Cumberland County Edition
December 2015
Vol. 16 No. 12
2016
1995
2000
NEW LOOK (AND A NEW NAME)
2005
Coming in January! 2007
2010
C rs of elebrating 20 Yea ce Pu llen blish e c x i ng E
Celebrating an Emerald Anniversary 50plus Senior News, On-Line Publishers Commemorate 20 Years By Megan Joyce Back in 1995, we were abuzz with the burgeoning online world. The Internet as we would come to know it was beginning to take form; the concept that information could be disseminated and shared immediately on a widespread scale was utterly fascinating and revolutionary. That same year, from her home in Central Pennsylvania, Donna Anderson was working on the premiere issue of her local, monthly newspaper for people over age 50. She needed to choose a name for the nascent corporate entity behind the paper and wisely chose to capitalize on the forwardthinking, information-sharing imagery that the World Wide
Web had pushed into public consciousness. And although the newspaper was very much a print publication at the time, it shared a basic mission with Internet use: the spread of information. Thus, On-Line Publishers was born; and, with it, 50plus Senior News, then called simply Senior News. “Having served as a volunteer at the Office of Aging for a number of years, I became aware that older people in our community needed access to information that was relevant to them at this time of their lives,” Anderson said. The first issue of Senior News became available in Back row, from left, Brantley Lefever, Amy Kieffer, Eileen Culp, Ranee Shaub Miller, Angie Jacoby, Kimberly Shaffer, December 1995. Though Megan Joyce, Janys Cuffe, and Stan Anderson. Front row, from left, Renee McWilliams, Loren Gochnauer, Donna Anderson, Christianne Rupp, Elizabeth Duvall, Lauren McNallen, and Mariah Hammacher.
please see EMERALD page 5
We provide the best quality and continuity of your vision care needs from basic eye care through eye surgery.
A History of Caring ...
Medical
Surgical
A Commitment To Excellence Since 1867.
We know you want to live
life on your own terms.
Pursue your favorite hobbies or engage in our many activities.
2
It’s about giving hope.
Hope for dignity and respect. Live every moment. Find the hope in hospice.
717-221-7902
717-221-7890
1901 North Fifth Street Harrisburg, PA 17102
2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115 Harrisburg, PA 17110
www.homelandcenter.org
www.homelandhospice.org
December 2015
Optical
Hope for pain-free time together.
Options for independent and supportive care available. Our residents are the honored guests of the best resort in town!
It’s not about giving up;
50plus SeniorNews ›
Our Doctors:
890 Century Drive, Mechanicsburg
(717) 697-1414 • www.kilmoreeye.com www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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 Gifts Edible Arrangements 3401 Hartzdale Drive, Camp Hill (717) 730-6240 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383 Arthritis Foundation (717) 763-0900 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 The National Kidney Foundation (800) 697-7007 PACE (800) 225-7223 Social Security Administration (Medicare) (800) 302-1274
Healthcare Information Pa. HealthCare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787 Hearing Services Duncan Nulph Hearing Associates 5020 Ritter Road, Suite 10G, Mechanicsburg (717) 766-1500 Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Hospice Services Homeland Hospice 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg (717) 221-7890 Hospitals Carlisle Regional Medical Center (717) 960-1696
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
Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937 Salvation Army (717) 249-1411
Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833 National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046 Organ Donor Hotline (800) 243-6667 Passport Information (888) 362-8668
Personal Care Homes Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902
CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
Apprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067 Intellectual Disabilities Keystone Human Services 124 Pine St., Harrisburg (717) 232-7509 Medical Equipment & Supplies Medical Supply (800) 777-6647
Social Security Fraud (800) 269-0217 Social Security Office (800) 772-1213 Travel AAA Central Penn (717) 657-2244
Services Cumberland County Aging & Community Services (717) 240-6110 Toll-Free Numbers Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555
Insurance
Smoking Information (800) 232-1331
Pharmacies
Housing Assistance Cumberland County Housing Authority 114 N. Hanover St., Carlisle (717) 249-1315
Liberty Program (866) 542-3788
Cancer Information Service (800) 422-6237
Veterans Services American Legion (717) 730-9100 Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681 Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771 Veterans Affairs (717) 240-6178 or (717) 697-0371
Consumer Information (888) 878-3256 Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228 Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233 Drug Information (800) 729-6686 Flu or Influenza (888) 232-3228
Nursing/Rehab Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902
Health and Human Services Discrimination (800) 368-1019 Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-1040
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
50plus SeniorNews ›
December 2015
3
Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori
Collecting Advent Calendars
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
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson
EDITORIAL Vice President and Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor, 50plus Publications Megan Joyce
ART DEPARTMENT Project Coordinator Renee McWilliams Production Artists Janys Cuffe Lauren McNallen
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Account Executives Angie McComsey Jacoby Amy Kieffer Ranee Shaub Miller Account Representative Brantley Lefever Sales & Event Coordinator Eileen Culp Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer Marketing Coordinator Mariah Hammacher
CIRCULATION
Project Coordinator Loren Gochnauer
ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall
Member of
Awards
50plus Senior News 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.
4
December 2015
Lori Verderame
F
rom the Latin term adventus, Advent means “the arrival.” For centuries, Advent has been a time of spiritual reflection for Christians in anticipation of the birth of Jesus Christ. It is believed that the period of Advent has been observed since about the 4th century AD. In the early days of observing Advent, the timeframe lasted from the feast day of St. Martin, held on Nov. 11, until Christmas Day on Dec. 25. Similar to the springtime season of Lent, Advent once included a sixweek-long fast for believers; however, that has since been discontinued. By the sixth century, Advent no longer included a fasting ritual like Lent, and the Advent season was reduced from six weeks to only four weeks in length. Today, the season of Advent remains a time of devotional prayer and anticipation of the Christmas holiday. Like many holiday collectibles, objects relating to Advent, such as Advent wreaths and Advent candles, mark the days leading up to Christmas. Advent wreaths, a circle of evergreens symbolizing eternal life, are widely used. The four red candles represent the four Sundays of the Advent period, and a fifth, white candle in the wreath’s center is called the Christ candle. The Christ candle is the last one to be lit, and it is lit only on Christmas Day. Quite possibly the most recognized of the season’s traditions is the use of the popular Advent calendar. For many collectors, the chronological countdown to Christmas Day comes in the form of an antique or vintagepaper, lithographed, felt, paintingon-canvas, or mixed-media Advent calendar.
50plus SeniorNews ›
The Advent calendar is particularly popular with children, many of whom spend the greater part of the month of December patiently awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus and counting down the days by opening doors of an Advent calendar in order. According to legend, the first known Advent calendar was handmade in 1851. By the 1880s,
Freestanding Advent calendar house.
the Germanic tradition of the Advent calendar began to spread across Europe to North America. Typically made of printed images on paper or cardboard, Advent calendars boast 24 small, numbered doors to be opened daily in anticipation of Christmas. Snowcovered houses, holiday scenes, and winter wonderlands were common imagery used as the backdrop for the 24 miniature doors. Each Advent calendar door is opened to reveal a holiday image, a Bible passage, a piece of candy, or a small gift starting on Dec. 1 and continuing until Christmas Eve; that is, Dec. 24.
The “father” of the modern Advent calendar was a German printer named Gerhard Lang. While working from his Munich, Germany, printing office, Lang produced small, colorful, religious images on paper and cardboard. Each image corresponded to one day in the month of December up to Dec. 24. Circa 1908, Lang produced the first Advent calendar with cardboard doors that opened to reveal the image inside. Throughout much of the early 20th century, Advent calendars were exchanged as gifts around the Thanksgiving holiday in anticipation of Christmas. When it comes to the value of Advent calendars, the characteristics you should look for are good condition (no rips, tears, or stains), intricate patterns or images of a winter scene or holiday events in bright colors, and famous printmakers like Lang, Sankt Johannis, etc. Today, Advent calendars have evolved from lithograph printed images on cardboard to freestanding, dollhouse-style collectible calendars with hinged doors to hide small gifts, money, or candy. Some of these contemporary holiday collectibles are made of pressed board, masonite, and even wood. For collectors, expect to pay $50 to $500 for some of the traditional paper Advent calendars and several thousands of dollars for handmade or handcrafted Advent calendars. Happy holidays! Celebrity Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and former museum director, Dr. Lori hosts antiques appraisal events worldwide. Dr. Lori is the star appraiser on Discovery channel. Visit www. DrLoriV.com/Events, www.Facebook.com/ DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
EMERALD from page 2 thoroughly optimistic for the paper’s future, Anderson recalled early challenges. In addition to the demands of producing a monthly newspaper entirely on her own, she found that mid-’90s potential advertisers—needed to support the production of a newspaper free to its readers—were unaware of the vibrancy of the over-50 population. “In 1995, many business owners had a perspective that ‘seniors’ were penniless and sitting in rocking chairs at nursing homes,” Anderson recalled. “Nothing could have been further from the truth.” At the time, Senior News was produced only for Lancaster County. “I distinctly remember one conversation with a business associate and friend who said to me, ‘You are so passionate about bringing information to people; do you realize that you are depriving people in other communities where you don’t publish the paper?’” Anderson said. “Wow—that was an eye opener. I hadn’t realized how much of a difference our publication was making in the area.” Over the next decade, the paper’s coverage would expand to embrace five more Central Pennsylvania counties to form 50plus Senior News’ current six-county coverage umbrella—unique editions for Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties. And with it, On-Line Publishers would expand too. Christianne Rupp, vice president and managing editor, was initially hired in 1996 to take care of billing and then offered to make sales calls for Senior Living (now 50plus Living), OLP’s annual housing directory. “I then became more involved in the overall editorial process, eventually moving away from any billing or sales tasks,” Rupp said. “This is where my true passion lies.” OLP’s line of niche publications eventually grew to include BusinessWoman, a professional women’s magazine, and ((( b magazine ))), a lifestyle baby boomer publication, as well as other annual specialty inserts. “With the youngest of baby boomers now 50 years old, the world has changed,” said Anderson. “And the world as we know it is being redefined by the next generation. Our readers and our advertisers have propelled our success, and we are most grateful.” In 1997, OLP branched out into events; the first 50plus EXPO (then called Celebrate Seniority Expo) brought businesses and the community together for face-to-face interaction. There are now six 50plus EXPOs, four women’s expos, and three Veterans’ www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Expo & Job Fairs each year. Fall 2015 saw the addition of the first Ladies’ Night Out event. “While social media has exploded, and we’re fully engaged, we know the original ‘social media,’ talking face-to-face, is very important. Our expos provide the perfect opportunity for businesses and service organizations in our area to speak face-toface with their potential customers.” Recognizing the increasing impact of online readership in the 21st century, OLP was an early adopter of digital publishing technology. Its publications have successfully made the leap to digital formats so they can be read online and in print. “Since 1995, much has changed in the publishing industry and in the world. Technology has had a tremendous impact on how information is shared,” Anderson said. “While we fully embrace this brave new world, we know that many of our readers prefer their monthly printed editions of our publications.” In addition to its look—which has undergone several stylistic changes over the last two decades—50plus Senior News’s editorial content has evolved and expanded. Within its pages, readers will find everything from health and wellness, Social Security, and financial issues to perspective/humor columns, veterans’ stories, nostalgia, grandparenting, puzzles, and nature and gardening—and, of course, local events and information. As the newspaper prepares to begin its third decade, even more changes are in the works. “These days, 50plus Senior News has two audiences: baby boomers and senior citizens. Our content remains interesting to both age groups,” said Anderson. “We have a big surprise in store for January to further demonstrate the evolution of Senior News.” Despite changes past and future, OnLine Publishers and 50plus Senior News remain unchanged in their core values and mission: spreading needed information and fostering community connectivity while uplifting the mind, heart, and spirit of the people it serves. “Reaching a 20-year milestone would not be possible without the wonderful, dedicated employees who make up our team,” Anderson said. “My heartfelt gratitude goes out to each and every one of our group who make OLP a great place to work. “Thank you to all of the businesses and organizations who have supported us these past two decades. I couldn’t imagine a better career than president and publisher at On-Line Publishers, Inc.”
Thank You, Columnists! 50plus Senior News continues to bring important information as well as entertaining articles to the 50+ community. We at On-Line Publishers would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the editorial contributors of 50plus Senior News: Mike Clark (The Way I See It) Angelo Coniglio (The Search for Our Ancestry) Dick Dedrick (Nostalgia Road) Andrea Gross (Traveltizers) John Johnston (Social Security News) Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature) Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior) Victor Parachin (Fragments of History) Saralee Perel (Such is Life) Dr. Leonard Perry (The Green Mountain Gardener)
Mark Pilarski (Deal Me In) Ted Rickard (The Squint-Eyed Senior) Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser) Walt Sonneville (My 22 Cents’ Worth) Abby Stokes (Is This Thing On?) Nick Thomas (Tinseltown Talks) Dr. Lori Verderame (Art and Antiques) Robert Wilcox (Salute to a Veteran) Judith Zausner (Creativity Matters)
It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors and freelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available to read each month. The pages of 50plus Senior News are enriched by your contributions.
Give someone you love the gift that entertains, informs, and inspires, month after month! Or renew an existing subscription! Get a 12-month subscription to 50plus Senior News for just $10. Mail form to: 50plus Senior News, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Please start a gift subscription for: Beginning (month) _ ___________________________ Name_ _____________________________________ Street_ _____________________________________ Apt._ ______________________________________ City/State_ __________________________________ Zip_ _______________________________________ Sign card from: Your name___________________________________ Street_ _____________________________________ Apt._ ______________________________________ City/State_ __________________________________ Zip_ _______________________________________ Your phone number____________________________ Paper (or papers/$10 per edition): Expires 12/31/15 qChester qCumberland qDauphin qLancaster qLebanon qYork
50plus SeniorNews ›
December 2015
5
Keystone Human Services is Now Hiring!
Nostalgia Road
A Christmas Train
o
Casual and Full-Time Direct Support Professional Position Dauphin and Cumberland Counties $11.00 an Hour
o
Please go to the website to apply: www.keystoneemployment.com Mechanicsburg Requisition 2131 Harrisburg Requisition 2151 Any questions, please call Mandie 717-317-9199 ext. 213
Dick Dedrick
C
hristmas always reminds me of a train. Not a Lionel train. A troop train, back in 1944. I was trying out my new clamp-on roller skates, heading downtown with my dog, Skip. Hardly anyone was around that Christmas morning. Then I heard a train whistle, so we moved on over to the depot. No trains were due until noon. But this one was coming to a stop. Really unusual. I stood there watching as the conductor got off and headed inside, probably to
send a telegram. So, Skip and I wandered over take a closer look. It was a troop train … full of soldiers! I walked over and saluted (for some reason). The boys inside saluted back. Then one of them rolled down the window and said, “Howdy. What’s your name?” “Richard! This is my dog, Skip.” “You like comic books, Richard?” “Yeah, Captain Marvel’s my favorite.” “Mine, too,” he said. He asked me to wait a minute. “I’ve got something for you: a little Christmas gift.”
Then he handed it to me. A gift I never opened, and never will. It was a shiny can. “K-rations,” he said. “It’s what we eat when there’s no one around to fix us dinner.” I keep that can on my desk today, as a paperweight. I don’t know whatever happened to those GIs, but I hope they’re still around. Especially the one who gave me the K-ration can. I’d like to tell him I still have it. Visit NostalgiaRoad.com
Shared-Ride Users Encouraged to Use FindMyRidePA
EOE
PennDOT, rabbittransit, and the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs encourage veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities in South-Central Pennsylvania to visit FindMyRidePA, an online resource
providing information and allowing scheduling for fixed-route and sharedride transportation services. Now active in Adams, Cambria, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lebanon, and York counties,
FindMyRidePA is a user-friendly website that provides individuals with fixedroute and shared-ride transportation options, including some ride options that pick them up at home and drop them off for medical appointments or
Carlisle’s Hometown Florist For Over 100 Years
Family Operated in Carlisle Since 1910
FLOWERS 717-254-4596 Fax 243-5601
www.georgesflowershop.com 6
December 2015
50plus SeniorNews ›
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
ride users can go to www.findmyridepa. com; sign in using their shared ride ID, county of residence, and date of birth; enter the date, time, location, and purpose of their trip; and select the ride option they would like to use. Users also can see planned trips, email the trip information for their planning and records, or cancel their reservations at the website. Residents who are not shared-ride users can get more information about the program by signing in as a guest or by calling (844) PA4-RIDE.
Historic Molly Pitcher Phase II Apartments Located at 13 South Hanover Street in Historic Downtown Carlisle, PA
g Affordable and Secure • Large 1- & 2-Bedroom Apartments for Seniors age 62+
NOW LEASING!
g
other personal activities. Riders can access the system through computers, tablets, and smartphones or using kiosks set up at certain locations, such as veterans’ centers. The program area has 1.4 million residents and more than 120,000 veterans and is served by Capital Area Transit, CamTran/ CamTran+,Lebanon Transit, rabbittransit, and Raider Regional Transit and their associated ADA paratransit services and shared-ride systems. Residents who already are shared-
No Application or Maintenance Fees • Non-Smoking Facility Secure Entry • Community Room • On-Site Laundry Facilities
Volunteer Spotlight Literacy Council Tutor is Longtime Volunteer Marylou Lowther has been volunteering since her children were little and now they’re grown. “I started in the PTA and then became the PTA president. I’ve always been involved,” says Lowther. Her latest project has been volunteering as a tutor with the Central Pennsylvania Literacy Council. She is the cotutor for an immigrant who is simultaneously learning English and learning to read for the first time. She finds the work rewarding and says that you never know what the lesson will entail. In the time she’s worked with adult learners, she’s done everything from the typical lesson to helping someone car shop, buy plane tickets, communicate with employers, and discern when they’re being scammed. Lowther is active in her church, including serving on the church prayer team, which organizes all the special services and prayers. She’s taught adult
Sunday school and more generally served as an all-around helper to a disabled woman in the area. “I talk to her on the phone several times a week, help her with shopping, and drive her to appointments,” Lowther explains. “My volunteer work keeps me busy.” In her downtime, Lowther likes to shop, read, and catch up with her friends. She’s looking forward to a trip to North Carolina soon to visit with her son and three of her grandchildren. She also has a daughter and another grandchild out West. RSVP of the Capital Region is pleased to honor Marylou Lowther and her devotion to all her volunteer work. She is a true asset to the community. For further information about RSVP volunteer opportunities in the Capital Region, please contact Michelle Jones, Cumberland County development coordinator, at (717) 541-9521 or perrycumb@rsvpcapreg.org.
Elevator-Assisted • Central Air • Emergency Pull Cords • Digital Accessibility Utilities Included in Rent • Maintenance-Free Living Units Available for the Mobility and Hearing/Vision Impaired. Must meet income guidelines. Small pets welcome. Guidelines apply.
For application and more information, please call 717-249-9800 www.cchra.com
Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus Senior News’ Volunteer Spotlight! Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
50plus SeniorNews ›
December 2015
7
8 Fun Facts about Hanukkah By Viva Sarah Press/ISRAEL21c
The dreidel (a special spinning top for Hanukkah) features four Hebrew letters. In Israel, the letters are Nun, Gimel, Hay, and Peh. Abroad, they’re Nun, Gimel, Hay, Shin. The letters stand for the Hebrew phrase, “A great miracle happened there (for those outside of Israel)/here (for those in Israel).”
1. 44 candles. There are at least 44 candles in each box of Hanukkah candles, enough for one person to light the hanukkiyah (see item six on this list) according to tradition every night. Some boxes include extra candles as they tend to break easily. Today, candles come in a variety of colors, wax types, and even scents. You can also fulfill the mitzvah of lighting the hanukkiyah with oil. 2. Holiday calories. When you eat holiday treats fried in oil, you can’t really expect for them to be fat-free. The average 100-gram sufganiyah (doughnut) packs 400-600 calories. One potato latke has about 150 calories, svinge (a Moroccan cruller) 350-442 calories, and chocolate coins 220 calories each. Israelis devour some 24 million sufganiyot during the eight-day holiday—adding up to 10.8 billion calories. 3. Hanukkah, Chanukah, Hannuka. Hanukkah also goes by the
The Dreidel, a special spinning top for Hanukkah.
The Hanukkiyah, a nine-branched candelabra used during Hanukkah.
names of the Festival of Lights and Feast of Dedication. As if multi-names weren’t enough, the holiday also has a variety of transliterated English spellings—thanks to the guttural Hebrew sound of the first letter, which cannot be rendered properly in English. 4. Dreidel, dreidel, dreidel. Get
your spinning finger ready: It’s time to remember when the Greeks were in town and forbade Jews to learn Torah. Tradition holds that kids used to meet up in secret to learn, but if a Greek soldier happened upon their meeting they would pretend to be gambling with their dreidels. Israeli author/politician Avram Burg is said to have the largest dreidel collection in the world, counting more than 3,500. Dreidel, by the way, is a Yiddish word which comes from drei—to turn or spin.
5. Most popular Jewish holiday. Though it is one of the most wellknown and celebrated Jewish festivals, Hanukkah is actually a more minor holiday, according to religious tradition, than Passover, Rosh Hashana, or Yom Kippur. The holiday is not even mentioned in the Torah. Some say Hanukkah gained popularity in the late 1800s among American Jews because of the season in which it falls—usually around Christmastime. Hanukkah always begins on the 25th day of Kislev on the Hebrew calendar. The corresponding Gregorian date varies. Others point to the fun aspect of the holiday as the reason for its popularity. Maimonides wrote that the mitzvah of lighting the hanukkiyah is even
Time to get gifting. Order a freshly-crafted holiday gift today!
Merry Christmas Caramel Apple Edible® Selections
Magical Christmas Tree Bouquet™ with a Gourmet Belgian Chocolate Pop
As On-Line Publishers, Inc., sees the conclusion of its 20th anniversary year, we are grateful to our dedicated staff, loyal readers, and supportive advertisers who have all enabled us to continue to grow in our mission to serve the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50+ community. We wish to thank each of you for helping to make 50plus Senior News a fun, interesting, and unique source of information and entertainment for our readers in Central Pennsylvania. At this special time of giving thanks and reminiscing, the staff of On-Line Publishers wishes you, our friends, warmest holiday wishes.
Save $5 Code: SNRN0515
Call, visit or order at edible.com Camp Hill Lancaster Lebanon Lititz York
Happy Holidays!
3401 Hartzdale Drive 103 Rohrerstown Road 37 South 8th Street 245 Bloomfield Drive 2300 East Market Street
717-730-6240 717-390-3063 717-274-8607 717-560-1056 717-755-8200
*Valid while supplies last. Cannot be combined with any other offer. See store for details. Edible Arrangements®, the Fruit Basket Logo, and other marks mentioned herein are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements, LLC. © 2015 Edible Arrangements, LLC. All rights reserved.
8
December 2015
50plus SeniorNews ›
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
more important than buying wine for Sabbath. 6. Menorah vs. Hanukkiyah. The menorah is a seven-branched candelabra used in synagogues. The hanukkiyah is a nine-branched candelabra used during Hanukkah. Because the hanukkiyah can also be called a Hanukkah menorah, confusion often sets in. Tradition states that the hanukkiyah should have all candles or wicks at the same level, with only the shamash—the ninth candle or wick, for lighting the other eight—a bit higher or lower. 7. Lighting in the right direction. GPS navigation could help when organizing the hanukkiyah. According to accepted rules, you should place the candles right to left to correspond with the direction in which you read the Hebrew language. But you should light the candles from left to right, giving more attention to the new candle first. 8. Hanukkah at the White House. Today, the U.S. president and first lady host an annual Hanukkah party for hundreds of American Jewish politicians, organization heads, and school and yeshiva deans. But that
wasn’t always the case. Hanukkah made its first appearance at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in 1951, when Prime Minister of Israel David Ben-Gurion gave Harry Truman a menorah as a gift. In 1979, Jimmy Carter became the first American president to recognize the holiday publicly by speaking at a candle-lighting event hosted by Chabad Lubavitch. Ronald Reagan often spoke about the holiday, and George H.W. Bush attended a Hanukkah party for staff in the Executive Office Building in 1991. Two years later, Bill Clinton hosted a candle-lighting ceremony in the White House with his staff. The first official White House Hanukkah party was held on Dec. 10, 2001. President George W. Bush borrowed a 100-year-old hanukkiyah from the Jewish Museum in New York for the event. Since then, the White House Hanukkah party has been a coveted get-together. President Barack Obama not only continued the tradition, but added a new one: the Obamas host Passover Seders in the White House as well. But that’s another holiday story. Reprinted with permission from Viva Sarah Press/ISRAEL21c. www.israel21c.org
Increase Traffic, Build Brand, Gain New Clients! $100 OFF
sponsor/exhibitor REGISTRATION UNTIL JAN. 31, 2016!
E March 12, 2016 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hershey Lodge
325 University Drive, Hershey Please join us as a sponsor or exhibitor for the third annual women’s expo this spring. Women of all ages have enjoyed these annual events, finding helpful information for all the hats they wear in their everyday lives, including:
Health & Wellness • Finance • Home Technology • Beauty • Nutrition Spa Treatments
and more!
Face-to-face in a comfortable environment.
Talk to us about sponso r and exhibito r opportunitie s.
717.285.1350
FREE advance guest registration online. ($5 at the door.)
aGreatWayToSpendMyDay.com www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
50plus SeniorNews ›
December 2015
9
Is This Thing On?
How to Detect an Email Scam Abby Stokes
Trim the Family Tree
Let’s dig just a little deeper. Move your mouse arrow over the sender’s name. If the sender’s email address doesn’t appear, click on the name. Well, looky looky there. Highly suspicious, right? The email addresses exposed are not those of people working in security for my email provider. I’m certainly not going to click on the link in the email sent by Uncleluckyg@aol.com, Jawsiii555@aol. com, or chrisbrown@216parasigs.org.uk, and neither should you.
Pantone 207 Match C: 0 M: 100 Y: 65 K: 31 Pantone Cool Grey 7 Match C: 0 M: 1 Y: 5 K: 39
Pantone 207 Pantone Cool Grey 7
in matching Premium PJs
If you receive an email like these and expose that it’s a fraudulent sender, click on Junk or Spam, not Trash. We want to send these kinds of emails through your email server’s filter so they can try to prevent further contact. Now … when you receive an email that has a sender’s name that you do recognize (a friend, business associate, or family member), but the email is suspicious (a vague email suggesting you click on a link), be sure to check and see if the sender really is
who you think it is. Do this by clicking on the sender’s name to expose the email address. Pictured is a perfect example. My name appears as the sender and in the subject (which tips me off right away that something is fishy). Nothing in the body of the email is personal or specific to me or the recipient—just a ploy to get you to click. If you receive an email like that one, do not click on the link! Instead, check and see who really sent you the email. In this case, after clicking on my name, we see that the email actually came from enriquemoran1@elfiscalista.com, whoever that is. Again, the next move would be to click on Junk or Spam, not Trash. You won’t be banishing your friend, coworker, or family member’s email please see SCAM facing page
Please join us for these FREE events! 17th Annual
D
o you open the door to your home to strangers? I didn’t think so. Then why would you open an email from someone you don’t know? It happens more and more that fake emails arrive in your inbox with a subject meant to scare you into action: “Unsuccessful Attempts to Access Your Email,” “Account Suspension,” or “Yahoo [or AOL or Gmail] Security.” Scammers play on your fear or curiosity, betting that one or both will compel you to not only open the email, but also click on the link in the body of the email. Do not click on that link! At least not yet. Instead, let’s check and see who really sent the email. You’ll notice that the senders on the emails look just as serious as the subjects: “Mail Support,” “Services,” “Support Desk.”
NEW LOCATION!
LANCASTER COUNTY
May 18, 2016 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Shady Maple Conference Center Smorgasbord Building 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl
17th Annual
May 31, 2016 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
DAUPHIN COUNTY
Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey
13th Annual
June 8, 2016 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
CHESTER COUNTY
Church Farm School 1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton
Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars • Demonstrations • Entertainment • Door Prizes Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available
FREE Gift Packaging ! 10
December 2015
Call 1.800.658.1624
or visit PajamaGram.com/holiday to order.
50plus SeniorNews ›
(717) 285-1350 (717) 770-0140 (610) 675-6240
www.50plusExpoPA.com www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Calendar of Events
Cumberland County
Support Groups
Free and open to the public
Dec. 1, 6 p.m. CanSurmount Cancer Support Group HealthSouth Acute Rehab Hospital 175 Lancaster Blvd., Mechanicsburg (717) 691-6786
Dec. 9, 1:30 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group Bethany Village West – Springfield Room 325 Asbury Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 877-0624
Dec. 3, 6:30 p.m. Too Sweet: Diabetes Support Group Chapel Hill United Church of Christ 701 Poplar Church Road, Camp Hill (717) 557-9041
Dec. 15, 1 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Mechanicsburg Church of the Brethren 501 Gale St., Mechanicsburg (717) 766-8880
Dec. 8, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Carlisle Area Men’s Cancer Support Group The Live Well Center 3 Alexandria Court, Carlisle (717) 877-7561 sirbrady12@gmail.com
Dec. 9, 11:30 a.m. NARFE West Shore Chapter 1465 VFW Post 7530 4545 Westport Drive, Mechanicsburg (717) 737-1486 www.narfe1465.org Visitors welcome; meeting is free but fee for food.
Branch Creek Place – (717) 300-3563 115 N. Fayette St., Shippensburg Carlisle Senior Action Center – (717) 249-5007 20 E. Pomfret St., Carlisle
Mechanicsburg Place – (717) 697-5947 97 W. Portland St., Mechanicsburg Free and open to the public Dec. 11, 7:30 p.m. New Cumberland Town Band Christmas Concert Trinity United Methodist Church 415 Bridge St., New Cumberland www.nctownband.org
If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
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 Dec. 1, 8, 22, 29, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Upstairs Stitchers Embroidery Group Dec. 9, 1 to 2 p.m. – Wicked Wednesday Book Discussion Group Dec. 22, 1 to 2 p.m. – Just Mysteries! Book Club Cleve J. Fredricksen Library, 100 N. 19th St., Camp Hill, (717) 761-3900 Thursdays, 9:15 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Blood Pressure Screenings Dec. 14, 7 p.m. – Harp and Handbells Holiday Concert Dec. 15, 7 p.m. – Fredricksen Reads: A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson 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 Dec. 3, 10:15 a.m. to noon – Ruth’s Mystery Discussion Group: Christmas Mysteries Dec. 12, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Write-On Writer’s Workshop Dec. 19, 11 a.m. to noon – Couponing for Extreme Savings: How Much Did You Save? A Year in Review www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Big Spring Senior Center – (717) 776-4478 91 Doubling Gap Road, Suite 1, Newville Dec. 4, 8:30 a.m. – Men’s Breakfast Dec. 17, 11:30 a.m. – C hristmas Dinner at First United Presbyterian Church Dec. 31, 11:30 a.m. – New Year’s Lunch and Party
Mary Schaner Senior Citizens Center – (717) 732-3915 98 S. Enola Drive, Enola
Community Programs Mondays and Wednesdays, noon to 12:45 p.m. SilverSneakers and Silver and Fit Classes Living Well Fitness Center 207 House Ave., Suite 107, Camp Hill (717) 439-4070
Senior Center Activities
West Shore Senior Citizens Center – (717) 774-0409 122 Geary St., New Cumberland Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.
SCAM from facing page address to your Junk folder, but instead the rogue sender who make it look as though it came from someone you know. How did the scammer get their grubby hands on the names that they use and abuse? Possibly when you or someone you know didn’t practice good netiquette by using the TO box instead of BCC when sending a mass email. For those of you who send emails to more than one person, may I make a gentle computer suggestion? When you send a mass email, do not input all of your recipient’s email addresses in the TO address box. That choice exposes all recipients to each other’s email addresses—something I prefer not to have happen. To avoid this, you can use the BCC area to input addresses instead of TO or CC. BCC means blind carbon copy. Any email addresses in BCC cannot be seen by any of the other recipients. Abby Stokes, author of “Is This Thing On?” A Friendly Guide to Everything Digital for Newbies, Technophobes, and the Kicking & Screaming and its companion website, AskAbbyStokes.com, is the Johnny Appleseed of Technology, singlehandedly helping more than 300,000 people cross the digital divide.
50plus SeniorNews ›
December 2015
11
Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes The listings with a shaded background have additional information about their center in a display advertisement in this edition.
Bethany Village — MapleWood
325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-766-0279 • www.BethanyVillage.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: Yes Private: 100 Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes
Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: One-bedroom suites; secured memory support neighborhood; skilled nursing – The Oaks.
Colonial Lodge Community
2015 North Reading Road • Denver, PA 17519 717-336-5501 • www.coloniallodgepa.com Total AL and/or PC Beds: 70 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes* Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: *SSI depends on availability. A veteran-approved “home for heroes” facility, all in a beautiful, rural setting.
Heatherwood Retirement Community
3180 Horseshoe Pike • Honey Brook, PA 19344 610-273-9300 • www.heatherwoodretire.com Total AL and/or PC Beds: 82 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Private balcony or patio; no wait for availability; no buy-in; simple month/month lease.
Homeland Center
1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102 717-221-7727 • www.homelandcenter.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 50 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Exemplary care in a caring, beautiful environment has been provided for more than 148 years. Our continuum includes a hospice program.
Homewood at Plum Creek
425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331 717-637-4166 • www.homewood.com Total AL and/or PC Beds: 98 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Excellent care in a lovely environment. Call to schedule a visit.
Lakeview at Tel Hai Retirement Community 1200 Tel Hai Circle • Honey Brook, PA 19344 610-273-9333 • www.telhai.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Lakeview offers security and peace of mind. Call today to learn more about a 14- to 30-day respite stay and explore supportive living at its best!
Mennonite Home Communities
1520 Harrisburg Pike • Lancaster, PA 17601 717-393-1301 • www.mennonitehome.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 150 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Supportive, encouraging environment. Various room types and suites available. Secure memory care offered.
Moravian Manor
300 West Lemon Street• Lititz, PA 17543 717-626-0214 • www.moravianmanor.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 55 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes* Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No** Comments: *Or applied to final bill. **Pet visitation only.
This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.
12
December 2015
50plus SeniorNews ›
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes The listings with a shaded background have additional information about their center in a display advertisement in this edition.
Pleasant View Retirement Community
St. Anne’s Retirement Community
Total AL and/or PC Beds: 96 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes* Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes
Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes* Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Minimal Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes
544 North Penryn Road • Manheim, PA 17545 717-665-2445 • www.pleasantviewrc.org Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: *Three-year private pay spending. Maintain independence in an enriching and supportive environment; now offering respite stays.
3952 Columbia Avenue West Hempfield Township, PA 17512 717-285-6112 • www.stannesrc.org
Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: No Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Pending Approval Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: *Only after resident spenddown. Plan ahead by joining our waiting list. Call for details.
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.
Savvy Senior
Adjusted Flu Vaccine Options Available to Seniors This Year Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about this year’s flu shot? Last year’s vaccine was ineffective at preventing the flu, especially among seniors. What options are available to me this year? – Seeking Protection Dear Seeking, You’re right. Last season’s flu shot was not very effective at preventing the flu. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who got the shot were just 19 percent less likely to visit the doctor for flu than people who did not get the shot. In good years, flu shot effectiveness is in the 50 to 60 percent range. The reason for the shot’s ineffectiveness last year was because the vaccine was mismatched to the circulating flu viruses, which can genetically shift from year to year. This year, U.S. health officials have tweaked the flu vaccines to include last year’s missing strain, which will hopefully provide better protection. But a flu shot is still your best defense against the flu. So, depending on your health, age, and personal preference, here are the flu www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
vaccine options (you only need one of these) available to older adults this year. Standard (trivalent) flu shot: This traditional flu shot has been around for more than 30 years and protects against three different strains of flu viruses. This year’s version protects against two A strains (H1N1 and H3N2) and one influenza B virus. Quadrivalent flu shot: This vaccine, which was introduced two years ago, protects against four types of influenza— the same three strains as the standard flu shot, plus an additional, new B-strain virus. High-dose flu shot: Designed specifically for seniors, age 65 and older, this trivalent vaccine, called the Fluzone High-Dose, has four times the amount of antigen as a regular flu shot does, which creates a stronger immune response for better protection. However, note that the high-dose option may also be more likely to cause side effects, including headache, muscle aches, and fever.
FluBlok vaccine: Created for adults 18 and older who have egg allergies, this is a trivalent flu vaccine that does not use chicken eggs in its manufacturing process. Intradermal flu shot: For those who don’t like needles, the intradermal flu shot uses a tiny 1/16-inch-long microneedle to inject the vaccine just under the skin, rather than deeper in the muscle like standard flu shots. This trivalent vaccine, however, is recommended only to adults, ages 18 to 64. To locate a vaccination site that offers these flu shots, visit www.vaccines.gov and type in your ZIP code. You’ll also be happy to know that if you’re a Medicare beneficiary, Part B will cover 100 percent of the costs of any flu shot, as long as your doctor, health clinic, or pharmacy agrees not to charge you more than Medicare pays. Private health insurers are also required to cover standard flu shots; however, you’ll need to check with your provider to see if they cover the other vaccination options.
Pneumonia Vaccines Two other important vaccinations the CDC recommends to seniors, especially this time of year, are the pneumococcal vaccines for pneumonia. Around 1 million Americans are hospitalized with pneumonia each year, and about 50,000 people die from it. The CDC is now recommending that all seniors, 65 or older, get two vaccinations: Prevnar 13 and Pneumovax 23. Both vaccines, which are administered just once at different times, work in different ways to provide maximum protection. If you haven’t yet received any pneumococcal vaccine, you should get the Prevnar 13 first, followed by Pneumovax 23 six to 12 months later. But if you’ve already been vaccinated with Pneumovax 23, wait at least one year before getting the Prevnar 13. Medicare Part B covers both shots, if they are taken at least 11 months apart. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org
50plus SeniorNews ›
December 2015
13
Salute to a Veteran
In World War II He Flew His Plane from a Navy Cruiser Robert D. Wilcox
H
ank Wolfe says he’s a Pennsylvania Dutchman, since he grew up in Nazareth, Pa. He would have been more than surprised at that time to know that later he was to be fighting in some of the major battles in the Pacific during World War II. He had completed a year at Rutgers University before deciding that the Navy’s V-5 program sounded good to him. If he had the ability to complete it, it offered him a chance to learn to fly and earn a commission. So he signed up, and the Navy sent him first to Colgate University for a few weeks, where he flew a bit in Piper Cubs, and then to the University of North Carolina, where the main goal seemed to be to get him in better physical shape than he had ever dreamed of being. There were some classes in basics of celestial navigation, etc., but half the day went to
The OS2U Kingfisher that Hank Wolfe flew in combat.
Henry K. Wolfe in Navy flight training in 1944.
toughening him up. Then it was to Lambert Field in St. Louis, where he learned to fly in
Stearman biplanes. After that, it was to intermediate flight training at Corpus Christi, Texas, after which he got his wings and commission. He also got to choose the Navy or Marines and singleor multi-engine aircraft. He chose Navy single-engine and soon was on his way to Jacksonville, Fla., to fly the OS2U Kingfisher, which was a single-engine floatplane and the main
shipboard observation aircraft used by our Navy during the war. Which was news to Wolfe. Like most people, he had to learn that a critically important part of battleships and cruisers was the planes they carried as spotters to tell them where to fire their big guns, to assess the damage done, and to improve the accuracy of their firing. Wolfe explains, “Battleships and cruisers carried two Kingfisher floatplanes and three pilots to fly them. To launch a plane, the vessel would turn into the wind, and then literally blast it into the air from a catapult.” Getting the planes back on board called for much skill from the pilot. The vessel couldn’t stop because of the danger from enemy subs, so it made a sweeping turn that created a wake of relatively calm water (Wolfe called it his “runway”). The pilot flew a circling, 360-degree
Every Hero Has a Name. Is your military hero also your spouse, child, grandchild, friend, or neighbor? Help us put a face and a name to the courageous men and women who are currently serving or who have served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.
Salute to Service
is an online photo gallery honoring the military heroes in our lives.
Upload your hero’s picture, name, and information at VeteransExpo.com/salute-to-service.
Thank You, Volunteers! On-Line Publishers, Inc., and 50plus Senior News would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all of the individual and senior group volunteers who donated their time and efforts at our 2015 50plus EXPOs and the Veterans’ Expo & Job Fairs. Because of your assistance, we were able to bring the contents and the mission of 50plus Senior News to life for the residents of Central Pennsylvania!
14
December 2015
50plus SeniorNews ›
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
approach and landed on the wake and as close to the ship as possible. He then taxied onto a “sled,” towed from a boom on the fantail of the ship, and a crane plucked the airplane up and deposited it on the deck. From training in Jacksonville, Wolfe’s travels overseas took him first to Ford Island, Hawaii, for more training. Then a destroyer took him to the USS Mobile, a cruiser operating in the southwestern Pacific. There he boarded the ship that was to be his home during battles on the Palau Islands, Peleliu, the Philippine Islands, Leyte Gulf, northern Luzon, Cape Engaño, Formosa, the Visayas, and Okinawa. The official Navy records tell of the Air Medals Wolfe earned: “AIR MEDAL – Lt. (j.g.) H.K. Wolfe, A-1, U.S.N.R. – For a series of meritorious acts while participating in aerial flights from 15 April – 17 May 1945.” And, “GOLD STAR – In lieu of second Air Medal – A-1, U.S.N.R. – For a series of meritorious acts while participating in aerial flights from 14–18 May 1945.” What was the most danger he faced? Wolfe says that had to be at Okinawa, when ground fire cut his fuel line, and he had to make a dead-stick landing. In the process, one of his wing floats was torn off, the wing dipped under the water, and the plane cartwheeled, landing on its back and sinking. He says that, as he struggled to release his safety belt and roll back his canopy, “Everything slowed down, and only my training saved my life. I wasn’t able to free my one-man raft, but I was finally
able to free myself and bob to the surface with my Mae West (life preserver). After about a half hour in the water, an LCT (landing craft tank) picked me up.” With a grin, Wolfe explains that the captain then brought him to his cabin and broke out a bottle of choice cognac, saying, “I’ve been saving this for the first time I ever saved somebody from the water.” And they each ceremoniously toasted each other. Soon the war was over, and the Mobile did some mine sweeping of Japanese harbors … including Nagasaki, where they had a firsthand look at the incredible destruction left by the atomic bomb. The ship then came home and Wolfe went by plane and train to New York, where he was discharged as a lieutenant in December 1945. Wolfe then attended the Newark College of Engineering and got a job as engineer with New Jersey Bell (later AT&T), where he worked until retiring in December 1980. After moving to a golf community in Florida for many years, he was told by friends of a retirement community in Central Pennsylvania, where he lives comfortably today. When asked what he thinks about his Navy career, he smiles softly and says, “There was more than enough excitement to last me a lifetime. But I still think about that day my plane sank, and it was all I could do to finally free myself and make it to the surface.”
April 6, 2016 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
York Expo Center • Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Ave., York
This event is FREE to attend. Veterans (of all ages) and the military community and their families are invited to join us!
The Expo brings federal, state, and local agencies together with area businesses to provide information and resources to veterans and their families.
The Job Fair brings veterans and spouses who need jobs together with employers who can benefit from this rich source of talent to aid their organizations.
Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.
Information and support whenever you need it
At the Expo
Veterans Benefits & Services Medical/Nonmedical Resources Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services
At the Job Fair
Employers Job Counseling Workshops Employment Seminars Resume Writing Assistance Hosted by:
Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available
View online at:
www.onlinepub.com
www.veteransexpo.com (717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com
(under supplements)
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
50plus SeniorNews ›
December 2015
15
16
December 2015
50plus SeniorNews ›
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com