Lifestyles After 50 Tampa Bay Edition, October 2015

IT’S Fall Y’ALL!

Bass Pro Shops Invite Visitors To Explore Florida’s Wild Side

By Tracie Lukens

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utdoors enthusiasts all over the Bay area have something to cheer about with the recent grand opening of Bass Pro Shops in Brandon. The new 130,000-plussquare-foot Bass Pro Shops Outdoor World is not just an outfitter for hunting, fishing, camping and boating, it’s also part museum, art gallery, antique store and aquarium.

“One of the biggest, most exciting highlights of the store is that it was modeled after the local area.

The Skyway Bridge, Hillsborough River and Little Manatee river are all respresented in handpainted murals. It took months to do, and the artwork shows all of the species of fish and wildlife you can find right here,” says general manager Ronnie Cheeks.

In the lodge-themed lobby, vintage photographs, antique artifacts and trophies highlight the area’s original sportsmen and women. It’s a celebration of all things wonderful about Florida’s great outdoors and an invitation for visitors to explore it for themselves.

Fun and Conservation “Conservation is a huge deal for us,” said Cheeks. “We want to ensure that our beautiful woodlands and waterways will be around for future generations to enjoy.” Bass Pro Shops aids these efforts through partnership and donations to conservation programs, as well as by hosting events and educational classes.

50+ adults and grandkids alike can take advantage of classes like fly fishing, outdoor cooking, wilderness survival,

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Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 2

archery and gun safety, to name a few.

Benches next to their 11,000 freshwater aquarium make a comfortable spot to rest and see some of Florida’s native fish species up close.

There are also spots for a quick game of checkers by their great stone fireplace.

For more info about upcoming events, visit www.facebook. com/BassProShops BrandonFL.

Apparel: Men, women and kids can find clothing specifically geared for outdoor activities in Florida’s climate, as well as casual attire.

Gifts: Old-fashioned treats, rustic decor, home and garden supplies and fun knicknacks for nature fans are available in their Gifts & Nature section.

Other Highlights: Islamorada Fish Company: The store’s on-site restaurant serves up fresh seafood and tasty steaks.

Boat Showroom: Bass Pro Shops’ 9,800-square-foot showroom features saltwater and freshwater fishing and recreation boats. Service bays allow customers to get their boat rigged, serviced and maintained on location.

Advice Bass Pro Shops’ knowledgable staff are handpicked from expert hunters and fishermen, gear specialists and even Eagle scouts. If you have a question, they can help. You might even get a good hunting/fishing story out of it.

“Everyone who works here is eager to share their experience and passion for the outdoors. People love telling their stories here, both customers and staff,” says Cheeks. His story was all about spending time with loved ones.

“I’d have to say cooking is my favorite outdoor activity. Fishing is relaxing, but cooking outdoors with the grandkids and the family is a lot of fun.”

Start your own outdoor adventure; visit bassproshops.com.

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It’s Pretzel and Beer Time. ‘Nuff Said.

Dear Readers,

the world hold Oktoberfest celebrations, modeled after the Munich event. hen I lived up Florida is no exception, and in this issue north, we had you’ll find local Oktoberfests and other changing leaves and a fall festivals to put you in that autumn nip in the air to announce mood. Grab the family and enjoy music, the arrival of fall. Here games, food, pumpkin patches and more, in Florida, it’s officially Tracie Lukens, or raise your glass in a hearty “Prost!” autumn when the kegs are Editor If you’re interested in hosting your own tapped for Oktoberfest.

Oktoberfest, check out this great recipe You’ve got to hand it to this state; we for beer’s favorite buddy, Bavarian know how to brew. You’re talking about Pretzels. Traditionally, pretzel dough Cigar City’s home state—not to mention was dipped in a caustic lye solution Cycle Brewing, 7venth Sun, Funky before baking to create that deep brown Buddha and Swamp Head, to name a few. crust. But you can substitute a baking It’s no coincidence that the brews start soda solution for the same effect. With flowing abundantly around football season. this easy recipe, you’ll be twisting According to “By the Numbers: Super homemade pretzels in no time.

Bowl Facts and Figures,” in the Super Bowl alone the beer consumption by Americans is around 325.5 million gallons.

Others toast to cooler weather and the arrival of the holiday season. It’s all about celebration! The first Oktoberfest was the public celebration of the marriage of Bavarian Crown Prince Luitpolk to the Saxon-Hildburgenhausen Princess Therese in October, 1810. All of the people of Munich, Germany were invited to the fiveEasy Bavarian Pretzels day celebration, held on a large meadow.

The original celebration featured horse Makes a dozen large pretzels races, barrel rolling, games and, later, (From Beersmith.com) mechanical rides. Beer wasn’t permitted 1 packet active dry bread yeast on the fairgrounds until late in the 1800s, 1 cup warm water but eventually beer stands and beer halls 2 tablespoons soft butter or margarine became a part of Oktoberfest.

Today, the world’s largest beer festival 2 3/4 cups bread flour is still held on its original site, referred 1/2 teaspoon salt to as “Theresienwiese” (Therese’s 1 tablespoon sugar meadow) and has grown to a 16-day- 5 teaspoons baking soda (for glazing) long celebration. Munich’s Oktoberfest Coarse salt (if desired) attracts more than six million people every year who consume 1.5 million Instructions: In a large mixing bowl, combine 1 cup gallons of beer! Visitors also eat large warm water and packet of yeast. amounts of traditional food such as pork, Mix in 1 1/2 cups of flower, the 2 tbsp chicken, potato pancakes, sauerkraut and red cabbage. Many cities across margarine, 1/2 tsp salt and tbsp sugar.

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Beat the entire mixture for 3 minutes to mix well.

Slowly mix in the remaining 1 1/4 cups of flour, and knead dough until all of the flour is mixed in and dough loses its stickiness.

Set aside in bowl, and let it rise until dough reaches approximately double its original size.

Divide dough into twelve approximately equal pieces. Using your palms, roll each piece into 18″ lengths about pencil thickness. Loop and twist the lengths into pretzel shapes and place on a greased baking sheet. Allow pretzels to rise again until they approximately double in girth.

Preheat oven to 475 degrees, and ready a boiling solution of 4 cups of water, and the 5 tsp of baking soda in a shallow non-aluminum pot. (Note: aluminum may react with baking soda).

With a plastic spatula, carefully lift each pretzel from the sheet and lower it into the boiling baking soda solution for 15 – 20 seconds. Make sure you cover both sides of the pretzel.

Sprinkle the pretzels with coarse salt (if desired; they’re great without salt as well), and bake approximately 7 – 10 minutes until browned. Serve warm, plain or topped with butter, mustard or cheese.

Snowbirds Another sign of fall’s return to the Sunshine State is the return of our northern friends. We’re glad to have you back! Inside this issue you’ll find tips on how to get your seasonal home ready, where to find fun stuff to do and ways to connect with new neighbors while you’re here, among other things.

Wishing you a festive fall!

—Tracie Lukens

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 Tracie Lukens editor@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Emeritus Janice Doyle 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

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Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 3

Welcome Back, Snowbirds!

By Tracie Lukens

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n old joke says that you can tell it’s fall in Florida when the colors start to change on the license plates.

An estimated 818,000 snowbirds make the Sunshine State their home during the peak winter months, according to a study by Stan Smith, director of the University of Florida’s Bureau of Economic and Business Research.

While year-round residents may complain about busy roads or longer wait times for a table at their favorite restaurant, it’s great news for local businesses.

“Our accommodations, restaurants and retail businesses benefit the most from the snowbirds,” says Elizabeth Spies, vice president of communications at the Chamber of Commerce in Destin, which has a large snowbird community. “Snowbirds also patronize our arts organizations...whose seasons run through the winter months.”

Home in Florida With the state’s warm weather and abundant recreational opportunities, it’s not surprising that many visitors choose to stay. Celebrities from Hulk Hogan, Larry Bird and David Cassidy to John Travolta, Celine Dion and Cher have made Florida their home. Stephen King, one of our most famous snowbirds, spends half the year in Sarasota/Casey Key and the other half in Maine.

Most temporary residents migrate to counties in the southern part of the state.

Lee County, in southwest Florida where Fort Myers is located, has the most temporary residents, followed by Palm Beach, Miami-Dade, Collier, Broward, Polk, Pinellas, Sarasota, Pasco and Hillsborough counties, according to the UF study. New Yorkers account for 13.1 percent of Florida’s temporary residents, followed by Michiganders at 7.4 percent, Ohioans at 6.7 percent, Pennsylvanians at 5.8 percent and Canadians at 5.5 percent, the study found. The average length of stay is five months.

Staying Connected Snowbirds of a feather do tend to flock together, report Florida Weekly columnists Mary Jane Fine and Tim Norris. Long Islanders and their fellow New York Outer Borough-ites and suburbanites tend to gravitate to Palm Beach County; Canadians lean toward Hollywood and Deerfield Beach; while Michiganders and Minnesotans head to Naples, Bonita Springs and Sanibel Island.

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 4

It started with interstates. From the Midwest, the most direct route to Florida, I-75, goes to the West Coast.

From the Northeast, I-95 follows the East Coast straight down to Miami.

From Alabama, Tennessee and Georgia, it’s a comfortable drive to the Panhandle.

After that, it comes down to word of mouth between northern neighbors on where to retire and vacation. That, and a strong sense of community.

“There’s something about Clevelanders that we like to stick together,” says snowbird Rita Weiner, a former icecream store owner who retired from Beachwood to Boynton Beach with her husband, Gerry. “Clevelanders will always be faithful to Cleveland.”

Many of these communities will have dedicated snowbird clubs, but a great way to expand your circle of friends and familiarize yourself with your winter home is to attend a meeting at a Welcome or Newcomers Club, such as the Tampa Bay Newcomers (tampabaynewcomers. com), Welcome Club of Sarasota (welcomeclubsarasota.com), or the Naples Newcomers (naplesnewcomers. com) to name a few. Clubs near you are easy to find online.

Meetup.com is also a great way to connect with others for fun activities, as are local community centers such as the Carrollwood Cultural Center in Tampa (carrollwoodcenter.org), the Friendship Centers in Sarasota, Venice, Lee, DeSoto, Charlotte and Collier (friendshipcenters. org) the Cultural Center of Charlotte County (theculturalcenter.com), the Lee County

Alliance for the Arts (artinlee.org) and the Largo Cultural Center (largo.com) among others. There, you’ll find arts, entertainment, classes, local trips and more.

Recreation What’s new since you were here last? If you’re coming to the Tampa Bay area, a trip to Top Golf (topgolf.com/us/tampa) or the new Bass Pro Shop (basspro.com) is a fun way to spend the afternoon. Legoland (florida.legoland.com) just opened up a new hotel in Winter Haven, and Warm Mineral Springs (warmmineral.com) has reopened in Sarasota. There’s a lot to see and do no matter where you go. For a list of events, attractions, dining and more near you, check out visitflorida.com or your town’s convention and visitor’s bureau. The Around Town section of this magazine will feature fun things to do in your community each month.

Earning Change or Changing Lives If you’re looking for seasonal work, there’s plenty to be found on sites like Indeed.com, SnagAJob.com and Craigslist.com.

Retirementjobs.com and Workforce50.com are geared more toward boomer and senior applicants. Work at Home Vintage Employees (wahve.com) offers work-fromhome opportunities to retirees. If you’re RVing in, check out Workamper.com for jobs that come with free camp space.

If your interests lie more in volunteering, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) is active throughout Florida with a wide variety of programs, from tutoring youth to rennovating homes. (ecsbigbend.org/index.php/services/rsvp)

Meals on Wheels, a food delivery service for the homebound, is always looking for drivers. Search online for the facility nearest you.

Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity, Seniors Helping Seniors and more could use helping hands as well. Service hours are flexible; just find a cause you are passionate about and go for it!

Transportation Need a ride? The Florida Senior Safety Resource Center provides access to a database of transportation resources available in each Florida county. With a simple click on a map, you can view the transportation options that are available in your community. The website also provides information and links for numerous other community resources.

Visit safeandmobileseniors.org.

If You Need a Hand The Department of Elder Affairs administers programs and services for elders across the state of Florida through 11 Area Agencies on Aging, which operate Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). So if you need assistance with anything from caregiving and health insurance to getting meals or finding a place to live, your local Area Agency on Aging can help. Find the closest one to you at elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/ arc.php. Or call the Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337).

It’s going to be a great season, and we hope you have everything you need to make the most of your winter stay. If you’re a snowbird, Lifestyles After 50 Magazine would love to hear from you.

Where are you from? What are your plans for the season? Give us a buzz at editor@ lifestylesafter50.com. Welcome back!

Around Town

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5

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hrough Nov. 1 First United Methodist Church of Brandon is selling fresh pecans. $45 per 5 lb. halves or pieces or $10 per 1 lb. halves. Order between now and Nov. 1 by calling 813-685-1938 or emailing bjbrooks5@ gmail.com. Pick up dates Nov. 14 and 16.

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nd and 4th Tuesday Play cards, bridge and dominoes from 9 a.m. to noon. FREE. Also enjoy Morning Stretch, Painting and Art classes, Line Dancing, Educational Diabetes Classes, Potluck Bingo and more. Brandon Community Center. Info: 813-635-8179.

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ednesdays Drawing for Fun and Relaxation. Try your hand at drawing or improve your skills with this “just-for-fun” class. $15 per class or $40 for 4 weeks. 1:30 – 3:30 p.m. Old Hyde Park Art Center, Tampa. 813-250-3875.

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undays Upstairs/Downstairs. Step back in time and enjoy the singlecharacter performances that bring turnof-the-century Hotel staff members and guests to life. $7/$10. 2 p.m. Henry B. Plant Museum, Tampa. 813-254-1891.

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and 10 Yard and Bake Sale. Free and open to the public. Air conditioned.

Hot dogs, chips and cold drinks will be available. 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Brandon Moose Lodge, Valrico. 813-689-6043.

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10 and 11 Southeast Street Rod Nationals. Over 80 exhibitors, vintage parts swap, arts and crafts show, food, games and entertainment. $15. 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa. 901-452-4030 or nsra-usa.com.

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Shabby Chic Vintage Market & Artisan Day. Shabby chic décor, garden art, plants, antiques, mid-century modern furnishings, food vendors, live street entertainers and more. Free.

10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tampa Garden Club, Bayshore Blvd., Tampa. 727-674-1464.

parody of “The Silence of the Lambs” with musical numbers like “Papa Shtarling,” “Quid Pro Quo,” and more. $29.50. 8 p.m.

Straz Center, Tampa. 813-229-STAR.

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Blues & BBQ Fundraiser.

Raffles, prizes, live entertainment and some of the best BBQ you have ever tasted. $20/$25. 2 – 7 p.m. Firehouse Cultural Center, Ruskin.

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Strawberry Classic Car Show.

Live entertainment, food and crafting vendors. Free admission. 4 – 9 p.m. Union Station Depot, Plant City.

813-754-3707 or plantcity.org.

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– Nov. 1 “Things My Mother Taught Me.” Romantic comedy about a young couple moving into their first apartment and their surprise when everyone, including their parents, shows up to help. $15 – $21. 8 p.m. Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa. 813-922-8167.

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Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest.

Free admission and parking.

Exhibitors, free entertainment, free health screenings, free coffee and snacks, free bingo with prizes. 9:30 a.m.

– 2 p.m. Largo Cultural Center. Info: 1-888-670-0040 or 813-653-1988.

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Celebrate South Hillsborough History. Free historical and educational event full of displays, photos, videos and presentations. Complimentary refreshments. Firehouse Cultural Center, Ruskin. Info: 813-645-7651.

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Art Walk. Take a stroll with creative vendors. Live music.

Food, drink for sale and more. Free admission. 12 – 5 p.m. Harbour Island on the Waterfront, Tampa. 813-451-7936.

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ov. 14 Arts and Crafts Fair. High quality crafts including Christmas decorations, jewelry, fabric, pottery, woodcraft, bake sale, Chinese Auction of crafts, and much more. Free admission.

8 a.m. – 2 p.m. Southport Springs Golf & Country Club, Zephyrhills. 610-698-1584.

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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 event (i.e. October 10 for November event.)

and 17 “Dracula.”

Be mesmerized by the dramatic tale of the infamous Count Dracula and his quest for power and love. Performed by Brandon Ballet. $20/$25. 7 p.m. Centro Asturiano, Tampa. 813-684-4282. through 31 “Silence! The Musical.” The unauthorized

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 5

Eat, Drink and Be Scary! Fall Festivals and More T

his Month Howl ‘O Scream at Busch Gardens, Tampa. Haunted houses, entertainment, food and more.

7:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. Select nights this month. Tickets/info at 1-888-8005447 or http://seaworldparks.com/en/ buschgardens-tampa/howloscream.

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elect nights through Nov. 1 ZooBoo at Lowry Park Zoo. Creep around ZooBoo for a ghoulish good time for all. The event is family-friendly with attractions that range in “scare factor,” including haunted houses, trails, displays, lights, music, night rides and more. Activities free with zoo admission: adults $27.95; seniors (60+) $25.95; children (3-11) $20.95; children (2 and under) free. 1101 W. Sligh Avenue, Tampa. 813-935-8552.

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– 11 Oktoberfest Tampa. Keg tapping on Friday. Over 20 games including Oktoberfest Olympiad, keg toss, stein holding, carry the wench and corn hole. German beer, food and live music (including lots of polka).

Admission is $10 for one day or $25 for the weekend with a VIP pass available

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 6

$5. Kids and Military ID get in for free. Tampa Bay Downs, 11225 Race Track Rd., Tampa. 813-855-4233.

and free general admission to Armed Forces members with ID. Location: Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, 600 N. Ashley Dr., Tampa.

Oktoberfesttampa.com.

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Animal Services’ Cats, Bats & Bones. This day of Halloween fun and pet adoption runs from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

Kids costume parade, “meow off” contest, live bat chats and more.

County’s shelter, 440 N. Falkenburg Road, Tampa.

More info at 813-744-5660 or visit hillsboroughcounty.org/animalservices.

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– 31 A Nightmare on Franklin Street. Tampa’s most historic theater presents nine nights of programming aimed at everyone from the average Halloween enthusiast to hard-core horror fans. Screenings include The Conjuring, The Shining, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Poltergeist and

more, as well as a special screening of The Exorcist featuring a live discussion with Linda Blair. Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa. For tickets and showtimes, visit tampatheatre.org or call 813-274-8286.

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– 25 Top of the Bay Oktoberfest – German food, beer, arts and crafts, carnival, and contests including keg toss, stein holding and barrel rolling.

Live music and dancing. Admission is

Halloween Make-up Workshop. Theater make-up artists will host an introduction to make-up and design, an application demonstration of wounds, scars and painting, designed for 5th grade through adult.

Create a simple wound in class. Materials and take-home guide provided.

10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center, Tampa. $20. Registration required at 813-222-1002.

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Simmons Park After Dark Party.

Visit E.G. Simmons Regional Park, 2401 19th Ave., NW in Ruskin on Oct. 27 and enjoy games, a costume contest for kids and pets, hayrides and a haunted trail. 5 – 11 p.m. $2 park entry per vehicle (up to 8 people), $1 kids hayride; $5 haunted trail. 813-671-7655.

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 7

FINANCE

Three Work From Home Ideas

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hether you already work and want to make more money, or are retired and looking to supplement your income, there are jobs out there that fit the bill.

“Many people who are retirement age opt for ‘patchwork careers’—they piece together a variety of jobs they can do from home or on their own schedule,” says Christine Durst, a home-based career expert and co-founder of RatRaceRebellion.com.

Here some suggestions.

1. Call Center & Customer Service Rep As a home-based agent, you’ll field calls for companies like Bluefly, Spiegel, American Agents, Hilton, HSN, 1-800-FLOWERS, and others. Depending on the company, you may work as either an employee or an independent contractor, but you can usually pick your own hours.

Pay range: $8 - $18 an hour Where to look: RatRaceRebellion.com 2. Teacher/Tutor You may be aware that many colleges offer online courses, creating great opportunities for virtual adjunct professors if you have a career specialty or skill.

While some of these positions require a teaching background, many do not. You might also be able to teach English as a Second Language face-to-face via Skype.

Pay range: $10+ an hour Where to look: College: Kaplan.com and Chronicle.com; Elementary/High School: ConnectionsAcademy.com and K12.com; ESL: ISpeakUSpeak.com and OpenEnglish.com.

3. Search Engine Evaluator Evaluate and improve search engine results for some of the world’s largest internet companies. Basically, you Google (or use another search engine) to look for specific topics, keywords and images. You then review and rate the results.

Pay range: $13+ an hour Where to look: Leapforce.com For more work from home ideas, read the complete article at lifestylesafter50.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 8

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Could Treating Lung Disease Lower Your Risk for Dementia?

By Cara Tompot

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t’s 2015, and it feels like the healthcare dialogue has shifted greatly in the last decade. We live in a society that constantly uses buzzwords like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Movies such as “Still Alice” have brought these debilitating conditions into the limelight. Just recently at a World Health Organization (WHO) conference, a global action called for increased investment in promising research efforts for treating dementia.

In many ways, the first step in curing dementia is learning how it develops and how certain risk factors contribute to a dementia diagnosis.

Recent studies point to a link between chronic lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the development of dementia.

COPD is a progressive disease that restricts the airflow in and out of the lungs. As a result, sufferers of a chronic lung disease often experience breathlessness. Oftentimes, sufferers have very low oxygen levels, which can increase the risk for heart attacks, strokes and permanent brain damage.

After a fifteen-year study, scientists have concluded that these low blood oxygen levels (hypoxemia) and structural brain damage are just two ways that sufferers of a chronic lung disease have an increased risk for dementia.

Additionally, hypercapnia, which is an increased amount of carbon dioxide in the blood—a common side effect of smoking and COPD, can increase the chance of cognitive impairment. This proves a direct correlation between

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Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 10

chronic lung disease and dementia.

In the wake of these new findings, researchers are determining whether maintaining optimal pulmonary health could decrease your risk for developing dementia. For individuals suffering from a chronic lung disease, this adds extra incentive to improve lung function, and many are turning to stem cell therapy for relief.

For too long, sufferers of COPD and emphysema have found that they

didn’t have any options to improve their condition. Now, a clinic based in the United States has developed three unique treatments using stem cells derived from the patient’s own fat, blood or bone marrow. Stem cells have an innate healing property that allows them to regenerate damaged lung tissue.

After treating over 1,000 patients, the Lung Institute (www.lunginstitute.com) explains that this innovative procedure slows the progression of the disease, in addition to restoring lung function and reducing inflammation. Patients report being able to breathe easier, which raises their blood oxygen levels and lowers their chances of developing Alzheimer’s or dementia.

The benefits of improving your lung function seem relatively obvious: the ability to breathe easier, the chance to get back to the life you once had, an improved prognosis—the list goes on.

Now, there is potential for improved lung function to also decrease the likelihood of developing a debilitating condition like dementia. As it stands, stem cell therapy maybe the answer to slow down the progression of both lung disease and dementia.

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 11

TRAVEL

See Florida’s Natural Wonders Florida’s Other Nationally Designated Recreational Sites: • Big Cypress National Wildlife Refuge, in and around Collier County in southwest Florida, is one location where the roaming Florida panther can be spotted.

• Timucuan National Preserve, in northeast Florida, once home to the native Timucuan people and a treasure of natural and archaeological history.

The Everglades

By Kenneth Morgan-Schleuning, VISIT FLORIDA

Biscayne National Park

Coral Reefs: In waters just offshore are the only living coral reefs in the continental United States. In otherworldly shapes and colors, Florida corals are home to countless species of sea life, protected within Biscayne National Park.

Islands: To the south is Dry Tortugas National Park, within the famous chain of islands called the Florida Keys. Also on site, visitors can take a step back in history at Fort Jefferson, built between 1846 and 1875 to protect shipping along the Straits of Florida and the Gulf of Mexico, among other strategic needs.

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 12

Canaveral National Seashore

Seashores: Lesser known yet magnificent are Canaveral National Seashore, which includes 25 miles of Florida’s Atlantic coastline, and Gulf Islands National Seashore, the longest tract of protected seashore in the nation.

These two seashores offer miles of pristine sand, sea oats and sea grapes with coastal views that stretch to the horizon. Dolphins and manatees thrive in the waters here, and sea turtles return year after year to nest on the shores.

Crystal River Preserve State Park

“The department is eager to share its State Parks and natural treasures,” said Donald Forgione, director of the Florida Park Service. “We are committed to helping our citizens and visitors discover and explore our natural resources here in the Sunshine State.”

Accessible National and State Parks

J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge

• J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, near Sanibel Island, is renowned for birding and other wildlife-watching.

The National Park Service invites visitors to these and other parks to share their experiences using #FindYourPark.

Florida’s State Parks

Florida’s National Parks The Everglades: Out of the three National Parks in Florida, the environmental crown jewel is Everglades National Park, unique to the planet with millions of acres of tropical, watery grasslands, mangroves and ecosystems that nurture myriad species of wildlife.

Here, visitors may see endangered species that thrive in the wilds of the Everglades: manatees, sea turtles, Florida panthers, long-legged birds such as the blue heron, ghost orchids, and thousands of other wild plants and animals. With an estimated 1.25 million alligators in Florida, many of them can be spotted in Everglades National Park.

• Castillo de San Marcos National Monument, a Spanish fort in St. Augustine, on Florida’s northeast coast, which is the oldest European-settled city in the nation, founded a half-century before Jamestown and Plymouth.

• De Soto National Memorial, in Bradenton on Florida’s central Gulf Coast, commemorating Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto’s 4,000mile expedition in Florida, which began in Tampa Bay in 1539.

A

merica’s National Parks are legend, drawing visitors from around the world. As tropical counterpoints to the nation’s grand mountains, canyons and glaciers, Florida’s nationally designated parks, preserves and seashores attract nearly 11 million visitors a year, indicating that for Florida’s 98.9 million visitors last year, the state’s natural attractions were an important part of visitors’ travel experiences.

“Visitors to our world class cities enjoy fine dining, shopping and nightlife.

But just beyond the tropic cityscape, Florida’s National and State Parks include beaches, waterways and thrilling wildlife,” said Paul Phipps, chief marketing officer for VISIT FLORIDA (visitflorida.com).

“For example, minutes from Miami Beach, the scenic and wild canvas of the Everglades can be experienced aboard an airboat adventure.

We encourage everyone to take advantage of how accessible our natural wonders are throughout the state.”

Florida Caverns State Park

Complementing the National Parks, 171 Florida State Parks received more than 27 million visitors last year.

Maintained by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Park Service, Florida’s State Parks include nearly 800,000 acres of land, 100 miles of Florida’s 825 miles of beaches, and more than 2,000 miles of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.

Highlights include Florida Caverns State Park, featuring natural limestone caverns; John Pennekamp State Park, the nation’s first undersea park; Crystal River Preserve State Park, where visitors can observe manatees; and Wakulla Springs State Park, home of one the nation’s largest freshwater springs.

Florida provides visitors with comforts and amenities within manageable miles of its wilderness areas. These include gateway destinations, Five Star resorts and world-renowned theme parks.

• An hour’s drive from the glitz of Miami Beach, visitors can take an airboat tour in Everglades National Park.

• Only a two-hour car ride from Pensacola, home to the dare devil stunts of the Blue Angels, Florida Caverns State Park is an easy afternoon trip.

• Just under three hours from Tampa’s Ybor City, J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge is a drivable distance for serious birding.

• Two hours south of Miami, visitors can reach John Pennekamp State Park for an underwater adventure.

• Attracting visitors to theme parks and attractions, Orlando provides a central home base for visitors to explore National and State Parks in every direction throughout the Sunshine State.

To learn more, visit VISITFLORIDA. com/trails, National Parks Service: Florida, FloridaStateParks.org, and NationalGeographic.com/Travel/Florida.

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 13

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Spicing Up Your Meals Might Extend Your Life S

ome like it hot, and a new study finds that folks who favor spicy foods might also have a lower risk of premature death.

“The finding is very simple,” said study lead author Dr. Lu Qi, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston. “If you eat more spicy food, it’s better for your health and lowers the risk for mortality, especially as it relates to cancer and heart disease.”

Investigators generally found that eating fresh spicy foods as little as once or twice a week was associated with a 10 percent drop in the overall risk for death during the study, compared with eating such foods less than once weekly.

Eating spicy foods between three and seven days per week appeared to lower mortality by as much as 14 percent.

“We do know that spices are high in potent antioxidants that could be protective against cancer and heart disease,” said registered dietician Lona Sandon, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas. “Spices have been used for years in traditional medicine practices to cure or treat a variety of ailments.”

And, she added, “the capsaicin in peppers is known to help fight inflammation.

Peppers are also a good source of vitamin C, a known potential cancer-fighting agent.” Fresh chili peppers—among the most commonly used spicy foods—were specifically linked to a lower risk of dying as a result of cancer, heart disease and type 2 diabetes Past research has also suggested that other spices, such as curry and garlic, are protective against cancer and beneficial in the fight to lower cholesterol and blood pressure, Sandon pointed out.

She noted that spices add flavor, add no calories and risk no harm. “And if they bring an added health benefit, then that is a bonus,” she said. (HealthDay) Easy Indian-Style Chicken Recipe by Ania; allrecipes.com.

“This is an easy and authentic-tasting Indian dish that the entire family will love! It tastes great with plain basmati rice topped with a couple tablespoons of yogurt (especially if you made the chicken spicy!)”

Ingredients 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 teaspoon cumin seed 1 onion, finely chopped 1/4 cup tomato paste 1/4 cup water 1 pound skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cubed 1/2 (14 ounce) can coconut milk 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar 1/ 2 teaspoon hot chile paste (optional) 1 pinch cayenne pepper (optional) 3/4 teaspoon ground turmeric Salt and pepper to taste 1/2 cup chopped cilantro Directions Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cumin seeds, and fry for a few minutes until they become fragrant and begin to pop. Stir in chopped onion, and cook until the onion has softened and turned translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.

Stir together tomato paste and water, and pour into skillet. Stir in chicken, and cook until it has firmed and turned white, about 5 minutes. Add coconut milk, brown sugar, chile paste, cayenne pepper, turmeric, salt, and pepper.

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Bring mixture to a simmer, then reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and continue to simmer until the chicken is tender and no longer pink in the center, about 15 minutes. Sprinkle with chopped cilantro before serving.

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 15

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 16

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 17

Breast Cancer: What’s Your Risk?

O

ctober is Breast Cancer Awareness month. In the United States, breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women and one in eight women will develop the disease. According to Mount Sinai experts, early detection and screening are important for saving lives.

Symptoms and Detection The most common breast cancer symptom is a lump. Other symptoms include swelling, skin irritation, nipple pain or retraction, and an unusual discharge.

Early diagnosis saves lives. The combination of a mammogram, a clinical breast exam and self-exams is recommended by healthcare experts to reduce breast cancer deaths.

A mammogram is a breast x-ray. If mammography finds an abnormality, confirmation by biopsy is required. In a biopsy, a tissue sample is taken for analysis.

About 2/10 percent of mammograms lead to a cancer diagnosis. About 10 percent of women examined will need another mammogram. Only about 10 percent of those women will need a biopsy. Out of those biopsies, 80 percent will come back negative for cancer.

Women 40 and older should have an annual mammogram and breast exam by a healthcare professional. As long as a woman is in good health and would be a candidate for treatment, she should continue to get mammograms and exams.

Research has shown that self exams help find breast cancer. Self examination teaches women how their breasts feel normally and to notice changes. To learn how to perform a self exam, visit nationalbreastcancer.org/ breast-self-exam.

Facts About Breast Cancer • A woman’s risk of breast cancer approximately doubles if her firstdegree relative (mother, sister, daughter) has been diagnosed with breast cancer.

• About 15 percent of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it.

Tips for Breast Cancer Prevention • Limit alcohol. The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer. Limit yourself to no more than one drink a day.

• Control your weight. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of breast cancer. This is especially true if obesity occurs later in life, particularly after menopause.

• About five to ten percent of breast cancers can be linked to gene mutations (abnormal changes) inherited from one’s mother or father. Mutations of the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are the most common.

Women with these mutations have up to an 80 percent risk of developing breast cancer during their lifetime, and they are more likely to be diagnosed at a younger age (before menopause). An increased ovarian cancer risk is also associated with these genetic mutations.

• Be physically active. Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight, which, in turn, helps prevent breast cancer. The recommended activity is 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity weekly.

• Limit dose and duration of hormone therapy. Combination hormone therapy for more than three to five years increases the risk of breast cancer.

For more info, visit mountsinai.org.

Call today to receive your free consultation and emergency record guide 813-677-9494

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 18

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 19

Get Connected to Visit lifestylesafter50.com

Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda Laugh, Cry in “Grace And Frankie”

G

ood news for fans of Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda’s on-screen friendship: “Grace and Frankie” has been picked up for a second season.

The Netflix original, created by Marta Kauffman (Friends) and Howard J. Morris (Home Improvement), stars Tomlin and Fonda as women who reluctantly lean on each other when their husbands come out as gay and run away together. Season 2 will be released in 2016. Watch Season 1 on Netflix.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 20

Take A Senior Skip Day P

articipate in Senior Skip Day on Oct. 8, 2015. On Senior Skip Day, national parks will be free to those 62 and older, who are encouraged to skip out on what they’re doing and enjoy a healthy day at a national park.

You can also download the free Charity Miles app for Android or iPhone, select the National Park Foundation, and for every mile logged during your healthy activity—at a national park or in your own neighborhood—Charity Miles will make a donation to the National Park

Foundation. A donation will be made for up to 10 cents per mile for bikers and up to 25 cents per mile for walkers and runners.

Visit findyourpark.com to discover parks across the country and learn more about National Park Service Centennial events, including healthy park programs like Humana’s “Park Rx.” Health care professionals at select MetCare Clinics in South Florida will develop prescribed activity in local parks to help patients take a step toward better health.

MEDICARE ANSWERS

Medicare Open Enrollment Is Here What You Need To Know: ou can sign up for Medicare as soon as you become eligible, regardless of what month it is. But each year, you have the option of making changes to your Medicare Advantage and prescription drug plan (or Medicare Part D) during open enrollment. Open enrollment for the coming year runs from Oct. 15 to Dec. 7, so open enrollment for 2016 will begin on Oct.15, 2015.

During that period, you can switch from original Medicare to Medicare Advantage, or vice versa. You can also switch from one Medicare Advantage plan to another, or from one Medicare Part D (prescription drug) plan to another, or drop your Medicare Part D coverage altogether.

There’s also a Medicare Advantage disenrollment period (MADP) that runs from January 1 to February 14 each year. During this time, Medicare Advantage enrollees can opt to switch back to original Medicare, and can then sign up for Medicare Part D as well.

If there’s one mantra for the open enrollment season, it’s “review your options.” Insurance carriers may change co-pays, premiums, maximum out of

Y

pocket, and some “extras.” Like every year, it will be important to compare your current plan to what it will offer in 2016 and what other plans offer to ensure you have the plan that is best for your situation.

Here is some tried-and-true advice: • If you have Original Medicare and a supplemental plan (often called a Medigap) and are happy with your coverage, you do not need to make a change.

• If you have a Medicare Advantage or Part D plan, you should review all of your coverage options even if you are happy with your current coverage, because plans change their costs and benefits every year.

• Read your Annual Notice of Change (ANOC), which you should receive from your plan by Sept.30. It will list the changes in your plan and will compare the benefits in 2016 with those in 2015.

• Shop around to find a plan that best meets your needs and makes the most financial sense to you.

• If you decide to enroll in a new plan, do so by calling 800-MEDICARE rather than the plan itself. (Medicare.gov)

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Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 21

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t has been said that most scientific studies are either unnecessary or wrong. But some studies are simply fascinating even if all they do is confirm our suspicions. A recent study at Emory University has shown that dogs have an innate way to process the images of human faces in their brains. This has previously only been well documented in humans and other primates.

The six dogs in the study were trained to remain motionless through the course of an MRI scan of their brains. This training was important since sedation or general anesthesia would have effected their responses.

The tests showed that dogs have a “face-processing” area in the temporal cortex of their brains and are therefore born with the ability to recognize human faces and expressions. Of course, dogs living in close contact with humans probably develop this ability to a much greater degree, but this study shows that not all of what makes dogs special to us is learned.

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Humans have been living with dogs longer than any other animal so the implication of this study is that dogs may have developed this innate ability over thousands of years of human influenced evolution.

In recent years, another study showed that dogs, like humans, display a “left

gaze bias” when looking at people’s faces. That is, their eyes wander to the left in order to focus on the right side of a human’s face. Other studies have shown that the right side of our faces can express emotions more accurately and more intensely than the left. If so, it makes sense that dogs and humans would tend to focus on the right side of our faces.

Dogs have also been shown to be able to recognize meanings of images of only parts of human faces, such as smiles or angry eyes.

What about cats? Even though cats can become very much in tune with our habits and actions, it appears that their recognition of faces and expressions by vision alone is not an innate ability. It is likely that they depend more on voices, smells and general body size and shape to recognize us.

So, if it seems at times that your dog is staring at you wondering what you’re thinking, you’re probably right!

Leave A Legacy W

hat does it mean to donate your body to science? Most people think of medical school anatomy classes when the topic comes up. But whole body donation doesn’t end with universities.

Every day, across the world, medical organizations are making scientific breakthroughs. From the continual study of diseases and their progression to the development of less invasive patient surgical techniques, medical researchers rely on whole body donation to push medicine forward. The resulting advancements lead to improved medical care and lowered surgical costs.

If you are considering whole body donation, there are a number of factors you should weigh when selecting the program that is right for you.

• Accreditation – Is the program fully accredited through the American Association of Tissue Banks? The AATB assures that the highest standards of care and procedures are practiced by accredited programs.

• Costs – Are there any hidden costs to donation? Many programs provide no-cost services for donation-related

expenses, but some programs do not cover items such as death certificates and transportation to and from an institution or facility.

• Support – Can the program be contacted 24-hours a day, 365 days a year?

• Acceptance – How broad are the acceptance criteria? Many programs do not have upper age limits, but criteria related to body size and the presence of communicable diseases such as HIV and hepatitis B or C are common.

• Medical network – How extensive is the program’s network of medical researchers and educators that utilize donations? The broader the medical communities that a program supports, the more likely a donation will be put to good use in a timely manner.

There are many whole body donation programs available in Florida that provide support to medical research in the state and beyond. By donating your body to one of these programs, you’re helping advance science while minimizing your end-of-life expenses.

It’s a great way to pay it forward.

9 Great Apps and Services That Help You Get Ready For Your New Home

By Sarah Ficek

I

f you’re a seasonal resident, packing up your life and moving it across the country is no easy task. Fortunately, an armada of awesome apps and services can make the transition easier. Search the web or your app store for the helpful services below, download and relocate with ease:

1. Store your off-season items with MakeSpace. When you schedule a free MakeSpace pickup, pack the bins with your winter stuff and they will pick it all up, store your bins in their secure storage facility and create a visual catalog of your stuff so when you need something delivered, it’s just a few clicks away. Snowbirds in NYC, Chicago and Washington can take advantage of their free Goodwill donation pickups as well. (makespace.com) 2. You’ve got an old house to winterize and a new house to get ready.

Outsource your chores to TaskRabbit.

Like personal assistants, Taskers, who are fully vetted by TaskRabbit and reviewed by other customers, take care of pretty much anything, including cleaning carpet, helping someone move into a new place, mounting a TV, getting groceries, cooking, etc. (taskrabbit.com) 3. Give your home the deep clean it needs after you’ve been away by using Handy. Background-checked and certified professional cleaners will come to your home and clean every room. Handy will even wash your dishes, do your laundry, make your bed and take out the trash. (handy.com) 4. Do you need help around the house? Get a personal butler using Alfred. Twice a week, a carefully-vetted Alfred will swing by and complete chores and errands while freeing up your time.

Alfred will sort mail, tidy up, do grocery shopping, stock the fridge and pick up and drop off dry cleaning, laundry and pharmacy items. (helloalfred.com) 5. Use OfferUp to easily sell just about anything to people in your neighborhood. All you need is the app, your phone’s camera, and 30 seconds to list any item for sale. Just be sure to double check the buyer’s reviews so you can get your cash with confidence. (offerupnow.com) 6. Have unwanted video games, Blurays, CDs, or DVDs? Send them to Decluttr and collect dollars. The app turns your phone’s camera into a barcode scanner so you can get an instant value for your discs. Ship your discs to Decluttr using their free shipping label, and get paid after they finish processing your collection. (decluttr.com)

7. While purging your closet, send items across the country using Shyp.

All you have to do is take a photo of the item and enter its destination. Shyp picks it up, securely packs it, and sends it anywhere in the world using the most efficient option. (shyp.com) 8. Get rid of stacks of documents by downloading and using Scannable to scan and digitally save any paper.

Got an important business card? Use Scannable to transform it into a contact in your phone, complete with his/ her LinkedIn details. (evernote.com/ products/scannable) 9. A pile of mail collecting at your vacated home lets thieves know you’re not around. Stop receiving junk mail with PaperKarma.

Just snap a photo of the mail and PaperKarma will contact the sender to remove them from their distribution list. (paperkarma.com) Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 23

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Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 24

The Forensics of Famous Movie Monsters

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ear after year, Hollywood releases movies based on the terrifying tales of monsters such as Count Dracula and the Wolfman, and those classic figures continue to be Halloween staples. But, how exactly did these myths get their start? Greg McDonald, director of forensic medicine at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, says that like many myths and scary stories, both Dracula and the Wolfman stemmed from a poor understanding of medical maladies.

Porphyria, for example, is a group of disorders that affects the skin and nervous system. Symptoms of that disease include sensitivity to sunlight, insomnia and skin redness, which might make the skin look bloody. Sound familiar?

“In the 10th or 11th century, Romanians at the time often didn’t bury their dead in very deep graves,” McDonald says. “Sometimes, the bodies would shift. So imagine you’re a peasant, and you come across a body that is pale and looks like it has blood around the mouth.

You might think he’d been walking around, feasting on the blood of others.”

While that condition helped fuel the myth of the vampire, McDonald notes that the first appearance of the character Count Dracula occurred in 1897, with the first printing of Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

Rabies symptoms, which include rage, panting and foaming at the mouth, helped give rise to the myth of the Wolfman.

“And of course, hypertrichosis—the excessive growth of unwanted hair— was also a factor,” McDonald adds.

Armed with this knowledge, Dracula and the Wolfman might seem less frightening the next time they appear on screen to stalk their prey. According to McDonald, they’re not fearsome; they’re just not feeling well. (Newswise)

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 25

Tech Talk Giveaway: ZOINX W

Last Month’s Answers

Enter to Win!

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This month’s Last Month’s Winner Is Betty Keenan winner is Congratulations!

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elcome to this month’s Tech Talk column, where we cover the latest apps, products and websites that make life a little easier.

This month, we’re giving away a pair of black Zoinx Clip Sunglasses. (Includes Nylon Case, Zipper Pouch and Sport Strap) Valued at $119.00.

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This clip not only allows you to keep better track of your shades, it allows you to easily accessorize your sunglasses for whatever activity you have on your plate.

The convertible Zipper Pouch can be clipped into the sport strap or worn on the wrist. The Pouch is the perfect place to hold your car key, a few extra dollars and a sealed Emergency Info Card (included) just in case. Instead of sitting them down, clip your glasses to your bag or your belt—never lose your sunglasses again!

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Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on Oct. 20 will receive $20 cash!

Send to: Lifestyles After 50, P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583 Personal Health & Fitness Home Improvements Automobiles

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To last month’s winner: Lewis Brinin of St. Petersburg He won the VIM & VIGR Socks!

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Send us your name, address and phone number by October 19. The drawing will be held on October 20, and the winner will be contacted and announced in the next issue of Lifestyles After 50. Look for more giveaways in upcoming editions. Good luck!

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

Editor’s Note: The zipper pouch includes a flotation insert, which comes in very handy at the beach or pool!

To enter the giveaway, email editor@ lifestylesafter50.com or snail mail us at: Attn: Zoinx Lifestyles After 50 P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583

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Hills

CREATE & CRAFT

Autumn Leaf Mason Jar Candle Holders by dabbing your finger on it), place a leaf on the jar. (You may need to wet or iron your leaves before you adhere them so they become more bendable.)

T

his beautiful, easy-to-make craft will bring a little fall color into your home. It’s a perfect gift or activity to do with grandkids. This craft idea comes from sparkandchemistry.com.

Materials C lear-surfaced mason jars (without print/ridges) Faux autumn leaves M od Podge or other clear, water-based glue/sealer Sponge brush Rafia or ribbon Clear spray varnish (optional) Directions 1. First, make sure the outside of your jar is clean. Wipe it gently with rubbing alcohol.

2. To decoupage, dip your brush in the Mod Podge and paint a thin layer on an outside section of the jar.

3. Once that layer becomes sticky (check

4. Paint more Mod Podge on top of the leaf in thin layers, making sure to smooth out the edges.

Start in the center of the leaf, and push your way out to the edges with your fingers.

FALL FESTIVAL

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5. Layer more leaves on top, filling the jar with as many as you desire.

6. Once all the leaves are on, it will take a few hours to dry completely. If you are concerned about leaves coming off, you can spray the jar with a clear varnish to seal it.

7. Finish off the top of the jar with rafia or ribbon to complete the look. Place a candle inside and watch it light the room with beautiful orange, red and green fall colors!

Oct. Horoscope: Libra and Scorpio Libra: (Sept. 23 - Oct. 22) You need to decide on your own goals and follow your own course in life. There is no need to seek the assistance of others or adapt to situations.

Domestic issues and psychological health will dominate over career this month.

Professionally, even otherwise you are on the right course and will be happy.

Scorpio (Oct. 23 – Nov. 22) Balance your personal ambitions with the interests of other

people this month. If you have your way sometimes, during other times you will need to depend on the guidance of others.

Career becomes important this month.

Home and family issues along with emotional matters can be de-emphasised for the time being.

You will indulge in religious activities and charitable work. You can review the happenings in your life so far and take corrective actions for the future. (From sunsigns.org) More horoscopes: lifestylesafter50.com.

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Call (813) 932-5228 or visit

www.seniorsinservice.org Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 27

Word Search October In the grid below, twenty answers can be found that fit the category for today. Circle each answer that you find and list it in the space provided at the right of the grid. Answers can be found in all directions – forwards, backwards, horizontally, vertically and diagonally. An example is given to get you started. Can you find the twenty answers in this puzzle?

Word Search Answers From Sept.

Priscilla Hoon is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

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

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on October 20 will win.

MYSTERY PRIZE!

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

MYSTERY PRIZE!

(Puzzles must be received by October 20, 2015.)

FUN IN FLORIDA

Boktoberfest Is Back!

Last Month’s Answers

Sept. Sudoku

Tom Gilders is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

Win Great Prizes!

Good Luck!

New winner selected each month

Oct. 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. Good luck! The first correct answers selected from the drawing on Oct. 20 will win.

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

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES! SUDOKU MUST BE RECEIVED BY OCT. 20, 2015 Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 28

G

rab your lederhosen and come to Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales for their 7th Annual Boktoberfest on Saturday and Sunday, October 17 and 18 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission is free!

Boktoberfest celebrates the start of Florida’s gardening season where plant lovers and gardeners can come to find a wide variety of Florida plants and learn from experts to help make the most of their gardens. Enjoy 45 plant vendors, live German entertainment, German food, craft beers, gardening experts, tree climbing, children’s activities, petting zoo, live carillon music, and much more!

On October 16, Bok Tower Gardens

Members get exclusive access to their annual plant sale the evening before it opens to the public. Skip the crowds, meet the vendors, and get first pick of plants and other natural products. The Blue Palmetto Café and Tower & Garden Gift Shop will remain open throughout the evening. Stop by the membership tent to meet the staff and participate in their silent auction.

Upcoming Events: • Join the Florida Citrus Celebration on Nov. 7 and 8 with grove tours, plant sale, gardening tips, art and activities, cooking demos and more.

• Christmas at Bok Tower: Enjoy holiday decorations, special concerts on the carillon, festive plant sales, decorating workshops and other special events.

Bok Tower Gardens is located at 1151 Tower Blvd, Lake Wales. For more information about the gardens, upcoming events or becoming a member, visit boktowergardens.org.

AARP Legal Services Network Is There For You William R. Mumbauer, Attorney www.flwillstrustsprobate.com

Network toll free at 1-866-330-0753 or online at www.aarp.org.

I

Mr. 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 Service 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 Martindale-Hubbell 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.

am always surprised by the number of clients who happen to be AARP member but who are unaware of one of the more useful benefits of their AARP membership. I am, of course, referring to the AARP Legal Services Network.

AARP membership entitles the member to a free initial consultation with an attorney on a broad range of legal subjects. All AARP Legal Services Network participating attorneys have been extensively screened to meet AARP standards of legal expertise in their chosen area of practice and for their ability in serving the particular needs of senior legal consumers. With an AARP Legal Services Network participating attorney you will have peace of mind knowing the attorney is qualified and senior friendly.

Regardless of the type of legal services you are seeking from an AARP Legal Services Network participating attorney, the attorney’s services will be provided at 20 percent off the attorney’s usual and customary rates. This discount is

also available to the AARP member’s spouse or the person settling a deceased member’s estate.

So what are you waiting for? To locate an AARP Legal Services Network participating attorney near you who practices in the area of law in which you are seeking advice or help, you may reach the AARP Legal Services

Wills • Probate Living Trusts Power of Attorney William R. Mumbauer, P.A. 205 N. Parsons Ave., Brandon

www.flwillstrustsprobate.com

35 Years The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Before you decide, ask the lawyer to send you free written information about his qualifications and experience.

The Funeral Advantage Plan can help you get cash for funeral and other expenses, with a whole life insurance policy.

Question: When does Daylight Saving Time end in 2015?

Your Answer:

TH21

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

Deadline for entries: Oct. 16, 2015. Drawing held Oct. 20, 2015.

Name Address City

State

Email

Phone

Zip

Mail to: Lifestyles After 50, P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL, 33583

Patricia Korn from Bradenton is last month’s winner! Her answer was: “Neil Armstrong, Aug. 5; Barack Obama, Aug. 4” Play more trivia online and win more prizes at www.lifestylesafter50.com

Click on the Trivia Palooza button and answer a Trivia question each week for a chance to win a prize at the end of each month.

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 29

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 30

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.

4485 CHRISTIAN LADY, WHITE, YOUNG for my age, in the 70s, ISO gentle man, 68 – 80, NS, presentable. I like music, exercises, movies, etc. Attractive, loving and nice.

4484 RETIRED LADY IN 60S looking for gentleman, 60 and over for some fun times. I have a lot of interests, beach, boating, fishing, dinner, dancing and other simple fun things. SOH, NDrg, NS, loving and compassionate.

4483 W, F, D, LITTLE BLONDE, green eyes, been told I am cute, sweet, nice. Write, we can talk and maybe meet for lunch.

4492 LOOKING FOR SQUARE DANCE PARTNER. 80 year old female snowbird needs square dance partner starting about November for about 6 months. Any age, single or married if spouse is unable to dance.

Dade City, Plant City or Zephyrhills area.

4493 SEEKING GOOD COMPANY. SWF, 63YY, attractive brunette. Looks, acts and feels younger. Perfect health, mostly vegetarian, NE native. ISO fun partner for hiking, badminton, scrabble, sightseeing, picnics, rainstorms, fireworks. Will happily send picture.Bayonet Point area.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN 4472 WHITE MALE, 5’9”, 165 LBS., age 61, Looking for female, age 61 to 71, HWP, NS. Looking for laid back woman, likes fishing, going to the beach, taking day trips. Looking for romance. Send letter and photo.

4473 74 YY RETIRED PROFESSIONAL. Loving, compassionate, humanist, tea totaller. Physically, Emotionally, Financially stable and very lonely.

ISO old/new preferably fashioned lady, graduate level professional for meaningful LTR. Must mention phone number in response. Largo area.

RUN YOUR AD FOR ONLY $6 A MONTH

SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER Personal Ad Placement

Deadline for ads is the 15th of the month prior to placement.

Only $6 to place an ad!

Mark The Edition(s) You Would Like To Run Your Ad In: Polk Tampa Bay & Suncoast (Hillsborough/Pinellas/Pasco) Lake/Marion/Sumter Southwest (Lee, Collier, Charlotte)

Ad Copy • Please Print Neatly • 30 Word Limit Title (First 4 Words):

4481 SBM, 5’11”, 160 LBS., in good health, retired government employee, active, honest, SM, SD, ISO similar lady, loves sports.

4480 ARE YOU A HOPELESS ROMANTIC? 6’ healthy SWM, homeowner, NS, ND, ISO SWF for LTR. Must enjoy travel and homelife. Age and size open. Must enjoy road trips as I love to drive on cross country trips. Madeira Beach area.

4487 HEALTHY, ACTIVE HWP, DWM. Dreams of driving to Washington State, stopping at many scenic historic attractions. ISO seeking WF to share adventures, expenses and companionship.

Serious replies only please. St. Pete area.

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.

TO PLACE AN AD

Send your ad, stating what category you would like it placed in, your edition(s), along with a $6 fee for 30 words (25¢ for each additional word, abbreviations not charged) to the News Connection USA, Inc. address listed below. Ads received by the 15th of the month will appear in the following issue. No more than three ads will be accepted each month per person. The editor reserves the right to edit any ads for space or content. In order to protect our readers’ privacy, we will not include phone numbers, e-mail or home addresses in the ad copy. City or area included at no charge.

TO RESPOND TO AN AD

Write a letter to the person you want to contact. Place that letter in a stamped envelope and write the ad number on the bottom left hand side of the envelope. Place your stamped, numbered envelope(s), along with $2 for each letter enclosed, into another envelope and address it to: News Connection USA, Inc. Seniors Getting Together P.O. Box 638,Seffner, FL 33584

COMMUNITY INDOOR SALE October 17, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

At: Strawberry Ridge 3419 State Road 60 E., Valrico, 33594 Some of the things we will have are home decoration, household items, clothing, books, small appliances, holiday items, collectibles and much more.

There will be something for everyone. Please come and see for yourself!

DENTURE RELINE SPECIAL

Holidays are soon approaching, improve your fit in time to enjoy holiday meals!

UniqueVacation VacationHotel Hotelfor forCats CatsOnly!

Only!

Unique

City (No Charge):

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

We cannot accept your ad without it. This information is confidential.

Name: Address: City: Phone:

State:

Zip:

E-mail:

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

FFeatured Featuredon onNationwide NationwideTV TV F F Reasonable rates F Reasonable rates FHuge Hugewindows windowson on F tropical gardens tropical gardens F Veton oncall call F Vet FSoft Softmusic, music,lots lotsof of F loving&&petting petting loving

15501Boyette BoyetteRd. Rd. 15501 Riverview Riverview

Lifestyles After 50 • October 2015 • page 31

At Continucare, we take your health personally.

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1-813-793-6913 Hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 5:00 pm The quality care you deserve

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MKCONFDM5824