Chester County Edition
January 2015
Vol. 12 No. 1
Penning a ‘New Normal’ Volunteer EMT, Former Deputy Coroner Heals by Writing Memoir By Chelsea Peifer Whenever Janice Ballenger’s name was listed on the schedule as deputy coroner, the 911 dispatchers joked that they knew they were in for a demanding day. “My initial years as deputy coroner were filled with a lot of horrific calls,” said Ballenger. “Scenes that I can never erase from my mind.” Ballenger, 62, had been working at a bank for 23 years when she read a headline stating a need for volunteers for emergency situations—no experience necessary. She began volunteering as a vehicle rescue technician before becoming an emergency medical technician and then serving as her county’s first female deputy coroner from 2004 to 2008. “It was quite the struggle to balance working full time, volunteering as an EMT, and doing deputy coroner calls 24 hours a week,” Ballenger said. “The amount of time that is required to be a volunteer is unbelievable.” Ballenger volunteered for nearly 20 years. While beginning in her 40s was a “late start,” she said that just proves that it is never too late to follow your dreams. Volunteers are the world’s greatest unsung heroes, and many people have no idea how much money is saved thanks to volunteer efforts, said Ballenger. “If I could say something to those aspiring to enter any of these fields, it please see NEW NORMAL page 14 Janice Ballenger, volunteer EMT and former deputy coroner. The local ambulance association was on the scene with Ballenger during the aftermath of the shooting at the West Nickel Mines School in October 2006.
Inside:
How to Fight Age Discrimination page 10
Costars Remember Elvis the Actor page 12
Dear Readers, Notice anything different on this issue’s front cover? It’s been 20 years since the first issue of 50plus Senior News hit newsstands, and some traces of a rich, green hue signal the arrival of our “emerald anniversary”! A lot has changed for us in two decades. 50plus Senior News has expanded to encompass six counties in Central Pennsylvania. Its contents now “come to life” at six annual 50plus EXPOs. This publication that began as a humble yet passionate local effort to bring news and entertainment to Central Pennsylvania’s seniors has gone on to garner dozens of national awards. The designs of our logo, pages, and cover have evolved over the years, but our commitment to serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50-plus community has stayed the same. Keep an eye out in the coming months for some special retrospective features as we peek back at our beginnings in 1995—while still focusing on 2015 and the exciting future ahead.
Jan. 24
– The criminal trial of O.J. Simpson began in California. On Oct. 3, the Los Angeles jury found him not guilty of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. A civil court would award a wrongful-death judgment against Simpson in 1997.
April 19
– A car bomb detonated outside the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Okla., killing 168 people. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were later convicted of the antigovernment plot to avenge the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas, exactly two years prior.
Oct. 16 – The Million Man March, a political demonstration to promote African-American unity and family values, drew hundreds of thousands of African-American men to Washington, D.C. Louis Farrakhan organized the event; speakers included Jesse Jackson, Maya Angelou, and Rosa Parks.
Happy New Year,
Donna Anderson, President On-Line Publishers, Inc.
Best Wishes for a Joyful 2015! Simply mail this form and $12 for an annual subscription to: 50 plus Senior News • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Or, subscribe online at www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com! Name: _______________________________________________________ Address: ______________________________________________________
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The Search for Our Ancestry
Are You My Cousin? Angelo Coniglio fter having my DNA tested by 23andMe, registering with the site online, and seeing preliminary results, I invited certain of the other participants to share their genomes (genetic “blueprints”) with me. My selection of those I invited was based on several factors:
• Was the person’s surname, or the surnames listed in his/her profile, familiar, possibly matching surnames in my direct ancestry?
• Were the person’s haplogroup codes similar to mine, indicating common ancestors in the distant past?
• Were the ancestral towns listed the same as or geographically near to mine?
“
DNA testing doesn’t extend the family “tree” but may provide the means to do so.
Resource Directory Chiropractic Care Upper Cervical Chiropractic Neurology Centers 533 W. Uwchlan Ave., Suites 101 & 201 Downingtown (484) 593-0328 Dental Services Family Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry 1646 West Chester Pike, Suite 1,West Chester (484) 551-3006 Disasters American Red Cross Greater Brandywine (610) 692-1200
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• How close was the indicated relationship?
The combined length of all the matching segments from another person is compared to 7,440, and an approximate percentage of shared DNA is calculated. In theory, then, my child would have a total matching length of 3,720 cM, or 50 percent of my DNA. To give a feel for the degree of relationships found for me so far, one of the “closest” relatives found has a total of
That last criterion bears deeper consideration. The tests run by 23andMe consider a cumulative length of DNA segments of 7,440 centiMorgans (cM) to represent my total genome.
please see COUSIN page 6
This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being.
Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (800) 272-3900 American Cancer Society (800) 227-2345
Housing
Physicians
Eastwood Village Homes, LLC 102 Summers Drive, Lancaster (717) 397-3138 Housing Assistance
American Heart Association (610) 940-9540
Community Impact Legal Services (610) 380-7111
Arthritis Foundation (215) 665-9200
Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (800) 232-4636
Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801
Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711
Legal Services Lawyer Referral Service (610) 429-1500
Gateway Medical Associates Locations in Coatesville, Downingtown, Lionville, and West Chester (610) 423-8181 Senior Centers Coatesville (610) 383-6900 Downingtown (610) 269-3939 Great Valley (610) 889-2121 Kennett Square (610) 444-4819
Chester County Emergency Services (610) 344-5000
Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233
Salvation Army Coatesville (610) 384-2954
National Osteoporosis Foundation (800) 223-9994
Salvation Army West Chester (610) 696-8746
PACE (800) 225-7223
Meals on Wheels Chester County Inc. (610) 430-8500
Wayne (610) 688-6246
Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852
Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (800) 366-3997
West Chester (610) 431-4242
Emergency Numbers Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Office of Aging (610) 344-6350/(800) 692-1100 Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-3676 Funeral & Cremation Services Cremation Society of Pennsylvania 4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (800) 722-8200 www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213 Southeastern PA Medical Institute (610) 446-0662 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY
Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (610) 436-4510 Nutrition
Oxford (610) 932-5244 Phoenixville (610) 935-1515
Transportation
Office of Aging Chester County Department of Aging Services (610) 344-6350
Rover Community Transportation (484) 696-3854
Pharmacies
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
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Salute to a Veteran
In an Air Force Plane, He Brought the Gas to You … 30,000 Gallons at a Time
Corporate Office: 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson
EDITORIAL VICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING EDITOR Christianne Rupp EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS Megan Joyce
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ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGER Elizabeth Duvall
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50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community. On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. 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. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.
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January 2015
Robert D. Wilcox ete Billis was born in Greece. His home was the island of Chios, one of those picturesque Greek islands that today draw millions of tourists to share their beauty. In 1970, however, his dad found the U.S. a lot more attractive, and he, with his wife and three children, left for Central Pennsylvania. Why here? “Because that’s where my dad’s sister and friends of our family were living,” Billis says. The area quickly became home to Billis, and he was soon speaking English without an accent. After Sgt. Billis on leave in 1992. graduation from McCaskey High School in 1982, he entered Millersville University, graduating in 1986. He then “wanted to do something for his country and to see the world,” as he puts it. So he enlisted in the Air Force. He had basic training in Texas at Lackland Air Force Base. While there, an Air Force master sergeant he knew suggested that he take inflight refueling as a career field. Normally, you had to complete a more basic assignment for three or Sgt. Peter Billis in the pilot’s more years after basic training before compartment of a KC-135 Stratotanker. requesting assignment to in-flight refueling, but a special Air Force program briefly opened the program transfer the fuel in flight that our up, and Billis took it. bombers and fighters needed in After air crew training at order to extend their range for long Sheppard AFB in Texas, and then flights or, for the fighters, to extend land- and water-survival training at Fairchild AFB in Washington, he was the loiter time on station. The fuel was transferred through a assigned to advanced training as an boom at the tail section of the KCin-flight fueling specialist at Castle 135, with the receiving plane only AFB in California. Upon graduation, he was qualified feet from the tail of the tanker. The pilot of the KC-135 and the to fly in KC-135 Stratotankers as receiving airplane had to carefully they refueled aircraft in flight. He maintain exactly the same speed and was home-based at Grissom AFB in position throughout the refueling. Indiana while flying missions in The boom operator of the KC135 many parts of the world. lay on his belly while he peered out a The KC-135 was the Air Force’s small window and carefully first jet-powered refueling tanker. It was needed in order to keep up with maneuvered the boom through a small port near the nose of the the speed of the Air Force’s new jet airplane following behind and below fighters and bombers. him. At that time, the success of the Holding more than 30,000 gallons of aviation fuel, it was able to mission was literally in his hands.
P
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Did it take a lot of skill to do his job? “Not according to the Air Force after all the training they gave us,” Billis says with a grin. “But lives depended on our ability to do it right. Both bombers and interceptors routinely flew missions that required in-flight refueling. And that happened around the world.” Did Billis ever have a time when things didn’t go well? “Well,” he reflects, “there was one time when our F-16s were scrambled to meet Russian bombers off Iceland that were trying to penetrate restricted airspace. It was nighttime, and we were at 30,000 feet when I needed to refuel an F-16 whose light on the receiving port had failed, and I had to find the port in the dark. “It was touch and go, but fortunately, I was able to handle that, and the F-16 pilot was saved from a stark experience, since the F-16s, because of the foulest weather at Iceland, had to fly on to England to land after the mission.” Often they were called upon to refuel the AWACS aircraft we used in order to conduct missions in Iran and Afghanistan. And they were sometimes tasked to fuel aircraft being flown in efforts to control drug trafficking. In October 1993, Billis, by then a sergeant, was discharged and came home to Central Pennsylvania. He became a distributor of Pepperidge Farm products, and then in 2002 established his own eBay business, selling collectibles, mostly stamps and coins. Asked what he thinks about his years in the Air Force, he says, “They were wonderful years. I met some of the finest people in this world. In fact, one of my greatest regrets is that I didn’t stay in until retirement. “It’s not that I’m not happy now … but for me, the Air Force was a wonderful and very special place to be.” Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.
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Deal Me In By Mark Pilarski
Did This Player Deserve to Be Tossed from the Casino? Dear Mark: I know that you have clearly stated multiple times in your column that casinos do not cheat. I am still leery of your belief. I guess my question is: Who monitors the casino to ensure their slot machines are on the up-and-up? – Jared J. Every state that offers land-based casinos has some form of a gaming regulatory agency that provides you, the casino patron, with protection from playing on a rigged machine. Let’s begin with the machine itself. Each new slot machine goes through roughly a six-month process to be approved before it hits the casino floor. A state’s gaming regulatory agency tests the machine to make sure that it operates randomly by scrutinizing how it selects the reel stops on a slot machine. The agency does a thorough inspection of the machine’s source code for any possible problems and then peeks at the principles behind how the random generation occurs. Only then is the machine placed out in the field (casino) for more testing before final approval. After the proverbial two thumbs up, the manufacturer can then sell that configuration of that slot machine to the casino. Testing then continues once the machine is placed into operation. For starters, the machine will run selftests to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with; plus, it makes sure it runs within certain parameters—meaning it doesn’t pay out too little or too much. These internal tests also look out for the casino’s best interest in that they make sure the slot machine isn’t susceptible to cheating. In most (if not all) states, machines are also subject to random spot checks in which someone from gaming verifies that a machine is identical to the approved configuration, it has not been tampered with, and the chips in the machine match the reference chips approved by the agency. Agents in the field show up unannounced and armed with a laptop computer that has a database of all the chip signatures. Each chip has a code number that contains all its attributes, including its return percentages. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Agents will know on the spot if the chip is legit by inserting the chip into their specialized laptop; it reads the chip and all its contents to certify that it is an approved value chip. Any hanky panky (Tommy James and the Shondells, 1966), and we’re talking the possible loss of a gaming license. Besides, most casinos today are publicly traded companies not interested in exposing their gaming license to loss with any suspicion of monkey business going on. Furthermore, in some states, casinos can’t even access the logic boards in their machines. Only the gaming authority can either make the change or witness the swap. Some states do allow casinos to make variations to slot machines under that state’s regulations. By variations, I mean either a paytable modification or a chip swap inside a machine to make it return more or less. As long as “approved” chips are used, and the payback is within the minimum limit set by each state’s law, it is legit. Another reason the slot machine is on the up-and-up is that every machine offered is mathematically in the casino’s favor. It is the way they make their moolah—by paying you less than the true odds on every machine on the casino floor. Why cheat? There isn’t any need to swindle you beyond what the state already allows them via the casino hold. They don’t call slot machines “one-armed bandits” for nothin’. Please take into account, Jared, that my above answer is to some degree generalized. Each gaming jurisdiction may use a slightly different approach, but you can rest assured that who’s watching whom is watching out for you. Gambling Wisdom of the Month: “Slot machines are the cotton candy and the McDonald’s of the casino. Everyone knows that they’re bad for you, but few can resist their junk-food appeal.” – Andrew Brisman Mark Pilarski is a recognized authority on casino gambling, having survived 18 years in the casino trenches. Pilarski is the creator of the bestselling, award-winning audio book series on casino gambling, Hooked on Winning. www.markpilarski.com
DASC Director Sees Respite-Services Bill Signed
On behalf of the Pennsylvania Association of Senior Centers, Ken Schreffler, executive director of the Downingtown Area Senior Center, witnessed Governor Corbett’s signing of Bill 1702, allowing the DASC Circle of Care and the Kennett Area Assisted Senior Program to be established to operate as community adult-respite services programs.
Neighbors Help Neighbors in Local Volunteer Program Building community is alive and well thanks to recent changes in the Neighbors in Action program at Kennett Area Senior Center. This volunteer program addresses the needs of people 60 years and older who want to remain in their homes but lack the resources to maintain them and live safely. Some services that Neighbors in Action volunteers provide include minor home repairs and maintenance, yard work, transportation to medical and other appointments, grocery shopping, light housekeeping, laundry, help with forms, and telephone reassurance/companionship. The Neighbors in Action Program serves southern Chester County from Kennett Square to Oxford and Nottingham. After a background check, volunteers are enlisted and matched with consumers who need their services. Volunteers are able to choose the assignment that best suits their schedule and interests.
Volunteers usually reside in the same or a nearby community, so it is truly a neighbors-helping-neighbors experience. When someone needs services beyond the scope of NIA, referrals are made to other agencies or to local vendors who are willing to provide a discount for their service. Thanks to a grant from the Chester County Department of Aging Services, there are no longer fees charged to people who need the services. While there is a need to verify the income of the consumer, the eligibility for services is not dependent upon income. Additionally, the Neighbors in Action program is partnering with local non-profits to provide materials for needed repairs in some instances. If you are interested in volunteering for this program, or you are 60 years of age or older and would like to receive services, please contact the Neighbors in Action coordinator, Berta Rains, at (610) 444-4143.
If you have local news you’d like considered for Around Town, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com
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COUSIN
from page 3
36 cM in two segments, for a shared DNA percentage of 0.48 percent. That’s less than one-half of 1 percent! But according to 23andMe, this person is my “third to fifth cousin.” These numbers may seem miniscule, but consider the following: 50 percent of my DNA should come from my father, 25 percent from my grandfather, 12.5 percent from my great-grandfather, and
so on. By the time I’ve counted back seven generations, I have less than 1 percent of my great-great-great-greatgreat-grandfather’s DNA. Because of changes in DNA over the generations due to random mutations, the actual percentage retained from each ancestor is less than the theoretical amount. So 0.48 percent shared DNA, from my example above, can mean a
relationship as close as “third to fifth cousin.” Earlier, I pointed out that many who have their DNA tested are reluctant to share their names or their ancestors’ surnames and ancestral towns. There are generally two reasons for this. Folks are concerned about privacy and possible identity theft; and those who have developed their own paper
family trees often show a reluctance to make those trees available to others because of pride of ownership. In my view, those who have such concerns shouldn’t bother having their DNA tested, since those positions effectively suppress any interaction with potential relatives. Generally, I chose to invite (for genome comparison) folks who shared
Calendar of Events
Chester County
Support Groups
Jan. 6, 2 p.m. Grief Support Group Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville (610) 327-7216 Jan. 6 and 20, 5 to 6:30 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Main Line Unitarian Church 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon (610) 585-6604 phoenixbereavement@yahoo.com Nondenominational; all are welcome. Jan. 6 and 20, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Brandywine Hospital Conference Room 2N 201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville (610) 998-1700, ext. 226
Free and open to the public
Jan. 7, 6 p.m. Memory Loss and Dementia Support Group Sunrise Assisted Living of Paoli 324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern (610) 251-9994
Jan. 14, noon Family Caregiver Support Group Sarah Care 425 Technology Drive, Suite 200 Malvern (610) 251-0801
Jan. 12 and 26, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Adult Care of Chester County 201 Sharp Lane, Exton (610) 363-8044
Jan. 15, 7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group The Solana Willistown 1713 West Chester Pike, Willistown (610) 725-1713
Jan. 13 and 27, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Jennersville Hospital Conference Room B 1015 W. Baltimore Pike, West Grove (610) 998-1700, ext. 226
Programs & Events Jan. 3 and 17, 5 to 10 p.m. Bingo Nights Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St., Downingtown (610) 429-8174 Jan. 6, 11:30 a.m. West Chester University Retirees Luncheon For restaurant location, please email darsie@verizon.net Jan. 10, 7:30 p.m. Singer and Actor John Anker Bow Tel Hai Retirement Community Garrett Community Center 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook (610) 273-9333
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Jan. 20, 6 p.m. Family Caregiver Support Group Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester (610) 399-4464 Jan. 28, 6 p.m. Living with Cancer Support Group Paoli Hospital Cancer Center 255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli (484) 565-1253 Free or minimal charge
Jan. 10-11, 17-18, 24-25, 1 to 5 p.m. Annual Model Railroad Open House Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Club 400 S. Main St., Phoenixville (610) 935-1126 www.svmrrc.com Jan. 15, 6 to 7 p.m. Powers of Attorney: What You Need to Know Heatherwood Retirement Community 3180 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook (610) 273-9301
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Jan. 24, 9 a.m. to noon Turn Your Winter Blues into Sunshine: Depression Program, Screenings Heatherwood Retirement Community 3180 Horseshoe Pike, Honey Brook (610) 273-9301 If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
Senior Center Activities
Coatesville Area Senior Center – (610) 383-6900 22 N. Fifth Ave., Coatesville – www.coatesvilleseniorcenter.org Jan. 24, 1 to 4 p.m. – Chili Cook-Off Great Valley Senior Center – (610) 889-2121 47 Church Road, Malvern Jan. 7, 1 p.m. – Koffee Klatch Jan. 14 – Winterfest Jan. 15 and 29, 10 a.m. – Canasta Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819 427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square – www.kennettseniorcenter.org Jan. 8, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. – Free Blood Pressure Screening Jan. 9, 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. – Presentation on Alzheimer’s Disease Jan. 25, 1 to 3 p.m. – Sunday Dinner with Friends: Our Happy New Year’s Dinner Phoenixville Area Senior Center – (610) 935-1515 153 Church St., Phoenixville – www.phoenixvilleseniorcenter.org Tuesdays and Fridays, 9 to 10 a.m. – Sip & Swipe Jan. 16, 10:30 a.m. – Alzheimer’s Disease Nutrition Talk Jan. 21, 7 p.m. – Live, Learn & Grow Workshop: Identity Theft Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.
Chester County Library Programs Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, (610) 269-2741 Jan. 15, 6:30 p.m. – Downingtown Library’s Writers Group Jan. 22, 1 p.m. – Senior Book Club Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m. – Reading the Classics Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, (610) 296-7996 Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times
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ancestral surnames and/or places of origin. My reason is that I feel those people have the greatest chance of having developed a paper genealogy that somewhere meshes with my own, and in that way I hope to find names, dates, and records that I have not yet included in my family tree. For example: My earliest known Coniglio relative is my fourth-greatgrandfather Filippo, who (from a son’s marriage record) died after Jan. 7, 1770, and was probably born around 1715. I know his wife’s name, Vincenza Ricotta, and the names of five sons: Pasquale, Gaspare, Angelo, Amadeo, and Felice—all from Serradifalco, Sicily. Let’s say I find a person, call him Joe, with a very small percentage of matching DNA but who shows an ancestral town of Serradifalco, with ancestors surnamed Coniglio. I contact Joe, we share genomes, and
in correspondence he tells me he’s the descendant of Giuseppe Coniglio, born in 1740, son of Filippo Coniglio and Vincenza Ricotta. He has their baptism and marriage records and has found that Filippo’s father was Pasquale Coniglio, born in Serradifalco in 1680. So, by having my DNA tested and comparing it to a distant relative who had his tested, after inspection of sources and corroboration, I’ve found an extension of my own family tree and the name of my fifth-great-grandfather. DNA testing didn’t extend my “tree,” but it gave me the means to do so. Coniglio is the author of a novella inspired by his Sicilian research, The Lady of the Wheel. You can order the paperback or the e-book at amzn.to/racalmuto. For helpful hints, visit his website, bit.ly/AFCGen. For questions or group lecture requests, email him at genealogytips@aol.com.
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Disk Damage: Watch Your Back A herniated spinal disk can cause severe pain. Spinal disks act as cushions between your vertebrae, and if they become damaged or slip out of place, they can irritate surrounding nerves. The result: weakness, numbness, and/or pain in arms, legs, or back. Watch for these risk factors to assess your vulnerability: Age. Spinal disks degenerate over time, becoming less flexible and more likely to tear as you grow older.
Weight. Extra weight puts more of a strain on your lower back. Lifting. If your job (or your personal life) requires you to do a lot of heavy lifting, be sure to pick objects up properly and safely to avoid injury. Genetics. The Mayo Clinic website points out that some people inherit a tendency to develop disks that herniate easily.
June 9, 2015 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Church Farm School 1001 East Lincoln Highway, Exton
Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Door Prizes
Is Cash Losing its Cachet? We may not be moving toward a cashless society, but for some people, paying with plastic is the preferred way to go. A survey from CreditCard.com found that 51 percent of adults under 30 will use a credit or debit card for purchases less than $5, while 77 percent of people 50 or older prefer to pay cash when buying something for $5 or less.
Debit cards are more popular than credit cards among the younger generation by a 3-to-1 margin and hold a 2-to-1 lead among users of all ages. Americans held balances on credit cards in the amount of half a trillion dollars by the end of the first half of 2014, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Why Participate? It’s the premier event for baby boomers, caregivers, and seniors in Chester County • Face-to-face interaction with 1,500+ attendees • Strengthen brand recognition/launch new products
For sponsorship and exhibitor information:
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CROSSWORD
Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 10
WORD SEARCH
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Justice Warren Chigger Recounted Envision Indiscretion Bread spread Sickbed items (abbr.) Weakened Consummate Bring up Incision Charity Dress holder Of birth
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Traveltizers
Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel
A Quest for the Ests: Visiting the Extremes of the United States It worked. Today, the scenic drive—a two-lane ribbon that winds between towering evergreens, open meadows, and lovely alpine lakes—is one of Colorado’s top attractions. (www.mountevans.com)
By Andrea Gross ’m a sucker for superlatives. My personal bucket list demands that I visit as many “ests” as possible, places that hold the record for being the highest, hottest, or in some way the very best of their category. I thought compiling the list would be simple, especially after I limited it to the United States, but of course it wasn’t. I ran into myriad problems of measurement and definition. Eventually I came up with my own criteria, based as much on practicality and desirability as on quantifiable data. Here, my recommendations for the Best of the Ests:
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Highest I have no intention of actually climbing the tallest peak, which rules out Alaska’s Mt. McKinley (20,237 feet), yet I want to do more than peer toward the heavens. Thus I head for Colorado’s Mount
Photo courtesy of National Park Service
A boardwalk at Badwater Basin leads from a parking lot to the salt flats that mark the lowest point in the United States.
People who take a short hike from the highest paved parking lot in the U.S. to the summit of Mt. Evans can brag that they’ve climbed one of Colorado’s famous Fourteeners (mountains that rise more than 14,000 feet above sea level).
Evans. At 14,265 feet, Mount Evans is a pigmy among giants, but—and this is important—it’s home to the highest paved road. This means I can drive almost all the way to the country’s highest parking lot,
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Photo courtesy of National Park Service
The salt flats of Death Valley are not hospitable to plants or animals.
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walk a mere quarter mile to the summit, and voila, I’ll be standing atop the highest reasonably accessible peak in the U.S. The highway was built between 1917 and 1927 as a means of drawing tourists.
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Lowest Choosing the lowest spot is easy. Since I quickly rule out deep-sea diving and descending into a mine, I’m left with Death Valley, Calif., which is the lowest point of dry land that was formed by nature as opposed to by man-and-shovel. The valley’s precise lowest point (282 feet below sea level) is near Badwater Basin, which sits amidst nearly 200 square miles of salt flats. A boardwalk lets visitors walk part way into the basin, but most folks step down onto the actual flats. The landscape is bizarre but beautiful, a pattern of interlocking shapes created by the valley’s unique combination of extreme heat, minimal rainfall, and low elevation. (www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm)
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Savvy Senior
How to Fight Age Discrimination Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, What constitutes age discrimination in the workplace, and where can I turn for help if I think I’ve got a case? – Demoted at 64 Dear Demoted, Age discrimination has become a much more frequent complaint in recent years as more and more people are working into their retirement years. But, you need to be aware that proving it is extremely difficult to do, especially since the 2009 Supreme Court decision that raised the bar for the type of legal proof that workers need to win age-discrimination lawsuits. With that said, here are the steps you’ll need to take to fight age discrimination if you think you’ve been treated unlawfully. ADEA Protection The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is your first defense against age discrimination. This is a federal law that says an employer cannot fire, refuse to hire, or treat you differently from other employees because of your age. Some examples of age discrimination include: • You were fired because your boss wanted to keep younger workers who are paid less.
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The ADEA protects all workers and job applicants age 40 and over who work for employers that have 20 or more employees—including federal, state, and local governments as well as employment agencies and labor unions. If your workplace has fewer than 20 employees, you may still be protected under your state’s anti-age-discrimination law. Contact your state labor department
What to Do If you think you are a victim of employment age discrimination, your first step is to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) usually within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation. You can do this by mail or in person at your nearest EEOC office
• When company layoffs are announced, most of the persons laid off were older, while younger workers with less seniority and less onthe-job experience were kept on. • Before you were fired, your supervisor made age-related remarks about you.
(see www.eeoc.gov/contact) or by calling (800) 669-4000. They will help you through the filing process and let you know if you should also file a charge with your state anti-discrimination agency. Once the charge is filed, the EEOC will investigate your complaint and find either reasonable cause to believe that age discrimination has occurred or no cause and no basis for a claim. After the investigation, the EEOC will then send you their findings along with a “notice of right to sue,” which gives you permission to file a lawsuit in a court of law. If you decide to sue, you’ll need to hire a lawyer who specializes in employee discharge suits. Lawyers.com and FindLaw (www.findlaw.com) are two websites that can help you locate discrimination attorneys in your area. Another option you should consider is mediation, which is a fair and efficient way to help you resolve your employment disputes and reach an agreement. The EEOC offers mediation at no cost if your current or former employer agrees to participate. At mediation, you show up with your evidence, your employer presents theirs, and the mediator makes a determination within a day or less. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org
Puzzles shown on page 8
Puzzle Solutions
• You were turned down for a
• You didn’t get hired because the employer wanted a younger-looking person to do the job.
or your state’s fair employment practices agency for more information. Another protection for older workers is the federal Older Workers Benefit Protection Act. Under this law, an employer cannot reduce health or life insurance benefits for older employees, nor can it stop their pensions from accruing if they work past their normal retirement age. It also discourages businesses from targeting older workers when cutting staff and prohibits employers from forcing employees to take early retirement.
promotion, which went to someone younger hired from outside the company, because the boss says the company “needs new blood.”
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Driest Here I run into trouble. Calexico, a small town on the California-Mexico border, has the lowest annual rainfall, but Death Valley has the most consecutive days with no rainfall. In the end I opt for neither. In my mind, “dry” suggests a place where I can mount a camel and ride endless miles across towering sand dunes. Calexico is dune-less, and while Death Valley has dunes, they aren’t record-setters. For that I have to go to Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado, which, although devoid of camels, has 750-foot-tall sand piles, the highest in North America. Later I learn that the dunes aren’t really dry. In fact, it’s the moist layer of sand right under the surface that holds the upper dry sand in place. But that’s OK. At this point in my Quest-Est, I’m more concerned with imagery than scientific accuracy. (www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm) Wettest As for the wettest place, I must choose between the soggiest land or the drippiest sky. Since I don’t have a pair of wet boots but own several umbrellas, I decide on Hawaii’s Mount Waleleale.
weirdest categories. (www.forkswa.com)
Great Sand Dunes National Park has the tallest dunes in North America.
Photo courtesy of Forks Chamber of Commerce
Forks, Wash., is the gateway to the rainforests of Olympic National Park.
Photo courtesy of Mount Washington Observatory
Scientists at the Mount Washington Observatory work in a place that’s reputed to have the worst weather in the world.
Then I learn that the mountain’s average rainfall exceeds 38 feet a year—a fact that greatly dampens my enthusiasm (pardon the pun)—so I restrict my search to the contiguous United States and end up on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. While the Aberdeen Reservoir is the rainiest place, with 130.6 inches a year, Forks is the rainiest town, with 120
inches a year. More important, it’s given this accolade not only by the National Climatic Data Center, but also by Stephenie Meyer, who used it as a setting for her Twilight book series. Why, I may even spot a vampire along the shore or amidst the trees, and this makes Forks a double superlative— winner of both the wettest and the
Coldest Once I exclude non-contiguous Alaska, Rogers Pass, Mont., holds the record for a one-day temperature low (minus 70 F), but the peak of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington wins the title for all-time year-around cold (annual average temperature of 27 F). In addition, with wind gusts that sometimes reach more than 230 mph, it’s also considered the windiest place in the United States. Therefore, with masochistic determination I head to the summit. The road is steep, narrow, and bordered with deadly drop-offs. But am I glad I went? Absolutely. The view on top is spectacular and, what’s more, at the Weather Discovery Center in nearby North Conway I learn that Mount Washington holds bragging rights to the best Est of all: Home of the World’s Worst Weather. It’s a perfect way to end my search. The title of “worst” makes Mount Washington the “best.” (www.mountwashington.org) Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).
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Tinseltown Talks
Costars Remember Elvis the Actor Nick Thomas or many, the title “King of Rock ’n’ Roll” is reserved for one man: Elvis Presley. Had he lived, the King would have celebrated his 80th birthday on Jan. 8, 2015. Unlike most departed singers who are remembered largely for their music, Presley lives on through a phenomenal number of appearances in scripted motion pictures—31 in all—beginning with Love Me Tender in 1956 and ending 13 years later with Change of Habit in 1969. His movies provide a unique glimpse into another dimension of one of the 20th century’s greatest entertainers. Although his films were often dismissed due to weak and predictable scripts, critics generally regarded Presley as a surprisingly good actor. But what did costars think about working with Presley? In 1966, 10-year-old Donna
F
Donna Butterworth and Elvis in Paradise, Hawaiian Style
Marlyn Mason and Elvis in The Trouble with Girls
Butterworth costarred in Paradise, Hawaiian Style, the second Presley film set in Hawaii. “My mom and dad took me to see Blue Hawaii when I was just a little girl, and I fell in love with him right then and there,” said Butterworth. “I used to listen
to his records, and I couldn’t get enough Elvis.” Butterworth recalls filming her first scene on the cliffs of Makapuu, on Oahu. “I had to run up into Elvis’s arms and call out, ‘Uncle Rick, Uncle Rick.’ But I
had only met him a few minutes before that. So when the director called ‘action,’ I ran up and got in his arms and his face was about 4 inches from my face. “After all the anticipation of meeting Elvis Presley and working with him, I just froze. I couldn’t believe I was so close to this beautiful man! All the crew cracked up because they knew I was so enamored. In fact, Elvis laughed the hardest—he just loved to laugh.” Unlike Butterworth, 7-year-old Susan Olsen wasn’t a Presley fan when she briefly appeared in the talent-contest audition scene in Presley’s second-to-last film, The Trouble with Girls (1969). “I couldn’t understand all the hype over him, and I didn’t even think he was good-looking!” said Olsen, who went on to play youngest daughter Cindy on the popular ’60s TV show The Brady Bunch. That changed after their first brief encounter.
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“I remember that a bunch of the kids’ Hutchins, who first worked in Spinout mothers suddenly started screaming. (1966). Elvis had come out of his dressing room, The following year he costarred with and they crowded around him for Presley in Clambake, which featured a lot autographs. So I thought, ‘What the of ad-libbing and fooling around on the heck! I’ll get one too.’ set. “So I went up to him—and I’m not “It was more or less a de facto stag making this up— party because Elvis when he looked at was getting married me, I thought, soon after the ‘Oh, I get it! I see filming was why they like him finished,” recalled so much.’ He had Hutchins. “Elvis this special aura and his buddies about him. I was would set off just dumbstruck; I firecrackers. It was couldn’t say pretty wild, but a anything. He lot of fun. For the signed the photo, director’s birthday, handed it to me, they had a cake and said, ‘Here ya and pushed it right go, darling.’” in his face!” Presley’s leading Wilda Taylor Will Hutchins and Elvis in Clambake lady in The appeared in three Trouble with Elvis Presley Girls came away films but with more than strutted into just an Presley movie autograph. history as exotic Marlyn Mason dancer Little snagged an onEgypt in screen kiss. Roustabout “It was a (1964). comedy kiss,” “We said Mason, rehearsed for indicating that about two the only weeks,” said fireworks were Taylor. “Elvis the real ones in was in and out the movie scene. of the rehearsal Wilda Taylor as Little Egypt with Elvis in “He was great hall every so Roustabout fun to work with, often between because I could his other busy throw anything at him and he’d just filming days for the other scenes. He throw it right back.” knew his material and music well, and I She also recalls a private moment grew to admire him a great deal. when Presley shared thoughts about his “It’s amazing, through the years, how acting. many people know about me and Little “The saddest thing Elvis said to me Egypt from that film. Oddly enough, I was, ‘I’d like to make one good film really didn’t know much about Elvis because I know people in this town laugh before we worked together, but I found at me.’ I’ll never forget that,” she said. him to be a lovely, darling person, and I “But he was always down to earth and was just pleased to be a small part of his comfortable with himself. Some of that life.” dialogue was so corny, but he managed With each passing decade since his to bring a realness to it. And I think death in 1977 at age 42, the Elvis Presley that’s just how he was in real life. He was legend and legacy continue to grow. a natural comedian, and his timing was When viewed in the context of the often just impeccable. I just found him to be a zany ’60s TV and film period, it is very genuine person.” gratifying that there exists such an Despite his fame, Will Hutchins says extensive film library of the most Presley didn’t play the celebrity, although celebrated entertainer in history. he was usually accompanied on most of his films by pals—the so-called Memphis Thomas’ features and columns have appeared in more than 400 magazines and newspapers, Mafia. and he is the author of Raised by the Stars, “On the set, Elvis was like a host—a published by McFarland. He can be reached Southern gentleman—making sure at his blog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com everyone was having a good time,” said www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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NEW NORMAL
from page 1
would be that these ‘jobs’ are not as glamorous as portrayed on television,” Ballenger said. “They require a huge amount of commitment and an everlarger amount of caring and compassion. “They are not for the faint of heart, but you will make a difference—and that’s what it’s all about.” Her goal was to express empathy and caring on every call she responded to.
“Even if it was a man with knee pain he’d had for three weeks and [he then] decides to dial 911 at 3 a.m.,” said Ballenger’s copies of the local newspaper Ballenger. “In coverage of the Amish schoolhouse shooting. their opinion, As one of the first responders, Ballenger was a when they dial sought-after interview in the wake of the tragedy.
911, it is one of the worst days of their lives, and I respect that.” Performing CPR on calls for people she knew was very difficult. “I literally
had to be pulled off of the one man by the doctor at the hospital as he announced time of death,” Ballenger said. “A little bit of you dies with the person.” Successful and unsuccessful suicides, as well as calls involving children, are always the most difficult, she said. But on Oct. 2, 2006, she responded to a call that nothing could have prepared her for.
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Ballenger was one of the first “In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t done responders to the shooting at the West that,” Ballenger said. “But I was Nickel Mines School, where a man desperate to try to find a normal place entered the schoolhouse and lined up in my mind.” 10 young Amish girls before shooting She tried crafts and other endeavors them execution style. Five of the girls to occupy her mind, but writing a died; the gunman later took his own memoir about her experiences was life. what finally gave her a greater sense of “I was one of the few to enter the peace. school with the dead bodies still Ballenger had been keeping journals inside,” Ballenger said. of her experiences since she started She asked the local ambulance crew volunteering. to clean one of the girl’s faces because “As I began seeing some gruesome she did not want the child’s mother to sights, I needed a way to vent my see her face entirely covered in blood. emotions. My brother, John, gave me a “They said they had been told not lined journal and when I would return to touch her. I said, ‘I will take full home from a call, I recorded my responsibility and will risk my job on emotions in the journal—which turned it,’” Ballenger recalled. “They agreed into many, many journals,” Ballenger and were flawless in their work. I am explained. forever indebted. She spent the next two years writing “I was on scene from approximately her first book, Addicted to Life & 11 a.m. Death: until Memoirs of midnight,” an EMT & she said. “I Deputy still have no Coroner. idea how I She gives made it free talks in home.” the That community night, about her Ballenger book and had to experiences complete and brings Ballenger gives talks in the community about her her reports a guest experiences and about her memoir, Addicted to Life & from the speaker Death: Memoirs of an EMT & Deputy Coroner. haunting with her to tragedy that discuss she had barely begun to process. suicide and its effects on those left “As I downloaded the pictures, it all behind. She includes instructions on seemed surreal,” said Ballenger. giving CPR in her talks. Before she could begin processing “Some people have said, ‘I guess you any further, her phone began to ring get used to seeing the things you see.’ nonstop. No, you never get used to it. If you do, “CNN called to say they were on then it is time to get out of doing that their way to my home. I said, work,” Ballenger said. ‘Absolutely not.’” “Others ask how I could do that Ballenger took two weeks off from work. I reply, ‘Everyone has their place everything. She visited the ambulance on Earth. I am blessed that I was able crew to thank them for everything that to do that work for many, many years. they did for the victims and families. Someone has to do it. But don’t ask me “It was very emotional. I couldn’t to be a dental hygienist—I could never thank them enough for cleaning her do that work.” face,” Ballenger said. “And I didn’t get Ballenger is a still a certified EMT in trouble.” but does not run on calls. She works at She met with counselors and visited a skilled nursing facility near Ephrata. with the Amish families who lost their Ballenger is available to speak about children on that day. her experiences and can be reached at “I still keep in contact with them. I (717) 606-3494, janiceballenger@ always leave their homes feeling a little yahoo.com, or at her Facebook page: better,” Ballenger said. www.facebook.com/AddictedToLifeDeath Her mind kept revisiting the inside MemoirsOfAnEmtDeputyCoroner. of the Amish school, and in an effort Her book is available online or can to find a “new normal,” Ballenger be purchased directly through decided to move and sell nearly Ballenger; she will sign them as everything that she owned. requested. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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484-593-0328 • Extension #3
484-593-0328 • Extension #3
visit us at www.wherehopelives.info
visit us at www.wherehopelives.info
is process is used for the early detection of:
Early detection saves lives!
Offer expires 1/31/15.
533 W. Uwchlan Ave. (Rt. 113) • Suites 101 and 201 • Downingtown (Lionville Area), PA 19335 16
January 2015
50plus SeniorNews
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www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com