Cumberland County 50plus LIFE January 2020 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

Complimentary | Cumberland County Edition

January 2020 â&#x20AC;¢ Vol. 21 No. 1

Are you ha Medica ppy with you r re cove rage? Do you person want to talk t to h oal healthc elp maximize ive are exp y erience our GGooto topp ? aaggee 142 ttoossee wwee ccaan 1 ha htat nd doo ffoorr eeww yyoouu ..

Read It, Love It, Pass It On page 4

Silver Anniversary: 50plus Life Turns 25 page 2

Gambling Problems in Older Adults page 10

Silver Celebration

25 Years of 50 plus LIFE and On-Line Publishers It is with great excitement and gratitude that we at On-Line Publishers, Inc. celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2020. When President and CEO Donna Anderson began OnLine Publishers and its flagship publication, then called Senior News, from her home in 1995, it would have been impossible to predict the trajectory the fledgling company would take over the course of 2.5 decades. From 1995-2005, Senior News’ coverage would expand to embrace six central Pennsylvania counties. Now called 50plus LIFE, the newsprint magazine’s current six-county coverage umbrella includes Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. OLP’s line of niche publications eventually grew to include BusinessWoman, a professional women’s magazine; b magazine, a full-gloss, lifestyle baby boomer publication produced from 2008-16; 50plus Living, an annual guide of residences and care options; and beyond50, a county-specific directory of information about

local products, services, and support, as well as other annual specialty inserts. In 1997, OLP branched out into events; the first 50plus EXPO (then called Celebrate Seniority Expo) brought businesses and the community together for face-toface interaction. There are now six 50plus EXPOs, four Women’s Expos, and five Veterans’ Expo & Job Fairs each year. The years have brought growth and transformation to our business, but our core mission remains unchanged: to spread needed information and foster community connectivity while uplifting the mind, heart, and spirit of the people we serve. We were honored to receive these proclamations from the Office of the Governor and the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commemorating On-Line Publishers’ 25 years. And special thanks to you, the central Pennsylvania community, for making our silver anniversary possible!

25 th

January 2020

50plus LIFE ›

www.50plusLifePA.com

Grief Relief

Tips for Facing the New Year While Grieving Victor M. Parachin

Grieving is taxing on mind, body, and spirit. While it can be tough to face each new day, the challenge can feel enormous when January emerges and a whole new year is stretching out before us. Rather than allowing Jan. 1 to be a depressing date, consider these positive tips for facing the new year while still grieving. 1. Give yourself the physical rest you need. Grief is exhausting, so slow down your life and bring some relaxation into it, such taking time to read a book, view a movie, visit with a friend, and generally spend more time resting in your bed or on a sofa or armchair.

“Tired minds don’t plan well. Sleep first, plan later.” – Walter Reisch, director and screenwriter 2. Give yourself the mental rest you need. Grief is a powerfully negative experience. Work to soften that by engaging yourself with positive thoughts, positive people, positive reading material. “Affirm the positive, visualize the positive, and expect the positive, and your life will change accordingly.” – Remez Sasson, self-improvement author please see New Year page 18

At Your Fingertips Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away. adult day care Life Time Adult Day Care 3 Crossgate Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 975-9762 Emergency Numbers American Red Cross (717) 845-2751 Central Pennsylvania Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Cumberland County Assistance (800) 269-0173 Energy Assistance Cumberland County Board of Assistance (800) 269-0173 Eye care services Kilmore Eye Associates 890 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 697-1414 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383 Arthritis Foundation (717) 763-0900 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 The National Kidney Foundation (800) 697-7007 PACE (800) 225-7223 Social Security Administration (Medicare) (800) 302-1274 Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania (717) 238-2531

Healthcare Information PA HealthCare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787 Hearing Services Duncan Nulph Hearing Associates 5020 Ritter Road, Suite 10G Mechanicsburg (717) 766-1500 Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Home care Services Homeland at Home Serving all of Cumberland County (717) 221-7892 HOME IMPROVEMENT West Shore Home 5024 Simpson Ferry Road Mechanicsburg (717) 937-1148 Hospice Services Homeland at Home Serving all of Cumberland County (717) 221-7890 Housing Assistance Cumberland County Housing Authority 114 N. Hanover St., Carlisle (717) 249-1315 Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937 Salvation Army (717) 249-1411 Insurance Apprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067 Capital Blue (888) 989-9015 (TTY: 711)

www.50plusLifePA.com

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Medicare (800) 633-4227

Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228

Nursing/Rehab Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7900

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Nutrition Meals on Wheels Carlisle (717) 245-0707 Mechanicsburg (717) 697-5011 Newville (717) 776-5251 Shippensburg (717) 532-4904 West Shore (717) 737-3942

Flu or Influenza (888) 232-3228

Drug Information (800) 729-6686

Health and Human Services Discrimination (800) 368-1019 Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-1040 Liberty Program (866) 542-3788 Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833

Orthopedics

National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046

OSS Health 856 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 747-8315 Personal Care Homes Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7900 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Services Cumberland County Aging & Community Services (717) 240-6110 Toll-Free Numbers Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555 Cancer Information Service (800) 422-6237 Consumer Information (888) 878-3256

Passport Information (877) 487-2778 (V); (888) 874-7793 (TTY) Social Security Fraud (800) 269-0217 Social Security Office (800) 772-1213 Veterans Services American Legion (717) 730-9100 Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681 Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771 Veterans Affairs (717) 240-6178 or (717) 697-0371

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

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

Cover Story

Read It, Love It, Pass It On 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 Email 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 Connie Molitor Lauren Phillips

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Senior Marketing Consultants Joshua Binkley Jennifer Schmalhofer Angie Willis Marketing Consultant Cassidy Galeone Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

Awards

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.

January 2020

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By Bart A. Stump Read it. Love it. Pass many, many books and it on. A premise that can our neighbors down the change a child’s world. street did not,” Rengert These simple words says. are found on a sticker Rengert had heard of attached to each book a group in the Midwest stored in a brightly that was providing free decorated cardboard box children’s books to located in a neighborhood impoverished caregivers, laundromat. This and an idea was spawned. inspiring message is the With the luxury of time guiding principle of the that retirement brings, Laundromat Library Rengert teamed up with A child enjoys LLL-supplied books inside a League. longtime friend Iacobucci laundromat in Mount Vernon, N.Y. Established in 2014, to create a plan. the LLL is the brainchild of co-founders Arlene “In the early summer of 2014, Karen and I were Rengert and Karen Iacobucci, both of southeastern chatting and reinforced the idea … We settled on Pennsylvania. It has one primary mission: making laundromats as logical distribution sites because children’s books available to children in homes that caregivers who have no laundry appliances at home have few or none. probably also lack children’s books and/or the time A decorated “library box” containing 60 books and budget to take children to libraries.” — ranging from board books for toddlers, picture They shared the idea with friends, neighbors, and books for beginning readers, chapter books for anyone else who would listen — and the LLL came independent readers, and full-length books for teens to fruition. in both fiction and nonfiction topics — is placed in There are currently more than 200 LLL sites a laundromat once the owner has given permission. scattered across 26 states, most of which are in Signs on the box encourage children and southeast Pennsylvania. The books come from a caregivers to read a book there, take it home, and variety of sources, including libraries, schools, book pass it on to someone else. Books don’t need to be sale leftovers, youth groups, and private donations. returned, just utilized. Once or twice a month, a Over 100,000 books have been donated so far. volunteer steward refreshes the contents of the box, Hundreds of additional books in Spanish or with straightens the area, and removes anything that multicultural themes or images have been purchased doesn’t belong. to enrich the libraries. Financial support comes While volunteers are the backbone of the LLL, from donors, businesses, restaurant fundraisers, Rengert is its heart and soul. Raised in suburban youth organizations, and grants. Illinois, she grew up in a town with a welcoming In 2016 the LLL incorporated as a 501(c)3 library and parents that read to her every evening. nonprofit so that monetary donations are tax Earning higher-education degrees in geography deductible. The basic operating budget covers and demography, she would go on to chair the storage rental, insurance, materials needs, and Department of Geography and Planning at West website maintenance but does not include purchase Chester University. While raising five children with of books or postage to mail them to distant sites. her spouse, George, their home was full of books. There is no paid staff, and a local school provides “Reading to children was probably my favorite no-cost space for sorting and assembly of books and thing to do,” Rengert says. for dropping off book donations. The school is also Her favorite childhood book? where the decorated, filled boxes and replacement “The Little Engine that Could. The ‘I think I sets of books await pickup by volunteers who deliver can, I think I can’ is still something I quietly say to to local sites. myself when confronted with a problem.” Over 500 volunteers ranging in age from 8-80 The problem became apparent early on. collect and organize the books, recruit and steward “My years in West Philadelphia as a young laundromats, or donate funds or their professional mother probably were when I became personally skills, such as graphic arts, accounting, translation, exposed to the greater advantages in reading and and the like. education that some children have. We had friends In September of each year there is a potluck social of all income levels and races, and yet our house had held to celebrate the LLL’s anniversary, where all www.50plusLifePA.com

participants within driving distance are invited. Twice-monthly updates are sent out with news and needs. When asked what she considers the LLL’s greatest success to be, Rengert answers, “Growing itself.” Rengert shares the story of a thirdgrade teacher at a backyard barbecue who related a story to gathered friends. The teacher had assigned students to bring to class something from home that they really loved and to explain why they loved it. One child brought in a book with the LLL book sticker on the front. “This is my book,” he said. “It’s my only book, and that’s why I love it.” As a result of hearing this story, a gentleman who had not previously heard of the LLL acquired a $500 grant for the organization. Rengert listed multiple examples of individuals and groups that have helped grow the LLL. This continuing growth is what keeps Rengert motivated. “Before I die, I want to have children’s books in at least one

Volunteers assemble collections of children’s books into boxes for placements in laundromats.

Laundromat Library League volunteers maintain a book-collection box at a local senior center.

Members of the Crow Peak Valley Rangers 4H Club in Whitewood, S.D., some of the LLL’s newest and youngest participants.

laundromat in all 50 states,” she says. The growth and success of the program is getting noticed. In 2015 the LLL received a literacy award from the Keystone State Literacy Association. Additionally, last March, the LLL was invited to send representation to the LaundryCares Foundation’s Literacy Summit. Here, laundromat owners partnered with the Clinton Foundation’s Too Small to Fail initiative and Libraries Without Borders to enhance early literacy efforts in local communities across the country. The LLL (www. laundromatlibraryleague.org) is always looking for volunteers and donations. They can be reached at laundromatlibrary@gmail.com or by calling (610) 696-2282. On the cover: Arlene Rengert, co-founder of the Laundromat Library League, with LLL books available inside the Family Laundromat in West Chester, Pa.

Tom & Randi LaNasa “MEMORY MUSIC”

Attention: RETIREMENT HOMES, CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS. Looking for entertainment?

Now booking our Christmas, variety, and specialty shows for 2019. We have many variety shows featuring the music from the 1930s to the 60s. Songs by legendary artists like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Kay Starr, Dean Martin, Patsy Cline, and the Mills Brothers. Specialty shows include …

Songs from the WWII Years • The Post WWII Years: 1945 – 1955 AMERICA: From Sea to Shining Sea Salute to the Rat Pack (or if you prefer, just Sinatra) Elvis & Patsy • Classic Country Please contact Memory Music to book your next event!

Phone: (717) 846-6126 www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE ›

E-mail: memrymusic@aol.com

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

CROSSWORD

Puzzle Page

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 22 SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Alaska

Across 1. Metal fastener 5. Part of an act 10. Old West casino game 14. Ancient Peruvian 15. Overhangs 16. Augury 17. Hoodwink 18. Met highlights 19. Barbecue fare 20. Type of service 23. The lowdown, to the police 24. Discharge 25. Brute 28. ’60s hairdo Down 1. Old 45 player 2. Any day now 3. Aberdeen native 4. 1948 Bob Hope comedy, with The 5. Rap session? 6. Solitaire unit 7. Iniquities 8. Approach 9. They, in Trieste 10. Relinquish 11. Nitrogen compound 12. Picture puzzle 13. Outbreak

30. Oil cartel inits. 31. Gambled 33. UN ﬁnancial agency inits. 36. UK politician 40. Java canvas 41. Brilliant feats 42. High point 43. Rewards for waiting 44. Extremely popular 46. Embellish 49. Group of trees 51. Hunting bird 57. Others, to Ovid 58. Take as one’s own 21. Maid’s cloth 22. Rigoletto composer 25. Crash site? 26. Snake, for one 27. Actress Miles 28. French friends 29. Quagmire 31. Wildebeests 32. Concert prop 33. Eczema symptom 34. Exec’s note 35. Stew 37. Cake topper 38. Elephant grp.

59. As a result 60. Knee-slapper 61. Tyrant bird 62. Cattail, e.g. 63. Beach shades 64. Stun gun 65. Jurisdictions of bishops

39. Equestrian suppliers 43. Goodies 44. Beam 45. Bambi character 46. In pieces 47. Novelist Ephron 48. Heavenly hunter 49. Precipitates 50. Home on the range 52. Engrossed 53. Brainwave 54. Canadian tribe 55. Double curve 56. Silent assents

Your ad could be here on this popular page! Please call (717) 770-0140 for more information.

January 2020

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Balance: The Often-Ignored Element of Fitness By Kathleen Trotter Balance training is a crucial — and too often ignored — element of training. Too often we associate “working out” solely with traditional gym exercises, such as cardio, squats, lunges, weight machines, and stretching … all (obviously) critical, but not at the expense of balance training. Being able to bench press a certain weight or spend 30 minutes on the elliptical become fairly useless if you fall over putting away the weights or getting on and off the elliptical. Start to think of balance training as a “nonnegotiable” — the fourth “pillar” of fitness that is as important as strength training, cardiovascular training, and flexibility. Why? Balance training is hugely functional, in large part because balance and proprioception are intrinsically linked. Balance training improves the feedback loop (proprioception) between your body and your brain. This loop allows your brain to know where your body is positioned in space, thus allowing your brain to instruct the body to “turn on” specific muscles. By challenging and training your balance, you also fine-tune your proprioception. This proprioceptive neurological feedback loop is

vital for everything from athletic maneuvers, to fall prevention, to improved posture, to injury prevention and foot strength. Fall prevention is key, especially as we age. According to the CDC, each year over 300,000 older people — those 65 and older — are hospitalized for hip fractures. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling. A study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada followed up with more than 500 hip-fracture patients a year after their fractures. Of community-dwelling hip-fracture patients more than 50 years of age, 20% had died, 5% had had a second fracture, and 20% had been institutionalized. The outcomes were even worse for those in long-term care.

When performing balance exercises, it is the “righting” element of wobbling and catching yourself that strengthens your balance.

Ways to Improve Your Balance For all outlined exercises, allow yourself to (appropriately) wobble outside your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to let yourself get slightly unstable. If you were training your biceps, you would let your muscles get tired. Embrace that you have to let yourself fall out of balance (slightly) to train balance — it is the please see Balance page 9

On-Line Publishers, Inc.

has earned 3 Mature Media Awards! 2019

Winners

from

Bronze Award

Merit Award

“A Path Well Carved” by Jason J. Tabor

“Doing the Heart’s Work” by Megan Joyce

Caregiver Solutions 2018

Thank you for supporting our award-winning publications! www.50plusLIFEPA.com www.50plusLifePA.com

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Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

Class Supports Toys for Tots Donation

Please join us for these FREE events!

Thanks to the efforts of the Inclusive SilverSneakers FLEX exercise class and community partners PPC Lubricants and the Schartner House, this shipment of over 250 toys went to the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Members of the class, held at Susquehanna View Apartments in Camp Hill, hoped the toy collection would positively impact many children’s lives while making sure they have a brighter Christmas. For more information or to join the Inclusive SilverSneakers FLEX group, email jesseswoyer.com@gmail.com or call (717) 439-4070.

21st Annual

LANCASTER COUNTY

April 22, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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

21st Annual

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

21st Annual

DAUPHIN COUNTY

May 6, 2020

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

May 6, 2020

21st Annual

Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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

DAUPHIN COUNTY

25 th

Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey

June 10, 2020

17th Annual

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

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

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CHESTER COUNTY

Church Farm School 1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton

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

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

www.50plusExpoPA.com

(717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140 • (610) 675-6240 8

January 2020

50plus LIFE ›

(717) 285-1350 (717) 770-0140 (610) 675-6240

www.50plusExpoPA.com www.50plusLifePA.com

Balance from page 7 “righting” element of wobbling and then catching yourself that helps your balance get stronger. Incorporate a few balance drills into your workout warm-up or while you brush your teeth or wait for the elevator. Warming up the loop between your brain and body will help you perform better during the rest of your workout and your day! Stand on your left leg and lift your right leg off the ground. Hold for five seconds. Lower the foot but don’t touch down. Repeat three to 10 times, and then switch legs. Repeat step one while rotating your head over and then away from the lifted knee. Repeat step one while closing your eyes for two to three seconds. Use unstable equipment — such as a Bosu balance trainer, resistance ball, or balance board — within your regular routine. For example, instead of doing push-ups on the floor, put your hands on either side of a Bosu, flat side up. Try to keep the Bosu stable as you do your push-up. Train barefoot to strengthen your feet; think of your feet as the “foundation” to your balance “house.” Triangle balance toe lifts: Standing on your right leg, engage your right butt cheek. Make sure your knee is not caving in; keep the kneecap in line with your middle toes. Pay attention to your right foot. Weight should be evenly distributed between the ball of the big toe, the ball of the little toe, and your heel. Keep your arch lifted. Maintain this position as you lift your right toes up and spread them. Leave the ball of your foot on the floor. Lower and repeat 15 times. Then switch sides.

Heel-toe walks: Start standing. Place your right heel on the ground in front of you. Flex through your toes so the next portion of your body to touch the floor is the ball of your big toe. As you transition to balancing on your right toes, lift your left foot off of the floor. Don’t roll your foot in or out. Balance for a moment. Repeat by placing your left heel on the floor in front. Repeat 10 times. Big-toe lifts: Lift your big toe up and down. Keep your other toes still. If you need to, hold your toes down to teach your brain how to only lift the big toe. Final Note If you are feeling overwhelmed — “too busy” to work out, let alone adding balance training to your life — try keeping a “time journal.” Record how you spend your time for two weeks. Most of us fritter away time. As the famous business adage goes, “What gets measured, gets managed.” You can’t possibly manage your time if you don’t know where your time goes. With awareness brings choice. If you want to get on top of your health, you have to get in control of your time. Too many of us let emergencies dictate how our time gets used or have no idea how we actually spend our minutes, hours, days, etc. Time is our most valuable resource — we can’t make more of it. Kathleen Trotter (MSc) is a fitness expert, nutrition and life coach, media personality, and author of two books, including her most recent, Your Fittest Future Self. Connect with her on social media at FitByKathleenT or through her website, KathleenTrotter.com

People are talking about us... “A solid publication that is full of personality and useful information.”

“Columnists bring a wide set of interests and viewpoints.”

“The emphasis on variety seems to be a smart way to satisfy a diverse audience.”

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.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. • 3912 Abel Drive • Columbia, PA 17512 • 717-285-1350 www.50plusLifePA.com

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Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

How to Know When an Older Adult Has a Gambling Problem

Dear Savvy Senior, I’m worried that my 76-year-old husband has become addicted to gambling. He spends at least two days a week at an Indian casino about a half-hour’s drive from his house playing slot machines. What can I do? – Worried Wife Dear Worried, Problem gambling among older adults is unfortunately on the rise. Studies suggest that more than 4 million Americans age 65 and older could have a gambling problem. The reasons behind this growing problem are because seniors have time and money on their hands, and the influx of casinos that have cropped up around the country have made access to gambling much more convenient. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources that can help your husband if he does indeed have a problem. Problem Gambling For most older adults, gambling is simply a fun recreational activity, but for those who become addicted to it, it can be a devastating disease that can financially wipe them out. There are a number of reasons why seniors can be vulnerable to gambling problems. For starters, seniors are often catered to by casinos with free bus transportation, free drinks, discounted meals, special rewards, and other prizes as a way to entice them. In addition, many seniors use gambling as a way to distract or escape feelings of loneliness, depression, or even a chronic health condition. Some may have financial problems they are seeking to overcome. And some may have cognitive impairment that interferes with their ability to make sound decisions. Adding to the problem is that many seniors may not understand addiction, making them less likely to identify a gambling problem. Or they may be confused or embarrassed that they can’t control their urges to gamble and reluctant to seek help because they think that at their age, they should know better. And even if they recognize that they have a problem, they may not know that help is available or where to get it. You should also know that while there are many gambling options for people to get hooked on today, casino slot machines are far and away the most popular among seniors. Slot machines are much more addictive then the old machines of yesteryear with spinning lemons, cherries, and melons. Many of today’s slot machines offer intense sensory stimulation with large video screens, music, and vibrating, ergonomic chairs. Get Help How can you know if your husband has a gambling problem? Gamblers

January 2020

50plus LIFE ›

Anonymous (www.gamblersanonymous.org) offers a 20-question online test that he can take to help determine if he has a problem. In the meantime, here are some questions you can ask to help evaluate his situation. • Is he preoccupied with gambling, constantly talking about it, or planning to gamble versus doing his normal activities? • Is he gambling more and more money to get the same level of excitement? • Is he using his retirement funds or other savings to gamble, or is he pawning or selling personal items to get money to gamble with? • Has he lost control to the point that he can’t set a limit of time and money to spend in the casino, and stick to it? • Does he become uncomfortable or angry or does he lie when you ask him about his gambling activities? If your husband answers yes to any of these questions, he may have a problem. To find help, contact the National Council on Problem Gambling (www. ncpgambling.org), a nonprofit organization that operates a 24-hour national hotline at (800) 522-4700. They can direct you to resources in your area, including counselors who have been trained through the National Certified Gambler Counseling Program. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

Are You Reading? Join the 2020 One Book, One Community campaign by reading Heartland by Sarah Smarsh. 40 libraries in Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York, and surrounding counties and their community partners present the regional reading campaign. Read the book in January and attend free library programs and discussions throughout February and early spring!

Photo credit: Michael Lionstar

Visit www.oboc.org or your library to learn more

www.50plusLifePA.com

Join us in celebrating our silver anniversary by taking a look back at life over the last 25 years … as well as a blast from one of our covers past!

2017

25 th

Top Headlines

Entertainment

• In June, President Trump announced the U.S. would pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

• In a mix-up for the Oscar for Best Picture, La La Land was announced before it was revealed that Moonlight actually won the award.

• The opioid epidemic received major news coverage in 2017. In August, President Trump declared the epidemic a national emergency. • Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria pummeled southeast Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean in late summer and early fall.

• The #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault began in October with widespread abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein. • C elebrity passings included musicians Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Tom Petty, Gregg Allman, Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington, and Glen Campbell; actors Mary Tyler Moore, Bill Paxton, and Adam West; comedians Jerry Lewis, Don Rickles, and Dick Gregory; and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

• On Oct. 1, a gunman on the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel opened fire on outdoor concertgoers, killing 59 people and injuring more than 500.

• According to the Nielsen ratings, the top five most-watched TV series of 2017 were NCIS, Young Sheldon, The Good Doctor, The Big Bang Theory, and, at No. 1, Sunday Night Football.

Sports • Tennis player Serena Williams defeated her sister, Venus, in the Australian Open final. It was her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, breaking a record set in 1968. • The New England Patriots came back from a 23-8 deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28. It was the largest comeback and first overtime game in Super Bowl history. • NFL players kneeling during the national anthem set off a national debate after President Trump criticized the players on Twitter. • Former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar was accused of sexual abuse by more than 150 women — including several Olympic athletes. He would be sentenced to 40-175 years in federal prison.

www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE ›

January 2017

Science & Technology • NASA ran a livestream of the Cassini spacecraft’s final moments as it succumbed to Saturn’s dense atmosphere and heat. • Apple launched the iPhone X, which included facial-recognition technology as a security feature. • A total solar eclipse passed across the United States in late August; it was the first to cross the country since 1918. • A cyberattack on credit-reporting agency Equifax caused 145.5 million American consumers to have sensitive personal information stolen.

Join us next month to see what was happening in 2013!

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

Since 2000, 50plus LIFE (previously Senior News and 50plus Senior News) has won more than 130 awards for its editorial content and design. Here’s a look at an award-winning article from our archives.

Evelyn Ay – Where is She Now? October 2000 issue Mature Media Awards: Silver Award

By Meredith Westgate

It was September 1954 when 20-year-old Evelyn Ay, of Ephrata, became the pride of Lancaster County, and indeed, all of Pennsylvania. She was crowned Miss America in the Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey. Ephrata may not have ever before or since seen such a grand celebration as the one that took place the day she returned to her hometown. Sixty thousand people lined the streets for a parade of flower-studded floats while area high school marching bands played triumphant tunes. Carlo M. Sardella, a Press staff writer, called Ay “the People’s Choice.” He wrote, “Riding on a wave of popularity that began with her first public appearance in the [Miss America] parade … Ay copped the Miss America title … before a cheering, whistling, full house.” Ay earned her place in the finals by winning the first-night trophy in the swimsuit competition and earning top points in talent with her dramatic reading of Leaves from My House, a poem about a house and life in the South Pacific. But, it was in the question-and-answer period that Ay clinched the title. “She came through with colors flying so high that there were expressions of amazement up and down press row,” Sardella wrote. As the last Miss America to be crowned before the pageant was televised, Ay represented the end of an era. With the title, Ay was awarded a $5,000 scholarship, a car, and some $40,000 in personal appearance fees during her reign. She traveled 390,000 miles across the U.S., England, France, and Germany, serving as “the headliner” at festivals and charity events. At the time of her crowning, Ay was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. She had never participated in a beauty pageant. Approached by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Ephrata, she was persuaded to compete in the local competition. Advancing to the Miss America pageant was “one big, giant step,” Ay said. Winning was “a serendipity” in her life. With no expectation of winning the pageant, Ay had become engaged on the Saturday before the Miss America pageant. Her fiancé, Carl Sempier, was in officer candidate school at Penn. A November wedding was planned. On the night of the pageant, Sempier and some friends gathered around a radio in Newport, Rhode Island. Ay earned a place in the top 10, the top five, and then the Miss America title. Sempier’s friends told him “he was history,” Ay said, laughing. “They said if I was decent, maybe I would return the ring.” Ay and Sempier postponed the wedding, seeing each other only four

January 2020

Silver Award

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times that year. “I looked the world over, but didn’t find anyone better,” she said. They married a year later. From her home in Malvern, Pennsylvania (the Sempiers have resided in the Paoli area since 1962), Ay reflected on the Miss America pageant. The first pageant (1921) was organized by the merchants of Atlantic City to celebrate the most beautiful time of year, Ay said. The first contestants were daughters of summer residents. In 1945, the first scholarship was awarded. “It was this step that enabled the pageant to celebrate 80 years,” Ay said. Today, the Miss America pageant has the largest scholarship foundation exclusively for women in the world, awarding more than $30 million in scholarships annually. In the ’50s, Miss America represented “the Age of Innocence — Donna Reed, family, neighbors, friends,” Ay said. The contestants “were the show,” performing oratory, classical piano, ballet, tap — whatever was “available at their fingertips.” Ay observed, “Singing and dancing were only in the movies.” After her reign, Ay was offered exciting opportunities, but preferred a quieter life. “I enjoyed every minute of my year [as Miss America], but I wasn’t caught up in the glory,” Ay said. A life of “entertainment and exposure had neither the stability nor sincerity” she sought. A devoted supporter of the Miss America scholarship program, Ay attends the Miss America pageant each year. She has judged local, state, and national pageants, and served as Miss America pageant commentator in 1985 and 1987. She accepts numerous speaking invitations annually. She writes her own speeches and presents them from a “very, very personal perspective.” According to her Miss America biography, “Ay is best known as an enchanting and captivating speaker.” The Sempiers raised two daughters and six Great Dane dogs. Their daughters, who both live within 4 miles of their parents, are “beautiful and talented.” The couple enjoys their two young grandchildren. They love to travel and recently vacationed in Italy. Ay, who calls herself a “gray-haired lady,” notes that she is “identifiable as an older person.” Gray-haired or blond, Ay is surely as gracious and charming as she was the day she was crowned Miss America. She laments that life isn’t as carefree as it was then. Now, “young people race from work to daycare to the dry cleaner,” she said. In her speeches, she encourages people to slow down and enjoy life. www.50plusLifePA.com

Telescope Technology Captures Glaucoma-Related Eye Structure Using methods originally In the U.S., it’s estimated developed by astronomers that over 3 million people to view stars more clearly currently have glaucoma, through Earth’s atmosphere, costing the economy over $1.5 optometry researchers at billion annually. Indiana University have To view the trabecular taken the first undistorted meshwork, IU researchers microscopic images of a modified an existing part of the eye involved in ophthalmic laser microscope glaucoma. with a programmable mirror The ability to clearly view able to deform in real time this structure — known as to correct for the eye’s the trabecular meshwork — imperfections. could help improve treatment Astronomers designed the for glaucoma. The work is laser to correct for the same Blind spots and loss of peripheral vision occur when reported in the journal of atmospheric distortions that glaucoma damages the fibers of the optic nerve. Translational Vision Science make stars appear to twinkle. and Technology. “Thanks to this research, January is National “Normally, clear fluid the ocular drainage area circulates inside the eye to of the eye can now be seen Glaucoma Awareness Month supply nutrition and keep with much-improved clarity, it ‘inflated’ to its normal which will improve our shape,” said Dr. Brett King, chief of advanced ocular care understanding of how this essential drainage area is being services and associate clinical professor at the IU School altered or damaged with age,” King said. of Optometry, who co-authored the study. “Alterations of the trabecular meshwork, which allows fluid to drain, elevate pressure in the eye, leading to glaucoma. The problem is the meshwork can only be seen Eye Associates poorly with the normal instruments in your doctor’s office, due to its Medical location where the iris inserts into • Diagnostic testing the wall of the eye, as well as the • Disease evaluation • Routine eye care near-total reflection that occurs • Emergency care and treatment when looking through the cornea.” The result of this low visibility is Surgical a lack of understanding about why age appears to cause the trabecular • Cataract removal and intraocular lens implants meshwork to function poorly. • Retinal injections (macular degeneration) • Glaucoma surgery It also makes it difficult to study why certain glaucoma treatments that target the trabecular meshwork Optical — such as laser therapies or invasive • Complete optical department surgical procedures — fail while • Contact lens dispensing and instructions others succeed. • Authorized Sports Eye Injury Prevention Center More effective treatments for glaucoma are needed since the number of people with the condition worldwide is expected to rise from 76 million in 2020 V. Eugene Kilmore, Jr., M.D. • John W. Pratt, M.D. • Michael L. Szmodis, M.D. to over 111 million in 2040, Ryan J. Hershberger, O.D. • Foster E. Kreiser, O.D. disproportionally affecting people in 890 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Asia and Africa.

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Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

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The Reel Deal

The Last Full Measure Randal Hill

In 1999, Todd Robinson, the director/screenwriter of The Last Full Measure, learned the story of William H. Pitsenbarger. Robinson had been researching a military movie and visiting training schools. “Nearly every place I went, the young trainees wanted to be sure that I knew the story of William Pitsenbarger,” Robinson explained to Air Force Magazine. Called “Pits” by his comrades, the 21-year-old medic, already a veteran of over 250 combat missions, was aboard one of two helicopters summoned to evacuate wounded soldiers after they were ambushed in a Vietnam jungle in April 1966. When the last helicopter was ready to lift off, the selfless Pits, already under heavy Viet Cong fire, volunteered to stay behind to tend to the wounded and hold off the advancing enemy. He was killed within 90 minutes. Robinson later heard the airman’s father, William F. “Frank” Pitsenbarger, speak about his son’s legacy at a Images © Lionsgate or related entities. Used for publicity and New Mexico airbase. promotional purposes. https://www.movieinsider.com/photos/552172 “The whole thing jelled for me at that moment,” said Robinson. “That’s when I knew there was a story to tell.” The narrative was compelling to Robinson, as was the aftermath tale, when wives of the surviving soldiers learned that Pits had been given an Air Force Cross — the second highest honor — for his ultimate sacrifice. It wasn’t good enough, they protested. Encouraged by their spouses, numerous veterans subsequently petitioned Congress to elevate Pits to the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest decoration. On Dec. 8, 2000, the medal was posthumously awarded to William H. Pitsenbarger, 34 years after his death. Robinson and producer Sidney Sherman pitched the movie idea to over 50 production companies, but nobody showed interest. Still, Robinson had such faith in Pits’s story that he went ahead and wrote a script anyway. He then embarked on over a decade of arm-twisting to line up funding.

Finally, by 2017, things had fallen into place. Jeremy Irvine would portray Pits, with Christopher Plummer as Pits’s father and Diane Ladd as Pits’s mother. The cast was rounded out with such acting icons as Samuel L. Jackson, William Hurt, Ed Harris, and (in his final role) Peter Fonda. The Last Full Measure story unfolds through the perspective of Scott Huffman (Sebastian Stan), a young Pentagon official assigned to investigate the unique and complicated case that sought the elevating of the prestigious award. Roadside Attractions executives Howard Cohen and Eric d’Arbeloff proclaim, “Everyone should know about William Pitsenbarger’s bravery and life, and it’s a privilege to bring this film to theaters, where it should be seen.” The movie opens nationwide on Jan. 17. Randal C. Hill enjoys getting sneak peeks of forthcoming movies from his home on the Oregon coast. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

Your guide to choosing the right living and care options for you or a loved one. Read it online, in print, and on mobile/tablet devices. onlinepub.com

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January 2020

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March 31, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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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.

E April 4, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hershey Lodge

325 University Drive, Hershey Please join us this spring as a sponsor or exhibitor for the seventh annual Dauphin County Women’s Expo. Women of all ages have enjoyed these community events, finding helpful information for all the hats they wear in their everyday lives, including:

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January 2020

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The Bookworm Sez

This Tender Land Terri Schlichenmeyer

“Tell me a story!” It was never enough when someone read a story to you when you were a child: A tale from the heart was always better. Every time the story was told, it was a little bit different, a little braver and a lot more exciting, and with This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, you’re in for a good one. Every child at the Lincoln Indian Training School feared what Odie O’Banion called “the quiet room.” They feared it, because it was rarely quiet: Usually, someone was sobbing from the beatings, or worse, that they endured in that dirt-floor This Tender Land by William Kent cell, or because of the rats there, Krueger; c. 2019, Atria; 450 pages or because of the dark. The first time he was tossed into the room, Odie was 8 years old and his then-12-year-old brother, Albert, was inexplicably tossed in with him. It was 1932, and they’d been told that they were the only white boys at the Indian school in northern Minnesota because the county had nowhere else to put them after their parents died. Odie had only known a mother’s love for a few short years of his life; Mrs. Brickman, the owner of the school, didn’t love him, or any of the children there. Odie doubted that the “Black Witch” was capable of love. She was surely capable of cruelty, though, and part of that was in loaning children to work for nearby farmers. If the Black Witch meant to punish a boy, he was sent to the Bledsoe farm; if it was a good day, Odie, Albert, and their friend, Mose, would go to Mrs. Cora Frost’s farm, to help out there. As far as Odie was concerned, Cora Frost was an “angel.” A widow with a 5-year-old daughter, Cora made the boys feel like family, and for story-loving Odie, that was heaven. But when a tornado came through and took that family away, he knew that only one thing could happen next: It was time to escape … Which is exactly what you want in a novel: to be transported to another time and place, to escape. Happily, you’ll find plenty of that inside This Tender Land. You’ll also find a lot of “ish” in this novel: an Oliver-Twist-ish open with a Snape-ish character in charge. Adventure that’s quite Mark-Twain-ish and a sweet, puppyish love story. There’s history and culture that may be newish to the unversed, wrapped into a tale that alternates between sentimentalism and wincing. Placing this all solidly on a factual base, author William Kent Krueger then plops his readers down in a period when the Depression caused families to www.50plusLifePA.com

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disintegrate and roving bands of kids were not uncommon. And we wander here, too, through a timeline filled with murder, crime, faith, heart-pounding chase scenes, and just a little magic. That could feel overdone and may be a little overwhelming for some readers, so give yourself room with this book. You’ll want that anyway — some room to enjoy, if you love stories. For you, This Tender Land is a good one told.

Photo Credit: Photography by Diane Krueger

This Tender Land author William Kent Krueger.

The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 14,000 books.

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Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

The Beauty in Nature

Crows and Geese at Shopping Malls Clyde McMillan-Gamber

Late in the afternoon one day this past November, noisy multitudes of American crows and Canada geese were on a short-grass lawn behind a local shopping mall. The crows were gathering on that lawn prior to going to roost for the night, while the geese were nibbling the grass. At that same time, successive flocks of loudly bugling Canada geese, in tight strings and V’s, powered off a nearby pond and landed into the wind among their fellows on the lawn, while loose sheets of crows poured low over the pond and lawn, heading west. Meanwhile, other groups of honking geese lifted off the short grass and flew out of sight. All those airborne crows and geese were beautifully silhouetted before the striking sunset. And together the birds created exciting, inspiring natural spectacles in a human-made habitat where people wouldn’t expect them to be. As time progressed, succeeding floods of crows from all directions became ever larger, noisier, and more dramatic as they flowed over the shopping center. Meanwhile, still other crows were perched on the buildings of that mall and on its parking lots and trees. Again, the crows and Canada geese together were a wild sight in a built habitat as the sun set and darkness deepened. Wildlife in human-made

habitats make those habitats part of the wild. Being adaptable enough to take advantage of human-made habitats, for several years thousands of wintering crows and hundreds of wintering Canada geese have roosted each winter night from early November to mid-March among area shopping malls. In this instance, some of the geese are permanent residents of the nearby pond, while the crows raised young in forests in Canada. But both species became accustomed to traffic, lights, and people on their wintering grounds and learned to benefit from a little extra heat from the sunheated blacktop parking lots, buildings, vehicles, and lights. Plus, those birds enjoy wind breaks from the buildings and safety from predators and people shooting at them. Wintering American crows and Canada geese consume corn kernels lying in harvested cornfields. But crows also ingest acorns off lawns, dead animals on roads, and edible garbage from garbage cans, dumpsters, and landfills. Geese also eat short grass on lawns, as stated earlier, and aquatic vegetation. Wildlife is always exciting and inspiring to experience, including in human-made habitats. And great numbers of certain species create wonderful pageantry. Beauties and intrigues in nature are where you find them.

New Year from page 3 3. Give yourself the emotional rest you need. Rather than go it alone, consider meeting with a grief support group where the members share your burden, provide inspiration, and generate encouragement that you, too, can and will overcome grief. “Ten minutes with a genuine friend is better than years spent with anyone less.” – Crystal Woods, author and public speaker

The difference between the two comes down to choice: Give yourself the choice to adjust, adapt, and move your life forward. “You can’t go back. You don’t get a do-over. This happened to you. So now what? Do you choose to live in pain and grief, or do you choose to heal? Make the choice, every day, every hour, sometimes every minute.” – Amy Florian, author

4. Give yourself the spiritual rest you need. If being part of a faith community has been important to you, remain connected. Worship, pray, study religious texts, consult with your spiritual leader. If you’re the type of person who feels more spiritual than religious, consider spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga, and spending ample time outdoors in nature. “You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.” – Swami Vivekananda, Hindu monk

7. Give yourself the gift of patience. It’s going to take time to heal because the death of a loved one is deeply painful. Pace yourself. Avoid pressuring yourself to “get over it.” And, don’t allow family and friends to rush you through grief, however well-meaning they may be. “Recovery and adjustment can take much longer than most people realize. We need to accept whatever form it takes, both in ourselves and in others.” – Julia Samuel, psychotherapist

5. Give yourself permission to make mistakes. No person grieves perfectly. Grief recovery is a work in progress. There will be some stumbles. Be OK with those. “I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” – Neil Gaiman, author

8. Give yourself the freedom to express gratitude. A small dose of gratitude can offset a large volume of sadness. “Even in the toughest of times, there is something for which you can be thankful. What can you give thanks for today? Did support come from an unexpected place? Did someone say exactly what you needed to hear? Did a robin stop and sing on your windowsill? Blessings come in many forms. You may even wish to begin a gratitude journal in which you record how each day blessed you. Gratitude heals at a very deep level.” – Donna Miesbach, author

6. Give yourself the choice to heal. While the majority of grievers get through bereavement successfully, there are some who remain “stuck” with their grief.

Victor M. Parachin, M.Div., is a grief counselor, bereavement educator, and author of several books, including Healing Grief.

January 2020

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Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Snowy-Season Collectibles Lori Verderame

It’s funny, but everyone seems to have a different calendar when it comes to decorating for the season. Some stores start decorating for the holidays in mid-October, while others wait until the chilly winds of early December arrive. Whether winter decorations brighten your home as early as Halloween or linger through Super Bowl Sunday, decking the halls is a tried-and-true seasonal favorite. With guests coming and going as we usher out the old and ring in the new year, the age-old question of when to deck and when to deinstall the holiday wreaths, ornaments, figurines, etc., is one of personal preference.

Jimmy Durante and Jackie Vernon. The rest of this snowman celebrity story is corncobpipe history.

Shakable Snow Globes Snow artistry has taken on many forms when it comes to winter collectibles, including the ever-popular snow globe. Snow globes, snow domes, or, as the Germans call them, schneekugeln, were first introduced in France during the early 1800s as a successor to the hand-blown glass paperweight. At the 1889 International Exposition in Paris, the snow globe got worldwide attention as a souvenir. This World’s Fair snow globe Byers Choice Ltd. Carolers featured a model of the newly built Eiffel Winter collectibles are popular and speak Tower, designed by Gustave Eiffel, inside. to our image of the holidays. Initially, snow globes consisted of a Byers Choice Ltd. carolers, a Bucks heavy, lead-glass dome placed over a ceramic County, Pennsylvania, mainstay and tableau. The globes were filled with water international favorite, are popular collectibles and then sealed. The snow inside the globe featuring moveable figurines on solid bases. was created with bone chips, porcelain The heads of the singing carolers are handpieces, or non-soluble soap flakes. Photo credit: Staff photographer at www.drloriv.com. painted and made of clay. More recently, the snow inside a typical Vintage snow globe with snowman. Each caroler is handmade by a skilled snow globe is produced from tiny pieces of artisan at the Byers Choice Ltd. workshop in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, and white plastic and enhanced with distilled water and glycerin to make the visitors can watch figures being produced on the shop floor during a selfwater denser and the snow appear to realistically move within the globe guided tour of Byers Choice Ltd. atmosphere. Carolers are produced and marketed by theme — carolers by the sea, In the Victorian era, the British called the collectible tableaus Charles Dickens characters, American patriots, etc. — relating to the “snowstorms” as they gained popularity from circa 1890 to 1901. Christmas holiday and are widely collected throughout the year. Despite their European beginnings, snow globes were mass produced in the U.S. thanks to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native Joseph Garaja. The first That Famous Snowman mass-production patent for snow globes featured Garaja’s new base, which It is widely believed that collectible snowmen were first catapulted into allowed the globe to be screwed into it like a light bulb. the public eye in the early 1950s, well into the postwar period in America. In the 1940s, snow globes were produced as advertising paperweights, Today, many folks have taken snowman collecting to a new level. travel souvenirs, and vacation keepsakes. Arguably, the most famous snowman of all time is Frosty the Snowman. Today, snow globes are traded and collected worldwide; specialty annual This snowman was actually first introduced as a song before becoming the snow globes, featuring products and characters from companies like Louis pop culture icon that we all know and love. Vuitton, Chanel, and Disney, are big gifts with collectors. Some range in The wintery-themed novelty song was produced by Steve Rollins and Jack value from $500 to $5,000 at auction. Nelson and recorded by cowboy crooner Gene Autry in 1950. Trying to capture the success of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” a recording that Whether your winter is filled with days building your own Frosty on the sold 2 million copies, Autry recorded the quintessential snowman’s theme front lawn or sipping hot cocoa by the fire, snowy-season collectibles are fine song. additions to your home and will surely satisfy your need to decorate with a Related cartoons and children’s books about Frosty the Snowman soon seasonal flair. followed. In 1954, UPA animation studios made Frosty the Snowman the Dr. Lori Verderame is the award-winning Ph.D. antiques appraiser on central character of a three-minute animated short film. History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island and weekdays on Doctor and the By 1969, the animation company of Rankin/Bass produced a half-hour Diva. Dr. Lori presents her Antiques Appraisal Comedy Show to audiences TV special featuring Frosty the Snowman and the unmistakable voices of nationwide. Visit www.drloriv.com/events or call (888) 431-1010.

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January 2020

Cumberland County

Calendar of Events

Support Groups Free and open to the public Sundays, 7:15 p.m. Outreach Al-Anon Family Group Meeting Chapel Hill United Church of Christ 701 Poplar Church Road Camp Hill (717) 448-7881 Other meeting times/locations at https://pa-al-anon.org Mondays, 7 p.m. Hope on Simpson Al-Anon Family Group Meeting First United Methodist Church 135 W. Simpson St. Mechanicsburg (717) 448-7881 Other meeting times/locations at https://pa-al-anon.org Tuesdays, noon Anchor Al-Anon Family Group Meeting The Harbor 55 W. King St., Shippensburg (717) 448-7881 Other meeting times/locations at https://pa-al-anon.org Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous Aldersgate United Methodist Church 1480 Jerusalem Road Mechanicsburg (781) 932-6300 Saturdays, noon Greater than Ourselves: Nar-Anon Family Group Grace United Methodist Church – Lower Level 309 Herman Ave., Lemoyne (717) 763-7632 Jan. 2, 5:30-7 p.m. Better Breathers Chronic Lung Disease Support Group Ortenzio Heart Clinic at Geisinger Holy Spirit

503 N. 21st St., Camp Hill (717) 763-2775 Jan. 2, 5:30-7 p.m. Smoking Cessation Support Group Ortenzio Heart Clinic at Geisinger Holy Spirit 503 N. 21st St., Camp Hill (717) 763-2775 Jan. 2, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Too Sweet: Diabetes Support Group Chapel Hill United Church of Christ 701 Poplar Church Road Camp Hill (717) 557-9041 Jan. 6, 4-5 p.m. Caregivers Support Group Messiah Lifeways Meetinghouse 1155 Walnut Bottom Road Carlisle (717) 243-0447 Jan. 7, 6-7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group Senior Helpers 3806 Market St., Suite 3 Camp Hill (717) 920-0707 Jan. 7, 6 p.m. CanSurmount Cancer Support Group Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Mechanicsburg 175 Lancaster Blvd. Mechanicsburg (717) 691-6786 Jan. 8, 1:30 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group Bethany Village West – Springfield Room 325 Asbury Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 877-0624 Jan. 13, 1:30-3 p.m. Caregivers Support Group St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church

Senior Center Activities 310 Hertzler Road Upper Allen Township (717) 766-8806 Jan. 13, 6-7 p.m. A Touch of Sugar: Diabetes Support Group Wegmans, 6416 Carlisle Pike Mechanicsburg (717) 763-2466 https://events.geisinger.org Jan. 14, 6:30-8 p.m. Carlisle Area Men’s Cancer Support Group The Live Well Center 3 Alexandria Court, Carlisle (717) 877-7561 sirbrady12@gmail.com Jan. 15, 2-3 p.m. Life Enrichment Group for Blind or Low-Vision Adults Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania Penn Apartments 1 West St., Carlisle (717) 238-2531 Jan. 21, 1 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren 501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg (717) 766-8880 Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s/Dementia Caregivers Support Group Cumberland Crossings 1 Longsdorf Way, Carlisle (717) 243-0113 Jan. 28, 6 p.m. Multiple Sclerosis Support Group Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of Mechanicsburg 175 Lancaster Blvd. Mechanicsburg (717) 486-3596 apcoulson@comcast.net

Community Programs Free and open to the public Mondays and Wednesdays, noon SilverSneakers Exercise Class Susquehanna View Apartments Community Room 208 Senate Ave., Camp Hill (717) 439-4070 jesseswoyer.com@gmail.com

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Jan. 18, 11:30 a.m. NARFE West Shore Chapter 1465 VFW Post 7530 4545 Westport Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 774-4031 www.narfe1465.org Visitors welcome; meeting is free but fee for food.

Big Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-4478 91 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, Newville Mondays through March 9, 9:30-11 a.m. – Creative Aging Art Classes Jan. 8, 9:30 a.m. – The Warm Line: Non-Crisis Telephone Service Jan. 22, 9:30 a.m. – Strength and Movement Presentation Branch Creek Place – (717) 300-3563 115 N. Fayette St., Shippensburg Carlisle Senior Action Center – (717) 249-5007 20 E. Pomfret St., Carlisle Mary Schaner Senior Citizens Center (717) 732-3915 98 S. Enola Drive, Enola Mechanicsburg Place – (717) 697-5947 97 W. Portland St., Mechanicsburg West Shore Senior Citizens Center (717) 774-0409 122 Geary St., New Cumberland

Library Programs Amelia Givin Library, 114 N. Baltimore Ave. Mt. Holly Springs, (717) 486-3688 Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St. Carlisle, (717) 243-4642 Jan. 3, 7 p.m. – Music at Bosler Jan. 8, 1-2 p.m. – Wicked Wednesday Book Discussion Group Jan. 24, 1-2 p.m. – Just Mysteries! Book Club Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St. Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900 All January – Bethany Towers Painting Group Exhibit in Lower Level Gallery Jan. 2 and 16, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Free Blood Pressure Screenings Jan. 14, 6 p.m. – Stephen Fried, Author of Rush East Pennsboro Branch Library, 98 S. Enola Drive Enola, (717) 732-4274 John Graham Public Library, 9 Parsonage St. Newville, (717) 776-5900 Joseph T. Simpson Public Library, 16 N. Walnut St. Mechanicsburg, (717) 766-0171 New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza New Cumberland, (717) 774-7820 Jan. 18, 11 a.m. to noon – Couponing for Extreme Savings Jan. 22, 6-9 p.m. – PennWriters Writing Group Jan. 30, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – New Cumberland Library History Room Shippensburg Public Library, 73 W. King St. Shippensburg, (717) 532-4508

Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com. www.50plusLifePA.com

Dear Pharmacist

Suzy Cohen

What You Should Avoid Prior to Surgery and Lab Tests

I recently wrote about some impressive tests that you can selforder, thus taking the headache out of getting lab tests. But what about the important instructions that come with some lab tests, and what are the best instructions to follow if you have a surgery scheduled?

I feel should be included in this conversation, are those drugs that slow down your heart rate. My reasoning is that anesthesia also slows down your heart rate, and the combo could lead to severe bradycardia. I’m referring to “beta” and “calcium” channel blockers.

Medication Cessation The most common inquiry is this: Do I really need to stop all my medications before this test? This question isn’t easy to answer because some medications are needed for comfort and wellbeing. For example, what if you are reliant on your morning pill for acid reflux? You can safely stop it abruptly, but if you don’t take it, you will be very uncomfortable. Another example is with analgesics like tramadol, oxycodone, and morphine. You can’t just suddenly stop those or you’ll slip into withdrawal pretty quickly! Ask if you’re allowed to take those the morning of your procedure. You also cannot suddenly stop an antidepressant or antiepileptic drug. These and many other medications all require slow tapering to get off. If you suddenly discontinue certain drugs, then you could encounter dangerous withdrawal symptoms, even seizures. I can see why this question comes up a lot for patients. Ask well before your surgery so you don’t have to reschedule due to this type of oversight. Blood thinners are the most dangerous ones to remain on if you’re having surgery or some procedure that requires an IV drip or a blood draw, like a colonoscopy, for example. You do not want your blood to be super thin when you go in for these procedures or the bleeding could become profuse or internalized. So for sure, you do not want to be on these blood-thinning drugs for at least three days prior to some tests: • Anticoagulants • Warfarin (Coumadin) • Enoxaparin • Clopidogrel • Ticlopidine • Aspirin • Ibuprofen and other NSAIDs • Dipyridamole

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Another category of medications that people don’t usually warn about, but www.50plusLifePA.com

No Food or Drink? Another important question is, “Should I really stop eating and drinking before a test?” The blanket answer is yes! If the facility or hospital puts that request on your instruction sheet, you should follow it. Eating and drinking too close to surgery could force a reschedule of the surgery. The worry is aspiration. As for other tests, it becomes less clear. For example, if you are scheduled to have a pelvic ultrasound to see your cervix or ovaries, I’m not sure why food would be a problem! And likewise, I do not understand the need for “no food or drink” if you’re having a thyroid blood test. You probably should eat before that type of test; the results will be more realistic. There are certain things you should not take or eat before a urine test. The list is very long, but generally speaking, avoid beets, coffee, caffeinated tea, and B vitamins.

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January 2020

Department of Aging Warns Seniors of Genetic Testing Scam The Department of Aging is warning Pennsylvania seniors, their families, and caregivers about a new scam targeting older adults. DNA testing has become extremely popular in the past few years for people looking to learn more about their family history and health, and scammers are now targeting Medicare beneficiaries with a fraudulent DNA-testing service. These scammers offer “free” genetic testing, claiming it is covered through Medicare, as a means for the senior to avoid disease or to find the right medications. This is simply an effort to gain access to a senior’s personal Medicare information, which can lead to access to financial information and more. The Administration for Community Living suggests the following tips to avoid being scammed: • Do not accept genetic testing services, including a cheek swab, from someone at a community event, a local fair, a farmer’s market, a parking lot, or any other large event. • A lways be cautious about giving out your personal information, including your Medicare number.

• If you receive a genetic testing kit in the mail, don’t accept it unless it was ordered by your physician. Refuse the delivery or return it to the sender, and keep a record of the sender’s name and the date you returned the items. • A lways review your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits. The words “gene analysis” or “molecular pathology” may indicate questionable genetic testing. The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 1 in 10 older adults is a victim of elder abuse, and according to the Senate Special Committee on Aging, for every case of elder abuse reported, five go unreported. This reporting rate is even more troubling in financial abuse cases, which estimates that only 1 in 14 cases is reported. If you or a loved one has already received a genetic testing cheek swab or screening that was not ordered by a trusted provider, or if you have any concerns about possible fraud, find and contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol at www.smpresource.org or call (877) 808-2468. Anyone can report elder abuse by calling the 24-hour statewide elder abuse hotline at (800) 490-8505 or by contacting their local Area Agency on Aging.

Tests Confirm Cats’ Attachment to Humans as demonstrated by loud meowing and other stressed-out behaviors. Some of the cats remained anxious when their humans returned, while others avoided them. But about two-thirds greeted their humans and relaxed, exhibiting playfulness and exploration of the environment. That’s about the same proportion that dogs and babies have displayed in similar tests of attachment. The researchers point out that we can’t really know whether our cats truly like us, but the results do suggest that they form a real bond with their humans, much like dogs.

Puzzles shown on page 6

Puzzle Solutions

Do you ever wonder whether your cat really likes you? Numerous studies have looked into the nature of attachments between dogs and people, but few have examined attachment in cats — probably because of the stereotype that cats aren’t social animals. Researchers decided to study the bond between cats and their owners with a simple experiment: Eighty humans brought their kittens into an unfamiliar room, played with them for two minutes, then left. After two minutes, they returned to play with the kittens again. The unfamiliar environment made many cats anxious,

January 2020

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January 2020

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