Northeast Ohio Boomer | July August 2022

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JULY/AUGUST 2022

Reconnecting with Grandkids Bomb City, USA Friendship

Pickleball

THE BEST SPORT YOU PROBABLY HAVEN'T PLAYED (YET)

INSIDE

July/August 25

ON THE COVER

In a Pickle It’s one of the fastest growing sports in the country, so why aren’t you playing pickleball?

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Girlfriend Power

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Spirited Family Businesses

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Bomb City, USA Cathy Berthold, Chris Wilson, Glenn Gould & Sue Wilson take a break for a quick cover photo at Twinsburg’s Glen Meadow Park courts. Photography by Kim Stahnke

DE PA R T M E N T S 8

WORTH NOTING Veterans

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Better Living After 50

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TECH TALK "Smart" Users

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FITNESS Straight Talk

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NEO GRANDPARENT Reconnecting

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CAREGIVER CORNER Masks & Older Adults

EDITOR´S NOTE

Facing Facts

VOL. 8 ISSUE 4

TIME, PERSPECTIVE & FRIENDS

July/August 2022

YOU, ONLY OLDER Lately, I’ve thought a lot about how other people see us. I just returned from a visit with my college roommates. It’s been 40 years since we graduated and, although we don’t live near each other, we get together at least once or twice a year. Betsy, Lynn, Myrt and me.

Myrt pulled out a scrapbook of grainy photos, concert ticket stubs and silly notes. There we were, from freshman year in weird hats and Hawaiian leis, on camping trips and at parties, to finally graduation day, sporting happy-yet-bittersweet smiles.

Kids, marriages, widowhood, retirement, illnesses. A lot happens in 40 years. All of us have grown.

But like my annoying phone, we still recognize each other.

We wandered around our college town last week, posing for photos at the house where we lived our senior year. Just four women goofing around, right? Or creaky alums trying to recreate the past. It depends on your perspective.

IMMATURE OR ECCENTRIC? I no longer chain beer kegs to cinder blocks during parties, and I haven’t

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worn a plastic lei in years. I’m not above doing either one, for the record, but only because the occasions haven’t presented themselves.

And while I haven’t scribbled a silly note to a friend lately, that’s an easy oversight to correct. Immaturity is troubling in your 30s and 40s, but I’m thinking it could be appealingly quirky in my 60s, perhaps even eccentric.

The takeaway from our college reunion is that there’s a difference between old friends and long-time friends, we’re lucky to remain close, and we look the same as we did 40 years ago.

My memory may not be as reliable as my phone’s software, but it’s more generous. I don’t see what the decades have done to us physically, only the ways they’ve made us better.

Speaking of self-improvement, if you haven’t played pickleball, then read our story about this fast-growing sport that’s become a Boomer favorite (and spreading among younger folks, too).

And our story about connecting with teen and young adult grandkids should be helpful if you want to spend time with them this summer.

I know about pickleball after writing the story about it, and my grandson is just 2, so communication isn’t an issue yet. I’m spending the rest of the summer outwitting my phone’s facial recognition feature. I want to see how lousy I can look before it gives up and says, “Wow, this can’t actually be Marie, can it?” and boots me out of my online banking account.

As a younger person might say, it’s good for old people to have goals.

PO Box 1088 Hudson, OH 44236 330-822-4011 NortheastOhioBoomer.com /NEOhio​Boomer

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PUBLISHER - Brad Mitchell brad@northeastohio​boomer.com 330-714-7712 EDITOR​- M​arie Elium​ ​marie@northeastohio​boomer.com COPY EDITOR/DIGITAL/ ASSISTANT EDITOR​ - Estelle Rodis-Brown estelle@northeastohio​boomer.com EDITORIAL SUGGESTIONS editor@​​northeastohio​boomer.com CALENDAR LISTING SUBMISSIONS calendar@​​northeastohio​boomer.com CONTRIBUTORS Jennifer Beach, Estelle Rodis-Brown, Joe Jancsurak, Kathryn Kilpatrick, John Matuszak, Traci McBride, Joseph L. Motta, Mike Olszewski, Tak Sato, John Selick, Karen Shadrach, Michael Ungar ART DIRECTOR- Laura Chadwick laura@northeastohio​boomer​.com ADVERTISING SALES Chris Geer, 330-614-8471 chris@northeastohio​boomer.com Janyse Heidy, 330-671-3886 janyse@northeastohio​boomer.com Sherrie Kantarovich, 216-299-5455 sherriek@northeastohio​boomer.com Samantha Olp, 330-636-6127 sam@northeastohio​boomer.com Yvonne Pelino, 440-971-0595 yvonne@northeastohio​boomer.com Michelle Vacha, 440-463-0146 michelle@northeastohio​boomer.com OFFICE MANAGER Kathleen Mitchell, 440-533-1208 kathleen@northeastohio​boomer.com EVENTS MANAGER​ Lilia Lipps lilia@northeastohioboomer.com DISTRIBUTION INQUIRIES info@northeastohio​boomer.com PUBLISHERS OF

M​arie Elium​

​marie@northeastohio​boomer.com

PHOTO: MARIE ELIUM

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’m mad at my phone. No matter how bad I look, it recognizes my face.

The phone’s facial recognition feature has seen me at my worst: sleepy, sweaty, frizzy and just plain ratty. I rarely let the dog see me this way.

Nevertheless, the phone scans my face, says, “Yup, that’s definitely Marie,” and opens: a judge, jury and executioner of microchips and wires that see me even when I don’t look like me.

Northeast Ohio Boomer is a property of Mitchell Media LLC

BOOMER EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD

Coming in the

Mindi Axner Executive Director National Council of Jewish Women/Cleveland

September/October Issue beginning September 15

Sharon Dundee Director of Marketing & Communications Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center

SEASONS What's Yours?

Dr. Ardeshir Z. Hashmi Cleveland Clinic Director Center for Geriatric Medicine Kathy M. Hirko Owner KAZ Company Kathryn Kilpatrick President Communication Connection LLC Kelsey Loushin President Eldercare Professionals of Ohio Stephanie Manning The American Heart Association, Cleveland

• Live Theatre

It's Showtime!

Steven Marsh Dr. Steve Marsh, DDS Fatima Perkins Director of Community Outreach Western Reserve Area Agency on Aging Bob Pontius Director of External Relations Danbury Senior Living

• Football Fever

• Special Section:

Medicare I

Leslie Royce Resnik President Royce Public Relations

Candyce Traci Vice President All Media Design Group

Beth Silver Director of Public Relations and Marketing Menorah Park

Nancy Udelson Project Manager Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health

Laurie G. Steiner Partner Solomon, Steiner & Peck, Ltd.

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WORTH NOTING Compiled by Marie Elium

Honoring

Veterans FREE FLIGHTS, PRICELESS MEMORIES

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friend mentioned that her dad went on a free trip from his home in Cincinnati to Washington, D.C. to see war memorials.

The trip was a moving and emotional experience that he talked about often until his death several years ago.

I wondered if Northeast Ohio offers the same thing.

It turns out, we do. Honor Flight Cleveland recognizes military veterans by providing an age-appropriate and completely free trip to Washington, D.C. to visit war memorials.

More than 3,570 U.S. veterans, most from World War II, have taken Honor Flight Cleveland excursions, all paid for by private donations and through the work of volunteers.

Flights resumed this year after a two-year pandemic break. Get details at honorflightcleveland.org.

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Title IX’s 50th Anniversary LEVELING THE PLAYING FIELD

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n 1972, 37 words launched the long and continuing process of eliminating discrimination against women in sports.

Boomers today started their childhoods in a world where organized sports were for boys; no girls allowed.

This summer marks the 50th anniversary of Title IX. “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any

education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”

Many younger people today don’t realize the barriers that girls faced in the pre-Title IX era. It’s up to us to remind them that the struggle continues for many women athletes. Learn more about this generational landmark and read a Sports Illustrated timeline of defining moments of women’s sports at si.com/college/2022/06/09/ title-ix-50-years-timeline.

Defending champs from Broadview Heights.

Brainy Broadview Heights MIND CHALLENGE CHAMPS

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Free Grief Support for 25 Years THE GRIEFCARE PLACE

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rief is often a solo experience. After all, no one’s grief journey is the same. But did you know that in nearby Stow in Summit County, The GriefCare Place is celebrating 25 years of providing free, peer-led grief support groups and services?

An open house to recognize decades of helping grieving people will be from 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20 at their facility, 4499 Darrow Road in Stow. If you need help now, or want to support the organization, go to thegriefcareplace.org.

n four short years, Mind Challenge for a New Majority has grown from a modest trivia competition among a handful of senior groups to a full-blown phenomenon. A record 51 Northeast Ohio communities with 520 participants out-trivia answered each other to earn prize money for their senior and rec centers. After weeks of competition, we finally have a winner: defending champ Broadview Heights.

This group of trivia experts beat Twinsburg to earn firstplace prize money of $2,500.

Twinsburg won $1,500. Cleveland Heights and Mentor finished third and fourth place respectively earning $1,000 and $500. Rocky River finished fifth but won their regional competition.

Founded by Art Greenberg and Phil Levine, Mind Challenge brings together teams from throughout Northeast Ohio to compete for bragging rights and cash for their communities. Participation is free. Start brushing up now and consider joining a team next year. Competition starts May 8 and runs through June 14. Go to themindchallenge.com.

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WORTH NOTING

Agewise Emergency Prep DO YOU HAVE WHAT YOU’LL NEED?

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hen the power went out earlier this summer on a crippling hot day, I realized how unprepared I was for an emergency.

The Ohio Department of Aging has practical tips that are better than the ones I came up with as I sat in the dark contemplating what I’ll have ready the next time it happens. I’ve included a few here. Find more at aging.ohio.gov.

MEDICATIONS - Keep a backup supply of the medications you take every day (check expiration dates every couple of months and replace if necessary). Ask your doctors for extra copies of your prescriptions for your emergency kit.

Have an ice chest on hand and keep ice packs in the freezer for medications that need to be kept cool.

MEDICAL SUPPLIES - Keep a backup stash of medical supplies such as bandages, wraps, alcohol, lotions, over-the-counter medications, etc.

Make sure medical equipment and assistive devices (such as canes, walkers, wheelchairs, lifts, oxygen tanks, etc.) are easy to locate in an emergency and note their locations in your emergency plan.

Have spare batteries for equipment that uses batteries.

Consider getting non-powered options for any equipment that will not work if there is no electricity. Keep written instructions on how to locate, operate and move your medical and adaptive equipment.

That’s the problem. We don’t know what it says. So we’re asking readers to complete a brief, confidential survey to help us get to know you better.

It’s easy, it’s private, and everyone who participates will be entered to win a four-pack of tickets to the Sept. 18 Guardians baseball game.

Go to northeastohioboomer.com and click the "Take the Survey" button.

CELL PHONE - Store emergency contacts in your cell phone and pack an extra charger, cord or battery backup in your emergency kit.

PET KIT - If you have pets, have an emergency kit for them, too. If you must leave your home, have a plan for keeping your pet safe. Some emergency shelters and first responders will not handle pets, so have alternatives to taking them with you.

This could include asking a friend, family member or neighbor to come get them or look after them.

”

If you're proactive, you focus on preparing..If you're reactive, you end up focusing on repairing..

— John C. Maxwell

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”

TECH TALK

Wanted: "SMART" USERS

By Tak Sato

H

ave you been TV shopping lately?

You’ve probably noticed that it’s nearly impossible to find one without the label “smart TV” attached to the description.

Smart is everywhere. From LED light bulbs to the battery-powered watch on your wrist, adding “smart” to a product has become the norm because the internet has changed the way we do things.

HOW SMART? You may wonder what makes a LED lightbulb — which uses far less energy than an incandescent bulb — a smart bulb? What makes it smart?

The answer is simple for both light bulbs and other electronic items with a “smart” prefix. The term means that the device has electronic circuits that allow it to connect to your wireless internet network (Wi-Fi). The internet connection lets the device send and receive information through your internet.

Let's say you bought a $1,000 smart TV. When you get it home, you connect your cable TV box to the smart TV’s HDMI port with a cable.

If you want to play your old DVD/CD collection on your smart TV, you use another cable and another HDMI port to connect your Blu-ray Disc (BD) player (for example) to the new TV. Here’s what should happen next and what makes the TV smart. When you turn the smart TV on for the first time, it will provide onscreen, stepby-step prompts to connect it to your Wi-Fi network. When it connects itself to the internet, not only will you have access to your cable TV channels and

your Blu-ray/DVD/CD collections but you’ll also be able to stream programs from the internet.

Streaming means a device receives broadcasts that are transmitted through the internet.

You need a smart TV, computer, smartphone, tablet, or a "streamer" (more on this at the bottom) to receive content. This is the same concept as needing an antenna to receive broadcasts transmitted overthe-air (OTA) or a cable TV box for receiving broadcasts transmitted through the cable TV system.

Sidenote: Many channels that come through OTA and/or the cable TV system can also be streamed via the internet. When their viewing needs are met through streaming, many people “cut the cord” and drop their traditional cable TV package. A future Tech Talk column will explain how cutting the cord may or may not work for you.

So, is a $1,000 smart TV worth the investment?

Just like any tech item, a smart TV is far more like a computer than a traditional TV of yesteryear. While

not as short-lived as a computer, the smartness of a smart TV makes it prone to the built-in obsolescence that all tech devices eventually succumb to. The smartness that enables it to stream content from the internet will show its age (incompatibility, slowness) after several years, despite still displaying excellent picture quality.

The good news is that you can replace the aged smartness of a smart TV for around $20 by buying a streaming device such as Google's Android TV, Amazon's Fire TV Stick, or a Roku Streaming Stick. You simply attach it to another HDMI port and connect it to your Wi-Fi, just like you did when you connected your smart TV initially to the internet.

This means that a non-smart or dumb TV or a computer monitor with an open HDMI port can become smart and stream shows.

Our nonprofit company uses a $19 streaming stick for our classes to illustrate that you don’t need to replace a TV — smart or dumb — if the picture quality is still good.

Cheers to all of us becoming smarter users as we navigate technology’s smart world.

Tak Sato is a founder of the Cleveland-area nonprofit, Center for Aging in the Digital World (empowerseniors. org), that teaches digital literacy to people 60+ through the free Discover Digital Literacy program.

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FOOD

Mocktails Festive, Fancy & Alcohol-Free

By John Selick

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here are few greater joys than a poolside party on a sunny day with a cold drink in hand, the sounds of laughter from children playing, and the aroma emanating from a fired-up grill.

We’re all grill masters; we sport aprons that proudly advertise that declaration. The food is cooked with love, whether we’re preparing something simple like hamburgers and hot dogs or fancier fare like kabobs or grilled salmon. The side dishes get the royal treatment as well, from charred zucchini with fresh herbs to fire-roasted corn.

But what about the beverages?

Does the cold drink on your hand have the same artistic flair as the food?

DRINK UP, DRINK BETTER A good cocktail can liven up any summertime party, but if you want to impress everyone at your gathering, try creating a delicious mocktail. It has all the pomp and circumstance of a cocktail but without the alcohol.

Create easy mocktails using lemonade as your base, then add

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flavors or infused simple syrups to make it interesting. Making a simple syrup is as easy as the name implies; combine equal parts of sugar and water and bring it to a boil. To make things interesting, add fresh ginger, rosemary, vanilla bean or cardamom.

Use this syrup to sweeten your lemonade and then garnish it with fresh herbs or fruit. A vanilla bean lemonade garnished with fresh peaches is summer in a glass.

TRENDING BLENDS Smoothies are always a hit with both kids and adults. Making them with fresh fruit is a real treat, but using frozen fruit is just as good.

I love using coconut milk in fruit smoothies, especially with pineapple.

If ice cream is added, we’re getting out of the mocktail world and more into the dessert category, but I won’t talk you out of doing it; it’s delicious.

Sparkling water is the hot trend in the beverage world right now.

Sparkling water or club soda add fizz to mocktails, especially in agua fresca, using fresh fruits and sometimes vegetables.

Blend fruit with flavor boosters like fresh herbs in water and strain it over ice. My favorite is honeydew melon with ginger and mint: take one part of honeydew melon, a small piece of fresh ginger, and a few pieces of fresh mint. Add to a blender with three parts water. Blend, strain, pour over ice and top with club soda, if desired. Or substitute the melon with cucumber for a refreshing and hydrating mocktail. Or combine both.

Adding mocktails to your menu not only livens up the occasion, but it’s also environmentally friendly because you don’t use individual cans or bottles. If you make agua fresca with sweet, ripe fruits, you’re also eliminating added sugar, which is the healthiest way forward.

Mocktails can be light, refreshing and delicious: perfect for a hot summer day.

John Selick is a Certified Executive Chef and president of the American Culinary Federation’s Cleveland chapter.

Exhibit or Table s Availab le

ation Registr n pe Now O

JOIN US FOR

Boomer Bash East - October 13, 2022 at The Bertram Inn Hotel & Conference Center in Aurora NortheastOhioBoomer.com

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FITNESS

head backward, hold for five seconds and release. Think about it this way: pretend someone is going to give you a kiss and you do not want it; pull your face back from that incoming smooch. Repeat five times. You can even do this every time you are waiting at a red light.

Straight Talk and the Power of Good Posture

By Michael Ungar

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o you remember when you were a kid and were told to sit up straight or stop slouching? Well, what goes around comes around.

As we age, posture becomes a serious concern. The National Institutes of Health estimates that between 20 to 40 percent of older adults have hyperkyphosis, a spinal deformity causing a forward-curved posture of the upper back.

NOW WHAT? Hyperkyphosis can be caused by many things, depending on at what age it develops. It can be a result of slouching; poor posture leads to worse posture.

This can develop early in life and it’s why our parents told us to sit up straight.

Those with otherwise good posture can develop this condition as a result of changes in the body that occur with age. Osteoporosis and other conditions can alter the bone structure of the spine, causing individual vertebrae to become wedge-shaped.

If you notice a change in your posture, talk to your physician to evaluate the cause and outline treatment options.

Exercises can improve posture.

I recommend that my clients do these exercises daily to maintain or improve spinal alignment: Chin Tucks. Standing straight or sitting erect in a chair, gently pull your

Wall Tilts. Stand with your back, head and legs against a wall. Notice the small space between the lower arch in your back and the wall. Push the lower back so that it touches the wall and hold for five seconds. Repeat five times. If you want to make sure you are doing it correctly, you can put one hand between your lower back and the wall; when you feel pressure on your hand, you are doing it correctly.

As you do this exercise, you will notice that your pelvis will tilt up — hence the name of the exercise.

Scapular Retractions. There are many ways to do this, but the simplest requires no equipment. Standing with your arms at your side and bent at a 90-degree angle (so that your lower arm is parallel with the ground), pull your elbows together behind your back as if you are going to get them to meet behind you. Hold for a few seconds; repeat up to 12 times. I do this exercise several times each day.

Bird Dogs. Start on a mat on the floor, on hands and knees. Extend the right arm out straight in front while extending the left leg straight out in back; keep your neck lined up with the rest of your spine. Return to the original position and repeat up to 12 times; you can do one side at a time or alternate sides. If you find this difficult, do only the arms first and then do only the legs until you master it.

If you are not sure how to do these exercises, you can always search for videos online. Practice these exercises and be an upstanding person.

Michael Ungar owns At Home Senior Fitness serving Cleveland’s eastern suburbs. He also offers online coaching. He’s a Certified Personal Trainer, a Functional Aging Specialist and a rabbi. Contact him at athomeseniorfitness.net, 614-579-1336.

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Grand Northeast Ohio

Fun With the Grandkids WEDNESDAYS Centennial Plaza Movie Series. Outdoor, big-screen, family-friendly movies. Through 8/17. 7 p.m. Centennial Plaza, downtown Canton, cantonpalacetheatre.org. FREE Fun on the Farm. Pony and pony cart rides, horse rides and more. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Spring Mist Farms, 691 Pearl Road, Brunswick Hills, springmistfarms.com. $5

SUNDAYS Family FUNdays at the Community Arts Center. Family-friendly games, movementbased activities, art making, and more. First Sunday of the month. 1-4 p.m. 2937 West 25th St., Cleveland, clevelandart.org. FREE

THROUGH 8/28 Chagall for Children. 14 multi-sensory exploration stations encouraging children to explore art principles, composition, light and texture. Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage, 2929 Richmond Road, Beachwood, maltzmuseum.org. FREE-$12

7/21 Bubble and Water Play for Mermaids and Mermen. Ages 6-24 months, come splash and play. 10-11 a.m. Chardon Branch Library, 110 E. Park St., divi.geaugalibrary.net. FREE

7/27 Sun Fun & Water Works. Let’s play in the sun and water. 10:30-11:30 a.m. Buckeye Library, 6625 Wolff Road, Medina, mcdl.info. FREE

8/7 The FEST. Performances by national Christian musical artists, Kids Zone, and more. Center for Pastoral Leadership, 28700 Euclid Ave., Wickliffe, thefest.us. FREE

Fuzzy, fluffy, furry fun on the farm!

8/11-13 Frozen. A can’t-miss Broadway event. State Theatre at Playhouse Square, 1519 Euclid Ave., Cleveland, playhousesquare.org 8/13 Fun Fest. Free family festival with arts, crafts, music and more. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Downtown Massillon, massillonmuseum.org/fun-fest.

FREE

• Crocker Kids. 8/2. 11 a.m.-1 p.m. 189 Crocker Park Blvd., Westlake

TUESDAYS - Northeast Ohio Parent Event Series

• Pinecrest Play Days. 7/26 & 8/16. 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Park Avenue, Orange Village

FREE, family-friendly entertainment with interactive activities for kids ages 2-9, northeastohioparent.com

• Fun At First & Main. 7/19 & 8/9. 10 a.m.-noon, First and Main, Hudson

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN SHADRACH

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Animal Attractions

Kids and farm animals make for a sensory adventure.

FA-BAA-LOUS PETTING FARMS

By Karen Shadrach

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trip to a petting farm is both fun and educational for grandkids as they learn to interact with all the animals. Farms are great for little ones, considering the sensory input with all the furry coats, interesting smells and occasionally startling sounds.

It is memorable to watch the joy on a grandchild’s face as they encounter an animal up close to pet and feed it.

It teaches them courage, as well as compassion to interact with animals they are not yet familiar with.

GENTLE, GENTLE Petting farms have been popular since 1938, when the first one was included at the London Zoo in England. The Philadelphia Zoo opened the first children’s zoo in North America. Petting farms can be a combination of domesticated and wild or exotic species of animals that are docile to touch and feed.

There are several great choices to visit a petting zoo in Northeast Ohio. The three described below are

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ones we have visited more than once and have offered fun adventures for our grandchildren.

STEARNS FARM, also known as Stearns Homestead, is a 48-acre historic farm in Parma. This last remaining working farm in the middle of the city was built in 1855. It is now an Ohio historical site that depicts the agricultural way of life characteristic of 19th Century Parma.

Along with more than 75 farm animals, the Homestead has several historic museum houses and a Yankee barn loaded with antiques and period pieces. Admission is free and tours are available. The grandchildren can pet and feed the animals that roam the fields. You can purchase special feed cups individually or buy a family bucket. Each summer, you can purchase fresh vegetables, eggs and local honey from their Saturday farm market.

This is a charming farm with plenty of friendly people eager to talk about Parma’s agricultural roots and to answer questions about the animals.

SPRING MIST FARM in Brunswick Hills is a working family farm that is open to the public on Wednesdays throughout the summer months for their Fun on the Farm days. Not only can the grandkids pet and feed the animals, but they also can take pony, horse and wagon rides around the farm. You can visit a variety of farm animals in a laid-back environment for toddlers and young children.

Private events can be scheduled to enjoy a special day at the farm. Spring Mist also offers a Traveling Farm with a menagerie of nearly a dozen animals for private backyard parties.

MAJESTIC MEADOWS is an alpaca farm on 20 acres in Medina. The owners have raised alpacas for 25 years. The many open pastures give little ones the chance to meet and greet more than 70 friendly and adorable alpacas, as well as other unique farm animals, including kangaroos.

Other unusual animals are the endearing baby doll sheep, which are about two feet tall, smile and resemble teddy bears. The mini goats are also cute and gentle with kids.

Special events have been added this year. Children 10 and older can go on an alpaca and llama trek. Older grandkids (8-12) can become junior farmers for the day. The kids love to learn and experience how to care and feed all the different animals.

We typically visit the farms in the morning and then eat a picnic lunch or snack. All of these farms have excellent picnic spots and plenty of large shade trees that are perfect for picnicking. Don’t forget to pack sun hats, lotion and hand wipes or disinfectant.

This summer, take the grandkids for a special adventure to a petting farm. And remember to take plenty of photos.

Karen Shadrach is a Northeast Ohio on-the-go, in-theknow grandmother of two sets of twins. Read her grandparenting blog at northeastohioboomer.com.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KAREN SHADRACH

Reconnecting with Older Grandchildren

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t used to be so easy. When the grandchildren were young, your role was simpler: rock the baby, read the toddler a story, attend the school program or ball game. But now the grandchildren are older teens or young adults. How do you stay relevant in their busy lives?

It’s not unusual for grandparents to lose a sense of connection with their older grandchildren, but it’s not an inevitable slide into loss of relationship. Effort, adaptability and consistency can build and maintain treasured bonds strained by age, time and distance.

Mental health case manager Tahira Wilson agrees. She works with older clients at Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging. Wilson and her 89-year-old grandmother have always been close.

Their relationship remains strong because her grandmother shares her traditions and values, yet stays openminded, engaged and tech-savvy, despite their generational differences.

STAY CONNECTED Whether you live 1,500 miles away

A HOW-TO GUIDE

By Estelle Rodis-Brown

or down the street from your older grandchild, you can feel disengaged unless you adopt their favorite mode of communication, says Dr. Stephanie Fallcreek, DSW, President and CEO of Fairhill Partners, a Clevelandbased organization committed to lifelong learning, intergenerational relationships and successful aging.

“They probably know strangers on Facebook (or TikTok, Instagram, etc.) better than they know you, unless you’re also on that digital platform,” Dr. Fallcreek says.

If you want to revive a relationship that has faded over time or distance, reach out on your cell phone — not for emailing or calling — but texting.

“Text messaging is a relatively low-tech way to engage using the communication styles of contemporary grandkids,” she says.

But don’t bombard them with long texts they’ll have to scroll through.

Get text-literate and learn popular abbreviations for common phrases.

Video-chatting also accommodates face-to-face interaction without having to make a special trip. Use built-in

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free apps (FaceTime for iPhone users, Google Duo for Android users) or alternate video-chat apps, including Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, Tango, Skype or Zoom, among others. The Marco Polo app allows you to leave video and text messages for your grandchildren to watch on their own time. Then they can reply in kind.

EFFORT COUNTS “You need to meet them halfway or more,” Dr. Fallcreek says. “If you’re expecting to communicate, take it upon yourself to get current with what they’re thinking, seeing and doing. Do your homework.”

Research what’s trending online so you’re at least informed about popular culture. Ask open-ended questions about how your grandchild spends their time so you can learn what matters to them.

Be strategic, as if you’re applying for the job as #1 Grandparent and preparing for the interview, Dr. Fallcreek advises. What benefits can you offer this relationship? You’ll discern what your grandchild values from you as you learn what makes them tick.

Wilson adds, “Don’t get easily offended if you don’t hear from your grandchildren as often as before. Stay consistent and keep reaching out. You make the calls.

You have the time. And you’re probably the anchor that

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keeps the family together. They’ll come back around.”

It can take time to regain a relationship if you have become estranged. Wilson says some of her clients reached out once a week for a full year before their grandchildren became responsive. But it was worth the wait.

PROCEED CAREFULLY Once you regain communications, “Don’t oversell yourself or promise something you can’t deliver,” Dr. Fallcreek advises. “Offer love, predictability and experience.”

Wilson adds, “As grandparents, we’re preparing to leave this world. We want to leave our grandchildren memories and tools they can use to succeed in life.

Explain that to them so they understand it’s important to learn your stories and traditions so they can carry them forward.”

Make your conversations thoughtful, intentional and respectful. “It calls upon all of your age-acquired wisdom and discernment to navigate through this,” Dr. Fallcreek says. Despite a tendency to drop filters and speak your mind, she says to “be quick to praise (that which is genuinely praiseworthy) and be slow to criticize (that which you think is problematic).”

Don’t denounce your grandchild, their interests or their parents. Your goal is to bridge the gap and build

relationships, so don’t undercut yourself by becoming a source of alienation and resentment.

If you’re reaching out to minors, don’t leave their parents out of the puzzle. “Don’t do stealth relationshipbuilding,” Dr. Fallcreek advises. Ask for parents’ guidelines so they recognize your involvement will make things better, not worse. Build trust through transparency.

Missteps can happen when connecting with older grandchildren. You may stumble upon unfortunate developments or family secrets. Don’t let that stop you from trying anyway.

“This isn’t all spun sugar and frosting,” Dr. Fallcreek says. “In families, we make difficult decisions all the time.

It can be difficult to negotiate but it’s worth the effort.

“You might not be able to fly to California or even drive to Michigan (to be with your grandchildren). But as long as you can communicate, you still have the potential to build a lifetime relationship. Be a positive force in your family, bridging age, time and space.”

Estelle Rodis-Brown is a freelance writer and grandmother from Portage County who serves as Boomer’s digital and assistant editor. She is committed to lifelong learning, wellness and pursuit of better living at every age.

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Friends Have Benefits ARE YOU COVERED?

By Traci McBride

Lucy and Ethel.

Thelma and Louise.

Oprah and Gayle.

Girlfriends. They’re celebrated in pop culture but can be elusive in our own lives, especially as we age.

When the kids leave home or we leave our jobs, we can lose those convenient and easy friendships that emerged from our more transitory, midlife stage.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that, by the time we reach our 60s, we’ve evolved to authentic versions of ourselves. We’re who we are, not who we may become.

Friendships and good health have strong ties. A study of 3,000 older adults published by the National Center for Biotechnology Information found direct links between making new friends and improved physical and mental well-being. But as with all things, men and women approach friendship in different ways. Men tend to prefer socializing in groups; women one-on-one, for example. The NCBI study also showed that women had higher expectations of friends than men.

Many of us are running low in the girlfriend department. So we reached out to Boomer contributor Traci McBride to write about female friendships.

She has made a career out of working with women and put together this information from the books listed below, workshops and personal experience.

— Marie Elium, editor

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Better Living After 50

F

riendships enrich our lives in countless ways. Having upbeat, positive cheerleaders on your side is good for your mental and physical health; they’re the gifts that keep on giving.

Think back to your childhood. Did you have that one girlfriend who made you feel unique and heard? A friend that defended you and took your side when things weren’t going great? Later, did you have that type of friend while also working and building your career? Have some of these people followed you throughout your life? Nurturing and prioritizing these special girlfriends is the essential key to happiness.

At different stages of life, you build friendships: while building careers, raising kids, or making lives with your partners, did you find one or two people who celebrated you, no matter what? At every stage of life, these key relationships can shift in depth.

Getting to know a new friend is worth the time and effort.

Different Stages, Different Friends Visualize a target. The bullseye is where your very closest and most trustworthy friend is; the next ring out would be a close friend, the next ring could be someone you are getting to know, and the next ring is a new acquaintance.

People could move closer to the bullseye over time. Along the way to building your circle of friends, sharing activities is essential as you learn more about each other’s compatibility and the depth of friendship deepens.

Building a handful of deep relationships is the most enriching way to walk through life, and it’s never too late to make more.

Friends come and go throughout your life for many reasons.

Understanding what ingredients make up a good friend and the red flags to avoid can support you in creating friendships into retirement when life shifts again.

READ ALL ABOUT IT “Friendship Isn’t a Big Thing; It’s a Million Little Things”

by Becca Anderson (female friendships) “Find Your People: Building Deep Community in a Lonely World”

by Jennie Allen “We Should Get Together: The Secret to Cultivating Better Friendships”

by Kat Vellos

GIRLS JUST WANT TO HAVE FUN Spend Time Together • High Tea/Lunch: Clementinesolmstedfallsoh.com

BE A GREAT FRIEND TO GET A GREAT FRIEND

FRIENDSHIP RED FLAGS

• Keep an open mind to beliefs and avoid judging in good and challenging times

• They only call when they want something

theMacaroonTeaRoom.com

• They talk about you behind your back

• Book Clubs

MissMollys.net MissHickorystearoom.com

• Be 100% present and in the moment • Empathize and seek to understand their difficulties & celebrate their successes • Share experiences and be involved in each other’s lives • Show gratitude for their friendship. Verbalize it and demonstrate it with a card or text.

• Be trustworthy with their secrets and personal information • Support them in reaching personal goals and be their cheerleader • Apologize when needed

• They make every conversation or situation all about them

Search at your local library and community center

• They expect you to do all the work by traveling closer to them or choosing the activity

• Fun Stuff

• They put you down or make fun of you

Glassbubbleproject.com

• You feel emotionally drained or bad about yourself after being with them • They create drama

Glass Blowing

• Hikes & Biking clevelandmetroparks.com

• They often bail on you

• Crafting Classes

• They aren’t happy for you when good things happen

BayARTS.org

Traci McBride is a Northeast Ohio speaker, author and life stylist for wardrobe and spaces. She owns Zhooshing Spaces with Tee. Zspaces.teemcbee.com.

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Celebrate

Spirited Family Businesses

Local Brewery & Winery

What’s better than spending a sunny summer afternoon or a breezy moonlit night outdoors?

Adding a glass of local wine or beer to the mix would make it perfect.

Northeast Ohio has exploded with microbreweries and wineries, many run by families from converted warehouses with tables on parking lots and in back yards. The state boasts more than 378 wineries, according to the Ohio Wine Producers Association. Craft breweries are equally popular, with more than 400 in the state, say representatives from the Ohio Craft Brewers Association.

With so many choices and so little space, we’ve highlighted two small, family-owned businesses. To find others, go to Ohiowines.org or Ohiocraftbeer.org.

Cheers!

Beer with a South American flair attracts customers to Pulpo.

Pulpo Beer Co. es Muy Buena

By John Matuszak

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Better Living After 50

Jennifer Stuyvesant Ortiz, co-owner and operator of Pulpo with her sister, Joane Stuyvesant, and their sisterin-law, Paola Valbuena. “We have hands, and we have good health, and you have to want it. If you want it then there is no limit to reaching that maximum goal.”

They certainly had great role models. The Stuyvesants’ mother started a catering business from the kitchen of their three-room apartment in Venezuela. She also worked and attended college while raising her family.

Valbuena’s father always told her to “be responsible… you never know

what’s going to happen tomorrow.”

A microbrewery wasn’t on their list, but it is bringing them an intoxicating level of success.

What’s on Tap The women opened the doors of Pulpo Beer Co. in September 2020, as the first Latin-owned and themed microbrewery in Ohio.

“If we wanted to be the first one, we wanted to be the best one,” Valbuena says.

Pulpo works in conjunction with the restaurants managed by Valbuena’s brother-in-law, longtime Cleveland proprietor Juan Vergara. Valbuena is married to Stuyvesant Ortiz’s and

PHOTO: COURTESY OF PULPO BEER CO.

A visit to Pulpo Beer Co. and the Barroco Arepa and Hola Tacos restaurants in downtown Willoughby is a feast for the senses.

For the two sisters and their sisterin-law, natives of Venezuela, who launched Pulpo Beer Co. in 2020, there is one special ingredient.

“The best recipe is family,” a post on their Facebook page says.

The growing success of Pulpo Beer Co. (pulpo means octopus in Spanish) is the result of many generations working hard and supporting each other to achieve a dream.

“Our mother would teach us that we have to find our way,” says

Mamacita and Tropical Thunder.

“It definitely takes you back to that beach memory, that hot weather memory,” Stuyvesant Ortiz says. Customers share in that sensory experience, “they say, ‘I can smell that, I can taste that.’”

Their goal at the brewery is to ramp up to 1,000 31-gallon barrels of beer a year.

They benefited from the experience of Vergara, who has operated restaurants in Northeast Ohio for 12 years. Along with managing marketing, social media and the kitchens, Vergara has festooned nearly every available wall with his own eye-popping paintings and other artworks.

“He never sleeps,” Stuyvesant Ortiz says. “He said he gets his best ideas between 2 and 5 a.m.”

Hola Tacos offers Mexican-themed foods and drinks, while Barroco Arepa serves up Latin-themed dishes and cocktails. The establishment even has a rooftop patio.

Microbreweries aren’t just for Millennials and Gen Xers. Pulpo

brings in Boomers eager to try out the variety of beers, Valbuena says.

Even skeptics accustomed to socalled “real beer” find something they like.

“These are craft beers,” Stuyvesant Ortiz explains. “Not more real can you get.”

They chose the name Pulpo and a logo of a six-armed octopus to honor the branches of their families that embraced them and allowed for their success.

The proprietors often jump in to help cook, tend the bar and wash dishes. Do the women sometimes wish they had more arms like their logo?

“Six arms would be a nice thing,” Stuyvesant Ortiz admits. “We don’t have many hands, but we definitely wear many hats.”

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Local Brewery & Winery

Stuyvesant’s brother, George.

Their beers are sold at several retail shops. A second location opens this month at Crocker Park on the west side.

All this comes from a team that knew nothing about the brewery business and opened their venture in the middle of a pandemic.

When the two-story location of the Brim Brewery at 3941 Erie St. became available, they jumped at it.

Valbuena had worked for Pepsi as a lab tech and as a production manager.

Stuyvesant Ortiz and Stuyvesant had various positions that involved management, logistics, public relations and human resources.

With her lab experience, Valbuena learned about brewing through online courses, and a consultant helped the team find the right people to aid their endeavor. Their head brewer is Jon Hill.

They bring the flavors from their home of Maracaibo, Venezuela to their ever-expanding menu, with the tastes of coconut, mango, pineapple, vanilla, and even coffee infused into their beers with names such as Blonde

John Matuszak is a Northeast Ohio freelance writer.

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Local Brewery & Winery

A Natural Fit: Blind Squirrel Winery

By Joe Jancsurak Doing what you love for a living is one thing, but doing it alongside those you love… that’s something to be savored, like a fine wine. No one knows that better than lifelong Twinsburg residents Bill and Cookie Delgado.

Three years after realizing their dream of having a cozy winery to call their own, the owners of The Blind Squirrel have established a clear lane for their business, which includes a rustic tasting room with a 12-foot-tall granite fireplace; a party/events room; and a patio/ deck with views of the pond, woods and vineyard on eight acres along Pettibone Road in Bainbridge.

As for the lane that they’ve established, that’s simple, says Bill Delgado, a retired high school graphic arts teacher, who enjoys table hopping and visiting with customers when he’s not caring for the building, grounds and vineyard.

“We want our winery to be a casual and memorable meeting place for Boomers and Millennials

alike; a place that they return to often and recommend to their communities.”

Children are also welcome to enjoy the beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, live music (most weekends), soft drinks, light appetizers and food-truck fare (again, most weekends). Patrons also can bring their own snacks.

Nice Blend This family atmosphere comes as no surprise after visiting with Cookie Delgado, a retired office administrator, who serves as the winery’s chief financial officer when she’s not greeting and serving patrons behind the bar.

“We wanted to have an establishment where our family could hold events and where we could work together,” she says.

“Now, I get to work alongside my daughters and other family members. That’s special.”

Echoing that sentiment is Chrisy Guarino, one of the Delgados’ four

Joe Jancsurak, a Northeast Ohio writer, wants readers to know that it’s always wine o’clock somewhere.

Pulpo Beer Company is at 3941 Erie St., First Level in Willoughby and on the web at pulpobeerco.com.

You can find The Blind Squirrel Winery at 7918 Pettibone Rd., in Bainbridge, about 1.5 miles east of Parkside Church and on the web at blindsquirrelwinery.com.

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Better Living After 50

PHOTO: COURTESY OF BLIND SQUIRREL WINERY

Blind Squirrel Winery in Bainbridge.

married daughters, all of whom work at the winery, along with their husbands, two cousins and the Delgados’ two oldest grandsons.

“Because we’re family, we stand ready to assist each other at a moment’s notice,” says Guarino, who oversees the website/social media efforts and helps serve patrons, as do other family members.

“Another huge benefit is that we’re able to enjoy the beautiful space here and our wonderful patrons. It’s really a joy to talk and become friends with our customers.”

With so many family members committed to the winery’s success, The Blind Squirrel hasn’t had the labor issues other establishments are facing. And with eight more grandchildren waiting in the wings, there doesn’t appear to be any danger of a looming labor shortage.

There’s also no shortage of ideas.

“We try to meet quarterly as a staff to discuss matters related to day-today operations, wine/food selections, private events such as weddings, bridal/baby showers and retirement parties, and public events such as our fall Squirrel Fest featuring local crafters and artists,” says Bill Delgado, who credits daughter Katie Christensen for her work as events coordinator as well as “two amazing friends: Dale Layer, our assistant winemaker and Brian Sandridge, whose sawmill and woodworking expertise has benefitted us greatly.

Whatever we do, we don’t ever want to leave our lane of being known as a casual, relaxing gathering place for the community.”

As for the venue’s name, Bill Delgado likes to recall something his dad was fond of saying: “Even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while, and this is our nut.”

Pickleball

The Best Sport You’re Not Playing (Yet)

By Marie Elium Photo by Kim Stahnke

Game on! Pickleball embodies friendly competition.

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I

could do this.

That’s what popped into my head the first time I saw a pickleball game.

Baseball, soccer, tennis, volleyball.

Too boring. Too exhausting. Too fast. Too painful. Choices are limited if injuries and age have taken their toll on an overworked or under-exercised body.

So, if you’re looking for a team sport that’s relatively easy on your joints yet offers a comfortably strenuous workout, you’re in luck. Pickleball is the fastestgrowing sport in the U.S. with 4.8 million players last year, adding 11.5 % new players each of the last five years, according to the 2022 Sports & Fitness Industry Association. It’s easy to see why.

Played on a court with paddles and a ball with a distinct pingpong vibe, pickleball is like a friendlier, more conversational version of tennis. The playing surface, about a quarter the size of a tennis court, is small enough that players can hear each other and talk to each other without gasping for breath.

It doesn’t require bulky padding or helmets; just comfortable tennis shoes, gym clothes and a racket set you can buy online for about $60.

“Pickleball is very competitive yet friendly. It definitely gets you moving in a fun way and feels more manageable than tennis.”

COURTING FRIENDSHIPS The pickleball courts at Twinsburg’s Glen Meadow Park are busy from morning through sunset. A companionable gathering spot for players of all skill levels and ages, it’s easy to jump in; just hang your paddle on the fence and wait until a spot opens. A sign explains the system, but folks tend to recognize newcomers and welcome them in.

Players have gotten to know each other well enough that they had a pickleball picnic at the park earlier this summer.

Cathy Berthold was one of the picnic organizers and a big fan of spreading the word about pickleball. Her advice for newcomers? “Google pickleball and watch videos of the game, watch actual matches and then just go up (to a court) and observe.

Berthold said she had wanted to play pickleball for several years, but her husband Larry wasn’t on board initially.

They started playing in 2019, both indoors and outdoors, finding that it was a sport

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Better Living After 50

— Chris Wilson

WHO'S PLAYING AGES

TOTAL

6-17

21.2%

CORE (8 + times a year) 14.2%

CASUAL 23.9%

18-34

28.8%

16.8%

33.5%

35-54

20.4%

17.0%

21.8%

55-64

12.0%

19.2%

9.2%

65+

17.6%

32.7%

11.6%

Source: Sports & Fitness Industry Association (SFIA)

WHERE TO PLAY OUTDOORS Bleser Park 150 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake 4 courts Brainard Park 1840 Brainard Road, Lyndhurst 2 courts Civic Center Park 8649 Munson Road, Mentor 15 courts Denison Pickleball Courts Denison Park: 1015 Quarry Dr., Cleveland Heights 6 courts Elmwood Park 6363 Selig Blvd., Independence 6 courts Glen Meadow Park 1961 Glenwood Dr., Twinsburg 6 courts Orange Village Park 27950 Emery Road, Cleveland 1 court

Who says you have to be serious to be competitive?

Not these pickleball players.

each could play equally well against both men and women.

Another Twinsburg player, Glenn Gould, also plays tennis, but he has a special affinity for pickleball. He met his girlfriend playing the game.

“A very casual acquaintance on a neighboring tennis court suggested that I check it out some time. That person is now my girlfriend,” he adds.

“In many ways, I find it a similar skill set to tennis, and I feel each game helps the other.”

Sue Wilson says she and a friend decided to learn the game, and started with a makeshift net to learn to dink (hit the ball) at home. “We then went to the courts and didn’t turn back. We were welcomed into team playing. I began

to invite (husband) Chris to go with us, and it took him a month or so before trying. Now he’s there all the time.”

Adds Chris, “Pickleball is very competitive yet friendly. It definitely gets you moving in a fun way and feels more manageable than tennis.”

It’s not hard to find enthusiastic pickleball players. When the weather turns bad, many wind up indoors in private courts or rec center gymnasiums that have been transformed into courts. Check with your local recreation department or YMCA to find public, indoor courts.

A handful of private athletic clubs and housing developments also have indoor courts. Some NEO communities are expanding their recreational

WHAT’S WITH THE WEIRD NAME? The story is pickleball was invented in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, Bill Bell and Barney McCallum on Bainbridge Island, Washington, near Seattle. Pritchard’s wife Joan came up with the name: pickle ball, a reference to the last boat that finishes a race, usually made up of a hodgepodge of crew members, much like pickleball is a mixture of several different sports, according to Pickleball Magazine.

Rec Center Offsite 8938 Broadview Road, Broadview Heights 4 courts Reese Park 301 Clague Road, Bay Village 4 courts Solon Community Park 6679 Som Center Road, Solon 12 courts South Central Park 7565 Avon Belden Road, North Ridgeville 4 courts Tri-City Park 3529 Delmar Dr., Rocky River 6 courts Upper Glenwood Park 227 Glenwood Street SE, North Canton 4 courts Waters Park 169 E. Glenwood Ave., Akron 6 courts

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THE COURT A pickleball court is 20’ x 44’ for both singles and doubles. The net is hung at 36” at the ends and hangs 34” in the middle. A non-volley zone extends 7’ back from the net on each side, commonly called “the kitchen.”

GEAR Paddles are made of high-tech composite material. Balls are plastic, weigh between .78 to .935 ounces and are 2.874 to 2.972 inches in diameter.

There are no color restrictions other than the ball must be a single, consistent color.

You can buy a set of two paddles, three balls and a carrying bag for about $60 on Amazon. Paddles are for both men and women.

WHAT TO WEAR Court or tennis shoes are a good choice for pickleball, both indoors and outdoors. Good support, rubber soles and a comfortable fit will accommodate quick, lateral movements.

As for clothing, whatever allows you to move comfortably and easily is fine.

Many women wear tennis skirts, athletic shorts or skorts. Men often wear athletic shorts, jogging pants and T-shirts.

RULES For an expanded explanation, go to usapickleball.org.

Pickleball is played either as doubles (two players per team) or singles; doubles being most common. The same size playing area and rules are used for both singles and doubles.

THE SERVE • The server’s arm must be moving in an upward arc when the ball is struck • Paddle contact with the ball must not be made above waist level • The head of the paddle must not be above the highest part of the wrist at contact • A ‘drop serve’ is also permitted, in which case, none of the elements above apply • At the time the ball is struck, the server’s feet may not touch the court or outside the imaginary extension of the sideline or centerline and at least one foot must be behind the baseline on the playing surface or the ground behind the baseline • The serve is made diagonally crosscourt and must land within the confines of the opposite diagonal court • Only one serve attempt is allowed per server

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Better Living After 50

SCORING •P oints are scored only by the serving team • G ames are normally played to 11 points, won by 2 • When the serving team’s score is even (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10) the player who was the first server in the game for that team will be in the right/even court when serving or receiving; when odd (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) that player will be in the left/odd court when serving or receiving

TWO-BOUNCE RULE • When the ball is served, the receiving team must let it bounce before returning, and then the serving team must let it bounce before returning, thus two bounces • After the ball has bounced once in each team’s court, both teams may either volley the ball (hit the ball before it bounces) or play it off a bounce (ground stroke) • The two-bounce rule eliminates the serve and volley advantage and extends rallies

NON-VOLLEY ZONE • The non-volley zone is the court area within 7 feet on both sides of the net • Volleying is prohibited within the non-volley zone; this rule prevents players from executing smashes from a position within the zone • I t is a fault if, when volleying a ball, the player steps on the non-volley zone, including the line and/or when the player’s momentum causes them or anything they are wearing or carrying to touch the non-volley zone including the associated lines • It is a fault if, after volleying, a player is carried by momentum into or touches the non-volley zone, even if the volleyed ball is declared dead before this happens • A player may legally be in the nonvolley zone any time other than when volleying a ball

— USA Pickleball

offerings with an eye on the sport's popularity.Hudson is constructing 12 pickleball courts at its Barlow Farm Park, part of a $1.5 million project expected to be completed by fall.

Mentor was among the first Northeast Ohio communities to build pickleball courts. The city has 15, the first installed a decade ago, says city manager Kenneth Filipiak.

“Mentor and Lake County have a very high median age, 47, compared to other regions.

Mentor is a place people tend to raise a family and stay there and we try to add a lot of recreational opportunities for everyone. It’s great exercise and promotes healthy living, and it’s something that can be enjoyed at any age.”

So why don’t more communities have pickleball courts? They’re expensive. Filipiak says that installing four basic courts can cost between $150,000 and $200,000.

Pickleball is noisy, too. In cities from California to South Carolina, residents have sued to close courts, saying the high-pitch ping of constant volleys violates noise ordinances. Noise curtains have been developed for courts, and special balls and paddles help quell the noise and the complaints. But there’s an ongoing battle among some homeowners’ groups, municipalities and players. USA Pickleball, the national governing body for the sport, lists a senior pickleball noise specialist on its website.

All that aside, for places lucky enough to have courts, and for people able to get to them, pickleball is a sport that bridges the gap between age and athleticism.

“It’s an awesome game… and just a lot of fun,” Gould says. “We laugh a lot more during pickleball than tennis, that’s for sure.”

The least athletic member of her family, Marie Elium retired from team sports in the ‘70s. She may try pickleball, now that she knows what it is.

CAREGIVER CORNER

Masks & Medical Appointments FOR OLDER ADULTS By Jennifer Beach

T

he long-term effects of pandemic isolation — finding new ways to reconnect and stay engaged — continue for many people. Face masks, for example, have become part of our medical experience. They are required for doctor visits, tests and visits to hospitals and other health facilities.

Last week, I attended a doctor’s appointment with my client.

Rosemarie was seeing a geriatrician for the first time, a primary care doctor with additional training to treat older adults.

Rosemarie has hearing and memory loss, mobility issues, arthritis and cognitive changes.

She was looking forward to meeting her new doctor and had several questions and concerns she wanted to discuss. Because of the masks, Rosemarie’s hearing loss and the small amount of time allotted, it was not the experience Rosemarie was hoping for. Fortunately, I was there to relay information and asked the doctor to repeat herself slowly so Rosemarie could hear and process the information.

BARRIERS About two-thirds of people over 70 have hearing loss, making

communication difficult, even without a face mask.

Face coverings impair communication far beyond speech transmission; they affect interpersonal connection and the willingness and ability to hold a conversation. This was the case for Rosemarie.

Masks make lip reading impossible and limit facial expressions. When the doctor was talking and asking Rosemarie questions, she could not hear her and had absolutely no idea what the doctor was saying. It is easy to see how this barrier could influence the doctor’s overall assessment of Rosemarie and her ability to understand, process information, make decisions and determine if she can remain safely in her home or community.

Without seeing someone’s face, mouth and expressions, the entire communication exchange is affected.

When we know someone well, often it only takes one look at their face to know if they are happy, upset, afraid or in pain.

I see this disconnect happen with masks at medical appointments and in long-term care settings. Aides and nurses enter an individual’s room, wearing a face-covering as required, all the while talking quickly, stating several directives at one time, and not

always looking directly at the individual.

The patient has no idea who or why someone just came into their room.

The result? The individual is labeled “uninterested,” “not able to follow directions,” “refuses to shower” or “unable to attend an activity,” all because of poor communication.

Here are ways to help older adults improve communication and their overall experience at medical appointments or other situations where facial coverings are required: When appropriate, use written communication along with verbal communication. Write questions and answers on a pad or computer screen, use pictures or simple drawings, if needed, to help the older individual be a part of the conversation. Let the medical provider know this process will help your loved one. Be sure to allow time for the individual to read and respond.

Consider face masks with clear windows to enable lip-reading and the ability to see expressions.

It is important to use a more sustained tone and a lower pitch of voice. Face masks damage highfrequency transmission in speech; try lowering the rate of speech by slowing the rhythm and raising the volume.

Face the person you’re talking with.

Seeing eyebrows and upper cheeks can enhance the emotional messages connected to speech. Face-to-face talk allows a person to read facial expressions and catch visual clues and gestures. Don’t talk to someone unless you are looking directly at them.

Face masks and social distancing are now a part of our medical and longterm care communities. The challenges can have harmful psychological and cognitive consequences that can easily be prevented. We can avoid most of these issues by improving our communication awareness and speaking directly to people, especially when wearing face coverings.

Jennifer Beach is an Advanced Aging Life Care Professional.

She established Advocate for Elders (advocate4elders. com) in Rocky River and has 25 years of experience working with and advocating for older adults and their families.

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When Cleveland Blew Up the Mob

By John Matuszak

T

his year marks the 45th anniversary of an event ending a bloody chapter of Northeast Ohio history. Here’s how it happened.

On Oct. 6, 1977, Cleveland gangster Danny Greene took a break from his career of murder and mayhem for a dental appointment.

The Irish-American from the Collinwood neighborhood was at war with the Mayfield Road mafia over control of the city’s organized crime. He had survived several assassination attempts but had no reason to think that this errand would be his last.

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Better Living After 50

A LOUD & BLOODY END Rivals had tapped Greene’s phone so knew of his comings and goings.

They planted a car bomb next to his vehicle, with hitmen nearby to throw the switch. Their planning and persistence paid off. The explosion not only killed Danny Greene, but it also had the unintended consequence of toppling mob control across the country.

“That’s when the dominoes started falling,” says Rick Porrello, an authority on Cleveland’s mobsters and author of “To Kill the Irishman.”

Throughout the 1970s, Cleveland’s bad guys were blowing each other up all over the place, earning the town

the nickname, “Bomb City, U.S.A.” At the height of the mob wars there were bombings, shootings, beatings and disappearances all over town, says local historian Dennis Sutcliffe, who features these conflicts as part of his “Lost Cleveland Memories” program series about Northeast Ohio’s gangsters.

From 1976 to 1977, Cuyahoga County had 37 bombings, including 21 within Cleveland city limits. There were so many bombings, the federal government’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives tripled its forces here.

PHOTO: COURTESY OF CLEVELAND MEMORY PROJECT

The remains of the car driven by Danny Greene, an Irish-American Cleveland mobster who ran afoul of other gangsters and was killed by a remote-control bomb in 1977. There were so many explosions of this sort in the mid-1970s that Cleveland became known as “Bomb City, U.S.A.” The repercussions led to the fall of organized crime across the country.

Cleveland mobster Alex “Shondor” Birns, who associated with Italian, Jewish, Irish and AfricanAmerican gangsters for decades, before meeting his untimely end in 1975 when a bomb was planted in his car.

Mug shots of Danny Greene, a native of Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood who was involved in everything from corrupt local unions to numbers and other crimes.

He survived several assassination attempts before his luck finally ran out.

WIDE APPEAL Mobsters weren’t limited to those with Italian backgrounds. Crime was an equal-ethnic employer that also included Jews, Blacks and Irish Americans.

One Cleveland figure who bridged all of these factions was Alex “Shondor” Birns, whose exploits Porrello chronicles in “Bombs, Bullets & Bribes.”

Birns, who was Jewish, was part of organized crime from the 1920s into the ‘70s, dabbling in everything from prostitution to numbers to theft, working with every element of the criminal world and violently protecting his interests.

In the 1960s, Birns hired Greene, an up-and-coming hood, as his driver and enforcer. While Birns served a prison sentence, Greene handled his nefarious activities.

The two men had a falling out when Birns arranged a loan through the New York Gambino family for Greene to set up a clip joint (nightclub). The courier used the $75,000 to buy cocaine and was busted by the police. Birns and the Gambinos insisted that Greene repay the loan. He refused. The war was on.

SHORT FUSES Before the bomb that killed him, Greene had found an unexploded bomb underneath his car. Suspecting Birns, he took the device to the police, declaring, “I’m going to send this back to the old bastard who sent it to me.”

On the Saturday before Easter in 1975, Shondor Birns left Christy’s Lounge, a strip club owned by his girlfriend, and headed for his car at West 25th Street and Detroit Avenue.

The blast from a bomb sent parts of his car flying into the air, and pieces of Birns’ body splattered on the pavement.

Birns’ Italian mob associates were incensed. A change of leadership that brought James Licavoli to the head of the Mayfield mob further heated up the war, when he was opposed by Greene ally John Nardi.

The carnage continued. Nardi was killed by a remote-controlled bomb in May 1977. Greene’s house on Waterloo Road was blasted, but he and a girlfriend escaped injury when the bomb failed to explode.

The mob took one more shot at Greene. Along with the car bomb, a backup team with a high-powered rifle stood by, in case their first plot fizzled.

This time, Greene’s Irish luck ran out, and the bomb went off.

AFTERSHOCKS Ray Ferritto, who had the contract to kill Greene, was soon apprehended when a suspicious motorist gave police the license number of the getaway car.

Following his arrest, Ferritto learned that the mob planned to kill him, too. He decided to rat on his colleagues, as did his L.A. mob associate and Cleveland native Jimmy “The Weasel” Fratianno.

Licavoli was among the first to fall.

He was convicted of racketeering in 1982 and died in prison three years later. Additional high-level defections led to more convictions here and throughout the country’s mob world.

“This virtually eliminated the Cleveland mob,” Sutcliffe told his audience at Mentor Library during one of his popular presentations.

There hasn’t been a hit on a mob boss in the United States since 1985.

People continue to be fascinated by this crime culture, judging by the crowds showing up at Sutcliffe’s programs and those buying Porrello’s books, one of which was made into the movie, “Kill the Irishman.”

If he could talk to Danny Greene or Shondor Birns, Porrello says he’d ask about the untold and unsolved murders they committed during their crime-filled careers.

Says Porrella, “I’d be a cold-case investigator.”

John Matuszak is a Northeast Ohio freelance writer.

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HEARING GUIDE WHY YOU SHOULD WEAR YOUR HEARING AIDS EVERY DAY Presented by Cleveland Hearing & Speech Center

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e are often asked, “Do I really need to wear my hearing aids when I’m home alone?” Yes. We encourage our patients to wear their

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Better Living After 50

devices as much as possible every day.

Hearing loss typically occurs slowly over a period of years. This means sounds in our environment become less noticeable until they are no longer heard at all.

These sounds may include simple environmental sounds like birds singing, footsteps, a car’s turn signal or running water. These sounds also include speech sounds.

Typically, high-frequency sounds like F, S, T, Th, Sh and K are affected first. People will say they can hear conversations but have difficulty understanding what is said.

As hearing loss worsens over time, the hearing nerve begins to lose the ability to send sound signals on to the brain and it soon begins to “forget” that these signals exist. The longer the brain experiences this form of sound desensitization, the

more cemented the faulty rewiring process becomes.

The good news is, just as the brain will rewire to adapt to hearing loss, it will also rewire to the signals sent by a hearing aid. Our most successful patients wear their hearing aids 12 to 16 hours daily. This consistent hearing aid use helps rewire the brain to once again categorize signals as important and in need of focus (or unimportant and ignored).

This process takes some persistence, patience and time. The brain is initially surprised and a bit confused by this new sound information. That’s why we work with clients to adjust to their hearing aids gradually and at their own pace.

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innitus (pronounced tih-NITEus or TIN-ih-tus) is sound perceived in the head with no external source. For many, it’s a ringing sound, while for others, it’s whistling, buzzing, chirping, hissing, humming, roaring or shrieking. The sound may seem to come from one ear or both, from inside the head or from a distance. It may be constant or intermittent, steady or pulsating.

Millions of Americans experience tinnitus, often to a debilitating degree, making it one of the most common health conditions in the country. Roughly 50 million people struggle with some form of tinnitus.

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Tinnitus is typically caused by: • Hearing Loss - Most people who have tinnitus also have hearing loss.

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Tinnitus can be very distressing, but it is not a life-threatening condition. Most people with tinnitus

learn to manage it through self-help.

A visit to your doctor’s office will usually reassure you that there are no underlying medical conditions related to your tinnitus, and your quality of life can be recovered.

Answer the following questions to determine if you have tinnitus: • Do you hear a ringing, roaring, clicking or hissing sound in your ears?

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If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have tinnitus.

Please contact your local HearingLife office at hearinglife.com for a complimentary appointment.

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Free Home Delivery of Boomer Magazine

LEGAL

Dramatic Wills

Join Today!

Scribbled Notes, Videos & Last Wishes

S ID E R IN

Boomer CLU B

By Joseph L. Motta

Y

ou’ve surely seen a dramatic presentation of a will in a movie, television show or book. From handwritten notes scribbled on a napkin to a self-made video or last utterances to a companion in the final seconds before death, communicating someone’s last wishes have always fueled imaginations in the entertainment industry. But what actually makes a will valid? The law varies, depending on what state you live in, but there are some basic rules.

SIMPLEST LEGAL REQUIREMENTS FOR A WILL

The legal requirements for a will are fairly simple. For a will to be valid, you must know what property you have and what it means to leave it to someone, then sign and date the document and have it witnessed according to the laws of your state. Ohio requires two witnesses to watch you sign the will and then sign as witnesses.

Usually one of the witnesses can be the lawyer who drafted the will.

Ohio does not allow beneficiaries under the will to be witnesses.

HANDWRITTEN WILLS ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE CHALLENGED

Some states allow you to make a handwritten will or a “holographic” will. This will does not need to be witnessed, but it is much more likely to be challenged after you die. Some states require that the entire will be in your handwriting; others call for just the important portions to be in your handwriting. The writing must indicate your intent to make a will and clearly describe the property being given away. Some states require the will to be dated and signed.

ARE ORAL WILLS VALID?

How Do You Join?

• Go to NortheastOhioBoomer.com/Insider • Provide email address, delivery address and other info • Join Now. Open to the first 500 respondents.

Best of all - it’s FREE!

What Do You Get? • FREE home delivery of the magazine for the next issue • FREE Boomer Bash Tickets Members must provide a valid email to participate in the Boomer Insider Club. Members will receive the July/August issue in the mail. Members must reconfirm membership with each issue for future home delivery of the magazine. Offer valid for Northeast Ohio residents only. Maximum of one mailed copy per household.

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Better Living After 50

Very few states allow an oral will (called a “nuncupative” will). The states that allow this Joseph L. Motta is an Avon Lake estate type of will have specific requirements for when planning attorney. it is valid. For example, Indiana only accepts an You can reach him at oral will if it is made by someone in imminent 440-930-2826 or at peril of death who then dies as a result of the josephlmotta.com peril. Some states require both two witnesses and that the will be put into writing soon after it’s spoken or declared. There also may be a limit to the amount of property someone can dispose of with an oral will.

WILLS DICTATED ON VIDEO

Despite what Hollywood would have us believe, video wills are not recognized as a form of will in any state. States may recognize a video will as a valid oral will if it meets all the requirements, but a video will, in itself, is not a valid will. However, using video to record a will signing can be a good method to prevent a will contest. A video recording of the will signing allows your family members and the court to see that you are freely signing the will and makes it more difficult to argue that you did not have the requisite mental capacity to agree to the will. The best way to make sure your will is considered valid is to consult with your attorney.

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A Healthy Smile At Any Age

his past week, we had the opportunity to see Patti and her mom, Mary, in our office for their regular dental checkups.

Mary is now 92 years old, and never misses an appointment. She mentioned that, after the full-mouth smile restoration we accomplished for her in 2017 when she was 88, she knows how important it is to maintain it — just like she does for her home and other possessions.

Patti drives mom to her appointments, and like Mary, had her smile and teeth redone with us in her late 50s, so that she could look her best in both her personal life (she is a widow) and in her professional life (she owns and runs an assisted-care facility).

In reviewing their patient charts and history, in which we focused on their dental needs and options, they both said their smiles were important to them, especially when meeting and socializing with others. Mary mentioned that she

Presented by Dr. Steve Marsh

had been proud of her smile when she was much younger, but over the years her teeth had shifted and worn down, to the point that she did not smile when photos were taken of her.

She said she wanted to be proud of her smile, and how important it was for her self-esteem.

Patti, whose life had changed significantly since the loss of her husband, was looking forward to “getting out again,” and said that she wanted to look and feel younger and more attractive when she socialized. Like her mom, she realized how important the look of her teeth affected her confidence.

Both women made it clear that their ages were immaterial in deciding that it was time to have their dental work done. And though their appearances

might have been a driving force, they realized how important it was that their teeth functioned well. After all, our nutrition and health depend upon our ability to chew up our food and ingest it effectively. Mary told us that her own mother got dentures in her 20s, and suffered much of her life trying to get them to stay in when she was eating and even when she wasn’t.

At 88, having kept the majority of her teeth for her lifetime, Mary wasn’t about to give up on them and wanted to make sure that they would still be with her “for the duration.”

So, regardless of one’s age or situation, your teeth need to be maintained and remain functional.

Like Patti and Mary, any stage in your life is a good time to give yourself a new and improved smile.

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MATURE LIVING

SHOWCASE Sponsored Content

RENAISSANCE RETIREMENT CAMPUS: Senior Living, Redefined

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he Renaissance Retirement Campus, Eliza Jennings’ premier life care community in historic Olmsted Township, opens its new assisted living residence late this summer.

The Absolute Center for Assisted Living at the Renaissance features 48 units – 30 traditional assisted living apartments and 18 dedicated to memory care. The unique senior living community completes Phase 2 of a multi-year Master Facilities Plan to renovate and expand amenities and services at the Renaissance, located at 26376 John Road. The Plan outlines a dynamic and vibrant campus designed for the satisfaction and comfort of residents.

The 41,000 square-foot assisted

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Better Living After 50

Presented by Eliza Jennings living residence features state-ofthe-art contemporary design and architectural elements with stylish finishes and scenic views of the surrounding landscape, gardens and ponds. Inviting living and dining spaces — including a pub, courtyards and an indoor/outdoor fireplace — create opportunities for residents to engage and socialize. Additional amenities include a salon, game room, library, and spacious one- and two-bedroom suites and studio apartments.

Eliza Jennings offers additional assisted living options at Devon Oaks in Westlake.

A private courtyard and newly renovated spaces are perfect for an afternoon visit with family. Devon Oaks is pet friendly.

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solution for older adults who are no longer able to manage living on their own without support. Residents enjoy a safe, comfortable home that promotes independence and provides individualized personal care services when they need them. Families experience peace of mind knowing that 24-hour assistance is available for dressing, bathing, meals, mobility and hygiene. A variety of life enrichment opportunities provide reassurance that your loved one is enjoying meaningful pastimes and new friendships, supported by caring and dedicated staff members.

To learn more about assisted living at Eliza Jennings, call the Renaissance at 440-235-7100 or Devon Oaks at 440-250-2300.

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VOLUNTEERS NEEDED TO FIGHT FRAUD Presented by Pro Seniors

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n an effort to help STOP fraudsters in their tracks, Ohio Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) Fraud Fighter volunteers help educate and empower Ohioans to recognize and prevent Medicare fraud.

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Contact Jenni Espay, Ohio SMP Volunteer Coordinator at 513-458-5522 or jespay@ proseniors.org to become an SMP Fraud Fighter. Learn more at proseniors.org/ohio-smp.

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Sponsored Content

HOW TO MAKE A LIVING SPACE INTO A HOME Presented by McGregor Assisted Living. Written by Ryan Eisenhuth

E

veryone yearns for a sense of home throughout their lives. Still, it can be hard to believe that “there’s no place like home” when you feel lonely and alienated after moving into an assisted living community.

Here are helpful tips to make a home out of your new living space: Find your home. Assisted living suites come in all shapes and sizes.

Ask plenty of questions about the living space and the community to ensure that you find a home where you can truly live the “suite” life.

Is this suite big enough to be comfortable? Are the cupboards and shelves easy to reach? Can you bring your pet? Will you be close enough to your loved ones? Are there activities where you can meet new friends? Will the staff treat you

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Better Living After 50

with dignity? Consider these things and more when searching for your new home.

Decorate your home. Once you have found your new home, furnish the space with pieces from your old home. Then choose pictures of your loved ones, display beautiful pieces of art or get a potted plant. Whatever it is, the goal is to set up a space that highlights what you love the most in life. Doing so will make your transition into your new home easier.

Invite friends. People often feel isolated and lonely after moving into a new assisted living suite. One way you can help to alleviate these feelings is to invite the people you love into your new home.

Inviting your children and grandchildren to visit is a terrific way to get much-needed help to furnish

and decorate your suite and begin making home-like memories in your new space.

Some places are all about the experiences. By finding a comfortable home, decorating it with what you love, and inviting loved ones to visit, you can make an authentic home out of your living space.

At McGregor Assisted Living, your goal to make a living space your home is our priority. In our new community, our staff is dedicated to ensuring that you can have a fulfilling lifestyle through all seasons of life in a place you can be proud to call home.

Ryan Eisenhuth is a rising senior at Geneva College and a marketing and communications intern at McGregor.

TOO HOT TO HANDLE

C

heck on older loved ones and neighbors on very hot days; it helps them feel connected and lets them know you care. Here's what to look for, according to the Ohio Department of Aging.

• Do they have safe food and water? Are they eating and drinking regularly?

• Do they have someone to call if they need help?

• Is the temperature in their home comfortable? Do they have safe means to keep it that way if it stays hot outside?

• Do they need medical attention? Do they appear alert and aware? Have they fallen? Are they staying cool enough? Are they taking their medications as prescribed?

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m .co isit e v omer ate s a Ple hiobo -to-d s. to up eas most isting h t l nor r the ndar fo cale

What’s

Happening MONDAYS BASIC WATERCOLOR

Dip your toes into trying something new. 8/1 & 8/8. 4-6 p.m. Bay Arts, 28795 Lake Road, Bay Village, bayarts.net. $45

7/29 PAINT YOUR PET No art experience necessary.

7-9 p.m. The Peninsula Art Academy, 1600 Mill St. W., peninsulaartacademy.com. $40

8/5 CLASSY CANVAS You’ll look at some brightly colored creatures to inspire creativity and then go through step-by-step instruction. 5-6:30 p.m. Silver Creek, Lake House, 5000 Hametown Road, Norton, summitmetroparks.org. FREE

CLASSES

SUNDAYS Yoga on the West Terrace.

Yoga class on the last Sunday of each month.

10:30-11:30 a.m. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org. $12-16 TUESDAYS Urban Line Dancing.

Get your heart beating during evenings of fun

instruction and fresh air. Through 8/30.

6:30-8:30 p.m. Garfield Park Reservation, 11350 Broadway Ave., clevelandmetroparks. com. FREE Move it or Lose It. Senior strength and balance class. 8/9-30.

2-3 p.m. Portage Lakes Branch Library, 4261 Manchester Road, Akron, akronlibrary.org. FREE

8/11 Wellness through Art: Clay Bas Relief.

Digging into the image to reveal what is below. 6:30-7:45 p.m.

Akron ArtWorks, 1684 Merriman Road, Akron, akronartworks.com. $25 8/26 Date Night Wilderness Survival. You and your partner will learn and

practice skills like fire- and shelter-building. 6-8 p.m.

Quail Hollow Park, 13480 Congress Lake Ave., Hartville, starkparks.com. FREE 9/10 MacrAMAZING Plant Hangers. Learn macrame knotting techniques to create your own plant hanger. 10-11:30 a.m. Holden Arboretum, 9500 Sperry Road, Kirtland, holdenarb. org. $25-40

Submit an event listing to Calendar@NortheastOhioBoomer.com or go to NortheastOhioBoomer.com

40 Better Living After 50

CLUBS

MONDAYS Lakeshore Writers Group.

Writer Tina Bartish welcomes aspiring writers and authors to meet, and share work.

7-8:30 p.m. Avon Lake Public Library, 32649 Electric Blvd., alpl.org. FREE Sketchbook Club. Bring your sketchbook for creative drawing exercises on the last Monday of each month.

2-3 p.m. Gates Mills Branch Library, 1491 Chagrin River Road, cuyahogalibrary.org.

FREE TUESDAYS Writers Group of Rocky River:Virtual. Have your work critiqued and give constructive feedback to others in a friendly environment. Third Tuesday of each month. 7 p.m. Rocky River Public Library, rrpl.org.

FREE

THURSDAYS Twinsburg Garden Club. Learn about perennials, vegetables, landscaping and more.

Virtual meetings on third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. twinsburg-gardenclub.com SATURDAYS Chess Club. Chess is played in a friendly, justfor-pleasure atmosphere.

9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Parma Branch Library, 6996 Powers Blvd., cuyahogalibrary.org. FREE

second Sunday of the month via Zoom. Open to all poets, 3-4:30 p.m. Cuyahoga County Public Library, cuyahogalibrary.org. FREE

Library, 312 W. Main St., kentfreelibrary.org. FREE 8/2 Stationary Club. Enjoy the art of crafting and writing letters and cards by hand.

Noon-1 p.m. South Branch Library, 3096 Scranton Road, Cleveland, cpl.org. FREE

Board Game Club. Drop in on the first Sunday of each month to play board games with other adult enthusiasts.

1:30-3:30 p.m. Kent Free

Woodcarvers Club. Meets on the second and fourth Saturdays each month.

9:30-11:30 a.m. The Wilderness Center, 9877 Alabama Ave. SW, Wilmot, wildernesscenterorg SUNDAYS Second Sunday Poets.

Poetry open mic every

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WHAT´S HAPPENING

MUSIC, THEATER & ARTS WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY Featured Musicians at the Still House. Enjoy live music five nights a week. Wednesday, Thursday & Sunday 7-10 p.m., Friday and Saturday 8-11 p.m.

Gervasi Vineyard, 1700 55th St. NE, Canton, gervasivineyard.com. FREE THURSDAYS Music on the Patio. 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month at 6:30 p.m. Through 9/8. Miller Nature Preserve, 2739 Center Road, Avon, loraincountrymetroparks.com. FREE

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Better Living After 50

8/26. First & Main Green, Hudson, firstandmainhudson.com. FREE THROUGH 8/7 Something Rotten. Presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International. Beck Center for the Arts, 17801 Detroit Ave., Lakewood, beckcenter.org. $10-34 7/22-24 “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.” Watch the film in concert with the music performed live by The Cleveland Orchestra. 7 p.m. 1145 W. Steels Corners Road, Cuyahoga Falls, clevelandorchestra.com. $26-121

FRIDAYS Third Fridays at 78th Street Studios.

Join the creative businesses as they open their doors for you to explore the arts complex every third Friday.

5-9 p.m. 1300 W. 78th St., Cleveland, 78thstreetstudios.com. FREE

8/4-28 The Play that Goes Wrong. “The Murder at Haversham Manor” at Weathervane Playhouse, 1301 Weathervane Lane, Akron, weathervaneplayhouse.com. $12-31

FRIDAYS & SATURDAYS Summer Music Nights. Funkology, Jump the Gun, Monica Robins, Backtraxx and more. 7-9 p.m. Through

8/7 “Steel Magnolias” at the Lorain Palace Theatre. Starring Sally Field, Daryl Hannah, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts. 7 p.m. 617 Broadway, Lorain, lorainpalace.com. FREE

8/11-13 Sixth City Comedy Festival. A diverse lineup of entertainers with various styles of comedy. 5 p.m.

BOP STOP at The Music Settlement, 2920 Detroit Ave., Cleveland, themusicsettlement.org. $20-55

seniors on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month for hikes in Geauga County and the surrounding area. Hikes are typically 1-1.5 miles.

1-2:30 p.m. geaugaparkdistrict.org.

FREE

Hiking Seniority. Folks aged 55 and older meet year-round every Tuesday at nearby parks for nature appreciation, exercise and camaraderie. 10 a.m.-noon. lakemetroparks.com. FREE

8/18 Lights Out! Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons Tribute. Noon and 6:30 p.m. LaMalfa, 5783 Heisley Road, Mentor, rsmevents.com. $55-70 8/26 Ballet in the Park. North Pointe Ballet presents its annual fall repertoire concert. 7 p.m. Lakeview Park, 1800 W. Erie Ave., Lorain, loraincountymetroparks.com. FREE 9/4 Beatles Brunch with Revolution Pie. Recreating the sound of The Beatles. Noon. Music Box Supper Club, 1148 Main Ave., Cleveland, musicboxcle.com. $15-20

OUTDOORS

TUESDAYS Geauga Walkers. Join other active

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WHAT´S HAPPENING WEDNESDAYS Wednesday Walkers. Join this ambitious group of walkers in staying active and healthy on North Olmsted Parks’s walking path. Call to register by 4:30 p.m. each Tuesday at 440777-8100. 28114 Lorain Road, northolmsted.com/senior-center/. FREE

7/23 Paddle Skedaddle. Test the waters with the park’s canoes, kayaks or paddle boards. 8-8:30 p.m. Walborn Marina, 11324 Price St. NE, Alliance, starkparks.com 8/3 Senior Stroll. Enjoy a leisurely walk

along the paved trail. 9:30-10:15 a.m.

Amherst Beaver Creek, 913 N. Lake St., Amherst, loraincountymetroparks.com.

FREE 8/6 Intergenerational Tai Chi. Join this meditative practice on the lawn of the library. 2-3 p.m. Euclid Public Library, 631 E. 222nd St., euclidlibrary.org. FREE 8/9 Senior Strides. For those 55 and over that love hiking with others.

10-11 a.m. Green Leaf Park, 1674 S. Medina Line Road, Sharon Center, medinacountyparks.com. FREE 8/12-13 Camping Under the Stars. Overnight tent-camping experience for adventureseeking adults. 5 p.m.-1 pm. Silver Creek, Lake House, 5000 Hametown Road, Norton, summitmetroparks.org.

FREE 8/18 Elderberries at Camp. Archery, camp crafts and more. 9 a.m.-noon.

Chicagami Park, Parkman Twp, geaugaparkdistrict.org. FREE 9/10 Healing Walk Club. Focus on the health of your mind and body. 8-9:30 a.m. The Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, 2600 S. Park Blvd., shakerlakes.org. FREE

SPECIAL EVENTS

7/22 Off the Vine. An evening pairing of food and wine. 6-9 p.m. Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens, 714 N. Portage Path, Akron, stanhywet.org. $60-75

44 Better Living After 50

WHAT´S HAPPENING 7/24 Valley City Frog Jump Festival. Family fun day with music, food, activities, Frog Jump and more. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Liverpool Mill Stream Park, frogjump.valleycity.org.

FREE

7/27 Seniors & Caregivers Expo. Giveaways, health screenings, vendors and more. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Macedonia Senior Center, 9691 Valley View Road, darpublicrelations. eventbrite.com. FREE 7/29-31 Solon Home Days Community Block Party. Weekend annual city festival. Solon Community Park, 6679 SOM Center Road, Solon, solonohio.org/1444/Home-Days.

FREE 7/30 Tequila ‘N’ Tigers. Raise a toast to the tigers during this adults-only event. 6:309:30 p.m. Akron Zoo, 505 Euclid Ave., Akron, akronzoo.org. $30-35 8/4 Yappy Hour at Thorncreek Winery & Gardens. Bring your furry friends for drinks, appetizers and shareables. 5-10 p.m. 155 Treat Road, Aurora, thorncreekwinery.com 8/5-7 Twins Days Festival. The world’s largest gathering of twins and other multiples.

Glenn Chamberlin Park, 10260 Ravenna Road, Twinsburg, twinsdays.org 8/26 Honey BBQ Pairing Dinner. Enjoy a honey harvesting talk and tasting. 5:30-9 p.m.

Lake Metroparks Farmpark, 8800 Euclid Chardon Road, Kirtland, lakemetroparks. com. $55 9/2 & 9/30 Ales on the Rails. Sample craft beers and appetizers on the train. 6:30 p.m.

Rockside Station, 7900 Old Rockside Road, Independence, cvsr.org. $50-60

TALKS

TUESDAYS Lunchtime Lecture at The Cleveland Museum of Art. First Tuesday of the month, join museum curators and scholars for a talk about objects on display. Noon. 11150 East Blvd., 216421-7350, clevelandart.org. FREE 7/28 Sustainable Living. Explore how to limit your impact on the planet by going green. 1-3 p.m. Caesar Creek State Park, 8570 E. State Rt. 73, Waynesville, ohiodnr.gov. FREE 8/7 The Miles for Melanoma Cleveland Walk/Run. Join a team for the 5K walk/run to raise $100,000 for the Melanoma Research Foundation.

Edgewater Park. Join.melanoma.org 8/8 Cryptocurrency Scams. Learn the tactics and tricks scammers use so you can protect yourself. 7-8:30 p.m.

Stow-Munroe Falls Public Library, 3512 Darrow Road, smfpl.org. FREE 8/17 Home Safety. Make everyday living safer. 10-11 a.m. Bain-bridge Library, 17222 Snyder Road, Chagrin Falls, divi. geaugalibrary.net. FREE Kitchen Scrap Container Gardening.

Learn about planting kitchen food scraps to grow new plants. 6:30 p.m.

Columbia Branch Library, 13824 W. River Road, North Columbia Station, lorainpubliclibrary.org. FREE Telehealth. Learn what technology you need for a secure virtual doctor’s appointment. 10-11 a.m. Rocky River Public Library, 1600 Hampton Road, rrpl.org. FREE 8/18 Preparing for Retirement. Learn key concepts of financial literacy and investing basics at every stage of life.

6-8 p.m. Willoughby Public Library, 30 Public Square, we247.org. FREE 8/25 Senior Fraud. Discover types of fraud, what to look for and who to call. 7-8 p.m. Westlake Porter Public Library, 27333 Center Ridge Road, westlakelibrary.org. FREE 9/8 Social Security Basics. Learn how to maximize your benefit, reduce taxes and more. 5:30-6:30 p.m. Mentor Public Library, 8215 Mentor Ave., mentorpl.org. FREE

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Better Living After 50

July/August 2022

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NortheastOhioBoomer.com

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Brain Games Awareness & Memory: A Connection that Counts

M

By Kathryn Kilpatrick

emory complaints are common for people of all ages. Recent research shows that sleep, exercise, hydration, good nutrition and improved stress management are habits that help boost your memory.

Change begins with awareness followed by a willingness to learn. Try a few of these suggestions to see if they make a difference. Our memory recall is under siege from busy schedules, stress and distractions… especially those related to technology. Building new habits now can serve you well at any age.

And remember to keep teasing your brain with challenging games!

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Better Living After 50

Sponsored By

“Don’t try to be young. Just open your mind. Stay interested in stuff.

There are so many things I won’t live long enough to find out about, but I’m still curious about them.”

— Betty White

CHOOSE FROM ONLY THESE LETTERS:

THREE’S A CHARM Each word has three missing letters which are all the same letter.

See how you do with this clever fill-in-theblank puzzle.

“Remember, action today can prevent a crisis tomorrow.”

— Steve Shallenberger

A B C D E F G H I L M N O P R STU W

EXAMPLE:

C_ N_D_

ANSWER: CANADA

1.

SN_ _Z_

11.

ART_F_C_AL

2.

B_K_N_

12.

P ARA__E_

3.

HO_TE__

13.

_UM_LE_EE

4.

_O__ON

14.

PARA__E_

5.

B_LI_V_

15.

_E__ERMINT

6.

_AXI_U_

16.

SU__ENDE_

7.

_N_S_AL

17.

_IVI_E_

8.

A_TE__A

18.

_O_KROA_H

9.

C_RP _RATI_N

19.

_IG_LIG_T

10.

A__EMP_

20.

_REA_MEN_

ANSWERS: 1. SNEEZE, 2. BIKINI, 3. HOSTESS, 4. COCOON, 5. BELIEVE, 6. MAXIMUM, 7. UNUSUAL, 8. ANTENNA, 9.

CORPORATION, 10. ATTEMPT, 11. ARTIFICIAL, 12. PARALLEL, 13. BUMBLEBEE, 14. PINEAPPLE, 15. PEPPERMINT, 16.

SURRENDER, 17. DIVIDED, 18. COCKROACH, 19. HIGHLIGHT, 20. TREATMENT Visit Kathryn Kilpatrick’s website, connectionsincommunication.com, for memory tips and brain health resources.

July/August 2022

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NortheastOhioBoomer.com

49

a surprise. With streaming, you get first-run flicks in your living room.

Those big-box theaters are closing up to make way for distribution centers.

We visit Florida every year and any Northerner (or as they say down there, “Yankee”) will tell you the Deep South is really another planet.

What will keep Janice and me sane are the books, films and recordings we’ve accumulated over the years in anticipation of the big move. Some called it obsessive; I call it insurance.

Why would I listen to “John Boy and Billy” or “The Bert Show” on the radio when I have hundreds of hours of Dick “The Wild Child” Kemp, Ginger Sutton and Doc Nemo? I don’t like people yelling at me, so new music (read that as “product”) holds no interest, but the Damnation of Adam Blessing, Hendrix and most of the acts that broke through the ‘80s will always have a place in my CD player.

Books? We have Gray and Company with Northeast Ohio history. Paul Orlousky or Neal Zurcher’s books are a keystroke away. News? I have no interest in watching Beachcomber Barbie and Malibu Ken smile through the latest tragedies. True TV journalism has given way to sensationalism. If I want to see real news people, I'll look up Doug Adair, Tom Field and Dorothy Fuldheim. And that brings us to my next point.

Dozens of ethnic groups that emigrated here gave us a truly cosmopolitan yet localized sense of what we found relevant or funny. Play a clip of Ernie Anderson’s “Ghoulardi’ or Linn Sheldon's “Barnaby” to an out-oftowner. The humor escapes them, but they were our original must-see TV. We’re carefully packing for maximum efficiency, since moving van space is limited. But the most valuable stuff is our collection of memories.

Fortunately, the location we're moving to is full of Greater Clevelanders. We look forward to starting a support group.

M BOCO ULTURE

POP ES CHRONICL

At Last, WE’RE PACKING UP THE PAST By Mike Olszewski

W

e all come to those pivotal moments when we have to make life-changing decisions: stuff like what school to attend, who to marry, what job to take … and where to live.

That last one is familiar to emptynester Boomers or, in the case of my blushing bride and me, those of us sick of battling winter weather.

Yeah, I know we’ve already seen some subtropical temperatures but we’ve decided to plan ahead and become snowbirds. Our family in Florida finally convinced us to spend part of the year in the Sunshine State, but we’ll be back in Ohio for summers because any Northerner who claims you get used to the heat down South has likely never been there.

YES, BUT… People ask, “Aren’t you going to miss (fill in the blank).” Family and friends?

We have a feeling, once word gets out that we have an extra room, we’ll get calls from folks we haven’t heard from in years, asking, “Hey, by coincidence, we’ll be passing through Gator Breath, Florida. Can we stop by?”

Our old neighborhoods? Time passes, things change and the world we grew up in no longer exists. What will keep us connected during our time down South? Pop culture.

Mass media has become universal with the internet, cable and satellite TV, social media and the rest. TV and radio as we knew them no longer exist, and if you thought movie theaters couldn’t get any smaller, you’re in for

Last issue, I asked for the name of the legendary Chinese restaurant in downtown Cleveland that lined its walls with autographed photos from famous folks who dined there. That restaurant was Chung Wah’s.

BOOM TRIVIA

Next time, one of the best-loved comedies of the ‘70s was “Animal House,” and the basis for that movie is heavily linked to Northeast Ohio. How? I’ll have the answer in the next issue.

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Better Living After 50

Mike Olszewski is a veteran award-winning radio, TV and print journalist, and a college instructor.

Contact him at janmike1978@gmail.com.