Chester County 50plus Senior News November 2013 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

Chester County Edition

November 2013

Vol. 10 No. 11

Take Two PA State Senior Idol Winner Delights in ‘Second Chance’ By Megan Joyce For a guy looking to take his second chance and run with it, 2013 has seen singer Chris Roda in a full sprint. After a four-year battle with a nerve disorder that silenced Roda’s powerful, operatic vocals, his reemergence into the world of music has been heralded with not one but two talent-competition wins in six months’ time. Roda’s win at the recent 2013 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL finals competition was actually his second top-place title of the year: in April, he also won the area’s Welsh Mountain Spring Sing competition. Not a bad restart for a performer whose voice returned to him a mere 14 months ago. Roda was one of 15 semifinalists who performed during the finals night of OLP Events’ annual over-50 talent competition, a sold-out affair held at the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster and emceed by Diane Dayton of Dayton Communications. It was Roda’s second time appearing as a SENIOR IDOL finalist, having been the second runner-up in 2007. Roda was one of five children growing up in a musical household. His late father’s love for the music of American tenor Mario Lanza instilled an early appreciation for opera in Roda, who began pursuing his own vocal gifts around age 20 after his father passed away. “I’m a diehard opera singer,” he said. “That’s what I love—that’s been the main influence in my style of singing.” please see TAKE TWO page 15 Chris Roda singing “E Lucevan Le Stelle” from Tosca, a performance that secured his place as the 2013 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL.

Inside:

How to Get Paid for Being a Family Caregiver page 8

PA STATE SENIOR IDOL:

Tough Choices for Judges page 10

Salute to a Veteran

When They Fought in Vietnam, They Flew Their Artillery in with Them Robert D. Wilcox ary Levinson found out early that the world is full of coincidences. When he was drafted into the Army in 1966, he took his training at Fort Riley, Kan. There was a sergeant in charge of each barracks, and his sergeant made an effort to know each of his men. It turned out that both the sergeant and Levinson came from Pennsylvania— what’s more, the sergeant knew Levinson’s family. Did it help to have that kind of connection to the sergeant? “Well, it sure didn’t hurt,” he says. But he was soon on his way to Vietnam, in any case. From Oakland, Calif., he boarded the General Maurice Rose, a troopship that took him to Vung Tau, Vietnam. How was the crossing? “It was hell on wheels,” Levinson says. “It took three weeks, and almost

hauled their everybody was artillery with sick as a dog them on the whole way. Chinook By the time we helicopters got there, no whenever they one was went to worried about hotspots where facing the they were Vietcong. We needed. The just wanted to troops were in get off that the helicopters, ship.” with the guns Once and ashore, they Private First Class Gary M. Levinson ammunition recovered fast, in a Vietnam bunker in 1967. towed in but they found another that being helicopter. The guns and ammunition ashore had its own problems. As part of were also moved by truck. Later on, the 9th Division, Levinson’s first assignment was as an ammunition some guns were placed on boats. handler in a howitzer battery. There were plenty of helicopter His outfit was unusual in that they crashes that killed a lot of men, and they

were always especially vulnerable to enemy gunfire from the ground. Levinson’s first job was to transport the 105mm ammunition by truck. He drove the truck to the ammunition depot and delivered it back to the base camp or to the field. The ammunition was in heavy, wooden crates that had to be unloaded and stacked up. Then, the colonel of his battalion transferred him to a special information unit. His responsibility was to travel with the battalion on major missions in the field, prepare reports on all activities, and transmit everything to the 1st Brigade, 9th Division headquarters. Later, Levinson was transferred again to a different artillery unit in the Mekong Delta, where he served on a gun crew preparing ammunition for firing. They were often under mortar attack, and he recalls one shell having landed

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just short of his bunker. He has memories of all the men who were killed and thinks about them all the time, but standing out in his memory is the way one of his buddies beat the odds. Levinson says that the man was very religious and always carried a small Bible in his breast pocket. One day, he caught a bullet in the chest that surely would have killed him, except that it hit that Bible, and the bullet stopped just short of the man’s flesh. One thing Levinson feels strongly about is that people have been pounded so much with stories of the combat itself … and so little about what we did in a humanitarian way for the South Vietnamese people. “That, actually, was a major part of our being there,” he says. Part of his responsibility in the information unit was to travel with Civil Action troops to see firsthand how the Vietnamese people lived and the

Resource Directory Dental Services Family Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry 1646 West Chester Pike, Suite 1,West Chester (610) 692-8454 Disasters American Red Cross Greater Brandywine (610) 692-1200

D’Anjolell Memorial Homes & Crematory 392 Lancaster Ave., Frazer (610) 356-4200 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (800) 272-3900 American Cancer Society (800) 227-2345

Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY

Eastwood Village Homes, LLC 102 Summers Drive, Lancaster (717) 397-3138

Community Impact Legal Services (610) 380-7111

Salvation Army West Chester (610) 696-8746

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

Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200

Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711

Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801

Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-3676 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

Lawyer Referral Service (610) 429-1500 Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (610) 436-4510

PACE (800) 225-7223

Nutrition

Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852 Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213 Southeastern PA Medical Institute (610) 446-0662

CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Senior Centers

Arthritis Foundation (215) 665-9200

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

Chester County Department of Aging Services (610) 344-6350 Pharmacies

Salvation Army Coatesville (610) 384-2954

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Office of Aging

Housing

American Heart Association (610) 940-9540

Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110

Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.

This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being.

Chester County Emergency Services (610) 344-5000

Emergency Numbers

N.C., to train troops headed to Vietnam. Then his hitch was up, and he was discharged. He then reenlisted in the Army Reserve and was discharged as a sergeant. He worked on Wall Street for a while before coming to Central Pennsylvania to work with the Disabled Veterans Outreach Program. He then became chief of the recruitment division for the Pennsylvania State Civil Service Commission in Harrisburg. He retired in 2004 and now spends much of his time trying to reverse the image of the Vietnam veteran and help the many disenfranchised vets of that era. He often thinks of his time in combat, and he’s proud of that. But he says he considers himself fortunate to have been part of the other side of our efforts in Vietnam as well.

refugees, and tremendous assisted in outpouring of repairing 447 help the bridges and American 1,107 kilometers military provided of roads. to the people of For that effort, South Vietnam. Levinson is Noting that Guns and ammo were carried by proud that his 9th the U.S. spent Chinook helicopters. U.S. Infantry $222 million a Division was year in aid to the awarded the Civil Actions Honor Medal. South Vietnamese people, Levinson says “Of course,” he says, “little of that that his 9th Division alone provided massive help. kind of help was reported by the press They provided medical care to back home. We were largely reported as a 708,000 South Vietnamese, large power imposing its self-interest on reconstructed more than 350 schools, a small Asian nation during a long and opened English courses in high schools bloody war. Which resulted in our troops for almost 30,000 students, provided being reviled by so many when they 48,256 man hours to helping the local returned home after their selfless service.” For Levinson, the end of that war people in repairing destroyed houses, came on Dec. 11, 1967, when he flew furnished 89 orphanages with construction materials, distributed 1,000 from Bien Hoa to Maguire Air Force Base, N.J. He then went to Fort Bragg, tons of food and 8 tons of clothes to

Meals on Wheels Chester County Inc. (610) 430-8500

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

Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (800) 366-3997

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

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50plus SeniorNews

November 2013

Mysteries of Medicare: Medicare and Employer-Based Insurance

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL VICE-PRESIDENT AND MANAGING EDITOR Christianne Rupp EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT PROJECT COORDINATOR Renee McWilliams PRODUCTION ARTIST Janys Cuffe PRODUCTION ASSISTANT Jessica Johns WEB DEVELOPER Kahla Livelsberger

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Karla Back Angie McComsey Jacoby Valerie Kissinger Susan Krieger Ranee Shaub Miller Sue Rugh SALES & EVENT COORDINATOR Eileen Culp

CIRCULATION PROJECT COORDINATOR Loren Gochnauer

ADMINISTRATION

By Joyce DeYoung The Chester County Department of Aging, through its APPRISE program of trained Medicare counselors, helps Medicare beneficiaries to understand the healthcare options specific to their health needs and financial resources. This article provides an overview of how Medicare and employerbased insurance share costs. The plan designated as the primary insurer pays first and up to the limits of its coverage before the secondary insurer pays anything. The amount paid by the secondary insurer depends on the details of the plan. If you are covered by a group health plan (GHP) at the company where you or your spouse is actively employed at the time you become eligible for Medicare, it is important to understand when Medicare is primary and when it is secondary in order for you to make good decisions regarding your Medicare enrollment. If you are eligible for Medicare because you are 65, and if your GHP coverage is through a company with 20 or more employees, that plan continues to pay as your primary insurer until you or your spouse (if he or she is the source of your coverage) retires or otherwise loses coverage.

When that happens, you will have a special enrollment period of eight months after coverage ends during which you can enroll in Medicare without penalty. In this situation, it is not necessary to enroll in Medicare during your initial enrollment

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Always confirm the type of coverage you have with your employer before making decisions on Medicare enrollment.

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Corporate Office:

period, which is the three months before your birth month, your birth month, and the three months after. However, if your coverage comes through a company with fewer than 20 employees, your GHP is usually your secondary insurer and Medicare your primary insurer. Because you must have a primary insurer to be assured of coverage, if you are in this situation, it is important to sign up for Medicare Part A (hospital benefits) and Part B (outpatient) during your initial enrollment period.

If you become eligible for Medicare because of disability, you are automatically enrolled in Part A but have the option to turn down Part B. If you are covered by a spouse’s GHP at a company with at least 100 employees, you can turn down Part B because the GHP remains as your primary insurer. You will have a special enrollment period to sign up for Medicare Part B when the GHP coverage ends. If you are covered through a company with fewer than 100 employees, Medicare becomes your primary insurer, so you should stay in Part B to ensure that you have coverage. Neither COBRA coverage from a previous employer nor retiree health insurance qualifies as coverage from current employment. They always pay secondary to Medicare. Therefore, if you are covered by one of these when you are Medicare eligible, you must take Parts A and B. Always confirm the type of coverage you have with your employer before making decisions on Medicare enrollment. APPRISE counselors can also be reached through the APPRISE help line at (610) 344-5004. For more information, email apprisechesco@outlook.com or visit https://pa-chestercounty.civicplus.com/ index.aspx?NID=477.

BUSINESS MANAGER Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

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50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community. On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.

November 2013

50plus SeniorNews

Choose the Right Turkey for Your Feast With Thanksgiving approaching, you may be wondering what kind of turkey to buy for your big feast. The choices can be a little confusing. Check this quick guide to learn what the different labels mean: Butterball. Despite the name, these turkeys don’t actually have any butter. The turkeys come fresh or frozen. The fresh ones have no added ingredients. The frozen birds are injected in the breast with a solution of vegetable oil, water, salt, emulsifiers, and a preservative. The solution is made to enhance the flavor and provide moisture that is lost during the freezing process.

Kosher. Kosher turkeys are soaked in cold saltwater even before the feathers are plucked. The process

draws out the blood and impurities, following Jewish dietary laws. Because they go through both rabbinical and USDA inspections, the birds are very clean. The

saltwater soak also makes for a more flavorful bird. Kosher poultry are fed an all-natural diet with no hormones or antibiotics. Free-range. These birds are fed an all-natural diet and aren’t confined. Often, the birds eat natural feed that is not organic but is tested for chemical residue. Generally, they have more breast meat, about 50 percent less fat, and a quarter fewer calories than regular turkeys. However, some consumers have found that free-range turkeys are a little tougher. That’s because they are less fatty, so be careful not to overcook them.

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Social Security News

Social Security Serves Those Who Have Served By John Johnston n Nov. 11, we honor our nation’s veterans for their service to America. What better time than now to tell you—and for you to help spread the word—about the many benefits and wealth of information Social Security has available for veterans and military personnel? Social Security recognizes those who put their lives on the line for our freedoms. Members of the armed forces receive expedited processing of their Social Security disability applications. The expedited process is available for any military service member who became disabled during active duty on or after Oct. 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. Some dependent children and spouses of military personnel may also be eligible to receive benefits. Visit our website designed specifically

for our wounded veterans: www.social security.gov/woundedwarriors. There, you will find answers to a number of commonly asked questions, as well as other useful information about disability benefits available under the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) programs. Please pay special attention to the fact sheet available on that website, Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors. You’ll also find a webinar that explains the faster disability process available to wounded warriors. The program covers

general information about Social Security disability benefits as well as topics unique to wounded service members. The online video is less than three minutes and a great introduction to disability benefits for veterans and active-duty military. On the same webpage, you’ll also find links to useful Veterans Affairs and Department of Defense websites. The requirements for disability benefits available through Social Security are different from those from the Department of Veterans Affairs and require a separate application.

Military service members are covered for the same Social Security survivors, disability, and retirement benefits as everyone else. Although the expedited service is relatively new, military personnel have been covered under Social Security since 1957, and people who were in the service prior to that may be able to get special credit for some of their service. To learn more about Social Security for current and former military service members, read Military Service and Social Security. It’s available in our digital library at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. But first, take a look at the wounded warrior page (www.socialsecurity.gov/ woundedwarriors). The webinar, factsheet, and pertinent links will brief you on everything you need to know to “maneuver” your way through the Social Security process. John Johnston is a Social Security public affairs specialist.

Snuggle Up to a Fragrant Fire Fall is the perfect time to fire up the fireplace with a cozy blaze. If you want to add a little fragrance to your hearth, try these types of wood to sweeten your fire:

cherry wood still adds a little sugar in the mix. Hickory. Known to many great barbecue grill-meisters, hickory brings in a nice nutty aroma and is a great heat producer.

Apple. It not only sweetens the smell, it also produces colorful flames.

Black birch. Don’t like your fires so sweet? Black birch adds just enough spice with its cinnamon scent.

Cherry. Although not as sweet as apple wood,

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November 2013

The Way I See It

An Autumn Day Mike Clark feel rejuvenated by the sunshine; it’s been absent for so long. A string of chilly, gray days had driven me into a mild funk. I’m fine, now. An occasional autumn gust strips the remaining leaves from the maples and oaks around the neighborhood as nature prepares the giant trees for a long winter nap. The colorful carpet beneath is blown downwind, relieving me of the dreadful chore of raking or firing up that infernal, high-decibel gas blower. I ponder that humble blessing as I set fire to a layer of kindling in the wood stove. I’ll add a few chunks of hardwood and the fire will grow to a small blaze. My plan is to sit in peace before the radiant warmth as I read an old book—A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Those who know me will quickly detect the irony of my choice. Eventually (maybe tomorrow), I will have to walk around the property to

perform a late fall cleanup. There are fallen branches and small limbs to fetch; terracotta pots must be gathered and stored; and those leggy, desiccated annual plants must be plucked from their summer beds. It’s a job that probably should have been done weeks ago, but a weather-induced indifference set me back. A tree-service expert extracted forsythia trunks from the corner of the yard last week. My wife and I cut the beautiful but invasive shrub as far down as we could, shortly after it finished displaying the bright, yellow flowers that make early spring seem warmer. The bare spot must now be raked level

while the earth is damp and loose. I’ll wait until spring to plant grass, of course. By then, that plot will have to be weeded. As the wind now clears the leaves, so too will it bring new weeds. A plant stand that sits in front of the garage displays a few wilted mums and a large pumpkin that my wife wants to adorn with some kind of a turkey ornament. I wanted to remove the ponderous gourd, but my wife thinks it is in good-enough condition to serve as the anchor for our Thanksgiving motif. I’m fine with it. It’s hard to believe that a Christmas display will soon fill that space. There’s

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4100 Jonestown Rd. Hbg., PA 17109 Shawn E. Carper Supervisor

As published in The Globe Leader newspaper, New Wilmington, Pa. Mike Clark writes a regular column for The Globe Leader newspaper in New Wilmington, Pa. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational behavior/applied psychology from Albright College. Mike lives outside Columbia, Pa., and can be contacted at mikemac429@aol.com.

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no way to incorporate a shriveled pumpkin into that, is there? Yes, I’ve got work to do. The air is brisk and the sunshine stimulates my dormant enthusiasm. The problem is that I am currently more passionate about my fire and my book. The clocks have been turned back; the days will assuredly get shorter and colder. We’ll all find ways to steel ourselves against the inevitable driving snow and cutting wind. As for me, I have many books and a lot of firewood. I’ll be fine.

Since 1995, On-Line Publishers, Inc. has celebrated serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the community of Central Pennsylvania. Our corporate office is located outside Columbia, Pa.

Publications 50plus Senior News is a monthly newspaper touching on issues and events relevant to the 50+ community. The Resource Directory for the Caregiver, Aging, and Disabled is published annually in distinct county editions with information from local businesses and organizations that meet the needs of these groups. 50plus LIVING, an annual publication, is a guide to residences and healthcare options for mature adults in the Susquehanna and Delaware valleys. ((b)) magazine is Central Pennsylvania’s premier publication for baby boomers, reflecting on the past, examining where baby boomers are today, and identifying the issues they may face in the future. BUSINESSWoman is a monthly magazine with a focus on business. It features profiles of local executive women who are an inspiration to other professionals. Lifestyle and wellness articles are also included to round out the publication and address the many facets of a woman’s life. (

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SUCCESS STORIES highlights the achievements of local professional women so that others may be inspired. It is a special insert in the March issue of BUSINESSWoman magazine. All publications are available in print and digital formats.

Events OLP EVENTS, our events division, produces six 50plus EXPOs annually in Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster (two), and York counties. Entrance to the event, health screenings, and seminars held throughout the day are free to visitors. The women’s expo is a one-day event featuring exhibitors and interactive fun that encompasses many aspects of a woman’s life. It is held in Lancaster and Hershey in the spring and in Lebanon and Carlisle in the fall. OLP EVENTS conducts the annual PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition. Fifteen semifinalists vie for the title of PA STATE SENIOR IDOL during the finals competition, held in October at a popular venue. POWERLUNCH is held in York in the spring and in the Capital Region during the fall. Executive women can network and enjoy lunch, seminars, and information from a select number of exhibitors.

For more information, call (717) 285-1350 or visit www.onlinepub.com.

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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.cascweb.org

Nov. 9, 8 to 10 a.m. – Birding at Black Rock, Black Rock Sanctuary Nov. 9, 6 to 7:30 p.m. – Silent Hunters of the Night, Warwick County Park Nov. 10, 1 to 3 p.m. – What’s that Artifact?, Warwick County Park

Support Groups Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Wellness Community of Philadelphia: Support Group for People with Cancer The Cancer Center at Paoli Hospital 255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli (215) 879-7733 Nov. 5, 2 p.m. Grief Support Group Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville (610) 327-7216 Nov. 6, 6 p.m. Memory Loss and Dementia Support Group Sunrise Assisted Living of Paoli 324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern (610) 251-9994

Free and open to the public Nov. 7 and 21, 7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group The Solana Willistown 1713 West Chester Pike, Willistown (610) 725-1713 Nov. 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 Nov. 12 and 26, 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.

Community Programs Nov. 1, 7:15 p.m. Author Gayle Roper Tel Hai Retirement Community Chapel 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook (610) 273-9333 Nov. 2, 7:30 p.m. Concert Series: Roaring ’20s Jazz Orchestra Tel Hai Retirement Community Chapel 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook (610) 273-9333 Nov. 2 and 16, 5 to 10 p.m. Bingo Nights Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St., Downingtown (610) 431-2234 Nov. 5, 11:30 a.m. West Chester University Retirees Luncheon For restaurant location, please email darsie@verizon.net

Downingtown Senior Center – (610) 269-3939 983 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown – http://home.ccil.org/~dasc

Nov. 13, noon Family Caregiver Support Group Sarah Care 425 Technology Drive, Suite 200, Malvern (610) 251-0801 Nov. 19, 6 p.m. Family Caregiver Support Group Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester (610) 399-4464 If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Free and open to the public Nov. 6, 12:10 p.m. Picasso: His Women and His Art Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Widener University Exton Campus 825 Springdale Drive, West Whiteland Township (484) 713-0088

Nov. 23, 8:30 a.m. Busy Buddies: Widows & Widowers Social Group of Chester County Dutch Way Restaurant 365 Route 41, Gap Reservations required (484) 667-0738

Nov. 13, 12:10 p.m. Paris Revisited Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Widener University Exton Campus 825 Springdale Drive West Whiteland Township (484) 713-0088

Nov. 30 and Dec. 1, 1 to 5 p.m. Annual Model Railroad Open House Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Club 400 S. Main St., Phoenixville (610) 935-1126 www.svmrrc.com

Nov. 20, 12:10 p.m. What Women Have and What They Really Want Osher Lifelong Learning Institute Widener University Exton Campus 825 Springdale Drive West Whiteland Township (484) 713-0088

Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in Chester County! Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com

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help you get the word out!

Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819 427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square – www.kennettseniorcenter.org Nov. 8, 9:30 a.m. – Veterans Day Luncheon Nov. 10, 1 to 3 p.m. – Sunday Dinner with Friends: “Our Thanksgiving Dinner” Nov. 14, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. – Free Blood Pressure Screening Oxford Senior Center – (610) 932-5244 12 E. Locust St., Oxford – www.oxfordseniors.org Phoenixville Area Senior Center – (610) 935-1515 153 Church St., Phoenixville – www.phoenixvilleseniorcenter.org West Chester Area Senior Center – (610) 431-4242 530 E. Union St., West Chester – www.wcseniors.org Please call or visit the centers’ websites for additional activities.

Chester County Library Programs Atglen Library, 413 Valley Ave., Atglen, (610) 593-6848 Avon Grove Library, 117 Rose Hill Ave., West Grove, (610) 869-2004 Bayard Taylor Library, 216 E. State St., Kennett Square, (610) 444-2702 Chester County Library, 450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton, (610) 280-2615 Chester Springs Library, 1685-A Art School Road, Chester Springs, (610) 827-9212 Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, (610) 269-2741 Nov. 14, 6:30 p.m. – Backyard Birdwatching Nov. 15, 4 to 7 p.m.; Nov. 16, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. – Fall Flea Market Nov. 19, 6:30 p.m. – A Brief History of the Trains of King of Prussia

What’s Happening? Give Us the Scoop! Let

Great Valley Senior Center – (610) 889-2121 47 Church Road, Malvern

(610) 675-6240

Easttown Library, 720 First Ave., Berwyn, (610) 644-0138 Henrietta Hankin Library, 215 Windgate Drive, Chester Springs, (610) 321-1700

50plus SeniorNews

November 2013

Savvy Senior

How to Get Paid for Being a Family Caregiver Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, I have been taking care of my elderly mother for nearly three years, and it’s taking a huge toll on my finances. Are there any resources you know about that can help family caregivers get paid? – Financially Exhausted Dear Exhausted, To get paid as a family caregiver, there are various government programs, tax breaks, and family payment options that may be able to help you, depending on your mom’s financial situation. Here’s where to look for help. State Aid If your mom is low-income and eligible for Medicaid, you may be able to get paid a small amount by the state. In 15 states, Medicaid offers a Cash & Counseling program (www.cashandcounseling.org) that

provides an allowance that can be used for various services, including paying family members for care. Many other states have similar programs for low-income seniors, even if the person receiving care doesn’t quite qualify for Medicaid. To find out about these options, contact your local Medicaid office. Veterans Aid In some communities across the U.S.,

veterans who are at risk of nursing-home placement can enroll in the VeteranDirected Home and CommunityBased Services program, which allows veterans to manage their own care, including hiring and paying their own caregivers. Also available to wartime veterans and their spouses is a benefit called Aid and Attendance that helps pay for in-home care, as well as assisted living and nursing-home care. This benefit can

also be used to pay family caregivers. To be eligible, your mom must need assistance with daily living activities like bathing, dressing, or going to the bathroom. And, her income must be under $13,362 as a surviving spouse—minus medical and long-term care expenses. If your mom is a single veteran, her income must be below $20,795 to be eligible. Her assets must also be less than $80,000, excluding her home and car. To learn more, see www.va.gov/geriatrics, or contact your regional VA office or your local veterans service organization. For contact information, call (800) 827-1000. Tax Breaks Uncle Sam may also be able to help if you pay at least half of your mom’s yearly expenses and her annual income was below $3,900 in 2013 (not counting

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Social Security). If so, you can claim her as a dependant on your taxes and reduce your taxable income by $3,900. See IRS publication 501 (www.irs.gov/pub/irspdf/p501.pdf) or call the IRS helpline at (800) 829-1040 for information. If you can’t claim your mom as a dependant, you may still be able to get a tax break if you’re paying at least half her living expenses, including her medical and long-term care costs, and they exceed 10 percent (or 7.5 percent if

you’re 65 or over) of your adjusted gross income. You can include your own medical expenses in calculating the total. See the IRS publication 502 (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf) for details. Family Payments If your mom doesn’t financially qualify for the government aid or the tax breaks, can she afford to pay you herself, or do you have any siblings that would be willing to chip in? After all, if your

mom had to pay for home care services, the costs would be anywhere between $12 and $25 per hour. If she agrees to pay you, it’s best that you or an attorney draft a short, written contract detailing your work and payment arrangements so everyone involved knows what to expect. A contract will also help avoid potential problems should your mom ever need to apply for Medicaid for nursing-home care. Another payment option to consider

is for your mom to adjust her will, so you receive a larger portion of her estate for providing her care. But to avoid conflict, be sure all family members are aware and in agreement. Also, check to see if your mom has any long-term care insurance that covers in-home care. If she does, in some cases, those benefits may be used to pay you. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org

Versatile Proteins Could Be New Target for Alzheimer’s Drugs A class of proteins that controls visualsystem development in the young brain also appears to affect vulnerability to Alzheimer’s disease in the aging brain. The proteins, which are found in humans and mice, join a limited roster of molecules that scientists are studying in hopes of finding an effective drug to slow the disease process. “People are just beginning to look at what these proteins do in the brain. While more research is needed, these proteins may be a brand-new target for Alzheimer’s drugs,” said Carla Shatz, Ph.D., the study’s lead investigator. Shatz and her colleagues report that

insight into Alzheimer’s, a complex LilrB2 (pronounced “leer-bee-2”) in humans and PirB (“peer-bee”) disorder involving the abnormal in mice can physically build-up of proteins, partner with betainflammation, and a host November is amyloid, a protein of other cellular changes,” said Neil Buckholtz, fragment that National accumulates in the Ph.D., director of the Alzheimer’s brain during neuroscience division at Disease Alzheimer’s disease. National Institute on Awareness This, in turn, Aging, which helped triggers a harmful chain fund the research. Month reaction in brain cells. In “Our understanding of the various proteins involved, and a mouse model of Alzheimer’s, depleting PirB in the brain prevented the how these proteins interact with each chain reaction and reduced memory loss. other, may one day result in effective “These findings provide valuable interventions that delay, treat, or even

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prevent this dreaded disease.” Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia in older adults and affects as many as 5 million Americans. Large clumps—or plaques—of betaamyloid and other proteins accumulate in the brain during Alzheimer’s, but many researchers believe the disease process starts long before the plaques appear. Even in the absence of plaques, betaamyloid has been shown to cause damage to brain cells and the synapses, the delicate connections, between them.

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November 2013

Maudie Becker

Steve Gallion

PA STATE

SENIOR IDOL Finals

Present Judges with Tough Choices Judge Calls 2013 Talent Lineup ‘Unbelievable’ By Megan Joyce

Paul Zavinsky

Ray Ricke Jr.

November 2013

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The mid-October air outside was brisk and calm, but indoors, the PA STATE SENIOR IDOL finals competition seemed to generate its own atmosphere: warm and close, with an almost visible hum of energy produced by the nerves of the performers and the anticipation of the milling crowd. Produced by OLP EVENTS, PA STATE SENIOR IDOL is an annual talent competition that highlights the vocal, comedic, dance, or instrumental abilities of the state’s performers over age 50. The 15 semifinalists for the evening’s show were culled from nearly 100 contestants who auditioned at regional tryouts in late August and early September. There was not a vacant seat to be had inside the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, which hosted the eighth-annual event. The sold-out crowd was lively and supportive, as were the four local celebrity judges: RJ Harris of WHP580, Adrian “Buddy” King of the former Magnificent Men, Valerie Pritchett of abc27, and Janelle Stelson of WGAL-8. The show opened up with a performance by last year’s winner, Vickie Kissinger of Gap, who told emcee Diane Dayton of Dayton Communications that her year as the reigning SENIOR IDOL had been “wonderful.” “It’s just opened up a lot of new doors; it’s given me opportunities I never would have had,” Kissinger said. Being first up is seldom a desirable position, but John “Legs” Lawrenzi of Sutersville was likely unfazed as he sang “An American Trilogy” by Elvis Presley. The state Southern Gospel Music Hall of Fame inductee estimated he’d performed in more than 3,700 concerts. “You have like two different voices,” King observed. “You have the lower one, your more expressive solo voice, and you have the upper, more

dynamic [voice]. I prefer the more expressive, lower voice.” Second in line was Roy “Jake” Jacobs of Thomasville with “Unchained Melody” by The Righteous Brothers. Jacobs tearfully noted that he dedicates that song to his late wife. “That came through very clearly,” Stelson agreed. “It was very clear that you were singing to someone.” West Brandywine’s Tom Williams played his acoustic guitar while singing “Early Morning Rain” by Gordon Lightfoot, a mellow, intimate rendition that King called “very atmospheric.” “I felt like I could be sitting with you at a campfire,” Pritchett added. “Your voice is very smooth, and I really enjoyed it.” Tammy Estep of York was the first of the night’s female performers. She sang a passionate version of “Long, Long Time” by Linda Ronstadt. “I like the control you had; you could tell you were really working on control,” Pritchett noted. The audience buzz increased rather dramatically when dancer Ray Ricke Jr. of York appeared on stage in his Michael Jackson getup. His “Smooth Criminal” routine included the moonwalk as well as some pulsating pectoral muscles thrown in for good measure. “Let me just politely say on behalf of all my girlfriends here: That was very enjoyable,” Stelson joked. Ricke may have been a tough act to follow, but Dan Kelly of Philadelphia didn’t disappoint with his confident rendition of “Maybe This Time” from Cabaret. “I love the richness in your voice, and I also like how when you belt it out, you belt it out—you go right down to the belly and bring it up,” Pritchett said. Kelly’s confidence was followed up by Maudie Becker’s version of “At Last” by Etta James, which King called “a gutsy, soulful performance.” Stelson complimented the Seltzer resident’s choice of key.

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“You sang that kind of low, and I really liked it,” she said. “I thought it really showed you off to your best advantage.” Next up was Chris Roda of Lancaster, who used his operatic vocals on “And This is My Beloved” from Kismet. King praised Roda’s use of dynamics. “Your last note was my favorite note of all,” King said. “It seemed like you held it for about five minutes.” Adding some variety to the night’s otherwise musical lineup, Steve Gallion of Lancaster performed a stand-up comedy routine that elicited a solid 3.5 minutes of raucous laughter from the audience and judges alike. King praised the pacing and cadence of Gallion’s delivery. “I like the way you built the routine, too,” King said. “You finished on top. It was great.” Music returned in force with Cheri Coleman of Coatesville singing “Inseparable” by Natalie Cole. King liked her “sweet and tender way of singing.” “A couple of those notes you hit, I thought my glass was going to shatter,” joked Pritchett. “I thought your voice was phenomenal.” Another phenomenal voice followed in the form of Kevin Pierce, also of Coatesville, who performed “Ol’ Man River” from Show Boat. King and Stelson commented on his storytelling ability. “Your voice and your presentation were both very dynamic,” Pritchett observed. “I was captivated. I just kept watching you because you’re so expressive.” The acoustic guitar then returned on stage with Paul Zavinsky at its helm. Zavinsky, of Hummelstown, sang and strummed “Leaving on a Jet Plane” by John Denver. “Good voices are a gift; they’re not something that you just take for granted,” noted King. “You have a nice, buttery kind of feel to your singing.” Constance Kuba Fisher of Mechanicsburg brought a different energy onto the stage with her theatrical rendition of “Ring Them Bells” by Liza Minnelli. “You’re fun, you’re a storyteller, and your stage presence was really wonderful,” Harris said. Nick Ferraro of Harrisburg brought images of Elvis to mind both in his appearance and his sound

as he passionately sang Presley’s “If I Can Dream.” “That was a really soulful performance. You put your heart and soul into that,” said King. Last but not least, Tom LaNasa of York closed the evening’s semifinalist performances with a dramatic, spoken-word presentation of Johnny Cash’s patriotic poem “Ragged Old Flag.” “I wish you would go down and do that same performance before Congress,” Stelson said. “I just defy them before the end of the day not to have a deal on this [government shutdown] silliness.” The four judges’ scores for all 15 contestants were then collected and tallied to determine which three semifinalists would move on to the finalist round and present a second performance. “You have no idea how tough this is tonight,” Harris said. “This is the best lineup we’ve had— every SENIOR IDOL has been great, and we’ve been here since the beginning—but tonight is unbelievable.” After a brief intermission, Ray Ricke Jr., Cheri Coleman Campbell, and Chris Roda were named the night’s three finalists. For their second selections, Ricke danced to “Billie Jean” by Michael Jackson; Campbell performed “Saving All My Love for You” by Whitney Houston; and Roda sang “E Lucevan Le Stelle” from Tosca. The judges as well as the audience then voted for their favorite, and Roda was named the 2013 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL. Roda, a customer-service representative for RR Donnelly in Lancaster, had earlier shared with the judges and audience that his powerful voice had returned only a year ago after conquering a four-year illness that had ravaged his vocal chords. “It’s none of our business the health difficulties that you went through,” she said, “and it’s also nobody’s business who you believe in, in terms of God or Buddha … but I will say that I think God gave you a second lease so that we could have you.” For more information and highlights on the 2013 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL finals competition, visit www.SeniorIdolPA.com.

2013 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL Winner Chris Roda Cheri Coleman

Nick Ferraro

From left: Valerie Pritchett, RJ Harris, Janelle Stelson, and Adrian “Buddy” King

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TAKE TWO

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A girlfriend at the time connected Roda with her uncle, who was involved with the Fulton Theatre. At his urging, Roda also began lessons with renowned vocal coach Romayne Bridgett. Before long, he began getting gigs at weddings and then sang with the Lancaster Symphony Orchestra chorus for two years in the early 1980s. By the ’90s, Roda bought some recording equipment of his own, but his fulltime job at a printing company meant that, although music was his passion, it could only remain a hobby. “The reality was, I was a family man and I had a job, and I could only spend so much time on the music,” he said. Roda was then introduced to the Pennsylvania Academy of Music in Lancaster and connected with a teacher there who was a retired Metropolitan Opera tenor. “I was his student for a couple of years,” said Roda. “He really refined my voice … he got me into the style of singing that people heard from me [at SENIOR IDOL].” He was also invited to sing at one of OperaLancaster Associates’ Lemonade Concerts, but he remained “just a local, low-key, hobby-type singer for the last 30 years” before placing in the 2007 SENIOR IDOL competition. After that, he said, he was rendered unable to sing due to the onset of his

illness, which baritone and affected his not a tenor, as vocal nerve. previous Years went coaches had. by in pained “I would go silence. through spells “Music where I dropped off couldn’t sing the radar for because I was me, which being pushed a was heartlittle too far, a breaking,” little too high Roda up the vocal recalled. register,” he Things said. “You’ve Roda, center, reacts as he is announced as the finally began got to be PA STATE S ENIOR I DOL . He is flanked by winner of 2013 to turn back careful with a the other two finalists, Ray Ricke Jr. of York, left, and voice like around for Cheri Campbell of Coatesville, right. Roda in fall that.” 2012 when Meanwhile, he suddenly observed increasing Roda eagerly registered for a 2013 PA improvements in his voice, which had STATE SENIOR IDOL audition this summer. become raspy during his illness. At the finals competition, his “A year ago September, my voice performance of “And This is My began to come back,” he said. “The last Beloved” from Kismet secured him a spot few months, it’s gotten better than it’s amongst the three finalists. His follow-up ever been. The worst is behind me, performance, “E Lucevan Le Stelle” from thank goodness.” Tosca, earned him the win. His win at the Spring Sing Roda said a chill went up his spine Competition was a needed confidence upon hearing his name called. boost, and Roda began weekly lessons “It was an amazing feeling. It felt like with vocal coach John Darrenkamp, also I kind of just lifted off the stage a few retired from the Metropolitan Opera in inches; it was incredible,” he said. “It was New York City. He is the first of Roda’s fulfilling, rewarding … it was relief, joy, instructors to treat him as a lyric and euphoria all wrapped up into this

little 10-second announcement.” Despite his success earlier this year, Roda said he was “in no way” feeling confident of a SENIOR IDOL win as the finals night progressed and he mingled with the other semifinalists. “I was having so much fun. I was very in awe of the talent of the other performers,” he said. “I loved doing it. I loved meeting all those people backstage. There were lots of little friendships formed, lots of joking and banter back there.” As the 2013 SENIOR IDOL winner, Roda’s prize is a limousine trip for two to New York City for dinner and a Broadway show. But that’s not the only journey to the Big Apple he’ll be making in the coming months. “I’m going to New York in November,” he said. “I’m registered for America’s Got Talent.” He also plans to continue working with Darrenkamp, who is grooming Roda to try out for opera roles in the Fulton’s 2014-15 season. Roda noted that many male opera singers, especially tenors as he had been, retire after age 50. But even several years past that mark, Roda is optimistic and unconcerned. “I feel like I’ve been given a second chance here. I’m not worried about being 57 because I’ve got a lot of good years of singing left.”

Church Connections Decline, but Belief Remains one-third of adults under the age of 30 say the same. In the last five years, the proportion of people practicing no religion has risen from 15 to 20 percent, with 13 million (6 percent) describing

themselves as atheists or agnostics and 33 million identifying with no specific religion at all (14 percent). But spiritual belief may not be disappearing entirely. Sixty-eight percent of Americans who aren’t

attached to any church do say they believe in God, and 58 percent claim a deep connection with the earth and nature. Twenty-one percent say they pray every day.

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Religious belief continues to decline in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center’s Religion & Public Life Project. One-fifth of Americans say they’re not affiliated with any religion, and

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November 2013

Life-saving cardiac care.

And the gift of time. At 10 a.m., Dave began having chest pains. At noon he was rushed to Good Samaritan. By 1 p.m., the advanced technology of our cardiac catheterization lab had found ďŹ ve arterial blockages. And by 3:30 p.m., Dave was having the bypass surgery that would save his life. Now Dave has more time to pursue his love of restoring clocks. Thanks to the clockwork performance of the cardiac team at Good Samaritan. For more information or to ďŹ nd a physician, visit comfortingcare.org.

November 2013

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