OCTOBER 2014
TM
SINCE 1980 — VolUME 34 • NUMBER 10
Dawn Wells Shares Mary Ann’s Lessons for Life By Nick Thomas
GOING BEYOND MEDICATION TO TREAT CHRONIC PAIN
PAGe 3
Medical Marijuana In November,
Mix it with alcohol, and you have a dou-
will have the responsibility of setting the climate for how the state is perceived. Amendment 2 on the ballot, if passed, will allow marijuana to be used for a myriad of ailments, from headaches to loss of sleep. All one would need would be a “permit to possess” card after being seen by a physician. Since it is an illegal drug, a doctor could not write a prescription, so they would merely state that they saw the patient and the patient may have a condition that would be helped by using marijuana. There are no restrictions on the amount dispensed or age, so it could be used by teens, and they would not need parental permission to obtain it. I am a retired RN, having worked for more than 20 years in the field of substance abuse, in treatment centers and as a youthful offender substance abuse counselor in prison. Those experiences have given me more than ample knowledge of the consequences of substance abuse, having witnessed it firsthand on many different fronts. Contrary to what is being touted, marijuana is not harmless. It is addictive and is a gateway to other drugs.
marijuana interferes with the normal growth progression of the brain, creating irreversible damage. Because marijuana is stored in the fat cells of the brain, one can test positive for the drug in his or her system for as long as a month after the last use! THC, the addictive component in marijuana, has increased in potency about 11 percent since the ‘80s. Growers are continually working to increase the amount of THC in their crops to meet the needs of the addicted users who need a stronger strain to get the high they seek. Amendment 2 has no restrictions on the potency of the drug, and dispensers and growers will be immune from any legal responsibility for its use. This spring, the Florida Legislature passed a medical marijuana law, and it was signed by Gov. Scott. This bill regulates the drug and its growers concerning the production of a low THC marijuana for medical purposes that cannot be smoked, but will be made for medical use for those that have no other options, or choose to use it as an alternative to prescription drugs. See MARIJUANA, Page 25
By Carolyn Shockey Florida voters ble whammy. When used by a teenager,
BABY BOOMERS’ RETIREMENT: BOOM OR BUST?
PAGe 10
SPRINGTIME ALONG THE DANUBE RIVER
PAGE 24
What should have been “a threehour tour” turned into a 50-year journey for Dawn Wells, who played castaway Mary Ann in the zany sitcom “Gilligan’s Island” that debuted on CBS in September 1964. “I’m still talking and writing about the show, and it continues to gain new fans,” Wells said. “If you’re a 10-year-old kid watching the show today, there’s not much to date it – a desert island is a desert island!” To celebrate the show’s 50th anniversary, Wells draws on her life experiences in the recently released book, “What Would Mary Ann Do?: A Guide to Life,” co-written with Steve Stinson. “I wrote the book partly in response to fans over the years,” Wells said. “It’s amazing that so many people See WELLS, Page 31
Top: Wells with cast of Gilligan’s Island. Above: Recent Dawn Wells photo from publicist.
Senior Voice America…in print, on the web and on the air with Health, Wealth & Wisdom. Tune in to AM 1250 WHNZ Monday thru Friday, from 7 to 9 p.m. as Publisher Evan Gold brings you the information to live an active mature lifestyle. ime T w e N ot! Visit our new website, Tampa Bay’s leading news source Sl for seniors, www.seniorvoiceamerica.com.
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
General Election November 4, 2014
FIVE THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW TO BE ELECTION READY — 1.
Voter Registration Deadline – October 6
2.
All voters can vote by mail. All eligible mail ballots are included in final election results. To vote at your convenience, request a mail ballot by visiting www.votepinellas.com or by calling (727) 464-VOTE (8683). Ballots can be returned by mail or dropped off at any drop-off location, but must be received by 7 p.m. Election Day.
3.
Early Voting has new days, hours & locations. NEW Days and Hours (Varies by County) October 20 – November 2 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. Daily Locations - Supervisor of Elections Offices: 13001 Starkey Rd., Largo (Starkey Lakes Corporate Center) 315 Court St., Room 117, Clearwater (Courthouse) 501 1st Ave. N., St. Petersburg NEW Additional Locations: Centre of Palm Harbor, 1500 16th St., Palm Harbor Gulfport Neighborhood Center, 1617 49th St. S., Gulfport
4.
On Election Day, voters must vote in the precincts in which they live. Precinct, voting districts and polling place information can be found on your current voter information card or online by selecting “Find Your Precinct” at www.votepinellas.com.
5.
To avoid delays, bring photo and signature ID to the polls and make sure the Elections Office has your current name, address and signature. Deborah Clark Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Senior Voice of America - October 2014
OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
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Health Roundup
Going Beyond Medication to Treat Chronic Pain Nearly 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain—that’s more than the number of people living with heart disease, cancer and diabetes combined. Often experienced as pain that lasts over three to six months, chronic pain is a serious and debilitating condition that, if left unmanaged, can negatively impact nearly every aspect of your life. Chronic pain is the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States and is a significant burden to the health care economy and society as a whole. It costs as much as $635 million annually in direct medical treatment costs and low productivity, according to government statistics. Surprisingly, 40 percent of work absences are due to back pain, second only to the common cold. Zac Cover, a former fire fighter and triathlete, knows the devastating impact of chronic pain. In 2006, the Floridian was hit by a car while cycling and suffered multiple injuries, including broken ribs, a badly injured leg, fractured arm and severed nerve in his broken collarbone. Cover underwent seven operations and was bedridden for nearly six months. While the surgeries corrected the physical damage to his body, Cover was left with excruciating pain that lasted for years. His doctor prescribed medication that helped ease the pain but left him foggy-headed, with a poor memory and unable to enjoy activities he loved. After months of trying other unsuccessful
treatments, Cover’s doctor recommended neurostimulation, also known as spinal cord stimulation (SCS)—an advanced therapy option used to manage chronic pain in the arms, legs and trunk, as well as pain caused by failed back surgery. SCS involves implanting a small device (the size of a silver dollar) along the spinal cord, where it emits low-intensity electrical pulses that intercept the body’s pain signals before they reach the brain, replacing feelings of pain with a more pleasant tingling sensation. Dr. Timothy Deer, president-elect of the International Neuromodulation Society, said he had seen an increase in the number of people receiving SCS. “Spinal cord stimulation is an important therapy option for patients who have not been able to alleviate their chronic pain through traditional methods, such as back surgery or pharmacological options,” Deer said. “Studies have shown SCS can reduce pain by 50 percent or more, and patients have the option to try a temporary implant to see if they’re comfortable with the therapy.” Over time, Cover was able to resume almost all his normal activities—like biking, swimming and running—because he can now better manage his pain. In fact, he was able to draw from this experience and began working as a clinical specialist at St. Jude Medical, the company that manufactured his device. Cover now works with patients also suf-
fering from chronic pain who have or are about to receive SCS systems. Cover urged others suffering from chronic pain to talk to their doctors about the best treatment options for them. “Spinal cord stimulation has given me back a life I didn’t think I would have again,” Cover said. “My pain level is much lower, and I’ve been able to stop taking pain medication. It’s dramatically transformed my quality of life.”
TMTM
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
TM TM
Senior Voice America, Inc. P.O. BOX 1379 Lutz, FL 33548-1379 Phone (813) 444-1011 • Fax (813) 422-7966 www.seniorvoiceamerica.com Staff Publisher: Evan Gold evan@seniorvoiceamerica.com Associate Publisher: Timm Harmon timm@seniorvoiceamerica.com Managing Editor/Broadcast Producer: Deb Goldman deb@seniorvoiceamerica.com Editor: Lauren Potts lauren@seniorvoiceamerica.com Creative Director: Lourdes M. Sáenz lourdes@seniorvoiceamerica.com ADVERTISING REPRESENTATIVES • (813) 444-1011 Timm Harmon timm@seniorvoiceamerica.com Join our sales team. For information about opportunities throughout Florida and North America, email timm@seniorvoiceamerica.com.
Contributors Abne M. Eisenberg • Jon Lynn Carolyn Shockey • Nick Thomas Evelyn Levin • James Forstall Mary Novak-Beatty • Ruth Fanovich Jean Mlincek Ro Martinez • Carol Roberts Would you like to write for Senior Voice America? Please email editor@seniorvoiceamerica.com.
Senior Voice is a Proud Member of Better Living for Seniors The Guardian Association of Pinellas County The Florida Assisted Living Association Senior Voice America is published monthly and is distributed free of charge, courtesy of its advertisers. Distribution area includes Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Sarasota and Manatee counties. Articles and advertising contained in this issue do not necessarily reflect the opinion or endorsement of the publisher, who does not verify advertiser claims and reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertising.
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FROM THE PUBLISHER Outliving Your Money
With the continued improvement in healthcare and more and more seniors taking better care of themselves later in life, many individuals are finding themselves living longer, but lacking the finances to do so in a comfortable manner. And this is a serious issue for our senior population and their children. So what is one to do? One of the biggest concerns for the current crop of seniors and boomers is outliving their savings and investments. Having to lower their standards of living significantly, having to move in with their children or being forced into a Medicaid subsidized nursing home are some of the options they are faced with. So what is my advice? Find a trustworthy financial planner, and have them run a social security optimization report. Have them look over your finances and see how you can best manage your money to last for your lifetime. Look into long-term care. And have a candid conversation with your children about your finances and your future. Now the last one is the most daunting. But I believe it is the one that makes the most sense. We raised them and did everything we could to give them a positive start and improve their lives. Maybe there are things you can do for them now that “pay it forward.” You know, sort of like helping them with your grandchildren and taking care of things they need to make their lives easier and more productive. Oh, how that will help when you need their assistance in the future. I have four children and I know how hard it is to swallow your words sometimes and not give that piece of advice. Or how difficult it is to just let the slights slide. I am also a son and son-in-law and know that side of it as well. And I am not saying to not take them to task when need be, but these are the individuals that you will probably need to rely on one day. So the more you can do to be valued and appreciated will only draw the family closer together, and the assistance and support you may need will be more readily provided.
Evan Gold FROM THE EDITOR When I was small, there was one book in my collection that I loved best of all: “The Little White Horse,” by Elizabeth Goudge. It tells the story of a girl who loses her London family and moves to the English countryside, where she restores balance to her community and heals a longstanding rift between relatives, in addition to, of course, defeating evil. Suffice it to say, she was most inspirational. And against the backdrop of all her victories, adventures and thrilling close shaves, a little white horse who is sometimes there and sometimes not stands watch over human upheavals from the silvery shadows of the wood. I am in England now, as an adult, in one of real life’s beautiful adventures. This morning, as I rose from sleep to wander the lofty spaces of the country manor that has become my temporary home, I found myself in a drawing room with floor-to-ceiling windows, looking out on the morning mist. If you have never seen the English countryside, trust me when I say that there is something about adding your eyes to the countless many who have gazed on England’s trees and fields and valleys, land that has been lived on and loved for thousands of years. As the sun began to rise and burn off the mist, I watched gently rolling pastures and split-rail fences come into view. And there, away off at the edge of the fields and the wood, stood a little white horse. In that moment, it was as if the magic of my childhood superimposed itself on the visceral reality of my present. In a foreign country, in a period of post-college doubt and ambiguity, even amidst the general fog of jet lag and early morning, I felt completely at home. I have no words of wisdom or groundbreaking insights. I only know that today I was reminded of something I had forgotten for a very long time: that the dreams we have as children, the books that shine like sunlight on the seeds of our infant imaginations—these are still lovely and still important. Many dreams do not come to be. Other dreams, once realized, shape themselves around the fact of our collective mess, our imperfect reality. But there are perfect moments, and memories of perfect dreams. They run out of light and fade back into evening, hoof beats pounding the Earth, just out of reach, a fleet of little white horses. “…The raised hoof, the proud poised head, the flowing mane, The supreme moment of stillness before the flight, The moment of farewell, of wordless pleading For remembrance of things lost to earthly sight... Lost and gone and now I do not know If it was a little white horse that I saw, Or only a moonbeam astray in the silver night.”
Lauren Potts
OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
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Health Roundup
Kidney Disease Is on the Rise: What You Need to Know Kidney disease is on the rise, according to government statistics. Even if you haven’t been diagnosed, getting informed about it is important, as more than 26 million Americans likely have kidney disease and more than 430,000 Americans are currently receiving dialysis treatment for kidney failure, according to the National Kidney Foundation. Kidney Disease Awareness and Education Week, recognized August 5-10, is a great time to get the facts:
Ask Your Doctor Those with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) don’t exhibit symptoms until the disease is advanced, according to the National Kidney Foundation. As a result, you could have the disease long before you’re aware. Left untreated, it can lead to other serious health complications. While standard annual physicals don’t include tests that detect kidney disease, you can be proactive and ask your doctor to test you. Age, obesity, high blood pressure and ethnicity can all play a role in your risk of developing the disease. Talk to your physician about what diagnostics are right for you.
Treatment Options When CKD progresses to the point of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), dialysis therapy or a kidney transplant is necessary to sustain life. Whereas traditionally patients with ESRD visit a dialysis center three times a week for treatments lasting about four
hours, a new movement to improve renal care is giving patients access to home hemodialysis. Home hemodialysis is a different way of doing hemodialysis. When prescribed by their doctor, trained patients and their care partners are able to perform their dialysis treatments on their own schedule in their home or while traveling. Additionally, home hemodialysis can be done more frequently, which is closer to how healthy kidneys work. Many patients report—and various studies have confirmed—that compared to thrice-weekly, in-center hemodialysis, more frequent home hemodialysis may offer the following health and quality of life benefits: lower risk of death, better blood pres-
sure control with fewer medications, less stress on the heart, quicker recover, more energy and improved appetite. Given the flexibility and health benefits of more frequent home hemodialysis, many patients are regaining their lifestyles. “Home dialysis has restored my freedom to travel, visit friends and experience so many things I wasn’t able to do during my years of in-center dialysis,” said Henning Sondergaard, a NxStage System One user. After learning about home dialysis, Sondergaard began using NxStage System One, which is currently the only portable hemodialysis system cleared for home use by the U.S, Food and Drug Administration. More information about the benefits and risks associated with home hemodialysis can be found at www.nxstage.com.
Prevention While some risk factors are beyond one’s control, such as race, age and a family history of the disease, reducing your risk is possible. Getting plenty of exercise, maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding smoking are a few ways to promote healthy kidney function. Being informed is also important. Talk to your relatives to learn if kidney disease runs in your family. Don’t let kidney disease go untreated. This Kidney Disease Awareness and Education Week, August 5-10, learn more about renal health.
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
self help
Time to Retire or to Retread? It used to be, across the board, that when you reached a certain age, you retired. Ah, yes, you had reached the promised land, and for the rest of your life, you could do nothing or something of your own choosing. In your mind, the years stretched ahead like holiday lights on a string, and you were in a celebratory mood. But then, the lights began to dim, and the string stretched out more and more, and what happened to that party, anyway? I’ll tell you what. Time, like any good thing, became too much and you couldn’t use it all up. You know, leftovers are good the next day or so, but after that, you seriously think about pitching them. Easier said than done, as I, and many of us who have been growing older disgracefully, have found out. On the other hand, if you took early retirement, so to speak, and planned to find a second career for yourself, you might just be ahead of the game. For example, if you spent your life behind a desk crunching numbers, and were feeling down for the count, this might be your moment or many moments, in fact, to do something entirely different. Of course, your physical condition might impact your choices, but, setting that aside, maybe this is the moment to consider life as a ski instructor. Or maybe, after watching the Academy Awards, you realize that it’s not too late for a few acting lessons, leading to a career “trodding the boards,” as we say. The point is—and there is a point, as always, to my rambles—retiring too early is not a fast track to the yellow brick road, which, when your feet are traversing it, stretches on and on and on—get my drift? You need a destination. The part of your life that is behind you was probably filled with all sorts of things, and you had a focus—places to go, people to see, and you moaned and groaned, but you were never at loose ends finding ways to kill the time, which you never seemed to have. We are growing older, but we are the young old, and we may fill a rocking chair once in a while, but our minds haven’t gone to sleep. So, we must find ways to occupy ourselves. To keep on working, if we’re able and willing, is one cause for gratitude. To retire at will and not when society wills it is another. Retirement should have meaning, and every day should be part of that string of holiday lights. Really, what’s more glorious than the words, “I’ve got the world on a string?” My world? Or your world? Or just the whole darn world?
By Evelyn Levin
Evelyn Levin, Ph.D, is the creator of the blog, “growing older disgracefully” (www.grrouch.com), and a former health care executive.
OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
self help
That Special Person By Professor Abné M. Eisenberg Was there someone in your life who made a big difference? Had that person never existed, would your life be the same today? Many events could change your life. They could be financial, health-related, family-based, political, climatic or things that you, yourself, instigated. A spontaneous conversation with a perfect stranger on a bus, train or plane might also have provided you with a solution to a problem you were having. People who make this difference are called “pivotal.” Imagine a doctoral student who accidentally leaves his dissertation on a bus and has it returned to him by a diligent bus driver. Such a person could be regarded as pivotal. Why such people do what they do is less important than how their compassionate behavior affects others.. A dog that dives into a river to save its master or a horse that stamps on a poisonous snake to save its rider could both be taken to be pivotal. Add a nonhuman computer that makes a user aware of a lifesaving treatment for a terminally ill parent. In each case, lives were saved. A readiness to change is essential. Despite the inherent risk associated with making a change, the courage to take that risk is what gives life its flavor. Poet Robert Frost put it this way: “Two roads diverged in a yellow wood and I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” How or why a pivotal person enters a life can be attributed to fate, coincidence, predestination or
karma. In a biblical story, Thermuthis, the Pharaoh’s daughter, retrieved the infant Moses from a basket floating down the Nile. If the story is true, she was pivotal in the life of Moses. In later years, he was pivotal in leading the Hebrew people to the Promised Land. In these modern times, the media frequently report occasions in which pivotal people help others in life-threatening situations. What motivates them to perform these selfless acts remains an enigma. Theorists conjecture that it can be traced to empathy, a willingness to share the feelings of others. Good Samaritans have always existed and are a breed unto themselves. Their willingness to befriend perfect strangers puzzles those who are more selfcentered. Many have lost their lives trying to save others. The “bystander effect” is just the opposite. It is a psychological phenomenon in which individuals do not offer any means of help to a victim when other people are present. Psychologists still have difficulty understanding what makes certain people special. Their research has probed personality, morality, character, religion, culture, heredity and several other factors. The conclusion here has nothing to do with what the experts say. Only you can identify who that special person was who entered your life and made a difference.
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
Down in the Dumps
By Nurse Ruth, RN, LHRM No, I’m not talking about the garbage dump. I’m talking about your mood and how you feel. Some term it as being in a black hole that they’re unable to climb out of. This is an expression we freely use to explain not feeling great or happy. Well, officially, it’s called depression and, fortunately, it’s not always terminal. Depression: We seem to be talking more about the diagnosis of depression and I’m glad. It’s time we recognize this serious but treatable disease. Thanks to the media, we have all heard about famous stars who have battled it. Most recently, it was Robin Williams, who sadly lost his battle and committed suicide. What we don’t hear about is the everyday person who becomes isolated, with feelings of hopelessness, who quietly slips away because of untreated depression. Recently, a neighbor called to let me know another business friend/ neighbor attempted suicide and is on life support. My neighbors didn’t know what to do and felt guilty because they were worried they didn’t do enough. Well, I do know they did try to help this neighbor and their help was refused. What can we do? Recognize the signs and symptoms: • Loss of pleasure in usual activities • Feelings of anger, sadness, helplessness, hopelessness and pessimism • Irritability, restlessness • Fatigue, decrease in energy • Difficulty concentrating or making decisions • Unexplained aches and pains • Sleeping too much or too little • Weight gain or loss If you feel as though this could be you: Talk, talk, talk...tell someone how you fee, and don’t isolate yourself. Let others help you. Go to your doctor ASAP, and get evaluated for underlying causes, such as thyroid problems, hormones or side effects of another medication. Is there a family history of depression? Are there stressors in your life? Take medication as prescribed if indicated: • Increase your activity level, exercise
• Set realistic goals for yourself Seek counseling Educate yourself about depression To help a friend or relative: • Talk to them and listen carefully. • Never dismiss feelings. Point out realities and offer hope. • Never ignore comments about suicide. Report them to your loved one’s therapist or doctor. • Invite your loved one for a walk, outings and other activities. Keep trying if they decline, but don’t push. • Provide assistance in getting to the doctor’s appointments. • Remind your loved one that with time and treatment, the depres- sion will lift. September is National Suicide Prevention Month. Let’s all step up and take the stigma or embarrassment away from the diagnosis of depression and address it as a common but serious illness. If you have a concern, viewpoint, or comment with regard to this article, Let’s Talk! Provided by Ruth Fanovich, RN, LHRM, Owner, Care Placement Home Health Agency, Inc. and RMF Care Management, Inc. www.CarePlacementHH.com.
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CANCER ANSWERS MOFFITT.org |
www.facebook.com/MoffittCancerCenter |
twitter.com/MoffittNews |
youtube.com/user/MoffittNews
IORT: A Beneficial Radiation Option For Qualifying Breast Cancer Patients Patients diagnosed with breast cancer essentially have two treatment options: mastectomy (removal of the entire breast) or a lumpectomy (removal of only the tumor, leaving the breast intact). Susan Hoover, M.D. Patients who undergo mastectomy, a more entailed surgical option, generally don’t require radiation therapy, says Susan Hoover, M.D., F.A.C.S., breast surgical oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center. “However, all patients, with few exceptions, who have lumpectomies for breast cancer, must then undergo some type of radiation therapy to the intact breast.” Until the past few years, those radiation options available at Moffitt were: • Conventional (traditional) whole breast radiation therapy administered over six-weeks— the “gold standard” against which the other modalities are compared • Hypofractionated whole breast radiation therapy (also called Canadian fractionation) admin- istered over three to four weeks • Accelerated partial breast radiation administered twice daily at least six hours apart during a five-day time period But with the introduction of intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) in January 2011, patients with early-stage breast cancer who meet specific criteria can receive their radiation therapy in one intraoperative treatment.
The benefits of partial breast radiation Most women who have lumpectomies do not experience a recurrence of cancer in the breast previously treated by surgery. But in those who do experience a recurrence of cancer in the previously treated breast, 90 percent of the women develop the recurrence locally, near the site of the original cancer, says Dr. Hoover. “Given that the area most likely to develop a new tumor is where the original lumpectomy took place, researchers concentrated on developing radiation approaches to focus radiotherapy to the tumor bed or lumpectomy cavity.” By using partial breast radiation therapies like IORT to target only the area most likely to have a recurrence, patients can receive a lower dose of radiation given in fewer treatments over a shorter period of time. This approach reduces both the overall toxicity and burden of radiation. “Unlike conventional and hypofractionated whole breast radiation therapy, partial breast radiation therapy spares the rest of the breast and surrounding organs the ef-
fects of radiation therapy,” says Dr. Hoover.
IORT advantages IORT takes partial breast radiation therapy to the next level, beginning with the delivery, which is given immediately after the surgery while the patient is still asleep in the operating room. The radiation—a relatively lowenergy (50 KVolts) X-ray—is administered directly into the lumpectomy cavity, unlike other forms of radiation that are delivered through the skin. This reduces the risk of skin irritation. Surgeons and radiation oncologists using IORT can target the affected area more precisely, unlike other forms of radiation where they have to rely on imaging scans. Unlike other breast radiation therapies, IORT requires only a single treatment. “This one-time, single-dose treatment minimizes the daily travel and hospital wait times that are involved with more traditional radiation modalities, which can stretch over five days a week for six weeks,” says Dr. Hoover, “when patients are still recuperating from the initial surgery.” IORT treatment is more than a matter of personal convenience, notes Dr. Hoover. “Many women work, have transportation issues, or personal or family circumstances that can make it difficult if not impossible for them to come to a radiation facility for a longer course of treatment. And studies have shown that, the greater the distance a patient lives from a radiation center, the lower the treatment compliance and the more often they will choose mastectomy instead because they cannot meet the radiation time commitment. IORT gives more women who are candidates for lumpectomy greater control over their cancer treatment— and their lives.” Research shows, in appropriately selected patients, IORT to be equivalent to whole breast radiation in terms of the number of local recurrences in the treated breast, yet the patients undergoing IORT experience less breast thickening, scarring or fibrosis. According to the TARGIT trial, which involved 2,200 women who underwent either IORT or external beam whole breast radiation therapy, the local recurrence rate of cancer in the breast was statistically equal between the two methods at a four–year median follow-up. IORT is not an option for all patients with breast cancer, however. Patients first must fit the criteria for a lumpectomy and then accelerated partial breast radiation, which involves very regimented criteria to ensure patient safety and equivalent outcomes to the more standard forms of breast irradiation. Call 1-888-MOFFITT to find out if you or someone you know is a candidate for IORT.
OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
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Health Roundup
If Daily Activities Leave You Short of Breath, Listen to Your Lungs Are you always stopping and resting because you’re short of breath, wheezing or coughing? Do you find that you have trouble with simple, daily activities like climbing stairs, carrying groceries or gardening? If this sounds like you, your lungs could be trying to tell you something. You could be experiencing symptoms of COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), a serious lung disease that over time makes it hard to breathe. James Kiley, Ph.D., director of the Division of Lung Diseases at the NHLBI, part of the National Institutes of Health, answers questions about COPD symptoms, risks and diagnosis. Q. I haven’t heard much about COPD, is it a common disease? A: COPD, which recently surpassed stroke as the third leading cause of death in the United States, is more common than you think. Each year, COPD claims more lives than breast cancer and diabetes combined. Unfortunately, half of the people who have COPD are unaware that they are suffering from the disease. This is primarily because people who are at risk for COPD dismiss early symptoms as a normal result of aging or being out of shape, therefore don’t think it warrants a visit to the doctor. Q. What the symptoms of COPD I should be looking for in myself and others? A: In COPD, sometimes referred to as emphysema or chronic bronchitis, the tubes that carry air in and out of the lungs are partially blocked, which makes it hard to breathe. Some of the most common symptoms you may notice in yourself or others are frequent shortness of breath, chronic cough, wheezing and excessive phlegm production. Take a look at things you do every day - like going up and down the steps, walking to the mail box, or shopping. Are these things more difficult than they used to be because you find yourself having to catch your breath? This could be COPD and it’s worth discussing with a health care provider. Q. What are the most common causes of COPD? A: Smoking accounts for as many as nine out of 10 COPD-related deaths. However, as many as one out of six people who have COPD never smoked. It can also be environmental - maybe you are exposed to chemicals, dusts and pollutants where you live or work. Or maybe you are exposed to secondhand smoke. In some people, COPD is caused by a genetic condition known as alpha-1 antitrypsin, or AAT, deficiency. While very few people know they have AAT deficiency, it is estimated that close to 100,000 a.m.ericans have it. Q. What should someone do if they are experiencing these symptoms? A: Regardless of their smoking history, if someone is experiencing these symptoms, they should talk with their health care provider and ask to take a simple breathing test called spirometry. It is quick and easy and can be taken right there in the doctor’s office. The earlier a person gets diagnosed with COPD and receives treatment, the better their chance to improve quality of life. Q. My doctor has diagnosed me with COPD, how do I begin managing my symptoms? A: There is no cure for COPD, but there are ways to make living with it a lot easier. If you smoke, the best thing you can to do prevent more damage to your lungs is to quit. Ask your doctor or health care provider about new options for quitting. The “COPD Learn More Breathe Better” campaign also partners with the American Lung Association and the COPD Foundation, which are both great resources for smoking cessation information and support. Your health care provider may also suggest one or more of the following options: medications - usually in the form of an inhaler - pulmonary rehabilitation, exercise, avoiding exposure to pollutants that may further irritate your lungs or oxygen treatment in severe cases. Q. Where can I find more information about COPD? A: You can find out more by visiting COPD.nhlbi.nih.gov. This educational website is part of the “COPD Learn More Breathe Better” awareness campaign from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health.
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
future planning
Baby Boomers’ Retirement: Boom or Bust?
With millions of baby boomers set to retire over the next decade, the question is, how many of them will be able to successfully retire and have enough retirement assets to fund retirements for themselves and their spouses for the rest of their lives? Due to advances in medicine and medical treatment, we are living into our 80s and 90s, or longer. This requires enough money to pay our expenses to maintain our lifestyle throughout those later years. Sadly, many will be forced to continue to work or significantly cut back on their lifestyles. The golden years may be unalterably tarnished! In order to be prepared to retire, there are several actions and strategies that must be considered essential to a successful retirement. Create and understand your budget, know your investment options, understand the risks of those options, and take the action necessary to protect your and your family’s retirement lifestyle. You must establish a realistic and achievable budget and adhere to it. Knowing what you spend on a monthly and yearly basis enables the opportunity to decrease spending on unnecessary items. You must adjust your lifestyle to what is truly required versus what is frivolous. Eliminate or minimize your debt! High-interest credit spending is the biggest culprit that affects our lifestyles. 18 percent credit interest doubles unpaid debt every four years. Inflation, currently at a minimum, will ultimately return, just like in the late 70s, when prime rates exceeded 20 percent. This can be a boon to savers but a major bust to spenders. Understand and track your investments, and know the pros and cons of your financial investment options. Stocks and mutual funds are currently doing well, but few remember the major downturns and losses experienced in market crashes in 1987, 2001 and 2008, unless they experienced the major losses themselves. When you are young and time is on your side, you rarely realize that as you get older, time begins to work against you. Bonds, whether federal, state or local, can work for you when rates are higher or against you when rates are lower. As bond rates fluctuate, the value of the bonds will fluctuate as well. If your bond rates are low and newly issued bond interest rates rise, you will take an equivalent yield loss at your point of sale proportional to the amount of change. For example: If your bonds pay 3 percent and rates rise to 6 percent, your bond value will be cut in half. However, if the reverse is true, and your bonds pay 6 percent, and new bond rates drop to 3 percent, your bonds will double in value! Bank instruments such as CDs and Money Market accounts will affect your income based on the rates of return but will not suffer the risk of loss. They are safe investments, but, based on economic times, may not be accessible to the depositor, as we saw in the crash of 1929 and recently in Greece. Lastly, insurance products such as Life Insurance and Annuities have gained in popularity with retirees and pre-retirees. Cash value or whole life insurance offers cash value returns that may be accessed income-tax-free, via loans prior to death, and the beneficiary receives the death benefit, also taxfree, when the insured dies. However, Variable Continues on next page
By Jon Lynn
OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
Life Insurance, which is invested in the stock market, can experience investment risk swings, unless optional riders are added to the policy. Understand the fees and costs of life insurance as they relate to your needs and goals. Make sure to have an adequate amount of life insurance to meet the financial needs required by your family at your death. Annuities, also offered by Life Insurance companies, can help guarantee and protect your retirement needs, but you need to know all of the options available to meet your needs. Immediate annuities begin an immediate cash flow at issue for a specified period of time up to your remaining lifetime, but I never recommend a lifetime payout to clients, because all payments stop at your death, and the contract is fulfilled. Without proper planning, the unpaid cash value stays with the company rather than being paid to the surviving family members as beneficiaries. Deferred Annuities do not provide an immediate cash flow, but defer a regular payment until the owner implements the annuitization process. Money may be accessed prior to annuitizing the Annuity via a penalty free withdrawal, usually 5-10 percent during the first 10 years. This may vary with the issuing company. Annuities also offer various investment options from a fixed interest or stock market to Indexed Annuity, which can offer both options without any risk of loss. The Indexed Annuity, first marketed in 1997, is quite popular, but requires the purchaser to understand how CAPS and SPREADS will affect the total return on the annuity to the investor. As seen in TV ads, “When the market goes up, my clients make money, but when it drops, they never lose money!” can be a very effective selling point. Lastly and most importantly, you, the retirement investor, must be proactive. Read about and understand your options based on your personal retirement goals for you and your family. When you have set your goals and decided which investment best meets your needs and goals, it is up to you to take the appropriate action. Talk to your advisor until all of your concerns have been addressed, and both you and your advisor totally understand and agree that the action taken is in your best interest. If you only plan and review, nothing gets accomplished for you or the family that you love and protect! Remember, “he who hesitates is lost!” Jon Lynn can be contacted at (813) 774-1862, via email at clynnlutz@aol.com or his website, www.retirementcpr4u.com.
To subscribe call (813) 444-1011 or see order form on page 31
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
ADVICE FOR CAREGIVERS Protecting Your Aged Loved One From an Abusive Live-In By Joyce Holly
Dr. Bonnie Sanchez, ABPM
Dr. Narmo Ortiz, FACFAS, CWS
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Many seniors have a “Harvey.” When I practiced law, one Harvey’s family
told me about one. The family approached me about the trouble with their kid brother, Harvey, the one who still lived at home with Mom. The daughters, who lived nearby, visited Mom daily to help her in bathing, dressing and preparing and eating meals. Harvey did none of these things for Mom. He spent his time getting high on drugs and alcohol, coming and going at leisure and occasionally persuading Mom to accompany him in his car to visit her bank. At the bank, he was slowly reducing her assets by talking her into signing withdrawal slips. He pocketed the cash. Harvey, needless to say, wasn’t employed or running a business. All abusive live-ins aren’t necessarily family members like Harvey. The aged Groucho Marx was involved in a famous example of this. An unrelated individual took over his life, calling herself his “secretary,” but soon became his permanent houseguest. Once physically ensconced in the home, she prevented his concerned children from visiting or even contacting him, until, after a protracted legal process, they were able to shake Marx free of her. Related or unrelated, an abusive live-in needs to be dealt with firmly and expeditiously. Here are some tips on how you can protect a loved one whose life and finances are being usurped by a live-in abuser. 1. If the abuser is family, and the personali- ties seem appropriate for counseling, many communities have reputable family counseling services. They can intervene and help reconcile the competing interests of the live-in and non-live-in family members. 2. If counseling doesn’t work or isn’t appro- priate, most jurisdictions’ courts have procedures whereby concerned relatives can petition for guardianship and conser- vatorship on an emergency basis, while simultaneously petitioning for permanent guardian-conservatorship. The emergen- cy letters can issue within hours or days. A petitioner usually offers the court a rationale to this effect: “If letters are not emergently granted, there is an imminent danger of dissipation of the assets of the elder person.” Most courts require that all close relatives of the elder person receive written notice of guardian-conservatorship proceedings. So, if your abuser is a close relative, you cannot conceal what you are about from that person. As soon as the petitioners obtain the emergency letters (court orders) of guardian and conservator, it is vital that they do two things: 3. The guardian-conservators must physically isolate the aged victim from the exploiter and must ensure that there is no communication between the two while the petition for permanent guard ianship-conservatorship proceeds in court. (This may mean that the petitioner
has to take the victim into his or her own home for a period of time.) And … 4. The guardian-conservators should institute eviction proceedings in the name of the victim against the abuser.
In most instances, it will be impossible to secure an order of protection to keep the abuser away, because the victim can’t or won’t cooperate with the court procedure to obtain one. In most jurisdictions, the victim is required to appear in court personally to complain of abuse. You may take this step, but only if you are sure the victim is lucid and willing to speak out. Steps 2-4 above may be facilitated by engaging counsel experienced in probate law. However, for the wishy-washy, there is a caveat. Unless the concerned relatives seeking the emergency guardian-conservatorship are willing to do whatever lawful and practical measures are needed to completely isolate the victim from the abuser, there is no point in going beyond Step 1 above. An experienced and wise probate lawyer is unlikely to even spend his or her time discussing the matter with concerned relatives who aren’t ready to attend to the practical necessities. Consider the case of “Max,” the ex-convict son of an elderly woman, who kept visiting Mom, demanding that she sign papers turning over her pension income. Her family members were too spineless to prevent his comings and goings, or even to get her an unlisted phone number, so the abuse continued on and on. She remained at risk, unprotected by a guardian-conservatorship. Or, consider “Joe,” a concerned son whose father had always had a cantankerous disposition. The father had abused his wife and children for as long as Joe could remember. The wife was now aged, ill and disabled. The father had done such an inadequate job overseeing her physical needs that the son, who lived 100 miles away in the nearest city, had been obliged to get her admitted for treatment in the city, first to a hospital, then to a rehab center. The mother was now recuperating at Joe’s city home. The father was phoning daily, insisting he would come in his pickup truck to retrieve her. The son approached a lawyer asking about petitioning a court for a guardian-conservatorship. The lawyer asked Joe: Did the father own firearms? Joe said yes. The lawyer asked: Does the father still drive? Joe said yes. The lawyer asked: What plan did Joe have to protect the mother physically if the father came to the door or blasted his way inside? None. The law- See ABUSE on Page 25
OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
Health Roundup
Neuropathy Centers Is Now Part of Advanced Medical of Florida The Neuropathy Centers have been helping patients with neuropathy and have now joined forces with Advanced Medical of Florida. The same great treatment for neuropathy patients is still going on, but in addition to those services, Advanced Medical of Florida is a complete Outpatient Rehabilitation Facility, certified by Medicare, providing patients with full Physical Therapy services. These services include neuropathy care, back, neck and hip pain and problems, knee pain and problems, balance training and any other condition requiring Physical Therapy services. The staff at Advanced Medical of Florida is the “old” staff you enjoyed working with when under neuropathy care at the Neuropathy Centers, with the addition of the great Physical Therapy staff from Advanced Medical of Florida. The same caring philosophy you experienced at Neuropathy Centers is still the main philosophy now at Advanced Medical of Florida. Our main goal is to create a friendly, caring, professional environment to help our patients reduce pain, increase their activities and improve their daily lives. We are all excited about the new state-of-the-art equipment we have added and the specially trained and caring staff we have brought on board. Let me share some information with you on neuropathy. Neuropathy is a nerve disorder that causes pain and numbness for millions of Americans. Are you experiencing symptoms such as burning, tingling or numbness in your feet or hands? If so, it could be attributed to a condition called peripheral neuropathy. Peripheral neuropathy is a nerve disorder that affects 20 million Americans. One in every 17 Americans is found to have neuropathy symptoms. There are many different kinds of peripheral nerve disorders or neuropathies. Some are the result of disease, such as diabetes, with 60-70 percent of diabetics experiencing some form of neuropathy. Side effects to certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs or long-term cholesterol medication use, can result in neuropathy, while others can be triggered by virus infection. Regardless of how the condition begins, it is imperative that nerve disorders are resolved as soon as possible to prevent permanent damage.
How do you know if you have peripheral nerve damage? The symptoms of neuropathy may come on quickly or develop over many years. The following symptoms may start gradually and then get worse: • Numbness • Poor circulation • Diabetic nerve pain • Sharp electric-like pain • Muscle spasms • Burning or tingling • Difficulty sleeping from leg or foot discomfort • Muscle weakness
• Sensitivity to touch • Pain when you walk
Unfortunately, individuals who are experiencing the symptoms of neuropathy are often given limited choices. such as medications like Gabapentin or Neurontin, to try and manage/mask the symptoms. Unfortunately, these medications are not acting on the damaged nerves themselves, and symptoms persist or continue to gradually get worse. Specific therapy modalities applied directly on the damaged nerves themselves show positive results for some individuals. A combination of these therapies is often needed to help individuals achieve relief from their neuropathy. These therapies include, but are not limited to: Horizontal therapy: Induces a bioelectric and a biochemical effect on the tissues simultaneously, something previous electrical therapies failed to do. Based on the understanding that bioelectric changes and biochemical changes are strictly combined in living tissues, it was proposed that a more effective therapy form would be one that could produce both classes of effects simultaneously. Indeed, it is Horizontal Therapy’s ability to perform tasks that other therapy forms are incapable of accomplishing (even when combined) that makes it a favorable form of therapy for individuals experiencing neuropathy. Light therapy: Promotes increased circulation/blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to the nerves, providing an optimal environment for the nerve to heal. Research shows that, in addition to increased circulation, light therapy may help in pain reduction and increased speed of healing. The Neuropathy Centers are health care facilities that provide non-surgical, drug-free solutions for those suffering from the debilitating or crippling effects of peripheral neuropathy. The Neuropathy Centers organize complimentary workshops with the doctors, providing an opportunity to explore the possibilities of relieving your symptoms. Topics include: causes of peripheral neuropathy, crippling effects of neuropathy and the Neuropathy Centers’ non-surgical, drug-free approach to achieving relief from peripheral neuropathy. Seating is limited; call today to make your reservation at (727) 408-5222.
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
travel
Tips for Planning a Memorable Family Vacation on a Budget Planning a memorable family vacation that won’t break the bank simply involves taking the time to know your destination inside and out and discussing trip activities with your kids in advance. “It’s all about prioritizing where you spend your vacation dollars and taking advantage of great deals,” said Eileen Ogintz, syndicated travel columnist and creator of www.takingthekids.com. For families looking to have a budget-friendly blast, Ogintz offers some tip-top ideas: • Research your destination online with the kids. Become familiar with all of the family activities and attractions available in the areas you’ll be visiting. Keep an eye out for local coupons and deals. • Talk to the kids before you go. Make sure they understand you’re all going to work together to keep the vacation on budget, so you can afford the experiences they want to do the most. • Stay someplace with a kitchen or a fridge, or somewhere that offers a free breakfast. You don’t want to waste time and money having breakfast in a restaurant every day of your vacation. • Picnic for lunch—or even dinner when you can. Bring sandwiches to the theme park or the beach. Opt for takeout around the pool at night. Kids don’t like sitting in restaurants anyway! • Have a souvenir strategy to resist impulse buys. Encourage kids to start a collection, such as
patches, pins, stickers or postcards. Save change in a jar before the trip and discuss getting souvenirs that can only be found at your destination. • Travel greener and cheaper with re- usable water bottles, so you’re not buying bottled water every time someone is thirsty. • Alternate pricey attractions with those that are free or nearly free. Opt for a minor league baseball game rather than a major league game, for example. • Reserve a rental car ahead of time at your final destination to help you stick to your own agenda and budget. But be sure you find the best deal available. Some companies make this search easier. For example, the Alamo Deal Retriever, an online tool from Alamo Rent-A-Car, allows you to compare Alamo coupons and deals specific to your travel plans and select the one that best fits your needs. To locate a deal and join a free loyalty club for deeper discounts, visit www.Alamo.com. Pizza for dinner at the hotel pool, a bonfire on the beach, a rainy morning spent watching cartoons together—you may discover that the best travel moments are the least extravagant.
TIPS FOR SENIOR TRAVEL SAVINGS • First thing is to ask clearly for any discount available. If you are not a member of AARP there are still many possible discounts. • Want a travel discount? Look beyond the internet. Some discounts are only available by calling the travel source. • Always ask for your travel discount at the start of any transaction or else it may not be effective. • Share your travel discount with family or travel companions. In many cases, if the person purchasing the tickets or trip is the right age to qualify for the senior travel discount, a traveling companion or the rest of the party will be entitled to the same reduced rates, no matter what their ages.
OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
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in the community
Joe and Miriam’s Story: Why We’re SHINE Volunteers What do you think of when I say Part A, Part B, Part D, Medigap, or Advantage Plan? For many of us, Medicare comes to mind, but in some cases confusion sets in. About a year ago, I spotted a newspaper article which highlighted a program called SHINE that was seeking volunteers to assist Medicare clients with their choices. So I convinced my wife, Miriam, that we may as well start understanding the program before we need to enroll, which usually occurs as we approach the age of 65. So I called, and soon after we began training. SHINE stands for Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders. It is a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, where volunteer counselors are committed to helping others make informed choices regarding insurance benefits. It is important to note that counselors are not affiliated with any insurance company, and will not try to sell insurance, and all counseling records are strictly confidential. Since we have passed the training requirements, we now counsel individuals via telephone or face-to-face regarding Medicare enrollment and health plan choices. We normally perform this volunteer service once a week either from home or at the Dunedin Library. By volunteering with SHINE, we have accomplished two goals: a much better understanding of the Medicare Program and helping those in need – which is what I suspect many, if not all of us, seek to do on a daily basis. For many of you, Medicare may be far off, but it’s never too early to start thinking about it. That said, I’ll leave you with two thoughts: one, consider becoming a SHINE counselor and two, if you have Medicare questions – take advantage of the free SHINE counseling services by calling 1-800-96-ELDER. Miriam and I are always willing to answer any questions you may have and encourage you to consider joining us as volunteer SHINE counselors.
Abilities Guild Set to Host Annual Pig Roast The Abilities Guild is holding its Annual Pig Roast on Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014, at the home of Tom and Joni Cleary. The Abilities Guild Annual Pig Roast is a fundraiser for the Abilities Foundation. Founded in 1952, the Abilities Foundation successfully supports more than 10,000 disabled individuals per year. The mission of the Guild is to ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunity to participate with dignity in everything that community life has to offer. The evening will feature fresh roast pig with all the trimmings. The Pig Roast is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18th at the home of Tom and Joni Cleary, 440 Buttonwood Lane, Largo, FL. Tickets are $60 per person. Seating is limited. For more information or to make reservations, call Phyllis Schene at (727) 461-5511. Proceeds benefit the Veterans’ Mall and job placement services for our
homeless/wounded veterans. About The Abilities Foundation: The Abilities Foundation is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit support organization that has helped thousands of Floridians and military veterans with disabilities to obtain jobs and affordable housing. Thanks to the Foundation, people with disabilities, who were once dependent upon government and families for support, are now contributing to the economic strength and vitality of their communities as wage earners and taxpayers.
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
Senior Happenings sional drawing. Charcoal Drawing study is “basic” even The German American Society is located at 8098 for computer drawing. Cost is $6.00 per class. Stu- 66th St. N., Pinellas Park, FL. For more information dents bring their own charcoal supplies. www.germantampa.com. Brandon Recreational Center is located at 502 E. 5th ANNUAL OKTOBERFEST TAMPA Sadie St., Brandon, FL. For more information (813) 681 - 7324 or (813) 635 -8179. Curtis Hixon Park Sanchin Isometrics for Seniors
CARES Elfers Center October 7, 14, 21 & 28
Howl-O-Scream 2014
Busch Gardens Tampa October 2 - November 1 (Thur. - Sat. nights) + October 19
Florida’s premier Halloween event, is back for 18 select nights with tormenting surprises around every corner and unexpected terrors. Streets swarmed with hundreds of roaming creatures will make escaping nearly impossible. Chilling live shows plus the chance for rides in the dark will keep the screams coming all night. From 7:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Combo price pack specials for select nights. Busch Gardens is located at 10165 N. McKinley Dr. Tampa, FL. For more information www.seaworldparks.com/en/howloscream-tampa. Friday Night Swing Dance
Largo Community Center October 3, 10, 17, 24, 31
Put on your dance shoes and get ready for a night of East Coast swing with a fox trot or two mixed in. Brush up your skills with the lesson at 7:00 p.m. and dance from 8:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Enjoy the atmosphere on the maple dance floor of the Goodman Ballroom. Dress is casual, concessions available, parking is well lit and no partner is needed. Drawing for a chance to win a free ticket for the next week’s dance. Tickets $8 Largo Community Center is located at 400 Alternate Keene Road, Largo FL 33771. For more information email msrightstep@gmail.com or visit www. savoysouth.shutterfly.com. Pumpkin Patch & 9th Annual Boo Best
The Hydro Harvest Farm October 4 - November 1
Open everyday ‘till November. Free fun day for the entire family! Lots of pumpkins and great photo opportunities. 9th Annual Boo Fest is on Saturday Oct. 25 from 12:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. Wear your costumes, decorate pumpkins, play games, make crafts and more. We sell pumpkins of all sizes, carving kits and more. Open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Hydro Harvest Farm is located at 1101 Shell Point Rd., East, Ruskin, FL. For more information (813) 645-6574 or www.hydroharvestfarms.com. Brick-or-Treat
Legoland October 4 - 26 (Saturdays and Sundays only)
Brick-or-Treat comes to LEGOLAND® Florida every Saturday and Sunday in October with safe and familyfriendly festivities. This spooky, kooky event features a Haunted Scavenger Hunt in Miniland USA, trick-ortreating along the brick-or-treat trail, LEGO build activities, the largest LEGO Jack-O-Lantern in the world, Halloween entertainment and an all-kids costume with brick-tastic prizes! Legoland is located at 1 Legoland Way, Winter Haven, FL. For more information (877)350-5346 or www. florida.legoland.com. Charcoal Drawing Class
Brandon Recreational Center October 6, 13, 20 & 27
Carol Karow, a Ringling College of Art + Design graduate, will teach beginner Charcoal Drawing Classes each Monday 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. The course will study light and shadow on an object for three-dimen-
Older adults can learn to improve mobility, balance and mental awareness through the practice of Sanchin, which is derived from ancient forms of martial arts. This class’s instructor is a ninth degree grand master. Price: 1:00 p.m. $6. CARES Elfers Center is located at 4136 Barker Drive, Elfers, FL. For more information (727) 847-1290. Brews By the Bay
Florida Aquarium October 10
October 10 - 12
We’ll be celebrating with german cheer, dancing and singing to cooler weather and colder beer along the Hillsborough river. Oktoberfest Tampa 2014 is a time to unwind and make new friends. Learn new customs and sing a few songs. Help us tap the inaugural keg on Friday, as we open the doors to Tampa’s largest Oktoberfest. Authentic food options will be available ranging from Schnitzel with German potato salad to Bratwurst with Sauerkraut. Variety of exciting games and competitions. The highlight of the Oktoberfest Tampa 2014 Games is the Oktoberfest Olympiad, a tournament of strength, wits and stamina, taking place on the 12th at 2:00 p.m. The Curtis Hixon Park is located at 600 N Ashley Drive, Tampa, FL. For more information www.oktoberfesttampa.com.
Make a splash at sixth annual craft beer and food festival, with more than 100 unique brews from around the world for sampling, along with foods from area resRun or Dye (The World’s Most Colorful 5K) taurants, the aquariums exhibits on display and live enLake Eva Park tertainment. Benefits the aquarium’s education, animal October 11 rescue and rehabilitation programs. From 8:00 p.m. $50, advance, $60 day of, $75 VIP. No need to worry about if you are too fast, too slow, The Florida Aquarium is located at 701 Channelside too old, too young, or too sexy! Just come experience Drive, Tampa, FL. For more information (813) 273- the magic of the most colorful 5K this world has to of4000. fer! As you run/walk/dance through the course, you will get showered in safe, eco-friendly, plant-based St. Petersburg Opera Gallery Opening powdered dye at every kilometer…turning you into a technicolor canvas of fun! The result is a once-in-a-lifeSt. Petersburg Opera Co. time experience that many people tell us is the most October 10 In conjunction with the October ArtWalk tour, St. fun they’ve ever had exercising. 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Lake Eva Park is located at 555 Ledwith Avenue, Petersburg Opera Company celebrates the opening of a new exhibit featuring works by Mirella Cimato. The Haines City, FL. For more information (863)421-3700 opening includes refreshments and a performance by or www.runordye.com. St. Petersburg Opera singers. Remains on display Renoir to Chagall: Paris and the Allure of Color Exhibit through Dec. 31. Free. Tampa Museum of Art The St. Petersburg Opera Gallery is located at 2145 October 11 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, FL. For more information (727) 656-8257. A showcase of forty-nine masterpieces from the collection of the Dixon Gallery and Gardens in Memphis, Flying Mullet 5K Tennessee that explores how Paris emerged as the cenGulfport Historical Society Museum ter of the art world in the nineteenth century, and tracOctober 10 es the most significant developments in French painting The 5K race and 1-mile doggie dash will take run- that shaped the direction of modern art for more than a ners on a tour of Gulfport’s Historic Waterfront District century. Artists include, Claude Monet, Camille Pissaralong paved roads. Dogs are welcome. Starts at 5:30 ro, August Edgar and more. Through January 11. From 11:00 a.m. p.m. Price: $20 (doggie dash), $25 (5K). The Tampa Museum of Art is located at 120 GaspaThe Historical Society Museum is located at 5301 rilla Plaza, Tampa, FL. For more information: (813) 28th Ave. S., Gulfport, FL. 274-8130. 11th Annual Fine Swine at the Pit Zombie-Fest
American Legion Post # 72 in Mulberry October 10 & 11
Come get your butts smoked and share your ribs at the American Legion Mulberry Memorial Post #72 October 10 and 11. This world class event is a state championship & Jack Daniels Qualifier. 2014 will be the best Mulberry has to offer. All proceeds will go to the Mulberry Fine Swine Charities to be donated not to just one but to several local charitable organizations. Friday from 12:00 p.m. and Saturday from 9:00 a.m. Festival location is at 500 North Church Avenue, Mulberry, FL. For more information (863)712-0625 or www.fineswine.org. German American Society Oktoberfest
German American Society of Pinellas October 10 & 11
Downtown Lakeland October 11
Downtown Lakeland welcomes you to our third annual ZombieFest: Unearthed 2014, presented by Monochrome Games. It’s no accident, we’re celebrating on World Zombie Day. Mortals and the undead will unite in Munn Park and several neighboring city blocks from 3:00 p.m. -10:00 p.m. for a host of activities including scare zones, costume contests, music, and a spectacle of people dressed as zombies and zombie hunters. A variety of vendors will be on-hand selling merchandise and offering hair and makeup services to attendees who want to lurch and shuffle with other members of the walking dead. For more information www.downtownlakelandzombies.com.
The doors of Tampa Bay’s most “authentic” German Amazing Love Amazing Race Oktoberfest as the Societies Oktoberfest Village offers Al Lopez Park evening fun for the whole family. Authentic German October 11 food and sweets. Imported German beer. Live Oompah Strollers and walkers are welcome in this chip timed music with dancing. Events include Schuhplattlers, parade of flags, keg tapping ceremony, Masskrugstemmen 5K and one mile fun run/walk that take place on the (beer mug holding contest). Authentic German vendors, wooded jogging trails of Al Lopez Park. Water and snacks will be provided. Participants are invited to nightly raffles with great prizes.
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Senior Happenings Fair Haven Baptist Church is located at 34927 Ei- quilt display and there will be a special reception Friday bring a can of food to support the Ministries canned land Blvd., Zephyrhills, FL. For more information night and Saturday afternoon. Free. food drive. Benefits the Amazing Love Ministries, Inc. (813) 782-7115 or www.fhbc.us and www.fhbcFor more information please visit www.cityoflake8:00 a.m. Price: $15/$25, $20/$30 day of race. wales.com. Al Lopez Park is located at 4810 N. Himes Ave., fallfest.com. Tampa, FL. For more information (813) 274-8184. Oktoberfest Indoor Outdoor Art Fest Tampa Police Memorial 5K and 1 Mile Run/Walk Main Street Winter Haven Center Place
Lykes Gaslight Square Park October 11
This annual 5K race and 1 mile run/walk, features chronotrack B-Tag timing on a USATF certified course, starting in downtown Tampa. All participants receive a Dri-fit T-shirt, door prizes and food. This is a Rain or Shine event. 8:00 a.m. Price: $25/$15, $35 day of race. Lykes Gaslight Square Park is located at 410 Franklin St., Tampa, FL. Hernando Community Health Fair
Brooksville Elks Lodge 2582 October 11
Featuring health care vendors, free health screenings and demonstrations, complimentary samples of signature items from local food establishments, live music and a children’s activity area. 10:00 a.m. Free. Brooksville Elks Lodge 2582 is located at 13383 County Line Road, Spring Hill, FL. For more information (352) 596-2582. Wesley Chapel Zombie Run
Wesley Chapel High School October 11
Wearing a belt with three flags, runners maneuver their way through a brain hungry zombie filled 5K course. Cross the finish line with at least one flag remaining and you survive. Benefits the Wesley Chapel Wildcats. 10:00 a.m. Price: $20. Wesley Chapel H.S. is located at 30651 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel, FL. World Shoot XVI
Frostproof October 13 - 19
The largest competition conducted by the International Practical Shooting Confederation, the World Shoot happens every three years and draws more than 1,400 competitors from 80 countries. The event returns to the US since it’s last appearance in 1986. On Sunday, October 12 the celebration will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the Parade of Nations following the traditional Lakeland Christmas Parade route. In addition to the IPSC competitors, the Parade of Nations will also feature a number of area high school marching bands and classic automobiles. Opening ceremony and firework show will follow parade. Monday-Saturday / Oct. 13-Oct.18 - Main match competition. Sunday / Oct. 19 Awards Closing Ceremony. Universal Shooting Academy is located at 4330 C. R. 630 East, Frostproof, FL. For more information (863) 551-4750 or www.worldshootusa.com. Five By Five
Tampa Museum of Art October 17
The third annual exhibition celebrates the arts with a night of music, dance, spoken word and theater performances. 5 x 5 works are available for sale. Proceeds benefit individual artist programs of the Arts Council of Hillsborough County. 8:00 p.m. $10, free members. The Tampa Museum of Art is located at 120 Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL. For more information: (813) 274-8130. Fall Fest 2014
Fair Haven Baptist Church October 16 -18
Fall Fest 2014 is presented by Big O Amusements and Fair Haven Baptist Church in Zephyrhills,Fl. Fall Fest is open from 3:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m on Thursday and Friday; Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Food, rides, games and more.
October 17
Oktoberfest is the world’s largest fair held annually in Munich, Bavaria, Germany, but you don’t have to miss out on all the fun. Celebrate Oktoberfest at the annual Main Street Winter Haven event in beautiful Central Park. The event features beer, bratwurst and live music. 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. For more information (863) 295-9422 or www. mainstreetwh.com. Autumn Art Walk
Downtown New Port Richey October 18
Four area art organizations join for this giant outdoor art festival featuring fine original artwork including paintings, drawings, photography, jewelry, pottery and handcrafts. From 10:00 a.m. Free. The event takes place on Main St. and Grand Blvd., New Port Richey, FL. Haunted Halloween Hayride & Happenings
Mulberry October 18
Join Polk County Parks & Recreation to celebrate Halloween with a haunted hayride, carnival games, live entertainment, arts & crafts, contests (costume and pie eating), a kids zone with kiddie train and inflatable bounce houses, Rescue Road (vehicles and demos Polk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Management), a trick or treat village filled with local businesses, food vendors, and more! Event takes place at Loyce E. Harpe Park at 500 West Carter Road, Mulberry, FL. For more information (863) 534-6911. Coral Skies Music Festival
MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre October 25
This all-day festival has a little bit of everything with two stages of music, a wide selection of craft beers, a food trucktopia and art vendors. Line-up includes, Cage The Elephant, City and Colour, Bombay Bicyle Club, Bleachers, Benjamin Booker and more. The party continues the following day in West Palm Beach. 12:00 p.m. Tickets: $45-$150. The MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre is located at 4802 U.S. 301 N, Tampa, FL. For more information (813) 740-2446. Guavaween Voodoo Carnival
Cuban Club October 25 - 26
Freakshow carnival combines with Voodoo magic for the 2014 Guavaween Festival. Five themed areas come to life in Florida’s premier Halloween event! Everything from a street festival, live music, shows, magic, live performers and a dance club. 21+ only. The Cuban Club is located at 2010 Avenida Republica De Cuba, Ybor City, FL. For more information www.guavaweentampa.com. Pioneer Days Festival
Lake Wales October 25 & 26
Hosted by Historic Lake Wales Society, activities include crafters, demonstrators, re-enactors, an antique car parade, a free architectural carriage tour, entertainment and much more. There will be rides and children activities as well as food and other exhibitors. The Depot Museum will feature a
November 1
The Brandon League of Fine Arts fourth annual event features artwork and crafts done by local artists that are all available for sale to give you a jump-start on holiday shopping. Coincides with Children’s Chalk Walk and includes children’s activities. From 10:00 a.m. Free. Center Place is located at 619 Vonderburg Drive, Brandon, FL. For more information (813) 685-8888
A BEST SELLER!
Local author on an exciting romantic journey from Israel to California. You are invited to meet the author Gerri Wilner at her book signing, Saturday October 18 at 10:30 a.m. at the Gulf Beaches Library located at 200 Municipal Dr., Madeira Beach, FL. For more information (727) 542-1090. Book - $14 + $3 (handling)
www.gerriwilnerwriter.weebly.com
Email Your
Senior Happenings to: Lourdes@Seniorvoiceamerica.com The Deadline for the November Issue is October 15th
Page 18
Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
Health Roundup
There Are More Benefits to Calcium Than Women Might Think 80 percent of women don’t get enough calcium from food alone, according to a recent study conducted by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. That means women’s bodies are stealing calcium from their bones. Many foods like milk and other dairy products are well known to be prime sources of calcium. Calcium is a crucial nutrient that helps build and maintain bones, muscles and teeth. It also keeps us moving by helping to maintain muscle health and strength. But taking a calcium supplement alone isn’t enough. The NIH reports that Vitamin D intake is also important because it improves calcium absorption. But many women are falling short of meeting their recommended daily calcium allowance — between 1,000 mg and 1,200 mg. In fact, many assume that a drop of milk in their morning cup of coffee will provide all the calcium they need for the day. Ladies may be surprised to learn that an 8 oz. glass of skim milk only makes up 30 percent of the calcium they need each day. If you are not getting enough calcium or enough exercise, your body is more likely to steal the calcium it needs from your bones.
Risks of Not Enough Calcium One of the most common risks of not getting enough calcium is osteoporosis, a disease characterized by low bone mass and deterioration of bone tissue. Osteoporosis can lead to bone fragility. Without bone-density testing, you may not know you’re suffering from osteoporosis until you suffer a fracture — which happens to half of all women older than 50.
Starting Young If you think calcium is important only when you’re older, think again. The study also found that 90 percent of teenage girls aren’t getting enough calcium through diet alone. Since boys and girls between the ages of 9 and 18 years old need 1,300 mg of calcium per day, getting a head start on healthy habits can prove vital in providing a strong nutrition-
al foundation as they get older.
Finding the Right Supplement If you don’t get enough calcium through your diet, then supplements, like Caltrate, are a good complement to giving your body the nutrients it needs to help keep your bones strong and your body moving. These days, calcium supplements, like Caltrate, are available in tablets, soft chews and gummy forms and most can be taken with or without food. However, calcium alone isn’t enough. Calcium should be taken in conjunction with Vitamin D because it helps the body absorb calcium for the development and maintenance of bones. It also supports mobility as it may help improve muscle health and strength. Caltrate helps replenish the calcium and vitamin D3 women need each day. To highlight that commitment, Caltrate is partnering with Susan G. Komen for the Cure as a national sponsor of Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure series. To learn more about the importance of calcium and Vitamin D in your diet, for special offers and product information and to share your story about who, or what, moves you, visit Facebook.com/Caltrate.
RECOMMENTED CALCIUM INTAKE • • • •
For pre-menopausal women 25-50 years old and post-menopausal women on estrogen replacement therapy: 1,000-1,200 milligrams of calcium per day. 1,500 milligrams of calcium per day is recommended for pregnant or lactating women. For postmenopausal women less than age 65 not on estrogen replacement therapy: 1,500 milligrams of calcium per day. For men ages 25-65: 1,000 milligrams of calcium per day. For all people (women and men) over age 65: 1,500 milligrams of calcium per day.
OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
Page 19
pets
Love Your Pets Like Family Pet owners love their animals like family — because pets are! Owners will do anything for them — buy them their favorite treats, make sure their beds are comfy and pay all their grooming and medical expenses, even if they cannot afford it. For many without children, pets ARE their children. Your pets become your constant companions. They have a calming effect and therefore may reduce your blood pressure. They force you off the couch to walk them. Several studies suggest Fido may help you live longer. Pets can: Increase life span: Heart attack patients who have pets may survive longer than those without. Provide social opportunities: Dogs are good conversation starters, helping you meet people. Ease anxiety: Alzheimer’s patients feel less anxious if the family owns a pet. Help with depression: Pet owners with a serious illness are less likely to suffer from depression. “People in stress mode get into a ‘state of disease,’ in which harmful chemicals like cortisol and norepinephrine can negatively affect the immune system,” said Dr. Blair Justice, a professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health and author of “Who Gets Sick: How Beliefs, Moods and Thoughts Affect Your Health” whose writing appears on WebMd.com. “Studies show a link between these chemicals and plaque buildup in arteries, the red flag for heart disease,” Justice said. “Like any enjoyable activity, playing with a dog can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine – neurotransmitters that are known to have pleasurable and calming properties,” Justice said. Our model, Joyce, wrote, “My dog is more than a pet; she is part of the family. She brings joy to my life. When I am sick or having a bad day, she always lifts
By Ro Martinez
my spirits. Her love is unconditional. I couldn’t image my life without her.” With so many benefits, who wouldn’t want to adopt a pet? Ro’s book, “Modeling at Any Age,” is a step-by-step, comprehensive guide for acting and modeling and how to flourish in the industry. For more information, visit www.modelingatanyagebook.net. Photo by: Ro Martinez • Model: Joyce Batdorf (our contest winner!)
Page 20
Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
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OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
Page 21
around the home
Four Ways to Achieve a Luxurious Look With an Affordable Price Tag It’s not uncommon for homeowners to get the itch to move when they’ve been in their house awhile. While just picking up and moving isn’t an option for most of us, there’s another approach that people are taking: Refreshing their house to create a high-impact, high-style look, but doing it in a way that’s cost effective. You don’t need to be an interior design expert to pull this off, either. A little creativity, adaptive reuse and the right focal point can give your home a luxurious look at a reasonable price, according to top experts who specialize in fabulous on a budget. “Affordable luxury means achieving comfort and a high level of style for a price point that is not going to break the bank,” said affordable-luxury designer Sarah Barnard. Here are a few ways to achieve a high-end look at a low-end cost for your next indoor and outdoor project.
Use materials that are timeless and classic “Mix the old with the new,” said Blanche Garcia, interior designer and contestant on HGTV’s “Design Star.” “It’s about finding a balance between interjecting something really beautiful with a flea market find.” She recommends starting with something simple - like a great desk - as an anchor piece and fill in around it. Use large pieces you already have that can endure quality and aesthetics but will not look dated or need to be replaced. Add trims around living room windows and doors to create a timeless feel.
Keep textures warm and beautiful “Somehow, we are missing the warmth in new homes,” Garcia said. “You can change that feeling by using lines that are classic and clean.” The simple yet elegant look of wood, such as Western Red Cedar, instantly adds a glow and beauty to any room. This versatile material holds a finish for an extended period of time and weathers beautifully naturally, making it a lasting choice inside and out for siding, wall boards, trim, posts or beams.
Create visual accents Simple details can add a luxurious feel to your home and accents, such as antique lamps, artwork and fresh flowers, can spark visual interest. Garcia recommends adding pops of yellow for a more vibrant look, as an easy way to add spice at a low price. To create a more dramatic effect, consider adding blinds or shutters - inside or out - in warm natural red cedar for additional function.
Think green It’s easy to get an affordable luxury look using elements that are also eco-friendly, including locallysourced products or natural materials. Barnard recommends looking at what’s available and what can be reused for a fraction of the price. Consider using salvaged material by re-inventing old furniture, cupboards or light fixtures. “It’s about moving toward not just affordable luxury, but responsible luxury,” Barnard said. “Instead of industrial manufactured materials, think natural materials. They’re better for your family.” Make use of sustainably-harvested materials like red cedar that require minimal processing while reducing environmental impacts. Add luxury outdoors, by placing a reclaimed coffee table on your deck to extend the warm, luxurious look outside while creating a relaxing space. Planters and window boxes made with natural materials add warmth and texture as well. At the end of the day, remember not to get swept up in fashion trends. “Don’t just focus on things that are hot and new,” Barnard said. “You want a home that reflects your personal style.” For more details and to locate a Western Red Cedar retailer or distributor in your area, visit www. wrcla.org and for more creative affordable luxury tips from the experts, visit the Real Cedar fan page on Facebook.
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
opinion
My Life as a Rat It’s not something I share with everyone. I’m talking about my life as a rat. That’s right—the species Rattus Norvegicus, also known as the laboratory rat. If you consider life’s tasks, you will understand my rattitude. It just seems that so much of life is a maze, a deliberately complicated paradigm set out to test one’s mental state and behavior. Remember the advent of the automated answering service? That was probably the first conscious recognition of my life as a rat, the first time I realized I was being put through cognitive and behavioral training. Basically, the automated answering system is that infamous “Press 1, Press 2, Press 3” process that will give the caller store hours, a specific department or the latest price on porcelain thrones, depending upon what prompt is selected. You would think the options would stop at 3, but I think they went up to 100. I’m not sure, because by the time I heard, “Press 10,” I was ready to rip out a human throat and hung up. Then came the, “explain in a few words the reason for your call” answering system, another grand opportunity for stimulus-response learning. You would think that with the caller having some input, there would be less frustration. Not! For some reason, that system has trouble understanding the human voice. If you ask for customer service, it invariably responds with, “Sorry, I didn‘t understand you; would you like to pay a bill?” Before you can repeat your request, it wants you to state again why you are calling, and gives 10 examples of what to say, such as, “I’d like to pay a bill,” “I’d like to change an address,” “I’d like to cancel a policy,” “I’d like to schedule a service call,” “I’d like to know the next flight to Madagascar” (kidding), etc. Heaven forbid that it would FIRST suggest you might want to speak with customer service!
By Jean Mlincek
At some point in life, everyone joins the rat race. Government in particular likes to erect intricate structures with blind alleys, endless corridors and dead ends to test even the most experienced of the nation’s rat pack. Ever apply for unemployment compensation or try to find another job online? Used to be when you lost a job, you put a slab of Brylcreem on your hair (if a guy) or painted your nails (if a girl) and put your best foot forward INSIDE the office of a particular company. Not anymore. You are sent from website to website, which sends you from link to link to link. Half the time you think you are filling out a resume, and it turns out you are just registering to be on a particular job-search engine. I don’t know how real lab rats feel, but it is humiliating being put through a maze. When I was on the unemployment rolls awhile back, I felt stupid with all the walls I hit. I went from feeling like a lab rat to feeling like a sewer rat—that’s how badly my self-esteem plunged. I mean, I know I posted at least 4,223 resumes online, and I’m certain that 4,223 of them were never read. That really stinks! This month, seniors will be dropped into the Medicare/health insurance maze. Rats! Will it never end? Jean Mlincek is a freelance writer residing in St. Petersburg, Fla.
OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
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Health Roundup
Help Seniors with Hearing Loss, Keep Florida Connected Five million seniors live in Florida. As a state famous for gray hair retirees, that number likely comes as no surprise. What may surprise you, however, is that one in every three seniors you meet has some degree of hearing loss, one of the most common yet overlooked health challenges in the United States. While Florida has one of the highest percentages of citizens who are hard of hearing in the U.S.—a large portion of whom are seniors—we also have tremendous resources in place to meet their needs. Unfortunately, many Floridians don’t realize these resources exist. For example, in 1991, Florida legislation established a nonprofit organization called Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. (FTRI – www.ftri.org/free) to provide amplified telephones to qualified Florida residents for free. FTRI makes it possible for those who are hard of hearing, speech challenged, deaf or deaf/ blind to have the same access to basic telephone services as everyone else. While hearing aids may be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of hearing loss, amplified telephones are equally helpful. Not only do these phones boost incoming sound, but the audio can be customized through tone control and other features for different degrees of hearing loss. To date, FTRI has served more than 502,670 residents and distributed more than 1,000,000 pieces of equipment like amplified telephones. Why is this critical? For starters, having difficulty hearing on the telephone is one of the first signs of hearing loss. For people with children and grandchildren spread out across the U.S., phone conversations are vital for staying in touch with loved ones and engaging with the world. A five-minute phone call may seem insignificant to a grandchild, but it could be uplifting, joyous and daychanging for a grandparent. Complicating things further, when grandparents or seniors have difficulty hearing on the telephone, they may withdraw and become isolated, which may increase additional health risks. It’s not simply a social benefit: Phone conversations are essential lifelines to caregivers, doctors and family members. Hearing loss amongst grandparents or seniors is increasing more and more every day. The good news is that technology to help is also advancing, and qualifying for a free amplified telephone with FTRI is simple. Permanent Florida residents who are certified as having hearing loss or speech disabilities can obtain amplified telephones and other telecommunications equipment at no cost at one of the 26 regional distribution centers throughout the state. Furthermore, some of the centers offer free hearing tests. If your grandparents, parents or friends are one of the more than three million Floridians with hearing loss, let them know about resources like FTRI. Even if they’re not, pick up the phone and give them a call. Either way, you can make their day and help us all Keep Florida Connected. To Buy One learn more about this free amplified telephone program, Get One Round of Equal Value. call FTRI at 800-222-3448 or visit our website at www.ftri. Must Present Coupon. org/free. Good through 10/31/2014
By James Forstall
Partial FTRI Calendar for the Month of October Oct. 8 - Hear USA in St. Petersburg in St. Petersburg, Call Gwen Sand at 727‑399‑9983 Oct. 9 - Bamboo Villas ALF in Tampa, Call Tammy Shuman at 727‑399‑9983 • Journet Place Senior Apartments Healthfair in Port Richey, Call Jane Swanson at 727‑853‑1010 Oct. 10 - Upper Tampa Bay Library in Tampa, Call Tammy Shuman at 727‑399‑9983 • Lakeland Public Library in Lakeland, Call Robyn Yarnel at 863‑686‑3189 Oct. 14 - Brooksville Enrichment Center in Brooksville, Call Honey Dalton at 727‑853‑1010 • Dunedin Senior Center in Dunedin, Call Tammy Shuman at 727‑399‑9983 Oct. 15 - Zephyrhills Cares in Zephyrhills, Call Honey Dalton at 727‑853‑1010 Oct. 20 - Mary Walker Apartments in Tampa, Call Tammy Shuman at 727‑399‑9983 Oct. 21 - Apollo Heath & Rehab in St. Petersburg, Call Tammy Shuman at 727‑399‑9983 Oct. 23 - WellMed in Bartow, Call Jacqueline Bowman at 863‑686‑3189 • Safety Harbor Library in Safety Harbor, Call Tammy Shuman at 727‑399‑9983 Oct. 27 - Aging Well Center in Clearwater, Call Tammy Shuman at 727‑399‑9983 • Haines City Library in Haines City, Call Robyn Yarnel at 863‑686‑3189
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
travel
Springtime Along the Danube River
Europe is famous for its incredible gardens, landscapes and architecture, and you’ll find it to be so very pleasing along the Danube River. Although we think of the Danube as blue because of the stillfamous melody, “The Blue Danube” waltz, the water is actually green river water flowing past some beautiful countryside through Germany, Austria, Slovakia and Hungary. If you enjoy gardening or just viewing the beauty of Mother Nature’s work, you’ll find so many beautiful and interesting garden ideas. When you choose to visit the historical towns along the river aboard a river vessel, you’ll see the “green-thumb” artistry from the deck as you sail by, or when you are strolling the streets of Budapest, enjoying a cup of Viennese coffee and Sachar Torte in Vienna or in the medieval town of Durnstein, known as “The Pearl of the Wachau,” set in Austria’s spectacular vine-terraced Wachau Valley. Here the old burgher houses will be adorned with the most beautiful spring flowers to welcome you. As the spring season reveals itself, window boxes, planters, hanging baskets and gardens begin to burst full of colors. The beautiful Baroque-style Mirabel Gardens in Salzburg will make you break out into song—enjoying this great Austrian city with views of Hohensalzburg Castle just above. You’ll hear the sounds of “do-re-mi” echoing from the fortress, just as Julie Andrews sang in “The Sound of Music.” There is a reason that ivy geraniums spill from the window boxes along the Danube. First, they repel flies, so windows may be left open without inviting flying insects inside. Second, ivy geraniums bloom better when their roots are crowded into a shallow container, such as a window box. You’ll see these beauties perched above on the balconies all along the Old Town Square in Prague in the Czech Republic. Here, you’ll stroll gardens that are manicured to perfection. Sit and enjoy a local beer or glass of wine surrounded by the lush green trees and spring flowers. And all along the cobblestone streets you find Cleome—the most popular plant for flower beds and planters. This annual flower is also called the spider flower, because the fluffy pink, purple or white blooms explode with spider-like petals. You’ll see cleome grouped in the center of island beds, used as focal point flowers in container gardens and even as tall edging flowers to create a hedge along walkways and sidewalks. Strike up a conversation with the local gardener, and take home memories, photographs and tips to turn your garden into a replica of the beauty along the Danube River. Traveling with Mayflower Tours in April 2015 along the Danube River, you will visit five countries: Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Germany and the Czech Republic. You’ll be traveling The Mayflower Way, sailing aboard an exclusively chartered river ship—the MS Amadeus Elegant for seven nights. This luxury vessel is complete with French Balconies on the Strauss and Mozart decks, where you sit comfortably and watch the ever-changing scenery go by. With all meals included onboard, including four-course dinners served with complimentary regional wines, your culinary experiences will feature regional See DANUBE TOUR Page 27 specialties from each of the countries.
By Mary Novak-Beatty
OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
Page 25
From MARIJUANA Page 1
From ABUSE Page 12
This is a more sensible solution than Amendment 2, which was written by a local attorney, not a doctor. He financed the bill by, among other things, paying for signatures to get it on the ballot. This is not about, as he touts, poor, sick patients with no alternatives other than prescription drugs, but a way for him to obtain it legally (he has publicly admitted to being a pot smoker), for attorneys to make more money through litigations and open up the state for legalization of recreational use of marijuana. Those of us who have been in Florida for awhile remember the caravans of addicts arriving from neighboring states to get prescriptions for scheduled drugs written by unscrupulous physicians, the increase in drug deaths and ER visits, and how difficult it has been to shut the doctors and pill mills down. Amendment 2, if it is passed as written, will have the same or graver issues. Unfortunately, there are licensed doctors that can be bought, and, for a price, will be glad to justify a reason to get a card to support a habit. There are many questionable loopholes written in Amendment 2 that will cause problems if passed. It is nearly impossible to go back, so it is imperative that the electorate in this election read the fine print and evaluate Amendment 2 before voting in November. Just as importantly, know that we already have legislation passed to provide a safer way for medical marijuana availability in Florida than Amendment 2. There is no need for Amendment 2, unless, of course, we want the makings of another Colorado.
yer asked: Would Joe call the police on his father? Not sure. The lawyer asked: Had Joe informed the father that he intended to house his mother indefinitely and was about to institute court proceedings? No, said Joe, he expected the lawyer to take care of that. The lawyer thought about Dad’s shotgun and declined the case. And that’s what any sensible and experienced practitioner of the law will—and should—do. Keeping the victim physically safe is one task that only you—the victim’s concerned family members, not a lawyer—can accomplish when someone abusive lives with your aged relative. Joyce Holly is a retired attorney and the author of, “Ten Stupid Things Aging Americans Do to Mess Up Their Lives and Financial Situation.” She is also the author of the novel, “An Inconvenient Old Woman.” Holly’s books are available for purchase at www.amazon.com. CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ELDERLY PROTECTION National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse 1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW, Suite 1200 Washington, DC 20036 Phone: (202) 464-9481 Email: info@preventelderabuse.org National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) Non-profit association for attorneys specializing in Elder Law and Special Needs Law 1577 Spring Hill Rd., Suite 310 • Vienna, VA 22182 Phone: 703-942-5711 FL Chapter www.afela.org President: Shannon Miller • flnaela@mycommunities.naela.org
POLLING FLORIDIANS ON THE MARIJUANA ISSUE The poll found 88 percent support for medical use of marijuana compared to only 10 percent who opposed. And most Florida voters also approve of allowing adults to have small amounts of marijuana for recreational use, with 55 percent in favor compared to 41 percent who oppose, the poll found. Younger voters have the highest support for the issue. Those between the ages of 18 to 29 approve of medical marijuana by a 95 to 5 percent margin. And 83 percent of voters over the age of 65 support the idea. Broken down by party, 80 percent of Republicans, 94 percent of Democrats and 89 percent of independent voters support medical marijuana. The poll of 1,251 voters was conducted July 17-21 and has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.8 percentage points. Printed by Florida Today.
The Art of Fine Italian Cuisine 232 N. Dale Mabry Hwy • Tampa, FL 33609
813.875.6660
www.donatellorestaurant.com
Tampa’s Authentic Italian Restaurant since 1984
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
OCTOBER 2014 From DANUBE TOUR Page 25
Senior Voice America
Page 27
There are included shore excursions in Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna, Durnstein and Passau accompanied by local, English-speaking guides who enhance your experience with their knowledge and expertise. Plus, you’ll have the use of a personal audio headset so that you will hear every word—you won’t miss a tidbit. You will top off your river cruise experience with a two-night stay in Prague, Czech Republic. Yes, if you’ve ever wanted to stroll the streets, see the magnificent Old Town Square with its pastel-colored buildings, walk across the medieval Charles Bridge adorned with statues that each tell a story of Prague’s colorful past and see the 9th-century Prague Castle, well, you will. The history, the culture, the culinary delights and great Czech beer are waiting for you. For more information on The Legendary Blue Danube River Cruise traveling with Evan and Deb on April 29, 2015, contact Mayflower Tours at (888) 3978687, and take advantage of the $500-per-couple savings on reservations made by Oct. 31, 2014.
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
Entertainment MARY POPPINS
Theatre Winter Haven October 1 - 12 Set in England in 1910, the troubled Banks family’s Jane and Michael have sent many a nanny packing before Mary Poppins arrives on their doorsteps. Using a combination of magic and common sense, she must teach the family how to value each other again. This musical has delighted Broadway audiences for over 2,500 performances and received nominations for nine Oliver and seven Tony Awards. Thur. - Sat. 7:30 p.m. Sun. 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $24 Adults, $19 Students, $15 Youth 12 & under. M.A.D Theatre - Rocky Horror Show
Straz Center - Shimberg Playhouse October 2 - 18 With music, lyrics and a book by Richard O’Brien, this show is a humorous tribute to the science fiction and b movie horror films of the late 1940s to the early 1970s. The musical tells the story of a newly engaged couple who are swept into the world of Dr. Frank N. Furter, a self-proclaimed transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania. This musical is best known from its adaptation into the 1975 cult film The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Our production stars Justin Batten as Frank N. Furter, and Ian Burns and Allison Novak as Brad and Janet and is directed by 2013 Creative Loafing Reader’s Pick for Best Local Playwright, Christen Hailey. 8:00 p.m. or 11:00 p.m. Tickets $25 $28. Imperial Symphony Orch. Tea & d Symphony #1
The Lakeland Center Lake Hunter Room October 7 Sip a cup of tea, enjoy a glass of wine and mingle at our music enrichment programs given the Tuesday before each Masterworks performance. Learn about the life, times and music of each concert’s featured composers and guest artists at our lecture series facilitated by Artistic Director and Conductor Mark Thielen. 5:45 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Tickets $15. The Australian Pink Floyd Show
Ruth Eckerd Hall October 8 This will be the band’s sixth performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall; the previous five performances have been sold out shows and The Australian Pink Floyd Show is currently one of the most in-demand touring entities worldwide. There will also be an interactive element to the show where audience members will be asked to help choose the material that the band will play during certain sections of their two hour set. 8:00 p.m. Tickets $50.50 - *$150. (*$150 Dinner Package includes a premium seat, pre-show dinner and a voucher for free valet parking.) Enjoy a sumptuous buffet prior to the performance for only $25 per person (includes tax). Doors open two hours prior to the performance. Due to limited seating, we suggest advance purchase.
October 9 Internationally acclaimed Mexican acoustic rock guitar duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela are back on the road again bringing their unique instrumental blend of metal, jazz and world music. They have been playing together for more than fifteen years. Known for exhilarating live shows, Rodrigo y Gabriela have won the hearts of music lovers from the haciendas of Cuba to the Hollywood Bowl and festival fields of Europe, as they continue to weave their unique six-string magic. The extraordinary interplay between Sanchez’s fiery lead lines and Quintero’s phenomenal rhythmic battery is truly universal. 8:00 p.m. Ticket prices are $32.50 *$120 (*$120 Dinner Package includes a premium seat, pre-show dinner and a voucher for free valet parking.) Enjoy a sumptuous buffet prior to the performance for only $25 per person (includes tax). Doors open two hours prior to the performance. Due to limited seating, we suggest advance purchase. Richard Marx
Ruth Eckerd Hall Capitol Theatre October 11 Fresh off releasing Beautiful Goodbye, his first studio album in 10 years, Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Richard Marx visits the Tampa Bay area and includes a stop at the Capitol Theatre 8:00 p.m. Miami Herald refers to the music on Beautiful Goodbye as “some of [Richard’s] richest yet.” Whatever We Started, was released in May following a surprise performance of Richard’s hit song Right Here Waiting on the finale of American Idol with host Ryan Seacrest. Tickets $44.50 $184.50 (includes a Meet & Greet) Classic Albums - White Album
The Lakeland Ctr. - Youkey Theatre October 10 The Capitol Theatre October 12 Classic Albums Live will be performing The Beatles’ The White Album at 7:00 p.m. This was the ninth studio album by English rock group and was released in 1968. Upon its release in November 1968, the album reached #1 on the charts in both the United States and the United Kingdom and has sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. The concert will feature the legendary songs from the album such as While My Guitar Gently Weeps, Blackbird, Dear Prudence, Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da and Birthday.
The Lakeland Center Tickets: $27 The Capitol Theatre Tickets: $25 - $50
The Capitol Theatre is located at 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater, FL. For more information (727)791-7400. TFO: Beethoven & Rachmaninoff
Ruth Eckerd Hall October 12
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Don’t miss the experience of this evening filled with wonderful music by The Florida Orchestra’s presentation of Beethoven & Rachmaninoff. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $17.50 $47.50.
Ruth Eckerd Hall
Masterworks Concert #1 -Black Violin
The Lakeland Ctr. - Youkey Theatre October 14 Since starting Black Violin a decade ago—named after an album by preeminent African-American swing era jazz violinist Stuff Smith—Wil B and Kev have performed an average of 200 shows a year in 49 states and 36 countries as far away as Dubai, Prague and South Africa, while appearing at official NFL celebrations for three Super Bowls and last year’s U.S. Open in Forest Hills with Jordin Sparks. The pair has played with the likes of Linkin Park member Mike Shinoda’s Fort Minor, while opening for Fat Joe, Akon and the Wu-Tang Clan. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $25 - $40. NUREYEV’S EYES
The Players Theatre October 15 - 26 A play by David Rush is a revealing look at the worlds of painting and dance through the eyes of two iconic artists. Directed by Darin Anthony. Previews October 15 and 16. Performance on October 17, is a private event by invitation only. Tickets: Only $39! “Pay What You Can” Night October 15 at 8:00 p.m. Anjelah Johnson
The Straz Center October 16 West Coast comedienne Anjelah Johnson was an Oakland Raiders Cheerleader Rookie of the Year before her viral video hit “Nail Salon” made her an overnight sensation. Fans know her from MADtv and her character Bon Qui Qui, a mouthy, gum-smacking fast food employee who has a following of her own. She’s been on Comedy Central with her special, That’s How We Do It, and on NuvoTV with another one-hour special, The Homecoming Show. Her live shows play to sell out audiences who are usually on their feet for her before the first joke. 7:00 p.m. Tickets $35 - $45. Guy Torry
Tampa Improv October 16 - 19 In the tradition of comedians who have made the transition from the stage to the screen, such as Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby, multi-talented Guy Torry has made the leap to comedic actor with great success. Guy has been seen on BET’s Comic View, Comedy Central’s Premium Blend, Showtime at the Apollo and Russell Simmons: Def Comedy Jam where he made his stand up debut to a national audience. He created a unique concept called Phat Comedy Tuesdays which was a weekly showcase for up and coming comedians. This evolved into a weekly spotlight at the Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip entitled The Guy Torry Show where Guy hosts and produces a comedy showcase featuring an improv comedy troupe. This event was regularly attended by the comedy A-List including Eddie Murphy, Chris Tucker and Chris Rock. Must be 21 & up to enter; except on Friday’s at 10:30 p.m. which is 18 & up to enter. Tickets $15 - $17. Clearwater Jazz Holiday
Coachman Park October 16 - 19
VIP & reserved seating available! Earth Wind & Fire, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Spyro Gyra, Dr. John & The Nite Trippers, Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros. General admission $15 in advance; children 12 & under free. Coachman Park is located at 301 Drew St., Clearwater, FL. For more information www.clearwaterjazz.com. Jason Aldean
Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre October 17 With more than 8.5 million records sold and 13 No. one hits under his belt, thie country music star will bring an amazing experience to this upcoming concert. Jason Aldean’s “Burn it Down” concert comes with the promise of plenty of flames, good music and in general, a red-hot show. Aldean’s last album, MY KINDA PARTY, was the topselling country album of 2011 and the fifthbest seller across all genres. It spawned five consecutive No. one hits including the TRIPLE PLATINUM “Dirt Road Anthem” and the crossover smash “Don’t You Wanna Stay” feat. Kelly Clarkson. Last year Aldean also won his first two Country Music Association awards, with MY KINDA PARTY securing the coveted Album of the Year trophy. Florida Georgia Line, currently country’s most successful duo, will be the accompanying act, with every song sharing a rocking, danceable beat and the twin lead vocals of Brian Kelley from Ormond Beach, Fla., and Tyler Hubbard from Monroe, Ga. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $64 - $589. Anne Frank and Me
2nd Stage Studio Theater October 18 - November 2 This multiple, national award-winning new American classic, which was a hit in New York, is about the awakening of a modern teen Holocaust denier. Nicole Burns doubts the truth and cares even less, but ultimately comes face-to-face with the hell of the Holocaust, and in an extraordinary sequence meets Anne Frank on a cattle car to Auschwitz. We start out with Nicole in today’s teen world of MTV. Hip-hop dancing, unfinished homework assignments, and young love are all transported with her to Nazi-occupied Paris, 1942-44, and then are brought forward again to the light and hope of the present. 2:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Tickets $15 - $20. The 2nd Stage Studio is located at 200 S. McMullen Booth Rd., Clearwater , FL. For more information (727) 944-6442. Tampa Ballet Theatre Presents Dracula
HCC Main Stage Theatre October 18 & 19
This October, Tampa Ballet Theatre will be sinking its teeth into an original contemporary ballet. Tampa Ballet Theatre will be debuting its season with two performances of Dracula. Performed at Hillsborough Community College Mainstage Theatre in Ybor City. Saturday at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 6:00 p.m. Price Adults $25. Seniors $20. Children $15. Students $15. For more information (813) 814-0587. Lyle Lovett
OCTOBER 2014
Senior Voice America
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Entertainment Mahaffey Theatre October 19 A singer, composer and actor, Lyle Lovett has broadened the definition of American music in a career that spans 14 albums. The Texas-based musician fuses elements of country, swing, jazz, folk, gospel and blues in a convention-defying manner that breaks down barriers. Lovett has been touring in support of Release Me since its release in February, 2012. The album was #1 for several weeks on the Americana charts. Produced by Nathaniel Kunkel and Lovett, Release Me represents the end of an era as it was his last record for Curb/Universal Music Group after being on the label for his entire career. 7:00 p.m. Tickets $39 - $59. Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella
The Straz Center - Carol Morsani Hall October 21 - 26 Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of The Sound of Music and South Pacific that’s delighting audiences with its contemporary take on the classic tale. This lush production features an incredible orchestra, jaw-dropping transformations and all the moments you love – the pumpkin, the glass slipper, the masked ball and more – plus some surprising new twists! Be transported back to your childhood as you rediscover some of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s most beloved songs, including “In My Own Little Corner,” “Impossible/ It’s Possible” and “Ten Minutes Ago,” in this hilarious and romantic Broadway experience for anyone who’s ever had a wish, a dream ... or a really great pair of shoes. For event times contact 813.229.STAR (7827). Tickets $56 - $95. Ringo Starr & All-Starr Band
Ruth Eckerd Hall October 23 The legendary ex-Beatle, Ringo Starr kicks off his tour and includes a stop at Ruth Eckerd Hall. This will be Ringo’s fifth appearance at Ruth Eckerd Hall and like the previous four, which sold-out, tickets are expected to go quickly. The same All Starr lineup returns with Richard Page, Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather, Gregg Rolie and Gregg Bissonette. New to the lineup is Warren Ham. As always fans can expect to hear
a jukebox worth of Ringo’s classics such as It Don’t Come Easy, Photograph, A Little Help From My Friends and Yellow Submarine plus songs from his most recent self-titled release. All Starr’s hits include Rosanna, Broken Wings, Hello It’s Me and Black Magic Woman. 8:00 p.m. Tickets are priced at $56 - *175 (*$175 Dinner Package includes a premium seat, pre-show dinner and a voucher for free valet parking.) Enjoy a sumptuous buffet prior to the performance for only $25 per person (includes tax). Doors open two hours prior to the performance. Due to limited seating, we suggest advance purchase. Arrival: The Music of ABBA
The Mahaffey Theatre October 24 Hits like “Dancing Queen,” “Mamma Mia,” “Does Your Mother Know,” “Take A Chance,” “SOS,” “The Winner Takes It All,” “Super Trouper,” “Money Money Money,” “Waterloo,” “Honey Honey,” “Fernando,” “I Do I Do I Do,” “Chiquitita,” “Knowing Me Knowing You,” “Summer Night City,” “Thank You For The Music,” “Lay All Your Love On Me,” “Gimme Gimme Gimme” and many more are delivered with such accuracy that it’s hard to believe that it’s not the real ABBA on stage. 8:00 p.m. Tickets $30 - $50. Pieces of a Dream
The Mahaffey Theatre - Palladium Theater October 24 Former bassist Cedric Napoleon, drummer Curtis Harmon and keyboardist James Lloyd founded crossover jazz group Pieces of a Dream in Philadelphia as teenagers in 1976. Although they were jazz-oriented, the group also emphasized R&B and incorporated funk, quiet storm, hip-hop, new jack swing and smooth jazz into their recordings, which often featured vocalists (including Barbara Walker, Eva Cassidy, and Maysa Leak). 8:00 p.m. Tickets $30 - $50. coral skies music festival
Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre October 25 All day music on two stages, food trucktopia and craft beers At The Florida State Fairgrounds will be where you can see the following line up: Cage The Elephant, Julian Casablance and the Voyds, City and Colour,
Bombay Bicycle Club, Bleachers, The Hold Steady, Tokyo Polica Club, The Wild Club, Junior Prom, Benjamin Booker and Good Graeff. Tickets start at just $55 for the GA section and range all the way up to $178 for the PIT GA section. Starting from 12:00 p.m. Mentalist Steve Kudelski
Tampa Bay Computer Society October 25 Mentalist Steve Kudelski will get inside the heads of his audience at his “Mind Reading, Comedy & Magic” show. 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $25 (buy one get one FREE.) Tampa Bay Computer Society is located at 1510 Barry Road, Clearwater, FL. For more information www.SteveKudelski.com. Diavolo Dance Theatre
Straz Center November 2 Dancers, gymnasts, rock climbers, athletes, acrobats — the core company of Los Angeles-based Diavolo combines their abilities on massive and moveable set pieces to explore the tension between a structure and the human beings interacting with it. For twenty years, Diavolo has invented movement dynamite between its dancers and giant sets of skate ramps, wheels, interlocking boxes and abstract sculptures. With explosive and unexpected flips, leaps, turns, partnering and tests of trust, the company pushes the limits of the ever-present question of when to hold on and when to let go. 8:00 p.m. Regularly priced tickets are $30$50. Conga Caliente 2014
Al Lopez Park November 2 Come to Tampa’s premiere Hispanic event Celebrate its 10th Annual Festival! • Free Admission & Free Parking •Performances by National Acts • Youth Area • Traditional Ethnic Foods • Health Village • Corporate Village • Artistic Displays • Educational Displays • Beer Garden • Cigar & Domino Tournament Join the Celebration of Hispanic Arts and Culture! 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Free. Al Lopez Park is located at 4810 N Himes Ave, Tampa, FL. For more information www.congacaliente.com.
VENUE ADDRESSES AND CONTACT INFORMATION The Players Theatre 838 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 365-2494 www.theplayers.org Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre 4802 N. US Highway 301 Tampa, FL 33610 Telephone: (813) 740-2446. www.midflorida.com/amphitheatre The Historic Capitol Theatre 405 Cleveland Street Clearwater, FL 33755 Telephone: (727) 791-7400. www.rutheckerdhall.com The Lakeland Center — 701 W. Lime St. Lakeland, FL 33815. Telephone: (863) 834-8100 www.thelakelandcenter.com The Mahaffey Theater — 400 1st. St. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Telephone: (727) 892-5798. www.themahaffey.com Ruth Eckerd Hall — 1111 McMullen Booth Rd. Clearwater, FL 33759. Telephone: (727) 791-7400. www.rutheckerdhall.com The Straz Center — 1010 North Macinnes Place, Tampa, FL 33602. Telephone: (813) 229-7827. www.strazcenter.org The Tampa Bay Times Forum — 401 Channelside Dr. Tampa, FL 33602. Telephone: (813) 301-6500. www.tampabaytimesforum.com American Stage Theatre 163 3rd Street North St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Telephone: (727)823-7529 www.americanstage.org Improv Comedy Theater 1600 E 8th Ave C-112 Tampa, FL 33605 Telephone: (813) 864-4000 www.vanwezel.org
When It Comes to Entertaining Get out from behind your mask and list your Event for Free right here on the SVA ENTERTAINMENT PAGES!
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014
Senior to Senior Woman Seeking Man
Senior to Senior Abbreviations
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Senior Voice America
still appreciate Mary Ann’s sense of values.” While there are a few “Gilligan’s Island” stories in the book, the focus is on down-to-earth advice from Mary Ann’s – and Wells’ –perspectives. “It was a fun, silly show that made you laugh and didn’t preach to the audience,” Wells said. “But there was an awful lot in the character of Mary Ann that kids could learn from today: She was fair, she pitched in to help, she had standards, she wasn’t worried about a $500 purse, and she would be your best friend you could trust. I think the world is a little confused on values these days.” Although the book’s advice is frequently directed toward girls and younger women, Wells said that the chapter, “Hey! Who’s That Old Gal in the Mirror,” is aimed at a more mature crowd. “Sometimes I look at myself in the mirror and think, ‘really, I’m that age?’” said Wells, who turns 76 in October. “I don’t know where the years went, but I’m not obsessed with it. As you get older, I think it’s important to keep a positive attitude about life. I know I have a million things I still want to accomplish! You just have to surround yourself with things that interest you. Even though there may be activities you can no longer enjoy, there are probably many that you can.” Back on the island, there were plenty of weekly adventures to interest the seven castaways during the three seasons the show aired. Wells said she got along with all her fellow actors – even Tina Louise (Ginger), despite the rumors over the years that the two feuded – and was particularly close to Natalie Schafer, who played the wealthy socialite Mrs. Lovey Howell. “The character you saw her play was pretty much who she was in real life,” Wells said. “She really was a grande dame, very independent, with a great sense of humor.” Wells said Schafer handled her aging well and responded accordingly. “She had large ankles, so she almost always wore pants rather than dresses. In fact, she wore pants before they were ‘in’ for women. Her hands also showed signs of aging, so she usually wore gloves on the show. And her clothes were always colorful because that made her face look bright and cheery. So she was very conscious of her age, but I thought she handled it very smartly.” Beyond “Gilligan’s Island,” Wells appeared in more than 150 TV shows and films and starred in more than sixty theatrical productions, which continue to attract her. But acting was never her plan. “I wanted to be a pediatric surgeon!” Wells said. “I went to Stephen’s College in Missouri but had problems with my knees since I was a little girl. So, aside from archery and canoeing, I couldn’t do much PE. I took a theater course, and my professor said I was so good that I should major in it.” After transferring to the University of Washington in Seattle as a theater major, Wells was asked to enter the Miss America contest, and, in 1959, ran for Miss Nevada – her home state. I thought it would be fun to get up in front of an audience and do a dramatic scene for the contest, but never thought I would win because I was so tiny and short,” Wells said. “But I won! After graduating, I told myself I would give acting a chance for one year and if it was not successful, I would go back to medicine.” She never returned to medical school!
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From WELLS Page 1
Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University in Montgomery, Ala. and has written features, columns and interviews for more than 400 magazines and newspapers.
Far Left: Cover of Dawn’s latest book “What Would Mary Ann Do? Above: Dawn Wells with Gilligan’s Island’s cast.
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Senior Voice America OCTOBER 2014