Dauphin County Edition
June 2012
Vol. 14 No. 6
A Striking Couple Local Couple Continues Bowling after Decades of Partnership By Alysa Poindexter Ralph and Mille Boeshore are truly a striking couple when they are together—whether it is celebrating more than six decades of marriage or rolling impressive strikes at their local bowling alley. Approaching their 66th wedding anniversary in October, the 90-year-old and 87-year-old Mechanicsburg residents’ continued enthusiasm for bowling has earned them several titles and respect amongst fellow bowlers. After decades of being part of such a precious partnership, their love for one another and for bowling is evident. In 1946, Ralph—originally from Jonestown in Lebanon County—had just returned from serving during World War II when the couple first met while working at the Middletown depot. “I was a widow and my husband was killed in Germany,” said Mille. Both were attracted to one another instantly. They can still recall the early blossoming of feelings for each other. “She’s very attractive,” Ralph responded affectionately about his wife. “She wore her hair up—it was very pretty.” “He was a very nice person,” Mille added with a smile. “He’s a loving, dear man—very kind and a caring person.” It was then that couple would discover their shared love of sports on their please see STRIKING page 12 Ralph and Mille Boeshore have spent more than 50 years reaping the benefits of bowling: mental, social, and physical.
Inside:
Memory Loss: What’s Normal, What’s Not page 17
Traveltizers: A Toast to the Keys page 19
Social Security News
Q&A’s for June By Doris Brookens Question: Will my retirement pension from my job reduce the amount of my Social Security benefit? Answer: If your pension is from work where you also paid Social Security taxes, it will not affect your Social Security benefit amount. However, a pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, some federal, state, local, or foreign government retirement systems) probably will reduce the amount of your Social Security benefit. For more information, read Windfall Elimination Provision (publication no. 05-10045) and Government Pension Offset (publication no. 05-10007). You can find both of these publications online at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs under the “Retirement Benefits” section. Question: Someone told me that my mom might be able to qualify for a “compassionate allowance” because of
her Alzheimer’s. Is this true? Answer: She might, but the only way to know for sure is for her to submit an application for disability benefits. Compassionate allowances are a way of quickly identifying diseases and other medical conditions that clearly qualify for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability benefits. The process allows us to identify and make speedy decisions for the most obviously disabled individuals. Recently, 38 more conditions were added to our original list of 50 conditions—25 rare diseases and 25 cancers. The expansion of the list means tens of thousands of Americans with devastating disabilities, such as earlyonset Alzheimer’s disease, now can get approved for benefits in a matter of days, rather than months or years. To learn more, and to see a complete list of the compassionate allowance conditions, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ compassionateallowances.
Question: My mother receives supplemental security income (SSI) benefits. She may have to enter a nursing home to get the proper care she needs. Will this affect her SSI benefits? Answer: Moving to a nursing home can affect your mother’s SSI benefits, but it depends on the type of facility it is. In many cases, the SSI payment will be reduced or stopped. Be sure to notify Social Security when your mother enters or leaves a nursing home, assisted living facility, hospital, skilled nursing facility, or any other kind of institution. Call Social Security’s tollfree number, (800) 772-1213 (TTY (800) 325-0778). Question: I’m a noncitizen. Can noncitizens receive supplemental security income (SSI) benefits? Answer: You might be eligible to receive SSI if one of these applies to you: • You were lawfully living in the United
States on Aug. 22, 1996, and you are blind or disabled. • You were receiving SSI on Aug. 22, 1996, and you are lawfully living in the United States. • You were lawfully admitted for permanent residence under the Immigration and Nationality Act and have a total of 40 Social Security work credits in the United States. (Your spouse’s or parent’s work also may count.) There are other categories of noncitizens that may be eligible for payments. If you are a noncitizen and want to apply for SSI benefits, it is best to contact us to see if you are eligible. To learn more, read the online factsheet, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) For Noncitizens, at www.socialsecurity.gov/ pubs/11051.html. Doris Brookens is the Social Security office manager in Harrisburg.
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ROLLING GREEN CEMETERY 1811 Carlisle Road Camp Hill, PA 17011 717-761-4055
NEILL FUNERAL HOME, INC. Kevin Shillabeer, Supervisor 3401 Market Street Camp Hill, PA 17011 717-737-8726
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Book Review
The Lady of the Wheel (La Ruotaia) By Angelo F. Coniglio
n some towns, she might have had the lofty title Ricevitrice dei Proietti: ‘Receiver of Castaways,’ but in Racalmuto she was known simply as la ruotaia, the mistress of the wheel. That cold January morning, Anna heard the chimes and hastily threw on her robe, lit a candle, and rushed down to the foundling wheel.” Angelo F. Coniglio’s historical fiction novel The Lady of the Wheel reopens the forgotten history of “the foundlings”— children abandoned by their families as means of survival during the late 19th
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century in Sicily. Enduring hardships that reverberated from centuries of feudalism in the country, the story’s main fictional family has to make the agonizing decision to give their youngest child to the lady of the wheel and their eldest to the brutal
sulfur mines in order to survive. Coniglio draws the reader into the life of the foundlings and the underprivileged based on real-life experiences. Readers will be able to feel the emotions of each character as they journey to overcome some of the most vicious parts of life in society during this time.
About the Author Angelo F. Coniglio, writer of 50plus Senior News’ monthly genealogy column, writes genealogy columns for several venues, lectures on the subject, and conducts genealogical research for Americans of Sicilian descent. He lives in Amherst, N.Y. The Lady of the Wheel (La Ruotaia) will be available on Amazon.com and at Barnes & Noble and other outlets. To order by mail, send a check for $12 plus $3 shipping to Legas Publishing, P.O. Box 149, Mineola, N.Y. 11501.
Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being. 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 Services Neill Funeral Home (717) 564-2633 Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home (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 www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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 Central Penn Nursing, Inc. (717) 361-9777 (717) 569-0451 Home Instead Senior Care (717) 540-5201 Safe Haven Quality Care (717) 238-1111 Visiting Angels (717) 652-8899 Home Improvement Dreammaker Bath & Kitchen (717) 367-9753 Senior Home Repair (717) 545-8747 Housing/Apartments B’Nai B’rith Apartments (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 Keystone Elder Law PC (717) 691-9300 Medical Equipment & Supplies GSH Home Med Care (717) 272-2057 Orthotics & Prosthetics The Center for Advanced Orthotics & Prosthetics (800) 676-7846 CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Rehabilitation Spring Creek Rehabilitation & Health Care Center (717) 565-7000
Toll-Free Numbers American Lung Association (800) LUNG-USA Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555 Meals on Wheels (800) 621-6325 National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046 Social Security Office (800) 772-1213 Veterans Affairs (717) 626-1171 (800) 827-1000 Transportation CAT Share-A-Ride (717) 232-6100 Travel Wheelchair Getaways (717) 921-2000
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
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Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori
Choosing Vintage Value from the Bridal Registry
Corporate Office: 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson
EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Christianne Rupp EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS Megan Joyce EDITORIAL INTERN Alysa Poindexter
ART DEPARTMENT PROJECT COORDINATOR Renee Geller PRODUCTION ARTIST Janys Cuffe
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Janet Gable Megan Keller Hugh Ledford Angie McComsey Ranee Shaub Miller Sue Rugh SALES COORDINATOR Eileen Culp
CIRCULATION PROJECT COORDINATOR Loren Gochnauer
ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGER Elizabeth Duvall
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50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community. On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.
June 2012
re you faced with trying to choose just the right wedding gift from a lengthy bridal registry? Do you know what gifts will be valuable in 50 years as the newlyweds reach their golden wedding anniversary? Here’s how to distinguish the contemporary trinkets from the future collectible treasures.
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Hoard the China When it comes to wedding china, many contemporary couples only ask for select pieces. Today’s brides complain that wedding china requires hand washing and a lot of storage space. While most adult daughters don’t want their mother’s postwar-era wedding china in favor of their own selected pattern, a complete service for 12 with all of the accessories dating from 2012 will be a highly cherished and very valuable collectible on the secondary antiques market in 2062. Mother’s high-quality Wedgwood, Limoges, or Spode sets from the 1940s-1960s still bring significantly more money than an incomplete set. When the time comes to reap value from the china, you’ll want the entire set—gravy boats and all.
When it comes to long-term collectability, complete sets are icing on the wedding cake. Collect Wine, not Wine Glasses Many newlyweds would actually end up with a larger nest egg if they collected vintage wines rather than wine glasses. Fifty years from now, it’s probable that you won’t have all your wine glasses. You know the score: Clumsy Uncle Leo will undoubtedly drop one when you host a family dinner. Another way wine glasses get damaged is from an unlikely source—your china cabinet or dining room breakfront. Once you see that the lights inside your china closet get so hot that the wine glasses cracked under the heat, you’ll realize that it is a good rule to only leave these display lights on for about one hour at a time. If wine glasses are a must on your bridal registry, ask for highquality crystal. Many young couples have realized that their taste for wine can become an interesting collectible category. Many new collectors are choosing wines as their object of focus. It is fun to visit various wineries, attend classes about wine connoisseurship, and purchase bottles that recall a
favorite vacation spot or occasion. Wines have quickly become a very desirable collectible in today’s market. Nails and Nuptials When the groom drags his bride to the big-box home improvement store to add items to the bridal registry, don’t discourage him. Fifty years from now, those tools will most likely make a very strong showing on the collectibles market. As you reach that golden anniversary, be mindful of your husband’s toolbox. Overall, the most valuable items remain original works of art, antique furniture, and precious metals (yes, guys, that means jewelry, too!).When deciding about the bridal registry, remember that quality is key—now and always. Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events nationwide. Dr. Lori is the star appraiser on the hit TV show Auction Kings on Discovery channel, which airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Learn about your antiques at www.DrLoriV.com, www.Facebook.com/DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.
Farmers Market Vouchers Soon Available
Member of
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Dr. Lori
Farmers market nutrition vouchers will be available to eligible seniors this month. The vouchers, worth $20, may be redeemed through November 2012 for Pennsylvania-grown fruits and vegetables at participating farmers markets and roadside stands. County residents over age 60 are eligible if they have a gross annual income of less than $20,665 for a single individual or $27,991 for married couples. Proof of age and Dauphin County residency is required (driver’s license, photo ID, etc.). Any person obtaining vouchers for another must present a completed and signed proxy form
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from the person for whom they are receiving vouchers. Contact the agency to have this form sent to you prior to your selected distribution date. Vouchers are offered on a onetime-only per summer basis. Supplies are limited and are distributed on a first-come, firstserved basis. For more information or to receive a proxy form, contact Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging at (717) 780-6130. Distribution of vouchers will be at the following sites: Tuesday, June 5, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Zion Assembly of Harrisburg 2101 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg
Friday, June 15, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Friendship Senior Center 5000 Commons Drive, Harrisburg Friday, June 22, 9 a.m. to noon Northern Dauphin Human Services Center 295 State Drive, Elizabethville Any remaining vouchers for this site will be available at this location on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Any remaining vouchers from the first two sites will be available by appointment at the Agency on Aging office, 2 S. Second St., Harrisburg. Call (717) 780-6130 to make an appointment. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Older But Not Wiser
Hey ... nice legs!
A Scent for Seniors Sy Rosen ustin Bieber’s line of perfume for women recently made its debut. One teenage girl gushed, “I love him, I love him so much. And now I feel him!” And it’s not only Justin—I call him Justin although we travel in different universes. Last year, there were 69 new celebrity perfumes. There was Katy Perry’s Purr, Beyonce’s Heat, and Jennifer Aniston’s creatively named Jennifer Aniston. It got me thinking that we seniors should have our own perfumes. These fragrances could help dispel some serious prejudices and stereotypes about older people. And, best of all, we can offer a senior discount. Here are a few possibilities:
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Entitled – This complex mixture combines the aroma of freshly baked apple pie and sturdy, justharvested Oklahoma cornstalks to produce an uplifting fragrance that embodies the American spirit and gives rise to the notion that we seniors worked for and earned our Social Security benefits. In addition, the slight aromas of Naproxen for arthritis and Lucentis for macular degeneration have an underlying subtlety that lets people know what is in store for them and that everybody will eventually need Medicare. Of course, to keep this perfume real and honest, there also has to be the slight scent of fear that these entitlements might be taken away. This odor is derived from the sweat of a young politician who doesn’t yet realize that one day he’ll be older. Power – At work, people used to value our opinions and were a little intimidated by us. Now, they roll their eyes when we talk. With the combination of the scents of the lion, jaguar, alligator, Rush Limbaugh, and Alec Baldwin, we will regain that lost power. This potent www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
mixture says, “I am still powerful—and a little crazy.” Relevance – Most people don’t think older folks are relevant anymore and that we don’t know anything about the world, especially pop culture. Combining smells of rock concerts, tanning salons, vodka, tattoo ink, and prison cells will tell everyone that we are familiar with Snooki and Paris and Lindsay and the New York Housewives and the Mob Wives and … hmm, maybe relevance isn’t that good. Wisdom – For those who think we’re losing it, one whiff of this stuff will change that! This fragrance is derived from the powerful aroma of first editions by Chaucer, Shakespeare, and Melville mixed with the scents of the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilizations, which were celebrated for their brilliance in mathematics. One spray and everyone will know that we spend 20 minutes talking to the bank teller not because we’re lonely, but because we have discovered a flaw in their complicated accounting system. You’re Next – It’s easy to dismiss seniors because everyone thinks getting older will never happen to them. Well, this perfume is designed specifically to counteract that feeling. It’s a blend of baby powder, crayons, stale corporate offices, Rogaine, and Fixodent to give the fragrance of a complete life and send the message that someday you, too, will get older. One whiff of the senior wearing this perfume and empathy will be the reigning emotion. To quote that classic Kiss song, “You are me. I am you. We are one.” Other senior scents on the drawing board are Beyond Bingo, Computers Are My Friend, Assertive Not Cranky, and Speak Softer, I Can Hear You.
Locations in Dauphin, Lancaster & York counties
4601 Devonshire Rd., Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA
1-800-676-7846
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(717) 944-3351 • www.middletownhome.org 999 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057
Harrisburg’s Oldies Channel!
• Breakfast with Ben Barber and News with Dennis Edwards • John Tesh with Music and Intelligence for Your Workday • Bruce Collier & The Drive Home
Online 24/7 at whylradio.com
WE PLAY OVER 1500 GREAT SONGS! 50plus SeniorNews e
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Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes
To tal
Additional Comments
Bethany Village — Maplewood 325 Wesley Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-766-0279 www.bethanyvillage.org
Homeland Center 1901 North Fifth Street Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598 717-221-7727 www.homelandcenter.org
Mennonite Home Communities 1520 Harrisburg Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 717-393-1301 www.mennonitehome.org
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The Middletown Home — Crescent View Personal Care 999 West Harrisburg Pike Middletown, PA 17057 717-944-3351 www.middletownhome.org
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Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community 1700 Normandie Drive York, PA 17408 717-764-6262 www.normandieridge.org
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St. Anne’s Retirement Community 3952 Columbia Avenue Columbia, PA 17512 717-285-5443 www.stannesrc.org
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1-bedroom suites; secured memory support neighborhood; skilled nursing – The Oaks.
Exemplary care in a caring, beautiful environment has been provided for more than 140 years. Our continuum includes a hospice program.
Supportive, encouraging environment.Various room types and suites available. Secure memory care offered.
Visit us to see the beauty of our campus, our staff, and our extended family. All levels of care provided in a caring setting.
Enjoy life—while we take care of the details. All private rooms, great location, 80 years of excellence.
This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.
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2012 Senior Idol Contestants Find Comfort in Numbers he’d performed for others but launched into The Doors’ “Twentieth Century Fox” just the same. Despite the range of personal backgrounds, talents, and motivations, Although the majority of auditions for many of the contestants who auditioned the PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition are vocal, 2012’s tryouts saw a fair share of for this year’s PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition actually had a common fear. alternative talents as well. At the York Their nerves were set abuzz by the auditions, both Pat Anderson of prospect of performing in front of just a Manchester and Delma Welch of York handful of listeners, versus the larger tickled the judges’ funny bones with their crowds that some were more accustomed comedic routines. to. After all, in those bigger audiences, In Harrisburg, Joanne Landis of individuals blend into a less intimidating Reading danced to an instrumental ’50s throng, faces reassuringly blurred by their rock tune, and drummer Deb Olsen of multitude. Manheim Nearly 100 kicked off the state residents Lancaster over age 50 auditions by came forward thundering for the through “You seventh-annual Should Be talent Dancing” by competition, The Bee Gees. curious to see For those where their who prefer a vocal, large crowd, instrumental, this year’s 15 comedic, or semifinalists dance abilities are in luck— measured up they will vie Drummer Deb Olsen of Manheim pounding out “You Should Be Dancing” by The Bee Gees at the against those for the title of PA STATE S ENIOR I DOL auditions in Lancaster. of their 2012 PA STATE Pennsylvania SENIOR IDOL in peers. front of a sold-out Dutch Apple Dinner Even the competition’s more seasoned Theatre at the finals night competition on contestants candidly voiced their Monday, June 4, in Lancaster. The emcee discomfort with performing in front of of the evening will be Diane Dayton of only three judges and a sprinkling of Dayton Communications. SENIOR IDOL staff members as they Local celebrity judges R.J. Harris of approached center stage (or, center hotel WHP580, Buddy King of The room, depending on the location) for Magnificent Men, Valerie Pritchett of their audition. abc27, and Janelle Stelson of WGAL-8 will Kathy Wagner of Carlisle is a longtime select three finalists after the first round of band member, an experienced singer who performances. said she has no problem facing a crowd— The three finalists will then perform a second selection, after which the judges but for her SENIOR IDOL audition in Harrisburg, it was the lack of a crowd that and the audience will vote together to gave her nerves a run while performing select the 2012 Pennsylvania State SENIOR “The Rose” by Bette Midler. IDOL. The winner will receive a limousine And so a common conversational trip for two to New York City to enjoy thread was found woven amongst dinner and a Broadway show. strangers who became sudden, supportive Produced by On-Line Publishers, Inc., comrades while waiting for their turn the 2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL before the SENIOR IDOL judges. competition is brought to you by 50plus It was also an opportunity for boldness, Senior News. Media sponsors are abc27, for breaking personal patterns. Charles Blue Ridge Communications, WHP580, Garman of Dillsburg admitted he hadn’t and WHYL. been on a stage in 20 years after offering For more information, call On-Line “Can’t Help Falling in Love” by Elvis Publishers at (717) 285-1350 or visit Presley. www.SeniorIdolPA.com to view clips from Likewise, Louis Daily of Philadelphia previous years’ shows. confessed it had been “a long time” since By Megan Joyce
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Congratulations to the 2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL Semifinalists!
Cheri Coleman Campbell
Mark Ettaro
Frank Fedele
Nick Ferraro
Coatesville
Reading
Williamsport
Harrisburg
Constance Kuba Fisher
Larry Gessler
Dan Kelly
Vicki Kissinger
Mechanicsburg
Lancaster
Philadelphia
Gap
Tom LaNasa
Don “Duke” Larson
Jeff Mumma
Victoria Newcomer
York
Belleville
York Haven
Mount Joy
Deb Olsen Manheim
Lynn Henderson Payne Margie Sheaffer New Freedom
New Providence
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2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL
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NurseNews
Prostate Cancer: Its Stages and Treatment Gloria May, M.S., R.N., CHES ecently, actor Ryan O’Neal released the following statement about his health: “… I was diagnosed with stage IV prostate cancer … Although I was shocked and stunned by the news, I feel fortunate that it was detected early and, according to my extraordinary team of doctors, the prognosis is positive for a full recovery.” When I read this, I was puzzled and you may have been, too. Stage IV cancer detected “early”? (In medicine, the stages of cancer, meaning the extent to which the cancer has spread and therefore its severity, are referenced with Roman numerals, not Arabic.) And with a “positive prognosis”? Either the press release was in error, or it was accurate and the media reported it incorrectly, or the actor didn’t understand what a diagnosis of stage IV prostate cancer means. The five-year survival rate
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for men whose prostate is initially diagnosed at stage IV is less than onethird of those whose cancer is found earlier, at stage I or II. Shortly after the news of O’Neal’s cancer was reported, the story was amended and he is now said to have stage II prostate cancer, not stage IV. The “positive prognosis” and “full recovery” statements now make more sense. All cancers are serious, but prostate cancer, in most cases (although there are some very aggressive types) is slow growing and 50 to 75 percent of patients with prostate cancer succumb to another disease. It is, after all, a disease primarily of older men, with 35.5 percent of the cases being initially diagnosed in men between ages 65 and 74 and 18.6 percent between ages 75 and 84. Ryan O’Neal is 71. Cancer is a disease in which cells go
Sept. 19, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center Memorial Hall–East • 334 Carlisle Avenue, York
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wild and grow in uncontrolled ways, clumping together to form tumors and spreading out to invade other organs. In medical lingo, this spread is termed “mets,” short for metastasis. Cancers are named for their site of origin (prostate cancer originates in the prostate gland), and if the cancer spreads to another organ, it still retains the name of the original source. If prostate cancer spreads to the bones, it is still prostate cancer, not bone cancer, and it will be treated with the protocol for prostate cancer. For the most part, only a small percentage of cancers cannot be identified (CUOs, cancers of unknown origin) as to where they started. This accurate identification is critical because it determines the most appropriate treatment. Approximately one in six men will be
diagnosed with prostate cancer during his lifetime. It is the second most common cancer diagnosis for American men, after skin cancer. The vast majority of the quarter-million American men who are diagnosed with it each year are first diagnosed at stage I or II, not IV. Because the various treatment options for prostate cancer often have unfortunate side effects, and since it is generally a slow-growing disease, often “watchful waiting” or “active surveillance” is the chosen treatment path for many men. For those of us who so fondly remember crying like infants over ill-fated Jenny Cavilleri, we wish Mr. O’Neal all the best. Gloria May is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in health education and a Certified Health Education Specialist designation.
“The Chester County 50plus EXPO, produced by On-Line Publishers, Inc., is always an extremely wellorganized event. From the reminder emails and save-thedates sent throughout the year, all the way to the day-of event, the organization is stellar. Come day-of, the staff who run the event greet the vendors and help unload their vehicles and take their displays to the booths! A vendor can't ask for more!
Jennifer Clarke Director, Estate & Asset Services American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is always pleased with the staff at On-Line Publishers!”
Lancaster Host Resort 2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
717.285.1350
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Creativity Matters
Reinventing Embroidery: Experimental and Extraordinary Art Judith Zausner ew work has emerged that has revolutionized the concept of embroidery as a traditional handcraft. Gone are those little blue X’s printed on cloth for following an embroidery pattern. These new artists have transformed the basic concept of this craft and have elevated it to an exceptional art form. Shizuko Kimura is 75 years old. Born in Japan, she studied painting and then received a degree in textiles from the Royal College of Art in London. She uses thread like a pencil to explore the human form and create portraits that are both exquisite in detail and mysterious for missing detail. There’s excitement to her work created by the movements of her threads to capture images that are so extraordinarily graceful that they appear drawn like an old master with pencils and charcoal. Fabric backgrounds are quietly small and solid or elegantly thin transparencies as long banners of organza. A Yale University and Brooklyn College graduate, and now about 70 years old, Elaine Reichek’s work is in the 2012 Whitney Biennial. Her stitched work captures elements of known artists as well as contemporary statements. She studied painting when it was a predominantly male-centric circle, and she then began to explore changing her media to express her art and, as she says, “translate information from one form to another.” Using the computer for printing, for Photoshop, and for pixilation as well as the computerized embroidery machine, much of her art is technology driven; Reichek explains, “The idea of using the computer isn’t incidental to my work. It’s not just a technical shortcut; it’s part of the work’s hybrid character.” Abstraction that expertly plays with color, form, and stitchery thrives in Bette Uscott-Woolsey’s art. “With a painter’s eye I approach textile materials (using mostly heavy
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silks), incorporating historic textile techniques as well as contemporary painting,” says Uscott-Woolsey, who holds degrees from the University of Wisconsin and New York University. Now in her 60s, the fact that she “loves to work with silk and thread” is evident in the splendor and range of her work, which has been shown in numerous galleries and featured in many fiber art books. Another approach to redefining embroidery is the art by Daniel Kornrumpf. He’s a young artist with a MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art and has honed his visual and technical skills to create modest-sized portraits that use intense embroidery to execute fine details. Using natural linen fabric stretched across a classic painter-type frame, he expertly commands a full palette of colored fibers (believed to be the classic embroidery floss) to depict faces that are so densely stitched and complex in tone that one has to look closely to see that it is created with thread and not paint. The subtleties and nuances of both texture and color elevate his art to extraordinary. These artists are also renegades in their approach to integrate embroidery and the world. Clyde Olliver “started stitching and making objects in paper and cardboard at around age 6,” but it was not until he was in his 40s that he enrolled in art classes and then began stone carving and life drawing. Now in his 60s, Olliver says, “Much of my work lies between the disciplines of sculpture and embroidery, since typically it consists of stitched slate or other suitable stone.” Laura Splan has created a series of “traditional” doilies using computer machine embroidery to depict biomedical complexities. Christa Maiwald embroiders portraits that are sociopolitical commentaries. Trained in art, many as painters, these fiber artists have utilized the traditional craft of embroidery as a new language in their art. As fiber artists, they have explored, created, and launched new
approaches using age-old techniques of embroidery. “Art is the most intense mode of individualism that the world has known.” – Oscar Wilde
“I don’t paint things. I only paint the difference between things.” – Henri Matisse Judith Zausner can be reached at judith@caringcrafts.com.
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Beyond the Battlefield
He Helped Liberate the Philippines
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Alvin S. Goodman mmett Kaylor, 89, a resident of Middletown, is a World War II Army veteran who was actively involved in the battle to free the Philippines from Japanese occupation. A native of Highspire, Kaylor graduated from Highspire High School in 1940. He worked at the Middletown Rough Wear Company for a year and a half before being drafted at the age of 20. Following his induction at New Cumberland Army Depot, he underwent basic training at Fort Gordon, Ga. He then went to Fort Sill, Okla., specializing in field artillery, and he received advanced training at Camp Poke, La. “From there we headed overseas on the USS Massonia and landed in New Guinea. Once there we spent time doing jungle training. After our training was over, we departed on the Liberty Ship and headed for the Philippines,” he said. Kaylor’s unit was in combat there from January to June 1945. One of the highlights of his combat mission occurred on Feb. 23, 1945, the same day the American flag was raised on Iwo Jima. “During this mission, we were assigned to free 2,100 prisoners that had been captured by the Japanese. The prisoners consisted of missionaries, officers, and soldiers.” The prisoners were held 25 miles behind enemy lines. A coordinated attack was planned by air with paratroopers, by land and sea. They knew that the prison guards did calisthenics at 7 a.m., with their guns stacked up together. “As we were helping the prisoners escape, our guns were firing up on a hill where there was said to be 3,000 Japanese soldiers.” After all the prisoners were evacuated from the barracks, our soldiers set the camp on fire. The chief Army officer said the combat mission was a miracle because no one was killed during the rescue operation. For his part in the successful mission, Kaylor was awarded the Philippines Liberation Medal.
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“When the mission was over, I stayed in combat until June 1945.” He was then sent to a rest camp for three months, where he underwent glider training in anticipation of the possible invasion of Japan. While there, he said a glider full of soldiers crashed and all aboard lost their lives. It was during this training that the U.S. dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki and the war came to an abrupt end. Kaylor was discharged from the service Jan. 15, 1946, at Fort Indiantown Gap at the age of 23. Returning to civilian life, Kaylor worked for two years as a messenger/clerk for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He then was employed as a scheduler in the computer room at Olmsted Air Force Base in Middletown from 1948 to 1966 and was a computer operator at New Cumberland Army Depot from 1966 to 1978, when he retired. Kaylor married Martha “Jane” Gingrich, who died May 21, 2008. He has three children: Michael and Barbara, both of Harrisburg; Karen of Hummelstown; seven grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He has been a resident of Frey Village Retirement Community for the past two years. Amanda Mylin, activity director at the retirement community, said that Kaylor is very outgoing, well liked, and caring toward his fellow residents. “He enjoys going out to breakfast with the other men in the facility and talking about the latest sporting events, whether it’s baseball with the Phillies or football with the Eagles. He is an avid bingo player but he likes to make sure that everyone gets a prize, even if they don’t win. He used to enjoy gardening and hunting but now spends his time reading articles about World War II,” she said. If you are a mature veteran and have interesting or unusual experiences in your military or civilian life, phone Al Goodman at (717) 541-9889 or email him at klezmer630@comcast.net.
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This Month in History: June Events • June 6, 1872 – Pioneering feminist Susan B. Anthony was fined for voting in a presidential election at Rochester, N.Y. After voting rights had been granted to African-American males by the 15th Amendment, she attempted to extend the same rights to women. She led a group of women that voted illegally, to test their status as citizens. She was arrested, tried, and sentenced to pay $100, which she refused. • June 12, 1963 – Civil Rights leader Medgar Evers was assassinated in Jackson, Miss., by a rifle bullet from an ambush. He had been active in seeking desegregation of schools and voter registration for African-Americans in the South. Widespread public outrage following his death led President John F. Kennedy to propose a comprehensive Civil Rights law. Evers was buried in Arlington National Cemetery. • June 28, 1914 – Crown Prince of Austria Archduke Francis Ferdinand and his wife were assassinated in Sarajevo, touching off a conflict between the AustroHungarian government and Serbia that escalated into World War I.
Birthdays • June 1 – Norma Jean Mortensen, famously known as Marilyn Monroe, was born in Los Angeles. Following an unstable childhood spent in foster homes and orphanages, she landed a job as a photographer’s model, which led to a movie career. She later married baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. She died in Los Angeles from an overdose of sleeping pills on Aug. 5, 1962. • June 7 – French painter Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) was born in Paris. He worked as a stockbroker and then became a painter in middle age. He left Paris and moved to Tahiti, where he developed an interest in primitive art. His style of using broad, flat tones and bold colors inspired artists such as Edvard Munch, Henri Matisse, and the young Pablo Picasso. • June 29 – Social worker Julia Lathrop (1858-1932) was born in Rockford, Ill. She fought to establish child labor laws and was instrumental in establishing the first juvenile court in the U.S. In 1912, President Taft named her to head the newly created Children’s Bureau. In 1925, she became a member of the Child Welfare Committee of the League of Nations. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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STRIKING
Gone There’s little left that I can do. My bones are weak, my strength is gone; my days of lifting children high, of sending kites up to the sky, of playing softball on the lawn, of climbing sand dunes by the lake, of nailing shingles on a roof, of painting a gable, of planting a shrub, of trimming a tree, of being half the man I used to be. Gone I’ve thought about it a lot; questioning why I’m still around. I always felt, contemptuously, that if one takes up space without producing for the common good; without earning a place in the scheme of things, it’s time to go. And then a grandchild smiled and said, “Grandpa, can you help me with this?” A neighbor needed me to fix a faucet. A stranger asked me to show him the way. I held the door for one older and more crippled than I. I prayed with a bereaved friend who sought comfort. The more I helped others, the more I found I had much to offer. I felt guilty knowing my own depression was depressing others; especially those I love most. And at last I realized that I still have much to do that does not require physical strength; and all at once, my fears, my doubts, my depression; Gone
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Written and submitted by Tom Doenges
from page 1
first date to a hockey game. In the same year of their meeting, the two married and began their life together, never ignoring their affection for sports. By the 1950s, the United States had embraced new technological advancements such as super glue, power steering, and transistor radio. With such inventions, there were also many technical improvements in the sporting world, which included the introduction of automatic pinsetters and better wood oils that made bowling a very accessible sport for all ages. Bowling became a very popular sport in communities across the nation, including the Boeshores’ small Camp Hill development where they would form their own league at a local bowling alley. The Boeshores bowled with their founding league up until 1965. They would go on to bowl with four other leagues—a few they are still part of—and earn several trophies and awards, including Best Team in the League, four 600 series awards, and other impressive scores. The highest score a bowler can accomplish in a single game is 300, which is earned through 12 consecutive strikes. “Rolling a score of 256 was my biggest thrill,” Ralph commented. Achieving a three-game, cumulative score of 600 is a difficult feat in the world of bowling. To be a member of a 600 series club, a bowler must bowl three consecutive games with a grandtotal score of at least 600. Bowlers are also required to be in a USBC authorized league or tournament competition to be eligible. “I belonged to the 600 club for several years,” said Mille. Although rather modest about her many bowling accomplishments, Mille attributes some of her success to her upbringing. “I lived on a farm, so I’ve got a pretty strong arm!” she joked. The bowling duo currently competes with leagues at Trindle Bowl in Mechanicsburg. Just about all of the regulars in the alley know the Boeshores if asked.
“I bowl with a lady’s group Tuesday mornings,” said Mille. “I’ve been bowling with them for 30 years.” On Tuesday afternoons, the Boeshores are also part of the Senior Citizens Bowling League. The couple has been bowling with this league since 2002. After decades of bowling, they still look to one another for ways to improve their game, which is a benefit of bowling with a spouse. “We share our thoughts with one another,” Ralph clarified. “If she does something wrong, I mention it to her—we just try to improve ourselves by checking with each other.” Through bowling, the Boeshores have also discovered a great benefit: exercise. Both Mille and Ralph find the sport to be a valuable asset in maintaining their health. “I think it strengthens your body,” Mille described. “The weight of the ball tones your body—it is very beneficial.” According to the National Institute on Aging, being active is important for physical as well as mental health. Physical activity allows seniors to remain independent and also serves as preventive treatment against some chronic diseases. “We have some seniors on the team with disabilities who keep at it and they find it’s beneficial for their well-being,” said Mille. “It is good exercise and we really enjoy meeting friends.” Mille and Ralph also have a growing family with three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. They hope to pass on their passion and love for the game to the next generation. “We took our grandchildren bowling quite often when they were younger,” said Mille. When it comes to bowling, there is nothing else like it for the Boeshores. “It’s just been enjoyable to be with my husband because we get along beautifully,” said Mille. “We do enjoy it very much and plan to keep on going as long as we can,” said Ralph. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
The Green Mountain Gardener
The Versatile Clematis COMPASSION. RECOVERY.
Dr. Leonard Perry re you looking for a plant that can grow up a trellis or fence, serve as an interesting ground cover, or perform well as a container plant? If so, then the plant you want is the clematis. This versatile and hardy flowering vine comes in a variety of colors ranging from deep purple to shades of blue, mauve, pink, red, yellow, cream, white, and bi-colors. Flower size, depending on variety, can be as small as one-fourth inch up to 9 or 10 inches in diameter. Some varieties—there are more than 250—are best suited for shade, others for full sun, meaning you can probably find a clematis for every growing situation. The most popular are the large flowering varieties, which were first introduced in the mid-19th century. “Jackmanii,” with its showy purple flowers, became popular in England in 1863. “Elsa Spath” is another prolific bloomer, producing lots of lovely bluepurple flowers. If you like pink, try the classic “Nellie Moser” with flowers 5 to 6 inches across. A favorite white variety is “Duchess of Edinburgh” with early semi-double flowers and yellow stamens. For bicolors, try “Lincoln Star.” It sports 8inch, raspberry-red flowers with white edges. Planting several different varieties almost guarantees you a continuous sweep of color from spring to the first hard frost. Most varieties do well in hardiness zone 3 and up, but talk to your local garden center experts for recommendations on variety selection.
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Although you can plant clematis almost any month you are able to work the soil, spring and early autumn are the best times to plant. Dig the soil about 18 inches deep, working in several scoops of compost. Water in a liquid fertilizer according to the label
directions. You should plant your clematis 1 to 2 inches deeper than it was in the pot, burying one set of leaves below the soil level. Water thoroughly, and then add mulch around the base of the plant to keep the roots cool and conserve moisture. Staking may be needed if you want to train the clematis to grow up a trellis, though obviously would not be required for plants you plan to let sprawl on the ground or grow through low-growing shrubs and hedges. For a fence post, use fishing line to train the vines to wind around the post. Don’t expect instant results. The first year the plant may produce only one to three shoots with only a flower or two. For a bushier plant in future years, prune these shoots back once or twice the first year to one-half their length. It may take two or three years before the plant is covered in flowers. Be patient.
Know Your Antioxidants Some studies indicate that the herbs and spices we use in cooking might be doing more than just giving our taste buds a boost. One single gram (half a teaspoon) of cloves provides the same antioxidant benefits that a half cup of blueberries or cranberries would. A half cup of dried oregano is the antioxidant equivalent of a half cup of sweet potatoes. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Both fresh and dried herbs and spices contain significant levels of antioxidants Here’s a list: Fresh: Lemon, marjoram, oregano, peppermint, sage, thyme Dried: Allspice, basil, cinnamon, cloves, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, saffron, tarragon, thyme
Although clematis is attractive as a landscape plant, it also makes an excellent cut flower. When cutting clematis for arranging, choose flowers with strong, thick stems. Remove foliage to reduce transpiration, and place in cold water immediately. Blossoms need to be conditioned overnight before arranging. Clematis plants can be found at many nurseries, greenhouses, and garden centers, or ordered though online catalogs. With proper planting, early care, and patience, they will continue to prosper for years to come. So, why not plant some today? Their place in your landscape is only limited by your imagination. Dr. Leonard P. Perry is an extension professor at the University of Vermont.
LifeCare Hospitals of Mechanicsburg is a long-term acute care hospital that specializes in the treatment and recovery of medically complex patients — individuals recovering from catastrophic injury or illness. Our skilled teams of physicians, nurses, and therapists work together to help patients achieve their fullest recovery potential. For more information or to schedule a tour, please contact us at 717.790.8595.
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Time is a Priceless Gift 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. 50plus SeniorNews e
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The Search for Our Ancestry
Probate and Land Records Angelo Coniglio e’ve become accustomed to the wide range of genealogic records that are now available “at the click of a mouse” on Internetbased sources: censuses, passenger manifests, images of original birth, marriage, and death (BMD) records, etc. Where records aren’t yet available online, the LDS Church has myriad microfilms of these records and is working to index more of all types. So, too, are subscription sites like Ancestry.com. Sometimes the more common types of records are insufficient to break through a genealogical “brick wall” to an earlier generation. You may have your grandfather’s U.S. census from 1880, giving his residence and his father’s birth state, but perusal of 1870 or earlier censuses seems to yield no further information about his ancestors. In such cases, probate records and land records may shed some light. Probate records are created by a court after an individual’s death. They relate to the distribution of his or her estate. If the individual was testate, or left a will, then the probate process documents its validity and assures it is carried out by the executor named in the will. Where an individual was intestate (did not leave a will), the probate process appoints an administrator to determine the distribution of assets, according to the laws of the jurisdiction. Probate files may include the following and more, depending on where
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and when they were filed: • Wills • Lists of assets (estate inventories) • Petitions for guardianship of minor children • Lists of heirs In the U.S., probate records are usually managed by a court in the county seat of the county of residence of the individual. Availability of and access to probate records is as varied as the wide range of counties involved. Probate records from some counties may be accessed online; other counties provide documents for a fee if the researcher identifies the decedent’s name and the necessary dates and places. If specifics aren’t known, most counties allow researchers to browse indexes of records, or actual records, with a fee for any copies provided. Like probates, land records are often kept at the county seat, in this case by a
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county clerk or registrar. Land files can contain a wealth of genealogical and legal information, depending upon the type and time period of the land entry. The case file may yield only a few facts already known, or it may present new insights about ancestors, family history, and land title or use. For example, the records may attest to one’s age, place of birth, citizenship, military service, literacy, and economic status, and may even include similar information about family members. But even the smallest case files can establish locations of land ownership or settlement and dates, all of which can lead to information available on other sources such as census, court, and military service and pension records. Contact specific localities, counties, states, or even the National Archives to determine how and where probate and land records are kept and their availability. Nowadays, most of these jurisdictions have official websites that describe how such records can be accessed. It may require visiting the
locale, but in many cases online orders can be made, and in some cases images of actual records may be available online. Many images have been microfilmed and can be viewed at certain jurisdictions. The free LDS site FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org) can be searched by county name, which will return a list of county records available on microfilm. For example, if you’re searching for probate or land records for Harrisburg or other towns or villages in Dauphin County, search on the place name “Harrisburg.” That will return a list of Harrisburgs, including “Pennsylvania, Harrisburg.” Selecting that title results in a list of 74 items, including “Pennsylvania, Harrisburg – Probate records” and “Pennsylvania, Harrisburg – Land and Property.” Selecting those titles then leads to lists of specific records or indexes of records available on film. Note that when searching FamilySearch for records from a county whose seat has the same name (e.g., Pennsylvania, Warren), the name given after the state name is the county name, not the city’s. Angelo Coniglio encourages readers to contact him by writing to 438 Maynard Drive, Amherst, NY 14226; by email at Genealogytips@aol.com; or by visiting www.conigliofamily.com/ConiglioGenealogy Tips.htm. His new historical fiction novel, The Lady of the Wheel, is available through Amazon.com.
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Such Is Life
Living Memoirs of My Father Saralee Perel ad and I were crazy about each other. He’s been gone for 20 years. But I’m finally understanding how vital it was for him that I have the life he never had—in marriage, health, and work. Before his death at age 88, I was the only one he recognized. By then, he couldn’t speak. My last words were, “I love you, Tatteleh (affectionate Yiddish for father).” To this day, I tell myself he heard me. He was a lawyer. But when his father told him to manage the family shoe business, he quit his practice and obeyed. He ran it for 40 years and hated it. Dad had a spinal disorder I recently found out I’ve inherited. Most of his movements were grueling. He needed a back brace to support his spine. Luckily for me, I had surgery that helped enormously. As a teen, I wasn’t allowed to date non-Jewish boys or have Christian girlfriends. But I married a Christian man. Dad, a devout Orthodox Jew, adored Bob. When he saw how much we loved each other, that was what mattered. Regardless of what Bob did for work, like selling plants, Dad would ask, “Is he happy?” He endearingly called him Mister Farmer. He wouldn’t have me feel sorry for him. When he fell down the night before my wedding, he said to Bob, “Don’t tell Saralee.” He escorted me down the aisle, though he needed a walker. One day later, he became wheelchair bound for good. I believe it was his determination to walk with me that kept his disability at bay until then. Dad had a code of ethics. “Everything in moderation.” And, “No self-pity.” If Mother was mean, he’d
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never sass back. When I did, he’d say, “Never talk to your mother that way.” And clothes? He was always properly dressed, even to get the mail. He hated my stylishly torn jeans. Thankfully, he died before I became disabled. He’d have been heartbroken to see me in my wheelchair. But he would have been overjoyed that I had surgery, so I wouldn’t be crippled like him. At his burial, I touched the handcarved Jewish star on the wooden casket that held my father’s body. But it didn’t hold his soul. When the rabbi handed me a trowel filled with soil for me to sprinkle on the coffin, I kept that little piece of earth. It stays on my bureau in Dad’s milkglass shaving mug. We still “talk” together. This morning, I looked toward heaven. “Tatteleh, I have the life you wanted for me. I love my work. I can walk a little, with no pain. And my husband adores me like you did.” I felt choked up. “Thank you for loving me so much that you never once mentioned Bob wasn’t Jewish. And although you never showed it, I know how sad you felt that our own rabbi was unwilling to perform the wedding.” I “heard” him say, “Shaineh maideleh (his pretty little girl), are you happy?” “Yes, Dad. You taught me that’s what matters.” I began crying. “I wish you had been happy.” “You filled my heart with happiness.” And in so many ways he did, and still does, mine.
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Saralee can be reached at sperel@saraleeperel.com or via her website: www.saraleeperel.com. Her novel, Raw Nerves, is now available as a paperback and an e-book on Amazon.com.
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Dauphin County
Calendar of Events AARP Driver Safety Programs
Senior Center Activities
For a Safe Driving Class near you, call toll-free (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findacourse.
Bistline Senior Center – (717) 564-5633
June 18, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Mohler Senior Center, 25 Hope Drive, Hershey, (717) 533-2002 June 25 to 26, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Presbyterian Congregation of Middletown, 290 E. Union St., Middletown, (717) 944-4322
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 June 28, 6 to 8 p.m. – Friends of the 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
Mohler Senior Center – (717) 533-2002, www.hersheyseniorcenter.com
William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949 June 5, 6:30 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book Club June 12, 6:30 to 8 p.m. – AFL Friends Meeting June 19, 1 p.m. – Novel Thoughts, Too!
Royalton Senior Center – (717) 944-4831
Programs and Support Groups
Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682, www.rutherfordhouse.org Wednesdays, 12:15 p.m. – Free Aerobics
Free and open to the public.
Steelton Senior Center – (717) 939-0693
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. Free Art Classes Thrive 100 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg (717) 238-1887 or cglover@jumpstreet.org
June 26, 6 p.m. Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Walking Club Gander Mountain 5005 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 991-5232
June 16, 10 a.m. Teamster 776 Retirees Club Picnic Union Hall 2552 Jefferson St., Harrisburg (717) 233-8766
June 26, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Parental Loss Support Group AseraCare Hospice 75 S. Houcks Road, Suite 101, Harrisburg (717) 541-4466
Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.
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
Flag Day is June 14 (717) 770-0140 (717) 285-1350
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Savvy Senior
Memory Loss: What’s Normal, What’s Not? Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, I am 58 years old and have noticed that I’ve become more forgetful lately, and it troubles me. My mother died with Alzheimer’s disease about 15 years ago, and I am afraid I might be next. Is my forgetfulness something I should worry about? – Forgetful Frank Dear Frank, Forgetfulness is something everyone experiences from time to time, but at what point does it indicate the beginning of a more serious problem? Here’s what you should know. Memory Loss Yes, it is true that forgetfulness and memory loss can be symptoms of more serious problems, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have Alzheimer’s disease. While some memory changes are normal as we age, memory loss can also be brought on by a variety of factors like stress, lack of sleep, side effects of medications, depression, vitamin deficiencies, a head injury, thyroid disease, alcohol, a small stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, and more. If your forgetfulness or memory loss is starting to affect your daily life, you need to see your doctor. Here are some potential warning signs that may indicate a more serious problem: • Forgetting or misplacing things much more often than you used to • Forgetting how to do things you’ve done many times before
• Trouble learning new things • Repeating phrases or stories in the same conversation • Trouble recalling simple words or names in conversation or using inappropriate words • Trouble making choices or handling money • Becoming lost while driving • Not being able to keep track of what happens each day • Rapid mood changes for no apparent reason
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Early Detection Early diagnosis is very important because many of the conditions that cause memory loss are treatable and may be reversible. And for irreversible illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease, even though it can’t be stopped, early detection is significant
because there are several medications that, if taken early, can help delay its devastating effects. Early detection can also help families prepare themselves for the caregiving and supportive needs that lie ahead. Savvy Tip: The Alzheimer’s Association offers a list of common symptoms to help you recognize the difference between normal, age-related memory changes and possible warning signs of Alzheimer’s disease. They can also put you in touch with your local chapter, which can help you locate a medical professional who specializes in evaluating and treating dementia and memory loss. Visit www.alz.org or call (800) 272-3900. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org.
Memory Screening A memory screening is a good first step toward early detection of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease or other types of conditions that can cause memory loss. Memory screenings (that turn out normal) can also let you know that you’re OK, which can ease your fears and provide some peace of mind. If you have some concerns about your memory loss or have a family history of Alzheimer’s disease, a memory screening takes about 10 minutes to complete and consists of questions and/or tasks to assess your memory, language skills, thinking
Search Is on for Senior Poets Laureate Entries are now being accepted in the 20th Annual National Senior Poets Laureate Poetry Competition for American poets age 50 and older. A laureate poet will be named for each state and territory represented, and the writers of the two best laureate poems will receive the National Senior Poet
ability, and other intellectual functions. It’s important to know that this memory screening does not diagnose an illness but can flag a potential problem.
Laureate Award ($500) and National Senior Poet Laureate Runner-up Award ($100). No experience is necessary to enter, but poets must hold U.S. citizenship to qualify. Deadline is June 30. See details on sponsor’s website at www.amykitchenerfdn.org.
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The Beauty in Nature
June is Turtle Egg-Laying Time Clyde McMillan-Gamber urtle egg-laying time is late May through June in the Middle Atlantic States. At that time, female turtles (particularly box, snapping, and painted turtles; red-eared sliders; and diamond-backed terrapins) are seen crossing roads to nesting sites or digging in loose or sandy soil in sunny areas near their habitats. Female turtles of all species use their clawed back feet to dig holes in the ground. Then they lay round, white eggs in the nurseries they created. The looser the soil or sand, the easier each turtle’s job is in burying her eggs. The sun’s rays provide warmth that promotes the growth of the turtle embryos in their leathery shells. Incubation for turtles takes two months, and most babies hatch in August but hibernate for winter within weeks. Some female turtles of all species cross
T
highways in their quest for nesting spots. nests they dig in sandy soil of salt Large female snappers look like small marshes, dikes in those marshes, and dinosaurs lumbering slowly and shoulders bordering blacktop roads, all menacingly, like tanks, across those niches along the seacoast. roads. Unfortunately, some turtles, Some terrapins die crossing roads in including big snappers, get killed on the search of egg-laying spots. But staff at the roads. Wetlands Box Institute at turtles lay Stone Harbor, eggs in holes N.J., take they dig in intact eggs loose soil in from the fields of bodies of young corn diamond or tobacco terrapins killed near their on roads, Illustration of a diamond-back terrapin home incubate the woods. eggs, and raise Painted and snapping turtles and sliders the young until they are big enough to deposit eggs in pits they dig in bare soil be released into salt marshes and near their pond and sluggish creek channels without being prey for gulls and homes. And diamond-backs drop eggs in other predators.
Have you photographed a smile that just begs to be shared? Send us your favorite smile—your children, grandchildren, friends, even your “smiling” pet!—and it could be 50plus Senior News’ next Smile of the Month! You can submit your photos (with captions) either digitally to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or by mail to:
50plus Senior News Smile of the Month 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Digital photos must be at least 4x6'' with a resolution of 300 dpi. No professional photos, please. Please include a SASE if you would like to have your photo returned.
Famous Fathers and Their Offspring • Lloyd Bridges, Father’s Day celebrates the Beau Bridges, special bond and Jeff Bridges between fathers (acting) and their families. • Archie Every dad is a Manning, celebrity in his Peyton own child’s eyes, Manning, Eli of course, but in Manning some families (football) fame and • John Voight fatherhood go and Angelina hand in hand. Jolie (acting) Take a look at some of these PHOTO COURTESY OF ALAN LIGHT • Bob Dylan and well-known Beau Bridges and Lloyd Bridges Jakob Dylan at the 44th Emmy Awards fathers and their (music) successful children from the world of entertainment • Frank Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra (music) and sports: • Ken Griffey and Ken Griffey Jr. • Kirk Douglas and Michael Douglas (baseball) (acting) • Tony Curtis and Jamie Lee Curtis (acting)
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Skunks and raccoons dig up some clutches of turtle eggs and eat them. Empty, curled shells lie near the nests. People at the Wetlands Institute cover terrapin nests with strong chicken wire to keep predators out. Newly hatched turtles are vulnerable to predation. Foxes, opossums, and other mammals consume them. Great blue herons, great egrets, and other kids of herons eat them. And gulls along the seacoast ingest young terrapins. But when juvenile turtles of all kinds grow larger with harder shells, they’re not as likely to be eaten by predators. Female turtles laying eggs are interesting to experience. But don’t disturb them or take eggs or turtles home. Turtles of all species already have too many hazards to their wild populations, including those imposed by people.
• Henry Fonda, Peter Fonda, and Jane Fonda (acting) www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Traveltizers
Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel
A Toast to the Keys By Andrea Gross The Overseas Highway appears to float above the water as it links the Florida mainland to Key West.
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immediately learn three things on our visit to Key West. First, the ambience is seductive. As Jimmy Buffet sang in his hit song “Margaritaville,” all you want to do is sit on a porch swing and strum on a sixstring. Second, the weather is glorious most of the year. The average temperature is 78 degrees, the coldest ever recorded is a balmy 41, and the warmest—reached on only a few occasions more than 30 years ago—is 100. And third, getting there is half the fun. The 128-mile Overseas Highway, which leads from the Florida mainland to Key West, links the numerous keys (small islands) by means of 42 bridges. In 2009 it was named an “All-American Road,” an honor that puts it in the top tier of national scenic byways. We stop at the Kona Kai Resort, which has one of the few ethnobotanic gardens in the United States. During a 90-minute tour of the small, densely packed plot of land, we learn about the relationship between people and plants and gather enough fascinating facts to amuse our friends for a year. For example, we see a moss that was responsible for the first automobile recall. It seems the moss, which was used as seat stuffing in the early Model T’s, was laden with chiggers, leading to a massive outbreak of itchy rears. But the first part of the road near Key Largo is mostly lined with shops offering a variety of water-based activities, restaurants featuring fish and key lime pie, and gift stores hawking sandals and seashells. It’s not until an hour and a half later, when we start across the Seven-Mile Bridge, that the road seems to open and … Oh my, we feel like we’re driving on water! To the right is the Gulf of Mexico. To the left is the Atlantic Ocean. In the distance there are small keys of green, but the overwhelming color is blue—the soft blue of the sky, the teal blue of the water. It’s evening when we reach Key West, which is not only the end of the Overseas Highway, but also the end of U.S. Highway 1, the approximately 2,500-mile-long interstate that begins in Maine at the U.S./Canadian border. There are a multitude of signs to
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A schooner takes passengers on a romantic cruise in Key West.
Performers amaze and entertain during Key West’s Sunset Celebration, which takes place every night, weather permitting.
Juried craftspeople line the pier during the Sunset Celebration.
Forty-four cats make themselves comfortable in Hemingway’s house.
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant, store, and live entertainment venue captures the Key West spirit.
commemorate this fact, as well as a big buoy to mark the town’s status as the southernmost city in the United States. Down on the waterfront the Sunset Celebration is in full swing. Performers
are walking on tightropes, telling stories, doing dances, juggling torches. Juried craftspeople are selling everything from handmade scarves to palm-tree paintings. And hundreds of people are watching
schooners, catamarans, glass-bottom boats, and sailboats return to the pier, backed by the fading light. Here, I realize, is what differentiates Key West from the rest of the world. In most places, a carnival like this would be an annual event; in Key West, it happens every night, weather permitting, which it usually is! The festive feel persists on Duval Street. Many people are shopping, intrigued by the mix of high-end crafts, mid-range souvenirs, and fine Cuban cigars. But most are simply ambling and listening to the music that blares from the restaurants and bars. The next morning, hoping to catch some inspiration, we tour Key West’s literary haunts. This is the place where Tennessee Williams wrote his first draft of A Streetcar Named Desire, Robert Frost wrote The Gift Outright, and Ernest Hemingway wrote parts of Death in the Afternoon, For Whom the Bell Tolls, and The Snows of Kilimanjaro. Williams’ and Frost’s former homes are closed to the public, but we go into Hemingway’s, where we’re greeted by many of the 44 cats that roam the property, all direct descendants or close relatives of a cat given to Hemingway during his 10-year stay on the island. A guide regales us with tales of Hemingway’s escapades, some of which involved writing and many of which involved fishing, drinking, and romancing. Equally fascinating is the old naval residence that served as a Little White House for Harry Truman, who spent 175 days of his presidency in Key West. Truman’s writings were of another sort. They included memos that dealt with the use of nuclear weapons and post-World War II reconstruction as well as frequent love letters to Bess. We end our stay in Key West at a decadent dessert lounge enticingly named “Better than Sex.” Sitting in a lounge so dimly lit that patrons are given flashlights to see the menu and sipping cabernet from a glass rimmed in chocolate, we feel as if we’re miles away—not only from the mainland, but from reality itself. www.fla-keys.com Photos © Irv Green; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).
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