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

Complimentary | Chester County Edition

December 2019 • Vol. 16 No. 12

Elevate Your Expectations page 4

Military Shopping Benefits EXPANDED page 3

SOLDIER STORIES: The ‘Atomic Canal’ page 11

Support the Troops This Holiday Season!

Happy Holidays!

Our troops deserve our help and to know they aren’t forgotten! Keystone Military Families, a PA-based nonprofit, encourages you to brighten the holidays for our troops overseas by sponsoring a care package!

We at On-Line Publishers, Inc. are grateful to our dedicated staff, loyal readers, and supportive advertisers who have all enabled us to continue our mission to serve the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50+ community in 2019. We wish to thank each of you for helping to make 50plus LIFE 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.

Thousands of essential items have been received for veterans, but monetary donations to defray shipping costs are desperately needed.

Sending 10,000 stockings to troops all over the world. Registered 501c-3

Please send your monetary donation by Dec. 15 The cost for one box is $27-$77, depending on the destination.

We need your help to make this happen!

Donations can be made online at www.KeystoneMilitaryFamilies.org or mail checks to:

Keystone Military Families 331 Main Street, Shoemakersville, PA 19555

For more information, visit KeystoneMilitaryFamilies.org, call (610) 698-2122, or email keystonemilitary@yahoo.com.

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December 2019

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By Karen Jowers

3 Million More People Will Get Military Shopping Benefits in 2020

Starting Jan. 1, all service-connected disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, and primary veteran caregivers will be eligible to shop at commissaries and exchanges, and officials from three federal agencies are preparing the way. The newly eligible customers will also be able to use certain morale, welfare, and recreation activities. It’s the largest patronage expansion in more than 60 years, said Virginia Penrod, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs, who spoke at a meeting of the American Logistics Association earlier this year. The departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security have been planning for the expansion for more than six months, with four teams totaling about 70 people. The fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act expanded the pool of eligible shoppers. Because the expansion also applies to Coast Guard facilities, the Department of Homeland Security has been involved. The law also included Medal of Honor recipients, but they already had shopping privileges. Previously, veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities were able to shop; now, all with service-connected disabilities can shop. The benefit extends to Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs that are “revenue-generating facilities,” according to the law. The expansion is about a 50% increase in customers. Currently, about 6 million total households are eligible for the benefit; this adds 3 million, said Justin Hall, director of the Department of Defense office of MWR and Resale Policy. “That’s a huge lift across the entire system,” he said. The impact assessments generally show there will be a low-to-moderate impact on military stores overall, said Penrod. But she called on representatives of industry for their help to make sure the supply chain “remains responsive to the increased sales volume to ensure no out-of-stock situations occur” at stores in states with high populations of disabled veterans and in states with higher cost of living. These new shoppers generally don’t have access to military bases. Officials have decided the best form of identification for these groups: Disabled and other eligible veterans: For access into the installation, and for access to the stores, they’ll use the veterans health ID card, Patrick said. Officials have enabled technology at the front gate to scan those veteran cards, and commissary officials have adjusted their technology to enable systems to read the veterans health ID card. Caregivers: The process will be different, initially, Patrick said, since caregivers are not directly affiliated with DoD or VA other than through their annual appointment to be a caregiver. The benefit applies to the primary caregiver of wounded/injured veterans who are registered in the Department of Veterans Affairs caregiver program. The VA will post a memo to VA.gov for caregivers, to be used for access at the front gate, along with a driver’s license or other authorized form of ID. The VA process will later transition to a caregiver-type ID card, which will have www.50plusLifePA.com

scanning-swipe capability, he said. Currently there are about 30,000 VA caregivers who will qualify for this benefit, but over the next several years the number could potentially grow to about 250,000, Patrick noted. Credit Card Fee These new customers will pay a fee for using a credit card at commissaries, except for the military resale system’s Military Star card. The amount of the fee has not yet been determined. By law, this expansion can’t include extra costs associated with using credit cards in commissaries; the cost must be passed on to the customer. Except for the Military Star card, credit card companies charge transaction fees to retailers when customers use their credit cards. The fee applies only to new patrons using credit cards in commissaries, not to Medal of Honor recipients or others who were previously authorized to shop. New customers can avoid the fee by paying by cash or check or by using the Military Star card. The fee only applies at the commissary, which is funded primarily by taxpayer dollars. Reprinted with permission from MilitaryTimes (www.militarytimes.com).

Pet of the Month

Melody Melody is a 5-month-old who is looking for someone to harmonize with. Though she can be a little timid, she just needs a family who will reassure her that she is finally safe and loved. Whether you’re singing “Let It Snow” or “Winter Wonderland,” Melody would love to celebrate the holidays in a forever home. For more information, contact Brandywine Valley SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, at (484) 302-0865 or bvspca.org.

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December 2019

Cover Story

Elevate Your Expectations

Corporate Office

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

December 2019

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By Jason J. Tabor “Embrace your age! unstoppable,” she says. Nobody wants to talk For six years, Dimond about how old they are, worked in local television but I love talking about full-time, first at WHTM it,” laughs Soni Dimond in Harrisburg and then on a recent phone at WGAL 8 in Lancaster, conversation discussing where she was a morning her life, her passions, and anchor, talk show host, her whirlwind career. and assignment reporter. She recently celebrated After establishing her 62nd birthday and took herself as a popular the time to reflect on an and respected local inspiring career trajectory personality on TV, that has included stints in Dimond was approached television, public relations, by representatives in book authorship, executive Harrisburg to oversee training, and modeling public relations and media and most recently landed for the newly created her a job as a producer on Pennsylvania Department WHTM 27’s Good Day of Environmental PA show. Resources. A central Pennsylvania She spent two years native, Dimond has working for the state lived in various places government before around the country but becoming a producer for has called this region Commonwealth Media home for close to 25 Service, working on video years with her husband, promotional content Dimond on the set of Good Day PA. Kevin Martorana, a video for various government production company agencies and providing owner. public speaking coaching for top government She recalls herself as an outgoing, energetic officials. majorette during her high school years, more She would then move to Washington, D.C., interested in the arts than science, and heavily where she worked as a public affairs specialist for involved in the school theater when she enrolled at the labor union AFSCME, doing public relations, Gettysburg College to study English. television, and radio ads on the national stage. Dimond’s affinity for the growing field of media In 1995, Dimond started a new chapter in her life studies led to a college internship at local television when she married her longtime friend and partner, station WTPA 27 (now ABC affiliate WHTM), Kevin Martorana. The couple returned to central which would then lead to her becoming one of the Pennsylvania, where Dimond served as the manager first female TV anchors in the area. of media relations for the Pennsylvania Chamber “It was an amazing experience! Here I was going of Business and Industry, the largest business to college full-time, getting paid to be on-air as a organization in Pennsylvania. weekend anchor, running back and forth between In 2003, Dimond formed her own media the station and campus … I’m not sure when I coaching, public relations, and marketing company found time to sleep,” she remembers. called Soni Dimond Multifaceted. She counts Her experiences as an intern opened doors to an among some of her local high-profile clients industry that had previously been dominated by former Jeopardy! champion Brad Rutter and High men. Companies chairman and philanthropist S. Dale “I really fell in love with TV during my High. internship, and I learned a lesson that I try to She has authored two books in her Life’s a Pitch impart to people to this day: When you have a series about marketing and PR; earned multiple passion for something, you can really become professional awards, including Best 50 Women www.50plusLifePA.com

in Business in Pennsylvania; and served as a board member of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. “One of my favorite things about this business is it gives me the chance to help people and watch them develop, grow, and reach their full potential,” she says. “I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned since starting my own company is realizing it’s very tough for one person to do everything or to even try to be an expert in every aspect of modern business. We can learn so much from younger people, especially about technology, social media, and the internet! “We’re always taught to respect our elders, but I have also come to respect the younger generations … I love being around them, their energy, and their willingness to share. It’s OK to put younger people in the driver’s seat and let them lead.” Dimond recently entered the world of “mature modeling,” a growing industry that connects with the baby boom generation’s interest in physical, mental, and emotional health as they age into a new era of their lives. “Of course my friends all thought I was crazy, but I was given opportunities to do some modeling for some local boutiques, which I did for free, but one thing led to another, and now I have professional representation from the Reinhard Agency,” she laughs. “I always wanted to be a model, and again, one of the lessons I learned when I was younger that I always took to heart: Always be ready for life’s opportunities and be prepared to accept them.”

Dimond on the runway at Scene to be Seen: A Runway Art Show by the Naples Art Association in Naples, Fla.

Photo courtesy of Charlie McDonald Photography, Naples, Fla. Designer: Denise Cummings, New York City.

Dimond at a modeling shoot in New York City’s Penn Station.

“I don’t really have a ‘typical’ day, which is a blessing for someone with my personality,” she says. She might find herself negotiating with or for her clients; recording video segments and conducting interviews; judging events, such as the Miss Pennsylvania pageant; doing guest speaking appearances; and continuing advisory work. In her limited free time, she enjoys doing volunteer work, keeping up on trends in art and fashion, and finding ways to exercise and stay healthy. Dimond credits her longevity with never taking herself too seriously and embracing the unique experiences in her life that have allowed her to continuously evolve and redefine herself and her career. “I think it’s common for people over 50 to feel it’s time to manage their expectations about what life has to offer. I’ve always wondered why we do that. Why not raise our expectations as we become older? So that’s what I’ve chosen to do, and I hope to energize and inspire others to find their passions along the way! ”

One such opportunity recently presented itself, and Dimond jumped at the chance. Her most recent position at WHTM abc27 signifies a 40-year career looping back to where it originally started: on local TV. As a writer and producer on Good Day PA, Dimond divides her time between scouting shooting locations, interviewing guests in studio and on location, and post-production work. Dimond’s jam-packed schedule keeps her calendar filled well into the future.

Did you know? is available online for anytime/anywhere reading!

www.50plusLIFEPA.com www.50plusLifePA.com

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December 2019

Chester County

Calendar of Events

Support Groups Free and open to the public

Senior Center Activities

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

Dec. 10 and 24, 6:30-8 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Jennersville Hospital Conference Room B 1015 W. Baltimore Pike, West Grove (610) 998-1700, ext. 226

Tuesdays, 7 p.m. No Longer Alone: Nar-Anon Family Group Church of the Nazarene 424 S. Darlington St., West Chester (610) 692-3120

Dec. 11, 1:30 p.m. Family Caregiver Support Group Sarah Care 425 Technology Drive, Suite 200, Malvern (610) 251-0801

Coatesville Area Senior Center (610) 383-6900 250 Harmony St., Coatesville www.coatesvilleseniorcenter.org Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 10:30-11:15 a.m. – Going Fit Exercise Program Dec. 5 and 19, 11 a.m. to noon – Veterans Coffee Club Dec. 11, 1-2 p.m. – Bingo

Dec. 3, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Grief Support Group Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville (610) 327-7216

Dec. 11, 7-8:30 p.m. Hearing Loss Support Group Christ Community Church, Second Floor 1190 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester (484) 402-4907 hlaaachesco@gmail.com www.hearinglosschesco.com

Dec. 3 and 17, 6:30-8 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Brandywine Hospital Conference Room 2N 201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville (610) 998-1700, ext. 226 Dec. 4, 6 p.m. Memory Loss and Dementia Support Group Sunrise Assisted Living of Paoli 324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern (610) 251-9994 Dec. 9 and 23, 10:30 a.m. to noon Caregiver Coffee Break/Support Group Active Day of Exton 201 Sharp Lane, Exton (610) 363-8044 Dec. 10 and 24, 5-6:30 p.m. Bereavement Support Group Main Line Unitarian Church 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon (610) 585-6604 phoenixbereavement@yahoo.com Nondenominational; all are welcome.

Dec. 17, 6 p.m. Family Caregiver Support Group Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester (610) 399-4464 Dec. 19, 12:30-2:30 p.m. To Live Again … Support and Socialization for Widows and Widowers Surrey East Goshen 1201 N. Chester Road, West Chester (610) 389-1124 Dec. 26, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Elder Care Support Group Ruggiero Law Offices Paoli Corporate Center 16 Industrial Blvd., Suite 211, Paoli (610) 889-0288 beth@paolilaw.com If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Community Programs Free and open to the public Dec. 3, 11:30 a.m. West Chester University Retirees Luncheon Call for location (610) 269-1503 Dec. 5, 7:30 p.m. Compassionate Friends Valley Forge Chapter Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 132 E. Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia (484) 919-0820 www.tcfvalleyforge.org

December 2019

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Dec. 7 and 21, 5-10 p.m. Bingo Night Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St., Downingtown (610) 429-8174 Dec. 17, noon AARP Valley Forge Chapter Meeting St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church 203 N. Valley Forge Road, Devon (610) 647-1823

Downingtown Senior Center – (610) 269-3939 983 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown www.downingtownseniors.org Mondays and Fridays, 12:30-3 p.m. – Bridge Club Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Games and Puzzles Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to noon – Dance Class Great Valley Senior Center – (610) 889-2121 47 Church Road, Malvern Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819 427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square http://kennettseniorcenter.org Oxford Senior Center – (610) 932-5244 12 E. Locust St., Oxford – www.oxfordseniors.org Wednesdays, 8:30-11:30 a.m. – Paint Class Phoenixville Area Senior Center – (610) 935-1515 153 Church St., Phoenixville http://phoenixvilleseniorcenter.org West Chester Area Senior Center – (610) 431-4242 530 E. Union St., West Chester http://wcseniors.org Thursdays, 1 p.m. – WCASC Chorus

Library Programs Avon Grove Library, 117 Rose Hill Ave., West Grove, (610) 869-2004 Dec. 2 and 16, 3 p.m. – Sit & Knit Dec. 4 and 18, 6:30 p.m. – The Write Stuff Dec. 14 and 21, 2 p.m. – Faux Stained-Glass Making Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, (610) 269-2741 Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m. – Fantasy Book Club Dec. 10, 6:30 p.m. – Film Forum Dec. 19, 6:30 p.m. – Downingtown Library Writers Group Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, (610) 296-7996 Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times West Chester Public Library, 415 N. Church St., West Chester, (610) 696-1721 Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com. www.50plusLifePA.com

2. Avoid the urge to be a weekend warrior. “In general, people who exercise regularly have less back pain than those who don’t,” says Mazanec. But bingeing on exercise over the weekend — to make up for everything you missed during the week — can backfire because your muscles aren’t primed for the activity. Instead, go on a power walk daily. It’s the best prescription for a strong, problem-resistant spine. 3. Stay slim. “Being overweight causes wear and tear on your ankles, knees, and hips that gets transferred to your spine because you limp or favor one side,” says pain specialist Perry G. Fine, M.D. It can also put excess stress on disks, ligaments, and back joints, causing osteoarthritis of the spine. 4. Work your core. Weak stomach muscles are often linked to back issues. The best exercise to practice regularly is the plank. Lie face down on the ground and push yourself up on your forearms and toes to form a straight line with your back. Hold for 30-60 seconds. Sitting on a stability ball for 30 seconds or more each morning helps align ligaments around your disks, says Fine. 5. Quit it. In case you need yet another reason to stop smoking, consider this: Nicotine constricts blood flow to spinal disks, causing them to age faster than normal. www.50plusLifePA.com

6. Reconfigure your computer setup. Looking down at a screen, what people often do when working on laptops, puts strain on neck and back muscles, says Carneiro. Your monitor should be at eye level, elbows and shoulders at 90 degrees. If you use a laptop, consider getting a separate keyboard to make these ergonomic adjustments. 7. Find pressure points. Studies indicate that acupuncture (the Chinese medicine technique of inserting thin needles into the skin) can help reduce back pain. If you shy away from needles, try shiatsu, which uses massage at acupuncture points. “I typically recommend massage or acupuncture to patients with muscles that won’t relax, even with physical therapy,” says Heidi Prather, D.O. please see Bye-Bye page 9

Please join us for these FREE events! April 22, 2020

21st Annual

1. Don’t coddle yourself. Whether your back pain is excruciating or merely annoying, you probably won’t feel like doing much. But don’t take it easy for more than a day or two. Doing so can prolong and worsen pain. Instead, take a prescription or over-the-counter pain reliever (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) and start moving, says Daniel J. Mazanec, M.D., associate director of the Center for Spine Health at the Cleveland Clinic. “Low-impact activities, like walking or swimming, boost blood flow to your back muscles and help loosen them up.”

Visit www.cancer.org/ smokeout or call the national tobacco quit line at (800) 784-8669.

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY

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

May 6, 2020

21st Annual

Count yourself lucky if you’ve never groaned about your back. Fact is, the majority of us — 80% — will deal with back pain at some point. It’s one of the most common reasons for a doctor visit. Deciding how to treat it, though, can be tricky. There’s simply no gold standard. “We have a long history of medical interventions that didn’t work,” says spine surgeon Roger Chou, M.D. But today we know more than ever. Check out the latest ways to avoid and deal with pain and implement easy prevention moves.

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey

DAUPHIN COUNTY

June 10, 2020

17th Annual

By Sandra Gordon

Bye-Bye, Back Pain

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Church Farm School 1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton

CHESTER COUNTY

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

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available (717) 285-1350 (717) 770-0140 (610) 675-6240

www.50plusExpoPA.com 50plus LIFE u

December 2019

Plan-Change Deadline for Community HealthChoices Approaching Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller and Department of Aging Secretary Robert Torres are reminding Pennsylvania residents about the upcoming rollout of the Community HealthChoices program. CHC, a managed long-term services and supports program, launches on Jan. 1, 2020, for residents of central, northeast, and northwest Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. CHC is Pennsylvania’s managed-care program for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare and for individuals who are 21 or older with physical disabilities requiring long-term services and supports. CHC was developed to improve access to and coordination of medical and person-centered long-term services and supports with a goal of giving people choice, control, and access to a full array of services. Pennsylvania residents who are eligible for CHC were notified and reminded of this transition, what it means for them, and important deadlines throughout the summer and fall. Eligible participants had until Nov. 13 to select their managed care organization. After this, participants were automatically enrolled in one of the three MCOs providing services for CHC participants.

If a participant would like to change their MCO, they are able to do that at any time. Participants have until Dec. 20 to make a plan-selection change in order for it to be effective Jan. 1, 2020. After that point, MCO changes will take effect beginning later in 2020. The Wolf Administration encourages all future CHC participants to review their MCO selection and make necessary changes before Dec. 20, so they are effective when the new year begins. “CHC is providing options for many eligible Pennsylvanians in their communities,” said Torres. “This is especially noteworthy because we know that the majority of older adults want to age in place. CHC is empowering more seniors to live the way they want, while having access to long-term services they need.” The Wolf Administration launched CHC in Pennsylvania’s southwest region in January 2018 and in the southeast in January 2019; the program now includes about 210,000 participants. Data from the southwest region shows that in CHC’s first year, the rate of individuals served in the community increased from 49.7% to 52.2%. please see Deadline page 15

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On-line Publishers and 50plus LIFE just won 6 awards from the North American Mature Publishers Association! 50plus LIFE:

50plus Living:

• First Place: General Excellence

• OLP’s annual guide to residence and care options for the 50+ community won first place in its division in the Annual Senior Resource Guide or Directory – Design category.

• First Place: Best Overall Design • First Place: Front Cover Photo • First Place: Profile – “On Wings and Waves, His Life’s Path Led to Pa.” by Jason Tabor

Resource Directory for Caregivers, Aging, and the Disabled: • Produced in seven distinct county editions annually, the Resource Directory won second place in its division in the Annual Senior Resource Guide or Directory – Design category.

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December 2019

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On Life and Love after 50

Tom Blake

The Importance of Appreciation in Relationships

Recently, a friend, age 72, said to me, “It will be nice to be appreciated by someone rather than be taken for granted. What’s your opinion?” He was referring to a relationship that he had recently terminated. He and I had discussed the relationship three times previously. I felt I had heard enough information about his situation to intelligently respond to his question. His decision had been difficult for him, one he pondered time and time again — because he cared about her — but each time he thought about it, he reached the same conclusion: He wasn’t being appreciated. I said to him: “From what you’ve shared with me, it appears you tried hard to make the relationship work. You were always doing nice things for her. And, you accommodated her expressed

wishes to dine in upscale restaurants, drink expensive wine, and stay in pricey hotels when you traveled together. “Expressing appreciation to a mate, or actually, anyone, is a considerate, thoughtful, and kind act. It shows you are grateful for their efforts. “People like to be recognized. When they do something nice for a mate, regardless of how small or minor, it’s good to hear that what they did was appreciated. Appreciation and recognition can go a long way to strengthen relationships. “When people are appreciated, they will keep looking for ways to please their mates, because appreciation and please see Appreciation page 10

Bye-Bye from page 7 Find an acupuncturist or shiatsu therapist from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at www.nccaom.org. 8. Stress less. The neurochemicals that flood your system when you’re dealing with tough times can lead to emotional and physical pain. Reduce anxiety with regular exercise, a healthy diet, psychotherapy, and, if necessary, antianxiety/antidepressant prescription medication. 9. Consider steroids. When other attempts at relieving pain fail, especially if you have a herniated disc and sciatica (leg pain), steroid injections may provide relief. “A shot of dexamethasone or methylprednisolone in the back can decrease inflammation and keep you moving,” says Wellington Hsu, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. These medications can ease discomfort for months. 10. Give your spine support. Your lower back naturally curves inward, but most chairs cause it to round out, which can throw off alignment. “Cushioning your lumbar is the key to maintaining your spine’s neutral curvature,” says physical therapist Mary Ann Wilmarth. Scoot all the way back in your chair with a roll of paper towels or a lumbar pillow wedged behind your waist. In a car or a public place, stuff your coat behind you. “Once your low back is supported, your neck and upper back will stay in proper position,” Wilmarth says. www.50plusLifePA.com

A No-Entrance-Fee Community

AMENITIES INCLUDE • Breakfast and Dinner • 24-Hour Security & Concierge Service • Housekeeping • Emergency Call System • Wellness Center with Visiting Health Care Professionals • Daily Happy Hour • Exercise Facilities & Classes for Cardio & Strength Training • Barber / Beauty Salon • Social, Recreational, Spiritual and Cultural Activities • And Much More!

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December 2019

Appreciation from page 9

March 31, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Hotel York 2000 Loucks Road, York

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

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

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

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

At the Job Fair

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

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

www.veteransexpo.com (717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com

December 2019

For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www.findingloveafter50.com.

Give someone you love the gift that entertains, informs, and inspires, month after month!

At the Expo

recognition are positive taps on the shoulder. But, with your former woman friend, you didn’t get those shoulder taps. As you said, she was taking your kindness for granted. “When people take their mates for granted, and don’t notice or appreciate the little things done for them, relationships can be adversely affected. That’s what happened with you. “A lack of appreciation from a mate might be a red flag that the mate doesn’t care enough about the relationship. That doesn’t mean the mate is a bad person; it could be as simple as the mate isn’t in love. “When a mate doesn’t appreciate you, and that behavior repeats itself, you may say to yourself: ‘I won’t take being treated that way anymore.’ “Lack of appreciation creates disappointment and disillusionment. When it happens too often to a person, he or she may slowly stop caring. The relationship suffers. It’s like decay in a tooth. Let it go long enough without remedial action, and you’ll lose it. “I’ve written about new singles making a list of the qualities they require in a mate. High on their lists should be a partner who appreciates them. In return, they must do the same for the new partner. Appreciation works both ways in relationships. “Your decision to move on was, in my opinion, what was best for you. Moving on is always hard, but when it’s the right thing to do, you’ve got to do it. All you wanted was appreciation; it wasn’t forthcoming.” Lesson for all seniors in relationships: If you appreciate receiving appreciation, don’t overlook giving it. It’s a powerful love tool.

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Soldier Stories

Robert Naeye

Dead on the Drawing Board: The Controversial ‘Atomic Canal’

Like many young men of military age, Ken Weiler was fully prepared to serve in Vietnam. He had enlisted in the Army, received extensive training in tank warfare, and received orders to be shipped overseas. But while on a two-week leave at home, he and his family received terrible news: Weiler’s older brother Alain had been killed in action in Vietnam. Shortly thereafter, the Army notified Weiler that he was being granted a compassionate reassignment, meaning he was not permitted to enter a combat zone for a full year. This photo of Weiler in uniform Weiler would avoid the risks was taken during his last days of Vietnam, but this did not serving in the U.S. Army. mean his remaining 2 ½ years of service would be dull. Among other things, he became involved in a project to use nuclear explosives to dig a new canal across Central America. Weiler was born in the Bronx in July 1948 to an American father and a French-Canadian mother. He enjoyed a normal childhood on Long Island, playing baseball, football, and war games. His father served in the Marines in World War II and had been wounded during the invasion of Saipan. But like many veterans, he rarely talked about his experiences. An indifferent student, Weiler eventually found his true passion: military history. He devoured books about warfare, especially tank combat. Weiler admits that he was drifting after graduating from Hempstead High School in 1966. He was taking the easiest possible courses at Nassau Community College to boost his grade-point average. Realizing that many of his friends were receiving draft notices, Weiler decided “to beat the Selective Service to the punch” by enlisting in the Army in 1968. “I went into the military rather than getting into trouble. The Army was the best possible thing that happened to me,” he recalls. Better yet, by enlisting for three years instead of being drafted, he could join the branch specialty that fascinated him since childhood: the heavy armor. Weiler was sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for basic training and then to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for armor school. For Weiler, this training was like a childhood fantasy, where stories from his history books turned into reality. “Driving and firing the Army’s main battle tanks, the M-48 and M-60 models, was a lot of fun for a 19-year-old,” he says. Weiler traveled home to Hempstead, Long Island, for a two-week leave before he was scheduled to go to Fort Ord in California, where he would then be shipped to Vietnam. It was in Hempstead that he learned the tragic news about his older brother, www.50plusLifePA.com

whom Weiler looked up to for guidance and inspiration. Weiler says Alain was “very religious.” Alain was thinking of going into the priesthood but joined the Army to save the world from “godless communism.” “I was so numb with all the levels of shock. I would just sit there and stare at the wall,” says Weiler, who is quick to add that despite his sense of trauma and sadness, he never felt helplessness. After the funeral, the Army reassigned Weiler to Fort Belvoir in northern Virginia, not far from Washington, D.C. Weiler is working on his fourth To Weiler, his new assignment book on the military history made no sense. He reported to of World War II. the Department of Engineering & Military Science in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He never saw a tank in his two years there. “Perhaps it was just the Army way of doing things,” he says. Life at Fort Belvoir was much cushier than anything he had previously experienced. The food was good and plentiful, and the living accommodations were comfortable, with modern air conditioning. The officers and enlisted men were highly educated engineers or involved in engineer training. Most were involved in projects such as building bridges and dams. Weiler was assigned to type notes in meetings involving the most interesting and controversial project of all. The Navy was building aircraft carriers and ships that could no longer fit through the Panama Canal. The Department of Defense was considering please see Atomic Canal page 13 Independent Living • Personal Care • Skilled Nursing

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December 2019

New device stops a cold

More and more people are saying PRQWKV Âł6L[WHHQ Ă&#x20AC;LJKWV DQG QRW D they just donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get colds anymore. VQLŕľˇH Â´ VKH H[FODLPHG Businesswoman Rosaleen says They are using a new device made of pure copper, which scientists say when people are sick around her she uses CopperZap morning and night. NLOOV FROG DQG Ă&#x20AC;X YLUXVHV Doug Cornell invented the device â&#x20AC;&#x153;It saved me last holidays,â&#x20AC;? she said. in 2012. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I havenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t had a single cold â&#x20AC;&#x153;The kids had colds going round and round, but not me.â&#x20AC;? since then,â&#x20AC;? he says. People were skeptical but EPA and university studies demonstrate repeatedly that viruses and bacteria die almost instantly when touched by copper. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s why ancient Greeks and Egyptians used copper to purify Research: Copper stops colds if used early. Some users say it also helps with water and heal wounds. They didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know about viruses and bacteria, but sinuses. Attorney Donna Blight had a 2-day sinus headache. When her now we do. Scientists say the high conduc- CopperZap arrived, she tried it. â&#x20AC;&#x153;I tance of copper disrupts the electri- am shocked!â&#x20AC;? she said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;My head cal balance in a microbe cell and de- cleared, no more headache, no more congestion.â&#x20AC;? stroys the cell in seconds. Some users say copper stops So some hospitals tried copper touch surfaces like faucets and door- QLJKWWLPH VWXŕľśQHVV LI XVHG MXVW EHknobs. This cut the spread of MRSA fore bed. One man said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;Best sleep and other illnesses by over half, and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve had in years.â&#x20AC;? &RSSHU FDQ DOVR VWRS Ă&#x20AC;X LI XVHG saved lives. Colds start after cold viruses get early and for several days. Lab techin your nose, so the vast body of re- QLFLDQV SODFHG PLOOLRQ OLYH Ă&#x20AC;X search gave Cornell an idea. When viruses on a CopperZap. No viruses he next felt a cold about to start, he were found alive soon after. 'U %LOO .HHYLO OHG RQH RI WKH fashioned a smooth copper probe and rubbed it gently in his nose for 60 WHDPV FRQÂżUPLQJ WKH GLVFRYHU\ +H placed millions of disease germs on seconds. â&#x20AC;&#x153;It worked!â&#x20AC;? he exclaimed. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The copper. â&#x20AC;&#x153;They started to die literally cold never got going.â&#x20AC;? It worked as soon as they touched the surface,â&#x20AC;? he said. again every time. People have used it on cold sores He asked relatives and friends to try it. They said it worked for them, and say it can completely prevent too, so he patented CopperZapâ&#x201E;˘ and outbreaks. You can also rub it gently on wounds, cuts, or lesions to combat put it on the market. Now tens of thousands of people infections. 7KH KDQGOH LV FXUYHG DQG ÂżQHO\ have tried it. Nearly 100% of feedback said the copper stops colds if textured to improve contact. It kills XVHG ZLWKLQ KRXUV DIWHU WKH ÂżUVW JHUPV SLFNHG XS RQ ÂżQJHUV DQG KDQGV sign. Even up to 2 days, if they still to protect you and your family. Copper even kills deadly germs get the cold it is milder than usual that have become resistant to antibiand they feel better. Users wrote things like, â&#x20AC;&#x153;It otics. The EPA says copper still works stopped my cold right away,â&#x20AC;? and â&#x20AC;&#x153;Is even when tarnished. It kills hunit supposed to work that fast?â&#x20AC;? Pat McAllister, age 70, received GUHGV RI GLŕľľHUHQW GLVHDVH JHUPV VR one for Christmas and called it â&#x20AC;&#x153;one it can prevent serious or even fatal of the best presents ever. This little illness. CopperZap is made in America of jewel really works.â&#x20AC;? Now thousands of users have simply stopped getting pure copper. It has a 90-day full money back guarantee. It is $69.95. colds. *HW Rŕľľ HDFK &RSSHU=DS ZLWK People often use CopperZap preYHQWLYHO\ )UHTXHQW Ă&#x20AC;LHU .DUHQ *DX- code PAFP6. Go to www.CopperZap.com or ci used to get colds after crowded Ă&#x20AC;LJKWV 7KRXJK VNHSWLFDO VKH WULHG LW call toll-free 1-888-411-6114. Buy once, use forever. several times a day on travel days for (paid advertisement)

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Thank You, Columnists! 50plus LIFE 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 LIFE: Tom Blake (On Life and Love after 50)

Melinda Myers (Melindaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Garden)

Suzy Cohen (Dear Pharmacist)

Robert Naeye (Soldier Stories)

Andrea Gross (Traveltizers)

Victor Parachin (Grief Relief)

Randal C. Hill (Fifties Flashback, It Was 50 Years Ago Today The Reel Deal)

Saralee Perel (Such is Life)

John Johnston (Social Security News) Bill Levine (Booming Voice) Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature) Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior)

Mark Rinaudo (Tech Talk) Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser) Terri Schlichenmeyer (The Bookworm Sez) Nick Thomas (Tinseltown Talks) Dr. Lori Verderame (Art and Antiques)

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 LIFE are enriched by your contributions.

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Tinseltown Talks

A Lassie Christmas with Jon Provost Nick Thomas

During the seven years Jon Provost starred as little Timmy Martin in the CBS TV series Lassie from 1957 to 1964, several end-of-year Christmas episodes aired. Most still stand out in Provost’s mind for one reason. “The crazy thing is we would be filming a Christmas episode during summer in Photo provided by Jon Provost. Southern California, Provost and Lassie pose where it was 90 degrees,” for a Christmas episode. said Provost from his home north of San Francisco. “We were all bundled up like it was 30 degrees and just dying from the heat. But of course, you kept acting and did what had to be done for the episode.” In the 1961 episode “Yochim’s Christmas,” where Timmy, Lassie, and a friend rescue a man trapped under an overturned sleigh, there was plenty of “snow” used for the scene. “It was fake, of course,” explained Provost. “For snow on the ground, a

machine almost like a firetruck was used to spray soap suds all over the hillside. We would have to shoot scenes before the suds turned back to liquid. “Knowing that, if you go back and look at the episode again, you’ll notice it’s not really behaving like real snow.” A different technique was employed for scenes Photo provided by Jon Provost. depicting snowing. Provost, as Timmy Martin, watches “They would use little crew make artificial snow made on shreds of white plastic set for a Christmas episode. dropped from above that would appear like snowflakes coming down or landing on our clothes. That was the magic of Hollywood before computer-generated images.” A frequent guest at autograph shows and classic film/TV events, Provost says he still gets asked the same questions about Lassie. “People have the perception that we had three or four dogs on the set at the same time to do different things, but that was not the case. Rudd Weatherwax, Lassie’s owner and trainer, would only allow one real Lassie on please see Lassie Christmas page 14

Atomic Canal from page 11 building a new canal through the small nation of Nicaragua, taking advantage of its large lake (Lake Nicaragua) to minimize construction. What made the project controversial was the idea of detonating nuclear munitions from decommissioned warheads to excavate a trench. “The engineering plan was conceived that the exploding nuclear charge would cause a vacant chamber to be created by the melting soil, which would then collapse, forming a crater. The series of craters would then form the canal,” Weiler recalls. “I thought it was the coolest project in the world.” According to the plan, the liquefied soil would chill to form a hardened shell, which would prevent radiation from leaking to the surface. But the project never really got off the drawing board. “When news of the atomic canal reached public consciousness, the response was overwhelmingly negative, and there were few congressional supporters for the project. As such, the atomic canal died a slow and quiet death,” Weiler says. Six months before his enlistment ended in February 1971, and after being promoted to staff sergeant, Weiler was transferred to the Pentagon to serve with the Safeguard Anti-Ballistic Missile Project. He had very little work to do but sometimes helped write reports for congressional aides. But this missile system was never built, mainly because the U.S. and the Soviet Union agreed to reduce their nuclear stockpiles. During his time at Fort Belvoir, Weiler met a woman from central www.50plusLifePA.com

Pennsylvania named Sally. They married in 1972, shortly after he left the Army. Sally worked in the intelligence community. Weiler later earned an undergraduate degree from George Mason University and then a graduate degree from the University of Virginia. In 2003, Weiler and his wife moved to their current home in central Pennsylvania. He worked various jobs, including management, until his retirement in 2008. In recent years, Weiler has fulfilled yet another childhood fantasy: writing three books about World War II. He has taken particular interest in the Soviet-German conflict, by far the largest, deadliest, and most consequential front in the war. Weiler is quick to point out a truth that many Americans fail to realize: the Red Army killed far more German soldiers and destroyed far more Nazi equipment than did their American and British counterparts. Weiler is currently working on his fourth book (https://weilerpublications. com/meet-ken). He is happy to have plenty of spare time to work on his book projects, participate in his local historical society, and volunteer at the Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg. He also gives lectures on military history. Robert Naeye visited Nicaragua for several days in February 2013 and took a twohour boat ride on Lake Nicaragua. He’s glad no canal was ever built there with atomic bombs.

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December 2019

Lassie Christmas from page 13

No Need for Disguises. We’re Pet Friendly!

the set at a time, although Lassie did have a double that was used for long shots like running, climbing, or swimming.” Provost worked with three different Lassies during his time on the show, and all were males rather than the females portrayed in the series. Then there’s the running joke of Timmy falling down a well and being rescued by Lassie. It remains one of those Hollywood legends that just don’t seem to die, even after Provost penned his 2009 memoir with its tongue-incheek title Timmy’s in the Well: The Jon Provost Story, disproving the myth that his character ever disappeared down a well (see www.jonprovost.com). “When I wrote my autobiography with my wife, Laurie, I looked through the synopsis of all 249 half-hour episode scripts, and there was no mention of Timmy ever falling into a well,” he said, adding its origin remains a mystery. “But that one will follow me forever!” Although it’s been six decades since the series first aired in 1954, reruns of the adventures of Lassie and Timmy still air in dozens of countries, including in the U.S. on cable. As for the Christmas episodes, stories typically tugged on viewers’ heartstrings, such as “The Christmas Story” from 1960, where Timmy helped a homeless family. “People tell me all the time about growing up with Lassie and the warm feeling they still have about the show,” says Provost. “The stories had morals and values attached to all the episodes, which are lacking in today’s television. I think that’s the reason it has retained its appeal.” Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 750 magazines and newspapers.

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December 2019

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Residents who are struggling with their home heating bills can apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants. It also provides crisis grants to help in the event of an emergency or if a resident is in danger of losing his or her heat due to broken equipment, lack of fuel, or termination of utility service. The income eligibility guidelines for LIHEAP are set at 150% of the federal poverty income level. For example, the income limit for an individual is $18,735; for a couple, the limit is $25,365; and for a family of four, it is $38,625. Residents may apply for LIHEAP online (www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/ heatingassistanceliheap) or by contacting their county assistance office.

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Grief Relief

You Can Grieve and Remain Optimistic Victor M. Parachin

Though you are grieving the death of someone greatly loved, try to remember that you can grieve and, at the same time, you can remain optimistic about life. Dealing with loss skillfully means grieving fully while continuing to be positive, hopeful, and optimistic. Here are eight things optimists do regularly. 1. They express gratitude. When people were told to write and then personally deliver a letter of gratitude to someone who had been especially kind to them, but whom they had never thanked properly, they experienced a huge increase in happiness, according to a study at the University of Pennsylvania. Even more, that happiness boost lasted an entire month. 2. They smile more. Smiling does more than make us look happy — it makes us feel happy, too. Studies have found that smiling provides a variety of psychological and physical benefits including: lowering stress levels, improving your mood, and helping you make more friends. Researchers believe this is because smiling reduces stress hormones and makes you appear more approachable. 3. They forgive. Although it may be easier said than done, learning to forgive instead of holding a grudge leads to a more positive lifestyle, says David Mezzapelle, author of Contagious Optimism. “Make peace with your past so that it won’t spoil the present. Once you accomplish this, you will close those chapters and live a more positive and happy life.” 4. They write down good things that come into their lives. Those who pay attention to the positive and write down the good that comes their way tend to be happier, notes psychologist Amy Przeworski, Ph.D. Even if it wasn’t a particularly great day, try to find something positive to say about it, she advises. “Most situations can be seen in both a positive and negative light. You just have to find the positive one and keep reminding yourself of it in order to eventually believe it.” Taking time to write down positive experiences is a way of training the brain to be more optimistic in general.

And, the benefits of being a positive person extend far beyond the writing exercise. A study of Catholic nuns who journaled regularly found that those who focused on more uplifting content ended up living longer. 5. They spend time around positive people. One study reported that 48% of the women surveyed strongly agreed they are happier when around optimistic people. Good moods are contagious, as are bad ones. Associating with positive people breeds more positivity in your own life. It’s an upward spiral rather than a downward one when spending too much time with negative individuals. 6. They cultivate resilience. According to University of Miami psychologist Charles S. Carver, Ph.D., who has written extensively about optimism, when compared with pessimists, optimists are far more resilient. Optimists bounce back from painful experiences faster than pessimists do, says Carver. “They stay in the struggle because they expect the ship to right itself.” 7. They are persistent. No matter what storms enter their lives, optimists keep their focus on getting through. Inch by inch, they tap into inner strengths and find a way through the challenge. Optimists find ways to selfmotivate themselves day after day. Their guiding credo is based on this wisdom from U.S. president Calvin Coolidge: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not: Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” 8. They remain confident. That means they are able to deal with challenges following their own intuitive sense rather than be directed by other voices that say “yes, no, maybe; do this, not that; go in this direction, not that one.” They know that always following the opinion of others creates uncertainty, erodes individuality, and results in confusion. Victor M. Parachin, M.Div., is a grief counselor, bereavement educator, and author of several books, including Healing Grief.

Deadline from page 8 The rollout in the remainder of the commonwealth will include approximately 143,000 individuals. When fully implemented across the state, CHC will include approximately 400,000 Pennsylvanians, 94% of whom are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. www.50plusLifePA.com

For more information on plan selection, call (844) 824-3655 (TTY (833) 254-0690) or visit www.enrollchc.com. For more information on the CHC program, visit www.healthchoices. pa.gov/info/about/community or call (833) 735-4416. 50plus LIFE u

December 2019

50 Plus Senior News 12/19 Crossword

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Across

50 50 Plus Plus Senior SeniorNews News 12/19 11/19Sudoku Sudoku

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It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘Whole Lotta Love’ Randal Hill

Did you ever wonder how Led Zeppelin came up with 1968,” Jimmy Page explains. such a weird name for their band? “I suppose my early love for big intros by rockabilly The group had their roots in the Yardbirds, the bluesguitarists was an inspiration, but as soon as I developed the based mid-’60s UK outfit whose members included, at riff, I knew it was strong enough to drive the entire song, various times, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. not just open it.” In 1968, with their popularity fading fast, they became The song was recorded in one afternoon. Page recalls the harder-edged New Yardbirds and, later that year, Led the watershed moment. Zeppelin — after Who members Keith Moon and John “[Robert] kept gaining confidence during the session Entwistle teased the New Yardbirds that they would go and gave it everything he had. His vocals, like my [guitar] over “like a lead balloon.” solos, were about performance. He was pushing to see what Proving the Who members wrong, Led Zeppelin soon he could get out of himself. We were performing for each became concert headliners. They eventually dispensed with other, almost competitively.” “Whole Lotta Love” Led Zeppelin opening acts and instead offered fans three hours of highLed Zeppelin abhorred the thought of having their December 1969 decibel, mind-numbing rock, with blues shouter Robert extensive album tracks become abbreviated 45s for the AM Plant and guitar wizard Page radiating ultimate coolness radio audience; however, Atlantic Records did exactly that from the front of the stage. in order to bring “Whole Lotta Love” to listeners who had yet to embrace the Everything about the band seemed larger than life, and Led Zeppelin FM rock world. became the first rock group to become fully realized heavy-metal gods. The tune ran 5:33, which was acceptable for an album track but too long The band’s first hit song would knock the standard rock ’n’ roll world back for an AM-radio-oriented single. Over Led Zeppelin’s protestations, Atlantic on its heels. trimmed the song to a running time of 3:12. “I came up with the guitar riff for ‘Whole Lotta Love’ in the summer of please see ‘Whole Lotta Love’ page 21

Bipartisan Letter Urges VA to Track Scams Targeting Veterans During a recent hearing entitled “Veterans Scams: Protecting Those Who Protect Us,” Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, highlighted his bipartisan letter that calls on the Department of Veterans Affairs to take a more active role in tracking these scams and educating veterans about these schemes. According to a 2017 AARP report, 78% of veterans reported receiving a scam attempt related to their veteran status. The same study also found that veterans are twice as likely as civilians to lose money to a scam. Senators Casey and Susan Collins (R-ME), chair of the Special Committee on Aging, joined by 11 members of the committee, are sending a letter urging the VA to play a more active role in combatting financial exploitation by scammers. “We must fight back against unscrupulous con artists by ensuring that not one more veteran loses one more penny to a scam,” Casey said. “I urge the VA www.50plusLifePA.com

to do more to combat scams against veterans.” In the letter, the senators cite an October 2019 Government Accountability Office report, which found that the VA does not centrally collect or analyze information assessing the threat of scams against veterans receiving pension benefits. Casey invited Sgt. LaVerne Foreman, an 82-year-old veteran from Herndon, Pennsylvania, to testify at the hearing about his experience losing money to a veterans charity scam. “It isn’t easy to talk about being scammed, but what I am doing today is an extension of my service,”

Foreman said. “These scam artists rip off innocent people, and as a result, contributions are diverted away from the organizations actually doing the work of caring for those who served and who are now in need … On behalf of veterans, I ask everyone who can help to stop this activity to play their part.” 50plus LIFE u

December 2019

Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes The listings with a shaded background have additional information about their center in a display advertisement in this edition.

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 Personal Care Home: No Private: 100 Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: 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: Yes Comments: One-bedroom suites; secured memory support neighborhood; skilled nursing – The Oaks.

Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community

1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102 717-221-7901 • www.homelandcenter.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 56 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes

Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Providing exemplary care in a beautiful environment for more than 150 years. Our continuum of care includes therapy services, skilled rehab, 24-hour medical staffing, plus Hospice, HomeHealth, and HomeCare outreach programs. All-private rooms include a full bath and kitchenette.

Homestead Village

2990 Carlisle Pike • New Oxford, PA 17350 717-624-5436 • www.crosskeysvillage.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 123 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No 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

Homeland Center

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: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: A regional leader in all aspects of memory care and a program designed for optimal engagement and socialization.

1800 Village Circle • Lancaster, PA 17603 717-397-4831 • www.homesteadvillage.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Harrison House of Chester County

Homewood at Plum Creek

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 80 Assisted Living Residence: No 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: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 92 Assisted Living Residence: No 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

300 Strode Avenue • Coatesville, PA 19320 610-384-6310 • www.harrisonseniorliving.com 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: Located in western Chester County, Harrison House provides an array of amenities with nursing care.

425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331 717-637-4166 • www.homewoodplumcreek.org

The Hickman Friends Senior Community

Mennonite Home Communities

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 114 Assisted Living Residence: No 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

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 150 Assisted Living Residence: No 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

400 North Walnut Street • West Chester, PA 19380 484-760-6300 • www.TheHickman.org 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: Nonprofit personal care community in downtown West Chester. Includes secure dementia care neighborhood. Call to schedule a personal tour.

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 deluxe and studio apartments available! New Harvest House Memory Support now available.

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: Excellent care in a lovely environment. Call to schedule a visit.

1520 Harrisburg Pike • Lancaster, PA 17601 717-393-1301 • www.mennonitehome.org 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: No Comments: Supportive, encouraging environment. Various room types and suites available. Secure memory care offered.

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

Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes The listings with a shaded background have additional information about their center in a display advertisement in this edition.

Normandie Ridge

1700 Normandie Drive • York, PA 17408 717-764-6262 • https://normandieridge.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 27 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No 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: Our dementia care residence features the Kaleidoscope therapeutic engagement program designed for our residents.

Pleasant View Communities

544 North Penryn Road • Manheim, PA 17545 717-664-6237 • www.pvcommunities.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 96 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes 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

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.

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

At Your Fingertips Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away. Disasters American Red Cross Greater Brandywine (610) 692-1200 Chester County Emergency Services (610) 344-5000 Salvation Army Coatesville (610) 384-2954 Salvation Army West Chester (610) 696-8746 Emergency Numbers Central Pennsylvania 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 Arthritis Foundation (215) 570-3060 www.50plusLifePA.com

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

Housing Assistance Community Impact Legal Services (610) 876-0804

Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711

Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801

National Osteoporosis Foundation (800) 223-9994 PACE (800) 225-7223 Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852 Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213 Southeastern Pennsylvania Medical Institute (610) 446-0662 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY HOME IMPROVEMENT West Shore Home 5024 Simpson Ferry Road Mechanicsburg (717) 937-1148

Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com retirement living Friends Home in Kennett 147 W. State St., Kennett Square (610) 444-2577

JEWELERS American Gold & Estate Buyers, Inc. 363 E. Lincoln Highway, Exton (484) 872-8216

Harrison Senior Living Locations in Christiana and East Fallowfield (610) 384-6310

Legal Services Lawyer Referral Service (610) 429-1500

The Hickman Friends Senior Communities of West Chester 400 N. Walnut St., West Chester (484) 760-6403

Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (610) 436-4510 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

Senior Centers Coatesville Oxford (610) 383-6900 (610) 932-5244 Downingtown (610) 269-3939 Great Valley (610) 889-2121

Phoenixville (610) 935-1515 Wayne (610) 688-6246

Kennett Square (610) 444-4819

West Chester (610) 431-4242

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

December 2019

Traveltizers

An Unlikely Place for Miracles By Andrea Gross

Alabama is not a place where I normally expect to find miracles. Bushes may burn, but angels don’t appear from the flames. Flowers are abundant, but they don’t rain from the sky. And although the Tennessee River Northwest Alabama is known for water sports has less water some and hiking trails as well as for music and years than others, miracles. it has never parted to make way for an exodus of 5 million people. Yet here I was, in northwest Alabama, witnessing the recreation of a miracle that happened more than 125 years ago, and in the next few days, I would witness miracles that have happened As her teacher, Annie Sullivan, watches, Helen here more recently. connects the word “water,” which Annie has While these been fingerspelling into her hand, with the may not have been reality of the liquid flowing from the pump. messages from a deity, they were at least miracles in an earthly sense. Amazing Grace in Tuscumbia The small, black pump stands in front of a modest clapboard house. A 7-year-old girl reaches out and feels the cool water as it flows into her hands. The audience is absolutely silent. We’ve all seen The Miracle Worker, the play and movie that tell the story of Helen Keller. We know what’s going to happen, but we want to see it portrayed here, on the grounds of Ivy Green, the home where she grew up. The house in the background is the one in which she and her teacher, Annie Sullivan, struggled; the gardens are the ones through which they walked, and the pump is the very same pump that spilled out the water that awakened Helen’s brain. With a frenzied cry, the young actress begins to fingerspell into the hand of the woman standing next to her. W … A … T … E … R. Helen Keller has learned to communicate. A miracle has occurred.

December 2019

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Helen Keller was born in the house that was built by her grandparents in 1820.

A man who is blind discusses the statue of Helen Keller with a woman who is deaf.

For those in the audience, many who are deaf or blind, the moment is electric. After the play several of them walk over to a lifesize statue of Keller and the pump. A woman looks with her eyes, but asks questions with her hands. Her companion fingerspells the answers. A man who sees with his hands runs his fingers over the statue. “I wish I could have met her,” he says. Helen Keller still serves as an inspiration to everyone, but especially to those who need her most. Chalk it up to another miracle.

Resurrection in Muscle Shoals The word “resurrection” is always tinged with the miraculous, whether it’s used in the biblical sense or simply as a synonym for “restoration,” as when I speak of resurrecting my vintage bathtub from the garbage bin. But here in Muscle Shoals, it’s an entire tradition that is being resurrected. Back in the ’60s and ’70s, Muscle Shoals was a musical mecca, luring the country’s greatest artists to its small production studios. The Allman Brothers, Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and the Rolling Stones were among the many who made pilgrimages to Alabama to record songs that personified America. But by the 1990s, technological advances had nearly decimated the recording business. Music was no longer produced, distributed, or listened to in the same way, and Muscle Shoals was in danger of losing its identity as well as its industry. Then in 2013 a documentary celebrating the town’s musical legacy was released to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival, and folks began clamoring to see the old sound studio at 3614 Jackson Highway. The Muscle Shoals Music Foundation has restored it to look like it did please see Miracles page 23

www.50plusLifePA.com

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Collectors Throw Back to the 1970s Lori Verderame

When it comes to shopping for vintage clothing, including African kente and antique items, patterns of collecting cloth shirts; unbreakable and colorful go through cycles. functional plastics, like patio trays and And as we approach 2020, here are picnic cups; and metal wall accents. some of the items, styles, and movements Signage is also taking a decade off. No that are on their way out. What we more adhesive-backed vinyl wall signs collected with vigor five years ago is with phrases like “We are Family” in being replaced by other objects and kitchens or “Live, Laugh, Love” in the trends. basement media room. These stick-on For instance, we are seeing crystal, signs aren’t groovy anymore. metallics, and sleek vintage objects So, what is groovy? Vinyl itself … making a strong comeback. These items in the form of vintage handbags or LP are replacing feminine and fussy pieces, records. For instance, you can cash in on like delicate china teacups and stainedthat George Harrison record and poster glass lamps. from his 1970 solo album, All Things As millennials continue to collect Must Pass, and the crates of other vinyl antiques and vintage pieces in great records in your attic or basement, like numbers, certain antiquing trends are Tumbleweed Connection by Elton John, changing with the tides. When shopping Led Zeppelin III by Led Zeppelin, and for your next vintage or antique find, Bridge over Troubled Water by Simon and leave these items at the flea market, estate Garfunkel, among many others. sale, or thrift store — when you’re out, HGTV network may have restored the you’re out. Brady Bunch house, but it is a little too The styles of the 1970s are of great late for some of the items from the show interest to today’s collectors. Many are that shout “1970s out of date” design. embracing the organic forms and sinuous Yes, the Asian horse sculpture that lines of 1970s furniture and the rock ’n’ decorated the Bradys’ living room has roll and disco music of the era. been reproduced in a litany of museum We all know that vintage vinyl is gift shops since Marcia got hit in the nose Early-1970s picnic cups with basketry reed. huge with today’s collectors, but what’s with that football. Today, collectors are moving out, as Billy Joel sang it, are the looking for the chenille accent chairs in recession-era colors of the 1970s. that famous TV living room, not the mass-produced, fake-Asian sculpture. The patterns of the Age of Aquarius are desirable, but the drab colors of Dr. Lori Verderame is the director of www.DrLoriV.com and www.youtube.com/ the time — avocado green and harvest gold — are not. Out are dyed-green drloriv. She is the award-winning Ph.D. antiques appraiser and artifacts expert leather tufted-wing office chairs. Collectors are saying no to the brown, on History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island, about the world’s oldest treasure green, and beige wallpaper featuring oversized ferns and other leafy plants. hunt. Dr. Lori presents her Antiques Appraisal Comedy Show with free appraisals Instead, you’ll see today’s vintage collectors keeping the 1970s’ vintage nationwide. Visit www.DrLoriV.com/events or call (888) 431-1010.

‘Whole Lotta Love’ from page 17 As with the other band members, Page was livid. “Weeks before its release, [Atlantic] sent me an acetate of the edit. I played it once, hated it, and never listened to the short version again.” But Atlantic’s decision turned out to be a good one; the shortened “Whole Lotta Love” shot to No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. The story has a postscript. In 1985, blues guru Willie Dixon brought legal action against Atlantic Records, since much of “Whole Lotta Love” had been gleaned from Dixon’s obscure 1962 Chess Records ’45 of “You Need Love.” (A YouTube comparison bears this out.) www.50plusLifePA.com

The writing credits on “Whole Lotta Love” always listed the four Led Zeppelin members — Plant, Page, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones — as the creators of the tune. Atlantic, though, gave Dixon a one-time payment and writing credit on subsequent releases of “Whole Lotta Love.” Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

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December 2019

Classifieds

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Miracles from page 20 during its glory days, and it serves as a museum as well as a studio and gathering place for musicians. The rebirth of the Muscle Shoals sound as well as the Muscle Shoals town has begun. Tom Hendrix used 8.5 million pounds of stone Renewal in to honor his great-great-grandmother. Florence Tom Hendrix had heard stories about his great-great-grandmother all his life. He knew how she, along with other Indians from the Southeast, had been relocated to Oklahoma in the 1830s, how she was determined to find her way back to nunnushae, the “singing river” that flowed near her Alabama home, and how she walked more than 700 miles to do so, guided only by her dreams. When he told this story to a tribal elder, her answer changed his life. “You too will follow your path and sing your song,” she said. Hendrix — who passed away in 2017 — set forth on his path more than 30 years ago, and it resulted in the longest unmortared wall in America, one that winds 1.5 miles through the north Alabama countryside.

Time To Sell! Need Cash? Great GOLD PRICES We at 6-Year High!! ll e S , y u B

It contains 8.5 million pounds of stone — all put into place by Hendrix, without help, without heavy machinery, and without complaint. “We shall all pass through this earth. Only the stones remain,” he said. Hendrix’s wall runs 1.5 miles through “We honor our the north Alabama countryside. ancestors with stone.” Part of the wall is straight, as was his great-great-grandmother’s mandatory march along the Trail of Tears. Another part, which represents her return, is full of twists and turns. In between are stone prayer circles, where visitors can sit, reflect, and dream. Hendrix found his miracle in stones, and through his wall, he helped countless others find their miracles as well. (www.visitflorenceal.com) Photos ©Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (andreagross.com). www.traveltizers.com

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Closing date for ad copy is Jan. 3, 2020. Cannot be combined with any other offers or used on coins or bullion. Exp. 12/31/19. With this ad

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December 2019

Call for dental coverage today to help save money on big dental bills. This is not just a discount plan. This is real dental insurance from Physicians Mutual Insurance Company that helps pay for over 350 procedures – cleanings, fillings, crowns, even dentures. • No annual maximum, no deductible • See any dentist you want – including your own • Preventive care starts immediately • Over 50? Coverage as low as $1 per day

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