Pittsburgh 55+ Magazine Spring 2016 Issue

Lose up to 30 Pounds in 30 Days

with Dr. Michael Vactor, D.C.’s weight loss system

Also in this Issue...

• Power of Sleeping Well • Fond Memories of Forbes Field • Step Back into 1956

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

1

FROM THE PUBLISHER

P.O. Box 722 Wexford, PA 15090-0722

Phone: 724-940-2444 Fax: 724-940-2447 Email: info@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com President & Publisher Marion Swanson Piotrowski Executive Editor Marianne Reid Anderson Managing Editor/ Public Relations Coordinator Paula M. Green Marketing & Account Executive and Office Coordinator Laura Arnold

Marketing & Account Executive Mary L. Simpson Design & Production Kostilnik & Assoc. Graphics, Inc. Distribution Dominion Distribution

Laura Arnold

Mary Simpson

llpspc@consolidated.net

mlsspc@consolidated.net

Karen Knewpol knewpol@consolidated.net

Marianne Reid Anderson

Paula Green

info@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

info@PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine is published four times a year by Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. (P.O. Box 722, Wexford, PA 15090-0722, 724-940-2444) and is distributed free of charge throughout the Greater Pittsburgh region. Subscription can be purchased from the publisher at $25 for one year.

Welcome to the spring issue of Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus magazine!

S

pring has sprung! The older I get the more I appreciate spring bringing the warmer weather and longer days.

The one thing that I am really looking forward to this spring is the Opening Day for baseball. I am excited to attend opening day this year for the Pirates with my son and continue the family tradition. This year, the Pirate’s opening day is on Sunday, April 3, which is the first time in history that opening day is on a Sunday. Hopefully this year, we can all say, “The Buccos are going all the way!” I have always enjoyed watching the Pirates, I remember as a child going to Forbes Field and watching Pirate greats like Roberto Clemente, Bill Mazeroski and so many others. This issue’s Pondering Pittsburgh will help you reminisce about going to Forbes Field to enjoy exciting games, winning seasons and famous players. There is a great YouTube video called There Used to be a Ballpark featuring Forbes Field sung

by Frank Sinatra, if you are a fan, be sure to check it out!

Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus magazine’s new feature, Advances in Healthcare, highlights Simple Steps to Improving Brain Health, Easing Pain through Physical Therapy, Power of Sleeping Well and Senior Eye Care. I hope that this is helpful and informative to our readers and please feel free to send us suggestions on topics you would like us to cover.

Enjoy reading the spring issue of Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus magazine. Thank you for your continued support.

We invite Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus readers to submit story ideas and photos of people and places that help make Pittsburgh an outstanding place to live! n

“The two most important days of your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why.”

By Mark Twain

The mission of the Swanson Publishing Co., Inc. is to connect the people of Pittsburgh by publishing the area’s finest senior publication, Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine. The publication is dedicated to the people, communities, educational, religious, travel, health, and recreational needs of seniors in our area.

The contents of Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine may not be reproduced or copied in whole or in part without written permission from the publisher. Pittsburgh Fifty Five Plus Magazine reserves the right to refuse editorial or advertisements that do not meet the standards of this publication.

2

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Find us on under Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus Magazine!

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

3

6

Contents 6

Cover Story: The Time is Now! Lose Up to 30 Lbs. in 30 Days! Dr. Michael Vactor, DC

8

The Power of Sleeping Well

10 Sleep in Retirement Study Heather Gunn, PhD 11 Advances in Senior Eye Care Marianne Reid Anderson 12 Ease Pain and Keep Active Through Physical Therapy 14 5 Simple Steps to Improve Brain Health 16 CCAC Golf Team Invited to Special Committee at 2016 U.S. Open 17 Guarantee a Secure Retirement with the Expert Advisors at YourOwnRetirement

14

18 Divorce After 50? Donna Kline, MBA 19 File-and-Suspend Strategy Mary Beth Franklin, CFP 20 What Are the Advantages of Working with Arc Financial?

21 Stay Home, Stay Independent and Stay Safe with On-Call Services 21 What to Do If You Smell Natural Gas

In Every Issue...

2

22

From the Publisher Marion Piotrowski

22 Pondering Pittsburgh: Fond Memories of Forbes Field Paula Green 24 The Good Old Days: Step Back into 1956 Paula Green 26 Spring ’16 Happenings 28 Remember When: Splendid Spring Joe Bullick

4

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

5

COVER STORY

The Time is

NO

Lose Up to 30 lbs. in 30 Days and Keep it Off, REGARDLESS of AGE, with Dr. Michael Vactor’s Innovative Weight Loss Program!

Is your metabolism slowing down?

Are you having health-related issues due to your weight? Do you want to have a healthy, active retirement?

C

all Dr. Michael Vactor TODAY at (724) 742-2700 to start getting the weight off and keeping it off before you let another day pass you by.

Dr. Vactor’s innovative weight loss program focuses on losing the weight and keeping it off through a safe, healthy system that is made up of ALL-NATURAL INGREDIENTS with NO STIMULANTS. Unlike other programs that you may have experienced, where you lose weight but then gain it all back or even more, this program focuses first on weight loss, then helping you readjust to the thinner you.

In addition, this program has consistent, predictable weight loss results where people also see a dramatic improvement in their overall HEALTH in about a month’s time. According to Dr. Vactor, “I have seen cholesterol numbers, blood pressure and blood sugar levels return to normal in 30 days. People who follow our program as outlined get great results! Our average patient loses as little as ½ to 1 pound per day!”

It is very important to note that EXCERCISE is NOT required. Instead, the focus, is getting the weight off first, this way exercise programs will not contribute to the risk of, injury, joint pain or over-exertion from carrying too much weight.

To date, 90-95% of his patients have achieved their weight loss goals. YES, 90-95% of patients have achieved their weight loss goals REGARDLESS OF AGE. Dr. Vactor is so absolutely sure of the results and outcomes of his program, that he offers a GUARANTEE of RESULTS! Who is Dr. Michael Vactor, DC? Dr. Michael Vactor is a doctor of chiropractic, and a natural healthcare advo-

6

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

cate in the north Pittsburgh area for over sixteen years.

He is also an award-winning expert in weight loss management and is frequently featured on KDKA-TV, WPXI, Cornerstone-TV, radio shows and other public speaking venues on health and weight-loss issues. In addition, Dr. Vactor cares for players, coaches and family members of our Black and Gold teams in Pittsburgh.

During this time, Dr. Vactor and his family have lived in the Cranberry and Mars area, where he is also devoted to his community and helping his patients reach their goals.

With over sixteen years in this community, he would not and could not make any such guarantee claims for weight loss, if they weren’t true.

How to Get Started: If you are committed to losing the weight now; before you get any older, and improving your overall health in about a month’s time, call for a FREE, in-office review of this revolutionary weight loss system. Dr. Vactor’s office is conveniently located at 673 Castle Creek Drive, Ext. Suite 106, Seven Fields, PA 16046. http://www.drvactor.com Improve your health today! Call now, at (724) 742-2700.

If you can’t call now, take a picture of the number with your SMART phone so you have the number ready to call.

If you are one of the first 25 callers to schedule your no cost/no obligation consultation and in office review, and mention you saw Dr. Vactor on the cover of the Pittsburgh’s Fifty-Five Plus Spring issue, you will receive a $50 discount good towards any of his guaranteed weight loss programs. Not valid with any other offers and new patients only are eligible. n Results may vary based on an individual’s physical health, diet, personal commitment, and adherence to the program. Information provided is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent disease. Guarantee can be reviewed in the office prior to starting the program.

NOW! Bob

Total weight loss = 72 lbs in just 90 days!

Before

After

Susan

Total weight loss = 50 lbs kept off for over a year!

$50

Discount See text at left for details.

Before

After www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

7

Y O U R H E A LT H

The Power of Sleeping Well

I

BY AGING INSTITUTE OF UPMC SENIOR SERVICES AND THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

t’s been engrained in us to get about eight hours of sleep a night for health reasons. But why? What does sleep contribute to your health? Why is it so important? And what indicates that your current sleep patterns are not enough? Sleep can affect your entire day along with your health. On the other hand, your health can affect your sleep. Suddenly, your sleep might not be as peaceful as it was previously. Can new prescriptions be the cause? According the NIA, it is possible.

Sleep disorders Insomnia: a sleep condition that can last anyway from a day to years. Some of the symptoms of insomnia (or trouble sleeping) include: • Taking a long time to fall asleep.

• Waking up many times in the night.

8

• Waking up early and being unable to get back to sleep.

• Waking up tired.

• Feeling very sleepy during the day.

According to the NIA, “older adults who have trouble sleeping may use more over­the­counter sleep aids. Using prescription medicines for a short time might help. But remember, medicines aren’t a cure for insomnia.” And insomnia might be an indicator for another health problem, whether it be a side effect to a new prescription or illness.

Sleep apnea: a sleep condition in which someone’s breathing stops for moments while one sleeps. The NIA states that this could lead to other health issues such as high blood pressure, stroke or memory loss. Warning signs for this condition include loud snoring or

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

feeling sleepy during the day. There are a few interventions that could offer relief for an individual that has this disorder, including trying a new sleeping position, using a Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP) or surgery.

Movement disorders Restless leg syndrome (RLS): sometimes a hereditary condition, the sensation experienced in the legs are often described as pins and needles or tingling.

There are medications available to treat this condition, and the doctor should be consulted if you believe you have RLS. Periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD): the sudden urge or automatic kicking of the leg that could occur “every 20 to 40 seconds during sleep” which could result in kicking your legs hundreds of times during the night. As with RLS, there

are medication options. There are also other interventions including “warm baths, exercise and learning ways to relax.”

Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder: this occurs when your muscles are moving during your REM stage. Your muscles should not be moving when you are in this stage. This can be disruptive to sleep.

Alzheimer’s disease and sleep If a person has Alzheimer’s disease, there is no one symptom regarding sleep and this disease. Instead, a person with Alzheimer’s disease could be sleeping too much or too little; the latter could result in wandering behaviors. The following are some tips from the NIA to assist a person who has Alzheimer’s disease and might show some wandering behaviors.

• Make sure the floor is clear of objects.

• Lock up any medicines.

• Attach grab bars in the bathroom. · Place a gate across the stairs.

Here are some ideas from the NIA for getting a good night’s sleep: Follow a regular sleep schedule.

Go to sleep and get up at the same time each day, even on weekends. Try to avoid napping in the late afternoon or evening, as it may keep you awake at night.

Develop a bedtime routine. Take time to relax before bedtime each night.

Some people watch television, read a book, listen to soothing music or soak in a warm bath.

Keep your bedroom dark, not too hot or too cold, and as quiet as possible.

Have a comfortable mattress, a pillow you like and enough blankets for the season.

Exercise at regular times each day but not within 3 hours of your bedtime.

Make an effort to get outside in the sunlight each day.

Be careful about when and how much you eat. Large meals close to bedtime may keep you awake, but a light snack in the evening can help you get a good night’s sleep.

Stay away from caffeine late in the day. Caffeine (found in coffee, tea, soda, and hot chocolate) can keep you awake.

Drink fewer beverages in the evening. Waking up to go to the bathroom and turning on a bright light to do so breaks up your sleep.

Remember that alcohol won’t help you sleep. Even small amounts make it harder to stay asleep.

Use your bedroom only for sleeping. After turning off the light, give Here are some helpful organizations (recommended by the NIA):

yourself about 20 minutes to fall asleep. If you’re still awake and not drowsy, get out of bed until you feel sleepy enough to return to bed. n

American Academy of Sleep Medicine 2510 N. Frontage Rd. Darien, IL 60561 1­- 630-­737-­9700 www.aasmnet.org

National Institute on Neurological Disorders and Stroke P.O. Box 5801 Bethesda, MD 20824 1­- 800­-352­-9424 (toll­free) 1-­301­- 468­- 5981 (TTY) www.ninds.nih.gov

American Sleep Apnea Association 6856 Eastern Ave. NW, Suite 203 Washington, DC 20012 1­-202­-293-­3650 www.sleepapnea.org

National Sleep Foundation 1010 N. Glebe Rd., Suite 310 Arlington, VA 22201 1­-703­-243-­1697 www.sleepfoundation.org

Better Sleep Council 501 Wythe St. Alexandria, VA 22314­1917 1­-703­- 683­- 8371 www.bettersleep.org

Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation, Inc. 1610 14th St. NW, Suite 300 Rochester, MN 55901 1-­507-­287- ­6465 www.rls.org

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute P.O. Box 30105 Bethesda, MD 20824­0105 1­-301­- 592-­8573 1­-240­- 629­-3255 (TTY) www.nhlbi.nih.gov

National Institute on Aging Information Center P.O. Box 8057 Gaithersburg, MD 20898­8057 1­- 800-­222-­2225 (toll­free) 1-­800­-222­- 4225 (TTY/toll­free)

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

9

Sleep in Retirement Study: The health impact of night shift work versus day work on retirees.

D

BY HEATHER GUNN, PHD

o you get a daily newspaper? Do you stop by a local bakery early in the morning to enjoy a pastry?

Have you ever needed medical care late at night? Or received important packages via overnight mail? Do you ever wonder how the roads are already cleared after an overnight snowfall?

If so, you can thank a night shiftworker. Maybe you have been a night shift worker.

The increasing demands of our 24-hour society require many individuals to work outside daytime business hours. In fact, approximately 25 percent of Americans work at night. However, shift work can interfere with sleep quantity and sleep quality. This is because for most of us, our biological clocks expect us to be awake during the day and to be asleep at night. “Working against the clock” can have consequences for our health. We already know that shift work is associated with obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. What we suspect is that these health risks may be due to the sleep disturbances that go along with shift work.

Researchers at University of Pittsburgh are trying to understand more about the effects of shift work on long term sleep patterns and long term health. As part of the Sleep in Retirement (SIR) study, Drs. Buysse and Hall are studying sleep, circadian rhythms, and cardiovascular health in retired night shift workers and day workers. This is one of the first studies to examine the long-term effects of night shift work on sleep and cardiovascular health. The goal of this current project is to determine whether one’s sleep can fully “recover” from years of night shift work. The long-term goal of this research is to determine whether it is possible to buffer the effects of nightshift work on sleep and cardiovascular health. n Sleep in Retirement Study Phone: 1-866-647-8283 Email: sir@upmc.edu

10

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Advances in Senior Eye Care

BY MARIANNE REID ANDERSON

Y

ears in front of computer monitors, exposure to UV rays from the sun and family health history can all begin to take a toll on our eyes, our vision and their overall care.

Therefore, it is important to have your eyes regularly checked by a specialist in eye care. An optometrist is an eye care doctor that can help you improve your vision with glasses and contacts and do a medical assessment of your eye health. Should an optometrist find signs or symptoms of a more serious condition, he or she will recommend an ophthalmologist.

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who can help you with eye conditions that may occur as we age such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration.

Glaucoma – Glaucoma is a build-up of pressure in the eye and can damage the optic nerve. There are almost no symptoms but can be found through an annual eye exam. If you are over 40, have diabetes or a family history of glaucoma, you should have an eye exam once a year.

Cataracts – A cataract is when the lens in your eye becomes cloudy; making it difficult to see. Fortunately, a cataract can be removed through cataract surgery. “There have been significant advances in cataract surgery,” explains Dr. Richard Bowers, M.D. ophthalmologist and one of the principals at Sewickley Eye Group. “For example,” continues Bowers, “there are now multifocal lenses available. With a standard lens used in cataract surgery, it improves your far vision but patients will still need to use their reading glasses post-surgery.

With multi-focal lenses, patients will have improved vision both near and far and will likely be less dependent on glasses. There is also a toric lens available for cataract patients with astigmatism.”

Macular Degeneration – Macular degeneration is the most common cause for irreversible loss of vision. “The macula is the part of the retina responsible for the clear, crisp, central part of vision,” explains Bowers. “Patients with macular degeneration often describe missing characters in the middle when reading a line of text or when looking at something straight like a telephone pole and seeing it with a bend in it. Macular degeneration is often described

as being ‘dry’ or ‘wet.’ It usually starts as dry and progresses to wet. Dry macular degeneration is when retinal cells begin to wither and accumulate a waste product known as drusen. Wet macular degeneration is due to a bleeding or accumulation of fluid underneath the macula. The only treatment for wet macular degeneration is the injection of a drug inside the eye. Therefore,” recommends Bowers, “early diagnosis is best to enable treating macular degeneration when it is still in the dry stage.”

According to the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) sponsored by the National Eye Institute, taking a combination vitamins A, C, E and the mineral Zinc will slow down dry macular degeneration from progressing to wet macular degeneration.

“DO NOT TAKE VITAMIN A IF YOU ARE OR HAVE BEEN A SMOKER IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. Subsequent studies have shown that vitamin A can actually increase the chances of lung cancer in smokers,’ warns Bowers.

A second AREDS study showed that vitamin A can be replaced with lutein and zeaxanthin. These various vitamin and mineral combinations for eye health are available in some specific over the counter eye care supplements. Before taking any eye care supplement, consult your ophthalmologist to recommend a brand that is best suited for you.

It is VERY IMPORTANT to be honest and

let your ophthalmologist or optometrists know if you are or ever have been a smoker.

Dr. Richard Bowers, M.D., and his partner Dr. Ivan Baumwell, M.D., are the principals at the Sewickley Eye Group. Dr. Bowers is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology, completed his undergraduate degree at The College of Wooster and attended Hahnemann University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh and a post-graduate fellowship in Cornea, External Disease and Anterior Segment Surgery at the University of Minnesota. He is a member of the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery.

The Sewickley Eye Group has been serving the Pittsburgh area for 61 years.

They take almost all insurance plans. Their ophthalmologists and optometrists can be seen in four convenient locations: • Sewickley: 400 Broad St. Suite 2020 (412) 741-4610 • Ohio Valley Hospital Medical Building: 27 Heckel Rd. Suite 211 (412) 777-4300 • Monaca: 95A Golfview Drive (724) 770-9000 • Avalon: 846 California Avenue (412) 766-4800 To learn more about advances in senior eye care, visit http://www.sewickleyeyegroup.com or contact the location nearest for an appointment. n

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

11

Y O U R H E A LT H

Ease Pain and Keep Active Through Physical Therapy If a painful condition is keeping you from doing your favorite activities, you may want to consider seeing a physical therapist.

W

hile your first inclination may be to reduce your activity, the exact opposite may be just what you need. Physical therapy helps improve mobility, increase strength and ease the pain associated with many conditions including arthritis, fibromyalgia and stenosis. By developing a treatment plan specific to your needs, your physical therapist can help you return to an active lifestyle.

“By alleviating pain, physical therapy can also significantly decrease the need for pain medication,” explains

owner of Physical Rehabilitation Services and licensed, physical therapist and athletic trainer Billy Butch, PT, MS, ATC, LAT. “It is very important to address any painful condition early. By letting a painful condition go too long, you risk further damage and a longer recovery time,” continues Butch. “If you have pain that persists for more than 3-4 days, you should be evaluated by a physical therapist.”

During the evaluation process, the physical therapist will assess your pain level, range of motion, strength, functional level, and discuss your goals. The evaluation includes a medical screening to determine if your

What people are saying about Physical Rehabilitation Services: “Staff members were extremely pleasant and made me feel that I was strongly supported in all aspects of my rehab. I would recommend your facility to anyone in need of excellent rehab care!”

– N. Kushon “Excellent care and communication… the best therapists in the area… the only place I would send my family members.” – Local referring physician “I just want to thank the staff for their wonderful compassion and healing hands. You are a great team.” – J. Malone

condition can be helped through physical therapy. If so, the therapist will establish an individualized treatment plan to address your condition and help you return to your favorite activities. A physical therapist can also test balance and suggest preventive measures that you or a loved one can take to avoid falling.

All the therapists at Physical Rehabilitation Services are Direct Access certified. This means that you can see a physical therapist at Physical Rehabilitation Services WITHOUT a referral from a physician for a 30-day

12

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

period. Should physical therapy be needed after 30 days, you can continue treatment with authorization from your physician. Most insurance plans cover direct access services.

Physical Rehabilitation Services has been serving the northern area for twenty-five years and has two convenient locations: Ross Township/Perrysville at 1033 Perry Highway, (412) 366-3880 and in Franklin Park/Wexford at 2400 Corporate Drive, Suite #201 (724) 940-3990. Office hours are Monday through Thursday from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm and Friday from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm. Evaluations are scheduled within 24-48 hours. To learn more, visit http://www.prsrehab.com. Be sure and Like us on Facebook. n

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

13

F E AT U R E

The brain is the last frontier of modern healthcare.

T

here are now numerous scientific advances challenging the idea that dementia and neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease are inevitable as we age. Scientists now know that there are ways to preserve brain function and introduce healthy brain interventions that can last a lifetime.

Simple changes in what you do every day may cut your odds of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The Cognitive Brain Health Program at St. Barnabas Health System was developed by world-renowned neurosurgeon, nutritional expert and concussion specialist Dr. Joseph Maroon, and addresses four major areas of brain health; diet, exercise, stress and environment.

The program is based on the recent science of Epigenetics, which explains that our fate is not necessarily locked in place by our genes, but through the choices we make to take control of our health.

“It’s not the number of years in your life but the quality of your life in your years that counts,” Dr. Maroon said.

Coordinating the Cognitive Brain Health Program at St. Barnabas is Karen Tabacchi, Senior Vice President for Clinical Services. Dr. Maroon and Jeff Bost, his neurosurgical physician assistant, are overseeing the community-based health initiative.

Researchers know that Alzheimer’s develops over time and can be influenced by lifestyle factors such as high blood pressure or cholesterol, obesity, nutrition, sleep and physical activity.

14

5

Simple Steps to Improve Brain Health

By focusing on nutrition, physical exercise, stress relief and reducing brain toxins we can take control of our health.

Following are some tips to help keep you on track as you work toward a healthier, more active mind:

Catch some ZZZ’s Sleep is extremely important to people of all ages. It plays a pivotal role in helping you consolidate your memories so that you can recall hem when needed. Most adults need seven to eight hours of sleep per night.

Be social It’s good to be a social butterfly, not only for maintaining relationships, but also for your memory. Social interaction helps fend of depression and stress, which can both contribute to memory loss. When invited for lunch or to attend an event, go! Your brain will thank you.

Stay Active Exercise is just as important for the brain as it is for the body. Keeping your brain in shape through mentally stimulating activities could help keep memory loss at bay.

Activities such as crossword puzzles, couples dancing, reading or trying out new activities can help in keeping your memory sharp.

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Eat right A healthy diet is as good for your brain as it is your body! A diet that’s filled with fruits, vegetables and whole grains is recommended. Don’t forget to incorporate low-fat protein sources such as fish and lean meat as well. But nutrition isn’t just about food; what you drink matters, too. Remember to stay hydrated and to limit your alcohol intake to help avoid unwanted confusion or memory loss.

Get focused More times than not, we are multitasking, which can lead to forgetfulness. In an effort to avoid misplacing something or simply forgetting it altogether, set aside a specific spot to place your keys, wallet and other important objects, and jot down notes in a special planner that you keep with you at all times so that you can refer to it when necessary. Try your best to limit distractions so that you can focus on one task at a time in order to recall that information at a later date.

For more information on the Cognitive Brain Health Program and pricing for the materials, call Michele Snyder at St. Barnabas Medical Center – 724-443-7231. The program includes an easy to follow, self-guided booklet on steps to a brain healthy lifestyle, as well as vitamins and supplements to help you achieve your goals. Books

by Dr. Maroon are also for sale. n

The Community College of Allegheny County Golf Team Invited to Special Committee at 2016 U.S. Open

T

he CCAC Golf Team, led by head golf coach Chuck Bell, has the esteemed honor of being invited to the RF (Radio Frequency) Coordination Committee for the 2016 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

CCAC is well known for its highly reputable golf team.

They have achieved nine PA State Championships; five NJCAA (National Junior College Athletic Association) Regional Championships against teams from Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia and Northern Virginia; and 5 Academic All-American teams.

The CCAC golf team also has nine former players having earned their

16

standing as professional golfers in the Professional Golf Association (PGA).

Two of which were also on the PGA tour: Charles Johns IV who is now the director of Golf at Coastal Carolina University and Ryan Van Sickle who was originally from Canada, is now a world renowned musician and has joined his former coach Chuck Bell to teach at Pinehurst’s youth camp.

Due to CCAC’s long history of personable, tech-savvy students and excellent golf team, the team will be trained via USGA professionals to: • Identify authorized (and unauthorized) communication equipment such as walkie talkies and wireless microphones.

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

• Identify potential wireless conflicts.

• Respond to interference complaints and take steps to eliminate interference.

• Encourage cooperation and compliance with non-rights holding broadcasters.

• Record information regarding interference or certification issues on behalf of the RF coordinator.

For more information about CCAC and their incredible golf team, visit https://www.ccac.edu/Athletics_at_ CCAC.aspx. n

FINANCIAL PLANNING

David and Susan Hickey

B

Guarantee a Secure Retirement with the Expert Advisors at YourOwnRetirement

aby Boomers are the first generation of Americans wholly responsible for their future retirement income. “The loss of pensions coupled with the rise in healthcare costs has dramatically changed our retirement landscape,” says David Hickey, CPCU of YourOwnRetirement. “Most people above 50 are beginning to realize the need to consult with a professional retirement advisor. There are simply too many moving parts and unknowns for self-management. Stock market volatility alone could devastate retirement assets,” Mr. Hickey adds. David and Susan Hickey are licensed insurance advisors and managing partners of YOR in Cranberry Township, Pa. “The recent changes to Social Security need to be understood in order to maximize your benefits. Our knowledge as well as our software programs will help to identify the best strategies by age and need so that our clients receive every dollar they are entitled to,” reports Mrs. Hickey, a current candidate for the prestigious Retirement Income Certified Professional (RICP). “Nearly everyone we meet has ideas and goals for retirement but no clear idea what they will be able to afford,” she adds.

YourOwnRetirement offers consultation to couples, individuals and families interested in creating a lifetime retirement income plan. “Our value proposition is this: everyone needs a certain amount of money each day, week and month for the rest of their life and that of their loved ones. We work with our clients to develop a plan that not only identifies that income need but also where they may have assets to guarantee it,” observes David. “This is ground breaking retirement planning, because we combine all the elements of retirement such as; Social Security, Medicare, long term care and life insurance, in addition to traditional savings plans

like IRA’s, 401k’s, 403b’s and the like,” Susan adds.

The Hickeys are lifelong residents of our community. In addition to YourOwnRetirement, LLC Mr. Hickey also co-founded Brant Hickey & Associates; a financial services firm that plans future income needs for those critically injured at birth or through accident. David served at the request of the Department of Justice in the 911 cases and other high profile incidents. Susan has conducted numerous seminars dedicated to the particular needs of single women planning for retirement. She is considered an expert in Social Security maximization.

In addition to counseling, which is often done couple to couple, Susan and David conduct monthly seminars to educate our neighbors. The YourOwnRetirement website is a wealth of information and includes links to popular retirement sites and instructional videos recorded by the Hickeys. To learn more or schedule a consultation visit http://www.yourownretirement.com or call 866-677-PLAN (7526). The office is located in Cranberry Township in the Two Landmark North Building, 20397 Rt. 19 Suite 130.

When you PLAN WELL you RETIRE WELL, so call today to schedule your appointment. 866-677-PLAN (7625) n

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

17

F E AT U R E

Divorce After 50?

BY DONNA KLINE, MBA

“The divorce rate for the general public has remained relatively stable since 1980. For older adults, the divorce rates have nearly doubled.”1

S

cores of couples work hard and save so they can live comfortably in their golden years. Unfortunately, more and more are finding themselves faced with a divorce instead. If you are challenged with divorce or just considering it, here are some important facts to know.

Division of Assets The larger of the family assets may be equity in the house, a retirement account, or possibly a pension plan.

Choosing how these assets are divided is critical to long

term planning. All assets are not created equally. They have different levels of liquidity, risk and tax ramifications.

It is important to contact a professional qualified to evaluate these assets before making any agreements.

The House If the home is paid off, and there are enough assets to offset the equity tied up in the home, it may be the least expensive option for one party to stay. For example, elder age triggers eligibility for real estate property tax rebates which could lower expenses. Also, at age 62 and older, reverse mortgages can be utilized to provide a potential stream of income.

Retirement Accounts Money set aside for retirement during a marriage is a marital asset that is to be divided equitably upon divorce.

Great care needs to be taken to avoid a tax penalty for any distribution.

If the asset is a pension plan, one that pays an income stream after retirement rather than a lump sum, you will want to clarify when you can receive distributions without penalties and if survivor benefits remain on those payments after the divorce is final.

Social Security If your marriage lasted 10 years or more and you are not re-married, you may qualify to collect retirement benefits from your former spouse’s Social Security record, without reducing your ex-spouse’s own benefits. Social Security differentials are also a factor to consider when dividing property or determining alimony.

Alimony If the marriage has lasted a long time, and there is a sizable income disparity between the parties, alimony may be awarded. Every case is unique, however, and should be discussed with an industry professional.

Choosing your divorce team It is important to create a strong, supportive team of professionals to support you through the process. Friends are helpful, but they are not experts. You will need a good counselor, a financial advisor, an accountant and a lawyer to get you through the process as little scathed as possible.

Make well-informed choices that will keep your golden years just the way they are supposed to be: golden. n Donna Kline, MBA, is a Financial Advisor and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst™ with HBKS® Wealth Advisors, located in Wexford, PA. - She can be reached at 724-934-8200.

Research provided by a study co-authored by Susan Brown, co-director of the National Center for Family and Marriage Research at Bowling Green University.

1

18

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

RETIREMENT PLANNING

Retirees Mark Your Calendar April 29, 2016 For File-andSuspend Strategy IVESTMENTNEWS, MARY BETH FRANKLIN CFP

A

nyone who is 62 or older by the end of 2015, including those people who celebrated their 62nd birthday on Jan 1, 2016, can file a restricted claim for spousal benefits when they turn 66. They do not need to do anything before then.

But in order to claim only spousal benefits, worth half of the other spouse’s full retirement age benefit amount, the first spouse must actually be collecting Social Security benefits or must have been old enough ---at least 66---to have filed and suspended their benefits by the April 29, 2016 deadline.

“Social Security’s longstanding practice considers a person attains his or her age the day before his or her actual birthday,” Social Security spokesman William Jarrett said via email. “Therefore, a person whose birthday is on April 30 attains his or her age on April 29,” Mr. Jarrett explained. “The latest effective date of birth to fall under the current rules is April 30, 1950, and the person would have to submit his or her request for voluntary suspension by April 29.”

Filing and suspending under current rules by the April 29 deadline allows a worker to trigger benefits for a spouse or dependent child while their own benefit continues to grow by 8% per year up to age 70. A person also has the right to request a lump sum payout of suspended benefits any time up to age 70 instead of collecting the delayed retirement bonus.

Requests to file and suspend submitted on or after April 30, will be subject to a new set of rules. No one will be able to collect benefits on a worker’s earnings record during a suspension. The new rules, authorized by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015, also specifically eliminate the lump sum payout option which can be particularly valuable for single people who have no spouse to collect a survivor benefit after their death.

The Social Security Administration said it will honor requests to file-and-suspend benefits that are received before April 20, even if the agency is unable to process the application until after the deadline.

“If you submit your request before April 20, and your spouse or children become entitled to benefits either before or after that

date, they will not be affected by the new rules and they will continue to receive payments,” the Social Security Administration said in documents posted on its website to explain the new rules.

But if someone requests to file-andsuspend benefits on or after April 30, he is subject to the new law and if his spouse or children are receiving benefits on his earnings record, their benefits would stop.

Divorced spouses are not affected by the new file-and-suspend restrictions. Even if an ex-spouse files and suspends his benefit, it will not affect the ability of a former spouse to collect benefits on his earnings record, the agency said.

But both spouses and ex-spouses who turn 62 after Jan. 1, will lose the right to claim spousal benefits only on their mate or ex-mate’s earning record. Whenever these people claim Social Security they will be paid the highest benefits to which they are entitled, whether on their own earnings or as a spouse. They will never be able to claim only spousal benefits at full retirement age to allow their own benefits to grow up until age 70. That option will disappear

starting in 2020 when the last of those currently grandfathered under the current rules reach their full retirement age.

Survivor benefits are unchanged under the new law. Anyone who is entitled to both their own retirement benefits and benefits as a surviving spouse will still be able to claim one type of benefit first and switch to the other later if it would result in a bigger benefit. And it doesn’t matter in which order they claim them.

For example, a widow with a small retirement benefit of her own may want to collect reduced retirement benefits as early as age 62 – assuming she is not working or not earning too much over the earnings limit of $15,720 – and switch to full survivor benefits at age 65. Survivor benefits do not earn delayed retirement credits, so it will make no sense to delay claiming beyond full retirement age.

But if that widow had substantial earning on her own work record, she might want to claim survivor benefits at 66 when the earning cap disappears and allow her retirement benefits to continue to grow. At 70, she could switch to her maximum benefit. n

L to R, Tim Wheeler, Billie Jo Richman, Lanell Kimmel, Brian Catale, Kimberly Catale and Jody Catale

Retirement Planning and Wealth Preservation 910 Sheraton Drive Suite 240 Mars, PA 16046 Telephone: 724-591-8475 Toll Free: 800-794-0929 Website: Bcatale.com Brian@Bcatale.com

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

19

F E AT U R E S

What are the Advantages of Working with Arc Financial?

T

ogether, the staff at Arc Financial has over 60 combined years of experience, and just as important, we at Arc Financial insist, whenever possible, to come out and meet with our clients for a face-to-face talk about what they need to accomplish with their loan request.

It is important to feel comfortable with who you, as a consumer, are working with regarding loans. After all, you will be entrusting us with some of your most essential information. We are licensed and offer Residential Mortgages, Commercial business loans and, of course, we specialize in Reverse Mortgages!

We have been doing Reverse Mortgages for over five years now and have closed numerous Reverse Mortgage loans to date.

A Reverse Mortgage is only for consumers age 62 or older with certain contingencies if a spouse is under age 62. A Reverse Mortgage is not appropriate for everyone. However, it can be a major help to some.

To find out if a Reverse Mortgage is right for you, or to discuss any other questions that you may have regarding any of our loan programs, please do not hesitate to call us at (412) 471-6705.

We are licensed by the NMLS # 133060 and the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities. n

20

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Stay Home, Stay Independent and Stay Safe with On-Call Services

O

n-Call Services was founded by Paul A. Yuretich to bring seniors in our community the services and products they need to stay safely at home enabling them to remain independent for as long as possible.

“The place where you may be in need the most is right in your own home,” explains Paul Yuretich owner of On-Call Services. “Typically when you are out, you will have access to people who can help or assist you. It’s when you are home alone, that you need to be able to get help.”

On-Call Services can assess your home and make recommendations to improve your home or the home of a senior you love, to make it as safe as possible. For instance, making sure you have carbon monoxide detectors, smoke alarms and fire extinguishers that are installed and in working order.

Another set of products and services that On-Call Services recommends are two medical pendant alert systems for contacting help when you need it. Specifically, the Freedom Alert and Guardian Alert Emergency Pendant Alerting Systems.

The best thing about both of these devices is that they have NO MONTHLY FEE. Similar devices on the market require seniors to also purchase a monthly “monitoring” fee. Since the Freedom Alert and Guardian pendant work only as needed, they do not require monitoring.

The Guardian Alert automatically dials 911 for you by pushing a button and sends the 911 operator the information they need to dispatch help to your home.

“However, many seniors may find themselves in a situation where they need help, but don’t want to call 911 because they are concerned over making a fuss,” says Yuretich. “For them, we recommend the Freedom Alert. The Freedom Alert can be programmed to call up to four numbers of family members or neighbors alerting them that you need help. When you press the button, it will automatically call the first person. It waits a number of seconds; then, if no answer, it moves on and calls the next number. After all four numbers have been called it can then call 911 automatically or cycle through the four numbers again. We will even program the Freedom Alert for you.”

Examples of other safety products include emergency key lockboxes; door chimes to alert a caregiver that a family member who may suffer from dementia has opened a door or window; and emergency exterior lighting switch that enables you to set your exterior lights to a flashing mode to direct approaching emergency responders to your residence.

To learn more about these and all the home safety solutions available for seniors at On-Call Services, visit http://www.on-callservices.com or call (412) 322-7322. n

Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania Offers These Tips to Stay Safe What to do if you smell natural gas There are a number of steps you should immediately take if you think you smell natural gas. Below are tips on what to do – and what not to do – if you suspect a gas leak.

Do: • If you smell gas, immediately evacuate the area.

• From a safe location, call 911 and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania at 1-888460-4332.

• Leave windows and doors in their current position.

• Warn others to stay away from the area.

• Leave windows and doors in their current position.

• Report an odor of gas outside of your home or business just as you would report an inside odor.

• If you suspect a gas leak outside, turn off and abandon any motorized equipment you might be using.

• Remain in a safe location outside until an emergency responder or Columbia Gas technician arrives to check on the source of the odor.

Don’t:

Carbon Monoxide Safety

• Do not operate anything that could cause a spark, including flipping a light switch, dialing a cell phone, turning on a flashlight or an appliance.

• Do not open windows or doors or attempt to ventilate the building.

• Do not try to find the leak yourself or operate pipeline valves.

• If you detect a gas odor in your garage, do not start your car.

When natural gas does not burn completely, it emits a by-product called carbon monoxide (CO). Faulty appliance installation, malfunctioning appliances, or lack of ventilation are the most common causes of improper gas combustion.

CO is a tasteless, odorless, non-corrosive gas when combustion takes place without sufficient oxygen. CO is very poisonous and can be lethal if allowed to accumulate.

Ensure your safety at home by adding a carbon monoxide detector. Much like when you suspect a natural gas leak, if you suspect a CO leak, evacuate and immediately call 911 and Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania’s 24-hour emergency hotline at 1-888-460-4332. For more information, go to www.ColumbiaGasPa.com/ carbon-monoxide. n

It is important to look, listen and smell to recognize a possible natural gas leak and then take action. Below are a few guidelines to use if you suspect a gas leak outside your home: Look - Bubbling water or dirt blowing from the ground near a natural gas line can indicate a release of natural gas from the underground pipeline.

Listen - If you hear a hissing, blowing or roaring sound that could indicate a potential hazard.

Smell - Natural gas is odorless and colorless, therefore, gas is infused with an odorant called “mercaptan” which smells like rotten eggs. Mercaptan is used as an early warning detection of a potential hazard.

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

21

PONDERING PITTSBURGH

Fond Memories of

Forbes Field

BY PAULA GREEN

“Pittsburg can now boast of the world’s finest baseball park. It is a marvel of which people in other cities can have no adequate conception until they come here and see it.” – Fred Clarke in 1909

I

remember June 28, 1970; my Dad piled me and my siblings in the family station wagon. We ventured off to Forbes Field to see the very last Pirate’s games to be played at the 61-year old stadium. It was a double-header against the Chicago Cubs. The Pirates won the first game

22

3-2 and they were also victorious in game 2, winning by a score of 4-1.

When the games ended, mayhem ensued – fans started ripping apart concession stands and pulling up the seats. They obviously wanted a souvenir, but they also wanted to preserve those fond memories of a great ballpark.

Forbes Field opened in Oakland in 1909. It replaced the 16,000 seat Exposition Park which was located along the Allegheny River. The new ballpark was good karma for the Pirates; as they went on to win 110 games that year (a franchise record).

In 1909, the Buccos also won the World Series defeating the Detroit Tigers in seven games.

The ballpark was named after General John Forbes, a French and Indian War hero, who captured Fort

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Duquesne and renamed it Fort Pitt.

Forbes Field featured elements that had never been previously seen in other ballparks. A three-tier grandstand extended from behind home plate down both the first and third base lines. It was one of the first ballparks to have luxury suites that were located on the third tier of the grandstand. It was also the first to have ramps to take people to their seats and elevators to take patrons to the third level.

Over the years, the stadium had many memorable moments. On May 25, 1935, Babe Ruth hit the last home run of his Major League career (number 714) in Forbes Field. The blast cleared the right-field wall, then cleared the screen and finally cleared the double-deck grandstands.

Then there was the 1960 World Series between the Pirates and the New York Yankees. In game seven on Oct. 13, 1960, Pirate’s second-baseman Bill Mazeroski hit the famous game winning home run.

More than four-thousand Major League ballgames were played at Forbes Field. In that 61-year history, a no-hitter was never thrown by any pitcher from any ball club ever.

Not only was Forbes Field the home of the Pirates, but the Steelers for three decades, the Pitt Panthers (NCAA) from 1909 to 1924 and numerous other sporting and entertainment events. The location of Forbes Field is now the site of the University of Pittsburgh library and dorms. Home plate remains in almost its exact original location, but it is now encased in glass on the firstfloor walkway of Pitt’s Posvar Hall.

Part of the original brick left wall remains standing in memory those great baseball days. *Be sure to check out the You Tube video “There Used to Be a Ballpark” – Forbes Field https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=m3A530TgWRU n Sources: http://www.ballparksofbaseball.com/ past/ForbesField.htm, http://www.baseballalmanac.com/stadium/st_forbes.shtml, http:// www.ballparks.com/baseball/national/forbes. htm

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

23

T H E G O O D O L D DAY S

1956

Step Back Into...

Prince Ranier of Monaco marries actress Grace Kelly The Price is Right debuts on NBC

BY PAULA GREEN

T

he year 1956 saw an increase in living standards and more emphasis on education. This prompted an upsurge in college education with one in three high school graduates enrolling in universities. Two soap operas debuted: As the World Turns and The Edge of Night. Mothers could now buy disposable diapers. Elvis Presley appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show and entered the music charts for the first time with Heartbreak Hotel.

Average: The average income was $4,450.00.

Cost of a new home $11,700.00.

The average cost of a new car was $2,050.00. Gasoline was 23¢ per gallon. A dozen eggs cost 45¢. Coffee was 69¢ a pound. Chuck roast was .33¢ per pound. A gallon of milk cost 97¢. Bread was 18¢. Cost of a first-class stamp was .03¢.

Firsts: The Wizard of Oz has its first airing on TV. TeFal starts producing non-stick frying pans.

Black-and-white portable TV sets hit the market.

Doria collides on July 25 off Nantucket Island, Mass., with the Swedish liner S.S. Stockholm.

Alabama bus segregation laws declared illegal by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Federal-Aid Highway Act of 1956 was signed into law on June 29 for the construction of 41,000 miles of interstate highways over a 20-year period.

World News: Cuban revolutionaries including Fidel Castro land in Cuba at the start of the Cuban Revolution.

Pakistan becomes Islamic Republic.

First hard disk was invented by IBM.

Warsaw Pact troops invade Hungary during The Hungarian October Revolution.

The first Transatlantic Telephone Cable went into operation.

Entertainment:

Elvis Presley’s first movie Love Me Tender opened in New York.

U.S. Events: Fifty-two people die when the Italian passenger liner S.S. Andrea

24

The Ten Commandments premiered on Nov. 8. At the time of its release, it was the most expensive film made. My Fair Lady debuted on Broadway; it starred Julie Andrews as Eliza Doolittle and Rex Harrison as Professor Higgins. The

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

stage play - The Diary of Anne Frank, won a Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Popular movies: The Seventh Seal, Giant, The Searchers, Around the World in 80 Days, The King and I, Friendly Persuasion.

Television: The Steve Allen Show, Ed Sullivan, I Love Lucy, The Jack Benny Program, Gunsmoke, Texaco Star Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Honeymooners, Dragnet and Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theatre.

Songs: Popular songs - This Land is Your Land - Woodie Guthrie; Que Sera Sera - Doris Day; Blueberry Hill – Fats Domino; Hound Dog, Heartbreak Hotel, Don’t Be Cruel and Love Me Tender – Elvis Presley; Memories Are Made of This – Dean Martin; The Great Pretender – The Platters

Publishing: Profiles in Courage by John F. Kennedy is published. Diamonds Are Forever is published

by Ian Fleming.

Grace Metalious’s

steamy Peyton Place is a bestseller.

Pulitzer Prizes for Fiction was awarded to Andersonville by MacKinlay Kantor.

Sports: Rocky Marciano retires as the only undefeated Heavyweight Champion of the world with a perfect record. World Series Champs – New York Yankees, Stanley Cup Champions – Montreal Canadiens, NFL Championship Game N.Y. Giants defeat the Chicago Bears 47-7.

Politics: 34th President: Dwight D. Eisenhower, Vice President: Richard M. Nixon. In the U.S. presidential election, popular Dwight D. Eisenhower successfully ran for re-election. It was a rematch of 1952, as Eisenhower’s opponent in 1956 was Democrat Adlai Stevenson, whom Eisenhower had defeated four years earlier.

Quotes: “Every age needs men who will redeem the time by living with a vision of the things that are to be.”

– Adlai Stevenson “One of these days, Alice...POW! right in the kisser!””

– Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) in The Honeymooners “We Will Bury You” – Nikita Khrushchev Sources: http://fiftiesweb.com/pop/prices-1956/, http://womc.cbslocal.com/2011/10/12/ how-things-were-back-in 1956/, http://www. thepeoplehistory.com/1956.html, http://www. mrpopculture.com/1956 , http://www.infoplease. com/year/1956.html, http://www.270towin. com/1956_Election/, http://www.sportsonearth. com/article/66977326/new-york-city-nfl-championship-games, http://www.rockmusictimeline. com/1956.html

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

25

SPRING ’16 HAPPENINGS Free Home Safety Inspection is available for seniors through the Open Your Heart to a Senior program. For info, call Cathy at (412) 307-0069, ext. 3313 or clpschirer@ nhco.org.

Free Services for Seniors through North Hills Community Outreach.

Help with rides to medical appts., grocery stores, yard work. For info, call Cathy at (412) 307-0069 ext.

3313 or Kerry at (412) 449-0151 to schedule an in-home registration visit.

Home Instead Senior Care® is offering a unique approach to help area families in Northwest Allegheny County manage the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Free training is available for families at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com.

Knights of Columbus All-You-CanEat Spaghetti Dinner, 4-7 p.m., Apr. 9, St. Catherine of Sweden Church Hall, 2554 Wildwood Rd., Free will offering, and proceeds benefit local charities.

McKnight Meals on Wheels provides home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound and disabled.

Services Ross Twp., Berkley Hills, Swan Acres & part of McCandless Twp. Call (412) 487-4088.

Oasis Intergenerational Tutoring – An Hour a Week Can Change a Child’s Life. For adults 50 & over become a tutor. Training sessions held on the fifth floor of the

Duquesne Light Building. Call (412) 393-7648 or email jdspehar@oasisnet.org.

Senior Olympics of Western PA state qualifier for the National Senior Games in women’s 3x3 basketball. The qualifier will be held Apr. 9, at Slippery Rock University.

Senior Games will be this summer in Birmingham, Ala. For info, call (724) 445-9997 or email carol8@ zoominternet.net or www.seniorolympicswpa.weebly.com.

UPMC Senior Communities offers independent living & personal care.

For details, call 1-800-324-5523.

Support Groups Alzheimer’s Support Group, 10 a.m., 1st Monday of each month, St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, 2554 Wildwood Rd. For details, call Suzie, at (412) 337-6731.

Bereavement Support Group (for Widows/Widowers over 50), 1-2:30 p.m., 2nd & 4th Wed., St. Sebastian, Haber Hall. To register, call (412) 366-1300.

Paramount Senior Living at Cranberry Alzheimer’s Affiliated Support Group meets 3 p.m., the 1st Mon., of every month, and 2 p.m., the last Friday. Contact Pam, at (724) 779-5020.

Entertainment International Button Box Club, 3 p.m., Apr. 7, Seneca Hills Village.

Call (412) 793-1700.

Legacy Theatre Movies: 2 p.m.

Mondays, Apr. 4, The Walk; Apr. 11, He Named Me Malala; Apr. 18, Bridges of Spies; Apr. 25, The Martian; Cumberland Woods Village. Visit http://www.thelegacylineup.com/movies/ Legacy Theatre Shows: The Rat Pack w/Bo Wagner and Buster Maxwell, Apr. 2; Pure Gold; Apr. 30, The Pittsburgh Doo Wop Big Band, May 14, 700 Cumberland Woods Dr., McCandless. Visit http://www.thelegacylineup.com.

Many Loves of Frank Sinatra, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 8, Strabane Trails Village, (724) 225-4100; 3 p.m., Apr. 14, Seneca Hills Village, (412) 793-1700.

Opera Theatre of Pittsburgh Summerfest, 2 p.m., Apr. 8, Sherwood Oaks, Call 1-800-6422217.

Pittsburgh Doo Wop Band, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 7, Hampton Fields Village.

Call (412) 492-8448.

Salute to the Great American Song Book, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 5, Lighthouse Pointe Village. Call (412) 781-2707.

Apr. 20, Beatty Pointe Village. Call (412) 374-9000.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame, 2 p.m., Apr. 19, Sherwood Oaks, Call 1-800-642-2217.

Scandals, Lies, and Cover-ups, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 21, Vanadium Woods Village. Call (412) 221-2900.

Tribute to Brenda Lee, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 6, Beatty Pointe Village. Call (412) 374-9000.

Tribute to Neil Diamond, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 5, Vanadium Woods Village.

Call (412) 221-2900.

Seminars Anticipating the Future: Pittsburgh, 11 a.m., Apr. 12, Cumberland Woods Village. Visit http://www. thelegacylineup.com.

Brain Health Retreat, 1-5 p.m., Apr. 28, Cumberland Woods Village. Visit http://www.thelegacylineup.com.

Forgotten Tales of Pittsburgh, 2:30 p.m. Apr. 19, Strabane Trails Village.

Call (724) 225-4100.

Kennywood, a Century of Change, 2:30 p.m., Apr. 19, Lighthouse Pointe Village. Call (412) 781-2707; Apr. 21, Hampton Fields Village. Call (412) 492-8448.

UPMC Honored Six Centenarians at Cumberland Crossings Manor

U

PMC celebrated the 100 plus-year lives of six residents of Cumberland Crossings Manor, a UPMC Senior Community. n Reba Robert and Marion Gearinger, each 100 years old n Angela Talak and Esther Hannan, each 101 years old n Mary Bonfield, age 102 n Agnes Fox, age 103

Family, friends and Cumberland Crossings residents and staff honored the lives of these women with music, sweets and treats on Saturday, Feb. 20. With a combined 607 years of life and experiences, these extraordinary women have stories to tell and advice to share. More Americans than ever are living to 100 and beyond, providing special reasons to celebrate.

Cumberland Crossings is located at 9350 Babcock Blvd. in McCandless Township. n

26

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Announcing St. Barnabas Founder’s Day 2016

Senior Meetings AARP #2991, meeting, noon, 3rd Thursday of every month (Apr. 21), at Northmont Presbyterian Church at Perry Highway and Perrymont, in McCandless. A small luncheon is offered for a nominal fee. Visitors and prospective members are welcome.

Cranberry Senior Citizens Club for residents 55+ meets at 1 p.m., the 2nd Tues., of the month in the Cranberry Municipal Center. Call (724) 816-4977 for info and programs.

Gateway North Chapter of AARP meets the 3rd Monday of the month (Apr. 18) at West View Fire Hall, Perry Hwy next to the VFW. All are welcome.

Friends and Fun 55+ Singles meet at 7 p.m., every 1st Friday, at St. Ferdinand’s, Rochester Rd., Cranberry Twp., Oldenski Hall, Upper Room. For info, call (724) 776-9274.

Friendship Groups for Visually Impaired, Men’s Group meets every Weds. 1-3:15 p.m., Knitting & Crocheting Circle meets every Weds., 1-3:15 p.m., Monthly Meeting 2nd Thurs. of each month 1:15-3:15 p.m., The Lunch Bunch meets 4th Thurs. of every month 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., The Talking Book Club meets 1st Mon. of each month 1-2:30 p.m. For info, call (724) 4440064.

Primetimers, noon, first Thurs of the month, Christ Church Grove Farm, Ohio Twp. Call (412) 741-4900 or visit http://www.ccgf.org.

Tax Preparation AARP Tax Prep for Senior Citizens, 9 a.m.-noon, runs thru Apr. 14, Northland Library. First-come, first served basis, sign-up sheet in the lower lobby starting at 7:30 a.m. For info, (412) 366-8100.

Spiritual 2nd Act, 9:30-11:30 a.m., 2nd Thurs., runs thru May 12, Orchard Hill Church, Brandt School Rd. For adults ages 55+ worship time through music and prayer. For details, (724) 935-5555.

A

rare opportunity for you to be part of a special interview with Paul O’Neill. He led an aluminum company to unprecedented growth, served as the 72nd United States Secretary of the Treasury and researched aid to Africa with U2 rock star, Bono.

Have fun as you join celebrities, prominent business people and community leaders. An evening honoring Paul H. O’Neill, former chairman and CEO of Alcoa and chairman of the RAND Corporation. He was also appointed Secretary of the Treasury under President George W. Bush. O’Neill will receive the prestigious Hance Award, given each year to an outstanding American by St. Barnabas.

The 116th Founder’s Day celebration will be held on April 28, Marriott Pittsburgh North, 100 Cranberry Woods Drive, Cranberry Township.

Have your photo taken with Mr. O’Neill at the 5:30 p.m. VIP Photo Reception followed by a 6 p.m. Silent Auction Reception and Wine Cellar Lottery. The Awards Dinner (tables of 10) begins at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are $300 per person for the Awards Dinner. VIP Photo Reception tickets are an additional $500.

For tickets or more information, call 724-625-3770 or visit www.StBarnabasCharities. com. Proceeds benefit the St. Barnabas Free Care Fund, which supports nursing home patients who cannot afford their care. Have fun and support a great charity! http://www.stbarnabashealthsystem.com/founders-day/ n

Volunteer Opportunities: Hope Hospice is looking for volunteers to visit Hospice patients. For details, call (412) 367-3685.

North Hills Community Outreach’s Faith in Action program is seeking Senior Companion volunteers. For details, contact Nancy, at (412) 3070069 or nljones@nhco.org.

North Hills Community Outreach’s Free Rides for Seniors shuttles, funded by St. Margaret Foundation are seeking volunteer ride-along dispatchers. The shuttle operates weekdays in the lower Freeport Rd. area.

Contact Kerry at (412) 449-0151 or kkmulhern@nhco.org.

North Hills Community Outreach needs volunteers for their senior programs. For details, contact Patti, at (412) 408-3830 ext. 3204.

Open Your Heart to a Senior Volunteer Orientations, 6 p.m., Apr. 14, Shaler North Hills Library.

Register at (412) 449-0151 or kkmulhern@nhco.org; 2:30 p.m., Apr. 20, AGH-Suburban Campus, Bellevue.

Register at (412) 307-0069 x3313 or clpshirer@nhco.org.

Pittsburgh Friendship Group is looking for volunteers to help visually impaired seniors. No experience is necessary. Call (724) 444-0064.

Dr. Shawn Richey Expands Peripheral Neuropathy Practice to Latrobe

D

r. Shawn Richey of Chiropractic Family Health Center has been helping area residents who suffer from severe hand or foot pain due to peripheral neuropathy for three years. Over the years, Dr. Richey’s program has a 91 percent success rate in helping sufferers feel 75-100 percent better.

The specialized treatment protocol offered by Dr. Shawn Richey at the Chiropractic Family Health Center includes up to 9 different specific treatments that are designed to heal rather than just deal with the symptoms, offering hope for many more to live a more pain-free and enjoyable life.

With Dr. Shawn Richey’s neuropathy treatment protocol, patients no longer need to suffer with the pain and symptoms that have restricted their lives.

The program identifies the cause and enables nerve endings to regenerate and heal rather than remain damaged. As the treatments repair the nerve endings, pain is reduced, and patients regain balance and coordination.

Chiropractic Family Health Center now has offices in both Sewickley at 2591 Wexford-Bayne Road, Suite 207 and Latrobe at 1901 Ligonier Street.

“Our second location in Latrobe will be much more convenient for all our patients in Westmoreland County to receive their treatments and enable us to help additional sufferers of peripheral neuropathy, in both regions,” explains Dr. Shawn.

For a FREE Consultation contact Dr. Shawn Richey at (724) 940-9000 and your appointment will be made at the location that is most convenient for you. To learn more, visit www.backnline.com. n

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

27

REMEMBER WHEN

Splendid Spring

BY JOE BULLICK

H

ello Spring! Spring 2016 begins on March 20 this year; it’s usually the 21st but because of leap year, it’s a day early. The first day of spring is known as the Spring Equinox and is when night and day are roughly equal. Now, the days start to get longer than the nights.

Spring has so much to offer us. Spring brings us baseball to PNC Park and little league baseball starts back up. Dads and moms get to enjoy watching their sons and daughters playing baseball and softball for the first time.

If you get a chance, take a break and enjoy watching them play ball.

I recall as a young boy, I would bike over to my friend’s house. We would build go-carts out of scraps. We had lots of freedom and we also owned BB guns. When

spring rolled around, we didn’t have 150 channels on cable. There we no videos, movies or DVDs, no cell phones, no computer, no Internet.

Instead, spring was our time to make root beer, the American classic. Root beer’s roots can be traced back to the late nineteenth century. I can remember Hires® root beer. This beverage was the original root beer introduced at the 1876 Centennial International Exposition in Philadelphia; where other significant inventions were launched. Some of these great inventions included – Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone, the Remington typewriter and Heinz Ketchup.

Mom would buy the A&W® and Hires root beer kits.

These mixtures of barks, herbs, spices and berries is still a closely guarded secret.

As a young boy raised in the farming area around Wexford, I got to see things first hand. Farmers, like Ed Shenot, start to plant some things early such as tomatoes, seedlings, peppers, broccoli and cabbage. They also plow for other crops such as corn, and then begin pruning the apple and peach trees. The farmers will be working long hours now. My hat goes off to all the farmers in the Wexford area.

Spring is also a time for planting bulbs, some of things to plant during this season include - gladiolas and dahlias, which flower in the summer.

Each spring and summer the woods of Pennsylvania bask in the glow of pink mountain laurel blossoms. The mountain laurel was designated as Pennsylvania’s official flower in 1933. It is the most beautiful of American shrubs and has been attractive since the early colonial days.

One place Mom & I would go to in the spring was the flower show at Phipps Conservatory. What a great show!

Another nice place to go is Raccoon Creek State Park.

They have different species of flowers growing over 300 acres. There is also Frick Park which also has many beautiful plants and flowers. You can also visit Cedar Creek Park which is located in Westmoreland County. So let’s enjoy spring. Get your gardens ready, the grass will grow and the birds will be back. So enjoy life and what spring has to offer. God Bless and I leave you with this – I must say I find television very educational.

The minute somebody turns it on I go to the library and read a good book.

– Groucho Marx

28

Spring 2016 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

ANNOUNCING OUR NEW LATROBE LOCATION 1901 Ligonier St., Latrobe, PA 15650

Over 91% Patient Satisfaction

I started seeing results after only three treatments. After several weeks, I no longer awake during the night with nerve pain or electric shocks in my foot. I now walk with little or no pain and I am able to complete an hour-long Jazzercise class or 90-minute Pickleball game. What little soreness I may feel after activity is significantly reduced and goes away quickly without medication. — Christine H.

End Your Peripheral Neuropathy Now! Peripheral Neuropathy occurs when nerves are damaged or destroyed and can’t send messages to the muscles, skin and other parts of the body.

Peripheral nerves go from the brain and spinal cord to the arms, hands, legs and feet. When damage to the nerves takes place, numbness and pain in these areas may occur.

Approximately 20 million Americans suffer from this debilitating disease. It is commonly associated with diabetes, however, neuropathy symptoms can also occur in patients with restless leg syndrome, sciatic neuropathy, and has been recently linked to statin drugs used to lower cholesterol. Although, there are also patients who just have neuropathy without a particular cause.

Many patients are suffering from symptoms of painful cramping, burning and tingling, difficulty walking, numbness and even interruption of sleep.

Peripheral Neuropathy symptoms can include: • Sharp Pains or Cramps in the Feet or Legs • Burning Pain in the Legs, Feet or Hands • Extreme Sensitivity to Touch • Loss of Balance or Coordination • Feelings of Walking on Pins and Needles • Weakness in the Arms and Legs • Numbness and Tingling or Pain in the Toes, Feet, Hands, Arms and Fingers • Dependency on Medications The specialized treatment protocol offered at the Chiropractic Family Health Center includes 9 specific treatments that are designed to heal rather than just deal with the symptoms. This therapy has long been well recognized internationally, and these recent advancements offer hope for many more to live a more pain-free and enjoyable life.

Dr. Shawn Richey (a member of the NeuroTCA) has seen many patients suffering with peripheral neuropathy. He has treated patients that have tried everything including potentially harmful medications and other painful testing and treatments. This can leave patients still struggling and wandering down the long road of endless disappointment. Now we are able to address the pain associated with peripheral neuropathy with a successful, non-invasive, drug-free approach that includes the use of light therapy to stimulate tissue repair.

“I highly recommend Dr. Shawn Richey and everyone at his practice. I am already feeling a significant reduction in symptoms and pain relief even though I’m only part-way through my treatments. I am even improving my overall health since now, I can go for walks and be more active.”

— Lynda E. “For a few months I was experiencing tingling and numbness in my feet, I was also becoming off balance when I walked. A friend of mine saw an article in Pittsburgh 55+ Magazine describing exactly what I was experiencing. It was called neuropathy. It has only been a short time and already I’m feeling 50% better. Thank you Dr. Richey.” — Liz H. Originally, my neuropathy was diagnosed as due to my diabetes, even though I had symptoms years before I had diabetes. So a friend of mine suggested that I go to Dr. Shawn Richey. I immediately felt better after each treatment and noticed a significant change by the time I was on a third of the way through the process. Dr. Shawn also adjusts my back for me and that always makes such a difference, as well. I highly recommend Dr. Shawn for both neuropathy and for chiropractic care. — Phyllis Neszpaul I’ve suffered with peripheral neuropathy in my feet and legs for 12 years. I travel 100 miles a day for treatments, my feet and legs are waking up after a long hibernation. I’m going to see my neurologist and tell him that I beat neuropathy!

I can’t wait to see his reaction! I now take my brother’s 88-year-old mother-in-law with me. She also noticed improvement after one visit. Dr. Shawn and his neuropathy treatments are awesome! Life is good… — Lynne Karanovich This treatment program has given me miraculous relief from a debilitating and painful disease. I would recommend anyone, who suffers from peripheral neuropathy, choosing to have Dr. Shawn help you to your way to recovery as he has helped me. I thank him so much for bringing into my life this miraculous treatment. — Nancy

This ground-breaking treatment has achieved a 90% overall satisfaction rate. The treatment identifies the cause and enables nerve endings to regenerate and heal rather than remain damaged. As the treatments repair the nerve endings, pain is reduced, and patients regain balance and coordination.

For a free consultation, contact Dr. Shawn Richey at 724-940-9000 or email him at drshawn@backnline.com.

Call for a free consultation TODAY!

Dr. Shawn Richey drshawn@backnline.com www.backnline.com 2591 Wexford-Bayne Road, Suite 207 Sewickley, Pa. 15143

724-940-9000

We may not be your first choice, but we will be your last! www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Spring 2016

29