Senior Voice America - January 2013 - Tampa Bay Edition

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JANUARY 2013

SINCE 1980 — VolUME 33 • NUMBER 1

PAGe 10

Senior Voice America…in print, on the web and on the air withHealth, Wealth & Wisdom. Tune in to AM 1250 WHNZ Monday thru Friday,

from 4 to 5 p.m. as Publisher Evan Gold brings you the information to live an active mature lifestyle.

Visit our new website, Tampa Bay’s leading news source for seniors, www.seniorvoiceamerica.com.

How to Deal witH Year-rounD

Sun expoSure

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at anY aGe

See FITNESS, Page 31PAGe 24taKinG tHe KeYS awaY

By Lourdes M. Sáenz, Creative Director

Start the New Year oN a PoSitive NoteGive a Boost to Your Self Esteem

The hectic holidays are over, and with the start of the new year, many of us consider the tradition of resolutions, with many relating to better health, such as a new diet or allowing more time to exercise. Others will consider quit-ting bad habits like smoking or overworking, which leads to stress. Many studies, including one conducted by the Journal of Clinical Psychology in 2002, indi-cate that 45 percent of Americans typically make New Year’s resolutions – and break 64 percent of them by January 31st! If lack of commitment or self control are the reasons why most tend to break away from resolutions, there is one life al-tering positive change that we can all try to ad-just for the better. In all stages of life, self-esteem is a base for our char-acter forming. It is the mental image we have of ourselves and how we manage relationships with those around us. Logically, if we value ourselves and feel accepted, our self-esteem will be at healthy levels from childhood to our gold-en years. Alternatively, low self- esteem can lead to insecurity, sadness, and feelings of inadequacy or the de-sire for isolation. As we age and cross the threshold of retirement or

empty nest syndrome, many people face another challenge with their self-esteem. As some end their productive work-ing years, instead of looking forward to the possibilities of relaxation and enjoying more free time, feelings of useless-ness and reduction of self worth settle in. Others are affected by their physical or mental faculties declining and they begin to feel less self-worth. This is a time to reflect and analyze the true status and health of our self-esteem. With the start of the new year, here are some considerations to build, boost and maintain a high self-esteem. See ESTEEm, Page 27.

Remember cheeseburger, french fries and a coke? That used to be a perfectly acceptable balanced meal. Of course, in those days we walked everywhere, rode bicycles, roller-skated, went

hiking and did a lot of swimming, canoeing, dancing and fooling around. We didn’t think much about what we had to do to balance our caloric input with physical output.

Our lifestyles took care of that. Granted, people died at earlier ages, but few of my friends and colleagues seemed to think much about it. We took Phys Ed (or PE—depending on where you were raised) an hour a day in school and it was a natural part of the day. I honestly do not recall in my early years that we ever discussed “making time” for exercise.

Times have changed drastically. Most people drive to work, have a sedentary, high stress positions, drive home in traffic and wind up in front of the tube eating pre-prepared, reheated microwave meals.

F tneSSa state of mind,

By Bonnie L. Quick

body and spirit

Senior Voice america JanUarY 2013

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Prices per person, double occupancy; port charges included; gov’t fees, taxes and fuel surcharges additional; service fee of $19.95 may apply; limited availability. Prices shown are min. fares for departure date. Price subject to change. Cancellation fee may apply. Not responsible for last minute changes of price or itinerary by cruise line, or any errors or omissions in the content of this ad. Some restrictions and cancellation penalties may apply. Ships Registry: The Netherlands and SOT to T154785

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JanUarY 2013 Senior Voice america

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According to the National Institutes of Health, skin is the largest organ of your body. Skin can be a very delicate thing, and as the outermost layer, it needs to be cared for in order to look and feel its best. Unfortunately, for those who suffer from highly prevalent skin conditions, such as eczema, caring for and main-taining skin can be a daily challenge.

What is eczema? Eczema is a chronic, inflammatory skin condition characterized by dry, itchy skin and visible skin rash. Over 35 million Americans, both children and adults, suffer from eczema. The preva-lence of eczema has increased nearly 400 percent over the past 30 years and is projected to continue increasing due to environmental and other factors such as stress, according to the National Ec-zema Association. In a healthy state, the external layer of your skin acts as a protective barrier. For eczema sufferers, the skin has a defi-ciency in the external layer that allows the moisture to escape and causes chro-nic dryness. When skin is dry and un-protected, irritants can reach the

sensitive layers below and cause uncom-fortable itch flare-ups.

Common triggers There are a number of things that can trigger an eczema flare-up:

• Irritants such as synthetic fibers, detergents, perfumes, rough or poor fitting clothing, dust or sand. • Environmental factors such as hot or cold temperatures, humidity or dry air. • Emotional factors such as anxiety or stress.

Tips for managing eczema The National Eczema Association says that daily skin care is essential to help manage eczema.

• When bathing, wash in warm water for 5 to 10 minutes. • Use a non-irritating and fragrance- free wash. Do not scrub skin harshly. • Moisturize within 3 minutes after every shower. It helps lock in your skin’s natural moisture to help prevent eczema-related dryness.

• In addition to your daily skincare routine, try applying a cold compress to soothe your skin.

When choosing skin-care products, look for gentle, fragrance-free washes and moisturizers, such as Neosporin Essen-tials products, a line of skincare products which includes a daily body wash, daily moisturizing cream and anti-itch cream specifically de-signed for people with ec-zema. Each product has a unique Relipid formula, which contains a lipid, humectant, emol-lient and botanical blend to help retain the moisture essential for healthy-look-ing skin. Plus, the daily moisturizing cream contains colloidal oatmeal and was clinically shown to restore visibly healthier skin in three days. Use all products as directed. Eczema can be stressful and make

daily living challenging and uncomfort-able. With diligent skin care and good habits, you can help maintain healthy skin and effectively manage symptoms when they do flare up. To get more information on living with eczema, daily management tips and money-saving coupons, go to www.neosporinessentials.com.

Caring for problem Skin


Senior Voice America, Inc. 8406 Benjamin Rd., Ste. G

Tampa, FL 33634Phone (813) 444-1011 • Fax (813) 422-7966

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Staff

Publisher: Evan [email protected]

Associate Publisher: Timm [email protected]

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Deb [email protected]

Editor: Julie [email protected]

Creative Director: Lourdes M. Sá[email protected]

Circulation Manager: Sharon [email protected]

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Join our sales team. For information about oppor-tunities throughout Florida and North America, email [email protected].

ContributorS

Henry Adams • Abne M. Eisenberg

Ruth Fanovich • Judith Sabghir Gannon

James Salvatore Giardina • Robert B. Harwood

Audrey Hawley • Diane Houser • Ro Martinez

Dr. John Michaelos • Eric Pfeiffer • Joe Pippen

Maria Posani • Bonnie Quick • Kathleen Stasia

Bohdan O. Szuprowicz • June Hurley Young

Would you like to write for Senior Voice America? Please email [email protected]

Senior VoiCe iS a Proud MeMber of

Better Living for Seniors The Guardian Association of Pinellas County

The Florida Assisted Living Association

Senior Voice America is published monthly and is distributed free of charge, courtesy of its advertisers. Distribution area includes Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Sarasota and Manatee counties. Articles and advertising contained in this issue do not necessarily reflect the opinion or endorsement of the publisher, who does not verify advertiser claims and reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertising.

FRoM tHe PuBlISHeR

Has our government become one that just keeps mandating every aspect of our lives? Does everything we do need to be legislated, taxed and controlled? Are we no longer people who can decide for ourselves and protect our own interests? With the recent shooting tragedy in Connecticut, Americans’ Second Amendment rights are going to be challenged in the coming months. But will that be the only liberty that is challenged? Free speech is already being challenged. Those in the media who don’t agree with certain admin-istrations are suddenly being audited by the IRS. Coincidence? I doubt it. Let me first say that what happened at the Sandy Hook school is unfathomable and completely reprehensible and nobody should take this lightly. However, to politicize this event is also repre-hensible. You should know I am not a member of the NRA nor do I own a gun. And while I will defend the Second Amendment as vehemently as any card-carrying NRA member, I am more concerned with far deeper issues. There is no doubt that there are people with mental health issues falling under the radar and not being diagnosed or being misdiagnosed. And some of those people are the ones committing these acts, like at Virginia Tech and in Colorado at the movie theater. But what are we saying now? That parents are going to need to turn in their children? Wives turn in their husbands? Children turn in their parents? Or, will all of us have to go under a mental health screening? Will each person with what some doctor or, worse yet, the government, perceives as a mental illness be tagged, flagged or even institutionalized? Will “big brother” be watching our Facebook or Twitter posts, e-mails or other personal activities to classify us as “insane?” Does this remind anyone of other governments? Nazi Germany? Soviet Russia? Cuba? Venezu-ela? You might think I am a little “out there,” but the government is doing everything it can to keep track of our every movement, and nearly a day goes by without a new law or regulation being created to legislate our lives. It is time to ask ourselves what type of society we want for ourselves, our children and our grandchil-dren! Are we still the land of the free, or are we the land of the overtaxed and over- regulated?

Evan Gold

What Rights Do We Have Left?

I enjoyed with interest your editorial, “Are we a Judeo-Christian nation?” As a senior Christian, living in a changing world, we are faced with numerous challenges in the future. You made many excellent points in your article. My only concern is that you brought your political feelings/opinions into the presentation. Your great nation (I am a Canadian, wintering in the Clearwater area) is currently led by a strong President who does not hesitate to profess his Christian faith. I will continue to read your publication with interest. There are many informative, health related topics covered each month. Thank you! Regards,

- Morley Davidson

Hi Deb, I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your radio show. I happened upon it accidently one day while scan-ning through stations. You were talking about Jazzercise which immediately caught my attention. I have been a Jazzerciser for the last 6 years. I take it at Tarpon Springs Community Center; Angel Peters is our instructor. It’s a wonderful program and I am so glad that you endorse it. After hearing you talk about it I became hooked on listening to your show. I commute from Clearwater to Tarpon Springs each afternoon and your program helps ease the pain of driving US 19. So, thank you for the great show. I look forward to it each day. Keep up the endorsement of Jazzercise, it’s a great program and I’d like to see more people check it out. Thanks again,

-Karen Pronto

OuR MiStAKE: In the December 2012 edition we called “God Bless America” the national anthem. We meant to say it is an American patriotic song.

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Tune in to 1250am WHNZ.

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JanUarY 2013 Senior Voice america 6Six Ways to Avoid the FluHeAltH RounduP

The beginning of fall marks the start of aches and pains from seasonal influenza and the common cold for many Ameri-cans. Each year, between five and 20 per-cent of Americans will get the flu, and colds send patients to the doctor’s office more than 100 million times a year for treatment. There are a number of ways to prepare for cold and flu season. One way is to get the annual flu vaccination. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rec-ommend that all people six months and older receive a flu vaccination, especially those who are at high risk of developing complications if they contract the flu. Ex-amples of people at high risk include:

• Pregnant women (any trimester) • People 65 years of age and older • American Indians and Alaskan Natives, who were at higher risk of flu complications last flu season • People of any age with certain chronic medical conditions

Getting the flu shot before flu season is in full force gives the body a chance to build up immunity to the virus. Peak months for the flu are December through

February, so get your flu shot early and stock-up on preventative over-the-coun-ter cough, cold and flu medicines, hand sanitizers and disinfectants for high-con-tact areas of the home and office, like phones and door knobs. There are several simple steps you can take to avoid catching the flu or common cold, says Dr. Andrew Myers, an expert in nutrition and preventative health.

• Wash your hands as often as is practical. Colds are most commonly spread with objects or hands con- taminated by the nasal secretions of someone who is infected. • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth. Most of us touch our faces as many as one to three times every five minutes — nearly 200 to 600 times each day. While it can be a hard habit to break, it can prevent the direct spread of the cold from your hands to the susceptible areas of your face. • Eat healthy, high-energy foods. Your body always needs fuel, but when you’re sick, a lot of your body’s energy is devoted to your immune system. Focusing on fruits, vegeta-

bles and whole grains will keep you fueled with antioxidant nutrition. • Take a good multivitamin. A daily multivitamin provides important nutrients for healthy immune function like zinc, selenium and beta- carotene/vitamin A. Choose a multi vitamin that matches your age and gender-specific needs. • Get enough sleep and rest. Re- searchers have found that the people who slept less than seven hours a night in the weeks before being

exposed to the cold virus were about three times more likely to develop a full-fledged cold than those who slept more. • Drink plenty of water. Dehydration can impact immune system function, so be sure to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water each day.

For additional tips on preventing the flu and common cold, go to SamsClub.com/healthyliving.


HeAltH RounduP

How to Get aGOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

According to the National Sleep Foundation, if you have trouble staying and falling asleep at night, or you wake up feeling unrefreshed in the morning, you may be suffering from insomnia. Almost everyone has trouble sleep-ing every so often, but for many Amer-icans getting to sleep or waking in the middle of the night is a significant problem. To help, board certified sleep spe-cialist Dr. Russell Rosenberg, Chair-man of the National Sleep Foundation, offers answers to some questions about insomnia:

What is insomnia? Insomnia involves difficulty get-ting to sleep, staying asleep, waking too early, trouble getting back to sleep or lack of refreshing sleep, as defined by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Are the symptoms of insomnia the same for everyone?

Insomnia may affect people differ-ently. Some complain of waking up in the middle of the night and having trouble falling back asleep, while oth-ers have trouble initially getting to sleep.

What can I do to help me fall asleep at night?

Establish a regular bed and wake

time. Create a sleep-conducive envi-ronment that is dark, quiet and com-fortable. Allow time at night to “wind down” before climbing into bed. Doing work, watching TV and using the com-puter, both close to bedtime or in the bedroom, can hinder your ability to fall asleep. Avoid violent shows and news reports before bedtime as they can be agitating.

If I wake up in the middle of the night, what are some tips to help

me fall back to sleep? If you wake up in the middle of the night and stay in bed, don’t stare at the clock. Also, do not watch TV, use your computer or cell phone, because use of these technologies can stimulate your brain and make it harder to fall back to sleep. Avoid drinking beverages con-taining caffeine or alcohol. Most im-portantly, you should try to relax.

What can I do during the day

to help my insomnia?

Good daytime habits may help with both types of insomnia. “I tell my patients to avoid caffeine after lunch,” stresses Rosenberg. Also, get regular exercise but avoid rigorous exercise close to bedtime and always check with your doctor before starting any exer-cise regimen.

If those suggestions don’t help, what else should I do?

You should speak with your health-

care professional if you are having trouble sleeping. He or she can deter-mine whether or not you suffer from insomnia and if treatment is needed.

Where can I learn more about insomnia?

For more information regarding insomnia, visit the National Sleep Foundation website at http://www.sleepfoundation.org/article/sleep-re-lated-problems/insomnia-and-sleep.

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HeAltH RounduP

The current research on fitness training for mature adults is clear but there are some glaring misconceptions that can cloud a person’s fitness deci-sions. Many activities that you read about are being presented as cure alls or “easy” remedies to the reality of ag-ing. What activities to avoid and how to engage in a safe and productive ex-ercise program can be confusing and there are not very many resources for mature adults to find the right an-swers. Most information you receive will be in the form of a sales pitch. Outlined below are several of the myths you may have read or heard and the truths behind some common well-ness issues for senior adults.

Myth #1 Improvement of my heart health can only be attained by completing high intensity aero-bic exercise for an extended peri-od of time. If I’m not completely exhausted at the end of my work-out I probably didn’t do myself any good. Truth- You do not need to maintain lengthy periods of intense exercise to improve your cardiovascular condi-tioning. A simple, consistent walking program around your neighborhood, at the mall or a local park will help in-

crease your heart stroke volume, your energy levels and your well-being. Grab a friend and do some walking. You will feel the benefits rapidly and your body will thank you!

Myth#2 Weight training is for grow-ing big muscles and if I try to lift weights I’ll probably hurt myself. Truth- A significant improvement in your fitness level can be attained with moderate elements of weight training. Adding a few extra pounds to your shopping cart, placing your own groceries in your car and returning the cart to the store are all examples of simple weight training exercises. A pro-ductive element of resistance training added to your fitness program can be implemented and completed entirely in your own home using items you al-ready have. No expensive machines to buy or need to visit a gym every day.

Myth #3 Eating healthy is expensive. Truth- It is true that engag-ing in a 100% organic diet is more expensive. This does not mean that you will have to ex-ceed your food budget. You can make some generalized im-provements in diet by learning some basic nutritional infor-mation and ensuring that you consume the necessary nutri-tional elements for maximum health. Eating healthy means limiting high fat content items and concentrating on items that will help you fuel your body the right way. Eating right is not as hard as you might think!Utilizing a trainer or design-ing a program on your own

will result in many improvements. Be sure to consult with a profession-al before engaging in any exercise program to be sure the details are right for your conditioning level and physical circumstances. As the fa-mous sportswear company says, Just Do It! The changes you hope for are attainable and realistic. Be healthy and safe! For more details or inquiries on personal fitness, contact 50 and Be-yond Fitness at 727-504-4613 or www.50andbeyondfitness.com.

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unwanted immune Responses Challenge Bone Marrow

Cancer Treatment

CANCER ANSWERS

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a therapy with the potential to cure bone marrow cancer. A major obstacle to the success of HCT, howev-er, is graft-versus-host disease, or GVHD.

GVHD occurs when immune cells from the donor (the graft) recognize the recipient’s body (the host) as for-eign and begin to attack. The donor’s immune cells may attack certain or-gans, most often the skin, gastrointes-tinal tract and liver.

“GVHD is a pretty descriptive name,” says Claudio Anasetti, M.D., chair of Moffitt Cancer Center’s Blood and Marrow Transplant (BMT) De-partment, “because literally the graft works against the host. Once we trans-plant stem cells, the donor cells try to reject the host body. The response can be violent.”

The initial sign of acute GVHD, which occurs in the first several weeks following an allogeneic transplant, is usually a rash, often accompanied by a burning and redness of the skin, which can spread over the entire body. Other symptoms include nausea and vomit-ing, abdominal pain, loss of appetite, jaundice, and weight loss. Chronic GVHD, which can occur several months or years after a transplant, can damage the skin or tissues below it, the lungs, and the exocrine glands. (An allogeneic transplant is a proce-dure in which a person receives blood-forming stem cells from a genetically similar, but not identical, donor. The donor often is a sibling, but could be an unrelated donor.)

“Both acute and chronic GVHD are unwanted immune responses and ma-jor contributors to transplant-related mortality,” says Joseph Pidala, M.D., of Moffitt’s BMT and Immunology Programs. “It’s one of the reasons peo-ple don’t do well after hematopoietic cell transplantation.”

To prevent GVHD, doctors use the combination of tacrolimus (Prograf) and methotrexate—now considered the standard of care for GVHD. Tacro-limus is an immunosuppressant used to reduce the activity of the patient’s immune system and lower the risk of rejection. Methotrexate is used to treat autoimmune diseases by inhibiting T-cell activation. To treat GVHD, doctors administer glucocorticoids, primarily prednisone, to suppress the T-cell-me-diated onslaught against host tissue.

When this primary therapy fails, physi-cians move on to other immune sup-pressive treatments.

A number of clinical trials are un-derway or being planned at Moffitt to prevent GVHD from occurring.

Race, Ethnicity Affect Likelihood Of Finding Suitable Donors For

Stem Cell TransplantsA patient’s ideal donor for HCT is a

genetically matched sibling. Because most HCT candidates do not have a sib-ling who fits this description, unrelated volunteer donors play a vital role in successful HCT.

In August 2012, Moffitt researchers published a study in Bone Marrow Transplantation describing the diffi-culty in finding matched, unrelated do-nors for non-Caucasian patients who are candidates for HCT. According to the National Marrow Donor Program, the genetically matched donor rate is 90 percent for Caucasian patients, but plummets to 60 percent for those of Af-rican ancestry.

“Using unrelated adult donors to fa-cilitate HCT has provided major oppor-tunities for patients without a matched sibling donor,” says Dr. Pidala, the study’s lead author.

Compared with Caucasians, say Dr. Pidala and his study colleagues, Afri-can-Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans have greater difficulty in finding a suitably matched, unrelated donor, as well as less likelihood of suc-cessfully reaching HCT.

“Our data are consistent with the ex-pectation that – if suitable unrelated donors could be more expeditiously identified – patient outcomes would improve, particularly for racial and eth-nic minorities….” Dr. Pidala and coau-thors reported in the published study. The increased representation of ethnic minorities within unrelated donor reg-istries will increase the likelihood of finding suitable donors.

Dr. Anasetti Dr. Pidala


By June Hurley Young

On January 16, 2013 the Don CeSar Resort Hotel will celebrate 85 years as Florida’s West Coast Landmark.

Built on a wilderness island by Thomas Rowe, from 1925 to 1927, it opened on Monday, January 16, 1928. A full page ad in the St. Pe-tersburg Times read, “Hurling its beauty to the sky, this Castle-like hostelry on the shores of the Gulf thrills you with its Grandeur.”

The Bentleys, the Rolls Royces and the opulent town cars drove up to the hotel and hundreds of men in tuxedoes and women in furs and satins hurried into the hotel. The special menu was $7.50 a plate and guests danced and partied all night. Thomas Rowe, in his usual white suit, smiled on everyone as the elegant host of his spectacular hotel.

Now, on that same night in 2013, the elegant Pink Lady will proudly greet her guests. She’s had several face lifts in 85 years, and her walls could tell stories of her many lives and the many roles she’s played in her lifetime.

All the building materials were brought in on shallow barges. A primitive dump and chute method was slow and laborious. The walls were filled in with red hollow tiles. It took two years to build, in times of the year with unbearable heat and mosquitoes. Rowe be-came the Mosquito Control Director to solve his problem.

As he built, he kept adding wings and higher floors and by the time he finished, he had no money left to furnish his grand hotel. He borrowed money from Warner Webster to furnish his rooms with Oriental Rugs and horsehair mattresses. The building and furnishings cost about a $1.5 million.

The Don had two seasons, 1928 and 1929. The Stock Market Crash of October, 1929 and, subsequently, the Great Depression brought tourism to a standstill. Like so many others, The Don failed. However, the bank let Rowe remain there to work it out of debt. With the help of the department store moguls, the New York Yankees and alcohol, he made good the losses by 1940. Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were there every season.

Rowe died in 1940 and his estranged wife, Virginia Rowe, inherited the hotel. After Pearl Harbor, all branches of the service came to Florida for basic training. All the hotels except the Don were leased to house the troops. The Don was an ex-ception. In 1942, it was purchased by the Army for $450,000.

Planned as a Veteran’s Hospital, it became unsuitable and, instead, it became an R&R facility for battle weary airmen. When the war ended in 1945, it was transformed into a Veteran’s Administration Office Building and outpatient clin-ic. During that era, all the furnishings were removed and sold.

A group of engineers toured the building in 1968 and condemned it as a fragile structure too worthless to be restored, so General Services made it available to federal, state, county or city governments who could use it. “Tear it down” was the verdict.

That is when I began writing articles for local papers, crusading to find a new use for the Don. My articles attracted supporters and I headed the “Save the Don” Committee. We attracted a local developer, William Bowman, Jr., and he came up with an acceptable plan to renovate and open the Don as a grand hotel again.

In 1972, we met with GSA. The Mayor held Bowman’s check for $460,000 and the keys, and he gave GSA the money and Bowman the keys.

Bowman engineered a ramp across Gulf Blvd. to create a grand entrance to the hotel. He added balconies, a swimming pool and tennis courts, renovated the ho-tel and furnished it in the Moorish traditions of the original building.

What a celebration it was in November, 1973 when the hotel opened. By 1975, Bowman was successful in having it named to the Registry of Historic Buildings.

Because of many adverse conditions from 1973 to 1975, Bowman had put $2 million of his own money into the renovation, but he was unable to pay down his $6 million debt to the lender, Connecticut General. No one came out to help him. Completely discouraged he handed over the keys to the lender and walked away on his 50th birthday, October 24, 1975. His biography “Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Do It,” came out in 2008, the year he finally returned to the Don to be honored for all he did to save and insure its success.

An internationally famous destination, the Don CeSar is owned 20 percent by Lowes Hotels and 80 percent by Prudential Insurance Company.

June Hurley Young is the author of “The Don CeSar Story,” “Florida’s Pinellas Peninsula” and “Don’t Tell Me I Can’t Do it” published by Partnership Press, 362 89th Ave. N.E., St. Petersburg, FL 33702 • 727-424-4076

H a p p y B i rt H d ay! the Don CeSar is eighty-five Years Young

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January 15th @ 12:00 PM

A Taste of France Luncheon and Tour of Community,

Limited SeatingRSVP to 727-894-6788

Active Senior Living CommunityIn the Heart of Downtown St. Petersburg

Active Senior Living CommunityIn the Heart of Downtown St. Petersburg

dId You KnoW

A view of the legendary Don CeSar hotel and some images preserved in vintage postcards of the hotel and St. Petersburg.


HeAltH RounduP

How to Deal with Year-Round Sun Exposure

Floridians are proud to live in beautiful sur-roundings. Moderate temperatures allow us to take advantage of the beaches and parks year-

round. We spend so much time outdoors that skin protection is a must. Although we may think and dress young, the earliest signs of aging can be seen in our skin. We are exposed to the sun on most days whether we realize it or not. Skin exposure can occur while: • Working -- Some jobs require more sun exposure than others: think construction workers, lifeguards, realtors, and crossing guards. • Vacationing -- Most of us do not go on vacation to stay inside a hotel room or in a cabin while on a cruise. Our intention is to sight see or lounge at the beach or poolside, spending as much time as possible relaxing outside. • Exercising -- For some, walking or running on the beach or pavement near their home taking in the rays are ways to get fit.

This web site, www.skincancer.org, offers five ways to ease sunburn pain and limit the damage...

1. Act Quickly If you feel the telltale tingling of a burn or see any sign of skin reddening on you or your child, get out of the sun and start treatment. “Sunburn tends to sneak up on us. It can take four to six hours for the symptoms to develop,” says Barton Schmitt, a pedia-trician at Children’s Hospital Colorado and author of a new book, My Child Is Sick! Expert Advice for Managing Common Illnesses and Injuries, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

2. Moisturize After a cool shower or bath, slather on a mois-turizing cream or lotion to soothe the skin. Repeat frequently to make peeling and flaking less notice-able. And consider a product containing vitamin C and vitamin E: it might help limit skin damage (though studies have not proved that), according to Shawn Allen, a dermatologist in Boulder, Colo., and spokesman for The Skin Cancer Foundation. It’s also OK to use a hydrocortisone cream for a day or two to relieve discomfort, Allen says. Not OK: scrubbing, picking or peeling your skin or breaking blisters.

3. Hydrate Any burn draws fluid to the skin surface and away from the rest of the body. So drink extra water, juice and sports drinks for a couple of days and watch for signs of dehydration: dry mouth, thirst, re-duced urination, headache, dizziness and sleepiness. Children are especially vulnerable, so check with a doctor if they appear ill.

4. Don’t Wait. Medicate. Take (or give your child) a dose of ibuprofen (for example, Advil) as soon as you see signs of sunburn and keep it up for the next 48 hours, Schmitt advis-

es. “It cuts back on the swelling and redness that is going to occur,” he says, and might prevent some long-term skin damage. “It’s not just treating the symptoms; it’s treating the severity of the symp-toms.” Acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol) will treat the pain, but does not have the same anti-in-flammatory effect.

5. Assess the Damage Most sunburns, even those that cause a few blisters, can be treated at home. But if a blistering burn covers 20 percent or more of the body (a child’s whole back), seek medical attention, Allen says. Anyone with a sunburn who is suffering fe-vers and chills should also seek medical help, he says. While it may be difficult to stay out of the sun completely, following this advice will prevent sunburn, help you avoid the pain and discomfort that come with it, and may even prevent some forms of cancer later. Get out and enjoy the outdoors, but be in-

formed and take the time to protect your skin and your grandchildren’s skin from overexposure year-round by limiting the amount of time you spend outdoors at least between the hours of 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., when you are at most risk. Using sunscreen (applied 20 min-utes before exposure), wearing long sleeve clothing in fabric with built-in sun protection, a hat, sunglasses or shielding yourself with a good um-brella are ways to prevent sunburn that can cause problems. These are ways to protect yourself while on the job, on vacation or when you exercise outdoors. Having a healthy respect for the sun will allow you to enjoy the elements and take in the beauty that we call home.

Ro Martinez, author, model and model-ing coach, has been in the business for over 25 years. Her book Modeling At Any Age is a step-by-step, comprehen-sive, easy-to-read guide for modeling and how to flourish in the industry. For information on beco-ming a model or actress, visit www.modelingatanyage.net or email Ro at [email protected]

By Ro Martinez

©Photos By anGela mann PhotoGraPhy. 727-518-4977


The annual gathering of Florida’s finest senior athletes was held December 1-9 in Polk County as more than 2,200 were on hand for the 2012 Florida Inter-national Senior Games & State Cham- pionships. This year, athletes were com-peting for a chance to qualify for the 2013 National Senior Games, to be held in Cleveland, Ohio, during the summer of 2013. The athletes converged on Polk County for competition in 22 sports. Some sports required strength, speed and stamina, including Powerlifting, Track and Field, Swimming and Cycling. In other sports, athletes needed to focus on accuracy and strategy for events such as Archery, Billiards and Shuffleboard. While the goal of some of these ath-letes was to experience the thrill of vic-tory, there were other reasons for the 2,200 athletes to have gathered in Polk County. Some thrived on the competi-tive nature of their sport and were there to beat the athlete next to them. Some set goals for themselves within their sport of choice. Others have been diag-nosed with an ailment that can be kept in check with physical activity, and for some, it was a social occasion to enjoy sports with friends they see only at Se-nior Games events. The Florida Senior Games Cycling competition offered the 5K and 10K Time Trials and the 20K and 40K Road Race. This event may have been the most competitive of the 22 sports as the athletes rode on bikes worth thousands of dollars and pushed themselves to the

limits of their physical capabilities. The Time Trial race winners are those who can “endure the most pain,” said Dave Viney, a State Championships re-cord holder in the 60-64 age group from Montverde. Mickey Hooke, a 52-year old run-ner from Bradenton, set a 2012 goal for himself to not only be the top overall finisher in the Florida International Senior Games & State Championships 5K Road Race but to set the overall re-cord in the process. After 41 road races in 25 Florida cities leading up to the De-cember 8 race around Lake Holling-sworth in Lakeland, Hooke crossed the finish line with a time of 17:24, four sec-onds ahead of the overall top finishing time set in 1998. Having been diagnosed with diabe-tes, June Stern, of Leesburg, registered for events in swimming, pickleball and track and field. In an effort to curb the disease, Stern and her husband, Ste-phen, were set to compete in 14 events. While Stern did not set any record-breaking times in the 55-59 age group, she was there at Gandy Pool competing in backstroke and breast stroke swim-ming events and ran in 100, 400 and 800 meter running events and the 1500 meter race walk at All Saints Academy. In every event, Stephen was there cheer-ing her on. Table Tennis sensation John Shultz, of Inverness, holds the longest record for consecutive-year medal winning among all Florida Senior Games ath-letes, having earned a medal in 20 con-

secutive years, most recently in the 75-79 age group. While he enjoys win-ning and is truly a humble winner, giving credit to his men’s and mixed doubles partners, it’s seeing friends dur-ing the annual day of competition at the State Championships Table Ten-nis event that keeps bringing him back. While the hairline may no longer be as full as it once was and there may be a few wrinkles in the face, the Florida International Senior Games & State Championships offers ath-letes a chance to go back in time and experience the games they played in their youth once again. At the end of the day’s competition, the smiles on the athletes’ faces and the hand-shakes and embraces exchanged with their fellow athletes definitely reflect the joys of youth. For a complete list of results of the 2012 Florida International Senior Games and State Championships, visit www.flasport.com.

SenIoR AccoMPlISHMentS

By Nick Gandy, Director of Communications, FL Sports Foundation

Seniors Sport Athletic Skills in Competition

John Shultz of Iverness, Table Tennis champion and holder of the record for winning consecutive medals of all FL Senior Games.

June Stern of Leesburg, during a running event at the FL Senior Games. Stern competed in swimming back and breast stroke events, ran in the 100, 400 and 800 meter races and the 1500 meter race walk.

Group of cyclists during preparation before a race at the FL Senior Games.


tecHnoloGY

By Julie Heidelberg, Editor

The holidays have passed, a time when some of us are lucky enough to regroup with family members we rarely see. Unfortunately, many families are scattered, with the kids and grandkids having moved out of town or vice versa, and travelling for the holidays just isn’t always in the cards. It’s hard to get an entire family together any-more. So how can we stay connected? Well, in this day and age there’s social media, and more and more seniors are using it. According to a recent Pew study (available at pewinternet.org), from 2008-2010 the percentage of to-tal social networking site users 50 years or more jumped from 11 percent to 26 percent. Over a quarter of all social networkers are now seniors! And the number one reason seniors are online: to connect with family. Of course there’s Facebook, but according to that same Pew study, just 20 percent of peoples’ Facebook friends are family (while a whopping 30 percent are practically strangers). So, we are faced with a dilemma, because there’s so much we’d like to share with family, but definitely not always the other “friends,” and certain-ly not with strangers! Enter a new concept in social networking: Fami-lyLeaf, a private social network just for family. Its’ co-founders thought of the idea when away in college as they realized there was such a disconnect between them

and their grandparents, cousins, and rest of the family. FamilyLeaf is a very simple to use site where the family can stay connected, no matter how geographically scattered they may be. Photos/videos can easily be posted right from the phone or computer (a unified family photo album!), anyone can share a “tid-bit” from their day, or someone can be-gin an open conversation about reunion plans. It also serves as a “fam-ily rolodex” where everyone can update their address/phone/email info. “FamilyLeaf has been brilliant for us,” says Sophia S. (identity protected). “We have all become closer and I genu-inely feel happier in my everyday life knowing that although we all live so far apart, my family is there for me any-time. My Mom took a while to find the confidence to post anything, but now leaves loving comments all the time which warm my heart!!” Admittedly, there is a time and place to tell the “world” about your life, but family time is any time and this re-source sounds like something worth investigating for your family – for their enjoyment and for their privacy.

Share Your Private Family Joys With Loved Ones Far and Near


Age is just a number, according to the old adage. Whether you are turning 20 or 60, it is your inner age and how young you feel that really counts. This is even more true when you create everyday healthy habits that help you feel younger. “Living a healthy life starts from the inside,” says Bonnie Taub-Dix, registered dietitian and national Cocoa-Via supplement spokesperson. “We don’t often think about it, but the health of your cir-culatory system is essential for a healthy life – it should be impor-tant to everyone and taken care of as you would any other part of your body. This is key to healthy aging.” Your circulatory sys-tem impacts many facets of your health and the way you look and feel. In fact, explains Taub-Dix, heart, brain and eye health – even exercise performance – depend on a healthy circulatory system. But as you age, your blood vessels may become less flexible and less able to expand when needed to keep circulation running smoothly. “Cocoa flavanols are scientifi-cally proven to help support healthy circulation by helping your blood vessels stay flexible and expand as needed, even as you age,” says Taub-Dix. “With daily in-take, cocoa flavanols help oxygen and nutrients reach your organs and tissues, so you look and feel your best today and every day.” To help keep your circulatory system healthy, Taub-Dix has found a number of ways to help you be your inner best, including the following tips. Start your day on a healthy note. When you wake in the morning, set a healthy tone for the rest of your day and begin with a wholesome breakfast, such as almond butter mixed in oatmeal with a fruit smoothie or a yogurt parfait to make sure you’re nourishing your body with exactly what it needs. With 250 mg of cocoa flavanols, it’s an easy way to have a delicious breakfast and support your cardiovascular health by supporting healthy circulation. Fit exercise into your day. According to the Mayo Clinic, taking daily walks is a great way to get your blood flowing, but speak with your doctor about the level of activity best suited for you. When possible, avoid sitting for long peri-ods of time. If you work in an office, make sure to fit in small walks throughout the day – even if that means taking a short 15 to 20 minute walk during your lunch break. Try to get up and move around every half hour or so. Stay hydrated. Hydration is important for many reasons, but if you’re look-ing to stick to your goal of exercising daily, you want to make sure your body is properly hydrated. If you’re a soda drinker, consider switching to flavorful options that offer health benefits. To learn more, follow CocoaVia on Twitter at @CocoaVia, like CocoaVia on Facebook or visit www.CocoaVia.com for more information.

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HeAltH RounduP

Top New Year’s Resolutions for

Men’s HealthThis year, millions of New Year’s resolutions will be made - and then broken

soon after. But there is one resolution that all men should keep: to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Prostate cancer is the most common, non-skin cancer in America, affecting one in six men, according to the Prostate Cancer Foundation. In addition, heart disease killed 26 percent of the men who died in 2006. And half of the men who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

There are many simple ways men can reduce their risk for life-threatening health conditions. Make a New Year’s resolution to improve your health and bet-ter your life with these easy tips.

Get CheckedSometimes improving your health is as simple as a trip to the doctor. As you

age, the likelihood of being diagnosed with prostate cancer increases significant-ly. Men over 40 should begin discussing their prostate health with a physician. Catching prostate cancer in its earliest stages can greatly improve a man’s chance at survival, so it’s important to be proactive and talk to your doctor about your prostate health. You can learn more about risk factors and prevention on the Prostate Cancer Foundation’s website at www.PCF.org.

Eat Healthy Choosing healthy snacks and avoiding fatty meals can help reduce your risk

of heart disease, diabetes and certain forms of cancer. Foods that are low in sat-urated fat and dietary cholesterol and high in fiber can help prevent high choles-terol, according to the CDC. Additionally, several studies suggest that eating fish can help protect against prostate cancer because they have “good fat,” particu-larly omega-3 fatty acids.

ExerciseMaintaining a healthy weight is

crucial to preventing heart disease. Physical activity will help lower your blood pressure and cholesterol. Ac-cording to the Surgeon General,

adults should engage in moderately in-tense exercise for at least 30 minutes a

day. By maintaining a healthy weight, you will also lower your

risk for diabetes.

RelaxDon’t sweat the small

stuff. Reducing your stress at work and at home can help improve your over-all health and lead to a longer, happier life. Seek medical treatment for

stress, high blood pres-sure, high cholesterol and

depression. Treating these condi-tions may save your life and have

been shown to improve survivor-ship in prostate cancer.

These are resolutions to keep. Now is the perfect time to make changes to improve your health.


Are you wondering if it’s the right time for hos-pice care for you or some-one in your care? It might be time for hospice if you have any kind of advanced illness that’s causing you uncon-trollable pain, difficulties functioning and/or send-ing you to the hospital re-peatedly. Maybe you could really use assis-tance with your care and comfort at home or wher-ever you live. Hospice care provides physical, emotional and spiritual comfort during the last months of life. However, many people wait until their final weeks, days or even hours of life to call hospice. The sooner people receive hos-pice care, the more they’ll fully benefit from it and experience a better quality of life. Those who live in Pinellas County may call Suncoast Hospice any time to learn about care and services. Suncoast Hospice cares for patients in their homes, Suncoast Hospice houses or other residences and provides support for their families and caregivers.

Signs It May Be Time for Hospice • Your illness is progressing. • You no longer wish to receive curative treatment or it’s no longer working. • You’re experiencing increased severe pain, shortness of breath, fatigue or loss of appetite. • You’ve been in and out of the hospital three times or more. • You’re having difficulty walking, dressing, bathing, eating or toileting. • You’re feeling overwhelmed and stressed from providing care and need some help.

Talking with Your Doctor You may wish to talk with your doctor as you decide about hospice care. You may ask:

• How do you expect my condition to change? • What symptoms might I experience? • What are my treatment options and how will they affect me? • Will I be able to continue my daily routine and care for myself? • What kinds of help could benefit me? Hospice care?

You may keep your own doctor if you’re in Sun-coast Hospice care.

Calling Suncoast Hospice & At–Home Assessments

Pinellas County residents may call the Sun-coast Hospice information line any time to find

out about care for themselves or those in their care. An order from a doctor isn’t needed to make the call. After sharing some basic information over the phone, a registered nurse (RN) may be scheduled to go out to a person’s home to do an assessment. During assessments, the RN will talk with the patients and their families about medical history and medical needs to determine eligibility for care. The RN will explain any care and services that are available along with payment options, which may include the Medicare hospice benefit, health insurance and other methods. If a patient’s ready for hospice care, the RN will start the ad-mission process.

Suncoast Hospice Care Suncoast Hospice care teams work together with patients and their doctors, families and care-givers to create the best plans of care for patients. The care teams include skilled staff and trained volunteers who provide everything needed for the patients’ comfort at home or other residences. Team members are always available to answer questions or to help. Suncoast Hospice services may include pallia-tive therapies, such as massage or music, medical equipment and supplies, personal care, volun-teers’ assistance, counseling and more. The care teams also may provide ongoing education and support to families and caregivers. To learn more about Suncoast Hospice care, call 727–HOSPICE (467–7423) or visit suncoast-hospice.org.

Suzanne “Sue” Rice, RN, CHPN is the director of admission practices at Suncoast Hospice based in Clearwater, Florida. Sue has been a registered nurse for more than 28 years includ-ing several years working in critical care. She has worked in hospice care in the U.K. and the U.S., serving at Suncoast Hospice for almost 19 years. Sue has spent the past 11 years in Sun-coast’s admissions department instructing ad-missions staff on care programs with the goal of increasing the community’s access to care.

Why suffer any longer? Come see us,

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By Suzanne “Sue” Rice, RN, CHPN, Suncoast Hospice Dir. of Admission Practices

is it time for SuncoaSt HoSpice?


SenIoR HAPPenInGS

tea danCeS

ColiseumJanuary 2, 16

Enjoy a relaxing afternoon dancing. First and third Wednesday monthly. Dance instruction 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., taped music 12:30 p.m. to 1 p.m. and live music by various bands 1 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

For information call (727)892-5202. The Coliseum is located at 535 4th Ave. N, St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

CoCktailS for a CauSe

Tampa Museum of ArtJanuary 4

Please join us for Cocktails for a Cause on Friday, January 4, 2013 at the Sono Cafe - Tampa Museum of Art. The event will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres. A percentage of the proceeds from the addi-tional sale of food and cash bar benefit the Florida Holo-caust Museum. 5 p.m.-7 p.m.

The Tampa Museum of Art will be open for viewing until closing at 8:00 p.m.

For information call (813) 274-8130 The Tampa Museum of Art is located at 120 Gasparilla Plaza, Tampa, FL.

JournalinG WorkSHoP for CareGiVerS in larGo

Grand Villa Senior LivingJanuary 5

Join local Author and Senior Advocate, Linda S. Burhans as she teaches tips and strategies for journaling from a caregiver’s perspective. A very useful tool for any and all caregivers. 10:00 a.m.

For information call (727) 216-2837. The Grand Villa Senior Living is located at 750 Starkey Road, Largo, FL 33771.

aMeriCan ViCtory SHiP MarinerS MuSeuM

Channelside Dr.January 6

Re-live history as you board the S.S. American Victo-ry Ship Mariners Museum--one of only four fully opera-tional World War II ships in the U.S. Built in 1945, she has sailed the Seven Seas transporting cargo during

WW II, and the Korean and Vietnam wars.Monday-Saturday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday 12-5 p.m.;

Closed on major holidays. Admission: Adults $10; youths (4-12) $5. Available at ticketweb.com, 1-866-468-7630, or on ship.

For information call (813)228-8766 Address: 705 Channelside Dr., Tampa, FL 33602.

beCoMe a GooGle MaSter

Largo Public Library: Jenkins Community WingJanuary 8

This class will help you increase your Google search skills and take those first steps toward becoming a Google ninja master. 3:00 p.m.

For information call (727) 587-6715. The Largo Public Library is located at 120 Central Park Drive, Largo, FL.

doCtor/Patient CoMMuniCation


Sometimes talking to your doctor is hard, but the good news is that it doesn’t have to be. Professor Eisen-berg, author of Prescriptive Communication for the Healthcare Provider, understands doctor/patient rela-tionships and is here to make sure that you do, too. 3:00 p.m.


iPadS for beGinnerS


Are you baffled by your iPad? Can’t figure out how to get an app or how to erase a photo? This is the class for you! This beginners class is meant to make you more familiar and comfortable with your device. 3 p.m.


tHe SunSHine City antiqueS & ColleCtibleS SHoW

ColiseumJanuary 11-13

Tampa Bay’s premiere antiques show features many booths of antiques. It is a fabulous shopping,entertaining and social event. Show hours are Fri. Jan 11, 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.; Sat & Sun Jan 12 - 13, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Admission: $6.00 Appraisals Sat & Sun for a fee of $5 per item.

For information call (239)877-2830. The Coliseum is located at 535 4th Ave N., St. Petersburg, FL 33701.

SPirit of tHe buffalo PoW WoW

International Market World in AuburndaleJanuary 11-13 and January 18-20

International Market World in Auburndale hosts the annual Spirit of the Buffalo Pow Wow. Enjoy Native American dancers and drumming, demonstrations, food, crafts and more. Over 1200 unique vendors make up the International Market World family of shops. The farm fresh produce will change your kitchen menu, and the alligator show will make you change your mind about gators. Cost: Adult $5.00

For information call (863)665-0062. The Interna-tional Market World is located at 1052 U.S. HWY 92 West Auburndale, FL 33823. www.intlmarketworld.com.

tHe 5tH diMenSion featurinG florenCe larue

Largo Cultural CenterJanuary 12

The 5th Dimension is known for its soulful sophisti-cation and smooth harmonies with a touch of class. The group has received 14 gold records, six platinum records and six Grammy Awards with multi-million selling hits including “Up, Up, and Away”, “One Less Bell to An-swer”, “Wedding Bell Blues”, “Stone Soul Picnic”, and “Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In.” 4 p.m. & 8 p.m., tickets $34.50-$44.50.

For information call (727) 587-6793. The Largo Cultural Center is located at 105 Central Park Dr., Largo, FL 33771.

SeMinole HeiGHtS Sunday MorninG Market

Hillsborough High SchoolJanuary 13

The Seminole Heights Sunday Morning Market will feature 80+ vendors, a large variety of local, or-ganic, hydroponic and conventional produce, Florida grown plants, herbs and flowers, organic garden food/supplies, locally made take-home foods such as jams, jellies, salsa, dips, seasonings, sauces and oils. Local artists will showcase their creative efforts and eco-friendly products. 9 a.m.-2 p.m., FREE.

Hillsborough High School is located at 5000 N. Central Ave., Tampa, FL 33673.

HearinG Solution SeMinarS

Sound Advice (2 Locations)January 15, 17

A one hour seminar on hearing loss, followed by lunch with the chance to talk with our specialist. Free hearing tests will also be offered. For your convenience we offer two events at two locations; St. Petersburg sem-inar will be on January 15, 11:30 a.m. The Largo semi-nar will be on January 17, 11:30 a.m.

For information on the St. Pete event call (727)822-2132. 3173 4th St. N, St. Petersburg, FL. For informa-tion on the Largo event call (727)518-1111. 861 West Bay Drive, Largo, FL.

Marty Stuart

Largo Community Center January 18

Known for his musical merging of honky tonk, rocka-billy, country-rock, traditional country and bluegrass, Grammy-winning music icon Marty Stuart is now accom-panied by his band, The Fabulous Superlatives. He has performed with countless music legends such as Merl Haggard and Johnny Cash, and is destined to join their ranks as one of country music’s most influential stars. Come see Marty’s flamboyant showmanship shine with his band for a one night only performance in Largo.

8 p.m., tickets $34.50-$44.50. For information call (727)587-6793. The Largo

Cultural Center is located at 105 Central Park Dr., Largo, FL 33771.


email your Senior Happenings to:

[email protected]

The Deadline for the February Issue is January 15th

SenIoR HAPPenInGSWinter doG day

Bok Tower GardensJanuary 19

Leashed and friendly dogs are invited to visit the Gar-dens for one special day. Judges will select the cutest, most unusual, owner look-a-like, most talented and best kisser. Dog grooming tips, health, safety and adoption information will be available. Dog admission includes a doggie gift bag. Fifty percent of the proceeds benefit the Humane Society of Polk County. Regular human admis-sion rates apply.

Cost: $12 for Adults $3 Children (5-12) and $5 per dogFor information call (863)676-1408. The Bok Tower

Gardens are located at 1151 Tower Blvd. Lake Wales, FL 33853. www.boktowergardens.org.

tHe feStiVal of CHoColate

Museum of Science and IndustryJanuary 19, 20

The event features the area’s best chocolate and confection companies selling tastes and treats of ev-erything chocolate, from truffles, cakes cookies, brownies and ice cream. There will even be chocolate body products! Award winning pastry chefs and cho-colatiers will host interactive demonstrations, and a live chocolate showpiece competition will give artistic sculptures a tasty twist! Learn chocolate-ology while touring a chocolate themed museum within the festi-val, and be amazed by the science of chocolate, view the CocoCouture fashions, and test your chocolate knowledge by playing Brownie Bingo! 9 a.m.-6 p.m., tickets $12-$15

For information call (813) 987-6320. MOSI is lo-cated at 4801 E Fowler Ave., Tampa, FL 33617.

oPeninG reCePtion: JuditH GoldStein

Florida Holocaust MuseumJanuary 20

Please join us for the opening reception for From Joys to Sorrows: The Art of Judith Goldstein. Light refreshments will be served. The event will include a talk by artist and survivor, Judith Goldstein.

Free to members. Regular admission rates apply for non-members. 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

For information please call (727) 820-0100. The Florida Holocaust Museum is located at 55 5th Street South, St. Petersburg, FL.

PinellaS folk feStiVal

Heritage VillageJanuary 26

Dozens of the Tampa Bay area’s premier folk musi-cians will be playing traditional folk, gospel, country and bluegrass music on stages throughout Heritage Village at this festival. Sponsored by the Pinellas County Historical Society. There will be historical demonstrations and activities. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., $5 do-nation. Shuttle to event entrance located from free parking on 119th St. between Ulmerton and Walsing-ham Rds.; handicapped parking and drop-off located at 12211 Walsingham Rd.

For information call (727) 582-2123. Heritage Village is located at 11909 125th Street N., Largo, FL 33774.

GaSParilla Parade

January 26Ahoy mateys! Are ye up for adventure? Do you fancy

a trip with Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla as we prepare to invade the unsuspecting City of Tampa and share our rich plunder with all those who dare to join us. It’s a cel-ebration we’ve honored since 1904, and one that grows more exciting every year!

Our majestic pirate ship, the Jose Gasparilla is in fine form, and we’ll be setting a course for Tampa where we’ll land in full force! 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Free.

For information or to purchase reserved seats go to http://gasparillapiratefest.com/parade.html.

SPrinG VeGetable GardeninG SeMinar

Home DepotJanuary 26

Spring is just around the corner. This is the perfect time to plan and start plants for your spring vegetable garden. Methods for starting seeds and using trans-plants will be discussed at this FREE Pasco Extension seminar taught by a local Master Gardener. Free.

For questions about this class, contact the Exten-sion office at 352-518-0156, 813-996-7341, or 727-847-2411, and ask for the Extension office. The Home Depot is located at 10017 US Highway 19, Port Richey, FL.

a GatHerinG of anGelS

The Ritz TheatreJanuary 26

Returning for our 13th year, you will find this special fund raising event won’t be “just any night out!” The Historic Ritz in downtown Winter Haven will host this gala that features dining, dancing, entertaiment and a silent auction of jewelry, art and travel. This event is Theatre Winter Haven’s larget and oldest fundraiser of the season. Cost: TBA

For information call (863)299-2672 263. The Ritz Theatre is located at West Central Ave. Winter Haven, FL 33880. www.theatrewinterhaven.com.

SnoWbird extraVaGanza

The Lakeland CenterJanuary 29

Snowbird Extravaganza is the Canadian Snowbird Association’s flagship event, held in Florida since 1993 and in Lakeland for the past eight years. Snowbirds flock from all over Florida to attend this event, which is one of the largest mature-lifestyle events in North America. Hundreds of exhibits, keynote speakers, in-teractive feature areas, and world-class entertain-ment. Extravaganza Feature Areas on the main stage in Youkey Theatre, the Bingo stage in Exhibit Hall, the Medipac Stage in Sikes Hall, and the Hospitality Stage in Jenkins Arena.

For information call (800)326-9560. The Lakeland Center is locat-ed at 701 W. Lime Street Lakeland, FL 33815. snowbirdextravaganza.com/florida.html.

Winter Haven Senior Adult CenterClasses and Events

WellneSS WitH WilMa

Tuesdays and Thursdays Wellness with Wilma is a 60 minute low-impact total body workout that includes aerobic, strength-ening, balance and flexibility modalities. 10:00 a.m.

- 11:00 a.m. Free. Registration is required.

tai CHi

WednesdaysTai Chi uses a series of slow movements designed

to strengthen the body, increase flexibility and calm the mind. Experience the gentle flowing move-ments of Tai Chi and treat your whole body to a gen-tle and relaxing workout. 1:30 p.m. $4 Resident, $5

Non resident. Registration is required.

CHair yoGa

Wednesdays and FridaysDesigned for seniors and focuses on flexibility,

strengthening, stress reduction and relaxation. 10:30 a.m. -11:30 a.m. Free. Registration is required.

For information call (863) 291-5870. The Winter Haven Senior Adult Center is located at 250 S. Lake Silver Dr. NW., Winter Haven, FL 33881.


tRAVel

KeY WesT: From the surreal to the sublimeBy Evan Gold, Publisher and Host of Health, Wealth & Wisdom

It still amazes me when I talk to peo-ple who live in Florida and they tell me they have never visited Key West, let alone the Keys. While there is a lot to see and do in the Keys, Key West is the focus here.

Known as The Conch Republic to some and

the Southernmost City to others, Key West is not like many places you can visit in the U.S. Actually closer to Cuba than to Miami, Key West is one of those places that is whatever you make it to be. For some, it is a quiet island

that offers amazing fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving. For others, it is a town that goes to the wee hours of the morn-ing, offering the opportunity to have a drink at bars that hosted the likes of Er-nest Hemmingway, Tennessee Williams and Cuban freedom fighter (from the late 1800’s) Jose Marti’.

Key West offers so much to do by day or night. If you’re someone who enjoys snorkeling or diving, the island is proba-bly unmatched on the U.S. mainland for its vibrant coral reef and undersea life. There are numerous companies that can take you out for a half day, full day or, if you are the more adventurous type and you know your way in the water, you can even rent a boat. As for fishing, you can go flats fishing or deep sea fishing. And, if you bring home some fresh catch, there are many restaurants that will gladly serve it up for you. If you like to just be out on the water, companies like Fury and Sunny Days offer some great sunset or daytime charters that are re-ally enjoyable.

Speaking of restaurants, this is where Key West really shines. First and fore-most is the seafood. The freshest and tastiest I can find in Florida is served in the Florida Keys. From stone crab to lobster to snapper, you can’t beat these restaurants. So where to go?

Breakfast: Blue HeavenDon’t show up starving is my first

note here. This place is so popular that on the weekends there can be a bit of a wait. However, it is worth the wait. How about starting your day with shrimp and eggs or a lobster omelet? Or what about their famous BLT Benedict? Sub-stitute the lettuce with lobster, and this sandwich goes to a new dimension in delicious. They do serve lunch and din-ner, and we have heard people rave, but we have only sampled their breakfast. The chickens walking through the courtyard makes it even more fun.

Lunch: Harpoon Harry’sThis was a lucky find on one of our

trips. They are most famous for break-fast and lunch. Breakfast is pretty typi-cal although the pancakes are heavenly. Our favorite at Harry’s is lunch. There is never a trip that Deb does not stop in for the Lobster Roll. And I usually go for their blue plate specials. And if you like delicious Bloody Mary’s, don’t be shy; they offer a full bar. For the meat lover? Cheeburger Cheeburger is superb.

Seafood: The Raw BarIn my humble opinion they serve

some of the finest seafood in Key West. Deb is a huge shellfish fan and has never complained of a meal here. I usually go for the grouper or snapper and it

never disappoints. It is one of our fa-vorites and should not be missed. If you like Italian, La Trattoria is good and for lobster, but don’t expect South-ern Italy here. A & B Lobster House is also excellent.

Better Than Sex: A Dessert Restaurant

Dessert lovers must not miss this – a restaurant so popular than they had to move within a few years of opening to a larger location. The desserts are out of this world and the atmosphere offers a bit of romance and fun. For those of you with a sweet tooth, I offer two pieces of advice. First: do not fill up on dinner, and second, keep in mind they are only open from 6 p.m. to midnight so make a reservation. Deb’s favorite is chocolate chip cookies, believe it or not, so be sure to check out Matthessen’s. Those are the best. Key Lime pie lover? Go to Blue Heaven!

What to do on land? There are a number of museums to

check out with the maritime and ship-wreck museums as my favorite. Deb re-ally enjoyed the Aquarium, but as I say, “once you have swum with them, who needs to see them in a tank.” The Hem-mingway house is better than it sounds and is a must see, and the trolley tours can be enjoyable, offering a lot to learn. Our favorite is the Haunted Trolley, but only take that at night.

Now, where do you stay?We have stayed in numerous differ-

ent establishments, but our favorites are the bed and breakfasts or the smaller specialty hotels. One example of the specialty hotels is The Eden House, which boasts guests who have been re-turning for the past 20-30 years. Owner Mike Eden offers a number of different room types, but due to their size, you re-ally feel like you’re at home. They are large enough to offer a restaurant, and don’t miss their daily complimentary happy hour. As for the bed and break-fasts, this is where Key West is really unique to Florida. There are far too many to list in this article, but suffice it to say that you can easily find one that fits your personality, taste and price point.

So what are you waiting for? Hop in the car (8 hours), take a flight or even a boat (from Ft. Myers) to have a vacation that can be truly one that offers nearly something for everyone.


dId You KnoW

Clock ticks Down on 2013 Medicare ChangesBy Hilary Zaragoza, Insurance Adviser, American Senior Benefits

Medicare enrollment has come and gone once again, but for a select group, there may be a little wiggle room to make policy adjustments up until Feb. 14, 2013.

Specifically, if you are in a Medicare Advantage Plan, you are permitted to leave your plan and switch to Original Medicare, with coverage beginning on the first day of the following month.

This is the only change allowable from this point until Feb. 14, but it does come with the op-tion to join a Medicare Prescription Drug Plan if you switch from Medicare Advantage to Orig-inal Medicare before Feb. 14. Your prescription drug coverage will begin the first day of the

month after the plan gets your enrollment form. Again, these are the only allowable changes. During this period, you may

not do the following:

• Switch from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage Plan. • Switch from one Medicare Advantage Plan to another.

• Switch from one Medicare Prescription Drug Plan to another.

• Join, switch, or drop a Medicare Medical Savings Account Plan.

If you need further clarification, contact your personal Medicare insurance consultant right away, as this deadline is coming fast.

Hilary Zaragoza, David Demus and their team of li-censed insurance agents at American Senior Benefits, Palm Harbor can be reached at 1-877-864-0263.

Health, Wealth & Wisdom

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ASK ouR AttoRneY

Trust Power

By Joe Pippen

Have you been avoiding living trusts as a method of estate planning be-cause you fear you will lose control of your assets if they are placed in trust? I’d like to reassure you that the fear of “losing control” is without merit. Here’s why: a clause usually found in the trust agreement is called “Grant-or’s Life Interest.” This clause usually directs that the income and principal must be used for the benefit of the grantor (person creating the trust) as long as he/she lives. The income or principal of the trust can be spent exactly as though the assets were owned individually, even though they are now in the trust. For example, if husband and wife created a living trust and the husband died and the wife later became incompetent, the successor trustee(s) named by the grantors are directed by the trust to manage the assets for the wife’s (grantor’s) interest for as long as she may live. It is entirely possible that if the husband and wife placed most of their assets in the trust, incompetency proceedings in court could be avoided. In order for the successor trustee(s) to take over bank accounts and stocks, etc., the trust usually grants that the successor trustee can provide the statements of two licensed doctors of medicine to establish the incapaci-ty of the grantor to act on his/her own behalf. The trust in this case has made it possible for successor trustee(s) to take over assets without a court hearing and approval from the court on expenditures. Successor trustee(s) can resign at any time in most trust agreements by giving 30-day notice to the beneficiaries, and other successor trustee(s) can take over. Thus, if the grantors have named their children as first, second and third successor trustees, and after the husband and wife have died or have become incompetent, and the first successor is then unable to perform the duties of trustee, then he may resign and the second successor may take over. If all three successors cannot perform the duties of successor trustee, then they and the beneficiaries may appoint a trustee. In summary, the person(s) creating a “living trust” do not lose power or control of the assets they place in the trust. They have absolutely the same control over the assets in the trust as they do over assets owned individual-ly. By creating a trust, they have also controlled who would manage the as-sets if they were to become incapacitated in any way.

Ask Our Attorney!This is a Regular Feature in Senior Voice America.

Do you have a legal question or concern? We are here to help.

Attorney Joe Pippen will answer your questions right here every month.You can send your questions to us two different ways.

Email: [email protected] or mail to Senior Voice, 8406 Benjamin Rd.,

Suite G, Tampa, FL 33634


Oh yes, the golden years.....Time can and does take its toll on our body and our mind. For

most of us, there will come a time when we can no lon-ger care for ourselves. What will you do? If you think you are going to stay at home, think again. Who is going to care for you? If you’re from the generation when your elders lived with family, I don’t want to offend anyone, BUT it’s not like that anymore. There are many reasons.....we are living longer, family has moved away, or we are estranged. Many families are blended (and I use this term lightly). It’s the blend-ed family that many times becomes the issue. Which side of the family will step up to the plate? Will anyone step up? I remember when I was growing up, my Nana wasn’t well. My Aunt Nora moved in to help care for her. I also remember on several occasions asking my mother who is the stranger (and I do mean strange) in the other room. My mother would take in strangers to live with us because they were in need. Today, would any of us take in a stranger? Probably not. Times and society have changed. If you don’t agree, read the newspaper or watch the news. So where will you go? Start thinking about the “what ifs.” What if I can no longer physically care for myself? What if my state of mind makes it dangerous

for me to be alone? Talk with your family and friends and plan your journey. Don’t sit back and let your fate fall into the hands of someone else. Many prefer the comfort of their own home. Provided the funds are available (per-haps through a long-term care insurance policy or a nest egg), staying home with private duty can definitely be an option. Some look into as-sisted living arrangements. Several of my clients thought they wanted to go to assisted living, only to realize that the loss of control and limit-ed stimulating conversation wasn’t for them. In some cas-es, the clients or residents in an assisted living are not as alert and may exhibit signs of dementia, which makes it difficult to commu-nicate. So, listen up…there are alternative living arrange-ments and things you can do BUT you must plan and

you will need an advocate. So, if you don’t have a plan,

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FoR cAReGIVeRS

Home HealthcareYour Right, Your Choice

Deciding when it’s the right time to hire a caregiver to come into your home and help care for you or a loved one can be difficult if you’re not familiar with the types of home healthcare pro-viders available to you. You should understand all of the important factors to take into account when making your decision. It’s important for a home healthcare consum-er to understand they have a right to choose. For example, if you or your loved one is being released from a hospital, a rehabilitation facility, or even coming home from a nursing home or assisted liv-ing facility, you have the legal right to choose your home healthcare provider. No one can force you to receive the in-home care from a provider that you have not selected as your personal choice. How do you go about making the right choice? It’s important to understand the various options available to you, and the questions to ask when in-terviewing an agency. There are significant differ-ences in the types of home healthcare providers available to you, but it’s not hard to learn what those are. You can start by asking these questions:

1. Are you accredited? 2. Are your caregivers and nurses your employees, or do you use contractors? 3. Are your caregivers covered under your liability and worker’s compensation insurance? 4. What background screenings do you perform? 5. How do you know if your caregivers are trained and competent? What training do you provide? 6. Do you have 24/7 on-call services where the agency can be reached any time? 7. Do you have a minimum number of hours? 8. Are you a companion agency, nurse registry or a licensed home health agency? 9. What insurances do you take?

There are distinctive differences between home healthcare providers here in Florida. It’s important to understand these differences as part of your decision making process. Homemaker/Companion Services: Services

provided by homemakers and companions in-clude housekeeping, meals, shopping, and trips outside the home. They cannot provide personal care such as grooming or bathing. They pay $50 to register their business with the state and are not required to operate at a business location. Many companies only utilize contractors and do not provide liability or worker’s compensation insurance.

Home Health Agencies: Home health agencies provide nursing care; physical, speech, occupational, respiratory and IV therapy; home health aide and homemaker/com-panion services; home medical equipment; nutri-tional guidance; and medical social services in the patient’s home or place of residence. The state now requires all new agencies to be accredited.

Nurse Registries: Nurse Registries arrange for nurses, certified nursing assistants (CNAs), home health aides, or homemakers/companions to provide services to pa-tients in their home or place of residence. Their care-givers are contractors of the registry, not employees. How do you know which type of provider they are? Their license/registration number will tell you. Home Health Agency license numbers are prefaced with an “HHA,” Nurse Registries with an “NR,” and Homemaker/Companion Services are not licensed – they are registered only.If you select a provider that uses contractors, you should ask who will be responsible to pay house-hold employment taxes, income withholding tax-es, and unemployment taxes. If the caregiver does not pay these taxes, you may be required to pay them. If practical, do your homework in advance of needing in home care rather than waiting until a time of personal stress or urgency. Many provid-ers will be happy to answer your questions and help in your decision making process. Use the in-ternet, newspapers, phone books, or even better – referrals from trusted sources to identify potential providers that can provide the level of care you may need. And remember, it’s your right to choose! Make

it an informed choice.

CareMinders® Home Care is a licensed Home Health Agency serving Pinellas and Pasco counties. We are locally owned and operated, and accredited by the Joint Commission. We provide home health care to people of all ages so they can remain in their own homes. We believe Life at Home is the Key to Independence! For more information, visit www.careminders.com/northpinellas or call 727-330-7804.

By Denise Seaman, Owner of CareMinders® Home Care


By Professor Abne M. Eisenberg

BOREDOMSelF HelP

People say they are bored for practical and for impractical reasons. It can strike people at any age. When people are bored, they are bored with their own selves. People choose to be bored. Millions of people have diffi-culty dealing with a lack of engage-ment. They constantly need to be occupied, doing something. At the turn of the 20th century in America, the eight hour workday did not exist. People worked 12-16 hours a day and had very little time to feel bored. Children had chores to per-form before and after school. Leisure time was a luxury. The average life span rarely exceeded fifty. The ex-pression, “I’m bored” was rarely heard. As we entered the middle of the 20th century, things changed radical-ly. Working eight hours a day, five days a week, became the rule (with the exception of paid overtime). That left a great deal of time to be filled -- a challenge with which people were not previously accustomed. Vacations and hobbies became big business. Be-yond earning a living, leisure time needed to be filled. If it wasn’t, people would say, “I’m bored.” Children were given toys to keep them from being bored. When, a century ago, an emp-ty shoe box or playing with marbles

could serve as a toy, these simple forms of play disappeared. Free time became a curse and a blessing. Today, there are people whose lives are filled with excitement and unimaginable luxuries who suffer from boredom. By comparison, there are ordinary people living very sim-ple and uneventful lives who are not bored. It has been suggested that the best cure for boredom is curiosity. But all the curiosity in the world is meaningless unless the curious per-son is motivated to satisfy it. The difference between those who are not bored and those who are bored stems from what they do about their curiosity. “What are you going to do about it?” should always be asked of the bored individual. People who are chronically bored often crave pity hoping that others will make the feeling go away. What they fail to re-alize it that there is no external reme-dy, no magic bullet. Only the bored person can execute a cure. Taking various mood-altering drugs is not a good idea because they treat symptoms, not causes. While they might be helpful short-term, prolonged use can create an addic-tion. Bored people must convince themselves that boredom is what psy-chologists call, a “self-fulfilling

prophecy.” By con-stantly dwelling on your boredom, you perpetuate it. Either bore-dom defeats you or you defeat it. Make small changes in your life. Start learning a new lan-guage, go someplace that you have never been, try eating a foreign food, eat with your left hand or, if you are left handed, with your right hand, start reading a book that you would ordinari-ly not read. Since boredom is a rut, getting out of it re-quires making small changes in your routine life. Think small, not big. Break the vis-cous cycle created by boredom.


taking the Keys awayEasing into a Tough Decision

Taking away car keys from a senior is flat out diffi-

cult: difficult for the senior to ac-cept their loss of freedom to drive their vehicle, and dif-ficult for their chil-dren to confront them with that reality. This battle between free-dom and safety rages every day, but a personal driver service offers an alternative to tak-ing away a senior’s transportation cold turkey. No senior should be left house-bound—or, almost as bad, feeling dependent on someone else’s schedule. A personal driver service enables any senior no longer capable of driving safely to get everywhere they want to go, in their own car, without getting behind the wheel.

Personal Driver Service A personal driver service resembles a chauffeur service except that the client or family member provides the car. A carefully screened and trained driver arrives at the se-nior’s home and drives him or her to a shop, a

doctor’s appointment or to meet a friend for lunch. The trip can be one-way, such as to the air-port for a weekend trip out-of-town, or round trip, such as to the grocery store. The signifi-cance of the “one-way” service is that a senior may be willing to drive during the day but not at night. If that is the case, a personal driver can meet them at their location and drive them one-way back home. This also works well for those who can drive during the day but not at night, as well as those who can drive to a medi-cal procedure but can’t drive home. Because the service uses the client’s own car, a round trip can cost as little as $33 an hour, which is usually far less expensive than a cab and certainly much nicer. The power and freedom this service offers a senior who has re-cently given up driving makes it indispensable. In order to support the team of trained drivers, you pay a modest fee to join the agency. You can then make a reservation by phone or online up to 24 hours before your trip. Most agencies offer an app that allows you to track the driver before and during the trip, to give you peace of mind.

What to Expect From a Personal Driver Service

You may be surprised at the rigorous screening potential drivers undergo, but most reputable personal driver services are very in-vested in the quality of their drivers, knowing that only top-rate service will keep their clients coming back. A good agency will conduct back-ground checks on their drivers looking for any red flags—in the area of either driving or per-sonal conduct. After hiring a driver, the agency ensures that the driver knows the local area

thoroughly. You can expect that a driver will always know exactly

how to get where a client wants to go before the trip begins. The driver is required to give full attention to the road; texting or talking on a

cell phone is forbidden. The driver is trained to provide a

smooth and safe driving experi-ence. The client can sit back and enjoy the

trip.

Advantages to Using a Personal Driving Service

Because of its unique struc-ture, a personal driver service is per-fect for any senior no longer capable

o f driving. They can go places the way they always have—in their own car! There’s no need to worry about uncomfortably hot or cold temperatures, distasteful music or odors. Per-sonal drivers wear a distinctive standard set of clothing, so that when they arrive at a client’s house, they can be instantly identified. When picking a senior up from a doctor’s office, store or restaurant, the driver will arrive right at the entrance. Moreover, the client will recognize the car and know that this is their ride. The driver will take care of locating the right desti-nation, parking and picking up the car.

Choosing the ServiceA quick search under “personal driver” will give you a range of agencies to choose from. Here are the qualities you should look for in choosing a personal driver agency:

• Screening and Training—make sure that the agency conducts rigorous screening and training of its drivers. • Cost—prices range for personal driver agencies, but all are less expensive than traditional black-car chauffeur services. There is often a modest minimum fee for each trip. • Ease of Use—is the agency set up for both an aging senior and the computer-savvy child? It is likely the senior will occasiona- lly be setting up reservations or checking on the status of a driver. You want to choose an agency that is easy to commu- nicate with and get information from. • Years in business—usually, the best way to judge quality is whether an agency has been able to retain its customers over the years.

A personal driver service provides some-thing that is priceless, peace of mind!

David Zwick is founder and CEO of Ft. Lau-derdale-based RedCap, a membership-based, premium “Driver as a Service” model for people who value safety, convenience and privacy at an affordable price. For additional information go to www.myredcap.com.

By David Zwick

BeHInd tHe WHeel


Will you have enough money for re-tirement? That question may keep you up at night. Or you may avoid thinking about it altogether.

“What scares me for this country, es-pecially for the baby boomer generation, is that many people will have to rely on their investment smarts in managing re-tirement funds,” says economist Steven Weisbart of the Insurance Information Institute. “Many have no training, or in-terest, in managing money.”

One possible solution? Annuities — contracts sold by life insurance compa-nies that offer a guaranteed stream of income for those golden years.

Fixed savings annuities, also known as deferred annuities, have guaranteed interest rates and tax-deferred benefits. And immediate income annuities offer guaranteed income for life. Most impor-tantly, they both promise peace of mind. Both are popular during market down-turns. At USAA Life Insurance Co., one of five life insurers that is AAA rated, total annuity sales grew 26 percent from 2008 to 2009. And the company says it anticipates annuity growth will increase as Baby Boomers get further into retirement.

“Annuities come up in conversation when people are concerned about mar-ket turmoil, or when they do a retire-ment income plan and are worried about running out of money,” says J.J. Montanaro, a certified financial planner with USAA.

Now More Than EverWith a draining Social Security re-

serve, traditional pensions on the wane, a volatile stock market and homes losing value, retirees should be thinking harder than ever about protecting and growing retirement assets. Longer life spans mean retirees may have to amass more money and preserve it many more years than previous generations.

Having a portion of retirement money in a fixed savings annuity with a fixed in-terest rate offers certainty in an uncer-tain investment market, Montanaro says. And using a portion of your savings to buy an income annuity can offer a pension-like stream of monthly pay-ments to help pay your bills. “Whether you’re talking about creating income or building a retirement portfolio, an annu-ity can work well as a tool in your retire-ment toolkit,” says Montanaro.

Fighting MisperceptionsWeisbart says annuities in general get

an unfair rap, often from people who sell competing investment products on com-mission. But fixed savings annuities and fixed immediate income annuities are

fairly straightforward, says Montanaro. And their fees are very competitive to other retirement products. In some instances, fees can be waived altogether. You can also name a beneficiary so any money remaining goes to someone you love.

Finally, some point out interest rates on annuities aren’t as high as they were a few years back. But annuities with fixed rates can still be a good deal if you’re looking for a secure place to put your money. “Relative to other safe invest-ments, such as certificates of deposit or treasury bills with even lower rates, they are still attractive,” Montanaro says.

How to ChooseDeciding which of these kinds of an-

nuities could benefit you is easy, says Joe Montminy, assistant vice president of the annuity research program at LIMRA. Just ask, “Do you need the money now or later for your retirement needs?”

If you need it now, consider the imme-diate income annuity. If your retirement is a few years away and you want to in-crease your assets, go with a fixed savings annuity.

Here’s how each works:• Savings annuity — Savings annui-

ties earn either a fixed rate for a period of time, say five or 10 years, or a flexible rate that changes over time within an estab-lished range. All fixed savings annuities have a guaranteed minimum interest rate, the interest is not taxed until you take the money out and is guaranteed against loss by the insurer.

“Think of the fixed savings annuity as a safe harbor,” Montanaro says.” It can only go in one direction: up.”

Because taxes are deferred, withdraw-als before age 59 1/2 could be subject to penalties. But remember the annuity is really for retirement, so you should try not to touch it anyway.

• Immediate income annuity — This kind of annuity helps cover basic liv-ing expenses in retirement. To find out if you need one, add up monthly, non-nego-tiable bills — utilities, food, property tax-es, etc. If your guaranteed income from Social Security and military or corporate pensions can’t cover the tab, an immedi-ate income annuity can help fill the gap.

You’ll feel secure not having to pay bills with your investment income, which can plunge during market downturns, notes Montminy. Weisbart agrees: “If you have to cancel a vacation because the market’s down, that’s fine. But if you can’t buy medicine or food, that’s a problem.”

Though immediate annuities require a

FInAnceS

Don’t Gamble with Your Golden Years

See ANNUITIES Pg. 27


dId You KnoW

Stop HealtH Care Fraud

Fraud

Fraud

FraudDid you know that about $90 billion are lost each year to medicare fraud and abuse?The Florida Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) is ready to provide you with the information you need

to protect yourself from Medicare errors, fraud and abuse; detect potential errors, fraud and abuse; and report your concerns. SMPs use trained senior volunteers to help educate and empower seniors in the fight against health care fraud.

What is Medicare Fraud?Fraud occurs when an individual or organization deliberately deceives others in order to gain un-

authorized benefit.

What is Medicare Abuse? Medicare abuse occurs when providers supply services or products that are not medically neces-

sary or that do not meet professional standards.

Examples of Potential Fraud and Abuse

• Billing for services and supplies that were not provided • Obtaining Medicare number for “free” services • Billing for equipment not delivered • “Upcoming” – improper coding to obtain a higher payment • Unneeded or excessive x-rays and lab tests; claims for services that are not medically necessary • Billing for excessive medical supplies • Using another person’s Medicare card to obtain medical care, supplies or equipment

How You Can Help Us End Medicare Fraud The Florida SMP is always looking for energetic people who want to be a part of the solution. Our volunteers receive training, and they are helping us spread the message of Protect, Detect, and Report.

To Volunteer or Report medicare Fraud call us at 1-866-357-6677


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can be found at over

1,000 Bay Area locations

• Stay busy and use time wisely — Fill the space that was once used for work and find activities that will keep you occupied; keep in mind that it is important that such activities also build or strengthen your physical or mental capacities.

• take care of yourself — Feeling good about our body does wonders for our self esteem at any age and getting older is no ex- cuse to stop. Exercise to stay fit and eliminate stress, eat a healthy diet and do anything possible to look your very best; a change of hair style, some new clothes or a visit to a spa will renew your general attitude.

• Stay active socially — Make efforts to expand your social net works and don’t lock yourself at home. Integrate more with family, if living together, or make new friends if living in a senior community. Look for activities that involve sharing time and activities with others. There are many volunteer opportunities for seniors, and there is also a great need for tutors, which is a great way to say busy while helping our youth in need. Don’t be afraid to try new things.

• Value yourself — Try to stop negative thoughts about yourself. Instead, substitute them with your good qualities. You are much more than the memories of what you used to be as a professional or when you were integrated in the job force. You are still the same person, with great qualities that can be shared with those around you. A good start to the new year’s self esteem boost is to write three positive things about you on a daily basis. The more you believe in your self, the stronger you will portray this positive energy to the world. It is never too late to build a posi-tive and healthy self esteem. A new year has started, it is a new beginning and a good time to reflect on us and what we can do to make our lives bet-ter. So take a good, critical look at yourself and resolve to make those changes that will lead to better rela-tionships, abilities to resolve any prob-lem, deception or failure and most of all, strengthen a healthier attitude that will make you happier and with a very positive outlook for life.

From ESTEEm Pg. 1 From ANNUITIES Pg. 25a sizable one-time premium, you’ll have the security of knowing essential ex-penses are covered — immediately. That’s what makes them worth consider-ing. “It’s the insurance factor — the peace of mind — that people are looking for,” says Montminy. “By having that guaranteed payment for life, you know you have some protection on your over-all portfolio.” Experts emphasize that the lump sum you use to buy an income annuity should be just a portion of your retirement as-sets. You want to diversify your retire-

ment portfolio to also provide liquidity and to protect against inflation.

The Bottom Line There are only five life insurers that are AAA rated, so make sure the compa-ny you buy from has high marks from the insurance rating agencies. You want to make sure the company is around as you age. And review the fine print on your contract with a financial adviser. “The goal is to understand what you’re buying and approve the terms,” Weisbart says.


Paul anka

Van Wezel HallJanuary 9

Legendary singer/songwriter, Paul

Anka, was one of the biggest teen idols

of the late ‘50s, later moving into the

adult sphere as a successful perform-

er, songwriter and recording artist.

Known for hits “Diana,” “Lonely Boy,”

and “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,”

Anka also penned big hits like “She’s a

Lady,” and lyrics for Sinatra’s “My

Way.” 8:00 p.m., tickets $30-$125.

WiCked

Straz CenterJanuary 9-27

Back by “Popular” demand. Variety

calls WICKED “a cultural phenome-

non,” and previous engagements in

Tampa have sold out and broken box

office records. Winner of 35 major

awards, including a Grammy and

three Tony Awards, WICKED is

“Broadway’s biggest blockbuster” (The

New York Times). Call for ticket info.

SunSet blVd

The Players TheatreJanuary 10-20

Based on the 1950 film of the same

title, the plot revolves around Norma

Desmond, faded silent screen star liv-

ing in the past in her decaying man-

sion. When she meets young

screenwriter Joe Gillis romance and

tragedy follow. With Music by An-

drew Lloyd Webber, this blockbuster

is the winner of the Tony for Best Mu-

sical, Best Score and Best Book! Tick-

ets $25, call for times.

GIRLs NIGHT: THe MUsICAL


Girls Night: the Musical has

been thrilling audiences and earning

raves from critics throughout North

America since it began touring after

its sensational Off-Broadway debut.

This touching and hilarious “tell-it-

like-it-is” musical takes audiences on a

journey into the lives of a group of fe-

male friends. And, audience members

can’t help but laugh, cry and even find

themselves singing and dancing in the

aisles as some of the most popular hit

songs of the 80s and 90s make this

musical a fan favorite! 8:00 p.m.,

tickets $33-$53.

eleanor rooSeVelt in WWii

Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center

January 13

It is late 1942. Eleanor Roosevelt

has just returned from England where

she visited with soldiers, generals,

royalty, and working people. Find out

how the First Lady feels about the in-

dividual’s role in a world torn by war,

hardship, and uncertainty. Hear Elea-

nor Roosevelt’s views on what makes

life worth living and how we can each

make a difference in the midst of a

strife-filled world — views that are as

relevant today as they were 70 years

ago. The one-hour program consists of

a fascinating in-character monologue

followed by Q & A first with “Mrs.

Roosevelt,” and then with scholar-pre-

senter Susan Marie Frontczak.

2:00 p.m., tickets $16-$18.

an eVeninG WitH don WilliaMS


An Evening with Don Williams, a

collection of 15 songs cut during a UK

tour. In August 1995, American Har-

vest released Borrowed Tales, and in

October 1996 the label released the al-

bum Flatlands. Don Williams was the

first country music artist to make a

concept music video. It was produced

in 1973 in support of his third single

for JMI Records (Come Early Morn-

ing). In 1986 Don starred in a music

video for the Capitol/Nashville single

Heartbeat in the Darkness. In 1995 his

video Fever was released by American

Harvest Recording Society. 7:30 p.m.,

tickets $36.50-$46.50.

tHe Piano leSSon

The American Stage Co. January 16 - March 3

“A lovely tragi-comedy... Haunting

as well as haunted.” -New York News-

day. It is 1936 and Boy Willie arrives

in Pittsburgh from the South in a bat-

tered truck. He has an opportunity to

buy some land, but has to come up

with the money right quick. He wants

to sell an old family piano that has

been in his family for generations, but

he shares ownership with his sister

whom rejected several offers because

the antique piano is covered with in-

credible carvings detailing the fami-

ly’s rise from slavery. 1990 Pulitzer

Prize for Drama.

JoHnny MatHiS


The smooth Johnny Mathis returns

to Sarasota with hits such as “Wonder-

ful, Wonderful,” “It’s Not For Me To

Say,” “Chances Are,” and “Misty,” and

many more well-loved ballads and

standards. Don’t miss this legendary

performer who is always a sellout at the

Van Wezel! 8:00 p.m., tickets $30-$65.

tHe bronx WandererS

Ruth Eckerd Hall-Capital Theatre January 16-22

In the Bronx of the ‘50s and early

‘60s, there was magic in the air, the lib-

erating sound of doo wop and rock and

roll. The greatest hits and heartwarm-

ing stories from Dion, The Beach Boys,

Jay and the Americans, the Four Sea-

sons and all the stars of the golden sec-

ond wave of rock and roll are captured

in this new musical event. Join the

Bronx Wanderers for a rockin’ musical

trip back in time! Call for ticket info.

elViS liVeS

Mahaffey TheatreJanuary 13


Elvis Lives is an unforgettable

multi-media and live musical journey

across Elvis’ life. His iconic style, em-

braced by many of today’s artists, con-

tinues to intrigue audiences of all

generations. Featuring finalists from

Elvis Presley Enterprises’ worldwide

Ultimate Elvis Tribute Artist Contest,

as well as a tribute to Ann-Margret,

audiences “Can’t Help Falling In Love”

with this phenomenal theatrical con-

cert experience!

tHe MuSiC of MiCHael JaCkSon


Part of The Florida Orchestra’s new

3-concert Rock series. Crowned the

winner of E! Network’s reality TV se-

ries The Entertainer, singer James

Delisco revisits 40 years of Michael

Jackson’s amazing career covering

such hits as ABC, I’ll Be There, Beat It,

Thriller, Got To Be There, Rock With

You, The Way You Make Me Feel and

many more...all with a sizzling rock-

pop band and The Florida Orchestra.

Tickets $37.50-$77.50.

kanSaS

Ruth Eckerd HallJanuary 19

Kansas makes its Ruth Eckerd Hall debut with a spellbinding show and a Rock Symphony and Laser Light Spec-tacular! The Topeka “garage band” that achieved success by playing only their own original music, led fans to become well versed in “air guitar” and “arena rock,” and became America’s most suc-cessful progressive rock band with hits like Dust in the Wind and Carry On Wayward Son, comes to the Hall backed by a rock symphony orchestra and laser light spectacular. 8:00 p.m., tickets $49-$65.

natlie Cole

MahaffeyJanuary 20


Nine-time GRAMMY award win-ner, singer, songwriter and performer Natalie Cole has proven to be one of the most beloved performers of all time. Her hits include This Will Be (An Everlasting Love), Jump Start, I Live For Your Love and Pink Cadil-lac. Her 1991 release Unforgettable…With Love, an album of standards from the American Songbook that in-cluded a duet with her late father, Nat King Cole, sold more than 14 million copies.

CHina national SyMPHony


A Chinese national treasure, the Chi-na National Symphony Orchestra, made up of an outstanding team of award-winning instrumentalists, is one of the most outstanding professional symphony orchestras in the world. 7:30 p.m., tickets $39.50-$59.50.

enGelbert HuMPerdinCk



From romantic ballads (the core of his repertoire) to the platinum-selling theme song Lesbian Seagull for the latest Beavis and Butthead movie, Engelbert Humperdinck succeeds in appealing to multiple generations of fans. Golden Globe Entertainer of the Year, more than 150 million records

enteRtAInMent


sold and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame attest to that. 7:30, tickets $40-$75.

GREAT ESCAPES 3: CELEBRATE!

Van Wezel HallJanuary 23-26

The Sarasota Orchestra presents music from all the best parties. Our Mardi Gras medley invites Bill Bailey to come home before the saints march in. Fiesta Latina reminds us of Rio Carnival and Brahms’ Academic Festi-val brings back memories of college. Holley Hall,tickets $26-$71.

one inCredible eVeninG WitH VinCe Gill


Vince Gill has sold more than 26 million albums. He has earned 18 CMA Awards, including Entertainer of the Year in 1993 and 1994. He is tied with George Strait for having won the most CMA Male Vocalist Awards (five), and is currently second only to Brooks and Dunn for accumulating the most CMA Awards in history. Gill is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, and has received 20 Grammy Awards to date, the most of any male Country artist. Besides be-ing known for his talent as a performer, musician and songwriter, Gill is re-garded as one of Country Music’s best known humanitarians, participating in hundreds of charitable events through-out his career. 8:00 p.m., tickets $34.50-$47.50.

105 YEARS OF BROADWAY


Five Broadway stars and a great New York band re-create magical mo-ments from the best that Broadway has offered during the past one hun-dred years. Always our quickest sell-out. Be sure to get your tickets early! 1:00 p.m. & 7:00 p.m., tickets $18-35. 5 p.m. $20 with Buffet.

DOO WOP!


The Brooklyn Bridge, JT Carter originator of The Crests, The Del Sat-ins, & Manhattan Harmony

Doo Wop’s finest, all-time favorite hits: “The Worst That Could Happen,” “Blessed Is The Rain” (The Brooklyn Bridge); “Teardrops Follow Me,” “Feel-ing No Pain” (The Del Satins); “There’s

A Moon Out Tonight” (The Capris); “Sincerely,” “That Girl’s Alright” (Man-hattan Harmony). 8:00 p.m., tickets $10-$55.

billy elliot

Ruth Eckerd HallJanuary 29 30

Billy Elliot the Musical is the joyous celebration of one boy’s journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small mining town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discover-ing a surprising talent that inspires his family and his whole community and changes his life forever. Full of life, laughter, award-winning choreogra-phy and an unforgettable score by El-ton John, this uplifting winner of ten 2009 Tony Awards (including Best Musical) is a big musical with an even bigger heart.

JoHn litHGoW liVe

Van Wezel HallFebruary 4

Presenting the extraordinary John Lithgow in his one-man theatrical memoir, STORIES BY HEART. Fol-lowing his triumphant appearances at New York’s Lincoln Center and Lon-don’s National Theatre, the Tony and Emmy Award winning actor offers a touching and humorous reflection on storytelling as the tie that binds hu-manity. Known for exceptional work in films such as The World According to Garp, Terms of Endearment, and Shrek; on television in 3rd Rock from the Sun and Dexter; and on Broadway in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, it is truly a treat to watch this talented actor work, live. 8:00 p.m., tickets $10-$55.

in tHe Mood

The Lakeland CenterFebruary 5

Much more than a concert, IN THE MOOD presents a retro 1940’s musical featuring the IN THE MOOD singers and dancers with the sensational String of Pearls Big Band Orchestra. Sit back and relive the days of sensa-tional days of swing with the music that moved the spirit of a generation. 7:30, tickets $45-$65.

an eVeninG WitH GeorGe JoneS

The Lakeland CenterFebruary 7

When It Comes to Entertaining

Get out from behind your mask and list your Event for Freeright here on the SVA ENTERTAINMENT PAGES!

Email your event information no later than the 15th of the month for the following month listings to:[email protected]

VENUE ADDRESSES AND CONTACT INFORMATION

Largo Cultural Center105 Central Park Drive Largo, FL 33771 Telephone: (727) 587-6751

The American Stage Theater — 163 3rd Street North, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Telephone: (727) 823-7529. www.americanstage.org

The Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center — 709 N Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34236. Telephone: 1(866) 508-0611.

The Lakeland Center — 701 W. Lime St. Lakeland, FL 33815. Telephone: (863) 834-8100www.thelakelandcenter.com

The mahaffey Theater — 400 1st. St. South, St. Petersburg, FL 33701. Telephone: (727) 892-5798.www.themahaffey.com

Ruth Eckerd Hall — 1111 mcmullen Booth Rd. Clearwater, FL 33759. Telephone: (727) 791-7400.www.rutheckerdhall.com

The Players Theatre838 North Tamiami Trail Sarasota, FL 34236Telephone: (941) 365-2494www.theplayers.org

The Straz Center — 1010 North macinnes Place, Tampa, FL 33602. Telephone: (813) 229-7827.www.strazcenter.org

The Tampa Bay Times Forum — 401 Channelside Dr. Tampa, FL 33602. Telephone: (813) 301-6500.www.tampabaytimesforum.com

The Tarpon Springs Performing Art Center — 324 Pine Street Tarpon Springs, FL. 34688 Telephone: (727) 942-5605.www.tarponarts.org

Van Wezel Hall — 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. FL 34236. Telephone: (941) 955-7676.www.vanwezel.org

enteRtAInMentJones recorded “Who’s Gonna Fill

Their Shoes,” a song that wondered

aloud whether newcomers would come

along that could possibly walk in the

footsteps of the progenitors and giants

of country music. Sit back and enjoy

an evening with the Possum as he

takes you on a country journey

through his hits including “If Drinkin’

Don’t Kill Me (Her Memory Will),” “A

Good Year for the Roses,” “ The Grand

Tour,” and “He Stopped Loving Her

Today.” 7:30, tickets $40.

Merle HaGGard

Mahaffey TheatreFebruary 8

Singer, songwriter, remarkable mu-

sician, bandleader and historian, Hag-

gard may well be the most

well-rounded country talent ever to

take the stage in front of a microphone

or an audience. Over his career, he

has been the pulse of an ever-lone-

some fugitive, in desperate flight from

the prison walls of mediocrity. His

has been the voice of the Okie with an

attitude, fueled by a well-stoked fire of

unflinching convictions and bone-

deep beliefs. 8:00 p.m., tickets $39.50-

$89.50.


woMan SeeKinG Man

W WD F 67 iSO gent 70’s for dancing, travel, flea markets, walks on the beach. I am new to the area. Jersey girl at heart, must like dogs. The holidays are coming why spend them alone. Like to meet someone for friendship first then let’s see. (856) 366-4586.

W F NS ND D iSO the best guy God has for me to live happily and enjoy each other’s company so spoil each other. If that’s you, call me. Tampa (813) 802-5640.

S W F NS ND looking for M NS likes to walk, flea markets, dining, relaxing at home. Only sincere reply, I’m 55+, 5’3”, 125 lbs., LTR. Feel free to leave a message. Zephyrhills (813) 788-1342.

Asian L WD 5’1”, very active, like travelling, sightseeing, outdoor activities ISO P gentleman, 60-70 NS SD SOH for companionship and LTR. Tarpon Springs (727) 942-8123.

Luscious B sincere London lady, 5’ 67 yrs. I love difference, change and natural living. ISO a tall dark man, around 70 for fun, movies, dancing, and travel-ling. St. Petersburg (727) 864-2744.

S W woman seeking single, smart liberal-thinking man to share warm evenings, good movies and a glass of Vin Blanc. 60 to 70 age range. Bradenton (941) 705-0394.

iSO gent, active 70s, enjoys swims, hikes, mov-ies, daytrips, events – W C F NS ND holistic, 5’2”. Palm Harbor (727) 947-2191.

W petite WD from NY iSO prince charming for LTR NS WD gentleman, 5’5-5’8” 70-75 for dinner, mov-ies, the arts, travel etc. and all the goodies. Seminole P.O. Box 4513.

Pretty 60 youthful, blonde, nice curves, outgo-ing, and fun loving. I have a good sense of humor and a good heart. Love life and animals, ISO same, 60-68. Clearwater (727) 559-1762.

NS ND slim, pretty lady iSO a healthy man, must have car, Christian faith, church active, full of teeth, no visitor, need LTR, financially secure, 57-62. If match, then call me. I’m serious! Must be single! Largo (727) 488-7420.

Attractive, slim, intelligent energetic, world travelled woman with GSOH, great company, 7o’s, looks 60, acts 30, seeks lively male friend for golden years. Let’s have fun!! Sarasota (941) 926-2529.

55 yrs. old B F, 5’3”,140 lbs, NS, SD, healthy and attractive ISO black or white average looking man between 60 to 70 yrs. old, serious-minded about relationship, kindhearted. Pasco (727) 389-7144

S W F 61 Born in Russia iSO M 58-72 who is ac-tive & like to walk, bicycle, roller skate, travel abroad, and stay home. Please call (727) 548-5225.

Man SeeKinG woMan

S W M active, healthy, tall, slim, 60’s. ISO at-tractive, honest, sincere, NS lady. Any nationality ok. Please call after 8 PM. St. Petersburg (727) 322-6197.

S W C M 70’s slender, attractive, healthy, en-joys dancing, music, travel, concerts. Seeks happy, romantic, slender lady for LTR. Bradenton (941) 758-2565.

79 Yrs. old S W M 5’8” 150 lbs. in good shape, lonely ISO like-minded, petite 77-82 yrs., S W F to share affection, other ordinary things and to be there for each other. St. Petersburg (727) 302-1324.

W S M iSO M 45-65 for LtR, many likes, few dislikes. St. Pete and Pinellas area. Very passionate seeking same, not shy, willing to try anything. South Pasadena (727) 278-2937.

i’m looking for you, so if you are looking for a #1, you should call me. 65+, height-weight propor-tionate. Be romantic and a good dresser. Thank you.

Holiday (727) 992-2342.

W C S M seeks conversation in French, Span-ish, italian, and Portuguese. St. Pete (727) 217-4936.

i am a 64 yrs. old, 5’2”, short, petite, ener-getic, love to bowl, movies, dining, and sharing things together. No games. I am an attractive lady, has a heart for anyone willing to do the same. (727) 560-1201.

C D W M, 63 years old, 250lbs, 6’2”, ISO W F, 55-65, for movies, dining out, walks, quiet evenings @ home, hopefully LTR. Clearwater (727) 453-9066.

I am WD W M C, upper 70’s. ISO NS, W, LTR, good shape. I enjoy travel, swimming, walking, and many activities. St Pete, (727)-578-0644.

Partially disabled vet looking for a compan-ion to share my home in exchange for help with cook-ing, light house work, like to play cards. Clearwater (727) 796-2161.

I am WD WM, like a lady friend NS SD to take walks, go to movies, some dancing. I am 6’4” and 66, like a tall lady, 60-70. St. Petersburg (727) 576-7806.

Good health, 66 yrs. old, no drugs, don’t smoke, 170 lbs., slim, a lot of hair on my head, look-ing for a sexy women, oh yes, I am retired, can travel. Call me. Leesville 1-803-312-2857.

Quality guy, fun, fit, educated and never mar-ried ISO LTR. Way too much to share in 30 words. Let’s talk at length via phone. Call, you won’t be sor-ry. Tampa (813) 273-8127.

Successful, tall, slim, S B C M ISO intelligent, affectionate, slender-petite, marriage-minded, S C F, 40-60 living in Tampa, who enjoys companionship, walking, conversation, Bible study, sightseeing, din-ing out or staying at home. Tampa (813) 952-3833.

Always a gentleman iSO lady friend for LTR for local events or ballroom dancing partner. 70 to 80 age group. Largo [email protected].

FrienD SeeKinG FrienD

S M blonde hair (shaved), blue eyes, descen-dant of Pocahontas, 62 yrs. old, SS D ISO some-one who likes movies and going out. Age not impor-tant, M preferred. Lakeland (863) 686-8350.

W M 59 5’8” 180 lbs., ISO active healthy M/F under 60 for friendship and more. Largo (727) 644-8087.

S W F NS iSO Mr. temporary. Must like danc-ing, socializing, food, and be as comfortable in golf shorts as in Tux. Let’s talk. (727) 698-3311.

Largo-Clearwater area. Looking for new fe-male members for a fun senior group. Meet once a month on the 3rd Thursday at different res-taurants. Call Paula (727) 643-6124.

S W M seeking M between 58 to 65 uncondi-tional friendship for get-togethers, fun and com-panionship. Tired of being alone and physically lone-ly. You need to be honest, loving and caring. Possible LTR. Please call me. St. Pete (727) 347-5522.

SenIoR to SenIoR

M: MaleF: FemaleS: SingleD: DivorcedWD: WidowedW: WhiteB: BlackH: HispanicJ: Jewish

C: ChristianISO: In Search OfLTR: Long Term RelationshipNS: Non-SmokerND: Non-DrinkerSD: Social DrinkerSOH: Sense of Humor

Senior to Senior Abbreviations

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Place your classified ad in the Senior Voice America today. Clean out your garage, sell that car, advertise your services. Ads are priced from $25 for up to 20 words, plus a phone number. Additional words are $5. To place your ad, call (813) 444-1011, or complete the form below and mail with a check payable to Senior Voice America, 8406 Benjamin Rd, Ste G, Tampa FL 33634.

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We have all read or heard about the importance of developing an exercise regimen, to work out an hour a day, eat well and sleep for eight hours. For some, the very thought of trying to live up to those ex-pectations just piles on more stress. But is that what fit-ness really is? Forcing your tired self into yet another activity? The word “fitness” makes many people groan. And what is fitness anyway? To me, the word conjures up the im-mediate need to deprive myself of things I like to eat and moving way too much more than I want to. On the other hand, it means good health, longer life and feeling well and vi-brant all my days. It means preventing the health problems that are preventable and being happy. Pat Baldwin, an over 65 year-old receptionist who works two days a week, broke her hip almost two years ago while in the mall shopping. In order to keep flexible and mobile, she stays fit by walking thirty minutes almost everyday and doing the exercises she was taught in rehab. Pat watches her diet and drinks at least three quarts of water a day. “I was never an athletic person but I have always been active,” said Baldwin. “ I never ran a marathon but I walked and jogged 2-3 miles a day.” Virginia Valenote, self-employed, and very active in community organiza-tions, started to exercise when she began to feel stiff and experience difficulty moving around. Valenote chose to join a gym that houses a “Silver Sneakers” program. She pur-chased a few sessions with a personal trainer to teach her stretches and mat exercis-es that she can do both at home and at the gym that will keep her flexible. “I tell you the truth; the gym is not a social event for me,” confides Valenote. “I go, not because I enjoy it, but because I know it is good for me. Movement releases

endorphins that help with depression.” Fitness is a combina-tion of physical, spiritual and mental well-being. Probably one of the biggest enemies to fitness today is lack of rest and relaxation. Stop rushing, take time to breathe deeply and take in the beauty of the universe, look in someone else’s eyes, hold hands, or listen to someone share an accom-plishment, a happy event or a sorrow. Give your full at-tention. Turn off all elec-tronic devices! We allow time, the only irretrievable entity, to pile up on us and keep us cap-tive. Slow down and take a break; it is actually proven to help people be more pro-ductive, happier and more peaceful. Tired, irritated people do not stay fit. The body craves what it does. So, if you begin to walk and lift weights, soon you will crave walking and weight lifting. Fitness be-gins in the mind, is fed by the spirit and carried out by the body.

From FITNESS Pg. 1

Senior Voice America - January 2013 - Tampa Bay Edition

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