Pittsburgh 55+ Magazine - Winter 2018/19 issue by Northern Connection Magazine

FREE

Winter 2018/2019

Create

Your Own Retirement

NOW! Also in this Issue...

Sue and Dave Hickey of Your Own Retirement

Safe Driving As We Age Step Back into 1948 Help for Winter Heating Bills

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

PUBLISHER’S NOTES

Welcome to the Winter Issue of Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus Magazine!

his issue’s cover story will enlighten you on how important it is to plan for your retirement. At Your Own Retirement, these experts offer you a process that will give you peace of mind in knowing that your financial future is in good hands! Living in Pittsburgh all my life, I have experienced some very mild winters and some rough winters. Be sure to check out this month’s Pondering Pittsburgh article, and if this winter gets you down a bit, see if you remember going through these record-breaking seasons! With the winter months upon us, The Aging Institute has an interesting article on practical tips to help us drive safely. These are helpful suggestions for all of us, especially as we age. In The Good Old Days we look back at some major milestones that happened in 1948 “Wherever you which changed the history go, no matter books. See how much of this you what the weather, may remember! bring your own The winter Happenings offer sunshine” some interesting and fun suggestions to keep us busy and Anthony J. D’Angelo entertained this winter. Enjoy reading this issue of Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus. Thank you for your support. Together, we continue to make our community an outstanding place to live. All of us Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus magazine wish all our readers and advertisers a Happy and Healthy New Year! n

Keep in touch with Pittsburgh Fifty-Five Plus on Facebook and Instagram

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 Janice Lane Palko 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.

Laura Arnold

Mary Simpson

llpspc@consolidated.net

mlsspc@consolidated.net

Janice Lane Palko

Paula Green

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. 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.

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

Contents 6

Cover Story: Your Own Retirement

Brain Health and Weight Loss: The Benefits of Ketones Dr. Joseph Maroon

11 Help for Winter Heating Bills Now Available Through LIHEAP 11 First Class Hearing Healthcare 12 Safe Driving As We Age UPMC Aging Institute 14 Independent Living Deb Walton, REALTOR®, SRES 15 3 Habits That Will Prevent You From Retiring on Time Brian Catale and Associates, Inc.

20 Medicare Coverage and the “Winter Blues” Crystal A. Manning 22 55+ Profile: A Magnificent Obsession Janice Lane Palko 25 Reclaimed Memories, LLC, Comes to the Rescue Janice Lane Palko

In Every Issue... 2

From the Publisher Marion Piotrowski

16 Pondering Pittsburgh: Breezing Through Blizzards in the ‘Burgh Paula Green 18 The Good Old Days: Step Back Into 1948 Paula Green

24 Remember When: Welcome to Winter! Joe Bullick 26 Winter ’19 Happenings

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Get Your “ING” Back Peripheral Neuropathy Sufferers Have HOPE Dr. Shawn Richey has restored the lives of thousands of peripheral neuropathy sufferers.

Bob huntING again

George walkING again

Orlando golfING again

Jannie playING with grandkids again

Terri sleepING again

Mary dancING again

Once thought to be incurable, 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. A specialized treatment protocol utilizing brand new technologies is available at the Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH. It includes the combination of very specific, non invasive, FDA approved and painless treatments that are designed to heal rather than just deal with the symptoms of peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Shawn’s SUPERVISED, MONITORED and IN OFFICE program has a 90 percent satisfaction rate. With the experience of seeing over 3000 patients, he is able to tailor a specific and successful treatment plan for each individual to provide maximum results.

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 marydancedin.com.

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 If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, don’t wait till they get worse. Call today to schedule your FREE consultation.

Two Locations: Sewickley 2591 Wexford-Bayne Rd, Suite 207

Latrobe

Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH

1901 Ligonier Street

MaryDancedIn.com (724) 940-9000

Visit us on Facebook under Neuropathy Treatment Centers of PGH and join our private support group

COVER STORY

YourOwn Retirement We really miss watching Ryan Shazier play football. If you do not know Mr. Shazier, he was an inside linebacker for our beloved Pittsburgh Steelers. Drafted in the first round from Ohio State University, Ryan was a force to be reckoned with. He was our defensive captain, smart and strong. But on December 4, 2017, he suffered a devastating injury while reacting to the play and making a routine tackle. Initially paralyzed, he was treated in Cincinnati before returning home to Pittsburgh hospitals. Ryan is making a remarkable recovery, and we cheer him on every day. Doctors saved his life.

ootball can be a dangerous game at any level. Most of us, I presume, have never found ourselves on a professional football field in uniform. But often we find ourselves having to react to something. Sometimes it is of our own doing, and others maybe more inevitable; a dentist appointment you’ve put off. If you are reading this, there is a good chance you are thinking about your future and what retirement may bring. It is a new and should be exciting next chapter of our lives. We worked over 80,000 hours to get here. Our question: Are you ready or reactive? We all have friends or family that wait to the last minute or have the laissez faire “whatever” attitude. They are fun to be

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

around but doubt you would trust them with your future life plans. Retirement isn’t a game, but it can force us to suddenly react to certain situations if we do not recognize them. Our parents always told us to be prepared. If you see something coming down the road, you better plan for it. They were the Greatest Generation, hardened by war, resilient and great achievers at home. They changed the face of America forever. And in their place left us. We are over 80 million strong with our own unique talents and challenges. Our generation, Baby Boomers, get to claim the computer, internet, cell phones and Madonna but largely face retirement years without a pension. Only a small minority of

Americans can affordably retire on social security and Medicare. For most of us to ensure our lifestyles, we must save, invest and plan. A written retirement plan is absolutely essential. A plan that provides for the three major needs: 1) cash for emergencies 2) lifetime income and 3) growth for inflation. Given our long lives, we need to have all three secured. Old school thinking of spending down our assets at 4-5 percent a year is not a guarantee of success. Market volatility, rising health care costs and potential nursing care expenses can really do damage. Everyone needs a retirement paycheck. Our entire 25-year financial philosophy centers on creating income for life. We invest for future wants, but we spend income. Get that one component right and your options become virtually endless. Real retirement planning is a rather new phenomenon. Our fathers and mothers retired with a pension, Social Security and some small savings at the bank. We face extraordinarily different circumstances, having been in charge of our own pension money through 401(k)s, IRAs, 403(b)s and the like. Opportunities for large stock market gains but also devastating losses like 2008-09 are real. Inflation and health care costs are rising most years as well. Traditional financial planning has focused on wealth accumulation. The principle of financial retirement planning looks at five distinct and equally important areas: investment, lifetime income, taxes, health care and legacy. We take all five into account when we build your individually tailored retirement plan. You may need more guaranteed income than tax strategy or vice versa. Each area has a direct effect on the others. Our goal with each client is to maximize the amount of money you have to spend while minimizing your liabilities and risk factors. We employ smart strategies for tax reduction, use of insurance where prudent and family considerations. Our process, Retirement 360, is a three-step process. A Discovery visit is where we get to know you, your goals, thoughts and ideas. We also take an inventory of where you are now and where you want to be and when. The second step is called Strategy because we take the information you provided and show you what is possible with the right changes made. Issues and opportunities are discussed, and we collectively decide how to move forward. Implementation, the third step, is the process of doing: rearranging the chess board to fill in gaps and improve our odds of success. It is both defensive and opportunistic. It is important to understand you are creating your financial future with our expertise and guidance. No one should have to go at this alone. It is a complex financial world today, all interconnected. Positioning and protecting your assets is key. When someone becomes a client, we celebrate their future by offering a bottle of wine from our beautiful wine closet. It is a great feeling knowing a new client has protected themselves and family while building a solid financial future. We are most gratified to receive the letters and postcards from clients celebrating a vacation trip, newborn grandchild or “toy.” True enjoyment is watching our clients realize retirement is not only possible but incredible. n

To learn more about Your Own Retirement’s Retirement 360 written plan for retirement or to attend an upcoming seminar, visit their website at: www.yourownretirement.com or give Sue or Dave a call at: 1-866-677-PLAN (7526).

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

YOUR HEALTH

Brain Health and Weight Loss: The Benefits of Ketones By Joseph C. Maroon, MD, FACS

f all diets available, the “keto” diet is becoming one of the most popular today. For years we were told that a high-carb, low-fat diet was optimal. With the subsequent epidemic of obesity and diabetes, we now know this recommendation was based on flawed data. Instead, just the opposite is suggested—a high (good) fat and low carbohydrate with variable amounts of protein diet has many advantages. The ketogenic diet in simplest terms is a diet that, due to fasting or carb restriction, leads to the production of ketones from the breakdown of our fat storage. Ketones are also a much more efficient energy source than sugar or glucose.

Our Human Ancestors Didn’t Have Grocery Stores! To understand the benefits of ketones in humans, we must realize that our ancestors would typically alternate between feast or famine. Without a secure food source, like we have today, eating daily or even weekly was not a guarantee. Ketones generated from fat stored during our last feast were then used during times of famine and enabled us to survive.

Health Benefits of the Keto Diet Obviously, by reducing carbohydrate and sugar levels, many people have learned to control their type 2 diabetes. But the keto diet is different and not recommended

for diabetics. There are numerous health benefits associated with a keto diet due to the production of ketones from our fat stores, but the extreme reduction of carbs or intermittent fasting required to do this would not be healthy for diabetics. Interestingly, the keto diet in the 1920s was introduced as a medical treatment for certain types of childhood epilepsy and is still used today for some patients. One of the greatest benefits of the keto diet is that it suppresses appetite. This may seem unusual, but it is actually carbs and the amount and changes of glucose in our blood that controls appetite. The obvious advantage, therefore, of the keto diet is for weight loss. In fact, the popular Atkin’s diet is based on these similar mechanisms - to release ketones and thus reduce body fat.

Improved Brain Health and Ketones – More to Learn Several decades ago the term “type 3 diabetes,” was used to describe the cellular energy deficit found in brain cells of those with Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers used this term recognizing that insulin resistance, dementia and Alzheimer’s disease were commonly linked conditions. The fact is brain function decline with aging may be related to blood glucose not being absorbed normally by our brain cells. Since ketones don’t require insulin and can be used directly as an energy source for brain cells, they are being

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

studied as a method to improve brain function in dementia and diseases like Alzheimer’s.

What if I Can’t Reduce My Carbs? One of the most fascinating and more controversial topics is the consumption of ketones found in foods to elevate blood ketone levels for appetite suppression and other health benefits. Using medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), the type of fats found in coconut oil, researchers have now published several studies showing positive results for both appetite suppression and weight loss. Others have used isolated MCT and ketone bodies, which are the actual ketone molecules produced when fat stores are mobilized, and have reported improvements in thinking in those with mild Alzheimer’s disease symptoms. More research is needed, but these early results are hopeful. Changes in diet, by reducing carbohydrates and sugars, can be a great start, but keeping our brain and body healthy still means you need to exercise daily, reduce salt and stress and maintain an overall ideal body weight. It’s a lot to ask but a healthy lifestyle can often lead to a longer and fuller life. Certain medications and conditions like diabetes, however, require a consistent balance of carbohydrates, proteins and fats to work properly. Ask your doctor before you change your diet. n

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

55+ FEATURE

Help for Winter Heating Bills Now Available Through LIHEAP

s the cold weather sets in, many people have difficulty paying winter heating bills. Companies like Columbia Gas of Pennsylvania have been educating customers about the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which offers one-time grants annually to assist with paying home heating bills. LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services that provides income-eligible customers financial assistance to help pay home heating bills and emergency assistance to avoid shut-off, restore service or repair heating equipment. Homeowners and renters may be eligible to receive LIHEAP funds depending on household size and income level. The program provides cash grants ranging from $200 to $1,000 to assist in paying winter heating bills. Also available are crisis grants, ranging from $25 to $600, to assist households without heat or in danger of being without heat.

Eligibility guidelines for LIHEAP change annually, so individuals or families that may not have qualified in the past should reapply each year. The income eligibility limit for the 2018-2019 program is 150 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines. This means that individuals with annual incomes of up to $18,210 are eligible to apply. A family of four can earn an annual income of up to $37,650. In Pennsylvania, nearly $162 million is available for LIHEAP grants this winter season, and more than 500,000 households across the commonwealth are expected to receive assistance through LIHEAP. Last year, more than 20,000 Columbia Gas customers received assistance. Individuals in western Pennsylvania can call 1-866857-7095 to learn more about LIHEAP or can apply online through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Service website (COMPASS) at www.compass. state.pa.us. Applications are being accepted through April 12, 2019. LIHEAP funds are limited, so individuals are encouraged to apply early before funds run out. n

First Class Hearing Healthcare Francis Audiology is where “Best Practices” is our standard of care! • Certified Doctors of Audiology • All hearing aids are state-of-the-art • Appointments within 24 hours and often on the same day • Evening appointments by request • Batteries are mailed to your home • We bill insurances for you Did you know that untreated hearing loss impacts our lives? Many prevalent health conditions in baby boomers and seniors have a very strong link with hearing loss. It can lead to communication problems with family, friends and colleagues, as well as irritability, isolation and even the early onset of dementia. That’s why it’s important to get your hearing checked! Treating hearing loss is key to preserving your health.

Call us at 724-933-3440 TODAY!

R. Patrick Francis, AuD Board Certified Audiologist

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

YOUR HEALTH

Safe Driving As We Age

ith the winter weather already upon us, let us pause to discuss driving. While this topic is applicable and important for drivers of all ages, there are changes that can affect older drivers. Here are some practical tips to remember.

3. Choose safer routes. It is better to go a little further out of your way to avoid or limit difficult intersections and turns if these make you uncomfortable. Choose the routes that makes you feel the most relaxed.

1. Make sure to put on your seatbelt. Buckle up before starting the car every time you get in it. This is important for both the driver and any passengers. If the seatbelt is uncomfortable, consider making an adjustment. This could be adjusting the shoulder mount or buying a shoulder pad that slips over the belt.

4. Stressed or tired while driving? If you feel stressed or tired, it is good to stop the car on the side of the road, if safe, and stay where you are until you are well rested and calm. Driving when you are not at your best can be dangerous.

2. Mute your cell phone and minimalize any distractions. Talking or texting on the phone while driving can distract you from the road traffic and conditions. It is a good idea to leave your cell phone on silent and “do not answer” while you are driving. The National Safety Council also advises against any type of phone conversation or voice-to-text features while driving, including hands-free and Bluetooth devices.

5. Discuss any medical issues with your doctor. Physical changes as we age may change the way the body interacts and reacts to medications. Taking more than one medicine may cause additional side effects and affect our driving. Talk to your doctor about any symptoms that could interfere with safe driving such as dizziness, tiredness, blurry vision, confusion, fatigue, etc. 6. Update your driving skills and get a discount. Consider a refresher course for older drivers. UPMC Senior Communities offers safe driving refresher courses in conjunction with AARP at several of their campuses, already scheduled for April and September in 2019. Updating your driving skills might even earn you a discount on your car insurance, depending on your policy. Under Pennsylvania law, drivers who are 55 years of age or older may receive a 5 percent discount on their vehicle insurance when they take certain PennDOT-approved classes. Check with your insurance for any eligible classes! 7. Adjust your vehicle. There are upgrades and/or adjustments that can be made to vehicles that have the potential to create a better fit for an older driver. Changes could include adjusting the mirrors, using a pedal extender, seat cushion, etc. Look for educational programs such as Car-Fit which can offer direct and personal assistance to assess how well your car is suited to your physical needs.

Have questions about any of the tips or resources suggested above? Give the Aging Institute a call! No matter whether your questions are about transportation, in-home services, caregiver resources, etc., know that you can give us a call. The Aging Institute Help & Referral Line is free of charge no matter your location or insurance. Contact us at 866-430-8742, or visit our website at www.aging.upmc.com.

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

REAL ESTATE

Independent Living By Deb Walton, REALTOR®, SRES

The first phase of the 50+ market housing cycle involves independent living. The amenities of an age-targeted community is sometimes the answer for many. Age-targeted communities offer amenities, social activities, maintenance-free living, independence and security. The Housing Cycle Most seniors stay in their own homes into their 70s and 80s. When they deiced to relocate, they move close to home and into smaller houses, apartments, condos, or care settings. Proximity to adult children is a top consideration. Retirement and home ownership is described in four stages: • Upsize: Age 50+; pre- to early retirement; preference is for a large home with room for grandchildren and guests.

• Downsize: Age 65; grandchildren are older and may no longer be interested in spending vacation with grandparents; adult children are involved in careers and don’t have a lot of time to visit; the trend here is to downsize to a more manageable property. • Half-back: Age 70-75+; Health weakens; spouse and friends may pass away and community ties may weaken; the trend is to move back home, or half-back (closer to children). Family members may be involved in the real estate transactions. • Last home: Age 80-85+; This may involve selling the house or condo and moving to independent senior communities with the option of assisted living. It is expected that adult children will be involved in this transaction.

Active Adult Communities Active adult communities come in a variety of forms: Single-family homes Attached homes, duplexes and townhomes Condominiums Manufactured an mobile homes – popular with “snowbirds” • Cluster housing with large common areas such as gardens, clubhouse, tennis courts, swimming pools and community centers • Subdivisions • • • •

The National Association of Home Builders research study found that the most desired amenities in an active adult community are: • Walking/jogging trails • Outdoor spaces • Public transportation • Lakes • Outdoor swimming pools • Security • Clubhouses • Exercise rooms • Business Centers n

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

55+ FEATURE

3 Habits That Will Prevent You From Retiring on Time Avoid these at all costs — your golden years depend on it. By Brian Catale

any folks dream of retiring early and leaving the workforce ahead of their peers. But for other folks, simply retiring on time is a more realistic goal to aim for. When we talk about retiring on time, we generally mean retiring at full retirement age for Social Security purposes, which, depending on your year of birth, is either 66, 67, or somewhere in between. But if you’re not careful, these five dangerous habits could destroy your chances of retiring on time — or at all.

1. Not following a budget Many people think they don’t need a budget, but without one, you’ll be hard-pressed to know where your money is really going month after month. And that’s a problem, because the more money you waste carelessly, the less you’re likely to have available to sock away in a retirement fund. The solution? Create a budget and make sure you’re not maxing out each paycheck you get (or, worse yet, spending more than what you earn). If you see that you’re being too liberal with your spending, you can cut back on some (or a lot of) nonessential expenses to free up the cash you should really be setting aside for the future.

3. Ignoring your retirement plan investments Your IRA or 401(k) isn’t something you should just set and forget. If you fund a retirement account but ignore it after the fact, you’ll be doing yourself a major disservice. Poor returns on your investments can inhibit your savings’ growth, while hefty fees can eat away at otherwise strong returns. Therefore, plan to check in on your investments at least twice a year and make sure they’re performing reasonably well. At the same time, always be on the lookout for lower-cost investments, like index funds, that can help you preserve more of your savings. n Brian Catale is known for Wealth Preservation and Retirement Strategies. At Operation Veteran Benefits and Brian Catale and Associates, We have been able to help hundreds of healthcare professionals with strategies and techniques that no other advisors have been able to accomplish before. You may have seen Brian and his team in your place of work. They are helping your patients, parents, family members, and friends. You may have also heard Brian on Pittsburgh Talk Radio on his show, Wisdom Keys for Retirement. Brian and his team have been able to compile an effective system to assist in the complete retirement planning stages, from when to start your first social security check, to disinheriting the government at your death.

2. Not paying yourself first Though you can expect Social Security to provide you with some income in retirement, it won’t come close to paying all of your bills. As such, you’ll need savings of your own to ensure that you have enough money to live on, and that’s why it’s crucial to contribute steadily to an IRA or 401(k) during your working years. The problem, of course, is that it’s easy to neglect your retirement savings when life’s more immediate expenses get in the way. A smarter solution, therefore, is to pay yourself first. Sign up for your employer’s 401(k) plan so that a portion of each paycheck you get automatically lands in savings before you can even touch it, or find an IRA that will allow you to arrange for automatic deposits that achieve the same purpose. If you don’t pay yourself first, there’s a good chance you won’t end up paying yourself at all, and that’s a good way to fall short on retirement income.

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

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 | Winter 2019

PONDERING PITTSBURGH

Breezing Through Blizzards in the ‘Burgh By Paula Green

This past Thanksgiving was downright cold, a mere 24 degrees! The average high temperature for Pittsburgh on Nov. 22 is 48. Granted this wasn’t a record, but I don’t think many folks enjoyed the below-average thermometer reading. Pittsburgh has been hit with some real brutal winters; let’s gaze back at some memorable blizzards that breezed through.

peaking of Thanksgiving, how about that turkey of a storm that rolled into town in 1950? Pittsburghers who lived

through it referred to it as “The Big Snow.” It was also called the “Great Appalachian Snowstorm of 1950.” The snow began falling on Nov. 24, and it continued for 48 hours. When it was all said and done, an astonishing 27.4 inches of snow had blanketed the region. The three-day storm holds the top spot in the record books for the most snowfall in Pittsburgh. January 1978 was a snowy record breaker. Pittsburghers watched as the city was crippled with back-toback snowstorms. On Jan. 16, a foot of snow covered the area, and then on Jan. 19 another winter storm unleashed its fury. When it let up two days later, there were over 25 inches on the ground. That January became the snowiest in Pittsburgh with 40.2 inches falling over the course of the month. The other records set that month were the greatest depth of snow on the ground – Jan. 22, 1978, with 26 inches and the longest period with at least one inch of snow on the ground – Jan. 8Mar. 12, 1978.

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Going back 25 years we encounter The Blizzard of ’93, which was known as “The Storm of the Century.” This superstorm began on the night of March 12, which happened to be the eve of Pittsburgh’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. The snow continued into March 13, the day of the parade. Despite the extremely hazardous conditions, the parade went on as scheduled. Pittsburgh was the only east coast city that didn’t cancel their festivities, though the crowd of spectators was sparse. A State of Emergency was declared across Pennsylvania as Pittsburghers were warned not to travel on the roads while power outages plagued the area. When the snow finally subsided, 25.3 inches of snow had fallen between March 12 and 14. Pittsburgh had set the record for the most amount of snow that fell at one time with 23.6 inches on March 13. Another more recent memorable blizzard hit the tristate region in February 2010. During that wintery month, snow fell fast and furiously

between February 5 and 6. It is the fourth-largest snowstorm in recorded weather history in the ‘Burgh and happens to be the last time we experienced a major snowfall. This blustery storm was the springboard that pushed February 2010 to the pinnacle of weather history as the snowiest month in the Pittsburgh region’s history. So if the thoughts of snow and the cold get you down, heed these words: “Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.” — Edith Sitwell. Have faith spring will be here before you know it! n Sources: https://patch.com/pennsylvania/ pittsburgh/pittsburgh-thanksgiving-weatherfrozen-forecast, https://www.onlyinyourstate. com/pennsylvania/pittsburgh/winter-stormspittsburgh/,https://www.accuweather.com/ en/weather-news/blizzard-of-93-the-stormof-th/62671, https://newsinteractive. post-gazette.com/thedigs/2018/01/24/ january-1978-a-winters-worth-of-weather-in-asingle-month/

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

THE GOOD OLD DAYS

Step Back Into... U.S. copes with severe postwar inflation while rocked by labor unrest. President Truman integrates the U.S. Armed Forces. By Paula Green

ineteen forty-eight was a Leap Year. On April 1, physicists George Gamow and Ralph Alpher first proposed how the universe began — with a big bang. United Auto Workers succeed in linking wage increases to the cost-of-living index in a contract with General Motors. Congress enacts federal rent controls.

Average:

U.S. events

Entertainment

The average income was $3,600. Cost of a new home $7,700. The average cost of a new car was $1,550. Gasoline sold for 26 cents per gallon. Bread was 14 cents per loaf. A gallon of milk was 86 cents. Two-pound bag of coffee is 85 cents. Bacon was 59 cents per pound. The price of eggs was 79 cents a dozen. Fresh ground hamburger was 55 cents per pound. The price of a first-class stamp was 3 cents.

On Nov. 3, the Chicago Daily Tribune’s headline read, “Dewey Defeats Truman.” In a surprise upset Truman, not Dewey, won the 1948 U.S. presidential election.

Firsts

Noted food critic Duncan Hines founds a company to make prepackaged cake mixes.

Academy Award, Best Picture: Gentleman’s Agreement. Popular films - Hamlet, I Remember Mama, Johnny Belinda, Macbeth (Orson Welles), Oliver Twist, The Fallen Idol, The Naked City, The Snake Pit and The Treasure of the Sierra Madre. The play, A Streetcar Named Desire written by Tennessee Williams receives the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

First tape recorder is sold. The first jukeboxes were available. The first Polaroid camera went on sale. Bar codes were invented by Bernard Silver and Norman Woodland. Popcorn sold on a mass scale for the first time. Mentos were first produced in the Netherlands in 1948. In the toy realm – Scrabble and Slinky Jr. were both invented.

Congress ratifies Marshall Plan, approving $17 billion in European aid.

Porsche is founded. On Apr. 3, the first U.S. figure skating championships are held.

World News Mahatma Gandhi is assassinated on Jan. 26 by a Hindu extremist in India. Czechoslovakia becomes Communist after coup. The founding of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) took place during September. Swiss outdoorsman George de Mestral invents Velcro. Mary Leakey discovers the fossilized skull of Proconsul Africanus at Rusinga Island.

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Television Popular shows – Candid Camera, Hopalong Cassidy, Howdy Doody, Kraft Television Theatre, Meet the Press, Philco TV Playhouse, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Milton Berle Show, Toast of the Town and Truth or Consequences.

Songs Bing Crosby’s recordings filled more than half of the radio time allocated to recorded music in 1948. He is the biggest pop star of all time. Columbia Records introduces the 33 1/3 LP (long playing) record. Popular songs - All I Want for Christmas is my Two Front Teeth, Buttons and Bows, Honky Tonkin,’ Nature Boy and Steppin’ Out With My Baby.

Publishing Time Magazine’s Man of the Year is Harry S. Truman. Popular books - The Big Fisherman, Crusade in Europe, Cry, the Beloved Country, The Ides of March, Tales of the South Pacific, and The Naked and the Dead.

Sports NFL Champions – Philadelphia Eagles; NBA Champions – Baltimore Bullets; World Series Winner –Cleveland Indians; Stanley Cup Champs – Toronto Maple Leafs. NASCAR holds its first race for modified stock cars at Daytona Beach. The Olympic Winter Games were held in St. Moritz, Switzerland. On Aug. 16, baseball great Babe Ruth dies in New York.

The NEW Senior Living

he future in senior housing is so bright. Today’s senior communities are a far cry from the yesteryears of nursing homes. Enter quartz countertop kitchens with full-size refrigerators. Elegant marble entries with concierge desks. Custom furniture dispersed throughout expansive common areas with libraries, pianos, and fireplace living rooms. You will find all of this and more at Stonecrest of McCandless, opening soon in the North Hills. Stonecrest will open early 2019 and will offer Personal Care as well as a secure Memory Care neighborhood featuring a specialized approach to dementia care. The community will have an on-site salon and spa, movie theatre, restaurant-style dining with an Executive Chef serving masterful creations, outdoor courtyards with games, a fitness center with equipment specially designed for seniors and instructors to lead yoga, weight-training and more. Beyond this, you have the two items that really set types of senior housing apart: care and life enrichment. In the past seniors have lived home alone or moved in with their adult children. Typically, neither of these environments promotes an active and engaged lifestyle. When seniors move into a community, they can utilize the included transportation and daily array of activities. Gone are the days of playing bingo and watching TV all day. At Stonecrest, the offering of activities features outings like going to German festivals and making homemade pretzels and sampling craft brews, an array of spiritual offerings and the opportunity to be charitable through giving back to the community, just to name a few. Maintaining an active and engaged lifestyle, coupled with care options, creates an optimum environment for seniors to thrive. Search for your fit and find a place that makes you feel welcome. We are sure that you will find that at Stonecrest of McCandless. Learn more at StonecrestofMcCandless.com or visit today to tour one of our model apartments. n

Politics President – Harry S. Truman, Vice President – none

Quotes: “Badges? We ain’t got no badges! We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!” – Treasure of the Sierra Madre “Tonight, we have a really big show (pronounced shoe)” – Ed Sullivan “The fiction writer is, first and foremost and emotionalist” – Ray Bradbury Sources: http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1948.html, http://www.tvhistory. tv/1948%20QF.htm, https://www.babyboomers.com/1948, https://www.onthisday.com/events/ date/1948, https://www.infoplease. com/year/1948, https://pop-culture.us/ Annual/1948.html

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

55+ FEATURE

Medicare Coverage and the “Winter Blues” By Crystal Manning

aving the “winter blues” can be difficult for many of us. Less sunshine and longer hours of darkness can make us feel tired, lethargic and lacking in our normal enthusiasm for life. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), a more serious medical condition resulting from the dark days of winter, can even become debilitating and require medical treatment. Depression is more than merely feeling sad or blue. It is a common but serious disorder that needs treatment. In some cases, severe symptoms can affect how you feel, think or even how you handle daily activities such as sleeping, eating or working.

CONFUSED ABOUT MEDICARE?

Medicare is confusing – call for a one-to-one, no charge consultation with a Medicare expert! Remove the FEAR, UNCERTAINTY, AND COSTLY MISTAKES from the Medicare enrollment process. Crystal A. Manning

Medicare Advisor

Call 412-716-4942 or email crystalmanning33@gmail.com 10008 Pine Ridge Drive Wexford, Pa. 15090

Depression is a common problem among older adults. However, it is NOT a normal part of aging. Studies show that most older adults feel satisfied with their lives, despite having more illness or physical problems. However, important life changes may cause feelings of stress, sadness or even uneasiness. The death of a loved one, retirement or dealing with a serious illness can leave one feeling sad or anxious. After a period of adjustment, many recover their emotional balance, but others may develop depression that needs treatment.

How do Medicare plans cover Mental Health? Medicare covers medically necessary mental health care services and programs that are intended to help diagnose and treat mental health conditions. Part A covers inpatient mental health services that you receive in a psychiatric hospital or general hospital. Each admitting provider should determine which setting you need. Medicare covers 190 lifetime days as an inpatient. More may be covered as inpatient at a general hospital. Medicare part B covers outpatient mental health including: individual and group therapy; substance abuse therapy; test to diagnose condition; occupational therapy; activity such as art, dance or music therapy; training and education related to your condition; family counseling and prescriptions. An annual depression screening is considered preventive and therefore covered at 100 percent. If you have a Medicare Advantage plan, your plan must provide the same inpatient and outpatient mental health coverage as Original Medicare. Certain plans may impose different rules, restrictions and costs. Contact your plan provider for specifics.

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Stay healthy! Daily doses of sunshine are essential for counteracting winter’s long hours of darkness. Frequent bursts of sunlight help us feel more energized, optimistic and engaged. Take some time each day to get outside when the sun is shining and take advantage of the sun’s energy-boosting rays. Research has shown that exercise can be a miracle worker when it comes to improving mood, overall health, mental sharpness and susceptibility to illness. Walking can be an excellent form of exercise for seniors, and when the weather is too inclement to venture outside, many shopping malls have scheduled walking times in the early morning hours. Mall walking is great way to get your daily dose of exercise because the surface is flat, and the environment is climatecontrolled and comfortable. Walking with a friend or family member is a great way to work your muscles while socializing. Maintaining an active social life with friends is another important way to enjoy yourself and help the winter season pass. Exercise and a healthy diet are essential to our well-being. Remember, winter doesn’t last forever. Try to envision the coming days of spring and the sunshine. The winter months can be difficult at any age. To get through it, all it takes is a little knowledge, patience and the right approach. And the next thing you know, you’ll find “spring is right around the corner!”

Still time to change your Medicare plan. If you are still considering changing your Medicare advantage plan, you may take advantage of the re-introduction of the open enrollment period from January 1 through March 31. Contact me for any Medicare advice. Crystal Manning, Licensed Medicare Adviser, at Crystalmanning33@ gmail.com or 412-716-4942. Have a blessed holiday season and a prosperous 2019! n

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

55+ PROFILE

A Magnificent Obsession By Janice Lane Palko

In 2009, Ken McGettigan of Wexford decided that he wanted to read the novel War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy and invited his wife, Mary Jo, and his former neighbor, Mary Jo Neff, as well as three others to join him in reading the epic Russian novel. Ken finished the 964-page tome as did his wife and Mary Jo Neff. After that, the others dropped out of the book club leaving the pair of Mary Jos, who decided that they wanted to continue plowing through the top 100 books of all time.

“T

he list we were going to use was Time magazine’s, but rather than use one list, we decided to create our own list by assigning points for each book highly ranked on the Modern Library’s and Newsweek’s list and Time’s list of the 100 best novels,” said Ms. McGettigan, 63, who is an accountant and as a “numbers person” is the reading twosome’s statistician. Topping their list was George Orwell’s 1984. Both Mary Jos completed the top 100 books in about five years and are now working their way through the second 100 books. Like most good duos, the members complement each other. Mary Jo Neff, 75, of Ingomar, is not a numbercruncher; she taught English to Middle School students for 35 years in the North Allegheny School District and has always loved reading. “I’ve read 70 of the novels on the second 100 list, and I belong to another book club as well,” said Ms. Neff. Ms. McGettigan, who is also a bookworm, has read 64 books on the second 100 to date. “That translates to 63,872 pages, 42,900 alone for the first batch of 100 books. It took me

Mary Jo McGettigan, Mary Jo Neff and the books they’ve read

three months to read War and Peace. I calculated that I needed to read 10 pages a day to finish it,” said Ms. McGettigan, who keeps all the novels she has read. Ms. Neff prefers to read on her iPad. While they don’t read the books simultaneously and their method of reading and approach to keeping track of their adventure into great books is different, one thing they do have in common is that they each rate the books that they have read. They don’t always agree, but listening to them as they throw out the titles of the books they’ve read provides stimulating insight into some of the most celebrated novels of all time. Both rated Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth as the funniest book they’ve read thus far. “I think we both have come to the realization that we favor characterdriven over plot-driven novels,” said Ms. Neff, who harbors a soft spot for John Knowles A Separate Peace and offered that book as an option in one of her classes. “That story still breaks my heart,” she said. She is also a fan of William Golding’s Lord of the Flies. “I love Faulkner—all of his books,”

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

said Ms. McGettigan, “and The Stranger by Albert Camus. I think I’ve read that novel 20 times.” “Proust was a tough slog. His books are so slow,” said Ms. Neff. “In his In Search for Lost Time, the character bites into a madeleine, and it triggers a memory that goes on and on. The book was over 4,000 pages,” said Ms. McGettigan. “It was beautifully written, but long.” Even though at times getting through some of the books has been a grind, they both agree that their efforts have been worth it. “I have learned so much about the manners and cultures of the times when the books were written and the attitudes toward women and the way women thought of themselves,” said Ms. McGettigan. “I’ve become a book snob,” said Ms. Neff. “It’s ruined other books for me. It’s hard now to read books that aren’t literary books.” Both gave high marks to Vladimir Nabokov’s Lolita. “It must have been very controversial at the time,” said Ms. McGettigan. “The word ‘Lolita’ has come to mean a young girl who’s a seductress,

The Top 10 of the Top 100 Books List Compiled by McGettigan & Neff:

but after reading the novel, I felt that this was a book about a predator grooming a young girl to be a victim,” said Ms. Neff. The pair also enjoy viewing movies adapted from the novels they have read. “So many of the books have influenced us in many ways that we aren’t aware of. In the novel The Day of the Locust by Nathaniel West, there is a character named Homer Simpson,” said Ms. McGettigan. After the pair tackles this list of 200 novels, they plan to read on. “Most of the books we’ve read are by American novelists; the next batch will have more international authors,” said Ms. McGettigan. For anyone considering a similar foray into literature, the Mary Jos have some advice. “Have a buddy,” said Ms. Neff. Ms. McGettigan laughed. “Don’t start with War and Peace!” n

1. 1984 by George Orwell 2. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov 3. Ulysses by James Joyce 4. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald 5. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller 6. Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 7. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 8. The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner 9. Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison 10. Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger

Mary Jo McGettigan’s Top 10 Books Read So Far 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess Beloved by Toni Morrison Middlemarch by George Eliot All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren The Stranger by Albert Camus The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene Moby Dick by Herman Melville To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Mary Jo Neff’s Top 10 Books Read So Far 1. A Separate Peace by John Knowles 2. Beloved by Toni Morrison 3. Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger 4. Lord of the Flies by William Golding 5. All the King’s Men by Robert Penn Warren 6. All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque 7. The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood 8. The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark 9. Suite Française by Irene Nemirovsky 10. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

FREE BREAKFAST

VALID 8AM-3PM Receive a Free Breakfast Entrée with purchase of a second Breakfast Entrée (Max Value $13). Cannot combine coupons. One Free Entrée per check. Please tip your server on the pre-discounted check amount. Not valid on Easter. EXPIRES: 3/15/19

FREE APPETIZER

VALID AFTER 3PM Receive a Free Appetizer with purchase of a Dinner Entrée (Max Value $12). Cannot combine coupons. One Free Appetizer per check. Please tip your server on the pre-discounted check amount. Not valid on Easter. EXPIRES: 3/15/19

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

REM EM BER WHEN

Welcome to Winter! By Joe Bullick

inter has always been a mixed bag for me, even as a young boy. We had no gas furnace back then, but a coal one. We had no heat upstairs, so I was under the covers at night to keep warm. My mom was always on the look out for mice that may have come inside our house for the

winter. A common house mouse lives about a year and leaves behind about 18,000 droppings. If you have a cat, that helps to deter mice. If you need to trap a mouse, peanut butter makes a good bait; mice can’t resist the stuff. One of the most common diseases that occurs during the win-

ter is influenza. Wash your hands often to prevent the spreading of it, and be sure to get a flu shot. We must give a big thank you to the road crews who plow our roads. As a young man, I helped to keep the roads open. I worked part-time for the state highways of Pennsylvania, earning $1.75 to toss cinders from the back of a truck. There was no salt in those days. Later, they added spreaders to the trucks. In those days, Route 19 was the main road and we had to keep it open. The back roads didn’t get much attention. Some of them were taken care of by the farmers. I can still see the Rinamans with their team of horses plowing their road. We had a horse when I was a boy, and I did a lot of shoveling to get to her stable to take care of her. I used to put a blanket on her to keep her warm on the cold days. Do you have some great stories from your winters as a kid? Now is a good time to make some new memories. Why not go to Ohiopyle, Boyce Park or the Laurel Highlands for some winter fun. This is also the time of year to say goodbye to those who leave for warmer climates like Florida or Arizona to avoid the winter weather. I leave you with this:

Drive carefully this winter. It’s not only cars that can be recalled by their maker.

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

ADVERTORIAL

Reclaimed Memories, LLC,

Comes to the Rescue By Janice Lane Palko

MULTI-DAY TOURS

(All multi-day tours are priced per person, double occupancy)

Daytona Beach 15 Day Oceanfront Suites* Feb 17-Mar 3...........................................$1,439

Philadelphia Flower Show

Mar 6-7.......................................................$435

FL Getaway: St. Augustine/Amelia Island

Apr 7-13...................................................$1,329

Jekyll Island, Savannah, Hilton Head

f the mere thought of decluttering, downsizing or perhaps even liquidating an estate induces sweaty palms or a rise in blood pressure, don’t stress. There is help. Reclaimed Memories, LLC, can streamline the process, relieving you of the burden of parting with items. “If you need help, all you need do is give me a call. We meet at your home; we walk-through and then we discuss what your needs are. In every case and every home, the needs are different,” said Kimberly Bocchi, owner of Reclaimed Memories, the family-owned and operated business. “I have recently had to liquidate my grandmother’s estate, so I know how sensitive a time this can be for a family,” said Kim. Reclaimed Memories will quote a fee for their services, and then will sort, price and display items “We go through the house methodically to place items in logical order for sale,” said Kim. Mom Janice Ashton, daughter Allie Early, After the sale, Kim and her and owner Kim Bocchi team clean up and leave the premises broom-swept. She and her team also know how to reclaim or re-home collectibles. “My significant other and I have been into antiques for more than 20 years,” said Kim. Kim and her knowledgeable staff also advertise the sale and give an itemized accounting of things sold. “We also consult with clients about donating any leftovers to the charity of their choice. We have made donations to homeless veterans and women’s shelters around and in Pittsburgh,” said Kim. Not only does Reclaimed Memories do liquidations but it can also help you declutter or downsize. “I have helped people downsize their home while they already living out of state,” Kim said. When it comes to decluttering, you may not want people walking through your house. “In that case,” said Kim, “we can have a sale offsite.” Reclaimed Memories can even help hoarders. Kim knows how hard it is to part with a loved one’s possessions. “I think about my grandmother and her things. Each item of hers came with a story. She owned nothing valuable, but she would have wanted her things to go to people who need them or who would reclaim them for future memories. I take personal items and the memories associated with them and pass them along to another, thereby reclaiming those memories.” n

Apr 28-May 4...........................................$1,189

Oh My Gourd…A Murder!

Apr 30-May 1..............................................$350

Spring in Bloom at Oglebay Resort

May 6-7......................................................$340

CASINO TOURS Resorts Atlantic City

Apr 14-17 & May 19-22..............................$352

Bally’s Atlantic City

Jun 2-5.......................................................$334

ONE-DAY TOURS Pennsylvania Farm Show

Jan 5.............................................................$99

Cirque du Soleil Corteo

Jan 20.........................................................$154

Great American Outdoor Show

Feb 5.............................................................$99

I Love Lucy Murder Mystery

Feb 14...........................................................$99

When Irish Eyes are Smiling

Mar 14........................................................$140

Ohio Mystery Tour

Mar 27........................................................$123

Spring in DC

Apr 6...........................................................$159

Sentimental Jukebox Journey

Apr 11...........................................................$99

AIR & CRUISE TOURS Bus to Bermuda 7 Nights

Apr 25-May 2......................... Starting at $1,182

Bus to Bermuda 5 Nights

May 11-16................................ Starting at $964

Nature’s Best: Alaska

May 21-27......................................$2,619 + Air *Guaranteed Departure

Call us for a free consultation: 724-487-3852 www.reclaimedmemoriesllc.com

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

WINTER ’19 HAPP Collections North Hills Community Outreach is collecting safety items for seniors. For details, visit nhco.org or call Cathy, at (412) 307-0069 x3313.

Health & Wellness Free Services for Seniors through North Hills Community Outreach. Help with rides to medical appts., grocery stores, yard work. Call Cathy at (412) 307-0069 ext. 3313 or Kerry at (412) 449-0151 to schedule an in-home registration visit. Health, Wealth, Wellness & More Business Expo, noon- 6 p.m., Feb. 1 and 1- a.m.-4 p.m., Feb. 2, Clearview Mall, Center

Court. For info, email Jennifer@ ButlerCountyChamber.com or call (724) 283-2222. Healthy Start Café, 8:45 a.m., every Mon & Thurs, St. John Lutheran Church of Highland, 311 Cumberland Rd. Presented by Lutheran SeniorLife & St. John Lutheran Church of Highland. Call (412) 364-1606 or (412) 307-1797. North Hill Community Outreach provides Safety Checks for Seniors. Interested seniors who reside in northern Allegheny County should email Cathy at clpschirer@nhco.org or call (412) 307-0069 x3313. Pennsylvania consumers are encouraged to sign up for a new text alert system through his

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com

Bureau of Consumer Protection to raise their awareness on how to avoid becoming a scam victim. For info, visit https://www.attorneygeneral.gov/consumer-alerts/

Cranberry, Adams, Seven Fields, Mars & Valencia. Call (724) 9351877.

Medical Meals on Wheels McKnight Meals on Wheels provides home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound and disabled. Services Ross Twp., Berkeley Hills, Swan Acres, McCandless, Shaler & Hampton Townships. Call (412) 487-4088. North Country Meal on Wheels provides home delivered meals to the elderly, homebound & disabled. Services Marshall, Pine, Richland, Bradford Woods, Franklin Park, parts of McCandless, West Deer,

North Hills Community Outreach offers free medication safety screenings for seniors living in northern Allegheny County, north of the city of Pittsburgh. For details contact, Cathy at (412) 307-0069, ext. 3313.

Senior Facilities UPMC Senior Communities offers independent living & personal care. For details, call 1-800-324-5523.

ENINGS Senior Meetings AARP 3736 welcomes new members, 7:30 p.m., every 2nd Thurs., of the month (except June & July) at St. Ursula Church Social Hall. Cranberry Township 55+ Club meets at 1 p.m., the 2nd Tues., of the month in the Cranberry Municipal Center. The club features activities, social events and local trips. For info, call Bill at (724) 776-1933. 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. Call (724) 816-2159. 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. Call (724) 444-0064. Gateway North AARP #3586 meets at 1 p.m., the 3rd Monday of the month, at West View Banquet Hall at 398 Perry Hwy. Short meeting with entertainment, and cake & coffee. Everyone is welcome. Primetimers, noon, first Thurs of the month, Christ Church Grove Farm, Ohio Twp. Call (412) 741-4900 or visit http:// www.ccgf.org.

Social Groups Amazing Singles, for singles in the Pittsburgh region, visit, http://www.amazingsingles. com/pittsburgh.html. AUP Club, have fun & meet new people with the Association of University People/AUP. We are looking for single, 4-year col

lege graduates over 50 to join us for monthly dinners, meet at various social spots, gatherings and Scrabble. For info, call (412) 734-8445 or visit us at www. aupsinglespittsburgh.org. Catholic Alumni Club of Pittsburgh, has dances, retreats and plays various sports and other great events. Visit their website http://www.cacpittsburgh.org/. Visit Pittsburgh Events & Festivals lists upcoming events for singles, kids, and married folks. It enlightens Pittsburghers on dining, shopping and recreational events. Go to http:// www.visitpittsburgh.com/eventsfestivals.

Support Groups Alzheimer’s Support Group, 10 a.m., 1st Monday of each month, St. Catherine of Sweden Parish, 2554 Wildwood Rd. Call Suzie, at (724) 799-7049. 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. Home Instead Senior Care® has a program to help families in Northwest Allegheny County manage the challenges of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Free training is available at HelpForAlzheimersFamilies.com. Paramount Senior Living at Cranberry Alzheimer’s Affiliated Support Group meets 2 p.m., the last Friday. Contact Pam, at (724) 779-5020.

Volunteer Opportunities: Hope Hospice is looking for volunteers to visit Hospice patients. Call (412) 367-3685. (Continued on page 28)

www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com | Winter 2019

Neighborly Gnomes assist seniors with disabilities with yard tasks. Visit NeedsbyNeighborhood.org.

downtown Pittsburgh. For info or to register, contact John at OASIS at (412) 393-7648 or jdspehar@oasisnet.org.

North Hills Community Outreach needs volunteer dispatchers for their senior shuttles. For info, contact Kerry at kkmulhern@nhco.org or (412) 449-0151.

UPMC Passavant Auxiliary Membership Opportunities, are you looking for an opportunity for social interaction with other dedicated people in support of UPMC Passavant McCandless and Cranberry? Then join UPMC Passavant Auxiliary’s tradition of caring. The Auxiliary meets the 2nd Monday of each month (Sept.-June) at 10 a.m. New members welcome. For info, contact Alice at (412) 748-6640 or burkea2@ph.upmc.edu.

North Hills Community Outreach urgently needs volunteers in the upper Route 28 corridor to help seniors. Visit http://nhco.org/volunteer-opportunities/volunteer-help-seniors/. For details, call Kerry, (412) 4490151 or kkmulhern@nhco.org. Pittsburgh OASIS Intergenerational Tutor Program seeks volunteers (50+) to tutor in Pittsburgh & Woodland Hills School Districts in grades K-4. Trainings are held at the Duquesne Light Building

Ursuline Services’ Checks and Balances program assists those who have difficulty with financial affairs. Register at (412) 2244700 x113 or ktobin@ursulinesupport.org.

CALL NOW

to reserve your advertising space for the next issue!

724-940-2444

Winter 2019 | www.PittsburghFiftyFivePlus.com