Chester County Edition
August 2014
Vol. 11 No. 8
For the Love of Felines Councilwoman Heads Successful Feral-Cat Program By Rebecca Hanlon Maria Romano Marcinko is severely allergic to cats. The itchy skin and shortened breaths would send most people running from these critters. But Marcinko can’t stay away. The 58-year-old energetic woman founded a community stray cat program in 2010 shortly after being appointed to a seat on the borough council. The first item on the agenda that was handed to her in September 2009 was for a municipal contract with the local Humane Society. Thousands of taxpayer dollars were being spent each year for the care of stray animals. More than 85 percent of those were feral cats. “I’ve always been an animal lover,” Marcinko said. “They hoped that because I had experience in dog rescue services that maybe I could help with the overwhelming cat population.” The challenge was “staying outside of the box,” Marcinko said. She tried to understand the concerns of residents who became attached to the cats, while at the same time relating to the frustrations of neighbors who wanted strays to stay off their lawns. Feisty feral cats can damage plants, outdoor furniture, and flowerbeds, she said. But there was a solution. please see FELINES page 15 Maria Romano Marcinko stands with a couple of feral cats that will be spayed/neutered and then released where they were found.
Inside:
Ergonomic Tools that Can Ease Gardening Pains page 4
The Beach at the End of the Trail page 8
Such is Life
Finding a Family Again Saralee Perel
T
he letter began: “Dear Saralee, I’ll get right to it. We are cousins.” When I first read Robin’s words, I didn’t believe her. How could I have a first cousin I knew nothing about? She found me by Googling my name. “I would love to speak with you and share family memories,” she wrote. So I called her at her home in Pennsylvania. Sure enough, her mother was my Aunt Rebecca. I never even knew my aunt had a child. When Robin and I spoke, it was like talking to a sister. We used the same expressions, laughed and cried alike, related like we’d never been apart, and even described ourselves in the same goofy way: as lunatics. Her children’s careers are in writing and psychology, just like my
professions. We both Most of her family sign our emails: “Love, wouldn’t speak to her. me.” And we each She didn’t understand include our dogs in the that by constantly family photos we send. hanging up on relatives Together, we figured after shouting at them, out why we never knew they’d stop calling. each other existed. She didn’t understand I haven’t thought that being mean didn’t about my mother’s solve problems; it just melancholia in a while. alienated people. Oh, how I blame myself And I didn’t for waiting until it was understand that when Saralee and her mother too late to make things Mom slammed her door in 1977. better. each time I’d leave, it was Mom’s history was because she wanted me one of neglect and nearby, in her home and abuse. She wanted so desperately to be in her heart. loved, but her fury at her parents was My poor mother crippled her own unrelenting. So she took it out on the life when all she truly wanted was the most important people in her world— closeness she never had. How immature the ones she held closest to her heart. and selfish of me, as an adult, not to see the love she so deeply longed for. When I told Robin that Mom ended her own life, she was not surprised. And so, Aunt Rebecca and her husband, my uncle Jack, were included in the sad picture of estranged relatives. Therefore, I had no idea Robin existed—until now. Sadly, everyone, other than my brother, stopped talking with me when they gave up on my mom. Although I’ve tried to reconnect, no one has responded. But now, I’ve been accepted into a new family, with all the richness that goes along with feeling welcomed
by loved ones with a shared past. In her first email, Robin wrote, “I was awake all last night thinking of us. I find it unbelievable but wonderful and astounding! If you tried to write it, they would call it fiction.” I said, “I’m so happy you found me.” “So am I.” My mother would have treasured being a part of this extraordinary reunion. After all, the love I found is all she ever wanted. The truth is—my mother loved me as intensely as I loved her. If only I had said, “I love you, Mom. I didn’t mean to hurt you so much, especially when I left for college. You never meant to hurt me. You just wanted me to always be with you because you loved me in the purest sense. I should have known this.” I wish I had told her that even though we didn’t shop, talk on the phone, or share secrets and laughter the way many mothers and daughters do, we still loved each other profoundly—as strongly as rivers can flow and birds can soar. Maybe, oh maybe, somewhere in her tender, aching heart, she knew. Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist. Her new book is Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: Stories From a Life Out of Balance. To find out more, visit www.saraleeperel.com or email sperel@saraleeperel.com.
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Nostalgia Road
When I Was Your Age Dick Dedrick ll I have to do to get my grandkids’ eyes rolling is talk about the good old days. No, I don’t tell ’em how far I walked to school (school was only a block away). But I might say I remember when, if you wanted to change channels on the TV, you had to get up, walk over, and turn a knob. Then I’ll tell them how you had to adjust the rabbit ears to get a better picture. They’re not curious enough to
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Resource Directory Disasters American Red Cross Greater Brandywine (610) 692-1200
text was not a verb and texting was not a word. Yes, I have a cell phone. I’m not a Luddite. “Does it have a crank on it?” you’re probably asking. No, it doesn’t. It’s a TracFone. No, it’s not smart, but it only costs me $7 a month. When you’re on a fixed income (a euphemism for being broke), things like that matter.
ask me what rabbit ears were, or how great The Colgate Comedy Hour was. They don’t care. They don’t care if I never had a telephone that took pictures. Or how we’d send film into Kodak and get prints back in a week. They’re too busy texting. And they never heard of Kodak. I remember when
American Heart Association (610) 940-9540 Arthritis Foundation (215) 665-9200
Chester County Emergency Services (610) 344-5000 Salvation Army Coatesville (610) 384-2954
Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711
Salvation Army West Chester (610) 696-8746
Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233
PACE (800) 225-7223
Office of Aging (610) 344-6350/(800) 692-1100
Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852
Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-3676
Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (800) 272-3900
Community Impact Legal Services (610) 380-7111 Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200 Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801
Lawyer Referral Service (610) 429-1500 Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (610) 436-4510 Nutrition Meals on Wheels Chester County Inc. (610) 430-8500
Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213 Southeastern PA Medical Institute (610) 446-0662
Funeral & Cremation Services Auer Cremation Services of Pennsylvania 4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (800) 722-8200
Housing Assistance
Legal Services
National Osteoporosis Foundation (800) 223-9994
Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110
Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Housing Eastwood Village Homes, LLC 102 Summers Drive, Lancaster (717) 397-3138
Visit www.nostalgiaroad.com
This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (800) 232-4636
Emergency Numbers
I have given up on getting my grandkids to join me in a game of checkers, dominos, or pickup sticks. But I’ve learned to get their attention by asking them to show me their latest video game—a game that interests me about as much as my games interest them. We do have that in common.
Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (800) 366-3997 Office of Aging Chester County Department of Aging Services (610) 344-6350
Pharmacies
Physicians 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 Oxford (610) 932-5244 Phoenixville (610) 935-1515 Wayne (610) 688-6246 West Chester (610) 431-4242 Transportation Rover Community Transportation (484) 696-3854
CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
American Cancer Society (800) 227-2345 Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
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Ergonomic Tools that Can Ease Gardening Pains Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good ergonomic gardening gear for seniors? I am a 72-year-old who loves to work in the garden, but I have been plagued by various gardening injuries this year. – Looking for Solutions Dear Looking, There’s no doubt that gardening can be tough on an aging body. Garden work often requires a lot of repetitive stooping, squatting, kneeling, gripping, and lifting, which can lead to back and knee pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and various other injuries. To help make your gardening chores a little easier is a slew of new and improved gardening gear that’s lightweight, comfortable to use, and ergonomically designed to help protect your body from the physical strains of gardening. Here are several that can help.
cultivator, and trowel) and shovels that run between $10 and $50. And check out Corona tools (www.coronatoolsusa.com), which makes the ComfortGEL and eGrip hand garden tools. Another excellent product is the “Cobrahead Weeder and Cultivator” (www.cobrahead.com), an all-purpose digging and weeding tool, available in a short-handle version for closeup work for $25 and a long handle for standing work for $60.
Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation because of their patented PowerGear mechanisms that increase leverage to make cutting three times easier than traditional pruners. The Fiskars PowerGear hand pruners, loppers, and hedge shears all run between $25 and $48. Bahco and Corona also make a nice line of ergonomic pruning tools and handsaws that you can see at www.bahcostore.com or www.coronatoolsusa.com.
Watering: To help make your watering chores a little easier, there are lightweight garden hoses, soaker or drip hoses that can be snaked throughout the garden, and hose chests that can automatically rewind themselves. Some good companies that make these products include Water Right Inc. (www.waterrightinc.com), which makes a variety of super lightweight garden and coil hoses; the DIG Corp. (www.digcorp.com), which makes convenient drip-irrigation kits and micro sprinkler kits; and Suncast (www.suncast.com), the A raised garden table is an option for more leading maker of self-winding ergonomic gardening (Your Garden Solution). hose reels and hose carts.
Gloves: There are a number of specially designed gloves that can improve your grip and protect your hands while you work. Two of the best are the “Atlas Nitrile Touch Garden Gloves” (available at Amazon.com for less than $6), which are coated with a flexible, synthetic rubber. And the “ReliefGrip Gardening” gloves (www.bionicgloves.com, $35) have extra padding in the palm and finger joints, which can improve grip and cause fewer calluses and blisters. Digging tools: There are ergonomic tools that can help protect your wrists by reducing the bending and twisting wrist movement that often comes with digging and weeding. Some good options include Radius Garden tools (www.radius garden.com), which make a variety of curved-handle hand tools (scooper, weeder, transplanter,
Knee and back aids: Kneepads and garden seats can also protect your knees and save your back when working close to the ground. Some popular products sold today through the Gardener’s Supply Company (www.gardeners. com) are the “GardenEase Kneeler” ($70), which is a kneeling pad with support handles; the “Garden Kneeler” ($35) that’s a kneepad/garden bench combo; and the “Deluxe Tractor Scoot with Bucket Basket,” which is a heightadjustable, swivel garden seat on wheels ($90). Pruning tools: Fiskars (www.fiskars.com) makes some of the finest ergonomic pruning tools that have also earned the Arthritis
Container gardening: Raised garden beds, trellises, and container gardening are also easier ways to grow plants and flowers because it brings the garden to you, eliminating most stooping, squatting, and kneeling. The Gardener’s Supply Company (www.gardeners.com) offers a wide range of raised beds and garden containers at prices ranging anywhere between $10 up to $350. Locally, Your Garden Solution (www.yourgardensolution.org, (717) 919-1010) offers raised beds and garden tables in a similar price range. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org
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Deal Me In By Mark Pilarski
The Casino Returning Lost Loot is a No-Brainer Dear Mark: Your recent column about someone who found credits in a slot machine brought to mind an incident that happened to me a few weeks ago at the MGM Grand in Detroit. I accidentally left my $97 voucher on the bar. When I came back from the restroom, it was gone. I reported my loss to security. Within an hour, they caught someone on “the eye in the sky” cashing the ticket in. This is one time that I lost my money at a casino and they gave me my money back. – James B. Contrary to some mailbag response that didn’t quite believe what a casino does with the left-behind credits or vouchers, I must reiterate, it really isn’t smart customer service for a casino to pocket lost loot.
Returning player winnings to its rightful owner is one of many ways a casino builds on customer loyalty. Heck, handing a player $97 that justly belongs to him can keep him yanking handles in their casino for life. From the casino’s perspective, customer loyalty comes through having a strong relationship with its players. When a player sees them as a friend and ally, they are reluctant to jump ship to another casino, even if it means they can get a sweeter deal elsewhere. Given the competitive nature of the gambling business, casinos protect their customers as a mother bear does her cubs. Customers will decide whether to trust a casino based upon their day-to-
day behavior. Handing you back your $97 builds on that trust. Make that type of behavior consistent over time—and here is where many casinos fall short— and the management knows you can be counted on as “their” patron. If their behavior becomes unpredictable, you, the consumer, will find another joint to which you take your money. James, getting your $97 back was a no-brainer for the casino. Dear Mark: Are you aware of a good video poker program that will run on a Macintosh laptop? I had Bob Dancer’s program on my old PC, which I liked a lot, but it is not available in a Mac
version. I would like to find a similar product, but I am not having any luck. – Charlie P. Unfortunately, Charlie, though I have been in the Mac world since its infancy, I too have yet to find software comparable to Dancer’s Video Poker for Winners! It is specifically for that reason that I keep an old PC laptop lying around, as you should too. Besides using VP for Winners! as a video poker game that replicates the IGT machines you see in a casino, you can also use it as a tutorial, create strategies, focus on problem areas, check unusual hands, figure slot club paybacks, and a whole lot more. One of my favorite features of this software program is the ability to print out game-specific strategy charts that you can take to the casino with you. The please see CASINO page 11
Advertise in this vital community guide If your organization or business offers a product or service relevant to seniors, the disabled, caregivers, or their families, you should be included in the Chester County Resource Directory for the Caregiver, Aging, and Disabled!
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CCRC Continuing Care Retirement Communities
CCRCs offer a tiered approach to the aging process, accommodating residents’ unique and often changing needs. Healthy adults entering a CRCC are able to live independently in a home, apartment, or condominium of their own within the community. When assistance with everyday activities becomes necessary, they can move into personal care, assisted living, rehabilitation, or nursing care facilities. Some CCRCs have designated dementia areas within the community. These units address the progressing needs of people who have any form of dementia. With a wealth of available resources, these communities give older adults the option to live in one location for the duration of their lives, with much of their future care already figured out — which equals both comfort and peace of mind.
Bethany Village 325 Wesley Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Stephanie Lightfoot Director of Sales & Marketing (717) 766-0279 www.bethanyvillage.org
Church of God Home 801 North Hanover Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Sherry Heim Director of Development/PR (717) 866-3204 sherry.heim@ndccs.com www.churchofgodhome.org
Calvary Fellowship Homes
Chapel Pointe at Carlisle
502 Elizabeth Drive Lancaster, PA 17601 Marlene Morris Marketing Director (717) 393-0711 www.calvaryhomes.org
770 South Hanover Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Linda Amsley Director of Marketing/Admissions (717) 713-2201 www.chapelpointe.com
Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community
Garden Spot Village
2990 Carlisle Pike New Oxford, PA 17350 Amy Kirkpatrick Senior Retirement Counselor (717) 624-5350 a.kirkpatrick@crosskeysvillage.org www.crosskeysvillage.org
433 South Kinzer Avenue New Holland, PA 17557 Megan Farber Sales and Marketing (717) 355-6290 mfarber@gardenspotvillage.org www.gardenspotvillage.org
The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.
Salute to a Veteran
In WWII in the Pacific, There Was a Lot of Water to Fly Over Between Islands Robert D. Wilcox harles Wilson grew up in a small town near Bel Air, Md. Though he didn’t know it then, he was to spend a lot of time over the broad Pacific on the opposite side of the world from his home. In January of 1943, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and entered the aviation cadet program. After basic, he went to classified, where he passed all the requirements to become either a pilot, a navigator, or a bombardier. He chose to become a pilot and started pilot training at Albany, Ga. He soon discovered that there were
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lots of ways to “wash out” of pilot training, and he then went to navigator training at Selma, Ala. There, in December 1943, he won his navigator wings and a commission as second lieutenant. The Air Corps was looking for navigators who had also qualified to be bombardiers, so he volunteered to attend bombardier school at
50plus SeniorNews
2LT Charles A. Wilson in 1943 as he earned his navigator wings and commission.
Roswell, N.M. He there earned his bombardier wings before being assigned to a B-25 crew at Greenville, S.C. The standard B-25 crew was made up of eight men: pilot, copilot, navigator, bombardier, radio man, two waist gunners, and a tail gunner. In his case, however, it was only seven men, since he served as both navigator
and bombardier. Their route to combat took them to California, Hawaii, and New Guinea. How did they find their way across those great expanses of the Pacific? “That’s where I came in,” he grins. “By looking down through the Norden bombsight, I could see the waves, and that helped me estimate the direction and force of the wind.” And where did he learn to do that? “In Selma,” he says, “right out of the textbook.” But without any real waves to see? “Yeah,” he says airily, “but it worked www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Homestead Village
Homeland Center
CCRC
1901 North Fifth Street Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598 Barry S. Ramper II, N.H.A. President/CEO (717) 221-7902 www.homelandcenter.org
Enhanced Senior Living 1800 Marietta Avenue P.O. Box 3227 Lancaster, PA 17604-3227 Susan L. Doyle Director of Marketing (717) 397-4831 ext. 158 www.homesteadvillage.org
The Middletown Home
Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community
St. Anne’s Retirement Community
1700 Normandie Drive York, PA 17408 Joyce Singer Director of Sales & Marketing (717) 718-0937 www.normandieridge.org
3952 Columbia Avenue West Hempfield Township, PA 17512 Christina Gallagher Director of Marketing (717) 285-5443 cgallagher@stannesrc.org www.stannesretirementcommunity.com
Serving from the 999 West Harrisburg Pike Heart in the Spirit of Friendship, Love, Middletown, PA 17057 and Truth Andrea Henney Director of Residential Services (717) 944-3351 www.MiddletownHome.org
Willow Valley Communities 600 Willow Valley Square Lancaster, PA 17602 Kristin Hambleton Director of Sales (717) 464-6800 (800) 770-5445 www.willowvalleycommunities.org
Woodcrest Villa Mennonite Home Communities 2001 Harrisburg Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 Connie Buckwalter Director of Marketing (717) 390-4126 www.woodcrestvilla.org
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your account representative or call (717) 285-1350.
The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.
out just fine when you had real waves to look at. And,” he adds, “I was able to ‘shoot the sun’ to judge our speed over the water.” With a smile, he says, “It had to work, because I didn’t even know how to swim.” After bombing the Japanese on New Guinea and nearby islands, he and his crew were relocated to Morotai Island, where it rained for a solid month. Everything—their clothing, their bedding, everything they had—was continually soaked. Although they flew missions through the weather, everybody got “jungle rot.” Their hands swelled up with the tropical infection so that they couldn’t even write. Fortunately, the medics had an ointment to treat it, but it was an experience that Wilson would prefer to forget. The crew moved again, this time to Palawan Island in the Philippines, where www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
they bombed Luzon and nearby islands. Wilson says all the island settlements were on the edge of islands, close to the water. So they would circle over the land, then, at treetop height, drop bombs on the facilities on their way toward the water so that, if they were hit, they’d be able to ditch in the water rather than crash on the land in Japanese hands. Not all missions involved bombs, though. The Japanese planted crops on some of the islands they captured. The food they produced was needed, because re-supply from Japan was so precarious. Wilson remembers flying missions to spray those crops with oil and destroy them. On another kind of mission entirely, their B-25s were fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks, and they flew a 16-hour mission, leading P-38s to a rendezvous with B-24s off the coast of China,
aircraft that went on to bomb Japanese bases in China. On one other key mission, they were to fly to Leyte Island to cover General MacArthur’s return to the Philippines. They ran into a huge monsoon they tried to climb over, but every time they neared the top of the clouds, they found that the clouds were climbing faster than they were. So they had to abort their shot at history being made. Did he ever get shot up in combat? “No,” he says. “The closest we came was when we were supporting the invasion of Borneo. I saw the B-25 to the left of us go down in flames. Then the same thing happened to the plane to the right of us. But we came through it without a scratch. “Then, after I had flown 53 missions, my tour was over, and I returned to the U.S. on a converted ocean liner. Just before we reached California, we got
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news that the A-bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima. And the news that the Japanese had surrendered reached us on the day that I mustered out of the Air Corps at Fort Meade.” Wilson then entered the University of Maryland on the G.I. Bill and in 1950 graduated with a B.A. in mathematics. He taught high school mathematics for a couple of years, and then worked for three years at Aberdeen Proving Grounds using wind tunnels to study the effect of wind on missiles. For many years thereafter, he wrote computer programs for a major finance company. He often thinks of—but rarely discusses—all those hours he flew in the Pacific with nothing below him but water. Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.
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Traveltizers
Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel
The Beach at the End of the Trail well as pedal the Promenade, a 1.5-mile concrete path that runs parallel to the sea. ewis and Clark traveled There, at the point where the more than 4,000 miles Prom intersects Broadway, is the searching for a water bronze statue of the two route that would span the explorers. It’s larger than life, as American West. Where did they befits the men it depicts, and is end up? On a small stretch of backed with a sign that reads, sand near Seaside, Ore., 80 “the END of the LEWIS & miles west of Portland. CLARK trail, 1805-1806.” Today Seaside is a popular The next morning we set out recreational community, to learn why and how Seaside attracting visitors who want A bronze statue of Lewis and People relax on the bench near the Men from the Lewis and Clark surf-perfect waves, abundant Clark stands near the beach in Promenade, the 1.5-mile concrete expedition first spotted the Pacific became the last stop of the tide pools, good hiking, and the Seaside, Ore. walkway that parallels the beach. Ocean near Cape Disappointment. Lewis and Clark expedition. We begin at Cape chance to follow the Lewis and Disappointment, 30 miles Clark Corps of Discovery dubbed “one of America’s top 10 soups” stores, many of which are arranged northwest of Seaside. during the last days of their journey to at Norma’s. around an old-fashioned merry-go“Since this is one of the foggiest the Pacific. To work off the calories, we go to round in the aptly named Carousel My husband and I walk through places in the country, it’s almost certain Wheel Fun Rentals, where we debate Mall. town, heading toward a bronze statue that you’re having the same weather as Of course, we intersperse our whether to rent a surrey (elegant), a that immortalizes the area’s flirt with did the Lewis and Clark team,” says a meanderings with food—a fish taco at tandem bike (easy, especially for me), or fame. The streets are filled with people. ranger. “But they were too elated to Firehouse Grill, homemade root beer a regular bicycle (exercise for both of us). Some are simply strolling, enjoying worry about the weather; they had and ice cream at Flashback’s, and a cup We finally opt for bikes so we can the sea-fresh air, while others are finally reached the Pacific Ocean.” of the clam chowder that Bon Appétit explore areas on the outskirts of town as shopping in an eclectic assortment of We forego the beachcombing for By Andrea Gross
L
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which the 1,900-acre park is famous, Tillamook Head “the steepest, worst & instead spending our time at the highest mountain I ever ascended.” interpretive center and hiking a trail that Figuring that he was undoubtedly in was used by the corpsmen as they better shape than we are, we hop in the explored the area. car for a 15Although the minute drive to men were eager to Ecola. From there return home after it’s a achieving their comparatively goal, many a easy trek to the snow-covered beached whale mountain stood site. between the But the men Pacific Ocean and not only had to their starting get food, they also point in St. Louis. had to preserve it; They needed a and to do that, An old-fashioned merry-go-round replete hunkering place they had to with 24 fanciful animals dominates the for the winter, extract salt from Carousel Mall. and they found a the ocean. suitable spot on Therefore, five the Oregon side corpsmen of the Columbia established a small River, midway outpost on a between the Cape nearby beach. and Seaside. They made ovens Today that from rocks, found spot, Fort branches for fuel, Clatsop, is a and boiled National seawater for two Historical Park months, that features a collecting enough Fort Clatsop consisted of two rows of huts full-size replica of preservative to separated by a central gathering spot. the original fort, safeguard their ranger-led food for the rest programs, an of their trip. exhibit area, and a A month later bookstore that the corps headed will please even east, and the the most devoted abandoned salt Lewis and Clark works thus fans. became the As we walk expedition’s through the fort, westernmost a costumed campsite. Today Broadway Street is a perfect place to shop, interpreter the reconstructed snack, or just have a relaxing stroll. explains what life site is just a few was like during blocks from the the winter of statue that 1805-06. In short, proclaims Seaside it was hard. The as the end of the men were almost Lewis and Clark out of food, and trail. they spent much We sit on the of their time Prom, the ocean hunting elk, deer, in front of us, the and small game. statue behind us. On one While I suspect occasion, hearing Lewis and Clark Tillamook Head is at the southern end of Seaside Beach. that a whale had were happy to washed ashore, return home, they they hiked over couldn’t have Tillamook Head to the beach in what is found a more beautiful place to end their now Ecola State Park. To their dismay, by journey. the time they arrived, the American As for us, we’d like to stay forever. Indians had picked the whale clean. www.seasideor.com We consider following the explorers’ Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; footsteps until we read that Clark called story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com). www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
H
Veterans’ expo and Job Fair H November 14, 2014 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Eden Resort 222 Eden Road, Lancaster
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9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center
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(Just off Rt. 283 at the Salunga exit) (717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140 (610) 675-6240
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August 2014
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Verdegem Recognized for 38 Years of Service
Help 50plus Senior News spread your local news! Everyone likes to read good news, so tell us what’s happening in your part of the world so we can share it with others! Here are some ideas of what we hope you will contribute:
• a birthday or anniversary milestone • a volunteer who should be recognized • a photo of a smile that begs to be shared • a groundbreaking event • community activities • support programs • local news
We would love to consider your submission for an upcoming issue of 50plus Senior News*. Please note: submissions must be received by the 10th of the month prior to insertion. * Submissions will be included as space permits.
For more information or to submit your happenings, email Megan Joyce at mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail to: 50plus Senior News Megan Joyce 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512
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August 2014
50plus SeniorNews
LeadingAge PA, growth and the the statewide development of association of not-forincreasingly diverse profit senior services skills. providers, recently As the campus presented their 2014 expanded services and Professional housing options, Advancement Award Verdegem was credited to Sue Verdegem, Tel with having a vision of Hai Retirement the “big picture” as well Community’s senior as the fine attention to executive vice detail required of a president of finance chief financial officer. Sue Verdegem and administration. Her commitment to The annual conference and Tel Hai’s mission has been expressed in exposition was held at the Hershey her commitment to maintain the Lodge in Hershey. organization’s fiscal strength and her Verdegem was recognized for her dedication to the people of Tel Hai— dedicated service to the Tel Hai from mentoring staff to spending time community over a period of 38 years with residents, leading groups, and during which the retirement campus reading to children in the childcare and Verdegem personally experienced center on site.
Rotary Club Donates to New Home for Library The Rotary year’s Good Club of Neighbor Day, Thorndalewhich they also Downingtown matched from recently made a their own donation of funds. $1,200 to The library support the new board has home of the implemented a Downingtown fundraising Library. The campaign that funds will be has raised more used for the than 57 percent Francine Dague, library board member, purchase and of its $2.2 receiving donation funds from renovation of million goal. Tim Taylor, Rotary Club president. the library’s new An agreement home at 122 of sale for the Wallace Ave., Downingtown. existing library facility has been secured The check was presented to Francine and will be used to help purchase the Dague, a member of the library’s board property. of directors, at the Rotary Club For information, contact Karen meeting. The Rotary Club donated Miller at (610) 269-2741 or visit proceeds from the canoe race at this www.downingtownlibrary.org. If you have local news you’d like considered for
Around Town, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Volunteer Spotlight
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Dedicated Volunteer is Friend of Bargain Hunters
Summer Sale Pat Richey
Pat Richey and her husband, Tom, have enjoyed 11 years as cottage residents on the Tel Hai campus. Both have been active all their lives— frequently participating in what used to be known as “elder hostel” programs and as volunteers in Girl Scouting as well as at Tel Hai. This spring, Pat Richey was recognized for her long service to Tel Hai’s Re-Sale Shop. Richey found her many hours pricing donations for the sales a fun way to give back to the community. During her tenure, the Re-Sale Shop has grown from a one-room “flea market” sale held each May to a yearround bargain hunter’s dream. The sales are a favorite with members of the surrounding
community, and all proceeds benefit the Care Assurance Fund, which supports campus residents who are no longer able to assume responsibility for the full cost of their care. The Richeys rescued a turtle, Kelton, from a roadway following a storm 47 years ago. He’s been featured on TV and participated in the 2013 Pet Parade held on Tel Hai’s campus. He also makes “friendly visits” to Lakeview residents on the front porch in warm summer months. For 11 years of tireless support of the Re-Sale Shop and her contributions to the liveliness of community life, Pat Richey was celebrated in the Volunteer Services Department’s “spotlight” this spring.
Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus Senior News’ Volunteer Spotlight! Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
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August 2014
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CROSSWORD
Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 15
WORD SEARCH
Across
SUDOKU
1. 5. 9. 13. 14. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 22. 24. 25. 26. 29.
Gum Cupid Clothed Existence Grottos Italian capital Breakfasts Dropsy Summit Foe Washed-up lumber? Bonsai Warhorse Bothers Separates
39. 40. 41. 43. 44. 45. 46. 48.
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50. Turkish monetary unit 52. Large, fragrant, white or yellow flowers 56. Worship 58. Egg-shaped 59. Common fraction 61. Looked 62. Vehicle 63. Medleys 64. Skim through 65. Roman date 66. Jazz singing 67. Indian buzzard
21. 23. 27. 28. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 36. 38. 39. 42.
Affirmative Indian lodge Cruise Weight units (abbr.) Status symbol Streetcar Heroic tale Shaver Garden tools Starting at Expressive style Small dog, for short Conifer droppings
43. 44. 46. 47. 49. 51. 52. 53. 54. 55. 57. 60.
33. 35. 36. 37. 38.
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1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 15.
Downwind Goliath Social club type Blot again Hotshot DUI org. Supervise Pays Shellfish Balmy Weaponry Exploit Dependable
Famous ship Most desiccated Patters Highest note Bib. word Regions Mongolian desert Eager Another 34 Down Gr. portico Ferber, for one Presidential monogram
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ER vs. Clinic: Which to Choose? Hospital emergency rooms are stretched thin by almost 130 million visits a year. Many of these visits are triggered by complaints that could be handled more efficiently at same-day clinics or pharmacy care centers. How do you know which to choose? Go to the emergency room (or call an ambulance) if you or a friend experience any of these serious symptoms: • Persistent chest pain
• Persistent shortness of breath • Severe pain, especially in the abdomen or the lower back • Loss of balance or fainting • Difficulty speaking or thinking clearly
• Sudden, severe headache
• Minor trauma such as cuts and sprains
On the other hand, most sameday clinics are able to treat these routine health problems:
• Severe sore throat
• Fever (except in the case of a newborn infant)
• Urinary tract infections • Nausea and vomiting • Minor eye irritation A clinic will also be able to advise you to go to the emergency room if your condition is more serious than you realize.
Calendar of Events
Chester County
Chester County Department of Parks and Recreation
Senior Center Activities
www.chesco.org/ccparks
Coatesville Area Senior Center – (610) 383-6900 22 N. Fifth Ave., Coatesville – www.coatesvilleseniorcenter.org Mondays, 1 p.m. – Coffeehouse Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – Silver Sneakers Class (Seated Silver Sneakers at 11 a.m.) Aug. 20, 12:45 to 1:30 p.m. – Classic Songs with Dave DeLuca
Aug. 9, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. – 86th Annual Old Fiddlers’ Picnic, Hibernia County Park Aug. 9, 8 to 9:30 p.m. – “No Light” Night Hike, Warwick County Park
Support Groups
Free and open to the public Aug. 7 and 21, 7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group The Solana Willistown 1713 West Chester Pike, Willistown (610) 725-1713
Aug. 13, noon Family Caregiver Support Group Sarah Care 425 Technology Drive, Suite 200 Malvern (610) 251-0801
Aug. 5 and 19, 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.
Aug. 11 and 25, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Adult Care of Chester County 201 Sharp Lane, Exton (610) 363-8044
Aug. 14 and 28, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Brandywine Hospital Conference Room 1 West 201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville (610) 998-1700, ext. 226
Aug. 6, 6 p.m. Memory Loss and Dementia Support Group Sunrise Assisted Living of Paoli 324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern (610) 251-9994
Aug. 12 and 26, 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
Aug. 19, 6 p.m. Family Caregiver Support Group Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester (610) 399-4464
Aug. 5, 2 p.m. Grief Support Group Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville (610) 327-7216
If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
Aug. 27, 6 p.m. Living with Cancer Support Group Paoli Hospital Cancer Center 255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli (484) 565-1253
Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819 427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square – www.kennettseniorcenter.org Aug. 7 and 21, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Free Medicare Counseling Session Aug. 12, 2:30 to 4 p.m. – Tea Party: “Downton Abbey Victorian Tea” Aug. 13 and 27, 7 to 9 a.m. – Walnut Street Café Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.
Programs & Events
Free or minimal charge
Aug. 2 and 16, 5 to 10 p.m. Bingo Nights Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St., Downingtown (610) 431-2234 Aug. 5, 11:30 a.m. West Chester University Retirees Luncheon For restaurant location, please email darsie@verizon.net
Chester County Library Programs Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, (610) 269-2741 Aug. 12, 6:30 p.m. – Film Forum Aug. 21, 6:30 p.m. – Downingtown Library’s Writers Group Aug. 28, 1 p.m. – Senior Book Club www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Henrietta Hankin Library, 215 Windgate Drive, Chester Springs, (610) 321-1700 Aug. 18, 5:30 p.m. – Free Medicare Overview by APPRISE Members Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, (610) 296-7996 Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times
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FELINES
from page 1
In just months, Marcinko would become closer to the felines that caused her to sniffle. To solve the problem of wasted tax dollars and control the growing cat colonies, Marcinko adopted a popular track, spay/neuter, and return program. Marcinko and a crew of volunteers took a personal approach. They develop relationships with those who feed and come to love the stray cats. Their first case was a woman pleading for help with the 50 cats who had congregated in her yard. It started when her little boy didn’t like the crust on his peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Tossing the scraps out in the yard for the birds ended up attracting a stray cat. The family continued to feed it but soon found they had attracted an entire colony of hungry felines. What seemed like a cute way to help one feral cat turned into an overwhelming population of hungry felines. While they want the problem fixed, the last thing on their minds was hurting the animals. “Most of these people are older and they don’t have anything else,” she said. “I used to take my business card and throw it in a mailbox and run, hoping that they would call me. It’s a program that requires a lot of patience and
understanding.” In about four Marcinko years, the town learned to pour saved enough out compassion money to hire two for the people who police officers. longed to help the Marcinko, who animals but didn’t retired from want to lose them. county parole and Entire colonies probation, is able are taken to the to get 200 designated clinic community service at the caretaker’s hours a month permission. from people going “You can’t just through the take one or two at system for nona time,” Marcinko violent crimes. said. “It doesn’t Some of them work to let have been doctors, everyone else stay lawyers, and even behind to have fun veterinarians who and make more return to help cats.” even after In a single midsummer day, more than 70 feral cats await care from volunteer They are then completing their veterinarians inside the program’s facility. spayed or neutered required by a volunteer community service veterinarian, kept for several days to hours. recover, and released where they were And even though the program found. primarily caters to controlling the Grant money and donations pay for population, Marcinko can’t resist helping the medical care, while volunteers shell a hurt cat. out hundreds of hours a month to keep Sometimes the cats come to the clinic the program running. PetSmart Charities with broken tails or missing eyes from has been a big supporter, allowing them fights within the colonies. Pregnant cats to renovate an old bank for the surgeries. might also be sent to the Humane
Society, so the kittens have a chance at avoiding the feral life. More than 3,300 cats have been spayed or neutered since 2010, causing the local population to drop by about 75 percent in that time. “I feel really alive when I do this,” she said. “None of us is getting younger, but I hope I can continue to do this, continue to help the community, even as I age.” While the program avoids adopting the cats (most wouldn’t be happy in a home anyway, Marcinko said), the love for these animals is evident. “The reason why this program keeps going is because people love it,” Marcinko said. “Even when I’m in there with my mask on, trying not to handle them, there is love.” Not the type to sit at home in her retirement, Marcinko hopes she can continue to keep busy with the cat program and maybe watch it be adopted by other municipalities. “My mother is 94 years old and lives by herself, and we travel together,” Marcinko said. “I’m just hoping I have her blood and can keep doing this as long as she keeps running circles around me.” For more information about Marcinko’s stray cat program, please call (717) 877-4146.
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