Lifestyles After 50 Suncoast Dec. 2012 edition

www.LifestylesAfter50FL.com • Suncoast • FREE

AFTER 50

Give the Gift That Matters

December 2012

plus Awesome Pies Smart Finance for 2013

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Winners!

Lifestyles After 50 Extravaganza, Largo Cultural Center

Lots of great photos were sent to Lifestyles After 50 magazine for the latest “Grandkids Are The Greatest” Photo Contest.

Check out the winners that were selected at the Extravaganza last month. The judges had a lot of fun looking through all of the photos and it was tough to pick the winners. Thanks to everyone who shared their memories with us!

Grand Prize

“You Make My Day” Submitted by Roland Dumaine He won a two-night stay at the Gaylord Palms Resort Orlando for their Christmas Celebration!

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 2

First Prize

“I Love My Fedora” Submitted by JoAnn Crino She won $75!

Second Prize

“Sisters in Pink” Submitted by Gail Strelesky She won $50!

Third Prize

“My Baby Sister” Submitted by Thelma Platania She won $25!

So, Here Is Christmas Again!

Dear Readers,

“U

nto us a child is born...”

Those simple words announcing the birth of Christ over two thousand years ago Janice Doyle, have endured through Editor the ages to represent the season embracing late December.

But what we all know is that from August in the craft stores to New Years Day on the football fields, the common theme of Christmas is commerce, and the air is full of images to make our heads spin with expectations. Surely you, too, can expect one of those happy early morning family reunions over the aroma of Folgers coffee in a beautifully decorated home!

Perhaps you’d like to simplify.

Keep the basic carols. Watch a few light, familiar (or Hallmark Channel) movies. Give a friend or spouse another unneeded item to unwrap.

Call old friends and family. The problem is how to deal with the expectations—yours and others.

(I did hear about a man who smiled as he reported that last year his wife had not asked him to get the 25 boxes of Christmas decorations from the attic. He never said a word about it—smart man!)

I’m not anti-Christmas; I just believe that by having such a long, commercialized season children especially are the real losers instead of the winners, and that makes me sad.

There’s just no way to match the expectations set up by the ads and stories and visual images which surround us. It’s what makes a child keep opening gifts until there are no more and then say, “What else?” (And then he’s apt to be scolded for his attitude of ingratitude.)

I am a retired middle school language arts teacher (it used to be called English class). Each year on the day before the school Christmas vacation I gave each of my classes a little talk.

I explained that although movies and TV would have us believe that the Christmas season was going to be a time of perfect families, I knew that would not always be the case.

I would then lower my voice to a confidential tone and say that some of them would have less-than-ideal vacations because of alcohol, drugs, shouting, arguing, neglect and loneliness in their homes. As I spoke of behaviors which happen in homes somewhere in every neighborhood, I would see faces identifying—and hurting—with my message.

My little talk with them always ended the same way: “I wish I could magically make all of your homes into the wonderfully lovely and happy places we see on TV, but I can’t. And if you experience any of this, I want you to know I am so sorry.

Please know that I care. Try to be the very best person you can be, maybe even the only peacemaker in the house, no matter what.”

Invariably, one little guy—who maybe hadn’t said much all year— would mutter “Thanks, Mrs. Doyle” on his way out of the room. And I remember one year a girl sat in the back saying softly through the whole talk: “Uh huh. You got it, Ms. D. Uh huh.”

Let’s all promise this year to help alleviate unhappiness and suffering wherever we find it. Our world is hurting at every level and let’s each find ways to help, ways to bring peace to someone who is hurting.

So, yes, here is Christmas again.

Our gift to you would be what was said two thousand years ago: Peace on earth, good will to men.

Letter to the Editor

Hi there, I can’t thank you enough for the monthly editions of Lifestyles After 50. It’s very informative and has helped many people in this age category go forth in the everyday challenges in our lives.

It’s with great pleasure I go to the “Fun Fest” events and I greatly appreciate all of you and all that you do! You definitely have put a lot of fun and joy in my life and many of my friends have enjoyed participating in the many events.

Thank you and God bless you all. —Ruth Peterson

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

Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing Kathy J. Beck kathy@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Janice Doyle janice@lifestylesafter50.com

Accounting/Office Manager Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com Production Supervisor/Graphic Design Kim Burrell kim@lifestylesafter50.com Production Assistant Tracie Schmidt tracie@lifestylesafter50.com

Customer Service 1-888-670-0040 customerservice@lifestylesafter50.com

Advertising Sales

1-888-670-0040 Mid to South Pinellas Mike Heidemann: (727) 623-4006 Mid to North Pinellas and Pasco Ken Barham: (727) 210-5120 Tampa Bay Dena Bingham: (813) 293-1262

Hillsborough Chuck Bingham: (813) 293-1550 Gina Ambrosio: (813) 965-2750 Our other editions: Hillsborough Edition: Hillsborough County Lake Edition: Lake/Marion Counties Sarasota Edition: Sarasota/Manatee Southwest Edition: Lee/Collier & Charlotte To learn more, call 1-888-670-0040 Distribution 1-888-670-0040

News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638 Seffner, Florida 33583-0638 (813) 653-1988 • 1-888-670-0040 Fax: (813) 651-1989 www.lifestylesafter50fl.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 the January 2013 issue is Dec. 15, 2012. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 3

A daily dose of Medicare copay savings.

Target Pharmacy is a Medicare Part D Preferred Network Pharmacy for: ®

– AARP MedicareRx Plans, insured through UnitedHealthcare – Coventry Health Care ®

– Florida Blue, Florida’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan Members of one of these Part D plans could save money by filling their prescriptions at a preferred pharmacy, like Target Pharmacy, in 2013.

Medicare open enrollment ends December 7.

To learn about all the services we offer, stop in to any Target Pharmacy, call us at 1-877-798-2743 or visit Target.com/pharmacy.

Members may use any pharmacy in the network, but may not receive Preferred Pharmacy network pricing. Target Pharmacy accepts other Part D plans. Target Pharmacies are not located in all Target stores, hours vary by location, services of pharmacist may not be available at all times when Target stores are open. Free translation services available. ©2012 Target Stores. Target and the Bullseye Design are registered trademarks of Target Brands, Inc. All rights reserved. 112103 IR_PDPSPRJ11403_000 Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 4

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Around Town

BALLET

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 2

T

hrough 16 A “Tuna Christmas” holiday production at Masque Theatre. Fri. and Sat. at 8 p.m., Sun. at 3 p.m. Seniors (60+) $12. ($2 off price with new, unwrapped toy or gift. Omar K. Lightfoot Center, 10901 N. 56th Street, Temple Terrace. (813) 983-1710.

T

hrough Jan 5, 2013 Tampa Downtown on ICE. Ice skating ($10/90 minutes), activities, lights, free movie (Dec. 28). Sponsored by Friend of Tampa Recreation. info@friendsoftamparec.org.

W

ednesdays Tai Chi with Bonnie Birdsall at Upper Tampa Bay Regional Library; 1:30 p.m. Fridays.

Same class at Charles Fendig Library, 2:30 p.m. Call (813) 273-3652 for information about either class.

6

Concert by Eastern Hillsborough Community Band at Clubhouse, Rice Creek Mobile Home Park, 10719 Rice Creek Drive, Riverview. $5 suggested donation. 7 p.m. Info: (813) 569-1771; info@ehcb.org.

7 8

Holiday Bingo and Buffet at Memorial Hospital. 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 25 cents/card. RSVP to (813) 342-1313.

Christmas by Candlelight Concert

by Plant City Community Choir at Evangelical Presbyterian Church, 1107 Charlie Griffin Road, Plant City. 6 and 8 p.m. concerts. $12 at the door. Info at pccommunitychoir.com or (813) 493-1979.

8

Art in the Park, a local art festival, at Ybor City Saturday Market, 1800 E. 8th Ave., Tampa. Opens at 9 a.m. Information at (813) 241-2442.

8

Holiday Gift Expo at Strawberry Festival Expo Hall, Plant City. Specialty merchants offer unique items. 10 a.m. opening.

13

Oldsmar Senior Center Annual Holiday Luncheon.

11 a.m. Cypress Forest Rec Center, 650 Pine Avenue N., Oldsmar. RSVP

by Dec. 11 to (813) 749-1155.

13

“Tim & Scrooge,” a musical sequel to Dickens’ Christmas Carol, at Carrollwood Cultural Center, 4537 Lowell Rd., Tampa. $8. Call (813) 269-1310.

14

Singles Dance sponsored

by Strawberry Singles Club.

Stardust Dance Center, 1405 S. Collins St., Plant City. $7 non members.

Dances every Friday (8 p.m. and Sunday 3 p.m.) (863) 409-7714 or strawberrysingles51@yahoo.com.

17

“Getting Through the Holidays” seminar at Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Pkwy, Land O’Lakes.

5:30 p.m. RSVP: (727) 844-3946.

18

Grief Support Group at St. Joseph’s John Knox Parkinson’s Support Group (3rd Tuesdays). Call Briana at (813) 632-2443. Caregiver Support groups last Weds. of month.

THE GREAT IMPERIAL BALLET

Holiday Treat!

Soho Images will be on site during the three performances of The Nutcracker (Dec. 22-23) 90 minutes before curtain and during intermission to take holiday photos for you and your family!

Stop by and see them in the lobby during this time to get a keepsake of your family holiday tradition.

“Marvelous” costumes “with inventive, whimsical touches” (John Fleming, Tampa Bay Times)

“… This Nutcracker is a standout among the many.”

(Carrie Seidman, Sarasota Herald-Tribune)

Three performances ONLY!

DEC. 22 -23

ment, entertain Give live lasts a lifetime. at the gift th

Gifst!

Card s are also E-gift card

25 YEARS

able. now avail

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

Photo: Rob/Harris Production

T

hrough 23 Henry B. Plant Museum’s Victorian Christmas Stroll, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. 14 decorated exhibit rooms; carolers singing, Charles Dickens, toys, gifts, Christmas stockings and Old Saint Nick. $13 for adults, $11 seniors. Hear Bells of Christmas free hand bell concert Sun., Dec. 9 from 2 – 4 p.m. (813) 258-7302.

Media Sponsor:

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

The EASY BOARDING Bicycle by Biria

Send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; fax (813) 651-1989 or email janice@lifestylesafter50.com.

News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e.

December 10 for January event.)

Coming to the Straz Center

4 – 9 Dixie’s Tupperware Party in Jaeb Theater

11 – 16 Sister Act 13 – 22 Holiday Inc., musical in the

• Unisex step-through design engineered in Germany • Cross bar is only six inches from the ground, so you can easily step-through the bicycle

22 – 23 The Nutcracker, The Great

• Upright seating position for less back pain and clear view of the road

Jaeb Theater

Imperial Ballet by Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center. Tickets: $20.50 and up. (813) 222-1002.

Jan. 9 – 27 Wicked

Get tickets online at strazcenter.com or (813) 229-7827.

• Relaxed arm position for more control

Trail Sport 6572 Seminole Blvd.

Seminole, FL 33772

727-395-0509 Beach Cyclist Sports Ctr. 7517 Blind Pass Rd. St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

727-367-5001 For more dealers contact Biria USA:

Tel: 201-461-1980 • www.biria.com

St. Pete Bicycle and Fitness 1205 4th Street North St. Pete Beach, FL 33701

727-367-5001

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 5

e id u G y a d li o H r u o Y Gifts With Character— Geek Turns Chic Gifts Not Your Typical Gift Ideas Education The gift of education is the greatest gift and something your grandkids will not outgrow. A Florida Prepaid College Plan or Florida 529 Plan are tax-exempt plans and offer a variety of savings options to suit any budget. With the Florida Prepaid College Plan, families have the ability to lock in today’s plan prices and prepay tuition and fees at Florida’s 11 universities and 28 colleges.

Pilot Pen “Where Do Missing Things Go?” by Cynthia Drew

Where Do Missing Things Go When They Just Disappear?

“Where Do Missing Things Go?” is a kid’s book full of gentle illustrations and a text that not only makes sense, but tells kids how to keep track of their stuff. And it solves the mystery of where the socks go in the washing machine. The end is touching – telling kids that while stuff is good, it’s not, in the final analysis, what really matters

For The Foodie How about a gift box of 6 handmade 2 oz. jumbo lump blue crab cakes plus a pint of Maryland Red Vegetable Crab Soup. The products are from the Kent Island Crab Cake plant on Chesapeake Bay.

For Someone With Arthritis Pick a Pilot pen with Dr. Grip Center of Gravity (COG) to make writing simple again. The pens are ergonomically designed to reduce stress on the hand for a comfortable, effortless writing experience.

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 6

Garmin Fenix GPS Watch (around $399)

Ho, Ho, Ho: Give A New Recliner

Being a tech-obsessed geek has never been more fashionable and col lines form for the latest candy- colcomput ored phones, cameras and computers. Young and old alike have an eye for style and an affinity for gadgets.

You may not know what a tablet is in today’s gadget world, but if “they” have one, their gadgets can go stylish in one of these trendy cases.

It’s a classic holiday gift—a new recliner. But it’s easy to get stumped by all the choices today. Recliners are not your dad’s favorite plaidcovered chair anymore. Here are some tips: When choosing a recliner, consider the size, shape and fit of the chair. Here are five tips from Ekornes, makers of the Stressless recliner, to help you easily choose a recliner that fits your physical and aesthetic needs:

1. Choose a size. Keep in mind not only how much physical space you have for a new recliner but also the size of recliner that will fit your shape as well. “Recliners with attached ottomans will never fit your exact shape and size,” says Janet Odum, of Ekornes. “Choose a chair with a feature that allows you to unlock the ottoman so it tilts when you recline, which takes pressure off your knees, ensuring a more comfortable position.” And make sure the piece fits your personal size needs.

2. Consider longevity. Consider the quality of fabrics, leathers, woods and metals and remember that while quality recliners cost more up front, the right recliner will provide years of comfort and support.

(Stressless recliners are built to last between 20 and 25 years.)

3. Narrow down your style preferences. No longer bulky pieces, new designs and materials offer a variety of modern and sleek chairs or love seats.

4. List your must-have features. Recliners now also offer a variety of features, including lumbar support and articulating headrests to cradle the head and neck in the reclining position. Also look for a sleep function to fully recline and a dual support base, ensuring that the base of the recliner will provide even support whether you’re sitting or in the full reclining position.

5. Still stumped? Go with a classic model to last through any future home décor preferences.

To learn more about the variety of recliners available, and to find a store near you, visit ekornes.com/us/stressless-recliners. (Family Features)

Rugby by Ralph Lauren (about $100)

Boden Women’s Tablet Case (about $25)

Haute and Healthy For the fitness friends among us, get the Fitbit Ultra Wellness Monitor to measure steps, distance and calories and then upload wirelessly to a website for graphs and charts of steps, active steps, distance and sleep quality. It helps track diet, heart rate, blood pressure, glucose and works with both PC and Mac – no additional subscription fee to track activity online. It has an iPhone app and an Android app and integrates with an increasing number of other apps and fitness tracking sites.

High-Tech Watch Many different types of high-tech watches from GPS watches to health watches that monitor heart are available. Many also double as USB flash drives, phones, SD card readers and even spy cameras!

Follow us on:

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Call toll-free 1-800-876-2227 24 hours a day, every day (TTY users dial 1-800-955-8771.

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or contact your local agency for Florida Blue.

Florida Blue is Florida’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan. *You must continue to pay the Medicare Part B premium. If it is determined that you owe a late enrollment penalty, you will still have to continue to pay this amount. **In select counties. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the plan. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or co-payments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Florida Blue is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. A Medicare-approved Part D sponsor.

Health insurance is offered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, D/B/A Florida Blue. HMO coverage is offered by Health Options, Inc., D/B/A Florida Blue HMO, an HMO subsidiary of Florida Blue. These companies are Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Y0011_74369 0812 CMS Accepted Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 7

Join The Florida Orchestra for

Music in the Mornings at one of our Coffee Concerts!

Matinee Moments in December

BY JUNE HURLEY YOUNG

D

ecember is a wonderful month to enjoy matinees and stop worrying about driving at night.

At the Asolo, Sarasota (941) 355-7818

T

hrough Dec. 22 1776, a musical about the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 2 p.m.

© Thomas Bruce Studio

2012/2013 Season

At Largo Cultural Center: (727) 587-6751

5 8 15

“The Lowe Family Christmas” Instrumentals, dances and harmonies of the season.

“A Big Band Christmas” Listen, dance, enjoy the 10 O’Clock Swing Band in cabaret seating plan. 2 p.m. & 16 The Nutcracker presented by Bay City Ballet (Sat. 2 p.m. and Sun. 1 p.m.)

Coffee Concerts

Winter Wonderland

ondering what to do with visitors this month? An easy weekend outing is the Winter Wonderland created and run by Clearwater Community Volunteers in downtown Clearwater. Families can enjoy the fun weekend holiday display at NW Corner of Ft. Harrison Ave. & Drew St., Downtown Clearwater. See tens of thousands of lights on trees, decorated cottages and an alpine village.

Activities this year will include photos with Santa, cookie decorating with Mrs. Claus, miniature train rides, a petting zoo with pony rides, bouncy house, entertainment and a hot chocolate shop.

Progress Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater

Coffee Concerts

Symphonic Shakespeare Enjoy complimentary coffee and doughnuts with Stuart Malina leading the orchestra in a program of Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture and music from Mendelssohn’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Nicolai’s Merry Wives of Windsor, among other works.

Sponsored by:

© Alan Wycheck

727.892.3337 or www.FloridaOrchestra.org For group savings (10 or more) : 727.362.5443 Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 8 TFO-Lifestyle50-Dec.indd 1

Mary Poppins (Sat. 2 p.m. and Sun. at 1 p.m.)

W

Thu, Dec 20, 11am

Progress Energy Center for the Arts Mahaffey Theater

15 29

and 16 Sister Act (Sat. 2 p.m.; Sun. 1 p.m.)

Walk In a Winter Wonderland

Stuart Malina leads the orchestra in a holiday themed program with Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Green Sleeves, Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden Suite, Mozart’s “Sleigh Ride” from Three German Dances and music from Sponsored by: Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.

Thurs, Jan 3, 11am

Photo by Joan Marcus

At the Straz Center, Tampa (813) 229-7827

11/6/2012 5:01:10 PM

Due to the inspiration from L. Ron Hubbard’s “Love and Help Children” precept, Winter Wonderland not only provides entertainment to the community, but the Clearwater Community Volunteers will be accepting food to be given to the Homeless Emergency Project, and toys to families.

The Wonderland is open ThursdaySunday 6 – 9 p.m. Entrance to Winter Wonderland is free, but visitors are encouraged to bring an unwrapped toy or canned goods. Winter Wonderland closes on Sunday, December 23. For more information, visit clearwater communityvolunteers.org.

��� � � � � � � � � The Sock Monkey: Holidays Past Insurance Discounts ForSharing Mature Drivers of our kids’ house, I knew I wanted great pleasure he had given to me so They were charming, soft, to appear on Christmas morning in a many years ago when I was a child. cuddly and a favorite of many unique pair of pajamas—it is fun to It is always fun to see this affable children—myself included. be the “outrageous” grandmother. little sock fellow sitting atop heads And then they disappeared, going I eagerly ordered sock monkey and being wrapped around jackets as the way of Gumby and Pokey, Mr. Take Your Class Online! pajamas and slipper-socks online for he keeps people warm. But mostly, the Bill and Mr. Potato Head.

Yet there

BY CJ GOLDEN • Study at your leisure, 24 hours a day, days a week. thrill I get from seeing the rebirth of myself and Donna and 7got smaller they were again—the appealing little ec. 25 is a day to bring families and dolls in an assortment versions of the socks for each the sock monkey is in sharing a piece of colors • Simply readand the course materials online andofthen answer a few quiz questions. friends together, share good food and sizes, replicas embroidered onto the grandchildren.

Donna ordered of my childhood with my children and • There is no need totwo attend boring classes or listen tograndchildren. long lectures. cheer and remember Christmases past. pairs of Rockford Red Heel They understand that cuddly lap blankets and fashioned • After completion, course will issue a state-certifi ed certifi cate for youthey to are And that is just what occurred last year with we instructions for us to in their sock monkey items into scarves, winter hats and slippers. ofsocks turngift into company receive your discount for aathree year period. when I spent Christmas with my children They were the perfect make our own sockto monkey dolls. experiencing bit of the young girl foryour two ofinsurance and grandkids—and a sock monkey.

Much to my pleasure, the kids were Grams was so many years ago. And my friends, gals who I knew would Let me explain: While rifling through quite amused when Donna and I ap-Internet! that is what holidays are all about— enjoy the whimsy of these itemsMature and Take Your Driver Course On The holiday catalogues last year, I noticed the would be able to recall their own peared in our pajamas and slippers. And bridging the years and bringing the resurgence of the once ubiquitous sock If you have Licenseatand are 55 years of age or older, you are WIRE) they were delighted receiving their generations together.

(SENIOR childhood sock monkey dolls. a Florida Driver’s monkey. These charming little creatures own pairs of sock monkey foot wear.

It wasn’t long before I started spotnow eligible to complete motor vehicle accident prevention course that will allow first appeared in the early 1900s when ting adults and teens alike wearing all The piece de resistance came when you to receive a mandatory reduction on your insurance rate for three years. several very ingenious and talented manner of sock monkey paraphernalia. Donna produced the sock monkey kits women started fashioning Rockford and we spent much of the morning I saw that this was a gift my grandRed Heel work socks into monkey making personable little dolls— children would appreciate as well. dolls for their children. The fad caught I hadn’t realized, however, the profound complete with the hair color, button on and in short order children around significance of sharing this little guy eyes and hats of the kid’s choices.

Floridabegan Department Highwaywith Safety the country toting theirofown the children. Gearing up for my And thus, this charming little fellow, sock monkey dolls, each with its own Course Christmas Eve overnight stay with my having been reborn, gave to my & Motor Vehicle Approved personal touches and characteristics. husband and daughter Donna at another family’s newest generation the same

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 9

She’s Got Her Game!

BY JANICE DOYLE

K

ay Stevens, 93, loves a game.

Any game—especially games like Rummikub and Monopoly. But she’s especially crazy about Mah Jongg, a game brought to the U.S. from China in the ‘20s, with prized sets of the time made from ivory.

Stevens learned to play when she and her husband moved to Washington D.C. and a group of neighborhood Jewish neighbor women needed another player. They taught her to play and now she teaches anyone who wants to learn in Thursday afternoon sessions at the New Port Richey Recreation & Aquatic Center.

Stevens said that as the women taught her to play, she lost money all the time the first year. “But right away I knew I loved this game. I’ve decided that even if I never play again, I’m going to teach people the game.”

True to her philosophy, when games

are in session, she goes around the room helping players one-by-one as they learn the nuances of the game.

The game involves skill, strategy and calculation—and a certain degree of luck. Stevens says, “You have to be a good player, have skill, and there is luck, of course.” Good players, she says, will finish a game in 15 minutes.

Mahjong (also called mah-jongg) is a game for four players, using tiles

which typically bear Chinese characters and symbols like dragons, flowers and winds. Through a series of moves (deals, passes, draws and discards) the players try to collect a pre-defined group of identical or sequential tiles and then call out “Mah Jongg.” The copyrighted Mah Jongg winning hands come annually from an official card by the National Mah Jongg League in New York.

Once popular among wealthy Jewish women, today’s players are both women and men, young and old, who are eager to learn the game. Ruth Unger, president of the National Mah Jongg League, says new members are found around the country.

“We lost a generation,” the 84-yearold Ms. Unger said. Now, membership in the nonprofit organization is up to

about 400,000 members, from 100,000 in the 1970s and early ‘80s. “We have members in cities and small hamlets across the country.” And some of those members are learning the game under the gracious tutelage of Kay Stevens, a woman who loves games in general and Mah Jongg specifically.

Stevens feels that teachers should use games to teach children. Her own great granddaughter was six years old and couldn’t count to 30. Stevens taught her the game of Rummikub to help with that and the little girl could soon not only count but could “beat us all” at the game.

The New Port Richey Recreation Center is at 6630 Van Buren St., New Port Richey.

Information at (727) 841-4560.

(Looking for a Mah Jongg group? In Pinellas County, check online for information about the Meetup group Marvelous Mavens of Mah Jong MMOMJ.)

N’awlins Flair at Blackwater Grille

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 10

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n New Orleans, they say “let the good times roll,” and that atmosphere has rolled into Treasure Island’s Blackwater Grille at 9610 Gulf Blvd.

The finest cuisine east of New Orleans can be found at Blackwater Grille Tuesday through Sunday at lunch and dinner. Blackwater Grille offers early bird specials Sunday through Thursday from 3 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. with entrees ranging from $5.95 to $27.95 and daily happy hour from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day. A full liquor bar is available to quench your thirst, with $1 drafts available all day and every day.

On weekends, live music sets the mood to swing, sway and dance the night away. Blackwater Grille’s reputation is casual seafood and steaks with a N’awlins flair and flavor.

Appetizers to wake up your taste buds include Blackened Gator Bites with Hollandase or the Voodoo Popcorn Shrimp. Several dishes could be considered Blackwater Grille’s signature dish, and you’ll want to try them all; Grouper Pontchartrain with lump

crabmeat and a smooth buerre blanc sauce; the Bourbon Street Stuffed Shrimp; or the flavorful Cajun Seafood Jambalaya Pasta. Mmmm, good!

Keep an eye out for upcoming special events like murder mystery dinners, wine pairings, scotch tasting and other exciting events. Frequent diners will be rewarded with Blackwater Bucks Reward Program. Points will be earned from all purchases. Once a guest earns 150 points, they receive a credit of $10 on their Blackwater Bucks card.

Blackwater Grille also offers front flip, where a guest can scan a QR code with a smart phone and receive a scratch card on the phone—some of which contain half off appetizers or desserts, free drinks and even a chef’s dinner for four. Guests can scan for a new scratch-off card every time they visit. The spirit, flair and flavor of New Orleans has come to the Treasure Island and you can find it at Blackwater Grille. Come see us and let the good times roll! Located at 9610 Gulf Blvd., Treasure Island. (727) 360-0007.

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Stretch Your Strategy Untilalarm It Whimpers This medical may a royal, and your payday will be

BY MARK PILARSKI considerably more than can’t what you’d save your life when others be making while trying to slug it out ear Mark: Where I play, all the EE FR IFT t $35 G da

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lue va

DLifeline with AutoAlert is the only Medical Alarm pendant

table games on the weekend have on a blackjack table at $10 a whack. minimum of $10 – $25 call for help even if you can’t. thattable canlimits automatically Dear Mark: Does losing a a hand, which is far too expensive hand to lousy play from a fellow ave –you thought about I have for my $50 $100 bankroll.

Help when you need it most: you would do actually what lost my entire bankroll in less player alter the cards on the following hands? —Alex B. – Medical Emergency in case of than 20 minutes. What is your recoman emergency in mendation for a game that will at least – Accident “Good morning.

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Lifeline with AutoAlert**… for an added layer of protection. Luckily for Arlene, her doctor had recommended Lifeline with AutoAlert. This revolutionary system features the only Medical Alarm pendant that can automatically call Lifeline’s state-of-the-art response center, if it detects your fall. Then if you need help or can’t respond, expert emergency response operators quickly call friends, family or local ambulance, police or firefighters to When playing perfectand basic stratsummon help… quickly reliably.

egy on a machine with a decent pay Remarkably sophisticated… easy to use. schedule, you can reduce the house Now, they’ve introduced AutoAlert. All advantage wellthe under percent. you do istoplug baseone unit into a Look for a 9/6 (nine for the full power outlet and a phone land line. Then, house, six the for AutoAlert a flush) non-progressive you wear pendant. If you experience kind of(same emergency, from machine orany an 8/5-er as above) fires ato falls, a break-in or even that just with progressive meter attached shortness of breath, press the button and reads at least, $2,200 on a quarter it calls the Lifeline Emergency Response and $8,800 on a dollar machine.

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 13

Surprising Way to Gain Confidence and Health A

new study shows that older people who adopt new technology are more confident and healthy.

It may be a surprise that the fastest-growing segment of social media users are over the age of 45, and particularly, those 65 and over. The study suggests that seniors who regularly surf the net, use communication tools like Skype, Facebook and Twitter feel more “connected” with their friends, loved ones and communities.

Today’s research shows that about 25 percent of people aged 80 years and above and more than a third of those between 65 – 79 were willing to learn new technologies.

“In order for people to remain integrated within a world that increasingly relies on new technology, it is important that older people are offered

opportunities to adopt and use the new technologies, such as computers, smart phones, personal tablets and the internet,” said Dr. Helen Feist.

New, easy-to-use technologies such as iPhones, iPads and other tablets encourage older adults to try other technologies, as well. They eventually become more comfortable with technology overall and are more willing to accept new technology into their lives and homes. The study reports that tablet technology has made it 30 percent easier for older adults to use the internet.

“Older adults who adopt new skills as they age improve their confidence, health, enjoy richer levels of social and civic engagement and are more resilient to life stressors and crises,” said Dr. Feist. From Newswise.

Helpful Services for Local Seniors D

uring some of the most challenging times, seniors and soon-to-be seniors can suddenly find themselves without a job, or even a promising prospect of a job. The senior unemployment rate has hit a 31-year high, according to one report. You may need help finding a job.

The Senior Citizens Services of Clearwater offers FREE computer connections for seniors to connect with local employers.

Computers in the main lobby of the Center are free and open to local seniors on a first-come, first-served basis.

Computers may also be used for other needed daily tasks as appropriate. Some restrictions apply.

The Senior Victim Advocate Program provides free cell phones for use in emergency situations, and they can be obtained through the Senior Citizens Services center as well. Visit the center to get details.

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 14

The Senior Citizens Services center is open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 1204 Rogers Street, Clearwater (off South Missouri Ave. next to McDonalds). For details, call (727) 442-8104. On Facebook at facebook.com/clearwaterseniorcitizens.

Computer classes and computers are also available at many local libraries.

7 Tips for Choosing a Retirement Community

I

f you’re here just visiting, you may be thinking you’d like to buy your own place. No doubt you’ve discovered that there are many choices to consider when it comes to retirement living.

Whether researching a retirement community for yourself or a loved one, it’s important to ask the right questions, keeping in mind factors such as present and future needs, community location and financial situation, among other considerations.

Retirement Living Here are some tips from ACTS Retirement-Life Communities that will put you on the right path toward finding a retirement community to best meet your needs now and for the long-term.

1. Check the background of the community: Find out who owns and manages the community, as well as the track record of management. Determine if the community is accredited for meeting high standards in services, operations and finances. Review the financial performance of the organization, including any credit ratings the company has received from agencies like Standard & Poor’s or Fitch.

2. Consider future health needs: Retirement communities today offer many amenities and services but

not all provide medical care, making another move a possibility should health needs change. Continuing care retirement communities are the only type of senior community that offers independent living, assisted living and skilled nursing care on a single campus. Some CCRCs even offer specialized programs such as memory care, home health care and adult day programs as part of their services.

3. Get detailed information about fees: Learn what all fees do and do not include, when fees are subject to increase and under what conditions. Ask about the average fee increase over the past five years. Consider the financial advantages and disadvantages of the contract options the community offers.

4. Meet with residents and tour the community: Arrange an appointment to tour the community, meet with residents and staff and sample the food and the service. Notice if the community is clean, well maintained and secure.

5. Use a services and amenities check list: Get a complete information packet that includes application for admission, fee schedules, floor plans and the resident contract. Compare each community’s pricing to amenities, programs and services that are important to you.

6. Ask about recreational and social activities: Find out what kind of social, cultural, educational, spiritual and wellness activities are available. Is there an activities director on staff to plan entertainment, events and trips? Is transportation available?

7. Consider location and find out if there is a waiting list: Is the community located near family, friends, doctor’s office, place of worship and shopping? Find out if there is a waiting list to move into the community and how it works.

Affordable Housing For Senior Citizens

Creekside Manor I & II

are federally subsidized apartments for persons 62 and above.

Special access apartments are also available.

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Rent is based on income.

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Call (727) 441-8400

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The holiday season is a merry time filled with social gatherings, family sing-alongs and a jingle bell or two.

But for those with difficulty hearing the festivities aren’t as joyful as they should be.

At Bob Evans Hearing Centers, we want to help everyone with hearing loss enjoy the sounds of this holiday season. And with our team of experienced hearing professionals and Starkey hearing aids, it’s more possible than ever before. Taking advantage of the latest hearing science and cutting-edge digital technology, Starkey hearing aids are designed to: Improve hearing in noisy environments

Eliminate buzzing and whistling

Let you talk easily and comfortable on the phone

Office Hrs. Mon.–Fri. 8–12 & 1–4 Closed Saturday & Sunday Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 15

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 16

Caring for Sensitive Teeth and Gums

N

othing is more irritating than having to refrain from savoring your guilty pleasure due to a shooting pain in your teeth—tooth sensitivity, triggered by hot, cold, sweet or sour foods and drinks, or by breathing in cold air. The discomfort you’re feeling is an indication that the dentin in your teeth is exposed.

When the dentin loses its protective covering, heat, cold and acidic or sticky foods stimulate the nerves and cells inside the tooth, causing hypersensitivity and discomfort.

It may be caused by brushing too hard over time, recession of the gums, teeth and tooth enamel, teeth whitening products, plaque or acidic foods and beverages.

What are some solutions?

• Maintain oral hygiene. Follow proper brushing and flossing techniques to thoroughly clean all parts of your teeth and mouth.

• Use a sensitive toothbrush such as an ARM & HAMMER™ Spinbrush™ Pro Sensitive, a battery-powered toothbrush specifically designed for sensitive teeth and gums.

• Use a sensitive toothpaste— ARM & HAMMER™ Sensitive Toothpaste gentle to exposed roots.

Learn more about products to help with sensitivity at armandhammer. com and FamilyFeatures.com.

Staying Healthy with MedExpress With the flu season fast approaching, MedExpress is now offering flu shots at every location with little to no wait. Each of our urgent care centers provides the latest vaccination in a comfortable, caring environment.

Though you may have received a vaccination last year, it’s important to get one every year as virus strains are constantly evolving.

MedExpress, one of America’s top urgent care clinic providers, focuses on delivering the best patient experience available in a warm and caring environment. Our conveniently located urgent care centers offer compassionate care for injuries, illnesses, and more. As you get older, MedExpress understands staying healthy can be difficult and it’s our goal to keep members of our community happy and healthy.

Why should you get a flu shot?

The flu is a contagious respiratory illness caused by various influenza viruses. This virus exhibits a wide variety of individual reactions from mild to severe respiratory dysfunctions and, in severe cases, can lead to death. Certain individuals such as younger children and older adults are very susceptible to complications from the flu. Individuals with preexisting health conditions such as asthma, heart disease, diabetes, or weakened immune systems are especially at risk from complications due to the flu virus.

According to the Center for Disease Control, this year’s upcoming flu vaccine protects against three of the most common influenza viruses expected this season. Last year, the influenza season set the record for the lowest and the shortest flu season, due to several factors including a large uptick in reported vaccinations. Though last year’s number of reported cases might have been lower than most years, the highest rates of hospitalization continued to be amongst the 65 and older population.

Tips on staying healthy this season.

Along with your flu shot, you can help prevent the spread of the influenza virus with some very simple, everyday actions, such as, covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing, washing hands with We celebrate our 55+ soap and water, along with using alcohol-based hand community members. sanitizers. If you are sick, avoid crowds and public places Appreciation Day and seek out medical help if symptoms get severe.

Dec. 6th - 9am to 3pm If you’re interested in learning more about MedExpress, please join us at our Appreciation Day Event. (See inset).

Largo Mall, Behind Olive Garden™ 10500 Ulmerton Road 727-518-2273 facebook.com/medexpress

medexpress.com

For more information on flu vaccinations, MedExpress urgent care centers, and other great customer services provided by MedExpress, visit our website at www.medexpress.com.

Flu shots*

available now we tReat inJuRies anD illnesses FoR all aGes.

great care is closer than you think.

+ Just Walk in. + MOst insuRanCE aCCEPtED, But nOt REQuiRED. + alWays a PhysiCian On sitE.

MedExpress is making it easy to protect yourself against the flu this season. With no appointments, short wait times and a friendly, caring staff, it’s fast, easy, and reliable. Which should keep everyone feeling great.

Open Every Day 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 17 VERSION: 1

DATE: 10/15/12

BLEED: --

PROGRAM:

INDD

JOB: 12-MDEX-369 TRAFFIC: Tara

WASHINGTON ST.

BY SIGNING YOUR INITIALS BELOW, YOU ARE STATING THAT YOU HAVE READ AND APPROVED THIS WORK.

Medicare Answers Walgreens now offers the Zostavax vaccine for shingles at all of its locations!

If you’ve ever had Chicken Pox, ask your Walgreens Pharmacist about the Zostavax vaccine recommended for those 50 years and older to help prevent shingles.

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

Our “Go 90” Program - 3 prescription refills in one and for 3 months you’re done!

Our Prescriptions Savings Club - Members get special discounts off the cash price of thousands of brand-name and generic medications as well as numerous other benefits when they use their card throughout the store.

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 18

D

ear Marci, I recently signed up for Medicare and my Part B premium is being taken out of my Social Security check each month. I cannot afford to pay my premiums. Are there any programs that can help me pay for Medicare Part B? —Darrell

Dear Darrell, Yes, you might qualify for a Medicare Savings Program (MSP), which is an assistance program that helps people with limited income pay for the Medicare Part B premium.

There are three common MSPs, and each one has different eligibility limits. The three main MSPs are: • Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB)

Octogenarians Recover Best At Home O ctogenarians need not shy away from heart valve surgery because of their age; however, those sent home following surgery do better than those discharged to care facilities, according to a recent study.

Studies showed that the biggest advantage of being discharged to home is the social support of family and friends. Plus, being in familiar surroundings physiologically reinforces the understanding that they are getting better.

New minimally invasive technology may further increase heart surgery safety. Diseased heart valves may cause shortness of breath, weakness, dizziness, fainting, swelling, palpitations and chest tightness.

Cardiothoracic surgeons can replace or repair heart valves to relieve symptoms and prolong life.

Dr. Ad, Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Inova Heart and Vascular Institute, said that for the first time in 50 years, heart surgeons have new tools and devices on the horizon that will significantly improve the outcome of any patient, especially elderly patients, “These new approaches, including the ability to place new heart valves without sutures, will further enhance our ability to minimize the size of the incision and shorten the time on the heart-lung machine, further reducing the risk of strokes and renal failure.” Newswise

BY FRED CICETTI

Q

. I’ve noticed that I can’t drink a cup of regular coffee after mid-afternoon. It keeps me awake at night. I used to be able to drink coffee at dinnertime and it never bothered me. Is this another age thing?

Uh-huh. Sensitivity to caffeine—the pick-me-up in coffee—tends to increase as you get older. Children metabolize caffeine quicker than adults.

About 90 percent of Americans consume caffeine daily. More than half of all American adults consume more than 300 milligrams of caffeine every day, making it America’s most popular drug.

Caffeine occurs naturally in many plants, including coffee beans, tea leaves and cocoa nuts. It is therefore found in a wide range of food products.

Caffeine is added artificially to many others, including a variety of beverages. The most common sources of caffeine for Americans are coffee, tea, colas, chocolate and some over-the-counter medications.

Here are some useful numbers to help you determine how much caffeine you take in: A 6-ounce cup of coffee—100 mg A 6-ounce cup of tea—70 mg A 12-ounce can of cola—50 mg An ounce of chocolate—6 mg One tablet of Extra Strength Excedrin—65mg One tablet of Anacin—32 mg One tablet of Maximum Strength NoDoz—200 mg For most people, 200 to 300 milligrams a day aren’t harmful. But, if you are sensitive to caffeine or use certain drugs, you may want to cut down or eliminate caffeine from your diet. Your caffeine consumption is worth discussing with your doctor.

Caffeine can cause restlessness, anxiety, irritability, muscle tremors,

sleeplessness, headaches, nausea, diarrhea and abnormal heart rhythms.

Some medicines and supplements interact negatively with caffeine.

These include some antibiotics and bronchodilators. Talk to your doctor or pharmacist about whether caffeine might affect the medicines you take.

In the practice of medicine, caffeine is useful as a cardiac stimulant and also as a mild diuretic. Caffeine is an addictive drug. It stimulates like amphetamines, cocaine, and heroin.

If you feel you have to have caffeine every day, then you are addicted to it. Eliminating caffeine suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as headaches and fatigue. These symptoms usually pass after several days.

Here are some tips if you want to chase the caffeine monkey: • Read labels carefully for ingredients and keep track of the caffeine you consume.

• Gradually reduce the amount of caffeine you take in. This will enable you to acclimate to less caffeine and reduce the effects of withdrawal.

• Start drinking decaffeinated coffee, tea and soda.

• Brew your tea for less time to cut down on caffeine. Or try herbal teas, which are caffeine-free.

• Check the caffeine content in overthe-counter medications that you take.

If you can, switch to caffeine-free forms of the medications you need.

If you would like to read more columns, you can order a copy of “How To Be A Healthy Geezer” at www.healthygeezer.com. All Rights Reserved © 2012 by Fred Cicetti.

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 19

Ways to Improve Your Bone Health

Discover The Springs I South Pasadena’s Hidden Treasure

Welcome to The Springs at Boca Ciega Bay, located in beautiful South Pasadena on the campus of The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay. We’re not your typical skilled nursing facility.

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We offer Customized Rehab programs 7 days a week both in-patient and out-patient including Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapy.

We specialize in: • Orthopedic • Stroke/Neuro • Cardiac programs by utilizing state-of-the-art equipment including Anodyne therapy and Natilus equipment, just to name a few.

We make admissions easy! We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Our experienced and licensed Nurse Liaison, will meet you at hospital bedside or in your home. If you have a surgery planned, why not come in for a tour and take the mystery out of the admission process. Call (727) 599-1390.

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 20

t is nearly impossible to get adequate calcium from diet alone. Supplements can help bridge the gap to ensure you are getting enough of this essential mineral. However, choosing a supplement can be daunting. Pharmacy and health food store shelves are lined with an overwhelming number of calcium and other bonebuilding supplements. Many claim to be superior but we have to look to science to support those claims.

People are also concerned about product purity, as it was recently revealed that some supplements may be contaminated with heavy metals and other undesirable ingredients.

Here are some pros and cons of bone-health supplements:

Coral calcium: These supplements are made from limestone, which is a form of calcium carbonate. Some companies selling coral calcium have made exaggerated health claims about the benefits of these supplements. As a result, there has been FDA and FTC action due to lack of data to support claims.

Calcium carbonate: This is the least expensive and most widely found type of calcium. Calcium carbonate is quite bulky, meaning the tablets are very large and often hard to swallow.

Thus chewables are preferred. Heavy metal contamination with calcium carbonate has been a recent issue.

Calcium citrate: Citrate provides less elemental calcium and is more expensive than carbonate. However, it may

be a better choice for those with low stomach acid.

Eggshell calcium: The latest research shows that one of the cleanest and most absorbable forms of calcium comes from eggshells.

It is called ESC. It’s so easily absorbed by the body that you need to take less of it than other forms of calcium. Eggshell supplements are safe, natural, gentle on the stomach and do not contain contaminants.

There are also products available now made with natural eggshell membrane, or NEM, to support joint health. This is a significant advantage since joint health is critical for mobility, flexibility and quality of life. There are a variety of products that include ESC or NEM showing up in the marketplace.

Other supplements to consider: It is often difficult to get a sufficient amount of magnesium and vitamin D from food. Both of these nutrients are essential for bone health. Likewise, boron, copper, manganese, phosphorous, vitamin K, silicon and zinc are other nutrients involved in bone formation.

Final Thoughts Osteoporosis is preventable, not inevitable. There are various ways to build strong bones and protect ourselves against osteoporosis. A diet that is rich in calcium, magnesium and vitamin D, regular weightbearing exercise and nutritional supplements are key elements in our personal fight against osteoporosis.

Shopping Tip

D

uring this season of shopping, scour daily deal and flash sites like Groupon and LivingSocial.

These sites offer unique and deeply discounted gift options, though it’s essential you read the fine print about return policies and expiration dates when

purchasing from these sites. Be sure to be realistic about whether or not the gift makes sense for the person who will receive it.

Since both Groupon and LivingSocial often offer activitybased deals, consider purchasing one for yourself too. Sharing a fun experience with someone you love is the ultimate gift!

Grief and the Holidays

I

f you’re dealing with the recent death of a family member or close friend, cancer survivor Deborah Cornwall recommends that you be willing to change family rituals.

Consider focusing the holidays around family and friends in a new setting.

Instead of having family come to your house, think of going to a new place. Or schedule a family trip over the holidays so you and your loved ones can be together in a stimulating and new environment that would give them lots to see, do and talk about.

Health and Holiday Drinking

W

ith the holidays come added opportunities to engage in more social (or alone) drinking.

The Cleveland Clinic offers this advice:

Actual amounts per drink for moderate consumption are as follows: • 12 fluid ounces of regular beer (150 calories)

• 5 fluid ounces of wine (100 calories)

• 1.5 fluid ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (100 calories)

And remember that too much drinking all at once—or heavy drinking over a long period of time—can actually damage the heart.

To avoid over drinking during the holidays, drink slowly. Also, socialize and eat enough food while drinking.

LAST CHANCE FOR 2012 BENEFITS

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www.TampaBayFootSolutions.com Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 21

Convert PDF Files to Word Format

&

Mr. Modem

needs more assistance. I have a large screen, but I need larger buttons. Help!

by Richard Sherman Is there a way of converting a PDF file into a standard Word Document?

Yes, there sure is. I use the free online PDF to Word (www. pdftoword.com) converter. It’s self explanatory and very easy to use: You browse to and select the PDF file you want to convert, provide your email address, and the converted DOC file will be emailed to you. For users who need to convert Word DOC files to PDF format, it will probably come as no surprise that there is also a free Word to PDF converter, located at www.wordtopdf.com.

How can I enlarge my Quick Launch bar buttons? I’m using Windows XP and my aging vision

We can relate and by “we,” I am referring to my trifocals and me.

You can definitely enlarge the Quick Launch buttons. In fact, you have a vast selection of sizes to choose from ranging from Small to Large. On second thought, that IS the vast selection, Small or Large.

Once you have mulled the choices over and made a decision, right click an empty area of the Quick Launch bar (to the right of the last icon that appears, for example), then select View > Large Icons. The icons will instantly enlarge to a much more reasonable size, if you ask me. You do not have to restart your computer for this change to take effect.

What is the difference between Google Earth and Google Maps?

Besides the spelling (I couldn’t resist), Google Earth (www. google.com/earth) presents a phenom-

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 22

SUN CITY CENTER

enal airborne view of the planet from which you can zoom in—like you’re free falling from outer space—to an address or other selected location.

If you want to see Google Earth in action without actually installing it, go to YouTube.com and search for “Google Earth.” There are lots of Google Earth videos that will demonstrate how it works and how it zooms in using satellite photography.

Google Maps provides road maps from which you can obtain driving directions, for example.

It’s web-based, so there is nothing to install. The best way to get a handle on it is to simply visit Google Maps at www.google.com/ maps, and have fun exploring.

Mr. Modem’s DME (Don’t Miss ‘Em) Sites of the Month Geni.com Geni is a free genealogy service that enables families to learn about

their ancestry and discover new relatives, who will undoubtedly want to borrow money or move into the spare bedroom. More than 100 million people have created their respective family trees and are sharing photos, videos and documents by inviting relatives to join the collaboration.

Geni.com is browser based, so there is no software to install. Simply click a person’s profile in the tree, then edit, add or delete information as you go. The Basic plan lets you add up to 100 people and offers 1GB of storage for photos, documents, and videos.

Plus and Pro plans, which offer more features and storage, are available for a monthly fee. www.geni.com.

For more information about Mr. Modem’s technology tips eBooks and award winning weekly computer help newsletter, featuring his personal answers to your questions by email, visit www.MrModem.com.

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Veterans Corner

Television Acoustics Breakthrough

➻

Thirty Days With My Father—A Memoir The private TV listening system of the Effects of Generational PTSD hristal Presley was Presley says, “Over the 30, overwhelmed by 30 days, we began to form life and feeling unworthy, a relationship, and I got to when she called her father ask him a lot of really hard and asked him to answer questions about his behavior her questions about the when I was a kid. I wanted to Vietnam War for 30 days. know why he hated me—be“I had thought my cause I thought he did—and family was the only family why he would close himself haunted by the after effects in a room and not let us in.” of war,” she says, recountAs he talked, she realized ing a childhood spent in she thought he still hated her.

Christal Presley fear of her father’s rage, In fact, it shifted Presley’s threats, isolation and dewhole life to pression. After the conversations, learn that he she started blogging about what felt his wife she’d learned, and it opened the and daughter floodgates for other children “were his very of veterans to say “That’s my soul, and he story, too.” The emails she gets hadn’t locked now number in the thousands. himself away Without knowing quite because he hated how it happened, Presley us but because has become the voice for a he loved us and generation of children of knew that he Vietnam War veterans. They was dangerous, are victims of “generational gravitating from PTSD,” suffering PTSD as depression to a result of a parent’s sufferrage. He knew he ing. Many haven’t spoken was capable of to their fathers in 20 or 30 years. hurting us and Presley started therapy at 18. Over was protecting us from himself.” time she discovered there were As the 30 days progressed, she could unhappy pieces of her life she “needed tell he was glad to talk. At first his to deconstruct” which could only be voice was shaky and Presley said done with her dad’s input. So she she “cried a lot.” She finally asked asked him for 30 days. “I wanted to him how he felt about the conversahave an ending point. I was taking tions they were having. “He said he a huge risk that it would be a total loved talking to me. He said was so disaster, and I wanted to be able to proud of me. I never knew that.” say that I’d seen it through. I knew I Knowing that now, she wrote could stand anything for 30 days.” her story for others to see the pain The first call ended in his hanging and reconciliation of the effects of up on her. But she called back—and wartime trauma and its aftermath. kept calling. By day five they were The memoir Thirty Days With My face to face. She says, “He was Father: Finding Peace From Wartime talking about the war and it wasn’t PTSD is Christal Presley’s memoir. all horrible things like I thought it The daughter and father now talk three would be. He told me about the war or four times a week, and she says, from a historical perspective. I hadn’t “He’s interested in my life and he realized he understood that part of it.” and my mother both love the book.”

you’ll want to use… even if there’s no one else in the room!

This new Personal TV Listening System (PTLS) can help millions get more out of their favorite past time.

I

f there is one thing people like to argue about… it’s television. Even if they can agree what to watch, most people disagree about the volume. That’s because most people require different volume levels, in order to understand and enjoy their favorite shows and movies. What’s more, if one of them is doing something else, like reading or sleeping– the last thing they want to hear is a blaring television.

When forced to compromise and listen to TV at the same volume– everyone loses.

Now, thanks to innovative digital audio technology, anyone can listen to the TV at the volume they desire without disturbing others. Best of all… the audio is so spectacular you’ll want to use it all the time. Here are a few reasons why the PTLS is the best thing to happen to television since the remote.

High Definition Audio.

TV video technology has improved dramatically in the past few years, but the audio quality has remained relatively unchanged. Unlike other comparable systems, PTLS provides performance quality stereo sound (up to 120dB)– putting you in the acoustic sweet spot of the room– no matter where you are sitting.

Fully Customizable.

The Adjustable Digital Tone control enhances dialogue clarity and intelligibility to suit your hearing. You’ll hear everything from stage whispers to lifelike sound effects.

Lightweight and comfortable.

This system is designed to rest on your shoulders with small, powerful earbuds

that bring the sound directly to your ears.

The hi-fidelity passive noise isolation speakers stay gently in your ears without creating pressure or discomfort.

Easy to set-up and use.

This plug and play system comes with everything you need and the powerful transmitter covers a room up to 35 by 35 feet. It features rechargeable batteries that give you up to 24 hours of listening from a full charge.

Exclusive home trial.

Why spend time arguing with your loved ones when you could be enjoying your favorite TV shows and movies together again. The PTLS comes with firstSTREET’s exclusive home trial, so if you are not completely satisfied with it for any reason you can simply return it within 30 days for a full refund of the product purchase price.

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 23

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Car Break-in! Are You Covered?

Y

ou parked in a well-lit restaurant parking lot. Your laptop and iPad were on the back seat, and your diamond ring was in the glove compartment.

While you were at dinner, thieves smashed your window and stole your computer, iPad, ring and the car’s GPS system. You have auto insurance and renters insurance policies.

What’s covered? And what’s not?

GPS, window: “Your auto policy covers the car and anything that’s permanently attached,” explains Angela Preciado, USAA auto product management director. The coverage for your insured auto would include the broken window and the GPS, as long as the system is permanently attached. If it isn’t, it would be considered personal property within the

vehicle and would be covered—along with any other personal property—up to a limit of $250.

Computers, ring: The laptop and iPad are covered up to the personal property limit of a renters or homeowners insurance policy. A personal computer endorsement can be added to those policies for special coverage for the laptop and iPad. Since insurance coverage begins after you pay your deductible, it makes sense to add a computer endorsement to a homeowners policy, which usually has a much higher deductible than a renters policy.

There are limitations for theft of jewelry under the renters and homeowners policies. It’s recommended to secure a valuable personal property policy (around $5 a month and no deductible) for jewelry with a value over $1,000.

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 24

When Grandparents Divorce

BY KATIE SAINT, MA, BCBA

T

he divorce rate for couples over 50 has more than doubled since 1990.

Empty nest syndrome combined with retirement often is a difficult adjustment that can cause conflict in marriages, leading to divorce. The stigma associated with divorce is starting to lift as well, so people who would have begrudgingly “stuck it out” are no longer feeling the need to do so. The research states that divorce causes distress for parents, children and grandchildren of any age.

• Infants cannot understand the reasons why, but they do feel the emotional tension in the home. This often displays in irritability, and change in eating or sleeping habits.

• Toddlers can become more clingy or needy when stress increases in the home. This can also be expressed in anger toward parents or siblings that appear to be unrelated to the source of stress. It is common for developmental regression to happen. For example, a child who is potty trained might start having accidents, or a child might start to suck her thumb again.

Sleeping patterns may be interrrupted.

• Preschool and elementary-age children often blame themselves and may have increased anxiety about how their roles will change. For example, they may worry about if they will see Grandma and Grandpa, or if their grandparents will still love them. They may also have nightmares and sleeping problems. It is common for children this age to become aggressive and angry toward parents, grandparents and siblings under this kind of stress.

• Teens may express their struggles by withdrawing from friends, family and special interests. They may feel driven to take care of one or both of their grandparents. They may start to question their own beliefs about marriage, divorce and relationships. They may act out by doing drugs, sexual activity, swearing or aggression.

• Young Adult children of divorced parents often respond stronger than people would think. Expecting your adult

children to take it in stride might not be realistic. This can completely change the relational dynamics. Children’s worldviews can be challenged by this, they might start to question their childhood memories, and they might even struggle with guilt. “My parents said they stayed together all those years because of me.”

Adult children might view the situation as not just their parents separating, but rather that they are “losing their family.”

• Age 30+ — An interesting dynamic that happens when parents of adult children divorce is the parents often heavily depend on the children to transition through the divorce. Parents can forget that their children are grieving, see how capable they are and rely on them to do things that their spouses used to do. This can become a tremendous stress to adult children.

• Parents divorcing in the 50+ age bracket face their own special adjustment problems. They often have family and friends that are 20 to 30 year-long friendships that are discontinued due to the divorce. They may have habits or activities that they never had to learn how to do because their spouse took care of them, and now they are forced to learn how.

Severity of symptoms will greatly vary in all ages based on the situation.

Katie Saint is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and author of “When Grandparents Divorce.” For more info go to revitalizecounselingservices. com. Article from Grandparents.com.

Smart Financial Moves for Late 2012/Early 2013

BY BILL LOSEY, CFP®

your 2012 taxable income by the amount of your contribution. If you are hat can you do to lower your self-employed and don’t have a solo 2012 taxes? Before the year fades 401(k), a SIMPLE plan or something away, you have plenty of options. Here similar, consider establishing and are a few that may prove convenient: funding one before the end of the year.

In 2012, you can contribute up to $17,000 in a 401(k), 403(b) or profit-sharing plan, with a $5,500 catch-up contribution also allowed if • Make a charitable gift before New you are age 50 or older. You can put Year’s Day. If you give cash, you up to $11,500 in a SIMPLE IRA in need to document it. If you pledge 2012, $14,000 if you are 50 or older. $2,000 to a charity in December but only end up gifting $500 before 2012 • Practice tax loss harvesting. You could sell underperforming stocks in ends, you can only deduct $500. your portfolio—enough to rack up at Does the value of your gift exceed least $3,000 in capital losses. If it ends $250? If so, document it and file up that your total capital losses top all Form 8283 when your total deducof your capital gains in 2012, you can tion for non-cash contributions or deduct up to $3,000 of capital losses property in a year exceeds $500. from your 2012 ordinary income. If • Contribute more to your retirement you have over $3,000 in capital losses, plan. If you haven’t turned 70½ and the excess rolls over into 2013. you participate in a traditional (i.e., non-Roth) qualified retirement plan or Are there other major moves that have a traditional IRA, you can reduce you should consider? Your to-do list

W

Finance

might be long, for much financial change may occur in 2013…

• Pay attention to asset location.

Here are two big reasons why tax efficiency should be a priority as 2012 leads into 2013: Next year, dividend income is slated to be taxed as regular income. So tax on qualified stock dividends could nearly triple for the wealthiest Americans.

Capital gains taxes for high earners are scheduled to jump 33%. Long-term capital gains are now taxed at 15% for those in the highest four income brackets; that rate is supposed to rise to 20% next year.

Federal taxes are poised to rise next year, but one little detail isn’t getting enough publicity: the planned 3.8% Medicare surtax scheduled to hit single/joint filers with AGIs over $200,000/$250,000 will not apply to qualified payouts from Roth accounts.

Talk with a qualified financial or tax professional today. Vow to focus on being healthy and wealthy in the New Year.

Does Washington Control Our Cures?

H

ow you respond to bad news from the doctor can change your life as much as the diagnosis can.

“I was diagnosed with Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy— HOCM,” says J. Thomas Shaw, author of a novel inspired by his experience, The RX Factor. “Whenever you hear about a young athlete in exceptional condition dropping dead during a game or near the end of a hard practice, the autopsy usually reveals that was the cause.”

After being referred to one of the world’s leading cardiomyopathy specialists, a doctor who literally wrote the book on the condition, Shaw was shocked and disappointed to learn that no cure is expected within his lifetime—another 40 years or more.

“With all of the exponential leaps we’re making in medical technology right now, including sci-fi level accomplishments like inputting digital data into organic cells, I would think that pretty much anything is possible in the coming decades,” he says.

After months of research and consultations with doctors and other health-care providers, Shaw concluded that profit-seeking and “Big Pharma”—the drug lobbyists in Washington—are hindering the quest for cures.

“As long as disease can be maintained throughout a lifetime with various medications, why would an industry that profits from stabilizing maladies want to cure it? It’s their bread and butter!” he says.

The RX Factor will make you aware of what’s happening, and not happening, in medical care.

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 25

San Diego: This Time, Leave the Port and Head over the Hills for

BY JANICE DOYLE

I

f hearing “Anchors Aweigh” stirs your soul, San Diego may be in your past. A trip back to the port can offer a trip down memory lane as well as some new adventures. Generations of men have either trained at a Navy or Marine facility in the San Diego area or shipped out on one of the ships attached to the Pacific Fleet.

The San Diego area is home to the largest military complex in the world, with an estimated 170,000 military and family members.

Travel

We enjoyed the drive on Route 79 with charming mountain communities. Here are some suggestions about what to see and do:

• First stop: San Vicente Resort near the town of Ramona for golf, tennis, swimming and hiking plus restaurants on site for true relaxation.

• Ramona, the town, embraces its Wild West and pioneer roots through displays at the Guy B. Woodward Museum in town. Check the town’s website for rodeos and pow wows.

• Dudley’s Bakery as you drive through the village of Santa Ysabel is known for yummy breads and pastries!

Naval Base San Diego is homeport to more than 50 ships. And you can tour the USS Midway, an aircraft carrier with a long and noble history.

Movies featuring the area include Top Gun with Tom Cruise, who flew out of Miramar Naval Air Station, and Sands of Iwo Jima where John Wayne raced up a hill at Camp Pendleton, the setting for the WWII battle.

Hotel Del Coronado

Across a bridge from downtown, be sure to see one of the last of the great hotels, the Hotel Del Coronado.

Central to the complex is the 1888 original turreted wooden hotel with its sparkling white clapboards and red tile roof. This landmark has been the site of numerous movies such as Some Like it Hot. San Diego County Ready for a new adventure?

Then do what we did and head for the mountains east of the city and the Anzo-Borrego Desert.

Desert Adventure California Overland Tours

The Gold Rush Hotel

• Julian is a hilly town known for gold mines in the past and apple orchards today. Stay at the legendary Gold Rush Hotel (fabulous breakfast!) right in the middle of town. Eat apple pie at one of the cafes early because the town closes up at dark and is a haven for restful sleep. Check the Julian website for the many festivals they hold.

• The nearby California Wolf Center offers understanding of both the Mexican and Alaskan wolves. There’s a great education center and easy live viewing of both species. Only open weekends.

Then it was over the mountain and down, down, down via switchbacks to the town of Borrego Springs on the floor of Borrego Valley in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.

The town is fast turning into a haven for retirees and boomers.

We stayed at the Santa Fe-style Borrego Valley Inn with an aviary of finches. There are two pools, one with “clothing optional” designation.

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 26

• We took a California Overland offroad excursion in an open air military truck to experience the desert. Our guide pointed out where Patton’s army trained before heading to Africa and where training is still held by the military at times. The tour bounced us along rough roads, dry lake beds and into the Badlands, wind caves, slot canyons and more. Jeep tours are also available.

• Don’t miss the Anza-Borrego Park Headquarters, literally built into the desert to conserve energy and to be unobtrusive. Great displays inside and outside hiking trails radiate from the visitor center.

Communities in the world. Ask around for stargazing opportunities offered by various groups.

On your way either in or out of San Diego proper, you’ll pass within a few feet of the Olaf Wieghorst Museum and Western Heritage Center in El Cajon.

His famous paintings portray the 19th century American West and the museum has collections of memorabilia to bring alive memories of Western heroes. You’ll recognize his paintings.

Great collection—don’t miss it. For more info, see sandiego.org

• If you’re not prepared, the sight is startling. What are those creatures in the middle of the desert? Galleta Meadows sculptures are a giant welded metal managerie by Ricardi Breceda.

Dozens of statues through the valley now include notable humans as well.

• When the sun goes down, the desert wakes up. Stargazing is popular in Borrego Springs, one of three certified Dark Sky

Dragon sculpture by Ricardi Breceda

Getting the Most for Your Travel Dollar

A

s prices for flights go up, getting the most for your travel dollar becomes a challenge.

Looking around online may be time consuming but dollarwise.

Flight prices can vary significantly depending on the day or time of departure, so being truly flexible with travel dates and time of booking is the best way for consumers to reap financial benefits, according to

CheapFlightsFinder.com, which compares up to 16 flight comparison sites.

It stands to reason that Fridays and Sunday evenings are popular times for people to fly because weekend travelers want to maximize the period they are away without having extra days off work. Therefore, flying on these days will often be the most expensive, but in fact no day should be ruled out if the maximum saving is to be made. Wednesday is usually the cheapest day of the week to fly, followed by Tuesday.

When booking any flight, the more flexible you can be, the more likely it is that a savings can be made; this often includes repeating searches as costs can go up and down, day to day, just as exchange rates do.

Information from CheapFlightsFinder.com.

SIGN UP TODAY!

One mile “FUN” Walk around Florida State Fairgrounds Walkers Receive: T-Shirt, Continental Breakfast, & PRIZES to the Winners!

Jan. 23, 2013

Florida State Fairgrounds, 4800 Hwy. 301 N. • Tampa, FL 33610 Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. • $3 Parking

Warm Up by Silver Sneakers Walk starts at 9:15 a.m., $3 minimum donation for local charities.

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Y

es, ICE! is back at Gaylord Palms Nov. 10 through January 1 —featuring DreamWorks’ Merry Madagascar. It’s two million pounds of icy fun!

ICE! is Florida’s frigid Christmas tradition, with over 20,000 square-feet of frosty 9-degree bliss played out in a winter wonderland of exciting handcarved sculptures. And this

year it’s really all that it’s cracked up to be, featuring two-story tall ice slides carved entirely from two million pounds of ice and an all-new tribute to the unforgettable DreamWorks’ Animation TV classic Merry Madagascar.

And while you’re thawing out from all the ice, you can bask in the dazzling lights of the Christmas décor throughout the resort and the spirited Luminescence Christmas show. Visit ChristmasAtGaylordPalms. com for more info.

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 27

S

ince 1995, amateur, commercial and professional bakers have competed in the National Pie Championships to determine who makes the best pies in America.

The new book, America’s Best Pies: Nearly 200 Recipes You’ll Love is a collection of some of the award-winning pies from the American Pie Council/Crisco national Pie Championships.

Recipe Inside the book, you’ll find sections for apple pie recipes, cherry pie recipes, followed by sections of chocolates, custards, peanut butter, pumpkin, raisin, special dietary and much, much more. Most have pictures alongside the recipe.

Each recipe comes with a recipe for crust and there are numerous variations on your mother’s basic pie dough recipe—like this one:

2 c flour 1 c cake flour 1 1/2 Tbsp sugar 1 tsp salt 8 Tbsp frozen butter, cut up 1/2 c plus 2 Tbsp frozen Crisco, cut up 2 Tbsp vinegar 1 large egg yolk 4-5 Tbsp ice water 1/2 c crushed cornflakes Egg glaze: 1 egg white plus 1 Tbsp water To make crust: blend dry ingredients; cut in butter and shortening with a pastry blender.

Add egg yolk, vinegar and minimum amount water. Toss until mix begins to clump together. If it looks dry, sprinkle on more water.

Form dough into ball and flatten into a 6-inch disk for single shell or divide in half and make two disks for double-crust pie.

Wrap dough and chill 1 hour or overnight.

Soften to room temp, roll out for crusts.

Here’s a sample of a pie that could grace any holiday table:

Oreo Almond Crust 24 Oreo cookies 1 c almond slivers 4 Tbsp butter, melted Filling 8 oz cream cheese, softened and cut in half 4 oz dark chocolate melted in the microwave 4 oz milk chocolate melted in microwave (do not melt until ready to prepare 3rd layer) 3/4 c Cool Whip 12 oz jar red raspberry preserves (seedless) To make crust, grind cookies and almonds in food processor. Add melted butter. Press into pie tin; bake 10 minutes. Cool before adding filling.

To make filling: beat 4 oz cream cheese.

Add melted dark chocolate. Beat until smooth and spread into crust. Freeze

until set. Meanwhile, microwave preserve 30 seconds or until liquid. Cool slightly and pour over chocolate layer. Freeze until preserves are cool and have returned to gel state. Beat remaining cream cheese until smooth and add melted milk chocolate. Beat til smooth. Beat in Cool Whip. Spread over raspberry layer.

Freeze until set. Garnish with Cool Whip rosettes, chocolate curls and shavings.

Enter to win a copy of the book “Americaʼs Best Pies.” Enter early! Weʼll draw a winnerʼs name on Dec. 18 and mail the book in time for you to use as a Christmas gift if youʼd like. Submit your name, address and phone number by mail: News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583, Attn: Pies. Or by email: janice@lifestylesafter50.com (subject line: Pies). Drawing Dec. 18.

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• After completion, of course we will issue a state-certified certificate for you to turn into your insurance company to receive your discount for a three year period.

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Driver’s ����� ��������License ���� �������� and are 55 years �����of ���age �����or ���older? ������� Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicle Approved Course Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 28

Take Your Mature Driver Course On The Internet!

If you have a Florida Driver’s License and are 55 years of age or older, you are now eligible to complete motor vehicle accident prevention course that will allow you to receive a mandatory reduction on your insurance rate for three years.

To Register go to:

www.seniordriverclass.com

or call 1-800-771-2255

FREE ADMISSION

A F T E R 50

PARKING $3 (Martin Luther King entrance)

Presents the 8th Annual...

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For the Best Event of the Year!

Inside the Special Events Building FEB. 9th – 20th, 2012

Jan. 23, 2013 • 10am to 3pm

Florida State Fairgrounds 4800 Hwy. 301 N., Tampa, FL 33610 The Knockouts

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

Singing Sensations

Richie Merritt

Denise Looney

‘50s, ‘60s & ‘70s Music By: Richie Merritt - (The Marcels, The Clovers) The Fabulous “Knockouts”- Singing Sensations Denise Looney - “DJ with a Twist!”

William “Duece” Hulett, Best in Country Entertainment Russell “Elvis” Cortese

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Join the Fun! One mile “walk,” Jan. 23, 9:15 am, $3 minimum donation. Enjoy Continental Breakfast, T-Shirt, Sponsor “Goodie Bag” & Prizes to the Winners! Call 1-888-670-0040, go to www.lifestylesafter50fl.com (MAIL DEADLINE 1/11/13) or sign up, Jan. 23 at 8:30 am.

EDUCATION • INFORMATION • ENTERTAINMENT Sponsored by...

Information 813-653-1988 or 1-888-670-0040 • www.lifestylesafter50fl.com • Directions: 813-621-7821 or 800-345 FAIR Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 29

Cracker Country Seeks Volunteers in Preparation for the Florida State Fair

E

very year during the Florida State Fair, Mildred W. & Doyle E. Carlton Jr. Cracker Country opens its gates and welcomes Fair goers into Florida’s past. With the Fair just around the corner, February 7 – 18, 2012, the museum is in full swing looking for volunteers to help teach rural Florida’s history.

Cracker Country offers a variety of opportunities to match the diverse interests of potential volunteers.

Roles such as historic interpreter, maintenance, gardening, sewing, spinning, model train displays, store clerks, office work, outreach,

and more. Training is provided and experience on all levels is welcome.

“Volunteering at Cracker Country is rewarding because it offers volunteers the opportunity to make a difference in their community, promote the preservation of Florida’s unique past, meet new people and gain museum experience, specialize in a specific area of interest and work in a team atmosphere,” said Jennifer Becker, Museum Supervisor. “In addition, volunteers can generally schedule their work to accommodate family, work, or other responsibilities.

We strive to have a flexible and

rewarding environment that people can be excited to be part of.”

Cracker Country and its staff and volunteers is part of the Florida State Fair Authority, which oversees the operations of the Florida State Fair, as well as non-fair events throughout the year.

During the Florida State Fair, museum visitors explore the grounds and interact with costumed volunteers to take part in the customs of the past. Guests can take home a newspaper printed on an antique printing press or try a taste of real sugar cane before watching its juice being boiled into syrup. Other activities include visiting crafters and demonstrators throughout the museum grounds, observing how tools were used in the early 1900s, discovering the art of spinning, woodcarving, blacksmithing and making cow whips in the time of Florida’s pioneers.

Cracker Country is Tampa’s only living history museum. Its collection of thirteen original buildings dating back from 1870 – 1912 were relocated from across the state of Florida beginning in 1978 when the museum was established by Mildred W. & Doyle E. Carlton, Jr. Since then the museum has played an essential role in teaching the traditions of rural Florida. The museum welcomes the public to learn through hands-on activities the way of life for Florida’s pioneers—chores, school lessons, farming, locomotives, family responsibility, and bartering.

For more info about Cracker Country’s volunteer program please contact Jennifer Becker, Museum Programs Supervisor, at (813) 627-4225 or Jennifer.Becker@freshfromflorida.com.

To See This Month The Fun Walk Was a Blast!

Don’t miss these:

T

hrough 23 A Doll’s House

by Henrik Ibsen

by American Stage Theatre Company.

A Norwegian drama set on Christmas Eve. $29 to $49 tickets. Raymond James Theatre, 163 3rd St N., St. Pete. (727) 823-7529.

T

hrough 31 “Letters to Sala: A Young Woman’s Life in Nazi Labor Camps” exhibit at the Holocaust Museum. 1940 through 1945. Information at (727) 820-0100, or online at flholocaustmuseum.org. hrough Jan. 6, 2013 “WWII Home Front Tampa Bay” exhibit at the Armed Forces History Museum, 2050 34th Way Ste. B, Largo. More info at (727) 539-8371.

T

Hot! Hot! Just off the Press

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Presents the www.lifestylesafter50fl.com website • Local and World News • All Your Favorite Events

Photo by Tina Brunner

• Great Stories & Information • Travel, Finance, Health & More!

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 30

Congratulations To Our Walk Winners!: Men (L to R)—1st Place: Jerry Bronkema; 2nd Place: Bob Perrault; 3rd Place: Jack Grim. Women (L to R)—1st Place: Holly Jameson; 2nd Place: Brenda Greene; 3rd Place: Sandy Crocker.

T

he Lifestyles After 50 Extravaganza held last month at the Largo Cultural Center was a huge hit! Many walkers came out early to enjoy the one-mile fun walk and beautiful weather before the event opened. A warm-up along with a continental breakfast got everyone started.

The doors opened at 10 a.m. for the Extravaganza where exhibitors and

entertainers did their best to make everyone feel welcomed.

“It’s like a party with information, education and entertainment,” said Kathy Beck, Event Director.

Our next event, the Fun Fest & Jamboree, will be held on Dec. 5 at the Strawberry Festival Grounds in Plant City from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 888-670-0040 for details. See you there!

BRIDGE BITES

From The American Contract Bridge League

BY BRIAN GUNNELL

T

his month we feature a terrific opening lead, found in real life

by John Brady of Jacksonville, FL (known to some as Dr. Goodlead).

Imagine yourself as East, if you will, looking at the N-E hands. West, the good doctor, leads the Spade Ten. A strange-looking lead, don’t you think? It’s not fourth best, not top of a sequence. Has the doctor’s legendary common-sense finally deserted him?

While you are puzzling over that bizarre opening lead, Dummy plays the ♠Q and you gleefully ruff. What next, Mr East? West found a grand opening lead, and life would be even grander if only you could get back

Introducing Dr. Goodlead to West’s hand for a second ruff. If that is to happen, West must have ♦A or ♣A. Any clues as to which?

The opening lead is your muchneeded clue. West led an unnecessarily high Spade, and is trying to tell you something. Yes, he is advertising the Ace in the higher-ranking sidesuit! So, after ruffing, you shoot back a Diamond to West’s Ace and get your second Spade ruff. Down one!

Doctor G’s lead from ♠KT5432 was not without risk, but he saw no appealing alternative, and he reasonably concluded that East had no more than two Spades (due to non-support in the auction). He didn’t necessarily expect a void, but singleton was also a possibility (in which case West would later win the ♥A and give East a second-round Spade ruff).

What just happened was a Suit Preference signal, whereby, in certain situations, the play of a high card says “I have the higher-ranking suit,” vice versa with a low card. This defensive signal is a rare bird on opening lead, it usually comes later in the hand and even then only in specialized situations. Dr. Goodlead gave us the caviar, we’ll have some meat-and-potatoes examples in later Bridge Bites.

Visit acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email marketing@acbl.org. To find a bridge club in Florida, go to district9acbl. org/D9Clubsmap.htm. Bridge article provided courtesy of St. Petersburg Bridge Club: www.stpetebridge.org.

From all of us at

FREE INFORMATION SERVICE Lifestyles After 50

for information please return completed form to:

News Connection USA, Inc. • P.O. Box 278 • Laurel FL 34272-0278

Name: Address: City: Phone:

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Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 31

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 32

Three Golden Rules for Television Acoustics Breakthrough ➻ Selling Your Fine Jewelry The private TV N listening system

1. Stick to Reputable Dealers The gold rush has attracted some unlikely buyers. Stick with established, reputable dealers. Look for gemologists listed on the American Gem Society website and read online reviews.

“You need to shop around for a gold buyer the same as you would when buying a car or home to make sure you are getting fair value,” says Adkins.

2. Go with Reasonable Expectations Pricing your gold is a little trickier than you might think. If you have a 3-ounce gold necklace, for example, you can’t simply multiply the current per-ounce price of gold by three.

That’s because the quoted price is for pure gold. The value of your jewelry depends on just how pure it is. To

figure that, divide the number of karats by 24. For example, 12-karat gold is 50 percent pure and would only have a top-line value of half its gold weight.

The karat purity is usually stamped somewhere on the jewelry, such as 12k or 18k. Jewelry bought overseas may instead be stamped with a number indicating its purity: Instead of 18k, it may read 750, indicating 75 percent purity.

Realize that whoever is buying your gold needs to make a profit, too. “Generally, businesses buying gold from the public will sell it to refiners for about 90 percent or more of its scrap value.

To profit, they have to give you less than what they get,” explains Wright.

3. Shop Around The more sellers you talk to, the greater your chance of getting a better price. As a first step, call ahead and ask how much a business is currently paying per gram of gold. That’s a quick way to narrow the field and save time and hassle. Once you’re down to two or three competitive buyers, bring your piece to them to get a firm offer. When you’re at the store, take an active and engaged role. Watch the buyer weigh it and don’t hesitate to ask questions.

Take special caution if you’re selling gold watches. “To weigh it, buyers will need to remove the movement and the crystal. They may charge you for that. If you change your mind, you could be stuck with a broken crystal or a poorly reassembled watch,” says Wright. Information from USAA.

Shopping for Electronics?

T

ips for holiday shopping:

• Negotiate, especially on electronics. Be informed and sweet talk the sales associates (no bullying!).

• Consider buying refurbished electronics, often good as new without the high price tag. Open-box items?

Ask about the remaining warranty before purchasing.

• Skip the extended warranties. Most experts agree they’re not worth the cost; your credit card will often offer additional protection.

you’ll want to use… even if there’s no one else in the room!

This new Personal TV Listening System (PTLS) can help millions get more out of their favorite past time.

I

f there is one thing people like to argue about… it’s television. Even if they can agree what to watch, most people disagree about the volume. That’s because most people require different volume levels, in order to understand and enjoy their favorite shows and movies. What’s more, if one of them is doing something else, like reading or sleeping– the last thing they want to hear is a blaring television.

When forced to compromise and listen to TV at the same volume– everyone loses.

Now, thanks to innovative digital audio technology, anyone can listen to the TV at the volume they desire without disturbing others. Best of all… the audio is so spectacular you’ll want to use it all the time. Here are a few reasons why the PTLS is the best thing to happen to television since the remote.

High Definition Audio.

TV video technology has improved dramatically in the past few years, but the audio quality has remained relatively unchanged. Unlike other comparable systems, PTLS provides performance quality stereo sound (up to 120dB)– putting you in the acoustic sweet spot of the room– no matter where you are sitting.

Fully Customizable.

The Adjustable Digital Tone control enhances dialogue clarity and intelligibility to suit your hearing. You’ll hear everything from stage whispers to lifelike sound effects.

Lightweight and comfortable.

This system is designed to rest on your shoulders with small, powerful earbuds

that bring the sound directly to your ears.

The hi-fidelity passive noise isolation speakers stay gently in your ears without creating pressure or discomfort.

Easy to set-up and use.

This plug and play system comes with everything you need and the powerful transmitter covers a room up to 35 by 35 feet. It features rechargeable batteries that give you up to 24 hours of listening from a full charge.

Exclusive home trial.

Why spend time arguing with your loved ones when you could be enjoying your favorite TV shows and movies together again. The PTLS comes with firstSTREET’s exclusive home trial, so if you are not completely satisfied with it for any reason you can simply return it within 30 days for a full refund of the product purchase price.

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o matter what the price of gold, there’s no shortage of businesses offering to turn your treasures into cash. If you’re thinking of selling your gold jewelry, USAA’s graduate gemologists Craig Wright and Kevin Adkins offer these seven tips to help you make sure you’re getting a fair price.

All rights reserved. © 2011 firstSTREET®, Inc. For Boomers and Beyond®

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 33

Humor For The Holidays

Last Month’s Answers

November Sudoku

Unknown Reindeer

T

Alberta Maltby is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

Win Great Prizes!

New winner selected each month

Good Luck!

Dec. 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 Dec. 21 will win.

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC. P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

SUDOKU MUST BE RECEIVED BY DEC. 21, 2012

Word Search December

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?

he game show contestant was only 200 points behind the leader and about to answer the final question—worth 500 points! “To be today’s champion,” the show’s smiling host intoned, “name two of Santa’s reindeer.”

The contestant, a man in his early thirties, gave a sigh of relief, gratified that he had drawn such an easy question. “Rudolph!” he said confidently, “and... Olive!”

The studio audience started to applaud (like the little sign above their heads said to do) but the clapping quickly faded into mumbling, and the confused host replied, “Yes, we’ll accept Rudolph, but could you please explain... ‘Olive?!’”

“You know,” the man circled his hand forward impatiently and began to sing, “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer—had a very shiny nose. And if you ever saw it, you would even say it glowed. *Olive,* the other reindeer...”

Word Search

All I Need To Know I Learned From Santa

1. Encourage people to believe in you.

2. Always remember who’s naughty and who’s nice.

3. Don’t pout.

4. It’s as much fun to give as it is to receive.

5. Some days it’s ok to feel a little chubby.

6. Make your presents known.

7. Always ask for a little bit more than what you really want.

8. Bright red can make anyone look good.

9. Wear a wide belt and no-one will notice how many pounds you’ve gained.

10. If you only show up once a year, everyone will think you’re very important.

11. Whenever you’re at a loss for words, say “HO, HO, HO!”

Answers From

November

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC. P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

The first correct answers selected from the drawing on December 21 will win.

MYSTERY PRIZE!

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

MYSTERY PRIZE!

(Puzzles must be received by Dec. 21, 2012.)

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 34

Beverly Gould is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

The Florida Orchestra Celebrates the Holiday Season in December

BY HENRY ADAMS

A

t The Florida Orchestra’s next Tampa Bay Times Masterworks concert, guest conductor Julian Kuerti will be joined by French cello virtuoso Xavier Phillips for Prokofiev’s landmark cello work Sinfonia Concertante.

This program also includes Schubert’s majestic Symphony No. 9, The Great.

Concerts are Dec. 7, 8 and 9 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater.

Conductor Stuart Malina sets a seasonal mood at the next morning Coffee Concert, “Winter Wonderland,” with Vaughan Williams’ Fantasia on Green Sleeves, Rimsky-Korsakov’s The Snow Maiden Suite, Mozart’s “Sleigh Ride” from Three German Dances and music from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, together with works

by Bizet, Delius, Prokofiev and Hum-

perdinck. Concertgoers enjoy complimentary coffee and doughnuts prior to the concert.

Dec. 20 at the Progress Energy Center for the Arts – Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg.

A long-standing tradition in Tampa Bay is celebrating the season at the Raymond James Pops’ “Holiday Pops” concert. Conductor Stuart Malina and the orchestra are joined by the 150 voices of The Master Chorale and vocalist Hilary Kole in this festive concert for the entire family. Concertgoers are invited to bring canned food donations for Tampa Bay Harvest’s food bank. Four performances over Dec. 21, 22 and 23 in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, which include both 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. concerts at the Mahaffey Theater.

Tickets and info: floridaorchestra.org; (727) 892-3337 or 1-800-662-7286.

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Lifestyles After 50 Events!

Mark your calendar for these great FREE events near you, brought to you by Lifestyles After 50 magazine. Find great information, entertainment, health screenings, prizes, giveaways and more! Call 888-670-0040 or visit our website at www.lifestylesafter50fl.com for details.

December 5, 2012, (10am-3pm) 6th Fun Fest & Jamboree!, Plant City, FL, Strawberry Festival Grounds. Live Music, Dancing, Free Bingo, Health Screenings, Sports Area. Free Coffee & Muffins. Fun Games & Prizes. Free Parking & Admission.

January 10, 2013, (10am-3pm) Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest, Robarts Arena Sarasota, FL. Live Music, Free Bingo, Free Health Screenings. Sports Center, Free Admission.

January 23, 2013, (10am-3pm) 8th Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest, Florida State Fairgrounds, Tampa, FL. Live Music, Free Bingo, Free Health Screenings. Sports Center, Free Admission & $3 Parking. “Grandkids Are The Greatest Photo Contest.” Fun Walk.

February 15, 2013, (10am-3pm) 2nd Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest, Bradenton Municipal Auditorium, Bradenton, FL. Live 50s and 60s Music, Trivia, Free Bingo Games, Free Health Screenings, Free Coffee & Goodies, Prizes.

February 26, 2013, (8:30am-1pm) 17th Fun Fest and Backwoods Walk at Museum of Science And Industry (MOSI), Tampa, FL. Exhibitors, Prizes, Free Entertainment, Free Health Screenings, Coffee, Free Admission to MOSI and $2 Parking. Free Bingo Games for Prizes! Walk starts at 8am; Fundraiser for Kids Science Classes.

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • 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 and exercises. Likes sports and animals. Loves the Lord. Florida.

4178 SEEKING COMPATIBLE GENTLEMAN 55+ I’m 5’4”, 120, ISO sincere, NS, ND, understanding, FF and companion. I walk, read, sight-see, relax, music. HWP, picture.

Looking for romance. Pasco County.

4194 ISO EASYGOING, FIT BILINGUAL, financially able to take me dancing, traveling and many other things we may like to do together. I’m tall, slender, older than 60 but young at heart. Very active.

4196 WOMAN SEEKING MAN W, WW, in good health, 70 – 79, HWP, SOH, loves fun times, ISO travel partner, cruises, day trips, movies, dining, dancing, NS, ND. Photo appreciated, has transportation. Brandon.

4198 LOOKING FOR LAST LOVE 70, slim, NS, ND (wine occasionally).

NDrg. Blond, blue eyes, 5’ 5”, 140 lbs. wish for LTR gentleman of about same age to 75, LTR. Largo.

4200 NORTH PINELLAS C, F, W, WW, R, NS, ND, NDrg, petite, attractive, energetic, creative, enjoy learning, economically minded, health conscious, ISO friendship and companionship.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN 4179 SEEKING MY LAST LOVE Financially secure, in-shape 68 year old widower seeking my last love. Slim lady to share my life. Photo and bio appreciated. Will answer all. Leesburg.

4187 LETS TALK W, M, D, 70, 6’, 190, healthy, exercise, NS, ND, NDrg. You are attractive, slender or petite lady, W, S, NS, ND, NDrg. 4193 GENTLEMAN, W, D, ISO LADIES who do not have children and are D, WW, S, W, NS, ND, NDrg, to start a group for people without children.

4202 EAST INDIAN MALE, TALL, 65 years young, seeking a white, thin

female, a soulmate, below 130 lbs.

Blue eyes, between 55 – 65 years. (If you have a disabled child, that is ok.)

LTR in St. Petersburg. Photo + Bio. 4204 PINELLAS COUNTY W, M, 58, 5’9”, 160, ISO female, 58 to 65, HWP, NS, looking for laidback woman, fishing, beach, taking day trips, looking for romance too. Send photo, letter. Madeira Beach.

MEET OTHER SENIORS Over 2,000 seniors have met through Seniors Getting Together.

Send in your ad today!

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, SOHSense Of Humor, SM-Smokes, S-Light Smoker, NS-Non Smoker, ND-Non Drinker, SD-Social (Light) Drinker, DR-Drinks, NDrg- No Drugs, LTR-Long Term Relationship, HWP-Height & Weight Proportional, R-Retired, P-Professional, FF-Friendship First, TLC-Tender Loving Care.

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: Hillsborough & Suncoast (Pinellas/Pasco) Lake/Marion Counties Southwest/Charlotte (Fort Myers/Port Charlotte)

Ad Copy • Please Print Neatly • 30 Word Limit

Title (First 4 Words):

BRANDON Auto Clinic of Brandon ...... 813-654-8686 Xtreme Powersports ......... 813-626-6060 BROOKSVILLE Sunrunner Automotive ...... 352-596-2314 Master Auto/Air ................. 352-799-6444 Brooksville Transmission.. 352-796-6544 General Auto Parts ........... 352-796-2522 CLEARWATER JDs Cycle Shop ................ 727-827-2994 M & M Ultrasports ............. 727-412-8020 Stouts Auto Service .......... 727-216-6622 DADE CITY Reliance Auto Center ....... 352-567-5281 HOLIDAY NAPA Auto Parts .............. 727-934-4651 HUDSON White’s Quality Trans ........ 727-862-1968

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: E-mail:

Zip:

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

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 36

7

Lighted Boat Parade in Tarpon Springs (Anclote River, Whitcomb & Spring Bayous. (727) 942-5628.

Christmas Light Display at 2719 Oakdale St. S, St Petersburg.

(727) 896-6500 for information.

St Pete Beach and South Pasadena lighted boat parade.

6 p.m. at Blind Pass Bridge. For more information go to spbrec.com or call (727) 363-9245.

7

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 above. Ads received by the 15th of the month will appear in the following issue. No more than three ads will be accepted each month per person. The editor reserves the right to edit any ads for space or content. In order to protect our readers’ privacy, we will not include phone numbers, e-mail or home addresses in the ad copy. City or area included at no charge.

LARGO Parts House ...................... 727-573-1580 OLDSMAR Murray Motive ................... 813- 854-5115 PALM HARBOR K & K Custom Cycles........ 727-773-1095 PINELLAS PARK George’s Performance ..... 727- 521-2206 PORT RICHEY Napa Auto Parts ............... 727-848-2509 RUSKIN Thompson’s Auto Parts .... 813-645-3204 ST. PETE Park Auto Service ............727-521-2910 Royal Edger ......................727-573-1700 Bob Lee’s Tires.................727-822-3981 Complete Auto Parts ........727-895-3821 Miles Automotive ..............727-323-0180 J.C. Automotive ................727-866-0044 St. Pete Power Sports ......727-456-6088 Suncoast Auto & Tire .......727-520-1148

Lighted Boat Parades City (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 1602 S. Parsons Ave.,Seffner, FL. 33584

SEFFNER Schembries Auto Serv...... 813-685-5654 SUN CITY Killingsworth Automotive .. 813-645-7220 TAMPA John Erb’s ......................... 813-908-3333 Storm Automotive ............. 813-469-0055 Atlantic Automotive ........... 813-936-1510 Tony’s RamTech................ 813-877-6642 Insty Tune & Lube ............. 813-960-3908 Xtreme Powersports ......... 813-626-6060 Mad Hatter ........................ 813-933-4179 Mad Hatter ........................ 813-374-9230 Mobile Auto Serv. ............. 813-892-3603

If you or your business would like to get AMSOIL products at Wholesale CALL 800-411-6160

Last Month’s Answers

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Last Month’s Answers STATE CERTIFIED LICENSE #CCC1327406 • CBC 1259006

Car For Sale Gorgeous Black 2002 Cadillac Eldorado ETC, with 300 HP

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Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on Dec. 19 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

Name Address City

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• Very large trunk. AM/FM Bose stereo system with single CD in dash and a 12 CD changer in the trunk.

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Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on June 19th will receive $20 cash! Send to: Mature Lifestyles, 220 W. Brandon Blvd., Suite 203, Brandon, FL 33511

(727) 637-6119

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 37

What Does That Pet Food Label Really Tell You?

W

ith hundreds of pet food products available, how do you decide what’s best for your pet? It’s smart to start with the label—but labels can be confusing if you don’t know what to look for.

Here’s what you need to know.

Pet Food Names According to the manual produced

by The Association of American Feed Control Officials (AAFCO), if a pet food name says:

must contain 25 percent of the listed ingredient. If more than one ingredient is included in the name, the combination of ingredients must total 25 percent of the product.

• With (Lamb with Rice)—it must contain 3 percent of the primary ingredient.

• Flavor (Chicken Flavored)—no minimum requirements, but the pet should be able to detect the taste.

• Chicken, beef, seafood, lamb— it must contain 95 percent of that ingredient.

• A combination of ingredients (Chicken and Liver)—the two named ingredients together must make up 95 percent of the total weight. The first ingredient should be the predominant one. This only applies to animal-based ingredients.

• Dinner, entrée, platter, formula, etc.

(Beef Dinner; Seafood Platter)—it

• Fresh meat, chicken, poultry by-product meal, meat by-products, soybean meal and egg—high quality protein for muscle tone and development and healthy skin.

• Animal fat, fish oil and vegetable oil—fats and essential fatty acids for energy, improved taste and healthy skin and coat.

• Corn, rice, barley, sorghum— carbohydrates for energy and other nutrients for healthy skin and coat.

• Cellulose, soybean mill run and beet pulp—fiber sources that promote intestinal tract health; some are helpful in weight control.

Ingredient List The primary goal of pet food is to deliver key nutrients to your pet.

Here’s a closer look at ingredients, the primary nutrients they deliver and the health benefits they offer.

Chemical names in the ingredient list are most often vitamins or minerals added for complete nutrition.

A by-product is a secondary food item that is made from a primary ingredient production stream. A byproduct like “chicken by-product

meal” can contain organ meat that has a high nutritional value. In fact, it’s a more concentrated protein source than raw chicken alone and contains high quality, highly digestible protein.

However, bargain brands may use inferior ingredients that include feathers or other lowernutritional parts of the animal.

Guaranteed Analyses By law, pet food packaging must show the minimum percentages of crude protein and fat, as well as the maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture in the product. This is not an indication of the actual nutrient content or a guarantee of nutritional quality.

More information about pet food labels can be found at fda.gov/animal veterinary under “Resources for You,” and you can learn more about choosing the perfect food for your pet at feedingisbelieving.com.

From Family Features.

For the Car-Lover: The Gift of Speed and Performance

$2 OFF for

seniors

Come meet “Winter” the dolphin who lost her tail in a crab trap, now swims freely.

Senior $2offAdmission

(55+)

Good forGood up to Not Not valid with other for6uppeople. to 6 people. valid with otheroffers. offers.

ExpiresDecember December 31, Code XSCA Expires 31,2011.

2012.

Code XSCA

Clearwater Marine Aquarium 249 Windward Passage • Clearwater, FL 33767

(727) 441-1790

www.SeeWinter.com Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 38

“T

he experience is unique,” says David Lalmond, 71, who drove a black Lamborghini for 8 laps at the Exotic Driving Experience on the Walt Disney World Speedway in Orlando.

“There are no intersections and no speedometers. It’s just driving one of the world’s finest automobiles.”

Marie, 65, from Ohio, checked an item off her bucket list by driving a yellow Lamborghini. Two dads and their three 30-something sons from Boston drove Porsches and

then gave high fives all around while comparing the speeds they’d achieved on the track straightaway.

Now, in addition to the long-time stock car driving experience offered at the Richard Petty Driving Experience (next to Magic Kingdom), anyone with a driver’s license can get behind the wheel of a “supercar” and live the dream of going from 0 to 60 in 3 to 4 seconds, braking on a dime and taking corners like a pro.

The Exotic Driving Experience makes a great gift! Driving Experiences start at $169. Thrill Rides with a professional driver behind the wheel are available for $99.

Junior Rides are available, too.

Reservations can be made at exoticdriving.com or by calling (855) 822-0149.

Pinellas Auditions: January 16 - 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Japanese Garden Mobile Estates 19709 U.S. Highway 19 North Clearwater, FL 33764-1006 Senior Talent Show: February 6, 2013 - 7:00 p.m.

Largo Cultural Center 105 Central Park Drive • Largo, FL 33779 SENIOR IDOL SHOW - April 1, 2013 at 7 p.m.

Ruth Eckerd Hall 1111 McMullen Booth Road • Clearwater, FL 33759

Hillsborough Auditions: January 23 - 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Brandon Community Center 503 East Sadie Street • Brandon, FL 33510 February 16, 2013 - 3:00 p.m Spoto High School 8538 Eagle Palm Drive • Riverview, FL 33578 Senior Talent Show February 16, 2013 - 3:00 p.m.

Spoto High School 8538 Eagle Palm Drive Riverview, FL 33578

Participants must be at least 55 years young. Only solo & duet acts, no groups please. Please bring your own instruments and your own tape/cd or accompanist to the audition. A piano will be available. Audition on first-come first-serve basis. No Entry Fee to audition.

Ten Acts will be chosen from the auditions to perform at the show!

For Information call: Pinellas: 727-329-2618 – Susan Juhl and Nicole Woodring Hillsborough: 813-436-2296/813-436-2114 – Andrea White and Chrissy Crumpton

A F T E R 50

Lifestyles After 50 • December 2012 • page 39

Your Plan Humana $0 monthly Plan Premium Doctor’s office visits and hospital coverage Prescription drug coverage Convenient mail-order delivery of prescriptions Fitness program – gym membership at no additional cost Unlimited rides to your doctors or gym+ Dental, Vision and Hearing coverage Preventive coverage

Give your Medicare plan its annual checkup!

24-hour nurse advice line Over-the-counter medication benefit Wellness program Emergency coverage at home and when you travel And more we haven’t listed!

To find out if a Humana plan is right for you, call to schedule an in-home appointment or to find a neighborhood meeting.

1-800-421-7870 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m. – 8 p.m., 7 days a week Compare your current plan with Humana Gold Plus® (HMO).

You’ll find that Humana may give you the benefits you really want.

With more than 50 years of healthcare experience, you can count on Humana to help you get more of the benefits you want in a Medicare plan.

DON’T FORGET! The Medicare Advantage annual enrollment dates are Oct. 15 – Dec. 7.*

Humana is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B Premium. If you are a member of a qualified State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program, please contact the program to verify that the mail-order pharmacy will coordinate with that program.

The benefit information provided here is a brief summary, but not a comprehensive description. For more information contact the plan. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings, call 1-800-421-7870 (TTY: 711), 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Applicable to Humana Gold Plus® (HMO) plans: H1036-025, 040, 052, 054, 067, and 164. *Medicare beneficiaries may enroll in the plan only during specific times of the year. Contact Humana for more information. +Transportation to plan-approved locations, some limitations and restrictions may apply.

H1036_GHHHB51HH CMS Accepted

TMP 12/12