50plus LIFE Chester County April 2019 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

Complimentary | Chester County Edition

April 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ Vol. 16 No. 4

have books, will travel page 4

soldier stories: vietnam vet joe novak page 8

financial focus: 5 mistakes to avoid in retirement page 16

Tech Talk

Reach Active, Affluent Boomers & Seniors! Mark Rinaudo

Slow Computers: When Is it Time for a New One?

Question: My computer is running slower and slower, it seems, and I’m not sure if it’s worth upgrading. Is there any hope for this old machine?

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June 5, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Church Farm School 1001 East Lincoln Highway, Exton

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Premier events for baby boomers, caregivers, and seniors • Face-to-face interaction with 1,500+ attendees • Strengthen brand recognition/launch new products

For sponsorship and exhibitor information:

(610) 675-6240

www.50plusExpoPA.com 2

April 2019

50plus LIFE u

I get this question a lot. I usually tell my customers that if you’ve owned the machine for seven years or more, then you have used the effective life of the machine. If the computer is older than 7 years and it’s running slow or locking up, it’s not really worth the money to try to save it. It’s time to move on to a new or newer computer. If your machine is newer than 7 years old, then this is where the answer gets tricky. Most new computers that are running slower are suffering from some form of malware on them. The malware landscape has changed quite a bit over the years. Malware started out as viruses and has grown into a gray area where it’s not as malicious as a virus, but it’s not exactly harmless. Most malware is installed on your machine by an outside source and is aimed at directing your computer to some location on the internet to financially benefit the malware’s creator. If your computer is running slowly, the first place to start is to scan the machine with several malware-scanning tools. I usually recommend starting with the free version of Malwarebytes. This is the first scan tool I normally use on a machine just to get an idea of how badly infected the machine is. From there, I typically move on to other scan tools that go deeper and search for more obscure malware. In my findings, malware is the culprit 80 percent of the time. The other 20 percent of the time, it’s hardware related. A computer has many parts to it, and any one of those parts can cause a severe slowdown. If your hard drive is starting to die, then you’ll notice your machine running slower and slower and, if you’re able to check it, you’ll notice that the CPU (central processing unit) is barely being used. If you find yourself in this boat, then there is some good news. With the introduction of the solid-state drive (SSD) — a new kind of hard drive — you can replace that faulty hard drive with new technology that’s 10 times faster than the hard drive your machine originally came with. This upgrade can sometimes make your machine faster than when it was brand new. I usually recommend an SSD upgrade for machines with failing drives that are 5 years old or newer. This upgrade is very beneficial to the older Mac line of computers. Other factors that dictate whether the machine is worth upgrading (instead of trashing) are the operating system (for example, which version of Windows or Mac OS you have installed). Your machine may be running an operating system that’s no longer supported with security updates, or is about to be unsupported. www.50plusLifePA.com

With these guides in mind, hopefully you’ll be better informed to make a decision on whether to invest your money into an aging machine that may just have another two or three years of life in it, or if it’s time to start shopping for your next computer.

Mark Rinaudo has worked in IT in Shreveport, La., for more than 20 years. He is the owner and operator of Preferred Data Solutions. Email mark@preferreddatasolutions. com to submit a question for this column.

Where Does the Time Go? According to Adrian Bejan, a professor of mechanical engineering at Duke University, our perception of time is rather fluid. Factors including age, activity, and whether we’ve had enough sleep can significantly skew our sense of time. In an article published in the European Review, Bejan explains, “Time as we experience it represents perceived changes in mental stimuli.” He came to this conclusion after analyzing research on cognition, vision, and time. Bejan first became interested in the topic many years ago when he was a member of a Romanian basketball team. He realized that when he was well rested, his level of play improved, as well as his awareness of time. The research Bejan has reviewed shows not only how our energy affects our sense of time, but also our vision.

Unconscious rapid eye movements known as saccades are just one of the ways our brains interpret stimuli that influence our sense of time. When we are young and experiencing many things for the first time, our brains process the images we see more rapidly, leading to our sensing a slower passage of time. As we age, our vision isn’t as sharp, so our brains don’t process images as quickly, leading to a perception that time is passing more quickly. This can also occur when we are tired or experiencing symptoms from cognitive disorders. These findings led Bejan to believe that everyone has his or her own sense of time — which has nothing to do with real, physical time or another person’s sense of time.

At Your Fingertips Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away. Disasters American Red Cross Greater Brandywine (610) 692-1200

American Heart Association (610) 940-9540

Chester County Emergency Services (610) 344-5000

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (800) 232-4636

Salvation Army Coatesville (610) 384-2954 Salvation Army West Chester (610) 696-8746 Emergency Numbers Central Pennsylvania Poison Center (800) 521-6110

Arthritis Foundation (215) 570-3060

Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711 Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233 National Osteoporosis Foundation (800) 223-9994

Office of Aging (610) 344-6350/(800) 692-1100

PACE (800) 225-7223

Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-3676

Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852

Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (302) 573-4027 Funeral & Cremation Services Cremation Society of Pennsylvania Serving Chester County (800) 720-8221 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (800) 272-3900 American Cancer Society (800) 227-2345

Housing Assistance Community Impact Legal Services (610) 876-0804 Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200 Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801 JEWELERS American Gold & Estate Buyers, Inc. 363 E. Lincoln Highway, Exton (484) 872-8216 Legal Services Lawyer Referral Service (610) 429-1500 Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (610) 436-4510

Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213 Southeastern Pennsylvania Medical Institute (610) 446-0662 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY home equity loans Glendale Mortgage (610) 853-6500; (888) 456-0988

Nutrition Meals on Wheels Chester County Inc. (610) 430-8500 Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (800) 366-3997 Office of Aging Chester County Department of Aging Services (610) 344-6350 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com

retirement living Friends Home in Kennett 147 W. State St., Kennett Square (610) 444-2577 Harrison Senior Living Locations in Christiana and East Fallowfield (610) 384-6310 The Hickman 400 N. Walnut St., West Chester (484) 760-6300 Senior Centers Coatesville (610) 383-6900 Downingtown (610) 269-3939 Great Valley (610) 889-2121 Kennett Square (610) 444-4819 Oxford (610) 932-5244 Phoenixville (610) 935-1515 Wayne (610) 688-6246 West Chester (610) 431-4242

Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.

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April 2019

Cover Story

Have Books, Will Travel

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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

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50plus LIFE 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.

April 2019

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By John Crawford Liz Richardson has always loved books and always wanted to help people, so she knew her career choice from an early age. “I have always read and was encouraged to find the answers to my own questions,” Richardson said. “I knew from a young child that I wanted to be a librarian.” A native of Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, now living at Messiah Village, Richardson graduated from Seton Hill College with a Bachelor of the Arts in English and a master’s in library science from the University of Pittsburgh. Retiring in 2007 did not lessen her desire to help or her love of books; therefore, Richardson decided to bring books to homebound adults at Messiah Village through Cumberland County Library System’s Service to Adult Readers (STAR) program. Christa Bassett, adult outreach services coordinator for the library system, explained that Richardson participates in STAR’s site-delivery program, in which a volunteer selects and delivers books to a retirement home, adult daycare, or senior center. “It’s been about four years that I’ve been doing it,” Richardson said. Through the program, Richardson gathers books from the local community library and takes them to Messiah Village. This way, seniors unable to get to the library can have access to the collection. Her task involves going through the collection to find books that interest her fellow residents without repeating previous selections. She sorts among the subjects the homebound seniors enjoy, and then refers to the sign-out card to be sure she hasn’t previously checked out the book. She will occasionally get a specific request and will do her best to follow through on it. “The people at Messiah Village are like the people anywhere,” Richardson said. “There are some who don’t want to [read about harder topics], and some who want to think about it. It’s not any different from the community as a whole. “I keep a list of things that are popular,” she added. Her role requires considerable insight but not necessarily a set schedule or deadline. The community residents know when to expect a new selection. “They’re not waiting, but if I miss a day or two, they want to know where I’ve been,” she explained with a smile. Richardson’s work for the residents doesn’t end with the delivery of the Simpson Library books. Concurrent with her STAR duties, she helps to maintain and enlarge the nascent library at the retirement community.

“I have worked there about four years and been the librarian about three,” said Richardson. “Someone is at the library every day for a few hours to check in what has been returned and help people find what they need. Most of the time, readers help themselves.” Helping the library grow has been a community effort that Richardson helps direct. “Our library is very small and gets most of our books through donations,” Richardson said. “There also is a small budget to buy books. Last year we received a donation from a resident’s family to buy large-print books.” Large-print books may be an obvious fit for a senior community, but the books themselves weren’t, at least not for the after-hours return receptacle. Richardson and the community needed to upgrade the return and managed to do so from within the village. “I recently designed a new book return, which is being made in the village’s woodshop” by fellow resident Max Van Buskirk, she said. “Our circulation is increasing, and we are getting more large-print books, which are bigger than a normal book.” STAR also features a homebound delivery program, where a volunteer selects and delivers library items to a single homebound individual. “Currently, we serve approximately 100 homebound people across the county with this individualized service,” Bassett said. “This is the type of volunteer service that our volunteer Heidi Stadnicki assists with.” Massachusetts native Heidi Stadnicki, now of Boiling Springs, has a background similar to Richardson’s, which drew her to the program. “As a former librarian, I was drawn to STAR as a way to use my skills and give back to others who are unable to visit a library,” said Stadnicki, who delivers books and DVDs to four nursing-home residents and two homebound clients. “I am thankful for the opportunity to bring pleasure to others in such a simple way.” Stadnicki works to develop an understanding of her clients’ preferences, much like a site volunteer, but does so on a one-to-one basis. This delivery service provides not only library materials, but also companionship to homebound individuals. “I enjoy doing reader’s advisory,” said Stadnicki. “Once I am familiar with my clients’ favorite genres and authors, I choose books that I think they will enjoy. “Learning their preferences involves chatting about the books they have read and why they liked or disliked a particular author,” she said. “This input provides me with valuable insight into making my next selections for each client.” www.50plusLifePA.com

As she gets familiar with each participant’s preferences, the former librarian enjoys trying to expand their choices. “It is also fun to introduce new fiction and nonfiction books tailored to a client’s interests or hobbies,” Stadnicki said. “Not every choice is a success, but the challenge makes it enjoyable for me as well.” “Heidi and Liz both willingly go above and beyond the expectations for STAR volunteers,” Bassett said. “They have a love for the homebound participants we serve and for our program. Our program would not be as vibrant as it currently is without the support of volunteers such as Heidi and Liz.” The STAR program also includes self-service and digital-only programs. As Bassett explained, the self-service program is “for those residents who are still

mobile enough to visit their library but, due to health or other concerns, they may not be able to visit as frequently as necessary.” The digital-only program is for homebound individuals who strictly want to be able to access from their homes the library system’s electronic databases and the e-book and e-audiobook resources available on its website. While Bassett will always welcome new volunteers for the STAR program, she really wants to reach more recipients. “Our greater need, for the moment, is to get the word out about our wonderful program to those homebound individuals who could benefit from it,” she said. “We currently have extra volunteers, but I am looking for homebound participants for these volunteers to serve.”

On Life and Love After 50

Do Multiple Past Marriages Matter? Tom Blake

A woman, age 69, recently emailed me with a dating question. “I’ve been married three times,” she said. “Should three marriages matter to the men I meet? Might they be a deal-breaker? Turn-off? Red flag? Or, (hopefully) a nonissue?” My response: There’s no automatic answer; it depends on several circumstances. Here are nine of my thoughts: 1. What is your dating goal? To marry again? Or to meet a nice man-friend with whom you can have a committed relationship? Would you want to live together, or perhaps have an LAT, a living-apart-together relationship? Your answer could determine how a potential mate feels about your three marriages. If it’s your hope to marry a fourth time, most men are going to head for the exit before the second date. 2. What are the dating goals of the man you meet? If he wants to remarry, your three marriages may be a red flag to him. You’ll need to explain what happened. But, if he’s looking for a similar arrangement as you, your three marriages may be a nonissue. 3. How many marriages has he had and why did his marriages end? How long did they last? Or maybe he never married? Is he willing to reveal how many marriages he’s had? Answers to those questions are important to know. You wouldn’t want to become involved with someone who has a history of terrible marriages or relationships. You need to protect yourself.

7. Before a budding relationship turns serious, the number of prior marriages isn’t as important as the disclosure of them. Also, people had the courage and were willing to take the risk to find happiness. 8. Understanding what happened in your three marriages can help you build a more solid relationship the next time around. please see MARRIAGES page 19

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4. When a man or a woman is widowed, he or she had no control over losing that spouse. Should that count in his or her previous-marriage tally? Of course not. (Well, if they’ve had four, and all have died under suspicious circumstances, then that would be a red flag). 5. One woman described her three divorces as “failed” marriages. I don’t like that term. Why? Because most marriages were the right thing to do at that time. But, as years passed, people changed, and marriages faded. Does that make the marriages failures? No. They just didn’t last forever, although they were good for a while. 6. Often, marriages that end in divorce turn out to be a blessing in disguise, although at the time of the breakup, it didn’t seem that way. Hence, three marriages that ended could be three blessings in disguise. www.50plusLifePA.com

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April 2019

Home Care Services & Hospice Providers Comfort Keepers

(717) 299-4007 www.lancaster-402.comfortkeepers.com Year Est.: 2001 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: We provide compassionate, in-home care that helps seniors live safe, happy, and independent lives in the comfort of their own homes. Companion care, light housekeeping, personal care, in-home safety solutions, incidental transportation, dementia/Alzheimer’s care, ongoing staff training. Member: Home Care Association of America

Homeland at Home

Homeland HomeCare: (717) 221-7892 Year Est.: 2016 Homeland HomeHealth: (717) 412-0166 Year Est.: 2017 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland*, Dauphin*, Franklin, Fulton, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon*, Northumberland, Perry*, Schuylkill, Snyder, York* *Homeland HomeHealth currently serves five of 13 counties. RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs/Home Aides: Yes Direct Care Workers: Yes PT/OT/Speech Therapists: Yes

(717) 560-5160 www.mediqueststaffing.net Year Est.: 2002 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Our experienced caregivers will provide the level of care for your specific needs, including memory care, transportation to and from appointments, outpatient procedures, personal care, respite, and more. Services are provided wherever you reside. All caregivers are comprehensively screened, bonded, and insured. Call for a free RN assessment. Member: Pennsylvania Homecare Association.

PennCares Support Services

www.homelandathome.org Homeland Hospice: (717) 221-7890 Year Est.: 2008

MediQuest Staffing & Homecare

(717) 632-5552 www.penncares.org Other Certifications and Services: Homeland at Home is a community outreach of Homeland Center, a non-profit CCRC that has served our region with excellent and benevolent care since 1867. Our expert team is dedicated to providing a continuum of At Home services—from non-medical personal assistance to skilled nursing and compassionate hospice and palliative care. We are privileged to care for you and your loved ones … any place you call “home.” We offer community and staff educational programs, including a “My Reflections” end-of-life planning workshop, as well as 15 unique bereavement support groups.

Social Workers: Yes Spiritual Counselors: Yes Complementary Therapies: Yes Medicare Certified: Yes

Year Est.: 1968 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Lancaster, York RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: No Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Private pay and waiver-based participants.

Pleasant View Care at Home

(717) 664-6646 www.pleasantviewrc.org/care-at-home Year Est.: 2007 Counties Served: Lancaster, Lebanon RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Caring and professional staff provide supportive services to help maintain independence within the comfortable setting of home. Personal services, companion care, dementia care services, and transitional care offered — call for a free consultation.

Landis at Home

(717) 509-5800 www.landisathome.org Year Est.: 2007 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: A licensed home-care agency, offering a variety of services to persons in their homes within 15 miles of the Landis Homes campus. Services, provided by carefully screened and qualified caregivers with oversight from RNs, may be used for a short visit or up to 24 hours a day. Call for a free, in-home consultation. A home-care service of Landis Communities.

If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your account representative or call (610) 675-6240.

This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

Home Care Services & Hospice Providers Surrey Home Care Services

Visiting Angels

(610) 647-9840 www.surreyhomecare.org

Year Est.: 1981 Counties Served: Chester, Delaware, Montgomery RNs: Yes LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

(800) 365-4189 www.visitingangels.com Other Certifications and Services: Surrey, a nonprofit, provides inhome services including personal care, social companions, medical procedure transportation, geriatric care management, RN care management, and live-in caregivers. We also offer house cleaning and weekend respite care.

Year Est.: 2001 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Visiting Angels provides seniors and adults with the needed assistance to continue living at home. Flexible hours up to 24 hours per day. Companionship, personal hygiene, meal prep, and more. Our caregivers are thoroughly screened, bonded, and insured. Call today for a complimentary and informational meeting.

This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

Dear Pharmacist

5 Reasons You’ll Want a Weighted Blanket Suzy Cohen

Suffering from sleep problems? One strategy that I think is helpful is to use a weighted blanket. This is an easy, completely natural way to improve your mood, lower stress levels, and fall asleep faster. Weighted blankets are simply blankets that are specially designed to weigh much more than a typical quilt or comforter. These blankets range in weight from as few as 4 pounds to well over 30 pounds, and most are filled with plastic beads or natural materials, such as rice or barley. This extra heft means that the blanket puts pressure on your body when you sleep under it, and this mimics the feeling of close physical contact. In this way, weighted blankets create an atmosphere of physical intimacy and security that can improve your mood and sometimes soothe sensory disorders. I think these are a great idea if you have akathisia or restless leg syndrome. If you’re still skeptical of the general health benefits weighted blankets could offer, let me share five interesting facts.

3. The modern world makes many people feel isolated. Wrapping yourself in a weighted blanket when you feel alone can increase oxytocin levels and provide instant calm. 4. Could it help with attention problems? The gentle, tactile feeling of deep-touch pressure can work as a relaxer to significantly increase the concentration and performance of people with ADHD. 5. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be challenging to manage, but using a weighted blanket might help to control the symptoms. These heavier blankets boost your serotonin levels, which works to reduce symptoms of OCD, calm the mind, and, ideally, reduce compulsions.

1. Using a weighted blanket can lower your stress levels and improve your ability to relax. It’s all from an increase in serotonin, which converts to melatonin, your sleep hormone.

For these same reasons, the blankets can also improve other emotional issues or cognitive problems connected to low serotonin levels, including aggression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. At our deepest core, we all want to be cuddled, right? It’s kind of like that! There are some people who should not use a weighted blanket. Choosing the best weighted blanket for you is critical and is based on many factors. I’ve written a longer version of this article, and if you’d like it, just sign up for my free newsletter at suzycohen.com, and I’ll email you.

2. Reducing cortisol allows for a better night’s sleep. Studies support a reduction in this stress hormone when using a weighted blanket.

This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more information about the author, visit suzycohen.com.

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April 2019

Soldier Stories

Robert Naeye

Severely Wounded in Vietnam, He Spent a Year in an Upper Body Cast

Central Pennsylvania native Joe Novak Novak spent six days of intensive junglesurvived grievous wounds as a Marine combat training on Okinawa, where, he reconnaissance sergeant in Vietnam. Now says, “snakes fall on you.” he is a collector of knickknacks, from an The Marines sent Novak first to Da autographed photo of an archbishop to a Nang, then Chu Lai, and then back to Da motorcycle once owned by rock ’n’ roll legend Nang, where he sat around doing not much Jimi Hendrix. of anything for a month. Novak was born in Harrisburg in 1951 “The colonel didn’t know what the heck and grew up in nearby Highspire. But when to do with me,” Novak remembers. he was only 2 months old, his father was Finally, he was sent to the A Shau Valley, killed in action in the Korean War. near the borders of Laos and Cambodia. His mother remarried in 1955 to a World Americans in this intense combat zone had War II veteran, but Novak recalls that he and a life expectancy of 30 days. his stepfather never saw eye to eye and always Novak jury-rigged mines by filling had a distant relationship. And his stepfather root beer cans with napalm, jet fuel, never talked about his war experiences. glass fragments — anything that could Blessed with a high IQ, Novak found be fashioned into weapons. He attached school boring. electronic detonators and then set them up Joe Novak, right, and his wife, Terry, inside their “Football was the best thing going for me,” around the perimeter of American bases. log cabin home, which Novak built in the 1980s. he recalls. Enemy soldiers would ignite the makeshift He was such a good offensive lineman that bombs whenever they tried to infiltrate at he played varsity for his high school even night. when he was in eighth grade. “We never knew until Jan. 7, 1970, how In high school, Novak found himself deadly they were,” says Novak. getting into trouble. He realized the best After a battle on Landing Zone Ross that option for him was to go into the Marine night, the Americans counted 139 North Corps. But he did not tell his mother, fearing Vietnamese bodies (and three POWs) at the her disapproval. cost of 14 Marines and 58 wounded. th Just before his 17 birthday, he boarded a Novak also created small mines and put the sensors in elephant and tiger poop train for Washington, D.C. But his mother in and around the Ho Chi Minh Trail. expected him home for dinner. In reality, Enemy soldiers would trigger the sensors, he was heading to Parris Island in South sending radio signals back to gunners, who Carolina for Marine boot camp. A few examples of the explosive devices would know exactly where the targets were His mother tried to get him to come made by the North Vietnamese Army. located. They would fire on the trail all home, but Novak was determined to become night long. a Marine. His stepfather was proud that he “You would not believe the number of bodies we’d find there; they were was going into the corps, but Novak recalls, “He didn’t think I’d make it.” food for tigers,” he says. But Novak passed every test, often with flying colors. He recalls surviving In April 1970, Novak used C4 and Semtex explosives to blow up a North brutal training conditions, with swamps, snakes, and alligators all around. Vietnamese Army bunker inside caves. Right before detonation, a colonel flew He had run-ins with his drill instructor that were so bad that he refused to shake his hand when he graduated. But when he later ran into him in Vietnam, in on a chopper and ordered Novak to wait until he could pluck souvenirs from the cave. Novak told him, “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t still be here.” Novak refused the order, telling the colonel that “he came an hour too late.” After Parris Island, Novak spent 12 weeks in demolition school, where he When the charge was set off, the entire mountain rose up, and the colonel finished first in his class. He next finished a course in underwater demolition and his helicopter were literally pushed back by the concussion. near Tallahassee, Florida, again first in his class. “I thought, ‘If only the officers listened to the sergeants more, I might Novak is proud that he was promoted from private to corporal to sergeant in survive this war,’” Novak recalls. less than a year, which was rare. After catching malaria in the jungle, Novak was placed in a basket and was But Novak did not go to Vietnam right away. He received further being pulled into a medevac chopper. But before he got into the helicopter, the demolition training in Virginia and North Carolina. Novak even learned how chopper got hit by enemy ground fire. to assemble and disassemble atomic bombs. Novak was sprayed with shrapnel, getting hit in the back, neck, and legs. Because Novak’s father had been killed in action in Korea, he didn’t have The helicopter flew away while Novak was still in the basket, swinging back to go into combat. But Novak begged to go to ’Nam, asking, “Why waste my and forth. capabilities?”

April 2019

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He spent 28 days recovering aboard the But his first two marriages ended in USS Sanctuary. Because his mission had been divorces. He takes full responsibility for these top secret, he couldn’t tell anyone where he failures. had been wounded. Speaking of his first wife, he says, “I had But three months later, Novak suffered severe alcohol problems and severe PTSD. severe wounds that ended his tour in She couldn’t take it anymore, and I don’t Vietnam. This time, a rocket landed just 20 blame her. I was really bad.” yards away. He suffered a broken collarbone, He spent seven months in detox in 1975 two broken bones in his neck, and the right and says he hasn’t touched booze since. He side of his body was ripped open. married his wife Terry, a cousin of President He spent 12 days undergoing surgery Richard Nixon, in 2013, after six years of aboard the Sanctuary before he was flown to dating. The couple lives in log house in the Novak’s home is a veritable museum of artifacts relating to Da Nang and back to the U.S. mountains, which Novak built himself in the his hobbies and interests, including this pedal car signed Tragically, his mother received a letter 1980s. by late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Sr. from the Red Cross telling her that her The house is a veritable museum of pieces son had been killed in action. But a friend he bought or collected over many years. The in a neighboring town informed her that photos, models, and knickknacks come from Novak was alive and staying in Walter Reed sports, music, religion, hot rods, and other Hospital in Washington, D.C. He spent a areas relating to his many personal interests. full year in an upper body cast, and one of He owns a 1949 Ford Convertible and a 1985 his legs was wrapped. Corvette. Novak was not released until 1973, when “It’s quite a museum between my stuff and he was still in a body cast, and returned to her stuff,” he says, speaking of Terry. his hometown. When he walked the streets, Novak now devotes much of his time to people would run away. assisting local veterans by helping them get “They thought they were seeing a ghost — medical care, benefits, and pensions. He also they thought I was dead!” says Novak. helped found Feed My Sheep Church and Novak on Landing Zone Ross in 1969. Like many Vietnam veterans, Novak had is an active member of Vietnam Veterans his ups and downs after returning stateside. Chapter 542 and Marine Riders. He had successful careers as an auto mechanic and then as a property manager Robert Naeye is a freelance journalist living in Derry Township. He is the former for a realtor, and he developed strong interests in fishing and auto racing. editor-in-chief of Sky & Telescope magazine.

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April 2019

Art and Antiques

Collecting American Girl Dolls Dr. Lori Verderame

If you don’t think the millennial generation is saving II, circa 1941-45. Like all American Girl Dolls, Molly objects, collecting vintage pieces, or displaying antiques, has books and accessories based on her story, including maybe you should think again. eyeglasses, skirt, blouse, sweater, socks, and shoes. I have been evaluating the collections of 20- and 30Molly, like other American Girl Dolls, has additional year-old collectors for a long time. They are seasoned accessories, called “Meet accessories,” including a purse, collectors who know a lot about the market for a special, a wartime steel penny from 1943, and a picture of her historic collectible called American Girl Dolls. father inside of a locket. A fine-condition example of the American Girl Dolls were produced by the Pleasant Molly McIntire doll is valued in a range between $1,000 Company — prior to the company’s acquisition by and $10,000. Mattel, Inc. — and came onto the scene in 1986. The Molly is the topic of a line of American Girl Doll first three dolls captured the background of historical books, and the character was featured in the American figures in the forms of 9-year-old girls living at specific Girl television movie entitled Molly: An American Girl on times in American history. the Home Front, which debuted in 2006. The first dolls produced from 1986 to 1991 were Another American Girl Doll of the original three dolls, character dolls Molly McIntire, Kirsten Larson, and Kirsten Larson, is a Swedish immigrant living in the Samantha Parkington. These three original American 1850s as member of a pioneer family in the Minnesota Girl Dolls are valuable collectibles and attract both adult territory. Kirsten has traditional period boots and braided and youth audiences today. hair looped and tied with ribbons. The dolls are robustly traded online, at American Girl Based on the related book, Meet Kirsten Larson, the Doll events, and on social media. The dolls’ collectors character comes with a wooden spoon and a heart-shaped are very active on Instagram, showing off their varied amber necklace typical of the girl’s native Scandinavia customization of the figural dolls, fashion outfits, and homeland. In very good condition, Kirsten dolls are books. actively traded online. The values for American Girl Dolls vary based on The Samantha Parkington doll was in production from several factors, including condition of the doll body, hair, 1986-1991. Samantha was an orphan who lived in the outfits, and accessories, as well as the type of doll and late 19th/early 20th century. Her accessories, which impact American Girl Doll Samantha the popularity of the doll’s character and story. the doll’s value, include a Victorian dress, stockings and Parkington, circa 1986-91. Some of the doll characters were featured in television shoes, and a large hair bow. and full-length feature movies, making those particular When collecting American Girl Dolls, look for American Girl Doll characters better known and thus, more valuable than historical figure dolls in original condition with styled hair, original outfits, other dolls. and character accessories, when available. If you think your favorite millennial Also, some dolls have since been discontinued, making those particular dolls isn’t into collecting, then ask them if they have an American Girl Doll from somewhat rare and typically pricier and more desirable with collectors. childhood. Odds are, they do. To recognize the American Girl Dolls, collectors have to learn the Dr. Lori Verderame is an author and award-winning TV personality who appears on background of each doll. Arguably the most valuable of the dolls include the History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island. With a Ph.D. from Penn State University originals: Molly, Kirsten, and Samantha. and experience appraising 20,000 antiques every year, Dr. Lori presents antique The Molly McIntire doll represents a 9-year-old girl living during World War appraisal events nationwide. Visit DrLoriV.com or call (888) 431-1010.

Where friends become family. A MISSION TO SERVE This vibrant senior community provides for the needs of older men and women with independent living, personal care, and skilled nursing. Residents enjoy a homey atmosphere with a Quaker mission. AN ADAPTABLE APPROACH & A HEART FOR COMMUNITY Rather than having residents adapt to Friends Home, we work to adapt our environment to their individual interests and needs. In addition, residents actively participate in various intergenerational programs throughout the community and enjoy giving back.

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April 2019

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Harness Your Housing Wealth No time like the present to take a fresh look at finances for 2019 and beyond. Many seniors are finding that costs in retirement are greater than they anticipated. The mortgage with an affordable payment when you were working and in your 60s is not as affordable now, 15–20 years later. What would life be like without a mortgage payment? Would eliminating your payment soften the stress and financial demands of the golden years? According to Don Graves, president of the Institute for Housing Wealth Studies, there are more than $6 trillion in senior home equity. Harnessing your housing wealth and putting it to work for you is a way to improve your lifestyle, provide for longevity, and have more reverse mortgage options. A reverse mortgage is a financial tool that can extinguish your mortgage, if you have one, or provide access to a portion of your housing wealth if you don’t have a mortgage. The loan proceeds are not taxable and may

be used for any purpose. For homeowners who are 62 and over, have substantial equity, and would like to access a Rob Miller, President portion of that housing wealth without a mortgage payment, a reverse mortgage may be the right choice. Of course, property taxes and homeowners insurance must continue to be paid, but in certain cases, the lender will pay them for you. Explore your options! Give me a call so we can discuss the details of your particular situation. Call Rob Miller, NMLS No. 142151, President of Glendale Mortgage, NMLS No. 127720, and Reverse Mortgage Specialist, to learn more. (610) 853-6500 or (888) 456-0988 RMiller@GlendaleMortgage.com, www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org

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Pet of the Month

Can you help in a caregiver’s journey?

Izzy

Many readers of 50plus LIFE are caregivers and are looking for products, services, and support.

Izzy is 3 years old and truly man’s best friend. She has a gentle play style and is talkative with her canine friends. She has mixed feelings about cats, but she gets along well with other dogs and is great with kids. Izzy would be a great addition to any family. Stop by and fall in love with this beautiful girl. For more information, contact Brandywine Valley SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, at (484) 302-0865 or bvspca.org.

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April 2019

Booming Voice

Time of My Life Bill Levine

May 30, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel

1741 Papermill Road, Wyomissing

This event is FREE to attend. Veterans (of all ages) and the military community and their families are invited to join us!

The Expo brings federal, state, and local agencies together with area businesses to provide information and resources to veterans and their families.

The Job Fair brings veterans and spouses who need jobs together with employers who can benefit from this rich source of talent to aid their organizations.

At the Expo

Veterans Benefits & Services Medical/Nonmedical Resources Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services

At the Job Fair

Employers Job Counseling Workshops Employment Seminars Resume Writing Assistance Hosted by:

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

www.veteransexpo.com

Brought to you by: &

April 2019

(717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com

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A few months ago, my childhood friend asked me if I would help out with our high school’s 50th reunion. I immediately said yes. Then I immediately had second thoughts. Certainly, I had no obvious incentives to attend a prospective Newton South High 50th reunion. For one thing, all my close friends from high school continued to live in the area, so there was no need to meet, say, a high school buddy who had been incognito since heading off to breed yaks in Tibet. And besides, I was never fixated on rekindling my relationship with my imaginary high school sweetheart. I can offer only normal bragging rights at the reunion, telling classmates that I have had a decent career and been blessed with a family of a wife and two boys. I wouldn’t be attending to bask in the limelight of a Nobel Prize or to flaunt my killing in cryptocurrency. I wouldn’t be exacting the revenge of the A/V club nerd by touting my invention of the hologram. Why, then, was I even thinking of rehashing these years via attending the reunion, and worse, extending the rehash via committee work? I’m going to my 50th for one reason: to tap into the collective consciousness of our Newton childhoods that will permeate the function hall. It will be the cumulative creation of 100 or so reunion-attendee classmates who all existed with me in time at the same age and at the same longitude and latitude, with the added bonus of 50 years’ perspective on our most evocative years. Truly, I expect a memorable event that will be nostalgia on steroids with a dose of wistfulness. For a couple of hours, my mirror image will feature my acne and freckles instead of this other person’s wrinkles and lines. Our class’s collective consciousness will, I’m sure, unearth a buriedmemory time capsule circa 1969 of long-forgotten objects.

We will pull out our mental map of a less busy Route 9, where instead of today’s mega-mall, featuring American Girl Doll tea parties and resident Apple Inc. genius techies, we will see Shopper’s World in Framingham. This was the premier local shopping center, holding the only west suburban Jordan Marsh and the largest suburban movie showcase: a real, live twin-cinema complex. Our class’s aggregate consciousness will dig up memories of all the old shop signs of Newton Center in the 1950s and ’60s. This means that we will see GARB DRUG where the CVS sign is today. We will remember, instead of CVS’s Goldfish crackers and caramel-based Turtles candy, GARB’s offerings of real goldfish and pre-salmonella-days pet turtles. The most cogent collective consciousness for me will be the common cultural recollections of the perhaps one-third of my class that called home the Jewish enclave of Oak Hill, a Newton village. These memories are for me are both nostalgic and, 50 years later, still possessing identity clout. For me and no doubt many of my fellow members of NSHS’s class of 1969, Oak Hill was, in our baby boomer childhoods, under a postwar Jewish cultural current that blew strongly in our neighborhood. Indeed, the one collective memory that will be as palpable in the room as the NSHS banner is the Oak Hill postwar mantra that we Jews were lukewarmly thrown into the melting pot. We remember our parents telling us to just be cautious around the gentiles. We heard the Yiddish names for nonJewish spouses recited to us, not flatly, but with a sneer. The Holocaust was not history back then; it was more current events in its emotional impact on the please see REUNION page 17

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It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘Aquarius/ Let the Sunshine In’

Please join us for these FREE events!

Randal C. Hill

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20th Annual

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY

Shady Maple Conference Center Smorgasbord Building 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl

20th Annual

May 28, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey

DAUPHIN COUNTY

16th Annual

June 5, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Church Farm School 1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton

CHESTER COUNTY

23rd Annual

Sept. 18, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Spooky Nook Sports 2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim

LANCASTER COUNTY

17th Annual

Sept. 25, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

York Expo Center Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Ave., York

YORK COUNTY

Oct. 16, 2019

20th Annual

When the moon is overexposure of the in the seventh house, song. The original and Jupiter aligns Broadway cast with Mars album had been out Then peace will for a while and had guide the planets, and soared to the top love will steer the stars of the Billboard LP ··· charts, where it had The Fifth stayed for 13 weeks. Dimension would Howe harbored never have made another issue, as their best-known well. record if not for a “I said [that] it’s wallet inadvertently half a song,” he “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” left behind in a recalled. “It’s an The Fifth Dimension taxicab. introduction. It The quintet started as a mid-1960s needs something on the back end.” Los Angeles pop/soul outfit called the He jetted to New York to evaluate Versatiles. When they signed with the 33-tune musical for himself and Johnny Rivers’s nascent Soul City label, decided that the last three bars of the Rivers demanded that they update their show’s closing (and decidedly antiwar) name; thus was born the cooler-thantune “The Flesh Failures” would cool title of the Fifth Dimension. make a perfect ending, especially after Fast-forward to the fall of 1968. The witnessing the audience joyfully singing outfit, by then hit-making headliners, along with the line “Let the sunshine was performing at New York’s in” over and over. Americana Hotel. Group member The single’s instrumental tracks were Billy Daniels Jr. took a cab to do some recorded in Los Angeles when the Fifth shopping one afternoon before the Dimension were opening shows for evening’s show and forgot his wallet on Frank Sinatra at Caesar’s Palace in Las the taxi’s back seat. Vegas. The next person to enter the cab At a primitive Sin City recording was one of the producers of the studio where trains rumbling by would groundbreaking Broadway rock opera stop recording sessions mid-song, Howe Hair, which had been playing to packed cut the group’s soon-to-be-signature houses since April. tune using two microphones for the five Before long, Daniels’s phone rang singers. with the good news that his wallet had “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” ran been found and that the caller wanted long, so Howe edited it to less than five to return it. The relieved Daniels minutes — a better fit for radio playlists invited the producer and his wife to of the time. As the Fifth Dimension’s see the Fifth Dimension in concert; eighth Top 40 single, it spent six weeks the producer, in turn, invited Daniels’s at No. 1 on the charts and sold 3 group to see Hair. million copies. At the show, the Fifth Dimension In 1968, the Fifth Dimension had members were so taken with the music earned a Grammy for Record of the that they declared “Aquarius,” the Year for their hit “Up, Up and Away”; musical’s uplifting opening number, “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” brought to be a work that they absolutely must them that same coveted honor two record. years later. But their L.A.-based producer, Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian “Bones” Howe, felt otherwise, as who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be he was concerned about a possible reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

April 30, 2019

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street Carlisle

Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars Demonstrations • Entertainment • Door Prizes

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

(717) 285-1350 (717) 770-0140 (610) 675-6240

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April 2019

Calendar of Events

Chester County

Support Groups Free and open to the public

Senior Center Activities

Mondays (except holidays), 10-11:30 a.m. Sunshine Memory Café United Methodist Church of West Chester 129 S. High St., West Chester (610) 349-3401 adean0413@gmail.com

April 9 and 23, 6:30-8 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Jennersville Hospital Conference Room B 1015 W. Baltimore Pike, West Grove (610) 998-1700, ext. 226

April 2, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Grief Support Group Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville (610) 327-7216

April 10, 1:30 p.m. Family Caregiver Support Group Sarah Care 425 Technology Drive, Suite 200, Malvern (610) 251-0801

Coatesville Area Senior Center (610) 383-6900 250 Harmony St., Coatesville coatesvilleseniorcenter.org M ondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 10:30-11:15 a.m. – Going Fit Exercise Program April 4 and 18, 11 a.m. to noon – Veterans Coffee Club April 10 and 24, 1-2 p.m. – Bingo

April 2 and 16, 6:30-8 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Brandywine Hospital Conference Room 2N 201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville (610) 998-1700, ext. 226

April 10, 7-8:30 p.m. Hearing Loss Support Group Christ Community Church, Second Floor 1190 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester (484) 402-4907 hlaaachesco@gmail.com hearinglosschesco.com

April 2, 16, 30, 5-6:30 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.

April 16, 6 p.m. Family Caregiver Support Group Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester (610) 399-4464

April 3, 6 p.m. Memory Loss and Dementia Support Group Sunrise Assisted Living of Paoli 324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern (610) 251-9994

April 17, 7-9 p.m. Lyme Support Meeting Kennett Friends Meeting House 250 N. Union St., Kennett Square (610) 388-7333 lymepa@lymepa.org

April 8 and 22, 10:30 a.m. to noon Caregiver Coffee Break/Support Group Active Day of Exton 201 Sharp Lane, Exton (610) 363-8044

April 24, 6 p.m. Living with Cancer Support Group Paoli Hospital Cancer Center 255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli (484) 565-1253

Library Programs

Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, (610) 296-7996 Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times

April 2019

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Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819 427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square kennettseniorcenter.org Oxford Senior Center – (610) 932-5244 12 E. Locust St., Oxford, oxfordseniors.org Wednesdays, 8:30-11:30 a.m. – Paint Class Phoenixville Area Senior Center – (610) 935-1515 153 Church St., Phoenixville phoenixvilleseniorcenter.org West Chester Area Senior Center – (610) 431-4242 530 E. Union St., West Chester wcseniors.org Thursdays, 1 p.m. – WCASC Chorus Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com.

Free and open to the public

If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

West Chester Public Library, 415 N. Church St., West Chester, (610) 696-1721 April 3, 7-8 p.m. – Spring into the Season: Plant-Based Cooking April 24, 1-4 p.m. – Quilting @ the Library: Quilts for Kids April 27, 2-4 p.m. – L ongwood Gardens’ Community Read Program: The Role of Seeds in Society and Culture

Great Valley Senior Center – (610) 889-2121 47 Church Road, Malvern Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – Exercise Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – Scrabble Thursdays, 10 a.m. – Cards

Community Programs

Avon Grove Library, 117 Rose Hill Ave., West Grove, (610) 869-2004 April 1 and 15, 3-4:30 p.m. – Sit and Knit April 4, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Finding Fulfilling Employment after 50 April 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Plant-Based Cooking Demo Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, (610) 269-2741 April 9, 6:30 p.m. – Film Forum April 18, 6:30 p.m. – Downingtown Library Writers Group April 25, 6:30 p.m. – Reading the Classics

Downingtown Senior Center – (610) 269-3939 983 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown downingtownseniors.org Weekdays, 2 p.m. – Aquatics Mondays, 10 a.m. to noon – A.M. Art Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – Poker

April 2, 11:30 a.m. West Chester University Retirees Luncheon Call for location (610) 269-1503 April 4, 7:30 p.m. Compassionate Friends Valley Forge Chapter Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 132 E. Valley Forge Road King of Prussia (484) 919-0820 tcfvalleyforge.org

April 6 and 20, 5-10 p.m. Bingo Night Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St. Downingtown (610) 429-8174 April 16, noon AARP Valley Forge Chapter Meeting St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church 203 N. Valley Forge Road, Devon (610) 647-1823

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Puzzle Page

CROSSWORD

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18 SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Sweets

Across 1. Driver’s need 4. “___ boom bah!” 7. Assumed name 12. Pessimist’s action 13. Inactive 15. Tubular pasta 16. Check for errors 18. Adjust, as laces 19. Star in Perseus 20. Copycat 22. Hunter’s quarry 23. Door opener 25. Sci-ﬁ weaponry 28. ___ mode

31. Dig in 33. Young seal 34. Elm Street dream 37. Used to be 39. Medea rode on it 40. Luau souvenir 41. Tableland 43. Synagogue chests 45. Teeny-weeny 48. Continental money 50. Tool with teeth 51. Behold 52. Heavy metal 53. Golfer’s goal

55. Photo ___ (media events) 56. Small amounts 59. Handrail post 63. Pantheon member 66. Juicy fruit 68. Pilotless plane 69. Gin ﬂavor 70. Condo division 71. Father Christmas 72. Female with a wool coat 73. Nancy Drew’s beau

21. Arena shout 24. Air potato 26. Patch up 27. Fragrant resin 28. Santa ___, Calif. 29. Old Italian money 30. Hostility 32. Amulets 35. Nonsense 36. On Social Security 38. To be, to Brutus 42. Reply to a captain 44. ___ Lanka 46. Canine cry 47. Master, in Swahili

49. Ump’s call 52. The Barber of Seville, e.g. 54. TV show type 55. Bookie’s quote 57. Remove from a manuscript 58. Harbor vessel 60. Soave, e.g. 61. Author Bagnold 62. Permit 64. Blast maker 65. Roll-call vote 67. Kind of time

Down 1. Demoiselle 2. In awe 3. Moved back and forth 4. Paul McCartney, for one 5. Creative spark 6. Certain hockey shot 7. Abbr. in car ads 8. Loser at Antietam 9. Translates 10. Dye-yielding shrubs 11. Pursue 12. Health resort 14. Alpine plant 17. Armada

Your ad could be here on this popular page! Please call (610) 675-6240 for more information.

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50plus LIFE u

April 2019

Financial Focus

5 Mistakes to Avoid in Retirement Steven Brettler

After a lifetime of planning and saving, you’re finally on the verge of retirement. However, retirement planning doesn’t stop just because you’re beginning to draw income from your investments. As you embark on this exciting new chapter of your life, keep your retirement goals on track by avoiding these common pitfalls: 1. Claiming Social Security Too Early It may be tempting to apply for Social Security benefits when you’re first eligible at age 62. But doing so may be costly. Choosing to receive your benefits before your full retirement age (which varies depending on the year you were born but is around 66 for most people nearing retirement) could reduce your monthly benefit by 25 percent or more. And if you continue working, for every $2 you earn above a specific threshold — $17,040 in 2018, $17,640 in 2019 — your benefit is withheld by $1 until you reach full retirement age.1 Conversely, for every year you wait to claim benefits beyond full retirement age, the benefit you receive increases by 8 percent annually until age 70.2 So, unless you really need the money, you may want to consider waiting to apply. 2. Taking on Too Much Risk When time is on your side, you may be able to afford to take on riskier investments for greater growth. As you begin retirement, however, the assets you’ve accumulated to meet your day-to-day expenses become harder to recoup if you suffer an investment loss. So, it’s important to make sure you’re not taking on too much risk. But as retirement can last a very long time, you may want to consider maintaining some exposure to stocks, especially in the early years of your retirement.

it’s a good idea to seek RMD guidance from your accountant or tax adviser. 5. Ignoring Healthcare Expenses Overlooking healthcare costs is another area where retirees can face unwelcome surprises. A 2017 survey by the Nationwide Retirement Institute found that health issues often happened sooner than retirees expected and interfered with their ability to afford to do the things they want to do.4 A couple with high prescription-drug expenses throughout retirement could need roughly $350,000 in savings to have a 90 percent chance of having enough money saved to cover their healthcare costs, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.5 Long-term care insurance can help protect and preserve assets meant for your loved ones, while relieving them of fulltime caregiving responsibilities by providing more options for your care. With many options available and decisions to make as you approach this important milestone, a financial adviser who is familiar with your individual circumstances can help you create a strategy tailored to your goals and the retirement you envision. Steven Brettler is a financial adviser and branch manager with Morgan Stanley in Greenville, Del. He may be reached at (302) 573-4027 or advisor.morganstanley.com/ steven.brettler. Footnotes 1 Social Security Administration Fact Sheet, “2019 Social Security Changes.” Retrieved from: https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/ factsheets/colafacts2019.pdf 2 Social Security Administration Benefits Planner: Retirement, Increase for Delayed Retirement section. Retrieved from: https:// www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/delayret.html 3 Note: If you are still working for a company where you hold a workplace retirement plan and you don’t own more than 5% of the company, you may be able to delay your required distribution date to April 1 of the year following the year you retire. Nationwide Retirement Institute, “The Nationwide Retirement Institute Consumer Social Security PR Study 2017,” August 2017. Retrieved from: https://nationwidefinancial.com/media/pdf/NFM-16829AO.pdf?_ga=2.11555895.207418086.152400790 5-449381559.1524007905

3. Spending Too Much The assets you have accumulated over a lifetime may seem like an enormous financial resource you can tap into whenever you like. However, those investments may need to last 30 years or more. Create a list of all your likely expenses, compare it against your income sources, and develop a spending strategy to help you maintain your retirement lifestyle for as long as possible. 4. Miscalculating Required Minimum Distributions Generally, once you reach age 70.5, you must take annual distributions — called required minimum distributions (RMDs) — from your 401(k), IRA, or other qualified plan, whether you need the money or not. (Roth IRAs and some employer-sponsored qualified retirement plan investors are exempt from this requirement.3) Properly planning your minimum distributions is essential. They are usually taxable at your individual tax rate, and failure to take them could subject you to a penalty — 50 percent of the RMD or whatever portion of it you neglected to take. Given the complexity of the requirement and the potential for penalties,

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Employee Benefits Research Institute, “Savings Medicare Beneficiaries Need for Health Expenses: Some Couples Could Need as Much as $350,000” January 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.ebri.org/publications/notes/index.cfm?fa=notesDisp&content_ id=5527

Disclosures Article by Morgan Stanley and provided courtesy of Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor. Steven Brettler is a Financial Advisor in Greenville, DE at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley. He can be reached by email at Steven.Brettler@morganstanley.com or by telephone at (302) 573-4027. His website is https://advisor. morganstanley.com/steven.brettler This article has been prepared for informational purposes only. The information and data in the article has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of the information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. It does not provide individually tailored investment advice and has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. The strategies and/or investments discussed in this article may not be suitable for all investors. Morgan Stanley recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are urged to consult their personal tax or legal advisors to understand the tax and legal consequences of any actions, including any implementation of any strategies or investments described herein. Steven Brettler may only transact business, follow-up with individualized responses, or render personalized investment advice for compensation, in states where he is registered or excluded or exempted from registration, https://advisor.morganstanley.com/steven. brettler © 2018 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 2300657 11/2018

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REUNION from page 12 neighborhood. We knew parents who were survivors. Finally, even if we disregarded some of our parents’ attitudes, the fact that we were living in a Jewish “golden ghetto” gave some credence to the existence of a still anti-Semitic world out there. The powerful memories of growing up not-quite-assimilated 50 or 60 years ago lurk in all of us Oak Hillers. Thus I wouldn’t be unhappy if my younger son meets a Jewish girl on his current birthright trip to Israel, as I remember Oak Hill’s block after block of Jewish couples in the ’60s.

Maybe there will be a 60th reunion, and maybe I will be around to attend. But maybe not. I am then taking in our 50th as my last shot to experience the wistful and nostalgic collective consciousness of my graduating class. I won’t need to snag a door prize. I will win by just showing up and grooving out like it’s 1969. Bill Levine is a retired IT professional and active freelance writer. Bill aspires to be a humorist because it is easier to be pithy than funny. He may be reached at wlevine0607@comcast.net.

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April 2019

The High Impact of Flat Feet By Dr. Charlton Woodly

It’s important to get your feet examined by a podiatrist to determine if you have flat feet and what steps to take moving forward. For those who don’t have flat feet, a podiatrist can determine what preventative measures to take to avoid developing them, such as wearing protective footwear or losing weight.

As we age, we worry about the changes that are overtly affecting our bodies — whether that’s noticing wrinkles or paying attention to something that’s causing pain. We overlook the fact that aging affects all parts of our bodies, even those that often go unseen, like our feet. But our feet keep us grounded — they are the foundation of the rest of our body and deserve our care and attention. One of the most common issues people face as they age is flat feet.

Treatment Options There is a range of different methods to treat the symptoms of fallen arches and flat feet. Most podiatrists will recommend being mindful of the shoes you wear. This means wearing extra-wide fitted shoes or orthotics that are custom designed to support your arch, which can relieve the arch and What are Flat Feet? reduce pain. Custom inserts can also help by taking “Flat feet” simply means there is a low arch or lack pressure off the tendon. of an arch under the foot. All babies are born flat Medication for pain and inflammation helps in some footed; as they grow, arches begin to develop. cases. While these methods treat the symptoms, they For some, the arch never develops. For others, are not long lasting. the arch will develop but can fall after an injury Long-lasting treatment options include being April is National or experiencing the stress of age. This is because conscious of your body and movement. This could the tendons in your foot, or both feet, can become Foot Health Awareness Month mean losing weight to reduce pressure on your feet or damaged. not walking or standing for prolonged periods. The way I look at a flat foot is based on pronation, People may also resort to therapeutic massages, such as rolling a ball under or the way your foot goes inward. The main tendon, which holds the arch of your foot. A massage is a powerful treatment tool for soft tissue. It allows the your foot up, eventually becomes damaged if it is stretched too much. This muscle to release built-up tension, therefore reducing pain. results in flat feet. In more severe cases, individuals can turn to surgery. Surgery is minimally invasive and restores the tendons and ligaments that support the arch. This Symptoms While this sounds like a minor inconvenience, flat feet can lead to strain on means it does not involve a long incision and avoids significant damage to the muscles and soft tissue surrounding the foot. the entire body. In most cases, this approach results in less pain after foot surgery and a faster When you have flat feet, the pain you feel does not usually come from the feet but rather the knee. The foot is in an abnormal position, which makes your recovery; patients can go in and leave the same day. knee hurt. Though our feet are what keep us grounded, the arches of our feet shouldn’t A lack of an arch can stress your ankles, calves, knees, hips, lower back, and be touching the ground. I recommend visiting a podiatrist to learn more about lower legs. Neck and back pain are extremely common from flat feet. flat-feet prevention to make sure it’s not one of the issues you have to worry about as you age. Warning Signs and Preventative Care While flat feet can go unnoticed, there are some warning signs that Dr. Charlton Woodly is a board-certified podiatrist with more than 14 years’ treatment is needed. experience providing conservative and surgical treatments at Woodly Foot & Ankle in For example, some people may feel pain in the arch or ankle, and this pain can get worse after being on your feet all day or working out. Some may notice Texas. A specialist in minimally invasive procedures and a hyprocure master surgeon, Woodly is an expert in treating the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions and swelling along the inside of the ankle as well.

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Historic Sugartown Seeks Volunteers Love history? Long to share your passion for the past with others? Historic Sugartown invites the public to a volunteer interest meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 3, at Historic Sugartown’s Carriage Museum at 273 Boot Road, Malvern. Historic Sugartown interprets early American life at a rural 19th-century crossroads village. The organization seeks volunteers to help with special events throughout the year, school tours, general office work, and caring for the historic buildings and collections. The volunteer interest meeting is a chance to meet the staff of Historic Sugartown and learn about current volunteer opportunities. Light refreshments will be served. Visit historicsugartown.org or call (610) 640-2667 to sign up to attend.

“There’s no place like home.” We agree. –L. Frank Baum

MARRIAGES from page 5 9. There are many other factors to look at besides the number of former marriages. How about adult children? Do any of them live at home? Might they interfere with a new relationship? And, what about a potential mate’s attitude, or outlook on life? Is the person happy, upbeat, cheerful, in good health, and physically fit? How does he treat you? These days, seniors may have had two or three marriages. Does that make the people tainted? Are they bad people? No. They’ve just lived life. I’ve had three marriages, and Greta, my partner of 21 years, also had three. Having the same number of marriages was one of the things we had in common when we were sharing information on our first date, so it was a positive thing that we both had “multiple marriages.” And despite three marriages each, we’ve enjoyed the best relationship we could ever have hoped for. We live together but aren’t married. I’ve never had children. And yet, in effect, I have four kids, eight grandkids, and three great-grandkids, thanks to Greta. I love her family dearly, and I’m pretty sure they appreciate me, so why risk changing that dynamic by getting married? For seniors, should the number of marriages matter? I don’t think so … but when the number reaches four, it’s time to scratch your head. Five or more, well, it depends on the circumstances, so obviously proceed with caution. One of my readers, Stella, said, “Take marriage out as a goal, and you open up endless possibilities.” Another reader, Mary Lou, age 70, married once, said, “Multiple marriages don’t matter at this stage of my life. If I met a man with whom I clicked, no matter the number of marriages or whether he had children, I would be glad for him in my life.” And reader Jim stated wisely, “Just because a person is available and willing, doesn’t make him or her a good candidate for marriage.” For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www.findingloveafter50.com.

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That’s why Harrison Senior Living strives to provide warmth, comfort, and exceptional care from people you can trust, making our communities the next best thing.

www.Harrisonseniorliving.com Harrison House—Chester County 300 Strode Avenue East Fallowfield, PA 19320 610.384.6310 Harrison House—Christiana 41 Newport Avenue Christiana, PA 17509 610.593.6901

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