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Word to the Wise

Lakeland Octogenarian Shares How Structure, Fitness Have Factored Into His Golden Years story by TERESA SCHIFFER photos by MICHAEL WILSON Who doesn’t want to live a long, healthy, and happy life? There’s no one formula that fits every lifestyle, so Central Florida Health News asked Lakeland octogenarian athlete Gordon “Cork” Wilson to spill the beans…
Pop Quiz: Osteoporosis Can Sneak Up on You. Are You at Risk?

Breaking a bone is scary enough for anyone, regardless of age. So imagine how frightening it can be to know that your bones aren’t nearly as strong as when you were younger! Unfortunately, that’s a reality for people who suffer from osteoporosis. The condition is often an underlying factor when seniors suffer broken bones. Take…
More Than Man’s Best Friend

Maguire Schmid Finds Perfect Partner in Diabetic Alert Dog by TIM CRAIG photos by MICHAEL WILSON Maguire Schmid remembers his first encounter with a Diabetic Alert Dog. It was about seven years ago at a festival. One of his friends who has type I diabetes had one. “I had no idea they even existed until…

Editor’s Dose: Tips for minimizing back-to-school stress

IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, then come early July you were already thinking about preparations for the new school year. Parents and children in the community this year are getting ready extra early because Polk County public schools moved up their calendar by one week — day one of school is August 15.
Making the choice to breastfeed

THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH in Polk County (DOH-Polk) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) recognize August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month. This is a wonderful time of year to promote breastfeeding as a vital health activity and discuss the health benefits breastfeeding provides. Although every woman has their own…
Editor’s Dose: Keeping kids’ bodies and minds active this summer

WHEN I FIRST had the twins, my mom would say, “Have a schedule for them, or they’ll have a schedule for you.” Basically, she was cautioning that I’d better keep those little minds and bodies active, or chaos would inevitably ensue. Being a mother of eight children, I think she was speaking from personal experience.…