Lifestyles After 50 Suncoast Feb. 2013 edition

AFTER 50 February 2013

500 Years of Fun at the Fair!Forgiveness Is The Best Medicine

...At the Florida Strawberry Festival

Bobby V inton

Lifestyles“Blue Velvet”

“Mr. Lonely”“Melody of Love”

“There, I Said it Again”

History of Valentines

www.LifestylesAfter50FL.com • Suncoast • FREE

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 2

The Value Of EyesightBY DAVID JEFFERY, Marketing Director,Eye Institute of West Florida

It is a fact of life that vi-sion changes as you age.

But do aging eyes have to compromise your lifestyle? The answer is simple: not any more. By the onset of cataracts, most people would have been challenged by the necessity of having to wear glasses. What if you had the option to remove cataracts and eliminate, or reduce, the need to wear glasses again? What would life be like for you and what is it worth? Technology for cataract surgery has advanced rapidly in the past two years and the results are truly remarkable. To remove a cataract and correct astigmatism using computer guided la-sers now allow surgeons to customize vision to individualized specifications

with a very high degree of accuracy. Cataract surgery in the hands of an experienced physician can help make life a lot simpler and comfortable. This new level of precision resulting in better outcomes for

patients, allowing for clearer, uncor-rected visual acuity, and reducing patients’ need for glasses, comes at a price above standard cataract surgery using traditional methods. Of course, Medicare and private insurance will pay a large portion of standard care, but the result will not eliminate the need for glasses for a full range of vision or correct astigmatism. Life will probably continue as before, wearing glasses daily and dealing with the added expense of maintenance for the remainder of life.

It is not every day we are afforded options like laser cataract surgery to turn back the hands of time to a day when our vision was great. Most surgeons will not over empha-size the prospect of being glasses-free but many patients do report no need for glasses again. For those that do, only a light pair of readers may be necessary to read fine print such as that on a medicine bottle. Many patients who undergo the advanced procedure also report seeing so well they are able to drive the next day and wish they had had the procedure sooner. Depend-ing on the lens implant you choose, you should be able to read road signs

and the car instrument panel and drive safely. Judging distance and speed, bright sunlight or headlights of

oncoming traffic at night are no longer a problem, and colors are more vivid. You can enjoy doing all the things you love to do (play golf, tennis, swim) without the hassle of glasses or contacts. For that one chance, which will you choose—the advanced procedure or returning to a lifestyle of glasses for a lifetime? Having to choose one over the other may have you weighing lifestyle

versus cost, but know this: cataract surgery can only be performed once. What is your eyesight worth to you? To learn more, call the Eye Institute of West Florida at (727) 581-8706.

Clearwater • Largo • St. Petersburg

727-565-4286www.eyespecialist.com

NeelDesai, MD

StephenWeinstock, MD

RobertWeinstock, MD

BLADELESS LASER CATARACT SURGERY

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You’ve Gotta Have Heart; All You Really Need Is Heart!Dear Readers,

This is the month for hearts. Take

your pick. You can focus on the physical heart health care/car-diology kind of hearts since it’s American Heart Month or you can go with the Valentine’s Day kind of heart care—love, candy and roses. Heart is used in the Bible to mean the very center or core of what a man is: his mind, soul, spirit and understand-ing. Jesus said that the good or evil a man does comes from the good or evil stored up in his heart and that it is from what is stored there that we say what we say (Luke 6:45). But there is another kind of heart, too. There’s the kind from the famous song, “You Gotta Have Heart” from the 1958 musical Damn Yankees. Remember those baseball players singing and dancing in the locker room? It’s such a singable, uplifting, encouraging song that has been used for many situations. So many songs about heart—Billy Ray Cyrus gave us words for our “Achy Breaky Heart” right up there with Elvis’s “Heartbreak Hotel.” Celine Dion sang “My Heart Will Go On” and, of course, there’s Frank Sinatra’s “Young at Heart.” I found a list of 124 songs with heart in the title! February can be a tough month for someone with any kind of heart problems. For the “I have a cardiolo-gist” kind, the internet provided some facts and fun about that beating heart. Here’s what I found.

The Heart Of The Matter:• The average weight for a

woman’s heart is eight ounces and for men, 10 ounces.

• Your heart beats with enough strength to shoot blood a distance of 30 feet.

• On average, a million barrels worth of blood is pumped through the heart in a lifetime.

• Your heart is made up almost entirely of muscle. It is strong enough to lift approximately 3,000 pounds—roughly the weight of a compact car.

• Clench your fi sts and put them side by side. This is roughly the size of your heart.

• Women’s hearts beat faster than male hearts.

• The human heart begins to beat as early as four weeks after conception. Scientists believe that by eight weeks, when the embryo is only an inch long, the heart is fully developed.

That Heart/Love Thing Then there’s the other kind of heart thing in February. Whatever your romantic state and whatever condition your beating heart is in, here are some fun ways to look at the male/female/love thing. • Two out of every three people tilt their heads to the right when kissing instead of to the left.

• Think about the long marriages some of our readers have enjoyed. Having a romantic relationship makes both genders happier. The stronger the commitment, the greater the happiness!• We spend over $13+ billion on Valen-tine’s Day every year. We exchange 180 million Valentine’s Day cards and give 196 million roses for the day. Men buy 73 percent of the roses while 85 percent of the cards are bought by women. • 53 percent of women surveyed said they would end their relationship if they didn’t get something for Valentine’s Day. (I say to those women, “Grow up!”) So, here’s pretty much everything you need to make conversation in February—use the information to astound your friends, remind your spouse and make a contribu-tion to the economy.

Janice Doyle, Editor

Congratulations To Our Winners From Last

Month’s Book Giveaway!The Wrinklies Guide to Drawing: Willow Rose Brown of Valrico

iPad Tech To Connect: Ray Russell of MinneolaDr. Ruth’s Guide for the Alzheimer’s Caregiver:

Beverly Goodwin of VeniceThe Complete Idiot’s Guide to

Using Your Computer—for Seniors: Charles Netherton of TampaManaging Retirement Wealth:D. Turnbull of Clearwater

Published monthly by News Connection U.S.A., Inc

Pinellas/Pasco Edition

General ManagerDave Tarantul

[email protected]/Director of Events & Marketing

Kathy J. [email protected]

EditorJanice Doyle

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Attention Readers: The articles printed in Lifestyles After 50 do not necessarily refl ect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. Lifestyles After 50 endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Lifestyles After 50 reserves the right to refuse or dis-continue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for the March 2013 issue is Feb. 15, 2013. Magazines are out by the 7th of each month. All rights reserved.

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YourFREE Informational Seminars

Healthy Living

Eating for a Health Heart:Restricted Salt and Fluid TipsWednesday, February 6 • 12:00 noonpresented by Suzanne Johnson, DO – Family Medicine

Ivy Ridge Living • 7179 40th Ave. N, St Petersburg

Irregular Heart BeatsTuesday, February 5 • 12:00 noonpresented by Dennis Cassidy, MD – Cardiac Electrophysiologist

The Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay 1255 Pasadena Ave. S, St Petersburg

Are You A Candidate For Partial Knee Replacement?Thursday, February 7 • 11:30 a.m.presented by Robert Swiggett, MD – Orthopedic SurgeonEdward White Hospital Auditorium 2299 9th Ave. N., Suite 1-G, St. Petersburg(one-story office building on the east side of hospital)

Preventing Heart Disease and StrokeFriday, February 8 • 11:30 a.m.presented by David Hobbs, MD – Family Practitioner

YMCA/Jim & Heather Gills Campus 3200 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Pain in the Neck...or Back?presented by Paula Jewell – Florida Spine and Neuro Center Representative

Monday, February 4 • 11:00 a.m. The Centre • 1500 16th Street, Palm Harbor

Friday, February 8 • 11:00 a.m. Largo Medical Center • 201 14th Street SW, Largo

Monday, February 18 • 11:00 a.m. Hampton Inn • 1200 34th Street N, St. Petersburg

Wednesday, February 20 • 11:00 a.m. Hampton Inn • 39284 US Hiway 19 N, Tarpon Springs

Wednesday, February 27 • 11:00 a.m. Holiday Inn Express • 975 Broadway Street, Dunedin

Let’s Talk Spine - Dining with The DoctorWednesday, February 13 • 11:30 a.m.presented by Clinton Davis, MD – Orthopedic SurgeonEdward White Hospital Auditorium 2299 9th Ave. N., Suite 1-G, St. Petersburg(one-story office building on the east side of hospital)

Know Your A-Fib OptionsWednesday February 13 • 12:00 noonpresented by Robert Sheppard, MD – Cardiac ElectrophysiologistNorthside Hospital Auditorium 6006 49th Street North, St. Petersburg2nd floor of Medical Office Plaza next to hospital)

Stroke – Are You At Risk?Wednesday, February 13 • 4:00 p.m.presented by Tami Podlasek, RN – Stroke Coordinator, Edward White HospitalAllegro • 4600 54th Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Solutions for Your Hip Painpresented by Pat Kosiba, RN – Florida Knee & Orthopedic Pavilion Rep.

Tuesday, February 12 • 11:00 a.m. Hampton Inn • 1200 34th St. N, St. Petersburg

Wednesday, February 13 • 11:00 a.m. Largo Medical Center • 201 14th Street SW, Largo

Keep Your Heart HealthyFriday, February 15 • 12:00 noonpresented by Gregg Schuyler, MD – CardiologyYMCA/Jim & Heather Gills Campus 3200 1st Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Total Joint & Arthritispresented by Thomas Mixa, MD – Orthopedic Surgeon

Thursday, February 21 • 11:30 a.m. Edward White Hospital Auditorium • 299 9th Ave. N., Suite 1-G, St. Petersburg(one-story office building on the east side of hospital)

Thursday, February 28 • 12:00 noon Northside Hospital Auditorium 6006 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (2nd floor of Medical Office Plaza next to hospital)

Alzheimer’s DiseaseFriday, February 22 • 12:00 noonpresented by Nasser Razack, MD – Interventional NeuroradiologistNorthside Hospital Auditorium 6006 49th Street North, St. Petersburg (located on 2nd floor of Medical Office Plaza next to hospital)

Are You or Someone You Love Suffering with Hip Pain?Thursday, February 21 • 6:00 p.m.presented by John Pope, MD – Orthopedic SurgeonAllegro Living • 4600 54th Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Seniors Living with DiabetesFriday, February 22 • 12:00 noonpresented by Fadi Saba, MD – Internal MedicineThe Fountains at Boca Ciega Bay 1255 Pasadena Ave. S, St. Petersburg

Heart Smart 2013Join us at Largo Medical Center for this annual event including a Heart Healthy Cooking Demonstration, American Heart Association update on the latest research and information from expert physicians on keeping your heart healthy. FREE Peripheral Arterial Disease (ABI) Screenings & Blood Pressure screenings available. Register today!

Tuesday, February 26 • 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. Largo Medical Center • 201 14th Street SW, Largo

11:15 a.m. Kathy Fenelon – The Latest American Heart Association Research

11:30 a.m. Executive Chef Michael Cole – Heart Healthy Cooking Demo

12:00 p.m. Joseph Diliberto, MD – The Latest In Minimally Invasive Heart Valve Surgery

12:30 p.m. John Norris, MD – Atrial Fibrillation in 2013: What’s HOT and What’s Not

1:00 p.m. Michael Sore, MD – Treating a Heart Attack in the Largo Medical Center Emergency Room

1:30 p.m. Merrill Krolick, DO – Peripheral Arterial Disease: Preventing Circulation Problems

Recognition of a Heart AttackTuesday, February 26 • 6:00 p.m.presented by Chris Wilson, DO – CardiologistMagnolia Gardens • 3800 62nd Avenue North, Pinellas Park

Orthopedics & Upper ExtremitiesThursday, February 28 • 11:30 a.m.presented by Adrian Butler, MD – Orthopedic SurgeonEdward White Hospital Auditorium 299 9th Ave. N., Suite 1-G, St. Petersburg(one-story office building on the east side of hospital)

Reservations Required. Call 1-855-422-2228.

Complimentary Refreshments Served.


Wednesdays , Florida Center for Creative Photography Meetup

at O’Keefe’s Family Tavern and Grille, 1219 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater. Speakers, photo walks and latest in photo technology. 9 a.m. Visit flccp.org or call (727) 455-2912.

7 – 17 An Empty Plate in the Cafe du Grand Boeuf, a play celebrates

the food and collected works of Ernest Hemingway. At Freefall Theatre, 6099 Central Ave., St. Pete. Tickets: $37 to $44. Call (727) 498-5205.

8 Classic Movie Matinee. Free movie, popcorn and sodas at

Seminole Community Library, 9200 113th St. N., Seminole. 1 p.m. Call (727) 394-6905 for information.

8 Friday Morning Market at Treasure Community Center, 1

Park Place and 106 Ave., Treasure Island. Vendors, live music, food, more. Free parking. (727) 360-4121.

9 Dance hosted by Clearwater Singles,Colreavy Hall, 820 Jasmine

Way, Clearwater. 7 p.m. Live music. “Dressy casual” attire. Admission: $7/non-members. Door prizes. Couples welcome! Bring your own snacks and beverages. Cups and ice fur-nished; sodas are available. Group hosts many other activities. Online at scips.tripod.com or (727) 253-4874.

14 Butterfly Gardening class by Master Gardeners at Palm

Harbor Library, 2330 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor. 2 p.m. Free. Register at pce-lawnandgarden.eventbrite.com or (727) 582-2603.

14 Valentine’s Day Jazz Concert with Bobby Tess

and the Dixie Chaps at the Bilmar Beach Resort, Treasure Island. Admission: $7. (727) 522-6877.

16 Bright Star Senior Talent Show at the Center for the

Arts, River Ridge High School, New Port Richey. 2 p.m. Three acts will be selected by the audience to continue to the finale. $6 tickets

benefit CARES Elfers Center. Call Bright House Networks for tickets. (727) 856-5129 Ext. 81255. Info at brighthouse.com/SeniorIdol.

16 Women of Ireland, presentation of Irish music, song and dance.

At Capitol Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. 2 and 8 p.m. $29 – $39 tickets. Phone: (727) 791-7400.

17 “Hooray for Hollywood” 14 singers and dancers, 30+ songs

and 300+ costume changes, movie clips, and a red-hot band for 50 years of the most popular movie musicals. Tickets $25 to $50. Ruth Eckerd Hall. 2 p.m. Phone (727) 791-7400.

20 Palladium Chamber Players inaugural performance at

Palladium Theater, downtown St. Pete.

21 Evenings with the Maestro: at the Music Gallery, 5990

Ulmerton Road, Clearwater. 6 p.m. on third Thursdays. Discussions of opera and music. Tickets: $20 ($15 seniors). Info at (727) 823-2040.

22 – 23 Celebrate the Quilt, Explore the Art VII Presented

by Largo Cracker Quilters. Art quilts, vendors, demonstrations, boutique, food and drink, plus a basket walk. Christ Presbyterian Church, 3115 Dryer Ave. SW, Largo. Opens 10 a.m. $6; special price for buses. (727) 382-9374.

25 “Northern Lights” concert by The Tampa Bay Symphony,

featuring Sibelius, Grieg and music from Peer Gynt. Arts Auditorium, St. Pete College, 2465 Drew St., Clearwa-ter. 4 p.m. 26 at Palladium Theater, St. Pete. 8 p.m. $20 at the door.Information: TampaBaySymphony.orgor (727) 595-0345.

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

Around TownW H A T ’ S H A P P E N I N G F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 3

1018 West Bay DriveLargo, Florida 33770

Phone: 727.585.2200www.stmichaelseye.com

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“Discover The Fun” at the Florida State FairThe 109th annual Florida State Fair

returns to Tampa on Feb. 7 – 18, 2013. Come and see what all of the excitement is about as the Fair fea-tures new free entertainment, scrump-tious foods, thrilling rides, rockin’ music and plenty of fun shopping. This year, they are celebrating the 500th anniversary of the arrival of Juan Ponce De León in Florida with their theme: “Discover the Fun. Flor-ida: 500 Years In the Making.” The fair will become part of the statewide, year-long celebration of Viva Florida 500, a commemoration of Florida’s rich heritage and diverse cultural history throughout 2013. The State Fair’s “COWquistador” logo is a tribute to the European’s influ-ence in the Sunshine State, as well as a symbol of the state’s rich agri-cultural heritage.

Midway and Food Fairgoers can ex-pect the traditional favorites such as thrilling rides and games, shopping in Expo Hall, arts and crafts, lawn mower races, sand sculptures and strolling entertainers. Visitors will also find a variety of ex-traordinary foods, from the traditional corn dog to Krispy Kreme burgers and chocolate-covered bacon. Don’t forget to stop by Alessi’s Bakery for their famous Strawberry Shortcake and more! This year’s fair provides many new ways to “Discover the Fun.”

Free Attractions and Performances Of course, it wouldn’t be the Florida State Fair without the award-winning

exhibits and competitions, lively equestrian shows and draft horse pulls, glimpses into Florida’s rural past at Cracker Country,

Ag Venture experience and the opportunity to view more than 5,000 animals in the livestock barns. The Fair will also be hosting its trademark

“Mooternity Ward” and favorite animal shows like the Welde Bear Show, Racing Pigs, Disco Dogs and Circus Hollywood. Stop in at Cracker Country

for a trip back in time to Florida’s rural past. Sit a spell and enjoy the Bluegrass music, dozens of performances, demonstra-tions, crafts and other activities. The 2013 Florida State Fair will showcase new and unique agricultural and cultural exhibits such as the new “Discovery Center,” a Tampa Bay History Center curated exhibit, and a

traveling exhibit celebrating “Florida Agriculture: 500 Years in the Making” hosted by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. Get a map at the entrance and explore the “ConquistaTOUR,” a self-guided adventure through the State Fair including the new Florida Cattle-men’s Museum, Florida’s Learning Garden and Cow Hunter’s Camp in Cracker Country. In addition, fair-goers will “Discover Florida” with a Broadway-style musical perfor-mance certain to please those who want to learn more about Florida. You can see Dennis Lee, Hotel California, Susie McEntyre and Yesterdaze in the Family Theater, or check out “Zoom ‘N,” a musical journey through 500 years of Florida. Watch the Elvis Extravaganza Im-personator National Finals, Febru-ary 16 and 17 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.

Headline Entertainment The Fair is introducing a brand new concert series this year, including Star-ship Featuring Mickey Thomas and the Bellamy Brothers, among others.

Check out the schedule:11 Starship featuring

Mickey Thomas, 7:30 p.m.12 Bellamy Brothers at 7:30 p.m.13 Country Gold Tour, 12 and 4 p.m.14 Less Than Jake at 7:30 p.m.18 LeAnn Rimes, 7:30 p.m. Concert prices are separate from Fair admission. Visit FloridaState-Fair.com for concert ticket info.

Discount Days and Special Events The Florida State Fair is a sure ticket to “Discover the Fun” with special discount days:7 Heroes Day at the Fair—All ac-tive, reserve, or retired military veterans, law enforcement, fire-men and first responders are admit-ted free with valid identification11, 12, 13, and 14 Senior Days—Advance tickets are only $6. Gate: $811 Taste of the Fair Day – Food specials throughout the fairgrounds.13 Midweek Midway Madness—Dis-count ride armbands. $15 after 3 p.m., sold at the Fair only. Also, admission to the fair is only $5 after 5 p.m.16 4-H and FFA Day—Free ad-mission for 4-H and FFA members with identification or jacket.18 Family Fun Day—Only $20 admission for up to four people, sold only at the Fair; and Student Day: surrounding Hillsborough County students receive a free fair ticket. Make sure to plan your day in ad-vance to enjoy all the sights, sounds and tastes the State Fair has to of-fer. Gates open weekdays at 10 a.m., Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 9 a.m. Closing time varies by the day of the week and weather conditions. To purchase Fair admission tickets and ride armbands, or for more informa-tion about showtimes and attractions, visit FloridaStateFair.com or call 1-800-345-FAIR (3247). Shows are subject to change or cancellation.

The Bellamy Brothers


TASTE OF THE FAIRSPECIAL SENIOR SEMINARS

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Matinee MomentsBY JUNE HURLEY YOUNG

If you only see one matinee this month, you’ll want to laugh with

the Vanderhoffs. Cornflakes and candy for supper and Mama is a writer because someone left a typewriter there by mistake. “You Can’t Take It With You” is a 1940’s comedy at the Asolo Theatre in Sarasota, playing matinees on Feb. 7, 10, 13 and 20. Call (941) 351-8000 for reservations.

Largo Cultural Center has two matinees this month: “The Buddy Holly Tribute Sunday” plays Feb. 10

and 2000 years of Chinese circus tradition in “The New Shanghai Circus” which comes to Largo Cultural Center Saturday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. Call (727) 587-6751.

At Ruth Eckerd Hall on Feb. 21, “In the Mood” offers a chance to relive your favorite musical as the actors run through 50 years of music from popular musicals, singing 30 songs and making 300 costume changes. And on Feb. 27, see a matinee performance of “A Chorus Line” at 2 p.m. Call (727) 712-2717 for tickets.

New Shanghai Circus “In The Mood”

Past and Future MeetAmerican Stage Theatre

presents The Piano Lesson by August Wilson weekends through March 3. Set in 1936, Boy Willie arrives in Pittsburgh from the South in a truck loaded with watermelons to sell. Needing mon-ey, he wants to sell an old piano that has been in his family for generations.

His sister has already rejected several offers because the antique piano is covered with incredible carvings detailing the family’s rise from slavery.

The issue of whether or not to sell it cuts deeply and raises questions about honoring the past or moving into the future. 163 3rd St. N., St. Pete. Tickets $29 to $59. (727) 823-7529.

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Friendship Force: Changing The Way You See The WorldBY JANICE DOYLE

A smile, a handshake, a shared meal at a kitchen table—all

can be part of a path to world peace in the philosophy of Friend-ship Force, a group which brings people from around the globe to-gether to promote understanding. May, 2011. Eighteen people from Friendship Force of the Florida Suncoast club were in Ankara, Turkey, staying in homes of Muslims when Osama bin Laden was assassi-nated. Oma Pantridge, president of the club says, “It caused some very good dialogue that we wouldn’t have had otherwise because we tend to avoid talking about politics. What hap-pened, not only in our host homes but everywhere in Turkey, is that we were treated warmly and with care. They don’t trust the CIA and they don’t trust the American government, but they love the American people. And that’s not unlike how Americans feel.”

The local club meets socially, chooses trips to other destinations (called outbound), such as in November when they travel to Australia, spending a week in Sydney before taking a train ride to Mt. Gambier. Clubs also host groups from the U.S. and the world (inbound)—an inbound exchange in October will bring FF club members from Varel, Germany to this area. Travel with an FF group is many things. “The real joy is getting to know people in a natural setting, in their homes,” says Pantridge. “It’s getting to understand how much people are alike everywhere, that we want our families to be safe and we want a comfortable lifestyle and that we really do genuinely care about one another and can be friends.” Both single and married guests participate. After a welcome party on their first night, the host club plans activities around the visiting group’s interests. If a club member isn’t host-ing guests in their home, they may

provide transportation, be a day host, or perhaps have a small group dinner. Members have found that those who open their homes to guests in other locations are friendly people just like us, only in a different culture. “Smiles, nods and assorted hand signs are universally understood. It all makes for new friends and great stories,” says one member. Friendship Force began in Atlanta in 1977 with the support of President Jimmy

Carter and has been so successful in its purposes that the organization was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1992. An international office in Atlanta coordinates the 360 clubs around the world, plans exchanges, sets up sched-ules and conducts training for local leaders. From there, FF builds global understanding one friendship at a time. Pantridge says, “Some of our group don’t travel any more, but they enjoy the club activities such as programs where people share their travel experiences, or when we eat in an ethnic restaurant and the owner shares cultural information.”

When I looked at the FF Interna-tional website, I found an amazing catalog of trips for 2013. Members can apply to join any of the trips listed if there is space. Anyone interested in meeting people locally or from around the world may apply to join an incredible force for friendship. Information at friendshipforcefloridasuncoast.org or (727) 522-3959.

Friendship Force goes ballooning in Turkey.


17th Join us on:February 26, 2013Doors open inside 9 am – 1 pm

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atPresented by:

4801 E. Fowler Ave., TampaCall (813) 653-1988 for more information.

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Back Woods Walk starts at 8:00 am

Walk Registration Includes: • Packet Pick-up: 7:30 am • Back Woods Walk T-shirt • Continental breakfast • One IMAX® film voucher for use on event day or in the future* *Vouchers not valid for special engagement films

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In Consideration of your acceptance of this entry. I for myself, my heirs, devises, executor, administratora and assigns do hereby hold harm-less MOSI Foundation, Inc. or their employees, representatives or successors, for any and all damages or injuries I may incur. I hereby grant permission for the free use of my name and picture in broadcast or account of this event.

Free Admission to MOSI exhibit galleries

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Feb. 26, 2013Starts outside the MOSI Main

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Bobby Vinton: Still Smooth as Blue Velvet and Coming to the Strawberry FestivalBY JANICE DOYLE

You remember the words...She wore blue velvet

Bluer than velvet was the nightSofter than satin was the light

From the stars

“Blue Velvet”—just one of Bobby Vinton’s many hits

that made him “the all-time most successful love singer of the rock era,” according to Billboard magazine. Now 78, Bobby Vinton still jumps onto the stage to give audiences a good show—and he’ll be doing a show at the Strawberry Festival in Plant City on March 5 at 3:30 p.m. I recently talked with Bobby Vinton, who now lives in Sarasota. He said, “When I go onstage there in Plant City, that’s my audience. I am there to give them what they want. I’ll be doing all the old hits, playing several instruments and my daughter and I will be singing music from Phantom of the Opera together.”

Vinton was the son of a Big Band conductor “back in the day.” By the time he was 15, Vinton had his own band playing for school dances in the Pittsburgh area. What many people don’t know is that Vinton later graduated from college with a degree in musical composition as a classically trained musician who played oboe in symphony orchestras.

To make extra money, he and his band would play backup for the greats of the era, including Sammy Davis Jr., Frankie Avalon, Fabian, Chubby Checker and Connie Francis—“I knew them all. I studied them to see what there was about their music the audience liked and what they did as performers that audiences liked or didn’t like. I have been able to use that over the years.” His music studies in college made him proficient on instruments including piano, clarinet, saxophone, trumpet, drums and the oboe—a talent that he displays in his shows today. Like all recording artists, the stories behind his hits make for good telling. To get his first recording “Red Roses for a Blue Lady” played, he hired a young woman to deliver the record and a dozen roses to hundreds of area deejays, convincing them to play it (remember the era when audiences decided the hits by calling in their requests?). The song was a hit. As a lonely army guy, Vinton’s buddy told him he should write a song about being lonely. He responded by starting to play with the words “Lonely, I’m Mr. Lonely,” and he later wrote the song “Mr. Lonely” which became an instant hit. At one point, his mother suggested he write a song in

Polish. He didn’t want to, but responded like a good son and wrote “Melody

Of Love” with Polish lyrics. It was a number one record, and Vinton said. “It’s still kind of my theme song.” Vinton survived the Beatles invasion by singing songs like “Blue Velvet” and “There I Said It Again” which adults loved. Vinton recalls that he lost the teenage sales, “…but I was still selling a million records to adults. I was still able to be on the charts and continue in the business.”

Staying in shape I asked Vinton how he keeps in such great physical shape. He said, “You have to be smart. It’s a full-time job. I drink a lot of water and push half the plate of food away. I live on the beach and walk a lot.” He added, “My mother looked young at 92 and was still dancing on stage. She had a young spirit. You gotta have that spirit that you love life and that you’re happy. I possess no hate for anyone.” Hate “…shows on the face and makes you old.” So, make your plans to see Bobby Vinton on stage March 5. He promises a show to love. Now, start humming one of his songs and get tickets: (813) 754-1996 or online at flstrawberry-festival.com. (Regular gate admission is $10—watch for specials. For example, March 5 is Red Hat Day/$2 off. Senior Day/$2 off is Feb. 28.)

• 12 Gold records• Bronze star on Hollywood

Walk Of Fame • The most #1 hits by a solo male

artist from 1962 to 1972• Over 75 million in record sales• Starred in two John Wayne movies: Big Jake The Train Robbers• Owned the Blue Velvet Theater in Branson

for several years

Mr. Lonely Blue Velvet

Blue on Blue There! I’ve Said It AgainRoses Are Red (My Love)Please Tell Her That I Said HelloTake Good Care of My BabyTo Know You Is to Love You

I Love How You Love MeMy Melody of Love

Sealed With a KissBeer Barrel Polka

Songs

Accomplishments

Vinton performs on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” 1969.

Vinton was raised around music, and learned to

play several instruments.

Bobby Vinton’s Band


Valentine’s Day and Single? Aaaargh!

Aargh is right if you’re single

and wanting a ro-mantic Valentine’s Day. So much hype. So much candy and flowers to lure the ones in love. Sometimes the sense of isolation becomes so strong that many singles tend to “hate Valentine’s Day.” Singles can make the most of Valentine’s Day by spending the day in the company of those they love or by indulging themselves with something luxurious. Here are some tips and ideas on how singles can celebrate the Valentine’s Day in charming and memorable fashion:

Valentine’s Day Ideas for SinglesPamper Yourself Buy yourself cute Valentine’s Day gifts which could be flowers or a stuffed animal. Maybe indulge your-self by going in for spa or head-to-toe beauty treatment. Indulging in books, CDs and gourmet meals can be a good way of enjoying the day for some.

Freak Out with Friends Plan out a dinner or movie with best friends. You may also throw a “singles party” or “Un-Valentine’s Day Party” at your home and have a fun lunch or dinner.

Acts of Service Singles can spend the day in a meaningful way by spending time with the needy and downtrodden. You may visit an orphanage or

old age home and spend time with the inmates

there who are always in need of love and affection.

Visiting hospitals and giving roses to sick can also be a touching way of experiencing bliss on Valentine’s Day. Express Gratitude for Friends and Dear Ones Instead of feeling depressed and ashamed, express love and affection for people around you. One can send Valen-tine’s Day greetings to parents, friends, colleagues, neighbors or anyone dear. Think Positive Singles can make the most of Valentine’s Day by thinking positive and fighting away the blues. Do not spend the day sulking for not having

a spouse or beloved to spend the day in a

happy manner. From stvalentines-

day.org.

Valentine’s Day Jokes to ShareHere are some Valentine’s Day

jokes to share with your friends.Q: Why did the banana go out with

the prune?A: Because it couldn’t get a date.Q: What is a ram’s favourite song on

February 14?A: I only have eyes for ewe, dear.Q: What travels around the world but

stays in one corner?

A: A stamp.Q: What happens when you fall in

love with a French chef?A: You get buttered up.Q: What is a vampire’s sweetheart

called?A: His ghoul-friend.Q: If your aunt ran off to get married,

what would you call her?A: Antelope.

BELLE CITY MIDWAY HIGHLIGHTS

Thu. Feb. 28 Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pmFri. Mar. 1 Sweetbay Supermarket Day on the Midway - Noon - 10 pm. Present any “My Essentials” non-perishable item at gate. Get $4 off Fun Pack Ride Coupon Book Moonlight Magic - $20 - 10 pm - 2 amSat. Mar. 2 Kid’s Day - All Day Free Admission for Kids through High School Sun. Mar. 3 Mountain Dew Family Day - $5 off with Mountain Dew can - Ride all day for $20Mon. Mar 4 Ride-A-Thon - $20 - 10 am - 11 pmTues. Mar. 5 Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pmWed. Mar. 6 Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pmThu. Mar. 7 Ride-A-Thon - $20 - Noon - 11 pmFri. Mar. 8 Tampa Tribune & TBO.com Day Noon - 10 pm, $2 Off Fun Pack Ride Coupon Book. Get Extra $2 Off same Book with a Tampa Tribune or TBO.com Discount Coupon Moonlight Magic - $20 - 10 pm - 2 am Sun. Mar. 10 Mountain Dew Family Day - $5 off with Mountain Dew can - Ride all day for $20

The Midway opens daily at 12 noon except on Sat., Sun. & Mon., when it opens at 10:00 a.m.

Thu. Feb.2810:30 JimmySturr&HisOrchestra FREEThu. Feb.28 3:30 ChubbyChecker $15&$20Thu. Feb.28 7:30 FOREIGNER $25Fri. Mar.1 3:30 GeneWatson $15&$20Fri. Mar.1 7:30 CastingCrowns $20&$25Sat. Mar.2 1:00 CarolineKole FREESat. Mar.2 3:30 Gloriana $15&$20Sat. Mar.2 7:30 JustinMoore $15&$20Sun. Mar.3 3:30 RandyHouser $15&$20Sun. Mar.3 7:30 AlanJackson $45Mon. Mar.4 3:30 Grits&Glamourwith LorrieMorgan/PamTillis $15&$20Mon. Mar.4 7:30 DwightYoakam $20&$25Tues. Mar.5 3:30 BobbyVinton $15&$20Tues. Mar.5 7:30 MartinaMcBride $30Wed. Mar.6 3:30 NealMcCoy $15&$20Wed. Mar.6 7:30 TraceAdkins $30Thu. Mar.710:30 SteveHall& theShotgunRedShow FREEThu. Mar.7 3:30 MelTillis $15&$20Thu. Mar.7 7:30 BrantleyGilbert $35Fri. Mar.8 3:30 T.G.Sheppard/JanieFricke $15&$20Fri. Mar.8 7:30 ScottyMcCreery $25&$30Sat. Mar.9 3:30 GaitherVocalBand $20&$25Sat. Mar.9 7:30 BretMichaels $25&$30 GetYourRockOn2013Sun. Mar.10 3:30 HunterHayes $15&$20Sun. Mar.10 7:30 BlakeShelton $55

Concert dates and times are subject to change

Seating at 3:30 & 7:30 pm. is on a first come, first seated basis.

Free Grandstand

Artists Appearing on the

Soundstage:Order: www.flstrawberryfestival.com or 813-754-1996

RED HAT SOCIETY DAY

Tues, Mar, 5th $2 Off Regular

Gate Admission

Florida BlueSENIOR

CITIZEN’S DAYSFREE CONCERTSThurs, Feb 28th

The Jimmy Sturr Orchestra

Thurs, Mar 7thSteve Hall & The

Shotgun Red Show Concerts 10:30am

Grow Financial FCUAMERICAN

HEROES DAY Wed. Mar. 6th

All Active, Reserve, Retired Military, Military Veterans,

Law Enforcement, First Responders (EMS & Fire Fighters) admitted Free all day with a valid ID

FESTIVAL FAVORITES

• Dennis Lee • Jay Taylor Band

• The Sweeney Family Band Country Comedy Revue • Ron Diamond

• Kandu Magic Show • World Champion

Lumberjills • JUMP! The Ultimate

Dog Show • RUNA PACHA “Indian World”

• Robinson’s Racing Pigs and Paddling Porkers

• Rock-It the Robot

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL®

FEB. 28 - MAR. 10, 2013 - PLANT CITY, FLORIDA

Save $2.00 on Adult & $1.00 on Youth General Admission Tickets at Sweetbay Supermarkets!

Our Masterpiece Of Fun!

MARTINA McBRIDE

BLAKE SHELTON

DWIGHT YOAKAM

TRACE ADKINSALAN JACKSON SCOTTY McCREERY

CASTING CROWNS

PAM TILLIS Grits and Glamour

LORRIE MORGAN Grits and Glamour

JANIE FRICKET.G. SHEPPARD

CHUBBY CHECKER MEL TILLIS

BOBBY VINTON JIMMY STURR AND

HIS ORCHESTRA


Veterans Corner

Editor’s note: We commend those of our readers who are now help-ing children, grandchildren and

great-grandchildren adjust as they return from the current battlefields.

No matter how well-adjusted returning

or returned veterans appear, they are likely carrying wounds that cut deep, and that pain sticks with them for the rest of their lives, says Vietnam veteran Ord Elliott. “When I came back from the war, I filed all that pain away as ‘personal,’ but it invariably came out in my creative writing, and I think that kept me much more sane,” says Elliott, a former platoon commander with the Marines and author of The Warrior’s Silence. “I still feel a sense that something was lost within me from that war, and it kills me to think that our country’s most recent wars have done the same to the latest generation of military person-nel. When I hear reports of alarming suicide rates among soldiers and problems with drugs and homelessness, it reminds me of friends I’ve lost, and the lives they weren’t able to have.” Elliott found himself writing about his war experience, and it became an extremely helpful, therapeutic activity, he says. Unfortunately, many of today’s younger veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan are expressing their pain through alcoholism, drugs, crime, depression and violence. There are many avenues available to vets if they’re having a hard time adjusting to civilian life after combat, he says. “But I think it’s safe to say all vets who have seen combat are haunted by what they’ve endured.” Although most civilians can never understand the horrors of war—of perpetually wondering what that last

What Should Families Keep in Mind for Their Returning Veteran?

moment of life might be like—there are ways in which the families of veterans, and others, can help…• Make creative expression avail-able: Elliott has heard story after

story involving vets who simply do not want to talk about their combat stress. Many simply do not know how to find catharsis in constructive ways. Thoughts and emotions, however, can also be expressed—released—in creative pursuits such as writing,

art, music, even cooking. • Patience and under-standing: “You won’t go wrong with loving tolerance while seeking the help of a trained professional to help your veteran work through problems like depression and anxiety,” Elliott says. “It’s important to provide emo-

tional support, including helping vets who need it to get to appointments and joining in on family sessions.” • Thoroughly consider leadership: There are many outstanding efforts going on with non-profits that help today’s returning vets, but the best medicine is prevention, he says. In 2001, when the Iraq War was gearing up, that same feeling of anticipation—excitement—washed over Elliott that he experienced before entering Vietnam. “I was surprised that I could feel that way, but then I quickly remembered all that I’ve been through with the reality of war,” he says. “If families and citizens really want to help the men and women of the U.S. military, they will be wary of politicians who haven’t been in combat and who are all too quick to the war trigger.” Ord Elliott was a Marine Rifle Platoon commander in Vietnam. He had a career management consulting and has authored several books.

Ord Elliott

STATE CERTIFIED LICENSE #CCC1327406 • CBC 1259006


BY SUZANNE S. AUTIN-HILL

In spite of being financially and emotionally ready, my personal-

ity type presented the real challenge to my transition into the leisurely, carefree days known as retirement. I hope those contemplating retirement, near retirement or struggling in their retirement will consider the impact their personality may have on their own transition. For thirty-five years the grains of sand in the hour glass of my life as a mathematics educator fell in predictable conical patterns and shapes. This predictability suited my personality perfectly. (Or was it the other way around?) Regardless, I was comfortable with the ways in which I used my time and my time used me.

During the summer I allowed my days to be somewhat open-ended and peppered with spontaneity. But as June turned into September, I grew antsy and weary of working so hard to plan “unplanned” days. I could hear my daughters breathe a sigh of relief when television ads featured “school bells.” “It’s time for Mom to go back to work before she drives herself (and us) cra-zy!” I imagined they said to one another. In retrospect this nagging anxiety and unrest was a harbinger of what I would experience during the first two years of retirement. The ancient medical concept of humorism suggested that four tempera-ments affected human moods, emotions, behavior and personality traits. Galen, a leading scientist of his day, named them:

• Sanguine (pleasure-seeking, sociable)• Choleric (ambitious and leader-like)• Melancholic (introverted, thoughtful)• Phlegmatic (relaxed and quiet)

In modern times these categories can be found in psychological inventories such as the Personality Plus test (Per-sonality Plus by Florence Littauer). A year before retirement, this inven-tory was an assignment in an Ameri-can Sign Language class I was taking. The intent was to determine the challenges one might face on an inter-preting team. My “score card” read, Melancholy 11, Sanguine 5, Choleric and Phlegmatic 2 on scales of 20, respectively. The professor said that extremes among the totals in each of the four categories “…were bad.” My results would prove to be yet another harbinger of my upcoming challenge. If retirement was a second chance to ride the merry-go-round of life pressure-free, I was going to flunk! To a melancholic who assesses, makes lists, evaluates, and analyzes, doing whatever whenever was very discon-certing. Each morning I awakened with restlessness akin to my summer angst and reflective of my “score card.”

To transition successfully, I allowed retirement to open up a window in my mind so that a new possibil-ity could drift in, i.e., I could be myself! I developed the terms and conditions of my retirement to do it as Frank Sinatra said “…my way!” Knowing my personality type helped me to face the angst and restlessness that challenged my retirement. I negotiated a happy medium between the wonderful open-endedness of retirement and my need to know what’s next. Every day I have a plan that ends with a sense of completion. I read, write, sing in the Senior Choir, volunteer as an interpret-er, attend workshops on a variety of sub-jects, spend time with my grandchildren and travel. Sometimes I plan to stay home in my pajamas and do absolutely nothing! I’m sure you know you need to be ready financially and emotion-ally. But, is your personality ready? Consider including a personality inventory in your retirement planning. Suzanne S. Austin-Hill ©2012

Retirement? It Takes Personality!

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1992 Jacobsen #1632 BR, 2 BA. 1056 Sq. Ft.$15,500

1986 Palm Harbor #2403 BR, 2 BA. 1152 Sq. Ft.$14,900

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Don’t Ignore Long Term Care InsuranceMany Americans

work hard to maintain good health, and those efforts are really pay-ing off. As a nation, we are living longer and enjoying a higher quality of life than ever before. But to enjoy our senior years to the fullest, you need to carefully protect your financial health as well. You insure your home, your health, your car and even your life. And you carefully plan your savings and investments for retirement. But all of those plans could be for nothing if you or your spouse should need long term health care, one of the largest expenses older Americans face. The reality is, the longer you live, the greater the chance you will need some form of long term care, such as ex-tended care in a skilled nursing facility, assisted living community or through a home health agency. When you look at the facts, it is easy to see that fi nancing long term care is a serious problem fac-ing the nation. As our population grows proportionately older, the problem will only get worse. Consider the following:• Two of every fi ve Americans over the age 65 will need nursing home care. There are already some 1.8 million nursing home patients.• Another 9 million people receive long term care at home or in other centers such as adult day care of assisted living communities.• About a quarter of the American work force now has elder care responsibilities, and that will increase to 40 percent in fi ve years.• Many young adults also need long term care due to conditions such as car accident injuries, brain tumors, multiple sclerosis and strokes.• The average annual cost for long term care today in a skilled nurs-ing facility or through an 8-hour shift of home care is $74,208.• Costs are projected to nearly triple in the next 20 years.

Financing of Long Term Care There are three basic ways to pay for long term care in a nurs-ing home: Medicare, Medicaid or private pay (out of pocket or by using long term care insurance). In 2009 the average cost for a year in a nursing home averaged $73,208. This can be fi nancially devastating, especially if a patient stays the average of three years or even longer. Long term care ex-penses can easily total $250,000 to $500,000 or even more!

Medicare Medicare is the federal program that will pay for nursing home care for those who need a skilled level of care after a three-day hospital stay. Skilled care is best described by the type of care you need due to a hip fracture or stroke—therapy on a daily basis, or skilled nursing services daily. Medicare is limited in the number of days it will pay for nursing home care—up to 100 days. Medicare pays 100 percent of the fi rst 20 days (after the three day hospital stay and only if skilled care is needed), beginning on day 21-100 there is a daily co-payment required with Medicare. Most seniors have a Medicare Supplement policy. Medicare supplements will pay in conjunction with Medicare. Once Medicare stops paying for care, most supplements will not continue to pay.Medicaid If you have exhausted Medicare pay-ments the only other options are Medic-aid and paying out of pocket (private pay). Medicaid is available for those indi-viduals that have low income or limited resources. Medicaid is the state/federal welfare program and has limitations as to the amount of assets you can own and the amount of income you may receive each month before you are eligible. The federal government has instituted re-strictions on the transferring of assets out of an estate to qualify for Medicaid. There is a look back period of 36 months or 60 months if a trust has been established. A law was passed in 1996 making it a crime to shift assets to become eligible for nursing home Medicaid coverage. A drawback with Medicaid is limited choices of where to receive care. Not all

nursing homes accept Medicaid patients and depending on the state in which you live, Medicaid may not be available for assisted living centers or home health care.LTC Insurance Besides paying out of your own pocket, you can purchase long term care insurance. This insurance must be purchased prior to needing long term care. The eligibility for the insurance is based on your current health. If you currently need long term care, you will not be insurable. Most fi nancial planners recommend that LTC insurance be purchased in your late 50’s or early 60’s. In this range the cost is quite affordable and your health is probably still pretty good. The premiums are based on your age, health, and the type of plan that your purchase. The primary reason people are purchas-ing long term care insurance is to maintain choice, and consequently, independence. If you are the type of person who enjoys being in control, a long term care insurance policy may be the only thing that makes it possible for you to stay in control by guaranteeing that you will have decision making power when you need long term care, such as choices other than a nursing home—assisted liv-ing, home health care, adult day care etc. So, don’t pass the buck. Stay in control of your life by taking responsibility for your own long term care by purchasing a long term care policy—the private sector’s solution to the real health care crisis.LTC Insurance Benefi t Considerations When purchasing LTC insurance you must make three main decisions, and a few optional decisions. These decisions, along with your age and health determine your premium.Daily Benefi t—the amount of money you will receive from the insurance company on a daily basis for your care. You usually can select between $50 and $300 per day. Find out what the current cost of care is in your area and it will help you make the decision as to what daily benefi t you want (also see infl ation protection below).Benefi t Period—the length of time you will receive payments from the insur-ance company once you need care. You

usually can select a specifi c number of years (2,3,4,5,6) or lifetime plans are also available. The average length of stay in a nursing home is 2 1/2 to 3 years.Elimination Period (deductible)—the number of days that you will be respon-sible for paying for your care before the insurance begins to pay. This works like most insurance deductibles except it is stated in a number of days instead of dollars. Most plans have a variety of op-tions like 0 days, 20 days, 60 days or 100 days. Be sure to check if this deductible is once in a lifetime or if it can repeat. Also, there are three optional deci-sions that can be added to your plan.Infl ation Protection—this ties back to your daily benefi t and allows it to grow on an annual basis to help keep your plan in step with infl ation. It is built into your original premium and therefore will increase your annual premium. You may have choices of 5 percent simple or 5 percent compounded. You do not have to add this to your plan—but it is certainly recommended if you are under age 80.Home Health Care Coverage—most policies will also give you the option of receiving insurance benefi ts in your own home. This option will allow you greater choice as to where your care can be paid for by the insurance. It may cover community care life, Adult Day Care Centers as well as care in the home. This option will increase your premium.Nonforfeiture—this option provides some form of paid up benefi t if the policy should lapse. This option increases your base premium.

I hope this brief column will give you some insight into the need to prepare for long term care. As a premier senior care company for over 40 years, NHC is pleased to offer assistance in providing long term care insurance. NHC works with several of the nation’s leading long term care insurance carriers. These companies all share NHC’s commitment of pioneering ways of providing the best product at the best value to give you peace of mind. Call us at (615) 890-2020 or visit our website at nhccare.com for more information.

— Dr. Steve Flatt is President of National HealthCare Corporation

By Dr. Steve Flatt


The medical teams at Largo Medical Center and Northside Hospital include some of our area’s most respected cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons, cardiac electrophysiologists and other specialists who are experts in their disciplines.

To find a cardiac specialist near you,

call 1-855-422-2228.

ComprehensiveCardiovasCular Care


Just Say No! 5 Easy Ways to Kick the Sugar Habit

Sugar is the most frequently bought food on the grocery store shelves.

It’s also one of the most dangerous substances on the face of the earth. Sugar is toxic, fattening and addictive. To kick the sugar habit, you have to look at it as though you are ending an addiction. You can kick the sugar habit by following these five easy steps:

1. Just say NO! Quit Eating Sugar! Go Cold Turkey. Expect cravings, head-aches, and irritability for 3 – 5 days. This is a good sign that you’re making progress, and if you keep it up, the cravings will disappear over time.

2. Use Stevia Instead of Sugar to sweeten foods. It is a natural, herbal sweetener that is calorie-free and does not affect blood glucose.

3. Read the Food Labels. Find the Hidden Sugars: Read labels. Sugar is disguised in our foods as refined white sugar, high-fructose corn syrup, dextrose (corn sugar), maltose (malt

sugar), lactose (milk sugar), corn sweetener, brown sugar, powdered sugar, and maple sugar. Then avoid these foods. 4. Eat Foods That Have 5 Grams of Sugar or Less Per Serving: This means your pancreas will

not have to release too much insulin, which can result in fat storage in the body. Then, remember to have only one serving! Control what you eat. 5. Eat More Fruit To Curb Sugar Cravings: When you crave sweets, try fruit as a better alternative. To find out more, read Lose Weight Without Dieting or Working Out!

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Aqua Zumba, Anyone?BY PEGGY HENDERSON

If anyone had told me a year ago that I would be making waves to the La-

tino steps of the salsa, tango, flamin-go, yes, belly dancing and, God for-bid, in a swim suit at the YMCA, I’d have firmly replied: in your dreams.

At the very thought, my over-inflated ego screamed: “Play it safe. Why bother to take a chance and make a fool of yourself? Again.” We seniors tend to shy away from the unknown. It’s less stressful to rest in the minuscule details of our daily routine. I admit I do value my comfort zones. Nevertheless, I bought the advertised Miracle Swim Suit that promised a smoother, trimmer appearance and rented my locker. Trust me. Dancing with a giddy group of ladies of all sizes and shapes takes away all inhibitions and no matter how you feel easing into the cool water, you will step out of the water energized for the rest of the day. The Zumba is a Colombian dance fitness program created by a dancer and choreographer who forgot his aerobics music for an exercise class one day. Using salsa and meringue rhythms, he combined the two, eventually produced a demo reel—and the rest is history. Presently there are 12 million people taking Zumba classes in over 110,000 locations across more than 126 countries. Aqua Zumba classes are usually taught by qualified, young, hard-body instructors. Once the music fills the humid arena, ready or not, the party

begins. The instructor dances front and center on the pool deck and conducts the group, starting with a brisk warm-up and then into raunchy, racy paces, and finally a much needed cool down. What I like about the swimming pool venue is I can push myself as much or little as I’m willing to challenge the

water’s weighty resistance. Like other moderate, low-impact physical activities, the benefits are similar but dancing isn’t boring. Music unlocks the parts of the brain that contain our pleasure hormones. The good news is active participation for a shared purpose can add years to one’s life. For example, it can be bowling, shuffle-

board, or maybe miniature golf. Or a competitive game that excludes sitting down. The bonus—besides increased longevity—is a promise of improved emotional health and sharper cognitive skills. Surely even a plump, pessimistic goose or gander would find it hard to resist a few more years of paddling around a lake. The known risks of social isolation is like Fido standing at the door waiting for his master to come home. This sedentary lifestyle creates an opportunity for debilitating depression. In addition, it’s a fact that due to such limited exercise, issues of cardiovascular complications, osteoporosis and increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis rate high on the at-risk chart. Even more scary, medical experts report our immune system and lack of brain alertness weakens due to little stimulation. Much has been written about living the last chapters of one’s life with grace, wit and gratitude. I still fight my competitive ego—even if no one else can see that I’m not dancing the correct dance movements, no matter that no one gives a cha cha cha that I’m moving right when I should be facing left. No matter. Tomorrow’s another day. For dancing. (SENIOR WIRE)

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Holocaust “Twins Experiments” Survivor: “Forgiveness is a Modern Miracle of Medicine”Eva Kor will never

forget the day her childhood ended. The images of that day, and the weeks after, are burned into her memory, as brutally permanent as the tat-too on her left forearm. In 1944, Kor and her twin sister Miriam, 10 years old at the time, became part of a group of children used for human experimentation by Josef Mengele, known as the Angel of Death. Now 78 years old, Kor shared her memories with a group of physicians, researchers and other medical profes-sionals at The Methodist Hospital Research Institute. Identical twins Eva and Miriam Mozes were chosen for experimentation by Mengele, who subjected children as young as two to horrific surgeries and injections.

“Nothing can prepare a person for a place like Auschwitz,” she told the audience. Upon seeing bod-ies of children sprawled on a bathroom floor, Kor said she pledged to herself to survive any way she could. “Each day I was deter-mined to live one more day,” she said, “and survive one more experiment.”

Even at such a young age, Kor said she and her sister knew they had no choice but to submit to Mengele’s experiments if they hoped to survive. They would often sit naked in a room for up to eight hours at a time, as blood was drawn from one arm and unknown substances were injected into the other arm. The rumor spread around the barracks was that if one was taken to the hos-pital, that person never came back.

“It was very easy to die in Auschwitz,” Kor said. “Surviving was a full time job.” Eva stole potatoes to keep her and her sister alive. Guards sometimes looked the other way when she stole food, because the girls were protected by Mengele. “As long as he wanted us alive, no one would harm us,” she said. Then, just four days before the girls’ 11th birthday, Auschwitz was liberated by the Soviet Army. The twins were marched out of the death camp before Russian movie cameras, and eventually they were allowed to move to Israel. Eva met and married Michael Kor, another Holocaust survivor, and moved to Indiana. Her sister Miriam also married but stayed in Israel. The sisters worked together to organize CANDLES, Children of Auschwitz Nazi Deadly Lab Experiments Sur-vivors, to help locate other survivors of Mengele’s deadly experiments. Through their efforts, 122 twins living

in 10 countries around the world were eventually reconnected. “I do believe in the need for medical research and ethical human experimentation,” she told the audi-ence of scientists and physicians. In 1995, Kor met face to face with repentant Nazi physician Hans Munch, and they traveled together back to Auschwitz to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the death camp. On that journey, she said she discovered a way for her to heal both her body and her soul. “I forgave the doctor who oversaw the gas chambers where the rest of my family was killed,” she said. “And I realized I had the power to even forgive the Angel of Death. Now, I am no longer a victim of Auschwitz. “This act of forgiveness is an act of self healing. I believe forgiveness is a modern miracle of medicine.” (from Newswise)

Eva Kor

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BY FRED CICETTI

Q. What is the leading cause of hospitalization of older people?

Is it heart attacks or strokes?

The number one reason people over age 65 go into the hospital

is congestive heart failure (CHF), or simply heart failure. If you have CHF, your heart can’t pump enough blood. This condition develops over time. Heart failure is most common in older people, and is more common in African-Americans. Men have a higher rate of heart failure than women. But, because women usually live longer, the condition affects more women in their 70s and 80s. In normal hearts, veins bring oxygen-poor blood from the body to the right side of the heart. It is then pumped through the pulmonary artery to the lungs, picking up oxygen. From there, the blood returns to the left side of the heart. Then it is pumped through a large artery called the aorta that distributes blood throughout the body. Heart failure is caused by other diseases or conditions that damage the heart muscle. It is often caused by coronary artery disease, including heart attacks. Diabetes and high blood pres-sure also contribute to heart failure. Coronary artery disease is the leading cause of death in men and women. It happens when the arteries that supply blood to the heart be-come hardened and narrowed. People who have had a heart attack are at high risk to develop heart failure. There are a number of things that you can do to reduce risk of coronary artery disease and heart failure. For starters, you should keep the fol-lowing levels down: body weight, cholesterol, blood pressure, sugar, alcohol and salt. Exercise regu-larly. And, if you smoke, quit.

The most common symptoms of heart failure include shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling, which usually occurs in the ankles, feet and legs. Swelling is caused by fluid buildup in the body and can lead to weight gain, frequent urination and a cough. Because the symptoms are common for other conditions, your doctor will determine if you have heart failure by doing a detailed medical history, an examination, and several tests. Tests that are given to determine heart failure include an electrocar-diogram (EKG), a chest X-ray, and a blood test for BNP, a hormone that increases in heart failure. Tests that can identify the cause of heart failure include: an echocardio-

gram that uses sound waves; a Holter monitor, which is a small box that is worn for 24 hours to provide a continuous recording

of heart rhythm during normal activity; an exercise stress test that reads your EKG and blood pressure before, during or after exercise to see how your heart responds. There is no cure for heart failure, but it can be controlled. People with CHF are usually

put on a low-salt diet to prevent fluid build-up. Their doctors may

also tell them to lose weight, quit smoking, and reduce alcohol intake. Medications that are used include: diuretics, “water pills” to reduce fluid; ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure and reduce heart stress; beta-blockers to slow your heart rate and lower blood pressure; Digoxin to help the heart beat stronger. People with severe heart failure may also be given a mechani-cal heart pump. A heart transplant is an option when all other treat-ments fail to control symptoms. If you would like to read more columns, you can order a copy of “How To Be A Healthy Geezer” at www.healthygeezer.com. All Rights Reserved © 2012 by Fred Cicetti.

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Belly Fat Can Signal an Unhealthy HeartCarrying a little extra fat around the

middle can be hard on a woman’s ego—especially during swimsuit season—but it’s even harder on her heart. Extra body fat increases the risk for conditions that contribute to heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Fat deposited in the abdomen—called visceral fat— lies deep enough to sur-round organs and disrupt their function. “The fat around the belly is particularly metabolically active, meaning that it produces a number of factors that increase the risks for heart disease,” explains Dr. Paula Johnson, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. Those factors include hormones and other substances that promote inflammation, raise blood pres-sure, alter cholesterol levels and interfere with normal blood vessel activity. The metabolic syndrome is a constellation of factors that has been linked to heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. It includes:

• Waist measurement of 35 inches or more (40 inches in men).

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• HDL (“good”) choles-terol level of less than 50 mg/dL (40 mg/dL in men).

• Blood pressure reading of 130/85 mmHg or higher.

• Fasting blood sugar level of 100 mg/dL or higher.

Three of these risk factors signals metabolic syndrome. A simple waist circumference measurementcan be a warning sign a person has it, Dr. Johnson says. There are several ways to banish this particularly unhealthy type of fat:

• Cut back on candy, cookies, white bread and other foods made with highly processed grains or full of added sugar.• Trim portion sizes to help lose weight, or at least not gain any more.• Stay active and exercise every day. From the Harvard Women’s Health Watch.

THIS IS WHAT A HEART ATTACKFEELS LIKE TO A WOMAN.(LIGHT-HEADEDNESS OR SUDDEN DIZZINESS)

Other Heart Attack Symptoms to Watch Out For:Chest pain, discomfort, pressure or squeezing, like there’s a ton

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BY FRED WRIGHT

The folks who designed and built the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino

in Biloxi, Miss., knew what they were doing. They not only borrowed liberally from a sister property in Las Vegas, the Belagio, but they did not spare the five senses. As visitors drive up to the Beau Rivage, which stands 29 floors above the Gulf of Mexico coastline, the hotel spreads out with more than 1,740 rooms and suites. Guest rooms face Gulf-ward or city-ward. Either way, there’s a treat.

For those staying in a room facing the Gulf, the view can be mesmeriz-ing. Shrimp boats slowly and silently (thanks to well-insulated rooms) mo-tor out for each day’s catch. Pelicans rest on breakwaters as sea gulls trail the shimmers in hopes of a tidbit. Cityside, the lights of Biloxi at night are augmented by a train track a few blocks away. Several times each evening, freight trains work their way through town, horns moaning, evoking childhood memories. The rooms themselves are very upmarket; the bathrooms come with separate shower and bath tub. Room service is quick and efficient. It’s easy to nest and forget all the tempting entertainment a few floors below. The hotel’s pool sits right on the Gulf, of course, with cabanas and a pool-side bar. It’s an ideal place to meet with friends or retreat with corporate coworkers. Live music is often wafting over the pool at night, either from poolside entertainers or live performers inside the casino, their music piped outside. The Beau Rivage Spa and Salon, one floor above the casino, has a fresh menu of tempting treat-ments for the body, from facials to pedicures. There’s a Mississippi Massage to detoxify the body, with treatments lasting 50 to 100 minutes. Your choice. The Warm

Stone Massage uses heated basalt stones which are rubbed smoothly and gently across the body. There are also couples massages (friends qualify), Mother-To-Be Massages and even In-Room Massages. For those seeking even more self-indulgence, there’s an Age-Defying Facial (promoted as the Rolls Royce of of treatments) or the Caviar and Pearl Facial. This treatment includes exfoliation and massage of the hands and feet as well. The lights and action, of course, are on the ground floor. Cleverly designed, the casino sits in the center with restau-rants, theater entrance, guest services, poker room and cashier around the sides. Hundreds of slot machines blink and bleep, ringing out the occasional jackpot or big spin win. Scattered throughout the casino are oases of table games—all the familiar ones, from cards to dice. A bar in the center provides a respite and live music. The only thing missing, for the nostalgic,

are the sounds of coins hitting the hopper. Slots now take cash only, no coins, and winners are paid off with a ticket that can be traded in for cash. Keep your quarters in your pocket. The Beau Rivage, as a AAA Four Diamond Resort, is renowned for its food. There is the traditional morning, noon and night buffet, and a 24-hour

restaurant right at the entrance. B.R. Prime is the resort’s resident steakhouse, well appointed with wine racks and mood lighting. Memphis, as the name suggests, features barbeque and other smoked favor-

ites. A favorite is Jia, an oriental restaurant offering group seating, tables and sushi bar. The menu offers a rich choice of Asian dishes from China, Japan, Vietnam and other pan-American regions. And its noodle bar is open until 2 a.m. For a break from gaming, the Beau Rivage offers a Retail Promenade stretching from parking garage to registration desk. Options range

from upmarket wrist watches to local ceramics. There is a shop for every budget, even a $10 store where everything is, well, $10 or less. There is also The Bean, a fine coffee bar with local grinds and fresh pastries. The Beau Rivage Resort & Casino knows its demographic. A new policy promises all standard rooms are non-smoking; guests are even required to sign a promise to pay $250 if they smoke in a standard room. (In suites, smoking remains optional.) The resort and casino are easily accessible from the Tampa Bay market. In fact, the Beau Rivage partners with its own carrier, Vision Airlines, provid-ing two- and three-day packages out of St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport. It’s an easy, smooth flight, just over an hour, from Clearwater to Gulfport, Miss., and then a 20-minute complimentary shuttle on the Beau Bus from there to Biloxi and “The Beau.” Another nice touch: Check your bag at the airport and it shows up in your room a couple of hours later. Since it’s a gaming flight, flight attendants offer free drinks and an optional money grab bag drawing each way. Passengers are invited to write their seat numbers on $1, $5, $10 and $20 bills which are placed in a plastic bag. One of each denomina-tion is drawn—providing a handful of people with a head start going up and possible solace coming back. The Beau Rivage Resort & Casino has a expansive theater. Throughout the year, it offers a variety of entertainment, from big name stars to a Christmas-on-ice show.

Travel

Scheduled entertainment events starting in February include:Feb. 1-2 – Rodney CarringtonFeb. 9 – Diana RossFeb. 22 – Grand Funk Railroad & WarMarch 16 – Moody BluesMarch 22 – Vince GillMay 3 – Joan Jett & The BlackheartsJune 7 – Ron White

Fly, Stay and Play at Beau Rivage, Biloxi


Just Another Truth-Is-Better-Than-Fiction Call

BY MARK PILARSKI

Dear Mark: I was at the craps table at Caesar’s in Canada.

My established point to make was nine. I threw the dice and they hit the backboard with the six landing on the table and the three landing on top of the six. It was not leaning on one side or the other. Nobody working at the table or playing ever had seen this before. However, they said it was in the rule book as a No Call. I could have thrown the dice a thousand times and not duplicated that again. Is this in the rule book for all casinos? Have you ever seen this happen? —Ray A.

Recently, while pulling down Christ-mas decorations from the attic, I came upon a table game rules handbook from one of the smaller joints that I worked at. As to your scenario, one die on top of another, the closest directive from the manual was this stand-alone, one liner; “Any dice not showing all of its spots is a No Call.”

Nonetheless, without being there and observing exactly the way the dice were stacked, I am going to punt and trust the judgment of the boxman who made the call. That is not to say that I, or any other sitting box, would have made the same decision. A die on a 45-degree angle lying against chips induces different calls all the time. Craps is a chaotic game, Ray, and a boxman needs to make split-second decisions that are not always favorable to the player. Although the call was not advantageous to you, it most likely was the correct decision based on his interpretation of the rules.

And then there was this time when I was boxing a $1 crap game, the point was four, and a die flew off the table and down a young lady’s blouse, and somehow got stuck in her undergarment. Without hesitation, she unbuttoned her blouse, then her bra, and out pops, among other things, a two tumbling to the table, matching side-by-side the two already on the felt. Knowing the casino had less than $30 at risk, I couldn’t resist, overrode the stickman’s legitimate “no call,” and yelled, “two spots and two dots. Pay the Pass line.”

Dear Mark: Has legal sports bet-ting been around as long as casino gambling, or vice versa? —Elliot R.

Even though the Greeks were betting on footraces long before Bavarian immigrant Charles Fey invented the slot machine, legalized casino gambling in the U.S. came first. In 1931, gambling was legalized throughout the state of Nevada, where-as it wasn’t until 1949 that Nevada allowed bookmakers to accept bets on professional sports and horse racing. At first, these bookie parlors were called Turf Clubs, and were independent and separate from the casinos—until 1975 that is. That is when Frank Rosenthal, who ran the Stardust, convinced state legislators to allow sport books into the casinos, causing the demise of Turf Clubs, which were no longer able to compete.

Gambling Wisdom of the Month: The population of Las Vegas, NV in 1910 was only 30. (SENIOR WIRE)

I threw the dice and they hit the backboard with the six landing

on the table and the three landing on top of the six. Nobody working at the table or playing

ever had seen this before.

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MOMENTS LIKE THESE ARE PRECIOUS. DON’T LET THEM FADE AWAY.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in people 55 and older. It is a chronic disease affecting more than 10 million Americans, and early detection is key to saving your sight.

Protect your vision from fading away. Call the Foundation Fighting Blindness today for a free info packet about preventing and managing AMD.

A Cure Is In Sight800-610-4558FightBlindness.org

Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losing weight are just two of the ways that you can fight osteoarthritis pain. In fact, for every pound you lose, that’s four pounds less pressure on each knee. For information on managing pain, go to fightarthritispain.org.


For Information call: Pinellas: 727-329-2618 – Susan Juhl and Nicole Woodring

Hillsborough: 813-436-2296/813-436-2114 – Andrea White and Chrissy Crumpton

SENIOR IDOL SHOW - April 1, 2013 at 7 p.m. Ruth Eckerd Hall

1111 McMullen Booth Road • Clearwater, FL 33759$6 admission per person

Senior Talent Show: February 6, 2013 - 7:00 p.m.

Largo Cultural Center105 Central Park Drive

Largo, FL 33779$6.50 admission per person

Senior Talent ShowFebruary 16, 2013 - 3:00 p.m.

Spoto High School8538 Eagle Palm Drive Riverview, FL 33578

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A F T E R 50


NEW! State Recreation AtlasesRVers, take note!

Hikers and bikers, look at this! Sportsmen of all kinds, you’ll love these. The brand new National Geographic State Recreation Atlases are an ideal recreation resource and contain accurate, detailed topographic maps with private and public land bound-aries, a complete road network, valuable recreation information and extensive cross-referenced lists and charts for campgrounds, lakes, parks, attractions and more. Atlases are now out for Florida, Alabama, Georgia, Michigan , Minnesota and Wisconsin. State Game Management Unit maps and fish species lists will appeal to the sportsman while detailed primary road networks will be of great interest to motorcyclists, RVers, and those simply touring the state.

Features • Detailed topographic maps with

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Word Search Answers

From January

Richard and Yolanda Baumerare last month’s winners!

Congratulations!

Word Search FebruaryIn 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 example is given to get you started. Can you find the twenty answers in this puzzle?

Send your answers along with your name, address and telephone number to:

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The first correct answers selected from the drawing on February 21 will win.WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!

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A Florida Treasure—The Casablanca Inn

One of the Florida’s great treasures in St. Augustine is the Casablanca

Inn, built in 1914. Afternoons can find you on the veranda overlooking Matanzas Bay and the Bridge of Lions while horses clop clop down the street out front. Drinks from the on-site

Tini Martini Bar can be just plain fun. By night the Inn offers luxury suites and rooms with sleep number beds, antique furnishings, decorative fireplaces, private en-tries, whirlpools—and the quiet of the streets of Old Town. Rooms offer private balconies or patios overlooking Charlotte Street, a perfect place to enjoy coffee in the morning.

Breakfast can be served on the verandah or inside in the sun room. A champagne mimosa, bakery items and the chef’s daily special (eggs benedict anyone?) add to the feeling of luxury. Information: call (904) 829-0928 or visit casablancainn.com.

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Road Reading: Books to Take Along on AdventuresHistory of the Dead For a unique look at Florida history, visit Napoleon’s nephew’s grave or find the five graves of people from one family who died in the 1918 flu epidemic. Fifteen Florida Cemeteries by Lola Haskins tells both gruesome and restful stories. There are the graves of nuns buried 400 years ago, a gravestone that read ‘See Reverse Side’ and some spooky tales as well. Each chapter features a substantial description of (and driving direc-tions to) a particular location, an overview of the local community and an extended profile of one of that cemetery’s most interesting ‘residents.’ Haskins also includes a pet

cemetery and a racehorse cemetery and the stories of a ghost dog and a horse that got a speeding ticket.

A Panhandler’s Guide Brian Rucker’s Treasures of the Panhandle: A Journey through West Florida provides a guide to the area sometimes called a “Redneck Riviera” in tourism brochures. Travel with the book through an area full of natural wonders and historic treasures—12 counties, 24 state parks, three state forests, one national forest and a national seashore make up the area. Add to that caves, the world’s largest air force base and lost treasures—and you’ve got an area worth the trip.

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Beloved Ballets Enjoy complimentary coffee and doughnuts at this morning concert featuring Tchaikovsky’s Sleeping Beauty, Prokofiev’s Romeo & Juliet and Stravinsky’s Firebird. Stuart Malina conducts.

Thu, Mar 7, 11am Progress Energy Center for the ArtsMahaffey Theater

Coffee Concerts

Overtures, Intermezzi & FinalesStuart Malina conducts this morning concert with spirited music from Bernstein’s Candide, Bizet’s Carmen and Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess, among other works. Don’t miss the pre-concert conversation and complimentary coffee and doughnuts one hour before the concert.

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History of Valentines

Every year on February 14, chil-dren exchange valentine greetings

with their schoolmates and adults send them to those they love and cherish. The American tradition of sending valentines originated with a young graduate of Mount Holyoke College. Esther Howland was inspired to create her own elaborate rendi-tions of the cards after receiving ornate English valentines sent to her by a family friend.

Howland arranged with her father, who owned the largest book and stationery store in Worcester, Mass., to have paper lace, floral decorations and other materials sent to her from England. So many orders for her creations came in that she recruited friends to help her keep up with the demand. She eventually turned the

assembly line operation that began in her home into a thriving business grossing $100,000 annually. She retired in 1881 and sold her business to the George C. Whitney Company. Her alma mater, Mount Holyoke College, has a valentine collection that spans the 1840s to the 1980s and displays the stylistic shifts within the valentine industry over the years. Every year in February, Mount Holy-oke displays part of the collection.

A portrait of Esther Howland and her valentines on display.


BRIDGE BITESFrom The

American ContractBridge League

Take FourBY BRIAN GUNNELL

This month you are playing E-W, and as the problem is a tough

one you get four attempts to beatthe contract.

North’s bid was a Negative Double, showing the unbid suits. She usually has 4 cards in the unbid major for that bid, but was stuck for a good alternative. Anyway, South lands in 4♥, and you are on defense. Can you beat this precarious contract? Take 1: Spades are led, Declarer ruff-ing the third round. The ♥8 is ducked around to East’s Queen. But East has no Spades left, and it’s easy for Declarer to win whatever is returned, draw trumps and claim the rest. Cut!

Take 2: The defense has a certain trump trick and they must make sure that it is West who wins that trick. This allows Spades to be continued, causing Declarer to lose trump con-trol. So, when the ♥8 is led, West must hop up with the Ten, forcing Declarer to play Dummy’s King. Now a Heart to Declarer’s Ace and a low Heart to East’s Queen. Again the wrong defender has won the Heart trick. Cut! Take 3: OK, suppose West plays his ♥T on the first round, forcing Dummy’s King, but then, on the second round, East cleverly jumps up with the Queen. No, that won’t work either, Declarer simply lets the Queen win. Cut! Take 4: As before, West plays the ♥T, and East must do his part by dropping the ♥Q under Dummy’s King! Great defense! This guarantees that West wins the defense’s Heart trick and he is the one who can play Spades. Down one! That would be an awfully hard defense to find at the table, don’t you think? In fact, it’s tough enough even when looking at all four hands. But a thing of beauty nonetheless, all the more so as it gave both defenders a starring role. 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: www.stpetebridge.org.

Computer ClassesDid you know that

seniors are less likely to show symptoms of depression when they are able to connect with the community via computer? Senior Citizens Services of Clearwater offers computer classes designed for Senior Citizens

exclusively, every week day from 10 a.m. to noon. Computer class instructionis conducted from 10 a.m.to noon at Senior Citizens Services, 1204 Rogers Street, Clearwater. Advance reservations at (727) 442-8104. Course

fee is $25. First come, first served.

FREE INFORMATION SERVICELifestyles After 50

for information please return completed form to:News Connection USA, Inc. • P.O. Box 278 • Laurel FL 34272-0278

Name:

Address:

City:

Phone:

o Single o Married o Are you a Group Leader?Please contact me by: o Mail o Phone o E-mail

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Win a $25 Gift Certificate to Home Depot!When you complete this form and mail it back, your name will be entered to win a $25 gift certficate to Home Depot.

(Drawing held the 20th of each month.)

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TRAVEL:o Cruises o Land Tourso Hotels/ Resortso Local Attractions

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Unsquish Internet Explorer Tabs

I’m using IE 9, though I don’t really care for it that much. One

thing that annoys me is when I open tabs for various websites, all the open tabs are squished together next to the Address bar. Is there some way I can make room for the tabs to expand?

Right-click in the area where your tabs normally open and

place a check next to “Show tabs on a separate row.” Once you do this, all your tabs will open in the expansive space available under the Address bar. If IE 9 is wearing a bit thin on you, take a look at either Firefox (www.mozilla.com/firefox) or Google Chrome (www.google.com/chrome). Both are excellent browsers and worthy of consideration.

I would like to download Microsoft Security Essentials

to my system, but I already use Norton, provided free by Comcast. Will this be a problem?

Not for me and not for Comcast, but it could be a problem for

your computer. I would not use both. If you’re happy with Norton, stick with it. If at some point it no longer brings joy to your life, that would be a good time to make the change. If you try to use both, there is a good chance each program will detect the various bits of embedded virus code in the other, so each program will think the other program is a virus. That can lead to false positive and false negative reports, which is not good. Very few anti-virus programs work well with other anti-virus programs so it’s best to let one protection rule the roost. Anti-spyware programs are better at socializing, so you can have multiple

anti-spyware programs installed on the same system without any problem. Is there some way I can show

more items on my Start menu than currently appear? It seems like the icons for each program are taking up most of the room. Can I make the icons smaller?

Yes, you can shrink Start menu icons in Vista and Windows

7. Right-click a blank area of your Taskbar and select Properties. Select the Start Menu tab from the window that appears and click the Customize button. Scroll down to the bottom and remove the check mark beside “Use Large Icons,” then click OK > OK. I have been on Facebook

for three years now and I’m a little embarrassed to ask this question, but how do I invite someone to become my friend? Log into your Facebook

account, then choose “Invite

Friends” from the Friends menu at the top of the page. You will have to pro-vide some information at that point, but just follow what appears on screen and you shouldn’t have any problem.

Using Windows Live Mail, how do I permanently

make my font larger?

Click Tools > Options. (You may have to hold down the ALT

key to display the Menu bar.) Go to the Compose tab and under Compose Font, click the Font Settings button next to Mail. Choose the desired font size, style and color. Click OK when you’re done to save your selections. If you change your default to a larger font, but you can still barely see what you are typing, your reading font settings may be the culprit. Check the main Windows Live Mail screen under View > Text Size and adjust them accordingly. For answers to your questions, visit www.MrModem.com. (SENIOR WIRE)

Mr.Modemby Richard Sherman

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This computer is easy-to-use,worry-free and literally puts the world at your fingertips. From the moment you open thebox, you’ll realize how differentthe WOW Computer is. The components are all connected; all you do is plug it into an outletand your high-speed Internet connection. Then you’ll see thescreen. This is a completely newtouch screen system, without the cluttered look of the normalcomputer screen. The “buttons”on the screen are easy to see and easy to understand. All youdo is touch one of them, from the Web, Email, Calendar toGames– you name it… and a newscreen opens up. It’s so easy to

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Until now thevery people whocould benefit mostfrom E-mail, andthe Internet arethe ones that havehad the hardesttime accessing it.Now, thanks to theWOW Computer,countless olderAmericans arediscovering thewonderful worldof the Internetevery day. Isn’tit time you tookpart?

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WOW_80385_49633_10x4.75:WOW-80385_10x4.75 1/22/13 1:05 PM Page 1Hunger is closer than you think. Reach out to your local food bank

for ways to do your part. Visit FeedingAmerica.org today.

1 IN 6 AMERICANS STRUGGLES WITH HUNGER. TOGETHER WE’RE

HUNGER READS THE MORNING PAPER, TOO.

SHE SNORES MORE THAN I DO, BUT I STILL LOVE MY HUMAN.

— BANDIT adopted 11-26-09


Seniors Getting TogetherTO RESPOND TO AN AD

Write a letter to the person you want to contact. Place that letter in a stamped en-

velope and write the ad number on the bot-tom left hand side of the envelope. Place

your stamped, numbered envelope(s), along with $2 for each letter enclosed, into

another envelope and address it to:News Connection USA, Inc.

Seniors Getting Together1602 S. Parsons Ave.,Seffner, FL. 33584

TO PLACE AN ADSend your ad, stating what category you

would like it placed in, your edition(s), along with a $6 fee for 30 words (25¢ for each additional word, abbreviations not charged) to the News Connection USA, Inc. address listed above. Ads received

by the 15th of the month will appear in the following issue. No more than three ads will be accepted each month per person. The editor reserves the right to edit any ads for

space or content. In order to protect our readers’ privacy, we will not include phone numbers, e-mail or home addresses in the ad copy. City or area included at no charge.

laughter, candlelight meals, romantic times, simple lifestyles. Zephyrhills.4223 ATTRACTIVE AND KIND, INTEL-LIGENT SWF, NS, ND, NDrg seeks a true gentleman between 54 and 74. Please have no beard and be at least 5’4” tall. FF. I have a lot of interests and I am early 50’s and pretty. Nice shape too. Energetic lady. Eastern Hillsborough.4224 SEEKING NICE GENTLEMAN H, NS, SD, T, W, C, 70 YO, attractive, exercis-es, likes travel, music, cooking, reading, gardening, etc. Loving and honest.4225 ATTRACTIVE LADY SEEKING GENTLEMAN SWF, 5’6”, ISO blonde, blue eyes, 64 ISO gentleman, NS, ND, NDrg, 50 – 68, enjoy fishing, dancing, dining and togetherness, TV, movies. Seeking romance, respect. Former nurse. Photo, please. Palm Harbor.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN4187 LETS TALK W, M, D, 70, 6’, 190, healthy, exercise, NS, ND, NDrg. You are attractive, slender or petite lady, W, S, NS, ND, NDrg.

WOMEN SEEKING MEN4119 SEEKING CHRISTIAN GENTLEMAN Former airline stewardess and model, 5’4”, 104 lbs., widow, slender, white with Ph.D. in healthcare. Fulbright scholar, eats healthy and exercises. Likes sports and animals. Loves the Lord. Florida.4178 SEEKING COMPATIBLE GENTLEMAN 55+ I’m 5’4”, 120, ISO sincere, NS, ND, understanding, FF and companion. I walk, read, sight-see, relax, music. HWP, picture. Looking for romance. Pasco County.4214 ISO ONE-WOMAN MAN Blonde, blue eyes, attractive, white, former model. 5’6”, 135 lbs, NS, ND, NDrg, 60. Enjoy all activities. ISO romantic, handsome, financially secure man. LTR, 55+. Photo. Palm Harbor.4219 ATTRACTIVE SWF, 65 YY ITAL-IAN ISO youthful, sincere SWM, possible LTR (age open). 5’ 2”, HWP, sinze 10, R, NS, NDrg, ND (wine occasionally), honest, health-conscious, spunky, witty. Enjoy outdoors, daily exercise, music, dancing,

RUN YOUR AD FOR ONLY $6 A MONTHSENIORS GETTING TOGETHER

Personal Ad PlacementDeadline for ads is the 15th of the month prior to placement.

Mark The Edition(s) You Would Like To Run Your Ad In: Hillsborough & Suncoast (Pinellas/Pasco) Lake/Marion Counties

Southwest/Charlotte (Fort Myers/Port Charlotte)Ad Copy • Please Print Neatly • 30 Word Limit

If more room is needed, please use separate sheet. Mail this form along with$6 for each ad per month (add $4 for each additional edition/market in the same month).

We cannot accept your ad without it. This information is confi dential.

Name:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Phone: E-mail:

MAIL TO: ATTN. / SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER, NEWS CONNECTION, USA, INC. • P.O. BOX 638., SEFFNER, FL 33583

Only $6 to place an ad!

Title (First 4 Words):

City(No Charge):

4221 SEARCHING FOR A HIPPY CHICK You must be a natural and NS, SOH, a non-conformist, love music except country rap, hip-hop. Still fun-loving and positive. Golden Years Old, 50 – 60 with young heart. Bio/photo please. Land ‘O Lakes.4227 SEEKING A SOULMATE I was born in Asia, lived in New York for 40 years ago. I am a male, tall, 64 years young. I am seeking a soulmate, slim, attractive W F in St. Petersburg. Age between 50 years to 69 years. Write to me with a photo.

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 Relationship, HWP-Height &

Weight Proportional, R-Retired, P-Professional, FF-Friendship First, TLC-Tender Loving Care.

St. Petersburg Jazz FestivalThe SPC Jazz Festival will

host concerts at NOVA 535, ARTpool courtyard, Palladium Side Door and the Music Center at St. Petersburg College (5th Ave. North and 66th St.). Here’s the lineup:

19 Whitney James & Helios Jazz Orchestra at NOVA 535. $15

20 Coltrane/Cannonball Tribute at ARTpool courtyard. $10.

21 O Som Do Jazz at Palladium Side Door. $15

22 Paul Krueger Quartet at SPC Music Center. $10

23 Marty Morell Group at SPC Music Center. $10

Information: (727) 341-4363 or [email protected].

$2 OFF

Clearwater Marine Aquarium249 Windward Passage • Clearwater, FL 33767

(727) 441-1790www.SeeWinter.com

$2off Senior

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for seniors

Good for up to 6 people. Not valid with other offers. Expires December 31, 2011. Code XSCA

Good for up to 6 people. Not valid with other offers.Expires February 28, 2013. Code XSCA


Last Month’s Answers

Enter To Win!

FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!

Name

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Sendyouranswersforadrawing.FirstcorrectanswersselectedfromthedrawingonFeb.19willreceive$20cash!

Sendto:News Connection USA, Inc., P.O. Box 638, Seffner, FL 33583

I want information on: Travel / Cruises Recreation / Leisure Entertainment / Events

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Senior Connection • June 2005 • page 36

LEARN HOW TO PLAN FOR YOUR PETS IN AN EMERGENCY

The SPCA’s brochure "Our Best Friends Deserve Better Plans" has allthe latest information on Estate Planning for Pets and Florida's PetTrust Law and it is FREE! This brochure helps pet owners plan for theirpets in case of an emergency or in case their pets outlive them. Use thisorder form to order your free materials.

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Mature Lifestyles, 220 W. Brandon Blvd., Suite 203, Brandon, FL 33511Email address:

I am interested in:� Travel / Cruises� Recreation / Leisure� Entertainment / Events

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NameAddressCity State ZipAge Phone SC/Hills

This month’s

winner is

Myron L. Guisewite

Congratulations !!!

Last Month’sAnswers

FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!Sun

Last Month’s Winner Is Bill Swain

Congratulations!

Last Month’s Answers January Sudoku

Dorothy Mullen is last month’s winner!

Congratulations!

Feb. 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. Good luck! The first correct answers selected from

the drawing on Feb. 21 will win.Send your answers along

with your name, address and telephone number to:

NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC.P.O. BOX 638,

SEFFNER, FL 33583

WIN! WIN! WIN! GREAT PRIZES!SUDOKU MUST BE RECEIVED BY FEB. 21, 2013

Win Great Prizes!New winner selected each month

Good Luck!

Call (727) 823-1575 • 1-800-955-8771FLA Relay Service

MLF u TOWERSAre you 62 years old or mobility impaired on a limited income?

Check the quality at...MLF TowersRent based on income

• Fully equipped 1BR apt.• Carpeted & spacious• Library & community room.• Wellness center w/doctor & nurse• Weekly bus to shopping• Optional noon meal service 7 days/wk.

• Free cable• Water, sewer, & trash service provided• Individual climate control• Active resident council• Reserved Parking

Other features offered at Minimal fee:• Tray service • Guest dining • Laundry room• Housekeeping

For a tour of our modern community.540 Second Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701



Pinellas County Fresh Fruits and Veggies

North

North

Central

Central

South

South

BRANDON Auto Clinic of Brandon ...... 813-654-8686Xtreme Powersports ......... 813-626-6060BROOKSVILLE Sunrunner Automotive ...... 352-596-2314Master Auto/Air ................. 352-799-6444Brooksville Transmission .. 352-796-6544General Auto Parts ........... 352-796-2522CLEARWATER JDs Cycle Shop ................ 727-827-2994M & M Ultrasports ............. 727-412-8020Stouts Auto Service .......... 727-216-6622DADE CITY Reliance Auto Center ....... 352-567-5281 HOLIDAYNAPA Auto Parts .............. 727-934-4651

PALM HARBORK & K Custom Cycles........ 727-773-1095PINELLAS PARK George’s Performance ..... 727- 521-2206PORT RICHEY Napa Auto Parts ............... 727-848-2509RUSKIN Thompson’s Auto Parts .... 813-645-3204ST. PETE Park Auto Service ............727-521-2910Royal Edger ......................727-573-1700Bob Lee’s Tires.................727-822-3981Complete Auto Parts ........727-895-3821Miles Automotive ..............727-323-0180J.C. Automotive ................727-866-0044St. Pete Power Sports ......727-456-6088Suncoast Auto & Tire .......727-520-1148SEFFNER Schembries Auto Serv ...... 813-685-5654

SUN CITY Killingsworth Automotive .. 813-645-7220TAMPAJohn Erb’s ......................... 813-908-3333 Storm Automotive ............. 813-469-0055Atlantic Automotive ........... 813-936-1510Franklin Car Care ............. 813-882-4230Tony’s RamTech ................ 813-877-6642Insty Tune & Lube ............. 813-960-3908Xtreme Powersports ......... 813-626-6060Mad Hatter ........................ 813-933-4179Mad Hatter ........................ 813-374-9230Mobile Auto Serv. ............. 813-892-3603

If you or your business would like to get AMSOIL products at

Wholesale CALL 800-411-6160

Happy Valentine’s Day! From all of us at

City of Seminole PowWow Festival & ParadeVisit the Holland G. Mangum

Recreation Complex from March 8 – 10 to participate in the annual Pow Wow Festival. Enjoy stage entertain-ment each day, as well as a carnival with midway and games. . On Saturday, March 9, see the Festival Parade starting at 10 a.m. The parade route follows 80th Ave.

North to the recreation center at 9100 113th St. North. Or join the 1st Annual Tropical Trot Flip Flop run that starts just before the parade. $5. Register at (727) 391-8345. Enjoy the Fireworks Spectacular at 8:45 p.m, March 9 at the Recreation Soccer Fields. Visit powwowfestival.com for more info.

BlueMedicareSM Advantage Plans

A new generation of plans for your generation.

*You must continue to pay the Medicare Part B premium. The Zero Monthly Plan Premium only applies to the HMO and RPPO plans. Florida Blue is a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. A Medicare-approved Part D sponsor. Limitations, copayments and restrictions may apply. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the plan. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, premium and/or copayments/co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. Florida Blue is a trade name of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Florida Blue is Florida’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan.

Call toll-free 1-800-876-22278 a.m. - 9 p.m., 7 days a week

(TTY users dial 1-800-955-8771), visit BlueMedicareFL.comor contact your local agency for Florida Blue.

ZeroMonthly Plan Premium*

$0

Y0011_74946 0113R2 CMS Accepted

Documents

Lifestyles After 50 Suncoast Feb. 2013 edition