August 2010 by Senior Times

YOUR GUIDE TO ACTIVE RETIREMENT LIVING IN NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA

Jack of all Trades JACK MILLMAN TALKS ABOUT HIS LIFE AS A MUSICIAN, ENTREPRENEUR AND INVENTOR

GREAT ESCAPE Yosemite National Park

THE CADE MUSEUM Continuing the Legacy

AUGUST 2010

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2 August 2010

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Linda Fraser Keystone Heights, FL

“They gave me more than therapy. They gave me hope.” When Linda Fraser arrived at Shands Rehab Hospital after a stroke, her biggest enemy was fear. But her therapist there told her she would get better, giving her the hope along with the treatment, to make it happen. As the only inpatient rehabilitation hospital in North Central Florida, Shands Rehab provides hours of intensive therapy every day, delivered by a dedicated team of UF physicians and Shands rehab nurses and therapists. It’s care no nursing home can match. At Shands Rehab Hospital, hope and healing go hand in hand.

352.265.5491

Shands.org/Rehab

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MAKE THE Most OF

Your Retirement

August 2010 3

Some retirement communities charge tens of thousands of dollars in “entrance” fees plus “maintenance” fees that cost thousands more every month. But not The Village. The Village is a rental retirement community, so we never charge large up-front entry fees or lock you into a lifetime commitment – and you still get world-class amenities, a variety of spacious ﬂoor plans and an outstanding calendar of activities.

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ISSUE 08 • VOLUME 11

AUGUST 2010

Published monthly by Tower Publications, Inc. www. seniortimesmagazine.com

PUBLISHER

DEPARTMENTS

On the Cover…

Tapas 26 Calendar of Events 29 Reading Corner 31 Flights of Fancy 7

PHOTO COURTESY OF JACK MILLMAN

Musician and entrepreneur, Jack Millman, in an undated photo with some examples of his enduring legacy: CDs and LPs of his band, musical compositions and a replica of his Startime Video Jukebox.

Charlie Delatorre charlie@towerpublications.com EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Albert Isaac editor@towerpublications.com Fax: 1-800-967-7382 OFFICE MANAGER

Bonita Delatorre bonita@towerpublications.com

COLUMNS 10

The Garden Way By Debbie DeLoach

Perspectives on Aging By Carlos Muniz

ART DIRECTOR

Hank McAfee hank@towerpublications.com GRAPHIC ARTISTS

Tom Reno tom@towerpublications.com ADVERTISING SALES

sales@seniortimesmagazine.com

FEATURES 8

A Culture for Creativity The Cade Museum: Continuing the Legacy By Nicole Lynn Greiner

Venture Out A Gainesville Group Chooses Living Over Loafing By Kate Heller

By Kendra I. Siler-Marsiglio

Jack Millman A True Jack-of-All-Trades By Allysen Kerr

Healthy Edge

A Great Escape Experience America’s True Beauty at Yosemite National Park By Sarah A. Henderson

Embracing Life By Donna Bonnell

C R O S S WO R D PUZZLE WINNER! Congratulations to the winner from our JULY 2010 issue…

M.L. Russell from Gainesville, Florida

North FlorIda OrthotIcs Announces the Opening of its New Mastectomy Salon 4615-B NW 53RD AVENUE • GAINESVILLE OPEN:

WIDE SELECTION AVAILABLE STATE LICENSED ORTHOTIC FITTERS MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND CHOICES ACCEPTED APPOINTMENT PREFERRED, BUT NOT NEEDED

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352-372-5468 352-373-9178 fax MAILING ADDRESS: Please call 352-372-5468 to add, delete or change your mailing address on our mailing list. ADVERTISING INFORMATION: For more advertising information including rates, coverage area, distribution and more – call: 352-416-0211 or visit our website at: www.seniortimesmagazine.com

ATTENTION WRITERS For submission guidelines email:

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ATTENTION READERS The articles printed in Senior Times Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Tower Publications, Inc. or their editorial staff. Senior Times Magazine endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we can not be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Senior Times Magazine reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. If you would like to discontinue receiving Senior Times Magazine please call 352-372-5468 for assistance. © 2010 Tower Publications, Inc. All rights reserved.

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August 2010 5

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199

Based on 2,000 square foot single story home, 40 feet of driveway. Price may vary/ Paint not included.

Exterior Freshen Up

Editor’s Note

Albert Isaac

Inventors, Adventures and Wes Skiles

n some circles, August is considered Inventors and Adventures Month. I’m not sure who comes up with these things or how they are established (is there a story here?), but nevertheless, such are the themes for this edition of Senior Times. So, for this month’s edition, Allysen Kerr met with musician/ composer/inventor Jack Millman, the man who came up with the video jukebox, back before the days of MTV and music videos. Speaking of inventors, Gainesville is home to the Cade family. As many you probably know, James Robert Cade led the University of Florida team that invented Gatorade, but he is described as more than just an inventor. He was also a physician, musician, researcher, a true Renaissance man. In this edition, Nicole Greiner writes about Dr. Cade and the Cade Museum — a work in progress with the mission to promote a culture of creativity and innovation. According to the museum website, “Collaborating with local schools, Santa Fe College and the University

of Florida, the Cade Museum will also be an invaluable educational asset in Central Florida. A virtual museum will give students around the world access to the Cade’s exhibits and programs as well as to special lectures and seminars.” I, for one, am looking forward to visiting this museum when it comes to fruition. Sarah Henderson, who has written for Tower Publications for several years, has graduated from UF and moved on. Now an editorial intern with the Sierra magazine, Sarah takes us on a trip to Yosemite National Park. For those of you with a taste of adventure, there is a group in Gainesville that might just be for you. With activities ranging from a whitewater rafting to skydiving to serene canoe trips down lazy rivers, The Adventure Club offers something for everyone, with members ranging in age from 28 to 76. Kate Heller tells us what she learned about this active and welcoming group of adventurers. And speaking of adventurers, I have to mention world-renown

filmmaker Wes Skiles who lost his life while diving in South Florida in July. Although we have no stories about Wes in this edition, we have covered his exploits in the past. For many years he provided the cover shots for our High Springs and Alachua Magazine. With his brilliant photography, Wes has illuminated places no one had seen before, ranging from the caverns beneath our feet to the insides of an iceberg. Wes has thrown a bright spotlight on our imperiled springs and has been an ever-vigilant steward of the precious resources that make North Central Florida special. His are some large shoes — or fins, I should say — to fill. His message is one we’d best not forget. Wes made his home in High Springs, close to Ginnie Springs, a place he held close to his heart. At his memorial service, attended by hundreds of people that descended upon Ginnie, his friends and family shared memories of some of his amazing adventures. Wes Skiles will be missed but not forgotten. §

CORRECTION NOTICE: There were no B-52 Bombers used during World War II as reported in the story “Battle of the Bulge and D-Day” in last month’s edition of Senior Times. Thank you, Veteran Les. Brazier, for bringing this error to our attention.

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Noche de Gala Join Us in Supporting the 2010 Noche de Gala Fundraising Event Benefitting the Sebastian Ferrero Foundation

Mrs. Cynthia F. Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Connell Event Chair

Mr. Horst and Luisa Ferrero Founders

Coach Billy Donovan Celebrity Chair

Mr. Benjamin and Silvia Leon Jr.

Mr. Mark and Deborah Minck

Hosts and Honorary Chairs

Gainesville Co-Chairs

Saturday, October 23, 2010 at Besilu Collection, Micanopy, Florida For gala details, sponsorship, volunteer and silent auction opportunities, please visit

NochedeGala.org

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TAPAS Timely And Pertinent Announcements for Seniors

August 2010 7

Monthly Chuckle Two hydrogen atoms bumped into each other. One said: “Why do you look so sad?” The other responded: “I lost an electron.” Concerned, one asked “Are you sure?” The other replied, “I’m positive.”

— ta·pas • Small savory snacks that are often served as an appetizer, or, according to Senior Times, small savory tidbits of information.

Mary Phelps Jacob

sing silk handkerchiefs and pink ribbon, New York socialite Mary Phelps Jacob invented the modern bra in 1913, according to MIT’s Inventor of the Week website. Jacob invented the bra after buying an evening gown and discovering the whalebones used in the corset could be seen. Jacob was the ﬁrst to patent an undergarment named “brassiere” derived from the old

French word for “upper arm.” Although Jacob was not the first person to invent the bra, hers was the first widely used. A Russian woman created the first bra in 1893. After Jacob’s invention, Russian immigrant Ida Rosenthal founded Maidenform in 1928. Rosenthal also invented cup sizes and began grouping women into different bust sizes. According to MIT, the

bra, as it came to be called in the 1930s, took off during World War I. The war shook up gender roles, and many women began working in factories and in uniforms for the ﬁ rst time. In 1917, the U.S. War Industries Board asked women to stop buying corsets to free up metal. They stopped buying corsets and freed up some 28,000 tons of metal — enough to build two battleships.

Inventors and their Inventions: Robert Hooke - the universal joint, the iris diaphragm, an early prototype of the respirator, the anchor escapement, the balance spring, which made clocks more accurate, and discovered plant cells. Nikola Tesla - Fluorescent light, the Tesla induction motor, the Tesla coil (radio transmitter), alternating current (AC) electrical supply system that included a motor and transformer and 3-phase electricity. Thomas Edison - light bulb, telegraph, phonograph. Mary Anderson - manual windshield wipers. Dr. Jonas Stalk - the polio vaccine.

Accident is the name of the greatest of all inventors. – Mark Twain

Fast Fun Facts: •

Cape Canaveral is America’s launch pad for space ﬂights.

•

Florida is not the southernmost state in the United States. Hawaii is farther south.

• The United States city with the highest rate of lightning strikes per capita is Clearwater. •

Gatorade was named for the University of Florida Gators where the drink was ﬁrst developed.

Home Safety Tips To help prevent falls, have nightlights in the bedroom, hall and bathroom, have a mat or non-slip strips in the tub and shower, and have a bath mat with a non-skid bottom on the bathroom ﬂoor.

Samuel F.B. Morse - Morse Code. Marion Donavon - disposable diapers. Ruth Wakeﬁeld - Chocolate Chip Cookies. Ruth Handler - Barbie Dolls. Willis Carrier - Air Conditioning. John Morris Browning - Semi-Automatic Shotgun.

Notable Senior Birthdays AUG. 5 - NEIL ARMSTRONG (80) AUG. 10 - ARLENE DAHL (82) AUG. 19 - BILL CLINTON (64) AUG. 23 - BARBARA EDEN (76) AUG.25 - GENE SIMMONS (61) AUG. 26 - BEN BRADLEE (89)

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A Culture for Creativity THE CADE MUSEUM CONTINUING THE LEGACY By Nicole Lynn Greiner

t was about 76 degrees in Miami when the Gators took the field in the 1967 Orange Bowl. The fans were on their feet and ready to watch the University of Florida Gators take on the Georgia Tech Yellowjackets. But the team was looking rough

toward the end of the first half. They were out of breath and out of gas. What Coach Billy Graves said in the locker room at halftime is a mystery, but many have realized it may not be what was said but what was drank. The Gators entered the field after halftime looking like a new team,

and, with the help of Gatorade, they felt like a new team. For the first time the Gators won the Orange Bowl. The game ended when Larry Smith ran 94 yards for a touchdown setting an Orange Bowl record. “We didn’t have Gatorade, that made the difference,” Yellowjackets

coach Bobby Dodd told Graves after the game, according to the Cade Museum website. Dr. James Robert Cade, a scientist in the nephrology department at UF, is the man behind Gatorade. Cade and a team of three researchers set out to understand why players would get dehydrated. Cade’s answer led him to Gatorade, the first sports drink on the market, beginning what is now a multi-billion dollar industry. The Orange Bowl game of ‘67 was not the beginning or the end of the story of Gatorade. The team of scientists embarked on a long process that had many good days and many bad days. The best day for Cade and his researchers was when Graves decided to give Gatorade a try. The stipulation was that he could only use the drink on the freshman team — not the varsity team. Graves agreed, and Gatorade

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August 2010 9

Artist’s rendering provided by the Cade Museum

View from the NW corner of Main Street and Depot Avenue facing SE.

“My family believed whatever blessings they received were meant to be shared with others.”

made its debut at the varsity-freshman scrimmage, said his daughter, Phoebe Cade Miles. During the scrimmage, the freshman team beat the varsity team, attracting the attention of the coaching staff and the players. After that victory, Gatorade was ordered for every practice and every game of the 1966 season. Despite its success, Gatorade never changed Cade’s outlook on life. His family never moved into a bigger house; his wife still lives in the home they bought when Cade began his career at the UF. “My family believed whatever blessings they received were meant to be shared with others,” Cade Miles said. “Our lifestyle did not change.” While this was an amazing achievement for Cade, he regarded himself as a physician, musician and researcher, more than an inventor. Outside of UF and Gatorade,

Cade loved collecting violins, Studebaker cars and carriages. Cade had collected more than 60 Studebaker’s from the 1800s to 1965 and more than 30 antique violins. Cade and his wife also founded the Gloria Dei Foundation, which gives grants to help non-profit organizations. Cade never left UF, where he continued working until 2004, three years before his death. He and his family made plans to build a museum to inspire visitors and promote a culture of creativity and innovation, according to the museum’s mission statement. “My father had this passion for life and discovery that went way beyond science,” Cade Miles said. The museum, which will be located at Depot Park, will document some of the major innovations in U.S. History and will seek to educate and inspire the community to make their ideas more than just ideas, she said. The museum will showcase exhibits that focus on America’s history of invention, the science behind creative thought, stories of inventors, current inventions and technologies and the process of inventing and marketing. The project is about halfway through the typical 10-year process required to create a scientific museum, but the family hopes donations from the public will help speed up the process. Some may say the Cade Museum is the end of the story of Gatorade, but the Cade family hopes it will be the beginning of a new story. §

VOTE FOR APRIL GRIFFIN

Parent and community involvement are key to our school system’s success. My principle objectives are to: • Make sure all of our students are ready for life after high school. • Work closely with our community and business leaders. Mentoring programs, along with apprenticeship and internship opportunities, need to be developed for our students. Building a good working relationship with community and business leaders is critical. • Continue to build on our success in reading.

“I have taught or volunteered in the Alachua County school system for over 24 years. My current involvement as a community representative on the School Advisory Council at Kanapaha Middle School and as a parent of high school students has given me an insight that I believe needs to be represented on the School Board.”

— April Griffin Candidate for Alachua County School Board, District 1 Political advertisement paid for and approved by April Griffin for Alachua County School Board. District 1.

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10 August 2010

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No Yard? No Problem. By Debbie DeLoach

any creative people choose gardening as a hobby so that they might create living masterpieces using plants. Other gardeners grow plants that can feed their families, and sometimes a small army too. Still others discover the joys of gardening after they decide to improve their home landscapes. But what of our apartment and condominium dwellers? Even if they have a small patch of earth attached to their housing unit they most likely have little control over its contents and treatment. I feel sad when I meet people who say they can’t garden because they live in an apartment. Actually, there is no reason why anyone, even high-rise dwellers, can’t create gardens. The secret is container gardening. An appropriate container for gardening should be able to hold soil and have at least one hole for drainage. That’s it. I’ve seen old sinks and bathtubs converted to gardens. Old buckets that develop holes in their bottoms work, too. Of course, most people just buy containers made specifi-

cally for growing plants. Filled pots get heavy. Consider placing a rolling plant caddy beneath larger pots. Make note of your cold hardiness zones. If you live north and west of Gainesville you are in gardening

humid, rainy summers. I actually overwinter pepper plants in my sunroom and they last for years. Next, consider location. Most likely, you don’t have a choice of growing locations such as the north versus the

Doug Hopkins, local landscaper and nurseryman, recommends a 50:50 mix of composted cow manure and decomposed granite or sharp sand for plants adapted to poor, arid soils. zone 8b. Those living northeast and south of Gainesville through Ocala are in zone 9a. You can push the zones a bit within the urban environments of Gainesville and Ocala, perhaps 9b, especially in Ocala. Choose plants rated for your zone. However, if you are able to bring your pots inside during the winter, your plant choices expand. You can include tropicals and houseplants that thrive outside in our hot,

south side of the house or under the shade tree or out in full sun. You may have just your front entry that faces east and gets afternoon shade from a nearby tree. Whatever your situation, learn what light regimen and exposure your containers will have. Now decide what you would like to grow in general. Is it roses, veggies, a fruit tree, butterfly-attracting plants? Learn about the category of plants that interests you by searching: www.solutionsforyourlife.ufl. edu/lawn_and_garden/types_of_ gardens/ for pertinent publications. If you only have a full shade area, most veggies and roses will not thrive. However, you may be able to grow some shade tolerant herbs or flowering shrubs such as azaleas and camellias. Perhaps you can get your shade tree thinned to allow in more light then try a slightly shade-tolerant rose such as a ‘Knock Out®.’ Now use pottery shards or rocks (not lime rock) to block the holes

in the container so that soil will not fall out. Fill the container with a quality potting soil — not a garden mix, peat moss, garden soil or soil from the ground. The potting soils with added fertilizer or moistureretaining polymers are nice but not necessary. You can easily add these components yourself. If you are potting succulents, cacti or aquatic plants, don’t use a potting soil with additives. Doug Hopkins, local landscaper and nurseryman, recommends a 50:50 mix of composted cow manure and decomposed granite or sharp sand for plants adapted to poor, arid soils. Plants destined for a patio water feature require a special mix labeled for aquatic plants. Mulch both types of plants, arid or wet, with pea gravel. I am assuming that you are planting plants and not seeds. Seed starting is another topic for a later time. For best results, choose healthy plants with no weeds in the pots, no holes in or spots on the leaves, and no roots emerging from the bottom of the pot. Before you dig in, investigate the best way to plant your chosen plant. Again, www.edis.ifas.ufl.edu or your local county extension office are good places to start. In general, plant shrubs high, herbaceous plants even, and tomatoes low, relative to the soil surface. After planting, I like to water my plants with a starter solution that includes indole and B vitamins to help them recover from transplant shock. These products are concentrates that you mix with water. Use a plastic gallon milk or water jug for mixing. When your plant perks up and begins growing, start the care regimen that the plant requires. Finally, invest in a simple moisture meter (less than $10 at stores with garden centers) to help you know when to water. § Debbie DeLoach, Ph.D. is a freelance writer and garden consultant living in Gainesville. She can be reached at drdebbied@gmail.com.

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August 2010 11

the nicest

BUS STOP in Gainesville! B

eing a member of SunState Federal Credit Union has always come with certain privileges. For more than 50 years, area residents have joined SunState Federal Credit Union for a variety of reasons, and with the opening of their newest branch, members now can enjoy “the nicest bus stop” in Gainesville. With the construction of the branch, certain improvements were made to the surrounding area to ensure members the easiest access

Built for times like these, built for you! possible throughout the normally busy area streets. The creation of a new traffic signal will allow easier access to the credit union’s new drive-through banking center. A road was built at the front of the building and a new lot created to provide plenty of parking at any time of the day. And of course, Gainesville’s nicest bus stop was built to ensure anyone needing access to SunState could arrive or depart in style, even if mass transit is your transportation of choice! Opened in early July in the heart of Gainesville’s financial district, SunState’s newest branch is located on 43rd street in Northwest Gainesville. This branch replaced the Magnolia Park location and is expected to serve as SunState’s Commercial Services Center. Built around SunState’s 50-year

commitment to provide members with the highest possible level of service and innovation, the new 43rd street branch continues to deliver friendly and professional service. From state-of-the-art, memberfriendly teller stations, to a super-convenient drive-through banking center, the new branch offers a truly a unique banking experience. “I think members are really going to appreciate the details we put into our newest location,” said Jim Woodward, President of SunState Federal Credit Union. “We needed a branch that could serve the ever growing needs of our membership base in Northwest Gainesville. In addition, this branch will serve as our commercial services center, something area businesses have been anxiously awaiting.” For business owners, SunState’s package of commercial services, launched in early 2008, has grown and expanded to meet the needs of many small business owners in the area. Whether you’re a local business or an individual looking to make a difference, nothing can help our local economy more than bringing your money home to a locally owned and operated financial institution. If you’re in the area, why not come on over and experience banking the way it should be? Trusted by thousands of members, why not join a team that will help build your financial future? Why not work with a credit union that has your best interest in mind, not theirs? Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in Alachua, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist and Levy Counties.

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Photo courtesy of the Adventure Club

Members of the Adventure Club white-water rafting in the Colorado River last summer.

Venture Out

By K ate Heller

THIS GAINESVILLE GROUP CHOOSES LIVING OVER LOAFING

ine and food tasting, horseback riding and sliding down the longest zipline in America are just a portion of the Adventure Club agenda. The events show up on the club’s Web site along with the status of each member planning to attend. In January the group went skiing in the Rocky Mountains at Steamboat Springs, Colo., and another group went indoor skydiving at SkyVenture Orlando. The Gainesville-based club hosts 18-20 events a month. Singles and couples, young and old form the Adventure Club, and the events give them something to look forward to, something to clutter their previously empty calendars. Members stress that the group was not created for singles to meet other singles, for that they

could visit online dating services. The Adventure Club is a social club that focuses on activities, outdoor or otherwise, to occupy Gainesville residents who are looking for excitement and camaraderie. Jean Tokarz, a longtime member and leader for the Adventure Club, discovered the group after her boss suggested that she attend a “Meet and Greet” in 2004. The 33-year-old soon joined after she noticed the variety of people involved. Shortly after becoming a member, Tokarz went skydiving for the first time. Aided by her natural love of outdoor activities, Tokarz was thrilled by the experience. She now has over 300 personal jumps. After a few years of attending activities, Tokarz decided to administer a few events herself and become a leader. Leaders post ideas on the Web site and wait for responses. Tokarz takes groups

to Skydive Palatka for her favorite activity, but she also runs smaller events such as wine and food tasting. Each event is an opportunity to meet people with similar interests. “I met a great variety of people,” Tokarz said. “Some of my best friends have come out of this program.” Nine years ago, Jere Steele traveled to Providence Canyon State Park or “Georgia’s Little Grand Canyon” for a hike with the club. Steele was immediately attracted to the group’s “off the couch” philosophy. Steele, 64, got more involved and became a leader, posting events from hot air ballooning to skydiving. He bought the club from its previous owner two years ago and since then has stressed the differences between his group and other meet-up sites.

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The Adventure Club uses its Web site to get an actual headcount for each event. Headcounts are particularly helpful when ordering prepaid tickets. Requiring online commitment organizes the club in a way that other meet-up sites do not, Steele said. Constraints often caused by demographic differences are also avoided. Ages range from 28 to 76 years old. “Age doesn’t matter,” Steele said. “The club doesn’t break off into other cliques.” When a group went whitewater rafting last summer, two participants were over 60, but everyone still shared cabins and rafted together. Similar interests pushed age off the table. The Adventure Club requires a monthly fee of $14.95, which is used for operating expenses and supplies. Individual events could also have fees that depend on the nature of the trip. For example, a bicycling excursion in France and an all-girls cruise required the participants to pay for everything themselves, but hikes around town are free. Steele hosted the annual Teddy Bear Christmas party on Dec. 5. The party is one of the community events held by the club every year. Participants were required to bring their favorite hors d’oeuvre and a teddy bear to be donated to Toys for Tots or the Ronald McDonald House. This year, about 100 people attended the party. Despite being located in a predominately college-aged town, the average age in the group is 44, said Steele, who has a degree from the University of Florida. The club has about 105 members, but the number is constantly changing as the club accepts new memberships. The solidity of the group relies on the respect of each member’s individual ability to partake in the activities. The group is also used as a support system. If members need help, there are plenty of people to step up with solutions. When Jess Elliott needed to build an extension on a chicken coop, she posted an event on the club Web site and was soon aided by fellow members. As a recently divorced 40-year-old, Elliott was looking for events to fill the empty space on her calendar, but she was also a self-labeled “commitment-phobe.” “In the past, I have joined clubs or taken classes, and sooner or later I resented the obligation to show up every Tuesday,” she said. The Adventure Club presented Elliott with the option to choose her own schedule. After becoming a leader, Elliott, now 44, introduced the club to an event called “photo road rally.” The road rally was a photo scavenger hunt where participants

August 2010 13

Photo courtesy of the Adventure Club

Floating in a hot-air balloon is just one example the many activities enjoyed by members of the Adventure Club. Members drive to Davie, FL to Wallaby Ranch once a year for ballooning and hang gliding the second weekend in November, said Sharon Julien.

were teamed-up and given a course, clues, trinkets to collect, as well as places to take pictures. Cops and shopping carts were used for photo settings. Elliott also hosted a Halloween party complete with a zombie walk, motion-activated ghosts and a graveyard with a fog machine. Attendance etiquette is extremely important, as it makes preparation easy for leaders. An event sign-up sheet is located on the Web site, and members have a yes-or-no status for each

posted event. Hosts have a good idea of the turnout, and members are true to their word. The turnout is usually 92 - 100 percent of the RSVP list, Elliott said. This way, groups are not stuck waiting for people who never show up, no one is left behind and leftovers are rarely a problem. The Adventure Club is always accepting new members who are eager to get off the couch and into a world packed with opportunity. §

14 August 2010

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A TRUE JACK OF ALL TRADES

Jack Millman By Allysen Kerr

t is 4:00 p.m., and I’m standing in front of Jack Maurice Millman’s reserved Gainesville apartment. I knock on the door and out comes Mr. Millman, himself, ecstatic and eager to get down to business. He leads me down the hallway to his office and on the way introduces me to his wife, Joy, of 34 years, and business partner, Keen. We finally step into his small but organized

office, and I barely get a chance to turn on my recorder and grab my notepad before he takes me from 2010 to 1947.

THE MUSICIAN Change was taking place in America. Jackie Robinson became the first black professional baseball player to sign with the Brooklyn Dodgers, the U.S. government was cracking down on

Communist activities, and a B’nai B’rith chapter in Southern California was getting ready to host a dance at the Meadowbrook Ballroom in Culver City, CA. The entertainment for that evening was the Lionel Hampton Band. Around 12:30 a.m. things began to get real lively. “I went out to my car,” Jack Millman said, “got my horn out and I walked in the side door of that

www.SeniorTimesMagazine.com Photo courtesy of Jack Millman

Millman playing in front of his band during a recording session at Decca Records.

ballroom playing my horn to the band.” Lionel Hampton, one of America’s greatest jazz musicians, turned to 17-year-old Millman and gave him the chance of a lifetime: to sit in with his band. “I couldn’t believe it,” Millman said. “I finished the night out with the band.” That “chance” led to a six-week gig at the Paramount Theatre in Los Angeles playing four shows a day. “This was a hell of an experience for me because I was playing with guys that were THE guys, man,” Millman said. “I was a kid, these guys were all super pros. I was the least and they were the most.” Being with the pros sharpened Millman’s already gifted playing abilities and launched him into a 15-year jazz career. During those six weeks with Hampton’s band, he developed relationships with some of the best jazz players of the era. Millman was even given the opportunity to tour with Hampton after those six weeks, but his father made him finish high school. When he returned to school in the fall his band director moved him from the last trumpet seat to second. Upon graduating high school Millman went on to study music at Los Angeles City College and later Compton College (El Camino College Compton Center). Between 1947 and 1962, music consumed his life. Millman spent a lot of time playing various shows and traveling along the West Coast. He studied under Rafael Mendez, Shorty Rogers and James Stamp (all three, every week); played in the Pasadena Rose Parade for five years; and briefly toured with the Glen Henry Orchestra. In 1952, Millman joined the Stan Kenton Orchestra but was drafted into the U.S. Army Special Services. During his military service he was assigned to the 6th Army Headquarters Band at the Presidio in San Francisco. While serving, he composed and contributed various arrangements for the concert band. He also conducted a jazz ensemble on a weekly one-hour live radio broadcast from the historic Camp Stoneman. His time in the service allowed him to cross paths with actors Marty Millner and David

Jensen. Together they put together a number of USO (United Service Organization) shows that toured several military hospitals in the Northern and Central areas of California. After being discharged from military service two years later, Millman took up private lessons again with Shorty Rogers and went to work setting up his first trio with Duke Morgan (brother of JP Morgan) on bass, Bobby Correll on piano and Millman on trumpet. Eventually he added a drummer, Billy Higgins and tenor sax, James Clay to the group. The quintet began to gain notoriety from top studios and jazz musicians. This latest adventure opened the door to recording opportunities with ERA Records, Liberty Records and Decca Records. While the music was successful, Millman found himself wanting to take a break. It was not because he did not love music anymore. The group worked seven nights a week playing 5-hour gigs as well as occasional after-hour jobs. An original biography put it this way: “Millman felt that he was drifting away from not only peace and happiness, but from the very focal center of his original purpose... which was to become as accomplished a performer-instrumentalist as possible.”

THE ENTREPRENEUR After laying down his horn in July of 1962, Millman turned from playing music to composing and acquiring music. At various points between 1965 and 1977 he developed several companies in Hollywood, including Video Music International and Soundwave Records International, with the intention of making and obtaining sounds and music. Millman’s very extensive collection of music literature and sounds made him a “music librarian.” He owns the rights to thousands of songs, which he used to create background music for movies, as well as licensing sounds to international clientele in radio, television, motion pictures, ringtones and advertising. When he went into the library business, Millman said he learned this: “Everybody is a client and what you’ve got is a substance and they’ve got their own idea of what they’re doing. Just give them what they want. Don’t worry about whether you like the music or if you don’t like continued on next page the music.”

Photos courtesy of Jack Millman

Millman created these original prototypes for the Startime Jukebox in the 1970s. Movie companies ordered special versions of the jukebox to play constant movie trailers. This machine (top photo) became the manufactured version of the Video Jukebox.

August 2010 15

16 August 2010

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He said having many different sounds has become a commodity. It is like buying a can of soup. There may be 85 different varieties of soup, but there is one flavor for everyone.

THE INVENTOR The mid-1970s was another period of great change in America. It was a time when sound engineers were still mastering the art of mixing sound effects to the audio track. Millman was attending a screening for a movie for which he had provided the music and was watching the sound engineer mix the audio tracks. It sparked an idea. “What happens if they take that [music] and they take a jukebox

and they put a monitor on the top and they have tape decks inside and they have a computer keyboard which activated the tape deck and they have commercials on one [tape] and entertainment on the other. Now somebody comes up there and can put money in it, plays the entertainment and when the entertainment stops, the commercial starts.” Four months later, Millman had a prototype of what became the Startime Video Jukebox. His invention looked just like a regular jukebox, it took nickels too. But the only difference was that it had tape decks instead of records and a television monitor on the top. “I took this thing sky-high,”

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Photo courtesy of Jack Millman

Millman Band: Jack, 32, looks over his shoulder to the audience while his band, Jack Millman and his Orchestra, entertains the audience at the Rendezvous Ballroom in Balboa, CA. The Rendezvous hosted many famous bands in the 1960s, including the Beach Boys.

Millman said. “I went to the record companies. They were only making the videos to sell records. No one had ever come to them with the idea of giving them a royalty for some kind of commercial usage.” So he pitched this idea of a video jukebox to some of the biggest record companies and got them to jump on board. He had about 500 boxes built in his small Anaheim factory. He gained contracts with MGM, RCA, Warner Brothers, Sony, Capital Records and Columbia to use their products in the box. “I was the first guy ever to get commercial rights for the usage of the videos,” Millman said. “There was no MTV.” The Video Jukebox featured artists such as Rod Steward, Madonna, Donna Summer, Paul Simon, Prince and Tina Turner. The Smithsonian Museum of American History honored Millman for creating the first Video Jukebox. The announcement was made in the 98th Congressional Record. He also received an opportunity to have the Video Jukebox on display at the Smithsonian in 1984 through the Amusement Game Manufacturers Association saying that the “Startime was chosen because of its being the first of a new phase in entertainment and because of its superior physical appearance.” It was placed in pizza parlors, military bases, oil rigs, prisons, school cafeterias, bus stations, and even a hotdog stand in Hollywood.

MORE THAN JUST MILLMAN Through the years, Millman’s extensive musical knowledge has allowed him to do many things. He has composed and published music, owned record companies, done paralegal work and served as an expert witness in court cases. After moving to Florida in 2002, Millman has not stopped being Millman. Even at almost 80, he still has big dreams. He wants to complete several musical pieces that he began earlier in his life. Upon moving to Florida, he completed his seventh major work for the University of Florida’s Symphonic Band, completed a four-movement sketch (draft) of “Symphony #9” in March and finished a suite entitled, “Dream Sequence” in June. Millman’s love for music began when he was 15. It started because of the movie “Bathing Beauty” with Esther Williams and Harry James. Sixty-five years later, Millman is still inspired by the music he fell in love with back in 1946. Now he only wants to share what he knows. “Maybe what I have and what I do and what I know is a benefit to people out there in some way shape or form,” he said. “After all, to know all I know and have gone through all I’ve gone through and experienced all I’ve experienced is of no importance at all if I don’t spread it out. So I’m sharing it with the world around me so that hopefully it will be of some use to others... We’ll see.” §

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August 2010 17

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yosemite A

By Sarah A. Henderson

A Great Escape

s I sit under a tree on the edge of a granite dome, I look across the valley below in awe. Nearly at eye-level, two rushing waterfalls — one right on top of the other — cascade two thousand feet down to the valley floor. I follow a ripple of white water on its journey to the tree line as the waterfalls’ roar echoes across the landscape. To my right, through the evergreen grove, peaks a bluish-purple marble of a mountain, which looks as though its left half is missing, the cut smooth

A popular viewpoint is the Tunnel View. The spot gives visitors a view of the Yosemite Valley with El Capitan on the left, Bridalveil Fall on the right and Half Dome in the center.

and sharp. Snow-capped mountains dot the horizon behind it. I gaze to my left suddenly wishing I had a pair of binoculars. With them, I am sure I would see mountaineers in the midst of their weeks-long climb, clinging to the massive, vertical rise of the looming granite cliff before me. This is Yosemite National Park — a frontier I’ve only read about,

Photo by Sarah A. Henderson

ABOVE: Giant sequoias exist only on the western side of California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, including these found in Yosemite. The massive trees can grow up to 310 feet tall, 30 feet wide and live up to 3,000 years.

complete with views I’ve only dreamed about. Tucked into the western side of the Sierra Nevada mountain range in central California, Yosemite National Park is considered one of the most beautiful natural places in the United States, if not in the world. Its centerpiece, a unique glacier-carved valley, opens to nearly 1,200 square miles of lush

and wild landscape, packed with countless outdoor adventures fit for the most primitive cross-country backpacker or the average sightseeing, weekend-warrior family. Besides the sweeping panoramic view I enjoyed from my shady spot on Sentinel Dome of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and El Capitan, Yosemite offers more than 750 miles of trail, 13 campgrounds with

more than 1,000 sites, and countless ranger programs. Galen Clark, a southern Yosemite, garnered the first government protection of a small portion of today’s park from President Lincoln during the Civil War. John Muir, founder of the Sierra Club, fought for the preservation of the rest of the park’s acreage thereafter. continued on next page

20 August 2010

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Photo by Sarah A. Henderson

With such beautiful geographical features, about four million people visit Yosemite each year. The campgrounds are booked year around; be sure to reserve a spot months in advance.

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Since its 1890 national park designation, Yosemite has been a retreat for the curious and the environmentally savvy, the overworked and the uninspired. Today, nearly four million people from all over the world visit the wilderness sanctuary each year. The most popular trail in the park by far — and my favorite too — is the Mariposa Grove Trail. On this relatively flat lane through a redwood forest, visitors get to meet the Grizzly Giant, or as a park ranger affectionately calls it, “The Grizz.” Appropriately named, this giant sequoia in Yosemite’s very own redwood grove is one of the largest and fiercest-looking trees in Mariposa. Who knew trees could be so intimidating? Sequoias can grow more than 250 feet tall, 30 feet wide and live for more than 3,000 years. Yosemite has plenty of these ancient giants to admire. Further down the trail past the Grizzly Giant is a sequoia you can walk through. Not kidding. Have a camera ready, and be prepared to wait to snap a photo of a friend standing inside the walkway, which is carved straight through the stillthriving tree. After walking through the tree myself, I completed in about an hour the rest of the trail, which is not as crowded after the walkthrough tree. Definitely take advantage of the trails less-traveled by other visitors. Not only did I get to take my time with each sequoia without the Grizz’s crowds, I was once again taken back to the wilderness unspoiled by tourists. During that hike, I saw to my amazement a coyote cut across the trail about 100 feet in front of me. Though that was the only largeanimal sighting I was lucky enough to see in my three days at Yosemite, the park is home to hundreds of species of other animals including bears, deer, mountain lions, bobcats and hawks, to name a few.

Big animal encounters are rare; even more so are those in which someone is harmed. As park rangers suggest, feel free to watch from afar, but don’t provoke or disturb the animals. There are plenty of smaller animals, such as squirrels and lizards, to keep visitors entertained at a closer range. An abundance of those critters hang around Yosemite Village, in which I poked about the funky gift shops and refilled my canteen at the handy water station. As a tourist oasis in this Americanwilderness experience, Yosemite Village is a great place to start a Yosemite adventure for those new to eco-tourism. This string of shops in the valley is a fun way to ease into the park. Its home comforts will help people settle into the park’s rugged wilderness, which quite literally towers above and around this hub. However, since I was staying with friends in Wawona, a small village and camping area near the southernmost point of the park, I did not visit Yosemite Village until our last day. After all the remote hikes, breathtaking views and unspoiled traipses through pine groves and wildflower meadows, I felt the touristy, dollar-driven Yosemite Valley seemed out of place — as I suppose it should be in a park built for the preservation and conservation of America’s wilderness. Back under the Sentinel Dome tree while viewing the incredible vista so difficult to ignore, I was reminded of something a colleague told me before I left for my Yosemite adventure. He said, “Sarah, Yosemite’s going to change your life.” I would say that’s pretty accurate. What a place. § For more information on Yosemite National Park, visit www.nps.gov.yose or call 209-372-0200.

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CHRONIC DISEASE — A PUBLIC HEALTH PRIORITY Contributed by the staff at Mid-Florida Agency on Aging

hronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, are still the leading cause of death and disability in our countryresponsible for 70 percent of all deaths. Over 125 million people in the U.S. suffer from at least one chronic illness, accounting for over 75 percent of the total health care spending. The irony is that while these diseases are the most common and among the most costly to treat, they are often the most preventable. Proper diet and exercise is the first step in battling chronic disease. Maintaining an adequate weight significantly reduces the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular-related diseases. A walk around the neighborhood in the morning and opting for a piece of fruit instead of a bag of chips can have an almost immediate impact on your waistline.

Quitting smoking also has an immediate positive effect on both heart and lung health. One year after quitting, the risk of a heart attack and cancer is half that of a current smoker; fifteen

August 2010 21

Visit your doctor regularly for “well-person” exams and check-ups, as well as mammograms and Pap tests for women and prostate exams for men. Diabetics should get eye and foot exams to reduce vision loss and amputation risk. In the professional sector, it is our responsibility to increase awareness and education about chronic disease to all segments of the population. As part of our Educational Outreach, Elder Options will be conducting classes for seniors in Mid-Florida designed to educate about common chronic diseases, prevention strategies and regaining function.

ONE YEAR AFTER QUITTING, THE RISK OF A HEART ATTACK AND CANCER IS HALF THAT OF A CURRENT SMOKER years after quitting, the incidence of heart disease in an ex-smoker is about the same as a life-long non-smoker. Beyond changing unhealthy behaviors, you can be proactive. Early diagnosis of many chronic conditions, such as arthritis, is vital to managing symptoms and keeping function.

These classes are a fun and informative introduction into “Living Healthy,” and improving the quality of life of Seniors with chronic diseases. § If you are interested in finding a class in your area, contact Betty Flagg at 800-963-5337.

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PERSPECTIVES ON AGING Impulsivity and Violence in Today’s World By Carlos Muniz

mpulsivity is characterized by a lack of reflection on the consequences of behavior. This now seems to be the norm in our society. We live in a world where action often precedes thought, where emotions drive behavior, where narcissism prevails over concern for others; a culture disorganized and chaotic, where violence and impulsivity run rampant, where willpower is seldom mentioned, as it has almost ceased to exist. Every day we read in the paper about crimes of violence, of women being raped and killed, of young boys and girls that disappear from their homes never again to be found. Nowadays, crime and hate seem to prevail over love. Behaviors once considered devious and indecent are now condoned, and the people engaged in them seem to have a stronger voice than the rest of us. Are we at the end of an era where good manners, morality and civility were expected from all? Is a dark age approaching? Somber moods invade the Seniors of today; those who live in the present but still remember the past. It is up to the youth of today to put a stop to the present trend and secure the moral principles and values of the past. Only then our society will thrive again. For that to happen, the feeling of hope must be rescued. It is hope that keeps us going in hard times. It is hope that brings meaning to life on this earth. I often wonder if it is the absence of hope that lurks behind the increased prevalence of violence in present times. Nowadays a sense of futility and hopelessness entices people to enjoy the present as if the future did not exist. For hope to be present, love is a necessity. For people to be able to entertain hope they need to have experienced love at some time in their lives. Those who have not, feel an emptiness inside very difficult to live with. It is an emptiness that only can be filled by love. This crisis of love and hope may be the result of the lack of religion and spirituality in our days. § Dr. Carlos Muniz is a retired psychiatrist from Gainesville. He may be contacted through the editor at editor@towerpublications.com

Social Security QUESTIONS & ANSWERS By Donna Maitland, Social Security District Manager, Gainesville, Fl

When will I get my automatic Social Security Statement? If you are at least 25 years old and not yet receiving benefits, you should receive your annual Social Security Statement about three months before your birthday. If your automatic Statement has not arrived and you are within one month before the month of your birth or if you need a Statement sooner, you can request one at any time by going to www.socialsecurity. gov/statement. You can learn more about the Social Security Statement and how to use it at www.socialsecurity.gov/ mystatement. My neighbor, who is retired, told me that the income he receives from his part-time job at the local nursery gives him an increase in his Social Security benefits. If I go back to work will my benefits increase? If you return to work after you start receiving benefits, you may be able to receive a higher benefit based on those earnings. This is because Social Security automatically re-computes the benefit after crediting the additional earnings to the individual’s earnings record. If those earnings are higher than one of the years of earnings we used to compute your current benefit, your benefit may be increased.

Learn more about how we figure your retirement benefit by reading the publication Your Retirement Benefit: How It Is Figured, available at www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs/10070.html. If you are not already receiving benefits, you also may want to test out how changes in wages and retirement ages will affect your future benefit by using the Retirement Estimator at www.socialsecurity.gov/ estimator. What is the difference between Social Security disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability? The Social Security Administration runs two major programs that provide benefits based on disability: Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and SSI. SSDI is financed with Social Security taxes paid by workers, employers, and self-employed persons. To be eligible for a Social Security benefit, the worker must earn sufficient credits based on taxable work to be “insured” for Social Security purposes. Disability benefits are payable to blind or disabled workers, survivors, or adults disabled since childhood who are otherwise eligible. The amount of the monthly disability benefit is based on the Social Security earnings record of the insured worker. SSI is a needs-based pro-

gram financed through general revenues. SSI disability benefits are payable to adults or children who are disabled or blind, have limited income and resources, meet the living arrangement requirements and are otherwise eligible. The monthly payment varies up to the maximum federal benefit rate: $674.00 for an individual and $1,011 for a couple. The maximum federal benefit rate may be reduced by any available income you receive. To learn more about SSDI and SSI disability benefits, visit www.socialsecurity.gov and visit the links along the top of the page for Disability and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Is there a time limit on how long you can receive Social Security disability benefits? Your disability benefits will continue as long as your medical condition does not improve and you remain unable to work. We will review your case at regular intervals to make sure you are still disabled. If you are still receiving disability benefits when you reach full retirement age, we will automatically convert them to retirement benefits. Learn more about disability benefits by visiting www. socialsecurity.gov and selecting the Disability tab along the top of the page. §

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•

HEARING LOSS AND HEARING AID UPDATE

•

By Kendra I. Siler-Marsiglio

n general, people want to be connected with others, and active listening is typically a major component of relationship building. Yet, when every sentence needs a repeat and precious moments of spontaneity are lost, hearing loss leaves many of us feeling disconnected and oftentimes, disheartened. As early as age 18, your ability to hear is on the decline. Presbycusis (prez-bee-KYOO-sis)-age-related hearing loss caused by the degeneration of tiny hairs inside your inner ear-is as normal as going gray. It’s so gradual that most of us don’t notice it until after age 50. Without a thought, many of us adjust to accommodate hearing loss. You may listen to the TV at a louder volume than you used to, you may unknowingly depend on watching people speak to help you understand them, or you may oftentimes ask your partner what’s being said in conversations that you’re both a part of. Although presbycusis doesn’t typically lead to deafness, even minor hearing loss can be frustrating and embarrassing. But, more importantly, hearing loss can be dangerous. Imagine not being able to respond to emergencies whether it’s a car horn, an alarm or a person’s warning call. Imagine not hearing your doctor’s advice - and being too embarrassed (or proud) to ask again. And, hearing loss is linked to isolation and depression. When these mental states set in, physical health is often the next domino to fall.

Fortunately, you can lessen the ef- aid, those needs can be addressed; the sound signal does not have to be fects of hearing loss on your quality amplified as a whole, as it would be of life. If your hearing has declined with age, the first step is asking your for an analog instrument. One of the more recent advances primary care provider to refer you in hearing aids is the use to an otolaryngologist (an of Bluetooth technolear, nose, and throat ogy. This allows doctor) and an Digital sounds from audiologist or hearing aids have devices — hearing aid been around since the such as your specialist late ‘80s; the ones computer, (a nonGPS system physician made today are not and cell healthcare your mother’s phone — to be professional hearing aids. delivered directly that screens your and wirelessly to hearing and helps your hearing aid. you improve it). Because there are at least 40 hearA visit to these specialists is important because other undetected ing aids on the market, shopping for a hearing aid can be overwhelming. hearing problems can magnify agerelated hearing loss, and technology, A reputable audiologist or hearing aid specialist can help you make the particularly in the realm of digital best purchase. hearing aids, has come a long way. WhatItCosts, a web resource that Digital hearing aids have been explores the cost of everything and around since the late ‘80s; the ones anything, recommends that you get made today are not your mother’s answers to the following questions hearing aids. According to the to avoid hearing aid pitfalls: American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, manufacturers are moving toward their third or fourth • Is the audiologist reputable and licensed? generation of digital products. • How much does the hearing aid For most Seniors, hearing loss cost? How much is the evaluvaries across pitches or frequencies ation of hearing? Are the costs (think about how you can’t hear combined or separate? Which a dog whistle, but your dog can). services do the cost cover? Are Unlike analog hearing aids, digital follow-up visits included in the hearing aids have the capacity to price? Note: Florida law requires control specific sound signals within that upon your request, the hearthe device. ing aid specialist must provide Need less background noise? you with an itemized cost of the Want certain segments of speech aid, earmold, batteries and other enhanced? With a digital hearing

•

accessories, and any services (FL Statute 484.051). What’s the hearing aid’s warranty period? Can it be extended? Note: The average life of a hearing aid is three to five years. Are repairs handled “in-house” or is shipping required? What’s the approximate turn-around time? If a repair is mailed out, are loaner hearing aids available? Are one or two hearing aids recommended? Note: Hearing aids on both ears can help with balance, localizing sound, and hearing in background noise — but not everyone needs two aids. Ask for the pros and cons as it applies to your hearing loss. What type of hearing aid does the audiologist feel is best for your loss? Note: In Florida, mail order hearing aids are against the law (FL Statute 484.054). If you’re not satisfied with the hearing aid, can you return it for a refund? What’s the hearing aids trial period? Note: Florida requires a 30-day trial period. How often will you be seen for appointments? If you’re having a problem, how fast can you get in? Does the audiologist sell batteries and other hearing-related supplies you might need? Does the audiologist offer any special classes on hearing aid adjustment and communication strategies?

Although you can’t expect a hearing aid to restore normal hearing or prevent further hearing loss, it may help you regain your connection with loved ones. To prepare yourself for your doctor’s visit and learn more about digital hearing aids, go to the Mayo Clinic website on hearing loss at www.mayoclinic.com/health/ hearing-aids/HQ00812. Kendra Siler-Marsiglio, Ph.D. is the Director of the Rural Health Partnership at WellFlorida Council.

www.SeniorTimesMagazine.com

Seeking Older Adults For Aspirin Trial Special to Senior Times

UF is recruiting men and women 70 and older to take part in a large international study of whether daily low-dose aspirin can help stave off disabling conditions and increase life expectancy among healthy seniors. The American Heart Association recommends the use of aspirin to prevent recurrence of heart attack and stroke. Physicians have extended the therapy as a preventive measure against heart attack, stroke, certain cancers and dementia for people who are otherwise healthy. That practice has been called into question, however, as the benefit for people who have not had cardiovascular disease is unclear. Previous studies on aspirin therapy have been mainly among middle-aged individuals and those who have a history of cardiovascular disease. But among the elderly, conditions other than cardiovascular disease might be of consequence. Thus a fuller understanding of the potential effects of the therapy in that population is needed. To be eligible for the study, individuals must be 70 years or older and free from cardiovascular disease, allergies to aspirin, high risk of bleeding, and disability or dementia, among other criteria. Participants will be in the study for five years and will be randomly assigned to receive either a daily dose of aspirin or a matching pill that does not contain aspirin. They will not be told which formulation they receive, and neither will study staff. The aspirin and placebo are provided by Bayer Schering Pharma. Participants will be compensated for their time. For more information should call 352-273-5919 or 866-386-7730 and ask about “The ASPREE study.”

August 2010 25

HIGH TECH CARE

with a tender touch

Caretenders offers the latest technology to keep you healthy — and at home

oday’s medical care uses advanced technology to administer treatment, measure vital signs and communicate with health care professionals. At Mederi Caretenders, Inc. of Gainesville, a new generation of high tech home healthcare options provides optimum patient home care. This second set of eyes and ears for your physician allows you to lead a more independent life. The home healthcare technology services offered by Caretenders take home care to an entirely new level. Home care allows for many routine procedures to occur outside of a doctor’s office or hospital. Many people do not realize that injections, lab draws, PT/INR, IV therapy such as chemotherapy or rehydration, and rehabilitation therapy modalities such as ultrasound, TENS/EStim and laser treatment for pain can be done in a patient’s home. In addition, our latest high tech options offer telehealth services. Caretenders offers several telehealth programs. One of our most promising options is Telemonitoring. “Telemonitoring is when we monitor patients’ basic health information from their homes,” said Pamela Morgan, Director of Professional Services for Caretenders. “For example, the patient gets on the scale in the morning and the scale weighs them, and then it sends that information to us.” Telemonitoring is a valuable tool in preventative health care (especially for conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure) which helps patients become more involved in their

treatment. “It is set up as a troubleshooting mechanism, to catch problems before they start,” said Mandi Hall, Patient Liason and the company’s Telehealth Champion. “Our goal is to keep patients out of the emergency room and reduce rehospitalizations.” Wireless monitoring equipment measuring such as the scale, blood pressure cuffs and talking glucometers are set up in the home. These mechanisms send the patient data to a central TeleStation, a device attached to the patient’s phone line or modem. The TeleStation then transmits the data to a remote location

where a nurse monitors the results on a daily basis. The transmission will not interrupt phone or Internet service, and Medicare covers the expenses of home care services 100 percent to qualified recipients; all of the equipment is provided at no charge to the patient by Caretenders during their home care treatment. Caretenders’ mission of senior advocacy and independence makes Telehealth technology a perfect fit in their vast array of high tech services. “We’re stopping the emergency before it starts,” said Hall. “That’s why we’re a step above the rest.”

Excellence Through Senior Advocacy! Your partner in Home Health Care Solutions. For over thirty years, Mederi Caretenders has been providing skilled, compassionate home healthcare in our local communities. We bring our expertise into the home – the ideal setting to promote healing, comfort, and support to those facing the challenges of aging.

OUR SERVICES INCLUDE: ❖ Skilled ❖

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Our Senior Advocacy philosophy addresses challenges by looking beyond the obvious needs of the patient to become advocates in all dimensions of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Our goal is to promote independence, allowing seniors to age in place for as long as possible.

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Please call or visit our website for information about our services. (352) 379-6217 • www.caretenders.com

Calendar

For complete calendar listings please visit: www.SeniorTimesMagazine.com

Submit your y event online:

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DEADLIN E

If you would like us to publicize your event, meeting, or happening send information by the 15th of each month to: Senior Times Editor: 4400 NW 36th Avenue • Gainesville, FL 32606 or Fax us at: 800-967-7382 or e-mail: editor@towerpublications.com

UPCOMING EVENTS THIS MONTH IN ALACHUA & MARION COUNTIES Prosperous Living Group Every Sunday 6:00pm - 8:00pm GAINESVILLE. Prosperous Living Center, 1135 NW 23rd Ave, Suite F/2. Community of like-minded truth-seekers studying, sharing and teaching multiple paths to prosperity in all aspects of life — wealth, relationships, health, personal missions, professions and spirituality. Our intention is to uphold each participant on actualizing their visions with a foundation of group-supported integrity. 352-514-3122 www.prosperouslivingcenter.com

VNA’s Strength in Numbers: A Fall Prevention Program Every Wednesday Noon - 1:00pm GAINESVILLE. The Movement and Balance Center, 7135 NW 11th Place Suite B3. Falls are a great concern for adults over the age of 65. Falls are the most common cause of injury deaths and the leading cause of nonfatal injuries, and the rates are increasing. Join the six-week fall prevention series for free. Space is limited to 20 participants per session. Please call to RSVP. 352-331-9356 www.movementandbalance.com

Gainesville Comedy Showcase Every Friday and Saturday 7:00pm GAINESVILLE. Clarion Inn and Conference Center, 7417 W. Newberry Road. Live stand-up comedy show featuring local cast of amateur and professional stand-up comedians. Weekly drink specials and $5 pitchers. Eighteen and over only. Free admission before 9pm, and $7 for the general public after 9pm. 352332-2224

Haile Homestead Tour Every Saturday 10am - 2:00pm GAINESVILLE. Kanapaha Plantation. The Haile family and friends wrote on the walls of the home, all together over 12,500 words. In

1854 the Hailes moved their family from Camden, South Carolina to Gainesville, Florida where they established a 1,500-acre Sea Island cotton plantation they named Kanapaha.

Gainesville Bird Fanciers Sun., Aug. 8 1:00pm - 3:00pm GAINESVILLE. United Way of North Central Florida, 6031 Northwest 1st Place. Join the Gainesville Bird Fanciers, a local bird club, to learn more about our feathered friends. Meeting the needs of both pet owners and breeders, we feature informational sessions covering all aspects of birds: care, feeding, training, breeding, behavior, eco-travel, conservation, the list goes on! The first meeting is free. 352-378-9796

Rebuilding: When Your Relationship Ends Sun., Aug 8 3:00pm - 5:30pm GAINESVILLE. Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 N.W. 53rd Ave. Seminar designed to help men and women adjust to the ending of a love relationship, such as in the loss of a fiancé, significant other, or spouse from divorce or death. The course uses the book “Rebuilding: When Your Relationship Ends,” by Dr. Fisher and Dr. Alberti ($17.00). The course provides lifeline support, insight, friendship and healing. This is not a therapy group for couples or for ex’s to take jointly. 352- 371-4092 www.trinitygnv.org/

Interweave Sun., Aug. 8 6:30pm GAINESVILLE. Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4225 NW 34th St. Interweave is a group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender individuals and their heterosexual allies. Each meeting begins with a delicious potluck and continues with an informative presentation and interesting discussion. 352-377-1669 www.Uufg.org

National Alliance on Mental Illness Mon., Aug. 9 7:00pm - 9:00pm GAINESVILLE. 1624 NW Fifth Ave. Support/educational meetings for family members of a loved one with a serious mental illness. 352-374-5600 ext. 8322 www.namigainesville.org

Dance for Life Mon., Aug. 9 1:00pm - 2:30pm GAINESVILLE. University of Florida, Shands Resource Center. Free movement program for people living with Parkinson’s Disease and other movement disorders and their significant others. Learn a variety of social dances — including Tango, Swing, and Hula — to develop strength and balance in a fun, social environment. Free, accessible parking available. To register call Shands Arts in Medicine. 352-733-0880.

The Health Care Reform Act Tues., Aug. 10 5:30pm - 6:30pm GAINESVILLE. Gateway Bank Metro Corp Center, 4100 NW 39th Ave. The Senior Legacy Series will kickoff its classes with a class on Health Care Reform, led by Shannon Miller Esq. with Miller & Brasington, P.L. 352-317-0415 transformingtransitions.com

Carillon Recital Sun., Aug. 15 3:00pm - 4:00pm GAINESVILLE. University of Florida Century Tower. School of Music presents a Carillon Recital. Free. 352-273-3181

Food Safety and Quality Program (ServSafe) Wed., Aug. 18 8:30am - 5:00pm GAINESVILLE. Alachua County Extension Office, 2800 NE 39th Ave. This program is dedicated to providing training that enables food managers and staff to offer Florida consumers food that is prepared in a clean and safe environment. 1-888-232-8723 www.foodsafety.ifas.ufl.edu

Adventure Club of Gainesville Meet and Greet Thurs., Aug. 19 6:00pm to 8:15pm GAINESVILLE. Mother’s Pub & Grill, 1017 W. University Ave. The Adventure Club meets on the 3rd Thursday of each month for the purpose of introducing the club to the community. We are a group of over 100, average age 40ish, that likes to stay active and involved in everything from windsurfing lessons, to bowling, to theatre, to skydiving, to biking, to community service, and of course, socializing. 352-262-1162 www.adventureclub.info

The North Central Florida Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council Meeting Thurs. Aug. 19 12:30pm - 2:30pm GAINESVILLE. Thelma Boltin Com-

Swing and Sway with Live Music Fri., Aug. 13 8:00pm - 11:00pm

munity Center, 516 N.E Second Ave. Music for ballroom dancing by the famous Blue Notes Band on a beautiful wood floor, hosted by the Swing and Sway Dance Club. Intermission features free dance instruction. Open to the public. Singles or couples welcome. No reservations required. It costs $9 per person or $18 per couple, except for special events. 352-375-1996

GAINESVILLE. Haven Hospice, 4200 N.W. 90th Blvd. The council’s goal is to improve the quality of life and care of residents of long-term care facilities. An ombudsman is a specially trained and certified volunteer who has been given authority under federal and state law to identify, investigate and resolve complaints for long-term care facility residents. The North Central Florida Long-Term Care Ombuds-

W W W.S E N I O R T I M E S MAG A Z I N E.CO M

man Council serves Alachua, Bradford, Columbia, Dixie, Gilchrist, Hamilton, Lafayette, Levy, Putnam, Suwannee, and Union counties. 352-955-5015 www.ombudsman.myflorida.com

Family Day: “Jack Nichelson: Sojourner Dream Reliquaries” Sat., Aug 21 1:00pm - 4:00pm GAINESVILLE. Harn Museum of Art. Create artwork related to favorite family vacation memories after looking at the ones on display in the “Jack Nichelson: Sojourner Dream Reliquaries” exhibition. www.Harn.ufl.edu

Home, Garden, Recreation & Sport Expo Sat., Aug. 21 10am - 3:00pm OCALA. Southeastern Livestock Pavilion, 2220 N.E. Jacksonville Road. Are you looking to build, remodel or start a home improvement project? Do you enjoy gardening, camping, hunting or a little tailgating? If so, this expo is for you, so save the date! 352-694-4133 www.Mcbia.org

Family Fun Festival Sat., Aug. 21 11am - 2:00pm OCALA. Jervey Gantt Park, 2200 S.E. 36th Ave. Join us for an afternoon of free family fun! The event is free and open to the public. 352-629-8444 www.ocalafl.org

Poker Nite Sat., Aug. 28 7:30pm - 10:00pm

The Fifties Show Sat.,Aug. 28 3:00pm GAINESVILLE. P.K. Yonge Performing Arts Center, 1080 SW 11 St. Bop on down and have a ball at the Gainesville Harmony Show Chorus’ The Fifties Show. Tickets: $10. 352.378.6837

Healthy Aging, Balancing Your Wheel of Life Tues., Aug. 31 5:30pm - 6:30pm GAINESVILLE. Gateway Bank Metro Corp Center, 4100 NW 39th Ave. Join the Senior Legacy Series for it first session, led by Carolyn Lukert with Transforming Transitions. 352-317-0415 transformingtransitions.com

Fruit Tree and Plant Sale Wed., Sept.1 4:00pm - 7:00pm GAINESVILLE. Union Street Farmers’ Market in the Downtown Gainesville Plaza. The Edible Plant Project will hold its spring sale, offering a selection of edible plants, fruit trees and seeds. This is a great time to plant warm season vegetables and greens, sugarcane and yucca or cassava, all of which will be available. 321-501-4927

Women’s Dinner and A Movie Sun., Sept. 5 5:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Pride Community GAINESVILLE. Hippodrome State Center, 3131 NW 13th St., Suite Theatre. Fun-filled evening to 62. Relax with the gals, enjoy a benefit Dance Alive National Ballet nice dinner, and catch a new movie in the new V.I.P. Lounge at the Hip— all for just $5! Can you think of podrome. Poker, blackjack, reverse a better way to spend a Sunday raffle, prizes, finger foods and cash bar. Spectacular dealers! Tickets evening? Hosted jointly by Kindred available at the Hippodrome or Sisters Magazine & PCCNCF. 352502-4101 Dance Alive. 352-371-2986 www.gainesvillepride.org www.dancealive.org

SUPPORT GROUPS HEALING TOUCH CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Third Thursday at 5:30 p.m. in O. Dean Martin Prayer Room at Trinity United Methodist Church, 4000 NW 53rd Ave., Gainesville, 352-376-6615.

THEATER HAPPENINGS For complete listings please visit: www.SeniorTimesMagazine.com

MEMORY IMPAIRMENT GROUP Second Tuesday of the month, 1:30 p.m.- 2:30 p.m. at Highlands Presbyterian Church, 1001 NE 16th Ave., Gainesville. MAN-TO-MAN PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP - OCALA Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m.- 8 p.m. at the Urology Center of Florida, 4600 SW 46th Court, Bldg. 200, Suite 340, Ocala, 352-237-2533. Men and women welcome. GAINESVILLE UNITED OSTOMY SUPPORT GROUP First Sunday, 2 p.m. at the Winn-Dixie Hope Lodge, 2121 SW 16th St., Gainesville, 352-338-0601. ALACHUA COUNTY BETTER BREATHERS GROUP Senior HealthCare Center at Crown Pointe, 2205 NW 40th Terrace, Gainesville, 352-373-4044. Sponsored by the American Lung Association for patients and family members of those living with lung disease.

Curtis M. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts 315 Hull Road Gainesville, FL 32611 Box Office - 352-392-ARTS or toll free (within Florida) 1-800-905-ARTS Box Office: Mon-Sat, noon-6 p.m.performingarts.ufl.edu

Hippodrome State Theatre 25 SE 2nd Place, Gainesville Box Office: 352-375-4477 Fax: 352-371-9130 www.thehipp.org

Insomniac Theatre Company E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Box Office - 352-897-0477 www.insomniactheatre.com THE COMPLETE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE (ABRIDGED) Through Aug. 15 No time for Shakespeare? The Insomniac Theatre Company will blaze

through the complete works of “The Bard” in a single, sidesplitting show when it presents the Reduced Shakespeare Company’s Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) starting July 30 and running through August 15. Tickets $10 for main performances.

Ocala Civic Theatre Appleton Cultural Center 4337 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Box Office: 352-236-2274 www.ocalacivictheatre.com TREASURE ISLAND Aug. 6 - Aug. 7 The Missoula Children’s Theatre returns to Ocala to perform another classic, Treasure Island. Classes for the performances meet Monday, August 2, through Friday, August 6, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. DISNEY’S ALICE IN WONDERLAND, JR. Aug. 13 - Aug. 14 The Missoula Children’s Theatre is returning to Ocala for another classic children’s performance - Alice in Wonderland. Join Alice’s madcap adventures in Wonderland as she chases

the White Rabbit, races the Dodo Bird, gets tied up with the Tweedles, raps with a bubble-blowing Caterpillar, and beats the Queen of Hearts at her own game!

Gainesville Community Playhouse 4039 N.W. 16th Blvd., Gainesville All Performances at the Vam York Theater Box Office - 352-376-4949

High Springs Community Theater 130 NE 1st Avenue, High Springs Box Office - 386-454-3525 highspringscommunitytheater.com THE SPELL OF SLEEPING BEAUTY Aug. 14 - Aug. 23 Come out to see the captivating, frolicsome version of the always-popular classic Sleeping Beauty. The show has it all - charm, action, romance, comedy, thrills, plus zany and lovable characters.

THE STRIKING STROKERS - A STROKE SUPPORT GROUP Second Tuesday of the month, 1 p.m.- 3 p.m. at Oakhurst Rehab and Nursing Center, 1501 SE 24th Place, Ocala, 352-629-8900. GAINESVILLE BREAST CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Third Monday of the month, 7 p.m.- 9 p.m. at First Church of the Nazarene, 5020 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, 386-418-0454. Entrance off parking lot. LOW VISION SUPPORT GROUP Last Thursday of the month at 2 p.m. at Holy Faith Catholic Church, 747 NW 43rd St., Gainesville, 352-376-7475. CANCER SUPPORT GROUPS LOOK GOOD... FEEL BETTER Gainesville. For women in cancer treatment, three classes: third Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m. and last Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. at American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge. Another class last Monday of each month at 2 p.m. at Shands Cancer Center. To register call 352-376-6866 or 1-800-ACS-2345.

FAMILIES SHARING IN GRIEF AND HOPE Second Monday of each month, 6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. Haven Hospice offers an open, ongoing monthly support program for children ages six and up, teens and adult family members grieving a loved one. You must register to attend: 352-692-5101.

LOOK GOOD... FEEL BETTER Ocala. For women in cancer treatment, two classes: third Monday of each month at 10 a.m. at American Cancer Society office and first Monday of each month at R. Boissoneault Oncology. To register call 352-629-4727 or 1-800-ACS-2345.

ALZHEIMER’S AND MEMORY DISORDERS SUPPORT GROUP Meets on the first Monday of every month from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. in the community room at the West Marion Medical Plaza. Call: 352- 401-1453

MAN-TO-MAN PROSTATE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP - GAINESVILLE Second Tuesday of the month, 7 p.m. at Winn Dixie Hope Lodge, 2121 SW 16th St., Gainesville.

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUPS - OCALA Second Wednesday of the month, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at West Marion Medical Plaza community center, 4600 SW 46th Court, Ocala. 352-401-1453.

COMPASSIONATE FRIENDS First Wednesday of the month, 7 p.m. at the Blessed Trinity Catholic Church, 352-369-6665. Meeting for bereaved parents, stepparents and grandparents who have experienced the death of a child.

PARKINSON’S SUPPORT GROUP - GAINESVILLE Third Thursday of the month, 12:30 p.m. at Highlands Presbyterian Church, 1001 NE 16th Ave., Gainesville, 352-1228. I CAN COPE CANCER SUPPORT GROUP Second Tuesday of each month, 9:30 a.m. Ocala, Village View Community Church. For more information contact Ronda Shea at 352-307-7303. MULTIPLE MYELOMA Second Monday of the Month, 6:00 p.m.; D’Acosta House 703 N.E. 1st St., Gainesville. Patients, family and friends are invited. ALS PATIENTS/CAREGIVERS Every other month, third Wednesday of the month; 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Shands Medical Plaza, 3rd floor break room. Contact Betty Dale at 352-376-1446 or dcdale@cox.net. Last meeting before summer, they will resume Sept. 16.

TAKING OFF POUNDS SENSIBLY (TOPS): TOPS is a support group for people who need support in their effort to lose weight and keep it off. Meetings are held weekly on Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m. until 11:30 am, at the Cornerstone Mobile Home Park (formerly Clayton Estates) 100 Castle Drive, Gainesville. Membership is open to all adults. Call 352-332-4666 or 352472-3271 for further information. SMOKING CESSATION SUPPORT GROUP Every Wednesday at 6 p.m. at the Alachua County Health Department, 224 SE 24 St., Gainesville. HIGH SPRINGS AARP COVERED DISH LUNCHEON Second Thursday of each month at the First Presbyterian Church in High Springs. Meeting begins 10:30, lunch at noon. Call Dick Williams, 386-454-224.

ACTIVITIES AT SENIOR CENTERS — THE AC TIVITIES ARE FREE UNLESS OTHER WISE NOTED. Coming soon! Senior Center Activites Online at: www.SeniorTimesMagazine.com ACTIVITIES AT THE 8TH AVENUE SENIOR CENTER, 830 NE 8TH AVE., OCALA, 352-629-8545 Movie Time, Twice a month showing of the latest videos. Must call center for reservations. Shuffleboard, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 1 p.m. Bingo, Mondays and Saturdays, 6:45 p.m. Mondays - Rhythm Rangers (2nd and 4th Mondays), 12:15 p.m. • Line Dance, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. • Advanced Tap Dance, 11 a.m. - noon. Tuesdays - Chess, 10:30 a.m. • Ocala Center Stage Band, 9 a.m. • Contract Bridge, 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays - Intermediate Tap Dance, 2 p.m. - 4 p.m. • Pinochle, 9 a.m. • Woodcarving, 1:15 p.m. Thursdays - Japanese Embroidery, 9:30 a.m. • Bowling, 10 a.m. • Bingo, 1:45 p.m. • Skip-Bo, 3:30 p.m. Fridays - Pinochle, 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. • Fitness Class, 1 a.m. • Country/Western Line Dance Class, 2 p.m. • Senior Strutters, 3 p.m.

ACTIVITIES AT THE HERBERT S. COLEMAN CENTER, 2001 SE 32 AVE., OCALA, 352-629-8351 Mondays, Computer Classes, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. classes, 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. labs, Fee charged. Wednesdays, Tap Dance Class, 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. Fridays, Pinochle, 1 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. ACTIVITIES AT WESTSIDE RECREATION CENTER, 1001 NW 34TH STREET, GAINESVILLE, 352-334-2186 Ceramics Class, Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. Taoist Tai Chi, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Senior Line Dancing, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. - 3 p.m., Mondays - AARP , (First Monday), 9 a.m. - noon • Quilting on a Hand Frame, (Second and Fourth Monday), 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Tuesdays - Art for Seniors, 9 a.m. - noon • Hogtown Heelers (Cloggers), 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Wednesdays - Newcomers Bridge , (Second Wednesday), 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Thursdays - Woodcarving, Noon - 2 p.m. Fridays - Treetown Bridge Club, (First and Third Friday), 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. • Basket Weaving, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. • Chess, 7 p.m. - 11 p.m.

28 August 2010

www.SeniorTimesMagazine.com

SUCK IT UP AND SMILE By Donna Bonnell

y morning began by reading a casual comment from a stranger on Facebook. All she said was, “I love laughing.” Her brief remark triggered an emotional shift from my somewhat serious mood and an immediate invisible weight lifted from my shoulders. I began my day with a smile. It was that simple. For decades, I was a professional at pretending; my sentiments placed on perpetual hold. Most daily events did not elicit an overwhelming sense of sadness or satisfaction. In fact, for many years I was satisfied to exist in a seem-

ingly sedated, yet composed stupor. I am not sure if it is maturity, menopause or emotional mending, but nowadays I deeply feel pleasure and sorrow. It is nice not to be numb and to know how essential God’s gifts of laughter and cleansing tears are for our physical and mental health. Recently I was at the gym feverishly working off a very disappointing day in quiet solitude on the corner treadmill; I had my headphones plugged in to the television. While surfing through the channels searching for a silly show to help me survive the exercise routine, I stumbled on “Ask Dr. Oz.” Vice-Chair and Professor of Surgery

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www.gainesvilleFLderm.com

at Columbia University and host of his medical show, Dr. Mehmet Cengiz Oz, was discussing the benefits of tears. Oz

infectious laugh. Seconds after his hysterical snickers began, he had a cohort group of shoppers chuckling and cackling. While I managed to stay out of their sight, I literally began to laugh aloud at Aaron’s charm and good cheer. Laughter is a strong free medicine that strengthens our immune systems, boosts energy levels and diminishes pain. Dr. Paul E. McGhee, creator of “The Laughter Remedy” and a

All humans face adversity. However, I was beginning to understand the secret to experiencing true contentment. said, “Crying is cathartic and can help us to let go of things.” A stress hormone, Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTS) found in tears, is released when we cry for emotional reasons, thereby discharging chemicals that negatively affect our feelings. Crying is a natural stress management. What an amazing discovery! I cannot explain why, but I finished my workout with tears flowing from my eyes, along with an extraordinary amount of sweat dripping down my body. I left the fitness club ready for my next challenge. As I casually greeted fellow members just arriving at the gym, I saw anxiety in their faces and knew many were there to work off tension. Obviously, I am not unique. All humans face adversity. However, I was beginning to understand the secret to experiencing true contentment. My next stop was to pick up a few groceries. My personal appearance was rough (much worse than unattractive), as I just completed a heavy round of physical and emotional calisthenics. Trying to remain incognito, I hid behind my shopping cart and hurried down the aisles. As I rounded the last end cap, I heard a familiar belt of laughter and immediately knew its source. It had to be from a co-worker’s husband, Aaron. He has an incredibly

pioneer in humor research says, “Your sense of humor is one of the most powerful tools you have to make certain that your daily mood and emotional state support good health.” On that therapeutic afternoon, I allowed myself to receive an invaluable message — to embrace tears and laughter. By giving myself permission to cry, letting go of the problem and giving it to God, I can suck it up and sincerely smile. The individual who quickly commented on Facebook, “I love laughing,” will never know how much she changed my life. Striving to pay her gift forward, I focus on simply smiling in public. When a person acknowledges and returns my unexpected gesture, I experience an indescribable immense sense of satisfaction. My goal is to start a continuous cycle of good cheer. Smiling is the beginning of laughter and both are contagious. The stanza from Smokey Robinson’s tune, “Tears of a Clown,” “Now if there’s a smile on my face it’s only there trying to fool the public,” has a different meaning today than it had when I first heard it in 1967. Perhaps I can trick others and myself into happiness with a smile. Could it be that easy? § Donna Bonnell is a writer in Newberry. She may be contacted via email. donna@ towerpublications.com

www.SeniorTimesMagazine.com

August 2010 29

Review by Terri Schlichenmeyer

Change Your Age by Frank Wildman, CFT, PhD

ANSWERS

c.2010, Lifelong Books $18.95 / $24.00 Canada; 214 pages, includes index

Some people are poor judges of age. You considered that as you struggled to forgive the person who guessed you to be fifteen years older than you are. Okay, sure. Your knees creak and you have more wrinkles than a Sharpei. You never remember where you put your keys anymore. You can’t do deep-knee bends like you used to and the elevator is your best friend. But old? You? The thing is, you’ll never get any younger but you can look and think like someone who is. In the new book “Change Your Age” by Frank Wildman, CFT, PhD, you may find out how. Beginning on the groundfloor (literally), Wildman takes you through an assessment in which you learn your body map, feel your physical contact with the floor, and acknowledge discomfort. He addresses posture and habits before he moves forward with movement exercises meant to energize both body and brain. Based on the very beginning of his program, author Frank Wildman seems to speak only to Seniors and boomers who are in good health but want to achieve better. The starting exercise — the assessment — asks that you lie on the floor, presuming that you can safely get there in the first place, and then get back up. Almost no allowances are made for the slightlyoverweight or those with even the smallest physical limitations. While there’s no doubt that the movements in “Change Your Age” could be beneficial, there are lots of caveats to consider before you try Wildman’s methods. Overall, unless you’re in excellent shape and don’t want to act your age, just move this book aside. §

TO LAST MONTH’S PUZZLE

! G I B n Wi Fill out the crossword puzzle on the left and send it in to us for your chance to win a $

50 Gift Certificate to The OAKS Mall

in Gainesville or Paddock Mall in Ocala. Prize awarded through random drawing to one correct and complete entry received per month. Name Address

City/State/Zip Phone

Submit Entries to:

Senior Times Mailbag 4400 N.W. 36th Avenue Gainesville, Florida 32606 Phone: 352-372-5468 • Fax: 352-373-9178

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30 August 2010

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Make the world

STOP

Spinning! Vertigo is often a symptom of a treatable medical condition within the inner ear. That sudden sensation of dizziness, spinning or whirling results from loss of equilibrium. Do you or someone you love experience: • Dizziness • Loss of balance • Unsteadiness

Call today to schedule a consultation.

Dr. Michele Hargreaves 352-372-9414 • www.AccentMD.com 4340 Newberry Road, Suite 301, Gainesville

It’s Not Just About HEARING. It’s About UNDERSTANDING. Improvement of hearing loss is a team project. From diagnosis to choosing a hearing aid, the improvement process requires the service of trained and dedicated professionals who are there for you. University of Florida doctors of audiology provide evaluation, treatment and exceptional hearing aid service. They’ll work with you even after you choose a hearing instrument to make sure you’re hearing properly. No matter what degree of hearing impairment you’re suffering, we can custom design a program that’s right for you.

UF Hearing Center located at the

Shands Health Science Center

Free Hearing Improvement Classes at Hampton Oaks 352.265.9484.

Call 352.273.5555

Flights of Fancy Flights of Fancy features our reader’s poems, drawings, photographs, and essays. Poems and essays should not exceed 200 words and must include city of residence. Do not submit original copies because we will not be able to return these items. Photographs can be e-mailed or prints mailed to us. No scanned photographs will be used.

The Poem’s Demise By Margaret Eppes • Gainesville

We know that most things are changing with time But I mourn the new poems with no rhythm or rhyme.

www.SeniorTimesMagazine.com

August 2010 31

One-Bedroom Apartments with Utilities We do Business in Accordance with the Federal Fair Housing Act The Gainesville Housing Authority (GHA) is accepting housing applications at The 400 Apartments (accessible units available). These one-bedroom units are located at 400 NW 1st Avenue and utilities are provided. Applicants must meet eligibility screening criteria (income, credit check and security background check). Rents are subsidized and are based on family income. The 400 is convenient to shopping, downtown, and transportation.

The Bard looks down, says, I’m aghast. Iambic pentameter’s a thing of the past.”

Just words on a page, no rhythm in sight,

Contact Becky @ (352) 334-4025 or Kathy @ (352) 334-4026 TDD (352) 334-4015

And no rhyming, either; it doesn’t seem right. So I long for the pas, ‘cause I love that sweet treat. You can’t do the wiggle if you ain’t got the beat.

Take care of your skin… WITH A BOARD CERTIFIED SPECIALIST

Comprehensive Skin Care With Compassion and Professionalism

Memories By Jack Burch • Gainesville

M emories are the food of the soul E vents and people come back to life M any bring joy, some bring sadness O nly you can relive them R emembering is a precious ability

Robert A. Skidmore, Jr. MD Board Certified Dermatologist

I ts ability is a gift from God E njoy all of them with pleasure S ave them and share them with others

• Skin Cancers • General Skin Screening

Dr. Skidmore received his medical training at the University of Florida, College of Medicine, completed a surgery internship at Bethesda Naval Hospital and his residency at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Skidmore specializes in mohs skin cancer surgery.

PLEASE SEND US YOUR CREATIVE SUBMISSIONS E-mailed or faxed submissions are preferred. editor@towerpublications.com or fax to: 1-800-967-7382. Submissions may also be mailed to: Editor - Tower Publications, 4400 NW 36th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606

FOR 3 LOCATIONS YOUR CONVENIENCE!

GAINESVILLE – 3700 NW 83rd Street • STARKE – 922 E. Call St. LAKE CITY – 4367 NW American Lane

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