50plus LIFE Cumberland County April 2019 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

Complimentary | Cumberland County Edition

April 2019 â&#x20AC;˘ Vol. 20 No. 4

have books, will travel page 4

special focus: foot health awareness month page 6

5 mistakes to avoid in retirement page 12

Tinseltown Talks

Michael Dante: From Actor to Author Nick Thomas

It’s not uncommon for actors to find a second career away from the camera after spending years in front of it. In Michael Dante’s case, that new vocation has been writing, beginning with his 2014 award-winning autobiography From Hollywood to Michael Dante Way (see michaeldanteway.com). “I received the Ella Dickey Literacy Award for it last April in Marshfield, Missouri, at their Cherry Blossom Festival,” said Dante. “My second book, Winterhawk’s Land, is the sequel to the film I starred in and played the title role, Winterhawk.” His latest novella is called Six Rode Home, which, he says, is “about six horse soldiers who come home from the Civil War, and it’s a great read.” Dante is well acquainted with early American life through his films, which included working alongside Audie Murphy in two Westerns. “Audie was the greatest American hero of World War II, but never talked about his war experience. He was a very quiet, sensitive, and soft-spoken guy with a great sense of humor who also wrote beautiful poetry and song lyrics.” Dante’s first film was the 1956 bio-drama Somebody Up There Likes Me starring Paul Newman as boxer Rocky Graziano and featuring Steve McQueen in his first role. During filming, a truck lost control when its brakes failed and hurtled toward the cast, causing Newman to leap out of the way and sending a

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April 2019

50plus LIFE ›

cameraman flying. “Then it headed towards me and Steve — I pulled him out of the way.” In Kid Galahad, another boxing film, Dante sparred with Elvis Presley. He says the two performed all the fight scenes themselves, with Presley landing a blow on Dante, cutting his Desilu Productions, NBC Michael Dante, center, as Maab lip. in Star Trek's “Friday's Child.” “He kept apologizing over and over,” he recalled, laughing. On TV, Dante created a memorable character in the original 1967 Star Trek episode “Friday’s Child,” where the Enterprise crew visit an alien planet and attempt to negotiate mineral rights with a local tribe. His character, Maab, was Provided by Michael Dante dressed head to foot Audie Murphy and Michael Dante in a stiflingly hot on the set of Arizona Raiders. costume. “The exterior shots were filmed at Vazquez Rocks, near Santa Clarita, California, where it was 117 degrees,” recalled Dante. “So much perspiration drained into my boots that I squished when I walked — I lost 7 pounds on the first day of shooting!” With more than 180 TV and film roles Provided by MIchael Dante to his credit, Dante Michael Dante, recent photo. remains astonished that his 50-year-old Star Trek role still draws wide fan attention, recalling an encounter during a trip to the San Diego Zoo with his niece and nephew. please see DANTE page 16

www.50plusLifePA.com

Retirement Workshop Planned for Public School Employees The Pennsylvania Association of School Retirees for Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Juniata, Perry, and York County chapters will hold a free preretirement workshop from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at Mechanicsburg Middle School, 1750 S. Market St., Mechanicsburg. Hosted by Cumberland County PASR, the workshop is open to teachers, librarians, counselors, nurses, maintenance, custodial, transportation, cafeteria, administration, paraprofessionals, and office staff considering retirement in one to four years. Speakers will be available to provide current and useful information about

retirement options, health insurance options, supplemental insurance, and Social Security benefits. There is no charge for attendance. Go to the DCPASR website (dcpasr.org) for further details. Preregistration is required. For questions and to preregister, contact Donna Plummer at dplum733@gmail.com or (717) 545-8833 for Dauphin County districts. Please register by April 30 so that refreshments and materials can be prepared.

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 financial services Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (302) 573-4027 Funeral & Cremation Services Cremation Society of Pennsylvania Serving Cumberland County (800) 720-8221 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 www.50plusLifePA.com

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 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) Medicare (800) 633-4227

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

Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228

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

Drug Information (800) 729-6686

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Flu or Influenza (888) 232-3228 Health and Human Services Discrimination (800) 368-1019 Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-1040 Liberty Program (866) 542-3788

Orthopedics 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

National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046 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

Services Cumberland County Aging & Community Services (717) 240-6110

Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681

Toll-Free Numbers Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555 Cancer Information Service (800) 422-6237

Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833

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

Consumer Information (888) 878-3256

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

50plus LIFE ›

April 2019

Cover Story

Have Books, Will Travel

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.

April 2019

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By John Crawford Liz Richardson has always loved books and always wanted to help people, so she knew her career choice from an early age. “I have always read and was encouraged to find the answers to my own questions,” Richardson said. “I knew from a young child that I wanted to be a librarian.” A native of Sharpsville, Pennsylvania, now living at Messiah Village, Richardson graduated from Seton Hill College with a Bachelor of the Arts in English and a master’s in library science from the University of Pittsburgh. Retiring in 2007 did not lessen her desire to help or her love of books; therefore, Richardson decided to bring books to homebound adults at Messiah Village in Mechanicsburg through Cumberland County Library System’s Service to Adult Readers (STAR) program. Christa Bassett, adult outreach services coordinator for Cumberland County Library System, explained that Richardson participates in STAR’s site-delivery program. A volunteer like Richardson “selects and delivers to a retirement home, adult daycare, or senior center,” Bassett said. “The Cumberland County library books are housed in a central location at their facility. Currently, we serve 23 active STAR sites across Cumberland County.” “It’s been about four years that I’ve been doing it,” Richardson said. Through the program, Richardson gathers books from the Simpson Library in Mechanicsburg and takes them to Messiah Village. This way, seniors unable to get to the library can have access to the collection. Her task involves going through the collection to find books that interest her fellow residents without repeating previous selections. She sorts among the subjects the homebound seniors enjoy, and then refers to the sign-out card to be sure she hasn’t previously checked out the book. She will occasionally get a specific request and will do her best to follow through on it. “The people at Messiah Village are like the people anywhere,” Richardson said. “There are some who don’t want to [read about harder topics], and some who want to think about it. It’s not any different from the community as a whole. “I keep a list of things that are popular,” she added. Her role requires considerable insight but not necessarily a set schedule or deadline. The Messiah Village residents know when to expect a new selection.

“They’re not waiting, but if I miss a day or two, they want to know where I’ve been,” she explained with a smile. Richardson’s work for the residents doesn’t end with the delivery of the Simpson Library books. Concurrent with her STAR duties, she helps to maintain and enlarge the nascent library at the retirement community. “I have worked there about four years and been the librarian about three,” said Richardson. “Someone is at the library every day for a few hours to check in what has been returned and help people find what they need. Most of the time, readers help themselves.” Helping the library grow has been a community effort that Richardson helps direct. “Our library is very small and gets most of our books through donations,” Richardson said. “There also is a small budget to buy books. Last year we received a donation from a resident’s family to buy large-print books.” Large-print books may be an obvious fit for a senior community, but the books themselves weren’t, at least not for the after-hours return receptacle. Richardson and the community needed to upgrade the return and managed to do so from within the village. “I recently designed a new book return, which is being made in the village’s woodshop” by fellow resident Max Van Buskirk, she said. “Our circulation is increasing, and we are getting more large-print books, which are bigger than a normal book.” STAR also features a homebound delivery program, where a volunteer selects and delivers library items to a single homebound individual. “Currently, we serve approximately 100 homebound people across Cumberland County with this individualized service,” Bassett said. “This is the type of volunteer service that our volunteer Heidi Stadnicki assists with.” Massachusetts native Heidi Stadnicki, now of Boiling Springs, has a background similar to Richardson’s, which drew her to the program. “As a former librarian, I was drawn to STAR as a way to use my skills and give back to others who are unable to visit a library,” said Stadnicki, who delivers books and DVDs to four nursing-home residents and two homebound clients. “I am thankful for the opportunity to bring pleasure to others in such a simple way.” Stadnicki works to develop an understanding of her clients’ preferences, much like a site volunteer, but does so on a one-to-one basis. This delivery service provides not only library materials, but also companionship to homebound individuals. www.50plusLifePA.com

“I enjoy doing reader’s advisory,” said Stadnicki. “Once I am familiar with my clients’ favorite genres and authors, I choose books that I think they will enjoy. “Learning their preferences involves chatting about the books they have read and why they liked or disliked a particular author,” she said. “This input provides me with valuable insight into making my next selections for each client.” As she gets familiar with each participant’s preferences, the former librarian enjoys trying to expand their choices. “It is also fun to introduce new fiction and nonfiction books tailored to a client’s interests or hobbies,” Stadnicki said. “Not every choice is a success, but the challenge makes it enjoyable for me as well.” “Heidi and Liz both willingly go above and beyond the expectations for STAR volunteers,” Bassett said. “They have a love for the homebound participants we serve and for our program. Our program would not be as vibrant as it currently is without the support of volunteers such as Heidi and Liz.”

The STAR program also includes self-service and digital-only programs. As Bassett explained, the self-service program is “for those Cumberland County residents who are still mobile enough to visit their library but, due to health or other concerns, they may not be able to visit as frequently as necessary.” The digital-only program is for homebound individuals who strictly want to be able to access from their homes the library system’s electronic databases and the e-book and e-audiobook resources available on its website. While Bassett will always welcome new volunteers for the STAR program, she really wants to reach more recipients. “Our greater need, for the moment, is to get the word out about our wonderful program to those homebound individuals who could benefit from it,” she said. “We currently have extra volunteers, but I am looking for homebound participants for these volunteers to serve.” For more information on the STAR program, contact Bassett at (717) 2407771 or cbassett@ccpa.net or visit cumberlandcountylibraries.org/STAR.

On Life and Love After 50

Do Multiple Past Marriages Matter? Tom Blake

A woman, age 69, recently emailed me with a dating question. “I’ve been married three times,” she said. “Should three marriages matter to the men I meet? Might they be a deal-breaker? Turn-off? Red flag? Or, (hopefully) a nonissue?” My response: There’s no automatic answer; it depends on several circumstances. Here are nine of my thoughts: 1. What is your dating goal? To marry again? Or to meet a nice man-friend with whom you can have a committed relationship? Would you want to live together, or perhaps have an LAT, a living-apart-together relationship? Your answer could determine how a potential mate feels about your three marriages. If it’s your hope to marry a fourth time, most men are going to head for the exit before the second date. 2. What are the dating goals of the man you meet? If he wants to remarry, your three marriages may be a red flag to him. You’ll need to explain what happened. But, if he’s looking for a similar arrangement as you, your three marriages may be a nonissue.

Does that make the marriages failures? No. They just didn’t last forever, although they were good for a while.

please see MARRIAGES page 18

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3. How many marriages has he had and why did his marriages end? How long did they last? Or maybe he never married? Is he willing to reveal how many marriages he’s had? Answers to those questions are important to know. You wouldn’t want to become involved with someone who has a history of terrible marriages or relationships. You need to protect yourself. 4. When a man or a woman is widowed, he or she had no control over losing that spouse. Should that count in his or her previous-marriage tally? Of course not. (Well, if they’ve had four, and all have died under suspicious circumstances, then that would be a red flag). 5. One woman described her three divorces as “failed” marriages. I don’t like that term. Why? Because most marriages were the right thing to do at that time. But, as years passed, people changed, and marriages faded. www.50plusLifePA.com

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April 2019

National Foot Health Awareness Month The High Impact of Flat Feet By Dr. Charlton Woodly

The way I look at a flat foot is based on pronation, or the way your foot goes inward. The main tendon, which holds the arch of your foot up, eventually becomes damaged if it is stretched too much. This results in flat feet.

As we age, we worry about the changes that are overtly affecting our bodies — whether that’s noticing wrinkles or paying attention to something that’s causing pain. We overlook the fact that aging affects all parts of our bodies, even those that often go unseen, like our feet. But our feet keep us grounded — they are the foundation of the rest of our body and deserve our care and attention. One of the most common issues people face as they age is flat feet. What are Flat Feet? “Flat feet” simply means there is a low arch or lack of an arch under the foot. All babies are born flat footed; as they grow, arches begin to develop. For some, the arch never develops. For others, the arch will develop but can fall after an injury or experiencing the stress of age. This is because the tendons in your foot, or both feet, can become damaged.

Symptoms While this sounds like a minor inconvenience, flat feet can lead to strain on the entire body. When you have flat feet, the pain you feel does not usually come from the feet but rather the knee. The foot is in an abnormal position, which makes your knee hurt. A lack of an arch can stress your ankles, calves, knees, hips, lower back, and lower legs. Neck and back pain are extremely common from flat feet.

April is National Foot Health Awareness Month

Warning Signs and Preventative Care While flat feet can go unnoticed, there are some warning signs that treatment is needed. For example, some people may feel pain in the arch or ankle, and this pain can get worse after being on your feet all day or working out. Some may notice

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April 2019

50plus LIFE ›

(717) 761-3161 www.cumberlandvalleyfootandankle.com

www.50plusLifePA.com

National Foot Health Awareness Month swelling along the inside of the ankle as well. It’s important to get your feet examined by a podiatrist to determine if you have flat feet and what steps to take moving forward. For those who don’t have flat feet, a podiatrist can determine what preventative measures to take to avoid developing them, such as wearing protective footwear or losing weight. Treatment Options There is a range of different methods to treat the symptoms of fallen arches and flat feet. Most podiatrists will recommend being mindful of the shoes you wear. This means wearing extra-wide fitted shoes or orthotics that are custom designed to support your arch, which can relieve the arch and reduce pain. Custom inserts can also help by taking pressure off the tendon. Medication for pain and inflammation helps in some cases. While these methods treat the symptoms, they are not long lasting. Long-lasting treatment options include being conscious of your body and movement. This could mean losing weight to reduce pressure on your feet or not walking or standing for prolonged periods.

People may also resort to therapeutic massages, such as rolling a ball under your foot. A massage is a powerful treatment tool for soft tissue. It allows the muscle to release built-up tension, therefore reducing pain. In more severe cases, individuals can turn to surgery. Surgery is minimally invasive and restores the tendons and ligaments that support the arch. This means it does not involve a long incision and avoids significant damage to the muscles and soft tissue surrounding the foot. In most cases, this approach results in less pain after foot surgery and a faster recovery; patients can go in and leave the same day. Though our feet are what keep us grounded, the arches of our feet shouldn’t be touching the ground. I recommend visiting a podiatrist to learn more about flat-feet prevention to make sure it’s not one of the issues you have to worry about as you age. Dr. Charlton Woodly is a board-certified podiatrist with more than 14 years’ experience providing conservative and surgical treatments at Woodly Foot & Ankle in Texas. A specialist in minimally invasive procedures and a hyprocure master surgeon, Woodly is an expert in treating the full spectrum of foot and ankle conditions and injuries.

New Treatment Options Available for Heel Pain Imagine getting out of bed every morning and feeling a temporary pain shoot through your heel. For many people, this is an everyday occurrence. Heel pain, an inflammation of a thick band of tissue that connects the heel bone to the toes, can start as a minor annoyance that people deal with for months before being properly identified as plantar fasciitis — a condition that 1 in 10 people will suffer from in their lifetimes. The condition manifests over time and is often attributed to normal wear and tear, but heel pain of this type can have serious repercussions if not treated promptly and properly by a foot and ankle surgeon. Greg Catalano, DPM, FACFAS, a Massachusetts foot and ankle surgeon and fellow member of the American College of Food and Ankle Surgeons, says options for heel pain are becoming more advanced and focused on helping the patient’s body heal the injury itself. According to ACFAS, depending on the severity of a patient’s plantar fasciitis, these latest treatment options can include: Injection therapy: Foot and ankle surgeons use growth-factor injections and platelet-rich plasma injections to boost the body’s healing response to help repair the injured band of tissue causing the pain. Shockwave therapy: This in-office treatment uses soundwaves delivered over the skin to slightly damage the tissue and stimulate the body’s natural repair process. This helps the plantar fasciitis heal and relieves pain symptoms without making an incision. Patients can expect to be up and moving immediately after the treatment, but it may take three to six months to see the results. www.50plusLifePA.com

Ultrasonic treatment: This procedure is a newer treatment option where foot and ankle surgeons make a small incision into the heel of the foot and use a probe to direct ultrasonic energy at the fascia to break down bad tissue and help the healing process. A diagnostic ultrasound tool is used to create an image of the foot and to guide the probe. Patients may need to wear a boot immediately after the procedure for up to two weeks, and they can expect to see improvements anywhere from three to six months after the procedure. Surgery: Also called a plantar fasciotomy, this procedure is a minimally invasive and minimally traumatic surgical treatment where the foot and ankle surgeon makes a small incision through the heel into the damaged tendon to try to lengthen it and relieve some of the tension. Patients tend to recover in six to 10 weeks, but it may take up to three months to resume exercise and more vigorous activities. Heel pain that is present for more than four weeks and has not responded to changes in support or anti-inflammatory medications are signs it is time to seek help. When visiting a foot and ankle surgeon, patients need to be honest about how their pain developed, their level of activity, what type of shoes they wear, and what type of treatment they’ve completed, if any. Foot and ankle surgeons will look at conservative treatments first — such as stretching exercises, icing, modifying shoe gear and activity, and sometimes physical therapy. They may also recommend using a night splint or a cortisone injection for patients who experience chronic pain in the morning. For more information, visit foothealthfacts.org. 50plus LIFE ›

April 2019

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 pa-al-anon.org

The Bridges at Bent Creek 2100 Bent Creek Blvd. Mechanicsburg (717) 795-1100

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 pa-al-anon.org

April 4, 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

Tuesdays, noon Anchor Al-Anon Family Group Meeting The Harbor 55 W. King St., Shippensburg (717) 448-7881 Other meeting times/locations at pa-al-anon.org April 1, 4-5 p.m. Caregivers Support Group Messiah Lifeways Meetinghouse 1155 Walnut Bottom Road, Carlisle (717) 243-0447 April 2, 6-7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group Senior Helpers 3806 Market St., Suite 3, Camp Hill (717) 920-0707 April 2, 6 p.m. CanSurmount Cancer Support Group HealthSouth Acute Rehab Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 691-6786 April 3, 1:30 p.m. The Bridges Support Group for the Alzheimer’s Association

April 3, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Caregivers Support Group Cumberland County Office of Aging 1100 Claremont Road, Carlisle (717) 240-6110

April 4, 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 April 4, 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 8, 1:30-3 p.m. Caregivers Support Group St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Church 310 Hertzler Road, Upper Allen Township (717) 766-8806 April 8, 6-7 p.m. A Touch of Sugar: Diabetes Support Group Wegmans, 6416 Carlisle Pike Mechanicsburg (717) 763-2466 events.geisinger.org

Senior Center Activities April 9, 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 April 10, 1:30 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group Bethany Village West Springfield Room 325 Asbury Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 877-0624 April 16, 1 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren 501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg (717) 766-8880 April 16, 6:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s/Dementia Caregivers Support Group Cumberland Crossings 1 Longsdorf Way, Carlisle (717) 243-0113 April 17, 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 April 23, 6 p.m. Multiple Sclerosis Support Group HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 486-3596 apcoulson@comcast.net If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Community Programs

Free and open to the public

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

April 2019

50plus LIFE ›

April 10, 11:30 a.m. NARFE West Shore Chapter 1465 VFW Post 7530 4545 Westport Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 774-4031 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 April 16, 12:45 p.m. – High School Spring Luncheon for Community Senior Citizens April 24, 9:30 a.m. – MindMatters: Down by the Depot – The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania April 25, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Healthy Steps for Older Adults: Fall Prevention 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 Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com.

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 April 8, 6 p.m. – Understanding Credit April 10, 6:30 p.m. – Knee Pain Workshop April 26, 6:30 p.m. – Tree ID for Arbor Day Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900 April 4 and 18, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Free Blood Pressure Screenings April 14, 1:30 p.m. – The Music of Hiroya Tsukamoto April 25-28, hours vary – Book and Media Sale 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 April 7, 3-4 p.m. – Vintage Quilt Trunk Show April 10, 1 or 6:30 p.m. – Adult Craft Program: Beaded Earrings April 11, 6:30 p.m. – A Bit about Seed and Seed Starting Shippensburg Public Library, 73 W. King St., Shippensburg, (717) 532-4508

www.50plusLifePA.com

Soldier Stories

Robert Naeye

Severely Wounded in Vietnam, He Spent a Year in an Upper Body Cast

Central Pennsylvania native Joe Novak survived Cambodia. Americans in this intense combat zone grievous wounds as a Marine reconnaissance sergeant had a life expectancy of 30 days. in Vietnam. Now he is a collector of knickknacks, Novak jury-rigged mines by filling root beer cans from an autographed photo of an archbishop to a with napalm, jet fuel, glass fragments — anything motorcycle once owned by rock ’n’ roll legend Jimi that could be fashioned into weapons. He attached Hendrix. electronic detonators and then set them up around Novak was born in Harrisburg in 1951 and grew the perimeter of American bases. Enemy soldiers up in nearby Highspire. But when he was only 2 would ignite the makeshift bombs whenever they months old, his father was killed in action in the tried to infiltrate at night. Korean War. “We never knew until Jan. 7, 1970, how deadly His mother remarried in 1955 to a World War II they were,” says Novak. veteran, but Novak recalls that he and his stepfather After a battle on Landing Zone Ross that night, never saw eye to eye and always had a distant the Americans counted 139 North Vietnamese relationship. And his stepfather never talked about bodies (and three POWs) at the cost of 14 Marines his war experiences. and 58 wounded. Blessed with a high IQ, Novak found school Novak also created small mines and put the boring. sensors in elephant and tiger poop in and around the “Football was the best thing going for me,” he Ho Chi Minh Trail. Enemy soldiers would trigger recalls. the sensors, sending radio signals back to gunners, He was such a good offensive lineman that he Joe Novak, right, and his wife, Terry, inside their who would know exactly where the targets were played varsity for his high school even when he was log cabin home, which Novak built in the 1980s. please see SOLDIER page 13 in eighth grade. In high school, Novak found himself getting into trouble. He realized the best option for him was to go into the Marine Corps. But he did not tell his mother, fearing her disapproval. Just before his 17th birthday, he boarded a train for Washington, D.C. But his mother expected him home for dinner. In reality, he was heading to Parris Island in South Carolina for Marine boot camp. His mother tried to get him to come home, but Novak was determined to become a Marine. His stepfather was proud that he was going into the corps, but Novak recalls, “He didn’t think I’d make it.” But Novak passed every test, often with flying colors. He recalls surviving brutal training conditions, with swamps, snakes, and alligators all around. He had run-ins with his drill instructor that were so bad that he refused to shake his hand when he graduated. But when he later ran into him in Vietnam, Novak told him, “If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t still be here.” After Parris Island, Novak spent 12 weeks in demolition school, where he finished first in his class. He next finished a course in underwater demolition near Tallahassee, Florida, again first in his class. We believe the care people receive makes Novak is proud that he was promoted from private to corporal to sergeant in less than a year, which was rare. a difference in their lives. It is our privilege But Novak did not go to Vietnam right away. He received further demolition to care for you and your loved ones. training in Virginia and North Carolina. Novak even learned how to assemble and disassemble atomic bombs. Because Novak’s father had been killed in action in Korea, he didn’t have to go into combat. But Novak begged to go to ’Nam, asking, “Why waste my capabilities?” A CONTINUING CARE RETIREMENT COMMUNITY Novak spent six days of intensive jungle-combat training on Okinawa, where, 1901 N 5th St., Harrisburg 2300 Vartan Way, Harrisburg he says, “snakes fall on you.” 717-221-7900 717-221-7890 The Marines sent Novak first to Da Nang, then Chu Lai, and then back to HomelandCenter.org HomelandatHome.org Da Nang, where he sat around doing not much of anything for a month. “The colonel didn’t know what the heck to do with me,” Novak remembers. A Commitment to Excellence since 1867 Finally, he was sent to the A Shau Valley, near the borders of Laos and

For Love of Family

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50plus LIFE ›

April 2019

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www.50plusExpoPA.com 10

April 2019

50plus LIFE ›

Local Coroner, TV Personality Graham Hetrick to Speak at 50plus EXPO Dauphin County coroner and medical legal death investigator Graham Hetrick will be discussing his work during a special presentation at the 20th annual Dauphin County 50plus EXPO on Tuesday, May 28, at Hershey Lodge, 325 University Drive, Hershey. Since being elected coroner of Dauphin County almost 30 years ago, Hetrick, a Harrisburg native, has certified more than 13,000 deaths, investigated approximately 600 homicides, and participated in about 3,000 autopsies. Hetrick’s case studies are featured on the Investigation Discovery (ID) channel show The Coroner: I Speak for the Dead. Hetrick is a subject-matter expert on drug abuse, child death and child abuse, organ tissue donation, violent crimes, medical legal death investigation, forensic methodology, and the grieving process.

He has advanced training in bloodpattern analysis, crime scene management, forensic sculpting, and shallow-grave recovery. Hetrick advises the news media and consults attorneys on the investigative process for cases facing litigation. An adjunct professor of forensics and human anatomy at Harrisburg University School of Science and Technology, Hetrick lectures widely on forensic autopsy, crime-scene management, and critical thinking within the investigative process. He is also a motivational speaker for students and troubled youth. Over the last 35 years Hetrick has written and lectured on grief and loss recovery to the medical community, hospice groups, and loss-recovery organizations. The Dauphin County 50plus EXPO will be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 28. For more information, call (717) 285-1350 or visit 50plusexpopa.com.

Where Does the Time Go? According to Adrian Bejan, a professor of mechanical engineering at Duke University, our perception of time is rather fluid. Factors including age, activity, and whether we’ve had enough sleep can significantly skew our sense of time. In an article published in the European Review, Bejan explains, “Time as we experience it represents perceived changes in mental stimuli.” He came to this conclusion after analyzing research on cognition, vision, and time. Bejan first became interested in the topic many years ago when he was a member of a Romanian basketball team. He realized that when he was well rested, his level of play improved, as well as his awareness of time. The research Bejan has reviewed shows not only how our energy affects

our sense of time, but also our vision. Unconscious rapid eye movements known as saccades are just one of the ways our brains interpret stimuli that influence our sense of time. When we are young and experiencing many things for the first time, our brains process the images we see more rapidly, leading to our sensing a slower passage of time. As we age, our vision isn’t as sharp, so our brains don’t process images as quickly, leading to a perception that time is passing more quickly. This can also occur when we are tired or experiencing symptoms from cognitive disorders. These findings led Bejan to believe that everyone has his or her own sense of time — which has nothing to do with real, physical time or another person’s sense of time. www.50plusLifePA.com

The Beauty in Nature

Woodcock Courtship Clyde McMillan-Gamber

I remember the first time I saw a After a minute, or more, of beeping, courting male American woodcock he suddenly takes off in spiral flight silhouetted against a striking sunset upward and upward, silhouetted one evening early in April several years before the brilliant sunset. As he ago. ascends on rapidly beating wings, two I was standing in a weedy field by outer feathers on each wing twitter a bottomland thicket of young trees audibly. and facing the red, western sky in And when that male woodcock hopes that I would spot at least one reaches the zenith of his flight, and, woodcock before that lovely sunset. perhaps, is out of sight, but with Soon, wings still a chunky, twittering, robin-sized he vocally bird with a sings a few long beak series of fluttered musical out of the notes that thicket seem to and landed tumble on a bare to the patch ground: of soil “tew, tew, near me. tew — It was a tew, tew, woodcock! tew, tew.” Male Then he woodcocks plummets begin to the their daily same spot American woodcock. courtship of bare displays at dusk from mid-February ground and starts his display again. to early May, weather permitting. But Only hunger, or a female interested in the most comfortable time for us to mating with him, stop his courtship observe those intriguing exhibits is displays. during pleasant April evenings. American woodcocks are inland Often while waiting for the sandpipers that use their long, flexible woodcocks to begin their wooing, I beaks to probe in soft, damp soil hear spring peeper frogs peeping and in wooded bottomlands to snare American toads trilling musically from earthworms and other invertebrates. nearby wooded wetlands … or a pair Woodcocks poke in soil like other or small group of Canada geese flying sandpipers probe in sandy beaches overhead, some of them honking or coastal mud flats. But woodcocks incessantly. adapted to a different habitat from Then, suddenly, one or a few male their relatives, producing a different woodcocks fly out of nearby woods or species. woody thickets and land in the little Being sandpipers, female woodcocks clearing where I am standing and lay four eggs in a clutch. Young hatch facing the western sky. fuzzy, open-eyed, and ready to feed Almost immediately I hear the nasal themselves in woodland floors. “beeping” of a nearby, love-struck Readers, too, can spot woodcock male woodcock, each beep emitted at courtship displays in the fading light two-second intervals in the gathering of an enchanting April evening. Just be darkness. in the right place at the right time. www.50plusLifePA.com

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Ad closing date: July 12, 2019 Contact your marketing consultant or call 717.285.1350 now to be included in this vital annual directory. 717.285.1350 • 717.770.0140 • 610.675.6240 info@onlinepub.com • www.onlinepub.com

50plus LIFE ›

April 2019

Financial Focus

5 Mistakes to Avoid in Retirement Steven Brettler

After a lifetime of planning and saving, you’re finally on the verge of retirement. However, retirement planning doesn’t stop just because you’re beginning to draw income from your investments. As you embark on this exciting new chapter of your life, keep your retirement goals on track by avoiding these common pitfalls: 1. Claiming Social Security Too Early It may be tempting to apply for Social Security benefits when you’re first eligible at age 62. But doing so may be costly. Choosing to receive your benefits before your full retirement age (which varies depending on the year you were born but is around 66 for most people nearing retirement) could reduce your monthly benefit by 25 percent or more. And if you continue working, for every $2 you earn above a specific threshold — $17,040 in 2018, $17,640 in 2019 — your benefit is withheld by $1 until you reach full retirement age.1 Conversely, for every year you wait to claim benefits beyond full retirement age, the benefit you receive increases by 8 percent annually until age 70.2 So, unless you really need the money, you may want to consider waiting to apply. 2. Taking on Too Much Risk When time is on your side, you may be able to afford to take on riskier investments for greater growth. As you begin retirement, however, the assets you’ve accumulated to meet your day-to-day expenses become harder to recoup if you suffer an investment loss. So, it’s important to make sure you’re not taking on too much risk. But as retirement can last a very long time, you may want to consider maintaining some exposure to stocks, especially in the early years of your retirement.

it’s a good idea to seek RMD guidance from your accountant or tax adviser. 5. Ignoring Healthcare Expenses Overlooking healthcare costs is another area where retirees can face unwelcome surprises. A 2017 survey by the Nationwide Retirement Institute found that health issues often happened sooner than retirees expected and interfered with their ability to afford to do the things they want to do.4 A couple with high prescription-drug expenses throughout retirement could need roughly $350,000 in savings to have a 90 percent chance of having enough money saved to cover their healthcare costs, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute.5 Long-term care insurance can help protect and preserve assets meant for your loved ones, while relieving them of fulltime caregiving responsibilities by providing more options for your care. With many options available and decisions to make as you approach this important milestone, a financial adviser who is familiar with your individual circumstances can help you create a strategy tailored to your goals and the retirement you envision. Steven Brettler is a financial adviser and branch manager with Morgan Stanley in Greenville, Del. He may be reached at (302) 573-4027 or advisor.morganstanley.com/ steven.brettler. Footnotes 1 Social Security Administration Fact Sheet, “2019 Social Security Changes.” Retrieved from: https://www.ssa.gov/news/press/ factsheets/colafacts2019.pdf 2 Social Security Administration Benefits Planner: Retirement, Increase for Delayed Retirement section. Retrieved from: https:// www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/delayret.html 3 Note: If you are still working for a company where you hold a workplace retirement plan and you don’t own more than 5% of the company, you may be able to delay your required distribution date to April 1 of the year following the year you retire. Nationwide Retirement Institute, “The Nationwide Retirement Institute Consumer Social Security PR Study 2017,” August 2017. Retrieved from: https://nationwidefinancial.com/media/pdf/NFM-16829AO.pdf?_ga=2.11555895.207418086.152400790 5-449381559.1524007905

3. Spending Too Much The assets you have accumulated over a lifetime may seem like an enormous financial resource you can tap into whenever you like. However, those investments may need to last 30 years or more. Create a list of all your likely expenses, compare it against your income sources, and develop a spending strategy to help you maintain your retirement lifestyle for as long as possible. 4. Miscalculating Required Minimum Distributions Generally, once you reach age 70.5, you must take annual distributions — called required minimum distributions (RMDs) — from your 401(k), IRA, or other qualified plan, whether you need the money or not. (Roth IRAs and some employer-sponsored qualified retirement plan investors are exempt from this requirement.3) Properly planning your minimum distributions is essential. They are usually taxable at your individual tax rate, and failure to take them could subject you to a penalty — 50 percent of the RMD or whatever portion of it you neglected to take. Given the complexity of the requirement and the potential for penalties,

April 2019

50plus LIFE ›

Employee Benefits Research Institute, “Savings Medicare Beneficiaries Need for Health Expenses: Some Couples Could Need as Much as $350,000” January 2017. Retrieved from: https://www.ebri.org/publications/notes/index.cfm?fa=notesDisp&content_ id=5527

Disclosures Article by Morgan Stanley and provided courtesy of Morgan Stanley Financial Advisor. Steven Brettler is a Financial Advisor in Greenville, DE at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley. He can be reached by email at Steven.Brettler@morganstanley.com or by telephone at (302) 573-4027. His website is https://advisor. morganstanley.com/steven.brettler This article has been prepared for informational purposes only. The information and data in the article has been obtained from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. Morgan Stanley makes no representations or guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of the information or data from sources outside of Morgan Stanley. It does not provide individually tailored investment advice and has been prepared without regard to the individual financial circumstances and objectives of persons who receive it. The strategies and/or investments discussed in this article may not be suitable for all investors. Morgan Stanley recommends that investors independently evaluate particular investments and strategies, and encourages investors to seek the advice of a Financial Advisor. The appropriateness of a particular investment or strategy will depend on an investor’s individual circumstances and objectives. Tax laws are complex and subject to change. Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”), its affiliates and Morgan Stanley Financial Advisors or Private Wealth Advisors do not provide tax or legal advice. Individuals are urged to consult their personal tax or legal advisors to understand the tax and legal consequences of any actions, including any implementation of any strategies or investments described herein. Steven Brettler may only transact business, follow-up with individualized responses, or render personalized investment advice for compensation, in states where he is registered or excluded or exempted from registration, https://advisor.morganstanley.com/steven. brettler © 2018 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 2300657 11/2018

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SOLDIER from page 9

manager for a realtor, and he developed strong interests in fishing and auto racing. located. They would fire on the trail all night But his first two marriages ended in divorces. long. He takes full responsibility for these failures. “You would not believe the number of bodies Speaking of his first wife, he says, “I had severe we’d find there; they were food for tigers,” he says. alcohol problems and severe PTSD. She couldn’t In April 1970, Novak used C4 and Semtex take it anymore, and I don’t blame her. I was explosives to blow up a North Vietnamese Army really bad.” bunker inside caves. Right before detonation, a He spent seven months in detox in 1975 and colonel flew in on a chopper and ordered Novak says he hasn’t touched booze since. He married his to wait until he could pluck souvenirs from the Novak’s home is a veritable museum of artifacts relat- wife Terry, a cousin of President Richard Nixon, cave. ing to his hobbies and interests, including this pedal car in 2013, after six years of dating. The couple lives Novak refused the order, telling the colonel signed by late NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt Sr. in log house in the mountains, which Novak built that “he came an hour too late.” himself in the 1980s. When the charge was set off, the entire The house is a veritable museum of pieces he mountain rose up, and the colonel and his bought or collected over many years. The photos, helicopter were literally pushed back by the models, and knickknacks come from sports, concussion. music, religion, hot rods, and other areas relating “I thought, ‘If only the officers listened to the to his many personal interests. He owns a 1949 sergeants more, I might survive this war,’” Novak Ford Convertible and a 1985 Corvette. recalls. “It’s quite a museum between my stuff and her After catching malaria in the jungle, Novak stuff,” he says, speaking of Terry. was placed in a basket and was being pulled into Novak now devotes much of his time to a medevac chopper. But before he got into the assisting local veterans by helping them get helicopter, the chopper got hit by enemy ground medical care, benefits, and pensions. He also A few examples of the explosive devices made by the helped found Feed My Sheep Church and is an fire. North Vietnamese Army. Novak was sprayed with shrapnel, getting hit active member of Vietnam Veterans Chapter 542 in the back, neck, and legs. The helicopter flew and Marine Riders. away while Novak was still in the basket, swinging back and forth. Robert Naeye is a freelance journalist living in Derry Township. He is the former He spent 28 days recovering aboard the USS Sanctuary. Because his mission editor-in-chief of Sky & Telescope magazine. had been top secret, he couldn’t tell anyone where he had been wounded. But three months later, Novak suffered severe wounds that ended his tour in Vietnam. This time, a rocket landed just 20 yards away. He suffered a broken Tom & Randi LaNasa “MEMORY MUSIC” collarbone, two broken bones in his neck, and the right side of his body was ripped open. He spent 12 days undergoing surgery aboard the Sanctuary before he was flown to Da Nang and back to the U.S. Tragically, his mother received a letter from the Red Cross telling her that her son had been killed in action. But a friend in a neighboring town informed her that Novak was alive and staying in Walter Reed Hospital in Washington, D.C. He spent a full year in an upper body cast, and one of his legs was wrapped. Novak was not released until 1973, when he was still in a body cast, and returned to his hometown. When he walked the streets, people would run away. “They thought they were seeing a ghost — they thought I was dead!” says Attention: RETIREMENT HOMES, Novak. Like many Vietnam veterans, Novak had his ups and downs after returning CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS. stateside. He had successful careers as an auto mechanic and then as a property

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50plus LIFE ›

April 2019

Home Care Services & Hospice Providers Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

Comfort Keepers

(717) 299-4007 www.lancaster-402.comfortkeepers.com Year Est.: 2001 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: We provide compassionate, in-home care that helps seniors live safe, happy, and independent lives in the comfort of their own homes. Companion care, light housekeeping, personal care, in-home safety solutions, incidental transportation, dementia/Alzheimer’s care, ongoing staff training. Member: Home Care Association of America

Homeland at Home

Homeland HomeCare: (717) 221-7892 Year Est.: 2016 Homeland HomeHealth: (717) 412-0166 Year Est.: 2017 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland*, Dauphin*, Franklin, Fulton, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon*, Northumberland, Perry*, Schuylkill, Snyder, York* *Homeland HomeHealth currently serves five of 13 counties. RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs/Home Aides: Yes Direct Care Workers: Yes PT/OT/Speech Therapists: Yes

(717) 560-5160 www.mediqueststaffing.net Year Est.: 2002 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Our experienced caregivers will provide the level of care for your specific needs, including memory care, transportation to and from appointments, outpatient procedures, personal care, respite, and more. Services are provided wherever you reside. All caregivers are comprehensively screened, bonded, and insured. Call for a free RN assessment. Member: Pennsylvania Homecare Association.

PennCares Support Services

www.homelandathome.org Homeland Hospice: (717) 221-7890 Year Est.: 2008

MediQuest Staffing & Homecare

(717) 632-5552 www.penncares.org Other Certifications and Services: Homeland at Home is a community outreach of Homeland Center, a non-profit CCRC that has served our region with excellent and benevolent care since 1867. Our expert team is dedicated to providing a continuum of At Home services—from non-medical personal assistance to skilled nursing and compassionate hospice and palliative care. We are privileged to care for you and your loved ones … any place you call “home.” We offer community and staff educational programs, including a “My Reflections” end-of-life planning workshop, as well as 15 unique bereavement support groups.

Social Workers: Yes Spiritual Counselors: Yes Complementary Therapies: Yes Medicare Certified: Yes

Year Est.: 1968 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Fulton, Lancaster, York RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: No Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Private pay and waiver-based participants.

Pleasant View Care at Home

(717) 664-6646 www.pleasantviewrc.org/care-at-home Year Est.: 2007 Counties Served: Lancaster, Lebanon RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Caring and professional staff provide supportive services to help maintain independence within the comfortable setting of home. Personal services, companion care, dementia care services, and transitional care offered — call for a free consultation.

Landis at Home

(717) 509-5800 www.landisathome.org Year Est.: 2007 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: A licensed home-care agency, offering a variety of services to persons in their homes within 15 miles of the Landis Homes campus. Services, provided by carefully screened and qualified caregivers with oversight from RNs, may be used for a short visit or up to 24 hours a day. Call for a free, in-home consultation. A home-care service of Landis Communities.

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.

Home Care Services & Hospice Providers Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

Surrey Home Care Services

Visiting Angels

(610) 647-9840 www.surreyhomecare.org

Year Est.: 1981 Counties Served: Chester, Delaware, Montgomery RNs: Yes LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

(800) 365-4189 www.visitingangels.com Other Certifications and Services: Surrey, a nonprofit, provides inhome services including personal care, social companions, medical procedure transportation, geriatric care management, RN care management, and live-in caregivers. We also offer house cleaning and weekend respite care.

Year Est.: 2001 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York 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.

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

Dear Pharmacist

5 Reasons You’ll Want a Weighted Blanket Suzy Cohen

Suffering from sleep problems? One strategy that I think is helpful is to use a weighted blanket. This is an easy, completely natural way to improve your mood, lower stress levels, and fall asleep faster. Weighted blankets are simply blankets that are specially designed to weigh much more than a typical quilt or comforter. These blankets range in weight from as few as 4 pounds to well over 30 pounds, and most are filled with plastic beads or natural materials, such as rice or barley. This extra heft means that the blanket puts pressure on your body when you sleep under it, and this mimics the feeling of close physical contact. In this way, weighted blankets create an atmosphere of physical intimacy and security that can improve your mood and sometimes soothe sensory disorders. I think these are a great idea if you have akathisia or restless leg syndrome. If you’re still skeptical of the general health benefits weighted blankets could offer, let me share five interesting facts.

3. The modern world makes many people feel isolated. Wrapping yourself in a weighted blanket when you feel alone can increase oxytocin levels and provide instant calm. 4. Could it help with attention problems? The gentle, tactile feeling of deep-touch pressure can work as a relaxer to significantly increase the concentration and performance of people with ADHD. 5. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) can be challenging to manage, but using a weighted blanket might help to control the symptoms. These heavier blankets boost your serotonin levels, which works to reduce symptoms of OCD, calm the mind, and, ideally, reduce compulsions.

1. Using a weighted blanket can lower your stress levels and improve your ability to relax. It’s all from an increase in serotonin, which converts to melatonin, your sleep hormone.

For these same reasons, the blankets can also improve other emotional issues or cognitive problems connected to low serotonin levels, including aggression, bipolar disorder, and PTSD. At our deepest core, we all want to be cuddled, right? It’s kind of like that! There are some people who should not use a weighted blanket. Choosing the best weighted blanket for you is critical and is based on many factors. I’ve written a longer version of this article, and if you’d like it, just sign up for my free newsletter at suzycohen.com, and I’ll email you.

2. Reducing cortisol allows for a better night’s sleep. Studies support a reduction in this stress hormone when using a weighted blanket.

This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more information about the author, visit suzycohen.com.

www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE ›

April 2019

Tech Talk

Mark Rinaudo

Slow Computers: When Is it Time for a New One?

Question: My computer is running slower and slower, it seems, and I’m not sure if it’s worth upgrading. Is there any hope for this old machine? I get this question a lot. I usually tell my customers that if you’ve owned the machine for seven years or more, then you have used the effective life of the machine. If the computer is older than 7 years and it’s running slow or locking up, it’s not really worth the money to try to save it. It’s time to move on to a new or newer computer. If your machine is newer than 7 years old, then this is where the answer gets tricky. Most new computers that are running slower are suffering from some form of malware on them. The malware landscape has changed quite a bit over the years. Malware started out as viruses and has grown into a gray area where it’s not as malicious as a virus, but it’s not exactly harmless. Most malware is installed on your machine by an outside source and is aimed at directing your computer to some location on the internet to

financially benefit the malware’s creator. If your computer is running slowly, the first place to start is to scan the machine with several malware-scanning tools. I usually recommend starting with the free version of Malwarebytes. This is the first scan tool I normally use on a machine just to get an idea of how badly infected the machine is. From there, I typically move on to other scan tools that go deeper and search for more obscure malware. In my findings, malware is the culprit 80 percent of the time. The other 20 percent of the time, it’s hardware related. A computer has many parts to it, and any one of those parts can cause a severe slowdown. If your hard drive is starting to die, then you’ll notice your machine running slower and slower and, if you’re able to check it, you’ll notice that the CPU (central processing unit) is barely being used. If you find yourself in this boat, then there is some good news. With the introduction of the solid-state drive (SSD) — a new kind of hard drive — you can replace that faulty hard drive with new technology that’s 10 times faster than the hard drive your machine originally came with. This upgrade can sometimes make your machine faster than when it was brand new. I usually recommend an SSD upgrade for machines with failing drives that are 5 years old or newer. This upgrade is very beneficial to the older Mac line of computers. Other factors that dictate whether the machine is worth upgrading (instead of trashing) are the operating system (for example, which version of Windows or Mac OS you have installed). Your machine may be running an operating system that’s no longer supported with security updates, or is about to be unsupported. With these guides in mind, hopefully you’ll be better informed to make a decision on whether to invest your money into an aging machine that may just have another two or three years of life in it, or if it’s time to start shopping for your next computer. Mark Rinaudo has worked in IT in Shreveport, La., for more than 20 years. He is the owner and operator of Preferred Data Solutions. Email mark@preferreddatasolutions. com to submit a question for this column.

DANTE from page 2 “As we stood by the giant birdcage, I noticed four people staring my way and they yelled, ‘Maab!’ One girl even carried a thick portfolio filled with Star Trek photos. I signed some and asked how she happened to have them with her. ‘You never know when you’ll run into a Star Trek actor,’ was her reply.” A recipient of many acting awards throughout his career, including the Golden Boot and Silver Spur Awards for his work in Westerns, the actorturned-author says he’s especially proud of his new career. “Now, I am referred to as award-winning author Michael Dante!” Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 700 magazines and newspapers.

April 2019

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Puzzle Page

CROSSWORD

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18 SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Sweets

Across 1. Driver’s need 4. “___ boom bah!” 7. Assumed name 12. Pessimist’s action 13. Inactive 15. Tubular pasta 16. Check for errors 18. Adjust, as laces 19. Star in Perseus 20. Copycat 22. Hunter’s quarry 23. Door opener 25. Sci-ﬁ weaponry 28. ___ mode

31. Dig in 33. Young seal 34. Elm Street dream 37. Used to be 39. Medea rode on it 40. Luau souvenir 41. Tableland 43. Synagogue chests 45. Teeny-weeny 48. Continental money 50. Tool with teeth 51. Behold 52. Heavy metal 53. Golfer’s goal

55. Photo ___ (media events) 56. Small amounts 59. Handrail post 63. Pantheon member 66. Juicy fruit 68. Pilotless plane 69. Gin ﬂavor 70. Condo division 71. Father Christmas 72. Female with a wool coat 73. Nancy Drew’s beau

21. Arena shout 24. Air potato 26. Patch up 27. Fragrant resin 28. Santa ___, Calif. 29. Old Italian money 30. Hostility 32. Amulets 35. Nonsense 36. On Social Security 38. To be, to Brutus 42. Reply to a captain 44. ___ Lanka 46. Canine cry 47. Master, in Swahili

49. Ump’s call 52. The Barber of Seville, e.g. 54. TV show type 55. Bookie’s quote 57. Remove from a manuscript 58. Harbor vessel 60. Soave, e.g. 61. Author Bagnold 62. Permit 64. Blast maker 65. Roll-call vote 67. Kind of time

Down 1. Demoiselle 2. In awe 3. Moved back and forth 4. Paul McCartney, for one 5. Creative spark 6. Certain hockey shot 7. Abbr. in car ads 8. Loser at Antietam 9. Translates 10. Dye-yielding shrubs 11. Pursue 12. Health resort 14. Alpine plant 17. Armada

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April 2019

MARRIAGES from page 5 6. Often, marriages that end in divorce turn out to be a blessing in disguise, although at the time of the breakup, it didn’t seem that way. Hence, three marriages that ended could be three blessings in disguise. 7. Before a budding relationship turns serious, the number of prior marriages isn’t as important as the disclosure of them. Also, people had the courage and were willing to take the risk to find happiness. 8. Understanding what happened in your three marriages can help you build a more solid relationship the next time around. 9. There are many other factors to look at besides the number of former marriages. How about adult children? Do any of them live at home? Might

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These days, seniors may have had two or three marriages. Does that make the people tainted? Are they bad people? No. They’ve just lived life. I’ve had three marriages, and Greta, my partner of 21 years, also had three. Having the same number of marriages was one of the things we had in common when we were sharing information on our first date, so it was a positive thing that we both had “multiple marriages.” And despite three marriages each, we’ve enjoyed the best relationship we could ever have hoped for. We live together but aren’t married. I’ve never had children. And yet, in effect, I have four kids, eight grandkids, and three great-grandkids, thanks to Greta. I love her family dearly, and I’m pretty sure they appreciate me, so why risk changing that dynamic by getting married? For seniors, should the number of marriages matter? I don’t think so … but when the number reaches four, it’s time to scratch your head. Five or more, well, it depends on the circumstances, so obviously proceed with caution. One of my readers, Stella, said, “Take marriage out as a goal, and you open up endless possibilities.” Another reader, Mary Lou, age 70, married once, said, “Multiple marriages don’t matter at this stage of my life. If I met a man with whom I clicked, no matter the number of marriages or whether he had children, I would be glad for him in my life.” And reader Jim stated wisely, “Just because a person is available and willing, doesn’t make him or her a good candidate for marriage.” For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www.findingloveafter50.com.

Puzzles shown on page 17

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they interfere with a new relationship? And, what about a potential mate’s attitude, or outlook on life? Is the person happy, upbeat, cheerful, in good health, and physically fit? How does he treat you?

April 2019

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It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘Aquarius/ Let the Sunshine In’ Randal C. Hill

When the moon is overexposure of the in the seventh house, song. The original and Jupiter aligns Broadway cast with Mars album had been out Then peace will for a while and had guide the planets, and soared to the top love will steer the stars of the Billboard LP ··· charts, where it had The Fifth stayed for 13 weeks. Dimension would Howe harbored never have made another issue, as their best-known well. record if not for a “I said [that] it’s wallet inadvertently half a song,” he “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” left behind in a recalled. “It’s an The Fifth Dimension taxicab. introduction. It The quintet started as a mid-1960s needs something on the back end.” Los Angeles pop/soul outfit called the He jetted to New York to evaluate Versatiles. When they signed with the 33-tune musical for himself and Johnny Rivers’s nascent Soul City label, decided that the last three bars of the Rivers demanded that they update their show’s closing (and decidedly antiwar) name; thus was born the cooler-thantune “The Flesh Failures” would cool title of the Fifth Dimension. make a perfect ending, especially after Fast-forward to the fall of 1968. The witnessing the audience joyfully singing outfit, by then hit-making headliners, along with the line “Let the sunshine was performing at New York’s in” over and over. Americana Hotel. Group member The single’s instrumental tracks were Billy Daniels Jr. took a cab to do some recorded in Los Angeles when the Fifth shopping one afternoon before the Dimension were opening shows for evening’s show and forgot his wallet on Frank Sinatra at Caesar’s Palace in Las the taxi’s back seat. Vegas. The next person to enter the cab At a primitive Sin City recording was one of the producers of the studio where trains rumbling by would groundbreaking Broadway rock opera stop recording sessions mid-song, Howe Hair, which had been playing to packed cut the group’s soon-to-be-signature houses since April. tune using two microphones for the five Before long, Daniels’s phone rang singers. with the good news that his wallet had “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” ran been found and that the caller wanted long, so Howe edited it to less than five to return it. The relieved Daniels minutes — a better fit for radio playlists invited the producer and his wife to of the time. As the Fifth Dimension’s see the Fifth Dimension in concert; eighth Top 40 single, it spent six weeks the producer, in turn, invited Daniels’s at No. 1 on the charts and sold 3 group to see Hair. million copies. At the show, the Fifth Dimension In 1968, the Fifth Dimension had members were so taken with the music earned a Grammy for Record of the that they declared “Aquarius,” the Year for their hit “Up, Up and Away”; musical’s uplifting opening number, “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” brought to be a work that they absolutely must them that same coveted honor two record. years later. But their L.A.-based producer, Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian “Bones” Howe, felt otherwise, as who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be he was concerned about a possible reached at wryterhill@msn.com. www.50plusLifePA.com

May 30, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel

1741 Papermill Road, Wyomissing

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

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