July/August 2016

The best hike for you is the one you want to do, and that you can do, now.

It may be different for every person, every day, depending on where you’ll be, whom you’ll be hiking with and how much time you have available.

That’s why “60 Hikes within 60 Miles of Cleveland” is useful. Hiking destinations are listed based on location, elevation, scenery, trail surface and accessibility and length. It makes fitting hiking into your schedule — and into the rest of your life — much easier.

I’m a hiking guide author, and people often ask me “What are the best hikes in Northeast Ohio?” Below is my list of five hikes that are best for various circumstances. Find one near you (or near your workplace, or by a friend’s house or a favorite restaurant) that suits you and hit the trail.

BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK — Blue Hen Falls

Cuyahoga Valley National Park

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Past the pretty and picturesque falls (and the blue blazes of the Buckeye Trail) you’ll find a steep descent to Buttermilk Falls — then a good climb back up. Total distance covered is just about 2 miles, but it will feel like a real “getaway.”

Terrain is steep, with loose sand and gravel in places. To hike here, you should be surefooted, and certain that your knees can handle the steep trail.

BEST BET FOR UNPREDICTABLE WEATHER — F.A. Seiberling Nature Realm

Summit County

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The visitor center (closed most Mondays) is as green and inviting as an indoor space can be, so if you have a day to get outside but the weather isn’t cooperating, you’ll find your outdoor fix here. Even when the park’s three hiking trails are too wet to enjoy, you might still be able to traverse the paved paths that wander through an herb garden and arboretum.

CATCH 5

It was the news team that had it all — groovy dancers, swirly colors and a jingle that spun in your head like a 45 on a turntable. We’ve got the lyrics. Do you remember this popular Cleveland TV news team?

FEAR AND LOATHING

The ’72 Presidential Conventions Incumbent Republican President Richard Nixon and Democratic Sen. George McGovern won their party’s nominations for president during the summer conventions in Miami Beach. Hunter S. Thompson’s coverage of the democratic convention for Rolling Stone magazine and his book “Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail ’72” influenced thousands of would-be Gonzo journalists.

It makes no difference Who you are

If you’ve been lookin’ near and far

To get the feel of life

You’ll find the world at hand.

You’ve got to catch 5.

You’ll see it all when you catch 5

The world is yours when you catch 5

When you reach out and you catch 5

You’ve caught it all.

If your image of a senior center conjures up a group of “old people” snoozing around the Bingo table, just take a peek at your local facility. You may be pleasantly surprised.

EXPLORE PROGRAMS BEYOND A CENTER

Laurie Schaefer chuckles a bit at the stereotype. “They think they’re too young. But once I can get them to walk through the door, they change their minds,” says the Rocky River Senior Center program coordinator.

Cards and crafts are still staples of senior centers, but look around. There’s yoga, circuit training, speed dating, theater groups, distance learning and maybe even Elvis himself.

“We’ve expanded our fitness program to include more adventure and more intensity,” says Jill Frankel, director of the Solon Senior Center, who refers to participants there as “senagers” — combining senior and teenager to reflect the energy and interest of clients.

The center’s programming such as Pickleball, barre and circuit training define a more active lifestyle. “We were one of the first with (Nintendo) Wii. We try to define new opportunities and offer them,” she adds.

A NEW STYLE CENTER

One of the first things a visitor notices about the Westlake Community Services Center is the absence of the word “senior” on its sign. Activities director Jennifer Yoo explains that senior services are rolled into other community programs.

As ladies in their finest hats attend a program about the fashions of “Downton Abbey,” she and co-director Jodi Rodriguez review a plethora of offerings that include a speed dating-styled mixer. “We were shocked at the response,” Yoo says. They plan to add more sessions because the first was so popular.

Frankel and her staff also have discussed rebranding and removing the “senior” word. “But we want people to know this is where they go to remain independent in the community.”

That independence is encouraged at senior centers such as Rocky River’s.

Do you know whether you need estate planning or long-term care planning, and how to find a competent attorney?

Most people don’t. Clients often think they need to protect assets from a nursing home only to learn that what they really need is a new will, trust and powers of attorney.

MAKE A PLAN FOR YOUR ESTATE

Estate planning is the process of providing for yourself and your family in the event of your retirement, disability or death. Through a properly crafted estate plan, you put your legal and financial affairs in order so that the assets you have accumulated during your lifetime will be preserved and transferred to your heirs with the least amount of tax, financial and emotional cost. The most common estate planning tools available include a will, a trust, a durable power of attorney, a health care power of attorney and a living will declaration.

Sit down with your family to plan out some of the most important issues you face. Who will handle your affairs when you are incompetent or dead? How do you want to pass your assets to the next generation? What kinds of medical treatment do,you want or not want at the end of life? Your plan will vary depending upon your family situation, assets, and goals and plans for the future. The more your net worth, the more complicated and more important the planning becomes.

Long-term care planning includes many of the same things that you need for estate planning. In addition, a big focus is how to protect and preserve assets if you need long-term medical care.

LONG-TERM CARE PLANNING

Often, long-term care planning means trying to qualify for Department of Veterans Affairs or Medicaid benefits — the only government programs that will pay for long-term care at home, in assisted living and nursing home care.

Linda Gardner of Aurora wears a hat in the sun, even in the pool. Unless, it’s midnight swimming, she says with a laugh.

That’s because 15 years ago, her husband Mark noticed an odd spot on her back. On a hunch, she got it checked. Her dermatologist removed it and sent it to the laboratory. It came back precancerous.

“I’m sure it was from those first 20 summers of not using enough sunscreen,” says the fair-skinned redhead who is in her 50s. She now gets regular skin screenings to prevent cancer.

RETIREMENT YEARS AND SUN EXPOSURE

Linda is right, according to her doctor. “Ninety percent of sun exposure starts in first 20 years of your life,” says Dr. Monique Cohn, dermatologist at Advanced Dermatology in Twinsburg. “That’s when you feel no limit on the sun. Then, you get a job and you’re not outside as much.”

Sun exposure may increase during retirement years when activities such as fishing, gardening, boating and motorcycling get folks outdoors for longer hours. Ditching Northeast Ohio for sunnier climates also can expand the exposure.

“Even for adults, it’s worthwhile to be protected. It can still prevent cancers,” Dr. Cohn says. “Especially for men who are now balding and have their whole scalp now exposed, the head is an area we see a lot of pre-cancers developing. They should wear a cap or sunscreen.”

MAKE TIME FOR A CHECKUP

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer, affecting one in five Americans, reports The American Academy of Dermatology. In 2016, an estimated 10,130 deaths in the United States will be attributed to the more aggressive melanoma cancer, while another 7,130 will be attributed to other forms of skin cancer. Those numbers have more than doubled since 1982.

Tanning beds are considered part of the problem. They have stronger skin damaging rays and should be avoided, Dr.

I f you have pets and plan to travel, you may be considering a place to board your pet while you’re gone. Here are five practical tips when planning to board your pet:

1 Update your pet’s core vaccines, plus those required by the boarding facility and as recommended by your veterinarian.

2 Make sure your pet is free of parasites such as fleas and intestinal parasites. Your veterinarian can help you manage these for your pet.

3 Get to know the boarding facility staff so you can feel that your pet is in the hands of people who care about your pet like you do.

4 Understand what your pet’s experience will be like during your absence.

5 Finally, and most importantly, don’t leave planning to the last possible moment. Make an appointment with your veterinarian and the boarding facility well ahead of time (one month ahead). If you don’t already have a veterinarian or boarding facility, start your research now for a suitable fit for you and your pet.