Dauphin County Edition
January 2013
Vol. 15 No. 1
A Woman with 2 Birthdays Transplant Recipient Helps Others through Book and Organ-Donation Advocacy By Lori Van Ingen Chronic kidney disease affects one in nine Americans, and millions more are at risk. More than 105,000 people are on the National Kidney Transplant List in the United States. “Every day, 18 people die while waiting for a transplant of a vital organ, such as a heart, liver, kidney, pancreas, lung, or bone marrow,” said Carole Fair, an organ-donation advocate with the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania for nearly two years. Because of the lack of available donors in this country, 4,573 kidney patients, 1,506 liver patients, 371 heart patients, and 234 lung patients died in 2008 while waiting for a lifesaving organ transplant, Fair noted. “I’m hoping that with more awareness of transplantation and the generosity of others, these numbers could certainly decline,” said Fair, who recently spoke at events at Holy Spirit Hospital and Hershey Antique Auto Association. Fair is a circuit speaker at civic clubs, women’s organizations, and churches. She helps people become aware of transplantation, clears up misconceptions, and promotes organ donation in general. “I get asked the most basic questions, like, ‘Where is my kidney located?’ and ‘Is the old kidney removed during a transplant?’” said Fair, who also is a please see ADVOCACY page 13 Kidney transplant recipient Carole Fair is now an author as well as an active organ-donation advocate with the Kidney Foundation of Central Pennsylvania.
Inside:
Pirates and More in Tampa page 6
Eye Care Coverage and Services for Retirees page 15
Book Review
Amish Folk Tales and Other Stories of the Pennsylvania Dutch By C. Eugene Moore
W
ho has a stronger sense of tradition than the Amish? In Amish Folk Tales and Other Stories of the Pennsylvania Dutch, we find anecdotes that have been passed down in families. In the retelling of these stories we find that each has been given a special patina as it has been lovingly handed down from generation to generation. “Amos Trades Up” follows the comical misadventures of a young Amishman. Paid off after his year of indentured service, Amos starts walking home. But along the way he meets temptation after temptation—and he pursues them all. “Eilenshpiggel and His Shenanigans” tells of the willful, mischievous rogue who’s a legend among the Pennsylvania Dutch people. In “John the Blacksmith,” we learn of the native intelligence of this character and of how he manages to outwit an emissary from the devil himself.
“Tales Tall and Taller” is a collection of exaggerations that make for wonderful reminiscences. For example, what happened to the man from Ephrata whose dentist pulled his tooth, then somehow let it slip off the tongs and travel down the patient’s throat? Read “Graven Images and the Legends that Grow Around Them” to find out about burial customs among the Pennsylvania Dutch and to learn what the emblems on grave markers signify. “Pennsylvania German Humor” is filled with traditional stories that bring laughter to the people of southeastern Pennsylvania. The book even offers “A True Ghost Story.” This is a fast-moving tale of
murder and its eerie consequences. It asks you to explain what happened, if you can. An appendix, “Forearmed in Bilaspur,” tells of two Lancaster County men who link up to hunt tigers in India. This is all we’ll tell you about this story, which has a surprise twist at the end. The book is richly illustrated with color photographs depicting items made by Pennsylvania Dutch craftsmen: tall clocks, furniture, Conestoga wagon hardware, quilts, guns, and Amish toys. Amish Folk Tales and Other Stories of the Pennsylvania Dutch is available at local bookstores or from Schiffer Publishing, 4880 Lower Valley Road, Atglen, Pa. 19310 or (610) 593-1777.
About the Author Gene Moore, a former navy officer, is a graduate of Auburn University who earned a master’s degree from Florida State University. He retired as director of public relations from Armstrong World Industries, Inc. A previous book, How Armstrong Floored America: The People Who Made It Happen, 1945-1995, was published by the Lancaster County Historical Society. He and his wife, Jan, make their home in Lancaster. Calling All Authors If you have written and published a book and would like 50plus Senior News to feature a Book Review, please submit a synopsis of the book (350 words or fewer) and a short autobiography (80 words or fewer). A copy of the book is required for review. Discretion is advised. Please send to: On-Line Publishers, Inc., Megan Joyce, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512. For more information, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com.
Ring in the New Year With Us! Saturday, January 5 at 10:30 a.m. & Sunday, January 6 at 2:30 p.m. Manager’s Reception — Looking for a FIXED rate on your apartment for the next 3 years? See the many models—limited time offer. Join us for an Informational Reception. Tuesday, January 8 2 p.m. The Laugh’s on US! Drive yourself happy! Learn the health benefits of laughter and make some new friends. Laugh specialist Helen Szollosy. Thursday, January 10 3–4 p.m. Keystone Elder Law Presents — “Getting Your House in Order for New Year.” Topics covered: changes in the laws, document prep—directives, wills, DNR. Wednesday, January 16 11 a.m.– 3 p.m. Wii Tournament — 4 top winners receive $25.00 gift cards. Call Barbara to register!
Saturday, January 26 2 p.m. MARY KAY MAKEOVER! Open to the public. Reservations needed. Sunday, January 27 1–4 p.m. OPEN HOUSE — Come see the model apartment, meet the Managers and Staff. Refreshments and snacks served! Wednesday, January 30 3–5 p.m. Monte Carlo Afternoon Delight — Join us for a friendly game of Black Jack or Roulette while enjoying Mocktails (non-alcoholic drinks) and appetizers.
Best Wishes for a Happy 2013! from
RSVP to any event by calling 717-540-1895 today!
4500 Oakhurst Blvd. • Harrisburg, PA 17110 717-540-1895 • www.themanoratoakridge.com
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Social Security News
The Medicare Age is Still 65 By John Johnston If you’re in your 60s, you probably know that the age to receive full retirement benefits has changed. But it’s important to remember that the age to begin receiving Medicare has not—it is still 65. Even if you have decided to wait until after you are age 65 to apply for retirement benefits, most people should start getting Medicare coverage at age 65. If you would like to begin your Medicare coverage when you first become eligible, we suggest that you apply within three months of reaching age 65. You can do it online in as little as 10 minutes at www.socialsecurity.gov/ medicareonly. At the website, you’ll find more than
just the online Medicare application. You’ll also find information about Medicare and have the opportunity to watch some short videos about applying for Medicare online. One is a family reunion for the cast of The Patty Duke Show. In another, Patty Duke and George Takei go boldly where you should be going— online. Why go online to apply for Medicare? Because it’s fast, easy, and secure. You
don’t need an appointment and you can avoid waiting in traffic or in line. As long as you have 10 minutes to spare, you have time to complete and submit your online Medicare application. People who started receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits before age 65 do not need to apply; they will be automatically enrolled in Medicare. There is no additional charge for Medicare hospital insurance (Part A) since you already paid for it by working
and paying Medicare tax. However, there is a monthly premium for medical insurance (Part B). If you already have other health insurance when you become eligible for Medicare, you should consider whether you want to apply for the medical insurance. To learn more about Medicare and some options for choosing coverage, read the online publication, Medicare, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10043.html or visit www.medicare.gov. To learn more about applying for Medicare only using the online application, please visit www.socialsecurity. gov/medicareonly. John Johnston is a Social Security public affairs specialist.
Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being. Cremation Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc. (717) 545-4001 Emergency Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Dauphin County Office of Aging (717) 255-2790 Floor Coverings Gipe Floor & Wall Covering (717) 545-6103 Funeral Directors Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc. (717) 545-4001 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383 Arthritis Foundation – Central PA Chapter (717) 763-0900 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 The National Kidney Foundation (717) 757-0604 (800) 697-7007
PACE (800) 225-7223 Social Security Information (800) 772-1213 Tri-County Association for the Blind (717) 238-2531 Healthcare Information PA Healthcare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787 Home Care Services CareMinders Home Care (717) 454-0159
Insurance Apprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067
Toll-Free Numbers American Lung Association (800) LUNG-USA
Lincoln Heritage (484) 945-3213
Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555
Nursing/Rehab Colonial Park Care Center (717) 657-1520
Meals on Wheels (800) 621-6325
Orthotics & Prosthetics Ability Prosthetics and Orthotics, Inc. (717) 458-8429 Pharmacy
Social Security Office (800) 772-1213 Veterans Affairs (717) 626-1171 (800) 827-1000
Safe Haven Quality Care (717) 238-1111
CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
Visiting Angels (717) 652-8899
Retirement Communities Homeland Center (717) 221-7902
Hospice Services Homeland Hospice (717) 221-7890
National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046
The Middletown Home (717) 941-3351
Transportation CAT Share-A-Ride (717) 232-6100 Veterans Services
Housing/Apartments B’Nai B’rith Apartments (717) 232-7516
Services Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 255-2790
Housing Assistance Dauphin County Housing Authority (717) 939-9301
The Salvation Army Edgemont Temple Corps (717) 238-8678
Lebanon VA Medical Center (717) 228-6000 (800) 409-8771
Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937 Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
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Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori
Big Plays on Display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame
Corporate Office: 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240
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f you like vintage architecture interactive displays featuring game uniforms from the Pro Bowl as well from the 1960s, you’ll like the footage and player videos, the as equipment and apparel worn by surroundings of the Pro Football Lamar Hunt Super Bowl exhibition Walter Payton, Joe Namath, and Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio. gallery with the Vince Lombardi Dan Marino, among others. The The building was ultra-modern trophy on display, the Super Bowl exhibits also focus on the impact of in its day with its interior spiral ring display (for the jewelry lover in stars like O.J. Simpson and the ramp (like the one designed by the family), and the popular Hall of Buffalo Bills’ Electric Company. Frank Lloyd Wright for the Fame gallery. Some displays show a player’s Guggenheim Museum in New York While the Super Bowl ring love of the game by focusing on City), glass curtain wall (a nod to display was one of my favorites great plays made by Chicago Bears the urban office-building (who doesn’t like all those running back Brian Piccolo or architecture of Mies van der Rohe diamonds?), the Hall of Fame Dallas Cowboy Troy Aikman. And, and Philip Johnson), and footballgallery speaks to the core of the Hall who could forget the famous shaped roofline Immaculate Reception indicative of midmade by Pittsburgh century modern Steelers fullback Franco American Harris (a fellow Penn architecture. Stater) on Dec. 23, Canton, Ohio, 1972? The museum, was chosen as the through its diverse site for the Hall of exhibits, shows visitors Fame for many the heart of the game reasons. However, of football. we focus on I discovered one last football’s legacy interesting thing about there as opposed sports museums during to some other my visit to the Pro locale because of Football Hall of Fame. the Native No matter how much American athlete information is available Exhibition Gallery at the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Canton, Ohio. named Jim to a visitor in a sports Thorpe, who museum, fans always signed a football search for more. I of Fame. The gallery houses contract there. Thorpe, the star of noticed many visitors standing in interactive displays and an the 1912 Olympic Games, signed front of very good, informative impressive assemblage of fine-art his first contract to play football displays—even interactive bronze portrait busts of the Hall of with the Canton Bulldogs in 1915. displays—who were still searching Fame inductees through the years. While the vintage building is for additional stats on their cell good looking, the museum is in the The bronze busts are the work of phones. I even found myself doing Utah sculptor Blair Buswell and midst of completing a major it. they capture the likeness of each construction/ As a former museum curator and football great. As a display, the expansion project to host more director, I bet you think I’d be football fans. The completion of the gallery is awe inspiring as visitors appalled by this but, in fact, I think search for their favorite Hall of museum expansion will coincide when a museum’s displays prompt th Famer. with the Hall of Fame’s 50 visitors to find out more, that’s a anniversary in 2013. The new At the Pro Football Hall of Fame, pretty cool and quite interactive facilities will not only host a world exhibits trace the history of museum. Plan a visit. of football fans, but they will also professional football with unique Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and offer the Ralph Wilson Jr. Football objects like the Baltimore Colts award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori Research and Preservation Center, marching band’s bass drum, press presents antique appraisal events the researchers’ reading room, an wood posters announcing the 1962 nationwide. Dr. Lori is the expert event center, and a meeting room. AFL championship game between appraiser on the hit TV show Auction In addition, there will be the Houston Oilers and the Dallas Kings on Discovery channel, which airs exhibition galleries focusing on the Texans, and early helmets worn by Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Visit history of the game dating back to various players. www.DrLoriV.com, www.Facebook.com/ the early 1900s, state-of-the-art The exhibits highlight player DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.
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NurseNews
Making a difference in the lives of our very dear residents, families & staff
Beating Bunions
• Independent Living Apartments • Personal Care Residence • Skilled Nursing Care
Gloria May, M.S., R.N., CHES Come visit & tour our campus
unions (those swollen, painful One source I read suggests that in bumps on the inside of the foot order to tell if you are buying the at the base of the big toe) are so correct size shoe, you should stand closely associated in our minds with barefoot on paper, have a friend trace women, and with fashionable but often the outline of your feet, and then place ill-fitting shoes, that the question I was your shoes on top of each outline to see asked last week as to whether or not if your foot is wider than the shoe. The men even get bunions was not at all idea seems reasonable, given that we no unreasonable. longer (thankfully) have those shoe-fit While it’s true that 90 percent of x-ray machines prevalent in shoe stores bunions occur in women and that more in the ’50s. Remember those? than 50 percent of women in America If you have bunions, you may have them, gender and shoe choice are require surgery, but there are solutions not entirely to blame. Yes, men do get to try first: bunions, but children can also develop • Make sure your shoes are the right bunions and even folks who live in size. mostly shoeless societies have bunions, so there’s obviously more to bunions • Ask your doctor if either over-thethan just women’s ill-fitting shoes. counter or custom-made orthotics— In medical lingo, a bunion is a hallux inserts that prevent your feet from valgus. It’s an enlargement of the bone “overor the tissue pronating”—are around the base for you. of the big toe, which, in turn, The underlying • Consider taking pushes the big an anticause of bunions is toe out of inflammatory alignment and the foot’s genetic medication, such causes it to slant as ibuprofen, but structure and how toward the ask how much it causes us to walk. second toe. you can safely The take in one day. underlying cause of bunions, • Inquire if according to Dr. Zachary Chattler of steroid injections might help with the Johns Hopkins University, is the foot’s pain. genetic structure and how it causes us to walk. Bunions do run in families, • Stick to low-impact exercises but it is the foot type we inherit (low (walking, swimming) as they are kinder arches, for example) that causes the foot on your feet. to turn outward (“pronate”) when we walk and that encourages the formation If surgery is your only option, there of bunions; we do not inherit the are a number of procedures available to bunions themselves. correct the misaligned joint and remove However, shoe choice does play a the bump. Bunion surgery large role. Narrow, pointed-toe, sky(bunionectomy) is usually done on an high heels can cause a bunion to outpatient basis, but understand that develop more quickly and even play a healing can take months and yes, role in its recurrence after surgery. bunions can come back, especially if How do you know if your shoes fit you just cannot resist those Manolo properly? Seems many folks believe that Blahniks. their feet haven’t grown since their teen years (is that similar to the belief that Gloria May is a registered nurse with a our belt sizes haven’t changed?), but in master’s degree in health education and a truth, as our foot ligaments loosen and certified health education specialist our arches flatten over time, our feet do designation. get bigger.
B
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Friendship Love Truth An Odd Fellows Home of Pennsylvania 999 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA (717) 944-3351 • www.middletownhome.org
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Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel
Traveltizers
Pirates and More in Tampa captain disembarks and approaches the mayor, demanding the key to the city of Tampa. The mayor complies; the party can begin. Tampa’s annual pirate fest, which will take place this year on Jan. 26, honors José Gaspar, the bold buccaneer who, in the late 1700s and early 1800s, captured hundreds of ships off the coast of Florida. Today the Gasparilla Festival has become a major event, and the stolen treasure is being returned in the form of tourist dollars. Gasparilla combines the legend of Gaspar with the magic of Mardi Gras. Following their successful takeover of the city, the merry pirates (a.k.a., civic leaders who are members of Ye Mystic Krewe of Gasparilla) strut through downtown in true swashbuckling style, accompanied by more than 100 floats and marching bands. At the same time, merrymakers fill the streets, where there’s nonstop entertainment and an abundance of
By Andrea Gross “There it is!” The child who is standing next to me jumps up and down, accompanying each jump with an ear-splitting shriek. I look in the direction he is pointing. It is indeed a scream-worthy sight. There, sailing toward us, in a slow but steady manner, is a giant pirate ship, with masts that pierce the sky and bright flags that wave in the breeze. The name of the ship is emblazoned on its side: José Gasparilla. The deck is crowded with hundreds of men, some with black triangular hats adorned with a skulland crossbones insignia, others with colorful rag-wrapped turbans. The men blast cannons, brandish swords, and whoop and holler as the ship, surrounded by a flotilla of small boats, prepares to invade the city of Tampa. The ship docks and the pirate
The pirate ship José Gasparilla approaches the city of Tampa.
After the invasion, the pirates parade through town, tossing treasures to the waiting crowd.
Tampa residents get into the spirit of Gasparilla.
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Ybor City is a National Historic District that commemorates the city’s Latin heritage.
Columbia Restaurant, established in 1905, is Florida’s oldest restaurant.
Hand-rolled cigars are still made in Ybor City.
food stands. The partying continues until 10 p.m., at which time the victorious pirates retreat, letting Tampa return to the 21st century. Of course, Tampa is more than pirates. Its attractions include great beaches (nearby St. Pete Beach was voted No. 1 by TripAdvisor), a temperate climate (average summer temps are in the low 80s; average winter ones are in the low 60s), and a historic district that reflects the city’s Latin heritage. We start our exploration in Ybor City (pronounced EE-bore), the historic neighborhood named after the Cuban cigar manufacturer who made the region a mecca for hardworking immigrants. Less than 100 years after Gaspar pillaged the region, workers from Cuba were joined by workers of other nationalities, and together they produced approximately 700 million hand-rolled cigars a year. Today the area is filled with eclectic shops and trendy nightclubs, but traces of the past remain. Old, red-brick buildings with wrought-iron grillwork line streets bordered with spindly palms; master cigar rollers continue to practice their craft; and the Columbia Restaurant, Florida’s oldest and the world’s largest Spanish restaurant, features a full array of Cuban food, as well as the “original Cuban sandwich” (a long loaf of soft, white bread filled with layers of ham, roast pork, Swiss cheese, pickles, and mustard). Walking through the restaurant is almost as interesting as tasting its food. Amidst the wrought iron and bright www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
tiles, there’s a royal dining room, a Spanish courtyard, and a flamenco nightclub. The Tampa Bay History Center, a 60,000-square-foot facility that opened in January 2009, tells us more about Ybor City and the entire Tampa Bay region. Various exhibits highlight people from the Seminole Indians and Spanish conquistadors to the “cowmen and crackers” who were part of Florida’s cattle-ranching past. To see a bit of Tampa’s natural history, we go to the 240-acre Lettuce Lake Park, so named because the surrounding greenery reminded folks of a lunchtime salad. Rather than renting a canoe or kayak, we pick up a map and brochure at the visitors center and explore on foot. There are 3,500 feet of boardwalk, more than a mile of paved pathways, and an abundance of wellmaintained nature trails that lead us though groves of cypress and ferns and past two alligators, a few turtles, and an untold number of birds. That evening we arrive early for our flight home and are relaxing at the mojito bar when a gentleman tells us that the best place to see a Florida sunset is from the top of the airport parking garage. We take the elevator to the top floor and there, against a red sky, we can almost see a fully rigged pirate ship sailing into the bay. With a smile and a toast to José Gaspar, we go down to catch our plane. www.visittampabay.com Photos © Irv Green; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).
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Beyond the Battlefield
His Army Unit Helped Defeat the Nazis Alvin S. Goodman .M. Richard Simons, 87, of Harrisburg, has had a distinguished career in the military during World War II and in community service afterward. He was an insurance agent and served as city treasurer and a member of city council. A native and lifelong resident of Harrisburg, Simons was the only child of George and Esther Simons. His father owned the London Clothes Shop in the former Senate Theater Building on Market Square and his mother was a clerk in her brother-in-law’s drug store, operated by Harry H. Buch at North Second and State streets. He attended Steele Elementary School and Camp Curtin Junior High School and graduated in 1943 from William Penn High School, where he was a member of the swim team. He attended Dickinson College in Carlisle
F
for one semester before enlisting in the U.S. Army and serving in Italy as a member of the 10th Mountain Infantry Division. A yearbook Simons has, which details the history of the 87th Mountain Regiment (Italy 1945), states that the 10th Mountain Division played an important part in defeating the 26 German divisions in Italy during World War II. “The 10th chewed up more German divisions than any other Allied division during the entire Italian campaign,� the yearbook says. “Against all odds, America’s ski troops pushed the Nazis out of Italy’s high country and helped bring WWII to an end.� Simons sustained a broken leg when he dove into a foxhole during enemy fire. As a result, he was reassigned to the
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American Expeditionary Radio Station Simons has four daughters: Lynn, a at Livorno (Leghorn), Italy, as a disc speech pathologist; Leann, a jockey, playing recorded music of the nutritionist; Ruth, who joined her big bands and popular father’s insurance American vocalists. business in 1985; He was awarded and Rhea Amy, the Combat who stayed at home Infantryman Badge, until her death the Good Conduct three years ago. He Medal, and the has six Bronze Star. He was grandchildren. also eligible to receive Simons was the Purple Heart but active in the Boy decided not to pursue Scouts and served it because he felt his as a Scout leader for broken leg, while 25 years. He was an combat related, didn’t actor at the compare with the Harrisburg serious injuries Community suffered by other Theater and had servicemen. roles in Dial M for He returned home Murder and in September 1945 Detective Story with and, after his Simons serving as a disc jockey at the his wife. discharge from the He is a now a American Expeditionary Radio Army, resumed his resident of a local Station at Livorno (Leghorn), Italy. education under the retirement GI Bill at Dickinson community, where College, receiving a he enjoys watching BA degree in political TV, reading, going science and history in out to lunch, and 1949. socializing with his Simons formed his fellow residents and own insurance firm, friends. Simons and Co. All things Affectionately known considered, Simons as “Mr. Insurance” in said, “I consider the Harrisburg area, myself to be a lucky Simons also decided person. I went to run for public through a lot and office. He served as the good Lord was city treasurer from with me.” 1976 to 1980 and as If you are a mature Simons today. a member of veteran and have Harrisburg City interesting or unusual Council from 1985 to 1989. experiences in your military or civilian life, He married Elaine Yaverbaum in July phone Al Goodman at (717) 541-9889 or email him at klezmer630@comcast.net. 1952. She died in December 2007.
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Creativity Matters
Legendary Chefs at Age 60+ Judith Zausner ood is trendy. It is no longer about TV dinners and microwave popcorn. The following chefs began their journeys many years ago to transform good eating into a fine art, a nutritious experience, and big business.
F
Cecilia Chiang, 91, Chinese – Raised in a very wealthy family in Shanghai, she was not allowed in the kitchen. As a young woman, Chiang escaped occupied China and, years later, traveled to San Francisco to visit her sister. Serendipitously, she met a friend there who planned to open a restaurant and then reneged, but Chiang went forward with the lease since she had already written a large, nonrefundable check to the landlord on behalf of her friend. And so her restaurant Mandarin began and remained active for more than 40 years. Chiang has taught Julia Child, James
Beard, Alice Waters, and Danny Kaye.
cookbooks of Indian, Asian, and world vegetarian cuisines, and has won James Beard Foundation awards for some of her books. As a result of the success, Jaffrey also developed a unique line of mass-marketed cooking sauces.
Madhur Jaffrey, 79, Indian – Born in Delhi, India, she did not cook at home when she was young and traveled abroad to study in London at the Royal Academy of Diana Dramatic Art. Kennedy, 88, After marrying she Mexican – Born moved to New in the United Photo courtesy of David Sifry York City and, in Kingdom, she Alice Waters at dinner with friends. 1973, she arrived in Mexico published her first with her husband, cookbook, An Invitation to Indian who was a New York Times Cooking. correspondent. She traveled throughout Jaffrey has written numerous Mexico researching cooking techniques
as well as the history of Mexican cuisine. Craig Claiborne urged her to give Mexican cooking lessons in New York City and then, in 1972, Kennedy published her first book, The Cuisines of Mexico, and eight more books would follow. Jiro Ono, 86, Japanese – Born in Japan, he is considered the world’s greatest sushi chef. After his father left, the 9-year-old Ono left home and never returned. He has been mastering sushi for the past 76 years and now is the subject of a documentary, Jiro Dreams of Sushi. Ono’s tiny restaurant, Sukiyabashi Jiro, is in Tokyo, where he holds the Guinness Book of Records title for being the oldest three-star Michelin chef. Reservations are not easy; you are encouraged to book up to a year in
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advance with a cash deposit of about $368. Jacques Pépin, 76, French – Born in France to restaurateurs, he learned to appreciate food at an early age. In the 1950s he was the personal chef to Charles DeGaulle and then moved to the United States in 1959. He has appeared on numerous television shows and received a Daytime Emmy award in 2001 for his show Julia and Jacques Cooking at Home with Julia Child. Today he serves as dean of special programs at the French Culinary Institute, teaches an online class for Boston University, and writes a quarterly column for Food & Wine magazine. Georges Perrier, 69, French – Born in France and although not from a poor
family, he began working at 14 and then moved to the United States when he was 21 years old. In 1970 he opened Le Bec Fin (French colloquial translation: fine palate) in Philadelphia, which gained a five-star reputation and was known as the leader of the “Philadelphia restaurant revolution.” In January 2009, the French government awarded Perrier the Legion d’Honneur. In February 2012, Perrier announced his retirement from Le Bec Fin by selling it to a former Le Bec manager. Perrier still maintains ownership/interest in other restaurant venues. Wolfgang Puck, 63, Austrian – Born in Austria and trained in France, he learned much of his cooking skills from his mother, who had sometimes worked
as a pastry chef. At 25, he moved to Los Angeles where, 15 years later, he opened the award-winning Spago restaurant. Now he has a gastronomic empire under his name that includes more than 20 fine restaurants, catering services, more than 80 Wolfgang Puck Express operations, and kitchen and food merchandise, including cookbooks and convenience foods. He is the official caterer for the Academy Awards and his favorite food is macaroons. Alice Waters, 67, American – Born in New Jersey, she moved to California to attend college. It was during her study abroad time in France that she began purchasing fresh foods directly, and it was this experience that resonated with her and led to the development of her food-fresh sustainable beliefs.
In 1971 she opened the Chez Panisse restaurant in Berkeley, Calif., which quickly became famous for its organic, locally grown ingredients and is ranked among the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Waters created the Chez Panisse Foundation with a mission to transform public education by using food to teach, nurture, and empower young people. In 1992, Waters was the first woman to be awarded Best Chef in America by the James Beard Foundation and has received numerous other awards, written about a dozen cookbooks, and is a board member of relevant institutions. Waters is an internationally acclaimed food activist who has inspired the organic food revolution. Judith Zausner can be reached at judith@caringcrafts.com.
Home Repairs: Don’t Procrastinate on These Maintaining your abode can be costly, but putting off a needed repair can be even more expensive in the long run. Here are a few problems that should be nipped in the bud:
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Water leaks. Any water leak can cause severe damage over time: dry rot, mold, termite infestation, etc. Dim lights. If your lights flicker or dim when you open
the fridge or use the microwave, it could be due to bad wiring or an overload of appliances on one circuit. Your best bet is to have an electrician update your wiring.
Air conditioning. Make sure your filters are clean and in good repair. Dirty or missing filters can lead to fire or an air conditioner breakdown. An inexpensive filter can preserve a costly AC system.
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The Squint-Eyed Senior
Warmed in the Glow of My Golden Years Theodore Rickard hate to admit it—or, at least, I should be somewhat bashful about admitting it—but there is a certain smug satisfaction in being retired. First of all, there is an inner contentment, somewhat akin to a sense of triumph, in not being awakened by the clock radio. For years the little white cube was set for the same time and the same unctuous and annoyingly happy voice told us what the local weather was. This information was a loser either way. If the weather was bad, it meant a rush to leave early enough to allow for the inevitable traffic snarls. If the weather was good, the call to duty and the reality of a second mortgage engendered painful resentments. In the first few months of not having to go to work I’d call the bank to see if the pension deposits had actually been made. The patient lady (her name is Alice) at the local branch would recite
I
the figures—the same numbers every month. Something tells me I was not the only one doing this just to make sure. Alice never sounded surprised at the request. At our house the lifetime spousal comptroller and treasurer dealt with none of this uncertainty. With sublime confidence in the world of finance, she’d go ahead and write the checks for the condo assessment, telephone bill, and all those essential etceteras of living. I admire her
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faith in the banking system even after all the bad press that bankers have been getting. And especially since our own local financial institution is now in its fourth name change, and we hear it’s been acquired yet again, although neither of us can remember either its lastyear name or its current name or this year’s slogan. Only Alice has remained the same throughout the bank’s successive identities. Her continued presence gives us some sense of a stable housing for our modest deposit balance. I keep wondering what’s going to happen when Alice retires, but I’ve stopped calling her every month to see if the money is actually there. And we sleep later in the morning. Or I do, anyway. Sometimes I awaken to the scent of coffee freshly brewing. This means we’re going shopping today. “Shopping” entails me finding a place to sit down while the lifetime spousal purchasing agent provides whatever we need to survive both the immediate and the distant future. These needs are heavily weighted with grandchildren’s birthdays, graduations (including play school), and the next Yuletide, however many months away it might be.
Occasionally I do the “guy thing.” For some reason, this almost always involves the car. For example, our somewhat aged, mid-sized sedan gets a regular oil change. This requires man-to-man talk with “Angie” at the local service station. Usually we decide that the brakes are “good for another 20,000, but we better keep an eye on the muffler” and “we’ll want to replace all four tires before we get snow.” Actually, it is not “we” doing any deciding here. Angie’s voice may be muffled coming as it does from someplace deep underneath the chassis, but his diagnosis is unmistakable. This might be because it’s the same thing he said the last time we changed the oil. I know it sounds somewhat meanspirited of me, but the best retirement days are those when the dawn brings a downpour—a rainstorm enough to frighten Noah. I don’t need that artificially cheerful radio voice to tell me about it. I can hear the water lashing against the windows even though the blinds are drawn tight. All that I have to do about it is to roll over and go back to sleep. I’m somewhat ashamed to admit I do so with barely a twinge of sympathy for those wage earners, including our own offspring, who have to slog through the day to earn their daily bread and cough up their Social Security taxes. Selfishly sleepy as I may be, I hope they are successful. And I make a mental note to call Alice just to make sure. A collection of Ted Rickard’s family-fun essays is titled Anything Worth Knowing I Learned from the Grandkids. It is now available in paperback on Amazon.com.
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kidney transplant recipient. Fair said her new kidney is in the right lower quadrant of her stomach, attached to the artery in the leg and bladder. “If you have uncontrollable hypertension, they will remove the (old) kidney, but I only had mild hypertension, so mine wasn’t removed,” she said. She also gets asked how it feels to have someone else’s kidney. But Fair doesn’t think of it that way, she said. She only thinks about how good it is to no longer be on dialysis, 10 hours every night, seven days a week. “I’m so glad to be rid of it because of the donation,” Fair said. “Many think of it as their new birth date. Mine was Feb. 21, 2011. It’s a new life.” Organ transplants are based on supply and demand and, currently, the demand is far greater than the available supply, Fair said. When there were no airbags in cars and fewer people were saved from accidents, there were more cadavers available. But because airbags are saving lives, those cadavers are no longer an option for transplantations. Therefore, organ donors are needed more than ever before. In 1987, those in need of a kidney transplant only had to wait seven months after first being placed on the transplant list, Fair said. But by 2012, the wait had lengthened to four to six years. Twelve thousand people meet the criteria for needing a kidney transplant, but fewer than half get donors. “That statistic really struck home,” Fair said. Transplant recipients are looking more and more to living donors since people can live with only one of their two kidneys. At Harrisburg Hospital, more than 50 percent of kidney transplants are due to living donors, Fair said, quoting Dr. Harold Yang, a hospital surgeon who helped save her life. While kidney disease can be from hypertension, diabetes, or polycystic kidney disease, Fair’s kidney problem stemmed from a birth defect in her sphincter muscle. “There was a surgery that could be done by age 5,” she said, but her diagnosis at age 21 put her well beyond that point, and her kidneys slowly deteriorated over the years. Fair began journaling about her experiences with kidney disease in September 2007. By the fall of 2010, she needed to go on dialysis, and she continued writing. “I had no idea if I would even receive a kidney, and if I did, how would I get through the surgery? The recovery period? Would there be a happy ending? All these www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
questions remained unanswered,” Fair said. “Although I had excellent medical care ... I could not have gotten through this time in my life without my faith,” Fair said. “Faith is a choice—it comes from the heart. You either want to believe or you don’t. I so believed in God and knew that he would see me through this most difficult time. After all, (God) is the physician of all physicians.” Fair’s earlier kindness to a young girl reaped benefits to not only herself, but another kidney transplant recipient as well. Because Fair had sponsored Janette “Jay” Diaz into Milton Hershey School, Diaz wanted to repay her kindness by donating her kidney to Fair. But after testing, the two weren’t a match. Instead, they were put on the Paired Donor List for a live match. Diaz matched a woman in Pittsburgh, and that woman’s friend, Marlane, matched Fair for a fourway swap. “So exciting!” Fair said. On Feb. 21, 2011, Marlane’s kidney was flown from the Thomas E. Starzl Transplant Institute of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center to Harrisburg Hospital, where Fair was waiting for the lifesaving surgery. After an excellent recovery, Fair decided to compile her journal entries and craft them into a book, Transplanted to Better Health. “I wanted to offer hope and encouragement to patients who were suffering from kidney failure, or anyone suffering from a serious illness in general,” Fair said. In her memoir, Fair describes the good and bad days, the ups and downs of dialysis treatment, waiting for a lifesaving kidney transplant, and the road to recovery. “My story will be familiar for anyone who has been down the road with kidney failure, and will uplift and empower those who are just setting foot on that path,” she said. “My book is like one patient talking to another patient.” But what sets Fair’s book apart from others is the details in her journals that only a person with a medical background would include. Fair is a medical technician who worked in a doctor’s office. A signed copy of Fair’s book may be purchased from Fair by emailing her at transplanted44@hotmail.com or through Amazon.com as a book or an e-book. To receive a signed copy, send a check payable to Fair Book Publishing for $18, which includes shipping, to: FBP, 1522 Collingdale Circle, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050. To engage Fair as a speaker, contact her at the above email address.
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Dauphin County
Calendar of Events Dauphin County Department of Parks and Recreation
Senior Center Activities
Jan. 6, 1 to 4 p.m. – Photography Contest Reception, Wildwood Park Jan. 15, 7 to 8:30 p.m. – Wildwood Winter Lecture Series: “Tall Timber,” Wildwood Park Jan. 29, 7 to 8:30 p.m. – Wildwood Winter Lecture Series: “Ruins in the Wilderness – The Coal Mining Patch Towns of Stony Valley,” Wildwood Park
Bistline Senior Center – (717) 564-5633
Dauphin County Library Programs
Edgemont Senior Center – (717) 236-2221 Friendship Senior Center – (717) 657-1547 Heinz-Menaker Senior Center – (717) 238-7860
East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, (717) 652-9380
Highspire Area Senior Center – (717) 939-4580
Elizabethville Area Library, 80 N. Market St., Elizabethville, (717) 362-9825 Jan. 3, 6 p.m. – Friends of Elizabethville Area Library Meeting
Hoy/Latsha Senior Center – (717) 939-9833
Harrisburg Downtown Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-4976
Hummelstown Senior Center – (717) 566-6855
Johnson Memorial Library, 799 E. Center St., Millersburg, (717) 692-2658
Jewish Community Center – (717) 236-9555
Kline Branch, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-3934
Lick Towers Senior Center – (717) 233-0388
Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library, 2410 N. Third St., Harrisburg, (717) 232-7286
Lykens Senior Center – (717) 453-7985
McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-4976
Millersburg Senior Center – (717) 692-2657
Northern Dauphin Library, 683 Main St., Lykens, (717) 453-9315 William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949 Jan. 8, 6:30 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book Club Jan. 15, 1 p.m. – Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club
Mohler Senior Center – (717) 533-2002, www.hersheyseniorcenter.com Jan. 2, 9:15 a.m. – Beginner Tap Class Jan. 2, 12:30 p.m. – Shuffleboard/Wii Jan. 21, noon to 2 p.m. – Mohler Soup Cook-off
Programs and Support Groups
Royalton Senior Center – (717) 944-4831
Free and open to the public.
Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682, www.rutherfordhouse.org Wednesdays, 12:15 p.m. – Free Aerobics
Jan. 16, 1:30 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group on East Shore Jewish Home 4004 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 441-8627
Jan. 22, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Parental Loss Support Group AseraCare Hospice 75 S. Houcks Road, Suite 101, Harrisburg (717) 541-4466
Jan. 17, 1:30 p.m. Hershey Area AARP Meeting Spring Creek Church of the Brethren 335 E. Areba Ave., Hershey (717) 832-3282
Jan. 29, 6 p.m. Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Walking Club Gander Mountain 5005 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 991-5232
Jan. 19, 10 a.m. Teamster 776 Retirees Meeting Union Hall 2552 Jefferson St., Harrisburg (717) 233-8766
Steelton Senior Center – (717) 939-0693
Give Us the Scoop!
If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in Dauphin County! Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com
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Savvy Senior
Eye Care Coverage and Services for Retirees Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Does Medicare cover eye care? I had excellent vision insurance through my employer for many years but lost it when I retired, and now I am confused as to what Medicare actually covers. What can you tell me? — Living on a Budget
degeneration, retinopathy, glaucoma, or dry eye syndrome.
Dear Living, Many retirees are confused with what Medicare will and won’t cover when it comes to eye care. Here’s a breakdown of how Medicare handles different types of vision care services, along with some additional tips that can help you get affordable care when needed.
• Diabetic eye exams: if you have diabetes, yearly exams for diabetic retinopathy.
Medicare Coverage If you have original Medicare (Part A and B), it’s important to know that “routine” vision care like eye exams, eye refractions, eyeglasses, or contact lenses are generally not covered. But, “medically necessary” eye care usually is. Here’s a list of what is covered:
• Glaucoma screenings: annual screenings for those at high risk (diabetics, those with a family history of glaucoma, or those who are African-American or Hispanic).
• Macular degeneration: certain treatments are covered. You also need to be aware that of the eye care services that are covered by Medicare, you’re still responsible for 20 percent of the cost— Medicare pays the other 80 percent. To help with this out-ofpocket expense, some Medigap supplemental policies provide gap coverage. Or, if you have Medicare Advantage, some plans provide eye care benefits. Be sure you check with your plan administrator.
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month
• Eye surgeries: any surgical procedure that helps repair the function of the eye like cataract removal, cornea transplant, glaucoma surgery, etc. • Eyeglasses or contacts: only if you’ve had cataract surgery. • Medical eye exams: only if you’re having vision problems that indicate a serious eye condition like macular www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Ways to Save If you find your eye care needs aren’t covered, or you can’t afford the 20 percent out-of-pocket that Medicare doesn’t cover, there are other ways to save. For starters, if you need a refractive eye exam or a new pair of eyeglasses, many optometrists and eyeglass dealers offer discounts—usually between 10 and 30 percent—to seniors who request it. Memberships in groups like AAA and
AARP can also provide lower rates. Another way to get low-cost eye care is at an optometry school. Many offer affordable care provided by students that are overseen by their professors. See www.opted.org for a directory of schools and their contact information. Assistance Programs Depending on where you live, there may also be some local clinics or charitable organizations that provide free or discounted eye care or eyeglasses. Put in a call to your local Lions Club to see what’s available in your area. To reach your local club, visit www.directory. lionsclubs.org or call (800) 747-4448 to get the number to your state Lions Club office, which can refer you to your community representative. Or, if you need medical eye care, check into EyeCare America. This is a
national program that provides comprehensive medical eye examinations to seniors age 65 and older and up to one year of treatment at no cost. They accept Medicare or other insurance as full payment. And if you don’t have insurance, care is free. To learn more or to find out if you qualify, visit www.eyecareamerica.org. If you’re under age 65, some other services that can help include Mission Cataract USA (www.missioncataract usa.org), which provides free cataract surgery to low-income people who don’t have insurance. And Vision USA (www.optometryscharity.org/vision-usa, (800) 766-4466) provides free vision care to uninsured and low-income workers and their families. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org.
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