LifeTimes Feb. 2023

Living well after 50

Tampa Bay Times | Sunday, February 26, 2023

Go

Green!

Get started in gardening with help from UF/IFAS Pages 4 and 5

CROSSWORD Cars or Drugs? by Merl Reagle

The crossword puzzle solution is on Page 7

NOTE: Ever since automakers started adding the two-letter slug to their car names (like the Camry “LE”), drugmakers, inexplicably, have followed suit. (It’s not just Ambien, it’s Ambien “CR”.) So here’s a test of your knowledge of models vs. meds, past and present. (By the way, every letter of the alphabet will appear at least once in the solution.)

ACROSS 1 5 8 11 14 17 18 19 21 22 24 25 26

Avant-garde art Near the rear Calendar abbr.

Zincite, for one Coldness exemplar It’s a stinking problem Understand Car or drug?

Throng Car or drug?

Car or drug?

Sphere “The Clan of the Cave Bear” author Jean Mr. Clampett Belts into oblivion Diving bell inventor Car or drug?

Furry friend Guardian spirits Puncture opening Squirrel’s prize Birdie plus 1 Irma ___ Car or drug?

Water under the bridge?

Top number Mr. Planck Fuel suffixes Car or drug?

Lofty peak Car or drug?

Hit the nightclubs “It ___ Be You” Word before Fox or Rabbit Literary king Dist. from the ground Black, to a poet Car or drug?

Car or drug?

Sky, in French Certain particle Rugged rock

27 28 29 31 35 36 37 38 39 40 42 46 47 48 49 50 53 54 57 58 60 61 63 64 66 69 74 75 77

78 Notice in the office 79 Rim that holds a gem 82 Distant 84 Car or drug?

86 Author Umberto 87 Car or drug?

90 Galatea’s love 91 Overhead trains 92 Not strict 93 The way, in China 94 Car or drug?

98 Race car timeout 101 Dial-up pioneer 102 Air rifle shot 103 Home: abbr.

104 Show conclusively 105 Salt Lake City player 106 Car or drug?

110 Family members 111 CD rate abbr.

112 Old nuclear org.

113 Get up 114 Witch’s spell 115 Car or drug?

118 Car or drug?

122 Repulsed response 123 Car or drug?

124 “Just me” 125 Lorre’s sleuth 126 Mentalist’s claim 127 Allen or Roth 128 Ultimate (degree) 129 CIA precursor 130 London area DOWN 1 Deer girl 2 Vogue, mostly 3 A Dwarf 4 “Could you hold it down to ___ in here?”

5 ___ in the right direction 6 Whose Casanova and Roma?

7 John Ritter’s dad 8 Whipped through, as a test

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 19 20 23 27 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 39 40 41 43 44 45 46 47 50 51 52 54 55 56 57 59 62 64 65 67 68 70 71 72

Angel dust Chair for grandma Track postings Nutrient amt.

Go over Car or drug?

Car or drug?

Subside Hairy Halloween costumes Outbreak of a sort Regret Blue Angel’s vehicle Sonoran year “My name is ...”

Sgt., for one The Boy King Do a sound job Bridge sign Outlaw group Penne and such Fibula site Fair Workaday world End to “end”?

“Whoa!” girl Burger support It’s a blast Dictionary name Driver’s place, old-style Shoe man McAn TV network, in Toronto “... man ___ mouse?”

Book after Exod.

1914-18 event Belief in souls Moray Historic time Elaborate charade Cheery quality, in a song Stubbing result Attempt Rorem or Sparks Med. grp.

73 76 79 80 81 82 83 85 88 89 90 94

In favor of Of birth Vehicle sound Car or drug?

Car or drug?

Send over phone lines A personal question?

12 on a clock Lotion ingredient Space Non-winners Alphabet network

95 Ulna’s locale 96 Dry, as wine 97 Lawyer’s honorific: abbr.

99 Unhappy sound 100 Commercial 101 Reach 102 Pen brand 105 La Jolla campus (strangely) 106 Barber’s call 107 Chows down in style 108 Zone of Conn.

109 Lots (of paper) 111 Purple fruit 112 Amulet symbol 114 Color 116 Swiss canton 117 Q-U innards 118 Where some buffalo roam 119 Dove sound 120 Stretch inning 121 Indy’s mile total

LifeTimes is produced and designed by the Marketing department of the Tampa Bay Times.

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STEP BY STEP

Sally Anderson

Your Move | Demonstrated by Claire Keneally Sit to Standing: Strengthens leg, core and back muscles.

Sit tall toward front edge of a sturdy chair without armrests. Place both hands lightly on each side of the seat, inhaling slowly.

• Abdominals contracted, exhale as you slowly stand up.

• Stand and pause a few seconds.

• Inhale as you sit down slowly.

• Exhale slowly when seated.

• Repeat 10-20 times.

Tip: A progression movement using no hands for support. Sitting in chair, cross arms placing hands on chest and move from sitting to standing.

Standing Marches: Core-strengthening exercise that helps strengthen muscles that support your spine.

Stand tall with feet hip distance apart.

Hold onto a sturdy piece of furniture if needed.

• Keeping torso straight, lift one knee until thigh is parallel to floor or as close to thigh level as you can.

• Pause, slowly returning foot to floor.

• Alternating knee lifts perform 20 marches.

Tip: Avoid any leaning.

Photos by Dan Canoro

STAYING IN BALANCE

Balance is key for having an active life. Did you know that balance control declines as we grow older? Researchers have found that balance begins to decline around the age of 50. Both strengthening and stretching lower body muscles are integral for stability and balance. Aging without strengthening those lower body and core muscles and neglecting flexibility can create a loss of balance, which can increase the risk of falling.

Exercises to Improve Balance and Stability If you have balance issues that already impact your quality of life, please consult with your physician before beginning an exercise program.

Side Stepping: Strengthens hips, thighs and calves.

I recently had a hip replacement and this is one of my favorite exercises in therapy. I had to side step on a slight ramp, but you can side step on a stable flat surface. Side step in a slight squat position in one direction, traveling desired steps. Repeat sequence in opposite direction.

Ankle Stretch Place a rolled towel under your ankle. Slowly move ankle clockwise 10 times and counterclockwise 10 times. Move just your foot and ankle, not your leg.

Yoga and Tai Chi: Strengthens and stretches tight muscles.

Dancing: Engages core muscles and requires coordination. Dancing also engages side to side and

Keep Moving Side Leg Lifts: Strengthen hips and thighs.

Standing tall behind a chair with feet shoulder width apart, slowly lift and lower leg 10 to 15 lifts on each side.

Avoid leaning forward from hips.

Back Leg Lift: Targets glutes and hamstrings.

Same as side leg lift exercise except you slowly lift and lower leg to the back while keeping back straight.

Heel Lifts: Strengthen calves and leg muscles.

by lifting toes off the ground, letting heels support your weight.

Hold lightly onto back of a chair without bending at waist. Slowly lift both heels off the floor and stand on toes. Hold this position 10 seconds then back onto heels, repeating 10 times. You could repeat pattern for toe lifts

rotational movements often missed in general workouts.

Test Your Balance • Stand tall with feet together, cross arms in front of body.

• Keeping eyes open try to stand still for about 30 seconds.

• Standing on one foot, hold both hands on a chair or support and see how long you can stand. Progress to two or three fingers on support, eventually try removing hand from support.

Forward Lunges: Activates stabilizing muscles to develop coordination and stability.

Standing tall, place hands on hips with feet hipwidth apart. Front of hips should face forward.

Contract abdominals.

• Take a step forward with right or left leg.

• Keeping back straight, slowly lower body down toward the ground.

• Front knee should be over front ankle and back knee under hip.

• You will have a straight line from ears to shoulders.

• Press through front foot to return to original Tip: Maintain good posture, position.

• Repeat on opposite leg, 10-12 lunges per leg. no slouching.

Cross Body Punch on Single Leg: Engages core by working on balance and coordination.

Hold a light weight in each hand at chest level.

Contract abdominals.

• Place body weight on left foot with a slight bend in left knee.

• Keeping left leg stable, punch weights diagonally across body.

• Perform 30 seconds.

• Repeat pattern standing on other leg.

• Perform 30 seconds.

Tip: Beginners do not have to use weights.

Check with your doctor before starting a new exercise program.

Sally Anderson is happy to hear from readers but can’t respond to individual inquiries. Contact her at slafit@tampabay.rr.com.

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Grow your own way: How to grow a great Florida garden

Below: Plants thrive at the Bette S. Walker Discovery Garden at the UF/IFAS Hillsborough County Extension. UF/IFAS Extension offices across Florida offer in-person and virtual resources for gardeners.

Courtesy of Lynn Barber

BY ERIN FEITSMA Times Total Media Correspondent

When late last year my husband announced that he wanted to start a garden, it felt like we had come full circle. After moving from the city to a tiny town of less than 8,000, gardening felt like something that tracked with the pace of life we wanted to pursue. After all, this was why we’d moved to the country in the first place: to enjoy less traffic and grow our own red onions. So, start a garden my husband did. He took to it naturally, while I on the other hand have struggled daily to keep one small succulent alive.

Thankfully, all hope is not lost for the accidental plant killers and overwaterers among us. The good news is, whether you’re a gardening newbie or a seasoned horticulturist, there’s an abundance of resources available to help you grow your gardening skills and knowledge.

And, thanks to container gardening, growing your own greenery can happen in even the smallest of spaces, so there’s no excuse to not become a plant person. Read on to learn how to create and cultivate a Florida garden that works with you, not against you, and soon your dreams of becoming a bona fide gardener will be in bloom. We’re rooting for you.

Getting started in Florida gardening So, you’ve decided to start a garden. Congratulations! Let the foliage-filled journey commence.

If you’re new to gardening, you may be wondering where to begin.

There are many factors to consider, including what to grow, where to grow it, your gardening budget and the number of garden gnomes you’ll

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need to decorate your space (the more, the merrier). However, there may be a simpler place to start: soil.

“One main way (gardening) is different in Florida is that our soil is very, very sandy,” said Theresa Badurek, urban horticulture agent and Master Gardener Program leader for the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension in Pinellas County.

“One thing that people can do if they’re new to gardening here is to first get to know their site, their yard, their landscape and really get to know the soil there before they plant. That soil (will) help them choose what plants will do best.”

Soil testing is available through the UF/IFAS Extension Soil Testing Laboratory.

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“Getting a soil test done to see what kind of nutrients are in your soil and the pH of your soil is a really good place to start,” Badurek said.

“Especially if you’re going to put a lot of money into the garden, you want to make sure you know what you’re working with first. … You want to make sure that you pick the plants that will thrive rather than trying to remake the landscape, which is not practical.”

Knowing your soil pH can help you select lawn and other plant materials, confirmed Lynn Barber, a Florida-Friendly Landscaping agent with the UF/IFAS Extension in Hillsborough County. You can contact your local UF/IFAS Extension office to determine the cost for testing a soil sample. Find instructions on how to take a soil

sample at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ agriculture/soil-testing/.

It helps, too, to begin by thinking of the big picture, advised Badurek.

Envision what you want your garden to look like and let that mental image guide your decisions.

“If you want the garden to provide privacy, for example, make sure that you choose plants that are evergreen,” she said. “I think where a lot of people miss out (is when) they buy random plants they like instead of trying to figure out what (they’re) trying to accomplish with the garden. … Start with the end in mind.”

It’s important to remember that everyone’s gardening site will be different. Not all plants have the same growing conditions and not every plant sold locally will be the

right fit for your individual garden or region. According to Barber, Florida enjoys longer growing and gardening seasons than many other regions in the country. Choosing the right plants for where you’re located in the state and then planting them in the right places and at the right time of year are essential.

“It’s critical to their survival,” Barber said. “If you plant a sunloving plant in the shade or a shadeloving plant in the sun, it won’t thrive or survive.”

The same advice holds true for container gardening, which may be a good option for those with limited gardening space available.

“Regardless of the size of the space you have or the container, you need to be sure you have the right plant in the right place,” said

general rule of thumb when it comes to fertilization, irrigation and pest control is simple: Less is more.

“The more you do, the more work you make for yourself,” she said. “The more that you water and fertilize, the more things grow, the more pests you attract to the new growth, and the more pruning you have to do.”

Barber adopts a similar ethos.

Courtesy of Theresa Badurek

Theresa Badurek, of the UF/ IFAS Extension in Pinellas County, planted beach sunflower, beautyberry and firebush plants in this native wildlife garden, which supports pollinators and birds.

Barber. “That means sun/shade or a combination of the two.” Learn more about container gardening at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/lawn-andgarden/container-gardening/.

One of UF/IFAS’s most popular resources is the “Florida-Friendly Landscaping Guide to Plant Selection & Landscape Design,” available at https://ffl.ifas.ufl.edu/ media/fflifasufledu/docs/FFLPlant-Guide_v03222022_web.pdf, which can help you choose the right plants for your location. The UF/ IFAS Florida Gardening Calendar, available at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ lawn-and-garden/florida-gardeningcalendar/, provides gardeners with information on what to plant when.

Regional information is available for North, South and Central Florida.

If you’re looking to start a vegetable garden, the UF/IFAS Florida Fresh resource available at https://floridafresh.ifas.ufl.edu/ is your new best friend. Simply input your zip code to learn what to plant at the current time of year. Florida Fresh also provides info on what fruits and veggies are in-season and available to purchase locally.

Fertilization, irrigation and pest control While gardeners’ individual site conditions will vary, Badurek’s

“Before you fertilize, determine if it’s needed,” she said. Taking a soil test to your local Extension office or bringing in a leaf from a plant that you suspect may be lacking in nutrients are a couple of ways to find out if your plant needs fertilizer.

“If fertilizer is needed, apply only when the grass is actively growing,” Barber said. “Avoid weed and feed products. They contain herbicides and fertilizer together. The timing is often different when each should be applied. Use pesticides only on affected areas. Check your local regulations to determine when you can fertilize. Turf is nature’s best water filter but there are other landscape plant options. Many residents pay for monthly pest control and frequent fertilization (services) that may or may not be needed.”

The same principle holds true for irrigation. According to the UF/ IFAS website, many homeowners overwater. Overwatering not only depletes the water supply but also makes grass and plants prone to pests and diseases.

“Follow your watering days/times and any restrictions that may be in place,” Barber advised. “If you don’t, you may receive a ticket from Code Enforcement.”

Unsure what kind of bug you’ve got on your hands? Your local UF/ IFAS Extension office can help you identify the alleged pest, Barber said.

Benefits of gardening If for no other reason, gardening can be a valuable pastime because of its obvious benefits: You can burn calories while tending to the land, grow your own veggies or flowers and have an enjoyable time in the process.

“Gardening is just a very good holistic activity,” said Badurek. “It’s good for your body, because you’re moving, and you get to go outside and get fresh air. It’s also good for your mind, because it’s very stressrelieving and relaxing.”

Gardening can also be fun for the whole family. Badurek and Barber were both inspired to get into gardening by their grandmothers.

If a friend, child, grandchild, spouse or other loved one also has a green thumb, gardening together can be one way to enjoy quality time.

Barber remembers spending a day canning tomatoes with a friend in Des Moines and eating her family’s homegrown carrots with her sister.

“Mom and our grandmother grew asparagus, corn, cucumbers, green peppers, potatoes, peas and green beans,” she said. “Both canned a lot of veggies. Something I really miss: rhubarb. My mom was famous, at least to us, for her dill pickles.”

Next steps When in doubt, contacting your local UF/IFAS Extension office via phone, email or an in-person visit and exploring the resources the

Looking to take your gardening adventures to the next level?

UF/IFAS has local Extension offices across Florida that offer resources like events, blogs, webinars and classes, many of them for free. Locate your local UF/IFAS Extension office at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/find-your-local-office/.

Hillsborough County: The UF/IFAS Extension in Hillsborough County also offers an abundance of programming for gardeners.

Upcoming events include composting and microirrigation workshops (offered both in person and virtually), a workshop on butterfly gardening and a sheep and goat seminar(!). Learn more about what’s going on at the UF/IFAS Extension in Hillsborough at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/hillsborough/.

Pasco County: Whether you want to learn how to grow your own bananas, get answers to all your gardening questions or find tips from the Florida-Friendly Landscaping program, there’s an event for you at the UF/IFAS Extension in Pasco County. The Extension also offers programs that help gardeners identify good bugs, learn about the art of bonsai and more. Explore the UF/ IFAS Pasco County Extension website at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/ pasco/.

Pinellas County: Upcoming programs offered by the UF/IFAS Extension in Pinellas range from a webinar on animal fossils to a native plant hike at the Florida Botanical Gardens. “We even have stuff like marine classes, wildlife and natural resources classes and 4-H youth classes, so it goes way beyond gardening. It’s gardening-plus,” said Badurek. Keep up with happenings at the UF/IFAS Extension in Pinellas at https://sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu/pinellas/. organization has to offer can help you get answers to any gardening questions you might have. Barber also advises searching through the array of information available on the UF/IFAS website.

For more information on all things gardening, visit https://ifas. ufl.edu/.

“View the University of Florida Florida-Friendly Landscaping site and you can spend an enormous amount of time learning about anything and everything related to gardening,” she said.

Times Total Media is the sales and marketing division of the Tampa Bay Times. Contact timestotalmedia@ tampabay.com with questions.

Source: https://sfyl.ifas.ufl. edu/hillsborough/lawngarden/ microirrigation/

As your garden grows, you may run into a common problem: gardening pests. While it may be tempting to get rid of any bugs you see, Barber said that the best gardening advice she’s ever received is to first identify a potential gardening pest before acting.

“First be sure to identify the insect,” she said. “Many good bugs look similar to bad bugs. When we kill the good bugs, we have a lot more pest control work to do than (when we allow) them to do their work.”

Gardening at the Chester Ochs Community Garden in Pinellas County continues into the winter. Florida enjoys longer growing and gardening seasons than many other regions in the country.

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Community Gardens

BY KITTY WALLACE Co-founder of the Coalition of Community Gardens A Community Garden is a piece of land that is gardened by a group of people for the benefit of their group and surrounding community. Gardens are a great place to learn how to grow your own food or create your own gardening spot while meeting your neighbors.

Community gardens may differ from area to area. Some may solely grow flowers while others grow vegetables, or a combination of the two. The common thread, however, is that community gardens are actively maintained by the gardeners themselves.

Benefits of Community Gardening

• Improves the health, well-being and quality of life • Beautifies neighborhoods • Connects people to their community • Preserves green space • Provides a catalyst for neighborhood and community development • Stimulates social interaction, intergenerational, cross cultural • Produces nutritious foods • Reduces family food budgets • Creates opportunity for recreation, exercise, therapy and health • Independent food production

Community Gardens of West Central Florida Hernando County

• Om Grown Community Garden, 4242 Lake in the Woods Drive, Spring Hill

Hillsborough County

• 813 Hood Garden, 10004 N. 11th St., Tampa • Apollo Beach Community Garden, 664 Golf and Sea Blvd., Apollo Beach • Forest Hills Presbyterian Church Community Garden, 709 W. Linebaugh, Tampa • Healthy 22nd Street Garden Steps, 22nd Street & Chelsea Street, Tampa • HOPE Community Garden, 4902 N. 22nd St., Tampa • Mustard Seed Garden at Lutz Community Church, 601 Sunset Lane, Lutz • Plant City Commons Community Garden, 2001 E. Cherry St., Plant City • Robles Park Village Community Garden, 3518 N. Avon Ave., Tampa • Seeds of Faith Community Garden at Bay Life Church, 1017 N. Kingsway Road, Brandon • Seffner CommUNITY Garden, 406 N. Kingsway Road, Seffner • Seminole Heights Community Garden, 6114 River Terrace, Tampa • St. Vincent DePaul Community Garden, Temple Terrace • SOGarden, 4207 W. Oklahoma Ave., Tampa • Sulphur Springs Community Garden, 1506 Eskimo Ave., Tampa • Sustainable Living Project, 918 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa • Tampa Family Health Centers Community Garden, 4620 N. 22nd St., Tampa • Tampa Heights Community Garden, 605 East Frances Ave., Tampa • Temple Terrace Community Gardens, 329 S. Riverhills Drive, Temple Terrace • Wellswood Community Garden, 4818 Mendenhall Drive, Tampa • Ybor Street Community Garden, 2924 Ybor St., Tampa

Pasco County

• Friendship Farms & Fare, 6119 Illinois Ave., New Port Richey • Grand Gardens, 5721 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey • Watson Park Community Garden, Dade City

Pinellas County

• 15th Street Garden, 302 15th St. N, St. Petersburg • Bartlett Park Community Garden, 1443 Highland St. S, St. Petersburg • Chester Ochs USDA People’s Garden, 14644 113 Ave. N, Largo • Clearwater Community Garden, 1277 Grove St., Clearwater • Cops ‘N Kids Community Garden, 555 E. Harrison St., Tarpon Springs • Euclid Heights Community Garden, 5000 10th St. N, St Petersburg • Daystar Community Garden, 1055 28th St. S, St. Petersburg • Dunedin Community Garden, 1040 Virginia St., Dunedin • Faith Garden Dunedin, 455 Scotland St., Dunedin • Gulfport Community Garden, 5125 Preston Ave. S, Gulfport • Indian Rocks Community Garden, Gulf Blvd., between 9th and 10th Ave., IRB • Oldsmar Organic Community Garden, 423 Lafayette Blvd., Oldsmar • St. Pete Youth Farm, 1664 12th St. S, St. Petersburg Times staff also contributed to this story.

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MY FAVORITE CAR Ben Stone, 67, Wesley Chapel, FL

1967 Mustang 2+2

Fastback, High Gloss

I purchased this beauty when I was in the Air Force in the early ‘70s, and immediately fell in with the ‘racing crowd’ on base. Even though she was not the fastest, in a time when muscle cars ruled, I was able to keep up with most – and no, I never got a ticket for being too crazy. She had a beautiful leather interior with a 3 speed on the floor, and an amazing Jensen sound system a friend and I spent a weekend installing. We also installed some pretty loud Thrush

mufflers, which gave it a smooth but loud roar coming down the street.

My favorite thing to do on a weekend was to take her cruising on the Miracle Strip in North Florida, where I was stationed. I spent plenty of time on the beaches showing her off, along with some other friends who also owned what would be termed muscle car classics back then.

Unfortunately, she was totaled a year or so before I left the

service, cruising that very same strip one morning on the way to work at the base.

Luckily, my roommate and I were not seriously injured, but my heart was broken since she could not be repaired. I actually did not know this picture existed until I visited my mother a few years ago and found it going through some older photos she had kept. To this day I wish that I still had that green apple beauty!

CALL TO READERS Tell us your love story What’s the story behind your favorite or first car? We’d like to share it.

TV Word Search

Please send: • Your name, city where you live and your age (with your date of birth).

• The year, make and model of the car, with a description of the car and why you love it.

• A high-resolution photo or a scanned image.

(Must be of the actual car.)

• Send to drive@tampabay .com and put My Favorite Car or My First Car in the subject line.

CROSSWORD ANSWERS

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