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View Now - Senior Times Magazine
DOWNTOWN FESTIVAL & ART SHOW | CHARITY WINNER | CROSSWORD PUZZLE Giving Back Supporting Veterans NOVEMBER 2014 seniortimesmagazine.com INSIDE LIBRARY VOLUNTEER SAVING LT. TOWERS Donating time to your local library system Paying it forward 70 years later 1 2 <RXUWHHWKGRQ·WDOZD\VODVWDOLIHWLPH '(17$/ By Drs. Art & Kim Mowery of EXCEPTIONAL DENTISTRY SINGLE or MULTIPLE DENTAL IMPLANTS, as well as IMPLANT SECURED PARTIALS and DENTURES available ADVANTAGES of Implant Dentistry 0RUHSHUPDQHQWVROXWLRQ %HWWHUDELOLW\WRFKHZ ,PSODQWVPDLQWDLQJRRGERQHVWUXFWXUH ,PSODQWVORRNDQGIHHOPRUHOLNH\RXURZQWHHWK ,PSODQWVGRQ·WJHWFDYLWLHV 2QFHSODFHGLPSODQWVQHYHUQHHGDURRWFDQDO I.V. SEDATION AVAILABLE! ,03/$176(&85(''(1785(6 6,1*/(7227+,03/$17 2QWKHOHIWLVDYLHZRIWKHLPSODQWSRVWDIWHUWKHLPSODQWKDVEHHQSODFHG <RXFDQVHHKRZZHOOWKHJXPVKDYHKHDOHGVLQFHWKHVXUJHU\ 2QWKHULJKWLVWKHLPSODQWZLWKLWVQHZFURZQDSHUIHFWPDWFK Patients come to Exceptional Dentistry from all parts of Florida to experience Dr. Art and Kim Mowerys’ world class quality and service in cosmetic, reconstructive, implant and sedation dentistry. The doctors were featured in Newsweek magazine’s 4960 Newberry Road, #220 • Gainesville (Next to Gainesville Health & Fitness) (352) 332-6725 ExceptionalDentistry.com “10 Nationwide Leaders in Dentistry and Surgery” showcase in the December 2011 national edition. Isn’t this the type of dentistry you deserve? Drs. Art and Kim Mowery Drs. Art and Kim Mowery have been featured in: 2 November 2014 seniortimesmagazine.com A m p Benefiting the THANK YOU TO OUR NOCHE DE GALA 2014 SPONSORS DIAMOND PRESENTING SPONSORS ——————————————————————————————————————————— CRYSTAL SPONSORS GOLD SPONSORS ——————————————————————————————————————————— ——————————————————————————————————————————— Gainesville Sun / Gainesville Magazine Tower Publications HOME Magazine Business in the Heart of Florida SILVER SPONSORS ——————————————————————————————————————————— PLATINUM SPONSORS ——————————————————————————————————————————— Citizens State Bank • UF Health • The Village Journal • What’s Happening Publications Giggle Magazine • Good Life Community Magazine MARBLE SPONSORS ——————————————————————————————————————————— North Central Florida Business Report • Ocala Magazine • Footstone Photography Saboré • neutral7 design group • InterMed Biologics / Tyler’s Hope • Tower Hill Insurance Group Wells Fargo • Coleen DeGroff, Realtor at RE/MAX Professionals • Holland & Knight • Optym Yvette Godet, DMD • Dr. Mark and Jennifer Bleiweis • Neuberger Berman • Ingrid Rockefeller Live Oak Stud • Rountree-Moore Auto Group BRONZE SPONSORS ——————————————————————————————————————————— Sleep Inn & Suites • Lang Jewelers • 1st Credit of Union of Gainesville • Kids Doc Pediatrics Signature Brands • Front Street Commercial Real Estate Group • Nancy E. Decker Pool Cleaning Harold and Bonnie-Jean Lyons • Dr. Doug and Macky Barrett • Richard Allen and Susan Mastin/Maytree Foundation • CAMPUS USA Credit Union • Gilbert and Becky Levy/Consultants and Analysts, LLC • Ocala Hilton GLASS SPONSORS ——————————————————————————————————————————— Richard and Pam Astrom • Dr. Arlan and Edith Rosenbloom • Blue Highway, a pizzeria • Scarborough Insurance Michael and Penny Wilkes-Mauk • WCA of Florida • Greene-Hazel Foundation • Charlie and Linda Wells Drs. Bill and Shelley Collins • Rodney Fischer • Tom and Linda Donaldson LIBERTYAIR Air Conditioning & Heating, Inc. • Dr. Amit and Melissa Rawal • Dr. Donald and Mary Lou Eitzman Dr. Ira and Gerri Gessner • Ocala Poker and Jai Alai • Lem and Dana Purcell • Ajax Building Corporation Steve Perez • Rembert Family Foundation • Gradell Farm • The Family of Bev Millard • ToneRow Stonecliff Farm • Dr. Jason and Denise Rosenberg Proceeds benefit UF Health Shands Children’s Hospital. www.SebastianFerrero.org November 2014 3 3 4 40 16 32 20 22 CONTENTS NOVEMBER 2014 • VOL. 14 ISSUE 11 ON THE COVER – Wounded combat veterans Stephen Dodd and Robert Gasche of the SSG John A. Reiners Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 0823. The two work diligently on the behalf of wounded veterans. PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY for LOTUS STUDIOS departments 8 14 40 Tapas Community Page Calendar of Events 43 47 50 Crossword Puzzle Theatre Listings Reading Corner columns 20 by Nick Thomas 30 features 16 BY MARY W. BRIDGMAN 22 Giving Back Healthy Edge Review by Kendra Siler-Marsiglio 38 Saving Lieutenant Towers Paying it Forward Seven Decades Later Tinseltown Talks Enjoying Act Three by Ellis Amburn 46 Embracing Life by Donna Bonnell Small Town Hero and the Military Order of the Purple Heart BY ELLIS AMBURN 32 Be a Friend Volunteering for the Library BY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES WINNER! Congratulations to the winner from our OCTOBER 2014 issue… Kenneth J. Levinson from Gainesville, Florida 4 November 2014 seniortimesmagazine.com 266 When it comes to rehab, you have a choice. Our mission is to return you or your loved one back home. UF HEALTH SHANDS REHAB HOSPITAL We bring together a multidisciplinary team to provide individual treatment plans for each person in our care. Our team approach helps rehab patients achieve better results faster. doctors who specialize in rehabilitative medicine • physical, occupational and recreational therapists • speech language pathologists • rehabilitation psychologists • case managers • dietitians • rehabilitation nurses Our team is dedicated to helping people improve the quality of their lives while dealing with the effects of trauma or disease. For more information or to schedule a tour, call 352.265.8938 or visit UFHealth.org/rehab. November 2014 2666ND.indd 1 5 12/20/13 10:01 AM 5 6 FROM THE EDITOR œ ALBERT ISAAC Remembering Veterans “I dream of giving birth to a child who will ask, ‘Mother, what was war?’” — Eve Merriam, Poet I know it’s wishful thinking, imagining a time without war. But as long as evil exists in the world, there must be warriors to fight against it. On November 11, America will celebrate Veterans Day, the official holiday honoring those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces. I am beyond grateful for the sacrifices made by our men and women that serve. My father served in the Navy during the Korean War, but rarely talked to me about his experiences. With Veterans Day in mind, we offer you some compelling stories of heroism and about giving back to those true American Heroes that have given so very much of themselves. Ellis Amburn brings us a story featuring ways in which veterans help other veterans, the recently renamed John A. Reiners Military Order Of The Purple Heart (in honor of local Fallen Hero John Reiners), and the Gold Star Mothers — an organization of mothers who have lost a son or daughter in the service of our country. And, on November 8, the Military Order of the Purple Art Chapter 0823 and the Gainesville Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America will host the Veterans Helping Veterans Golf Tournament. The event takes place at the Gainesville Country Club and all proceeds from the tournament will go to help wounded and deserving veterans. Writer Mary Bridgman also offers a feature that takes us back to World War II, when First Lieutenant Frank Towers and his fellow troops came upon a train loaded with 2,500 Jews destined for death, if not for their efforts. Lastly, Darla Kinney Scoles wraps up her Volunteer for a Day series with a visit to the Friends of the Library. Read all about the organization and learn how you can get involved well in advance of the next Friend’s of the Library big sale in April of 2015. We here at Tower Publications wish you all a very joyous Thanksgiving! s :: Correction Notice :: In the October issue, Senior Times correspondent Ellis Amburn was not credited for the story he wrote, entitled “Singing For Supper, Concerts With A Cause Help the Homeless,” which appears on page 24. Published monthly by Tower Publications, Inc. www.seniortimesmagazine.com PUBLISHER Charlie Delatorre [email protected] EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Albert Isaac [email protected] Fax: 352-416-0175 MANAGING EDITOR Ericka Winterrowd [email protected] ART DIRECTOR Hank McAfee [email protected] GRAPHIC DESIGN Neil McKinney [email protected] EDITORIAL INTERNS Emily Behrens ADVERTISING SALES Melissa Morris [email protected] direct: 352-416-0212 For more advertising information including rates, coverage area, distribution and more – contact Melissa Morris or visit our website at: www.seniortimesmagazine.com ADVERTISING OFFICE 4400 NW 36th Avenue Gainesville, FL 32606 352-372-5468 352-373-9178 fax The articles printed in Senior Times Magazine do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Tower Publications, Inc. or their editorial staff. Senior Times Magazine endeavors to accept reliable advertising; however, we can not be held responsible by the public for advertising claims. Senior Times Magazine reserves the right to refuse or discontinue any advertisement. If you would like to discontinue receiving Senior Times Magazine please call 352-372-5468 for assistance. © 2013 Tower Publications, Inc. All rights reserved. If you would like us to publicize an event in Alachua or Marion counties, send information by the 13th day of the month prior. All submissions will be reviewed and every effort will be made to run qualified submissions if page space is available. 352-416-0175 (fax) or email: [email protected] 6 November 2014 seniortimesmagazine.com STAFF œ CONTRIBUTORS of the water withdrawn at GRU is returned to the Floridan aquifer clockwise from top left ELLIS AMBURN is in the Hall of Excellence at TCU’s Schieffer School of Journalism. Involved daily in volunteer community service, the High Springs resident is the author of biographies of Roy Orbison, Elizabeth Taylor and others. [email protected]. MARY W. BRIDGMAN is a retired lawyer who grew up in Alachua County. Her work has appeared in national, regional, and local publications. Mary, an active member of the Writers’ Alliance of Gainesville, is an alumna of the University of Florida. [email protected] DARLA KINNEY SCOLES remembers taking a high school journalism class and falling in love with the process. Oodles of years, one husband, three daughters and multitudinous stories later, she’s still in love with it all. That, and dark chocolate. [email protected] GRU takes its responsibility to ensure an adequate, safe water supply seriously. Water conservation is vital to protect our community’s future. Request a free home survey and our trained staff will visit your home to identify ways to reduce your water and energy use. Visit gru.com for more information. November 2014 7 7 8 TAPAS œ NOVEMBER The Plymouth Pilgrim leader, Governor William Bradford, had organized the first Thanksgiving feast in 1621. He invited the neighboring Wampanoag Indians to the feast. THANKSGIVING Facts THE FIRST THANKSGIVING CELEBRATION ON LASTED ED 3 DAYS. 8 November 2014 LOBSTER, RABBIT, CHICKEN, FISH, SQUASHES, BEANS, CHESTNUTS, H HICKORY NUTS, ONIONS, LEEKS, DRIED FRUITS, MAPLE SYRUP AND HONEY, RADISHES, CABBAGE, CARROTS, EGGS, AND GOAT CHEESE ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE MADE UP THE FIRST THANKSGIVING FEAST. Mashed potatoes, pumpkin pies, popcorn, milk, corn on the cob, and cranberries were not foods present on the first Thanksgiving’s feast table. seniortimesmagazine.com TOPAZ November Birthstone THOUGH TOPAZ HAS BEEN KNOWN SINCE ANTIQUITY, IT HAS SUFFERED FROM CONSIDERABLE MISIDENTIFICATION SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, MOST OFTEN BEING CONFUSED WITH CITRINE, THE ALTERNATIVE NOVEMBER BIRTHSTONE. BOTH TOPAZ AND CITRINE WERE FOUND ON AN ISLAND IN THE MEDITERRANEAN CALLED TOPAZIOS IN ANCIENT TIMES. The most common mmon color of Topazz is yellow. Pure topaz opaz is colorless. Topaz is also lso the Wedding anniversary gemstone and is given as gifts for the 4th and 19th year of marriage. A N N U A L S U N S TAT E F E D E R A L C R E D I T U N I O N 2014 ALACHUA COUNTY SIGN UP TODAY!! Event sold out last year. Scramble Championship Cash Prizes! at IRONWOOD GOLF COURSE December 6th, 2014 9:00am shotgun start art 2100 NE 39th Ave. • Gainesville, FL 32609 $ 100 per player — All proceeds to benefit: Noah’s Endeavor For information and additional entry forms, visit www.SunStateFCU.org. You can also contact any SunState FCU manager or call Robert Hart at 386-462-1185 with any questions. *See official rules. Cash prizes awarded to randomly drawn teams. To be eligible, team must be paid in full, finish the course and each winning player must be present. November 2014 9 9 10 TAPAS œ NOVEMBER Billie Jean King BORN OCT 5, 1923 70 Years Old Billie Jean King is perhaps best remembered as having won a record 20 Wimbledon titles. She also won 13 US titles, four French titles, and two Australian titles. Part of the campaign for equality, King also fought for equal prize money for men and women and in 1971 she became the first female athlete to win more than $100,000. However, it was her historic 1973 “Battle of the Sexes” match against 55-year-old tennis champ Bobby Riggs that is most notable. King beat Riggs before a worldwide television audience of some 50 million, disproving his claims about the inferiority of women’s games. In 1974, King became the first president of the Women’s Tennis Association, and was also elected to the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1987 and served as captain of the United States Fed Cup team in the 1990s. She was married to Lawrence King from 1965 to 1987. During the 1970s, she had an intimate relationship with her secretary, Marilyn Barnett, and became one of the first prominent American athletes to openly admit to having a gay relationship when it became public some 10 years later. A FEW OTHER NOTABLE Birthdays this Month Doris Roberts Garry Marshall November 4, 1930 (84) November 13, 1934 (80) Dick Groat Petula Clark November 4, 1930 (84) November 15, 1932 (82) Bob Orton Kevin Nealon November 10, 1950 (64) November 18, 1953 (61) “Paul is a very creative artist but I’m more that thorough, meticulous, disciplined nut.” — ART GARFUNKEL Born on November 5, 1941, in Forest Hills, New York, Art Garfunkel is an award-winning singer, actor and poet best known for being one half of the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, along with Paul Simon. He is best known for releasing songs that spoke to the generation of the 1960s and ‘70s, such as “Bridge Over Troubled Water” and “The Sound of Silence.” Garfunkel and Simon met as classmates at Forest Hills Junior Elementary School. The two lived only blocks from one other in Queens. In high school they performed as the band Tom and Jerry, where they wrote their own music and made professional recordings, eventually securing a recording contract with Big Records in 1957. 10 November 2014 73 Years Old seniortimesmagazine.com “ c a P v a a t r o O w s FASTEST INTERNET DIGITAL TELEPHONE with all your ƒavorite ƒeatures in America Rated by PCMag.com† FREE HBO®, SHOWTIME®, Cinemax®, & STARZ® for 3 months TV with 100% INTERNET ESSENTIAL TELEPHONE PREMIER TV ECONOMY BEST DEALS Only online 75 $ digital picture quality FREE A MONTH FOR 6 MONTHS* professional installation 866.936.7188 cox.com † “Fastest Internet” claim reprinted from www.pcmag.com, August 31, 2011 with permission. © 2011 Ziff Davis, Inc. All rights reserved. “More people” claim based on a comparison of Q3 2011 Centris market share data report for consumers with a bundle of TV, phone and Internet in Cox service areas. © 2012 Cox Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. *Offer expires 06/30/12 and is available to residential customers in Cox FL/GA service areas. $75/month is only available for new subscriptions to all of Phone Premier, Internet Essential, and Cox TV Economy with 1 digital receiver, and HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, and Starz free for months 1-3. Other equipment options available and prices may vary. After promotion period, regular rates apply. See www.cox.com for pricing. All 4 premium channels are $20/mo. in months 4-6; regular rates thereafter. Free install limited to standard pro install on up to 1 prewired outlet. Phone Premier includes Primary Phone line, features, voicemail, and unlimited domestic long distance. Unlimited plan long distance minutes are limited to direct dialed long distance calls within the United States, U.S. Virgin Island & Puerto Rico and may be used only for residential, non-commercial voice calls. Usage that is not consistent with such use may subject your account to review and/or suspension or termination of your service. Prices exclude additional installation/activation fees, additional equipment charges, inside wiring fees, additional jacks, taxes, surcharges and other fees. Telephone modem may be required for Telephone service. Telephonemodemuses household electrical power to operate and has backup battery power provided by Cox if electricity is interrupted. Telephone service, including access to e911 service, will not be available during an extended power outage or if themodemismoved or inoperable. Telephone service provided by an affiliated Cox entity. STARZ and related channels and service marks are the property of Starz Entertainment, LLC. SHOWTIME® and related marks are trademarks of Showtime Networks Inc., a CBS company. HBO® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc. Cinemax® and related channels and service marks are the property of Home Box Office, Inc.©2011 Home Box Office, Inc. All rights reserved. Digital receiver rental not required to view broadcast channels. To receive broadcast signals in digital quality, paid subscription to a minimum of Starter/limited basic and a digital receiver rental required. If you own a One-way Digital Cable Ready (DCR) TV or other display device that is CableCARD™ compatible, you may rent either a CableCARD or a digital set top receiver in order to receive digital broadcast signals. In order to receive Interactive TV services offered by Cox, such as the Interactive Programming Guide (IPG), OnDemand, and Pay-Per-View, youmust rent a digital set top receiver. If you wish to lease a CableCARD in lieu of a digital receiver, youmust obtain the CableCARD fromCox. CableCard is a registered trademark of Cable Television Laboratories, Inc. (CableLabs®) and is used with permission. Installation fees, taxes, franchise fees and other surcharges are additional. Other restrictionsmay apply. Cable modem required for Internet services. For best performance, use of Cox approved cable modem is recommended. Uninterrupted or error-free Internet service, or the speed of your service, is not guaranteed. Actual speeds vary. Not all services and features available everywhere. A credit check and/or depositmay be required. Other restrictionsmay apply. © 2012 Cox Florida/Georgia All rights reserved. November 2014 11 11 12 CHARITY OF THE MONTH Puppy Hill Farm Animal Rescue SEPTEMBER 2014 WINNER – 737 VOTES Alachua County is home to a successful network of animal lovers and rescue organizations. A t any given time, Puppy Hill Farm can have around 150 animals in its program, but not all are adoptable, said executive director and founder Laurie Trenholm. Some are too young or going through heartworm treatment. They pull from the local shelter and keep them for as long as it takes to find them homes. They are an adoption guaranteed organization, meaning that they are “no kill.” But unlike many rescue organizations that rely on foster homes, Puppy Hill Farm houses many of the animals in their rescue at one location. Although they do rely on some fosters, many of their animals are at a farm in Melrose. Although new intakes start out quarantined in small areas, they are eventually given something many shelter pets dream of: space. Instead of being confined to crates or small pens, most of the rescued animals at Puppy Hill Farm have a big area to run and play. Every weekend, volunteers bring adoptable animals to PetSmart in Gainesville. Potential adopters can ask questions about the animal’s temperament or special issues to find the pet that will fit best with their family. Puppy Hill Farm is comprised mostly of volunteers with full-time jobs and other commitments, Trenholm said, so they are always looking for more. Trenholm founded Puppy Hill Farm in 1999 because she wanted to be a part of the tremendous rescue efforts in Alachua 12 November 2014 County. There are so many adoptable pets in the rescue community, but Trenholm said the sad fact is that some animals just aren’t adoptable. Some face obstacles that can’t be overcome, and because Puppy Hill farm commits to each animal that comes into its program, she said they are guaranteed a home for life. One such pet is Mr. Thomas. Tommy is a beautiful longhaired black and white tuxedo cat. He came to the program when he was only about a year old as a scrawny little thing with a sweet disposition. He was adopted out once, but he was returned and has been with them ever since. This 17-year-old friend has since been able to live the sweet life relaxing in the sun on the screen porch at Puppy Hill Farm. Trenholm said he’s a very smart, loving and great cat who just never found a permanent home outside the rescue. Animals like Thomas will always have a home at Puppy Hill Farm, but in order to keep up with expenses, the farm relies on the generosity of donations. s Learn more at www.facebook.com/puppyhillfarm. TO NOMINATE A CHARITY OF YOUR CHOICE OR TO VOTE FOR YOUR FAVORITE NOMINEES, VISIT: www.facebook.com/SunStateFCU and click on “Charity of the Month”. seniortimesmagazine.com When we say “Your Team” We mean it! When you join the SunState Federal Credit Union team, you become more than just a player, you become an owner… and a member of the SunState family. That’s right, every member of SunState Federal Credit Union is also an owner of the institution… and is treated as such! SunState is committed to the financial well-being of the membership; that, and stateof-the-art electronic account access, is the SunState difference. SunState Federal Credit Union - dedicated to you, in everything we do. Proudly serving our members and our community since 1957 352-381-5200 www.sunstatefcu.org November 2014 13 13 14 COMMUNITY œ ARTS & CULTURE GAINESVILLE’S 33RD ANNUAL Downtown Festival & Art Show Music. Food. Art. And the chance to enjoy the great outdoors. On November 8th and 9th, downtown Gainesville will close off some streets to motor vehicle traffic and welcome thousands of visitors to join in the festivities. People can meet exhibiting artists, enjoy live music and dancing, and sample international cuisine for the Annual Downtown Festival and Art Show, presented by the City of Gainesville Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs. This event is one of the nation’s premier outdoor fine arts festivals, drawing a crowd of more than 100,000 each year. For two days, visitors can stroll through historic downtown and marvel at works from more than 250 of the nation’s most talented artists, who display their original oils and acrylics, vibrant watercolors, captivating sculptures, dazzling jewelry, decorative ceramics and vivid photography, according to www.gvlculturalaffairs.org. With such a diverse array of unique art displayed for sale and competition, this event is a great way to purchase one-of-a-kind art for you or a friend. This year the festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Since its creation, the Downtown Festival and Art Show has risen dramatically in national rankings. For the past three years, “Sunshine Artist” magazine has recognized the festival as one of the top 30 fairs and festivals in the country, naming it No. 12 in 2014. 14 November 2014 There is something for young and old alike at the festival. Children have the opportunity to get creative at the Imagination Station, a free hands-on art activity area. Here they can draw with chalk, paint pictures, design masks, sculpt clay and create puppets and buttons. The Imagination Station even features a performance area with puppet shows, magic acts and music, so children can rock to their own beat. Art Education students from the University of Florida work throughout the fall semester to produce this hub of family-friendly fun. The soulful sound of blues will usher in the Downtown Festival & Art Show weekend with a free Downtown Blues Concert, presented by the North Central Florida Blues Society, on Friday Nov. 7 from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Bo Diddley Community Plaza. s Parking in the City garage, two blocks west of Main Street, is $1.00 per hour with $6.00 maximum and open 24 hours a day. For more information, please visit www.gvlculturalaffairs.org or call 352-334-ARTS. D O W N T O W N F E S T I VA L & A R T S H O W Saturday, Nov. 8th, and Sunday, Nov. 9th 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. seniortimesmagazine.com How can we lower our energy bill? Our Home Energy Calculator will provide details about your home’s expected energy use, as well as seasonal factors and cost-saving recommendations. Visit gru.com/hec to access the Home Energy Calculator. ALLEVIATE CHRONIC PAIN • IMPROVE MEMORY • IMPROVE MOBILITY ACUPUNCTURE THERAPY 40 $ PER TREATMENT Alternative • Holistic • Organic Acupuncture / Alternative Medicine We Specialize in Senior Care! DR. EMILY SKETO, A.P., D.O.M. 3456 SW 42ND AVE SUITE A • GAINESVILLE, FL • ON A LILYPAD 352-672-6885 • www.FROGZONALILYPAD.com November 2014 15 15 16 HELPING HERO Saving Lieutenant Towers Paying it Forward Seven Decades Later by Mary W. Bridgman A lmost 70 years ago, First Lieutenant Frank Towers came upon a scene of unimaginable horror, a train packed with 2,500 Jews being transported from the Bergen-Belsen death camp in an effort by the Germans to hide its atrocities from advancing Russian and American forces. Towers could not have imagined the role it would play in saving his own life. Neither could Gerd Klestadt, a 12-year-old boy, who was among those freed from the train that day. Klestadt, his parents and younger brother left Germany for Holland in 1936, only to be arrested and sent to Camp Westerbork in 1943. After nearly a year at that camp, they were shipped to Bergen-Belsen. “I was assigned to my father in the men’s section, and my brother remained with my mother in the women’s section,” Klestadt said. “My father died on February 4, 1945, in his sleep, lying next to me. I stayed on my own in the men’s section from then until April 7th.” On that day, only eight days before the British liberated Bergen-Belsen, approximately 2,500 Jews, Klestadt among them, were forced to walk four miles to Bergen where they were put on a train in cattle cars. “The Germans’ intention was to drive the train into the Elbe River and so eliminate all witnesses to the atrocities they had committed,” Klestadt said. 16 November 2014 Thankfully, the United States Army, 30th Infantry, intervened. “I remember seeing tanks coming towards us,” Klestadt said. “This was Frank Towers and his soldiers, our saviors.” Towers said the division had just liberated Braunschweig. Its next objective was Magdeburg on the western bank of the Elbe River, which, unknown to him at the time, had been designated as the political boundary between the Western Allies and the Russian armies. About 10 kilometers to the west of Magdeburg, in the little town of Farsleben, a recon unit discovered a long freight train on the railroad track, guarded by several German soldiers, engine standing ready with a full head of steam awaiting orders as to where to go. The guards and the crew fled when they realized they were outnumbered by the Americans. Towers said the Americans “immediately unlocked all of the freight cars and allowed these pathetic victims to be released... and enjoy their first taste of freedom. Many were hesitant at first because they had been advised by their Nazi guards that if and when they ever became prisoners of the Americans, they would be executed immediately.” Towers and his colleagues were appalled by the conditions they encountered on the train. “They were packed in there so tightly that they did not have room to sit or lie down, so they seniortimesmagazine.com PHOTOS COURTESY OF FRANK TOWERS LEFT: WWII veteran Frank Towers, who lives in Alachua County near Brooker, was featured in an article about the 70th Anniversary of D-Day, which appeared in the June 2014 issue of Senior Times. ABOVE: Frank Towers, a D-Day veteran, and Gerd Kledstadt, survivor of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, had a special reunion in Paris last summer. just had to stand upright until they collapsed and crumpled to the floor because of exhaustion. They had no sanitary facilities except a single bucket in one corner of the car, which most could not even reach… The consequence was that most, in having to relieve themselves, just urinated and had bowel movements and let it run down their legs.” The stench, and the humiliation, was extreme. Towers was surprised that more had not died. Until that point, Towers had seen no confirmation of the cruel treatment the Nazis were rumored to have handed out to the Jews. “The condition of these people had deteriorated to the lowest level imaginable,” he said. The Americans set about getting food, water and medical assistance to those who had been aboard the train. Later, Towers was placed in charge of relocating these victims to Hillersleben, where a former German Luftwaffe base was used for shelter. One of the first orders of business at Hillersleben was delousing — the former prisoners were infested with lice. Some of the people housed at Hillersleben decided to remain in Germany. Others, fearful of the Russians, were sent to Israel or South American countries. Klestadt and his family returned to Holland, where he completed school, including agricultural studies at the university. He met and married his wife, Charlene, in Johannesburg, South Africa, and now they now live in Luxembourg. Over 60 years after Towers’ encounter with the “Death Train,” he happened to discover a high school “living history” project that included emails from survivors of that very train. He began tracking down survivors of the ordeal and eventually located almost half of the estimated 600 children who were thought to have been included among those liberated by the Americans. Reunions were organized, but Towers had never met Klestadt. Not until this past June, that is. Towers spent 17 days traveling in Normandy, accompanied by son, Frank Jr., daughter Kathy Teal, and 17-year-old grandson Evan Teal, to take part in ceremonies commemorating the 70th anniversary of D-day. Towers was exhausted when the group returned to Paris to catch their flights home. His family decided to spend the afternoon before their planned departure doing some sightseeing. Towers, feeling the need to rest, decided not to go. So he was alone in his hotel room, not feeling well, when his phone ring. “Is this Frank Towers?” asked a deep, solemn voice. “Did you liberate a train in Germany in 1945?” When Towers answered in the affirmative, Klestadt insisted on coming to the hotel to meet him. Towers reluctantly agreed to the visit, despite the fact that he still felt unwell and November 2014 17 17 18 Bergen-Belsen Concentration Camp B PHOTO BY ARNE LIST MAP PROVIDED BY: IHR.ORG PHOTO BY ARNE LIST FROM TOP TO BOTTOM: A map of Bergen-Belsen concentration camp shows where more than 100,000 persons lost their lives. Among the dead were Anne Frank and her sister Margot; their memorial stone resides at the former Bergen-Belsen site. Former inmates who were transported by train from the camp were photographed in Farsleben, Germany, shortly after their liberation by U.S. troops, April 13, 1945. was experiencing pain in his stomach and shortness of breath. Klestadt arrived a mere 15 minutes after he hung up the phone. Klestadt told Towers that he had tracked him down through Helen Patton, granddaughter of General George Patton, who was able to find him through a mutual acquaintance. Following his arrival to the hotel, the two spoke briefly about the liberation of the train. Towers’ condition continued to deteriorate, prompting Klestadt to suggest that they send for medical help. Towers objected, intent on making his flight home early the following morning. However, he mentioned to Klestadt that he had a history of heart problems. After a few more 18 November 2014 ergen-Belsen, the point of origin of the “death train” discovered by Frank Towers and his army colleagues on April 13, 1945, was a Nazi concentration camp, located in north-central Germany. Jews, Poles, Soviets, Dutch, Czechs, Germans and Austrians were held there. From 1941 to 1945, almost 20,000 Soviet prisoners of war and an additional 50,000 persons died at Bergen-Belsen, including approximately 35,000 who died of typhus in the early part of 1945, shortly before liberation. There were no gas chambers at Bergen-Belsen; mass killings took place in camps further east. When British and Canadian troops reached the camp they found over 13,000 unburied bodies and approximately 60,000 inmates, most of whom were very ill and starving. Deaths continued at a rate of 500 per day, mostly from typhus, reaching a total of 13,994 after liberation, despite massive efforts to help the survivors with food and medicine. Ann Frank, the famous teenaged World War II diarist, and her sister Margot died at Bergen-Belsen, probably of typhus, weeks before liberation. They were buried in a mass grave. moments of discussion, Klestadt, fearing that Towers was seriously ill, summoned the medical authorities. Towers wound up staying in a Paris hospital for several days. Upon returning to his home near Brooker, he made an appointment with his cardiologist, who pronounced the 97-year-old to be in good shape after the ordeal, which was apparently caused by too much salt in the foods Towers consumed while in Normandy. Towers is convinced that Klestadt saved his life. Klestadt said, “I had a wonderfully warm feeling saving my savior, a remarkable man. Life can be wonderfully rewarding.” For these two survivors, indeed it has been. s seniortimesmagazine.com Life at Gracious G i R Retirement eti tirement Li Living i is great in the fall. O ur amazing outdoor patio, large heated pool & club house are just a few of the amenities available to really enjoy the cooler weather. 2431 NW 41st Street Gainesville, Fl 32606 Limited availability. Call now! 352-378-0773 3 Chef prepared meals a day • Daily recreational activities • Travel program to 300+ locations • Fitness and exercise room Families Live colorfully… Call today to schedule your family portraits — on location or at our studio. 352-332-1484 lotusphotostudios.com November 2014 19 19 20 Tinseltown Talks James Drury’s Next Generation “Virginian” by Nick Thomas W hile today’s television landscape is littered with so-called reality programing, Westerns dominated the airways in the 1960s. One of the most popular was “The Virginian,” which ran for nine seasons on NBC from 1962-1971, and starred James Drury as the unnamed, mystery foreman of the Shiloh ranch, set in Medicine Bow, WY. Drury celebrated his 80th birthday in April and, far from retiring, continues to travel the country greeting fans at Western festivals (see www.thevirginian.net). He is also resurrecting his tough but honorable cowboy character in a new show for kids that combines live-action and animation. “It’s called ‘Billy and the Bandit’ aimed at 8 to 10-year-olds, but adults can enjoy it, too,” said Drury from his home in Houston. “Billy is the great, great, grandson of ‘The Virginian’ and confined to a wheelchair. He is told tales of the old West by his grandfather, played by me, and fantasizes about western adventures as he falls asleep. All kinds of stories come out of that.” With the pilot script now completed and cast and crew filming, Drury reunites in the new series with his old “Virginian” costars, Roberta Shore and Gary Clarke. “It’s an exciting project. We’re looking forwarded to telling some great stories for families every week,” Drury said. 20 November 2014 Currently broadcast on cable’s INSP TV, Drury isn’t surprised that “The Virginian” has remained popular with audiences for over 50 years. “It was the first 90-minute Western on TV and that gave our writers an opportunity to explore detailed stories,” he explained. “It was like doing a movie every week. We also had a wonderful cast of continuing characters, and with the great writing, the finest actors in Hollywood wanted guest starring roles — George C. Scott, Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Robert Redford come to mind. Every day I’d go off to the set seniortimesmagazine.com excited about the wonderful actors I’d be working with.” But starring in a weekly 90-minute series was demanding. “Some days we would be filming parts of five different episodes, so it required a lot of mental concentration,” Drury said. “I had a strong work ethic, so didn’t mind. I did the show for nine years, but would have been delighted to continue for another 10!” With his rugged good looks and wrangling experience, Drury was a natural TV cowboy. “I’ve been riding horses since I was in diapers!” Drury said. “My grandfather put me on his Belgian plow horse when I was just a toddler. The animal was so broad, my legs stuck straight Combining science with compassionate clinical care for your hearing health care needs. It’s not about hearing. It’s about understanding. out on both sides like I was doing the splits. It’s one of my earliest memories.” Born in New York City, Drury spent time growing up on his parents’ Oregon ranch and developed an interest in acting after performing in a Christmas play as a child. He later returned to New York for stage work before moving to Hollywood. Along with wife Carl Ann, Drury has lived in Houston for 35 years, and off-screen has competed in cutting horse competitions, polo, and dressage. “Texas has been good to me,” Drury said. “I’ve worked with many great horse trainers here and up through Oklahoma. I love it all — the dust, the sweat, the sunshine, and the smell of the horses.” As he did in “The Virginian,” Drury plans to bring his love of the old West to ‘Billy and the Bandit’ and is confident audiences will embrace the show. “There are so many cable channels now looking for new content,” he said. “Westerns were morality plays where good always triumphed over evil, and people respond to that. Our show retains those values of the old West. Parents and grandparents can watch it with the kids, and that’s a valuable family experience these days.” s The quality of care doctors provide at UF Health Speech & Hearing Center is based on obtaining a clear understanding of your condition and helping you improve your way of life. Our Services: • All-inclusive care and competitive pricing • Doctors of Audiology • Adult/pediatric diagnostic hearing evaluations • Adult/pediatric hearing aid evaluations/fittings • Tinnitus evaluations • Balance/dizziness evaluations • Cochlear implant evaluations • Auditory processing evaluations Three Convenient Locations: UF HEALTH HEARING CENTER - PARK AVENUE 925 NW 56th Terrace, Suite B • 352-294-5151 UF HEALTH SPEECH & HEARING CENTER SHANDS HOSPITAL 2nd Floor, Dental Tower, 1600 SW Archer Rd, Room D2-055 • 352-273-5555 UF HEALTH HEARING CENTER - HAMPTON OAKS 200 SW 62nd Boulevard • 352-265-9484 Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 450 magazines and newspapers. November 2014 21 21 22 VETERANS HELPING VETERANS Giving Back Small Town Hero and the Military Order of the Purple Heart by Ellis Amburn “ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL, AND MAYBE IT’S TIME TO GIVE SOME BACK,” SAID STEPHEN DODD, FINANCE OFFICER FOR THE SSG JOHN A. REINERS MILITARY ORDER OF THE PURPLE HEART, CHAPTER 0823, IN A TELEPHONE INTERVIEW. H e was referring to the wounded combat veterans who kept us safe in times of danger, and now need our help. Dodd makes it his job to raise money for worthy veteran’s charities, as do other members of MOPH, all wounded in combat and recipients of the Purple Heart. One of the ways they do it is by holding golf tournaments like the one coming up Saturday, November 8, at the Gainesville Country Club, 7300 SW 35th Way, cosponsored by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA). The national MOPH was founded in 1932, and in 2013 Greg Kidney started the Gaines- ville chapter. A vet who was wounded in the Iraq war, Kidney was driving a Humvee in Baghdad in 2008 when a car bomb exploded, killing one of his passengers. “It’s therapeutic, being able to sit down with somebody and say, ‘Hey, you have been in World War II, you went through all sorts of nasty, disgusting stuff,” he told reporter Trent Kelly in 2013. “Then you came back and started a family, got a job. How did you do it?’” MOPH raises money by selling veterans’ reserved parking signs. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office sports one on its parking lot in Gainesville. Thirty-five others can be found at such places as the Oaks Mall and Haven Hospice. Fisher House, a free residence for families of soldiers in Gainesville’s VA Hospital, is a beneficiary of MOPH largesse. So is Wounded Wear, providing special clothing for wounded vets. According to its website, the organization was launched by PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY World War II and Korean War veteran Robert (Bob) Gasche and Vietnam veteran Stephen Dodd take time out from their busy day to pose in a golf car at the Gainesville Country Club, the venue for their upcoming Veterans Helping Veterans Golf Tournament. Dodd is the finance officer and Gasche is sergeant-atarms for the SSG John A. Reiners Military Order of the Purple Heart. 22 November 2014 November 2014 23 23 24 PHOTO PROVIDED BY STEPHEN DODD ABOVE: Stephen Dodd with the sign that offers preferred parking to wounded warriors yet leaves the handicapped spaces available to those with more severe disabilities. The signs cost $75 with all proceeds going to worthy veteran charities. PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY RIGHT: Dodd, a recipient of two Purple Heart medals, said that these signs can be placed in close proximity to handicapped signs as a way to extend parking privileges to veterans that have earned the Purple Heart. Navy SEAL Lt. Jason “Jay” Redman, author hor of “Trident,” an account of the forging of a SEAL leader. Wounded while commanding an assault team assigned to capture a high Al Qaedaa operative, Redman was machine-gunned and required 37 surgeries. “Whatever comes up,” Dodd said, “we will help who we can when we can.” At the November 8 tournament, 70 to 90 golfers will register at noon for a shotgun start at 1 PM. The fee is $125 per player, or $500 per team. Checks should be made out to MOPH 0823, PO Box 357808, Gainesville, FL 32635. “If you play golf, come out and help the vets,” Dodd said. 24 November 2014 “We’r also looking for sponsors. Businesses as well “We’re indi as individuals can sponsor one of the 18 holes for (sil $125 (silver), $250 (gold), or $500 (platinum). Twenty a $250 each come to $5,000, so we keep busy sponsors at contacting everyone. Sponsors will be acknowledged on the golf course.” Other sources of income at the tournament include a 50-50 lottery drawing and a putting contest, “closest to the pin,” Dodd said. The members of MOPH saw a lot of action in battle, including senior VP adjutant Norman Sassner, an Army captain. Sassner barely escaped with his life when ambushed on a river in Vietnam, sustaining shrapnel and bullet injuries, Meghan Pryce wrote in the Gainesville Sun. Waking up in a hospital, he heard seniortimesmagazine.com PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY LEFT: Bob Gasche stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima and was there when the American flag was raised on Mount Suribachi in 1945. “Seeing the Stars and Stripes waving aloft on that mountain peak is a sight I shall never forget as long as I live,” Gasche said. PHOTO PROVIDED BY STEPHEN DODD ABOVE: Every year, each chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Chapter votes for the member that has done the most for veterans, veterans’ causes and veterans’ advocacy. “This year, Bob was our unanimous choice,” Stephen Dodd said. someone congratulate him for winning the Purple Heart. MOPH sergeant-at-arms Robert T. “Bob” Gasche told the Sun’s Brooke Austill about the iconic moment US soldiers raised Old Glory atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima in 1945. Six thousand eight hundred and twenty-one Marines and Navy fighters paid for that victory with their lives. Gasche, a Marine now 90, was among the 19,217 Allied soldiers wounded during the fierce battle for possession of the Japanese-held island in the Pacific only 760 miles from Tokyo. “Bob Gasche won’t be able to attend our golf tournament because the Marines persuaded him to make a speech on St. Simon’s Island,” Dodd said. “They’re sending six Marine recruits to take the place of one 90-year-old man.” Dodd served in Vietnam and holds two Purple Hearts and three Bronze Stars, the result of a bullet wound to his leg “and having been blown up with a rocket grenade,” he said. “That pretty much did it, putting a lot of holes in my otherwise perfect body.” His South Vietnam base camp, Cu Chi, was on the Cambodian border 35 miles northwest of Saigon. “It was a different war with no front lines,” he said. “The enemy could be anywhere. The Vietcong hid in 27 miles of tunnels underneath our camp. Engagements were fast and deadly. Contact was eyeball to eyeball, not pitched battles as in WWII.” Ronna Jackson, the mother of MOPH namesake John Reiners, is an associate member of MOPH 0823. “I’m trying to get their ladies auxiliary up and running,” she November 2014 25 25 26 PHOTOS BY TJ MORRISSEY ABOVE: A hand-drawn pencil portrait of Staff Sgt. John A. Reiners by artist Michael G. Regan as part of the Fallen Heroes Project. The mission of the Michael G. Reagan Portrait Foundation is to provide the resources to produce and distribute to each family a hand-drawn portrait of their Fallen Hero, free of charge. RIGHT: Ronna and Jerry Jackson are presented with the portrait of their son during the renaming of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 0823 at the American Legion Post 16 on January 4. said in a telephone interview. MOPH could scarcely have asked for a better helper. Jackson is the chaplain for the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 16 of Gainesville and president of Hearts of Gold, a chapter of American Gold Star Mothers, who participate in many memorial events. “We give mothers who had a son or daughter killed in action Gold Star flags for their windows,” she said. “I made a promise upon my son being killed in action. I began to devote my entire life to supporting vets and their families. I supported Greg Kidney when he founded MOPH’s Gainesville chapter. Once a month I work with the Military Support Group of Alachua County, packing boxes for our boys and girls in war zones.” Gold Star Mothers’ website states, “If you lost a child in 26 November 2014 the service of the country and would like the community of others, we invite you to join. No one knows how you feel like another mother who has lost a child.” Last year Jackson was given the Nonveterans-SupportingVeterans of the Year Award for Alachua County. “I never served, but my husband, father and sons did. Reiners looked up to all three of his grandfathers — Jay Jackson, George Reiners and Joseph Norrell, knowing if he followed their example he could achieve everything he wanted to in the Army.” He was practically born wearing camouflage, donning his first fatigues as soon as he could walk. From the age of six months, Reiners’s stepfather was Jackson’s second husband Jerry. “Reiners was most proud of being a Ranger, and died doing seniortimesmagazine.com PHOTO PROVIDED BY RONNA JACKSON PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY Gold Star Mom Ronna Jackson is presented with the flag on the day of her son’s burial at the cemetery in Haines City, Fl. The boots and helmet were on display at the American Legion Post 16 the day she was presented with her son’s portrait. what he loved — fighting for his country,” Jackson said. Born on the 23rd of December 1985, in Haines City in Central Florida’s Polk County, he grew up as a small-town boy living the American dream. As if he’d sprung full-blown from a Norman Rockwell Saturday Evening Post cover, he became a Boy Scout, Young Astronaut, JROTC cadet, baseball player, band member and Police Explorer. “Reiners was always an overachiever,” Jackson recalled, “disappointed if he made 90 on a test instead of 100. He was a perfectionist.” A cross-country runner in high school, he was driven, not by competition, but by a determination to get in shape to be a US Army Ranger. PHOTO PROVIDED BY RONNA JACKSON He also had an irrepressible lighthearted side, according to his mother, who said, “He just loved having fun with his siblings . . . [and] being with his friends, playing practical jokes and pranks on them just to have fun.” After graduating in May 2004, he joined the Army in July and reported to Fort Benning, Georgia, for basic training and advanced individual training (AIT), ultimately becoming an Army Ranger, the most elite special-operations force in the Army. He complained that boot camp “wasn’t as hard as he thought it should be,” he told Sgt. Maj. Dwight Smith, according to Lakeland Ledger reporters Kevin Bouffant and Gary White. “I want to head for the front lines.” Before his deployment to Iraq, he was stationed at Fort November 2014 27 27 28 PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY Also on display at the January 4th ceremony were photo collages of other Fallen Heroes portraits created by Michael G. Regan and presented to the families. The ceremony paid tribute to John A. Reiners, and local veterans, politicians, friends and family were in attendance. Drum, New York. When he left for overseas duty, he and his mother listened to “Come Home Soon,” a SHeDAISY song about the poignancy and bravery of families left behind, who cannot know for sure where their loved ones are, but can hope they’re looking up at the same star and making the same wish. SHeDAISY is a melodious Utah sister act, the Osborns, who named themselves after the Navajo term for “my little sister.” The first of Reiners’s three Purple Hearts came after he was injured in Iraq, his Humvee hitting an explosive device. He escaped and led his fellow GIs to safety. Bouffant and White documented that John Reiners’s officers called him one of the best soldiers they’d ever seen, and the men with whom he served called him Rambo, according to the Freedom Remembered website. Surviving his first deployment, he returned to Fort Drum and became a squad leader. In October 2006 he married longtime girlfriend Casey Barker, who later told Bouffant and White, “John was a country boy who had no interest in college. He wanted to become an Army instructor, get a business management degree, and run an auto mechanic shop.” She characterized him as a high-spirited fun-loving guy who enjoyed mud bogging in Lakeland in his Chevrolet Suburban with 44-inch tires, referring to it as the Spearmint Hearse. After a year they had a baby boy and named him Lex. Life was good, and then came another deployment to wartorn Iraq, this one running from September 2007 to October 2008. Reiners was one of 20,000 soldiers assigned by President George W. Bush to provide security in Baghdad and Al Anbar Province, clearing and securing neighborhoods. When a rocket-propelled grenade wounded John’s head and leg, he attempted to hide his injuries so he could work the next day. “That’s John,” Jackson said, “so humble and always giving 28 November 2014 110 percent.” Though he’d suffered a concussion, he dismissed it as a “headache,” and declined to accept a Purple Heart. A confident, unassuming young man, he never wore his uniform and medals in public, refusing to be treated as a hero. “He didn’t have any ego,” his mother said. “He just loved the Army from day one.” In November 2009 he was dispatched to Afghanistan. Bouffant and White wrote that his sister Glennette said she hoped he was going to “a good part” of the conflicted country and he joked, “Yeah, the Army is just going to send me to the best part over there where nothing is going on.” “Oh, really?” “No, Glennette, that’s not possible. Every part over there is bad.” Later she recalled, “He knew what he was going into; he definitely did.” His wife Casey said, “He was scared going over there this time. He was worried.” Stepfather Jerry later explained on the Freedom Remembered website that Reiners, a devout Christian, hated having to kill women and children suicide bombers. Mindful of the Biblical injunction, “Thou shalt not kill,” Reiners struggled with his conscience but finally decided the safety of his fellow soldiers had to come first, whatever the cost. Toward the end of his deployment, he was looking forward to returning to his 23-year-old wife of three years and their two-year-old son Lex. He sent a bouquet of flowers to Casey for Valentine’s Day, she later revealed to the Lakeland Ledger. Chatting with Casey via computer, he mentioned a foot patrol he’d be going out on at 10 PM, and his last words to her, the Ledger disclosed, were “I feel your love… and I’m constantly thinking about you.” The February 13, 2010, patrol took him and his comrades seniortimesmagazine.com into the treacherous Zhari Province. As a high-ranking Army officer named Kelly Thomas would later observe, “In South Afghanistan, just outside Kandahar, there are bad people.” They attacked Reiners’s unit with improvised explosive devices (IEDs), killing him and two other soldiers, Sgt. Jeremiah Wittman and Spc. Bobby Pagan. In the US, just hours after Casey received news of her husband’s death, his bouquet of Valentine’s Day flowers arrived. Only 24 years old, Reiners was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star Medal and the Purple Heart, bringing his career total of decorations and medals to over 30. The Bronze Star, the fourth highest military award, is bestowed for acts of heroism in combat, according to the American War Library website. The Purple Heart, established by General George Washington, is awarded in the name of the President of the United States to soldiers wounded or killed. It is heart-shaped with a gold border and a profile of Washington. The ribbon is blue with white and purple stripes. Apart from Reiners, Purple Heart recipients include Secretary of State John Kerry, World War II hero Audie Murphy, “Platoon” film director Oliver Stone, James Jones, author of “From Here to Eternity,” Ron Kovic, author of “Born on Fourth of July,” and Chuck Yeager, the first pilot to fly faster than the speed of sound. A cascade of honors for John Reiners began with a funeral that packed Northridge Church and the streets Haines City. Kelly Thomas, speaking in behalf of Gen. George Casey, the 36th US Army Chief of Staff, who served in Iraq from 2004 two 2007, said, “SSG John Reiners is a hero. Nobody in the Army doubts it. On 13 February [Afghans] committed a cowardly act that took our soldier, your beloved, your son, hus- band, brother, and Lex’s father.” In her eulogy, Ronna Jackson forced back her tears and said, “My hero, my son, when I close my eyes I see you . . . when I reach into my heart I can touch you.” Casey said the men in Reiners’s unit so loved him that they borrowed money to traverse the globe for his funeral, according to Crooked Fences’ website. “John made me want to be a better woman,” she said. “He was my soul mate.” At a public ceremony in January 2014 at American Legion Haisley Lynch Post 16 in Gainesville on the occasion of MOPH’s renaming itself the SSG John A. Reiners Military Order of the Purple Heart, Chapter 0823, Ronna Jackson received a plaque commemorating the event. Greg Kidney said, “We could never emulate what John Reiners did on that day but we can honor him by trying to mirror him and the things he was trying to accomplish.” Mayor Ed Braddy spoke “on behalf of the grateful people of Gainesville. We are very glad that this dedication is happening in our city.” Florida Congressman Ted Yoho said, “[Our] thankful country honor[s] all of your son’s service and the sacrifice he made for his country.” The Fallen Hero Project presented artist Michael Regan’s portrait of Reiners to Jackson. As her husband Jerry consoled her during the emotional ceremony, she said, “Thank you all for this honor. It means a lot as a mom that my son will always be remembered.” On his tombstone in Forest Hill Cemetery in Haines City is inscribed the motto RANGERS LEAD THE WAY. As Ronna Jackson put it, “Every day is Memorial Day to a Gold Star Mother.” s Take care of your skin… with a board certified specialist Comprehensive Skin Care with Compassion and Professionalism SKIN CANCERS GENERAL SCREENING THREE LOCATIONS FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE! GAINESVILLE • STARKE • LAKE CITY Robert A. Skidmore, Jr. MD Board Certified Dermatologist 352-371-7546 >ÀÞ`iÌwV>Ìvi>>}Ài>ÌÞVÀi>Ãià ÞÕÀV >ViÃvLi}i>ÃÞVÕÀi`° ƂÌ>iÃÛiiÀ>Ì}Þ]ÜiV>`iÌvÞ>Ài>à vVViÀ>`ÀiVi`>ÌÀi>ÌiÌ«>° Be proactive and protect what protects you. YYYICKPGUXKNNGƃFGTOEQO November 2014 29 29 30 COLUMN œ KENDRA SILER-MARSIGLIO Healthy Edge STAND UP! ALL-DAY SITTING IS BAD FOR YOUR HEALTH A s you know, “walk for your health” is now very common advice. Now studies are showing that just “standing up” provides huge health benefits. If you take a minute to sit and think about it, you can quickly come to the conclusion that we live in a “Sit Down” society. Most of us sit down to eat, work and socialize. Running errands? I bet you’re sitting in a car or on a bus to get around. Here’s what science worldwide is showing about prolonged sitting: it’s wreaking havoc on our health. If you sit the amount that the average American does (over eight hours per day), the benefits of workouts you do are counteracted — even if you are exercising routinely. The average lifespan is actually extended two more years by standing up three hours a day reports the United Kingdom’s “The Independent” newspaper. A 43-study review published in the “Journal of the National Cancer Institute” showed that those who were highly sedentary had a 32 percent increased risk of endometrial cancer, 24 percent increased risk of colon cancer and 21 percent increased risk of lung cancer. The meta-analysis also showed that for every two hours spent sitting per day, the risks of these cancers increased 6-10 percent. However, prolonged sitting doesn’t affect your risk of getting these 30 November 2014 cancer types: breast, ovaries, prostate, stomach, esophagus, testes and nonHodgkin lymphoma. Ever heard of telomeres? They are caps on the ends of thread-like structures that keep your genes orderly and neat (aka chromosomes). Telomeres protect the chromosomes — kinda like how those little plastic caps protect your shoelaces. A study published in the “British Journal of Sports Medicine” shows that prolonged daily sitting shortens telomeres. Scientists feel that “aging” has a lot to do with the shortening of telomeres — short telomeres means that your genes receive less protection. Again, it didn’t matter if the participants exercised; the telomere-shortening culprit was prolonged sitting. In Australia, the University of Queensland reports that sitting less lowers your risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes and prematurely dying from heart disease. Interestingly, the research that shows sitting is bad for your health is not only performed in the US, the UK, and Australia; much of it comes from space. NASA space medicine studies show that prolonged sitting simulates a low-gravity type of environment. Low-gravity causes muscle to deteriorate. On the flip side, standing and stretching increases the effects of gravity on your body, helping you maintain and build muscle. WHAT YOU CAN DO TO SIT LESS AND STAND MORE: 1. Stand up every 30 minutes. Take a stretch break. Or, get some water… staying hydrated is also good! 2. Talk and walk (or talk and stand). Try to socialize with friends standing up. It may seem rude to not offer people a seat, but your friends may appreciate it once you tell them why. 3. Stand while you wait. Waiting at the doctor’s office or at a restaurant? Look for an unobtrusive place to stand. If there isn’t one, you may want to tell your doctor or other businesses with waiting rooms about sitting studies so they can consider adjusting their waiting rooms. 4. Consider a standing workstation. Make a space where you can stand and do bills, make calls, or surf the Internet. 5. Make standing a part of your “nonexercise” routine. Mayo Clinic’s Dr. James A. Levine, MD, Ph.D., reports that standing creates Non-Exercise Activity Thermongensis (NEAT). Standing burns 50 percent more calories than sitting. Stand tall to give yourself that healthy edge! s Kendra Siler-Marsiglio, Ph.D. is the Director of Rural Health Partnership at WellFlorida Council. Want more information on standing up for your health? Check out: * The article at the UK’s “The Independent” at www.independent.co.uk/news/science/ stand-up-for-three-hours-and-live-twoyears-longer-says-top-uk-medical-consultant-955246; * Discover Magazine’s article “Simple Sitting Test Predicts How Long You’ll Live” at discovermagazine.com/2013/nov/05-sit-down; * Dr. Levine presenting at the Transformation 2010 at www.youtube.com/ watch?v=S6eIvxqaezE; seniortimesmagazine.com November 2014 31 31 32 HANDS ON Be a Friend Volunteering for the Library by Darla Kinney Scoles “If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody.” — Chinese Proverb I n their 60 years of service to the community, Friends of the Library (FOL) has donated more than $5 million to the Alachua County Library District. Semi-annual FOL book sales have been a large part of its fundraising endeavors, the proceeds from which go to literacy and library programs, funding collections, and scholarships. With the first-ever book sale netting $80, the projects funded by the 2012-13 sales totaled more than $200,000. >> THE NEED: When I realized this article would publish right after an FOL book sale, I thought the group might not be in need of volunteers until close to the next sale, to be held in April of 2015. I was wrong. I knew this as soon as I walked into the warehouse facility affectionately known to FOL volunteers as the Bookhouse. The place is huge and was a hive of activity the day of my visit, three weeks prior to the fall book sale. It wouldn’t have mattered which day I came, however, as the Bookhouse is abuzz with workers most every weekday, year-round. Bigger and better organized than most book stores, the Bookhouse takes in hundreds of items every day, with each volume, recording, and work of art (yes, art!) inspected, sort- 32 November 2014 ed, priced and shelved by hands that know and love knowledge, literacy and research. “Every volunteer here is important,” said FOL Publicity Chair, Sue Dudley. “And we always need more. The work never ends and that’s a good thing. We have ongoing training for new volunteers and encourage people to give it a try. If they enjoy books, they will enjoy this.” >> THE WORK: With after-hours drop bins outside the Bookhouse itself, donation boxes at area libraries and drop-off hours daily, the Bookhouse is constantly taking in books, magazines, comic books, tapes, records, artwork and more. As these items are unpacked, each is inspected and sorted before being sent to different areas of the Bookhouse for shelving. Some require repair. Many require research to determine value. All require pricing. Some rare items donated to FOL have, in turn, been donated to the Matheson Museum. Others — especially duplicate copies — are donated to local non-profit organizations. Items deemed unsellable are recycled with those proceeds donated as well. Shadowing Dudley as a sorter on the day of my visit, I found the variety of the work to be fascinating. The friendly atmosphere was one of happiness in a common cause and love of the work at hand. Since the sale was fast approaching, there was a hastening to the work, but no stress was evident. With shelves already full (they will be completely empty post-sale) new donations were simply being inspected, sorted, boxed and loaded onto trucks to be stored until after the sale. seniortimesmagazine.com November 2014 PHOTO BY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES 33 33 34 PHOTOS BY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES Thirty-six-year FOL veteran, Linda Connell, loves to hang out in the Collector’s Corner area of the book sale, where, she said, “You never know exactly what you’re going to get.” Connell has seen the organization — and the sale — grow each year to become the largest in the state. “We received a large donation from a closing book store in Micanopy this year,” said Bill Watson, FOL Book Sale CoChair, whose mother was also a FOL volunteer. “So we have even more books than usual — especially in the history section — and we’ve been busy. Each week 130-140 volunteers help out here. Others come and assist just with the sales. Many, like myself, are retired but want to stay involved.” >> THE REWARDS: Linda Connell has been volunteering with FOL since that very first book sale, and has seen many things change, but others stay the same. Now settled into the Collector’s Corner of the Bookhouse, Connell said working there is like being on a treasure hunt. “You never know exactly what you are going to get,” Connell said. “We see a little bit of everything, as people downsize and relocate, or settle an estate. Many books, due to the nature of this university community, are special in that they are signed, first editions, special presses, leather bound and such.” Even with such unique qualities, these collector’s pieces are not put up for sale online to fetch the highest price. FOL 34 November 2014 believes that the local community donated the items and they should go back to that same community. The volunteers know their efforts benefit those close to home. “I love people and books and I love art,” said working artist Kathleen Wobie, who volunteers in the art section of the Bookhouse. “My friends got me involved and I’ve been coming in once a week for three years now. We are really loaded this year. The great thing here is that everyone can work in the area that interests them. For me, that is art. For someone else it might be comic books or classic record albums.” Indeed, each section of the highly organized Bookhouse had a dedicated volunteer happily readying it for the upcoming sale. >> THE FIT: Noon at the Bookhouse means all volunteers head to the large break room for lunch. Each month they hold a potluck dinner, as well. There is lively conversation about every subject imaginable, some sparked by the day’s Bookhouse finds or current events, others simply by virtue of the diverse nature and backgrounds of the volunteers in the room. I met a costumer who had “dressed the king” in the recent seniortimesmagazine.com November 2014 35 35 36 T Friends of the The D Dunnellon Public Library S Seeking Active Members Over the years, the Friends have provided ongoing financial support to supplement library needs not provided by the county. Proceeds from book sales, membership dues and donations provide supplemental funding to the library for new books, reading materials, DVDs, programs, special speakers, landscaping and equipment. In order to provide additional funding for years to come, they are looking for new volunteers. For more information call the Friends’ president, Barbara Caban, at 352465-0705, Mon – Sat, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. The Friends of the Dunnellon Public Library 20351 Robinson Road • Dunnellon, FL 34431 PHOTOS BY DARLA KINNEY SCOLES From Civil War Records to Manga, the Friends of the Library Bookhouse has it all. Larger and better organized than most book stores, the facility is run entirely by a small army of cheerful volunteers, who love books and love literacy. The organization’s Vice President, Ellen Smith encourages everyone to come and help process all the materials the community has donated, citing benefits such as a great work environment and friendly co-workers. Celebrating 60 years of service, the FOL has contributed more than $5 million to libraries, literacy initiatives and scholarships in Alachua County. New volunteer training happen regularly. Gainesville performance of Camelot, a working artist who was also degreed in Sociology, a financial aid administrator, a banker, university and military spouses, medical professionals, and teachers. “We encourage everyone to come and help us process all the materials the community has donated,” said FOL Vice President Ellen Smith. “The people here are great. It is a great place to work and we are contributing to our community.” The only downside to the work, said volunteer Juanita Harrison, is that it is difficult to keep from stopping to look while working. Regular Bookhouse volunteers, who are asked to give three hours each week, are permitted to borrow items to read and return to the Bookhouse when done. Those not interested in sorting books or working book sales can check the “other 36 November 2014 talents” box on the application form and get involved in a way that suits them best. “You can’t help but love it here,” said volunteer Lynda McKenzie. “We love books and appreciate literacy and we enjoy this.” The volunteers here clearly enjoy one another as well. The comment most often made when I asked them what they loved most about FOL was “the people.” Many of them had also served with FOL for a number of years. That’s always a clear sign of a great organization. >> HOW TO GET INVOLVED: “This place treats their volunteers extraordinarily well,” declared Dudley. Find out just how well, by going to www.folacld.org, clickseniortimesmagazine.com GAS DOLLARS ECONOMY BUSTER COUPONS BELOW DENTURE DOLLARS 475 $ $95 t Routine Tooth Extraction ( D714 0 ) Economy Full Set (with coupon) (D5110, D5120) 145 $ Same Day Service* t Complex Tooth Extraction ( D7210 ) On - Site Lab Financing Available FL Medicaid Accepted For Dentures Only t t Affordable Dentures - Gainesville, P. A. Stephan M. Showstark,DMD General Dentist Springhill Commons Shopping Center 9200 NW 39th Ave, Ste 200, Gainesville FL No Appointment Necessary (352) 376-8229 ing on the “Join us” tab. An online form found there can be printed and mailed in. A modest membership fee provides many benefits, including helping put books in the hands of those who need them most. The FOL Bookhouse is located at 430 N. Main Street in Gainesville and can be reached at 352-375-1676. Thanks to you! –Darla s 15 $ OFF Any Denture or Denture Package DENTURE DOLLARS 2 0 1 0 7 - 8 - V 1 .2 GAS DOLLARS 50 OFF $ Any Custom Denture or Higher Offers good only at Affordable Dentures-Gainesville, P. A. $50 denture discount good on any one individual denture purchase at the Custom level or higher – Full Upper or Lower, Partial, or Full Set. $15 gas discount good on any one individual denture purchase, or package denture purchase at any level. The denture and gas coupons can be combined on any any one individual denture purchase at the Custom level or higher. Coupon must be presented at time of initial payment and cannot be combined with any other coupons, discounts, package price, insurance benefit or prior order. Offer expires 11/21/14 and may change without notice. 1-800-DENTURE Editor’s Note: Each month Darla Kinney Scoles participates firsthand in, and then shares with readers, a local volunteer experience opportunity. The needs are great — the rewards, even greater. If your organization would like to be featured in an upcoming column, contact Senior Times Magazine AffordableDentures.com/gas *Same Day Service on Economy Dentures, in most cases, if in by 7:45 a.m. Additional fees may be incurred depending on individual cases. We gladly accept Cash, Checks with ID, Visa, MasterCard, and Discover as payment for our services. Advertised fees effective through 11/21/14. These are minimum fees and charges may increase depending on the treatment required. THE PATIENT AND ANY OTHER PERSON RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYMENT HAS A RIGHT TO REFUSE TO PAY, CANCEL PAYMENT, OR BE REIMBURSED FOR PAYMENT FOR ANY OTHER SERVICE, EXAMINATION, OR TREATMENT THAT IS PERFORMED AS A RESULT OF AND WITHIN 72 HOURS OF RESPONDING TO THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR THE FREE, DISCOUNTED FEE, OR REDUCED FEE SERVICE, EXAMINATION OR TREATMENT. November 2014 37 37 38 COLUMN œ ELLIS AMBURN Enjoying Act Three Jackie O W hen Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis quit her job at the Viking Press in the 1970s, I called and offered her a position at Dell Publishing Company’s hardcover division Delacorte, where I was editor-in-chief. She was interested in lunching, and I suggested the fashionable French restaurant Lafayette. “I’m avoiding Lafayette for a while,” she said. “Jane Wrightsman and I were there yesterday and it was all over the papers this morning. Where do you guys at Delacorte go for a workaday lunch?” “A hamburger joint on Second Avenue called Knickers, but it’s a real dive.” “Knickers! That’s girls’ drawers! I love it!” Her boyfriend, reporter Pete Hamill, warned that taking Jacqueline to lunch was “like taking King Kong to the beach.” Expecting the paparazzi at Knickers, I found only four girls who sounded like clerks from the outer boroughs, known in Manhattan as the bridge and tunnel crowd. “I can only pay $18,500 a year,” I told Jacqueline when she arrived. That proved no obstacle since she’d only been making $200 a week at Viking. Having recently received $26 million after the death of her second husband, she wasn’t in it for the money. She just loved books. In her mid-40s, informal and flirty, she possessed a softness and fragility no camera had ever caught. Up close she had a lovely widow’s peak, and, between her nose and upper lip, barely visible vertical creases such as many women get in middle age. 38 November 2014 She’d resigned from Viking when New York Times reviewer Elliott FremontSmith wrote she “should be ashamed of herself” for working at the publishing house responsible for a novel about a plot to assassinate Sen. Ted Kennedy. Despite her abrupt departure from Viking, she remained devoted to her colleagues there, especially our mutual friend Cork Smith. Like me, Cork attracted serious writers but also had “a golden touch with commercial crap,” as he put it. Just as I edited both John le Carre and Milton Berle, Cork edited “Ironweed” and “Shall We Tell the President,” the potboiler over which Jackie resigned. As an acquiring editor Jacqueline was equally eclectic, buying pop idol Michael Jackson’s “Moonwalk” and a book she co-edited with Cork, Eugene Kennedy’s “Himself! The Life and Times of Mayor Richard J. Daley.” On a business trip to Chicago with Kennedy, he suggested they lunch at an elegant restaurant. In the same way she declined to eat at Lafayette, she told him, “No, I want you to take me to some place that’s down and dirty.” She wanted to see the real Chicago, just as she wanted to see where Delacorte editors hung out. She loved a family saga I’d edited called “Evergreen,” and cooed the author’s name, “Belva Plain,” making it sound like someone she’d like to publish herself. In her White House years she’d said she read “everything from Colette to Kerouac.” When I revealed I was Jack Kerouac’s editor, she beamed. The King of the Beatniks told me he’d dined at the Kennedy White House, and Jacqueline didn’t deny it. She complained that Viking had refused to advertise a modest book she’d brought in, and I couldn’t resist saying, “Advertising mid-list titles is just throwing good money after bad.” “Ellis!” she said, gently chiding me. “You sound so oracular.” Emboldened by my second martini, I asked, “What’s the most important thing in the world to you?” “Why, my children, of course.” Outside on Second Avenue, as she hailed a taxicab, she said, “I’ll call you.” When I told a Dell VP Jacqueline might be joining us at Delacorte, he warned that CEO Helen Meyer made life miserable for attractive women, driving them to drink and even, in the case of Peggy Roth, my counterpart at Dell paperbacks, to an early grave. Bypassing Dell, I proceeded to raise money to start a new publishing house with Jacqueline as CEO and me as president. Awestruck, she repeated the name of my backers, who could easily buy and sell both Joseph Kennedy and Aristotle Onassis. “I promise to give it some thought,” she said. Shortly her sexy sounding French majordomo called and said, “Be sure not to mention anything you just discussed.” s After 25 years as a book publisher, Ellis Amburn wrote many biographies, including one about Elizabeth Taylor entitled “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World.” He can be reached at [email protected]. seniortimesmagazine.com AD VERTISEMEN T November is National Home Care Month WHILE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ARE TRYING TO FIND WAYS TO MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE, SENIORS ARE SEEKING WAYS TO MAINTAIN THEIR INDEPENDENCE. BOTH GROUPS ARE FINDING A COMMON SOLUTION – HOME HEALTH CARE. O ur goal is to keep Seniors as independent as possible and in their homes for as long as possible, along with keeping them out of the hospital,” said Pamela Morgan, Senior Director of Professional Services with Mederi Caretenders of Gainesville. “It’s cheaper for a patient to be seen by a home care nurse once a week for two years than it is for an emergency room visit. Hospitals are looking at how to decrease rehospitalizations, and home care is going to be the big component to doing that.” So what exactly does “home care” encompass? With National Home Care Month upon us, Morgan discussed the many facets of quality in-home care that Mederi Caretenders provides. Nursing – Nurses care for wounds, give injections, reconcile and assess medication regime compliance and perform other medical care functions. They also assess the patient’s situation and educate relatives or caregivers. “When you have caregivers suddenly taking care of a family member, they don’t understand the disease process, they don’t understand all the medications,” said Morgan. “We can teach them how to take care of their family member and know what to expect.” Physical and Occupational Therapy – Physical therapists help Seniors regain their strength and maximize their ability to move about, “ prevent falls and improve balance. Occupational therapists help with everyday tasks such as bathing, dressing and preparing food. Many elderly patients are not easily able to travel to another therapy location, where their in-home environment is not always replicated. “We can modify things that they can’t when they’re going to an outpatient facility or hospital,” Morgan explained. “We look at their home and, for example, explain how to negotiate stairs.” Speech Therapy – Speech therapists assess and assist patients in regaining or improving communication and swallowing. They can also administer VitalStim, a therapy that uses electronic stimulation along with swallowing exercises to help the patient relearn how to swallow. Speech therapists also provide therapy to teach the patient and caregiver about foods to eat or avoid. Home Health Aide – A home health aide can help a client perform basic tasks like bathing and grooming, making a light meal and changing linens. Medical social workers – These professionals can identify resources and offer counseling and support to patients and caregivers. Finding such help individually would be a monumental task. Caretenders’ ability to assemble such a team quickly is a key component in its quest for Senior Independence. “I wondered if my family could manage all the care I needed after leaving the hospital.” A Special Kind of Caring... That’s The Caretenders Tradition A dedicated team of compassionate, highly skilled healthcare professionals who treat their patients like family is our hallmark. • SKILLED NURSING • PHYSICAL THERAPY • OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY • CERTIFIED HOME HEALTH AID • CARDIAC CARE • DIABETIC CARE • ORTHOPEDIC REHAB • UROLOGY CARE • SPEECH THERAPY • OUTPATIENT RECOVERY Committed To The Highest Quality Home Care Services. SERVING ALACHUA COUNTY AND SURROUNDING AREAS 4923 NW 43rd Street, Suite A Gainesville, Florida 32606 352-379-6217 Call For More Information About How Caretenders Can Help You. LIC# HHA299991306 November 2014 39 39 40 CALENDAR UPCOMING EVENTS IN ALACHUA & MARION TIOGA MONDAY MARKET LIVING HISTORY DAY Mondays Saturday, November 1 4:00pm - 7:00pm JONESVILLE - Tioga Center, 13005 W. Newberry Rd. Market features a selection of vegetables, crafts, organic food, fruits and local specialties. 9:00am GAINESVILLE - Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E University Ave. Step back into time to an 1870 Florida farm. Interpreters will portray a day-to-day life experience of simpler times. 352-334-3326. LADY GAMERS GUIDED WALK Fridays 1:00pm HIGH SPRINGS - New Century Woman’s Club, 40 NW 1st Ave. The Lady Gamers meet for fun, friendship and food. Everyone is invited. Meet old friends and make some new ones. FREE FRIDAYS Fridays 8:00pm GAINESVILLE - Bo Diddley Plaza, 111 E. University Ave. An Eric Clapton Tribute is the first “Free Fridays” concert of the season. Through October, Friday nights come alive as local and regional bands are showcased under the stars in downtown Gainesville. Hundreds come out to enjoy the free live music and shows in a familyfriendly environment. www.gvluculturalaffairs.org. STEEL HORSE STAMPEDE Saturday, November 1 10:00am OCALA - The Elliott Center, 3231 SW 34th Ave. The 11th Annual Steel Horse Stampede motorcycle ride is gearing up for its 55-mile escorted ride through Marion County. This fundraiser benefits patient care at Hospice of Marion County, Inc. Registration begins at 8 am in The Elliott Center. To honor those who have served our country, the first 100 veterans to register will receive a special Hospice Veteran’s Pin. The cost is a minimum donation of $18 for the rider and $18 for a passenger, which includes a light breakfast and a barbecue lunch following the ride — plus door prizes, a 50/50 drawing, and entertainment by the Nightshift Band. 352-854-5218. WOMEN’S WELLNESS 5K RUN/WALK Saturday, November 1 9:00am ALACHUA - San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park. 100% of the proceeds go to teaching Home Based Life Saving Skills at Klinik Lasante in Leogane, Haiti. The event is open to people of all ages. 40 November 2014 Saturday, November 1 10:00am GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Botanical Gardens, 4700 SW 58th Dr. Join Master Gardener, Alicia Nelson for a guided tour of the gardens. Regular admission for nonmembers and members are free of charge. ALL SAINTS’ DAY CEMETERY TOUR Saturday, November 1 12:00pm GAINESVILLE - Kanapaha Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 4101 SW 63rd Blvd. Come see the resting sites of some of Alachua County’s prominent citizens and pioneers! Re-enactments, music and refreshments will be provided. $5/person, proceeds will go toward cemetery preservation. 352-378-9080. IRIDIUM SAXOPHONE QUARTET CONCERT Sunday, November 2 2:00pm GAINESVILLE - Thomas Center Spanish Court, 302 NE 6 Ave. The Iridium Quartet has a rich history of collaboration between saxophonists Paul Nolen, Marcos Colón, Paul Forsyth, and Eric Lau. Iridium has been praised by Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Michael Colgrass as giving “a stunning performance… with elegance and grace.” This free concert will feature music from the beginnings of the saxophone quartet to today! HOWARD GOODALL’S ETERNAL LIGHT: A REQUIEM Sunday, November 2 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. The Holy Trinity Choir, soloists, chamber orchestra, and John T. Lowe, Jr., conductor, in collaboration with Dance Alive National Ballet, presents Howard Goodall’s Eternal Light: A Requiem. The concert is presented free of charge, and a reception (wine and hors d’oeuvres) follows the concert. 352-372-4721. www.holytrinitygnv.org. MARION CIVIC CHORALE Sunday, November 2 3:00pm OCALA - First United Methodist Church, 1126 East Silver Springs Blvd. Marion Civic Chorale Veterans Concert, Mr. Joshua Head, Conductor. The Colors will be presented by the Vanguard High School JROTC and all veterans will be recognized. OLD FASHIONED ITALIAN DINNER Sunday, November 2 5:00pm GAINESVILLE - Limerock Road Neighborhood Grill. The Sunrise Rotary of Gainesville of is having its annual dinner to raise funds to support numerous community projects. Dinner includes lasagna, salad, bread and a non-alcoholic drink. Tickets are $25. DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION Monday, November 3 10:30am STARKE - I-HOP. The Col. Samuel Elbert Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution in Keystone Heights meets on the 1st Monday of the month October-May. Contact: [email protected]. PRIMETIME INSTITUTE CLASS Thursday, November 6 2:30pm - 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd. Allied Freedom through the Normandy Invasion (June 1944) and Holocaust Liberation (April 1945). As a prelude to Veterans’ Day, Major Frank W. Towers, 97 year-old Veteran of World War II, will tell us of his experiences during the landings in France and the freeing of 2,500 Jewish victims en route by train to Bergen-Belsen death camp. Major Towers is the Executive Secretary-Treasurer, Historian, and Editor for the 30th Infantry Division Veterans of WWII, as he has been for the past 18 years. 352-332-6917. TRASH AND TREASURE SALE Thursday, November 6 9:30am – 12:00pm GAINESVILLE - Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th St. Bring a few dollars and join the Quilters of Alachua County Day Guild to find some wonderful sewing treasures. One quilter’s trash becomes another quilter’s treasure. TEA & TIMELY TOPICS Thursday, November 6 2:00pm - 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - University Women’s Club Clubhouse, 324 Woodlawn Dr. Speaker Leanne Lawrence, teacher of GED at Alachua County Jail and author of “Between Hell and Hope: seniortimesmagazine.com Teaching Humanity in an Imperfect World.” UWC members and their guests are cordially invited. Reservations and $10 check to UWC to Nancy Ingram, 5412 NW 45th Dr., Gainesville 32653. AN EVENING WITH MYLA GOLDBERG Thursday, November 6 7:00pm GAINESVILLE - Headquarters Library, 401 E. University Ave. UF’s Writers’ Festival, made possible by the generosity of The Friends of the Library, presents Myla Goldberg. Goldberg is the bestselling writer of The False Friend, Wickett’s Remedy and Bee Season, and will be discussing her work, reading from her books, taking questions and signing her books. www.aclib.us or contact Nickie Kortus at 352-334-3909, [email protected]. IT’S WORTH WHAT? Thursday, November 6 4:00pm – 8:00pm GAINESVILLE - Gainesville Woman’s Club, 2809 W. University Ave. The Club is hosting an event for the appraisal of antiques and collectables. Area dealers will appraise your art, Florida memorabilia, furniture, jewelry, oriental merchandise, porcelain and pottery. Each item appraised will cost $5. Proceeds will benefit Alachua County Schools. 352-466-3327. Ron “Tater Salad” White Thursday, November 6 7:30pm GAINESVILLE - Curtis M. Phillips Center, 315 Hull Rd. Blue Collar Comedian Ron White is bringing his jokes to Gainesville and you won’t want to miss out. Tickets range $47216. 352-392-2787. GOURD SHOW AND SALE November 7-9 PHOTO BY CHRIS BOHN BELLEVIEW - Market of Marion, 12888 SE US Hwy. 441. Gourd Artists will be displaying and selling their art. Classes and demos will be going on all three days. www.marioncountygourdartists.com. GOLF CLASSIC Friday, November 7 12:30pm GAINESVILLE - Mark Bostick Golf Course at UF, 2800 SW Second Ave. Join the Gainesville Sports Commission for an afternoon of friendly competition, food, prizes and fun at the 25th Annual Gold Classic. The tournament will once again be a four-player scramble with a 12:30pm shotgun start. 352-338-9300. Micanopy Fall Harvest Festival HIGH SPRINGS ART CO-OP’S PARTY November 1st and 2nd Friday, November 7 MICANOPY - Downtown. On Saturday, November 1st from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Sunday November 2nd from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. over 200 vendors will display their wares under the moss-draped oaks of the Downtown Historic District. Entertainment will feature music and dance as well as the annual auction of items donated by vendors. Auction is on Saturday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00. Micanopy’s well-known shops and eateries will have extended hours. Browse their fine selection of antiques, gifts, home décor, jewelry, books and musical instruments, etc. 6:00pm – 10:00pm HIGH SPRINGS - 115 N. Main St. Come view artwork from 6-8 and pick up tickets for a prize drawing that will happen at 8:30! The Black and White Party will feature High Springs Art Co-op artwork, black and white hors d’oeuvres and white wine. 386-454-1808. November 2014 41 41 42 These artists will delight your culinary senses with delicious cuisine made from the flowers, herbs, proteins and vegetables grown and raised at Swallowtail, and surrounding organic farms. We have partnered with Swamphead Brewery and Citizen’s Co-Op to bring you the best local brews and organic wines. Vegan and vegetarian options are available. Adults are $80 and children under 16 are $50. 352-840-7170. AUTHOR TONI C. COLLINS PHOTO BY TJ MORRISSEY Saturday, November 8 1:00pm DUNNELON - Public Library, 20351 Robinson Rd. Friends of the Library are hosting author Toni C. Collins and her portrayal of Catharine Hobday, assistant lighthouse keeper of Seahorse Key. Hobday was appointed by President Ulysses Grant and is buried in the historic cemetery in the shadow of the lighthouse. Collins tells the story dressed as the assistant lighthouse keeper. 352-438-2520. HOLIDAY AND CRAFT FAIR Saturday, November 8 Dueling for Life Friday, November 7 7:00pm – 10:00pm GAINESVILLE - Rockeys Dueling Piano Bar, 112 S. Main St. Enjoy an exciting evening of live dueling pianos guaranteed to entertain while supporting the Five Points of Life Foundation. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online at www.fivepointsoflife.org or at 352-224-1611. 9:00am to 2:00pm DUNNELON - SummerGlen, Grand Hall, 1468 SW 154th St. Rd. Do your holiday shopping at SummerGlen’s Annual Holiday and Craft Fair, featuring purses and totes, gourmet goodies, jewelry, floral arrangements, handmade cards, original artwork and assorted crafts. Lots of door prizes and refreshments available. Entry fees will be donated to charity. 352-307-2975. FLORIDIANA SALE DOWNTOWN BLUES CONCERT MARINE CORPS BIRTHDAY BALL Friday, November 7 Saturday, November 8 7:00pm – 10:00pm GAINESVILLE - Bo Diddley Community Plaza, 111 E. University Ave. Rick Randlett will open the evening with his all-original acoustic blues. The Bridget Kelly Band will follow with an electric vibe of classic blues. Headlining the concert is the 2014 International Blues Challenge winner, the Selwyn Birchwood Band, with their hip-shaking mix of blues. 5:00pm GAINESVILLE - Paramount Plaza Hotel. Marine Corps Ball Honoring Korean War Veterans. 5:00pm Social; 6:00pm Ceremonies; 7:00pm USO Show, Dinner and Dancing. For tickets: 352-494-4547 or online: Gatordet.com. 3RD ANNUAL COWBOY UP FOR ADOPTION Friday, November 7 6:00pm REDDICK - End of the Trail Ranch, 11350 NW Highway 225. Barrel racing, face painting, pony rides, games, concessions available. Live music by the Shane Wooten Band with musical guest The NextGen Band. Bring your own seating. $5 raffle tickets (need not be present to win). Contact: 352-5473750. www.facebook.com/YFAAdoptions. 42 November 2014 GOING FOR BAROQUE Saturday, November 8 7:30pm GAINESVILLE - University Auditorium. Gainesville Master Chorale with Conductor Dr. Will Kesling, featuring the music of Bach and Vivaldi. Tickets are available at Phillips Center: 352392-ARTS or www.performingarts.ufl.edu. FARM TO TABLE DINNER Saturday, November 8 4:30pm ALACHUA - Swallowtail Farm, 17603 NW 276 Ln. Delight in a unique savory four course meal prepared by Chefs Teresa and Chris Callen. November 8-9 Times Vary GAINESVILLE - Matheson Museum, 513 E. University Ave. Give the gift of history this holiday season at the “Matheson Museum’s Floridiana Show” Antique vendors will display and sell rare books, photographs, postcards, prints, artwork, antique bottles, jewelry and other memorabilia. For more information call 352-378-2280 or email info@mathesonmuseum. org. A $5.00 donation is appreciated. GAINESVILLE COMMUNITY BAND CONCERT Sunday, November 9 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - First Presbyterian Church. James B. King Veteran’s Day Concert. Suggested donation of $6 will be accepted for concerts held at Santa Fe College Fine Arts Hall. The concert at the First Presbyterian Church will accept donations for a specific charity, which has not been determined by press time. 352-225-3882. www.gnvband.org. seniortimesmagazine.com Like our Facebook page to see last month’s correct puzzle and winner! www.facebook.com/seniortimesmagazine CORRECTLY COMPLETE THE CROSSWORD PUZZLE AND MAIL IT TO US FOR YOUR CHANCE TO $ Win a 50 Gift Card you can use anywhere that accepts Visa! One Prize awarded per month through random drawing of a correct and complete entry. Winners will be contacted by Tower Publications and should receive their prize within 30 days of being chosen. Please do not call or email to request winner information. Submit completed entries to: Senior Times Mailbag 4400 N.W. 36th Avenue • Gainesville, Florida 32606 Name: Phone: Address: City, State, Zip: November 2014 43 43 44 PRIMETIME INSTITUTE CLASS THE GAINESVILLE ORCHESTRA Tuesday, November 11 Friday, November 14 2:30pm - 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd. The New and Improved Reverse Mortgage: The Rules Are Changing. In a pre-recorded Internet presentation, Alain Valles, President of Direct Finance Corp., presents the basic concepts of a Reverse Mortgage, how they work and some interesting strategies for using them. 352-332-6917. 7:30pm GAINESVILLE - Santa Fe Fine Arts Hall. “Got Beethoven!” concert will feature Samuel Barber’s Adagio for Strings and, of course, Ludwig van Beethoven. Tickets are available by calling 352-395-4181 or www.sfcollege. edu/finearts. General-$35. Seniors-$25. Students-$15. www.GCOmusic.org. Wednesday, November 12 11:00am - 1:00pm GAINESVILLE - Wesley United Methodist Church, NW 23rd Ave. Gainesville Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution meet on the second Wednesday of each month, October through May. [email protected]. 8:00am OCALA - Silver Springs State Park. The Friends of Silver Springs are offering the trail run starting at the iconic arched entrance of Silver Springs and then continue onto trails through beautiful sand hill. Register at www.RunSignUp.com. A Fall Festival with live music and local vendors will kick off on the Silver Springs event field at 10:00am. VOICES RISING COMMUNITY CHORUS PRIMETIME INSTITUTE CLASS Sunday, November 16 Thursday, November 13 3:00pm & 7:00pm GAINESVILLE - First United Methodist Church, 419 NW 1st St. This intergenerational chorus of over 100 voices will present its fall concert. The concert is free but donations will be accepted. Half of all proceeds will benefit Peaceful Paths. For more information call 352-378-3883 or www.vrccgainesville.org. 2:30pm - 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd. Tour of Gainesville’s Traffic Management System. See how Gainesville traffic is managed by the engineers in Public Works. The Traffic Management System (TMC) is a partnership between the City of Gainesville, Alachua County, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), and the University of Florida that optimizes driving efficiency by monitoring and coordinating traffic signals. Components of a TMS include operation and maintenance of the traffic signals, traffic monitoring cameras, emergency vehicles and many others. Sign up early as there is a limit of 30 people. 352-332-6917. DUCKS UNLIMITED FALL BANQUET Thursday, November 13 6:00pm GAINESVILLE - Gainesville Woman’s Club, 2809 W. University Ave. A Banquet to raise funds and awareness for waterfowl habitat in North Central Florida. Contact Clayton Pittman at 352-318-1276 or pittmanclaytong@ yahoo.com for tickets and information. STARRY NIGHT Friday, November 14 6:00pm GAINESVILLE - Florida Museum of Natural History. Observe the night sky and explore the world beyond! See a portable planetarium show or view a moonscape in 3-D. Bring the whole family for a free, fun-filled night of astronomical proportions. Food vendor available! For more information, visit www. flmnh.ufl.edu/starrynight or call 352-273-2062. 44 November 2014 Saturday, November 22 7:00pm OCALA - First United Methodist Church, 1126 East Silver Springs Blvd. Dr. Larry Wyatt, Conductor: Music of Bach, Billings, Thompson and Gospel. PRIMETIME INSTITUTE CLASS Tuesday, November 25 CRITTER TRAIL 5K Saturday, November 15 DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA CONCERT CHOIR PRIMETIME INSTITUTE CLASS Tuesday, November 18 2:30pm - 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd. The Incredible Journey… Toward a Cure for Childhood Leukemia. Dr. Bill Slayton is the Chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Florida. He specializes in treating children with leukemia and has led national clinical trials focused on high-risk leukemia. 352-332-6917. PRIMETIME INSTITUTE CLASS Thursday, November 20 2:30pm - 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd. Age Differences in Pain Sensitivity and Response to Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Corey B. Simon, Physical Therapist, DPT, is conducting research as part of his program in the Department of Physical Therapy, UF College of Public Health and Health Professions. He will discuss his study in this month’s presentation sponsored by the UF Institute on Aging. 352-332-6917. THE AUTHENTIC YOU EXPERIENCE Saturday, November 22 9:00am – 2:15pm GAINESVILLE - Unity of Gainesville, 8801 NW 39th Ave. Take an active role to become selfaware; make choices to balance mind-bodyspirit and live a rewarding, fulfilling life. Feel better and more energetic. 352-373-1030. 2:30pm - 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - Senior Recreation Center, 5701 NW 34th Blvd. Brain Health: Sharpen your Thinking through Technology and Techniques Krista Mackenzie, OTR/L, from Shands Rehab and Sam Ulbing, Senior Center Volunteer, will present information about research on techniques to maintain and improve your brain functioning. They will conduct a hands-on session, demonstrating free to low-cost applications for cognition, eye-hand coordination, vision and memory. Please bring your iPads, iPhones, and Android devices for assistance in downloading the apps. A few additional iPads will be available for attendees to practice with. 352-332-6917. CANE BOIL & FIDDLE FEST Saturday, November 29 9:00pm – 4:00pm GAINESVILLE - Morningside Nature Center, 3540 E. University Ave. Experience life in 1870s. Sample fresh cane syrup and homemade biscuits, experience live folk music, farm animals and much more! The Longleaf Pine Youth Fiddle Contest brings together the traditions of giving thanks and fall harvest with music that has been so influential throughout the South. 352-334-3326. ST. ANDREW’S DAY SERVICE Sunday, November 30 5:00pm GAINESVILLE - Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Holy Trinity Church comes to life with the sound of bagpipes at the 19th Annual St. Andrew’s Day Service, a Gainesville favorite! The Holy Trinity Choir, Bagpipers, and Scottish Dancers and Singers present a service of Choral Evengsong for the Feast of St. Andrew. The service is presented free of charge, and a reception (wine and hors d’oeuvres) follows the concert. 352-372-4721. www.holytrinitygnv.org. s If you would like us to publicize an event in Alachua or Marion counties, send information by the 13th day of the month prior. All submissions will be reviewed and every effort will be made to run qualified submissions if page space is available. 352-416-0175 (fax) or email: [email protected] seniortimesmagazine.com SUBSCRIBE TODAY Affordable Housing for Senior Citizens $ 95 9 YEAR Pine Grove Apartments Federally subsidized apartments for persons 62 and older. • Studio & One-Bedroom Apartments. • ADA accessible apartments are also available. • Rent is based on income. for your appointment, call 352-373-1213 TDD: 800-955-8771 Total annual income limit for eligibility: One Person $21,450 Two Persons $24,500 1901 NE 2nd Street Gainesville, Florida OFFICE HOURS: MON-FRIDAY 8am-12pm 1pm-4pm THE MAGAZINE WIT WITH TH THE BEST GATOR SPORTS STORIES ANYWHERE! >> Spring and Fall Previews Highlighting every UF Sport >> Features on coaches, players and recruits CLOSED SATURDAY AND SUNDAY {ORDER ONLINE AT} GATORCOUNTRYMAGAZINE.COM 45 November 2014 45 46 COLUMN œ DONNA BONNELL Embracing Life Healing “E mbracing Life” became a column nearly 15 years ago. It began as a therapeutic tool to sort out personal struggles in a very public venue. Publishing my challenges came with a self-imposed responsibility. In order for readers to relate my toils to their lives, research for philosophical explanations and exploring solutions was required. My goal slowly evolved into finding the buried benefits in seemingly futile situations. Somewhere along the way I began to understand myself at a much deeper level. Most importantly, however, was the discovery of my passion and purpose. Writing this column is my passion; helping others heal is my purpose. By opening my heart and soul I find great joy in celebrating the grand milestones of others, but also feel immense comfort when assisting during trying times. Sharing an excruciating experience recently endured by dear friends brought to light the importance of finding peace in our painful lives. They were grappling with the death of an estranged family member. In preparing for his passing, they reminisced about good old times, forgave the bad and mended deep wounds. In the wee hours of one of those days, I received a text from this man’s son thanking me for caring in spite of his father’s recent negative choices. He explained that most of their prior friends were no longer around as his dad had burned too many bridges. This young man knew I would understand, as I had travelled a similar path in my own life. While his message was incredibly sad and my heart ached, I knew he was working out feelings of guilt, grieving an agonizing loss, and beginning to accept no longer controls our lives.” That quote was magical, stating in simple terms that healing is an important component in the circle of life. Everyone has been hurt. Healing means to return to health; to set right or repair a rift; to restore spiritual wholeness. Making sense of what happened and eventually moving forward in a positive way is a life lesson. This was certainly not an easy task for me. Most of my life, I yearned for the perfect Ozzie and Harriet household, yet my family was dysfunctional. Jealousy of those whom I perceived to have what I desperately desired seemed to consume my psyche. My questions to God of what I did wrong and why I did not deserve better went unanswered. Over the decades I read multitudes of books, attended numerous positive mind seminars and listened repeatedly to self-help tapes. However, until it finally sunk in that I cannot eliminate the damage from the past, only use it to fulfill my purpose, did I heal. Today, I know God was not ignoring me. He was patiently waiting for me to learn the truth. In order for me to fulfill my purpose, I needed those experiences. Without them, “Embracing Life” would not exist and my healing path would not have come full circle. Ironically (perhaps), it is through my column, I find personal healing. The keys to moving on in a tranquil way, not only for this special young man but also for all of us, are acknowledging the hurt and damage, forgiving those who inflicted pain, and move on without letting it control our lives. s “Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls our lives.” 46 November 2014 the hand his fate had dealt. My prayer was to find a way to convey the importance of surviving without suffering a lifetime of resentment and anger. God always has His way of showing me how to embrace the situation and shed light on the meaning of any journey. This was no exception. Unable to return to sleep, I turned on the computer to check Facebook. The first posting I saw was from a very spiritual personal friend. She found it on www.healinglightonline. com and messaged it to me (without knowing what events were taking place). It said, “Healing doesn’t mean the damage never existed. It means the damage Donna Bonnell is a freelance writer who moved to Newberry in 1983. She enjoys living and working in the town she now calls home. [email protected] seniortimesmagazine.com THEATRE Acrosstown Repertory Theatre.....................619 S. Main Street, Gainesville Curtis M. Phillips Center ........................................... 315 Hull Road, Gainesville Fine Arts Hall Theatre - SFC ........................... 3000 NW 83rd St., Gainesville Gainesville Community Playhouse ....... 4039 N.W. 16th Blvd., Gainesville Hippodrome State Theatre................................. 25 SE 2nd Place, Gainesville UF Constans Theatre ................................................. Museum Road, Gainesville Nadine McGuire Blackbox Theatre ................... Museum Road, Gainesville Actors’ Warehouse .............................................. 608 N. Main Street, Gainesville Ocala Civic Theatre ..................................4337 East Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala High Springs Community Theater .......... 130 NE 1st Avenue, High Springs ACTOR’S WAREHOUSE Tshepang October 23 – November 2 Outside a South African town a silent woman, Ruth, goes through her self-imposed rituals, a child’s crib strapped to her back. An observer, Simon, who has loved Ruth since childhood, tells her story. “Tshepang” was inspired by a horrifying event in 2001, based on twenty thousand stories. Open Admission October 23 – November 2 An intensely charged, confrontational play set in an urban college speech teacher’s office, as she faces a brilliant but illiterate Black student. Calvin demands to be taught and not merely shuffled through the system. Alice struggles to help him but is trapped by the double standards of an inadequate educational system. CONSTANS THEATRE Sweeney Todd October 24 - November 2 Music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Book by Hugh Wheeler. Directed by Tony Mata. Music Direction by Tony Offerle. 352-371-1234 352-392-ARTS 352-395-4181 352-376-4949 352-375-4477 352-273-0526 352-392-1653 352-222-3699 352-236-2274 386-454-3525 ACROSSTOWN REPERTORY THEATRE Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol November 28 - December 21 Back for its second year! Welcome to the real story behind Dickens’ A Christmas Carol — Marley’s heroic behind-the-scenes efforts to save old Scrooge’s soul, while in the process, saving his own. Marley is not alone, however; he is aided by the Bogle, an irreverent little sprite with an agenda all his own. In this fastpaced, hilarious and deeply moving soon-to-be Christmas classic, four actors bring dozens of Dickens’s characters to life and take you on a fantastic journey certain to put you in the Christmas spirit. CURTIS M. PHILLIPS CENTER The Capitol Steps November 3 The Capitol Steps is the only group that attempts to be funnier than Congress. 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Call 24/7. 866-413-6294. WANTS TO purchase minerals and other oil & gas interests. Send details P.O. Box 13557, Denver, Co 80201. OCEAN CORPORATIONDIVE INTO A NEW CAREER! COMMERCIAL D I V E R , U N D E R W AT E R CONSTRUCTION, NDT WELD INSPECTOR, 30 WEEKS OF TRAINING, FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE FOR THOSE WHO QUALIFY, JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE AVAILABLE, 10840 ROCKLEY ROAD, HOUSTON, TEXAS 77099, 800-321-0298, EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT, WELDING, INSPECTION, JOBS, CAREER. www.oceancorp. com November 2014 49 49 50 BOOK REVIEW BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER Glimpsing Heaven JUDY BACHRACH F or most of your life, you’ve been told that you must be good. There’s an eternal reward, a Promised Land for those who behave. Mind your elders, be good, stay out of trouble, and you’ll go there. If not, well… So what will that wondrous place be like? Religions teach various things, all of them paradisiacal, but what’s the truth? Science has theories, says Judy Ba- chrach, but in her new book “Glimpsing Heaven,” the once-dead have knowledge. For much of her life, Judy Bachrach was afraid of death and the dying. It wasn’t much of a problem when she was younger but when her mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, Bachrach knew she needed to face her fears. She began researching death, and what happens after we die. According to the Hollywood version of what used to be called near-death experiences (a term that’s fallen somewhat out of favor), a person’s heart stops, they travel through a tunnel toward a beautiful, bright light but are told they must return. It seems clichéd, but it’s not: of patients who’ve had death experiences, that’s the format most often reported by those willing to discuss it. Perhaps not surprisingly, the majority of experiencers prefer to keep mum. Though medical professionals, too, are often discouraged from talking about their patients’ death experiences, Bachrach says that science increasingly ruminates on the subject. It’s already known that organs die at different rates, and that some senses linger long after the heart has stopped. That the brain may live even after blood flow ceases could explain a lot, and could also raise big ethical questions. Scientists admit, however, that there’s plenty they don’t know; for instance, death travelers (as Bachrach calls them) often inexplicably encounter after-effects such as precognition. They report “unasked-for gifts” that may seem New-Agey, but are real and documented. They also have higher-than-expected divorce rates. Death experiences (or lack thereof ) aren’t predicated on how death occurred. Travelers may encounter people they knew on their journeys, but are equally likely to see strangers. Belief in God is not always necessary for a blissful death experience. And, truth be known, not all experiences are blissful… We are all dying, right now, a little bit, every day. So what are we afraid of? That’s just one of the intriguing questions that author Judy Bachrach poses. But first, I found “Glimpsing Heaven” to be a bit stiff (no pun intended) and not unlike myriad other books on this subject. I was, quite frankly, somewhat bored until Bachrach started throwing some interesting stats around and, by the time her narrative turned a little dark, I was hooked. Because it shows both the upside and downside to death experiences, I ended up liking this book quite a lot. What allows me to recommend it, though, is that it doesn’t profess to have the definitive answer to “What happens after we die?” The words “We don’t know” resonate strongly through “Glimpsing Heaven,” leaving readers to draw their own informed conclusions — and that makes this a very good book. s Terri Schlichenmeyer has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives with her two dogs and 11,000 books. 1415 Fort Clarke Blvd. Gainesville, FL 32606 r)BSCPS$IBTFDPN 50 November 2014 seniortimesmagazine.com Introducing The Totally All-New Redesigned 2015 Toyota Camry! TEST DRIVE TODAY! In-Stock And Debut Priced! Or Get O G These Th Great G Offers Off On O Remaining R N New 2014 Toyotas! T ! 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We are also faster than state and national averages. Long waiting times in hospital ERs can increase risks for patients, especially those who have serious illnesses. That’s why North Florida Regional Medical Center has been working for years to deliver award-winning, quality care as fast as possible. Get our current wait times online at NFRMC.com or text ER to 23000. FASTER IS DEFINITELY BETTER.