Complimentary | Cumberland County Edition | April 2016 • Vol. 17 No. 4
Still in the game page 4
making new friends in retirement page 10
50 years ago: ‘California Dreamin’’ page 13
The Green Mountain Gardener
Garden Trends for 2016 Dr. Leonard Perry
Syncing gardening with technology, engaging hands-on with the local environment and nature, night lighting, garden whimsy, and layered landscapes incorporating various types of plants are some of the garden trends for this year. Each year, the Garden Media Group (www.gardenmediagroup. com)— a marketing firm for the home and garden industry—identifies key gardening trends for the coming season. For 2016 they’ve pegged eight of these, which you’ll no doubt see reflected in products, plants, and advertisements. Just as consumers are syncing their electronic devices, they’re looking to sync more with nature. This bodes well for the environment but has a flipside that may be hard for
true gardeners to understand. As the report states, “Our connection with nature is hardwired. So much so, that going on a strenuous hike is considered fun, whereas weeding a garden for the same amount of time is seen as work or a chore.” It’s interesting that one of the trends— shifting from “doing” to “making”— doesn’t seem to translate into the art of making (including weeding) a garden. Yet this group the report calls “yuccies”— “young urban creatives,” a cross between a yuppie and hipster— likes to grow for purposes and
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April 2016
50plus LIFE ›
the most sedentary ever. Creating outdoor adventures, running, storytelling, or geocaching are some examples the report states are necessary to get people outside playing, “off the couch, outside, and digging in the dirt again.” As most gardeners already know, “horticulture is intrinsically tied to health and wellness”—the trend the report terms “welltality.” People are more aware of and placing a higher priority on their health. The hospitality industry has tapped this trend with indoor forests, living walls, and locally grown food. Berries are popular, particularly the newer, compact varieties for container culture and blueberries with their high levels of healthy antioxidants. Whimsy and lighting have been around gardening for some time but are a trend highlighted as popular for this year, with a twist. Plain containers are being replaced with ones containing speakers and LED lighting, for instance. Night lighting is moving from the plain, simple lights on walks and up trees to LED cord wraps around structures like swings and whimsical shapes or creating bright, bold colors and lighted patterns on walls. These are used to make the outdoors more of a destination, get children outside, bring back memories, or create experiences.
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experiences, such as hops for brewing and herbs for dyes. Another trend shows people using their handheld technology to sync with garden habits and with other garden hobbyists. They’re hoping technology will help them be successful with gardening, “without a lot of work or information.” Technology is being used increasingly to monitor, even control, what happens in the home and outside in the garden. Purchasing is shifting for many from browsing in stores to get inspired to shopping online. This technology trend, perhaps surprisingly, is huge with the 46- to 64-year-old baby boomers, who spend more on technology than any other age group. One out of five boomers now uses social media daily, whether for work or even for keeping connected with other gardeners. Another technology trend the report identifies is the use of technology to engage kids with nature, gardening, health, and fitness. This is seen by many as essential, with Generation Z (those born between 1995 and 2009) being
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Going along with the book The Living Landscape by authors Rick Darke and Doug Tallamy is the trend of the layered landscape. This involves replacing the “green desert” of lawns and non-native plantings with a layered effect, similar to what one finds in a forest. Understory perennials and shrubs up to canopy trees help support
pollinators and wildlife, creating a more natural ecosystem. Increasingly, property owners want sustainable landscapes that will function and last for many years and plants “for their function as well as their beauty.” Many have pets, and increasingly the trend is for these people to be more aware of their plants and to make sure they are not toxic or
harmful. One in three dogs a year gets cancer. Many dog owners believe that having a safe, organic, chemicalfree landscape will help avoid this, along with a nutritious diet. Such “petscaping” also involves designing landscapes pets can use, yet “protecting precious plants from pets.” Resources in many areas are becoming limited, particularly
water, or impacted by land-care practices. More are realizing this under this trend of protecting resources, particularly those in areas such as parts of California, where water usage has been reduced by 25 percent.
Dr. Leonard P. Perry is an extension professor at the University of Vermont.
At Your Fingertips Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away. Assisted Living Residences Brookdale Grandon Farms 1100 Grandon Way, Mechanicsburg (717) 730-4033 Funeral & Cremation Services Cremation Society of Pennsylvania Serving Cumberland County (800) 720-8221 Emergency Numbers American Red Cross (717) 845-2751 Central PA 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 Funeral Directors Cocklin Funeral Home, Inc. 30 N. Chestnut St., Dillsburg (717) 432-5312 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
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 Heating/AC/Plumbing Farr Tech Heat (717) 889-3960 3537 Hartzdale Drive, Camp Hill Home Care Services Asbury Home Services (717) 591-8332 Senior Helpers (717) 920-0707 Home IMPROVEMENT Grand Opening Windows & Doors 46 Warwick Circle, Mechanicsburg (717) 691-5670 Hospice Services Homeland Hospice 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg (717) 221-7890 Hospitals Carlisle Regional Medical Center (717) 960-1696 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
Intellectual Disabilities Keystone Human Services 124 Pine St., Harrisburg (717) 232-7509
Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233
Nursing/Rehab Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902
Flu or Influenza (888) 232-3228 Health and Human Services Discrimination (800) 368-1019
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
Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-1040 Liberty Program (866) 542-3788 Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833 National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046 Organ Donor Hotline (800) 243-6667
Orthopedics OSS Health 856 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 747-8315 Personal Care Homes Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
Passport Information (888) 362-8668 Smoking Information (800) 232-1331 Social Security Fraud (800) 269-0217 Social Security Office (800) 772-1213 Travel AAA Central Penn (717) 657-2244
Services Cumberland County Aging & Community Services (717) 240-6110
Journease Travel Specialists (717) 462-4806
Toll-Free Numbers Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555 Cancer Information Service (800) 422-6237
Drug Information (800) 729-6686
Veterans Services American Legion (717) 730-9100 Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681
Consumer Information (888) 878-3256
Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771
Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228
Veterans Affairs (717) 240-6178 or (717) 697-0371
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
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50plus LIFE ›
April 2016
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Cover Story
Still in the Game
Corporate Office
3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com
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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.
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April 2016
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By Megan Joyce The feel of the bat pressed into your palms. The gritty dirt scuffing beneath your shoes. The tang of fresh air as it buffets your face. Jerry Munley knows the sensory, mental, and athletic appeal of baseball and softball is a lifelong draw. As a co-manager for both Susquehanna Senior Softball’s 55+ and 62+ leagues, Munley, of Linglestown, also knows his generation’s passion for ball and bat is alive and well in Central Pennsylvania. “I think all of us who played baseball in our younger years enjoyed it because it was fun and made us feel better,” Munley said. Munley, a retired audit supervisor for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, began his baseball “life” as a second-base Little League player. As a young adult, he played third base on his college fraternity’s team and, after returning from college to his hometown of Archbald, Pa., he took up second base and outfield in a 20+ league. It would be another 30 years before he transitioned to softball after spotting a “softball players needed” notice in his church’s newsletter. “When we get to be in our 50s, we are getting closer to retiring, and our [children] are now adults and need less of our help,” freeing up time for hobbies, he said. After about three years as a player, Munley was asked to manage temporarily for a manager who needed time off for health reasons—but the manager never did return, and Munley’s managerial position became permanent. “I volunteered because I used to be a Little League assistant manager and figured it would be almost the same, but the ‘kids’ older,” Munley said. As one of 10 managers in the 55+ league and one of six in the
62+ league, Munley’s duties include ensuring the teams have enough players for the upcoming season; holding team meetings; providing game schedules and making sure enough players will be available for each game; paying umpires and coming up with funds to pay for league fees; and notifying players of game cancelations. Teams in both leagues comprise players from Dauphin, York, and Cumberland counties. Games in the 55+ league are played Monday and Wednesday evenings. This league includes 10 teams and uses a slow-pitch softball and wooden bats. There are 11 defensive players on the field: four outfielders and seven infielders. Games are seven innings and are “very competitive,” Munley said. Currently, four municipalities— Susquehanna Township, Mechanicsburg Borough, Derry Township, and Fairview Township—provide fields for play for the 55+ league. Six teams compose the morning league, which is for players over age 62. Its structure is altered a bit to accommodate players who prefer a less competitive, nine-inning game: Every player who attends the game is placed in the batting order and must play a minimum of three innings on the field. Games in the 62+ morning league are played on a field provided by Susquehanna Township. The appeal of 55-and-over softball for Munley and his teammates extends far beyond simple nostalgia, however. “I am not a doctor, but it’s easy to observe that those playing ball are in good physical shape, especially for their ages … Baseball season starts for us in April and goes almost to November, so this gets the body moving quite a bit,” Munley said, adding that the leagues even have players over age 75. But the physical exercise is
just one advantage of league participation. Perhaps even greater are the mental and social rewards. “The players … also benefit from the companionship and the feeling of being needed and part of a team,” Munley said. “The players in the league encourage their team’s players and also give the opposing team’s players compliments when they do well.” Friendships are formed that transcend the ball field into everyday life, with players often getting together after games—even with opposing players—for a bite to eat. Players’ wives sometimes socialize after games as well, Munley said. And then there’s the good, oldfashioned razzing that goes on—an essential element to any sports team. “Team players also enjoy playing because they get to tease the other guys, and both know it’s just for fun.” Munley said the companionship and fun of playing in the league has helped some players through life’s tougher times, too. And the drive to play encourages players to keep themselves in shape during the off months so they’re ready to swing the bat come April. “Also, when an injury occurs, they strive to get back in shape as soon as possible,” Munley added. As a native Pennsylvanian, Munley’s pro-ball allegiance must fall with the Phillies or Pirates— right? “I follow the San Francisco Giants. This may seem odd for a Pennsylvania guy,” he said. “It all started when I was in grade school. We had a baseball board game, and since I was one of the last to join, I was given the Giants as a team. Since then, I stayed as a Giants fan.” Both the 55+ and 62+ softball leagues are seeking additional players. For more information about joining a league, contact Jerry Munley at (717) 877-3356 or email gmunleysr@gmail.com. www.50plusLifePA.com
Savvy Senior
Financial Paperwork: What to Keep, What to Toss
• Credit card receipts after you get your statement, unless you might return the item or need proof of purchase for a warranty • Credit card statements that do not have a tax-related expense on them • Utility bills when the following month’s bill arrives showing that your prior payment was received—but if you wish to track utility usage over time, you may want to keep them for a year, or if you deduct a home office on your taxes, keep them for seven years To avoid identity theft, be sure you shred anything you throw away that contains your personal information. It’s best to use a crosscut shredder rather than a strip one, which leaves long paper bands that could be reassembled. www.50plusLifePA.com
• Receipts for healthcare bills in case you qualify for a medical deduction Keep Seven Years Keep supporting documents for your taxes, including W-2s, 1099s, and receipts or canceled checks that substantiate deductions, for seven years. The IRS usually has up to three years after you file to audit you but may look back up to six years if it suspects you substantially underreported income or committed fraud. Keep Indefinitely • Tax returns with proof of filing and payment—you should keep these for at least seven years, but many experts recommend you keep them forever because they provide a record of your financial history • IRS forms that you filed when making nondeductible contributions to a traditional IRA or a Roth conversion • Receipts for capital improvements that you’ve made to your home until seven years after you sell the house please see PAPERWORK page 7
17th Annual
Smorgasbord Building 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl
LANCASTER COUNTY
May 31, 2016
17th Annual
• Brokerage, 401(k), IRA, and other investment statements until you get your annual summary (keep longer for tax purposes if they show a gain or loss)
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Shady Maple Conference Center
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hershey Lodge
325 University Drive Hershey
DAUPHIN COUNTY
June 8, 2016
13th Annual
• Bank statements (savings and checking account) to confirm your 1099s
May 18, 2016
NEW LOCATION!
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Church Farm School
1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton
CHESTER COUNTY
Sept. 21, 2016
20th Annual
Keep One Year • Paycheck stubs until you get your W-2 in January to check its accuracy
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Spooky Nook Sports
2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim
LANCASTER COUNTY
Sept. 28, 2016
14th Annual
Dear Savvy Senior, How long should a person hang on to old receipts, stock records, tax returns, and other financial documents? I have accumulated boxes full of such papers over the years and would like to get rid of some of it now that I’m retired. – Getting Organized Dear Getting, This is a great time of the year to get rid of unnecessary or outdated paperwork and to organize your records in preparation for filing your tax return. Here’s a checklist of what to keep and what to toss out, along with some tips to help you reduce your future paper accumulation. Toss Out • ATM receipts and bank-deposit slips as soon as you match them up with your monthly statement
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9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
York Expo Center
Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Avenue, York
YORK COUNTY
Oct. 19, 2016
17th Annual
Jim Miller
Please join us for these FREE events!
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Carlisle Expo Center CUMBERLAND COUNTY
100 K Street Carlisle
Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars Demonstrations • Entertainment • Door Prizes
Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available
(717) 285-1350 (717) 770-0140 (610) 675-6240
www.50plusExpoPA.com 50plus LIFE ›
April 2016
5
Home Care Services & Hospice Providers Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.
All Hands Home Care
Keystone In-Home Care
(717) 737-7905 www.allhandshomecare.com
(717) 898-2825; (866) 857-4601 (toll-free) www.keystoneinhomecare.com
Year Est.: 2014 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, York RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes
Medicare Certified?: No Other Certifications and Services: Caregivers for all of your in-home care needs. We provide trained and compassionate non-medical, in-home care to seniors and individuals of all ages in the Central Pennsylvania region. Our company is fully insured and bonded. Call now for a free in-home consultation!
Year Est.: 2004 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No
Central Penn Nursing Care, Inc.
Senior Helpers
Year Est.: 1984 Counties Served: Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, York RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No
Year Est.: 2007 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No
(717) 569-0451 www.cpnc.com
Other Certifications and Services: Providing all levels of care (PCAs, CNAs, LPNs, RNs), in the home, hospital, or retirement communities with specifically trained caregivers for Alzheimer’s and dementia clients. Home care provided up to 24 hours a day to assist with personal care and housekeeping. A FREE nursing assessment is offered.
Connections at Home VIA Willow Valley
Other Certifications and Services: Two- to 24-hour non-medical assistance provided by qualified, caring, competent, compassionate, and compatible caregivers. Personalized service with Assistance for Daily Living (ADL, IADL): companionship, meal prep, bathing, cleaning, and personal care needs. Respite care, day surgery assistance. Assistance with veterans’ homecare benefits. Medicaid Waiver approved.
(717) 920-0707 www.seniorhelpers.com/harrisburg Other Certifications and Services: Offering nonmedical home care to provide positive solutions for aging in place. Companionship, personal care, and our specialized dementia care. No minimum number of hours. Medicaid Waiver approved. Convenient, free assessment.
Visiting Angels
(717) 299-6941 www.ConnectionsAtHome.org Year Est.: 2014 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No
Other Certifications and Services: Connections at Home VIA Willow Valley delivers unparalleled, personalized care and companionship in the home, hospital, or senior living community, by compassionate, reliable, dedicated caregivers who are backed by the area’s most trusted name in senior living for more than 30 years—Willow Valley Communities.
Carlisle: (717) 241-5900; Chambersburg: (717) 709-7244 East Shore: (717) 652-8899; Gettysburg: (717) 337-0620 Hanover: (717) 630-0067; Lancaster: (717) 393-3450 West Shore: (717) 737-8899; York: (717) 751-2488 www.visitingangels.com Year Est.: 2001 RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No
Other Certifications and Services: Visiting Angels provides seniors and adults with the needed assistance to continue living at home. Flexible hours up to 24 hours per day. Companionship, personal hygiene, meal prep, and more. Our caregivers are thoroughly screened, bonded, and insured. Call today for a complimentary and informational meeting.
Homeland Hospice
(717) 221-7890 www.homelandhospice.org Year Est.: 2009 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Northumberland, Perry, Schuylkill, Snyder, York RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs/Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: Yes
Other Certifications and Services: Exemplary personalized care that enables patients and families to live each day as fully as possible. Registered nurses who are certified in hospice and palliative care for both adults and children.
If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your account representative or call (717) 285-1350.
This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.
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April 2016
50plus LIFE ›
www.50plusLifePA.com
PAPERWORK from page 5 • Retirement and brokerage account annual statements as long as you hold those investments • Defined-benefit pension plan documents • Savings bonds until redeemed • Loan documents until the loan is paid off • Vehicle titles and registration information as long as you own the car, boat, truck, or other vehicle • Insurance policies as long as you have them • Warranties or receipts for big-ticket purchases for as long as you own the item to support warranty and insurance claims Keep Forever You should never get rid of personal and family records like
birth certificates, marriage licenses, divorce papers, Social Security cards, military discharge papers, and estate-planning documents (power of attorney, will, trust, and advanced directive). Keep these in a fireproof safe or safe-deposit box. Reduce Your Paper To reduce your paper clutter, consider digitizing your documents by scanning them and converting them into PDF files so you can store them on your computer and back them up onto a USB flash drive or external hard drive like iCloud (www.icloud.com) or Carbonite (www.carbonite.com). You can also reduce your future paper load by switching to electronic statements and records whenever possible. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org
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April 2016
7
Traveltizers
Travel Appetizers
The Temple on the Hill By Andrea Gross
It’s an eye-popping, head-scratching sight. There, right in the middle of Middle America, stands one of the most recognizable buildings in Europe: the Greek Parthenon, generally considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. What in the name of Zeus is this historic monument doing in Nashville, Tenn.? Of course, the Tennessee building is a replica, but it looks much more like the temple where Socrates and Plato debated the merits of democracy than does the one in Athens. The original Parthenon, built in the fifth century B.C., shows its age. Some of the columns have crumbled; most of the roof is gone, and the marble sculptures that decorated its exterior are now in the British Museum of London, the center of
The Nashville Parthenon is a near-exact replica of the one that was built in Greece in the fifth century BC.
a longstanding dispute between England and Greece. What’s more, the giant statue of Athena, which was created by Pheidias, the most famous sculptor of his time, disappeared 1,500 years ago. In contrast, the building in Nashville is in perfect condition. My husband and I are awed by the
The statue of Athena, goddess of wisdom and prudent warfare, is 42 feet tall.
50 graceful Doric columns, which, like the original, are ingeniously tapered so that, to the eye, they appear straight while they actually tilt
slightly inward, an architectural trick to make them appear regally tall. Inside we’re mesmerized by a 42foot-tall statue of Athena, reproduced by Nashville sculptor Alan LeQuire. The goddess of wisdom and prudent warfare, whom the Parthenon was built to honor, is attired in a flowing gown and gilded with 8 pounds of 23.75-karat gold. In her right hand she holds an adult-size statue of Nike, the goddess of victory. In short, Nashville’s Parthenon resembles the original as it was, not as it is. This, of course, gets us back to our original question: Why Nashville? Nashville doesn’t even rank in the top 70 largest Greek-American communities. The answer dates back to the mid1800s, when the city was known as a
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www.50plusLifePA.com
center of wisdom, art, and learning. It was the first city in the South to have a public school system, and it had more colleges and universities than other cities of its size. Proud Nashvillians said that in their reverence for knowledge and love of philosophical debate, they and the ancient Greeks were kindred spirits. In addition to thinking like the Greeks, the city had a Greek flair due to its abundance of Greek Revival architecture. Nashville became known as “The Athens of the South.” Thus, in 1897 when it was asked to erect a pavilion for the state’s Centennial Exposition, it seemed natural to build a life-sized model of the Parthenon. The building was only intended to last for the six-month duration of the exposition, but the citizens balked at tearing it down. Instead they replaced the temporary structure with a permanent one, which was completed in 1931. Today the Nashville Parthenon serves as the city’s art museum. In addition, it hosts a series of free educational programs that range from
Fragments of pillars lie near the Tennessee State Capitol, giving visitors the feeling they are wandering among Greek ruins.
The Hermitage, home of President Andrew Jackson, is an example of classical Greek architecture.
panel discussions In 1955 the to formal lectures. capitol, which As for was then nearly Nashville’s Greek 100 years old, atmosphere, its needed a fix-up. streets are still We drive to the filled with fine north side of the examples of building, where classical Greek we find some of architecture. the original pillars Not far from the that weren’t used Tulip Grove, on the grounds of Parthenon, the in the restoration. Jackson’s estate, also has elements They’re scattered Tennessee State of Greek style. Capitol, modeled on a small patch after a Greek of grass, where temple, sits atop Nashville’s own they bear an eerie resemblance to the acropolis. ruins of ancient Greece.
Later we explore the area near West End Avenue and Belle Meade Boulevard, where many homes have the trademark Greek columns and porticos. The most famous of the Greek Revival homes belongs to Andrew Jackson, the seventh president of the United States. His home, The Hermitage, was originally built in the Federal style, but after being destroyed by a fire, it was rebuilt with the classical elements that were more in vogue at the time. Finally, we go to the Athens Family Restaurant. It’s housed in an architecturally bland building but is renowned for its authentically spiced Greek food, including gyros and souvlaki. Of course, in what is altogether fitting for the culture that practically invented democracy, the chefs also serve thoroughly American hamburgers! For more information on Tennessee and other exciting destinations, visit www. traveltizers.com. Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).
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Space Reservation Deadline – May 20, 2016 Inserted into the July issue of BusinessWoman magazine.
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CAREGIVER SOLUTIONS
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On Life and Love after 50
Tom Blake
Single Mom Nearing Retirement Wants to Make New Friends
I have often stressed to older singles the importance of getting involved in activities and making new friends. This week, Lynda, of Carlisle, Pa., emailed asking for advice on how to do that. Lynda said, “I was a single mom for 17 years and was very involved in my children’s lives and their activities. I have had the same type of work for
32 years and have moved a lot due to a military way of life. When I was in my 20s and 30s, making friends happened without even thinking about it. “Now, in my mid-50s, making friends seems to be tougher than I imagined. I have friends at work but most of them are married and have their own lives outside of work.
Volunteer Spotlight Restless Retiree Now Tutors Elementary Students thing ever. I Skype with her every Christine Parr retired, relaxed, and then, like so many others, got a day,” Parr said. Plus, she’ll have another little restless. grandchild in April and the So a few years ago, when she passed an RSVP volunteer booth at wedding of her recently engaged a 50plus EXPO, she daughter to plan. “It’s a crazy time, decided to stop and get but I’m so lucky.” more information. In addition to That resulted in volunteering and her a volunteer spot as busy family life, Parr a reading tutor in a recently went back Carlisle elementary school, a position Parr to work part-time at the UPS Store. Before is thoroughly enjoying. retirement, she’d “It’s great to see the worked there for eight kids improving since years. the beginning of the “I really like dealing year,” she said. with the people,” Parr Parr, RSVP’s Christine Parr April Volunteer said. For more of the Month for Cumberland County, knows a thing information about volunteering with RSVP in Cumberland County, or two about watching children contact Michelle Jones at (717) 541develop. She’s raised four of her 9521 or by email at perrycumb@ own and is now enjoying her first rsvpcapreg.org. grandbaby. “It’s so wonderful; it’s the best Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus LIFE’s Volunteer Spotlight! Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus LIFE, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
www.50plusLifePA.com
“I have a good boss, I like my job a lot, and I get to see my grandkids, who live an hour away, once in a while. “Since I am approaching retirement, I’m trying to figure out what I can do to make friends and get involved in my community. I love animals and have two dogs of my own. I hope to someday find someone I can experience life with, although I am very content being on my own with my dogs. “I have thought about volunteering with Meals on Wheels and/or helping out with dog-rescue places. Any input would be appreciated.” Tom’s Answer: Making new friends now is wise. By doing so, you will already have friends when you retire. Yes, making friends is more difficult compared to when we were younger. For women, having women friends is as important, if not more important, than having men friends. By pursuing activities you enjoy, making new friends will easily follow. You already seem to know what you want to do: You love animals and have two dogs. You have thought about volunteering at an animal shelter. Go for it; you’re a natural. Two months ago, I rescued a dog named Samson and got to know the volunteers at my local shelter. They all had one thing in common: They loved dogs and cats. In addition, they were wonderful people. You would immediately make friends at an animal shelter. Next, you mentioned volunteering for Meals on Wheels. That’s a great cause. I suggest you start doing that once or twice a week. It is important to try new things, particularly after you stop working. After my life partner, Greta, retired, she became involved in tai chi, yoga, and water aerobics classes. www.50plusLifePA.com
Through exercise, she has made many wonderful new friends. If you need more ideas, check out Meetup (www.Meetup.com), a free site that lists all kinds of clubs and activities across the U.S. that you can join. Pick a couple of activities that interest you and try them. One other point: You say you would like to meet a man with whom to experience life, but if that does not happen, you are content just spending time with your dogs. I think you can do both. Make time without the dogs to let a man into your life. Yes, you treasure your dogs, but don’t be so obsessed with them that you shut out potential mates. The above paragraph is important for people wanting to meet a mate. Often, I see women and sometimes men who are so into their pets they post their pet’s photo as their Facebook profile photo instead of their own. The message that sent is loud and clear: My pets are everything to me. Don’t get me wrong; I love all animals. However, wouldn’t it be nice to have a mate and have your pets? Lynda, you have many positives in your life: You have worked in the same field for 32 years, which shows stability, dedication, and loyalty— great traits to have. Not many people have worked in a job that long. In addition, you were a single mom for 17 years, and that required a huge commitment. I have great respect for single moms—that has to be the toughest job in the world. Pursue making new friends before retirement with the same energy you put forth into working and raising your children. You will accomplish your goal quickly. For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www. findingloveafter60.com.
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Cumberland County
Calendar of Events
Support Groups Free and open to the public
Senior Center Activities
April 4, 4 to 5 p.m. Caregivers Support Group Messiah Lifeways Meetinghouse 1155 Walnut Bottom Road, Carlisle (717) 243-0447
April 13, 1:30 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group Bethany Village West – Springfield Room 325 Asbury Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 877-0624
April 5, 6 p.m. CanSurmount Cancer Support Group HealthSouth Acute Rehab Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 691-6786
April 19, 1 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren 501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg (717) 766-8880
Big Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-4478 91 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, Newville Mondays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. – Zumba Gold April 20, 12:15 p.m. – Stress Management Program April 27, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Healthy Steps for Older Adults Fall-Prevention Program
April 5, 6 to 7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group Senior Helpers 3806 Market St., Suite 3, Camp Hill (717) 920-0707
April 26, 6 p.m. Multiple Sclerosis Support Group HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 486-3596 apcoulson@comcast.net
April 7, 6:30 p.m. Too Sweet: Diabetes Support Group Chapel Hill United Church of Christ 701 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill (717) 557-9041 April 12, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Carlisle Area Men’s Cancer Support Group The Live Well Center 3 Alexandria Court, Carlisle (717) 877-7561 sirbrady12@gmail.com
If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
April 13, 11:30 a.m. NARFE West Shore Chapter 1465 VFW Post 7530 4545 Westport Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 737-1486 www.narfe1465.org Visitors welcome; meeting is free but fee for food.
When the Media Gets in on April Fools’ Day If you’re looking for inspiration on April 1, remember one of the all-time great media hoaxes. In 1957, the BBC’s respected news program Panorama ran a story celebrating a bumper spaghetti crop in Switzerland— thanks to a mild winter and the near elimination of the destructive “spaghetti weevil.” The program included footage
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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 April 22, 3 to 6 p.m. – Open House West Shore Senior Citizens Center – (717) 774-0409 122 Geary St., New Cumberland Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.
Library Programs
Community Programs Free and open to the public Mondays and Wednesdays, noon to 12:45 p.m. SilverSneakers and Silver and Fit Classes Living Well Fitness Center 207 House Ave., Suite 107, Camp Hill (717) 439-4070
Branch Creek Place – (717) 300-3563 115 N. Fayette St., Shippensburg
of Swiss farm workers pulling strands of spaghetti from trees and laying them in the sun to dry. Although some viewers caught on—and chastised the BBC for playing fast and loose in a news program—others fell hook, line, and pasta ladle. Many even telephoned the network to ask where they could get their own spaghetti trees.
Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St., Carlisle, (717) 243-4642 April 5, 12, 26, 6:3 0 to 8:30 p.m. – Upstairs Stitchers Embroidery Group April 13, 1 to 2 p.m. – Wicked Wednesday Book Discussion Group April 22, 1 to 2 p.m. – Just Mysteries! Book Club Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900 April 8, 2 and 7 p.m. – Foreign Film Friday: Two Days, One Night April 22, 23, 24, times vary – Spring Book and Media Sale April 27, 9:30 a.m. – Meet and Play for Grandparents and Grandchildren New Cumberland Public Library, 1 Benjamin Plaza, New Cumberland, (717) 774-7820 April 7, 10: 15 a.m. to noon – Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group: Female Detectives April 9, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p .m. – Write-On Writer’s Workshop April 10, 3 to 4 p. m. – The Art of Watercolor and What to Do with Alpacas www.50plusLifePA.com
It Was 50 Years Ago Today
Randal Hill
‘California Dreamin’ ’
“All the leaves are The future classic brown and the sky is was first recorded in gray …” Los Angeles by Barry Michelle Phillips McGuire—with the well remembers the Mamas and the Papas 4 a.m. incident that providing background changed her life. vocals—as a followHer husband, John, up to his millionwas gently shaking her selling “Eve of awake with the words, Destruction.” “California Dreamin’” “‘You have to help me But at the last The Mamas and the Papas finish this song, Mich. minute, Dunhill April 1966 Help me, and you’ll Records owner thank me for this Lou Adler erased someday,’” wrote Michelle in her book, McGuire’s vocals and had the Mamas California Dreamin’: The True Story of and the Papas record their voices over the Mamas and the Papas. the instrumental track. John already had much of the song John Phillips decided he wanted composed by the time he woke her that something more exotic than the morning. standard middle guitar solo. During In his autobiography written a break, he stepped into the hallway with Jim Jerome, Papa John: An at the recording studio and ran into Autobiography by John Phillips, John session jazz musician Bud Shank, a recalled, “One of the first songs we master of the saxophone and flute. worked on was written during the When John asked Shank to winter [of 1963-64], inspired by a bone- contribute an alto flute solo to the chilling walk through the snows of song’s break, Shank nailed it elegantly Central Park. We were daydreaming of on the first take. bright sun, blue skies, and palm trees. “California Dreamin’” was to be “LA was home for Michelle, and as the first of nine Top 40 singles for the winter dragged on in New York, it was group that had once lived in a tent in impossible not to miss the 12-month the Virgin Islands. California summer.” Between 1965 and 1968, the Mamas To escape the bitter cold, the and the Papas would sell 40 million pair had briefly visited St. Patrick’s records. (The group’s back story unfolds Cathedral, an inspiration for the song’s in their million-selling 1967 musical second verse: “Stopped into a church we biography called Creeque Alley.) passed along the way.” Michelle enjoyed To many music fans, nothing would visiting churches; John wanted only to ever resonate quite as strongly as the get warm. song that first brought the Mamas and Michelle later explained the line, the Papas fame. “Well, I got down on my knees and In her autobiography California I pretend to pray”: “John hated the Dreamin’, Michelle Phillips recalled, verse, as he was turned off to churches “‘California Dreamin’’ was a great song. by unpleasant memories of parochial It was one of those songs, like, ‘Damnit, school. But he couldn’t think of I don’t want to be boxed in to what my anything better, so he left it in.” life has to offer. I’m going to change it Note: In “California Dreamin,’” … The only one who can change it is listeners have often mistakenly thought me … It gave impetus to change.” the group sang “I began to pray” rather Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian than “I pretend to pray,” and many who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be heard the line “The preacher liked the cold” as “The preacher lights the coals.” reached at wryterhill@msn.com. www.50plusLifePA.com
April 6, 2016 June 10, 2016 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center
Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Ave., York
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel 1741 Papermill Road Wyomissing
Please, join us! This combined event is FREE for veterans of all ages, active military, and their families.
At the Expo
Veterans Benefits Community Services Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services
At the Job Fair
Employers Job Counseling Workshops/Seminars Resume Writing Assistance Principal Sponsors: Sponsored by: Blue Ridge Communications • Conewago Enterprises • ESPN 92.7 Fulton Financial Corporation • Pennsylvania American Legion PA National Guard Employment Outreach Services Pennsylvania State Headquarters VFW • The Stewart Companies Veterans Affairs of Berks County • York County Veterans Affairs Office • WFYL
Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available
www.veteransexpo.com (717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com
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Salute to a Veteran
Robert D. Wilcox
B-25 Bombers Land Better with Their Gear Down
Conrad Hamp had long known that, of course, but he got a frightening reminder of it one time when the landing gear of the B-25 he was flying decided not to come down. Although he had never expected an accident like that to happen to him, he had wanted to fly ever since 1935, when, as a 9-year-old in Baltimore, he had been taken by his father to a fly-in of Army bombers. Just by walking around them and marveling at those awesome planes, he decided that being a pilot was his goal, once he became of age. So, in 1943, as a 17-year-old in high school, he went to Towson, Md., and enlisted in the Pre-Aviation Cadet Enlisted Reserve. And, when he was called to active duty in April 1945, his only question was, “Why did it take so long?” He was first sent to Sheppard Air Force Base, Texas, for basic training and classification. After going through a battery of tests, he got good news— and bad. The good news was that he was classified a pilot. The bad news was the Air Force had closed down the pilot training program, and he was sent to Keesler Field for aircraft and engine mechanic training. Lacking a chance to fly, he opted to leave the Air Force in November 1945. A variety of civilian jobs followed until 1950, when he saw a huge sign in front of the library saying that the Air
Force was again seeking hydraulic fluid flowing flight crew candidates. down the bulkhead So, he promptly on the side of the enlisted again and was passageway to the sent to Connally Air bombardier’s station. Force Base near Waco, He cut a hole through Texas, to go through the aluminum and classification once found that an extramore. long bolt had been And he was again used on a strut to the selected to be a pilot. landing gear (after its There he took basic preceding 100-hour flying training in the inspection). st 1 Lt. Francis Conrad Hamp, single-engine T-6 It had cleanly at Rhein-Main, Germany, severed the tube for the before shipping to in 1952. Reese Air Force Base in hydraulic fluid when Lubbock, Texas, for advance training the gear was retracted, permitting all in the twin-engine B-25 bomber. the fluid to drain out. He crimped On his first solo flight in the B-25, the tube shut, and they were then able he then had his problem with the to coax enough hydraulic fluid from landing gear. They were about to shoot another accumulator to finally get the practice landings at an auxiliary field gear down and locked. when they found that, whatever they As they landed, they found that could do, they couldn’t get the gear to the base commander, many flight come down. instructors, a fire truck, an ambulance, They then called in the problem to and the chaplain were waiting to see the airbase … and got the curt order how the drama would turn out. Did to “come back and crash.” So they did that seem to be a signal that flying was come back, but then spent a couple of more dangerous than he thought? hours trying everything they knew to “Nah,” he grins. “Never gave it a solve the problem. thought.” The base sent up a T-28 with two He must not have, because he instructors to look the plane over, but next shipped to Bolling Field in they couldn’t suggest anything either. Washington, D.C., where, for a year, The right wheel had come part way he served in the Special Missions down, but that only made the problem Squadron, flying VIPs around the U.S. worse. and Canada in C-47s and B-25s. Then the flight chief noticed Then in 1952 it was to Rhein-Main
Air Base in Frankfurt, Germany, to fly the C-119 troop carrier and drop U.S., British, and French troops in exercises in various European countries. That was followed by an assignment in Neubiberg, Germany, where, in C-119s, he hauled material to bases all over Europe and North Africa. In July 1955, he returned to New York aboard a civilian-crewed Navy transport and was separated from the Air Force at Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter, S.C., in 1956. He worked for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in flight service for many years in Key West and Myrtle Beach before retiring in 1976. He lived in Hilton Head Plantation, S.C., for a few years before returning to Baltimore in the ’80s. How did he happen to come to Central Pennsylvania? He says, “I had an uncle who liked to eat. One day, he said to me, ‘Want a good meal?’” Hamp said sure, and his uncle then drove them north to Central Pennsylvania, where he “treated me to some of the best food I had ever eaten,” Hamp says. “That’s a big part of what brought me here to live.” So, since 2004, he has lived in a Central Pennsylvania retirement community that offers just what he needs … including an endless supply of that great local food. Col. Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.
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My 22 Cents’ Worth
Aging Farm Barns and Our Agrarian Past Walt Sonneville
Yesterday’s wealth, today’s heritage—that is the saga of America’s aging farm barns. Standing or leaning, they are memorials to our agrarian past. Old barns have inspired preservation organizations and barn-touring groups and found repurpose when converted to offices, homes, and, occasionally, a landscape and nursery retail enterprise. Like covered bridges and streampowered grain mills, they become more valued as they continue to decline in number. In the book Eric Sloane’s America, Sloane states: “It might be said that the early barn is the best example of American Colonial architecture. Each old barn was born of American soil and fitted to an American landscape for specific American needs. “From the beginning, the American barn was big, like the hopes and plans for life in the New World. It was unlike anything built anywhere else. It was entirely American.” Early farm homes were shanties. It was common practice for pioneer farmers to construct their barn before their house was completed. Barns were their lifeline. Old barns tell us something of life on an early American farm. Their presence invokes what we may have been told by our grandparents about early farming. Raising cash crops was part of the work. Small gardens of potatoes, carrots, beans, and lettuce were another responsibility, generally assigned to some of the children. Chickens were raised and eggs sold. Farm families generally included five to seven children, composing the necessary labor force. The oldest girl often assisted the mother with cooking and preserving while the second-oldest girl might be the family baker. The older boys became “farm hands,” cleaning the chicken house and assisting with harvesting and fence repair. Barns in America began to be www.50plusLifePA.com
erected in 1639, 32 years after the settlement at Jamestown, Va., and 19 years after the settlement at Plymouth, Mass. Barn architecture evolved through the needs of individual farmers, not from plans provided by architects. There are two predominant barn styles in American agrarian history: Pennsylvania Dutch barns and New England barns. Pennsylvania Dutch barns frequently are called “bank barns” to indicate they were built on the bank (or slope) of a hillside. This permitted wagon entry to the upper level of the barn from the higher level of the slope and a second entry to the lower level at the descending slope. New England barns lacked this feature. The New England barn often was part of a connected series of buildings with the house at one end, the barn at the other, and smaller buildings in between to house tools and wood. This allowed the farm family an interior access to each building without exposing themselves to snow, rain, or cold. There are other barn types. They include crib barns, the insides of which might contain one or more cribs to separate storage items and livestock, and tobacco barns, an early barn type that required more ventilation to cure the hanging crop. Barns were not built to impress. Expressions of architectural creativity were limited to the addition of cupolas; dormers; novel latches and hardware; weathervanes in the form of an arrow or, near the coast, a fish or a whale; decorative hex signs; barn stars; shutters (solid or louvered); and ventilation slits that could be diamond shaped or rectangular. Most barns were constructed of oak. Some barns were a mix of stone and
wood, others of stone only. It wasn’t until 1873 that the barn’s profile was dominated by the introduction of the silo. Barns had practical features added as well, including lightning rods, entrance holes for owls (to control vermin), and holes for martins. Some barns eventually included virtual billboards, promoting products and tourist destinations. Barns frequently displayed the name of the farm or its owner and the year of the barn’s construction. Barns in Pennsylvania were inventoried after the state’s bi-cameral legislature adopted separate resolutions in 2005. A resulting survey found that 46 percent of barns in eastern
Pennsylvania were built before the Civil War, with sidings typically of stone and wood. Almost three-quarters of statewide respondents reported their barns were in good or excellent condition. There are eight barns in Pennsylvania listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Four are in Chester County, one each in Bucks and Centre counties, and two in Dauphin County. Nationally, there are 262 barns on the register, located in 27 states. Walt Sonneville, a retired market-research analyst, is the author of My 22 Cents’ Worth: The Higher-Valued Opinion of a Senior Citizen and A Musing Moment: Meditative Essays on Life and Learning, books of personal-opinion essays, free of partisan and sectarian viewpoints. Contact him at waltsonneville@verizon.net.
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