property to the co-owner (or owners) immediately after death, without probate court. This isn’t an automatic transfer, but it does avoid involving probate court.

By avoiding probate, your assets, including all your real estate properties and investments, would pass to your beneficiaries without wasting time and money.

YOUR ESTATE PLAN

An estate plan allows real estate owners to pass their legacy on to their families without compromise. There are many estate planning tools that can help with any type of asset that clients have.

Attorney Amy Turos represents clients in Portage, Trumbull, Geauga and Summit counties. Her website is ohiofamilyandcivillaw.com.

Sponsored Content

WHAT IS ELDER LAW?

Presented by Kabb Law

ANSWER: As a person ages, they have new legal needs. Estate planning must be reviewed, making sure beneficiaries are up to date, special needs provided for, and care wishes respected. All are critical.

Finding the right resources for disability and care needs through Medicaid, Medicare and Veterans Administration programs can be confusing. Many people fear they will lose their life savings to pay for the high cost of care.

Did you know that married couples, in many cases, can keep most of their assets including the house, retirement accounts and half of their assets up to $148,620? Knowing the rules puts you in control.

Having an elder law attorney as an advocate is crucial; establishing that relationship while you are healthy is critical. The Kabb Law Firm can help.

Rachel Kabb

Grow with the Cleveland Senior Network

The Cleveland Senior Network is growing to meet the needs of seniors throughout greater Cleveland. If you need a little spark to keep sizzling, we’re here to help.

leveland Senior Network is a volunteer organization that Networks with a Heart, supporting colleagues working in senior services while functioning as a community service organization. It has been bringing cheerful, skilled support to local seniors since 2020. Each sponsor listed here has the expertise, connections and heart to help you live your best life.

Speaking of living your best life, “Not a Day Over Fabulous” was a fab success, raising $4,000—and counting—for Alzheimer’s Association’s The Longest Day Campaign. Finding humor in aging, audiences enjoyed live performances of this original musical comedy about growing older. Beachwood playwright and director Jill Koslen-Freireich showcased the lively variety show featuring an original set of rib-tickling vignettes and musical spoofs set to ‘70s hits. An energetic cast of local actors tackled taboo topics like sex after 60, menopause, ED and more.

If you were were among the 300+ audience members who enjoyed the show in June, you know it’s a performance worthy of more encores. If you missed it, stay tuned for upcoming showings for the next planned fundraiser by the Cleveland Senior Network.

You can still support the Longest Day Campaign by donating online through August 31 at act.alz.org/goto/CLESeniorNetMusical.

Meanwhile, if you could use practical assistance with challenges associated with aging, our growing Network offers more services and targeted expertise to help you.

Marketing board member Melinda Smith is leveraging her extensive background in senior care services into a new business, Task Angel Care Services. A Boomer herself, Melinda gets it! “Life is busy and sometimes we can’t get it all done,” she says.

Task Angel Care Services can help you or a loved one with everyday tasks, from personal errands to mail collection, making and attending medical appointments, making personal visits at rehab centers or senior living locations, and more.  Melinda says, “Keep life more manageable and less complicated. Let us help.”

If part of managing life is requiring mobility assistance, access durable medical equipment from Network sponsor Rocking Mobility for sales, rentals and repair services of motorized scooters, wheelchairs, power chairs, hospital beds and other mobility solutions.

Another service provider new to the Network is The Winfield at Richmond Heights, “which provides comfort and community amenities for our Independent Living and Assisted Living residents to get the most out of life,” says Director of Sales & Marketing Michaela Kenny.

Apartments feature walk-in closets, well-equipped kitchens, spacious bathrooms, and a washer-dryer set in each Independent Living and some Assisted Living apartments. Winfield’s Independent Living frees residents from the stress of household chores, cooking meals, or taking out the trash. Assisted Living ensures residents the help they need to live a full, enriched life with customized care plans.

Also new to the Network is Caring Hospice Services in Independence, which provides quality and compassionate hospice care when you need it most.

“At Caring Hospice Services, we provide unique, holistic and cost-effective hospice care to meet the social, emotional, spiritual and physical needs of each of our patients and their families as they face terminal illness,” says Eva M. Konya, MBA, BSN, RN, Director of Business Operations.

Cleveland Senior Network is your trusted resource. Contact us through our website, clevelandseniornetwork.org, or reach out to any board member for answers. Whether you’re seeking a little support or comprehensive care, Cleveland Senior Network is here for you, Networking with a Heart.

Cleveland Senior Network Sponsors

Task Angel Care Services: No task too big or small. Specializing in helping disabled individuals or seniors when you can’t be there.

Melinda Smith, Owner: 216-409-8140, taskangelcareservices@gmail.com

BOARD MEMBERS

Right at Home: We employ amazing caregivers & companions! Call the Plotkin Family - A Tradition of Caring. Shalom Plotkin, Owner: 216-752-2222, shalom@ ohioseniorcare.net

Koewler Law Firm: Attorney Jim Koewler helps people who need long-term care, have chronic illness, or have special needs by working with their wishes and needs rather than cost-driven decisions.

Jim Koewler, Attorney: 330-659-3579, jkoewler@ProtectingSeniors.com

Five Star Clinical Solutions: As Patient Advocates, we ensure you receive the best possible medical care and services. Robera Brofman, President/Founder: 216-513-9622, roberta@fivestarclinical.com, fivestarclinical.com

Benjamin Rose Institute: Mary Norris-Pack

BigHearted Blooms: Sue Buddenbaum

Solon Pointe: Jelena Kirkland

Caring Hospice Services: Quality, compassionate hospice care at the time you need it most. Providing unique, holistic, cost-effective hospice care meeting social, emotional, spiritual and physical needs of patients and families facing terminal illness.

Eva M. Konya, MBA, BSN, RN, Director of Business Operations, Independence: O: 216-524-5500, M: 216-678-3153, ekonya@caringhospice.com

Howard Hanna Real Estate Services: Stephanie McFearin, Realtor expert for Northeast Ohio. Call, text or email anytime for info on a free market analysis or buyer consultation.

Stephanie McFearin, REALTOR®: 440-554-7712, StephanieMcFearin@HowardHanna.com

Medicare Advocates: Licensed Insurance Broker helping clients navigate the “Medicare Maze” for the best benefits and coverage for individual needs. No-cost review of coverage options provided.

Lawrence Lesiak, Licensed Insurance Broker: 330-523-7002, Larry@ MedicareAdvocates.US

Rocking Mobility: Repair-Rent-Sales of durable medical equipment from wheelchairs and power mobility devices to hospital beds plus bath and home safety equipment.

Marsha Adair, President & Co-Owner: 216-356-6984, rockingmobility.com

Tapestry Senior Living Wickliffe: A senior community dedicated to helping your loved ones live full and meaningful lives with Independent Living, Assisted Living, and Memory Care.

Angela Simon, Director of Sales & Marketing: 440-855-1722 (mobile), angela. simon@tapestrysenior.com, tapestrycompanies.com

The Winfield at Richmond Heights: Providing comfort and community amenities for our Independent Living and Assisted Living residents to get the most out of life. Spacious, well-equipped apartments plus customized care plans.

Michaela Kenny, Director of Sales & Marketing: O: (216)-289-9800, M: (440)-679-0195, MKenny@winfieldrichmondheights.com

We had a Blast at the Beach Blanket Bash

We’ve brushed off the sand and packed away the palm trees. Boomer Bash East 2023 at Lavera Party Center in Willoughby Hills was a bunch of fun with our ‘60s beach movie vibe and an enthusiastic crowd of readers and exhibitors. We hope you had as much fun as we did.

The Beach Blanket Bash was a lively afternoon of beachinspired entertainment, networking and information-gathering. We enjoyed meeting hundreds of readers, mingling with sponsors, and soaking up the retro atmosphere.

The event was co-sponsored by Northeast Ohio Boomer magazine and Hospice of the Western Reserve. Proceeds from our popular 50/50 raffle went to the Lake County Volunteer Network.

If you missed our other two Bash events this year, you’re in luck; we’ve got one more planned for 2023. Monster Mash Boomer Bash Southeast is Oct. 26 at The Bertram Inn, Aurora. For more information ,check our website northeastohioboomer. com or watch for updates on our Northeast Ohio Boomer Facebook page.

Interested in sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities? Please contact Northeast Ohio Boomer publisher Brad Mitchell, brad@ northeastohioboomer.com.

Hospice of the Western Reserve

Nonprofit Hospice vs. For-Profit Hospice. What’s the difference?

The accessibility of hospice care has empowered millions of Americans to make their own medical decisions. Even though hospice is relatively new in the medical field, its revolutionary and holistic approach to end-of-life care is now woven into our healthcare system. It’s been over 40 years since the first hospice opened in the United States, and today, half of all Americans die in hospice care.

Yet in the last 10 years, a shift has taken place. A November 2022

ProPublica report showed that today, more than 70% of hospices are owned by for-profit providers. For-profit hospices tend to focus

on patients living with diseases like dementia, which usually involve longer stays but less costly interventions.

However, nonprofit hospices accept all patients, including those who require more costly interventions and complex care. In some instances with for-profit hospice agencies, shortcuts and bottom lines take precedence over holistic needs. When profits are prioritized over patients, communities can suffer.

Hospice of the Western Reserve has provided quality, comprehensive, holistic care to our neighbors in Northern Ohio for over 40 years. We work collaboratively with our providers, our community partners, our distinguished board of directors, and others to ensure that we are providing care of the highest caliber. Profits are not our priority; our patients are.

It can be confusing when deciding where to turn. But there are steps you can take to ensure the best hospice choice. Consider these questions when deciding who will care for your

loved one:

• Are hospice staff certified in their specialty?

• Does the agency offer enrichment programs such as comprehensive grief services and pet therapy?

• Is there specialized care for children? What about veteranspecific care?

• What is the reputation of a particular hospice program in your community?

• What are the agency’s quality scores on medicare.gov?

• Talk with friends, neighbors or coworkers who may have walked this journey before. Who would they recommend?

The choice of hospice is an important one. If we have open dialogues with our loved ones about death, and if we seek out the options we have available to us, we can make sound decisions about what we want for ourselves, and for those we love.

Go to hospicewr.org to learn more about Hospice of the Western Reserve.

HealthMarkets Insurance Agency

Choosing insurance can be intimidating and confusing for many people. If that’s been your experience, then the HealthMarkets Insurance Agency can help. Insurance agents Kathy Carvin and Sheila McInerney listen to their clients, assess their needs and help them navigate the mountain of information available.

Medicare plans can be especially

challenging. Because people don’t understand many of the plans’ details, they’re afraid to make a change and, as a result, don’t explore their options. That can be a costly decision. Medicare plans change every year and the plan you had last year may no longer be the right fit. If you don’t know what those changes are, you could be faced with medications no longer being covered, doctors who are no longer in your plan, or cost increases you didn’t realize existed.

The focus at HealthMarkets Insurance Agency isn’t to sell

insurance but to offer guidance as informed consultants. Carvin and McInerney agree that one of the best parts of their job is knowing they’ve helped someone find a Medicare plan custom-tailored to their needs.

After a client makes an informed decision, the agents follow up with them to make sure they’re happy with their choice. Schedule a free review today. With their guidance, many clients end up saving money.

HealthMarkets Insurance Agency’s offices are conveniently located at 38052 Euclid Ave., Suite 101, Willoughby and 28881 Lorain Road, North Olmsted and 10512 Northfield Road Northfield.

To learn more about how HealthMarkets Insurance Agency can help you meet your health, Medicare, small group, life and supplemental insurance needs, contact Kathy at HealthMarkets. com/kcarvin, 216-373-2777, or contact Sheila at HealthMarkets. com/smcinerney, 440-520-6822.

HearingLife

HearingLife is part of the Demant Group, a world-leading hearing health care group built on a heritage of compassion and innovation since 1904. Demant was founded by a husband who was determined to help his wife lead a better life. Camilla Demant had hearing loss, which Hans Demant wanted to improve. But he just didn’t care about her hearing,

he cared about her as a unique individual.

Our purpose is to provide lifechanging hearing health delivered with the best-personalized care. HearingLife operates nearly 700 hearing care centers across 42 states. We follow a scientific, results-oriented approach to hearing health care that is delivered by highly skilled and caring professionals. The care that customers receive is world-class

and second to none. At HearingLife, we know that helping people to hear and enjoy full, meaningful lives is of the utmost importance.

Most HearingLife offices offer complimentary hearing assessments and demonstrations of the latest technology. This is in addition to risk-free trials, cleaning and checking of your hearing devices, fittings, adjustments and more.

We also provide virtual expert hearing care resources, free to everyone in the U.S. These OnDemand services are provided by our knowledgeable hearing care specialists and can help you with any of your hearing loss, prescription hearing aid and overthe-counter hearing aid questions or treatment options. OnDemand Support is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. -10 p.m. EDT and weekends from 9:30 a.m-.3 p.m. EDT by calling 888-277-3802.

Locate a HearingLife location at hearinglife.com/ hearing-aids-centers.

MENORAH PARK

Presented by Menorah Park

Live empowered. Live better. Be inspired.

Menorah Park prides itself on being a community resource offering sound solutions to improve lives, with a focus on each individual’s preferences, values and motivations. Our health care organization continues to evolve to meet the needs of all of you in our community while honoring a rich legacy.

We provide many choices in health care services and residential options to help you fulfill your goals and continue your personal stories of successful aging, however you define them.

Our dedicated goal is Excellence in Caring® in all that we do. No matter which program or service you engage in on the Menorah Park campuses in Beachwood or Chagrin Valley, you’ll find that our expert teams are invested in a strengthbased approach so that, regardless of the circumstance, you are assured opportunities to improve and experience a higher quality of life.

Standards of excellence have been recognized by organizations including Newsweek, U.S. News & World Report, the Mather Lifeways Institute on Aging, the American Society on Aging, the International Council on Active Aging, and the American Health Care Association. We are honored to continue to help our community live empowered, live better, and be inspired.

Locations in Beachwood and Chagrin Valley • MenorahPark.org • 216-831-6500

Thank You to Our Exhibitors

Advanced Health Care of Landerhaven ahcfacilities.com

440.443.0345

Alert Care Medical Systems alertcareohio.com

216.381.5598

All American Gutter Protection allamericangutterprotection.com

330.470.4100

Alzheimer’s Association: Cleveland Area Chapter alz.org/cleveland

800.272.3900

Apex Skin apexskin.com

330.607.1454

Bath Fitter bathfitter.com

800.892.2847

Berson-Sokol Agency Inc. Berson-Sokol.com

216.464.1542

Better Business Bureau bbb.org

216.241.7678

Case Western Reserve School of Medicine

case.edu/medicine/pqhs

216.368.2000

ClearCaptions clearcaptions.com

614.601.8994

Cleveland Senior Network clevelandseniornetwork.org

216.409.8140

Empowering Epilepsy empoweringepilepsy.org

216.342.4167

Englert Leaf Guard leafguard.com

330.304.5828

FYZICAL Therapy and Balance Centers fyzical.com/mentor-oh

440.740.8877

Gentle Transfer gentletransfer.com

330.330.7730

HarborChase of Shaker Heights harborchase.com/ harborchase-shaker-heights

216.925.489

Health Insurance for Seniors medicarewithmichelle.com

216.387.3293

Heyday Health heydayhealth.com

330.223.7001

Humana Medicare humana.com/hzagmeister

216.250.5072

Insight Clinical Trials insightclinicaltrials.com

216.526.1843

It’s Just Lunch Cleveland itsjustlunchcleveland.com

216.355.2726

Jennings jenningsohio.org

216.581.2900

Jewish Family Service Association of Cleveland jfsa-cleveland.org

216.292.3999

JR Bath JRBath.com

330.494.2365

The Kabb Law Firm kabblaw.com

216.991.5222

Kitchen Saver kitchensaver.com

844.806.3377

Lake County Volunteer Network lakecountyohio.gov/senior-services

Maple Ridge Senior Living mapleridgeseniorliving.com

440.269.8600

Mutsko Insurance Services mutskoinsurance.com

440.255.5700

National Financial Resources nationalfinancialresources.com

216.696.2600

The Niemi Team of HomeSmart Real Estate Momentum theniemiteam.com

440.218.0297

Ohio Senior Medicare PatrolPro Seniors proseniors.org/ohio-smp

800.488.6070

Ohio State Waterproofing ohiostatewaterproofing.com

330.467.1055

OndeCare ondecare.com

234.567.8911

Richmond Heights Place richmondheightsplace.com

216.291.8585

Road Scholar roadscholar.org

877.426.8056

Slovene Home Skilled Care & Rehabilitation slovenehome.org

216.486.0268

Tapestry Senior Living Wickliffe tapestrysenior.com/wickliffe

440.373.9900

UnitedHealthcare

MyuhcAgent.com/CharlesJennings

216.470.7849

Vitalia Highland Heights vitaliahighlandheights.com

440.552.4789

Wellcare wellcare.com

866.527.0056

Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging areaagingsolutions.org

216.621.0303

The Winfield winfieldrichmondheights.com

216.289.9800

MATURE LIVING SHOWCASE

Sponsored Content KEEP YOUR COOL THIS SUMMER

While you might have been waiting for this warm summer weather to come after a long, cold winter, sometimes there can be too much of a good thing. In any case, no one can control the weather, so take our advice on how to beat the heat and stay safe this summer.

Water is your best friend. Always stay hydrated; drink a glass of water when you wake up in the morning to start the day strong. You can also cool off with cold showers and wet washcloths as you need them on your neck, temples, wrists, elbow bends and behind the knees.

When making plans for your

Presented by Concord Reserve

day, push your outdoor activities like exercising to the early morning or late evening. And when that’s not possible or appealing, scale down the intensity or length of your workout or excursion. Keep in mind, you’re more prone to sunburn between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. What you wear can make a difference. Avoid synthetic fabrics and wear loose or lightweight, breathable materials like linen or cotton. Opting

for a stylish hat, sunglasses and umbrella will keep the sun’s rays out of your face and eyes.

Of course, you’ll also want to make sure you wear plenty of sunscreen, too. Wherever you have exposed skin and no matter how long you’ll be outside, sunscreen will protect you from burning.

And if you choose to stay at home, make sure you have the fan or air conditioning going and keep your home insulated with closed windows, blinds, shades, curtains and doors to unused rooms. At Concord Reserve, you won’t miss out on social activities because of the heat. Schedule your tour today and see what events are waiting for you.

Sponsored Content

THRIVE WITH A TIMELY TRANSITION

Presented by McGregor

As loved ones age and change, so do their needs. This raises the question: Should they stay in their home or move? Will your loved ones benefit from a new environment that adapts to their needs and goals, or can they thrive in their current home? Housing options vary; they can stay where they are, downsize, renovate or move.

Most older adults prefer to stay in their own home because it’s comfortable, familiar and holds decades of memories. There are many details to consider if aging in place is the best choice for a loved one. For example, house cleaning and maintenance, transportation, personal care, medical services and safety must be considered. It may also become difficult for family or friends to provide care for older

adults if they remain in their homes. Aging in place may lead to loneliness which can negatively affect physical and mental health. According to the National Institute on Aging, a 2021 study of more than 11,000 adults over 70 found that loneliness was associated with a greater risk of heart disease.

As older adults age, it is essential to adapt to new or changing necessities. Leaving home can be a positive transition and maybe the beginning of a new stage of life.

The decision to move sooner rather than later can significantly make the process easier. A loved one who makes

a timely choice to transition to a senior living community may have an easier adjustment than someone who delays the decision.

A senior living community offers countless benefits by allowing residents to flourish in an environment that caters to them. The Ohio Department of Aging explains how these communities combine a home-like setting with personal support services. They provide meals, housekeeping, personal care, medical care and social engagement.

We know the importance of having a choice about where you live.

McGregor offers five levels of care, depending on the needs and desires of the residents and their loved ones. McGregor, a nonprofit organization, is a life plan community with a legacy of more than 145 years in senior living that brings together lifelong care.

You’ll

YOUR

Sponsored Content

Presented by Heyday Health

Heyday Health is a primary care provider serving Medicare and Medicare Advantage patients in Lake and Geauga Counties. Heyday brings convenient care with in-home, video and phone visits — all at no additional charge. That means our clients don’t have to worry about driving to the doctor’s office or sitting in waiting rooms; you meet with your care team without leaving home.

With Heyday Health, you’ll see the same, expert providers at every appointment. You’ll have a family doctor, a nurse

practitioner and a Health Ally who helps navigate your care such as getting prescriptions or seeing specialists. This team will spend time getting to know you and your unique needs. You’ll have 24/7 access to your care providers while enjoying the peace of mind of having a team dedicated to your health and well-being.

To learn more, visit heydayhealth.com or call 330-223-7001.

Pleasevisit northeastohioboomer.com forthemostup-to-date calendarlistings.

What’s Happening

CLASSES

SUNDAYS

Yoga on the West Terrace. Unwind and stroll the gardens afterward. Last Sunday of each month. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org. $12-16

TUESDAYS

Urban Line Dancing. Learn new moves and hear great music with helpful instruction. Through 8/29. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Garfield Park Reservation, clevelandmetroparks.com.

FREE

7/25

Kayaking 101. Learn how to get started, stay safe, and have fun. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Green Branch Library, 4046 Massillon Road, Uniontown, akronlibrary. org. FREE

WEDNESDAYS

9/6

Woodcarving 101. Learn a new hobby or grow your skills. 6-8 p.m. Sippo Lake Park-North, 5712 12th St., Canton, starkparks.com. FREE

THURSDAYS

Documentary Filmmaking. Do you have a story to tell? Or are you just interested in filmmaking in general? This class is for you. 8/1024. 6:30-8:30 p.m. Lee Road Branch Library, 2345 Lee Road, Cleveland Hts., heightslibrary.org. FREE

8/10

Nature Collage. Make a beautiful nature-inspired collage using recycled paper at this easy, fun lesson. 10 a.m.-noon. F. A. Seiberling Nature Realm, 1828 Smith Road, Akron, summitmetroparks.org. FREE

8/3

Good Garden Talks

Learn about pest management, which includes attracting beneficial insects to the vegetable garden.

6-7 p.m. Summit Lake Nature Center, 411 Ira Ave., Akron, summitmetroparks.org. FREE

8/24

Senior Craft Hour: Acrylic Pour. Create your own abstract artwork using the acrylic pour technique. 2-3 p.m. Euclid Public Library, 631 E. 222nd St., euclidlibrary.org. FREE

9/7

Color Therapy. Explore color and paint on canvas in this fun and relaxing class. 6-7 p.m. Maple Hts. Branch Library, 5225 Library Lane, 216-4755000, cuyahogalibrary.org. FREE

FRIDAYS

7/28

Urban Kiz for Beginners. Learn the essentials of the dance, frame, posture, connection, lead and follow technique, and more. 7-8 p.m. Viva Dance Studio, 1541 E. 38th St., Cleveland, vivadancestudio.com

8/18

Friday Friends Art Club. Create a one-ofa-kind masterpiece. No experience necessary. 7-8:30 p.m. The Peninsula Art Academy, 1600 Mill St. W., peninsulaartacademy. com. $40

SATURDAYS

7/29 & 8/12

Junk Journaling. Learn how to make a junk journal from scratch. 2-4 p.m. South Branch Library, 3096 Scranton Road, Cleveland, cpl.org. FREE

8/5

Stand Up

Paddleboarding. Learn to efficiently maneuver the board, stand, and get back on when you fall off! 9-11 a.m. or 1:303:30 p.m. Hinckley Lake Boathouse, 1 West Dr., clevelandmetroparks. com. $30

WHAT´S HAPPENING

CLUBS

MONDAYS

Delicious Discussions. Join on the 4th Monday at downtown Willoughby establishments to discuss new releases. 7-8 p.m. Willoughby Public Library, we247.org. FREE

Tremont Think & Drink Book Club. Enjoy an engaging book discussion while enjoying your favorite beverage.

8/14. Lincoln Park Pub, 2609 W. 14th St., Cleveland, cpl.org. FREE

TUESDAYS

Memory Cafe. Relaxing and comfortable gathering for those in the early stages of memory loss and their caregivers. 1-2 p.m. Various Akron Library Branches, akronlibrary.org. FREE Bookin’ and Cookin’. Grab a bite to read and join this cookbook club. Second Tuesday of each month. Avon

Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., alpl.org. FREE

WEDNESDAYS

Adult Art Club. Join a group of art enthusiasts and creators to share ideas and show off your works. Meets once a month. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Twinsburg Public Library, 10050 Ravenna Road, twinsburglibrary.org. FREE

Castaways. Meet with fellow fiber artists to work on projects, get ideas and learn from each other while you work. Second Wednesday of every month. 10:30 a.m. Mentor-on-theLake Branch Library, 5642 Andrews Road, mentorpl.org. FREE

Erie Shores Photography Club. Meets on the first and third Wednesday of each month. 6:308:30 p.m. Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., alpl.org

SATURDAYS

Woodcarvers Club. Meets on the second and fourth Saturdays each month. 9:30 a.m.-noon. The Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Wilmot, wildernesscenterorg

SUNDAYS

Board Game Club. Drop in on the first Sunday of each month to play board games with other adult

enthusiasts. 1:30-3:30 p.m. Kent Free Library, 312 W. Main St., kentfreelibrary.org. FREE

MUSIC, THEATER & ARTS

WEDNESDAYS

Lakewood Front Porch

Concert Series. Free, live music in a welcoming environment. 7 p.m.

Lakewood Public Library, lakewoodalive.org

WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY

Featured Musicians at the Still House. Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 7-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8-11 p.m. Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, gervasivineyard.com. FREE

THURSDAYS

Music on the Patio. 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 6:30 p.m. Through 8/24.. Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Road, Avon, loraincountrymetroparks. com. FREE

FRIDAYS

Third Fridays at 78th Street Studios. Join the creative businesses as they open their doors for you to explore the arts complex every third Friday. 5-9 p.m. 1300 W. 78th St., Cleveland, 78thstreetstudios.com. FREE

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS

Summer Music Nights. Funkology, Jump the Gun, Monica Robins, Backtraxx and more. 7-9 p.m. Through 8/25. First & Main Green, Hudson, firstandmainhudson.com. FREE

Sponsored Content

Rube Goldberg™, The World of Hilarious Invention! is now on view at the Maltz Museum. The exhibition showcases Pulitzer Prize winning humorist and inventor Rube Goldberg’s iconic contraptions and celebrates his humorous storytelling and inventive cartoons.

Visitors can activate and create crazy chain-reaction contraptions that use everyday objects to complete simple tasks in the most overcomplicated, inefficient, and hilarious ways possible. Explore a collection of new 3D, life-size machines and hands-on, interactive components that connect Rube’s iconic cartoon contraptions to the way things work in the physical world. These experiences provide insight into the legacy of Rube and how classic engineering principles can be reimagined as entry points for deeper exploration of STEAM concepts for 21st century learning.

The Maltz Museum is open

Tuesday – Sunday, 11 am -5 pm, Wednesday, 11 am – 9 pm. The Museum is closed Mondays and for most major holidays. For more information visit maltzmuseum.org

WHAT´S HAPPENING

THROUGH 8/6

Once On This Island. A wise, peasant girl on a tropical island uses the power of love and the beauty of

acceptance to bring together very different people. Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, beckcenter.org. $34-38

7/16

She’s Got Soul at Blossom Music Center. A wide ranging revue of R & B classics with Capathia Jenkins. 7 p.m. 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, clevelandorchestra. com. $25-99

7/29-8/20

Erma Bombeck: At Wit’s End. Celebrates a remarkable woman who reminded us all how to embrace whatever life throws at us with grace, grit and humor. Outcalt Theatre, 1407 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, clevelandplayhouse.com. $25-70

7/30, 8/5-6 & 8/12-13

A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Outdoor performances at The Gazebo in Downtown Willoughby and Triangle Park in Chagrin Falls. cvlt.org. FREE

8/3-5

Fringe Festival. Large-scale performing arts festival. Playhouse Square District, borderlightcle.org. $12-20

8/10-13

Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical. Inspiring story of a girl who dreams of a better life. Weathervane Playhouse, 1301 Weathervane Lane, Akron, weathervaneplayhouse.com. $18-36

8/13

Pablo Cruise. Honest, real, down-toearth vocals, accompanied by fun, yet elegant, infectious grooves. 6:30 p.m. TheKent Stage, 175 East Main St., Kent, thekentstage.com. $39-50

8/18

Jazz Jam Session. Great for performers of all skill levels and listeners alike. 10 p.m.-1 a.m. Bop Stop, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, themusicsettlement.org. FREE

8/19

A Tribute to Janis Joplin. Her band of seasoned pros recreate the sound that defined a generation. 8-10 p.m. Geauga Theater, 101 Water St., Chardon, geauga.theater. $30-40

8/26

Tropical Cleveland Late Night Salsa. Dance the night away to seductive salsa music. 11 p.m. Music Box Supper Club, 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland, musicboxcle.com. $10-20

WHAT´S HAPPENING

OUTDOORS

SUNDAYS

Recenter & Reset Hikes. Trek beautiful trails and the surrounding neighborhood. 7/30 & 8/27. The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 S. Park Blvd., shakerlakes. org. FREE

TUESDAYS

Geauga Walkers. Join other active seniors on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month for hikes. 1-2:30 p.m. geaugaparkdistrict.org. FREE

Hiking Seniority. Folks aged 55 and older meet year-round every Tuesday at nearby parks for nature appreciation, exercise and camaraderie. 10 a.m.-noon. lakemetroparks.com. FREE

WEDNESDAYS

Wednesday Walkers. Join this ambitious group of walkers in staying active and healthy on North Olmsted Parks’s walking path. Call to register 440-7778100. 28114 Lorain Road, northolmsted.com/senior-center. FREE

THURSDAYS & SUNDAYS

Garden Tram Rides Hop on board to tour the Schoepfle Garden. Thursday 10 a.m-1 p.m. Sundays 1-4 p.m. 11106 Market St., Birmingham, loraincountymetroparks.com. FREE

FRIDAYS

Walkabout Tremont. Feed your creative side with art vendors, live music, food, and more. Second Friday of each month. facebook.com/ WalkaboutTremont

7/29

Guided Bird Walk. A naturalist leads a bird walk along the hilly, unpaved trails looking for newly fledged birds that call the park home. 7-10 a.m. 4653 Wetmore Road, Peninsula, nps.gov. FREE

8/3

Chasing Waterfalls. Join this moderate, 1-mile roundtrip hike to Cedar Falls. 10-11 a.m. Hocking Hills State Park Cedar Falls Parking Lot, Logan, ohiodnr.gov. FREE

8/8

Senior Strides. Make new friends and get exercise at the same time. 10-11 a.m. Carolyn Ludwig Mugrage Park, 4985 Windfall Road, Medina, medinacountyparks. com. FREE

8/10 & 8/24

Senior Hike. Slow-paced, group hike. Noon. 8/10 at Portage Hike & Bike Trail, Kent and 8/24 at Trail Lake Park, Streetsboro. portagecounty-oh.gov.

FREE

8/13

Movie Night: Singin’ in the Rain. Bring your blankets and chairs to watch the greatest musical ever made. 8:3011:30 p.m. Observatory Park, 10610 Clay St., Montville Township, geaugaparkdistrict.org.

FREE

8/25

Wine & Cheese Night Hike. Savor the sights and sounds of Holden Arboretum at night before concluding with wine and cheese refreshments. 8-11 p.m.

9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, holdenarb.org. $30-45

SPECIAL EVENTS

7/21-23

Festa Italiana. An exciting celebration of authentic entertainment and cuisine.

Downtown Cuyahoga Falls, Front Street, cityofcf.com

7/27-30

Fairview Park Summerfest. Parade, live music, carnival rides, entertainment, and much more. Bohlken Park, 3885 W. 210th St., fairviewsummerfest.com

WHAT´S HAPPENING

8/6

The FEST. Performances by national Christian musical artists, Kids Zone, and more. Center for Pastoral Leadership, 28700 Euclid Ave., Wickliffe, thefest.us

8/10-13

Great American Stamp Show. Features dozens of award-winning exhibits,

more than 80 dealers and a special area for beginners and kids. Huntington Convention Ctr., 300 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland. FREE

8/13

Akron Pickle Fest. Pickle games, pickle contests, pickle parades and much more. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Lock 3, 200 Main St. oddmall.info/ akron-pickle-fest

8/18

Honey BBQ Pairing Dinner. The evening will feature a honey harvesting talk and tasting. 5:30-9 p.m. Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, lakemetroparks. com. $60

8/18-20

Auburn Art Festival. Art, home goods, live music, food and more. 17111 Ravenna Road, Chagrin Falls, auburnartsdistrict.com

9/9

Waterloo Arts Fest. Multiple stages of a great mix of local music, art vendors, food trucks, street performers and unique art activities. Noon-7 p.m. Waterloo Road, between Calcutta Ave. and East 161st St., waterlooarts.org

9/16

Rocky River Arts Festival. A festival to celebrate the talents of Rocky River residents and highlight the merchants in the Old Detroit Shopping area.10 a.m.-5 p.m. rrparksandrecfoundation.com

TALKS

MONDAYS

7/24

Author Talk - Crying in the Bathroom: A Memoir. Hear from award-winning writer Erika Sánchez about her utterly original, moving, and disarmingly funny

memoir-in-essays. 4-5 p.m. Rocky River Public Library, 1600 Hampton Road, rrpl.org. FREE

8/7

Redefining Work and Retirement. Are you interested in reinventing your career or lifestyle? Learn how to overcome challenges and open new possibilities. 9:3011:30 p.m. Bainbridge Library, 17222 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, divi.geaugalibrary.net. FREE

9/18

Fall Vegetable Gardening. Explore how to extend the gardening season in this informative session by a Master Gardener. 6 p.m. Kirtland Public Library, 9267 Chillicothe Road, Kirtland, kirtland.lib.oh.us. FREE

TUESDAYS

Lunchtime Lecture at The Cleveland Museum of Art. First Tuesday of the month, join curators, scholars, and other museum staff for a talk on objects currently on display. Noon. 11150 East Blvd., clevelandart.org. FREE

8/15

Home Disaster Preparedness. Learn the basic techniques and skills to prepare for the next unexpected emergency. 6-8 p.m. Barberton Public Library, 602 W. Park Ave., 330-7451194, barberton.lib.oh.us. FREE

WEDNESDAYS

8/9

Social Security Presentation. Learn how to maximize benefits and much more. 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Otium Financial Planners, 34500 Chardon Road, Willoughby Hills, otiumfinancialplanners.com.

FREE

THURSDAYS

Celebrate Winesdays with McGregor. Learn about services offered to older adults and enjoy wine pairings. 7/20, 8/24 & 9/21. 4:30-6:30 p.m.19490 Private Dr., Cleveland, mcgregoramasa.org.

FREE

Social Security Presentation. Learn how to maximize benefits and much more. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Otium Financial Planners, 34500 Chardon Road, Willoughby Hills, otiumfinancialplanners.com.

FREE

8/24

Streaming 101. Compare the value, content and convenience of various streaming channels and services to make the most of on-demand entertainment. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Avon Branch Library, 37485 Harvest Drive, lorainpubliclibrary.org. FREE

SATURDAYS

8/19

Ekphrastic Poetry. A talk on ekphrastic poetry with slides of art

paired with poems responding to the art. 2-3 p.m. Fairmount Center for the Arts, 8400 Fairmount Road, Novelty, fairmountcenter.org. FREE

9/9

Rain Gardens. Learn the basics of rain garden design and instruction. 10-11 a.m. Mentor Public Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., mentorpl.org. FREE

Sponsored By

Lost & found Where Did I Put That...?

By Kathryn Kilpatrick

Testing your memory is one of the most effective ways to exercise your brain. Simple word and number games are a good place to start. However, you can build brain workouts into your everyday routine in other ways, too.

Almost nothing is more frustrating than losing something: your phone, your keys, a pair of shoes. It seems to be a byproduct of aging. Or is it? Often, inattentiveness is the culprit.

TRY THESE TIPS:

• Is there an item you misplace often? Notice what you are doing with the item and hold that thought for a few seconds.

• Then, always make sure you put an item back in the same place. Put it away the moment you are finished using it.

• When you put something away, pay attention. Take a mental snapshot of the location. If you have a memory lapse, you’re more likely to remember where the item is.

BRAIN WORK

Place an item in an unusual location. Write the name of the location on a piece of paper. When you put the item down, say the name of the location out loud. Repeat the word several times that day and visualize the location. Six hours later, try to find it without looking at the piece of paper.

TIGER

HORSE

MONKEY

EAGLE

LION

ZEBRA

GIRAFFE

ANIMALS

RAIN

SUMMER

WINTER

SPRING

FROST

SLEET THUNDER

Answers: SEASONS & WEATHER

PUZZLE

Unscramble the following words. Then group them into two categories that the words share. Each category should have seven words.

Too easy? Do it as quickly as you can, writing the answers with your non-dominant hand.

LETES NERDTHU

SFROT BZRAE

FFGRIAE NGSPRI

NLIO

TWNIER

EGLAE

NKOMEY

SHROE MSMRUE

GIETR

RNAI

For aging and life enhancement tips, visit Kathryn Kilpatrick’s blog at northeastohioboomer.com.

Sketchy Stuff

LEON, THE ART TEACHER & ME

By Mike Olszewsk

I’M OUT OF SPACE

Four free-standing shelves and a custom-made wall unit are filled, and I still have books that need a home. One of those is a massive new book about a personal hero, Leon Russell.

Leon who? Trust me, you’ve heard his work, and “Leon Russell: The Master of Space and Time’s Journey Through Rock & Roll History’’ by Bill Janovitz (Hachette Books) does a stellar job of covering it all.

At 590+ pages, it’s the definitive book about one of the driving forces of rock and roll. From his early days in Oklahoma, working as an L.A. studio musician with everyone from Sinatra to the Beach Boys, his days with Joe Cocker, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and even Willie Nelson… Janovitz covers it all.

A LEGEND

Back in high school (when you were told to get your hair cut if it touched the top of your ears), Leon had hair down to his elbows under a big top hat. He was a role model for kids trying to be hippies.

I had an art class with a teacher who, oddly enough, was not a very good artist. She assigned us a project to design a stained-glass window. During study hall, I did a simple sketch of Leon Russell. I got called out for the design and turned in a half-hearted mosaic. I got an A and kept the sketch.

My wife and I caught Leon every time he toured: The two-hour show at Blossom Music Center (with a four-hour wait to get out of the parking lot), the rain-soaked show at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, and every club date at the Empire, the Beachland Ballroom and many more.

Leon developed some health issues and when we went to visit him at Wilbert’s, we saw him zip by on an electric scooter, looking like a white-haired Cousin Itt in a cowboy

hat. When he played JB’s in Kent, we interviewed him and found him looking like a sad old man, sitting on a throne at the far end of his tour bus. After the interview, Leon excused himself because he had to move his own equipment truck. By the way, he always made it a point to mention his bass player was from Cleveland.

Years later, in the same city at The Kent Stage, a surprisingly energetic Leon did a great concert and told the audience, “This is where I end the show and come out surprised that you want an encore. We’re all too old for that. I’ll do two more songs and give me a few minutes. I’ll be out by my bus.”

Afterward, I went up to Leon with my sketch from the high school art class, handed it to him and told the story behind it. He looked at it for a minute, signed the preliminary sketch, handed it back and said, “Nice job, buddy.”

Take that, you short-sighted, marginally talented art teacher! I have been vindicated. Now, to find a place for that book…

Mike Olszewski is a veteran award-winning radio, TV and print journalist. Contact him at janmike1978@gmail.com

BOOM TRIVIA

Last issue, I asked about the Cleveland connection to “Sanford and Son.” There are a couple. In one flashback episode, Fred Sanford is seen as a young pool hustler in “The Best Location,” but I was referring to LaWanda Page, “Aunt Esther,” a former Clevelander who toured with fire-breathing dancers. She was a familiar face at the old Lancer’s Steak House at East 77th and Carnegie.

For next time, and this is a tough one: The Who’s Pete Townshend had a great affection for Northeast Ohio. Pete wrote a song about the city titled “Sheraton Gibson” (after a picnic for the band thrown by Mike and Jules Belkin), but also mentioned a former TV kids’ show host in another song. Name the song and host. (I told you it was tough.) I’ll have the answer in the next issue.

He looked at it for a minute, signed the preliminary sketch, handed it back and said, “Nice job, buddy.”