Dauphin County Edition
January 2015
Vol. 17 No. 1
Penning a ‘New Normal’ Volunteer EMT, Former Deputy Coroner Heals by Writing Memoir By Chelsea Peifer Whenever Janice Ballenger’s name was listed on the schedule as deputy coroner, the 911 dispatchers joked that they knew they were in for a demanding day. “My initial years as deputy coroner were filled with a lot of horrific calls,” said Ballenger. “Scenes that I can never erase from my mind.” Ballenger, 62, had been working at a bank for 23 years when she read a headline stating a need for volunteers for emergency situations—no experience necessary. She began volunteering as a vehicle rescue technician before becoming an emergency medical technician and then serving as her county’s first female deputy coroner from 2004 to 2008. “It was quite the struggle to balance working full time, volunteering as an EMT, and doing deputy coroner calls 24 hours a week,” Ballenger said. “The amount of time that is required to be a volunteer is unbelievable.” Ballenger volunteered for nearly 20 years. While beginning in her 40s was a “late start,” she said that just proves that it is never too late to follow your dreams. Volunteers are the world’s greatest unsung heroes, and many people have no idea how much money is saved thanks to volunteer efforts, said Ballenger. “If I could say something to those aspiring to enter any of these fields, it please see NEW NORMAL page 14 Janice Ballenger, volunteer EMT and former deputy coroner. The local ambulance association was on the scene with Ballenger during the aftermath of the shooting at the West Nickel Mines School in October 2006.
Inside:
Costars Remember Elvis the Actor page 10
How to Fight Age Discrimination page 12
Dear Readers, Notice anything different on this issue’s front cover? It’s been 20 years since the first issue of 50plus Senior News hit newsstands, and some traces of a rich, green hue signal the arrival of our “emerald anniversary”! A lot has changed for us in two decades. 50plus Senior News has expanded to encompass six counties in Central Pennsylvania. Its contents now “come to life” at six annual 50plus EXPOs. This publication that began as a humble yet passionate local effort to bring news and entertainment to Central Pennsylvania’s seniors has gone on to garner dozens of national awards. The designs of our logo, pages, and cover have evolved over the years, but our commitment to serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50-plus community has stayed the same. Keep an eye out in the coming months for some special retrospective features as we peek back at our beginnings in 1995—while still focusing on 2015 and the exciting future ahead.
Jan. 24
– The criminal trial of O.J. Simpson began in California. On Oct. 3, the Los Angeles jury found him not guilty of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman. A civil court would award a wrongful-death judgment against Simpson in 1997.
April 19
– A car bomb detonated outside the Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Okla., killing 168 people. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were later convicted of the antigovernment plot to avenge the Branch Davidian standoff in Waco, Texas, exactly two years prior.
Oct. 16 – The Million Man March, a political demonstration to promote African-American unity and family values, drew hundreds of thousands of African-American men to Washington, D.C. Louis Farrakhan organized the event; speakers included Jesse Jackson, Maya Angelou, and Rosa Parks.
Happy New Year,
Donna Anderson, President On-Line Publishers, Inc.
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January 2015
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Social Security News
Social Security Announces 2015 COLA By John Johnston Happy New Year from Social Security! Put down the champagne and ring in the New Year with a COLA! And we don’t mean the soda. In 2015, nearly 64 million Americans who receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will receive a 1.7 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase to their monthly benefit payments.
The average monthly Social Security benefit for a retired worker in 2015 is $1,328 (up from $1,306 in 2014). The average monthly Social Security benefit for a disabled worker in 2015 is $1,165 (up from $1,146 in 2014). For people who receive SSI, the maximum federal payment amount increased to $733 (up from $721 in 2014). Other Social Security changes in 2015 are also worth noting. For example, the
maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security payroll tax will increase to $118,500 (up from $117,000 in 2014). A worker will earn one credit toward Social Security coverage after paying taxes on $1,220 in earnings in 2015 (up from $1,200 in 2014). As a reminder, eligibility for retirement benefits still requires 40 credits (usually about 10 years of work). Information about Medicare changes
for 2015 is available at www.medicare.gov. The Social Security Act outlines how the COLA is calculated. To read more about the COLA, please visit www.socialsecurity.gov/cola. To learn more about other changes in 2015, read our fact sheet at www.socialsecurity.gov/news/press/factsheets/ colafacts2015.html. 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. 4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 545-4001 Emergency Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 780-6130
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
Floor Coverings Gipe Floor & Wall Covering 5435 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 545-6103
Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY
Funeral Directors Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc. 4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 545-4001
Home Modifications 3-D Consultants (717) 651-5133
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 www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Senior Home Repairs (717) 545-8747 Hospice Services Homeland Hospice 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg (717) 221-7890 Housing/Apartments B’Nai B’rith Apartments 130 S. Third St., Harrisburg (717) 232-7516
Housing Assistance Dauphin County Housing Authority (717) 939-9301
Services Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 255-2790
Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937
The Salvation Army Edgemont Temple Corps (717) 238-8678
Insurance Apprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067 Legal Services Daley Zucker Meilton & Miner, LLC Attorneys at Law 635 N. 12th St., Lemoyne (717) 724-9821
Toll-Free Numbers American Lung Association (800) LUNG-USA Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555 Meals on Wheels (800) 621-6325
Nursing/Rehab Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902
National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046
Personal Care Homes Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902
Veterans Affairs (717) 626-1171 or (800) 827-1000
Pharmacy CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
Social Security Office (800) 772-1213
Transportation CAT Share-A-Ride (717) 232-6100 Veterans Services Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
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January 2015
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Salute to a Veteran
In an Air Force Plane, He Brought the Gas to You … 30,000 Gallons at a Time
Corporate Office: 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com
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January 2015
Robert D. Wilcox ete Billis was born in Greece. His home was the island of Chios, one of those picturesque Greek islands that today draw millions of tourists to share their beauty. In 1970, however, his dad found the U.S. a lot more attractive, and he, with his wife and three children, left for Central Pennsylvania. Why here? “Because that’s where my dad’s sister and friends of our family were living,” Billis says. The area quickly became home to Billis, and he was soon speaking English without an accent. After Sgt. Billis on leave in 1992. graduation from McCaskey High School in 1982, he entered Millersville University, graduating in 1986. He then “wanted to do something for his country and to see the world,” as he puts it. So he enlisted in the Air Force. He had basic training in Texas at Lackland Air Force Base. While there, an Air Force master sergeant he knew suggested that he take inflight refueling as a career field. Normally, you had to complete a more basic assignment for three or Sgt. Peter Billis in the pilot’s more years after basic training before compartment of a KC-135 Stratotanker. requesting assignment to in-flight refueling, but a special Air Force program briefly opened the program transfer the fuel in flight that our up, and Billis took it. bombers and fighters needed in After air crew training at order to extend their range for long Sheppard AFB in Texas, and then flights or, for the fighters, to extend land- and water-survival training at Fairchild AFB in Washington, he was the loiter time on station. The fuel was transferred through a assigned to advanced training as an boom at the tail section of the KCin-flight fueling specialist at Castle 135, with the receiving plane only AFB in California. Upon graduation, he was qualified feet from the tail of the tanker. The pilot of the KC-135 and the to fly in KC-135 Stratotankers as receiving airplane had to carefully they refueled aircraft in flight. He maintain exactly the same speed and was home-based at Grissom AFB in position throughout the refueling. Indiana while flying missions in The boom operator of the KC135 many parts of the world. lay on his belly while he peered out a The KC-135 was the Air Force’s small window and carefully first jet-powered refueling tanker. It was needed in order to keep up with maneuvered the boom through a small port near the nose of the the speed of the Air Force’s new jet airplane following behind and below fighters and bombers. him. At that time, the success of the Holding more than 30,000 gallons of aviation fuel, it was able to mission was literally in his hands.
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Did it take a lot of skill to do his job? “Not according to the Air Force after all the training they gave us,” Billis says with a grin. “But lives depended on our ability to do it right. Both bombers and interceptors routinely flew missions that required in-flight refueling. And that happened around the world.” Did Billis ever have a time when things didn’t go well? “Well,” he reflects, “there was one time when our F-16s were scrambled to meet Russian bombers off Iceland that were trying to penetrate restricted airspace. It was nighttime, and we were at 30,000 feet when I needed to refuel an F-16 whose light on the receiving port had failed, and I had to find the port in the dark. “It was touch and go, but fortunately, I was able to handle that, and the F-16 pilot was saved from a stark experience, since the F-16s, because of the foulest weather at Iceland, had to fly on to England to land after the mission.” Often they were called upon to refuel the AWACS aircraft we used in order to conduct missions in Iran and Afghanistan. And they were sometimes tasked to fuel aircraft being flown in efforts to control drug trafficking. In October 1993, Billis, by then a sergeant, was discharged and came home to Central Pennsylvania. He became a distributor of Pepperidge Farm products, and then in 2002 established his own eBay business, selling collectibles, mostly stamps and coins. Asked what he thinks about his years in the Air Force, he says, “They were wonderful years. I met some of the finest people in this world. In fact, one of my greatest regrets is that I didn’t stay in until retirement. “It’s not that I’m not happy now … but for me, the Air Force was a wonderful and very special place to be.” Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori
Jewelry Storage Tips
Home Modifications Aging-in-Place Specialists Helping people live independently and safely in their homes
Lori Verderame
D
id you get a piece of jewelry this holiday season? Jewelry is a very popular type of collectible. In addition to sprucing up an outfit, jewelry pieces, precious metals, and gemstones hold their value well in the antiques and vintage marketplace. So, storing these valuables is important. Gold and silver pieces can get scratched when stored next to each other or next to other pieces in a jewelry box. These precious metals can damage fragile jewelry items, like pearls and shells, too. Store gold pieces by themselves or in a felt- or velvet-lined box when possible. Gold necklaces ideally should be stored hanging up by their clasp to prevent damage. Gold bracelets should be stored flat when possible. Bangles need their own storage boxes to prevent dents and damage too. Always store pearls separately in a padded case or jewelry compartment. This will prevent damage to the soft, cultured pearl’s luster surface.
And, pearls should be restrung as soon as you notice that the individual knots are getting stretched out or loose. You will lose the pearls if the string breaks—I guarantee it. For gemstones set in rings, use ring holders that separate set stones and their settings from one another. This will prevent scrapes and scratches and retain a stone’s clarity, too. Watches should not be stopped when stored. Let the watch run so you do not damage the battery or movement. Store watches flat, and use a soft cloth to cover the dial and protect the crystal face when storing them. When it comes to fine jewelry, protecting your investment goes hand in hand with proper storage. Celebrity Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori hosts antiques appraisal events worldwide. Dr. Lori is the star appraiser on Discovery channel’s TV show Auction Kings. Visit www.DrLoriV.com, www.Facebook.com/DoctorLori, Lori Verderame at Google+, or call (888) 431-1010.
We provide installation of: •Handrails, grab bars, walk-in showers and tubs, and support systems •Barrier-free bathrooms and kitchens •Walkway and ramp installation Threshold ramps (rentals available) •Automatic door openers •Door widening/structural alterations/room additions •Stair lifts
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SPRING 2015: It’s Just Around the Corner!
Help Your Business Bl
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Disk Damage: Watch Your Back A herniated spinal disk can cause severe pain. Spinal disks act as cushions between your vertebrae, and if they become damaged or slip out of place, they can irritate surrounding nerves. The result: weakness, numbness, and/or pain in arms, legs, or back. Watch for these risk factors to assess your vulnerability: Age. Spinal disks degenerate over time, becoming less flexible and more likely to tear as you grow older. Weight. Extra weight puts more of a strain on your lower back. Lifting. If your job (or your personal life) requires you to do a lot of heavy lifting, be sure to pick objects up properly and safely to avoid injury. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Genetics. The Mayo Clinic website points out that some people inherit a tendency to develop disks that herniate easily.
March 21, 2015
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Deal Me In By Mark Pilarski
Who Watches Them? ‘Them’ Being the Casino Dear Mark: I know that you have clearly stated multiple times in your column that casinos do not cheat. I am still leery of your belief. I guess my question is: Who monitors the casino
to ensure their slot machines are on the up-and-up? – Jared J. Every state that offers land-based casinos has some form of a gaming
Selfless ...Generous ...Tireless Does this describe a 50+ volunteer in your community? Then nominate them for On-Line Publishers’
2015 Dauphin County Outstanding Senior Award! The Outstanding Senior Award recognizes a + 50 county resident or group for exceptional community service. On a separate sheet, please type or print in ink: • Their contributions to the local area—be specific
regulatory agency that provides you, the casino patron, with protection from playing on a rigged machine. Let’s begin with the machine itself. Each new slot machine goes through roughly a six-month process to be approved before it hits the casino floor. A state’s gaming regulatory agency tests the machine to make sure that it operates randomly by scrutinizing how it selects the reel stops on a slot machine. The agency does a thorough inspection of the machine’s source code for any possible problems and then peeks at the principles behind how the random generation occurs. Only then is the machine placed out in the field (casino) for more testing before final approval.
After the proverbial two thumbs up, the manufacturer can then sell that configuration of that slot machine to the casino. Testing then continues once the machine is placed into operation. For starters, the machine will run selftests to make sure it hasn’t been tampered with; plus, it makes sure it runs within certain parameters— meaning it doesn’t pay out too little or too much. These internal tests also look out for the casino’s best interest in that they make sure the slot machine isn’t susceptible to cheating. In most (if not all) states, machines are also subject to random spot checks in which someone from gaming verifies that a machine is identical to the approved
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• How they have impacted the community • A name, address, and phone number for the nominee(s)— no photos, please No posthumous selections will be made. This form must be used for all entries but may be photocopied.
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configuration, it has not been tampered with, and the chips in the machine match the reference chips approved by the agency. Agents in the field show up unannounced and armed with a laptop computer that has a database of all the chip signatures. Each chip has a code number that contains all its attributes, including its return percentages. Agents will know on the spot if the chip is legit by inserting the chip into their specialized laptop; it reads the chip and all its contents to certify that it is an approved value chip. Any hanky panky (Tommy James and the Shondells, 1966), and we’re talking the possible loss of a gaming license. Besides, most casinos today are publicly traded companies not interested in exposing their gaming license to loss with any suspicion of monkey business going on. Furthermore, in some states, casinos can’t even access the logic boards in their machines. Only the gaming authority can either make the change or witness the swap. Some states do allow casinos to make variations to slot machines under that state’s regulations. By variations, I mean either a paytable modification or a chip swap inside a machine to make it return more or less.
As long as “approved” chips are used, and the payback is within the minimum limit set by each state’s law, it is legit. Another reason the slot machine is on the up-and-up is that every machine offered is mathematically in the casino’s favor. It is the way they make their moolah—by paying you less than the true odds on every machine on the casino floor. Why cheat? There isn’t any need to swindle you beyond what the state already allows them via the casino hold. They don’t call slot machines “one-armed bandits” for nothin’. Please take into account, Jared, that my above answer is to some degree generalized. Each gaming jurisdiction may use a slightly different approach, but you can rest assured that who’s watching whom is watching out for you. Gambling Wisdom of the Month: “Slot machines are the cotton candy and the McDonald’s of the casino. Everyone knows that they’re bad for you, but few can resist their junk-food appeal.” – Andrew Brisman
Debit cards are more popular than credit cards among the younger generation by a 3-to-1 margin and hold a 2-to-1 lead among users of all ages. Americans held balances on credit cards in the amount of half a trillion dollars by the end of the first half of 2014, according to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
Harrisburg Couple Marks 67 Years Kenneth Leroy Dietrich and Ruth Elizabeth (Pannebaker) Dietrich of Harrisburg recently celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary. They were married in Harrisburg on Dec. 13, 1947. Mr. Dietrich, of Lykens, retired from Brenner Motors and is a World War II veteran. Mrs. Dietrich, of Thompsontown, retired from the state of Pennsylvania. They are the parents of three daughters: Janice Brown, Gillett, Pa.; Nancy Jo Dietrich, Harrisburg; and Patti Roberts, Pottstown. They have five grandchildren.
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Reserve your space now for the 16th annual
Mark Pilarski is a recognized authority on casino gambling, having survived 18 years in the casino trenches. Pilarski is the creator of the bestselling, award-winning audio book series on casino gambling, Hooked on Winning. www.markpilarski.com
Is Cash Losing its Cachet? We may not be moving toward a cashless society, but for some people, paying with plastic is the preferred way to go. A survey from CreditCard.com found that 51 percent of adults under 30 will use a credit or debit card for purchases less than $5, while 77 percent of people 50 or older prefer to pay cash when buying something for $5 or less.
Does Your Marketing Reach Active, Affluent Boomers & Seniors?
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Exhibitors • Health Screenings Seminars • Entertainment • Door Prizes
Why Participate? It’s the premier event for baby boomers, caregivers, and seniors in Dauphin County • Face-to-face interaction with 2,500+ attendees • Strengthen brand recognition/launch new products
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Traveltizers
Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel
A Quest for the Ests: Visiting the Extremes of the United States It worked. Today, the scenic drive—a two-lane ribbon that winds between towering evergreens, open meadows, and lovely alpine lakes—is one of Colorado’s top attractions. (www.mountevans.com)
By Andrea Gross ’m a sucker for superlatives. My personal bucket list demands that I visit as many “ests” as possible, places that hold the record for being the highest, hottest, or in some way the very best of their category. I thought compiling the list would be simple, especially after I limited it to the United States, but of course it wasn’t. I ran into myriad problems of measurement and definition. Eventually I came up with my own criteria, based as much on practicality and desirability as on quantifiable data. Here, my recommendations for the Best of the Ests:
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Highest I have no intention of actually climbing the tallest peak, which rules out Alaska’s Mt. McKinley (20,237 feet), yet I want to do more than peer toward the heavens. Thus I head for Colorado’s Mount
Photo courtesy of National Park Service
A boardwalk at Badwater Basin leads from a parking lot to the salt flats that mark the lowest point in the United States.
Photo courtesy of National Park Service
The salt flats of Death Valley are not hospitable to plants or animals.
People who take a short hike from the highest paved parking lot in the U.S. to the summit of Mt. Evans can brag that they’ve climbed one of Colorado’s famous Fourteeners (mountains that rise more than 14,000 feet above sea level).
Evans. At 14,265 feet, Mount Evans is a pigmy among giants, but—and this is important—it’s home to the highest paved road. This means I can drive almost all the way to the country’s highest parking lot,
walk a mere quarter mile to the summit, and voila, I’ll be standing atop the highest reasonably accessible peak in the U.S. The highway was built between 1917 and 1927 as a means of drawing tourists.
Lowest Choosing the lowest spot is easy. Since I quickly rule out deep-sea diving and descending into a mine, I’m left with Death Valley, Calif., which is the lowest point of dry land that was formed by nature as opposed to by man-and-shovel. The valley’s precise lowest point (282 feet below sea level) is near Badwater Basin, which sits amidst nearly 200 square miles of salt flats. A boardwalk lets visitors walk part way into the basin, but most folks step down onto the actual flats. The landscape is bizarre but beautiful, a pattern of interlocking shapes created by the valley’s unique combination of extreme heat, minimal rainfall, and low elevation. (www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm)
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January 2015
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Make your New Year’s resolution peace of mind for you and your family by preplanning with
Great Sand Dunes National Park has the tallest dunes in North America.
Photo courtesy of Forks Chamber of Commerce
Forks, Wash., is the gateway to the rainforests of Olympic National Park.
Call or email to make an appointment with our friendly staff today to discuss the wide variety of options available. Easy Access Off of I-83, Exit 50B
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Photo courtesy of Mount Washington Observatory
Scientists at the Mount Washington Observatory work in a place that’s reputed to have the worst weather in the world.
Driest Here I run into trouble. Calexico, a small town on the California-Mexico border, has the lowest annual rainfall, but Death Valley has the most consecutive days with no rainfall. In the end I opt for neither. In my mind, “dry” suggests a place where I can mount a camel and ride endless miles across towering sand dunes. Calexico is dune-less, and while Death Valley has dunes, they aren’t record-setters. For that I have to go to Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado, which, although devoid of camels, has 750-foot-tall sand piles, the highest in North America. Later I learn that the dunes aren’t really dry. In fact, it’s the moist layer of sand right under the surface that holds the upper dry sand in place. But that’s OK. At this point in my Quest-Est, I’m more concerned with imagery than scientific accuracy. (www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm) Wettest As for the wettest place, I must choose between the soggiest land or the drippiest sky. Since I don’t have a pair of wet boots but own several umbrellas, I decide on Hawaii’s Mount Waleleale. Then I learn that the mountain’s average rainfall exceeds 38 feet a year—a fact that greatly dampens my enthusiasm (pardon the pun)—so I restrict my search to the contiguous United States and end up on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula. While the Aberdeen Reservoir is the rainiest place, with 130.6 inches a year, Forks is the rainiest town, with 120 inches a year. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
More important, it’s given this accolade not only by the National Climatic Data Center, but also by Stephenie Meyer, who used it as a setting for her Twilight book series. Why, I may even spot a vampire along the shore or amidst the trees, and this makes Forks a double superlative— winner of both the wettest and the weirdest categories. (www.forkswa.com) Coldest Once I exclude non-contiguous Alaska, Rogers Pass, Mont., holds the record for a one-day temperature low (minus 70 F), but the peak of New Hampshire’s Mount Washington wins the title for all-time year-around cold (annual average temperature of 27 F). In addition, with wind gusts that sometimes reach more than 230 mph, it’s also considered the windiest place in the United States. Therefore, with masochistic determination I head to the summit. The road is steep, narrow, and bordered with deadly drop-offs. But am I glad I went? Absolutely. The view on top is spectacular and, what’s more, at the Weather Discovery Center in nearby North Conway I learn that Mount Washington holds bragging rights to the best Est of all: Home of the World’s Worst Weather. It’s a perfect way to end my search. The title of “worst” makes Mount Washington the “best.” (www.mountwashington.org) Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).
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Tinseltown Talks
Costars Remember Elvis the Actor Nick Thomas or many, the title “King of Rock ’n’ Roll” is reserved for one man: Elvis Presley. Had he lived, the King would have celebrated his 80th birthday on Jan. 8, 2015. Unlike most departed singers who are remembered largely for their music, Presley lives on through a phenomenal number of appearances in scripted motion pictures—31 in all—beginning with Love Me Tender in 1956 and ending 13 years later with Change of Habit in 1969. His movies provide a unique glimpse into another dimension of one of the 20th century’s greatest entertainers. Although his films were often dismissed due to weak and predictable scripts, critics generally regarded Presley as a surprisingly good actor. But what did costars think about working with Presley? In 1966, 10-year-old Donna
F
Donna Butterworth and Elvis in Paradise, Hawaiian Style
Marlyn Mason and Elvis in The Trouble with Girls
Butterworth costarred in Paradise, Hawaiian Style, the second Presley film set in Hawaii. “My mom and dad took me to see Blue Hawaii when I was just a little girl, and I fell in love with him right then and there,” said Butterworth. “I used to listen
to his records, and I couldn’t get enough Elvis.” Butterworth recalls filming her first scene on the cliffs of Makapuu, on Oahu. “I had to run up into Elvis’s arms and call out, ‘Uncle Rick, Uncle Rick.’ But I
had only met him a few minutes before that. So when the director called ‘action,’ I ran up and got in his arms and his face was about 4 inches from my face. “After all the anticipation of meeting Elvis Presley and working with him, I just froze. I couldn’t believe I was so close to this beautiful man! All the crew cracked up because they knew I was so enamored. In fact, Elvis laughed the hardest—he just loved to laugh.” Unlike Butterworth, 7-year-old Susan Olsen wasn’t a Presley fan when she briefly appeared in the talent-contest audition scene in Presley’s second-to-last film, The Trouble with Girls (1969). “I couldn’t understand all the hype over him, and I didn’t even think he was good-looking!” said Olsen, who went on to play youngest daughter Cindy on the popular ’60s TV show The Brady Bunch. That changed after their first brief encounter.
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“I remember that a bunch of the kids’ mothers suddenly started screaming. Elvis had come out of his dressing room, and they crowded around him for autographs. So I thought, ‘What the heck! I’ll get one too.’ “So I went up to him—and I’m not making this up—when he looked at me, I thought, ‘Oh, I get it! I see why they like him so much.’ He had this special aura about him. I was just dumbstruck; I couldn’t say anything. He signed the photo, handed it to me, and said, ‘Here ya go, darling.’” Presley’s leading lady in The Trouble with Girls came away with more than just an autograph. Marlyn Mason snagged an on-screen kiss. “It was a comedy kiss,” said Mason, indicating that the only fireworks were the real ones in the movie scene. “He was great fun to work with, because I could throw anything at him and he’d just throw it right back.” She also recalls a private moment when Presley shared thoughts about his acting. “The saddest thing Elvis said to me was, ‘I’d like to make one good film because I know people in this town laugh at me.’ I’ll never forget that,” she said. “But he was always down to earth and comfortable with himself. Some of that
dialogue was everyone was so corny, but having a good he managed time,” said to bring a Hutchins, realness to it. who first And I think worked in that’s just Spinout how he was (1966). in real life. The He was a following year natural he costarred comedian, with Presley and his in Clambake, Wilda Taylor as Little Egypt with Elvis in Roustabout timing was which just featured a lot impeccable. I of ad-libbing just found him to and fooling be a very genuine around on the set. person.” “It was more Despite his or less a de facto fame, Will stag party because Hutchins says Elvis was getting Presley didn’t play married soon after the celebrity, the filming was although he was finished,” recalled usually Hutchins. “Elvis accompanied on and his buddies most of his films would set off Will Hutchins and Elvis in Clambake by pals—the sofirecrackers. It was called Memphis pretty wild, but a Mafia. lot of fun. For the director’s birthday, “On the set, Elvis was like a host—a they had a cake and pushed it right in his Southern gentleman—making sure face!”
Wilda Taylor appeared in three Elvis Presley films but strutted into Presley movie history as exotic dancer Little Egypt in Roustabout (1964). “We rehearsed for about two weeks,” said Taylor. “Elvis was in and out of the rehearsal hall every so often between his other busy filming days for the other scenes. He knew his material and music well, and I grew to admire him a great deal. “It’s amazing, through the years, how many people know about me and Little Egypt from that film. Oddly enough, I really didn’t know much about Elvis before we worked together, but I found him to be a lovely, darling person, and I was just pleased to be a small part of his life.” With each passing decade since his death in 1977 at age 42, the Elvis Presley legend and legacy continue to grow. When viewed in the context of the often zany ’60s TV and film period, it is gratifying that there exists such an extensive film library of the most celebrated entertainer in history. Thomas’ features and columns have appeared in more than 400 magazines and newspapers, and he is the author of Raised by the Stars, published by McFarland. He can be reached at his blog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com
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Savvy Senior
How to Fight Age Discrimination Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, What constitutes age discrimination in the workplace, and where can I turn for help if I think I’ve got a case? – Demoted at 64 Dear Demoted, Age discrimination has become a much more frequent complaint in recent years as more and more people are working into their retirement years. But, you need to be aware that proving it is extremely difficult to do, especially since the 2009 Supreme Court decision that raised the bar for the type of legal proof that workers need to win agediscrimination lawsuits. With that said, here are the steps you’ll need to take to fight age discrimination if you think you’ve been treated unlawfully.
ADEA Protection The Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) is your first defense against age discrimination. This is a federal law that says an employer cannot fire, refuse to hire, or treat you differently from other employees because of your age. Some examples of age discrimination include:
• You were fired because your boss wanted to keep younger workers who are paid less. • You were turned down for a promotion, which went to someone younger hired from outside the company, because the boss says the company “needs new blood.” • When company layoffs are announced, most of the persons laid off were older,
while younger workers with less seniority and less on-the-job experience were kept on. • Before you were fired, your supervisor made age-related remarks about you. • You didn’t get hired because the employer wanted a younger-looking person to do the job. The ADEA protects all workers and job applicants age 40 and over who work for employers that have 20 or more employees—including federal, state, and local governments as well as employment agencies and labor unions. If your workplace has fewer than 20 employees, you may still be protected under your state’s anti-age-discrimination
Calendar of Events
Dauphin County
Programs and Support Groups
Senior Center Activities
Free and open to the public.
Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682, www.rutherfordhouse.org Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – Aerobics Thursdays, 10 a.m. – Healthy Steps in Motion Fridays, noon – Chair Yoga
Jan. 13, 6 to 7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Graysonview Personal Care Community 150 Kempton Ave., Harrisburg (717) 561-8010
Jan. 21, 1:30 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group on East Shore Jewish Home of Harrisburg 4004 Linglestown Road Harrisburg (717) 441-8627
Jan. 15 1:30 p.m. Hershey Area AARP Chapter No. 3466 Meeting Spring Creek Church of the Brethren 335 E. Areba Ave., Hershey (717) 832-3282
Jan. 27, 6 p.m. Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Walking Club Gander Mountain 5005 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 991-5232
Jan. 28, 7 p.m. Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Middletown St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Spring and Union streets, Middletown (717) 915-5555 gsk1308@gmail.com
Dauphin County Department of Parks and Recreation
Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.
Dauphin County Library Programs Kline Branch, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-3934 Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m. – Friends of the Kline Library Meeting William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949 Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book Club Jan. 14, 6 p.m. – Second Wednesday Cinema Jan. 15, 6 to 8 p.m. – Knitting Club
Jan. 6, 7 to 8:30 p.m. – Winter Lecture Series: “The Power of One Voice: A 50-Year Perspective on Rachel Carson,” Wildwood Park Jan. 20, 7 to 8:30 p.m. – Winter Lecture Series: “Gifford Pinchot: More than a Forester,” Wildwood Park Wednesdays, Jan. 28 to March 18, 6 to 8 p.m. – Fly-tying Classes with Doc Fritchey Chapter of Trout Unlimited, Wildwood Park
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law. Contact your state labor department or your state’s fair employment practices agency for more information. Another protection for older workers is the federal Older Workers Benefit Protection Act. Under this law, an employer cannot reduce health or life insurance benefits for older employees, nor can it stop their pensions from accruing if they work past their normal retirement age. It also discourages businesses from targeting older workers when cutting staff and prohibits employers from forcing employees to take early retirement. What to Do If you think you are a victim of employment age discrimination, your first step is to file a charge with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) usually within 180 days from the date of the alleged violation. You can do this by mail or in person at your nearest EEOC office (see www.eeoc.gov/contact) or by calling (800) 669-4000. They will help you through the filing process and let you know if you should also file a charge with your state anti-discrimination agency.
Once the charge is filed, the EEOC will investigate your complaint and find either reasonable cause to believe that age discrimination has occurred or no cause and no basis for a claim. After the investigation, the EEOC will then send you their findings along with a “notice of right to sue,” which gives you permission to file a lawsuit in a court of law. If you decide to sue, you’ll need to hire a lawyer who specializes in employee discharge suits. Lawyers.com and FindLaw (www.findlaw.com) are two websites that can help you locate discrimination attorneys in your area. Another option you should consider is mediation, which is a fair and efficient way to help you resolve your employment disputes and reach an agreement. The EEOC offers mediation at no cost if your current or former employer agrees to participate. At mediation, you show up with your evidence, your employer presents theirs, and the mediator makes a determination within a day or less.
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NEW NORMAL
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would be that these ‘jobs’ are not as glamorous as portrayed on television,” Ballenger said. “They require a huge amount of commitment and an everlarger amount of caring and compassion. “They are not for the faint of heart, but you will make a difference—and that’s what it’s all about.” Her goal was to express empathy and caring on every call she responded to. “Even if it was a man with knee pain he’d had for three weeks and [he then] decides to dial 911 at 3 a.m.,” said Ballenger. “In their opinion, when they dial 911, it is one of the worst days of their lives, and I respect that.” Performing CPR on calls for people she knew was very difficult. “I literally had to be pulled off of the one man by the doctor at the hospital as he announced time of death,” Ballenger said. “A little bit of you dies with the person.” Successful and unsuccessful suicides, as well as calls involving children, are always the most difficult, she said. But on Oct. 2, 2006, she responded to a call that nothing could have prepared her for. Ballenger was one of the first responders to the shooting at the West
Nickel Mines School, where a man have no idea how I made it home.” entered the schoolhouse and lined up 10 That night, Ballenger had to complete young Amish girls before shooting them her reports from the haunting tragedy execution style. Five of the girls died; the that she had barely begun to process. gunman later took his own life. “As I downloaded the pictures, it all “I was one seemed surreal,” of the few to said Ballenger. enter the Before she school with could begin the dead processing any bodies still further, her inside,” phone began to Ballenger said. ring nonstop. She asked “CNN called the local to say they were ambulance on their way to crew to clean my home. I Ballenger gives talks in the community about her one of the said, ‘Absolutely experiences and about her memoir, Addicted to Life not.’” girl’s faces & Death: Memoirs of an EMT & Deputy Coroner. because she Ballenger did not want took two weeks the child’s mother to see her face entirely off from everything. She visited the covered in blood. ambulance crew to thank them for “They said they had been told not to everything that they did for the victims touch her. I said, ‘I will take full and families. responsibility and will risk my job on it,’” “It was very emotional. I couldn’t Ballenger recalled. “They agreed and were thank them enough for cleaning her flawless in their work. I am forever face,” Ballenger said. “And I didn’t get in indebted. trouble.” “I was on scene from approximately She met with counselors and visited 11 a.m. until midnight,” she said. “I still with the Amish families who lost their
children on that day. “I still keep in contact with them. I always leave their homes feeling a little better,” Ballenger said. Her mind kept revisiting the inside of the Amish school, and in an effort to find a “new normal,” Ballenger decided to move and sell nearly everything that she owned. “In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t done that,” Ballenger said. “But I was desperate to try to find a normal place in my mind.” She tried crafts and other endeavors to occupy her mind, but writing a memoir about her experiences was what finally gave her a greater sense of peace. Ballenger had been keeping journals of her experiences since she started volunteering. “As I began seeing some gruesome sights, I needed a way to vent my emotions. My brother, John, gave me a lined journal and when I would return home from a call, I recorded my emotions in the journal—which turned into many, many journals,” Ballenger explained. She spent the next two years writing her first book, Addicted to Life & Death: Memoirs of an EMT & Deputy Coroner.
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She gives free talks in the community about her book and experiences and brings a guest speaker with her to discuss suicide and its effects on those left behind. She includes instructions on giving CPR in her talks. “Some people have said, ‘I guess you get used to seeing the things you see.’ No, you never get used to it. If you do, then it is time to get out of doing that work,” Ballenger said. “Others ask how I could do that work. I reply, ‘Everyone has their place on Earth. I am blessed that I was able to do that work for many, many years.
Someone has to do it. But don’t ask me to be a dental hygienist—I could never do that work.” Ballenger is a still a certified EMT but does not run on calls. She works at a skilled nursing facility near Ephrata. Ballenger is available to speak about her experiences and can be reached at (717) 606-3494, janiceballenger@ yahoo.com, or at her Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AddictedToLifeDeathM emoirsOfAnEmtDeputyCoroner. Her book is available online or can be purchased directly through Ballenger; she will sign them as requested.
Volunteer Spotlight Volunteer Cultivates Community Garden RSVP of the Capital Disend turns in an Region has named average of almost 20 Shirley Disend as its hours per week during Dauphin County the height of the growing Volunteer of the Month season and can be found for January. in the garden as early as Disend has been a February and as late as volunteer with RSVP for Thanksgiving. four years and has In cases where the volunteered in several weather doesn’t permit Shirley Disend capacities. Initially, she her to be in the garden, volunteered as a clerical she returns to knitting assistant at the Hospice of Central and crocheting to let others know they Pennsylvania. are thought about. Soon after, she added to her service RSVP would like to thank Shirley to the community as a knitter, Disend for her willingness to share her knitting and crocheting items to be time and talents in service to the donated to veterans or children in greater Harrisburg community. Her need. dedication is exemplary and inspiring Currently, she spends most of her to all who want to lead by example time maintaining the Five Senses and become leaders in the Garden on the Capital Area Greenbelt community. in Harrisburg, a one-of-a-kind sensory For more information on volunteer experience started in 1996. opportunities with RSVP, the The garden has held its ground nation’s largest volunteer program (and flowers and wildlife) despite for adults aged 55-plus, email torrential floods and environmental dauphinrsvp@rsvpcapreg.org, visit adversity because of Disend’s www.rsvcapreg.org, or call RSVP’s Camp leadership in concert with the efforts Hill office at (717) 541-9521 or the of other volunteers and the skillful statewide Senior Corps of Pennsylvania hands of its groundskeepers. hotline toll-free at (800) 870-2616. 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.
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