Lifestyles After 50 Sarasota/Manatee Feb. 2013 edition

AFTER 50 February 2013

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

sings the greatest love songs of all time

Bobby V inton

Lifestyles“Blue Velvet”

“Mr. Lonely”“Melody of Love”

“There, I Said it Again”

History of Valentines

www.LifestylesAfter50FL.com • Sarasota/Manatee • FREE

Lifestyles After 50 • February 2013 • page 2

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

Sarasota/Manatee Edition

(813) 653-1988 • 1-888-670-0040Fax: (813) 651-1989

www.lifestylesafter50fl .com

Southwest Edition: Lee/Collier & CharlotteHillsborough Edition: Hillsborough CountySuncoast Edition: Pinellas/Pasco Counties

Lake Edition: Lake/Marion Counties

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.

Our other editions:

To learn more, call 1-888-670-0040

General ManagerDave Tarantul

[email protected]/Director of Events & Marketing

Kathy J. [email protected]

EditorJanice Doyle

[email protected] ce Manager

Vicki [email protected] Assistant

Nancy [email protected]

Advertising Sales

Lee/Collier and Charlotte Nancy Kuehne: (239) 822-6150

Distribution(941) 375-6260

News Connection USA, Inc.P.O. Box 638

Seffner, Florida 33583-0638(941) 375-6260 • (877) 535-3749

Fax: (941) 375-8178www.lifestylesafter50fl .com

Sarasota/ManateeJulie Simzak: (941) 685-1676

Production Supervisor/Graphic DesignKim Burrell

[email protected] Editor/Production Assistant

Tracie [email protected]

Customer Service(941) 375-6260

[email protected]

FCOA


Life Planning Law FirmElder Law & Long Term Care Solutions

P.A

.

“My mission is to have Seniors & Veterans avoid the hardship of long term care.”

Attorney Kevin Pillion, 1990 Main Street, Suite 750, Sarasota, FL 34236, www.LifeLawFirm.com

Medicaid & VA Benefits PlanningLong Term Care Solutions • Wills and Trusts • Probate

Free Consultations & Home Visits

(941) 341-3200


Ongoing Senior Beach Walks. Participate in a self-guided

beach walk, one-mile minimum, on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Siesta Key Beach, 946 Beach Rd. or 8:30 to 10 a.m. at Nokomis Beach, 100 Casey Key Rd. Complete four walks to receive a free event t-shirt. Info/register at (941) 861-5000.

Saturdays Adult Singles Club of Sarasota/Manatee Open Dance

Party. 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Payne Park Auditorium, 2100 Laurel St., Sarasota. Cost: $10. Come with or without partner. Live music. Free snacks, BYOB. (941) 756-8303.

7 Friendship Force of Sarasota meeting and Chinese New Year

celebration. Waldemere Fire Station. 7 to 9 p.m. Free. (941) 320-6557 for info. Mar. 1 Mindy Simmons Concert to celebrate World Friendship Day at Unitarian Universalist Church, 3975 Fruitville Rd., Sarasota. 7:30 p.m. $10/door. Call (941) 378-2094 for info.

7 – 16 Selby Gardens 10th Annual Watercolor Exhibition. Paintings of

the gardens and other subjects for show and sale. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission included in regular Gardens’ entry fee: $17. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, 811 S. Palm Ave., Sarasota. (941) 366-5731.

8 Wildlife Center of Venice fundrais-ers for injured and orphaned

animals. 8 Casino Night at Sun N’ Fun Resort, Fruitville Rd. Music, fun, games. 6 – 10 p.m. 23 Party in Paradise at the American Legion Hall, Auburn Rd. and Venice Ave. Food, dance, silent auction. 6 – 10 p.m. Info: (941) 484-9657.

9 “Sweet Adelines” Magic of Manatee Chorus Annual Show.

Featuring guest barbershop quartet “The Ditchfields.” 3 p.m. at Neel Performing Arts Center, 5840 26th Street W, Bradenton, FL. Tickets $18, call Rose at (941) 794-0218.

9 Jazz Concert with five-time Grammy nominee Ira Sullivan.

8 p.m. at Glenridge Performing Arts

Center, 7333 Scotland Way, Sarasota, (941) 552-5325. $20 tickets/gpactix.com.

9 First Annual P.A.R.K. Foundation Walk to Save Lives. Registration:

7:30 a.m. 1-mile walk: 8:30 a.m. 3-mile walk: 9 a.m. Payne Park, 2050 Ad-ams Lane. Free. (415) 271-4869.

11 Nature Topic Talk: Being A Naturalist. Meet at the

Pavilion at Rothenbach Park, 8650 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, 2 – 3 p.m.Register at (941) 861-5000.

15 AAUW Home Tour to benefit local scholarships. Five homes

in Venice open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. $20 tickets available at Paper Pad and Ven-ice Stationers, W. Venice Ave., and at all homes on the day of the tour. Info at venice-fl.aauw.net or (941) 488-5897.

16 Welcome Club monthly luncheon, 11:30 a.m at Laurel

Oak Country Club, 2700 Gary Player Blvd., Sarasota. $24; speaker is Kay Rosaire, owner Big Cat Habitat, Sara-sota. New members welcome; contact Maria Heifner at (941) 377-9056.

19 – 24 Senior Games. Olympic-style sporting competitions for

participants age 50 and over. Event info/venues at (941) 861-5000.

21Photo Sharing Workshop. Learn how to use photo sharing sites,

prepare and store photos. 1 – 4 p.m. at Englewood Art Center, 350 S. McCall Road, Englewood. $40. (941) 474-5548

26 Tastes of the Jewish Year. Cooking/learning experience.

Theme: “What About Citrus?” Create and sample a salad and cake. Discus-sion on oranges in Jewish migration and trade. $30. 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Temple Sinai, 4631 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota. RSVP: (941) 924-1802. Send Around Town news to News Connection USA, Inc. P.O. Box 638 Seffner, FL 33583; please fax (813) 651-1989. News 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

5921 Fruitville Rd. • Sarasota • 941-342-6655(at Cattleman-East of Sam’s Club) Open 24 hours all day, every day!

Save 20% With Purchase of $25Coupon expires 2-28-13. May not be used with “kids”, early birds, breakfast or lunch specials. Valid only at participating Perkins® Restaurant & Bakery locations. One coupon per person per visit at participating Perkins® Restaurant & Bakery locations. Not valid with any

other discount or offer. Coupon void if purchased, sold or bartered for cash. Only original coupons accepted. Mutilated, tampered, forged or photocopied coupons are not accepted. Sales tax, if applicable,

must be paid by customer. Please present coupon when ordering. Prices may vary in Canada. Printed in the U.S.A. © 2010 Perkins® & Marie Callender’s, Inc.

May Not Combine Offers - SARASOTA ONLY

Featured Pie This Month:

Neapolitan Silk Pie

Enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch,early bird dinner, supper & even late night lite fare.• Full menu available 24 hours!• Delicious bakery - remember us

for our pies & Mammoth Muffins®

Breakfast Specials:Mon. – Fri., 6 am –11am

Starting at $3.99

Complete Meals:Entrée, Beverage

& Dessert starting at $11.99

All Around Tours Presents:

CASINO TRIPS • SIGHTSEEING TOURS DINING & ENTERTAINMENT OUTINGS

www.AllAroundBus.comLic. # ST313558

HARD ROCK - $20 PER PERSON$30 Free Play Wednesdays, Thursdays and SundaysIMMOKALEE - $20 PER PERSON$30 Free Play - $5 Food VoucherSaturdays, Mondays & TuesdaysEAST COAST OVERNIGHT CASINO TRIPFeb. 4 – 5, Feb. 18 – 19, Mar. 4 – 5, Mar. 11–12, Apr. 8 – 9, May 6 – 7 Overnight Casino - Double $99, Single $129 Included…Immokalee, Hollywood Hard Rock. Coconut Creek, Isle of Capri, and one night accommodations with continental breakfast, plus $90 in free play and $21 in food vouchers.

Feb. 25 – Mar. 1 - Charleston, SavannahMar. 1 – Mar. 3 - River RanchMar. 11 – Mar. 13 - Key WestMORE DATES AVAILABLE CALL FOR DETAILS.

OVERNIGHT TRIPS (CALL FOR FLYER)

DAY TRIPS2/1 Titanic 100 Year Anniversary $642/5 Fiddler on the Roof $752/6 Naples Zoo $492/6 Lakeridge Winery $552/7 Sanibel w/lunch $822/8 Fantasy of Flight $692/12 Tampa Bay History Museum $492/13 Punta Gorda $492/18 Kennedy Space Center $892/21 Holy Land $822/22 Sunken Gardens $592/23 Irish Rovers $692/27 Holocaust Museum $59

• Pt. Charlotte• Punta Gorda• North Port• Englewood

• Sarasota• Venice and Bradenton!

MULTIPLE BUS CASINO PICK UPS IN:

941-488-9393Call Us For a

Brochure


How to Maintain A Healthy HeartHeart disease kills more adults in

the United State than any other illness, but you don’t have to be one of them. When it comes to the health of your heart, what you do and what you don’t do can truly make a difference. Although you lack the power to change risk factors such as fam-ily history, sex or age, lifestyle choices can be far more dangerous. For starters, a healthy diet including five servings of fruits and vegetables a day is crucial. By cooking simple fresh meals at home, rather than indulging in restaurant fare or fast foods, you can save your health and your money. Look for foods that are high in fiber and minimize unhealthy saturated and trans fats. Maintaining a

good diet and regular exercise will give you energy and prevent

obesity, a risk factor of heart

attack, heart failure and dia-

betes. Try getting at least 30 minutes

of moderately intense physical activity three

to four days a week. However, even shorter

amounts of exercise offer heart benefits, so if you can’t meet those guidelines, don’t give up. Smoking or using tobacco is one of the most significant risk factors to developing heart disease. Chemicals in tobacco can damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) which can ultimately lead to a heart attack. The

good news is when you do quit smok-ing, your risk of heart disease drops significantly within just one year. Reduce your stress! Easier said than done, but there are lots of reasons to be happy, including your heart health. Negative emotions like anger and hostility can raise blood pressure. People with depression are four times more likely to have a heart attack. Try to adopt a more positive outlook and get yourself in a better mind-set by managing daily stressors. Finally, get regular health screenings. High blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage your heart and blood vessels, but regular health screenings can help you and your doctor manage these risks. Blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes screenings are the most important in maintaining a healthy heart.

The good news is that you don’t have to sit around and wait for something to go wrong inside your heart and arteries. There are things you can do right now, simple lifestyle changes, to halt unnecessary aging, wear and tear.

Blake Medical Center

Visit us at BlakeMedicalCenter.com/Calendar for listings of

upcoming health screenings and for more resources on how to

keep a healthy heart, visit us at BlakeMedicalCenter.com/Heart.

Blake Medical CenterFebruary Classes & Events

2013

Falls Prevention SeminarFriday, February 1H2U Ellenton Center

2nd Annual Health & Safety HullabalooSaturday, February 2Blake Medical Center - Parking Lot*First 500 to register get a FREE T-SHIRT

YOGA Class*Oncology Patients OnlyMonday, February 4, 11, 18, 25 Cancer Resource Room

What is H2U?Monday, February 4H2U Bayshore Center

Navigating Life Changes Tuesday, February 5, 12, 19, 26H2U Cortez Center

Sleep from “A to Zzzzz” SeminarWednesday, February 6Blake Medical Center

Heart Murmur SeminarTuesday, February 12Blake Medical Center Call 1-888-359-3552 to register.

Screening MammogramMamm & Glamm Night*Must call 1-866-463-7004 to registerWednesday, February 13Breast Care Center

Heartburn Lecture - Dr. Gary BunchWednesday, February 20Blake Medical Center

Living with Hearing LossThursday, February 21 & 28H2U Bayshore Center


Lions, Tigers, Bears and More—Up Close and PersonalBY TRACIE SCHMIDT

What would you do if someone left a tiger on

your doorstep? That’s what Kay Rosaire and her father found themselves asking one day after the cat’s owners abandoned it without warn-ing and a temporary housing situation became permanent. Luckily, they knew a thing or two about big cats. Rosaire comes from a long line of animal lovers—eight generations of an English circus family, in fact—and has been working with big cats since her teens. Clarence the Cross-Eyed lion of ‘60s movie fame and several animals in the cast of the tv series “Daktari” were among her wards; her father, Derrick Rosaire, Sr. was the handler for Gentle Ben the Bear and has appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show and the Tonight Show. That tiger became the first resident of Big Cat Habitat, a project that has gone

from a privately funded foster home to a non-profit sanctuary for 42 big cats and a variety of primates, bears, birds and tortoises. It is open to the public from Weds. to Sun. year round. The facility relies greatly on the generosity of visitors and community or-ganizations and the support of dedicated volunteers. For example, businesses like Sweetbay and Costco supply free food for the habitat residents—a much needed boon, as one big cat will eat be-tween 10 and 20 pounds of food a day. Admission is $18 for adults ($15 Weds. – Fri.) and $7 for kids, and all

proceeds go to support the animals. Visitors get something even greater in return, says Kay Rosaire—a connection to these magnificent animals. “Because we are animal welfare, we strongly believe in the human-animal connection,” she says. “People are really missing the connection of seeing animals locally. Children often grow

up never seeing anything, so it’s a wonderful way to interact with nature and it connects them to nature.” Rosaire says it’s the close proximity between the guests and the great cats that makes the habitat so special. Visitors can watch training demonstrations and even feed many of the animals at the park. “It’s a very interactive situation, very different than a normal zoo or animal park, so it’s become quite popular,” she says. Contrary to their wilder cousins, all animals in the park were born in captivity or raised by humans. Rosaire states that they have very few

“rescues”—that the majority of the animals they take in were well treated, but the previous owners were simply unable to care for them anymore. “They didn’t do anything wrong; they did it because they love animals, but they made a bad choice,” says Rosaire. That is part of the reason why educa-tion is so important when it comes to exotic pets. Many people will buy an animal like a parrot or a tortoise with-out realizing how long they live, how large they grow or how much they eat, and have few arrangements in place for its care when they can no longer support it themselves, Rosaire cautions. Big Cat Habitat works hard to take in any critter that needs a home, but they need your help as well. You can participate in their 8th annual “Animal Extravaganza” fundraiser now through Feb. 24. Enjoy animal shows, encounters, kids activities and more for a good cause. Visit Big Cat Habitat at 7101 Palmer Blvd., Sarasota, or call (941) 371-6377 to learn more.

(Pictured left) Kay Rosaire and her son, Clayton. Photos

by Richard Czina.

(1.4 miles south of Venice Ave.)

Lunch, & Dinner Served from 11:30 a.m.

Live Entertainment Wed. – Sun.

Stop in for lunch or dinner served with a beautiful sunset!

Smack Dab on the Gulf

Sunset6pm

We’ve Taught Thousands to Play!(941) 748-0323

DeSoto Square Mall303 301 Blvd. West • Bradenton

(941) 966-0800

Southbay Fashion Center1270 South Tamiami Trail

www.fletchermusic.com

WANTED 20 SENIORS!

6 Weeks of Music Lessons Only $20!

Includes all class materials and guest membership to all music club

events!

With little or no musical experienceLearn the basic fundamentals of any keyboard style instrument!You’ll be playing your favorite

songs in six weeks!

Fall In LOVEWith Playing

MUSIC!


MARK YOUR

CALENDARS!

Presented By:

Sponsored By: Directions: 941-932-9484www.lifestylesafter50fl.com

A F T E R 50 February 15, 2013Bradenton Municipal Auditorium1005 Barcarrota Boulevard, Bradenton

10am – 3pm

Chances to Win $100Throughout the Day!

FREE Coffee & Goodies

Premier Sponsor:

Live Entertainment Throughout the Day!

FREE Health Screenings

Exhibitors!

• Travel • Shopping Clubs • Pharmacies• Home Improvement• Retirement Lifestyles• Physicians • RestaurantsAnd Much More...

Free Parking And Admission

FREE BINGO Games! For Prizes

Senior Friendly Sports CenterPlay & Win!

Call: 941-685-1676

Mr. D’sLUNCH Available

Fritzy“The One Man

Denise Looney“DJ with a Twist”

Jimmy MaazEntertainer with a

Vegas Twist


“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


01 P2033_US_News_F_1 CYAN

North American Initiative LIFESTYLES AFTER 50- SUNCOAST-PINELLAS-PASCOLIFESTYLES AFTER 50- SARASOTA-MANATEE COUNTIES SENIORS TODAY

MAGENTA

P2033_US_News_F_1 YELLOW

100% TD Canada Trust BLACK

Nov/12 Victor P2033 10”x9.8125”

Nov 22/12 tl 100%

Canadians in Florida can find a TD Bank as easily as they can find a beach

Great service and convenience for Canadians at over 1,300 TD Bank locations in the U.S.

With TD Cross-Border Banking you can enjoy the convenience of over 1,300 TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank® locations in the U.S., from Maine to Florida. Open a U.S. TD Bank account today and you can enjoy the benefits of easily transferring money between your Canadian based TD Canada Trust account and your TD Bank account in the U.S. You can also apply to TD Bank for a U.S. mortgage1 and credit card2 based on your Canadian and U.S. assets, income and credit history. All while being able to view both your TD Canada Trust and TD Bank accounts online on the same web page. Get the convenience you’ve come to expect in Canada while in the U.S.

Visit a TD Bank for all your cross-border banking needs.Visit tdbank.com/locator to find the location nearest you.Call 1-877-700-2913 for more information.3

TD Bank is TD Bank, N.A., a wholly-owned U.S. subsidiary of The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Member FDIC. Accounts issued by TD Bank, N.A. are not insured by Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation. 1. Subject to credit approval and other conditions. Mortgages limited to property located in U.S. state where TD Bank, N.A. has locations. Equal Housing Lender . 2. Subject to credit approval and other conditions. Applicants must be a resident of Canada or a U.S. state where TD Bank, N.A. has locations. 3. TD Bank, N.A. is located in the United States and its support line and stores are serviced in English. ®/ The TD logo and other trade-marks are the property of The Toronto-Dominion Bank or a wholly-owned subsidiary, in Canada and/or other countries.

912518A07_FCB Dec 12, 2012TDCT_P2033_US Initiative Phase 2P2033_US_News_F_1_ST

P2033_US_News_F_1_ST.indd 1 12/12/12 11:48 PM


Seeking A Special SomeoneDone with spending another

Valentine’s Day at home? Clubs and meetups abound in Manatee and Sarasota for every interest. For those looking to make a few new friends (or maybe something more?) check out these local singles groups:Adult Singles Club of Sarasota/Manatee This club holds an open dance party every Saturday from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. at the Payne Park Audito-rium, 2100 Laurel St., Sarasota. Cost: $10. Come with or without partner. Enjoy live music and free snacks. BYOB. (941) 756-8303.“Singles on the Go” Travel Club This group provides travel opportuni-ties and social activities for solo adult travelers. Meet friends, travel partners and more. Monthly meetings from 2:30 to 5 p.m. at Faith Presbyterian

Church, N. Beneva Rd. and 12th St., Sarasota. Refreshments served. Meet-ings are free, and visitors are wel-come. Call (941) 371-8937 for info.

Palm Singles of 50 Fellowship This church-based group meets every week throughout the month for dinners, game nights, bike rides, domino nights, movie groups, beach walks, eat-outs and more. Reserva-tions required. Church of the Palms, 3224 Bee Ridge Rd. (941) 924-1323.

SRQ Singles: Boomers in Paradise SRQ Singles provides an opportunity to personally meet singles at events, activities and “Rock On” gatherings for single professionals, active baby boomers and those singles starting over. Contact by email: [email protected] or online: meetup.com/Meet-Mingle-Sarasota-SRQ-Singles/.

NEW NORTH SARASOTA

Win Cash Not Cards

WEDNESDAY

IS MENS DAY -

RECEIVE $10 MATCH

FOR $20 PURCHASE

3990 N. Lockwood Ridge , Sarasota, 34235 • 941.355.4777

FREEFOOD & DRINK

HOMEMADECHEF JULES

WIN UP TO

$10,000CASH!

NEWSTORE

with $100 purchase. Only One Promo A Day Allowed

Expiration: 2/12/13

No purchase nescessary. See store for details PLAY & WIN • (Business Center)

COUPON NEEDED

$20 FREEMONDAY

IS LADIES

DAY - RECEIVE

$10 MATCH

FOR $20

PURCHASE

NORTH SARASOTANEW

OPEN 7 DAYS 9AM – MIDNIGHT (or later)

Classic 7’s, Rockin Slots, Keno & More!

SUNDAY - THURSDAY: 8:00 AM-1AM FRIDAY - SATURDAY: 8:00AM-2:00AM?OPEN 7 DAYS

NORTH SARASOTA • SARASOTA • BRADENTON

WINUP TO

$10,000CASH!

FREEFOOD

BEVERAGEBEER & WINE

NORTH SARASOTA SARASOTA BRADENTON

3990 North Lockwood Ridge Rd. • 941.355.4777 5955 Clark Center Ave. • 941.706.1798 6500 14th St. W. (U.S. 41) • 941.756.6747

NEW

NEW

CLASSIC 7’S, ROCKIN’ SLOTS, KENO & MORE! NEW SHARED JACKPOTSWith only $50 purchase

Limit one per person daily.Must bring in offer.

With only $10 purchase.Limit one per person daily.

Only 1 promo a day allowed.FREE FREE$10 $5Play & Win Sweepstakes • No Purchase Necesssary • See Store For Details • (Business Center)

Win Cash Not Prizes

LS


Superior Service For Your BoatThere is no better way to take advan-

tage of Sarasota’s beautiful coasts and waterways than in a brand new boat from Admiralty Marine, LLC. in Venice. This family business is the oldest Su-zuki Marine dealer in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte. They specialize in boat and marine engine sales and repairs. If you’re in the market for a new or used boat for the first time, they will guide you through the buying process, catering to your needs, preferences and budget. And if you already own a boat, they have everything you need to keep your craft shipshape—ships stores, trailers, marine engines and parts, as well as the training and certification to repair and service everything they sell. Marvin Ogle, owner and technician, is qualified to work on most major brands of outboards and is factory certified to provide warranty and maintenance ser-vice on Suzuki and Honda outboards. “Marvin is probably the most knowledgeable person about Suzuki engines in the area. He’s always willing

to talk to customers and very hon-est,” says Camille Ogle, operations manager at Admiralty Marine. “You stand behind your work, use quality parts and provide reliable repairs,” says customer D. Beuthel of Venice. “Thank you for repairing my boat and treating me the way a customer should be treated.” At Admiralty Marine, LLC, their goal is to provide you with courteous, expedient, professional service of the highest caliber. Their motto: Aye, Aye, SIR – Sincerity, Integrity, Reliability. To learn more, call: (941) 480-0723;online: www.admiralty-marine-llc.comor visit them at 609 U.S. Hwy. 41,Bypass S., in Venice.

Specials For New Boats:Two New 2011 155 Bay Series

with engine and trailer at dealer invoice.

Suzuki is offering “Gimme Six.”

15% OFFFEB. 8

To Celebrate Our One Year Anniversary

ADMIRALTY MARINE, LLC

609 U.S. 41 Bypass South • Venice, FL 34285Call: 941-480-0723/24

When You Want A Good Fix Remember That Boat Repair Shops Are Not Created Equal

We: -• Fix Boat Engines Right The First Time• Service Most Makes Of Marine Engines

Admiralty Marine Is:• A Honda Marine Dealer• The Oldest Suzuki Marine Dealer

In The Counties Of Sarasota, Manatee And Charlotte

We Excel In Sincerity, Integrity & Reliability


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.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


51280EF-ROP01-0213-LB

A Life Care Community

6406 21st Avenue West

Bradenton, Florida 34209Your story continues here...

From fun social activities and day trips to housekeeping and daily gourmet dining, there’s

a lot to love about our resort-style independent living community. Grab the one you love and

come find out about the exceptional retirement lifestyle waiting for you at Freedom Village.

Come for a visit soon and make sure to ask about our current specials.

To learn more about our exceptional community,

call 1-888-505-6854 or visit www.brookdaleliving.com

Our residents love life at Freedom Village!


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

Do you know where your D-214 is? Many veterans have no problem with this question. However, there are quite a few who are not sure,

flat out do not know or do know that they do not have one. Frequently, this important document has been misplaced, lost or destroyed. At the time of a veteran’s passing, it becomes a very vital piece of paper. The DD-214 is needed for acceptance in the National Cemetery System, burial benefits, Military Honors and receiving the American Flag that the Veterans Administration provides. If you do not know or do not have a DD-214, I can help you request a replacement. My name is Don Terry, and I am the new owner of Veterans Funeral Service and Cremation. I will be glad to assist any veteran who needs to request a replacement. There is no fee. I will help prepare the request form or simply provide the form for you.

Serving All Families ~ Always Honoring Veterans

VETERANS FUNERAL SERVICE AND CREMATION

7275 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, Florida 34241

(941) 377-1060Do You Know Where Your DD-214 Is?

Simple cremation may sound simple but often that is not the case. Please visit our web site and click on “Tell Me About Simple Cremation” or call us and we will be glad to send you detailed information.

“Tell Me About Simple Cremation”

www.veteransfs.com • 941-377-1060Veterans Funeral Service & Cremation

“Serving All Families ~ Always Honoring Veterans”7275 Bee Ridge Road, Sarasota, FL 34241 • 941-377-1060

License# CAC1816468

FPL Rebate Up To $1,905Manufacturer Rebates Up To $1,375

Financing Available

Residential & CommercialAir Conditioning, Heating, Pool HeatersInstallation, Repair & MaintenanceService with Integrity, Respect & Honor


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!

Local Company Eases Nighttime Foot Pain

Do you suffer from neuropathy, plantar fasciitis, arthritis or

anything else that causes pain from the weight of blankets? Do you frequently awaken from the discomfort and pain aggravated by the weight of blankets on sensitive feet, knees or hips? Until local inventor David Jennings and his company, Advanced Comfort, came out with the SomniMax™ Blanket Lifter, answering yes to those questions often meant a sleepless, uncomfortable night. Jennings founded a successful manu-facturing company in Ohio before retiring to Southwest Florida. After undergoing knee replacement surgery, however, what should have been a life of leisure quickly changed as Jennings awoke to a burning sensation in his foot, and was diagnosed with pe-ripheral neuropathy. Unable to sleep, and dissatisfied with existing blanket lifters that were flimsy and drafty, the engineer in Jennings set to work. The

result is the SomniMax™ Blanket Lifter with its Comfy Cover™, which allowed Jennings to achieve a comfortable night’s sleep free from the painful weight of blankets. Realizing that he could help many other foot-pain sufferers, David and his wife Liz founded Advanced Comfort, LLC, opened a manufacturing facility in Ft. Myers, and put his creation into production. Branded the SomniMax™ Blanket Lifter with Comfy Cover™, it is a sturdy frame that assembles and installs in seconds, fitting any size bed. The Comfy Cover™ placed over the SomniMax™ frame, with its fleece interior and nylon exterior, provides warmth and blocks drafts. Today the SomniMax™ Blanket Lifter is helping to alleviate the pain and sleeplessness of foot-pain suffer-ers around the world. SomniMax™ Blanket Lifters are available at somnimax.com.

PATENTPENDING

REDISCOVERA GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP

Blanket Lifter with Comfy CoverTM

Call 1.800.773.5110www.SomniMax.comVisit

FREE SHIPPING!

$5995

SomniMax™ Blanket Lifter gives you freedom from painful blankets!

OF COUPON CODE: AFTER50A SAVINGS OF $10 WITH USE


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

hen you choose Kobernick-Anchin, you are welcomed for life. Our beautiful campus offers spacious independent living

apartments, excellent dining options and endless on-site amenities. Depending on your interests, we also offer a myriad of activities and

excursions that inspire the mind, body and spirit.

kobernickanchin.orgFor more information or to schedule a visit, please call: 941.377.0781.

Sponsored by Sarasota Manatee Jewish Housing Council, Inc.

Independent Living • Assisted Living • Ski l led Nursing and Rehabi l itat ion

Once you’re here, you’ll want to stay forever. And you can.

What may be most comforting to know is that should you ever need higher levels of care, we also have an assisted living community with a memory care unit, and a 5-star rated skilled nursing and rehabilitation center right on the same campus. So once you move here, you’re family, and you’ll never need to worry about moving again.

Assisted Living Facility #8951 • Skilled Nursing Facility #130471046


Discount Med Direct: A Discount, Mail Order Prescription Service

We are not a pharmacy, but we do work with a network of licensed

U.S., Canadian and international pharmacies to provide you the best prices on your prescription medication and arrange to have your medication shipped directly to your door. We only provide medication manufactured in facilities that have been approved by the FDA or like agencies in their respective countries, assuring the highest level of safety. Even though our physical location is in Sarasota, Florida, our reputation has grown significantly and we now service thousands of people from across the United States.A Valuable Service for Seniors, the Uninsured or Self-Employed The word of our success has been spread through customer recom-mendations, as well as referrals from physicians, insurance agents and other health organizations who know how valuable we can be to seniors, to the uninsured or self-employed, or to anyone who wants to save money.

Q & A About Our Service, Part 1Q: Do you want to save time,

money and worry?A: Let Discount Med Direct help you

get all your prescription medications safely delivered to your door.

Q: Do I need a prescription?A: Yes. Just like your local drugstore,

we require a valid prescription from a licensed physician.

Q: My prescriptions are on file at my regular pharmacy. What should I do?

A: You can either make arrangements with your doctor to get a new prescription or we will gladly contact your doctor and make arrange-ments to get your prescriptions.

Learn more next month in Part 2 of our Q & A. We can help provide you with the best prices on your prescrip-tion medication and arrange to have it shipped directly to your door at no charge. Call Discount Med Direct at (941) 355-7887 or (877) 695-7888 or visit www.discountmeddirect.com.

PRESCRIPTION REQUIRED: Keep from falling into the DONUT HOLE

941-355-7887TOLL FREE: 877-695-7888 • FAX: 941-355-6226

6270 N. LOCKWOOD RIDGE ROAD, SARASOTA, FL 34243

SAVE 30% to 80%ON YOUR PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS

GENERIC PRICES LISTED BELOW. ALWAYS FREE SHIPPING.

E-MAIL: [email protected] • WEB: WWW.DISCOUNTMEDDIRECT.COM

SERVICE AND SAVINGS DISCOUNT MED DIRECT

WITH YOU IN MIND

$97.30$30.67$20.60

$267.00$189.20$158.89

FlomaxProtonixSimvastatinViagraCialisSpiriva

.04mg40mg10mg 100mg5mg

18mcg

90 pills90 pills90 pills96 pills90 pills

90+handihaler

Ask For AFREE

QUOTEto get a

movie pass

CALLFORATOURTODAY!

941-749-6760WestminsterRetirement.com

BREATHTAKINGWATERVIEWS!Westminster

Towers&Shores

Maintenance-free, active living alongBradenton’s beautiful riverwalk.


Buffalo Chicken Salad1/2 lb. Buffalo Chicken (nitrate free in our deli)Salad Greens of your choice1 pkg. of grape tomatoesChopped CeleryHartville Blue Cheese Dressing (in our cooler with the cheeses)

Get Buffalo Chicken cut in thick slice and cube it. Cut up salad greens. Add tomatoes. Toss with Blue Cheese dressing.

Customer

Favorite:


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


Moffitt CanCer Center12902 Magnolia Drive, taMpa, fl

Moffitt CanCer Center at international plaza4101 JiM Walter BoulevarD, taMpa, fl

Moffitt Belongs to an elite group of CanCer Centers

that have aChieveD DistinCtion froM the national CanCer

institute. that Means aCCess to the latest treatMents,

proMising researCh, More CliniCal trials anD DoCtors

Who proviDe the highest levels of patient Care. for you, it

Means shorter treatMent tiMes, reDuCeD hospital stays anD

Better outCoMes – During anD after treatMent. anD Most

iMportant, it Means your Best ChanCe for Beating CanCer.

learn More aBout our personalizeD approaCh to CanCer

treatMent at either of our tWo loCations at moffitt.org

your Best ChanCe for Beating CanCer

h. lee Moffitt CanCer Center & researCh institutean nCi CoMprehensive CanCer Center taMpa, fl | 1-888-Moffitt

Closer to our patients. Closer to a Cure.®


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.

The Healthy Geezer

See Spot. See Spot Change. See your Dermatologist.

Call for your FREE Skin Cancer Screening

By Appointment Only.

THE SKIN CANCER CENTERSDERMATOLOGY ASSOCIATES

www.theskincancercenters.com

Howard A. Oriba, M.D. • Michael G. Caruso, M.D. • Leslee Baute, P.A.-C.

PARRISH 8959 US Hwy. 301 N.

Parrish, FL 34219 941-776-1577

Conveniently Located in:

We Accept Universal Healthcare.

NEED HELP NAVIGATINGMEDICARE?

LET US BE YOUR GUIDE!

FREE, Confidential, andUnbiased Help With:• Medicare Eligibility, Enrollment,

and Coverage Options

• Long-Term Care Planning

• Prescription Assistance Resources

For assistance or to become a SHINE volunteer, call

1-800-963-5337WWW.FLORIDASHINE.ORGSHINE is a Florida Department of Elder Affairs program operated in partnership with your local Area Agency on Aging to provide information and assistance with Medicare. All services are free, objective and confidential. WE DO NOT SELL INSURANCE OR REPRESENT ANY INSURANCE ENTITY.


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!

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

use you won’t have to ask yourchildren or grandchildren for help.

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?

Call now, and a patient, knowl-edgeable product expert will

tell you how you can try it inyour home for 30 days. If you are not totally satisfied, simplyreturn it within 30 days for a refund of the product purchaseprice. Call today.

WOW… A Computer Designed For YOU, Not Your Grandchildren!…It’s easy to read. It’s easy to see. It’s even easier to understand and use! Just plug it in!!!

8038

5

Call now for our special

promotional price!Please mention promotional code 49633.

1-877-769-2870

Technology Simplified – New and Improved

NEWTouch Screen

Technology

Simple navigation,

so younever get

lost!

designed for SENIORS®

Big Bright ScreenNo bulky tower

One-touch “zoom” magnification

…send and receive emails, and video chatKeep up with family and friends.

…”surf” the internetGet current weather & news.

…play games onlinehundreds to choose from!

FREEAutomatic Software Updates

U.S. BasedCustomer Service

Cop

yrig

ht ©

201

3 by

firs

tST

RE

ET

for

Boo

mer

s an

d B

eyon

d, In

c. A

ll rig

hts

rese

rved

.

WOW_80385_49633_10x4.75:WOW-80385_10x4.75 1/22/13 1:05 PM Page 1


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)

The EASY BOARDING Bicycle by BiriaBackyard Bike Shop5610 Gulf Of Mexico Dr.Longboat Key, FL 34228

941-383-5184Louie’s Bicycle Shop14580 Tamiami Trl., Unit CNorth Port, FL 34287

941-423-2613Bicycles International1744 Tamiami Trl. SVenice, FL 34293

941-497-1590Ringling Bicycles3606 Manatee Ave. W.Bradenton, FL 34205

941-749-1442Sarasota Schwinn Cyclery Inc.3800 S. Osprey AveSarasota, FL 34239

941-366-4144For more dealers contact Biria USA:Tel: 201-461-1980 • www.biria.com

• Unisex step-through design engineered in Germany

• Cross bar is only six inches from the ground, so you can easily step-through the bicycle

• Upright seating position for less back pain and clear view of the road

• Relaxed arm position for more control

EVERY MORNING MY HUMAN SHAVES OFF HIS FACE FUR, HE’S FUNNY LIKE THAT.

— TUCK adopted 05-04-11

Moving is the best medicine. Keeping active and losing weight are just two of the ways that you can fightosteoarthritis 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.


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


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.

Alan Jackson Coming to FestivalCountry superstar

Alan Jackson takes his tour to the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City on Sun., March 3. Alan Jackson is a successful and respected singer-songwrit-er. He is in the elite company of Paul McCartney and John Lennon among songwriters who’ve written more than 20 songs that they’ve recorded and taken to the top of the charts. Jackson is one of the 10 best-selling artists since the inception of SoundScan, ranking alongside the likes of Eminem and Metallica. His most recent single, “You Go Your Way,” is from his chart-topping album, Thirty Miles West. Jackson has sold nearly 60 million albums worldwide, topped the country singles charts 35 times and scored more than 50 Top-10 hits. He has written or co-written 24 of his 35 #1 hit singles. Jackson is

a 18-time ACM Award winner, a 16-time CMA Award recipient and a two-time Grammy-winning artist whose songwriting has earned him the prestigious ASCAP Founders Award and an induction into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame as a 2011 Songwriter/Artist inductee. Tickets are on sale and may be purchased by phone at (813) 754-1996 or online at flstrawberryfestival.com.


The Great American Trailer Park Musical

A show about agoraphobia, adultery, ‘80s nostalgia, spray

cheese, road kill, hysterical pregnancy, a broken electric chair, kleptomania, strippers, flan and disco… everything a musical should be! Come on over to “this side of the tracks” where The Great American Trailer Park Musical plays in Venice Theatre’s Cabaret through March 9, 2013. Tickets are $13 – $28 and are on sale now at (941) 488-1115 or at www.venicestage.com. Allan Kollar, the the-atre’s producing director, is presenting the show for a third time. He says, “We’ve had to turn people away each time we’ve done it due to sell-outs. We’re bringing it back so more people can enjoy it. It’s got tons of laughs,

the singers are amazing, and even though it’s very silly, it has heart and characters you care about in the end.” Set to a bluesy, country-rock score

(with a little disco thrown in) “Trailer Park” tells the story of Norbert, a toll-collector married to his high-school sweetheart, Jeannie. She suffers from agoraphobia and hasn’t left the trailer in 20 years. Unhappy in his lackluster marriage, Norbert starts a fling with a stripper who’s on the run from a mean, marker-sniffing ex-boyfriend. Tragedy almost ensues, but as the

closing song says, they’re gonna “make like a nail and press on.” This “colorful, raucous and frisky” show is selling quickly, so get your tickets now at (941) 488-1115 or www.venicestage.com.

—Back Again By Popular Demand!

Ralph Nurmela is Getting “SET”tled Into His Retired LifeBY MICHELLE RINACA

The Players Theatre prides itself on being

volunteer driven. The 83 year old organization has thrived thanks in part to the 700 volunteers, like Ralph Nurmela, that help cultivate the art of live theatre in our community. Nurmela has volunteered at The Players Theatre for more than five years. He recently helped paint the set of “Annie” and built sev-eral intricate props and lav-ish set pieces for “Sunset Boulevard.” It shouldn’t come as a surprise to find him involved with the arts. Before he retired, Nurmela was an administrator for the magnet school of the arts in St. Petersburg. While having worked primarily as an artist

and a sculptor, he always knew he would work in live theatre. “I really do like working on theatre projects,” said Nurmela. “I knew when I retired I would want to get more involved. I thought it would be fun to build and paint sets. Now it’s a passion.”

If you are inter-ested in volunteer-

ing and have several hours a month to dedicate, consider volunteering. From ticket takers to backstage crew, there’s a place for everyone to help. For more information, go online to www.theplayers.org or visit the box office at 838 N. Tamiami Trail.

Ralph Nurmela, Volunteer and Artist

TICKETS for TICKETS for TICKETS for Hello, Dolly! Hello, Dolly! Hello, Dolly! and moreand moreand more VeniceStage.com VeniceStage.com VeniceStage.com ●●● (941) 488(941) 488(941) 488---1115 1115 1115

Hello, Hello, Hello, Dolly!Dolly!Dolly!

Feb 19 Feb 19 -- Mar 17Mar 17

Generously sponsored by Gulf Coast Community Foundation


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.

*Some restrictions apply and is subject to availability. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino reserves the right to cancel or change this promotion at any time. Resort fee and taxes may apply. Additional restrictions may apply. Entertainment tickets not included. **Must be 21. Tickets based on availability and schedule subject to change. For complete details visit beaurivage.com. When you need to win, you need to quit. Gambling problem? Call 1.888.777.9696 ©2013 MGM Resorts International.®

dining • gaming • entertainment • shopping • golf • pool • spa

You Belong at the Beautm Resort & Casino • Biloxi, MS

Plan your transformation from the everyday with

room rates starting at only $79 per night.*

Purchase your tickets today for these big acts coming to Beau Rivage.

For hotel reservations and show tickets, visit beaurivage.com.

Entertainment show ticket purchases can also be made by calling 1.888.566.7469.

YOU BELONG AT THE BEAU

Mar 16

Mar 22

Jun 7

May 3

Apr 19

THE MOODY BLUES

VINCE GILL

RON WHITE**

JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS

PAT BENATAR &NEIL GIRALDO

Feb 1-2

Feb 9

RODNEY CARRINGTON**

DIANA ROSS

LAUGHTER’S GOOD TOUR

A LITTLE UNPROFESSIONAL TOUR

GRAND FUNK RAILROAD & WARFeb 22

Insurance DiscountsFor Mature Drivers

Have a Florida’s Driver’s License and are 55 years of age or older?

��

��

��

��

��

��

��

Take Your Class Online!• Study at your leisure, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.• Simply read the course materials online and then answer

a few quiz questions.• There is no need to attend boring classes or listen to

long lectures.• After completion, of course we will issue a state-certifi ed

certifi cate for you to turn into your insurance company to receive your discount for a three year period.

Take Your Mature Driver Course On The Internet!If you have a Florida Driver’s License and are 55 years of age or older, you are now eligible to complete motor vehicle accident prevention course that will allow you to receive a mandatory reduction on your insurance rate for three years.

Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicle Approved Course

To Register go to:www.seniordriverclass.comor call 1-800-771-2255


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.

The Casablanca Inn, St. Augustine


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.

Heritage FestivalEnjoy the Southwest

Florida Heritage Festival Feb. 9 at the Crowley Natural and Cultural History Center in Sarasota. It’s a family day with period foods, beer and wine, demonstrations of pioneer skills, civil war skirmishes, blacksmithing, wild west shootout and

more. At the same time there will be a church social happen-ing at the Old Miakka Methodist church, accessible by shuttle. Fire and Brimstone preachin’, old-fashioned wedding inside the church, period foods, historic

graveyard tours, choir performances, and more. 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 16405 Myakka Rd. Info at (941) 322-1000.


MARK YOUR

CALENDARS!

Presented By:

Directions: 941-861-1380www.lifestylesafter50fl.com

A F T E R 50 March 7, 2013Venice Community Center326 Nokomis Ave. S., Venice

10am – 3pm

FREE Coffee & Goodies

Premier Sponsor:

Live Entertainment Throughout the Day!

FREE Health Screenings

• Travel • Shopping Clubs • Pharmacies• Home Improvement• Retirement Lifestyles• Physicians • RestaurantsAnd Much More...

Free Parking And Admission

Senior Friendly Sports CenterPlay & Win! Call: 941-685-1676

or 888-670-0040

Fritzy“The One Man

Denise Looney“DJ with a Twist” Jimmy Maaz

Entertainer with aVegas Twist

Sponsored By:

Chances to Win $100Throughout the Day!

FREE BINGO Games!

For PrizesLifestyles

LUNCHAvaialble


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

SEND INFORMATION ON AREA(S) CHECKED BELOWAUTOMOBILES:o Golf Cartso Maintenance and Repairs

INSURANCE:o Medicareo Health o Lifeo Long-term careo Auto o Home

RESIDENTIAL LIVING:o Mfd/FactoryBuilt Homeso RV Resorto Apartmentso Villa/Condo/Single Familyo Golf Community

HOUSING OPTIONSo Independento Assisted Livingo Senior Apartmento Continuing Care/LifeCare

PERSONAL HEALTH:o Physicianso Clinical Trialso Eye Careo Prescription Drugso Skin Careo Dentisto Fresh Produceo Home Healtho Hospitalso Acupuncture/Alt. Health

TRAVEL:o Cruises o Land Tourso Hotels/ Resortso Local Attractionso Getaway Packageso Bus Tours

FINANCIAL/ LAW:o Retirement planningo Trustso Estate planningo Funeral Planningo Elder Lawo Banking

LEISURE TIME:o Consignment Storeso Music Lessonso Gamblingo Antiqueso Theatero Dining In/Outo Boating o Bikingo Music Performances

HOME IMPROVEMENTS:o A/C and Heatingo Carpet/Tile Cleaningo Contractoro Home Modifications

SaraOTHER:

State: Zip:

E-mail:

Age: Date:

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.)

Entries will be collected by News Connection U.S.A. for future promotions, special offers, and marketing.

P Last Month’s Winner Is: P P Pat White — Congratulations! P

Is your lifecontrolled by

alcohol or drugs?If you answered yes, take the

first step to recovery.

The healing starts by admitting you have a problem.

Pick up the phone and make the most important call of your life.

Give your life a new option of hope and happiness.

We can help with qualifiedmedical treatment.

SpecialCare Hospital Management Corporation operates this service for the hospital, and has a financial interest in this service.The diagnosis of need

for patient admission can only be made by a licensed physician.

1-941-473-7256 Or 1-800-939-2273


Over 8,000 sq. ft. of Gently Used, Gently Priced Furniture & Home Accessories

We sell fine used furniture, mattresses, linens, rugs, artwork, greenery, kitchenware, knick-knacks AND MORE for 50-60% less than retail prices!

941-751-40456807 14th St. W.

Bradenton, FL 34207www.thewhitfieldexchange.com

OPENMon. – Sat.10am – 5pm

Consignment ShoppingSarasota/Manatee

Find Consignment Shops, Resale Shops,Thrift Shops and Antique Shops conveniently located in Sarasota/Manatee Counties.


Going Green with Consignment Shopping“Going Green” is the term for

those who strive to recycle, re-purpose and re-use to benefit themselves and our planet When you shop consign-ment at either FIFI’S of Lakewood Ranch, you achieve the best aspects of “Green” for yourself and for our com-munity too. Judith Williams, owner of both FIFI’S of Lakewood Ranch stores, reports that those items from her apparel shop that don’t sell and have consignor approval are donated to worthwhile lo-cal charities. Many groups who benefit provide tax receipts for the consignors. FIFI’S at 8322 Market Street (941-907-8900) has been open since April 2011 and features fine apparel for women and men plus selected home decor. Apparel offerings range from petite to plus sizes, with a wide range of head to toe accessories, shoes, jewelry, handbags and hats. FIFI’S at 7343 52nd Place East (941-758-7222, at Lowe’s center,

west of exit 217 on SR70) offers a large selection of furniture and home decor, with a small section of clothing, accessories and jewelry. There is an assortment of unique home decor, furniture, artwork, end tables, occa-sional chairs, lamps, unusual decorator and crystal items for every budget. You will find bargains and excellent service at either FIFI’S store. Williams and her entire staff at both stores pro-vide expert assistance with clothing, accessories, furniture and home decor. Both stores are open Mon. through Sat. from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sun. from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Consignments are accepted every day, so each area of the stores is constantly being updated. Once any piece remains in the store over 30 days, it is automatically discounted, so something is always on sale. Join the FIFI’S Frenzy by making “Going Green” your personal motto beginning in 2013.

We AreGreen

SUPREME CARPET & TILE CLEANING

Celebrating 21 Years of Excellence!

Supreme Quality at an Excellent Price!Keep Your Home’s Floors &

Surfaces Looking Fresh and New!We Never Cut Corners. All Services Include Pre-Spray & Deep Clean. Remember that

settling for less can become your expense.SATISFACTION GUARANTEED

941.365.1458 www.SupremeCC.com

CARPET CLEANING

2 Rooms

$69*Combination Rooms

are 2 roomsExpires 3.16.13

CARPET CLEANINGWhole House

$99Up to 5 Rooms

Expires 3.16.13

TILE & GROUT CLEANING

$44Per Room

*Minimum 2 Rooms

Expires 3.16.13

TILE & GROUT CLEANINGWhole House

$199Flat Fee

Any Home – Any SizeExpires 3.16.13

WE REPAIR & REPLACE TILESSEEING IS BELIEVING!

Before After

Fine Resale FurnitureHome Decor and ApparelMonday thru Saturday 10 – 7 Sunday 10 – 3

[email protected] • www.fifislakewoodranch.com

Creekwood Crossing Plaza

(near Lowes and Bealls)

7343 52nd Place East (SR 70, just west of I-75)

941-758-7222

8322 Market Street,Lakewood Ranch(Off University Parkway

next to Publix)

941-907-8900


Road Reading: Books to Take Along on AdventuresFlorida Sports

The same black “muck” that

built the sugar empire and put veggies on the nation’s tables also produced “raw football talent”on the legendary Belle Glade Central Raiders football teams. Year after year, the poverty-stricken farm workers and migrants turned out star football players. An incredible 27 players from the school have gone to the National Football League since 1985 (five were drafted in the first round). Muck City tells the story of the kids from a town who get one chance of getting out—some through football and the rest through hard work and luck.

Papa’s Famous Drinks To Have and Have Another: a Hemingway Cocktail Companion by Philip Greene opens the gates to the

Hemingway drinking habit—but with a twist. From Hemingway’s novels, history of the era and stories about the author and his sur-roundings, Greene of-fers dozens of authentic recipes—all with

narratives about Hemingway himself. Remember the martini in A Farewell to Arms? Now you can know how to make it! Greene points the way to other memorable literary libations, including the Dripped Absinthe from For Whom the Bell Tolls and the Jack Rose from The Sun Also Rises.

Florida Politics If politics is your game, Red Pepper and Gorgeous George will lead you through the brawling candidates who challenged each other

and the status quo in Florida’s senato-rial election of 1950. It’s the drama, controversy and chicanery of one of America’s most memorable elections. The book details the strategies of Mc-Carthyism, the victory of Smathers and shows how the South went through a complete reversal of political power that had been in place since the 1860s.

History 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 descrip-tion of (and driving

directions 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.

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

shaded relief for the entire state. • 1:175,000 (scales vary by state)• Each labeled feature is up-to-date

and verified by satellite image.• Comprehensive, easy-to-read

road network.• Boundaries for parks and federal lands.• Clearly-labeled lakes, rivers

and streams.• Durable laminated cover• Size 11”x15”• Robust travel and recreation info.• Cross-referenced chart of fishing

areas with species information• Game management units• Campgrounds and attraction charts• State Parks maps and facilities• Hiking, golfing, skiing and

paddling destinations• Climate information

INTERNATIONALLY KNOWN ORIENTAL RUG EXPERT – LARGEST BUYER OF DECORATIVE ARTS

BUYING ANTIQUES

OIL PAINTINGS • ORIENTAL RUGS • ANTIQUE FURNITURETIFFANY • STERLING • DECORATIVE ARTS

Talk to a Tomlinson Expert this weekend. We’ve been buying quality antiques for more than 40 years, and

we’re known for paying the highest cash prices.

Call Al Tomlinson at 941-400-8811


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 Micro-soft Security Essentials to my sys-

tem, 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

fonts 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 set-tings 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. Modem’s DME (Don’t Miss ‘Em) Site of the Month If you like to take pictures, Camera-town will teach you everything you want and need to know about digital photography, plus provide news, forums, tutorials, articles, access to camera manuals and even software updates. www.cameratown.com.

Mr.Modemby Richard Sherman

&

© 2013 HearUSA, All Rights Reserved. www.hearusa.com

Bradenton • Port Charlotte • 3 Sarasota Locations Call Toll Free: 855.244.1946

For people who want to hear better.

Call today for your FREE Hearing Check-up and much more.

New ultra-small hearing aid from Siemens for ultimate discretion.

• Completely discreet - only you will know you’re wearing them

• Most natural, best sound - hear clearly without any muffled effect

• Compact and comfortable - custom-crafted to fit your ear

• Clear conversations even in noisy situations

• Easy to insert and remove

Introducing Eclipse Hearing Aids by SiemensSAVE $800 ON A PAIR* TODAY!

*$800 off a pair of Siemens Eclipse model 301. Eclipse 301 Everyday Price $2,395 each. Sale Price $1,995 each. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Offer expires 2/28/13.

on the Siemens Eclipse

1/2 Price Repairs on Hearing Aids

Risk-Free 60-Day Trial

$800 OFF* a pair of Siemens Eclipse Hearing Aids.

Not valid with any other purchase.Offer expires 2/28/13.

most makes and models not valid with any other offer or discount

WOW!Experience the

moment.

25Years of

Excellent Care

Celebrating

It’s a new year, make it a new you!Hear sounds you haven’t enjoyed for years with

breakthrough invisible hearing aids from Siemens.

130101 HearUSA WOW Ad_Lifestyle After 50_4.9167x9.8125 to run 2-1_01.indd 1 1/21/13 5:17 PM

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

Hunger 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.


EntertainmentBy Local

Talented Seniors!

A F T E R 50

The ShowFebruary 10, 2013

3:00 p.m.Neel Performing Arts Center State College of Florida

5840 26th Street West • Bradenton, FL 34207$6 admission per person

For additional information callLeah Brown

Bright House Networks941-748-3816, ext.24125

SENIOR IDOL SHOW April 1, 2013 at 7 p.m.

Ruth Eckerd Hall1111 McMullen Booth Road

Clearwater, FL 33759$6 admission

per person


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!

Word Search FebruaryIn the grid below, twenty answers can be found that fi t the category for today. Circle each answer that you fi nd 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 fi nd the twenty answers in this puzzle?

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

NEWS CONNECTION USA, INC. P.O. BOX 638, SEFFNER, FL 33583

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

(Puzzles must be received by Feb. 21, 2013.)

MYSTERY PRIZE!

MYSTERY PRIZE!

Word Search Answers

From January

Richard and Yolanda Baumerare last month’s winners!

Congratulations!

Valentines Fun10 Valentine Concert. Musical

romances for instruments and voice. Free admission—donations to scholarship for needy children greatly appreciated. 3 p.m. at Al-legro Music School, 241 Whitfield Ave., Sarasota. (941) 358-8511.

14 Say “I Do” Again. Renew wed-ding vows at sunset on Siesta

Beach. Non-denominational service

at 6 p.m. Light refreshments. Arrive early for parking. Siesta Key Beach, 946 Beach Rd., Sarasota. Register by Feb. 12. $5/couple. (941) 861-5000.

14 “Love Letters” by A. R. Gurney: A Theatrical Reading.

Melissa and Andrew read letters of dreams, defeats and victories from over nearly 50 years of separation. 4 – 6 p.m. at Selby Library. (941) 861-1110.

South Florida Museum Turns 65A lot of us fondly remember school

trips to the museum, staring into the jaws of a giant Megalodon, marveling at the Big Bang at Bishop Planetarium or having fun at one of Snooty’s birthday parties at the Parker Manatee Aquarium. The South Florida Museum has been a part of Manatee county’s history since 1946, and this year, they have plenty to celebrate. You can join the party now through April at the exhibition:

“South Florida Museum at 65—A Window To the World.” The exhibition illustrates the changes and additions to South Florida Museum over the years on its continuing mission: to engage and inspire learners of all ages. This event is included with museum general admission, which is $13.95 for seniors and $11.95 for children 12 and under. Visit from 10 a.m to 5 p.m. at 201 10th St. W., Bradenton. To learn more, call (941) 746-4131.


Fur Pet’s SakeBY KATE BROWN, DVM

Fido & Fluffy Take a Vacation from YOU!

Last month we discussed tips for traveling with your pet. Since

it’s not always possible for pets to accompany us, let’s now explore the many guilt-free options should your pet stay behind when you travel. Start early to prepare you and your pet for a future lifestyle with a traveling pet parent. Try out options for their care while they are young and before you have a need to travel. This will make it easier for your pet to adjust to your future absences and will provide you peace of mind. When your trip is imminent, leave contact information where you can be reached in the event Fido has a health problem while you are away. If this is not possible, provide written instructions and authorization for care so that his caregiver and veterinarian can promptly provide the necessary care.

Staying Home Many pets would prefer to stay at home—especially cats, which hate change and prefer familiar surround-ings. Pets do not need to be home alone! A trusted friend or pet sitter that house-sits or visits and interacts with Fluffy at home is perhaps the best option for a healthy pet. Web-sites such as the National Association of Professional Pet Sitters or Pet Sitters International can lead you to a licensed and bonded pet sitter in the absence of a personal recom-mendation. Always check references and consider an overnight trial.

Staying With the Pet Sitter Many pet sitters would prefer that your pet come to their home. This is not a good idea for most cats, but can be an option for dogs who are well socialized to people and other dogs. Check out the premises and references, and do an overnight trial.

Pet Resorts and Veterinary Clinics For older pets and those with health concerns, the best solution may be to have your pet’s veterinarian provide supervised care while you are away. Any new problems can be promptly dealt with by the person most familiar with your pet’s health status and special needs. This can also be the perfect time to address the dental exam/cleaning or skin tumor removal that you have been putting off. For other pets, there is a wide variety of pet boarding, resort and day care services to choose from in a variety of settings that can provide play and exercise time, massage, grooming, television and even remote webcams that can allow you to view Fido from miles away. Talk with your veterinarian and experienced travelers for advice and personal recommendations. If you plan ahead, you can have both the freedom to travel and a pet during this stage of your life.

Who would care for your pet if you needed to move or could no longer care for her? Next month we’ll discuss how to prepare for this uncomfortable possibility.

Kate Brown, DVM is the owner and medical director of Brandt Veterinary Clinic in Nokomis Florida. Visit their website at www.brandtvetclinic.com or email her at [email protected].

Kate Brown, DVM, and Maya.

Wherever You Live In Manatee County There Is A Walgreens Store Nearby

Ask About:• Our durable goods product lines: lift chairs, wheelchairs, walkers• Our “Go 90” prescription program• Our prescription savings club• Our exclusive savings for AARP members• Our prescription “auto fill” program• Our daily product discount

Enroll in our balance rewards program today and receive instant points and endless rewards. Earn 500 points for simply enrolling.

Walgreens would like to welcome back ESI patients!

Open 24 Hours6003 14th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34207 ..................... 941-755-85264220 Manatee Ave. W., Bradenton, FL 34205 ............ 941-749-15615945 U.S. Highway 301 N., Ellenton, FL 34222 ......... 941-722-2884

Other Stores - Call For Hours3248 E. Bay Dr., Holmes Beach, FL 34217 ................ 941-778-04513425 53rd Ave. W, Bradenton, FL 34210 ................... 941-752-79975896 59th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34209 ..................... 941-792-38178315 Market St., Bradenton, FL 34202 ...................... 941-907-268614415 Arbor Green Trail, Bradenton, FL 34202 ......... 941-739-57523155 University Parkway, Sarasota, FL 34243 ........... 941-351-92901700 N. Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota, FL 34234 ...941-926-6132930 8th Ave. W., Palmetto, FL 34221 ........................ 941-729-52503535 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, FL 34234 ............... 941-360-34744210 E. State Rd. 64, Bradenton, FL 34208 .............. 941-708-91614320 26th St. W., Bradenton, FL 34205 ..................... 941-755-8596 1504 53rd Ave. E., Bradenton, FL 34203 ................... 941-752-07051455 Upper Manatee River Rd., Bradenton, FL 34212 .. 941-462-1564

The Power of ReadingHas reading played

a major role in your life? A new essay collection called Stop What You’re Doing and Read This! is a manifesto on the life-saving power of reading. Authors such as Mark Haddon

and Zadie Smith write about what reading has meant in their lives. Two scientists map out how the brain circuitry is affected by reading and language. The book

enumerates the impact books can have on the brain,

mind and soul of a person.


Birding Adventures With AudubonManatee County Audubon will

hold its monthly meeting on Feb. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, 330 11th Ave. West, Palmetto. Info: visit manatee-audubon.org or call (941) 729-2222.Field Trips:

12 Emerson Point in Palmetto. Two-hour guided walk. Meet

8:30 a.m. at Welcome Center. $3. Register: (941) 776-8424.

21 Felts Audubon Preserve. See the spring migration. Meet at 8:30

a.m. $3. Register: (941) 376-0110.

24 Cockroach Bay Aquatic Preserve. Waders, ducks and songbirds.

Meet 8 a.m. at Wal-Mart, 508 10th St. E., Palmetto. $3. Register: (941) 592-7622.

28 – Mar. 3 Thurs: Bird to Clewiston 5. Fri.: Wagon

tour of J7 Ranch. Sat. Tour Station 5. RSVP/Info: (941) 758-2929.

Celebrate Black History Month18 – 22 Local and Black History

Week. Visit the Laurel Park community center, 509 Collins Rd., Nokomis, to view displays and learn about local heritage and national histo-ry. 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday evening: dinner and round table discussion. Info/event schedule at (941) 486-2753.

24 Charlotte Chorale concert. World premiere of renowned choral

composer Mark Hayes’ composition

of the Gettysburg Address. 4 p.m. at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church, 11330 Burnt Store Rd., Punta Gorda. $20. (941) 204-0033 or charlottechorale.net.

27 Movie: Miracle at St. Anna. Four soldiers of the all-black

92nd Infantry Division are trapped near a small Tuscan village during the Ital-ian Campaign in World War II. 6 p.m. at North Port Library, 13800 Tamiami Trl. Register/info at (941) 861-1307.

Healthy Lifestyle Classes for SeniorsJack Swanton of Coastal Behavioral

Healthcare presents this series of two one-hour classes for seniors:

15 Healthy Choices: 21 Step Evaluation includes learning

about brain health, stress and memory, diagnosing depression and disease, and developing a positive attitude. Af-ter your personalized evaluation, learn how to develop your “bucket list” and plan for the years ahead. 10:30 a.m.

at Selby Library, 1331 1st Street, Sarasota. Call (941) 504-5300.

21 Neurobics: Learn how the brain is able to continually

adapt and renew itself. Jack will share techniques that will improve memory, alertness, and social in-teraction. Jacaranda Library, 4143 Woodmere Park Boulevard, Venice 10:30 a.m. Register at sclibs.net or call (941) 861-5000.

Hot! Hot!Just off the Press

• Local and World News• All Your Favorite Events

• Great Stories & Information• Travel, Finance, Health & More!

Presents the www.lifestylesafter50fl.com website

Like Us

A Tubular Skylight Will Save You MoneyNow here’s a great idea if

you’re “going green”...Tubular Skylights.You’ll save 100 percent of your daytime lighting costs by completely eliminating the need for electrical light during the day. The Florida Department of Energy calculates that the average person will get paid back on the cost of these skylights in less than two years. That’s because the equivalent R22 insulation rating of a Tubular Skylight will not transfer heat or cold like a conventional skylight does. So, not only are you sav-ing on lighting costs, you’re saving on your A/C bill as well. Especially when you consider that the cost of a residential Tubular Skylight ranges from $300 – $550, complete with material, installa-tion and taxes. Just not that expensive. Tubular Skylight owner, Doug Merrit, tells us that he can install these energy saving wonders on any roof type...in single family homes, condos, manu-factured homes—even schools. And he has been doing so for the past 18 years, both commercially and residentially. Sarasota resident Alex Coe says, “The Tubular Skylight is an excellent product because it is completely passive in capturing natural light...there is nothing to break, no solar panels to be changed and no motor. I met Doug when I was building a studio for myself and wanted to work under natural light. It’s healthier and no energy use is involved. With just one of his Tubular Skylights installed in my 600 sq. ft. studio, I don’t have to turn on my lights until about 3 p.m.” Roofing contractor Dave Shewski can’t say enough about Tubular Skylight. “They do a wonderful job,” he says. “When my customers call and say they want to put skylights in their roof but they are afraid of leaking, I tell them to call Tubular Skylight. They will never have a problem if they use that company.” The Tubular Skylight showroom is located at 753 Cattleman Rd. Call (800) 315-8823 for more information or a free estimate for your home or office. You can also check them on the web at www.tubular-skylight.com.

Light UpDark

Rooms!

Inc.

753 CattlemenSarasota, Fl

Light UpDark

Rooms!

AFTER

Great ForAny Room!

BEFORE

FreeLight

Lic# CGC025622

941-378-8823Call or Visit

Tubular-skylight.com

TM

Inc.TM

Save EnergySave Energy


Good News: It’s Made In USAMolly Kraut

is making it possible for local residents to purchase products actually made in the U.S. U S Mart’s grand opening February 16 will make it one of the very few such stores in America. The local veterinarian admits to the struggles Americans have in finding American-made products. Conscientious shoppers who buy at U S Mart consider factors such as budget, products made from recycled sources, safety factors involved in non-foreign products, as well as the patriotic desire to buy American. It isn’t easy finding all-American products. “When shipments arrive everything is variable, and we get a lot of products that have to be packed up and sent back because something in it says ‘Made in China,’” says Kraut.

Her standard is that only a negligible amount of any product can be from another place before it can be said it was made in the USA. An example is salt and pepper

shakers which say Made in USA on the bottom, but inside the cap it said Made in China and so they were removed. Kraut says, “It’s a big work in progress but something I believe in. A lot of companies don’t know where their products are made.” Check U S Mart for a general store assortment of products, and you’ll find American products, American prices and American pride. And you won’t have to look at the labels, Kraut notes, because “we’ve already done the looking.” The store is open seven days a week at 1740 E. Venice Ave. #16. Call (941) 412-1872.

One on One Personal Training in Private Commercial Gym.

For persons over 50 – let me help you gain your strength, stability, and flexibility. Have physical limitations?

I will work with your doctor to design a program.

Jeffrey A Hoover NPTI Graduate ~ NSCA-CPT Certified ~ A-CPT ~ CPR/AED

I am 77 and because of Jeff I’ve added good years to my life!Dave TarantulGeneral Manager,Lifestyles After 50

Serving Venice, Nokomis & Osprey

Call Julie Simzak (941) 685-1676

Call Dave Tarantul (941) 375-6260

Lifestyles After 50 Advertisers Say...

Don Terry of Veterans Funeral Service & Cremation says,

“Advertising in Lifestyles After 50 has been a great experience for me; the staff is

always super helpful and the ad response from the public has been excellent.”

Alemar Collision Center says, “I’ve gotten more responses

and jobs when advertising with Lifestyles After 50 than I have

with any of my other advertising. They were able to work within my budget and get me great results.”

Dr. Gaukhman of Venetian Dental says,

“I appreciate the variety of advertising offered including the

tab-ons, the expos, the print media, the advertiser’s directory, the

advertorials and the online editions.”

Advertise with us!



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 choles-terol and diabetes. Fat deposited in the abdomen—called visceral fat— lies deep enough to surround 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 pressure, 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).• Triglyceride (blood fat) level of 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher.

• HDL (“good”) cholesterol level of less than 50 mg/dL (40 mg/dL in men).• Blood pressure reading of 130/85 mm Hg or higher.• Fasting blood sugar level of 100 mg/dL or higher. Three of these risk factors signals metabolic syndrome. A simple waist circumference measurement can 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.

Health

Topical Powder Stops BleedingFor people who bleed

easily, the smallest cut can bleed for hours or even days before stopping. A product called WoundSeal now stops bleeding by cre-ating an instant scab within seconds of its application. Once poured and pressed onto the bleeding wound, the powder combines with blood to

form an instant waterproof and durable scab. In most cases, bleeding stops almost instantly, even for patients on blood thinners, and it works for everyone and does not interact with existing medications. WoundSeal is available at Walgreens and CVS. Visit

online at www.woundseal.com or call (800) 722-7559. (NAPSA)


Last Month’s Answers

Enter To Win!

FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!

Name

Address

City State Zip

Age Phone

E-mail

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

Insurance Elder Law / Financial Housing Options Reverse Mortgages

Personal Health & Fitness Home Improvements Automobiles

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.

Send Me Information! Clip and mail this coupon

Name: Address:

City: State: Zip:

Home Phone: Work Phone:

E-mail:

� I/We have included the SPCA in my/our estate plan.

Please send me the following information� Best Friends Deserve Better Plans brochures� Pet Alert Wallet Card� In-Case-Of-Emergency Window DecalInformation and notices on Estate Planning for Seminars� Including the SPCA in my will or codicil.� Giving my paid up life insurance policy to the animals at the SPCA� Making the SPCA the beneficiary of my retirement plan

Mail your order form to SPCA,9099 – 130th Ave N, Largo, FL 33773. Or order on line at SPCAFL.org under Estate Planning or call 727-581-3249

Enter to Win!

Send your answers for a drawing. First correct answers selected from the drawing on June 19th will receive $20 cash! Send to:

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

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

� Insurance� Elder Law / Financial� Housing & Senior

Lifestyles Options

� Personal Health & Fitness

� Home Improvements� Automobiles

NameAddressCity State ZipAge Phone SC/Hills

This month’s

winner is

Myron L. Guisewite

Congratulations !!!

Last Month’sAnswers

FILL IN ANSWERS & WIN MONEY!Sara

Last Month’s Winner Is Bill Swain

Congratulations!

When You Just Don’t

Feel Like YourselfWe Have the Help

You Need

5731 Bee Ridge Road Sarasota, Florida 34233 DoctorsOfSarasota.com

ALL ROOMSARE

PRIVATE

Please call 941-342-4461to speak with a

professional. We are available 24 hours a day,

7 days a week.

You have a choice in how you feel! While feeling down from time to time is normal, if you are feeling helpless or hopeless, change is possible. Let us help you feel like yourself again.

We can help: Serenity Place is a unique, voluntary program dedicated to helping mature adults. We provide specialized care in a private, soothing, inpatient environment. Overwhelming anxiety Isolation or crying Inability to recover from loss Feelings of depression or hopelessness Struggling with an addiction


The Magic of a Lemon—Great Lemon RecipesDon’t waste that lemon peel! Pro-

fessional chefs use or consume the entire lemon. Nothing is wasted. Here’s how to use the whole lemon without waste.

Simply place the lemon in the freezer section of your refrigerator. Once the lemon is frozen, get your grater and shred the whole lemon (no need to peel it). Then keep the gratings in your freezer and enjoy new flavors everywhere. Sprinkle lemon into your wine, vegetable salad, ice cream, soup, noodles, spaghetti sauce, rice, sushi and fish dishes. Everything will taste better and have a wonderful taste—even a cup of instant noodles. (Ed. note: I did this and it is wonderful to have on hand!) Lemon peels contain as much as 5 to 10 times more vitamins than the lemon juice itself. This is a good way to get the vitamins.

1 c chicken broth2 tsp. butter2 tsp. lemon juice1 tsp. lemon peel1/2 c half & half1 1/2 c uncooked instant rice1 T grated Parmesan cheese Bring broth, butter and lemon to a boil. Remove from heat. Stir in half & half. Heat but do not boil. Add rice. Cover and let stand 10 to 15 min. Stir in cheese. Serve.

1 c. sour cream1 can frozen lemon concentrate Mix all ingredients. Serve as a dressing for fruit salad.

2 1/2 c flour1 tsp baking powder1 tsp salt1 stick unsalted butter, softened2 c sugar2 eggs1 (15-ounce) container whole

milk ricotta cheese3 Tbsp lemon juice1 lemon, zestedGlaze:• 1 1/2 c powdered sugar• 3 Tbsp lemon juice• 1 lemon, zested

Directions: Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Cookies: Combine flour, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, 1 at a time. Add ricotta cheese,

lemon juice and lemon zest. Beat to combine. Stir in the dry ingredients. Spoon dough (2 tablespoons for each cookie) onto baking sheets. Bake 15 minutes, until slightly golden at edges. Remove from the oven and let the cookies rest on the baking sheet for 20 minutes.

Glaze: Combine powdered sugar, lemon juice and lemon zest; stir until smooth. Gently spread about 1/2-teaspoon onto each cookie. Let the glaze harden for about 2 hours.

Recipe

Lifestyles Fun Fest Was a Blast!

Over 2,500 people enjoyed

the 2nd annual Lifestyles After 50 Fun Fest, last month at Robarts Arena. The day was full of fun and entertainment including Fritzy “The One Man Circus.” Folks got up to dance and enjoy the Knockouts and the Silver Stars performance. Over $1,000 in prizes were given away, including the Grand Prize to The Beau Rivage in Biloxi, won by Sharon Rhyno.

The all new Prize-A-Palooza game got everyone cheering to pick the right box with the $100 bill in it. Check out some of the pho-tos here and on Facebook. Be sure to mark your cal-

endar for the next event in Bradenton on Febru-ary 15 at the Bradenton Municipal Auditorium. See the ad in this paper. Check out our website for event listings at lifestylesafter50fl.com.

Insurance DiscountsFor Mature Drivers

Have a Florida’s Driver’s License and are 55 years of age or older?

For Mature Drivers��

��

��

��

��

��

��

Take Your Class Online!• Study at your leisure, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.• Simply read the course materials online and then answer a few quiz questions.• There is no need to attend boring classes or listen to long lectures.• After completion, of course we will issue a state-certifi ed certifi cate for you to

turn into your insurance company to receive your discount for a three year period.

Take Your Mature Driver Course On The Internet!If you have a Florida Driver’s License and are 55 years of age or older, you are now eligible to complete motor vehicle accident prevention course that will allow you to receive a mandatory reduction on your insurance rate for three years.

Florida Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicle Approved Course

To Register go to:www.seniordriverclass.comor call 1-800-771-2255


Great Fairs and Festivals This MonthDrive a little; enjoy a lot, at

these Florida events.

9 Rio de la Paz Festival, South Florida State College, Arcadia. Art-

ists, authors, craftsmen, environmental groups, food, live music and local businesses celebrating the Peace River. 2251 Turner Ave. (863) 494-0630.

22 – 24 111th GeorgeFest in Eustis. Theme is “Let Freedom

Ring” with a parade, fireworks, carnival, food, bands, contests, vendors and more. (352)-357-3434.

27 – March 3 45th Pioneer Park Days, 2828 Pioneer Blvd.,

Zolfo Springs. Antique tractors,

engines, farm equipment, flea market, food. (863) 773-2161.

Mar. 2 Chili Cook Off, 12210 83rd St. East, Parrish. Vendors, rides,

beer and live music. (941) 504-5518.

Mar. 2 and March 3 Florida Azalea Festival, 623 St. John’s

Ave., Palatka. Arts and crafts, cars, entertainment stages, pet show, bowling tournament, bike rides, kayak runs, children’s area. (386) 312-6266.

March 2 and 3 Calusa Wood Carver Show, Veterans Park,

Hudson. This is the 32nd year for this show with demonstrations, food, vendors and assistance at all levels of carving. Info at (727) 376-2180.

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.

February at Renaissance on 9thMovie and a Meal – Tuesday, Feb. 12.

View the movie “Valentine’s Day” and enjoy one of three meal options: Bistro Salad with Grilled Chicken, Quiche with Fresh Fruit or Half & Half Soup ‘n Sand-wich. $6/SEC members; $8/non-members. RSVP by Feb. 8 to (941) 749-0100.Lecture “Talking to Your Adult Children” – Tues. Feb. 12, 1 p.m. Presented by Home Instead Senior Care. RSVP to Ellen at (941) 739-3050.

Food and Fun Raffle Night – Thursday, Feb. 14, 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Enjoy happy hour pricing on drinks and small plate appetizers while mingling and trying your luck at a chance to win lots of raffle prizes!AAA Mature Driving Class –Tuesday, Feb. 19 and Wednesday, Feb. 20, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. RSVP toDebbie at (941) 798-2221 ext. 2263.

Now Playing—Theater and Concerts7 – 23 “Viagara Falls” at Golden

Apple Dinner Theatre. Comedy about “sowing oats” after 70. $37.50. Select days and times: (941) 366-5454.

10 “Funny Bones, The Comedy of Charlie Chaplin.” Glenridge

Performing Arts Center, 2 – 4 p.m. $15 at gpactix.com or (941) 552-5325.

11“Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.” 8 – 10 p.m., Van Wezel Performing

Arts Hall. $30 – $115. (941) 953-3368.

13 – 16 “The Envelope, Please.” The Sarasota Orchestra tribute

to award-winning scores. Holley Hall. Tickets/times: (941) 953-3434.

15 “Take It To The Limit”—Eagles Tribute at Venice Community

Center, 7 p.m. $25. (941) 861-5000.

20 Munchtime Musicale—Free concert, violinists and harpists

at Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center. 12 – 1 p.m. (941) 487-2701.

Lifestyles After 50February 2013 issue

4.9167 x 4.8056, eighth page

Stop in for a tour and FREE one day pass!

Group Activities Cards & Games 9th Street Bistro Gift Shop Special EventsFitness Center/Classes

Open 8am-5pm, Monday-Friday

enaissance ON9THR

1816 9th Street WestBradenton, FL 34205

941-749-0100www.renaissanceon9th.org

Seniors on the GoMeeting all your Transportation needs

Cheapest Ride in Town

(941) 444-0569*We’ll take you to your Doctors visits, Pharmacy,

Shopping, Airports and much moreSarasota/Tampa/St.Pete/Ft. Myers airports

Hours: M-F 5AM-9PMWeekends/Holidays 8AM-5PM

www.seniorsotg.com

SARASOTABRIAN’S AUTO REPAIR.............. 926-2526SOUTHERN CHEM. & EQUIP. .... 713-6544SUZUKI OF SARASOTA ............. 925-0376GULF COAST AUTO PARTS ...... 377-1199PARTS HOUSE ........................... 924-2394AUTOPART INTERNATIONAL .... 361-2495MOBILE TECH AUTO REPAIR ... 925-2446JAY & DEAN’S AUTO REPAIR .... 924-2708SWIFT AUTO REPAIR ................. 922-3011AMER. EUROPEAN AUTOS ....... 925-8863SUNSET DODGE ........................ 922-0285JIM-DOWELL TRANSMISSION .. 953-5155

TOM DION’S AUTOMOTIVE .......926-4942MOWERS INC. ............................706-4465HAP’S CYCLE SALES ................365-3443V-TWIN SERVICE .......................809-9945KESATIE MOTORSPORTS .........378-1630

BRADENTONNAPA AUTO PARTS ....................746-4181AUTO PART INTL. .......................727-4121COME SEE COME SAVE ...........748-5965TOTAL MOTORSPORTS ............756-6500BRADENTON LAWN & FUN .......792-1122THE BIKE SHOP .........................744-0400MIKE HAMILTON’S PREF. AUTO ....755-7035ACTION JET SPORTS ................745-9521ANDE’S AUTO REPAIR...............753-1182USA TRANSMISSION .................748-6961

MANATEE SCOOTERS ..............677-2668H3 PERFORMANCE ...................751-1949RNR MARINE ...........................840-1767PALMETTONORTHSIDE AUTO PARTS .....722-4581HHHT AUTO CARE ..................721-3888PARRISHPARRISH GEN SUPPLY ..........776-2141VENICEAUTO WORX OF VENICE .......923-1438ADVANCE AUTO PARTS .........484-6128ADVANCE AUTO PARTS .........497-7970NAPA AUTO PARTS .................485-9616AMERICAN IMPORTS .............484-1340ENGLEWOODSTIVER’S TIRE & AUTO ..........474-7660

If you or your business would like to get AMSOIL products at Wholesale CALL 800-411-6160

Documents

Lifestyles After 50 Sarasota/Manatee Feb. 2013 edition