Lifestyles After 50 Lake/Marion/Sumter Feb. 2013 edition

AFTER 50 February 2013

500 Years of Fun at the Fair!Forgiveness Is The Best Medicine

sings the greatest love songs of all time

Bobby V inton

Lifestyles“Blue Velvet”

“Mr. Lonely”“Melody of Love”

“There, I Said it Again”

History of Valentines

www.LifestylesAfter50FL.com • Marion/Lake/Sumter • FREE

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 2

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You’ve Gotta Have Heart; All You Really Need Is Heart!Dear Readers,

This is the month for hearts. Take

your pick. You can focus on the physical heart health care/car-diology kind of hearts since it’s American Heart Month or you can go with the Valentine’s Day kind of heart care—love, candy and roses. Heart is used in the Bible to mean the very center or core of what a man is: his mind, soul, spirit and understand-ing. Jesus said that the good or evil a man does comes from the good or evil stored up in his heart and that it is from what is stored there that we say what we say (Luke 6:45). But there is another kind of heart, too. There’s the kind from the famous song, “You Gotta Have Heart” from the 1958 musical Damn Yankees. Remember those baseball players singing and dancing in the locker room? It’s such a singable, uplifting, encouraging song that has been used for many situations. So many songs about heart—Billy Ray Cyrus gave us words for our “Achy Breaky Heart” right up there with Elvis’s “Heartbreak Hotel.” Celine Dion sang “My Heart Will Go On” and, of course, there’s Frank Sinatra’s “Young at Heart.” I found a list of 124 songs with heart in the title! February can be a tough month for someone with any kind of heart problems. For the “I have a cardiolo-gist” kind, the internet provided some facts and fun about that beating heart. Here’s what I found.

The Heart Of The Matter:• The average weight for a

woman’s heart is eight ounces and for men, 10 ounces.

• Your heart beats with enough strength to shoot blood a distance of 30 feet.

• On average, a million barrels worth of blood is pumped through the heart in a lifetime.

• Your heart is made up almost entirely of muscle. It is strong enough to lift approximately 3,000 pounds—roughly the weight of a compact car.

• Clench your fi sts and put them side by side. This is roughly the size of your heart.

• Women’s hearts beat faster than male hearts.

• The human heart begins to beat as early as four weeks after conception. Scientists believe that by eight weeks, when the embryo is only an inch long, the heart is fully developed.

That Heart/Love Thing Then there’s the other kind of heart thing in February. Whatever your romantic state and whatever condition your beating heart is in, here are some fun ways to look at the male/female/love thing. • Two out of every three people tilt their heads to the right when kissing instead of to the left.

• Think about the long marriages some of our readers have enjoyed. Having a romantic relationship makes both genders happier. The stronger the commitment, the greater the happiness!• We spend over $13+ billion on Valen-tine’s Day every year. We exchange 180 million Valentine’s Day cards and give 196 million roses for the day. Men buy 73 percent of the roses while 85 percent of the cards are bought by women. • 53 percent of women surveyed said they would end their relationship if they didn’t get something for Valentine’s Day. (I say to those women, “Grow up!”) So, here’s pretty much everything you need to make conversation in February—use the information to astound your friends, remind your spouse and make a contribu-tion to the economy.

Janice Doyle, Editor

Congratulations To Our Winners From Last

Month’s Book Giveaway!The Wrinklies Guide to Drawing: Willow Rose Brown of Valrico

iPad Tech To Connect: Ray Russell of MinneolaDr. Ruth’s Guide for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver:

Beverly Goodwin of VeniceThe Complete Idiot’s Guide to

Using Your Computer—for Seniors: Charles Netherton of TampaManaging Retirement Wealth:D. Turnbull of Clearwater

Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc

Lake, Marion & Sumter Edition

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Attention Readers: The articles printed in Lifestyles After 50 do not necessarily refl ect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. Lifestyles After 50 endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Lifestyles After 50 reserves the right to refuse or dis-continue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for the March 2013 issue is Feb. 15, 2012. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

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FCOA


Area Club Provides Comaraderie on the WaterBY BILL STOKES

The Lake County Airboat Club (LCAC) was founded in January 1990. From

its beginning, the club members’ primary mission has been three-fold: to enjoy the sport of airboating, to protect boaters’ rights to airboat on navigable waters and to promote protection of the environ-ment, Florida waterways and shorelines. What attracts men, women and young-sters to airboating? High on the list is the freedom to skim over shimmering lakes and explore mysterious canals, going where many outboard motor boats are unable to go. It’s about enjoying nature, the outdoors, fresh air, warm sunshine and the camaraderie of fellow airboaters. Most of the club members live in central Florida and participate in the club’s many social activities which include navigating lakes, rivers, grassy marshes and, yes, even dry ground when necessary. Boating safety is a concern, club president Jim Brown emphasized. “An airboat, like any motorized vehicle or vessel, can be dangerous and must be respected. You have two items to operating an airboat, an accelerator pedal and a rudder stick. The rudder stick turns the rudders that change the direction of thrust created by the spinning propeller. These boatshave no reverse gear, only forward propulsion.” Airboats require the same license as any Florida-used outboard (kicker) boat. Airboat owners also subscribe to a strict code of self-imposed rules of op-eration. The Airboaters Code of Ethics is a basic set of rules by which owners attempt to be safe and courteous to

other boaters and shoreline residents. Brown adds, “Maintaining safe waterways by removing obstructions in the water and helping to construct navigation aids go far to establish the club’s stewardship over our precious central Florida waterways.” Becoming serious after extolling the sheer enjoyment of safe airboating, Brown admitted to a downside: In some areas, airboats are frowned upon by residents who don’t like the sound the engines and propellers make. Whether the boats are aircraft-engine powered or automotive engine driven,

most of the sound is created by the propeller.

Most automotive engine driven

airboats have a gear reduc-tion device, a gear box or belt drive

that allows the engine to

turn faster than the propeller speed. This allows the engine to de-velop more horsepower and, in turn, makes the boat perform better.

Most aircraft engine driven airboats are direct drive. The engine and propeller turn at the same speed. There are advantages and disadvantages to both methods of powering an airboat. It just depends on who you talk to. A majority of airboats carry a driver and up to three passengers. Tour airboat rides are often found near major Florida attractions. These vessels are wider and longer, designed to carry 12 or more passengers. Most privately owned airboats are 13 to 15 feet in length. They offer greater versatility in speed, handling and turning ability, making it a far more “fun” vessel to be aboard. Learn more about the Lake County Airboat Club by visiting their website lakeairboatclub.com or P.O Box 373, Altoona FL.32702 or phone (321) 299-4874.

Lake County Airboat Club members enjoy area waters during a Sunday Club Ride.

2/28/13*

*Some restrictions apply. Special pricing expires 2/28/13. WAC.


7 – 9 Tuskegee Airmen appear-ances at Fantasy of Flight,

Polk City. (863) 984-3500.

7 Appleton After Hours. 5:30 p.m.Live music, dancing, samplings

from local restaurants. $8. AppletonMuseum of Art, Ocala. More infoat (352) 291-4455.

8 – 9 Mardis Gras celebration in Downtown Leesburg. Formal

ball, three parades, food, live music, street performers, jugglers, fire eaters, more. See leesburgmardigras.com or call (352) 365-0053 for more info.

9 Fox Run arts, crafts, white elephant Fair. Dead River Road,

off State Road 19, Tavares. To learn more, call (352) 253-9390.

10 Ocala Symphony Orchestra & UF Opera Theatre

present “Opera Noir.” $15. Circle Square Cultural Center, Ocala. (352) 854-3670.

14 “Cruising: New York to Rio” concert by Florida Lakes

Symphony Orchestra Concert. St. Patrick Catholic Church, Mount Dora. 15 Same program at Family Christian Center, Clermont. $42/advance. (352) 589-1500.

15 CFA Live presents Gospel Choir Showcase. Leesburg

Center for the Arts. (352) 365-0232.

15 – 17 Winefest XXIII. Wine, food, live music.

$2 admission. Lakeridge Winery, Clermont. (352) 394-8627.

16 Food Truck-n-Flick Night. 5:30 p.m. Food

trucks and family friendly movie. Bring lawn chair. Downtown Leesburg. (352) 365-0053.

16 Fine Arts Festival at The Plantation, 25201 U.S. Hwy.

27 South, Leesburg. (352) 651-1989.

16 Cracker Cattle Drive and Cowboy Round Up. Food,

authentic activities, demonstrations.

Tuscawilla Park, Ocala. More info at (352) 401-3900 or (352) 268-5517.

16 Home Improvement Expo at Circle Square Cultural

Center, Ocala. Free admission. Call (352) 854-3670 for info.

17 24 and 31 Build Your Bones Osteoporosis Education.

1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Lake County Ag. Center. Registration required: bonehealth2013.eventbrite.com. $7/materials. (352) 343-4101.

17 Maurizio and Fabrizio, pianist and violin. Church

on the Square, The Villages, Lady Lake. (352) 753-3229.

18 Shoji Tabuchi Show from Branson, Missouri. $26

and $31. Two shows. Savannah Center, The Villages, Lady Lake. (352) 753-3229.

21 The Food Truck Bazaar. 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Alexander Street

will be lined with 10 to 15 unique trucks offering a wide variety of different food styles. Downtown Mount Dora. (352) 383-2165.

23 “7 Bridges: The Ultimate Eagles Experience.” An

Eagles tribute performance. $15 to $17. Circle Square Cultural Center, Ocala. (352) 854-3670.

25 Cherish the Ladies perform traditional Irish music. Tickets:

$22 to $24. College of Central Florida, Ocala. (352) 873-5810.

25 “Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show.” 6 and 8:30 p.m.

shows. Tickets: $28 and $33. Savannah Center, The Villages, Lady Lake. (352) 753-3229.

Send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; fax (813) 651-1989 or email [email protected] must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. February 10 for March event.)

Around TownW H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3

WINEFEST XXIII$2 Donation

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The EASY BOARDING Bicycle by Biria

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“Discover The Fun” at the Florida State FairThe 109th annual Florida State Fair

returns to Tampa on Feb. 7 – 18, 2013. Come and see what all of the excitement is about as the Fair fea-tures new free entertainment, scrump-tious foods, thrilling rides, rockin’ music and plenty of fun shopping. This year, they are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Juan Ponce De León in Florida with their theme: “Discover the Fun. Flor-ida: 500 Years In the Making.” The fair will become part of the statewide, year-long celebration of Viva Florida 500, a commemoration of Florida’s rich heritage and diverse cultural history throughout 2013. The State Fair’s “COWquistador” logo is a tribute to the European’s influ-ence in the Sunshine State, as well as a symbol of the state’s rich agri-cultural heritage.

Midway and Food Fairgoers can ex-pect the traditional favorites such as thrilling rides and games, shopping in Expo Hall, arts and crafts, lawn mower races, sand sculptures and strolling entertainers. Visitors will also find a variety of ex-traordinary foods, from the traditional corn dog to Krispy Kreme burgers and chocolate-covered bacon. Don’t forget to stop by Alessi’s Bakery for their famous Strawberry Shortcake and more! This year’s fair provides many new ways to “Discover the Fun.”

Free Attractions and Performances Of course, it wouldn’t be the Florida State Fair without the award-winning

exhibits and competitions, lively equestrian shows and draft horse pulls, glimpses into Florida’s rural past at Cracker Country,

Ag Venture experience and the opportunity to view more than 5,000 animals in the livestock barns. The Fair will also be hosting its trademark

“Mooternity Ward” and favorite animal shows like the Welde Bear Show, Racing Pigs, Disco Dogs and Circus Hollywood. Stop in at Cracker Country

for a trip back in time to Florida’s rural past. Sit a spell and enjoy the Bluegrass music, dozens of performances, demonstra-tions, crafts and other activities. The 2013 Florida State Fair will showcase new and unique agricultural and cultural exhibits such as the new “Discovery Center,” a Tampa Bay History Center curated exhibit, and a

traveling exhibit celebrating “Florida Agriculture: 500 Years in the Making” hosted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Get a map at the entrance and explore the “ConquistaTOUR,” a self-guided adventure through the State Fair including the new Florida Cattle-men’s Museum, Florida’s Learning Garden and Cow Hunter’s Camp in Cracker Country. In addition, fair-goers will “Discover Florida” with a Broadway-style musical perfor-mance certain to please those who want to learn more about Florida. You can see Dennis Lee, Hotel California, Susie McEntyre and Yesterdaze in the Family Theater, or check out “Zoom ‘N,” a musical journey through 500 years of Florida. Watch the Elvis Extravaganza Im-personator National Finals, Febru-ary 16 and 17 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Headline Entertainment The Fair is introducing a brand new concert series this year, including Star-ship Featuring Mickey Thomas and the Bellamy Brothers, among others.

Check out the schedule:11 Starship featuring

Mickey Thomas, 7:30 p.m.12 Bellamy Brothers at 7:30 p.m.13 Country Gold Tour, 12 and 4 p.m.14 Less Than Jake at 7:30 p.m.18 LeAnn Rimes, 7:30 p.m. Concert prices are separate from Fair admission. Visit FloridaState-Fair.com for concert ticket info.

Discount Days and Special Events The Florida State Fair is a sure ticket to “Discover the Fun” with special discount days:7 Heroes Day at the Fair—All ac-tive, reserve, or retired military veterans, law enforcement, fire-men and first responders are admit-ted free with valid identification11, 12, 13, and 14 Senior Days—Advance tickets are only $6. Gate: $811 Taste of the Fair Day – Food specials throughout the fairgrounds.13 Midweek Midway Madness—Dis-count ride armbands. $15 after 3 p.m., sold at the Fair only. Also, admission to the fair is only $5 after 5 p.m.16 4-H and FFA Day—Free ad-mission for 4-H and FFA members with identification or jacket.18 Family Fun Day—Only $20 admission for up to four people, sold only at the Fair; and Student Day: surrounding Hillsborough County students receive a free fair ticket. Make sure to plan your day in ad-vance to enjoy all the sights, sounds and tastes the State Fair has to of-fer. Gates open weekdays at 10 a.m., Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 9 a.m. Closing time varies by the day of the week and weather conditions. To purchase Fair admission tickets and ride armbands, or for more informa-tion about showtimes and attractions, visit FloridaStateFair.com or call 1-800-345-FAIR (3247). Shows are subject to change or cancellation.

The Bellamy Brothers


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Holocaust “Twins Experiments” Survivor: “Forgiveness is a Modern Miracle of Medicine”Eva Kor will never

forget the day her childhood ended. The images of that day, and the weeks after, are burned into her memory, as brutally permanent as the tat-too on her left forearm. In 1944, Kor and her twin sister Miriam, 10 years old at the time, became part of a group of children used for human experimentation by Josef Mengele, known as the Angel of Death. Now 78 years old, Kor shared her memories with a group of physicians, researchers and other medical profes-sionals at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute. Identical twins Eva and Miriam Mozes were chosen for experimentation by Mengele, who subjected children as young as two to horrific surgeries and injections.

“Nothing can prepare a person for a place like Auschwitz,” she told the audience. Upon seeing bod-ies of children sprawled on a bathroom floor, Kor said she pledged to herself to survive any way she could. “Each day I was deter-mined to live one more day,” she said, “and survive one more experiment.”

Even at such a young age, Kor said she and her sister knew they had no choice but to submit to Mengele’s experiments if they hoped to survive. They would often sit naked in a room for up to eight hours at a time, as blood was drawn from one arm and unknown substances were injected into the other arm. The rumor spread around the barracks was that if one was taken to the hos-pital, that person never came back.

“It was very easy to die in Auschwitz,” Kor said. “Surviving was a full time job.” Eva stole potatoes to keep her and her sister alive. Guards sometimes looked the other way when she stole food, because the girls were protected by Mengele. “As long as he wanted us alive, no one would harm us,” she said. Then, just four days before the girls’ 11th birthday, Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet Army. The twins were marched out of the death camp before Russian movie cameras, and eventually they were allowed to move to Israel. Eva met and married Michael Kor, another Holocaust survivor, and moved to Indiana. Her sister Miriam also married but stayed in Israel. The sisters worked together to organize CANDLES, Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Sur-vivors, to help locate other survivors of Mengele’s deadly experiments. Through their efforts, 122 twins living

in 10 countries around the world were eventually reconnected. “I do believe in the need for medical research and ethical human experimentation,” she told the audi-ence of scientists and physicians. In 1995, Kor met face to face with repentant Nazi physician Hans Munch, and they traveled together back to Auschwitz to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp. On that journey, she said she discovered a way for her to heal both her body and her soul. “I forgave the doctor who oversaw the gas chambers where the rest of my family was killed,” she said. “And I realized I had the power to even forgive the Angel of Death. Now, I am no longer a victim of Auschwitz. “This act of forgiveness is an act of self healing. I believe forgiveness is a modern miracle of medicine.” (from Newswise)

Eva Kor


Veterans Corner

Editor’s note: We commend those of our readers who are now help-ing children, grandchildren and

great-grandchildren adjust as they return from the current battlefields.

No matter how well-adjusted returning

or returned veterans appear, they are likely carrying wounds that cut deep, and that pain sticks with them for the rest of their lives, says Vietnam veteran Ord Elliott. “When I came back from the war, I filed all that pain away as ‘personal,’ but it invariably came out in my creative writing, and I think that kept me much more sane,” says Elliott, a former platoon commander with the Marines and author of The Warrior’s Silence. “I still feel a sense that something was lost within me from that war, and it kills me to think that our country’s most recent wars have done the same to the latest generation of military person-nel. When I hear reports of alarming suicide rates among soldiers and problems with drugs and homelessness, it reminds me of friends I’ve lost, and the lives they weren’t able to have.” Elliott found himself writing about his war experience, and it became an extremely helpful, therapeutic activity, he says. Unfortunately, many of today’s younger veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are expressing their pain through alcoholism, drugs, crime, depression and violence. There are many avenues available to vets if they’re having a hard time adjusting to civilian life after combat, he says. “But I think it’s safe to say all vets who have seen combat are haunted by what they’ve endured.” Although most civilians can never understand the horrors of war—of perpetually wondering what that last

What Should Families Keep in Mind for Their Returning Veteran?

moment of life might be like—there are ways in which the families of veterans, and others, can help…• Make creative expression avail-able: Elliott has heard story after

story involving vets who simply do not want to talk about their combat stress. Many simply do not know how to find catharsis in constructive ways. Thoughts and emotions, however, can also be expressed—released—in creative pursuits such as writing,

art, music, even cooking. • Patience and under-standing: “You won’t go wrong with loving tolerance while seeking the help of a trained professional to help your veteran work through problems like depression and anxiety,” Elliott says. “It’s important to provide emo-

tional support, including helping vets who need it to get to appointments and joining in on family sessions.” • Thoroughly consider leadership: There are many outstanding efforts going on with non-profits that help today’s returning vets, but the best medicine is prevention, he says. In 2001, when the Iraq War was gearing up, that same feeling of anticipation—excitement—washed over Elliott that he experienced before entering Vietnam. “I was surprised that I could feel that way, but then I quickly remembered all that I’ve been through with the reality of war,” he says. “If families and citizens really want to help the men and women of the U.S. military, they will be wary of politicians who haven’t been in combat and who are all too quick to the war trigger.” Ord Elliott was a Marine Rifle Platoon commander in Vietnam. He had a career management consulting and has authored several books.

Ord Elliott

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Escape To Legacy Of LeesburgIf you’ve been searching

for that perfect Florida retirement lifestyle, you may have missed one of the true hidden gems of Central Florida retirement living…Legacy of Leesburg in beautiful Leesburg, Florida. Legacy of Leesburg offers many qualities that are lacking in other better known retirement com-munities. Legacy is uncrowded, quiet and naturally beautiful, with small intimate neighborhoods nestled amid more than 100 acres of conservation areas and nature preserves, in a private gated community that is well insulated from traffic noise and congestion. Walking paths meander around quiet lakes and through shady woodland areas, and Florida’s native birdlife abounds throughout the community. Legacy even has its own private nature park on the scenic Palatlakaha River which adjoins the community.

Legacy’s location is perfect for those who want to enjoy all that Central Florida has to offer. Located on U.S. 27 just south of Leesburg, Legacy offers its residents excel-lent shopping convenience, easy access to Florida’s Turnpike for a quick trip to Orlando airports and attractions, and outstanding doctors and medical care at the close-by Leesburg Regional Medical Center. What makes Legacy of Leesburg even more appealing is the combina-tion of high quality and affordability that is offered by both its builder and community association. Florida Leisure Communities (FLC), one

of Florida’s leading retirement homebuilders for more than 30 years, offers homes ranging from approximately 1,300 to 2,500 square feet in size and priced from just $124,900 to $200,000 (included a special promotion now being offered.) At Legacy, FLC offers its unique “BuildCom” home customization service, which allows you to change your home and add options to make it just perfect for you. You may not need to change much, though, because the homes are already outfitted with loads of quality standard features, including high efficiency air-conditioning, solid-surface countertops, fully

sodded lawns with automatic irrigation, and excellent quality finishes throughout. Legacy of Leesburg is a resident-owned community. There are no CDD’s, and very affordable

association fees give you access to a wide variety of great amenities including a beach-entry heated pool, fitness center, sports courts of all types, and a softball field. If you’ve been thinking about retiring in Florida but just haven’t found the place that feels “perfect” for you, you should check out Legacy of Leesburg. You can find full informa-tion and directions to Legacy online at www,legacyleesburg.com or call (352) 214-0655 for info. FLC’s sales center and model home at Legacy are now open daily from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., and Sundays from noon – 5 p.m.


Valentine’s Day and Single? Aaaargh!

Aargh is right if you’re single

and wanting a ro-mantic Valentine’s Day. So much hype. So much candy and flowers to lure the ones in love. Sometimes the sense of isolation becomes so strong that many singles tend to “hate Valentine’s Day.” Singles can make the most of Valentine’s Day by spending the day in the company of those they love or by indulging themselves with something luxurious. Here are some tips and ideas on how singles can celebrate the Valentine’s Day in charming and memorable fashion:

Valentine’s Day Ideas for SinglesPamper Yourself Buy yourself cute Valentine’s Day gifts which could be flowers or a stuffed animal. Maybe indulge your-self by going in for spa or head-to-toe beauty treatment. Indulging in books, CDs and gourmet meals can be a good way of enjoying the day for some.

Freak Out with Friends Plan out a dinner or movie with best friends. You may also throw a “singles party” or “Un-Valentine’s Day Party” at your home and have a fun lunch or dinner.

Acts of Service Singles can spend the day in a meaningful way by spending time with the needy and downtrodden. You may visit an orphanage or

old age home and spend time with the inmates

there who are always in need of love and affection.

Visiting hospitals and giving roses to sick can also be a touching way of experiencing bliss on Valentine’s Day. Express Gratitude for Friends and Dear Ones Instead of feeling depressed and ashamed, express love and affection for people around you. One can send Valen-tine’s Day greetings to parents, friends, colleagues, neighbors or anyone dear. Think Positive Singles can make the most of Valentine’s Day by thinking positive and fighting away the blues. Do not spend the day sulking for not having

a spouse or beloved to spend the day in a

happy manner. From stvalentines-

day.org.

February TheaterThrough 10 “25th Annual Putnam

County Spelling Bee.” Moonlight Warehouse, Clermont. (352) 319-1116.

Through 15 “Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story.” Icehouse, Mount

Dora. (352) 383-4616.

Through 17 “Avenue Q.” State Theatre, Eustis. (352) 357-7777.

3 to 17 “Vanities.” State Theatre, Eustis. (352) 357-7777.

6 – 10 Dinner Theatre “Funny Money.” College of Central Fla.,

Ocala. (352) 854-2322 ext. 1416.

7 – March 3 “A Funny Thing Hap-pened on the Way to the Forum.”

Ocala Civic Theatre. (352) 236-2274.

15 – 18 “45 Seconds from Broadway.” Mulberry Grove

Recreational Center, The Villages. (352) 753-3229.


Bobby Vinton: Still Smooth as Blue Velvet and Coming to the Strawberry FestivalBY JANICE DOYLE

You remember the words...She wore blue velvet

Bluer than velvet was the nightSofter than satin was the light

From the stars

“Blue Velvet”—just one of Bobby Vinton’s many hits

that made him “the all-time most successful love singer of the rock era,” according to Billboard magazine. Now 78, Bobby Vinton still jumps onto the stage to give audiences a good show—and he’ll be doing a show at the Strawberry Festival in Plant City on March 5 at 3:30 p.m. I recently talked with Bobby Vinton, who now lives in Sarasota. He said, “When I go onstage there in Plant City, that’s my audience. I am there to give them what they want. I’ll be doing all the old hits, playing several instruments and my daughter and I will be singing music from Phantom of the Opera together.”

Vinton was the son of a Big Band conductor “back in the day.” By the time he was 15, Vinton had his own band playing for school dances in the Pittsburgh area. What many people don’t know is that Vinton later graduated from college with a degree in musical composition as a classically trained musician who played oboe in symphony orchestras.

To make extra money, he and his band would play backup for the greats of the era, including Sammy Davis Jr., Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Chubby Checker and Connie Francis—“I knew them all. I studied them to see what there was about their music the audience liked and what they did as performers that audiences liked or didn’t like. I have been able to use that over the years.” His music studies in college made him proficient on instruments including piano, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, drums and the oboe—a talent that he displays in his shows today. Like all recording artists, the stories behind his hits make for good telling. To get his first recording “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” played, he hired a young woman to deliver the record and a dozen roses to hundreds of area deejays, convincing them to play it (remember the era when audiences decided the hits by calling in their requests?). The song was a hit. As a lonely army guy, Vinton’s buddy told him he should write a song about being lonely. He responded by starting to play with the words “Lonely, I’m Mr. Lonely,” and he later wrote the song “Mr. Lonely” which became an instant hit. At one point, his mother suggested he write a song in

Polish. He didn’t want to, but responded like a good son and wrote “Melody

Of Love” with Polish lyrics. It was a number one record, and Vinton said. “It’s still kind of my theme song.” Vinton survived the Beatles invasion by singing songs like “Blue Velvet” and “There I Said It Again” which adults loved. Vinton recalls that he lost the teenage sales, “…but I was still selling a million records to adults. I was still able to be on the charts and continue in the business.”

Staying in shape I asked Vinton how he keeps in such great physical shape. He said, “You have to be smart. It’s a full-time job. I drink a lot of water and push half the plate of food away. I live on the beach and walk a lot.” He added, “My mother looked young at 92 and was still dancing on stage. She had a young spirit. You gotta have that spirit that you love life and that you’re happy. I possess no hate for anyone.” Hate “…shows on the face and makes you old.” So, make your plans to see Bobby Vinton on stage March 5. He promises a show to love. Now, start humming one of his songs and get tickets: (813) 754-1996 or online at flstrawberry-festival.com. (Regular gate admission is $10—watch for specials. For example, March 5 is Red Hat Day/$2 off. Senior Day/$2 off is Feb. 28.)

• 12 Gold records• Bronze star on Hollywood

Walk Of Fame • The most #1 hits by a solo male

artist from 1962 to 1972• Over 75 million in record sales• Starred in two John Wayne movies: Big Jake The Train Robbers• Owned the Blue Velvet Theater in Branson

for several years

Mr. Lonely Blue Velvet

Blue on Blue There! I’ve Said It AgainRoses Are Red (My Love)Please Tell Her That I Said HelloTake Good Care of My BabyTo Know You Is to Love You

I Love How You Love MeMy Melody of Love

Sealed With a KissBeer Barrel Polka

Songs

Accomplishments

Vinton performs on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” 1969.

Vinton was raised around music, and learned to

play several instruments.

Bobby Vinton’s Band


History of Valentines

Every year on February 14, chil-dren exchange valentine greetings

with their schoolmates and adults send them to those they love and cherish. The American tradition of sending valentines originated with a young graduate of Mount Holyoke College. Esther Howland was inspired to create her own elaborate rendi-tions of the cards after receiving ornate English valentines sent to her by a family friend.

Howland arranged with her father, who owned the largest book and stationery store in Worcester, Mass., to have paper lace, floral decorations and other materials sent to her from England. So many orders for her creations came in that she recruited friends to help her keep up with the demand. She eventually turned the

assembly line operation that began in her home into a thriving business grossing $100,000 annually. She retired in 1881 and sold her business to the George C. Whitney Company. Her alma mater, Mount Holyoke College, has a valentine collection that spans the 1840s to the 1980s and displays the stylistic shifts within the valentine industry over the years. Every year in February, Mount Holy-oke displays part of the collection.

A portrait of Esther Howland and her valentines on display.

Alan Jackson Coming to FestivalCountry superstar

Alan Jackson takes his tour to the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City on Sun., March 3. Alan Jackson is a successful and respected singer-songwrit-er. He is in the elite company of Paul McCartney and John Lennon among songwriters who’ve written more than 20 songs that they’ve recorded and taken to the top of the charts. Jackson is one of the 10 best-selling artists since the inception of SoundScan, ranking alongside the likes of Eminem and Metallica. His most recent single, “You Go Your Way,” is from his chart-topping album, Thirty Miles West. Jackson has sold nearly 60 million albums worldwide, topped the country singles charts 35 times and scored more than 50 Top-10 hits. He has written or co-written 24 of his 35 #1 hit singles. Jackson is

a 18-time ACM Award winner, a 16-time CMA Award recipient and a two-time Grammy-winning artist whose songwriting has earned him the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award and an induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame as a 2011 Songwriter/Artist inductee. Tickets are on sale and may be purchased by phone at (813) 754-1996 or online at flstrawberryfestival.com.

BELLE CITY MIDWAY HIGHLIGHTS

Thu. Feb. 28 Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pmFri. Mar. 1 Sweetbay Supermarket Day on the Midway - Noon - 10 pm. Present any “My Essentials” non-perishable item at gate. Get $4 off Fun Pack Ride Coupon Book Moonlight Magic - $20 - 10 pm - 2 amSat. Mar. 2 Kid’s Day - All Day Free Admission for Kids through High School Sun. Mar. 3 Mountain Dew Family Day - $5 off with Mountain Dew can - Ride all day for $20Mon. Mar 4 Ride-A-Thon - $20 - 10 am - 11 pmTues. Mar. 5 Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pmWed. Mar. 6 Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pmThu. Mar. 7 Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pmFri. Mar. 8 Tampa Tribune & TBO.com Day Noon - 10 pm, $2 Off Fun Pack Ride Coupon Book. Get Extra $2 Off same Book with a Tampa Tribune or TBO.com Discount Coupon Moonlight Magic - $20 - 10 pm - 2 am Sun. Mar. 10 Mountain Dew Family Day - $5 off with Mountain Dew can - Ride all day for $20

The Midway opens daily at 12 noon except on Sat., Sun. & Mon., when it opens at 10:00 a.m.

Thu. Feb.2810:30 JimmySturr&HisOrchestra FREEThu. Feb.28 3:30 ChubbyChecker $15&$20Thu. Feb.28 7:30 FOREIGNER $25Fri. Mar.1 3:30 GeneWatson $15&$20Fri. Mar.1 7:30 CastingCrowns $20&$25Sat. Mar.2 1:00 CarolineKole FREESat. Mar.2 3:30 Gloriana $15&$20Sat. Mar.2 7:30 JustinMoore $15&$20Sun. Mar.3 3:30 RandyHouser $15&$20Sun. Mar.3 7:30 AlanJackson $45Mon. Mar.4 3:30 Grits&Glamourwith LorrieMorgan/PamTillis $15&$20Mon. Mar.4 7:30 DwightYoakam $20&$25Tues. Mar.5 3:30 BobbyVinton $15&$20Tues. Mar.5 7:30 MartinaMcBride $30Wed. Mar.6 3:30 NealMcCoy $15&$20Wed. Mar.6 7:30 TraceAdkins $30Thu. Mar.710:30 SteveHall& theShotgunRedShow FREEThu. Mar.7 3:30 MelTillis $15&$20Thu. Mar.7 7:30 BrantleyGilbert $35Fri. Mar.8 3:30 T.G.Sheppard/JanieFricke $15&$20Fri. Mar.8 7:30 ScottyMcCreery $25&$30Sat. Mar.9 3:30 GaitherVocalBand $20&$25Sat. Mar.9 7:30 BretMichaels $25&$30 GetYourRockOn2013Sun. Mar.10 3:30 HunterHayes $15&$20Sun. Mar.10 7:30 BlakeShelton $55

Concert dates and times are subject to change

Seating at 3:30 & 7:30 pm. is on a first come, first seated basis.

Free Grandstand

Artists Appearing on the

Soundstage:Order: www.flstrawberryfestival.com or 813-754-1996

RED HAT SOCIETY DAY

Tues, Mar, 5th $2 Off Regular

Gate Admission

Florida BlueSENIOR

CITIZEN’S DAYSFREE CONCERTSThurs, Feb 28th

The Jimmy Sturr Orchestra

Thurs, Mar 7thSteve Hall & The

Shotgun Red Show Concerts 10:30am

Grow Financial FCUAMERICAN

HEROES DAY Wed. Mar. 6th

All Active, Reserve, Retired Military, Military Veterans,

Law Enforcement, First Responders (EMS & Fire Fighters) admitted Free all day with a valid ID

FESTIVAL FAVORITES

• Dennis Lee • Jay Taylor Band

• The Sweeney Family Band Country Comedy Revue • Ron Diamond

• Kandu Magic Show • World Champion

Lumberjills • JUMP! The Ultimate

Dog Show • RUNA PACHA “Indian World”

• Robinson’s Racing Pigs and Paddling Porkers

• Rock-It the Robot

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL®

FEB. 28 - MAR. 10, 2013 - PLANT CITY, FLORIDA

Save $2.00 on Adult & $1.00 on Youth General Admission Tickets at Sweetbay Supermarkets!

Our Masterpiece Of Fun!

MARTINA McBRIDE

BLAKE SHELTON

DWIGHT YOAKAM

TRACE ADKINSALAN JACKSON SCOTTY McCREERY

CASTING CROWNS

PAM TILLIS Grits and Glamour

LORRIE MORGAN Grits and Glamour

JANIE FRICKET.G. SHEPPARD

CHUBBY CHECKER MEL TILLIS

BOBBY VINTON JIMMY STURR AND

HIS ORCHESTRA


BY FRED WRIGHT

The folks who designed and built the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino

in Biloxi, Miss., knew what they were doing. They not only borrowed liberally from a sister property in Las Vegas, the Belagio, but they did not spare the five senses. As visitors drive up to the Beau Rivage, which stands 29 floors above the Gulf of Mexico coastline, the hotel spreads out with more than 1,740 rooms and suites. Guest rooms face Gulf-ward or city-ward. Either way, there’s a treat.

For those staying in a room facing the Gulf, the view can be mesmeriz-ing. Shrimp boats slowly and silently (thanks to well-insulated rooms) mo-tor out for each day’s catch. Pelicans rest on breakwaters as sea gulls trail the shimmers in hopes of a tidbit. Cityside, the lights of Biloxi at night are augmented by a train track a few blocks away. Several times each evening, freight trains work their way through town, horns moaning, evoking childhood memories. The rooms themselves are very upmarket; the bathrooms come with separate shower and bath tub. Room service is quick and efficient. It’s easy to nest and forget all the tempting entertainment a few floors below. The hotel’s pool sits right on the Gulf, of course, with cabanas and a pool-side bar. It’s an ideal place to meet with friends or retreat with corporate coworkers. Live music is often wafting over the pool at night, either from poolside entertainers or live performers inside the casino, their music piped outside. The Beau Rivage Spa and Salon, one floor above the casino, has a fresh menu of tempting treat-ments for the body, from facials to pedicures. There’s a Mississippi Massage to detoxify the body, with treatments lasting 50 to 100 minutes. Your choice. The Warm

Stone Massage uses heated basalt stones which are rubbed smoothly and gently across the body. There are also couples massages (friends qualify), Mother-To-Be Massages and even In-Room Massages. For those seeking even more self-indulgence, there’s an Age-Defying Facial (promoted as the Rolls Royce of of treatments) or the Caviar and Pearl Facial. This treatment includes exfoliation and massage of the hands and feet as well. The lights and action, of course, are on the ground floor. Cleverly designed, the casino sits in the center with restau-rants, theater entrance, guest services, poker room and cashier around the sides. Hundreds of slot machines blink and bleep, ringing out the occasional jackpot or big spin win. Scattered throughout the casino are oases of table games—all the familiar ones, from cards to dice. A bar in the center provides a respite and live music. The only thing missing, for the nostalgic,

are the sounds of coins hitting the hopper. Slots now take cash only, no coins, and winners are paid off with a ticket that can be traded in for cash. Keep your quarters in your pocket. The Beau Rivage, as a AAA Four Diamond Resort, is renowned for its food. There is the traditional morning, noon and night buffet, and a 24-hour

restaurant right at the entrance. B.R. Prime is the resort’s resident steakhouse, well appointed with wine racks and mood lighting. Memphis, as the name suggests, features barbeque and other smoked favor-

ites. A favorite is Jia, an oriental restaurant offering group seating, tables and sushi bar. The menu offers a rich choice of Asian dishes from China, Japan, Vietnam and other pan-American regions. And its noodle bar is open until 2 a.m. For a break from gaming, the Beau Rivage offers a Retail Promenade stretching from parking garage to registration desk. Options range

from upmarket wrist watches to local ceramics. There is a shop for every budget, even a $10 store where everything is, well, $10 or less. There is also The Bean, a fine coffee bar with local grinds and fresh pastries. The Beau Rivage Resort & Casino knows its demographic. A new policy promises all standard rooms are non-smoking; guests are even required to sign a promise to pay $250 if they smoke in a standard room. (In suites, smoking remains optional.) The resort and casino are easily accessible from the Tampa Bay market. In fact, the Beau Rivage partners with its own carrier, Vision Airlines, provid-ing two- and three-day packages out of St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport. It’s an easy, smooth flight, just over an hour, from Clearwater to Gulfport, Miss., and then a 20-minute complimentary shuttle on the Beau Bus from there to Biloxi and “The Beau.” Another nice touch: Check your bag at the airport and it shows up in your room a couple of hours later. Since it’s a gaming flight, flight attendants offer free drinks and an optional money grab bag drawing each way. Passengers are invited to write their seat numbers on $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills which are placed in a plastic bag. One of each denomina-tion is drawn—providing a handful of people with a head start going up and possible solace coming back. The Beau Rivage Resort & Casino has a expansive theater. Throughout the year, it offers a variety of entertainment, from big name stars to a Christmas-on-ice show.

Travel

Scheduled entertainment events starting in February include:Feb. 1-2 – Rodney CarringtonFeb. 9 – Diana RossFeb. 22 – Grand Funk Railroad & WarMarch 16 – Moody BluesMarch 22 – Vince GillMay 3 – Joan Jett & The BlackheartsJune 7 – Ron White

Fly, Stay and Play at Beau Rivage, Biloxi


Just Another Truth-Is-Better-Than-Fiction Call

BY MARK PILARSKI

Dear Mark: I was at the craps table at Caesar’s in Canada.

My established point to make was nine. I threw the dice and they hit the backboard with the six landing on the table and the three landing on top of the six. It was not leaning on one side or the other. Nobody working at the table or playing ever had seen this before. However, they said it was in the rule book as a No Call. I could have thrown the dice a thousand times and not duplicated that again. Is this in the rule book for all casinos? Have you ever seen this happen? —Ray A.

Recently, while pulling down Christ-mas decorations from the attic, I came upon a table game rules handbook from one of the smaller joints that I worked at. As to your scenario, one die on top of another, the closest directive from the manual was this stand-alone, one liner; “Any dice not showing all of its spots is a No Call.”

Nonetheless, without being there and observing exactly the way the dice were stacked, I am going to punt and trust the judgment of the boxman who made the call. That is not to say that I, or any other sitting box, would have made the same decision. A die on a 45-degree angle lying against chips induces different calls all the time. Craps is a chaotic game, Ray, and a boxman needs to make split-second decisions that are not always favorable to the player. Although the call was not advantageous to you, it most likely was the correct decision based on his interpretation of the rules.

And then there was this time when I was boxing a $1 crap game, the point was four, and a die flew off the table and down a young lady’s blouse, and somehow got stuck in her undergarment. Without hesitation, she unbuttoned her blouse, then her bra, and out pops, among other things, a two tumbling to the table, matching side-by-side the two already on the felt. Knowing the casino had less than $30 at risk, I couldn’t resist, overrode the stickman’s legitimate “no call,” and yelled, “two spots and two dots. Pay the Pass line.”

Dear Mark: Has legal sports bet-ting been around as long as casino gambling, or vice versa? —Elliot R.

Even though the Greeks were betting on footraces long before Bavarian immigrant Charles Fey invented the slot machine, legalized casino gambling in the U.S. came first. In 1931, gambling was legalized throughout the state of Nevada, where-as it wasn’t until 1949 that Nevada allowed bookmakers to accept bets on professional sports and horse racing. At first, these bookie parlors were called Turf Clubs, and were independent and separate from the casinos—until 1975 that is. That is when Frank Rosenthal, who ran the Stardust, convinced state legislators to allow sport books into the casinos, causing the demise of Turf Clubs, which were no longer able to compete.

Gambling Wisdom of the Month: The population of Las Vegas, NV in 1910 was only 30. (SENIOR WIRE)

I threw the dice and they hit the backboard with the six landing

on the table and the three landing on top of the six. Nobody working at the table or playing

ever had seen this before.

*Some restrictions apply and is subject to availability. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino reserves the right to cancel or change this promotion at any time. Resort fee and taxes may apply. Additional restrictions may apply. Entertainment tickets not included. **Must be 21. Tickets based on availability and schedule subject to change. For complete details visit beaurivage.com. When you need to win, you need to quit. Gambling problem? Call 1.888.777.9696 ©2013 MGM Resorts International.®

dining • gaming • entertainment • shopping • golf • pool • spa

You Belong at the Beautm Resort & Casino • Biloxi, MS

Plan your transformation from the everyday with

room rates starting at only $79 per night.*

Purchase your tickets today for these big acts coming to Beau Rivage.

For hotel reservations and show tickets, visit beaurivage.com.

Entertainment show ticket purchases can also be made by calling 1.888.566.7469.

YOU BELONG AT THE BEAU

Mar 16

Mar 22

Jun 7

May 3

Apr 19

THE MOODY BLUES

VINCE GILL

RON WHITE**

JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS

PAT BENATAR &NEIL GIRALDO

Feb 1-2

Feb 9

RODNEY CARRINGTON**

DIANA ROSS

LAUGHTER’S GOOD TOUR

A LITTLE UNPROFESSIONAL TOUR

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD & WARFeb 22

Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losing weight are just two of the ways that you can fight osteoarthritis pain. In fact, for every pound you lose, that’s four pounds less pressure on each knee. For information on managing pain, go to fightarthritispain.org.

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN.

— BANDIT adopted 11-26-09


STATE CERTIFIED LICENSE #CCC1327406 • CBC 1259006

BY SUZANNE S. AUTIN-HILL

In spite of being financially and emotionally ready, my personal-

ity type presented the real challenge to my transition into the leisurely, carefree days known as retirement. I hope those contemplating retirement, near retirement or struggling in their retirement will consider the impact their personality may have on their own transition. For thirty-five years the grains of sand in the hour glass of my life as a mathematics educator fell in predictable conical patterns and shapes. This predictability suited my personality perfectly. (Or was it the other way around?) Regardless, I was comfortable with the ways in which I used my time and my time used me.

During the summer I allowed my days to be somewhat open-ended and peppered with spontaneity. But as June turned into September, I grew antsy and weary of working so hard to plan “unplanned” days. I could hear my daughters breathe a sigh of relief when television ads featured “school bells.” “It’s time for Mom to go back to work before she drives herself (and us) cra-zy!” I imagined they said to one another. In retrospect this nagging anxiety and unrest was a harbinger of what I would experience during the first two years of retirement. The ancient medical concept of humorism suggested that four tempera-ments affected human moods, emotions, behavior and personality traits. Galen, a leading scientist of his day, named them:

• Sanguine (pleasure-seeking, sociable)• Choleric (ambitious and leader-like)• Melancholic (introverted, thoughtful)• Phlegmatic (relaxed and quiet)

In modern times these categories can be found in psychological inventories such as the Personality Plus test (Per-sonality Plus by Florence Littauer). A year before retirement, this inven-tory was an assignment in an Ameri-can Sign Language class I was taking. The intent was to determine the challenges one might face on an inter-preting team. My “score card” read, Melancholy 11, Sanguine 5, Choleric and Phlegmatic 2 on scales of 20, respectively. The professor said that extremes among the totals in each of the four categories “…were bad.” My results would prove to be yet another harbinger of my upcoming challenge. If retirement was a second chance to ride the merry-go-round of life pressure-free, I was going to flunk! To a melancholic who assesses, makes lists, evaluates, and analyzes, doing whatever whenever was very discon-certing. Each morning I awakened with restlessness akin to my summer angst and reflective of my “score card.”

To transition successfully, I allowed retirement to open up a window in my mind so that a new possibil-ity could drift in, i.e., I could be myself! I developed the terms and conditions of my retirement to do it as Frank Sinatra said “…my way!” Knowing my personality type helped me to face the angst and restlessness that challenged my retirement. I negotiated a happy medium between the wonderful open-endedness of retirement and my need to know what’s next. Every day I have a plan that ends with a sense of completion. I read, write, sing in the Senior Choir, volunteer as an interpret-er, attend workshops on a variety of sub-jects, spend time with my grandchildren and travel. Sometimes I plan to stay home in my pajamas and do absolutely nothing! I’m sure you know you need to be ready financially and emotion-ally. But, is your personality ready? Consider including a personality inventory in your retirement planning. Suzanne S. Austin-Hill ©2012

Retirement? It Takes Personality!


More Americans Plan to Retire Overseas

Attracted in particular by a lower cost of living, growing numbers

of Americans are choosing to retire abroad. 350,000 retirees now receive their Social Security benefits overseas, and Travel Market Report estimates that 3.3 million U.S. baby boomers are planning to spend their sunset years out of the country. They look for lower

health care costs, especially nations that offer government-subsidized health plans. Living abroad can also be their last great adventure. But experts warn that, as people age, the lure of adventure can give way to homesickness for loved ones and familiar settings. (From Knowledge@Wharton, July, 2012)

Medicare Card Scam AlertYou answer the

phone, and the unknown caller claims to be with Medicare or another government office. He informs you that your new Medicare card is in the mail, and you will receive it in a few days. Of course, there is no new card and no direct deposit. The caller

just wants you to share your banking informa-tion so he/she can steal from your account. Only give your card information to those who deal with Medicare. If you suspect anything, call

the Federal Trade Commission’s ID Theft Hotline at 1-877-438-4338.


Don’t Ignore Long Term Care InsuranceMany Americans

work hard to maintain good health, and those efforts are really pay-ing off. As a nation, we are living longer and enjoying a higher quality of life than ever before. But to enjoy our senior years to the fullest, you need to carefully protect your financial health as well. You insure your home, your health, your car and even your life. And you carefully plan your savings and investments for retirement. But all of those plans could be for nothing if you or your spouse should need long term health care, one of the largest expenses older Americans face. The reality is, the longer you live, the greater the chance you will need some form of long term care, such as ex-tended care in a skilled nursing facility, assisted living community or through a home health agency. When you look at the facts, it is easy to see that fi nancing long term care is a serious problem fac-ing the nation. As our population grows proportionately older, the problem will only get worse. Consider the following:• Two of every fi ve Americans over the age 65 will need nursing home care. There are already some 1.8 million nursing home patients.• Another 9 million people receive long term care at home or in other centers such as adult day care of assisted living communities.• About a quarter of the American work force now has elder care responsibilities, and that will increase to 40 percent in fi ve years.• Many young adults also need long term care due to conditions such as car accident injuries, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis and strokes.• The average annual cost for long term care today in a skilled nurs-ing facility or through an 8-hour shift of home care is $74,208.• Costs are projected to nearly triple in the next 20 years.

Financing of Long Term Care There are three basic ways to pay for long term care in a nurs-ing home: Medicare, Medicaid or private pay (out of pocket or by using long term care insurance). In 2009 the average cost for a year in a nursing home averaged $73,208. This can be fi nancially devastating, especially if a patient stays the average of three years or even longer. Long term care ex-penses can easily total $250,000 to $500,000 or even more!

Medicare Medicare is the federal program that will pay for nursing home care for those who need a skilled level of care after a three-day hospital stay. Skilled care is best described by the type of care you need due to a hip fracture or stroke—therapy on a daily basis, or skilled nursing services daily. Medicare is limited in the number of days it will pay for nursing home care—up to 100 days. Medicare pays 100 percent of the fi rst 20 days (after the three day hospital stay and only if skilled care is needed), beginning on day 21-100 there is a daily co-payment required with Medicare. Most seniors have a Medicare Supplement policy. Medicare supplements will pay in conjunction with Medicare. Once Medicare stops paying for care, most supplements will not continue to pay.Medicaid If you have exhausted Medicare pay-ments the only other options are Medic-aid and paying out of pocket (private pay). Medicaid is available for those indi-viduals that have low income or limited resources. Medicaid is the state/federal welfare program and has limitations as to the amount of assets you can own and the amount of income you may receive each month before you are eligible. The federal government has instituted re-strictions on the transferring of assets out of an estate to qualify for Medicaid. There is a look back period of 36 months or 60 months if a trust has been established. A law was passed in 1996 making it a crime to shift assets to become eligible for nursing home Medicaid coverage. A drawback with Medicaid is limited choices of where to receive care. Not all

nursing homes accept Medicaid patients and depending on the state in which you live, Medicaid may not be available for assisted living centers or home health care.LTC Insurance Besides paying out of your own pocket, you can purchase long term care insurance. This insurance must be purchased prior to needing long term care. The eligibility for the insurance is based on your current health. If you currently need long term care, you will not be insurable. Most fi nancial planners recommend that LTC insurance be purchased in your late 50’s or early 60’s. In this range the cost is quite affordable and your health is probably still pretty good. The premiums are based on your age, health, and the type of plan that your purchase. The primary reason people are purchas-ing long term care insurance is to maintain choice, and consequently, independence. If you are the type of person who enjoys being in control, a long term care insurance policy may be the only thing that makes it possible for you to stay in control by guaranteeing that you will have decision making power when you need long term care, such as choices other than a nursing home—assisted liv-ing, home health care, adult day care etc. So, don’t pass the buck. Stay in control of your life by taking responsibility for your own long term care by purchasing a long term care policy—the private sector’s solution to the real health care crisis.LTC Insurance Benefi t Considerations When purchasing LTC insurance you must make three main decisions, and a few optional decisions. These decisions, along with your age and health determine your premium.Daily Benefi t—the amount of money you will receive from the insurance company on a daily basis for your care. You usually can select between $50 and $300 per day. Find out what the current cost of care is in your area and it will help you make the decision as to what daily benefi t you want (also see infl ation protection below).Benefi t Period—the length of time you will receive payments from the insur-ance company once you need care. You

usually can select a specifi c number of years (2,3,4,5,6) or lifetime plans are also available. The average length of stay in a nursing home is 2 1/2 to 3 years.Elimination Period (deductible)—the number of days that you will be respon-sible for paying for your care before the insurance begins to pay. This works like most insurance deductibles except it is stated in a number of days instead of dollars. Most plans have a variety of op-tions like 0 days, 20 days, 60 days or 100 days. Be sure to check if this deductible is once in a lifetime or if it can repeat. Also, there are three optional deci-sions that can be added to your plan.Infl ation Protection—this ties back to your daily benefi t and allows it to grow on an annual basis to help keep your plan in step with infl ation. It is built into your original premium and therefore will increase your annual premium. You may have choices of 5 percent simple or 5 percent compounded. You do not have to add this to your plan—but it is certainly recommended if you are under age 80.Home Health Care Coverage—most policies will also give you the option of receiving insurance benefi ts in your own home. This option will allow you greater choice as to where your care can be paid for by the insurance. It may cover community care life, Adult Day Care Centers as well as care in the home. This option will increase your premium.Nonforfeiture—this option provides some form of paid up benefi t if the policy should lapse. This option increases your base premium.

I hope this brief column will give you some insight into the need to prepare for long term care. As a premier senior care company for over 40 years, NHC is pleased to offer assistance in providing long term care insurance. NHC works with several of the nation’s leading long term care insurance carriers. These companies all share NHC’s commitment of pioneering ways of providing the best product at the best value to give you peace of mind. Call us at (615) 890-2020 or visit our website at nhccare.com for more information.

— Dr. Steve Flatt is President of National HealthCare Corporation

By Dr. Steve Flatt


Just Say No! 5 Easy Ways to Kick the Sugar Habit

Sugar is the most frequently bought food on the grocery store shelves.

It’s also one of the most dangerous substances on the face of the earth. Sugar is toxic, fattening and addictive. To kick the sugar habit, you have to look at it as though you are ending an addiction. You can kick the sugar habit by following these five easy steps:

1. Just say NO! Quit Eating Sugar! Go Cold Turkey. Expect cravings, head-aches, and irritability for 3 – 5 days. This is a good sign that you’re making progress, and if you keep it up, the cravings will disappear over time.

2. Use Stevia Instead of Sugar to sweeten foods. It is a natural, herbal sweetener that is calorie-free and does not affect blood glucose.

3. Read the Food Labels. Find the Hidden Sugars: Read labels. Sugar is disguised in our foods as refined white sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose (corn sugar), maltose (malt

sugar), lactose (milk sugar), corn sweetener, brown sugar, powdered sugar, and maple sugar. Then avoid these foods. 4. Eat Foods That Have 5 Grams of Sugar or Less Per Serving: This means your pancreas will

not have to release too much insulin, which can result in fat storage in the body. Then, remember to have only one serving! Control what you eat. 5. Eat More Fruit To Curb Sugar Cravings: When you crave sweets, try fruit as a better alternative. To find out more, read Lose Weight Without Dieting or Working Out!

More About Back PainNinety percent of people

with back pain will get better without treatment or by using conservative treat-ments such as exercise and physical therapy, anti-in-flammatory medication and using proper body posture when using electronic gad-gets or lifting heavy objects.

Information from the North American Spine Society (NASS) indicates that spine surgery is recommended in only about 1 percent of cases, with very specific diagnoses, after a more conservative course of treatment has already been tried. To learn more, visit knowyourback.org. (NAPSA)


Belly Fat Can Signal an Unhealthy HeartCarrying a little extra fat around the

middle can be hard on a woman’s ego—especially during swimsuit season—but it’s even harder on her heart. Extra body fat increases the risk for conditions that contribute to heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Fat deposited in the abdomen—called visceral fat— lies deep enough to sur-round organs and disrupt their function. “The fat around the belly is particularly metabolically active, meaning that it produces a number of factors that increase the risks for heart disease,” explains Dr. Paula Johnson, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Those factors include hormones and other substances that promote inflammation, raise blood pres-sure, alter cholesterol levels and interfere with normal blood vessel activity. The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of factors that has been linked to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. It includes:

• Waist measurement of 35 inches or more (40 inches in men).

• Triglyceride (blood fat) level of 150 mil-ligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher.

• HDL (“good”) choles-terol level of less than 50 mg/dL (40 mg/dL in men).

• Blood pressure reading of 130/85 mmHg or higher.

• Fasting blood sugar level of 100 mg/dL or higher.

Three of these risk factors signals metabolic syndrome. A simple waist circumference measurementcan be a warning sign a person has it, Dr. Johnson says. There are several ways to banish this particularly unhealthy type of fat:

• Cut back on candy, cookies, white bread and other foods made with highly processed grains or full of added sugar.• Trim portion sizes to help lose weight, or at least not gain any more.• Stay active and exercise every day. From the Harvard Women’s Health Watch.

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BY FRED CICETTI

Q. What is the leading cause of hospitalization of older people?

Is it heart attacks or strokes?

The number one reason people over age 65 go into the hospital

is congestive heart failure (CHF), or simply heart failure. If you have CHF, your heart can’t pump enough blood. This condition develops over time. Heart failure is most common in older people, and is more common in African-Americans. Men have a higher rate of heart failure than women. But, because women usually live longer, the condition affects more women in their 70s and 80s. In normal hearts, veins bring oxygen-poor blood from the body to the right side of the heart. It is then pumped through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, picking up oxygen. From there, the blood returns to the left side of the heart. Then it is pumped through a large artery called the aorta that distributes blood throughout the body. Heart failure is caused by other diseases or conditions that damage the heart muscle. It is often caused by coronary artery disease, including heart attacks. Diabetes and high blood pres-sure also contribute to heart failure. Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in men and women. It happens when the arteries that supply blood to the heart be-come hardened and narrowed. People who have had a heart attack are at high risk to develop heart failure. There are a number of things that you can do to reduce risk of coronary artery disease and heart failure. For starters, you should keep the fol-lowing levels down: body weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, sugar, alcohol and salt. Exercise regu-larly. And, if you smoke, quit.

The most common symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling, which usually occurs in the ankles, feet and legs. Swelling is caused by fluid buildup in the body and can lead to weight gain, frequent urination and a cough. Because the symptoms are common for other conditions, your doctor will determine if you have heart failure by doing a detailed medical history, an examination, and several tests. Tests that are given to determine heart failure include an electrocar-diogram (EKG), a chest X-ray, and a blood test for BNP, a hormone that increases in heart failure. Tests that can identify the cause of heart failure include: an echocardio-

gram that uses sound waves; a Holter monitor, which is a small box that is worn for 24 hours to provide a continuous recording

of heart rhythm during normal activity; an exercise stress test that reads your EKG and blood pressure before, during or after exercise to see how your heart responds. There is no cure for heart failure, but it can be controlled. People with CHF are usually

put on a low-salt diet to prevent fluid build-up. Their doctors may

also tell them to lose weight, quit smoking, and reduce alcohol intake. Medications that are used include: diuretics, “water pills” to reduce fluid; ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure and reduce heart stress; beta-blockers to slow your heart rate and lower blood pressure; Digoxin to help the heart beat stronger. People with severe heart failure may also be given a mechani-cal heart pump. A heart transplant is an option when all other treat-ments fail to control symptoms. If you would like to read more columns, you can order a copy of “How To Be A Healthy Geezer” at www.healthygeezer.com. All Rights Reserved © 2012 by Fred Cicetti.

The Healthy Geezer


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Medicare AnswersDear Marci, I heard that

certain medications that were excluded from Medicare coverage in the past will soon be covered under Medicare Part D in 2013. Is this true? —Ashley

Dear Ashley, That’s a great question. Benzodiazepines and barbiturates, medications that were formerly excluded from Medicare coverage, are now covered under Medicare Part D prescription drug plans since January 1, 2013. Keep in mind that benzodiazepines are covered as a treatment for all med-ically necessary conditions. However, barbiturates will only be covered in 2013 to treat epilepsy, certain cancers and chronic mental health conditions. Check to make sure the barbiturate or benzodiazepine you take is covered on your drug plan’s formulary.

Do I Have an Eye Problem or Not?How do you know if an eye

problem is a nuisance or the start of something serious? The following signs and symptoms warrant a call to your doctor. Call your doctor if you experi-ence any of the following:• Change in iris color• Crossed eyes• Dark spot in the center of your

field of vision• Difficulty focusing on near or

distant objects• Double vision• Dry eyes with itching or burning• Episodes of cloudy vision• Excess discharge or tearing• Eye pain• Floaters or flashers• Growing bump on the eyelid• Halos (colored circles around lights)

or glare

• Hazy or blurred vision• Inability to close an eyelid• Loss of peripheral vision• Redness around the eye• Spots in your field of vision• Sudden loss of vision• Trouble adjusting to dark rooms• Unusual sensitivity to light or glare• Veil obstructing vision• Wavy or crooked appearance to

straight lines

FREE INFORMATION SERVICELifestyles After 50

for information please return completed form to:News Connection USA, Inc. • P.O. Box 278 • Laurel FL 34272-0278

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o Single o Married o Are you a Group Leader?Please contact me by: o Mail o Phone o E-mail

SEND INFORMATION ON AREA(S) CHECKED BELOWAUTOMOBILES:o Automobile Saleso Maintenance and Repairso Recreational Vehicles

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The Magic of a Lemon—Great Lemon RecipesDon’t waste that lemon peel! Pro-

fessional chefs use or consume the entire lemon. Nothing is wasted. Here’s how to use the whole lemon without waste.

Simply place the lemon in the freezer section of your refrigerator. Once the lemon is frozen, get your grater and shred the whole lemon (no need to peel it). Then keep the gratings in your freezer and enjoy new flavors everywhere. Sprinkle lemon into your wine, vegetable salad, ice cream, soup, noodles, spaghetti sauce, rice, sushi and fish dishes. Everything will taste better and have a wonderful taste—even a cup of instant noodles. (Ed. note: I did this and it is wonderful to have on hand!) Lemon peels contain as much as 5 to 10 times more vitamins than the lemon juice itself. This is a good way to get the vitamins.

1 c chicken broth2 tsp. butter2 tsp. lemon juice1 tsp. lemon peel1/2 c half & half1 1/2 c uncooked instant rice1 T grated Parmesan cheese Bring broth, butter and lemon to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in half & half. Heat but do not boil. Add rice. Cover and let stand 10 to 15 min. Stir in cheese. Serve.

1 c. sour cream1 can frozen lemon concentrate Mix all ingredients. Serve as a dressing for fruit salad.

2 1/2 c flour1 tsp baking powder1 tsp salt1 stick unsalted butter, softened2 c sugar2 eggs1 (15-ounce) container whole

milk ricotta cheese3 Tbsp lemon juice1 lemon, zestedGlaze:• 1 1/2 c powdered sugar• 3 Tbsp lemon juice• 1 lemon, zested

Directions: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cookies: Combine flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time. Add ricotta cheese,

lemon juice and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients. Spoon dough (2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto baking sheets. Bake 15 minutes, until slightly golden at edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes.

Glaze: Combine powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest; stir until smooth. Gently spread about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours.

Recipe

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17th Join us on:February 26, 2013Doors open inside 9 am – 1 pm

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Unsquish Internet Explorer Tabs

I’m using IE 9, though I don’t really care for it that much. One

thing that annoys me is when I open tabs for various websites, all the open tabs are squished together next to the Address bar. Is there some way I can make room for the tabs to expand?

Right-click in the area where your tabs normally open and

place a check next to “Show tabs on a separate row.” Once you do this, all your tabs will open in the expansive space available under the Address bar. If IE 9 is wearing a bit thin on you, take a look at either Firefox (www.mozilla.com/firefox) or Google Chrome (www.google.com/chrome). Both are excellent browsers and worthy of consideration.

I would like to download Microsoft Security Essentials

to my system, but I already use Norton, provided free by Comcast. Will this be a problem?

Not for me and not for Comcast, but it could be a problem for

your computer. I would not use both. If you’re happy with Norton, stick with it. If at some point it no longer brings joy to your life, that would be a good time to make the change. If you try to use both, there is a good chance each program will detect the various bits of embedded virus code in the other, so each program will think the other program is a virus. That can lead to false positive and false negative reports, which is not good. Very few anti-virus programs work well with other anti-virus programs so it’s best to let one protection rule the roost. Anti-spyware programs are better at socializing, so you can have multiple

anti-spyware programs installed on the same system without any problem. Is there some way I can show

more items on my Start menu than currently appear? It seems like the icons for each program are taking up most of the room. Can I make the icons smaller?

Yes, you can shrink Start menu icons in Vista and Windows

7. Right-click a blank area of your Taskbar and select Properties. Select the Start Menu tab from the window that appears and click the Customize button. Scroll down to the bottom and remove the check mark beside “Use Large Icons,” then click OK > OK. I have been on Facebook

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account, then choose “Invite

Friends” from the Friends menu at the top of the page. You will have to pro-vide some information at that point, but just follow what appears on screen and you shouldn’t have any problem.

Using Windows Live Mail, how do I permanently

make my font larger?

Click Tools > Options. (You may have to hold down the ALT

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MOMENTS LIKE THESE ARE PRECIOUS. DON’T LET THEM FADE AWAY.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people 55 and older. It is a chronic disease affecting more than 10 million Americans, and early detection is key to saving your sight.

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Valentine’s Day Jokes to ShareHere are some Valentine’s Day

jokes to share with your friends.Q: Why did the banana go out with

the prune?A: Because it couldn’t get a date.Q: What is a ram’s favourite song on

February 14?A: I only have eyes for ewe, dear.Q: What travels around the world but

stays in one corner?

A: A stamp.Q: What happens when you fall in

love with a French chef?A: You get buttered up.Q: What is a vampire’s sweetheart

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what would you call her?A: Antelope.

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February Sudoku Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well. The first correct answers selected from the drawing on Feb. 21 will win. Good luck!

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Word Search FebruaryIn the grid below, twenty answers can be found that fit the category for today. Circle each answer that you find and list it in the space provided at the right of the grid. Answers can be found in all directions – forwards, backwards, horizontally,

vertically and diagonally. An example is given to get you started. Can you find the twenty answers in this puzzle?

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to:

NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC. P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on February 21 will win.WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

(Puzzles must be received by Feb. 21, 2013.)

MYSTERY PRIZE!

MYSTERY PRIZE!

Word Search Answers

From January

Richard and Yolanda Baumerare last month’s winners!

Congratulations!


Seniors Getting TogetherTO RESPOND TO AN AD

Write a letter to the person you want to contact. Place that letter in a stamped en-

velope and write the ad number on the bot-tom left hand side of the envelope. Place

your stamped, numbered envelope(s), along with $2 for each letter enclosed, into

another envelope and address it to:News Connection USA, Inc.

Seniors Getting Together1602 S. Parsons Ave.,Seffner, FL. 33584

TO PLACE AN ADSend your ad, stating what category you

would like it placed in, your edition(s), along with a $6 fee for 30 words (25¢ for each additional word, abbreviations not charged) to the News Connection USA, Inc. address listed above. Ads received

by the 15th of the month will appear in the following issue. No more than three ads will be accepted each month per person. The editor reserves the right to edit any ads for

space or content. In order to protect our readers’ privacy, we will not include phone numbers, e-mail or home addresses in the ad copy. City or area included at no charge.

4215 WOMAN SEEKS MEN I am S, D, W, F, age 58 years old, seeking SW male age 50s up to late 60s. I like tall men. Seeking a loving, caring, faithful Christain W man. My hobbies are watching TV. I love to bake. I like to get flowers on first date. I’m looking for my Christian single W soulmate. Please write me and send photo of yourself and phone number so I can contact you. I will send a photo of me and my phone number.4224 SEEKING NICE GENTLE-MAN H, NS, SD, T, W, C, 70 YO, attractive, exercises, likes travel, music, cooking, reading, garden-ing, etc. Loving and honest.4226 ATTRACTIVE WIDOW LADY DESIRES COMPANY of WW gentleman, 65 – 85, average build and health for short term of music, dancing, golf, fitness, fun and adventure in Florida. Send reply with phone, address or email. Lady Lake.

Attention SGTers!Screen respondents carefully. Always meet in public places and have your

own transportation. Don’t divulge your home address. Be sure to

provide a way for your correspondent to respond to you – phone number,

e-mail address or Post Office Box ad-dress. Contact the authorities if you feel threatened or harassed by an

individual. Be patient and careful – a good relationship and your personal

safety are worth the wait!

WOMEN SEEKING MEN

4119 SEEKING CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN Former airline stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., widow, slender, white with Ph.D. in healthcare. Fulbright scholar, eats healthy and exercises. Likes sports and animals. Loves the Lord. Florida.

Commonly Used Abbreviations:F-Female, M-Male, S-Single, D-Divorced, WW-Widow, A-Asian, B-Black, H-Hispanic, I-Indian, W-White, C-Christian, J-Jewish, YO-Years Old,

YY-Years Young, ISO-In Search Of, SOH-Sense Of Humor, SM-Smokes, S-Light Smoker,

NS-Non Smoker, ND-Non Drinker, SD-Social (Light) Drinker, DR-Drinks, NDrg- No Drugs, LTR-Long Term Relationship, HWP-Height &

Weight Proportional, R-Retired, P-Professional, FF-Friendship First, TLC-Tender Loving Care.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN4220 LET’S HAVE COFFEE TOGETHER SWM, nice looking, 170 lbs., 5’11”, ND, NS, NDrg, like sports, animals, home life, seeks SWF HWP 45 to 60, LTR. Life is wonderful, let’s share it together. I’m looking to meet you.4222 TALL, NICE LOOKING, GENEROUS guy, ISO good looking tall and/or heavyset lady, 48 – 65, for companionship and romance. Please include photo..

RUN YOUR AD FOR ONLY $6 A MONTHSENIORS GETTING TOGETHER

Personal Ad PlacementDeadline for ads is the 15th of the month prior to placement.

Mark The Edition(s) You Would Like To Run Your Ad In: Hillsborough & Suncoast (Pinellas/Pasco) Lake/Marion Counties

Southwest/Charlotte (Fort Myers/Port Charlotte)Ad Copy • Please Print Neatly • 30 Word Limit

If more room is needed, please use separate sheet. Mail this form along with$6 for each ad per month (add $4 for each additional edition/market in the same month).

We cannot accept your ad without it. This information is confi dential.

Name:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: E-mail:

MAIL TO: ATTN. / SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER, NEWS CONNECTION, USA, INC. • P.O. BOX 638., SEFFNER, FL 33583

Only $6 to place an ad!

Title (First 4 Words):

City(No Charge):

Great Fairs and Festivals This MonthDrive a little; enjoy a lot, at

these Florida events.

9 Rio de la Paz Festival, South Florida State College, Arcadia. Art-

ists, authors, craftsmen, environmental groups, food, live music and local businesses celebrating the Peace River. 2251 Turner Ave. (863) 494-0630.

22 – 24 111th GeorgeFest in Eustis. Theme is “Let Freedom

Ring” with a parade, fireworks, carnival, food, bands, contests, vendors and more. (352)-357-3434.

27 – March 3 45th Pioneer Park Days, 2828 Pioneer Blvd.,

Zolfo Springs. Antique tractors,

engines, farm equipment, flea market, food. (863) 773-2161.

Mar. 2 Chili Cook Off, 12210 83rd St. East, Parrish. Vendors, rides,

beer and live music. (941) 504-5518.

Mar. 2 and March 3 Florida Azalea Festival, 623 St. John’s

Ave., Palatka. Arts and crafts, cars, entertainment stages, pet show, bowling tournament, bike rides, kayak runs, children’s area. (386) 312-6266.

March 2 and 3 Calusa Wood Carver Show, Veterans Park,

Hudson. This is the 32nd year for this show with demonstrations, food, vendors and assistance at all levels of carving. Info at (727) 376-2180.


Last Month’s Answers

Enter To Win!

FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!

Name

Address

City State Zip

Age Phone

E-mail

Sendyouranswersforadrawing.FirstcorrectanswersselectedfromthedrawingonFeb.19willreceive$20cash!

Sendto:News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583

I want information on: Travel / Cruises Recreation / Leisure Entertainment / Events

Insurance Elder Law / Financial Housing Options Reverse Mortgages

Personal Health & Fitness Home Improvements Automobiles

Senior Connection • June 2005 • page 36

LEARN HOW TO PLAN FOR YOUR PETS IN AN EMERGENCY

The SPCA’s brochure "Our Best Friends Deserve Better Plans" has allthe latest information on Estate Planning for Pets and Florida's PetTrust Law and it is FREE! This brochure helps pet owners plan for theirpets in case of an emergency or in case their pets outlive them. Use thisorder form to order your free materials.

Send Me Information! Clip and mail this coupon

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� I/We have included the SPCA in my/our estate plan.

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Enter to Win!

Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on June 19th will receive $20 cash! Send to:

Mature Lifestyles, 220 W. Brandon Blvd., Suite 203, Brandon, FL 33511Email address:

I am interested in:� Travel / Cruises� Recreation / Leisure� Entertainment / Events

� Insurance� Elder Law / Financial� Housing & Senior

Lifestyles Options

� Personal Health & Fitness

� Home Improvements� Automobiles

NameAddressCity State ZipAge Phone SC/Hills

This month’s

winner is

Myron L. Guisewite

Congratulations !!!

Last Month’sAnswers

FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!Lake

Last Month’s Winner Is Bill Swain

Congratulations!

BRIDGE BITESFrom The

American ContractBridge League

Take FourBY BRIAN GUNNELL

This month you are playing E-W, and as the problem is a tough

one you get four attempts to beatthe contract.

North’s bid was a Negative Double, showing the unbid suits. She usually has 4 cards in the unbid major for that bid, but was stuck for a good alternative. Anyway, South lands in 4♥, and you are on defense. Can you beat this precarious contract? Take 1: Spades are led, Declarer ruff-ing the third round. The ♥8 is ducked around to East’s Queen. But East has no Spades left, and it’s easy for Declarer to win whatever is returned, draw trumps and claim the rest. Cut!

Take 2: The defense has a certain trump trick and they must make sure that it is West who wins that trick. This allows Spades to be continued, causing Declarer to lose trump con-trol. So, when the ♥8 is led, West must hop up with the Ten, forcing Declarer to play Dummy’s King. Now a Heart to Declarer’s Ace and a low Heart to East’s Queen. Again the wrong defender has won the Heart trick. Cut! Take 3: OK, suppose West plays his ♥T on the first round, forcing Dummy’s King, but then, on the second round, East cleverly jumps up with the Queen. No, that won’t work either, Declarer simply lets the Queen win. Cut! Take 4: As before, West plays the ♥T, and East must do his part by dropping the ♥Q under Dummy’s King! Great defense! This guarantees that West wins the defense’s Heart trick and he is the one who can play Spades. Down one! That would be an awfully hard defense to find at the table, don’t you think? In fact, it’s tough enough even when looking at all four hands. But a thing of beauty nonetheless, all the more so as it gave both defenders a starring role. Visit acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email [email protected]. To find a bridge club in Florida, go to district9acbl.org/D9Clubsmap.htm. Bridge article provided courtesy of St. Petersburg Bridge Club: www.stpetebridge.org.

The Power of ReadingHas reading played

a major role in your life? A new essay collection called Stop What You’re Doing and Read This! is a manifesto on the life-saving power of reading. Authors such as Mark Haddon

and Zadie Smith write about what reading has meant in their lives. Two scientists map out how the brain circuitry is affected by reading and language. The book

enumerates the impact books can have on the brain,

mind and soul of a person.


Road Reading: Books to Take Along on AdventuresFlorida Sports

The same black “muck” that

built the sugar empire and put veggies on the nation’s tables also produced “raw football talent”on the legendary Belle Glade Central Raiders football teams. Year after year, the poverty-stricken farm workers and migrants turned out star football players. An incredible 27 players from the school have gone to the National Football League since 1985 (five were drafted in the first round). Muck City tells the story of the kids from a town who get one chance of getting out—some through football and the rest through hard work and luck.

Papa’s Famous Drinks To Have and Have Another: a Hemingway Cocktail Companion by Philip Greene opens the gates to the

Hemingway drinking habit—but with a twist. From Hemingway’s novels, history of the era and stories about the author and his sur-roundings, Greene of-fers dozens of authentic recipes—all with

narratives about Hemingway himself. Remember the martini in A Farewell to Arms? Now you can know how to make it! Greene points the way to other memorable literary libations, including the Dripped Absinthe from For Whom the Bell Tolls and the Jack Rose from The Sun Also Rises.

Florida Politics If politics is your game, Red Pepper and Gorgeous George will lead you through the brawling candidates who challenged each other

and the status quo in Florida’s senato-rial election of 1950. It’s the drama, controversy and chicanery of one of America’s most memorable elections. The book details the strategies of Mc-Carthyism, the victory of Smathers and shows how the South went through a complete reversal of political power that had been in place since the 1860s.

History of the Dead For a unique look at Florida history, visit Napoleon’s nephew’s grave or find the five graves of people from one family who died in the 1918 flu epidemic. Fifteen Florida Cemeteries by Lola Haskins tells both gruesome

and restful stories. There are the graves of nuns buried 400 years ago, a gravestone that read ‘See Reverse Side’ and some spooky tales as well. Each chapter features a substantial descrip-tion of (and driving

directions to) a particular location, an overview of the local community and an extended profile of one of that cemetery’s most interesting ‘residents.’ Haskins also includes a pet cemetery and a racehorse cemetery and the stories of a ghost dog and a horse that got a speeding ticket.

A Panhandler’s Guide Brian Rucker’s Treasures of the Panhandle: A Journey through West Florida provides a guide to the area sometimes called a “Redneck Riviera” in tourism brochures. Travel with the book through an area full of natural wonders and historic treasures—12 counties, 24 state parks, three state forests, one national forest and a national seashore make up the area. Add to that caves, the world’s largest air force base and lost treasures—and you’ve got an area worth the trip.

NEW! State Recreation AtlasesRVers, take note!

Hikers and bikers, look at this! Sportsmen of all kinds, you’ll love these. The brand new National Geographic State Recreation Atlases are an ideal recreation resource and contain accurate, detailed topographic maps with private and public land bound-aries, a complete road network, valuable recreation information and extensive cross-referenced lists and charts for campgrounds, lakes, parks, attractions and more. Atlases are now out for Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan , Minnesota and Wisconsin. State Game Management Unit maps and fish species lists will appeal to the sportsman while detailed primary road networks will be of great interest to motorcyclists, RVers, and those simply touring the state.

Features • Detailed topographic maps with

shaded relief for the entire state. • 1:175,000 (scales vary by state)• Each labeled feature is up-to-date

and verified by satellite image.• Comprehensive, easy-to-read

road network.• Boundaries for parks and federal lands.• Clearly-labeled lakes, rivers

and streams.• Durable laminated cover• Size 11”x15”• Robust travel and recreation info.• Cross-referenced chart of fishing

areas with species information• Game management units• Campgrounds and attraction charts• State Parks maps and facilities• Hiking, golfing, skiing and

paddling destinations• Climate information

A Florida Treasure—The Casablanca Inn

One of the Florida’s great treasures in St. Augustine is the Casablanca

Inn, built in 1914. Afternoons can find you on the veranda overlooking Matanzas Bay and the Bridge of Lions while horses clop clop down the street out front. Drinks from the on-site

Tini Martini Bar can be just plain fun. By night the Inn offers luxury suites and rooms with sleep number beds, antique furnishings, decorative fireplaces, private en-tries, whirlpools—and the quiet of the streets of Old Town. Rooms offer private balconies or patios overlooking Charlotte Street, a perfect place to enjoy coffee in the morning.

Breakfast can be served on the verandah or inside in the sun room. A champagne mimosa, bakery items and the chef’s daily special (eggs benedict anyone?) add to the feeling of luxury. Information: call (904) 829-0928 or visit casablancainn.com.

The Casablanca Inn, St. Augustine


Aqua Zumba, Anyone?BY PEGGY HENDERSON

If anyone had told me a year ago that I would be making waves to the La-

tino steps of the salsa, tango, flamin-go, yes, belly dancing and, God for-bid, in a swim suit at the YMCA, I’d have firmly replied: in your dreams.

At the very thought, my over-inflated ego screamed: “Play it safe. Why bother to take a chance and make a fool of yourself? Again.” We seniors tend to shy away from the unknown. It’s less stressful to rest in the minuscule details of our daily routine. I admit I do value my comfort zones. Nevertheless, I bought the advertised Miracle Swim Suit that promised a smoother, trimmer appearance and rented my locker. Trust me. Dancing with a giddy group of ladies of all sizes and shapes takes away all inhibitions and no matter how you feel easing into the cool water, you will step out of the water energized for the rest of the day. The Zumba is a Colombian dance fitness program created by a dancer and choreographer who forgot his aerobics music for an exercise class one day. Using salsa and meringue rhythms, he combined the two, eventually produced a demo reel—and the rest is history. Presently there are 12 million people taking Zumba classes in over 110,000 locations across more than 126 countries. Aqua Zumba classes are usually taught by qualified, young, hard-body instructors. Once the music fills the humid arena, ready or not, the party

begins. The instructor dances front and center on the pool deck and conducts the group, starting with a brisk warm-up and then into raunchy, racy paces, and finally a much needed cool down. What I like about the swimming pool venue is I can push myself as much or little as I’m willing to challenge the

water’s weighty resistance. Like other moderate, low-impact physical activities, the benefits are similar but dancing isn’t boring. Music unlocks the parts of the brain that contain our pleasure hormones. The good news is active participation for a shared purpose can add years to one’s life. For example, it can be bowling, shuffle-

board, or maybe miniature golf. Or a competitive game that excludes sitting down. The bonus—besides increased longevity—is a promise of improved emotional health and sharper cognitive skills. Surely even a plump, pessimistic goose or gander would find it hard to resist a few more years of paddling around a lake. The known risks of social isolation is like Fido standing at the door waiting for his master to come home. This sedentary lifestyle creates an opportunity for debilitating depression. In addition, it’s a fact that due to such limited exercise, issues of cardiovascular complications, osteoporosis and increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis rate high on the at-risk chart. Even more scary, medical experts report our immune system and lack of brain alertness weakens due to little stimulation. Much has been written about living the last chapters of one’s life with grace, wit and gratitude. I still fight my competitive ego—even if no one else can see that I’m not dancing the correct dance movements, no matter that no one gives a cha cha cha that I’m moving right when I should be facing left. No matter. Tomorrow’s another day. For dancing. (SENIOR WIRE)

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To Register go to:www.seniordriverclass.comor call 1-800-771-2255

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Lifestyles After 50 Lake/Marion/Sumter Feb. 2013 edition

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Transcript of Lifestyles After 50 Lake/Marion/Sumter Feb. 2013 edition