Senior Life, January 2024 by Viera Voice • Senior Life • Boomer Guide

Wedding Vow renewals on Valentine’s Day See page 4

Right Whales return BY JEFF NAVIN Snowbirds from the northeast and the midwest aren’t the only ones coming down to Florida for more favorable weather. The endangered Right Whale gives birth in an area ranging from

January 2024

the Carolinas to Florida during the winter months, with Cocoa Beach being a prime spot. Only 350 of these majestic creatures exist due to hunting in the past and ecological conditions today that make survival difficult. The docile and curious Right

Volume 26 Issue 8

Whale travels slowly at a normal speed of 6 mph with a top speed of 10 mph. It doesn’t venture far from the coast, preferring to stay close to peninsulas and bays.

WHALES

continued on page 23

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Muralist captures culture War changes travel plans, page 23

Story, page 3

Story, page 25

SENIOR LIFE Howard Harrison

For the past 30 years, Howard Harrison has been racking up miles riding his bike. On Sept. 28, of this past year, the 85 year old reached a big milestone, compiling 60,000 miles. And he’s not done yet.

SENIOR LIFE Dan Reigada

Julie Bledsoe puts the finishing touches on a mural that now graces the restaurant’s bar at El Leoncito Mexican and Cuban Restaurant in Titusville.

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FREE MEMORY SCREENS Volume 26, Issue 8 Senior Life of Florida 7350 Shoppes Drive, Suite 102 Viera, FL 32940 321-242-1235

Holiday HAppenings, December 2023

Volume 26 Issue 7

CLOSED

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Santa’s rested and ready Popular launch area closes, page 19

Publisher Jill Blue

Office Manager Sylvia Montes Copy Editor Jeff Navin Art Department Jorjann Blake Feature Writers Ed Baranowski Kimberly Blaker Carl Kotala Mike Gaffey Randal C. Hill Barbara Jean Mead Flora Reigada Lindsay Sanderfur Maria Sonnenberg

War changes travel plans, page 23 Mrs. Claus and Santa are enjoying time at the beach before their busy Christmas season.

SENIOR LIFE photo

myseniorlife.com Laying wreaths honors veterans

BY R. NORMAN MOODY

National Wreaths Across America is a day to remember and honor the nation’s fallen veterans. More than two million volunteers will gather to remember and honor those fallen heroes at more than 4,000 locations in all 50 states, at sea and abroad. Volunteers in Brevard County will gather at 10 a.m. Dec. 16 at the

318-acre Cape Canaveral National Cemetery at 5525 U.S. 1 in Mims to lay the wreaths of remembrance on the graves of the veterans and read their names aloud. Volunteers of Brevard County Honors Veterans coordinated by Dorothy Walsh Pearsall and Don Pearsall will lay wreaths at more than 30 cemeteries and memorial gardens in the county. Wreath laying ceremonies will be

held for Medal of Honor recipient Emory Bennett at 3 p.m. at Pinecrest Cemetery in Cocoa and at the grave of George Taylor Sr., the founder of National Veterans Homeless Support at 1 p.m. at Brevard Memorial Park. National Wreath Across America Day is held in December to ensure that fallen veterans and their resting places are not forgotten. Wreaths will be placed at some smaller cemeteries on Dec. 17. SL

Contact Senior Life by the 10th of the month regarding upcoming(321) communitySuntree Internal Medicine 259-9500 oriented events by email and mail. Weaver inducted into Hall, page 11

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CELEBRATING 17 YEARS

RESOURCE MAGAZINE

2023 EDITION • NO. 17

Fun &

Leisure ISSUE

ROBUST

RESOURCE LISTINGS

SUPPORT GROUPS SENIOR LIVING TOUR SPORTS & ACTIVITIES VETERANS RESOURCES CLUBS & GROUPS VOLUNTEERING

Cool Paddles Up Dragon Boat Racing

2023 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.

INSIDE THIS ISSUE January 2024 4 6, 26 8 10, 11 16 18 20 22 24, 25 27

KEEP MOVING SERIES COLUMNISTS TECH KNOW TIDBITS STRIPES/VETERANS HEALTH & WELLNESS CALENDAR BCOA NEWS TIME TO TRAVEL NORTH BREVARD NEWS CLASSIC RIDES

PLACES

Celebrating 25 Years

Senior Life

R. Norman Moody norm@myseniorlife.com

myseniorlife.com jill@myseniorlife.com

Editor R. Norman Moody

Happy New Year! Remember when people used to talk about making New Year resolutions? Most were broken before the first quarter of the year ended. Now, it seems we hardly hear the word used. That does not mean we cannot make commitments to take on new challenges, such as staying healthy and in shape. There are many ways of doing that. If you have not thought about Zumba, maybe you should. It is one in the series of stories we call Keep Moving, which is about different activities to keep us moving and fit. Read about it in our story on Zumba. Doing as much as we can to stay healthy is important at any age, but as you get older, we must make a conscious effort to stay active. It’s good for the mind and body. Exercise is a recommendation a doctor might make to help lower blood pressure. Check out our story on what they say and how you might try to lower your blood pressure with little or no medication. In this edition, we also tell you about things and places that will make you want to get out of the house and check out. There are some new activities and programs at Enchanted Forest in Titusville. We also continue to tell you in our travel stories about day trips or overnight trips to beautiful and interesting places in Florida. You can read in our Boomer Guide about many places and activities right here on the Space Coast. A story on heritage tourism in this edition of Senior Life will also tell you about some attractions and places to visit right here in Brevard County. How many robocalls do you receive each day? Those annoying calls that are computer generated can lead to frustration. They interrupt your day and offer products or services you likely don’t need. But worse, they could be scams. There are things you can do about them. Check out our story in this edition. So, as this year begins, we continue to be committed to bringing you stories with information that you can use, that will entertain you and inform you. And as usual, we look forward to hearing from you. We wish you the best for the New Year. SL

SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

COUPONS & DISCOUNTS Suntree Internal ClinCloud Truman Scarborough Johnson Aluminum William A. Johnson

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60,000 miles biking … and still going for West Melbourne 85 year old BY CARL KOTALA The goal was 1,500 miles. That’s what Howard Harrison promised his wife, Mary, he would ride after she and their children Ronda and Greg gave him a bicycle for Christmas in 1993. Thirty years later, Harrison is still riding. And the now 85-year-old West Melbourne resident has reached a new milestone. He just topped 60,000 miles. “It’s nice exercise,” Harrison said. “I only weigh 145 pounds. It’s kept me healthy. I’m on no medication except eye drops. I feel God has really helped me be healthy. And second, I pick the bicycle for making me that healthy.” Harrison rides two to three days a week, either in the neighborhood near the house he and Mary have lived in since 1971, or in the Grant area with his longtime friend, Jim McGraw. He’s also taken part in 11 organized rides throughout North Carolina over the years. In the past month, he’s ridden 25 miles in 1 hour, 50 minutes; 26 miles in 1:55; and another 25 miles in 1:48. “When I get off the bike, a lot of people say, ‘What’s your bottom feel like?’ I don’t even know I’ve been riding a bike,” he said. “It’s not bad at all. I really enjoy it.” Although he had done some bike riding in the past, Harrison wasn’t serious about it until he received that fateful Christmas gift. “It was what I call a beach bike,” he said. “It’s a bike with no gears and big balloon tires. At Christmas dinner that day, I told them without even thinking

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Howard Harrison

Howard Harrison was fondly called Toughy after he joined organized rides

about what I was saying, that I was going to ride 1,500 miles. “When I started a few days later, in January and February (of 1994), I’d only rode 75 miles. I knew then I was in trouble. When the end of the year came, my wife gave me a plaque that I’d ridden 1,525 miles. “That’s what got me really hooked on riding a bicycle.” After riding around Melbourne for a few years, his family suggested he look for an organized ride he could join. There was one in North Carolina that took place every October. He went out and bought a new bike made by Huffy. “It was a very heavy bike,” Harrison said. “When I got to North Carolina, they had 1,100 people riding, all on country roads. We rode for seven days, from the mountains to the ocean. I went out that first year in 2001, and after a few days they started calling me Toughy. “They’d say, ‘Get that Huffy up here.’ I was riding at 12 and 14 miles

an hour and thought I was really doing something. Then, on Saturday, the last day of the ride, we were leaving one rest area and to the next rest area it was 20 miles. “They passed me about a half mile after we came out of that rest area. There were 15 people in a pace line and they said, “Hey, Toughy, get that Huffy in here. Fall in with us.’ “The next thing I knew, I was doing 21 miles an hour. I had to stay with them for 20 miles.” Harrison would go back the next year, this time with a different bike. He returned again in 2005 and then took part continuously from 2010 to 2017, riding between 54 to 85 miles each day. McGraw joined Harrison for those last eight rides. The two began riding together in 2009 and Harrison calls

McGraw, “a wonderful friend.” “He’s a great role model and has really helped me to step up my speed. I load up and go down to that area and we ride,” Harrison said. Ronda had once given her father a book to keep track of all the miles he had ridden, but it wasn’t until May 2022 that he actually added it all up and realized he was just 3,500 short of reaching 60,000. “I couldn’t believe it,” he said. He reached that milestone on Sept. 28 and will finish the year with 60,440 miles. He’s hoping he can ride for another five years. “Hopefully, if I can make it to 90 years old and don’t lose my health, I can get to 70,000 miles,” he said. “That’s putting it up there.” SL

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KEEP MOVING THE FIFTH FEATURE IN A SERIES ON EXERCISE

Zumba moves you to upbeat tempo, more like party, not boring exercise BY BARBARA JEAN MEAD Get moving to the beat of Zumba. “I love Zumba because it feels more like a dance party than a workout,” said Hailey Haft, a Zumba instructor in Cape Canaveral. Her classes are open to people of all ages and backgrounds. She enjoyed doing Zumba before she became a certified instructor in 2020. Haft teaches hour-long classes to a dedicated group of regulars and newcomers as well. They come to her classes for friendship and camaraderie as well as “to get the blood flowing,” an enthusiastic student said. Zumba was created in the 1990s by Beto Perez, an aerobics instructor in Colombia, when he forgot his usual music and used cassettes of salsa and merengue for the class. He decided to use the word Zumba because it was similar to the word rumba and used the z because he liked the character Zorro when he was a child.

—Hailey Haft, a Zumba

instructor in Cape Canaveral Classes of Zumba include Zumba basic which teaches the basic rhythms and variations and Zumba Gold which is lower intensity and targeted for seniors and their physiological needs. Other options are Zumba Step, Aqua Zumba, Zumba for Kids and more for a total of 11 diverse types for various

ages and levels of exertion. Haft’s classes are especially tailored to beginners and intermediate students. She modifies her dances for those with limitations. “I do Zumba fusion,” said Haft, who fuses cardio and Zumba together in an aerobic dance. Zumba has four core steps for each of four basic rhythms — salsa, reggaeton, merengue and cumbia. According to Fit4Dance NYC, a great Zumba class should also be a space where you can feel free

to express yourself and let your personality shine through. The instructor should be knowledgeable, energetic and passionate about Zumba. The music should be upbeat and fun, and the choreography should be easy to follow and be repetitive. “My class has something for everyone, and I really enjoy sharing that dance party experience,” Haft said. Assorted styles of classes are available at senior centers and fitness centers throughout Brevard County. Haft’s classes are $5 a session and

meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays at The City of Canaveral Community Center at 7920 Orange Avenue. For more information, email Haft at haileypemail@gmail.com or call her at 407-738-7228. SL E

RESOURCE MAGAZIN 17 YEARS CELEBRATING

2023 EDITION

• NO. 17

ST ROBURCE

Fun &

RESOU LISTINGS

Leisure

SUPPORT GROUPS TOUR SENIOR LIVING S SPORTS & ACTIVITIE VETERANS RESOURCES

SSUE

“I love Zumba because it feels more like a dance party than a workout.”

SENIOR LIFE Barbara Jean Mead

Zumba provides great aerobic excercise and keeps participants moving to the lively beat of Latin music.

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Celebrating 25

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The Free Boomer Guide features Zumba and listings of other excerise groups, games and sports.

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SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

Behind the By Randal C. Hill

Beat

‘You’re Sixteen’ — Ringo Starr

Since you are reading this in a senior publication, there’s a good chance that you not only remember Ringo Starr’s “You’re Sixteen” from 50 years ago, but the original 1960 version by Johnny Burnette, as well. Burnette was born in 1935 and lived with his parents and brother Dorsey in a Memphis housing project that included equally poor neighbors Vernon, Gladys and Elvis Presley. After school days ended, music lovers Johnny, Dorsey and a mutual friend formed the hard-driving Johnny Burnette Trio. They toured constantly and recorded some high-octane 45s that went nowhere. (Rockabilly collectors now lust after those obscure plastic discs.) Later, Johnny and Dorsey Burnette moved to Los Angeles to become songwriters for Ricky Nelson (“Believe What You Say,” “It’s Late”). As a solo artist, Johnny Burnette signed with Los Angeles’s Liberty Records and proceeded to cut some minor hit singles. Burnette’s only Top 10 career tune was the bouncy, violin-

saturated “You’re Sixteen,” which ended up on the best-selling soundtrack of George Lucas’ 1973 nostalgia movie “American Graffiti.” In 1964, Johnny Burnette died in a California boating accident. Ringo, the oldest Beatle, was born Richard Starkey in 1940 in the Dingle, Liverpool’s most depressed inner-city district. Housing there usually meant cramped quarters, poor ventilation and a rear door that opened onto an outhouse. Young Starkey was often in and out of hospitals with various illnesses. At age 13, he began a two-year stay in a sanitorium after he contracted tuberculosis. As with many other long-term patients, he was encouraged to join the institution’s musical group. (He was often heard beating upon the cabinets next to his bed with a mallet that he fashioned from a cotton bobbin.) “I was in the hospital band,” he has explained. “That’s where I really started playing. I never wanted anything

he wore two rings on each hand, he adopted the stage name Rings (later Ringo) Starr. In 1962, he was hired by the Beatles to replace their dour original drummer Pete Best, who hadn’t meshed well with fun-loving John, Paul and George. Ringo’s version of “You’re Sixteen” featured a “chugging” lope and a lot of help from his friends (get it?) on his million-selling Apple Records single. Among the many musicians who offered background support that day in the recording studio were — no surprise here — John Lennon, George Harrison SENIOR LIFE Creative Commons Previously recorded by others, Ringo Starr’s and Paul McCartney. During the bridge of Ringo’s “You’re Sixteen,” version of “You’re Sixteen” became a big McCartney made a sound like a hit. kazoo with his mouth. His quirky else from then on.” contribution was credited as a vocal At 15, barely literate and sax solo on the “Ringo” album. uninterested in school, he took Go figure. menial Liverpool jobs until he Sometimes thought of as the found employment as a rock ‘n’ neglected Beatle who dwelt in roll drummer and soon became the Lennon-McCartney-Harrison well-known as a member of Rory shadow, Sir Richard Starkey is said Storm and the Hurricanes, one of the to have a net worth of $350 million today. SL premier rock groups in the city. As

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TECH KNOW TIDBITS Mini projectors are nothing like the bulky devices of the past BY R. NORMAN MOODY Break out the popcorn, get your comfortable chair and set up the mini video projector — it’s movie time. Whether it’s a movie, a television show, a video or photos, a mini projector might just be for you. Mini projectors are becoming more popular and have come a long way since the big bulky and cumbersome

projectors of a few years ago. The technology and pricing make the mini projector very attractive. They can be set up in a room, in the backyard or on a patio. You can use several connection options such as Wi-Fi, screen mirroring or connect to your smartphone. And it can be powered by battery, so you won’t have to worry about an electrical connection when you take your movie

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SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Kodak.com

The Kodak Luma 350, which could fit in the palm of your hand, serves as an allin-one portable cinema. Featuring Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity as well as USB and HDMI inputs, it’s powered by Android.

Trusted Legal Advice

watching to the patio or backyard. Imagine setting up your projector in a cozy back patio during a cool spring evening. Then later taking the same projector for a presentation to a group or business meeting. They are that versatile and easy to use. The projectors range from the higher end Anker Nebula Mars II Pro video projector, which sells for about $500, to the Kodak Ultra Mini, which fits in the palm of your hand and goes for about $180. It has a rechargeable

battery that lasts for about two hours. These are just two. There are others ranging in price from about $50 to $1,000 or more. When buying a projector, check for the lumens. The higher the lumens the better the brightness of the projection, depending on the screen size. Also note the resolution, which is the number of pixels that make up the picture. Generally, the higher the resolution the better the picture. SL

History — Then and Now

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

Then - 1920s

Now - 2023

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Brevard County Historical Commission

The Malabar School was built as a four-room schoolhouse in 1927 and has had many uses since then.

SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

SENIOR LIFE Elaine Moody

What was once the Malabar School is now The Banyan Estate, a wedding and events venue.

myseniorlife.com

Robocalls are more than annoying — how to combat them BY KIMBERLY BLAKER If you regularly screen your phone calls, keep your ringer turned off to avoid frequent calls, decline unknown numbers or wait to hear a voicemail before deciding whether to return a call, you’re not alone. Pearl Ollie of Melbourne is very careful about responding to unknown callers. “I don’t answer spam calls,” she said. “I let them go to voicemail. I will call them back.” As of 2019, more than half of all phone calls go unanswered, according to Alex Algard, the CEO of Hiya, a phone spam solution company. To understand the scale of the growing problem, there were more than 58.5 billion robocalls across the nation in 2019. This is almost two times the amount in 2016 (29.1 billion). In March 2020 alone, there were 4.1 billion robocalls — that’s 132.5 million a day, 5.5 million per hour, 1,500 per second and 12.5 per person. What are robocalls? Robocalls are a type of phone call used by some companies, organizations or individuals that play a recorded message when answered. Some merely play a message, while others provide options to transfer people to a live person. Many of these calls are made by scammers, while others are harmless yet annoying. Because he has both a personal phone and a business phone, Dan Douglas of Data Dan Computer Service in Cocoa gets two categories of spam.

SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock

Robocalls or spam calls have increased dramatically during the past few years. “When it rings at the store, I have got to answer it because it may be a customer,” he said. “I forward the store calls to my iPhone that flags it as potential spam, but my iPhone does a good job of not letting spam calls ring through to begin with. If it is in fact spam, I always ask them to take me off their list and then I block the number.” Types of robocalls When you hear the word robocalls, you may immediately think of scammers that want to trick you into giving out personal information or money. While many are, not all robocalls are illegal scams. Legal robocalls include: • Political parties looking for support

• Charities asking for donations • Informational calls, such as appointment reminders, automated school messages, flight updates from your airline and information from your health provider, to name a few • Calls from debt collectors • Companies to whom you’ve given written permission to contact you with a robocall • Illegal robocalls are those that haven’t previously obtained your permission and are trying to sell you something or scammers trying to get your personal information or money. Some common illegal robocalls include:

• Imposter scams that pretend to be a government agency such as the IRS or even a loved one • Credit card or debt scams charging a fee in exchange for aid for credit card or other types of debt • Loan scams asking you to pay an up-front fee in exchange for a loan • Prize scams claiming you’ve won a lottery or prize that requires you to pay a fee or share personal information to get the prize • Free trial scams that after the trial ends lock you into a subscription plan with additional costs • Travel scams which often are deals that are too good to be true and end up having unexpected extra costs, other strings attached, or that don’t even exist • Charity scams in which they pose as a charity to get donations • One-ring scams from foreign phone numbers that call and hang up on you to get you to call back and rack up fees How robocalls work Robocallers can get large volumes of phone numbers by buying lists of leads from third-party providers. Your number ends up on those lists when you call 800, 888 or 900 numbers, apply for credit, contribute to charity, register to vote, give your phone number to a business during a purchase or for a contest or call a company. Some robocalls also use machines

ROBOCALLS

Continued on page 26

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Brevard Veterans News

Heribacka, OASIS volunteers continue to send care packages to troops

Tess Brady Heribacka sent care packages to her sons, Doug Beck and Zach Brady, when they were away at war, serving in the U.S. Army. That started more than 16 years ago. Her sons have long been back home and finished with their military careers. But Heribacka, through Operation America Standing in Support (OASIS) and the with help of family, friends and associates, all volunteers, continues sending care packages to hundreds of service members overseas. “I just kept going,” she said. “God just placed it on my heart to keep going.” Every time I heard about another shipment of fundraisers they were doing, I thought, more people need to

know about this. The work of OASIS is a terrific way to let the troops serving far away, and in many cases in danger, know that they have support from home. Recently, in time to reach the troops before Christmas, OASIS, the nonprofit organization she co-founded, sent care packages to 242 troops

serving overseas. Packages containing snacks, cards from school children and other items were sent to troops in Djibouti, South Korea and the Middle East. Doug Beck served 10 years in the U.S. Army with deployments to Iraq. Zach Brady deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan and was discharged after being injured in the war. From her sons, Heribacka found out that there were other soldiers who were not getting packages like she was sending them. She started including others and so, formed OASIS, with Erin Hutchins, whose son, Jonathan Hamilton, was also deployed. Hutchins left the organization when she moved away a few years ago. The coordination can be a lot of

work and the cost prohibitive if not for the sponsors and volunteers that Heribacka credits with getting it done. Each shipment of items to the troops plus postage adds up to about $10,000. Shipments go out Valentine’s Day, Easter, Independence Day, Halloween, Veterans Day and Christmas. Funds come from sources that include estate sales, occasional corporate sponsors and matching donations. She directs everything even though she works full time. She also credits her husband, Ross Heribacka, a retired Air Force veteran, with helping to make it all possible. For more information, visit oasisofcfl.org. SL

Retired NCO brings order, determination, affable personality BY MARIA SONNENBERG In just a few names and numbers, a plaque on a bench at the Veterans Memorial Center reveals the legacy of the military service of Harry Beaver’s family — which includes a father and three brothers who also were honored to serve in the military. “I added the number of years my family has served and it comes to over 160,” said Beaver, who himself is responsible for more than three decades of those years.

“Just as he did in the Army as a senior NCO, Harry brings order despite any level of chaos as he supports the VMC, whether as a board member or at tables at dozens of community events.” — Donn Weaver

Born at Valley Forge Army Hospital, Beaver is the son of a career military medic who served in the Normandy Invasion. The Phoenixville, Pennsylvania native joined the U.S. Army artillery in 1971, a couple of months after high school graduation. “The Vietnam War was going on strong,” he said. He thought visiting Vietnam was inevitable, but the Army said no, thanks to the Sullivan rule which provides that members of the immediate family should not be placed in harm’s way. One of Beaver’s brothers was already in Vietnam.

Beaver was instead shipped to Germany, but not before marrying his high school sweetheart, Cheryl. More than 50 years later, the couple share a home in Rockledge and a son and daughter in Colorado. After completing his Army service, Beaver returned to Phoenixville, joining the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, where he served through every level of operational assignments at Company and Battalion levels until he volunteered for a Title 32 Active Guard Reserve Tour as a training and readiness noncommissioner officer in 1984. Fast forward to 1991, the year Beaver was assigned to Fort Bragg, North Carolina as a Reserve Component Transition NCO with the 82nd. Airborne Division Retention. “I became an advisor to soldiers under active duty support,” he said. His career later took him back to Germany, around the United States and to South Korea. Oh, by the way, he also attended parachute school at the ripe old age of 42. The travel the military provided whetted Harry and Cheryl’s wanderlust, and when Beaver retired in 2011, the couple quickly signed up for a 69-plus day tour to South America, the Falkland Islands and Antarctica. They became acquainted with the Space Coast through a niece employed at Kennedy Space Center. Driving around the county during one of their visits, Harry and Cheryl happened upon a Chelsea Park model home ready to be put up for sale. They snapped it. Several times a week, Beaver trades his home base for the Veterans Memorial Center. As the organization’s public affairs officer, Beaver represents

10 SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Harry Beaver

Harry Beaver served in the military for more than 30 years. He now serves as the public affairs officer for the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center.

the Center in special events. “He is a great asset and spokesperson,” said Dean Schaaf, the chair of the Brevard Veterans Council. Beaver is also part of the Center’s board of directors. Donn Weaver, the chairman of the Brevard Veterans Council, respects Beaver’s contributions as a member of the board at the Veterans Memorial Center. “Just as he did in the Army as a senior NCO, Harry brings order despite any level of chaos as he supports the VMC, whether as a board member or at tables at dozens of community events,” Weaver said. “He is both affable and determined in dealing with veterans and the public. In short, Beaver is the ideal senior team member in any role for the VMC.” SL

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Patrick Space Force Base’s new gate set to open early 2024 BY MIKE GAFFEY A new main gate at Patrick Space Force Base is projected to be completed in April. The base’s new main gate will replace the current east gate off State Road A1A and Jupiter Street and will be located farther north, off A1A and across from Blockhouse Beach. “This new main gate will take over as the 24/7 gate and will offer a host of features, including a visitor center, ID check station with a guard house and canopy, and a dedicated vehicle inspection building for improved safety and efficiency,” said Emre Kelly, the media operations chief for Space Launch Delta 45, a unit of the United States Space Force headquartered at Patrick. After the new gate is completed, the current east gate across from 2nd Light Beach will be closed and demolished, Kelly said. EMR Inc. General Contractors is overseeing the project. In April 2022, the Niceville, Florida-based company was selected from among six bidders and awarded a $12.2 million contract to design and build the new gate, according to highergov.com. Originally opened in 1940 and operated as Naval Air Station Banana River, a U.S. Navy airfield, the base was deactivated in 1947 until it was transferred to the U.S. Air Force in 1948. Renamed Patrick Air Force Base in honor of Maj. Gen. Mason Patrick of the U.S. Army Air Corps, the base became

“This new main gate will take over as the 24/7 gate and will offer a host of features, including a visitor center, ID check station with a guard house and canopy, and a dedicated vehicle inspection building for improved safety and efficiency.” — Emre Kelly, media operations chief for Space Launch Delta 45

SENIOR LIFE Senior Airman Samuel Becker

Construction is ongoing at what will be the new main gate at Patrick Space Force Base. The new gate, which will be located across from Blockhouse Beach off State Road A1A, is expected to be completed in April 2024. an installation for the U.S. military’s newest branch in 2020 and was again renamed Patrick Space Force Base in a ceremony attended by then-Vice President Mike Pence. Cape Canaveral Air Force Station also was redesignated as Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at that ceremony.

In May 2023, the Air Force chose Patrick from among six bases for its Space Training and Readiness Command (STARCOM) training and education headquarters. Space Force personnel known as Guardians will train at the facility and develop space warfighting strategies and tactics.

Patrick also is the home of STARCOM’s Space Delta 10, the group underneath STARCOM that is responsible for doctrine and war gaming. The base has a second gate at the base’s southern end on South Patrick Drive, just north of the Pineda Causeway. SL

VETERANS EVENTS

Tuesday, Jan. 23 • 1:30 p.m. Assisted Living Veterans Benefit Seminar Alura Senior Living 777 Roy Wall Blvd, Rockledge RSVP at 321-549-3980. Limited space available. Veterans Memorial Center events 400 S. Sykes Creek Parkway Merritt Island • 321-453-1776 Call to confirm event dates and times.

Saturday, Jan. 27 • 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Historic Preservation and Heritage Tourism Seminar Monday, Jan. 29 • 1 to 2:30 p.m. Guest Lecture Series at VMC Gary Powers Jr, son of the late, famed U-2 Pilot shot down over the Soviet Union at the height of the Cold War. Newly unclassified materials, his new book, and an update of analysis about why and what happened after his father’s capture, took his son decades to unravel as the truth. Tuesday, Jan. 30 • 6 p.m. What happened to the first British Settlement in America. Norm Desmarais will lead the VMC Library Discussion Series Sunday, Feb. 4 • 2 p.m. Anniversary to Remember the Immortal Four Chaplains of WWII Four chaplains went down with their transport ship while helping troops in 1943 after a German torpedo attack in the icy Atlantic.

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Cocoa church volunteers come together to help those in need BY BARBARA JEAN MEAD Nearly 1,000 boxes of food are distributed to people in need each month through a program at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church in Cocoa. “I saw the homeless when I was riding, coming from work; and there were homeless everywhere. I saw it was a need,” said Lanette Sanders Hamilton, who started the program in 2013. When she retired, the pantry became her new focus. While Hamilton was volunteering at East Coast Christian Center’s food pantry, she solicited donations for her church when she and a few other members at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist started delivering 80 to 100 brown bag lunches. Each week, they delivered to homeless people living in wooded camps and to people on the streets. They gave each person two sandwiches, fruit and a drink — in the beginning with donations from the volunteers themselves. Hamilton then worked with Second Harvest and, by 2014, had the knowledge and the certification to start a food pantry program with other volunteers at Metropolitan Missionary Baptist Church. Now, the Metropolitan offers non-perishable foods, meats, eggs and produce. One bag or box is given per household. Anyone in need can use this pantry — individuals and families. The recipients must provide a photo identification and can only get the bags of food once a week. Patricia Brown is a regular

SENIOR LIFE Barbara Jean Mead

Lanette Sanders Hamilton sorts through food boxes as Patricia Brown, background, assembles boxes for distribution. volunteer at the pantry each week. “To make this work, we have to have faithful volunteers.” Brown said. There are 15 to 20 volunteers serving the recipients. During school breaks, they get a number of college

students to help out alongside the regular volunteer church members. The program serves mostly residents of Cocoa. Retired Army Col. Nathan Thomas, a big supporter of the program,

recently presented the volunteers with certificates of appreciation and gift cards in recognition of their hard work. Hamilton tries to make sure the recipients can get nutritious meals through the distribution. “The food is not given out by pounds, it is given by nutrition. I base everything on nutrition.” Hamilton said. “We make sure they get fruit, veggies, bread and dairy. Once a year, on Thanksgiving, we give out a whole turkey and trimmings and everything.” The church volunteers preorder most items like rice, boxed macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes and corn from Second Harvest. Items are donated to Second Harvest by Aldi, Winn Dixie, BJ’s, Sam’s Club and Walmart. Publix donates baked goods. The program uses cash donations to pay for gasoline for the vehicles that pick up the items, for refrigerators and for equipment they might need. About 75 to 90 boxes are distributed on Wednesdays and 50 to 60 boxes on Fridays during an average week. The recipients stay in their vehicles and the boxes of food are brought to them in the parking lot. The church served 945 people in October 2023. To sign up to receive the boxes of food, to volunteer or to donate, call 321-636-2971. Regular hours are 11 a.m. to noon on Wednesdays and 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. each Friday. Call ahead to ensure the pantry is open and operating. Hours of operation are subject to change. SL

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Nanette Hebdige — chef, writer, friend will always be remembered BY R. NORMAN MOODY She often swept into the building, stopping at every desk and office to greet everyone. Nanette Hebdige had the kind of extroverted personality that made people feel they mattered to her. It is only one of the pleasant traits that leaves a lasting memory of her among her colleagues at Viera Voice and Senior Life. “She made friends and she kept them,” said John Sido, her uncle, who lives in Arizona. Nanette Hebdige, a writer for the publications whose full name is Marie Antoinette Hebdige, died Dec. 6. Even while battling cancer and in pain, she never wavered in her commitment to her work and always wore a pleasant demeanor. You knew it when she walked in and stuck her head in each office to say hello. Hebdige, a chef, each month wrote the Pantry Rat column, which included a recipe in Viera Voice and stories in both publications.

SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue

Nanette Hebdige was a writer for Viera Voice and Senior Life.

“We miss her dearly,” said Jill Blue, the president of Bluewater Creative Group, the parent company of Viera Voice and Senior Life. “We loved listening to her stories about traveling, New York City, Miami, Spain and Singapore. She knew foods of other cultures.”

Her uncle was well aware of her gift for cooking. “She had a great passion for cooking and for dancing as well,” Sido said. “Cooking was not to be taken for granted. It was an art form.” Sido’s wife, Marie-Jose, is Hebdige’s mother’s sister. Hebdige spoke three languages, including Spanish and French. Born June 13, 1961, in Madrid of Spanish and French parents, Hebdige lived in Madrid, Malaga and Singapore before moving to the United States as an adult about 35 years ago. Friends and colleagues held a memorial service for Hebdige on Dec. 10 at First Christian Church of Cocoa Beach. A memorial service will be held in Arizona, where she has her mother, a brother, Ash Hebdige, other family members and longtime friends. The memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Jan. 19 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Chandler, Arizona. SL

SENIOR LIFE Jill Blue

Space Coast Cars and Coffee will be at AJ’s Lager House Jan. 13.

Cars and Coffee honors law enforcement with special show BY JEFF NAVIN Local businessman Joe Rodriguez looks back fondly on the car shows he attended as a child at the Woodbridge Mall in Bergen County in northern New Jersey. “We used to go a lot,’’ said Joe Rodriguez, whose Space Coast Cars and Coffee car shows have become popular in Brevard County. “I was in love with all the cars at 10 years old. I really loved the Mustangs.’’ Rodriguez later bought a 1965 Mustang Fastback as a teen. From 2 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 13, Rodriguez will bring Space Coast Cars

CARS

Continued to page 19

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Not a complete list of life events to qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. CarePlusHealthPlans.com Brevard and Indian River counties. CarePlus is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in CarePlus depends on contract renewal. The Part B Giveback Benefit pays part or all of your Part B premium and the amount may change based on the amount you pay for Part B. Important: At CarePlus, it is important you are treated fairly. CarePlus Health Plans, Inc. complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, disability, age, marital status, religion, or language in their programs and activities, including in admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, their programs and activities. The following department has been designated to handle inquiries regarding CarePlus’ non-discrimination policies: Member Services, PO Box 277810, Miramar, FL 33027, 1-800-794-5907 (TTY: 711). Auxiliary aids and services, free of charge, are available to you. 1-800-7945907 (TTY: 711) CarePlus provides free auxiliary aids and services, such as qualified sign language interpreters, video remote interpretation, and written information in other formats to people with disabilities when such auxiliary aids and services are necessary to ensure an equal opportunity to participate. This information is available for free in other languages. Please call our Member Services number at 1-800-794-5907. Hours of operation: October 1 - March 31, 7 days a week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. April 1 - September 30, Monday - Friday, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. You may leave a voicemail after hours, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays and we will return your call within one business day. Español (Spanish): Esta información está disponible de forma gratuita en otros idiomas. Favor de llamar a Servicios para Afiliados al número que aparece anteriormente. Kreyòl Ayisyen (French Creole): Enfòmasyon sa a disponib gratis nan lòt lang. Tanpri rele nimewo Sèvis pou Manm nou yo ki nan lis anwo an. H1019_MKBNDMFNPRphoneringer2024_M

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SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

HEALTH & WELLNESS

Experts: It is possible to lower blood pressure without medication BY LINDSAY SANDERFUR

For those who have wondered but never asked, yes it is possible to lower blood pressure for some without medication. The key is in finding the right combination of treatments. What is normal BP? According to the American Heart Association, a systolic/diastolic reading of 120/80 or less is a normal range. Above that, BP is elevated. Stage 1 hypertension ranges between 130-139 over 80-89. Stage 2 is 140-plus over 90-plus. High blood pressure (HBP) is called the silent killer because it often occurs without symptoms. “If you have been diagnosed with HBP, it is important to start working on lowering it right away,” said Dr. Andrea Izquierdo of Bodhi Traditional Chinese Medicine in Melbourne. Left untreated, HBP can bring on heart disease, peripheral artery disease and metabolic syndrome, a combination of excess weight, high cholesterol and insulin resistance.

“We have heard of someone whose temper outburst led to an aneurysm. This is not mere myth,” Izquierdo said. She said pressure building in the vessels “weakens them and eventually leads to rupturing, resulting in aneurysms or making you more prone to brain aneurysms. When someone is under high stress or prolonged stress, even a sudden burst of anger can trigger that aneurysm. That is why managing stress and emotions is important.” Other causes include improper diet, chronic pain, insomnia, prolonged use of over-the-counter medications and underlying conditions. “It is important to determine what is causing the HBP to begin with,” Izquierdo said. Once the root cause is discovered, a treatment plan can be developed. Master herbalist Cecelia Avitabile from The Herb Corner in Melbourne said causal factors include diet, lack of exercise, lifestyle choices and certain medications. “Right now,” she said, “I see it as being associated with stress.” Hypertension can lead to heart

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Doctors believe that blood pressure can be reduced, in some cases, with little or no medication. problems and stroke, she said. It follows that stress reduction tops the list for treating this condition. Here are some treatments that have worked for many. Manage your stress Izquierdo said we can lower BP by balancing the activity of the nervous system. This is our fight-or-flight response. “It is very important to manage stress and emotions like anger or frustration.” Meditation, prayer, pausing before reacting, and adopting a panoramic view can lessen the grip of stress on one’s life. Adopt a heart-healthy diet Avitabile suggests lessening your intake of processed foods. These contain too much sodium, she said. For prevention, Izquierdo recommends seeds, nuts and Omega-3 fatty acids. “Add to your diet salmon, citrus, leafy greens and whole grains. These are loaded with antioxidants, potassium calcium and magnesium, which all help support heart health.” Reduce inflammation Improve blood flow to reduce inflammation and support

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cardiovascular health. Izquierdo’s protocol includes acupuncture and modern technologies. “ATP Resonance Biotherapy helps restore the function of the body and bring it back to balance. This allows me to maximize results and get my patients back to feeling their best.” Reduce intake of non-steroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which can raise BP and weaken the kidneys over time. Avitabile said, “Magnesium glycinate helps to balance the nerve transmissions within the cardiovascular system.” Consider herbs “Hawthorn and hibiscus help to balance and lower BP,” Avitabile said. Dandelion aids fluid retention. “Passion flower and linden help reduce stress and anxiety.” Anyone can apply these strategies with success. “I know HBP can be helped naturally,” Avitabile said. “I have seen it happen in myself and with others.” And the results are usually quick, sometimes within a month, she said. SL

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Have a very Happy

January

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MONDAY MONDAY

National Blueberry Pancake Day Brevard County Police and Firefighters eighth annual Chili Cook Off 1 - 4 p.m. Cocoa Riverfront Park 401 Riveredge Blvd. Cocoa, facebook.com/ BCPFFBenevolent

FRIDAY FRIDAY

National Clean Your Desk Day

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

National Hot Sauce Day

National Law Enforcement Day

Purely Girls Knitting Club 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Trade patterns and ideas. Cape Canaveral Library 201 Polk Ave. Cape Canaveral 321-868-1101 Neighbors Coffee and Conversation 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-253-6628

Jazz performance by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Medicaid Planning Jeff Rupert Quartet Peace March and Service Seminar 10 a.m. 2 - 4 p.m. 2 - 5 p.m. Presented by the Space Presented by the Brevard Elder law attorney William A. Johnson. Coast Jazz Society. Ministerial Coalition. One Senior Place Brevard Veterans Cocoa Riverfront Park 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Memorial Center 401 Riveredge Blvd. Viera, 321-751-6771 400 S. Sykes Creek Cocoa, 321-795-0537 Parkway Space Coast Poets Merritt Island 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. 321-453-1776 Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-253-6628 National Hug Your Puppy Day Brevard Renaissance Fair - Viking Weekend Jan. 20 and 21 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. Wickham Park 2500 Parkway Drive Melbourne 321-458-3515

WEDNESDAY THURSDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY

Some Day National Can Do National Chocolate We'll Laugh About Day Covered Cherry Day This Week New Year’s Day paddle Tragedy Assistance Slainte Traditions Sip & Smoke 11 a.m. Program for Survivors & Cheers Cocktail 6:30 p.m. Casual paddle, bring 6 - 8 p.m. Competition Locally hand-rolled snacks, drinks chairs and TAPS is a national 5 - 8 p.m. cigars provided by great stories nonprofit organization Cocktail competition Chaffiot Cigars Kayak and paddleboard providing compassionate featuring Slainte Irish 28 North Gastropub rentals available for $10. care and comprehensive Whiskey. 2250 Town Center Ave. 4220 Dixie Highway NE resources for all those 28 North Gastropub Palm Bay, 321-258-4492 grieving the loss of a 2250 Town Center Ave. Viera, 321-241-1159 military or veteran Viera, 321-241-1159 Billiards Red Eye Big Cup loved one. Noon - 4 p.m. Golf Tournament Suntree/Viera Library 8:30 a.m. 902 Jordan Blass Drive Greater Palm Bay Duran Golf Club Suntree Senior Center 7038 Stadium Parkway 321-253-6628 1275 Culver Drive NE Viera Palm Bay, 321-724-1338 321-504-7776 Happy New Year

Panera Bread Classic Sound Traveler Car Show 6 p.m. 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Acoustic and Open to all years, makes instrumental renditions and models. of popular classics from Panera Bread all genres. Instruments 275 Eau Gallie Blvd. include guitar, trumpet, Melbourne bass, mandolin, 321-725-3648 harmonica, concertina and percussion. Cape Canaveral Library 201 Polk Ave. Cape Canaveral 321-868-1101

National Pizza Week

TUESDAY TUESDAY

Cards & Games 6 - 9 p.m. DRS Community Center 1089 S. Patrick Drive Satellite Beach 321-773-7705

Sunset Yoga 6 - 7 p.m. Ryckman Park 509 Ocean Ave. Melbourne Beach 321-724-5860

AARP Smart Drive Course 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 973-607-7996

Anja 6 p.m. Classic covers from 1950 to today. 201 Polk Ave. Cape Canaveral 321-868-1101

National Puzzle Day

Turtle Talk 2:30 p.m. Cape Canaveral Library 201 Polk Ave. Cape Canaveral 321-868-1101

Purely Girls Knitting Club 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Trade patterns and ideas. Cape Canaveral Public Library 201 Polk Ave. Cape Canaveral 321-868-1101

18 SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

Three Kings Day

Festival Singers of Florida Winter Blues Dance in concert 6 - 9 p.m. 7 p.m. Music by Mike and Carolyn Slow, rock & roll Eastminster Presbyterian Church and line dance. BYOB 106 N. Riverside Drive North Brevard Indialantic, 321-723-8371 Senior Center 909 Lane Ave. Titusville, 321-268-2333 Brevard Renaissance Fair — Pirates Weekend Jan. 6 and 7 Fun Friday 10 a.m. - 6 p.m. 5 - 10 p.m. Wickham Park Vendors, food trucks 2500 Parkway Drive and live music. Veterans Memorial Park Melbourne, 321-458-3515 201 Polk Ave. Cape Canaveral 321-726-5682

National Make Your Dream Come True Day Stand-Up Moose Melbourne Home Show Comedy 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. 8 - 10 p.m. Melbourne Auditorium Featuring Karl Anthony, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd. Christy B and Frankie Melbourne, 877-730-7469 Paul. Dinner and Show. Merritt Island Moose Moonlight Stroll Lodge 2073 at Erna Nixon Park 3150 N. Courtenay 6 - 10 p.m. Parkway Live music and sky gazing. Merritt Island 321-452-8383 Erna Nixon Park 1200 Evans Road W. Melbourne 321-633-2046 National Hot Tea Day

National Take a Walk National Gourmet Coffee Outdoors Day Popcorn Day Day Free Liver Scans The Myths & Facts of Tinnitus and Cocoa Beach Kite & Parkinson’s Research Hearing Loss Beach Fest 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Trials 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Jan. 20 and 21 Free fibroscans by 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Presented by Personal 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. ClinCloud. Presented by the Brevard Hearing Solutions. Coconuts on the Beach One Senior Place Parkinson’s Alliance. One Senior Place Minutemen Causeway 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Center for Collaboration 8085 Spyglass Hill Road 2 Cocoa Beach Viera, 321-751-6771 1100 Rockledge Blvd. Viera, 321-751-6771 321-693-3159 Rockledge Sit and Get Fit 321-345-1031 EcoFest Stop the Traffic 5K 1 - 2 p.m. 9 a.m. Run/Walk Martin Andersen Cocoa Riverfront Park 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. Senior Center Veterans Memorial Center 401 Riveredge Blvd. 1025 S. Florida Ave. 400 S. Sykes Creek Pkwy. Cocoa Rockledge, 321-631-7549 eearss.org@gmail.com Merritt Is., 833-511-2211 Popeye Day

National Compliment Day Assisted Living Veterans Space Coast Birding Benefit Seminar and Wildlife Festival 1:30 p.m. Jan. 24 to 28 Alura Senior Living 8 a.m. 777 Roy Wall Blvd. Radisson Resort Rockledge at the Port 321-549-3980 8701 Astronaut Blvd. Cape Canaveral Coin Talk with Bob SCBWA.net 6 - 7:45 p.m. Bring your old coins. Suntree/Viera Library 902 Jordan Blass Drive Suntree, 321-253-6628 National Pie Day

National Human Trafficking Awareness Day Golden Hearts Chair Yoga Senior Fitness 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. 11 a.m. - noon Greater Palm Bay North Brevard Senior Center Senior Center 1275 Culver Drive NE 909 Lane Ave. Titusville, 321-514-5945 Palm Bay, 321-724-1338 National Take the Stairs Day

National Day of National Commuy Service Bird Day

SATURDAY SATURDAY

National Hot Chocolate Day Conductors Choice 7 p.m. Maestro Mark Nelson of the Melbourne Municipal Band conducts his favorites. Melbourne Auditorium 625 Hibiscus Boulevard Melbourne 321-285-6724

National Fish Taco Day

Estate Planning Seminar 10 - 11 a.m. Presented by William A. Johnson, board certified elder law attorney. One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Road Viera, 321-751-6771

Freedom Golf Tournament 12:30 - 3:30 p.m. Duran Golf Club 7032 Stadium Pkwy Viera, avet-project.org

National Chocolate Cake Day Casino Night to Benefit the SPCA of Brevard 7 - 11 p.m. Viera East Golf Club 1600 Clubhouse Drive Viera, 321-567-3615

Jimmy Buffet/James Taylor Tribute Concert CBHS Project Graduation Golf Tournament 7 p.m. Noon Merritt Island Moose Lodge 2073 Cocoa Beach Country Club 3150 N. Courtenay Pkwy. 5000 Tom Warriner Blvd. Merritt Island Cocoa Beach, CBHSPG.org

Are you a Supe Senior Life events you a Super oflist — be the fir GetFan on of the Are you a Are Super Fan Are you a Super Fan of Senior eventsExpos? and expos? our upcoming e Senior Life events andLife expos? Events and Senior Life be the first to hear about Get on the list — beGet theon firstthe to list hear—about our upcoming events. our upcoming events.

Call Sylvia 321-242-1235, email Call Sylvia 321-242-1235, email Join us Feb 14 media@bluewatercreativegroup.com media@bluewatercreativegroup.com or send a postcard to Senior Life, or send a postcard to Senior Life, Senior Expo 7350 Shoppes Drive, 102, Viera FL 32940 7350 Shoppes Drive, 102, Viera FL 32940

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Green Gables kicks off fundraising with grand gala SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE Green Gables is ready to kick off its capital campaign to raise funds for the restoration of the historic property. Green Gables at Historic Riverview Village is holding a Gala from 6 to 11 p.m. Friday, Feb. 9 at the Grand Manor at 1450 Sarno Road in Melbourne. An architectural firm is already preparing the Historic Structures Report, which is the first step in the rehabilitation and restoration. The firm, REG Architects, is very experienced with historic properties. The Gala “Somewhere in Time” promises to be a beautiful evening with elegant dining and dancing to “the best Central Florida dance band, Dreamer.” Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey, will be the auctioneer of the night. Boniface Hiers Automotive Group is the largest sponsor. Other sponsorship opportunities are available. Tickets are available now and should be purchased well in advance. For ticket and more information go to greengables.org. SL

CARS Continued from page 14 and Coffee to AJ’s Lager House, which should be open by then at 8250 North Wickham Road in Viera at the former location of UNO Pizzeria & Grill. The theme will be Law Enforcement Appreciation Day, which officially will be celebrated around the country four days earlier. Viera Voice also will be a sponsor for the event.

SENIOR LIFE photo

Green Gables is gearing up for its campaign to raise funds to restore the historic property at Riverview Village in Melbourne. “We’ll have from 50 to 100 cars,’’ Rodriguez said. “There will be vintage McLarens, new McLarens, Mustangs, Camaros and motorcycles, too. We’ll have a little of everything. We want to bring the community out. It’s all about the community. We want to have some fun. We want the kids to come, see the cars and enjoy the day.’’ After an opening prayer by Brandon Rieb, the executive pastor of the Church at Viera, the Viera High School Color Guard will post

the colors. The Rodriguez family is a law enforcement family. His father Ray, who owns 14 McDonalds’s in Brevard County, lives in Brevard County after retiring as a detective in New Jersey. Rodriguez’s son, Andrew, is a detective in New Jersey. All of Rodriguez’s sons, Julian, Nick and Alex, who live in Brevard County, love cars. Michelle Rodriguez, a sister, owns the McDonald’s on Wickham

Road in Viera. Jason Pun, the owner of AJ’s Lager House, is delighted to have the vintage cars at his new restaurant. “I like everything old when it comes to cars,’’ Pun said. “I like the old Trueno Toyotas from the Japanese tuner scene. And, of course, the old Mustangs, the 1970 Camaros and all the McLarens and Lamborghinis. I’m honored to host this event. The restaurant will be ready to rock and roll.’’ SL

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SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

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.

Dementia Live Experience brings empathy to caregivers, family Living through the experience of dementia, whether as a caregiver, family member or through personal encounter, often brings about profound empathy and insight into the world of someone living with dementia. Here is how it can shape understanding and compassion: 1. Empathy through shared feelings: Being in close contact with someone experiencing dementia can elicit strong empathy. Witnessing their struggles with memory loss, confusion and frustration can make one more attuned to their emotional state. It helps understand the feelings of disorientation, fear and the loss of self-identity that they might be going through. 2. Understanding communication challenges: Communicating with a person with dementia can be challenging as their ability to express themselves or comprehend language diminishes. Experiencing these difficulties firsthand can lead to insights about alternative communication methods — using visual cues, simplifying language or relying on non-verbal communication. 3. Gaining perspective on behavioral changes: Dementia can manifest in various behavioral changes, from mood swings to agitation or withdrawal. Living with or around someone with dementia can provide insights into what triggers these

behaviors and how to respond with patience and understanding. 4. Seeing the importance of routine and familiarity: Witnessing how disruptions in routine or unfamiliar environments can cause distress highlights the significance of structure and familiarity for individuals with dementia. It emphasizes the importance of creating environments that are comfortable and safe for them. 5. Recognizing the value of compassionate care: Direct experience with dementia can deepen appreciation for compassionate caregiving. It sheds light on the patience, empathy and adaptability required to provide effective care while maintaining the person’s dignity and autonomy. 6. Highlighting the need for support and advocacy: Experiencing the challenges faced by those with dementia often highlights the need for better support systems, resources and increased awareness in society. It can inspire advocacy efforts to improve care, increase research and reduce stigma. For many, the experience of dementia can be transformative. It can prompt reflection on life, relationships and the value of cherishing moments with loved ones. It can also foster personal growth by developing patience, empathy and resilience. Living through the journey of dementia, whether directly or indirectly,

SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Brevard Council on Aging

Participants in the Dementia Live Experience learn about what it would be like to live with dementia. offers profound insights and fosters empathy that can significantly impact how individuals perceive and interact with those living with dementia. It prompts a deeper understanding of the challenges they face and underscores the importance of compassionate support and care. Recently, some of the Dementia Care & Cure Initiative Brevard County Task Force members provided the Dementia HISTORIC Live Experience at the TITUSVILLE Brevard MAIN STREET Commission on Aging meeting.

A B

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LIVE EXPERIENCE continued to page 22

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20 SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

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CROSSWORD

Solution, page 26

Crossword

1 2 3 4 ACROSS 1 Certain hockey 14 shot 17 18 5 Uncouth 10 Sweat spot 21 20 14 ___-de-camp 24 25 15 Russell's "Cinderella Man" 28 29 co-star 16 "A Prayer for 32 ___ Meany" 37 38 17 Lemurs' land 19 Alternatively 42 41 20 Make a mistake 45 21 Part of ABM 22 High regard 47 48 49 24 Typed in 52 27 Quick with a quip 58 28 Magazine 62 installment 30 Iron-poor 65 32 Solidarity symbol 33 "The Office", e.g. 34 Canine 58 Clothing command fastener 37 Top off 59 Balcony railing 39 Bone container 62 Liniment target 41 Word on a Ouija 63 Vote into office board 64 Medicinal herb 42 Christie's 65 Twelve months Express 66 One way to play 44 Docking place 67 Johnny Fever's 45 Nursery items station 46 Migrating flock 47 Dote on DOWN 50 Collects 1 Identical 52 Filled Indian 2 Tall tale teller pastry 3 GPS data 54 Neighbor of 4 Pot pie morsel Pakistan 5 Origami bird 55 Tugboat's task 6 Type of order 7 Very old

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8 Poseidon domain 9 Like the Sahara 10 Kind of license 11 Little hooter 12 Bowler's button 13 Hostile force 18 Ticket info 23 Begins a triathlon 25 Tavern snacks 26 Dissect 28 Touch-and-go 29 Paddock papa 31 Nearly all 33 Lab fluids 34 Telemarketer's spiel 35 Blue flower

36 Taxonomic designation 38 Golfers' goals 40 "Ruse" anagram 43 Online merchant 45 Like some nouns 46 Lady's man 47 Examine, as ore 48 School event 49 Nebraska city 51 Like some decisions 53 Out for the night 56 Glade target 57 What some willows do 60 Former boxing champ 61 Uncooked

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TIME TO TRAVEL

Storytelling at its best comes alive at Mount Dora festival BY MARIA SONNENBERG Stories will fly come Jan. 25 to 28 in Mount Dora, home to the Florida Storytelling Festival, hosted by the Florida Storytelling Association. This year marks the 40th anniversary of this celebration of the art and craft of oral storytelling. Once again, professional storytellers from around the nation will gather under the big tent on the lawn of Mount Dora’s historic Lakeside Inn for four days of sharing stories with an avid audience that ranges in age from elementary school to retirees. In a world increasingly dominated by technology, the festival offers a delightfully human alternative that only requires the ability to listen and imagine. DeLand residents Barry and Patti Lockenbach have attended the festival for years and are representative of the folks who come just to listen. “It’s phenomenal to enjoy nationally SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Malcolm Yawn Photography known storytelling with a lake-front Storytellers dress in unique garb to recount tales that capture the emotions of the crowd. view,” Patti Lockencach said. Professional storyteller Piscitelli Robinson, a recipient of the National Storytelling Network’s 2023 Oracle Award for outstanding contribution to storytelling, notes that in this must-do event the “audience can experience different styles of storytelling as well as different formats of storytelling shows.” Programs include workshops, a Youthful Voices concert, story swaps, ghost stories, a Liars’ Contest, a story slam, fringe performances and a series of stories told on Lakeside’s “rocking chair” porch. The Youthful Voices section welcomes students from kindergarten through high school to come share their stories on Saturday night. In the SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Malcolm Yawn Photography SENIOR LIFE Courtesy of Malcolm Yawn Photography Tall Tales Liars’ Contest, five-minute Sam Payne has been a part of previous storytelling festivals in Mount Dora. Shelia Arnold participated in previous tall tales bend the truth as tellers vie storytelling festivals in Mount Dora. America’s top tellers, has entertained Oklahoma, Tingle is an author of 20 to become the champion liar of the Bluewater Creative Group - Issue audiences in 4720 states, 18 countries and books and has performed around the festival. six continents with stories that range world, often with the accompanying This year’s featured tellers include also a songsmith and author. Williams, from traditional Appalachian Mountain native flute music and drumming. Connie Regan-Blake, Tim Tingle, who weaves her stories with charm and tales to poignant true-life drama. A Abram brings history to life with her Eva Abram, Chris Kastle and Mary wit, won a Toastmasters Humorous member of the Choctaw Nation of portrayals of historical figures such as Lou Williams. Regan-Blake, one of speech competition in 2022 and is a civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks and is recipient of the Distinguished Service the recipient of the 2022 J.J. Reneaux Award from the Florida Storytellers Emerging Artist Award. Kastle’s stories Association. have the flavor of Celtic and maritime For more information, go to flstory. Edited by Margie E. Burke traditions; the award-winning teller is com. SL

SUDOKU

Difficulty: Medium

4 1

8 5 2 3

HOW TO SOLVE:

1 9 7 9 4 2

2 5 7

3 9 8

2 8 6 7 9

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. (Answer appears elsewhere in this issue)

Solution on page 26

22 SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

LIVE EXPERIENCE

continued from page 20 that is a caretaker of someone with dementia should take the Dementia Live Experience. It will change the way you think, see and treat those who need your help, but may not be able to express themselves.” Another participant commented about feeling frustrated with not being able to accomplish tasks and was relieved the experience ended. Empathy is the concept of not only walking in someone else’s shoes, but also understanding what they are going through and taking action. The Dementia Live Experience is an effective educational experience to immerse someone into the world of

what it may be like to have dementiaand build empathy. In Brevard County 13% of the population 65 years and older are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. Daily we are crossing paths with individuals living with dementia and their caregivers. The more educated we are as a community, the greater opportunity to foster a dementia-friendly environment for all. If you have interest in going through the Dementia Live Experience, we provide this at no cost to all organizations, groups, schools and businesses through the DCCI Task Force. For information, call 321-4347613. SL

myseniorlife.com

WHALES

continued from page 1 Wind turbines along the coasts of Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Connecticut also have affected the tracking systems of Right Whales and led to deaths on northern beaches. The Blue World Research Institute based in Cocoa is looking for help from the general public in its mission to protect the endangered species. Call 888-979-4253 (888-97-Whale) if you see a Right Whale during a walk along the beach, while fishing offshore or while driving along A1A. “People don’t realize that it’s calving season,’’ said Julie Albert of the Blue World Research Institute. “We’d love to have people from their balconies in Cocoa Beach report sightings. There’s only 350 Right Whales left in the world, and this is the only place in Florida where they give birth, from the Carolinas to Florida, depending on water temperature.’’ Right Whales do not have a dorsal fin, making them difficult to see for boaters, surfers and paddle boarders. “The law is for boaters to travel no faster than 10 knots (approximately 11½ mph),’’ Albert said. “Boaters need to slow down and look out for them. They’re hard to see from the surf. It’s illegal to get within five football fields of them. That’s 1,500 feet.’’ Cruise ships unwittingly could become a predator for the Right Whale. “We’re working with the Port (Canaveral) and they’ve been great,’’ Albert said. “Drones are also a problem. It’s illegal to fly drones around the whales.’’

SENIOR LIFE Shutterstock

Right Whales come to the Space Coast area every winter to give birth to calves. Mothers are especially vulnerable in Florida after giving birth. They do not eat in Florida’s waters, living off of their fat. They nurse their calves for four months after giving birth. At birth, calves range from 15 to 20 feet in length and weigh approximately 1 ton. Adults are approximately 50 feet in length and weigh 50 tons or more. In the past, Right Whales often lived to be more than 100 years old. That life expectancy has decreased to 65 years for males and 45 years for females. Blue World Research Institute is a group of scientists, researchers, biologists and people of all walks of life who want to address the global impact of entanglements on marine species through research, response/

Upcoming classes, presentations and events

Jan. 6: Melbourne Beach Library, noon to 6 p.m. *This could be rescheduled due to floor work at the library. Jan. 7: Barrier Island Sanctuary in Melbourne Beach, 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 13: Marine Science Center in Ponce Inlet, 10 a.m. to noon. Jan. 13: Cocoa Beach Library, 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 18: Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Jan. 19: EcoFest at Riverfront Park in Cocoa, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Jan. 20: Entangled movie showing at Marine Discovery Center in New Smyrna Beach, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 10: Ocean Treasurers Festival at Melbourne Beach, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. rescue, technology and education. It also promotes the development, improvement and use of technologies to support marine conservation and education.

For information on sightings or educational programs, call 321-405-2826, 888-979-4253, email rwsightingnetwork@bwri.org or info@bwri.org. SL

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NORTH BREVARD

News for Titusville, Mims & Port St. John

Seminar explores heritage tourism through historic preservation BY FLORA REIGADA

Roz Foster, the president of the North Brevard Heritage Foundation, touts Brevard County’s historic treasures. They include the Windover Archeological Site, the Cape Canaveral Lighthouse, Haulover Canal, several historic homes and museums such as the Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science and the Florida Surf Museum. “Every city, community and county has a story to tell that defines its character and demographics,” she said. “Historic preservation of structures, sites and artifacts with documentation provides us with a sense of place. They tell the story of discovery, development, and the people and places here before us. Through heritage tourism, we showcase these sites and structures.” One example is the American Space Museum and Space Walk of Fame in Titusville. “We preserve the older history of the space programs, beginning with Mercury, Gemini, Apollo and the Shuttle missions,” said Anita Truex, the office coordinator.

SENIOR LIFE Dan Reigada

Anita Truex, the office coordinator at the American Space Museum and Space Walk of Fame in Titusville, points out a large console that was once used in the space program. “We have hundreds of artifacts and memorabilia donated by space workers at the Kennedy Space Center and Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. This old equipment and technology will help youth understand what it took to get us where we are today.” Foster agreed. “How can we know where

we are going if we do not know where we have been?” she said. A single-day Hand-InGlove Seminar presented by the North Brevard Heritage Foundation and Classic Property Resources on January 27 will explore this and more. “The program’s focus is how historic preservation

SENIOR LIFE Dan Reigada

Anita Truex looks at one of many space suits on display at the American Space Museum. and heritage tourism work together like a hand in a glove to contribute to more dynamic economic and municipal development,” Foster said. In addition to talks, workshops, panel discussions and networking, it will include a complimentary tour of the Brevard Veterans Memorial

Center on Merritt Island, where the seminar will be held. Tickets are $45 per person on Eventbrite.com/e/ hand-in-glove-seminartickets-740116978807. Breakfast, snacks, box lunches and beverages are included. SL

Titusville’s Enchanted Forest preserves Florida’s natural beauty BY FLORA REIGADA We watch in wonder as a deer peers out from the forest, or a colorful butterfly sips nectar from a flower. We may, however, recoil at the sight of a snake or spider. These creatures are among many that make their home at the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary’s 470-acre nature preserve in Titusville. “Everything in the food chain has a purpose,” said Damien Keene, the Land Management superintendent. An occasional bear will make its way through. He has seen tracks. “They don’t stay because the sanctuary is not large enough to support them,” Keene said. Resident wildlife includes bobcats, white tailed deer, migratory birds, beetles, snakes, lizards and the protected gopher tortoise. The Enchanted Forest Sanctuary is the flagship preserve of Brevard County’s Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) program to protect natural resources.

“Its diversity of natural habitats safeguard many varieties of wildlife. The dry scrub habitat, now rare in Florida, shelters protected species,” Keene said. “Other habitats include the moist mesic, the wet hydric and freshwater marshes, where an alligator has taken up residence in the Addison Canal.” An abundance of vegetation and beauty awaits hikers and nature enthusiasts on well-marked trails. So do activities and learning experiences for visitors of all ages. Hikes may be self-guided or host-guided. Paved paths are handicapped accessible. Jeanie Hensler, the Titusville Welcome Center coordinator, spent a memorable day with her family at a Coin Scavenger Hunt at the Sanctuary earlier this year “While admiring the gorgeous flora and fauna, we found coins as a family,” she said. “We spotted evidence of wildlife such as wild hogs and deer.” Hensler’s 23-year-old daughter joined the hunt.

24 SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

SENIOR LIFE Dan Reigada

A handicapped access path, complete with a scenic overlook, allows those using wheelchairs and walkers access to the Enchanted Forest Sanctuary. This was appropriate since she is finishing her master’s degree in environmental science and ecology. Visitor Charish Periso cannot get enough of the Sanctuary.

“I’ve been coming here for 16 years and I love it,” she said. The nature center building features an abundance of information, displays and interactive

exhibits. Admission is free. The Enchanted Forest Sanctuary is located at 444 Columbia Blvd. in Titusville. Call 321-264-5185 or visit Enchanted Forest brevardfl. gov. SL

myseniorlife.com

SENIOR LIFE David Reigada

Artist and illustrator Julie Bledsoe works on a mural at El Leoncito Mexican and Cuban Restaurant in Titusville.

Artist’s mural adds color, tradition at Titusville restaurant BY FLORA REIGADA

One can almost hear mariachi music from the mural at the bar at El Leoncito Mexican and Cuban Restaurant in Titusville. It pictures the band, a woman’s attractive face, a classic car and more associated with the Latino culture and people. Local artist and illustrator Julie Bledsoe created the mural, as well as murals at El Leoncito in Viera, the Chaparral Mexican and Cuban Restaurant in Cocoa and Sergio’s Tacos Mexican Restaurant in Titusville. “Art has been in my heart from

“Art has been in my heart from childhood. I would study the colors in the sky and clouds. I wanted to make things from objects I found in the woods. My mom encouraged me with her words.” — Julie Bledsoe, local artist and illustrator

childhood. I would study the colors in the sky and clouds,” Bledsoe said. “I wanted to make things from objects I found in the woods. My mom encouraged me with her words.” Bledsoe spoke about the many colors in a human eye and her efforts

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to capture them in her work. Her studies took her to France, Italy, England, New York and Chicago, where she was taught by artists she admired. “There’s always more to learn about painting and I’m constantly eager to

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stimulate my mind,” she said. The mural took about six weeks to complete. It involved painting and removing objects the artist thought detracted from the mural’s flow. “Customers love her work and are amazed by her talent. They ask for her contact information to get things done in their homes,” said Yati Lopez, El Leoncito’s daytime manager. “She sees things we don’t see.” Bledsoe has been putting her talent to use for more than 40 years and North Brevard is reaping the benefits. See her mural at El Leoncito Restaurant at 4280 S. Washington Ave. in Titusville. SL

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SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

ROBOCALLS

Continued from page 9

Share your love secrets for Valentine’s Day Tell readers your love stories. If you have been married for more than 25 years, tell us your love story that you believe might help to inspire other couples. Send us a current photo together as a couple and one from years ago. Write 100 words telling us your love story, how you met and what has kept you in love with each other. Stories must be received no later than Jan. 10, 2024 for consideration of publication in the February edition of Senior Life. Submit your story and photos to norm@myseniorlife.com.

It might be time to renew your lists — keep it simple

SUDOKU

2 5

of Living to Age 100 Ed Baranowski grocery store, you see shoppers walking about looking at their iPhone screen at the list of groceries to purchase. The bucket list is often the one that generates the most discussion. Some seniors say: “I’ve done it all,” or “I’m not traveling anymore.” Stay curious! There are many virtual tours, Netflix excursions and YouTube experiences. Watch the TV program “The Amazing Race” and Bravo “Below Deck” to share adventures as an arm-chair traveler. There are spiritual lists. God gave Moses a list of 10 Commandments. His ancestors created lists in Deuteronomy and the Mosaic Law with more than 600 mandates. How is that for list making? What’s on your spiritual growth list? As you begin the new year, keep your lists simple. Start with something new on your resolutions list. Then move to To Do lists. What’s on your list, today? SL Ed Baranowski is an awardwinning writer, artist, speaker and seminar leader. He can be contacted at fast75sr@gmail.com.

26 SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

CROSSWORD

Challenges

8 5 2 3

1 9 7 9 4 2

Solution to7 Crossword: 3 S L A P C R A S S P O R E R E N E E O W2 E N8 6 A I D9 E M A D A G A S C A R E L S E E S T E7 E M E R R8 A N T I 9 E N T E R E D W I T T Y Copyright 2024 by The Puzzle Syndicate

I S S U E A N E M I C F I S T S I T C O M S I T O S S U A R Y F R E S H E N Y E S O R I E N T S L I P P L A N T S G E E S E G A T H E R S A D O R E S A M O S A I R A N T O W B A L U S T R A D E S N A P E L E C T A L O E A C H E D I R T Y W K R P Y E A R

Solution to Sudoku: Puzzle on page 21

SUDOKU

What’s on your list today? How many lists will you use in the next year? Seniors use a lot of lists. Each new year offers an opportunity to start fresh — a new calendar, a planning book or an appointment book. Lists are a valued tool for organization and a great aid to help our memory. Everyone makes lists. We use lists to plan, budget, manage, implement and evaluate. During a recent seminar at the Buena Vida Estate retirement community in West Melbourne, participants listed from A to Z the following lists: appointments, bucket list, check list, doctor list, estate plan list, final wishes list, goal list, grocery shopping list, honey-do list, inventory of assets list, journal (daily thoughts) list, naughty list, prayer list, prescriptions list, regrets list, resolutions list, song (play) list, travel list and a wish list among many more. If you want assistance in making or checking out lists, “The New Book of Lists for 2024” is a compendium of curious information compiled by David Wallechinsky and Amy Wallace. Maybe this new year will be a list year. Seniors often look to make life simpler and eliminate lists by having a single list location — a calendar book with a place for appointments, telephone numbers, contact information and space for notes about events and experiences. Many of the paper-based lists are now available on your iPhone using special applications (apps). You can ask any of your grandchildren how to install and operate. At the local

that simply dial random numbers. Robocall operations may use small, low-cost phone carriers or computer programs to send out a high volume of pre-recorded calls for little cost. The theory is that out of a large number of calls, only a few people will return the call or respond by pressing a number to speak to the robocaller. When a callee does respond, they’re patched through to a real person who either addresses the legal purpose of the call or completes the illegal sales pitch or scam. Scammers seeking money may ask you to send gift cards or wire money directly, so it’s harder for you to recover it. Marleen (Goldy) Goldstein of Viera said she screens her calls. “I don’t answer spam. It comes up on my phone as unknown or possible spam and I don’t answer it,” she said. Fighting back with legislation Since robocalls affect so many people so frequently, many groups are working to combat the calls Difficulty: Medium through legislation. A few government agencies, including the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Federal Communication Commission (FCC), not only work against robocalls, but they also have information and resources available to the public. In November 2019, the House and Senate announced their agreement on the Pallone-Thune TRACED Act, merging two bills to stop robocalls. The TRACED Act sets guidelines for the FCC to go after and fine scammers more easily. It also allows the FCC to require phone carriers to use technology to verify and authenticate calls at no cost to their customers,

evaluate how to prevent scammers from accessing numbers and assess current approaches to stopping robocalls. The FCC is also required to give regular updates to Congress. How to guard against robocalls There are so many robocalls going out always, it’s impossible to prevent all of them forever. But there are steps you can take to reduce the robocalls and to protect yourself and loved ones from falling victim to a phone scam. Sign your mobile phone numbers up on the National Do Not Call Registry. This is a free service to stop unwanted Bluewater Creative Group - Issue sales calls from telemarketers and legitimate companies. Unfortunately, scammers don’t abide by this list. So, it doesn’t prevent all the calls or the most precarious ones. Sign up or report unwanted calls at donotcall.gov or by calling 1-888-382-1222. If you answer a call that you believe is an illegal robocall, don’t engage or press any buttons to be taken off a list or to talk to someone. Hang up and report the phone number to the Do Not Call Edit Registry. Robocalls can be particularly problematic for seniors, who may be more trusting on phone calls or not as familiar with the technology behind them. The AARP offers tips on how to recognize a robocall with key phrases to listen for in some of the common scams targeting seniors, such con as health insurance, jury duty, Social Security and pain center. These calls are 1t generally looking for money or valuable m information like your Social Security number or access to your Medicare nu account. To learn more, check out aarp. org/money/scams-fraud/info-2019/ e recognize-a-robocall.html. SL bo Barbara Jean Mead contributed to this story.

2 7 8 9 1 4 5 6 3 1 3 6 8 5 7 9 4 2 4 5 9 2 6 3 8 7 1 9 4 7 5 3 2 6 1 8 6 2 5 4 8 1 3 9 7 8 1 3 6 7 9 4 2 5 3 6 2 7 9 8 1 5 4 7 9 1 3 4 5 2 8 6 5 8 4 1 2 6 7 3 9 Puzzle on page 22 myseniorlife.com

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SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

A DIFFERENT KIND OF DOCTOR

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

Care Rooted in Empathy and Experience Do you ever wonder what it is that makes some doctors so incredibly compassionate while others have a bedside manner better suited for the DMV? In the case of Dr. Andrea Izquierdo, LAc of Bodhi Traditional Chinese Medicine, it is a case of true empathy. “I suffered from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) in my teens and 20s.” In other words, GERD is chronic longterm acid reflux. “I had severe acid reflux three to five days a week that were so intense I was often bedridden and would become physically sick.” Being that GERD is one of those complicated conditions that is difficult to treat, Dr. Andrea’s options were prescription medications that often did not work and to make lifestyle changes to limit triggers that often cause acid reflux. “It was no way to live,” she shares. “I was young and should’ve been living a bright, vibrant life. Instead I was monitoring my daily caffeine intake, sleeping with extra pillows under my head and doing my best to avoid foods that triggered the acid reflux. As you can imagine living with a burning roller coaster from the stomach to the throat was not easy. Managing meal times, triggers and food amounts was rough!” It wasn’t until she tried acupuncture that she found real relief. “This is why I often refer to my practice as ‘The Last Resort With The Best Results.’ You’ve been everywhere else and been given the same disheartening prognosis, prescribed the same medications and told 'this is just something you’re going to have to learn to live.” Soon after her incredible experience with the healing arts she made the life changing decision to abandon her Western Medicine studies and pursue her master's degree in acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. “Acupuncture quite literally saved my life and I wanted to share that with the world.” she proclaims.

Your Golden Years Should Be Golden

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

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

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

“Your golden years should be golden, not plagued with insufferable pain while doctors and specialists tell you there is nothing they can do.” Understanding that Eastern Medicine excels where Western Medicine fails, Dr. Izquierdo set forth to develop treatment protocols for all variations of Peripheral Neuropathy (including diabetic and chemotherapy induced) and now has a 90% success rate in treating the symptoms of this once difficult to manage condition. “I was tired of seeing the older generation suffer unnecessarily,” shares Dr. Izquierdo. “Diagnosing them as just getting older and giving them a treatment plan of ‘you’re just going to have to get used to it’ has never sat well with me so I wanted to offer them a real option for treatment and care.”

The Magic of Compassionate Care And what do those in her care have to say? “Dr. Andrea looked me in my eyes and wanted to know about me, not just my condition. I feel like a person, not just a patient,” Mary said. “In fact, I don’t think she ever used the word patient.” Others proclaim, “She saved my life,

“I have sat where my patients sit. I’ve experienced their pain and suffering in a very real way. I know the frustration of feeling hopeless on an intimate level. It’s why I practice the brand of medicine I do and why I’ve made it my life’s mission to treat the ‘untreatable.’ It brings me such incredible joy when. I get to say ‘I can help you!’” Furthermore, Dr. Andrea isn’t opposed to more modern medical solutions. “It’s in blending the time-tested science of acupuncture with recent innovations in medicine that get me the best results.” One of those advancements is ATP Resonance BioTherapy™, originally developed by NASA it aids nerves in regeneration by providing them the nutrients they need to repair and renew, “very similar to what water does for a plant!” Dr. Izquierdo and her staff specialize in treating chronic pain, complicated neurological conditions and autoimmune diseases that leave other professionals scratching their heads. Ready to schedule? Call (321) 312-0771 for a comprehensive consultation today. For more information about Dr. Izquierdo and what she treats, visit BodhiTCM.com.

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28 SENIOR LIFE • JANUARY 2024

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