Lifestyles After 50 Suncoast Feb. 2013 edition by Lifestyles After 50 Magazine

Lifestyles www.LifestylesAfter50FL.com • Suncoast • FREE

AFTER 50

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

n o t n i V y b b o B

...At the Florida Strawberry Festival

February 2013

” t e v l e V e u l B “ “Mr. Lonel y” “Melody of Love” “There, I Said it Again” History of Valentines

The Value Of Eyesight BY DAVID JEFFERY, Marketing Director, Eye Institute of West Florida

t is a fact of life that vision changes as you age. But do aging eyes have to compromise your lifestyle? The answer is simple: not any more. By the onset of cataracts, most people would have been challenged by the necessity of having to wear glasses. What if you had the option to remove cataracts and eliminate, or reduce, the need to wear glasses again? What would life be like for you and what is it worth? Technology for cataract surgery has advanced rapidly in the past two years and the results are truly remarkable. To remove a cataract and correct astigmatism using computer guided lasers now allow surgeons to customize vision to individualized specifications

with a very high degree of accuracy. Cataract surgery in the hands of an experienced physician can help make life a lot simpler and comfortable. This new level of precision resulting in better outcomes for patients, allowing for clearer, uncorrected visual acuity, and reducing patients’ need for glasses, comes at a price above standard cataract surgery using traditional methods. Of course, Medicare and private insurance will pay a large portion of standard care, but the result will not eliminate the need for glasses for a full range of vision or correct astigmatism. Life will probably continue as before, wearing glasses daily and dealing with the added expense of maintenance for the remainder of life.

It is not every day we are afforded options like laser cataract surgery to turn back the hands of time to a day when our vision was great. Most surgeons will not over emphasize the prospect of being glasses-free but many patients do report no need for glasses again. For those that do, only a light pair of readers may be necessary to read fine print such as that on a medicine bottle. Many patients who undergo the advanced procedure also report seeing so well they are able to drive the next day and wish they had had the procedure sooner. Depending on the lens implant you choose, you should be able to read road signs

and the car instrument panel and drive safely. Judging distance and speed, bright sunlight or headlights of oncoming traffic at night are no longer a problem, and colors are more vivid. You can enjoy doing all the things you love to do (play golf, tennis, swim) without the hassle of glasses or contacts. For that one chance, which will you choose— the advanced procedure or returning to a lifestyle of glasses for a lifetime? Having to choose one over the other may have you weighing lifestyle versus cost, but know this: cataract surgery can only be performed once. What is your eyesight worth to you? To learn more, call the Eye Institute of West Florida at (727) 581-8706.

BLADELESS LASER CATARACT SURGERY ExpERiENCED phYSiCiANS YoU CAN TRUST Robert Weinstock, MD

727-565-4286

www.eyespecialist.com Clearwater • Largo • St. Petersburg Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 2

Stephen Weinstock, MD

Neel Desai, MD

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

Dear Readers,

his is the month for hearts. Take your pick. You can focus on the physical heart health care/cardiology kind of hearts Janice Doyle, since it’s American Editor 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 understanding. 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 cardiologist” 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 ﬁsts 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 Valentine’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 contribution to the economy.

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 Minneola Dr. Ruth’s Guide for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver: Beverly Goodwin of Venice The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Using Your Computer—for Seniors: Charles Netherton of Tampa Managing Retirement Wealth: D. Turnbull of Clearwater

Pinellas/Pasco Edition Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc General Manager Dave Tarantul dave@lifestylesafter50.com

Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing Kathy J. Beck kathy@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Janice Doyle janice@lifestylesafter50.com Accounting/Ofﬁce Manager Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com Production Supervisor/Graphic Design Kim Burrell kim@lifestylesafter50.com Production Assistant Tracie Schmidt tracie@lifestylesafter50.com

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FCOA Attention Readers: The articles printed in Lifestyles After 50 do not necessarily reﬂect 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 discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for the March 2013 issue is Feb. 15, 2013. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 3

YourHealthy Living

FREE Informational Seminars

Pain in the Neck...or Back?

Know Your A-Fib Options

Alzheimer’s Disease

presented by Paula Jewell – Florida Spine and Neuro Center Representative

Wednesday February 13 • 12:00 noon

Friday, February 22 • 12:00 noon

presented by Robert Sheppard, MD – Cardiac Electrophysiologist Northside Hospital Auditorium 6006 49th Street North, St. Petersburg 2nd floor of Medical Office Plaza next to hospital)

presented by Nasser Razack, MD – Interventional Neuroradiologist Northside Hospital Auditorium 6006 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (located on 2nd floor of Medical Office Plaza next to hospital)

Let’s Talk Spine Dining with The Doctor

Seniors Living with Diabetes

Wednesday, February 13 • 11:30 a.m.

presented by Fadi Saba, MD – Internal Medicine

Monday, February 4 • 11:00 a.m.

The Centre • 1500 16th Street, Palm Harbor

Friday, February 8 • 11:00 a.m.

Largo Medical Center • 201 14th Street SW, Largo

Monday, February 18 • 11:00 a.m.

Hampton Inn • 1200 34th Street N, St. Petersburg

Wednesday, February 20 • 11:00 a.m.

Hampton Inn • 39284 US Hiway 19 N, Tarpon Springs

Wednesday, February 27 • 11:00 a.m.

Holiday Inn Express • 975 Broadway Street, Dunedin

Irregular Heart Beats Tuesday, February 5 • 12:00 noon presented by Dennis Cassidy, MD – Cardiac Electrophysiologist The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay 1255 Pasadena Ave. S, St Petersburg

Eating for a Health Heart: Restricted Salt and Fluid Tips

presented by Clinton Davis, MD – Orthopedic Surgeon Edward White Hospital Auditorium 2299 9th Ave. N., Suite 1-G, St. Petersburg (one-story office building on the east side of hospital)

The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay 1255 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Stroke – Are You At Risk?

Join us at Largo Medical Center for this annual event including a Heart Healthy Cooking Demonstration, American Heart Association update on the latest research and information from expert physicians on keeping your heart healthy. FREE Peripheral Arterial Disease (ABI) Screenings & Blood Pressure screenings available. Register today!

Wednesday, February 13 • 4:00 p.m. presented by Tami Podlasek, RN – Stroke Coordinator, Edward White Hospital Allegro • 4600 54th Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Keep Your Heart Healthy

presented by Suzanne Johnson, DO – Family Medicine

Friday, February 15 • 12:00 noon

Are You A Candidate For Partial Knee Replacement? Thursday, February 7 • 11:30 a.m. presented by Robert Swiggett, MD – Orthopedic Surgeon Edward White Hospital Auditorium 2299 9th Ave. N., Suite 1-G, St. Petersburg (one-story office building on the east side of hospital)

Preventing Heart Disease and Stroke Friday, February 8 • 11:30 a.m. presented by David Hobbs, MD – Family Practitioner YMCA/Jim & Heather Gills Campus 3200 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Solutions for Your Hip Pain presented by Pat Kosiba, RN – Florida Knee & Orthopedic Pavilion Rep.

Tuesday, February 12 • 11:00 a.m.

Hampton Inn • 1200 34th St. N, St. Petersburg

Wednesday, February 13 • 11:00 a.m.

Largo Medical Center • 201 14th Street SW, Largo

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 4

Heart Smart 2013

Tuesday, February 26 • 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Largo Medical Center • 201 14th Street SW, Largo

Wednesday, February 6 • 12:00 noon Ivy Ridge Living • 7179 40th Ave. N, St Petersburg

Friday, February 22 • 12:00 noon

presented by Gregg Schuyler, MD – Cardiology YMCA/Jim & Heather Gills Campus 3200 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Total Joint & Arthritis presented by Thomas Mixa, MD – Orthopedic Surgeon

Thursday, February 21 • 11:30 a.m.

Edward White Hospital Auditorium • 299 9th Ave. N., Suite 1-G, St. Petersburg (one-story office building on the east side of hospital)

Thursday, February 28 • 12:00 noon

Northside Hospital Auditorium 6006 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (2nd floor of Medical Office Plaza next to hospital)

Are You or Someone You Love Suffering with Hip Pain? Thursday, February 21 • 6:00 p.m. presented by John Pope, MD – Orthopedic Surgeon Allegro Living • 4600 54th Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Reservations Required. Call 1-855-422-2228. Complimentary Refreshments Served.

11:15 a.m. Kathy Fenelon – The Latest American Heart Association Research 11:30 a.m. Executive Chef Michael Cole – Heart Healthy Cooking Demo 12:00 p.m. Joseph Diliberto, MD – The Latest In Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Surgery 12:30 p.m. John Norris, MD – Atrial Fibrillation in 2013: What’s HOT and What’s Not 1:00 p.m. Michael Sore, MD – Treating a Heart Attack in the Largo Medical Center Emergency Room 1:30 p.m. Merrill Krolick, DO – Peripheral Arterial Disease: Preventing Circulation Problems

Recognition of a Heart Attack Tuesday, February 26 • 6:00 p.m. presented by Chris Wilson, DO – Cardiologist Magnolia Gardens • 3800 62nd Avenue North, Pinellas Park

Orthopedics & Upper Extremities Thursday, February 28 • 11:30 a.m. presented by Adrian Butler, MD – Orthopedic Surgeon Edward White Hospital Auditorium 299 9th Ave. N., Suite 1-G, St. Petersburg (one-story office building on the east side of hospital)

Around Town

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G F E B R U A RY 2 0 1 3

ednesdays , Florida Center for Creative Photography Meetup at O’Keefe’s Family Tavern and Grille, 1219 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. Speakers, photo walks and latest in photo technology. 9 a.m. Visit flccp.org or call (727) 455-2912.

– 17 An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf, a play celebrates the food and collected works of Ernest Hemingway. At Freefall Theatre, 6099 Central Ave., St. Pete. Tickets: $37 to $44. Call (727) 498-5205.

Classic Movie Matinee. Free movie, popcorn and sodas at Seminole Community Library, 9200 113th St. N., Seminole. 1 p.m. Call (727) 394-6905 for information.

Friday Morning Market at Treasure Community Center, 1 Park Place and 106 Ave., Treasure Island. Vendors, live music, food, more. Free parking. (727) 360-4121.

Dance hosted by Clearwater Singles, Colreavy Hall, 820 Jasmine Way, Clearwater. 7 p.m. Live music. “Dressy casual” attire. Admission: $7/ non-members. Door prizes. Couples welcome! Bring your own snacks and beverages. Cups and ice furnished; sodas are available. Group hosts many other activities. Online at scips.tripod.com or (727) 253-4874.

benefit CARES Elfers Center. Call Bright House Networks for tickets. (727) 856-5129 Ext. 81255. Info at brighthouse.com/SeniorIdol.

Women of Ireland, presentation of Irish music, song and dance. At Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. 2 and 8 p.m. $29 – $39 tickets. Phone: (727) 791-7400.

“Hooray for Hollywood” 14 singers and dancers, 30+ songs and 300+ costume changes, movie clips, and a red-hot band for 50 years of the most popular movie musicals. Tickets $25 to $50. Ruth Eckerd Hall. 2 p.m. Phone (727) 791-7400.

20 21

Palladium Chamber Players inaugural performance at Palladium Theater, downtown St. Pete.

Evenings with the Maestro: at the Music Gallery, 5990 Ulmerton Road, Clearwater. 6 p.m. on third Thursdays. Discussions of opera and music. Tickets: $20 ($15 seniors). Info at (727) 823-2040.

– 23 Celebrate the Quilt, Explore the Art VII Presented by Largo Cracker Quilters. Art quilts, vendors, demonstrations, boutique, food and drink, plus a basket walk. Christ Presbyterian Church, 3115 Dryer Ave. SW, Largo. Opens 10 a.m. $6; special price for buses. (727) 382-9374.

Butterfly Gardening class by Master Gardeners at Palm Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor. 2 p.m. Free. Register at pce-lawnandgarden. eventbrite.com or (727) 582-2603.

Send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; fax (813) 651-1989 or email janice@lifestylesafter50.com. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. February 10 for March event.)

Valentine’s Day Jazz Concert with Bobby Tess and the Dixie Chaps at the Bilmar Beach Resort, Treasure Island. Admission: $7. (727) 522-6877.

Bright Star Senior Talent Show at the Center for the Arts, River Ridge High School, New Port Richey. 2 p.m. Three acts will be selected by the audience to continue to the finale. $6 tickets

“Northern Lights” concert by The Tampa Bay Symphony, featuring Sibelius, Grieg and music from Peer Gynt. Arts Auditorium, St. Pete College, 2465 Drew St., Clearwater. 4 p.m. 26 at Palladium Theater, St. Pete. 8 p.m. $20 at the door. Information: TampaBaySymphony.org or (727) 595-0345.

Why Laser Cataract Surgery? Bladeless laser refractive cataract surgery is now a reality, and it's available at St. Michael's Eye & Laser Institute in Largo. Traditional cataract surgery is considered to be one of the safest and most successful procedures performed in medicine today. Now, a technological breakthrough with the bladeless laser cataract surgery is available that has significantly improved the precision of several of the most critical steps in cataract surgery. With laser cataract surgery Dr. Michaelos at St. Michael's Eye & Laser Institute will customize your procedure to your eyes unique characteristics, resulting in better visual outcomes while potentially making cataract surgery even safer. Find out why Dr. Michaelos and St. Michael's were chosen to be the first group in Central Florida to perform Laser Cataract Surgery! Your vision will thank you!

"Laser cataract surgery is the most precise and least invasive lens surgery we have ever done. Our patients are seeing our best results ever!"

John L. Michaelos, M.D.

1018 West Bay Drive Largo, Florida 33770 Phone: 727.585.2200 www.stmichaelseye.com

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 5

“Discover The Fun” at the Florida State Fair

he 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 features new free entertainment, scrumptious 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. Florida: 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 influence in the Sunshine State, as well as a symbol of the state’s rich agricultural heritage.

Midway and Food Fairgoers can expect 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 extraordinary 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.” Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 6

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 FloridaStateFair.com for concert ticket info. 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, demonstrations, 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 selfguided adventure through the State Fair including the new Florida Cattlemen’s Museum, Florida’s Learning Garden and Cow Hunter’s Camp in Cracker Country. In addition, fairgoers will “Discover Florida” with a Broadway-style musical performance 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 Impersonator National Finals, February 16 and 17 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

The Bellamy Brothers

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

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, firemen and first responders are admitted free with valid identification

11, 12, 13, and 14 Senior Days— Advance tickets are only $6. Gate: $8 11 Taste of the Fair Day – Food

specials throughout the fairgrounds.

13 Midweek Midway Madness—Discount 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 advance to enjoy all the sights, sounds and tastes the State Fair has to offer. 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 information about showtimes and attractions, visit FloridaStateFair.com or call 1-800-345-FAIR (3247). Shows are subject to change or cancellation.

COUNTRY GOLD TOUR TASTE OF THE FAIR SPECIAL SENIOR SEMINARS 4 SENIOR DAYS FL CATTLEMEN’S MUSEUM ZOOM’N! BROADWAY STYLE SHOW

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 7

TDCT_P2033_US Initiative Phase 2 P2033_US_News_F_2_ST

Canadians in Florida can find a TD Bank as easily as they can find a golf course Great service and convenience for Canadians at over 1,300 TD Bank locations in the U.S. With TD Cross-Border Banking you can enjoy the convenience of over 1,300 TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank® locations in the U.S., from Maine to Florida. Open a U.S. TD Bank account today and you can enjoy the benefits of easily transferring money between your Canadian based TD Canada Trust account and your TD Bank account in the U.S. You can also apply to TD Bank for a U.S. mortgage1 and credit card2 based on your Canadian and U.S. assets, income and credit history. All while being able to view both your TD Canada Trust and TD Bank accounts online on the same web page. Get the convenience you’ve come to expect in Canada while in the U.S.

Visit a TD Bank for all your cross-border banking needs. Visit tdbank.com/locator to find the location nearest you. Call 1-877-700-2913 for more information.3

TD Bank is TD Bank, N.A., a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Member FDIC. Accounts issued by TD Bank, N.A. are not insured by Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation. 1. Subject to credit approval and other conditions. Mortgages limited to property located in U.S. state where TD Bank, N.A. has locations. Equal Housing Lender . 2. Subject to credit approval and other conditions. Applicants must be a resident of Canada or a U.S. state where TD Bank, N.A. has locations. 3. TD Bank, N.A. is located in the United States and its support line and stores are serviced in English. ®/ The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or a wholly-owned subsidiary, in Canada and/or other countries.

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 8 P2033_US_News_F_2_ST.indd 1

12/12/12 11:49 PM

Matinee Moments

BY JUNE HURLEY YOUNG

f you only see one matinee this month, you’ll want to laugh with the Vanderhoffs. Cornflakes and candy for supper and Mama is a writer because someone left a typewriter there by mistake. “You Can’t Take It With You” is a 1940’s comedy at the Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, playing matinees on Feb. 7, 10, 13 and 20. Call (941) 351-8000 for reservations. New Shanghai Circus

Largo Cultural Center has two matinees this month: “The Buddy Holly Tribute Sunday” plays Feb. 10

and 2000 years of Chinese circus tradition in “The New Shanghai Circus” which comes to Largo Cultural Center Saturday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. Call (727) 587-6751.

Experience the difference experience makes!!

Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary Reliability, Integrity, Damage-Free WE OFFER THE FOLLOWING SERVICES:

“In The Mood”

At Ruth Eckerd Hall on Feb. 21, “In the Mood” offers a chance to relive your favorite musical as the actors run through 50 years of music from popular musicals, singing 30 songs and making 300 costume changes. And on Feb. 27, see a matinee performance of “A Chorus Line” at 2 p.m. Call (727) 712-2717 for tickets.

Snowbird Specialists: • Year round service from Canada to South Florida and Arizona • Vehicle Import/Export • Open Car Carriers • Oversize Vehicles

• Storage • Terminal • Local Auto Delivery • Coast to Coast in Canada & US

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Past and Future Meet

merican Stage Theatre presents The Piano Lesson by August Wilson weekends through March 3. Set in 1936, Boy Willie arrives in Pittsburgh from the South in a truck loaded with watermelons to sell. Needing money, he wants to sell an old piano that has been in his family for generations.

His sister has already rejected several offers because the antique piano is covered with incredible carvings detailing the family’s rise from slavery. The issue of whether or not to sell it cuts deeply and raises questions about honoring the past or moving into the future. 163 3rd St. N., St. Pete. Tickets $29 to $59. (727) 823-7529.

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 9

Friendship Force: Changing The Way You See The World The local club meets socially, chooses trips to other destinations (called smile, a handshake, a shared outbound), such as in November when meal at a kitchen table—all they travel to Australia, spending can be part of a path to world a week in Sydney before taking peace in the philosophy of Frienda train ride to Mt. Gambier. ship Force, a group which brings Clubs also host groups from the U.S. people from around the globe toand the world (inbound)—an inbound gether to promote understanding. exchange in October will bring FF club May, 2011. Eighteen people from members from Varel, Germany to this area. Friendship Force of the Florida Travel with an FF group is many Suncoast club were in Ankara, things. “The real joy is getting to Turkey, staying in homes of Muslims know people in a natural setting, in when Osama bin Laden was assassitheir homes,” says Pantridge. “It’s nated. Oma Pantridge, president of the getting to understand how much club says, “It caused some very good people are alike everywhere, that dialogue that we wouldn’t have had we want our families to be safe and otherwise because we tend to avoid we want a comfortable lifestyle and talking about politics. What hapthat we really do genuinely care about pened, not only in our host homes but one another and can be friends.” everywhere in Turkey, is that we were Both single and married guests treated warmly and with care. They participate. After a welcome party on don’t trust the CIA and they don’t their first night, the host club plans trust the American government, but activities around the visiting group’s they love the American people. And interests. If a club member isn’t hostthat’s not unlike how Americans feel.” ing guests in their home, they may BY JANICE DOYLE

Carter and has been so successful in its purposes that the organization was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992. An international office in Atlanta coordinates the 360 clubs around the world, plans exchanges, sets up schedules and conducts training for local leaders. From there, FF builds global understanding one friendship at a time. Pantridge says, “Some of our group don’t travel any more, but they enjoy the club activities such as programs where people share their travel experiences, or when we Friendship Force goes ballooning in Turkey. eat in an ethnic restaurant and the owner shares cultural information.” provide transportation, be a day host, When I looked at the FF Internaor perhaps have a small group dinner. tional website, I found an amazing Members have found that those who catalog of trips for 2013. Members open their homes to guests in other can apply to join any of the trips listed locations are friendly people just like us, if there is space. Anyone interested only in a different culture. “Smiles, nods in meeting people locally or from and assorted hand signs are universally around the world may apply to join understood. It all makes for new friends an incredible force for friendship. and great stories,” says one member. Information at friendshipforceflorida Friendship Force began in Atlanta in suncoast.org or (727) 522-3959. 1977 with the support of President Jimmy

Need A Doctor? Consult-A-Nurse is here for you. Just a phone call away, our registered nurses are at your service, providing free information and prompt answers to your health-related questions. Our nurses do not diagnose conditions, but provide health information in an effort to help you find an answer to your health questions. FREE Physician Referral and Healthcare Information 24/7.

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Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 10

Join us on: February 26, 2013

17th

FREE

ainment Music & Entert ney By Denise Loo t DJ with a Twis

SENIORS

who attend have a chance to Win tickets to the IMAX Theater Dome at MOSI

Doors open inside 9 am – 1 pm PARKING ONLY $2 DAY OF THE EVENT

Presented by:

4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa Call (813) 653-1988 for more information. Free Admission to MOSI exhibit galleries

William “Duece” Hulett

rizes &t P t a e r G inmen Enterta FREE COFFE E

FREE BINGO

INFORMATION • EDUCATION • ENTERTAINMENT

FREE Health Screenings ~ FREE Admission to MOSI

back by popular demand.

Back Woods Walk starts at 8:00 am

Join the Fun! SEND This Walk Form Today!

Fill out this form and mail it with your $8 donation to: Age

Name Address City

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Starts outside the MOSI Main Entrance at 8 am. Walk Registration Includes: • Packet Pick-up: 7:30 am • Back Woods Walk T-shirt • Continental breakfast • One IMAX® film voucher for use on event day or in the future* *Vouchers not valid for special engagement films

813-987-6000 presented by Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 11

Bobby Vinton: Still Smooth as Blue Velvet and Coming to the Strawberry Festival 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 flstrawberryfestival.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.)

BY JANICE DOYLE

You remember the words...

She wore blue velvet Bluer than velvet was the night Softer than satin was the light From the stars

“B

Vinton was raised around

lue Velvet”—just one of Vinton performs on “The music, and learned to Ed Sullivan Show,” 1969. Bobby Vinton’s many hits play several instruments. that made him “the all-time most Polish. He didn’t want to, To make extra successful love singer of the rock but responded like a good era,” according to Billboard magazine. money, he and his son and wrote “Melody band would play Now 78, Bobby Vinton still jumps Of Love” with Polish lyrics. It was a backup for the greats of the era, onto the stage to give audiences a number one record, and Vinton said. including Sammy Davis Jr., Frankie good show—and he’ll be doing a “It’s still kind of my theme song.” Avalon, Fabian, Chubby Checker and show at the Strawberry Festival in Vinton survived the Beatles invasion Connie Francis—“I knew them all. Plant City on March 5 at 3:30 p.m. by singing songs like “Blue Velvet” I recently talked with Bobby Vinton, I studied them to see what there was and “There I Said It Again” which about their music the audience liked who now lives in Sarasota. He said, adults loved. Vinton recalls that he and what they did as performers that “When I go onstage there in Plant lost the teenage sales, “…but I was audiences liked or didn’t like. I have City, that’s my audience. I am there still selling a million records to adults. been able to use that over the years.” to give them what they want. I’ll I was still able to be on the His music studies in college made be doing all the old hits, playing charts and continue in him proficient on instruments several instruments and my daughter the business.” including piano, clarinet, saxophone, and I will be singing music from trumpet, drums and the oboe—a talent Phantom of the Opera together.” 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 Mr. Lonely for a Blue Lady” played, he hired a Blue Velvet young woman to deliver the record and a dozen roses to hundreds of area Blue on Blue deejays, convincing them to play it There! I’ve Said It Again (remember the era when audiences Roses Are Red (My Love) • 12 Gold records decided the hits by calling in their Bobby Vinton’s Band requests?). The song was a hit. Please Tell Her That I Said Hello • Bronze star on Hollywood As a lonely army guy, Vinton’s Vinton was the son of a Big Band Take Good Care of My Baby Walk Of Fame buddy told him he should write conductor “back in the day.” By To Know You Is to Love You • The most #1 hits by a solo male a song about being lonely. He the time he was 15, Vinton had his artist from 1962 to 1972 responded by starting to play I Love How You Love Me own band playing for school dances with the words “Lonely, I’m in the Pittsburgh area. What many • Over 75 million in record sales My Melody of Love Mr. Lonely,” and he later people don’t know is that Vinton • Starred in two John Wayne movies: Sealed With a Kiss wrote the song “Mr. Lonely” later graduated from college with a Big Jake The Train Robbers which became an instant hit. Beer Barrel Polka degree in musical composition as • Owned the Blue Velvet Theater in Branson At one point, his mother a classically trained musician who for several years suggested he write a song in played oboe in symphony orchestras.

Songs

Accomplishments

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 12

Valentine’s Day and Single? Aaaargh!

argh is right if you’re single and wanting a romantic 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 Singles Pamper Yourself Buy yourself cute Valentine’s Day gifts which could be flowers or a stuffed animal. Maybe indulge yourself 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 Valentine’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 stvalentinesday.org.

Valentine’s Day Jokes to Share

ere 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 called? A: His ghoul-friend. Q: If your aunt ran off to get married, what would you call her? A: Antelope.

Save $2.00 on Adult & $1.00 on Youth General Admission Tickets at Sweetbay Supermarkets! FEB. 28 - MAR. 10, 2013 - PLANT CITY, FLORIDA

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

! n u F f O e c e i p r e t s a Our M Artists Appearing on the Soundstage:

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Thu. Feb. 28 10:30 Jimmy Sturr & His Orchestra FREE Thu. Feb. 28 3:30 Chubby Checker $15 & $20 Thu. Feb. 28 7:30 FOREIGNER $25 Fri. Fri.

Mar. 1 Mar. 1

3:30 7:30

Gene Watson Casting Crowns

$15 & $20 $20 & $25

Sat. Mar. 2 Sat. Mar. 2 Sat. Mar. 2

1:00 3:30 7:30

Caroline Kole Gloriana Justin Moore

FREE $15 & $20 $15 & $20

Sun. Mar. 3 Sun. Mar. 3

3:30 7:30

Randy Houser Alan Jackson

$15 & $20 $45

Mon. Mar. 4 Mon. Mar. 4

3:30 7:30

Grits & Glamour with Lorrie Morgan/Pam Tillis Dwight Yoakam

$15 & $20 $20 & $25

Tues. Mar. 5 Tues. Mar. 5

3:30 7:30

Bobby Vinton Martina McBride

$15 & $20 $30

Wed. Mar. 6 Wed. Mar. 6

3:30 7:30

Neal McCoy Trace Adkins

$15 & $20 $30

Thu. Thu. Thu.

Mar. 7 10:30 Mar. 7 3:30 Mar. 7 7:30

Steve Hall & the Shotgun Red Show Mel Tillis Brantley Gilbert

FREE $15 & $20 $35

Fri. Fri.

Mar. 8 Mar. 8

3:30 7:30

T.G. Sheppard/Janie Fricke Scotty McCreery

$15 & $20 $25 & $30

Sat. Mar. 9 Sat. Mar. 9

3:30 7:30

Gaither Vocal Band Bret Michaels Get Your Rock On 2013

$20 & $25 $25 & $30

Hunter Hayes Blake Shelton

$15 & $20 $55

Sun. Mar. 10 3:30 Sun. Mar. 10 7:30

Concert dat es and times are subject to change

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

BELLE CITY MIDWAY HIGHLIGHTS Thu. Feb. 28 Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pm Fri. 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 am Sat. 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 $20

Ride-A-Thon - $20 - 10 am - 11 pm Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pm Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pm Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pm 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

Mon. Mar 4 Tues. Mar. 5 Wed. Mar. 6 Thu. Mar. 7 Fri. Mar. 8

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.

BLAKE SHELTON

ALAN JACKSON

TRACE ADKINS

SCOTTY McCREERY

DWIGHT YOAKAM

MARTINA McBRIDE

MEL TILLIS

CHUBBY CHECKER

T.G. SHEPPARD

JANIE FRICKE

BOBBY VINTON

JIMMY STURR AND HIS ORCHESTRA

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 Grow Financial FCU

AMERICAN 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

LORRIE MORGAN Grits and Glamour

PAM TILLIS

Grits and Glamour

CASTING CROWNS

RED HAT SOCIETY DAY Tues, Mar, 5th $2 Off Regular Gate Admission

Florida Blue

SENIOR CITIZEN’S DAYS FREE CONCERTS Thurs, Feb 28th The Jimmy Sturr Orchestra Thurs, Mar 7th Steve Hall & The Shotgun Red Show Concerts 10:30am

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 13

Veterans Corner

What Should Families Keep in Mind for Their Returning Veteran? Editor’s note: We commend those of our readers who are now helping children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren adjust as they return from the current battlefields.

STATE CERTIFIED LICENSE #CCC1327406 • CBC 1259006

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 14

o matter how welladjusted 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 Ord Elliott 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 personnel. 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

moment of life might be like—there are ways in which the families of veterans, and others, can help…

• Make creative expression available: 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 understanding: “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 emotional 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.

Retirement? It Takes Personality! BY SUZANNE S. AUTIN-HILL

n spite of being financially and emotionally ready, my personality 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) crazy!” 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 temperaments 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 (Personality Plus by Florence Littauer). A year before retirement, this inventory was an assignment in an American Sign Language class I was taking. The intent was to determine the challenges one might face on an interpreting 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 disconcerting. 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 possibility 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 interpreter, attend workshops on a variety of subjects, 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 emotionally. But, is your personality ready? Consider including a personality inventory in your retirement planning. Suzanne S. Austin-Hill ©2012

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100 Hampton Rd., Clearwater Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 15

Don’t Ignore Long Term Care Insurance

any Americans Financing of Long Term Care work hard There are three basic ways to to maintain good pay for long term care in a nurshealth, and those ing home: Medicare, Medicaid or efforts are really payprivate pay (out of pocket or by ing off. As a nation, using long term care insurance). we are living longer In 2009 the average cost for a and enjoying a year in a nursing home averaged higher quality of life $73,208. This can be financially than ever before. But devastating, especially if a patient to enjoy our senior stays the average of three years or years to the fullest, even longer. Long term care exyou need to carefully penses can easily total $250,000 By Dr. Steve Flatt protect your financial to $500,000 or even more! health as well. Medicare You insure your home, your health, Medicare is the federal program that your car and even your life. And will pay for nursing home care for you carefully plan your savings and those who need a skilled level of care investments for retirement. But all after a three-day hospital stay. Skilled of those plans could be for nothing if care is best described by the type of you or your spouse should need long care you need due to a hip fracture term health care, one of the largest or stroke—therapy on a daily basis, expenses older Americans face. or skilled nursing services daily. The reality is, the longer you live, the Medicare is limited in the number greater the chance you will need some of days it will pay for nursing home form of long term care, such as excare—up to 100 days. Medicare pays tended care in a skilled nursing facility, 100 percent of the first 20 days (after assisted living community or through a the three day hospital stay and only if home health agency. When you look at skilled care is needed), beginning on the facts, it is easy to see that financing day 21-100 there is a daily co-payment long term care is a serious problem fac- required with Medicare. Most seniors ing the nation. As our population grows have a Medicare Supplement policy. proportionately older, the problem will Medicare supplements will pay in only get worse. Consider the following: conjunction with Medicare. Once • Two of every five Americans over Medicare stops paying for care, most the age 65 will need nursing home supplements will not continue to pay. care. There are already some 1.8 Medicaid million nursing home patients. If you have exhausted Medicare pay• Another 9 million people ments the only other options are Medicreceive long term care at home or in aid and paying out of pocket (private other centers such as adult day care pay). Medicaid is available for those indiof assisted living communities. viduals that have low income or limited resources. Medicaid is the state/federal • About a quarter of the American welfare program and has limitations as work force now has elder care to the amount of assets you can own and responsibilities, and that will increase the amount of income you may receive to 40 percent in five years. each month before you are eligible. • Many young adults also need long The federal government has instituted reterm care due to conditions such as strictions on the transferring of assets out car accident injuries, brain tumors, of an estate to qualify for Medicaid. There multiple sclerosis and strokes. is a look back period of 36 months or 60 • The average annual cost for long months if a trust has been established. term care today in a skilled nursA law was passed in 1996 making it a ing facility or through an 8-hour crime to shift assets to become eligible shift of home care is $74,208. for nursing home Medicaid coverage. • Costs are projected to nearly A drawback with Medicaid is limited triple in the next 20 years. choices of where to receive care. Not all

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 16

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 financial 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 purchasing 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 living, 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 Benefit 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 Benefit—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 benefit you want (also see inflation protection below). Benefit Period—the length of time you will receive payments from the insurance company once you need care. You

usually can select a specific 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 responsible 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 options 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 decisions that can be added to your plan. Inflation Protection—this ties back to your daily benefit and allows it to grow on an annual basis to help keep your plan in step with inflation. 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 benefits 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 benefit 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

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Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 17

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Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 18

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

ugar 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, headaches, 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!

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BY PEGGY HENDERSON

begins. The instructor dances front and center on the pool deck and conducts f anyone had told me a year ago that the group, starting with a brisk warmI would be making waves to the La- up and then into raunchy, racy paces, tino steps of the salsa, tango, flaminand finally a much needed cool down. go, yes, belly dancing and, God forWhat I like about the swimming pool bid, in a swim suit at the YMCA, I’d venue is I can push myself as much or have firmly replied: in your dreams. 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, shuffleAt the very thought, my overboard, or maybe miniature golf. Or inflated ego screamed: “Play it safe. a competitive game that excludes Why bother to take a chance and sitting down. The bonus—besides Take Your ClassAgain.” Online! increased longevity—is a promise make a fool of yourself? We seniors tend to shy away from of improved emotional health Study atIt’syour a sharper day, 7 cognitive days a week. the•unknown. less leisure, stressful 24 hours and skills. • Simply read thedetails course materials online then answer to rest in the minuscule Surely even aand plump, pessimistic of oura daily I admit I do goose or gander would find it hard to few routine. quiz questions. value my comfort zones. resist classes a few more of paddling • There is no need to attend boring oryears listen to Nevertheless, I bought the around a lake. The known risks of long Miracle lectures. advertised Swim Suit that social isolation is like Fido standing • Aftera smoother, completion, of course we issue a state-certiﬁ promised trimmer at will the door waiting for his masteredto appearance my locker. This sedentary lifestyle certiﬁand caterented for you to turn intocome yourhome. insurance company to Trust me. Dancing with a giddy creates an opportunity for debilitating receive your discount for a three year period. group of ladies of all sizes and shapes depression. In addition, it’s a fact that takes away all inhibitions and no due to such limited exercise, issues Take Mature Driver Course On The Internet! matter howYour you feel easing into the of cardiovascular complications, cool you will step out Driver’s of the osteoporosis and increased If water, you have a Florida License and are 55 yearsrisk of for water energized for the rest of the day. rheumatoid arthritis rate high on age or older, you are now complete motor vehicle The Zumba is a Colombian danceeligible theto at-risk chart. Even more scary, accident prevention course that will allow you to receive a fitness program created by a dancer medical experts report our immune andmandatory choreographer who forgoton hisyour insurance system andrate lack of alertness reduction forbrain three years. aerobics music for an exercise class weakens due to little stimulation. one day. Using salsa and meringue has been written about living Florida Department ofMuch Highway Safety rhythms, he combined the two, the last chapters of one’s life with & Motor Vehicle Approved Course eventually produced a demo reel—and grace, wit and gratitude. I still fight the rest is history. Presently there my competitive ego—even if no one are 12 million people taking Zumba else can see that I’m not dancing classes in over 110,000 locations the correct dance movements, no across more than 126 countries. matter that no one gives a cha cha Aqua Zumba classes are usually cha that I’m moving right when I taught by qualified, young, hard-body should be facing left. No matter. instructors. Once the music fills the Tomorrow’s another day. For humid arena, ready or not, the party dancing. (SENIOR WIRE)

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Welcome to The Springs at Boca Ciega Bay, located in beautiful South Pasadena on the campus of The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay. We’re not your typical skilled nursing facility. We are a 109 bed Medicare certified Rehab Center offering a variety of health care services: • Skilled Nursing • Wound Care • Social Services • Full scale beauty salon • Individualized activities • State-of-the-art Rehab. We offer Customized Rehab programs 7 days a week both in-patient and out-patient including Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy. We specialize in: • Orthopedic • Stroke/Neuro • Cardiac programs by utilizing state-of-the-art equipment including Anodyne therapy and Natilus equipment, just to name a few. We make admissions easy! We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our experienced and licensed Nurse Liaison, will meet you at hospital bedside or in your home. If you have a surgery planned, why not come in for a tour and take the mystery out of the admission process. Call (727) 599-1390.

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1255 Pasadena Ave. St. Petersburg, FL 33707 Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 19

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Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 20

Holocaust “Twins Experiments” Survivor: “Forgiveness is a Modern Miracle of Medicine” E

va 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 tattoo on her left forearm. In 1944, Kor and her twin sister Miriam, 10 Eva Kor 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 professionals 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 bodies of children sprawled on a bathroom floor, Kor said she pledged to herself to survive any way she could. “Each day I was determined 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 hospital, 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 Survivors, to help locate other survivors of Mengele’s deadly experiments. Through their efforts, 122 twins living

Enjoy

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 audience 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)

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Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 21

Medicare Answers D

ear 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 medically 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.

Are you or a loved one diabetic and have

Medicare Part B? Do I Have an Eye Problem or Not?

ow 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. • Change in iris color • Crossed eyes • Dark spot in the center of your vision • Difficulty focusing on near/distant objects • Double vision • Episodes of cloudy vision

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 22

• Excess discharge or tearing • Floaters, flashers or spots • Growing bump on the eyelid • Halos (colored circles around lights) • Hazy or blurred vision • Inability to close an eyelid • Loss of peripheral vision • Trouble adjusting to dark rooms • Unusual sensitivity to light or glare • Veil obstructing vision • Wavy appearance to straight lines

The Diabetic Therapeutic Shoe Benefit may provide those with Medicare Part B one pair of approved extra-depth shoes and 3 pairs of arch supports per calendar year.

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The Healthy Geezer BY FRED CICETTI

Walgreens now offers the Zostavax vaccine for shingles at all of its locations! If you’ve ever had Chicken Pox, ask your Walgreens Pharmacist about the Zostavax vaccine recommended for those 50 years and older to help prevent shingles.

Our Pharmacies Offer Services and Programs that Save You Time and Money! Inquire About: • • • • •

Our “Go 90” Program - 3 prescription refills in one and for 3 months you’re done! Our Prescriptions Savings Club - Members get special discounts off the cash price of thousands of brand-name and generic medications as well as numerous other benefits when they use their card throughout the store. Our Exclusive savings for AARP members Our Prescription “Auto Fill” Program - Automatically refill your prescriptions from your online pharmacy account and pick up your prescriptions at your local pharmacy or have them shipped for free! Our Durable Medical Equipment - Such As Lift Chairs, Wheelchairs, Walkers and more…

Walgreens accepts most major prescription plans, including: CVS Caremark, United Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield Florida!

For the Walgreens Store Nearest You Call

1-800-WALGREENS

(1-800-925-4733) or visit us on-line at: www.walgreens.com

Topical Powder Stops Bleeding F

or people who bleed easily, the smallest cut can bleed for hours or even days before stopping. A product called WoundSeal now stops bleeding by creating an instant scab within seconds of its application. Once poured and pressed onto the bleeding wound, the powder combines with blood to

form an instant waterproof and durable scab. In most cases, bleeding stops almost instantly, even for patients on blood thinners, and it works for everyone and does not interact with existing medications. WoundSeal is available at Walgreens and CVS. Visit online at www.woundseal.com or call (800) 722-7559. (NAPSA)

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 24

What is the leading cause of Q hospitalization of older people? Is it heart attacks or strokes? .

he 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 pressure 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 become 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 following levels down: body weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, sugar, alcohol and salt. Exercise regularly. 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 electrocardiogram (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 echocardiogram 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 mechanical heart pump. A heart transplant is an option when all other treatments 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.

Belly Fat Can Signal an Unhealthy Heart C

(LIGHT-HEADEDNESS OR SUDDEN DIZZINESS)

• Waist measurement of 35 inches or more (40 inches in men). • Triglyceride (blood fat) level of 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher.

• HDL (“good”) cholesterol level of less than 50 mg/dL (40 mg/dL in men). • Blood pressure reading of 130/85 mm Hg or higher. • Fasting blood sugar level of 100 mg/dL or higher. Three of these risk factors signals metabolic syndrome. A simple waist circumference measurement can 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.

Other Heart Attack Symptoms to Watch Out For: Chest pain, discomfort, pressure or squeezing, like there’s a ton of weight on you • Shortness of breath • Nausea • Unusual upper body pain, or discomfort in one or both arms, back, shoulder, neck, jaw or upper part of the stomach • Unusual fatigue • Breaking out in a cold sweat

• Trim portion sizes to help lose weight, or at least not gain any more.

If you experience any one of these symptoms, don’t make excuses for them. Make the Call. Don’t Miss a Beat.

• Stay active and exercise every day.

To learn more, visit WomensHealth.gov/HeartAttack

From the Harvard Women’s Health Watch.

IND

IAN

CKS

arrying 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 surround 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 pressure, 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:

THIS IS WHAT A HEART ATTACK FEELS LIKE TO A WOMAN.

L A R G O

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Text “ER” to 23000 for the Average Wait Times of an HCA Pinellas County Hospital Near You. For information about our hospitals or services, call Consult-A-Nurse at 1-855-422-2228. Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 25

Fly, Stay and Play at Beau Rivage, Biloxi

BY FRED WRIGHT

he 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.

Travel For those staying in a room facing the Gulf, the view can be mesmerizing. Shrimp boats slowly and silently (thanks to well-insulated rooms) motor 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 treatments 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 selfindulgence, 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 restaurants, 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,

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 26

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 favorites. 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, providing 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 denomination 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.

Scheduled entertainment events starting in February include:

Feb. 1-2 – Rodney Carrington Feb. 9 – Diana Ross Feb. 22 – Grand Funk Railroad & War March 16 – Moody Blues March 22 – Vince Gill May 3 – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts June 7 – Ron White

Just Another Truth-IsMOMENTS LIKE THESE ARE PRECIOUS. Better-Than-Fiction DON’T LET THEM FADE AWAY. Call

YOU BELONG AT THE BEAU

And then there was this time when I was boxing a $1 crap game, the Age-related macular degenerationpoint (AMD) was four, and a die flew off ear leading Mark: Icause was atofthe craps in people 55 is the blindness the table and down a young lady’s table at Caesar’s in Canada. and older. It is a chronic disease affecting blouse, and somehow got stuck in her Mymore established to Americans, make was and early than 10point million undergarment. Without hesitation, she nine. I threw is thekey dice theyyour hit the detection toand saving sight. unbuttoned her blouse, then her bra, backboard with the six landing on the and out pops, among other things, a Protect your vision from fading table and the three landing on top of away. two tumbling to the table, matching Foundation Fighting Blindness theCall six.the It was not leaning on one side side-by-side the two already on the for aNobody free infoworking packet at about or today the other. the felt. Knowing the casino had less preventing and managing AMD. table or playing ever had seen this than $30 at risk, I couldn’t resist, before. However, they said it was in overrode the stickman’s legitimate the rule book as a No Call. I could have thrown the dice a thousand times “no call,” and yelled, “two spots and two dots. Pay the Pass line.” Anot Cure Is In Sight and duplicated that again. Is this in 800-610-4558 the rule book for all casinos? Have you ever seen this happen? —Ray A. BY MARK PILARSKI

FightBlindness.org

Recently, while pulling down Christmas 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.”

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.

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room rates starting at only $79 per night.* Purchase your tickets today for these big acts coming to Beau Rivage.

Dear Mark: Has legal sports betting 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, whereNonetheless, without being there and as it wasn’t until 1949 that Nevada observing exactly the way the dice allowed bookmakers to accept bets on were stacked, I am going to punt and professional sports and horse racing. trust the judgment of the boxman who At first, these bookie parlors made the call. That is not to say that I, were called Turf Clubs, and were or any other sitting box, would have independent and separate Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losingfrom the made the same decision. A die on a casinos—until 1975 that is. That is weight are just two of the ways that you can fight 45-degree angle lying against chips when Frank Rosenthal, who ran the osteoarthritis pain. In fact, for every pound you lose, induces different calls all the time. Stardust, convinced state that’s four pounds lessa pressure on each knee. For legislators Craps is a chaotic game, Ray, and to allow sport books into the casinos, information on managing pain, go to fightarthritispain.org. boxman needs to make split-second causing the demise of Turf Clubs, decisions that are not always favorable which were no longer able to compete. to the player. Although the call was Gambling Wisdom of the Month: not advantageous to you, it most The population of Las Vegas, NV in likely was the correct decision based 1910 was only 30. (SENIOR WIRE) on his interpretation of the rules.

RODNEY CARRINGTON** LAUGHTER’S GOOD TOUR

DIANA ROSS GRAND FUNK RAILROAD & WAR THE MOODY BLUES

Feb 1-2 Feb 9 Feb 22 Mar 16

VINCE GILL

Mar 22

PAT BENATAR & NEIL GIRALDO

Apr 19

JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS

May 3

RON WHITE**

A LITTLE UNPROFESSIONAL TOUR

Jun 7

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 Beautm

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

*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.®

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 27

Senior Talent Show: February 6, 2013 - 7:00 p.m. Largo Cultural Center 105 Central Park Drive Largo, FL 33779 $6.50 admission per person

Senior Talent Show February 16, 2013 - 3:00 p.m. Spoto High School 8538 Eagle Palm Drive Riverview, FL 33578 $6 admission per person

SENIOR IDOL SHOW - April 1, 2013 at 7 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall 1111 McMullen Booth Road • Clearwater, FL 33759 $6 admission per person For Information call: Pinellas: 727-329-2618 – Susan Juhl and Nicole Woodring Hillsborough: 813-436-2296/813-436-2114 – Andrea White and Chrissy Crumpton Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 28

A F T E R 50

NEW! State Recreation Atlases Features R

Vers, 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 boundaries, 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.

Word Search

• 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

Affordable Housing For Senior Citizens

Creekside Manor I & II

are federally subsidized apartments for persons 62 and above. Special access apartments are also available. Studio & 1 Bdrm. Apartments. Rent is based on income. Located in a quiet Clearwater neighborhood For appointment

Call (727) 441-8400

TDD: 727-447-3018 TOTAL INCOME LIMIT One person $19,750 u Two persons $22,600 YOUR MONTHLY RENT IS NO MORE THAN 30% OF YOUR ADJUSTED GROSS INCOME. 1318 Franklin Street u Clearwater, Fla. Office Hrs. Mon.–Fri. 8–12 & 1–4 Closed Saturday & Sunday

Word Search February

In 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?

Answers From

January

Richard and Yolanda Baumer

are last month’s winners! Congratulations!

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. MYSTERY PRIZE!

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

MYSTERY PRIZE!

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

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 29

A F T E R 50

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A Florida Treasure— The Casablanca Inn

The Casablanca Inn, St. Augustine

ne 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 entries, 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.

MARCH 12-17 25 YEARS

Tickets: 813.229.STAR (7827) STRAZCENTER.ORG Outside Tampa Bay: 800.955.1045 Group Services (10+ get a discount): 813.222.1018 or 1016

Events, days, dates, times, performers and prices are subject to change without notice.

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The EASY BOARDING Bicycle by Biria

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Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 31

Road Reading: Books to Music in the Mornings Take Along on Adventures Join The Florida Orchestra for

at one of our Coffee Concerts!

2012/2013 Season

Coffee Concerts

Beloved Ballets Enjoy complimentary coffee and doughnuts at this morning concert featuring Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet and Stravinsky’s Firebird. Stuart Malina conducts.

Thu, Mar 7, 11am

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.

EXCITEMENT

ADD TO YOUR HOLIDAY OR SPECIAL OCCASION