Lifestyles After 50 Southwest Edition, Apr. 2015

Another Great Issue

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 2

Don’t Forget My Chariot

Dear Readers,

I

’m going to talk to you a minute about Qin Shi Huang.

The first emperor of China? Yeah, that guy.

There are more than Tracie Lukens, Editor a few stories about Emperor Qin, not least among them are that he helped unify China, started work on some wall or another, and that he was a notorious tyrant. But when it came to the afterlife, there’s no denying he had style.

I’m not just talking about a fancy tomb; his port-mortem accoutrements would put a pharaoh to shame. He was buried in a scaled-down replica of his imperial compound, deep underneath Mount Li, an area renowned for its wealth of gold and jade. He was buried with the whole setup: palaces, towers, clay attendants and generals, riches and wondrous objects. The ceiling of the necropolis was decorated with representations of the heavens. Below it, a panoramic landscape—his kingdom in miniature—was modeled in clay complete with mountains, plains and flowing mercury rivers. Outside his tomb, he posted over 6,000 soldiers, 130 chariots with 520 horses and 150 cavalry, all formed from terracotta, to guard it all.

One would think that a man who spent such elaborate measures on his final resting place was prepared for his own death. However, the exact opposite was true; Qin Shi Huang was terrified of it.

Everything he built was centered around the belief that he would live on, one way or another. During life, he commissioned alchemists to create an elixir that would grant him immortality. (Ironically, it was the mercury in these concoctions that killed him.) He refused to discuss death with his court or family, and died without ever creating a will. Try leaving a newly unified China to 30 sons!

Here’s one more story about another empire. Jack Eggers was a school janitor in Amo, Indiana. His kingdom was a modest two-bedroom house, where grew his own food and preferred to live simply. Jack didn’t have a family of his own, so he treated the students as if they were his own kids, and they respected and cared for him in return.

In 2003, at the age of 68, Jack was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor. Todd Crosby, the principal of Mill Creek West Elementary School where he worked, along with other school staff members, neighbors and Emperor Qin’s Terracotta Army friends, helped care for Eggers and drive him to doctor’s appointments.

Probate China?

I get where Qin’s coming from. No Jack had surgery, but it only briefly slowed one likes to think about their own death. the tumor’s progress. He took a leave of There’s a prevailing fear that to bring it absence from his janitorial duties, but later up in conversation is to summon it—to decided to retire. The students and staff all received frequent updates on his progress. make it more real or more close.

While it’s not an easy thing to deal with, In winter of 2004, Jack died at age 69.

A year after his death, however, Jack the truth is, talking about and planning for death—taking charge of one’s own mor- showed that his poor man’s life was realtality—can be empowering. It can help ly a façade. Jack was saving every penny you face your fears, learn more about so that, someday after he was gone, he yourself and what you want to leave could do some good. He accomplished behind, and bring you and your family his wishes by leaving his small empire in some peace of mind. And it goes without sizeable bequests to the school, church, saying that the best time to do it is while and community he loved. $80,000 went you’re still young—when you can ask to Mill Creek West Elementary, an unyourself hard questions and make sound disclosed amount went to Amo Baptist decisions about your wishes before and Church and another $120,000 went after you leave this mortal plane. (Heck, to the Hendricks County Community Foundation. Everyone was shocked.

Emperor Qin started when he was 13.)

“We don’t think about people when This month’s issue is about leaving a legacy—setting in motion a plan that we’re with them. It always hits you when will continue to positively affect others they’re gone. But even in his passing, his beyond the span of your years. There are legacy will live on,” Crosby said.

Emperor Qin’s monument to himself plenty of ways to do it; some bequeath money, others pass on their life story may have been impressive, but it never did and some leave the gift of life by donat- as much good as King Eggers did for his ing organs. Inside you’ll find some tips people. When it comes to leaving a legacy, on how to donate or start planning for how do you want to be remembered?

(Jack Eggers’ story courtesy of Leave a Legacy) what you want to leave behind.

Lee, Collier & Charlotte Edition Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc

President Richard Reeves richard@lifestylesafter50.com Publisher/Director of Events & Marketing Kathy J. Beck kathy@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Tracie Lukens editor@lifestylesafter50.com Editor Emeritus Janice Doyle Office Manager Vicki Willis vicki@lifestylesafter50.com Administrative Assistant Allie Shaw allie@lifestylesafter50.com Production Supervisor/Graphic Design 813-689-6104 Distribution Nancy Spencer: 941-244-0500 nancy@lifestylesafter50.com

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 3

Grande Dames Inspire New Generation of Remarkable Women

By Susan Bennett, APR, CPRC

L

ast month, the Center for Girls of Lee County raised a record $40,395 at the Seventh Annual Grande Dames Tea at the Broadway Palm in Fort Myers. This special event was held to honor three remarkable women for their legacy of service to their community—Sharlene Hamel Dozier of Fort Myers, M. Jacqueline McCurdy of Bonita Springs and Melvin Morgan of Fort Myers.

Sharlene Hamel Dozier of Fort Myers is the former First Lady of Fort Myers, past president of the Children’s Home Society Auxiliary and a current board member of Goodwill Industries and the Goodwill Foundation; Jacke McCurdy of Bonita Springs was the first female vice president of Joseph E. Seagram and Sons, one of the first female delegates to the Maryland Legislature and a former “Love of Bonita” winner and Bonita Springs Citizen of the Year; Melvin Morgan of Fort Myers was the first and only African American to serve

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 4

Sharlene Hamel Dozier

Jacke McCurdy

on the Lee County Commission. She was a career educator for 37 years and a former Lee County Woman of the Year and Lee County School Social Worker of the Year.

PACE Center for Girls of Lee County is a Florida-based, not for profit prevention program for adolescent at-risk girls.

The Grande Dames Tea was started by the organization to honor women who have played major roles in Southwest

Melvin Morgan

Florida history through decades of service, philanthropy and helping others.

The agenda for the tea included interactions between the PACE girls and the three Grande Dames in a question and answer session.

“These three outstanding women come from varied backgrounds and offered some insightful advice for the audience and the PACE girls,” said event chair and PACE Lee Board of Director member Deanna Hansen. “Our theme of The

Wisdom of Age – Honoring the Female Spirit was so appropriate because each of these women had much to share from their own life’s journey,” she said.

The advice the three honorees had for the girls encouraged learning and independence.

Sharlene Dozier said, “It is better to walk alone than to walk with a crowd going the wrong way.”

Jacke McCurdy’s advice was, “Do not discount any education you can get.

You cannot imagine how far you can go if you pay attention to education.”

And Melvin Morgan told the girls, “Education is the path out. Be faithful to the decisions you make in your life, prepare yourself and choose actions that will help you to achieve your dreams.”

This is the seventh year of the historic Grande Dames Tea. Previous honorees have included philanthropists Berne Davis, Barbara B. Mann, Jeanne Bochette, Mimi Straub, Anna “Boots” Tolles, Ettie Francis Walsh and many others.

For more information about PACE or the Grande Dames, call 239-425-2366 or visit www.pacecenter.org/lee.

Around Town

W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G A P R I L 2 0 1 5

M

ondays Movie Madness. Enjoy a free movie every Mon.afternoon. 1 – 3 p.m. JFCS of Southwest Florida, 5025 Castello Dr., Naples. 239-325-4444.

7

Florida Artist Group Walk and Talk at Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center, Ft. Myers. Exhibit features work from artists across the state. 7 – 9 p.m. 239-333-1933.

10

Yappy Hour. Enjoy live music, refreshments, pet-friendly vendors and meet adoptable dogs. 100% of all proceeds benefit the Gulf Coast Humane Society. 6 – 8 p.m. Bell Tower Shops. Info: thebelltowershops.com.

10

– 19 “FOOLS!” Leon Tolchinsky has just landed a teaching job in a town that has been cursed with chronic stupidity. Can he break the 200-year curse? $19. 8 p.m. 3 p.m. Matinee Sat and Sun. Cultural Park Theatre, Cape Coral. 239-772-5862.

11

Charlotte Chorale presents “Road Trip!” a musical journey across the U.S.A. $20. First Presbyterian Church, Port Charlotte. 941-204-0033.

11

Small Hydroponic Systems for the Home Grower gardening class at the Alliance for the Arts GreenMarket, 10:30 a.m. Free; donations appreciated.

239-939-2787.

11

Lehigh Concert Band fundraising concert to benefit Lehigh Community Services. Free with donations accepted. 3 p.m. at Faith Lutheran Church, 705 Leeland Heights Blvd., Lehigh Acres. 239-369-6177.

12

Rockin’ the Blues Concert featuring The Wholetones.

Mercato on the lawn, 9115 Strada Place, Naples, 2 – 4 p.m. Free admission. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. 239-775-2800.

12

BBQ, Bands & Brew Poker Run. Register 9 a.m. at Six Bends Harley Davidson, Ft. Myers. Kickstands up 10:30 a.m. Last bike in 3 p.m at Alliance for the Arts, Ft. Myers. Raffles, 50/50, BBQ and cold beverages. $20 first rider/$10 passenger. 239-938-0056.

12

The Lee County Community Band presents its last concert of the season. Hear favorites by Gershwin,

Mancini, Rodgers and Hammerstein and Leroy Anderson. Free. 3 p.m. Cape Coral High School, 2300 Santa Barbara Blvd. 239-995-2097.

19

Sunset Concert. Gimi Jimi performs hits from the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsies. Bring coolers, blankets, chairs and enjoy live music on the outdoor stage. $20. 4 p.m. Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers. 239-939-0794.

22

Learn how to make molded candies at Norman Love Confections and take home your creations. $95. Call 239-561-7215 for class times, locations and availability.

23

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Sun Coast hosts the Annual Chefs Cooking for Kids, featuring top local chefs and their original recipes. $75. 6:30 – 10 p.m. Pelican Preserve Golf Club, Fort Myers. 239-288-4224.

23

Earl Grey on the Fairway. Enjoy a luncheon with savory treats, a fashion show and silent auction, important info for family caregivers and more. $40. 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. Renaissance Club, Fort Myers. 239-275-1881.

23

Last Days in Vietnam. Experience the chaotic final days of the Vietnam War in this advanced one-hour screening. $5 suggested donation. 7 – 8 p.m. Alliance for the Arts, Fort Myers.

239-939-2787.

25

– 28 Comedian Tone Bell performs. Best known for his role as RJ in NBC’s comedy “Whitney.”

8 p.m. Off The Hook Comedy Club, Marco Island. 239-389-6900 or offthehookcomedy.com for tickets/info.

28

Dining with Mark Davis, M.D.: “There is Relief for Your Knee and Hip Pain.” 5 – 6 p.m. at Bayfront Health Port Charlotte, 2500 Harbor Blvd. Free. RSVP to 941-637-2497.

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

April 10 for May event.)

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 5

VETERANS CORNER

Every VA Volunteer Has a Story!

By Janice Doyle

V

Fort Myers Presbyterian Apartments 16 story highrise on the Caloosahatchee River, near the Edison Ford Winter Estates

Residents must be 62 or older

Apartments start at $363/month

Check us out on phhf.com

Maximum allowable income for an individual - $32,500 Maximum allowable income for a two-member household - $37,150

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1925 Virginia Ave. • Fort Myers, FL 33901

239-332-1050

TDD 1-800-955-8771 Florida Relay.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 6

Emily Murtha, VA volunteer

olunteers play a major role in the VA Healthcare System. From transporting patients in wheelchairs to answering phones and from handing out filled prescriptions to feeding patients breakfast, volunteers are important. C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center (formerly Bay Pines VA Medical Center) in Pinellas County has 1,800 volunteers, each with a unique story to share about why they commit so much of their time to help veterans. Some do it because they too are veterans and want to give back to their brothers and sisters. Others do it out of respect for the men and women who honorably served the nation, or to stay busy after retirement or fulfill a community service requirement for a high school, college or university program.

For Emily Murtha, a 76-year-old patient transport volunteer at the healthcare system’s Medical Center, her connection to VA came in 1997 after being reunited with her high school sweetheart, Don, after more than 41 years apart.

Originally from a small town in Pennsylvania, Emily (then Emily Kovacs) and Don Murtha dated through high school but went their separate ways shortly after Don enlisted in the U.S. Air Force.

Emily said, “We were so young, and I really didn’t see how we could make it work with him going away.” They never fathomed the thought of one day being reunited.

On August 23, 1997, Emily’s phone rang. “It was Donny,” she said. “I was lost for words. He told me he had been searching for me for the last 30 years.”

They were married the next year in Wilkes-Barre, Penn.

VA Health Care and Volunteerism Emily described Don as the “ultimate soldier” and a stern advocate and client of the military and the VA health care system. When Emily retired in 2001, the couple moved to Tampa Bay where Don transferred his care to the C.W. Bill Young VA Medical Center. “Because he enjoyed his time in the military and the military culture so much, it became part of what I enjoyed as well,” she said. “When he visited the VA hospital, I was always by his side. We both loved the VA so much—it was very much part of our lives together.”

In April 2005, Don passed away. In January 2008, Emily became a registered volunteer at the medical center two days per week. “Becoming a volunteer was probably the best thing I’ve done in my life—second to my time with Don, of course,” she said. “It gives me the opportunity to give back to veterans and also continue to spend time in a facility that meant so much to Don—to us. When I am here, I very much feel his presence.”

Emily has amassed more than 5,400 hours of service. “There really isn’t a unit of measure for what Emily brings to Veterans and the volunteer program.

You can count the hours she serves but you can never measure the heart,” said Nathan Witt, Chief, VA Voluntary Service Director at the facility. “She embodies everything good about VA Voluntary Service and giving back to those who served,” he said.

To learn more about becoming a volunteer at the Young VA Medical Center, call 727-398-9394. To volunteer at James A Haley VA Medical Center in Tampa, call 813-972-7533. Also consider volunteering at one of the area’s local VA clinics.

The Best of Charlotte

reel! Registration is mandatory by calling King Fisher Fleet at 941 639-2628.

14

Dinner and Show—”Motown After Dark.” $27. 5:30 p.m. at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County.

Tickets/info at 941-625-4175.

10

and 11 The Gulf Coast Classic Collector Car Auction. 10 a.m. both days at Muscle Car City Museum, 10175 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda. $10 admission. For details, please visit www.premierauctiongroup.com.

10

“Catch Good Health” Wellness and Healthy Living Expo. Free screenings, prizes and educational seminars for everyone. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Fishermen’s Village, Punta Gorda.

941-204-2222.

11

Hook Kids on Fishing! 10 a.m.

–12 p.m. Fishermen’s Village, Punta Gorda. First 80 kids registered (ages 6 to 16) will receive a free rod and

24

Live music and dancing with The Doo Wop Crew. Take a step back in time with this lively duo! 5 p.m. – 9 p.m. Fishermen’s Village Center Court, 1200 W. Retta Esplanade, Punta Gorda.

24

– 26 Country Life Music Festival.

Country greats Billy Currington, Hank Williams Jr., Reba McEntire and more. Tickets start at $49. Festival-style camping available. Florida Tracks and Trails, Punta Gorda. Info at 309-268-1202 or www.countrylifemusicfestival.com.

M

ay 4 Summer Series: WWII USO Tour to London. “White Cliffs of Dover,” Glenn Miller’s “The American Patrol,” the Andrew Sisters’ “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” and more. $13. 7 p.m. at the Cultural Center of Charlotte County. Tickets/info at 941-625-4175.

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 7

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open the box, you’ll realize how different the WOW Computer is. The components are all connected; all you do is plug it into an outlet and your high-speed Internet connection Then you’ll see the screen – it’s now 22 inches. This is a completely new touch screen system, without the cluttered look of the normal computer screen. The “buttons” on the screen are easy to see and easy to understand. All you do is touch one of them, from the Web, Email, Calendar to Games– you name it… and a new screen opens up. It’s so easy to use you won’t have to ask your children or grandchildren for help. Until now, the very people who could benefit most from Email and the Internet are the ones that have had the hardest time accessing it. Now, thanks to the WOW Computer, countless older Americans are discovering the wonderful world of the Internet every day. Isn’t it time you took part? Call now, and a patient, knowledgeable product expert will tell you how you can try it in your home

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Take a Futuristic Cruise On The World’s First Smartship

By Karen Pickrum, CTC, DS Preferred Travel of Naples, Inc.

O

nboard Royal Caribbean International, innovation and imagination rule supreme— and never has it been truer than on the groundbreaking Oasis® class ships, that is, until now with the new Quantum® class. Each ship features seven incredible neighborhoods, packed with first-at-sea experiences: the oceanside AquaTheater, Starbucks®, Broadway hit musicals Chicago and Hairspray, 3D movie theater, zipline, designer shopping and much more. The Quantum class of ships is a leap forward in vessel design with groundbreaking innovations. All the new onboard features are designed to elicit just one reaction: WOW. Touted as the world’s first smartship, Quantum of the Seas is the most hightech cruise ship in the world. Imagine using wristbands as room keys, having drinks served by a robotic bartender or a stateroom with a virtual balcony. That and so much more awaits you aboard the ship. To those adventure seekers out there—your ship has come in!

If you like your adrenaline pumping, try the RipCord by iFLY skydiving adventure. Experience the sheer thrill and exhilaration of flying in an air machine that lets you soar in a safe, controlled environment. This is the first ever sky-diving simulator at sea. Perfect for first-timers or experienced sky-divers.

Or take yourself to new heights with the jewel-shaped capsule, the North Star, which ascends over 300 feet above sealevel. You experience breathtaking 360 degree views whether at sea or in port.

Experience transformational venues like the SeaPlex—the largest indoor active space at sea and Two70° that morphs from day to night. SeaPlex includes roller skating, basketball, bumper cars and a circus school.

Two70° can take you anyplace.

It’s where an expansive oceanview is transformed before your eyes by seamless video projection. In seconds, you find yourself anywhere in the world or somewhere you never imagined before.

Quantum class groundbreaking staterooms will revolutionize the way you travel.

You can stay connected to your family and friends with several different layouts that provide separate bedrooms and bathrooms. These modular rooms allow everyone to have their own spaces and yet share time together. The interior staterooms with a virtual balcony feature a highdefinition screen that spans nearly floor to ceiling, providing real time views of the ocean and ports.

The next era of dining starts with a quantum leap—Dynamic Dining, a new world of culinary exploration. It’s dining at sea to give you more options and flexibility with 18 dining choices from casual to upscale. Dining includes five complimentary main restaurants and three new restaurants with awardwinning chefs at the helm.

Quantum of the Seas sets sail for a global journey from New York to Shanghai beginning in May. Her new sister ship, the Anthem of the Seas, joins the fleet this spring and will spend the summer in Europe before crossing to the U.S. In 2016, Ovation of the Seas joins the fleet. There’s something for everyone to discover on these new awe-inspiring ships. Please call 800-523-3716 for more information.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 9

RETIREMENT LIVING

Write A Memoir For Future Generations

By Meghan Streit, Kiplinger

T

hink of all the memories that make up the story of your life. Preserving those stories in a memoir can be a tremendous gift for your children and grandchildren, who may be eager to understand their family history.

In his late eighties, Stan Zabka looked back on the many exciting chapters of his life: serving in World War II alongside his seven brothers, working as associate director of The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson and composing iconic songs such as “Christmas Eve in My Home Town.” He decided he had a story that was worth telling. Zabka, 89, spent a year and a half toiling for up to ten hours a day to write his memoir, “Razz Ma Tazz: My Life in Music, Television and Film.”

Zabka documented his life, not only for his children, but also for people with careers in the entertainment industry who might benefit from his many years of experience. “Instead of talking about the wars or my big family, I talked about music,” says Zabka, who self-published his memoir. “All of those other things like family and war had music woven throughout them. That is what I learned: You can do a lot of things in your life, but you can only be an expert in one.”

Zabka is one of many older people who are leaving a record of their life stories to future generations. Memoirists can find plenty of help. You can take a course at a local workshop—or go online for instruction.You can even find a ghostwriter to pen your memoir after Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 10

extensive interviews. Or you can seek the help of a company that will compile the stories of your life on video, an audio recording or a personalized website.

Rosanne Gulisano, who founded Lifestories: Creating a Memoir (www.lifestoriescreatingamemoir.com) and runs workshops in Illinois, says many people think their lives aren’t extraordinary enough for a memoir.

But she says most of us have a very captive audience: our children and grandchildren. “Everyone’s life is interesting to their own future generations,” Gulisano says. “If you were to find a stack of old diaries in your grandmother’s trunk, it probably wouldn’t be a bestseller, but it would be a precious document to you.”

Many people find the process of documenting their lives to be rewarding, even therapeutic, Gulisano says. “You kind of find out who you are because you’re digging up things you might have forgotten,” she says. “For most people, it’s a very happy process and they get so much joy out of reminiscing about their past.”

Use Technology for Storytelling The written word is a popular format for preserving personal history, but it isn’t the only medium. You can hire a service that can create video or digital histories.

Bank executive Linda Beerman, 64, and her three siblings used an online service called Umenta (www.umenta.com). A “legacy concierge” interviews various family members by phone and edits the interviews into discrete stories. The service posts both written and audio versions of stories to a private family website.

On a conference call, Beerman says, she and her siblings reminisced for an hour about parties their parents hosted and the houses where they lived as children.

“The four of us were just laughing so hard,” she says. “It was a wonderful thing for us to do together.”

Beerman, who lives in Lewisville, N.C., says they can add content to the site, including photos, so she plans to e-mail her siblings questions each month to solicit more memories.

You can instead opt for a video biography of your life. Forever Studios (www. foreverstudios.com), in Boca Raton, Fla., is one company that creates professionally produced DVDs narrated by the client.

Co-founder Zachary Goldberg says the process begins with a “discovery session” between the client and a journalist, videographer and producer. They discuss stories the client wants to tell. Then the journalist conducts a series of on-camera interviews with the client. The company gathers photographs, home movies, period newsreel footage, memorabilia such as Purple Heart medals, and music to incorporate into the video.

You can produce your own online memory book by using Memloom (www.memloom.com). You can use tools to lay out photos and scanned memorabilia such as handwritten recipes. You can include videos, audio narration (you call into a telephone line to make a recording) and music. The end result—in a magazine-like format—can be shared with people you choose.

Memloom’s basic functions are free, and there is a fee for premium features.

Ruth Baudhuin, 66, uses Facebook to keep up with her children and grandchildren, but she says she doesn’t feel comfortable displaying photos

and personal information on the social networking site. So Baudhuin recently began using Memloom to share memories of her late husband with her children.

Baudhuin compiled photos from one of the last holidays the kids spent with their dad and sent the album to the entire family.

“The first Thanksgiving he was sick, a lot of the kids came from all over with their little ones,” she says. “There were a lot of pictures from that day, and Memloom is a nice way to share something like that.”

Consider Your Audience Younger generations tend to consume information in short sound bites and are less likely to commit to long narratives.

Tom Cormier, chief executive officer of Legacy Stories (www.legacystories.org), based in Knoxville, Tenn., has created an app for Apple and Android mobile devices that people can use to record audio stories to accompany old photographs.

Cormier says recordings are limited to three minutes so they appeal to users’ grandchildren. “If you send an e-mail to a teenager with a recorded story, and it’s only a minute or two, they learn some incredible things they wouldn’t have otherwise known,” he says.

If you’re writing in print form, you can simply make photocopies to share with relatives. Or you can use a self-publishing service to create a bound book that includes photographs.

Gulisano recommends 48Hour-Books. com and Lulu (www.lulu.com).

To find someone to help you with your memoir, go to the website of the Association of Personal Historians (www. personalhistorians.org). Debbie Marks, the association’s marketing director, recommends checking credentials and references before hiring a personal historian.

Leave a Message From Beyond

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inding a letter from a recently deceased loved one can be an unexpected source of comfort. Recently, services have emerged that allow you to plan messages to be sent to loved ones after you have passed. Here are a few:

White Owl Messaging (www.whiteowlmessaging.com): Arrange for cards, flowers, gifts or other personal messages to be delivered to your loved ones after you have passed. Offers one-time or multiple year deliveries, or you can assign a guardian to a gift to be released at the appropriate time.

Dead Social Messaging Service (www.deadsocial.org): Create a series of messages that are published to social networks once you pass away. You can also release unseen video and audio messages—and the service is totally free.

My Wonderful Life (www.mywonderfullife.com): Leave letters for loved ones, share memories, upload favorite photos and make your final wishes known.

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 11

Leave A Legacy...Make A Difference

When considering donation, many people think only about the major organs, such as the heart, liver or kidneys.

However, there are more than 25 different transplantable organs and tissues, including: • Corneas for preserving or restoring sight • Bone marrow for treating certain types of leukemia and anemia • Skin grafts for burn, accident and disease victims • Bone for reconstructing lost, destroyed or deformed limbs or facial features • Heart valves for correcting birth defects • Tendons, ligaments and cartilage for correcting congenital defects

By Janice Doyle

Albert Einstein said, “The value of a man … should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.”

N

o one wants to feel they have left this earth without leaving something of themselves behind.

While many spend a lifetime accumulating wealth to leave for heirs, others die broke and yet leave a rich legacy in other ways.

When we leave any kind of legacy to benefit others, we leave a powerful message that will be heard for decades. A planned gift reflects the ideals, values and beliefs that are important to us as individuals. Often a legacy is the accumulation of a lifetime of finances, but just as often, a legacy of lifestyle demonstrates itself as those left behind take up where the deceased left off. Generosity clearly is a sign of dedication.

Among the various ways to leave your legacy, there may be some vehicles especially suited to your wishes.

A legacy of financial means Many people today are planning for retirement and investigating ways to preserve their estates. An estate planning program integrates family wealth planning and philanthropy. Leaving a financial legacy means leaving money or financial assets to your favorite charity through wills and estate plans.

Legacy gifts come in all sizes, from just a few dollars to much larger bequests, and can be in the form of money, property, securities, insurance policies or other assets. While these gifts are often bestowed as a way to say “thank you” or to support ongoing efforts of a specific organization, planned giving often provides the benefactor with tangible tax benefits and a sense of self-satisfaction.

This kind of giving is not just a privilege of the wealthy because an estate of any size can greatly assist organizations that are making a difference in our communities.

According to National Philanthropic Trust, 95 percent of households contribute to charitable or religious causes each year, but only around six percent of these givers plan a charitable bequest.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 12

A donor could potentially save and enhance up to 50 lives and take eight people off the national organ donor waiting list.

How do you go about leaving a financial legacy?

Step one: Select a professional advisor.

Most often, the charity you want to give to will have such an advisor on its staff.

Step two: Write down your goals and objectives. These may include ensuring that your heirs and beneficiaries are cared for, preserving the value of your estate and being remembered for your actions.

Step three: Take an inventory of your assets; often we overlook assets such as life insurance policies and retirement benefits.

Step four: Develop and implement your plan. This combines the previous three steps and forms the basis for maximizing your personal and social capital.

Directing a portion of your estate to your chosen charity actually can reduce your taxable estate.

Leaving the gift of life Research shows that many people over 50 years of age believe they are too old or too unhealthy to qualify as a donor and, in some instances, are removing themselves from their state registry due to this misperception. In reality, almost two-thirds of all donations come from people above the age of 50, and the oldest person to donate was 93 years of age when he died, according to Donate Life (donatelife.net). With more than 123,000 patients waiting for a transplant, it is important to know that everyone has the potential to save and heal lives through donation.

While medical advances have increased the success rate of using organ transplantation to treat diseases, the need for donated organs continues to grow. An average of 21 people die each day because an organ was not made available for transplant.

To express your wishes to become a donor, indicate your intent to donate on your driver’s license and carry a donor card with you at all times. Most importantly, make your family aware of your intent to be a donor as they are often the ones who must make the crucial decision.

Tips For Choosing A Charity

By Tracie Lukens

I

f charitable giving is part of your legacy plan, here are a few tips to help you make an informed decision so your donation can go the extra mile:

1. Chose the cause that is nearest to your heart. Are you interested in the arts? The environment? Mission work or humanitarian efforts in other countries?

Curing a disease or making a difference locally in your community? Check out topnonprofits.com/lists/types-of-charities.

2. Narrow your list down by doing a little research. Ask friends, family or coworkers for their favorite charities. Consider volunteering at a charity to see firsthand how effective it is. Always ask questions: How will my gift be spent? How many people did you help last year? In what way?

3. Ask yourself: what or how much can I give, and which organization would benefit from it the most? Consider this: a $100,000 donation might not go as far in a large international organization with hundreds of staff and multiple expenses as it would for a local school or a food bank in your community.

4. Check to make sure your potential charity is legitimate and handles funds responsibly. Resources like Charity Navigator (charitynavigator.org); GuideStar (guidestar.org); and the Better Business Bureau’s Wise Giving Alliance (www.give.org) can help. They rate charities and offer details on their goals, results and how donations are put to use.

5. Never accept solicitations for charities or give away personal or credit card information. Donate on your terms.

Think Small Gifts do not have to be monumental to make an impact. A simple donation of $100 would be appreciated by any nonprofit. Items like furniture, clothes, vehicles and even land can be left to charities like ReStore, Goodwill, United Way, The Salvation Army, Habitat for Humanity, the Nature Conservancy and others. Books or artwork can be donated to libraries, museums or community centers depending on worth and condition. Finding homes for items your heirs do not want (or items that might cause a conflict) can benefit small organizations now and reduce estate burdens later.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 13

The Giving Guide

By Tracie Lukens

G

iving is great. It feels great, and it can do great things.

Human beings are hardwired for generosity, even in spite of ourselves. Participants in a 2008 study by Harvard Business School professor Michael Norton and colleagues found that giving money to someone else lifted their happiness more than spending it on themselves (despite their own prediction to the contrary). Giving has health benefits, as well. That warm glow following a good deed comes in part from a release of oxytocin, a hormone that induces feelings of warmth, euphoria and connection to others.

Giving is often reciprocated in unexpected ways, and best of all, it’s contagious. When one person behaves generously, it inspires observers to behave generously later, toward different people, suggests another study by Harvard and the University of California, San Diego.

‘Paying it forward’ spreads exponentially, researchers found, and one person can ultimately influence hundreds of people whom they have never even met.

The boomer generation, in particular, is a generous bunch. They give the largest share of donations to charities and represent 43 percent of total U.S. giving, according to “The Next Generation of American Giving,” a report by Blackbaud (a software provider to nonprofits).

To those who may want to leave a monetary legacy to charity, but are unsure of the best way, CNN Money breaks down a few options: Leave a bequest: A bequest is a gift to charity at your death, typically made through your will. Making a bequest reduces the size of your estate, effectively leaving less money subject to estate taxes. Another advantage: You can change the provisions in your will, including how much to donate and to whom, anytime before your death. When making a bequest, donors can attach strings, such as asking the charity to use the money to fund a certain project.

Charitable gift funds, which are offered

by Fidelity, Vanguard and others, permit you to make a tax-deductible donation, grow your investment tax-free,

and then direct a contribution—in your name—to nonprofits of your choosing whenever you like.

Community foundations are regionally based charities that take donations of as little as $5,000 in cash, stock or property. The foundations invest that money, pool the gains and allocate grants, usually to local nonprofits. In most cases, you may either have the foundation give money to organizations you choose or ask the foundation to locate a worthy recipient for a cause you like.

In charitable remainder trusts, a donor transfers assets to an irrevocable trust, which then pays the donor or his family income for a set period of time, or until the donor dies. At the end of the trust’s term, whatever money is left goes to a charity designated by the donor. The donor receives an upfront tax deduction for the money expected to be received by the charity, while the income stream that donors receive is taxable.

You also can set up a charitable lead trust, (think of a charitable remainder trust in reverse) from which a charity receives the income and your heirs receive whatever is left after you pass away.

Give Now You don’t have to wait until you pass on to start leaving a legacy. In fact, in the case of large estates, it can be in your best interest to distribute your wealth before you die to prevent a large portion Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 14

of it from going to the IRS instead of your beneficiaries. Here are two ideas:

Gifts: You can distribute tax-free gifts up to a certain amount during your lifetime. The federal estate tax exemption, or the amount an individual can leave to heirs without having to pay federal estate tax, is currently $5.43 million.

There’s also an annual gift tax exclusion that allows an individual to give away $14,000 a year to whomever they want, tax-free, without going against their lifetime limit.

Education: A 529 College Savings Plan can be used to put aside funds for your child or grandchild’s college education, tax-free, as long as the money is used solely for educational purposes. Like the annual gift tax exclusion, you can make yearly gifts of $14,000 to the plan, (or $28,000 for joint couples) with one added benefit: every five years, it lets you put five years worth of gifts into the plan at once, for a total of $70,000 (or $140,000/couples).

Give Wisely Generosity is a virtue, but so is good planning. Rushing to act can mean the difference between a well-executed gift and one that could put your own long-term financial position in jeopardy. Always seek advice from a financial advisor before donating money or property, and never give more than you can afford.

It may mean some up front costs, but a good legacy plan is well worth it in the end.

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Surgical and Nonsurgical Treatments for Rotator Cuff Injuries

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otator cuff tears are some of the most common causes of pain among adults in the United States. Torn rotator cuffs lead to shoulder weakness, which can make it difficult to complete daily tasks like getting dressed.

Depending on the type and severity of the rotator cuff injury, surgery may need to be performed to alleviate symptoms and restore full range of motion.

The rotator cuff is made up of four muscles that are joined with tendons to create a covering around the head of the humerus bone at the top of the arm. A rotator cuff tear occurs when one of the tendons is torn, no longer fully attaching to the humerus. There are multiple types of rotator cuff tears, including a partial tear, which damages the soft tissue but doesn’t sever it, and a full-thickness tear, which splits the soft tissue into two separate pieces. The full-thickness tear is essentially a hole in the tendon.

Common symptoms of rotator cuff injuries include pain and weakness while lifting and lowering the arm in specific movements; a crackling sensation when moving the shoulder; and pain at night. While sudden injury, such as a fall, may be an obvious reason for pain, rotator cuff tears can also develop slowly over time due to overuse and over-rotation of the shoulder.

Because of the nature of these wear-andtear injuries, people over the age of 40 are most at risk of rotator cuff injuries. Others at risk include those whose occupations require them to do work above their heads, such as painters, plumbers and carpenters, and athletes such as tennis and baseball players, whose repeated motions can cause damage. While the pain may start out being manageable with over-thecounter medications and rest, small tears often grow larger and more painful before they have a chance to heal on their own.

A decrease in blood supply to the tendon also decreases with age, which inhibits the body’s ability to repair small tears.

If you suspect a rotator cuff injury, your physician will diagnose the issue by having you move your arm through a wide range of motions and will check for tenderness, deformities and overall arm strength. Your doctor may also examine your neck closely to ensure the pain is not being referred and to check for arthritis and other conditions. Imaging tests such as X-rays, MRIs or ultrasound may also be used to diagnose the problem.

Depending on the severity and type of the rotator cuff injury, nonsurgical treatment may be an option. Nonsurgical treatment options include rest and limited motion, over-the-counter pain medications such as naproxen sodium and ibuprofen, physical therapy, and injection of steroids such as cortisone at the site of the tear.

While nonsurgical treatment options avoid the risks of surgery, which include infection, stiffness, and lengthy recovery time, they can also be limited in their effectiveness and may require permanent limitations in enjoyable activities, such as tennis, which exacerbate the injury.

Surgery may be the best option to restore full motion and relieve pain from rotator cuff tears. Depending how long and complex the tear is, the surgeon may be able to perform arthroscopic surgery, or they may need to make a regular incision.

A third option, mini-open repair, uses new technology to repair the rotator cuff through a smaller incision than traditional surgery.

Regardless of the type of surgery performed, rehabilitation and physical therapy are essential to restore strength and motion. Your arm will likely be immobilized in a sling for the first four to six weeks following the surgery.

Once the surgeon decides it is safe to move the arm, a physical therapist will guide you through a series of passive and active exercises. Complete recovery will likely take four to six months, but with proper rehabilitation, you can expect relief from pain and full use and strength of your arm and shoulder.

With offices in Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Lehigh Acres, Athletic Orthopedic and Reconstructive Center (AORC) is devoted to providing the highest level of quality care and treatment of the musculoskeletal system, which includes the bones, joints, ligaments, muscles and nerves. AORC specializes in total joint replacement, fracture care, sports medicine, hand surgery, neurology, podiatry and general orthopedics. For more info, call 239-936-6778 or visit www.bone-fix.com.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 17

How Using an FTRI “Free” Amplified Telephone Changed My Life

L

et’s imagine this scenario: your son calls to ask if you want to go out for dinner, but it sounds like there’s something wrong with the phone line. His voice sounds muffled and distant, too quiet.

“What was that? You sounded muffled,” you say. He repeats himself, but it sounds the same. “Sorry, one more time?” He sighs and asks you to dinner once more.

Finally you hear and understand his invitation but you also hear frustration in his voice. And it’s not the first time this has happened; you noticed the same thing when your best friend, coworker, other family members and doctor called.

You are tired of asking everyone to repeat what they said. Eventually you stop answering the phone because it’s too frustrating, too painful to continue straining to understand the conversation.

Unfortunately, that is an all-toocommon problem. In fact, millions of people suffer with hearing loss, yet only 20 percent do something about it. What the remaining 80 percent might not know is that, in addition to causing frustration and isolation, untreated hearing loss leads to a higher probability of Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and falling.

Thankfully, the Florida Telecommunications Relay, Inc. (FTRI) program offers a solution for Florida residents experiencing hearing loss. FTRI distributes a variety of amplified telephones to qualified Florida residents to ensure that they’re able to have the best quality of life at no cost. The no cost rationale was made possible with the passage of Florida’s Telecommunications Access Systems Act of 1991 that implements the current eleven cents surcharge on all landlines in Florida. This not-for-profit program serves any eligible Florida residents over the age of three with a certified hearing loss or speech-challenge that has a working landline at home.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 18

It sounds too good to be true, but it applies to three million Floridians with varying degrees of hearing loss. Florida resident Donald Hoover knows how invaluable his amplified telephone is. “I was unable to use a phone until now,” he explained. “It has changed my life.”

Thanks to ClearSounds technology, he is finally able to hear and understand conversations using an amplified telephone.

Do not let hearing loss come between you and your loved ones—reconnect today with the FTRI amplified telephone program! Call 800-222-3448 or visit www.ftri.org/ClearSounds1 to request an application. Do you know a Floridian friend or family member having trouble hearing on the phone? Share and pass it along one of Florida’s open secrets. Florida is speaking up for better communication!

If you are experiencing trouble with your current FTRI phone, have a change in your hearing or no longer need your FTRI phone, please contact FTRI’s Customer Care at 888-554-1151. FTRI is a statewide nonprofit 501 (c) 3 organization that administers the distribution of specialized telecommunications equipment for all Floridians with a hearing loss or speech challenge. A surcharge applied to landline subscribers funds the program as mandated by Florida’s Telecommunications Access System Act of 1991. #KeepFloridaConnected

Dramatic Improvement In Woman’s Musculoskeletal Health After Using Low-Intensity Vibration

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ike many older adults, Sara Meeks, 74, is at risk from musculoskeletal degeneration that affects the health of her bones, leaving her vulnerable to painful fractures. Diagnosed several years ago, Sara is still technically considered osteoporotic, but at a time when her musculoskeletal health is expected to be deteriorating at a rapid pace, it is actually improving.

Sara puts these improvements in musculoskeletal health down to her comprehensive program that includes the use of low-intensity vibration, a therapy that can stimulate the repair of and maintenance of musculoskeletal tissues.

“Since I’ve started using the lowintensity vibration as part of my comprehensive routine, my bone density has improved a lot,” Sara said.

As a physical therapist, Sara has focused the last 30 years of her career on musculoskeletal health, so she knows just how important healthy and strong muscles are for supporting bone health.

Her Meeks Method exercise and posture program is recognized both in the

United States and internationally to prevent, arrest and reverse the postural changes that negatively impact musculoskeletal wellness.

Sara began using low-intensity vibration about 7 years ago when she discovered research by Marodyne Co-Founder and Chief Scientific Officer, Dr. Clinton Rubin. Dr. Rubin has spent more than 30 years researching the effects of low-intensity vibration in relationship to musculoskeletal issues.

“I’m really excited to see technology available like this,” Sara said. “I’m an advocate of a non-drug approach to health.”

High intensity vibration therapy, called whole-body vibration, is available, but this is considered risky and may even be harmful to the elderly, frail or infirm.

“Whole-body vibration can be dangerous,” Sara said. “The devices can give you headaches. That’s not what my patients want; they want safety.”

Dr. Rubin’s LivMD device is the only

Sara Meeks

vibration therapy Sara recommends to her clients. Both she and her husband have been using the lowintensity vibration daily to support their musculoskeletal health, said Sara.

LivMD was developed in line with The Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) safety standards. The device, that accelerates the user at 0.4g at a frequency of 30HZ, is safe to stand on for up to four hours per day, according to the International Standard Organization 2631 evaluation of human exposure to whole body vibration.

“It’s the only one I would use because it was designed with safety in mind,” Sara said. Sara described the sensation while standing on the device as a nice buzzing that works its way through the body “In my experience, people don’t like to exercise. If you can give them something that fits into their daily life, they’re more likely to do it. This fits into your life.”

Contact Sara Meeks for more information about low-intensity vibration and her programs by visiting her website www.SaraMeeksPt.com. To learn more about LivMD, visit www.LivMD.us.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 19

Challenging the Status Quo with Stem Cells

By Cara Tompot, Staff Writer

L

ooking back on history, we remember a time when women didn’t have the rights that they do now.

Prior to 1919, women didn’t have any way to express their thoughts and desires through public policy. Thanks to first-wave feminists questioning the status quo, 1920 marked the first year that women could vote. This social change marked a moment in history when women finally had the right to take control of their own life.

In many ways, the history of women’s suffrage is similar to the road to regenerative medicine advancements.

Much like women fighting for equality, patients have been fighting for a new way to treat their chronic lung disease. Now, with the advancement of stem cell therapy, sufferers of chronic lung disease are no longer limited to the confines of traditional medicine— which involve managing symptoms rather than the disease. Stem cell therapy, like women’s voting rights, helps people take control of their life by giving them a voice.

For years, people accepted the status quo, and for people suffering from chronic lung diseases like COPD, the status quo meant a constant struggle for oxygen.

As an incurable disease, most sufferers felt that they didn’t have any options. But now, everything has changed.

One state-of-the-art clinic, the Lung Institute, developed an alternative. Stem cell therapy helps sufferers finally breathe easier. People are no longer forced to accept the fate of continual disease progression or an invasive lung procedure. Stem cell therapy harnesses the healing power of a patient’s own stem cells to help regenerate damaged lung tissue.

Today, lung disease can be treated with adult stem cells harvested from the patient’s own fat, blood or bone marrow to replace damaged lung cells with healthy ones. According to the clinic’s website, www.lunginstitute.com, this innovative procedure slows the progression of the disease

in addition to restoring lung function and reducing inflammation. The result is the ability to breathe easier.

Similar to the fight for women’s rights, doctors and patients have been diligently looking for a new way to treat lung disease. Now, with the advancement of stem cell therapy, patients can finally combat disease progression.

As with any change, some physicians and patients may be slower to adopt new ideas while clinging to traditional approaches; however, just as social change made it possible for women to have a voice in the government, clinical advancements like stem cell therapy make it possible for patients to have a voice in their healthcare. If the fight for equality is any sign of the future of stem cell therapy, there is no doubt that stem cells will become the status quo for treating lung disease.

Why To Avoid Joint Titling Of Assets With Adult Children

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utting your adult child’s name on your assets may seem like a good estate planning option; yet, there are some very serious drawbacks.

Young adults are likely to be less responsible their Steven J. parents. An adult child is Gibbs, Esq. also vulnerable to many life changes that create risk to your assets such as divorce, bankruptcy, IRS problems, issues with the law, injuries and illness. Worse yet, when someone’s name is titled (with yours) on an asset, this cannot be easily reversed.

The following risks are important to note: 1. Divorce: Divorce can financially devastate the participants and generally splits the estate assets in half, so at least half of an adult child’s assets are in jeopardy including any jointly titled assets with the parents.

2. Bankruptcy: Similar to divorce, a bankruptcy places all the adult child’s assets at risk. Only this time, the pursuer is an aggressive bankruptcy trustee.

3. IRS: Young adults often face tax problems, and this triggers the sweeping powers of the IRS and the possibility of tax liens on all assets.

4. Legal Problems: Accidents due to DUIs and civil and criminal judgments could result in judgment liens upon all assets.

5. Health Concerns and Injuries: Young adults may be subject to injuries due to an active lifestyle or may experience medical emergencies such as heart attacks and medical bills that can pose substantial risk to all assets.

Why does the Revocable Trust solve this problem?

Revocable Trust planning allows you to title the assets in the name of the Trust rather than individuals. An adult child may still be a beneficiary of the Trust and yet there is “zero” risk that the assets will be exposed to any of beneficiary’s creditors.

A Trust also provides asset protection for beneficiaries so that your kids can be protected from creditors even after your death.

As always, I hope this is helpful and…

Until next time. —Steven J. Gibbs, Esq.

RE !

U’ ED YO VIT IN

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Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 21

How To Sneak Healthy Living Into Your Routine

By Dale Noelle

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or today’s active older adults, the demands of balancing work, physical fitness, family and fun can be a challenge. But there are ways to improve your overall wellness that can be incorporated into quick and simple daily routines. Exercises, stretching, breathing deeply and healthy eating can be infused into everything you do, so getting to the gym or having a specific daily workout is not as crucial to your health and wellbeing. Simple adjustments to the way you approach daily tasks can make a dramatic difference in the way you look and feel.

Here are some do’s and don’ts to help you become more fit and increase energy while juggling hectic schedules: DO: • Take stairs instead of elevators • Take slow, deep breaths • While standing still or waiting in line, try this simple exercise: Keep even weight on your feet with your hips and shoulders level. Tighten all muscles as much as you can and then release and repeat.

• Walk home from the office/grocery/ shopping and lift and lower bags to tone your arms and back • Do squats while washing your hair or cleaning the shower with a squeegee • Stretch before you get out of bed every morning and before you go to bed at night • Park farther from building entrances and walk briskly to your destination • Carry a refillable glass bottle of water with fruit or herbs inside (add a spring of rosemary, mint leaves, cinnamon stick, lemon or orange slices, etc.)

• Join a sports team for fun (even if you never played the sport before, most organized leagues offer beginner options) • Carry at least one healthy snack in your bag (nuts, apple) • Choose exercises that are easy on your joints and strengthen without causing bulk; yoga is a great option.

DO NOT: • Eat if you are not hungry, or impulsively grab empty calorie and/or sugary snacks • Sit if you can stand

FOCUS on the things that matter most to YOU

with Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery from Frantz EyeCare

For improved vision and an overall improved quality of life, call us to schedule your cataract evaluation today!

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BetterVision.net

Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS One of our Country’s Top 5 Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgeons For t Myers | Cape Coral | Lehigh Acres | Punta Gorda | Naples

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 22

• Deny yourself your favorite fattening foods (but do limit portions and/or only eat them once a week) It is possible to maintain a healthy body and youthful glow without going to extremes. Drinking plenty of water, eating greens, eating less pasta, bread,

sugar, red meat and dairy are other simple lifestyle changes that can improve your metabolism, increase your energy and boost your mood.

Dale Noelle is a modelling and fitness expert from True Model Management.

To learn more, visit truemodel.net.

Living With Cataracts Eyesight is truly a precious commodity and there are more sunsets and a life full any of us feel that our eyesight of beautiful pictures is the most precious of all and memories waiting. of our senses. How beautiful is it If you think you to look into the eyes of a child, to may have cataracts, see the sunrise or sunset in brilliant call our office at color. When a cataract develops, it 239-418-0999 or visit interferes with our ability to enjoy www.BetterVision.net these things. Even more devastating, Dr. Jonathan Frantz to learn about vision loss from cataracts can take away our independence, making it the difference between traditional impossible to drive to the grocery store cataract surgery and Bladeless Laser Cataract Surgery. or to visit a friend or family member.

Cataracts are a major cause of Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS, is preventable blindness, and yet many people aren’t sure what a cataract is named in The Guide to America’s Top or how it is treated. When surgery Ophthalmologists. He and his team is needed, keep in mind that not all of doctors at Frantz EyeCare offer cataract surgeons possess the same a broad spectrum of patient-focused skill or have the same success rate. At comprehensive care from eye exams Frantz EyeCare, we have the capability and eyewear to bladeless laser cataract with skillful microsurgical techniques, removal, treatment of eye diseases, lasers, advanced measuring devices bladeless WaveLight LASIK laser vision and the latest technology in intraocular correction, and eyelid surgery with office lenses to not just remove your cataract, locations in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Punta Gorda, Lehigh Acres, and Naples. but minimize your need for glasses.

Jonathan M. Frantz, MD, FACS Medical Director, Frantz EyeCare

M

Free Tax Assistance

T

here’s good news for taxpayers looking for a safe way to save money at tax time.

Thanks to a public-private partnership between the IRS and a coalition of industry-leading tax software companies, there’s a program that provides qualified taxpayers with free, online, name-brand tax preparation software products.

Called the IRS Free File program, it’s designed to make tax time easier by walking taxpayers who qualify through the filing process online and ensuring that they capture all the credits and deductions they deserve. To take advantage of the program, taxpayers must have an adjusted gross income of $60,000 or less.

By using the program, eligible taxpayers can easily and accurately complete their federal tax return with trusted namebrand tax preparation software products.

Since its creation in 2003, the Free File program has donated 40 million federal tax returns. That translates to a total savings for taxpayers of more than $1.3 billion in tax preparation costs donated. Approximately 70 percent of U.S. taxpayers are eligible for the Free File program.

The Power Of Technology Ed Black, president and CEO of the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA), said that the Free File program is a great example of the power of technology to improve the lives of all Americans. Black added that CCIA is proud to support Free File and will be working this year to help ensure all eligible taxpayers are aware of this “important program.”

Additionally, 20 states plus the District of Columbia sponsor a state-level Free File program, allowing eligible residents to easily and accurately complete both their federal and state taxes for free.

More Events:

18

Friends of the Library Book Sale. Love a good bargain? If so, please stop by the Friends of the Library Spring Book Sale. There will be books, magazines, DVDs, CDs and more for all ages. Proceeds benefit the Friends of the East County Regional Library.

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at East

For more information, visit the websites at www.irs.gov/freefile and www.taxprephelp.org. (NAPSI)

Other Resources AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free, individualized tax preparation for low-to moderate-income taxpayers— especially those 60 and older. Here are a few locations near you: (for a complete list and info about which documents you need to bring with you, visit www. aarp.org/applications/VMISLocator/ taxAideLocations.action) S. Punta Gorda Heights Civic Center 11200 1st Ave., Punta Gorda Thu. 10 – 6; Fri. 9 – 2. Walk-in or appointment at 941-268-8280 Northwest Regional Library 519 Chiquita Blvd. N., Cape Coral Fri. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Walk-in.

Cape Coral Public Library 921 SW 39th Ter., Cape Coral Wed., 9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. Thu. 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Make appointment at library.

VFW 17770 Pine Ridge Rd., Ft. Myers Beach Tue. 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sign up at VFW.

Law Office Of

RObeRt H. eaRdLey, P.a.

PRACTICE CONCENTRATING IN: • Wills and Revocable Trusts • Probate Administration • Estate Tax Planning • Elder Law • Prenuptial Agreements • Florida Tax Residency Planning • Powers of Attorney/Living Wills Robert H. Eardley, Esq., LL.M. Florida Bar Board Certified Wills, Trusts & Estates Attorney Master of Laws Degree in Estate Planning

1415 PANThER LANE, SuITE 221 NAPLES, FL 34109 (239) 591-6776 WWW.SWFLORIDA-LAW.COM The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements.

Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience.

East County Regional Library 831 Gunnery Rd. N., Lehigh Acres Wed., Thu. 9:15 – 3:30. Make appt. at library.

Sunnygrove Park 20850 S. Tamiami Trl., Estero Thu. 9 –3; Fri. 9 - 12. Walk-in thru Apr. 10.

Naples Park Clubhouse 654 104th Ave. N, Naples Tue. 9 – 2; Thu. 9 – 12. Walk-in.

East Naples Community Center 3500 Thomasson Dr., Naples Mon., Fri., Sat., 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Walk in or make appt. at the center.

County Regional Library, Lehigh Acres.

239-533-4200.

24

Sunset/Bird Rookery Kayak Tour on the Caloosahatchee River with GAEA Guides – Guided Kayak Nature Tours. 5:30 – 8:30 p.m. Fort Myers.

Paddle on the Caloosahatchee and some wild creeks

with thousands of birds. Learn about the plants and animals that are in this part of our estuary.

Great view of the sunset!

Includes all equipment and a Florida Master Naturalist will be your guide. $40 per person. Reservations a must.

239-694-5513.

M

ay 8 Bonita Springs - Estero Christian Women’s Connection monthly luncheon. 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Club at Grandezza, 11481 Grande Oak Blvd., Estero.

Special Feature: “Hats! From the Derby to the Preakness!”

Ladies, wear your outrageously beautiful hats and be ready to show them off! Prizes will be awarded in the Circle of Roses. Cost: $25. Please RSVP Friday, May 1. Call Bernie for details at 239-292-8744.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 23

Spring Build-A-Brunch Ideas E

ntertaining at brunch time can be much easier than a dinner party. Serve these mini quiches and cake bites with croissants, a fruit platter and mimosas or freshly squeezed orange juice. Recipes by McCormick: mccormick.com.

Mini Ham and Egg Quiches Serves: 6

1 tablespoon olive oil 1 medium shallot, finely chopped 2 cups packed baby spinach leaves 4 ounces goat cheese (chèvre) 8 eggs, lightly beaten 1 tablespoon tarragon 1 teaspoon thyme 1/4 teaspoon sea salt 1/8 teaspoon course ground black pepper 12 thin slices deli Black Forest ham

Directions Preheat oven to 400°F. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet on medium heat. Add shallot; cook and stir 2 minutes or until softened. Add spinach; cook and stir 1 to

2 minutes or just until wilted. Remove from heat. Add goat cheese; stir until well blended and melted. Mix eggs, tarragon, thyme, sea salt and pepper in medium bowl until well blended. Add spinach mixture; mix well.

Spray a 12-cup muffin tin generously with no-stick cooking spray. Press a slice of ham into each cup, pleating as necessary to fit cup. Pour egg mixture evenly into each cup.

Bake 10 to 12 minutes or until eggs are set. Run small knife or spatula around each cup to loosen mini quiches. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Decorative Egg Cake Bites Serves: 24 1 package (2-layer size) white cake mix 2 teaspoons McCormick® Pure Lemon Extract 1 cup marshmallow creme 1 bag (14 ounces) white confectionary coating wafers Decorating Glaze: 1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar 2 teaspoons water

Directions Prepare cake mix as directed on package, adding lemon extract and desired food color. Bake as directed on package for 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Cool completely on wire rack.

Crumble cake into large bowl.

Add marshmallow creme; mix until well blended. Shape into 1-inch balls then roll to form an egg shape.

Refrigerate 2 hours.

Melt coating wafers or white chocolate as directed on package. Using a fork, dip 1 cake bite at a time into the confectionary coating or chocolate. Tap back of fork 2 or 3 times against edge of dish to allow excess to drip off. Place cake bites on wax paper-lined tray.

For the Decorating Glaze, mix confectioners’ sugar and water in small bowl until well blended. Tint with desired food color. Using a fork, drizzle glaze over cake bites. Let stand until glaze is set.

Springtime Fun Facts

B

efore spring was called spring, it was called Lent in Old English.

Starting in the 14th century, that time of year was called “springing time”—a reference to plants “springing” from the ground. In the 15th century this got shortened to “spring-time,” and then further shortened in the 16th century to just “spring.”

• Earth Day, April 22, is the largest, most celebrated environmental event worldwide. Over 175 countries throughout the world participate.

• In Panama, 100 endangered species of orchids were planted and maintained to prevent their extinction in honor of Earth Day. • American householders spend approximately $131 on decorations and candy each year, dumping a total of about $14.7 billion into the nation’s economy each Easter season.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 24

• The number one Easter food is hard-boiled eggs, with chocolate bunnies in second place. Every spring, Americans also consume about 700 million of those little yellow marshmallow chicks called Peeps.

• Easter bunnies have their roots in old German pagan traditions celebrating the goddess Eostra, who was honored for bringing spring and fertility on the spring equinox. Because of their fecundity, rabbits were used as her symbol.

• In ancient Greece, Persephone was the goddess of spring. During winters, she was known as the Queen of the Underworld, and she would return to the earth in spring to preside over growth.

• Every year, the U.S. president conducts an Easter Egg Roll on the White House lawn. The tradition was started by President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1878 and the practice has been followed by every president since then.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 25

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.

4419 FRIENDSHIP! 5’5” W, widow ISO W, widower, R, P, in late 70’s – 80’s. I am R, P, NS, SD, enjoy music, art, dancing, walking, have a good SOH. Am sports fan, dress well and still get 2nd glances.

Estero-bonita springs area.

4439 FRIENDLY WIDOW WF, 5’2”, 130 lbs, good health. ISO widower able to travel, active, good health, 70-80 YY, likes RV life, NS, likes music, dancing. Lehigh area.

4450 INTERESTED IN EVERLASTING LOVE AND MARRIAGE I am an intelligent, beautiful, Christian lady who likes a faithful, Christian gentleman 39 – 74.

NS, ND, NDrg. Please write and send recent photo.

4464 I AM 84 YRS YOUNG (that’s what everyone tells me). Widow, W, retired.

Like dogs. Looking for LTR. ISO fun loving gentleman. Love possible. NS, SD, NDrg, 5’10” required. North Fort Myers area.

4463 SHF. Would like to start dating again. Looking for a gentleman who likes animals, enjoys the outdoors and has a good sense of humor. 65 but young at heart.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN 4421 ATTRACTIVE, IN SHAPE, 57YO, athletic build, good values, good listener, financially secure, conscientious and considerate. I enjoy travel, adventure, sports, movies, music and fun. ISO lady with similar interests.

4428 MAN, 70, D, NS, SD, likes movies, music, books, animals, plants, going out for a drink and a bite, takes Bible classes and a Spanish class. ISO woman, 55 – 73, NS, NDrg, SD, for FF, who likes to sit at the bar and have conversation over a drink, affection—kissing, touching, hugging, and has nice legs. Port Charlotte area.

4434 GENTLEMAN 74 YEARS OLD looking for a Filipina friend that likes nice restaurants. I want to get married if we fall in love. I have blue eyes. Port Charlotte area.

4441 INCESSANT, PASSIONATE, FAITHFUL, GENUINE, Dare to think and be young again. Age is merely a number. Pure

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):

City (No Charge):

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

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Name: Address: City: Phone:

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MAIL TO: ATTN. / SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER, NEWS CONNECTION, USA, INC. • P.O. BOX 638., SEFFNER, FL 33583 Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 26

romantic (real) love is totally cerebral and emotional. I am building a home in the B.V.I. on the beach. Dare to be there with me!

4451 I AM 84 YEARS YOUNG (that’s what everyone tells me) and a widower.

Looking for LTR. I like sports, dogs and cats. Love and romance possible. ISO lady, fun loving, C, F, NS, SD, NDrg. Please write. Fort Myers Area.

4452 MAN, 71, NS, SD Likes music, movies, books, plants, animals, evening classes. ISO woman, 55 – 72, NS, NDrg, SD for FF, who looks good in shorts or a skirt, likes bicycle riding, kissing, touching, hugging, going out to a pub for a bite and light social drinking. Port Charlotte Area.

Commonly Used Abbreviations: F-Female, M-Male, S-Single, D-Divorced, WWWidow, A-Asian, B-Black, H-Hispanic, I-Indian, W-White, C-Christian, J-Jewish, YO-Years Old, YY-Years Young, ISO-In Search Of, 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.

TO PLACE AN AD

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

TO RESPOND TO AN AD

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

Get An Insider’s Look at Silver Screen Legends “I

n The Company Of Legends” by Joan Kramer and David Heeley is an insiders’ view of Hollywood’s famous and powerful: behind the scenes stories of Katharine Hepburn, Johnny Carson, Frank Sinatra, Lew R. Wasserman, Richard Dreyfuss, Ronald Reagan, Nancy Reagan, Paul Newman, Joanne Woodward, Jane Fonda, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, James Stewart, and Bette Davis, among others.

Starting with their award-winning profiles of Fred Astaire in 1980, Kramer and Heeley produced film portraits of the lives and careers of many Hollywood legends, establishing a reputation for finding the un-findable, persuading the reluctant and maintaining unique relationships long after the end credits rolled. Their stories of the productions and the personalities involved are amusing, sometimes moving, often revealing, and have never been told before.

The book will be available starting April 16 on amazon.com.

Tune in: On April 7, Turner Classic Movies will be screening five of Kramer and Heeley’s documentaries with introductions by the two authors.

To learn more, visit tcm.com.

Online Dating Part 3: 8 Rules For Powerful Profiles Your profile photos are windows into your life. Ask yourself: would your mate want to be in these photos with you?

By Elle Layne

O

kay, now that you’ve picked a site and learned how to spot the false arrows in Cupid’s quiver, it’s time to make your profile pop! Here are 8 tips:

1. Be honest, and be yourself. This is the golden rule of dating. Ultimately, the goal is to meet someone who will accept you for who you are, flaws and all. This is difficult to do if you are pretending to be someone else, or are exaggerating certain qualities, just to impress a potential mate. (You may end up impressing the wrong type of person!) Use current pictures and be truthful about who you are and what you want, and your mate will appreciate it and respond in kind.

3. Be confident, positive and brief. Being honest doesn’t mean you have to focus on your flaws or write a lengthy autobiography. Bitter tales of past relationships or hard dating luck? Leave those at the door!

Nothing turns a potential date off faster.

Make your profile short and sweet, and highlight your best qualities. You only have a few seconds to make an impression online—your profile should be just enough to entice a mate to get to know you better.

2. Tell a story with your photos.

Profiles with photos are nine times more likely to get communication, according to dating site Eharmony.com.

For the best results, use four or more photos and include at least one medium shot and one closeup shot of you. Photos that show you participating in social activities or a favorite hobby, sport or other activity are the most effective.

Avoid: poorly taken, blurry or unflattering shots; overly revealing photos; pictures of just your kids/grandkids; photos with exes (or with exes obviously cut out!) and the like.

4. Invite the other person into your life by avoiding too many “I” statements. If you met a date at a bar and all he talked about was himself, would you stick around? Rather than write a laundry list about who you are and what you want, be conversational.

Talk about what would you share with your potential mate. How would you like to get to know them better?

5. Make your words count. Do you like romantic dinners and long walks on the beach? So does everyone else! Try to avoid lists or cliches that are common in other people’s profiles. Instead, pick one or two of your favorite activities and describe why you enjoy doing them, or tell a story about an experience. For example: “On weekends I take my dog Shelby on a beach walk because connecting with nature brings me a sense of peace.”

6. Call to action. What makes you stand out? Narrow it down to three words and use them as your profile heading. Don’t

be afraid to get flirty, humorous or quirky. Are you a Southern BBQ Diva or a Frisbee Golfing God? Own it! It’s all about getting readers to click your profile and look deeper.

At the end of your profile description, leave a hook—an invitation to open communication. “Did you like the picture of me ziplining in Costa Rica? I’d love to tell you all about it. Gimme a call.” Or... “If you’re like me, and you want someone to share life’s adventures with, write me back...”

7. Have a friend give you a hand.

Sometimes they know you better than you know yourself, and can offer suggestions or let you know if you’re going overboard.

Having someone double check your profile’s spelling and grammar can also help you make a good first impression.

8. Update regularly: Make the effort to renew your profile on a regular basis to keep it fresh. And if you can, remove a profile you don’t use anymore. It can be discouraging to write in and hope for a message from someone who is no longer using the service.

That’s all for now, web-crossed lovers.

I wish you safe and happy hunting!

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

This month, we’re giving away a Magic Opener—a device that combines the three most common types of beverage openers into one easyto-use product. It can open metal caps, stubborn twist tops and nail-chipping pull tabs. Magic Opener is handy for those with arthritis or limited hand strength.

The ergonomic handle accommodates all hand sizes, and the device firmly grabs caps for even more leverage. The magnetic top makes it accessible—stick it on your fridge door, on the BBQ, bike frame or tail gate so it’s always at your fingertips. Plus, it’s small enough to fit in a purse, lunchbox or backpack.

The Magic Opener retails for $19.99.

For more information, please visit www.magicopener.com.

We’re giving away a Magic Opener to one lucky winner this month!

To enter, just email editor@lifestylesafter50. com or snail mail us at:

Attn: Magic Opener News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583 Send us your name, address and phone number by April 19. The drawing will be held on April 20, and the winner will be contacted and announced in the May issue of Lifestyles After 50. Look for more giveaways in upcoming editions. Good luck!

Congratulations!

To last month’s winner:

Marianne Barnes of Sun City Center

She won the Pixstar FotoConnect XD!

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 27

RN HOW TO PLAN FOR PETS IN AN EMERGENCY

hure "Our Best Friends Deserve Better Plans" has all tion on Estate Planning for Pets and Florida's Pet is FREE! This brochure helps pet owners plan for their emergency or in case their pets outlive them. Use this r your free materials.

Lifestyles After 50 • April • page 28 tion! Clip and mail this2015 coupon

Last Month’s Answers

Enter to Win!

Enter To Win!

This month’s Last Month’s Winner Is Daniel McDevitt winner is Congratulations!

Myron L. Guisewite Congratulations !!!

Last Month’s Answers

FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!

Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on Apr. 20 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

Age

Phone

E-mail

State Zip

SW

Last Month’s Answers

March Sudoku

April Sudoku

Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers.

Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well.

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

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

Corky Westfall is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583 WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES! (Sudoku must be received by April 20, 2015.)

Mystery Prize!

Word Search April

Word Search

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

Answers From March

June Lewis is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to: News CoNNeCtioN UsA, iNC. P.o. BoX 638, seFFNeR, FL 33583

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

Mystery Prize!

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

Mystery Prize!

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

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 29

TRAVEL

Florida’s Cultured Pearl: Martin County Is a Treasure

Photographic Exhibition at Martin County Administrative Center, 2401 SE Monterey Road, Stuart

By Janice Doyle

A

s we travel in Florida, we expect to find sandy beaches, warm waters and tropical landscapes. Sometimes we come upon unexpected cultural treasures, places and sights we hadn’t thought we’d find. An hour north of Fort Lauderdale, Martin County, Florida, offers both the expected and the unexpected—one of Florida’s treasured destinations.

Martin County is composed of the communities of Port Salerno, Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach, Indiantown, Jupiter Island, Hobe Sound and Hutchinson Island.

Loggerhead Nesting 2011 at Hobe Sound Beach, 1 Beach Road, Hobe Sound

Get crafty More of the area’s local jewels can be found in Port Salerno at The Fish House Art Center and Gallery on the waterfront of Manatee Pocket in the Village.

In Stuart, art deco style takes over the Arts Council’s home in the Court House Cultural Center Gallery housed in the 1937 Public Works Administration building.

Marine Life Murals at Sailfish Splash Waterpark, 931 SE Ruhnke St., Stuart

For more information and a calendar of events, go to www.DiscoverMartin.com

Manatee Pocket Gateway at Sailfish Splash Waterpark, 931 SE Ruhnke Street, Stuart

Stuart Heritage Museum

What began in 1997 as Art in Public Places has evolved into a collection of sculptures, mobiles, stained glass windows, murals, mosaics, benches, photographs and quilts located in libraries, fire stations, community centers, administration buildings, parks and other county-owned properties throughout Martin County. Tracking them down turns into a treasure hunt. Here’s a part of what you’ll find: Classic car collection at Elliott Museum.

Shell Games – sculpture at Hobe Sound Endless collections Public Library, 10595 SE Federal Look in Stuart for the huge collection Highway, Hobe Sound amassed by inventor Sterling Elliott at Avian Muse – mobile at Robert Elliott Museum. How about the dis- Morgade Library, 5851 SE Community play Enzo Ferrari and his Motor Car? Drive, Stuart Historic antique automobiles and boats, an extensive baseball collection and a Oasis – tile bench at Holt Law Enforcement deep trove of Treasure Coast histories Complex, 800 SE Monterey Rd., Stuart and stories can be found at the Museum. Antique Hose – sculpture at Port The Stuart Heritage Museum truly lets Salerno Fire Station, 4725 SE Dixie visitors step back in time to learn about Highway, Port Salerno the people, events and places from Martin County’s history. The countless The Poet – sculpture at Hoke Library, relics housed by the museum define 1150 NW Jack Williams Way, Jensen the history of the people, businesses, Beach agriculture and community spirit of the Stained Glass at Elisabeth Lahti Library, City of Stuart and Martin County.

15200 SW Adams Avenue, Indiantown Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 30

The Fish House Art Center and Gallery

House of Refuge at Gilbert’s Bar

H

istory buffs meet their match in Martin County. The House of Refuge at Gilbert's Bar is the only remaining House of Refuge on the east coast of the United States. The Houses of Refuge were designated as havens for shipwrecked sailors and travelers along Florida's sparsely-populated Atlantic coastline. Run by the U.S. Lifesaving Service, the Houses played a critical role in a time when sailing ships dominated world commerce.

The historic structure in Stuart has weathered many storms and provided needed shelter for shipwreck survivors, including those of the Georges Valentine, an Italian brigantine whose wreckage remains just 100 yards off the rocky shoreline. Built as one of ten along the east coast of Florida, it is the oldest structure in Martin County and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The House of Refuge offers a fascinating look at a bygone lifestyle along the sea. You can also dive for treasure at the Georges Valentine Shipwreck Site off the coast of Hutchinson Island. The Site is the eleventh Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve.

Four American Space Heroes To Join U.S. Astronaut Hall Of Fame

F

our space shuttle astronauts will be inducted into the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame during a public ceremony held at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s Space Shuttle Atlantis attraction: John Grunsfeld, Ph.D., Steven Lindsey, Kent Rominger and M. Rhea Seddon, M.D. These astronaut heroes will join the ranks of well-known space explorers including Alan Shepard, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin.

This year marks the historic 25th anniversary of the Hall of Fame, which Top left: John Grunsfeld, Ph.D; Top Right: was conceived by the Kent Rominger; Bottom Left: Steven Lindsey; six remaining Mercury Bottom Right: M. Rhea Seddon, M.D. astronauts as a place where space explorers could be remembered. into the ceremony on May 30 is included Past Hall of Fame inductees include in admission to the Visitor Complex.

Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Skylab and For more information, please visit Space Shuttle astronauts. Admittance www.KennedySpaceCenter.com. (NAPS)

BRIDGE BITES

Timing Is Everything

Brian Gunnell and the American Contract Bridge League

2♠ (showing long Spades Collier County’s First Senior West’s and not much else) pushed N-S the precarious contract of 4♥. Look Center Celebrates Birthday into at what happened in actual play, and then figure out how you would have

A

t the end of March, The Naples Senior Center, formerly known as the JFCS Senior Center, hosted an open house and its first birthday party.

When the Naples Senior Center, a program of Jewish Family Services (JFCS) of Southwest Florida, opened its doors one year ago, it was the first such center in Collier County.

It has filled an overwhelming need and created a place where senior citizens can find activities, services and friendships to take the place of isolation and loneliness. In one short year, it has grown to more than 550 members.

The center, located at 5025 Castello Drive, provides a myriad of activities and resources for seniors, including a weekly hot lunch, art classes, computer skills training, cards and Mah Jongg, Tai Chi, movies, discussion groups, the Dakim brain fitness program and more.

JFCS CEO Dr. Jaclynn Faffer

“We are so pleased that the community has supported and embraced the Naples Senior Center with such enthusiasm,” said Dr. Jaclynn Faffer, President and CEO of the JFCS of Southwest Florida. “We knew the need was great to have a place in Southwest Florida where seniors could gather for a multitude of reasons.”

Generous donations will fund the expansion of the Senior Center by an additional 6,800 square feet, allowing it to enhance services and host more community outreach programs. For more info about JFCS, the center or upcoming activities, visit jfcsswfl.org.

done better as Declarer.

West led the ♠K, won by Declarer’s Ace. With six side-suit tricks it would be necessary to score four trump tricks, and as the trump suit was so weak it was apparent that some ruffing would be required. One line that would clearly not work would be to get the enemy trumps out of the way first, that would leave Declarer a trick short (scoring only

three trump tricks). So Declarer cashed the ♥A at Trick 2, and then, leaving three enemy trumps at large, he played on the side-suits. His general plan was to let the opponents take their trumps whenever they wished, but that was all they would get.

He started with Dummy’s high Clubs, but West ruffed the third round and played another Spade.

Dummy ruffed, East over-ruffed and cashed her high Heart, leaving Declarer with just 9 tricks.

Declarer needed to time the play better if he was to score 10 tricks. At Trick 2 he must duck a trump! Now, he wins the Diamond return, plays the Ace of trumps and (leaving one enemy trump at large) goes about his business of cashing winners and cross-ruffing.

Altogether Declarer has 11 potential tricks via the ♥A, four ruffs and six side-suit winners, but that enemy trump will rub out one of those tricks and reduce the total to 10. Making 4♥, thanks to careful timing.

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: stpetebridge.org.

Join The Great American Cleanup

F

or more than twenty five years, volunteers have improved the Lee County area during Keep America Beautiful’s Great American Cleanup.

Keep Lee County Beautiful recruits volunteers, site captains, area managers and local sponsors to foster unity and strengthen community bonds through

beautification and improvement efforts across Lee County.

Interested in volunteering?

You can join the effort on April 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at various locations throughout the county.

Find locations and sign up at http://www.klcb.org/sp_ greatamericancleanup.htm, or call Keep Lee County Beautiful for more info at 239-334-3488.

Lifestyles After 50 • April 2015 • page 31