I served at the Army General Counsel’s office at the Pentagon just weeks after the September 11 terrorist attacks. I went on to serve as senior Republican Healthcare Advisor in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, and lastly, I was one of the youngest Partners ever at K&L Gates, a global law firm. I know the story of struggles and being from a place where the government takes away your rights, and that's why I'm running, to make sure America never becomes that!
 In my career, I've been grateful to give back to the country that has given me and my family so much. Because of my personal connection to diabetes, I am especially proud of the work I did to successfully lobby Congress to get funding for Diabetes Prevention Programs in all 50 states with 12 programs right here in Pinellas County. 
If I am so fortunate to serve you in Congress, you can rely on me to be Pro-Term Limits, Pro-Finishing the Wall to protect our homeland, Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, Pro-Election Integrity and Pro-Opening up all our pipelines to give Americans relief at the pump.
 Governor Ron DeSantis needs a reliable partner into help him fight the culture wars on be Congress half of our children and grandchildren. If I'm elected, I hope to serve you in that capacity in Congress.
Please follow Makki me for on Congress Facebook, or e-mail Instagram me and directly witter:
amanda@amanda-makki.com with any questions or if you'd like to host a Meet & Greet for me.
I'm asking for your  vote on August 23, 2022!

​Blessings, Amanda Makki

ABOUT ANNA
Anna Paulina Luna is a strong independent leader, earning her stripes by serving her country, not by serving herself. Raised by a single mother in Southern California's low-income neighborhoods, Anna learned that she must work hard and be independent to succeed.

Although never married, Anna's mother and father separated when she was very young. Anna's father suffered from severe drug addiction and, early on, had asked her mother to have an abortion.  But Anna's mother chose life.  

As a result, Anna and her mother were on their own.  During Anna's childhood and teen years, her father struggled and spent time in and out of incarceration. Most of how her communication with him during these times was through letters to jail and collect calls. Her grandmother died of HIV/AIDS contracted from heroin use. 

By age nine, Anna had experienced an armed robbery and survived.  While Anna was on campus at one of the six high schools she attended, a fatal gang shooting occurred.  Her young cousin was murdered while Anna was a teenager.  And as a young adult, Anna was the victim of a home invasion. 

These types of stories are all too common in America's low-income, inner-city communities, like where Anna grew up. 

Anna's way out was joining the military. While serving in the United States Air Force, Anna met her husband, Andy. He is a Bronze Star recipient who earned a Purple Heart when enemy combatants shot him in Afghanistan. After recovering, Andy redeployed to fight ISIS in the Middle East. 

After his injury, Anna and Andy became involved with several veteran-focused and veteran-led non-profit organizations, including one whose mission is to end child trafficking through rescue and recovery operations.  

As she became more deeply involved in that work, Anna began to use her social media platform to speak out against the problem of human and child trafficking across the southern border. And she was shocked to be immediately be attacked as a racist and called "white-washed" due to her light skin - despite being a 2nd generation American and a descendent of Mexican immigrants on her mother and father's side. 

She resolved to speak out even more about the humanitarian crisis enabled by porous borders.  And people began to take notice.


Just as Anna was to begin medical school, Charlie Kirk reached out and asked her to join Turning Point U.S.A as the National Director of Hispanic Engagement.  Faced with a tough choice, Anna consulted with one of her mentors, a neurosurgeon, who counseled her that she would impact far more people's lives for the better by shaping legislation than she could in an entire career as a physician.  And so, she chose to begin her career as an advocate. 

As her profile rose, Anna was somewhat surprised that the elitists who run most of America's big media outright refused to let her share her right-leaning views on border security, the failings of the welfare system, and many other issues.  She was particularly shocked at their treatment of her as a mixed-race minority herself. 

That was Anna's "aha" moment.

Anna decided to run for Congress because she recognized that the media had to cover what was going on in Capitol Hill.  As someone who has lived experience with the problems that plague many of America's communities, especially low-income and minority ones, Anna is committed to showing people that there is another way and that big government is primarily the problem, not the solution. 

Anna believes the far-left wing that now controls Congress, along with its elitist media enablers, does not truly value Americans – impoverished minorities – for anything more than their votes. 

As a mixed-race female who fought her way out of poverty by joining the United States military, Anna developed her political beliefs due to her own lived experience.  
Anna knows the leftist power structures will stop at nothing to keep someone who looks like her and grew up as she did from being able to impact public policy if they have right-leaning beliefs.  And Anna knows that it is because she can directly contradict their false narratives about far-left ideologies like open borders, defund the police, government dependency, and overtaxing/overregulating being helpful to people trapped in communities like where she grew up.  
Nobody is hurt more by these types of radical policies than the tens of millions of poor and often minority Americans trapped in inner-city cycles of poverty and violence perpetuated by decades of failed big-government policies. 
Anna learned that the hard way – through her lived experience. 
Anna is running for Congress because she wants to enact reforms to create real solutions for these types of real-world problems. She will fight every day against the elitist political establishment that has for far too long left average Americans behind.

Anna's Plat Form 
​
Improve Services for Veterans
​Anna Paulina Luna experienced firsthand the pitfalls of our veteran care policies after enemy combatants shot her husband in Afghanistan. As a strong advocate for veterans, Anna will fight to ensure that they get the care, appreciation, and honor deserved. 
​ 
Fight Government Corruption
​Anna Paulina Luna wants to end the corruption that plagues our system. She will support any ban on Congress or its employees becoming lobbyists to cash out after leaving office. She will also work to enact term limits for elected officials.
 ​
Protect Beaches & Coastlines
​Anna Paulina Luna is determined to ensure our community continues to capitalize on the robust tourism economy. She will fight to protect our beaches, coastlines, and preserve our natural environment, without raising taxes.
 ​
Fight for Fair Trade Deals
​Anna Paulina Luna will fight for fair trade deals that put American workers, goods, and the American economy first.
 
​Invest in Infrastructure & Technology
​Anna Paulina Luna will champion improvements to our current bridge and roadway systems through increased infrastructure and technology investment.
 ​
Lower Taxes & Cut Unnecessary Regulations
​Anna Paulina Luna will fight to lower taxes and cut senseless regulations to create more jobs and boost the economy.
​
Support Law-Enforcement & First Responders 
​Anna Paulina Luna knows we must keep our communities safe to strengthen our economy and improve our quality of life. She will fight for law enforcement and first responders to have the resources they need to protect us and ensure that true bad actors are held accountable.
​​
Strengthen Social Security & Medicare for Seniors
Anna Paulina Luna is committed to strengthening social security and Medicare for our seniors to ensure their viability over the long term.  Anna will focus on driving down the cost of health care, including prescription drugs, to bring the cost of Medicare under control.
​​
Medical Freedom
Anna believes people should decide for themselves what the best way to be protected from COVID is, and they should not be forced to get vaccinated.  Everyone should talk to their doctor and decide what is best for themselves and their families.
 

Vivian Hafer, 77, of Douglassville and Betty Weisser, 84, Exeter Township roll out the dough to make pretzels at Berks Encore in Birdsboro as part of an activity Monday celebrating National Pretzel Day.
​
Mary Heffelfinger, 99, Birdsboro, politely declined to put her fingers in the gooey pretzel batter, but that didn't mean she wouldn't eat them after they were baked and served.
"Nooo, I never made them, but I eat them," said Heffelfinger at a National Pretzel Day celebration that attracted about 25 seniors on a rainy Monday morning at the senior citizens' center at Berks Encore in Birdsboro.
Besides making their own pretzels, seniors received six cases of pretzels for the event from Unique Pretzel Bakery, Muhlenberg Township. Some of the bags were to be distributed to Meals on Wheels clients. Seniors also planned to make a cream cheese dip.
"I've already done my share of cooking," said Heffelfinger, who will turn 100 on May 25.
"How do I like 'em (pretzels)?" she repeated. "With a good apple, that's how I'll eat pieces of pretzel."
Of course, good teeth and the ability to swallow are needed to do that, as Heffelfinger learned in a trivia questionnaire conducted by Carol Smith, center manager: "President George W. Bush once choked on a pretzel and momentarily lost consciousness."
That's darker pretzel lore.
Accentuating the positives of pretzels was the immediate task at hand.
Unlike Heffelfinger, Vivian Hafer, 77, Amity Township, and Betty Weisser, 84, Exeter Township, didn't hesitate mixing it up with pretzel batter.
"When you roll them, it just gets a little sticky, that's all," said Weisser, who grew up in Reading, once known as the proud pretzel capital of the nation.
Weisser recalled buying bags of broken pretzels for a nickel on Cotton Street during the Great Depression.
"I think they are really good for you unless you eat too much salt," she said.
"What do they call a pretzel without salt?" Smith asked.
All was quiet.
"You know, like an old man without hair," she said, giving seniors a hint.
Still no speedy answers.
"Baldies," she said loud enough to raise a round of laughter and maybe even a few hairs.
Smith went on to tell seniors that pretzels are a $550-million-a-year business and that 80 percent of all pretzels are made in Pennsylvania. The biggest pretzel ever made was 40 pounds and 5 feet across, she said.
"The average American eats between one-and-a-half to two pounds of pretzels per year, but around here we're supposed to eat 12 times that amount," Smith said.
That's quite a twist on pretzel consumption on National Pretzel Day.
It makes you wonder: How much did Berks County seniors eat when they recently observed Pineapple Upside-Down Cake Day?

By Bruce R. Posten
Reading Eagle
Originally Published: 4/27/2010

https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org/
https://www.svatampabay.com/
​813-693-5511

​Amanda Makki is a GOP candidate for Congress in Florida's 13th District. An attorney and conservative national commentator, Amanda is a strong conservative with a proven record of fighting for the values and principles that made America the greatest country in the world!
Amanda Makki on SVA Radio 106.1FM & 1340AM Tampa Bay  2/28/2022

https://www.amandamakki.com/
Meet Amanda MakkiAmanda Makki is a GOP candidate for Congress in Florida's 13th District. An attorney and conservative national commentator, Amanda is a strong conservative with a proven record of fighting for the values and principles that made America the greatest country in the world!
​As an infant, Makki and her family escaped an oppressive religious regime in Iran after the Revolution in 1979, to come to America. With the little resources they could quickly scrape together, they escaped to come to the Land of Opportunity, where anyone with a dream and a good work ethic could become successful. While Makki’s father studied to become a surgeon, her mother was a childcare provider and delivered Yellow Pages to provide the family’s income. Makki witnessed her parents drive to succeed and commitment to the  American Dream, which motivated her to start working at the young age of 15. 
As a Farsi language speaker, Makki served at the Army General Counsel at the Pentagon just weeks after the September 11 terrorist acts. Makki went on to serve as senior Republican Healthcare Advisor in both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives, and before the age of 40, became one of the youngest partners at K&L Gates, one of the nation’s premier law firms.

Makki grew up in Montgomery County, Maryland and is a graduate of the University of Maryland, where she obtained her degrees in Finance and Business Management and the Catholic University of America where she obtained her law degree. Makki is also proficient in Spanish. 

Amanda is frequently brought on for her expertise as a Republican Attorney and Strategist on national networks such as Fox, Newsmax, CNBC International, BBC, Sky News and Fox Business. She has resided in St. Petersburg, Florida since 2015 and enjoys fishing, biking and golfing. She is active in her faith and worships at Starkey Road Baptist Church. 
​https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org/featured

Deputy Michael J. Magli was killed Feb. 17, 2021, while trying to stop a fleeing pickup truck driven by a man accused of driving drunk.

D'Ann Lawrence White 
​TARPON SPRINGS, FL — A year after his death, Pinellas County sheriff's personnel are remembering Deputy Michael J. Magli, who was run down by a man accused of driving drunk while Magli was attempting to stop the driver from harming anyone as he speeded down East Lake Road as the rush hour was beginning.
On Feb. 17, 2021, Magli parking his cruiser across East Lake Road and was placing stop sticks in the road to blow out the tires of speeding car when the driver struck him with his pickup truck. Magli was pinned beneath his cruiser and died at the scene.
After hosting fishing and golf tournaments, along with other events in the year since Magli's death, the sheriff's office is continuing to raise money for Magli's wife and children through the Deputy Michael J. Magli Memorial Fund.
In December, the sheriff's office in collaboration with the nonprofit Saving A Hero's Place, dedicated an honor chair to Magli, symbolic of "saving his place" in the history of the sheriff's office.
The honor chair is located in the main lobby of the sheriff’s Largo administration building in front of the Wall of Honor. Saving A Hero’s Place crafts honor chairs for first responders who have died in the line of duty.

​"Some will say that Michael was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I say nonsense," Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said. "Deputy Michael J. Magli was in the right place at the right time doing what cops do every day throughout this country: protecting others, even if it means grave personal danger to themselves."
The sheriff's office posted a tribute to the fallen deputy on its Facebook page Thursday.

See related stories:

• Portion Of East Lake Road Renamed In Honor of Fallen Deputy
• Pinellas Deputy Killed After Being Struck By Driver Under Pursuit
• Hundreds Line Roads To Pay Their Respects; Funeral Set For Deputy
• 'Rest In Peace Brave Heroes': Roads Designated To Fallen Heroes

"Deputy Magli and his family will always have a place in our hearts at the PCSO, and each year on this day, we will honor his sacrifice," Gualtieri said.
He added that Feb. 17 "will always be our darkest day."
"This is the first line-of-duty death in the sheriff’s office’s 109-year history," he said. "We never wanted this day to come, but we will continue to remember and honor Deputy Magli’s life. His name will be inscribed on our memorial in front of the sheriff’s administration building, but more importantly, his name will be inscribed in our hearts forever."
Gualtieri said Magli's death is a reminder of the sacrifices his deputies make every day.
"Their mission is to protect and serve the citizens of Pinellas County, and they put themselves in harm’s way to save lives," he said. "Their oath is not limited to working hours; they are committed to protecting the public 24/7 and have a duty to act when evil enters their path."
Magli had been with the sheriff's office since 2013, and Gualtieri said his example is a reminder that a deputy's responsibilities go beyond his official duties.
It "involves matters of the heart. He cared about people and went out of his way to show it, whether it was telling a fellow deputy a joke when they felt down, taking extra time on a domestic call to ensure the couple was OK, or simply giving a citizen a bright smile as he crossed their path," Gualtieri said.
Robert Allen Holzaepfel was charged with first-degree murder, DUI manslaughter, driving while his license was suspended, leaving the scene of a crash involving property damage and aggravated fleeing and eluding police officers following Magli's death.
At the time of the crash, Holzaepfel had a blood-alcohol level of .230 percent. Under Florida law, a driver can be declared legally drunk with a blood-alcohol level of .08 percent.
Gualtieri said Magli's wife, two daughters and parents will "never be the same over some drunk who's got 16 felony convictions and who's driving with a suspended license, who's fleeing from the cops, who's driving like a maniac."
Those interested in donating to the memorial fund can drop off contributions at any SunTrust bank location or can mail a check to the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office Fiscal Affairs Bureau made payable to the Memorial for Michael J. Magli, P.O. Drawer 2500, Largo, FL 33779-2500.

​your home office, such as a blue or a green, that inspires productivity and creativity. And if you have an art studio inside a spare bedroom, make your walls just as artful with a splash of colors or perhaps even a mural. 
Get your kids involved Painting your mobile home, both the exterior and interior, can be a great project for the kids to get involved in. While your kids can take a paint roller to the walls, you can fill in corners and apply painters tape, making a paint job more efficient. Just make sure that you teach proper painting safety, including proper ventilation and wearing old clothing in case of paint stains. 
Consider temperature control It’s a well-known fact that many colors of paint can affect the temperature of your home – especially when it comes to exterior paint. When painting your manufactured home, keep in mind that lighter colors will reflect rays of sunlight – thus making a colder home more likely. The opposite happens with darker-colored homes, as they absorb the sun’s rays and can cause warmth. 
Keep it Simple Sometimes, you might just want to paint a room as simply as possible – and that’s okay! Don’t feel like you must follow any of the above tips if they don’t personally call to you. If you’d rather paint the interior of your manufactured home with just a simple color for each room, then paint that room just one color! It’s all about what makes your manufactured home, your manufactured home. 
If you’re getting ready to paint your manufactured home, don’t forget to check out these other tips on selecting interior and exterior paints for your manufactured home as well as how to paint vinyl mobile home walls.

https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org/featured
http://www.svatampabay.com/
Senior Voice America 
MobileHomeSales@SeniorVoiceAmerica.org
 ​813-693-5511

SENIOR VOICE AMERICA - TODAY !!! (MONDAY THE 31ST) 4PM
TAN TALK RADIO NETWORK
WTAN AM 1340 FM 106.1 Clearwater/St. Petersburg/Tampa
WDCF AM 1350 FM 102.3 Dade City
WZHR AM 1400 FM 104.3 Zephyrhills/Wesley Chapel

http://www.svatampabay.com/
https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org/
https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.com/
​813-693-5511

Home health care company to lay off nearly 700 in Tampa BayBayada Home Health Care will close offices in Clearwater, Brandon, Port Richey and Brooksville.
By Jay Cridlin
Published Earlier todayA New Jersey home health care company will close four of its seven Tampa Bay offices this spring, eliminating nearly 700 local jobs.
Bayada Home Health Care, headquartered in Moorestown, N.J., with more than 350 offices, will shut down operations in Clearwater, Brandon, Port Richey and Brooksville, according to a notice filed with the state. The offices provide Medicaid care and support throughout Florida.
According to the letter, the closures will eliminate 306 jobs in Brooksville, 150 jobs in Brandon, 144 jobs in Port Richey and 79 jobs in Clearwater. Another three remote jobs in Tampa were also cut, bringing the total to 682. Ninety-six percent of those cuts were home health aides.

The letter, dated Jan. 19, did not offer a reason for the office closures, but said they would take place by April 1. In a statement, a company spokesperson blamed the “difficult decision” on “several external forces.”
“Our current Bayada clients and employees are our top priority during this transition,” the statement read. “We are working closely with our key referral partners to help ensure our clients have continued care. We’re also working closely with impacted employees as they seek new opportunities, including roles at other Bayada locations throughout the state.”
Founded in 1975, the privately held Bayada has 26,000 employees in 22 states and eight countries. After the closures, it will still have six offices in Florida, including in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Sun City Center.
“We remain committed to our work in Florida and will continue to grow our presence here across our various lines of business to help our clients live at home with comfort, independence and dignity,” the company’s statement read.
http://seniorvoiceamerica.org/
​http://www.svatampabay.com/
http://www.getsva.com/
​813-693-5511

​Along with taking your medication as prescribed, some lifestyle habits can help manage your risk and help you live a longer, healthier life like watching what you eat, getting more exercise and managing stress.

Make Healthy Menu Choices

A healthy eating plan is a well-rounded diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables (at least 4-5 servings each day). In fact, researchers at the University of Columbia found each daily serving of fruits or vegetables was associated with a 4% lower risk of coronary heart disease and a 5% lower risk of stroke.

Other smart choices for your menu include nuts and seeds, whole grains, lean proteins and fish. Limit sweets, sugar-sweetened beverages, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and fatty or processed meats.

Get Moving

You likely know exercise is good for you, but an Oxford University study revealed simply swapping 30 minutes of sitting with low-intensity physical activity can reduce your risk of death by 17%. Mortality aside, in its Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services noted physical activity offers numerous benefits to improve health, including a lower risk of diseases, stronger bones and muscles, improved mental health and cognitive function and lower risk of depression.

The greatest impacts come from getting the recommended amount of activity: at least 150 minutes of moderate activity, 75 minutes of vigorous activity or a combination of those activities per week. Be sure to discuss with your doctor which activities may be best for you.
If you're having trouble getting motivated, small steps like walking your dog can lead to big changes over time. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association on pets and heart-health showed dog parents are more likely to reach their fitness goals than those without canine companions.

Reduce Stress

Constant or chronic stress can have real consequences on both emotional and physical health. In fact, research shows chronic stressors like long work hours, financial stress and work-life conflict may be as risky for health as secondhand smoke, according to a report by the Behavior Science and Policy Association.

Aside from the direct toll on your body - including elevated risk for heart disease and stroke from high blood pressure, depression or anxiety - stress can lead to unhealthy habits like overeating, physical inactivity and smoking.

Exercise is an effective way to keep your body healthy and release stress. You might also consider incorporating meditation and mindfulness practices into your day to allow yourself a few minutes to distance yourself from daily stress.

Research compiled by the American Heart Association suggests meditation can reduce blood pressure, improve sleep, support the immune system and increase your ability to process information.

Another powerful tool to fight depression, anxiety and poor sleep, according to researchers at the University of California-San Diego, is practicing gratitude or thankfulness. Start by simply writing down three things you're grateful for each day.

Learn more about managing your cholesterol and habits to protect your heart health at heart.org/cholesterol.

How a Major Health Event Can Reveal Unknown Risks

Before his stroke, Lee Stroy, a father of five, considered himself to be a healthy person.

"My gauge of being 'healthy' was my ability to wake up in the morning, get to work, take care of my family and live another day to do it again," Stroy said. "That is, until I couldn't."

In December 2014, Stroy woke up disoriented and scared after suffering a stroke at just 38 years old. He quickly discovered he had undiagnosed hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol.

"It surprised me to learn there are often no visible symptoms for high cholesterol until a heart or stroke event," Stroy said. "Unfortunately, I was not diligent about my annual check-ups, so my health setbacks provided me with a huge wake-up call."

Stroy decided to take control of his health and this marked the beginning of a major lifestyle transformation.

The first change was quitting smoking. Next, he began incorporating exercise into his daily routine, initially with simple exercises from occupational therapy. Eventually he worked up to walking several miles a day. Stroy also gradually made changes to his diet and went from being a meat eater to vegan. He also attends regular doctor's visits to keep tabs on his progress.

"While it was no easy feat to make such drastic lifestyle changes, they are now second nature," Stroy said. "Don't put off or be afraid to go to the doctor. You could catch something early and be able to make changes that save your life."

http://www.svatampabay.com/
http://seniorvoiceamerica.org/
http://seniorvoiceamerica.com/
​813-693-5511

The Franciscan Center presents “Aging Gracefully”, a six series Zoom program beginning January 13th.  Sign up for one or all of the series at www.franciscancentertampa.org. Each program is $15. ​

​Aging Is Not for Sissies
Thursday, January 13 from 2-4 p.m
 
Maureen Connors, Ph.D.
Bette Davis said it best! As we age, we realize more and more that aging requires a renewed grace and courage. Certainly, these past two years have required us to be anything but “sissies”.
How do you stop yourself from being a “sissy” when you are in pain, lonely, or experiencing some other dark emotion? What helps you be brave? 

While your dog enjoys the irresistible flavor and aroma of pumpkin flavored treats,
​you can make delicious pumpkin cookies for yourself.
(NAPSI)—Now is the time for all things pumpkin: From pumpkin spice lattes and candles to pumpkin patches and carving, there’s something pumpkin for everyone—including your four-legged friends. Now you can share your love of pumpkin with your pooch. Just like us, dogs go crazy over the taste of pumpkin,” says Ronna Krahl, Vice President of Marketing—Companion Pet, Manna Pro Products, maker of Fruitables pet treats. “But what many people don’t realize is that there are also a number of health benefits that come along with the tasty treat.” 
The Power of Pumpkin
Pumpkin isn’t just a delicious treat. When fresh, it can be an excellent food for supporting digestive health and weight loss. Pumpkins are 90 percent water, which makes them naturally low-calorie. They’re also rich in soluble and insoluble fiber, which helps promote satiety. The high fiber content coupled with the low calorie content makes pumpkin a terrific food to help your dog cut calories while feeling full. 
Why is this so important? Well, according to the Association of Pet Obesity Prevention, 56% of dogs are overweight or obese. Since obesity leads to a decreased quality of life for pets, finding something as effective at supporting weight-loss as pumpkin can have exciting implications. 
To that end, Fruitables has canned pumpkin digestive and weight-loss supplements that can help support your pet’s digestive issues or weight-loss journey. The supplements feature fresh pumpkin and vitamins in an easy-to-feed format. Introducing your pets to the power of pumpkin can help them live their best lives. 
Share the Love of Pumpkin 
With the many benefits associated with feeding pumpkin, you can feel good about giving it to your dog. In fact, pumpkin is so beneficial for dogs that it’s the first ingredient in 18 Fruitables pet products, including canned pumpkin supplements and a variety of dog treats. 
“Our unique flavor combinations aren’t just delicious for your dog, but for you and your family too,” adds Krahl. “You can experience the same bold flavors with the Pumpkin Spice Lofthouse-Style Cookies with Yogurt Frosting recipe inspired by the classic Fruitables Greek Vanilla ­Yogurt baked treats.”
Pumpkin Spice Lofthouse-Style Cookies with Yogurt Frosting
Recipe by Stacie Billis
Makes 2 dozen cookies
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch 
1¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg, room temperature
1 cup unsweetened canned pumpkin puree
1 tablespoon sour cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon almond extract (optional)
1 cup (16 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temperature
⅓ cup plain Greek-style yogurt, room temperature
1 tablespoon milk
Scant 1½ cups confectioners sugar, plus more to taste as desired
 
In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, pumpkin pie spice, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Add butter and sugar to bowl of stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment. Cream until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add egg and mix for another minute. Add pumpkin, sour cream, vanilla and almond extracts. Mix until well combined. 
 
Detach the bowl from the mixer. Using a silicone spatula, fold the dough once or twice so all ingredients are well combined and no flour streaks remain. Refrigerate dough for one hour up to overnight. 
 
Prepare the frosting: In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, combine butter, yogurt, milk, and confectioners sugar. Beat until creamy and soft. Refrigerate. 
 
Preheat oven to 350°. Line cookie sheet with parchment. Set it next to work area dusted with flour. Remove chilled cookie dough from refrigerator. With a medium (1½ tablespoon) scoop, divide dough into 24 even portions, rolling each in flour to keep it from sticking. Dust off excess flour. Place as many cookie dough balls on cookie sheet, about 2½ inches apart. 
 
Flour the bottom of a glass and press each ball flat, to about ¾” thickness. Bake for 12 minutes. Let cookies rest on cookie sheet 2 minutes. Transfer to wire rack to cool. Repeat with remaining cookie dough balls. Remove frosting from refrigerator about 10-15 minutes before using. 
 
Once cookies have cooled completely, frost each and cover with sprinkles. Serve immediately or store, with wax paper between each cookie, in an airtight container at
​room temperature for up to 3 days. 
For more facts, tips and recipes, visit www.fruitablespet.com/blog and @fruitablespettreats.
 
 "“Dogs go crazy over the taste of pumpkin,” says Ronna Krahl, Manna Pro Products, maker of Fruitables pet treats. “But what many people don’t realize is that there are also a number of health benefits that come along with the tasty treat.”https://bit.ly/3ofH9Up"
http://seniorvoiceamerica.org/
​http://www.svatampabay.com/
http://www.getsva.com/
​813-693-5511

By Mary Gynn - Diabetes Educator ​
Let me start with the reminder that Diabetes affects 25.8 million people. Those diagnosed are 18.8 million people and undiagnosed total 7.0 mil-lion people. Unfortunately, both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are affecting the younger generation, as well, the numbers being a staggering 215,000. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlantic, GA. www,cdc.com). Prediabetes and diabetes are now officially listed as an epidemic in the US. And, the numbers are growing.
An epidemic? This is 2018. Ironically, diabetes was first described in an Egyptian manuscript from 1500 BC and the first cases were described by Indian physicians in 400-500 AD identified as Type 1 and Type 2. Then in 1776, a Dr. Matthew Dobson con-firmed an excess of a kind of sugar in the urine. (Dobson,M. 1776, Medical Observations and Inquiries 5:298-3Is it the 10). And in 1889, it was found that dogs whose pancreas was removed developed all the signs and symptoms of diabetes.
So, considering these very early discoveries, why are we dealing today with Diabetes now an epidemic? Shouldn't the disease have been either controlled or eliminated all these years later?
Does "It", the epidemic, have some-thing to do with the following questions? I ask:
• Is it lack of community health and diabetes education?
• Is it the abundance available and consumption of processed foods?
• Is it lack of Americans knowing the existence of a gene somewhere in their ancestry that they may have inherited predisposing them to diabetes? Do most Americans have any idea of what a genetic inheritance (aka genome sequence) is? And all the variety of genes we all have predisposing us to health issues?
• Is it because the majority of Americans are addicted to sugar and sugar is present in practically all our food? And, why is sugar in all of our food?
• Is it the growing numbers of people who don't want to adapt a healthy life-style either early on or when diagnosed with a blood test they have prediabetes?
• Is it because people aren't aware of their predisposition to the disease and have no knowledge of the metabolic syndrome?
• Is it because Americans who if they do have some pre-diabetes symptoms just want a quick-fix pill to avoid facing reality and say nothing to or deny any symptoms to their physician?
• Is it due to the insidious development of overweight and/or the obesity epidemic?
• Is it in anyway connected to the in-activity or a "sitting" population in to-day's America?
• Is it connected to stress in our lives in today's stressful world that we do nothing about?
• Is it the multitude of pills or insulin pre-diabetics and diabetics ingest and inject and think they are the "cure"?
• Is it the lack of diabetics not knowing how to self-manage their own dis-ease resulting in permanent sugar control?
• Is it pre-diabetics and diabetics have no desire to self-manage or fearful of taking control of their disease?
In my years of being a registered nurse and diabetes educator, I could go on and on identifying the multitude of questions. They help me arrange my diabetes self-management education programs and discuss your answers to the above questions. Your answers assist my effort to understanding why we now have a diabetes epidemic.
Mary Gynn, RN, MSN/MS, MPH, CDE


​http://seniorvoiceamerica.org/
​http://www.svatampabay.com/
​http://seniorvoiceamerica.com/
http://www.getsva.com/
​813-693-5511

​

​​When I Die, I Wanna Bounce
​My Last Check!
by Berkley C. Badger

Many of my readers and clients share with me the fact that: They either have no family, never hear from family, or, that their kids are financially better off than they are.
While they may have a few charities which they could name as ultimate beneficiaries, most are more concerned about not running out of funds before they run outta breath.
Annuities can offer the perfect solution to solving many financial conundrums, especially where an individual, quite frankly, doesn't care if they "bounce their last check!"
Of course they are more fiscally responsible than that, but they may not feel compelled to leave one penny to anyone.
A Lifetime Annuity can work very nicely. It provides income which you can never outlive, even if you have the genes of Moses. In short, your income doesn't stop until you stop, but provides dependable cash-flow for as long as you need it.


Can you make the cash-flow increase over time?
Some of my clients can't seem to spend all of their monthly annuity payments, so they save up to "plant another tree." By adding another Lifetime Money Tree periodically, it may help to assure the receiver of the payments a defense against the inflationary effects on healthcare costs; especially in our latter years when one may want to stay in their own home, or may be required to seek resident care in a long-term care facility. These costs can run $7,000 to $15,000 per month!
Anecdotally speaking, this plan works beautifully. Just ask my 95-year-old client in Bradenton getting over $11,000 per month; or, my husband and wife couple in Clearwater getting over $8,000 per month; or, others who have been wise enough to start assembling such annuities in their 60's.
While it is said "One can never be too skinny-or too rich," the pragmatist is most thankful that he cannot outlive his income.
Cheers to your good health.


https://www.svatampabay.com/
​https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.com/
​​https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org/
admin@seniorvoiceamerica.org 
813-693-5511

By Ginger Orr and Bonnie Miller Rubin and Tribune Staff Writers
December 26, 1998For Patricia Miemczewski, Christmas Day at her sister's house in Streamwood was all she expected: The family gathered together around a table heaped with delicious food--and they repeated every word very loudly to her 64-year-old father.
"I'll yell, `Dad, do you want turkey?' over and over," said the 41-year-old woman, who has grown increasingly frustrated with her father's refusal to wear a hearing aid.
While the holidays can bring untold joy for families brought together after months of separation, it also can be a rude awakening to adult children who must grapple with the fact that their parents are getting older and that sensory or physical capabilities may have deteriorated. Hearing loss is among the most obvious manifestations.
And for the Boomer generation, seeing such changes in their aging parents isn't always pleasant.
"When families get together--especially after long periods of time--that is when the discoveries are made," said Dr. Cheryl Woodson, director of the Ingalls Geriatric Consultation Center in Calumet City.
For Miemczewski, it means confronting her father's hearing loss, which has grown progressively worse over the last two years.
"He's an intelligent man, but he's stubborn," she said. "He refuses to go to a doctor. He says, `I can hear just fine.' "
But he can't.
So he spent Christmas afternoon in front of a blaring TV or sitting in the corner of the room, not saying anything at all, according to his daughter. He no longer talks football because he can't discern his son-in-law's low, monotone voice.
Why are so many people in denial over hearing loss? Half of those 65 and older have some diminished capabilities; of those, only 20 percent actually seek help. The resistance remains, say experts, despite technological advances in the last few years that have made those big, boxy hearing devices all but obsolete.
More perplexing, how can anyone think an acoustic aid is symptomatic of aging, but screaming or cupping a hand behind the ear with an "Eh?" is not?
While the first signs of hearing loss occur around age 42, it remains a stereotype associated with the elderly. That's the chief reason that people balk, typically waiting 10 to 15 years before taking action, experts say.
"To many, it's the first tangible sign of losing their independence," Woodson said. "There's a stigma . . . having this piece of plastic in their ear screams `I'm old!' "
Ronna Fisher, a Chicago clinical audiologist, knows firsthand the toll hearing impairment can take on relationships. "My father was a social, active man, but when he started losing his hearing, he stopped going to the theater, parties . . . and even withdrew from his family," she said.
She has seen the same scenario bring countless patients in for help.
"There's the whole battle . . . the TV is blasting, the yelling, the accusations that others are mumbling," Fisher said. "One patient is so angry, he just pushes himself away from the table. . . . It's his way of physically separating himself from the rest of the family."
The situation is a challenge for a spouse, as well.
"You can only repeat yourself so many times before you eventually say, `Forget it,' " said Fisher, who has practiced for 20 years. "There's a loss of intimacy and spontaneity. You can't whisper. . . . You stop going to movies and social gatherings because it's not enjoyable for the person who can't hear and it's not enjoyable for the person who has to act like the interpreter."
And bruised feelings and misunderstandings can be ascribed to a breakdown in communications.
One woman was at Thanksgiving dinner when a friend mentioned that her father had recently died. The woman smiled, nodded and replied, "That's great." The friend looked at her in horror and left the table, Fisher said.
While price can also be a deterrent--state-of-the-art hearing aids, no larger than a fingernail, can range from $2,500 to $3,500 per ear--the biggest obstacle is still appearance, regardless of age.
"I thought it was only for old people, and I didn't consider myself old," said Ebba Ackmann, 93, of Elgin.
The irony is that in refusing to wear a hearing aid, others may chalk up confused or withdrawn behavior to senility. Experts say there's also a use-it-or-lose-it consequence: Recent studies have shown that sound deprivation can result in further hearing loss, making early detection all the more crucial.
Younger people are getting the message, turning hearing aids into a fashion statement in much the same way they did with eyeglasses. Brightly hued, oversize devices are popular with consumers in their 40s and 50s, who are suffering the consequences of a noisier world and a steady diet of rock music.
"Every concert you ever attended aged your ears 2 1/2 years," Fisher said.
Experts hope that a younger market will eventually help erase the stigma, but concede that day is still a long way off.
After years of catching a word here or there and becoming a master lip reader, Ackmann's son and daughter finally convinced Ackmann to get an aid.
"They said they were tired of repeating everything," Ackmann said. "I had a fit. I didn't want to go. I thought I could hear good enough."
Today, however, she won't leave home without the aid, which fits discreetly in her left ear.
Many seniors resist until they hear friends rave about their rediscovered hearing, Woodson said.
"Peer pressure works even at 70. It's not just a teenage thing," Woodson said. "They're much more likely to listen to someone their age rather than their upstart kids that they raised."
One Lansing woman, whose father has a hearing device but rarely wears it, tries to find the humor in the situation. After Christmas dinner, she packed up some leftovers for her Dad and told him it was for a snack.
"He was horrified," said the woman, who wished to remain anonymous. "He thought I was giving him a snake."
​
https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org/featured
https://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org
https://www.SVATampabay.com
813-693-5511

by Jean Mlincek

Ah, Christmas!  What memorable stories it has inspired, from Charles Dickens’ reformation of grouchy Ebenezer Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” to Dr. Seuss’ zany and wild-eyed Grinch who tried to steal the joy of this celebrated holiday from the inhabitants of Whoville.
 Although these stories have entertained us for decades, the biblical account of Jesus’ birth remains the greatest story ever told. Every December, local churches recruit wannabe wise men and shepherds and search their youth groups for a demure yet beautiful Mary and, of course, someone always seems to lend the stiffest baby doll on the planet to debut as the infant Jesus.  Several years ago, my church added “live” sheep - little tots dressed in wooly costumes - to its amateur cast. The main thing I remember about the re-enactment of Jesus’ birth at the time of that addition was the one little sheep who went astray.
At first, four-year-old Cindy  followed the script like a sweet little lamb should, tailing a deacon-turned-shepherd down the church aisle to the manger scene, where Mary and Joseph stood like cardboard cut-outs, never moving or blinking once during the entire 12-song cantata. I am sure the real Mary looked adoringly upon her God-in-the-flesh Son, but I understood why our Mary may have found it difficult to muster even a faint smile for what seemed to be a two-by-four wrapped in swaddling clothes.  
 Baby lamb Cindy was adorable in her faux fleece and like most little kids, she knew she was a hit in her oversized wooly costume with floppy ears. Although Mary, Joseph, and the baby Jesus were in the spotlight, the three lambs that “grazed” to their left were equally captivating. At mid-point, however, baby lamb Cindy had obviously had enough of being sidelined, and wandered from the flock, down the stage stairs, and stood center aisle, scrutinizing the spectacle before her as if she were the director. Then she turned and began weaving in and out of the pews. The congregation couldn’t help but be amused by this errant lambkin and found it difficult to focus on the Holy Family with such an animated and adorable sheep on the loose.
 After sitting briefly with her grand-mother, Cindy was on the move again.   At first, it looked as if the little lamb was going to re-join her flock, but, no, she headed straight for the stoic Mary and her cuddled infant. While the reserved cast looked on speechless and immobile, little sheep Cindy got right in Jesus’ face . . . and pressed her nose against his!   
 At first, this intimate gesture seemed comical, if not profane, but in that unscripted moment, an epiphany of Christmas truths became evident.  This was God and humanity connecting.  This was joy unspeakable.  This was the revelation of child-like faith in full measure.  This was a pre-dawn meeting of Shepherd and sheep.   This was spontaneous worship versus liturgy.  Even the stoic Mary broke into a Mona Lisa half smile.  There was a new energy in the cast, the choir, the audience.
 It was, and remains to this day, the best Christmas play I have ever witnessed - all thanks to Cindy, the adorable, unpredictable, stray sheep.
Jean Mlincek is a freelance writer who resides in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Bascom’s Meat Loaf
 
1 pound ground beef
½ cup chopped onion
1 cup panko bread crumb
½ cup milk
1 egg beaten
2 tbs ketchup
1 tbs Worcestershire sauce
1 tsp dry parsley
¾ tsp kosher salt
¼ tsp black pepper
½ tsp garlic powder
 
Ketchup glaze
 
¼ cup ketchup
2 tbs brown sugar
1 tbs red wine vinegar
 
Gently incorporate all ingredients
Press into small bread loaf pan
Spread the ketchup glaze on top and bake for 60 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Allow time for the loaf to set after baking.
Serve with your favorite sides and sauce.  Enjoy!
Chef Tony Bonanno
​Looking forward to exceeding your Guest’s expectations
​
https://www.bascoms.com/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotoDirectLink-g34141-d888878-i465748664-Bascom_s_Chop_House-Clearwater_Florida.html
​http://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org/
​http://www.seniorvoiceamerica.org/cartoons.html

By Carolyn Shockey
This is the month traditionally set aside to give thanks, but think how different life would be if giving thanks was a daily practice. Why does it seem so much easier to focus on all the negativity? Gratitude is an attitude and an acceptance; that is just as easy to do, but we need to think in a more positive way for it to work. Certainly, life is not easy. No matter who we are, we get our share of heartbreak and bad luck. Often, they are unavoidable. Yet if we look at those situations as learning or self-improvement lessons and pay attention, we may be able to see something positive as we look back. That has been the case with the black clouds in my life. I’ve been able to see the good that came from those experiences, although I couldn’t see it at the time. I am now more able to see my disasters as experiences lead-ing to good somewhere down the line. It is much easier to except the downs knowing that this too shall pass, and it always does. 
 Being grateful multiplies. The more we are grateful, the more we have to be thankful for. That I can still put my feet on the floor in the morning, even 


http://www.getsva.com/
​http://www.svatampabay.com/
​http://www.SeniorVoiceAmerica.org/