Chester County 50plus Senior News Dec. 2011 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

Chester County Edition

December 2011

Vol. 8 No. 12

Dickens-Inspired Village Ushers in the Holidays By Katie Weeber At Christmastime, George McMurty is always confronted with a challenge: finding the perfect gift for his wife. The challenge is further complicated by the couple’s wedding anniversary, which falls on Dec. 26, turning every holiday season into the search for two special gifts. One year, McMurty’s gift selection inadvertently sparked a tradition that is now a favorite element of the Christmas scenery at their retirement community. That Christmas, McMurty asked his daughter to help him with his gift search. While shopping, both were attracted to a collection of lighted Dickens’ Village houses, and McMurty purchased two of the buildings for his wife. The Dickens’ Village Series was developed and produced in 1984 by Department 56 as part of the company’s Heritage Village Collection. Inspired by Victorian England, the series contained seven shops and a church. Since that time, the Heritage Village Collection has been expanded tremendously to include many new village series, including The New England Village Series and The Alpine Village Series. The result is a line of countless Christmastime houses, figures, and accessories, many inspired by Victorian England or the works of Charles Dickens. After his first purchase, McMurty quickly came to realize just how extensive the village collections were. please see DICKENS page 7 It takes about two weeks for George McMurty to set up and add his own special touches to his 135-piece Dickens’ Village.

Inside:

Salute to a Veteran page 4

Christmas Travel page 10

Landisville, PA Permit No. 3

PAID PRSRT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE

The Squint-Eyed Senior

Christmas by the Book Theodore Rickard ometimes I think we have all become unwitting victims of both Charles Dickens and Norman Rockwell or, at least, our vision of their creations. We became hopelessly self-convinced that the roaring fireplace and jolly Mr. Fezziwig might be real and that there will surely still be a job there when we go back to work on Dec. 26. And, certainly, the smiling turkey carver at the head of the table will still have room on the Visa card for his spouse to hit the postholiday sales. However, we who have survived to retirement know how wishful these little dreams really were in our own times of job holding and child raising. Nevertheless, we treasured the cozy fiction then and I, for one, still do now. The whole family knows that the sonin-law’s employer is downsizing its middle management—again. And the

oldest son’s business, once so promising, is stuck in the doldrums, even though the bank was willing to extend the loans one more time. I think I’ve heard this before: that was in the ’70s when, besides a frozen economy, we had the additional specter of nuclear incineration threatened by a madman tyrant sworn to destroy us. We wondered then if Norman Rockwell’s beaming holiday family would live long enough for Easter. And we suspected Mr. Fezziwig’s business would be in bankruptcy by New Year’s. But Santa came anyway in those years. He brought more wardrobe pieces for Barbie and extra straight track for the

electric train. International crises, vicious political confrontations, and domestic financial problems raged unabated. But somehow there were tennis rackets and first baseman’s mitts—and skis followed by several weeks in a cast, being chauffeured to school, and going on crutches to the junior prom. This last was first viewed as the depth of embarrassment to the would-be femme fatale. But the next day we noticed that her cast had been signed by more than a dozen new names, and all of them were male. At Christmas there may be bomb threats in Bethlehem and terror in Wall Street—each with the familiar ring of

years-ago disasters. However, for a single day at least, we can leave hysteria outside. And we will do so again this year. Now the once-children have children of their own. The electric train has been divided up between two of the boys and, to no one’s surprise, one daughter. And it has been hugely expanded since. The grandchildren aren’t terribly interested in the tin crossing gate that actually goes down when the train approaches, not nearly as much as their fathers and their uncles are. These folks join Grandfather on hands and knees to watch the train go through the tunnel and insist on turning off all the lights so the sweep of the train’s locomotive lights can be seen more clearly—and fully appreciated. A few years ago, Barbie’s original wardrobe and personal property were heartlessly sold on eBay by a college senior facing eviction. Her sisters say

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they have forgiven her. I think her mother has, too. But I’m not so sure the once-impecunious student has forgiven herself. Not if we judge by what she gave her nieces for Christmas: Paris Hilton doesn’t have this kind of wardrobe. The dinner table this year will once more make room for a highchair and a chubby, tow-headed occupant. Highchairs now, I find, have seatbelts.

But I’m proud to say that this grandchild has found a way to squirm out of the chair, despite the belts, and end up in Grandmother’s lap, where the sippy cup is waved in juice-strewing triumph and it’s much easier to pull at the tablecloth and tip over the wine glasses. That’s why there are mothers and aunts: to do the mopping up. Grandmother has the baby in her lap

and Grandpa is busy fixing the crossing gate. Dessert will be the traditional choice of pies. Then there is a second crisis—a decision involving whipped cream or ice cream on top. A half-whispered estimate of “at least 500 calories” will be made, with appropriate scorn, by the highschool freshman granddaughter who is getting a “B” in home ec.

She is convinced that her parents have managed to make it this far in life only via miraculous divine intervention—or hers. Then, somewhere around her sophomore year in college after two years of dorm food, she will become a family dinner enthusiast and we won’t hear any more about calories. Mr. Fezziwig didn’t count calories. Not at Christmas. Why should we?

Know Your Mistletoe Kissing under the mistletoe is a custom that has spawned any number of popular songs, love affairs, and slaps across the faces of unwanted suitors. The origins of the traditional are unknown. Here’s one story: In Viking mythology, the god Baldr was killed through the trickery of Loki, who caused Baldr’s blind brother to shoot him with a

poisoned dart made of mistletoe. Baldr’s mother, Frigga, the goddess of love, was stricken with grief. When her tears fell on a mistletoe plant, the berries

turned from red to white (mistletoe has both red and white berries), and this brought her son back from the dead. Because Frigga was so grateful to

have her son restored, she kissed everyone who walked beneath the mistletoe. The berries are important to the tradition: According to etiquette, a man who kisses a woman under the mistletoe is supposed to remove one berry for each kiss. When the berries are gone, no more kisses are allowed.

Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being. Assisted Living/Personal Care Harrison Senior Living of Coatesville (610) 384-6310 Simpson Meadows (610) 269-8400 Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Dri-Masters Carpet Cleaning (610) 616-3107/(484) 301-0848 Dental Services Family Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry (610) 692-8454 Disasters American Red Cross Greater Brandywine (610) 692-1200 Chester County Emergency Services (610) 344-5000 Salvation Army Coatesville (610) 384-2954 Salvation Army West Chester (610) 696-8746 Emergency Numbers Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Office of Aging (610) 344-6350/(800) 692-1100

Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-3676 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (800) 272-3900 American Cancer Society (800) 227-2345 American Heart Association (610) 940-9540

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

Center for Disease Control Prevention (888) 232-3228 Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711

Pharmacies

Eastwood Village Homes, LLC (717) 397-3138

Housing Assistance

Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200 Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801 Legal Services Lawyer Referral Service (610) 429-1500

Gateway Medical Associates (610) 594-7590

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (610) 436-4510

PACE (800) 225-7223 Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852

Nutrition Meals on Wheels Chester County Inc. (610) 430-8500 Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (800) 366-3997

Gateway Medical Associates (610) 594-7590 Senior Centers Coatesville (610) 383-6900 Downingtown (610) 269-3939 Great Valley (610) 647-1311 Kennett Square (610) 444-4819 Oxford (610) 932-5244 Phoenixville (610) 935-1515 Surrey Services for Seniors (610) 647-6404 Wayne (610) 688-6246 West Chester (610) 431-4242

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

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CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Physicians

Harrison Senior Living (610) 384-6310

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

National Osteoporosis Foundation (800) 223-9994

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

Housing

Community Impact Legal Services (610) 380-7111

Arthritis Foundation (215) 665-9200

Office of Aging

50plus SeniorNews

December 2011

Salute to a Veteran

The Me-109’s Cannon Blasted a 4-Foot Hole in His B-17’s Wing

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December 2011

50plus SeniorNews

Robert D. Wilcox hen John (Jack) Herr was to load drums and ammunition From there it was to Kingman born in 1925, he was a belts. Army Air Field, in Kingman, Ariz., direct descendant of Hans Herr remembers well that he had for three months where Herr flew in Herr, who was a Mennonite bishop to be able to strip his gun and B-17s, honing his skills by firing at who came to this country during the reassemble it while blindfolded and tow targets. Then, finally, it was to early 1700s and became, with his wearing gloves … and with the Lincoln, Neb., where he was shipmates, the first settlers in gunnery instructor observing with a assigned to a B-17 crew. Lancaster County. stopwatch. Blindfolded because it The crew went by ship from That gentle man had had the Newport News to Marseilles, courage to cross an enormous France. Then it was to Algiers and ocean in the flimsiest of ships to back to Naples, Italy, and then live among natives who might going from there by rail to their have thought nothing of killing base in Foggia, Italy, where they him at any time. But it would be became part of the 416th Squadron of the 99th Bomb Group. interesting to speculate on what Once there, Herr was to he would have thought about the quickly learn that combat could grave dangers faced by his kill you. He flew 11 missions descendant of some 18 before war’s end, and on each one generations who, with millions of he had not just flak, not just other young people, fought World enemy fighters, but both. On all War II. of them, he saw other B-17s going Jack Herr knew from the down in flames, but somehow his beginning that he wanted to be a crew lucked out and always got pilot. So, upon graduating from back to base. high school in 1943, he enlisted Was any mission especially in the Army and requested hairy? “Oh, yeah,” he says, with assignment to the Aviation Cadet John H. (Jack) Herr his eyes closing at the memory. program. Thanks in part to a as an aviation cadet in 1944. “Our second mission was Berlin. strong letter of recommendation That was an especially heavily from his high school protected target. And it was an principal, D.L. Biemesderfer, exceptionally long-range target he was accepted into the for us. We were on oxygen for program. most of the mission, since we After basic training, he was turned it on at 10,000 feet. sent to a College Training You had to remember to Detachment at Drake squeeze the oxygen tube every University in Des Moines, few minutes, or it would freeze Iowa. Then he was sent to the up on you, and you wouldn’t Classification Center at Santa get any oxygen at all. Ana, Calif. During the war “When we got to the years, that was one of the centers where it was Four of Herr’s buddies (at right) standing in the hole target, the sky was just black with all the bursts of flak. determined whether a cadet that had been blasted in the wing of his B-17. Then, after we had dropped was to become a pilot, our bombs and turned to navigator, or bombardier. head home, there came the fighters. When Herr got there, however, he was tough to look straight down One Me-109 flew right through our got the bad news that the Air Corps when you were zipped up to the formation and blew a huge hole in had all the men in those specialties neck in a bulky flight suit. In gloves our right wing with his cannon. that they could use. So, he was given because it was often 60 degrees With it went our aileron control, a number of assignments from which below zero at altitude. If he were to and we had yet to fly over the Alps he could choose. One of them was touch his gun with bare skin, it to get home. One of our guys on the gunnery, so that’s what he picked. would freeze to the metal. right side in the waist yelled, ‘Hey, Off he went to Lowery Field in For a few weeks, they fired daily look at our wing’ as he saw the big Denver, Colo., where he learned on the range. And then they flew in hole and the fuel streaming out of it. how to maintain and clean .50aircraft and fired at tow targets, “We had lost one of our engines caliber machine guns, how to tear learning how to lead the target so in the attack, too. So we were down and reassemble them, and how the fired bullets would hit it.

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sweating out getting past the Alps. Fortunately, however, our pilot was able to thread his way through the peaks and get us back. At our base, we had to manually crank down the wheels, and we made a picture-perfect landing on our first (and which would probably have been our only) pass at the field. I truly don’t know how much flying time we had left, but it was next to nothing.” The rest of Herr’s missions were tough, and when he had finished his combat, he had earned the European African Middle Eastern Campaign medal with three Bronze Stars. Herr came back

to the U.S. from Naples on an ocean liner and was separated from the service as a staff sergeant in January 1946. He returned to the family business, John Herr’s Village Market, where he had worked since age 16. In 1974, he presided, as president, at the opening of the new and much larger store and finally retired in 2001. In retirement, he says with a chuckle, “I still go in once a week just to make sure everything is OK.”

Happy Holidays, From Our Family to Yours!

Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in WWII.

This Month in History: December

Gateway Medical Associates, Chester County’s largest independent physician practice, has been serving our community since 1996. Gateway strives to provide the highest quality primary and specialty care with a focus on our patients’ wellbeing and health. Our 34 physicians and nurse practitioners provide quality care from any of our 9 convenient locations, including our newest location in Delaware County at Gateway Newtown/Edgemont Family Practice. Leader in Quality and Technology to Enhance Your Health Care.

Events • Dec. 5, 1933 – The 18th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the Prohibition Amendment, was repealed. For nearly 14 years, since Jan. 29, 1920, it had outlawed the manufacture, transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in the U.S. • Dec. 17, 1903 – After three years of experimentation, Orville and Wilbur Wright achieved the first powered, controlled airplane flights. They made four flights near Kitty Hawk, N.C., the longest lasting about a minute. • Dec. 18, 1865 – The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, abolishing slavery. It stated, “Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, save as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”

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Birthdays • Dec. 6 – Photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt (1898-1995) was born in Dirschau, Prussia. He is best known for his Life magazine cover photos, including the sailor kissing a nurse in Times Square, celebrating the end of World War II. • Dec. 19 – British explorer William Parry (1790-1855) was born in Bath, England. He conducted Arctic expeditions and made three attempts to find a Northwest Passage. • Dec. 25 – Film actor Humphrey Bogart (1899-1957) was born in New York City. He is best known for The African Queen, The Maltese Falcon, Casablanca, and To Have and Have Not.

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50plus SeniorNews

The College of Possibilities

December 2011

Chester County

Calendar of Events 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

Dec. 10, 8 to 10 a.m. – Birding at Black Rock, Black Rock Sanctuary Dec. 10, 9 to 10 a.m. – Holiday Dog Hike, Wolf ’s Hollow County Park Dec. 10, 3 to 5 p.m. – Holiday Dog Hike, Nottingham County Park

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

Chester County Library Programs

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

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

Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819 427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square www.kennettseniorcenter.org Dec. 8 – Free Blood Pressure Screening Dec. 16 – Spirit Day: “Jingle Bells” Theme Dec. 18, 1 to 3:15 p.m. – Sunday Dinner with Friends and Special Christmas Concert Oxford Senior Center – (610) 932-5244 12 E. Locust St., Oxford – www.oxfordseniors.org

Honey Brook Community Library, 687 Compass Road, Honey Brook, (610) 273-3303 Phoenixville Area Senior Adult Activity Center (610) 935-1515 153 Church St., Phoenixville www.phoenixvilleseniorcenter.org

Malvern Library, 1 E. First Ave., Malvern, (610) 644-7259 Oxford Library, 48 S. Second St., Oxford, (610) 932-9625 Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, (610) 296-7996 Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times

West Chester Area Senior Center – (610) 431-4242 530 E. Union St., West Chester – www.wcseniors.org

Phoenixville Library, 183 Second Ave., Phoenixville, (610) 933-3013 Spring City Library, 245 Broad St., Spring City, (610) 948-4130

Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.

Tredyffrin Library, 582 Upper Gulph Road, Strafford, (610) 688-7092 West Chester Library, 415 N. Church St., West Chester, (610) 696-1721

Programs and 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 Dec. 3 and 4, 1 to 5 p.m. Model Railroad Open House Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Club 400 S. Main St., Phoenixville (610) 935-1126 www.svmrrc.com Dec. 3 and 17, 5 to 10 p.m. Bingo Nights Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St., Downingtown (610) 431-2234

December 2011

Free and open to the public

Dec. 6, 11:30 a.m. West Chester University Retirees Luncheon Old Country Buffet 1090 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown (610) 269-1503 Dec. 7, 6 p.m. Memory Loss and Dementia Support Group Sunrise Assisted Living of Paoli 324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern (610) 251-9994

Dec. 12 and 26, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Adult Care of Chester County 201 Sharp Lane, Exton (610) 363-8044 Dec. 14, noon Family Caregiver Support Group Sarah Care 425 Technology Drive, Suite 200, Malvern (610) 251-0801

Dec. 20, 6 p.m. Family Caregiver Support Group Dec. 12, 7 to 8 p.m. Cancer Support Group: Double Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester Hope of Chester County (610) 399-4464 Calvary Fellowship Church 95 W. Devon Drive, If you have an event you would like to Downingtown include, please email information to (484) 319-8167 mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

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

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from page 1

“I realized how many buildings there which contains houses, like Tiny Tim’s, were and I just started buying them each and some other related buildings, like year,” he said. churches and the police department. From that year on, McMurty The second area, located next to the purchased four to eight buildings residential section, contains what annually, and his original gift set to his McMurty calls the “clean” businesses. wife soon grew into a sizeable collection. These buildings in this section are He now has around 135 pieces. business oriented and include the jewelry Beside buildings, McMurty’s collection store, clothing store, candy store, and includes figures of people, many leather shop. characters from Dickens’ novels. His The third area contains the “unclean” collection also features several large, businesses, like the blacksmith shop, special pieces. Some of these are fictional warehouses, and the brewery. palaces and churches mentioned in “I lay it out as much as I can as you Dickens’ works, while some, like the would expect a regular town to look,” replicas of Big Ben, the Tower of London, McMurty said. and Kensington The display, Palace, are wonderful which contains renditions of realaround 60 houses in world locations. total, also receives a Every Christmas, number of special McMurty would touches from take the time to set McMurty. He sets up his collection in a up the lighting for winter display for his each building and house. As the then cuts pieces of number of pieces in cotton, which he lays his collection grew out between and on each year, the task the houses as a Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim from became more and blanket of snow. The A Christmas Carol pose outside more monumental. result is a beautiful their home. McMurty recalls a winter scene, time when the collection became a complete with children sledding in the permanent fixture in the house. streets and workers coming and going “I was able to have a room in the from their places of employment. The basement that we dedicated to the entire process takes about two weeks. Dickens’ Village. For four or five years, I The Dickens’ Village has been a huge never took it down. I would change it a success and has become one of the bit each year, of course,” he said. retirement community’s most favored When the McMurtys moved to Willow holiday displays. It is not advertised and Valley Retirement Community, the sits in what might be considered an outDickens’ Village was put in storage, but of-the-way location, but its popularity not for long. One year, residents began continues to grow as residents spread its looking for extra Christmas decorations to story by word of mouth. use to decorate some of the building’s “Each year there have been more and common spaces. One such common space more people. I’ve had a lot of nice is not far from McMurty’s apartment. compliments about it,” McMurty said. “It’s usually used as a place where a McMurty has enjoyed the Dickens’ jigsaw puzzle is set up that the residents Village for years and takes pleasure in work on. At Christmastime they went to sharing it with others. decorate it a little differently. One woman “I just really enjoy putting it together asked my wife if there was anything she and looking at it afterwards. I never knew they could use to decorate it with,” started it as something to put on display McMurty said. or show. It’s been a personal pleasure for McMurty’s wife immediately suggested me to do. I get a big kick out of it,” he the use of the Dickens’ Village houses, said. and, with her help, McMurty went to McMurty’s wife has occasionally work on a display. mentioned that the Dickens’ Village grew McMurty spends a great deal of time out of hand over the years, taking over planning the community’s display. He has entire rooms and storage cages. As developed a system of organization, with McMurty explains, however, the village each house and character holding a never would have come into being specific place. The display contains three without his need to purchase a gift for her. tables, each representing three sections of “I think she secretly enjoys it,” he said. a Victorian town. The residents of Willow Valley and The first area is the residential section, their holiday visitors certainly do. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Thank You, Columnists! 50plus Senior News continues to bring important information as well as entertaining articles to the 50+ community. We at On-Line Publishers would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the editorial contributors of 50plus Senior News:

Thank You!

DICKENS

Chaz Allen (Little-Known Facts) Angelo Coniglio (The Search for Our Ancestry) Wendell Fowler (Preventive Measures) Al Goodman (Beyond the Battlefield ) Andrea Gross (Traveltizers) Dr. Lori (Art and Antiques) Gloria May (NurseNews) Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature) Myles Mellor (crossword puzzles) Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior) Candace O’Donnell (Balancing Act) Victor Parachin (Fragments of History) Saralee Perel (Such is Life) Dr. Leonard Perry (The Green Mountain Gardener) W.E. Reinka (Silver Threads) Ted Rickard (The Squint-Eyed Senior) Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser) Pat Sinclair (Recipes for Two) Walt Sonneville (My 22 Cents’ Worth) Robert Wilcox (Salute to a Veteran) Judith Zausner (Creativity Matters) Sherra Zavitsanos (Social Security News)

It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors and freelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available to read each month. The pages of 50plus Senior News are enriched by your contributions.

The

sparkle

in her eyes is the reason

we’re here

Spacious, serene surroundings. Family-centered programs. Friendly, dedicated staff. Our residents look to us for the care they need, and the respect they deserve. Harrison Senior Living offers all of the above. But it’s the sparkle in our residents’ eyes that tells us that we’re more than a topnotch facility. We’re home.

A LOVING ENVIRONMENT, A CARING COMMUNITY

PERSONAL CARE & SENIOR APARTMENTS 300 Strode Avenue • Coatesville, PA 19320 • (610) 384-6310 SKILLED NURSING & REHABILITATION 41 Newport Avenue • Christiana, PA 17509 • (610) 593-6901

www.harrisonseniorliving.com 50plus SeniorNews

December 2011

Rehab Center Graduates 3 New PEERs Senior Groups Meet for Food and Friendly Competition

Members of Coatesville Senior Center recently met up with the Senior Circles group for bingo, food, and fellowship at Old Country Buffet in Exton. The event was sponsored by Rover Community Transportation and included an appearance by their mascot.

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The Chester County Department of Aging Services Ombudsman Program recently conducted PEER training sessions at Chester Valley Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in Malvern. Following the completion of the training sessions, a graduation ceremony celebrated the graduates, who were awarded a certificate, a door sign, and a badge. The Chester Valley PEERs become part of a group that now consists of more than 1,000 PEERs from long-term care facilities all over Pennsylvania. The PEER Project trains resident advocates to PEER graduates are, from left, Eva Moebs, Evonne Wagenheim, and Beth Kressly. work from the inside with facility staff and residents to enhance quality of care and quality of life for their “peers.” PEER Project participants attended five two-hour training sessions, such as “The Focus is on YOU” and “Building Self-Resolution Skills.” There was also a two-hour session for staff of the facility to orient them to the PEER concept.

Senior Center Grateful for Craft Fair Turnout The Kennett Area Senior Center recently completed a very successful bazaar/craft fair. Approximately 700 people attended the Friday/Saturday event and purchased a large volume of merchandise primarily for their holiday shopping needs. The center is grateful for the huge turnout and would like to thank both the enthusiastic shoppers as well as its dedicated volunteers.

As On-Line Publishers, Inc. sees the conclusion of yet another year, we are grateful to our dedicated staff, loyal readers, and supportive advertisers who have all enabled us to continue to grow in our mission to serve the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50+ community. We wish to thank each of you for helping to make 50plus Senior News a fun, interesting, and unique source of information and entertainment for our readers in Central Pennsylvania. At this special time of giving thanks and reminiscing, the staff of On-Line Publishers wishes you, our friends, warmest holiday wishes.

Costumed craft fair volunteer Bert Zerbe hugging a Christmas tree.

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Book Review

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By Jessica Mary Buck ebecca’s thoughts drifted back to how much she had previously loved Christmas … decorating the house, getting the shopping done early so that the whole month of December could be devoted to dinners, family get-togethers, and parties … But there’ll be none of that this year. No, none of that. A sudden pain stabbed her in the chest.” Makeshift Christmas, a novel written by Jessica Mary Buck, tells of a nontraditional family who learn of their inner strength through numerous struggles: completing college, working menial jobs, surviving the cold New York winter, and experiencing an impoverished Christmas. Rebecca Andrews, a middle-aged housewife, refuses to remain a discarded woman after a failed marriage. Remembering her friend’s advice, that to live well is the best revenge, Rebecca resolves to complete an education, become independent,

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Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

Traveltizers

Christmas Travel: Colonial Cakes and Spanish Stew By Andrea Gross artha Washington tops Martha Stewart on my list of hostesses extraordinaire. In order to prepare for her Christmas guests, the first Martha whipped 40 eggs, 4 pounds of butter, 4 pounds of sugar, and 5 pounds of flour into a massive cake. Meanwhile, almost 2,000 miles away, in a part of the country that was most likely beyond the imagination of the first family, Native Americans joined Spanish settlers in serving posole and enchiladas. Today, modern renditions of these holiday festivities take place at George and Martha’s Mount Vernon home in Virginia and around an adobe plaza in New Mexico.

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Washington rented a camel to entertain guests during the Christmas holidays. Today, Mount Vernon does the same. MOUNT VERNON LADIES’ ASSOCIATION

A gingerbread version of Mount Vernon is on display throughout the holidays.

A Mount Vernon Christmas I don’t expect to see a camel at Mount Vernon. Christmas trees, poinsettias, even a gingerbread house … sure. But a camel? Then I learn that when Washington wasn’t off winning wars or fathering a country, he enjoyed playing with exotic animals and often rented a camel to entertain his Christmas guests. In 1789, George Washington spent his first Christmas as president attending St. Paul’s Church in New York City. The following week he returned to Mt. Vernon where he and Martha relaxed with family and friends. Camels aside, the president’s Christmas, as most 18th-century Christmases, was low keyed compared to today. There would have been few gifts and certainly no Santas or reindeer, neither of which became popular

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Christmas trees and luminarias decorate the plaza during the holidays.

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Christmas symbols until the 19th century. Today, Christmas at Mount Vernon is still mostly about welcoming guests. In addition to the regular attractions, which include tours of the mansion as well as the slave quarters, stables, gardens, and farm, the holiday season brings a host of special delights. I go into the mansion, past 12 decorated trees, through the dining room where a table is set to accommodate guests, and up to the garret chamber, which is only open during the holidays. “This is where Martha lived the last years of her life,” says a cheery woman who’s dressed in Colonial garb. “After George died, she never returned to their shared quarters.” The thought of a lonely woman huddled in an attic room saddens me, so to lift my spirits, I follow the smell of chocolate and cinnamon. In the kitchen a woman is stirring chocolate by an open fire, just as it was done in Colonial days. Nearby there’s a large gingerbread house designed to look like Mount Vernon as well as Martha’s grand cake, which was modeled after those traditionally served on the 12th day of Christmas (Jan. 6). A guide offers me the recipe, but the mention of 40 eggs and 4 pounds of butter leads to thoughts of calories and cholesterol, and I politely decline. That night a costumed actor cajoles me into dancing the Virginia reel, and a costumed Martha leads a candlelight tour of the mansion. I sing carols by the fireplace, sip cider, and reluctantly bid goodbye to Mount Vernon and George’s Christmas camel. www.mountvernon.org

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A New Mexican Holiday Santa has an easy time in Taos, N.M., where the town’s flat, adobe rooftops provide sure footing for his team of reindeer. But while the town welcomes St. Nick, its holiday charm is rooted in its blend of Native American, Hispanic, and Anglo traditions. The Hispanic culture is represented by the farolitos (small bonfires) and luminarias (paper bags lit with votive candles) that shine from streets to rooftops, bathing the town in a soft glow. Las Posadas, a candlelight procession that reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter, takes place from Dec. 16–24. As for Hispanic holiday food, I become addicted to biscochitos, the meltin-your-mouth Christmas cookies that are flavored with anise and cinnamon. The original recipe dates back to the Spanish colonists. For heartier fare, I try posole, a spicy stew of meat and corn that’s served in most Taos restaurants throughout the holiday season. After the 16th century when missionaries converted many of the

Natives to Catholicism, Spanish and Native American customs blended and eventually created traditions that are distinctly New Mexican. In this spirit, the 1,200-year-old Taos Pueblo has a Christmas Eve vespers service as well as Christmas and New Year’s Day celebrations that feature the Deer or Matachines (animal) dances. Anglo customs are highlighted (pun intended) with a gloriously tall Christmas tree that dominates the town plaza. In addition, the Taos Chamber Music Group presents “A Classical Holiday Encore.” But my favorite holiday activity is the annual Lighting of Ledoux, a tradition of mixed origins during which luminarias guide people up the winding road that’s home to Taos’ famed art galleries and studios. All the while, the piney aroma of piñón smoke wafts through the chilly desert air. For me as for many people, that signals that Christmas has come to Taos. www.taos.org

By Myles Mellor and Sally York

Story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com)

Many Reasons to Celebrate December is a month of many holiday celebrations crossing a variety of cultures, nationalities, and beliefs. Here’s a quick snapshot of what people celebrate, and why: Al Hijra. The Islamic new year, observed in 2011 from Nov. 26 through Dec. 24. Al Hijra marks the emigration of the Prophet Muhammad and his followers from Mecca to Medina in 622 A.D. Hanukkah. This Jewish holiday begins in 2011 on Dec. 20 (at sundown) and lasts through Dec. 28. Hanukkah celebrates the rededication of the Temple of Jerusalem after the Jewish victory over the Maccabees in 165 B.C. Each night, families light one candle on the menorah, observing the traditional story

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of how the oil for the temple’s eternal flame burned for eight days. Christmas. Observed on Dec. 25, this Christian holiday celebrates the birth of Jesus, probably between the years 7 and 2 B.C. The 25th may have been chosen to correspond with a Roman holiday honoring the sun during the same period. Christmas became a federal holiday in the United States in 1870. Kwanzaa. A seven-day celebration of African heritage and culture, Kwanzaa is observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1. Activist Ron Karenga created Kwanzaa in 1966 to emphasize AfricanAmericans’ shared history and experience. The name Kwanzaa is derived from “matunda ya kwanza,” a Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits.”

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Solution on page 13

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December 2011

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Such Is Life

I Married for Love, Sort Of Saralee Perel ne part I loathe about the holiday season is that it’s usually a time of reflection. From age 5 until 8, I reflected on hating my parents because we were Jewish so I didn’t get any Christmas presents. From 9 to 15, I reflected on hating my parents because they wouldn’t let me bring one lousy tree in the house. Hey! People have plant life indoors. So what if it has lights and tinsel on it? At age 16, my reflections changed. I reflected on how rotten my parents were because it was Christmas, for heaven’s sake. How about forking over a huge wad of dough so I could buy my own presents? And Chanukah? You think lighting candles on a menorah was what I dreamed of? No. I dreamed of jewelry and boys. Well, I’d get one present. What all teenagers die for. A new dictionary. There’s nothing like the Christmas lights in New England, where I now live. Makes me reflect on evening drives my mom and I took through the infidels’ decorated neighborhoods in Maryland, where I grew up. It must have brought her joy while I’d scream, “They’re just lights, Ma! It’s not like they’re satanic! Why can’t we have them?” She must have loved the constant fracas of changing radio stations from Sinatra to Christmas carols. She’d nearly drive off the road during our handslapping battles while I’d shout, “PA RUM PUM PUM PUM” over Sinatra’s “My Way.” And New Year’s? Oy vey. The Jewish

new year is as close to our national new year as Big Macs are to hamburgers made from soy beans. On Rosh Hashanah (new year), we don’t do fireworks. We go to temple. I’d pretend to listen to the rabbi while I’d play mind games— imagining the Hebrew letters in the prayer book as people in weird positions—when I was 40. At some point, I focused on getting married. Although love is important, I needed something else too. I wanted a man who not only adored me, but who also had a characteristic I’d cherish as much as love: a God-loving, presentgiving Christian. Last month, my Christian husband, Bob, and I celebrated our anniversary with a whole bunch of presents (oh yeah, we said “I love you” a lot too). The finest present I’ve ever received was from a sad and silent man—my grandfather. I was his fundamental source of joy. And I adored him. Other than when he’d look at me, the only time I’d see rapture on his face was while he’d play his violin. When he’d visit from Manhattan, we’d hug like there was no tomorrow. Born in 1885, he was 76 when I was 10. That Chanukah, he walked the aisles of Woolworths, collecting 5- and 10-cent “pearls” and “sapphires” and hundreds of pieces of sparkling jewelry that he put in a fancy jewelry box. What man would do such a thing in that day and age? As I write this, my eyes fill with tears. I see myself as that little girl opening the please see LOVE page 15

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Braintwisters 1. What holiday celebrates the end of slavery in the United States? A. Sweetest Day B. Freedom Day C. Kwanzaa D. Juneteenth Day 2. Celebration of the Jewish New Year is known as what? A. Yom Kippur B. Rosh Hashanah C. Ramadan D. Purim 3. During what ancient festival did masters temporarily serve their slaves? A. Lupercalia B. Saturnalia C. Floralia D. Agonia 4. What holiday was established in California in 1966 by scholar/activist Dr. Maulana Karenga? A. Earth Day B. Flag Day C. Kwanzaa D. National S’mores Day

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LOVE

from page 13

magical box. I remember feeling the strands of jewelry but only looking at Grandpa. I needed him to see my face filled with delight and adoration because I knew, even then, there was something more important than jewelry. I needed to see him smile. His smiles were so rare. I needed him to know how happy he made me. For that would bring him peace, if only for a few moments. Late in his life, Grandpa was moved to my parents’ house. I can still visualize him, having arrived at the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad Station. He was sitting in a wheelchair outside the train, all alone, while passengers and luggage carriers rushed around. In his arms was his beloved violin, though he could no longer play it. So nowadays, when Bob comes

home, we hug like there’s no tomorrow. Bob has my grandpa’s soul. I must have “sensed” that when we met. I have learned that presents don’t matter (oh, who am I kidding?). What truly matters is the joy on Bob’s lovely face as he tenderly opens a present yet looks at me before seeing what it is. His expression is identical to the look of adoration I had for Grandpa. I have a heart filled with treasures from my grandfather and my husband. And nothing, no matter what may lie ahead, will diminish the wealth these two loves of my life have permanently etched in my heart.

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Award-winning columnist Saralee Perel welcomes emails at sperel@saraleeperel.com or via her website: www.saraleeperel.com.

Braintwisters Untwist Your Brain!

1. D. Juneteenth Day 2. B. Rosh Hashanah 3. B. Saturnalia 4. C. Kwanzaa 5. C. Black Peter Questions shown on page 13

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