Cumberland County Edition
August 2013
Vol. 14 No. 8
PA State Senior Idol Returns for 2013 Talent Competition Moves to Early Fall for 8th Year By Megan Joyce
Tammy Estep, left, and Curtis Mease, right, will be auditioning for the eighth annual PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition this fall.
The eighth installment of the annual PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition— which showcases the talent of the commonwealth’s over-50 performers—has arrived, but with a few changes. Most notably, the SENIOR IDOL “season” has been moved from spring to early fall. Also, vocal, instrumental, dance, or comedic acts will be able to audition during morning, afternoon, or evening time slots. But the heart of the event is still the same, as are the motivations fueling its contestants: a passion for entertaining, for sharing talent, and for bringing happiness to others in doing so. Curtis Mease was first introduced to music in elementary school. After piano lessons didn’t pan out, he moved on to the slide trombone and baritone horn, playing in the school band. During this time he discovered his vocal instrument as well, singing in church choir, high school glee club, and several district and regional chorus festivals. And, during his four years in the Navy in the early 1960s, Mease sang in the naval base Blue Jackets choir until he was assigned to a ship. But then, for the next few decades—during which he attended Penn State please see IDOL page 12
Inside:
What to Consider Before Joining a Clinical Trial page 6
City Slickers in the Wyoming Wilds page 8
Social Security News
Q&A for August By John Johnston Question: How do I change my citizenship status on Social Security’s records? Answer: To change your citizenship status shown in Social Security records: 1. Complete an application for a Social Security card (Form SS-5), which you can find online at www.socialsecurity.gov/ online/ss-5.html. 2. Locate documents proving your new or revised citizenship status. Only certain documents can be accepted as proof of citizenship: your U.S. passport, a Certificate of Naturalization, or a Certificate of Citizenship. If you are not a U.S. citizen, Social Security will ask to see your current immigration documents. 3. Locate documents proving your age and identity. 4. Take (or mail) your completed application and documents to your local Social Security office. All documents
must be either originals or copies certified by the issuing agency. We cannot accept photocopies or notarized copies of documents. For more information, visit www.socialsecurity.gov. Question: I have never worked but my spouse has. What will my benefits be? Answer: You can be entitled to as much as one-half of your spouse’s benefit amount when you reach full retirement age. If you want to get Social Security retirement benefits before you reach full retirement age, the amount of your benefit is reduced. The amount of reduction depends on when you will reach full retirement age. For example, if you file at age 62, and your full retirement age is 65, you can get 37.5 percent of your spouse’s unreduced benefit; if your full retirement age is 66, you can get 35 percent; and if your full retirement age is 67, you can get 32.5 percent. The amount of your benefit increases
if your entitlement begins at a later age, up to the maximum of 50 percent at full retirement age. If your full retirement age is other than those shown here, the amount of your benefit will fall between 32.5 and 37 percent at age 62. However, if you are taking care of a child who is under age 16 or who gets Social Security disability benefits on your spouse’s record, you get the full spouse’s benefits, regardless of your age. Learn more about retirement benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/retirement. Question: My doctor said he thinks I’m disabled. Who decides if I meet the requirements for Social Security disability benefits? Answer: We first will review your application to make sure you meet some basic requirements for Social Security disability benefits, such as whether you worked enough years to qualify. Then we will send your application to the disability determination services office in your state, often called the
“DDS” or “state agency.” Your state agency completes the disability decision for us. Doctors and disability specialists in the state agency ask your doctors for information about your condition. They consider all the facts in your case. They use the medical evidence from your doctors and hospitals, clinics, or institutions where you have been treated and all other information. The state agency staff may need more medical information before they can decide if you are disabled. If more information is not available from your current medical sources, the state agency may ask you to go for a special examination. We prefer to ask your own doctor, but sometimes the exam may have to be done by someone else. Social Security will pay for the exam and for some of the related travel costs. Learn more about disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/disability. John Johnston is a Social Security public affairs specialist.
Cumberland County
omen’s Expo
Sponsorship and exhibitor applications now being accepted.
Pump-U Up Your Business. Be an Exhibitor! November 9, 2013 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street, Carlisle
717.285.1350
To reserve space or for more information, go to:
a G r e a t Wa yTo S p e n d M y D a y. c o m FREE advance guest registration online! ($5 at the door)
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August 2013
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Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being. 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
Home Care Services Safe Haven Quality Care Serving Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties (717) 582-9977 Visiting Angels Serving East and West Shores (717) 652-8899 or (717) 737-8899 Home Improvement Kitchen Tune-Up 122 Strayer Drive, Carlisle (717) 422-5741 Hospice Services Homeland Hospice 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg (717) 221-7890 Housing Assistance Cumberland County Housing Authority 114 N. Hanover St., Carlisle (717) 249-1315 Homeland Center Cumberland and Dauphin counties (717) 221-7727 Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937 Salvation Army (717) 249-1411 Insurance Apprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
Healthcare Information Pa. HealthCare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787
Retirement Communities Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902
Hearing Services Duncan Nulph Hearing Associates 5020 Ritter Road, Suite 10G, Mechanicsburg (717) 766-1500
Services Cumberland County Aging & Community Services (717) 240-6110
Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY
Meals on Wheels Carlisle (717) 245-0707
Mechanicsburg (717) 697-5011
National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046
Newville (717) 776-5251
Organ Donor Hotline (800) 243-6667
Shippensburg (717) 532-4904
Passport Information (888) 362-8668 Smoking Information (800) 232-1331
Toll-Free Numbers Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555
Social Security Fraud (800) 269-0217
Cancer Information Service (800) 422-6237
Social Security Office (800) 772-1213
Consumer Information (888) 878-3256
Travel Wheelchair Getaways Serving Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Delaware, and Southern New Jersey (717) 921-2000
Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228 Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233
Veterans Services American Legion (717) 730-9100
Drug Information (800) 729-6686 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
Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681 Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771 Veterans Affairs (717) 240-6178 or (717) 697-0371
Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833
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Beyond the Battlefield 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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August 2013
He Served More than 41 Years in Military Service – Part 1 Alvin S. Goodman aughn L. Schwalm, 66, of As a flight engineer on the ECleaving Friday night and flying all Pine Grove, had a 121 Super Constellation, Schwalm night. The trips were to train all distinguished career in the was able to travel a great deal. aircrew members. As a young engineer, U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard, I always had a senior instructor and the Pennsylvania State Police as Back in the 1970s, much of what engineer with me to teach me all the a trainer and pilot. He received we did was classified, as well as some of things I needed to know. numerous awards and citations the equipment we had in the aircraft. My main function was to monitor during his 41-year military career. Back then, we used to fly to Nellis the aircraft’s systems and, if a problem A native of Pottsville, Schwalm’s AFB, Las Vegas, to take part in the arose, I was charged with the task of family moved to Mechanicsburg “red flag exercises.” They were designed trying to fix it. One duty I had was to when he was 11. A 1965 graduate of to train U.S. pilots in air-to-air maintain wing fuel balance and make Cumberland Valley High School, certain the engines had fuel flowing he enlisted in the Air Force in to them. September 1965 and completed Crossing the ocean is a very tiring basic training at Lackland AFB, and, in most cases, boring time. The San Antonio, Texas, and was sent old saying is, “Flying is hours and to Chanute AFB, Rantoul, Ill., hours of boredom, interjected with for jet crew chief training. moments of stark terror.” Upon graduation, he was On this one night, I was sitting in assigned to the Aircraft Mechanic the engineer seat and my instructor Instructors School and was had gone back to bed in the rear of Vaughn Schwalm, far left, with other transferred to Amarillo AFB, the aircraft. The pilot was asleep in Pa. Air National Guard crew members at Texas. the left seat and the co-pilot was King Fahd Airport, Saudi Arabia, February 1991. “I taught Jet Aircraft making his position reports and Maintenance Technical School taking naps between them. for a year and was sent to The navigator was the only McChord AFB, Tacoma, Wash., person who was constantly busy making where I was assigned to the 62nd sure we were on course so we could find Military Airlift Wing in the Training the island. I, in turn, was very tired Control Section. and had fallen asleep at my station. “My main function was teaching So basically everyone in the cockpit C-141 Aircraft Engine Run School was sleeping. The navigator station was to McChord maintenance troops as in a compartment behind the cockpit. well as troops from Elmendorf AFB, All of a sudden, we were startled when Alaska.” one of our engines began to surge up Schwalm was discharged in 1969 and down in RPM. I had no idea and returned to Mechanicsburg, what was going on. where he enlisted in the My instructor engineer came State Trooper Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s running up to the cockpit, reached over Vaughn L. Schwalm 193rd Tactical Electronic Warfare my shoulder, and opened the valve to Group as a flight engineer on their combat flying skills, similar to the supply fuel to the engine. I had left the EC-121 Super Constellations. Navy’s Top Gun School. fuel tank fueling one of the four “When the unit transferred to the We were invited to participate engines go empty. EC-130 Hercules, I became a small because we had the ability to jam Needless to say, my instructor was arms marksmanship instructor for certain frequencies, which prevented not a happy camper with me. I did not four years.” fighter pilots from conversing with each sleep at my station after that He was then transferred to the other during their missions. experience. I also got some very nasty flight engineer section to fly once As a young flight engineer, I enjoyed looks from the other crew members. again. many trips to the Azores Islands in the When we got to the island, I bought The unit was then designated the Atlantic Ocean. The Azores used to be them all plenty of beer. 193rd Special Operations Group, a major stopping point for aircraft To be continued next month … eventually becoming the 193rd needing to refuel en route to Europe. Special Operations Wing at Now, with jet aircraft being able to If you are a mature veteran and have Harrisburg International Airport, cross without refueling, the Azores are interesting or unusual experiences in Middletown. Upon retirement, he not used very much. your military or civilian life, phone Al had accumulated more than 8,500 In the 1970s, the 193rd used to fly to Goodman at (717) 541-9889 or email the Azores almost every other weekend, him at klezmer630@comcast.net. flight hours.
V
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How Fixing Cataracts Can Improve Your Health Remember the old song lyric: “The foot bone’s connected to the leg bone?” Well, here’s an interesting connection— better vision could lead to a 16 percent lower risk of hip fractures. Sure, fixing cataracts can restore clear, colorful vision, but according to a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, having cataract surgery lowers the risk of breaking a hip as well in adults 65 and older. “Seeing helps you navigate a new environment and helps with balance,” lead investigator Dr. Anne L. Coleman of Brown University told the New York Times. “You really need your eyes and vision to help you stay stable.” Older patients and those who were very ill benefited the most from having cataracts removed, with a 23 to 28 percent reduced risk of hip fractures. Cataracts are more treatable than ever. That’s good news, considering half of all Americans will be diagnosed with cataracts by age 80. Cataract surgery has come a very long way over the last 50 years. What was once a complicated surgery with a twoweek hospital stay is now a simple
outpatient procedure that takes a few Medications, eye drops, exercises, and minutes. eating healthy can’t reverse cataracts. The About 3 million people have cataracts only effective way to correct a cataract is removed in to remove the the U.S. clouded each year, lens with making it minor one of the surgery. It most becomes a common matter of procedures. “when” The rather than eye’s “if ” you cloudy lens should have is removed the and procedure replaced done. with an This artificial study intraocular suggests lens. that acting Traditional earlier may lenses can Photo Credit: (c) jamstockfoto – Fotolia help correct prevent distance vision, but newer, advancedother health problems that accompany poor vision, such as falls. Cataract technology lenses can also help correct surgery can also mean more independpreexisting eye conditions like ence, as better vision allows you to astigmatism and age-related presbyopia. confidently do more everyday things on These newer intraocular lenses can potentially eliminate the need for glasses. your own.
August is Cataract Awareness Month
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only half of the estimated 61 million adults at high risk for serious vision loss visited an eye care professional in the last year. To make sure you are protecting your eye health, follow these simple steps. Everyone 50 or older should get yearly comprehensive eye exams. This allows for detection of eye diseases in early stages, before you experience vision problems, some of which may be permanent. Adults over 50 should be mindful of symptoms of common age-related eye diseases, such as cataracts, the leading cause of reversible blindness in the U.S. Blurry vision and needing more light to read even while wearing glasses can be early signs. In later stages, you may experience poor night vision, colors looking dull, difficulty with glares or halos, and double vision. Seniors should talk to their doctors and visit the National Institutes of Health National Eye Institute website (www.nei.nih.gov) to learn about cataracts and treatment options. Source: Courtesy of Alcon Labs
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One Book, One Community 2013 Book Announcement
Savvy Senior
What to Consider Before Joining a Clinical Trial
Please join 93 libraries and their community partners in celebrating the 2013 One Book, One Community book announcement and reception.
Wednesday, August 21 at 4 p.m. Red Land Community Public Library 48 Robin Hood Drive Etters, Pa. 17319
RSVP by August 14, 2013 to Mary Beth Long at onebook@yorklibraries.org or call (717) 938-5599
Selfless ...Generous...Tireless Does this describe a 50+ volunteer in your community?
Then nominate them for On-Line Publishers’
2013 Cumberland County Outstanding Senior Award! The Outstanding Senior Award recognizes a 50+ county resident or group for exceptional community service. On a separate sheet, please type or print in ink: • Their contributions to the local area—be specific • How they have impacted the community • A name, address, and phone number for the nominee(s)— no photos, please No posthumous selections will be made. This form must be used for all entries but may be photocopied.
For more information, please call (717) 285-1350. Mail to: Outstanding Senior On-Line Publishers, Inc., 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Your Name ____________________________________________ If you would like your name to be kept confidential, check here
Address _______________________________________________ City _________________________ State ____ Zi p_____________
Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about clinical trials and how to go about finding one? My wife has a chronic condition, and we’re interested in trying anything that may be able to help her. – Looking For Help Dear Looking, Each year, hundreds of thousands of Americans participate in clinical trials in hopes of gaining access to the latest, and possibly greatest, but not yet on the market treatments for all types of illnesses. But, you need to be aware that clinical trials can vary greatly in what they’re designed to do, so be careful to choose one that can actually benefit your wife. Here’s what you should know about clinical trials, along with some tips for locating one. Clinical Trials A clinical trial is the scientific term for a test or research study of a drug, device, or medical procedure using people. These trials—sponsored by drug companies, doctors, hospitals, and the federal government—are conducted to learn whether a new treatment is safe and if it works. But, keep in mind that these new treatments are also unproven, so there may be risks too. Also be aware that all clinical trials have certain eligibility criteria (age, gender, health status, etc.) that your wife must meet in order to be accepted. And before taking part in a trial, she’ll be asked to sign an informed consent agreement. She can also leave a study at any time.
Daytime Phone __________________________________________
Entry Deadline: Oct. 1, 2013
Award will be presented at the Cumberland County 50plus EXPO,, Oct. 24, 2013 at the Carlisle Expo Center, 100 K Street, Carlisle • www.50plusExpoPA.com
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August 2013
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Things to Know Before deciding to participate in a trial, you and your wife need to first discuss it with her doctor. Then, schedule an appointment with the study’s medical team and ask lots of questions. Here are some to get you started.
• What’s the purpose of the study and can it improve your wife’s condition? You may be surprised to know that many drug or procedural trials are not designed to find a cure or improve a patient’s health, but only to provide scientific data. • What are the risks? Some treatments can have side effects that are unpleasant, serious, and even life threatening. • What kinds of tests and treatments does the study involve, and how often and where they are performed? • Is the experimental treatment in the study being compared with a standard treatment or a placebo? Keep in mind that if your wife gets the placebo, she’ll be getting no treatment at all. • Who’s paying for the study? Will you have any costs, and if so, will your insurance plan or Medicare cover the rest? Sponsors of trials generally pay most of the costs, but not always. • What if something goes wrong during or after the trial and your wife needs extra medical care? Who pays? • If the treatment works, can your wife keep using it after the study? Find a Trial Every year, there are more than 100,000 clinical trials conducted in the U.S. You can find them at conditionfocused organizations like the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer’s Association, or by asking her doctor, who may be monitoring trials in his or her specialty. Or, use the National Institutes of Health’s clinical trials website (www.clinicaltrials.gov). This site contains a comprehensive database of federally and privately supported clinical studies in the U.S. and abroad on a wide range of diseases and conditions, www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
including information about each trial’s purpose, who may participate, locations, and phone numbers for more details. If, however, you don’t have Internet access or could use some help finding the right trial, use the Center for Information and Study on Clinical Research Participation (www.ciscrp.org).
This is a nonprofit organization that will take your wife’s information over the phone and do a thorough clinicaltrials search for you and mail or email you the results in a few days. Call (877) 633-4376 for assistance. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org
2013’s More Unusual Billionaires Earth is home to 1,426 billionaires, according to Forbes magazine. Some of them are familiar and fairly normal folks (Carlos Slim, Warren Buffet), but others are a little more colorful. Forbes recently shared some of the more outlandish stories of 2013’s richest people: God is a billionaire. Not that God—God Nisanov, who was born in Azerbijan, currently resides in Moscow and built his $3 billion fortune in real estate.
Money supports some unusual hobbies. Tuncay Ozilhan collects pens—and currently owns more than 3,000 of them. He can afford them because his worth is $1.6 billion, thanks to being the producer of the most popular beer in Turkey, a brew known as Efes. Win some, lose some. Brazilian entrepreneur Eike Batista remains on the Forbes list of billionaires in 2013 despite having lost some $8.8 billion since last year. That comes out to more than $53 million a day, or $2 million an hour.
Money buys you love? Jeff Greene, who also made his billions in real estate deals, spent $1 million on his wedding at an estate he bought for $35 million and then spent $15 million renovating. His best man? Boxer Mike Tyson.
East Gate Apartments 35 Eastgate Drive, Carlisle • South Middletown Township Less than 2 miles from downtown Carlisle, within walking distance to K-Mart and Nells. Close to churches, banks, and Carlisle Regional Medical Center.
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Affordable & Secure Living for Seniors 62 or older “Make Your Life Worry-Free”
1-bedroom apartments with affordable rents and utilities included Non-smoking facility • No application or maintenance fees • Secure entry Community room • On-site laundry facilities • Walking trail Maintenance-free living • On-site parking • Central air • Courteous, helpful staff Income restrictions apply. Small pets welcome.
If interested in an application, please contact Judy Smith at 717-249-9800
www.cchra.com
Money doesn’t solve all problems. Pharmacy billionaire Stewart Rahr was reportedly banned for life from New York’s celebrity sushi restaurant Nobu for a meltdown that occurred when he couldn’t get his favorite table.
Be a Beacon The mighty lighthouse stands secure Undaunted by the restless sea. Ravaged by the changing tides Buffeted by winds blown free. The lighthouse beacon, straight and true Unfaltering on the bleakest night. Guiding faithfully every passing ship That all may find the course that’s right. May we be diligent and true Dedicated to the right, and As the lighthouse stalwart stand. A beacon in the darkest night. Written and submitted by Cynthia M. Morrow
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August 2013
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Traveltizers
Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel
City Slickers in the Wyoming Wilds By Andrea Gross
he sign says we’re entering paradise. I’m skeptical. The six of us—my husband, me, our son, our daughter-in-law, and their two children—are about to spend a week at a top-rated guest ranch. Back in December when we’d made the reservations, we’d all agreed that this would be a perfect experience for our intergenerational group, but now I’m having second thoughts. We’re city-folks through and through—better at driving four-lane highways than riding four-legged creatures, more familiar with walking through manicured parks than hiking on canyon trails. And we’re used to plucking fish from market showcases, not from mountain streams. But here we are, on a mountain road in north-central Wyoming. We round a curve, and I catch my first glimpse of Paradise Guest Ranch. It’s in a valley
T
The ranch is surrounded by a million acres of unspoiled land.
Most folks go on at least one trail ride a day; many go on two.
Newcomers to the ranch can take their time getting acquainted with the horses.
A 9-year-old girl who takes ballet dancing in the city becomes a fan of square dancing during her week at the ranch.
surrounded by more than a million acres of Bighorn National Forest, and with the hills awash with wildflowers, it’s breathtakingly beautiful. Then I see the corral, and I feel a rumble in the pit of my stomach. The kids—aged 9 and 6—have never been on a horse; the rest of us have a combined total of, perhaps, 10 hours of horsebackriding experience. Will we be the only novices in a group of experts? The answer becomes clear the next morning when we go to the stables for our first horseback ride. Everyone else is wearing a cowboy hat or riding helmet. We, on the other hand, are decked out in baseball caps and bonnets. Oh, dear! We exhaust the first wrangler when he tries to take us out on the trail. Grandson can’t make his horse move. Daughter-in-law’s horse goes backward when she pulls too hard on the reigns. I can’t make mine stop eating. But that afternoon, a second wrangler takes us into the arena for a course in horseback riding basics.
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August 2013
Each one of our surgical doctors is highly trained and experienced with diverse backgrounds in all areas of surgical procedures.
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Optical Personalized services such as contact lenses, brand names, and follow-uup adjustments are provided by professional staff opticians.
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Granddaughter’s journal, day one: My horse’s name is Pollywog. I thought the horse would know what to do, but today I found out that I’m the one who’s supposed to know what to do. The next morning we ride a trail— across a stream, up a rocky mountain path, through a meadow, back to the stables. Grandson declares that “now we’re really cowboys.” By Wednesday we’re beginning to feel like pros. Granddaughter’s journal, day four:
The ranch is at an altitude of 8,000 feet, making a walk in the woods a huff-puff experience for some.
While experienced fishermen go on all-day outings to more remote locations, others choose to practice on the ranch proper.
I think I’ve learned Pollywog’s personality, which is that sometimes he wants to do things his way. But now I can sometimes make him do things my way. The week progresses, offering us a mix of family time and individual time. We ride together and eat together, but in between we can each explore our own interests. Daughter-in-law and I take a long (for us) hike—proudly puffing our way along trails that rise to an elevation of nearly 8,000 feet. Son tries his hand at flyfishing, and Husband finishes two books and starts a third. The kids spend offhorse time doing crafts or swimming in the pool. After dinner the counselors entertain the kids while the adults have a chance to
Guests of all ages tend to gather around the swimming pool in late afternoon.
get to know each other. Out of 12 groups, five are adults-only; the rest have children ranging from toddlers to teens. Only three, like us, are first-timers. Every day we learn something new. One day we have a lesson on wildflowers. Another day we hear stories of Butch Cassidy and The Sundance Kid, who had
an “Outlaw Cave” nearby. And another time we watch a moose moseying around the grounds near the fishing pond. Saturday is Rodeo Day, a chance for the kids to show off their equestrian skills. “Mount your horse.” Grandson is too short to do it alone—
a ranger has to lift him on—but he grabs the reigns like a pro. “Circle the barrels.” No problem. “Weave between the poles.” Granddaughter does it at a trot. Six days has transformed them both from Western Wimps to Cowboy Champs. But it’s at the square dance where Granddaughter really shines. Blond hair flying, she allemandes left and circles right. Wrangler Dave grabs Grandson’s hand. “Come on, Buddy. Let’s dance!” he calls, as he propels a grinning Grandson ’round the room. Then, the next morning, we have our first crisis. None of us wants to leave. “Wait! We have to go down to the barn to say goodbye to Pollywog.” “Wait! We have to take one more picture of the fishing pond.” Wait, wait, wait! It takes us two hours to say our goodbyes and get into the car. Grandson’s comment, day seven: I like to watch sports, and Wyoming doesn’t have any professional sports teams. But that’s OK. It’s still paradise. www.paradiseranch.com Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).
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August 2013
9
Such is Life
Does Worrying Ever Help? Saralee Perel y husband, Bob, gets the brunt of my worry storms. Yet he still loves me. “You hungry?” I said. “Not really.” “What’s wrong?” I grabbed the thermometer from my keychain. “Nothing. Will you please stop being you for let’s say, four minutes a day?” “Well, sue me for caring.” “I’m sorry. Let’s eat. Fried food sound good?” “Not if it’s fried in canola oil.” He sighed. “What’s wrong with canola oil?” “A canola is a Canadian ola—that’s Spanish for tomato, which is in the deadly nightshade family. And deadly nightshade is poisonous. No canolas!” “Canola oil is made from seeds of the field mustard plant.” “Oh.” We drove to a vegetable stand. “Bob,
M
I’m worried choose to you have a worry yourself stomachache.” sick about “I don’t. I problems or do, however, not. That have one huge same problem pain in the— is still going to neck.” be there either Many way.” years ago, Leo Earlier this Buscaglia year, we wrote, received an “Worry never audit notice robs from the IRS tomorrow of incorrectly Saralee and Bob, June 2013 its sorrow; it stating we only saps owed $8,000. today of its joy.” Bob persevered through phone calls with Yesterday I called the billing 45-minute wait times, emails, faxes, and department at a huge hospital and spoke a zillion trips to the bank, as well as with a gal named Dianne. She could tell certified letters. And he won. I was freaking out about my bill. He never worried about the audit, the She ever-so-gently said, “You can $8,000 we don’t have, the paperwork, or
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the ludicrous process of reaching a human being, so to speak, at the IRS. “How do you not worry, Bob?” “In the long run, most problems won’t matter. Plus, I always say, ‘Wait to worry.’ If I didn’t win with the IRS, I would have worried then.” What he does worry about is me. My walking problem makes me fragile. Frankly, like most of us, Bob is having an overall harder time as we get older. “I worry about the future,” he said tearfully. “It’s almost too sad to think about.” I told him, “It’s only too sad because it’s so beautiful.” I touched his arm. “Don’t miss me while I’m here.” He was still tearful. “Sweets,” I said, “thinking about losing our dog didn’t make it any better when she died. It was just as painful. Look at this day. Here we are, so lucky to live near the seashore in our tiny, cozy
Reserve Your Space Now for the 14th Annual:
October 24, 2013 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Carlisle Expo Center • 100 K Street, Carlisle
Why Participate? Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars • Entertainment
For sponsorship and exhibitor information:
(717) 770-0140
It’s the premier event for baby boomers, caregivers, and seniors in Cumberland County • Face-to-face interaction with 1,500+ attendees • Strengthen brand recognition/launch new products Brought to you by:
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August 2013
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home. Don’t miss today by worrying about something inevitable that you can’t control.” I took his hand and led him to the bedroom, where we spent an entire hour doing what people in love do when they are spending a glorious day together near a seaside town: Googling “fried seafood.” Then we went to a local shanty and gorged ourselves on
fried shrimp. Made with canola oil. Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist. Her new book is Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: Stories From a Life Out of Balance. To find out more, visit www.saraleeperel.com or email sperel@saraleeperel.com.
“National Penn Bank has been involved with the Chester County 50plus EXPO for several years, and we look forward to participating in this well-attended event every year.
Pa. Ranked 17th in National Senior Health Report America’s Health Rankings® Senior Report shows Minnesota at the top of the list of healthiest states for older adults. Vermont is ranked second and New Hampshire is third, followed by Massachusetts and Iowa. Mississippi is ranked 50th as the least healthy state for older adults. Oklahoma, Louisiana, West Virginia, and Arkansas complete the bottom five states. Pennsylvania ranked 17th overall. In 2013, 28 percent of Pennsylvanians over 65 are obese; 9.1 percent are smokers; 80.5 of diabetics are receiving appropriate disease management; and 32.4 percent are physically inactive. By contrast, 23.7 percent of Minnesotans over age 65 are considered obese, versus 27.9 percent of Mississippians. Of Minnesota’s seniors, 8.6 percent smoke; the rate is 10
percent for Mississippi. Minnesota came in at 83 percent for diabetes management, versus 74.1 percent in Mississippi. Finally, 28.9 percent of Minnesota seniors are physically inactive, versus 38.1 percent of seniors in Mississippi. The 34 measures that comprise America’s Health Rankings® Senior Report are of two types: determinants and outcomes. Determinants represent those actions that can affect the future health of the population, whereas outcomes represent what has already occurred either through death or disease. View the entire report online at www.americashealthrankings.org. Source: America’s Health Rankings® Senior Report. 2013 United Health Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
Adel Ducine, vice president, National Penn Bank
I would recommend this event to anyone with a service to provide to the 50plus market.”
For more information, call 717.285.1350 or visit www.50plusExpoPA.com
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ONE GIANT STEP FOR MANKIND! This may not be the same story you’re thinking of. This one’s about a young, itinerant engineer with job assignments in two states: Decorah, Iowa, and Lancaster, PA.
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Do you have a friendly face? The 50plus EXPO committee is looking for volunteers to help at our 14th annual Cumberland County 50plus EXPO on October 24, 2013, at the Carlisle Expo Center, 100 K Street, Carlisle, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you could help greet visitors, stuff EXPO bags, or work at the registration desk, we would be glad to have you for all or just part of the day. Please call On-LLine Publishers at (717) 770-0140..
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This event is very well organized, and it is clear that this is a 50plus-oriented event by the variety of vendors who participate. As a vendor, I am pleased with the amenities provided to us, including adequate space for our booth. Also, the event staff and volunteers are very attentive and readily available to help you with anything you need.
Bob Hansen is smitten by two young women in Iowa, and one in Lancaster, PA. But he has to find a full-time job and decide which of the three young women to pursue.
Pick up or order Choices and Decisions at Masthof Bookstore – 219 Mill Road, Morgantown, PA 19543 ($13.95 plus 84¢ tax and $4 shipping) 610-286-0258 www.Masthof.com
— or — Available on Amazon.com in paperback or Kindle Use a gallon of gas and take a beautiful 9-mile trip through Amish and Mennonite farm country on Route 23 between Blue Ball and Morgantown. This stretch of road, which follows an old Native American trade route, was declared “The Conestoga Ridge Road Heritage Byway” in the fall of 2012. Stop off in Morgantown at the Masthof Bookstore (first road after Old Village Inn) and pick up a copy of Choices and Decisions and a local history book.
50plus SeniorNews ›
August 2013
11
IDOL
from page 1
and embarked on a longtime job driving an 18-wheeler—Mease’s voice went quiet. “For the next 45 years, I was merely a listener, a spectator, until a couple years ago when a karaoke experience revealed I had not lost my singing voice,” Mease said. On that occasion, Mease’s rendition of Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” was so well received that he became motivated to resume singing, adding to his repertoire songs made popular by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Elvis Presley, Willie Nelson, and Neil Diamond. Now retired, Mease still drives a truck part time and is active on the karaoke circuit. He continues to be amazed and heartened by the multi-generational encouragement from his audience members. “The songs I’ve chosen at karaoke have been enthusiastically received by those close to my own age and, surprisingly, by younger people as well,” Mease said. “I thought my choices from among the ‘crooning ballad’ type of music from yesteryear were a refreshing departure from the more often heard ‘pop rock’ of today.”
Mease hopes the exposure he gains through the PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition can boost his performance “hobby” into a second part-time career, with gigs at parties, reunions, or retirement centers. He would also like to continue to cultivate his “Sinatra touch.” “I seem to have been able to pick up his timing and phrasing,” Mease said, “and I can relate ever so realistically to the life themes he sang about.” A recurring “life theme” among people with a gift for singing is that they often don’t remember exactly when they started doing it—or a time when they didn’t. Such is the case for Tammy Estep, who estimates she may have begun exercising her pipes around age 5. Her vocal gifts were likely passed down to her from her mother, who was slated to appear on The Ted Mack Original Amateur Hour in the ’50s— until her father forbid her from going. “I think if she would have auditioned, she would have been a music star, and I probably wouldn’t be here!” Estep said. Estep sang all throughout her school years; her guitar was “always strapped” to her, and she performed at every school event. Four months before she was set to begin attending East Stroudsburg
University, Estep was asked to sing lead for a local band. “Much to my parents’ dismay, I accepted that offer and ditched college,” Estep said. “While there have been many occasions that I have regretted that decision, my music career as a guitar soloist and as a member of several bands with some very talented people spanned over 18 years of my life.” In addition to those years with various bands, Estep spent eight years as a solo performer. Her style leans toward a Bonnie Raitt or Linda Ronstadt sound, she said. Estep also traveled to Nashville in the 1980s as a contestant on You Can Be a Star, where, in one round, she actually beat now-famous country musician Aaron Tippin. Tippin went on to win the competition in 1985. Currently a branch manager for a local financial institution, Estep has stepped away from singing for the last several years but is eager to rekindle both the happiness it brings her and the joy she sees others receive from her music. “There are a lot of people over 50 that I’ve met in my lifetime who are from this area and who are extraordinarily talented,” she said. “And they’re still
[performing]; I think that’s commendable.” She added that she is embarking on her upcoming SENIOR IDOL experience not just for herself, but also for those fellow musicians she’s worked with along the way. “I have so many people I know that I’ve played with over the years. I’m kind of doing this for them—because we worked very hard when we played,” she said. “It was many weekends, many late nights driving home, and I’m doing it for all those people that sacrificed so we could have a good time.” Morning and early-afternoon auditions for the 2013 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition will be held Tuesday, Aug. 27, at the Holiday Inn Harrisburg – East, 4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg. Afternoon and evening auditions will be held Thursday, Sept. 5, at the Heritage Hotel – Lancaster, 500 Centerville Road, Lancaster. For more information, call (717) 2851350 or check out www.SeniorIdolPA .com to see clips from previous years or to download an application. If your business would like to support the 50-plus community, please call to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
Harrisburg’s Oldies Channel!
• Breakfast with Ben Barber and News with Dennis Edwards • John Tesh with Music and Intelligence for Your Workday • Bruce Collier & The Drive Home
Find us at AM 960 or at whylradio.com
WE PLAY OVER 1500 GREAT SONGS! 12
August 2013
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CCRC Continuing Care Retirement Communities
CCRCs offer a tiered approach to the aging process, accommodating residents’ unique and often changing needs. Healthy adults entering a CRCC are able to live independently in a home, apartment, or condominium of their own within the community. When assistance with everyday activities becomes necessary, they can move into personal care, assisted living, rehabilitation, or nursing care facilities. Some CCRCs have designated dementia areas within the community. These units address the progressing needs of people who have any form of dementia. With a wealth of available resources, these communities give older adults the option to live in one location for the duration of their lives, with much of their future care already figured out — which equals both comfort and peace of mind.
The listings with a shaded background have additional information about their center in a display advertisement in this edition. Bethany Village
Calvary Fellowship Homes
Chapel Pointe at Carlisle
502 Elizabeth Drive Lancaster, PA 17601 Marlene Morris Marketing Director (717) 393-0711 www.calvaryhomes.org
770 South Hanover Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Linda Amsley Director of Marketing/Admissions (717) 713-2201 www.chapelpointe.com
Cornwall Manor
Homeland Center
Homestead Village
1 Boyd Street Cornwall, PA 17016 Anne Peiffer V.P. for PR & Development (717) 274-8092 www.cornwallmanor.org
1901 North Fifth Street Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598 Barry S. Ramper II, N.H.A. President/CEO (717) 221-7902 www.homelandcenter.org
Enhanced Senior Living 1800 Marietta Avenue P.O. Box 3227 Lancaster, PA 17604-3227 Susan L. Doyle Director of Marketing (717) 397-4831 ext. 158 www.homesteadvillage.org
Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community
Pleasant View Retirement Community
St. Anne’s Retirement Community
1700 Normandie Drive York, PA 17408 Joyce Singer Director of Sales & Marketing (717) 718-0937 www.normandieridge.org
544 North Penryn Road Manheim, PA 17545 Amanda Eckinger Communications Coordinator (717) 664-6207 www.pleasantviewrc.org
3952 Columbia Avenue West Hempfield Township, PA 17512 Christina E. Gallagher Director of Marketing (717) 285-6112 www.stannesretirementcommunity.com
StoneRidge Retirement Living
Willow Valley Communities
Woodcrest Villa Mennonite Home Communities
325 Wesley Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Stephanie Lightfoot Director of Sales & Marketing (717) 766-0279 www.bethanyvillage.org
440 East Lincoln Avenue Myerstown, PA 17067 Stacia Keith Director of Sales (717) 866-3553 www.stoneridgeretirement.com
600 Willow Valley Square Lancaster, PA 17602 Kristin Hambleton Manager of Sales (717) 464-6800 (800) 770-5445 www.willowvalleycommunities.org
2001 Harrisburg Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 Connie Buckwalter Director of Marketing (717) 390-4126 www.woodcrestvilla.org
The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.
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50plus SeniorNews ›
August 2013
13
Calendar of Events
Cumberland County
PA State Parks in Cumberland County
Senior Center Activities
Aug. 4, 2 to 3 p.m. – The Appalachian Trail Museum Presents: Hiking the Dingle Way in Ireland, Pine Grove Furnace State Park Aug. 4, 4 to 8:30 p.m. – Music on the Mountain Concert: Bluegrass, Kings Gap Environmental Education Center Aug. 9, 8:30 to 10 p.m. – Dark Sky Hike, Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Big Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-4478 91 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, Newville Aug. 2, 10 a.m. – Free Vision Screenings Aug. 9, 9:30 a.m. – Indoor Carnival Aug. 14, 9 a.m. – Friendship Tea
Programs and Support Groups Mondays and Wednesdays, noon to 12:45 p.m. Silver Sneakers Class: Muscular Strength and Range of Movement Living Well Fitness Center 207 House Ave., Suite 107 Camp Hill (717) 439-4070 Aug. 1, 6:30 p.m. Too Sweet: Diabetes Support Group Chapel Hill United Church of Christ 701 Poplar Church Road Camp Hill (717) 557-9041 Aug. 4, 7 p.m. New Cumberland Town Band Performance Anna and Bailey Streets Park New Cumberland www.nctownband.org
Free and open to the public.
Aug. 6, 7 p.m. CanSurmount Cancer Support Group HealthSouth Acute Rehab Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 691-6786
Aug. 20, 1 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren 501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg (717) 766-8880
Aug. 14, 11:30 a.m. NARFE West Shore Chapter 1465 VFW Post 6704 4907 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg (717) 737-1486 www.narfe1465.org Visitors welcome; meeting is free but fee for food.
Aug. 24, 5 to 8 p.m. Book Signing: Author Dr. Daniel Felix History on High – The Shop Cumberland County Historical Society 33 W. High St., Carlisle (717) 249-1626
Aug. 14, 1:30 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group HealthSouth Rehab Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 877-0624
Aug. 24, 5 to 8 p.m. Wood Artist Curt Wann History on High – The Shop Cumberland County Historical Society 33 W. High St., Carlisle (717) 249-1626
Aug. 18, 6 p.m. New Cumberland Town Band Performance Adams Ricci Park East Penn Township www.nctownband.org
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 Southampton Place – (717) 530-8217 www.seniors.southamptontwp.com 56 Cleversburg Road, Shippensburg West Shore Senior Citizens Center – (717) 774-0409 122 Geary St., New Cumberland Please call or visit the centers’ websites for additional activities.
AARP Driver Safety Programs For a Safe Driving Class near you, call toll-free (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findacourse. Aug. 14 and 15, 8 a.m. to noon Southampton Township Municipal Building 705 Municipal Drive, Shippensburg (717) 532-1707
Cumberland County Library Programs Amelia Givin Library, 114 N. Baltimore Ave., Mt. Holly Springs, (717) 486-3688
Give Us the Scoop!
Bosler Memorial Library, 158 W. High St., Carlisle, (717) 243-4642 Thursdays through August, 6:30 p.m. – Movies @ Bosler: Groundbreaking Cinema Aug. 6, 13, 27, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Upstairs Stitchers Embroidery Group Aug. 14, 1 to 2 p.m. – Wicked Wednesday Book Discussion Group: Emma Brown by Clare Boylan
Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in Cumberland County!
Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900 East Pennsboro Branch Library, 98 S. Enola Drive, Enola, (717) 732-4274 John Graham Public Library, 9 Parsonage St., Newville, (717) 776-5900
Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com
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 Aug. 3 and 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Book Sale Aug. 14, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Great Books Discussion Group: A Letter Concerning Toleration by John Locke Aug. 17, 11 a.m. to noon – Couponing for Extreme Savings: “How to Get Free Items with Coupons”
(717) 770-0140 (717) 285-1350
Let Help you get the word out!
Shippensburg Public Library, 73 W. King St., Shippensburg, (717) 532-4508
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My 22 Cents’ Worth
Taboos in the Land of the Free Walt Sonneville aboos confront us in every sector of life. They permeate society—in households, offices, religion, supermarkets, within ethnicities, and elsewhere. Each sector has its own prescribed norms. We are told Americans live in “the land of the free,” but even in our homes it can take the truly brave to defy taboos. As some taboos collapse, others emerge to fill the ranks. A household can be thought of as a “sovereign jurisdiction,” often governed by a monarch who establishes taboos. Some of these prohibitions are anticipated by visitors. Others are ambiguous or incomprehensible. Men must leave the toilet seat down in a mixed-sex household. That maxim is accepted by most. Bathroom sinks must not be left to give the appearance of a “wet bar.” Fair enough. But a ban against wearing shoes in the house can arouse resistance by guests wearing socks that do not match or have holes. Enforcement of taboos within many households is both certain and swift. Taboos in supermarkets are understood but rarely enforced. Prohibitions limiting the number of items in the express checkout line or writing checks in the cash-only line are silently waived. Taboo enforcement can be expected in offices. It is inadvisable for an entry-level employee to address the chief executive or a senior executive by that person’s first name. If a common-use refrigerator stores food brought by employees for their personal consumption, others sampling the fare can lead to an embarrassing scene. Society’s taboos underwritten by law provoke periodic legal challenges. Gay marriage, marriage between first cousins, medical marijuana, military women barred from certain combat situations, and assisted suicide are prohibitions that divide public opinion. Taboos decreed by custom, but unsupported by law, fade as attitudes
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toward them moderate. Men emoting tears in public, considered unmanly in decades past, has had a change in perception. Breastfeeding infants in public is fading as a “morality” issue. Topics considered inappropriate for television commercials, such as bladder incontinence and erectile dysfunction, are now accepted, however begrudgingly, by viewers. There are countless examples of traditional taboos that persist. Women smoking cigars, jokes about mothers-in-law, burping in public, cellular calls during meetings, and the “onefinger salute” come to mind. Society traditionally regarded tattoos as distasteful, suited only for drunks and sailors. Life Magazine in 1936 estimated that 6 percent of Americans had a tattoo. Tattooing lost much of its appeal during the decades immediately following World War II. Perhaps the practice of the Nazis tattooing concentration-camp prisoners inhibited its acceptability. Tattoos in the past decade have seen growing acceptance. Harris Polls in 2008 estimated that 14 percent of Americans had one or more tattoos, prevalent mostly among those in the 25-39 age group. Over the past decades, new taboos have emerged as others fade. Wary mothers often exhibit apprehension when their toddlers receive unwelcomed admiration from strangers. When rejection is indicated, the admirer feels a melancholic separation from the youngest generation. We live in “the land of the free,” but take care where you tread. You may, perhaps unwittingly, have violated a taboo. 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@earthlink.net.
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In print. Online at onlinepub.com. To include your community or service in the 2013 edition or for a free copy of the 2012 edition, call your representative or (717) 285-1350 or email info@onlinepub.com 50plus SeniorNews ›
August 2013
15
You bring the talent, We’ll provide the stage! Do you dance … sing … play an instrument … perform magic … do comedy? Do you think you’ve got what it takes to be called PA STATE SENIOR IDOL? Then we’re looking for you!
Pennsylvanians over 50 are invited to audition for the eighth annual PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition at one of these locations:
Tuesday, August 27
Thursday, September 5
Holiday Inn Harrisburg East
Heritage Hotel – Lancaster
4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111
500 Centerville Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
(Morning/Early Afternoon Auditions)
(Afternoon/Evening Auditions)
Win a limousine trip to New York City with dinner and a Broadway show! Finals to be held on October 14, 2013 at: Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster, PA 17601 • (717) 898-1900
For more information, updates, or an application:
911 Photo Graphics
717.285.1350 • www.SeniorIdolPA.com
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50plus SeniorNews ›
Emcee:
Diane Dayton of Dayton Communications
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