Fern Garden Club
The Fern Garden Club was first organized in April of 1950. The purpose of the club then and now is best expressed in the garden club prayer:
"O Father of all loveliness, teach us,
to understand the joy of color
the harmony of form, the beauty of proportion;
to know the real in art and nature;
to be content with what we have,
but not satisfied;
until our homes reflect the best in ourselves;
to appreciate the single joys of acquiring and possessing,
and to make our home and city a joyous place in which to live."
Over the years the members of Fern Garden Club have truly lived by the above prayer. Join Fern Garden Club the first Thursday of the month from 10:00 a.m.-noon, September through May. Upcoming Meetings:
- October 1st - Garden Workshop
- November 5th - Good Bugs/Bad Bugs
- December 3rd - Christmas Luncheon
Hope to see you there!
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Channeled Apple Snails Invade Numerous Florida Waters
Populations of the channeled apple snail (Pomacea canaliculaa group), a larger relative of the native Florida apple snail (Pomacea paludosa), are exploding in many locations across the state. Breeding populations of these snails have been reported in scattered locations in Florida since as early as 1978, but only in the past few years has their range expanded dramatically, and has the numbers of snails occurring in many areas become so very large. Click here to read more....
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The Caregiver Corner: Preparing for a Hurricane when you are someone's primary caregiver
Submitted by: Arthur Moseley
While hurricane season started six weeks ago, it’s the next 6-8 weeks that typically matter the most to those of us in Hillsborough County. That’s the time when we are most likely to incur a storm in our area. So, that means time is running out for those of us that have not already started preparing.
We are all aware of the need to prepare ahead of time for such events, however, for those of us caring for a family member that is disabled, recovering from a hospital stay, or a senior adult that can’t get around much anymore, having a plan and acting on it is doubly important. They have very special needs and if you don’t plan ahead, the effect of a storm on them could be extremely disruptive. This is just a quick note to get your attention so don’t expect an all inclusive list but here are a few highlights along with some other resources you may want to review for a more comprehensive inventory of tools and actions to take:
Medicines- You should have a 30 day supply of medications on hand and extra copies of your prescriptions. If you appear to be running low, check your medicine container for the number of refills remaining on the prescription. Call your physician early to get him/her to authorize additional refills. There are also special laws in place that allow pharmacies to provide an extra 30 days of medication once a state of emergency is proclaimed for your county. Contact your doctor or pharmacy early to see how this works and if your prescription fits the parameters outlined in the law.
Water, Water, and More Water- this is important to all of us but especially important for senior adults. As we age, we do not handle the heat as well
Special Needs Shelters- if your loved one has a severe handicap and/or medical problem they may need to be hospitalized as a storm approaches in order to ensure they obtain the proper care. For those that do not require hospitalization but have significant health challenges, there are a number of special needs shelters in Hillsborough County. These Special Need Shelters are different from your neighborhood shelters in that they are set up and staffed to assist residents whose medical condition is such that it exceeds the capabilities of the Red Cross Shelters in your neighborhood. While they will attempt to assist you during the crisis, it is much preferred that you register prior to any emergency so that they can assess your needs on a proactive basis and ensure that you receive the level of care you really need. You can register on line at www.hillsboroughcounty.org/emergency/progresservices/specialneeds.cfm or you call the Hillsborough County Infoline at (813) 272-5900 and they can mail you a registration form.
To Evacuate or Not to Evacuate- if you are in an evacuation zone, you may be required to evacuate by law. If not legally required to evacuate you may want to stay put…if you have the proper resources on hand as it is usually more dangerous to be on the road than at home during a hurricane. Also, as we saw a few years ago, these storms can be very unpredictable and you may actually find yourself traveling into the storm instead of away from it. If you need to evacuate, you need to evaluate if your loved ones needs the resources of a special needs shelter or a hospital. Again, this should be evaluated and planned for well in advance of any storm and you should already be registered beforehand.
Health Insurance Coverage- if you are going to be leaving the state, you may want to check to determine how your loved one’s health insurance works in the state you are going to (eg if they are on a HMO how do you handle getting the permission of their primary physician)?
Adult Briefs- baby diapers are probably on your list if you have young children but if you have senior adults that are incontinent you need to make certain you have a supply of adult briefs as well.
Establishing a Routine - Seniors with Alzheimer’s (or children with Autism) need structure and routine. Planning ahead is vital. Having games to play and things to do that don’t require electricity is important.
Divert Their Attention- catastrophic events can be very unsettling for those suffering from Alzheimer’s. Try to minimize their exposure to TV and radio broadcasts that constantly delve on the storm.
Can Openers- manual can openers are a must
Battery Powered Hand Fans with little squirt guns attached- while not the perfect solution they can be a fun item for your children and a must have for older adults who may be overly affected by the heat.
Driver License/Copy of Utility Bills/Caregiver Authority to Enter the Area- if you have to evacuate, chances are the emergency authorities may restrict access to your community after the storm to just those that live in the area. You will need to supply them with proof of residence (drivers license, copy of a recent utility bill, etc.). If you have a family member or hired professional coming to assist you in caring for your loved one, they may need some kind of written note from you proving they should be allowed into the neighborhood.
Pets- don’t forget your pets too. They need to be planned for. There are two pet friendly shelters in the county. See www.petfriendlu.com or call 800-916-3752
Preparation- All of the experts suggest that you create a plan and a list of required items and then that you start purchasing the items over the course of the summer rather than all at once just before the storm arrives. This makes it easier to budget and easier to transport.
Resources
Disaster Preparedness Guide for Elders http://elderaffairs.state.fl.us
Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities--- This is a Red Cross publication
Senior Sentinel—Call the Department of Aging Services 813-272-6630
Hillsborough County CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) www.floridacert.com/
http://www.hynca.com/hurricane-preparedness/ This is the Ybor Civic Association Website. This page contains a list of key agencies and their phone numbers
Arthur and his wife Frieda are the Owners/Directors of the Tampa West Office of GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE. GSC is the World's Oldest Multi-National Non-Medical Homecare Company. GRISWOLD SPECIAL CARE refers Caregivers who provide personal care, homemaking, companionship, incidental transportation and other services to Clients wishing to remain safe and independent at home.
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Submitted by Arthur and Frieda Moseley
One of the biggest challenges of our time
is also one of the least recognized: the caregiving of a loved one, be
it a parent that has just gotten older and can’t get around much anymore
or a spouse who is suffering from Alzheimer’s or a family member that
has just undergone a operation and has a long recovery process ahead of
them. It’s not like it’s a secret. We complain to each other about the
difficulties of incorporating this into our lives and balancing it all
but we each think we are special and that this is only something we
personally are going through. Most of us have not connected the dots and
realized that this is major issue for all of us.
Four interesting facts:
-
One in four of us are now involved
with caregiving for a spouse, family member or friend
-
One in Eight of us is a member of the
Sandwich
Generation, raising a child while also caring for an
aging parent
-
The two percentages quoted above are
only going to increase:
-
Alzheimer’s, just one of many
other diseases resulting in the need for constant care, is
estimated to affect 1 in 10 Americans aged 65 and older and
nearly one in two aged 85 and older.
-
The segment of the population aged
65 is set to double within the next 25 years and the segment 85
and older is now the fastest growing in the US.
Besides the dynamics noted above there
are some other factors intertwined with this issue:
-
We are living longer. This is a often
a good thing but it can also mean that some of us that may have died
of other causes before some of the attacks of old age set in are now
being beset by other diseases (such as Alzheimer’s).
-
Living longer has also created new
challenges for those in their forty's and fifties, the
Sandwich Generation,
those still raising their own children and now challenged with
balancing care for their parents as well.
-
Families relying on two incomes face
significant strains when one of the bread winners has an operation
or injury and faces a prolonged recovery period, particularly if the
spouses job requires travel or long hours away from home
-
Likewise, single parent families face
major challenges as well when the one bread winner becomes sick or
incapacitated
-
Lastly, families are living further
apart from each other, often thousands of miles away, making it
harder to find support within the family unit.
While our caregiving dynamics and
challenges have not become an everyday concern for most of us yet,
momentum is building. There is a plethora of books now being written on
the topic. Home Health is becoming one of the fastest growing segments
of the economy. Our newspapers are beginning to write monthly feature
stories on the topic and our television stations are running community
pieces highlighting various stories related to caregiving. Recently,
WEDU even held a live town hall meeting on the topic.
To add to the momentum and build more
awareness of the issue among our readers, we are preparing the following
articles for your reading pleasure:
-
Major chronic diseases creating
caregiving challenges and the resources to find out more about them
-
The key documents all of us need to
ensure we can take care of health issues for our loved ones when the
time comes
-
Caregiving hints and resources
-
Finding a Professional caregiver
-
Financing Care
We will be forwarding these to you as they
are completed. In the meantime, we encourage all Sandwich Generation
members to visit
www.SandwichGenerationMonth.com
.
While the website is new and growing, it does
have two very good solution
oriented components:
-
the
SGM Library- it is chock
full of videos, books and newspaper articles to help you find your
way down this sometimes daunting path
-
the
SGM Café- a place where
members of the Sandwich Generation and those that care about them
can support each other, interact, network, blog, tell stories and
photos and discuss ways to make long days and nights much easier.
Arthur and his wife Frieda are the
Owners/Directors of the Tampa West Office of
GRISWOLD SPECIAL
CARE (
www.griswoldspecialcare.com ) . GSC is
the World's Oldest
Multi-National Non-Medical Homecare Company.
GRISWOLD
SPECIAL CARE refers Caregivers who
provide personal care, homemaking, companionship, incidental
transportation and other services to Clients wishing to remain safe and
independent at home.
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Lake Juanita monthly (informal) rainfall totals for 2007 as provided by
local resident Reed Smith:
-
Jan/Feb - 4
-
March - .75
-
April - 2.5
-
May - .25
-
June - 5.125
-
July - 4.75
-
August - 6.75
-
September - 3.125
-
October - 4.75
-
November - .125
-
December - 1.5
What is an Outside Dog
From the Humane Society Newsletter "Making Tracks"
by Carie Peterson
I hear people asking the question "Is this an outside dog?" as if this is a
special breed. When I hear this statement, I used to feel sad, but now I
look at what a great opportunity I have to educate the adopters as to why dogs
are not meant to live outside.
Forcing a dog to live outside is one of the most psychological damaging
things a pet owner can do to a a dog. The truth is that dogs are pack
animals and we are their "pack". We are their family and our house is
their den.
Claiming that a dog in the backyard is good for protection is incorrect.
The burglar is not trying to steal your yard and the sound of barking dogs are
as common as car alarms going off. How much better would it be if your
protection was actually inside protecting your home and family?
The more the dog is outdoors, the less control of behavior you have and
aggression is now going to become a problem. Take a look at all the media
stories when a dog bites. The pictures show the dog out in the back,
usually tied up. These dogs' lives are filled with boredom, frustration
and loneliness. Such a live goes against a dog's basic instinct of being
left out of his pack leading to stress and anxiousness.
Dogs trying to desperately get their humans attention will whine, bark, claw
at the door and dig under the fence. When their human does come out to
interact wit them, they are so starved from attention, they exhibit negative
behaviors, such as jumping up, whining, barking and all forms of hyperactivity.
Dogs outside become more easily infested with parasites, both internal and
external and are more subject to disease. Florida weather is full of hot
humid days and terrifying lightning storms that your dog has to endure all
alone.
Dogs give us such devotion and joy and deserve to be treated like part of the
family. They love their family unconditionally and bring so much happiness
into our lives. Humans domesticated dogs, therefore it is up to us to look
after them. The reward you receive in return for having a dog in your
family is priceless.
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Contributed by: Deputy Charity Arthur
Hillsborough County Sheriff*s Office
The longer days of Summer are here, and it is no surprise
that many Keystone/Odessa residents will be utilizing their boats and jet skis
to have fun on the lakes that surround the area. Most citizens are aware of what
they can do to stay safe on the water, but how many of us give a second thought
to keeping our boats safe when we are done using them? Our boats can become
victims the same way any of us can.
Studies show that most vessels are stolen on Sunday nights
into early Monday morning, and most of the boats taken are 16 feet or shorter.
Outboard motor locks will only deter your average thief. So what other options
do you have? A trailer hitch lock is the most recommended item because the key
compresses the lock onto the latch making it difficult to remove. Specifically
designed to prevent theft, the I/O Drive Unit Lock features all brass
construction making it a sturdy option.
If you are lucky enough to have a boat slip, it is advised
that the boat be backed into the slip to deter thieves who may want to drive off
with your boat.
Usually considered a nuisance, lowering or removing the
crank that lifts the trailer hitch up and down, will also make it harder to
remove your boat.
The propeller is a high theft item. It easily slips off,
and the boat cannot operate without it. A propeller lock can be installed
without damaging the propeller. I recommend keeping a spare key somewhere that
is always accessible to you just in case the normally used keys are misplaced. I
do NOT recommend leaving the keys on the boat. If you are enjoying your boat in
salt water, please make sure to use solid brass locks to prevent corrosion.
Jet skis are a ton of fun, but they account for 38% of all
vessel thefts in Florida. Serial numbers can only be viewed by disassembling the
watercraft, so anyone can steal it, paint it another color and register it as a
homemade vessel. The alteration is not easily noticed. If you are he owner of a
jet ski, please document the serial number, make and model along with a thorough
description of your vessel and keep it safely packed away in your home. Place an
alarm on your trailer. Pull strings are a great idea. The alarm will sound if
someone exerts pressure on your jet ski in attempt to move it.
The cost of life jackets can make them a high ticket item.
Thieves remove them and sell them to other boaters in order to turn a profit. I
recommend marking them with the same pens used to mark children*s camp clothing.
Consider placing a wicker basket on your boat to collect your jackets at the end
of your excursion. Make sure to carry the basket off the boat at the end of the
day.
Most criminals require desire, ability and opportunity to
commit a crime. By utilizing the listed ideas, you can remove the opportunity
and possibly the ability, of the thief to remove your boat.
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Keystone Residents Vigilant in Curbing
Violations
Over the past few weeks, some Keystone neighbors observed some
suspicious activity in their neighborhood and took action. You should do the
same if you see something going on near you that just doesn’t seem “up to
snuff.”
We all need to do our part and should take action when we see
any suspicious activity in our neighborhood. Please make note of the
following phone numbers:
-
Environmental Protection Commission (EPC): 627-2600
-
Southwest Florida Water Management District (Swiftmud): 985-7481
-
Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation
Commission: 888-404-3922 or 863-648-3200. On
call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
-
Game Warden: 800-282-8002
-
Hillsborough County Solid Waste (Illegal Dumping): 272-5680
-
Sheriff's Office (complaints): 247-8200
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July’s general meeting program featured an informative
presentation by Odessa resident and wildlife rescuer, Lynn Zablo. You may
remember that Lynn came to our rescue when an injured black vulture was found
during the April Adopt-A-Road. Lynn possesses state and federal wildlife
certifications and uses her experience to give sick, injured, and orphaned
creatures a helping hand.
Lynn
is listed with local and state wildlife agencies who often refer concerned
residents to her when they spot an animal in need. She also sometimes depends on
the residents’ eyewitness accounts to help locate the reported animal.
Sometimes they just need a little helping hand, but as the situation warrants,
she’ll transport the injured animal to local rehabilitation facilities.
Unfortunately many of her rescues are necessitated due to the animal’s
encounter with people, and as we continue to encroach upon their habitat, these
encounters will continue.
Important
things to consider when attempting to rescue wildlife:
- Assess the situation
– do they really need help?
- Contact a wildlife
rehabilitator or other expert for advice and to direct you in the proper
procedures or to appropriate rescue personnel.
- Think about safety –
both yours and the animal’s.
What
can I do to help?
- Don’t feed wildlife.
- Feed and keep your
pets indoors.
- Wildlife-proof your
garbage containers.
- Maintain wildlife
habitat and native landscaping in your yard.
- Avoid or minimize the
use of pesticides.
- Use humane methods to
remove nuisance wildlife.
- Educate your friends,
neighbors, and children on the importance of preserving wildlife.
Who
do I call if I locate wildlife in need of help?
Lynn
Zablo ~ 813.310.9363
Wildlife Haven Rehab, Inc. (Founded in
1991/non-profit)
12514 Jot Em Down Lane
Odessa, FL 33556
Brenda
Baughman (Mammal Division) ~ 813.792.8511
Arlene
Czyzowski (Avian Division) ~ 813.963.1022
See
www.wildlifehavenrehab.org for
other emergency information, happy and sad rescue stories, and information
regarding education and donating time, money, or needed items.
How
can I volunteer?
Like many of us, Lynn works a full time job that limits
her time available for her rescue work. Quite often her schedule does not permit
her to respond to every call. If you are a like-minded, responsible individual
that desires to be trained in the basics of wildlife rescue and assist Lynn, we
want to hear from you. If interested or want more information, please contact
Greg Riski at 920-5561 or riskibiz@peoplepc.com.
Boating Safety
Submitted by Alan Wendt
With warm weather and the end of school,
the number of powerboats on area lakes triples. Many of us bought lakefront
property with a dream of towing our kids and their friends around on tubes,
skis and wakeboards. This year, Florida ousted California and Michigan
as the number one state in the nation for registered boats. Sadly, we also
lead the country in boating deaths each year. Forget for a moment the fact
that there is no mandatory safe boating education required to operate a
boat, with the exception of an age restriction for personal watercraft (PWC).
That's an entirely different debate. Like so many lessons in life, parents
can set a great example for their kids this summer by making sure everyone
on board has a life jacket and wears it on the water. Design advancements,
hot graphics and comfortable materials have turned the old bulky bright
orange Mae West into a fashion statement that complements the paint schemes
on wakeboard tower boats that are the rage. The idea is to encourage
everyone to wear a lifejacket all of the time, not just when it's their turn
on the tube or wakeboard.
If you really love your children, take a
safe boating course with them. Both the Power Squadron and Coast Guard
Auxiliary offer classes at night and on weekends. For those with time
constraints, free classes are now offered online at www.discoverboating.com.
Obviously you're not going to allow the teens access to the boat without
some level of confidence about their boating handling proficiency. Invest a
few minutes at the dock each time going over the safety rules with their
friends. This should include adjusting life jacket straps for a snug fit,
designating a spotter when towing a skier, and reviewing safe boarding
practices, like turning the engine off until everyone is out of the water.
By the way, when was the last time you checked the flare kit on board?
Flares expire every two years and although most of our area lakes are small,
if you needed to signal for help, they do come in handy. While there is
little to no public access to our coveted lakes, both the Sheriff and Marine
Patrol occasionally make a random visit and will issue citations for
boating safety violations as well as reckless operation.
Horse
Sense
Submitted by Laura Swain
Even if you have never ridden a horse in your life, if you
live in Keystone you need to have a bit of “Horse Sense.”
Horses in pastures and riders on horses are part of the
daily scene that contributes so much to the rural lifestyle we all enjoy so
much. But for the horse owners, uninformed neighbors can be truly
dangerous.
So here are a few tips for the non-horsey set and some
reminders for the rest. If you
see:
Riders on the shoulder
of the road: Please slow
down and swing wide around them. Horses
can be unpredictable and although no one ever plans on their horses jumping out
in front of a moving vehicle, it has been known to happen. Don’t Honk Your
Horn
Loose horses on a road
or on the side of a road: Please
stop your vehicle if possible and get others to stop as well.
Hopefully a frantic owner will be close by trying to catch the beasties,
and if so, do what they ask in order to help.
If no one is about, then call the Sheriff. This is a VERY dangerous situation, both for vehicles and
animals. The horses are probably
somewhat frightened to find themselves out of their familiar place, and apt to
be VERY reactive, so stay calm, go slow, don’t honk your horn.
Horse trailer pulling
out of a side road: Please slow
down to let them out. We don’t
have lots of traffic signals in Keystone, so please be neighborly.
Remember that when horses are being pulled in a trailer, slamming on
brakes or swerving off the road to avoid hitting someone is likely to cause
injury to the horses.
Our horse community in Keystone will be so much safer and
happier if we all take a bit more care and slow down around our 4-legged
friends.
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