April 2015 myseniorlife.com BREVARD’S AWARD-WINNING SENIOR NEWSPAPER OF FLORIDA Volume 18 Number 12 FEATURES Box City benefits families Page 9 Indian River Festival touts timeless treasures Page 27 Hobby shop fuels decades of fun Page 8 Moving soon to Brevard Medical City Medicare Patients Welcome • We Accept Most Insurance Evening and Weekend Office Hours • Specializing in Adult Medicine Same day appointments available for new patients as well as established patients. Give us a call and we can show you how easy and pleasant a visit to the doctor’s office can be. (321) 259-9500 903 Jordan Dr., Suite 102 Melbourne (across from the Suntree/Viera Library) State-of-the-art Medical Facility • Everything under one roof Conveniently located on Wickham Road in Suntree Abe Hardoon, M.D. Board Certified Internal Medicine Scott Hardoon, M.D. Board Certified Internal Medicine Edwin Chan, M.D. Board Certified Family Medicine Amanda Paul, M.D. Board Certified Internal Medicine Jennifer Schneider AR-NP Reginald Joseph PA-C Free Antibiotics No need for a second trip to the pharmacy Save gas, time and money Will fill one prescription per patient per visit if antibiotics are needed. Book your appointment online suntree-internal-medicine.com $25 gift certificate if not seen in 30 minutes WEEKDAYS 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. SATURDAYS AND SUNDAYS 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. RECYCLING Continued on page 10 PHOTOS AND STORY BY LINDA WIGGINS E nough fossil fuel for numerous tractor-trailer trucks to make it to the moon and back. That’s just one of the environmental savings a new recycling plant will make just in time for Earth Day April 22. Waste Management used to haul recyclables from each house it serves in Brevard County to a transfer station in West Melbourne, load them onto tractor-trailer trucks and send them all the way down south to a plant in Broward County’s Pembroke Pines. “A state-of-the-art recycling facility in Brevard County is very exciting,” Waste Management spokesperson Amy Boyson said of Single Stream Recyclers, built by two former Wisconsin trash processing company owners bought out by Waste Management who now bring much- needed centers online. “This makes it simple for the customer; everything goes into the same cart. Then the processing facility converts mixed residential recyclables into individual commodities using technology and advanced equipment to include screens, air systems, magnets, eddy currents, optical scanners and balers.” John Hansen owns the plant with high school buddy Eric Konik. Hansen further detailed the benefits. STRIPES Brevard Veterans News SeniorLife BY MARY BROTHERTON Operation Surf came to Cocoa Beach March 19 through March 25, for its inauguration on the East Coast. As a result, 12 veterans with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, burns, amputations and PTSD experienced the thrill of surfing off the coast of Florida, some for the first time. Five active duty military personnel put their traditional rehabilitation at Brooke Army nter (BAMC) on hold zing Operation Surf soothes veterans’ souls Veterans Events April 4 Space Coast Paratroopers Turkey Shoot Registration begins 10 a.m. $5/round or $15/round for larger prizes 100 percent of proceeds benefit Homes for Warriors Program 610 Hurley Road, Palm Bay [email protected]April 9 Hiring our Heroes Hiring fair presented by Hiring Our Heroes’ Military Spouse Program. Open to active duty guard, reserve, veteran and gold star spouses. Service members and veterans are also welcome. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. The Tides Club 1001 S. Hwy A1A, Building 967 Patrick Air Force Base uschamberfoundation.org/event/patrick-air- force-base-military-spouse-hiring-fair April 18 – 19 y War Veterans Association’ arksmanship One man’s trash is another man’s cash Single Stream Recyclers co-owner John Hansen pitches in on the line to separate discarded household items into materials that are sold to manufacturers of future products. Introducing our new Veterans News monthly 4-page Center Pullout Inside Brevard County ranks at No. 10 out of 67 counties for highest percentage of recycling of solid waste at 54 percent
Transcript
321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 1
April 2015 myseniorlife.com
BREVARD’S AWARD-WINNING SENIOR NEWSPAPER
OF FLORIDAVolume 18 Number 12
FEATURES
Box City benefits familiesPage 9
Indian River Festival touts timeless treasures
Page 27
Hobby shop fuels decades of fun
Page 8
Moving soon to Brevard Medical City Medicare Patients Welcome • We Accept Most InsuranceEvening and Weekend Office Hours • Specializing in Adult Medicine
Same day appointments available for new patients as well as established patients.Give us a call and we can show you how easy and pleasant a visit to the doctor’s office can be.
(321) 259-9500903 Jordan Dr., Suite 102 Melbourne(across from the Suntree/Viera Library)
State-of-the-art Medical Facility • Everything under one roofConveniently located on Wickham Road in Suntree
Abe Hardoon, M.D.Board CertifiedInternal Medicine
Scott Hardoon, M.D.Board CertifiedInternal Medicine
Edwin Chan, M.D.Board CertifiedFamily Medicine
Amanda Paul, M.D.Board CertifiedInternal Medicine
Jennifer SchneiderAR-NP
Reginald JosephPA-C
Free AntibioticsNo need for a second trip
to the pharmacy
Save gas, time and money
Will fill one prescription per patient per visit if antibiotics are needed.Book your appointment online suntree-internal-medicine.com
Enough fossil fuel for numerous tractor-trailer trucks to make it to the moon and back. That’s
just one of the environmental savings a new recycling plant will make just in time for Earth Day April 22.
Waste Management used to haul recyclables from each house it serves in Brevard County to a transfer station in West Melbourne, load them onto tractor-trailer trucks and send them
all the way down south to a plant in Broward County’s Pembroke Pines.
“A state-of-the-art recycling facility in Brevard County is very exciting,” Waste Management spokesperson Amy Boyson said of Single Stream Recyclers, built by two former Wisconsin trash processing company owners bought out by Waste Management who now bring much-needed centers online.
“This makes it simple for the customer; everything goes into the same cart. Then the processing facility
converts mixed residential recyclables into individual commodities using technology and advanced equipment to include screens, air systems, magnets, eddy currents, optical scanners and balers.”
John Hansen owns the plant with high school buddy Eric Konik. Hansen further detailed the benefits.
321-757-9205
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 17
STRIPESBrevard Veterans News
SeniorLife
BY MARY BROTHERTON
Operation Surf came to Cocoa
Beach March 19 through March 25,
for its inauguration on the East Coast.
As a result, 12 veterans with spinal
cord injuries, brain injuries, burns,
amputations and PTSD experienced
the thrill of surfing off the coast of
Florida, some for the first time.
Five active duty military
personnel put their traditional
rehabilitation at Brooke Army
Medical Center (BAMC) on hold
to fly with the staff at Amazing
Surf Adventures from California to
Florida where they met up with three
Operation Surf alumni who also
had rehabilitated at BAMC. These
veterans left the hospital for the first
time to participate in Operation Surf,
which has proven to be an effective
recovery tool.
The alumni and five additional
injured veterans are from Florida.
The 12 veterans were able to
participate in Operation Surf at no
cost due to the successful fund-
raising efforts of Amazing Surf
Adventures and the generosity
of Cocoa Beach businesses and
volunteers.Van Curaza grew up surfing in
California. He toured and competed
in the surf circuits, but when he
needed to move on to a new phase,
he opened a surf school.
“Surfing gave him peace,” his
wife Amanda said. “He realized he
wanted to share that sensation with
others, so he created Amazing Surf
Adventures.”
Todd Holland, head of surf
instruction, and Shaun Slater, director
of Operation Surf Cocoa Beach,
were among dozens who met the
veterans and staff when they arrived
in Florida. “Surfing is powerful and healing”
Amanda Curaza said, “but it takes
the love and commitment of the surf
instructors and volunteers to get the
vets to open up and realize what they
can do. They push their limits and
create lasting bonds.”
The ocean has healing properties,
but Amanda Curaza said she has
seen during the past six years that
the biggest part of the healing is the
group atmosphere.
Operation Surf expects to use
adaptive surfing techniques with
more injured veterans in coming
years, but the success of the nonprofit
organization depends on volunteers
and donors.
For more information, visit
AmazingSurfAdventures.org or call
805-544-7873. SL
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZING SURF ADVENTURES
Injured veterans use an adaptive surfing surface.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZING SURF ADVENTURES
Operation Surf training first takes place on dry land.
Operation Surf soothes veterans’ souls
SENIOR LIFE LYNNE KRIZIK COURTESY OF AMAZING SURF ADVENTURES
Charlie Lemon shows off some acrobatic surfing skills
Single Stream Recyclers co-owner John Hansen pitches in on the line to separate discarded household items into materials that are sold to manufacturers of future products.
Introducing our newVeterans News monthly4-page Center PulloutInside
Brevard County ranks at No. 10 out of 67 counties for
highest percentage of recycling of solid waste at 54 percent
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com2
P e r s o n a l i z e d M e m o r y C a r e
Call today to schedule a tour (321) 473-7673350 Malabar Road SW
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At InspiredLivingSM at Palm Bay, we are committed to offering the education, information and guidance families need as their loved ones travel on their journey. Please join us for an uplifting,
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What is truly amazing is the sense of freedomthroughout the community.
SENIOR LIFE RACHEL WICK Billy Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
BY RACHEL WICK
Our current music scene is a fickle beast, with trends that come and go. The lyrics state, “Today, I am your champion, I may have won your hearts, but I know the game, you’ll forget my name, and I won’t be here in another year if I don’t stay on the charts.” This sentiment from “The Entertainer,” rings true for many of today’s musicians, whose careers are often fleeting.
Ironically, the man that penned those lyrics so many years ago, has proven to be the ultimate exception. Billy Joel wrote that song for the album “Streetlife Serenade” in 1974. The tune’s intent was a satirical view of the music business. It held to the frivolous idea of “here today, gone tomorrow.”
Performing recently in Orlando more than 40 years later, Joel beat those odds, and in a way, has disputed his own cynical lyrics. The Piano Man remains one of the most revered singer/songwriters of all-time, despite not releasing an album of pop music since 1993’s hit album “River of Dreams.”
In 2001, he released “Fantasies & Delusions,” his first album of solely classical material.
Although the release of classical compositions may have surprised some of Joel’s pop music fans, classical music has always been an important influence in the Joel household. His father was a classical pianist, and from the prompting of his mother, young Bill began to study piano at the age of 4. He showed an immediate talent for the instrument, and by the age of 16 was already playing professionally.
The artist has sold more than 100 million
records, has had 33 Top 40 hits and has tallied 23 Grammy nominations. He took home Grammy awards for his song “Just the Way You Are,” album “52nd Street,” and Best Male Pop Vocal Performance for “Glass Houses.” In 1990, he was also presented with a Grammy Legend Award.
In 1999, the accolades continued when Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and most recently received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2013. This award is considered by many to be the biggest honor for impacting American culture, in the realm of performing arts.
At 65, Joel proves that even though his songs are now considered “Classic Rock” they will always remain a key part of our musical landscape, and that he remains a relevant artist in modern music. His cool quotient also increased recently, when it was announced that Joel will be a headliner this June at the hip Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival in Manchester, Tenn. SL
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BOOMER GUIDE PHOTOS KEITH BETTERLEYFitness of body starts
with the brainPage 24
Who will it be? Come and see!Boomer cover model to be crowned Feb. 6
903 Jordan Blass Dr. Ste. 102, Melbourne(across from the Suntree/Viera Library)
Cent
re a
tSu
ntre
e
Abe Hardoon, M.D.Board CertifiedInternal Medicine
Amanda Paul, M.D. Board CertifiedInternal Medicine
Edwin Chan, M.D.Board CertifiedFamily Medicine
Scott Hardoon, M.D.Board CertifiedInternal Medicine
Jennifer SchneiderAR-NP
Reginald JosephPA-C
After you see our doctors you don’t haveto make a second trip to the pharmacy
Save gas, time and money
*Will fill one prescriptionper patient per visit if
antibiotics are needed.
Free Antibiotics
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK!
http://suntree-internal-medicine.comNew Make your appointment online
(321) 259-9500
Are you tired of long waits in ordinary Doctor’s Offices?Are you tired of long waits in ordinary Doctor’s Offices?
Same Day Appointments Are Available For New Patients As Well As Established Patients!
Medicare Patients WelcomeWe Accept Most Insurance • Office Hours Include Evenings and Some Weekends • Specializing in Adult M edicine
Come visit us at Suntree Internal Medicine. Our friendly staff guarantees you a wait time of less th an 30 minutes. In fact, we are so sure of ourselves that if any patient has a wait time longer than 30 minutes to see a doctor, we will give them a $25 Gift Certificate to the mall for their trouble and inconvenience.
We realize that you may have a busy schedule. That’s why our friendly staff is there for you on days , evenings and even some weekends. You can get results to many blood tests in less than 10 minutes from our onsite state-of-the-art lab. We have onsite capabilities for EKG, breathing test, exercise stress test, Nuclear Stress test, ultr a sound, echocardiogram, bone density, 24 hour Holter Monitoring, 24 hour Ambulatory BP Monitoring, Tympanometry, & much more . Dr. Perez specializes in Family Practice and handles female gynecologic issues including PAP Smears and Breast Exams.
903 Jordan Blass Drive Suite 102
Melbourne, FL 32940 (Across from the new Suntree/Viera Library)
Abe Hardoon M.D.Board Certified - Internal Medicine
Tomas Perez M.D.Board Certified - Family Medicine
Bilingual in English & Spanish
visit us online at: www.suntree-internal-medicine.com
Dr. Hardoon has been practicing in the Central Florida area for the past 11 years.Give us a call and we can show you how easy and pleasant a visit to the Doctor’s office can be.
For Mother’s Day - Give the Gift ofMICRODERMABRASION
We use Brevard County’s only“Crystal Free” Microdermabrasion Machine!
Buy 5 Treatments, Get One Free!
We can diminish your fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots, scars, and acne blemishes
with a quick and painless treatment.After we remove your top layer of dead
tissue,the skin will look luminous.
Ask the Receptionist for more details!
Suntree Internal Medicine Now has Another Location In Cocoa Beach!
321.259.9500
503 N. Orlando Avenue Suite 105
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 (Across from the
Cocoa Beach Post Office)
Weekday Hours 7am-7pm Weekday Hoursby Appointment Only
0497
64
Are you tired of long waits in ordinary Doctor’s Offices?Are you tired of long waits in ordinary Doctor’s Offices?
Same Day Appointments Are Available For New Patients As Well As Established Patients!
Medicare Patients WelcomeWe Accept Most Insurance • Office Hours Include Evenings and Some Weekends • Specializing in Adult M edicine
Come visit us at Suntree Internal Medicine. Our friendly staff guarantees you a wait time of less th an 30 minutes. In fact, we are so sure of ourselves that if any patient has a wait time longer than 30 minutes to see a doctor, we will give them a $25 Gift Certificate to the mall for their trouble and inconvenience.
We realize that you may have a busy schedule. That’s why our friendly staff is there for you on days , evenings and even some weekends. You can get results to many blood tests in less than 10 minutes from our onsite state-of-the-art lab. We have onsite capabilities for EKG, breathing test, exercise stress test, Nuclear Stress test, ultr a sound, echocardiogram, bone density, 24 hour Holter Monitoring, 24 hour Ambulatory BP Monitoring, Tympanometry, & much more . Dr. Perez specializes in Family Practice and handles female gynecologic issues including PAP Smears and Breast Exams.
903 Jordan Blass Drive Suite 102
Melbourne, FL 32940 (Across from the new Suntree/Viera Library)
Abe Hardoon M.D.Board Certified - Internal Medicine
Tomas Perez M.D.Board Certified - Family Medicine
Bilingual in English & Spanish
visit us online at: www.suntree-internal-medicine.com
Dr. Hardoon has been practicing in the Central Florida area for the past 11 years.Give us a call and we can show you how easy and pleasant a visit to the Doctor’s office can be.
For Mother’s Day - Give the Gift ofMICRODERMABRASION
We use Brevard County’s only“Crystal Free” Microdermabrasion Machine!
Buy 5 Treatments, Get One Free!
We can diminish your fine lines, wrinkles, brown spots, scars, and acne blemishes
with a quick and painless treatment.After we remove your top layer of dead
tissue,the skin will look luminous.
Ask the Receptionist for more details!
Suntree Internal Medicine Now has Another Location In Cocoa Beach!
321.259.9500
503 N. Orlando Avenue Suite 105
Cocoa Beach, FL 32931 (Across from the
Cocoa Beach Post Office)
Weekday Hours 7am-7pm Weekday Hoursby Appointment Only
More than 20 boomer and senior models will grace the pages of the 2015 Boomer Guide. One — or two, if a couple — will claim the coveted magazine cover. See articles on pages 17, 14 and 10 and details on pages 18 and 19.
PublisherFROM THE
Senior Life of Florida is published on the first of each month. The entire contents of this newspaper are copyrighted by Senior Life of Florida with all rights reserved. Senior Life of Florida is not liable for errors or omissions in editorial, advertorial or advertising materials. Distribution of this newspaper does not constitute an endorsement of products or services herein. Reproduction or use, without permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.
Senior Life Fla
A great big thank you to the 5 percentI was on deadline for this issue and in walked Forest Miles, the “newly” elected president of the
board of the Suntree Master Homeowners Association. As a resident and a volunteer, Forest is like so many seniors who give of their time to make their community and Brevard a better place. I say newly in quotes because it’s not his first time at bat. He’s been on the board and even president in years past. As in many communities, and not unlike many, possibly all, volunteer positions, it is said that 5 percent of the people do 95 percent of the work. I’d like to take a moment to thank all the Forests in our community for all you do.
Al Babecki was one such fellow. A veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, he brought a rich history with him when he relocated to Brevard. It was routine to see him in the office and on our pages as he brought us news to share with readers that directly affected them. I am proud to have a feature on Al’s memorial highlight the first four-page monthly on veterans’ issues inside Senior Life.
We rely on readers’ visits, phone calls, emails and comments while out in the community to make this a great publication, if I do say so myself. And when I do, know that it is you who receives the compliment. You tell us what you want to read about, and you tell us what you like to do for fun. And fun is just what we had at the Senior Life Forever Young Expo at the Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science March 13. Again, I have to tip my hat to you for that.
You tell us you like “lively” live music and other entertainment, you like good food, you like to learn new things, meet new people, deepen existing friendships, have exciting experiences. So we put that all together and it equals record attendance at our expos and events. It was great spending time with you, and I look forward to our next outing, the Senior Life Boomer Bash & Senior Expo with Veterans Salute Nov. 6 at Exploration Tower at Port Canaveral.
As always, if you have great news or ideas to share on how to top our last event, please email me at [email protected] or call me at 321-242-1235. Or just tap me on the shoulder in line at Publix.
DRIVERS Meals on Wheels Senior TranServe Vets Driving Vets
Must be 21 years or older and have a valid drivers
license and carry Florida auto insurance; Participate in background check;
Training orientation will be provided. Vets Driving Vets Volunteers must also be veterans.
Please call today for further information
(321) 639-8770
Serving the Matters of Aging Since 1965
Aging Matters in Brevard is a 501(c)(3)
321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 5
8 NEIGHBORS
12 GRANDPARENTS ROCK!
17 VETERANS PULL-OUT
22 HEALTH & WELLNESS
24 COLUMNISTS
26 BOOMERS
27 NORTH BREVARD UPDATE
28 CALENDAR
33 TRAVEL
32 SUDOKU 32 CROSSWORD
The Senior Living Tour features a listing of 50+ communities located on an easy-to-navigate map. Page 14
COUPONS & DISCOUNTSDiamond Castle Jewelry & Coins page 6Hansen’s Handyman Services page 13M & M Heating-A/C page 19Heart Care Centers of Florida page 25HearX, HearUSA page 29Joe’s Club page 35Health First Health Plans page 36
APRIL 2015 WILLIAM A. JOHNSON, P.A.ELDER & ESTATE LAW OFFICE
21 Suntree Place, Suite 100Melbourne, Fl 32940321-253-1667
The hiring of an attorney is an important decision that must not be based on advertisement alone. Ask us to send you a free list of our qualifications.
William A. Johnson, EsquireFlorida Bar Board Certified Elder Law Attorney
“For years I have been counseling my clients on our “Total Care” concept to address their concerns when a long term care situation arises. My“Total Care” approach means that I am able, through my close working relationships, to bring valuable professionals in the fields of accounting, tax, geriatrics, geriatric case management, long term care and finance to bear on your long term care problem. Combined with my legal expertise as a Florida Board Certified Elder Law attorney, I will provide you with a comprehensive plan for facing the future in uncertain times.”
ESTATE PLANNING • PROBATE • TRUSTS & WILLS • GUARDIANSHIPS MEDICAID PLANNING • LONG TERM CARE • ADVANCE DIRECTIVES
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WE HOPE TO SEE YOU AT ALL OUR EXPOS!
SAVE THE DATESWe strive to bring you the BEST EXPOS and events,
always in an interesting atmosphere
Sponsorship Opportunities Available 321-242-1235
more information at BoomerSeniorExpo.com
FREE Admission to Tower 55 and over 54 and younger pay regular admission. Outside events free.
Boomer Bash! & Senior ExpoFriday, Nov. 6, 2015EXPLORATION TOWERCape CanaveralThere’s so much to see and do at this exciting locationWhat would you like
to see at our next expo?Let us know your ideasemail: [email protected] mail: Senior Life, 7630 N. Wickham Rd., #105 Viera, Fl 32940
?
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com6
SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE
There’s no need to pack a suitcase or even purchase a ticket for a musical trip around the world with the Melbourne Municipal Band (MMB) at 7:30 p.m. April 15 and 16 at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd.
“This concert will take you around the world in song without ever having to leave your seat,” said conductor Staci Cleveland. “We will travel to Russia, Norway, the Middle East, the U.S. and France.”
The Adagio Sax Quartet will provide pre-show entertainment. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.
The April concert also serves as the 2015 venue for donations to the MMB’s PING — Providing Instruments for a New Generation — program. PING seeks donations of musical instruments and related cash, and provides them to Brevard Public Schools (BPS), which in turn owns the instruments and administers their use by students who otherwise would not have the means to obtain an instrument. BPS uses cash donations for items such as mouthpieces, reeds, minor repairs, etc. Bring instruments or donations to the lobby of the auditorium beginning at
6:30 p.m. April 15 and 16. A reproduction of an
MMB commemorative 50th anniversary collage by internationally recognized artist Derek Gores will be on display at the concerts. Raffle tickets will be sold for the original to raise funds for the MMB, with a drawing to take place during the summer. Limited-edition prints and posters may be ordered.
For more information, call 724-0555 or go to melbournemunicipalband.org. SL
Melbourne Municipal Band concerts
Traveling museum highlights horrors of Holocaust
SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE
The Holocaust Museum Central Florida 2015, a unique traveling exhibit created by North Carolina schoolchildren, will be on display at the Space Coast Convention Center, 301 Tucker Lane in Cocoa, from Sunday, April 19 through Thursday, April 23. Students at the Word of Faith Christian School in Spindale, N.C. created more than 600 stunning works of art based on extensive Holocaust research. The children travel with the exhibit and serve as museum guides.
Exhibit hours on Sunday are 5:30 to 9 p.m., and all day Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Admission is free for students from kindergarten through college. Adult admission is $10 at the museum or online through April 17 at Holocaustmuseumcentralflorida2015.org. Advance tickets for $8 also are available through April 17 at the Jewish Federation of Brevard in Melbourne, Travel by Ginny in Cocoa and Temple Beth Sholom in Suntree.
The Museum is sponsored by the Sister City Program of Cocoa and Beit Shemesh, Israel.
For more information, call Ron Shelton at 321-794-9887. To schedule group visits, call 321-431-4890. SL
Rubber duckies make waves April 12SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE
It’s time to get your ducks in a row for the 17th annual Great Brevard Duck Race, all for a great cause. The annual duck race is a major fundraising event for Crosswinds Youth Services, a nonprofit organization that has been serving children and youth in crisis and their families for more than 40 years.
The race will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, April 12 during the Indian River Festival at Sand Point Park in Titusville. A $5 donation will put one rubber duck in the race, or adopt the popular Quack Pack and receive one free duck in the race. A one-of-a-kind souvenir duck will be given out at the duck locations for those who adopt the Quack Pack while supplies last.
For more information on the race, go to greatbrevardduckrace.com, and for Crosswinds Youth Services, call 321-452-0800 or go to crosswindsyouthservices.org. SL
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321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 7
BY LINDA WIGGINS
The second annual Charlie Corbeil Conservation Awards dinner will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 9 at the Heritage Isle Clubhouse Ballroom in west Viera, within sight of the Viera Wetlands flora and fauna Corbeil loved, and on the eve of the Viera Wetlands Nature Festival that he and fellow volunteers founded, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 11.
“Charlie is that rare kind of guy that everybody who knew him loved deeply, that no one had an unkind word for,” said Vince Lamb, co-founder of conservation charity Preserve Brevard, which is co-hosting the event with Senior Life sister paper Viera Voice. The newspapers’ publisher and expo and events company, Bluewater Creative Group, also produces the popular Charlie Corbeil Birding Guide that is enjoyed and relied on by novice and expert nature photographers alike.
“There wasn’t anybody who knew more about finding great photographic subjects in the Viera Wetlands, or from the St. Johns River to the beaches and beyond,” said Lamb, fellow Florida Master Naturalist and lauded nature photographer. “He was always happy to teach anyone who wanted to learn more about nature or photography, for as long as they wanted.”
Event keynote speaker will be renowned Florida springs conservationist Rick Kilby, author of “Finding the Fountain of Youth: Ponce de Leon and Florida’s Magical Waters.”
Corbeil was the perfect ambassador for conservation and could appeal to anyone about the value of stewarding the environment, said conservation awards committee member Ivan Green, wetlands volunteer, Master Florida Naturalist and nature photographer like Corbeil.
Committee members seek to fill a void by having this be an annual event whose only purpose is to acknowledge individuals on the Space Coast for their greatness in conservation.
“This is a nonprofit effort with no other mission, we simply want to
make it a mark of pride to have won ‘a Charlie,’ for this event to be known in conservation circles as ‘the Charlies,’ like the Emmys or the Grammys,” Lamb said. “We want Charlie’s life to continue to inspire greatness in others.”
Awards are given to talented volunteers like Corbeil, and also to key nonprofit leaders and agency staff who have excelled beyond the expectations of their position.
“We’re talking about some real
game changers, and there are a lot of people who have done some amazing work in the environment, including businesses that have gone beyond what the law requires and can lead the way for others to do the same,” said Beth Blackford, awards committee member and board member for the Indian River Lagoon National Scenic Byway Coalition.
Corbeil and his wife, Charlotte, co-wrote a column called Parting Shot for Viera Voice to accompany his photos. She recently resumed the column after Corbeil’s November 2013 death. It is now called Charlotte’s Web-Spinning Tales and she invites budding photographers to supply the shots.
In Charlie’s memory, Charlotte is sponsoring a children’s photography, art and writing contest with more than $1,000 in cash prizes. Top submissions will be displayed at Heritage Isle Clubhouse at the awards dinner and at the Nature Festival.
To purchase awards dinner tickets or for more information about the youth photography, art and writing contest, go to TheCharlieAwards.org. SL
‘The Charlies:’ A legend in life spurs legacy of conservation
SENIOR LIFE LINDA WIGGINSConservationists Vince Lamb, Beth Blackford and Ivan Green discuss plans for the second annual Charlie Corbeil Conservation Awards dinner Thursday, April 9 at Heritage Isle Clubhouse Ballroom.
SENIOR LIFE LINDA WIGGINSViera Voice nature columnist Charlotte Corbeil, right, helps direct Viera Wetlands visitors Robert Goodman, center, and Ullin Leavell of Vero Beach to the morning’s best photo fauna.
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SENIOR LIFE JIM KRIZMANICHCarolyn Gallagher, left, Patty Luffe and June Krizmanich received 2014 Volunteer of the Year awards by the Tropical Haven Homeowners Association.
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SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com8
Our neighbors■ Box City helps homeless families page 9 ■ Clowning around is serious business page 10 ■ Grandparents Rock heritage and history page 12
BY MIKE GAFFEY
Ernie Howering III has a simple answer when asked to explain how Ernie’s Hobby Shop has stayed in business since 1963.
“Faithful customers,” said the Melbourne resident, who now runs his father’s shop at 631 S. Apollo Blvd.
Tucked away in a small shopping plaza off Babcock Street near the railroad tracks, Ernie’s has been the go-to place for generations of hobby enthusiasts searching for radio-controlled airplanes, model train items, rockets and scale plastic model kits of airplanes, cars, ships, spacecraft and military hardware and figures.
“We haven’t changed much,” Howering III said of his store’s inventory. “Trains, rockets, radio-controlled airplanes, that type of stuff. But no RC (radio-controlled) cars or helicopters. We got away from them.”
The shop has moved several times since Howering III’s father, now 84, opened Ernie’s more than five decades ago.
“We’ve been throughout Melbourne,” Howering III said. “We’ve been in old downtown Melbourne off of Depot Drive. Then we moved into the Five and Dime that was McCrory’s, and then from there we moved to the end of Babcock, and then to Apollo in the early 1970s.”
Inside the shop, model planes ranging from World War I biplanes to fighter jets hang from the ceiling.
Hobby supplies line the shelves. Kits allow enthusiasts to build plastic models or anything from a steamboat to the suborbital spaceplane SpaceShipOne. There are even models of Herman and Grandpa from the 1960s TV comedy “The Munsters.”
Model railroad supplies remain the store’s top seller, Howering III said. Shelves are stocked with miniature engines, rail cars, tracks, buildings, bridges, foliage and people. Tiny, detailed trains are displayed in a glass case.
Visitors to Ernie’s have come away impressed.
“It’s a classic hobby shop from days gone by,” David Grow posted on Google. “The owner loves his trade, and is able to render advice and assistance on most any topic related to hobbies. He sells both new and used items to help any modeler find a bargain solution to almost any challenge. I have found him honest, kind, kid-friendly, and a wonderful asset to the community — even though I have to drive about an hour to get there.
“It’s rare these days to be able to have a relationship with a company. It’s possible at Ernie’s.” SL
Melbourne shop a haven for hobby enthusiasts since 1963
SENIOR LIFE MIKE GAFFEYErnie Howering III runs Ernie’s Hobby Shop on Apollo Boulevard in Melbourne. His 84-year-old father opened the original Ernie’s in 1963. Howering stands next to a model airplane built by Melbourne customer Richard Hayes.
Ernie’s Hobby Shop is at 631 S. Apollo Blvd., Melbourne. Hours are 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday. For more information, call 321-724-5257.
JUST THE FACTS
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BY LINDA WIGGINS
Michael Sams has been in a bind, but he’s never been in a box. So this year, he and his daughter, Journey, will spend the night in classic homeless conditions to see that other families get the help he received.
The nonprofit Family Promise of Brevard is asking people to show support for homeless families in an event called Box City to raise awareness of homelessness and raise funds to help families in the community. Families and individuals of all ages make their own shelter from a cardboard box starting at 5 p.m. Friday, April 17 and stay overnight to briefly experience what it’s like to sleep without a roof over their heads.
“I never could have imagined it could happen to me,” said Sams, who said his wife walked out on him and his toddler, leaving him without day care and unable to go to work to afford to pay rent.
He and his daughter lived overnight at a series of churches for a week at a time, and during the day he looked for work and Journey went to day care, all coordinated by the nonprofit that provides intact families in Brevard County with emergency shelter and support services through a network of interfaith congregations and trained staff, with the goal of transitioning the family into sustainable, permanent housing.
Sams now has a home of his own, a permanent job and Journey is in day care while he works.
“We were in the program 41 days and the volunteers and everyone were great in the evenings while we enjoyed the fellowship of other families and their children in the program. It was a lot of busy work in the days getting done what needed to be done,” Sams said. “It was a great experience and it makes me want to help others like they helped me.”
The Holy Name of Jesus fairgrounds at 3050 N. Highway A1A in Indialantic will be transformed into a cardboard box encampment to give participants a better understanding of homelessness and poverty.
For those who want to lend support without spending the night, Box City Walk includes a bowl of soup from the “soup kitchen” and live music, games
and a movie. Requested donation is $25 minimum for individuals and $50 for a family of any size. Walking is not required.
The event is also open to teams, and supporters can donate in the team name. For more information or to register or donate, go to events-familypromiseofbrevard.org or call Tara Pagliarini at 321-209-3391. SL
Living in a box helps families in a bind
SENIOR LIFE LINDA WIGGINSJourney Sams and her father, Michael, will spend the night in a cardboard box April 17 to raise awareness and funds to help families facing homelessness, as they once did.
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com10
“This facility was built to provide processing capacity in Florida that was lacking. It will eliminate a ton of truck traffic up and down the Interstate 95 corridor,” Hansen said. “It also adds 60-plus permanent jobs to the area.”
The tidy beige corrugated steel building at the end of Townsend Road behind the Cocoa Sam’s Club is unassuming. All operations take place inside. Once trucks arrive and are weighed, they dump their load inside the building and depart. A front-loader places the materials into a large box that feeds them onto a system of conveyer belts, where mechanics and technology separate glass, cans made of various metals, rigid plastic containers, cardboard and paper.
Technicians assist the process along the way, grabbing out unwanted plastic bags that can damage equipment. The end result is a variety of products that are sorted, baled and set aside for end-users to purchase for their manufacturing needs, providing a revenue stream for materials that once took up valuable landfill space.
“We are beyond excited not only to eliminate the energy required to transport the materials but also to offer this service regionally and reduce energies further,” said Erin LeClair, spokesperson for Brevard County Solid Waste, for which Waste Management is a contract waste hauler. Hansen is a contractor to Waste Management.
Brevard County already exceeds by 4 percent the state requirement that half of all solid waste be recycled. The goal is to increase that rate to 75 percent in the coming years, Boyson said.
For more information on solid waste management, go to brevardcounty.us/solidwaste or call LeClair at 321-633-2042. SL
BY ROSEMARY H. LYNN
Eileen Brock is a natural when it comes to bringing smiles to the faces of kids and adults alike. She grew up in a family that embraced the art of clowning. But she never thought that one day she would be following in their footsteps, working beside her husband, James. He goes by the name of Brocko the Clown and Eileen is Lil’ Rosie.
They have regular day jobs. James at Lowes, Eileen at Viera Manor assisted living. But clowning is a passion they embrace on their days off.
“We love to see the faces of the children light up when James creates a balloon animal for them or performs one of his juggling routines. I do face painting and that’s a lot of fun.”
Previously, James was in the Air Force. He and Eileen met in community theatre where she was a drama teacher. Together they traveled around the world. When they returned to Patrick Air Force Base, James departed the military and they decided to stay in the area. Both accepted positions as financial advisors but soon grew tired of the long hours. So James took a job at Lowes and Eileen accepted a position as activities director at Viera Manor Assisted Living.
She explains that she and her husband are “Auguste” clowns, or
happy faced clowns, which are not as scary to children as the sad faced clowns. Still, there are kids who are afraid of them.
“We try to alleviate their fears, but some kids are prone to being afraid anyway. We don’t force children to like us. But we do our best to make them smile and have fun,” James said.
Each spring, they are featured at the Malabar Spring festival. This year marks the seventh one in which they have participated.
Eileen advises anyone who wants to become a clown to be passionate about what they want to do. “Write down your strengths, weaknesses. Take classes in balloon art, face painting.
This is a business, like any other, so be sure to keep records. And most of all, have fun. Get out there with an attitude of making people happy. It really is a lot of fun.”
For more information, call 321-604-7136 or go to BrockoTheClown.com. SL
Clowning around is serious business for Brevard couple
SENIOR LIFE ROSEMARY H. LYNNJames and Eileen Brock are Brocko the Clown and ‘Lil Rosie and love what they do.
RECYCLINGContinued from page 1
BY LINDA WIGGINS
Shhh, don’t tell anyone, but John Hansen is secretly retired.
The boomer recently relocated from snowy Wisconsin to open Single Stream Recyclers in Cocoa, where discarded items from residents’ homes are taken by Waste Management to be sorted and sold for manufacturing into new products.
He and his wife leased a Whitley Bay condo in Cocoa Village overlooking the Indian River Lagoon and sweeping vistas beyond.
“Our children are grown now or away at college and they all came down for a fishing trip where we caught a huge tarpon,” Hansen said as he climbed yet another set of steel stairs to tend vast equipment and conveyer belts that keep him fit.
“It’s just amazing and beautiful and we love living here,” Hansen said.
While his friends tease him that he actually retired to Florida, he assures them that he really does work. One of those friends is his best friend from high school, Eric Konic, who like him ran family-owned solid waste companies before Waste Management bought them out. They then worked as consultants for the company, and now serve the company as contractors.
They own the Cocoa recycling plant together. Konic, however, remains in Wisconsin.
“I’m always sure to let him know how hard I have it, wearing sandals, shorts and a light shirt on a beach somewhere.” Hansen said. “But sometimes it’s hard to do it with a straight face.” SL
Working hard and playing harder
John Hansen assures his friends up North that he is working hard, while they accuse him of hardly working.
321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 11
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Change your perspectiveAt The Fountains, life is different here. It’s not just a place to live. This is where residents discover the community experience and put passions into practice. Engage, challenge yourself, share knowledge, and build a legacy for future generations. This is where your personal journey begins.
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SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com12
’’‘‘
KEENANS WITH GRANDSONS
Senior Life
Roots take trio on adventures far and nearBY LINDA WIGGINS
Most American grandchildren growing up are content to think of their nationality of origin as “Heinz 57,” meaning that so many generations have dated back on U.S. shores that no one in the family can remember just when their ancestors made the leap across the Great Pond. Their nation of origin is made up of 57 varieties, a popular slogan for products of the H.J. Heinz Company, now part of the lexicon according to the Urban Dictionary for an American of too many past parts to track.
But that won’t be the case for Ivy Czarniak.
When her grandfather, Ed Czarniak, plucked Ivy’s grandmother, Brigitte, straight out of Germany, his bride would make sure both their heritages would remain front and center. That meant Czarniak’s own Polish roots, planted in this country by his grandfather, would also resume ties with the mother land with frequent visits to relatives who remain there.
Those trips have already included Sherwood Elementary School third-grader Ivy, and will continue to do so.
“We feel like it is important for
her to remember where she is from, because this is who she is,” said Brigitte Czarniak, of Merritt Island. The couple’s son and Ivy’s father,
Thomas, lives in Melbourne. They make the trip across the causeway whenever possible to spirit Ivy away to adventure, far and near.
In addition to intercontinental travel, they travel back in time without crossing the county line.
Museums are a favorite destination for the traveling trio, adding prehistory to their love of things still traceable with a family tree. Predictably, dinosaurs are Ivy’s favorite, she said, standing at a cast of skeletal remains of a mastodon at the Brevard Museum of Science & Natural History in Cocoa.
“When we have her, we try to go out and have adventures rather than just watch others have adventures,” Czarniak said. “So much time of today’s youth is spent on various electronic devices, adults too, for that matter.”
Added Ed Czarniak, “We look for what she likes to do, and look at what we like to do, match them up, and get going. Sometimes that just mean going to hang out at the pool.”
Ivy takes it all in stride. In fact, when a bystander asked with amazement how she was able to log international travel to Germany at her young age, she replied without hesitation:
“Um, by plane.” SL
SENIOR LIFE LINDA WIGGINSBrigitte and Ed Czarniak love to take granddaughter Ivy on adventures, whether that be across the Great Pond to mother Germany and Poland, or back through time at local destinations like the Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science.
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321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 13
’’
If you could enter a time machine, what part of your life would you re-visit?
Photos by Bob Parente, Walter Kiely
SentimentsAlverdia Carlander“I would go back to 1979, when I was
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Bill Craddock“I would go back to the shipyards and ship building when I was young. It was
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Pat Peterman“I would go back to being a newlywed, and
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Senior Life presents
BY MARY BROTHERTON
La Casa Assisted Living & Memory Care in Historic Merritt Park Place offers a non-institutional secured environment for those dealing with end-stage Alzheimer’s. All living areas are key pad protected and the Spanish-styled courtyard is secured to allow residents and families the enjoyment of being outdoors without worry.
Staff is especially trained to care for those affected by Alzheimer’s and dementia-related disorders. La Casa Memory Care prides itself on the excellent care it can provide for the more challenging behaviors associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia disorders. Care is provided hourly, daily or long-term. Often, family members who are exhausted or have been worn down from caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s or dementia will turn to La Casa for help and they find their loved ones frequently thrive from the professional care.
Stacy Slaughter, La Casa’s
marketing director said, “Our motto is ‘Care without Compromise’ and I think it shows in all the little things we do for our residents.”
One of the little things La Casa is doing is really a big thing. Plans are underway to expand and improve the facility with additional space and a new courtyard. The additional space will include a new resident’s room as well as a modern laundry room.
The focal point of the courtyard will be a 30-foot oak tree, the largest that can be transferred across the state. The tree will be severely pruned back to lessen the trauma of the move, but is expected to flourish in its new location.
“It embodies our motto,” Slaughter said, “and our belief that our seniors deserve the very best. There is no guarantee it will thrive or even live, but we have faith and we hope that it will. Sometimes, that’s all we need.”
For more information on La Casa Assisted Living and Memory Care, visit lacasaliving.com or call 321-449-8880. SL
La Casa: care without compromise
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What Ifs…. Of Retirement Planning
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321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 15
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SENIOR LIVING TOUR Brevard’s Map of 55+ RETIREMENT, APARTMENTS & ASSISTED LIVING
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La Casa Assisted Living & Memory Care220 N. Grove St., Merritt Island 32953321-449-8880 LaCasaLiving.com
Courtenay Springs Village1200 S. Courtenay Pkwy., Merritt Island 32952321-452-1233 CourtenaySpringsVillage.org
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Brevard’s 55+ Retirement, Apartments & Assisted Living
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com16
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321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015
STRIPESBrevard Veterans News
SeniorLife
BY MARY BROTHERTON
Operation Surf came to Cocoa Beach March 19 through March 25, for its inauguration on the East Coast. As a result, 12 veterans with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, burns, amputations and PTSD experienced the thrill of surfing off the coast of Florida, some for the first time.
Five active duty military personnel put their traditional rehabilitation at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) on hold to fly with the staff at Amazing Surf Adventures from California to Florida where they met up with three Operation Surf alumni who also had rehabilitated at BAMC. These veterans left the hospital for the first time to participate in Operation Surf, which has proven to be an effective recovery tool.
The alumni and five additional injured veterans are from Florida.
The 12 veterans were able to participate in Operation Surf at no cost due to the successful fund-raising efforts of Amazing Surf Adventures and the generosity of Cocoa Beach businesses and volunteers.
Van Curaza grew up surfing in California. He toured and competed in the surf circuits, but when he needed to move on to a new phase, he opened a surf school.
“Surfing gave him peace,” his wife Amanda said. “He realized he wanted to share that sensation with others, so he created Amazing Surf Adventures.”
Todd Holland, head of surf instruction, and Shaun Slater, director of Operation Surf Cocoa Beach, were among dozens who met the veterans and staff when they arrived in Florida.
“Surfing is powerful and healing” Amanda Curaza said, “but it takes the love and commitment of the surf instructors and volunteers to get the vets to open up and realize what they can do. They push their limits and create lasting bonds.”
The ocean has healing properties, but Amanda Curaza said she has seen during the past six years that the biggest part of the healing is the group atmosphere.
Operation Surf expects to use adaptive surfing techniques with more injured veterans in coming years, but the success of the nonprofit organization depends on volunteers and donors.
For more information, visit AmazingSurfAdventures.org or call 805-544-7873. SL
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZING SURF ADVENTURESInjured veterans use an adaptive surfing surface.
PHOTO COURTESY OF AMAZING SURF ADVENTURESOperation Surf training first takes place on dry land.
Operation Surf soothes veterans’ souls
SENIOR LIFE LYNNE KRIZIK COURTESY OF AMAZING SURF ADVENTURESCharlie Lemon shows off some acrobatic surfing skills
VFW Post 8191 needs a new signBY MARY BROTHERTON
The Staff Sergeant Dan Bissell Sr. VFW Post 8191 needs a new sign and the nonprofit veterans organization has put out a call for an experienced sign maker.
The group is prepared to purchase a new sign but hopes a generous donor who has contacts in the sign business might step forward with a tax-deductible offer.
Quartermaster Domenick “Dan” Perrone said, “We are ready to begin selection of a design and a vendor to replace the roadside sign.”
VFW Post 8191 is at 4130 N. Harbor City Blvd. in Melbourne and meets at 7:30 p.m. the third Monday of each month. Go to vfw8191.org for the ladies and men’s auxiliaries meeting schedules.
For information on how to donate, email [email protected] or call 321-254-9885. SL
Veterans EventsApril 4Space Coast Paratroopers Turkey ShootRegistration begins 10 a.m.$5/round or $15/round for larger prizes100 percent of proceeds benefit Homes for Warriors Program610 Hurley Road, Palm [email protected]
April 9Hiring our HeroesHiring fair presented by Hiring Our Heroes’ Military Spouse Program. Open to active duty guard, reserve, veteran and gold star spouses. Service members and veterans are also welcome.10 a.m. – 1 p.m.The Tides Club1001 S. Hwy A1A, Building 967Patrick Air Force Baseuschamberfoundation.org/event/patrick-air-force-base-military-spouse-hiring-fair
April 18 – 19Revolutionary War Veterans Association’s Patriot’s Day 2015 Rifle Marksmanship Clinic8 a.m. – 5 p.m.Port Malabar Rifle and Pistol Club610 Hurley Blvd., Palm Bayappleseedusa.org
April 23 – 26Florida Vietnam and all Veterans Annual ReunionWickham Park, Melbourne321-501-6896
April 25Brevard Stand Down8 a.m. – 2 p.m.National Guard Armory, Cocoa321-431-0364
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com
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Dressing
BY MARIA SONNENBERG
At retired Air Force Col. John Hilliard’s home just a few blocks from Patrick Air Force Base are stacks of neat four-inch notebooks. They are one man’s celebration of space history.
Inside each of the binders are Hilliard’s records of the many rockets launched from all of the launch pads at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. As volunteer media liaison with Patrick Air Force Base, Hilliard has attended a significant number of launches, and he wants to save the details for posterity.
Hilliard’s passion for rockets started as a kid, when his dad, who was also a military man, would bring home pictures of missiles launched from the Space Coast.
Christopher Calkins, public affairs officer at Patrick, unofficially dubbed Hilliard a PLPE, or Permanent Launch Press Escort, and Hilliard has the embroidered cap to prove it. Beyond his volunteer work with the media, Hilliard conducts public affairs tours for government officials and for individuals such as 97-year-old retired Brig. Gen. Richard Spear, whom Hilliard escorted at PAFB, where the United States Air Force Thunderbirds landed before the TICO Airshow in March.
“We try to educate people on the rich history of the 45th Space Wing,” said Hilliard, who also volunteers for the Air Force Space and Missile Museum and at the Space and Missile History Center in Cape Canaveral.
Born in Morgantown, W.Va.,
Hilliard has spent a considerable amount of his life on military bases. By the time he graduated from high school, this “Air Force brat” had attended 17 different schools, from New Hampshire to South Carolina, from Wiesbaden, Germany, to Massachusetts.
At age 8, Hilliard’s photo appeared in the New York Times as one of the first military dependents to go to Europe after World War II.
“Dad managed three military hotels in Wiesbaden,” Hilliard said.
He first made acquaintance with Brevard when his father was assigned to Patrick in 1953. Hilliard stayed long enough to attend Cocoa High School. His connection with Brevard continued while at Virginia Military Institute. Summers were spent working at the Cape.
Military intelligence was the focus of Hilliard’s 27-year Air Force career, which included assignments at Andrews Air Force Base, the Pentagon and the CIA. At Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo., Hilliard was the combat missile crew commander for the Atlas E missile.
“We were on alert 24/7,” he said.During his four years at Vandenberg
Air Force Base in California, he was a test conductor who helped launch 31 satellites for the National Reconnaissance Office.
Hilliard also served as the Secretary of Defense’s representative in Geneva, Switzerland.
“We were negotiating strategic arms limitations with the Soviet Union at the time,” he said.
Among his more unusual assignments was being an undercover Air Force officer at Eastman Kodak headquarters to oversee satellite imagery for military intelligence.
When time for retirement finally arrived in 1998, Hilliard headed back to familiar grounds, Satellite Beach. He and his wife, Linda, share the
home his father built in 1971 with five dogs Linda has rescued through her volunteer work for Coastal Poodle Rescue.
The air traffic from Patrick is never far from Hilliard’s backyard, and for this devoted Air Force man, it is as it should be. SL
Officer-turned-volunteer records space history
SENIOR LIFE MARIA SONNENBERGCol. John Hilliard served 27 years in the Air Force.
Veterans set for Wickham gatheringBY MARY BROTHERTON
The public is invited to attend the nation’s largest veterans’ reunion from Thursday, April 23 through Sunday, April 26 at Wickham Park in Melbourne. The Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall will be available for viewing 24 hours each day starting at 10 a.m. on April 19.
Live music, military vendors and displays, K9 and other demonstrations, and food and drinks will be a part of the event. POW and MIA ceremonies, The Last Patrol, wreath placements and many moving tributes will touch the patriot within each attendee.
Wickham Park is located at 2500 Parkway Dr. in Melbourne. Golf carts will be permitted for those with disabilities, but no coolers, pets or glass is allowed in the reunion area.
For more information, visit FloridaVeteransReunion.com or call 321-501-6896. SL
SENIOR LIFE PHOTOThe Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall can be viewed from April 19 to April 26 at Wickham Park in Melbourne.
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321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015
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SENIOR LIFE LINDA WIGGINSMilitary Officers Association of America Cape Canaveral chapter president Robert Watts, left, and vice president Donn Weaver host national MOAA liaison Brian Anderson at a March 17 luncheon at The Tides restaurant on Patrick Air Force Base.
BY LINDA WIGGINS
Now is the time to let lawmakers know salary and benefits for active, veteran and future military personnel can’t take any more cuts, according to a national military representative visiting Brevard.
U.S. lawmakers are preparing the 2016 federal budget after years of cuts — or more accurately stated, reductions in increases — to military personnel costs, said retired USAF Col. Brian Anderson, national Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) spokesman. He is one of 90 paid staffers who work out of the national MOAA organization headquartered in Washington, D.C.
“Our primary focus is compensation of former, current and future service members and their families, and our mission is to communicate how important this is to the protection of the United States in attracting and retaining the best and brightest to military service in an all-volunteer force,” Anderson told members and associates of the MOAA Cape Canaveral Chapter at a March 17 monthly luncheon at The Tides restaurant on Patrick Air Force Base.
Part of Anderson’s job is to connect with the MOAA chapters, which are separate from the national organization and are both self-governing and
self-sustaining, and require separate membership.
Recent cuts, or budget sequestration, that started in 2013 resulted in automatic reductions or eliminations in programs, canceling activities like popular air shows and slowing the receipt of some benefits to veterans.
Anderson noted that the military currently enjoys relatively strong support from legislators and the American public, adding that vigilance is necessary for this to continue in light of a current trend.
“Only 5 percent of Americans have ever served in the military, given the aging out of our World War II vets and even our Korean War vets,” Anderson said. “And since 2001, only 1 percent have served in any capacity.”
The job of relaying the importance of the proper care of military personnel, past, present and future to lawmakers and the public becomes more important each day, according to MOAA-CC president Robert Watts.
“I like to think of them as advocates for us,” Watts said of national MOAA staff.
MOAA, which changed its name from The Retired Officers Association a decade ago, started 86 years ago and has grown to 380,000 members. It is larger than all other officers associations combined and boasts the
largest percentage of active military membership at 20 percent.
MOAA-CC is the second largest chapter in the nation with 1,450 members.
“We, as individuals, are limited to what we can do, but by coming together, and by becoming active once we join a group,” Watts said, “that’s when we can make a difference.”
For more information on the local group, go to moaacc.org, and to find the closest chapter, go to moaa.org. SL
Military pay benefits are key to U.S. power, group says
AVET helps Homes for Warriors Program
BY MARY BROTHERTON
The American Veterans Empowerment Team (AVET) Project has a mission. That mission is to heighten awareness to the needs of American veterans — past and present United States service men and women, as well as their families. AVET provides assistance and programs, counseling and entertainment and calls on the community for help in this endeavor.
One such undertaking was when volunteers showed up with tools to help patch the drywall at a Palm Bay Homes for Warriors project on Saturday, March 7. The house will soon be home to SPC Sean Taylor and his family.
Kim Cone, executive director of AVET Project said, “We knew Sean and Amy while he was still in service, and when they found themselves homeless, AVET Project got resources together for them. An admiral from the Coast Guard took them all in for Christmas, the community pulled together to get gifts for the kids and now the City of Palm Bay
is giving them a home. Sean just got a service dog Saturday. We are doing what we can with the resources we have.”
Through the Homes for Warriors project, the City of Palm Bay purchased 48 foreclosed homes and has been refurbishing and retrofitting them to accommodate the specific needs of combat-wounded veterans.
AVET is one of many groups and individuals assisting with the renovation of these homes for returning wounded warriors.
To learn more about AVET, contact Kim Cone [email protected] or go to AvetProject.org. SL
SENIOR LIFE PHOTOSPC Sean Taylor and his service dog Miley.
SENIOR LIFE PHOTOHunter, Jasmine, Sean, Amy, and Kaydence Taylor.
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SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com
Annual Boomer Guide is a ‘manual’ on how to
build a great life
SENIOR LIFE Linda WigginsFrank and Mary Ann Tantillo receive the new Boomer Guide from Maureen Reeder at Indian River Colony Club in Viera.
by linda wiggins
Mary Ann and Frank Tantillo make it a team effort to get the people they have loved throughout their travels to surround them in the life they love on the Space Coast.
Their secret weapon? The annual Boomer Guide.
“It’s got everything you need to build a great live for yourself. What are your interests? There’s a club for that. What are your needs? There’s a resource for that,” Frank Tantillo said.
The avid volunteers also like the variety of nonprofit group activities listed. So much of happiness comes from reaching out to help others, Mary Ann Tantillo said.
“If you have free time, look around you, find a need and fill it. Being retired is not just about doing all the recreational activities you could desire, though that is fantastic,” she added. “It’s really important to know what is going on around you and to do what you can to make the community a better place. That will make you feel a part of it and enjoy your life all the more.”
The Tantillos live at Indian River Colony Club in Viera, where IRCC spokeswoman Maureen Reeder makes
sure there is always a supply of Boomer Guides on hand.
“We have a lot of activities here,” Reeder said of the community that caters to the needs of but is not limited to retired U.S. military officers and spouses.
“But the secret to happiness is making sure you are connected to the greater community as well.”
It’s one thing to build a great life for yourself, but it’s also important to roll with the changes in life that are inevitable, Reeder said.
“When a couple becomes a single, that can be an opportunity to more deeply discover our own interests and meet others with similar likes,” Reeder said.
Mary Ann Tantillo loved the image on the Boomer Guide cover of what looks like two gal pals having fun in a tropical setting, their toes in the sand.
“I plan on sending the Boomer Guide to some friends in the North with the hard winters we no longer have to deal with,” she said. “It’s not to gloat or rub it in, but to let them know that when they, too, have had enough, there’s a great life to live down here and here’s a manual on how to build it.” SL
Boomer Guide 2015 Now being delivered
Senior Life’s 2015 annual resource guide is here!
Boomer Guide 2015 Forever Young issueFind everything you need to live your best life on the Space Coast, from clubs to groups, to health care and recreation, the best places to live and everything in between. Explore feature stories of exciting adventures near and far.
The Veterans Resource Section features helpful services, clubs and points of interest.
Copies are available at:
Senior Life, 7630 N. Wickham Rd. # 105, VieraThe Sunflower House at Merritt Square MallFreedom 7 Senior Center, Cocoa BeachSenior Centers countywide
Chambers of Commerce—Melbourne Regional, Titusville & Cocoa Beach (Viera satellite office) One Senior Place, VieraInspiredLiving of Palm BayWilliam A. Johnson PA, SuntreeBrevard Alzheimer’s Foundation locations (Titusville, Melbourne and Micco) For a pick-up location near you, or for bulk delivery of 30 or more guides for your distribution location, call 321-242-1235.
theboomerseniorguide.com
BY LINDA WIGGINS
Fifty years after the Battle of the Bulge, Al Babecki spearheaded the Indian River Chapter of the Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge and served as chapter president for many years. Proud of his Polish heritage, he formed the Barefoot Bay Polish American Social Club in 1986 and served as president for several years, launching the popular Barefoot Bay Ethnic Festival.
These points and more will be the likely topic of discussion as family and friends convene at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia as early as next month to inter his cremains. His passing in January marked the 70th anniversary of his service in the 1255th Engineer Combat Battalion.
“He was very civic minded, a natural
organizer,” said his daughter, Barbara Jones. She still lives in the Virginia area from which Babecki and his wife, Dori, retired when they moved to Barefoot Bay to soak up the sun. An engineer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, in Greenbelt, Md., he shared space history in common with fellow retirees on the Space Coast.
“He was always involved in organizations throughout his life no matter where he lived. Head lector at church, post chaplain at VFW, post commander at Micco. He always tried to make an impact and leave life better because of it.”
An April 4 civilian memorial is planned at the Knights of Columbus Silver Spring in Maryland. For more information on the scheduling of the Arlington memorial, call 301-839-5032. SL
Battle of the Bulge veteran remembered
SENIOR LIFE PHOTOAl Babecki served with the 1255th Engineer Combat Battalion.
An avid believer in the importance of military memorials, Babecki wrote this poem first published in 1994:
IN MEMORIAMThis memorial service is a rightful obligationFor a group like ours to perform with concentration,To honor those persons who meant a great dealIn our young lives when war was unreal.
These were our Friends, our Comrades in arms.They came from cities, villages, and farms;And, with us, they trained to build and to kill,To help our country in its hours of peril
Brought on by despots in the East and the WestWho threatened our Freedom, and that of the rest.These were our Buddies with whom we spent timeIn huts and in tents, on ship and Europe’s grime.
On them we learned to depend for our future.And they on us: the Buddy System was super,Except for those few who paid with their livesSo the Battalion, the U.S., and democracy survives.
These were our Pals; they showed us much fun,Along with the engineer missions we had run.We’ll never forget them as long as we live,For they had much to offer, and much to give.
And, whether they died in battle, or later,To us their service couldn’t have been greater.And, now as we honor these heroes of ours,Let us pause to remember them as among God’s stars;
And, as we prepare for our next year’s reunion,We should maintain with them a constant communion;For what is a man, if he’s not rememberedBy his family and friends for all that he’s rendered?
Our time, too, will come for certainAs Life lowers on us its final curtain.We hope that those who remain behindWill meet like this to keep us in mind.
—Al Babecki
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Cinco de Mayo in Winter Park • Tuesday, May 5th - $56 - we will start the day with a 1 hour boat tour through the pristine Winter Park chain of Lakes.(must be able to walk downhill 1 1/2 blocks to the boat). Then you will have 3 hours to shop and have lunch on your own at one of the many sidewalk cafes and bistros. Park Avenue boasts more than 140 boutiques, sidewalk cafes and museums. Then we will meet at the Morse Museum where you will see the world renown Tiffany Collection and have a guided docent tour. Maximum of 50 passengers, deadline is April 5th. I Love Lucy Live on Stage • Saturday, June 27th - $139- it’s the brand new hit stage show adapted from the most beloved tv program in history! It’s 1952 and you are a member of the Desilu Playhouse studio audience awaiting the filming of two hilarious and oh-so-familiar I Love Lucy episodes. A charming host entertains and enlightens you to the behind-the scenes filming process of this brand new thing called televi-sion, along with advertising jingles and the antics of Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel! Minimum of 40 passengers needed, deadline to sign up May 26th.
Can you believe this year is our 10th anniversary here at All About You Travel. Join Jean as she commemorates this glorious milestone sailing on the Avalon Tapestry River Ship from Paris to the Normandy Beaches, October 17th-24th.
Annual Boomer Guide is a ‘manual’ on how to
build a great life
SENIOR LIFE Linda WigginsFrank and Mary Ann Tantillo receive the new Boomer Guide from Maureen Reeder at Indian River Colony Club in Viera.
by linda wiggins
Mary Ann and Frank Tantillo make it a team effort to get the people they have loved throughout their travels to surround them in the life they love on the Space Coast.
Their secret weapon? The annual Boomer Guide.
“It’s got everything you need to build a great live for yourself. What are your interests? There’s a club for that. What are your needs? There’s a resource for that,” Frank Tantillo said.
The avid volunteers also like the variety of nonprofit group activities listed. So much of happiness comes from reaching out to help others, Mary Ann Tantillo said.
“If you have free time, look around you, find a need and fill it. Being retired is not just about doing all the recreational activities you could desire, though that is fantastic,” she added. “It’s really important to know what is going on around you and to do what you can to make the community a better place. That will make you feel a part of it and enjoy your life all the more.”
The Tantillos live at Indian River Colony Club in Viera, where IRCC spokeswoman Maureen Reeder makes
sure there is always a supply of Boomer Guides on hand.
“We have a lot of activities here,” Reeder said of the community that caters to the needs of but is not limited to retired U.S. military officers and spouses.
“But the secret to happiness is making sure you are connected to the greater community as well.”
It’s one thing to build a great life for yourself, but it’s also important to roll with the changes in life that are inevitable, Reeder said.
“When a couple becomes a single, that can be an opportunity to more deeply discover our own interests and meet others with similar likes,” Reeder said.
Mary Ann Tantillo loved the image on the Boomer Guide cover of what looks like two gal pals having fun in a tropical setting, their toes in the sand.
“I plan on sending the Boomer Guide to some friends in the North with the hard winters we no longer have to deal with,” she said. “It’s not to gloat or rub it in, but to let them know that when they, too, have had enough, there’s a great life to live down here and here’s a manual on how to build it.” SL
Boomer Guide 2015 Now being delivered
Senior Life’s 2015 annual resource guide is here!
Boomer Guide 2015 Forever Young issueFind everything you need to live your best life on the Space Coast, from clubs to groups, to health care and recreation, the best places to live and everything in between. Explore feature stories of exciting adventures near and far.
The Veterans Resource Section features helpful services, clubs and points of interest.
Copies are available at:
Senior Life, 7630 N. Wickham Rd. # 105, VieraThe Sunflower House at Merritt Square MallFreedom 7 Senior Center, Cocoa BeachSenior Centers countywide
Chambers of Commerce—Melbourne Regional, Titusville & Cocoa Beach (Viera satellite office) One Senior Place, VieraInspiredLiving of Palm BayWilliam A. Johnson PA, SuntreeBrevard Alzheimer’s Foundation locations (Titusville, Melbourne and Micco) For a pick-up location near you, or for bulk delivery of 30 or more guides for your distribution location, call 321-242-1235.
theboomerseniorguide.com
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com22
Central Florida’s first robot-assisted, direct anterior hip replacement
Health & WellnessSenior Life
BY MARY BROTHERTON
When Melbourne resident Lynn Heine felt the first twinge of pain radiating from her knee to her hip, she recalled friends who had undergone hip surgery.
“They had so much pain afterwards,” Heine said, “so I put mine off as long as I could. It wasn’t from a fall, so I could wait.”
Eventually the pain was too much to bear so she visited Health First orthopedic surgeon Dr. John Perry.
“I was Dr. Perry’s guinea pig. He asked if I would be willing to be his first patient in Central Florida to have the robot surgery. I had complete confidence in him so I told him to go for it,” Heine said.
MAKOplasty® technology enabled Perry to complete Heine’s hip replacement in about an hour, making this the first robot-assisted, direct anterior hip replacement in Central Florida.
Perry is one of three surgeons credentialed in MAKOplasty® for total hip replacement and partial knee resurfacing with privileges at Health First’s Holmes Regional.
“We hope to improve placement, reduce human error,” Perry said. “When you are recreating bony anatomy, this technology helps improve accuracy.”
The MAKOplasty® Hip and RIO® system enables the accurate alignment and positioning of implants with the assistance of a highly advanced, surgeon-controlled robotic arm and 3-D imaging.
“This is the next step in guidance,” Perry said. “I was able to use a 3-D image of her hip based on a pre-operative CT scan. This meant I could place everything in the proper position. Proper position means better success. It was a much less-invasive approach.”
Heine’s surgery was on March 2. The day after surgery, she was walking with a walker. Within two weeks, she was alternating use of the walker with a cane.
“It’s remarkable,” she said. “I never needed to wear those surgical stockings, and every day I do a little more. It’s amazing.”
For more information, go to health-first.org or call 321-434-4300. SL
SENIOR LIFE PHOTO COURTESY OF HEALTH FIRSTOrthopedic surgeon Dr. John Perry, center, and his surgical team used the new robotic MAKOplasty® hip replacement system for the first time in early March.
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SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE
Space Coast Cancer Center announced its participation in the pilot of a national launch of an accreditation program for the Oncology Medical Home (OMH). This accreditation program is the result of a collaborative effort with a steering committee of cancer care organizations, advocacy organizations, insurers, the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) and the Commission on Cancer (CoC). Space Coast Cancer Center is among only 10 practices in the country selected to pilot accreditation standards by demonstrating their compliance with standards and guidelines for this program. This includes an on-site
survey by the Commission on Cancer. The OMH model promotes
standards and quality-centric processes that will promote a coordinated, efficient, patient-focused system for delivering quality care. These enhanced standards include objective, reportable continuously measured criteria that demonstrate improvement. COA developed the OMH program to address the twin needs for quality care and payment reform to decrease the cost of cancer care for patients and the healthcare system.
“The OMH model provides enhanced patient communications, greater coordination among care providers and increased responsiveness to patient needs,” said Daniel P. McKellar, MD, FACS, CoC chair, and executive committee chair. “These 10 practices are the first practices making the transition to the OMH model which will provide an even higher quality of care with measureable and reportable improvement.”
“This pilot program,” said Nancy Payne, executive director, “represents a transition to the OMH delivery system that will provide an even higher quality of care and ultimately provide much needed cancer care payment reform.” SL
SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE
Hospice of St. Francis will be offering two Caregiving Education and Resource class series for current and future caregivers, their family and friend helpers in April. The program consists of six 90 minute classes.
At Indian River City United Methodist Church, 1355 Cheney Hwy. in Titusville, classes will be held for three weeks on Mondays and Thursdays from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. starting Monday, April 13 and ending Thursday, April 30.
At Sunflower House on the east end of Merritt Square Mall in Merritt Island,
classes will be held Wednesdays for six weeks from 6 to 7:30 p.m. starting April 15. This class is designed for the working caregiver.
All classes were developed nationally in response to the issues caregivers, themselves, identified. Each class focuses on different issues a caregiver will face. Hospice of St. Francis’ programs and training classes are offered free of charge to Brevard County residents.
To register, call Barbara Borman, RN at 321-269-4240 x3452, toll free at 866-269-4240 or by email at [email protected]. SL
Cancer Center launches pilot program
Free caregiver education classes
321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 23
CAREGIVING COUNTSQuestion of the month
After Dad’s knee surgery 10 years ago, his rehabilitation went well and he used a cane for support only when he left the house. He fell again a few years ago but recovered only well enough to use a
walker, even indoors. I noticed he throws one leg out when he walks and sometimes he complains that his leg hurts. Should I mention this to his doctor who released him after hip surgery?
By all means, mention it to someone. I recommend you and your dad visit a podiatrist if you haven’t already. Often, surgeries require microscopic shaving of bones to allow new parts, pins or glues to adhere
and over time, bone will continue to rub against these parts and will erode, resulting in the shortening of one leg. Have a podiatrist measure your dad’s legs and ask about a referral to have your dad’s shoes fitted for a simple lift, which will even out his walking surface. This simple procedure may save time and ease his pain, but if not, seek another opinion from your father’s physician.
Q
A
DEFINITIONAdaptive Equipment
Any device, tool or enhancement that can be used to assist with daily living activities to help seniors live at home longer, more independently and safely. These can include (but are not limited to) grabbers/
reachers, lift chairs, wireless speakers, placemats with non-slip surfaces, shower seats, elevated toilet seats and even pillows, lap warmers or fingerless gloves. Don’t overlook the many ways simple Velcro-type fasteners can keep items conveniently near.
Recommended resourceThe 2015 Boomer Guide lists caregiver support groups and medical condition-specific support groups that can be tremendously helpful. It’s likely someone in one of those groups has dealt with a similar situation to yours and can quickly direct you to the resource you need, saving you days of searching.
TipBuy inexpensive plastic shot glasses to dispense medications. They are colorful and can be reused. They seem less industrial than small paper cups and add a bit of whimsy to the routine. Also, they seem to be easier for arthritic hands to hold.
SENIOR LIFE MARY BROTHERTONSimple adaptive devices like large, dark shades to cover her prescription eyeglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and wrist warmers (fingerless gloves) allow Merle Worden to enjoy the early spring sunshine when she’d otherwise be too cold to venture out.
BY MARY BROTHERTON
Book corner“Wear Comfortable Shoes: Thriving and Surviving as a Caregiver” by Peter Rosenberger provides Bible-based principles, tips and humor as a path to keeping caregivers healthier and strategies for those on the sidelines who want to support but don’t know how.
Hot topicCaregivers deal with a variety of emotions from before the decision to become a caregiver has been made, to long after the need for assisting a loved one has passed. Dealing with those emotions head-on, rather than ignoring or stuffing them inside, is a healthier route, but not always the route caregivers know. It is vital that caregivers seek and use networks of support to help navigate through denial, acceptance, anger, jealousy, fear, blame, guilt, remorse, grief to love and blessing.
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SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com24
Ask Lance
Lance P. JarvisSHINE
Dear LanceI had a test that my doctor
requested at a diagnostic facility, but I was surprised afterward when I received a bill from them. I called the facility to ask why I was being billed because I thought that Medicare would pay for the test. The person I spoke to said that Medicare did not pay for the test and that I had signed an “ABN” on which I agreed to pay for it if Medicare did not. What is an ABN? Do I have to pay this bill?
— Confused and Upset
Dear Confused and Upset:I am sorry that this situation has
upset you. Let me explain what I think has happened. Medicare limits coverage of certain items and services based on the reason given for the service (the diagnosis). If the diagnosis on the claim submitted by the provider is not one that Medicare covers for the item or service, Medicare will deny the claim. This is because the service does not meet their criteria for being medically necessary.
An Advance Beneficiary Notice of Noncoverage (ABN) is a standardized one page form that is provided to a beneficiary with original Medicare (not a Medicare Advantage Plan) when the provider believes that Medicare may not or will not pay for a service in a particular situation. The purpose of the ABN is to enable you to make an
informed choice as to whether to get the medical service or not and to accept financial responsibility if Medicare does not pay for it. An ABN must be given to you prior to receiving the service.
The ABN form lists the service, the reason(s) that Medicare may not pay for it, and the estimated cost if Medicare doesn’t pay. The ABN then gives you three options:
• You agree to have the service and to pay for it if Medicare doesn’t (but you have the right to appeal the decision if they do not pay);
• You agree to have the service and to pay for it but request that the provider not bill Medicare (in which case you cannot appeal since Medicare is not billed); or
• You decline to have the service and cannot appeal if Medicare would have paid for it.
After you make your choice, you are asked to sign the ABN and should be given a copy. You cannot be billed for a service unless there is a valid ABN on file. For services that are never covered by Medicare, such as routine hearing exams or routine dental services, no ABN is required for the provider to bill you.
There are several things that you can do in your situation:
First, did you sign an ABN accepting financial responsibility for the service if Medicare didn’t pay for it? If you don’t recall signing one and do not have a copy, ask to see the one at the diagnostic facility.
Your physician gave the diagnostic facility the reason that she requested the test. Ask the facility what diagnosis they used when their claim was submitted to Medicare. Then verify with your physician that the facility used the diagnosis that she gave them (miscommunication and data entry errors do occur).
If you did sign an ABN and the correct diagnosis was submitted for the service, then you are responsible for the bill that you received.
Finally, you have the right to appeal Medicare’s denial of the test. For instructions on how to file an appeal, see the last page of the Medicare Summary Notice that includes the test. If Medicare approves your appeal, they will pay the facility which must then refund your payment (less any required co-insurance). SL
If you have a question you would like the “Ask Lance” column to answer, write to Lance Jarvis at Senior Life, 7630 N. Wickham Road, Suite 105, Viera, FL 32940. You may also contact Lance by email at [email protected] or by telephone at 321-242-1235.
About SHINESHINE is an award-winning
statewide volunteer program that provides free, unbiased and confidential counseling and information for people on Medicare, their families and caregivers. SHINE is a program of the Florida Department of Elder Affairs and is administered in partnership with the state’s 11 Aging and Disability Resource Centers (ADRCs). In Brevard County, our ADRC is the Senior Resource Alliance located in Orlando.
To contact a SHINE counselor for unbiased assistance, call the Elder Helpline toll-free at 1-800-963-5337 or 321-752-8080 locally. SHINE has 12 locations throughout Brevard County. SHINE counselors can assist you by telephone or in person at one of the sites. To find a SHINE counseling site near you, visit floridashine.org or call the telephone numbers listed above.
What is an Advance Beneficiary Notice? Dignity
Challengesof Living to Age 100 Ed Baranowski
OUR columnists
When we entered this world after a tight trip through a dark tunnel, we were welcomed with a slap on the back by the doctor and wrapped in a soft cotton blanket. We cried for food or change of a diaper. Childhood moved along quickly with one challenge after another. There were the indignities of scraped knees, broken bones, illnesses and social embarrassments.
At each passage in life, we longed to be accepted, worthy and honored. We received our report cards, awards, discipline and recognition along with consequences of mistakes, failures and rejections. Our dignity was supported by our family, school and church — the village.
In our adult years, we became partners in building esteem for our children. We prepared them for the challenges of life. Our understanding, kindness and empathy provided the cover and mentoring to move them forward to succeed with dignity.
As the decades fly by, we deal with our ability to age with dignity. Medical, social, financial and mobility challenges impact our dignity. Joe Steckler of Helping Seniors of Brevard is building an advocacy group to find resources to help seniors live independently and with affordable solutions. It’s always comforting to be admitted at the hospital and be asked: “Do we have a copy of your living will?” The attendant provides information about medical challenges. In order to preserve your dignity, they need to know your choices. Further, “who has your power of attorney and is a guardianship in place?
Survivors accept life’s passages and maintain a positive attitude. In his book “Still Foolin’ Em,” Billy Crystal gets lots of laughs out of the indignities of aging. We all know about the hospital gown that fails to cover our back side. In contrast, St. Stephen, patron of a happy death with dignity, defines it as “a death with courage, total trust and a forgiving love.”
The afterlife is emphasized in most religions. This is an extension of life on earth. There is the focus on eternal life. Preparation includes living a good life, having faith and focusing on eternity. Egyptian Pharaohs among ancient rulers created a burial place (pyramids) and supplied them with treasures for their journey. Today, “Dignity” is a brand used in the funeral business with a focus on honoring memories and celebrating lives. Growing old helps preserve human dignity. SL
Ed Baranowski is president of TOPICS UNLIMITED, a Melbourne-based education, seminar and consulting company. He can be contacted at [email protected].
Your caregiver reward is coming, possibly in this lifeYou are fine. It’s life that’s crazy.That’s what I like to remind folks
when I discover they are in my shoes, either as parents of young children, or children of aging parents whose care they must provide or oversee — or both, as members of The Sandwich Generation. For those like me who get the double whammy, they get the double whammy of crazy that goes with it.
There are rare men who fall into these categories, but for many reasons, this predominantly falls to women.
So, basically, what you have is a female failing hopelessly at creating, shaping and in general keeping alive a new human being. And inside her head are these voices that talk to her in a voice that is the same one she thinks in — so she errantly believes these are her own thoughts — that tell her, “You can’t do it. You’re a failure. Look at Sally Sue (fill in the blank), her house is always clean. What’s wrong with you?” To which she replies, perhaps even audibly, “What’s wrong with me?”
Well, the answer is, nothing. You’re not crazy, you’re living a crazy existence. And guess what, Sally Sue is crazy too. She just manages — I don’t know how — to have a clean house.
So let’s not compare the messy insides of our cranial cavity to the outside surface of the lives of others who seem to be making a better go of it.
OK, now a word for women taking care of aging parents.
You will know this person, because this person is a fully open fire hose of verbal self-doubt, alternately raging about how their parent drives them crazy. If you can make a bigger space
in your life for this person, help when you can, listen even when it feels like your ears have melted and dripped down the sides of your neck, you will make the world a better place.
It’s really hard to do this job. It’s even hard on the person you are helping, the parent who is used to telling you what to do, and now must accept one more thing each day taken from their wheelhouse. And you look like the culprit, rather than their savior.
There’s surely a special place in heaven for parents of children and aging parents. You just can’t see it from here. SL
Linda Wiggins is a member of the Sandwich Generation, which refers to persons who must oversee or provide care for an aging parent, while at the same time caring for young children or continuously keeping adult children from returning to the nest. Sometimes all three. Contact her with comments or questions at [email protected].
The Sandwich GenerationLinda Wiggins
321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 25
Funny thing is...
sammy Haddad
The big hitAs baseball season begins anew,
I reminisce back to a memorable night last season when the entire city of Tampa showed up to honor its hometown hero. Yeah, he was a big hit but before the night was over the BIG HIT is all everyone was talking about.
It was the most bizarre baseball game I’ve ever seen. It was Derek Jeter Tribute Night at Tropicana Field where the Tampa Bay Rays play. Everyone was there to see the beloved shortstop of the New York Yankees on his final tour through Tampa, his adopted hometown. There was great excitement and anticipation as we watched more media than had covered the Rays all year poised outside the Yankees dugout.
Finally, out strolled Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig and Joe DiMaggio all wrapped into one baseball icon known as Derek Jeter. The entire stadium came to their feet and screamed and cheered for this beloved sports figure. Then, in the eighth inning, Tampa hits him with a pitch. What? They honor the man in the pregame, then hit him with a pitch in his last at bat. Really?
Imagine, his last at bat ever in Tampa. The crowd is cheering wildly. The pitcher hits him with a 90 mile an hour pitch. More than 17,000 people all in unison go from YEAH, to OH, to BOO.
Do you know how hard it is to get three people to make the same sound in unison? I’m thinking about how I’ll never experience something like that again while everyone else is tearing pages out of their program to throw at the field. The place was nuts. The entire stadium, and remember we’re in Tampa’s home stadium, boos this pitcher off the mound and all the way to the dugout. THEIR OWN GUY!
I’m listening to little old grannies yelling stuff you only hear on MTV.
Derek is holding his wrist and I’m thinking about the 300,000-plus people who paid inflated prices for tickets to see him play the last two weeks of his 20-year stellar career throwing stuff at their TV.
So just a piece of advice from Dr. Sammy. If you’re going to honor a retiree, don’t hit him as he’s leaving his party, OK? SL
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Let me introduce you to a new day trip that contains all the features I require that makes it inexpensive, educational and family friendly. SunRail is Central Florida’s commuter rail line that provides a very convenient and enjoyable travel option for residents and visitors.
Recently, our group enjoyed a most enjoyable day trip using the brand new Sun Rail Line.
We boarded the train in the morning at the southern Sand Lake Road stop. The free, large parking facilities at the Sand Lake Road Station and all the three-car trains are brand new.
Our group enjoyed a smooth and scenic one-hour train ride from Sand Lake Road to the delightful city of Sanford. At the Sanford Station, the city provides a courtesy shuttle van from the station to the historic downtown, a distance of more than two scenic miles.
The van dropped us off at the Welcome Center in the center of historic downtown Sanford.
Picturesque First Street, the center of downtown, recently underwent a revitalization that added historic features such as a two-lane brick street and traditional street light posts.
Here you find antique stores, specialty shops, art galleries and cafés all surrounded by parks and historic neighborhoods. Both the downtown commercial and residential districts are listed on the
National Register of Historic places. South of First Street are Victorian-
era cottages and homes framed in gingerbread trim and picket fences.
Lake Monroe, a more than 9,000-acre expanse of shining blue water, borders the city of Sanford to its north. Here you can enjoy sailboats departing from the Monroe Harbor Marina and stroll Sanford’s recently-completed pathway called River Walk. Be sure to visit the Sanford Museum at 520 East First St.
You may also consider a delightful luncheon riverboat cruise sailing from the Harbor Marina. The Barbara-Lee is an authentic sternwheeler paddleboat operated by the St. Johns Rivership Co.
The SunRail line currently features 12 convenient stops beginning at Sand Lake Road in Orlando and ending at the city of DeBary. Phase 2 extensions, expected to open in 2017, will include five additional stations, extending service north to DeLand and south to Poinciana.
From Brevard County, take SR 528 West to the second exit 8 marked Sand Lake Road.
Go a few blocks west on Sand Lake Road to Orange Avenue, make a right on Orange Avenue and the SunRail Sand Lake Road Station is on your left just behind McDonald’s.
Parking is free. SunRail tickets are purchased from vending machines at the station.
For more information, go to sunrail.com. For more on Sanford, go to [email protected]. SL
Central Florida SunRail is a trip in itself
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SENIOR LIFE PHOTOSunRail offers an alternative to driving in the Orlando area.
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com26
BY LINDA WIGGINS
Don’t call George Toler a grandpa.The Melbourne boomer is
experiencing parenting redux at a time in his life when he can devote more quality time than first time around when he was climbing the corporate ladder.
“It doesn’t happen often, usually when I’m in line at Publix, for example, and someone will say, ‘Oh, your granddaughter is so beautiful.’ Ouch. But I smile and make a joke, and we have a laugh. It’s not so bad.”
Caring for toddler Olivia could not be easier on his career. He produces the Jamaikin Me Crazy live reggae show from 1 to 7 p.m. on Sundays from March through December at Mambo’s at the International Palms Resort in Cocoa Beach. The family friendly crowd is always dotted with youngsters bouncing to the Caribbean beats.
Toler’s reggae roots run deep.In addition to bringing Jamaikin Me
Crazy to various home venues on the Space Coast since 1990, he produces live music at the Bob Marley Café and Night Club at Universal’s CityWalk in Orlando. He brought the entire Marley family over from Jamaica for its opening in 1999, and continues to bring in live acts seven days a week plus private corporate bookings for the busy convention trade, the second busiest in
the world behind Las Vegas.His Brevard roots are as interesting
as his reggae roots.Noted author George Weston was
his grandfather, who used a windfall from a movie deal in 1948 to purchase two acres of land on the Indian River Lagoon just north of SR 192. He came to the area looking for a warm-weather getaway, drove over the old wooden bridge causeway beachside, and instantly spotted where he would settle down. It became the family home for Toler’s mother, and later Toler himself.
The American writer lived from 1880 to 1965, authoring such science fictions works as “Oh, Mary, Be Careful” in 1917, “The Apple-Tree Girl in 1918 and “You Never Saw Such a Girl” in 1919.
His grandfather’s legacy impressed him so much, Toler named his own son Weston George, reversing the first and middle names.
For the past 20 years, Toler has been working on a career change of sorts, again inspired by that legacy. He’s going to write a book inspired by his grandfather’s style, but with local inspiration.
“I figure you are never too old for fresh inspiration,” Toler said, “even if it is two decades in the making.”
For more information about Toler, go to TropicalProductions.com. SL
Reggae roots run deep for second-time-around dad
SENIOR LIFE LINDA WIGGINSParenting is laid-back easy the second time around, George Toler said of raising daughter Olivia.
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321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 27
BY FLORA REIGADA
When it comes to running, Marty Winkel of Titusville has an impressive résumé. In 2004, he was elected to the Space Coast Runners Hall of Fame. For 26 years, he served on the Space Coast Runners Board of Directors. He is founder and coordinator of the Titusville Racing Series, directing local races.
Winkel is also a member of the 50 State and DC Marathon Club, having run a marathon in all 50 states and the nation’s capital. He is working on his second round. In all, he has run 78 marathons.
For the boomer, running has been a lifelong passion.
“When haven’t I run? I went from crawling to running,” he said. “For 22
years, I didn’t miss a day. Now I run five days a week.”
He cited benefits such as being able to run with his grandchildren.
“I still go to the gym and work out as hard as anyone else.”
For an older person wanting to start a walking/running routine, he recommends the 12-minute run fitness test developed by Dr. Ken Cooper, author of “Regaining the Power of Youth at Any Age.”
“Go for a 12-minute walk,” Winkel said. “If you feel good, try to jog a little. See how it goes and gradually increase. It’s not just the time, but how far you can go. There are many places to walk and run locally, such as the Titusville Chain of Lakes and the Max Brewer Bridge.”
Upcoming North Brevard races, to which Winkel is lending his expertise, include The Space Walk of Fame 8K & 2 Miler on April 11 at Space View Park in Titusville to benefit the Space Walk of Fame Foundation and Museum. Race directors are Winkel and Nancy Rowan. Call 321-537-3526 or email Winkel at [email protected]
Another one is the Blueberry 5K at Holland Family Blueberry Farm in Mims on May 16 to benefit Hidden Acres Rescue for Thoroughbreds (HART) in Port St. John. Call race director Nancy Boffo at 321-693-7213 or email [email protected].
For additional information, go to runningzone.com/calendar2. SL
Seventy-eight marathons and counting North Brevard Senior Center909 Lane Ave., Titusville321-268-2333Tuesdays • 1 p.m.Wednesdays • NoonIntermediate Computer ClassesEach class runs for four weeks.$15, see the Operations ManagerWednesdays • 1 p.m.Art ClassesBeginner and Advanced, $5 per class
Mims-Scottsmoor Public Library3615 Lionel Rd., Mims321-264-5080Every monthBasic Computer/Intro classes Call 321-264-5080 for details. Registration is required. $20 per class.Thursday, April 16 • 6 - 7:30 p.m. Soap Making ClassPamela Ferraro teaches soap making. $10 fee covers materials. Space limited to 8 participants. 321-264-4080 Thursday, April 23 • 6:30 - 8 p.m. Secret Life of the Florida Scrub JayVideo and slide presentation by Bob Montanaro, Audubon Society speaker. Thursday, April 30 • 6:30 - 8 p.m. Author John RogersJohn Rogers, author and medium. Free.
Port St. John Public Library6500 Carole Ave., Port St. John 321-633-1867Every Tuesday • Noon - 3 p.m. SHINE - Serving Health Insurance Needs of EldersCounselors assist seniors and the disabled with Medicare and Medicaid questions. 321-222-7981Every Tuesday • 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Senior GamesJoin other seniors for a variety of games such as dominoes, Rummikub, etc.
Every Friday • 2 - 4 p.m. Yarn ClubKnit, crochet, needle arts. All ages and abilities welcome.
Titusville Public Library2121 S. Hopkins Ave., Titusville 321-264-5026 Every Tuesday • 10 a.m. - noonMaster GardenersMaster gardeners answer questions about plants, pests, diseases, etc.
BY FLORA REIGADA
Encompassing the Indian River Lagoon, the Canaveral National Seashore and more, this year’s Indian River Festival will celebrate North Brevard’s unique cultural and environmental assets.
Presented by the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce, it will take place from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, April 11 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 12 at Sandpoint Park, 101 N. Washington Ave. in Titusville. Admission and parking are free.
As stated on a Chamber press release: “The event will feature live music, arts and crafts, plus activities and exhibits relating to outdoor recreation, health and fitness, history and culture.”
Add to that kite flying, kayaking and the Titusville Ninja Obstacle Course.
Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce president Marci Gaedcke said one aspect of the festival will focus on what local resources provide for food.
“Freshly prepared local seafood will be available, as will other food items such as barbecue and hamburgers,” she said.
In keeping with the festival’s healthful emphasis, Titusville Mayor
Jim Tulley has created the “Mayor’s Health and Fitness Challenge.”
The 90-day event will kick off during the festival.
“The challenge is for all citizens of Titusville, no matter how young or old, how fit or not. Anyone who would like to increase his or her level of health and fitness is invited to participate in one or more fitness activity levels,” Tulley wrote in a press release.
His favorite is the Moon Walk, a 90-day community walk equal to the distance from earth to the moon.
Prefer racing? The Indian River
Festival means it’s time for the annual Great Brevard Duck Race.
Each year, a truckload of rubber ducks is dumped into the Indian River, to be cheered on by bystanders as they “race” to the finish line. The ducks may be adopted and those who cross the finish line first earn prizes for their “owners.” Proceeds benefit Crosswinds Youth Services.
For information about the festival, call the Titusville Area Chamber of Commerce at 321-267-3036 or go to gaedcke.wix.com/indianriverfestival. SL
PHOTO COURTESY MARTY WINKELMarty Winkel pauses to cool down after a run.
Festival to tout North Brevard’s timeless treasures
SENIOR LIFE DAN REIGADATurtles sun themselves at the Merritt Island Wildlife Refuge. One of North Brevard’s natural resources, the refuge serves as one of the most important sea turtle nesting sites in the United States.
North BrevardNews for Titusville, Mims & Port St. JohnSenior Life
Grab a leash to help Brevard’s homeless pets
Sheriff Wayne Ivey and the sheriff’s new bloodhound puppy will serve as Honorary Grand Marshalls for the SPCA of Brevard Dog Stroll-A-Thon.
Walk to help Brevard’s homeless pets Saturday, April 18 at Sand Point Park in Titusville. Participants can register online at spcabrevard.com or stop by the SPCA Adoption Center at 6035 Sisson Rd. to pick up registration information. SL
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com28
CalendarAPRILSeniorLife
Wednesday, April 1Brevard Federated Republican Women’s Lunch 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., First Wednesdays, $18Holiday Inn Viera8298 N. Wickham Rd.321-727-1212Canvas and Cocktails6:30 - 8:30 p.m., $35Create your own work of art. Canvas, paint, cocktail provided.Pizza Gallery & Grill, The Avenue Viera321-633-0397pizzagalleryandgrill.comSit-n-Stitch Group1 - 3 p.m.Bring your current project.Suntree/Viera Library902 Jordan Blass Dr., 321-255-4404
Thursday, April 2Cocoa Beach Woman’s Club 9:30 a.m.Topic: ConservationCocoa Beach Country Club5000 Tom Warriner Blvd.321-784-1048Alive After Five: Central Park Music5 - 8 p.m., ThursdaysPickin’ in the Park, country music.Central Park, The Avenue Viera
Friday, April 3 • GOOD FRIDAYFirst Friday Art Walk5:30 - 9:30 p.m.Eau Gallie Arts DistrictHighland Ave., Melbourne321-574-2737Brevard Antiques and Collectibles Club 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., Theme is “Space” Suntree/Viera Library902 Jordan Blass Dr.Call George at 321-254-5831“April in Paris” Opening Night Celebration5:30 - 10:30 p.m., freeOutdoor film starts at 8:30 p.m.Eau Gallie French Film Festival kickoff.Eau Gallie Art District Square321-574-2737First Friday Art Walk5:30 - 9:30 p.m.Eau Gallie Arts District, Highland Ave.321-574-2737, eaugalliearts.com
Saturday, April 4 • PASSOVERYoga in the Park9 a.m., Saturdays, freeCentral Park, The Avenue VieraPort Canaveral Brew Fest12 - 8 p.m.Exploration Tower, Port CanaveralCocoa Beach Contra Dance7:30 - 11 p.m.Cocoa Beach Rec. Center321 Ramp Rd., Cocoa Beach321-427-3587Night Sounds Concert Series7 - 9 p.m.Sebastian Inlet State Park9700 South A1A Melbourne Beach321-984-4852
Monday, April 6GFWC Melbourne Woman’s Club1 p.m., first MondaysWest Melbourne Library2755 Wingate Blvd.Contact Marion at 321-794-8901 Brevard User Group (BUG)7 - 8 p.m., first MondaysPC support, learn Windows.8085 Spyglass Hill Rd.email [email protected]
Wednesday, April 8St. Mary’s Annual Community FairApril 8 - April 12St. Mary’s Church1152 Seminole Dr., Rockledge321-636-6834Ais Flute Circle6 - 7 p.m., freeEasy to learn Native American Flute.Eau Gallie Library, 1521 Pineapple Ave.321-506-0587Viera/Suntree Toastmasters7 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed.Viera Hospital, Conf. Rm. 18731 N. Wickham Rd.
Thursday, April 9Hiring our Heroes - Job Fair10 a.m. - 1 p.m.The Tides Club, PAFB1001 N. Hwy A1A, Bldg. 967Concert in the Park5 - 8 p.m., “Pickin’ in the Park” Central Park, The Avenue Viera
Friday, April 10AARP Driver Safety Class9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.One Senior Place 8085 Spyglass Hill Rd, Viera321-242-9768Melbourne Friday Fest6 - 10 p.m.Historic Downtown MelbourneE. New Haven, Melbourne321-724-1741“Celtic Crazy” Downtown Block Party6 - 9 p.m.Downtown TitusvilleUS 1 & Broad St., Titusville321-267-8563Space Coast Symphony - Carmen7 p.m.Calvary Chapel Melbourne at Viera2852 Fellowship Place, Viera855-252-7276Melbourne High Jazz Band with Winston Scott7:30 - 9 p.m.Atlantic Music Center25 S. Wickham Rd., Melbourne321-725-5690
Viera Wetlands Nature Festival10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Viera Wetlands, west end of Wickham Rd.2015 Indian River Festival10 a.m. - 4 p.m. through April 12Sand Point Park101 N. Washington Ave., Titusville321-267-3036Vision 2015 Opening Reception5:30 - 8:30 p.m.Art Gallery of Viera, The Avenue VieraCocoa Village Gallery Walk6 - 9 p.m.Cocoa Village318 Delannoy Ave., Cocoa321-637-0444
Sunday, April 1217th Annual Great Brevard Duck Race1 - 2:30 p.m., $5Grand Prize Disney Cruise. Benefits Crosswinds Youth Services.Indian River Festival, Sand Point Park1011 N. Washington Ave., Titusvilleduckrace.com/BREVARDVocalist Maddy Winer & Friends: The Great American Songbook2 - 4:30 p.m.Cocoa Beach Country Club5000 Tom Warriner Blvd., Cocoa Beach321-453-4191Pa Mi Gente Danceathon12 - 8 p.m., $15Benefits Cancer Care Center.Salsa, Merengue, Rock, & Cumbia.Coconuts on the Beach2 Minuteman Cswy., Cocoa Beach321-426-5145, CCCfoundationinc.org
Monday, April 13Evening Book Club6:30 - 7:45 p.m., 2nd MondaysSuntree/Viera Library902 Jordan Blass Dr.321-255-4404
Tuesday, April 14Women’s ExpoCocoa Beach Regional Chamber of Commerce5:30 - 7:30 p.m.Space Coast Convention Center301 Tucker Lane, Cocoa, 321-459-2200
Wednesday, April 15 • TAX DAYLunch with Nature12 p.m., third WednesdaysTopic - “Plant Polinators”Enchanted Forest Sanctuary, 444 Columbia Blvd., Titusville321-264-5105Melbourne Municipal Band Concert “Travel the World With Us”April 15 & 167:30 p.m. (Pre-show 6:30 p.m.) freeMelbourne Auditorium625 E. Hibiscus Blvd., Melbourne321-724-0555Financial Educational Seminars6:30 - 7:30 p.m., freeViera Community Center2300 Judge Fran Jamieson WayCall 321-433-4891 for info
Friday, April 17Women Who Care Share Luncheon11:15 a.m.To benefit Brevard Rescue Mission.Hilton Rialto, 200 Rialto Place, Melbourne, 321-682-6615An Evening of Fashions6 p.m., $35GFWC Viera Woman’s Club. Fashions by Cache, Stein Mart and Talbots. Heritage Isle Clubhouse, Vieracontact [email protected]
Melbourne Municipal Band Swingtime Dance “April Showers Ball”7 - 10 p.m.Melbourne Auditorium 625 E. Hibiscus Blvd., Melbourne321-724-0555Shrimp Fest 20155:30 - 9 p.m.The Propeller Club of Port CanaveralU.S. Coast Guard Station9235 Grouper Rd., Cape Canaveral321-323-9886
Saturday, April 18Post-Tax Season Shred-A-Thon9 a.m. - 11 a.m.Sponsored by Rotary of Suntree to benefit Brevard’s Alzheimer’s Found.4674 N. Wickham Rd., Suntree321-253-4430Paws at the Avenues10 a.m. - 4 p.m.Brevard Humane Society. Adopt a pet.Central Park, The Avenue Viera321-636-3343 ext. 21822nd Annual Earth Day Festival 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.Enchanted Forest Sanctuary444 Columbia Blvd., Titusville321-264-5185Walgreens Space Coast Dragon Boat Festival 201511 a.m. - 5 p.m.Manatee Sanctuary Park701 Thurm Blvd., Cape Canaveral321-868-1226Spring Central Florida Car Show2 - 5 p.m.Historic Cocoa Village, Cocoa321-631-9075Doctors Expo and Health Fair5 - 9 p.m. Health Fair with free health screenings and exhibitors.Space Coast Stadium5800 Stadium Parkway, VieraDunedin Blue Jays at Brevard County Manatees6:35 p.m., Postgame fireworks.Space Coast StadiumPassport to Wines Around the World6 - 9 p.m.50th Anniversary CelebrationAging MattersHoliday Inn Express301 Tucker Lane, Cocoa, 321-806-3716Into the Woods Musical7 p.m., Scott CenterHoly Trinity Episcopal Academy5625 Holy Trinity Dr., Melbourne321-723-8323
Sunday, April 19Holocaust Museum Central Florida5:30 - 9 p.m. Sunday 9 a.m. - 9 p.m., Mon. through Thurs.Free admission to Brevard students, adults $10. Traveling museum of student artwork.Space Coast Convention Center301 Tucker Ln., Cocoa, 321-794-9887Into the Woods Musical2 p.m., Scott CenterHoly Trinity Episcopal Academy5625 Holy Trinity Dr., Melbourne321-723-8323Vietnam Traveling Memorial WallApril 19 - 26Wickham Park, Melbourne321-255-4307
Tuesday, April 21Get Financially Fit9 a.m. - 1 p.m., freeHartley Room, FL Institute of Technology, MelbourneRSVP 321-674-7007
continued on page 29
321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 29
Visiting an animal shelter is always a challenge to me. Every time I go, I leave feeling that it would be wonderful if I could just bring all those animals home and give them the love and attention they need. Last time was no different.
During that visit, though, I left feeling that I should bring at least two more home. They were two adult sibling cats who were born with a birth defect: they were missing one of their back legs. That touched me even more. “Would those two ever be adopted?” I thought. My birthday was coming up and at that moment I knew what I wanted for my birthday gift.
When I shared with my husband what I would like for my birthday, he was adamant. “We already have two cats. We can’t adopt two more!”
But with so many cats up for adoption, those two in particular would probably have a harder time finding their forever home.
“You gotta understand that you cannot solve all the problems of the world,” he concluded.
I ended up not getting the cats, but that question still pounds inside of me.
Alone, I know I am limited in what I can do, but if everyone does what they can do, wouldn’t problems eventually be solved?
There is no silver bullet solution, but we are all part of the solution together and whatever we do every day will either make problems worse or will make us a step further toward a solution.
So how do we get a group of individuals to realize that? How do we get them to become active “solution generators”? The answer is through effective education.
Education is the building block of a society. Effective education not only passes on information to make individuals more knowledgeable, but it also gives them tools to become active participants in a society; it creates real citizens who will help build a society. That starts at home and after a few years, parents share that responsibility with others around them and formal education falls mainly into teachers’ laps. Being a teacher, no matter the grade, is a huge responsibility.
Teachers spend hours with our children and have a chance to present to them materials that will help form their opinion and shape them as citizens.
That is why parts of a text entitled “Natural Gas: An American Treasure” presented to fourth graders was really disturbing to me. In that text, natural gas is said to be “the most important resource under the ground.” What about our drinking water? Shouldn’t that be the most important resource under the ground to all of us?
That text goes on to affirm that natural gas is “a great resource” and it is such a great resource that “it’s worth all that work” described in the text to extract it from the ground. That goes right against what the essay “Failing Governance, Unsustainable Planet” by Michael Renner and Tom Prugh has to say about natural gas and all fossil fuel reserves.
In that essay, the authors bring to our attention that “the currently proven reserves of oil, natural gas, and coal contain about 3 trillion tons of CO2” and declare that “two-thirds or more of this can never be touched if there is to be any hope of avoiding a destabilized climate. […] Leaving the bulk of the world’s fossil fuel deposits untouched will require quasi-revolutionary change.”
Having our children read bias-free texts, for example, plays a very important role in making that change because, yes, you guessed right, they are citizens in the making and “a more engaged citizenry is key not only to the success of specific movements such as the resistance to the fossil fuel domination that drives climate change, but to all dimensions of sustainability.“
If you think I’m still trying to solve all the problems of the world here, I can assure you I am not. I am just trying to point out the impact that small steps we take may have in changing the world for better or worse. I believe if we all take small steps into making good changes, the world can be one step further into a better future. SL
Solving the problems of the worldBeyond the CurbMarcia BoothPresident & Founder, Recycle Brevard
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Lunch & Learning: Managing Your Diabetes12 p.m.How to prevent potentially serious complications.Freedom 7 Senior Center5000 Tom Warriner Blvd., Cocoa BeachRSVP 321-783-9505
Wednesday, April 22 • EARTH DAYViera/Suntree Toastmasters7 p.m., second & fourth WednesdaysViera Hospital, Conf. Room 18731 N. Wickham Rd.vierasuntree.toastmastersclubs.org
Thursday, April 23Vietnam and All Veterans ReunionApril 23 - 26Music, military vendors and displays, POW/MIA ceremonies, Vietnam Traveling Memorial Wall.Wickham Park, Melbournefloridaveteransreunion.com321-255-4307Sons of Confederate Veterans6 - 9 p.m.MeMaw’s Barbeque600 E. Eau Gallie Blvd., Melbourne321-208-1767
Friday, April 24 • ARBOR DAYSuntree/Viera Library Book Sale9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Saturday 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.Suntree/Viera Library, 321-255-4404
Saturday, April 25Coastal Angler Magazine Boating & Fishing Expo9 a.m. - 5 p.m.Boaters Exchange2145 U.S. Hwy. 1, Rockledge 321-638-0090Hurricane Seminar for Boaters9 a.m. - 12 p.m., $10Everything Outdoors, West Marine1001 West New Haven Ave.321-220-777531st Annual Melbourne Art Festival10 a.m.New Haven Ave.Historic Downtown MelbourneMargaritaFest1 - 10 p.m.Jack Mahon Park, Suntree7550 Spyglass Hill Rd., 321-242-8960Fiesta Brevard5:30 p.m., $10 advance, $15 day ofLatin music, salsa dancing, games, drawings, Fiesta Hat parade.International Palms Resort1300 N. Atlantic Ave., Cocoa Beachfiestabrevard.com, 321-459-2200
Sunday, April 26Sunday Brunch 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., SundaysTradewinds Restaurant, Duran Golf Club7032 Stadium Pkwy., Viera321-504-7776 ext. 2
Tuesday, April 28Lunch & Learning: Control Your High Cholesterol & Triglycerides12 p.m.Freedom 7 Senior Center5000 Tom Warriner Blvd., Cocoa BeachRSVP 321-783-9505Financial Educational Seminars6:30 - 7:30 p.m., free, hosted by MetLifeViera Community Center2300 Judge Fran Jamieson Way321-433-4891
Calendar Calendarcontinued
Orchids bloom at annual sale
SPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE
The 52nd annual Orchid Show and Sale will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 2 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, May 3 at Kiwanis Island Park Gymnasium located at 951 Kiwanis Island Park Rd. in Merritt Island.
Presented by the Platinum Coast Orchid Society, the show will feature orchid exhibits created by commercial growers and community orchid societies. Exhibits will be judged by the American Orchid Society and worthy entries will be awarded show certificates or AOS awards. Vendors will have thousands of orchid plants for sale and lots of advice for new orchid hobbyists.
A wide variety of orchid growing supplies will also be available for purchase. A portion of the proceeds will benefit The Candlelighters of Brevard, Inc., which is dedicated to providing emotional and financial support to children with cancer and their families.
For more information, go to platinumcoastorchidsociety.org or call 321-525-7540. SL
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com30
BY MIKE GAFFEY
Seven years into his rock and roll fantasy as lead singer of multiplatinum-selling supergroup Boston, Tommy DeCarlo still finds performing the band’s biggest hits before thousands of fans a bit surreal.
“I’m incredibly comfortable right until I have to walk out on stage,” said DeCarlo, who performs with Boston at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 6 at the Maxwell C. King Center for the Performing Arts in Melbourne.
At the urging of a friend, DeCarlo sent Boston’s management some recordings of him singing Boston tunes to a karaoke soundtrack on his MySpace page as a tribute to lead singer Brad Delp, who committed suicide in 2007. DeCarlo made his first-ever stage appearance before 4,000 fans at a Delp tribute concert, and the band made him its lead singer soon afterward.
DeCarlo understood that he had big shoes to fill when he took over for his idol Delp, whose soaring vocals and range on such songs as “More Than a Feeling,” “Peace of Mind” and “Don’t Look Back” made Boston an iconic rock act from the release of its self-titled first album in 1976. That album went on to sell 17 million copies and became the most successful debut album in rock history.
DeCarlo, who turns 50 this month, prepares his voice for a multicity tour by working with his vocal coach before the tour starts and by sticking to a strict regimen while on the road.
“I think given the fact that I have
not been a touring vocalist — I didn’t start doing it until I was 42 — was actually a blessing in disguise,“ DeCarlo said.
Some of DeCarlo’s most gratifying moments on tour are when he sees parents with their children at Boston shows, because he also brought his son along when he first saw the band in the late 1990s. “It’s always a great time to
go out there and perform the music and look down and see some young kids singing word for word. That’s a great feeling.”
When not touring with Boston, DeCarlo is the lead singer of the band DeCarlo, which enables him to work with his guitar-playing son.
“We’re a three-piece group, but we pack quite a punch,” DeCarlo said. SL
Boston’s lead singer still living the rock and roll dream
SENIOR LIFE PHOTO COURTESY OF KAMAL ASAR Tommy DeCarlo, center, was an employee at a North Carolina Home Depot before he became lead singer for Boston.
Boston is in concert at 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 6 at the Maxwell King Center for the Performing Arts, 3865 N. Wickham Ave., Melbourne. Tickets start at $58.50. To purchase tickets, call 321-242-2219 or go to KingCenter.com.
JUST THE FACTS
ROCKIN’ THE CARIBBEANWITH ROCKY & THE ROLLERS7 NIGHT EASTERN & WESTERN CARIBBEAN
PICK FEB 7 OR FEB 14, 2016 CRUISEAAA Travel invites you to join Rocky & The Rollers aboard Royal Caribbean International’s Freedom of the Seas®®
for a unique, one-of-a-kind cruise. Dance, dance, dance and sing your way around the Eastern or WesternCaribbean as you relive the hits of the Fifties and Sixties with a variety of legendary artists, including:
Rocky & The Rollers — The Best Rock & Roll on the Planet • Bowzer (formerly of Sha Na Na) and the Stingrays• Johnny Contardo (formerly of Sha Na Na) • Gary U.S. Bonds — Quarter to Three/New Orleans
• Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon — Palisades Park/Tallahassee Lassie • The Lovin’ Spoonful — Do You Believe in Magic/Summer in the City • Peggy March — I Will Follow Him
• Johnny Tillotson — Poetry in Motion/Keeps Right on a-Hurtin’ • Joey Dee — Peppermint Twist/What Kinda Love Is This? • Chris Montez —Let’s Dance/The More/See You
• The Legendary Teenagers — Why Do Fools Fall in Love/Goody Goody • The Chiffons — One Fine Day/He’s So Fine • Tommy Mara and The Crests — 16 Candles/Step by Step • DJ Al Brady hosts his Rock & Roll Trivia Show
Rates are per person, based on double occupancy, include port charges and are subject to change at any time. Government taxes and shipboard gratuities are additional and are required on all bookings. A deposit of $500 per standard stateroom is due at time of booking. Proper proof of citizenship is required.
All entertainment is provided by Rocky Entertainment, Inc.and is subject to change.
From $1,169 per person double occupancy
YOUR CRUISE INCLUDES:• Performances by your favorite Rock & Roll legends• Meet & Greet Autograph Session with the performers• Memory keepsakes• Services of a AAA Tour Manager
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For details or reservations, contact: 1-877-371-5757Or call or visit your local AAA Travel office.
This is a AAA Travel offer and must be booked exclusively through AAA Travel only.
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Aging Matters looking for volunteer
instructorsSPECIAL TO SENIOR LIFE
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), a service of Aging Matters in Brevard, is offering free exercise and health education classes to prevent or delay the progression of osteoporosis in older men and women.
Volunteer instructors are needed to facilitate additional classes in the Titusville, Palm Bay and Melbourne areas. Training is free and includes an exercise program guide, instruction on all exercises and a certificate of completion. No previous experience is necessary but volunteers must be 55 or older. There is a two-class-a-week commitment for six months and substitutes fill in as needed.
Classes are held at the Martin Andersen Senior Center in Rockledge, the Palm Bay Community Center, Greater Palm Bay Senior Center, the Freedom 7 Senior Center in Cocoa Beach and the Eau Gallie Civic Center in Melbourne.
Instructor training will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, May 1 at the David R. Schechter Community Center, 1089 S. Patrick Drive in Satellite Beach. Lunch will be provided for attendees.
To register for the training class or for more information, call Daphne Stacey at 321-806-3752 or email [email protected]. SL
321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 31
PHOTOS AND STORY BY DARRELL WOEHLER
The advertising brochures called it a “Forever Young” expo and after spending a few hours exploring The Brevard Museum of History and Natural Science looking at our past, you get the feeling we really are pretty young, relatively speaking.
Besides the museum “static” exhibits, there were numerous “live” vendor tables from organizations throughout the county providing information pertaining to seniors for their daily lives.
Exploring the museum, you could easily get lost in the fact that this is like taking a trip in a time machine, back a few years, or many hundreds of thousands of years. But interestingly enough, a new area has been developed to show our future too, from the space shuttle, to the Hubble Telescope, to the future with the James Webb Telescope. Spectacular, wall-sized
color photographs from Hubble show massive galaxies and views of deep space.
There are numerous exhibits of various periods of time in Florida’s past, both human and animal, that run the gamut of daily life in certain eras, and our participation and contribution to local, state, national and world events throughout history.
These “Senior Expo” events sponsored by Senior Life and Bluewater Creative Group, give our residents not only the opportunity to visit and see what is at an event location, but to interact with others as they stroll through the exhibits and vendor tables. Steve Dunkle and his wife, Donna, were reading signage posted over a display of Windover skeletons found recently near Titusville. Come to find out, Steve has more than a passing interest in this particular exhibit. He was actually working with the construction crew that unearthed some of these skeletons.
You just never know, but people you pass by may be part of this “history.”
Another exhibitor manning a table was Ron Morgan, former space center employee, displaying history about NASA, the Space Center and wildlife in his efforts to promote science, technology, engineering and math.
Not to be outdone, classroom presentations were given by John Trieste, well-known travel expert on nearby and inexpensive locations to visit; Sohair Wastawy, dean of Libraries at Florida Institute of Technology on The Library of Alexandria (Egypt); and John Windsor, professor and program chair of Marine and Environmental Systems at FIT on the Indian River Lagoon environmental problems.
There were food trucks to provide the “munchies” and more. Musical entertainment throughout the day was provided by Cahir O’Doherty, well known for his Irish music and sing-a-longs.
Like the song from Jim Croce, “Time in a Bottle,” this time capsule/time machine known as The Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science, located at 2201 Michigan Ave. in Cocoa, just north of the Eastern Florida State College, is a hidden gem no longer to the 1,100 or so visitors. And lest you think these expos are just for the “older” folks, there were numerous young children, brought by parents and grandparents to experience the wonders of this … more than a museum.
Senior Life’s next major event is the Boomer Bash and Senior Expo on Friday, November 6 at The Exploration Tower, at Port Canaveral. The tower is seven stories tall, with an Observation Deck on the top level, looming over the port, with the cruise ships coming and going.
For more information on this and other events, call Senior Life/Viera Voice at 321-242-1235. SL
Forever Young Senior Expo – Brevard Museum of History & Natural Science
Senior Life’sSpeakers Dr. John Windsor, top, John Trieste, top right, and Dr. Sahir Wastawy.
Visitors flocked to the Forever Young Senior Expo. Cahir O’Doherty kept everyone entertained with some old Irish favorites.
Bygone beasts are popular for visitors of all ages.
Veterans booth
The Space and Hubble room
Health First greeted guests at the entrance.
Good Moos, Joey’s Chicago and Doener Booth food trucks offered lunch for the crowd.
The Brevard County Sheriff’s office helps find homes for pets.
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com32
ACROSS1. Libra symbol6. Weep convulsively9. Under-dress garment13. Knucklehead14. *Some Watergate burglars had worked for it15. On the rocks16. *”Fear of Flying” author, given name17. *”___ My Children”18. Gossipmonger’s information19. *iPod predecessor, debuted in Japan in ‘7921. *Its fall ushered the end of Vietnam War23. Snakelike reef dweller24. You can’t have this and eat it too?25. Business school reward28. Tibetan teacher30. #20 Down, to Shakespeare35. Miner’s bounty, pl.37. Measles symptom39. Dictation taker40. Signal receiver41. *Punk rock, e.g.43. “I’m ____ you!”44. Kindle content46. ____ lamp47. *Travolta and Newton-John, e.g.48. Historically, they were sent to colonies50. Sacred Hindu writings52. *Martial artist53. Ambience55. Genetic initials57. Like a bikini?60. *Type of men’s suit64. The present65. Calendar square67. Forty-niner, e.g.68. Arabian chieftain69. “But I heard him exclaim, ___ he drove out of sight...”70. Plug-in71. Something necessary but lacking72. Hi-___73. Film director Sergio
DOWN1. Old World duck2. Countess of Grantham, “Downton Abbey”3. Seed coat4. English philosopher John5. Canine’s coat6. *First clinical CT- or Cat-____ in ‘717. *Subject of 1970s crisis8. Model-building wood9. Like a bug in a rug10. Stretched ride11. Clickable picture12. For every15. Bay windows20. Eye opener22. *Arthur Herbert Fonzarelli, ___ “The Fonz”24. Source of tapioca and a staple in the tropics25. *Cheryl Tiegs or Beverly Johnson, e.g.26. Palm grease27. Famous fabulist29. Sledgehammer31. At the summit of32. Of the kidneys33. Undo laces34. *She had a hit TV sitcom36. Old Woman’s home38. Bee home42. Military group45. *Kramer’s opponent49. Small amount of liquid food51. *”______ House”54. Actress Winona56. Out of the way57. Not all58. Capped joint59. Like a decorated cake60. Cleaning cabinet supplies61. Backward arrow command62. Seabiscuit control63. European sea eagle64. A Bobbsey twin66. Present plural of “be”
Crossword PuzzleTHEME: THE 1970S
Solution on page 34
Solution on page 34
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321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 33
travel
I was told that Denver would take my breath away.First, there’s the surprise. Denver is flat. Most visitors envision exiting the
airport and finding themselves surrounded by snow-capped peaks. Nope. Denver is the gateway to the Rockies; it’s not in the Rockies. You’ll have to drive a half hour or more before you’ll need your hiking boots.
Then, there’s the altitude. The 13th step of the state capitol, the gold-domed centerpiece of downtown Denver, is exactly one mile above sea level. This is a height that leaves most folks giddy from the clear mountain air, but a few become woozy from lack of oxygen. Hint: take a deep breath, guzzle water and eat carbs, which require less oxygen for digestion.
Finally, there’s the delight. Though you’ll undoubtedly want to see the mountain heights, there’s charm aplenty down in the flats — a topnotch art museum, zoo, botanic garden, theater district …. The list goes on.
But, there are also some lesser-known attractions that you can’t find everyplace else. Here is a rundown of breathtaking experiences in the city proper.
Breathless in Denver
BY ANDREA GROSS; PHOTOS BY IRV GREEN
FITNESS MECCA Denverites take the outdoors
seriously, probably because with more than 300 days of sunshine per year, it’s a seriously beautiful city. To act local, take a morning bike ride on some of the 850 miles of paved trails that criss-cross and encircle the city.
No bike? No problem. Denver’s B-cycle program is the first large-scale bike-sharing plan in the country. Eight dollars buys a day’s access to one of the city’s 800-plus red bikes, which are available at more than 80 stations throughout the city.
For information: denver.bcycle.com; traillink.com
Paved trails make biking safe, easy and extremely popular.
WILD AT HEART So, you want to see some bison, the celebrated symbol of the Wild West?
The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is just minutes off the interstate that joins Denver International Airport and the downtown area.
At more than 15,000 acres, the refuge is one of the largest urban open spaces in the country and home to more than 330 species of birds and animals. Here you can see not only bison and deer but also red-tailed hawks and bald eagles.
But the refuge has been used for more than animals. During and after World War II, the land was the site of one of the country’s largest chemical weapons manufacturing facilities. That story, as well as the one about the extensive cleanup that followed, is told in a somber, not-to-be-missed exhibit in the refuge’s visitor
center.For information: fws.gov/
rockymountainarsenal
Bison roam in large fields just a few miles from both the Denver airport and the downtown area.
PINNACLE CLIMB As the largest city for nearly 800
miles in every direction, Denver has major malls as well as trendy boutiques. But the most unique place to drop your dollars is at Recreational Equipment, Inc., better known as REI.
At 94,000 square feet, Denver’s flagship store is three and a half times larger than the average REI, which means that in addition to a mind-boggling array of outdoorsy clothes and equipment, it is one of only a few stores that has a track on which you can test your mountain bike and a 47-foot-tall, free-standing monolith replete with hand-cracks, finger-cracks, back-cracks and more. Here, for a price, you can practice scaling a sandstone boulder like those on Colorado’s Front Range — and you won’t even need the sunscreen.
Like so many things in Denver, it really is enough to take your breath away.
For information: rei.com/stores/denver.html
Folks can practice their climbing skills on a 47-foot-tall indoor boulder.
STAR STATUS Denver is one of only 12 U.S. metro areas that’s represented by teams of all
four major professional sports leagues. It’s a rare week when there’s not a game in play.
But unlike the other 11 cities, Denver boasts something extra. They have rarefied mountain air that makes balls soar farther, pucks glide faster and beer — for which the city is also famous — taste better.
Denver has three major league venues: Coors Field for baseball, Sports Authority Field at Mile High for football and the Pepsi Center for basketball and hockey.
20TH CENTURY DESIGN POPThe Kirkland Museum of Fine and
Decorative Art is home to some of the best Arts & Crafts, Bauhaus, Art Deco, Modern and Pop art in the country. Among the more than 3,500 objects are chairs by Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Rennie Mackintosh; hundreds of pieces of 20th-century ceramics, tableware, glassware and metal ware; and even an iconic Electrolux vacuum cleaner.
Much of the art is displayed in galleries that resemble a homey living room. The result is an exceptionally unusual, informative and classy museum.
For information: kirklandmuseum.org
MODERN TALK Imagine listening to two experts
discuss such disparate topics as “Machiavelli & Fresh Meat Sausage” or “Minimalism & Giant Wombats.” This is what happens during the Museum of Contemporary Art’s series titled “Re-Mixed Taste: Tag Team Lectures on Unrelated Topics.” Each guru has 20 minutes to make his point, after which the audience jumps in to ask questions in an attempt to force the seemingly unrelated to relate. Bizarre? Occasionally. Fascinating? Always.
For information: mcadenver.org/mixedtaste2014.php
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com34
MEDIA TRANSFER TO DIGITALPreserve Your Precious Memories
Let us preserve your previous VHS, Beta Tapes, 8mm, 16mm film,
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APARTMENT FOR RENT
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HEALTH
Holistic Health Ministry(formerly Holistic Health Center)
Dr. Kevin Kilday, Doctor of Natural Health, Vitamins, Herbs, Proven
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Beautiful late model 3/2 manufactured home on landscaped lot with large fenced backyard. Newly remodeled
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Puzzle SolutionsPuzzles page 32
Cruising the beautiful waters of the St. Johns River
from Historic Downtown Sanford
Lunch & Dinner Cruise
] Entree Selections] Table Service] Full Bar Aboard
433 N. Palmetto Ave., Sanford, FL 32771
www.stjohnsrivershipco.com
321-441-3030
] Live Entertainment
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Mention this ad to redeem a $3 voucher.No cash value. Restrictions apply. Ask
reservationist for details. This promotion may be cancelled at any time.
BY MARY BROTHERTON
Most of Senior Life’s readers remember a time before the Internet, flat screen HDTV and when going to see a movie was a big deal. Celebrities weren’t over-paid athletes or reality TV sensationalists. They were much more.
Joan Kramer and David Heeley have written a book, “In The Company of Legends,” that takes readers way behind the scenes of their Emmy Award-winning series of documentaries for public television, then for their own production company. Kramer and Heeley created special television programs about Hollywood royalty but their book goes much deeper than their talent as interviewer, coordinator, archivist or director.
“In The Company of Legends” takes readers into the guest bathroom of extremely private personalities like Frank Sinatra and gives a glimpse into the power of networking, when networking meant forging legitimate relationships, not passing out business cards or gaining Twitter follows.
Discover why no one agreed to work
with Kramer or Heeley until Katherine Hepburn gave her express permission and how bold Hepburn was when it came to shooting scenes with noisy neighborhood children — oh, and why she stole Stephen Sondheim’s geranium. Learn which celebrities refused to work on the documentaries and who could
turn their refusal into an open-armed agreement.
Find out where Kramer started her celebrity paper towel collection and see personal photographs from the authors’ collections that add as much to the book as the text.
The book is written in an easy-to-read style from each author’s perspective and gives an insight into the stuff of which legends are made.
Available in mid-April, this book will be a good reward for filing taxes. SL
Book Review
The Golden Steppers will perform their 27th gala benefit show “Another Opening, Another Show” at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 12 at the Historic Cocoa Village Playhouse, located at 300 Brevard Ave. in Cocoa.
The Golden Steppers, directed by Martha Seymour, are a high-kicking tap dance group comprised of 40 women and one man ranging in age from 50 to 80.
Reserved seat tickets for the show are $15 and are available by calling Carolyn Dion at 321-784-1454. All proceeds, after expenses, will be donated to local charities. SL
High-kicking show
321-757-9205 SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 35
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High-kicking show
SENIOR LIFE • APRIL 2015 myseniorlife.com36
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Attend a seminar to learn more! Call toll-free 1.877.904.4908 to reserve your seat.
Health First Health Plans is an HMO plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Health First Health Plans depends on contract renewal. The benefit information provided is a brief summary, not a complete description of benefits. For more information, contact the plan. Limitations, co-payments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, formulary, pharmacy network, provider network, premium and/or co-payments /co-insurance may change on January 1 of each year. A sales person will be present with information and applications. For accommodation of persons with special needs at sales meetings call 1.877.904.4908 or TDD/TTY relay 1.800.955.8771. You must continue to pay your Part B premium. Y0089_EL4530 Accepted 12232014
Melbourne
Health First's HolmesRegional Medical Center1350 S. Hickory StreetApril 9, 20151 pm
Melbourne
Health FirstMedical Group1223 Gateway DriveApril 10, 20152:30 pm
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Health First's CapeCanaveral Hospital701 W. CocoaBeach CausewayApril 22, 201510 am
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Health First Pro-Health& Fitness Center8705 N. Wickham RoadApril 1, 20152 pm
