Senior Life, July 2022

Turning food waste into organic soil page 19

VOLUME 25

OF FLORIDA

ISSUE 2

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JULY 2022

Tour de Farce SENIOR LIFE Mallory Smith

Nancy Bleakley grew up reading the Surfside Slant/Islander which was Cocoa Beach’s newspaper in the 1960s and 1970s.

Saving

the slant

SENIOR LIFE Cheryl LaBonte

Labor of love preserves Cocoa Beach’s history

A group of cyclist friends, who call themselves Tour de Farce, often cycle from Viera to Cocoa Village.

Senior cyclists ride for fun, camaraderie

BY CURTIS HANZEL They call themselves Tour de Farce — ­ a group of retirees who do some serious biking and break along the way to shoot the breeze.

While many local residents enjoy a regular bike ride, this group of area cyclists is out to show that cycling is not just a sport for the young.

Indian River Colony Club, a gated golf community in Viera, is the starting point for the group of seniors who cycle three mornings

a week. On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturday mornings you are likely to encounter the group making the 19-mile trek to Cocoa Village.

They call themselves the Tour de Farce.

The group started in 2013 as the Brevard Social Ride, an open Saturday ride on Rockledge Drive. As more residents of Indian River Colony Club joined, the group evolved.

Currently there are nine riders ranging in age from 61 to 85.

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

You can’t hurry a labor of love.

In the case of Nancy Bleakley, it took a decade.

Bleakley, a reference librarian at Cocoa Beach Public Library, spent 10 years trying to preserve the history found in a long-gone Cocoa Beach newspaper.

During the 1960s and 70s, the weekly Surfside Slant/ Islander, aka the Surfside Sun, was the source for news in Cocoa Beach, from women’s club events to high school football games.

SLANT continued to page 3

CYCLISTS continued to page 2

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FROM THE

E ditor

Senior Life has something to offer readers of all ages I was asked to speak at Viera Means Business, a networking group created by our publisher Jill Blue and associated with the Viera Voice, our sister publication.

My subject? What else but Senior Life and the celebration of 25 years of bringing news and information to our readers.

The paper started out with just a few pages — 12 to be exact and distributed in a few locations. Last month’s edition was 32 pages. The paper can be picked up free at any of 700 locations throughout Brevard County.

I told the audience, most of whom were very familiar with Viera Voice, about Senior Life beginning small and continuing to grow while many mainstream papers are in decline.

While speaking, I began to take a renewed note of what I already know as the editor, that Senior Life has plenty to offer for everyone, not only seniors.

Some in the audience also realized that this is a publication, while geared towards seniors, offers stories that are informative, entertaining and educational for any age. Afterward, some mentioned that now that they know the types of stories in Senior Life that they too will be reading it each month.

I gave a sampling of stories in the June edition — from Starlink satellite internet to trends in tiny houses and about cruises and what is available from Port Canaveral. Each month, we feature Behind the Beat, about a song from the past and its songwriter or singer. The latest was “The Candy Man” by Sammy Davis Jr. Then there are the stories on health, veterans and Tech Know Tidbits, about technology in our everyday lives.

Of course, we also tell you about some of the interesting things seniors are doing, including several from Brevard County who participated in the National Senior Games in May in Fort Lauderdale. Some came back home with medals.

Others are helping their neighbors by volunteering in the community.

We have reporters who live in the north end, south end of the county and in communities in between. They know their communities and subjects of interest to seniors and younger readers.

So, seniors, tell your younger friends and family members about Senior Life and how it is packed with information in each edition for everyone. SL R. Norman Moody norm@myseniorlife.com

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Tour de Farce cyclists splash around during their bike ride, which usually begins at 7:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at the Indian River Colony Club in Viera.

CYCLISTS continued from page 1 Pat Giancatarino moved here from Madison, Alabama. He biked a lot when he was in his 30s, but his exercise interests changed over time.

“When COVID kicked up, I knew I had to do something because all of the gyms were closed,” Giancatarino said. “So I started biking again. That was February 2020. I got involved with this group later that summer. It’s a great way to keep active and a great way to burn calories.”

Giancatarino has lost more than 50 pounds since he started riding again.

Exercise and weight loss aren’t the only benefits of riding with the group. One group member, Bob LaBonte, started riding with the group in 2017 on an old used bike he referred to as Old Huffy.

“I hadn’t been on a bicycle since I was a kid,” LaBonte said. “When I retired, I went from a moderate exercise level to the sedentary game of golf. That’s the reason I started to ride.”

In the five years he has ridden with the group, LaBonte has found an added perk.

“The guys I ride with are a great bunch of guys,” LeBonte said. “We have a spot in Cocoa Village that we refer to as The Nook. That’s

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Cheryl LaBonte

A break along the route is part of the bike ride by cyclist friends who call their group Tour de Farce.

where we sit and talk about current issues. We’ll sit for half an hour or 45 minutes and solve all the world’s problems. Then, we get back on the bike and pedal home.”

So for those looking for a little more exercise or just to hang out with a great bunch of guys, the Tour de Farce might be calling you.

They meet in Indian River Colony Club on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings between 7:30 and 8 a.m. SL

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Saving Cocoa Beach history is a labor of love for librarian

SLANT continued from page 1

Frayed and fragile copies of the paper reside bound at the library, but time had taken a toll on the newsprint.

Bleakley thought the Slant/Islander/Sun deserved preserving for posterity and began researching ways to digitize all the copies at the library.

“It has been a goal of mine for many years, because it is a local snapshot of life in Central Brevard during the height of the space program, but the paper was deteriorating,” she said.

It was also dear to Bleakley’s heart, since she grew up reading it and as a teen even wrote a weekly high school happenings column in the early 70s. She remembers the weekly trips to publisher Doug Dederer’s office in Cocoa.

“He was always smoking a cigar, quite a character,” she said.

Dederer, a well-known journalist in the area, died in 1985 at age 58. He was the first aerospace reporter for Florida Today, according to the obituary

SENIOR LIFE Mallory Smith

Nancy Bleakley preserves Cocoa Beach history.

published in The Orlando Sentinel.

Bleakley spent five years researching costs and procedures for digitizing Dederer’s paper, even enrolling in a class on digitization. The problem was the cost, which would have been prohibitive had she not been able to persuade staff

of the University of Florida digital newspaper collection department to take on the project gratis, even though the program is very competitive.

After a process slowed considerably by the pandemic, the project is finished and Bleakley has retrieved the originals from Gainesville.

“What Nancy accomplished not only preserves this collection, but it will provide new insight and research capabilities to individuals all over the world who are interested in our space program and its origins,” said Michael Boonstra, a genealogy librarian and archivist with Brevard Public Libraries.

The Slant also paints a picture of life in Cocoa Beach during the 1970s,

tackling issues that ranged from new condo construction to topless bathing and everything in between.

“You see the names of people you knew and what the stores were and even how much hamburger cost back then,” Bleakley said.

To access the digital copies, visit newspapers.uflib.ufl.edu/ AA00063454/00028. SL

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UCF’s scam screener to protect seniors

BY ZENAIDA GONZALEZ KOTALA University of Central Florida University of Central Florida researchers are developing a tool for primary care providers that could help them protect senior citizens from scammers who steal everything from the elderly’s life’s savings to their identity.

The team, led by Psychology Assistant Professor Nichole Lighthall, is working on exploitation susceptibility tool kits that could screen seniors’ cognitive abilities. These abilities influence their ability to think critically, a necessary skill for avoiding scams and falling victim to fraud.

The FBI estimates fraud complaints cost adults 60 and older more than $1 billion in 2020, an increase of $300 million over 2019. Common schemes like non-delivery of services, phony tech support and identity theft are especially a problem in Florida, with 20% of the population over the age of 65.

The research project will focus on identifying the factors that make victims most vulnerable, including preclinical stages of Alzheimer’s disease.

The research is funded by a four-year $742,833 grant from the Florida Department of Health.

“It’s important that we focus on older adults with mild cognitive impairments because they’re typically operating on their own,” Lighthall said.

“They’re living independently, but may have trouble remembering things, which increases their vulnerability to deception and exploitation.”

The research team includes Bonnie Levin, professor of Neurology at the University of Miami, and Natalie Ebner, professor of Psychology at the University of Florida.

The goal is to produce a tool kit similar to the cognitive assessment tools doctors use during office visits with senior patients. These screening tools help determine the level of cognition — the ability to remember and connect acquired knowledge to present-day questions.

The team said their tool will help

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healthcare professionals screen for markers like an inability to read social and facial cues that betray someone’s true intentions. Other tools in the kit may include surveys and cognitive tests. Home nurses and social workers could potentially use the kit for assessments in non-clinical settings.

“The best scammers never get caught and the most vulnerable scam

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victims never detect their exploitation,” Lighthall said. “This is why our project is so important — because oftentimes the deception is

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Volume 25, Issue 2 Senior Life of Florida 7350 Shoppes Drive, Suite 102 Viera, FL 32940 321-242-1235

JULY 2022 7 9 10 12-13 18-20 20 22-23 29

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INSIDE THIS ISSUE

pg. 13 pg. 24 pg. 31 pg. 31 pg. 31 pg. 31 pg. 31

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Feature Writers Ernest Arico Ed Baranowski Brenda Eggert Brader Sue DeWerff Mike Gaffey Curtis Hanzel Nanette Hebdige Linda Jump Betty Porter Flora Reigada Lindsay Sanderfur Wendy Scheuring Maria Sonnenberg

myseniorlife.com Brevard athletes excel at National Senior Games page 8

Party with Senior Life June 15, sweet treats, prizes page 16

Come see us at Brevard Medical City We encourage organizations259-9500 to contact Senior Life by the 15th of each month prior with information and dates regarding upcoming community-oriented events by email and mail.

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Senior Life Senior Life of Florida is published on the first of each month. The entire contents of this newspaper are copyrighted by Senior Life of Florida with all rights reserved. Senior Life of Florida is not liable for errors or omissions in editorial, advertorial or advertising materials. Distribution of this newspaper does not constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

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Artist, 90, wins first place for watercolor painting

BY SUE DeWERFF Helen Morr has enjoyed painting since her youth. But it was not until recently, at age 90, that she finally realized just how good her artwork is.

A self-described perfectionist who loves nature, Morr was awarded first place for her flower entry titled “Cactus Blossom” at the annual spring Brevard Watercolor Society’s Splash Display event. She was awarded a $250 cash prize, a $250 credit from a local framing outlet and a blue ribbon for her painting.

“I did not expect this, and it was a real shock, but I was thrilled when I found out I had won my first-ever first place ribbon,” the Suntree resident said. Morr said her friend and fellow artist, Margie Carey, encouraged her to enter the painting.

“She told me, you get that beautiful piece entered now,” said Morr, who has received several honorable mentions during past years for her paintings, but has never won a first place prize.

Morr said she did not have much time during her youth or married years while raising her children to pursue painting.

She finally made the decision to

get more involved with her passion after moving to Suntree after her retirement, when she was in her 70s.

Morr became a member of the Brevard Watercolor Society and has been involved with other artist guilds and groups during the past several years. She now attends a weekly artist meeting at Suntree Advent Lutheran Church and has loved being a part of the small, tight-knit group where she said she has made great friends.

Her paintings can also be found displayed in the church.

Morr’s connection to art began when she was just 5 years old, living in a two-story flat with her parents in St. Louis.

“I remember finding a can of red enamel paint in the basement and proceeded to paint a splotch on the side of the building. Needless to say, my folks were not so happy about my art antics,” she said and laughed.

Her subjects include everything from outdoor scenery, flowers, animals, buildings, barns and many varieties of foliage and nature — even coconuts.

Donna Hartman, the president of the Brevard Watercolor Society nonprofit, said she was thrilled when Morr joined the group.

SENIOR LIFE Sue DeWerff

Helen Morr shows off her painting titled “Cactus Blossom,” which won first place at the Brevard Water Color Society’s Splash Display event.

“Her talent is amazing, and she is a great addition to our wonderful group of artists.”

“The detail and depth of her watercolor paintings are truly unbelievable, not only for her age, but

for anyone. She is extremely talented and I am honored to know such an amazing artist,” her neighbor Donna Greene said. “I kept telling her how good she really was, and I hope now she finally believes it.” SL

Thrift store overcomes obstacles to help community

BY FLORA REIGADA A steady flow of customers at the North Brevard Thrift Store in Titusville, illustrates the store living up to its goal of blessing the community with lowcost merchandise.

The store raises funds for its parent organization, Hope for North Brevard.

“We help the homeless with housing, food, clothing and a message of hope,” said Trey Gordon, the cofounder and executive director. “This involves healing for the hurting through counseling, help for people with disabilities and assistance for felons

SENIOR LIFE Dan Reigada

At the Hope for North Brevard Thrift Store, Manager Lisa Thompson discusses the abundance of reasonably priced clothing available for purchase.

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“The lower we went in prices, the higher the daily income rose. … Here we still are five years later.”

—Lisa Thompson

seeking employment.”

The organization works one-onone with children through Champ Mentoring in local schools and supports children through Hope Scholarships.

A recent thrift store expansion which doubled its size, added a furniture section.

Themed rooms include a clothing room, holiday room, craft room, furniture room and a library. Among the goods are electronics, toys and a free food shelf.

“As a faith-based organization, we pray over the store each morning,” Manager Lisa Thompson said.

She sees the results.

“During the pandemic, a woman came in needing colostomy bags for her mother who lives in another country, where she is unable to find them,” Thompson said. “I told her we didn’t have any, but she wandered around the store and found exactly what her mother needed.”

On another occasion, a man who had a leg amputated needed a certain size crutches. He found a pair that seemed made to order.

SENIOR LIFE Dan Reigada

A craft room is among the themed rooms at the Hope for North Brevard Thrift Store, where Manager Lisa Thompson discusses craft items available such as yarn and fabric.

Thompson referenced free items displayed outside the store.

“A couple who had custody of their grandchildren took the items and sold them to help support the youngsters,” she said.

About five years ago, the thrift store ran into hard times and planned to close, but could not ignore customers that came by with tears in their eyes.

Combine this with an interesting phenomenon discovered while the stock

was being liquidated.

“The lower we went in prices, the higher the daily income rose. People came in droves.” Thompson said. “Here we still are five years later.”

The thrift store is at 2214 Garden St. in Titusville. For information, call, 321-383-8638. Visit them on facebook: facebook.com/ HopeforNorthBrevardThrift Find out more about Hope for North Brevard at hopenb.org/. SL

SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

7

Rockledge community celebrates Mother Jenkins’ 99th birthday

BY MIKE GAFFEY Seated under a tent in her driveway, a tiara-clad Johnnie Mae Jenkins waved and blew kisses as dozens of motorists drove past her Revilla Lane home in Rockledge on June 7 to wish her a happy 99th birthday.

“I’m really enjoying this,” Jenkins said as drivers showered her with flowers, cards and good wishes.

“Mother Jenkins embraces life to the fullest. She is a beautiful example of how God can keep you in perfect peace, especially for those who keep their mind on Him. ” —Michael Cadore

It’s the second straight drive-by celebration for Jenkins, a Bainbridge, Georgia native who arrived in Rockledge at age 13 and never left.

“I had one last year for my 98th,” she said. “My granddaughter and my family decided to do another one so here I am at 99. We’ve been celebrating this one since Friday. I had a tea party on Friday.”

Among the well-wishers were

SENIOR LIFE Mike Gaffey

Johnnie Mae Jenkins waved to members of the Rockledge community as she celebrated her 99th birthday.

Rockledge and Cocoa police officers, Rev. David Bryant, Jenkins’ pastor at Greater St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Cocoa, and Rockledge City Councilman Michael Cadore.

“Mrs. Jenkins, aka Mother Jenkins, is such a beloved woman, a true living angel who is a true blessing to everyone who has ever met her,” Cadore said. “She adores my wife, Queen Cornelia. I’ve known Mother

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community.”

Five generations of Jenkinses were on hand to celebrate with Jenkins, who has “a bunch of greatgrandchildren that I can’t even count” and five great-great grandkids.

“Next year’s going to be the big one,” said Jenkins’ daughter-in-law Cheryl Jenkins of Rockledge. “She’ll be 100 then. We’ll be looking forward to that.” SL

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TECH KNOW TIDBITS Demand for electric cars rising with more brands, charging stations

BY LINDA JUMP In 2010, Dan Wagner signed up for an electric car, and although it took two years for him to receive his 2012 Nissan Leap, it was worth the wait.

“It looks like a regular car, but I haven’t bought a single tank of gas. I’ve paid almost nothing for maintenance except tires and brakes, because there are few moving parts.”

As the price of gas rises, more public charging stations are available, and manufacturers each year add electric car models to their lineups, Americans are joining a global trend away from gas guzzlers. Electric cars, which in many ways simulate an enclosed golf cart, are just the ticket for some buyers.

Wagner plugs his car nightly into a garage wallbox device. A full charge gives him more than a 100-mile range. He and his wife Cindy use their second car for long trips.

New electric cars boast a 225- to 300-mile range. The retired Harris engineer has never used a public charging station, but if he did, there are more than 6,500 in Florida.

Most electric car computers and Google Maps show the nearest public charging station for that manufacturer.

According tochargehub.com, Brevard County has dozens of

Dan Wagner of Malabar stands next to his 2012 Nissan Leap, an all-electric car.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

stations, half free, but some are customers only. The site shows locations and whether they are available or in use. The usual price is about 30 to 35 cents per minute of

Thursday, July 21, 2022 10 AM - 1 PM

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

Dan Wagner shows off the front-charging unit of his 2012 Nissan Leap. fast-charge time, while the average cost per kilowatt hour of home electricity is 13 cents, according to the U.S. Energy Department.

Brevard County sites include municipal parks, shopping malls such as The Avenue Viera and Hammock Landing, car dealerships with ECs, and businesses like Health First, Century 21, Florida Power and Light and Sam’s Club in Cocoa. Some sites have a single station, while others are multiple. Some chargers work only with Tesla vehicles, but that company’s chargers will soon be available for other brands. “It’s insane how many charging stations are popping up daily,” said Floria Justice of West Melbourne.

Justice drove her Volkswagen ID.4 to Orlando, and as a precaution, stopped to recharge in Viera. In 45 minutes, she went from 8 percent to fully charged for $14.

“I came from Brazil, where an attendant pumped our gas,” she said.

“I love this car. No pumping gas.”

Shaun Arner of Palm Bay recently bought a 2022 Mustang Mach E SUV for his schoolteacher wife’s 10-mile commute. “So far it costs us another

10

SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

$100 a month for the electricity, but would have cost us $300 or $350 in gas,” he said.

Wagner notes that his car is 90 percent recycled materials, has no emissions and doesn’t require fossil fuel. “It has a recycled plastic body; the seats are made from recycled bottles, and it has a solar panel to charge the two-volt battery for the headlights and radio.”

Electric cars are quiet, but fast.

“All the torque is immediately available, because there are no gears. I could beat a Mustang GT off the line,” Wagner said.

The up-front cost is up to a quarter more than a gasoline model, but gas and repair savings more than make up for that, owners say. The U.S. government hopes to end the manufacture of gas-powered vehicles by 2035 and to half the number by 2030. Purchases of some new electric cars carry a federal tax credit of up to $7,500.

Wagner is on a list to buy a Ford F-150 Lightning, an electric pickup truck with a 300-mile range and 600 horsepower. “That would become our one and only vehicle,” he said. SL

myseniorlife.com

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SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

11

STRIP STRI PES

Brevard Veterans News

Veterans spring to action after fire in North Brevard

You can always count on veterans helping other veterans whenever there is a need in Brevard County.

So, when a fire destroyed four homes and damaged several others in late May in Sharpes, a VFW Department of Florida Disaster Response and Recovery team sprang to action.

“There were veterans out there who lost cars and homes,” said Don Pearsall, who directed the team working with Titusville’s VFW Post 4228 Commander Nick Leon.

They set up their Quick Hit trailer at the Four Communities Fire Station on U.S. 1 in Sharpes, where supplies were distributed to help the veterans who sustained loss because of the fire. They

also helped other victims of the fire, not just veterans, who were the priority.

Pearsall created the team in 2018 following Hurricane Michael’s destructive force that caused havoc in the Caribbean and parts of Florida. The Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Department of Florida named Pearsall director.

He said the Disaster Response and Recovery trailer is always stocked and ready to respond within 15 minutes to disasters anywhere in Florida.

The team tested its response after Hurricane Dorian caused extensive damage to parts of the Bahamas in 2019, where many U.S. military veterans were living. Supplies were shipped on 11 flights following the storm.

Supplies stocked and ready in the trailer and in storage include medical supplies, first-aid kits, food, water, pet food, tarps and stoves. It also includes generators for veterans left without power but who require it to operate medical devices such as a CPAP or oxygenators.

The team also has a large cooker that can be used with gas, coal or wood that can serve food to the community with donated groceries from stores in affected areas.

“If we can do this in the Bahamas, we can do it here,” Pearsall said.

The team worked with the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and the Florida Division of Emergency Management getting medical supplies, including masks, gowns and gloves to hospitals in Florida during the COVID pandemic.

The team spent a day and a half on site in Sharpes making sure they helped all those who needed it, especially the veterans. SL

The Fountains Four veterans join others for Honor Flight

BY MARIA SONNENBERG Dawn was hours away from visiting, but that did not stop four residents from The Fountains of Melbourne to gather at 1:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 11 at Wickham Park Senior Center, where the four veterans joined 26 others in the latest Space Coast Honor Flight.

Honor Flight celebrates veterans by hosting them for an expense-paid, whirlwind trip to visit the Washington, D.C. memorials to the wars in which they fought. It was a trip of a lifetime for the foursome, whose histories represent military service across four conflicts — from World War II to Desert Storm.

The elder veteran in the group was Charles Merserau, who served as a Navy engineer and diving officer from 1941 to 1946. Mersereau worked aboard the USS Parche, one of the most highly decorated boats in the Pacific Submarine Force. It’s conning tower is on display at the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park in Pearl Harbor.

Mersereau helped the Navy, and the Navy helped him. With the aid of the GI Bill, he earned his degree in mechanical engineering. He worked at Pacific Gas

and Electric in California before retiring at 55 to become a property developer in Missouri.

“It was valuable to get my college degree through the service,” he said.

Unlike Mersereau, who spent his military service in the water, Fountains neighbor Al Rollins was on dry land, in Korea, to be exact, serving as an expert rifleman from 1952 to 1955.

From rifleman, Rollins pivoted to weatherman, serving the Eastern Test Range for 16 years before signing on with the City of Cocoa to teach computer skills to employees. Oh, yes, he also purchased a Cocoa motel, renovated it and operated for a dozen years.

Since Honor Flights include an official photographer, Rollins didn’t need to take pictures of his Washington trip, but he could most certainly have done so, since the versatile veteran is also a talented, self-taught photographer.

Honor Flight provided a chance to revisit monuments he remembers from visits years ago.

“I wanted to see them again,” he said.

Both Rollins’ Fountains fellow veterans Jim Herndon and Karen Cathcart served their country during the Vietnam

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of The Fountains

Veterans Charles Merserau, James C. Herndon, Albert A. Rollins and Karen Cathcart joined others for a Space Coast Honor Flight, an expense-paid trip to Washington D.C. to visit memorials to the wars they fought.

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SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of The Fountains

The Fountains of Melbourne honored Karen Cathcart, James C. Herndon, Charles Merserau and Albert A. Rollins during the Space Coast Honor Flight.

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SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

War. From 1965 to 1999, Herndon was with the Navy Reserve.

Depending on how you consider it, he is either an expert at retirement or a failure, since the former Harris architectural designer, North Carolina home flipper, and facilities manager for the Florida Department of Health and Human Services has retired three times.

Honor Flight holds a special place in his heart.

“My father went on Honor Flight and I want to walk in his footsteps,” he said.

Karen Cathcart’s military service

STRIPES

spans both Vietnam and Desert Storm and encompasses both the Air Force and the Army.

The former Philadelphian who moved to California and joined the Air Force at 18 served from 1964 to 1967, but that was just the start of a long career.

“The U.S. called me back in 1972,” said Cathcart, who was master sergeant in administration, personnel and recruitment until her retirement in 1997.

“I wanted to do my duty for my country,” she said. SL

myseniorlife.com

Veteran’s digital newsletter connects Vietnam veterans

BY ERNEST ARICO

The Vietnam War was one of the most significant events in United States history. More than 50,000 U.S. servicemen lost their lives during the struggle in Southeast Asia.

The tensions it created and the passions it unleashed threatened to tear the fabric of U.S. society apart.

The pernicious effect of the war on the U.S. Armed Forces would leave their reputation tarnished and sap their confidence, damage that would take years to repair.

For Lewis Smith of Merritt Island, it’s taken more than 30 years to recognize, understand and come to grips with the horrors of what happened during his military service in the jungles of Vietnam.

In response to honor those he served with in Vietnam, Smith and his wife, Regine, began publishing a digital newsletter in 2009 for Vietnam veterans of the 2nd Battalion of the 173rd Airborne Brigade and their families.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Lewis Smith

Lewis Smith served in Vietnam in 1966.

Today, the 173rd Airborne Brigade (Sky Soldiers) is the U.S. Army’s Contingency Response Force in Europe. Based in Italy and Germany, the brigade routinely trains alongside NATO allies and partners to build interoperability and strengthen the Alliance.

“The original intent of the newsletter was to capture our men’s stories and photos which might otherwise one day go missing,” said the 74-year-old Smith. “Over time, however, it grew well beyond that, and has become somewhat of a unit historical record.”

Smith said the bi-monthly newsletter has brought veterans together, many who haven’t seen each other since the war, but more importantly, the publication has allowed surviving families to connect with friends of their fallen service members.

“Reggie and I have been fortunate to lend a hand, and our guest bedrooms on many occasions, to vets suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, and helping them find treatment while pursuing their VA claims benefits,” Smith said. “None of our efforts involve compensation of any kind — having served with many of these warriors is the greatest reward of all.”

Smith said he creates the 50-

321-242-1235

to 100-page digital Sky Soldier newsletter using a basic Word program, which he later converts to a PDF file for distribution. The newsletter is distributed free to more than 2,000 veterans and their families. There is no advertising on the newsletter and the couple will not accept donations.

“I’m happy with the reception the newsletter’s received,” Smith said. “I feel a certain obligation to the men I served with. It was an honor to serve with them. The newsletter gives me a great deal of satisfaction.”

Retired U.S. Army Col. Robert Warfield recently sent Smith an email, praising him and his recent newsletter’s dedication to retired Col. George E. Dexter, the former commander of the 2nd Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment in Vietnam and Okinawa, who passed away in June 2020.

“I don’t know how you do it. I simply cannot get through every commemoration you manage to find, organize and post to remembrance,” Warfield wrote. “This is special for Col. George Dexter. He would be pleased, as we are grateful for our service opportunity under caring commanders, bent to foster careers and to care for their troops and families. Altogether, your periodic missives over the years must constitute a chronicle virtually unique in the annals of unit remembrance, documentation and historical reflection.”

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Lewis Smith

Lewis and Regine Smith have been working on their digital newsletter in their Merritt Island home since 2009.

Born in Oneida, New York, Smith wanted to be a paratrooper like his two older brothers. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1965, becoming a member of the 101st Airborne.

“I was greatly influenced by them,” Smith said.

In May 1965, Smith was part of the first Army ground combat unit to fight in Vietnam.

While serving in Vietnam, Smith participated in Operation Silver City in Biên Hòa Province, lasting from March 7 to 23, 1966.

Operation Silver City was planned as a sweep of the southwestern sector of War Zone D by the 1st Brigade, 1st Infantry Division and the 173rd

Airborne Brigade Combat Team. The goal of the operation was to destroy the headquarters of the B2 Front’s Military Region 1, a five-province area east and north of Saigon, and to engage the five major units currently under its command: the People’s Army of Vietnam (PAVN) 9th Division’s 271st and 273rd Regiments; the Viet Cong 5th Division’s 274th and 275th Regiments; and the 308th Main Force Battalion, totaling almost 9,000 soldiers.

During that battle, Smith suffered a minor leg wound and later received

VETERAN

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13

Community shares input on local transportation projects

BY SUE DeWERFF While Brevard County continues to grow at a record pace, it has been the Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization’s mission to connect the community to the many current roadway and transportation projects.

On June 7, during its Way to Grow themed annual open house, held at the Space Coast Association of Realtors in Melbourne, the organization shared information with both in-person

and virtual attendees about its Draft Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for fiscal years 2023 to 2027.

The TIP, a staged program encompassing a five-year period consisting of all regionally significant transportation improvements to all modes of travel in Brevard, identifies projects for maintaining and improving the transportation system funded by federal and state sources.

Planning for a Connected System on the Space Coast discussed growth and

SENIOR LIFE Sue DeWerff

The Transportation Management Center, which will house the technology for Brevard’s roadways, will be centrally located near the Pineda Causeway.

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economic development, multi-modal options — including trails, complete streets and intelligent transportation.

The presentation highlighted top transportation priority projects throughout the county including the widening of Ellis Road in Melbourne (No. 1 priority), NASA Causeway Bridge replacement, Space Commerce Way widening, U.S. 192 and Hollywood/ Evans intersection improvements and the design of a county-wide Transportation Management Center (TMC).

Citizens were encouraged to share their thoughts about the transportation projects to be implemented during the next five years. Many attendees commented on their desire for bicycle and pedestrian improvements and enhancements to ensure connectivity throughout Brevard County.

Jo Ellen Dessert of Melbourne Beach, a cyclist, said she hopes to see the county do more to add bike trails to the south county area.

Others voiced concern about

proposed safety enhancements and infrastructure, and several citizens, both who attended in person and virtually, expressed both positive and negative feedback about a roundabout coming to the Cape Canaveral area.

“The Transportation Improvement Program is a realistic forecast of projects that have committed state or federal funds so it serves as the SCTPO’s short range plan, as it provides a five-year implementation schedule,” Executive Director Georganna Gillette said. “The list of funded transportation projects is developed annually with input from the community and updated throughout the year, so we encourage our citizens to get involved in the planning process by joining us at our annual Open House, and voicing their transportation concerns.”

Citizens can review the DRAFT FY 2023-2027 TIP document and leave public responses in the comment portal

by July 14. Visit Spacecoasttpo.com. SL

­

BuenaVidaEstates.org (321) 616-8790 • Toll-free (800) 742-0060 A 501(c)(3) Not For Profit Organization

14

SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

2129 West New Haven Avenue West Melbourne, FL 32904 — Entrance on Doherty Drive —

myseniorlife.com

g n i t a r b e l

y l u J

25th Anniversary

ANN

ERS IV A

RY

Ce

Just to be safe — please call each event location to confirm date and time SUNDAY

MONDAY

events y l u J f o Fourth

TUESDAY Palm Bay: July 2 Independence Day Celebration 5 to 9 p.m. EFSC. Fireworks 9:15 p.m.

Cocoa Beach: July 3 Smoke on the Water, Fire in the Sky Fireworks at dark Sidney Fisher Park.

Port Canaveral: July 2 Fireworks Over the Harbor at The Cove in Port Canaveral at sunset.

Cocoa: July 4 Symphony Under the Stars - Brevard Symphony Orchestra starts 8 p.m.

Cocoa Riverfront Park.

Fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

Port St. John: July 2 Thunder Over the Indian River Independence Day Celebration at 4 p.m.

Orlando Utilities Commission plant Fireworks 9:15 p.m.

3

Suntree Stars & Stripes 4 - 7 p.m.

Outdoor picnic, and indoor concert by the MMB. Suntree United Methodist Church 7400 N. Wickham Road Suntree, 321-242-2585 Sunset in the Hollows Nature Walk 6 - 8 p.m.

Enjoy a nature walk on the grassy trails.

Hundred Acre Hollows 1170 Rock Springs Drive Viera, 800-435-7352

10

National Kitten Day

17

National Ice Cream Day

Sunset in the Hollows Nature Walk 6 - 8 p.m.

Enjoy a nature walk on the grassy trails. Sneakers recommended or other closed-toe shoes, a hat, a water bottle, sunscreen and bug spray. Bring the Kids, no pets please.

Hundred Acre Hollows 1170 Rock Springs Drive Viera, 800-435-7352

24

National Parents Day

Space Coast Cars and Coffee 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Viera High School 6103 Stadium Parkway Viera, 201-658-2004 Daniel Tenbusch Quartet at the VMC 2 p.m.

Concert by the Space Coast Jazz Society.

Veterans Memorial Center 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway Merritt Island 321-453-1776

GPBSC Indoor/Outdoor Vendor and Craft Fair Noon - 4 p.m.

Greater Palm Bay Senior Center 1275 Culver Dr. NE Palm Bay 321-724-1338

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321-242-1235

4

Independence Day

Red, White and Boom over North Brevard 7 - 10 p.m.

Fireworks, music, food.

Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m.

Chain of Lakes Park 23000 Truman Scarborough Way Titusville, 321-567-3708 Great American Celebration Fourth of July Fireworks 9 p.m.

East of the USSSA Stadium Viera, 321-255-4500

11

WEDNESDAY

National 7-Eleven Day

Investors Business Daily 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Stock market investments.

Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-253-6628

18

5

Melbourne: July 4 MelBOOM, 8:10 p.m.

Front Street Park.

Skydiving show.

Fireworks 9 p.m.

National Workaholic Day

Boomer Trivia 4 - 6 p.m.

Free teams or solo.

Great deals on food and drinks.

Pizza Gallery 2250 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-633-0397 Bingocize 1:30 - 2:30 p.m.

RSVP Sunflower House Merritt Island 321-452-4341

12

Eat Your Jello Day

Bingo 2 - 3:30 p.m.

Sponsored by Florida Healthcare Plans.

Play free and win prizes.

RSVP required.

One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771

6

National Fried Chicken Day

Sit-n-Stitch 1 - 3 p.m.

Embroiderer, knitting and crochet group.

Suntree/Viera Public Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-253-6628 Downsizing Seminar 2 p.m.

Discover expert strategies for preparing and moving.

Shell Harbor 2855 Murrell Road Rockledge, 321-252-4882

13

Trouble Hearing on the Phone?

2 - 3 p.m.

Learn about the FTRI program and get your free amplified phone.

Sunflower House MI, 321-452-4341 Dine & Dance 5 p.m.

Chef-prepared meal and live entertainment.

Shell Harbor 2855 Murrell Road Rockledge, 321-252-4882

Sensible Weight Loss with Friends 9 - 10 a.m.

Members weigh in then enjoy the friendship and encouragement.

Greater PB Senior Center 1275 Culver Drive NE Palm Bay, 321-724-1338

19

Special Needs Trust Seminar 10 - 11 a.m.

Presented by Attorney William A. Johnson.

RSVP required.

One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771 MacMad User Group Meeting 5:30 - 7 p.m.

One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771

20

25

26

27

National Hire a Veteran Day

Spanish Class 1 - 2 p.m.

All levels Martin Andersen Senior Center 1025 S. Florida Ave. Rockledge, 321-453-5098

ANA Coin Talk with Bob 6 - 7:45 p.m.

Speak with Bob about old coins.

Suntree/Viera Public Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-253-6628

National Hot Dog Day

Free Liver Scans 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Free fibroscans by ClinCloud.

One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771 MMB presents Takin’ It Easy Concert 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

July 20, 21 Great jazz from all eras.

Melbourne Auditorium 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd.

Melbourne, 321-724-0555

Non-Fiction Book Club 3 p.m.

"The Library Book"

by Susan Orlean.

Suntree/Viera Public Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-253-6628 Trivia Night 6 - 8 p.m.

Hook & Eagle Tavern 2300 Clubhouse Drive Viera, 321-639-3487

THURSDAY

1

Merritt Island: July 4 Independence Day Parade Starts at Merritt Island High School, 10 a.m.

FRIDAY National Postal Worker Day

2

SATURDAY

First Friday Art Walk EGAD 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

Enjoy art, food, live music and cocktails.

Downtown Eau Gallie 1423 Highland Ave. Melbourne, .321-622-4223 Great American Food Truck Bash 5 - 9 p.m.

Food trucks, inflatables and live music.

Wickham Park Pavilion 2500 Parkway Drive Melbourne, 321-633-2046

Palm Bay Independence Day Celebration 5 - 9 p.m.

In addition to the fireworks, the event will feature more than 20 food trucks, vendors, live music and a kids’ zone with free inflatables, games and face painting.

Eastern Florida State College 250 Community College Parkway SE, Palm Bay 321-726-2760

8

Chocolate & Wine Pairing Event

4 p.m.

Alura by Inspired Living 777 Roy Wall Blvd.

Rockledge 321-541-0762

Ribbon Cutting for Postal Connection 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Grand opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Postal Connection at Viera 8530 N. Wickham Road, Suite 112 Viera, 321-724-5400 Painting Memories 9 a.m. - Noon Art Therapy Kiwanis Island 951 Kiwanis Island Park MI, 407-534-4100

9

14

15

16

22

23

Gorgeous Grandma Day

30

National Fatherin-Law Day

Rockledge: July 4 Independence Day Picnic 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

McLarty Park.

Titusville: July 4 Red, White and Boom 7 to 10 p.m.

Chain of Lakes Park Fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

7

National Macaroni Day

Strength & Balance 9:30 a.m.

Freedom 7 Senior Center 5000 Tommy Warriner Blvd.

Cocoa Beach, 321-783-9505

Convention of States Action monthly meeting 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Come by and learn about the Convention of States Project.

Merritt Island Library 1195 N. Courtenay Parkway MI, 321-455-1369

National Collector Car Appreciation Day

Tinnitus (and Hearing Loss) Presentation 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Presented by Personal Hearing Solutions.

One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771 Cocoa Beach Friday Fest 6 - 10 p.m.

Live music, food trucks, crafts.

Cocoa Beach Main Street Minutemen Causeway Cocoa Bch., 321-693-3159

21

National Be Someone Day

Courtenay Springs Village Tribute Show

Cars Under the Stars: Movie in the Park

28

Buffalo Soldiers Day

29

Ice Cream Social 1 - 3 p.m.

Belly dancing, games, prizes and make your own sundae.

North Brevard Senior Center 909 Lane Drive Titusville, 321-268-2333 Yankee Doodle Dandee Dance 7 - 10 p.m.

Music by DJ Geoff. BYOB, snack will be provided.

North Brevard Senior Center 909 Lane Ave. Titusville, 321-268-2333

Brevard Home & Garden Expo July 16 & 17 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Melbourne Auditorium 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd.

Melbourne, 321-733-8816 BSO Summer Evening Concert Series 7 p.m.

Suntree United Methodist Church 7400 N. Wickham Road Suntree, 321-3455052

Rummage Sale 10 a.m. - noon Wickham Park 5 - 9 p.m.

Community Center "Pokemon Detective 2815 Leisure Way, Room #3 Pikachu" Jimmy Buffet and Melbourne, 321-608-7490 Wickham Park Eric Clapton tribute 2500 Parkway Drive Scandinavian Road 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Melbourne, 321-633-0046 Trip Concert Tribute to Jimmy Buffet TGIF Seaside Piecemakers 7 p.m. and Eric Clapton.

Space Coast Symphony Courtenay Springs Village 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.

Orchestra 1200 S. Courtenay Parkway Suntree/Viera Scott Center Auditorium Public Library Merritt Island 5625 Holy Trinity Drive 902 Jordan Blass Drive 321-452-1233 Suntree, 855-252-7276 Suntree, 321-253-6628

28 Night 5 - 8:30 p.m.

Featuring local vendors.

28 North Gastropub 2250 Town Center Ave Viera Medicaid Planning Seminar 10 - 11 a.m.

Presented by William A. Johnson. RSVP One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771

National Chicken Wing Day

Friday Afternoon at the Movies 1 - 3 p.m.

The movie will be "Blacklight." RSVP Sunflower House MI, 321-452-4341

Laughs on the Go at Club 52 7:30 p.m.

Standup comedy show.

Club 52 1100 N. Wickham Road Melbourne, 321-259-9800 Christmas in July Event 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Food Trucks, DJ and 60 local vendors.

Titusville Civic Center 4220 S. Hopkins Ave. Titusville, 321-383-0254

SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

15

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Kennedy Space Center

Kennedy Space Center Diamond Jubilee hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 1 and 2 at the Kennedy Space Center complex. The complex opens at 9 a.m.

KSC’s new exhibits sparkle in time for diamond jubilee

BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER

The birth of space exploration in 1960 captured the minds of the world audience. Rockets were a new phenomenon and launches were an addicting wonder as thousands scrambled to Florida for positions along the causeways and Banana River to view. The visions began with a monumental ground shaking followed by a thunderous rumble reaching toward the earth’s outer limits.

With that birth, Kennedy Space Center was created and now is celebrating its Diamond Anniversary July 1 and 2 with special presentations at the KSC Visitors Complex. “‘One Giant Leap,’ an audience

interactive type of comedy presentation will be offered at the visitor complex,” said Rebecca Schireman, the public relations manager for Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. “A disc jockey will provide 1960s music and Journey to Mars information will be shared.

“The complex will launch something special to observe Artemis, the moon program, in anticipation of that launching sometime this year. That observance also begins July 1 and will last through August.”

A fascinating family and individual activity for the celebration involves a mission manual and scavenger hunt, Schireman said.

“Visitors will visit the information or guest services for the scavenger

questions and then visit the six stations to answer video and manual questions,” she said. “Each station has a sticker for proof you did the questions and once completed you get a little prize.

“Now open, is the first free-standing exhibit building since opening the Atlantis exhibit in 2013. ‘Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex,’ hosts an array of current and future space vehicles used by both NASA and private industry.”

One visitor remembers the center beginning.

“I can remember standing out on an extended deck inside the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) building way up high looking way, way down to the bottom floor,” said

Valerie Campbell of West Melbourne, remembering her first visit to the KSC at age 10. “It was so high up. It was scary. I also loved the rocket garden.”

“Can’t go to the VAB now, because there is work always going on,” Schireman said. “Everything we do now is working around NASA space requirements.”

Diamond Anniversary hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., which is a portion of the daily activities at the space complex that opens at 9 a.m. The scavenger hunt, for all ages, is normal hours anytime completed on your own.

A one-day KSC entry ticket costs $75. A special two-day ticket option costs $89, allowing six months to take the second entry. This was effective June 20. SL

History — Then and Now

History – Then and Now features Space Coast historic landmarks or sites in pictures and what those same areas look like today in photographs.

Then - 1970s

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Suntree Country Club

In the 1970s, Suntree Country Club’s clubhouse building boasted a Southern charm.

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SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

Now - 2022

SENIOR LIFE Elaine Moody

Suntree Country Club opened its new clubhouse this year as part of a $7.5 million project.

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17

Behind the

Beat

By Randal C. Hill

‘School’s Out’ — Alice Cooper

As a boy, Vincent Furnier loved to watch old movies on one of Phoenix’s independent TV stations. The Bowery Boys comedy flicks were a special favorite. In one particular story, when one of one the characters does something (typically) stupid, a buddy taunts him with, “Hey, school’s out!”

Furnier liked the way that phrase sounded when he rolled it around in his mind.

Little did he know that years later it would fuel his first million-selling single as Alice Cooper when he cowrote “School’s Out” with fellow musician Michael Bruce.

“I always said we were the band that drove the stake through the love generation.’’

—Alice Cooper

Picture a pre-fame Alice Cooper as a teenager. You might cast him as a nerd and the laughing stock of Phoenix’s Cortez High School. But in reality,

Furnier was quite the Big Man on Campus there. He set school records as a varsity cross-country runner. He wrote a popular column (“Get Outta My Hair!”) for the school newspaper. He and some fellow track-and-field jocks formed a rock band called the Spiders.

And when they cut a Furnier-led single—a punkish ditty called “Don’t Blow Your Mind”—on a tiny local label, it rocketed to No. 1 on Phoenix radio in 1966, Furnier’s senior year.

“We owned that school. We owned everything about it,” he has boasted. “I had a great time in high school. I was Ferris Bueller!”

“School’s Out” became the seventh single release by Alice Cooper, at the time the name of both the lead singer and his backup band. It was the only 45 issued from Cooper’s fifth album, not surprisingly called School’s Out. The obstreperous disc opens with a screechy, fingernails-on-the-blackboard lead-guitar line.

Then comes a loping bass guitar and a thumping drum that combine to drive the high-octane offering for three-anda-half chaotic minutes.

SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock

Alice Cooper often ends his shows with “School’s Out.”

Predictably, record-buying teens loved it. And why not? Who didn’t look forward to summer vacation, three sublime months shrilly announced by the rapid-fire clanging of a bell that promised endless possibilities of a school-free, sunshine-bathed season? Here in America, Cooper’s bratty, tongue-in-cheek single reached Billboard’s Top 10 and became a No. 1

winner in England.

Some of the song’s lyrics are, well, different: School’s out for summer, school’s out forever, school’s been blown to pieces Probably the most deft line is: We’ve got no class, and we’ve got no principles.

Predictably, many adults railed against the irreverent record, and some radio stations refused to play it.

Cooper’s song has now joined the ranks of such other anti-school classics as Chuck Berry’s “School Day” and Pink Floyd’s “Another Brick in the Wall.”

“I always said we were the band that drove the stake through the love generation,” Cooper said.

Cooper’s action-packed concerts — as much modern vaudeville as shock rock—are a mashup of comedy, horror and music, and Cooper often ends his shows with “School’s Out.” In an Esquire magazine interview, Cooper said, “When we did ‘School’s Out,’ I knew we had just done the national anthem, (that) I’ve become the Francis Scott Key of the last day of school!” SL

Are you prepared for when it’s time to cash in your chips?

As we look at television news, read newspapers and share experiences daily, we are reminded of death. Are you prepared? How are you focused on eternal life, estate issues, family concerns and your legacy?

John MacArthur of Grace To You Ministry commented: “I remember being on the Larry King Show after 9/11 and Larry said to me: ‘What is the lesson here?’ I said: ‘The lesson is everybody’s going to die, and you’re not

Sudoku

necessarily in control of when.’ ” We can, however, be in control of how we are remembered by how we live and what is said at our funeral.

When Pope Francis was elected in 2013, a reporter asked: “How often do you think of death?” He answered: “It’s been a daily companion of mine.”

The pandemic, the war in the Ukraine, school shootings and funerals of family and friends makes death a daily companion for us.

Solution on page 24

Challenges of Living to Age 100 Ed Baranowski My granddaughter Brin Jones recently completed studies at St. Petersburg College in Funeral Arts. She has worked in the funeral industry for four years and is working for her state license as a funeral director. She thinks about death every day as she consoles families, helps them with funeral arrangements and encourages us all to make advanced preparations.

On May 25, a SpaceX rocket carried a container of cremated remains of 47 people to be placed in orbit as their final resting place. Burial at sea, scattering of ashes, green burial and other practices are evolving.

The Rev. Tom Walden of Our

VETERAN

continued from page 13 a minor leg wound and later received the Combat Infantryman Badge and Bronze Star with Valor medals for his actions. The Bronze Star Medal with the V device is the fourth highest military decoration for valor.

Smith left Vietnam in December 1966 and was later stationed near Bavaria, Germany, where he met his wife, Regine. They were married in 1967, and have two sons, Don, 53, and Dan, 51. The couple live on Merritt Island.

18

SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

Lady of Lourdes recently provided a program “Dying and Death.” It dealt with eternal life, Catholic traditions related to funerals, burial and liturgy. He encouraged attendees to plan well for end-of-life matters. Health surrogates, advanced directives, living will and funeral plans were discussed.

In the last “Grace and Frankie” Netflix episode, Frankie, played by Lily Tomlin, throws herself a funeral. She’s facing the final descent toward death and expects nice eulogies. The speeches all recall adventures with Grace (played

by Jane Fonda) who is too busy to attend as she tends to other practical matters. As I get older, I notice fewer and fewer people attending Celebrations of Life and funerals.

Our challenge is to remember everything’s beautiful in its own way.

Where are you headed when you cash in your chips? SL Ed Baranowski is an award-winning writer, artist, speaker and seminar leader. He lives in Melbourne and can be contacted at fast75sr@gmail.com.

Smith, a former minor league baseball player who once singled off former New York Yankees pitching great Mel Stottlemyre, said he has returned to Vietnam twice — 2001 and 2005 — to visit former battle sites.

“It was a very emotional experience for me,” he said. “It took me over 30 years to recognize myself. But I’m proud of what I did and my service for my country.” SL To see all issues to date at the 503rd Heritage Battalion, visit corregidor.org/ VN2-503/newsletter/issue_index.htm

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Turning food waste into organic soil is goal of composting

BY LINDA JUMP The City of West Melbourne and Keep Brevard Beautiful are teaming up to start Brevard County’s first municipal composting operation to create local organic soil.

“On average, each person wastes one to two pounds of organics each day. We’re trying to save landfill space and grow our composting program to include every resident,” said Bryan Bobbit, the executive director of Keep Brevard Beautiful.

Eventually, he foresees five more composting facilities built around the county to feed one large commercial composting operation.

Bobbit said KBB is seeking 250 West Melbourne customers who will pay $30 monthly to receive a five-gallon blue plastic bucket to fill with their food waste. Green food waste such as tea bags, coffee grounds and vegetable scraps, but excluding meats and fish, eggs and dairy can be placed into the container that is picked up and replaced with an empty one. Wood chips are provided to control odors.

A three-bay aerated composting facility SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

Bryan Bobbit holds a five-gallon composting container to save food scraps for composting.

next to the city’s water treatment facility off Park Hill Road was created from a 53-foot shipping container. The green waste is mixed with brown carbon waste such as lawn clippings, leaves, shredded paper, and pine needles and solar-warmed air is pumped into a temperature of 175 degrees. The mixture goes into the second and third bays and is heaped together with beneficial microbes and turned periodically. After about a month, samples are state tested, then placed into burlap sacks recycled from local breweries.

Twice annually, West Melbourne customers can come for free bags of local soil to use in their gardens and lawns. The city will use the soil for landscaping and Bobbit hopes to sell the excess at nearby nurseries. Bobbit said local landscapers and tree-cutting firms can bring their material for chipping to avoid paying a landfill fee, providing an ongoing source of brown waste.

“Healthy soils are the foundation of a healthy environment and a healthy community,” said Nicholas Sanzone, the environmental programs coordinator for West Melbourne. “This makes it simple for residents to be stewards of our resources.”

Static demonstration vegetable and pollinator gardens are planned, with produce donated to soup kitchens.

“We want the entire operation to focus on reuse,” Bobbit said. SL

Tampa showing way to improve water quality

Pollution and deterioration of Florida’s waters is not just a Brevard County issue. We frequently hear about algal blooms on the West Coast.

And, sadly, fish and manatees are dying there too.

What are other communities doing? Are they giving up or making progress?

Well, Tampa for one, is making real progress.

Seagrass is one indicator of special interest to us. In the 1950s, Tampa Bay was covered by some 40,000 acres of seagrass meadows. By 1982, that had declined to 21,650 acres.

Today, the Bay is back up to more than 34,000 acres and the community has set the long-term goal of maintaining at least 40,000 acres. Fish variety data also have improved.

Impressive! And the progress was spurred by improvements in Tampa Bay’s water quality, especially nitrogen reduction. Through efforts by the EPA, the Tampa Bay Estuary Program (TBEP) and a consortium of

Lagoon Straight Talk From the Brevard Indian River Lagoon Coalition businesses and communities dedicated to nitrogen reduction, nitrogen loadings have been reduced by some 77 tons per year. This took a combined community investment of more than $2.5 billion.

These pollution control efforts have resulted in improved water quality throughout the Bay. In 1982, water quality across Tampa Bay was red alert.

Most areas of Tampa Bay began meeting water quality standards in 2005 and are continuing to do so.

It is notable that during this time Tampa Bay’s population increased from 1.4 million in 1980 to 3.2 million today.

Seagrass in Tampa Bay has improved since 1982.

There are still issues in the Bay. One segment, Old Tampa Bay, has experienced recurring summertime algae blooms and has struggled to maintain seagrass. Also, events like the emergency discharge of nitrogenrich water from the Piney Point phosphate processing facility last March can cause challenges.

The TBEP and community have been working together for more

SENIOR LIFE photo

than 30 years, since 1991, and have demonstrated that massive problems like the destruction of seagrass in a rapidly growing community can be largely overcome through persistence, sound plans, sustained investment and cooperation.

Tampa Bay is succeeding: We can too!

For more information, check out HelpTheLagoon.org and tbep.org. SL

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BCOA NEWS BREVARD COMMISSION ON AGING

BCOA meetings are open to the public and are held the second Thursday of each month at the government center in Viera. For information, contact Cindy Short at 321-6332076, FAX 321-633-2170, cindy.short@brevardfl.gov, brevardf l.gov/HumanServices/CommissionOnAging or at 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, B-106, Viera, FL 32940.

Get relief from the summer heat

Too much heat is not safe for anyone.

It is even riskier if you are older or have health problems. It is essential to get relief from the heat quickly. If not, you might begin to feel confused or faint. Your heart could become stressed and stop beating.

Being hot for too long can be a problem. It can cause several illnesses, all grouped under the name hyperthermia: • Heat syncope is a sudden dizziness that can happen when you are active in hot weather. If you take a heart medication called a beta-blocker or are not used to hot weather, you are even more likely to feel faint. Rest in a cool place, put your legs up and drink water to make the dizzy feeling go away.

• Heat cramps are the painful tightening of muscles in your stomach, arms or legs. Cramps can result from hard work or exercise. Though your body temperature and pulse usually stay normal during heat cramps, your skin may feel moist and cool. Find a way to cool your body down. Rest in the shade or go inside. Drink plenty of fluids. Avoid alcohol and caffeine.

• Heat edema is a swelling in your ankles and feet when you get hot. Put your legs up to help reduce swelling.

If that doesn’t work and the swelling continues, check with your doctor.

• Heat exhaustion is a warning that

your body can no longer keep itself cool. You might feel thirsty, dizzy, weak, uncoordinated, and nauseous.

You may sweat a lot. Your body temperature may stay normal, but your skin may feel cold and clammy. Some people with heat exhaustion will have a rapid pulse. Rest in a cool place and get plenty of fluids. If you don’t feel better soon, get medical care. Be careful—heat exhaustion can progress to heat stroke.

Heat stroke

If you have a heat stroke, you need medical help immediately. Older people living in homes or apartments without air conditioning or fans are at most risk. People who become dehydrated or those with chronic diseases or alcoholism are also at the most risk. Signs of heat stroke are: • Fainting (possibly the first sign) or becoming unconscious • A change in behavior—confusion, agitation, staggering, being grouchy, or acting strangely • Body temperature over 104 degrees (40°C) • Dry, flushed skin and a strong, rapid pulse or a slow, weak pulse • Not sweating even if it is hot

Who is at risk?

Each year, most people who die from hyperthermia are over 50 years old.

Health problems that put you at greater

risk include: • Heart or blood vessel problems • Poorly working sweat glands or changes in your skin caused by normal aging • Heart, lung, or kidney disease, as well as any illness that makes you feel weak all over or results in a fever • Conditions treated by drugs, such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers and some heart and high blood pressure medicines; some medications may make it harder for your body to cool itself • Taking several prescription drugs; ask your doctor if any of your medications make you more likely to become overheated.

• Being very overweight or underweight • Drinking alcoholic beverages

Limit your use of the oven. Keep your shades, blinds, or curtains closed during the hottest part of the day. Open your windows at night.

• If your house is hot, try to spend time during midday at some place that has air conditioning—for example, go to the shopping mall, movies, library, senior center, or a friend’s house.

• If you need help getting to a cool place, ask a friend or relative. Some religious groups, senior centers and area agencies on aging provide this service. If necessary, take a taxi or call for senior transportation. Don’t stand outside in the heat waiting for a bus.

• Dress for the weather. Some people find natural fabrics, such as cotton, cooler than synthetic fibers.

• Don’t try to exercise or do a lot of activities outdoors when it’s hot.

• Avoid crowded places when it’s hot How can I lower my risk? outside. Plan trips during non-rushThings you can do to lower your risk hour times. of heat-related illness: If cooling your home is a concern, • Drink. Drink. Drink. Drink plenty the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation of liquids, such as water or fruit or has a state-sponsored program to repair vegetable juices. Stay away from and replace air conditioning units for drinks containing alcohol or caffeine. If qualified residents above the age of 60. your doctor has told you to limit your The number for the Emergency Home beverages, ask what you should do Energy Assistance for the Elderly when it is very hot.

Program is 321-253-4430. SL • If you live in a home or apartment For facts and information from the without fans or air conditioning, try to National Institute on Aging, go to keep your house as cool as possible. nia.nih.gov.

ClinCloud offers clinical research, care option for patients

BY ERNEST ARICO Do you know someone or have a family member that may be displaying early signs of memory loss, liver disease, dementia or Alzheimer’s?

If the answer is yes to any of these symptoms you may want to check out the new private, clinical research company that’s opened an office in Viera.

ClinCloud, which began in 2017 with two offices in Maitland, was established to bring communities together to inspire medical discoveries for tomorrow’s future through education and technological advances.

In August 2021, ClinCloud opened its latest Viera branch at 7000 Spyglass Court in Suite 130.

The office specializes in memory care and gastrointestinal programs.

Services include memory screenings, liver screenings, access to unique and cutting-edge treatment options, personalized care and counseling services for enrolled participants.

Jessica Branning, ClinCloud’s chief executive officer and founder, said the decision to open a Viera office was an easy one.

“Viera is a growing location that also has a growing geriatric population,” she said. “Our mission is to create, connect and educate our communities on resources available through clinical research.”

Branning said the clinic offers free, on-site patient assessments

20

including memory and other cognitive assessments, liver ultrasounds and blood tests, as well as potential access to therapies for hard-to-treat conditions.

“We help match patients with a specific medical condition with clinical research studies to find an effective treatment,” she said. “We will serve as your research specialists, as if you were to refer someone to a specialist.

We will take the burden off of you to conduct the trial match opportunities and communicate back the results.”

ClinCloud’s team is comprised of some of the medical field’s most innovative leaders who collectively have more than 40 years of clinical trial experience in patient retention and recruitment. The team is dedicated to filling the gap between the community and effective clinical trial enrollment.

One of the company’s team leaders is Dr. Rosemary Laird, a boardcertified geriatrician and ClinCloud’s principal investigator at the Viera clinic.

“I am really happy they are in town,” Laird said. “Now, our medical community won’t be missing out on this service.”

Laird, a clinical associate professor in the Department of Geriatrics at the Florida State University School of Medicine, said she likes working for ClinCloud for two reasons.

“First, they really communicate well with me as a collaborating physician,” she said. “Second, they have really

SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

looked to do a lot in community support and educating the community through support groups about issues such as fatty liver problems.”

Branning, a 2014 graduate of Rollins College with a bachelor’s degree in biology, said no insurance is required for memory assessments and the company doesn’t charge patients for any of the other services. In fact, she said the company compensates patients who want to participate in the research study with prepaid Visa cards.

No patient’s personal information is disclosed to any agency.

Branning said the company is reimbursed for its research, data and

clinical studies by pharmaceutical companies, government agencies and academic institutions.

“These are really important and exciting times for us right now,” Branning said. “We are making great progress in slowing down the progression of diseases like Alzheimer’s. The more people we get to participate in our clinical research studies, the better chance we have of finding a cure.” SL For information, visit the clinic at 700 Spyglass Court, Suite 130 in Viera; call 407-636-4031 ext. 122; email info@clincloudresearch.com, or visit clincloudresearch.com Comprehensive Range of Treatments

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Health & Wellness Clinical hypnotist offers release from old patterns for good

BY LINDSAY SANDERFUR Hypnosis involves moving the conscious mind temporarily aside to reach the subconscious mind. We enter altered states naturally, as when driving or daydreaming.

Hypnotherapy uses hypnosis for therapeutic (healing) purposes.

According to WebMD, hypnotherapy is often combined with psychotherapy or talk therapy, with a therapist guiding a person into a relaxed, focused state.

Melbourne clinical hypnotist Alexandra Callner specializes in negative emotional release and trauma.

She is in good standing with the National Guild of Hypnotists, the largest organization for clinical hypnotherapy.

“I was trained in traditional hypnosis,” she says. It worked on her clients about 80% of the time, usually after four to six sessions. But then “something would trigger them and they would fall off their wagon of happiness.” She went on a quest to discover more about the human brain.

“My first field of study is neuroplasticity,” she said.

Plasticity refers to nervous system changes. Neuroplasticity defines the term as structural and functional

adaptation to stimuli. It happens after a stroke or TBI (traumatic brain injury).

Lasting change means hardwiring new behaviors.

“I do a very specialized form of hypnosis,” she said. “Possibly only 3,000 of us in the world do it. It’s especially for depression, anxiety, grief, trauma. I combine NLP (neurolinguistic programming) with a form of timeline therapy and add my own selftalk exercises.

“And it’s rapid,” she adds. “I see drastic results by the fourth session.”

Callner’s 12-session program has been successful for many clients.

Scott is a disabled Army veteran with bodily injuries and post-traumatic stress disorder. “I’ve been in therapy most of my adult life dealing with these problems,” he said, admittedly skeptical at first. “I wasn’t even familiar with what hypnosis is really like.”

After three or four sessions, he said that it has been “a complete gamechanger.” His chronic shoulder pain completely disappeared after the first session and everyday physical pain has dissipated.

“I also have sleep apnea and I have a horrible time sleeping,” he said.

Prescription sleep medications work,

but they cause next-day fatigue. “The VA monitors my sleep apnea,” he said.

After his sessions with Callner, “my occurrences in a month have dropped in half.”

Author and podcast host Mark Tullius credits one session with a permanent change in his way of thinking relating to morning workouts.

“But where the big shift was,” he said, “was trauma release hypnosis.”

A security guard, bouncer, fighter and football player, Tullius was accustomed to violence. Brain mapping techniques helped him gain some control over his emotions relating to a prior TBI. But his lingering anger concerned him.

A honk from the car behind him could put him into a rage. “Even though my brain’s ability to deal with stress had gotten better, I still had those old patterns,” he said.

He decided to try Callner’s program.

“It has been awesome for me,” he said “I would definitely say it’s been beneficial to my family as well. It’s just a really powerful program. It lets you explore parts of your past – what lessons did I learn from this moment?”

During sessions, you don’t actually relive the event.

SENIOR LIFE/Shutterstock

Hypnotherapy is often combined with psychotherapy or talk therapy.

“Everybody wants to dig down in and see what the gory details are,” Scott said. “And she just doesn’t do that. We don’t have to talk about any specifics that I don’t want to talk about.

She has this method to get me to be able to deal with those situations.”

He added, “I wish I would have known about this 30 years ago.” SL

3.3 million people in the U.S. suffer from migraines

BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER

More females than males have migraine headaches. The highest frequency is in young adults in their 30s, but older adults can be affected with chronic migraines.

Those who get migraines may begin with them in their childhood and continue to have them through elder adult life. Parents can even pass down

SUDOKU

22

migraine triggers from fatigue, bright lights or based on weather changes.

“Twelve to 15 percent of the population (or 3.3 million people in the U.S.) suffers from migraines,” said Randal Davis, a doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and board-certified family medicine and neuromusculoskeletal physician at Health First.

“Migraine is a term we use for severe episodic headaches commonly

Solution on page 30

SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

seen with a pulsing sensation,” Davis said. “Common clues that begin the migraines suggest unusual changes, strong odors or neurologic sensations.

“The reason people have migraines is thought to be more likely due to neurologic misfiring. Additional triggers include stress, change in schedule, sleeping patterns, along with neck pain or chronic neck injuries and some follow menstrual cycles. Certain foods also can do the job, such as caffeine, wines, cheeses or even peanuts.

“Some people can tolerate a bit of debilitation,” Davis said. “Some severe migraines can cause disability in some patients.”

The length of time a migraine attack lasts can vary, too. The National Headache Foundation said migraine attacks last four to 72 hours.

“Medications range from provider input as most doctors will offer a controller medicine taken every day,” Davis said.

He said it generally depends on severity to have it daily. Some controller medicines prevent migraines from coming on in the first place. Abort medications are used to conclude the headache. Infusion medications (intravenous injection) are also being used.

“You try to tailor medicine to the least amount you can,” Davis said. “I bet I see 15 percent patient load with migraines and broadly use seizure medicine, anti-inflammatory, hormones and infusion medicines. Different

SENIOR LIFE photo

Dr. Randal Davis is a doctor of Osteopathic medicine and a boardcertified family medicine and neuromusculoskeletal physician with Health First.

vitamins can be helpful, but the patient must be careful as some are not good. If in doubt, always talk to your doctor.”

Davis suggests osteopathic manipulative therapy for treatment.

Osteopathic manipulation (OMT) is an entire system of evaluation and treatment designed to achieve and support health by restoring normal function to the body. Manipulation means the therapeutic application of manual pressure or force.

“It helps limit unnecessary medications for patients, reduces cost and unnecessary expense.” SL

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Awareness of sun damage can save future skin

BY LINDSAY SANDERFUR Ahh, summertime in Florida. It’s a season when tourists and locals alike congregate outdoors and flock to the beaches.

According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, by the age of 70, one in five Americans will develop skin cancer, and melanoma risk doubles after five or more sunburns. Even one significant childhood sunburn can double the risk.

And 90 percent of skin aging is sun related.

“If you develop a sore that doesn’t heal, or see a mole that’s changing, you should probably have it looked at by a dermatologist.”

—Dr. Terrence Cronin Jr.

An awareness of short-term and long-term effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation is essential. But how do we protect our skin from the damaging effects of UV rays?

“There are a lot of things that we can do as dermatologists on the front line regarding this issue,” said Dr. Terrence Cronin Jr. of the Cronin Skin Cancer Center in Melbourne. “We recommend that patients avoid the sun as much as possible.”

While outdoors, he advises wearing hats, sunglasses, long sleeves, leggings, comfortable fabrics geared toward sun protection, and sunscreen.

Sunburn is caused by UVB rays while UVA rays cause tanning Dr. Terrence Cronin Jr. and premature aging, according to the Skin Care Foundation.

A broad-spectrum sunscreen protects against UVA and UVB rays. Sunburn is an obvious sign of skin damage, but short-term “premature aging of the skin” and “liver spots, brown freckles, and changes to the skin that are not cosmetically appealing occur from longterm sun damage,” Cronin said.

“Atrophy or thinning of the skin where the skin becomes very fragile and bruises very easily” are not signs of aging, but sun damage, he said.

Compare your forearms to your buttocks, which receives little to no sun to determine if your skin is undergoing sun-related changes.

“If you develop a sore that doesn’t heal, or see a mole that’s changing, you should probably have it looked at by a dermatologist,” he says.

DNA damage is also connected with long-term sun exposure, according to “The New Science of Skin Cancer” by Erin Reimel and Marnie Schwartz. A diet rich in antioxidants and omega-3

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Premature aging of the skin, liver spots, brown freckles and changes to the skin occurs from long-term sun damage. fatty acids can help neutralize free radicals. DNA repair creams are also available.

How do we choose sunscreen?

“There are chemical and physical ones,” Cronin said. “Zinc and titanium dioxide block the sun and reflect it back.

These can make the skin sparkle. These are very good sunscreens. Chemical ones tend to be a little more elegant and not so obvious when you wear them. They provide greater coverage of all UV light.”

Waterproof is best when sweating outdoors, as with laboring, swimming or surfing, he said.

Are sunscreens safe? “Fear of sunscreens is not necessary,” Cronin

acknowledged. “There was a recent report of a contamination of spray-on sunscreens with benzene, a cancercausing contaminant. Most are safe, and the ones with the contaminant have been taken off the shelf and replaced.

I do think that there are different sunscreens you can use.”

For UV-free tanning, “you can use rub-on tanners, or go to responsible tanning salons where they will do a spray-on tan. These are cosmetic, not real tans. Many people do this before big events such as prom or a wedding,” Cronin said. SL For more information, contact Cronin Skin Cancer Center in Melbourne by email at tcronin2@aol.com.

Doctor Reino is a board certified orthopedic surgeon. He graduated from Westminster College in Wilmington, PA and received his doctoral degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2007. Dr. Reino completed his orthopedic surgery residency at South Pointe Hospital and was Chief Resident at the Cleveland Clinic Hospital in 2012.

From 2012-2016, Dr. Reino was in the US Navy as an orthopedic surgeon. He worked at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, treating service members returning from Afghanistan with complex war injuries. Providing care for returning war heroes was very rewarding personally and professionally. While stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, for two years, he focused on hand surgery and complex arthroscopy. His final tour of duty at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, FL, focused on hand surgery, arthroscopy, and total joint replacement. Dr. Reino rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander and was awarded two Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medals, and one Joint Service Commendation medal.

He practices advanced techniques in joint replacement – direct anterior total hips, computer aided total shoulders, and robotic assisted knee and partial knee replacements. He has an added focus on outpatient total joints, minimally invasive approaches, and fast recovery therapy. Dr. Reino also specializes in hand surgery, including endoscopic carpal tunnel surgery and arthroscopy of shoulders and knees.

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SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

Senior Life Wendy Scheuring

Angie Olds practices her archery technique at Wickham Park.

Archer overcomes back surgery, COVID to win gold at National Senior Games

BY WENDY SCHEURING

Angie Olds of Melbourne made winning her sixth gold medal look easy. But she almost did not go to the National Senior Games this year.

For the past two years, Olds has been recovering from back surgery and from COVID. She did not think she was ready to compete yet.

But she also did not want to disappoint her friend and fellow archer who was also going to the competition.

In late 2019, Olds knew something was wrong after returning from a European cruise with her husband.

“When we got back, I felt a little twinge in my back. The next day, I could not walk,” she said. “My right leg went completely numb and the muscles were atrophied. My right leg was smaller than my left.”

After seeing a doctor, Olds was scheduled for back surgery at the end in January. Her recovery took about eight months.

“I lost all of my archery muscles. I could not even pull back my bow at the beginning,” Olds said.

Accustomed to pulling 32 pounds on her bow, she could only pull 12.

Three months into her recovery, the

pandemic hit and the archery range at Wickham Park in Melbourne was shut down. When it reopened, Olds started training again and was able to work her way up to 30 pounds but then she got COVID. It started with a fever then extreme fatigue. “I could not smell,” Olds said.

“I put dinner on the stove and thought I did not put the stove on. When I checked on it, it was burnt to a crisp.

COVID knocked me back down a bit but I said I was not going to start at 12 pounds again. I knew I could pull 30.”

Thirty pounds is the minimum needed to shoot competitively.

During recovery, Olds experienced pain in her ribs and her tailbone. She gradually improved with the help of a good physical therapist.

“I’m also diligent about doing the exercises at home,” she said. “That is critical in recovery.”

Of her recent gold medal win, Olds remains humble.

“I’ve been lucky,” said Olds, who will turn 70 in January.

“COVID could have knocked me down. The back surgery. You have to fight your way back up or stay at the bottom, which can be a slippery slope.

I keep plugging along and take it as it comes.” SL

myseniorlife.com

Local author’s book urges seniors to eat right and exercise

BY BETTY PORTER Merritt Island resident Spyder Johnson has self-published a book that takes on an entertaining way of learning to eat right and get fit.

With his lighthearted book, which came out March 30, he hopes to capture seniors by weaving a web of suggestions on how to achieve optimal health and happiness.

Available through Amazon and E-Book, the 465-page paperback entitled “Let’s Eat Right & Exercise: An Entertaining Senior Fitness Guide” is filled with ideas on nutrition and strong on fitness tips to help boomers in their 50s, 60s and 70s become healthy and fit.

“It’s better to take a slow, steady approach and methodically plow through exercise tasks and nutritional goals,” said the 65-year-old Johnson. “I like to think of it as senior fitness that makes sense,” His advice on nutrition is to stay away from processed foods entirely, opt for protein and avoid fatty meats. Egg whites, he said, are “the purest form of natural protein that there is.” Avoid sugar and have salt in moderation. Fresh vegetables and fruits should be a staple.

He said quick weight-loss gimmicks are not the best weight loss for the long haul. He urges his readers to pick a date, perhaps a birthday, and on that day make a commitment to eat healthy for one year and know that there will be a big difference when that date rolls around again.

He offers tips on how to tackle the one-year challenge such as packing a cooler with good, nutritious food so that it is always available each day and

SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue

Spyder Johnson displays his book "Let's Eat Right & Exercise.” especially when traveling.

Johnson, a certified personal trainer and nutrition guru, grew up in Asheboro, North Carolina and attended East Carolina University. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He has traveled extensively, including Thailand and Eastern Europe.

While his real name is Jamie R. Johnson, he took the pen name of Spyder Johnson for this book to honor his best and lifelong friend who passed away three years ago.

“Since my childhood days my best friend and a small group of eight or nine friends whom I played sandlot football with dubbed me Spyder after a famous

football player in the day named Carl (Spider) Lockhart. The nickname stuck and close friends still call me Spyder after more than 50 years have gone by,” Johnson said.

He has written five books previously, all fictional and most with conspiracy characters. “So this book is completely different although it encompasses some fiction through the fictional character who is full of himself, namely Zarkoff Zucchini who spouts off words of encouragement such as “Come on geezers, you can do it!”

Johnson uses a heavy dose of humor throughout the book to make it lighthearted while at the same time providing important information for

helping seniors transform their lives.

“I get bored when it’s all serious, so I hope readers find these characters entertaining,” he said. They sport funny quips such as “Fit Geezers are Happy Geezers” and are visually depicted.

Eight artists from around the world created the 57 illustrations in the book.

“It was a total pleasure working with and being surrounded by such talent, creativity and professionalism,” Johnson said.

His advice: “Make health and fitness a priority and remember, it’s you who is the decider — not societal molders and shapers. Focus on what’s important. Cut away the clutter, be yourself and get the last laugh.”

Johnson said: “Through exercise we can bring back some of the youthful elasticity. I’m really into the flexibility component at our geezed-up age.

Sometimes, we wake up stiff as boards.”

As a general exercise plan, Johnson said the concept is simple. Make yourself do some cardio activity that gets the blood flowing and strengthen your muscles with some light resistance training. For those who want to lose weight, the aerobic sector of your routine is very important. That’s what really speeds up your metabolism and eventually sheds the pounds.

Reviewers have complimented Johnson on the fact he teaches readers mindset-turning points that produce results.

For information, check out Let’s Eat Right & Exercise: An Entertaining Senior Fitness Guide Johnson, Spyder: 9780989921107: Amazon.com: Books SpyderJohnson.com. SL

Our aging community is a sacred asset that we should learn from, honor, and support.

We’re still here, serving seniors since 1965

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SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

25

Exercise walking routine can prove to be very beneficial

BY NANETTE HEBDIGE

SENIOR LIFE SHUTTERSTOCK

Walking should be a part of an exercise routine.

The hype of cardio workouts is quickly being replaced by walking to ensure wellness in our lives. There’s not much that’s better than walking for exercise.

Everyone is attached to their Fitbits and Apple Watches to regulate walks and count steps. Some people walk to work, walk their dog and above all walk to stay fit.

There’s really no excuse for not walking, even in the summer when the temperatures soar. Choose early mornings or take a stroll in the early evening, which is a great time for a walk.

Research indicates that a sedentary lifestyle in older adults creates a high risk of losing mobility.

“If you want to stay healthy and be mobile well into older age, start walking today — even if you’ve already edged into that older age bracket,” according to a story in Harvard Health Publishing.

Imad Ahmad has been walking steadily for five years. “I’ve always loved walking. Now I am up to five miles a day and I try to walk four times a week.”

He said that his walking makes for a fitter mind and body.

“One of the main reasons I moved to Florida with my family was to get away from the cold Maryland weather so I could walk more.”

Walking doesn’t have to be strenuous and can be tremendously enjoyable, not to mention that the proven medical benefits derived from walking are so impressive, you’ll want to jumpstart into a daily routine.

Walking lowers the risk of a stroke, heart disease, colon cancer and diabetes. Not to mention that it reduces high blood pressure and helps with hypertension. It also fortifies bones, and it prevents osteoporosis, as well as improving balance and coordination decreasing the possibility of falling.

“I walked the Inca trail to Machu

Picchu a few years ago,” Ahmad said proudly. “It was 34 miles, and I did it in four days. I’d had that on my bucket list for a long time and it was an amazing experience.”

• Walking should be a solid part of your routine. Walking creates positive feelings, as it increases endorphins which make you happy, decreasing anxiety and depression • Creates a social circle • It costs nothing, maintains weight, and increases self-assurance • Boosts your immune system, it’s a stress reducer, adds stamina, and reduces inflammation • Lessens chronic pain and creates flexibility in joints So why not get some comfortable walking sneakers and pump up your motivation? Call a friend or walk listening to a podcast, because now that you know the benefits of walking, there aren’t any excuses not to get moving. SL

Palm fronds provide artist with perfect canvas for wildlife

SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue

Joe Vuich, a palm frond artist, stands in front of his paintings.

BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER It all started with palm fronds.

“When I first moved down here, there were three or four different palm trees at the home we had and some of these were interesting,” said Joe Vuich, a palm frond artist. “Someone had used acrylic paint on fronds and I wanted to see if I could do that. So, I started with African masks and things like that with more and more animals, and adding more and more color. And it just snowballed.”

Vuich said he doesn’t want to attempt oils since he has used acrylics since he began. He waters them down, so they act like the watercolors he has used before.

“I have many different frond sizes, bigger than 2 to 3 feet and usually get those painted into elephants or a horse face,” Vuich said. “Because of the long length of those animal faces, these lend themselves to those kinds of animals.

Smaller fronds like 1 to 10 inches are used for almost anything. Turtles and manatees are extremely popular, as are anything related to Florida wildlife.”

The artist usually paints a little everyday — an hour or two in the morning and again in the afternoon.

“It is very relaxing, and I really enjoy

26

doing it,” he said. “What makes me a little different from other palm frond artists, some fill in all the holes and make the frond perfect, but I don’t do that. If it has a defect such as shredded or having a hole, I leave all that and it is more natural. This is recycled art.

Rather than tossing the fronds, I am recycling and using fronds as something that can be displayed in your house. It is reused art in other ways.”

Vuich has been in Melbourne for 11 years. He has painted for 10 of those years.

Self-taught, he has never taken an art course. He sells his artwork in two locations, the Green Circle in Cocoa Village and My Own Narrative Art Consignment Shop across from the Publix plaza in Suntree. He also has painted on consignment for customers, including pets, dogs, flowers and, in one case, turtles on canvas.

“One man took his gun apart and wanted a buffalo painted on the handle,” Vuich said.

At Christmas, Vuich has painted seashell ornaments.

His favorite color is blue and, of course, painting the sky and ocean he gets to use that color often. SL

SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

Joe Vuich uses acrylics to act like watercolors.

SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue

myseniorlife.com

Senior Life

News for Titusville, Mims & Port St. John

North Brevard

Titusville outreach sends hope through books to prisoners

BY FLORA REIGADA

Since 1994, the Titusville-based Prison Books Project has been changing inmates’ lives through the power of the written word.

Its founder, the late Ray Hall, had become concerned about rising crime while counseling prisoners at the Brevard Correctional Institution.

It didn’t seem his efforts were making much of a difference. As he considered this, an inner voice spoke to him saying, “clean westerns.”

Hall understood he was to make that genre of books available to inmates.

Senior Life Dan Reigada

Jan Sanford, a volunteer at the Prison Book Project, prepares books to be shipped to inmates and chaplains.

“Ray had thought all westerns were violent,” his widow, now the organization’s president, Joyce Hall said.

But then he read a clean western and recognized the potential of its story. He found all he could at flea markets and yard sales, and made sure they reached prisoners’ hands.

Christian books were added to the roster.

Churches and publishers began to donate pallet loads.

By November 2002, the organization had sent books to all 50 states and an estimated 1,100 facilities.

Inmates’ letters poured in.

“These books have been a lifesaver, as 24-hour confinement gives us a lot of time to deal with,” Shawn wrote from Tennessee.

Christina wrote from a women’s prison in Florida: “I cannot thank you enough for the Bibles and books.

We are blessed to have you.”

But as the outreach and its volume of books grew, so did the need for more space. As a result, several moves became necessary.

“Funds that could have been invested in getting books to inmates had to be spent on rent,” Hall said.

Rentals presented problems. With one warehouse across the street from a distribution center, staff needed to push carts of books through traffic in all kinds of weather.

An empty building formerly owned by Florida Today caught Ray Hall’s eye. Things moved forward and today, the Prison Book Project holds the deed to the 9,700 square-foot building.

“We no longer need to turn down books,” a grateful Joyce Hall said.

Senior Life Dan Reigada

Joyce Hall, the president of the Prison Book Project, stands next to a pallet of Bibles that will be distributed to inmates and chaplains in the U.S. and many countries around the world.

The organization sends out a quarter million annually. They reach around the world.

“We are sending books to a school in Nigeria that lost its library,” she said. They also go to missionaries in Zimbabwe and Uganda, as well as 35 countries.

But with shipping costs high and a mortgage to pay, the organization accepts all donations. It also welcomes volunteers.

The Prison Book Project is at 1100 S. Hopkins Ave. in Titusville. For information, call 321-269-4100 or go to prisonbookproject.org. SL

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SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

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SCAM

Volunteer group provides care, homes for rescued poodles

continued from page 3

caught when it’s already too late.”

The idea is that if the risk factor is identified early, the elderly or their family members and friends can be alerted and take preventative measures.

The tool kit will be developed in part by following older adults through a handful of years who are already showing mild cognitive impairments and tracking their progress. Research also focuses on the exploitation risk between different racial and ethnic groups.

The researchers are working with LIFE at UCF, the Legacy Pointe at UCF senior living community, professionals in media and technology, as well as experts in elder law to optimize the tool kit for use with vulnerable older adults.

“Relationships of undue influence and identity theft scams that drain financial resources are issues that legal experts face and they want to find a better way to help prevent older adults from becoming destitute in the most vulnerable times of their life,” Lighthall said.

“It’s important that we provide resources to prevent further deception and exploitation.”

Lighthall holds a doctorate in gerontology from the University of Southern California. She joined UCF in 2015 and her research focuses on decision making across adulthood. Levin holds a doctorate in psychology and specializes in normative aging and early neurodegenerative disease. Ebner has a degree in psychology and specializes in social-cognitive neuroscience in aging. SL

BY MARIA SONNENBERG At an age when he should have been cherished and pampered, Sammy was homeless and wandering the streets.

The little black poodle must have once belonged to someone, but now no one wanted him … until Coastal Poodle Rescue stepped in to provide a happy next chapter in the life of the senior dog.

The volunteers at Coastal Poodle Rescue are, unfortunately, all too familiar with the stories of dogs like Sammy.

“We find that some people, when their dogs get older, they just don’t want them,” said Peg Cronic, the vice president and placement coordinator for the rescue group.

It may be that the owner gets sick or passes away and the family doesn’t want the added responsibility. It may be that the dog’s medical needs are too financially onerous. It may just be that having a puppy seems more attractive than caring for an older pet.

Conversely, a young dog can also be abandoned because it has too much energy or needs too much attention.

The reasons are ultimately irrelevant to Coastal Poodle Rescue volunteers.

What is critical is finding Sammy and his fellow homeless dogs, young or old, a new home.

Harriet Prine launched the group in 2004 after becoming involved with a rescue group in the Tampa area.

“I realized the great need to help abandoned dogs,” said Prine, who soon realized rescue became a ministry.

She had owned poodles before and

chose that breed for the group’s name, but, in reality, Coastal Poodle Rescue has saved everything from miniscule Yorkies to large Goldendoodles.

Working with only private donations and the income from fundraisers such as an annual reunion, plus the significantly discounted help of veterinarians such as Island Animal Hospital and the huge hearts of its volunteers, Coastal Poodle Rescue rehomes poodles and poodle mixes from shelters into foster homes until permanent homes can be found.

“We’re always looking for foster parents, because the need just doesn’t end,” said Cronic, who herself has adopted six rescues from the group since she joined the group in 2009 after retiring from Intersil.

Sammy’s saviors were to be what rescue groups call “failed foster parents” Carol and Ryan Krahn.

“I thought he would stay with us until we found him a forever home,” she said.

It turned out that Sammy was already home.

“He quickly became attached to our entire family and we couldn’t imagine giving him up,” Krahn added.

He’s hard of hearing and doesn’t see that well, but that does not stop Sammy from ladling on the love, and, as a bonus, he is also flawless with his manners.

“He’s the perfect companion and we love him so much,” Krahn said.

Fostering a dog from Coastal Poodle Rescue simply entails opening your heart and home to a creature in

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Carol Krahn

Sammy's life turned around when he was adopted from the Coastal Poodle Rescue.

need. The group pays for costs such as veterinarian visits, flea preventatives and grooming until a permanent home can be found.

“All we ask is for a safe place where they can heal, because these animals are victims of circumstances beyond their control,” Cronic said.

To foster, give of your time or money, or to adopt your new best furry friend, call 321-459-2652 or visit coastalpoodlerescue.org. SL

CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Endure 5 Say please 8 Undercover agent 11 Soothe 13 Untruth 14 Large parrot 15 San _____ Padres 16 Coffee brewer 17 Peeve 18 Mild cheese 20 Pulls 22 Computer device 24 Fall behind 25 ____ Gatos 26 Do dock work 28 Grasp 32 Ltd. cousin 33 Long, tiring walk 34 Range in Asia 35 Actor ____ Connery 37 Abrasive particles 39 Gross!

40 Fiery heap 41 Pulpit 42 Notch shape 43 Belief 45 Strode along

28

47 Hot pepper 50 Himalayan legend 51 Race the engine 52 Earth, in combos 54 Rink gear 58 Age 59 Newsstand buy 60 Time periods 61 Whey-faced 62 Meyers of “Kate & Allie” 63 Use FedEx DOWN 1 Roll of bills 2 Yale athlete 3 Frothy brew 4 Stormed about 5 Pickling ingredient 6 Hitchcock’s title 7 Mombasa’s country 8 Peel 9 Incidental benefit 10 Tibetan oxen 12 Alpine refrains 19 Dental filling 21 ______ Khan 22 Dough 23 Famed statuette 24 Easy to read

25 Speech imperfection 27 Campus housing 29 Relish tray item 30 Tightened 31 Sea wall 36 Simon or Diamond 38 Foot, slangily 44 Greek letter 46 Long spears 47 Work party 48 Jealous goddess 49 Dr. Pavlov 50 Berra of baseball 53 Pitcher handle 55 Sigh of content 56 One more than “bi-” 57 Sixth sense

Crossword solution page 30

SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

myseniorlife.com

Newly-formed Beagles of Brevard group proves popular

BY BETTY PORTER

A newly formed group called Beagles of Brevard, established by beagle-loving owners and their dogs, has quickly tripled its membership.

Melbourne resident Owen Brackett started the group, and while it has only been a few months since it formed, he said the group has tripled in size and is still growing at a fast pace.

“We now have about 25 members. I started the group after I got my beagle named Ruckus,” Brackett said. “I was looking to connect with other beagle owners close by. There are beagle groups in the state, but all are quite a distance away, including Orlando, Tampa and Miami. This group will allow Brevard residents to connect with one another, share experiences and go on adventures with our dogs.”

The group recently met at Pieloch Dog Park Viera East. The beagles seemed very friendly, running around together, tails wagging at the modern, new, off-leash dog park. Owners were pleased.

Melbourne native Gloria Lorey and her husband, Kevin, were among the group that met at the dog park with their 10-year-old beagle named Augie (short for Augustine and named for Gloria’s favorite city in Florida, St. Augustine). Augie was adopted

by Kevin when he worked for PITA. Augie, the then 1-year-old pup, had been found wandering around in the cold in January in an open area on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. They later found out that Augie had been owned by a hunter, who when contacted

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Jessica Backer

Beagles of Brevard enjoyed an outing at the Pieloch Dog Park Viera East.

“Their loyalty has no bounds, nor does their constant desire to play.”

— Owen Brackett

was only concerned with getting the expensive collar back, and not the dog.

“For us, having Augie as part of our family is such a joy,” Gloria Lorey said. “He is actually the first dog I ever had and I absolutely adore him. We are looking forward to meeting other local beagle owners through this new group.”

Beagles come in all sorts of colors, from the traditional tricolor — brown, white, and black to a lemon and a reverse chocolate tricolor, but every beagle has its own unique shading.

1953 CHEVY

Their floppy ears and white-tipped tails are well known traits of the breed. They range in size from 15 to 40 pounds.

Beagles are one of the most wellknown breeds around the world and are noted for their ability to assist in hunting.

“Their tendency to be true companions is gaining in popularity,” Brackett said. “They make wonderful family dogs. They are extremely smart and friendly. Their loyalty knows no bounds, nor does their constant desire

to play.

“We are hoping to expand our outings to include other parts of Brevard County in the future, but for now we will try meeting once a month at Pieloch Dog Park.”

Pieloch Dog Park Viera East is located off Murrell Road at 1703 Cross Creek Blvd. at Woodside Park.

It features large, fenced areas for both large and small dogs and lots of activities for them, including bridges, tunnels, trees and cute, fire hydrant water misting stations. There are canopied, shaded seating areas for the dog owners.

Interested beagle owners can learn more about the new group by searching Beagles of Brevard on Facebook. SL

Owners: Denise and Don Coffman

This 1953 Chevrolet pickup has a 350 cubic-inch engine, automatic transmission and has been equipped with power steering.

Denise Coffman grew up around classic cars and along with her husband Don always wanted a 1948 to 1954 Chevrolet pickup.

So when they saw this one on Facebook Marketplace, they bought it sight unseen and had it shipped from Colorado. They had looked for that body style and acquired it in March.

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SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

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Solution, Puzzle page 22

Market Square

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Solution, Puzzle page 28

&

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The Best read resource guide 7TH ANNUAL DIRECTORY

FREE 2013 EDITION

bUsINEss LIsTINGs COMMUNITY REsOURCEs sENIOR LIvING TOUR CLUbs & ORGANIzATIONs sUppORT GROUps

getting

Boomeritis WEEKEND WARRIORS &

Of THE

Pick-up locations North Brevard

Central Brevard

South Brevard

Titusville Chamber of Commerce 2000 S. Washington Ave. Titusville

Martin Andersen Senior Center 1025 Florida Ave, Rockledge

Senior Life 7350 Shoppes Drive, 102, Viera

Greater Palm Bay Senior Center 1275 Culver Drive NE, Palm Bay

North Brevard Senior Center 909 Lake Ave. Titusville

Aging Matters 3600 W. King St., Cocoa

Wickham Park Senior Center 2785 Leisure Way, Melbourne

Freedom 7 Senior Center 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd., Cocoa Beach

Viera Discovery Center The Avenue Viera 2261 Town Center Ave., 105

Melbourne Regional Chamber 1005 East Strawbridge Ave. Downtown Melbourne

The Sunflower House inside Merritt Square Mall 777 E. Merritt Island Causeway, Merritt Island Cocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce 400 Fortenberry Road, Merritt Island

55+ Club, DRS Center 1089 S. Patrick Drive, Satellite Beach

One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Rd., Viera William Johnson PA. 140 Interlachen Road, Suntree

Palm Bay Area Chamber of Commerce 4100 Dixie Hwy NE, Palm Bay Brevard’s award-winning senior resource guide

For a pick-up location near you or bulk delivery of 30 or more guides, call 321-242-1235

30

SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

myseniorlife.com

Market Square Sewing Classes

3D Construction

Antiques

ANTIQUES

Kimberbell Harvest Table Machine Embroidery Event

WANTED TO BUY High prices paid!

Buying costume jewelry, flatware sets, coins, old military items, pottery, toys, trains, old paintings, figurines & much more

July 22nd 10 am until 4 pm Visit or call for specials and make and takes in-store during the month of July.

ROBOTICS CONSTRUCTION THE FUTURE OF HOME BUILDING 30% OFF THE COSTS OF STANDARD CONSTRUCTION

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321-622-8602

M, W, Th, F: 10am - 5pm, Tues: 10am - 7pm Sat: 10am - 2 pm, Sun: CLOSED

INVEST TODAY.

11638 US 1 Sebastian, FL 32958

7720 N. Wickham Rd. Suite 111 Melbourne, FL 32940

www.quiltsandlace.com

2022 10 a.m.

321-634-2647

beth@quiltsandlace.com

Health Insurance

Health Insurance

FREE AT HOME VALUATIONS Over 25 Years’ Experience in Antiques

Proud To Be A Local Medicare Professsional

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Hearing

You Deserve Better Hearing

CALL TODAY! FREE Hearing Test including FREE In Office Demo of Latest Technology!

Call/Text me anytime

321-749-8445

321-253-6310

8085 Spyglass Hill Rd., Viera (inside One Senior Place) SERVING ALL OF BREVARD Financing available, Insurance accepted

Independent Agent serving Brevard since 2002

SANDRA WAGNER BC-HIS

PersonalHearingSolutions@outlook.com PersonalHearing.org

Free Consultations

Real Estate

Restaurant

Thinking About

SELLING YOUR HOME?

I can help! Call me today!

2850 South Hopkins Ave. Sunday – Thursday: 9am-9pm Friday & Saturday: 9am-10pm

321-383-1616

Nature’s Market Health Foods Brevard’s Health Food Store

CARTAMA RAMOS-CRAFTON THE RIGHT MOVE

REALTOR®

321.704.3925

Si Habla Español

Mortgage Group

701 S. Apollo Blvd. Melbourne

321-724-6923

NaturesMarketMelbourne.com

Moving

HOME AND OFFICE MOVING, PACKING, JUNK REMOVAL

Local and long-distance within the state of Florida. Family-owned and operated.

321-604-0555

727 E. North Drive, Melbourne • tropicmoving.com

321-242-1235

Rubbish Removal

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Junk Removal Specialist in Real Estate Clean Outs

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Pizza

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321-655-6555

1950 Viera Blvd, #101, Viera

MrDeliciousPizza.com SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

31

FOR MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES

Enjoy the benefits of a Medicare plan PLUS access to out-of-network hospitals and specialists in Brevard and Indian River counties!

SEE HOW CAREPLUS COMPARES: 2022 BENEFITS

CarePlus Health Plans CareOne PLATINUM (HMO-POS)

Health First Classic Plan (HMO-POS)

5 out of 5

4 out of 5

$0

$97

$3,750 (combined in-network and out-of-network)

$3,750 (in-network) $10,000 (out-of-network)

$20 (in-network) $25 (out-of-network)

$30 (in-network) 20% per visit (out-of-network)

$150 days 1-7 (in-network) $170 days 1-7 (out-of-network)

$180 days 1-7 (in-network) 20% per stay (out-of-network)

Preferred Cost-Sharing Retail Pharmacy (in-network)

Preferred Retail Network Pharmacy (in-network)

Tier 1 - $0 Tier 2 - $10 Tier 3 - $30

Tier 1 - $0 Tier 2 - $10 Tier 3 - $40

50 one-way trips

20 one-way trips

(H1019-110)

2022 Medicare Star Rating Monthly Plan Premium Maximum Out-of-Pocket Costs Specialist Copay Hospital Stay Copay (Per Day) Prescription Drug Copay (30-Day Supply) Transportation to Approved Locations

(H1099-001)

Call a licensed CarePlus sales agent:

321-751-7645 (TTY: 711) CarePlusHealthPlans

CarePlusHealthPlans.com

For a full list of available plans in your area, visit www.medicare.gov. For a full list of benefits available from these plans, refer to each plan’s Summary of Benefits: CarePlus Health Plans: https://www.careplushealthplans.com/medicare-plans/2022 Health First: https://hf.org/health_plans/medicare/our_plans/mapd_2022/forms/2022_HFHP_CVR_Summary_of_Benefits.pdf Space Coast. CarePlus is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in CarePlus depends on contract renewal. Referrals may be required for certain specialists. This plan covers certain services received from out-of-network providers in Brevard and Indian River counties in Florida. Except in emergency or urgent situations, non-contracted providers may deny care. You will pay a higher copay for services received by non-contracted providers. Every year, Medicare evaluates plans based on a 5-star rating system. CarePlus Health Plans, Inc. complies with applicable Federal Civil Rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, ancestry, marital status, or religion in their programs and activities, including in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, their programs and activities. Any inquiries regarding CarePlus’ non-discrimination policies and/or to file a complaint, also known as a grievance, please contact Member Services at 1-800-794-5907 (TTY: 711). From October 1 - March 31, we are open 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. From April 1 - September 30, we are open Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You may always leave a voicemail after hours, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and we will return your call within one business day. Español (Spanish): Esta información está disponible de forma gratuita en otros idiomas. Favor de llamar a Servicios para Afiliados al número que aparece anteriormente. Kreyòl Ayisyen (French Creole): Enfòmasyon sa a disponib gratis nan lòt lang. Tanpri rele nimewo Sèvis pou Manm nou yo ki nan lis anwo an.

H1019_MKBNDMFNPRsccompare2022_M

32

SENIOR LIFE • JULY 2022

myseniorlife.com