Mature Lifestyles April 2012 Lake/Marion

Mature Lifestyles • April 2012 • page 2

Dear Readers,

If you’re a Florida transplant, there’s

a good chance you’ve suffered from some sort of Zone Denial as I have. I first heard of “Zone Denial” in Texas. I was in the process of buy-ing some Antique Roses to bring back with me when a fellow traveler, an avid gardener herself, said, “Aren’t you in Zone Denial?” It seems Zone Denial is rampant everywhere gardeners are found. It’s a malady for Floridians that comes about when you live in west central Florida and deny the fact that, for gardening purposes, we are in Hardiness Zones 10, 9a or 9b, but we buy something that grows best in another growing zone. The Hardiness Zone Map by the USDA is a way for gardeners to compare their garden climates with the climate where a plant is known to grow well. The antique roses, for example, were for zones four, five and six. I had a bad case of Zone Denial! The 2012 zone map reflects a new reality: Many areas of the U.S. are designated as warmer by about five degrees. For a gardener, that means plants which in the past wouldn’t thrive here (given the 1990 map) might well survive beautifully now. Let the plant-buying begin! It’s the first time since 1990 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has revised the official guide for the nation’s 80 million gardeners, and much has changed. Nearly entire states, such as Ohio, Nebraska and Texas, are in warmer zones.

Zone Denial history The first year I lived here, I was an avid flower and vegetable gardener wannabe who, in reality, needed a support group to report to. “Hello, my name is Janice. I just planted tulips.” Or English peas. Or crocuses.

I laughed the first time our lawn here sprouted clover-looking weeds (Oxalis) all a-bloom with little purple flowers. I had paid $6 to have a shamrock plant like those shipped to my Kansas house one winter years ago. The shamrock bloomed on my kitchen windowsill, and I thought it was magnificent. Now, I was in Florida and it was blooming all over the yard! Amazing! A few years after the Kansas shamrock plant, I paid $5 for a straggly little split-leaf philodendron plant in late summer. It had to be re-potted twice that first winter as it thrived in a south-facing window. On the move to Florida, “Philly,” as we called it, rode in the back of a pickup, roughly stuffed inside a wicker clothes hamper.New neighbor Marti advised us to put Philly outside in the ground. Reverse Zone Denial set in—this was a houseplant. It couldn’t just be plopped in the ground and never dug up again! But, by rough estimate, Philly is 38 years old now and has a lineup of 13 siblings across the back fence.

Avant-gardening Only in the last few years have enough trees been cut from our one-third acre yard to create sunny spots for vegetable gardening. Dear Husband asked where I wanted a vegetable garden. We picked a spot in summer’s full sun, and he constructed two 8’ x 8’ garden boxes of landscape timbers. Compost, top soil and DH’s sweat equity—tomato and broccoli plants went into the ground

in early February. Then we waited. And waited. And waited. The plants were there, but nothing happened. One day I stood and looked at the pitiful plants and realized that as the sun goes lower on the horizon for the winter (right over there behind the neighbor’s beautiful old live oaks), our garden spot never ever had full sun. Plotting more carefully, DH moved the two garden plots 100 feet across the yard where they now get full sun half the day. And we’re enjoying tomatoes, broccoli, onions and squash. DH is a compostaphile – to rot or not to rot? Rot, of course. An ordinary, over-grown corner of the yard now boasts three piles of matter in various stages of decay. Then he found a “recipe” for garden-ing which has produced amazing results in a short time. From the St. Pete Times (now Tampa Bay Times), July 10, 2004: “Choose an area 6 feet by 6 feet in full sun; spread a 25 pound bag of cheap dry dog food nuggets, a 20 pound bag of cheap clay cat litter and half of a 50 pound bag of alfalfa pellets. . . Once everything has been applied, use a shovel to turn the soil. Water deeply, then cover the site with overlapping layers of cardboard boxes… Mulch…ripen for two to four weeks…” (You can also find the recipe at baysound-ings.com/fall08/stories/grow.asp.) We planted in February, David watered regularly and God gave the increase. Squash plants grew six inches in a week. Tomato and pepper plants shot out of the ground and are full of blooms. No more Zone Denial here. We’ll just accept Florida exactly as it is. You can see the Plant Hardiness Zone Map at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

How I Overcame Zone Denial and Changed to Avant-Gardening

Janice Doyle, Editor

Janice Doyle and the “fast-growing” squash.

Senior Connection and Mature Lifestyles

Hot Off The Press!Announces their new name:“Lifestyles After 50!”

Look for it in upcoming editions!

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ATTENTION READERS:The articles printed in Senior Connection and Mature Lifestyles do not necessarily refl ect the opinion of the Editor or the staff. The Senior Connection/ Mature Lifestyles endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however we cannot be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Senior Connection/Mature Lifestyles reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. Our advertising deadline for the May 2012 issue is April 15, 2012.

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Red Tail Chapter of AFA Committed to MissionBY YVONNE CURLEY

“I tell kids today not to say they can’t go to college because

their parents don’t have the money. I encourage the kids to go in the Air Force, and let the Air Force help them with college,” says Michael H. Emig, president of the Red Tail Memorial Chapter 136 of the Air Force Associa-tion (AFA). Among other things, AFA works with the Civil Air Patrol and Air Force JROTC units in area schools. Emig says, “We’ve helped a young man we’re really quite proud of. He’s in the Belleview High School JROTC. He plays sports there and is an Eagle Scout. He recently got his private pilot’s license through the Civil Air Patrol. He just got appointed to Air Force Academy Prep School, which will mean an Air Force Academy edu-cation—a very valuable scholarship.” Emig works closely with University of Florida ROTC unit, which has an Arnold Air Society within the group.

Past and present AFA Veterans typically take care of each other, Emig says, and the many fundraisers the Red Tail Chapter holds are for that purpose. They work with Hank Whittier and the Vets Helping Vets program, including assisting to provide transportation service to the

VA Clinic in Gainesville. AFA members also do a lot of work with Col. Lugo at the VFW Retirement Home in Ft. McCoy. AFA has a long and distinguished history. As WWII was coming to an end, five-star General Henry “Hap” Arnold saw the need for a civilian organization, made up of Army Air Force veterans, to advocate for a strong national air defense. Two of the twelve founding fathers were Jimmy Doolittle and actor Jimmy Stewart.

Ronald Reagan was one of the charter members in 1946. Today there are over 200 chapters worldwide. Emig is regional presi-dent for the fourteen active chapters in Florida and Puerto Rico, with approximately 10,000 members.

“Red Tail Memorial Chapter 136 was named in honor of the Tuskegee Airmen when five of those airmen were a part of the group,” says Emig. “Only one of them is still with us.” (The Tuskegee Airmen were referred to as “Red Tails” because they painted the tails of their P-47s and P-51s red during WWII.) Over 540 chapter members come from six central Florida counties. Once limited to Air Force veterans only, membership today is open to anyone (even businesses that want to become Community Partners) interested in helping with the AFA mission, which includes endeavoring to educate, advocate and support aerospace’s power in the defense of our nation. The Red Tail Memorial Chapter holds meetings the third Thursday of each month at the Ocala Regional Airport Administration Building, 750 SW 60th Ave., Ocala. For more information, please visit online at AFA.org or call Michael Emig at (352) 854-8328.

Cadets from the Arnold Air Society of Detachment 150 Air Force ROTC at the University of Florida with Mike Emig after he was guest speaker at an Arnold Air Society’s Enclave for universities

in the southeastern United States.


6 and 7 Planes, Trains & BBQ Festival. Air show, seaplane

rides, train rides, BBQ competition,car show, music. Wooten Park, Tavares. (352) 742-6402.

7 Bluegrass in the Park, The Cracker Village. Bring a lawn chair. 5 to

9 p.m. at Silver River State Park. For more information, call (352) 236-7148 or visit thefriendsofsilverriver.org.

8 Sunrise Easter Services. 6:30 a.m.at Ferran Park, Lake Eustis. Bring

chair. Coffee and refreshments. For more info, call (352) 978-4206.

8 Sunrise Easter Service. 7 a.m. Lake Yale Baptist Conference

Center, 39023 County Road 452, Leesburg. Free. Coffee and donuts. Bring your own chair. (352) 817-5058.

13 2nd Friday Movie in the Park. Dusk. Free screening

of “Hop.” Bring your lawn chair for seating. Refreshments sold. Donnelly Park, Mount Dora. (352) 735-7183.

13 – 14 Spring Book Sale at Friends Book Nook,

Belleview, 6007 SE. Earp Rd. (old library bldg.) Great bargains. $1 bag sale. (352) 245-7412.

13 and 14 Dragon Boat Festival. Local teams as

well as teams from around the country. Also Chinese acrobats, food vendors, more. $3/adults. Wooten Park, Tavares. (352) 343-2531.

14 Hands Across the Highway Fine Arts Expo. 10 a.m.

to 1 p.m. Free admission. Circle Square Cultural Center, Ocala. More info at (352) 854-3670.

14 “Let’s Hang On” Tribute to Frankie Valli and the Four

Seasons. Orange Blossom Opry, Weirsdale. Call (352) 821-1201.

14 through June 17 MuseumExhibit: Art and the Animal.

45 works from Society of Animal Artists. Appleton Museum, Ocala. Details at (352) 291-4455.

16 and every Fri “I Have a Kindle, Now What Do I Do.”

Appointment-only individual help. 10 a.m. Fruitland Park Library, 205 W. Berckman St., Fruitland Park. Free. Call Terry Dohrn at (352) 360-6561.

20 – May 30 Theatre production of Godspell.

Moonlight Warehouse Theatre, Clermont. Call (352) 319-1116.

20 – May 13 Theatre production of Social Security. Bay Street

Players at the State Theater, Eustis. More info at (352) 357-7777.

21 Art in the Park. 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Art displays, entertainment,

activities, food. Held in conjunction with Ocala Fire Department’s 125th Anniversary Celebration. Tuscawilla Park, Ocala. (352) 620-8126.

26 “Magical Journeys” concert by Florida Lakes

Symphony Orchestra. Songs like “As Time Goes By,” “Sleeping Beauty Waltz” $42/ advance, $45/door. St. Patrick Catholic Church, Mount Dora. (352) 589-1500.

27 Lou Christie. Hits like “The Gypsy Cried,” “Two

Faces Have I,” and “Lightning Strikes.” Tickets: $21 to $27. Circle Square Cultural Center, Ocala. Please call (352) 854-3670.

28 Arbor Day in the Great Outdoors Celebration. 10 a.m.

to 3 p.m. Tuscawilla Park, Ocala. Details at (352) 368-5517.

Send Around Town news to Senior Connection Magazine, 1602 S. Par-sons Ave., Seffner, FL 33584; please fax (813) 651-1989. News must be received by the 10th of the month prior to event (i.e. April 10 for May event.)

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

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Orlando Hotels Offer Luxury with Pleasant TwistsBY YVONNE CURLEY

When it’s time to get away for a luxury experience with

some pleasant and innovative twists, make your reservations at the Grande Lakes Orlando. Two properties comprise Grande Lakes—a JW Marriott and The Ritz-Carlton. The two hotels are connected by an enclosed walkway and guests are free to take advantage of both proper-ties. For example, if you enjoy art and antiques, stroll through the Ritz public areas even though you may be staying at the JW Marriott. Ritz Carlton guests can enjoy phenomenal breakfast buf-fets at the Marriott’s Citron restaurant. Florida fresh twist Giving everything a nice Florida twist is the citrus theme that begins with citrus-infused water offered in the lobby. A sticky twist (though you won’t get it on your fingers) is the recent addition of honey from a new on-site apiary. The citrusy honey will be found on the restaurant menus and in offerings at the eco-friendly Ritz-Carlton Spa where guests can take full advantage of the natural skincare benefits of honey with the signature Grande Lakes Honey Treatment. For fine dining, look no further than the on-site Primo restaurant with its twist on offering fresh local ingredi-ents, often from the Marriott organic garden. “What we offer is absolutely terrific food with what we call an Italian sensibility,” said Chef Kelly, a 1999 recipient of the James Beard Foundation Award. Guests can take a walk through the chef’s herb garden where each plant is identified by name. The Bodega Cafe offers organic snacks and local products for breakfast and lunch. Other restaurant offer-ings in the resort complex include an eclectic sushi bar, sandwich areas and several bar areas. The twist on activities Here’s a twist for beating the Florida heat as well. The large outdoor swimming

pool flows into the Lazy River and meanders in and out of

several smaller pools, all surrounded by lush gardens and waterfalls. You can grab a swimming tube and a cold drink and float down the river, stopping along the way to get out and sit awhile or refresh your drink at several available stops. It all flows right back to where you started—a lovely way to spend mornings, sunny afternoons, late moonlit evenings. If you happen to have the grandchildren along, they’ll spend hours in the area. Now here’s a new twist. The Grande Lakes Orlando offers Fly Fishing, including lessons to learn to fly fish Grande Lake for trophy largemouth bass. Another activity option is the Eco Tour, a guided canoe or kayak tour of Shingle Creek, the headwaters of the Florida Everglades. For golfers, the Ritz Carlton course winds its way through Florida’s natural surroundings, where you might even spot a gator. No wor-ries—he’ll be sunning and can’t be disturbed by the likes of golfers. You might want to try beach volleyball, bikes or even Bocce ball on the properties as well. The rooms No twists or surprises here! The room details are elegant yet modern with soft and restful decorating tones and state-of-the-art technol-ogy. Note that although free wifi is available in the public areas, a daily fee applies in-room. Go ahead. Go online now for your reservations and be sure to check for special package rates. For more information, visit grandelakes.com.


BY DAVID LALMOND

Beyond the beaches and amuse-ment parks, Florida’s vineyards

and wineries open up an opportu-nity to learn an interesting part of the state’s agricultural history—and to taste some unique wines. Florida is home to the original American wines—native grapes were used for winemaking three centuries before California became a state. But Florida growers faced hot, humid summers which produced diseases other areas did not have to combat. In 1923 a breeding program was initiated at the University of Florida that has resulted in the development of numerous disease-resistant grape varieties suited to Florida’s soil and climate. And for winemaking. Florida wineries utilize native Muscadines and local fruits for wines. How about orange or mango or blueberry wine? Trivia: In 2009, nearly two million gallons of wine were produced in Florida. Only fi ve states produced more than Florida.*

Using I-75 as your main path, follow a wine trail through Florida this summer as the harvest season runs from May through September. Enjoy the unique sights, tastes and aromas of Florida vineyards and wines at these locations: Dakotah Winery near Chiefl and is a family-run business. Since 1985, the Rittgers family has been cultivating Muscadine grape vines. Today there are over 6,000 vines, including 30-plus varieties of Muscadines which begin ripening in August. Not only can you taste authentic Florida wine, you can also take a therapeutic walk over the grounds and see the vines, sheep (which keep the area mowed) and geese (which help prune the vines). (352) 493-9309.

Strong Tower Vineyard & Winery in Spring Hill is Florida’s newest certifi ed “Florida Farm Winery.” Here you’ll fi nd traditional oak-fermented red wines as well as characteristically Southern wines. They offer tours of the vineyard and processing areas plus tastings. (352) 799-7612. Tangled Oaks Vineyard in Grandin is just east of Gainesville. Think Italian wine here—the vineyard was started by the DaCasto family with roots in Italian winemaking country. (386) 659-1707. Trivia: Muscadines are a Southern specialty, not found anywhere else in the world. Their tough skins make them wonderful for children to squish with their feet, which they can do on special weekends at Lakeridge Winery. Just 25 miles east of I-75 near Clermont is Lakeridge Winery, Florida’s largest. Its buildings and setting make it look for all the world like a small winery in the south of France or California’s Napa Valley. The winery is popular for its tours, which reveal 5,000-gallon stainless steel tanks, crushers, state of the art harvesters, a large tasting room and much more. Lakeridge Winery is a des-tination for weekend events, specials on wine, daily complimentary tours and wine tasting. 1-800-768-9463. Florida Orange Groves Winery in St. Pete began with packing and shipping citrus and evolved into Florida’s original tropical fruit winery (garnering numerous awards along the way). If you think you can’t make wine out of oranges, think again! These are not fusion or blended grape wines, but 43 varieties of 100% pure tropical fruit wines. (It can take upwards of nine pounds of fruit to produce enough juice for just one bottle of wine.) Try their Mango Mama, which just won “Best of Show Florida Fruit” contest at the 2012 Florida State Fair. 1-800-338-7923.

Trivia: Florida Orange Groves Winery has been invited to the EPCOT Wine Festival nine continuous years. Keel and Curley Winery near Plant City (10 miles east of I-75 on I-4) began when the owner needed to fi nd new ways to use an oversupply of fresh blueberries. The winery now produces three types of blueberry wines as well as fusion wines, made by blending grapes with fruit juices. Try their Peach Chardonnay or Key West Key Lime, for example. (Tast-ings: 11 Wines for $6. Weekend vine-yard tours: $5/ person or $10 com-bined with tasting.) (813) 752-9100. Located near Bradenton, the Rosa Fiorelli Winery is based on expertise the family brought with them from Sicily. They pride themselves on their ten acres of grapes and with over 100 awards under their belts, it’s still a small, friendly family place for a vineyard and winery tour and tasting ($10). (941) 322-0976.

Eden Vineyards and Winery, 10 miles east of Fort Myers near Alva, was

planted in the ‘70s with cuttings from the original hybrid vines at University of Florida research sites. Since 1986 they have produced six wines on this, the furthest south winery on the west coast of Florida. Tastings are held every day. (239) 728-9463. Trivia: Eden Winery is the oldest operating Florida Farm Winery in the state. Their wines have been featured at Disney’s Grand Floridian,the Palm Beach Breakers Hotel andthe Ritz Carlton.

For more information and other wineries, see Florida Grape Growers Association at fgga.org or individual vineyard and winery websites. *(Information from Alcohol & Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau.)

Winemaking is Three Centuries Old in Florida

Travel Eden Vineyards and Winery

Keel and Curley Winery

Follow the I-75 Florida Wine Trail

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What Is The Radiologist’s Role In Your Care?Your radiologist is often behind the

scenes working closely with your primary care physician and/or specialist to aid in the diagnosis, and sometimes the treatment, of the entire spectrum of disease. There is often confusion in the general population with what role your radiologist plays in your medical care. The term radiologist is used to refer to a physician with residency training and board certification in diagnostic radiology. A radiologist is also trained to provide imaging guided biopsies and directed ther-apies such as steroid injections for pain management, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of vascular disease. This is not to be confused with a radiation oncologist, who is a physician primarily trained in in-ternal medicine with further specialization in the treatment of cancers through the use of focused radiation therapy. While there is some “sharing” of the same technolo-gies (CT, nuclear medicine), they are two distinct and separate fields of medicine. The radiologist uses many forms of im-aging to diagnose disease and pathology. The primary modalities at a radiologist’s

disposal include CT, MRI, nuclear medi-cine/PET, ultrasound, diagnostic “x-ray/fluoroscopy. The specialty has grown by leaps and bounds with both exciting discoveries in new technology as well as steady, significant improvements in tech-nology that has been around for 100 years. One common misconception is that the newest, most technologically advanced modalities will always be the “best” for any given situation. For example MRI does NOT have the highest spatial resolution (the ability to distinguish two points as distinct) of all the available modalities. That honor in fact belongs to digital mammography. The strength of MRI lies in its very high contrast resolu-tion. This means it can often distinguish cancer from noncancerous tissue that may have the same density, but will typically have different cellular makeup that can be highlighted and contrasted by MRI. An example of a recent breakthrough would be the use of newer injected contrast agents such as Eovist that are used for MRI imaging of the liver. A “lesion” in the liver may be cancerous,

benign, or somewhere in between. Now more than ever we can make the ap-propriate decision on whether to biopsy/treat a lesion in the liver versus, with more confidence, dismiss it as benign. CT uses x-rays and, with the aid of pow-erful computer processing, reconstructs the internal anatomy of the human body in striking detail. Recent advances include much lower radiation doses per exam and much faster imaging time. Imaging time with CT may be only a few seconds where as a complete MRI can take as much as 45 minutes or longer. This increase in imag-ing speed allows us to image structures never before possible, such as the coronary arteries. A “multislice” scanner of 48 or higher can “freeze” an image from a single heart beat to produce a clear image of the coronary arteries similar to that provided with a conventional invasive angiogram. Another use of CT in the evaluation of the heart includes coronary artery calcium scoring. This specialized exam uses additional computer programming to calculate the amount of calcium deposited in the wall of the coronary

arteries. Calcium in the wall of arteries is an indicator of atherosclerosis but, by itself, is not an accurate predictor of who will have a cardiac event. Therefore it is NOT a replacement for angiography, but aids in risk stratification and guides management decisions. A person with “intermediate” risk factors for heart disease with no calcium deposits will have similar rates of future cardiac events as patients with low risk factors. High calcium deposits combined with intermediate risk factors are associated with a much higher rate of future cardiac events. Patients may benefit from more aggressive medical management similar to what would be recommended if they had high risk factors. At this time it is not recommended for all patients, but its use in guiding treatment recommenda-tions has been shown recently in medi-cal literature to be increasingly valuable. Your local radiologist can help answer questions about other advances in radiol-ogy, and help you and your doctor de-cide what test or tests are right for you. Call (352) 671-4300 for more info.


How Do Flea Markets Do in This Economy? Quite Well!

A flea market fan could make an entire vacation—summer or

winter—right here in west central Florida flea markets and probably never visit the same booth twice. In fact, the combination of the weak economy and television programs that showcase auctions, pickers and re-sellers have driven the public’s interest in flea markets to their high-est level ever as people look for both great deals and hidden treasures. Whether it’s a roadside table full of a family’s castoffs or a covered building with lighting and concrete fl oors; whether it’s a man’s second job to feed the family or the retiree’s hobby, fl ea market outings can provide unlimited wandering and maybe, just maybe, the big “fi nd.”

Webster—an early tourist attraction Flea markets—”swap meets” they’re called out west—actually have a long history in Florida. In the ‘70s, before Disney and Busch Gardens-type attractions, Sumter Farmer’s Market, or Webster Flea Market as it is commonly called, was the 8th biggest tourist attraction in Florida.

According to Webster Flea Market’s General Manager, Mark Harrell, the original farmers market started in 1937 when local farmers needed a place to sell their surplus produce. And it’s done nothing but grow ever since. During the winter months, as many as 50,000 people make their way through the fl ea market every Monday. Bus groups come from as far away as Orlando to check out the merchandise. Besides being so huge, Webster Flea Market has made a name for itself be-cause it’s only open on Mondays, while most fl ea markets are weekends only. New merchandise, used items, an entire wholesale area and every specialty market imaginable fi ll building after building of stalls. One entire building is for produce. Across the street from the fl ea and farmers market area is Webster West-Side which showcases antique and collectible dealers. Want a 1920’s Lone Ranger lunch box? Coke collectibles? Militaria? All the many other things your mom threw away? They’re there! Many vendors have spent decades selling at Webster on Mondays, chang-ing their merchandise to meet new needs. Harrell said one mistake novice vendors make is not fi nding a “niche” market. “If you sell what too many others are selling you won’t last long.”

Wagon Wheel Flea Market Harold Huntley started the Wagon Wheel Flea Market in Pinellas Park 43 years ago and has over 2,000 vendors in winter and 1,000 in summer. Huntley understands both his vendors and his customers. “A good vendor has to use common sense, have a good product and be friendly with the customers.” Internet sites and trade magazines also help vendors know what’s hot and what’s not.

“When I started 43 years ago, most everything people brought to sell was used,” Huntley said. “Gradually there was less and less used stuff out there and more new, overstock merchandise. Our customers didn’t like it. They wanted to see

the used stuff, so for a few years in the ‘70s or ‘80s, I gave free space to people who would sell used items.”

He continued, “It’s funny because if there’s a table that has disorganized used stuff on it, people will buy because they think it’s a bargain.” Do fl ea market owners become shoppers? “I love the shopping part of being here,” admitted Huntley who has turned most of the management of Wagon Wheel over to his son. Babe Wright has been a part of the Oldsmar Flea Market since 1980. Have fl ea markets lost their popularity, I asked. “We have been busy, very busy, all winter. I don’t know if it has anything to do with the economy, but I’m glad.” She helped get it started, she said, “Be-cause a lot of people in this area like to have a little business, something to do, but if they pay big rent they don’t have much left. Here they don’t have utilities or upkeep to worry about either.” She encourages people to visit Oldsmar Flea Market. “Here you can have a beer and look around until you fi nd what you want.” Some area fl ea markets:

Belleview: The Market of Marion, 12888 SE. U.S. Hwy 441 (352) 245-6766

Belleview: Flea City USA, 12180 Hwy. 441 (352) 245-3532

Bonita Springs: Flamingo Island Flea Market, 1902 Bonita Beach Rd. (941) 948-7799

Bradenton: Red Barn Flea Market, 1707 First St. E. (941) 747-3794

Bradenton: Roma Flea Market, 5715 15th St. E. (941) 756-9036

Clearwater: Forty Niner Flea Market. 10525 – 49th St. N. (813) 473-3367

Dade City: Old Timers Flea Market. N. Hwy. 301 (352) 567-5085

Fort Myers: Fleamasters, MLK Hwy., exit 138 (239) 334-7001

Ft. Myers: Ortiz Avenue Flea Market, I-75 mile marker #24 (941) 694-5019

Oldsmar Flea Market, 180 N. Racetrack Rd. (813) 855-5306

Palmetto: The Country Market, Hwy. 301 & 41 (941) 723-6000

Pinellas Park: Wagon Wheel Flea Market, 7801 Park Blvd. (727) 544-5319

Port Charlotte: Sun Flea Market, U.S. Hwy. 41 & 776 (941) 255-3532

Tampa: Big Top Flea Market, 9250 E. Fowler Ave. (813) 986-4004

Webster Farmers Flea Market, Hwy. 47 N. (352) 793-2021

How to shop at a fl ea market: If you know what you want, locate the office and ask the staff. They’ll know who sells what you want, from canvas awnings to wooden zebras. No specific item on your radar? Wander and enjoy!

Don Esbenshade (79) has been a vendor at Wagon Wheel Flea Market for 35 years. His specialty now is colorful Murano glassware although, like many long-time fl ea market vendors,

over the years he has followed several trends in products.


If you have been thinking about making a substantial gift to Cornerstone Hospice – perhaps you should consider Real Estate. A gift of cash or securities at this time may not be practical.Your personal residence, farm, vacation home, commercial property,

or parcel of undeveloped land might be more suitable.

A present or future gift offers you the opportunity for valuable income tax and estate tax savings. You also can free yourself of burdensome management and problems involved in selling

the property or leaving it to estate liquidation.

Whether we keep or sell the property, you will make a satisfying and enduring contribution to Cornerstone Hospice to benefit

patients during their final journey of life.

For more information on“How to Give Real Estate,” contact

Nick Buchholz at Cornerstone Hospice:(352) 742-6800 or e-mail: [email protected]

Cornerstone Hospice & the Hospice Hope Chest are currently looking for gently used furniture donations. For information on how you can

help, please contact Chandra at 352.742.6819 or [email protected]

CORNERSTONE HOSPICESEEKING DONORS OF

REAL ESTATE

CORNERSTONE HOSPICE SEEKING DONORS OF REAL ESTATE If you have been thinking about making a substantial

gift to Cornerstone Hospice – formerly Hospice of Lake and Sumter – perhaps you should consider Real Estate. A gift of cash or securities at this time may not be practical. Your personal residence, farm, vacation

home, time share, commercial property, or parcel of undeveloped land might be more suitable.

A present or future gift offers you the opportunity for valuable income tax and estate tax savings. You also can free yourself of burdensome

management and problems involved in selling the property or leaving it to estate liquidation.

Whether we keep or sell the property, you will make a satisfying and enduring contribution to Cornerstone

Hospice to benefit patients during their final journey of life.

For more information on “How to Give Real Estate,” contact Ted Williams at Cornerstone Hospice:

(352) 742-6800 or e-mail: [email protected]

5 Financial Tips Every Baby Boomer Should KnowToday, 10,000 baby

boomers will turn 65, and “hoping for the best” in retirement financial plan-ning is not a strategy. Here are five financial tips every baby boomer should know:1. It’s never too late. Just because someone has reached retirement age, or is nearing it, doesn’t mean that it is too late to make sound financial plans. It’s never too late to create a plan to successfully navigate the rough financial waters.2. Re-examine your investment strategy. As the focus shifts from growth to income, one may need to reevaluate their current invest-ment strategy to one that may be more appropriate for retirement.3. Review your risk management plan. It’s important to have proper in-surance and legal allocations in place

to help protect any assets that have been acquired.4. Review your budget. The budgets we have while we are working may be very different from the budgets we have during retirement. While many

save on work related expenses, medi-cal costs and travel expenses may rise after retirement. It’s important to have a handle on the types of adjustments.5. Get professional help. Working with a financial planner can help make the difference in having a financial plan that leaves one feeling confident. A financial planner as-sesses, makes sound recommendations and helps create an educated and well-thought-out plan designed to help you achieve your retirement goals. It’s never too late to make a realistic plan to live by.

To Use Generics or Not to Use GenericsQ. My doctor says I should switch

to the generic version of Lipitor, but is it really the same as Lipitor?

A. Many of my patients are asking the same question. My answer to them and to you is pretty much the standard advice: the generic version of Lipitor, called atorvastatin, is highly likely to be just as safe and effective as Lipitor, and also cheaper for you, because of lower co-pays, not just for the insurance company. A generic drug contains the same chemical as the corresponding brand-name drug. The FDA is legally required to determine that generics are “bioequivalent” to brand-name drugs, which means they produce similar blood concentrations of the same chemical. Independent researchers

have also concluded that generics are just as safe and effective. A Harvard colleague of mine, Dr. Aaron

Kesselheim, came to that conclusion after analyzing 47 studies of various heart medicines, including statins. Many generics are produced in other countries, and overseas manufacturers do make mistakes, but that’s also true of U.S.-based

manufacturers. The FDA does regulate the manufacture of all drugs sold in the United States, which is reassur-ing. So I can’t give you an absolute guarantee that generic atorvastatin will be equal to brand-name Lipitor. But I can tell you this: I take Lipitor, and I’ll be switching to generic atorvastatin, so I will be following my own advice (something my wife has suggested that I should do more often).— Anthony Komaroff, M.D.

Help Centers and Support GroupsFeatured Organizations

Elder Options, the Mid-Florida Area

Agency on Aging Oversees the local Elder Help Line: 1-800-963-5337; offers the SHINE program, which helps seniors understand Medicare from an unbiased, well-rounded point of view, and provides Elder Abuse Education. 5700 S.W. 34th St., Suite 222, Gainesville, (352) 378-6649 or 1-800-262-2243.

United Way 211 United Way 211 helps seniors easily access

services such as where to get help with in-home services, financial help, prescriptions, transportation, medical questions and more. (352) 787-7530 or https://uwls.org/2-1-1.html.

Eldercare Locator Connections to resources that enable older

persons to live independently in their communities. Info at 1-800-677-1116or www.eldercare.gov/.

Support Groups

Ongoing Bereavement

support groups. Cornerstone bereave-

ment services are available to anyone in the

community experiencing grief. Cornerstone Hospice, 2445

Lane Park Road, Tavares. Info:(352) 742-6812 or (352) 742-6898.

Third Thursdays Caregiver Support Group, primarily for those caring

for persons with Alzheimer’s and dementia. 2 p.m. at Cooper Memorial Library, 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont. Room 108B, 2 p.m. Contact Deborah Snow: (352) 406-8465.

Third Tuesdays, Parkinson’s Support Group for patients, caregiv-

ers and families. 3 p.m. at Cooper Me-morial Library, 2525 Oakley Seaver Drive, Clermont. Room 108 A. Con-tact Deborah Snow: (352) 406-8465


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At The Bridge at Ocala, you will discover more than our beautiful facilities and

extensive range of services. You will find a caring, professional staff committed to

creating a community you will be delighted to call home.

Do you have assets such as CD’s, money markets, annuities or cash accounts set aside to pass on to your loved one? If the answer is “yes” we are pleased to announce a new policy available for seniors ages 50 to 85 that allows you to do the following:

Single Premium Life Insurance

Death Benefit for$25,000

Single Premium*Female Age Male$57,469 55 $51,977$50,389 60 $44,915$44,011 65 $39,075$39,402 70 $34,319$34,347 75 $31,173

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or e-mail: [email protected]

— For more information call today —Total Retirement Security 352.610.1222

*All rates non-tobacco as of 9-1-2011

**Loans and partial surrenders will generally be taxable and, if taken prior to age 59 1/2, may be subject to a 10% tax penalty.

1. Pass on these assets INCOME TAX-FREE. Why possibly make your childrenand grandchildren pay taxes when they don’t need to?

2. Immediately increase the amount of inheritance to your heirs3. No stock market risk or volatility4. Loan and withdrawal features available**

Getting Pious with a Little Help from Social Network and Church

Friendships forged at church seem to play a major role in people’s

religious activities and beliefs—even when it comes to their views about how exclusive heaven is, according to a national study from Baylor University. “Although church-based friendship networks seem to bolster religiosity across the board, the effect of how enmeshed people are in congregational friendships is stronger on their reli-gious behavior than on their beliefs. “This makes sense—church-goers may not necessarily chat about the finer points of theological beliefs, such as the existence of demons, but they do seem to talk about things like prayer requests or upcoming church events, things that

more directly lead to an effect on reli-gious behavior,” said Samuel Stroope at Baylor. “Also, friends at church can see behavior. Beliefs are harder to monitor.” The study also found a weaker but consistent link between church friends and various religious beliefs. People with no friends at church held fewer supernatural beliefs than people who reported that some or more of their friends attended their church. Meanwhile, when it came to the view of the Bible, drawing a greater propor-tion of one’s friends from church was associated with increased odds of affirming that the Bible “should be taken literally, word for word on all subjects,” Stroope said. (Newswise)


Mothers have always been known for their willingness

to sacrifice financially if it meant their children could have what they needed. Now, a MetLife Mature Market Institute study shows that boomer women are also placing a strong emphasis on self-reliance and providing for themselves. Here are some results ofthe study:

• Boomer women (in fact women across all generations) desire to be able to give more financially to children or grandchildren.

• Boomer women agree that they need to prepare for retirementto avoid depending on familymembers later in life.

• Boomers feel that they are more financially se-cure than the other generations of women today.

• If given the choice between spending money to enjoy retirement versus saving with the intent to leave an inheritance, boomer women feel it is important to stay focused on enjoying retirement and giving small gifts to children.

• As women get older, they indicate they’ve contributed significantly to their children and that the time has come to focus on their own needs for both enjoyment and independence.

• Boomer women generally would be reluctant to accept financial help from their children.

• Although they felt they would give

financial help to parents and/or in-laws in times of financial difficulty, most boomer women wouldn’t want to accept financial help from their adult children, even if they needed it.

• Among women, life insurance is viewed as a key component to

ensuring their family’s financial security. As one respondent to the study said, “I couldn’t imagine not having life insurance. I just can’t imagine there being that added stress for my family.”

• Over half of boomer women said life insurance is to support their spouse if they die prematurely, followed by having money to cover funeral costs. • Few boomer women feel aresponsibility to support a grandchild’s education.

“What’s apparent from this study is that having a plan for independence is important for family financial security, especially for women as they age; many clearly don’t want to rely on their families,” said Sandra Timmermann, Ed.D., director of the MetLife Mature Market Institute.

Boomer Women Have Focus on Self-Reliance


In the Mouth, Smoking Zaps Healthy BacteriaBY MAUREEN LANGLOIS

According to a February 2012 study by Ohio State University, smok-

ing causes the body to turn against its own helpful bacteria, leaving smok-ers more vulnerable to disease. Despite the daily disturbance of brushing and flossing, the mouth of a healthy person contains a stable ecosystem of healthy bacteria. New research shows that the mouth of a smoker is a much more chaotic, diverse ecosystem—and is much more suscep-tible to invasion by harmful bacteria.

As a group, smokers suffer from higher rates of oral diseases—especially gum disease—than do nonsmokers, which is a challenge for dentists, according to Purnima Kumar, assistant professor of periodontologyat Ohio State University.

“The smoker’s mouthkicks out the good bacteria, and the pathogens are called in,” said Kumar. “So they’re allowed to proliferate much more quickly than they would in a non-smoking environment.” The results suggest that dentists may have to offer more aggressive treatment for smokers and would have good reason to suggest quitting smoking, Kumar said. She likens a healthy biofilm to a lush, green lawn of grass. “When you change the dynamics of what goes into the lawn, like too much water or too little fertilizer,” she said, “you get some of the grass dying, and weeds moving in.” For smokers, the “weeds” are problem bacteria known to cause disease. “When you compare a smoker and nonsmoker, there’s a distinct differ-ence,” said Kumar. “The first thing you notice is that the basic ‘lawn,’ which

would normally contain thriving populations made of just a few types of helpful bacteria, is absent in smokers.” The team found that for nonsmokers, bacte-rial communities regain a similar balance of species to the communi-ties that were scraped away during cleaning.

Disease-associated bacteria are largely absent, and low levels of cytokines show that the body is not treating the helpful biofilms as a threat. “By contrast,” said Kumar, “smokers start getting colonized by pathogens—bacteria that we know are harmful—within 24 hours. It takes longer for smokers to form a stable microbial community, and when they do, it’s a pathogen-rich community.” Smokers also have higher levels of cytokines, indicating that the body is mounting defenses against infection.

Clinically, this immune response takes the form of red, swollen gums—called gingivitis—that can lead to the ir-reversible bone loss of periodontitis. In smokers, however, the body is not just trying to fight off harmful bacteria. The types of cytokines in smokers’ gum swabs showed the researchers that smokers’ bodies were treating even healthy bacteria as threatening. Although they do not yet understand the mechanisms behind these results, Kumar and her team suspect that smok-ing is confusing the normal communica-tion that goes on between healthy bacte-rial communities and their human hosts. Practically speaking, these find-ings have clear implications for patient care, according to Kumar. “It has to drive how we treat the smoking population,” she said. “They need a more aggressive form of treat-ment, because even after a professional cleaning, they’re still at a very high risk for getting these pathogens back in their mouths right away.” (From Newswise)

Health

Medicare AnswersDear Marci, I have been an inpatient in a hospital for a week and am being transferred to a skilled nursing facility for admission. Will Medicare cover the cost of my ambulance transport? —Larry

Dear Larry, Medicare will pay for ambulance transport only if

you are confined to your bed or your health requires transport by an am-bulance. Your trip from the hospital to the skilled nursing facility (SNF) is considered a non-emergency am-bulance service because your health is not in immediate danger. Medi-care Part B covers emergency and non-emergent ambulance services differently. An emergency is when your health is in serious danger and every second counts to prevent your health from getting worse. Medicare will generally cover emergency transport because, during most emergencies, an ambulance is the only safe way to transport you.

Medicare may cover non-emergency ambulance services if: • You are confined to your bed (unable to get up from bed without help, unable to walk and unable to sit in a chair or wheelchair).• You need vital medical services during your trip that are available only in an am-bulance, such as administration of medi-cations or monitoring of vital functions. For all information about Medicare and ambulance service, log on to medicareinteractive.org Marci’s Medicare Answers is a service of the Medicare Rights Center (medicarerights.org). To speak with a counselor, call (800) 333-4114.

Medications Help Only if You Take Them

People with heart disease and other chronic conditions are usually

prescribed one or more medications. But most take them only about half the time. Each year, this high rate of “nonadherence” leads to an estimated 125,000 deaths in the United States and costs the health care system between $100 billion and $300 billion. Here are practical tips to help people take the medications they need.Cost. When you get a new prescrip-tion, check with your health plan to make sure it’s the lowest-cost option available. If not, talk with your doctor.

Also, take advantage of free medica-tion programs sponsored by pharma-ceutical companies and the discount plans at large retailers and pharmacies.

Complexity. If you take several medications with different dosing schedules, talk with your doctor about how to streamline your medica-tion regimen. Also, recent studies have shown that using mail-order pharmacies can improve medication adherence, presumably through convenience and cost advantages.

Side effects. Heart medications come with non-life-threatening but bothersome side effects, including fatigue, nausea, coughing and muscle pain. Both doctors and pharmacists can offer effective strategies to ease side effects, but only if you talk with them about it. From the Feb. 2012 Harvard Heart Letter.


Veterans CornerBY JANICE DOYLE

Q: Is there extra V.A. Help for veterans who are housebound

or can’t care for themselves?A: A low-income veteran with war-time service who is unable to care for himself or is disabled and housebound might be eligible for V.A. Aid & Atten-dance (A&A) or Housebound benefits, which can be paid in addition to a low-income, wartime veteran’s basic pension. A veteran must qualify for a low-income veteran’s basic pension in order to also get either A&A or House-bound benefits. A veteran can receive either A&A benefits or Housebound benefits, but not both at the same time. How to determine eligibility: A veteran eligible for a low-income pension may also be eligible for A&A benefits if at least one of the following conditions applies:• The veteran requires assistance from another person to perform activities of daily living (ADLs): bathing, eating, dressing, using the toilet, getting in and out of a bed or chair, walking, taking medication.• The veteran is bedridden, meaning that his condition requires that he remain in bed other than during prescribed convalescence or treatment.• The veteran resides in a nursing home due to mental or physical incapacity.• The veteran is blind (corrected visual acuity of 5/200 or less, in both eyes). A veteran eligible for a low-income pension may also be eligible for Housebound benefits if at least one of the following conditions applies:• The veteran has a single, permanent 100 percent disability (as determined by V.A. disability rules) and is there-fore substantially and permanentlyconfined to his residence.• The veteran has a single, permanent 100 percent disability, plus another dis-ability or disabilities evaluated by the V.A. as 60 percent or more disabling.

How to apply: A veteran applies for A&A or Housebound benefits at the regional office that processes the veteran’s pension benefits. If the veteran is just beginning the low-income pension application process, he can apply for the basic pension as well as A&A or Housebound benefits at any V.A. regional office. For more information on applying for low-in-come V.A. pension benefits, see “Does the V.A. have a pension for senior or disabled low-income veterans?”

Q: Does the V.A. pay for family as a caregiver when they take care of a veteran’s that is in need of care?A: The Veterans Aid and Attendance Pension Benefit can be used as a source of money to pay family care-givers to provide care at home. This benefit, under the right circumstances, can provide up to $1,949 a month in additional income to pay family members to provide care at home. Getting veterans benefits for paid family caregivers is not an easy task. There must be a caregiver contract in place and services for care must be initiated and thoroughly documented before application can be made. In addition, state and federal tax requirements must be met. Getting these applications approved requires an understanding of the documentation requirements. You can visit the National Care Planning Council website for more information. Questions and answers taken from lawguru.com/answers and caring.com.

Questions about Veterans CareVolunteer OpportunityFlorida’s Long-Term

Care Ombudsman Pro-gram needs volunteers to join its corps of dedicated advocates who protect the rights of elders who live in nursing homes, assisted living facili-ties and adult family care homes. The program’s local councils are seeking additional volunteers to identify, investigate and resolve residents’

concerns. Special training and certification is provided. All interested individuals who care about protecting the health, safety, welfare and rights of long-term

care facility residents—who often have no one else to advocate for them—are encouraged to call toll-free 1-888-831-0404 or visit the program’s website at ombudsman.myflorida.com.


“There’s no place like home...”but maybe there is

Heidi’s HavenASSISTED LIVING &

ADULT DAY CARE HOMESLeesburg • Lady Lake • Fruitland Park

Please Call (352) 787-3034

Lic# AL 10397

25 Years helping & caring for frail elderlyDelicious home cooked meals & snacks

A real home for you or someone you loveDaily, weekly, monthly, yearly accommodationsPersonal one on one careWheelchairs, Alzheimers, Dementia, Parkinson’s, etc.

Front Door Improvementsfor Aging in Place

A good place to start making your house

comfortable for aging in place is the front door. Here are four tips:• Lighting: Increase lighting along pathways and entryways. Motion sensors and timers light the way without the hassle of remembering to flip the switch.• Pathways: Make sure walking surfaces are kept smooth and obstacle-free. If stairs are the only option, be sure to include handrails on both sides. Make the transition at the door threshold as smooth and even as possible to avoid trips and falls.• Resting place: Install a small bench or shelf next to the front door to hold packages or supplies to free up hands when opening the door.

• Keys: Use Kwikset’s Smart-Code deadbolts and handle sets which allow for easy, keyless entry with the touch of a button. SmartCode allows

for several codes to be programmed and changed easily, a convenience to allow neighbors and caregivers access without duplicating keys. Kwikset also offers handle sets and levers that make it easier to open and close doors no matter your dexterity. Planning ahead can mean the difference between staying in your own home for years to come.

Take Blood Pressure Pills at BedtimeBY HOWARD LEWINE, M.D., Harvard Health Publications

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.”

That oft-quoted Bible passage doesn’t apply just to rending and sewing,

weeping and laughing or gathering stones together. Your body has its own set of “seasons,” many of them follow-ing the turn of a complete day. Taking some medications at specific times of the day can help them work better. A new study suggests that blood pressure drugs taken at night might improve blood pressure and prevent more heart attacks and strokes than taking the same medications during the day. In one study, after an average of 5½ years, study participants who took at least one blood pressure medicine at night had better blood pressure control. They also were about one-third as likely to have a heart attack or stroke, or to develop heart failure, as those who took morning pills. In most people, blood pressure begins to rise just before getting out of bed

in the morning and reaches its peak around mid-day. It falls during sleep, reaching its lowest point of day between midnight and 3 or 4 a.m. This drop is sometimes called “dipping.” But people with high blood pressure often have little or no decrease in their blood pres-sure at night. One possible reason for this is blood pressure medicines taken around breakfast time have worn off.When to take the pills In deciding when to take your blood pressure pills, the most important thing is to pick a time that ensures you will take your medicine every day. If you take only one pill, ask your doctor whether taking it at night might be better for you. If you take more than one drug, then taking at least one of them at night before bed makes sense. Don’t start doing this on your own. There might be specific reasons why your doctor prefers you take your medicine in the morning. For example, older people need to be careful about taking blood pressure pills at night. Standing up too quickly in the middle of the night can lead to a sudden blood pressure drop and a fall.

New Product For Sitting TallerLike a lot of women, Pam Starobin was petite to begin

with. When she realized she was aging and getting shorter, she took matters into her own hands and created the SittingTaller Handbag. It’s basically an unobtrusive adult booster seat in a handbag which adds three inches to your seated height. “Carry your height in your handbag” is the motto for the product which can be discreetly tucked under you when you sit down. “People think I’m just reaching down to put my bag on the floor,” says Starobin. “They don’t notice that I’m sitting on it.” It works in theaters, restaurants, etc. It doesn’t make you ridiculously tall when you sit, says the creator, it just makes you a “standard” height, like everyone around you. Grandchildren will love it too. For photos and order information, visit online at sittingtaller.com or call (914) 582-8027.


The Many Faces of DepressionDepression isn’t a one-size-fits-all

illness. Just like a rash or heart disease, depression can take many forms. As you’ll see, there’s a cluster of symptoms that are typically present, but one person’s experience of de-pression often differs from another’s. Definitions of depression—and the therapies designed to ease this dis-ease’s grip—also continue to evolve.What is major depression? Major depression may make you feel as though work, school, relation-ships and other aspects of your life have been derailed or put on hold indefinitely. You feel constantly sad or burdened, or you lose interest in all activities, even those you previously enjoyed. This holds true nearly all day, on most days, and lasts at least two weeks. Signs of depression include changes in appetite and/or sleep, slowdown in activities or heightened restlessness, feeling tired and/or worthless, feelings of guilt and thoughts of suicide. What is bipolar disorder? Bipolar disorder always includes one or more episodes of mania, characterized by high mood, grandiose thoughts and erratic behavior. It also often includes episodes of depression. During a typical manic episode, you would feel terrifically elated, expansive, or irritated over the course of a week or longer. Symptoms may include grandiose ideas or pumped-up self-esteem, urgent desire to talk and great distractibility. It can include a pleasure-seeking urge that might get funneled into sexual sprees, overspending or a variety of schemes, often with disastrous consequences. Coping with a Loved One Like a pebble thrown into a pond, depression, dysthymia and bipolar disorder create ripples that spread far from their immediate point of impact. Those closest to people who have these illnesses often suffer alongside them. But you can do a lot to help a loved one and yourself handle this difficult period.Encourage him or her to get treatment and stick with it. Remind the person

about taking medication or keeping therapy appointments. Don’t ignore comments about suicide. If you believe your loved one is suicidal, call his or her doctor or therapist. If neither is available, call a local crisis center or emergency room.

• Care for yourself. Being a caretaker is a difficult job. You may want to seek individual therapy or join a support group. Numerous mental health organizations can provide you with information on the illness and treatments.

• Offer emotional support. Your patience and love can make a huge difference. Ask questions and listen carefully to the answers. Try not to brush off or judge the other person’s feelings, but do offer hope. Suggest activities that you can do together, and keep in mind that it takes time to get better. Remind yourself that a disease is causing your loved one to act differently or perhaps be difficult. Do not blame him or her, just like you wouldn’t if it were chronic physical pain that caused the person to change in certain ways.

• Try to prevent reckless acts during manic episodes. It’s all too common for a person to make poor decisions when manic, so it’s a good idea to try to prevent this problem by limiting access to cars, credit cards and bank accounts. Watch for signs that a manic episode is emerging. Disruption of sleep patterns can trigger an episode, so support your loved one in keeping a regular sleep schedule. Consistent patterns for other activities such as eating, exercising, and socializing may also help.Information from Harvard Health Letter

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“Well, I finally did it. I finally decided to enter the digital age and get a cell phone.My kids have been bugging me, my book group made fun of me, and the laststraw was when my car broke down, and I was stuck by the highway foran hour before someone stopped to help. But when I went to the cellphone store, I almost changed my mind. The phones are so smallI can’t see the numbers, much less push the right one. They all have cameras, computers and a “global-positioning” somethingor other that’s supposed to spot me from space. Goodness, allI want to do is to be able to talk to my grandkids! The peopleat the store weren’t much help. They couldn’t understand whysomeone wouldn’t want a phone the size of a postage stamp.And the rate plans! They were complicated, confusing, and expensive… and the contract lasted for two years! I’d almostgiven up when a friend told me about her new Jitterbugphone. Now, I have the convenience and safety of being ableto stay in touch… with a phone I can actually use.”

Sometimes I think the people who designed this phone and the rate plans had me in mind. The phone fits easilyin my pocket, and it flips open to reach from my mouthto my ear. The display is large and backlit, so I can actually see who is calling. With a push of a button I can amplify the volume, and if I don’t know a number, I can simply push “0” for a friendly, helpful operator that will look it up and even dial it for me. The Jitterbug also reduces background noise, making the sound loud and clear. There’s even a dial tone, so I know thephone is ready to use.

Affordable plans that I can understand – and no contract to sign! Unlikeother cell phones, Jitterbug has plans that make sense. Why should I pay forminutes I’m never going to use? And if I do talk more than I plan, I won’t find

myself with no minutes like my friend who has a prepaid phone. Best of all,there is no contract to sign – so I’m not locked in for years at a time or subject to termination fees. The U.S.–based customer service is second to none, and the phone gets service virtually anywhere in the country.

Call now and get a FREE gift when you order. Try Jitterbug for 30 days and if you don't love it, just returnit1. Why wait, the Jitterbug comes ready to use right out of the box. If you aren’t as happy with it as I am, you can return it for a refund of the purchase price. Call now, the Jitterbug product experts are ready to answeryour questions.

IMPORTANT CONSUMER INFORMATION: Jitterbug is owned by GreatCall, Inc. Your invoices will come from GreatCall. All rate plans and services require the purchase of a Jitterbug phone and a one-time set up fee of $35. Coverage and service is not available everywhere. Other charges and restrictions may apply. Screenimages simulated. There are no additional fees to call Jitterbug’s 24-hour U.S. Based Customer Service. However, for calls to an Operator in which a service is completed, minutes will be deducted from your monthly balance equal to the length of the call and any call connected by the Operator, plus an additional 5 minutes.Monthly rate plans do not include government taxes or assessment surcharges. Prices and fees subject to change. 1We will refund the full price of the Jitterbug phone if it is returned within 30 days of purchase in like-new condition. We will also refund your first monthly service charge if you have less than 30 minutes of usage.If you have more than 30 minutes of usage, a per minute charge of 35 cents will apply for each minute over 30 minutes. The activation fee and shipping charges are not refundable. Jitterbug is a registered trademark of GreatCall, Inc. Samsung is a registered trademark of Samsung Electronics America, Inc. and/or its related entities. Copyright © 2012 GreatCall, Inc. Copyright © 2012 by firstSTREET for Boomers and Beyond, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Change Gmail Default Font and Other Hot Tips

When I compose a Gmail message, I have a choice of colors, fonts and

other formatting for that one message. I’d like to make Verdana my default font for all messages. How can I do that?

In Gmail, go to Settings > Labs (or select Labs under Quick

Links) and enable Default Type Styling. Be sure to click Save at the bottom. Next, return to the General tab on the Settings page and use the font drop-down menu to change to your desired font type, style and size from the list of available fonts.

How can I tell if I have a USB 2.0 port? I need that for a

new external drive I purchased?

Any computer purchased after 2005 is going to have USB 2.0,

but XP users can check by right-clicking My Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager button, then scroll down to Universal Serial Bus Controllers and click the little plus (+) sign. If you’re using Vista or Windows 7, go to Start > Search and look for “Device Manager.” Type “Standard Enhanced PCI to USB Host Controller.” The exact wording may vary, but the key is the word Enhanced. If it’s Enhanced, it’s USB 2.0.

My HP printer always prints the last page first. How can I change

that so it prints the first page first?

Many users, myself included, have their printers configured to

print in last-page-first mode because it avoids having to manually sort multi-page documents. If you prefer first-page-first printing, there is a setting within some (not all) printer software that allows you to change this. The precise steps will vary, but generally click Start > Settings

> Printers or Start > Printers and Faxes, depending on the version of Windows that you’re using. Right-click your printer and select Properties > General tab > Printing Preferences. Click the Features tab and look for the “Start printing from last page” option. Click to remove the check mark from that selection and click OK twice to save your changes and exit.

I’m a recent subscriber to your weekly computer-help newsletter,

which I really appreciate. Thank you for such a valuable service. Can you tell me how I can save my Favorites to a jump drive? I’m using Vista.

Start by inserting your jump drive, which is also called a flash,

thumb or USB drive, into a USB port on your computer. When the AutoRun menu appears, select “Open folder to view files,” then drag that window to the side of the screen for the moment. (If AutoRun doesn’t appear, use Windows Explorer to access the drive’s content.)

Next, click the Start button, then click your username. A window will open that contains your user folders, including your Favorites. Position this second window so that you can see the content of both open windows on screen. (Note: You can manually drag them into position or press and hold the CTRL key, and click the two open windows icons on the Taskbar. Release the CTRL key, right-click and select “Show Windows Side-by-Side” or “Tile Vertically.”) Drag the Favorites folder from your user window to the flash-drive win-dow. When the copying is completed, close both windows. Before you remove the flash drive, make sure you click the “Safely remove hardware” icon in the System Tray, near the time display on your Taskbar. This will prevent any damage to your data.

For answers to your questions by e-mail, or to subscribe to Mr. Modem’s award-winning weekly newsletter, visit www.MrModem.com.

Mr.Modemby Richard Sherman

&

Even Eggs Have Changed Over the YearsA “bad egg” is not necessarily a

bad egg any more. Twenty years ago, we were told to avoid eggs if keeping our cholesterol in check was a health concern. Guess what? Read this statement: Recent nutritional data from USDA researchers indicates the yolk of a large egg contains 41 IU of Vitamin D which is 64 percent more than in 2002. Cholesterol is down 14 percent to 185 milligrams from a previous level of 220 milligrams.

It really does say that eggs have changed over the years. And here’s the latest from the 2010 Dietary Guide-lines for Americans: Independent of other dietary factors, evidence sug-gests that one egg (i.e., egg yolk) per day does not result in increased blood cholesterol levels, nor does it increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in healthy people. Consuming less than

300 mg per day of cholesterol can help maintain normal blood cholester-ol levels. Consuming less than 200 mg per day can further help individuals at high risk of cardiovascular disease. All said, watch what you eat in general and enjoy the occasional egg. Here are some ways:

Baked Eggs and Spinach

1 10 oz. pkg frozen, chopped spinach, defrosted, squeezed dry

4 eggs¼ cup chunky salsa¼ cup shredded Monterey

Jack cheese

Divide spinach evenly among four greased 6-oz. ramekins or custard cups. Press an indentation (about 2-inch diameter) into center of spinach with back of spoon. Break and slip an egg into each indentation. Top evenly with salsa, then cheese. Bake in 325°F oven until whites are completely set and yolks begin to thicken but are not hard, 20 to 25 minutes. From incredibleegg.com

Skinny Omelet Wrap

2 large eggsSalt, pepper Chopped chivesDollop of pestoGoat cheese or fetaH andful of mixed

salad greens

Beat the eggs and pour in a thin layer in largest skillet. Sprinkle with chives. Let eggs set—15 seconds to one minute. Remove to cutting board, spread with pesto; sprinkle on cheese and salad greens. Roll up and enjoy. (This lends itself to many additions besides the greens—asparagus, mushrooms, etc.) From 101cookbooks.com

Recipe

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Last Month’s Answers March Sudoku

Robert McKee is last month’s winner!

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Apr. Sudoku Sudoku requires no arithmetic

skills.The object of the game is to fi ll 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 fi rst correct answers selected from

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

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Word Search Apr. 2012In 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?

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A Scam to Beware OfThe Better Business Bureau

investigates thousands of scams every year, from the latest gimmicks to schemes as old as the hills. Beware of this:

Top Identity Theft Scam This one has gotten so prevalent that many hotels are posting warnings in their lobby. Here’s how it works: You get a call in your hotel room in the middle of the night. The desk clerk, very apologetic, says their computer has crashed and they need to get your credit card num-ber again, or they must have gotten the number wrong because the transaction won’t go through, and could you please read the number back so they

can fix the problem? Scammers are counting on you being too sleepy to catch on that the call isn’t from the hotel at all, but from someone outside

who knows the direct-dial numbers for the guest rooms. By the time morning rolls around and you are clear-headed, your credit card has been on a major shopping spree. For more

information on these and other scams, go to BBB Scam Source online at (bbb.org/scam). Sign up for Scam Alerts and learn about new scams as soon as we do. To contact BBB serv-ing West Florida about this release, please call (727) 535-5609 ext. 3317 or [email protected].


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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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Village of Grace Baptist Church A tradi onal church plant in The Villages, Florida - we s ll sing hymns!!!

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Bridge League

Smarter Than A Second-Grader?

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We learn to count in first and second grade, but somehow

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West leads a low Heart and East (correctly) inserts the Jack. Two more Hearts are cashed, followed by a trump shift. “Rats!” mutters Declarer, who had been planning to cross-ruff the entire hand, scoring all nine trumps separately. Those ruffs, plus the ♦A, would be enough to fulfill the contract. But, after the trump return, the cross-ruff leaves Declarer a trick short, so it’s time for Plan B.

Our Declarer’s (faulty) Plan B was to set up Dummy’s Diamonds. He won the trump return in hand, cashed the ♦A, then Club ruff, Diamond ruff, Club ruff, Diamond ruff. This line of play required good breaks (such as Spades 2-2 and Diamonds 3-3, or failing that the doubleton ♦K). But Declarer’s luck was out and, as the cards lie, it was im-possible to enjoy those long Diamonds. Our second-graders need no luck, instead they’ll do some counting: N-S have 23 HCP, so the other guys have 17. In the Heart suit East showed up with five of those 17 missing HCP. West opened the bidding and surely has the remaining 12 HCP. Once Declarer realizes that West has the missing high cards (obviously including the ♣A and ♣Q), it’s routine to win the trump return in hand, and take ruffing finesses against West’s high Clubs. Declarer leads the ♣K which is covered by the Ace and ruffed. Back to hand with a trump. Then the ♣J is led, and run around if West declines to cover. When the dust has cleared, De-clarer will have scored five trumps in his hand, plus two Club ruffs in Dum-my, plus two Club tricks, and the ♦A. Ten easy tricks for the second-graders! Visit acbl.org for more about the fascinating game of bridge or email [email protected]. To find a bridge club in Florida, goto district9acbl.org/D9Clubsmap.htm.Bridge article provided courtesy of St. Petersburg Bridge Club:stpetebridge.org.

How Much Do You Love That Doggie in the Window?Americans love their pets to the

tune of spending $60 billion (Yes, Billion!) per year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. So you get a pet. There are the adoption fees, spaying/neutering, collars, litter boxes, cages, carrier

bags, aquariums, training classes, etc. Those are the initial setup costs. What happens after those costs? The ASPCA (American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) breaks down the annual costs of pets this way. Cost per year by pet:

Think about it. How much do you love that doggie in the window?

Fish: $35 Small dog: $355 Medium dog: $470 Large dog: $650

Cat: $495 Hamster: $300 Guinea pig: $635 Rabbit: $730

Armchair Travel at Its BestEnough with the road less

traveled. “The Europe no one knows about” has become a tediously familiar destination in modern travel writing. Europe On Five Wrong Turns A Day: One Man, Eight Countries, One Vintage Travel Guide by Doug Mack is straight-up, cliché-ridden tourism. It’s a journey firmly on the beaten path and an exploration of how the path got so beaten in the first place. Mack stumbles on an inspired idea when he picks up a 47-year-old edition of Arthur Frommer’s classic travel guide Europe on Five Dollars a Day.

He decides to go where millions have gone before but with a hope-lessly outdated guidebook nearly a half a century old. The result is a funny and fascinating journey into a new (old) world and a disarming reflection on the ways this experi-ence has and hasn’t

changed in the last generation. Spanning eight countries and spending far more than five dollars a day, Mack delivers a unique version of armchair time travel with Frommer—who is much like a character out of Mad Men—in tow. It’s travel, it’s history and it’s funny. Doug Mack is based in Minneapolis with a digital home at douglasmack.net.

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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.

MEN SEEKING WOMEN4116 SEEKING RETIRED FEMALE COMPANION I am a recent widower. M/W age 81. I’m 6’2”, 225 lbs. Seeking W/F tall, any age. LTR. SD, NS, NDrg. Will treat as lady should be – with respect. Tavares.4120 WANTED SLIM ROMANTIC FEMALE nonsmoker who’s tired of being alone to relocate to new home, share new life, love, companionship, each other. I’m 68, 5’8”, 150 lbs. Send photo with description.4121 A GOOD DECENT MAN SWM seeks a SWF who is mature, mentally stable, honest, for friend-ship, dating, companionship, romance. I like movies, music, flea-markets, walks, sports and more. Let’s take a chance. Age open.4129 HONEST AND AFFECTION-ATE SWM – age 58, NS, ND, funny, grateful. Like music, concerts, festivals, camping, nature. Seeking female com-panion, similar qualities. Belleview.

WOMEN SEEKING MEN4083 PERKY SWF 82 YO, looking for lonely SM who likes home cooking, TV, movies and sports. NS/ND/NDrg, but occasional glass of wine O.K. Like dogs but no cats. Please send photo and phone number. Prefer Villages or Lake/Marion County.4118 CHRISTIAN DWF (63) NS, ND, honest, sincere, born again Christian, loves the Lord, FF. I pray that the Lord would have the right person to reply to this ad. Umatilla or Eustis.4119 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.4122 A NATURAL WOMAN Single home-loving country girl seeks an honest, caring SWM or SHM to nurture and to live “La Dolce Vita.” Life is a dream; let’s live it! Ocala, FL.

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.

RUN YOUR AD FOR ONLY $6 A MONTH

SENIORS GETTING TOGETHERPersonal Ad Placement

Deadline 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

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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).

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MAIL TO: SENIORS GETTING TOGETHER, C/O NEWS CONNECTION, USA, INC. 1602 S. PARSONS AVE., SEFFNER, FL 33584

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4130 LET’S ENJOY GOOD TIMES SWM, easygoing, with a heart and feeling and SOH. A little over-the-hill but not down in the valley, seeks SWF for fun, adventure, excitement up on the hill.

Monthly Plan premiumson BlueMedicare RegionalPPO and HMO** plans!

Eligible for Medicare?

LookwhatBluehas for you.

Y0011_31372 0112 File & Use 01252012BMRPPO, BMHMO, BMPDP

*You must continue to pay the Medicare Part B Premium unless paid by Medicaid or another third party.** In select counties.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF) and Health Options, Inc. (HOI) is a Medicare Advantage organizationwith a Medicare contract and Medicare approved Part D sponsor. These contracts are renewed annually andavailability beyond the end of the current contract year is not guaranteed. Exclusions and limitations may apply.The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, not a comprehensive description of benefits.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

• Prescription Drug, Dental, Hearing and Vision coverage included• Large Network of participating doctors, hospitals and pharmacies• Exclusive member discount programs and online coupons for popular products

We’ll help you find a Medicare Regional PPO,HMO, or Rx plan that’s right for you

*

Call toll-free 1-800-876-2227,8 a.m. – 9 p.m. ET, seven days a week.

TTY users dial 1-800-955-8771.

bluemedicarefl.com Visit us at a Florida Bluecenter. floridablue.com

Contact your local agent.

SrConnectionsAd_31372 0112:File&Use01252012 1/20/12 11:49 AM Page 1

Mature Lifestyles April 2012 Lake/Marion

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