Senior Life, April 2023

Remembering passwords perplexes seniors, almost everyone else

Passwords, passwords and more passwords!

Are you one who struggles with trying to remember passwords or have you already resorted to a password manager that keeps you on track with only one set to recall?

First, there is a password for your phone, for your online banking, for all your social media accounts, for every online shopping line and so much more.

In addition to having dozens of passwords, experts will tell you that you need to change them from time to time. And you most likely won’t be able to reuse any. So, what do you do about it?

A story you can read in this edition of Senior Life will share some options with you. There are password managers, apps that keep it straight, that are out there. You’ll just have to decide whether it is for you and which one you should choose.

Some seniors choose to stay in their homes as they age rather than go to an assisted living facility. It might work for some and for a time if they take certain steps. Read about some of the things that need to be done to accomplish that and help keep you safe. Lighting, grab bars, furniture rearranging and other changes can help, but there is so much more to consider.

I was in a department store recently and noticed that it had what looked like about 20 checkout lanes with only two in service. At the same time, there were people lined up to pay at the self-checkout counters. After I left, I wondered what customers thought about using self-checkout, since they are popping up everywhere. So, we decided to explore it in a story. Here, we share some of what we learned.

As usual, there are plenty of other informative and entertaining articles in Senior Life, including stories about veterans in Brevard County.

Did you know that there is a veterans’ court? It handles certain cases in which veterans are charged with non-violent crimes. There have been veterans suffering with post-traumatic stress disorder who have gotten in trouble with the law.

I have received several letters and notes letting us know what you think about some of our stories and what you want to see us explore. We appreciate every feedback and try to answer each one or look at your story ideas. SL

R. Norman Moody norm@myseniorlife.com

Volume 25, Issue 11

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

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Turkey Creek Sanctuary preserves Old Florida heritage

BY LINDA JUMP

Bill Haddad of Palm Bay saw a dozen species of birds at Turkey Creek Sanctuary, joining an estimated 5,000 visitors last month.

“Today, I was walking more for the exercise,” the retired appellate attorney and avid birdwatcher explained.

That day, he saw a North Parula Warbler and Ruby-Crowned Kinglet, which he said is the smallest bird spotted there except hummingbirds.

The 133-acre undeveloped native Florida land off Port Malabar Boulevard in Palm Bay includes sand pines, scrub and turkey oaks with five

separate trails ranging in length and purpose. A 1.5-mile raised boardwalk follows Turkey Creek, with a launch for privately owned kayaks and canoes, creek overlook sites and benches. Four sand primitive walks include a jogging and exercise loop.

“I didn’t know there were so many trails,” said first-time walker Amber Gantt of Palm Bay. The site is “peaceful and calming.”

A butterfly garden, picnic area and gazebo are available. Service animals

TURKEY CREEK

Continued on page 6

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SENIOR LIFE Klinton Landress

The Margaret Hames Nature Center in the Turkey Creek Sanctuary is located off of Port Malabar Boulevard in Palm Bay. It is staffed by volunteers nearly daily from 9 a.m. to 4

PEOPLE PLAY Games

Camaraderie of pingpong serves purpose at Senior Center

BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER

It’s the fun of the game that is the most important part of playing table tennis (pingpong) or lawn tennis. Hitting techniques in both sports are very different in execution (in tennis more from the shoulder vs. in table tennis and pingpong more from the forearm and wrist).

Table tennis, also known as pingpong and whiff-whaff (in England), is a sport in which two or four players hit a lightweight ball (also known as the pingpong ball), back and forth across a table using small solid rackets. It takes place on a hard table divided by a net.

Except for the initial serve, the rules are generally as follows: Players must allow a ball played toward them to bounce once on their side of the table and must return it so that it bounces on the opposite side. A point is scored when a player fails to return the ball within the rules. Play is fast and demands quick reactions. Spinning the ball alters its trajectory and limits an opponent’s options, giving the hitter a great advantage.

“It is great hand and eye coordination,” said Tom Indrick,

a player at the Greater Palm Bay Senior Center pingpong group. “It’s the reflex strategy that benefits the hand and eye coordination. Many professional baseball players play pingpong during the offseason for that reason. I feel such a difference in

my health from playing.”

But playing for social and conversational fun is the group’s basic attraction.

“I played as a kid and hadn’t played since,” said Kathy Levesque, the coordinator of the group. “Then, I picked it up again. Some of us learn by our mistakes. It is a great sport.”

Pingpong is a trademarked name for the game also known as table tennis. In 1901, John Jacques registered Ping-Pong as a trading name in England, then the rights were sold to Parker Brothers. These two names, table tennis and pingpong, referring to the same sport were retained until 2011 when the Ping Pong World Championship was introduced. Since then, they became two sports instead of one, according to the Ping Pong Academy. Competitors in pingpong and table tennis don’t participate in the same competitions, which makes another difference between the two games. Although there’s a world championship for both, table tennis is an Olympic sport while pingpong isn’t.

The $2 membership a month for each group member covers the purchase of new equipment and a Christmas party, Levesque said for those who are center members. The group plays from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday at the senior center. SL

SENIOR LIFE Brenda Eggert Brader The pingpong balls are white and yellow in color, but yellow is much easier to see so it is utilized at the Greater Palm Bay Senior Center.

SENIOR LIFE Brenda Eggert Brader Tom Indrick, a pingpong player at the Greater Palm Bay Senior Center, volleys the ball back to his opponents as his partner, Kathy Levesque, gives him plenty of maneuvering room.

Chasing the one perfect toss for a different kind of hole-in-one

BY ERNIE DORLING

Cornhole is one of the fastest growing sports in the country, with top-tier players earning six-figure incomes.

As legend has it, sometime in the early part of the 14th century, Matthias Kuepermann, a cabinet maker in Germany, invented the game, using grain-filled bags and a board with a hole in it. Kuepermann is thought to have used cabinet materials from his shop to build the board.

Kuepermann filled bags with grain that would be thrown onto the board in an effort to land in the round hole on top of the board. Through time, cornhole evolved into a lawn game enjoyed by those who simply wanted to pass the time while sparking up the grill and opening a beer or some other beverage.

Today, cornhole, also known as sack toss or bags, is more than just

a lawn game. Cornhole has gained national attention, with some events being televised on ESPN.

The goal is simple — score points by either landing the bag on the board or putting the bag through the hole. It sounds simple, but there is an art to it.

PGA Tour golfer Joel Dahmen plays cornhole to improve his golf game. Golfers know, or should realize, that almost every shot requires a certain rhythm to it.

The movements in cornhole, including the follow through and the arm moving upward with a bit of wrist motion, emulate to some degree a golf swing. In both sports, there is a certain harmony between the body and arm swing.

Retired after 22 years in the U.S. Air Force, Brian Grew, known affectionately as Red, first started playing cornhole eight years ago at a friend’s home during a barbecue.

“I love the game,” Grew said. Grew now runs the Monday night league at The Backyard. “We have 16 teams divided into an A and B division, depending on one’s skill level.”

Grew was getting the teams ready for the prompt 6 p.m. start on a Monday night.

“We will have almost 100 players here this evening,” he said. “If everything goes right, we will be here until about 11 p.m.”

Grew also said that his league, and other cornhole leagues around the county, have helped raise thousands of dollars for worthy causes, mostly involving children in need of some medical attention and to support

Pirate Day, ahoy Mateys!

various high school athletic programs.

“There are tournaments and fundraisers happening all the time,” Grew said. “This sport gives back whenever and wherever it can.”

The game is easy to set up and take down. You can take it with you almost anywhere. And, anyone can play it as long as you can toss a onepound bag 27 feet.

Those interested in playing cornhole can find games almost anytime and anywhere throughout Brevard County. On most nights,

other than on Monday, those interested in trying the game can do so at The Backyard, located at 5270 N. U.S. 1 in Palm Shores.

“We have a huge league on Monday, but most any other day we are open,’’ said Tamara Herzner, the manager. “You can come in and we’ll set up the cornhole game for you.” For information about where to play cornhole, check out the Facebook page called 321 Cornhole. It provides information about tournaments, games and fundraisers. SL

SENIOR LIFE Ernie Dorling Cornhole players like to gather at The Backyard on Monday night for competitive matches. The Backyard is located at 5270 N. U.S. 1 in Palm Shores.

SENIOR LIFE Ernie Dorling

Brian Grew started playing cornhole eight years ago while attending a barbecue.

Blue Chateau Madeleine residents enjoy being pirates

overlooking

TURKEY CREEK

Continued from page 3 are allowed, and the walks are ADA accessible. Parking and access are free.

Self-guided tours can be accomplished by plaques on the boardwalk rail or with a brochure from the Margaret Hames Nature Center staffed by volunteers nearly daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Special events, ranger-guided tours, nature day camps, a nature library, exhibits and a small gift store are included, said Lisa Bassett, an assistant ranger.

“We have all sorts of wildlife and we’re home to the endangered gopher tortoise,” she said. Many people come to see alligators and manatees, but she said sightings are “hit or miss.” Small projects are ongoing, but no major changes are planned, she said.

Amanda and Orlando Roma of West Melbourne spent a weekend morning letting their children sleep. “Only adults today, but the kids love it,” Orlando Roma said.

“I feel safe here because there’s a mixture of young, old and families from all cultures. People are really friendly and helpful,” Amanda Roma said. “You walk down one path and feel like you’re in Costa Rica and another and think you’re in Georgia.”

The sanctuary opened in 1981 with conservation land donated to the city and Audubon Society by General Development Corp. Florida Community Trust and the Brevard County Environmentally Endangered Lands program added acreage. The nature center opened in 1991.

The nonprofit Turkey Creek Sanctuary Society, Inc. raises money for the site. Two fundraisers will be held this month, an art show from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 1 with 60 vendors in the nearby Tony Rosa Community Center and Turkey Creek Day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 15.

Environmental displays and local artwork can be viewed beginning at 9:30 a.m.; a native plant walk will be conducted at 10 a.m.; ranger tours will be held at 1 p.m.; a planter carving demonstration at 11 a.m.; and a 10:30 a.m. children’s story time is planned.

SENIOR LIFE Klinton Landress

The Turkey Creek Sanctuary features a picturesque bridge made with wood planks inscribed with messages of love. The sanctuary is located in Palm Bay.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Bonnie Jacobs A Witches Broom is a dense compact cluster of branches and needles. Though rarely injuring the tree, it can be the result of mites, insects, viruses, fungi or a genetic mutation.

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in Ms. Florida Senior America Pageant

SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE

Indian River Colony Club resident Jane Hodges will head to The Villages for the Ms. Florida Senior America Pageant on April 23.

The winner will qualify for the Ms. Senior America Pageant, which honors women who have reached the age of elegance and exemplifies the dignity, maturity and inner beauty of all seniors. Ms. Senior Florida is scored on four categories: interview, philosophy of life/inner beauty, evening gown and talent.

Hodges’ talent is hula. She learned Hawaiian hula while teaching in Honolulu, where she met Don Ho. She became a member of Don Ho’s Harem, where audience participation was encouraged at his dinner shows on Waikiki Beach.

Hodges, who has earned seven degrees, including two doctorates and a law degree, is proud to advocate for women and minorities to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers, particularly in aerospace and securities professions. Her career in aerospace education spanned more than 50 years, She retired from NASA in 2000.

In 2021, Hodges earned the National Space Club Cape Canaveral Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award.

time machine in April...

April 1, 1957

The BBC TV show “Panorama” runs a segment about the Swiss spaghetti harvest enjoying a bumper crop due to mild weather and the elimination of the spaghetti weevil. It is an April Fools’ joke.

April 2, 1531

Spanish explorer Ponce De Leon sights Florida and claims it for the Spanish Crown after he lands at the site of present-day St. Augustine.

April 2, 1805

Hans Christian Andersen, a fairy-tale author, is born in Odense, Denmark. He writes 168 fairy tales for children, including “The Princess and the Pea,” “The Snow Queen” and “The Nightingale.”

April 6, 1896

She was the first woman recognized for this prestigious award.

Hodges is married to Dave Hutton, a native of Scotland, who was an international oil engineer. They met while working for an NGO in the Niger Delta in 2000. She was forming a space science curriculum for the 40 schools Shell Petroleum Development Company built in the oil rich area. SL

After a hiatus of 1,500 years, the first Olympics of the modern era are held in Athens, Greece.

Publisher Joseph Pulitzer is born in Budapest, Hungary. He endows the journalism school at Columbia University and establishes a fund for Pulitzer prizes.

April 14,1865

President Abraham Lincoln is shot and mortally wounded while watching a performance of “Our American Cousin” at Ford’s Theater in Washington, D.C.

April 22,1864

“In God We Trust” is included on all newly minted coins by an Act of Congress.

Source: Shutterstock

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Jane Hodges Jane Hodges wants more women to consider careers in STEM fields.

STRI PES

Horses share special bond with recovering veterans

Don Pearsall knows the soothing calm that being with horses can bring. He’s been around horses since he was about 7 years old.

It was of great help owning horses after he returned from the Vietnam War with post-traumatic stress disorder.

“I know what it did for me and my PTSD. They just made me feel much better,” Pearsall said. “It changed my attitude.”

Now, Pearsall said the same kind of horse therapy is helping other veterans with PTSD. He, along with his wife, Dorothy Walsh Pearsall, have started the Equine Therapeutic Cavalry, part of Veterans’ Connections to a New Life, a nonprofit veteran assistance organization.

New research shows equine

therapy, a treatment method that uses the connection between people and horses to enhance emotional healing — can jump start the healing process for veterans who suffer from PTSD, according to a 2021 publication of the Columbia University Department of Psychiatry.

Pearsall said that the equine therapy, which is conducted at Debra Grey’s

Tranquility Farms in Scottsmoor, is free to the veterans. Walsh Pearsall works with the women veterans, while Don Pearsall works with the men’s therapy. There are nine veterans taking advantage of the program, but there is room for more who might need help.

Equine therapy helps to facilitate bonding between horse and veteran, which can help in overcoming fear and in regaining confidence.

Pearsall said the veterans have opportunities to ride the horses, help groom and feed them and to help with other equine chores around the farm. No experience working with horses is necessary.

“The horses are good therapists,” he said. “The horses pick you.” Veterans’ Connections provides

steel-toed boots for those in the program. The therapy sessions are usually twice a week, but veterans are encouraged to go to the farm as many times as they like.

“If it worked for me, it will work for them,” Pearsall said.

He said that supporters such as Donn Weaver with the Military Officers Association of America Cape Canaveral Chapter, Brian Whalen of Indian River Colony Club, the Brevard Federated Republican Women and others have all helped to make equine therapy a reality.

Veterans’ Connections to a New Life relies on donations to carry out its work to help veterans transition from military to civilian life. SL

A woman’s place is aboard the ship for Navy veteran

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

The Navy that Lorena Dugan joined in 1979 was very different than today’s, at least in attitude toward those first women assigned to combat ships.

The men didn’t know what to make of them and their own wives and sweeties didn’t trust them with their men.

“The wives really didn’t want that first batch of women going to sea with their men,” Dugan said.

Dugan joined the Navy not because she craved seafaring adventures, but rather because the service offered her the best opportunity to work with computers without the wade of four years of college before actually working in the field. A military brat, Dugan was no stranger to living in different parts of the planet.

“I lived in 27 different places and I didn’t see anything wrong with that,” said Dugan, now firmly ensconced at Indian River Colony Club.

She met her first husband aboard a Navy ship and probably would have remained in the military longer than the five years, five months and 15 days she served, but her second baby didn’t have the best of timing.

“I was pregnant with my second child and was told my ship was leaving in six days to help with the Iran hostage

crisis and that I needed to get my affairs in order,” she said.

At the time, if husband and wife were both on assignment, they would have to sign over custody of their children to someone else. Dugan would have none of that, so she left, but the military remains dear to her.

After a stint designing software and installing it on ships for the Department of Defense, Dugan, a single working mom for 15 years, earned a degree in psychology. And oh, she met David, a former Army captain and attorney who later retired as a circuit court judge.

“David is the perfect husband,” she said.

The couple are very active with Honor Flight, the national organization that transports vets to Washington, D.C. at no cost to celebrate their service to the country and to allow them to reflect at the war memorials in the Nation’s Capital.

“We wanted something that would affect lives, and Honor Flight is an organization that says if they’re going to do something, they do it,” she said.

The couple are on the board of Honor Flight and also vet and train

guardian escorts who accompany the veterans on their flights. With six flights from Brevard annually carrying 30 veterans each, the two have plenty of vetting and training.

“About half of the vets don’t have any family members who can go with them,” she said.

Dugan remains grateful to the Navy for launching her career and providing her with a work ethic that served her well.

“They will teach you whatever you are willing to learn,” she said.

“I had a good time.” SL

SENIOR LIFE Klinton Landress

Lorena Dugan enjoyed her time in the Navy. She is now active with the national Honor Flight organization.

“We wanted something that would affect lives, and Honor Flight is an organization that says if they’re going to do something, they do it.”

—Lorena Dugan

Tough Ruck 26.2-mile march honors fallen military, first responders

BY NANETTE HEBDIGE

Steve Celeste has been training to be a part of Tough Ruck 26.2 Boston For The Fallen, a 26.2-mile march honoring fallen military and first responders.

“This is my first Tough Ruck along with 11 other participants and we call ourselves the Red, White and Boston. I’m the only one from Brevard County on our team raising awareness and funds for the families of our fallen heroes,” Celeste said.

The event takes place April 16, the day before the Boston Marathon and the 26.2-mile course will also go through some old battle and historic sites.

A transplant from Boston and retired military veteran, Celeste became aware about this initiative from his First Sergeant at Fort Bragg, Ranger Joe Shelley and decided to start training for the April event.

comrades with us in our rucksacks.”

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing on April 13, 2013, where many Tough Ruckers were at the finish line on that fateful day assisting the injured after the blasts.

More than 1,000 participants have signed up for this event who have trained to partake in this extremely physical fitness march. They each will carry a 15-pound backpack with the names of many fallen heroes.

“I’m so glad to be a part of this because it raises awareness and funds for the families of our fallen — they deserve the best care in their hour of need,” Celeste said. “We ruck to honor

Tough Ruck is the only march partnering with The Boston Marathon and all finishers earn the official Boston Marathon Medallion of recognition from the Boston Athletic Association.

Military Friends Foundation is the official site for Tough Ruck.

For more information, check out

“I’m so glad to be a part of this because it raises awareness and funds for the families of our fallen — they deserve the best care in their hour of need.”

—Steve Celeste

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Steve Celeste Steve Celeste, a retired military veteran, will participate in his first Tough Ruck 26.2-mile march, which will take place on the same route as the Boston Marathon.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Steve Celeste

The names of fallen comrades are listed on streamers and carried in backpacks during the Tough Ruck march.

Cocoa Beach wins coveted JROTC District Championship

SPECIAL TO VIERA VOICE

The Cocoa Beach Junior and Senior High School Army JROTC Drill Team won the District Championship trophy for the 20222023 school year on March 4 at the Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island.

Six other schools — Cocoa, Rockledge, Heritage, Viera, Astronaut and Merritt Island — competed in categories ranging from Color Guard to Platoon Armed Drill to individual demonstration.

Those seven schools will move on to the State Competition.

Following through on a pledge made early this school year, the Good Deeds Foundation of MOAACC provided funds for every trophy at eight meets from September to March for the 15 JROTC high schools competing in Raider Challenges, Air Rifle and Drill meets.

That total passed $3,400 and included a new, GDF perpetual trophy to recognize the annual winner of the drill competition named after MOAACC member Lloyd Stafford, a Texas A&M graduate who provided his Aggie Sabre as part of the trophy.

GDF member Doug Bisset created the new trophy, which was presented, along with dozens of others, at the final Drill Meet for JROTC of the 2022-23 School Year. The meet also was supported by the Veterans Memorial Center.

A moment of silence was held for Kiara Terwilliger, a cadet from Cocoa High School, who was killed at her home in Cocoa just three days before the competition. SL

Viera resident spreads joy of exercising throughout community

BY NANETTE HEBDIGE

Viera resident Jeanette White has had a lifelong affair with fitness. White fell in love with jazzercising in California when she started out as an instructor 42 years ago. She has been spreading the joy of exercise throughout her community ever since.

“I love music and there’s always been a symbiotic relationship about movement through music that’s carried through exercise,” said White, a graduate of Cocoa High School. “Where would exercise be without music to make it fun and engaging?”

Having had several surgeries, what pulled her through was exercising to regain her mobility.

“Rebuilding and core restrengthening for ADL, Adult Daily Living skills are crucial at any age but more so with the elderly,’’ White said. “It involves eye-hand coordination to maintain and keep that range of motion active.”

Her free We Stick Together classes have quite a following on Friday mornings at the Merritt Island Square Mall. At 10 a.m., her students — of all ages — sit in chairs using sticks and exercising to enhance their agility.

White has been invited to participate in the Classic Universe Woman Pageant World Finals as the Florida delegate for women 55 and older. It will be held this July in Las Vegas.

Aging Matters in Brevard, her charity of choice, is the lead agency

in Brevard County focusing on the needs of seniors.

“This charity is dear and near to my heart, as it brings awareness to elderly affairs to support their safety, health and most importantly improve their quality of life,” White said. “I’m no beauty queen, but I feel brave enough to participate in this pageant which is a platform that showcases a person’s journey and hopefully it will bring awareness to Aging Matters.”

White is no newcomer to the philanthropy arena since she has been involved in many fundraisers for nonprofits throughout her career, sharing her vision and raising money for people in need.

In Florida, she has been a fitness advocate and educator. She was the fitness director at the YMCA in the Lake Mary Community Center, and she started the first African American Walking Club in Orlando. It was sponsored by The Florida Department of Health.

“I imagine how something

STICK EXERCISE

Continued on page 19

SENIOR LIFE photo

Donn Weaver, Doug Bisset and Dan McIntyre of MOAACC award the new trophy to Cocoa Beach Junior and Senior High School JROTC.

SENIOR LIFE photo JROTC instructors helped many from of the 15 Brevard County high schools.

SENIOR LIFE Keith Betterley Participants in the We Stick Together classes enjoy the camaraderie provided by Viera resident Jeanette White, left.

SENIOR LIFE Klinton Landress Jeanette White, center, presents a $1,000 check to Aging Matters in Brevard president Tom Kammerdemer along with Laura Kutrub, a Classic Universe brand ambassador.

“Where would exercise be without music to make it fun and engaging.”

— Jeanette White

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More Americans have added massage to their health routine HEALTH & WELLNESS

BY BRENDA EGGERT BRADER

In 2018, approximately 19 percent of Americans had some form of massage. And, they have a wide range of reasons for doing so, according to the American Massage Therapy Association.

More and more people — especially baby boomers — recognize the health benefits of massage. They choose from among many massage styles to get relief from symptoms or to heal injuries, to help with certain health conditions and to promote overall wellness. More than half of all massage consumers got their last massage for health and wellness reasons. Just 16 percent of consumers list pampering as their primary reason for their last massage, and 30 percent received a massage for pampering during the past year. Nearly half of consumers got a massage last year for relaxation or stress reduction.

Men are more likely than women to discuss massage therapy with their doctor or health care provider. In 2021, 63 percent of consumers who got a massage for health and wellness reasons stated it was part of a treatment plan from a doctor or medical provider.

“Thousands and thousands of massages help to relax people’s anxiety and stress, helps with getting rid of tension, aches and pains, sore muscles, helps with flexibility and range of motion and whip-lash (and injuries), preand post-surgery,” said Chris Otwell, the assistant director of the Space Coast

Education Center in Melbourne.

Before a massage takes place, the therapist needs patient medical information.

“Usually, a general intake of information is taken,’’ Otwell said. “Massage therapists are licensed medical professionals in the state of Florida so they take information like a physician would in the doctor’s office. We cover intakes and evaluation history, conditions, discover what work they did and what kind of activities and what they do now and take it from there to do a massage that will help them recover.

“Relaxation or deep tissue massage are the most popular. Basic is the

Swedish massage. Therapists use their body to use force and effort, not their hands. Usually, a massage takes roughly 50 minutes to an hour.”

Swedish massage improves blood circulation, helps with relaxation, relieves stress, improves posture imbalances, overworked muscles and stressed joints. The deep tissue massage is a more specialized massage. Similar to Swedish, a deep tissue is commonly used to target problem areas of the body to relieve pain and stress from knots, spasms, back or neck pain, tension headaches or other injuries.

Massage types

Swedish massage relies on a variety of techniques — effleurage, percussion and kneading, among others — to relieve tension, improve blood circulation and give your mood a boost.

Deep tissue massage has some overlap with Swedish massage in that both techniques use similar strokes. Deep tissue massage involves applying considerably more pressure in order to target the inner layers of muscle tissue. According to a 2014 study published in “The Scientific World Journal,” the potential payoff is a reduction in muscle tension and considerable relief for those who suffer from chronic pain.

Sports massage is designed for athletes, those in gym and casual exercisers. The masseuse typically uses a combination of multiple techniques (stroking, kneading, compression and trigger points) to improve joint range of motion and flexibility while reducing muscle tension.

Prenatal massage is specifically designed and deemed to be safe for pregnant women.

Source: American Massage Therapy Association

Improved technology makes life easier for pets, their owners

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

Jazzy the cat still wonders how her late-evening snack magically appears in her bowl every night and how, even when no one is around, she still gets three solid meals a day. It’s no feat of prestidigitation, but rather technology making life easier for Jazzy’s human, Nichole Warren.

Warren relies on the Petlibro (petlibro.com) Essential Wi-Fi feeder to keep Jazzy’s tummy full when she is not there.

“We mostly use it as a midnight snack in addition to Jazzy’s breakfast and dinner food, and it is also great for us when we go on vacation,” Warren said.

The Pineda Crossing resident believes the device paid for itself months ago.

“When we go on vacation, we just adjust the times to feed her without needing to hire a pet sitter to come in the morning and evening,” Warren explained.

“The cost savings with that alone was worth the expense.”

At the recent Global Pet Expo, the massive annual gathering of the $77 billion U.S. pet industry, exhibitors touted an array of tech-driven products designed to make life easier for pet parents. Although the innovations help pet parents of all ages, older pet owners will particularly appreciate how these can help keep their pets healthier, happier and safer, and make keeping pets easier as they age.

“As pet ownership is increasing,

so is the use of artificial intelligence technology to allow owners to stay on top of their pet’s activities and health,” said Dr. Jeanne Goodfellow, a senior professional services veterinarian with Merck Animal Health.

Take as an example Sure PetCare (surepetcare.com), which features an array of artificial intelligence products that track a dog’s location, provide water intake details and keep tabs of pets when they come in and out of the house.

GPS collars have been available for years, but the newest generation adds significant enhancements. Sure PetCare’s Animo GPS provides realtime information on the dog’s location and also tracks daily activity, calorie burn, sleep quality and the amount of scratching, shaking and barking the pup does.

“By learning pets’ normal behavior patterns, you will be able to spot deviations in behavior that may require a vet visit,” added Goodfellow, who discovered her own dog had an ear infection after his Animo collar alerted her that he was shaking his head more often than normal.

Felaqua Connect, also a Sure PetCare product, is a smart water bowl that provides insights into drinking behavior by connecting with a cat’s microchip and highlighting changes which could otherwise be missed. Using an app, the bowl will tell the owner how often, when and how much the animal drinks. Owners also receive notifications when water needs changing.

Smart pet doors such as the appcontrolled SureFlap Microchip Pet Door Connect is also connected to the pet’s microchip. The pet door knows when the animal is home, monitors the animal’s long-term activity and notices changes in behavior. Owners receive notifications when a pet enters or leaves the house, while animal intruders are not allowed access. Owners can lock and unlock the door anytime via the app, too. Playtime has also gone the tech route. Wickedbone (cheerble.com) is an appcontrolled bone owners can use to play

long distance with their pups. Owners drive the bone through spins, flips and turns remotely.

Even that bane of cat ownership, the litter box, has gone high-tech. PetSafe (petsafe.com) is among several companies manufacturing smart cat litter boxes. PetSafe’s ScoopFree, which self-cleans, also tracks a cat’s health via real-time data and notifications.

Pets enrich our lives, and now technology is enriching our pets’ lives. SL

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Nichole Warren Jazzy the cat likes the convenience of regular timed food and water.

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Embroidery, knitting, crochet group. Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404 Shell Club Meeting and Open House 1 - 3 p.m. Satellite Beach City Hall 565 Cassia Ave. Satellite Beach 732-277-1860

Introduction to Stamping and Card Making 1 -2 p.m. Cape Canaveral Public Library 201 Polk Ave. Cape Canaveral, 321-868-1101

Chess Night 6:30 p.m. Island Kava Melbounre 1900 Municipal Lane Melbourne 321-914-0914

Friday Night Dancing 7 p.m.

Funds collected are donated to the scholarship fund Veterans Memorial Center 400 S. Sykes Creek Pkwy. Merritt Island 321-453-1776

Cocoa Village Book Festival 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Book signings, book sales, children’s activities and guest authors in stores throughout the village. Historic Cocoa Village 434 Delannoy Ave. Cocoa, 321-631-9075

Easter Craft Festival 10 - 11 a.m. Rockledge United Methodist 1935 S. Fiske Blvd. Rockledge 321-632-7387 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Church at Viera

Easter Celebration

9:30 a.m.

Easter celebration and Easter egg hunt following the service.

USSSA Sports Complex

5800 Stadium Parkway Viera, 321-259-3454

Duran Golf Club Easter

Scottish Country Dancing

6:30 - 9:30 p.m. Springs of Suntree Clubhouse 8300 Holiday Springs Road Suntree, 321-242-1734

Bingo 4 Cash

1 p.m.

Italian-American Club of South Brevard 1471 Cypress Ave. Melbourne, 321-242-8044

Gospel on the Lawn 5 - 7 p.m. Features local musicians, praise dancers, soloists and food trucks. Rockledge Civic Hub 1600 Huntington Lane Rockledge, 321-631-7419

Sunday Brunch

10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Tradewinds at Duran 7032 Stadium Parkway Viera, 321-504-7771

Brevard Investment Education Group 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. Group that meets to talk about stock market investments. Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404

Purly Girls Knitting Club 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Knitting group to trade patterns and ideas.

Music that Moves You Concert April 12 and 13 7 p.m. Presented by the Melbourne Municipal Band. Melbourne Auditorium 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. Melbourne 321-724-0555

Brevard Corporate 5K 6:30 p.m. Melbourne Orlando International Airport Aerospace Drive Melbourne, 321-751-8890

Three Course Lunch and Meet Up 11:30 a.m. Lunch and entertainment.

ShrimpFest 6 - 10 p.m. The Propeller Club's signature fundraiser. Cocktails, shrimp dinner, live entertainment and dancing. Cruise Terminal 5 9245 Charles M. Rowland Drive Port Canaveral 321-698-5296

Viera Nature Festival 2023 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Vendors, exhibitors and children’s activities. Viera East Clubhouse Park 1600 Clubhouse Drive Viera, 321-255-4500

Space Coast Cars and Motorcycle Show

Cocoa Beach Air Show

April 15 and 16

Featuring the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds.

Lori WIilson Park 1500 N. Atlantic Ave. Cocoa Beach, cocoabeachairshow.com

Space Coast Classic 15K and 2 Mile

Jazzercise LO

8:30 - 9:30 a.m. Wickham Park Senior Center 2785 Leisure Way Melbourne, 321-698-0445

Music Monday 6 - 7 p.m.

Women in Jazz performance and lecture.

Cape Canaveral Library 201 Polk Ave. Cape Canaveral 321-868-1101

Space Coast Poets

5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404

Brevard Antique & Collectibles

1:30 p.m.

Bridge Noon - 3 p.m. Veterans Memorial Center 400 S. Sykes Creek Pkwy Merritt Island 321-453-1776

Italian-American Club of South Brevard 1471 Cypress Ave. Melbourne 321-242-8044

5 - 8 p.m. Thrifty Produce Parking Lot 920 Barton Blvd. Rockledge 321-658-2004 16 17 18 19 20 21 22

Neighbors Book Group 2 - 4:30 p.m. Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404

Little Shop of Horrors April 20 — 7 p.m.

April 22 — 2 and 7 p.m.

Rockin' the Sunset: Greggie and the Jets

7 - 10 p.m. Elton John tribute band.

Proceeds support St. Francis Reflections programs.

USSSA Sports Complex 5800 Stadium Parkway Viera, 321-269-4240

38th annual Melbourne Art Festival

April 22 and 23 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Wickham Park 2500 Parkway Drive Melbourne, 321-722-1964

Port St. John Community annual Golf Classic

April 23 — 2 p.m.

6:30 a.m. — 15K

7 a.m.— 2 mile

Quest Elementary School 8751 Trafford Drive Viera, spacecoastrunners.org

Spring Mix

3 p.m.

Presented by Central Florida Winds.

Suntree United Methodist Church

7400 N. Wickham Road

Suntree, 321-405-2359

Florida Native Plants of the Space Coast Seminar

1 - 2 p.m.

Rockledge Gardens

2153 U.S. 1

Rockledge, 321-636-7662

Cape Canaveral Public Library 201 Polk Ave. Cape Canaveral 321-868-1101

April's subject is “Hot or Cold.” Bring one item for study and discussion.

Melbourne Beach Library 324 Ocean Ave. Melbourne Bch.,321-795-7363

Non-Fiction Book Club

Spring Choir Concert

7:30 - 9 p.m.

Performance by the EFSC concert choir, conducted by Dr. Robert E. Lamb.

EFSC Simpkins

Fine Arts Center 1519 Clearlake Road Cocoa 321-433-7629

3 - 5 p.m.

April’s discussion is on “Wild” by Cheryl Strayed.

Suntree/Viera Library

902 Jordan Blass Drive

Suntree, 321-255-4404

Coin Talk with Bob

6 - 7:45 p.m.

American Numismatic Association.

Suntree/Viera Library

902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-255-4404

Wednesday Art Group

1:30 - 4 p.m.

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

Community Support Day

9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Cape Canaveral Library 201 Polk Ave. Cape Canaveral 321-868-101

Presented by the Eau Gallie High School Theater Company. Eau Gallie High School 1400 Commodore Blvd. Melbourne, 321-242-6400

Wabtec's annual Veterans Golf Tournament Noon Spessard Holland 2374 Oak St. Melbourne Bch., 321-435-7000

7 a.m. - 2 p.m. Indian River Preserve Golf Club 3950 Clubhouse Drive Mims, 321-863-7499 23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Wine & Whiskers

6 - 9 p.m.

Live entertainment, raffles and adoptable pets.

SPCA of Brevard Thrift Store 790 S. Apollo Blvd. Melbourne, 321-327-8305

FCA Vision Night 6:15 p.m.

A night of worship, testimonies and encouragement. Calvary Chapel Viera 2852 Fellowship Place Viera, 321-369-9339

Cars Under the StarsBlack Panther Wakanda Forever 5 - 11 p.m. Free movie in the park Wickham Park 2500 Parkway Drive Melbourne, 321-633-2046

Chamber and Community Orchestra Concert

7:30 - 9 p.m.

EFSC Simpkins Fine Arts Center 1519 Clearlake Road Cocoa, 321-433-7629

Casino Night

6:30 -0 9:30 p.m.

Proceeds

RCDS provides solutions for those with disabilities

BY BARBARA JEAN MEAD

You have hearing loss. Your wife has had a stroke leaving her with a partially paralyzed leg. You no longer drive, and you need a ride to a medical appointment.

The Resource Center for Disability Solutions has the answer to these and many other challenges.

With locations in Rockledge and Vero Beach, RCDS provides a variety of free services to area residents, including amplified phones for the hearing impaired; canes, walkers, wheelchairs and portable ramps for the physically impaired; and wheelchair accessible van rides for grocery shopping and medical and legal appointments.

Verifying your local address and your disability qualifies a consumer to receive services from their office.

“No asterisk after free,” said Ken Kerstetter, the RCDS program services manager. “We don’t diagnose and develop a treatment plan. The individual shares what their life goals are. It is consumer driven.”

An umbrella agency that can assess and refer to other resources, RCDS has been something of a secret to the public while primarily receiving referrals from the Department of Veterans Affairs, senior residences, vocational rehabilitation and the Brevard County Schools.

The RCDS has existed in Brevard County and Indian River County since 1975 as a nonprofit organization. It celebrated its 48th anniversary in February. It

“No asterisk after free. We don’t diagnose and develop a treatment plan. The individual shares what their life goals are. It is consumer driven.”

—

was Florida’s first Center for Independent Living, is one of 15 in the state and one of 352 independent nonprofits around the country.

Transition services are on hand for those who are going from a restrictive setting such as a nursing home to more independent living. Training is provided one on one or in groups in financial and household management, as well as

social skills and personal care. Referrals and resources are available to place the person with the appropriate services and information on special equipment. When funds are available, RCDS can provide home accessibility modifications.

To schedule an appointment or for additional information, email info@rcdsfl.org or go to atrcdsfl.

Jeanette

her students enjoy the power of music and exercise at her We Stick Together classes on Friday mornings at the

Island Square Mall.

STICK EXERCISE

Continued from page 12 should happen, put ingenuity together and get the wheels in motion — I call it Imagineering and make it happen.”

Her students donated funds and White matched their donations to raise $1,000, making it her first successful fundraiser for Aging Matters. The check was presented at the Duran Golf Club for the charity.

“A person that has their health has many wishes, but the person that loses their health has but one,’’ White said. “If I can touch someone with that awareness, then that makes a big difference in my life.” SL

SENIOR LIFE Barbara Jean Mead

The staff of the Resource Center for Disability Solutions remains ready to provide a variety of free services to area residents.

SENIOR LIFE Barbara Jean Mead James Lisa and Louis Ontiberoz, who are drivers for the Resource Center for Disability Solutions, demonstrate how to use the wheelchair lift.

Ken Kerstetter

SENIOR LIFE Keith Betterley

White and

Merritt

TECH KNOW TIDBITS

Options abundant for taking the pain out of passwords

BY BARBARA JEAN MEAD

Are you still using your wife’s birthday or your pet’s name as your password? Password managers help create strong passwords for all your online accounts and alert you when leaks are found. Convenience and protection from hackers often are cited as reasons to use them.

Keeper, 1Password, and Dashlane are some recommended by Consumer Reports in its October 2022 issue. They have free and paid versions that include different features.

Keeper’s free version lets you generate a password on your mobile device, but doesn’t give you a desktop and doesn’t autofill passwords for you. Dashlane’s free version allows you to store up to 50 passwords, but only on a single device. 1Password doesn’t have a free version, but offers a free 14-day trial.

Cybernews found the top two password managers in March 2023

were NordPass and RoboForm. NordPass is user friendly and has 24/7 live chat support for up to seven browsers. RoboForm, considered the best password manager long before its competitors were conceived, has military grade encryption, one-click

login and low prices.

“There are a lot of good ones,” said Dan Douglas, the owner of Data Dan Computer Services in Cocoa. “I have RoboForm,” Douglas said. “I bought a lifetime family subscription back in 1999. I primarily got it to prefill

information. I got so tired of putting address information into forms. So, initially I got it just to fill out lots of forms and then they had the ability to memorize your credit cards. When you went to buy something on the internet, you could check the RoboForm. Fortunately, they have evolved it enough that it’s still adequate for what I use it for. But now browsers like Edge or Chrome can store your passwords and associate them with your profile.

“When the password managers generated their own password, it would come up with some long gobbledygook thing. But, that really ties you to the password manager since you would never remember what it was unless you wrote it down or exported it. But, I don’t like that feature. I like knowing what my passwords are but that’s just me.

“The need for a password manager has kind of gone away. If I were starting fresh today, I would use the one within the browser.” SL

Self checkout — love or hate — is likely here to stay

BY NANETTE HEBDIGE

Most grocery chains and big retailers incorporated self-checkout during the pandemic presumably to minimize people interaction while shopping.

There are advantages and disadvantages to almost everything, but no matter how liked or disliked,

the self-checkout trend is apparently here to stay.

Some customers dislike it because they feel they’re doing the job someone else is hired to do. Additionally, self-checkout lines do not go any faster because some retailers don’t have enough staff to assist with technical check-out issues. Plus, customers have expressed

annoyance with hearing, “unexpected item in the bagging area” or “wait for assistance.”

Not only do customers find the service challenging, but some stores are having an equally difficult time. The service was implemented by some to cut down on labor costs by eliminating the number of cashiers. However, additional staff had to be hired to remain vigilant that customers are doing it right and to provide help to deal with technical issues.

Self-checkout might not be as effective as expected. Machines break down easily, there are price discrepancies and stores have to contend with increased theft or items inadvertently missed during checkout.

“I really dislike using self-checkout as it takes away human interaction and has made people lazy,” said Christy Kramer of Port St. John. “The (department store) I shop at has done

away with most of their cashiers and the customer service staff have an attitude when helping customers. Most of the time, they don’t even know how to fix technical issues, which is very frustrating.”

Despite its challenges, selfcheckout is growing in popularity. According to Business Insider, 86% of tech-savvy millennials and GenZ are embracing the service as they find it more seamless, while Gen X and Boomers think it has dehumanized the whole shopping experience.

It’s a conundrum whether the self-checkout technology represents progress — with some consumers preferring self-service while others still demand the traditional cashier method.

However, even with the disparaging issues of self-checkout, technology keeps evolving and the service is a growing trend that will likely remain. SL

SENIOR LIFE Barbara Jean Mead

Password managers are a useful tool for everyone of all ages.

BuenaVidaEstates.org

(321) 616-8790 • Toll-free (800) 742-0060 A

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

DOWN

1. Boardwalk purchases

2. “Coppelia” costume

3. Dogged souls

4. Music span

5. Separate

6. Blood, so to speak

7. Like some olives

8. Rocker Frank

9. Pitcher’s stat.

10. Brief moment in time

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© Lovatts Puzzles

Crossword solution on page 26

TIME TO TRAVEL

Tavares delights on ground, in the air

BY MARIA SONNENBERG

Tavares is pretty at eye level, but it is stunning from the air, thanks to the necklace of natural wonders that encircles the seat of Lake County that sits by the shores of Lake Dora.

To see Tavares from the sky, just board a seaplane at America’s Seaplane City, as the town of 20,000 calls itself. Every day, seaplanes come and go, some privately owned, but a large number are part of the Jones Brothers Seaplanes’ fleet, which take passengers on tours that range from a 15-minute Splash and Dash on Little Lake Harris to multi-hour breakfast, lunch or dinner tours from its lakefront home base at idyllic Wooton Park.

“We average 30 to 40 tours and excursions a week,” said Petr Closi, the president of Jones Brothers Seaplanes.

Orlando theme parks from the air during a tour that combines the parks with a spot for gator watching. All flights take off and land on the water before taxiing to terra firma.

While guests young and old enjoy the adventures, one age bracket is particularly enthusiastic.

“I’d say seniors are among our main demographic,” Closi said.

A perfect place for seaplane watching is Puddle Jumpers

Restaurant on Tavares’ downtown waterfront, just a few feet away from where the seaplanes wait for their next passengers. Albeit the closest to the planes, Puddle Jumpers is only one of several restaurants in a handsome downtown district that also includes three hotels, a wine bar, boat and kayak rentals.

The city’s festivals revolve around seaplanes. Like migrating birds, seaplanes flock each spring to Tavares’ Seaplane-a-Palooza. In February or March, it’s time for the annual Planes, Trains and BBQ.

The city is also justly proud of its connection to nature. The eight-acre Tavares Ecological Park, the first of its kind in Florida, features trails and wooden bridges that meander around and above five retention ponds that help protect Lake Dora’s water quality.

Downtown Tavares is also the start of the Tav-Lee Trail, a 3.5-mile bicycle route that is part of Lake County’s 25-mile trail network.

Closi adds that popular among the tour menu is the 30-minute Harris Chain & River Run, which skims low over the Harris Chain of Lakes before heading to the river. The Seaplane Bar Hop, another favorite, visits several waterfront restaurants so guests can enjoy live music and cold brews.

For the energetic, a Fly Out, Paddle In option takes visitors to the Harris Chain of Lakes by air and returns them with a guided kayak tour via the beautiful Dora Canal.

Theme park groupies can see the

Commissioner Kirby Smith, the chairman of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners, is a lifelong Tavares resident. For Smith, the city never gets old.

“Tavares is emblematic of America’s small towns; it’s family friendly atmosphere, connection to nature and local businesses offer something for every resident and visitor,” he said.

Seaplanes dominate the skies, and the hearts of Tavares’ citizenry. Even the city’s logo carries the image of a seaplane that proudly announces Tavares as America’s Seaplane City.

“Seaplanes aren’t just the symbol of Tavares, they’re an important part of the community and have a significant impact on economic development,” said Smith.

City administrator John Drury agrees.

“It is an appropriate moniker for a

city serving as the natural stopping point for seaplane pilots en route to the Bahamas and other island nations,” wrote Drury in an email.

For more on Tavares, see tavares.org. For seaplanes, go to JonesAirAndSea.com or call 352-5081800. SL

SENIOR LIFE Maria Sonnenberg Seaplanes

Lake Dora.

SENIOR LIFE Maria Sonnenberg Tavares is known as America’s Seaplane

Behind the Beat

‘The Cisco Kid’ — War

Inspirations for a hit song can sometimes spring from a most unusual source.

Members of the California septet War hailed from different neighborhoods in and around Long Beach and Compton, both burgs part of the Los Angeles suburban sprawl. Of disparate backgrounds and different ages, the musicians found a common thread of interest in creating tunes together.

“We mixed and mingled everything, even mariachi music,” War’s keyboardist Lonnie Jordan recalled. “We played blues constantly. We were trying to imitate what we heard, but it came out being something else.”

Blues and mariachi weren’t their only musical genres. Influenced by the young musicians’ racial diversity, elements of soul, jazz, reggae and mainstream rock ‘n’ roll were also combined to create an aural stew that defined War’s distinctive sound.

They went by a series of names —

History

the Creators, the Romeos, Nightshift. In 1969, while playing a small Hollywood club, a record producer caught their act and soon introduced them to British superstar Eric Burdon, who recently had split from his hitmaking Animals group. The result was Nightshift becoming War and backing Burdon on the 1970 reverie-inducing, million-selling MGM Records single “Spill the Wine.”

Burdon left the band and never had another hit; War, though, was just beginning a seven-year run on Billboard’s Hot 100 charts. Switching to United Artists Records, the group saw 11 hit 45s keep the War name burning hot.

Their biggest winner — No. 2 on Billboard’s chart — was “The Cisco Kid,” which was based on a favorite children’s TV show of theirs called — surprise — “The Cisco Kid.

“Up until that point, the cowboy heroes were people like John Wayne,” Jordan said. “When the TV series came around, the band discovered their first non-white hero — a

By Randal C. Hill

guy. Every show ended with a corny joke about the adventure they had just endured. Then both would laugh, Cisco would say, “Oh, Pancho!” and Pancho would say, “Oh, Cisco,” and the two would ride off as the credits rolled.

Each War member contributed to “The Cisco Kid,” which featured an irresistible, chugging instrumental engine that drove a story line that defied analysis — or logic:

The Cisco Kid was a friend of mine/He drink whiskey, Pancho drink the wine

We met down on the fort of Rio Grande/Eat the salted peanuts out of can

Mexican cowboy.”

“The Cisco Kid” was a popular half-hour Western that ran from 1950 to 1956, with Cisco (Duncan Renaldo) and his partner Pancho (Leo Carillo) spending 156 episodes chasing down lawbreakers. Children were the targetviewing audience, so gun violence was always downplayed.

Cisco often shot a pistol from a villain’s hand, while Pancho’s bullwhip frequently disarmed the bad

Then and Now

The outlaws had us pinned down at the fort/Cisco came in blastin,’ drinkin’ port

The musicians met Duncan Renaldo, TV’s Cisco Kid. War’s guitarist Howard Scott said, “It was an honor to meet that guy. He was this old, elegant Spanish gentleman with white hair, lighthearted and very likable.”

As to their best-selling single ever?

“He thought our song was funny,” Scott said. SL

SENIOR LIFE Creative Commons

War is an American band of different ages and backgrounds that mixed and mingled music genres.

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of City of Cocoa

The Porcher House was used as the Cocoa City Hall in the 1950s.

SENIOR LIFE Klinton Landress Cocoa City Hall is now located at 65 Stone Street.

NORTH BREVARD

Titusville Sailing Club open to beginners, experienced sailors

For Brandon Kutchera, the commodore of the Titusville Sailing Club, sailing has been a passion since childhood.

“It represents freedom to me,” he said. “There is nothing like gliding across the water in complete silence, using only the power of the wind.”

Those who share Kutchera’s passion are invited to the club’s general meeting. Open to the community, it takes place at 7 p.m. the second Monday of each month at the Titusville Marina Captain’s Lounge.

“The club exists to offer the community an affordable way to sail. We welcome members of all experience levels and offer monthly and annual memberships,” Kutchera said. “While it’s possible to learn the basics in a few hours, there’s an art to sail trim that can take a lifetime to master.

“It’s a joy to sail back and forth while tweaking controls to find where I can gain a little more speed or efficiency, with minimal use of gas engines,” he said.

Boat ownership is not a membership requirement. The club owns a fleet, from single person dinghies to a large keel boat. Membership provides access to all.

Anyone with a boat, including

A B C D E F G H

non-members, is welcome to join the group’s open sailing days. They take place at the club’s boat yard, roughly from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. the Saturday after the general meeting.

Kutchera recommends first reaching out, since a growing membership may necessitate a

Courtenay Springs Village

Shell Harbor

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777 Roy Wall Blvd., Rockledge 32955 321-549-3980 AluraSeniorLiving.com

The Blake at Viera

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Titusville Sailing Club

change of location. Sailing on the Indian River, the group is treated to manatee, dolphin and occasional alligator sightings.

Kutchera sails mainly with singleperson dinghies.

“They are lightweight, easy to rig and can be ready to sail in a few

minutes,” he said. “They feel like sports cars on water.”

The Titusville Sailing Club is at 10 A Max Brewer Memorial Parkway in Titusville.

For more information, email titusvillesailingclub@sailTitusville. com SL

Opening October 2022 C D B

5700 Lake Andrew Dr.,Viera 32940 321-343-7200 BlakeAtViera.com

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The Brennity at Melbourne

7300 Watersong Lane, Viera 32940 321-253-7440 BrennityMelbourne.com

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205 Hardoon Lane, Suntree 32940 321-701-8000 SuntreeSeniorLiving.com

2129 W. New Haven Ave., W. Melbourne 32904 321-724-0060 BuenaVidaEstates.org

A

H G E F

Palm Shores Palm Shores

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Cpl. Mariah Biddle Therapy dogs from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office Paws and Stripes College recently visited Titusville’s American Police Hall of Fame and Museum.

HISTORIC TITUSVILLE MAIN STREET KENNEDY SPACE CENTER

PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE

Buena Vida Estates

The Titusville Sailing Club welcomes new members to its monthly meetings.

BCOA NEWS

Brevard Commission on Aging

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

Polypharmacy often creates adverse drug reactions

Although people 65 years and older comprise about 20 percent of Brevard County’s population, seniors account for more than one-third of spending on prescription medications.

Many seniors have lists of medications and herbal remedies that multiple providers prescribe. When a person needs five or more medications, it’s called polypharmacy.

The World Health Organization suggests that while the definition is numerical, the emphasis should be on reducing inappropriate polypharmacy. The United States has one of the world’s highest medication usage rates per capita. Management of polypharmacy is a challenge for all healthcare providers. Hence, this article will review strategies to reduce polypharmacy and skills to improve medication use management.

Aging places individuals at risk of multi-morbidity (coexistence of two or more chronic health conditions) due to associated physiological and pathological changes and increases the chance of being prescribed multiple medications.

Adverse drug effects

An adverse drug effect is an injury from drug use. An adverse

drug reaction is an effect that refers to harm caused by a drug at its usual dosages.

The drug classes commonly associated with preventable adverse drug effects are cardiovascular drugs, anticoagulants, hypoglycemics, diuretics and NSAIDs. Adverse drug effects are higher in older adults due to metabolic changes and decreased drug clearance that comes with age — this risk compounds by increasing the number of drugs used.

Multiple medications increase the potential for drug-plus-drug interactions and the prescription of potentially inappropriate medications.

Use of over-the-counter and complementary medications

During the past decade, over-thecounter (OTC) medications have increased, with studies showing that these agents are highly prevalent in the elderly population.

The challenging part is that only less than half of the patients discuss using herbal supplements or other products or complementary medicine with their medical providers. Analgesics, laxatives, vitamins and minerals are among the most commonly used OTC classes

of OTCs. There are safety issues regarding their use, including risks for herb-drug interactions.

Transitions of care

Transitions in someone’s care, between hospital, home or institutional setting such as a nursing home, are a common source of medication errors and put patients at risk for polypharmacy. This can cause a lot of medication errors and adverse outcomes.

Strategies to prevent polypharmacy

*Maintain an accurate medication list and medical history and update them whenever possible.

*Bring all medications, including prescription, OTC, supplements and herbal preparations, to your healthcare providers.

*Review any changes with all your healthcare providers and, if possible, provide all the changes in writing.

*Use the fewest possible number of medications and the simplest possible dosing regimen.

*Link each prescribed medication with its diagnosis, provider, dosage, frequency and route of administration (topical, injections,

mouth).

Source information: aafp.org/pubs/ afp/issues/2019/0701/p32.html

Additional information:

The drug overdose epidemic in the United States is a clear and present public health, public safety and national security threat. The DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back Day reflects the DEA’s commitment to Americans’ safety and health, encouraging the public to remove unneeded medications from their homes as a measure of preventing medication misuse and opioid addiction from ever starting. SL

National Take Back Day

Saturday, April 22 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Collection Sites:

Melbourne Police Department

Palm Bay Police Department

Health First’s Palm Bay Hospital

Cocoa Police Department

Deadline for Real ID extended again for two years

BY BETTY PORTER

Traveling but don’t yet have a Real ID? Not to worry, the Department of Homeland Security has extended the deadline for full enforcement for another 24 months.

What would have been the deadline to get your Real ID star on your drivers’ license was May 2023. That has been extended to May 2025.

By then, travelers will have to have drivers’ licenses or identification that meets certain security standards.

Florida driver licenses have a star in the upper right-hand corner to indicate that it is a Real ID, a law that came into effect after 9/11.

The purpose of Real ID is to make identity documents more consistent and secure, according to the DHS.

Suntree residents Rick and Olive Pollak got their Real ID when they renewed their driver licenses.

“We travel a lot and having the Real ID star on our licenses gives us peace of mind knowing that we won’t run into a delay because of not having proper identification,” Olive Pollack said.

The couple recently took a monthlong road trip across the country. They ran into some bad weather situations, including a storm that was ironically named Olive.

“We did have a delay of 3½ hours in traffic due to the weather, but it was smooth sailing when it came to checking into hotels showing our Real ID driver license,” she said.

SENIOR LIFE Klinton Landress Real IDs were conceived as part of 2005 legislation.

Travelers who don’t present a Real ID compliant license or acceptable alternative beginning May 7, 2025 will not be permitted through the security checkpoint at airports or to enter certain federal facilities, such as military bases.

The original deadline of May 3, 2023 was deemed unworkable in part due to the pandemic and its continued disruption of states’ abilities to issue the Real ID compliant drivers’ licenses.

The DHS issued a statement on Dec. 5, 2022 saying the new deadline will give state licensing agencies time to work through the backlogs created by the pandemic. The extension also gives the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) time to implement innovations to make the process as smooth as possible, according to its website.

Conceived as part of 2005 legislation in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the first enforcement date was set for 2008, but has been delayed multiple times.

To get a Real ID, you will need to present documents to the local DMV office providing your age and identity, Social Security number and address. That means bringing a birth certificate or passport, a Social

Security card or tax form such as a W-2, and two proofs of address. Additionally, if you have changed your name through marriage, you will need to provide a marriage certificate. SL

2 2 5 8 6 4 6 8 9 8 9 5 1 6 4 7 5 1 4 8 3 4 6 9

HOW TO SOLVE:

Each row must contain the numbers 1 to 9; each column must contain the numbers 1 to 9; and each set of 3 by 3 boxes must contain the numbers 1 to 9.

Solution on page 26

Follow your nose to Titusville’s new barbecue restaurant

BY FLORA REIGADA

The rich aroma of smoked meat and its sweet, smoky flavor fills the mind as Brad Russell talks about the restaurant he and his wife Shelly Russell plan to open.

It will be BB-Rad’s Smokehouse at 1817 Washington Ave. in Titusville. That’s the former site of the old Howard Johnson’s restaurant and other dining establishments throughout the years.

Robert Tadlock, the general manager, helped develop the vision.

The building is being remodeled inside and out, with new plumbing, electrical work and equipment.

Many know Brad Russell as the lead pastor at The Grove Church at 1450 Harrison St. in Titusville.

But do they know he also loves smoked barbecue and he is passionate about it?

“We want to introduce the community to the amazing taste of coastal barbecue and create an environment they will enjoy,” Russell said.

In addition to smoked meats, the

menu will include macaroni and cheese, sweet potato casserole, corn pudding, baked beans and an original coastal slaw recipe.

The restaurant is a private, forprofit business that is not connected to the church. Russell will not be the pitmaster.

Edited by Margie E. Burke

“Shelly and I are the owners and creative vision behind BB-Rad’s, but we will not be running the smoker or day-to-day operations,” he said. “My primary role is still lead pastor of The Grove Church. We see this opportunity as an extension of our personal ministry to the community.”

At BB-Rad’s, General Manager Robert Tadlock will keep things running smoothly.

Titusville City Council member Joe Robinson spoke of the city’s support for local businesses. He recalled his days as the executive director of North Brevard Charities.

“If someone donated funds, it was my job to invest that back into the community,” he said.

Robinson still does this by frequenting local restaurants. He encourages the community to

Crossword

2 2 5 8 4 6 8 8 9 5 1 6 4 7 5 1 4 8 3 4 9

patronize Titusville’s assorted eateries. You might just see Robinson at BBRad’s Smokehouse.

“I’m from Texas and I’m always ready for some good barbecue,” he said. SL

What impact do you have influencing others? As a senior with a long life of experience and wisdom, you can make a difference. You can be the champion of new ideas, honorable behavior and ethical conduct.

During your lifetime, you have been challenged by the influence of parents, grandparents, teachers, preachers, coaches, mentors, peers and so many others. Today, your grandchildren are being influenced by social media, bloggers, YouTube, podcasts, TikTok and peers. The delivery system has changed, but the messages are similar.

When I completed my graduate studies in marketing in the 1960s, we looked for the early adopters to be the influencers. Celebrities and sports stars had a great impact on buying decisions. Brands, style, taste and behavior were communicated. Our decisions were and are influenced by outside sources.

As a grandparent, we could influence a grandchild to go to college by buying the Florida Prepaid College Plan. Tuition is paid, go to school and get a degree.

They could have other ideas, but you can guide them through the decision process. Do not lecture or preach. Show them the benefits, values and lessons learned. Discuss and communicate while accepting their feedback.

Seniors have had a great influence on legislation. Years back, the Gray Panthers focused on passing laws to help us during the retirement years.

Today, the same activism prevails without the marches and protests. Political action groups support candidates who look favorably on preserving Social Security and Medicare programs. Seniors write

Challenges of Living to Age 100

Ed Baranowski

letters, send emails, vote and visit their legislators. AARP membership has influence when its leaders appear at hearings to represent millions of members.

There is the power of belonging. That’s influence.

Local groups such as Helping Seniors of Brevard, Aging Matters, the Commission on Aging and the Florida Department of Elder Affairs work for seniors with their presentations that influence decision makers. Seniors have the power, they have the capacity, they are a force, and they have stories and wisdom to influence.

When I got out of bed the other morning to write this column, my wife Gina asked, “Are you getting up for good?”

I responded through bleary eyes, “No, for evil.”

Yes, we all can have an influence for good. Accept the challenge. Share your lessons learned. Explain our rights, risks, responsibilities and have an influence on the world you occupy.

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

SUDOKU

Next generation needs influence of present-day experienced seniors

Puzzle on page 21

SENIOR LIFE Dan Reigada Robert Tadlock, left, and Brad Russell stand outside of BB-Rad’s Smokehouse, which will soon open in Titusville. Tadlock will be the general manager of the restaurant, which is owned by Russell and his wife, Shelly.

Owner: Bob Parks