Senior Life, Jan. 2022 by Viera Voice • Senior Life • Boomer Guide

Sprouting microgreens page 6

VOLUME 24

OF FLORIDA

ISSUE 9

January 2022

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U.S. spy ship retires

Keep your vaccination card safe BY MIKE GAFFEY As more people get vaccinated against COVID-19, it’s important that they keep their paper vaccination card safe and accessible in order to prove they’ve gotten their shots. But the card, which is given after a first vaccination and bears a person’s name, birthdate, vaccine type and vaccination date and location, can be too big to fit in wallets. And laminating the card can prevent vaccine providers from recording a second dose of a two-dose regimen or a booster shot, according to Georges C. Benjamin, the executive director of the American Public Health Association. Benjamin recommends that cardholders take a digital photo of their card and store it on their smartphones, and keep the paper

Vaccination

Continued on page 26

Honoring Hal, page 3

SENIOR LIFE Mike Gaffey

Christopher Thayer, the director of maritime operations for Military Sealift Command, addresses the crowd during an inactivation ceremony for the USNS Invincible on Dec. 15. Story, page 12.

Unspoiled Florida, page 18

Embracing civil rights, page 25

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Last year at this time, I mentioned that we should look at the coming year with optimism. As we start 2022, I still think that we should look ahead with hope, despite all the hardships brought on by the pandemic, including to those who have lost friends and family to the virus. We have learned a lot and continue to learn to cope with some of what this pandemic has thrown our way. Even so, let us try to move on and be optimistic about the future. Here at Senior Life, we wish you, our readers and advertisers the very best this year has to offer. We pledge to make the best of it and to strive to bring you the important stories that help you make the best of 2022. We will continue to bring you some of the same features, but also look for new stories that will interest you, inform and entertain you. We will look at stories of the past year to find ways of doing even better than before. From time to time, you will see new features. We will do everything to continue to be the award-winning publication you have come to expect. For years now, we have brought home top awards from the North American Mature Publishers Association, which has nearly 100 publications. We will continue to work to be at the top. Among the many stories we know can be helpful to you, we have one that tells you all about microgreens and how you can grow them. Check the accompanying story that tells how you can start growing your own in your kitchen. Another how-to story that might interest you as a traveler is about carry-on only travel. Even if you do not travel with carry-on only, it might lead you to rethink how much clothes you take on your next airplane trip. At least think about how much you took on that latest trip that you did not use. Are you a fan of classic cars? We recently started a new feature, Classic Rides, and have many more vehicles to show you. If you have one of these beauties, let us know. Maybe we can feature it in Senior Life. Check out our Stripes section of the paper for veterans’ stories, including a personality profile on a veteran in each issue. I could go on and tell you more about the excellent stories in this issue, but you already know what to expect from Senior Life. We wish you the best of the New Year 2022. SL R. Norman Moody norm@myseniorlife.com

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SENIOR LIFE photo

Hal Gibson has been a conducter for most of his life.

SENIOR LIFE photo

Hal Gibson conducts for the Melbourne Municipal Band.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Dana Niemeier Photography

Dr. David Gregory, past president of the National Band Association, left, presents Col. Hal Gibson with the National Band Association’s Al and Gladys Wright Distinguished Legacy Award.

Hal Gibson honored for a lifetime of achievements BY MARIA SONNENBERG

“He has really taken the MMB under his wing, providing advice, music and conducting expertise.”

If you want to know anything about bands, just ask retired Col. Hal Gibson, a recent recipient of the National Band Association’s Al and Gladys Wright Distinguished Legacy Award, an honor presented for lifetime achievement. Nominees for the kudos must have a – Staci Rosbury minimum of 30 years of distinguished service to the profession, a milestone Band, the Army’s showcase touring Gibson surpassed years ago, for this band. He formed and conducted the internationally recognized conductor’s Armed Forces Bicentennial Band and career spans much more than three Chorus, the only band to encompass decades. all five uniformed services. He has “I’ve been doing this for 75 years,” conducted in every one of the 50 states, Gibson said. as well as in 38 foreign countries. David Gregory, a member of the After his military service, Gibson National Band Association’s Hall of was appointed director of bands and Fame and a well-known figure in the professor of music at Columbus State band world, flew into town specifically University, where he developed one to present Gibson’s award during the of the finest wind ensembles in the holiday concert of Melbourne Municipal southeast. In 2001, the RiverCenter for Band, a group that owes much to the Performing Arts was named in Gibson. “He has really taken the MMB under his wing, providing advice, music and conducting expertise,” the current MMB conductor Staci Rosbury said. Gibson has served MMB for 28 years, launching the Symphonic Wind Ensemble and stepping in as conductor when needed. For more than three decades, Gibson led some of the finest bands in the Army, including the band of the 4th Armored Division, which won first prize By Attorney for both concert playing TRUMAN SCARBOROUGH and marching from among 80 bands from 239 Harrison Street, Titusville, FL 22 countries at the For A Complimentary Copy prestigious Erlangen International band Phone 321 267 — 4770 Festival. He also served as conductor of the West Point Band and of the U.S. Army Field

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his honor. Gibson, the Army Field Band’s first conductor emeritus, is no stranger to kudos. In 2004, he was induced into the National Hall of Fame for Distinguished Band Conductors. He is the longestserving member of the American Bandmasters Association. When questioned about a landmark

moment in his career, Gibson acts like a father asked to name his favorite child. “That would be hard to say,” he noted. He still can’t believe that a former high school band teacher went on to conduct the Army Field Band, a group the New York Times called the best band in the world. SL

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Table of contents Volume 24, Issue 9 Senior Life of Florida 7350 Shoppes Drive, Suite 102 Viera, FL 32940 321-242-1235

myseniorlife.com jill@myseniorlife.com Publisher Jill Blue

Editor R. Norman Moody Ofﬁce Manager Sylvia Montes Art Director Adam Palumbo Copy Editor Jeff Navin

myseniorlife.com We encourage organizations to contact Senior Life by the 15th of each month prior with information and dates regarding upcoming community-oriented events by email and mail.

Feature Writers Ernest Arico Ed Baranowski Marcia Booth Brenda Eggert Brader Mike Gaffey Nanette Hebdige Betty Porter Flora Reigada Wendy Scheuring Maria Sonnenberg John Trieste

7 8 10 12-14 16-18 18 20 25 26

JANUARY 2021

SENIOR LIVING NEIGHBORS TECH KNOW TIDBITS STRIPES VETERANS COLUMNISTS HISTORY THEN AND NOW HEALTH & WELLNESS NORTH BREVARD NEWS CLASSIC RIDES

COUPONS & DISCOUNTS Boomer Guide —the best resource guide in Brevard!

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.

Suntree Internal Courtenay Springs Comforts of Home Care Same Day Grab bars Johnson Aluminum Cedar Creek Assisted Living Hansen’s Handyman Chateau Madeleine

pg. 1 pg. 9 pg. 10 pg. 10 pg. 11 pg. 13 pg. 16 pg. 19

Air Gagers Viola Antiques Personal Hearing Solutions 2 Angry Wives Hippo Roofing ASAP Rubbish Removal Dream Farms Hemp

pg. 27 pg. 27 pg. 27 pg. 27 pg. 27 pg. 27 pg. 27

THE NEW YEAR BRINGS A NEW SURGERY CENTER • LASIK • CATARACT SURGERY • EYELID SURGERY

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Stay connected with us! Visit facebook/seniorlife

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SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2022

Microgreens sprouting up in Brevard BY BETTY PORTER Tiny, nutritious foods are sprouting up at farmers markets along the Space Coast and Treasure Coast. Called microgreens, these small vegetable seedlings which are harvested at about 8 to 12 days after planting, are highly concentrated with vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants. They are said to contain up to 40 times the amount of vitamins and a broader spectrum of antioxidants compared to mature plants of broccoli, peas, radishes and other vegetables. Inna Basanets, the owner-operator of Zesty Fox Farm in Indian River County, grows them using strictly all natural, chemical-free methods and distributes fresh to local farmers markets the same morning they are harvested. Growing the tiny greens started out as a hobby for Basanets and has turned into a full-time business. “The very first time I learned about microgreens was when I worked at a private golf club as a dining room manager. When I noticed these tiny colorful greens atop of entrees, I immediately wanted to try to grow them,” she said. “I am originally from Ukraine, where growing your own food was very important for my family. “As I learned and perfected my growing techniques, I wanted to grow a lot more varieties and I decided to bring the microgreens I had grown to a local farmers market. At the very first farmers market, I sold out within the first two hours, and this is when I knew there was a demand for microgreens in my community. Within a few months

HOW TO GROW MICROGREENS AT HOME

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Microgreens are a healthy food option.

of selling at the farmers market, I was approached by a chef with a request to grow certain microgreens for his restaurant. From this point on, I started to expand and broaden my customer base,” Basanets said. Zesty Fox Farm now provides freshly grown microgreens to farmers markets, restaurants, golf clubs and grocery stores along the Treasure Coast and Space Coast. “We are very excited to have recently become part of Viera East Farmers Market. Our team member Kelley McCollom-Egler and her daughter Julia Egler, 13, will be at the Zesty Fox Farm booth there on the second Saturday of every month with lots of varieties of microgreens and free samples” Basanets said. The Viera East Farmers Market is located at Woodside Park, at the corner of Crane Creek Boulevard and Murrell Road. The market takes place there the second Saturday of each month from

Zesty Fox Farms has growing kits available for sale at their farmers market booths. Inna Basanets, the owner of Zesty Fox Farms, said microgreens are “very easy” to grow. She recommends broccoli or radishes because she thinks they are the easiest to grow. “Broccoli microgreens have mild broccoli flavor and are considered the healthiest variety. Radish microgreens are spicy and taste like mature radishes,” she said. “Many customers ask if microgreens should be grown indoors or outdoors on a porch. I recommend indoors on a window sill or kitchen counter as they do need a good air flow and some light.” The growing from scratch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. “It’s very easy to add microgreens to your daily diet as they can be used in place of lettuce in salads, sandwiches, wraps or burgers; you can throw them in green smoothies or make them into a tasty pesto; they can be used as a garnish on just about any dish — soup, pasta, eggs, fish and stir-fry. Microgreens powder is versatile and can be added to water bottles, used in salad dressings and as a replacement for salt or seasonings,” Basanets said. “They come with a huge variety of flavor including

method, according to Basanets: • There are few growing mediums used to grow microgreens — potting mix, coconut coir and felt mats. I personally prefer organic potting mix, I just feel like microgreens grown in dirt taste better. • You will also need germination trays, they usually come in two sizes — 10 by 10 inches or 10 by 20 inches. Microgreens grown in a 10 by 20 germination tray will yield about 8 to 12 ounces, which is plenty for a family of four. • The most important thing is to make sure to purchase non-GMO, not treated, organic preferred seeds. Most of the supplies you need you can find at trueleafmarket. com, johnnysselectedseeds.com or amazon.com and you can find organic potting mix at your local nursery. spicy, peppery, sweet, nutty, licorice and earthy.” Zesty Fox Farm has booths at the Brevard County Farmers Market at Wickham Park in Melbourne from 3 to 6 p.m. every Thursday and at the Satellite Beach Farmers Market every Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Oceanside Farmers Market in Vero Beach also hosts the Zesty Fox Farms booth every Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. For more information, visit zestyfoxfarm.com. SL

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Neighbors Helping pet owners a pound at a time BY MARIA SONNENBERG Big-time animal lover Jessica Pankiewicz dreamt of establishing a nonprofit that would help pets and their owners. She would not live to see her dream become reality, for Pankiewicz died unexpectedly at age 32. Her father-in-law and her husband, Ted Pankiewicz Sr. and Ted Pankiewicz Jr., made it their mission to create an organization that would do Jessica proud, and thus was born For the Love of Paws, a food pantry and sanctuary that focuses on seniors and their pets. The group’s Paws Meals on Wheels Pet Food Bank provides 12,000 pounds of pet food monthly to seniors, vets, the disabled and anyone else struggling with the cost of feeding beloved animals. At 7:30 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month, cars begin lining up at Wickham Park Stables to await the 16-foot truck that is a mobile pet food pantry. “We distribute on average 3,000 pounds that day,” Ted Pankiewicz Sr. said.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Ted Pankiewicz

For the Love of Paws is a food pantry and sanctuary that focuses on seniors and their pets. A second mobile pantry arrives at 10 a.m. on the second Thursday of the month at Barefoot Bay. Help with pet food is available to anyone on Medicare, Medicaid or food stamps. The bricks-and-mortar pet pantry is located in Fellsmere. Its sanctuary, dedicated to senior pets and to pets

of seniors who can no longer care for the animals, is also located in the area. “For many seniors, their dog, cat, bird or any other pet is their friend, their family, their love, and Paws gives them peace of mind that their pet will be cared for with love and compassion,” volunteer Claudia

Martino said. If a forever home cannot be located for the pet, the animal will live his life under the care of Paws volunteers, who will also step up with a temporary place for pets of seniors going through surgery. Paws has grown by leaps and bounds, adding the former Space Coast Kibble Kitchen under its wing. Pankiewicz, a retired K-9 unit police officer, is searching for additional space. While its Fellsmere pantry is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for distribution, and Brevard residents are welcome, Pankiewicz admits it is a long drive. “We’re looking for a fixed location in Brevard,” he said. Obtaining the more than 120,000 pounds of pet food Paws gave out in 2019 and 2020 is no easy task. “We don’t steal, but we beg and borrow,” Pankiewicz said. Donations to For the Love of Paws are always appreciated. Anyone interested in helping to establish a permanent pet food bank in Brevard should contact Pankiewicz at 772539-2417. For more information, visit pawspetsanctuary.org. SL

Classic car enthusiasts get their ﬁll at local shows BY R. NORMAN MOODY Several vehicles at a recent Friendly’s-hosted Car, Truck and Bike Show caught the attention of Rick and Leah Kouns. They stopped and lingered a while, admiring a light yellow 1929 Ford Model A before moving on to other vehicles. “I love car shows, it’s a fun thing to do,” Rick Kouns said. “I knew this one was on, so we came.”

“I love car shows, it’s a fun thing to do.” – Rick Kouns

The Kouns, of Cocoa Beach, said they like car shows so much that they are present at almost every car show in the area. “We go to just about all of them,” Leah Kouns said. About 100 owners exhibited their vehicles at the recent show in the parking lot of the Friendly’s Restaurant in Indian Harbor Beach. “I enjoy doing these,” said Louis VanDorin of Indialantic. “I do all these local shows.” VanDorin was exhibiting his black 1934 Chevrolet pickup. Bill Antonetz, the show’s organizer, has been involved with car shows for about 20 years, and about 15 years organizing them. The show sometimes helps raise funds for charitable organizations. Others are held simply to bring cheer

Rick and Leah Kouns admire a 1929 Ford Model A at a recent car show in Indian Harbour Beach. to people and have fun, Antonetz said. “It went pretty good tonight,” he said after the show at Friendly’s. At some of the most recent shows, like the one at Friendly’s, ballroom dancers showed off their skills on a makeshift stage in the parking lot. “Every time I have a different group come out,” said Liz Hill, who coordinates the dance exhibition. “The people that come really like

SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2022

the dance.” Antonetz sometimes takes the car show to senior assisted living facilities. “I also do drive-by nursing homes and assisted living facilities,” he said. “It’s nice. I do it because it gives me satisfaction that it can make somebody smile.” A former sales manager for Cadillac and Oldsmobile for about 30

SENIOR LIFE Elaine Moody

years in Connecticut, Antonetz has had a love for cars since his youth. “I was around cars all my life,” said the Indialantic resident. “It’s in my blood.” Antonetz shares his enthusiasm with his daughter Denise Coffman and son-in-law Don Coffman and with his grandson, 18-year-old Dylan Martin. “I want to see this hobby continue,” he said. “I want to pass it on.” SL

myseniorlife.com

SENIOR LIFE Mike Gaffey

Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, Mardi Gras, arrives in June at its new home in Port Canaveral.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Blue Origin

Blue Origin launched its ﬁrst crewed suborbital flight in which Wally Funk became the oldest woman to fly to space.

SENIOR LIFE Adam Palumbo

Melbourne Orlando International Airport celebrates its ongoing 86,000-square-foot expansion.

Cruise ship sailings, rocket launches, development highlighted in 2021 BY MIKE GAFFEY It’s been a busy 2021 in Brevard County. In January, Lawndale, a riverfront Rockledge home that citrus farmer Hiram Smith Williams started in 1874 and completed in 1890, wecomed visitors for weekend tours after a 20-year renovation effort. The fourbedroom, 3,500-square-foot mansion is at 1219 Rockledge Drive. COVID-19 vaccination efforts for Brevard County residents, particularly those 65 and older, ramped up in February as Florida opened more vaccination sites. Senior Life’s first Boomer Guide Drive-Thru Senior Expo drew hundreds of cars to The Avenue Viera in March. In keeping with the expo’s theme of “Peace, Love and Listings,” many participants dressed up in 1960s and 1970s attire. In April, aerospace company

Blue Origin was busy constructing its $2.5 billion rocket-manufacturing and processing facility near Kennedy Space Center, and preparing for the first crewed launch of its New Shepard rocket. Crowds at Memorial Day events in May were larger in 2021 than in 2020. More than 1,000 motorcyclists rumbled into Merritt Island for a weekend of events at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center and Museum. After COVID-19 shut down the cruise industry in March 2020, Port Canaveral welcomed the return of cruise ships in June. Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Mardi Gras, arrived June 4 at its new homeport at Cruise Terminal 3. And on June 29, Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Dream became the first passenger-carrying cruise ship to depart the Port. In July, Blue Origin successfully launched its first crewed suborbital

flight. Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos and his brother Mark joined two others for an 11-minute flight 62 miles above Earth. A second suborbital mission in October carried 90-year-old “Star Trek” star William Shatner, who became the oldest person to fly into space. On Aug. 8, Chapter 453 of the Military Order of the Purple Heart honored 12 local Purple Heart recipients during a ceremony at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island. Palm Bay Public Library in Port Malabar celebrated the return of its in-person programs with a Sept. 1 open house. Five adult programs restarted. After a hiatus in 2020 due to the pandemic, Viera Voice’s ninth annual Scarecrow Stroll and Viera’s Harvest Festival returned Oct. 16 at a new location: Viera Regional Park. Visitors could bid on hand-crafted scarecrows built by local businesses and

organizations. In October, Melbourne Orlando International Airport celebrated a $72 million, 86,000 square-foot expansion and renovation to its terminal. By then, the expansion was well underway in preparation for the expected increase in passengers this year. On Nov. 11, developers broke ground on Del Webb at Viera, a 1,300-home gated community for residents 55 and older, planned on more than 500 acres at the southern end of Stadium Parkway. The next day, a groundbreaking ceremony took place for Parasol, a 159-unit apartment complex on Dairy Road in Melbourne for active older adults. December marked the opening of Brevard County’s first Costco. Shoppers flocked to the retailer’s 148,000-square-foot Viera warehouse at 4305 Pineda Causeway, west of Interstate 95. SL

Giving Senior Dogs a New Leash on Life

To adopt one of these wonderful dogs from Touch of Grey, send an email to

info@touchofgreyrescue.com

Sadie

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Benny

Age: 8 years old. Weight: 54 pounds. gs: Yes, but Good with other do y. tel please feed me separa . elf ys m I like to eat by sure. Good with cats: Not n: re ild Good with ch Maybe older kids. needs: Health and wellness y. bo I’m a healthy t have: My new home mus and pups. le op pe Activities with

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Tech Know Tidbits Dash cameras gaining traction for defense, protection, recreation BY WENDY SCHEURING “My daughter talked me into it,” said Viera resident Bill Oakley about buying a dashboard camera for his vehicle. Oakley reminisced of when he used to live in South Florida. “I had it (the dash cam) for five years with all of the crazy drivers down there.”

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Several car manufacturers, such as Subaru, Cadillac, Chevrolet and Tesla, among others, include built-in dash cams in their newer models. But for those who need a standalone dash cam, an online article entitled, “The Best Dash Front and Rear Dash Cams, Winter 2021/2022,” by dashboardcamerareviews.com, provides an overall review of five of the latest models, reviewing them for cost, front and rear video capabilities, Cloud view, and parking protection. The Viofo A129 Due was rated as a “best value” dash cam whereas the 70mai A500S was determined to be a “best low cost” option. The 70mai A500S sells for less than $100 on Amazon and has a 4.5-star review average. Equipped with GPS, this model can track the location of an accident. It also can alert the driver to potential safety hazards while driving, such as steering outside of a lane or too close of a proximity to another vehicle. It also has a g-sensor, which starts the camera recording upon any movement to a parked car. The 5-megapixel SONY IMX335 image sensor offers crisp views of license plates and road signs. On the other end of the spectrum, the Thinkware U1000 sells for

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second), which allows it to take detailed footage. It has a 150-degree viewing angle, enhanced night vision, and anti-corruption file technology. With its Thinkware 2 0 technology, a driver can observe his or her vehicle live and remotely. In addition, some people use their dash cams to make recordings of road trips and vacations. Bill Oakley used his to record a hot rod automobile cruise in which he was driving. Owning a dash cam has also resulted in Oakley compiling his footage and posting videos on YouTube. One of them called “Not So Safe Drivers in Florida” was posted on Jan. 12, 2021. “Whenever I come across someone running a red light, and I’m already stopped or in a turn lane, there’s a button where I can save that to a separate file so it won’t be recorded over. There’s enough bad drivers out there,” he said. SL

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Brevard Veterans News

Equine program helps veterans with PTSD A new equine therapy program for veterans suffering from PTSD is up and running with the first four participants. The program was started recently by Veterans Connections to a New Life, an organization that aims to help veterans transition from the military back to civilian life. In the new program, veterans will interact with the horses, help on the horse farm in Scottsmoor and learn about being an equestrian, said Don Pearsall, who heads the organization. There are more than two dozen horses on the farm and opportunities for more veterans suffering from PTSD who might be helped with the therapy. “I think it’s going to be a popular program,” he added. He said he knows from experience on a farm in New York that the equine assisted therapy does help veterans with PTSD. Pearsall should know. He is an Army veteran of the Vietnam War

who served as a door gunner on a Huey helicopter. His aircraft was shot down twice. He has learned to cope with PTSD and now wants to help others through the difficulties. It is estimated that 30 percent of Vietnam veterans have had posttraumatic stress disorder in their lifetime. The statistics of PTSD vary by military service era, according to the Department of Veterans Affairs. For instance, 11 to 20 percent of veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom veterans have PTSD. About 12 percent of veterans of the Gulf War (Desert Storm) have PTSD.

A large part of the difficulty of transitioning from the military to civilian life has to do with PTSD. Veterans Connections to a New Life does all it can to help those veterans. Dorothy Kiernan Walsh manages the efforts directed to female veterans. Pearsall, who served in Vietnam from November 1967 to November 1969, authored a book — “Back from the Front,” as part of his experience with PTSD. His book is used to help military members suffering from PTSD. It gives coping tips. He said that not all veterans with the disorder can be helped with equine therapy, but he believes that it will certainly help some former military members to cope. “Everybody has something different that is going to help them with their triggers,” he said. “Everybody has different responses.” SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Don Pearsall

Don Pearsall, who heads Veterans Connection to a New Life, uses equineassisted therapy with veterans battling PTSD.

Invincible inactivated at Port Canaveral after 35 years of service BY MIKE GAFFEY A tracking ship that once patrolled the oceans searching for submarines, then was refitted to detect missiles in the Middle East, was retired recently at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The 224-foot-long USNS Invincible, one of two tracking ships operated by Military Sealift Command, and the thousands of mariners who served aboard the ship during its 35-year career were honored during an inactivation ceremony at the U.S. Army Transportation Wharf on the north side of Port Canaveral. “We have the opportunity to reflect on Invincible’s accomplishments and all that the ship and crews have done in the years to contribute to the security of our nation,” said Christopher Thayer, the director of maritime operations for Military Sealift Command, an organization that operates mainly civilian-manned logistics and transport ships for the U.S. Navy. “I like to call her the little ship that could.” Built for the Navy by Tacoma Ship Building Co., launched in 1986 during the Cold War and put into service in 1987, the whitehulled Invincible first looked for Soviet subs in the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea, using its sonar array. After being inactivated in 1995 following the collapse of the Soviet

Union and mothballed for three years, the spy ship was modified in 2000 with a large radar dome for Gray Star, a dual-band radar developed by the U.S. Air Force. Deployed to Middle Eastern waters, the Invincible and its crew of about 40 military technicians and civilian mariners and contractors searched the skies for missile activity. Its information was relayed to the Air Force Technical Applications Center, which monitors nuclear treaty compliance around the world. AFTAC is headquartered at Patrick Space Force Base. “She went from undersea to space,” Thayer said of the ship, which was permanently forwarddeployed and had no home port. Thayer noted that the Invincible might have a third career as a training vessel for future mariners. Its radar system will be repurposed by the Air Force Research Labratory. Air Force Capt. Richard Gayson, who served aboard Invincible as mission commander from September 2020 to February 2021, said he was grateful to see the ship again but had “mixed feelings” about its retirement. “It’s been a great mission,” Gayson said. “It’s something that we still need to find out how we can fill that gap in multiple other ways. But for the ship going down the way it is, let’s move on to another life once again. It will be a great opportunity to continue to train people to support these types of missions.” SL

SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2022

SENIOR LIFE Mike Gaffey

The recently inactivated USNS Invincible could become a training ship.

SENIOR LIFE Mike Gaffey

Air Force Capt. Patrick Flynn speaks to visitors gathered at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station for the inactivation ceremony for the USNS Invincible. The Patrick Space Force Base Color Guard is at right.

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SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Tim Thomas

Tim Thomas holds an award he received for helping with relief supplies shipped to the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Tim Thomas

Col. Tim Thomas, second from left, is all smiles in Iraq after receiving word that President George W. Bush had stopped combat operations.

Admiral Joseph Prueher visits Tim Thomas and his Search and Recovery team near Hanoi, Vietnam at the crash site of a B-52.

Retired from the Army, Tim Thomas continues to serve the community BY MARIA SONNENBERG Not too many people can say that they’ve both saved lives and brought closure to grieving families. Retired Army Lt. Col. Tim Thomas can rightfully claim both. His 23 years included leading a Search and Recovery Team into the heart of North Korea to retrieve the remains of nine Army soldiers killed during the Korean War.

“My dad, who was a Navy chaplain’s assistant, would tell me that he had one of the best times of his life in service.” – Tim Thomas

“It was a difficult but rewarding assignment, because we were able to bring them back home and provide closure to these nine families,” said the Melbourne resident. After retirement from the military, Thomas was tasked by the thennew Viera High School to launch its JROTC program. During a light workout, one of the cadets suddenly crumpled on the track. Thomas quickly administered CPR in between AED and, after a frantic 15 minutes, he was rewarded by seeing the student start to breathe normally again. Thomas, a native of Quincy, Illinois, grew up in Pensacola. A military career was always on the horizon. “My dad, who was a Navy chaplain’s assistant, would tell me that he had one of the best times of his life in service,” Thomas said. Uncles and cousins also were in the military. “I came from a very militarycentric family,” he said. Thomas received a football scholarship to Marion Military Institute, where he was selected to the Army Early Commissioning Program. As a second lieutenant, Thomas was assigned to the Alabama National Guard with the 20th Group Special Forces while pursuing a degree at Auburn University.

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Upon graduation, he entered active service with the Army, service that took him to two combat tours in Iraq. His numerous awards include the Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medals and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal. His last assignment brought him to Patrick Air Force Base, and he fell in love with the area. When not working with Viera High School’s JROTC cadets, Thomas can be found helping the community. He currently is a board member of the Melbourne Orlando Airport Authority

and a councilman for the City of Melbourne, where he served as vice mayor until November 2021. “Tim is a selfless leader and strongly dedicated to his faith, family and to our community,” Melbourne Mayor Paul Alfrey said. The County Commissioners commended him with a resolution recognizing his efforts to save the Viera High student who went into cardiac arrest. He also was named a Central Florida Humanitarian for his work with the Bahamas Relief Mission after Hurricane Dorian. His efforts to rename Airport Boulevard

to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. earned him praise from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Coalition. Thomas’ next adventure is running for office to represent District 52 in the Florida House of Representatives. Attorney Kendall Moore, who has worked along with Thomas on several community initiatives, believes Thomas is the man for the job. “His poise under pressure, empathy for others and diverse viewpoints on critical issues has made him one of the most respected leaders in Brevard,” Moore said. SL

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In storage for decades, veterans ﬁnally laid to rest with honors BY MARIA SONNENBERG Forgotten in funeral home storage for years, 24 veterans and two spouses, most of them from Brevard County, finally received the honor and recognition they deserved in a solemn ceremony held early December at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. “The cremated remains of these veterans went unclaimed for an average of more than two decades, and one remained in a funeral home storage vault for five decades,” said Donn Weaver, the Brevard Chapter coordinator for Missing in America Project, a national organization that honors and respects these forgotten heroes by locating, identifying and interring their ashes in sacred ground. Coming from a military family, Kathy Church, the Florida state coordinator for Missing in America, knows how much these individuals Friday Night Dancing at the VMC 7 – 10 p.m. First and Third Friday of the month. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $7.50 per person. BYOB. The funds collected are donated to the VMC Scholarship Fund after paying for set up, take down, and clean up. Veterans Memorial Center 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway Merritt Island, 321-453-1776

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Donn Weaver

The unclaimed remains are carried by volunteers from veteran organizations in Brevard County. SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Donn Weaver

Veterans wait for the start of a ceremony honoring 24 veterans and two spouses at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery. have sacrificed. “They gave their all for our country, they sacrificed time spent with their family,” Church said. Military spouses also are heroes, she added. “I remember the times my dad was away and how my mom held our family together,” she said. It is difficult to fathom the fact that so many thousands of unclaimed cremains remain in funeral homes across the nation. “It is hard to believe anyone sits unclaimed, but for me it makes it more emotional that it is a veteran,”

Church said. Since its founding in 2006, the Missing in America project has interred more than 5,000 cremains of veterans from the more than 25,000 unclaimed remains it has discovered through contact with more than 2,500 funeral homes. “We work with the funeral homes and go through the appropriate channels to ascertain that the individual was a vet or the spouse of a vet,” Weaver said. Eighteen of the veterans interred at the latest Missing in America ceremony at the Cape Canaveral

National Cemetery served in World War II, and two of these individuals also served in Korea and Vietnam. Cemetery Director Kevin Ridgeway and his staff joined forces with veterans’ organizations and active-duty personnel representing all branches of service to ascertain each veteran and spouse was laid to rest with dignity and honor. Because there are so many of these unclaimed remains, more ceremonies are planned in the coming months at Cape Canaveral National Cemetery, beginning in the spring. “We help complete the mission these vets started,” Weaver said. For more information, visit miap. us or contact Kathy Church at 904219-3035. SL

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Carry-on only travel is easy if you plan well ahead of your trips.

Carry-on only luggage can make travel a breeze for some BY R. NORMAN MOODY

Now that airline travel is surging towards pre-pandemic levels, be prepared, plan and consider packing lightly for your next airline trip. Because there are more people traveling and there is a higher likelihood of cancelled or delayed flights, travelers might want to opt flying with carry-on only. With carry-on only, the chance of delayed or lost luggage is virtually zero. Even if you are on a month-long trip, a carry-on suitcase and a personal size backpack might be enough for some travelers. Carry-on only travel is easy if you plan well ahead of your trips. Experienced travelers pack mostly lightweight, quick-dry, wrinkle-free clothes. Jean Paugh, owner of All About You Travel Unlimited, said that while it’s a good idea, it is not for everybody. “I do have clients who travel internationally who do that,” she said. “It’s not easy. It is possible.” Here is how to travel with carry-ononly: • Check your closet for the lightweight clothes that would be appropriate for your travel. Lightweight does not mean T-shirts and shorts that will make you stand out as a tourist. • Five sets of clothes, whether pants, dress or skirt, is enough. You will need more tops or shirts than pants or skirts. Pack enough clothes, underwear and socks for one week. Leave space for the souvenirs. • Jeans — Take up lots of space and are heavy. If you must have your jeans, wear a pair to travel in and stuff

a second pair in your suitcase after you have packed everything else. • Jackets — If you are going into a wintry weather area, wear your heaviest clothes to travel in and pack a windbreaker for chilly days. • Shoes — You probably will never need more than two pairs of shoes — one to travel in and one packed in your suitcase. Before packing the shoes, make sure to stuff them with underwear and socks in plastic bags. • Laptop — Unless you need it for work, leave the laptop at home. Instead, use your smartphone or a small tablet. Anywhere you travel, there should be a laundry facility nearby or other ways to get your clothes washed. Paugh advises that if you do check in luggage to be sure to have some essentials and a suit of clothes in your carry-on bag. Luggage sometimes gets lost or delayed. It is so much easier and quicker handling just carry-on luggage than lugging around heavy oversized suitcases. Getting through airports and hopping onto trains will be a breeze. Things you must remember if traveling overseas: • Enough prescription medications • Universal travel adapter (electric) • Copy of your passport’s ID page. Take a copy with you along with your passport and leave a photocopy at home. • Small water bottle • Cell phone charging cord • Sign up for cell phone roaming data • Small umbrella • Money pouch SL

Remember grandma with the black dress, the clunky black shoes with the big heels and the bun in her hair? You could always tell a “granny.” Some years ago, my wife took four young granddaughters shopping. One shopper said to her “Your children are so well behaved.” The 6-year-old piped up: “She’s not our mother, she’s our granny.” Times have changed. Was it appearance? How do we look? Do we look our age? Do we act our age? Do we pretend? Are we like Ponce de Leon looking for the “Fountain of Youth?’ We are influenced by television commercials, movie celebrities, magazine ads and interactions with other adults of all ages. Our challenges are increased as people begin to make resolutions for the new year. Seniors take a head-to-toe inventory. They look in the mirror and notice their appearance. What can I improve? Fitness center memberships increase in January as people focus on reducing body weight, the waistline, and other sagging parts. Some people join walking clubs, arrange for a personal trainer, or begin exercise programs to improve their appearance. “Love your shape,” says actress Brooke Shields in the AARP Bulletin. “Women need to stop comparing their bodies and understand how unique and amazing we are. Instead of focusing on what’s wrong with us — too narrow, too curvy, etc. — we should focus on what we love about ourselves.” Our life focus can change our appearance.

Challenges of Living to Age 100 Ed Baranowski Seniors often try spas, get eyebrows tattooed, use nail salons for hands and feet, and sometimes select cosmetic surgery to correct or enhance their appearance. Lotions of all types are being sold to improve, regenerate and repair the skin. If you can’t reduce the spare tire around your middle, there are the fat nodule blasters. After you get your body enhanced, it’s time for another makeover. A new age-appropriate wardrobe changes appearance along with makeup and hair styling. Yes, men and women are doing these things. Appearance concerns have been noted throughout the ages. In the Catholic Bible: 2 Maccabees 6:18, it begins: “Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, a man of advanced age and noble appearance…” Later, the passage reads: “the dignity of his advanced age, the merited distinction of his gray hair, and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood. . .” Read the rest to know appearance makes no difference. SL Ed Baranowski can be contacted at fast75sr@gmail.com

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Teens ﬁght for dental waste recycling Despite a study by Laura WrayLake (2010) identifying a “decline in high school seniors’ reports of conservation behaviors across the three decades of 1976 to 2005,” a more recent United Nations article reports that “close to half a million youth around the world have taken action on climate change through SGP (Small Grants Programmes) projects in their homes, schools and communities.” They are among a youth population (15 to 24 years old) of approximately 1.2 billion. Considering that “youth constitute the majority of the population in many countries and have an increasingly strong social and environmental awareness (UN)” and, in the United States alone, 85 percent of people under 30 identify themselves as environmentalists, we must have great faith in our young generation. “The youth is the hope of our future” — Jose Rizal. Lillian Tolley, who is a student at Melbourne High School and part of the school’s Environmental

BEYOND the CURB Marcia Booth

President & Founder, Recycle Brevard

Awareness club, is a local example of why we should keep the faith. In the summer of 2021, she joined Recycle Brevard as a volunteer after learning about Recycle Brevard’s Recycleware Dental Program, a program that includes the distribution of information cards and collection of used plastic toothbrushes, empty toothpaste tubes and dental floss containers for recycling. What started as a requirement in a college class for Tolley became a mission to educate herself and others on the 3Rs — Reduce, Reuse, Recycle — and help to reduce waste

in her community. “The dental program is smart and straightforward. It takes every-day objects, such as toothpaste tubes and toothbrushes, which are normally thrown in the trash, and gives them an alternative to filling up our landfills,” Tolley said. With the goal of getting local schools and clubs to adopt the program and help our community to recycle more, Tolley started contacting neighborhood schools to explain the program and how they could participate. She believes that it is important to get more people involved for the program to have a considerable impact. Thus far, she managed to enlist Merritt Island High School and Melbourne High School but she does not intend to stop there. “High schoolers are widely known for their use of technology and can reach a bunch of people at the touch of a button.” Even if they do not want to organize collections, she believes they are able to spread the word and recruit others to

BCOA NEWS BREVARD COMMISSION ON AGING

participate. Anyone can collect or set up a collection point. Neighborhoods, scout troops, businesses and churches can join the effort. Recycle Brevard provides material that supports the program and its facility in Rockledge is the drop-off location for collected items. “It really is rewarding to get involved and fight for what you believe in. The program is pretty low maintenance. Once the idea has gone through the chains of command, all that is left to do is place the bins and drop collected items off at Recycle Brevard once bins fill up,” Tolley explained. “We need people to care and take action.” “I said ‘Somebody should do something about that.’ Then I realized I was somebody” — Lily Tomlin To learn more about the program and get started in the new year, email Recycle Brevard at Volunteer@RecycleBrevard.org. SL Email Marcia Booth at Marcia@ RecycleBrevard.org

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.

Scent preservation kits help residents stay safer at home Families living with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias will benefit from scent preservation kits to locate missing persons. Supporting the direction of Gov. Ron DeSantis for keeping older Floridians safer at home, The Florida Department of Elder Affairs (DOEA) is partnering with Scent Evidence K9 to distribute 2,000 scent preservation kits to caregivers of those living with Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). As Florida seniors stay at home to limit their risk of

exposure to COVID-19, those older adults with ADRD may have an increased tendency to wander and become lost. If that happens, proactive family safety measures, such as the scent preservation kit, are providing effective response systems to locate missing persons and return them to safety. “Governor DeSantis is ensuring Florida’s older adults stay safe during COVID-19 and this partnership furthers that directive, especially for those living with ADRD,” said Elder Affairs Secretary Richard Prudom. “These scent

preservation kits will assist families and help prevent at-risk individuals from becoming a missing person. They allow families and caregivers to be prepared before an at-risk individual goes missing, and the kits improve the response time if someone does go wandering.” “We call our kits, ‘Peace of Mind in a Jar,’ ” the founder and CEO of Scent Evidence K9 Paul Coley said. “As a former FBI forensic canine operations specialist and canine handler, I was constantly faced with the challenge of finding an effective

scent article during active searches. My solution was to develop the scientifically tested and proven scent preservation kit. These kits provide K9 responders with uncontaminated scent articles that significantly reduce the time it takes to locate someone.” Scent preservation kits are available free of charge from the Brevard Alzheimer’s Foundation’s Melbourne location or Health First’s Aging Services Memory Disorder Clinic. For more information, call 321-2534430. SL

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Experience unspoiled Florida at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Let me introduce you to the outstanding Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge, a great place for you, your family and your out-ofstate guests to get back to nature. Here you will see, be introduced to and experience the original unspoiled Florida of yesterday. The Visitor Information Center located four miles east of Titusville is a great place to start your visit and find answers to your questions. Here, there are educational exhibits, movies, programs, drinking water, restrooms, a bookstore, light snacks and outdoor trails. Don’t miss the 20-minute video that will introduce you to all that you can do at this great wildlife refuge. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1963 as an overlay of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Consisting of 140,000 acres, the refuge provides a variety of habitats for you to enjoy: There are coastal dunes, saltwater estuaries and marshes, freshwater impoundments, scrub and pine flatwoods and hardwood hammocks that provide habitat for more than 1,500 species of plants and animals. Many recreational opportunities are offered at the refuge: bird and wildlife observation, a wildlife auto drive, fishing, hunting, boating and paddling. There is a manatee viewing platform located on the northeast side of Haulover Canal and it is the best spot to see manatees. Interpretive

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panels are available at the platform to provide information about these endangered species. To reach the Visitor Information Center, continue four miles past the Wildlife Refuge entrance (remain to your right at the fork in the road) and the visitor center will be on your right. Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center is at 1987 Scrub Jay Way. The Visitor Information Center is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. For more information, call 321-861-0669. There is no charge for this wonderful visit. The refuge also is a great place for a picnic lunch. If you are looking for a prepared meal, before or after your visit to the refuge, Titusville offers many excellent restaurants that cater to all tastes and pocketbooks. Driving directions to the refuge: From Interstate 95, take exit 220 (State Road 406). Drive east on SR 406, also known as Garden Street. Continue east on Garden Street for

SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock

The Roseate Spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja) is perched in the mangroves of Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. four miles and travel over the Max Brewer Causeway Bridge. The Refuge begins at the east side of the causeway. Follow the signs. From the north, access is available from U.S. 1 on the Kennedy Parkway (State Road 3) about two miles south of the community of Oak Hill. Access is not available from the south

on SR 3 because of the restricted area surrounding the Kennedy Space Center. From the south, visitors must use the Titusville entrance. Remember, a one-day family holiday can be inexpensive and educational with so many travel opportunities in our own backyard. SL

History1 — 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 - 1926

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Brevard County Historical Commission

Rockledge Drive along the city’s riverfront was once a dirt road.

SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2022

Now - 2021

SENIOR LIFE Elaine Moody

Rockledge Drive is a scenic roadway along the Indian River.

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Health & Wellness

An often humorous subject can reveal a lot about health BY NANETTE HEBDIGE For us humans, the comings and goings to the toilet are an extremely private thing, even if it’s a common bodily function. Indeed, pooping habits don’t infiltrate dinner conversations and they are performed in a totally covert manner. Go ahead and giggle, but No. 2 is no laughing matter unless you’re a kid and toilet humor is a totally hilarious subject. Let’s face it, some don’t even have to be an adolescent to find it entertaining or amusing. But seriously, when it comes to our bowels and their movements, they are pretty much disregarded unless of course there is an issue. All of us try to be as regular as possible with our pooping bouts because not being regular creates discomfort and without expelling waste we can’t survive. As adults, we have a tendency not to have open conversations regarding the brevity or length of our pooping forays into the restroom. No one will admit that sitting on the throne is embraced by some as their only private and quiet time to catch up with the news or reading material. And for others, it’s a done deal not lingering any more than necessary. Pooping is a very personal thing. Yet, any medical professional will suggest you become acquainted with fecal fundamentals. Being aware of what your poop looks like is equally as important as going to the bathroom daily. OK, so let’s talk poop because now is a good time to get poo acquainted. So don’t go eewww and become overly disgusted; knowledge is power and most humans are unaware that our poop can divulge a lot about one’s

SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock

Knowing what to look for in your poop can give clues to potential health issues. health, which is directly linked to your eating habits. Considering we aren’t dietary magicians, we don’t really know what diet yields the best poop. But knowing what to look for can delineate any potential ongoing diseases or health issues that can then be addressed by your doctor. Here are the seven types of poo, what they indicate and look like according to Medical News Today and Web MD. Type 1: Little pellets that look like Roger Rabbit took a poop in your toilet and it could be dark almost black in color (constipation) Type 2: Small little sausages — that are a bit bigger than the previous pellets and it can be lumpy (mild constipation) Type 3: Appearance of a sausage, with cracks and could be also very dark, almost black color (Healthy and normal)

Type 4: Sausage, log-shaped and it’s easy to pass (healthy and normal) Type 5: Soft blobs with clear cut edges (lacking fiber) Type 6: Almost watery with some substance (mild diarrhea) Type 7: Liquid in form without any substance (diarrhea) Type 1 and 2 display constipation and denote a lack of fiber and hydration. You need to drink plenty of water and have more fiber added to your diet. Type 3 and 4 denote you’re a healthy specimen and your intestinal tract is in ship shape. Type 5, 6 and 7 are unhealthy with 6 and 7 having too much liquid and if it’s not a temporary situation, it has to be addressed by your doctor. Additionally, healthy poop sinks to the bottom of the toilet. And on the opposite spectrum, floating excrement denotes that your body isn’t absorbing enough nutrients from food, and you

have too much fat in your diet, so cut back on that. The other matter that should be closely monitored is the color. We’re not talking 50 Shades of Gray here, only five. But it has to be taken just as seriously. Large amounts of plants and vegetables (raw or cooked) feed gut bacteria and they are essential for making your excrement healthy. Brown — Any shade denotes healthy poop. Black — Iron, red wine and licorice can make your poop black or it might be a sign of bleeding. Green — A greenish tinge is OK – which denotes healthy doses of veggie intake. Antibiotics or iron are present as well and might cause your stool to turn green. Red — Reddish poop can be the cause of eating anything that has red dyes. Beets are one of the main causes of red poo as well as tomato soup. However, keep a close eye, because red could indicate blood in your stool and that needs to be addressed by your doctor. Yellow — This is a common shade for babies, as breastfeeding causes yellow poop. However, in an adult, it delineates typically smelly and greasy poo, and you should be telling your doctor as well. Another question frequently asked is how often should daily poop bouts occur? The normal quota is three or four times a day as your body needs to expel the waste because all the nutrients from food have been absorbed. Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals of poop, please don’t cower away from paying attention. Poop is a serious business. SL

Longtime, high-volume blood donors make giving a calling to save lives BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER Donating blood is a way for many to give back, to open their hearts and their arms to share the life-giving fluid with others. Donors are truly dedicated to their missions. Bill Lundell of Indian Harbor Beach estimates through his numbers from OneBlood that he has given more than 139 gallons. “He is one of about 325 Floridians that have given more than 100 gallons,” said Pat Michaels, director of media and public relations for OneBlood. “He is one of the highest donors in our system.” Michaels said Lundell gives platelets, which takes more than two hours of donation time each session. Platelets must be transfused to the recipient within five days. “They are donors of a higher calling,” Michaels said of the regular high donors of platelets. I call them “career blood donors.” Stephanie Bergsieker, always working in health care, found her way to

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of OneBlood

Bill Lundell relaxes as he shares his blood during a donor session with OneBlood. donation and has also stayed there. “When working for the city there was an incentive, so I gave blood,” said Lundell, who has donated blood 1987. “I was one of the first participants in Melbourne to donate platelets in 1988. I donate so that my blood goes to cancer patients. When I give platelets, 12 to 15 people benefit from the donation.” His parents both died of cancer.

SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2022

“It is safe for me to say most people have known someone with cancer,” Lundell said. “I go back to cancer. My parents both died of lung cancer. That was my motivator.” Donating platelets takes about 2 hours and 20 minutes, benefiting surgery, organ transplant and cancer patients as well as those with blood clotting disorders, according to the

American Red Cross. Lundell attributes staying personally healthy to donating blood. Stephanie Bergsieker, who works for Steward Health in charge of business development for the Florida market, has been giving blood since her 20s. She is now in her 40s. “I figure it is an easy way to give back and it doesn’t cost me anything. I have worked in the care industry of some sort, always a caring person and one to give back,” Bergsieker said. “It doesn’t take a lot of time for I am a quick bleeder and only takes 20 to 30 minutes. There is no cost and I have the power to save a life. “I give once every two months when I am able and when there is a blood drive I just sign up and give. Also, it is nice, at the donation site they keep track of my blood pressure and have a quick little health summary that is kind of neat to me.” According to the World Health Organization, “blood is the most precious gift that anyone can give to another person — the gift of life.” SL

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SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2022

SATURDAY

January 2

SUNDAY Happy Mew Year for Cats Day

MONDAY

Titusville Library Book Club Beginning Drawing: 6 p.m. six-week course First Monday of the month. Pick up this month’s reading selection at the reference desk. Titusville Public Library 2121 S. Hopkins Ave. Titusville, 321-264-5026

SHINE Medicare & Medicaid Counseling

Happy Mew Year for Cats Day

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

Noon - 3 p.m. Every Monday (except Jan. 17) Sunflower House 777 Merritt Island Causeway, Suite 201 321-452-4341

National Save the Eagles Day

Women's Pickleball

a.m. - 2 p.m. Ron Teixeira Jazz Concert 10 Play pickleball for $2 per 2 - 4 p.m. person. Space Coast Jazz Society Viera Regional Veteran Memorial Center Community Center 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway 2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Merritt Island, 321-453-1776 Way Viera, 321-433-4891

Mexican Train Dominoes 1 - 3 p.m. $2/$3 North Brevard Senior Center Titusville, 321-267-5923

National Fig Newton Day

Hay Bale Concert – Music of Fleetwood Max

3 - 9 p.m. Live music of Fleetwood Mac by Fleetwood Max and Vintage on hay bale seats benefits the Brevard Humane Society. Sterling Stables 6450 W. King Street Cocoa, 321-626-3733

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration 1 - 5 p.m. Activities and entertainment in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Food, music, basketball games and more. Joseph N. Davis Community Center 2547 Grant St. Melbourne, 321-608-7460

Sunday Cinema Family Movie

1:30 - 3:30 p.m. Melbourne Public 540 E. Fee Ave. Melbourne, 321-952-4514

Zumba in the Park

8 - 9 a.m. Zumba is a cardio workout that uses many dance styles for a full-body workout. This workout is for all levels of fitness. $3 per person West Melbourne Community Park Amphitheater 3000 Minton Road W. Melbourne 321-837-7779

Health Insurance Marketplace

10 a.m. United Way navigators give free help and guidance. Suntree/Viera Public Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404

8:30 a.m. Scramble. 8:30 a.m. shotgun Duran Golf Club, Viera 321-504-7776

WEDNESDAY

Grieving through Art

10 - 11 a.m. First Wednesday of the month. Everyone copes with grief in different ways; join St. Francis Reflections as we work to acknowledge and cope with our feelings. Art can be a way to help make sense of the process. RSVP Sunflower House 777 Merritt Island Causeway, Suite 201 Merritt Island, 321-452-4341

National Take the Stairs Day

Sassy Senior Cheerleaders Grandparents Raising 4 - 6 p.m. Grandchildren Tuesdays Greater Palm Bay Senior Center 1275 Culver Drive NE Palm Bay, 321-724-1338

Bingo

10 a.m. - Noon Third Wednesday of the month. Grandparents caring for their grandchildren is among the oldest practices in child-rearing. Those raising grandchildren by chance or by choice are welcome. RSVP. Sunflower House 777 Merritt Island Causeway, Suite 201 Merritt Island, 321-452-4341

H C T I W S 80

Irish Coﬀee Day: ts presen

SHINE Counseling

Florida Sustainable Transportation and Technology Expo

1 - 2 p.m. Cape Canaveral Recreation Department 7300 N. Atlantic Ave. Cape Canaveral 321-868-1226

9 a.m. - Noon Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays s Jan.B 26aand nd27 e Wickham Park Senior Center t 8 a.m. 3 p.m. u b i 2785 Leisure Way Tr This expo will present the Melbourne, 321-255-4494 latest developments in alternative fuels, vehicles Master Gardeners Talk and equipment. x 1 - 3 p.m. Every Tuesday ple Center Florida Energy Com Master Gardeners will tSolar asClearlake o C e 1679 Road c a answer your questions about SA Sp USS plants, insects and diseases. Cocoa, 321-638-1000 Merritt Island Library 1195 N. Courtenay Parkway Merritt Doors Island, 321-455-1369 open at 5 p.m. so you can

Feb. 1• Free Parking Feb. 2

Andersen Quilters

9 a.m. - Noon $1 members, $2 nonmembers Martin Andersen Senior Center, Building 3 1025 S. Florida Ave. Rockledge, 321-639-8475

Cornhole Toss

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Greater Palm Bay Senior Center 1275 Culver Drive NE Palm Bay, 321-724-1338

THURSDAY

m p 6 5 FEB

enjoy some food and beverages.

Viera Rock Fest

• Beer and Food

available for purchase

• Outdoor seating

Early purchase tickets are $20, with a limited quantity available. Purchase your tickets at

VieraRockFest.com

FRIDAY

Sip and Smoke at 28 North Gastropub

Brevard Antiques and Collectibles Club

Belly Dance Mezza

Escher String Quartet with pianist Andrew Tyson

5:30 - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy signature food, beverages — cigars are available for purchase. 28 North Gastropub 2250 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-241-1159 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. First Thursday monthly Free Belly Dance classes Flames Mediterranean Bar & Grille 1270 N. Wickham Road Melbourne, 321-777-6677

Author Talk at Mims/ Scottsmoor Library 2:30 p.m. 6:35 - 7:35 p.m. Second Tuesday monthly. Zumba is a cardio workout 6:30 p.m. Author Geri Throne will Make a decorative fan with that uses many dance discuss her debut novel a colorful tassel. styles for a full-body Titusville Library workout. A workout is for “Secret Battles.” Mims/Scottsmoor Library 2121 S. Hopkins Ave. all levels of fitness. 3615 Lionel Road Titusville, 321-264-5026 $5 per person Mims, 321-264-5080 West Melbourne Improve your Mood and Community Park Get Active. Movie Matinee – Amphitheater 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. “Under the Tuscan Sun” 3000 Minton Road Lunch and Learn — Ask 2 p.m. W. Melbourne the Doctor Dr. A. LoGalbo, 321-837-7779 RSVP. Seating is limited. Neuropsychologist One Senior Place RSVP. One Senior Place Viera, 321-751-6771 Viera, 321-751-6771

1 - 2 p.m. $1 members, $2 nonmembers Martin Andersen Senior Center, 1025 S. Florida Ave. Rockledge, 321-453-5098

Red Eye Open Golf Tournament

Zumba in the Park

Spanish Class

10 a.m. Enjoy a stroll guided by town historians Frank Thomas and Bruce Morgan. Melbourne Beach Pier 507 Ocean Ave., Melbourne Beach, 321-727-3050

Upcycle Crafts

Canning: Jams and Jellies

Tai Chi and Qigong

1 p.m. Beginner drawing classes take place for six weeks. A $60 fee covers all six classes. Satellite Beach Public Library 751 Jamaica Blvd.

11:15 a.m. - 2 p.m. Wickham Park Senior Center 2785 Leisure Way Melbourne, 321-255-4494

6 - 8 p.m. UF/IFAS Extension Brevard County, 3695 Lake Drive, Cocoa, 321-633-1702

National Pie Day

TUESDAY

Annual New Year’s Day Walking History Tour of Old Melbourne Beach

9:30 a.m. First Friday A show and tell for antiques and collectibles. Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404

National Bubble Bath Day

Amazing Grace Concert: an Evening with Wintley Phipps 7 - 9 p.m. Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. Scott Center Auditorium 5625 Holy Trinity Drive Suntree, 855-252-7276

Viera East Farmers Market 10 a.m. Woodside Park 1705 Crane Creek Blvd. Viera, Facebook/ VEfarmersmarket

7:30 p.m. St. Mark's United Brevard Renaissance Fair Methodist Church 2030 North Highway A1A 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wickham Indialantic, 321-213-5100 Park, Melbourne

Cape Canaveral Pen Women's Group

10 a.m. Speaker will be JoAnna O'Keefe, author, poet, inspirational speaker. RSVP required. One Senior Place 8075 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771

An Evening with psychic Jeﬀrey Wands

6:50 - 9:45 p.m. FOP Lodge #37 1049 Julia Drive Melbourne, 321-794-8901

11 a.m. Dr. Mike Nichols and Megan Nichols of Inbalance Rehab. Freedom 7 Senior Community Center 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd. Cocoa Beach 321-783-9505

10 - 11 a.m. Join Cape Canaveral City Manager Todd Morley for a coffee chat. Manatee Sanctuary Park 701 Thurm Blvd. Cocoa Beach, 321-8681220

National Hugging Day

Fall Prevention Seminar

Coﬀee with the City Manager

National Hat Day

Movie in the Park Palm Bay

6 - 8 p.m. Bring chairs, blankets, snacks, and bug spray and enjoy the movie “Hook” under the stars. Veterans Memorial Park 2201 Port Malabar Blvd. NE Palm Bay, 321-726-5682

Cookbook Club at DeGroodt 2 p.m. Visit the reference desk for a copy of “Bubby's Brunch Cookbook,” pick a recipe to prepare at home. DeGroodt Public Library 6475 Minton Road

Huge Indoor Rummage Sale 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. Eau Gallie Civic Center 1551 Highland Ave. Melbourne, 321-608-7400

Malabar Community Market 9 a.m. - 2 p.m. Malabar Fire Department 1840 Malabar Road Malabar, 321-727-7764

Casino Night

6 - 10 p.m. Greater Palm Bay Senior Center, 1275 Culver Drive NE Palm Bay, 321-724-1338

SHINE Counseling

9 a.m. - Noon Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays Wickham Park Senior Center 2785 Leisure Way Melbourne, 321-255-4494

Feb. 3

Titusville Library Tai Chi Noon Titusville Library 2121 S. Hopkins Ave. Titusville, 321-264-5026

Gospel Quartet Concert

7 p.m. King's Cadence will perform a free concert to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the dedication of St. John the Evangelist Church. St. John's 5655 Stadium Parkway Viera, 202-423-4757

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Doors open at 5 p.m. so you can enjoy some food and beverages.

• Free Parking • Beer and Food

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Space Coast Wood Carvers Show

9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Raffle, food, relief carving and caricature carving demos. Crane Creek Community Center 1440 Mosswood Drive Melbourne, 407-325-5424

Boomer Guide

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Senior Expo Get your copy of the brand new 2022 Boomer Guide

• • • • • • •

Free Admission Free Parking Food & Drinks Fun Activities Music Exhibitors Giveaways Meet the 2022 Boomer Models

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CROSSWORD ACROSS 1 Make smile 6 Read intently 11 Moneybags (2 wds.) 13 In large supply 14 Land in Mexico 15 Trial 16 -- Baba 17 Give the go-ahead 18 “Big Blue” of computer fame 20 Digital watch readout 22 Part of TGIF 25 Collection of tales 26 Pierre’s monarch 27 Insurance center 29 Shuttle, maybe 30 Large vase 31 Evita or Juan 32 Car pedal 34 Pasture grazer 36 Trim a doily 37 Cries out loudly 38 Chess piece 39 Gore and Capone 40 Fem. saint 41 PC key 42 Bride’s new title 43 Festive night 45 Had some hash 47 Resort amenities 50 Medium-sized sofa 54 Volunteers 55 Newspaper name 56 Stand-in 57 Tot’s cry

DOWN 1 Rear, to Popeye 2 -- tai (rum drink) 3 Comanche kin 4 Hotfoot it 5 NBA’s -- Monroe 6 Trim 7 Former (hyph.) 8 Future fish 9 Geologic division 10 Costa -- Sol 12 Suit maker 13 Fort Knox filler 18 Habituates 19 Igneous rock 21 Movies 23 Seafood sauce 24 Schools of fish 25 Popular advice-giver 26 Weeps over 27 Not shut 28 Busy insects 33 Disposable tissue 35 Ohio River feeder 41 Hardy heroine 42 Subway in Paris 44 Deviate 46 Abound 47 Make soaking wet 48 Kenya’s loc. 49 Roswell crasher 51 Wool cap 52 Shade tree 53 Ben & Jerry rival

Crossword solution, page 26

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Senior Life

News for Titusville, Mims & Port St. John

North Brevard Moore Complex offers rotating exhibits on the Civil Rights movement BY FLORA REIGADA An educator and true pioneer in the Civil Rights Movement, Harry T. Moore has been called “a man before his time.” Although Moore and his wife, Harriette V. Moore, were murdered when a bomb was exploded beneath their home on Christmas night 1951, their legacy lives on and is taught at the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Cultural Complex in Mims. The center’s permanent and rotating exhibits serve to educate visitors through historic collections about the impact of Moore’s legacy and ongoing civil and human rights issues. January exhibits include a table display depicting the life of assassinated Civil Rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., whose birthday is observed Jan. 17. “It contains thought provoking pictures for discussion,” said Sonya Mallard, cultural center coordinator. Curator tours are conducted every two hours. Appointments are suggested, but non-guided tours are welcome. Group tours include a movie, Underground Railroad quilt, timeline museum tour (1860-1964) Moore replica home tour, civil rights trail walk and gift shop. Mallard is especially moved by the Underground Railroad quilt replica.

SENIOR LIFE David Reigada

Carshonda K. Wright, a cultural center leader for the Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore Cultural Center, discusses symbols sewn into patches on an Underground Railroad quilt replica on display at the center. “Secret codes sewn into patches on the quilt, guided escaped slaves along their journey to freedom.” she

said. “Each patch had a different symbol that showed slaves important steps they needed to follow.”

Moore’s work preceded major civil rights legislation, such as the 1954 Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education, ending racial segregation in public schools. Moore founded Brevard County’s first branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and served as its president. He helped register thousands of black voters. The Cultural Complex bearing the Moore’s name, includes a cultural center, Moore replica home and a memorial park. Admission is free. Cultural Center leader Carshonda K. Wright conducts tours that include the Moore replica home, located about 10 feet from its original site. “A house gives us a look into the personality of a person or family,” she said, citing an example. “Mrs. Moore brought a table from Ohio, where she had worked. It is round, and everyone sits equally.” Notable houseguests include the late lawyer, civil rights activist and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. “He stayed here to strategize with Mr. Moore about landmark cases,” Wright said. The Cultural Complex is at 2180 Freedom Ave. in Mims. For information, call 321-264-6595 or visit harryharriettemoore.org SL

Retired teacher continues teaching through children’s books consequences for breaking the rules. “This teaches children to solve problems with positive outcomes,” Wolfe said. How this all works out is one of the life lessons woven into the story. “The book is ideal for children in grades K through 6 and an easy reader that will enhance reading in all grades,” Wolfe said. “Older students can buddy read with younger students. Kid-hearted adults who love wearing their pajamas will

BY FLORA REIGADA Before retiring in 2015, Anne Marie Wolfe taught kindergarten through sixth grade at Freedom 7 Elementary School in Cocoa Beach, Theodore Roosevelt Elementary School in Cocoa Beach and Roy Allen Elementary School in Melbourne. “Teaching was a 25-year adventure,” she said. Wolfe brings that wealth of experience into her new adventure of writing children’s books. Her first book, “Santa Has Retired,” ponders what would happen if Santa left the North Pole for sunny Florida. Wolfe’s second release, “P … Jamming,” shows how fourthgraders Pammy, Patty and Penny attempt to change their school’s dress code by staging a peaceful protest and wearing their pajamas to class. The book is a tangible result of Wolfe and collaborator/illustrator Ava Bogle pooling their time and talent during the pandemic. “I was inspired to write this when I saw how much students loved wearing their pajamas to school for fun reward days,” Wolfe said. At a sleepover, the girls designate the letter P, a VIP (Very important

321-242-1235

also enjoy the story. It is the first in a series about boys and girls who love wearing their pajamas everywhere.” Wolfe spoke of the satisfaction she derives from reading her books to students in classrooms and sharing her work on radio talk shows. “By explaining the lessons in my books, I believe I am contributing to future generations,” she said. Wolfe’s books are available at AnneMarieWolfe.com. SL

The Murtha Law Group, PA Kevin M. Murtha SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Carol Carmichael

Retired Brevard County teacher, Anne Marie Wolfe, reads her books to students in area schools, such as Ayana Carmichael at St. Mark’s Episcopal Academy in Cocoa Village. P.) They eat food that starts with P and play games that begin with it. Pizza, popcorn and pretzels are on the menu. Paper dolls and a piñata provide entertainment. But the friends learn there are

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SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2022

1933 Rockne

Owner: Joe Pace

The 1933 Rockne was made by Rockne Motor Company, a subsidiary of Studebaker. This one, owned by Joe Pace of Rockledge, had been stripped down and used as a dragster until he bought it 46 years ago and restored it. A few parts had to be custom made of fiberglass using photos, mainly on the front of the car. The name Rockne was a tribute to the famed University of Notre Dame football coach Knute Rockne. Rockne was set to retire as a coach and become an executive with Studebaker when he died in a plane crash in 1934.

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Continued from page 1 card in a safe place with other important documents such as passports and Social Security cards. A plastic sleeve like those used for ID badges can keep the card safe and stain-free, he said. Those who already have laminated their card can simply ask for a new paper card when getting a second vaccination or booster. People who lost their card or never received one can contact the site where they received their first vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If unable to contact the original provider, they can find the information at

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Sudoku Solution Puzzle on page 15

their state health department’s Immunization Information System site. In Florida, the site is at flshotsusers.com. Cardholders should not post their card on social media because identity thieves can access its information, the American Association of Retired Persons recommends. Smartphone owners also can use a QR code or a link to obtain a verifiable COVID-19 vaccination or test result record. If a healthcare provider or authority offers a QR code or a link, smartphone users can use their phone’s camera to scan the QR code and then tap the link. Or they can add a vaccination record or test result to Wallet and Health by tapping Add to Wallet & Health, then tapping Done. SL

SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2022

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Senior Care

Direct: 321-403-2366 • Office: 321-209-8686 denise@allyslc.com • www.allyslc.com 142 N. Orlando Avenue, Ste. 100, Cocoa beach

321-848-0227

Specialist in Real Estate Clean Outs

321-383-1616

INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING MEMORY CARE • LONG TERM CARE • RESPITE CARE

Mon-Sat: 11 am - 9 pm Sun: 10 am - 9 pm

Sunday – Thursday: 9am-9pm Friday & Saturday: 9am-10pm

DENISE BILDER, SENIOR CONSULTANT

Menu!

2850 South Hopkins Ave.

Enhancing the lives of aging adults and their families.

New Trivia on Tuesdays!

SERVING ALL OF BREVARD Financing available, Insurance accepted

Senior Care

Restaurant

Ask about specials!

8085 Spyglass Hill Rd., Viera (inside One Senior Place)

Restaurant

Independent Agent serving Brevard since 2002

321-634-2647

You Deserve Better Hearing

321-242-1235

Health Insurance

Wellness January Special

BUY ONE GET ONE

FREE All products Must present this ad. Exp. 1/31/22

Skincare • Edibles Hair Care • Vape • Topicals WATCH PRODUCTS BEING MADE EDUCATED STAFF • CLEAN KITCHEN

DreamFarmsHemp.com 321-421-7280

674 Wickham Rd, Melbourne Wickham Green Center

SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2022

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

$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:

321-351-7645 (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

SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2022

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