APR 2016
ppy a H
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SINCE 1980 — VolUME 36 • NUMBER 4
Why a Cataract Specialist?
Judgment
VS Being Judgmental By Alvin Bartz, PhD.
UPDATE ON OBESITY AND DIABETES
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WE ARE ALL WAITING FOR SOMETHING OR SOMEONE
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IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT YOUR EMPLOYER-SPONSORED PLAN
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Cataracts are the most common eye disease, and everybody will develop them at some point in their lives. To ensure a good surgical outcome, it is essential to research the best surgeons available. When determining who should perform your surgery, a cataract and refractive specialist is the optimal choice. Dr. Stephen Weinstock, Dr. Robert Weinstock and Dr. Neel Desai form the cataract and refractive surgical team at The Eye Institute of West Florida. As cataract and refractive experts, Drs. Weinstock and Dr. Desai have superior knowledge of the techniques and technologies involved in performing cataract surgery and achieving the best possible results for their patients. They are the best in the business and are recognized for their high standards by their peers and patients alike. A general ophthalmologist is trained to diagnose and treat a variety of ocular diseases, while a cataract specialist goes on to receive extensive training related only to cataracts following medical school. Author Malcolm Gladwell’s theory is that it takes 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field; the specialists at The Eye Institute of West Florida surpass those necessary hours. “Dr. Desai, my father and I perform thousands of cataract surgeries each year and focus solely on cataract and refractive procedures,” Dr. Robert Weinstock explains. Cataract specialists have a deeper understanding of the treatment of cataracts and the skill to provide exceptional outcomes. With the advancements offered today, many patients enjoy reduced dependence or complete independence from glasses. This is accomplished through refractive cataract surgery. Dr. Robert says refractive cataract surgery, the most advanced procedure available, involves using “a laser to eliminate any astigmatism, making the patient less dependent on glasses.” Cataract surgery today is specialized to the point of giving patients over the age of 40 the vision they had in their 20s (and often times even better!). During See EYE, Page 12
When one uses judgment, he or she has employed a process of critical thinking. Judgment is a form of deductive reasoning wherein “truth” is ascertained, logic is applied and then reason is utilized to make the best possible decision or choices. When one uses good judgment, he or she makes decisions that are based on common sense, inference, knowledge, wisdom, reason, logic and past experience. Decisions which are made in this way have the greatest chance of proving to be the right thing to do under the circumstances. On the other hand, making decisions which defy logic, reason, common sense, inference, knowledge, experience or good judgment, invariably end badly. Not using good judgment can lead to embarrassment at the least, and the loss of one’s life at the worst. While almost everyone likes to believe that they act with good judgment, this doesn’t stop most of us from being highly judgmental. Being judgmental implies that your judgment is the only correct point of view and that those who don’t agree with your perspective are mistaken at the least, and evil at the worst. See JUDGMENT, Page 23
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Senior Voice America
APR 2016
Health Roundup
Official Health Advisory from the CDC
Recognizing, Managing and Reporting Zika Virus Infections in Travelers Returning from Central, South America, the Caribbean and Mexico
In May 2015, the World Health Organization reported the first local transmission of Zika virus in the Western Hemisphere, with autochthonous (locally acquired) cases identified in Brazil. As of January 15, 2016, local transmission had been identified in at least 14 countries or territories in the Americas, including Puerto Rico (See Pan American Health Organization [PAHO] link below for countries and territories in the Americas with Zika virus transmission). Further spread to other countries in the region is likely. Local transmission of Zika virus has not been documented in the continental United States. However, Zika virus infections have been reported in travelers returning to the United States. With the recent outbreaks in the Americas, the number of Zika virus disease cases among travelers visiting or returning to the United States likely will increase. These imported cases may result in local spread of the virus in some areas of the continental United States, meaning these imported cases may result in human-to-mosquito-to-human spread of the virus. Zika virus infection should be considered in patients with acute onset of fever, maculopapular rash, arthralgia or conjunctivitis, who traveled to areas with ongoing transmission in the two weeks prior to illness onset. Clinical disease usually is mild. However, during the current outbreak, Zika virus infections have been confirmed in several infants with microcephaly and in fetal losses in women infected during pregnancy. We do not yet understand the full spectrum of outcomes that might be associated with infection during pregnancy, nor the factors that might increase risk to the fetus. Additional studies are planned to learn more about the risks of Zika virus infection during pregnancy. Healthcare providers are encouraged to report suspected Zika virus disease cases to their state health department to facilitate diagnosis and to mitigate the risk of local transmission. State health departments are requested to report laboratory-confirmed cases to CDC. CDC is working with states to expand Zika virus laboratory testing capacity, using existing RT-PCR protocols. This CDC Health Advisory includes information and recommendations about Zika virus clinical disease, diagnosis, and prevention, and provides travel guidance for pregnant women and women who are trying to become pregnant. Until more is known and out of an abundance of caution, pregnant women should consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women who do travel to these areas should talk to their doctors or other healthcare providers first and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip. Women trying to become pregnant should consult with their healthcare providers before traveling to these areas and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip. Background Zika virus is a mosquito-borne flavivirus transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti. Aedes albopictus mosquitoes might also transmit the virus. Outbreaks of Zika virus disease have been reported previously in Africa, Asia, and islands in the Pacific. Clinical Disease About one in five people infected with Zika virus become symptomatic. Characteristic clinical findings include acute onset of fever, maculopapular rash, arthralgia, or conjunctivitis. Clinical illness usually is mild with symptoms lasting for several days to a week. Severe disease requiring hospitalization is uncommon and fatalities are rare. During the current outbreak in Brazil, Zika virus RNA has been identified in tissues from several infants with microcephaly and from fetal losses in women infected during pregnancy. The Brazil Ministry of Health has reported a marked increase in the number of babies born with microcephaly. However, it is not known how many of the microcephaly cases are associated with Zika virus infection and what factors increase risk to the Continues on Next Page
APR 2016
Senior Voice America
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fetus. Guillain-Barré syndrome also has been reported in patients following suspected Zika virus infection. Diagnosis Zika virus infection should be considered in patients with acute onset of fever, maculopapular rash, arthralgia, or conjunctivitis who recently returned from affected areas. To confirm evidence of Zika virus infection, RT-PCR should be performed on serum specimens collected within the first week of illness. Immunoglobulin M and neutralizing antibody testing should be performed on specimens collected ≥4 days after onset of illness. Zika virus IgM antibody assays can be positive due to antibodies against related flaviviruses (e.g., dengue and yellow fever viruses). Virus-specific neutralization testing provides added specificity but might not discriminate between cross-reacting antibodies in people who have been previously infected with or vaccinated against a related flavivirus. There is no commercially available test for Zika virus. Zika virus testing is performed at the CDC Arbovirus Diagnostic Laboratory and a few state health departments. CDC is working to expand laboratory diagnostic testing in states, using existing RT-PCR protocols. Healthcare providers should contact their state or local health department to facilitate testing. Treatment No specific antiviral treatment is available for Zika virus disease. Treatment is generally supportive and can include rest, fluids, and use of analgesics and antipyretics. Because of similar geographic distribution and symptoms, patients with suspected Zika virus infections also should be evaluated and managed for possible dengue or chikungunya virus infection. Aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) should be avoided until dengue can be ruled out to reduce the risk of hemorrhage. In particular, pregnant women who have a fever should be treated with acetaminophen. People infected with Zika, chikungunya, or dengue virus should be protected from further mosquito exposure during the first few days of illness to reduce the risk of local transmission. Prevention No vaccine or preventive drug is available. The best way to prevent Zika virus infection is to: • Avoid mosquito bites. • Use air conditioning or window and door screens when indoors. • Wear long sleeves and pants, and use insect repellents when outdoors. Most repellents, including DEET, can be used on children older than two months. Pregnant and lactating women can use all Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered insect repellents, including DEET, according to the product label. Recommendations for Health Care Providers and Public Health Practitioners Zika virus infection should be considered in patients with acute fever, rash, arthralgia, or conjunctivitis, who traveled to areas with ongoing transmission in the two weeks prior to onset of illness.
All travelers should take steps to avoid mosquito bites to prevent Zika virus infection and other mosquito-borne diseases. Until more is known and out of an abundance of caution, pregnant women should consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. Pregnant women who do travel to one of these areas should talk to their doctors or other healthcare providers first and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip. Women trying to become pregnant should consult with their healthcare providers before traveling to these areas and strictly follow steps to avoid mosquito bites during the trip. Fetuses and infants of women infected with Zika virus during pregnancy should be evaluated for possible congenital infection and neurologic abnormalities. Healthcare providers are encouraged to report suspected Zika virus disease cases to their state or local health department to facilitate diagnosis and to mitigate the risk of local transmission. Health departments should perform surveillance for Zika virus disease in returning travelers and be aware of the risk of possible local transmission in areas where Aedes species mosquitoes are active. State health departments are requested to report laboratory-confirmed Zika virus infections to CDC. For More Information about Zika virus and disease: http://www.cdc.gov/zika.
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Senior Voice America
APR 2016
FROM THE PUBLISHER
Politics Gone Wild
TM TM
Senior Voice America, Inc. P.O. BOX 1379 Lutz, FL 33548-1379 Phone (813) 444-1011 • Fax (813) 422-7966 www.seniorvoiceamerica.com Staff Publisher: Evan Gold tgoldman@amgoldman.com Managing Editor/Broadcast Producer: Deb Goldman deb@seniorvoiceamerica.com Editor: Lauren Potts lauren@seniorvoiceamerica.com Creative Director: Lourdes M. Sáenz lourdes@amgoldman.com
I have to say that this is really a wild and wooly presidential race. On one side we have a socialist battling a political animal on the other we have, what seems, the WWF. While the Republicans seem to have a no-holds barred battle the Democrats have a mutual admiration society. Funny, I don’t think Hillary learned from her 2008 candidacy that you cannot show so much admiration for your competitor. As for the Republicans, there is little admiration for each other. While most people think the Republicans are at each other’s throats I think this is just a fraction of what we will see in the general election. And the same might hold true for legislative and senatorial battles. It is unfortunate, but today we are a country of extremes. There are few who sit in the middle anymore. Even those past “fence sitters” seem to be joining in the fray. Many of whom are becoming Trump supporters. The truth is, we are a country fighting for a direction. There is no more middle ground. Do we want to adopt more of a conservative tone or a liberal tone? You may not like this, but I blame this on the Obamas. While George W. was not the optimal president, he did not polarize the country as much as we have seen in the past seven years. Additionally, there is a decision to make for Americans. Do we want the government (mindless bureaucrats, lobbyists, money driven lifelong elected officials and special interest groups) to dictate and run our lives or do we want to have more control over what our destiny is? Do we trust the government to know what is best for us? Or even accomplish what is best for us? Bernie Sanders would have you believe we don’t have enough government. Well more of an incompetent thing doesn’t seem that wise to me. And those who are so far right or left will only polarize America even more. It is time to find a leader who puts America and its citizens first. Not the government, not the politicians, not the corporations and definitely not lobbyists. But one who respects all parties and doesn’t demonize one side over the other. Where is Thomas Paine when we need him….we need some Common Sense!
Evan Gold
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FROM THE EDITOR
tunities throughout Florida and North America, email tgoldman@amgoldman.com.
Contributors Abne M. Eisenberg • Garrett Matthews Carolyn Shockey • Erick Olsen • Alvin Bartz Ruth Fanovich • Dr. Anthony Adams Jean Mlincek • Charles Bennafield Steve & Jeane Wolf • Tim Bryce Lee Ellen Noto • Lourdes M. Sáenz Melinda Myers • Ben Souchek Edward G. Rizzotto Would you like to write for Senior Voice America? Please email editor@seniorvoiceamerica.com.
Senior Voice is a Proud Member of Better Living for Seniors The Guardian Association of Pinellas County The Florida Assisted Living Association Senior Voice America is published monthly and is distributed free of charge, courtesy of its advertisers. Distribution area includes Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Sarasota and Manatee counties. Articles and advertising contained in this issue do not necessarily reflect the opinion or endorsement of the publisher, who does not verify advertiser claims and reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertising.
Spring always makes me feel like poetry. This month, spring seems to be calling for a bit of a song from Alfred Lord Tennyson. I.
III.
Once more the Heavenly Power Makes all things new, And domes the red-plow’d hills With loving blue; The blackbirds have their wills, The throstles too.
Before them fleets the shower, And burst the buds, And shine the level lands, And flash the floods; The stars are from their hands Flung thro’ the woods,
II.
IV.
Opens a door in heaven; From skies of glass A Jacob’s ladder falls On greening grass, And o’er the mountain-walls Young angels pass.
The woods with living airs How softly fann’d, Light airs from where the deep, All down the sand, Is breathing in his sleep, Heard by the land.
Lauren Potts
NOTE TO OUR READERS SENIOR VOICE AMERICA has changed distribution dates from the first of the month to mid-month. Please take note of this when picking up your issue or when receiving your subscription. Thank you.
APR 2016
Senior Voice America
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Health Roundup
Tips for Keeping Your Home Healthy Maintaining a healthy home is critical for your family’s welfare — as spring cleaning season is upon us it is important to keep these tips in mind. Applying a few simple solutions now will ensure your indoor living environment is safe and healthy for seasons to come.
Reduce Toxins With the usual Florida rains in spring, it would seem like an ideal time to tackle your indoor painting projects. However, you need to be mindful of the volatile organic compounds found in many interior paints and finishes. VOCs are one of the biggest threats to indoor air quality; they include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have both short- and long-term health effects. For indoor jobs, select paint with low or no VOCs to keep your air fresher and wait for clear days so that there is adequate ventilation. Additionally, some houseplants such as ivy and gerbera daisies can help to naturally remove VOCs from your indoor air.
Clean Your Indoor Air Ragweed and pollen will trigger allergy symptoms for millions of people this fall; however, the worst allergy triggers are often found inside the home. Installing a wholehome air filtration system can help to remove indoor allergens including dust, mildew, pet dander and pollen from the air you breathe. For example, the AccuClean System by American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning removes up to 99.98 percent of the allergens from your filtered air, so even if it’s allergy season outdoors, your indoor air is crisp and clean.
Prevent Mold During the summer, as the weather gets hotter, people tend to seal up their homes and spend more time inside, which traps moisture and humidity — both significant contributors to indoor mold growth. Maintain healthy indoor humidity levels by venting bathrooms and clothes dryers and using an exhaust fan while cooking. Install an air humidifier to provide year-round control of your indoor moisture level and keep your home at 50 percent humidity or lower to reduce the chance for mold growth.
Watch Out for CO Protect your indoor living environment from carbon monoxide or CO by installing CO detectors or alarms throughout your home.
Keep a Seasonal Routine
Most homeowners already know it’s important to test their smoke alarms on
letter to THE EDITOR Violent Democratic protestors crash Trump rallies and incite riots in the streets. To blame the candidate for the bad behavior of the protesters is a spin tactic of the left and a cheap attack by the right who are afraid they’ll loose their power to the people. Republican free speech continues to be squelched by the left. This is not new but it is more public and on a larger scale now that outspoken Trump is on the scene. They blame Trump for the divisiveness in communities across the country. The establishment right says Trump should not be president because of his words and the words of the president of the most powerful country in the world carry the heaviest weight and caution must be used. Instead of blaming Trump for this country’s division they should lay blame where it belongs, on career politician Obama. For every statement against Trumps ill chosen words two reminders should be shouted out that it is Obama who has held that heavy microphone for the better part of a decade and used it to purposely divide this country with his hostile comments. This is the seed of the escalation in violence and the divide in this country. Li Logan St. Petersburg, Fl
a monthly basis, but how often do you change the alarm’s batteries? One way to keep track of alarm maintenance is to make battery changing a seasonal activity. With the recent time change a few days ago, as the clocks “sprung” an hour ahead, it should have been a reminder to all, to also change the batteries in smoke and CO detectors in our homes. If you did not do so, take the time to do it now. By taking these simple steps now, you’ll create a safer and healthier home, allowing your family to relax and enjoy all the delights the fall season has to offer — both outdoors and indoors.
TIPS TO PREVENTS ALLERGENS IN YOUR HOME THIS SPRING DUSTING & VACUUMING — One of the best ways to control indoor allergens is by getting rid of dust. That’s because dust mites — the most common trigger of asthma and allergy symptoms inside the home — thrive in dust. But be aware, you may make matters worse by kicking up allergen particles into the air. Use a damp or treated cloth that attracts dust rather than scattering it. Also, minimizing clutter in your home, prevents collection of dust. When vacuuming use a HEPA filter, which can trap small particles and prevent them from spreading into the air. Try to vacuum at least once or twice a week. WASHING —Dust mites tend to thrive in bedding, pillows, and throw rugs. To reduce allergens in the bedroom, at least once a week, wash pillowcases, sheets, and blankets in very hot water — at least 130 degrees — and dry them in a hot dryer to kill dust mites. It is also a good idea to encase mattresses and non-washable pillows, comforters, and other bedding in allergen-proof covers.
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Senior Voice America
APR 2016
project sugar
Teaching for Health Series (Vol. 1 No. 10)
Update on Obesity and Diabetes
A clean-cut definition of obesity is the excessive accumulation of fat that presents a risk to health. Body mass index (BMI) is one of several markers, e.g., distribution of body fat that can help predict whether obesity will be associated with serious disease processes. While controversial, BMI may be a useful marker and can be measured during your physician’s office visit as a screening test. To determine your BMI: Multiply your height (in inches) by your height (in inches). Divide your weight (in pounds) by the results of the first step. Multiply that answer by 703. For example, a 270-pound person who is 68 inches tall has a BMI of 41, which is obese. A typical strategy starts with self-directed lifestyle change, and, if that fails, treatment can move on to professionally directed lifestyle change and possibly medications. Surgery could be an option for a small subset of patients as determined by their physicians. If surgery is the best choice, lifestyle and medicationbased therapies are most often included following surgery. Combination therapies are, many times, very effective. Additionally, a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (2013) found a decrease in risk for cardiovascular disease to be associated with Mediterranean diets. The decrease was greater in patients with BMI >30, but there was no weight loss with the diet. Obesity is complex. It could be a question of regulation of energy and metabolic function or dysfunction anywhere in the system. This complexity challenges the variability of responses to therapies. Some people may have more complex dysfunction and may require a combination of therapies. Differences in types of obesity include onset, fat location, distribution, severe hunger, lack of satiety, constantly craving food, lack of exercise, environmental causes, stress, etc. A healthy diet means changing the nutrient chemistry and the quantity of food intake. This could change the signals sent to the brain, over time. Changing to a healthier diet can make a diet work over the long term and be effective in establishing control of the diabetic’s blood sugar. Exercise can work by changing the body’s physiology, building muscle and encouraging fat to burn calories. Long-term regular exercise, in harmony with a healthier diet, affects long-term weight loss versus the calories burned while exercising. It’s the long term rather than the intensity of exercise that is most important. Also, assessing the current lifestyle habits and making some lifestyle changes is key. It’s a gradual process. It’s well known that weight loss of at least 7 percent is associated with improvement of diabetes and blood sugar levels. Many people dissatisfied with the healthcare system start looking at herbal remedies or a quick-fix weight-loss diet even though resources are available and primary care providers can now obtain reimbursement for obesity counseling. Informational resources about reimbursement are available on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services website.
By Mary Gynn, RN, BSN, MSN/ MS, Diabetes Edicator
TAX DEADLINE TODAY! Oasis Health and Wellness Center is a newly opened, 501(c)3 not-forprofit, “free” clinic for the underserved, homeless, and uninsured, as well as the insured and everyone else from ages 13 to 113 in New Port Richey, Fla. We are there to do our part to prevent or lessen expensive emergency room trips, if possible. And we want to be there for those who have nowhere else to go. Oasis Health & Wellness Ctr. 5438 Trouble Creek Rd., New Port Richey, FL 34652 Contact Mary Gynn for more information - 727.842.9300
Mary Gynn, RN, MSN, MPH is a Diabetes Educator, member of AADE and a staff member at Oasis Health and Wellness Center in New Port Richey. To contact, call: (847) 533-1197 or (727) 842-9300.
APR 2016
Senior Voice America
around the home
Homegrown Flavor from an Indoor Garden Add some homegrown flavor to your winter meals. From microgreens to tomatoes, it is possible to grow produce indoors. Microgreens are a quick and easy way to add some flavor and crunch to your plate. Just plant seeds labeled for sprouting or microgreens in a shallow container filled with a sterile potting or seed starting mix. Within two weeks, you will be harvesting nutritious mini-vegetable and herb leaves for salads, sandwiches or snacking. Take it one step further and grow a few of your favorite herbs on a warm, sunny windowsill. Select a container with drainage holes and set on the appropriate size saucer to protect your woodwork. Fill the container with well-drained potting mix and plant seeds or transplants. Purchase basil, chives, parsley, oregano and rosemary plants from your local garden center or the produce department. Greens, like lettuce and spinach, will also grow in a sunny window or, better yet, under artificial lights. Grow them in a container filled with a well-drained potting mix similar to your windowsill herb garden. Plant seeds according to the seed packet. Continually harvest the outer leaves when they are four to six inches tall. Those that like a bit of a challenge may want to try growing a compact tomato, pepper or eggplant. You’ll get the best production with a combination of natural and artificial light or full spectrum lights. Natural sunlight and full-spectrum lights contain the variety of light plants need to grow, flower and fruit. Blue light promotes leaf and stem growth, while red combined with blue promotes flowering. Consider investing in energy efficient and long-lasting, high-intensity grow lights for the greatest yields when growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplants and other fruiting plants indoors. Leave lights on for 14, but no more than 16 hours each day. Plants need a dark period as well as bright light each day to grow and thrive. Use a timer to ensure the plants receive the right duration of light. Most flowering and fruiting plants need a high intensity of light, so keep the lights six to 12 inches above your plants. Use reflective surfaces under and around the plants to bounce light back into larger plants. Increase your indoor growing space by going vertical. Shelf units with built-in light fixtures like the Stack-n-Grow Light System (gardeners.com) provide multiple layers of growing space. And once your tomatoes, peppers and eggplants start flowering, you will need to shake things up a bit. Gently shake the plants several times a week, better yet, daily, to move the pollen from the female to the male parts of the flower so fruit will develop. A gentle breeze from a fan or vibrations from a battery-operated toothbrush work well. Indoor gardening won’t yield the same results as a sunny outdoor garden, but the flavor can’t be beat when gardening outdoors is not an option.
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GARDEN CONNECT
Moringa Oleifera
By Melinda Myers
Gardening expert, TV/radio host, author & columnist Melinda Myers has more than 30 years of horticulture experience and has written over 20 gardening books, including “Small Space Gardening” and the “Midwest Gardener’s Handbook.” She hosts The Great Courses’ “How to Grow Anything: Food Gardening For Everyone” DVD set and the nationally syndicated “Melinda’s Garden Moment” TV & radio segments. Myers is also a columnist and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. Myers’ web site, www.melindamyers.com, offers gardening videos and tips.
By Steve & Jeanne Wolfe
The MORINGA OLEIFERA tree is becoming very popular in gardening circles. The Moringa tree is grown mainly in tropical and sub-tropical areas and in a protected environment. It will grow in USDA zones 9 and 10. It will tolerate a wide range of soil conditions and it is a sun and heat loving plant, but does not tolerate frost. It is mainly grown in Hawaii, India, Philippines, Africa, Indonesia, Cambodia, Pakistan, and in other areas.
One of the many uses of Moringa is for water purifi-
cation. Some scholars believe that this is the tree that God had Moses use to sweeten the bitter waters at Marah in Exodus 15. Moringa seed cake is used to filter water using flocculation to produce potable water for animal or human consumption.
The tender pods called drum-
sticks are used in many culinary dishes. The leaves are added to broth for soup. Also, Moringa juice from the leaves mixed with lemonsito juice to make ice candies. Many nutritious recipes can be found at http://miracletrees.org/moringa_recipes.html. The Moringa tree is being used to provide malnutrition relief and is used by many organizations like Tree for Life International, The Christian and Missionary Alliance and Church World Service to name a few. We found the powder, trees and extract sold at WireGrass Mall Outdoor market that occurs on the first and third Saturday of each month.
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Senior Voice America
APR 2016
sports
Remembering Gail Harris
A good guy is dead. Gail Harris. Every kid should be as lucky as I was growing up. The two-story brick dwelling next door housed a genuine, look-him-up-in-the-box-scores Major League baseball player. Gail Harris. He bounced around the minors for several years before earning prime time with the New York Giants and Detroit Tigers in the late 1950s. The coaching staffs never considered him an indispensable first baseman, and required him to share the job with players from other parts of the country who perhaps also lived next door to impressionable 9-year-old boys. In short, he was no superstar – just a good country ballplayer who could be counted on to hit .250 and not hurt you in the field. The reality of his tenuous standing at the top never connected with me. He knew Minnie Minoso and Nellie Fox. He rode on big planes. He played under bright lights. What else was there? I knew about Mr. Harris even before he moved next door. The English teacher at the high school was a frequent visitor to our porch. Someone brought up his name and she was reminded of a story. Mrs. Witherspoon said the first baseman was less than a solid student in her class. She said he would never amount to much if he couldn’t learn at least the rudiments of the personal pronoun. “I’m going to make the big leagues. I don’t need to know no grammar,” he told her. “I’ll buy the biggest car I can find and when I do, I’m going to drive it to your house and blow the horn as loud as I can.” And you know what? she said. He did. An uplifting story indeed to a third-grader who loved baseball and hated personal pronouns. My dream was that Mr. Harris would knock on the front door and ask if I wanted to go outside and play. I let it slip one night at the dinner table, asking my father if big-leaguers ever played catch with people who weren’t big-leaguers. Later that night, Dad went next door. He didn’t say why, other than to point out it’s polite to tell a new neighbor which day the trash truck comes. The next afternoon, there was a knock on the front door. It was a big man with a big bat and a big first-baseman’s mitt. He asked if I had a few minutes to spare. The season is almost here, Mr. Harris said. He asked me to throw some balls at his feet so he could practice scooping them up. Then he asked me to pitch so he could practice bunting. During a break in the action, he told a story. It was the Tigers’ last game of the year, Mr. Harris said, and he was sitting on 19 home runs. Earl Battey, the catcher for the Washington Senators, was a friend. When Mr. Harris came up to bat, he told Earl he needed one more long ball to reach 20. Earl knew Mr. Harris would probably never get another chance to hit that many homers again, so he gave his pal a chance. The next pitch will be a fastball, Earl whispered. You see what you can do with it. Mr. Harris drove it over the right field fence. The pitcher never knew. I was in heaven. The big man not only played ball with a little kid, he shared a piece of baseball lore. Only a good guy does that. RIP, Mr. Harris.
By Garret Mathews
APR 2016
Senior Voice America
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BOOKS
Revisiting Faulkner’s Light in August If you have any recollection of reading William Faulkner in college, you probably think of Caddy, the banished daughter who was forbidden to raise her own child in The Sound and the Fury. Maybe you identified with Quentin, her brother, whose emotional fragility initially manifests itself in an elegant sensitivity but deteriorates into a mild psychosis due to his shame over his sister’s unacceptable enjoyment of premarital sex and his brother’s arrested mental development. Another favorite of college professors is Absalom, Absalom, a tale that takes the idea of the subjective voice—and its epistemological implications—to new levels while exploring themes related to biracial identities, alpha-male ambitions, and the simultaneous subjugation and endurance of women like Rosa and Clytie. Although Light in August is less likely to be assigned than As I Lay Dying or Go Down Moses, it is another novel that exhibits Faulkner’s famously sonorous voice and masterful use of the unstated. The forbearance of the women in Light in August may be appalling to feminists, but the tenacity of dreams—even admitted fantasies— related to the unyielding love of Mrs. Himes would interest anyone brought up in an abusive household. Ex-Reverend Hightower’s skepticism toward organized religion and his awakening to the multi-layered objectifications associated with romance and marriage offer the reader insights, as does the psychological habit of denial in one Byron Bunch, made all the more comical by pregnant Lena’s ninth-month body shape and the psychotic bigotry of Eustace Himes, who is the outrageous father of the Anglo woman who gave birth to the biracial Christmas. And while readers of Light in August certainly learn much about the language and mindset of mid-century southerners (in the more central story of Christmas’ eventual murder of Joanna Burden, which parallels a similar fictional account of Bigger Thomas, who beheads and burns a threateningly drunken white girl in Richard Wright’s Native Son), readers learn even more about post-traumatic stress. One PTS reaction results from Christmas’ mostly untold—but darkly implied—experiences after forced relocation to a non-white orphanage, his subsequent adoption by an exceedingly authoritative man, his itinerant wanderings in the 1940’s, and his relationship with Joanna Burden, the granddaughter of an Anglo abolitionist. Seeking what he calls “peace,” Christmas observes his lover as she enjoys their late-night rendezvous, with spicy and titillating notes, but always leaves him to eat his dinner alone in the kitchen. Rather than deal with the rage, the sense of isolation, and the denial of fear found in post-traumatic stress, Christmas overreacts, as may be understood by those who have served as soldiers, those who have been abused, or those who are intensely sensitive. Even more insight is found in the experience of Gail Hightower and his wife. She cannot abide by the mores expected of a minister’s wife, reportedly because she is marginalized and institutionalized, due to her refusal to endure what is intimated by the community of Jefferson to be her husband’s sublimated homosexual desires. Hightower, a third character with post-traumatic stress, is beaten, unsuccessfully banned from town, ultimately exiled from his pulpit, and derided by flocks of big-city reporters. His community, one that displays all the vagaries of knowledge as related to uneducated and bigoted efforts at social control—points to his wife’s eventual suicide after her numerous excursions to Memphis, where she was known to visit hotels with other men. An African-American cook asserts that Hightower had “asked her to do something which she said was against God and nature” (Faulkner, 1932, p. 47). When Hightower’s subsequent, impromptu midwifery efforts end in a child’s death, he enters into a 30-year depressive funk—one that can be related to post-traumatic stress. However, once he enjoys a successful midwifery experience with Lena Grove, he briefly experiences a different way of reacting to the repressed anger and grief engendered by his life experiences. Perhaps most interesting of all is the undercurrent involving the fabrications and justifications of memory, one that is not offered with the joyous irreverence of an author like Salman Rushdie or Donald Barthelme, but with the solemnity of an author who has a profound awareness of how “memory believes before knowing remembers” (Faulkner, 1932).
By Lee Ellen Noto
Lee Ellen Noto resides in St. Petersburg, Fla. and may be reached at leenoto@hotmail.com. Dr. Bonnie Sanchez, ABPM
Dr. Narmo Ortiz, FACFAS, CWS
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self help
We Are All Waiting for Something or Someone By Professor Abné M. Eisenberg Woodrow Wilson, our 28th president,
said this about patience: “All things come to he who waits—provided he knows what
he is waiting for.” It is difficult to believe that at least one-third of our lives is spent waiting for something or someone—to be born, go to school, graduate, decide upon a career path, meet that special person, get married, grow old, and, eventually wait for that final curtain to come down. If all that waiting is true, we had better learn how to cope with the strain that it usually imposes. Patience is an indispensably valuable and effective tool of interpersonal communication. It’s a way of completely changing the fundamental human habit of trying to resolve things by going right or left, in or out, up or down. It’s the way to develop courage, a way to find out what life is all about. There are many situations in everyday life that require being patient—if not with others, certainly with ourselves. Each of us has a sense of how long it should take to do something. When we encounter someone whose sense of timing conflicts with ours, we often become impatient with them. To illustrate the importance of patience, a spiritual teacher conducted the following experiment. He announced to his congregation that, on the following weekend, he would be conducting a series of spiritual workshops. At the beginning of the first session, he unexpectedly announced that he was not feeling well and that he would like to postpone until the following weekend. At the next meeting, he again announced that he was not feeling well and that a second postponement would be necessary. At the third meeting, he announced still another postponement to a very frustrated congregation. At the 4th meeting, only a handful of people showed up. He looked at the small group and said,” You are the true seekers of spiritual knowledge.” Their ability and willingness to endure the three postponements was a compelling example of how patience made all the difference. The elderly sometimes have a reputation for telling the same story repeatedly and being in search of someone who will listen. This also happens to the younger generation. A new faculty member at a local university had just published his first book. Upon his return from summer break, a colleague asked, “What’s new?” Before he could boast about his new book, his colleague extended his “What’s new question to include, “… that would be of interest to me.” We all have a story to tell and usually are pleased when we meet someone with the patience and courtesy to hear it. Psychologists earn a living listening to people unload their emotional baggage. They need to exercise a great deal of patience to keep themselves from interrupting. Patience is not an inherent trait. If anything, newborns and small children are incredibly impatient: “Are we there yet?” Immediacy is the best word to describe their mindset. Selfishness is the second-best word. In the Old Testament, Job had his patience severely tested. His response to his sufferings stand as a memorial to his unshakable faith. He could have, at any time, put an end to his suffering, but his patience enabled him to withstand the
intolerable strain. We all have an untapped reservoir of patience. It costs nothing and is readably available and easily accessed. What it requires is willpower. Unfortunately, you cannot expect unexercised patience to serve your needs. Small doses of patience, like a snowball rolling down a hill, get progressively stronger with time. Think about someone you know who is very patient and someone who is very impatient. What about their personality and character makes them different? Are extroverts more patient than introverts, men more patient than women? These questions have puzzled psychologists for decades. There are many theories, but few viable conclusions. For a final taste of patience, here is how three famous minds conceptualized it: “How many a man has thrown up his hands at a time when a little more effort, a little more patience would have achieved success.” --Elbert Hubbard “Adopt the pace of Nature; her secret is patience.” --Ralph Waldo Emerson “Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner, you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will be powerless to burden your mind. --Leonardo Da Vinci Professor Eisenberg was born in New York City and now lives in Belleair Bluffs, Fla. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps in WWII. His career consisted of teaching various aspects of interpersonal communication for 60 years at leading universities. Send comments on his articles to aeisenberg3@tampabay. rr.com.
APR 2016
Senior Voice America
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POETRY CORNER
DIVERSITY By Charles Bennafield
k l a T s et’
L
By Nurse Ruth Fanovich
Growing up in New York, I never really thought about the word “diversity” and what it meant. We were all the same—the human race. My friends in the neighborhood were Irish, Italian, German, and African American. One of my best friends was Russian. Most of us were from immigrant parents. We were Americans and very proud to be American. We laughed, cried, played and celebrated birthdays and holidays together. We all got along, and we didn’t lose our individual identity. Sometimes I feel today as an American of Irish descent (or I should say Irish-German) that my individual rights and values are compromised. This concerns me, because I don’t consider myself biased, and, because I am a nurse, I must be understanding and patient with my patients! In health care, we need to treat all patients/clients equally despite their cultural differences. We need to understand that our patients/clients may have very different views and reactions to health issues. So you may be wondering, “What does this have to do with healthcare?” I will tell you—a lot! Our cultural diversity affects the way we handle different problems and respond to health emergencies. We need to understand that persons coming from other countries can react differently and may or may not trust the persons who are helping them. In fact, they may reject assistance because they could not understand what needed to be done or what a care provider was trying to tell them. On the other hand, we may not understand what patients or clients are trying to tell us. They may not agree with the medical plans of treatment, and that say-so is everyone’s right as an American. This can also lead to undue frustration. What can we do? We need to be patient with each other; we need to try and put ourselves in the other person’s shoes. Educate yourself as to different cultural beliefs. Think about feeling ill and not knowing how to explain in clear English what is wrong. We need to tap into our communication skills and become patient. Today, there is too much focus on some cultures, while all the other cultures in the world are becoming lost. When it comes to health care and medical issues, our bodies all function the same. We all bleed and we all need to breathe. Sometimes it’s as simple as that. Do you have a concern or opinion to share? Let’s Talk! Provided by Ruth Fanovich, RN, LHRM, Owner, Care Placement Home Health Agency, Inc. and RMF Care Management, Inc. www.CarePlacementHH.com.
I Am Diversity, Please Include Me I ‘m present in every place you go Depending on your lens I’m friend or foe I’m a force to be reckoned with Like the winds of change I move. I’m swift. I’m present when two or more are together If embraced I can make the good even better. I’m not limited to age, gender, or race. I’m invisible at times and yet all over the place. Don’t exclude me due to a lack of knowledge Welcome me like the recruit fresh out of college. Let me take my seat at the table Even though I may be differently able My experience, my passion the authentic me Can help add value for your company. Learn about me; improve my underrepresentation And I can provide a competitive edge to your entire nation. I exclude no one I am strengthened by all My name is Diversity and yes I stand tall. Recognize me and keep me in the mix Together there’s no problem that we can’t fix. I am your best hope towards true innovation And to many, I reflect hope and inspiration. Your lives and companies will continue to change Thus the need for Diversity and Inclusion will also remain. Do all that you can to truly embrace me And experience life’s fullness totally I’m the thought lurking behind the unfamiliar face I’m the ingenuity that helps your team win the race. I’m the solution that came from the odd question that was asked. I stand out in the crowd when I, Diversity, am allowed to be unmasked. I’m diversity embrace me and we’ll journey far. I’m Diversity include me and we will reach the shining star. Coupled with Inclusion our lights burn longer Together we are smarter, better and stronger I am Diversity, Yes, that’s me
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APR 2016
MEDICAL UPDA E OUR TEAM OF SPECIALISTS
The Importance of Choice By Anthony J. Adams, DDS, PA
Stephen M. Weinstock, MD From EYES Page 1
Neel R. Desai, MD
Robert J. Weinstock, MD
refractive cataract surgery, a laser is used to break up the cataract. If a patient has astigma-
tism, which means the cornea is irregularly shaped, causing blurry vision, a laser can also be used to reshape the cornea, correcting the astigmatism. The surgeon then removes the cataract and inserts a new lens. With refractive cataract surgery, a premium intraocular lens (IOL) is then implanted, acting as a permanent corrective lens that will never be removed. This lens is customized to the patient based on their daily activities and visual goals. Dr. Stephen adds, “Developments in technology have made cataract surgery a very safe and precise procedure. Originally, cataract surgery was much more invasive – in fact, patients had to be hospitalized for the procedure when I first began my career. Today, it is a predictable outpatient procedure using eye drop anesthesia.”
The Eye Institute of West Florida proudly offers their patients the most
innovative techniques and advanced technology available. One of the only practices in the world with three laser platforms, they are able to customize each procedure in a safe, predictable manner. “First of all, the femtosecond laser allows us to make incisions much more precisely than can be done by hand using a blade or a scalpel. Second, this laser is much more precise at correcting astigmatism. Third, the procedure breaks up the cataract even before we enter the eye. Consequently, the amount of ultrasound power required to remove the cataract is about fifty percent of what was needed with traditional cataract procedures,” explains Dr. Stephen.
Because of these advancements and the training specialists receive,
there is a clear improvement of vision outcomes following cataract surgery. Dr. Desai notes that, “It is only in the era of modern-day laser cataract surgery with advanced operating room technologies and 3-D guidance systems that you can get this type of precision. Add to that the very small incisions we make, micro-incision surgery, which is why the eye heals so fast and cataract surgery is so safe and effective.”
Dr. Robert continues, “Originally, because cataract surgery was more
invasive, people waited a long time before having surgery, some until they were almost blind. Now that we are using lasers, we are able to do surgery safely and comfortably at a much younger age.” What once was an invasive procedure that typically left patients completely dependent on corrective lenses is now an extremely advanced, life-changing operation.
The cataract specialists at The Eye Institute of West Florida perform
thousands of cataract surgeries each year. Their specialized training related to cataracts enables them to focus on pioneering innovations within cataract and refractive surgery and gives them a superior understanding of how to perform cataract surgery to provide the best possible outcomes for their patients. When doing your research for a cataract surgeon, it is always best to choose a cataract specialist.
The Eye Institute of West Florida | 727.456.8804 www.eyespecialist.com
It has been well established that heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancers and others are intimately connected to the state of your oral health. Oral health - good or bad influences or establishes the status of your total body health. People young and old with poor oral health, neither live as well, nor as long, as people with good oral health. The worse the condition of your mouth, the more it costs to regain good oral health. The real cost is not treating your mouth. The real cost is the quality of life or ultimately the loss of life itself. The real cost of oral disease, diabetes, cancer and other inflammatory disease.
Choosing the Right Healthcare Provider The importance of your choice of healthcare provider cannot be commoditized. If you are a shopper whose choice of the provider is based on the lowest bid, you may not win! We are all frustrated with our national healthcare system. The system is full of problems. The choices are infinite and the choices are infinitely confusing. You will not get the same diagnosis and subsequent treatment plan from different dentists. Dentists have different levels of training, experience and judgement. They may work for a third party provider or work for themselves. Their beliefs and motivations may be totally different. Your choice will make the difference in your outcome and expense, now and later. You must take responsibility for your choices. Investigate, question, become educated with your situation. It is yours alone. Only to go to the one you trust. The real cost is important when you consider the outcome, not just the immediate problems. Consider more than your oral health as more is involved. You can not separate your oral health and the rest of your health. They are connected and related. I can think of little that I can see which causes so much harm as placing so much emphasis on dental insurance when considering who, what and when, relative to choosing a dental care provider. I know this is a strong statement but it is a true statement. Patients very often will tell me “my insurance will not allow that.” Therefore, the patient does without taking actions that they may benefit from. Patients tell me they have to go to a particular list of doctors dictated by the insurance plan. These doctors may or may not be the clinicians who can, or will, deliver the same quality of treatment other doctors would. How much does the diminished compensation for services affect the treatment rendered or the true results long term? We all have choices on insurance. I could be on the lists of preferred providers as well. But for my practice and my patients, I find it a better benefit to not do so. When you are told what you can and cannot do in the treatment of oral care, as well as what you have to charge when treating your patient, I opted out. The billing codes for the charged fees added to each patient’s invoice can be dictated by the insurance policy which may result in you being charged for every little item. At Healthy Body Dental, we try to keep these charges down only billing you for what is totally necessary fo r the work that is needed. Your choice of providers affects much more than your dental health. The real cost of oral care and oral disease is different than you might have thought. Healthy Body Dental, Anthony J. Adams, DDS, PA is located in Cypress Point Center, 25877 U.W. Hwy 19 N., Clearwater, FL. 727-799-3123 • www.healthybodydental.com Hours of Service: Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
APR 2016
Senior Voice America
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lenses of life
The Simple Pleasure of Friday Mornings I’m an early riser, but then again, I think any responsible adult who has raised children develops this particular habit. Mornings are my favorite time, as it is quiet and you begin to plan your day ahead. On our side of Florida (the Gulf Coast), our sunsets are much better than our sunrises. Fortunately, there are other things to observe early in the day. I particularly enjoy driving at this twilight time (between 6-7 a.m.) as there are few people on the road. There is a stillness to mornings, and it’s interesting to observe people as they begin their day. Many people like to check their e-mail and tune in to social medial early on, but I don’t believe they know what they are missing outside. As I drive through my neighborhood on my way out, I see a few people walking and jogging, but mostly walking. Some are out with their dogs for their morning walk, carrying the obligatory plastic bags to pick up the pet’s waste. As part of their ritual, dogs sniff the morning dew on the lawns and challenge squirrels and birds already foraging for food. Flowers and azalea bushes are just beginning to open for the day, painting marvelous tapestries on lawns. Those who walk alone either seem to be on a mission as they march, or stroll slowly along gabbing on their smart phones. I often wonder who they are annoying at this early hour. Children are yawning as they meander to the bus stop for the first wave of pickups for the day. All wear a backpack and look like they are off on a hike as opposed to going to school. Car pools and families are also beginning to make the rounds. Lawn maintenance crews are setting up for the day and checking their equipment. Most are cautious not to create a raucous too early in the morning. As I drive by our small downtown area, I see deliverymen quietly making deliveries in preparation for the upcoming weekend. The smell of breakfast is in the air as you pass local restaurants with the sweet aromas of coffee and bread. Automobile and tire stations are opening their bay doors around this time. Managers are moving promotional products and signs outside onto the sidewalk, and mechanics prepare their work stations. Some slip outside for their last cigarette or cup of coffee before beginning the day’s work. At the local barber shop, senior citizens are quietly lined up waiting for the door to open. I learned a long time ago not to try and have my hair cut at an early hour as I possess a phobia for stampedes.
By Tim Bryce
The Power of Your Thoughts As a young child in the 1930s, I remember having a book called The Little Engine That Could. It was about challenge, self-worth, desire and the ability to accomplish anything if you just had the vision to persevere and not give up. Unfortunately, that book found its place at the back of the bookcase, and I did not learn its message then. Looking back, it was probably the negative vibes in the household, with the focus on me, the only child, and I was made to feel lesser than, never able to measure up in my mother’s eyes. There is a story about a young elephant being trained on a short chain. Once he outgrew the chain around his leg, he never moved from the spot, thinking it was all the farther he could go. I was a lot like that elephant, because that was all I knew, but through that experience came the determination that someday I’d break loose and find my own voice, space and life. How is it we can pick up comments or criticism and nurture them in our minds until we actually end up owning them, especially when we’re just young children? Then self-criticism takes over and helps fill in the blanks over the years—that is, unless we make a choice to see ourselves as we want to be seen. We now know that our thoughts do become things, and we need to keep positive thoughts primary in our minds, so that we encourage what we want. Do not water negativity, as it will grow faster than weeds. Looking back, I’m sure there was way too much time spent focusing my thoughts on things that did not happen, could happen, or that I was afraid would happen. It took time to realize that it’s just as easy to think in optimistically, having vision, faith and hope for positive outcomes. It is certainly more uplifting. Imagine the activity of our thoughts like that of a town-hall meeting, everyone taking the floor at once, wanting to be heard. The pushy guy that talks the loudest gets the floor. There has got to be someone doing crowd control in your mind. That person is you. You can stop the negative, degrading thoughts, and choose the high road to bridge over the stuff in the gulley that you don’t want in your life. Author Mike Dooley coined the phrase, “Thoughts become things, so choose the good ones.” Then there was Henry Ford, who said, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you are right.” It is just as easy and takes the same amount of energy to think positively. The results bring happiness, not despair. If you keep catching those thoughts as they come up and put a positive spin on them, you’ll get to be a pro. More on that next month! Stay tuned.
By Carolyn Shockey
Fishermen are busy fueling their boats, checking their rigging, and stocking supplies. It pays to stop and chat with them to find out where they’re going, what is biting, and what bait they are using. I sometimes use this opportunity to drop by the post office to check our P.O. box and drop off mail. Occasionally, I run into other people there. When I say, “Good morning,” some are taken aback and look at me like I have three eyes. Maybe it’s how I say it; then again, people are still a little groggy at this hour. The few drivers I see on the road early in the morning seem heavily sedated. They are not in as big of a rush as they will be by 8:00 am and for the rest of the day. You do not hear the honking of horns yet, and people seem rather courteous on the road at this hour. When I visit my friend in North Carolina, who happens to live in a rural area, the silence is inevitably broken by roosters crowing in the distance. I guess it is their way of telling everyone who the boss is, particularly the hens. As you travel in such areas, you see farmers already up and going about their business, be it feeding the livestock or starting their equipment in preparation for sunup. Friday morning is a favorite of mine, not because it represents the end of the work week, but because there is a quiet dignity to the day. It is the little nuances of life I appreciate, and I certainly do not take them for granted. Keep the Faith! Tim Bryce is a freelance writer living in the Tampa Bay area of Florida. timbryce.com.
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Senior Happenings We play Slo Pitch Softball on Friday mornings in Land O Lakes FL. in Fall and Winter League play. We are now known as the North Tampa Bay Sr.Softbal (NTBSS)-a fun filled league. For more information call Walt Bockmiller at (813) 5278211. Miss Florida Citrus Pageant
Theatre Winter Haven March 19
Traditional Arts of Japan Exhibit
Polk State Lake Wales Arts Center Mar 18 - Apr 12
The Miss Florida Citrus/Miss Imperial Polk County Scholarship Pageant is open to the public and judges will select winners on the following criteria: Interview/On Stage Question, Evening Wear, Talent, and Swimsuit. There will be a Meet & Greet with Miss Florida Citrus from 6:15 - 6:45 p.m. Bring your cameras! 7:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $10.00 - $15.00. Theatre W. H. is located at 210 Cypress Gardens Blvd. , Winter Haven, FL. For more information (863) 289-1395. German Language Travel Boot-camp & other language courses
Nancy Sutherland presents her exquisite Japanese EmGerman-American Society broidery artwork. Polk Museum of Art presents Japanese art from their permanent collection. Free. March 19 Polk State Lake Wales Art Ctr. is located at 1099 FL-60 , Learn the most important travel phrases and get ready Lake Wales, FL. For more information (863) 676-8426 or for upcoming trips through fun and interactive activities. info@lw-arts.org. Germa-style light lunch included. $74 Spring Special. Other courses: “German for Travelers” language course. WednesFlorida Winefest Bayfront Showcase Lunch days, 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. 8 weeks. “Intro to Modern Hebrew” language course. Wednesdays, 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. 6 Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall weeks. March 18 The German-American Society of Pinellas Park is located Wine and food paradise under the Winefest tent, meet at 8098 66th St N, Pinellas Park, FL. For more information and mingle with winemakers and vintners offering varieties (727)755-3459 for sampling, with culinary tastes from food purveyors from throughout the state. Benefits local charity organizations. At The Spring Book Sale the Winefest grounds of Van Wezel. 11:00 a.m. Tickets: $50. New River Library Van Wezel is located at 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL. LEARN TO KNIT/CROCHET (BETTER)
Tampa JCC & Federation March 18 (ongoing on Fridays)
Please join us for an ongoing beginning/intermediate knitting classes from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. and will be hosted by Sara Gerhardt. $25/member and $35/non-member. You will need to bring pastel or light color worsted weight number 4 yarn, and an eight or nine size needle. The JCC is located at 13009 Community Camps Drive, Tampa, FL. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Marissa Rosenthal at 813-769-4724 or marissa.rosenthal@jewishtampa.com.
March 19
Salute to the Military
St. Pete Beach Comm. Center & Horan Park March 19
The sixth annual military salute includes a classic car show, military vehicles, a kids fishing ‘rodeo’ for kids (2 p.m.), exhibits, military enlistment ceremony (11 a.m.), food, Pavillion #6 St. Pete Beach beer, family activities, music from noon-5 p.m, arts and March 18 (and every Sunday) Enjoy this weekly event at the beach with Bill Carrozza as crafts, and a visit by the blood mobile. 10:00 a.m. Free. Event’s location is 7701 Boca Ciega Drive, St. Pete Beach, FL. he plays new digital electronic accordion for dancing and listening pleasure. 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. St. Patrick’s Day River O’Green Fest For more information billc1accordion@gmail.com
England Brothers Bandshell Park March 18
Curtis Hixon Park March 19
Once again, Tampa celebrate St. Patrick’s Day by dyeing the Hillsborough River with a bright green, bio-degradable Get a taste of the blazing chili at the Pinellas Park Fire- dye. In addition, there will be Irish entertainment, games, a children’s area, Irish food and beer. 10:30 a.m. Free. fighters’ annual chili cook-off with live entertainment, arts Curtis Hixon Park is located at 600 N. Ashley Drive, and craft show, children’s activities and fireworks. Benefits Tampa, FL. the Muscular Dystrophy Association. 6:00 p.m. Free, $10 tasting. Cuban Sandwich Festival England Bros. Park is located at 5010 81st Ave. N, Hillsborough Community College Ybor City Pinellas Park, FL. SR. OVER 60 SOFTBALL LEAGUE
Land O Lakes March 19 (every Friday in Fall)
Airfest
MacDill Airforce Base March 20
Guests will experience static displays of military aircraft, aerial demonstrations by military and civilian performers, and learn more about the military personnel and equipment MacDill Air Force Base uses to carry out the missions here. 8:00 a.m. Aerial Performances: 10:00 a.m. Free admission and parking. McDill AFB is located at 8208 Hangar Loop Drive, Tampa, FL. BEGINNING BRIDGE LESSONS
Tampa JCC & Federation March 21
The Tampa JCC & Federation is bringing Bridge to the campus located at 13009 Community Campus Drive from 10:00-11:30 a.m. There will be six 1 ½ hour sessions that will cover the fundamentals of Bridge, including bidding and the play of hand. This course will allow you to play this game with your Bridge playing friends. These lessons will be taught by Larry Sullivan. There will be a minimum of 4 players, maximum of 12 players. The cost is $45 members/$50 non-members for the 6 sessions. The JCC is located at 13009 Community Camps Drive, Tampa, FL. For more information and to RSVP, please contact Marissa Rosenthal at 813-769-4724 or marissa.rosenthal@jewishtampa.com. SR. GOLF GROUP
Pasco and Hillsborough Counties March 23 (every Wednesday)
“Gently used’ books for all ages and book bags will be Our Sr. Golf Group plays rotating courses each Wednesavailable to purchase. We will have a children’s craft corner. day year round. Meet new golfing friends and get a group Apply for a library card. Information about joining Friends rate. of the Library will be available. Proceeds benefit all the LiFor information call Walt Bockmiller at (813) 527-8211. brary’s Programs! 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Superhero Festival New River Library is located at 34043 St. Rd. 54, Zephyrhills, FL. For more information contact Jamie WinMuseum of Science and Industry (MOSI) sett, (813) 929-6881 or luvappls@verizon.net.
Digital Electronic Accordion concert
Chili Blaze
and live entertainment as local restaurants and celebrities attempt to the longest Cuban sandwich in the world. This year’s goal is 110 feet. 11:00 a.m. Free (food/drink additional.) Hillsb. CC Ybor is located at 2112 N. 15th St., Tampa, FL.
Campus March 19
Find out which “Cuban” gets crowned as the king of the Tampa Bay area. Enjoy Cuban sandwiches, cultural vendors
March 25
This celebration of superheroes includes the Science of Superheroes, Classic Superman, a comic book swap and Crime Fighters Weekends. Runs through April 17. Included with admission. 10:00 a.m. Tickets: $22.95, $20.95 seniors, $18.95 ages 6-12, 5 and younger free. Member discounts available. Separate pricing for IMAX-only admission. It’s $15 for the zip line only, or $10 with admission. Ropes course is $10 by itself, or $7 with admission. MOSI is located at 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL. Florida Aquarium Easter Fun
Florida Aquarium March 25 -27
A scuba-diving Easter bunny plunges into the aquarium’s Schooling Fish exhibit at 11:30 a.m., 2 and 3 p.m. for Easter weekend. Also, kids can follow clues to find eggs in a scavenger hunt and pose for photos with the Easter bunny. Included with admission. 9:30 a.m. Tickets: $23.95, $20.95 seniors, $18.95 ages 3-12, 2 and younger free. Prices are generally about $2 cheaper if you buy them online. The FL Aquarium is located at 701 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL. Let’s Walk Together for Epilepsy
University of South Florida March 26
Help the Epilepsy Services Foundation raise funds to as-
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Senior Voice America
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Senior Happenings sist families affected by this condition through walking for awareness. Please wear something purple to the walk. 8:00 a.m. Tickets: $20. Univ. of S. F. is locatd at 4202 E Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL. Egg Hunt at the Museum
Glazer Children’s Museum March 26
Eggs are hidden throughout the museum with a special area reserved for children ages 3 and younger. Includes prizes and refreshments. Bring your own basket or bag. 8:00 a.m. Tickets: $12, members free. Glazer Children’s Museum is located at 110 W. Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL. Hooters Easter Hottie with Ocean Mile Swim
Hooters (Clearwater Beach) & The Lookout Bar March 26
United States, including many small craft distillers. Several prices and options are available. 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Michaels on East is located at 1212 S. East Ave, Sarasota, FL. Understanding Lab Results for Cancer & Blood Disorders
Memorial Hospital Auditorium April 1
the bay and the park for this show with clinics and other aquatic related activities. Proceeds benefit Clothes for Kids. 10:00 a.m. Tickets: $3, 12 and younger free. Safety Harbor Waterfront Park is located at 110 Veterans Memorial Lane, Safety Harbor, FL. Magnolia Ball
Marriott Waterside April 9
Join us at this Lunch and Learn activity as Dr. Chatoor discusses common types of blood tests and what they can tell the Dr. about your health. 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Lunch provided. Memorial Hospital is located at 2901 W. Swann Ave., Tampa, FL. Please RSVP (813)342-1313.
This black-tie gala features live music by the Goo Goo Dolls, cocktails and auctions. Benefits Moffitt Cancer Center. 5:30 p.m. Tickets: $1,000. Marriott Waterside is located at 700 S. Florida Ave., Tampa, FL.
Festivals of Speed Luxury Lifestyle Reception
Wishmaker’s Ball
Tampa Bay Automobile Museum April 1
Grand Hyatt Tampa April 9
Family friendly run. Every participant receives a finisher medal and T-shirt. Free beer and wings at Hooters post race party. 9:00 a.m. Tickets: $40. Hooters is located at 381 Mandalay Ave., Clearwater Beach, FL.
This upscale party includes a huge display of rare and exotic automobiles, custom motorcycles, lifestyle products, open bar, themed food, live music, auctions and an event poster. Benefits the Pediatric Cancer Foundation. 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $125. Tampa Bay Aut. Museum is located at 3301 Gateway Centre Blvd., Pinellas Park, FL.
The black tie gala benefits Make-A-Wish and includes dinner, VIP table drawing, silent and live auctions, live entertainment and special appearances from local wish kids. 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $200. The Grand Hyatt Tampa is located at 2900 Bayport Drive, Tampa, FL.
Sunrise Service
Walk to Cure Diabetes (Tampa)
Faith Outreach Center March 27
Amalie Arena April 2
Dunedin Comm. Center April 9
A super sized Easter sunrise service includes a free continental breakfast followed by the musical, dramatic presentation of King of Glory. 7:00 a.m. Free. Faith Outreach Ctr. is located at 7607 Sheldon Road, Town ‘N Country, FL.
The 3.1 mile walk helps fund research toward removing the impact of type 1 diabetes. Food from WaWa and Dunkin Donuts, live entertainment and fun for kids. 8:00 a.m. Free (donations appreciated). Amalie Arena is located at 401 Channelside Dr., Tampa, FL.
Musical Easter Service
Parrot Head Party
Hyde Park United Methodist Church March 27
Downtown Old Palm Harbor Main Street April 2 & 3
A variety of musical styles include traditional chancel choir, a contemporary Joyful Praise team and the modern Magnolia Band. 8:00 a.m. & 9:30 a.m. Free. Hyde Park United Methodist is located at 500 W. Platt St., Tampa, FL. Easter Brunch/Dinner Cruise
Yacht StarShip March 27
Climb aboard the Yacht StarShip for a buffet of breakfast and lunch items, DJ music, cash bar and family photos with Peter Cottontail. 10:30 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Tickets - Brunch: $49.95, $29.95 children; Dinner: $59.95, $29.95 children Channelside : 603 Channelside Drive, Tampa, FL. Ringling Wine Walk
Ringling Museum of Art April 1
Take a self-guided tour of the Ringling grounds while stopping to sample wine and food pairings along the way. Includes commemorative wine glass and live music. VIP ticket adds access to the Ca’d’Zan Terrace Lounge with a special menu, champagne toast and a dedicated service staff. Benefits the Ca’d’Zan preservation fund. 6:00 p.m. Tickets: $135, $120 members, $200 VIP. Ringlin Museum is located at 5401 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, FL. For more information www.ringling.org. 4th Annual Whiskey Obsession
Michaels on East April 1
A great event for the connoisseur of spirits, with dozens of master distillers and professional brand ambassadors on hand to serve over 200 whiskies from Scotland, England, Ireland, France, India, Australia, Japan, Canada, and the
The St. Petersburg Community Band, the Second Time Arounders Marching Band and the Dunedin Concert Band join ranks for an old-time outdoor concert. 3:00 p.m. Dunedin Comm. Center is located at 1920 Pinehurst Road, Dunedin, FL. Los Vinos de Dali
Dali Museum April 10
Dress as colorfully as you can for this year’s tropicalthemed party featuring arts and crafts displays, food, beer and music by Lightning Jack, Trinity 7 and the Trop Rock Junkies. 2:00 p.m. Free. Event’s location: Florida Avenue and Alternate 19, Palm Harbor, FL. Art in Bloom Special Event: Flowers After Hours
Museum of Fine Arts April 7
Flowers After Hours: Be one of the first to view Art in Bloom’s intricate floral designs while you enjoy appetizers, wine, cocktails and jazz. 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $17, $15 seniors and military, $10 students with college ID, kids 6 and younger free. $5 after 5:00 p.m. Thursdays. The Museum of Fine Arts is located at 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL. Breaking Free: Silent No More
T Pepin’s Hospitality Centre April 8
Pinellas Comm. Band Festival
The classy, cocktail attire event to help domestic violence victims “break free” includes a cocktail hour, dinner, silent auction, a cake auction, mix and mingle and a red carpet fashion show featuring domestic violence survivors as models. Benefits Visions of Hope International. 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $75. T Pepin’s Hosp. Centre is located at 4121 N 50th St., Tampa, FL.
Dance to live music as you sample tapas from area restaurants paired with rare wines. Must be 21 or older. 4:00 p.m. Tickets: $75, includes admission to Dali exhibits. The Dali Museum is located at 1 Dali Blvd. (Bayshore Drive SE and Fifth Avenue SE), St. Petersburg, FL. Free Concert by the South Pasadena Community Band
Treasure Island Community Center April 13
The concert is entitled “Water Music” which will feature various arrangements and compositions with something dealing with water in the title. The band is composed of very talented volunteer local musicians The center is located at 1 Park Place, 106th Avenue in Treasure Island, FL. For more information or joining, www.southpasadenaband.com, or call (727) 398-9639. Tampa Bay Accordion Club
Gold Star American Legion #305 April 20
If you play accordion, bring your instrument for an opportunity to meet other musicians and perform. All welcome, beginners to professionals. 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. The Gold Star American Legion is located at 69th & Golf Blvd. St. Pete Beach, FL. For more information, contact Bill Carroza, billc1accordion@gmail.com.
Safety Harbor Boat Show
Email Your Senior Happening to:
Safety Harbor Waterfront Park April 8 - 10
The Deadline for the May Issue is Mar. 31st
Boats of all shapes, sizes and styles fill
Lourdes@amgoldman.com
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Senior Voice America
APR 2016
humor
Not Everyone is Sleepless in Seattle One of the biggest crises today for us common folk is the lack of sleep. Fortunately, for me, I can go into hibernation mode at any given moment., My friends, especially the sleepless-in-Seattle ones, envy—and maybe even hate me for my ability to catch some Z’s. Frankly, I think I could sleep standing up, or at a ballgame, or even while on a roller coaster. Well, nix that last one. It wasn’t always so. I swear I used to be able to hear the grass grow, so you can imagine what night sounds did to me. If a tree frog was outside my window at bedtime, I became maniacal. Now, thanks to substantial hearing loss, nothing disturbs my sleep—not chirping crickets, the hum of the refrigerator, dripping faucets, or the dog farting under the bed. Why, even the neighbor’s garage floodlights can’t disturb my slumber. Unfortunately, if sleep is considered “beauty rest,” well, it isn’t working. I should emerge from the covers as Sophia Loren, what with my typical nine-hoursa-night sleep pattern. Nope. Not even close. Sleep is also supposed to be a time for body repair. Hmm. Someone is sleeping on the job, that’s for sure. I awake every morning to the same old creaking knees, aching back, and bags under my eyes big enough to pack for a seven-month vacation. And, hey, speaking of sleeping on the job, Mr. Sandman—the Genie of the night—has never answered my “dream man” request, despite having 198,560 hours to work his magic. In fact, oftentimes my dreams find me running, screaming my lungs out down Elm Street, and it’s no tall, dark and handsome dude chasing me! Still, like the commercial says, “sleep is a beautiful thing.” While I don’t suffer from insomnia, there are a few minor problems. I cannot power nap. Mine can be nothing short of a long winter’s nap, or I wake up groggier than Rip Van Winkle. If I’m sleeping at a guest’s home—or even in a motel room—and the sheets and blankets are tucked in at the bottom of the bed, I feel like I am suffocating. Someone could probably murder me, not by putting a pillow over my face, but, rather, over my feet!
By Jean Mlincek
I hate to think that I snore, but, occasionally, I am awakened by a noise, and I know not whence it comes. Let’s leave it at that. Also, I hate to picture myself sleeping with my mouth open. That’s cute when it’s baby birds waiting for a worm, but the thought of me drooling on the pillow is downright sickening. There are other sleep-related issues in my life. I absolutely HATE any TV commercial that features the sound of snoring. I actually have to turn down the audio. The sound of a chainsaw, I like, but, for some reason, the sound of snoring is more grating than someone scratching a blackboard with his or her fingernails. Arrrrrggggghhhhh. I also hate TV commercials that tell you that your mattress, after eight years, weighs 27 times more than when you first bought it, thanks to the accumulation of dead skin over the years. Now there’s a sure trigger for a nightmare! It is interesting that not everyone sees sleep as a positive thing. Of course, you must consider the source, but Edgar Allen Poe quipped, “Sleep, those little slices of death; Oh, how I loathe them.” Maybe if Mr. Poe had experienced a Sleep Number Bed back then, he wouldn’t have been so grouchy. Personally, I rest my case for a good night’s sleep with a quote from D.H. Lawrence, who wrote: “And if tonight my soul may find her peace in sleep, and sink in good oblivion, and in the morning wake like a new-opened flower, then I have been dipped again in God, and new-created.” And with that, I will turn out the light and say, “Good night!” Jean Mlincek is a freelance writer who resides in St. Petersburg, Fla.
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travel
CRUISE VACATIONS: Living in Central Florida gives us many pluses when it comes to a quick getaway for fun, relaxation or vacation. We have the sun, beaches at a short driving distance, champion golf courses, fishing options, amusement parks galore and much more! There is also a fun alternative to driving or flying away for a few days of fun—so pack your bags and search for the next cruise leaving out of our home ports. We have two alternatives for sailing away, as Tampa and Port Canaveral ports are within easy, convenient driving reach for any of our SVA readers. An affordable vacation, usually with additional discounts for seniors and Florida residents, comes accompanied by luxurious decor, the best of service, gourmet dining, first-class entertainment, relaxing spas and the beauty of the sea surroundings that put a magical touch around the entire experience. The Port of Tampa offers cruises from three lines: Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, offering the variety of 4, 5, 7 and 14-day cruise itineraries. Out of the eastern location of Port Canaveral, you may embark on 1 to 7-day excursions aboard vessels from Carnival Cruise Lines, Disney Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean International. You are sure to find a cruise that suits your schedule and fires your imagination. In past issues, we have reviewed travel out of the port of Tampa aboard the Paradise. On our most recent cruise, our family decided to try the other neighbor port, Canaveral, which is basically next to Cocoa Beach and in proximity to the Space Kennedy Center; very accessible from the Tampa or Orlando area via expressways (be prepared to pay a few tolls along the way.) We traveled on the Sensation, on a four day cruise with stops in Freeport, Grand Bahama and in Nassau. This ship in comparison to the Paraside is more modern and has the additional fun feature for the young of the “Water Works”, a remodeled section with three water slides and splash zones that include buckets that when filled, tip over a few gallons over your head. As usual, we encountered wonderful service in every corner of the ship and a comfortable cabin that was kept impeccable by a very friendly maintenance crew with atten-
By Lourdes M. Sáenz
Affordable and Fun Alternative at Our Doorstep
tion to every detail, including animal shape towel folding and turndown service. Standard inside and outside cabins are spacious enough, at an average size of 185 square feet, and have ample storage and closet space. A plus while traveling with Carnival is that standard cabins include robes and the “Comfort Bed” sleep system featuring deluxe plush mattresses, soft duvets, high quality linens and upgraded pillows. We prefer cabins with a view; this time due to late travel arrangements, we had an inside cabin, but since time spent in the room is minimal, we did not miss our ocean view too much. Another aspect that we love as part of the Carnival standard is the excellent menu selections in their evening dining experience. Travellers may choose an earlier sitting at 6:15 p.m. or a later one at 8:15 p.m. Here is where you are sure to be wowed by the fresh options and varied selections, which include fish, beef, specialty lamb and premium seafood. With regret, the company has decided to eliminate the Maine lobster from the menu of cruises shorter than 7 days, but it is still available at a surcharge. All the dishes we tried during this voyage (and earlier vacations) were delicious, from appetizers to soups to warm, fresh varieties of breads and rolls, to salads, gourmet main courses and extravagant, decadent desserts, all deliciously prepared and beautifully presented. There is a standard, unvaried menu as well, with home-style items including tender sirloin and vegetarian dishes. In the dining room, we encountered wonderful service with very personal attention to every detail, with the added bonus that on this ship we re-encountered two friendly faces from some previous cruises, the elegant and gracious Maître d’, Valentin, as well as our server, Snezana who was assigned to serve us once again and treated us better than VIP guests! Thanks to both of them and the rest of the Maîtres, hostesses and restaurant staff for going the extra mile to make our voyage unforgettable. Our trip was also highlighted by the fun atmosphere, which is the soul of the Carnival family. Activities are planned and advertised in a daily flyer, fit for every taste, from the early riser looking for exercise routines to those who enjoy trivia games to fun activities for all ages, including children and teen clubs, art gallery shows, shopping specials and evenings filled with live music, karaoke, dancing, comedy, Las Vegas-style shows or a test of luck in the casino. Then there is something to look forward to at the ports of call, where there is plenty of time to enjoy a booked tour from the knowledgeable cruise team, or you may venture out on your own to enjoy the paradisiacal shores. In our first stop, Freeport, since it is an industrial port area, the general view is not as pleasant as in other cruise ports visited in the past. If not participating on a ship-scheduled tour, there are alternatives of finding your own beach spot, but all are reachable only by taxi, bus or rented vehicle. Many of those areas have excellent snorkeling opportunities, such as Paradise Cove where you can snorkel Deadman’s Reef, offering the option to swim in a protected cove that has shallow areas for less expert swimmers or a deeper drop for the more daring. But to make the most of your hours in the island, a day pass at a luxury resort is probably the most pampering experience. Grand Lucayan is such a place! An award-winning resort located along the calm turquoise waters of the Atlantic Ocean, this resort enjoys a prime location on Grand Bahama Island, overlooking a 7.5acre white-sand beach and includes amenities such as an 18-hole championship golf course, four tennis courts, a Vegas-style casino, a variety of restaurants and bars,
an expansive spa and fitness center and three swimming Lucayan Resort pools. With day passes Grand that are $25 for adults and $15 for children, Grand Lucayan, Bahamas is the perfect getFreeport
away for families, couples and groups looking for an authentic Caribbean retreat. This resort is just a short taxi ride from the cruise ship terminal. The hours for the day pass are from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. so you decide, and you may come and go as you please. If your next cruise includes a stop in Freeport, make Grand Lucayan your day stop for incredible relaxation and fun. For more information www. grandlucayan.com. Our next port stop, in Nassau, drops us in the midsts of the colonial town with typical pastel-colored houses. There are plenty of restaurants, shops and local vendors, as well as an array of tour offers and taxis trying to sell a ride to a local beach. We decided on Paradise Island and a public area beach next to a hotel area. After this experience, we suggest travelers do their homework because sometimes what is advertised as “free beach” ends up costing more than expected, with the use of lounge chairs at $15 and umbrella rentals at $25, plus the taxi van charge of $5 per person each way. A beautiful beach with great hues of color in the water and white sand to contrast; there are vendors offering cold drinks and snacks, but no bathroom facilities, so again, research is key. The Straw Market is only a couple of blocks from the port and in this large shopping area you can find all sorts of local crafts and souvenirs... remember to haggle for a better deal. As the ship sails home, there is one last day of fun, to enjoy the sun by the pool or on the spacious sun decks. There are still many activities throughout and wonderful food to be enjoyed in the different venues. The vacation comes to an end, and it is a moment of mixed feelings as we get ready to disembark, but we take with us all the memories of wonderful days at sea. Words cannot express how thankful we are for the treatment received by the very professional individuals met onboard the Sensation, from the food and hotel service industry administration to the wait and bartending staff, the room attendants, and all who do so much work behind the scenes of dining and glamorous surroundings. You keep the ship in such tip-top shape, sailing week after week, pleasing each and every group, family or individual cruiser who is sure to become, as we have, loyal members of the Carnival Cruise family. Very special thanks to: Seth Grunes of Carnival Cruise Lines, Nancy Clark and Sensation crew, Hotel Director Andrew, Maîtres Valentin, Orshan and Marcos, Hostess Nina and our very own wonderful server, Snezana.
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APR 2016
real estate
LESS HOUSE, MORE COMFORT Downsizing for Peace of Mind By Ben Souchek
Retirement is certainly not meant to be stressful, but senior homeowners are all too
often bogged down by the weight and responsibility of their possessions and the size of their home. Downsizing is a common solution to these challenges, and moving to a smaller place can help individuals relax without the worry of maintaining a larger property.
Possibly the biggest benefit of moving into a smaller place during retirement is that a
smaller housing situation often comes with fewer responsibilities in terms of upkeep. Perhaps you’re a homeowner no longer wanting to deal with your oversized yard or garden. In this case, you might find an apartment or condo very appealing later in your retirement, because there is less outdoor space to mow, prune, weed, plant, and rake—all activities that can be both physically tiring and expensive. Housing where there is less outdoor space, or where outdoor space is maintained by a property management team, is ideal for people looking to move away from these kinds of responsibilities.
Large homes also come with more indoor maintenance. Regular repairs on a 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom home, for example, can be-
come extremely time consuming. If left unattended, these seemingly small maintenance chores can create a whole host of new problems and expenses for homeowners. Living in a smaller home, apartment, or condo where maintenance workers take care of regular repairs for you can really relieve some of the burden.
There are many reasons for downsizing, but one of the most common we see is that homeowners want to relax, unwind, and en-
joy their retirement without the hassle of keeping up a big house. With less home maintenance required, seniors can use their free time and savings to do the things they love. Learn more from Ben Souchek at www.HomeDownsizingSolutions.com.
Downsizing & Decluttering
You want to downsize, but then the thought of “what do I do with all my stuff” sets in. One of the first things to do is to take inventory of what you do have. You should create a few different lists, such as the must have items, nice to have items, and the items you could do without and/or don’t care about any longer. The next thing is do determine how much room your next home is going to have. Then you can determine which of the items, starting with your must haves, would be able to be moved. When The Sierra Group buys your house, you can take any or all of the “stuff” you want and leave the rest. There is no need to spend the money for a dumpster and taking the time and effort to dispose of your unwanted items. We will take care of it for you. Just call us at our toll free number or fill out the form at the right, and we will do everything we can to make your move as stress free and hassle free as possible. www.HomeDownsizingSolutions.com
p U k c i P y p o C r YouToday! Covering Topics of interest in Health, Retirement, Finances, Community Calendars, Entertainment and more...
Senior VoiceAmerica
can be found at over 1,000 Bay Area locations
APR 2016
Senior Voice America
retirement finances
Important Facts About Your Employer-Sponsored Plan “Qualified” or Employer-Sponsored Plans include 401(k)’s, 403(b)’s, 457’s, and TSP’s (Thrift Savings Plans). Many employees today have the opportunity to partake in one of these plans if they are employed by a small business, major corporation, or the local or federal government. The advantages of these plans are that they are pre-tax contributions, grow-tax deferred, and, in some instances, employers will implement “matching” in your account. If you are able to contribute the maximum amount, it can certainly aid in building a substantial nest egg for retirement. If you are older than 59 ½ years of age, nearing or currently in retirement, and still in your employer-sponsored plan, you could be facing significant risks or disadvantages. In 2001 and 2002, the collapse of Enron and WorldCom resulted in all of the employees who were affected losing not only their jobs, but also their pensions and 401(k)’s. Many employer-sponsored plans, particularly 401(k)’s, are sometimes heavily weighted in that company’s stock. This can be a big disadvantage to the employee if that stock starts dropping in value, which is what happened to many employees when the markets collapsed in 2001 and 2008. The biggest complaints that we receive from clients are that they get no assistance or guidance from their plan provider, have no idea what they are paying in fees, and have no “safe haven” to turn to when the market starts taking a downturn. Lastly, there is concern that with pensions diminishing or basically non-existent in the workplace, employees have no guarantees for lifetime income. In 2006 President Bush signed into law one of the most comprehensive pieces of legislation regarding pension reform since ERISA was enacted in 1974. It is a 400-page document that led many companies to change the way their plans were designed, administered, and disclosed to plan participants. With all of that being said, Congress essentially said, to every American, that, when it comes to retirement plans, “you are on your own!” If you are more than 59 ½ years of age, or currently working and participating in an employer-sponsored plan, or retired and have held onto your plan, or if you hold an individual IRA, you have options available that you may not be aware of yet. These are options that could allow you to take full control of your plan while protecting it and setting up guaranteed lifetime income (pension) that you can never outlive. To arrange a complimentary consultation with Edward G. Rizzotto, Owner-President of Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group, contact: Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group at (727) 683-9119 or visit www.rizzottotax.com. Offices in Largo & Trinity, Fla. Securities offered through Foresters Equity Services, Inc., Member FINRA / SIPC, 6640 Lusk Blvd., Suite A-202 San Diego, CA 92121. P: (800) 350-9885. Visit www.forestersequity.com. Rizzotto Tax Advisory Group & Foresters Equity Services, Inc. are not affiliated.
By Edward G. Rizzotto
Most Common Types of Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans: 1. Defined Benefit Pension Plans - Referred to as traditional retirement plans, defined benefit pension plans. Today they are fairly rare, as most have been replaced by defined contribution plans. In a defined benefit pension plan the employee will receive a fixed monthly benefit at retirement and will not be responsible to make any contributions to the plan. All contributions will be supplied by the employer, who will base the monthly benefit on income and years of service. Since the plan is entirely administered by the employer, the employee will have no control over the funds upon reaching retirement age. 2. 401(k) Plan - The most common employer-sponsored retirement plan today, primarily offered by large, for-profit businesses. It is a defined contribution plan funded primarily by the employee but often comes with at least a partial employer match. The employee chooses which investments in the 401(k) plan to put his or her funds into and will have complete control over the money upon reaching retirement. Contributions are tax deductible in the year they are made. Investment earnings will accumulate on a tax-deferred basis. 3. Roth 401(k) Plan - Pprovide the benefits of a regular Roth IRA, but the employee contributions are the same as those for a regular 401(k) plan. Contributions into a Roth 401(k) are not tax-deductible. Investment earnings accumulate on a tax-deferred basis. However, distributions from the plan are tax free, as long as the employee is at least 59½ and has been in the plan for at least five years.
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Senior Voice America
APR 2016
Entertainment 4000 Miles
American Stage Theatre Co. 16 - April 10 (Wed - Sun)
Amy Herzog’s Obie Award-winning drama, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, charts the relationship between a grandson and his feisty grandmother in her Greenwich Village apartment. 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $39$59. Raymond James Theatre is located at 163 Third St. N, St. Petersburg,FL. Saturday Night Fever
The Lakeland Center March 17
The iconic story of Tony - the kid from Brooklyn USA - who wants to dance his way to a better life is back! And back in an all-new production that shares Tony’s love for dancing in spectacular new ways. Fueled by vintage Bee Gee hits, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER - THE MUSCIAL is the contemporary retelling of the classic story captures the energy, passion and lifechanging moments that have thrilled movie audiences since 1977. Now, a new generation of dancers meets a new generation of playgoers to explore the soaring sounds and pulsating rhythms of this coming-of-age Disco fantasy. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $45 - $60. Frank Sinatra Jr. - Sinatra Sings Sinatra
Mahaffey Theatre March 17
The Centennial Celebration! In stories, photos, videos and songs, Frank Sinatra Jr. delivers firsthand recollections of life on and off stage with his iconic father. It’s a one-of-a-kind multi-media experience. Above all, this evening is about the music of Sinatra: On “Come Fly With Me,” “New York, New York,” “Strangers in the Night,” “My Way” plus many more, Sinatra Jr. will be backed by a big band featuring many of the very same musicians who played with Sinatra Sr., conducted by Terry Woodson. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $42.50 - $72.50. Cirque du Soleil: Toruk
Amalie Arena March 17 - 20
show includes live music, an arts and crafts show and carnival rides. No coolers allowed. Crystal Gayle ; Jimmy Bush & Will Yancy, K9 Demo, Bay Bluegrass, Clemons Road and Pirate Flag Band open for the country singer who takes the stage at 8:00 p.m. Free. England Bros. Park is located at 5010 81st Ave. N, Pinellas Park, FL. Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood: Two Man Group
Mahaffey Theatre March 19
Following the enormous success of ABC’s Whose Line Is It Anyway?,Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, two stars of the Emmy-nominated series, have teamed up to present an evening of extraordinary improvisational comedy. Using their quick wit, Mochrie and Sherwood take suggestions from the audience to create hilarious and original scenes. Throughout the evening, the show becomes truly interactive as audience members are called to the stage to participate in the fun. 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $37.50 - $55.50. Sarasota Opera: Aida
Sarasota Opera House March 19
Verdi’s beloved tale of the mythic love triangle between a slave, a vengeful princess and a great warrior will be conducted by Victor DeRenzi. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $19-$125. The Sarasota Opera House is located at 61 N Pineapple Ave., Sarasota, FL. Judy Collins
Capitol Theatre March 20
The ‘60s singer-songwriter and Grammy Awardwinner is known equally for her country, folk, pop and rock ‘n’ roll hits as well as her social activism. 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $32.50-$46.50. Palladium Chamber Players
Palladium Theater March 23
An immersive multimedia spectacle brings to the stage the world of James Cameron’s Avatar through the signature style of Cirque du Soleil. For show times and to buy tickets www.amaliearena.com. Tickets: $40-$110.
Florida Orchestra Concertmaster Jeff Multer, violist Danielle Farina, cellist Edward Arron and pianist Jeewon Park bring vibrant interpretations of the classic chamber repertoire. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $25-$38; $140 for 4, $105 for 3. Palladium Theatre is located at 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL.
St. Pete Opera: Evenings/Mornings With the Maestro
Don Rickles and Regis Philbin
Museum of Fine Arts March 18
Ruth Eckerd Hall March 23
St. Petersburg Opera artistic director Mark Sforzini leads a program to enhance your understanding of opera and preview shows. This program is Back to the Couch: Opera Therapy 2. 11:00 a.m. Tickets: $20, $15$17 seniors/students. The Museum of Fine Art is located at 255 Beach Drive NE, St. Petersburg, FL.
The new production of the beloved dance story is packed with legendary hits by the Bee Gees, including Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever and How Deep is Your Love? 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $35-$100.
Come celebrate comedy legend Don Rickles’ 90th birthday as he takes the Ruth Eckerd Hall stage for one night only! Television icon and Don’s friend of 50 years Regis Philbin will host this once-in-a-lifetime event that includes classic video clips of the friends together, followed by a Q&A with Don and Regis. 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $50.25 - *$153.75 *$153.75 ticket includes a VIP Meet & Greet. Dinner Package includes a premium seat, pre-show dinner and a voucher for free valet parking. Valet service begins 15 minutes before pre-show dinner doors open. Artist does not appear at dinner. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet prior to the performance for only $25 per person (includes tax). Doors open two hours prior to the performance. Due to limited seating, we suggest advance purchase.
Country in the Park: Crystal Gayle
The Irish Tenors
England Brothers Bandshell Park March 19
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall March 23
Saturday Night Fever
Ruth Eckerd Hall March 18
The city of Pinellas Park’s annual festival and trade
The group not only sings Irish classics like Danny
Boy and Whiskey in the Jar, but also popular songs like My Heart Will Go On. 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $35-$70 Florida Orchestra Coffee Concert: Listen and Laugh
Mahaffey Theater March 24
Forget the image of classical music as stuffy, under the direction of Stuart Malina, the orchestra presents classically fun works including The Typewriter (Anderson), “Toy” Symphony (L. Mozart), Champagne Polka (Strauss Jr.) and The Unbegun Symphony (PDQ Bach.) 11:00 a.m. Tickets: $24-$42. The Midtown Men
The Lakeland Center March 24
This sensational production reunites four stars from the Original Cast of Broadway’s Jersey Boys. Tony award winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard and Tony Award nominee J.Robert Spencer, star in this one-of-a-kind concert experience celebrating the music that defined the 60’s. They took Broadway by storm in one of the biggest hits of alltime! Now, THE MIDTOWN MEN are bringing their magic to audiences everywhere by singing their favorite “Sixties Hits” from The Beatles, The Rascals, Motown, The Four Seasons and more! Chicago and Earth, Wind and Fire
MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre March 26
Two of the defining brass-driven acts of the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s are teaming up for a new round of dates on their Heart and Soul Tour. 7:30 p.m. Tickets: $18.95-$118. Aretha Franklin
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall March 29
The chance to hear the legendary singer perform a night of her biggest hits (Respect, I Say A Little Prayer), as well as other soul and R&B classics, doesn’t come along very often. 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $55-$180. Johnny Mathis 60th Anniversary
Ruth Eckerd Hall March 31
Grammy Hall of Fame inductee Johnny Mathis returns to Ruth Eckerd Hall bringing his supremely popular hits like Chances Are, It’s Not For Me To Say and Misty, Johnny has recorded more than 80 albums, six Christmas albums and has sold millions of records worldwide. During his extensive career he has had three songs inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, achieved 50 Hits on Billboard’s Adult Contemporary Chart and ranks as the all-time number six album artist in the history of Billboard’s pop album charts. 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $35 - *$150. *$150 Dinner Package includes a premium seat, pre-show dinner and a voucher for free valet parking. Valet service begins 15 minutes before pre-show dinner doors open. Artist does not appear at dinner. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet prior to the performance for only $25 per person (includes tax). Doors open two hours prior to the performance. Due to limited seating, we suggest advance purchase. Sophia Loren
Ruth Eckerd Hall April 1
Ruth Eckerd Hall presents a once-in-a-lifetime evening with legendary actress and Academy Award®winner Sophia Loren on Friday, April 1 at 8 pm. Synonymous with grace, beauty and artistry, the Oscar-winning actress will captivate the audience with
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Entertainment an intimate onstage conversation and Q&A hosted by Tampa Bay Times movie critic, Steve Persall. 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $55 - *$253.75. *$253.75 VIP Package includes a premium seat, meet & greet, post-show dessert reception. **$150 Dinner Package includes a premium seat, pre-show dinner and a voucher for free valet parking. Valet service begins 15 minutes before pre-show dinner doors open. Artist does not appear at dinner. Enjoy a sumptuous buffet prior to the performance for only $25 per person (includes tax). Doors open two hours prior to the performance. Due to limited seating, we suggest advance purchase. Rhythm in the Night, Irish Dance Spectacular
Mahaffey Theatre April 1
This 110-minute phenomenon reimagines traditional Irish dance to take the audience on an exciting journey of a fallen hero and his rise to redemption for an unforgettable experience the entire family will enjoy! Led by former Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance lead dancer, Justin Boros, the accomplished cast featuring 20 of the world’s most skilled Irish dancers and musicians brings the inspiring story of love and salvation to life against a backdrop of ancient ruins that transports the audience to another time and place, where the imagination unfolds. 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $25 - $45. Duran Duran
MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre April 2
Simon Le Bon and company will work through classic pop hits like Girls On Film and The Wild Boys and support of their latest album Paper Gods. But a slew of fans will also turn out for openers disco-funk legends Chic, featuring producer and guitarist Nile Rodgers.7:00 p.m. Tickets: $29.95-$135.95. tfo Masterworks: Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto
Straz Center April 1 Mahaffey Theater April 2 Ruth Eckerd Hall April 3
Under the direction of guest conductor Josep Caballe-Domenech and accompanied by violinist Simone Porter, the orchestra presents Symphony No. 96, “The Miracle” (Haydn), Violin Concerto (Mendelssohn) and Symphony No. 9 (Shostakovich). 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $15-$45. Pinellas Park Civic Orchestra Concert
Pinellas Park Performing Arts Ctr. April 3
The fifty volunteer musicians will perform the last free concert of this season at 7:00 p.m.. Art Hansul conductor, Featuring soprano Suzanne Ruley and
baritone Jeff Clark. Free, donations accepted. Parking beside the hall is free. Pinellas Park Perf. Arts Ctr. is located at 4951 78th Ave. N., Pinellas Park, FL. La Musica Intern. Chamber Music Festival
Sarasota Opera House April 4 - 13
The festival celebrates 30 years. Highlights include a commissioned piece by Sarasota resident and composer Jerry Bilik, the “Simply Sonatas at Sainer” and more, with a total of four concerts by La Musica. Program includes Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525, Yuko Uebayashi’s “Misericordia” for flute and string quartet and more. 8:00 p.m. Tickets: $40 single ticket, $150 four concerts. For event information and purchasing tickets www.lamusicafestival.org. Met. Opera Live & Encore: Madame Butterfly
Park Place Stadium 16 April 6
The MET series features Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. Also being shown at Hyde Park Cinebistro in Tampa, Citrus Stadium 20 in Tampa, Woodland Square 20 in Oldsmar, Royal Palm 20 in Sarasota, Regency 20 in Brandon and Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel. 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $24, $22 seniors, $18 students, $16 children (live); $18. Park Place is located at 7200 U.S. 19 N, Pinellas Park, FL. Don Giovanni
Carol Morsani Hall Straz Center April 8
Follow Mozart’s masterful villain — a seducer, set-up artist, liar and cheat — through the last two days of his life, with sex, murder and nonstop parties. Performed in Italian with English supertitles. 8:00 p.m. Price: TBA. Keiko Matsui
Largo Cultural Center April 8
With more than a dozen albums, the contemporary jazz artist has held the number one spot on the Billboards Contemporary Jazz charts and sold more than 1.2 million CD’s in the U.S. alone. 8:00 p.m. Tickets $34.50-$49.50 advance, $39.50-$54.50 at the door. The Largo Cultural Center is located at 105 Central Park Drive, Largo, FL. Tampa Bay Blues Fest
Vinoy Park April 8 -10
Aaron Neville headlines this year’s waterfront festival featuring three days of blues with guitar whizzes Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Walter Trout and many more. Vendors serving a variety of cuisines, beer, wine and mixed drinks, along with arts and crafts are scattered throughout the grounds. The Reba Russell Band, Biscuit Miller, Victor Wain-
wright and Tommy Castro & The Painkillers open. After party at the Palladium. 12:30 p.m. Tickets: $20-$250. Vinoy Park is located at 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg, FL. For more information (727) 895-6153 or www. tampabaybluesfest.com. Let It Be
Ruth Eckerd Hall April 9
The music defined a generation, captured the hearts and ideals of millions, and now you will be able to relive the memories as Annerin Productions proudly presents Let It Be - A Celebration of the Music of the Beatles! Over forty of the Beatles’ songs including: Hard Day’s Night, Day Tripper, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Twist and Shout and more, this show is coming for one night only and you won’t want to miss it! 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $35 - *$150. *$150 Dinner Package includes a premium seat, pre-show dinner and a voucher for free valet parking. Valet service begins 15 minutes before preshow dinner doors open. Artist does not appear at dinner. Najee
Palladium Theater April 10
The Grammy-winning saxophonist and flautist is one of the pioneers of contemporary jazz. 7:00 p.m. Tickets: $29$49. The Palladium is located at 253 Fifth Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL. Grandma Goes off Her Rocker
May 22 Heritage Springs Performing Arts Center
This is a comedy about an elderly widow, living quietly with her daughter and family, who is knocked off her rocker by the appearance of a sweetheart from her youth. 2:00 p.m. Ticket price is $15 in advance, $18 at the door. This performance is sponsored by Congregation B’nai Emmunah Sisterhood of Tarpon Springs. Heritage Springs Performing Arts Center is located at 11345 Robert Trent Jones Pkwy, Trinity FL. For more information contact Reva Finlay (727)3759049 or bfinlay@tampabay.rr.com.
VENUE ADDRESSES AND CONTACT INFORMATION Sarasota Opera House 61 N. Pineapple Ave., Sarasota FL (941) 328-1300 www.sarasotaopera.org Midflorida Credit Union Amphitheatre 4802 N. US Highway 301 Tampa, FL 33610 Telephone: (813) 740-2446. www.midflorida.com/amphitheatre The Historic Capitol Theatre 405 Cleveland Street Clearwater, FL 33755 Telephone: (727) 791-7400. www.rutheckerdhall.com The Lakeland Center — 701 W. Lime St. Lakeland, FL 33815. Telephone: (863) 834-8100 www.thelakelandcenter.com The Mahaffey Theater — 400 1st. St. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Telephone: (727) 892-5798. www.themahaffey.com Ruth Eckerd Hall — 1111 McMullen Booth Rd. Clearwater, FL 33759. Telephone: (727) 791-7400. www.rutheckerdhall.com The Straz Center — 1010 North Macinnes Place, Tampa, FL 33602. Telephone: (813) 229-7827. www.strazcenter.org Amelie Arena 401 Channelside Dr. Tampa, FL 33602. Telephone: (813) 301-6500. www.amaliearena.com American Stage Theatre 163 3rd Street North St. Petersburg, FL 33701 Telephone: (727)823-7529 www.americanstage.org Van Wezel Perf. Arts Hall 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236 (941) 953-3368 www.vanwezel.org
When It Comes to Entertaining
Get out from behind your mask and list your Event for Free right here on the SVA ENTERTAINMENT PAGES!
Email your event information no later than the 15th of the month for the following month listings to:
lourdes@amgoldman.com
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Senior Voice America
APR 2016
Senior to Senior Woman Seeking Man
Senior to Senior Abbreviations
S W F NS ND looking for M NS 58-65, likes to walk, flea markets, dining, relaxing at home. Only sincere reply, I’m 55+, 5’3”, 125 lbs., LTR. Has an answering machine, leave a message. Pasco County (813) 395-6129.
M: Male F: Female S: Single D: Divorced WD: Widowed W: White B: Black H: Hispanic J: Jewish
Retired lady, widow, late 70s, I like dancing, tennis, dining out, theater & movies, have a dog. I seek someone with same interests who is honest and nice. New Port Richey (727) 848-7948.
a wife. I am 72 yrs. old, retired. Brandon (813) 900-4861.
S W F 70s, NS SD C LTR serious replies, no players, for travel, dancing, movies, some church, possible marriage. Looking for last love. Largo (727) 247-9253. Cooperrose8@aol.com
Semiretired, average weight, told that I am handsome (haha). Looking for companionship and friend you never know. Let’s talk, NS D W C. Clearwater (727) 798-6167.
man Seeking WOMan Hi lovely lady, this S M W, tall slim 83 yrs. old, ISO slightly younger lady, W C F NS SD SOH. Must be able to cope with this one. Please be a lady who wants to be reminded how a lady should be treated. Sun City Area (813) 633-3685. Seeking caring, nice, liberal lady, healthy, active lifestyle, SOH NS SD. Fit retired, gent, 70s, 5’, 170 lbs, healthy, active, love travelling. Race unimportant, passionate about life. Serious calls only. South Pasadena (404) 217-7210. W D M Tampa ISO NS F under 55, mysterious but honest. Interested in discrete and flirty rendezvous. Likes walking, talking and perhaps something more. Might dazzle you with massage, kisses, humor. Tampa (813) 541-4930. C W M NS ND 6’, fit and healthy, ISO W F fit, that enjoys road trips, movies, fishing, nature. Loves life and new adventures. PO Box 86373, Madeira Beach, FL 33738. Retired, professional musician, Vegas to Caribbean, seeking attractive, degreed, oriental/Hispanic/white/black women. South Pasadena (727) 360-8823. College teacher, retired. Healthy, slender, young 74, tactile, no gray, SOH. D W M C NS ND, mid-western, like Reagan, football, romantic. ISO W F C NS ND, 65-75. Slender, attractive, compatible, SOH. Clearwater (727) 238-0944. S W M handsome, 66, dancer, smoker, romantic, seeks S W F tall, slim, under 130 lbs. Likes beach, dance, romance, LTR. Clearwater (727) 3310700.
C: Christian ISO: In Search Of LTR: Long Term Relationship NS: Non-Smoker ND: Non-Drinker SD: Social Drinker SOH: Sense of Humor
friend Seeking friend QUESTING FREE SPIRIT, English S W M 5’8”, 70s, 138 lbs., into natural living, good home cooking, DVD comedys, classical music, parks, animals, beaches, trying new experiences, seeks friend M/F to explore and enjoy. St. Petersburg (727) 3844908.
Meet that Someone Special with a FREE listing in Senior to Senior Senior looking for lady to take out to dinner. Dancing a must. Possible romance. Largo (727) 5856285. WM D C NS SD ISO LTR, 69, very active, 6’, 190 lbs. Ex-police, romantic, hand holder, cuddler. Seeks compatible, proportionate lady, to spend time and life with. Serious enquires only. PO Box #1055, Palm Harbor, FL 34682. Nice looking, 5’6”, W M in good shape, looking for slim W F, 60-70 yrs. Like to dance and travel and dining out. St. Petersburg (727) 398-3034. S W M 56, ISO LTR with 50-60 lady, caring, honesty, and sharing. No drugs or alcohol. Nice stroll on beach, like wildlife and parks, cozy night with a good classic movie. Seminole 1(727) 412-1125.
I am 71 years old, very active, does volunteer work, gardening, goes to lunch, movies, art festivals. Likes reading and walking. I’m of excellent health, weight 116 lbs., widow and enjoys going to gym. Brooksville (352) 799-3312. I am 67 yrs. old, very active, enjoys movies, attend festivals. Likes reading and walking. I’m of excellent health, weight 119 lbs. Single, enjoy going to gym. Wesley Chapel (813) 618-9956.
Senior to Senior™ Mail to: Senior Voice America
P.O. BOX 1379, Lutz, FL 33548-1379 Email: sr2sr@seniorvoiceamerica.com Fax: (813) 422-7966
H NS ND man, looking for a nice lady for
EMAIL: sr2sr@seniorvoiceamerica.com
APR 2016
Senior Voice America
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in the community
Abilities Guild Annual Pig Roast: Raise Money for our Recently Homeless/Wounded Veterans!
From JUDGEMENT Page 1
Let me move this discussion from the abstract to a real-life perspective. I have a close friend who used to be completely revolted by obese people. Every time he saw someone carrying more than a hundred pounds above what he believed they should weigh, he would make a snide comment and wonder out loud how anyone could possibly get that way. This is the difference between using one’s good judgment and being judgmental. In his judgment, no one should ever allow himself to become obese. But his judgmental attitude sent him into a tailspin, without him ever questioning the reasons for his personal bias or longstanding prejudice. After I talked to my friend at length about the underlying causes for the rampant rise in obesity in the world, he began to view “supper-sized” people more as victims and started praying for them, rather than despising them. While judgment utilizes reason, being judgmental thrives on our prejudices, biases and ignorance. This might be a good time to ask yourself, “Am I using good judgment, or just being judgmental?” There is a difference, and hopefully you now have a clearer understanding of what that difference is.
great food in tampa bay
Alvin Bartz is a hypnotherapist, in private practice since 1983.
The Abilities Guild invites you to show support of our veterans by attending their Annual Pig Roast. It will be held on Saturday, April 23, 2016, at the beautiful waterfront home of Tom and Joni Cleary in Largo, Fla. All proceeds benefit the Abilities Guild Veterans Mall. The evening will feature fresh roast pig with all the trimmings. The “Pig Roast” is scheduled to begin at 5:00 p.m. Tickets are $60 per person. Admission includes buffet-style food, beverages, wine and liquor. Seating is limited. For more information or to make reservations, call Jodi Martino at (727) 244-7971. Abilities, Inc. dba ServiceSource Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization providing rehabilitation and employment services for Floridians and military veterans with disabilities. As a support organization to Abilities, Inc., Abilities Guild’s focus, the Veterans Mall, is to assist recently homeless and wounded veterans, referred via the James A. Haley and C.W. Bill Young VA Hospitals. The Veterans Mall provides household goods and personal items free of charge. Since its inception in 1979, the Abilities Guild has donated more than $2.4 million in support of disabled citizens of Florida. In the last four years, the Abilities Guild Veterans Mall has served more than 1,210 recently homeless and wounded veterans at no charge. ServiceSource is a leading nonprofit disability resource organization established in 1971 that serves more than 17,000 people with disabilities in 10 states and DC with a range of innovative and valued employment, training, habilitation, housing, and other support services. ServiceSource directly employees more than 1,600 individuals with disabilities, making it one of the largest employers of people with disabilities nationwide.
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Senior Voice America
Sail roundtrip aboard the amazing Brilliance of the Seas to Cozumel!
November 10, 2016 (4 nights)
Invites you for the
2016 Senior Cruise
APR 2016
Limite first tripd availability Bri ou reserve t of Tampa. Boolliance’s at gr k no $50 onb eat rate plus ge w to t oard cre dit
on Brilliance of the Seas from Tampa Special amenities: b COCKTAIL PARTY WITH PUBLISHERS EVAN & DEB 15 l i r p A y b JAZZ FITNESS CLASSES Book beceive two r d o t n a tickets b MEET UPS AND LOTS OF FUN FREE da Orchestra ori Appreciate everything this ship has to offer including the relaxing The Fl
adult only Solarium & Vitality Spa. Try your luck at the Vegas style Casino Royale, enjoy a cocktail by the resort style pool or at one of the many lounges aboard. Take in a Broadway style show or enjoy many other wonderful activities aboard this exciting ship! In Mexico, take an excursion to the Mayan ruins, relax on the beach, or do some shopping. It’s your choice! Rates starting from mid $300.00 per person, double occupancy Taxes and fees: $69.35 per person Deposits are $100.00 per person at booking - final payment due 8/27/16. Reserve your stateroom by contacting: Nancy M. Clark, A.C.C. - Cruise Planners/American Express (813) 527-6574 • Toll Free (855) 222-SAIL nclark@cruiseplanners.com • www.ACruiseForMe.com