December 2011 by Senior Times

HEALTH BENEFITS OF SINGING | HEARING LOSS | HOLIDAY EVENT CALENDAR

Always Learning With the Help of ILR, it’s Never Too Late

DECEMBER 2011

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INSIDE

HANDEL’S MESSIAH

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GCC Launches a Mighty Season

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CONTENTS DECEMBER 2011 • VOL. 12 ISSUE 12

PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY for LOTUS STUDIOS

ON THE COVER – Our cover features some of the people from the Institute for Learning in Retirement at Oak Hammock. L to R: Past chair of the Curriculum Committee Walter Kalif, ILR Board President Ray Goldwire and Dean of Residents Sara Lynn McCrea.

departments 8 13

Tapas Community

46 53

Calendar of Events Crossword Puzzle

features 14

Handel’s Messiah Sing Along The Gainesville Civic Chorus Launches a Mighty Season

columns 20

Never Too Late to Learn The Institute for Learning in Retirement

Healthy Edge by Kendra Siler-Marsiglio

BY JANICE C. KAPLAN

Embracing Life by Donna Bonnell

BY ELLIS AMBURN

Theatre Listings Reading Corner

Snowman Lady Sharon Smith shows off her remarkable collection of Christmas memorabilia and decorations

Enjoying Act Three by Ellis Amburn

BY MOLLY LARMIE

Sing for Your Life The Health Benefits of Song

Reader submitted writing

BY KATHRYN STOLARZ

Living with Hearing Loss Do You Hear What I Hear? BY C. NOORIEL NOLAN

December 2011

Community Voice

Perspectives on Aging by Carlos Muniz seniortimesmagazine.com

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December 2011

5 5

FROM THE EDITOR œ ALBERT ISAAC

So, another year is coming to a close. I shouldn’t be surprised that it has come so soon, but I am. As always. Time ﬂies when you’re having fun! During the years I’ve worked at Tower Publications, my wife and I have watched our children (and grandchildren) grow and prosper; we’ve seen our daughter get married and move out of the state; our oldest son move out of the house, go to college and land a couple of part-time jobs; and we’ve seen our youngest son earn his Safety Patrol belt, catch snakes and run touchdowns in the after-school ﬂag football games — among many other noteworthy events, as you might imagine. Our family of six (when our granddaughter lived with us) is now down to three, and our house is considerably quieter. And while this is normal, and a precursor of things to come, it sometimes seems pretty strange. In another decade it will be just the two of us living in an otherwise empty nest. But for now, with the holiday season upon us once again, things promise to be busy, crazy and hectic for us all. And that’s good.

December 2011

Senior Times has enjoyed a good year. We’ve had some growing pains but we’re all very pleased with our new look, and the magazine has been well received by our loyal readers. In the coming years we plan on bringing you even better local stories and photography. This month we offer stories on educational opportunities through the Institute for Learning in Retirement, musical concerts by the Gainesville Civic Chorus, and the health benefits of singing — using The Sweet Notes choral group as an example. But there are many people who cannot share in the simple joy of listening to music. For those with hearing loss, we share information about a program offered by the University of Florida Speech and Hearing Clinic called “Living with Hearing Loss.” For decades this organization has been serving the needs of people with hearing difficulties. Through the years we have featured people with interesting and unique hobbies. In this edition you will find a story about a woman who collects snowmen. Every year she decorates her home with more than 1,000 snowmen, made of all kinds of things — except actual snow, of course. For those of you with unique hobbies or collections, we invite you to send us a note and tell us a little about yourself and your interests so we may consider profiling you in upcoming editions of Senior Times Magazine. You can write us at the address shown or e-mail me directly: editor@towerpublications.com. We look forward to hearing from you! In the meantime, all of us here at Tower Publications wish you a very Merry Christmas, a Cheerful Hanukkah, and a Happy New Year! s

Published monthly by Tower Publications, Inc.

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

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STAFF œ CONTRIBUTORS

Miss the Grandkids?

clockwise from top left ELLIS AMBURN is a resident of High Springs as well as the author of biographies of Roy Orbison, Elizabeth Taylor and others. He is also a guest-lecturer at UF. ellis.amburn@gmail.com KATHRYN STOLARZ is a freelance writer and a recent UF graduate. She enjoys yoga, dancing and singing. kathrynstolarz@gmail.com

“Flying from GNV is all commercial, jet service without the hassles of larger airport hubs.” Choose from American Eagle, Delta or U.S. Airways with one-stop connections world-wide.

C. NOORIEL NOLAN is a freelance writer. She’s passionate about writing personal stories about unique individuals. cnnolan81@gmail.com MOLLY LARMIE was born and raised just north of Daytona Beach. She misses the sand and the sound of the waves but has fallen in love with the Gainesville community. molarmie@gmail.com

Close, Convenient and Competively Priced! JANICE KAPLAN has been a freelance writer since 2005. She loves cooking, Gator sports and family. kaplan_janice@yahoo.com

www.FlyGainesville.com December 2011

7 7

TAPAS œ DECEMBER Lee Redmond before the car accident in which she lost her ﬁngernails, pictured with Melvin Boothe, the male owner of the longest ﬁngernails

Broken Record In 2002, then-61-year-old Lee Redmond entered the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest ﬁngernails on a woman. Measuring at over 28 total feet in length at the time (with the longest, on her right thumb, registering 2 feet 11 inches), Redmond adapted easily to the appendages; in Guinness footage she was shown doing such everyday tasks as washing dishes, vacuuming and giving haircuts to her grandchildren. Sadly, the record was not meant to last. On February 10, 2009, Redmond was involved in a four-car accident. She was ejected from her vehicle and, while she did not receive lifethreatening injuries, her nails were broken off. She has no plans to return them to their previous lengths, stating that it took 30 years to get them to record-holding measurements. However, her nails are now reportedly about four inches long.

The Colors of Winter?

EXTREME SENIOR

Record

The ﬁrst information received from DECEMBER 14

1962 ANOTHER PLANET On December 14, 1962, The Mariner II space probe sent back information from the planet Venus, the ﬁrst information ever received from another planet. The last transmission from Mariner 2 was received on January 3, 1963 making the total time from launch to termination of the Mariner 2 mission 129 days.

December 2011

It might be in the Sunshine State, but Gainesville has seen a bit of snow in its years. Snow ﬂurries were recorded in or near the city in 1976, 1996 and 2010. And on Christmas Eve of 1989, much of North Central Florida was hit with a rare winter storm that dropped a few inches of the white stuff over pine and palm alike. Could there be another white Christmas this year? The National Weather Service has already predicted a cold winter for the area due to La Niña, and by Thanksgiving Gainesville already had two cold snaps that saw overnight lows dip into the 30s and 40s. But sadly (or thankfully, as some may feel), the chances of snow in Gainesville are low even in the coldest temperatures. Most cold temperatures in Florida are accompanied by high-pressure systems — which are dry — and the area is still experiencing drought conditions. Since moisture and precipitation are needed to make snow, the absence of it means that the holidays will likely remain snow-free.

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Christmas

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ARE YOU TIRED OF GLASSES? CATARACTS SLOWING YOU DOWN? ADVANCED CATARACT CT SURGERY WITH ASTIGMATISM CORRECTION MPLANT & MULTIFOCAL IMPLANT It was Rudolph’s shiny nose that lit the way for Santa Claus in a daunting snowstorm, saving Christmas from cancellation. But the legend of Father Christmas didn’t always include the red-nosed reindeer. Rudolph was the creation of Robert May. In 1939 May was a copywriter with the Montgomery Ward department store. He was asked by his bosses to create a Christmas story for a booklet that they could give to shoppers as a cost-saving measure (instead of giving away coloring books they had to buy from other companies). Inspired by The Ugly Duckling, as well as by his own childhood in which he was teased for being small, May came up with a reindeer shunned by his peers because of his glowing red nose. After considering Rollo and Reginald for his new character’s name, he ﬁnally settled on Rudolph. The idea was almost scrapped because executives worried about a red-nosed character being associated with drunkenness. But the illustrations won them over, and 2.4 million copies of the book were distributed that holiday season. The story was commercially printed in 1947 and its popularity skyrocketed; Gene Autry recorded the song two years later, and in 1964 the celebrated stop-action TV special was aired for the ﬁrst time.

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Keith Richards DECEMBER 18, 1943 Keith Richards is a musician, songwriter, and founding member of The Rolling Stones. Born in Dartford, England he was expelled from a technical college when he was sixteen, according to www. peopleunlikeus.com. He then joined his childhood friend Mick Jagger and Brian Jones, in a combo, Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys. By 1962— with bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts — they had become the Rolling Stones. Richards is routinely hailed as the most indestructible of rock stars, but he credits his music with giving him life. As he told Rolling Stone magazine last year, “You gotta be a real sourpuss, mate, not to get up there and play ‘Jumpin’ Jack Flash’ without feeling like, ‘C’mon, everybody, let’s go.’ Rolling Stone magazine said Richards had created “rock’s greatest single body of riffs,” and placed him as the “10th greatest guitarist of all time.”

68 Years Old

A FEW OTHER NOTABLE

December Birthdays

Dave Clark (69) December 15, 1942

Cicely Tyson (78)

Ed Koch (87)

December 19, 1933

December 12, 1924

Sir Anthony Hopkins (74)

Rita Moreno (80)

December 31, 1937

December 11, 1931

Diana Ross Presents

THE JACKSON 5 Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 is the debut album from the soul family band The Jackson 5. Recorded during the summer of 1969 in Motown’s Hitsville U.S.A. studio in Detroit, Michigan, the album was released on the Motown label in December 1969. The album title suggested that Motown star Diana Ross had discovered the group, as do the Ross-penned liner notes on the back cover. Ross’ supposed discovery of the Jackson 5 was in fact part of Motown’s marketing and promotions plan for the Jackson 5; Motown artists Bobby Taylor and Gladys Knight were the ones who had actually discovered the Jacksons.

December 2011

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END OF THE

Lightbulb?

IN 1962, NICK HOLONYAK INVENTED THE FIRST PRACTICAL LED (LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE), ACCORDING TO AN ARTICLE ON WWW.WEB.MIT.EDU. TODAY, LEDS ILLUMINATE EVERYTHING FROM ALARM CLOCKS TO THE NASDAQ BILLBOARD IN NEW YORK’S TIMES SQUARE. LEDS PRODUCE MORE LUMENS PER WATT THAN BOTH INCANDESCENT AND HALOGEN LIGHTS, MAKING THEM MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY AND COST-EFFECTIVE. Until the last decade, LEDs could only produce green, red, and yellow light, which limited their use, according to www.livescience.com. Blue LEDs followed, which have since been altered to emit white light with a light-blue hue. Since LEDs produce twice as much light as a regular 60 watt bulb and burn for over 50,000 hours, the Department of Energy estimates LED lighting could reduce U.S. energy consumption for lighting by 29 percent by 2025. LEDs don’t emit much heat, so they’re also more energy efficient. And they’re much harder to break. Other scientists have said they expect LEDs to eventually replace standard incandescent bulbs as well as ﬂuorescent and sodium vapor lights. In 2005, states the article, an accidental discovery has taken LED lighting to a new level: quantum dots. Quantum dots are crystals generally only a few nanometers big — less than 1/1000th the width of a human hair. When you shine a light on quantum dots or apply electricity to them, they react by producing their own light, normally a bright, vibrant color. But when Michael Bowers, a graduate student at Vanderbilt University, shined a laser on his batch of dots they produced white light. If this process can be developed into commercial production, light won’t come just from newfangled bulbs. Quantum dot mixtures could be painted on just about anything and electrically excited to produce a rainbow of colors, including white. The miniature breakthrough adds to a growing trend that is likely to eventually make Thomas Edison’s bright invention obsolete.

December 2011

World’s Largest Christmas Tree Located in Blue River Oregon, 50 miles east of Eugene is the world’s largest Christmas tree, according to www.christmas-treasures.com. This Douglas Fir stands greater than 160 feet tall and boasts more than 50,000 LED lights, which use 85-95 percent less energy and can burn for 50,000 hours.

FACT OR FICTION

Are Poinsettia Plants Poisonous? Fiction. According to the POISINDEX information source — the primary resource used by the majority of poison control centers nationwide — a child who weighed 50 lbs. would have to eat over 500 poinsettia leaves to reach an even potentially toxic dose of compounds in the poinsettia plant.

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WE NEED

COMMUNITY œ CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT

YOUR COINS

GOLD COINS SILVER BULLION PLATINUM BULLION PAPER MONEY PHOTO COURTESY OF ROBERT HART Winners of last year’s Scramble (from left): Greg Catalanotte, Jeff Cardozo, Ray Soucy and Jody Beggs.

THE ALACHUA COUNTY

Jewelry

Scramble Championship Saturday, December 3 is the date for this year’s Alachua County Scramble Championship, hosted by SunState Federal Credit Union. The charity for this year’s event is Caleb’s Pitch, a non-proﬁt organization dedicated to providing support and enjoyable experiences for children receiving care for life-threatening medical conditions. Caleb’s Pitch was created to help sick children realize their dreams, have their lives touched by athletes, and for them to touch athletes’ hearts at the University of Florida. Other experiences include providing children with the opportunity to create paintings through syringe art. Caleb’s Pitch also provides meals and other services to the Ronald McDonald House of Gainesville. UF faculty member Tim Jacobbe founded the organization to honor the memory of his nephew, Caleb Jacobbe, who passed away from cancer at 8 years old. Prior to that dreadful day, Caleb was

C oin &

gallery since s si inc nce e 19 1981 1 198 981 81

IN THE NEWLY RENOVATED MILLHOPPER SHOPPING CENTER

able to fulfill a dream by visiting with the Boston Red Sox just weeks before his death. Even though he could barely walk, Caleb was so motivated by his experience that he was able to throw out the first pitch of a baseball game. Find out more about this organization at www.CalebsPitch.org. As in past years, the Alachua County Scramble Championship is shaping up to be one of the top tournaments in the area, with teams coming in from across the state. The golfer grab bags are softsided coolers that include a golf shirt, balls, etc. There will be contests and prizes, as well as several fine items up for auction. More than $1,800 in cash prizes have been earmarked to be split up among randomly drawn teams; so you don’t have to have a great team to be in the money. s

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December 2011

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PERFECT HARMONY

Handel’s Messiah The Gainesville Civic Chorus Launches a Mighty Season

by Ellis Amburn

r. Will Kesling, music director and conductor of the Gainesville Civic Chorus, has led so many “Messiahs” over the course of his long and distinguished career that he can “stand on the stage and sleep while rehearsing.” He knows the score so well that he conducts it from memory and can sing every part. At last year’s annual “Handel’s Messiah Sing Along” in Gainesville, he had to step in when one of his soloists dropped out. The audience cheered Kesling’s melodious and powerful performance. “This year I hope I won’t have to do that,” he said. Coordinating the 80-member Master Chorale, a chamber orchestra of 30 instrumentalists, and accompanist Dr. John Lowe Jr. at the organ is quite enough for anyone, especially when one factors in audience participation. “Handel’s Messiah Sing Along” is not a concert but an opportunity for everyone to come join the musicians in singing selections from “Messiah” under the direction of

December 2011

a celebrated maestro who has played Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and holds the Congressional Order of Merit. This year’s Sing Along is set for Sunday, December 17, 2011, at 7:30 p.m. at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 100 NE 1st Street, Gainesville. Admission is free, contributions encouraged. The concerts are supported by grants from the City of Gainesville and the Alachua County Tourist Development Council. Last year’s “Sounds of the Season” packed the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. Dr. J. Bernard “Bernie” Machen, president of the University of Florida, will again introduce the program, which includes UF’s Men’s Glee Club and Women’s Chorale. Dr. John Duff, director of the School of Music, called “Sounds of the Season” UF’s gift to the community, and Kesling added, “I am happy to produce that concert for Dr. Machen.” The December 17 “Messiah Sing Along” at Holy Trinity highlights

Composed in 24 days in 1741 by George Frideric Handel and premiered in Dublin the following year, “Messiah” has been performed almost constantly ever since. perhaps the most popular choral work in Western music. Composed in 24 days in 1741 by George Frideric Handel and premiered in Dublin the following year, seniortimesmagazine.com

PHOTO COURTESY OF GAINESVILLE CIVIC CHORUS

“Messiah” has been performed almost constantly ever since, with 12 separate productions in New York City alone this coming holiday season. The story of Jesus’s Nativity, Passion, Resurrection and Ascension, the libretto was cobbled together by a rich landowner and Handel fan named Charles Jennens, who drew on some of the most inspired passages in the King James Bible, including “Wonderful, Counselor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace” (Isaiah 9: 6); “Why do the nations so furiously rage together” (Psalms 2: 1-2); “Behold the Lamb of God, that taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1: 29); and “I know that my

Redeemer liveth” (Job 19: 25). Apart from composing Italian operas and English oratorios that were admired by Beethoven and Mozart — the latter made his own arrangement of “Messiah” in 1789 — Handel was a savvy businessman who grew rich as an opera-house manager. Although he did not make the Top 10 classical composers list by New York Times critic Anthony Tommasini, which included Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Debussy, Stravinsky, Brahms, Verdi, Wagner and Bartok, Handel was among such runnersup as Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Schoenberg, Haydn, and Schumann. Kesling, when pressed to compile his own Top 5

list, named Bach, Beethoven, Mozart, Tchaikovsky, “and Handel’s oratorios.” What does ‘Messiah’ mean to Will Kesling? “While rehearsing the ﬁrst “Messiah” in Russia since the 1917 Revolution, which banned religion, I stood in Tchaikovsky Hall, leading a Communist chorus and orchestra,” Kesling recalled. “I’m a believer, and when I came to the Hallelujah Chorus, I looked up at the solid granite hammer and sickle over the organ, at the triumphant proclamation, ‘And He shall reign for ever and ever... King of Kings!’ I suddenly knew Communism was going to fail, that dictatorship and the state as religion December 2011

15 15

were going to destroy the U.S.S.R.” He put down his baton and addressed the musicians, who were forbidden by law to read the Bible. “This work has potent spiritual meaning to me,” he said. “I am conducting this from my heart.” They listened politely but could say nothing because his translator “was KGB and they could be arrested and put into prison,” he said. Before the performance, one of his musicians, a young Russian with a red Afro and goatee, came to his dressing room. Kesling later described him as “22 or 23, a Russian beatnik, the youngest member of the orchestra, a world-class viola player.”

December 2011

“Maestro, forgive me for interrupting,” the young man said. “I have a small gift. We make three to ten dollars a month in the orchestra. I have nothing.” He pulled out an origami-type angel fashioned from random scraps of paper — chewing-gum wrappers and newspapers — and said, “In the pastoral scene, the shepherds are watching their ﬂocks and the Angel says, ‘I bring you good tidings,’ and the chorus sings, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and peace on earth, good will towards men.’ Maestro, here is the Angel for your music.” Kesling recalled, “I threw my arms around him and wept. It was the best present ever. You ask me what ‘Messiah’

means to me. ‘Messiah’ is everything — the quintessential spiritual work, the epitome. Handel wrote it to make money. Instead he made a miracle. He gave the proceeds to charity.” For generations, the Hallelujah Chorus has inspired audiences to stand the instant it begins. According to tradition, the practice started when King George II rose to his feet at the London premiere in Covent Garden on March 23, 1743. Kesling called it “a great tradition, showing respect for the genius of Handel and even more to the point, respect for the Deity.” Apart from “Messiah,” Kesling cites conducting the world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir in a seniortimesmagazine.com

The GCC Season for 2011-2012 includes:

30-minute CBS broadcast as “the thrill of a lifetime,” but his most memorable experience was conducting the Dvorak “Requiem” in Smetana Hall, Prague, on the 100th anniversary of Dvorak’s death. Is there a piece he has never conducted that he would really like to? “Beethoven’s ‘Missa Solemnis,’” he immediately replied. Deﬁnitely in his future: He has just signed a contract to conduct a 200thanniversary performance of the Verdi “Requiem” in Italy. He is feeling especially proud these days of baritone Nicholas Pallesen, who appeared last year in the Mendelssohn “Elijah” that he produced in Gainesville.

After studying at UF under Drs. Kesling and Elizabeth Graham, Pallesen was tapped by the Metropolitan Opera House and the New York City Opera, singing in both companies in November 2011. The season just beginning this fall in Gainesville is notable for the way GCC has melded other groups into its concerts. In addition to the UF Choral Union that will join GCC for “Sounds of the Season,” there is Dance Alive, which will appear in GCC’s “Carmina Burana.” And the Gainesville Philharmonic Orchestra, the choir of the First Presbyterian Church, and GCC will all combine for a mighty season ﬁnale, the Clausen/Vivaldi concert. s

SOUNDS OF THE SEASON December 4, 2011 at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts CARL ORFF’S CARMINA BURANA Feb. 17 and 18, 2012 at the Phillips Center for the Performing Arts RENE CLAUSEN’S “A NEW CREATION” AND ANTONIO VIVALDI’S “BEATUS VIR” April 2, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church (Gainesville) SPIRIT OF AMERICA VI: SALUTING AMERICAN VETERANS May 26, 2012 at the First Presbyterian Church (Gainesville)

December 2011

17 17

Assisted Living Facility Lic.# 12083

ONE-ON-ONE ATTENTION IN A HOMELIKE ENVIRONMENT FOR LOVED ONES

hen Sergio Campanaro’s grandmother-in-law became ill with dementia, he wanted nothing but the best of care for her. But most places he found had too much of a hospital setting for his liking. “We cared for her in home for 19 months before she passed away,” he said. “We couldn’t ﬁnd a place that would give her that family atmosphere that (dementia patients) should be in when they’re in that kind of condition.” The experience inspired Campanaro and his family to open a facility like the one they had looked for but never found – a homelike environment with individual attention and care. This vision was real-

ized in June when with the opening of Loving Care Assisted Living. Centrally located at 1205 NW 9th Avenue, Loving Care has eight bedrooms, most of which are private. Meals are cooked from scratch and can be customized to speciﬁc health needs, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Daily activities for residents include exercise such as walking and stretching, crafts, tea time, beauty sessions and more. Campanaro emphasizes that the physical activity in particular, combined with the low resident to staff ratio, provides key beneﬁts for seniors with dementia. “We make sure they’re active every single day,”

he said. “Even if someone is in a wheelchair, the improvements are dramatic within a few weeks of being with us. We’ve had some people previously in a nursing home who were told they would never walk again, but they’re up now! They’re not running marathons, but they’re not completely dependent on somebody having to do everything for them.” The individual attention isn’t the only unique aspect of Loving Care. The facility also offers daytime care on an hourly or daily basis, as well as short-term overnight stays. Tending to a loved one with dementia is exhausting, and caregivers need a break every now and then. Patients can be brought to Loving Care

for just about any time frame without a long-term commitment, even if it’s just for an hour so they can go to an appointment or for a week or two while they go on vacation. All staff members, including a registered nurse on call and certiﬁed nursing assistants, meet and often exceed the state requirements of care for dementia patients. But Campanaro said there is one more important qualiﬁcation they must have. “They must love what they do. This has to be a calling for them,” he said. “They take joy in every improvement in a resident here; they take it personally. They just absolutely love our clients.”

Loving Care Assisted Living • 1205 NW 9th Avenue • Gainesville • 352-264-8027 18

December 2011

seniortimesmagazine.com

ANIMALS œ ADOPTION

Fall in Love with a Rescue The Animal Center in Ocala has all types of dogs, including terriers, beagles, shepherds, dachshunds and Chihuahuas, as well as some of the most delightful mixed-breeds. Whether you’re looking for a lazy lapwarmer or a super-size jogging buddy, you can find a new forever friend by visiting the Animal Center or browsing the adoptable dogs online. Did you know that some dogs at the Animal Center are already housebroken? Many of the more than 6,000 dogs that come to the Animal Center every year are surrendered by their owners for financial or housing reasons. These dogs are often already trained and housebroken and can almost seamlessly make themselves at home in your family. Visit www.marioncountyfl.org/animalservices.htm to search for dogs currently available or “like” Animal Services on Facebook at www.facebook.com/marioncountyanimalservices for exclusive content, updates and photos. Dogs are available for adoption for $40, which includes their spay/neuter surgery, county license, vaccinations and microchip. Located at 5701 SE 66 St., Ocala. Open TuesdayFriday, 10am-5:30pm and Saturdays 10am - 5pm. 352-671-8700

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December 2011

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COLUMN œ DONNA BONNELL

Embracing Life Lost sneakers were the ﬁnal straw.

he straw the broke the camel’s back was the perfect metaphor describing my feelings of defeat on a depressing Sunday afternoon. Losing my shoes was the insigniﬁcant last straw piled on my already heavy burden of seemingly catastrophic events. More than the soles of my shoes were lost. The serene side of my soul was temporarily missing in action. I had a mini mental meltdown.

“As a Man Thinketh,” was my ﬁrst step towards embracing life. AIA’s concepts are easy to understand, but pack powerful messages. The following simple suggestion led to signiﬁcant personal transformations: It is impossible to control the behavior of others, but I ALWAYS have a choice in how I respond to their actions. As I accepted the responsibility for controlling my

Living a life of significance became my passion. It is an admirable ambition, but difficult to achieve. What should I do next? Frustration followed after I lifted myself from that messy emotional state. I was livid, but not with the individuals or circumstances leading to my collapse. My unexpected rage was at myself for failing to utilize the tools I spent my entire adult life learning. It was time to review those lessons, reaffirm my reasons for happiness and allow myself to move forward. I began by rewinding back to my early 20s — a time when I had very little self-confidence. In those days, thoughts of personal weakness consumed my life. Fortunately my supervisor saw a soul worth saving. He insisted that I attend a workshop entitled “Adventures in Attitudes” (AIA). The program, created by Bob Conklin in the 1950s, and inspired by James Allen’s work,

December 2011

attitude, my life began to evolve. More than three decades later, I recall the ageless AIA affirmation, “I cannot help the way I feel right now but I can help the way I think and act.” My next goal seemed obvious — change how I feel. Self-help programs then became my primary focus. Dr. Peale’s book “The Power of Positive Thinking” made the most significant impact. By practicing his principles, I discovered that it is a necessity to believe in my abilities. Peale explains, “A sense of inferiority and inadequacy interferes with the attainment of your hopes, but self-confidence leads to selfrealization and successful achievement.” Seeking divine direction on how to use my newly attained skills seemed essential. “Purpose Driven Life,” by seniortimesmagazine.com

Rick Warren, became a pivotal force in helping me find my place in God’s plan. Warren helped me reach for a higher level of living. I began my adult existence by merely seeking survival. Searching for success was second. Living a life of significance became my passion. It is an admirable ambition, but difficult to achieve. What should I do next? Could my answer be found in the book, “The Secret,” written by Rhonda Byrne? Byrne believes the universe runs by the law of attraction. It works by attracting the experiences, events and people that match the frequency of the person’s thoughts. Therefore, positive thinking manifests into happiness, health and prosperity. Did she found the key to bliss? My years of study pointed towards trusting mind control to achieving one’s aspirations. How did I fail with all of this knowledge, commitment and spiritual guidance? I allowed myself two days to wallow in my woes. During those 48 hours, I discovered what should have been obvious all along. Regardless of my positive affirmations, unexpected situations will occur. Moreover, delays and detours are not always bad. They can create a better path to pursue. Therefore, learning to adapt and be flexible is imperative. In addition, it is okay to be sad — it makes me human. How I react to disappointment is the important issue. Rather than remaining stuck, I can learn from experiences and continue to take steps forward. Real positive thinking is a way of being, not a magic wand. My soles are still missing, but tranquility has returned to my inner spirit. Perhaps it is time to purchase a new pair of shoes. s

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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 Building (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 and security background check). Rents are subsidized and are based on family income. The 400 Building is convenient to shopping, downtown, and transportation.

Donna Bonnell is a freelance writer who moved to Newberry in 1983. She enjoys living and working in the town she now calls

Contact Becky or Kathy @ (352) 872-5500 TDD (352) 872-5503

home. donna@towerpublications.com

December 2011

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GET SMART

Never Too Late to Learn The Institute for Learning in Retirement

by Janice C. Kaplan

oes opera pique your interest? Did you ever want to know more about Neolithic parallels in the Americas but were afraid to ask? Or have you ever wondered exactly what an art historian does? The opportunity to ﬁnd out is closer than most think. These topics are just a few of the many offerings from the Institute for Learning in Retirement (ILR) at Oak Hammock, a retirement life care community afﬁliated with the University of Florida. The ILR at Oak Hammock provides continuing education programs for the area’s senior population. Courses are given in many topics covering science, the arts, popular culture, history, literature and more, and are taught by active and retired professors from UF who volunteer their time and efforts. While the classes are held at the Oak Hammock campus they are open not only to facility residents but also to all

Gainesville residents 55 and over. “It just ﬁts in so nicely with a continuing care retirement community that’s connected with the university,” said Sara Lynn McCrea, dean of residents and the director of community services at Oak Hammock. “It gives us the added beneﬁt of going to the university to ask for help from professors.” Today the ILR serves hundreds of Seniors in fall, winter, spring and summer terms. Class duration and price varies, but most run around $20 for a six-week session. Non-Oak Hammock residents also pay a membership fee

sometimes available. McCrea explained that the success of Gainesville’s ILR can be found not only in the course offerings and professors, but in the students as well. “Older adults really have a strong desire and care about education, especially given the demographics here,” she said. “We have a lot of retired educators, attorneys and medical professionals. They not only are selfmotivated learners, but their lives have been ﬁled with a lot of experiences. It’s nice that they can learn from others’ experiences here.”

Keeping cognitive skills sharp can help Seniors live more satisfying and independent lives of $25 per year (membership for Oak Hammock residents is included in the monthly fees they pay to live at the facility). Multi-class discounts are

Gainesville’s ILR was founded in 2001, before Oak Hammock was built, because organizers wanted a vibrant program in place and running by the

PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY for LOTUS STUDIOS Institute for Learning in Retirement members pose at Oak Hammock campus. L to R: Past Chair of the Curriculum Committee and current Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Walter Kalaf; Director of Community Services and Dean of Residents, Sara Lynn McCrea; and Board President Ray Goldwire.

December 2011

seniortimesmagazine.com

time the facility opened. At the time classes were held in the Oak Hammock marketing building, local churches and anywhere else that space could be found. Original programs included a book club, a genealogy group and an opera class — a popular offering to this day. Walter Kalaf, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, has been involved with the ILR since its early stages and played a signiﬁcant role in expanding the program. “The marketing director happened to know that I’d been very much involved in continuing education for an adult organization in Highlands, North Carolina,” Kalaf said. “I was asked by the then-chairman to serve on the

December 2011

curriculum committee.” Kalaf reorganized the curriculum committee into two subcommittees — humanities and science/technology. The goal was to create a wide variety of classes to match the range of interests of Gainesville’s senior population. “It has expanded quite a bit over the last ﬁve years as a result,” he said. Clarence Gilbert, a retired cardiologist, has been taking ILR courses since moving to Gainesville in 2005. A graduate of the medical school at the University of Pennsylvania, he practiced in Orlando for 35 years and served as the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Orlando Regional Medical Center before retiring to Oak Hammock.

“One of the main reasons I moved to Gainesville was the opportunity for continued learning experiences and connection with the university,” said Gilbert, who cites a course comparing the constitutions of France and the United States as one of his favorites. “Cardiology is a very narrow ﬁeld. This has opened up the expanse of education for me to many different areas.” The abundant beneﬁts of lifelong learning are well documented. A study by the Advanced Cognitive Training for Independent and Vital Elderly (ACTIVE) and funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) found that Seniors who received cognitive training had less of a decline in certain thinking skills than seniortimesmagazine.com

PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY for LOTUS STUDIOS

their peers who did not have training. Keeping cognitive skills sharp can help Seniors live more satisfying and independent lives, but ILR classes also provide a social outlet for Seniors who attend. Participants build friendships with other Oak Hammock residents, professors and more than 200 Seniors from outside of the facility who take the ILR courses. Kalaf explained that the professors also enjoy their interactions with their students. “One of the reasons that these active and retired professors are so willing to give us their time and expertise is that they have a different kind of audience than they usually deal with on campus,”

he said. “These are mature people who are there because they want to be and have a keen interest in the ﬁeld. They are willing to read the literature or other material the professor wants them to read, so they’re even more tuned in to what he or she is saying.” Gary Langford is a retired UF music professor and former director of the Fightin’ Gator Marching Band. His jazz course is regularly one of the most popular classes with the program, thanks in part to his charismatic teaching style. Langford, however, sees the beneﬁts as reciprocal. “ILR is one of the highlights of my life. I learn as much from the students as they do from me,” Langford said. “A

lot of them have experienced some of the things that I only talk about. They’re wonderful, smart, energetic, involved people who are a joy to teach.” With help from the Gainesville educational community, the ILR provides area Seniors with more options than ever to continue the quest for knowledge. “Lifelong learning really keeps you young at heart and keeps your interest in life going,” McCrea said. “It is very beneﬁcial for a healthy lifestyle, meeting new people and enjoying friendships.” s For more information or to receive a course brochure, contact Oak Hammock at 352-5481024 or visit www.ilratoakhammock.org

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COLUMN œ KENDRA SILER-MARSIGLIO

Healthy Edge Is “Low T” creeping up on you?

ou’ve seen it on TV: actors portraying the forlorn looks of men with Low T (low testosterone). But is it for real? Unfortunately, yes. Good news, though. It’s easy to treat. Read on to learn how to keep low testosterone from getting you down. Commercials taught us that low testosterone causes erectile dysfunction (ED) and decreased desire. However, low testosterone manifestations aren’t just sexual.

45 and older have low testosterone. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, up to 30 percent of men ages 75 and older have low testosterone.

WHAT CAUSES LOW TESTOSTERONE? Age plays a role. After age 30, men lose 1 percent of testosterone per year. The Mayo Clinic reports that, by the age of 70, men’s serum testosterone levels

Medicare Part D covers testosterone therapy only if it’s prescribed for a medical condition other than sexual or erectile dysfunction. This is known as off-label prescribing. “ED and decreased libido are only part of the low testosterone story,” says Dr. David Willis, Family Physician and President of the Marion County Medical Society. “Low testosterone is also closely related to depression, memory, fatigue, muscle weakness, and lack of general physical endurance.” Oftentimes, men with low testosterone have other chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases. These conditions may mask the effects of low testosterone, allowing “low T” to contribute to the problem — unnoticed. Epidemiologists suggest that between 2 and 13 million American men ages

December 2011

can drop to half of what they once were. A little known low testosterone risk factor is pain medication use. Men taking opioid pain medications long-term have a 50 percent chance of developing low testosterone. Opioid drugs including oxycontin, vicodin and hydrocodone affect the pituitary gland. These pain meds inhibit LH (Leutinizing Hormone), a pituitary hormone involved in testosterone production. Men’s chances of developing low testosterone are doubled by common chronic conditions like diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure. One in three men with diabetes have low testosterone. Accidents, some autoimmune

diseases, cancer and cancer treatments can also lead to low testosterone.

SHOULD YOU GET TESTED FOR LOW TESTOSTERONE? If you have symptoms of low testosterone — even if you have another condition that elicits the same type of symptoms — you may want to ask your doctor about testing. Mayo Clinic suggests that you get tested in the morning (8:00-10:00am); testosterone levels are generally highest in the morning.

HOW LOW IS LOW? A 2002 study by Vermeulen and Kaufman showed that the range for early morning testosterone in male adults is 300 ng/dL-1000 ng/dL. An early morning total serum testosterone level of less than 300 ng/dL indicates unusually low testosterone (hypogonadism). In many cases, men with serum testosterone lower than 300 ng/dL and low testosterone symptoms will beneﬁt from testosterone replacement therapy.

WHAT’S ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS? If you have low testosterone, your medical provider may call for testosterone replacement therapy. It’s available in many forms: testosterone intramuscular injections, patches or gels. The testosterone shots (given intramuscularly every 3-4 weeks) and the daily topical gels (AndroGel, Testim) are well-tolerated. The mouth patch (Striant) sticks to your gums and released testosterone into your blood stream.

WHO SHOULD AVOID TREATMENT? As reported as recently as last year in the International Journal of Clinical Practice, treatment for low testosterone is contraindicated in those with prostate cancer or benign prostate hyperplasia. seniortimesmagazine.com

Other conditions that testosterone therapy may worsen include: Sleep apnea, erythrocytosis (high blood counts) and congestive heart failure. Not all Medicare insurances adequately cover testosterone replacement therapy. Medicare Part D covers testosterone therapy only if it’s prescribed for a medical condition other than sexual or erectile dysfunction. This is known as off-label prescribing. If you have more questions about Medicare go to medicare.gov. You may also ﬁnd good information at the Medicare Answers from Connie website (www.medicareanswersfromconnie.com). “If you have side effects, get tested, Dr. Willis says. “Low testosterone is so easily treated. It’s an issue of a better quality of life.” s Kendra Siler-Marsiglio, Ph.D. is the Director of the Rural Health Partnership at WellFlorida Council.

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December 2011

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WanteD

Veterans Seeking Benefits For Retirement Living!

How often does a veteran, one to whom this country owes so much, see that headline?!

f you or someone you know is a veteran and in need of up to $2,000 a month in living assistance, then there are two men and one amazing facility you should get to know in our Northeast Florida community. The men, two committed volunteers, are Tom Hanson, a former Navy man, and Gary Marriage. The facility is The Atrium of Gainesville, with Prem Paul Murrhee as the Director of Sales & Marketing. Together they are making it possible for veterans in our area to live their retirement years in a care-free, all-inclusive environment such as the beautiful Atrium where daily living is taken care of under the conscientious care of dedicated staff.

How Did This Service Come About? The Aid & Attendance benefit was part of a veteran benefit enhancement in 2001, but it wasn’t until Prem Paul Murrhee’s dad, retired from the Veterans Administration, introduced him to the benefit. Often times deserving veterans were turned away, but with help, they were able to navigate the political waters and receive the benefit they are not only legally entitled to, but also earned! For the past 3 years Prem Paul Murrhee was a one-man show and the application process could be quite cumbersome; however, when Gary and Tom came aboard, as volunteers, the entire process became much more streamlined. They now conduct a monthly benefit talk at the Atrium on the fourth Thursday of each month at 12 noon. (Except for November and December, when it is the third Thursday.)

Why Are These Men Dedicated To Helping Veterans? Tom has been a dedicated volunteer helping deserving seniors for years. As a former Navy man, he takes great pleasure in conducting the monthly benefit talk at the Atrium and helping with the actual application process. Gary, while trying to help his grandfather secure financial assistance for his years of military service, discovered the remarkable “Aid and Attendance Benefit” after plodding through a VA handbook. He’d been assured by a VA employee that no further assistance existed, but Gary felt certain there had to be. Gary was right. With the “Aid and Attendance Benefit” he was able to move his grandfather out of the very expensive nursing home that was draining every nickel of his grandfather’s savings and benefits. And, he was able to make sure that his grandmother would not be left penniless and unprovided for if left on her own. He and Tom are well aware of the unnecessary sorrow and hardships our

veterans face and enjoy doing their part to help those who are eligible get assisted living dollars. They also know how frustrating the entire process can be. As General Patton said, “When you’re going through hell, keep going.”

Only 10% Of The Eligible Veterans Are Receiving This Benefit! Henry Hugh Shelton, General, United States Army [Ret.], the 14th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, having served under Presidents Bush and Clinton has partnered with Holiday Retirement and the Atrium on behalf of qualifying veterans to help get the word out. He urges veterans, and their surviving spouses, to seek out benefits that they are legally entitled to . There are an estimated 2 million eligible veterans and surviving spouses nationwide and only about 200,000 are currently receiving benefits. Locally, Gary, Tom and the Atrium are taking General Shelton’s lead and reaching out to the area veterans.

Tell Me About The Atrium, A Holiday Retirement Facility Holiday Retirement is the oldest and largest retirement company in the United States with 313 locations, more than 35,000 residents, and growing every day. The Atrium has more than 200 apartments ranging from 400 to 1600 square feet, all fully equipped including dishwasher, stove, oven, fridge and freezer. The Atrium provides three delicious chef-prepared meals served daily; weekly housekeeping; utilities; transportation; 24/7 emergency service; and, free room and board at other Holiday Retirement Communities across the United States and Canada. Also available are rehabilitation and health care services as needed, the Atrium beauty salon, and Wise’s Drugstore. The Atrium offers this innovative and extensive Senior care on a month-to-month basis with no buy-in fees. General Hugh Shelton said it best; when you choose Holiday “you’ll be living the retirement you’ve earned as a defender of freedom”

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Get In Touch With Prem Paul Murrhee At The Atrium The Atrium is located at 2431 NW 41st Street across from Thornebrooke Shopping Village. Veterans and their surviving spouses who are curious about their eligibility can attend monthly benefit talks at the Atrium on the fourth Thursday of every month at 12 Noon. (Except for November and December, when it is the third Thursday) by contacting Prem Paul Murrhee at 352-378-0773. ------------------------------Gary Marriage, Tom Hanson and Prem Paul Murrhee are three community-minded people serving the Gainesville area and beyond…. because our veterans deserve the best this country has to offer.

Gracious Retirement Living The Atrium at Gainesville features beautiful and spacious studio, one and two bedroom apartments. Your month-to-month rent virtually includes all of your living expenses, with absolutely no long-term commitment or entrance fees.

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CORN COB PIPE

Snowman Lady Sharon Smith shows off her remarkable collection of Christmas memorabilia and decorations

by Molly Larmie

now did not fall in Fort Lauderdale, but the salt and pepper shakers were shaped like snowmen. And when the weather turned crisp enough in South Florida for jackets and boots, Sharon Smith’s mother would place the snowmen shakers on the dining room table. Rosy faces and marshmallow-shaped bodies always fascinated Sharon, even though she did not make an authentic snowman until she moved to Michigan in her 20s. There was something special about those tiered blobs of snow, those time-honored symbols of winter vacation fun. Sharon Smith is not a little girl anymore. But for more than a decade she has collected snowmen — big, small, traditional, unusual. A few years ago, Sharon tried to count all her snowmen. She reached 1,000 and gave up. She laughs and shakes her head when she points out the multitude of snowmen lining every crevice in her house, but with no trace of embarrassment, only with the pride of a collector. People collect every manner of things

December 2011

— insects, dolls, stamps, license plates. A woman out west collects locks of hair from famous people. Why not snowmen? Inflatable snowmen, light-up snowmen, wind-up snowmen... Sharon rarely buys snowmen anymore, unless she finds a really bizarre one. Still, she receives around 20 to 30 every year from people who know about her collection. She has never gotten a duplicate. The smallest is not even an inch tall. Snowmen on blankets, on pillows, on boxes. Snowmen in snow globes... Storage is a problem. Sharon cannot keep normal things in her drawers — flashlights, matches, envelopes — because “every drawer, closet, anything you can open is cram-packed full of snowmen,” she said. It takes about two weeks to put them all out for display. In the middle of the living room, a Christmas tree sags under the weight of snowman ornaments. Snowmen figurines line Smith’s dressers,

PHOTO BY MOLLY LARMIE Sharon Smith poses next to a Christmas tree decorated with snowmen ornaments.

tables, cabinets and counters. One breaks up in a ﬁt of giggles. Another collapses as if melting. At the push of a button, one starts singing — what else? — “Frosty the Snowman.” A snowman piñata, a snowman puppet, a snowman dressed in Florida Gator orange and blue... Sharon used to work as a veterinary seniortimesmagazine.com

PHOTO BY MOLLY LARMIE Florida-themed snowmen line the Smithsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; front porch.

PHOTOS BY MOLLY LARMIE “Snowman Lady” Sharon Smith examines a cabinet full of snowmen ﬁgurines. She has collected more than 1,000 snowmen during the last 15 years.

technician at the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine. Now, she runs a cat “bed and breakfast,” a feline boarding house called “Cat’s Pajamas,” and has cared for more than 750 different cats. Each December, a cat-shaped snowman ﬂag hangs outside the kennel. Snowmen on mugs and measuring cups, on lip balm and lotion... Sharon’s husband Hal works as a nurse for Shands at the University of Florida. He does not mind her snowman obsession. He has his own, having built a train set from scratch, complete with miniature signs, trees and people. Several engines run through tunnels in a beefed-up version of the rickety train sets children get for Christmas. Sharon has her snowmen. Hal has his trains. “He thinks it’s great,” Sharon said. “He’s worse than I am.” A snowman bathmat, a snowman sitting on the closed lid of the toilet bowl... The Smiths live in a 100-year-old

December 2011

wooden house off Waldo Road. An ethereal silence surrounds the property, punctuated only by the squabbling of few chickens and the nickering of two rescue horses, Earl and Eugene. A wood-burning stove bathes their Florida room in warmth. The faint glow from the furnace lights a formidable number of snowmen who would be in grave danger from the heat had they been fashioned from real snow, instead of plastic or wood (or wool or yarn or paper mache or porcelain or plaster...) The ambiance makes a visitor want to sit with one of their nine rescue cats and a cup of tea to listen to stories about how the collection came to be. Snowman-shaped scissors, antenna toppers, thermometers, kaleidoscopes... Sharon holds an open house to showcase her snowmen. Anywhere from 20 to 50 people, mostly clients and friends, meander through the wonderland. Sharon puts on a Christmas CD and beams as people admire her collection, which includes a tall, scarf-

wearing snowman she painted on a piece of her old tin roof. What is the worst part of a seasonal collection? When the season comes to an end and the collection has to be put away. Hal can cover up the train set, but no self-respecting Floridian keeps a host of snowmen out during the summer. It is a tedious chore, like hauling the Christmas tree out to the road and unstringing lights from the roof, but on a much grander scale. Sharon drags her feet. The snowmen are never really out of mind; she always ﬁnds a handful tucked away, weeks after. Sharon said she will keep displaying her collection as long as she is still having fun. She stays in town for the winter anyway, because people need someone to watch their cats when they leave for vacation. She cannot imagine the holidays without carrot noses, corncob pipes and countless pairs of coal eyes winking back at her. So long as there are cats and Christmas, at Sharon Smith’s house, there will be snowmen. s seniortimesmagazine.com

Cutting Back …Revisited M

ost Americans have greatly reduced their spending in the past few years, and justifiably so. In tough economic times, it is always wise to cut back on spending just to be safe. Unfortunately, time has kept marching on, and that granddaughter you dreamed of taking a special fishing trip with isn’t 5 years old anymore, she’s 10. There comes a time when we all have to decide how much is enough. How much savings are enough, and how much missed life is enough. At SunState Federal Credit Union, we were cautious when most financial institutions were chasing every dollar they could. We didn’t jump into the sub-prime loan business a few years ago, because we believed it was bad business for our members and bad business for the credit union. As a result, we recently received a Crystal Award from the Raddon Financial Group as one of the top 20 credit unions in the country from among over 500 they work with. The award recognizes our top ranking on a balanced scorecard

measuring growth, income, efficiency and margin management. We won that award by taking care of our credit union and our members during the recent tough economic times, not by following the fad lending trends that lured so many other financial institutions into the messes they face today. That being said, if you feel like that vacation of a lifetime is slipping away, or you are keeping your money locked away in a vault or in the equity in your home, instead of making memories you will cherish the rest of your life, memories you may never have the chance to make happen again, call us at the credit union. Why call SunState instead of another institution? Call SunState, because we will not make a decision we believe puts your financial position in jeopardy. If you want to turn some of the money in your vault into

memories that are just as precious, if not even more precious, we will explore every possible option for doing so and tailor the solution to fit your needs and situation. Frankly, we just can’t say that about many other financial institutions based on what we have seen in the past. SunState always has been, is now, and will continue to be Your One Trusted Financial Partner.

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December 2011

33 33

COLUMN œ ELLIS AMBURN

Enjoying Act Three What keeps me from fully enjoying all of Act III is my tendency to hold onto things too long —

ld clothes, broken furniture, expired warranties, leftovers in the refrigerator — and especially resentments. I’ve been a habitual worrier most of my life but I’m sick of it and I’m not going to put up with it anymore. So how can I get rid of this nasty habit? First: Realize that resentments are perfectly natural and I’ll always get them. I’m human, so I can put down the whip. It’s hard enough to cope with resentments and the hurts that cause them; I don’t need to compound the issue with guilt and shame. So what I really need to learn is how to stop holding grudges. Second: Look at the circumstances surrounding the incident that hurt my feelings and occasioned the resentment — usually some remark by a friend or family member. I often take things too personally. When a friend snapped at me the other day, I lashed back without thinking. A week later he told me he’d been coming down with a cold at the time, and was always impossible when falling ill. Now that I’m aware of the circumstances, I see that his outburst had nothing to do with me, and everything to do with him. Solution: in the future, between the provocation and my response, I should always live in the “and.”

December 2011

To live resentment-free, I need to look at life in a new way. Everything’s not about me. I am no longer the center of the universe. In dealing with other slightly crazy human beings — that’s everyone — I should be ever mindful of the old saws, “Just let it roll off you like water off a duck’s back;” “Wear life like a loose garment;” and “Develop a thick skin.” Follow those maxims and no one can push my buttons.

and I won’t have to pray for you.” His glib crack cut to the bone and in the following days hovered over me like a cloud. Resentment is the only poison that kills the assassin rather than the victim. While I was giving him free rent in my mind, he was having a carefree day. I should never let anything anyone says or does eat my lunch, so to speak. I planned what I’d say the next time we met, which in itself is a form of insanity — having a conversation with someone who’s not present. Coincidentally he showed up at a lecture I was giving. “The greatest cure for resentment known to man is acceptance,” I said in my opening statement. “We should accept and like each other, because we are all creations of God, and God didn’t make any mistakes. We are each of us exactly the way we are supposed to be at any given moment in our journey toward whatever it is we were created to become. If I judge adversely or even criticize one of God’s creations, it’s heresy, because I am saying in effect that God made a mistake

I planned what I’d say the next time we met, which in itself is a form of insanity — having a conversation with someone who’s not present. To get rid of both resentments and the people responsible for them, I need to pray for my enemies. When someone annoys me I pray every day for a week that he receive everything I want. Two things happen. My resentment gradually dissipates. My enemy stops abusing me, and even starts extending the branch of friendship. I don’t understand the dynamics of this miracle. I’m just grateful that prayer works. I copped a new resentment when I told an acquaintance about this technique, and he replied sarcastically, “Well, then I’d rather give a resentment than get one, because you’ll pray for me,

in creating you, and that I know how to run things better than God.” To keep from disliking a person, I concluded, I need to look for that one good quality in him or her; we all have at least one, and I can see it if I concentrate on what I need to change in me rather than on what needs to be changed in others. Afterward, the man who I’d considered my enemy came to the podium with dewy eyes and asked for a hug. He got it. s High Springs resident Ellis Amburn is the author of biographies of Roy Orbison, Elizabeth Taylor, and others. He can be reached at ellis.amburn@gmail.com.

seniortimesmagazine.com

CULTURE œ SPOTLIGHT

Photography at the Hipp The photography of local artists Lorenka Campos, Ani Collier and Larry Santucci will be on display at the Hippodrome Art Gallery through December 31 for the 2011 Holiday Show. The show will be in conjunction with “This Wonderful Life,” on stage November 25 - December 23 and “A Christmas Carol,” on stage November 26 - December 17. Lorenka Campos’ photography shows natural elements and looming structures through the lens of an iPhone camera in her series, “From Here To There.” “’From Here To There’ is a lyrical, melancholy and sometimes dreamy vision of city streets, country roads, byways and highways,” Campos says.

Haven’t you waited long enough? With a SunState Federal Credit Union home equity line of credit, there’s no better time to take your dream vacation. Ani Collier captures the beauty of movement and the physical form in her photography of dancers in motion who seem to ﬂoat in mid-air. “I love to dance,” Collier says. “I was a ballerina on stage for many years. Now, I try to dance with my pictures. It is so ethereal, a moment in time. Exactly what a photograph can be!” Larry Santucci’s work transports viewers to a past that is distinctly American. His photography captures the spirit of Florida through its architecture, nature and people. Santucci’s diverse photography is often reminiscent, organic and personal. The artwork will be included in Artwalk on December 9. Visitors can experience the variety and beauty of the unique art. s

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December 2011

35 35

SPIRIT

Sing for Your Life The Health Beneﬁts of Song

by Kathryn Stolarz

atherine Mickle, 76, stands proud and polished as she practices her solo, “Scarlett Ribbons,” in front of her Senior choral group. Her ﬂowing, high-pitched voice is sweet as sugar as she sings: “If I live to be a hundred, I will never know from where came those lovely scarlet ribbons, scarlet ribbons for her hair.” Living to be 100 just might be in the cards for Mickle. At three quarters of a century, she looks dazzling as she stands before the choir in her pressed indigo blazer, black slacks and gold dress shoes. Her thick, shiny black hair sweeps neatly across her forehead, her skin barely wrinkled. Maybe the fact that Mickle has been singing since high school has something to do with it. A growing amount of research shows that singing has plenty of mental and physical health beneﬁts that contribute to longevity. Studies show that singing can lift a mood, increase self-esteem, reduce pain and strengthen the immune system as well as improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure and

December 2011

reduce stress. “It’s therapy for me,” Mickle said. “It relieves me.” Mickle has been a member of The Sweet Notes for nine years. The group of about 20 singers performs approximately a dozen new songs every month around Gainesville. When Mickle is sad, singing makes her feel better, she said. A study by the University of Frankfurt in Germany concluded that singing can improve mood and strengthen the immune system. The study was published in the most recent edition of the US Journal of Behavioral Medicine. Scientists ran blood tests on choir members before and after an hour-long rehearsal. After singing, their blood had signiﬁcant increases in the amounts of hydrocortisone and immunoglobulin A, but simply listening to music had no effect on blood levels. Hydrocortisone is an anti-stress hormone that regulates blood pressure, and immunoglobulin A is an antibody that wards off bacteria and viruses. Singing also triggers the brain to release endorphins into the blood-

PHOTOS BY KATHRYN STOLARZ TOP LEFT: Some of the members of The Sweet Notes practice for a show, December 2010. TOP RIGHT: Lucille Below, 93, reads the lyrics as she sings with fellow Sweet Notes members. Below is the oldest member of the group. LEFT: Diane Kauper, 74, directs the group last December.

stream, said voice instructor Rebecca Micha. Endorphins are mood-lifting, pain-reducing hormones with similar effects to morphine. Micha, the coowner of the Academy of Music and Art in Gainesville, has studied the healing powers of singing as a vocal instructor for more than 30 years, and, previously, as a master’s student in vocal performance and doctoral student in musicology. “You can’t be depressed when you sing,” Micha said. “The therapeutic aspects of singing are very far-reaching, and it really has a long-term effect on self-esteem.” The World Health Organization

December 2011

predicts that depression will become the second largest killer in the world by 2020, coming in second only to heart disease. And everyone will be affected by depression at some point, either personally or by association, reported the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Americans in particular could beneﬁt from a hobby that lifts their spirits, since about one in 10 adults in the United States have a mood disorder such as depression or bipolar disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Micha said that one of her voice students had scars on her wrists, which Micha thinks were from suicide at-

tempts. The student told Micha that she was happier and had a better self-image after three years of singing lessons. The student signed up for lessons because she had ﬁbromyalgia, a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain, and her doctor recommended she try a deepbreathing activity such as singing. “She told me she really did not feel pain when she was singing,” Micha said. “It distracted her from the pain.” Beyond uplifting a mood and alleviating pain, singing can help the whole body. The Sweet Notes director Diane Kauper, 74 said, “It’s good exercise seniortimesmagazine.com

if you really put yourself into it.” This deep breathing engages the diaphragm and brings more oxygen into the bloodstream, improving circulation, Micha said. Studies have linked singing to lowering the heart rate, decreasing blood pressure and reducing stress, said Patricia Preston-Roberts, a board-certified music therapist in New York City. One out of every three Americans has high blood pressure, according to the American Heart Association’s website. One of Preston-Roberts’ clients often came to her office overwhelmed by juggling graduate school with a full-time job while raising two children. The client was able to relax through a technique called vocal psychotherapy, a form of music therapy that uses singing and talking to promote self-expression. Karen Peeler, a voice and pedagogy professor at Ohio State University, said singing is a wonderful alternative to medicine. In the classroom, she emphasizes that singing is not only about the sound coming out of their mouths, but it is also about the physiological changes simultaneously occurring in their bodies. “In this time when healthcare costs are going out the roof, how logical and magical and fabulous would it be to unlock keys to music that cost less [than medicine]?” she said. Not only can singing preserve health, it can help the sick. Last year, Ohio State’s Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital hired its first music therapist to work with cancer patients. Berklee College of Music started offering cancer patients music therapy about a decade ago through the Leonard P. Zakim Center for Integrative Therapies. Suzanne Hanser, founder and chairperson of Berklee’s music therapy department, started the program and works there as a music therapist. Hanser used singing to distract one woman with advanced cancer from the

pain and anxiety caused by her treatment. The patient dreaded the multiple needle sticks needed to access her veins for intravenous chemotherapy, so Hanser taught her to sing her way through treatment. The patient closed her eyes and started singing “God Bless America” before the needle reached her skin. “She didn’t even realize that the procedure was completed when she opened her eyes,” Hanser said. Hanser also concluded that music improved one group of women’s psychological state by increasing contentment and decreasing anxiety and pain perception. She was the principal investigator of the study, which was published in The Journal of the Society for Integrative Oncology. She said when people sing, their amygdala is very active, and the brain pours out natural pleasure chemicals like dopamine and serotonin. The amygdala is the part of the brain that is the center of emotion and fear. In a book she recently co-authored, “Manage Your Stress and Pain Through Music,” she dedicated a chapter to singing, and wrote that everyone can benefit from working casual singing into their routine. So, whether people are busting tunes in the shower or car, braving the karaoke scene, or performing in choirs, they are reaping the life-extending benefits of singing. The key is to make it a regular part of each day. And getting voice lessons may deepen those benefits, Hanser said, by demonstrating proper breathing and vocal techniques that can protect and preserve the voice. Back at the Sweet Notes choir practice, Mickle finishes her solo, gleaming and taking in the energetic applause of her peers. If she lives to be a hundred, she may not know where the scarlet ribbons came from, but she will know what life-long hobby contributed to her health — singing. s

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December 2011

39 39

READER SUBMITTED œ INEZ RAMEY

Community Voice A Poignant Moment at Pearl Harbor

any years ago, I was fortunate enough to finally visit the Hawaiian Islands — a paradise of flowers, volcanoes, sandy beaches, hula dancers and luaus, all surrounded by the emerald waters of the majestic Pacific. Our tour bus followed winding roads through pineapple plantations, sugarcane fields and along the nostalgic “From Here to Eternity Beach,” which set the mood for our last stop — Pearl Harbor. It was early Sunday morning. The air was clear. At sunrise, ribbons of amber and violet rays over the water brought memories of that infamous Sunday morning, Dec. 7 1941 — and the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. The moment we arrived at the harbor, intense and fearful memories of a day so many years ago flooded my mind. My husband, Dick Ramey, and I were living in San Diego, Calif., when we heard the news of the bombing of Pearl Harbor. We were frightened because San Diego was a strategic US naval base as well as a major site for US aircraft factories. Dick worked at Consolidated Aircraft. Everyone in San Diego feared that we might be the target of the next Japanese attack. The city went into an immediate blackout. We were all in shock while MEDICARE AND ALMOST ALL INSURANCE PLANS ACCEPTED

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December 2011

preparing for the unknown. Amid an air of wartime fear and secrecy, troops were not informed of their time of deployment. Weldon Gentzler, a friend form our hometown of Hugoton, Kan., stationed in San Diego,

Before going by boat out to the Arizona Memorial, we saw a film of the actual bombing on an enormous movie screen. asked that I write to his mother when we saw the fleet moving out into the Pacific. I did. Thankfully, Weldon survived the war. My sister Fanny’s brother-in-law, Harold Kagarice, also from Hugoton, had been on the battleship USS Arizona stationed in Pearl Harbor. I carried these memories with me as we began our visit. Before going by boat out to the Arizona Memorial, located atop the sunken battleship, we saw a film of the actual bombing on an enormous movie screen. Many of the scenes I remembered from newsreels back in 1943. The smiling faces of the Japanese pilots in their airplanes as they were bombing the ships in the harbor sent chills through me. The Arizona got a direct hit and within nine minutes sank. Eleven hundred sailors went down with her. Harold Kagarice was one of the 1,100. The name of each sailor who died aboard the ship is carved in marble on the memorial shrine. I knew Harold’s name would be on the list and I was going to search for it after the film. Each year on Dec. 7, the state of Hawaii honors the dead with a memorial service. The name of each sailor who gave his life is printed on a slip of paper. Visitors draw the names one-by-one from a basket, attach a flower to the name, and toss it into the water over the Arizona and her entombed sailors who lie at the bottom of the harbor. The film featured one of the memorial services and ended with a close-up of a man drawing a name from the basket. He took his flower and prayerfully looked down as the camera zoomed to focus on the name. It read... Harold Lee Kagarice. s seniortimesmagazine.com

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December 2011

41 41

HEALTH

Living with Hearing Loss Do You Hear What I Hear?

by C. Nooriel Nolan

“T

is the season,” of holiday parties, dinners, and other gatherings — things most people look forward to. But if you are one of the 32.5 million Americans living with hearing loss, these holiday events may not be so enjoyable. People with hearing impairments may spend an entire holiday thinking, “What are they saying?” as others chitchat around them. Fortunately for Alachua County residents, there is a local program that teaches people how to live with hearing loss. The University of Florida Speech and Hearing Clinic, in conjunction with the Hearing Loss Association of Gainesville, has been offering a four-part program called Living With Hearing Loss (LWHL) for 35 years. Founded in the 1970s by psychologist Sam Trychin, the program is designed to provide vital information and resources to attendees as well as provide a support group for hearing impaired individuals. It is also a teaching program for students of audiology who participate in the classes and learn the ﬁrst-hand experiences of

December 2011

people living with hearing loss. Patricia Kricos, Ph.D., is an audiologist and professor in the UF Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences (as well as current LWHL program director and past president of the American Academy of Audiology). She said that many audiologists are wrapped up in the technology [of hearing aids] rather than the whole experience of living with hearing loss.

ﬁcult Listening Situations” and “What Other Help is Out There?” Participants attend a class each Friday, for 6-8 weeks, at the United Way of North Central Florida. Each session focuses on different issues facing people with hearing loss. Although the average age of attendees is 40-70 years, the program is open to anyone suffering from hearing loss. Kricos said the main challenge facing people with hearing loss is, “They are

Although the average age of attendees is 40-70 years, the program is open to anyone suffering from hearing loss. That is why she is so proud of the local Living With Hearing Loss program — it provides people the proper tools to not only live with hearing loss, but to also improve their communications with family and friends. The LWHL educational series is made up of four free classes/sessions: “Coping with Hearing Loss,” “A Thousand Ways to Say ‘Huh,’” “Handling Dif-

not aware of the many resources that exist to help them improve their quality of life. Instead, they are generally given a hearing aid, and that’s it.” She acknowledges that the evolving technology of hearing aids can be very useful, but only if utilized in the proper way. Kricos said giving people hearing aids without teaching them how to live with the new technology is not very beneﬁseniortimesmagazine.com

cial. Hearing aids come with new sets of problems, a fact that is frequently not communicated to the individual wearing them. “Rather than walking out [of the audiologist office] and being bombarded by noises you haven’t heard in years, they need paperwork telling you what to expect,” said Lynn Rousseau, president of the Gainesville Chapter of the Hearing Loss Association of Florida (an entity of the larger Hearing Loss Association of America.) She has been helping run the LWHL program for 15 years. For Rousseau, it is a personal journey. She lost her hearing at the age of three, for reasons unknown to the doctors of the 1950s. She was fitted with two hearing aids and released into a world that did not understand, or even acknowledge, hearing impairments. “It was invisible,” Rousseau said. “That made it difficult.” Fortunately, her mother was very compassionate, speaking with teachers and encouraging her to enroll in dance (an outlet she attributes with providing her a healthy means of interacting

with peers.) Her life has been a series of challenges, many preventable, in her opinion. She wishes that she had known about certain resources growing up, like the free CapTel captioned phones provided by the State of Florida. “It would have been nice to talk to my husband directly, back when we were dating, rather than going through my mother,” she said with a laugh. One of Rousseau’s biggest challenges came when she tried to become a teacher, and was told (after completing her education) that she was not hirable because she would be “a danger to the children.” She was already raising children of her own, and could not believe this stigma. Rousseau said she felt angry, depressed, isolated and unsure of what the future held. Soon thereafter, she met Kricos (1996) and immediately began participating in the LWHL program. She was shocked and relieved to ﬁnd there were so many others living with hearing loss. The resources and support system changed her outlook. “I had a whole new life... a whole new

world,” Rousseau said. “Therein lies the main point,” Kricos said. “Living with hearing loss is a healthcare issue.” Being unable to hear can cause isolation, which can lead to depression if not properly addressed. This type of information is why family and friends are encouraged to attend the LWHL classes, as well. Understanding the emotional and physical realities of living with hearing loss can beneﬁt everyone. The program motivates families to be patient when dealing with hearing loss, and proactive in changing communication patterns. If families work together, they can dramatically improve day-today interactions. Patricia Kricos and Lynn Rousseau have made it their mission to bring this awareness to as many people as possible. Ultimately, they would like to see literature in all audiologists’ ofﬁces that delivers vital information to patients about local and national organizations providing tools to the hearing impaired. “It’s not just about the ears,” Kricos said. “It’s about the entire person.” December 2011

43 43

As people head into this holiday season, and enjoy the sounds of family cheer, it is easy to forget about those who do not “hear what we hear.” With programs like LWHL, families, friends and the community can embrace new forms of communication strategies to provide individuals with hearing loss a relaxing and enjoyable yuletide, helping them to view the advent of the holidays as a joyful occasion. s LWHL classes are scheduled to begin again on Friday December 9. To register, call 352-294-5151 or email mmccaghren@phhp.uﬂ.edu

Important Hearing Loss Resources: Hearing Loss Association of America www.hearingloss.org

Hearing Loss Association of Florida www.hla-ﬂ.com

Gainesville Chapter hlaGainesville@aol.com

HLA Veterans Program www.hla-ﬂ.com/vetsﬂyer.pdf

University of Florida Speech and Hearing Clinic slhs.phhp.uﬂ.edu/clinics/ speech-hearing-center

American Academy of Audiology www.audiology.org

IDA Institute idainstitute.com

Florida Coordinating Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing www.fccdhh.org

Free CapTel phone www.captel.com/availability/FL.php

December 2011

COLUMN œ CARLOS MUNIZ

Perspectives on Aging I enjoy being simple, like the water of a creek that runs between stones.

ach ﬂower on its way for one instant belongs to the water that kisses it. After all, one moment and one kiss are more than enough for the things in this life that are not permanent. I yearn to learn this lesson of humility. To place one kiss on each thing for only one instant, never leaving an imprint and never claiming possession of them, as after all, the one that doesn’t possess anything really is in possession of all. Not to desire things is the best way to possess them, the only possession that will endure the passage of time. These reﬂections on simplicity are inspired by a poem written by the famous Spanish poet José María Pemán, long ago deceased but like all poets living forever in their immortal poetry. The truth usually lies in simple

things. Complexity is often a way of hiding a truth that is not really understood and lies behind a web of complexity whose only purpose is to hide simplicity. The innocence of the young often ﬁnds a truth that eludes the complexity of more sophisticated minds. The famous and the arrogant often miss the simple things that lie bare in front of their eyes but is hidden by a fog of false superiority that doesn’t allow them to see simplicity. In psychiatry, the term idiot savant is used to label those minds that appear simple at ﬁrst look, but can solve complex problems that escape most people. s Dr. Carlos Muniz is a retired psychiatrist from Gainesville. He may be contacted through the editor, Albert Isaac.

Pro-Am Tournament to Beneﬁt Hospice of Marion County The 19th Annual Hospice of Marion County, Inc. Pro-Am Tournament is scheduled for Friday, December 16 at Golden Hills Country Club just off Highway 27, 4.3 miles west of I-75. Don’t miss an opportunity to play this fantastic course, which was the home of the 2009 USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. All golf teams consist of four amateurs and one profes-

sional. Cost: $150/amateur and $100/ pro, which includes a buffet breakfast, greens fees, cart and awards dinner. Proceeds from this tournament help to provide care and support to patients and families of Hospice of Marion County who are facing a most difﬁcult and challenging time in their lives. For more information and registration, please call the Pro Shop at 352-629-7980. seniortimesmagazine.com

INFORMATION œ SPOTLIGHT

Social Security Answers How long does a person need to work to become eligible for retirement benefits? We base Social Security benefits on work credits. Anyone born in 1929 or later needs 40 Social Security credits to be eligible for retirement benefits. You can earn up to four credits a year, so you will need to work at least 10 years to become eligible for retirement benefits. Learn more by reading the publication How You Earn Credits at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10072.html.

consecutive days or more. If you are only going to be away for a few weeks, your SSI should not be affected. However, it’s important that you tell Social Security the date you plan to leave and the date you plan to come back. Then we can let you know whether your SSI will be affected. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov or call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments paid only to disabled or blind people?

payments can be made to people who are age 65 or older and have limited income and ﬁnancial resources. For more information, read our publication, Supplemental Security Income, at www. socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11000.html. How do I obtain a copy of the form, Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs? We recommend you use our online application at www.socialsecurity.gov/i1020/. Or you can call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, to ask for a paper application. Also, you can make an appointment at your local Social Security ofﬁce. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, call our tollfree TTY number, 1-800-325-0778. s Information provided by Kay Louder,

Will my son be eligible to receive benefits on his retired father’s record while going to college? No. At one time, Social Security did pay benefits to eligible college students. But, the law changed in 1981. We now pay benefits only to students taking courses at grade 12 or below. Normally, benefits stop when children reach age 18 unless they are disabled. However, if children are still full-time students at a secondary (or elementary) school at age 18, benefits generally can continue until they graduate or until two months after they reach age 19, whichever is first. If your child is still going to be in school at age 19, you’ll want to visit www.socialsecurity.gov/schools.

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CALENDAR UPCOMING EVENTS IN ALACHUA & MARION RESTORATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS Thursday, December 1 5:30pm - 6:45pm THE LIBRARY PARTNERSHIP - Need your rights restored so that you can vote, participate as a juror or hold public office? Come out and receive one-on-one application assistance regarding Restoration of Rights! 352-273-0800

INCOME TAX STRATEGIES

diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Dinner, dancing and live entertainment. Marion Ballet Theatre will perform scenes from “The Nutcracker,” and CF alum and Mezzo-Soprano Megan Thompson will perform. Mary Tyler Moore will share stories from her book. 352-427-2238

AGBEDIDI Dec. 2 - Dec. 4 Show times vary CONSTANS THEATRE - Agbedidi is Florida’s passport to excellence in West African dance and drumming. The concerts are allied with New World School of the Arts (NWSA, Miami), and they are dedicated to diversity in the world of dance. Featuring live dance, live music and ‘long life’ for African and other world cultures through the power of performance! 352-273-0526

A Christmas Story

Thursday, December 1 3:00pm - 4:30pm ELDERCARE - Dharma Foundation Education Room. JJ Luckey will present year-end incometax strategies and discuss the importance of record keeping and verifying information provided in your tax returns. 352-265-9040

AFTER HOURS Thursday, December 1 5:00pm - 8:00pm APPLETON MUSEUM OF ART - The Appleton’s holiday After Hours presents the Marion Civic Chorale performing traditional songs of the season. Guests will enjoy complimentary light hors d’oeuvres and art demonstrations by members of the Ocala Art Group. Admission - free, members and $8, nonmembers. 352-291-4455

Nov. 25 - Dec. 18 Times Vary GAINESVILLE COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE - Explore the humorous side to family life in 1930s small town America. Young Ralphie Parker desperately dreams off only one thing for Christmas — a genuine Red Ryder BB gun! Can Ralphie achieve his dream or will his mother’s r’s protests of “You’ll shoot your eye out!” prevail? You’ll want to bring the whole family to this stage adaption of the beloved film. Written by Philip Grecian. Directed by Thomas Muhn. 352-376-4949 www.gcplayhouse.org

NATIONAL NOVEL WRITING MONTH PARTY

OCALA’S BIGGEST HOLIDAY OFFICE PARTY

RECEPTION AND TREE LIGHTING

Thursday, December 1

Friday, December 2

Saturday, December 3

6:30pm - 8:30pm HIGH SPRINGS BRANCH LIBRARY - You did it! Thank goodness it is over! Come celebrate the end of National Novel Writing Month! 386-454-2515

7:00pm - 11:00pm GOLDEN OCALA GOLF AND EQUESTRIAN CLUB - Benefiting the Children’s Home Society and Kids Central, Inc., Enjoy dinner, dancing, photos, casino, wine tasting and more! Help Children’s Home Society by bringing an unwrapped gift. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Kids Central as well. Tickets will go fast! 352-402-4343

1:00pm - 4:00pm THOMAS CENTER, MAIN GALLERY - 2011 Holiday Craft Invitational, thru December. From furniture to clothing, from jewelry to quilting, from glass fusing to lamp-worked beads to stained glass, from hand-made journals to instruments designed to make beautiful music, the collection displayed is a celebration of design.

REINDEER RUN/WALK 5K

THE GAINESVILLE 10

THE JINGLE BELL BALL Friday, December 2 7:00pm - 11:00pm HISTORIC THOMAS CENTER - The Jingle Bell Ball is the Thomas Center Associates’ annual holiday fundraiser. Enjoy cocktails, dinner and dancing. Vic Donnell Trio with special guest Russell Robinson. Admission - $75.00, members and $80.00, non-members. 352-378-0692

HOPE FOR HOLIDAYS: GRACE’S GALA Friday, December 2 6:00pm - 12:00am HILTON OCALA - Named for Grace Cooper, the daughter of Dr. Ron and Sandra Cooper, who was

December 2011

Friday, December 2 6:00pm HAILE PLANTATION VILLAGE CENTER - Pin on your bells and strap on your antlers! Light the Village starts in the Haile Village Center at 5:00pm with train rides, photos with Santa, bounce houses, etc. On-site registration and packet pick up for the Run/ Walk begins at 4:30pm. Race starts at 6:00pm. Registration closes November 30 at noon. www.active.com

Thru December Opening Dec 3 at 1:00pm THOMAS CENTER MEZZANINE GALLERY - Photo exhibit. “The Gainesville Ten,” are independent professionals whose work can be seen in a variety of venues in the North Central Florida. Holiday Tree Lighting Celebration by the Mayor and Photographer’s Reception, Saturday, December 3 from 1:00pm - 4:00pm.

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MUSIKGARTEN Saturday, December 3 11:00am - Noon HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY - Learn how to nurture your child or grandchild’s music aptitude through active music making. This class provides an opportunity for you to play musically with your child through bouncing and rocking songs, wiggle and peek-a-boo games, dancing, moving, and singing. 352-334-3941

HOGTOWN 10K AND FAMILY FUN RUN Saturday, December 3 9:00am GAINESVILLE RACEWAY - The course is completely flat with long, straight runs, perfect for setting personal records. All proceeds benefit Florida Camps for Children and Youth with Diabetes. Day-of-race registration ends promptly at 8:30am. The 10K starts at 9:00am. Fun run starts at 9:15am. Register at www.active.com

URBAN DARE GAINESVILLE Saturday, December 3 Noon CITY HALL - Take the Dare! This is a team race. You must be together throughout the race. You may walk, run or use public transport to get to checkpoints. Bring a cell phone and digital camera to show your pictures. Maps are handy, and you should have someone to call to help with clues. $80 per team of two. 202-285-4510

BELLY DANCE CHOREOGRAPHY WORKSHOP Saturday, December 3 2:00pm HIP MOVES FITNESS STUDIO - 708 NW 23rd Ave. This is a 2-hour workshop designed for dancers with some belly-dance experience. You will learn choreography for the show Belly Dance Revolution: Tribal Mix. Bring water, a small towel, dance shoes/go barefoot. Wear stretchy pants and a fairly form-fitting t-shirt.

RWANDAN ARTWORK Saturday, December 3 3:00pm PRAIRIE CREEK LODGE - Rwanda Sustainable Families will hold its annual art exhibition and fundraising event. Come see how the children of two Rwandan primary schools in Rubavu District answered the question we posed: “How can you help change the world?” Wine and finger foods will be served. 352-373-1078

DUDLEY FARM CANE DAY Saturday, December 3 9:00am - 3:00pm DUDLEY FARM HISTORIC STATE PARK - Watch the traditional method of making cane syrup,

December 2011

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including our mule-driven cane mill and double kettle syrup complex. Other activities include traditional craft demonstrations, blacksmithing, woodworking, crosscut saw demonstrations, children’s games, a quilt drawing, music and more. 352-472-1142

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIR Dec. 3 - Dec. 4 10:00am - 5:00pm STEPHEN C. O’CONNELL CENTER - Annual event that showcases handmade crafts by talented artisans and craftsmen, and an opportunity to shop for unique merchandise and gifts; it features over 300 different vendors. Admission - $4; students with a valid student I.D. - $1. 352-392-5500

AFTERNOON OF MUSIC Sunday, December 4 2:00pm - 4:00pm HIGH SPRINGS BRANCH LIBRARY - Join Nancy Gillespie and her harp for a relaxing afternoon of music. Refreshments will be served. 386-454-2515

KATHARINE HEPBURN COLLECTION LECTURE Sunday, December 4 2:00pm APPLETON MUSEUM OF ART - A lecture on the design and construction of Hepburn’s costumes presented by Florida State University Associate Professor of Costume Technology Martha Cooper. “Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen” collection features Hepburn’s costumes and performance clothes from her six-decade career. 352-291-4460

CAROLS FROM AROUND THE WORLD Sunday, December 4 3:00pm FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH - 1126 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. The Central Florida Master Choir, conducted by Dr. Harold W. McSwain, Jr., will perform a program, including the Poulenc Christmas Motet(s), the premiere of two original works, and carols from the Huron Nation, Russia, Ukraine, France, Germany, Britain, America and others. Admission is free but donations benefit the Tuesday Morning Ministry to help those in need. 352-537-0207

THE SOUNDS OF THE SEASON Sunday, December 4 7:00pm PHILLIPS CENTER - The Gainesville Civic Chorus Master Chorale (GCC) joins the UF Concert Choir and Orchestra in their annual Sounds of the Season concert, under the direction of Dr. Will Kesling. Admission is free but a ticket is required for admission. 352-372-2691; janetcor@bellsouth.net

December 2011

The Nutcracker December 16-18

Times Vary

CURTIS M. PHILLIPS CENTER - Dance Alive National Ballet presents The Nutcracker on December 16 at 7:30pm, Dec. 17 at 2:00pm and December 18 at 2:00pm; Sugar Plum Tea on December 17 and 18 at 4:00pm; Chocolate and Champagne Gala on December 17 at 8:00pm. 352-392-1900.

ANNUAL HOMESTEAD HOLIDAYS

THE IMMIGRANT LIFE

Sunday, December 4

6:30pm - 7:30pm HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY - Join us for the closing reception of our traveling exhibit featuring the life of Maurice Sendak. Dr. Ruth Lowery, a professor in the College of Education and expert on immigrant literature will discuss the experience of immigrants and how it is reflected in literary works for children. 352-334-3947

Noon - 4:00pm HISTORIC HAILE HOMESTEAD - Stroll through the 1856 Homestead decked out in traditional greenery and Victorian finery. Docents in Victorian costume. Live holiday music. Free hot cider. Home-baked goodies, and our very special holiday ornaments, sold to benefit the operation of the Homestead. Admission is free. 352-336-9096

IMMUNIZATION FOR SENIORS Tuesday, December 6 3:00pm - 4:30pm SHANDS HEALTHCARE WELLNESS CLASSROOM - Dr. Small will discuss why the flu is a problem for Seniors and why the vaccine is essential for children and Seniors. 352-265-9040

BOOK GIVE-AWAY Wednesday, December 7 11:00am - 4:00pm THE LIBRARY PARTNERSHIP. 1130 NE 16th Ave., Gainesville - Free book Give-Away. Come pick from a wide variety of books. Supplies are limited. 352-955-5423

Wednesday, December 7

HARMONY FOR THE HOLIDAYS Thursday, December 8 7:00pm HISTORIC THOMAS CENTER - Holiday Chamber Concert featuring the Gainesville Brass Quintet. More details to come. 352-336-5448

THE POLAR EXPRESS: A FAMILY HOLIDAY EVENT Thursday, December 8 6:30pm OCALA HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY - Celebrate the holidays with your favorite librarians, a few good books and lots of cheer. Don your mittens and hop aboard as the volunteers from United Way recreate the wonderland of The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. All families welcome. 352-671-8551

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OCALA BUSINESS LEADERS CHRISTMAS PARTY Thursday, December 8 5:00pm HOMEWOOD SUITES BY HILTON IN OCALA Come out and enjoy the Holiday spirit while networking with Ocala’s Business Leaders. Join us for hors’devours, drawings and door prizes. OBL Membership is NOT required. Their goal is to end 2011 with a bang and make the foundation of 2012 a Historical Prosperous Year for Marion County Businesses. 352-207-4057

LEARN TO

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CANDLELIGHT VISITS Friday, December 9 6:00pm - 9:00pm HISTORIC HAILE HOMESTEAD - A rare opportunity to experience the 1856 original plantation house decorated for the holidays and illuminated by the glow of candles and soft lights. Docents in costume will greet you as you step over the threshold and back in time. Free refreshments! Holiday music! Self-guided tour. 352-336-9096

THE NUTCRACKER Dec. 9 - Dec. 18 Show times vary OCALA CIVIC THEATRE - As the resident dance company of Ocala Civic Theatre, The Marion Ballet Theatre proudly presents the 31st season of the holiday classic, “The Nutcracker.” Audience members of all ages will be transported to a Victorian-era holiday. 352-236-2274

SANTA OVER THE RAINBOW Dec. 9 - Dec. 11 6:00pm - 8:00pm RAINBOW SPRINGS STATE PARK - Friends of Rainbow Springs will once again bring Santa Claus to Dunnellon. Walk through the wonderland of lights, and see Mr. and Mrs. Claus come up the Rainbow River on a lighted boat, then head to their cottage for pictures. Also Dec. 16 - Dec. 18 and Dec. 26 - Dec. 27. 352-465-8555

HISTORIC HOLIDAY HOMES TOUR Saturday, December 10 6:00pm - 8:00pm MATHESON MUSEUM - Bring the whole family for an evening of viewing the Downtown Historic District’s most beautiful homes “decked” out in their holiday best. Enjoy the spirit of the season with live music, tours and light refreshments. This is a family friendly event. 352-378-2280

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December 2011

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HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE Saturday, December 10 10:00am - 5:00pm ANA VARELA’S POTTERY STUDIO - 508 SE Tuscawailla Road, Micanopy. Several local artists display an array of arts and crafts to the sound of Doug Dewey’s accordion band. A festive celebration on its 15th year, benefitting A.C.T. and Tuscawilla Preserve on the beautiful grounds of Ana Varela’s Studio. 342-466-4973

ELECTRONIC RECYCLING DRIVE Saturday, December 10 Noon - 4:00pm NORTHWOOD YMCA - 5201 NW 34th St. Drop off any and all unwanted electronics. Cell phones, laptops, gaming devices, computers, pagers, etc. Damaged or broken. Help keep electronics out of our landfills and waterways and contribute to the YMCA at the same time. 352-502-4204

SANTA DASH Saturday, December 10 8:00am HAILE VILLAGE CENTER - A 5k fun run where each participant is dressed as Santa. This is a fundraising event for Haile’s Angels Pet Rescue, The American Cancer Society and Give Kids The World. Registration fee includes Santa Suit, which must be worn. Run, jog or walk in this hilarious event! www.active.com

HOLIDAY PARTY AND SANTA VISIT Saturday, December 10 10:30am - 11:30am BELLEVIEW PUBLIC LIBRARY - Stories, songs, crafts, and a visit with Santa. Parents and grandparents, do not forget your cameras. This is a registration-only event. Register at the Belleview Public Library Children’s through Dec. 7. 352-438-2500

Operation very Santa Delivery Saturday, December 17 10:00am - 1:00pm SANTA FE NORTH FIELDS Intersection of NW 39 Ave. & NW 91 St. Witness the event’s biggest gest spectacle, Santa’s grand arrival. al. He doesn’t enter through an ordinary chimney but aboard the he ShandsCair helicopter. Once the he commotion of Santa’s entrance e simmers down, meet the famed d Saint and pose for a picture! The event also has fun booths,, featuring unique’ activities. 352-224-1650

instrumentalists and adult, youth and children’s choirs interspersed with the story of Jesus’ birth. December 10, 7:00pm and December 11, 11:00am and 7:00pm. 352-378-3500

event to celebrate the holiday season. The concert features area high school choral groups performing with the Alachua County Youth Orchestra and the Gainesville Youth Chorus. 352377-2622. www.StopChildrensCancer.org

MELROSE MADRIGAL Dec. 10 - Dec. 11 Times vary TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 204 State Road 26, Melrose - Singers in colorful Renaissance costume present secular and sacred vocal and instrumental music and divertissements from the time of Elizabeth I. Light refreshments from the period. The program concludes with sacred Songs of the Season and familiar carols. Tickets: $15. December 10, 7:30pm; December 11, 3:00pm. 352-475-2762

ECO-GARDENING

KATHARINE HEPBURN EXHIBITION FILM Dec. 11 and Dec. 18 2:00pm APPLETON MUSEUM OF ART - In conjunction with the “Katharine Hepburn: Dressed for Stage and Screen” exhibit at the Appleton Museum of Art, two Hepburn films will be shown in the auditorium on Sundays. “State of the Union” on December 11 and “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner” on December 18. 352-291-4455

SCENES FROM DICKENS’ A CHRISTMAS CAROL

SEASON OF HOPE RUN

Sunday, December 11

Saturday, December 10

2:00pm MARION COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY, 2720 East Silver Springs Blvd. - Lucy Beebe Tobias, Florida writer and Ocala resident, presents a slide show/ talk/book signing of “Florida Gardens Gone Wild.” Tobias will show slides of gardens, flowers, rain barrels, butterflies and much more. A book signing follows the talk. It’s a combination of both inspirational and practical advice for gardeners. Free. Refreshments will be served. 352-368-4507

Monday, December 12

Dec. 10 - Dec. 11

HOLIDAY TRADITIONS

Monday, December 12

Times vary UNITED CHURCH OF GAINESVILLE - Spend some time reveling in the beauty of traditional and non-traditional Christmas music offered by

Sunday, December 11

6:00pm - 8:30pm ALACHUA COUNTY HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY Looking for that perfect holiday gift? Considering an eReader or audio device? Stop by the Alachua

8:30am GAINESVILLE HAWTHORNE TRAIL - Join Tyler’s Hope and The UF Center for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration for the 2nd Annual Season of Hope Run on the Gainesville Hawthorne Trail. Certification of the 15K has been approved by the USATF (FL11088EBM). Shirts are available for first 400 participants and prizes. bit.ly/dec10race

LESSONS AND CAROLS

December 2011

4:00pm PHILLIPS CENTER - Join STOP! Children’s Cancer, Inc. for a heartwarming, family friendly

10:30am - 11:30am ARCHER COMMUNITY CENTER - Celebrate the Christmas Holiday with Scenes from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol presented by Jordan Glen Middle School students. This program is sponsored by Archer Branch Library of Alachua County Library District and Jordan Glen School. 352-495-3367

HOLIDAY HANDS-ON HANDHELD

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County Library and learn about the eBooks and audio-books available for download from the ACLD, all free with your library card. If you pre-register for the class, you have the opportunity to submit questions ahead of time. 352-334-3938

A VISIT WITH SANTA Tuesday, December 13 6:30pm - 7:00pm MILLHOPPER BRANCH LIBRARY - Come see Santa and whisper your wish in his ear. 352-318-8653

MOMMY AND ME ONSTAGE Wednesday, December 14 5:00pm PHILLIPS CENTER - Join the dancers onstage during their final dress rehearsal of the Nutcracker. Sitting up close and personal gives your child a special experience never to be forgotten. $100 for Mommy and one child. $50 for each additional child. 352-371-2986

MANAGING THE ACHING KNEE Thursday, December 15

Dessert Extravaganza!! Extravaganza DECEMBER 10TH — 2:00PM

Just the 2 of Us in Concert & Food by Brian Hildreth executive chef Seating is limited, RSVP by Dec. 9th

BRING A TOY FOR

3:00pm - 4:30pm SHANDS HEALTHCARE WELLNESS CLASSROOM - For more information, 352265-9040. claria@shands.ufl.edu

MYSTERY READING GROUP: ANTI-HOLIDAY Thursday, December 15 6:30pm - 8:00pm HIGH SPRINGS BRANCH LIBRARY - Join fellow readers for discussions of mystery novels. Had enough holiday cheer? Read an anti-holiday novel. Be prepared to defend your selection. Bring it and any other mysteries you have read this month to discuss. Newcomers welcome. 386-454-2515

HOLIDAZE IN HICKSVILLE Friday, December 16 7:30pm PHILLIPS CENTER - Spend the “holidaze” with Dan Hicks and the Hot Licks. Since the 1960s, Hicks has blended elements of folk, swing, country music and jazz to create a uniquely American sound that is sometimes called “folk jazz.” Now Hicks and his Hot Licks put their touch on holiday favorites! 352-392-1900

HOLIDAY CONCERT Friday, December 16 3:00pm - 7:00pm THE LIBRARY PARTNERSHIP - Kick off your holiday season while relaxing to Holiday music by Mary O’Banyan-Abdullah. Cookies will be served. 352-528-0148

MESSIAH SING ALONG Saturday, December 17 7:30pm HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH - 100 NE 1st St. This Christmas tradition is not a concert but an invitation to everyone to join the members of the GCC in singing selections from the wonderful music of Handel’s Messiah. Admission is free. A $5 donation is appreciated. 352-372-2691; email janetcor@bellsouth.net

THE MAGIC OF BRIAN LAPALME Saturday, December 17 2:00pm - 3:00pm MARION OAKS LIBRARY - Welcome back acclaimed circus magician Brian LaPalme as he razzle-dazzles us all. You won’t believe your eyes! Program

NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH! Dec. 31st 7:00pm

Mr. October in Concert, Live Entertainment, Dancing, Food, and more! Seating is limited, RSVP by Dec. 30th

NEAR THORNEBROOK VILLAGE

2431 NW 41ST STREET, GAINESVILLE, FL 32606-9990

352-378-0773

December 2011

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will be held in the Marion Oaks Community Center Meeting Room. Seating is limited. 352347-2179

SHOP, DINE AND STROLL

San Martìn de Timucua. Learn about the ancient Timucuan capital of Aquacalyquen. Space is limited, and reservations are recommended. Long pants, sturdy shoes and insect repellent are highly recommended. 386-497-4690

Saturday, December 17 6:00pm - 9:00pm DOWNTOWN ALACHUA - The Christmas spirit and a very magical time come to Alachua. Lights are in the trees. Caroling, carriage rides, music and Santa. 386-462-3333

FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS AND CHRISTMAS PARADE Saturday, December 17 1:00pm NEWBERRY - Vendors and stores open late. Santa and Mrs. Claus in the Pocket park. Bring the family out to Newberry. Where the festival vendors open at 1:00pm, the parade begins at 5:00pm, and Santa will be in the park from 6:00pm - 8:00pm. Bring out the family and enjoy!

THE ICHETUCKNEE TIME MACHINE Saturday, December 17 9:00am - Noon ICHETUCKNEE SPRINGS STATE PARK - Take a fascinating journey by van into the Ichetucknee forest, to the site of the 17th Century Mission de

December 2011

SENIOR SOCIAL Monday, December 19 10:00am - 11:30am THE LIBRARY PARTNERSHIP - Tired of just sitting around the house? Stop by the Library Partnership to chat, network, share information and make new friends. Coffee or tea provided. 352-334-0165

PLAYFUL ESCAPES Dec. 27 - Dec. 30 Hours may vary by day FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY Finish your shopping and run errands while your children enjoy a day at the museum. Children participate in hands-on activities that keep their minds moving during school breaks. Register your child for the morning, afternoon or all day. A half-day session is $27 for members, $30 for non-members. A full-day session is $45 for members, $50 for non-members. Pre-registration is required. 352-273-2061

DOWNTOWN COUNTDOWN Saturday, December 31 9:00pm - 12:30am BO DIDLEY COMMUNITY PLAZA - New Year’s Eve celebration concert hosted by the City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. Headlining the concert is the Beatles tribute band, The Impostors, a six-piece group comprised of some of the area’s most popular musicians. 352-393-8746

NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY WITH MAGICIAN BRIAN LAPALME Saturday, December 31 2:00pm OCALA HEADQUARTERS LIBRARY - Ring in the New Year with Marion County’s favorite magician! Tickets will be handed out at 1:30pm. For families with children in grades K-6. 352-671-8551 s

If you would like us to publicize an event in Alachua or Marion counties, send information by the 13th day of the month prior. All submissions will be reviewed and every effort will be made to run qualified submissions if page space is available.

1-800-967-7382 (fax) editor@towerpublications.com

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THEATRE Acrosstown Repertory Theatre.....................619 S. Main Street, Gainesville Curtis M. Phillips Center ........................................... 315 Hull Road, Gainesville Gainesville Community Playhouse ....... 4039 N.W. 16th Blvd., Gainesville Hippodrome State Theatre................................. 25 SE 2nd Place, Gainesville UF Constans Theatre ................................................. Museum Road, Gainesville Nadine McGuire Blackbox Theatre ................... Museum Road, Gainesville Insomniac Theatre Company ............................E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala Ocala Civic Theatre ..................................4337 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala High Springs Community Theater .......... 130 NE 1st Avenue, High Springs

352-371-1234 352-392-ARTS 352-376-4949 352-375-4477 352-273-0526 352-392-1653 352-897-0477 352-236-2274 386-454-3525

GAINESVILLE COMMUNITY PLAYHOUSE

A Christmas Story Through December 18 Explore the humorous side to family life in 1930s small-town America. Young Ralphie Parker desperately dreams of only one thing for Christmas—a genuine Red Ryder BB gun! Can Ralphie achieve his dream or will his mother’s protests of “You’ll shoot your eye out!” prevail? You’ll want to bring the whole family to this stage adaptation of the beloved ﬁlm. HIPPODROME STATE THEATRE

ACROSSTOWN REPERTORY THEATRE

A Christmas From Heck Dec. 2 - Dec. 18 Typical of every good middle class family in Austin, the Hecks gather for a Christmas with their kept secrets, but we all know what happens after

that setup falls apart... Austin Heck and his wife, Kiama, steel themselves for one last Heck yuletide hurrah before the divorce. Can a typical dysfunctional Christmas force a typical Austin, Texas, dysfunctional suburban family ﬁnd a safe harbor in each other? Bring the family!

CURTIS M. PHILLIPS CENTER

December 2011

A Christmas Carol Through December 17 A Gainesville tradition for the entire family. Join Scrooge, Marley, the Cratchits and a host of Christmas ghosts for this holiday favorite. Dazzling special effects, an original adaptation and a timeless message of goodwill have made A Christmas Carol one of the most popular Hippodrome productions of all time.

Cinderella December 10

This Wonderful Life Through December 21

Celebrate the holidays with Danscompany’s rendition of Cinderella. This full-length ballet has been a holiday and family tradition in Gainesville since 1993. It’s a timeless love story brought to life through magical performances by Cinderella, the Four Fairies of the Seasons and an entourage of other beautiful and entertaining performances. Cinderella’s love, the Prince, is played by an international performer where he returns Cinderella’s lost slipper but attempts to steal her heart.

Back by popular demand! Visit Bedford Falls for a humorous and captivating staging of Frank Capra’s Hollywood classic. This tour de force production for one actor (Christopher Swan) playing 32 characters, from George Bailey to Zuzu, delivers a witty and moving story that is sure to capture your heart and captivate your spirit.

Dance Alive Holiday Schedule Dec. 16 - Dec. 18

Friday and Saturday at 8:00pm; Sunday at 2:00pm The Christmas classic adapted from the Frank Capra classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.” This year done in the style that has become a High Springs tradition, as a staged Radio Show. With all of your favorite characters on stage, this year promises to be must see. Don’t miss this heart warming family entertainment.

Dance Alive National Ballet presents The Nutcracker on December 16 at 7:30pm, December 17 at 2:00pm and December 18 at 2:00pm; Sugar Plum Tea on December 17 and 18 at 4:00pm; Chocolate and Champagne Gala on December 17 at 8:00pm.

HIGH SPRINGS COMMUNITY THEATER

It’s a Wonderful Life Dec. 2 - Dec. 18

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OCALA CIVIC THEATRE

The Nutcracker December 9-18 As the resident dance company of Ocala Civic Theatre, The Marion Ballet Theatre proudly presents the 31st season of the holiday classic, “The Nutcracker”. With original choreography conceived by our founder Ms. Jeanne Benson-Smith and further developed and annually revised by the current Artistic Director, Ms. Nicole Benson, the musical score includes some of Tchaikovsky’s most recognizable pieces. Audience members of all ages will be transported to a Victorian era holiday. From the elegant party scene in the Stahlbaum’s living room to a battle between the Rat King and the Nutcracker, through a beautiful forest in a snowstorm, and on to a magical land of sweets.Come celebrate the season with The Marion Ballet Theatre and the Nutcracker. This show is appropriate for all ages. s

December 2011

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December 2011

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December 2011

57 57

BOOK REVIEW BY

TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

The Secret Lives of Wives IRIS KRASNOW c.2011, Gotham Books $26.00 / $30.00 Canada 267 pages

ou saw them walking around town today. Everyone did, and they all smiled. They had to be seventy- or even eighty-something. He had a cane over one elbow and his other was crooked for her. She held tight to him as they walked and talked, and when she looked at him,

years melted away. They were so in love, and you wondered how they sustained it. How did they manage to stay together through everything that happens over decades of marriage? Wed for over 20 years, author Iris Krasnow thinks she knows. In her new book â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Secret Lives of Wives,â&#x20AC;? she explains. When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a bride â&#x20AC;&#x201D; particularly a ďŹ rst-time bride â&#x20AC;&#x201D; nervous is normal. You love that guy youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hitched to now, but what if marriage turns out to be a big mistake? If you married today for the ďŹ rst time, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have had plenty of time to consider things. Modern newlyweds are older than those of yesteryear; theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re more educated, and more afďŹ&#x201A;uent. Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more, over 85 percent of us will marry at some time in our lives. So what keeps a couple together? The ďŹ rst thing, says Krasnow, is to â&#x20AC;&#x153;work on yourselfâ&#x20AC;? and to keep part of your identity separate from that of your husband. Remember who you were before you were Mrs. or Mommy. Cultivate your own interests and friends, both male and female. Krasnow even advocates separate vacations. â&#x20AC;&#x153;You donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get it all from one person in one place,â&#x20AC;? says Krasnow. In fact, she learned that the happiest wives donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t rely on their husbands for their happiness. Insist that you both do what you say youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re going to do. Tell each other about

your day and your thoughts. Lower your expectations â&#x20AC;&#x201D; nobodyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s perfect â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and accept what is. Inject three elements into your marriage: â&#x20AC;&#x153;trust, respect, and intimacy, emotional and physical.â&#x20AC;? And remember that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s your marriage and whatever works for you is whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right. Overall, though, says Krasnow, the best way to stay married is not to get divorced. Understand that the grass is not greener on the other side of the aisle and that even a â&#x20AC;&#x153;fresh romanceâ&#x20AC;? will also go stale eventually. If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a wife, there are many reasons to like reading â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Secret Lives of Wives.â&#x20AC;? There are also many reasons to raise your eyebrows in surprise. By using stories from real women who were â&#x20AC;&#x153;willing to reveal all,â&#x20AC;? as well as through her own experiences, author Iris Krasnow shows readers that marriages can thrive and survive, even during a time when divorce is relatively easy. Her advice, and that of experts, will give any struggling bride comfort. I liked Krasnowâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s optimism and her beenthere honesty. But even Krasnow was astonished at what she uncovered. To maintain a marriage of longevity, some happily wedded wives are resorting to actions that are unconventional, to say the least... If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re limping toward â&#x20AC;&#x153;the ďŹ nish lineâ&#x20AC;? in marriage and you want to know how others got there, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll ďŹ nd this book intriguing. For you, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The Secret Lives of Wivesâ&#x20AC;? are ďŹ nally unveiled. s Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives with her two dogs and 11,000 books.

1415 Fort Clarke Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32606 r )BSCPS$IBTF DPN

December 2011

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ADVE RTI S E M E NT

Beating the Holiday Blues CARETENDERS HELPS CLIENTS DETERMINE IS IT THE BLUES OR DEPRESSION?

veryone feels blue sometimes. The holiday season affects people in a variety of ways. For some it brings about hope and joy, for others it stirs up feelings of loneliness and despair. If you find yourself in the second category, try some of these tips and tricks to beat the holiday blues.

TIPS & TRICKS TO BEAT THE BLUES: Be Realistic – Don’t compare your situation to anyone else. Be kind to yourself and seek support when you need it. Create New Traditions – Life is ever changing. Don’t hold on to the past so tightly that you can’t make your present enjoyable. Help Others – You are never too young, too old, or too financially strapped to help others. A kind word, a genuine smile, or a helping hand can go a long way to change someone’s day – including your own! Grieve – Remember with joy those who are no longer here to celebrate this holiday season with you. Allow yourself time to enjoy, remember, and heal. Forgive – Offering forgiveness to others is a wonderful holiday gift. You will

more than likely find that the gift is one that also benefits you.

“I wondered if my family could manage all the care I needed after leaving the hospital.”

Love – Love everything! From the silly songs to the twinkling lights, find a way to love this holiday season…and most importantly love yourself! For many seniors the ideas above will work. However, when the feelings of sadness and “the blues” don’t go away he or she may be clinically depressed. Identifying depression in older adults is not always easy. Many older Americans grew up in a time where depression was not understood as a biological illness. They may fear being labeled as “difficult” or “weak” when they cannot overcome these feelings. Is your loved one having a hard time finding motivation to get dressed in the morning? Has his or her appetite diminished? Do they appear to have lost the will to live? Are the things that they once looked forward to no longer appealing? If so, Caretenders’ comprehensive behavioral health nursing program might be the answer. Call today if you feel you or your loved one could benefit from help in managing the troubles listed here. Remember, depression is a medical illness that will not simply go away, but it can be managed with the help of Caretenders’ senior advocacy team.

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North Florida Regional is Gainesville’s only Top Performer on Key Quality Measures recognized by The Joint Commission At North Florida Regional, we are committed to quality and are recognized for that commitment by some of the most respected organizations in healthcare. Now, The Joint Commission, the nation’s leading accreditor of healthcare organizations, recognizes North Florida Regional Medical Center for being among the nation’s best for heart attack, heart failure, pneumonia and surgical care. We are proud to be the only hospital in Gainesville to receive this recognition.