Senior Life, March 2024

Fascination with dreams continues,

It’s back and better than ever

BY JEFF NAVIN

The Space Coast BoomerFest!, formerly known as the Boomer Guide Expo, will be held at the Cocoa Beach Country Club for the first time as the 2024 Boomer Guide, hot off the presses, will be distributed Friday, March 29.

The annual Expo, presented by ClinCloud, Rhodes Law and elder law attorney William Johnson, will introduce the newest version of the popular resource guide. The Expo will be held from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Cocoa Beach CC located at 5000 Tom Warriner Boulevard.

The Expo will feature a Classic Car Show organized by Bill Antonetz with anywhere from 100 to 200 cars, bringing back memories from the 1940s and 1950s.

“These cars are so stunning,” said Jill Blue, the publisher of Senior Life, Viera Voice and the Boomer Guide. “The colors, the size and how well built they were. They bring back wonderful memories of driving to family events, school dates in high school, our very first cars and learning how to drive.”

The free, award-winning magazine is the premier information source for Brevard County residents. It’s a go-to magazine to find clubs, organizations, resources, support groups, meetings, senior centers, hurricane emergency information, sports clubs, veterans resources and much more.

“People adore the magazine,” Blue said. “We hear nothing but nice things about it. It helps people to get out, meet people and try new sports and activities. This is what keeps us young and vibrant. This Expo brings the Boomer Guide to life.”

CarePlus, Victory Casino Cruises, Devoted, Assisted Living Locators and Buena Vida will be BOOMERFEST continued on page 3

SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue

each year.

SENIOR LIFE Susie Parente Corvettes will be abundant at the upcoming Space Coast BoomerFest! Expo and Classic Car Show.

7350

Viera,

321-242-1235

myseniorlife.com

jill@myseniorlife.com

Publisher

Editor

R.

Office Manager

Sylvia

Copy Editor Jeff

Art

Jorjann

Ed

Mike

We have been bringing you articles about activities that can keep you moving and help to keep you healthy and fit.

I started looking at chair exercise or chair yoga, as we prepared for the next story in the Keep Moving series. What I found was surprising. It really gives you a workout.

I go to the gym on a regular basis. I ride a bike and walk for exercise, fast enough to raise my heartbeat significantly. I usually spend more than an hour at the gym, walk for about an hour and ride a bicycle for 10 to 20 miles each time. So, I feel fit for my age and arguably more fit than people who are much younger.

But I must tell you that I watched several videos and did several different chair exercises or yoga exercises and it was quite a workout. Even after just 10 minutes, I could feel the burn. I thought this is something we need to share with our readers. We have a story in this edition of Senior Life that will tell you enough to get you started or at least to consider chair exercise.

It is for any age because you can make it as easy or as hard as you want. Find an application or video that fits you and go for it. Maybe even try several before settling for the one you like. As usual, consult with your doctor before starting any exercise program.

I have always said that I want our stories to be highly informative, entertaining or useful in other ways. Of course, this is just one of the stories in this edition that we think will be useful to you.

If you are a veteran, you likely are already familiar with the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and park. If you are not, you should check it out. Start by reading about the formation of a color guard unit in one of the stories mentioning the center in this month’s edition. We have a story about Eagle Scout projects at the center. We also bring you other stories about veterans in this edition of Senior Life

You can also read about medical marijuana and its use among seniors today, Vietnam War Veterans Day and so much more. SL

R. Norman Moody norm@myseniorlife.com

BOOMERFEST!

continued from page 1

gold sponsors. Wellcare will be the coffee sponsor.

Presenting sponsors include ClinCloud, Rhodes Law and Attorney William Johnson. Other exhibitors will include Space Coast Orthopedics, RISE, One Senior Place, St. Francis Reflections, Join the Fun, Yepes & Associates and Habitat for Humanity.

The festive and free event will have music, demonstrations, food and other activities.

About the new Boomer Guide

The Boomer Guide magazine also is essential for all newcomers to Brevard County. It provides the background for new residents to resume the interests they had in their home states.

Check out our Boomer Guide models. You might be surprised to see your neighbor or someone you know as a model in our premier guide.

Looking for a place to play racquetball, pickleball, softball or basketball? Check out the guide for places close to home. Wondering where to join a veterans’ group? Find a lot of options in the guide.

What needs to be done before hurricane season? The guide has the answers. Need a support group? The guide has options for all sorts of ills and people to talk to for guidance.

Want to volunteer for a good cause? The guide has plenty of places that need help. Into collecting? There are choices for coins, antiques and more.

And, if taking care of a house becomes too burdensome, there’s plenty of choices to downsize to Senior Living facilities, villas and apartments.

Hotlines and helplines are easy to find with the flip of a page.

Find information about veterans’ resources, organizations and groups on the Space Coast.

There’s also the Blue Pages of Government Listings, whether it be to write a letter to a representative or contact the property appraiser for a tax dispute.

Like the water? There are clubs for boats of different sizes and styles, as well as the occasional fishing clinic to learn what’s out there to catch at the Indian River Lagoon or while casting from the beach.

“Don’t miss this Expo,” Blue said. “It’s the most anticipated event of the year!” SL

BOOKLET

Our CareFree Platinum (HMO) plan can help give you peace of mind with benefits like:

$1,740 back a year on your Part B premium!

$145 added monthly to your Social Security check.

$2,000 yearly dental allowance for covered services like dentures, root canals, crowns, fillings, and more.

You may be able to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period if you:

Have Medicare and Medicaid • Recently moved

Are new to Medicare or recently turned 65

Have a medical condition like diabetes, asthma, or other qualifying chronic conditions

Not a complete list of life events to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period.

CarePlusHealthPlans.com

Brevard and Indian River counties. CarePlus is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in CarePlus depends on contract renewal. The Part B Giveback Benefit pays part or all of your Part B premium and the amount may change based on the amount you pay for Part B. Important: At CarePlus, it is important you are treated fairly. CarePlus Health Plans, Inc. complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, age, marital status, religion, or language in their programs and activities, including in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, their programs and activities. The following department has been designated to handle inquiries regarding CarePlus’ non-discrimination policies: Member Services, PO Box 277810, Miramar, FL 33027, 1-800-794-5907 (TTY: 711). Auxiliary aids and services, free of charge, are available to you. 1-800-794- 5907 (TTY: 711) CarePlus provides free auxiliary aids and services, such as qualified sign language interpreters, video remote interpretation, and written information in other formats to people with disabilities when such auxiliary aids and services are necessary to ensure an equal opportunity to participate. This information is available for free in other languages. Please call our Member Services number at 1-800-794-5907. Hours of operation: October 1 - March 31, 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 1 - September 30, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You may 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_MKBNDMFNPRphoneringer2024_M

SENIOR LIFE Susie Parente

The Nash Metropolitan was sold from 1953 until 1961.

SENIOR LIFE file photo

Marlene and Bob Goldstein, left, have enjoyed attending Expos through the years. Gerry Fahey shows off last year’s Boomer Guide

A DIFFERENT KIND OF DOCTOR

A local doctor provides truly compassionate care and proven solutions for chronic pain and complicated conditions.

Care Rooted in Empathy and Experience

Do you ever wonder what it is that makes some doctors so incredibly compassionate while others have a bedside manner better suited for the DMV?

In the case of Dr. Andrea Izquierdo, LAc of Bodhi Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is a case of true empathy.

“I suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in my teens and 20s.”

In other words, GERD is chronic longterm acid reflux.

“I had severe acid reflux three to five days a week that were so intense I was often bedridden and would become physically sick.”

Being that GERD is one of those complicated conditions that is difficult to treat, Dr. Andrea’s options were prescription medications that often did not work and to make lifestyle changes to limit triggers that often cause acid reflux.

“It was no way to live,” she shares. “I was young and should’ve been living a bright, vibrant life. Instead I was monitoring my daily caffeine intake, sleeping with extra pillows under my head and doing my best to avoid foods that triggered the acid reflux. As you can imagine living with a burning roller coaster from the stomach to the throat was not easy. Managing meal times, triggers and food amounts was rough!”

It wasn’t until she tried acupuncture that she found real relief.

“This is why I often refer to my practice as ‘The Last Resort With The Best Results.’ You’ve been everywhere else and been given the same disheartening prognosis, prescribed the same medications and told 'this is just something you’re going to have to learn to live.” Soon after her incredible experience with the healing arts she made the life changing decision to abandon her Western Medicine studies and pursue her master's degree in acupuncture and Chinese Medicine.

“Acupuncture quite literally saved my life and I wanted to share that with the world.” she proclaims.

Your Golden Years Should Be Golden

While in school she watched as her grandmother began to suffer from peripheral neuropathy.

“Your golden years should be golden, not plagued with insufferable pain while doctors and specialists tell you there is nothing they can do.”

Understanding that Eastern Medicine excels where Western Medicine fails, Dr. Izquierdo set forth to develop treatment protocols for all variations of Peripheral Neuropathy (including diabetic and chemotherapy induced) and now has a 90% success rate in treating the symptoms of this once difficult to manage condition.

“I was tired of seeing the older generation suffer unnecessarily,” shares Dr. Izquierdo. “Diagnosing them as just getting older and giving them a treatment plan of ‘you’re just going to have to get used to it’ has never sat well with me so I wanted to offer them a real option for treatment and care.”

The Magic of Compassionate Care

And what do those in her care have to say?

“Dr. Andrea looked me in my eyes and wanted to know about me, not just my condition. I feel like a person, not just a patient,” Mary said. “In fact, I don’t think she ever used the word patient.” Others proclaim, “She saved my life,

her neuropathy treatments gave me my life back,” and “it’s a miracle she treated my fibromyalgia, I don't know how else to explain it.”

Dr. Andrea Izquierdo has a long personal history in complicated, difficult-to-understand conditions and understands how tragic it can all be if left untreated.

“I have sat where my patients sit. I’ve experienced their pain and suffering in a very real way. I know the frustration of feeling hopeless on an intimate level. It’s why I practice the brand of medicine I do and why I’ve made it my life’s mission to treat the ‘untreatable.’ It brings me such incredible joy when. I get to say ‘I can help you!’”

Furthermore, Dr. Andrea isn’t opposed to more modern medical solutions.

“It’s in blending the time-tested science of acupuncture with recent innovations in medicine that get me the best results.”

One of those advancements is ATP Resonance BioTherapy™, originally developed by NASA it aids nerves in regeneration by providing them the nutrients they need to repair and renew, “very similar to what water does for a plant!”

Dr. Izquierdo and her staff specialize in treating chronic pain, complicated neurological conditions and autoimmune diseases that leave other professionals scratching their heads. Ready to schedule?

Call (321) 312-0771 for a consultation today. For more information about Dr. Izquierdo and what she treats, visit BodhiTCM.com.

Behind the Beat

By Randal C. Hill

‘Sunshine on My Shoulders’ — John Denver

Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy

Sunshine in my eyes can make me cry Sunshine on the water looks so lovely Sunshine almost always makes me high

“I had written the song in a fit of melancholy one dismal late-winter/ early-spring day in Minnesota — the kind of day that makes every Minnesotan think about going down to Mexico,” John Denver recalled. “The snow was melting, and it was too cold to

go outside and have fun. I was ready for spring. You want to get outdoors again, and you’re waiting for the sun to shine, and you remember how sometimes just the sun itself can make you feel good.”

For Denver, his visualization of a perfect day, one warm and satisfying and wonderful, brought him feelings of contentment — joy, actually — that he wanted to share with the world.

The message of his gentle acousticguitar tune focused on the virtues of the love of nature and the love of life itself.

Denver had struggled for years before finding international success. His first three RCA Records albums — “Rhymes and Reasons,” “Take Me to Tomorrow” and “Whose Garden Was This?” — had failed to catch fire. Then came “Poems, Prayers and Promises.” Folk-music lovers became fans, cash registers ka-chinged and he rode a rocket to stardom. As time went by in the early 1970s, he found celebrity with an ever-growing audience that appreciated his heartwarming tunes that often dealt with finding pleasure in the simplest things.

The original 1971 version of “Sunshine on My Shoulders” was a long album track — it ran for more than five minutes — on “Poems, Prayers and Promises.” Denver’s ever-growing fan base had focused on the LP’s breakout hit single of “Take Me Home, Country Roads” and seemingly paid little attention to what would become Denver’s first No. 1 single two years later.

In late 1973, he and RCA Records decided that “Sunshine on My Shoulders” from his first hit album could make a great 45 if redone right. With RCA’s approval, Denver shaved off two minutes of running time on his re-recording, and added strings and woodwinds to make it more commercial.

The changes more than paid off, as

John Denver’s songs had a knack for cheering people up.

that release became the first of four No. 1 John Denver singles released during the 1970s.

The song received a boost when it was used in a 1973 made-for-TV movie called “Sunshine.”

Denver explained, “It was the true story of Lyn Helton, a courageous lady who chose to live her short life to the fullest even though she knew she would die of a rare bone cancer in a matter of months. It seems that in the last year of her life, she found some happiness in my music. I was most honored to have my song used as part of that television show.”

If I had a day that I could give you I’d give to you a day just like today

If I had a song that I could sing you I’d sing a song to make you feel this way. SL

March for Meals raises awareness to benefit Brevard seniors

BY WENDY SCHEURING

A one-mile walk to raise awareness about challenges local seniors face with food insecurity and isolation will be held at 9 a.m. Saturday, March 23 at Viera Regional Park.

A complimentary breakfast of bagels, fruit and coffee will follow the March for Meals.

The free event is hosted by Aging Matters in Brevard, a 59-year-old, nonprofit corporation based in Cocoa, that prepares, serves and delivers hot, nutritious meals to seniors. It also provides transportation for seniors.

“We want to bring people together and reintroduce ourselves to the community for a morning of friendship and giving back,” said Vimarie Monopoli, the senior director of development for Aging Matters in Brevard.

Along the one-mile loop course, walkers can get information and find out about services, such as Meals on Wheels and Seniors at Lunch. They serve free hot meals at 13 sites throughout Brevard. Currently 1,300 hot

Celebrate Your Golden Years at Shell Harbor!

Redefine your golden years in a community that seamlessly blends comfort, elegance, and vibrant social living. Chef-inspired cuisine, all-inclusive services, and a wealth of enriching activities are specially designed to curate a fulfilling retirement lifestyle without the worry of longterm leases, hidden fees, or unpleasant surprises.

March Events

D’Nicole Fashion Show

Tuesday, March 12 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.

Shell Harbor is so ‘IN’ this season! Join us by the catwalk and see a fashion show featuring looks from D’Nicole. RSVP today!

Open House

Wednesday, March 13 from 10:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

Revamp your idea of how amazing senior living can be: incredible apartments, sensational amenities, and retirement done right!

Come see life at Shell Harbor for yourself. RSVP today!

meals are delivered daily to area seniors (60 and older) who are not ambulatory or unable to prepare nutritious meals for themselves.

Some recipients also receive evening meals, a sandwich, fruit and a drink, or else they could go hungry.

The hot meals are created by a former chef from Café Margaux in Cocoa Village. The meals include a protein, vegetable and a carbohydrate.

“The people get excited, wondering what’s coming,” Monopoli said.

The need for more volunteers to deliver meals is great.

Four hundred seniors are currently waiting to receive meals through the Meals on Wheels program.

With the skyrocketing cost of food and gas, regular monetary donations are also encouraged.

“This makes the organization more sustainable when we know what is coming in every month,” Monopoli said.

Sponsors who would like to host a table to

showcase their businesses are still being sought for the event. Included is their company logo on the back of the T-shirt and social media exposure.

While the March for Meals event is free to participants, the cost of the T-shirts is $30. This is enough to provide one meal per day for a senior each month.

Meals on Wheels is not based upon income, but upon need.

“It’s not just about nutritious food,” Monopoli said. “The volunteers check in on the person. You will hear many stories of our volunteers saving someone’s life.”

For more information, check out agingmattersbrevard.org or call 321-639-8770.

Shell Harbor

SENIOR LIFE Wendy Scheuring Meals on Wheels volunteers work on the kitchen line to prepare more than 1,000 daily meals.

SENIOR LIFE Wendy Scheuring Meals on Wheels needs volunteers to deliver meals.

•

•

•

•

•

STRI PES

Brevard Veterans News

Veterans join others to restore gravesites of WWI, WWII warriors

Who would care enough to help restore a small African-American cemetery, the burial site of 21 veterans — most from World War I and World War II?

The Oak Hill Saints and Sinners Historic African Cemetery Restoration, Inc. Committee and many, including veterans, have been part of the ongoing restoration of the burial sites, which is surrounded by a wooded area in Oak Hill.

Who else would help? Veterans, of course. It is not a surprise that Veterans from Brevard County would be involved in helping.

More than 85 people, many of them veterans from Brevard and Volusia Counties and members of the small community, just north of the Brevard County line, got together to continue the restoration in a one-day project. It also included a 45-minute ceremony celebrating the ongoing

restoration and honoring the veterans buried there, including Army SP5 Blaise Merrick Cook. More than 20 of Cook’s descendants from Miami and Jacksonville were on hand for the ceremony. A VA-provided headstone for Cook’s grave was unveiled.

The work on Jan. 15 was part of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Day of Service and included an honor guard from the American Legion Post 285 of Edgewater. The National Day of Service commemorates the life of Martin Luther King Jr., who was

dedicated to the service of others as a pastor and civil rights activist.

The VA National Cemetery Administration chose the small Oak Hill cemetery for the MLK Day project. Once a church cemetery, it is believed to have been established in the early 1900s.

More than 30 of the veterans who worked on the restoration project were from Brevard County. The Good Deed Foundation of the Military Officers of America, Cape Canaveral Chapter, provided funding for some of the work. Donn Weaver, president of the Good Deed Foundation, organized the Brevard County group.

Tom Fitzgerald in Mims provided the caisson used in the ceremony, while Doug Bisset and Hans Hunt of Brevard Sons of the American Revolution fired a miniature Revolutionary War cannon.

Dru Ann Welch, a history

researcher who worked with the cemetery committee, said she was pleased with the cooperation on the project.

“I think we’ve gotten fabulous support,” she said. “Everything has really been positive.”

I am never surprised when this kind of service work or support for veterans comes from other veterans, especially when it involves those from Brevard County. And this one, though close by, was not in Brevard. But it did not matter. It was primarily a tribute to the veterans buried there.

It is refreshing to see that all these groups and individuals from two counties got together for this project.

The restoration project day included raising a headstone that had sunk into the ground. Two others were brought up to VA National Cemetery Administration standards. SL

Veteran turns to puppetry to entertain, educate young and old

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

Howard Gordon shares his Melbourne home with 100 roommates, some of them unusual creatures, from a manatee and an alligator to a rat and an alien. What’s even weirder is that they all talk, but not to worry, for their voice is Gordon’s own and these housemates are composed of the fabric and foam that makes a puppet.

Gordon’s path in life has taken him from Vietnam-era sailor to puppet master for Our Father’s Puppets, a troupe of furry human and animal figures eager to entertain young and old.

Born in the Big Apple and raised in the Bronx and Long Island, this quintessential New Yorker joined the Navy in 1969, serving aboard the USS Douglas H. Fox, named for a naval hero of the Battle of Guadalcanal. Stationed out of Norfolk and later Philadelphia, Gordon was part of a group that trained reserves.

“I was just up and down the East Coast of the United States,” he said.

He still regrets the decision to leave the service after 3½ years.

“I should have stayed longer, and it would have made a big difference in my life,” he said.

While Gordon was in the service, his parents had moved to Melbourne, introducing him to the place he would eventually call home.

“Whenever I had liberty, I would visit, because I really fell in love with the area,” he said.

After completing his military service, Gordon followed his parents south, working at Harris

Semiconductor for 16 years. In his free time, he focused on puppetry, which he had enjoyed while in high school.

“I started a puppet ministry because at that time there wasn’t much of that type of activity in the area, and I’ve always thought puppetry is a great medium for entertaining and educating,” he said.

Like many children of his generation, Gordon was fascinated by the puppets made popular through children’s television shows such as “Howdy Doody” and “The Shari Lewis Show.”

For years, Gordon has performed up and down Central Florida, from Titusville to Jensen Beach, puppets in tow to entertain senior communities, day care centers and outdoor festivals such as the Melbourne Art Show.

His show is traditional, “old school,” as he calls it, with a variety format that encompasses music and skits and that addresses the interests of the audience, be they one year old or 101.

“I cater

to the audience,” he said.

Older audiences appreciate his renditions of “Crocodile Rock,” sung by an alligator, of course, and “Mack the Knife,” belted out by a singing shark.

Younger audiences are equally delighted.

Jessica Nater of PlaySmart Learning

Center in Palm Bay noted that Gordon placed “smiles on every young child at PlaySmart.”

“I try to be different and original,” Gordon said.

With 100 performing puppet roommates, he need not worry about being an original.

For more on Our Father’s Puppets, call 321-327-7509. SL

the show

SENIOR LIFE R. Norman Moody Howard Gordon served in the U.S. Navy for 3½ years.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Howard Gordon Howard Gordon entertains audiences of all ages with a diverse puppet show called Our Father’s Puppets.

Vietnam War Veterans Day honors those who served

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

On March 29, Chip Hanson plans to spend National Vietnam War Veterans Day praying and remembering lost friends.

Hanson, chaplain for the Veterans Memorial Center and Museum and the incoming state commander of the Disabled American Veterans, participated in horrific combat and witnessed the death of many of his fellow soldiers during his service as a young Marine from 1967 to 1969. Out of his original squad of 12, he was the only one who made it back home alive.

On the 30th anniversary of the end of the war, he went to Washington, D.C. to join a Veterans Day parade. Vietnam War protesters were still present. At a VFW National Convention some years ago, a group of protesters were also there.

“There is still animosity about the war,” he said.

Hanson considers Vietnam a missed opportunity to have made a difference.

“If they had allowed us to continue, Vietnam would be like South Korea.”

According to the 2023 Index of Economic Freedom, South Korea has a dynamic economy ranked fifth out of 39 in the Asia-Pacific region.

United States involvement in Vietnam began in the early 1950s, expanding into the deployment of full combat units in 1965. By April 1975, however, the last U.S. personnel had been evacuated from the country.

March 29, designated as the official day to honor Vietnam War veterans, marks the day the last U.S. combat troops departed Vietnam, around the time when Hanoi also released the last of its acknowledged prisoners of war.

The official observance was authorized by Congress and launched by the president in 2017 to honor the service and sacrifices made by Vietnam veterans and their families. According to Department of Veterans Affairs statistics, 2.7 million men and women served in the U.S. military during Vietnam. The war claimed the lives of more than 58,000 Americans.

Like Hanson, Don Pearsall was involved in significant combat in Vietnam. During the Tet Offensive, the 19-year-old helicopter door gunner was injured by shrapnel when his chopper was shot down. The crew spent the night huddled in the jungle until a Navy reconnaissance team found them.

“It was a harrowing experience,” said the Purple Heart recipient.

Flying home after his tour of duty, Pearsall was advised to trade his uniform for civilian gear, but his tanned face, cropped-cropped hair and Army duffel gave him away as he waited for a plane out of Anchorage, Alaska.

“Nobody would sit next to me,” he said.

Pearsall will spend National Vietnam War Veterans Day at the Veterans Memorial Center, where he serves as a volunteer. His latest project

“The people who harassed us then are now the parents and grandparents of soldiers today — Chip Hanson

is organizing and training an official color guard for the Center, which has up to now borrowed color guards from other organizations. He previously organized color guards for VFW 4534 in Rockledge and for the fire department. Both have won awards for their precision drills.

He remains grateful to people who now thank him for his military service

and for the general shift in public opinion about the war.

“The people who harassed us then are now the parents and grandparents of soldiers today,” he said. SL

Eagle Scout projects add to Brevard Veterans Memorial Center

BY LINDA JUMP

Two Eagle Scout projects are helping to improve Brevard County’s Veterans Memorial Park on Merritt Island with mood-setting wind chimes and a planned kiosk that will allow visitors to identify and locate its memorial bricks.

“The wind chimes are a beautiful reminder of the solemn memorials. Nearly every visitor comments on the sound of the chimes as they visit,” said Donn Weaver, a past council chairman and board member of the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center at 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway, which was dedicated in 2010.

A decade ago, Eagle Scout Charles Matthew Rahmes of Troop 224 Suntree suggested chimes be placed in the memorial garden, which is open from dawn to dusk daily. The 2.6-acre center operates in partnership with the Veterans Memorial Center, Inc. The free military history museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday.

“The chimes give a sense of peace.”

— Patti Czech, whose father served in the Korean War

The base of the chimes was damaged two years ago, when a vehicle plowed through the park.

“The only monument she hit was the wind chime,” said Dean Schaaf, the president of the center. Schaaf said the decade-old chimes also sustained age damage, including the rotting of a chime rope.

During the past month, Schaaf said Eagle Scout Nebraska Trask has been working with volunteers Wayne Fries and Shaun McKinney to document and digitize each of the 1,028 commemorative bricks in the plaza. A kiosk at the entrance will allow guests to search for a name on a brick and find its location.

Fries said only another 2,000 bricks are available as memorials. The cost is $125 for a 4- by 8-inch brick or $200 for an 8-inch square brick. Larger stones also are available

SENIOR LIFE Jorjann

“The only monument she hit was the wind chime.”

— Dean Schaaf

for purchase.

The county park houses the 6,000-square-foot museum and a meeting room available for rent, as well as a 355-foot boardwalk and fishing pier, benches, children’s play area and restrooms.

Sisters Patti Czech of Madison,

Wisconsin and Mary Heimer of Oshkosh, Wisconsin recently visited.

“The chimes give a sense of peace,” said Czech, whose father served in the Korean War.

“We went to the library to see

their collection and there were books from every war,’’ Heimer said. “We learned a lot and enjoyed the artifacts.’’ SL

SENIOR LIFE Jorjann Blake

This plaque commemorates the efforts of Charles Matthew Rahmes, whose Eagle Scout project was the installation of the wind chimes near the Iraqi Freedom loop of the Veterans Memorial Garden on Merritt Island.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

Dean Schaaf, the president of the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center, shows the book that is currently used to locate each brick in the park. Nebraska Trask is working on his Eagle Scout project to digitize information on each brick so visitors can go to a kiosk at the entrance of the garden to search by name for a brick and find its location.

Blake

The wind chimes at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center on Sykes Creek were damaged by a driver two years ago and restored last year.

Color Guard forming at Brevard Veterans Memorial Center

BY BARBARA JEAN MEAD

Brevard Veterans Memorial Center will soon host its very own color guard, performing under the direction of Don Pearsall, who is experienced with organizing such groups.

Color guards combine choreography, synchronized movement and visual artistry. Their origin can be traced back centuries to ancient armies with the purpose of carrying and protecting the national flag and other flags with symbolic meaning during battle. The flags served to provide visibility on the battlefield to rally the soldiers and identify the troops.

Training emphasizes attention to detail, coordination, strength and the ability to synchronize as a team.

Modern-day functions of the color guard have expanded to incorporate artistic expression and performance that foster a deep sense of patriotism. It is an art that is practiced around the world.

Previously, the BVMC has had tenant organizations such as the Daughters of the American Revolution provide the color guard for events.

The color guard unit is open to both civilians and military personnel selected by Pearsall. He volunteered to supervise the color guard at an executive committee meeting of the Veterans Center.

“I said I will do the training, everything. I had formed color guards before for the VFW in Rockledge and the Nesconset Fire Department in New York,’’ Pearsall said. “I handpicked for certain things such as posture, height, and how they work and look together.”

There are five members so far with an additional two more that will come from the Viera Elks Antler’s Program,

Veterans calendar

March 9 — 10 to 12 schools with approximately 150 cadets will participate in the JROTC District Drill Meet at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island. The MOAA Cape Canaveral Chapter Good Deeds Foundation will give out trophies.

March 16 — From 10 a.m. to noon, the VMC will conduct a Ceremony to Remember the Last Naval Battle of the American Revolutionary War fought off the Coast of Cape Canaveral in 1783. It will be put on by the Sons of the American Revolution Brevard Chapter along with the Daughters of the American Revolution and the VMC. Call Donn Weaver at 757-871-6576.

March 23 — The Be The One 5K Run and Walk will be held at 7 a.m. at the VMC. Sponsored by American Legion Post 344, half the proceeds will go toward programs to prevent suicides among veterans and first responders. Call 321-350-6163 to sign up.

March 26 — The topic of the VMC Library Discussion Program will be the Revolutionary War Siege at Yorktown. Doug Bisset will lead the discussion from 6 to 9:30 p.m.

“I had formed color guards before for the VFW in Rockledge and the Nesconset Fire Department in New York. I handpicked for certain things such as posture, height, and how they work and look together.”

— Don Pearsall

a group of teenage volunteers ages 12 to 20 who support veterans’ events.

Veterans Center volunteer Chris Perry found out about the color guard through his past work for the center.

“Anytime they ask me, I’m there. I started meeting people and I love helping the veterans.” said Perry, a retired truck driver from New Jersey.

“I’m not one for being in the spotlight. At first, I wondered what I had gotten into, but once we started practicing, I started getting better. I think it’s interesting.”

They have been rehearsing from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekend to prepare. The uniforms will include white shirts, burgundy ascots and burgundy berets. It is mandatory for all members of a color guard to wear headgear such as a cap or beret.

The Color Guard will parade for the public for the first time on March 16 at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center during the ceremony to Remember the Last Naval Battle of the American Revolutionary War, which was fought off the Coast of Cape Canaveral in 1783. The program is from 10 a.m. to noon and it will be hosted by the Sons of the American Revolution Brevard Chapter along with the Daughters of the American Revolution. Warship cannons will be fired off to commemorate the event. For more information, check out veteransmemorialcenter.org SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Don Pearsall

Besides his love of horses, Don Pearsall enjoys the process of establishing color guards. Pearsall, a Vietnam War veteran, is putting together a color guard that is open to both civilian and military personnel.

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Cannabis therapy slowly gaining acceptance among seniors

BY LINDSAY SANDERFUR

Plant medicine has not yet gained widespread acceptance, but strides are being made.

Cannabis, in particular, has a history fraught with misinformation and even controversy.

“Some of our seniors come in and they are really nervous about this process. It’s their first time giving cannabis a try,” said Emily Carew, the chief operating officer and patient educator at Tetra Horizon on Merritt Island.

In Florida, cannabis is legal if used as a medicine. There are 68 conditions that qualify a person to apply for a medical marijuana card once seen by a doctor.

At Tetra Horizon, a medical marijuana certification center, Dr. Robert Davison looks at a patient’s medical history and writes orders that can be taken to a cannabis dispensary.

“Medical marijuana is highly effective for treating chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety and depression in the senior population, without the undesirable side effects encountered with many prescription medicines,” Davison said.

Cannabis therapy works through the endocannabinoid system. This littleknown biological system exists in all humans and animals, Carew said.

The marijuana plant, cannabis sativa, contains major and minor compounds, or cannabinoids. These bind to cells in the body’s endocannabinoid system and help bring the body to a state of homeostasis, or balance, over time and with therapeutic trial and error.

“Each strain of cannabis can provide different therapeutic effects,” Carew said. “We can isolate and mix CBD” (cannabidiol) “with an isolate of THC” (tetrahydrocannabinol) “or mix it with certain terpenes.”

Terpenes are beneficial plant compounds found in citrus fruits and rosemary.

While smoking marijuana may provide instant relief, Carew said, the effects disappear quickly. And the milligrams are not measured.

Other routes of intake are trackable.

Davison said, “Edibles (gummies, chocolate), tinctures (liquids you squirt under the tongue or put in drinks), oral sprays, inhalers, topicals and capsules are excellent alternatives for those not wishing to smoke it.”

Seniors are also using cannabis for inflammation and cognitive improvements.

“Cannabis does a great job of bringing down cellular inflammation by opening up the flow of blood in the body,” Carew said.

Safety, effectiveness and side effects are issues for each individual to consider.

Rockledge resident Dave Rosen, who said that because of his Christian faith he would not otherwise use marijuana, has used cannabis oil medicinally for diabetic neuropathy and muscle tension.

“I tried CBD but I got no effect from it,” Rosen said. “I had probably six different strains at home, all different levels of THC. I was looking for the most potent THC.”

Even at maximum dosages, he didn’t get much pain relief.

However, he said it is effective for stress relief and appetite. “It may relax you,” he said. “If you have a spasm, it may help you to get rid of that spasm.”

Plant medicine is individualized, unlike pharmaceuticals.

If benefits are not seen, Carew said, it could be the wrong brand, strain or dosage.

Proper dosage means finding your therapeutic index. “It’s not about being elevated, it’s about being medicated.”

SL

Alura resident turns 102

SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE

Verna Joshua, one of Alura Senior Living’s first residents in Rockledge, celebrated her 102nd birthday on Feb. 4. Joshua loves to work on crossword puzzles and read books.

Joshua was born in Baldwin, Louisiana and grew up in Orange, Texas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in teaching from Sam Houston College in Texas, where she met her husband. She then moved to California to teach for Oakland Public Schools. Joshua was an elementary school teacher for more than 30 years.

“As a child, one thing she always used to do,” said Andrew Smith, the eldest great-grandson. “She used to

purchase these little adventure books. They were like animal cards. They used to send to us every so many months. There were different editions. It got me into history, got me into animals, reptiles and all the creative nature stuff because of all the books she used to donate to me as a child.

“Not only that, she was a great comforter when I was crying. Because of her care and nurturing, it allowed me to be more of a nurturer to my eight younger silblings.”

A widow, Joshua had six children, two of whom are Brevard County residents. Joshua enjoys family visits and playing the piano. She was an active member in a teachers’ bowling league for many years. SL

SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock

The subject of medical marijuana is controversial and what works for some patients might not work well for others. Edibles are an alternative to smoking.

SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue

Verna Joshua, center, celebrated her 102nd birthday on Feb. 4 at Alura Senior Living in Rockledge. Family members from all over the country gathered for the festive event.

SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue

Andrew Smith shares a special moment with his great-grandmother Verna Joshua.

Educator, author’s presentation on dreams captivates audience

BY BETTY PORTER

People are fascinated with dreams and what they mean. Local author Nina Dockery, who has a background in psychology, shared her knowledge on the subject of dreams in a presentation titled Why We Dream & What it Means at One Senior Place in Viera.

“What

is when we are trying to decide what to do about something. The dreams often serve some kind of purpose in our

— Nina Dockery

She described the stages of sleep which she said include: Alpha, the relaxed state of sleep; Theta, the deeply relaxed state; and Delta, which

is the restorative state of sleep when dreaming occurs and where our most creative dreaming takes place.

“It is in the Delta dreaming state that we allow the emotional stuff we

don’t allow ourselves to engage in when we’re conscious,” she said. “Everyone dreams, whether they think they do or not. Dreams can be in black and white or color.”

“What we call rehearsal dreaming is when we are trying to decide what to do about something. The dreams often serve some kind of purpose in our decision making,” she said. “Another type is precognitive, dreaming where we dream of something that we think is going to happen and sometimes it actually does happen. There is a great deal of intuitiveness to our dreams.”

“It is good to embrace our dreams,” she told the audience of more than 50 people. “Older people may have very vivid dreams about people who have been deceased, which could be a spouse, relative or friend or even a pet. You might try writing down on paper what you remember of the dream, even if it is a few words. In that way, you can further connect with your thoughts and feelings.”

There are also scary dreams, which are about horrible or stressful things.

“Recurring dreams are also possible and signify that we are running away

DREAMS Continued to page 23

Safeguard your hearing with ear protection, avoid loud sounds

BY LINDA JUMP

Within hours of getting hearing aids last month, Martha Spruitenburg, 81, of Melbourne went to a church handbell rehearsal, where she clearly heard each bell tone.

“To hear something I hadn’t heard so profoundly clear in over 20 years was incredible,” she said.

Her diagnosis followed a bout of vertigo. She and husband Rik had their hearing tested together and he’s also getting hearing aids next month. “Our marriage of 58 years will be tested once we both hear,” she quipped.

She thought her husband was slurring words because of an unrelated health issue until their granddaughter visited last summer.

“She understood him perfectly, while I couldn’t. I realized I was part of the problem.” she said.

March 3 is World Hearing Day, celebrated globally by both the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the

World Health Organization.

“Hearing is a precious gift. It’s the most common health concern in the world, affecting people of all ages. By 2050, 750 million people are expected to need ear and hearing care unless we step up our efforts in prevention, diagnosis and treatment,” the WHO Director General Tedros Ahanom Ghabreyesus said in a global message.

The CDC reports 300 million U.S. people have hearing loss. “One billion

SENIOR

Linda Jump

In addition to improved hearing, Martha Spruitenburg enjoys her

more ages 12 to 35 are at risk due to recreational noise exposure,” reported a 2017 study. Video arcades often exceed 100 decibels, while personal listening devices with headphones can hit 120 decibels.

An estimated 80 decibels during a work week can cause permanent hearing damage, or 75 decibels for up to 40 hours a week to damage a child’s more sensitive ears. Short bursts of 10 minutes or less of shouting or loud noise directly into the ear can cause permanent hearing loss. Normal conversation is about 40 decibels, while city traffic is 80 to 85 and a sporting or music event can be 100 or more.

Ear and hearing Tips from the Centers for Disease Control:

If your job or house chores require vibrating or continuously loud sounds such as lawn work, use ear protection

• Check your hearing regularly

• Wear hearing aids as advised

• Avoid noisy situations, such as musical concerts or sporting events. Use earplugs or headphones in those loud spaces but don’t share them.

• Don’t put cotton buds, oil, wax or sharp objects into your ears

• Don’t swim or wash in contaminated water SL

SENIOR LIFE Betty Porter

Nina Dockery, left, Goldy Goldstein of Viera and Susan McComsey of Melbourne talk about Why We Dream and What it Means, following Dockery’s presentation at One Senior Place.

SENIOR LIFE Linda Jump

It is estimated that one in four people will have hearing problems by 2050.

7

National Day of Commuy Service

a.m.

Hot Rod for Heroes

a.m. - 3 p.m. Car show, food trucks and vendors.

12:30 - 3:30 p.m.

Fundraiser for the AVET

Project.

Genna Pizza Express 7954 N. Wickham Rd. Suntree, 321-462-4020

Music on a Sunday

Afternoon

2 - 3 p.m.

Cocoa Beach Library

550 N. Brevard Ave. Cocoa Beach 321-868-1104

Seaside Quilt Show Group 1 - 5 p.m. Quilting group that meets once a month.

Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404

Ukulele Class 11 a.m. Titusville Library 2121 S. Hopkins Ave. Titusville, 321-264-5026

Putting Your Slow Cooker to Work!

2 p.m. In this hands-on class, participants will be able to taste multiple slow cooker recipes and prep their own ready-to-cook meal to take home. UF/IFAS Extension 3695 Lake Drive Cocoa, 321-633-1702

One-on-One Tech Help 10:30 a.m.

Cocoa Beach Library 550 N. Brevard Ave. Cocoa Beach, 321-8681104

Crafternoon for Adults

2 p.m.

Mims Library 3615 Lionel Road Mims, 321-264-5080

Bingo 10 a.m. Only $10. North Brevard Senior Center 909 Lane Ave. Titusville, 321-268-2333

Book Club 1 - 2 p.m. Presented by the Legacy Club. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-506-2672

International Women's Day

Together: A Celebration of Women 8 - 10 a.m. Celebrate International Women’s Day with a panel discussion, networking and head shots.

Proceeds benefit Genesis House.

The Avenue Viera 2261 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-634-5390

Veterans Memorial Center 400 S. Sykes Creek Pkwy. Merritt Island 321-960-2033

9 a.m.

8 9

Indiafest March 9 and 10 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wickham Park 2500 Parkway Drive Melbourne indiafestbrevard.com

March for Meals 9 a.m.

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Riverside Chamber

South Brevard

Coin Show 9:30 a.m. - 3 p.m.

AZAN Shriners Center 1591 W. Eau Gallie Blvd.

Melbourne 321-805-1963

17

Irish music, dancing, bagpipers, food trucks and vendors.

Scottish Country Dancing 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Mondays Springs of Suntree Clubhouse 8300 Holiday Spring Road Suntree, 321-427-3587 Belly Dance 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Martin Andersen Senior Center 1025 S. Florida Ave. Rockledge, 321-631-7549 Medicard Planning Seminar 10 - 11 a.m. William A. Johnson, P.A. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Rd. Viera, 321-751-6771 Happy Feet 10:40 a.m. Freedom 7 Senior Center 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd. Cocoa Beach 321-783-9505 The Retirement Deception March 19 and 20 6:30 p.m. AMC Viera 2241 Town Center Ave. Viera, 833-823-3330 Free Liver Scans 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Offered by ClinCloud. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771 Art Gallery Cards with Ree 10 a.m. Titusville Library 2121 S. Hopkins Ave. Titusville, 321-264-5026 Bingo 1 p.m. Freedom 7 Senior Center 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd. Cocoa Beach 321-783-9505 Rock & Roll Revue, March into Spring 7 - 10 p.m. Presented by the Melbourne Municipal Band Eau Gallie Civic Center 1551 Highland Ave. Melbourne, 321-7240555 Sinatra, Martin & More Concert 1 p.m. Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. Satellite High School 300 Scorpion Ct. 855-252-7276 Lacey on Stage 5- 9 p.m. Hook & Eagle Tavern 2300 Clubhouse Drive Viera, hookandeagle.com 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 Space Coast Mural Festival March 23 and 24 Cocoa Beach 7 Brevard Ave. Cocoa Beach spacecoastmuralfestival. com Community Breakfast supporting House of Hope 7 - 8 a.m. Enjoy breakfast and tour the House of Hope. 270 Magnolia Ave. Merritt Island 321-453-0318 Gentle Yoga 5:30 p.m. Titusville Library 2121 S. Hopkins Ave. Titusville, 321-264-5026 ClinCloud Lunch and Learn 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. North Brevard Senior Center 909 Lane Ave. Titusville, 407-680-0534 Cigar & Bourbon Night 5 p.m. Urban Prime 2435 Metfield Drive Viera, 321-499-1188 Conversational Spanish 12:30 - 2:30 p.m. Martin Andersen Senior Center 1025 S. Florida Ave. Rockledge 321-631-7549 4th annual Designer Handbag Bingo Extravaganza 11 a.m. Fundraiser for the Brevard Symphony Orchestra South Guild. Heritage Isle Clubhouse 6800 Legacy Blvd. Viera, 321-272-3616 2024 Space Coast BoomerFest! Epic Expo and Classic Car Show 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Cocoa Beach Country Club Minuteman Causeway Cocoa Beach Easter 2024 at Church At Viera 5 - 6 p.m. Church at Viera 9005 N. Wickham Road Viera, 321-259-3454 Be the One River Walk or Run 8 a.m. Fundraiser American Legion #22 241 Peachtree Drive Cocoa, 321-338-7076 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY National Quilting Day National Barbie Day St. Patrick's Day National Tamale Day Good Friday National Mom and Pop Business Owners Day National Hug a G.I. Day Daylight saving time Caregiver Appreciation Day National Working Moms Day Employee Appreciation Day National Certified Nurses Day National Supreme Sacrifice Day National Medal of Honor Day Easter 31 Hello March National Women's History Month See you at Space Coast Boomerfest! March 29 See you at the Country Club

Singers Campbell and Cross - Harmony by the Sea 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404

Zumba Gold 9:30 a.m. Freedom 7 Senior Center 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd. Cocoa Beach 321-783-9505

English Country Dancing 6 - 9 p.m.

Tuesdays Lifepoint Church 1420 Sportsman Lane NE Palm Bay, 321-427-3587

Sit & Get Fit 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Martin Andersen Senior Center 1025 S. Florida Ave. Rockledge 321-631-7549

18 19

New Horizons Band 2 p.m.

Swing Ahead free concert

Martin Andersen Senior Center 1025 S. Florida Ave. Rockledge, 321-6317549

Open House 10:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. Shell Harbor 2855 Murrell Road Rockledge 321-252-1221

Chair Stretch and Balance 2 - 2:50 p.m. Martin Andersen Senior Center 1025 S. Florida Ave. Rockledge, 321-626-1969

Movie Matinee: Leap Year 2 p.m. Sponsored by Rhodes Law, PA One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771

Stand up for Change! Comedy Night 6 p.m.

Benefit for Brevard's Children & Families in Need.

Space Coast Association of Realtors 2950 Pineda Plaza Way Palm Shores 321-242-22

Friends of the Poor 5K Walk/Run 9 a.m.

Our Lady of Grace 300 Malabar Road SW Palm Bay, 321-725-3066

Sassy Saturday, Pints and Putters 3 - 5 p.m.

Join The Fun Tours 60+ Travel Group

Offices: Viera (5 Years) • Ormond • Jacksonville • The Villages

Day Trips, Motor Coach Tours, Group Cruises & Luxury Travel

Departs from Cocoa and Viera

• Escorted • Day Trips

• Motor Coach Tours, Overnight car parking

• Group Cruises, Transportation to Ports

• Ladies SOLO Travel

• Luxury Tours, GLOBUS & Collette

• (56) Passenger Coach with restroom

• Monthly Travel Presentation

Macon Cherry Festival

March 21-23

Savannah Getaway April 7 & 8

Biltmore Spring & Chihuly

April 15-18

Nashville & Graceland June 11-18

Stone Mountain July 4th

Fireworks & Drones & Georgia Aquarium July 1-3

Casino Getaway & Jungle Queen Aug. 3 & 4

Las Vegas by Air Sept. 2-6

Key West Sept. 15-18

The Colorado Rockies

Sept. 20-28, 2024

National Parks Sept. 24-Oct. 7

Beaufort, SC Oct. 21-23

ARK Encounter

Creation Museum, Christmas in the Smokies, Nov. 9-16

Beau Rivage Christmas Dec. 16-20

386-235-3443

See you at BoomerFest! — pick up your 2024 Travel Brochures

www.jointhefun.us

Couples say ‘I, do,’ again

BY JEFF NAVIN

Love was in the air at the Nyami Nyami River Lodge at the Brevard Zoo as Senior Life newspaper conducted its All You Need Is Love Senior Expo and Valentine’s Day Party on Feb. 14.

Twenty-four couples renewed their vows as Kimberley Tucker of I Do Florida Weddings served as the officiant for the special occasion. All the couples had been married for at least 25 years. The Expo was sponsored by Health First and VIPcare.

A flower was given to all the women, sponsored by CarePlus. A photo wall with hearts was used for sweet selfies. Cake and

champagne was served to all the happy couples compliments of Devoted.

“It was a perfect day,” said Jill Blue, the publisher of Senior Life and the Boomer Guide. “Everyone was happy and wondered how I was able to order such wonderful weather.”

Zechariah Donley, a disc jockey from Winterhawk Entertainment, played love songs to set the tone for the lovely day.

“The last time we renewed vows was at a Senior Safari Expo in 2015,” Blue said. “It is such a touching moment to watch. It makes you cry. They have such love for each other after all these years. One couple has been married for 63 years.” SL

Joan & Michael Hartmann Champagne and cake was the perfect complement for a wonderful day.

Marguerite & Steven Marinaro

Marleen & Bob Goldstein

Marcello and Eileen Vici

Debra & Frank Gorczynski

Officiant Kimberley Tucker of I Do Florida Weddings added a personal touch.

John & Joycelyn Schuman

Linda & Arthur C. Blatch III

Joyce & Jimmie Hawkins

Mel & Joe Scarpa

Karen & Alan Williams

Susan & Bob Meyers

Cookie & Bill Murth

Karin & David Wasserman

Carol & Bill Jungbluth

Come to Senior Life’s Epic Expo and Car Show, Friday, March 29

Historic church a reminder of past social, religious importance

BY FLORA REIGADA

The historic LaGrange Church north of Titusville is quiet these days. But it was once alive with its bell ringing, people singing hymns at day-long services and dinner on the grounds.

These were all part of the non-denominational church’s importance to the social and religious fabric of North Brevard’s early settlers. Whether by wagon, horse or walking, people traveled from near and far.

Wild hog, venison, turkey and mullet served with cabbage palm, mangoes and sweet potato pie would be on the menu.

At 1560 Old Dixie Highway, it is on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Founded in 1869 with earlier structures, it was the only protestant church on Florida’s east coast between New Smyrna and Key West,” said Roz Foster, the president of the North Brevard Heritage Foundation.

The present church constructed in 1894, in Carpenter Gothic revival style, also served as a school.

“In its early days, services were sporadic because they were held by lay preachers or circuit preachers. When the Rev. Chaudoin came in 1871,

services took place more regularly,” Foster said.

Today, many area pioneers and their descendants rest in the cemetery adjacent to the church.

Restoration of the structure was completed in 1994 through the efforts of the LaGrange Community Church and Cemetery Association.

After the church no longer held services, its bell served as a school bell in the LaGrange School. But when the school closed, the bell became misplaced in a garage. It has since been found and returned to the bell tower.

More recently, a military honor garden has been established behind the church.

Ginny Strickle, the LaGrange Church vice president, once helped decorate the church for Christmas.

“We made wreaths from fresh pine branches and velvet ribbons to hang on doors. We also placed red velvet ribbons at the ends of pews,” she said. “Flameless candles decorated the windows and we always had a manger scene.”

The church is available for tours and weddings.

For information, or to volunteer, call Strickle at 321267-7856.

Find out more about the LaGrange Church and Cemetery. Visit history. titusville.com/items/show/12 SL

SENIOR LIFE Dan Reigada

The historic LaGrange Church was once an important part of religious and social life in North Brevard.

SENIOR LIFE David Reigada

War veterans and police officers are buried in the LaGrange Cemetery adjacent to the historic church. A Veterans Memorial Garden has been established behind the church.

Betty & Bruce Streger

Roger and Marla Seaton

Betty & Arthur Bartol

Deb Davis & Mike Connors

Norma & Jospeh LaVoie

Annette & Ricardo Avila

Barbara & Robert Beard

Tonia & John Britain GOLD

TIME TO TRAVEL

El Retiro mansion — house within a garden at Bok Tower

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

The Bok Tower Gardens carillon is an iconic Central Florida landmark, but just steps away is another historic jewel that remains somewhat of a best-kept secret.

Welcome to El Retiro, the 12,900-square-foot mansion that Bethlehem Steel magnate Charles Austin Buck once called his winter home. A visit to the residence and its gardens allows visitors to experience, if only for a short time, how delightful life was for well-heeled snowbirds of the 1930s.

El Retiro, Spanish for The Retreat, was Buck’s winter residence from 1932 to 1945. The home has been called “not just a house with a garden, but rather a house within a garden.” It is in truth a house within a garden within a garden, for El Retiro’s seven-plus acres of manicured greenery are part of Bok Gardens.

Buck, an amateur horticulturist, wanted a house that would embrace the outdoors. According to the Cultural Landscape Foundation, “Buck insisted that the gardens come first in the design process,” hiring the Olmsted Brothers to design the spread. The firm’s name evokes royalty in landscape architecture, since company patriarch Frederick Law

Olmsted is considered pivotal in American landscape with his designs for landmarks such as New York’s Central Park and the massive Biltmore estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

Architect Charles R. Wait followed his client’s desire that the gardens dictate the design of the Mediterranean Revival-style home, providing El Retiro with abundant barrel tile, thick walks, substantial woodwork, intricate wrought iron, loggia and porches with sweeping vistas of tall pines and live oaks. A cluster of courtyard additions meld indoor and outdoor spaces.

After Buck passed away, Bok Tower Gardens acquired the property in 1970 through an effort led by Nellie Lee Holt Bok, the daughter-in-law of Gardens founder Edward Bok. A corps of volunteers helped restore the house and gardens to its glory heydays when Buck would visit from Pennsylvania, accompanied by a staff of up to nine servants.

From spaces such as the densely shaded patio with a Spanish fountain overlooking lush plantings of palms and the English-style garden, with its perfect lawn and pond that reflects the afternoon sunset, it’s easy to see why Buck considered El Retiro his sanctuary, his balm for the soul. Visitors can

still experience what Buck enjoyed.

El Retiro is within the grounds of Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales. Closed on Mondays, the home is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, from the day after Thanksgiving to April 30, and

History — Then and Now

from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. from May 1 to Thanksgiving.

Admission to El Retiro is $10 for adults and $5 for children 6 to 17. Separate admission to Bok Tower Gardens is required to access the property, but combination tickets are available for both attractions at $30 for adults

and $15 for the younger visitors.

Note: The second floor is not wheelchair accessible, because due to the nature of the house, an elevator is not available.

For more information, check out boktowergardens. org SL

SENIOR LIFE Maria Sonnenberg

El Retiro was once the winter residence of Bethlehem Steele magnet Charles Austin Buck.

SENIOR

The

DREAMS

Continued from page 17

from something,” Dockery said. “They are so real that you actually wake up exhausted.”

She gave a personal example of a reoccurring dream she had of a man chasing her. She finally awoke one night from the bad dream and shouted out to him strongly, telling him to never come back. And it worked, she said. “I never had that nightmarish dream again.”

Many people shared their dreams of all types. A young woman in the audience said she had a dream in which an alligator was chasing her. She felt in her dream that she was having heart palpitations and, indeed when she woke up, her heart was pounding in her chest.

Dockery said there are a variety of dreams, including dreams where you feel you have left your body.

“It’s almost like you are on the ceiling looking down at yourself,” she said. “Dreams like these are very unique and you may only have one in a lifetime, but it will wow you.”

Dockery, who holds a doctorate of education degree from the University of Massachusetts, moved to Melbourne last summer from Vero Beach. She is a teacher of intuitive arts and meditation, has been a spiritual guide and mentor and has been an active psychic for more than 40 years. She is the author of four romance novels, including “Embracing Love,” as well as a book about intuition development. Her sixth book, “The Touch of Love,” is due to come out within a month.

She can be contacted at ninadockery8@gmail.com SL

Cape Canaveral’s arts and culture center opens March 30

BY LINDA JUMP

The $1.6 million repurposed former Cape Canaveral city hall will reopen March 30 as the CAPE Center, the city’s first facility to offer Culture, Arts, Preservation and Enrichment.

“The CAPE Center’s mission is to connect the city with the larger world historically, artistically and culturally,” said Molly Thomas, the city parks and recreation and community affairs director.

Partially funded by the Community Redevelopment Agency, the building at 105 Polk Ave. provides galleries, a reception area, and indoor and outdoor programming space. Square footage increased from 3,000 to 4,000 square feet. The exterior was reconstructed, most interior walls removed, and asbestos abated.

Zach Eichholz, the chief resilience manager, said 56 solar panels placed on the roof produce clean electricity estimated to save the city $108,000 during its 25-year lifespan. “In addition, 458 tons of carbon dioxide emissions will be abated, the equivalent of planting 108,000 trees,” he said.

The CAPE will be open free of admission from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Current exhibits include S.P.A.C.E., a mixedmedia 2D and 3D display of 10 local artists.

“Words are defined and visualized by different people in different ways — the exhibit explores the concept using SPACE as an acronym for the words sustainability, progress, awareness, community and equity,” Thomas said.

The Murtha Law Group, PA

Bold Boards, a display of surfboards painted by nine artists to represent the area’s landscape, is on loan from the Brevard Zoo. A mysterious dugout canoe believed to have been constructed in the late 1600s and discovered following Hurricane Irma along the Indian River in 2017 is displayed in the center, as well as File 1.9, written stories and photos from residents and visitors about Cape Canaveral.

“Staff is working with several community partners to complete a few additional exhibits,” Thomas said. The city’s website will list the time for the March 30 ribbon cutting and additional information.

Thomas said the city is seeking independent teaching artists in disciplines such as painting, sculpture,

creative writing and design. The center will house current cultural programs and partnerships, including the student art show, and civic scenery program. Public history and archaeology presentations are planned.

Catherine Esrock, the executive director of the Brevard Cultural Alliance, said the center “looks like a magical place to pull together arts, space and the community and to enjoy the beauty of the sky, sea and space.”

Lamar Russell, a retired NASA employee who has lived in the city since 1972, said most visitors expect Cape Canaveral to be only about science and space technology. “But it’s actually a bedroom community with much more to offer,” he said, adding the CAPE Center can showcase that culture. SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of the City of Cape Canaveral The CAPE Center brings history, art and culture to Cape Canaveral with galleries and indoor/outdoor programming. The first exhibit is a mixed-media 2D and 3D display of 10 local artists.

Additional Products

Storm Panels

Screen Rooms

Accordians

Roll-Ups

Bahamas

Hurricanerated

Roll-Up Screens

Acrylic Sliders

Carports

BCOA NEWS Brevard Commission on Aging

Guardianship and the alternatives — everyone must plan ahead

All adults should have advanced plans in place in the event of a lifealtering change that can make them vulnerable, whether that is a mental or physical change.

Advanced planning involves deciding who should make your financial and medical decisions when you are unable to make these decisions or make your wishes known. It is best to review and update your decisions and plans as you age, and when life changes occur both in your life and in the life of the person(s) you have chosen in your advanced planning. Typically, you will want to choose a primary and backup person when you complete your planning. You will want to be sure the person(s) you choose will be able to act as you want, which may or may not coincide with their own beliefs and desires. How do you designate these individuals?

Health Care Surrogate — This

It is best to review and update your decisions and plans as you age, and when life changes occur both in your life and in the life of the person(s) you have chosen in your advanced planning.

is a person who can make medical decisions for you when you cannot. It is best to have a living will document and of course a discussion with this person(s) to be sure they understand your wishes in the event medical decisions need to be made. Their role is to make decisions based on your wishes when called upon to act. The health care surrogate can be designated through various legal documents. You should see an attorney to determine which documents are best for your situation.

If a person becomes incapacitated and has not formally designated a representative to make financial

Apps keep a senior young through various options

After sharing my experience with the iPhone app technology connected with cruising, readers brought to my attention apps galore.

Applications are everywhere and continue to be added to every aspect of senior living. Want to poke a stick in a hornet’s nest? Try an app!

Start out the day at Starbucks with your app to get your personal cup. At lunch, go to Panera and get a $1 cup of soup with your entrée, only with the ordering app. Take-out meals are expedited with apps to order and pickup without leaving your car.

Want to travel, make your airline reservations with an app, put your boarding pass on your iPhone and flash it as you board the plane. A special airline app provides schedules, updates, location of your baggage, layout of the airport and much more.

Traveling by automobile? Check your weather app for road conditions and changing temperatures. Check your map app that includes best routes, locations of lodging, restaurants and tourist attractions. Want to save money on your auto insurance? State Farm has an app connected to a device in the glove compartment that determines how you have observed speed limits, braked, accelerated and driven safely. The benefit is a discount on auto insurance premiums.

Local sites such as the Downtown Melbourne Neighborhood provides information about Main Street events, dining and shopping opportunities. Uber and Lyft have apps to facilitate travel plans near home and at travel destinations.

Payment apps, including Cash App,

Challenges of Living to Age 100

Ed Baranowski

Zelle and Venmo, make paying easy. However, there are concerns about cybercrime with hacking and other interceptions of payments. Apple has added a stolen device protection app.

Check your iPhone and notice many of the installed apps that come with your phone. News highlights (local, away and customized), weather, dictionary, trip planning, fitness and health.

Using iPhone applications has become a senior challenge. At the Beachside Shepherd’s Center, Debbie Olinick is teaching functions, apps and tutorials. At Senior Adventures In Learning (S.A.I.L.) and at One Senior Place, programs showing you how to put desktops into your pocket are being offered.

I’m off to add some more apps, do some streaming and check my X file account before I participate in a Zoom meeting. I have accepted the challenge as a senior but count on my 12-year-old grandson to guide me. SL

Ed Baranowski is an award-winning writer, artist, speaker and seminar leader. He lives in Melbourne Florida and can be contacted at fast75sr@ gmail.com.

or health care decisions, a court appointed guardian might be required to make these decisions. A guardian might also be necessary to protect an individual from exploitation, either by an agent named by him or her, or by others. The appointment of a guardian requires a court hearing and determination of the person’s incapacity. Only once an individual has been judicially determined to be incapacitated will a guardian be appointed.

Guardianship is costly, but to the extent an individual is able to designate a trustworthy agent via advanced directives as discussed

above, it can largely be avoided. Guardianship is costly because there is monitoring through the courts involving attorneys, auditors and more.

Guardians can be family, friends or professionals. If a professional guardian is named, the professional guardian is typically paid for its services. When there are insufficient resources, there is a Public Guardianship program through the state of Florida.

Guardianship is a highly monitored legal process, which is in place to support those who are vulnerable in our communities. Guardianship comes into play via a legal process only when someone needs protection, when the person cannot make decisions, cannot communicate decisions, cannot act in his or her best interests and when there are no less restrictive alternatives available. SL

Puzzle on page 19