APRIL 2015
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SINCE 1980 — VolUME 35 • NUMBER 4
TIME
Food for thought to nourish memory & brain function
PAGe 6
HAVING REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS WHEN SELLING YOUR HOUSE
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FOUR FACTORS THAT CAN HELP ENSURE THAT YOUR GOLDEN YEARS ARE NOT TARNISHED
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salvador dali - Soft Watch at the Moment of First Explosion, ©1954
Should Be Taken, Not Wasted As philosophers and physicists continue to grapple with the nature of time, it is beyond our grasp to understand what neuroscientist David Eagleman means when he says, “Every human being is living at least 80 milliseconds in the past. When we think an event occurs, it has already happened before our brain has a chance to create a cohesive picture of it.” There are two kinds of people in the world, larks and owls. Larks are people who get up early in the morning and go to sleep early in the evening. Owls get up late and go to sleep late. If a lark marries an owl, togetherness requires a special effort. Then, there are monochronic and polychronic people. Monochronic individuals can only do one thing at a time. Polychronic types are multitaskers who are able to manage more than one thing simultaneously. Cultures, likewise, are either monochronic or polychronic. For example, people in Italy and Brazil lean toward polychronism, where several things can be done at the same time. Scheduling multiple appointments for the same time is not unusual. Interruptions are not considered intrusive. In the U.S. and Germany, bias favors monochronism. There is a preference for a single, clearly laid out plan, no strict agenda and a free-flowing exchange of opinion. Time-centered commitments are taken seriously. It is interesting to contemplate just how much of our lives are influenced by time. There’s a time to be born, start going to school, See TIME, Page 10
By Professor Abné M. Eisenberg
The Importance of
HANGING UP
Everyone has heard of scams perpetrated on seniors which start out with an innocent-seeming event: the phone rings, the doorbell rings, an email from a stranger arrives in an inbox. Many seniors whose cognition and judgment are not impaired are readily scammed, because they react to such summonses with habitual politeness. Past a certain age, it is not common for individuals to lack a will to fight or argue with strangers. After all, by the time a person reaches an advanced age, he is inured to the fact that a doctor can order one to take off all one’s clothes, and one will automatically obey. One has similarly complied with teachers at school, bureaucrats at government offices, relatives with whom one shares living quarters, and so on, for many years, so that the habit of making nice is almost instinctual. Moreover, if a stranger seems insistent, or convincingly portrays himself as an imminent presence, the senior may feel that resistance is futile. I think, again, that this does not necessarily reflect cognitive slippage or a lack of judgment. Rather, in the back of his or her mind, the senior may be aware of his or her physical vulnerability and has become loath to be oppositional with anyone. Here are a few scams that have recently come to our attention. The case See SCAMS, Page 27
By Joyce Holly
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 APRIL 2015
opinion
The Sad Side of Customer Service The term “customer service” is probably the greatest misnomer of the 21st century. No, wait! “Public service” (I’m talking mainly Congress) takes top prize, but that’s another column, er, tome. Yes, I realize and acknowledge that there are some wonderful people in customer service, but let’s not forget the old, familiar adage: “One bad blueberry spoils the whole quart.” If you have ever called a customer service number, it usually begins with, “Would you be willing to take a brief survey afterward?” Surely, it is by design that this question precedes one’s actual customer service experience, which, nine times out of 10, impacts one’s blood pressure for the next seven days. Trust me, if I were willing to take the survey, it wouldn’t be brief. Another joke is the “estimated wait time.” Don’t ever believe what you hear; the true wait time is usually three days. But they would never tell you that up front. Never. Likewise, don’t be fooled by the words, “Calls will be taken in the order in which they were received.” Why? Because, invariably, after listening for 39 minutes, not to music, but to repetitive ads about gastric bypass surgery or current mortgage rates, the call mysteriously disconnects. And how about the informative blurb that tells me I can go to the website versus waiting for a representative. Um, news flash: Not everyone on this planet has a computer, and, secondly, like the Wichita lineman, I’m still on the line because I CHOSE to use the phone. I also love it when the first thing I hear from the representative/receptionist is, “Can I put you on hold?”
By Jean Mlincek
But he or she never gives me the opportunity to say, “Absolutely not!” Why ask if you are not going to let me respond? Speaking of being put on hold, there have been times I have been able to shampoo my living room carpet, wash the dog, clean the bathroom sink and swish Lysol around the toilet bowl, all while on hold. And, please, stop the sanguine, “And what can I do to provide you excellent customer service today?” What? Haven’t you been through job training? Why should I have to tell you how to do your job? Sadly, face-to-face customer service often ends up even worse than phone customer service. Take grocery stores. I’ve been in grocery stores where one checkout line is open and 77 people are in that line. After waiting 42 minutes for Kathy the couponer to match coupons with products, I hear a voice out of nowhere say, “I’ll take the next person in line.” Even though I am the next person in line, the 75 customers behind me bolt over to the other register. There has only been one time when the cashier at the newly opened register has halted the stampede and said, “I believe the grayhaired lady is next in line.” I forgave the mention of the gray hair in that instance. Then there are the days when I have to space my items on the conveyor belt because there are two “pools” on it: the slimy juice from packaged chicken and the water from an iced-over ice cream carton, byproducts of a previous customer. How that goes unno-
ticed by the cashier dumbfounds me, especially when a roll of paper towels is at the ready. I literally pray that my cereal box doesn’t fall in a puddle when the belt moves forward. Forget, “Spill on aisle two!” How about the “spill” on the conveyor belt? I could rant about customer service at restaurants, but, to be honest, I just don’t have the stomach for it right now. Jean Mlincek is a freelance writer who resides in St. Petersburg, Fla.
APRIL 2015
Senior Voice America
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Health Roundup
The Good Ol’ Days Wish we could go back to the “good ol’ days.” Things were so much simpler. How many times do we have these thoughts today? Things were cheaper. People were kinder, and the pace was slower. I remember gas at 17 cents a gallon. A nice new car was $3500. Truth be told, things were different. There were no lifesaving surgical bypass surgeries then. Many things that we take for granted did not exist then. We now have things that bring us comfort, pleasure and security. It is hard to compare apples to oranges. It is difficult to remember all the things we didn’t like or have then, because so much did not exist then. Computers may frustrate most of us, but our world could not exist without them: They support and help produce a standard of living that we like. We have products and services that would be prohibitively expensive otherwise. We have lifesaving medical services and facilities that were not available at any price. We enjoy seasonal produce year-round. Although we complain about less nutritional value in processed foods, we do have a choice. We complain about the negative value of television and the shows on TV. We do have a choice. Back in the “good ol’ days,” our choices were limited and excluded much that we choose today, because so much did not exist then as it does today. Back in the “ good ole days,” we could communicate with individuals and forums to which we had access. Access was selective and dependent, to a large extent, on our socioeconomic position. Not today—we have affordable means to knowledge, people and institutions with unlimited accessibility. So much information is almost scary. We can know. We can create. We can excel at a mind-boggling level. Never before was so much available to so many. I grew up in this area. I currently live in the house I was raised in. I married and stayed married to my high-school sweetheart. She is still my sweetheart. I know what Pinellas County was. I have seen it evolve to what you see today. I can’t say all the changes and adaptation that have occurred are better—or worse. They are different. We have access, we have choice, and with choice comes responsibility. We can make the world better, and must, if our progeny are to survive and have good human experience. Back in the “good ol’ days,” we made choices that we would not make today. In dentistry, more people lost their teeth, because that is just what you did. You didn’t do what you would choose to do today. The dentist, the methods, the materials and the expec-
By Anthony J. Adams, DDS, PA
tancy did not exist for everyone. The socioeconomic and health consequences were just not as apparent then as today. We are still learning. You know, the more I learn, the more I need to learn. I just came home from an international conference of doctors, scientists, researchers and others. Our discussions involved the human microbiome, which is another name that refers to the ecological community of microorganisms, good, bad and other, that literally share our body. We discussed what that means, that the face and nature of disease is evolving and being understood faster and faster than ever before. It is no wonder we have a difference of opinions. Some people stop learning and stick to what they were told. Others embrace new science and all the ramifications of that. Again, it is all choice and the responsibility that choice commands. Ultimately, each of us must take responsibility for our choices, which come from what we avail to ourselves. If you are my patient today, do not necessarily expect the same suggestions or therapy two years from now for the same problem. I will have learned new science and will be applying new therapy for old health issues. Some of the exciting therapies I have embraced are: ozone, safe mercury removal, balancing the microbiome to homeostasis, new treatment for the gums, and new material applications to restore or create beautiful functional smiles, with consideration for detoxification from heavy metal and fluoride. These are significant diversions from current, older dental modalities. Some, depending on state laws, must be done in partnership with other licensed health care providers. The laws vary depending on the state, but the need and value of those services cannot be denied by anyone who takes the time and expense to learn, make choices and be responsible. It has been my experience that the loudest to protest change are the uninformed. That doesn’t change. This Dunedin, Clearwater, Safety Harbor and Palm Harbor community has changed. But for those seeking it, we now have the opportunity to make informed choices that can provide a better, healthier human experience than was available in the “good ol’ days.”
TMTM
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015
FROM THE PUBLISHER
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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 Managing Editor/Broadcast Producer: Deb Goldman deb@seniorvoiceamerica.com Editor: Lauren Potts lauren@seniorvoiceamerica.com Creative Director: Lourdes M. Sáenz lourdes@seniorvoiceamerica.com ADVERTISING (813) 444-1011 Join our sales team. For information about opportunities throughout Florida and North America, email
Does Religion Equal Morality? Oh, have things changed. When I was growing up in the ‘60s and ‘70s, I would rarely hear people talk about being an agnostic or atheist. Nearly all of my friends were either Catholic, Jewish or some other sect of Christianity. Those were the days when, if someone spouted off about there being no God or religion, it was viewed as bogus, and he ended up being chastised until he ran for cover. Today, it’s a different world. These days I find myself scoffed at or made fun of because I believe in my religion. I have had people say that religion is a fairy tale, mysticism, or nothing but contrived to get people to act with some sense of morality. And with education come more and more young people questioning their religious beliefs. So it got me thinking, not about my religion, but more about morality. It is interesting to think that, for centuries, religion has been taught to give people a sense of morality, a sense of right and wrong and a sense of ethics. And, whether you believe in religion or not, should morality be so tied into religion? I have heard more than once that, as religion wanes in our society, our citizens are becoming more immoral and less ethical. And there is a real fear that young people won’t grow up with a good “moral compass” if they don’t go to church or synagogue. So my question is: Is this a mistake? Have we relied upon religion too much to teach people morals? Does someone need to be religious to be moral? Now, don’t get all upset that I am telling people not to be religious. I still believe in Judaism. But what I am asking is, should we be teaching people to be good for the sake of being good? Not for eternal life or for some bonus in the afterlife, but because it is the right thing to do. Look, I know plenty of people that say they “believe in their religion” are horrible people, and I know plenty of wonderful people that are atheists or agnostics. I guess what I am saying is that we should be teaching our youngsters that we should do the “right thing” because it is the right thing to do and accept that as reward enough. Then, anything extra is a bonus. I have to imagine that would make the world a better place than it is today. For those of our readers that celebrate Passover or Easter, we want to wish you a wonderful holiday season and many more to come.
Evan Gold
evan@seniorvoiceamerica.com.
Contributors
FROM THE EDITOR
Abne M. Eisenberg • Anthony Adams Carolyn Shockey • Nick Thomas • Evelyn Levin Ruth Fanovich • Peggy Buchanan • Jon Lynn Jean Mlincek • Joyce Holly • June Young Ben Souchek • Lourdes Sáenz • Lil Cromer Would you like to write for Senior Voice America?
The Sounds of Spring Something about spring makes me want to write it all down. The blue of the sky and the warmth of the wind. How the Earth feels, rousing itself from slumber and shaking off the dark hours of winter. Even as a child, I found spring to be worth remembering. And so, in honor of Easter this month, of rising and renewal, one of the first poems I ever wrote, as a little girl of six:
Please email editor@seniorvoiceamerica.com.
Early morning rises the bird Singing notes that just have to be heard Notes from the soul That wash away All thoughts of dismay From all the parts of people’s hearts.
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.
Tune in to 1250am WHNZ. Monday – Friday From 7-9pm
Happy Easter! And if you don’t celebrate, Happy Spring!
Lauren Potts
APRIL 2015
Senior Voice America
You’re Special By June Hurley Young We all have them. Do you know what they are? Birthdays. They come only once each year, and everyone has mixed emotions about them. I’m encouraging you to straighten up and enjoy. You’re special, and your special day is special. When God made you, he broke the mold. You have an important role on this earth. Celebrate the day, not the year. All the things you’ve done for others—the smiles, the words of encouragement, the random acts of generosity—wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t been born. And what about your branch on the family tree? You probably have children and a whole dynasty of descendants who were born because you were born. I’ve always enjoyed birthdays, my own and others’. I remember when I first found out about birthdays. I was so excited the night before mine that I couldn’t sleep. My grandmother told me that I didn’t have to do anything I didn’t want to do that day. She baked me my favorite cake, devil’s food. I always felt guilty that my favorite wasn’t angel food, but I never changed my mind. On my sixth birthday, my dad brought my mother a bouquet of yellow roses. I thought that was a nice thing he did for her part in my special day. They told me that because I was six, they would take me to school for the first time tomorrow. My favorite young birthday friend is Jamye Green. Her motto is, “I don’t want to grow up.” She’s proud to tell you her age: 102. All those years, she’s been praising and encouraging others. Now, in a nursing home, she doesn’t complain about her health. She has to sleep in a chair and take therapy for her legs swelling, but she’s always joyful. She’s a storyteller and a ventriloquist, exercises and participates in all the activities. After we chat on the phone, she bids me goodbye with, “Toodle, loodle, loodle loo!” Being with Jamye makes me feel good all over. I think God’s keeping her around to cheer us all up. Now it’s your turn. What are your best birthday memories? I wish we could be together to share them.
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015
Health Roundup
Some Food for Thought to Nourish Memory and Brain Function By Peggy Buchanan
November is Alzheimer’s Awareness Month. According to the Alzheimer’s Association, 5 million Americans live with the disease, with that number expected to triple by 2050. The good news is that even though it’s the second-most-feared health condition after cancer, lifestyle choices make a difference in how the condition progresses, because our brains have the ability to reorganize by forming new neural connections throughout life, in a process called “neuroplasticity.” Here are a few lifestyle tips for preventing and/or reversing cognitive decline. 1. Eat Healthy Stuff: Eat several servings of fish high in Omega 3 like salmon, albacore tuna, trout or canned sardines each week. Cut out the bad trans-fats, and increase the good fats, like olive oil and nuts. Reduce or eliminate alcohol, and decrease your overall sugar intake. Eat like monkeys and rabbits: lots of fresh fruit and veggies high in antioxidants. 2. Get Moving: Exercise increases blood flow to the brain, which stimulates the production of the protein BDNF (brain-derived neurotrophic factor), which supports the survival of neurons and the growth of new ones (brain fertilizer). By the way, BDNF in Alzheimer’s patients is at a much lower level. In addition, exercise stimulates norepinephrine, a hormone that improves memory. 3. Go to Sleep: Get 7-8 hours of quality sleep. Getting fewer than six hours of sleep can lead to a decline in brain function. Good-quality sleep allows
the brain to remove toxic waste that builds up during the day. 4. Learn New Things: Expand your current knowledge base by studying topics you know nothing about. By building cognitive reserve, you have more to lose before you begin to show the symptoms of decline. Learning a motor skill at the same time you are doing a cognitive task is called “dual-tasking,” and is one of the most cognitively stimulating things you can do. Learning a new dance step or routine are good examples. 5. Hang Out with Friends: There is a much higher risk for dementia in individuals who experience depression from loneliness due to limited social contacts. When we enjoy the company of others via clubs, organizations and/or volunteerism, we increase the “tend and befriend” hormone, oxytocin, which has the ability to neutralize cortisol, the stress hormone. High levels of cortisol damage the hippocampus, which can interfere with memory. 6. Chill Out: It’s simple: The less stress you have, the better your memory. Stress triggers the fight-or-flight response, which increases adrenaline and other hormones like cortisol, decreasing memory and negatively impacting mental acuity. Some activities that provide a positive impact on many health issues related to stress like high blood pressure, insomnia and depression include meditation, yoga, tai chi and support groups.
7. Laugh a Lot: Best of all, engage in the act of laughter. Some call it “internal jogging.” Enjoying the humorous side of life increases the release of endorphins and dopamine in the brain, providing a sense of pleasure. Happiness helps the immune system function at its best. So look for every opportunity to have a good belly laugh. It turns out to be good medicine as a memory enhancer while adding to quality of life.
Peggy Buchanan is the director of fitness, aquatics and physical therapy at Vista del Monte Retirement Community in Santa Barbara, Calif., a Front Porch community.
APRIL 2015
Senior Voice America
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Seasonal Allergies By Lourdes Sáenz, Creative Director
As of the 2oth of last month, we have officially started the wonderful and colorful season of Spring. Winter has been cruel in the majority of the country, and even though Florida experiences a much milder climate, this is the time to see weather bringing steadier, warmer temperatures. With the extended daylight hours, we tend to be outdoors with more frequency and start doing more yard or patio activities. But we’ll be contemplating the fresh new grass or the first blooms in our garden, and all of a sudden... sneeze! Soon come the watery, itchy eyes, redness and swelling of the face, and, depending on the individual, an array of symptoms that may include coughing, aches, shortness of breath and more—in a nutshell, a full-blown allergy attack! Even in the state of Florida, where there is not a harsh transition between seasons, and the spring time is not such an explosive awakening of flora like in northern states, we still witness a yellow coating of pollen on outside surfaces and airborne seeds all around, which end up being the main causes of our discomfort. I can already see these visible signs, as my car is completely yellow just one hour after running it through the car wash. Allergies related to weather changes and triggered by airborne pollen are on the rise in the United States and around the world, whether you live in rural or urban areas. The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) states that asthma and allergies affect one in four Americans, or 60 million people. This number has steadily increased during the past 50 years. A visible result is the interest of pharmaceutical companies in the creation of allergy medication and the commercial bombardment of
promotions for new prescriptions or over-the-counter drugs to alleviate the numerous allergy ailments. What about the home remedies from the past, used by our grandparents, parents and relatives before the birth of Claritin or Allegra or Zyrtec? Are there more natural alternatives to relieve our runny noses, aching, burning eyes and those horrible, endless morning sneezes—all reactions of our bodies as they try to fight off the invisible invaders coming into our nostrils from our gardens’ beautiful awakenings? Here are a few old-fashioned, natural remedies that may lead to a strengthening of our immune system and provide a way to relieve and prevent a worsening of allergy symptoms: • • • • •
Apples: You know the saying, “An apple a day...” Well, the peel of the apple contains properties that make our cells more resistant to allergies. To obtain more benefits, eat five apples a week. Celery: This vegetable contains mineral salts, which increase alkaline levels in the blood, thus quickly reducing the onset of allergies. Eucalyptus: Boil several leaves in water, and inhale vapors to clear nasal passages (more effective if you cover the head with a towel while inhaling, taking care not to get too close and burn your face). Echinacea: Drink three cups of tea a day as a great way to reinforce your immune system and fight allergens. Or, add four teaspoons of apple vinegar to your favorite tea for a special blend that will aid any your allergic ailments. Garlic: One of the vegetables known to man as a “natural wonder drug” can also be an allergen fighter, especially for those suffering
• •
from hay fever. Quercitin is the antioxidant property of garlic that makes it effective to re- duce the swelling of your sinuses caused by allergies. To be most effective, it should be a steady part of your diet, including it in all meals, especially salads. Chewing on a clove of garlic will quickly open up stuffed nasal passages. Honey: A wonderful gift from nature, it is known to reduce allergy symptoms if you take a couple of teaspoons on a daily basis. The small amounts of pollen contained in honey act as a natural “vaccine” against allergens. It is better to use locally produced honey to fight the allergens from local vegetation. Honey mixed with apple or orange juice is also a good remedy with easy-to-find ingredients. Chewing on a piece of honeycomb is also effective to alleviate congested sinuses related to allergies. Pineapple: One of nature’s strongest sources for bromelain, an enzyme that alleviates irritation and congestion, also acts as a natural anti-inflammatory for nasal passages. As a great source See ALLERGIES on Page 9
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015
TINSELTOWN talks
Patricia Routledge Still Keeping Up Appearances
Produced from 1990-1995, the British sitcom “Keeping Up Appearances” quickly crossed the Atlantic, bringing smiles to viewers of American Public Television wherever the show was widely broadcast. The success of the series, still seen on limited PBS stations today, was mainly due to the formidable acting skills of Patricia Routledge, who created the ludicrously snobbish and comical character Hyacinth Bucket (pronounced “bouquet,” of course). “The basic premise of Hyacinth is pretension, and that’s the source of so much comedy,” said Routledge from London. “While attempting to be a social climber, she also had to deal with members from the other side of her family, like Onslow, who sat around in his string vest drinking beer. In a way, the show was a microcosm for society.” Still busy and recently turned 86 in February, Routledge has been traveling the United Kingdom, Europe and Australia starring in “Admission: One Shilling,” a stage presentation recounting the life of early-20th-century British pianist Myra Hess. Regarded as one of Britain’s most eminent theater actresses, Routledge graduated from the University of Liverpool as an English and literature major. “I didn’t have any intention of becoming an actor, although, looking back now, I can see it was really inevitable.” Though best known in the U.S. for her TV roles (including “Hetty Wainthropp Investigates”), Routledge is also a professionally trained singer with many years’ experience in musical theater. In 1968, she even visited the U.S. to star in the Broadway musical, “Darling of the Day.”
By Nick Thomas
Above left: Recent Routledge photo provided by publicist. Above right: Young Patricia. Below: With “Keeping Up Appearances” co-star Clide Swift. BBC Publicity.
See ROUTLEDGE on Page 13
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Carolyn Breast Cancer Survivor Options for patients include: • Lumpectomy • Mastectomy procedures • Sentinel node mapping and biopsy • Axillary node dissection • Oncoplastic procedures including reduction mam- moplasty • Breast Reconstruction • Intraoperative radiation therapy in concert with lumpectomy • Intra operative ultrasound • Unilateral & Bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy • Hysterectomy procedures • Lymph node dissection • Omentectomy • Cytoreductive/debulking surgery While a breast or gynecologic cancer diagnosis can be devastating, there’s hope for a better outcome and an improved quality of life. Our expert doctors offer state-of-the-art treatment and support options- all in one place. To schedule an appointment, call 1-888-MOFFITT (663-3488) or visit MOFFITT.org.
APRIL 2015
Senior Voice America
From ALLERGIES on Page 7
Page 9
The Magic of Lights, Culture and Tradition By Lourdes Sáenz, Creative Director
• •
of vitamin C, pineapple helps fight against allergens. Salt: Allergic congestion is mostly caused by pollen that is trapped in the nasal passages. Rinse your passages with a solution of warm water, one teaspoon of salt and one teaspoon of baking soda by either using an eye dropper or carefully pouring the liquid into one nostril and tilting your head until it comes out the other. Vitamin C: Vegetables like peppers, broccoli, cabbage and parsley, or fruits like all citrus, strawberries, kiwi, tomatoes, guava or papaya, are the richest in this vitamin, which reduces histamine in the body and prevents allergy attacks.
EXTRA CURIOUS TIPS: • Rubbing your ears until they are hot will open up stuffed up nasal passages! • Pollen peaks between 5:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. each day. Avoid being out doors at those times, or wear a dust mask and sunglasses to keep allergens out of your nose, mouth and eyes. The majority of us have lived through terrible allergy symptoms, but now there are many alternatives to provide at least some temporary relief without a chemical dependency. Follow some of these suggestions that have been passed down from generation to generation about natural home remedies. Reach into your kitchen cabinets or walk out to your garden or your local farmer’s market for the ingredients to help you in the quest for allergy relief. And, after that, go plant some flowers, mow your lawn, take a walk in the park and breath deep. Spring is here—nature gives you the allergies, but it can also take them away!
ADDITIONAL JUICE COCTAILS TO FIGHT ALLERGIES JUICE COMBO #1 Ingredients: 3 celery stalks, 2 carrots, 1 glass of water. Preparation: wash and cut vegetables. Mix in a blender for about half a minute. Drink this juice for several days in a row. JUICE COMBO #2 Ingredients: 3 carrots, 2 celery stalks, one cucumber and a few chard leaves. Preparation: Wash and cut the vegetables (do not peel the cucumber.) Mix each vegetable in a blender for half a minute and put in separate containers. Then combine in a food processor for about a minute. Drink two cups of this juice for several days in a row. JUICE COMBO #3 Ingredients: Half a litter of water, a bunch of parsley and a half teaspoon of lemon juice Preparation: Wash and cut parsley and mix with the water in a blender for a couple of minutes. Add the lemon juice and drink two cups a day. JUICE COMBO #4 Ingredients: 2 oranges, one lemon, one slice of pineapple and 200 g. of pumpkin pulp. Preparation: Extract the juice from the oranges and lemon and place in blender with the pineapple and pumpkin pulp. Mix for about half a minute. Drink this juice once a day for several days.
The start of the Chinese New Year was February 19, and as part of this celebration, Lowry Park Zoo presents an extraordinary exhibit of the Oriental culture tradition of the Festival of Lights. Thus, the title Zoominations, combines the location and the magic of the lights in this, the first festival of its kind in the Southeast U.S. An authentic cultural experience based on the Han-Dynasty of 206BC, it is an amazing display of craftsmanship in the construction of beautiful light displays that form varied themes: from the giant Chinese Gate, to gorgeous plants and flower arrangements, to amazing tunnels and arches of lanterns, temples and pagodas and our family’s favorites, the animals and mythological creatures. We truly enjoyed the giant and unbelievably beautiful in color dragons, tigers, dinosaurs, elephants and the array of giant goldfish in one of the zoo’s lagoons. These displays transform the zoo’s forest walkways into an explosion of color and beauty, showing all the traditional, skillful work of artists from the Sichuan Province of China, still holding some of their original characteristics. In the past, the lanterns were made of painted silk over fine wood structures or the traditional red gauze stretched over bamboo. The Zoominations lantern structures are modern but still hold the skillful artistic design, enhanced by the use of millions photos by liz mendieta of LED lights, motion, visual effects and music. The Zoominations exhibit is available as a separate ticket from the regular Lowry Zoo admission and it is open from Sundays to Thursdays from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. and Fridays from 6:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Animals are not on display during this special event. With the Zoominations admission you may enjoy visits throughout the zoo walkways to admire more than thirty amazing displays of lights, plus two shows of Chinese performers available every evening. Regular admission is $39.95-adults (12-59); $37.95 -seniors (60+); $29.95-youth (3-11); free-children (0-2.) Guests may purchase an additional add-on Asian dinner show which includes a varied buffet and a half-hour show of traditional Chinese entertainment. This additional combination costs $20 per person. Zoominations is on display until May 31, and it is a must see, family outing full of magical color and fun!
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015
letter to THE EDITOR
WHAT IS PCREC? PCREC is short for Pinellas County Republican Executive Committee and is open to all registered Republicans. PCREC’s No. 1 priority is to elect Republicans to office, increase Republican registration and recruit qualified Republicans for local, state and federal offices. We believe in the Constitution, less government, fewer taxes and a strong national defense. PCREC meets on the second Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Banquet Masters, 13355 49th St. N., at the southeast corner of 49th St. N. and Ulmerton Rd. Some events preceding the main meeting begin at 6:00 p.m. Once you join, you will receive updates and notices of scheduled meetings, but until that time, mark your calendar for PCREC meetings for the next six (6) months: April 13, May 11, June 8, July 12, August 10 and September 14. PCREC is led by Chairman Nick DiCeglie. The vice chairman is Todd Jennings, Casey Cox is treasurer, and Pam McAloon is secretary. For more information, go to: pinellasrepublicans.com or call (727) 539-6009. We look forward to meeting you at our next meeting. Chuck Graham Member, PCREC Publicity Group
From TIME Page 1
Think Spring, Green Living, and Adopting a Manatee. Call 1-800-432-(JOIN) 5646 savethemanatee.org Photo © David Schrichte
graduate, embark on a career, get married, raise a family, grow old, confront retirement and plan for your demise. Each of these stages may vary in both length and nature. The maturation process is more dynamic than static. There are some young people who are extremely mature for their ages, while there are some old people who are more immature for their ages. Time is an abstraction, an invisible human invention that we use to measure and control everyday events. While we break it down into seconds, minutes, days, months, years, centuries and millennia, there are some cultures that measure it differently. It is nearly impossible for us to conceive of living without a concept of time, but there is an Amazonian tribe called the Amondava, whose language lacks a special word for time. They have no concept of time as something in which events happen. Instead of counting age in years, they use different words for every phase of life and status within the community. In sickness, time exerts its role as master by determining the length of an incubation period. This pertains to the interval between the contraction of a disease and the appearance of its first symptoms. Every system in our body is subordinate to the element of timing. Any disturbance of that sequence can produce a wide variety of illness. For example, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease can both be traced to some neurological timing defect in the patient’s brain circuitry, which compromises their ability to walk, speak and remember things. In health, time is our slave. How we use it to treat an illness constitutes a reciprocal therapeutic relationship. By delaying proper treatment or employing injurious medication, the severity of an illness is determined. In effect, time plays an integral role in the cause, character and management of the healing process. It has been said that, “Time heals all wounds.” This cliché is misleading. While time enables physical wounds to heal, it often leaves mental scars that can persist for years. It has been referred to as our somatic memory. In reality, there is no past or future. There is only now. We can learn from the past, but we cannot relive it. We can hope for the future, but we don’t know if there is one. Alice Morse Earle’s axiom rings a bell of truth: “Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift, which we call the present.” Words like soon, later, always, never before and after are potential landmines. They should be used with great care and discretion. Time continues to be the ultimate mediator.
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self help
Yes, But... By Carolyn Shockey
Did you make any resolutions on the first of the
year? Do you even remember what they were? How is it
going for you? Have you started the weight loss, joined the gym, crossed something off your bucket list, cleaned out the closets or signed up for a class?
“Yes, but” or “if only” keeps us from realizing our goals, potential and dreams.
Why is it that we sabotage our progress or delay starting a project by finding all the reasons why we can’t, or why it won’t work?
If only I had the time, I’m too old, but I don’t have the education, the money,
or the energy, are all cop-outs for getting started.
Once we feel passionate about a project, we should not let the buts or if-onlys
get in our way. Forge ahead knowing that all the excuses will not stand in the way of your progress this time.
There is always a way to realize your dreams or manifest your desires through
persistence, being open to new ideas and having the genuine desire to succeed. The way may not be easy, and there may be bumps in the road or detours, but once an idea is conceived, all that is needed is to be open to it coming to fruition. The way will present itself. Oftentimes we become discouraged at the time it takes or the “fine-tuning” and/or changes that occur in the process. If your heart truly desires something, you can get over, around or through any circumstance that on the surface appears limiting. And one cannot let past failures keep one from trying once again. Actually, past failures should not be perceived as failures, just as useful resources in reinstating your goal, as you most certainly learned what not to do the next time.
Having faith in yourself and in the outcome and working toward your goals brings personal growth, esteem and new life experiences, if you will only persevere
and not give in to the yes-buts.
So, if you have put off a goal or fallen short on a resolution, spring is the perfect time to plant your seeds in the fertile ground of self-assurance, expecting to be
successful, and to begin again. The time to blossom is now. Don’t wait for the circumstances to be perfect. Let go of all the conditions, get off your butt, and do it.
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015
opinion Advice With Consent Monday-Friday From 7 to 9 pm
on 1250am WHNZ
Ask the Experts: Attorneys Physicians Financial Planners and more! with Your Host
Evan Gold
I have been giving a great deal of thought to what I am about to write. Because I have strong feelings, I think about my words sometimes before I go to sleep, and I think about them after some intense conversations that I wish had never taken place, and I have come to some conclusions. We might need to pass a law: Unasked-for advice is immoral, and it should be illegal and subject to a fine based on the degree of irritation which the unwilling recipient experiences. Now, let us be clear. I have nothing against seeking out advice. At times, I have received some amazing advice, but the advice has been sought out by me and, most often, based on what I perceive to be the expertise of the person whom I consult. The key words there being, “sought out.” Admittedly, like so many of us who are growing older disgracefully, I can be a stubborn cuss, and am somewhat weary of people who obviously think they can live our lives better than we can. Maybe they’re right, but since, in theory at least, we are all created equal, I demand my constitutional right to blunder my way through life, unassisted, until on bended knee or merely with head bowed, I beg for help. The problem with unasked-for advice—aside from its being unasked-for—is the source from which it springs. With access to myriad TV gurus and the Internet, many of us are under the impression that we have all learned all there is to know about everything, and some of us feel a strong need to share. My answer to them is, “Resist.” Many of us feel a heartfelt desire to help others, and what better way is there than to provide our fellow man or woman with advice that will enrich their lives, when we have the words to do it? But do we? Let’s use quitting smoking as an example. We all know that smoking is a bad thing, and, aside from offering immediate pleasure, has long-range, very deleterious effects, but do we all know how to stop? Do we all know how hard it is? Even if we have done it, we are all different, and what works for one may not work for all. I was a smoker, and if you asked me how I quit, I would gladly tell you, with the caveat that even though it worked for me, there is no guarantee that it will work for you. I have to be honest. I gave more advice when I was younger, and I’m sure most of it was unasked for, but I knew more when I was younger than I do now. How is that possible? Is my brain shrinking? No, I don’t think so. I believe my ego is. Growing up, it was hard to admit that so many people knew more than I did. Now I know that many do, and, what’s more important, it doesn’t matter. Want some advice? Beg me.
By Evelyn Levin
Evelyn Levin is online at www.grrouch.com (growing older disgracefully).
APRIL 2015
Senior Voice America
Page 13
With Paul Eddington in “Noises Off”, 1982. From ROUTLEDGE Page 8 The production only ran for some 30 performances, but garnered Routledge a Tony Award working alongside an actor known more for his malevolent rather than melodic performances—Vincent Price. “The play was about an artist,” Routledge said. “Vincent was very knowledgeable about art and a big collector, so I suppose that’s why the management brought him in. But he had not been on stage for many years and basically wasn’t musical, so he did not have a good time. However, he was wonderful to work with, and all the company loved him. We shared his pain in the not-very-positive reviews he had to endure.” The extent of Routledge’s musical background was revealed in Edward Seckerson’s recent British stage production, “Facing the Music,” in which the actress appeared for several years. “Edward dug up my history and a lot of my old musical recordings that I had forgotten about. We have a conversation on stage about that aspect of my career,” Routledge said. In sharp contrast to Routledge’s actual singing voice, her Hyacinth character in “Keeping Up Appearances” demonstrated frightful and failed attempts to impress others with her vocal prowess, leading to many comedic situations. Combined with classic British innuendo, clever slapstick and memorable supporting characters, the show has become a treasured comedy import around the world. “I remember reading the pilot script and feeling confident I could knit this character together,” Routledge said. “Hyacinth absolutely leapt from the page.” Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University in Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns and interviews for more than 550 magazines and newspapers. Follow him on Twitter @TinseltownTalks.
Photo by goodreads.com
photo by donnald Cooper
IF YOU
HAVE
Routledge as Hyacinth Bucket in the show “Keeping Up Appearances.”
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015
Senior Happenings flag-waving tribute to our armed forces and more. Kids are Golden Baton Award Presentation invited into the rodeo arena for a real “calf scramble.” Don’t The Club at Treasure Island miss it! April 7 Westgate River Ranch Resort is located at 3200 Bill Edwards will be honored at the 48th annual seated River Ranch Blvd., Lake Wales, FL. For more informadinner with a silent auction and cash bar. Benefits the Florida tion (863) 692-1321 or www.wgriverranch.com. Orchestra. 6:00 p.m. $100. The Club at T. I. is located at 400 Treasure Island CauseEaster Sunrise Service way, Treasure Island, FL.
Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church April 5
Busch Gardens Food and Wine Festival: Collective Soul
Busch Gardens April 1 - 26 (weekends)
This all-new festival running weekends at Busch Gardens will have Florida-inspired food, wine and live entertainment. Included with daily admission, but food and drink additional. Price: $95, $90 for ages 3-9. Busch Gardens is located at 3605 Bougainvillea Ave., Tampa, FL. For more information www.seaworldparks. com/en/buschgardens-tampa/food-and-wine/. Egg Hunt at the Museum
Glazer Children’s Museum April 4
Enjoy a light breakfast and meet animals from Old McMickey’s Farm before hunting for hidden eggs. Hunts are broken up into kids ages 3 and younger hunting in a small area and ages 4 and older searching the entire museum. Bring your own basket or bag for collecting eggs. Starting at 8:30 a.m. Price: $12, members free. Glazer Children’s Museum is located at 110 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL. For more information (813) 443-3861. Community Easter Egg Hunt
The Grove April 4
Numerous egg hunts, including one for special needs children, at this festival with bounce houses, games, candy, prizes, food trucks and photos with the Easter Bunny. Free (food/ drink additional). The Grove is located at 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., Wesley Chapel, FL. Hernando County’s Autism Fest
Springstead High School April 4
Presented by Springstead High School’s IB students. During the 4th annual event, the first 100 children will receive a free gift, including new toys and educational products donated by the Kids Wish Network. Meet the Tampa Yankees mascot, Blue. Stage performances at 11 a.m. Music provided by PJ the DJ. National autism lecturer/author, James Williams will present his ‘Are You There, World? It’s Me, Autism’ talk at noon. Event includes food, beverages, games, dunk tank, raffles, photo booth, crafts, carnival games, a bounce house and more. 11:00 a.m. Free admission. Springstead H. S. is located at 3300 Mariner Blvd., Spring Hill, FL. For more information (352) 797-7010, ext. 353. Senior Excursions
St. Pete Beach Comm. Ctr. and Horan Park April 4
Festa Italiana’s Wines of Italy The 74th Annual Sunrise Service will be celebrated this Italian Club (Ybor City) Easter Sunday. An event that draws well over 1,000 worshipApril 9 ers each year. The service will be held between 1st and 2nd Festa Italiana kicks off with a tasting of 70 Italian wines, Avenues, at 7:00 a.m. Arrive early for music and meditation. Two additional services, with traditional Easter music and a food from Carrabba’s Italian Grill, entertainment by the Ken brass choir, will be held at the church at 8:45 a.m. and 10:00 Loomer Quartet, silent auction and wines for sale. 6:00 p.m. a.m. Immediately following the Sunrise Service, the youth $50 through April 9, $60 at the gate. The Italian Club is located at 1731 E. 7th Ave., Tampa, FL. group will host a pancake breakfast in the Fellowship Hall of Pass-A-Grille Beach Community Church. The $7.00 per perFriday Movie Matinee son charge, or $25.00 per family, will help support the Palm Harbor Library group’s upcoming mission trip. All are invited. April 10 PAG church is located at 107 16th Ave. St. Pete Beach, FL. The next movie matinee coming to Palm Harbor Library Easter Sunrise Service will take place from 2:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. The movie is a truelife story following the unforgettable journey that began with Bok Tower Gardens Louis Zamperini as a rough kid on the verge of delinquency April 5 in New York, to that of a teenaged track star and runner in Bok Tower Gardens will host their annual Easter Sunrise the Berlin Olympics, and finally on to his life as an airman in Service with bagpipes, a brass ensemble and carillon perforthe Second World War. Light refreshments are provided. mance, 6:00 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. Easter morning worshippers Palm Harbor Library is located at 2330 Nebraska Ave., will be offered free admission to experience the Gardens own Palm Harbor, FL. For information (727) 784-3332 ext 3006. sunrise service with the Lake Wales Chorale, bagpipes performance, live carillon performances and the sounds of the Tampa Bay Blues Fest Celebration Brass Ensemble. A buffet breakfast will be served Vinoy Park in the Blue Palmetto Café following, for an additional fee. April 10 - 12 Bok Tower Gardens is located at 1151 Tower Blvd., Lake One of Tampa Bay’s largest music festivals celebrates its Wales, FL. For more information www.boktowergardens. 20th year. It has lined up 15 artists including Boz Scaggs, org or (863) 676-1408. Tower of Power, Ronnie Earl, Tab Benoit, Carolyn WonderSunday Bicycle Rides land and Southern Hospitality. 12:00 p.m. Price: $20-$175. Vinoy Park is located at 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, Dunedin Historical Museum FL. For more information (727) 895-6153 or www.tamApril 5, 12, 19, 26 pabaybluesfest.com. Meet in the parking lot behind the museum for a 29-mile ride on the Pinellas Trail to Tarpon Springs. Helmets are reThe Perfect 10 Charity Golf Tournament quired and riders must maintain a speed of 12 to 16 mph. The Abbey Course & The Tampa Bay Golf C.C. 8:00 a.m. Free. April 11 The Dunedin Historical Museum is located at 349 Main This tournament benefits 10 local charities, including St., Dunedin, FL. For more information (801) 520-0350. Lighthouse for the Visually Impaired and Blind. For every Clearwater Community Easter Egg Hunt sponsor and golfer registered under Lighthouse, Lighthouse gets 100% of sponsorships & $25 per golfer--funds to be used Coachman Park for services provided to persons who are visually impaired April 5 and blind. For donations only, the host will match your conEgg hunt (starts 12:30 p.m.) with 25,000 eggs including tribution. Starting at 8:00 a.m. Golfers get a free bbq lunch some “golden eggs” exchangeable for stuffed bunnies . Bring and a goody bag. Sponsorships are $200 each; golfing at The your own basket. Event also features pony rides, petting zoo, Abbey is $50; and golfing at The Tampa Bay Golf & CC is $60. train rides, face painting, inflatable slide, bounce houses and The Abbey Course is located at 33640 FL-52, St. Leo, FL. the Easter Bunny. 11:00 a.m. Free (fee for food and some at- The Tampa Bay Golf & CC is located at 10641 Old Tampa tractions). Bay Dr., San Antonio, FL. To register: www.theperCoachman Park is located at 301 Drew St., Clearwater, fect10charity.com or (727) 815-0303. FL . For more information (727) 442-2099 or www.clearwatercommunityvolunteers.org. Mustangs & Mustangs Hearing Clinic
CARES Rao Musunuru, M.D. Enrichment Ctr. April 6
Includes ear wax checks and removal, hearing screenings The excursions are a great way for local seniors to travel and the cleaning and servicing of hearing aids. Participants with their friends and make new ones. Cost covers transporwho wear hearing aids will receive one free package of heartation. Price: $12 for residents, $15 non-residents. The St. Pete Beach Comm. Ctr. is located at 7701 Boca ing aid batteries. 9:00 a.m. Free. Rau Musunuru Ctr. is located at 12417 Clock Tower ParkCiega Dr., St. Pete Beach, FL. way, Hudson, FL. Saturday Night Rodeo Ballroom Dance Class
Westgate River Ranch Resort April 4, 11, 18, 25
Dr. William E. Hale Senior Activity Center April 6
Every Saturday night, Westgate River Ranch Resort hosts Seniors can get fit while learning to dance the waltz, chaan evening of fun for the whole family at their 1,200-seat rodeo arena. Cowpokes and bronco busters gather every Satur- cha, rumba, foxtrot, swing and salsa. 5:15 p.m. Price: $15, $10 day night at 7:30 p.m. for an evening of fun for the whole members. Dr. Hale Senior Activity Ctr. is located at 330 Douglas family at the 1,200-seat rodeo arena. Trick riding, bull riding, calf roping, barrel racing, rodeo clown antics and a patriotic, Ave., Dunedin, FL.
Fantasy of Flight April 11
Who doesn’t love a Mustang, whether it’s a Ford Mustang from any era or a P-51 World War II fighter? This annual spring car and vintage airplane show, now in its 16th year, is the only Mustang event that showcases both restored P-51 Mustang aircraft and Ford Mustang autos of all eras, ages and styles. Show cars compete for a “People’s Choice” award and the rare, restored P-51 fighters perform live aerial demonstrations. Children’s activities, entertainment and photo opportunities. 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. FREE, and $5.00 for parking. Fantasy of Flight is located at 1400 Broadway Blvd. S.E., Polk City, FL. For more information (863) 984-3500 or www.imperialmustangclub.org. Spring Pet Fest
Carillon Center April 11
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Senior Happenings The annual event hosted by the Humane Society of Pinellas features the Adopt-a-palooza from local rescue groups, vendors, pet walk, and more. 9:00 a.m. Free. The Carillon Ctr. is located at570 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL. Moving Day Tampa Bay: Walk For Parkinson’s
University of S. FL Marshall Student Center April 11, 2015 9:00am
The National Parkinson Foundation is hosting this inaugural event to raise funds and awareness. More than just a walk, this event highlights “movement” and exercise as a symbol of hope and progress. Each event features their Movement Pavilion, with stations such as yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, dance and more. Donations and fundraising. Event takes place at 4202 E Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL. For more information (813) 974-3180 or www.parkinson.org. 4-H Benefit Trap Tournament
Hernando Sportsman’s Club April 11
The tournament is four rounds for a total of 100 shots. Winners will be selected in three categories: youth, adult and senior. Trophies awarded. Shooters are to bring their own gun, ammunition and lawn chair. Shooting begins at 9 a.m. All proceeds benefit the youth of the Hernando Sportsman’s 4-H Club. 8:00 a.m. Price: $40 per shooter; includes lunch. Hernando Sportsman’s Club is located at 16121 Commercial Way, Weeki Wachee, FL. For more information (352) 797-0409 or www.hernandosportsmansclub.com. 5K for Oral Cancer Awareness
Frank T. Hurley Park April 11
Participants can fundraise for top prizes, including a chance to win an iPad mini. Benefits oral cancer awareness programs. Registration starts at 6 a.m. Race starts at 8:00 a.m. Walker $25, Runner $30; Kids ages 6-10 $10; Students with ID $15. Hurley Park is located at 1501 Gulf Way, Pass-a-Grille, FL. The South Pasadena Community Band
Treasure Island Community Center April 15
carnival rides, games, Dancing with the Palm Harbor Stars, a Festival Queen Pageant and a craft beer garden. Live music will take place once again, but this year the festival has increased the number of performances on Saturday, which features a little rock and a little country. 6:00 p.m. Free admission; extra costs for preliminary Dancing with the Palm Harbor Stars April 3rd judging, and rides; menu prices vary. Festival takes place along Florida Avenue, Palm Harbor, FL. For more information (727) 784-4287 or www.palmharborcc.org. Good Ol’ Days Festival
Homeland Heritage Park April 18
Pioneer History Festival at Homeland Heritage Park. Polk County Parks & Recreation’s annual Good Ol’ Days Festival is free family event. This event invites all members of the family to celebrate the local history of Florida. The Good Ol’ Days Festival will feature vendors, historical interpretation, demonstrators, re-enactors of the early 1900’s, live entertainment, and much more. 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Free (some vendors may charge fees). Homeland Heritage Park is located at 249 Church Ave., Homeland, FL . For more information (863) 534-3766 or www.polk-county.net/subpage.aspx. Cirque Du Chill: Chillounge
Curtis Hixon Park April 18
This year’s outdoor lounge party takes on a Cirque du Soleil twist adding contortionists, aerialists, jugglers, hand balancers, a high-flying daredevil and from America’s Got Talent, John Nock’s Aerosphere Aerial Balloon Show Act with the artist floating under a giant helium orb. There will also be live music, runway fashion show, fireworks, outdoor furnishings and chic daybeds, all set on the downtown waterfront. 6:00 p.m. Price: $25 advance, $35 at the gate, $100 VIP. Curtis Hixon Park is located at 600 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa, FL. For more information (941) 448-0995 or www.chilloungenight.com. Big Shot Volleyball Tournament
Howard Johnson Resort Hotel April 18 & 19
The theme of this free concert is Some “State”-ly Music. Included in the pieces performed will be music with some of our States in the title or music of our State songs in the piece itself. These would include “Oklahoma”, “Hawaiian Holiday”, “Mississippi Slip-horn” and “Kentucky Sunrise”. 7:30 p.m. The Treasure Island Community Center is located at 106 Ave., Treasure Island, FL.
Approximately 200 teams from across the East Coast compete in this 2-on-2 beach volleyball tournament. Hot players to keep an eye on include Matt Henderson, Piotr Marciniak, Justin Phipps, Tara Kuk and Karolina Sowala. 9:00 a.m. Free for spectators. The HoJo is located at 6100 Gulf Blvd., St. Pete Beach, FL.
Wanee Music Festival
Festival of Chocolate
Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park & Campground April 16 - 18
Spring is in the air as campers and concert-goers gather in the park for the annual festival which boasts 2015 as its best line-up yet with headliner, Widespread Panic performing Friday and Saturday, along with Gregg Allman, Gov’t Mule, Earth, Wind and Fire, Cheap Trick, Butch Trucks and more. 12:30 p.m. Tickets: $195 three-day advance; $499 VIP. Includes camping. Suwanee Park is located at 3076 95th Dr., Live Oak, FL. Fiesta By the Bay
Ybor City Museum State Park April 17
Join CARD-USF and co-anchor News Channel 8 Gayle Guyardo for kids activities and games, a silent auction, a DJ, dancing, food and drinks. Benefits the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities at USF. 6:00 p.m. Price: $20, $10 students (advance); $25 at the door. Ybor City Museum State Park is located at 1818 E Ninth Ave., Ybor City, FL. Palm Harbor Citrus Festival: U.S Stones
Historic Downtown Palm Harbor April 17 - 19
This year’s festival brings back all the favorites including,
MOSI April 18 & 19
Chocolate lovers’ dream. Pastry chef demonstrations, wine and chocolate pairings, chocolate game show, classes on working with chocolate, kids activities and, of course, tons of chocolate from vendors for sale and to sample. Included with museum admission. Some events additional cost. Starting at 9:00 a.m. both days. Price: $22.95, $20.95 seniors, $18.95 ages 6-12, 5 and younger free. MOSI is located at 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL. For more information (813) 987-6000 or www.tampa.festivalofchocolate.com.
Creative Loafing hosts the rockabilly-themed craft beer event, featuring local vendors and brewers Cigar City Brewing, Rapp Brewing, Three Palms Brewing, and many more. Ticket includes 16 drink tickets, with more available for purchase at $1 each. 1:00 p.m. Price: $35, VIP $75. The Coliseum is located at 535 Fourth Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL. SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In and Expo
Lakeland airport April 21-26
Aviators view the 41st Annual SUN ‘n FUN International Fly-In and Expo Presented by the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association as their first chance in the season to purchase aircraft and equipment. SUN ‘n FUN Accommodations 2015 DiscountsAviation enthusiasts know it is the 2nd largest airshow in the world and Florida’s largest convention. More than 200,000 people converge in Polk County to see an airshow, visit 500 exhibits, earn education credits at workshops and forums, introduce children to the world of aviation and view more than 4,500 aircraft from homebuilts to warbirds on 2,200 acres. Two evening air shows offer spectators an illuminated sky set to music and narration. Daily air shows on the SUN ‘n FUN grounds, evening programs and entertainment, food vendors, airplane rides, youth programming and a Seaplane event at Fantasy of Flight also attract foreign visitors and media to the annual event. Visit sun-n-fun.org for event schedules and information. General Admission Tickets: Weekly - Adult: $150.00; Youth (11-17): $50.00; 10 and Under: FREE. Daily - Adult: $37.00; Youth (11-17): $15.00; 10 and Under: FREE The Lakeland airport is located at 4175 Medulla Rd., Lakeland, FL. For more information (863) 644-2431 or www.sun-n-fun.org/FlyIn.aspx. FL Artists Group Exhibition and Symposium: Focus Friday
Leepa-Rattner Museum of Art April 30
Approximately 90 artists, representing the 10 areas in the state, will display their work and compete for juried awards in a variety of media, including painting, sculpture, mixed media and graphics. Judge Frank Faulkner’s Palm I, Palm II and Still Life will be presented by JoAnn Voigt. 12:00 p.m. Price: $6, $5 seniors, free children, students and military with ID; Sunday admission is donations only. Museum is located at 600 Klosterman Rd., Tarpon Springs, FL. Rainwater Harvesting Workshop
Safety Harbor Library April 30
Educators from UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County will host an informative workshop on Rainwater Harvesting. Participants will learn the basics of how to conserve water in their landscape and how to build and care for a rain barrel. Completed rain barrels may be purchased for $35 in advance of the event. If the rain barrel will be transported in a vehicle, it is recommended to bring something to cover the seats to protect them from possible soil or moisture. This program is intended for an adult audience. 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Free; register online at http://tinyurl.com/omamg9f. Earth Day Festival Safety Harbor Library is located at 101 2nd St. N., Safety Straub Park (Center) Harbor. For more information (727) 464-4286 or nzoller@ April 18 pinellascounty.org. Meet with representatives from leading green and sustainable companies to learn about eco-friendly technology, research and products to create healthy, sustainable communities. 9:00 a.m. Free. Straub Park is located at Beach Drive and Fifth Avenue NE, St. Petersburg, FL.
Email Your
Senior Happenings to:
Spring Hops Craft Beer Festival
Coliseum April 18
Lourdes@Seniorvoiceamerica.com The Deadline for the May Issue is April 15th
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015
around the home Common-Sense Upgrades to Make Your Bathroom Safer From burns to slips to trips, bathrooms can be hazardous. In fact, hundreds of thousands of injuries occur in the bathroom annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hot water can be a dangerous bathroom peril. More than half a million scald burns occur in the U.S. annually, according to the CDC. Prevent “shower shock” by setting your water heater at a maximum of 120 degrees Fahrenheit. One of the most potentially dangerous bathroom activities is getting in and out of the bathtub safely. Grab bars, hand grips or tub grips around your bathtub or shower can help you keep your balance. And these days, safety features don’t need to look drab or institutional. Brands like Moen are making such fixtures available in a variety of styles and finishes to complement bathroom décor. More information can be found at www.Moen.com. Lastly, women who shave in the shower need to be extra careful. Avoid slips with a shower seat. To make this a practical option, use a handheld showerhead to maneuver water easily from a seated position. With a few safety updates, you can make your bathroom a safer place to pamper and prep.
Integrated Grab Bars or Grips - combine security and convenience with style and sophistication. The multi-function design allows you to increase safety while reducing clutter in the bathroom. And the sleek look of the grab bars will enhance any décor. Some bars or grips can also be removable safety items, but with exclusive locking mechanism they provide superior stability for a safe transfer in and out of tub or shower. Most of these tool-free designs allow for easy attachment and removal. Shower Chair - can add superior stability and support while in shower, providing handles with rubber grips for easy standing and sitting. Some chairs have reinforced mesh material which make them comfortable and easy to clean, while others are made of a non-slip sturdy plastic with drainage points. Locking Elevated Toilet Seat with Support Handles - enhanced with locking bracket for maximum stability and easy fit to any toilet shape, this piece allows easy access raising seat level by 5”. The majority also provide support handles for easy standing and sitting.
APRIL 2015
Senior Voice America
real estate advice
Having Realistic Expectations when Selling Your House and Downsizing Are you considering selling your house and downsizing into a smaller house, apartment or community? There are some items that you must know to ensure a more stress- and hassle-free sale of your current residence. In this article, we will cover the realistic expectations you should have when selling your house. If you WANT to sell your house, you will want to have some realistic expectations of what you will net from the sale of your house. The statistics vary from area to area, but typically, houses that sell, sell for 3-15 percent less than the original listing price. These are statistics from the houses that actually sell. This is the gross selling price, at the time of sale, not the net amount to you, the seller. Again, depending on the area, only 4060 percent of the houses that are listed actually sell. This is a statistic that a lot of sellers don’t realize when putting their houses on the market. This will vary from market to market and with the type of market you are in, but you need to be aware of your market. There are a few items that will determine the net amount that you will receive from the sale of your house: initial asking price, condition of your house compared to the competition, whole house inspection, appraisal, seller closing costs, and incentives that the buyer negotiates with the seller, paying for some or all of the buyer’s closing costs. Initial asking price: Understandably, a seller doesn’t want to price their house too low and “leave something on the table,” but there is also a danger in pricing a house too high. Sometimes a seller will think, or an agent will tell the seller, to start a little high with price and that one can always come down. The danger to this type of pricing is that it will scare away potential buyers, and your house won’t get any looks. By the time you have lowered the price of the house to what is competitive, the house will have been on the market a longer amount of time than usual, and potential buyers will wonder if something is wrong with the house, since it’s been on the market so long. Then the house will sit even longer or just won’t sell at all. If you price your house a little lower than what potential buyers are expecting, you may get good interest in the house, and it might create an “auction” environment with more than one interested party. Condition of your house: As mentioned previously, you need to be aware of the condition of your property versus what your competition will be if you put the house on the market. Do the other houses on the market have updated kitchens, bathrooms, new paint, floor coverings, etc.? New windows, roof, heat and air conditioning? New exterior paint or siding? Established landscaping, fences and decks? If your competition have these improve-
By Ben Souchek
ments but your house does not, no matter how nice you think your house is, a typical buyer will not pay for your house what they would pay for the updated house. Just because a furnace and AC that are 15-20 years old “work just fine,” they will not be comparable to a furnace and AC that are only a couple of years old. Just because you updated your kitchen with new cabinets and laminate counters, it will not be comparable to a kitchen with granite counters and stainless steel appliances. Whole-house inspection: Wholehouse inspections have become an almost guaranteed item that buyers will want. As mentioned earlier, if there are any deficiencies with the house, and there almost always are, this will most likely be another opportunity for the buyer to renegotiate with the seller. The bottom line is that this will affect the seller’s bottom line, or what he or she will net from the sale of the house. Appraisal: Again, just like the wholehouse inspection, if the appraiser identifies any deficiencies, especially deficiencies that a lender will want corrected before providing a loan on a house, the buyer will have an opportunity to renegotiate with the seller, and the amount a seller thinks he or she will receive from the sale of the house will be reduced. Closing costs for the seller: Closing costs, such as title insurance, the closing fees for the title company to process the sales transaction, recording fees, etc. usually end up costing 1-3 percent of the sales amount, depending on your local costs. Closing costs for the buyer: “Why would I, as a seller, be paying for a buyer’s closing costs?” That is a very good question. It has become common for buyers to negotiate to have some or all of the buyer’s closing costs paid for by the seller. As a seller, you certainly have the option of saying no, but then you also may have just lost your buyer. During the more than 15 years that I have been involved in real estate, it has become very common for buyers to not have more than the 2-5 percent down payment needed to secure a loan to purchase a house, much less funds for their closing costs. Therefore, this becomes another area for negotiation. And, if a buyer does have additional funds, they seem to use them for “things” to furnish a house instead of paying for the actual costs associated with purchasing the house. When all of these items are taken into account, it’s very typical for a seller to net approximately 75-85 percent of their initial asking price, or less, if the house actually sells. So, when a real estate agent says that they can sell your house for $100,000 (for this example), realize that you will most likely only net $75,000-$85,000 if your house sells. Real estate agents typically need to provide a seller a Seller’s Preliminary Disclosure statement when listing a house. This is to show a seller what they should net when they sell. However, this will typically only See SALE Page 19
DON’T FORGET THE DEADLINE! TAXES ARE DUE
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015
Health Roundup
Comfortable Old Age By Lil Cromer “You are going to have a very comfortable old age,” said the message in my fortune cookie. Taking fortunes, like horoscopes, with a grain of salt, I considered tossing the tiny white strip into the trash. But then I thought, my life’s not very comfortable right now—maybe I’ll draw perseverance and motivation if I read this every day. So I stuck it, instead, on my refrigerator door. What does “comfortable” mean anyway? Is it like so many other things, something in the eye of the beholder? Some people are only comfortable in a five-star hotel, enjoying room service, while others find comfort in a prison that provides them with three meals a day. There are those who are comfortable only when ensconced in a penthouse apartment with servants, caviar and champagne, while others seek comfort under a cardboard blanket with a jug of wine. Comfort is as comfort does. Without waiting for old age, the things that make me comfortable now are a firm mattress, a silk kimono, a perfectly proportioned recliner, old shoes, a relaxing bath, a soft flannel shirt, worn jeans, a ratty bathrobe, a favorite book and a broken-in bra. Places make me comfortable too: an air conditioned room, a bookstore, a symphony concert hall, a library, a room painted bright white, a quaint restaurant with quiet background music and my home. And I can’t forget people I am comfortable with: family, little children and sorority sisters. But, most importantly, friends with whom I can be myself, for true freedom comes from being comfortable with who we are and being able to live without pretense. When I was in my twenties, an erudite old cousin tried to describe creature comforts to me. Staying home, snugness, relaxation, freedom from distress or inconvenience, contentment, pleasure and well-being were all components of his definition. Of course, I wasn’t receptive to his explanations. However, priorities change with age, and now I understand exactly what he meant. When I look at my refrigerator door and the fortune-cookie fortune, I envision my comfortable old age. I’ll be in my air-conditioned penthouse, sitting in my perfectly proportioned recliner, dressed in my ratty old bathrobe, with a handmade quilt over my legs reading a novel and listening to Mozart. I’ll have solitude, financial security, freedom from pain and anxiety and very little domestic responsibility. When my maid brings me my lunch on a tray, along with a cold bottle of beer, I’ll thank God and a wise old fortune cookie for my comfortable old age. Lil Cromer resides in Belleair, Fla.
Senior Voice America can be found at over 1,000 Bay Area locations.
Beyond the Scale: What You Need to Know About Diabetes Risk Factors When it comes to Type 2 diabetes, many only consider weight when examining their risk. However, diabetes is complicated, and risk factors are numerous. Some of the confusion may be reflected in statistics. From 1980 through 2011, the number of Americans with diagnosed diabetes more than tripled, from 5.6 million to 20.9 million, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and millions more have pre-diabetes or are undiagnosed. On the bright side, cutting-edge research has uncovered strategies for avoiding, controlling and even reversing diabetes. “It’s tempting to think that there’s not much you can do except take medication and hope for the best,” said George L. King, M.D., chief scientific officer at Joslin Diabetes Center, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and author of the new book, “The Diabetes Reset.” “However, anyone can improve his or her body’s response to insulin and its ability to metabolize glucose in the blood.” Each individual’s glucose control problems are unique, which is why King offers a range of evidence-based, diabetes-fighting strategies in his book. Here he shares a few:
drates, this diet distinguishes between refined carbohydrates and complex carbohydrates, which are high in fiber, and will be converted into blood glucose much more slowly.
Weight Loss If your BMI is above 25 and you’re able to reduce your body weight by 5-7 percent, you can reduce your insulin resistance and improve your glucose metabolism. Be advised, many doctors feel that BMI is of limited value in determining a diabetes risk, because it doesn’t distinguish between fat and lean tissue or between different types of body fat. Abdominal fat is the most dangerous type of fat in terms of diabetes risk, so many doctors use waist circumference as an additional measurement.
Exercise Your muscles can lose insulin sensitivity due to inactivity. This can be largely reversed through a combination of 150 minutes of aerobic activity per week plus weekly strength-training sessions. Together, these activities can increase your muscles’ ability to oxidize fats, glucose and other fuels while also helping you lose weight.
Diet
Sleep
A recent study by Dr. King and his Joslin colleagues has shown that insulin sensitivity, glucose metabolism and Type 2 diabetes risk can all be significantly improved by switching to a lowfat, high-fiber diet consisting of 70 percent carbohydrates, 15 percent fat and 15 percent protein, including 15 grams of dietary fiber for every 1,000 calories consumed. This dietary approach, known as the Rural Asian Diet, is easy to maintain as it doesn’t call for restricting calories or totally avoiding any particular food group. While many diabetes experts promote restricting carbohy-
There is mounting evidence that lack of sleep can contribute to insulin resistance and possibly causes damage to the pancreas, putting you at heightened risk for pre-diabetes and Type 2 diabetes. Attempt to get seven to eight hours of high-quality sleep every night to improve insulin sensitivity. More diabetes strategies can be found at www.workman.com. Whether you have diabetes or not, understanding this disease and how it can be controlled can significantly improve your overall health.
APRIL 2015
Senior Voice America
Page 19
show a seller the commission paid to the agent, the traditional seller’s closing costs, tax proration, etc. The net amount that is shown on this disclosure statement rarely, if ever, is actually achieved. This disclosure statement generally does not take into account much of the “reality” of selling a house, such as the facts that most houses never sell for asking price, a buyer will generally always offer less than whatever the asking price is, the buyer will typically negotiate items due to the whole-house inspection and appraisal, and the buyer will typically expect a seller to pay for some or all of the buyer’s closing costs. If you are considering listing your house with an agent, there are a couple of ways to address this. You can ask, “Will you guarantee how much I will net from the sale of my house?” And, “Are you willing to adjust your commission if I net less than what your seller’s disclosure statement indicates?” I will bet that you will be less than a little amused by their answers, if you get an answer at all. Another thing you can do is to contact a few different title companies and ask them what a seller will typically net versus gross listing prices. Ask them if sellers typically pay some of the closing costs for buyers. Ask them how often houses will sell for the original asking price when a seller lists a house. I encourage you to ask a few real estate agents and real estate title/closing companies about these various “transaction costs” so that you have a realistic expectation of what you will net from the sale of a house. To summarize, putting your house on the market may be a good way to sell your house. Just know the realities of what you will encounter with this process. Like many that have gone through this process, you can become very frustrated, initially thinking you will receive a certain dollar amount from the sale of your house, only to realize later, at the closing table, that your net amount will be much less. By the time you are sitting at the closing table ready to sign closing documents, it’s typically too late to turn back. Author Ben Souchek is the foremost authority on the realities of what to expect when selling a house. For additional information about selling your house, if you are considering downsizing, go to www.DownsizeMyHouseBook.com. From SALE Page 17
Sail roundtrip aboard the fun Carnival Paradise to Cozumel!
October 8, 2015 (4 nights)
Invites you for the
Sign up by A tickets t pril 15 and get o the Fl orida O two free rchestra
2015 Senior Cruise
on Carnival’s Paradise from Tampa Special amenities: b HEALTHY LIFE SEMINAR b FITNESS SEMINAR b COCKTAIL PARTY WITH RADIO HOSTS EVAN & DEB b FITNESS CLASSES b $50.00 ON BOARD CREDIT PER STATEROOM Appreciate everything this ship has to offer including the relaxing Serenity Adult Only Retreat & Spa Carnival, Vegas style Majestic Casino, enjoy a cocktail by the resort style pool or at one of the many lounges aboard. Take in a Broadway style show or enjoy many other wonderful activities aboard this exciting ship! In Mexico, take an excursion to the Mayan ruins, relax on the beach, or do some shopping. It’s your choice! Rates starting from $269.00 per person, double occupancy — Taxes and fees: $70.67 per person Deposits are $150.00 per person ($300.00 per stateroom) & final payment is due on 8/10/15. Cabins are limited, so book early! Reserve your stateroom by contacting: Nancy M. Clark, A.C.C. - Cruise Planners/American Express (813) 527-6574 • Toll Free (855) 222-SAIL nclark@cruiseplanners.com • www.ACruiseForMe.com
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015
k l a T te ’s
L
I Want to Hear from You: Taking Responsibility By Nurse Ruth Fanovich
I recently had some major problems with both my iPad and iPhone. This was not a frivolous inconvenience; both devices are essential tools in running my business. How frustrated was I? Now, I can go only so far in solving an IT problem, but I’m no expert, and I know when it’s time to seek someone schooled in our wonderful world of technology. Simple, right? Wrong! To seek a solution for multiple problems with my devices, I went to the store that gives us technical support and services our iPhones and iPads. Problem solved? No, not really. It took three separate visits to said store and multiple phone calls (from a land line!) before all of the issues were solved. The “experts” couldn’t get it quite right. This increased my frustration. Yet, I never heard an, “I’m sorry,” nor did anyone take responsibility for their inability to correctly solve my technological problems the first time, not to mention the second. My client, after waiting several weeks for her two bottles of prescription eye drops, received not only the wrong drops, but also only one bottle. Plus she was billed more than $200! My client called the pharmacy, and, after multiple calls and transfers from one person to another, hopes the problem has been straightened out. Whether she will receive the correct prescription and the right number of bottles has yet to be seen. The pharmacy did not apologize for the mistake, nor did they take any responsibility for the error. They did, however, insist she pay for the correct prescription prior to her receiving it. Yes, I’m frustrated! Think about all the day-to-day inefficiencies or mistakes you may encounter that may not only inconvenience you, but also test your patience—perhaps something as simple as being rung up twice for the same item at the checkout, for one. Or the mechanic who worked on your car, but the problem with it persists. Did anyone take responsibility for the situation or say, “I’m sorry?” Maybe or maybe not. If not, why? Why do you think we have become a society ambivalent toward taking responsibility for our actions? What do you think? Write or call me, because I don’t get it. We are human, we can be inefficient, and we all make mistakes. I was taught early on in life to ‘FESS up and move on. Feeling better about myself and doing the right thing or just saying, “I’m sorry”…it’s good for the soul. Let’s talk. Provided by Ruth Fanovich, RN, LHRM, Owner, Care Placement Home Health Agency, Inc. and RMF Care Management, Inc. www.CarePlacementHH.com.
Health, Wealth & Wisdom
The Leading Information Source for Seniors in the Entire Tampa Bay Area ! Looking for medical or financial information? Relevant news for seniors or mature adults? Or just a healthy perspective on life & intelligent discussion?
Tune in as Evan and Deb bring the experts that will enhance your everyday life and bring a smile to your face.
Monday - Friday from 7-9 pm on 1250am WHNZ radio We want to hear your Voice…Call-ins welcome!
follow us on Facebook and Twitter www.seniorvoiceamerica.com Deb and Evan
APRIL 2015
Senior Voice America
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future planning
Pre-Need Planning with There are many advantages to arranging your cremation services in advance with National Cremation Society®. With National Cremation Society®, everything is included, and nothing is left to chance. With pre-planning: • You protect your family from having to make such decisions at a difficult time. • You make your wishes known to your loved ones. • You make your own decisions about the type of service, merchandise and price. • You prevent emotional overspending by family members who can only guess what you might have wanted. • Your funeral or cremation prearrangement moves with you, whether traveling or relocating. • You lock in today’s prices for services that may not be needed for many years. National Cremation Society® offers the Personal Planning Guide. A completed Personal Planning Guide provides a personal plan of action that helps relieve families of many of the decisions that must be made at the time of a loved one’s death. It also documents additional family information, such as military history, family heritage, estate information, insurance coverage and an inventory of personal property. National Cremation Society® provides this important reference document to all families free of charge. In order to make an informed decision when you pre-arrange cremation services, a family needs to have answers to the following six questions: • Are merchandise and services guaranteed? • What price range is affordable? • What do I want? • What if I move or travel? • What are the tax consequences, if any, to funding my arrangements? • Will this benefit my loved ones and family in the future? The staff at National Cremation Society® welcomes any questions you have. They want to be your source of information and help make your decisions as informed, intelligent, rational and caring as possible. Essentially, cremation pre-planning is a three-step process: (1) Having your plan paid for in advance, (2) Gathering and organizing your documents with the pre-planning guide, and (3) Making a decision about where your cremated remains will be placed.
Why make the pre-arrangements? If you have ever made cremation arrangements after the death of a loved one, you already know the answer to that question. Funeral planning is difficult and emotionally exhausting while struggling with grief and shock. With the help of National Cremation Society’s® qualified staff, planning in advance gives you the ability to make informed, insightful decisions that will spare your loved ones from this task.
Why pay ahead of time? Pre-funding protects your family from emotional overspending. There are funding options and payment plans to meet almost any situation. When funding the pre-arrangement, your cremation contract will identify the person selling the contract and the person purchasing the contract. The contract will contain complete descriptions and current prices of merchandise and services that are purchased. And, you lock in today’s prices, avoiding inflation.
What if I prearrange with National Cremation Society® and then move? That’s fine; your prearrangements will move with you. National Cremation Society® has a growing network of offices to serve your needs. This transferability benefit is included in our cremation plans. If, for any reason, National Cremation Society® can’t perform the service, your money is safe, and your designated beneficiary will receive it. There is no additional charge for this benefit. Here are some commonly “misguided” thoughts about cremation pre-arrangements: • Who cares what happens to me when I depart? Maybe you don’t care, but your family or loved one will have to. Decisions made by them may be influenced by grief, not by reasonable thinking, and can result in emotional over-spending. • I don’t want to think about it. No one wants to think about his or her own death. You don’t want to think about a car accident or your home being destroyed either, but you probably have insurance on your car and home. • My insurance will take care of it. Insurance does not tell your loved ones how to plan your cremation services, which crematory to use or how much to spend. Often, the policy is not enough to
• • • • • • •
cover the expenses, and some times the cover age has been canceled or has expired. Cremation services must be paid before cremation, and insurance assignments are not accepted. Insurance provides dollars only and does not give your family the information they need when they receive that phone call, usually in the middle of the night. I can’t afford it. With the different payment plans, it may be more affordable than you think. National Cremation Society® offers payment plans for every budget. My friend, attorney or family will arrange everything. Many decisions must be made, possibly by someone that you don’t trust or agree with. My decisions are noted in my will. Do you even have a will? If so, does someone know where it is? Most wills are not read until after the cremation has taken place. I don’t know what crematory to choose; I may be moving in the future. Our cremation plans are transferable, allowing your plans to move with you. The family knows what I want. Discussions about death with your family are rarely taken seriously and often avoided or put off. The government will take care of it; I’m a veteran. The government will take care of the expenses only if you are on active duty at time of death. Social Security pays for my funeral. Social Security only pays a “survivor benefit” of $255.00 if there is an eligible spouse or dependent child.
National Cremation Society holds seminars monthly. To register for a seminar or for more information, please call National Cremation Society® at (727) 536-0494.
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015
finances
Four Factors That Can Help Ensure That Your Golden Retirement Years Are Not Tarnished
In your financial health, just like your physical health, if you have a goal and the discipline to take positive action to achieve that goal, you will be able to retire and enjoy your golden years without a drop in lifestyle. Having worked in the financial industry since 1983, I have seen little change in the public’s financial health or habits. In fact, government studies reveal that only five out of every 100 workers can successfully retire and maintain their previous lifestyles! Why, in the world’s richest country, is that true? Even if we have personal discipline and financial goals, we must take action to control the four factors integral to a successful retirement. If we do not act on these factors, we may not be able to enjoy our retirement years. No. 1 is TIME: The sooner that we start to save for our retirement, the harder and longer our money can work for us. Using the “Rule of 72,” we can calculate how quickly our savings will double, quadruple or more. Time either works for us, in the early years, or against us as we age! No. 2 is CONTRIBUTIONS: The more we can set aside during our working years when we are younger, the greater our savings will be when we reach retirement. Generally, we should begin saving 10 percent of what we earn as soon as possible. That is one dime saved for every dollar earned. No. 3 is INVESTMENT RESULTS: These can drastically impact our retirement plans. During this past decade, too many people have experienced losses of 30-50 percent of their retirement funds due to stock-market drops and are forced to keep working and are unable to retire. Once a person decides which investment option is best suited to their needs and risk tolerance, they must monitor their results and take action to protect their assets when necessary. To delay action or do nothing changes nothing. The three strategies are fixed interest accounts, the market (either stocks or real estate) and indexing. No. 4 is INCOME TAXATION: This is applied when people begin to withdraw their tax-deferred funds from their retirement plan, like a 401-K or an IRA at retirement. If you earn $40,000 a year and contribute 10 percent or $4,000 per year, you will save $1,000 a year in a 25 percent tax bracket, or $40,000 over 40 years. However, when you retire and withdraw $40,000 per year, you will owe the IRS $10,000 per withdrawal. By age 69, after only four years of retirement, you will pay back the $40,000 you saved. If you live to age 85, you will have paid the IRS $200,000 in taxes. As my daughter asked me, “Whose retirement did I save for, mine or the government’s?” In order to enjoy our golden retirement years, we must examine our strategies to deter mine what works best for us to grow and protect our retirement assets. FIXED INTEREST options, such as bonds, bank Money Market and CDs offer the least amount of risk. However, bonds, Money Market accounts and CDs are at historically low rates and currently not keeping up with inflation. Following the Rule of 72, a fixed-interest account earning 1 percent will double in value every 72 years. Also, inflation which is running at around 3 percent means that our cost of living will double every 24 years, reducing our purchasing power three times as fast! Bonds are suscepti- ble to loss as interest rates increase; when the Federal Reserve stops keeping rates artificially low, and interest rates begin to rise on bonds, the bond value can drop pro portionally. If current bond rates are 2 percent, and the new Continues on Next Page
By Jon Lynn
APRIL 2015
Senior Voice America
bond rates increase to 4 percent, the current bond value will drop by 50 percent. THE MARKET, either stocks or real estate, offers a higher potential gain, but also a major risk of loss in a market downturn. As we have seen in the 1987, 2001 and 2008 stockmarket drops, investors have suffered significant losses that impacted their retirement plans. Likewise, as we have seen throughout the U.S., the real estate market has experienced severe depreciation and losses in both commercial and residential property values and is only now slowly recovering. THE INDEX STRATEGY has risen in popularity due to higher potential gains combined with contractually eliminating the risk of loss of principal, any bonus, and additional annually credited earned interest added. Indexing is tied to the various stock indices, such as the SP500, NASDAQ 100, or the FTSE, rather than individual stocks or mutual funds. Limited by participation rates and CAPS, the index strategy can offer double-digit returns in up-markets, coupled with no risk of loss in a stock-market downturn. Should the stock market have negative results, the participant has no gain for the year but, more significantly, would suffer no loss to be made up over time. When the market recovers and begins to rise, the investor will participate in the subsequent gains. Also, unlike many stock or mutual fund investments, there are no commissions or fees paid to the advisor by the investor when making an investment change. Such fees reduce the net gain to the investor but increase the earnings of the advisor. As far as dealing with Factor No. 4, income taxes on retirement funds at withdrawal: If you don’t want to pay taxes that reduce your retirement distribution, you can consider an alternate investment in a cash-building life insurance policy. Over time, the cash in the policy grows taxfree and can be withdrawn as a loan, which is also tax-free. At your death, the loan balance is deducted from the insurance death benefit and paid to your heirs, as beneficiaries, also income-tax-free. If you should die prior to retirement, the death benefit, which is substantially larger than the cash value, is then paid to your heirs as beneficiaries, tax-free. Unlike tax-deferred retirement-plan funds that pay only the amount in the plan, the death benefit is a much larger amount. This option is best started when you are young, healthy and insurable. As we age, medical problems can affect our ability to get life insurance at all! Once you have decided on which retirement option to utilize and which investment strategy fits your risk/reward tolerance, the most important step is to take action and begin protecting your retirement income. Once you implement your plan, you can, when you actually do retire, “Enjoy your retirement!� Jon can be contacted via phone at (813) 774-1862 or via email at clynnlutz@aol.com.
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Entertainment String Theory’s Fin Harp
The Straz Center April 1 - May 3
Fin Harp, a brand new sonic sculpture created by Luke Rothschild, has been designed to harness 14 brass wires that will extend more than 100 feet from a spot near the Riverwalk to the roof of the Straz Center. More than 1,000 feet of musical brass wire will adorn the performing arts center, and literally transform the building into a gigantic interactive musical instrument. Playing and discussion of the harp will happen during the annual Best of Tampa Bay (April 11) and prior to performances of Pippin (April 13-19), MythBusters: Jamie & Adam UNLEASHED! (April 23), Celtic Woman (April 25) and the Florida Orchestra (April 10, 17 and 24). During these docent-attended sessions, the public will have the opportunity to interact with and play the harp. Free to public. Never Marry A Girl With Cold Feet
Florida Studio Theatre April 1 - June 7
Playing at the John C. Court Cabaret “Start every day with a smile and get it over with” - W.C. Fields. At its peak in the 20s over two million people saw vaudeville shows EVERY DAY! Vaudeville was the ORIGINAL American entertainment. Celebrate the greatest musical artists such as Fanny Brice, George M. Cohen, Jerome Kern, and Al Jolson. Featuring irreverent humor and unforgettable melodies like “Alexander’s Ragtime Band,” “Let Me Sing and I’m Happy,” “Give My Regards to Broadway,” and “Nobody.” Tickets $34 - $36. Doors open 1 hour prior to your performance for preshow dining. L’Hermitage Theater “Russian Ballet¨
Van Wezel Theatre April 8
St Petersburg L’Hermitage “Russian Ballet” is one of the most the most prestigious ballets in the world, touring for the first time in US. The theater “Russian ballet” perceives as its main mission the presentation of the authentic choreography of the Kirov (presently Marinsky) theater. During this tour, St Petersburg L’Hermitage Theater “Russian Ballet” perform the SWAN LAKE masterpiece. 8:00 p.m. Tickets $50 - $125. Palladium Blues Fest Blowout Weekend
The Palladium April 9 - 11
St. Petersburg’s original Tampa Bay Bluesfest is coming!... and your first stop to begin the celebration is the Palladium! Marking the start of your Tampa Bay Blues Fest weekend with the Thursday night April 9 Kickoff Show, and the After Parties immediately following the Friday, April 10 and Saturday April 11 at the daylong festivals in Vinoy Park. Palladium Blues Fest Blowout Kickoff Show on April 9 - 8:00 p.m. - Rod Piazza & The Mighty Flyers. Tickets $20. Palladium Blues Fest Blowout After Partie on April 10 & 11, $20 each show, featuring some of the best acts up close and personal at the intimate, award-winning Palladium! Doors open at 9:30 p.m. include Denise LaSalle, John Nemeth, Brandon Santini, Tab Benoit and Bernard Allison. The Palladium is located at 253 Fifth Av-
enue North, St. Petersburg, FL. For more information (727) 822-3590 or www. mypalladium.org. Best of Tampa - Straz Fundraiser
Straz Center Riverfront April 11
This year we celebrate the 30th anniversary of “Tampa’s Best Party.” This all-youcan-eat food and drink extravaganza boasts more than 40 of Tampa Bay’s finest restaurant and caterers, full open bars with specialty wine tasting, local craft microbrews and four stages of live music for one all-inclusive price! Since its inception, Best of Tampa Bay, the Straz Center’s signature fundraising event, has generated more than $2 million for arts education programs. Bands include: Nick & Ari, Shane Meade & and the Sound, The Outpatients, Southern Train, Trae Pierce & the T Stone Band. 7:00 p.m. 11:00 p.m. Tickets $80 General Admission, $125 VIP Tickets. TFO: A Gershwin Celebration
The Mahaffey Theatre April 11 Ruth Eckerd Hall April 12
It’s a salute to the genius of George and Ira Gershwin that begins with such favorites as the overture to Funny Face, Lullaby, Rialto Ripples Rag, Cuban Overture and more... with the second half showcasing the bestloved highlights from Porgy and Bess...I Loves You Porgy, Summertime, and It Ain’t Necessarily So, among others. Jeff Tyzik conducts. 8:00 p.m. at Mahaffey. Tickets $15 - $45. 7:30 p.m. at REH. Tickets $17.50 $47.50. 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. Cinderella ... at the Sock Hop
Carrollwood Cultural Center April 12
Rock around the clock with “Cindy” in this ‘50s style musical version of the classic story by Atlantic Coast Theatre (A.C.T.) for Youth. 2:00 p.m. Tickets: $8, $7 members, $28 family four-pack. The Carrollwood Cultural Center is located at 4537 Lowell Road, Tampa, FL. For more information (813) 269-1310. Johnny Mathis
Van Wezel Theatre April 12
The smooth Johnny Mathis returns to Sarasota with hits such as “Wonderful, Wonderful,” “It’s Not For Me To Say,” “Chances Are,” and “Misty,” and many more well-loved ballads and standards. Don’t miss this legendary performer who is always a sellout at the Van Wezel! 7:00 p.m. Tickets $75 - $80. Rhapsody on Fifth
The Palladium April 14
The Leadership Conservatory Foundation presents its third annual Rhapsody on Fifth concert featuring jazz guitarist Nate Najar performing with his trio, James Suggs, John Lamb and Mark Feinman, and with the Jazz
Ensemble from the Leadership Conservatory for the Arts at Tarpon Springs High School. Join Master of Ceremonies Bob Seymour, longstanding jazz director at WUSF, for an exciting evening of jazz. 7:00 p.m. Tickets $25 - $50. VIP ticket ($50) includes access to the pre-concert reception at the offices of Johnson Pope, 333 3rd Ave. N., Suite 200 – just two short blocks from The Palladium. Pippin
Tha Straz Center - Carol Morsani Hall April 14 - 19
Don’t miss this Broadway’s high-flying, death-defying hit musical! Full of extraordinary acrobatics, wondrous magical feats and soaring songs from the composer of Wicked, PIPPIN will lift you up and leave you smiling. This unforgettable new production is the winner of four 2013 Tony Awards® including Best Musical Revival. Hailed as “an eyepopping, jaw-dropping extravaganza” (NY1), it’s unlike anything Broadway has ever seen! Come experience PIPPIN, one young man’s journey to be extraordinary. Tues., Wed., Thurs. and Sun. 7:30 p.m., Fri. and Sat. 8:00 p.m. Tickets $61.50 - $81.50. Masterworks #5
Lakeland Ctr. - Youkey Theatre April 14
The ISO is turning 50! Help kick off the 50th season as we re-create the very first ISO concert from 1965 including Schubert’s “Symphony No. 8 ‘Unfinished’,” Beethoven’s “Overture to Prometheus” and others. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $25. The Who
Amelie Arena April 15
The Who Hits 50! with special guests Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. Be a part of this incredible concert of one of rock’s most legendary and defining bands, celebrating their 50-year legacy with their “THE WHO HITS 50!” 2015 North-American tour. The tour kick off in our own city of Tampa and will include 20 stops throughout the east before wrapping up in Forest Hills, NY. The Who have sold over 100 million records since forming in 1964. They will be performing all their well known hits as part of this tour. The tour will include special guests: 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees Joan Jett & The Blackhearts. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $36.25 - $136.25. Brad Noblitt in “Acoustic Joy”
Ruth Eckerd Hall April 17 & 18
Popular local singer-songwriter and worship leader, Brad Noblitt, headlines “Acoustic Joy”. Join us for an evening of amazing talent and unforgettable music in the intimate setting of the newly renovated Murray Theatre. A beautiful evening in a beautiful setting – not to be missed. 7:30 on both nights. Tickets $15. Fiddler on the Roof
The Straz Center - TECO Theater April 17 - 25
Rich in historical and ethnic detail, Fiddler On The Roof’s universal theme of tradition cuts across barriers of race, class,
nationality and religion, leaving audiences crying tears of laughter, joy and sadness. Thurs. 7:00 p.m., Fri. 7:00 p.m., Sat. 2:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. Tickets $20. Jimmy Buffett
MidFlorida Amphitheatre April 18
Soak in the Margaritaville experience and help celebrate the 40th anniversary of his first top 40 record, A1A when the laid back singer brings the This One’s For You tour to Florida. 8:00 p.m. Tickets $34$133.50. Bion Tsang, cello and Adam Neiman, piano
Historic Asolo Theater April 18 & 19
The beauty and richness of cello combine with piano and two extraordinary musicans to experience the music of Faure, Beethoven and Rachmaninoff as well as a special arrangement of “Estrallita” by Ponce/Heifetz. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $40 - $45. The Asolo Theater is located at 5401 Bay Shore Rd., Sarasota, FL. For more information (941) 359-5700 or www.ringling.org/ historic-asolo-theater. Bob Dylan
Ruth Eckerd Hall April 22
No tickets available online. Please call the ticket office to check on current availability – (727) 791-7400. Bob Dylan has been described as one of the most influential figures of the 20th century, musically and culturally. He was included in the Time 100: The Most Important People of the Century. In 2008, The Pulitzer Prize jury awarded him a special citation. In their 2008 assessment of the “100 Greatest Singers”, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at number seven. Rolling Stone then ranked Dylan at number two in its 2011 list of “100 Greatest Artists” of all time while Like A Rolling Stone was listed as the “Greatest Song of all Time.” In 2008, it was estimated that Dylan had sold about 120 million albums worldwide. Winner of Grammy and other prestigious awards. 8:00 p.m. Tickets $72.75 - $102.75. Especialty packages available. 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. Celtic Thunder
The Lakeland Center April 22
Celtic Thunder fans will be be thrilled with the line-up for this nostalgic Very Best of Celtic Thunder Tour. Damian McGinty (former Glee Star) will be back performing as a Guest Artist with the Celtic Thunder guys Colm Keegan, Keith Harkin, Ryan Kelly, Emmett O’Hanlon and Neil Byrne. Backed as ever by their amazing band, Celtic Thunder will deliver the best of their much loved ensemble numbers with selections from their 9 Public Television shows! Enjoy all their favorite songs and of course, no Celtic Thunder show would be complete without a performance of their rousing anthems “Caledonia” and of course, “Ireland’s Call”, which never fails to bring the audience to its feet.
APRIL 2015
Senior Voice America
Page 25
Entertainment 7:30 p.m. Tickets $43 - $63. Roberta Flack
Van Wezel Theatre April 22 Capitol Theatre April 23
Returning to Clearwater for the first time in more than 20 years, GRAMMY® Award-winner Roberta Flack comes to the Capitol Theatre for this performance at 7:30 pm. One of the greatest songstresses of our time, Roberta Flack remains unparalleled in her ability to tell a story through her music. Her songs bring insight into our lives, loves, culture and politics, while effortlessly traversing a broad musical landscape from pop to soul to folk to jazz. Starting with her classic debut album, 1969s First Take, she carved out a career filled with massive radio and chart hits First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, Killing Me Softly With His Song, Jesse, Feel Like Making Love and, with the late, great Donny Hathaway, Where Is The Love?, You’ve Got A Friend, The Closer I Get To You, Back Together Again and many more, countless awards including four GRAMMY’s® as well as worldwide critical acclaim for her singing and peerless musicianship. Van Wezel - 8:00 p.m. Tickets $45 - $75. Capitol Theatre - 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $55 - $85. 98ROCKFEST
Amelie Arena April 24
Featuring Five Finger Death Punch, Rise Against, Breaking Benjamin, The Pretty Reckless and Nothing More, this is Tampa’s premier rock festival. VIP tickets grant early entry into an exclusive private acoustic performance by a 98ROCKFEST performer at 5:15 p.m. and also includes: VIP parking, VIP early entry, entry into the VIP only party inside the exclusive Firestick Grill from 4:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. where finger foods and complimentary soda/water will be served, best seats closest to the stage and a 98ROCKFEST commemorative laminate. A free preshow will take place on Ford Thunder Alley (West Plaza) at Amalie Arena with performances by 98ROCK’s Skratch n Sniff, Sleepwave, Beartooth and Young Guns, also with interactive contests and ticket upgrades from participating sponsors. The event starts at 2:00 p.m. Tickets $25 - $49. VIP tickets start at $169.
Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles
Van Wezel Theatre April 23 Ruth Eckerd Hall April 25
As “the next best thing to seeing The Beatles!” (Associated Press), RAIN performs the full range of The Beatles’ discography live onstage, including the most complex and challenging songs that The Beatles themselves recorded in the studio but never performed for an audience. In addition to the updated sets that include brand new LED, High-Definition screens and multimedia content, new songs have also been included with the launch of the 2015 Tour. Together longer than The Beatles, RAIN has mastered every song, gesture and nuance of the legendary foursome, delivering a totally live, note-for-note performance that’s as infectious as it is transporting. From the early hits to later classics (I Want To Hold Your Hand, Hard Day’s Night, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Let It Be, Come Together, Hey Jude and more), this adoring tribute will take you back to a time when all you needed was love, and a little help from your friends! Van Wezel - 8:00 p.m. Tickets $45 $75. REH - 3:00 p.m. & 8:00 p.m. Tickets $35 - $100. Broadway Package options are available for a limited time. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet prior to both performance for only $25 per person (includes tax). Doors open two hours prior to the performance. Due to limited seating, we suggest advance purchase. Celtic Woman - 10th Anniv. World Tour
Van Wezel Theatre April 24
Global music sensation Celtic Woman brings its 10th Anniversary World Tour to the Van Wezel. This enchanting musical experience features Celtic Woman performing a treasure chest of traditional Irish standards, classical favorites and contemporary pop songs, in the group’s distinctive signature style.10th Anniversary World Tour features four sublimely gifted Irish women - three angelic vocalists and a dazzling Celtic violinist - with a full band, plus the Anotas Choir, bagpipers, and Irish dancers all under the direction of Emmy®-nominated music producer David Downes. A true celebration of an incredible 10-year journey that has already captivated millions, don’t miss Celtic Woman live in concert! 7:30 p.m. Tickets
$47.73 - $79.83. TFO Pops: Hilary Kole - Tribute to Judy Garland
The Mahaffey Theatre April 25
Hilary Kole will take you “Over the Rainbow” and beyond in a night of Judy Garland’s favorite songs from such classic films as Meet Me in St. Louis, Broadway Melody, A Star is Born, and The Wizard of Oz. Join TFO Principal Guest Conductor Stuart Malina for this unforgettable tribute to the actress and singer Fred Astaire described as “the greatest entertainer who ever lived.” 8:00 p.m. Tickets $15 - $45. The Price Is Right Live
The Mahaffey Theatre April 26
The Price Is Right Live™ is the hit interactive stage show that gives eligible individuals the chance to “Come On Down” to win. Prizes may include appliances, vacations and possibly a new car! Play classic games from television’s longest running and most popular game show from Plinko™, to Cliffhangers™, to The Big Wheel™, and even the fabulous Showcase. Playing to near sold-out audiences for nearly nine years, the Price Is Right Live™ has given away more than 10 million dollars in cash and prizes and sold more than 1.2 million tickets. If you enjoy the rush of emotions experienced while watching the show on television, just imagine the possibilities if you were actually in the audience watching it live. 7:30 p.m. Tickets $38.50. Robert Cray and Shemekia Copeland
Capitol Theatre April 28
The Grammy winning blues guitarist and singer, is making his Capitol Theatre debut with Copeland, an electric blues vocalist. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $37-$48. Trumpet Invasion
Historic Asolo Theater May 2 & 3
Fantastic is the only word to describe this program of music that runs the gamut from “Variations on Chopsticks” to the familiar classics by Ravel, Prokofiev, Rachmaninoff and Chopin, right into the music and songs of George and Ira Gershwin with Brandon Ridenour, trumpet, Mara Bonde, soprano, Rich Ridenour, piano. 7:30 p.m. on May 2 and 2:00 p.m. on May 3. Tickets $25 - $45.
VENUE ADDRESSES AND CONTACT INFORMATION FL Studio Theatre 1241 North Palm Ave., Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 366-9000 www.floridastudiotheatre.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 Amelie Arena 401 Channelside Dr. Tampa, FL 33602. Telephone: (813) 301-6500. www.ameliearena.com American Stage Theatre 163 3rd Street North St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Telephone: (727)823-7529 www.americanstage.org Van Wezel Perf. Arts Hall 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 953-3368 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!
Email your event information no later than the 15th of the month for the following month listings to: entertainment@seniorvoiceamerica.com
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015
Senior to Senior Woman Seeking Man S W F NS ND looking for M NS 58-65, likes to walk, flea markets, dining, relaxing at home. Only sincere reply, I’m 55+, 5’3”, 125 lbs., LTR. Feel free to leave a message. Pasco County (813) 782-7174. W F 71 NS ND ISO LTR looking for W M, 67-73, NS ND SOH in Pinellas County. Largo (727) 492-4058. D W F NS young 70 ISO healthy NS Christian man, honest SOH who likes books, movies, walks, holding hands. Age 65-70. Tampa (813) 362-2427. F healthy Asian D 60 years old, ISO gentleman, W divorced/ single honest NS for long term relationship and god fearing person. Clearwater (727) 280-4398. D W F attractive, SOH, kind, 5’7”, good health, outgoing. Enjoys most things. Seeking LTR with financially stable man, must be tall, affectionate, no baggage, 60-70. Tampa (813) 515-5366. ISO 55-65 M LTR SOH. I’m a S W F looking for a tall, big guy. Must have nice teeth, smell good and a clean cut. I have long blond hair, blue eyes. Love boating, walking, dance. Lakeland (248) 860-3008. Filipina Christian educated seeking special man ISO NS ND, honest loveable, enjoy life together, travel, financially secure, retired military welcome. Age 70 plush. Largo (727) 754-4195. D W F 54 yrs. old, looking for friend, companionship and to see what happens. I like the beach, movies, dining, kissing, drink socially. Tampa (813) 260-6467. Natural blonde, blue eyes, nice figure, likes movies, parties, dancing, animals, slim, good dresser, a good person, NS SD. Hope for a good friend for companionship. St. Pete (727) 345-5146. F W NS SOH little blonde, green eyes, enjoys life. Healthy, very kind to people, likes to have fun. Maybe we can laugh and share over lunch. Holiday (727) 484-2205. F D W slim, attractive, very active, dancing, sports, music, SOH, loves outdoors, 55+. St. Petersburg (816) 665-2208. D W F seeking eternal love for long term, must be honest, loyal, have good SOH, tall, 60-73, not afraid of commitment. Dining, dancing, karaoke, swimming, travel, more. Tampa (813) 515-5366. S H F ISO M, 60-70 NS ND SOH, friend for sharing conversation. I need a honest, sincere and lovely person. No pets please. Clearwater (727) 441-1183. I am 60 yrs. old, D loving/compassionate ISO gentleman, honest/loving god fearing person, 65-75 yrs. old NS ND, out w/ SOH for LTR. Likes dancing, singing. Clearwater (727) 280-4398. W WD semi-retired educator, am outgoing, impulsive, willing to try anything, a first, time seeking gentleman with SOH and a good conversationalist for LTR. St. Pete (727) 623-8769. W F NS ND 55 ISO a good sincere man to go out, enjoy each others company and not ashamed to hold hands, enjoy life or stay home and cuddle. If this is you, call me. Tampa (813) 802-5640. Filipina 64 yrs. old, 114 lbs., long hair, still sexy, likes simple things in life, looking for love but friends first. ISO 5’11” to 6’ plus, German descent a plus, Caucasian appreciated. (813) 526-8577.
Senior to Senior Abbreviations M: Male F: Female S: Single D: Divorced WD: Widowed W: White B: Black H: Hispanic J: Jewish
Meet that Someone Special with a FREE listing in Senior to Senior S B F ISO LTR with someone who has plenty of positive love to give. Loves music, weekend getaways, movies etc. Widowers welcome, Largo 917-376-2667. man Seeking WOMan Questing free spirit English 70s, W M seeking same to explore and enjoy life together. Interested in natural living, natural healing. NE St. Pete, can host/travel. St. Petersburg (727) 384-4908. S B M 66, a slim 160 lbs., ISO female 70+ with good SOH and enjoys doing things together. Tampa (813) 961-2825. Call me to talk about happy times, let’s have fun. Single, Keltic, virile, 5’11”, 170 lbs., 76 yrs. old, healthy, honorable, science-based thinker, Non-(smoker, drinker, drugger, bullier) listens, dances, massages, travels. St. Petersburg (727) 235-0166. I am a WD W NS ISO a female for an intimate relationship, I am 72, full head of hair and not too badly looking or built. Any ethnicity fine, but not fat. Zephyrhills 1-(727)-219-7067. Just us, S W M 71 NS ND ISO very pretty, thin lady for fun trips near N. Clearwater. Clearwater (727) 536-3722. S B M 59 is seeking S F SD SOH. I am very romantic. I like candlelit dinners, movies, travel, dining out and many more. Likes to cuddle. Call me. Tampa (813) 732-1055. D W M 66 NS ND ISO NS lady for hugs, kisses, and romance. Personality a plus. Can relocate anywhere. Just myself and no baggage. St. Petersburg (203) 214-4711. W D M Jewish NS ND SOH. Winter Haven (315) 569-3729. 62 yrs. old, 5’8”, 150 lbs., slender, bald, ready for a new friend, long term, helpful, slim woman healthy. New Port Richey (727) 2674315. One woman man. S W M 6’ 180 lbs. NS ND, boxer, rodeo, cowboy, likes fishing, baseball, billiards, ISO S W F under 60 yrs. NS SD, no bad luggage. Please no players. Largo (727) 580-5848. W M D SD NS 6’1”, 230lbs., 68 retired, looking for social friendship to enjoy life. New to Florida, here two weeks each month. Join me for walking on the beach, hiking, dancing, good conversations, traveler. Odessa (404) 915-7984. NS M WD W 70 lived alone 12 years, hate it. I am a good man,
C: Christian ISO: In Search Of LTR: Long Term Relationship NS: Non-Smoker ND: Non-Drinker SD: Social Drinker SOH: Sense of Humor
want to meet similar lady. I have 4 grandkid, out of FL. Secure no pets. (727) 686-7478. Handsome, authentic W M 67, moderate to high libido ISO still sexy, natural woman to share Eros. Tampa (813) 277-8748. S W M 63 healthy, 5’10”, 190 lbs., world traveler, vegetarian, motorcyclist, nature boy ISO hot young babe, 60-65ish. Clearwater (330) 714-1137. Mid-70s widower looking for life companion to enjoy the Florida life style. Sarasota (941) 371-6162. SWM 68, 6’2- 185 lbs, look 10 yrs. younger (really I do). Fit, active, seek slim 50ish SWF, for dating, travel, fun, romance. St Pete area 727-541-2464. Single white male looking for an old fashioned single white woman 80+ that enjoys a little romance as well as companionship. Please be a nonsmoker, in good physical shape and still driving. Prefer you live in Greater St. Pete area as I do. Please call 727-803-6190. friend Seeking friend S W M ISO M/F LTR 35-60, likes many, dislikes few. Looking for friendship/relationship. Open-minded, will try anything & everything new. Very passionate. St. Pete (727) 642-4229. Live-in nurse seeks senior roommate to help care for in my large clean Seminole home, own room, bathroom w/ shower parking. Help with meds, dr. apts., meals. Call for more info. (727) 688-2355. Heterosexual female mid-50s, enjoys museums, international culture, medium-to-high brow fiction, nature and soft sports. Seeks interesting female friend for talks, walks. Travel to USF/Bayshore is usual. Boxholder, 31178 Cortez Blvd., #115, Brooksville, FL 34602. W F WD NS SD SOH, like friend about the same, animal lover, watch out for each other, go for walks, short trips, dancing. Jew from Germany, tired of being alone. Lakeland (863) 686-4742. D W M ISO a friendship/real interested in anything outdoor or indoor, in short. I am very easy guy, honest, sincere, friendly. I been alone for 5 yrs. now, I really need a friend. St. Petersburg (727) 200-9977. Hello, I’m a male, 50. I love to have fun and in good shape. I’m very talented in what I do ISO W/M, 40-60s, in shape. Tarpon Springs (727) 550-7928.
Senior to Senior™ Mail to: Senior Voice America
P.O. BOX 1379, Lutz, FL 33548-1379 Email: sr2sr@seniorvoiceamerica.com Fax: (813) 422-7966
Senior to Senior is sponsored by
EMAIL: sr2sr@seniorvoiceamerica.com
APRIL 2015
Senior Voice America
From SCAMS Page 1
of Millicent: Two men with foreign accents ring the doorbell at this senior’s house. She opens the door to them. They say, “We are here to complete the roofing job.” Millicent, mystified, replies, “Nobody’s been working on my roof.” The men say, “Lady, don’t you remember? We were here twice last week to patch the roof; we’ve just come to finish.” Millicent, by now bewildered, mounts no opposition, and the men go up onto her roof for 15 minutes. Then they return to her door and demand that she pay their fee—$100. Millicent, cowed and confused, writes them a check. The matter comes to the attention of law enforcement when the men alter the check to read $10,000 and present it at a bank for payment. The case of Francesca: This senior picks up the phone to be greeted with, “Grandma, it’s me, your grandson, Dante. I’m in Mexico, and I’ve been arrested. Can you wire $10,000 to get me out? You can’t tell Mom and Dad, they’ll kill me.” Francesca is taken in and wires a large amount of money which she never sees again. This very common scam is called the Grandma Scam. The perpetrators ascertain in advance from public records the names of grandchildren in the 18-21 age range and the names and phone numbers of their grandparents, who live in a different household and usually alone. There is an incredibly high number of seniors who have been taken in and who have lost large amounts of money by wiring it away according to scam artists’ instructions. The case of Louie: Louie gets an affectionately-worded email from a party claiming to be an old acquaintance, or long-unseen relative, asking for money. Sometimes the scam is presented as a business proposition whereby the recipient can make a large profit by putting up money of his or her own, or as an offer of a prize which can be claimed only by sending one’s own money as a fee. Sometimes only a small amount is requested at first, with the demands escalating later. Louie wired money in response to one such email and, like Francesca, never saw his cash again. A variant on the scheme is where an email is headed by an official-looking logo. It says that some service you use will be canceled until you fill out an online form with information. It demands your name, date of birth, contact information, bank account and/ or credit card numbers, and/or social security number. Very commonly, these threat emails are distinguished by mistakes in spelling, grammar or punctuation. The scam artists who create them are offshore.
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great food in tampa bay 5901 Sun Boulevard St. Petersburg, FL 33715
(727) 867-8000 At Boardwalk Pasta & Seafood in St. Petersburg, you can be sure of enjoying fabulous food at fantastic prices. More than just pasta and seafood, you are sure to enjoy our family-friendly atmosphere and live entertainment too!
Senior Special: Mon. – Wed. from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. - Choose one entrée from Beef-Chicken-Pasta & or a Fish dish. All meals include entrée, salad, a side and a non-alcoholic beverage for $8.00. Located in the Isla Del Sol Shopping Center, behind Regions Bank at Sun Blvd. & Pinellas Bayway. www.boardwalkpastaandseafood.com
The Art of Fine Italian Cuisine 232 N. Dale Mabry Hwy • Tampa, FL 33609
Here are some recommendations for dealing with such situations. (a) Have a one-way peephole at the front door. If the doorbell rings, and you do not know the identity of the person you see, and you are not expecting anyone, and the caller isn’t a uniformed person with a police cruiser or postal van at curbside, then just don’t answer the door. You don’t owe it to a stranger to open your front door to him or her. (b) If the phone rings, use an answering machine to screen calls before you pick up. Or, if you pick up, and it’s not someone you were expecting or wishing to hear from, and the business of the stranger is not to be of service to you, just hang up. The longer a scam artist keeps you talking, the more vulnerable you make yourself. Don’t get bogged down in talking: You don’t owe it to a stranger. Just hang up. (You can be speaking and in midsentence when you hang up, so that it appears the phone has just gone dead. It’s not your fault if the phone quits, is it?) In the case of the Grandma Scam, some seniors have saved themselves by putting off wiring money, instead phoning the grandchild’s parents (or his/her college dorm) to ascertain the grandchild’s whereabouts. Others have posed questions that the scam artists can’t answer: “What is your birthday? Where were you born? What is your middle name?” The scammer hangs up in a hurry. (c) Become very inclined to consign emails to the spam or rubbish bin. Don’t respond to strangers whose emails you haven’t invited. Send their emails to the Trash folder. Do not email any response. Joyce Holly is a retired attorney and the author of “Ten Stupid Things Aging Americans Do to Mess Up Their Lives and Financial Situation” as well as the novel, “An Inconvenient Old Woman.” Holly’s books are available for purchase on Amazon.com.
813.875.6660
www.donatellorestaurant.com
Tampa’s Authentic Italian Restaurant since 1984
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Senior Voice America APRIL 2015