Chester County 50plus Senior News December 2015

Chester County Edition

December 2015

Vol. 12 No. 8

2016

1995

2000

NEW LOOK (AND A NEW NAME)

2005

Coming in January!

2007

2010

C rs of elebrating 20 Yea ce Pu llen blish e c x i ng E

Celebrating an Emerald Anniversary 50plus Senior News, On-Line Publishers Commemorate 20 Years

By Megan Joyce Back in 1995, we were abuzz with the burgeoning online world. The Internet as we would come to know it was beginning to take form; the concept that information could be disseminated and shared immediately on a widespread scale was utterly fascinating and revolutionary.

That same year, from her home in Central Pennsylvania, Donna Anderson was working on the premiere issue of her local, monthly newspaper for people over age 50.

She needed to choose a name for the nascent corporate entity behind the paper and wisely chose to capitalize on the forwardthinking, information-sharing imagery that the World Wide

Web had pushed into public consciousness.

And although the newspaper was very much a print publication at the time, it shared a basic mission with Internet use: the spread of information.

Thus, On-Line Publishers was born; and, with it, 50plus Senior News, then called simply Senior News.

“Having served as a volunteer at the Office of Aging for a number of years, I became aware that older people in our community needed access to information that was relevant to them at this time of their lives,” Anderson said.

The first issue of Senior News became available in Back row, from left, Brantley Lefever, Amy Kieffer, Eileen Culp, Ranee Shaub Miller, Angie Jacoby, Kimberly Shaffer, December 1995. Though Megan Joyce, Janys Cuffe, and Stan Anderson. Front row, from left, Renee McWilliams, Loren Gochnauer, Donna Anderson, Christianne Rupp, Elizabeth Duvall, Lauren McNallen, and Mariah Hammacher.

please see EMERALD page 5

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December 2015

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Happy Holidays!

As On-Line Publishers, Inc., sees the conclusion of its 20th anniversary 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.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Save Gas and Save Cash Whatever the price of gas is today, the cost of driving will always be a factor in your overall budget.

No matter what kind of vehicle you drive, you can save substantial money on fuel with these commonsense measures: Check the pressure in your tires.

The recommended pressure is often listed on the car’s doorjamb, inside the gas tank cover, in your owner’s manual, or in the information that comes with your tires.

Check the pressure on cold mornings

when it’s lowest, and be sure the cap on each tire’s valve fits tightly.

Do this once a month or so.

Replace spark plugs every six months.

Corroded plugs burn fuel less efficiently, requiring the engine to use more gas.

Change your air filter as recommended. New filters are relatively inexpensive, and they ensure the engine of a supply of clean air and thus more efficiency.

Be sure the cap on your gas tank fits correctly. Gas is a very volatile fluid and evaporates rapidly if its container is not completely sealed.

Buy gas with the recommended level of octane. Trying to save by buying a cheap, low-octane gas is only good for short-term savings. Your engine runs best on the gas the manufacturer recommends.

Accelerate smoothly rather than lurching. Stepping on the gas hard from a standing start or when you’re accelerating to pass wastes fuel. Build up steadily to the speed you want for optimum efficiency.

Resource Directory

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

Dental Services

Family Cosmetic Dentistry, Dr. David Stall (484) 551-3006 1646 West Chester Pike, Suite 1, West Chester 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 Glendale Mortgage (610) 853-6500 Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-3676 U.S. Financial (800) 595-1925, ext. 2122 Funeral & Cremation Services Cremation Society of Pennsylvania Serving Chester County (800) 720-8221

Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (800) 272-3900 American Cancer Society (800) 227-2345 American Heart Association (610) 940-9540 Arthritis Foundation (215) 665-9200 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (800) 232-4636 Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711

Housing Eastwood Village Homes, LLC 102 Summers Drive, Lancaster (717) 397-3138 Housing Assistance Community Impact Legal Services (610) 876-0804 Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200 Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801 Legal Services

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Lawyer Referral Service (610) 429-1500

National Osteoporosis Foundation (800) 223-9994

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (610) 436-4510

PACE (800) 225-7223

Medical Equipment & Supplies Medical Supply (800) 777-6647

Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852 Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213 Southeastern PA Medical Institute (610) 446-0662 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY

CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Physicians Gateway Medical Associates Locations in Coatesville, Downingtown, Lionville, and West Chester (610) 423-8181 Real Estate Hostetter Realty Kim Mann (717) 380-7459 Keller-Williams Real Estate Kelly Steyn (215) 646-2900 Senior Centers Coatesville (610) 383-6900 Downingtown (610) 269-3939

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

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

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Pharmacies

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

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December 2015

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Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Collecting Advent Calendars

Corporate Office:

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

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL Vice President and Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor, 50plus Publications Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT Project Coordinator Renee McWilliams Production Artists Janys Cuffe Lauren McNallen

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Account Executives Angie McComsey Jacoby Amy Kieffer Ranee Shaub Miller Account Representative Brantley Lefever Sales & Event Coordinator Eileen Culp Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer Marketing Coordinator Mariah Hammacher

CIRCULATION

Project Coordinator Loren Gochnauer

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

Awards

50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature.

Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.

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December 2015

Lori Verderame

F

rom the Latin term adventus, Advent means “the arrival.” For centuries, Advent has been a time of spiritual reflection for Christians in anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ.

It is believed that the period of Advent has been observed since about the 4th century AD. In the early days of observing Advent, the timeframe lasted from the feast day of St. Martin, held on Nov. 11, until Christmas Day on Dec. 25.

Similar to the springtime season of Lent, Advent once included a sixweek-long fast for believers; however, that has since been discontinued. By the sixth century, Advent no longer included a fasting ritual like Lent, and the Advent season was reduced from six weeks to only four weeks in length.

Today, the season of Advent remains a time of devotional prayer and anticipation of the Christmas holiday.

Like many holiday collectibles, objects relating to Advent, such as Advent wreaths and Advent candles, mark the days leading up to Christmas.

Advent wreaths, a circle of evergreens symbolizing eternal life, are widely used. The four red candles represent the four Sundays of the Advent period, and a fifth, white candle in the wreath’s center is called the Christ candle. The Christ candle is the last one to be lit, and it is lit only on Christmas Day. Quite possibly the most recognized of the season’s traditions is the use of the popular Advent calendar. For many collectors, the chronological countdown to Christmas Day comes in the form of an antique or vintagepaper, lithographed, felt, paintingon-canvas, or mixed-media Advent calendar.

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The Advent calendar is particularly popular with children, many of whom spend the greater part of the month of December patiently awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus and counting down the days by opening doors of an Advent calendar in order.

According to legend, the first known Advent calendar was handmade in 1851. By the 1880s,

Freestanding Advent calendar house.

the Germanic tradition of the Advent calendar began to spread across Europe to North America.

Typically made of printed images on paper or cardboard, Advent calendars boast 24 small, numbered doors to be opened daily in anticipation of Christmas. Snowcovered houses, holiday scenes, and winter wonderlands were common imagery used as the backdrop for the 24 miniature doors.

Each Advent calendar door is opened to reveal a holiday image, a Bible passage, a piece of candy, or a small gift starting on Dec. 1 and continuing until Christmas Eve; that is, Dec. 24.

The “father” of the modern Advent calendar was a German printer named Gerhard Lang. While working from his Munich, Germany, printing office, Lang produced small, colorful, religious images on paper and cardboard. Each image corresponded to one day in the month of December up to Dec. 24.

Circa 1908, Lang produced the first Advent calendar with cardboard doors that opened to reveal the image inside. Throughout much of the early 20th century, Advent calendars were exchanged as gifts around the Thanksgiving holiday in anticipation of Christmas.

When it comes to the value of Advent calendars, the characteristics you should look for are good condition (no rips, tears, or stains), intricate patterns or images of a winter scene or holiday events in bright colors, and famous printmakers like Lang, Sankt Johannis, etc.

Today, Advent calendars have evolved from lithograph printed images on cardboard to freestanding, dollhouse-style collectible calendars with hinged doors to hide small gifts, money, or candy. Some of these contemporary holiday collectibles are made of pressed board, masonite, and even wood.

For collectors, expect to pay $50 to $500 for some of the traditional paper Advent calendars and several thousands of dollars for handmade or handcrafted Advent calendars.

Happy holidays!

Celebrity Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and former museum director, Dr. Lori hosts antiques appraisal events worldwide. Dr. Lori is the star appraiser on Discovery channel. Visit www.

DrLoriV.com/Events, www.Facebook.com/ DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

EMERALD from page 2 thoroughly optimistic for the paper’s future, Anderson recalled early challenges.

In addition to the demands of producing a monthly newspaper entirely on her own, she found that mid-’90s potential advertisers—needed to support the production of a newspaper free to its readers—were unaware of the vibrancy of the over-50 population.

“In 1995, many business owners had a perspective that ‘seniors’ were penniless and sitting in rocking chairs at nursing homes,” Anderson recalled. “Nothing could have been further from the truth.”

At the time, Senior News was produced only for Lancaster County.

“I distinctly remember one conversation with a business associate and friend who said to me, ‘You are so passionate about bringing information to people; do you realize that you are depriving people in other communities where you don’t publish the paper?’” Anderson said.

“Wow—that was an eye opener. I hadn’t realized how much of a difference our publication was making in the area.”

Over the next decade, the paper’s coverage would expand to embrace five more Central Pennsylvania counties to form 50plus Senior News’ current six-county coverage umbrella—unique editions for Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties.

And with it, On-Line Publishers would expand too.

Christianne Rupp, vice president and managing editor, was initially hired in 1996 to take care of billing and then offered to make sales calls for Senior Living (now 50plus Living), OLP’s annual housing directory.

“I then became more involved in the overall editorial process, eventually moving away from any billing or sales tasks,” Rupp said. “This is where my true passion lies.”

OLP’s line of niche publications eventually grew to include BusinessWoman, a professional women’s magazine, and ((( b magazine ))), a lifestyle baby boomer publication, as well as other annual specialty inserts.

“With the youngest of baby boomers now 50 years old, the world has changed,” said Anderson. “And the world as we know it is being redefined by the next generation.

Our readers and our advertisers have propelled our success, and we are most grateful.”

In 1997, OLP branched out into events; the first 50plus EXPO (then called Celebrate Seniority Expo) brought businesses and the community together for face-to-face interaction.

There are now six 50plus EXPOs, four women’s expos, and three Veterans’ www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Expo & Job Fairs each year. Fall 2015 saw the addition of the first Ladies’ Night Out event.

“While social media has exploded, and we’re fully engaged, we know the original ‘social media,’ talking face-to-face, is very important. Our expos provide the perfect opportunity for businesses and service organizations in our area to speak face-toface with their potential customers.”

Recognizing the increasing impact of online readership in the 21st century, OLP was an early adopter of digital publishing technology. Its publications have successfully made the leap to digital formats so they can be read online and in print.

“Since 1995, much has changed in the publishing industry and in the world.

Technology has had a tremendous impact on how information is shared,” Anderson said. “While we fully embrace this brave new world, we know that many of our readers prefer their monthly printed editions of our publications.”

In addition to its look—which has undergone several stylistic changes over the last two decades—50plus Senior News’s editorial content has evolved and expanded.

Within its pages, readers will find everything from health and wellness, Social Security, and financial issues to perspective/humor columns, veterans’ stories, nostalgia, grandparenting, puzzles, and nature and gardening—and, of course, local events and information.

As the newspaper prepares to begin its third decade, even more changes are in the works.

“These days, 50plus Senior News has two audiences: baby boomers and senior citizens. Our content remains interesting to both age groups,” said Anderson. “We have a big surprise in store for January to further demonstrate the evolution of Senior News.”

Despite changes past and future, OnLine Publishers and 50plus Senior News remain unchanged in their core values and mission: spreading needed information and fostering community connectivity while uplifting the mind, heart, and spirit of the people it serves.

“Reaching a 20-year milestone would not be possible without the wonderful, dedicated employees who make up our team,” Anderson said. “My heartfelt gratitude goes out to each and every one of our group who make OLP a great place to work.

“Thank you to all of the businesses and organizations who have supported us these past two decades. I couldn’t imagine a better career than president and publisher at On-Line Publishers, Inc.”

Your Trusted Senior Real Estate Specialist   Your goal is my #1 priority!

Kelly Steyn, Realtor SRES Keller Williams Real Estate 215-646-2900 Office 484-343-2406 Cell www.KellySteyn.com KSteynRealtor@gmail.com



Information and support whenever you need it View online at: www.onlinepub.com (under supplements)

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: Mike Clark (The Way I See It) Angelo Coniglio (The Search for Our Ancestry) Dick Dedrick (Nostalgia Road) Andrea Gross (Traveltizers) John Johnston (Social Security News) Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature) Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior) Victor Parachin (Fragments of History) Saralee Perel (Such is Life) Dr. Leonard Perry (The Green Mountain Gardener)

Mark Pilarski (Deal Me In) Ted Rickard (The Squint-Eyed Senior) Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser) Walt Sonneville (My 22 Cents’ Worth) Abby Stokes (Is This Thing On?) Nick Thomas (Tinseltown Talks) Dr. Lori Verderame (Art and Antiques) Robert Wilcox (Salute to a Veteran) Judith Zausner (Creativity Matters)

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.

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December 2015

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Calendar of Events

Chester County

Support Groups Dec. 1, 2 p.m.

Grief Support Group Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville (610) 327-7216

Dec. 1 and 15, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Bereavement Support Group Brandywine Hospital Conference Room 2N 201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville (610) 998-1700, ext. 226 Dec. 2, 6 p.m.

Memory Loss and Dementia Support Group Sunrise Assisted Living of Paoli 324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern (610) 251-9994 Dec. 4 and 28, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Caregiver Support Group Adult Care of Chester County 201 Sharp Lane, Exton (610) 363-8044

Free and open to the public

Dec. 8, 7 p.m.

Hearing Loss Support Group Christ Community Church 1190 Phoenixville Pike West Chester (610) 444-445 www.hearinglosschesco.com Dec. 8 and 22, 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.

Dec. 8 and 22, 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Bereavement Support Group Jennersville Hospital Conference Room B 1015 W. Baltimore Pike West Grove (610) 998-1700, ext. 226

Community Programs Dec. 1, 11:30 a.m.

West Chester University Retirees Luncheon For restaurant location, please email darsie@verizon.net Dec. 3, 7:30 p.m.

Compassionate Friends Valley Forge Chapter Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 132 E. Valley Forge Road King of Prussia www.tcfvalleyforge.org

Dec. 9, 1:30 p.m.

Family Caregiver Support Group Sarah Care 425 Technology Drive, Suite 200 Malvern (610) 251-0801 Dec. 9, 6 p.m.

Caregiver Support Group Coatesville Area Senior Center 22 N. Fifth Ave., Coatesville (610) 383-6900 Dec. 15, 6 p.m.

Family Caregiver Support Group Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester (610) 399-4464 Dec. 30, 6 p.m.

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

Free and open to the public Dec. 5 and 6, 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. 5 and 19, 5 to 10 p.m.

Bingo Night Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St., Downingtown (610) 429-8174

Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m.

Quiet Christmas Service Grove United Methodist Church 490 W. Boot Road, West Chester (610) 696-2663 www.grovechurch.org If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Senior Center Activities

Coatesville Area Senior Center – (610) 383-6900 22 N. Fifth Ave., Coatesville – www.coatesvilleseniorcenter.org Monthly Veterans Coffee Hour – Call for date and time Downingtown Senior Center – (610) 269-3939 983 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown – www.downingtownseniors.org Great Valley Senior Center – (610) 889-2121 47 Church Road, Malvern Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819 427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square – www.kennettseniorcenter.org Wednesdays, 1 to 3 p.m. – Scrapbooking with Charlotte Thursdays, 1 to 2 p.m. – Gentle Yoga Dec. 17, noon to 4 p.m. – AARP Driver Safety Program 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 Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.

Library Programs Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, (610) 269-2741 Dec. 1 and 15, 6 p.m. – Knitters Club Dec. 8, 6:30 p.m. – Film Forum Dec. 14, 6:30 p.m. – Fantasy Book Club Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, (610) 296-7996 Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times

Chester County Parks and Recreation www.chesco.org/ccparks Dec. 12, 9 to 10 a.m. – P aws on the Path, Nottingham County Park

Have a Nice Flight (If You Can) Flying may be the fastest and safest way to travel, but we all have our own preferences and quirks when traveling by air.

A survey of more than 1,100 family travelers by ExpertFlyer looked at passenger habits. Their findings included:

Airline choice. United? American?

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December 2015

Southwest? Forty-five percent of participants said that airline-mile redemption was a factor in choosing which airline to fly on.

Storage space. Space is at a premium on most airplanes. Seventy-five percent admitted to “stealing” overhead bin space beyond their authorized allotment.

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Food. In-flight meals aren’t the only option if you’re hungry. More than onethird of passengers said they bring their own food to eat during flight.

Complaints. Flying can be stressful.

The top complaint: a bad seat or a seat not near companions (35 percent), followed by delays (25 percent) and

general discomfort (24 percent).

Worries. Lost luggage is one thing, but 21 percent of survey participants said that terrorism is their biggest concern when traveling with their families. That was followed by getting lost or separated (19 percent) and crime (19 percent). www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

8 Fun Facts about Hanukkah

By Viva Sarah Press/ISRAEL21c 1. 44 candles. There are at least 44 candles in each box of Hanukkah candles, enough for one person to light the hanukkiyah (see item six on this list) according to tradition every night. Some boxes include extra candles as they tend to break easily.

Today, candles come in a variety of colors, wax types, and even scents. You can also fulfill the mitzvah of lighting the hanukkiyah with oil.

2. Holiday calories. When you eat holiday treats fried in oil, you can’t really expect for them to be fat-free. The average 100-gram sufganiyah (doughnut) packs 400-600 calories. One potato latke has about 150 calories, svinge (a Moroccan cruller) 350-442 calories, and chocolate coins 220 calories each.

Israelis devour some 24 million sufganiyot during the eight-day holiday—adding up to 10.8 billion calories.

5. Most popular Jewish holiday.

Though it is one of the most wellknown and celebrated Jewish festivals, Hanukkah is actually a more minor holiday, according to religious tradition, than Passover, Rosh Hashana, or Yom Kippur. The holiday is not even mentioned in the Torah.

Some say Hanukkah gained popularity in the late 1800s among American Jews because of the season in which it falls—usually around Christmastime. Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. The corresponding Gregorian date varies.

Others point to the fun aspect of the holiday as the reason for its popularity.

Maimonides wrote that the mitzvah of lighting the hanukkiyah is even more important than buying wine for Sabbath.

6. Menorah vs. Hanukkiyah. The menorah is a seven-branched candelabra used in synagogues. The hanukkiyah is a ninebranched candelabra used during Hanukkah. Because 3. Hanukkah, the hanukkiyah can also Chanukah, Hannuka. be called a Hanukkah Hanukkah also goes by menorah, confusion often the names of the Festival sets in. of Lights and Feast of Tradition states that the Dedication.

The Dreidel, hanukkiyah should have As if multi-names weren’t enough, the holiday also has a special spinning top all candles or wicks at the for Hanukkah. same level, with only the a variety of transliterated English spellings—thanks to the guttural shamash—the ninth candle or wick, for lighting the other eight—a bit higher or Hebrew sound of the first letter, which lower. cannot be rendered properly in English.

4. Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel. Get your spinning finger ready: It’s time to remember when the Greeks were in town and forbade Jews to learn Torah.

Tradition holds that kids used to meet up in secret to learn, but if a Greek soldier happened upon their meeting they would pretend to be gambling with their dreidels.

Israeli author/politician Avram Burg is said to have the largest dreidel collection in the world, counting more than 3,500.

Dreidel, by the way, is a Yiddish word which comes from drei—to turn or spin.

The dreidel (a special spinning top for Hanukkah) features four Hebrew letters.

In Israel, the letters are Nun, Gimel, Hay, and Peh. Abroad, they’re Nun, Gimel, Hay, Shin.

The letters stand for the Hebrew phrase, “A great miracle happened there (for those outside of Israel)/here (for those in Israel).”

7. Lighting in the right direction.

GPS navigation could help when organizing the hanukkiyah.

According to accepted rules, you should place the candles right to left to correspond with the direction in which you read the Hebrew language. But you should light the candles from left to right, giving more attention to the new candle first.

8. Hanukkah at the White House.

Today, the U.S. president and first lady host an annual Hanukkah party for hundreds of American Jewish politicians, organization heads, and school and yeshiva deans. But that wasn’t always the case.

Hanukkah made its first appearance at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in 1951, when Prime Minister of Israel David BenGurion gave Harry Truman a menorah as a gift. In 1979, Jimmy Carter became please see FACTS page 14

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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Professionally Speaking...

REVERSE MORTGAGES — MYTHS AND FACTS: LEARN HOW THE NEW 2013/2014 REGULATIONS CAN MAKE A REVERSE MORTGAGE AN OUTSTANDING OPTION FOR YOU! The mere mention of a reverse mortgage stirs up misconceptions and myths in the minds of many people — fears that the bank will own their home, that there is no way out of a reverse mortgage, or that the family will be “robbed” of their inheritance, to name just a few.

Since the inception of reverse mortgages over 25 years ago, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) has addressed consumer concerns, and today there are protections for borrowers built into the reverse mortgage product. It is a safe means of accomplishing financial goals for qualified and eligible homeowners who would like to convert a portion of their home equity into tax-free money and achieve retirement security.

How does it work? Many seniors have questions: Q: Will l still own my home?

YES, you are not relinquishing title or ownership. You are borrowing against the value of your home.

The bank does not own your home.

A reverse mortgage is just like a conventional loan whereby you continue to own your own property.

Q: Do I lose the equity in my home?

NO, you are only using a portion of the equity to secure the loan. If your home is valued at $300,000 and you have a reverse mortgage for $150,000, you still have 50 percent equity that remains in your home.

Q: Is there a prepayment penalty?

NO, you may repay the reverse mortgage at any time.

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December 2015

7

Traveltizers

Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

Where Camels Live and Good Will Prevails

By Andrea Gross

I

trudge up steps made of mud and tires, duck under a string of multicolored prayer flags, and enter a round structure with a peaked roof.

“You’re in Tibet,” says the guide.

Well, sort of. This Tibet is in central Arkansas rather than central Asia, part of the Global Village at Heifer Ranch, which, in turn, is part of an extraordinary program that depicts areas of the world rarely seen by tourists.

This Tibet is not one of monks and monasteries, gilded statues and golden Buddhas. Rather, it’s the Tibet of oftforgotten communities, the Tibet of the poor.

My husband and I like to travel for many reasons, but our primary goal is to learn and understand how people live today. Thus, for us, Heifer Ranch, which is 45 miles northwest of Little Rock, is a grand travel opportunity, a chance to see the world without a passport.

Heifer International got its start in the 1930s when an Indiana aide worker

The recreated Tibet House shows a part of Tibet that visitors rarely see.

A hands-on museum in the Little Rock headquarters explains Heifer’s program and philosophy.

Heifer headquarters are in a LEED-certified building near the Clinton Library in Little Rock.

Camels were used in a project in Tanzania.

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named Dan West realized that starving children needed more than small handouts of rationed food.

“These children don’t need a cup of milk; they need a cow,” he said.

To test his theory, he sent heifers to underprivileged families in Puerto Rico with the understanding that the recipients would give the female offspring to neighbors, who, in turn, would pass on that cow’s offspring to yet other families.

Eventually, the majority of the villagers owned livestock, and the community became self-sufficient.

As the project expanded, West began raising animals on a ranch in the United States and distributing them to needy families abroad, but soon the cost became prohibitive. Today the Arkansas property is used for educational and inspirational purposes.

In this way, “passing on the gift” has come to mean more than passing on the gift of an animal; it also means passing on the gift of awareness. As visitors to the ranch become more aware of conditions in poor communities, they share their knowledge, resources, and skills to help

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Heifer attain its goal, which is to do no less than end hunger and poverty around the world.

It’s a noble plan, one that seems particularly apropos now as the holiday season approaches.

We’re driving to the visitor center, the radio tuned to a station that’s playing Christmas songs, when we suddenly spot a camel resting peacefully in a wooden Thai homes are built on stilts to provide shelter. protection from floods and shelter for animals.

A camel in Arkansas? It seems that miracles abound at Heifer. All that’s missing are two more camels and three wise men.

The ranch only provides formal tours for large groups, but staff and volunteers do their best to accommodate individuals. We’re in luck. A recent retiree who’s spending several months working at Heifer offers to zoom us around in a golf cart.

“Camels were used in our Tanzania project,” he explains. “Between the gift of a camel and Heifer-provided training in sustainable agriculture and animal husbandry, the villagers were able to raise their standard of living considerably. The Tanzanian project is a typical success story.”

Our first stop is the Tibetan House.

While it’s made of canvas, a sign informs us that in the “real” Tibet, it would be

The trio of small homes depicts those in Africa.

Large groups get to see the ranch via a tractor-drawn bus.

The ranch’s gift shop features items made in developing countries, from Nativity scenes and Christmas ornaments to scarves and jewelry. Better yet, folks can gift a goat!

made from yak hair and sheep’s wool.

The design allows it to be collapsed as the family follows the yaks from one grazing ground to another.

We move on to see other parts of this recreated world: a Thai shack perched on stilts, a group of African huts with conical roofs, a ramshackle Appalachian

cabin, a generic urban warehouse cobbled together from scrap metal, and a dilapidated school bus that once served as a home for a family in the Mississippi delta.

Finally we stop at a Guatemalan farm consisting of a small cinderblock house, a raised garden bed, and, thanks to solar

panels, electricity at night. It’s almost luxurious compared to the other homes.

These structures are used in Heifer’s extensive program of experiential workshops, during which organized groups spend anywhere from a few hours to several days getting a glimpse of what it’s like to live in poverty. They milk goats, gather eggs, care for pigs, till the fields, and tend to vegetable gardens.

If they stay in the Guatemalan house, they may make tortillas; if they’re assigned to the African hut, they may make bricks with primitive tools. During the spring lambing program, women may even help deliver lambs.

Participants in all Heifer programs invariably say it’s a life-changing experience, one that opens their eyes as well as their hearts. It enables them to see the world and at the same time pass on the gift—be it the gift of a goat to an impoverished village, a basket made by an artisan in a developing country, or simply the gift of spreading the word.

This is travel—and Christmas—at its best.

Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).

For more on other exciting destinations, go to our enhanced website at www.traveltizers.com.

For more on Heifer’s programs and gift-giving opportunities, see www.heifer.org.

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December 2015

9

Salute to a Veteran

In World War II He Flew His Plane from a Navy Cruiser Robert D. Wilcox

H

ank Wolfe says he’s a Pennsylvania Dutchman, since he grew up in Nazareth, Pa. He would have been more than surprised at that time to know that later he was to be fighting in some of the major battles in the Pacific during World War II. He had completed a year at Rutgers University before deciding that the Navy’s V-5 program sounded good to him. If he had the ability to complete it, it offered him a chance to learn to fly and earn a commission.

So he signed up, and the Navy sent him first to Colgate University for a few weeks, where he flew a bit in Piper Cubs, and then to the University of North Carolina, where the main goal seemed to be to get him in better physical shape than he had ever dreamed of being. There were some classes in basics of celestial navigation, etc., but half the day went to toughening him up.

The OS2U Kingfisher that Hank Wolfe flew in combat.

Henry K. Wolfe in Navy flight training in 1944.

Then it was to Lambert Field in St. Louis, where he learned to fly in Stearman biplanes. After that, it was to intermediate flight training at Corpus

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Christi, Texas, after which he got his wings and commission. He also got to choose the Navy or Marines and singleor multi-engine aircraft.

He chose Navy single-engine and soon was on his way to Jacksonville, Fla., to fly the OS2U Kingfisher, which was a single-engine floatplane and the main shipboard observation aircraft used by our Navy during the war.

Which was news to Wolfe. Like most people, he had to learn that a critically important part of battleships and cruisers was the planes they carried as spotters to tell them where to fire their big guns, to assess the damage done, and to improve the accuracy of their firing.

Wolfe explains, “Battleships and cruisers carried two Kingfisher floatplanes and three pilots to fly them.

To launch a plane, the vessel would turn into the wind, and then literally blast it into the air from a catapult.”

Getting the planes back on board called for much skill from the pilot.

The vessel couldn’t stop because of the danger from enemy subs, so it made a sweeping turn that created a wake of

relatively calm water (Wolfe called it his “runway”).

The pilot flew a circling, 360-degree approach and landed on the wake and as close to the ship as possible. He then taxied onto a “sled,” towed from a boom on the fantail of the ship, and a crane plucked the airplane up and deposited it on the deck.

From training in Jacksonville, Wolfe’s travels overseas took him first to Ford Island, Hawaii, for more training. Then a destroyer took him to the USS Mobile, a cruiser operating in the southwestern Pacific. There he boarded the ship that was to be his home during battles on the Palau Islands, Peleliu, the Philippine Islands, Leyte Gulf, northern Luzon, Cape Engaño, Formosa, the Visayas, and Okinawa.

The official Navy records tell of the Air Medals Wolfe earned: “AIR MEDAL – Lt. (j.g.) H.K. Wolfe, A-1, U.S.N.R. – For a series of meritorious acts while participating in aerial flights from 15 April – 17 May 1945.”

And, “GOLD STAR – In lieu of second Air Medal – A-1, U.S.N.R. – For a series of meritorious acts while participating in aerial flights from 14–18 May 1945.”

What was the most danger he faced?

Wolfe says that had to be at Okinawa, when ground fire cut his fuel line, and he had to make a dead-stick landing. In the process, one of his wing floats was torn off, the wing dipped under the water, and the plane cartwheeled, landing on its back and sinking.

He says that, as he struggled to release

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his safety belt and roll back his canopy, “Everything slowed down, and only my training saved my life. I wasn’t able to free my one-man raft, but I was finally able to free myself and bob to the surface with my Mae West (life preserver). After about a half hour in the water, an LCT (landing craft tank) picked me up.”

With a grin, Wolfe explains that the captain then brought him to his cabin and broke out a bottle of choice cognac, saying, “I’ve been saving this for the first time I ever saved somebody from the water.” And they each ceremoniously toasted each other.

Soon the war was over, and the Mobile did some mine sweeping of Japanese harbors … including Nagasaki, where they had a firsthand look at the incredible destruction left by the atomic bomb. The ship then came home and Wolfe went by plane and train to New York, where he was

discharged as a lieutenant in December 1945.

Wolfe then attended the Newark College of Engineering and got a job as engineer with New Jersey Bell (later AT&T), where he worked until retiring in December 1980.

After moving to a golf community in Florida for many years, he was told by friends of a retirement community in Central Pennsylvania, where he lives comfortably today.

When asked what he thinks about his Navy career, he smiles softly and says, “There was more than enough excitement to last me a lifetime. But I still think about that day my plane sank, and it was all I could do to finally free myself and make it to the surface.”

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

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Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes Bethany Village — MapleWood

325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-766-0279 • www.BethanyVillage.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: Yes Private: 100 Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes

Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: One-bedroom suites; secured memory support neighborhood; skilled nursing – The Oaks.

Colonial Lodge Community

2015 North Reading Road • Denver, PA 17519 717-336-5501 • www.coloniallodgepa.com Total AL and/or PC Beds: 70 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes* Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: *SSI depends on availability. A veteran-approved “home for heroes” facility, all in a beautiful, rural setting.

Heatherwood Retirement Community

3180 Horseshoe Pike • Honey Brook, PA 19344 610-273-9300 • www.heatherwoodretire.com Total AL and/or PC Beds: 82 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Private balcony or patio; no wait for availability; no buy-in; simple month/month lease.

Homeland Center

1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102 717-221-7727 • www.homelandcenter.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 50 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Exemplary care in a caring, beautiful environment has been provided for more than 148 years. Our continuum includes a hospice program.

Homewood at Plum Creek

425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331 717-637-4166 • www.homewood.com Total AL and/or PC Beds: 98 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Excellent care in a lovely environment. Call to schedule a visit.

Lakeview at Tel Hai Retirement Community 1200 Tel Hai Circle • Honey Brook, PA 19344 610-273-9333 • www.telhai.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Lakeview offers security and peace of mind. Call today to learn more about a 14- to 30-day respite stay and explore supportive living at its best!

Mennonite Home Communities

1520 Harrisburg Pike • Lancaster, PA 17601 717-393-1301 • www.mennonitehome.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 150 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Supportive, encouraging environment. Various room types and suites available. Secure memory care offered.

Moravian Manor

300 West Lemon Street• Lititz, PA 17543 717-626-0214 • www.moravianmanor.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 55 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes* Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No** Comments: *Or applied to final bill. **Pet visitation only.

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

12

December 2015

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Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes Pleasant View Retirement Community

St. Anne’s Retirement Community

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 96 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes* Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes* Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Minimal Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

544 North Penryn Road • Manheim, PA 17545 717-665-2445 • www.pleasantviewrc.org Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: *Three-year private pay spending. Maintain independence in an enriching and supportive environment; now offering respite stays.

3952 Columbia Avenue West Hempfield Township, PA 17512 717-285-6112 • www.stannesrc.org

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: No Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Pending Approval Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: *Only after resident spenddown. Plan ahead by joining our waiting list. Call for details.

If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your account representative or call (717) 285-1350.

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

Savvy Senior

Adjusted Flu Vaccine Options Available to Seniors This Year Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about this year’s flu shot? Last year’s vaccine was ineffective at preventing the flu, especially among seniors.

What options are available to me this year?

– Seeking Protection

Dear Seeking, You’re right. Last season’s flu shot was not very effective at preventing the flu.

In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who got the shot were just 19 percent less likely to visit the doctor for flu than people who did not get the shot.

In good years, flu shot effectiveness is in the 50 to 60 percent range.

The reason for the shot’s ineffectiveness last year was because the vaccine was mismatched to the circulating flu viruses, which can genetically shift from year to year.

This year, U.S. health officials have tweaked the flu vaccines to include last year’s missing strain, which will hopefully provide better protection. But a flu shot is still your best defense against the flu.

So, depending on your health, age, and personal preference, here are the flu www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

vaccine options (you only need one of these) available to older adults this year.

Standard (trivalent) flu shot: This traditional flu shot has been around for more than 30 years and protects against three different strains of flu viruses.

This year’s version protects against two A strains (H1N1 and H3N2) and one influenza B virus.

Quadrivalent flu shot: This vaccine, which was introduced two years ago, protects against four types of influenza— the same three strains as the standard flu shot, plus an additional, new B-strain virus.

High-dose flu shot: Designed specifically for seniors, age 65 and older, this trivalent vaccine, called the Fluzone High-Dose, has four times the amount of antigen as a regular flu shot does, which creates a stronger immune response for better protection.

However, note that the high-dose option may also be more likely to cause side effects, including headache, muscle aches, and fever.

FluBlok vaccine: Created for adults 18 and older who have egg allergies, this is a trivalent flu vaccine that does not use chicken eggs in its manufacturing process.

Intradermal flu shot: For those who don’t like needles, the intradermal flu shot uses a tiny 1/16-inch-long microneedle to inject the vaccine just under the skin, rather than deeper in the muscle like standard flu shots. This trivalent vaccine, however, is recommended only to adults, ages 18 to 64.

To locate a vaccination site that offers these flu shots, visit www.vaccines.gov and type in your ZIP code.

You’ll also be happy to know that if you’re a Medicare beneficiary, Part B will cover 100 percent of the costs of any flu shot, as long as your doctor, health clinic, or pharmacy agrees not to charge you more than Medicare pays.

Private health insurers are also required to cover standard flu shots; however, you’ll need to check with your provider to see if they cover the other vaccination options.

Pneumonia Vaccines Two other important vaccinations the CDC recommends to seniors, especially this time of year, are the pneumococcal vaccines for pneumonia. Around 1 million Americans are hospitalized with pneumonia each year, and about 50,000 people die from it.

The CDC is now recommending that all seniors, 65 or older, get two vaccinations: Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. Both vaccines, which are administered just once at different times, work in different ways to provide maximum protection.

If you haven’t yet received any pneumococcal vaccine, you should get the Prevnar 13 first, followed by Pneumovax 23 six to 12 months later.

But if you’ve already been vaccinated with Pneumovax 23, wait at least one year before getting the Prevnar 13.

Medicare Part B covers both shots, if they are taken at least 11 months apart.

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org

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December 2015

13

Thank You, Volunteers!

On-Line Publishers, Inc., and 50plus Senior News would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all of the individual and senior group volunteers who donated their time and efforts at our 2015 50plus EXPOs and the Veterans’ Expo & Job Fairs.

Because of your assistance, we were able to bring the contents and the mission of 50plus Senior News to life for the residents of Central Pennsylvania!

FACTS from page 7 the first American president to recognize the holiday publicly by speaking at a candle-lighting event hosted by Chabad Lubavitch.

Ronald Reagan often spoke about the holiday, and George H.W. Bush attended a Hanukkah party for staff in the Executive Office Building in 1991. Two years later, Bill Clinton hosted a candlelighting ceremony in the White House with his staff.

The first official White House Hanukkah party was held on Dec.

10, 2001. President George W. Bush borrowed a 100-year-old hanukkiyah from the Jewish Museum in New York for the event. Since then, the White House Hanukkah party has been a coveted gettogether.

President Barack Obama not only continued the tradition, but added a new one: the Obamas host Passover Seders in the White House as well. But that’s another holiday story.

Reprinted with permission from Viva Sarah Press/ISRAEL21c. www.israel21c.org

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Is This Thing On?

How to Detect an Email Scam Abby Stokes

D

o you open the door to your home to strangers? I didn’t think so. Then why would you open an email from someone you don’t know?

It happens more and more that fake emails arrive in your inbox with a subject meant to scare you into action: “Unsuccessful Attempts to Access Your Email,” “Account Suspension,” or “Yahoo [or AOL or Gmail] Security.”

Scammers play on your fear or curiosity, betting that one or both will compel you to not only open the email, but also click on the link in the body of the email.

Do not click on that link! At least not yet. Instead, let’s check and see who really sent the email.

You’ll notice that the senders on the emails look just as serious as the subjects: “Mail Support,” “Services,” “Support Desk.”

Let’s dig just a little deeper. Move your mouse arrow over the sender’s name. If the sender’s email address doesn’t appear, click on the name.

Well, looky looky there.

Highly suspicious, right? The email addresses exposed are not those of people working in security for my email provider. I’m certainly not going to click on the link in the email sent by Uncleluckyg@ aol.com, Jawsiii555@aol.com, or chrisbrown@216parasigs.org.uk, and neither should you.

If you receive an email like these and expose that it’s a fraudulent sender, click on Junk or Spam, not Trash. We want to send these kinds of emails through your email server’s filter so they can try to prevent further contact.

Now … when you receive an email that has a sender’s name that you do recognize (a friend, business associate, or family member), but the email is suspicious (a vague email suggesting you click on a link), be sure to check and see if the sender really is who you think it is.

Do this by clicking on the sender’s name to expose the email address.

Pictured is a perfect example. My name appears as the sender and in the subject (which tips me off right away that something is fishy). Nothing in the body www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

For those of you who send emails to more than one person, may I make a gentle computer suggestion? When you send a mass email, do not input all of your recipient’s email addresses in the TO address box. That choice exposes all recipients to each other’s email addresses—something I prefer not to have happen.

To avoid this, you can use the BCC area to input addresses instead of TO or CC. BCC means blind carbon copy. Any email addresses in BCC cannot be seen by any of the other recipients.

Abby Stokes, author of “Is This Thing On?” A Friendly Guide to Everything Digital for Newbies, Technophobes, and the Kicking & Screaming and its companion website, AskAbbyStokes.com, is the Johnny Appleseed of Technology, singlehandedly helping more than 300,000 people cross the digital divide.

Give someone you love the gift that entertains, informs, and inspires, month after month! of the email is personal or specific to me or the recipient—just a ploy to get you to click.

If you receive an email like that one, do not click on the link! Instead, check and see who really sent you the email.

In this case, after clicking on my name, we see that the email actually came from enriquemoran1@elfiscalista.com, whoever that is.

Again, the next move would be to click on Junk or Spam, not Trash. You won’t be banishing your friend, coworker, or family member’s email address to your Junk folder, but instead the rogue sender who make it look as though it came from someone you know.

How did the scammer get their grubby hands on the names that they use and abuse? Possibly when you or someone you know didn’t practice good netiquette by using the TO box instead of BCC when sending a mass email.

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