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Lifestyles After 50 • March 2015 • page 3

Dear Readers,

So there I was, with an armful of baby

chickens. I was maybe four or five years old, and my hands were full of squirming balls of yellow down and peep-ing orange beaks. You should have seen the smile on my face. My folks came to their rescue, carefully scooping the chicks out of my hands and returning them to the hay pile they had been resting in. It was the first trip to the North Caro-lina State Fair that I can remember, and the first time I had met a chicken in per-son. Cows, sheep, pigs and goats were equally amazing, and I left having had a chance to see and touch and interact with creatures I had only seen in books. It made a big impression on me as a kid. Unless you grow up on a farm, a fair or a field trip is one of the first and few interactions we have with agriculture. And it becomes easier, as an adult, to lose touch with the earth and where everything comes from. We can take for granted what’s on our plate and how it gets there. There’s a movement you might have heard of called Slow Food that’s all about getting back to the basics—add-ing more fresh, locally grown produce to your diet when you can, and getting to know the people who grow it. If you’re unfamiliar with the term, as I was, you’ll learn more about the move-ment in this issue and how to participate by growing your own food at home or tak-ing advantage of local farmers markets. Florida has a wealth of them! I had no idea until I first moved here from up north. Scattered at street corners across town were stands advertising ripe or-anges and tangelos, flats of fresh-picked strawberries, crisp peppers and onions,

sweet corn, orange blossom honey, bulging watermelons and boiled peanuts. It was a special treat to pile the family in the car and head down to one of the neighborhood fruit stands for a hand-made strawberry milkshake. That stand has been run by a local family farm for as long as I can remember. Still is. Florida has a wonderful agricultural tradition, and now is great time to celebrate it.

Grow your own It’s also a good time to try your hand at planting your own edibles, if a reward-ing hobby is what you’re looking for. There’s something wonderful about eating food that was grown right in your own backyard. Even by accident. When I was a kid, my family ended up with a rogue watermelon one year. It probably came from one of our seed-spitting fights the previous summer. But my little brothers and sister and I watched with fascination as it grew in our backyard. It went from a golf ball, to a softball, to a football-sized fruit in a few weeks. It never got any bigger than

Tracie Lukens,Editor

On Chickens and Accidental Melonsthat, and it wasn’t as sweet as the grocery store variety, but we didn’t care. It was our watermelon, and somehow that made it taste better. (I just hope it wasn’t from one of the seeds my brother shot out of his nose.) A neighbor of mine is more professional about the whole thing, and he has a home gar-den full of broccoli, squash, loquats, kale, pineapple, (proper) watermelon and other fruits and veggies. He usually ends up with more than he can ever use, and enjoys sharing the bounty with others. Our editor emeritus,

Janice Doyle, has fond memories of growing up on her family farm. Shortly before she retired, Janice and her hus-band decided to build a chicken coop in their backyard and have been having adventures raising hens. “We’ve become very 1970’s Mother Earth-y in our conversations,” she told me. “Fresh for us now means eggs that go from nest to skillet in a matter of minutes. We’re inundated with fresh greens from the garden this month and that’s wonderful as well.” The benefits to reconnecting with the earth are manifold. If you can, try grow-ing one edible this year (even if it’s a rogue watermelon) and taste the fruits of your labor. It’s an amazing feeling. Even better, get a grandkid involved and watch the “wow” moments as a seed becomes a plant, and then a tomato, and then spaghetti sauce. Trust me, it’ll make a lasting impression. Spring is here with all its goodness, and there are many seeds to be planted. —Tracie Lukens

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Nightly Sunsets at Pier 60 Festival. Enjoy a nightly sunset celebration

event featuring artisans, crafters, street performers and musical entertainment (weather permitting). Free entertain-ment. 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Pier 60, Clearwater Beach. 727-449-1036.

8 Off the Beaten Path – Sandhill Scramble: Biology Professor Craig

Huegel, Ph.D., will take hikers through the sandhills and wildflowers of Brook-er Creek Preserve, Tarpon Springs, 9 a.m. to noon. Bring water and lunch. Registration required; only 20 spots open. Email [email protected] to RSVP. $25. Info: 727-453-6800.

10 Military Officers Wives Club luncheon. The program will be a

Fashion Show by Annabels. All former, retired and active military officers wives, widows and female officers are invited to attend. $20 includes luncheon. 11:30 a.m. social hour/12:15 p.m lunch. The Club at Treasure Island. 727-397-4146.

12 Drought Tolerant Plants for Your Florida Friendly Garden. Class

topics include basic design principles and plant selection, establishment and proper watering techniques. Free. Classes at 2 p.m. and 6:15 p.m. lasting 1 ½ hours each. Palm Harbor Library. Registration required. 727-582-2603.

12 St. Patrick’s Party. Snacks, bever-ages, dancing and music with

Tommy Noonan. Corned beef sandwiches available. $15. 7 p.m. Monsignor Trainer Hall, St. Pete Beach. 727-367-9813.

16 through April 10 “4000 Miles.” Enjoy a funny, moving drama that

reminds us life’s small moments can pay off in a big way onstage. $29/$39/$49. 3 and 8 p.m. Raymond James Theatre, St. Petersburg. 727-823-7529.

19 Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest. Ex-hibitors, live music, free games

for prizes, free health screenings, Prize-A-Palooza and more. Free admission and parking. 9:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. Kapok Pavillion, Clearwater. 813-653-1988.

20 Pasco County Historical Society open house meeting. Local his-

torical topics will be discussed. Dinner before presentations; bring a covered dish to share. 6 p.m. Florida Pioneer Museum & Village, Dade City. 352-567-7449.

20 21, 22 The Sunshine City An-tiques and Collectibles Show.

$7 admission; $5 appraisal per item. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Coliseum Ballroom, St Petersburg. 239-877-2830.

21 Dogs’ Day in Dade City. A day filled with fun activities for you

and your 4-legged friend. Dog Wagon Parade, Dog Costume Contest, K-9 Challenge, K-9 Got Talent Competition and more. Agnes Lamb Park, Dade City. 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Info: 352-521-5858.

21 ‘Something Old, Something New’ Garage Sale. 9 a.m. – 2

p.m. at the Largo Community Center, 400 Alt Keene Rd. Free. 727-518-3131.

22 The Florida Suncoast Chorus presents a “Salute to the 50’s,

Barbershop Style.” $14 includes dinner and show. 2 p.m. Largo Community Center. Call 727-581-0686 for tickets.

26 Vegetable, Herb and Tropical Fruit Garden Tour: learn about

growing your own food. Register at http://tinyurl.com/mrmq4vz. 9 to 11 a.m. UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County, Largo. 727-582-2562.

28 “Mind Reading, Comedy & Magic” show. World-class men-

talist Steve Kudelski will get inside the heads of his audience. $15 advance/$20 at door. 7 p.m. Tampa Bay Computer Society, Clearwater. 727-461-6018.

28 “The Jammin’ Diva’s.” Four stunning voices come together to

perform traditional, contemporary and original folk music from each of their cultures. 8 p.m. $16.50/$31.50. Largo Cultural Center. 727-587-6793.

April 4 Clearwater Garden Club Plant Sale. 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Learn

how to plant a Florida garden; other demos, goodies and more. 405 Seminole St., downtown Clearwater. Free admis-sion. Details: clearwatergardenclub.org.

Send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583; fax 813-651-1989 or email [email protected]. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. March 10 for April event.)

Around TownW H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G M A R C H 2 0 1 5


Busch Gardens Debuts Food & Wine Festivaloffering pan-seared scallops, roasted pork belly and mango éclairs right on Gwazi Field. The Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festi-val runs from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays, March 7 through April 26. Plus, raise your glass to live concerts at 6 p.m. on Gwazi Field. The Festival is included with any pass, Fun Card or daily admission. Food and beverages are avail-able for purchase at an additional fee. For tickets/info, call 1-888-800-5447 or visit buschgardens.com.

Guests can now explore the Busch Gardens® Food & Wine Festival

menu online at buschgardens.com and prep their palates for the inaugural spring event debuting on March 7. From comfort classics like bacon mac & cheese to decedent desserts like passion fruit flan, the Busch Gardens Food & Wine Festival feeds guests’ appetite for adventure with wild flavors for every taste at stations around the park. Here’s a sample: Field House Eatery: The Field House Eatery is the Festival’s biggest location,


By Tracie Lukens

Where does your food come from? Is it healthy? Is its production

beneficial to you, other people or the environment? In today’s culture, it can be easy to lose touch with what we eat. Convenience and cost can lead us to questionable choices that ultimately affect our wellbeing. In response, a growing movement called Slow Food has emerged with a mission to reintroduce the world to everything wholesome about food, from local farms and markets to your table.

Slow Food What is “slow food?” Think of the term as the opposite of fast food. The move-ment is founded on three principles:Good: Our food should include a fresh and flavorsome seasonal diet that satisfies the senses and is part of our local culture;Clean: Food production and consump-tion should not harm the environment, animal welfare or our health;Fair: There should be accessible prices for consumers and fair conditions and pay for small-scale producers. Since the global, grassroots movement was first established in 1989, it has grown to include millions of people in over 150 countries. Chefs like Stefan Mahan, founder of Mahan’s Eatery in Lakeland, Fla., are helping to champion the cause. A farm-ers market opens outside the restaurant’s doors every Saturday, and Mahan relies on its fresh, local goods for his dishes—everything from produce, bacon and seafood to spices and coffee. “It’s something that a lot of chefs don’t do,” he told me. “They rely on a produce company to drop things off. Here, I can touch everything, see everything, and if it’s not up to our standards, I don’t use it.” Like Mahan, you don’t have to travel too far to take advantage of neighborhood farmers markets, which offer benefits to your health and your local economy.

Why Shop at a Farmers Market? For starters, you have access to fresh food, harvested at the peak of its ripeness and nutrition, free of preservatives. Small markets also cut out the middleman, so you have a chance to score some deals on in-season produce, especially if you buy in bulk. Furthermore, you’re bring-ing money back to your community by supporting local farmers. Debbie Butts, one of the workers at Eco-Farm in Plant City, Fla., has been selling produce at the downtown Lakeland farm-ers market for eight years. “I think buying local and organic is important,” she said. “Farmers markets connect people with the community. It’s a big social event, and now that we can take food stamps, we can get good food to the people.” Here are some tips for getting the most out of your farmers market trip:

1. Go early or late: The best produce can go fast, so it pays to arrive when it opens. However, if you show up right before closing, you can find some decent sales.2. Bring a canvas bag or wheeled cart. This keeps plastic bag costs down for farmers and makes bulky produce easier to carry. Don’t forget a small cooler for meats, dairy or frozen treats.3. Bring change. A few vendors will have card scanners, but most markets operate on cash. 4. Try new things. Local growers will sometimes have offerings that you wouldn’t otherwise find in a grocery

store. Dragonfruit? Prickly pear? Why not! You may discover a new favorite. Also, don’t be put off by “ugly” fruits and veggies, as they are just as flavor-ful and nutrient-rich as their waxed, uniform grocery store counterparts.5. Talk to the farmer. The heart of the Slow Food philosophy is getting to know where your food comes from, and most small farmers are happy to answer your questions. You may find that they offer organic produce, even though they are too small to afford an organic certification. Don’t be afraid to ask for samples or recipe ideas—they want you coming back for more. 6. Make it a trip. Farmers markets can be fun, social experiences. Take a friend or a grandkid, learn more about agriculture and enjoy the fresh air and community fellowship.

Accessible Nutrition Farmers markets are also a huge part of making healthy food accessible to everyone through federal programs like the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program, or (SFMNP). It provides low-income seniors with vouchers that can be exchanged for eligible foods (fruits, vegetables, honey and herbs) at farmers’ markets, roadside stands and communi-ty-supported agriculture programs. Economically disadvantaged families tend to consume diets low in fruits and vegetables, partially due to poor access to healthy food and the income to pay for it.

These vouchers increase the amount of produce in the diets of some families on food assistance, according to research led by NYU’s Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. “In terms of healthy food options, farmers market incentives may be able to bring a low-income person onto the same playing field as those with greater means,” said Carolyn Dimitri, an asso-ciate professor of food studies at NYU Steinhardt and the study’s lead author. Currently, only low-income elders living in Alachua, Bay, Dixie, Gadsden, Gilchrist, Hernando, Jackson, Lafayette, Leon, Liberty, Sumter, Suwannee, Union, and Washington counties may apply for the program in Florida, though it will expand as program funding increases. Visit elderaffairs.state.fl.us/doea/farmers_market.php to learn more.

Find a Market Near YouUSDA’s National Farmers Market Directory: This database includes direc-tions, hours, products, federal nutrition program participation and more info on 8,100 farmers markets nationwide. Visit search.ams.usda.gov/farmersmarkets/.Local Harvest: A great online resource for farms, farmers markets, cooking classes and agricultural events happen-ing in your area. See localharvest.org.Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): In this program, community members can pledge funds to a local farm at the start of a growing season to cover the farmer’s salary and opera-tion expenses in exchange for a share of the farm’s bounty throughout the season—usually in the form of a box of assorted fresh produce or meat and dairy products set aside for pickup each week. Members share risk with the farmer—some yields may be heartier than others, but the reward is a regular supply of fresh food at prices that are usually cheaper than grocery stores. To find a CSA, or to learn more, visit localharvest.org/store/csa.jsp.

Slow Down, Eat Better With Farmers Markets


Fresh Food For All, One Basket At A TimeBy Tracie Lukens

Thanks to one enter-prising student and his

hardworking family, there’s a new way to get farm-fresh produce affordably without buying in bulk at farmers markets or paying too much at grocery or whole-foods stores. The Fresh Fruit and Veggie Co-Op in Clearwa-ter does the work for you. Local resident Steven Born started the small ven-ture in his garage as a side job while he focused on school. His family helped it to grow it into the business it is today. How does it work? Steven’s father, Mark, breaks it down: Co-Op members pool their funds by pre-ordering baskets of seasonal produce each week. Basket sizes vary from small Fruit & Veggie Baskets for $5, which provide enough produce for one person for a week, to baskets large enough to feed a family of three or more

for a week for $15. When all the orders are in, the Co-Op team goes shopping. “We try to buy as much local produce as we can and stay within our regions, using wholesale markets and local farm-ers markets,” Mark Born said. The Fruit and Veggie Co-Op team buys everything in bulk and then brings it to their store, allowing them to pass the savings on to

their customers. Produce is arranged in bins by type as it comes in, and shoppers can pack their own baskets. “You pick the tomatoes you want, the potatoes you want,” said Mark. “Signs above each bin say what you can get for the size of the basket.” The conve-nience, he says, is a huge draw. “You’re in and out of the store in five to six min-utes, and you’ve got your produce for the week.” Customers can also order baskets for delivery (within an 8-mile radius) for an additional $5.

Baskets include a variety of fruits and veggies depending on what’s in season, from tomatoes, potatoes and green beans to peppers, bananas and starfruit. And if you see something you don’t like in your basket, the Co-Op will let you exchange it for something else. So far, business is booming. They have between 1500 and 1800 customers

participating, and the Co-Op team handles everything on Thursdays. “We have eight employees,” Mark told me. “It’s a busy one day a week.” The benefits to becoming a member of the Co-Op versus making regular gro-cery runs, he emphasized, are quality and value. “Our produce is four to six weeks ahead of grocery stores, and you pay about 50 percent of a grocery store price. It’s an alternative way for people to eat healthy and affordable.” Because everything is pre-ordered, very little goes to waste. What surplus they do have is donated to local food banks like Palm Harbor Feast. “I hope to have more locations in the near future,” Mark told me. “We appreciate the business we’ve been doing, and look forward to continuing to grow.” The Fresh Fruit and Veggie Co-Op’s air-conditioned market is located at 2250 State Rd. 589, Suite 2 in Clear-water. The Co-Op requires a $10 annual administration fee from new customers to join. To learn more, visit ffvcoop.comor call 727-488-0858.



Online Dating Tips Part 2—Playing It SafeBy Elle Layne

Greetings, web-crossed lovers! In last month’s article, we talked

about a few ways to narrow down a dating site. This month is all about making your online dating experience a safe one. We’ve heard the horror stories about predators with fake profiles arranging meetings with unsuspecting dates, or about con artists or phishers who seem caring and forthright at first but then ask for money and aggressively persist if you refuse. Lonely seniors make es-pecially appealing targets for scammers. Rather than allow a few bad apples to ruin it for the genuine beaus out there just looking for a good match, stay one step ahead of them by keeping these safety tips in mind:

1. Protect personal information. Don’t give out your address, phone number, credit card number or other details. This sounds like a no-brainer, but sometimes we can let our guard down in our at-tempts to please others. You do not want this information to fall into the hands of

a stranger, con-artist or potential stalker. Exercise sound judgment and give the relationship time before you trust any-one with sensitive info, for your safety.

2. Meet on your terms. Choose some-where familiar, safe and preferably public when meeting someone for the first time, and drive yourself. If you take your own car, you have the freedom to leave should the date go awry. Make sure to tell a friend where you are going and the name of the person you are with, and have an exit strategy. Never bring

a new date home. Don’t worry about offending the other person; an honest mate will understand your taking precautions.

3. Watch for red flags: These are a few signs that your match might be a scammer trying to lure you into parting with your money or information, according to Match.com:

• Your new match quickly asks to chat on an outside email or messaging service

• Claims to be from U.S. but currently travelling, living or working abroad

• Asks you for money• Vanishes mysteriously from the site,

then reappears under a different name• Talks about “destiny” or “fate”• Claims to be recently widowed• Asks for your address under the guise

of sending flowers or gifts

• Makes an inordinate amount of grammar and/or spelling errors

• Sends you emails containing strange links to third-party websites

• Uses fake photos. Scammers will sometimes pull photos off of stock image sites or other people’s Facebook pages. You can double-check a photo by dragging or saving the image to your computer’s desktop, opening Google Image Search (images.google.com), and dragging the photo into the search field. Then hit the “search images” button to see where else the photo is being posted online. It never hurts to do your homework!

4. Trust your gut. If something feels off, it probably is. And there is no ex-cuse for harassing texts, emails or phone calls. If someone is stalking you, don’t hesitate to report them to the dating site and to the police. Nothing is worth risking your safety over. I hope these tips help make your expe-rience a smooth one. In our next and last installment, I’ll let you know how you can make your dating profile pop!


Urban Farm SolutionsBy Tracie Lukens

Ever wanted to try your hand at grow-ing your own food? There are ways

to maximize the yield of small growing spaces or urban farms while minimizing cost and incorporating organic practices. Try these small farm solutions:

1. Earthboxes: Container gardening systems like Earthboxes are portable gardening solutions that work well in small spaces. After initial setup, they last for years with minimal maintenance and use less water and fertilizer than conven-tional farming methods. Earthbox.com.

2. Hoop Greenhouses: These custom-izable greenhouses are easy to build, inexpensive and allow you to farm year-round. Plants gain protection from pests and the elements. Find plans/kits online.

3. Aeroponic Farming: In this soil-free growing system, plants are rooted in a vertical container through which a nutrient-rich solution is circulated. This method conserves space, water and materials. Vertigro.com

4. Light, Composting and Rain Barrels: If your space has little or no natural sunlight is available, metal halide lights, which produce a strong output of the blue spectrum, can fill in.

Use your own compost bin to help dispose of organic waste while building your own soil. It reduces the need for chemical fertilizers, which can save money and spare the environment. Vermicomposting, which uses a special kind of earthworm to produce compost, can help you build soil in a small space. Use rain barrels to capture rainwater for irrigation and enjoy the water bill savings!

5. A-Frame Chicken Tractors: These portable, lightweight coops offer graz-ing and roosting room for a small group of hens with a small backyard footprint. Plans and kits are available online.

6. Green Roofs: If you don’t have a yard, but have a flat roof other outdoor space that you can modify, a “green roof” might be your solution. A thin layer of soil or other medium can support a dense mat of plants. You can also start small by setting up a potted garden on a balcony or windowsill.

7. Community Gardens: Talk to your com-munity, HOA or city officials about convert-ing an unused public space, such as a vacant lot, median or a section of a park into a small garden that residents can use freely. Growers can earn extra income by selling surplus at community events and farmers markets, or provide charity by donating to food pantries.

8. Extension Offices: Online resources and free or low-cost classes on urban and small space farming are available at your local extension office. Ask the experts for more info on these solutions, tips for pest control, small livestock, plant selection and more:solutionsforyourlife.ufl.edu.

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It’s Never Too Late To... Play Pickleball!By T. Bryce Reeves

It’s never too late to…pick up a paddle

and play pickleball. This game with a funny name is actually one of the fastest growing sports in America. Combining elements of tennis, badminton and Ping-Pong, pickleball may be played by all ages, including those in their 90s. It is appealing to seniors because it is less strenuous than tennis, yet it can pro-vide challenging competition for more advanced players. Pickleball paddles are smaller than tennis racquets and larger than Ping-Pong paddles. The plastic balls have holes and are similar to Wiffle balls. Check with your city’s recreation de-partment and see if they offer open play sessions. If they don’t, you may want to ask them to look into it.A quick history: The game was created in 1965 by Joel Pritchard, a congressman from Washing-ton, and Bill Bell, a businessman, to en-tertain their families during a barbecue.

Accounts of how the name pickleball originated vary. A July 16, 2013 article in The Wall Street Journal says, “The name comes not from the family dog, Pickles, as popularly related. According to a newspaper column by Pritchard’s wife, Joan, it was so heavily based on other games it reminded her of the pickle boat in crew, ‘where oarsmen were chosen from the leftovers of other boats.’” Popular belief is that the game was named after the dog, Pickles, who chased after the ball. Others claim both accounts may be true. Regardless of where it came from, the name pickleball has endured. (From Pickleball Fundamentals by USA Pickleball Association with Mary Little-wood. For more, visit HumanKinetics.com.)

Older adults get a vigorous workout playing pickleballat Clearwater’s Henry L. McMullen Tennis Complex.

www.cal-am.com • e-mail:[email protected]

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Grab Some Shoes, Shake The BluesThey are common suggestions to

remedy stress: You just need a breath of fresh air. Walk it off. Get out and see people. Turns out all those things combined may, in fact, make you feel better—a lot better—a new large scale study sug-gests. Something as simple as joining a walking group may be one of the best ways to improve your overall health. Group nature walks are linked with significantly lower depression, less per-ceived stress and enhanced mental health and well-being, according to a study conducted by the University of Michigan with partners in the United Kingdom. People who had recently experienced stressful life events like a serious illness, death of a loved one, marital separation or unemployment especially seemed to see a mood boost after outdoor group walks. “Walking is an inexpensive, low risk and accessible form of exercise and it turns out that, combined with nature and group settings, it may be a very powerful, under-utilized stress buster,” says Dr. Sara Warber, associate professor of family medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School.”

All of this is good news for individuals looking for effective, non-pharmaco-logical ways to help treat conditions like depression. The physical benefits are also significant, according to a recent report in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Researchers reviewed 42 studies involving nearly 2,000 adults in 14 countries, some of whom had chronic health problems such as ar-thritis, diabetes, obesity, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s disease and dementia.

Joining a walking group led to decreases in blood pressure, resting heart rate, body fat, weight and total cholesterol, as well as improvements in overall physical functioning and lung power. And the social aspect of the walking groups was a powerful motivator to get and stay fit. Three-quarters of the walking group participants stuck with the exercise program. You can reap the same benefits, and it’s easy to start. Try these:

Park and Ranger-guided Walks – Free or low-cost group hikes and guided nature walks are available in many state parks: floridastateparks.org/things-to-do/events. AVA (American Volkssport Association) – This nationwide, grassroots network has about 300 active clubs for noncompetitive walks, hikes, bike rides, swims and events. Find a local club at ava.org.Silver Sneakers – If you’re part of a Medi-care Advantage or Medicare Supplement Health plan, you may already have a Silver-Sneakers membership. This program hosts walking groups, general fitness classes and more. Register/info at silversneakers.com.Charities and Events – Join a local fun run or fundraising/awareness walk team. Search on active.com/walking.Meetup.com – Join a walking club or start your own! Visit walkers.meetup.com. Local health, community and fitness cen-ters will also offer group walking classes. So grab your shoes and hit the trails for a healthier, happier you. (Info from HealthDay, British Journal of Sports Medicine and University of Michigan)

HEALTH & WELLNESS


Stem Cells Take Center StageBy David Ebner, Staff Writer

The world will never forget the day when four young men from

Liverpool, England walked onto the stage of The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964. The bright stage lights and the squeals from the crowd rained down on the group, and that grainy black and white image was pinned as a major moment in music history. The introduction of stem cell research to the world stage was not filled with as much fanfare. There were no screaming fans or standing ovations when the first stem cell therapy was conducted in the form of a bone marrow transplant in 1956. The long hours that scientists spent diligently researching and studying cells in laboratories across the world were not recorded in the pages of Life magazine. Even in 2012, when the two scientists who discovered the application of stem cells as the building blocks for human life won a Nobel Prize, the response was limited to the medical community. While the history of stem cell research may seem dwarfed in comparison to

that of the Beatles or Elvis Presley, its impact on the healthcare and medical industry is anything but small. Adult stem cells live all over the body, and if extracted and reintroduced to the body,

they can specialize as whatever type of cell they are near. For example, if stem cells from a patient’s abdominal fat were removed, isolated and re-introduced to the lungs of the patient with a progressive lung disease like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the stem cells would become lung cells. These new cells would be disease free and would regenerate more disease-free lung cells, inevitably increasing lung

function. For someone with a debilitat-ing disease, a stem cell treatment like this could mean the difference between struggling for air and breathing easier.

The staff at the Lung Institute have successfully performed such procedures on over 500 patients. Many of these patients have shared their personal stories online at www.LungInstitute.com. The Lung Institute’s Medical Director, Dr. Burton Feinerman said, “Stem cells are important because they offer a different approach. Instead of just treating symptoms and making the patient a little more comfortable, stem cells target the disease and can repairthe damaged tissue.” It’s difficult to imagine a medical breakthrough taking center stage over a story about the latest sensation. However, that isn’t to say that life-changing advancements in medical therapies, like stem cell treatments, aren’t occurring every day. The people that have sought these innovative treatments are already seeing these advancements in action, and although they may not be screaming like the crazed Beatles fans of the sixties, the stem cell fan base is growing every day with people that can now breathe easier.

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By Janice Doyle

When America enteredWorld War II in

1941, we faced an enemy that had banned and burned over 100 million books and caused fearful German citizens to hide or destroy many more. Outraged American librarians launched a campaign to collect and send books to American military training bases and to troops overseas. They gathered 20 million hardcover donations for the troops, many of which were not appropriate subject matter (knitting and cooking, for example) and were heavy to ship. Still, the books they shipped were welcomed. “We need smaller books on subjects soldiers can enjoy,” they said.

In 1943, the War Department and the publishing industry stepped in with an extraordinary program: 120 millionsmall, lightweight paperbacks for troops to carry in their pockets and their rucksacks, in every theater of war. Comprising 1,200 different titles of every imaginable type, these paper-backs were instant hits with the troops who often had many hours of waiting to deal with. “Soldiers read them while waiting to land at Normandy, in hellish trenches in the midst of battles in the Pacific, in field hospitals and on long bombing flights. They wrote to authors, many of whom responded to every letter,” says one writer. This effort by the Council on Books turned many service members into lifelong readers. They helped rescue The Great Gatsby from obscurity. Betty Smith’s book A

Tree Grows in Brook-lyn became a favorite and she received letters daily from soldiers. In a new book, When Books Went to War, author Molly Manning traces the history of the program which provided books to troops. She tells stories and quotes letters revealing how much the men loved the books and some of the strange politics that sprang up around the program. Re-publican senators at one

point, hoping to keep servicemen from voting to re-elect Roosevelt, passed a law prohibiting any kind of political references in the books. Pretty much everything, including course mate-rial for Army training, includes some kind of political reference. Eventually

there was enough flak by service-men and their families that the politicians adjusted the law. An impressive part of Manning’s book is about the long-term influ-ence on our culture of getting hun-dreds of thousands of men to read for pleasure. It turned many men into life-long readers who might not otherwise have done so. My favorite parts of the book are the stories of the soldiers and sailors who read the books and the letters they wrote about what books meant

to them. For example, when American troops stormed Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion of France, they faced a barrage of machine-gun fire and almost certain death. Troops landing on the beach later that day found many badly injured soldiers propped up against the cliffs of Normandy reading books while waiting for medics to arrive. Truly it was when books went to war. When Books Went to War is yet

another tribute to the so-called Greatest

Generation.

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New Books“The Art Of Not Having It All: True Stories of Men, Sex and Other Disasters”Melissa Kite

For Melissa, it seemed

like every woman she knew was hero-ically juggling work and family life, but there was a note on her fridge that read, “Don’t forget to get married and have kids,” which had been covered up by shopping lists and dry-cleaner receipts. A “modern-day Bridget Jones” (Easy Living Magazine), she didn’t believe there was anyone out there even remotely like her. “The Art Of Not Having It All” is Melissa’s relatable journey toward understanding that not having it all—the white picket fence, the kid, the job, and Mr. Right—was enough for her, and can be for others as well. The book is available at Amazon.com, Google Books and us.macmillan.com.

“The Widow or Widower Next Door” Mary Lee Robinson

In her book, Mary Lee recounts the day that doctors told her that her husband, Pat, who suffered from a cerebral hemmorage at 63, was not going

to be with her much longer. She took a red marker and a ballpoint pen with her to the hospital on Valentine’s Day, then took his hand and drew a heart on his palm. She wrote “my heart” inside it and said ‘I love you; you hold my heart in your hand.’ The mortician left it in place. Mary Lee states, “Pat still holds my heart in his hand and my heart is warm because of it.” “The Widow or Widower Next Door” is a collection of stories from 25 storytellers revealing the unexpected reactions that occur after the death of a loved one. “We hope to educate others about what is helpful and what is not when a friend or loved one is grieving,” Mary Lee says. Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Google Books and maryleerobinson.com.

Social Security Q & A: Tax SeasonBy Daryl RosenthalPublic Affairs Specialist, Tampa

Now is the time to prepare for tax season! Whether you are a retiree

or a newlywed, here are some Social Security tax tips that may help you.Are Social Security benefits taxable? Yes, for some people with higher in-comes. About one third of those receiv-ing Social Security benefits must pay taxes on some of their Social Security benefits, depending on the amount of their taxable income. Learn more at socialsecurity.gov/planners/taxes.htm. Will I get a tax form for my Social Security benefits? Yes. Beneficiaries should have received their Social Security Benefit Statements (Form SSA-1099) for tax year 2014 on or before January 31, 2015. If you receive Social Security and haven’t received your 1099 yet, you can request one online at socialsecurity.gov/1099.I got married last year. Do I need to re-port my name change to Social Security? Yes. If you’ve legally changed your name due to marriage, divorce, court order, or for any other reason, make sure you

change your name with Social Security, as well as with your employer, to make sure your earnings are properly recorded. This will ensure you get the Social Security benefits you are entitled to. Failing to do so could also cause a delay in your receipt of any federal income tax refund. Learn more about how to change your name at socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber. Does Social Security have any tips at this time of year for those filing their taxes? Yes. We encourage you to carefully check: your name, Social Security number, and all data on your W-2s; your online Social Security Statement; and your Social Secu-rity card to make sure they all match. A mismatch could delay your tax refund and cause problems with future Social Secu-rity benefits. If you notice an error, contact Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), or if the info on the W-2 is incorrect, notify your employer. For more info, visit socialsecurity.gov.

Tech Talk: Pixstar FotoConnect XDWelcome to this month’s Tech

Talk column, where we cover the latest apps, gadgets and websites that make life a little easier. We’re giving away the 10.4” Pixstar FotoConnect XD Wi-fi this month. With Pix-Star, you can take a photo on your mobile device and send it by email straight to this video picture frame at home. You can also receive photos by email directly on your Pix-Star frame, or send photos from your Pix-Star directly to your friends’ email, no computer required. The frame allows you display and stock photos with 4 GB of internal memory. You can use it to display your online pictures, link your external web albums (Facebook, Flickr, Google+, RSS photo feeds, etc...) and display their content on your frame. You can control which photos display with a remote control. The Pixstar Fotoconnect XD also includes fun features like the ability to listen to your favorite web radio stations, create your own playlists, manage contacts or check the weather. The digital frame is available at amazon.com and pix-star.com.

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The Magical Basics of All Golf ShotsBy Kalliope Barlis

The sole purpose of a round of golf is

to enjoy yourself while having a score that you’re happy with by the time you make your last putt on the 18th hole. You can start making this happen by stating to yourself or out loud what you plan on scoring before you get to the first tee. This leads your brain into accomplishing what you tell it to. Every pilot has a destination that they eventually land. The brain works the same way. Aim your brain by stating in positive language what it is that you want: “I am going to score 72 today.” It’s not about what you don’t want, it’s about what you do want, and saying it ignites the brain’s pathways to achieve it. I’ve heard people say “I just don’t want to mess up.” Well, that doesn’t

really say much to signal the brain other than confusion. Being more specific about what you do want, and visualizing it beforehand, triggers all the right juices in the brain to get your next hole in one. The following magical basics are the foundation of any golf shot. Master them. If you don’t, your body will com-pensate. Maintain them, and your ball will reach your target.

Consistency in landing your target is gained through mastering these seven fundamentals:

1. Decide where you want the ball to land or roll specifically. Always have your target in mind.

2. Have a firm yet passive hold of the club in your hands.

3. Have precise aim with your club face and alignment of your body.

4. Your eyes are focused on the center of the back of the ball where the center of the club face strikes through. In the sand, your eyes are focused one to two inches behind the ball on the sand.

5. Maintain balance while striking through the ball to the end of your follow-through.

6. Face your outcome. Watch the ball land until it comes to a resting position. 7. If the ball lands where you intend-ed, celebrate the outcome internally or with a fist in the air and remember what you did. If the ball did not do what you intended, sense what you can do differently and make the adjustments necessary for the next shot. If you tell your brain what you want and combine it with these fundamental skills, you will dramatically improve

your game with practice.

Kalliope Barlis is an NLP Coach, Master Practitioner and Trainer, Doctor of Acupuncture, GolfImprovement Specialistand author of the guide “Play Golf BetterFaster,” which can be purchased on her

website: www.PlayGolfBetterFaster.com.

SENIOR IDOL TALENT SHOW - APRIL 8, 2015 - 7:00 PMRuth Eckerd Hall

1111 McMullen Booth RoadClearwater, FL 33759

Tickets: $7.00 - General AdmissionTickets are on sale now!

Ruth Eckerd Hall Box Office Only727-791-7400

For Information call: Pinellas: 727-329-2618 – Susan Juhl and Nicole Woodring, Pasco: 727-326-1255A F T E R 50


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From February

Pat Porteris last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

Word Search MarchIn the grid below, twenty answers can be found that fit the category for today. Circle each answer that you find and list it in the space provided at the right of the grid. Answers can be found in all directions – forwards, backwards, horizontally, vertically and diagonally. An

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Anne Marshlow is last month’s winner! Congratulations!

March Sudoku Sudoku requires no arithmetic skills.The object of the game is to fill all the blank squares with the correct numbers. Each row and each column of 9 numbers must include all digits 1 through 9 in any order. Each 3 by 3 subsection of the 9 by 9 square must include all digits 1 through 9 as well. The first correct answers selected from the drawing on Mar. 20 will win. Good luck!

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Lesson: Payback TimeBrian Gunnell and the American Contract Bridge League

In recent Bridge Bites, our West has been a bit of a pest, frequently com-

ing up with dastardly plays which make Declarer’s life difficult. This week we are delighted to report that West makes a slight slip and becomes the victim. Perhaps South was a little boisterous in the bidding, a more prudent player would have merely invited game. But making seemingly impossible contracts is one of the joys of the game, and your job is to make 10 tricks after West plays three rounds of Diamonds.

It looks pretty grim, doesn’t it? Two Diamonds have already been lost, the ♠A is another loser, and there appears

to be an inescap-able Heart loser. Down one? No, it’s too soon to give up! Declarer has a long-shot route to success, which requires that West started with the singleton trump Ace and no more than two Hearts. Step 1 is to cash the top Clubs and ruff a Club. Step 2 is to cash the ♥A and the ♥K. Now, Step 3 is to exit with a trump. Let’s relish West’s discom-fort! Declarer’s

fine play has eliminated all of West’s safe exit cards. With nothing left but Diamonds and Clubs, whatever West plays will give Declarer a ruff and dis-card… he’ll ruff the return in one hand and discard the “inescapable” Heart loser from the other. Making 10 tricks! You see where West went wrong, of course. He needed to cash the ♠A early in the play (before the third round of Diamonds). Now, the elimination play does not work, and Declarer will eventually be down one.

Visit acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email [email protected]. To find a bridge club in Florida, go to district9acbl.org/D9Clubsmap.htm. Bridge article provided courtesy of St. Petersburg Bridge Club: stpetebridge.org.

BRIDGE BITES

Join the Red Hatters’ Tea PartyHundreds of

purple blouses and red hats are set to gather at the Largo Community Center for the Annual Red Hat Tea Party. From 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. on Mar. 10 or Mar. 11, Red Hatters will enjoy live music, dancing, door prizes, contests, vendor shopping and a freshly prepared lunch by the Largo Community Center.

Mingle with other chapters, make new friends and be sure to wear your best red hat. Cost for the one day event is $10 per person. Spaces are limited, pre-registration is

required by March 6. Get your tickets today by calling 727-587-6740 ex. 5004 or visiting the Largo Community Center at 400 Alt Keene Rd.


Seeking bright, fi nancially stable white gentleman of integrity, 65 – 75, no beards, who is neat, distinguished, who laughs, has fun, is adventurous, successful, and has a natural warmth and compassion for others. 4442 LOOKING FOR LAST LOVE. SWF ISO SWM, 5’7” and 65 – 75 for dancing, and some travel. Lets enjoy life together. Largo Area.4444 CHRISTIAN LADY SEEKING CHRIS-TIAN GENTLEMAN. NS, ND, understanding, fun loving, honest. I am 67YY. Look like 40YY. I like fl ea markets, travel, gardening and church. I am healthly, truthful and eat right. ISO 60 – 67 single Christian Gentleman. 4445 SEEKING THE GOOD LIFE. DBF 62YO, 6’1”, thick, attractive, loving, caring, Steve Harvey books are my kind of a man. Seeking the same. I love God and have lots of interests. Largo area. 4446 SPANISH SPEAKING LADY looking to fi nd you. I am 70 years old, 5’1” tall, educated, honest, not so pretty, but kindly, neat, white skin, USA citizen, some shyness. I want to know about you “gentleman”.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN4421 ATTRACTIVE, IN SHAPE, 57YO Ath-letic build, good values, good listener, fi nan-cially secure, conscientious and considerate. I enjoy travel, adventure, sports, movies, music and fun. ISO lady with similar interests.

WOMEN SEEKING MEN4119 SEEKING CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN Former airline stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., widow, slender, white with Ph.D. in health-care. Fulbright scholar, eats healthy & exercises. Likes sports and animals. Loves the Lord.4435 ARE YOU ANSWERED PRAYER? Petite, single CRWF, 58 YY, 5’2‘, HWP, hazel-eyed, natural curly-haired, ISO S/D, R/P, honest, trustworthy, emotionally/fi nan-cially stable C/M. Family oriented, old fash-ioned values, FF/LTR/TLC, NS, ND, NDrg. Likes listen/dance to 50s jazz and southern gospel music. Optimistic. Compassionate. Respectful. Fun-loving. Adventurous. 4436 PRETTY, FUN, INTELLIGENT, CHARMING, SWF. Just retired, 55, likes to work out and many other activities except golf and sailing. LTR, need my forever man/friend/companion and lover. No aff airs here. Eastern Hillsborough.4440 A LADY OF DISTINCTION who is a youthful 69, petite, widow, no children, non-smoker, non-drinker, a heart full of love (been told I have a nice smile & legs) sincere, loyal, works hard, creative, trust-worthy, determined to succeed, strong but gentle, not much on cooking and sports. New England French roots, loves airplanes, Harleys, boating, sports cars and animals.

4431 WHITE MALE, 60, 5’9”, 165lbs, looking for female 60 to 67. Height and weight proportionate, non smoker, laid back woman. Likes fi shing, beach, day trips. Looking for romance to send photo and letter. Madeira beach area.4437 MISSION IMPOSSIBLE SIZE FOUR. This SWM, 6’2’, 183# would love to meet very slender, active, educated female, late 50’s to early 60’s for day trips, museums, concerts, art fests, biking, etc. Ambition is a LTR with that very special person. 4443 HOLIDAY AREA MAN. Nice, 65, looking for slim female, any age for inti-mate times who is also a nice person. No smokers, drugies or drunks. Holiday area next to Tarpon Springs. Remember phone # in your letter. 4441 INCESSANT, PASSIONATE, FAITH-FUL, GENUINE Dare to think and be young again. Age is merely a number. Pure romantic (real) love is totally cerebral and emotional. I am building a home in the B.V.I. on the beach. Dare to be there with me!

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Commonly Used Abbreviations:F-Female, M-Male, S-Single, D-Divorced, WW-Widow, A-Asian, B-Black, H-Hispanic, I-Indian, W-White, C-Christian, J-Jewish, YO-Years Old, YY-Years Young, ISO-In Search Of, SOH-Sense Of Humor, SM-Smokes, S-Light Smoker, NS-Non Smoker, ND-Non Drinker, SD-Social (Light) Drinker, DR-Drinks, NDrg- No Drugs, LTR-Long Term Relation-ship, HWP-Height & Weight Proportional, R-Retired, P-Professional, FF-Friendship First, TLC-Tender Loving Care.

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By Janice Doyle

Denver—so many reasons to go; so much to enjoy. I first put Denver on

my travel bucket list in the 60s watching Colorado’s heroine, “The Unsinkable Molly Brown.” That musical told her rags-to-riches story and led my heart straight to Denver. In real life the Titanic survivor Margaret Brown was typical of those whose spunk and spirit during the Silver Boom and Gold Rush made Denver what it is today. Whatever your interests, today’s Denver and that area of Colorado provides vacation diversity.

1. Visit the unique downtown area The Tattered Cover bookstore is just one gem in downtown Denver where the Wild West blends with urban chic. In the 16th Street Mall find decades-old bookshop Tattered Cover full of old-style lamps, leather couches, and all the books you could ever wish for. Or buy a

cowboy shirt at Rockmount Ranch Wear (inventors of the snap button shirt). Denver’s LoDo (lower downtown) district comprises 28 square blocks of restaurants, sports bars and brewpubs as well as nightly live music in various places. (Booklovers – Tattered Cover is an indie bookstore with three locations in the Denver Metro Area.)

2. See the Denver Botanic Gardens—three of them! Woody Allen’s film Sleeper was filmed at the central Denver Botanic Garden. It is huge and features a large amphitheater, a conservatory, themed gardens and rotating exhibits. One of the Gardens’ satellite locations is the Botanic Gardens at Chatfield, a working farm located along a creek in southern Jefferson County. Prepare for exceptional trails and great bird watching. Another satellite garden is the alpine and subalpine location called Mount

Goliath, accessible by the M. Walter Pesman Trail within the Arapaho National Forest. Mount Goliath includes delicate wild flowers and awesome Rocky Mountain vistas. The Gardens offers guided tours of Mount Goliath on select dates in June through August.

3. Take in a game Name a sport and Denver has a team. “The Mile High City” is the home of the Denver Nuggets,the Denver Broncos,the Colorado Ava-lanche and the Colorado Rockies. A summer visitmeans that you can watch the Colorado Rockies hit homeruns at Coors Field where summer 2015 will offer 52 craft beers on tap.

4. Scavenger Hunt—if you have the grandkids along or if you are just some-one who likes to have some fun in new places, use the Smart Phone app and go on the amazing scavenger hunt Urban Adventure Quest for Denver. By solv-ing clues and completing challenges, you can turn Denver into a three-hour gameboard combining the fun of Amazing Race with a city tour. (Urban Adventure Quests are now in 35 cities and are just plain FUN.)

6. Stay at the Brown Palace Hotel At this iconic and elegant old hotel, you brush your teeth with water from the hotel’s own artesian well. Almost every president since Teddy Roosevelt has visited this elegant, classic hotel. (About $300/night)5. Find your organic self Imagine a huge warehouse called The Source. Now put an organic-centric Col-orado spin on it. Do that and you have 26,000 square feet of local everything from food to crafts to beer. From coffee shop to restaurant to art gallery—take your foodie self to The Source for a taste of Colorado on Brighton Boulevard.

7. See Western art Western Art rarely looks at home any-where but in The West, but I admire it at every opportunity in my travels. The Denver Art Museum houses the Petrie Institute for Western American Art. The American Museum of Western Art—The Anschutz Collection is downtown in the Navarre Building. The Visions West Galleries of Denver specializes in Western art and wildlife motifs, and small galleries in the area almost always include Western artists’ works. So, plan a trip to enjoy a spirited time a mile high. For more ideas, go to www.denver.org.

Seven Ways to Enjoy the Mile High City

Rocky Mountain National Park

This iconic national treasure turns 100 this year, and the park is celebraing with monthly events ranging from art shows and guest speakers to festivals, natural history presentations,

wilderness activities and ranger programs. Recently, Lonely Planet ranked Rocky Mountain National Park as # 2 on their list for top places to visit in 2015. And in 2014 National Geographic named Rocky Mountain National Park as one of its best trips in the world. Just 70 miles from Denver, RMNP is a memorable summer daytrip or multi-night trip add-on. Driving to the park you’ll pass breathtaking red sandstone rock formations. In the park, take the Trail Ridge Road, the highest continuous motorway in the US. You can snake across the tundra at over 11,000 feet elevation for incomparable views, crossing the Continental Divide along the way. Or traverse the Old Fall Road, the first road to cross the Rockies with stunning overlooks.

TRAVEL

The Tattered Cover

The Source


Documents

Lifestyles After 50 Suncoast Edition, Mar. 2015