Lifestyles After 50 Tampa Bay Edition, January 2016

ALL 20TH NEW! FITNESS

Free Admission

CHALLENGE

Walk to the Top of the Dome

4801 E. Fowler Ave. • Tampa, FL

January 21, 2016 8:30am - 2:00pm

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Denise Looney, DJ With A Twist James Marvell, Formerly of the Group Mercy

Prize-A-Palooza A Chance to Win $100!

TOUCH THE FUTURE!

Visit 450 Interactive Exhibits!

Space Program 3D Printing New! Drone Zone

EDUCATION • INFORMATION ENTERTAINMENT FITNESS CHALLENGE

• Free Health Screenings • Friendly Exhibitors • Free BINGO in the Science Room • $1000s in Prizes & Giveaways Join the Fun • Free Coffee & Goodies & Dress Like • Lunch Available ($5 - $8) a HIPPIE! • Enjoy Local Senior Talent Show on Stage

(Must be 50 plus. To enter call 813-272-5160. Entry deadline 1/11/16)

• View Over 100 Paintings by Local Artists

(Must be 50 plus. Call 813-272-5160 to learn how to enter your artwork. Entry deadline 1/18/16)

WALK TO THE TOP OF THE DOME!

Registration 8:30 - 9 only Look for Registration Form in this paper or online at LifestylesAfter50.com

Pay $2 for Parking at the Lifestyles After 50 Booth to Receive Your Parking Token (value $5)

For information call: 813-653-1988 or toll free 1-888-670-0040 www.lifestylesafter50.com Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 2

Let’s get real - this time it’s personal Dear Readers, Ringing in the New Year always calls for a little s e l f - i n v e n t o r y.

As we prepare to set new goals for Amanda Smith, Editor the future, we’re flooded with harsh memories of last year’s attempts at swearing off too much red meat, any excuse not to exercise, and that second piece of cake - all while vowing to start a band and a charity - a recipe of overzealousness only quickening a transformation’s demise.

Much different than challenging comfort zones, I’ve found taking on too much too fast isn’t how change really works - especially for those of us who aren’t superheroes - yet.

Instead of major health upgrades or bucket-list item completions, the curse of unrealistic expectations usually only leads me to quick burnout and a lot of sulking back to the couch carrying a cupcake. There was one year I got it right, though.

Here’s the story of how reaching a New Year’s goal taught me the dynamics of transformative - and lasting - change.

2012 began with my best friend Brenna’s return from teaching English in Japan. Born and raised in Florida, this lifetime flatlander couldn’t stop raving about her

Japanese hiking habit - which culminated with Mt. Fuji’s 12,388 summit. Desiring to experience my own hiking high, we declared a joint New Year’s resolution to hike the Grand Canyon. Truly a “grand” undertaking, I trained for months the best I could in Florida, only to find out that flatlands don’t really prepare you for a hike of this caliber.

Challenge of a lifetime: the Grand Canyon

The descent was a breeze, as the canyon’s majestic beauty distracted me from realizing just how far down I was. Hiking down was a lot like developing a bad habit, actually; it’s easy, it happens swiftly, and suddenly it dawns on you - you’re in a hole that’s pretty hard to get out of on your own. Unrealistic resolution-setting is a lot like that too - quick and easy to do, but hard to get out of successfully.

Making our way back up and out was a lot different. Much like keeping a resolution, I had to be patient, kind to myself about Brenna’s lack of

labored breathing, and most of all, very realistic about a personallysustainable pace. If I got at all impractical, trying to keep up with professional hikers that had decades of experience, I became totally overwhelmed, failing to catch my breath and wanting nothing but sit down and cry. So I crawled on, slowly but surely, keeping my head down as I focused on putting one foot in front of the other until we reached the rim.

It was then I realized what precious life lessons the canyon had given me: worthwhile accomplishments take planning, discipline and humility; and with your best friend by your side, you can do just about anything.

Bad habits sure are easy to make, and nobody arrives at a mile-long list of resolutions overnight, so let’s get real - nobody can tackle them all overnight either. For most, making one lasting, sweeping change at a time is a challenge in and of itself.

My greatest memory, and lesson from the canyon, happened when Brenna reached over and squeezed my hand as I totally overexerted myself trying to lead at a pace I thought was more her speed. “I’m here for you,” she told me, “and we’re in it together, but look inside and be kind; the only person you’re racing in here, is yourself.”

Happy New Year, Amanda Smith

Tampa Bay Edition Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc President Richard Reeves richard@lifestylesafter50.com Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing Kathy J. Beck kathy@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Amanda Smith editor@lifestylesafter50.com Office Manager Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com Administrative Assistant Allie Shaw allie@lifestylesafter50.com Production Supervisor/Graphic Design 813-689-6104 Distribution Nancy Spencer: (941) 244-0500 nancy@lifestylesafter50.com

Advertising Sales Questions/Customer Service

813-653-1988 • 1-888-670-0040 Dena Bingham: 813-293-1262 dena@lifestylesafter50.com Our other editions: Suncoast Edition: Pinellas/Pasco Counties Lake Edition: Lake/Marion Counties Sarasota Edition: Sarasota/Manatee Southwest Edition: Lee/Collier & Charlotte Polk Edition: Polk County To learn more, call 1-888-670-0040

News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638 Seffner, Florida 33583-0638 Fax: (813) 651-1989 www.lifestylesafter50.com

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 each issue is the 15th of the previous month. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

As a reader of Lifestyles After 50, you are creating an established relationship with our advertisers. You may be contacted by email, telephone or mail as allowed by law.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 3

Around Town W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G J A N U A RY 2 0 1 6

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ednesdays. Senior Golf Year Round. A senior golf group plays each Wednesday on rotating courses in Pasco County. Join the fun and meet new friends. Also ask about a new competitive tennis league. Call (813)527-8211 for more information.

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-10. Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Presents “Legends”.

Legendary circus artists from around the world perform awe-inspiring feats, daring spectacles of strength and thrills of wonder. $10-$75. Call (800)-7453000 for performance times. Amalie Arena, Tampa.

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Stretch-N-Tone Class. Maintain a healthy, toned body all while having fun. $3 with recreation card, $4 without.

9:30 a.m. Dr. William E. Hale Senior Activity Center. (727)298-3299.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service. Residents, businesses, and civic organizations join together to strengthen our community through service projects. Free. 8:30 a.m.

Tomlinson Park. (813)893-1118.

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Twilight Market. With allnatural produce and goods direct from the farm for sale, come enjoy an evening of fresh food, crafts, baked goods, live music, artists and artisans.

Tuesdays. 5 - 10 p.m. The Roosevelt, Tampa. (813)248-1904.

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Healthy Cooking for One. Learn how to plan and prepare delicious budget-friendly meals. Free.

2 – 3 p.m. Memorial Hospital of Tampa Auditorium. (813)873-6400.

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Pet-uary and Family Fun Day. Pet contests, obstacle/agility courses, splash pools, pet photos, adoptions available on-site, live entertainment, exhibitor area, great food. Free. 12 - 5 p.m. Harley Davidson Event Area, 9847 E. Adamo Dr., Tampa; (727)674-1464.

- 30. Gasparilla Pirate Festival.

Live music, great food and unforgettable entertainment.

Preinvasion: 1/29 at 6 p.m. at Tampa’s Curtis Hixon Park. Invasion: 1/30 at 11:30 a.m. in the Hillsborough River.

FREE! Call (813)251-8844 for more information on Tampa’s most famous event of the year. .

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- 17. Florida RV Supershow.

The show will have over 1,200 new RVs on display and over 400 booth exhibits. Entertainment, food and seminars. $10. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa. (813)621-7821.

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Smoking Cessation Class.

This two-hour class provides the tools to help eliminate tobacco. It covers a plan to quit, ways of coping with cravings and four weeks of quitting aids. Free. 6 p.m. St. Joseph’s Hospital’s Medical Arts Building. (813) 443-2046.

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AARP Driver’s Safety Course.

Boost your safety awareness, refresh and improve their driving skills, minimize crash risks, increase confidence and maintain independence. $15/$20. 9am. Forest Hills Presbyterian Church, Tampa. (813)977-3547.

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Strawberry Classic Car Show.

Featuring antique cars, custom classics and hot rods. Enjoy food, crafts and music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s.

Free. 4 – 9 p.m. Union Station Depot, Plant City. (813)754-3707.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 4

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Dinner Dance Gala, the beautiful and elegant SNOBALL. The Veterans Theatre at Kings Point will be transformed into a breathtaking winter wonderland.

Sun City Center and surrounding area residents are all invited to join this festive evening of dancing and fine dining. 5 p.m. social hour with dinner at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. dancing. $30/$35. Call (813)634-8506 for more information.

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eb 13. 2016 - Wisconsin-Upper Peninsula Michigan Potluck Picnic. Enjoy a variety of meat, coffee and dessert at this fun picnic event.

Entertainment and door prizes will be provided. $4. 10 a.m. registration with activities starting at noon. First Methodist Church Hall, 38635 5th Ave, Zephyrhills. Call (813)780-1549 for more information.

Send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; fax (813)651-1989 or email info@lifestylesafter50.com by the 10th of the month prior to the event (i.e. submit February events by 1/10/16).

Hope Renewed

Defying a deadly stage IV diagnosis, one brave woman’s clinical trial success offers herself and others a beacon of hope for a life beyond cancer.

By Amanda Smith

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n 2005, Verna Snyder was living a healthy, productive life. A happily-married mother of three, this active, social butterfly enjoyed family, friends, a fulfilling career in sales and a beautiful home. She even had a bit of a wild streak - often spotted on the back of a Harley with her hair blowing in the wind.

“Life at 43,” she says, “was pretty good.”

Pretty good indeed, until she found a lump. A faithful doctorgoer with a self-proclaimed “flawless mammogram and pap smear streak,” Verna says she also regularly self-checked for lumps in her breasts just to be safe. Years of vigilant self-care, she says, only made her diagnosis all the more shocking. The lump she found was definitely breast cancer, and its presence in her body was hardly new.

“When the PET scan revealed the cancer had already metastasized to just about every vertebrae in my spine, hip, pelvis and even my liver, that’s when they told me I had probably already had breast cancer for nine years,” Verna reports.

“All this time, I thought I was fine, I was told I was fine -

and suddenly I’ve got stage IV cancer and five years to live.

Suddenly, I’m dying.”

Determined to not go down without a fight, Verna was intent on finding the best oncologist in the area.

“When I met Dr. Wright,” she says, “I just knew he was the one. I’ve never known a more caring, competent and compassionate doctor in my life. He’s truly like family to me. He’s my angel.”

A key member of the Florida Cancer Specialists’ team, Oncologist David Wright, MD is widely acclaimed for providing patients with genuine, personal concern. Dr. Wright reveals that it was an intimate encounter with the disease that evolved him into more than just a scientist determined to advance attempts at solving one of medicine’s greatest mysteries.

“When my mother was diagnosed with cancer, her oncologist treated her like she was the only patient in the world,” he explains. “and I saw what a difference that made. Cancer treatment became more than just medicine, it’s about treating patients like family.”

Verna affirms that all of the Florida Cancer Specialists’ staff Dr. Wright says Verna’s story inspires countless other cancer patients to keep hope alive.

share that sense of community, and she credits her close relationship with Dr. Wright for giving her the courage to take a leap of faith - even as she watched her world crumble all around her. For two years, Verna tried several aggressive chemotherapy regimens to no avail. Verna had given up her high activity level, her job and even her hair. At this point she says, she began to completely give up hope.

“I was ready to die,” she proclaims. “I paid for my funeral and bought my own headstone.

Truly, I had come to accept that my life was over.”

Then, in an instant, it would all change. As a part of Florida Cancer Specialists, the largest independent medical oncology practice in the United States, Dr. Wright had access to countless cutting-edge clinical trials - one of which he believed might save Verna’s life.

“When Dr. Wright approached me about the study,” Verna says, “I was all in. He’s such a brilliant doctor and our relationship is so close - I knew I could trust him with my life.”

Verna says she was also inspired by the idea of being one of the original participants in a trial still in its very early stages - a pioneer of sorts.

“Sure, I had nothing to lose,” she admits, “but I also wanted to help other women in my situation. If I’m going to die anyway, why not be a guinea pig? If by some miracle the drug works, I’d help renew the hope of other breast cancer patients who believe they are facing death.”

In March of 2008, Verna began taking the experimental chemotherapy drug Kadcyla, which at the time was only available to the 1000 trial participants. Three months after receiving her initial dose, Dr. Wright performed

After outliving her prognosis with the success of an experimental therapy, Verna Snyder says her purpose is to give others hope. a scan on Verna and says he was amazed at the results.

“Even the first scan revealed improvement,” he recalls. “And things just kept improving until her cancer disappeared. Remarkably, Verna’s here and her cancer is in remission.”

It’s now 2016 - a decade after receiving a stage IV terminal diagnosis, and eight years after entering the clinical trial - and Kadcyla is still keeping Verna’s cancer at bay. Although she suffers from a few side effects like neuropathy and achiness, Verna’s hair grew back, her energy improved, and most importantly - she’s alive.

“I feel like I’m cheating death,” she admits. “Praise God I found Dr. Wright, praise God I did this trial, praise God I found my purpose. I truly believe I am still here on this earth to prove to other women that a stage IV diagnosis is not always a death sentence, that trials do work; and that there really is life beyond cancer.”

If Verna’s goal was to help others, Dr. Wright says she’s definitely achieved it. When discussing trial opportunities with his other cancer patients, he routinely refers to Verna’s

story as a beacon of hope.

“A lot of people come to me who are where Verna was in 2008,” Dr. Wright says. “And to be honest, they’re scared.

I’m one to always advocate for clinical trials because they’re free, the drugs are free, you get extra clinical care from study coordinators, and we’ve got a great team here. But the truth is, a study requires you to have faith in the unknown.

My hope is that if I tell patients Verna’s story, maybe they’ll take a chance and find a drug that works. Maybe they too will triumph over their disease.”

These days, Verna says she’s full of gratitude for life.

Not only is she enjoying her four grandchildren and her life again, she’s reveling in the joy of realized dreams. With her stage IV breast cancer in remission, her vibrancy restored, and the drug she helped test now approved and released, Verna says she feels complete. Best of all, she says, is the chance for her story to serve as a light at the end of the tunnel.

To learn more about Florida Cancer Specialists’ clinical trial opportunities, visit their website at www.FLCancer.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 5

The Fit Four: four foolproof fitness apps that actually deliver

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he fitness app world is booming. Everytime I look at my iTunes, there’s a new fitness app promising me six pack abs and six percent body fat. Much like the traditional fitness industry itself, there’s always a new fad and an instant fix - neither of which ever seem to actually stick. Instead of wandering the electronic shelves of your app store, wondering who to trust and where to begin, we offer you our Fit Four: four fitness apps that help you stay accountable to reach goals that are actually achievable.

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FitStar. If you’re averse to fitness apps because they feel automated and impersonal, FitStar is for you.

Functioning as your personalized digital training coach, FitStar adapts its exercise routines to match your injuries and physical capability, carefully calibrating workouts to be challenging - without being too difficult. Select your ideal exercise duration and workout goals, and the app whips up a customized workout, prompting you to rate its difficulty after you complete it. This allows the app to slowly learn and adapt to your unique workout capacity, offering you a challenge without breaking your body.

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MapMyRun. If your fitness goals are more cardio related, like training for a race or just improving your morning walk pace, you will love MapMyRun. Not only does it offer great tracking features that log speed, calorie burns, duration, routes and mileage, the incredible community MapMyRun has established is what makes this app a real winner. People really do interact, compete, and become friends through the program, which further taps into the social aspect of it all by allowing users to share details of their run through their personal social media sites.

If you’re just starting out, pick one or two days a week to go out for a walk, run or jog, using a route you know. Once you’re comfortable, use the app to explore new running routes and make new friends.

FitNet. If you know yourself well enough to know you just can’t find the motivation to work out without a trainer...well, there’s an app for that too. Fitnet offers a pool of professional fitness trainers who create personalized workout plans delivered to you live, from the comfort of your own home, via webcam. Download the app, select which trainer you like, and start moving. Because your device’s webcam intelligently analyzes your movements and provides that data to your trainer, you need not worry about improper form or slacking on your workout like you might do on your own. allowing your trainer to correct you in realtime. Personal training sessions range anywhere from $19 - $50.

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Balanced. True wellness is about more than just a workout - it’s all about balance. Enhance your wellbeing by improving anything from your posture to your water intake with Balanced, one of the more enjoyable and supportive habit-tracking apps available. While bright colors and icons soften the app’s interface, and cheery positive feedback makes reaching holistic goals a bit more fun, Balanced’s true competitive edge is the visual and tactile reward of swiping completed habits off your list. For those unsure how to promote life balance, don’t worry - Balanced offers users 50 suggested habits - all presented with such beauty that just the aesthetics alone will keep you committed - that and knowing you’re changing a lot more than just your waistline.

List compiled by Amanda Smith.

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Why suffer any longer? Come see us, your gentle touch Doctor of Podiatry.

www.FreeMedicaidAssetProtectionBook.com

Or call: 800-946-6605 Shipped to Your Home TOTALLY FREE Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 6

Call to see the Doctor (727) 565-2711 or (813) 337-6551 Medicare, United healthcare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Other Insurance

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 7

Conquer the Dome at the 20th Annual Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest

o n l y$249 00 pp

Atlantic City Feb. 18 - Feb. 21 March 10 - March 13 March 20- March 23

MOSI’s state-of-the-art dome offers a special fitness challenge for attendees of the Lifestyles After 50 20th Annual Fun Fest on Thursday, January 21.

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**This offer is subject to availability and management reserves the right to change or cancel this promotion at any time without notice. Must be 21 or older to gamble and enter and remain in a NJ casino and participate in any Harrah’s Resort promotions. Resort fees of $27 per room per night are not included and paid upon hotel departure. Florida Seller of Travel Ref. No ST39092. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 8

ifestyles After 50 invites you to join us for the 20th annual Fun Fest at Tampa’s Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) on Thursday, January 21, 2016. This special event is free and includes access to all of the museum’s 450 interactive exhibits. Participants also have an opportunity to conquer the brand new fitness challenge, “I Made it to the Top of the Dome.”

The theme is “Peace and Love,” so get out those bellbottoms and peace signs as you prepare to meet James Marvell, former band member of Mercy. James will perform the hit song Love Will Make You Happy and many other favorites. Dance to the classics with James and the fabulous “DJ with a Twist,” Denise Looney.

Partnering with Lifestyles After 50, sponsor Hillsborough County presents the Annual Senior Painting and Craft Display, as well as the Annual Talent Show. Whether your creative calling is singing, dancing, painting or crafts, participate and show us your special talent.

Call (813)272-5160 for more information on how to enter.

It’s not all fun and games - participants will also have an opportunity to evaluate their wellness with free health screenings available thoughout the day, including: lung function screenings, bone density tests, hearing tests and blood pressure readings - along with other important screenings and information from our medical vendors and sponsors.

Once you’ve given your health a good once over, head up to the Science room on the third floor for free rounds of Bingo.

MOSI’s doors open at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 21 so attendees may begin register-

ing for the “I Made it to the Top of the Dome” fitness challenge before the full Fun Fest event begins.

Walkers will take the challenge six at a time starting on the first floor and following the directions to the top of the Dome. Please note: the walk includes several stairs and an incline at the top.

We recommend walkers wear comfortable exercise clothes and walking shoes.

All walkers that complete the challenge will receive an “I Made it to the Top!” certificate and a ticket to MOSI’s IMAX® theatre. After the walk, continental breakfast items and coffee will be available as long as supplies last.

Lifestyles After 50 is proud to partner with dedicated sponsors and vendors who provide attendees with helpful, informative resources, and help make this unique event possible.

Lifestyles After 50’s Annual Fun Fest is on Jan. 21 at 8:30 a.m. at the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa. The event is free and include museum access.

There is a $2 parking fee and lunches are available for $5-$8. For more information about attending the event, or to inquire about vendor space or available sponsorships, call (813)653-1988.

2014 Fun Fest walkers tamed the backwoods of MOSI - this year they prepare for the dome.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 9

HOT or COLD? Winter wonders for every traveler...

Escape the cold or embrace it!

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t’s January. The holidays are over - you’ve done your time with Santa and his elves - and you’re ready to start 2016 with a bang. Besides, what better time than now to knock one more travel destination off your bucket list?

For some new year’s tourists, it’s all about the snow; from sledding and skiing the slopes, to enjoying the quiet beauty of Mother Nature as she’s fast asleep. Then there are others who couldn’t imagine a winter getaway that didn’t involve beautiful beaches and soaking up some serious rays. Follow your heart towards whatever suits your fancy, but with our picks below, you won’t know whether to chase the sun or the snow!

HOT: Cofresi Beach in Puerto

HOT: Sydney, Australia

COLD: Coolidge & Mount Philo

If you’re looking for a “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” kind of vacation, Puerto Plata is at the top of our list. Located on the northern coast of the Dominican Republic, Puerto Plata boasts excellent all-inclusive resorts offering some of the best value in the Caribbean - especially during the high season (Dec-Jan).

For travelers on a fixed budget, nothing beats an all-inclusive stay for as low as $135 for two people, giving you the peace of mind that no matter what you consume, you won’t get overbudget. As long as you’re not expecting the luxury of St. Barths, then Puerto Plata offers great times and even greater value.

Our Pick: With tropical breezes and golden sunshine all year round, Lifestyle Tropical Beach Resort & Spa is a budgetfriendly getaway resting on the sands of beautiful Cofresi Beach in Puerta Plata.

Offering the best of both natural worlds, sightseers enjoy both magical mountain ranges and Caribbean coastlines.

Book through www.cheapcaribbean. com for package deals including VIP Spa Access, or call 1-866-599-6674.

On December 17, American Airlines launched daily service from LA to Sydney, with Qantas close behind, now flying there daily from San Francisco. What does it all mean? Some of the cheapest flights to Australia we’ve ever seen.

A strong American dollar keeps your stay more affordable, and with innerAussie travel so cheap, you can easily make it a multi-destination vacation without breaking the bank. Besides the deals, our winter is Sydney’s summer, meaning warmth and rays without all that Florida humidity. So keep an eye out for round trip flights with flexible dates as low as $1,300 in February and March.

If you’re a snow bunny, two factors make cold winter travel in the US ideal.

With the exception of holiday dates, airfares and hotel prices are usually lower, allowing you to knock off a few bucket list locations that would usually be more expensive. If it’s State Parks you’re after, visit gorgeous Charlotte, Vermont, home to Mt. Philo State Park and nearby 16,166-acre Coolidge State Park. Both host many snowmobilers and cross-country skiers; and the bravest of them all - winter campers. It’s commonplace in the wintertime to see the base parking area full of cars, and park enthusiasts walking and hiking with dogs, or sledding, skiing, or snowshoeing on the beautifully-kept trails.

Coolidge State Park is known for its sweeping views of the Green Mountains, Adirondack Mountains, and Lake Champlain Valley, all visible at its 968 ft. summit. A series of hiking trails lead from the park down to the base of the mountain, and sledding trails are also available during the winter, easily making this our East coast pick..

Plata, Dominican Republic Best Bang for Your Buck

Cheap Chance to Cross Oz Off the Bucket List

COLD: Aspen, Colorado

Come to Ski, Stay for Culture

No time or money for Europe? No problem! Feeling exotic isn’t far off.For a domestic option with an international feel, there’s no better place than Aspen, CO. With four mountains to choose from, you’ll never ski the same slope twice, and 3,200-foot laps make skiers swoon. After exhausting your physical body, stimulate your mind at the truly thought-provoking Aspen Art Museum, a non-collecting art institution that plays an important role in the American scene of contemporary international art. For even more of a foreign feel, stay at the Limelight Hotel, which offers a European-style breakfast spread we can’t resist.

State Park, Charlotte, Vermont Best Natural Winter Beauty

And, for something in the middle... Charleston, South Carolina Mild Weather, Plenty of History and an Aphrodesiac’s Paradise

Still can’t decide? Take a trip to downtown Charleston! With mild weather and thinning crowds, winter is the perfect time to check out an area known for its historic sites and beautiful antebellum architecture, made easier to enjoy in the cooler, less humid season. If it’s food you’re looking for, Charleston is home to an impressive restaurant scene, with bold chefs notorious for adding inventive twists to traditional Southern fare. Our pick? The world’s largest oyster festival, held in Charleston on January 31.

With more than 80,000 pounds of oysters on hand, you’ll be shucking the night away!

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 10

Florida Cancer Specialists celebrates grand opening of new $10 million comprehensive cancer center in Brandon

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he new $10 million Brandon Cancer Center, located at 403 S. Kings Ave., celebrated its grand opening on Nov. 20 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony conducted by patients, staff and dignitaries. Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS) is introducing the community to the newly renovated office site. Located in a 38,400-square-foot medical building featuring evidence-based design and state-of-the-art doctors offices, exam rooms, PET/CT, high-dynamicrange imaging equipment and a linear accelerator, the new center will serve patients undergoing chemotherapy, infusion and radiation therapy.

FCS physicians led the festivities, thanking staff and supporters for

The new Brandon Cancer Center is the latest advance in care from FCS.

their efforts and contributions to serve countless patients in the community.

“This Brandon Cancer Center offers a wide range of treatments and services all under one roof, optimizing convenience for our patients in the Brandon community,” Florida Cancer Specialists CEO Bradley Prechtl said.

Access to the company’s Phase 1, 2 and 3 clinical trials will also be available to patients seen at the center. The facility adds to the Flor-

ida Cancer Specialists’ burgeoning presence in Hillsborough County, including a major facility on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. near Raymond James Stadium.

Physicians practicing at the new Brandon Cancer Center location: • Julia A. Cogburn, MD • Matthew A. Fink, MD • Julio Lautersztain, MD • Magda Melchert, MD • Mark S. Robbins, MD • Shalin R. Shah, DO • R. Waide Weaver, M • David D. Wright, MD

January’s Reader Contribution Challenge:

TURNING POINTS “Sometimes the course of our lives depends on what we do or don’t do in a few seconds, even in a heartbeat.”

- Aidan Chambers

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any a great author has written about change. While a tangent in British novelist Aidan Chambers’ Dying to Know You warns that failure to seize a flash of opportunity may cause catastrophy, others wonder if, in the moment, we would even be able to recognize them at all.

In my favorite author Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Remains of the Day, he argues that the best we can hope for is to realize our turning points in retrospect. He writes: “Naturally, when one looks back to such instances today, they may indeed take the appearance of being crucial, precious moments in one’s life; but of course, at the time, this was not the impression one had. Rather, it was as though one had available a never-ending number of days, months, years...an infinite number of further opportunities.”

-Kazuo Ishiguro

Tell us your turning point for a chance to be published in the February issue of Lifestyles After 50!

Ishiguro goes on to argue that although turning points alter our lives completely, as they occur, nothing would indicate that such small incidents would change our lives forever. So, in an effort to get to know you better, we’d like to know: Was there a key event or experience that truly altered your life course? What were your personal turning points, and did you recognize them at the time? If not, when did you realize those massive moments had set your life on a different track?

With “Turning Points” as the subject line, email an essay or response to editor@lifestylesafter50.com for a chance to be published in next month’s issue!

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 11

Meet the manatees: three hot spots for viewing the state marine mammal

By Amanda Smith

W

ith Florida weather finally cooling off a little, the way we spend our free time is bound to change. For some, cool weather in the Sunshine State is a rare opportunity to pursue outdoor activities, like camping in one of our incredibly diverse ecosystems, or it offers a chance to enjoy a game of golf without the sweltering heat. Whatever your slightly-chilly weather pleasure, the “cooler side” of Florida’s climate does bring with it one truly delightful sight: easy viewing of countless manatees.

Most of the year, this large aquatic relative of the elephant roams the waters of Southeast Florida, but when the weather cools down and water temperatures drop, the manatees get going - in search of the dependable warmth of freshwater springs. Rarely dropping below 70 degrees, some freshwater springs in Florida are known as manatee sanctuaries, hosting huge numbers of them during the colder months. Witnessing this endangered species en masse is truly a sight to behold, so here are our favorite spots to view Florida’s state marine mammal.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 12

Three Sisters Springs; Crystal River.

Often called the “environmental jewel” of west Florida, three freshwater spring areas comprise this unique and critical refuge for manatees. Barring boat access, this is our pick for snorkelers and swimmers who can dock kayaks/canoes right at the Springs’ edge. For those seeking land access viewing, Crystal River’s city trolley tour includes a stop at the boardwalk for great manatee viewing.

If you watch the weather and visit on a cold day; you’re nearly guaranteed to see manatees in droves - last winter nearly 500 of them sought out this natural safe haven. From Nov. 15 - Apr. 30, trolley tours are offered 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Tickets for seniors are $12.50. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit: www.ThreeSistersSpringsVisitor.org

TECO Manatee Viewing Center; Apollo Beach. A recipient of TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence, Tampa Electric’s Manatee Viewing Center is a true hidden treasure of the Tampa Bay area. Free to park and free to visit - as opposed to several other manatee viewing hot spots - this designated manatee sanctuary welcomes the sea cows in large numbers every winter as they return to the warm discharge waters of the Big Bend Power Station. A 50-acre facility with viewing platforms, tidal walkways, wonderful volunteer opportunities and an environmental education center, if you only want to see them as opposed to swim with them, this state-of-the-art facility is our pick. After all, it’s free! Open 10 a.m. - 5p.m., Nov. 1 - Apr. 15; call (813) 228-4289 for more information.

Lee County Manatee Park; Fort Myers. Another sanctuary created by a warm water discharge canal, Lee County Manatee Park is located across from Florida Power and Light in Fort Myers and greets large concentrations of manatees every winter. When planning your visit, we recommend making a whole

day of it; bring your canoe/kayak (rentals are also available at the park) and launch into the Orange River to paddle amidst dozens of manatees on cold winter days.

Get “lost” floating along the Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail if you’d like, but if you came to see the manatees, arrive at dawn for maximum viewing.

According to park staff, manatees often spend the night in the Orange River, and make a dash for food in the morning so paddle out early. Besides getting up close and personal with manatees who will swim within inches of your kayak, the park has a beautiful butterfly garden and birds of all kinds. Open from dawn to dusk, it’s free to enter, but $5 a day to park. Call (239) 690-5030 to learn more.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 13

Could Stem Cells Be The Next Penicillin?

By David Ebner

C

hances are that you’ve heard about stem cells. But did you know that stem cells are being used right now in the United States to treat debilitating lung diseases?

With advancements in the study of stem cells, the question is posed: are stem cells the next penicillin?

Stem cells and penicillin come from humble beginnings; they are both used to treat life-threatening conditions, and just like those who developed penicillin, stem cell biologists have won Nobel Prizes for their discoveries. Penicillin, originally discovered in 1928 by the Scottish biologist, Sir Alexander Fleming, did not see its full potential until WWII, and it wasn’t until 1945 that Sir Fleming won the Nobel Prize.

Over time, stem cells crept into the national dialogue as a buzzword, particularly the stem cells found in fetuses. However, the stem cells being used to treat diseases in

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 14

The discovery of penicillin was an early example of how a single groundbreaking medical advancement could change the course of modern medicine.

the United States - the same cells awarded the 2012 Nobel Prize in Medicine - are adult stem cells.

This type of stem cell is found fully developed in all human beings.

At the turn of the 20th century, biologists discovered that some cells in the body had not yet been assigned as a certain type of cell. The use of these cells to treat diseases traces back to 1968 when the first bone marrow transplant was performed. By placing healthy stem cells into a sick individual’s body, healthy, uninfected blood cells are suddenly created - which replace the diseased ones and start to heal the patient.

Today, the Lung Institute is using adult stem cells from the patient’s own fat, blood or bone marrow to provide similar healing results for people with lung diseases. By giving the patient a growth factor that multiplies the stem cells into millions of healthy cells, physicians are able to extract the stem

cells from the patient, followed by separating them for reintroduction into the patient’s body. The result is the promotion of healing in the lungs. Not only can this slow the progression of the disease, but it also works to restore lung function.

Just as penicillin was recognized by the medical community, stem cell developments now receive a lot of attention. If the number of people who have already been successfully treated with stem cells is any indication of the future, stem cells will undoubtedly be heralded as one of the ground-breaking medical technologies of its time.

The Lung Institute is an innovative leader of regenerative medicine dedicated to providing stem cell therapies and other regenerative treatments for lung diseases. For more information on this state-of-the-art facility and its internationally recognized physicians, call the Lung Institute at (855) 313-1150 or visit them online at LungInstitute.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 15

New Retirement, New Rules

Top tips for achieving a modern retirement - stress free.

By Amanda Smith

R

etirement is changing - rapidly. 50% of baby boomers now say they plan to work past age 65, while just as many plan to continue working well after retiring.

With technological advancements in medical care greatly increasing our life expectancy, a retirement nest egg may have to last decades longer than expected, requiring much more money to be socked away before calling it quits in the working world. For many, a longer lifespan and a rather unreliable economy changes the face of successful retirement - and the advice it takes to get there.

For baby boomers facing this brave new world, here are our top tips for facing a transition in the midst of evolution.

► Sell

your house “as is.” No repairs or clean up. ► Take the things you want, sell or donate it. We’ll take care of the rest of the “stuff.” ► We pay up to $1,000 in moving expenses. ► Ask us about a move in “credit” available at some communities.

1. Create a vision. It’s time. Set a date, distraction-free, to sit down with your spouse and really nail down your vision for the future. Identify your target retirement age and what retirement means to you. Consider whether you want to traipse across the country in an RV visiting national parks or open up a franchise and finally be your own boss. Ponder whether your joy is in coaching your grandson’s baseball team during the day, or prolonging your present - and fulfilling - career. Studies continue reinforcing that working later in life promotes brain health and overall happiness, but consider how long your boss will even let you work. 70? 75? If you face forced retirement and you’re on a fixed income or pension, work backwards and create your vision around the magic number. Developing your vision for retirement in detail allows you to realistically assess the cost of your new life.

2. Calculate the lifestyle costs of your vision. If you’ve built a successful business over the decades, and you plan to work until 80, your lifestyle costs aren’t the same as someone who desires to move to the Bahamas at 65.

In reality, individuals offer a whole spectrum of situations in between these two extreme examples. If you plan to quit working, think about your expense reduction - no more client dinners or pricey clothes for the office - and the added costs - funding bucket-list travel and new hobbies to fill your afternoons.

If investing in a new business venture, consult a financial planner to accurately assess the start-up costs. And

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 16

Changing cultural and economic climates make preparing for retirement seem insurmountable, but a happy future is still within reach.

remember your most precious resource of all - your health. Always shoot for a back-up plan should unexpected health issues alter the future you envisioned.

3. Make smart investments. Some find the stock market’s unpredictable nature unsettling, but an asset allocation for retirement investing that favors stocks will always beat bonds over time (even Warren Buffett advises a portfolio heavily weighted in equities). While making your investments, find out how much your mutual funds actually cost you; they all report expense ratios showing what percent of your investment you are charged annually for money management services.

For low cost index funds, aim for expenses no higher than 0.25 percent.

Free online investment tools can show you both your money management costs and how they affect your nest egg.

5. When it comes to reverse mortgages, think twice. Ads make them look so good - an easy way to get cash now and pay off debt - solving all your problems.

Converting your home equity into cash with no monthly mortgage may sound great, and may work for people in specific situations, there are definitely huge long-term costs to factor in. Consider this: If you get a reverse mortgage and wind up in assisted living, when the mortgage comes due, you’re now paying it back while paying for your assisted living care. If you can’t pay the mortgage, dependents - even your spouse - may get kicked out of the home.

Lastly, whoever inherits the home, also inherits the debt before they can obtain the home’s title. Reverse mortgages work for some - just be careful.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 17

New year’s project: Preserve your memories now

By Amanda Smith

scan 1,800 photos onto a DVD for you for $100. There must be a catch...

C

hristmas may be over, but the new year bears its own gifts: inspiration to take on healthier habits and new projects you’ve long been putting off.

With the digital age transforming nearly every facet of human life and culture, it can be all too easy to lose track of media that isn’t seen onscreen. Instead of letting all your analog photos get tossed by the wayside, make 2016 the time to preserve them forever.

Digitizing photos not only preserves quality, it enables sharing the good old days with loved ones all over the world.

Still, this is not a project for the faint of heart; as you dig all of those dusty scrapbooks out of the back of your closet, here’s our take on tackling this tremendous time and labor-intensive project yourself vs. outsourcing the work.

Do It Yourself If you’re computer savvy with plenty of time on your hands, take a trip down memory lane with every image by digitizing old photos yourself. You probably already own all you need to digitize your own photos; most modern printers have a scanner built-in. This makes DIY digitizing the most economical option, even if it is the most time-consuming.

Here are our tips on making it a success.

Name.Event.Year, as in John&Sarah.

Wedding.1990. Also, write down the scan settings you discover work best, and when it comes time to learn photo editing software tricks (more on that later), take detailed notes you can reference while editing.

Keep It Clean Old photos are usually dusty photos. If you’re an eyeglass wearer, a dust-free lens cloth is the perfect tool for wiping clean dusty pictures and maintaining the cleanliness of your scanner bed.

Break Down the Project Digitizing a lifetime’s worth of photographs is quite the undertaking, so divide the photos by event or by year, sort them into piles based on scanning priority, and only take on a little each day (a daily time limit helps avoid project burnout).

The Technical Stuff When your scanner software prompts you to select a resolution and file format for your new digital files, it’s hard to know which is best. If you want the option of printing digital photos into calendars, canvases and large, framable prints, set the resolution to 300 dpi and save your file as a TIFF - ideal for creating sharp, printable images in the future.

Keep Notes Decide on a uniform way to name all your files, and write it down in your notes for easy searching later. Example:

To Edit or Not to Edit?

When it comes to editing your new digital images, preference and personality play a huge role in your decision.

Timesaving Tip: Avoid scanning each photo separately - make the most of your scanner bed. Take time to learn how to digitally crop images so you can place four photos on your scanner bed at a time, leaving 1/4 inch between them. Crop them into four files once scanned, and you’ve just saved a ton of time.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 18

A perfectionist who can’t stand the glaring shadows in that 30th birthday picture from 1985 will probably spend more time editing than a romantic who sees photo flaws as adding character.

Techies who know their way around Photoshop enough to edit out an awful ex-boyfriend from a photo of a family function are editing more than images - they’re essentially re-documenting the past. If your only goal is to preserve your pictures as-is, that’s fine too.

Identify your editing style and have at it. If you’re looking for a place to learn Photoshop, we recommend Lynda.com for high-quality, professional tutorials, or YouTube if you’re just a little curious.

Don’t Use Your Smartphone No matter how frustrated you get with editing software or a slow scanning pace, don’t think that a quick smartphone capture of your old photos is a comparable alternative. Preserving lasting, highquality photos requires a scanner.

Pay for It If the idea of spending endless hours bent over your scanner isn’t exactly appealing, and you aren’t overcome with horror at sending all your precious memories to an online scanning company, there are plenty of very affordable services that will scan them all for you, and even offer re-touching services.

Choose a Company A simple Google search renders endless service options for digitizing, but we’ve found a favorite. Reviewed and recommended by such media sources as USA Today and The New York Times, ScanMyPhotos.com will professionally

You Still Have Work to Do ScanMyPhotos still requires you to organize the photos yourself before sending, including using rubber bands to bundle photos that must all be sorted by size and labeled with provided index cards. Required to be removed from albums and scrapbooks - meaning you have to dismantle someone’s loving handiwork - all photos have to be placed right side up in the sorted bundles or the completed digital image appears upside-down on the DVD. So yes, they’ll scan the photos for you, but not without your substantial, time-intensive prepwork. Fortunately, the results are well worth it. The DVD and originals arrive via Priority Mail in three to four days and the scans do look very good.

Packing the box itself is such a task that the ScanMyPhotos website provides photos of the right and wrong ways to pack up the pictures.

Either Way, Don’t Forget to Save Archiving old photos is priceless, so once they’re digitized, don’t forget to save them! For a physical second copy, we recommend uploading all files on a USB or hard drive, and storing them outside your own home - in a safety deposit box or a loved one’s house.

Also, save them online without the fear of a computer meltdown using online cloud storage. Both Google Drive and Microsoft’s OneDrive have the simplest, most affordable options, offering 1.5GB of free storage with additional storage available for a fee. Once saved, stampede social media with your sharing of embarassing pictures and stories.

If you have other types of media in need of preservation, visit LifestylesAfter50. com for tips on film to DVD conversion, negative scanning, photo restoration, VHS to DVD conversion, slide scanning and much more.

VOLUNTEERING … AS LITTLE AS AN HOUR A MONTH

Got an Hour? Give an Hour! » Senior Centers » Food Bank » Delivering Meals » Working with Kids

Or put your professional skills to work helping Non-profits grow!

Call (813) 932-5228 or visit

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Giveaway: Pain relief product package If you suffer from minor aches and pains that just won’t go away, Salonpas’ line of pain relieving products are extremely effective.

We are offering this highly effective pain relief package for FREE to one lucky winner in this month’s giveaway!

For a chance to win a vast array of Salonpas pain relief products, email editor@ Salonpas’ Pain Relieving Gel Patch HOT releases lifestylesafter50.com Capsaicin, a natural, odor free pain reliever, for quick, effective relief lasting up to eight hours. or snail mail us at:

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This Solanpas pain relief product package, valued over $100, includes: •The original pain relieving patch •Pain relieving patch with menthol •Deep relieving gel • Pain relieving spray

Attn: Pain Relief Package News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583 Send us your name, address & phone number by Jan. 19. The winner will be drawn on Jan. 20, then contacted and announced in February’s issue of Lifestyles After 50. Good luck!

Congratulations!

Last month’s winner:

Doris Shunstrom of St. Petersburg won the Adlens Interface glasses!

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 19

Easy Boarding Bicycle by In last month’s editorial, I shared how volunteering in Kenya improved my life and I invited readers to submit volunteerism stories of their own. Enjoy an essay by reader Lil Cromer, a seasoned volunteer for many diverse causes; the common thread being her ceaseless desire to extend a helping hand. - Amanda Smith, Editor

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January Horoscope: Capricorn & Aquarius Capricorn: The Sea Goat (Dec. 23 - Jan 22) Unwind the whirl of your mind, Capricorn. This time of year you crave more rest and downtime, so let that be ok. You’re much more emotional and introspective than usual, so you need extra time to recharge your batteries and just sit with yourself. Focus on wrapping up loose ends now, and resist the urge to take on any new responsibilities. You simply don’t have the stamina to do it all.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 20

Aquarius: The Waterbearer (Jan. 23 - Feb. 22) If you’re still looking for a New Year’s resolution, try focusing on charitable work - make a difference or help to teach others what you know. Think of generosity in expansive ways, Aquarius.

Pour your heart into your New Year’s resolutions and write out your top wishes you’d like to see unfold - for yourself and the people you cherish most. For more horoscopes visit LifestylesAfter50.com.

or many people having a little extra time on their hands means time for a game of golf, or watching TV, or taking a nap. But for me it means an opportunity to find someone to help. Volunteering is something I feel an obligation to do.

I’m comfortable and can pretty much do what I please, so I want to give back.

I’m very active in my community and have been dubbed a community activist. I attend most town commission meetings and volunteer on various committees as well as town advisory boards.

My real joy is working with kids since I don’t have any of my own. I was a caregiver for my mother, my motherin-law and my husband. By the time he died 17 years ago, I’d had my fill of nursing homes, hospitals and rehabs so when asked if I wanted to volunteer in that area I said I had to work with kids.

For twenty years I have mentored young boys with the Big Brothers/Big Sisters Organization. I have mentored three boys over the years. However, when they reach 13 and start moving into adolescence, I say good-bye; I don’t have the energy to deal with that.

I’m not all sweet and forgiving. I use the three strike rule, lie to me three times and you’re out. I also won’t help just anybody; I have a rule for that too.I like to help those who help themselves.

I have no time for people who just take.

I feel very strongly about that.

The Largo Library hosts an English Language Learning (ELL) program where I help immigrants with their English as well as help them study for their citizenship test. My first student was a Polish student. She had to learn 100 questions for her citizenship test, and she did. She passed on the first go, a moment that made me proud to be a part of her success.

The coordinator of the ELL program, Nancy Coleman Romano, gave me a wonderful compliment: “Lil has a wonderful sense of humor for one thing. All her students become her best friends. It is important that she connects with them and she has a way of finding out what people need to learn and a way to teach them that is entertaining and fun.”

I also volunteer at the Homeless Empowerment Project (HEP) in Clearwater. Once a week I’m at the Learning Center helping the kids with their homework, reading, playing games and working on crafts. A hug and a big smile means more than a paycheck. These kids are homeless yet many of them are on the honor roll in school.

I seem to be driven by some sort of inner feeling that volunteering is the right thing to do, and I don’t mind saying so. There is no question about it; the more you give the more you get back.

You don’t give for gratitude but you do get satisfaction back.

Volunteers are not in the game for thanks but to make a difference; and making a difference is my personal goal. One hundred years from now it won’t matter what kind of car I drove, what kind of house I lived in, or how much money I had in the bank. But I like to believe the world was made better because I made a difference in a child’s life.

I will no doubt continue to be making a difference in kids’ lives for a while yet; as long as I’m healthy, I’ll continue to volunteer. I believe that people who volunteer live longer because they are active, and they are engaged.

Readers, if you too have a compelling, original story or essay you think would make a great addition to Lifestyles After 50, please email your submissions to editor@lifestylesafter50.com.

Reader Poll: Best Online Dating Site High-calorie foods that are good for your health W S ome say, gone are the days of serendipitous romance, or meetings at the grocery store happening by chance.

Back in the day, singles met Mr. or Ms. Right in college, on the job, through family and friends - or even at the bar.

More recently though, love seekers - especially those over 50 - are increasingly coupling online, with various studies revealing that older adults are the fastest growing segment of online dating users. Why are so many people searching sites for love? Perhaps it’s yet another unintended consequence of living a life online, where everything from a new sofa to a new boyfriend is available with the click of the button.

We all know a few online dating success stories, producing a marriage or

hile there’s truth to be told about the whole “calories in, calories out” weight-loss strategy, not all calories are created equal, and not all high-calorie foods are bad. Here are our picks for high-calorie foods that pack quite the nutritious punch.

happy companions, but what we want to know from YOU dear readers is, does the site you choose matter? Which online dating site is the best? Send me an email to editor@lifestylesafter50.com letting me know your favorite dating site and why, and you may just be featured in next month’s edition!

Peanut Butter It’s rich in protein and healthy fats, and low in cholesterol. Peanut butter has been linked to improved fat burning, muscle mass buildup and even cardiovascular health. At 100 calories per tablespoon, consume in moderation.

Avocados Rich in lutein, fiber, potassium, magnesium and folic acid, avocados’ monounsaturated fats help reduce LDL (bad) cholesterol and can help prevent heart disease. Full of vitamins B6, C and E, a medium avocado offers a lot for approximately 276 calories.

Mangoes High in fiber and vitamins A, B6 and C, this fabulous fruit helps regulate blood glucose and digestion, as well as supporting good vision and healthy skin. Also rich in copper, potassium and magnesium - all minerals that promote cardiovascular health - a medium mango has 130 nutritious calories

Granola Made with whole wheat and compressed nuts, and sweetened with honey, agave nectar or sugar, granola is rich in essential oils. Be careful to look at the label though - don’t choose a brand packed with so much sugar you end up throwing your glucose levels out of whack. As a digestive aid, granola is almost unmatched; its soluble and insoluble fiber improves the overall function of your entire digestive tract. At 597 calories in a single cup, try sticking to one tablespoon in your yogurt - then you’ll reap granola’s benefits without a calorie overload. - AARP

Veggies After Dark: Tampa’s Twilight Market

At this Location: Savannah Court of Brandon Assisted Living Residence 824 N. Parsons Avenue • Brandon, FL 33510 Assisted Living, Respite, Day Service Assisted Living Facility License No. 9353

If you’re looking for novel evening entertainment and some of the freshest foods in the Tampa Bay area, the Twilight Market delivers on all fronts. This Tuesday night farmer’s market in Ybor City features a full assortment of organic food and produce, crafts, eco-friendly products, live music, ready-to-eat goodies and more - it’s all at the Roosevelt 2.0, 1812 N. 15th St., starting at 5 p.m.

All products are from local farmers and vendors, so you can feel good about supporting the local economy while you shop under the stars.

Buy local fare at Ybor City’s Twilight Market.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 21

Five Signs it Might Be Time to Change Attorneys

By William R. Mumbauer, Attorney www.flwillstrustsprobate.com

I

f that little voice in your head keeps asking, “Is this attorney right for me?” then you would already have a problem. Here are five warning signs that may mean you need to consider looking for a new attorney.

1. You continually have to wait more than a week for an appointment and when you finally get an appointment you have to wait more than ten minutes after your scheduled time to see the attorney. If your legal problem is important enough to you that you feel an attorney’s help is necessary, it should be important to the attorney as well.

2. The staff at your attorney’s office never seem to be familiar with you or your file and are often unable or unwilling to answer your basic legal questions.

And when those times arise when you really must speak directly with the attorney, your attorney takes more than 24 hours to return your call. Yes the attorney’s time is valuable - but so is yours.

3. Your attorney often speaks in generalities, or worse in legal jargon, and she does not take the time to explain fully and simply the legal issues you are facing. Your attorney should slow down and simplify and make sure enough time is spent with you to adequately address all of your concerns.

4. Your attorney refuses to discuss all options which may be available to solve your legal problem and only wants to discuss one approach - the one she prefers. For the best outcome for your particular legal matter, your attorney should be open to exploring with you all legal options which may be available.

5. Your attorney resists referring you to another attorney when you ask about seeking a second opinion. Any good attorney will be confident in her legal advice, but will also be open to having her legal recommendations peer reviewed and willing to readjust her advice if another perspective is offered that is more appropriate.

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Attorney William R. Mumbauer, a 5th generation Floridian, has maintained a law practice in Brandon, Florida, since 1980 with emphasis on estate planning. Mr. Mumbauer takes special pride in representing the senior community by maintaining a sensitive and practical approach to problem solving. Mr. Mumbauer is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, the Elder Law Section of the Florida Bar and is a participating attorney in the AARP Legal Services Network. Mr. Mumbauer is also a Mentor in probate law and has been qualified by the Second District Court of Appeal in Florida as an expert witness in matters involving the drafting of Wills. Mr. Mumbauer’s MartindaleHubbell Peer Review Rating among judges and lawyers for Legal Ability is High to Very High and his General Recommendation Rating is Very High.

His articles are based on general principles of law and are not intended to apply to individual circumstances. To learn more, visit Mr. Mumbauer online at www.flwilltrustsprobate.com.

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Top trends shaping the health care industry in

2016 1

Merger Mania. By mid-year 2015, almost $400 billion in healthcare deals and agreements had been announced, breaking records set the previous year. Collaborations between independent hospitals and clinician groups/ top tier health systems promise patients greater access to technological advancements, one-stop shopping and more touch-points, but patients need to also expect changes in billing, patient procedures, and office visits; remembering to remain flexible and even anticipate hiccups will save you a lot of headaches.

2

Goldilocks’ drug pricing . With US drug pricing at its peak and more high-deductible healthcare plans than ever, consumers are increasingly frustrated. Under threat of strong government action, pharmaceutical companies may contemplate new models in 2016, and their marketing strategies may be the most creative yet. They may focus on conveying value, or justifying the costs of drugs through complimentary programs, or introduce alternative financing models - any attempt to keep the government, shareholders and consumers happy - all at once.

3

Care in the palm of your hand.

Consumers will not only use their own smartphones and tablets for health monitoring, 2016 will bring consumers access to anywhere, anytime diagnosis and treatment via personal electronic devices. From “bedless” hospitals to smartphone medicine, care can and will increasingly be delivered remotely.

4

Emerging reward programs. In 2016, medical providers may take a cue from other industries and link spending to rewards, offering frequent flier miles, discounts or points. These models will cater to what every consumer wants - convenience and value.

Source: PricewaterhouseCoopers’ Health Research Institute Survey and Study Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 23

A Grand, Glam Gala Celebrates The Florida Orchestra

By Kelly Smith

Conductor Michael Feinstein

S

inging straight from the heart of the Great American Songbook, five-time Grammy nominee Michael Feinstein joins new Music Director Michael Francis for the must-see show of the season, The Florida Orchestra’s Second Annual Fundraising Gala Concert on Saturday, Jan. 30.

Think Manhattan-style glitz and glamor as Feinstein takes the stage with the orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Francis. The night kicks off with a champagne reception and ends with a gourmetpost-concert dinner, all at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.

This extraordinary evening stands out as a celebration of Maestro Francis, who has woven an American thread through his inaugural season concerts, perfectly accented by Feinstein’s American songbook repertoire. The program includes music from Irving Berlin, George and Ira Gershwin, Frank Sinatra, Richard Rodgers and more.

It’s one grand night of glamor to support the Florida Orchestra, not only in the concert hall, but for all it does in

the Tampa Bay community, including free hospital, veteran and parks concerts. For event tables and individual gala tickets, call 727.362.5424. Concert-only tickets start at $50 and are available at floridaorchestra.org.

More Florida Orchestra concerts in January: The Fabulous Forties (Jan. 15-17): Swing dancers join Raymond James Pops’ 1940s salute.

Mozart & More! (Jan. 22-24): Journey with Michael Francis into the mind and music of Mozart with his Symphony No. 39 & Piano Concerto No. 23.

The Music of U2 (Jan. 29): A full rock band joins the orchestra for one night only, performing U2’s With or Without You, and so much more.

Florida Orchestra Masterworks and Pops tickets are $15, $30 & $45 at floridaorchestra.org or 1.800.662.7286. See the orchestra at the Straz Center in Tampa, Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg, & Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater.

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Hills

Second life: Local snowbird finds writing success after retirement

C

onventional wisdom says, if you don’t write your bestseller early on - then chances are you’ll never do it.

Sometimes though, dreams defy convention. That’s the case with part-time Dunedin resident Brian James, whose retirement revealed a life-changing talent that surprised everyone - including himself: he unlocked a real flair for writing, then published an entire trilogy.

After he finished raising a family and working 30 years in municipal recreation, he retired to live the good life as a snowbird, splitting time between Cape Cod and Dunedin.

He then experienced something many other new retirees do: plenty of time on his hands. “When you leave a lifetime job,” he explains, “you leave an army of friends and acquaintances behind forever. Throw in a seasonal relocation, and things can get pretty lonely pretty quickly.”

In his solitude, James’s thoughts soon led him to the legacy of his father, whose fast lifestyle caused him to die before James’s children were old enough to form lasting memories of him. Inspired to share his father’s story

with his children, James began writing down notes of all he could remember of his dad - as a way to keep him alive.

The notes soon became more than James could handle, so he joined a few writing groups on a whim, and it turns out, James’s writing (and his dad’s shenanigans) were pretty hilarious. Teachers and fellow writing group members began aggressively encouraging James to consider expanding the notes on his “father’s roguish behavior” into what would soon become a humorous crime trilogy.

“My first book was a fictional memoir of my dad,” James says of 2011’s Headstone, which he enjoyed writing so much that he followed it up with Fortune in 2013 and Chase in 2015, creating a humorous and successful trilogy chronicling James’s father and his antics.

He credits his success to the quality of writing groups he has been exposed to - including those in Pinellas County.

“They’re tremendously valuable because they allow retirees who are looking for new challenges to foster both new skills and new friendships,” James explains. He credits attending the Creative Writing Story Circle at the Safety

Harbor Library for giving him a vision for his books. Meeting every third Wed. of the month from 6 - 7:45 p.m., leader Jan Golden says writing experience or not, everyone is welcome to join. Find out more on her blog, JanGoldenStoryCircles.wordpress.com.

Currently working on a personal memoir, James has switched gears to reflecting on his own life, particularly his participation in college football. As for why he keeps writing, he says for some, creative outlets are more appealing that traditional retirement activities.

“For me, writing beats fishing and golf,” he shares. “I enjoy putting words on paper with my pen as a form of conversation with readers I may never know.”

Having not published his first book until he was in his mid-sixties, James says he experiences incredible joy in documenting the family history - and so can you.

“Other seniors can accomplish this if they just give it a try,” James says. “I feel it’s never too late to write your story, if not for publication, maybe just for family members and the generations that follow.”

Chase, the final book of the Brian James trilogy.

Purchase the Brian James trilogy at Barnes and Noble.com, Amazon. com or local bookstores; they are also available on loan through the Pinellas Public Library System, via www. pplc.us. To learn more about the author, his books and upcoming events, visit the Headstone Facebook page.

Medicare Answers: How does my Part D plan cover prescription drugs once I elect hospice care?

Dear Marci, I have Original Medicare and am currently receiving hospice care, but I also need medication to treat my high blood pressure. Since Part A covers all my hospice needs, does that mean I don’t need my standalone Part D plan any more to cover my blood pressure medication?

- Cecilia (Provo, UT) Dear Cecilia, Keep your Part D plan. Once you’ve elected hospice, the hospice benefit should cover any prescriptions for pain management or other symptoms of your terminal condition. But you still need your Part D plan to provide coverage for any prescription drugs you need that are not related to your terminal illness.

If your high blood pressure is unrelated, then your Part D plan will cover it.

The hospice benefit only covers medication related to your terminal condition.

Note that if you had a Medicare Advantage Plan with prescription drug coverage instead of Original Medicare, your non-hospice drugs would be covered by the Medicare Advantage Plan.

Be aware that Medicare assumes that medications prescribed for pain, nausea, constipation, and anxiety are related to your terminal condition and should be covered by your hospice provider, not your Part D plan. However, if you need these types of medications to treat illnesses unrelated to your terminal condition, it’s best to ask your hospice provider to contact your Part D plan before you get the prescription filled to indicate that the medication is unrelated to your terminal condition. After receiving this information, your Part D plan must cover it.

If Part D is covering a medication, and it is denied at the pharmacy counter, you will need to contact your Part D plan to request a formal decision, called a coverage determination. Your plan must then contact your hospice provider or doctor for proof indicating that the mediation is unrelated to your terminal condition.

Your Part D plan must then provide coverage within three days, or within 24 hours if waiting longer places your health at risk.

All the best to you, Marci Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 25

Imagine That! Visualizing exercise makes you stronger.

By Amanda Smith

W

hen it comes to health and fitness advice, I’m sure you’ve heard it all before; the self-help gurus urging you to visualize the body you want and imagine your way to aging gracefully. If classic catchphrases like, “if you believe it you can achieve it,” or “mind over matter,” and “dare to dream!” sound like nothing more than empty platitudes to you, think again. New research reveals that all that dreaming may actually stall muscle atrophy, heal injuries and even delay aging.

Wait, can you really envision your way to wellness? Published in the Journal of Neurophysiology, research out of Ohio University concludes that simple imagining of exercise could tone muscle, delay atrophy, and even make you stronger.

Researchers split “healthy individuals” into two sets, wrapping all their wrists in a cast and giving only one set of participants instructions to sit still for 11 minutes per day, five days a week for four weeks. During those 11 minute intervals, they were to “perform

mental imagery of strong muscle contractions.” Basically, they were told to imagine exercising, while control group members were given no instruction.

At the end of four weeks, the results were astounding. Not only were the “mental exercise” participants twice as strong as the control group, the imagining participants also showed stronger neuromuscular pathways in the brain.

Potentially evolving our concep-

Question: What president signed the MLK Jr. Day holiday into law?

Your Answer: Send in the correct answer to be entered in a drawing to win a prize each month!

Deadline for entries: Jan. 16, 2016. Drawing held Jan. 20, 2016.

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Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 26

tion of the body’s relationship to the brain, this research is the first to prove that imagination can delay or help stop muscle atrophy. Findings were so significant that professor of physiology Brian Clark released a written statement, commenting on what this means for the ill and the aging, especially.

“What our study suggests is that imagery exercises could be a valuable tool to prevent or slow muscles from

becoming weaker when a health problem limits or restricts a person’s mobility,” Dr Clark says. He goes on to surmise that these new developments could lead to the use of imagination in helping people undergo rehabilitation, and even slow or control the effects of aging.

Describing muscles as the puppets of the nervous system, moved by the brain that acts as the string, Dr. Clark explains this research proves that if you make the brain pull the strings even in your imagination, your muscles will respond.

“This information may fundamentally change how we think about muscle weakness in the elderly,” he says, emphasizing his hope that further research and honing, may soon shape imagination exercises into an integral part of therapy.

While visualization can never fully replace the efficacy of traditional physical exertion, combining its use with regular exercise could multiply muscle stimulation, prompting even more strength gains and healing in patients. Whatever application imagination exercise may take on in the future, one thing is clear: the link between body and mind is even stronger than we originally thought.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 27

Desire for Passion Proves Ageless

By Amanda Smith

W

e all remember our first real love - the yearning, the fire, the attraction. At its onset, our first taste of passion delivers an awakening, but upon its death, a part of our naivete and innocence dies right there with it. Yet it turns out, our desire to feel that passion once again never fades.

Long thought to be a sport reserved solely for the young, the search for passion - in this case, sexual attraction knows no age barrier. Recent research found that when looking for a mate, sexual attraction is almost as important to the over-75s as it is to younger age groups. Surveying nearly 5,500 active online daters, participants of all ages were asked to rank their ideal mates’ various qualities based on the level of importance - for example, does stimulating conversation outweigh financial stability? Do kindness and compassion matter more than having hobbies and friends?

When evaluating the reported importance of sexual attraction, researchers discovered that when using a scale of one to seven, younger users rated

sexual attraction only one point higher than their older counterparts. The findings firmly contradict the stereotype of elderly people as sexless seniors valuing cosy companionship over hot passion.

Research out of the University of California serves to further smash this stereotype, with a study analysing data gathered from the popular dating site eHarmony. Users aged 20 - 95 were divided into four groups - ‘young’ (under 40), ‘middle-aged’ (40 - 59), ‘young-old’ (60 - 74) and ‘old-old’ (75 and over).

While there was some evidence that sexual attraction became slightly less important around age 60, it did not decline any more after that - meaning, 75+ users are not only still very sexually concerned, but may be just as interested in a passionate fling as those still in their late 50s.

“Contrary to popular held cultural beliefs, older adults still highly value sexual attraction,” notes study author Josephine Menkin. “Overall, youngold and old-old eHarmony users ranked sexual attraction very similarly in terms of importance. Perhaps it could be that older online dating users are highly motivated to re-partner, and sexual in-

New research contradicts the stereotype of sexless seniors, instead, indicating just how much older adults value sexual attraction.

terest is enough of a priority that they are motivated enough to actively sign up for a service online, instead of just seeing if they happen to serendipitously meet someone in person.”

Interestingly, the research also revealed that divorcees were among the most concerned with sexual attraction, regardless of age. Divorced users ranked feeling that spark of desire with a new partner markedly higher than those who had never been mar-

ried. One may surmise that after a possibly sexless marriage, or years of trying to make a failing relationship work, the passion absent from their lives is what divorcees miss the most.

So now that we know we’re all searching for it, do any of us actually find it? If you’ve got a passionate love story to share, send me an email to editor@lifestylesafter50.com and we just may feature it in our Love & Relationships issue in February!

LIGHTNING HOME GAMES

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 28

Jan. 2 Jan. 15 Jan. 17

Minnesota Wild Pittsburgh Penguins Florida Panthers

Jan. 19 Jan. 21 Jan. 27

Edmonton Oilers Chicago Blackhawks Toronto Maple Leafs

Top Five Healthiest New Year’s Resolutions 1. Losing weight lowers your risk of serious health issues, like heart disease, stroke and type II diabetes, as well as improving arthritis and raising energy levels.

2. Keeping strong social bonds helps promotes a sense of well-being and may ward off depression and even make you live longer, according to a 2010 study.

ALL NEW!

20th

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FITNESS CHALLENGE Walk to the Top of the Dome!

Regular prayer or meditation may reduce chronic

stress levels, improving mental & physical health.

3. Giving up smoking not only lowers your risk of developing certain types of cancer 5. Developing a daily spiritual or and serious heart disease - just think of meditation practice will improve your ability to cope with one of the biggest how much money you’ll save! health threats of all - chronic stress 4. Speaking of money, saving money which affects everything from mood may make you feel a little saner. Devel- to sleep cycles. Regular meditators and oping a disciplined budget with a sav- those with a dedicated prayer practice ings plan - and sticking to it - has been often report lower stress levels as well as greater levels of overall wellbeing. linked to lowered anxiety levels.

Florida’s Most Read 50+ Publication

After the s Walk, Joine U for th Fun Fest!

FREE Admission to

MOSI exhibit galleries Only $2 to park Jan. 21!

Get a parking token at Lifestyles After 50 booth.

Meet inside the MOSI Main Entrance at 8:30.

Wear comfortable walking shoes.

There will be an incline and several ights of stairs.

This is a challenge, not a race!

You will take the challenge 6 people at a time.

Join the fun! Send this walk form in today!

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MAIL DEADLINE: Jan. 14th or Register at MOSI 8:30 am Jan. 21 Meet for Walk at 8:30 a.m.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 29

Low-cal cocktails: F

or some, happy hour is an institution.

An hour of soothing music, lovely conversation a favorite drink...or two... happy hour is, well, our happy time.

When starting a health kick - a new workout routine, a hardcore diet program - many find that the notion of that precious happy hour is quickly called into question. And it’s no wonder; drinking presents a problem that’s two-fold: first, it’s all too easy to have too many, which wreaks havoc on the body, stealing any possible morning cardio motivation, but not before delivering a calorie disaster.

Not only are beer, wine and liquor all loaded with calories, they’re calories of the worst kind - simple sugars that derail

any diet and mess with any metabolism.

Before you swear off all alcohol though, fear not! Maybe you really don’t have to choose. With research consistently touting the health benefits of conservative alcohol consumption - things like protection against heart disease, raised HDL cholesterol (the good kind) levels and lower levels of artery-clogging LDL cholesterol (that’s the bad kind) - moderation is the key to keeping both your cocktails and your cardio in line. That’s one drink a day for women and two a day for men.

For those who credit happy hour as offering mental health benefits money can’t buy, new research actually backs you. A UK study found that ethanol protects cultured neurons against synapse damage; in other words, moderate consumption helps neurons in the brain resist wear and tear that can lead to Alzheimer’s and dementia. Now that you know how much to drink, it’s time to figure out what to drink. Here are two recipes for low-cal cocktails that accomodate your calorie count while still tasting fun and delicious. Bottoms up!

Uphold your new year’s resolutions (without abandoning your happy hour) What You Want: Margarita (400 cals) Have This Instead: Tequila w/ lime (115 cals) Coming in all shapes and sizes, margaritas present quite a challenge in “moderation.” Try our simpler version below.

Tequila on ice w/ lime

You Want: Mojito (170 cals) Have This Instead: No-jito (140 cals) Originating in the Caribbean, mojitos are known for fresh ingredients - and loads of sugar. Why not make it a No-jito instead?

No-jito

- 1.5 oz high-end tequila - 2 limes, juiced - splash of club soda - salt Pour tequila, lime juice and club soda over ice, salting the rim for a refreshing margarita alternative with a calorie count and alcohol amount you can trust.

Combine the following in a shaker: - 1 oz vodka muddled with 2 chunks of cucumber - 1/2 oz honey - 1/2 oz fresh lime juice - 2 oz. cold green tea Shake it up and pour it over ice; garnishing your drink with a lime twist for easy, low-calorie cocktail perfection.

Pet Oral Health

By Clinton Cotten, DVM

T

10931 Boyette Road, Riverview

671-3400

A Complete Medical, Dental and Surgical Facility

• Blood Analysis • Xrays • Behavioral Consultation • Lab Work • Boarding & Grooming Facilities • Reptiles & Birds welcome too!

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Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 30

he holidays are over and it’s time for planning the rest of your family’s annual schedule. If your family has pets, now is the time to keep up with their overall health. Your veterinary office should be contacting you to make sure you schedule your pet’s annual exam and preventive healthcare, including vaccinations, heartworm/ parasite testing, and heartworm/flea/ tick prevention.

A part of the annual exam should be a discussion about your pet’s oral health. The oral exam should look for loose, broken or decayed teeth, as well as sores, growths and gum disease. A decision about scaling and polishing your pet’s teeth should also be made at this time. I have found over the years that this discussion leads to the pet owner’s great fear (anasthesia). Everyone knows someone whose pet died under anesthesia, but advances in veterinary medicine has made current pet anesthesia very safe. A pet over five years of age should have blood work

to make sure their liver, kidneys, and bone marrow are working properly. All pets under anesthesia are monitored by a veterinarian or technician. Pet dental procedures include ultrasonic scaling to remove tartar, polishing to even teeth surfaces after scaling, removing loose teeth or teeth with exposed roots.

All extracted teeth should have dental x-rays done before removal to evaluate the root and underlying bone.

Benefits of good oral health include: pain relief, bad breath prevention, and just making your pet feel good.

Boyette Animal Hospital strives to offer you and your family pet the highest quality medical care & services, all delivered in a comfortable, family oriented environment. A beautiful 9000 sq. ft. facility employs nine full-time veterinarians and a caring staff devoted to providing your loved companion with the most comprehensive veterinary care available. Located at 10931 Boyette Rd. in Riverview, visit them online at www.boyetteanimalhospital. com or call (813) 671-3400 to schedule your pet’s oral health appointment.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 31

Food Fix: Small diet changes may help treat two common chronic health problems W

hile the advent of pharmaceuticals has saved, extended and improved the lives of millions, we often forget that one of the most powerful drugs on the planet is available right in our grocery aisles - whole, fresh food.

Unbelievably effective at treating common health problems, nutritious food is a great first line of defense for improving quality of life - especially if you’re suffering from mood swings or insomnia.

If either of these health issues stand between you and your wellness, avoid immediately rushing to the medicine cabinet and try out these food fixes instead.

within an hour or two of waking reported a more even mood all through the day, better performance at work, and less fatigue than those who skipped their morning meal. For an optimal moodregulating breakfast, look for a 100% whole-grain (supplies glucose - fuel - to the brain) cereal with at least four grams of fiber and added protein (satisfies hunger and steadies blood sugar levels).

Food Fix for Mood Swings 1. Say yes to breakfast If you suffer from feeling at the mercy of your mood swings, eating a regular breakfast may make all the difference. British researchers found that study participants who ate

Tip: Boost your breakfast’s antioxidants by adding fresh berries to your cereal.

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LifestylesAfter50.com Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 32

2. Stock up on selenium Found in Brazil nuts, tuna, eggs and turkey, selenium helps keep you on an even keel - especially if you’re a woman. Diets high in this lesser known trace mineral have been linked to a lower proclivity for depression in females, probably because selenium is so crucial to producing thyroid hormones - those hormones responsible for governing both metabolism and mood. The good news is you can get all the selenium you need by eating one three ounce can of tuna every week.

Food Fix for Insomnia 1. Eat a late night snack With countless warnings about the health havoc of eating too late, it’s hard for insomniacs to believe that too strict an application of the rule could be the culprit of their turmoil. Recent animal studies reveal that bedtime hunger leads to edginess, preventing the physiological relaxation needed to fall asleep - not to mention how distracting a grumbling stomach can be. For a sleep promoting snack, try a small snack that includes complex carbs (cheese and crackers or almonds and bananas) 30 minutes to an hour before bed.

2. Add cherries Wash down your late night snack with a glass of cherry juice for more sleep help. In a study of chronic insomniacs asked to drink eight ounces of juice an hour before bedtime, those who drank Montmorency cherry juice stayed asleep two hours longer than placebo juice drinkers. Researchers credit cherries’ unique anti-inflammatory properties for stimulating the production of cytokines, a type of immune-system molecule that helps regulate sleep, and cherries’ high concentration of melatonin, a crucial hormone that signals the body to go to sleep - and stay that way.

Tinseltown Talks: Betty Lynn: Keeping Mayberry Alive

By Nick Thomas

I

t’s just after noon on the third Friday of the month, and 89-year-old Betty Lynn is preparing to take her seat behind a small brown table in the main room of the Andy Griffith Museum in Mount Airy, NC. Visitors are already beginning to flood into the 2,500-squarefeet building to meet the actress best known to 60s TV fans as Barney Fife’s girlfriend, Thelma Lou, from “The Andy Griffith Show” set in the fictional town of Mayberry.

“Over 500 people come through,” says Betty of a typical day when sitting throughout the afternoon once a month at the museum greeting fans. They come from all over the world to meet a former cast member of the popular show and to see the large collection of Andy Griffith memorabilia, assembled by Griffith’s life-long friend Emmett Forrest (see w w w. a n d y g r i ff i t h m u s e u m . c o m ) .

In 2007, after being twice robbed in her Los Angeles home, Lynn left Hollywood for the quiet, secure life in Mount Airy, which was also Andy Griffith’s hometown.

“I’d been coming here for the Mayberry Days festival for ages, so it seemed like the perfect place to settle,” she said.

“Everyone has been so kind since I moved here. It didn’t take long for me to feel like a local rather than a visitor.”

“The Andy Griffith Show” ran for eight seasons, throughout most of the 1960s. It won six Emmys, including five

Betty Lynn, now 89, says she still gets great joy out of connecting with fans. for Don Knotts. “Andy was fun and a bit of a tease off camera, while Don was sweet but very quiet and nothing like his Barney Fife character. But that just illustrates what a good actor he was.”

Appearing in 20 films and over 40 TV shows, Lynn is well known for her many roles in the western genre.

“I enjoyed westerns, but filming in the hot Californian summers wearing long dresses and petticoats was rough,” she said. “During one show, I think it was ‘Texas John Slaughter’ for ‘Disneyland,’ we sat down to lunch and these huge bugs swarmed all around us. We were told to just ignore them and eat around them.”

Throughout her career, Lynn worked with some Hollywood greats.

“My first film, ‘Sitting Pretty,’ and then later ‘Cheaper by the Dozen,’ were with Clifton Webb, a sweet man with a good sense of humor,” she recalled. “I also did two films with Bette Davis who got everyone to call me Boo, after one of my characters, so it wouldn’t be confusing when they called ‘Betty on the set!’

At one time or another, Betty also worked with almost every member of the “Gilligan’s Island” cast.

“Alan Hale Jr. was on an episode of ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ and played a mountain man looking for a wife,” explained Lynn. “Recently, I saw the episode again, where he picked me way up in the air twice. I laughed because I looked like a rag doll.”

As she does on each of her visits to the museum, Betty braces for a long afternoon as enthusiastic fans are already forming the meet-and-greet line.

“It’s a little tiring by the end of the day, but it’s the least I can do since people may stand for hours to take a picture, get an autograph and a hug,” she says.

“There’s a lot of love coming my way.”

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 600 magazines and newspapers.

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 33

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 34

Imperial Symphony Orchestra presents... A Night at the Opera C

lassical music fans who enjoy shorter operas will love Imperial Symphony Orchestra’s (ISO) presentation of “Die Fledermaus” (The Bat)

by Johann Strauss Jr. This celebrated and humorous operetta will show at the 15th annual “A Night at the Opera” at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 23 at Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

“Die Fledermaus,” which is German for bat, recounts the hilarious tale of a practical joke played on Dr. Falke who was left inebriated by the side of the road dressed in a bat costume.

Forced to walk into town dressed as a bat, he was henceforth known to the town as Dr. Bat. Planning his revenge on his so called friend, he comes up with the perfect prank to play on his friend Gabriel von Eisenstein.

“You don’t have to leave home for a world-class opera experience,” says Amy Wiggins, ISO executive director. “We bring the stars to you to perform Polk County’s only fullystaged professional opera production.

This is the first and largest production of the 2016 season as we celebrate

eras. Donations of $1,000 each from a loyal group of “Aria Angels” enable favorite arias to be sung on stage including this year’s presentation at Orlofsky’s Ball.

The operetta will be held at Florida Southern College’s Branscomb Auditorium, 111 Lake Hollingsworth Dr. in Lakeland. Tickets, including fees, are $15 (students), $45 (silver,) $67 (gold) and $150 for one Gold seat and an invitation to the Grande Reception with sponsors and guests.

For tickets and more information, visit imperialsymphony.org or call (863)688-3743.

our 50th anniversary.”

Internationally-acclaimed opera stars Stella Zambalis (soprano); Mark Thomsen (tenor); and Jeff Mattsey (baritone) will share their talents on stage with local vocalists, musicians and students continuing the ISO mission of “educating, entertaining and inspir-

ing audiences.”

Producer Greg Sale and his wife Christina, both local vocalists and supporters of the arts, launched the first “A Night at the Opera” in 2001. Along with the volunteer opera committee, led

by Kelly Aiken and Deedre Daniel, the team has produced 14 high-quality op-

The Imperial Symphony Orchestra (ISO) has been educating, entertaining and inspiring central Florida audiences since 1965. This season celebrates ISO’s 50th anniversary and includes performances by world-renowned guest artists, favorite Masterworks selections and even some new experiences! Visit imperialsymphony. org to join ISO today and ensure your seats are reserved for the celebration!

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 35

Seniors Getting Together

WOMEN SEEKING MEN

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

4486 FORMER NATIONAL MODEL, healthy W, F, 62, 5’6”, 140 lbs, long blonde hair, blue eyes, great figure, many interests, can relocate. ISO W, S, M, NS, SD, NDrg, compassionate, romantic, intelligent “one woman man.” LTR, marriage, serious only, letter/photo. Madeira Beach area.

4470 SLENDER, ATTRACTIVE, FUNLOVING SWF, ISO 65 plus gentleman for loving LTR. Enjoy festivals, day trips, flea markets, dancing, dining, togetherness.

Share good times. St Pete Area.

4518 RETIRED EDUCATOR. WWF seeks NS, ND, aged 60 – 70 with SOH. I am a hopeless romantic, love to cuddle, enjoy most any activities, seeking LTR. I am loyal, trustworthy, honest and seek same.

4511 SWF, 53YY, 5’8”, NS, SD, ISO 50+, stable man for friendship, cards, beach walks, picnics, long talks, happy hours, games, puzzles, sports, movies, museums, concerts, bear hugs and maybe more. Gulfport area.

4517 DBF, 72, 5’4”, 135 LBS., enjoys movies, travel, dining out and more.

ISO a gentleman, 70+, 5’8”+, financially secure, N/S, sincere, easygoing, SOH. Must mention phone number in response. St. Pete, Tampa Bay area.

4519 – SWF, LOVE, PASSION, ROMANCE, Beach, Sunsets, Dining Out, Travel, Fishing, Music, Cooking, Reading, Dancing, Sightseeing, Social Drinks, Fun, Looking for same. 64 years old, light smoker.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN 4504 WHITE MALE, 6’1”, 185 LBS., age 81, looking for a lover and eventual live in my home. Lots of love and passion. Happy Christian, sometimes nudist. Brandon area.

4505 RETIRED DWM. HEALTHY AND FIT, loves life. ISO healthy WF that enjoys beach walks, sunrises, sunsets, hiking, fishing, travel, movies and romance for LTR. Serious replys please over 50. St. Pete. Area.

4506 EASY TO GET ALONG WITH, attractive, SWM, 70s, NS, 5’10”, 170 lbs, romantic. Likes travel, theatre, dining out, concerts, exercise. Looking for attractive female, 65 plus for LTR. Dunedin area.

4512 VERY HANDSOME, YOUNG LOOKING, 60 something, fit, retiree, blue eyes, gray hair,

5’11”, 175 lbs., looking for female with like qualities for fun travel, romance.

4514 FORMER PARK RANGER, HWP, NS, ND, ISO WF that enjoys being outdoors, sunrises, sunsets, hiking, canoeing, camping, exploring rivers and springs in North Florida. 55 or older.

Serious replies, LTR? St. Pete area.

Attention SGTers!

Did you find love through our Seniors Getting Together service? Next month’s issue is all about love & relationships, so if you found blissful romance through SGT, please email your story (photo optional) to editor@lifestylesafter50.com for a chance to have your love story featured in February’s issue of Lifestyles After 50!

Commonly Used Abbreviations: F-Female, M-Male, S-Single, D-Divorced, WWWidow, A-Asian, B-Black, H-Hispanic, I-Indian, W-White, C-Christian, J-Jewish, YO-Years Old, YY-Years Young, ISO-In Search Of, SOH-Sense Of Humor, SM-Smokes, S-Light Smoker, NSNon Smoker, ND-Non Drinker, SD-Social (Light) Drinker, DR-Drinks, NDrg- No Drugs, LTR-Long Term Relationship, HWP-Height & Weight Proportional, R-Retired, P-Professional, FF-Friendship First, TLC-Tender Loving Care.

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FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!

Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on the 20th of the month will receive $20 cash! Send to: News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583 I want information on: Travel / Cruises Recreation / Leisure Entertainment / Events

Insurance Elder Law / Financial Housing Options Reverse Mortgages

Personal Health & Fitness Home Improvements Automobiles

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Send your answers along with your name, Januaryis 20 will The of the on game to win. fill all the address and telephone number to: objectMYSTERY MYSTERY WIN! WIN! WIN! blank squares with the correct numbers.

PRIZE! PRIZE! LIFESTYLES AFTER 50 GREAT PRIZES! P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

(Puzzles must be received by the 20th of the month)

Each row of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order.

Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9.

January Sudoku Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.

The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well.

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on the 20th of the month will win.

Good luck!

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Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: LIFESTYLES AFTER 50 P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

James Conley is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES! (Sudoku must be received by the 20th of the month.)

Mystery Prize!

Lifestyles After 50 • January 2016 • page 39

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