April 2011

APRIL 2011 seniortimesmagazine.com

INSIDE

CALENDAR OF EVENTS | FARM AND FOREST FESTIVAL | ALCOHOL AWARENESS

Therapy DogsAll We Need Is Love p.26

APRIL 2011 seniortimesmagazine.com

INSIDE

CALENDAR OF EVENTS | FARM AND FOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEESSSSTIVAL | ALCOHOL AWARENESS

All We Need Is Love p.26

PATCHWORK SPRINGTIMETree City Quilters Guild’s Biennial Show

FRIENDS OF THE LIBRARYSpring Sale is Alwaysa Book Lover’s Delight

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April 2011 3

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4 April 2011 seniortimesmagazine.com

features

departments

columns20 Enjoying Act Three

by Ellis Amburn

25 Healthy Edgeby Kendra Siler-Marsiglio

30 Embracing Lifeby Donna Bonnell

42 Perspectives on Agingby Carlos Muniz

12

14

26

3238

CONTENTS ON THE COVER – This month’s

cover story features Linda Caldwell

and her canine companion, YooHoo,

a seven-year-old basset hound.

The team is part of Therapy Dog

International, Inc., a nonprofi t,

volunteer organization. Caldwell

and YooHoo visit hospitals, nursing

homes, rehabilitation facilities, shelters

and wherever else they are needed.

APRIL 2011 • VOL. 12 ISSUE 04

WINNER!Congratulations to the winner from our

MARCH 2011 issue…

Barbara Tenchfrom Gainesville, Florida

14 A Patchwork SpringtimeThe Tree City Quilters Guild Holds its 7th Biennial Quilt ShowBY MATTHEW BEATON

22 The Importance of Awareness25 years of Alcohol Awareness MonthBY MARY KYPREOS

26 All We Need is LoveTherapy Dogs Working to Reduce Blood Pressure,

Ease Grief and Help Children Learn to ReadBY AMANDA WILLIAMSON

32 Journey to the 1800sThe Farm and Forest FestivalBY AMANDA WILLIAMSON

38 A Book Lover’s DreamFriends of the Library Prepares for its Spring SaleBY AMANDA WILLIAMSON

PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY for LOTUS STUDIOS

8 Tapas13 Senior Center44 Calendar of Events

52 Theatre Listings55 Crossword Puzzle58 Reading Corner

4

April 2011 5

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And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.

– Anais Nin

Now that spring has sprung, our 9-year-old son doesn’t miss any opportunity to get out and enjoy himself. Despite the notion that most children these days prefer staying inside with their video games, our little guy would rather be out in the yard playing. And running. And climbing. And jumping. I recently cleared a portion of backyard and the boy now has a new playground and the chance to swing from the vines that connect high atop our telephone-pole-like trees. He is like Boy in “Tarzan the Ape Man.” I warned him that he wouldn’t be able to swing on those vines for very long, since I had cut them at ground level and they are now dead. Sure enough, one recently broke, sending Boy crashing to the ground. He’s tough, though, and got right back up. He

ran off and soon returned with a rope he’d found in the garage. Thus began our search for a tree with branches low enough for me to throw the rope up and over. We found one in the front yard. He now has a more permanent “vine” from which to swing. Ah, to be young again, to be able to swing from a vine again. I’m joining a gym! April is Alcohol Awareness Month, and Senior Times writer Mary Kypreos shares what she has learned about the misconceptions of this most-abused drug. Additionally, Friends of the Library is offering its spring book sale, the Tree City Quilters is hosting its quilting show, and Morningside Nature Center will be taking visitors back to the 1800s for its annual Farm and Forest Festival with people dressed in period clothing doing things much the way they were done in bygone days. I hope you can get out and enjoy the spring weather and some of these noteworthy events. §

FROM THE EDITOR œ ALBERT ISAAC

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6

April 2011 7

MARY KYPREOS

is a freelance writer and editor fresh out of the Universityof Florida. She enjoys discovering tidbits of knowledge about Alachua County from those who know it [email protected]

AMANDA WILLIAMSON

is a student in UF’s College of Journalism and Communications. She has been writing for as longas she can remember. She enjoys spending time withher friends, family and animals. awilliamson@ufl .edu

MATTHEW

BEATON

is a freelance journalist who recently earned his master’s in mass communications from UF. He enjoys romping with his mutt friend, Jack. They both fi nd bananas and the Jersey Shore unpalatable.Jack, however, is a much more avid reader.

STAFF œ CONTRIBUTORS

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7


TAPAS œ APRIL

Miacis

1933: The Madison Capital-Times solemnly announced that the Wisconsin state capitol building

lay in ruins following a series of mysterious explosions. The explosions were attributed to “large

quantities of gas, generated through many weeks of verbose debate in the Senate and Assembly

chambers.” Accompanying the article was a picture showing the capitol building collapsing. Many

readers were fooled — and outraged. One reader wrote in declaring the hoax “was not only

tactless and void of humor, but also a hideous jest.” Nevertheless, in 1985 The Science Digest

named this as one of the best hoaxes ever.

SPACESHUTTLE

RetirementBegins withDiscovery

Wisconsin State Capitol

COLLAPSES

Nearly 30 years after the

fi rst shuttle launch (April 12,

1980), the Space Shuttle

Program is set to be retired

mid-2011. The Discovery

was the fi rst operational

Space Shuttle to be retired

after completing its last

mission (STS-133) on

March 9th, 2011.

Photo: The Columbia (STS-1)

on the launch pad, 1981

The dog traces its

ancestry back to a

fi ve-toed, weasel like

animal called Miacis,

which lived in the

Eocene epoch about 40

million years ago. Next

in evolutionary line from

Miacis was an Oligocene

animal called Cynodictis,

which somewhat

resembled the modern

dog. Cynodictis lived

about 20 million years

ago. After a few more

intermediate stages

the evolution of the

dog moved on to the

extremely doglike

animal called Tomarctus,

which lived about 10

million years ago during

the late Miocene epoch.

*Illustration Courtesy of Encyclopædia Britannica

K9 “King”of NorwayA dog named Saur

was “king” of Norway

for three years during

the 11th century AD.

The Norwegian

king, angry that

his subjects once

deposed him, put

Saur on the throne

and demanded that it

be treated regally.

Muhammad Ali

was stripped of his world heavyweight

boxing championship after refusing to be

inducted into the American military. He

had claimed religious exemption.

APRIL, 30TH

1967

AprilFOOLS

8

April 2011 9

1. Women may be fi ned for falling

asleep under a hair dryer, as can the

salon owner.

2. A special law prohibits unmarried

women from parachuting on Sunday or

she shall risk arrest, fi ne, and/or jailing.

3. If an elephant is tied to a parking

meter, the fee has to be paid just as it

would for a vehicle.

4. It is illegal to sing in a public place

while attired in a swimsuit.

5. Men may not be seen publicly in

any kind of strapless gown.

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Loretta LynnApril 14th, 1932Loretta Lynn is an American country music singer-songwriter. Born

in Kentucky to a coal miner father in a large family, She became

a part of the country music scene in Nashville in the 1960s, and

in 1967 charted her fi rst of 16 number 1 hits with the song “Don’t

Come Home A’ Drinkin’ (With Lovin’ on Your Mind).” Her best-

selling autobiography was made into an Academy Award winning

fi lm, “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” starring Sissy Spacek and Tommy

Lee Jones in 1980. In 2004, Lynn made a comeback with the

highly successful album “Van Lear Rose,” the second album on

which Lynn either wrote or co-wrote every song.

NOTABLE BIRTHDAY

Leon Russell (69)April 2, 1942

Maya Angelou (83)April 4, 1928

Colin Powell (74)April 5, 1937

Hugh Hefner (85)April 9, 1926

Barbra Streisand (69)April 24, 1942

A Few Other NotableApril Birthdays

79Years Old

April 15th, 1912RMS TITANICD

ebbie Reynolds’

fi lm career

began at MGM

after she won a beauty

contest at age 16. She

regularly appeared in

movie musicals during

the 1950s and had

several hit records

during the period.

Her song “Aba Daba

Honeymoon” was a

top-three hit in 1951. Her

most high-profi le fi lm

role came in 1952 when

she played the part of

Kathy Selden in “Singin’

in the Rain.” Reynolds

is also the mother of

actress Carrie Fisher

who starred as Princess

Leia in the original Star

Wars trilogy.

Debbie Reynolds

79Years Old

After striking an iceberg just before midnight in

the icy waters off Newfoundland, the luxury liner

Titanic with 2,227 persons onboard sank at 2:27

a.m. More than 1,500 persons drowned while 700 were

rescued by the liner Carpathia, which arrived about two

hours after Titanic went down. The high casualty rate

was due in part to the fact that, although complying with

the regulations of the time, the ship carried lifeboats for

only 1,178 people.

10

April 2011 11

ElderCareof Alachua County

RIDE TO REMEMBERRafael Cott, M.D. invites you to participate in the 5th annual

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You can begin your bike ride in Gainesville or Ocala. The bike trails range from one mile to 100 miles. Rest stops will be provided with drinks and snacks.

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To be an advocate for the elderly and their caregivers and to provide the services that will build capacity, maximize independence and enrich the quality of life for the elderly in north central Florida.

ElderCare of Alachua County, Inc. is a 501C3 organiza� on. Your sponsorship is tax deduc� ble. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services registra� on number is CH1801. A copy of the offi cial registra� on and fi nancial informa� on may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (800-435-7352) within the state of Florida. Registra� on does not imply endorsement, approval or recommenda� on by the state of Florida.

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11


The Oldest DogThe oldest reliable age recorded for a dog is 29 years, fi ve months for a

Queensland ‘heeler’ named Bluey — owned by Les and Esma Hall of Rochester,

Victoria, Australia. The average life expectancy for a dog varies by breed, smaller

dogs live approximately 15–16 years, medium and large size dogs from 10 to 13

years, and some giant dog breeds such as mastiff s, often only live 7 to 8 years.

Spaghetti HARVEST1957: The respected BBC news show Panorama announced that thanks

to a very mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti

weevil, Swiss farmers were enjoying a bumper spaghetti crop. It

accompanied this announcement with footage of Swiss peasants pulling

strands of spaghetti down from trees. Huge numbers of viewers were

taken in. Many called the BBC wanting to know how they could grow

their own spaghetti tree. To this the BBC diplomatically replied, “place a

sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best.”

AprilFOOLS

Hank Aaron BREAKS BABE RUTH’S RECORDApril 8th, 1974, with a crowd of more than

53,000 in attendance Hank Aaron hit career

home run number 715 — breaking the record

set by Babe Ruth. Aaron went on to hit 755

career home runs before retiring from baseball

in 1976. The current U.S. record of 762 is held

by Barry Bonds. The all-time world record of

868 is held by Sadaharu Oh who played for

the Yomiuri Giants in Japan.

APRIL, 8TH

1974 HANK AARON HITTING HIS 715TH CAREER HOME RUNIMAGE COURTESY HERB SCHARFMAN—SPORTS IMAGERY/GETTY IMAGES

12

April 2011 13

On a chilly afternoon in March, mem-bers of the media were invited to visit the Alachua County Senior Recreation Cen-ter to take a look at the progress within the structure. Roof trusses were in place, the bright sun casting dark diagonal lines upon the concrete slab below. Throughout the building, bright orange wording illustrat-ed the various sections: “Lobby.” “Com-puter Class.” “Kitchen.” Anthony Clarizio, executive director of ElderCare, provided a guided tour of the inside of the building as work con-tinued around (and above) him. Clar-izio pointed out the entranceway, the courtyard, the spot for the fi replace, the classrooms, the large general-purpose room and various other sections of the 17,000-square-foot facility. Lynn Domenech and Jocelyn Holt of Comfort Keepers were invited to sign the walls of the Courtyard. The in-home senior care company contributed $50,000 to the cause. “We know the importance of a facil-

ity of this magnitude,” Holt said. “The Seniors of our region deserve a place like this. This will be an exceptional facility that everyone in Gainesville and Alachua County will be proud of.”

Clarizio said things are moving very quickly for this $5.5 million facility. The Senior Recreation Center will be the only one of its kind in the county and is scheduled to open in the fall. s

To fi nd out how you can give to this vital

community need, please contact Kathleen

Luzier-Bogolea at Shands HealthCare’s

Offi ce of Development at 352-265-7237 or

[email protected] .edu.

Continue to watch this spot for updates,

upcoming program listings and to see how

to volunteer as the Alachua County Senior

Recreation Center gets closer to completion.

THE ALACHUA COUNTYSENIOR RECREATION CENTER

Project Update

COMMUNITY œ RECREATION CENTER

PHOTO TAKEN MARCH 11, 2011

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13


T ime for a quilting revolution? Well, seemingly, that is

the Tree City Quilters Guild’s outlook. They have all the fi re, passion and enthusiasm of dedicated believers about to launch a crusade. This month’s seventh biennial quilt show could be seen, almost, as a public outreach opportunity. For two days, April 30 and May 1, the Best Western Gateway Grand Hotel’s ballroom in Gainesville will be packed with quilting afi cionados as they survey the more than 100 quilts on display. Jackie Reichardt, the show’s co-chairwoman and a previous guild president, said they expect “anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500” attendees who

will help decide which entry deserves the viewers’ choice award. Quilts are submitted for several competition categories, including the coveted best in show prize. Reichardt said that, much like a traditional art show, fi rst, second, third and fourth place winners will be recognized in each division. And, for young aspiring quilters-in-training, there will be a youth exhibit where all entrants will receive participation ribbons. This year’s theme, Reich-ardt said, is “very Americana,” titled “Salute America, a Patchwork of Quilts.” It will feature a traveling quilt exhibit called “Thanking our Troops,” which will include 40 to 60

patriotic quilts from across the country. Each of these will “have a little drop-down quilted story attached to it that explains the exhibit to the public,” said Sheila Hayes, co-chairwoman of the show.

Inspiring the show’s motif, numerous guild members have very close ties to the military, but perhaps none closer than Betty Sue Vincent, whose son, Pfc. Wayne Vincent, was killed in action in Afghanistan in July 2009. Eight or nine vendors will also be in attendance, selling fabric and other quilting acces-sories. Limited space caused

those spots to fi ll up “quite quickly,” Reichardt said, and they primarily went to nearby quilt shop owners — from Gainesville, Ocala, Alachua, Trenton and Orange Park. The show itself, even with patriotic display and platform

for local storeowners to peddle their wares, is ultimately a tribute to quilting artistry. “There will be four areas in which you can go and actually spend money if you want to,” Reichardt said. “Otherwise it’s pretty much about getting inspired and informed.” She told how some

A Patchwork SpringtimeThe Tree City Quilters Guild Holds its

Seventh Biennial Quilt Show

Guild members enjoy the creative process and camaraderie most.

By Matthew Beaton

QUILTED SOUTHERN

PHOTO BY MATTHEW BEATON

Surrounded by her quilts and supplies in her home, Sandra Sontag looks over a quilt dedicated to fallen local Marine, Pfc. Wayne Vincent.

14

April 2011 15

15


quilters will be motivated to try out new techniques after seeing them displayed. “They’ll see things, like perhaps a design they’ve always wanted to make, and it will inspire them to make one themselves,” Reichardt said. However, a show of this magnitude would likely struggle for funding were it not for their “in” at the Best Western. Sandra Sontag, a member of the guild, also co-owns the hotel, which ensures the group’s rock-bottom rate. “She pretty much donates the facility for us,” Reichardt said. The event utilizes the

hotel’s full

ballroom as well as some

of the conference rooms, and the

preparation it requires is daunting. Held every two years, the show demands dedicated effort from guild members many months in advance. “As soon as [the previous] show ends, we select people who begin to work almost immediately as far as setting up committees and working on various parts of the [next] show,” Hayes said. The event will also feature a certifi ed, independent quilt appraiser. Teddy Pruett will perform quilt appraisals, offering local residents a chance to learn the history behind grandma’s old, dusty quilt in the closet. “She’s very knowledgeable and can tell you when,

perhaps, it was

made, because of the fabrics and

things like that, what the value of it would

be — perhaps how to take care of it,” Reichardt said, adding that Pruett primarily appraises vintage quilts. Though the local show is a valuable opportunity to interact with the community and show off their work, what the guild members seem to enjoy most is the creative process and the camaraderie. “Quilters are funny people,” said Reichardt, laughing. “We can spend a small fortune making a quilt and have it sit on a shelf to someday go to a grandchild; I know very few quilters who actually sell their stuff, mostly it’s gifts for family members or special occasions.” Reichardt estimated the guild assembles 50 quilts yearly, but this number is largely dependent on the quilt’s size — a lap quilt, for instance, takes signifi cantly less time than a bed-sized quilt. Plus, each year, the guild donates 3 to 5 of their fi nished projects to Haven Hospice.

“They’re all going to a good place, a good home,” Reichardt said. The assembly process is extremely complex. And an artist must choose not only a pattern, but also the various colored fabrics to be used within that pattern. There are no paper layouts on which to draw outlines and designs, the patterns come only with instructions describing, in painstaking detail, the various piece sizes and how they should be arranged. “They’re strip cut,” said Melanie Jensen, the guild’s publicity chairwoman. “They tell you how to cut your strips, how to cut your squares.” For this, they use a rotary cutter, which, by all appearances, could work for slicing your DiGiorno. Some members, though, sink their creative talents into formulating their own compositions. “We have people who are very graphic and can chart out a quilting design —maybe they

16

April 2011 17

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE TREE CITY QUILTERS GUILD

FAR LEFT: Melanie Jensen, publicity chairwoman for the Tree City Quilters Guild, stands with

her quilt “Flourishes” at the sixth biennial quilt show in 2009.

CENTER: Sandy Pozzetta, who joined the Tree City Quilters Guild in the mid-90s, stands next to her

quilt “Blue Springs” at the 2009 show.

Jan Graf’s (not pictured) “Kitty City” on display at the 2009 Tree City Quilters Guild show. Graf made the

quilt for her grandaughter because allergies prevent her from owning a cat.

saw some-

thing or were inspired

by nature,” Reich-ardt said.

The guild, which has about 100 members and

was formed in 1993, meets as a whole only once a month at Westside Baptist Church. But “we have multiple smaller groups who get together to do things on their own and work on projects,” Hayes said. One such group donates their fi nished

products to charity. “Right after Katrina, we made a bunch of quilts for people who had lost everything,” Hayes said. Reichardt and Hayes belong to a unit of eight called “The Instigators,” who do their quilting at Sontag’s house. Jensen, also an instigator, recalled when she joined the guild in 1997. “I had just moved to Gainesville,” she said. “And she was looking for a new quilting home,” Sontag said, chiming in.

“You learn so much and you learn from other quilters, so the best place to go is a guild,” Jensen said, fi nishing her thought. “We’re the best of friends,” Sontag said, grinning. Inside Sontag’s northwest Gainesville home, the evidence of avid quilting is everywhere. Finished products hang from practically every wall. One purple, gyroscope beauty, as stunning in its complexity as it is overwhelming in its size, occupies the better

part of a hallway, while holiday-themed quilts hang in Sontag’s sewing area. On a high shelf, piles and piles of fabric sit. “It’s called a stash,” Jensen said, with an ironic smile. “We’re fabric-holics; we’re not alcoholics,” Sontag said. The workspace’s centerpiece is a fl at-topped table-like island. Its green checkerboard pattern reveals measurements, detailing inches, and its fl at solid surface offers a perfect plane on which to cut fabric.

Families

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17


Most quilters use standard cotton, which Reichardt called “perfect” for quilting. Others, though, employ silk, velvet, wool and similar seldom-used materials, while adding beads or paint to enhance the work’s aesthetic value. “A lot of times people ... hang them on a rack on the wall and they’re basically art,” Reichardt said. The hobby, however, is habit-forming. “I just enjoy it; it’s totally addictive,” Hayes said. “You always come away with this fi nished product that no matter what you think it’s going to look like, it’s always different.” Since taking up the hobby in 1997, she has completed more than 60 quilts. Reichardt, who has been quilting about twice as long as Hayes, still remembers her fi rst, vividly. She made it for her niece, “who is now

married and pregnant with her fi rst baby, and that was 30 years ago,” she said. The group encourages all who are fascinated by quilting — neophytes or veterans — to join the guild. However, there is one caveat: Presently, there are no male members. Nevertheless, “it’s open to anyone who’s interested in quilting,”Hayes said. s

Tree City Quilters

Guild Seventh

Biennial Quilt Show

April 30th and May 1st

10:00am - 4:00pm

Best Western Gateway

Grand Hotel, 4200 N.W.

97th Blvd., Gainesville

Admission: $6

More than 100 quilts on

display, quilt appraisals,

patriotic quilt exhibit,

basket raffl e, door prizes.

PHOTO BY MATTHEW BEATON

Sandra Sontag stands beside “Moon Glow,” hanging in a hallway inside

her home. She has been a member of Tree City Quilters Guild since 1994.

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It proved so popular that they asked me to bring it up to date, adding new chapters covering her latest relation-ships, crises, honors and triumphs as a fragrance tycoon. In the process, I came across some lovers from her past who belatedly decided to tell all, including Vic Damone and Robert Wagner. I turned in my manuscript February 25, two days before Elizabeth’s 79th birthday, and it’s being rushed out on a crash program. What a gift this adorable Senior has been to the world, raising our conscious-ness most recently on the subject of age — not by anything she said but by her actions. Even though frail and showing the effects of brain surgery, she contin-ued through much of the last decade to go before the public instead of hiding in her Bel Air mansion like a pickled Mary Pickford, who became a recluse after the cheering stopped. In effect Elizabeth was saying it’s okay to be a Senior. She still lives up to the title of my biography, proving in Act III that beauty is more than skin deep. If our behavior is generous and thoughtful of others — as Elizabeth’s has been as a parent and phi-lanthropist — then a new kind of beauty shines from inside. “Physical beauty is passing,” Tennessee Williams wrote in “A Streetcar Named Desire.” “...a transi-

tory possession. But beauty of the mind and richness of the spirit and tenderness of the heart — and I have all those things — aren’t taken away, but grow! Increase with the years!” Elizabeth Taylor has all those things, too — and more. The world has loved her for always being true to herself. Even in her blaze of wretched excess in London and Rome during the Swinging Sixties, we forgave her husband-stealing and home-wrecking because, beneath her lust-driven escapades we could see glimmers of the person she was intend-ed to be, and might yet become. When suffering landed her in rehab — a fancy name for insane asylum — we loved her all the more. When she fi nally overcame herself and bravely waged an unpopular but ultimately successful battle for gays and AIDS research, we were not surprised, recognizing the emergence of the real Elizabeth Taylor. In the past decade, the world’s great nations ignored the wreck-age of her past-scandals, booze, drugs, and even Michael Jackson — and singled her out for the highest civilian honors: the White House according her the Presidential Citizen’s Medal, the French making her a chevalier of the Legion of Honor, and HRH Queen Elizabeth II

investing her as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. I fi rst encountered the future Dame Elizabeth in 1959, when I found my-self standing next to her in a Las Vegas casino. She was looking for Eddie Fisher, she said, totally without benefi t of intro-duction, and not even bothering to look at me. The famous, I realized, never hesi-tate to talk if they feel like it because they know that somebody is always listening. A decade later I found myself again standing beside her, this time at a premiere party for the Brooke Shields movie “Endless Love.” Brooke was a few feet away, and though Elizabeth still didn’t know who I was, she said, “So that’s my competition.” When we fi nally did meet, in the late 1970s, at a dinner with some of her disco pals, Andy Warhol, Calvin Klein and Halston, Elizabeth Taylor at last looked

me in the eye, with a directness and inter-est that fell on me like a caress. It had been worth the wait. If she approves of what she sees, she makes you feel 10 feet tall. After HarperCollins fi rst published my biography in 2000, I often wondered what she thought of it. I found out in 2002 when a British writer, a mutual friend, told me he’d just dined with Dame Elizabeth and asked her, “Did you like Ellis’s book?” “Yes,” she said. “If I hadn’t, he’d have heard from me.” s

Recently honored by TCU’s Schieffer School

of Journalism, Ellis Amburn will lecture on

April 5 at the University of Florida.

[email protected]

EnjoyingAct Three

Ten years ago HarperCollins published

my biography of Elizabeth Taylor, “The

Most Beautiful Woman in the World.”

DAME ELIZABETH œ ELLIS AMBURN

A decade later I found myself again standing beside her, this time at a premiere party for the Brooke Shields movie “Endless Love.”

20

April 2011 21

The Alzheimer’s Association is the leading global voluntary health organization in the care and support of those with Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Local chapters nationwide provide services within each community. The Central and North Florida Chapter supports 31 counties with 10 employees and many dedicated volun-teers. The 24/7 Helpline (1-800-272-3900) assists more than 250,000 callers each year, and provides translation services in over 170 languages. The association can also connect people across the globe through the online message boards at www.alz.org. Additionally, they offer several educational programs, most of which are free of charge. Research leads to potential treatments, which must be test-ed, so clinical trials are key to advancing these fi ndings. Want to participate in a clinical trial? The Alzheimer’s Association helps people fi nd trials through its Alzheimer’s Association TrialMatch, a free service that makes it easy to search through clinical trial opportunities based on personal criteria. How can you help? The annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s(tm) is the nation’s largest event to raise aware-ness and funds for Alzheimer care, support and research. It is an all-age, all-ability event held in 600 communities nation-wide, uniting millions to raise funds and awareness in the fi ght against Alzheimer’s disease. You can participate by starting or joining a team at www.alz.org/walk. s

For more information, call 1-800-272-3900 or visit www.alz.org

Alzheimer’s AssociationINFORMATION œ SPOTLIGHT ADVE RTISE M E NT

Most of us can remember the “good old days,” when it was almost impossible to fi nd a pay-phone when you needed one. Having your car break down on a deserted road was a major concern for most of us.Can you remember doing your recommended exercises, like walking, worrying the whole time about what you would do should there be an emergency, like a heart attack. How would you contact someone for help? Most of us had hoped that someday someone would fi gure out a way to make us safe and secure with a portable telephone.

Today’s mobile telephones are the answer. Th is is why many seniors have one. One of the greatest benefi ts to owning a cell phone is the security of knowing that they can call for assistance anytime or anywhere you need to. In past decades, millions of people were stranded on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere because their car broke down. Not being able to get help and having to rely on the kindness of strangers who passed by. It was not only frustrating, it was also very dangerous.

Th ere are still many seniors who do not want to own a mobile phone, mostly because of cost

and concern about using a confusing new device. Many do not want to pay for a wireless phone plan, especially if they aren’t going to be making calls. For those people, a prepaid cell phone is the perfect gift.

Cellular phones have come a long way, and constant improvements have made them convenient to carry and easy to use. Mobile phones are basically the same as your home phone.

We are a cell phone company, InTouch America, that off ers you a free phone, and you only pay $3.99 per month, and only 18¢ per minute when you have to call someone. We also have other plans available. We custom-tailor cell phone plans to meet any needs. We can be contacted at1-800-500-0066 or on our web site at www.InTouchAmerica.com. If you contact us by May 3rd, 2011, you will get three months of free service, on any plan, when you mention this article in Senior Times.

If you are seeking a way to protect yourself or your loved ones, a cell phone could be the answer. Take the worry out of everyday activities. Knowing that help is just a telephone call away is important.

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E ven in the golden age of infor-mation and communication, misinformation is not only a

problem but a frequent issue. In its 25th year of observance, Alcohol Awareness Month seeks to specifi cally address misinformation and confusion about alcohol and alcoholism,

said Robert Lindsey, President and CEO of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc. “Alcohol Awareness Month began as a way of reaching the American public with information about the disease of al-coholism — that it is a treatable disease, not a moral weakness, and that alcohol-

ics are capable of recovery,” reports the NCADD website.

Common Misconceptions The NCADD and its local affi liates seek to increase public knowledge and awareness of alcoholism and other drug dependences, and as such is an impor-

The Importance of AwarenessBy Mary Kypreos

25 YEARS OF ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

22

April 2011 23

tant education and support resource for both the curious and concerned. Lindsey said the organization esti-mates that close to 15 million people in the U.S. are dependent on alcohol. Furthermore, they estimate 23 million for alcohol and all other drugs. “Clearly alcohol is, was, and always will be this country’s number one drug problem,” he said. Such a number begets the question — and a number of phone calls to the NCADD — how can one tell if oneself or another has a dependency? “A lot of times, people want a defi ni-tion rooted in specifi c types of bever-ages and amounts, but none of these are really important,” Lindsey said. The simplest defi nition of abuse is a continued use of alcohol or drugs despite negative consequences, whether those consequences are physical, emo-tional, legal, fi nancial, work or family related, etc. For example, Lindsey explains that the average person, if they receive a DUI, will not do it again. However, with

an alcoholic, the question is not if they will drink and drive again, but when. “We think of [alcohol] as a drink and, as a result, think of it as any other bever-age we consume,” he said. But alcohol is not like other beverag-es; it is a sedative drug that is absorbed into the blood stream and affects every organ system. In turn, this can cause complications for Seniors and those liv-ing with illness. “It is important to remember the interactions between alcohol and other drugs,” Lindsey said. Combining sedative drugs, like alco-hol, with other medications can com-plicate the application of the medicine; furthermore, prescription bottles may not always warn against consuming the

drug with alcohol. Therefore it is always important to receive clear guidance from the pharma-cist, he said.

Recognizing a Problem The cost of alcohol abuse is sub-stantial throughout a lifespan, said Dr. Joseph Thornton, assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Florida and chief of the Division of Aging and Geriatric Psychiatry. There are medical expenses, DUIs, health consequences, accidents, etc. Even more problematic is that alcohol dependency can be diffi cult to detect, especially as a person ages. In the young, one looks for things such as an increase in drinking, and the

“Alcohol and drug

problems among older

adults are health care

issues that are frequently

hidden, overlooked

and misdiagnosed.

Consequently, the

personal, family and

health care costs

are overwhelming,”

according to a National

Council on Alcoholism

and Drug Dependence,

Inc., press release.

By 2030, one

third of the country’s

population will be 55

years old and older.

6 to 11 percent of all

elderly patients admitted

to hospitals show

symptoms of alcoholism.

14 percent of all

elderly patients in

emergency rooms exhibit

symptoms of alcoholism.

The prevalence of

problem drinking in

nursing homes is as

high as 49 percent

in some studies.

In 1998, health care

costs of alcohol and drug

problems among older

adults totaled $30 billion.

$100 billion is the

2018 projected health

care costs of alcohol

and drug problems

among older adults.

As a person continues to age, abuse is subtler and often not apparent until hospitalization for entirely different reasons occurs, during which withdrawal symptoms appear.

Information Courtesy of the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence, Inc.

ALCOHOL AND SENIORS

23


consequences usually impact the person traumatically, through accidents, Dr. Thornton said. Mid-life, a family impact appears, along with the beginning of health prob-lems. Late in life, alcohol abuse leads to confusion, falls and drug interactions. As a person continues to age, abuse is subtler and often not apparent until hospitalization for entirely different rea-sons occurs, during which withdrawal symptoms appear. “For all age ranges, alcohol abuse and dependence is a disease,” he said. “It is not a matter of being weak or strong.” Although Dr. Thornton does not deny there are benefi ts to alcohol, he is not convinced the benefi ts outweigh the costs; moreover, he believes the idea is sometimes used to enable drinking rather than for the actual benefi ts. In general, the benefi ts of alcohol consumption come only from drinking one glass or less a day. “It is possible to live a good and healthy life without drinking,” he said, adding that life will not be impaired.

Getting Help Reaching out is an important step in recovery; however, this step should not only be limited to the alcoholic. “Alcoholism is what we call a family disease,” Lindsey said. “The behavior of the entire family is impacted and affected as a result. The family needs to get help independent of whether the person with the problem gets help.” Keeping this in mind, Lindsey stressed that if anyone has concerns of alcohol dependency, personally or in a friend or family member, they should contact someone who is specifi cally trained and successfully experienced with treating addiction. Furthermore, when dealing with a

friend or family member, the fi rst in-stinct for dealing with the issue may not be the best choice. “People tend to approach alcoholism and addiction issues from a common-sense perspective,” Lindsey said. Common sense says that if the problem is fi xed, the person will not need to drink anymore, so if they are in trouble with the law, bail them out; if they have fi nancial problems, give them a loan; if there are relationship issues, go to counseling. “Common sense and alcoholism is a disaster,” he said. All of the above examples only treat the manifestations of the disease, not the disease itself, hence the need for experi-enced help. “Most people don’t like hearing com-ments about their drinking from other people, making it more diffi cult with friends,” Dr. Thornton said.

So when concerned about a friend or family member who will not admit to a problem, Dr. Thornton suggests two ways to try and start a discussion. First, re-examine your own drink-ing habits with the person concerned in hopes of encouraging them to think about the idea and talk about them-selves. Also, if there is a family history of abuse, discuss alcohol problems in the future sense: although they may not have problems now, they should think about cutting back to avoid the same family and health issues later. “The most important step is to recog-nize you have a problem and then reach out to someone,” he said. s

Late in life, alcohol abuse leads to confusion, falls and drug interactions

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24

April 2011 25

Kids grow up, couples can divorce, and sometimes we move. Making

friends — which may have seemed so effortless when we were kids — can seem more like climbing Everest when we age. But, before you buy crampons, make a new friend to pick up the slacklines. According to MetLife’s Mature Market Institute 2010 “Meaning Really Matters” study, the recipe for a happy life is creating deep relationships with family and friends, having a sense of purpose, and having a sense of belonging. Yet, the older we get, there’s a greater chance that life circumstances can render us feeling isolated or unwanted — affecting our health and well-being. Many studies show that the quality and size of Seniors’ support networks affect their mental and physical health. For instance, a 2010 study by Seeman and others show that social relationships affect cognitive aging. That is, having fewer social contacts leads to poorer thinking and memory recall. Gallego-Carillo’s 2009 study shows that a large network of loved ones improves the health-related quality of life in Seniors — even in those with depressive symptoms. So, it’s important to fl ex that social networking muscle to stay healthy and happy.

HERE ARE 10 WAYS TOKEEP SOCIALLY “FIT”:

1. Hang out with a cup of joe. Open yourself up to conversations at coffee shops or other casual eateries. You can engage all types of people with interesting (or not so interesting) stories. Find a place that makes it easy for you to stay (or go) as you please.

2. “Eyes are your window to the world.” Although we’ve all known this at some point, it’s easy to forget when life throws things your way: a genuine smile and a little eye contact is a great way to strike up a conversation.

3. Be a gentle listener. Patti Woods, MA CS, internationally known as “The Body Language Lady” says that there’s is no greater gift to give to someone than your interest. To show that you’re listening empathetically, occasionally nod your head. Head nodding releases feel-good endorphin-like chemicals into our bloodstream. How’s that for a bonus?

4. Got digits? If you fi nd someone interesting, get a phone number. When you call, you can pick up the

conversation about what you share in common.

5. Drop your expectations.Don’t pressure yourself to fi nd a “best friend.” Casual interaction is a fi ne goal as well, and you can see where that takes you. Not sure if someone is right for you? Well, friend-dating is allowable. Try on a potential friend for size. It’s okay to break things off if the person is not a good fi t.

6. Just say, “Yes.” How many times do you say “No” to invitations because it takes energy for you to go? Remember that it’s usually fun when you get to the destination.

7. Host dinners. Mix and match friends and acquaintances. Different pairings can be fun, and friendships can develop from those pairings.

8. Try going online. Join networks like Eons.com (an online community for baby boomers) or Facebook. People you know are probably already on those networks. This is particularly a good option for homebound or isolated Seniors. According to AARP, one out of three Seniors age 75 or older lives alone.

9. Get the word out. Tell the people that you’re looking to make new friends. It brings out the matchmaker in them; you’ll be set up with new faces right away.

10. Join something, anything. How about a Community Education class? Santa Fe College offers classes from fi ne arts to sports. There’s even animal training.

If you’re still planning to climb Everest after trying these tips, make sure your friend takes a picture of youat the peak. s

Kendra Siler-Marsiglio, Ph.D. is the

Director of the Rural Health Partnership

at WellFlorida Council.

HealthyEdge

Change happens, and many times

it rearranges who we relate to and

how we relate.

BE HEALTHY, MAKE FRIENDS œ KENDRA SILER-MARSIGLIO

25


Y ooHoo is a hero. And what does he want for a reward? Just a smile and a good scratch behind the ears.

After all, YooHoo is a dog. Along with his owner, Linda Caldwell, YooHoo participates in Therapy Dog International, Inc. TDI is a non-profi t organization that registers and trains dogs so they are prepared to enter hospitals, homes and schools, where they offer comfort and happiness to whomever may need them. This organizaton originated in New Jersey during the late 1970s. YooHoo is a seven-year-old basset hound. In April 2010, he joined the ranks of the 21,000 teams comprised of a dog and its owner that volunteer with Therapy Dogs International. Caldwell adopted YooHoo from a breeder in Romeo, a town located in Marion County. As the last one left in the litter of puppies, YooHoo has features the breeder labeled unfi t for breeding. But YooHoo was meant for much more than just breeding. After spotting an advertisement in a pet store, Caldwell knew that YooHoo was meant to be a therapy dog. “He’s a real people lover,” she said. For a dog to become registered under TDI, he or she must have an outstanding temperament. According to the Therapy Dog International website, each dog must love children,

enjoy visiting people, and behave in public and around other dogs. Therapy dogs can be from any breed, but Caldwell said Labradors and German Shepherds are good ones. The German Shepherd is even featured on the TDI logo with their slogan, “Paws Awhile for Love.” YooHoo and Caldwell visit nursing homes and rehabilitation facilities. For example, they have been to the Ocala Health and Rehabilitation Facility. Residents at the facility suffer from brain injuries, body injuries or long-term illnesses, such as dementia.

The residents who have requested to visit with YooHoo gather together and make a circle around him. He will go from chair to chair, allowing the residents to pet and love on him. Caldwell said it is amazing he does not get tired. After he circles the group, Caldwell and YooHoo put on a show where he practices his tricks.

All We NeedIs LoveTherapy Dogs Working to Reduce Blood Pressure,

Ease Grief and Help Children Learn to Read

“During the past couple of decades, science has proven what we canine lovers have always known:petting a dog is good for you.”

by Amanda Williamson

CANINE COMFORT

PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY for LOTUS STUDIOS

YooHoo, as his owner Linda Caldwell describes him, is “58 pounds of hound” – basset hound, to be exact. He is also a therapy dog. Caldwell and YooHoo

work in the area, such as at the Ocala Health and Rehabilitation Center. Therapy dogs visit hospitals, schools, shelter and wherever they are needed.

26

April 2011 27

27


Therapy dogs are not a specifi c

breed or type of dog, nor do they

have to be a certain age or size.

A Therapy Dog is a dog with an

outstanding temperament that

exhibits ease in visiting people,

loving children and tolerance of

other animals.

“They get so excited, especially the women,” she said. Caldwell said the benefi ts of petting a dog are enormous, including lowered blood pressure and increased peace of mind. According to “The Whole Dog Journal,” by Nancy Kerns, “During the past couple of decades, science has proven what we canine lovers have always known: petting a dog is good for you. Studies have shown that it lowers blood pressure, decreases cholesterol levels and reduces the risk of heart dis-ease.” And Kerns goes on to verify that Alzheimer’s and AIDS patients, autistic children and nursing home residents improve when they have contact with dogs. Caldwell has even taken YooHoo to visit a family friend who recently lost a spouse. Yes, dogs can even relieve some of the grief associated with the loss of a loved one. TDI suggests to the public to have therapy dogs present at “the fi nal visit” at the funeral home. “Although it can be an extremely somber occasion, a gentle Therapy Dog can be an asset during this time,” states the TDI website. “They bring unconditional love and help to lighten a mournful atmosphere while bringing peace to individuals dur-ing an upsetting time.” But Therapy Dogs International has an assortment of

lighter programs on the list, such as “Tail Waggin’ Tutors.” This program assists children in learning to read. A lot of the children who have trouble reading develop self-esteem issues and a fear of being judged. By allowing the children to read to a therapy dog, all of their worries disappear, according to the TDI website. The dogs provide a relaxing environment for the children to grow as readers. Caldwell, a retired teacher, said she has asked repeatedly to allow YooHoo to be permitted into the schools in the area. They have all declined, even after she offered to put a soft muzzle on him. She thinks it is because they are worried about the children being injured by the dog. Therapy dogs are only allowed where they are admitted. But TDI suggests taking the animals wherever they are need-ed, such as schools, libraries, orphanages or shelters, nursing homes and hospitals. It is important to realize that therapy dogs are not the same as service dogs, and thus they cannot go everywhere the way a service dog can. Unlike service dogs, TDI dogs do not wear a vest; they are recognizable by a TDI bandana, ID tag and a

28

April 2011 29

TDI identifi cation card. According to the organization’s website, it is important for the owner to know where his or her dog can go. Some dogs are not meant to be therapy dogs for children, as children can be rough and loud. “A therapy dog is born, not made,” states the TDI web-site. “Regardless of how residents look or how they feel, the animals are happy to see them. Those who live or must stay in a care facility truly benefi t from the unconditional love and acceptance provided by a TDI dog.”

YooHoo loves everyone, Caldwell said. He loves to be pet-ted. Sitting outside of PetSmart, YooHoo barked at every per-son that walked by, seemingly begging them to come over and pet him. The moment a person walked over, YooHoo would quiet down and enjoy the attention. And YooHoo was not biased. He loved the attention from any type of person who would give it — young or old, rich or poor. And although YooHoo came into the world with these qualities, it did take several months for him to pass all his qualifying exams to become a therapy dog. The process of becoming a therapy dog involves several dif-ferent phases. The dog and its owner have to go through a test conducted by a TDI evaluator. The test is similar to the Ameri-can Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen test, but with a variation created by the TDI. The test requires the dog and the owner perform as a team. The handler must demonstrate control of the dog. The dog must also ignore food, come when called, sit when told, and move politely in pedestrian areas. Owners must keep their dog properly groomed and updated on all vaccines. Proof is required to be admitted as a volunteer for TDI. Several facilities in the area allow therapy dogs to visit, such as Signature Healthcare, Woodlands Care Center and SW Retirement Home. “Four-footed therapists give something special to enhance the health and well-being of others,” states TDI’s website. These modern-day Lassies of TDI go out into the world to take on pain and suffering. And they do it tirelessly, happily — and well groomed. s

Visit www.tdi-dog.org for more information.

The process of becoming a therapy dog requires the dog and its owner perform as a team. The handler must demonstrate control of their dog in a variety of scenarios.

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29


When we stumble upon a major milestone, the path we choose

has an effect not only on ourselves, but also for everyone we encounter. A recent job opportunity forced me to ponder my past and pray for guidance to make the right choice for the future. I refl ected back to 1983, when trepidation of traffi c escalated to extreme paranoia. After surviving numerous automobile accidents in the ridiculous rush-hour traffi c of Miami, I had to leave. I lived in fear for the lives of my newborn daughter and precious son. God answered my desperate pleas. An opening arose for my husband to transfer to Gainesville and we had to make an immediate decision. We quickly packed and hauled our belongings in an old box truck to our new homestead. Yes, the Bonnells had the same pioneering spirit as the Ingalls. If Caroline from “Little House on the Prairie” could manage, I could too. We left behind family, my secure job in personnel at The Miami Herald, a nice house and the city life. Our move was to a rural farming town, to live in an un-air-conditioned mobile home, without access to telephone or television service. We did not know a single soul. Until we established residence, we were unaware our new home was located in Newberry, not Gainesville. Newberry was very different in the

1980s. We lived on a rural route, without a street address. Good jobs were nearly non-existent and immigrants from Dade County were considered unwanted foreigners. Yet, there was no such thing as traffi c jams. Slowly we met friends and became involved in the community. My purpose clearly became to be the best mother possible to my own children and to nurture or mentor any other child who needed my attention. I served in many volunteer capacities and eventually worked in the offi ce at the middle school and later the high school. The fi nancial rewards were sparse, but I received unlimited love. I praised God every day for nearly three decades and did everything I could to show my appreciation. Then it happened. A position became available in Human Resources with the School Board of Alachua County, housed at Kirby Smith. It was an opportunity for personal growth I selfi shly wanted to pursue. I faced such a dilemma. Was I backing out on the deal I made with God in 1983? Many folks thought I had lost my mind in considering the long commute. Haunted by the daunting decision, I surrendered and applied. Again, I begged the Universe for

assistance, asking for signs showing how I could best serve. Divine subtle messages unfolded at a steadfast speed. Immediately after stating my intentions, the telephone rang and an interview arranged. Following that fateful call, I made an appointment at an establishment with the word Heaven in its name. Coincidentally (perhaps) I had planned a visit to Miami for that same afternoon. It was my fi rst trip to my former home in a long time. Having pre-packed, I had forgotten that my angel blanket was in my luggage. Traffi c moved so smoothly it was eerie. The unusually cool weather was perfect for walking and meditating. My pilgrimage served as a sabbatical to clear my mind. Wayne Dyer believes, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” Dyer is correct! When I returned to work with a fresh outlook, my observations were inspirational. Enthusiastic young instructors were teaching with vigor, utilizing updated technology. I saw a refl ection of myself decades ago and realized it was okay to move on.

The job offer came and I accepted. Co-workers congratulated me on my transfer to the mansion on University Avenue, lovingly referred to as The White House. Life is a miraculous journey to embrace. I went from living in a little house on the prairie to working in the White House. I wonder what is next. s

Donna Bonnell is a freelance writer who

moved to Newberry in 1983. She enjoys

living and working in the town she now calls

home. [email protected]

EmbracingLife

Life unfolds one day at a time

and is full of surprises.

LOOKING GLASS œ DONNA BONNELL

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.”

30

April 2011 31

The Free File Alliance, a coalition of industry-leading tax software companies partnered with the Internal Revenue Service, today encouraged eligible taxpayers to take advantage

of IRS Free File, available at www.irs.gov/efi le. The service is available to all Americans with a 2010 Adjusted Gross Income of $58,000 or less and offers free access to leading tax preparation software available from Free File Alliance member companies. IRS Free File equips taxpayers with free, step-by-step help to easily prepare and e-fi le federal tax returns using a comprehensive suite of all core forms. The IRS Free File program is available on the IRS website, www.IRS.gov/efi le. After selecting the “Free File” option, users will fi nd a list of Free File Alliance member companies and may either choose the one that fi ts their needs or utilize the “help me fi nd a company” tool. After selecting a company, taxpayers will be transferred to the company’s website to prepare, complete and electronically fi le their federal income tax returns. Three of the 19 participating software companies also offer services in Spanish. s

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G ainesville has a permanent time machine that will trans-port residents back into the

1800s. Situated in Morningside Nature Center, the Living History Farm wel-comes visitors who wish to experience the world the way it was in the mid-to-late 19th century. While the farm comes alive every Saturday from September to May, Morningside holds two big events during the year at the Living History Farm. The spring event — the Farm and Forest Festival — takes place this month. On April 30, Morningside celebrates its 33rd Farm and Forest Festival. But this year, because of budget constraints, the festival will be shortened to a one-day event. “For quite a few years now, I’ve wanted to make changes to the event,” said Sally Wazny of the Nature Opera-tions Division for Morningside Nature Center. Because of the reduction of time, the changes have come to the forefront. In earlier years, the festival focused on the Living History Farm. People would park and head straight for the farm. But this year, the event is spilling

out from the Farm and into the rest of Morningside, providing entertainment in the picnic area and incorporating the numerous trails that cross through the nature park. “What we would really like to do this year is broaden the journey through time beyond the mid-to-late 1800s,” Wazny said. “The other thing we really want to do is put more forest into the Farm and Forest Festival.” The festival will incorporate music, environmental groups and lecturers to show how nature is still as important today as it was in the 1800s. And while

some of the details are still not clearly de-fi ned, the theme of the festival has been decided: Celebration of the Sandhill. The sandhills, a home for longleaf pine, used to be the most prominent eco-system in Florida, Wazny said. But now Morningside is one of the last remain-

ing examples of longleaf pine left in the area. The sandhills have been important to the people in this region for 12,000 years, Wazny said. “But people’s relationship with nature and with the land has changed over time,” she said. Through hands-on activities, such as basket weaving, blacksmithing and sewing, the festival will show how life connects with the land and the for-est. Participants can try their hand at woodworking or whitewashing a fence with crushed lime rock and water. Guided tours will take guests through

the sandhill environment. Environmen-tal lectures and modern music will help visitors see how nature is infl uencing life even today. “We want every component to be signifi cant,” Wazny said. Even the food will be appropriate

Journey backto the 1800sThe Farm and Forest Festival

The festival will have games, crafts and hayrides for the children and adults. “What you’re not going to see, is bounce houses.”

By Amanda Williamson

HERITAGE

32

April 2011 33

PH

OT

O B

Y A

LB

ER

T I

SA

AC

33


for the festival. Though it will not necessarily be organic, it will be based on the idea that the farm, forest and people are connected. “What you’re not going to see is bounce houses,” Wazny said. The festi-val will have games, crafts and hayrides for the children - and even the adults. Morningside, a pristine home to an endangered ecosystem, can only hold

so many visitors. So the success is not measured by the amount of guests, but by how the guests are impacted — whether through interacting with an environmental group, going on a tour, or listening to the music. Wazny sees the festival as a success.

EARTH ACADEMY DAY CAMP To keep Gainesville children from vegetating on the couch during spring break, Morningside Nature Center hosts Earth Academy Day Camp. Each March, children in grades 1 - 6 can experience nature up-close. In the spring, the theme tends to be ecology. This past break, Morningside focused on the outdoors with the theme, “It Starts in Parks.” “We have so many nature parks in our system. We thought it would be fun to take the kids on a lot of fi eld trips, and

just explore Gainesville,” said Kathrine Edison, who volunteers for the Earth Academy Day Camp, as well as various other programs Morningside offers. The camp offers activities and discus-sions about exploring, which shows the importance of parks and what they provide for the community, Edison said. Parks are more than just green spaces; they contain areas that give peace of mind to its visitors. Last year, Morningside had a simi-lar theme. They took the children to Possum Creek and King Park, among several others. The camp costs are per-day, even if the child does not stay the whole time. “The kids are totally involved and surrounded by nature, which is really quite wonderful,” said Ludovica Weaver, marketing technician.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF MORNINGSIDE NATURE CENTER

At the Farm and Forest Festival, visitors will see various demonstrations of tasks performed during the 1800s. They will also get a chance to

participate in some of the activities. The festival drew 4,065 visitors in 2007, according to public record.

Farm & Forest FestivalSaturday, April 30

10:00 am – 4:00 pm

ADMISSION PRICE:

$5 adults; $3 children

For more information,call 352-334-2171 or visit

www.natureoperations.org

34

April 2011 35

OTHER EVENTS Saturday, April 9, Morningside Nature Center will host the annual Spring Native Plant Sale. The sale accepts only cash and check. It is the largest offering of native plants in North Florida. “The native plant sale features thousands of beautiful native shrubs, trees, wildfl owers, ferns, grasses and vines grown at area nurseries. Vendors are members of the Florida Native Plant Society and certify that plants are nursery propagated and grown,” states the City of Gainesville’s spring plant sale press release. The proceeds will benefi t Gainesville’s environmental and cultural history programs. According to the City of Gainesville website, the fall and spring plant sales in 2007 boasted 817 buyers.

Morningside also provides ongoing events from September through May. In addition to Living History Saturdays, children can meet the Barnyard Buddies on Wednesday and participate in Feed-A-Frog Fridays. All three events are free. For Barnyard Buddies, the Living History Farm has a collection of animals appropriate for the time period. “The animals are part of the interpretation,” Weaver said. The livestock, such as the diary cow, are ones that a farmer would have kept in 1870s. While learning about Gainesville’s heritage, children can participate in helping to feed the animals during the program. On Feed-A-Frog Friday, children listen to an educational and interactive story on local reptiles and other animals. After the lecture, the staff member

presents an assortment of reptiles to the group, such as a lizard or a rat snake. The education building at Morningside Nature Center is full of terrariums where children can peak in to see the rat snake during its daily snooze. “How about honeybees?” asked volunteer Katherin Edison, during her presentation at Feed-A-Frog Friday. “What do you think honeybees do when they’re cold?” And the response from the children in the audience: “They make honey!” While this may not be true because of the lack of fl owers in the winter months, the children enjoy the chance to interact and show off their knowledge. Morningside Nature Center is always looking for volunteers, whether it is to help for just a day or to provide an on-going presence. s

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: The garden inside the Living History Farm is harvested and used to cook meals for the staff . A volunteer shears a

sheep of its fur, an activity performed during the 1800s to provide yarn for clothes. At the Farm and Forest Festival, children and adults can enjoy

traditional crafts activities such as arrowhead carving. Katherine Edison shows a group of curious children one of the reptiles.

35


When we were children, everything was possible. Our imagination was our guide and our wings as we lived the wonderful dreams that would be our future. Some of us would be fi ghter pilots, and we felt the actual push of the jet engine as we soared through the sky. Some of us fought fi res, saving the day through our bravery and strength. Many of us saved lives and cured diseases as great doctors and nurses. Astronauts, police offi cers, teachers, football players, magicians – our imaginations made endless the possibilities. Unfortunately, for many of us, the complexities of our adult reality have replaced the simplicity and brashness and sheer exuberance of youth. The choices we make in everyday life can limit our options and make things harder then they have to be. Life has a funny way of making the limitless choices of our childhood seem distant and impossible. This is very evident when

it comes to our fi nances. The fi nancial choices we make impact many aspects of our lives, from what we pay for a mortgage to how much we spend on car insurance. Creditors and banks look at numbers on a page, match them to a certain criteria, and make a decision. Who you are or what you have done to change, or your vision and imagination for the future makes no impact on their decision. As those “almost” mechanical decisions are made with little or no regard for you as a human being, hopes and dreams, the ones that once seemed so simple and straightforward, slip through your fi ngers. Wouldn’t it be nice to work with someone who looked at you as an individual? Someone who looked at your dreams and aspirations and saw more than just numbers on a page? Does your bank do that for you now? If not, then maybe it’s time you made the switch to SunState Federal Credit Union. If you have a dream, a vision for your future, or want something better, and are tired of dealing with people that just don’t seem to care about you one way or another, it

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April 2011 37

perspective, but their low rates, long amortization schedules and a higher loan-to-value than other institutions for certain programs. With their new purchase money Home equity line of credit program, SunState is ready to make your dream a reality. With competitive rates on

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37


I n an unassuming warehouse on North Main Street hides a book lover’s dream. Stacks, rows and

piles of books are sorted and catego-rized according to genre, fi lling the 1,500-square-foot space. Friends of the Library opens its doors to the public two times a year, in April and October. And, April 16 - 20 is right around the corner. Books of all fl avors can be found at the sale, from medicine to philosophy, gardening and self-help, or simply fi ction and non-fi ction literature. This wide variety can be attributed to the way the Friends of the Library receives its books. People bring donations 365 days a year. While the warehouse may not be open on a specifi c day, two drop boxes are located right outside the building. Books can also be donated to the Friends of the Library book sale through the various library branches, which will transport them to the warehouse. The libraries in town continuously scan their shelves for books that have received less attention from the public. Those books will be taken down and shipped to the warehouse, when, come April or Octo-

ber, the books can fi nd a new home. Donations tend to be a myriad of sub-jects, said Dr. Peter Roode, president of the Friends of the Library. He suggested

that when professors retire and has to downsize, they may donate all of their books to the sale. This allows the sections like medicine or physical science to grow. “Gainesville is a unique town,” he said. “It’s more intellectual.” Sarah Harrison, the board member in charge of publicity, said people fi nd books at the sale that cannot be found anywhere else. Other board members agreed. “Everything comes through here once,” she said. The books are always interesting, up-to-date titles. After the books are sorted into categories, they are placed in their designated area. Here, table

coordinators will examine them and decide if they will sell. Roode, a retired surgeon, works the medicine table. He said the sale will not

include books on medicine that are 10 years old or older because those books are not up to date. However, books like “Grey’s Anatomy,” even if it is older than 10 years, will still be on the shelf. The anatomy never changes, he said. While they do not count the items as they are donated or as they are sold, Roode guessed the Friends of the Library sells about 300,000 items each sale. “You’re actually told to price things half or one-third of what Amazon sells them for,” Harrison said. Harrison works the movie table. Years ago, she would save virtually all the VHS tapes that arrived at her table. In recent

A Book Lover’s DelightFriends of the Library Prepares for its Spring Sale

After the October 2009 book sale, an impressive $163,000 was donated to the Alachua County Library. The money is for the library to purchase books, not to fund their operating budget.

story and photosby Amanda Williamson

READING RAINBOW

38

April 2011 39

sales, they have not been fl ying off the table the way they used to, she said. Now, she is pickier about the movies she saves for the event. She decided not to save VHS tapes that have no cover or a destroyed cover, whereas she keeps all DVDs that are donated. “You also have to learn your market,” Harrison said. “The market here is a little different than the one on Amazon.”

For example, she said that the book sale draws a lot of science fi ction lovers. And where does the money go? It goes, broadly, to promote reading. After the Oct. 2009 book sale, the Friends of the Library donated $163,000 to the Alachua County Library. Roode said the money is provided for the library to purchase books, not to fund their operating budget.

And while this is the bulk of the proceeds, Friends of the Library also contributes to “Snuggle Up and Read,” a program that distributes books to Head Start students in more than 50 classes. The program includes the Snuggle Up and Read Center at the Headquarters Library in Gainesville, as well. The Friends of the Library mails books to deployed soldiers. Soldiers re-

ABOVE: Neha Rana searches the fi ction section. The October book sale was her fi rst time visiting the Friends of the Library Book Sale. Friends of the

Library asks that customers bring their own boxes. The sale takes only cash or check.

39


quest books online and various organiza-tions, including Friends of the Library, fi ll the orders. At the sale, containers placed at each register allow patrons to donate change. The change collected is used to pay for the postage to ship the books to the deployed troops. In addition to $900 donated to the Family Literacy Festival in the 2008-2009 season, the sale donates money to mini-grant programs related to literacy, literature and library awareness. Harrison feels that more money should go to these programs, especially after reading about the high illiteracy rate in Alachua County. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, 11 percent of Alachua County residents lacked basic prose liter-acy skills as of 2003. Alachua County had a 6.1 percent dropout in the 2005-2006 school year, while surrounding counties such as Bradford (5.4 percent), Putnam (4.0 percent) and Gilchrist County (2.3 percent) all had lower rates, according to the Florida Literacy Coalition. Shands Children’s Clinic requested a mini-grant from the Friends of the Library to pay for books for the children or relatives of the children being treated at the clinic. Roode said that the recession has helped the sale because less people want to spend $20 at a book store. Twenty

dollars goes farther at the Friends of the Library Sale, especially on Half-Price day or Ten Cent Day. Those days fall on the last two days of the sale. Roode was concerned the bad economy may have hurt the Friends of the Library in terms of fewer donations and that maybe people would start trying to sell on eBay. But, he said, donations have not decreased. In fact, sometimes volunteers have to work on their days off just to empty out the drop boxes. Not even e-books have put a damper on Roode’s optimism. He suspects they are just a fad. “They’re popular,” he said. “But, they are mostly current novels. How do they get older out-of-date books?” The Friends of the Library book sale has books from all generations, and the Collector’s Corner stocks books from as early as 1907. The Collector’s Corner is a small nook in the warehouse where higher-priced books or collector’s editions can be found. For example, Linda Connell, who works in the Collector’s Corner, said anything that has to do with Florida goes along the back wall of the Corner. These include books by Marjorie Kinnan Rawl-ings, or books on old cracker Florida. Some of the books are fi rst editions or signed copies. Books with a small press of

limited copies, or simply out of print, fi nd their way into the Collector’s Corner. This coming April, the Collector’s Corner will have, for the fi rst time, “The Orange Peel” in stock. Lila Moye, who also works in the Collector’s Corner, said that “The Orange Peel” is the original humor magazine cre-ated at the University of Florida following the return of World War II soldiers. Books left over after the sale are not wasted. Prison personnel collect books for the prisoners, some are hauled over to a local homeless shelter for veterans, and children’s books are donated to local schools — all for free. “At the end of the day, we still got a lot of books,” Roode said. In the 1950s, the Gainesville Women’s Club started the Friends of the Library to help the public library. It was one sale a year back then. The ladies of the original Friends of the Library borrowed vacant stores and used the space for the sale. “Each year it got a little bit bigger and a little bit bigger,” Connell said. Finally, so many books were being donated that the method of storing them was not working. Back then, they collected donations and placed them in a storage unit. But this became a hassle when the time for the sale rolled around. In 1989, Friends of the Library and the Junior League got together and pur-

Brown paper bags contain books for each section waiting to be organized by the table sorters. The prices at the Friends of the Library book sale

range from .25 cents to $4.00. Larger collections, such as a television series, may be priced at $10, but that is the highest price the staff can charge.

40

April 2011 41

chased the building in which Friends of the Library now resides. Now, they are able to have two sales a year. And people come from all over to visit the Gainesville Friends of the Library book sale. Customers from North Caro-lina, Miami and even Seattle fl ock in droves to the warehouse come sale days. Harrison believes the book sale has

developed into a staple in the commu-nity. She is uncertain why the sale has become such a wild success, but like most success stories she feels it is hard to pin down the reason. “It’s just become a thing that youdo, like going to Paynes Prairie or going to a Gator football game,” she said.“It’s become a phenomenon.” s

Marion County Library Events with Carl HiaasenCarl Hiaasen was born and

raised in Florida. A graduate

of the University of Florida, at

age 23 he joined The Miami

Herald as a general assignment

reporter and went on to work

for the paper’s weekly magazine

and later its prize-winning

investigations team. See him

this month in Ocala.

>> For ChildrenGive a Hoot for Hiaasen at the

Southeastern Livestock Pavilion

Auditorium.

Saturday, April 16, 2:00pm

A Meet-the-Author program for

youth in grades 4-12 (A child

may be accompanied by a

parent or caregiver). Enjoy an

afternoon with Carl Hiaasen

as he speaks about his books,

“Hoot,” “Flush,” and “Scat.”

Prior to Mr. Hiaasen’s talk, there

will be a special presentation

about owls from the Ocala

Wildlife Sanctuary. Program is

free but seating is limited and

will be available on a fi rst-

come-fi rst-served basis. Books

will be available for purchase

and autograph. Doors open at

2:00pm and close at 2:45pm

(Author will speak at 3:00pm).

>> For AdultsAn Evening with Carl Hiaasen

College of Central Florida,

Klein Center.

Saturday, April 16, 7:00pm

Carl Hiaasen’s works crackle

with the wit of old Florida as he

takes environmental jabs at the

concrete of the new. Enjoy one

of Florida’s rarest treasures.

Books will be available for

purchase and autograph.

Tickets: $25

For more information visit

www.friendsoftheocalalibrary.org

ABOVE: Dr. Peter Roode, president of The Friends of the Library, stands in the warehouse.

Around him, staff members divide thousands of books into their respective categories.

According to the Friends of the Library website, Gainesvilles FOL book sale is one of the largest

of its kind in Florida, housing books, DVDs, VHS tapes, records, magazines and much more.

41

seniortimesmagazine.com42 April 2011

F irst it was the comic page, later the sports page, and still later the local

news and what was happening around the world. This was the way many of us learned how to read and eventually became the avid readers we are today, that wonderful exercise of the mind that helps to keep us young and well informed. We learned to associate the morning paper with breakfast, which in those bygone days we were able to read in solitude without interruptions. Nowadays we are often interrupted by questions asked by our life companions, most of which we don’t care to hear and much less answer. We miss the peaceful mornings of our youth, but now enjoy the love and companionship of the present. Nowadays most of the news is negative and often tragic, a refl ection of modern society, but our morning paper continues to be our loyal companion at breakfast time. We often now automatically turn the pages toward the one that informs us about our contemporaries not with us anymore — the obituary page. In the basketball and football season we enjoy the sports page the most, where we enjoy reading about the

victories of our orange and blue athletes. The sports writers of the Gainesville Sun are excellent analysts and commentate with a unique and elegant writing style, which is a pleasure to read. There is now much talk about the eventual demise of the newspaper, as now that we have the computers and the Internet they are becoming obsolete. But for us Seniors, mainly the octogenarians among us, this will be an irreplaceable loss, leaving an empty space inside us modern technology will not be able to fi ll. After all, the morning paper was one of our fi rst love objects, when as young kids we started our day reading in them about the athletic performances of our sports heroes of those days such as Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Carl Hubbell, Lefty Grove, just to name a few. Reading the ‘paper’ has become a habit impossible to break after so many years. Newspapers were a refl ection of the slow tempo in the times of our childhood, when we could savor what we calmly read, instead of being pushed by the rush of the present, so alien to us. s

Dr. Carlos Muniz is a retired psychiatrist

from Gainesville. He may be contacted

through the editor, Albert Isaac.

Perspectives on Aging

For most of us Seniors, newspapers

occupy a very special place in our

lives. We grew up reading them.

PERIODICOS y PERSONAS DE EDAD œ CARLOS MUNIZ

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and training to bring the best care to you. As one of Gainesville’s only

prosthodontists, Dr. Frank Lozano can restore chewing function with dental

implants and give you back your real smile.

Dr. Lozano is a clinical faculty memberof the Center for Implant Dentistry at the

UF College of Dentistry. He teaches future dentists the latest dentistry has to offer, such as dental implants, and brings that

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April 2011 43

SHANDS EASTSIDE

COMMUNITY PRACTICE

EDUCATION SERIES

CHOICES Introduction and EnrollmentWed., March 30, 6:00pm

New Beginnings CoGBF

2800 NE 59th St., Gainesville

Starting anExercise ProgramMon., April 4, Noon

Cleather Hathcock Center

15818 NW 140th St., Alachua

Senior Dental ServicesTues., April 5, 6:00pm

Friendship Baptist Church

426 NW 2nd St., Gainesville

Are You Living the Life you Choose?Wed., April 6, 10:00am

Thelma Boltin Center

516 NE 2nd Ave., Gainesville

Eating Well on a BudgetWed., April 6, 6:00pm



Preventing Foot Pain

Mon., April 11, Noon



Colon Cancer

Tues., April 12, 6:00pm

Shady Grove Primitive Church

804 SW 5th St., Gainesville

Keep Depression

in Its Place

Tues., April 12, 6:00pm

Faith Missionary Baptist

2905 SE 21st Ave., Gainesville

The Diabetes Epidemic

Wed., April 13, Noon

Oak Park Apartments

100 NE 8th Ave., Gainesville

Stress Management

Wed., April 13, 6:00pm

Day Springs Missionary

Baptist Church


Dealing with

Diffi cult PeopleThurs., April 14, Noon

Church of Christ

1034 SE 10th Ave., Gainesville

Dealing with

Diffi cult PeopleThurs., April 14, 6:00pm

Church of God by Faith

735 SE 15th St., Gainesville

The Sugar EpidemicMon., April 18, Noon



Basic Estate PlanningTues., April 19, 6:00pm

Archer CoGIC

520 Busy Avenue, Archer

Keep Depression

in Its PlaceWed., April 20, 10:00am

Thelma Boltin Center

516 NE 2nd Ave., Gainesville

Food FixesWed., April 20, Noon

Oak Park Apartments


Coping with UncopablesWed., April 20, 6:00pm

Greater Bethel AME

701 SE 43rd St., Gainesville

The Diabetes EpidemicMon., April 25, Noon



Sickle Cell InformationMon., April 25, 6:00pm

Gateway Christian Center

5135 NW 21st St., Gainesville

Defensive DiningWed., April 27, 6:00pm



PRIMETIME INSTITUTE

EDUCATION SERIES

Technology ExplainedSat., April 2

8:30am to 10:00am

Best Buy store

3750 SW Archer Road

Update on the

Funeral Home IndustryThurs. April 7

2:00pm to 3:30pm

The Atrium

2431 NW 41 St.

Eating For Life,

Longevity, Immunity,

Fun And EnergyTues., April 12

2:00pm to 3:30pm

The Atrium

2431 NW 41 St.

Dudley Farm Tour and

Pot Luck LunchThurs., April 14

11:00am to 2:30pm

Dudley Farm Historic State

Park

18730 W. Newberry Road

Florida Seniors Against

Investment Fraud and

How to Protect Your

InvestmentsTues., April 19

2:00pm to 3:30pm

The Atrium

2431 NW 41 St.

Your Medications

and YouThurs., April 21

2:00pm to 3:30pm

The Atrium

2431 NW 41 St.

Coping With The

UncopablesThurs., April 26

2:00pm to 3:30pm

The Atrium

2431 NW 41 St.

CLASSESEDUCATION FOR EVERYONE

Shands Eastside Education Series 352-733-0017

The University of Florida Shands Eastside Community Practice Education series is comprised of a host of health care issues and is offered free of charge to all citizens at a variety of venues throughout Gainesville.

PrimeTime Institute Education Series 352-332-6917

PrimeTime Institute, a program of ElderCare of Alachua County, provides educational programs and social activities intent on keeping Seniors active, healthy and participating in lifelong learning through low cost, social networking. Membership costs $20 through August 11, 2011. Non-members may attend (small donations are appreciated).

43


CAR & CRAFT SHOW

Saturday, April 2

10:00am

OCALA. Marion County Sheriff’s Office,

692 NW 30th Ave. We are adding a Craft

Show to our successful Cars Of Yesterday

show. There will be live entertainment,

clowns, a radio live remote, and much

more. This event is free to all spectators.

MID-FLORIDA DUCK DERBY

Saturday, April 2

11:00am - 3:00pm

OCALA. Tuscawilla Park. Children’s Home Society

of Florida’s Duck Derby is a fun, family-friendly

event guaranteed to be a quackin’ good time.

Featuring food, entertainment, activities, and a

rubber duck race, there is sure to be something

for everyone! For a suggested $5 donation,

you can ‘adopt a duck’ for the day, and have

a chance to win great prizes. 352-732-1412

SPRING PARADE OF HOMES

Saturday, April 2

2:00pm

OCALA. Marion County Building Industry

Association presents the Spring 2011 Parade of

Homes. The Parade spans throughout Marion

County and will showcase some of the county’s

finest homes for potential homebuyers and re-

modelers to view. 352-694-4133. www.mcbia.org

HIGH SPRINGS PIONEER DAYS

Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3

9:00am - 5:00pm & 10:00am - 5:00pm

JAMES PAUL PARK - This two festival features

music, food, dance, gunfights, children’s

games and more. 386-454-3120

CEDAR KEY SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL

Saturday, April 2 and Sunday, April 3

10:00am - 5:00pm

CEDAR KEY. If plain old curiosity hasn’t yet

inspired you to visit the town selected by the

USDA as Florida’s Rural Community of the

Year, then mark April 2nd and 3rd on your

calendar for an excursion to the western

terminus of State Route 24. That’s when you’ll

have the added incentive of enjoying Cedar

Key’s annual Old Florida Celebration of the

Arts. 352-543-5400, e-mail: cedarkeyarts@

bellsouth.net. www.cedarkeyartsfestival.com

STRIDE AGAINST SILENCE 5K WALK/RUN

Saturday, April 27:00am - 10:00am

GAINESVILLE. Nadine McGuire Pavilion.

Stride Against Silence is a 5K Walk/Run that

raises money for cochlear implant patients

at Shands Hospital. 352-392-1649

JAMMING IN THE PARK

Sunday, April 3

4:00pm - 7:00pm

OCALA. Marion Oaks Community Center, 294

Marion Oaks Lane. Jamming in the Park is an

instrumental salsa and jazz team strengthening

community involvement and preserving traditions

through music and culture. Live music by an

eclectic group of musicians getting together for a

Jam Session. All types of music, all types of fans

are welcome. 352-347-2069

www.salsaandjazz.com

BINGO GAMES

Monday, April 45:00pm

OCALA. McCullough-Mixson VFW Post 4209,

4805 NE 36th Ave. These games are open to

the public. The kitchen will be open for light

dinners and snacks. Proceeds from the games

are used for VFW programs supporting active

duty military and veterans and their families.

RELAY FOR LIFE

Friday, April 8 - Saturday, April 9

Dunnellon High School. The American Cancer

Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event

that gives everyone in communities across the

globe a chance to celebrate the lives of people

who have battled cancer, remember loved ones

lost, and fight back against the disease. At Relay,

teams of people camp out at a local high school,

park, or fairground and take turns walking or

running around a track or path. Each team is

asked to have a representative on the track at

all times during the event. Because cancer never

sleeps, Relays are overnight events up to from

18 - 24 hours in length. Jennifer Brannon: 352-

629-4727 x 5825 [email protected]

PHOTOGRAPHY CLUB MONTHLY MEETING

Tuesday, April 5

7:00pm

OCALA. Discovery Center, 701 NE Sanchez

Ave. NCFPC is a full service photography club

providing social, cultural, and educational

opportunities to all photographers from the

early beginner to advanced amateurs and

professionals. Monthly meetings include

member competitions and photography related

discussions. www.ocalacameraclub.org

WALK ACROSS MARION COUNTY

Wednesday, April 6, 138:30am - 12:00pm

DUNNELLON. Ross Prairie. Join the Florida Hikers

as we Walk Across Marion County. Each week

we will walk a different section of the Florida

Trail until we have completed all the sections

in Marion County. Bob Jones: 352-347-5716

CALENDARUPCOMING EVENTS IN ALACHUA & MARION

4/3/112:00 pm

PHILLIPS CENTER - Béla

Fleck, Zakir Hussain and

Edgar Meyer. Three of

the most limitless creators

and composers in the

history of music share an

unprecedented array of

projects and pairings among

them that touch every

geographical and stylistic

corner of the musical world.

352-392-2787

The Melody of Rhythm

44

April 2011 45

T.O.P.S

Thursday, April 7

9:00am

SILVER SPRINGS. Take Off Pounds Sensibly

(T.O.P.S.) provides a supportive setting for

individuals to lose weight. We share recipes, tips

and general information to be used in our quest

to lose weight and keep it off. 352-625-4462.

LEESBURG BIKEFEST

Friday, April 8, 9:00am - 11:00pm

Saturday, April 9, 14 hours of Madness

Sunday, April 10, 9:00am - 5:00pm

Free admission to all venues. Live on

eight stages over 40 free concerts. Main

Street is for motorcycles only. Friday Ms.

Bikefest Contest, Saturday Ms. Gator Harley

Davidson Contest, Saturday Ms. Ratmate

Contest; Team Extream; Trial Riders;

Ride Like A Pro Safety Demonstrations,

Antique & Gift Shops, Bars, Festive Foods,

Observation Rides over Lake County Country

Roads. www.leesburgbikefest.com

RELAY FOR LIFE

Saturday, April 9

Noon.

SOUTH MARION. Belleview City Hall Park.

E-mail: [email protected]

SIMPLY DANCE!

Saturday, April 9

7:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Edith D. Cofrin Theatre (Oak Hall

School), 8009 SW 14th Ave. Featuring SCDT’s

Youth companies and our young dancers, ages

9-15, performing an assortment of dance styles

ranging from classical ballet to more eclectic

mixtures of contemporary dance, modern, lyrical,

hip-hop and musical theatre. Guest performances

by SCDT’s Encore Ensemble, Floridance (a UF

student-run company), and other local vocal

performing artists further celebrates the diversity

of the arts and the collaboration of our local

artists to share the love of their art with our

community. Tickets: $5.00. Judy Benton: 352-

331-8773. E-mail: [email protected].

SPRING NATIVE PLANT SALE

Saturday, April 9

8:30am - 12:30pm

GAINESVILLE. Morningside Nature Center, 3540

E. University Ave. Take advantage of the largest

offering of native plants in North Florida. The sale

is hosted cooperatively by the City of Gainesville’s

Nature Operations Division of the Department

of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs and the

Payne’s Prairie chapter of the Florida Native Plant

Society, Friends of Nature Parks. 352-334-5067

SPRING SALE

Saturday, April 9

10:00am - 3:00pm

ALACHUA. Retirement Home for Horses at

Mill Creek Farm, 20307 Cr 235. Benefit for

the horses. Items for sale are donated by our

supporters. 100 percent of the money goes to the

farm to fed and care for the horses. 386-462-1001

WALK THE TALK FOR EPILEPSY

AND SEIZURE DISORDERS

Saturday, April 9

8:00am

GAINESVILLE. Albert “Ray” Massey West

Side Park, 1001 NW 34 St. Last year more

than 100 people came out and walked to

raise money and awareness for Epilepsy

and raised $10,000. Heather Steele: 904-

731-3752. E-mail: [email protected]

HIGH SPRINGS

DOWNTOWN DAZE

Saturday, April 9

9:00am - 5:00pm

HIGH SPRINGS. Downtown, along the railroad

tracks. There will be flea market vendors,

farmers market vendors, food vendors and

live music. Make plans now to join the fun!

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RIVER RISE RALLY TRAIL PACE

Saturday, April 9

8:00am

HIGH SPRINGS. O’Leno State Park. This is a

fun event for all levels of horse riders. There

will be three paces with three distances in the

competition for a predetermined (unknown to

the riders) time. This is not a speed event but

an elapsed time event where the rider tries to

match time set by the Rally management rider.

Prizes will be awarded to the three riders in each

of the three rides who finish the closest to the

predetermined time. This event will take place at

River Rise Preserve State Park. 352-463-0668

PARKINSON’S IN THE PARK

Saturday, April 9

10:00am - Noon

OCALA. Greenway Park, Baseline Road

Trailhead, 4225 SE 58th Ave. A day of

awareness and education about services

for Parkinson’s available in Marion County.

Donations are being accepted for the Parkinson’s

Disease Foundation. 352-369-8550

SANTA FE COLLEGE SPRING ARTS FESTIVAL

Saturday, April 9 - Sunday, April 10

9:00am - 5:30pm & 12:00pm - 5:30pm

GAINESVILLE. NE 1st Street in downtown

historic district. Celebrating 42 years of fine

arts celebration with a twist of jazz. The festival

draws hundreds of top-quality artists from

more than 25 states in a juried show that

includes sculpture, printmaking, painting, 2-D

and 3-D mixed media, jewelry, photography,

drawing, watercolor, wood, fiber and glass.

352-395-5355. E-mail: kathryn.lehman@

sfcollege.edu. www.sfcollege.edu/springarts

HOPS SPRING HERITAGE TOUR

Saturday, April 9, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Sunday, April 10, Noon - 4:00pm

OCALA. 1009 SE 3rd St. In addition to the

beautiful homes and gardens, there will be a

display of antique clothing and accessories

and an antique and vintage car display

(cars are Saturday only). Ticket prices:

$12.00 in advance and $15.00 day of event.

Group rates of 10 or more will be available

with tickets purchased in advance. 352-

351-1861; e-mail: [email protected]

AMERICAN MUSIC AND THE

WILD WEST

Sunday, April 10

3:00pm

OCALA. Appleton Museum of Art, 4333

East Silver Springs Blvd. Performance by

the Ocala Symphony Orchestra. $40 for the

series or $15 per concert. Includes museum

admission, the performance and guided tours.

352-351-1606. www.ocalasymphony.com

PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ

Sunday, April 10

7:00pm - 10:30pm

GAINESVILLE. Florida Museum of Natural History.

Save the date for Children’s Home Society of

Florida’s 24th annual Puttin’ on the Ritz! We

invite you to join our night out as you dress

your best in black and white. 352-846-2000

BALLROOM DANCE PARTY

Wednesday, April 13

7:00pm - 9:00pm

OCALA. Dancin’ Around Studio, 3960 S. Pine Ave.

Practice social dancing in a safe environment.

We provide social dance parties on a regular

basis so you can practice what you’re learning

in your dance classes in a comfortable social

atmosphere. You don’t need to be a Dancin’

Around Studio student to attend our social dance

parties! 352-690-6637. www.danceocala.com

CITRUS CUP MORGAN

REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

HORSE SHOW

April 13 - 16

Times Vary

NEWBERRY. Canterbury Equestrian. Horses

from across the Southeast are competing for

regional championships and the opportunity

to qualify for the World Championship horse

show. Events include carriage, dressage,

jumping, and undersandle and in-hand

classes. 352-472-6727. www.fmha.net

4/17/11 7:30pm

PHILLIPS CENTER - NPR Humorist and

Bestselling Author of Naked, Dress YourFamily in Corduroy and Denim, and Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk.

With sardonic wit and incisive social critiques,

David Sedaris has become one of America’s

pre-eminent humor writers. The great skill with

which he slices through cultural euphemisms

and political correctness proves that Sedaris

is a master of satire and one of the most

observant writers addressing the human

condition today.

David Sedaris

4/9/1112:00 noon

GAINESVILLE -

The Orange and Blue

game is the annual spring

football scrimmage that

draws thousands of Gator

sports fans to Ben Hill

Griffin Stadium.

UF Orange and Blue Game

Ph

oto

by A

nn

e F

ish

be

in

46

April 2011 47

MONSTER JAM OCALA

Friday, April 15

7:30pm

OCALA SPEEDWAY. Monster Jam is the premiere

North American monster truck touring circuit.

Sanctioned under the USHRA, Monster Jam

events usually feature truck races and a free-

style competition. Some events have special

features, including car jumps and demolitions.

352-622-9400. www.ocalaspeedway.com

RELAY FOR LIFE

Friday, April 15 - Saturday, April 16

WEST MARION Hospital. The American Cancer

Society Relay For Life is a life-changing event

that gives everyone in communities across

the globe a chance to celebrate the lives of

people who have battled cancer, remember

loved ones lost, and fight back against the

disease. Jennifer Brannon: 352-629-4727

x 5825 [email protected]

SCRAMBLE FOR SENIORS

Friday, April 15

10:00am - 5:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Haile Plantation Golf and

Country Club. 9905 SW 44th Ave. Elder

Options is hosting its 2nd annual golf

tournament benefiting Seniors in crisis. Come

join us for a day of fun and fundraising, and

enjoy complimentary food and drinks, great

prizes, vender give-aways and contests.

352-692-5233. www.agingresources.org

ART IN THE PARK

Saturday, April 16

9:00am - 6:00pm

OCALA. Tuscawilla Park, Ocala’s Annual

Sidewalk Chalk Festival. Registration starts at

9:00am. Drawing is from 10:00-4:00pm. Level:

College, High School, Middle, Elementary.

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Place Prizes (for each level).

Registration: $12 Donation per sidewalk square.

A ROCK AND ROLL FANTASY

Saturday, April 16

7:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Stephen C. O’Connell Center. Rock

around the clock as STOP! Children’s Cancer,

Inc. presents its 23rd annual Fantasy Event.

Dress is black tie optional but crinolines, tie-dye

or sequin glove are welcomed. Dance the night

away to your favorite hits from the ‘50s, ‘60s,

‘70s, and beyond. Enjoy cuisine catered by Chef’s

Garden Custom Catering. One partygoer will win

the exciting grand prize, a seven-day cruise of

your choice for two compliments of AAA Travel

and Celebrity Cruises. Come celebrate life and

join in the fun — your contribution will make a

positive impact on pediatric cancer research.

352-377-2622. www.stopchildrenscancer.org

COMPREHENSIVE SKIN CARE WITH COMPASSION

AND PROFESSIONALISM

SKIN CANCERSGENERAL SCREENING

Take care of your skin…with a board certifi ed specialist

Robert A. Skidmore, Jr. MDBoard Certifi ed Dermatologist

Dr. Skidmore received his medical training at the University of Florida,College of Medicine, completed a surgery internship at Bethesda Naval Hospital and his residency at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. Dr. Skidmore specializes in mohs skin cancer surgery.

GAINESVILLE • 3700 NW 83RD StreetSTARKE • 922 East Call Street

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47


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April 2011 49

GIVE A HOOT FOR HIAASEN

Saturday, April 162:00pm

OCALA. Southeastern Livestock Pavilion

Auditorium. A Meet-the-Author program for

youth in grades 4-12 with a special presentation

about owls from the Ocala Wildlife Sanctuary

prior to Mr. Hiaasen’s talk. Program is free

but seating is limited and will be available

on a first-come-first-served basis. Doors

open at 2:00pm and close at 2:45pm (Author

will speak at 3:00pm). 352-671-8551

SPRING BOOK SALE

April 16 - 20Times vary.

GAINESVILLE. 430-B North Main St. Friends

of the Library book sale. More than 500,000

books, records, games, CDs, DVDs, audio,

video, paintings, posters, prints, puzzles and

magazines have been donated for the sale!

Many categories, including: classical and

modern fiction, textbooks, large-print books,

cookbooks, hobby books, Comic books and

manga — available Saturday and Sunday. Look

for them outside under the canopy next to the art

tent. 352-375-1676. www.folacld.org/bksl.html

EBÈNE QUARTET

Sunday, April 177:30pm

GAINESVILLE. University Auditorium. Considered

one of the finest quartets of its generation,

the Quartet was named BBC Music Magazine’s

2009 Newcomer of the Year, and was also

nominated for the renowned Les Victoires de la

Musique Classique Chamber Music Ensemble

of the Year for 2009. October 2009, the Ebène

Quartet won “Recording of the Year” at the

2009 Classic FM Gramophone Awards for

their disc of Debussy, Ravel, and Faure string

quartets, only the fourth time that a chamber

ensemble has won this prestigious prize.

ADULT SPELLING BEE

Thursday, April 215:30pm

OCALA. Ocala Hilton, 3600 SW 36th Ave.

Held by the Marion County Literacy Council

(MCLC) the “Bee” includes dinner, silent

auction, chance drawing, and the grand

finale — a spelling bee competition among

teams comprised of corporate employees

and community groups. Tickets to attend the

event are $35/each or $60/couple. Spelling

Bee admission and chance drawing tickets

are available at the Marion County Literacy

Council office. Sponsorship opportunities are

available. All proceeds will benefit the Marion

County Literacy Council, an organization of

volunteer tutors who work one-on-one with

Marion County adults needing help with reading,

English and GED preparation. 352-690-7323

4/26/116pm - 9pm

PARAMOUNT PLAZA

HOTEL - 2900 SW 13th

St. The 39th annual

Work of Hearts Awards

banquet, which recognizes

volunteers from throughout

the community, is meant to

celebrate and honor their

selfless work.

Work of Heart Awards Banquet

4/16/117:00 pm

OCALA. College of Central

Florida, Klein Center.

Come enjoy Carl Hiaasen,

one of Florida’s rarest

treasures. Books will be

available for purchase

and autographs.

Audience: Adults.

Tickets: $25.

352-671-8551.

friendsoftheocalalibrary.org

An Evening with Carl Hiaasen

4/16/111pm - 5pm

KANAPAHA BOTANICAL

GARDENS - 4700 S.W.

58th Drive. This show

celebrates the splendor

and distinctive fragrance of

roses. There will be judged

exhibits of award winning

roses. 352-372-4981

Kanapaha Rose Show

49


GREAT SONGWRITERS OF THE GREATEST GENERATION

Saturday, April 23

2:00pm - 3:30pm

OCALA. Marion County Public Library. Recording

artists and Radio Personalities, Robin And The

Giant, are presenting a live program focusing

on the composers and lyricists of the World

War II generation. The program features music

and biographical insights of the writers. This

program is free and is presented to raise

awareness of the Honor Flight program that

brings World War II Veterans to the World War

II Memorial in Washington, DC. 352-873-0007

SMALL TOWN SATURDAY NIGHT

Saturday, April 23

6:00pm - 10:00pm

GAINESVILLE. University Air Center, 4701 NE

40th Terr. The Matheson Museum holds its

third annual Small Town Saturday Night benefit

with a nostalgic look at the magic of our

hometown baseball teams. 352-335-4681

VETERAN’S BENEFIT TALK

Thursday, April 28

Noon - 1:30pm

GAINESVILLE. The Atrium, 2431 NW 41 St. At

The Atrium, we celebrate Veterans and strive to

help you enjoy the lifestyle you deserve. Living

at the Atrium can help Veterans and spouses

qualify for VA benefits. Eligible veterans and

surviving spouses can receive up to $1,949 in

monthly benefits. How much do you qualify

for? Prem Paul Murrhee: 352-378-0773

TREE CITY QUILTERS GUILD 7TH BIENNIAL QUILT SHOW

Saturday, April 30, Sunday May 1

10:00am - 4:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Best Western Hotel, I-75-39th

Ave. There will be vendors, a quiltique (for

shoppers), a quilt appraiser, Teddy Pruitt,

and much more for your enjoyment. $6.00.

352-278-1281. E-mail: melanie1940@aol.

com. www.treecityquiltersguild.com

OVEREATERS ANONYMOUSMondays

12:00pm - 1:00pm

ALACHUA. Sid Martin Biotechnology Incubator,

12085 Research Dr. Is food a problem for

you? If so the 12 Steps may help you. An

hour where other compulsive eaters share

experience strength and hope. www.oanfi.org

WEDNESDAY NIGHT JAZZ WITH KARL WEISMANTEL AND FRIENDS

Wednesdays

6:30pm - 10:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Emiliano’s Cafe, 7 SE First Ave.

Karl Weismantel on guitar and vocals with Ricky

Ravelo on acoustic bass play jazz, standards,

pop and original tunes. 352-375-7381

FRUIT TREE & PLANT SALE

First Wednesday each Month

4:00pm & 7:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Bo Diddley Community Plaza. The

Edible Plant Project’s spring sale, at the Union

Street Farmers Market. An eclectic selection

of edible plants, fruit trees, & seeds will be

available. This a great time to plant: warm

season vegetables & greens, sugarcane.

BEGINNERS MINDFULNESS

MEDITATION

Thursdays

7:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Shands Cancer Hospital

at UF, 1515 SW Archer Rd. Criser Cancer

Resource Center, 1st Floor. Just sitting and

relaxing in our beautiful meditation room

can make a difference to your day. We offer

gentle guidance suitable for everyone.

YOGA FOR ALL

Thursdays

4:00pm

Shands Cancer Hospital at UF, 1515 SW Archer

Rd. Criser Cancer Resource Center, 1st Floor.

Join us for an hour of gentle stretching,

accessible postures and breathing exercises

designed to tone your body and lift your

spirits. This class is suitable for patients,

family, staff and members of the community.

PROSPEROUS LIVING GROUP

Sundays

6:00pm - 8:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Prosperous Living Center, 1135 NW

23rd Ave, Suite F/2. A community of like-minded

truth-seekers studying, sharing and teaching

multiple paths to prosperity in all aspects of

life - wealth, relationships, health, personal

missions, professions and spirituality. 352-

514-3122 www.prosperouslivingcenter.com

QUILTERS OF ALACHUA

COUNTY DAY GUILD

First Thursday

9:30am - Noon

GAINESVILLE. Westminster Presbyterian Church,

1521 NW 34 St. 352-375-2427 www.qacdg.org

COMEDY SHOWCASE

Every Friday and Saturday

7:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Clarion Inn and Conference

Center, 7417 W. Newberry Road. A live stand-up

comedy show featuring the best of local amateur

and professional comedians. 352-332-2224

4/30/11 10am - 4pmGAINESVILLE - Morningside Nature Center. View historic-breed farm animals,

hear period music, and observe traditional crafts and trades like sheep shearing,

blacksmithing, spinning, weaving, and woodstove cooking. www.natureoperations.org

Farm and Forest Festival

50

April 2011 51

LIVING HISTORY DAYS

Saturdays9:00am - 4:30pm

GAINESVILLE. Morningside Nature Center.

History comes to life as park staff interprets

day-to-day life on an 1870s rural Florida farm.

Come try a syrup-topped biscuit or cornbread

baked in a wood cook stove. 352-334-3326

HAILE HOMESTEAD TOUR

Saturdays10:00am - 2:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Kanapaha Plantation. 8500

SW Archer Road. Tours every Saturday from

10am to 2pm and on Sunday from noon

to 4 pm. $5 per person, children under 12

are free. www.hailehomestead.org

BARNYARD BUDDIES

Wednesdays3:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Morningside Nature Center at the

Living History Farm. Youngsters with an adult

can meet and greet animals by helping staff

with afternoon feeding. Free. 352-334-5000

UNION STREET FARMERS MARKET

Every Wednesday4:00pm - 7:00pm

GAINESVILLE. Bo Diddley Community Plaza,

111 E. University Ave. Each week local farmers,

bakers, artisans, musicians, and dancers join

with our intensely loyal customers in a timeless

celebration of this community’s seasonal bounty.

www.unionstreetfarmersmkt.com/union/

KEEP MOVING - STAY FIT

Thursdays

9:00am, 10:00am and 11:00am.

GAINESVILLE. Senior Healthcare Center

at Crown Pointe. 2205 NW 40 Terr. Suite

A. Tai Chi for Seniors offers slow, flowing

movements to enhance overall well-being.

Followed by Gentle Motions: Exercises that

can be done sitting or standing. 11:00am -

Noon. Rae Marie Gilbert: 352-336-4510.

AMRIT YOGA WITH VEDA

Thursdays

5:30pm - 6:30pm

GAINESVILLE. Downtown Library, 401 E. University

Ave, 4th floor. Think you’re not flexible enough?

Learn that yoga is not just about postures. We

begin with a 15-minute relaxation and then

move, with evenness of mind, into skillful action

for your body. Experience all the benefits of

this guided practice. Appropriate for all levels.

No registration needed. [email protected]

GAINESVILLE INTERNATIONAL FOLK DANCEFridays8:00pm

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4225 NW

34th St. Come join our experienced and

expanding International Folk dance group

in the new year. Suitable for all ages and

abilities. No partners needed. Beginners

welcome. 352-359-2903 www.gifd.org

RAINBOW BINGOEvery first Tuesday6:30pm

GAINESVILLE. Pride Community Center. Fun,

Cash, Prizes! Doors open at 6pm. Early bird

bingo at 6:30pm. Regular bingo at 7pm. $15 at

the door includes all early bird & regular games.

Food and beverages available for purchase.

If you would like us to

publicize an event in

Alachua or Marion counties,

send information by the 13th

day of the month prior.

All submissions will be reviewed and

every effort will be made to run qualified

submissions if page space is available.

1-800-967-7382 (fax)

[email protected]

51


ACROSSTOWN REPERTORY THEATRE

Forbidden Broadway

April 7 - April 17, Times Vary

Four incredible versatile performers

and a gifted pianist turn Broadway

upside-down — everything from

Annie to Les Miserables, from Carol

Channing to Patti LuPone. With

simple props and costumes, the

stage transforms into the streets of

New York, the sewers of Paris, or the

Austrian Alps, and everything is both

skewed and skewered in the process.

CURTIS M. PHILLIPS CENTER FOR

THE PERFORMING ARTS

UF Opera Theatre

in The Magic Flute

April 7 & April 9, 7:30pm

The Magic Flute is an opera in two

acts composed in 1791 by Wolfgang

Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto

by Emanuel Schikaneder. The work is

in the form of a Singspiel, a popular

form that included both singing and

spoken dialogue.

Los Munequitos de Matanzas

April 10, 7:30pm

This magical Orchestra consists of

musicians and dancers from three

diff erent generations. Together they

preserve the traditions brought to Cuba

from Africa, their families are renowned

for Afro-Cuban Folk music. which you

can still fi nd today everywhere in Cuba.

Young Concert Artist:

Hahn-Bin, Violin

April 12, 7:30pm

A special protégé of the famed

Itzhak Perlman, 22-year-old violinist

Hahn-Bin has won critical acclaim

for his “extraordinary, intelligent and

beautiful” (The Washington Post)

performances and his “inspired,

bracing and innovative” (The New

York Times) programs. He made his

international debut at the age of 12 at

the 42nd Grammy Awards in a Salute

to Classical Music, which honored the

legendary Isaac Stern.

A Chorus Line

April 15 - 16, 7:30pm

A Chorus Line played its 3,389th

performance on September 29, 1983

and became the longest running

show in Broadway history. It closed

on Broadway on April 28, 1990

after 6,137 performances. In 1976 it

was nominated for 12 Tony Awards

and won nine. Original Director/

Choreographer Michael Bennett

also choreographed Promises,

Promises, Follies and Company. He

won his seventh Tony Award for

1981’s Dreamgirls, and directed its

acclaimed 1985 Broadway revival.

Marvin Hamlisch (Music) is the

composer of the Broadway musicals

They’re Playing Our Song and

Sweet Smell of Success and

shared the Pulitzer Prize for his score

of A Chorus Line.

Menopause, the Musical

May 3 - 4, 7:30pm

Entertaining and inspiring women

from coast-to-coast since March 2001.

This uplifting 90-minute production

includes parodies from the ‘60s

and ‘70s and ‘80s. It culminates

with a salute to women who are

experiencing “The Change”.

HIPPODROME STATE THEATRE

Spring Play Observership

March 18 - April 13

Go behind-the-scenes and witness

the creative process of “The 39 Steps”

by Alfred Hitchcock, the fast-paced

whodunit that was a hit in London and

on Broadway. Witness rehearsals with

cast, designer presentations and more.

The 39 Steps

April 15 - May 8

Mix a Hitchcock masterpiece with a

juicy spy novel, add a dash of Monty

Python and you have THE 39 STEPS,

a fast-paced whodunit for anyone

who loves the magic of theatre!

This two-time Tony and Drama Desk

Award-winning treat is packed with

nonstop laughs, over 150 zany

characters (played by a ridiculously

talented cast of 4), an on-stage plane

crash, handcuff s, missing fi ngers and

some good old-fashioned romance!

INSOMNIAC THEATRE COMPANY

Open Mic Night

April 14, 8:00pm - 9:30pm

Evening of Spoken Word and Song

Insomniac Theatre is hosting an open

mic night the second Thursday of

every month! Admission is $5.00 and

$3.00 for students and Seniors.

The Improvniacs!

April 17, 8:00pm - 10:00pm

Join Insomniacs local Improv Troupe

“The Improvniacs” with original

comedy in a “Who’s Line is it

anyway?” style improv.

THEATREAcrosstown Repertory Theatre .....................619 S. Main Street, Gainesville 352-371-1234

Curtis M. Phillips Center ...........................................315 Hull Road, Gainesville 352-392-ARTS

Gainesville Community Playhouse .......4039 N.W. 16th Blvd., Gainesville 352-376-4949

Hippodrome State Theatre .................................25 SE 2nd Place, Gainesville 352-375-4477

Nadine McGuire Blackbox Theatre ...................Museum Road, Gainesville 352-392-1653

Insomniac Theatre Company ............................E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 352-897-0477

Ocala Civic Theatre ..................................4337 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala 352-236-2274

High Springs Community Theater ..........130 NE 1st Avenue, High Springs 386-454-3525

52

April 2011 53

OCALA CIVIC THEATRE

When Bullfrogs Sing Opera

March 17 - April 10

A sweet and fl owing comedy by

Carl L. Williams featuring a social-

climbing sister who tries to keep her

visiting country sister from embar-

rassing her among her new society

friends. Audiences can’t help but catch

a positive outlook on life.

NADINE MCGUIRE

BLACKBOX THEATRE

Backstage Pass

April 8, 6:30pm to 10:00pm

Spring Fine Arts Benefi t. The annual

UF Friends of Theatre and Dance

benefi t will showcase the art of

making theatre and dance. Why mess

with a good thing? Well, to make it

even better, of course! The Splendor

benefi t series has proven to be a

welcome change from the standard

approach to benefi ts by various

local committees. Tickets cost $100.

Suggested Dress: All-black Aff air

(You are going backstage!) Info and

Reservations: 352-846-1218

GAINESVILLE COMMUNITY

PLAYHOUSE

The 25th Annual Putnam

County Spelling Bee

March 18 - April 10

(Musical) One of 2005’s most popular

Broadway shows, and nominated for

six Tony awards, this musical is hot off

the new release list. The show focuses

on the adventures of six wacky kids

(played by adults) at the annual spelling

bee. Get your tickets early for this one!

HIGH SPRINGS COMMUNITY

THEATER

Moments of Weakness

April 15 - May 8

This is a story of infi delity and how

friends can aff ect your choices in

life. It is going to be loads of fun with

audience participation. By C.F. “Bud”

O’Donnel and directed by the author.

Most insurance plans accepted and filed for you. 3230 SW 33RD RD. OCALA, FLORIDACall: 352-237-0090Accepting all new Medicare Plans!

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53


How long does it take to complete the online application for

retirement benefi ts?

It can take as little as 15 minutes to complete the online

application. In most cases, once your application has been submitted electronically, you’re done. There are no forms to sign and usually no documentation to mail in. Social Security will process your application and contact you if any additional information is needed. There’s no need to drive to a local Social Security offi ce or wait for an appointment with a Social Security representative. To retire online, go to www.socialsecurity.gov.

Can a husband who doesn’thave enough work to qualify for

Social Security benefi ts or Medicare qualify for benefi ts on his wife’s Social Security record?

This answer applies to wives as well as husbands — even if your

spouse has never worked under Social Security, your spouse at full retirement age can receive a benefi t equal to one-half of your full retirement amount. This assumes you were married at least 12 years (or 10 years if you were divorced) and that he did not pay into a govern-ment pension plan that offsets Social Security. If he receives a pension from Federal, State or local government based on work where he did not pay Social Security taxes, any benefi ts he receives may be offset. Spouses cannot receive benefi ts on your record until you begin receiving retirement benefi ts. You can

learn more by reading our online pub-lication, Retirement Benefi ts, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10035.html.

If you are diagnosed with a second serious disability and

you currently receive Social Security disability benefi ts, can your monthly benefi t amount increase?

No. Your Social Securitydisability benefi t amount is

based on the amount of your lifetime earnings before your disability began and not the number, degree, or severity

of your disability. For more information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/dibplan/dapproval2.htm.

Is there a time limit on howlong you can collect Social

Security disability benefi ts?

Your disability benefi ts will continue as long as your medical

condition has not improved and you remain unable to work. Your case will be reviewed at regular intervals to make sure you still are disabled. If you are still receiving disability benefi ts when you reach full retirement age, we will automatically convert them to retirement benefi ts. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10153.html#6 for more information on disability.

If someone receiving Supplemental Security Income

(SSI) benefi ts enters a nursing home, how does this affect the SSI benefi ts?

Moving to a nursing home can affect your SSI benefi ts but it

depends on the type of facility. In some cases, the SSI payment may be reduced or stopped. Whenever you enter or leave a nursing home, assisted living facility, hospital, skilled nursing facility or any other kind of institution, it is important that you tell Social Security. Call Social Security’s toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). We can answer specifi c questions and provide free interpreter services from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. We also provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day.

I receive SSI benefi ts. How do I notify Social Security that I have

changed my address?

Social Security needs your correct mailing address to send

you notices and other correspondence about your benefi ts even if you receive your benefi ts by direct deposit. An SSI recipient must report any change in living arrangements or change of address by calling our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting a local offi ce. If you do not notify us in a timely manner, you could end up receiving an incorrect payment and have to pay it back. s

Information provided by Ruqayyah

Nicholas, Social Security District Manager

for Gainesville, Florida.

Social Security AnswersINFORMATION œ SPOTLIGHT

Your Social Security disability benefi t amount is based on the amount of your lifetime earnings before your disability began.

54

April 2011 55

Correctly complete the crossword puzzle and mail it to us for your chance to

Win a $50 Gift Card you can use anywhere that accepts American Express!

ONE PRIZE AWARDED PER MONTH THROUGH RANDOM

DRAWING OF A CORRECT AND COMPLETE ENTRY.

Submit completed entries to: Senior Times Mailbag 4400 N.W. 36th Avenue • Gainesville, Florida 32606

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City, State, Zip:

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April 2011 57

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57


There may be a correlation, but you’re not sure.

Do wrinkles directly contribute to crabbiness? Can the sprouting of gray hair cause a general miasma? And why do people think “Senior Moments” are so darn funny? You wonder, because you’ve spotted another wrinkle and two more gray hairs, you forgot where your keys are, and there’s nothing humorous

about that. But getting older has its benefi ts, says Marc E. Agronin, MD. In his new book “How We Age,” he takes a look at aging — not from your body’s point of view, but from your brain’s perspective. Growing up in Kaukauna, Wisconsin, Marc Agronin had a good role model in his grandfather, who was the town’s beloved physician. Watching his grandfather at work inspired Agronin to become a doctor. As a geriatric psychiatrist whose patients battle dementia, Alzheimer’s, depression and other disorders, Agronin has seen the life-changing, life-threatening issues that come with maturation. But stereotypes and clichés aside, even though our culture is obsessed with youth, his patients also enjoy benefi ts that come with aging. Once upon a time, we barely aged. Just a hundred years ago, the average human lifespan was around fi fty years, which means, says Agronin, that aging is “less a product of nature and more of a human achievement wrestled from nature.” Centenarians, in fact, are the fastest growing age group in today’s world. But as we pluck gray hairs and worry at wrinkles, we need to remember that physical signs of aging are mere annoyances. The real issue to focus on is that aging is harshest on our brains. So, despite the inescapable fact that we have no Neuron Fountain of Youth to rely on, can we age well... in our heads? Agronin thinks so. In this thoughtful

book, he writes about patients he’s known who have faced their Golden Years with grace and strength. There was the wheelchair-bound man who couldn’t remember much personal history, but could carry on an eloquent conversation in his native Russian language. There was the group of women with early-stage Alzheimer’s who embraced their own social network, showing Agronin that alone, patients might falter, but together, their limitations were eased. And then there was Marilyn and Mac. She accepted aging eagerly. He fought it. But both agreed that with years, came gifts: better judgment, contemplation, mellowness and, sometimes, delight.

Part science, part essay, “How We Age” is not one of those books that blindly celebrates the so-called wisdom of years. Author Marc E. Agronin bluntly writes about dementia, forgetfulness, Alzheimer’s and other issues that come with Seniority. He’s honest with his readers without trying to hide anything. Then, he balances the bad with soaring stories of the goodness in becoming an elder, including serenity, knowledge and acceptance. Agronin’s colleagues taught him that aging has no cure. His patients taught him that aging really doesn’t need a cure. Thoughtful, warm and wise, “How We Age” is a book for everyone who’s putting on the years, like it or not. For all of us, books like this never get old. s

Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading

since she was 3 years old and she never goes

anywhere without a book. She lives with her

two dogs and 11,000 books.

BOOK REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

How We AgeBY MARC E. AGRONIN, MD.

c.2011, DaCapo Press $25.00

302 pages, includes notes

Just a hundred years ago,the average human lifespan

was around fi fty years.

There is Hope

58

April 2011 59

Depression among our nation’s seniors often goes unrecognized or is regularly

dismissed as a normal part of aging. Yet according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, people age 65 and older accounted for 16 percent of suicide deaths in 2004 – despite the fact that they make up only 12 percent of the U.S. population. The staff at Mederi Caretenders of Gainesville helps clients realize that there is help for depression, and that it does not have to hold them back from enjoying life. “Depression is a disease like any other disease. It’s not ‘all in your mind’ or something you can just shake off,” said Sharon Weisberg, a behavioral health nurse with Caretenders. This very real condition is often associated with loss, an experience all too familiar for seniors. Feelings of loss come with the death of a spouse, friend or pet. They also occur with the fading of everyday abilities, such as driving or bathing. Clinical conditions such as stroke, cardiac disease, and neurological diseases like ALS and Parkinsons can also trigger depression. The Caretenders program for depression begins with an assessment by a behavioral health nurse, who can then educate the client about the disease. Occupational therapy is sometimes recommended, especially with loss of abilities.

“Self-esteem is affected when a person is depressed,” said Martha Waltman, a Caretenders occupational therapist. “Helping the person return to doing things that we take for granted helps build self esteem and alleviate feelings of depression.” Occupational therapists also teach anxiety and stress management, along with other coping skills, to alleviate anxiety associated with depression. Depression affects not only clients, but caregivers as well. “With dementia, depression can show up as irritability and agitation,” said Weisberg. “There can be combative behaviors, wandering and even violent tendencies. That can be very diffi cult for caregivers to deal with.” Caretenders can teach caregivers coping skills for such behaviors. They can also discuss medications that might help the client be less agitated and more comfortable with life. “Many people are reluctant to take medication, but I have seen some wonderful results, especially with elderly people,” Weisberg explained. “It changes their quality of life.” Common symptoms of depression include irritability, sleeplessness, appetite changes, social withdrawal and feelings of hopelessness. If you or someone you love shows these signs, fi nd help immediately. Treatment of depression can help you live an independent and fulfi lling life.

“I wondered if my family could manage all the care I needed after leaving the hospital.”

A Special

Kind of Caring...That’s The

Caretenders Tradition

A dedicated team of compassionate, highly skilled healthcare

professionals who treat their patients like family is our hallmark.

4923 NW 43rd Street, Suite AGainesville, Florida 32606

LIC# HHA299991306

352-379-6217Call For More Information AboutHow Caretenders Can Help You.

Committed To The Highest QualityHome Care Services.

SERVING ALACHUA COUNTYAND SURROUNDING AREAS

• SKILLED NURSING• PHYSICAL THERAPY• OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY• CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AID• CARDIAC CARE• DIABETIC CARE• ORTHOPEDIC REHAB• UROLOGY CARE• SPEECH THERAPY• OUTPATIENT RECOVERY

There is HopeThere is Hope

ADVE RTISE M E NT

DEPRESSION IS A TREATABLE CONDITIONFOR SENIORS AND CAREGIVERS

59


Mor e GYN r obot i cs exper i ence than any o the r hosp i ta l in the a r ea .

Robotic-assisted GYN surgery means:

less pain

smaller incisions

faster recovery

For more information or a referral to a robotic

surgery specialist, call toll free 1-855-422-3624 or

visit us online at www.nfrmc.com/robotics.

FIND YOUR STRENGTH IN OUR NUMBERS.

12 PHYSICIANS TRAINED AND CREDENTIALED IN ROBOTIC GYN SURGERY.

400 ROBOTIC GYN SURGERIES PERFORMED EACH YEAR.

1,100+ ROBOTIC SURGERIES PERFORMED TO DATE.

For robotic GYN surgery, clearly our numbers are stacked

in your favor. North Florida Regional was the FIRST

HOSPITAL IN THE REGION TO PERFORM GYN

SURGERY ROBOTICALLY, and performed five different

types of robotic GYN surgery before any other hospital in the

area. Whether it’s a hysterectomy, incontinence or women’s

cancers, we’re confident that our EXPERT PHYSICIANS

and ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY at North Florida Regional

will provide you with the area’s very best care. FIND TRUST,

HOPE AND STRENGTH IN OUR NUMBERS.

PERFFOORRMMED TO DATE.

60

April 2011

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