b magazine Summer 2014

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CAR CRAZE It’s the ‘boss’

summer 2014 volume 7 issue 2

ORGANIC I FOODS You are what you eat Reaching baby boomers 1946 – 1964

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PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson EDITORIAL V.P. & Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor Megan Joyce Editorial Intern Christina Cardamone CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jana Benscoter Barbara Trainin Blank Eddie Collins Ronald DeVere, M.D. Lee Dussinger Bob Hartfield Jessica Johns Stephen Kopfinger David Krell Gina Napoli Jennifer Petri Rochelle A. Shenk Jack Sherzer Spencer J. Trautman Barbara and Jim Twardowski Althea Zanecosky ART DEPARTMENT Production Coordinator Janys Cuffe Production Artist Renee McWilliams SALES Account Executives Sherry Bolinger Angie McComsey Jacoby Amy Kieffer Susan Krieger Ranee Shaub Miller Sue Rugh Barry Surran ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall Project Coordinator Loren Gochnauer Sales & Event Coordinator Eileen Culp Business Intern Mariah K. Hammacher Copyright Š 2014 On-Line Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved. b magazine is published quarterly. Single copy price $2.95.

Four-issue subscriptions are $6.00. Reproduction or use without permission of editorial or graphic content in any manner is strictly prohibited. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the Publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The Publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. b magazine 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 717.285.1350 • fax 717.285.1360 www.bmagazinepa.com

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from the editor ...

Seeing the cover of this issue of b magazine really drives home the difference between music and popular teenage television shows “back then” compared to today. I know many of you were humming “Sugar, Sugar” when you saw the cover and there are probably a few of you that have some of their comics. Thanks to modern technologies and social media outlets, fans can easily access all things Archies related and connect with other Archies enthusiasts. Read more inside about why we loved them.

We may have listened to music played a few decibels too loud (because the louder the better!) and no coercing by our parents could make us turn it down. Plus, many of you patriotically served in Korea, Vietnam, and other places where loud noises were the norm. Our hearing may not be what it should be. Or you may have another type of hearing loss. Learn about the advancements in hearing solutions for slight- to high-level hearing losses. It’s amazing how small and imperceptible they can be.

Have you tried organic fruits and vegetables lately? A couple of local growers tell us more about how foods are classified as organic and why you should be considering adding them to your diet.

Your parents told you to drink your milk; it will make your bones stronger. They were right then and it’s still good advice for you today. Find out how dairy products can be some of the best protectors against many age-related conditions.

We consider it a responsibility to provide information to help many of you who are doing double, sometimes triple duty as caregivers to older loved ones. We hope you find this information helpful into your daily caregiving journey. If there is a topic you would like us to broach, please, let us know.

Happy summer!

Vice president and managing editor

bmagazinepa

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www.bmagazinepa.com summer 2014 volume 7, issue 2

features 10

IT’S ONLY ROCK & ROLL Eddie Collins, who touts himself as a musician, radio personality, promoter, music archivist, and currently the vice president of Keystone Record Collections, has met and interviewed many celebrities. Collins shares special memories from the past 50+ years of meeting, performing with, and interviewing many of your favorite performers.

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YOUR BACKYARD Many baby boomers are finding they have a little more time to relax and enjoy their backyards. Sometimes, however, they feel like a fish in a bowl – no privacy. Find out what you can do to provide some privacy without insulting the neighbors.

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YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT Organic foods are gaining in popularity and, therefore, can be found more readily in grocery stores, farmer’s markets, health food shops, and fresh at local organic farms. People are learning more about their health benefits and discovering the delicious taste of these fruits and vegetables. But not all vegetables and fruits can be called organic; organic has a detailed definition under federal food regulations.

anniversary 37

THE ‘IRON LADY’ Margaret Thatcher—Britain’s first female prime minister.

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37 cover story 6 THE ARCHIES

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You probably don't recognize the names Jeff Barry and Andy Kim, but they wrote the popular pop song "Sugar, Sugar." What you do remember is the fictional teenage band Archies singing it. The group also had other favorites such as "Bang-Shang-A-Lang," "Over and Over," and "This is Love."

caregiving 48

STAYING INVOLVED The best defense against elder abuse.

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HOSPICE Improving the quality of life … at the end of life.

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SORTING AND DISPOSING OF HOUSEHOLD ITEMS Resources to help in the process.

financial 18

SOCIAL SECURITY To take and how to take—that is the question.

general 71

BASEBALL Making a molehill out of a mountain.

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GOOD VIBRATIONS Meet a fellow boomer.

health 22

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HEARING IMPAIRMENTS Easier to correct than ever.

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MEMORY LOSS AND DEMENTIA The glass is half full … not half empty.

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THE NEW PROTECTIVE SUPER FOOD How it can fend off ailments.

lifestyle 58

LOVE WHERE YOU LIVE Retirement living in the 21st century.

nostalgia 63

PLEASE RETURN THE SPEAKERS TO THE POST …

Drive-in theaters—where many a memory was made.

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CAR CRAZE Two area men’s passion for the ‘boss.’

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people 34

FINDING HERSELF IN MUSIC Drumming helps a local baby boomer find solace.

travel 30

CAPTIVATING CARDIFF The most popular visitor destination in Wales.

veteran 68

UP THE RIVER TO SERVE A CAUSE His job was to get supplies to the guys who needed them.

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cover story WRITTEN BY David Krell

LIVERPOOL GAVE US THE BEATLES. Southern California gave us The Beach Boys.

And Riverdale gave us The Archies.

Dismissed as a bubblegum rock group by music critics, The Archies have endured for more than 40 years in our collective popular-culture consciousness.

By the mid-1960s, the Archieverse was primed to expand with a terrific launching pad of popularity dating back to Archie’s debut in Pep Comics No. 22 (December 1941), along with Jughead and Betty also making their

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first appearances.

A Saturday-morning cartoon show provided the perfect platform. Don Kirshner, music producer extraordinaire, had launched The Monkees to icon status by producing their music for The Monkees television show on NBC. After Kirshner parted ways with The Monkees, he took on the challenge of

producing music for The Archie Show.

Produced by Filmation, The Archie Show debuted on CBS on Sept. 14, 1968.

To create buzz for the show’s debut, Archie No. 185 (September 1968) featured an Archies story, “Music Soothes.” Victor Gorelick, Archie Comics editor-in-chief, elaborates on the timing.

cover story ) ) ) the archies

“

The Archies are the king of good-time bubblegum rock and proud of it!

”

“Archie No. 185 went on sale in July 1968,” he said. “However, Betty and Veronica were not included. Also, Reggie was playing the drums, not Jughead.”

Archie Comics created a fictional origin for the Kirshner connection in “The Music Man,” a story featured in Archie No. 189 (March 1969). In the story, the Archies have no luck getting a producer to hear their music.

“Every two bit, fly-by-night operator has turned us down or bounced us out,” states Archie.

Veronica, suddenly inspired, reveals her father’s friendship with Don Kirshner. The band, naturally, lobbies Mr. Lodge to use his connection for an audition. The story ends with Kirshner asking The Archies to record for his label, Calendar Records.

Kirshner, in real life, relied on Jeff Barry for the challenge of matching songs to The Archies’ brand of wholesomeness. Barry, a producer and songwriter, had a track record including producing The Monkees’ No. 1 song “I’m A Believer” and co-writing two

No. 1 songs with Ellie Greenwich: “Da Doo Ron Ron” and “Do Wah Diddy Diddy.”

The Archies’ first single was “BangShang-a-Lang,” followed by “Feelin’ So Good.” The third time’s a charm, as the saying goes. Barry co-wrote “Sugar, Sugar” with Andy Kim for The Archies’ third single. It was the No. 1 single for 1969.

Ron Dante sang lead on “Sugar, Sugar” with Toni Wine providing backup. They previously paired up for “Leader of the Laundromat,” a parody

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cover story

of the Shangri-Las’ No. 1 song “Leader of the Pack.” Coincidentally, Barry cowrote and co-produced “Leader of the Pack” with George “Shadow” Morton and Ellie Greenwich.

“Sugar, Sugar” remakes include a Wilson Pickett version and a rap version in Archie: To Riverdale and Back Again, a 1990 NBC TV movie framing the Archie characters in adulthood—specifically, Riverdale High School’s 15-year reunion.

Critics, however, looked askance at the “bubblegum rock” genre that The Archies popularized. Archie Comics embraced the criticism rather than fight

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it. In the story “Bubble Trouble” in Everything’s Archie No. 132 (November 1987), music critic Rap McNasty comments about the group’s bubblegum rock sound in Groaning Stone. A music video deal with producer Vance Forward then falls through.

After seeing Jughead use his bubblegum to blow a bubble, Archie has an idea—The Archies return to Vance Forward and Archie exclaims, “The Archies are the king of good-time bubblegum rock and proud of it!”

For visual reinforcement, Reggie, Veronica, Betty, and Jughead blow bubbles. Forward, consequently, likes

the new concept. “You’re right! I can see it now! The Archies appear in a great big pink bubble! Surrounded by hundreds of fans all chewing bubblegum.”

As the story ends, The Archies’ new bubblegum video maintains the No. 1 slot for the third consecutive week. To make the success even sweeter, McNasty visits for another interview. He apologizes for his previous comments by taking action—he blows a bubble!

The Archie Show spawned several Archie cartoon shows in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s, for example, The Archie Comedy Hour, The U.S. of

cover story

them because of The Beatles, Archie, Jughead, Reggie, and Moose wear mops as wigs and play at a school dance.

They become a massive success with the downside of fame to match—no privacy.

In the end, we learn that the story is, in fact, a dream sequence.

The Archie Comics website (www.archiecomics.com) is the hub for all Archie-related news and content.

Fans can easily access a wide array of Archie products through the Archie store link, including graphic novels, t-shirts, posters, and you can even subscribe to your favorite titles.

The site also houses the Archie blog,

updated daily with the latest Archie press and announcements, as well as classic covers and strips. You can connect to all of Archie’s social media pages through the website, including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, YouTube, Google+, and more.

Want to stay current on everything Archie? Then click on the link to sign up for the Archie e-newsletter and receive emails on the most up-to-date news, offers, etc.

The Archies may never be mistaken for The Beatles. But their place is secured in our memories … and our hearts. ) ) )

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Archie, and Archie’s Bang-Shang Lalapalooza Show. Additionally, ABC aired two live-action Archie specials in the 1970s. Archie aired on Dec. 19, 1976, with comedy segments interspersed with songs. Dennis Bowen played the title role.

Variety reviewed Archie in its Dec. 22, 1976, issue. The review was encouraging.

“Overall, one got the feeling that the special had come close to achieving its original goals and might yet turn up on ABC’s prime-time sked [schedule]— possibly as a summer skein [series].”

Alas, it did not happen, though ABC aired a second special on Aug. 5, 1978: The Archie Situation Comedy Musical Variety Show.

The Archies, contrary to conventional wisdom, did not begin with Don Kirshner’s music for The Archie Show. At least, not technically.

A comic book story predates the show’s debut by a year and a half.

“Once Upon a Tune!” in Life With Archie No. 60 (April 1967) features what can arguably be called the debut of The Archies.

Music provided a theme for other Archie Comics stories predating The Archie Show. In “The Folk Singers” story in Veronica No. 101 (May 1964), the folk music genre takes center stage as Archie, Betty, and Veronica write and sing folk songs.

“Beatlemania” in Archie’s Pals ’n’ Gals No. 29 (summer 1964) parodies The Beatles’ success that reached a new dimension when The Beatles performed on The Ed Sullivan Show. Tired of the Riverdale High School girls ignoring

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it’s only rock ’n’ roll… but I still like it!

WRITTEN BY Eddie Collins

From left: Collins with Charlie Gracie; with Bobby Vee; with The Angels.

IN 1951, A DISC JOCKEY IN CLEVELAND, OHIO, NAMED ALAN FREED, FIRST coined a phrase that became the evolution of a pop-music revolution, using the words “rock ’n’ roll.” By 1954, Bill Haley & The Comets would reinforce this new “sound” with the song “Rock Around The Clock.”

In 1958, however, as parents were still telling teenagers this music was just a passing fad, Danny & the Juniors boldly proclaimed “Rock ’n’ Roll is Here to Stay!” Over a half-century later, the driving beat remains a dominant force of our culture.

For myself, I feel fortunate to have been born during the infancy of this music, growing up during the riding wave of Beatlemania, through Saturday Night Fever. My musical journey began in the Philadelphia suburb of Prospect Park.

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In 1962, at the age of 5, I was ushered into Sound Plus Recording Studios by my uncle, Jim Drucker, booking agent for the Jolly Joyce Agency, requesting me to do a spoken intro to a song written by him called “The Day Rock & Roll Dies.”

Armed with a group of studio musicians and backup vocalists The Ly-Dells (known for their hit “Wizard of Love”), I suddenly found myself immersed in the world of rock music.

In the short years ahead, with my uncle becoming a prominent disc jockey

feature ) ) ) eddie collins

Clockwise, from left: Collins with Brian Hyland; with Paul Revere of Paul Revere & The Raiders; with Johnny Tillotson; with Legendary Philly DJ, Jerry ‘The Geator’ Blavat.

and music publisher, I would take trips with him in the late 1960s to New York City, visiting promotion men at record labels named Laurie, Bell, and Buddah and seeing those gold records on their walls by my heroes—Dion & the Belmonts, The Box Tops, The 1910 Fruitgum Company, and others.

Of course, my own record collection was off to a running start by then (which now amasses more than 35,000 45s), and all this gave me many aspirations.

By the 1970s I began a lengthy career in entertainment as drummer, bass guitarist, and vocalist with a myriad of high-profile bands in northeastern Pennsylvania, including

Sheriff Jones and The Mudflaps, and I toured nationally as musical director for The Drifters.

During the 1980s, as “Mister Ed,” I rode the airwaves as on-air personality and music director for radio stations WMGH, WHLM, WXPX, WSPI, WMGS, and others.

Then, a return to the stage as came in 1991-2010 as lead vocalist/bass guitarist for The Rocket 88’s and in the nostalgic revue of The Golden Age of Rock ’n’ Roll Roadshow.

In my travels as musician, radio personality, promoter, music archivist, and currently as vice president of Keystone Record Collectors in Lancaster, Pa., I’ve been quite

fortunate to have met, interviewed, and performed with many iconic entertainers and industry legends who created the music for the soundtrack of our lives.

As I rewind my memory tapes, here are some lighthearted, humorous, and warm recollections of a few celebrities.

At the top of my “hit parade,” for anyone who is a fan of The Beatles, you can imagine how elated I was in meeting their original drummer, Pete Best. An integral part of the Fab Four prior to being replaced by Ringo Starr in 1962, Best was featured on “My Bonnie” and the group’s earliest recordings.

Best was invited to perform at the

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Above, from left: Collins with Carmine Appice of The Vanilla Fudge; with Dennis Tufano of The Buckinghams; with Len Barry of The Dovells.

Liverpool, Pa., 200th centennial in 2008. As he signed my archives, reflecting about John, Paul, and George, he stated very humbly, “It’s water under the bridge now; it was such a long time ago.”

My encounter with Dick Clark is quite a memorable one. In 1976, at Hersheypark Arena, after unsuccessful attempts to get backstage to meet him, I sat in the bleachers with my wife, Debbie, and infant son, Keith. I was tapped on the shoulder by a blond-haired gal who asked, “Excuse me, sir, did you want to meet Dick Clark?”

The gal was Clark’s wife, Kari, who promptly escorted me back to his trailer. As Clark greeted me, with

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laughter in seeing my old photos and records, he introduced me to Danny & the Juniors. In years to come, Dick Clark always obliged when asked in assisting me with various ventures.

Among many interviews with artists such as Chubby Checker, The Contours, and The Monkees, my most intriguing was in 1978 with Tiny Tim, known for appearances on the late-1960s TV show Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In and his hit record “Tiptoe Through the Tulips.”

In between serenading me on the ukulele with songs of vaudeville days gone by, he spoke of ex-wife Miss Vicki fondly. However, regarding their ill-fated marriage, he stated, “Mr. Collins, remember, absence doesn’t

make the heart grow fonder; it only makes it wander.”

As a concert emcee, it’s always a sheer joy to work alongside such artists as The Guess Who, The Shangri-Las, The Duprees, The Angels, and the immortal Ray Charles. Having the opportunity to emcee Charles’s 1986 appearance at the Berwick Fair is a very cherished memory.

His manager, Joe Hunter, told me, “You’ve got two minutes to introduce Ray; just end with ‘and now the genius Ray Charles.’” As I said those words, Charles approached the stage, and I shook his hand. I’ll never forget it—or his blue rhinestone coat!

When it comes to having sung on stage with my idols, nothing’s cooler

feature

at Tommy James’ birthday celebration in 2009 as a guest of Richie Grasso, who penned “Sweet Cherry Wine.”

While James and I listened to his vintage Seeburg jukebox, I asked him if he ever imagined his career would be a part of music history, and he replied, “We never thought about it— everything moved so fast. We had to have a hit record every three months, do The Ed Sullivan Show, or fly somewhere; it was crazy back then!”

It’s quite amazing how the musical contributions of these artists can give our lives such joy and how we become saddened when tragedy strikes theirs.

As the years go on, in a world filled with MP3s, iPods, iTunes, and other music-technology breakthroughs for our listening pleasure, there’s still no greater feeling for me than grabbing a stack of 45s, heading for my turntable, and hearing the sounds of Frankie Valli, Paul Anka, The Crystals, Bobby Rydell, and countless others.

As those records spin, I smile and recall the times I spent meeting and working with those individuals, the greatest entertainers of our generation, and, of course … the beat goes on! ) ) )

) ) ) eddie collins

than singing bass with The Cleftones on “Little Girl of Mine” or joining Lou Christie on the falsetto of “Two Faces Have I.” My favorite, though, will always be Bobby Vee. While emceeing Vee at a Danville, Pa., show in 1988, he asked me to share the lead vocal on his big hit “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes.”

After the song ended and after a thunderous applause, Vee remarked jokingly, “Jeez, Eddie sounded more like the record than me!”

Being invited to a gala event at a rock legend’s home is quite eventful, as I was humbled to be in attendance

Please joins us for these community events!

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Two of your favorite events, together!

15th Annual

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Sept. 17, 2014 FREE!

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9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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18th Annual

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Nov. 5, 2014 FREE!

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Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available

Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars Entertainment • Door Prizes (717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140 (610) 675-6240

www.50plusExpoPA.com summer 2014 |

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WRITTEN BY Gina Napoli

IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO CREATE A HIDEAWAY IN YOUR BACKYARD, consider installing privacy fencing. Privacy fencing isn’t limited to actual fencing materials, the same way it isn’t limited to your backyard. You may want to enclose your hot tub, increase your outdoor living space, or limit the view from your bedroom window.

If you’re using a contractor to install your privacy fencing, you’ll want to work with someone experienced who can offer creative project suggestions.

Jeff Bollinger, designer at Hively Landscapes, said, “My recommendations for any project are based both on the style of the home,

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the purpose of the fencing, the available space, and the atmosphere they’re trying to create.” There are also budget and maintenance considerations.

Designing the perfect privacy fencing for each client may call for a combination of man-made fencing and

Before and after shots of a pathway designed by Hively Landscapes.

natural plants.

“Many ideas come from nature, mimicking natural flowing lines, shadows, materials, and textures,” Bollinger said. “I’m also inspired by classical architecture. With the availability of new materials in the landscape industry, I think about how

feature ) ) ) your backyard

Trex composite fencing, a unique blend of wood particles and recycled plastic—95% recycled materials.

Photos courtesy of Fence and Deck Supply™

to use them creatively.”

The most popular privacy fencing materials are wood, PVC, and composite. All will ensure more privacy for your living space.

Pressure-treated wood fencing is treated with a chemical preservative.

Some wood is rated for above-ground only, but some can also be installed inground. After installing, stain and sealer should be applied periodically to protect the wood and make it look interesting. Pressure-treated wood will not rot. However, it will crack over time, and the appearance will deteriorate. Price will depend on the type of wood.

“I like to use western red cedar,” said Bollinger. “It’s a much higher price, but it’s of highest quality and

naturally durable.”

PVC fencing is available in a variety of styles and sizes, although it is most commonly available in white and beige.

“

Many ideas come from nature, mimicking natural flowing lines, shadows, materials, and textures.

”

You can opt for spaced picket fencing or opaque for ultimate privacy. It’s easy to maintain and moderately priced.

Composite fencing materials, relatively new, are usually a mix of hardwood sawdust and recycled plastic.

Some composites have a woodsy appearance. This material is heavy, so the design and structure of the fence should take into account the weight of the materials.

A wonderful accent to consider with fencing is a custom gate or entrance column. You can create something ornamental or arched, depending on the rest of the design. Boulders and other found objects can also bring interest to the space.

Part of the fencing design could include some strategically placed plantings.

“I like to weave plantings and fence together, creating tiers, layers, and

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These images from CC Bamboo show how bamboo can be used as a natural screen.

Clockwise, from left: Privacy screen of bamboo; bamboo fence; bamboo privacy screen replaces the old wooden fence in the pool area.

depth,” said Bollinger. “You may not need solid walls. Fencing can run through plantings, and vice versa.”

Plants will let different amounts of light through according to each season.

Some science behind the design is analyzing the soil for conditions and drainage.

“Not only is it important to place the right plant in the right place, but also to allow room for its growth,” said Bollinger. This may mean phased privacy that will thicken every year as plants mature through the years.

There are a number of evergreen plants to consider for fuller foliage coverage. Suggested hollies are Stokes (a Japanese holly) and Dragon Lady.

Suggested yews include Hicksii and Hillii. Some boxwoods that grow upright are Green Mountain and

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Graham Blandy.

An interesting semi-evergreen, although not well known, is Allegheny Viburnum. It is a broad-leaf plant that retains a lot of its leaves in the wintertime. Different variations of arborvitae are commonly used, if perhaps overused. They mature at medium to large heights and narrow widths.

If you’re not looking for total privacy coverage, there are some deciduous shrubs that can soften your view a little. Some medium-sized shrub suggestions: Viburnum, Winterberry Holly, and Northern Bayberry. Small flowering and ornamental trees include Serviceberry, Sweetbay Magnolia, Kousa Dogwood, and Cornelian Cherry Dogwood. Some medium-sized coverage selections: Flowering Cherry, Black

feature ) ) ) your backyard

Gum, and Japanese Tree Lilac. “All beautiful choices,” said Bollinger.

On the other hand, if you’re looking to grow your privacy fence quickly, an evergreen to consider planting is bamboo. Provided you have the space and no power lines overhead, you could grow a mature bamboo plant with new canes measuring 30 feet tall in 6-12 weeks.

“The taller the initial plants, the faster it will size up,” said John Kohler, president, Chester County Bamboo (CC Bamboo), the only company in Pennsylvania specializing in bamboo.

The shoots will grow high quickly and sprout leaves for an even fuller coverage. To watch a time-elapsed video of bamboo growing, tune into YouTube and type “watchbamboogrow.”

According to Kohler, if you plant bamboo correctly it won’t grow out of control and take over your yard.

Installing a root barrier will prevent the canes from overflowing to an undesired area. A bamboo plant will grow new canes, so you would need to maintain it (thin it out, prune, etc.) if you weren’t planting it as an opaque privacy fence.

Bamboo offers many advantages over other fencing options. It never needs to be replaced, it’s weatherresistant, and it provides a wind-break and sound barrier.

Bamboo promotes 35 percent more oxygen and absorbs five times the amount of carbon dioxide than typical plants. The canes often become a habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Before you plant, be sure there’s no ordinance against planting bamboo.

(Historically, some homeowners have allowed certain species of bamboo to grow uncontained and unmaintained.)

It’s important to educate yourself about selecting the right species for your location. Fortunately, there are more than 1200 types to choose from, 100 of which grow in Pennsylvania.

“Bamboo will liven up any living space. In the fall, the wind blowing through makes a sound through the leaves and canes that other plants don’t. You can watch snow come through in the winter,” Kohler said.

If you are planning to work with an outside contractor in installing privacy

fencing, look for an experienced designer with longevity in a reputable company. Ask friends for recommendations.

“Research. Look at magazines.

Watch HGTV. Think about yourself, your family, and how you plan to use your space. When you do meet with a designer, look at their portfolio. Ask about any professional awards they’ve earned. Having a good dialogue with your designer will result in a most beautiful outcome.” Bollinger said.

“This is an investment you’ll enjoy for many years, so it’s important not to rush the process.” ) ) )

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financial

social security —

WRITTEN BY Bob Hartfield, CFP®

to take and how to take, that is the question

AS A FINANCIAL PLANNER, I THOUGHT I KNEW IT ALL REGARDING Social Security. However, upon further research, I was astounded at the nuances to collecting Social Security that I wasn’t aware of and the drastic difference in the amount of money collected relative to the age at which the benefit is taken.

I could plan on starting my benefits at age 62, but if I were still working, I could be penalized and lose some of the benefits. Taking benefits early would amount to less than if I waited to age 66.

If I waited to age 66, there are no more worries about penalties for working, but it might take 12 years of

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collecting higher benefits to offset not taking early benefits.

Other scenarios include: • If I wait until age 70, my income will be one-third higher than starting at 66.

• If I am married and I choose to receive early, lower benefits, I may be

locking my spouse into that lower income benefit at my death. My spouse might wish I had delayed.

and $634,000 in total benefits, depending on what age she or he started taking income.

• If a spouse never worked, they still will receive a Social Security benefit.

Non-Working Spouse Benefits A retiring client recently told me that his spouse would not receive Social Security benefits because she never worked.

He was pleasantly surprised when I informed him that, in fact, she would collect 50 percent of his benefit and, if he predeceases her, she steps up to getting his full benefit.

The Basics Let’s look closer at the basics first.

Age 62, for most people, is the earliest that they can start collecting Social Security. But if you are still working and collecting Social Security, any wages over $15,480 (2014 limit) reduce your Social Security income ($1 lost for every $2 above the limit).

So if you earned $30,000, you would lose more than $7,000 of Social Security income. The “working” penalty goes away at full retirement age (66 or 67, depending on your birth date).

Delay Collecting Benefits Why wait before collecting? An example would be if your “full retirement age” benefit would be $2,000 per month; then, taking it early, at 62, might reduce it to $1,500 per month.

Waiting until age 70 could increase it to $2,600 per month. According to Social Security, more than 70 percent of retirees take early benefits. Many may wish they had worked a little longer or somehow delayed taking early benefits. After all, one in four 65-year-olds will reach age 90.

I read one example where a 65year-old single person who lives to be 90 could collect between $504,000

Working Spouses Can Magnify Their Benefits If you get the idea now that waiting to take Social Security can increase your benefit and a spouse can take a benefit of 50 percent of the other spouse’s Social Security income, consider this: Mary and Joe are retiring at 67 this year. Joe’s full benefit is $30,000 (annual). Mary’s is $16,000. But instead of Mary taking her $16,000 in Social Security benefit, she delays her benefit to age 70.

In the mean time, she takes half of her spouse’s ($15,000), while he is taking his $30,000.

Then when Mary reaches age 70, she switches to her own higher age-70 benefit of $21,000.

This kind of strategy can add well over $100,000 to lifetime benefits. The strategy is called “file and suspend."

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Divorced Strategy If you were married at least 10 years and have not remarried, you can be eligible for benefits based on your living exspouse’s work record.

(You can only do this if your own Social Security benefit would be less than claiming benefits on the ex-spouse’s work record.

Basically, you get to choose the “best of” scenario.)

So again, think of this as a way to delay taking your own Social Security benefit until the maximum at age 70

married for more than 10 years, you may be entitled to collect his or her full benefit. (If you remarry before age 60, it would stop.)

If someone had several spouses and was married to each for at least 10 years and then died, the surviving spouse and each surviving ex-spouse could collect the deceased person’s full benefit! (Did Johnny Carson realize that?) and, in the meantime, collect on your ex-spouse’s benefit, while your ex is taking her/his full benefit.

If your ex is deceased and you were

Survivor Benefits If you are married nine months or longer and your spouse dies, you can collect his or her benefit. (Similar rules for reductions apply if the benefit is taken before full retirement.) If you remarry before 60, this benefit stops.

It takes some research when you find yourself in one of these situations.

However, the increased benefits can be well worth the trouble. Your first stop would be to call your local Social Security office for advice. Also, www.socialsecurity.gov is a good source of information. ) ) )

Bob Hartfield, CFP, a practicing Certified Financial Planner in West Chester, Pa., focuses on helping families plan out to age 90+ with the goal of not outliving their

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1700 Normandie Drive, York | (717) 764-6262 NormandieRidge.org

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savings.

Robert J. Hartfield Jr. is a registered representative of Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp. Securities and investment advisory services offered through Lincoln Financial Advisors Corp., a broker/dealer and registered investment advisor. Insurance offered through Lincoln affiliates and other fine companies. bob.hartfield@LFG.com

“

Life is a great big canvas; Throw all the paint on it you can.

” Danny Kaye

health

hearing impairment — easier to correct than ever WRITTEN BY Barbara Trainin Blank

FOR MANY PEOPLE, HEARING impairment equates with “feeling old.”

They may prefer to deny the loss, or simply “adjust and compensate,” said baby boomer Lisa Ramirez, of Harrisburg.

Eddy Geadah, M.S./FAAA, of West Shore Hearing Center and Hershey Hearing Center, holds a Lyric hearing aid to illustrate how small the unit is. The Lyric is virtually invisible due to its small size and placement in the ear canal.

Another alternative would be a receiver in the canal or thin tube behind the ear hearing aid. These styles have a device that sits behind the ear with a transparent tube that runs over the ear into the ear canal.

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Ramirez’s daughters were growing tired of repeating themselves, but it wasn’t until a seemingly offensive but ultimately humorous incident at a social gathering nearly a decade ago that she realized something was wrong.

Ramirez “heard” not once but three times a statement that sounded insulting.

After the initial shock, and upon clarification, she admitted she had misheard.

A visit to her internist led to a referral to an audiologist, who found some hearing loss. It was only after she was fitted with a hearing aid—an opencanal type placed behind the ear—that Ramirez realized how much she hadn’t been hearing.

health ) ) ) hearing

Dr. John W. Miller III, with Otolaryngology Physicians of Lancaster, shows the placement of the Baha unit on his patient Terri Michael.

Terri, who has had the Baha for one year, says it has changed her life.

“It’s amazing technology, which gave me new energy,” she said.

Despite that technology, many people avoid having their hearing tested. They’re often “paranoid when it comes to their eyesight but glib about hearing,” noted Howard B. Melnick, M.D., an ear, nose, and throat specialist of Melnick Moffitt & Mesaros of Lebanon.

Yet, the statistics are clear. Hearing impairment-caused by noise, aging, disease, or heredity-affects 18 percent of American adults 45-64, and 30 percent of those 65-74, according to the National Institutes of Health.

Fortunately, today, there are many different kinds of hearing aids suited to different tastes and to the wearer’s specific type and intensity of hearing loss.

In addition to the behind-the-ear aids, there are completely-in-the-canal hearing aids; aids that fit partly in the canal but not as deeply; half-shells that fill the lower portion of the bowlshaped area of the outer ear; in-the-ear full-shell aids, and open-fit (very small) behind-the-ear devices.

One form of technology is the Baha implant. An acronym for “bone anchor hearing aid,” the Baha is made of titanium and is surgically placed in the skull, permanently, just behind the ears.

“This is a very efficient transfer mechanism, with the sound going directly into the inner ear to collect and transfer sound energy,” said John Miller, M.D., an ear, nose, and throat specialist with Otolaryngology Physicians of Lancaster.

The implant bypasses the middle ear and is intended for conductive hearing losses or one-sided nerve hearing loss.

“The Baha needs a normally functioning inner ear,” he added.

The premise behind the Baha is that “we use bone conduction to our advantage,” Melnick added. (That’s the process that makes our voices sound more resonant to us than to others.)

The Baha implantation takes only about 45 minutes and can be done on both ears, although it takes time for the implant to integrate with the skull bone.

You can swim and shower with the Baha by simply removing the processor.

And the newer implants have both Bluetooth and remote control.

“If everything goes well with the surgery, there is no downside to the

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Dr. Howard Melnick, with Melnick, Moffitt, and Mesaros ENT Associates in Lebanon, holds a Baha unit—the first programmable bone conduction hearing implant for people with single-sided deafness or mixed or conductive hearing loss.

Howard B. Melnick, MD • John J. Moffitt, MD Glen J. Mesaros, MD • Donald Short, M.A., FAAA • Sharon K. Hughes, M.S., CCC-A 24

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implant, other than the possible risk of any surgery,” said Melnick.

Also available are cochlear implants, when there is no usable nerve-type hearing—perhaps because of an infection or someone born with hearing loss. These are magnetic implants placed in the inner ear and designed to produce useful hearing sensations through electrically stimulating nerves inside the inner ear.

The Lyric, one of the newer types of hearing-aid technology, is an extendedwear hearing aid that might be compared to extended-wear contact lenses. The Lyric is placed deep down within in the ear canal, 4 millimeters from the eardrum.

“The Lyric is worn 24/7 and has a handheld remote control you can turn on and off,’ said Eddy Geadah, a licensed/certified audiologist and hearing specialist and founder of the West Shore and Hershey Hearing Centers. “There is no need to change batteries.”

The Lyric isn’t for people with severe hearing loss and may not be comfortable for everyone. But others love it, he said. Unlike other aids, the Lyric comes via a yearly subscription; the patient doesn’t own it.

“The old technology was analog,” said Geadah. “Today, aids are fully automatic, wireless, and digital.”

Even though most people’s hearing loss goes along a curve, old hearing aids had linear amplification, so wearers often experienced “feedback” (an annoying whistling or squealing sound) when the aids were turned up too loud.

health ) ) ) hearing

“Digital technology changed everything,” Geadah said.

What’s more, newer aids have feedback suppression.

Another newer type of hearing aid is the RIC-standing for receiver-in-canal.

This device has a thin tube with a receiver in the ear canal and is suitable for mild to severe hearing loss.

Custom hearing aids are manufactured according to an impression taken of the patient’s ear canal and surrounding area. But RICs are designed so no impression has to be made by a physician; they provide an open, natural feel, and most are wireless.

“If you’re wearing two aids, they can communicate with each other; they’re not just single units,” Geadah pointed out. “They provide clarity for the wearer to hear consonant sounds.”

Hearing aids vary in cost, depending on the specific technology. But one thing is certain: There are many more choices than in the past-and they offer greater comfort and sophistication.

Although baby boomers often deny hearing loss, they’re likely to report tinnitus, or noise in the ear.

“Tinnitus can take many forms, but mostly it’s high-pitched ringing,” said Miller. “Some people hear musical

noises or high-pitched whines like the ones crickets or locusts make.”

Those who haven’t experienced the condition may be skeptical, but, noted Melnick, “Tinnitus is real. No one would make it up.”

In fact, it is fairly common, occurring in up to 20 percent of the population—more commonly in older people.

High-frequency hearing loss may be one cause.

“If you lose your ability to hear outside sounds, it magnifies those inner sounds,” said Miller.

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cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and the muscles that control jaw movement—may also be a cause.

Tinnitus may be the side effect of some medications; alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine can make the condition worse.

Studies have suggested that people with a tendency toward depression or anxiety may be more susceptible to tinnitus. It’s also harder to deal with at night, when there’s less ambient noise to distract the person.

Like headaches, tinnitus is a reported system; there is no diagnosis

“

There are many different kinds of hearing aids suited to different tastes and to the wearer’s specific type and intensity of hearing loss.

”

or diagnostic tool. There is also no totally effective medical treatment.

Measures can improve the condition, however. Some hearing aids have a built-in tinnitus masker.

Behavior modification might work, and some patients turn to psychologists for biofeedback desensitization.

“When a person hears the noise, he or she is often afraid of going deaf, so it’s important to reassure the patient,” Melnick said. Otherwise, “the more a person ignores tinnitus, the better.”

Don’t ignore hearing loss, however.

If you think you’re not hearing as well or as clearly as you should, consult your hearing professional. With all the solutions out there, there’s no excuse not to. ) ) )

NOW A FULL-SERVICE HEARING, HEARING AID, TINNITUS, AND BALANCE CENTER! We offer state-of-the-art hearing, tinnitus, and balance evaluations.

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AC TINNITUS, HYPERACUSIS AND BALANCE CENTER established Central Pennsylvania’s first Tinnitus Retraining Therapy (TRT) Clinic. Our state-of-the-art facilities and highly trained staff combine to provide you with the tools you need to manage your tinnitus and get your life back in balance.

CALL FOR HELP TODAY… 717-845-6321 | 888-252-1776 Dr. James Shafer, Au.D., Dr. Kimberly Stremmel, Au.D., Mrs Cynthia Silverman, M.A.

Established 2005 1776 South Queen Street • York, PA 17403 • www.actinnitus.com 26

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health

memory loss and dementia:

the glass is half full, not half empty WRITTEN BY Ronald DeVere, M.D., F.A.A.N.

ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT MEMORY LOSS? DO YOU HAVE THE FEAR of getting Alzheimer’s disease? You are not alone. This worry and anxiety are in epidemic proportions in the U.S. and worldwide. This fear has overtaken the public fear of cancer.

The information you are about to encounter will decrease your worry and fear by giving you important, positive information and helping to dispel many myths related to memory loss and Alzheimer’s dementia.

As a board-certified neurologist and director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center, I have more than 20 years’ experience in evaluating and treating individuals with different cognitive disorders.

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health

“

Reduce your worry and fear of memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease by learning all of the important facts available.

A few facts you may not know: 1. The term senility is no longer accepted as a cause of memory and cognitive decline in the aging population.

2. Forty percent of the population who see their family physician or internist for memory changes will be found to have many other causes of their memory changes, unrelated to future Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Of those individuals who are found to have impaired memory of unknown cause after medical evaluation and who can maintain normal activities of daily living, 40 percent will remain about the same and 60 percent will continue to decline over the next four to seven years.

The ones who decline will develop into dementia of various causes, which include Alzheimer’s, stroke, Parkinson’s, and frontal dementia.

4. Numerous medications are currently available and being studied to arrest cognitive decline in these individuals.

5. Other common causes of impaired memory include: depression, stress and

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”

anxiety, prescribed and over-the-counter medications, recurrent small strokes, disorders of sleep (sleep apnea), low thyroid, vitamin B12 and folate deficiencies, head injury, or liver and/or kidney disorders, to name just a few.

6. Dementia, which is a term used to describe more impaired brain function that interferes with activities of daily living (such as inability to pay bills, difficulty using appliances at home, trouble with directions when driving, difficulty using remote control for television, etc.), can also be caused by Alzheimer’s disease, multiple strokes, Parkinson’s disease, Lewy body disease, and frontal dementia.

When you or your loved one begins to show decline in memory and thinking, a medical evaluation should be done in a timely fashion to find the cause and institute treatment. A thorough medical and neurological examination should be done and requires at least 45 minutes to perform. Physicians who can provide that extensive testing are in the field of geriatricians, neurologists, and geriatric psychiatrists.

A thorough evaluation requires a detailed history of the memory decline;

additional history from a spouse, friend, or relative; an office memory test; a detailed medical and neurological exam; and a list of possible causes for decline.

After all this information is obtained, various tests should be ordered and the individual will return back to the doctor’s office when all tests are completed.

Common tests that should be ordered for evaluating memory loss and other areas of cognitive decline include: 1. An MRI of the brain, which gives images of the brain to see if there are small strokes, a blood clot, or, less commonly, a brain tumor.

2. If there is any suggestion of a blackout spell or altered consciousness, a brain wave (EEG) should be performed.

health

3. Lab work, including a routine blood count and routine chemistries, which check electrolytes, sugar, cholesterol, and vitamin levels like B12, folate, and vitamin D. Homocysteine blood levels should also be ordered. Elevated homocysteine increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s and stroke.

A complete battery of cognitive testing done by a neuropsychologist is essential in establishing the presence and amount of cognitive impairment, in helping to discern the cause, and in determining the capabilities of the individual.

The individual returns with the caregiver to go over all the tests that were ordered, and, ideally, a diagnosis can be given and a therapy instituted.

The following are helpful treatments for memory loss and cognitive impairment, regardless of the cause, and also aid in keeping the brain functioning as competently as possible in the normal elderly population.

• One hundred and twenty minutes of aerobic exercise weekly. The safest manner is pedaling an indoor bicycle 30 minutes, four times a week. Other possible exercises are: swimming, jogging, stepping machines, etc.

• Vayacog is a new prescription product that is taken once a day. It contains a substance that helps to build damaged

Sign up for a course at the local community college.

walls of brain and body cells as we age.

• Aggressive treatment for high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, and smoking. All of these disorders increase stroke risk. Smoking should be stopped.

Blood pressure should be taken weekly by a family member and, if consistently higher than 150/80, the doctor who prescribed the blood pressure medication should be called so changes can be made. Be sure your cholesterol, both good and bad, are in proper order.

You must check with your family physician.

• There are memory and cognitive training specialists who are in the field of speech therapy. They are often consulted with a doctor’s prescription so tips and help can be given to the patient.

• If possible, eat fish three to four times a week. Fish contains omega fatty acids but especially DHE and EHA, which are important in keeping brain cells active.

Taking two capsules of over-the-counter fish oil every day can be added to eating fish.

• Increase brain activity by playing games, reading, playing cards and board games like Scrabble, or by taking courses at the university or community college. If vision is poor and you can’t read books, order books

) ) ) memory loss

Eat fish several times a week.

Ride on the exercise bike at least 4 times a week.

on tape. All of these activities keep the brain working. Otherwise, if you don’t use it, you lose it.

If abnormal test results show the cause of the memory loss, appropriate therapies might include: thyroid pills for low thyroid, additional B12 and folate if these levels are low, or antidepressant medications for anxiety or depression.

Elevated homocysteine can be treated with Cerefolin tablets (contains an active form of B12 and folic acid).

If dementia is the diagnosis, then medications currently available are used. These medications slow the decline. Examples are: Aricept (donepezil), Exelon patch (rivistigmine), Razadyne (galantamine), Namenda (Memantine), and Axona.

Who said memory loss and dementia can’t be treated and, in some cases, improved? Reduce your worry and fear of memory loss and Alzheimer’s disease by learning all of the important facts available. ) ) )

Ronald DeVere, M.D., F.A.A.N., is a boardcertified neurologist; fellow of the American Academy on Neurology; director of the Alzheimer’s Disease and Memory Disorders Center in Austin, Texas; and member of the Texas Council on Alzheimer’s Disease. Devere is the author of Memory Loss: Everything You Want To Know But Forget To Ask. This book is especially written for the general public, caregivers, patients, and healthcare providers. www.admdclinic.com

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travel

captivating cardiff, wales

Cardiff Castle

WRITTEN BY Barbara and Jim Twardowski PHOTOGRAPHY BY Jim Twardowski

FLOCKS OF STARTLED PIGEONS SCATTER AS CANNON FIRE BLASTS FROM the stone fortress of Cardiff Castle. Nestled on a hillside in the heart of the city, the medieval castle is a mixture of buildings from several eras transformed into a gothic fantasy by one of the wealthiest men in the world.

Educational programs and entertaining events are held nearly every weekend in the capital of Wales.

When we were there, tents lined the grass and soldiers dressed in red uniforms roamed the grounds reenacting the War of 1812.

One of the most photographed features in the city is the castle’s famous Animal Wall, with its 15

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different stone-carved creatures.

Perched just above the pedestrians’ heads, the statues appear to be peering down, ready to pounce on unsuspecting viewers.

At the end of the wall, an open doorway leads to lush, green spaces and the beautifully landscaped pathways of Bute Park and Arboretum.

Originally designed as a private garden

travel ) ) ) cardiff, wales

Cardiff Animal Wall Cardiff City Hall

for the Bute family, plants and trees were installed between 1873 and 1903.

Today, there are more than 2,000 trees in the park. The peaceful setting feels miles away from the bustling city.

Stop to pose for a family photo beside the castle’s moat or dine in the outdoor Secret Garden CafÊ, located behind a wall covered in beautiful climbing roses.

The castle is not the only impressive building in Cardiff. The spectacular domed City Hall with a snarling dragon on top is frequently the venue for weddings.

Next door, the National Museum of Cardiff is both a natural science museum and impressive art gallery.

History buffs won’t want to miss the Roman relics, Celtic crosses, and the 3,000-year-old Caergwrle bowl. This votive, shaped like a boat, was originally manufactured from shale, tin, and gold and embellished with gold waves, shields, and oars.

The National Museum of Cardiff also houses a large collection of Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings, including works by Cezanne, Renoir, Monet, and Manet.

Within walking distance is the historic Cardiff Market, where local vendors sell everything from used books to Welsh cakes in a building erected in 1891.

Duck into the small garden adjacent to the covered market and relax beside the 12th-century old church of the City Parish of St. John the Baptist, the oldest remaining medieval building in the city.

The church features 15 large, exquisitely crafted stained-glass windows. Its impressive Perpendicular gothic-style, Somerset-type tower with

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photographs courtesy of www.visitwales.com

Cardiff Bay

Cardiff Millennium Centre

lace-like parapet and pinnacles was erected in 1473 and rises above the city.

Inside the church vestry is the Tea Spot, which serves cakes, sandwiches, and, of course, tea every day except Sunday.

Cardiff’s compact city center is easy to navigate on foot and offers numerous places to shop.

The city boasts six charming historic Edwardian and Victorian arcades—small shops tucked inside roofed alleys. Look here for a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

The oldest record store in the world, Spillers Records, is based in the Morgan Arcade.

The newest and biggest shopping center in Wales is the contemporary St David’s Dewi Sant. Much like an American mall, St David’s is on two levels with a glass roof and about a dozen restaurants. Shops range from an Apple store to one of the United Kingdom’s largest department stores: John Lewis.

Cardiff Bay Less than a 10-minute cab ride from the city center is lively Cardiff Bay, with its collection of shops, restaurants, and bars, most overlooking the water.

The recently opened Dr. Who Experience features the largest collection of original props and artifacts from the wildly popular show, including each doctor’s iconic costume from 1963 through the present day. The series celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013.

The show is filmed in and around the city and at the BBC Studios in Cardiff Bay. You might even get to see the stars of the series when you’re in the area.

You can’t go wrong having dinner at the Tempus at Tides Restaurant inside the upscale St. David’s Hotel and Spa. The

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menu offers seasonal and local items with views of the bay.

After dinner, take in a show at the Wales Millennium Centre with touring West End shows, opera, ballet, and comedy performances in a magnificent structure where crowds gather for a preshow drink or dinner. Free performances and exhibits are held in the foyer.

Worth the Drive A short drive outside Cardiff is St Fagans: National History Museum. The 100-acre museum includes more than 40 original Reenactment of the War of 1812. buildings from a range of historical periods, including St Fagans Castle, which is a late 16th-century manor house.

Walk the grounds and you will hear workers talking in the Welsh language as they demonstrate the skills needed to manage a farm, run a mill, shoe a horse, and operate a mill as it was done in the 18th century.

Just to the north of Cardiff is Caerphilly, with the largest castle in Wales. Built between 1268 and 1271, the castle sits on 30 acres and hosts The Big Cheese Festival every summer. During this festival, the streets are filled with all kinds of entertainment, including fold dancing, minstrels, troubadours, and food galore.

Further to the west and only half an hour from Cardiff is the Brecon Beacons National Park, which is ideal for the outdoor enthusiast who enjoys walking, climbing, or mountain biking.

Located in the southern region of the country, the capital of Wales is only a twohour train ride from London or a 90-minute drive from Heathrow Airport.

To plan your trip to Cardiff, check with your travel agent and visit the city’s official tourism website (www.visitbritain.com/ en/US). ) ) )

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people

finding herself and music WRITTEN BY Lee Dussinger

Olsen performing with her band “Perfect Fit.”

DEBRA OLSEN HAS A FAVORITE MEMORY FROM HER CHILDHOOD holidays. It wasn’t presents under a tree and it wasn’t a meal on the table. She recalls that her big, boisterous Italian family would pack into the living room or kitchen and, for hours, play a variety of instruments: accordion, keyboard, and guitar.

There were many beautiful, up-tempo melodies created by her father and her aunts, uncles, and cousins. Though Olsen didn’t play an instrument yet, she was always at the center of it all, flailing her arms and legs, dancing to the rhythm of the music.

Olsen, now 55, learned to play the drum kit in her 40s on a bit of a whim, and her life took an unexpected musical direction.

A beautician who owns her own salon

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by day, Olsen has performed seated behind her wine-red drum set on many different stages: She appeared as a finalist for the Pennsylvania State Senior Idol competition, she plays every Sunday as an integral member of the Long Memorial Methodist Church praise team, and she anchors the local rock trio Perfect Fit at various venues across the county.

“Drumming is like dancing because you’re moving your limbs and you’re

moving your head in time with the music. Some drummers sit really still, but not me. I’m always really putting myself into it. When music is on, I’m moving; it’s like I’m behind the drum kit dancing,” Olsen says.

Olsen learned to play on a Rogers drum kit but sold it. When it was gone, however, she realized how much she missed playing and bought the five-piece Pearl kit she uses currently.

Her configuration features three

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people ) ) ) debra olsen

Olsen on-stage at the finals of the 2012 PA STATE Senior Idol competition.

Olsen practicing with the PA Praise Band from Long Memorial Methodist Church in Neffsville. Members from left are: Kathy Vasisko at Piano, Olsen on drums; Thomas Chapman on acoustic guitar; Leonard Payne on guitar; Robin Payne, singer; and Mitzi Headings, singer.

toms, one on the floor and two that are mounted. She uses a deluxe set of Evans drumheads instead of the standard ones.

For cymbals, she has her beloved Sabians and wouldn’t accept any other kind.

In many ways, Olsen’s journey began in earnest in 2012 with her performance in the Pennsylvania State Senior Idol competition. She was intrigued by the advertisements she kept seeing but wasn’t sure that she could do

it; after all, she had never played in front of an audience before.

Olsen decided to take a chance, and the judges loved her audition. She hit the stage at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre, performing in the semifinals with the top 15 contestants in the state and debuting a cover of The Bee Gees’ hit “You Should Be Dancing.”

Olsen was selected to perform again in the final round with the top three contestants. Even the usually impartial

judges were bobbing their heads along with the beat. Though she didn’t win, performing on that brightly lit stage gave Olsen confidence in the skill she had been developing for almost a decade.

“I couldn’t believe I was up there doing that. No matter what happened, it felt like a definite achievement, like I had won. They said I was smiling from ear to ear. I knew that I had a real skill and I knew I had to keep doing more of

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it,” Olsen reflects.

After the Pennsylvania State Senior Idol competition, the calls kept coming in; people congratulated her and wanted to ask her how it felt. The newspaper printed her picture and the local news interviewed her along with the other finalists.

Tom Herr, the guitarist and singer of Perfect Fit, contacted her and asked if she would like to drum with him to see if she was right for their band.

From the first practice, their musical chemistry was apparent; Olsen was exactly what the band needed. In addition to Herr and Olsen, Tom Kury

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provides bass and vocals, and together, they comprise Perfect Fit. Playing a mixture of original, bluesy rock compositions and recognizable covers, they have created an enthusiastic local fan base who follows them to their performances across the county.

“I call myself a simple drummer. I like nice beats. I play with the music; I don’t try to show off and play above the music,” Olsen says This style matches with the tone of Perfect Fit, which Olsen says most closely compares to that of The Beatles.

Drumming was a godsend. It pulled Olsen through empty-nest feelings in the wake of her daughter’s marriage and departure from the house. Her relationship with her husband was solid, but his job required him to work long hours.

The salon kept her busy during the day, but she was lonely and needed something else to which she could dedicate herself. Drums were the answer.

“Everyone could see that I was headed down the hill of depression. It was the hardest thing I ever had to go through. I felt so lonely; I knew I had to get out of it and do something for myself. It has paid off in the best way possible.”

Between gigs and twice-a-week practices with Perfect Fit, her tenure with the church praise team, and having fun at home, she plays every day. When the music is going and she is behind a drum kit, Debra Olsen goes into a trance, all her stresses and troubles evaporate, and she becomes one with the music, arms and legs active, dancing while sitting down. ) ) )

anniversary

photograph courtesy of U.S. Department of Defense

the “iron lady”

Sept. 12, 2006 — Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, visits the Pentagon and shares a laugh with Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Marine Gen. Peter Pace.

photograph courtesy of Ronald Reagan Presidential Library

Feb. 26, 1981 — Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan.

WRITTEN BY Christina Cardamone

FOR MARGARET HILDA ROBERTS, IT WAS ONLY NATURAL TO HAVE AN interest in politics. She later came to be known as Margaret Thatcher, the “Iron Lady” and Britain’s first female prime minister.

Thatcher’s father, a local businessman, was actively involved with town councils and strongly believed in conservative politics, something that carried over to her own political reign.

Her Methodist family was deeply engaged in the local community of their church’s congregation. Their beliefs of self-help, charitable work, and personal truthfulness strongly influenced Thatcher in her work and influence across Britain.

Thatcher attended Oxford University, where she studied chemistry under Nobel Prize-winning scientist Dorothy Hodgkin. During her years as a college student, Thatcher become involved with various political organizations and held diverse board positions.

Upon her graduation in 1947, she went on to become a research chemist.

In his book, Margaret Thatcher: A Portrait of the Iron Lady, author John

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the political arena aside and study law.

By the end of her studies in 1953, she qualified as a barrister. During this time, the Thatchers welcomed their twins, Carol and Mark. By 1959, Thatcher had returned to the political field as a member of Parliament and won a seat in the House of Commons representing Finchley, a district in North London, England.

Before becoming prime minister, she achieved junior office during Harold Macmillan’s administration. Thatcher established herself as a strong female next to senior figures. When the Conservative party returned to power in 1970, under the power of Edward Heath, she achieved the rank in his cabinet of secretary of state for education and science.

The 1970s became the turning point for Britain’s history and for Thatcher herself. In a 1973 television

photograph courtesy of U.S. Navy

Bluddell asks Thatcher which she is more proud of: being the first female prime minister or the first scientist prime minister. He writes that without hesitation she answered, “Oh, scientist; definitely scientist.”

Two years after graduation, Thatcher made her first bid for public office for the 1950s Dartford parliamentary seat. She ran as a conservative candidate, the youngest woman candidate in the country, having been influenced by public figures such as Karl Popper and Friedrich Hayek.

Although Thatcher lost the election, she began to earn recognition and respect from those actively involved in the political arena and became known for her mature political style.

Two months after losing the 1950 election seat, she married Sir Denis Thatcher. In 1952 she decided to put

photograph courtesy of White House Photographic Office

Above: March 7, 1991 — U.S. President George H. W. Bush awards former U.K. Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor awarded by the United States.

Above: June 11, 2004 — Margaret Thatcher, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, exits a limousine on the ramp at Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.

Center: Photo taken on Dec. 12, 1990.

appearance, Thatcher was quoted as saying, “I don’t think there will be a woman prime minister in my lifetime.”

Little did Thatcher know that she would be proven wrong by her own doing. The Conservatives lost power in 1974, but Thatcher became an ever more dominant force in her political party. One year later, Thatcher defeated Heath in an election and became leader of the Conservative Party.

With this win, Thatcher became the first woman to serve as the opposition leader in the House of Commons. The Conservatives returned to power once again in 1979 and in May of that year, Thatcher made history by becoming Britain’s first female prime minister.

Thatcher entered the role of prime minister during a time of turmoil for Britain. The turmoil stemmed from the politics she was involved with to unemployment, labor unions,

anniversary

photograph courtesy of the Library of Congress

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) ) ) margaret thatcher

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In May of 1979, Thatcher made history by becoming Britain’s first female prime minister.

Photo taken on Sept. 18, 1975.

businesses, and country morale.

While she ruled with unyielding sympathy and a strong personality, she created success for the country and was instrumental in the progress of Britain’s future. Her reforms at the time may have seemed harsh and callous to some of the population, but Thatcher’s terms provided an enduring long-term progression for Britain.

Thatcher advocated for privatizing state-owned industries and utilities, lowering taxes, and reducing social expenditure. Her policies succeeded in reducing inflation, and she was given the victory in the Falklands War, a brief war that broke out after Argentina invaded the remote British colony. She also created close relationships with U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev.

In 1984 Thatcher endured an ordeal that no other 20th-century British prime

minister has come close to experiencing.

While staying at a hotel in Brighton for a Conservative Party conference, the Irish Republican Army attempted to murder Thatcher. They bombed the hotel, and the room next to Thatcher’s was destroyed in the blast. While Thatcher survived unhurt, some of her closest colleagues were injured or killed.

Three years later, Thatcher returned for her third term with goals of instigating a standard education curriculum and revising the country’s socialized medical system.

However, she began losing her support due to the attempted implementation of a fixed rate for a local tax—labeled a poll tax by many.

This didn’t go over well, and as the protests and dissentions spread through the people and her own party, she attempted to carry on her leadership but ended up resigning in 1992.

After her resignation, Thatcher continued to be a leader and advocate.

In 2003 her husband, Denis, died after more than 50 years of marriage.

Thatcher also suffered a series of small strokes and the loss of an old friend, Ronald Reagan. By 2010, Thatcher’s health made her almost invisible to the public eye. She began missing public appearances and, in July 2011, Thatcher’s office in the House of Lords was permanently closed.

On April 8, 2013, at 87 years old, Margaret Thatcher died.

Even to this day, Thatcher’s beliefs and policies, which later become known as “Thatcherisms,” continue to be debated by detractors and supporters.

Whether one agreed or disagreed with Thatcher, she made an indelible impression not only on the British, but also on the people of nations worldwide. ) ) ) summer 2014 |

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health

the new protective super food WRITTEN BY Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN

WE GO TO GREAT LENGTHS TO PROTECT ourselves every day. We use an umbrella and slicker in the rain and reach for sunscreen and a hat at the beach.

photographs courtesy of the Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association

We wash our hands often and use sanitizers, especially in public places. We aim to work out at least a few times per week, weather it’s a quick walk through the neighborhood or a high-intensity session at the gym.

We can also use our diets as a form of protection against common illnesses and diseases that often accompany age. In fact, the American Heart Association recommends choosing monounsaturated fats—like olive and canola oil—as a way to help to protect against coronary artery disease.

The American Cancer Society also suggests eating more antioxidant-rich vegetables and fruits to lower our risk of many types of cancer. These tips may be common knowledge by now, but it’s important to know that dairy foods are some of the best protectors against nearly every age-related concern!

Read on for some of the ways drinking milk and consuming more calcium-rich cheese and yogurt can also help fend off many of the ailments that baby boomers often face.

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health ) ) ) the superfood

Immune System Benefits Probiotics, the “live active cultures” found in yogurt, are healthy bacteria that keep the stomach and intestinal tract free of disease-causing germs.

In a study of mature people, researchers found the duration of all illnesses was significantly lower in a group that consumed a certain probiotic found in dairy milk.

Researchers reported a 20 percent reduction in the length of winter infections, including gastrointestinal and respiratory infections.

Other research found that older adults who ate 2 cups of live-culture yogurt daily for three months produced higher levels of immunity-boosting interferon. Interferon is a protein compound that interferes with a virus’s ability to replicate within host cells.

The bacterial cultures in yogurt have also been shown to stimulate infectionfighting white cells in the bloodstream.

Protection from Osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a condition in which the bones develop pores, or holes. It often begins in midlife and worsens over time. Adequate nutrition— especially calcium and vitamin D intake—plays a major role in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

Calcium from natural food, rather than those popular supplements every baby boomer has in his or her medicine cabinet, is more easily absorbed and better for our skeleton.

One study examined changes in bone thickness and density in females ages 50-65 whose diets were supplemented with either dairy calcium or calcium plus vitamin D. The dairy group had bigger increases in bone mass than the other groups.

According to the National Osteoporosis Foundation, dairy foods make up six of the top 10 foods for

fighting and preventing osteoporosis.

Plain, low-fat yogurt; part-skim ricotta cheese; fluid milk; and both low- and full-fat ice cream varieties were used in the study and subsequently made the list.

Lowering High Blood Pressure For a healthy adult, blood pressure is considered high when systolic pressure (the top number) is 140 or above, or when diastolic pressure (the bottom number) hits 90 or above.

Physicians are quick to prescribe medications to the baby boomer set, but it’s important to arm yourself with nutritional knowledge before heading to the pharmacy. Dairy foods can play an active and important role in bringing down those borderline numbers.

In the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) Family Heart Study, which looked at the link between dairy consumption and blood

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pressure among 4,797 participants, researchers found that those who reported consuming the most low-fat dairy (mostly skim and reduced-fat milk) were more than 50 percent less likely to develop hypertension.

Other research showed that patients whose doctors prescribed the NHBLI’s DASH Diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) eating plan, which includes two to three daily servings of low-fat or fat-free dairy products, reduced their blood pressure within two weeks.

While the calcium and potassium in milk are proven to lower blood pressure, new studies suggest that the proteins found in low-fat dairy, called casein and whey, may have similar protective actions to those of blood pressure-lowering pharmaceuticals.

Combating Metabolic Syndrome Researchers are now finding that older adults who consume the most dairy (milk, yogurt, and cheese) are less likely to have metabolic syndrome, including a larger waist. Metabolic

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syndrome is a group of symptoms that has been shown to increase the risk of diabetes and heart disease.

A recent study of more than 2,000 older men found that regular consumption of low-fat milk (2 cups or more daily) was associated with a 62 percent risk reduction in metabolic syndrome.

Regular consumption of other lowfat dairy products, such as yogurt and cheese, reduced the risk by 56 percent.

Earlier findings in middle-aged and older women also found that consuming adequate amounts of dairy products may reduce the risk of insulin resistance syndrome and type 2 diabetes.

These days, baby boomers are more active and vibrant than ever. Mature men and woman are living longer and looking younger. That is great news, and it’s important to become your best health advocate when it comes to your diet to help make your golden years some of your healthiest.

Keep track of your intake of fruit, vegetables, and dairy, and maintain

good communication with your physician.

And remember—while it may take more than an apple a day to keep the doctor away, it turns out those three servings of dairy offer some pretty good protection against some of the harshest ailments that can come with age. ) ) ) Althea Zanecosky, MS, RD, LDN, a communications specialist and media spokesperson for Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association, specializes in nutrition and health reporting. She is a former spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and has covered topics ranging from childhood nutrition to the latest research on food and health.

The Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association is one of 19 state and regional promotion organizations working under the umbrella of the United Dairy Industry Association. It is the local affiliate of the National Dairy Council®, which has been conducting nutrition education and nutrition research programs since 19155. For more information, visit www.dairyspot.com.

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feature

WRITTEN BY Jessica Johns

NAVIGATING THE PRODUCE AISLE AT THE GROCERY STORE CAN BE AN overwhelming experience for the conscious consumer. What are the healthiest choices? Which fruits and vegetables are in season? Which are the most cost effective? And, in the last decade, another question has been added into the evergrowing mix: What is “organic”?

The organic-food movement has been taking the country by storm, sparking health-food shops, farmers markets, and even regular grocery stores to offer a plethora of organic options.

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However, many shoppers have little knowledge of what an “organic” label on their food actually means or the many supposed benefits that claim to make spending the extra cost worthwhile.

The USDA defines food that is

produced without using most conventional pesticides; fertilizers made with synthetic ingredients or sewage sludge; bioengineering; or ionizing radiation as “organic.” Before a product can boast the organic label, a government-approved certifier

feature ) ) ) you are what you eat

Above and right: Organic fields at Spiral Path Farms in Loysville, Pa.

inspects the farm where the food is grown to make sure the farmer is following all the rules necessary to meet USDA organic standards. It is a very time-consuming, costly process.

Terra Brownbeck, farmer and cofounder of the certified organic Spiral Path Farms in Loysville, Pa., said that she and her husband broke into organic farming because of a desire to be good to the environment. They believe that the toxin-free practices of organic

farming are “soil conserving, money saving, beneficial to the planet, and less harmful to farmers and consumers” than similar, non-organic practices.

Although a huge motivation, a desire to conserve and be good to our earth is not the only driving force for many organic farmers. Many people also believe that organic farming produces more healthful and bettertasting crops.

Susan Johns, both a patron of Spiral Path and an avid organic-foods supporter, feels very strongly about the quality of organic produce.

“The taste of organic fruits and vegetables can’t even be compared to what you find in the imported or nonorganic options at the grocery store,” she raves. “I believe organic crops are sweeter, crisper, and have a much fuller flavor. I’ll never go back to my old way of shopping or eating.”

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Michelle Wohlfarth loves working out in her organic garden, picking the fruits of her labor, and then preparing healthy, delicious foods in the kitchen. She teaches others how to prepare those foods in classes called “Garden to Table.”

Because of the techniques utilized in organic farming, the fruits and vegetables are grown in a very nutrient-dense soil. This soil is purposely cultivated and nurtured by the farmers.

For example, Brownbeck at Spiral Path employs “cover crops” throughout the off-season farming months to help draw nutrients to the surface of the soil before new produce is planted. Cover crops are planted to help stave off erosion and are never harvested.

In the spring, they are tilled into the soil when it is aerated. All of the nutrients contained within these plants

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are redistributed into the land as well.

They then serve as “green” or environmentally friendly manure.

Michelle Wohlfarth of Healthy Living Kitchen and the Hershey Farmers Market is not only an organic eater, but has also made a living out of educating others about the practice.

Wohlfarth believes that organic farming, and in turn eating, can have benefits outside of the kitchen as well.

While the idea of organic food having the ability to cure or heal illness is still a very controversial topic, Wohlfarth explains how switching your eating habits can help lead to a more accurate

diagnosis, and therefore, quicker and easier healing of possible ailments.

She explains, “While non-organic food may not be imminently detrimental to your health, some people may react to some of the pesticides or herbicides differently. Cutting them out of your diet allows you to see which symptoms were related to your consumption of the chemicals versus the symptoms actually associated with your real health concern.”

This knowledge can lead to a more accurate diagnosis, a proper treatment plan, and finally, more effective healing.

If transitioning to organic food looks intriguing, but the process feels overwhelming, there are many ways to integrate organic foods into your lifestyle without breaking the bank or having to ditch your grocery store.

The first is wisely choosing which organic foods to invest in. Certain foods are more susceptible to holding onto pesticide residue after harvesting.

Experts collaborate on a yearly list of the “dirty dozen,” or the 12 foods most improved by organic practices.

This year, the list includes foods such as: peaches, apples, sweet bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, pears, grapes (imported), spinach, lettuces, and potatoes.

Wohlfarth recommends leafy greens as another great place to start.

“You get more bang for your buck with leafy greens,” she says. “They are also super versatile. Kale can be incorporated in a salad, stew, smoothies, or even your morning omelet.”

Secondly, both Brownbeck and Wohlfarth spoke to the economic and health benefits of seasonal living as an active part of organic eating. Eating “seasonally” is merely the process of purchasing, cooking, and eating foods that are currently in season. An example of a seasonal purchase would be berries and melons in the summer or squash and apples in the fall.

Buying produce during its peak season lowers the cost and heightens the flavor. This practice can help offset the increased price of buying organic foods.

“

While nonorganic food may not be imminently detrimental to your health, some people may react to some of the pesticides or herbicides differently.

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Canning and freezing are both great options for storing food that is purchased at its seasonal peak.

Preserving food this way takes advantage of the seasonal benefits, while maintaining the ability to enjoy the fruit or vegetable year round.

Whether you already buy organic produce, pick and try a few organic options, or decide organic eating isn’t for you, a diet rich in plenty of fruits and vegetables is a universally beneficial decision.

Wohlfarth and Brownbeck, as well as physicians from around the world, agree that any produce, organic or not, is important for optimum physical health. The old adage still rings true: “You are what you eat.” ) ) )

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involvement – the best defense against elder abuse WRITTEN BY Jack Sherzer

IN OUR INCREASINGLY MOBILE SOCIETY, IT’S NOT UNCOMMON FOR members of a family to be scattered across states or even time zones. Phone calls many times replace visits to parents or older relatives.

A disquieting fact of our modern age is that elder abuse is on the rise. A recent federal study found that as many as 10 percent of participants experienced abuse in the prior year.

Harrisburg attorney Melanie Scaringi, who focuses her practice at Scaringi & Scaringi, P.C., Harrisburg, on estate planning and elder law, has witnessed many of the ways elders can be abused by a combination of circumstance, opportunity, and criminal intent.

Almost always, the abuse is financial, although financial abuse can also lead to physical problems for elderly individuals. Sometimes the abuse is perpetrated by family members and other times by acquaintances when close family is far away. In most of these cases, the older person lives alone, often after a spouse has died.

Misplaced Trust “A classic example is when an elderly widow is befriended by a younger woman who has suddenly appeared in the elderly widow’s life,” Scaringi says, recalling an actual case.

This case began when a younger woman reached out to the older woman with an offer of help. The younger woman started taking her older friend grocery shopping and to hair and nail appointments. Later, the younger friend offered to help with the bills and balancing the bank accounts. She ultimately took over the handling of money and deposits.

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Warning Signs Sometimes, family members living in other cities with busy lives don’t discover the financial elder abuse until significant sums have been swindled.

But Scaringi says there are warning signs to look for.

The first comes from simply listening.

If an older loved one suddenly starts talking about someone new, pay attention. Take a keen interest in who this person is—and what he or she wants. Determine whether this person has a family, whether this person has

normal interactions with other individuals, or whether this person seems to be a loner who is solely focused on your older loved one.

Talk with your loved one about not revealing financial information to strangers who are offering to help.

Make sure your older loved one is aware that there are people out there who are intentionally befriending and

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The people who are most likely to fall victim to elder abuse are those who don’t have family members who are looking out for their best interests.

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preying upon elderly individuals (particularly widows who maybe never handled their own finances before).

Scaringi recommends keeping in touch with trusted neighbors or longtime friends of your older loved one. They are excellent secondary sources of information on how your loved one is doing.

Make regular calls to the church or any group where the loved one is an active member. If you sense that your

elderly loved one needs some help, figure out how to get her the help that she needs before she becomes so overwhelmed that she is willing to trust just about anyone who makes an offer.

) ) ) elder abuse

Soon ATM withdrawals were being taken regularly by the younger woman, unbeknownst to the older woman (who was no longer reviewing her account statements because her new friend was handling her finances for her). It was not until this widow’s son came home to celebrate a holiday with his mother that the abuse was discovered.

Sadly, Scaringi says she has seen it many times: a “Mrs. Lonely Hearts” who loses a sizable sum from her life savings at the hands of a trusted friend who just seemed to appear in her life.

Usually the elderly person has made no effort to initiate this new friendship.

The entire friendship seems to be initiated by the younger person.

When it comes to elder abuse, the offender can be almost anyone. It can be a family member—a son, daughter, or grandchild seeking financial advantage and control. It can be a new friend at a lonely time. It can be a next-door neighbor or even a paid caregiver.

Detecting Elder Abuse Elder abuse can be difficult to spot and difficult to prove. Issues of mental competency, degrees of duress, and complicated family dynamics often combine to make each case a minefield of emotions, relationships, and subjective opinions.

Sometimes third parties simply take advantage of generous elderly benefactors. If the elderly individual is mentally competent and chooses to give her money or assets away despite the recommendations of others, that might not be elder abuse. It might simply be a competent elderly person who is making “bad” financial decisions.

For example, Scaringi tells of a case involving two adult ne’er-do-well grandchildren who had been raised by their grandparents. The grandparents allowed their grandchildren to continue to live with them for free as adults and would give them large sums of money on a regular basis, which drew the attention of the rest of the family.

The other family members were concerned the grandchildren were physically intimidating and emotionally manipulating the grandparents. After a full investigation, including face-to-face interviews with the elderly couple, it was determined that the grandparents were indeed spending lavishly on their adult grandkids, but there was no abuse. The couple was competent and

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freely choosing to support the grandchildren.

Contrast this with another of Scaringi’s cases, which involved a recent widow with no family members who lived nearby. Within a year of her husband’s death, her neighbor offered help and convinced the widow that she first needed to sign a paper at a lawyer’s office to allow the neighbor to offer assistance.

It turns out that the document the neighbor had the widow sign was a deed transferring part of the widow’s land to the neighbor—for free!

When a visiting family member saw a garage being built on the property, the family member hired Scaringi & Scaringi, P.C. to investigate. In this case, the elder abuse was clear cut, and court action initiated by the firm essentially “undid” the transfer.

Trust Your Instincts If you sense that something is wrong, or you suspect someone is manipulating or abusing your elderly loved one, consulting with an experienced elder law/estate-planning

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attorney is a good place to start.

The attorney can investigate the matter (or direct you as to how to go about investigating it) and can draft powers of attorney and other estateplanning documents that might be needed so that you or another appropriate individual can help your elderly loved one.

If necessary, the attorney can initiate actions to appoint a guardian to make decisions for your loved one if

he or she is not mentally competent and can take court action against the abuser if appropriate.

“The main thing you can do to protect your elderly loved ones from abuse is to stay involved in their lives and to visit them with some regularity,” says Scaringi. “The people who are most likely to fall victim to elder abuse are those who don’t have family members who are looking out for their best interests.” ) ) )

How to report suspected abuse Anyone can report elder abuse. Pennsylvania has a statewide toll-free Elder Abuse Hot Line at 800.490.8505, or call your county Area Agency on Aging.

The Pennsylvania Association of Area Agencies on Aging, which has offices in all 67 counties, aggressively investigates reports of elder abuse and many times turns cases over to local prosecutors. The association has the power to examine bank accounts and other records when investigating cases of suspected elder abuse.

When the elderly fall prey to commercial schemes, the state Office of Attorney General boasts powerful tools to target, halt, and prosecute scams and other predatory practices aimed at exploiting older people.

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photo courtesy of LifeTouch Photography

hospice – for a better quality of life WRITTEN BY Jack Sherzer

Richard and Betsy Wendlek

AS RICHARD WENDLEK PREPARED TO GET A KNEE REPLACEMENT LATE last summer, a preoperative test found a lump on his liver. Further tests confirmed the bad news: Stage 4 liver cancer.

Soon after, perhaps caused by his body’s growing weakness, Richard suffered a series of ailments. A cut on his arm led to a serious infection that required a five-day hospitalization.

Then came a stomach virus, followed by a urinary tract infection. Richard then developed swelling in his right leg that at times made it painful to the touch.

Through it all, Richard never lost hope that an aggressive form of

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chemotherapy would slow the disease, said his wife, Betsy. But she also knew that it was time to seek hospice care for her 82-year-old husband.

“Each illness made him a little weaker, and I knew it was time to call in hospice so Dick could develop a relationship with the people before he really became ill,’’ said Betsy.

“He had a great personality and never gave up hope. He thought he was going to beat it until the last 10 days

of his life. He developed a great rapport with the hospice aides and nurses, who were just wonderful.”

For Betsy, who had worked as a hospice bereavement counselor—the position she held when she met Richard after his first wife died—the decision to seek hospice help was easy. She knew hospice would help her husband get the most life out of his remaining time.

Betsy also knew that if Richard

caregiving

When is the Right Time for Hospice?

While seeking hospice care wasn’t an issue for the Wendleks, families and even doctors many times wait too long before seeking assistance, said Sue Minarik, director of Homeland Hospice.

When is the right time to seek hospice? When you have elected not to receive aggressive therapy for your terminal illness.

“We have patients who are with us a few short days or even just hours,” Minarik said. “My assistant director sends out questionnaires to families after a patient dies, and most families wish they had chosen hospice care sooner.’’

Medicare guidelines allow for patients to begin receiving hospice care if their doctor believes they have six months or less to live and if they cease

to seek aggressive treatment for their conditions. The prognosis can either be based on a single illness, such a cancer, or on a combination of factors.

Over recent years, the number of families seeking hospice care has steadily increased, from 1.3 million in 2008 to 1.5 million in 2012, according to the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO). The average length of hospice care has also been increasing, from 67 days in 2010 to 72 days in 2012.

“

Simple pleasures in life, such as eating and activity levels, are increased.

”

A common misconception is that patients who are alive past the six months initially predicted by their physician cannot continue to receive hospice care. Not true. Hospice benefits can be extended as long as the patient is still considered terminally ill and showing decline.

Another misconception is that entering hospice care means becoming unable to pursue a new treatment that may save the patient’s life. Also not true.

“All it takes is one signature,” Minarik says. “And if the patient stops treatment, as long as he is still considered terminal, he can return to

hospice care.”

Symptoms are better controlled. Pain and suffering are reduced. Simple pleasures in life, such as eating and activity levels, are increased.

“We’ve had cancer patients go back for treatment,” said James P. Fuddy, a social worker at Homeland Hospice.

“They were feeling better, and there was a new treatment available. We discharge one or two patients a month because they get better.”

) ) ) hospice care

became well enough to aggressively treat his cancer, he could get therapy and resume hospice if treatments didn’t work.

As happens in the majority of hospice cases, the care team came to the couple’s home. In addition to helping Richard, they provided a needed opportunity for Betsy to rest.

“It was a morale booster for Dick, and he loved talking with each person who came in,’’ Betsy said. “He maintained a positive attitude, and everyone with the hospice team went along with it. There was no talk of gloom and doom. He would get them to laugh and they would get him to laugh.”

Paying for Hospice The majority of patients and families who seek hospice have the care paid through Medicare, which covers 84 percent of all cases. Most hospices are certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to provide Medicare hospice benefits.

Most private insurance plans also cover hospice, and many providers work with patients and families so no one is turned away.

“We will not deny anybody hospice care. That is a Homeland Hospice guiding principle,” Minarik said.

“Patients should not suffer.”

The Hospice Team Caring for a hospice patient is truly a team effort that includes nurses, social workers, spiritual and bereavement counselors, home health aides, and volunteers.

The hospice nurse plays a vital role in coordinating care, working with physical pain and symptom management, and also keeping a careful watch on the emotional well-being of the patient and their family, Minarik said.

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“The nurse kind of steers the ship, if you will,” Minarik said. “She can make anywhere from daily to weekly visits.”

Social workers in hospice guide families through healthcare decisions, end-of-life wishes, insurance matters, and accessing local resources.

The services of home health aides can also be a lifesaver.

“They can provide services up to seven days a week and spend one and a half to two hours with a patient. They take care of personal care, housekeeping, cooking meals, feeding, and help with activities, even

accompanying the patient on walks,” Minarik said.

For Betsy Wendlek, the respite provided her with needed rest.

“When you are a caregiver, you keep going and going and going,” she said. “At one point I had gotten maybe two hours of sleep in a 36-hour period.

They arranged for an aide to be in that night and be in the living room with him, where we had the bed set up, and I was able to get a good night’s sleep without worrying.”

Betsy said she understands that some patients and families may be reluctant to think about hospice.

But from her experience as a bereavement counselor and as a wife whose husband benefitted from hospice, she said she would urge those suffering from terminal illnesses not to wait too long.

“I’ve seen hospice from both sides, as the caregiver and care receiver, and I think it’s probably one of the best services that society has to offer,” Betsy said. “I would hope that everyone who needs it would not hesitate to engage hospice. It’s not depressing; it’s uplifting and can make such a difference in a person’s quality of life.” ) ) )

The Choice Is Yours

Exemplary personalized care that enables patients and families to live each day as fully as possible.

Focused on pain relief, comfort, and support for patients and families.

Call us for details on our full array of services.

Serving Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, York, Adams, Franklin, and Mifflin counties.

Call 717.221.7890 www.homelandhospice.org

2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg, PA 17110 54

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caregiving

sorting through and disposing of household items WRITTEN BY Rochelle A. Shenk

DISPOSING OF A LOVED ONE’S ITEMS OR EVEN YOUR OWN ITEMS IS not an easy task. If your loved one has passed away, it’s even more difficult. But there are resources to help in the process.

Rochelle “Rocky” Welkowitz, owner of Transitions Solutions for Seniors, Lancaster, said that when working with an estate, each situation is different, but in general, she advises children and family to carefully sort through a loved one’s personal and household items.

“It’s often very emotional, because the items have a sentimental value. It’s very cleansing even though it’s very painful,” she said.

With clients who are downsizing, she asks them to make a list of what they really want to take with them, and then her staff ensures that those items will fit in their new home.

After that, she recommends that clients talk with children and other family members as well as friends to determine if there are any items they would like to have.

“A lot of times what you think your children might want, they don’t.

Grandchildren should also be part of

the conversation—they may be right out of college or are just starting a family and need furniture and household items,” Welkowitz stressed.

Remaining items are sorted and examined. What about collectibles?

“Sometimes the things a client has collected don’t have the value they would expect. Because it’s special to them, everyone thinks that what they have is worth a million dollars,” she explained.

Welkowitz said that the best thing to do is to have a plan.

“Sometimes clients will call us as soon as they’ve made a decision to downsize or have put their name on a list for a retirement community. For us, this is the perfect scenario—we meet with them and advise to begin sorting through items and planning how to dispose of what they cannot take to their new home. That way they’re ready when it’s time to make

From top: Beautiful David Yurman ring; unique batwing vintage estate fur; Chanel jumbo XL classic flap bag. Items auctioned by LuxureLister.

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From top: Vintage Cartier glasses; blush mink; highly coveted Peanuts doll collection. Items auctioned by LuxureLister.

the move,” she said.

If clients are pressed for time to make the housing transition or cannot decide on how to dispose of items, she said renting a storage unit can be an option.

“It’s not the best scenario, but it will give them time to go through the items,” she said.

LuxureLister, a consignment service in Lemoyne that specializes in new and pre-owned luxury and designer items, works with both estates and clients who may be divesting themselves of items.

“Our clients cover a wide range.

There are people in their 50s who have ‘too much stuff’ and want to simplify their lives and may want to use the cash from their items to donate to a favorite charity or to purchase one really nice item. There are also people who are downsizing as they move to a smaller home or a retirement community. Some clients are sorting through items in a parent’s or loved one’s home,” explained K.C. Wenger, who founded LuxureLister with her daughter, Alexandra Wenger.

MOVING, DOWNSIZING, HANDLING A LOVED ONE’S LIFE TRANSITION OR ESTATE? ________________

717­737­5560

Lemoyne, Pennsylvania

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Contact LuxureLister® first to maximize the monies earned for luxury, designer and collectible goods you wish to sell.

Professional and sensitive representation of your precious possessions or loved one’s belongings.

I Fast, easy and confidential I Estate assessments I Private consignment appointments I In home pick-ups I Closet clean-out consultations LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR LOCAL SERVICES WITH WORLDWIDE EXPOSURE. www.luxurelister.com I info@luxurelister.com

“Some people working with an estate may be local, and some are not.

For those who are not local, it can be a harried process. But in either case, it’s an emotional time.”

Wenger said that she works with clients to determine a way to dispose of items that realizes the most money for them.

“We examine the items they’re interested in divesting themselves of and look at their value. While our consignment shop and online site are good fits for items such as designer handbags, clothing, shoes, and jewelry, it’s not the right place for collectibles like Hummels. But we can recommend an outlet where those items can command the best price,” she said.

In examining an item, she carefully documents its condition and obtains information that would be important to buyers, such as provenance.

“Last year I worked with a woman in her 70s who was looking to divest herself of items that she no longer used in her life. She had a lot of wonderful items, including a Chanel maxi bag— it’s one of the most sought-after handbags in the world and has been seen on icons like Victoria Beckham.

“It sold through our eBay site for $3,170; we decided to list it on eBay because it was an item that held such appeal, and there was a lot of worldwide interest in it. Our client was pleased with the amount as well as the fact that it was going to someone who had searched for the bag for quite some time and would cherish it as much as she did,” Wenger said.

Another option to consider is using

caregiving ) ) ) disposing of items

an auction service. Mark Toomey of Toomey Auction Service, York, said that a lot of his company’s work is with estates, and his clients include relatives and attorneys. Toomey Auctions, which is a family-owned business, has about three auctions monthly at their 20,000square-foot facility in York, and specialty auctions devoted to items such as collectibles (Hummels, dolls, trains) may be held a few times a year.

“We have an average of 300 to 500 registered bidders for our regular auctions and may have as many as 200 people at our preview,” he said.

In working with clients, he will visit the home and review possible sale items with family members or an attorney.

“Every situation is different. I’ll advise clients on what is sellable; sometimes they’ll be talking with two or three different auction services,” he said.

Once the company has a commitment from the client, all items are photographed, including furniture, box lots, and larger items, such as cars and boats.

“We do have people placing bids via phone,” he said.

Additionally, Toomey will provide appraisals.

“Some people want to get an idea of what their items are worth before they send it to an auction,” he said.

Although sorting through a loved one’s possessions can be a daunting task that may be fraught with emotion, step back, take a breath, and remember that help from local companies that are staffed by caring, empathetic people who deal with this day-in and day-out is only a phone call away. ) ) )

Jami Lehman, interior paint artist (Artistic Interiors) and jewelry designer (Re*Creation Jewelry),visits auctions to see what she can find to refashion into unique pieces of jewelry.

These were the treasures she found recently at Toomey Auctions in York.

Build your caregiver circle.

You want the best for mom. Many times the “best” care comes from an expanded care network and a caregiver who feels recharged and supported. Create a strong caregiver circle that supports you and your loved one’s needs.

Messiah Lifeways offers more options for caregivers and the ones they love. Call the Messiah Lifeways Coaching helpline to learn about all the ways you can do something good for mom (and you).

“I’m doing it for mom”

MessiahLifeways.org/CaregiverCircle 717.591.7225 coach@messiahlifeways.org

Support Groups | Workshops | Coaching | Adult Day | At Home | Respite summer 2014 |

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lifestyle

love where you live WRITTEN BY Jana Benscoter

Conceptual rendering of a purpose-built assisted living Alcove residence being built at Lutheran Social Services of South Central Pennsylvania.

ATTENTION TO HEALTH CARE DETAILS, COUPLED WITH A full-range of independent, personal, and assisted living services, have propelled retirement communities into the 21st century. The deployment of technological advances continues to connect families to their loved ones, as well as impart qualityof-life techniques that do not disrupt social and independent retirees.

To offer a greater confidence in retirement living, the goal is to alleviate daily challenges. The way living communities are adhering to a residential focus is to provide living space specific to an individual’s needs.

Whether that is through construction blue prints, special programs, or technology, the steps toward a vibrant retirement are increasingly becoming prominent.

Lutheran Social Services of South Central Pennsylvania is planning an expansion that will assist residents’ living through capital improvements to their surroundings. This purpose-built assisted living facility at their Village at Sprenkle Drive is designed to generate a feeling of being at home. It will be specifically built to meet the new regulations for assisted living residences

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rather than being adapted to accommodate. Each residence features a living room, dining area, and kitchenette. The expansion includes a shared community room, as well, that is Wi-Fi and Internet accessible.

The purpose-built assisted living facility is the first in South Central Pennsylvania. The Department of Public Welfare now requires residences offering personal care and/or assisted living residences to have separate licenses, which Lutheran Social Services will pursue the assisted living licensure following construction of the expansion.

“It’s the right decision,” senior vice president of living for social services Angela Dohrman said. The license will assure residents of Sprenkle Drive that Lutheran Social Services is accountable to the state for its services.

A residential focus, Dohrman said, allows Sprenkle Drive retirees to go about their lives freely, and provides them with assistance when needed. She said the expansion will allow residents to “age in place.”

Keeping with the idea of a retiree maintaining their independence, activities have become diversified. As businesses offer a wider range of resources to retirement communities, they are capitalizing on them to provide an esteemed lifestyle.

“We go beyond bingo,” enrichment director at Menno Haven Retirement Communities Katie Ackerman said.

The Chambersburg-based community likes to entertain different interests, so they provide opportunities to residents at peak social moments throughout the year. Residents enjoy themed parties and

) ) ) love where you live

lifestyle

Left: iPads aren’t just for kids.

Retirees like Mary Ann Castelli at Menno Haven enjoy the convenience of information and communication on their iPads.

Below: Oren Spangenburg and Phyllis Singer, residents of Luther Acres, and Matt Oathout (center), executive director of Luther Acres, enjoy utilizing new technology.

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photos by Laura Knowles

celebrations such as the Mardi Gras and the Chinese New Year and motivational speakers are engaged for the learning experiences many of their residents crave. But social activities don’t stop at on-campus activities.

“We venture off campus to concerts, films, mystery trips, dining out, and much more,” Ackerman said. “Warm weather provides for more opportunities with picnics, outdoor entertainment, and annual camp fires.”

Programs are developed out of popular public opinion within the community, Ackerman said. When a program resonates with residents, it is expanded. What’s trending nationally is often trending within the campus.

Advances in technology have opened new doors. Residents can now stay visually connected with others without the need to travel. They can Skype between facilities, amongst residents, or branch out to talk to their relatives, Ackerman said.

She noted that via Skype a resident connected with family who lives in Alaska. And another resident was able to witness a granddaughter, who lives

across the country in California, get married.

“That’s just wonderful to see happen,” Ackerman said.

An iPad workshop is planned to roll out shortly at Menno Haven Retirement Community. There are great expectations of success anticipated from it. They are already using iPod’s to play music from

different genres to engage residents with dementia.

“Additionally, people have really become animated as we incorporate the internet into programming,” Ackerman said. “We can now ‘travel’ to more places via the Internet, which greatly enhances armchair travel opposed to the limited travel via a travel film. We

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can tune in live to so many places and give residents a current snapshot of their world. We really try to see how we can enhance our residents’ lives.”

The demand to improve and expand technology in retirement communities is “becoming a consumer expectation,” Luthercare’s executive director Matt Oathout said. The desire to have a differentiator for Luthercare communities is important, but keeping connected to the residents and in turn helping the residents better connected with their families is essential.

Presently, Luther Acres, Lititz, has wireless accessibility at three locations on the campus. It is expanding this

technology with the expectation to cover the entire campus in the future.

Luther Acres recently introduced two new software programs for its residents.

One, from Healthsense, is focused on aging in place. The other program, from Touchtown, uses tablet computers and apps to expedite communication between staff and residents. One of these apps is check-in.

“We want the resident to touch the check-in button each morning,” Oathout said. “They hit the button; then we know they are okay. If they don’t check-in, we get an email with the residents who haven’t touched the button that day, which tells us who we need to call. Even

Skilled Nursing Care • Memory Care • Medicare/Medicaid Approved Personal Care • Well-designed suites • Private Room Accommodations Active, Independent Living • Modern, Spacious Villas • Cozy, Inviting Cottages • Attractive Luxury Apartments

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for a generation that is not necessarily computer savvy, it allows them to enter the technology age with an easier access.”

There are applications that allow residents to submit maintenance requests, check the weather, to decide which restaurant is offering their favorite meal that day, and to search the resident and staff directory.

“They will always have the correct contact information because emails and phone numbers are in live-time,” Oathout said. “Touch a button, and it sends the staff member an email. It’s at their fingertips.”

The Healthsense pendant, which is worn by residents, is an emergency response system that was recently upgraded to a gps-type program, Oathout said. By pressing the pendant, the resident alerts the staff of their location and need for assistance. “It’s scalable,” Oathout says, “from a simple pendant that can be used to request help, to sophisticated systems with motion and contact sensors and analytics that can prompt staff to contact the resident to make sure everything is ok.”

William Snyder, vice president of marketing, said Luthercare plans for technology advancement costs as part of their capital budget.

“The care that we give to one another in this world is reciprocal,” Snyder said.

“It will always be about the human touch. What technology allows us is for response times to be quicker. It is used as a way of one human caring about and for another. It is at the heart of what we do. For the people we serve, we allow them to live better with each other.” ) ) )

nostalgia

please return the speaker to the post and turn on your lights

WRITTEN BY Jennifer Petri Photos courtesy of Wendy Van Hove and RoadsideWonders.net

IF YOU GREW UP IN THE ’50S AND ’60S, THERE’S A GOOD chance that you’ve been to quite a few drive-in movies. Patented in 1933 by Richard Hollingshead, drive-in movies became a source of entertainment for teenagers and parents alike. Parents saw them as a good opportunity to go out with their kids, while teenagers went to these movies on dates.

The craze really picked up after the Second World War. Some drive-ins provided heating or air conditioning to keep their patrons comfortable. Others began to build playgrounds, petting zoos, and miniature golf courses to keep tikes occupied before the movie. It was not unusual for these theaters to open three hours early so kids could play.

Not every theater was extravagant, but most of them had at least a concession stand. Families could buy candy, popcorn, french fries, hotdogs, and soft drinks. Before the film and during the intermission, commercials that advertised the stand would be shown. These often featured animated foods, like the dancing chili dogs. And to ensure you were either back in your car or your lawn chair when the movie started, there was a minute-byminute countdown to the restart of the movie.

Whether it’s the memories of bonding with family or the “love of your life” at the time, drive-ins have a special place in our hearts.

There are a few drive-ins in the region that have withstood the test of time. Visit one this summer … and remember the fun!

Haar’s Drive-In

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nostalgia

Randy Ream with his showpieces; a 1969 Boss 302 and his matching second-generation 2012 Boss 302

car craze — two area men’s passion for the ‘boss’ WRITTEN BY Rochelle A. Shenk

WHEN CAR BUFFS TALK ABOUT “AMERICAN MUSCLE,” THEY’RE NOT talking about pumping iron at the gym. They’re referring to those iconic two-door, high-performance cars from the 1960s and ‘70s. Mustang, the car that originated the term “pony car,” had its own high-performance version-the Boss 302. The “302” refers to the small-block V-8.

Available as production models in 1969 and 1970 (the first generation) and more recently in 2012 and 2013, the Boss 302 also featured special striping, and the 1969 model was one of the first production models with a

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front spoiler and rear deck wing. The unique sound and look turned heads as it raced down the street.

The sound and look sparked a lifelong passion for the Boss for Lebanon residents Randy Ream and

nostalgia ) ) ) boss mustangs

Todd Eby with is pride and joy; a 1970 Boss 302, for which he even has documentation (see below).

Todd Eby. The two have worked together to create the Boss 302 registry (www.Boss302.com), an online site that serves as a resource for Boss 302 owners and others interested in the vehicle. Boss 302 owners can register their vehicle on the site, too. Ream and Eby have also compiled several books that feature information and photos.

Eby said that the Boss 302 was only available with a four-speed manual transmission—automatic transmission

and air conditioning were not available.

“It really was a performance car.

Ford made them to run the SCCA Trans-Am race series—it was one of the hottest racing series back then.

Boss 302s were racecars that were detuned to make them ‘street legal.’

Back then, Ford’s motto was ‘win on Sunday, show on Monday.’ It was product identification—the Boss 302 that you could buy in the showroom had the same stripes and effects as the

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cars that were being raced,” Eby explained.

Although the Boss 302 sported a Windsor small-block V-8 engine, it had the larger Cleveland heads and eight valve covers, which gave it an extra kick. Eby describes the engine as a “high-winding engine that didn’t have a lot of low-end torque.

“It wasn’t fast off the line like a street drag car,” he continued. “It was made to race a road course that had a lot of curves. Once you got the Boss 302 rolling, it had a lot of power.”

Ream currently owns a 1969 Boss 302 that he bought in 1994. It has

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48,000 miles and he describes it as “pretty original.” The color—a bright orange that Ford called Calypso Coral—is what attracted him to this particular Boss.

Ream has owned about 15 Mustangs, and this is his third Boss 302—he had another 1969 Boss in the early ‘80s and a 1970 Boss in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Ream also owns a second-generation 2012 Boss 302 that’s the same color as the ‘69.

“I used to take the ‘69 out and cruise around with it on a Friday night.

Now I take it to bigger car shows like Carlisle, the National Shelby

Convention, and the AACA (Antique Auto Club of America) Shelby Show in Hershey in October. I also give a lot of rides in it, my grandkids and their friends love it!” Ream said.

His passion for Mustangs began when he was about 10 years old.

“My dad bought a ‘65 Mustang in 1966 or ‘67. I thought it was the coolest thing! He traded that car for a 1969 Mustang in 1968. He kept that for a while and then he bought a Mustang II (a second-generation Mustang introduced in September 1973 and a ‘74 model; it shared a platform with the Pinto),” Ream explained.

By that time, Ream was driving and had a Mustang of his own. His first car was a ‘66 that he bought as a 16-yearold in 1972. From that vehicle he transitioned in 1975 to a ‘69 Mach 1— a performance-oriented Mustang.

“A friend of mine had one, and I really liked the look. We would hang out with our cars in Coleman Park (Lebanon). It was the thing for teens to do then—we talked about our cars and met other kids,” he said.

Coleman Park is where Ream and Eby met.

“Todd had a ‘70 Boss 302. I thought it was really neat. I had a ‘68 Shelby at the time. He really liked my car, and I liked his car,” Ream said with a smile.

Ream got married in 1981 and became a homeowner and a father. He and his wife, Cindy, who also is a car buff, named their daughter Shelbie. He sold the ‘68 Shelby to Car Village in Lebanon, where he purchased a Boss 302 that they had on the lot.

He had that a few years and then purchased a low-mileage ‘66 Hertz Shelby (a special line of Shelby GT 350 Mustangs that were used in the Hertz rental fleet). After Ream sold this car, it ended up on screen—Tom Cruise drives it in the 2005 film War of the Worlds.

Ream and Eby have a lot in common, and Eby still has that ‘70 Boss 302 that Ream first admired in Coleman Park. Eby said that he’s had the vehicle since 1979, and, like Ream, he also purchased it at Car Village.

“Back in the day, all they had on that lot were muscle cars. At that time

I had a ‘70 Mach 1 and Tom Keller, one of the owners, knew that I was looking for a Boss. When this one came on the lot, he let me know,” Eby explained.

Keller said that the original owner had purchased the Boss from Hoffman Ford, which was then located in Highspire, and Eby’s research indicates that it was one of four Bosses that was sold by Hoffman that year. At the time Eby purchased it, it had 32,000 miles and it now has 51,000 miles.

“It wasn’t the original owner’s daily driver, and it’s not mine either. I also have a lot of the original documentation, such as the sales

receipt, showroom literature, and owner’s manual. I bought it for $5,000—that was a lot of money back then, but it’s turned out to be a good investment, and I’ve had a lot of fun with it,” Eby said.

For 10 to 15 years, Eby showed his vehicle at local shows and national meets, such as the Mustang Club of America, when they were in the area.

Now he takes it to local cruise nights or for a drive on a nice day “to go through the gears.”

“I like this car for what it is. It was never an everyday driver for me; it’s always been a fun car,” he said. ) ) )

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veteran

Mike Donnelly, commander of Post 3502 in Hershey.

Retired today after 43 years in the construction industry.

up the river to serve a cause WRITTEN BY Stephen Kopfinger

MIKE DONNELLY CAN SUM UP HIS SERVICE IN VIETNAM IN FOUR words: “They shall not want.”

And that was Donnelly’s job in Naval Support Activity, ferrying everything from ammunition to beer to the American forces at Danang aboard small but vital craft that plied the rivers, keeping supply lines open.

“The troops would want for nothing,” recalls Donnelly, 65, who lives in Elizabethtown and today is commander of VFW Post 3502 in Hershey.

A 1966 graduate of Milton Hershey High School, Donnelly served aboard landing craft supply boats from October 1968 to November 1969. He ultimately finished his Vietnam tour as chief officer aboard a vessel known as

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the YFU-73.

“We carried troops a lot,” says Donnelly. “We carried bulk fuel for the Air Force. We always ran mine sweeps.

We were mailmen, too,” he says, remembering manifests of “the mail, the beer, and the cigarettes.”

Donnelly smiles as he points to a photo of himself in nothing but swim trunks.

“That was my uniform!”

Though Donnelly does have fond memories of his time on the water, life in Vietnam was no pleasure cruise.

The boats were targets for enemy fire; a sister craft, the YFU-78, was destroyed in a rocket attack with a

veteran ) ) ) mike donnelly

One of the boats that Donnelly served on, the LSU-1498.

Donnelly in dress blues at home just after boot camp. Feb. 1968.

Guys on the LSU-1498 Utility Landing Ship.

Donnelly is the second man from the top.

heavy loss of life in 1969.

Donnelly remembers a time on one of his own boats when a rocket came through the hull and stopped on a crewmate’s bunk pillow. Luckily, it didn’t explode, but the men instinctively knew something was coming and had already hit the deck. “‘You gotta use your own judgment,” Donnelly recalls of the crew’s unofficial motto.

“There was no front,” he says of the war. “Everything was a front.”

That made it difficult as to whom a man could trust. But again, that’s where gut feelings kicked in. Donnelly remembers the time a young girl approached the crew and warned them of potential enemy activity. “‘VC all around,’” Donnelly recalls her saying, meaning that she was speaking of the dreaded Viet Cong.

It could have been a trick. But “when that kid said something, you

knew it,” says Donnelly. “They were your best eyes,” he said of Vietnamese children.

“You learned to communicate with the kids,” says Donnelly. “You couldn’t speak their language, they couldn’t speak yours. But you still communicated.”

Donnelly did have a hometown advantage, however.

“I was from Hershey and I always had the candy!”

Sometimes, though, even the best eagle eyes failed.

“I can actually say I was in North Vietnam!” says Donnelly. “We overshot the DMZ in the fog! I punched the radar on and [thought], ‘This doesn’t look right.’”

The crew was lucky to escape both detection by the enemy and firepower from their own side. Had they been captured by the North Vietnamese, Donnelly knew what to expect.

“We went through survival training … They put you in a simulated POW camp. We learned a lot. Name, rank, and serial number. That’s it,” says Donnelly of what information he was to divulge if taken. “You don’t tell your mother’s name, your father’s name, your girlfriend’s name.”

He learned other rules.

“I was told that ‘life expectancy is 30 days.’”

He remembers being advised of what to expect upon starting one’s tour of duty. If a man survived that, “the next point [was] three months. If you [made it to] three months, you made it to the end.”

Donnelly saw conditions in Vietnam that he never saw back home.

“People in this country do not realize how these people lived,” he says, pointing to a photograph of women doing laundry in a dirty river.

But Donnelly also speaks of lighter

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veteran

Below: Memorial Day ceremony at Cocoa Avenue Plaza in Hershey. Memorial (behind) includes the names of all Hershey graduates that went into various branches of service. Donnelly is in the blue shirt.

Above, from left: Keith Reeser — Jr. Vice; Mike Donnelly — Commander; Randy Mason — Quarter Master; and grandson Sean Donnelly in front.

moments, such as the stray mutt the crew adopted. As it turned out, the dog proved his worth.

“He was our lifesaver,” Donnelly says, recalling a time when the dog expressed suspicion about a potential cargo. “He would not let that guy bring that load of lumber on the boat. There was a bag on the skids. It was a satchel charge,” meaning a bomb in a bag that would have come on board with the lumber.

“That dog knew it,” Donnelly says of the mutt, whose name he can’t recall. But he did remember “he never needed a leash! And when we went drinking, the dog went drinking, too!”

He also remembers the famed USO shows, in which stars such as Bob Hope and Ann-Margret entertained the troops. Sometimes, it was the crew’s duty to ferry some of the entertainers upriver.

“We never got Bob Hope,” Donnelly laments. “We just got the little names.”

He also recalls when the enemy fired on a target that was very precious to

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the soldiers.

“I remember one time they hit the beer depot,” Donnelly says. American retaliation was fierce. “They never, ever hit it again!”

Donnelly left Vietnam near the end of 1969 and finished his military duties in February 1972, after service in Puerto Rico and the island of St. Croix. He married and is still married to wife Dorinda after 44 years. He found a career as a union carpenter, which brought him back full circle to his days in carpentry class at Hershey High.

Donnelly is aware of those trips in which Vietnam veterans, such as Sen. John McCain, revisit the land where they served. They are not for him.

“I will never go back,” he says. In fact, it took Donnelly years to even visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C., known as The Wall.

“I was shamed into going to The Wall by my grandson,” who had visited the memorial and came back with questions, Donnelly recalls.

Donnelly finally visited The Wall in

2012, the memorial’s 30th anniversary. He was impressed by what he saw and hopes to make a subsequent trip to Washington to see the Korean War Veterans Memorial in which statues of a squadron trek hauntingly across the landscape. Donnelly wants to see it in the snow, in homage to his father, who served in both World War II and Korea, where winters were bitter.

Donnelly is aware of what today’s men and women in service are going through in places such as Iraq and Afghanistan.

“It’s the same as us, but their tours are twice as long,” he says with respect. To that effect, VFW Post 3502 is active in sending care packages overseas and staging parades at home.

Donnelly doesn’t let his experiences in Vietnam or the ones our troops are going through today dissuade him from believing that military service is a good thing.

“I would recommend that any young kid go in,” he says. “You grow up fast.” ) ) )

making a molehill out of a mountain WRITTEN BY Spencer J. Trautmann

RECENTLY, I WAS ASKED WHY PITCHERS THROW OFF OF A mound. Aside from the obvious reason of providing a pitcher with additional downward velocity, it piqued my interest to learn a little more.

In my research I found that up until 1968, baseball rules allowed up to a 15-inch mound. Well, as the game evolved and players got bigger and stronger, pitchers began getting more powerful and that led to a decline in batting statistics.

Knowing that highlight moments of homeruns and higher-scoring games sell tickets, Major League Baseball decided to lower the mound to the now-standard 10 inches in 1969. It is documented that batting averages as a whole increased by 15 points, thus leading to a more offensively involved sport for spectators.

Aside from the history of the pitcher’s mound, there is a scientific means for calculating the vertical movement of a pitch. To explain how a baseball travels after it is thrown, we will use the following equation: vertical distance = 1/2 gt^2, so we know that if we plug in the distance of the mound (9.8m), then we can come to the equation 1/2(9.8m/s/s)(v)^2 = d.

For the equation, “t” represents time; “v” stands for velocity, which is determined by the amount of time it takes from a pitcher’s release point to the time the ball hits the glove; and “s” stands for seconds. The result is “d,” which stands for the amount of movement the baseball has.

Contrary to the appearance of the ball traveling in a uniform, linear direction from pitcher release to the catcher’s glove, there is gravitational pull that must be accounted for. That is one of the benefits of pitching off of a mound: It increases the velocity a pitcher can generate and reduces the “rainbow effect” of a thrown ball.

In addition to the discussed equation, it is important to note that there are many other factors that can be accounted for to get a more accurate reading. This includes ball rotation as well as air and/or wind resistance, both of which constantly change depending on the weather and venue of the baseball field. ) ) )

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good vibrations ( meet a fellow boomer )))

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David Schafer ))) Age: 57 ))) Resides in: York, Pa. ))) Profession: Transportation manager, YCC Trucking LLC/ York Container Co. Owner of Patriot Services RCI, Power washing and Patriot Transport Services, LLC, a trucking and courier business ))) Hobbies: Boating, traveling, and of course spending time with our children and grandchildren

First grade.

I broke my arm that year climbing across the monkey bars so I had a sling on in my school picture.

1974 high school graduation.

WHAT WAS THE FUNNIEST THING YOU AND A CHILD DHOOD FRIEND EVER DID? My buddy and I made a stuffed person out of straw and put him on a bicycle and we pushed him down the street. He crashed and there was a bunch of passing motorist that stopped to render help. Now you know that was years ago.

WHO WAS YOUR BEST CHILDHOOD FRIEND? DO YOU STILL KEEP IN TOUCH? Joe Fultz. Yes, we still keep in touch from time to time.

After graduation, I went to visit my grandparents in the Poconos before going into the Navy. The car was a 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger 340.

18 years old.

WHAT DID YOU DO ON A HOT SUMMER DAY? We’d go swimming at Pinchot State Park, run around in the woods, and ride bikes.

WHAT WAS THE BEST VACATION SPOT YOU REMEMBER GOING TO AS A KID? Camping in N.J. and going to the different beaches along the coast.

WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY DISH? Pork and sauerkraut served every year on New Year’s Day. WHAT WAS THE BEST ADVICE YOUR PARENT/S EVER GAVE YOU? You are responsible for your own actions.

WHAT DID YOU HAVE AS A KID THAT YOU WISH YOU HAD TODAY? A carefree life.

WHAT ARE YOU MOST PROUD OF? My parents and great advice they gave me growing up.

With wife, Cindy.

) ))

What memories would you share? To be considered for a future good vibrations column, please visit www.bmagazinepa.com.

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