Sudden Cardiac Arrest can strike at any time and at any age. A new bill supported by Oklahoma Insurance Commissioner John D. Doak hopes to educate Oklahomans about this condition.
Doak is supporting Michael Morris, a father who lost his teenage son to Sudden Cardiac Arrest. Morris hopes legislative proposals will help educate other parents and save lives. Michael’s son, Chase, died suddenly in 2013. His death came as a shock, because Chase was an active 16-year-old athlete with no family history of heart disease.
Commissioner Doak attended the “Play for Chase” Youth Heart Screening event yesterday. Student athletes received blood pressure checks, physicals and an EKG exam for low or no cost. These types of test are not normally part of routine check-ups for teenagers. More than 275 students were screened at this event and three had serious heart conditions.
“This is an issue that is close to my family. My daughter has had multiple heart surgeries, and my son is a student athlete,” Doak said. “We support this bill 100 percent. I commend the Morris family for all their hard work and dedication to this important cause.”
The Chase Morris Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act will be introduced as proposed legislation in Oklahoma this session.
“This is the first time in Oklahoma’s history that we’ve had doctors in both the House and the Senate,” said Rep. Doug Cox, M.D., who is sponsoring the legislation. “So what better way to introduce our first bill than by using what we do in our real lives to propose legislation that will save young athletes and prevent death.”
The bill includes:
* The development of educational materials on Sudden Cardiac Arrest for student athletes
* A requirement that all student athletes and their parents read the materials and sign a yearly waiver
* Guidelines for removing a student who show signs of Sudden Cardiac Arrest during a sporting event and when they can return to athletics
* Yearly training course on Sudden Cardiac Arrest for coaches
* Penalties for coaches who violate the act
“Chase would be very proud. He was a loving son, and we’re taking the tragedy of our son’s death and trying to make a difference in the lives of other children,” said Morris.

Senior lives through her artwork

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Apr 24, 2015

by Mike Lee
Staff Writer

Bettina Trice has dated the sexiest man alive. She’s traveled the world, had a world championship whippet and all those things still don’t come close to accurately portraying this unique 81-year-old.
Trice started painting when she was four, copying Dick Tracy out of the paper.
She’s lived her entire life by the philosophy you’re never bored if you’re an artist.
In the 1950s, Trice’s mother entered her in a beauty contest. The shy Oklahoma City girl made it to the stage but then figured out she had another problem.
“They accepted me and that night I said ‘Dear Jesus, what am I going to do. I don’t dance and I don’t sing,’” Trice remembers. “He gave me the message of doing art. I sketched the Mona Lisa in three minutes and would you believe I won.”
Trice went to Central High School growing up and then married
Through the years Trice has run Betty’s Gift Shop and she’s worked for Wolf & Wolf Advertising.
Art is life for Trice and one day she hopes to have her work displayed in an Oklahoma museum.
“It keeps you in touch with God,” she said.
For about a month, when she was still Betty Salmon, she found herself face-to-face with Harry Belafonte – voted at the time the sexiest man alive. She coyly asked for an autograph insisting it was for her sister.
“As I was walking away he asked if I could give him a ride,” Trice said. “We dated for over a month.”
She still remembers the first date when they went to a local restaurant.
“He said ‘I want you to go first because I wouldn’t want to embarrass you,’” Trice said. “I took his hand and told him if we couldn’t go in together I wasn’t going in. We went in and everyone stood up and applauded. Can you believe that in Oklahoma in the 1960s?”
In addition to the artwork that adorns her walls at Emerald Square Assisted Living Center, Trice has vacation photos of her and her husband in China and Italy. She spent a month touring China and visited the Great Wall. She’s dined at the luxury Hotel Cipriani in Venice, drinking wine with peaches for breakfast.
Her destinations have also included Japan, Europe and Mexico.
Trice and her husband – who owned Trice Electronics – had three children and plenty of grandchildren and great grandchildren have followed.
Those who may have dined at Sussy’s Italian Restaurant in Oklahoma City may remember the hand-painted mugs owner Jack Sussy used to give out. The Chicago native commissioned Trice to paint some 5,000 cups, each different.
“The waitresses didn’t like me very much because every time they came in they wanted to use their cup,” Trice said. “He finally put in some lazy susans. They didn’t think that was very funny.”
From time to time she gets approached by Emerald Square residents about painting self portraits or portraits of their animals.
She’s happy to oblige, painting almost every day.
Several of the paintings that hang on her wall are of her whippets.
During her life, Trice also became certified to teach tennis lessons. Her and husband built the first indoor tennis court in Oklahoma City.

RSVP of Central Ok Visits Lincoln Park Senior Center

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Apr 24, 2015

Faye-Be Ready Bagsc — “Be Ready” disaster preparedness bag were presented to each senior at the Lincoln Park Senior Center in Oklahoma City.

story and photos by Lisa Davenport, PROVIDE-A-RIDE Outreach Coordinator

Celebrating the life and work of Martin Luther King Jr., RSVP of Central Oklahoma staff and volunteers visited with the older adults who attend the Lincoln Park Senior Center in Oklahoma City while serving them coffee and donuts. In addition, they presented each senior with a “Be Ready” disaster preparedness bag, which included a flashlight and blanket; two items needed in the event of an emergency or disaster. The insulated bags are big enough to hold other essential items, such as water, medications, a change of clothes, copies of important documents, a first aid kit, etc. The bags are great to have “ready” to use at home, or grab and take in case of the need to evacuate.
Beth Patterson, Executive Director, spoke about Senior Corps, which is made up of the Retired Senior Volunteer Program, Senior Companion Program and Foster Grandparent Program. Each program connects older adults with rewarding and meaningful community volunteer opportunities.
Lisa Davenport, Outreach Coordinator, spoke about the Provide-A-Ride program, which provides free medical transportation for seniors, age 60 and older, living on limited incomes. She explained the program offers not only transportation, but also conversation and companionship, which is very important to the clients living in isolation with a limited support system. She invited the group to join RSVP in their mission to help seniors within our communities remain as independent as possible, and in their own homes for as long as possible, by volunteering to take them to their much needed medical appointments.
The event concluded with a question and answer period and each of the 40 participants pondering the question presented by Dr. King years ago, “What are you doing for others?”
For more information about RSVP of Central Oklahoma, call 605-3110, or visit www.rsvpokc.org. To become a volunteer driver or register as a Provide-A-Ride client, call 605-3106.
RSVP of Central Oklahoma, Inc. is a part of the Corporation for National Service and a proud United Way of Central Oklahoma partner agency.

SAVVY SENIOR – How to Make Your Bathroom Safer

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Apr 24, 2015

How to Make Your Bathroom Safer

Dear Savvy Senior, What tips do you recommend for making a bathroom safer and more functional for seniors. My 79-year-old mother slipped and fell getting out of the shower last month, and I’d like to modify her bathroom a bit with some safety features that can help protect her. Searching Daughter

Dear Searching,
Because more accidents and injuries happen in the bathroom than any other room in the house, this is a very important room to modify for aging in place. Depending on your mom’s needs, here are some tips for each part of the bathroom that can make it safer and easier to use.
Flooring: To avoid slipping, a simple fix is to get non-skid bath rugs for the floors. Or if you want to put in a new floor get slip-resistant tiles, rubber or vinyl flooring, or install wall-to-wall carpeting.
Lighting: Good lighting is also very important, so install the highest wattage bulbs allowed for your mom’s bathroom fixtures, and get a plug-in nightlight that automatically turns on when the room gets dark.
Bathtub/shower: To make bathing safer, purchase a rubber suction-grip mat, or put down adhesive nonskid tape on the tub/shower floor. And have a carpenter install grab bars in and around the tub/shower for support.
If your mom uses a shower curtain, install a screw or bolt-mounted curtain rod, versus a tension-mounted rod, so that if she loses her balance and grabs the shower curtain the rod won’t spring loose.
If your mom has mobility issues or balance problems, get her a shower or bathtub seat so she can bathe from a seated position. In addition, you may also want to get a handheld, adjustable-height showerhead installed that will make washing while sitting down easier.
Another, pricier option is to install a walk-in-bathtub or a prefabricated curbless shower. Walk-in tubs have a door in front that provides a much lower threshold to step over than a standard tub. They also typically have a built-in seat, handrails and a slip resistant bottom, and some have therapeutic spa features with whirlpool water jets and/or bubble massage air jets.
Curbless showers have no threshold to step over, and typically come with a built-in seat, grab bars, slip resistant floors and an adjustable handheld showerhead. Prefabricated curbless showers and walk-in-tubs typically cost anywhere between $2,500 and $10,000 installed.
Toilet: Most toilets are about 14 to 16 inches high which can be an issue for many people with arthritis, back, hip or knee problems. To raise the toilet height, which can make sitting down and getting back up a little easier, you can purchase a raised toilet seat that clamps to the toilet bowl, and/or purchase toilet safety rails that sit on each side of the seat for support. Or, you can install an ADA compliant toilet that ranges between 17 and 19 inches high.
Faucets: If your mom has twist handles on the sink, bathtub or shower faucets, replace them with lever handle faucets. They’re easier to operate, especially for seniors with arthritis or limited hand strength. Also note that it only takes 130-degree water to scald someone, so turn her hot water heater down to 120 degrees.
Entrance: If your mom needs a wider bathroom entrance to accommodate a walker or wheelchair, install some “swing clear” offset hinges on the door which will widen the doorway an additional two inches.
Emergency assistance: As a safety precaution, purchase a waterproof phone for the bathroom or get a medical alert device (SOS emergency call button) that your mom could wear in case she falls and needs to call for help.
You can find all of the products suggested in this column at either medical supply stores, pharmacies, big-box stores, home improvement stores, hardware and plumbing supply stores as well as online.
Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of “The Savvy Senior” book.

Bouncer, please remove that songbird from the bar

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Apr 24, 2015

By Greg Schwem

The next time you are traveling through Oregon and spot a zebra finch, or what non-ornithologists call “a bird,” it’s best to stay away.
The creature may be drunk.
In their attempts to understand the relationship between alcohol and speech impairment, researchers at Oregon Health and Science University recently chose to ply the birds with booze and then record their sounds. Finches were chosen because, according to the study, they “learn song in a manner analogous to how humans learn speech.”
I’m not sure why further study on this topic is needed; we need only ask celebrities to explain how alcohol affects one’s ability to form words. Mel Gibson, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton and Justin Bieber, please step up to the bar. Still, I read on, despite breaking my cardinal rule to never read medical studies. Doing so requires one to digest sentences such as, “nucleus RA occupies a position in this pathway analogous to the layer 5 motor neurons within the oral-motor and laryngeal representation areas of the human primary motor cortex, which project onto brainstem laryngeal centers for vocal control.”
I interpreted that to mean I shouldn’t summon security the next time I’m sitting next to an angry fan screaming profanities at a professional sporting event. Instead, I should politely ask him to tone down his brainstem laryngeal center. And then call security.
The birds’ initiation into the world of intoxication began slowly; finches were first fed water, then water mixed with white grape juice and finally white grape juice spiked with alcohol. Then the real fun began as the finches entered a studio complete with professional microphones, preamplifiers and recording software. “Singing was recorded and processed with the settings for zebra finch song,” researchers wrote.
Would somebody please tell me the proper zebra finch song settings? This was not explained despite an exhaustive description of what to listen for when zebra finches begin singing. There was also no indication of exactly what songs they were singing.
Researchers quickly noticed that alcohol exposure in finches did not affect their general behavior. They were able to perch, stand upright and even fly inside their cages despite being buzzed. It also did not affect their willingness or motivation to sing. So despite the similarities between finches and humans, differences abounded as well. If alcohol did not affect our willingness to sing, karaoke bars would have ceased operation years ago.
However, male finches did noticeably perk up when females were introduced into adjacent cages. The males also suddenly decided they were great dancers. Okay, I made that last one up.
The recording sessions lasted several hours because, as the study points out, “finches clear alcohol quite slowly once high blood ethanol concentration (BEC) levels are achieved.”
Who knew?
Also, there was plenty of alcohol to clear because, as researchers sheepishly admitted, the BEC levels could be classified as “risky” drinking with one bird even approaching binge drinking status. After reading the entire study, I reached two conclusions:
I need a zebra finch to clear out all the strange alcohol in my liquor cabinet. How did I end up with a bottle of Crème de Menthe?
I will never look at white grape juice the same way again.
But I also believe further research is needed before concluding people and finches are alike when it comes to alcohol consumption. Oregon researchers, please answer the following questions:
Are male finches inclined to pick fights with bigger, stronger finches after accusing them of looking at their female companions?
Do female finches warble on incessantly about relationships and glumly sing how they may never find “The Right Mr. Finch?”
Do finch couples break up and reconcile repeatedly while drinking?
(Greg Schwem is a corporate stand-up comedian and author of “Text Me If You’re Breathing: Observations, Frustrations and Life Lessons From a Low-Tech Dad,” available at http://bit.ly/gregschwem. Visit Greg on the web at www.gregschwem.com.) (c) 2015 GREG SCHWEM. DISTRIBUTED BY TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC

Pop the Cork on the Good Life

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Apr 24, 2015

About Stephen F. Lovell, MBA, ChFC®, CLU®, CFP®, CFS, BCM, CRPC®, AEP®, RHU®, AIF®

Imagine a bright, golden vista filled with soothing, warm sunshine – perhaps it is California’s Highway 29. You’re driving this scenic route after crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on a Tuesday during working hours. That’s right, you’re going to Napa.
Of course, this is precisely the kind of thing you’re getting used to doing on Tuesdays – not only because you’re becoming a wine connoisseur, but also because Tuesdays no longer belong to hours under the glare of fluorescent lights in front of your work computer. Aah, you’re retired.
“That’s the dream, and as a native San Franciscan I know it well. I myself have traveled the byways of food and wine in the Bay Area. More Americans could be living their dream during retirement, wherever they go to play,” says Stephen F. Lovell, a nationally recognized retirement expert who emphasizes a comprehensive approach for well-being during one’s golden years.
“Many baby boomers will retire in the next few years, and for many of them that dream has a nightmarish tinge—they’re worried they’ll run out of money.”
Lovell, president of Lovell Wealth Legacy, (www.lovellwealthlegacy.com), says 2015 can and should be the start of that good life. He offers three simple ways to bring your dream into reality.
• Revise your budget at the year’s beginning. Ask yourself: How do I spend my money? Many of us believe we have a reasonable idea of where we put our money, but unless you account for your spending, you may miss out by not putting away enough for your happy retirement.
A household’s discretionary spending on nonessential goods and services like a second smart phone case or the premier movie channel is could top 30 percent. And that is often twice what you intended—but you don’t see it until you budget. “Budgeting puts you in the driver’s seat,” Lovell says. “From there you can control where you spend. You’re buying on purpose, and sometimes you get a nice surprise. That alluring vacation is now within reach.”
• Be proactive about your financial interests before visiting a professional. Knowing which financial products may work best for your personal needs and how to protect your hard-earned money from unnecessary taxation is not what most laypeople excel at. That job is best handled by working with a professional. But, as with your health, you reap the benefits of being aware of your needs and of initiating the process of looking after yourself.
“Remember, 40 percent of retirees underestimate their life expectancy, according to an Ernst & Young study,” Lovell says, “so if you don’t want to run out of money, create your financial plan to cover this extended retirement period. Then, you odds for a comfortable retirement are improved.”
• Consider alternatives to stocks, bonds and cash. Many new investment types have appeared to solve planning and retirement issues. Yet most investors limit their choices by relying exclusively on stocks, bonds and cash. From 2000 to 2013, the stock market, for all its ups and downs, wound up at roughly the same place, around 1527. At a 2 to 3 percent investment cost per year, many investors, for all their efforts, lost money! “I educate my clients by bringing to their attention the wide universe of investment types. Results are that more suitable solutions are uncovered and then applied for the client’s benefit.”
Stephen F. Lovell is a thoroughly credentialed, nationally recognized financial professional. Since 1990, he has been gathering various licenses — in insurance, securities, real estate, commodities and as a registered principle — to offer his clients a thoroughly comprehensive perspective on their wealth. He is president of Lovell Wealth Legacy, (www.lovellwealthlegacy.com), and a branch manager at LPL Financial. Lovell has earned several professional honors and memberships. Since walking with his mother as a child for the March of Dimes in San Francisco, he has been active in local and national charities. More recently, Lovell has taken to the airwaves as a radio host at KDOW, where he hosts a weekly show about pursuing financial success and, of course, enjoying the fruits of that financial success.

February & March AARP Drivers Safety Classes Offered

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Apr 24, 2015

Date/ Day/ Location/ Time/ Registration #/ Instructor
Feb 19/ Thursday/ Norman/ 9 am – 3:30 pm/ 440-8802/ Palinsky, Norman Regional Hospital – 950 N. Porter
Feb 28/ Saturday/ Norman/ 9 am – 3:30 pm/ 292-9770/ Palinsky, Little Axe Community Center – 1000 – 168th Ave. N.E.
Mar 5/ Thursday/ Okla. City/ 9:30 am – 4 pm/ 951-2277/ Edwards Integris 3rd Age Center – 5100 N. Brookline
Mar 10/ Tuesday/ Midwest City/ 9 am – 3:30 pm/ 691-4091/ Palinsky, Rose State – 6191 Tinker Diagonal
Mar 11/ Wednesday/ Okla. City/ 9 am – 3:30 pm/ 752-3600 or 478-4587/ Reffner, Mercy Hospital – 4300 W. Memorial Rd
Mar 13/ Friday/ Okla. City/ 9 am – 3:30 pm/ 942-4339/ Palinsky, Will Rogers Senior Center – 3501 Pat Murphy Dr.
Mar 13/ Friday/ Okla. City/ 9 am – 3:30 pm/ 951-2277/ Edwards, S.W. Medical Center – 4200 S. Douglas, Suite B-10
Mar 14/ Saturday/ Norman/ 9 am – 3:30 pm/ 292-9770/ Palinsky, Little Axe Community Center – 1000, 168th Ave. N. E.
Mar 20/ Friday/ Okla. City/ 9 am – 3:30 pm/ 681-3266/ Palinsky, Woodson Park Senior Center – 3401 S. May Ave
Mar 21/ Saturday/ Moore/ 9 am – 3:30 PM/ 799-3130/ Palinsky, Brand Senior Center – 501 E. Main
The prices for the classes are: $15 for AARP members and $20 for Non-AARP. Call John Palinsky, zone coordinator for the Oklahoma City area at 405-691-4091 or send mail to:johnpalinsky@sbcglobal.net

El Reno Welcomes New ER Department Provider

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Apr 24, 2015

As a former firefighter and paramedic-turned-nurse practitioner, Antoinette Thompson-Ducasse has always been dedicated to public service and believes her profession chose her.
She brings that dedication to her new role as a nurse practitioner at Mercy Hospital El Reno.
During her 23-year career as a firefighter, Thompson-Ducasse became a paramedic and eventually went on to nursing school where she discovered her deep passion for caring for others.
“I love caring for people, teaching them, being straight with them and everything about it,” she said. “I treat people like family with the respect and dignity they deserve. I like to have an open relationship with patients so they know they can trust me since I will listen and care for their needs.”
Thompson-Ducasse received her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, and her master’s degree in nursing from the University of South Alabama in Mobile.
For the past several years, Thompson-Ducasse has volunteered at the Royal Family Kids Camp and the Teen Reach Adventure Camp as a camp nurse. For three years, she has also volunteered for the 1040 Initiative where she provides medical care to patients in a village in West Africa.

Grief Support Groups Offered

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Apr 24, 2015

If you have experienced the death of a loved one, grief is the normal and natural response to loss. INTEGRIS Hospice provides on-going grief support.
Conducted by certified grief specialist, Marla Mercer Cole, MS, the six-week free evening program provides a step-by-step approach for those who wish to resolve their loss issues and move beyond their grief toward a richer quality of life.
Dates: Feb. 2 through March 9 (Monday evenings) Time: 6:15 to 7:30 p.m. Place: Southwest Christian University, 7210 NW 39th Expressway • Bethany, OK 73008, Room 1 • North Dormitory Building
To enroll: Call 405-603-1708. Programs are free of charge; space limited.
Cole is a licensed professional counselor specializing in the field of grief and loss. As current vice president of Mercer Adams Funeral Service in Bethany, she also directs the aftercare program for families they serve and oversees community relations.
Normal grief responses include appetite loss, difficulty sleeping, feelings of guilt or regret, lack of concentration, mood changes, numbness or crying.

TRAVEL/ ENTERTAINMENT – Jamaica: More than the Jazz & Blues Festival

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Apr 24, 2015

Jamaica: More than the Jazz & Blues Festival

Photography and Text by Terry “Travels with Terry” Zinn t4z@aol.com

While an excuse is never needed to visit exotic locales, it’s advisable to have an anchor activity for your visit. The Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival near Montego Bay, was my initial reason for revisiting Jamaica. I had been there decades ago with a group of college chums. Other than the palm trees and azure waters and the natural wonder of Dunn River Falls near Ocho Rios, I don’t remember much.
The Jamaica Jazz and Blues Festival is a three night event, held this year at the Trelawny outdoor stadium near Montego Bay. The musical line up of acts was impressive, fun and educational. Reggae is not in my lexicon of favorite musical styles, as the first night was all nominal Reggae from local and regional bands
The second and third nights the caliber of musical entertainment increased with well-known performers including: Mariah Carey, Arturo Tappin, Richie Stephens, Peter Cetera, Charlie Wilson, Pointer Sisters and Soja, who were nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 57th Grammy Awards this year. While many expected Carey to be the highlight of the Festival, it was Charlie Wilson and Peter Cetera who earned the adoration of the music fans.
Before and after the evening concerts I visited several Jamaican attractions that offer variety, education and fun. Be sure and plan to visit the restored 1760 Rose Hall plantation house. Here with a personal tour you can step back in time to imagine the lifestyle of a sugarcane plantation owner. The most famous inhabitant was John Palmer’s wife, Annee, who turned out to be called the White Witch by her slaves for her cruel treatment, as she murdered a few husbands and herself was killed in the house. It is said she still haunts the house to this day. While the house was in ruin until in 1965, we are thankful it was completely restored to what might have been its glory days.
Chukka Caribbean Adventure Tours (www.chukka.com) offers ATVs, dune buggy rides and Zip lining. It is a safe and enjoyable soft adventure to drive a two person dune buggy through the orchards with majestic views of the distance Jamaican mountains. Zip lining is always an adventure, for no two locales are ever the same. As you sit down into your harness and let go, you never know what jungle vistas will be zipping by. Going through the fork of a large tree, is indeed a thrill. The expert guides at Chukka are to be commended for their skill and attention. Chukka also offers, nature canopy tours, river floating and rum tastings. If you can work into your time, visit the great house. The view from atop this hilltop mansion of the Egg Crate Mountains provides a unique memory.
Over in Ocho Rios, be sure and visit Mystic Mountain (www.rainforestbobsledjamaica.com) with its dry bobsledding ride, Dolphin Cove (www.dolphincovejamaica.com) with its sea life and aviary, and it goes without saying to visit iconic Dunn River Falls (www.dunnsriverja.com). For Jamaican history visit the downtown Montego Bay Cultural Center, by Sam Sharpe square with parking in the rear.
In Montego Bay you may wish to stay at the adults only, all inclusive, upscale Hyatt Zilara hotel (http://rosehall.zilara.hyatt.com) with its extensive pools and palm fringed private beach. While I don’t know if it’s officially recommended, but with eight all inclusive (no bills) dining locales, where reservation are not taken, your own impromptu progressive dinner could be enjoyed. What a luxury to sample an appetizer here, and entree at another venue and then dessert at another.
Hyatt Zilara offers Brazilian style dinning; Italian, with fresh made oven baked pizzas; an anytime buffet at Horizons, and a favorite of all, the on the beach Jerk stand, with melt in your mouth grilled chicken, port and sausage. Open till 6 pm, a beach side sampling, always hot and ready, is indeed a vacationer’s dream. Beach and pool side servers are available to take and deliver your beverage requests. More eating options are also available along with a Crepe stand near the lobby, operating until 2 pm. And don’t forget 24 hour room service. At Flavorz, I had a Welsh Rabbit, Sunday Roast with Yorkshire Pudding (a pastry), topped off with Jamaican Fruit Cake which is more like a chocolate mousse cake infused with fruit flavors.
On my first night I was delighted at the service and ambiance of the dress code-enforced Petit Paris restaurant. Stewart, my server was informative, efficient and personable as he served me scallops, a house salad, Steak Frites and an out of this world coconut CrÃ¨me Brule. I added another perfect martini made from the Stirz bar adjacent to the main lobby. Not many bars in the best resorts can make a proper martini or follow directions, but at the Hyatt Zilara, over several days of enjoyable testing, I found them all accomplished. With an evening beverage in hand while strolling along the balmy ocean surf at dusk, you can create and take in a true lux resort experience.
You need not wait until next year to visit Jamaica during the Jazz and Blues Festival, for as you can see Jamaica has many other attractions around which to center your visit. My thanks to the Jamaica Tourist Board for their assistance, as they can also help you plan your Jamaican visit. (www.visitjamaica.com)