Dauphin County Edition
August 2014
Vol. 16 No. 8
For the Love of Felines Councilwoman Heads Successful Feral-Cat Program By Rebecca Hanlon Maria Romano Marcinko is severely allergic to cats. The itchy skin and shortened breaths would send most people running from these critters. But Marcinko can’t stay away. The 58-year-old Steelton woman founded the Steelton Community Cats program in 2010 shortly after being appointed to a seat on the borough council. The first item on the agenda that was handed to her in September 2009 was for a municipal contract with the Humane Society in Dauphin County. Thousands of taxpayer dollars were being spent each year for the care of stray animals. More than 85 percent of those were feral cats. “I’ve always been an animal lover,” Marcinko said. “They hoped that because I had experience in dog rescue services that maybe I could help with the overwhelming cat population that Steelton suffered.” The challenge was “staying outside of the box,” Marcinko said. She tried to understand the concerns of residents who became attached to the cats, while at the same time relating to the frustrations of neighbors who wanted strays to stay off their lawns. Feisty feral cats can damage plants, outdoor furniture, and flowerbeds, she said. But there was a solution. please see FELINES page 12 Maria Romano Marcinko stands with a couple of feral cats inside the Steelton Community Cats program’s headquarters, now located in a century-old renovated bank building on Front Street in Steelton.
Inside:
The Beach at the End of the Trail page 6
Ergonomic Tools that Can Ease Gardening Pains page 8
Such is Life
Finding a Family Again Saralee Perel
T
he letter began: “Dear Saralee, I’ll get right to it. We are cousins.” When I first read Robin’s words, I didn’t believe her. How could I have a first cousin I knew nothing about? She found me by Googling my name. “I would love to speak with you and share family memories,” she wrote. So I called her at her home in Pennsylvania. Sure enough, her mother was my Aunt Rebecca. I never even knew my aunt had a child. When Robin and I spoke, it was like talking to a sister. We used the same expressions, laughed and cried alike, related like we’d never been apart, and even described ourselves in the same goofy way: as lunatics. Her children’s careers are in writing and psychology, just like my professions. We both sign our emails: “Love, me.” And we each include our dogs in the family photos
And I didn’t understand we send. that when Mom slammed Together, we figured out her door each time I’d leave, why we never knew each it was because she wanted other existed. me nearby, in her home and I haven’t thought about my in her heart. mother’s melancholia in a My poor mother crippled while. Oh, how I blame her own life when all she myself for waiting until it was truly wanted was the too late to make things better. closeness she never had. Mom’s history was one of neglect and abuse. She wanted Saralee and her mother How immature and selfish of me, as an adult, not to so desperately to be loved, but in 1977. see the love she so deeply her fury at her parents was longed for. When I told Robin that Mom unrelenting. So she took it out on the ended her own life, she was not surprised. most important people in her world—the And so, Aunt Rebecca and her ones she held closest to her heart. husband, my uncle Jack, were included in Most of her family wouldn’t speak to the sad picture of estranged relatives. her. She didn’t understand that by Therefore, I had no idea Robin existed— constantly hanging up on relatives after until now. shouting at them, they’d stop calling. Sadly, everyone, other than my brother, She didn’t understand that being mean stopped talking with me when they gave didn’t solve problems; it just alienated up on my mom. Although I’ve tried to people.
reconnect, no one has responded. But now, I’ve been accepted into a new family, with all the richness that goes along with feeling welcomed by loved ones with a shared past. In her first email, Robin wrote, “I was awake all last night thinking of us. I find it unbelievable but wonderful and astounding! If you tried to write it, they would call it fiction.” I said, “I’m so happy you found me.” “So am I.” My mother would have treasured being a part of this extraordinary reunion. After all, the love I found is all she ever wanted. The truth is—my mother loved me as intensely as I loved her. If only I had said, “I love you, Mom. I didn’t mean to hurt you so much, especially when I left for college. You never meant to hurt me. You just wanted me to always be with you because you loved me in the purest sense. I should
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have known this.” I wish I had told her that even though we didn’t shop, talk on the phone, or share secrets and laughter the way many
mothers and daughters do, we still loved each other profoundly—as strongly as rivers can flow and birds can soar. Maybe, oh maybe, somewhere in her
tender, aching heart, she knew. Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist. Her new book is
Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: Stories From a Life Out of Balance. To find out more, visit www.saraleeperel.com or email sperel@saraleeperel.com.
Nostalgia Road
When I Was Your Age Dick Dedrick ll I have to do to get my grandkids’ eyes rolling is talk about the good old days. No, I don’t tell ’em how far I walked to school (school was only a block away). But I might say I remember when, if you wanted to change channels on the TV, you had to get up, walk over, and turn a knob. Then I’ll tell them how you had to
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adjust the rabbit ears to get a better picture. They’re not curious enough to ask me what rabbit ears were, or how great The Colgate Comedy Hour was. They don’t care. They don’t care if I never had a telephone that took pictures. Or how we’d send film into Kodak and get prints back in a week. They’re too busy texting. And they never heard of Kodak. I
Resource Directory PACE (800) 225-7223
Emergency Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110
Tri-County Association for the Blind (717) 238-2531
Social Security Information (800) 772-1213
Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 780-6130
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
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
grandkids to join me in a game of checkers, dominos, or pickup sticks. But I’ve learned to get their attention by asking them to show me their latest video game—a game that interests me about as much as my games interest them. We do have that in common. Visit www.nostalgiaroad.com
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remember when text was not a verb and texting was not a word. Yes, I have a cell phone. I’m not a Luddite. “Does it have a crank on it?” you’re probably asking. No, it doesn’t. It’s a TracFone. No, it’s not smart, but it only costs me $7 a month. When you’re on a fixed income (a euphemism for being broke), things like that matter. I have given up on getting my
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 New York Life Insurance Co. William Gumbinger (717) 230-0648 Legal Services Daley Zucker Meilton & Miner, LLC Attorneys at Law 635 North 12th Street, Lemoyne (717) 724-9821 Nursing/Rehab Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902 Personal Care Homes Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902 Pharmacy CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
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 or (800) 827-1000 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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Hyperthermia: Too Hot for Your Health 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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During the summer, it is important for everyone, especially older adults and people with chronic medical conditions, to be aware of the dangers of hyperthermia. The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the NIH, has some tips to help mitigate some of the dangers. Hyperthermia is an abnormally high body temperature caused by a failure of the heat-regulating mechanisms in the body to deal with the heat coming from the environment. Heat stroke, heat syncope (sudden dizziness after prolonged exposure to the heat), heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat fatigue are common forms of hyperthermia. People can be at increased risk for these conditions, depending on the combination of outside temperature, their general health, and individual lifestyle. Older people, particularly those with chronic medical conditions, should stay indoors, preferably with air conditioning or at least a fan and air circulation, on hot and humid days, especially when an air pollution alert is in effect. Living in housing without air conditioning, not drinking enough fluids, not understanding how to respond to the weather conditions, lack of mobility and access to transportation, overdressing, and visiting overcrowded places are all lifestyle factors that can increase the risk for hyperthermia. People without air conditioners should go to places that do have air conditioning, such as senior centers, shopping malls, movie theaters, and libraries. Cooling centers, which may be set up by local public health
agencies, religious groups, and social service organizations in many communities, are another option. The risk for hyperthermia may increase from: • Age-related changes to the skin, such as poor blood circulation and inefficient sweat glands • Alcohol use • Being substantially overweight or underweight • Dehydration • Heart, lung, and kidney diseases, as well as any illness that causes general weakness or fever • High blood pressure or other health conditions that require changes in diet. For example, people on salt-restricted diets may be at increased risk. However, salt pills should not be used without first consulting a physician. • Reduced perspiration, caused by medications such as diuretics, sedatives, tranquilizers, and certain heart and blood pressure drugs • Use of multiple medications. It is important, however, to continue to take prescribed medication and discuss possible problems with a physician. Heat stroke is a life-threatening form of hyperthermia. It occurs when the body is overwhelmed by heat and is unable to control its temperature. Heat stroke occurs when someone’s body temperature
increases significantly (above 104 degrees Fahrenheit) and shows symptoms of the following: strong, rapid pulse; lack of sweating; dry, flushed skin; mental status changes (like combativeness or confusion); staggering; faintness; or coma. Seek immediate emergency medical attention for a person with any of these symptoms, especially an older adult. If you suspect someone is suffering from a heat-related illness: • Get the person out of the heat and into a shady, air-conditioned, or other cool place. Urge the person to lie down. • If you suspect heat stroke, call 911. Apply a cold, wet cloth to the wrists, neck, armpits, and/or groin. These are places where blood passes close to the surface of the skin, and the cold cloths can help cool the blood. • Help the individual to bathe or sponge off with cool water. • If the person can swallow safely, offer fluids such as water or fruit and vegetable juices, but avoid alcohol and caffeine. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) within the Administration for Children and Families in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services helps eligible households pay for home cooling and heating costs. People interested in applying for assistance should contact their local or state LIHEAP agency or go to http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/ liheap.
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ER vs. Clinic: Which to Choose?
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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.
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August 2014
Hospital emergency rooms are stretched thin by almost 130 million visits a year. Many of these visits are triggered by complaints that could be handled more efficiently at same-day clinics or pharmacy care centers. How do you know which to choose? Go to the emergency room (or call an ambulance) if you or a friend experience any of these serious symptoms:
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• Persistent chest pain • Persistent shortness of breath
• Fever (except in the case of a newborn infant)
• Severe pain, especially in the abdomen or the lower back
• Minor trauma such as cuts and sprains
• Loss of balance or fainting
• Urinary tract infections
• Difficulty speaking or thinking clearly
• Severe sore throat
• Sudden, severe headache
• Minor eye irritation
On the other hand, most sameday clinics are able to treat these routine health problems:
A clinic will also be able to advise you to go to the emergency room if your condition is more serious than you realize.
• Nausea and vomiting
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Your Changing Eyes
Audition in person on Aug. 9 Auditions on CD accepted until Aug. 16 All ages welcome! Hosted by New Hope $1000
Living Baptist Church First-place Registration fee – $25 of Steelton Prize! For more information, event tickets, or audition guidelines, contact Valerie Waller at (717) 233-2364 or yalchay@msn.com
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Geriatrics Society, examining data from the Health and Retirement Study conducted by the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research on behalf of the U.S. National Institute on Aging.
Aug. 30 & Sept. 6, 2014
a Sp
The percentage of senior citizens with living wills was 72 percent in 2010, a record number and a substantial increase from 47 percent in 2000. The figures come from a study published in the Journal of the American
Singles gospel singing competition
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More Seniors Documenting End-of-Life Wishes
EAST COAST GOSPEL BEST 2014
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The primary cause of blindness in the United States, cataracts occur as the lens of the eye naturally breaks down with age. By the time you reach age 65, there is a 50 percent chance you already have a cataract. Most people are born with a crystalclear lens, and it stays relatively clear throughout most of your life. Over time, this crystalline lens becomes more opaque because the water and protein that make up the lens begin to clump together. When looking at the pupils of someone with cataracts, it looks like tiny clouds inside their eyes. Just as clouds block out our vision of the sky, these small clouds inhibit a person’s ability to see clearly. The symptoms of a cataract can be quite subtle at first, only causing minimal disruption to your vision. Small parts of your field of view may be fuzzy and out of focus. Cataract sufferers often believe their prescription is just changing, so they opt for stronger glasses or lenses. Unfortunately, getting a stronger prescription only puts a temporary bandage on the problem. Other symptoms may include: glare around lights, double vision, poor night vision, and poor color recognition. While researchers are unsure whether or not cataracts can be prevented, there are steps a person can take in order to lower the risk of developing them. These include: > Wearing protective sunglasses > Not smoking > Reducing alcohol use > Maintaining a healthy weight > Including fruits and vegetables in your daily diet
An optometrist can do some routine procedures to determine whether a patient has cataracts. These include a visual acuity test, looking into the eye with a light, and dilating the pupils to look closely at the lens. If cataracts are found on the lens, talk to your eye doctor about your options and see whether surgery would be the best choice for you. Cataract surgery is recommended if your life is beginning to suffer. Many people decide to opt out of the surgery initially and then undergo it later once their vision deteriorates substantially. The good news is that cataract surgery is a fairly simple procedure. The surgery involves making a small incision in the lens, removing the cataract, and replacing the lens with an artificial one. Normally the doctor will only do the surgery in one eye at a time, waiting a month or so between the first and second eye. As with any procedure, the surgery does come with a risk of infection and bleeding. As many as 85-92 percent of adults who opted to have cataract surgery were satisfied with the results of the procedure, and many of those who weren’t satisfied had other preexisting eye conditions. The surgery itself has a 95 percent success rate, and the people who have their cataracts removed are relieved to be able to keep their vision for years to come. If you think you may be developing cataracts, please contact your eye care professional. For more information on cataracts, visit the National Eye Institute website at www.nei.nih.gov.
Ex hi bi to rs
By Rebecca Mills
Cumberland County
omen’s Expo
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November 8, 2014
October 4, 2014 oop ula H st! H Lebanon Expo Center Conte
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Traveltizers
Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel
The Beach at the End of the Trail well as pedal the Promenade, a 1.5-mile concrete path that runs parallel to the sea. ewis and Clark traveled There, at the point where the more than 4,000 miles Prom intersects Broadway, is the searching for a water bronze statue of the two route that would span the explorers. It’s larger than life, as American West. Where did they befits the men it depicts, and is end up? On a small stretch of backed with a sign that reads, sand near Seaside, Ore., 80 “the END of the LEWIS & miles west of Portland. CLARK trail, 1805-1806.” Today Seaside is a popular The next morning we set out recreational community, to learn why and how Seaside attracting visitors who want A bronze statue of Lewis and People relax on the bench near the Men from the Lewis and Clark surf-perfect waves, abundant Clark stands near the beach in Promenade, the 1.5-mile concrete expedition first spotted the Pacific became the last stop of the tide pools, good hiking, and the Seaside, Ore. walkway that parallels the beach. Ocean near Cape Disappointment. Lewis and Clark expedition. We begin at Cape chance to follow the Lewis and Disappointment, 30 miles Clark Corps of Discovery dubbed “one of America’s top 10 soups” stores, many of which are arranged northwest of Seaside. during the last days of their journey to at Norma’s. around an old-fashioned merry-go“Since this is one of the foggiest the Pacific. To work off the calories, we go to round in the aptly named Carousel My husband and I walk through places in the country, it’s almost certain Wheel Fun Rentals, where we debate Mall. town, heading toward a bronze statue that you’re having the same weather as Of course, we intersperse our whether to rent a surrey (elegant), a that immortalizes the area’s flirt with did the Lewis and Clark team,” says a meanderings with food—a fish taco at tandem bike (easy, especially for me), or fame. The streets are filled with people. ranger. “But they were too elated to Firehouse Grill, homemade root beer a regular bicycle (exercise for both of us). Some are simply strolling, enjoying worry about the weather; they had and ice cream at Flashback’s, and a cup We finally opt for bikes so we can the sea-fresh air, while others are finally reached the Pacific Ocean.” of the clam chowder that Bon Appétit explore areas on the outskirts of town as shopping in an eclectic assortment of We forego the beachcombing for By Andrea Gross
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Please join us for these free events!
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Nov. 5, 2014
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Carlisle Expo Center
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which the 1,900-acre park is famous, instead spending our time at the interpretive center and hiking a trail that was used by the corpsmen as they explored the area. Although the men were eager to return home after achieving their goal, many a snow-covered mountain stood between the Pacific Ocean and their starting point in St. Louis. They needed a hunkering place for the winter, and they found a suitable spot on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, midway between the Cape and Seaside. Today that spot, Fort Clatsop, is a National Historical Park that features a full-size replica of the original fort, ranger-led programs, an exhibit area, and a bookstore that will please even the most devoted Lewis and Clark fans. As we walk through the fort, a costumed interpreter explains what life was like during the winter of 1805-06. In short, it was hard. The men were almost out of food, and they spent much of their time hunting elk, deer, and small game. On one occasion, hearing that a whale had washed ashore, they hiked over Tillamook Head to the beach in what is now Ecola State Park. To their dismay, by the time they arrived, the American Indians had picked the whale clean.
An old-fashioned merry-go-round replete with 24 fanciful animals dominates the Carousel Mall.
Broadway Street is a perfect place to shop, snack, or just have a relaxing stroll.
We consider following the explorers’ footsteps until we read that Clark called Tillamook Head “the steepest, worst &
For more than 18 years, 50plus LIVING has been the guide to living and care options. Will they find your services there? Your guide to choosing the right living and care options for you or a loved one: • Active adult and residential living • Independent and retirement living communities • Assisted living residences and personal care homes
Tillamook Head is at the southern end of Seaside Beach.
highest mountain I ever ascended.” Figuring that he was undoubtedly in better shape than we are, we hop in the
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Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).
Veterans’ expo and Job Fair + November 14, 2014 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Eden Resort 222 Eden Road, Lancaster
2 events — 1 location
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Fort Clatsop consisted of two rows of huts separated by a central gathering spot.
car for a 15-minute drive to Ecola. From there it’s a comparatively easy trek to the beached whale site. But the men not only had to get food, they also had to preserve it; and to do that, they had to extract salt from the ocean. Therefore, five corpsmen established a small outpost on a nearby beach. They made ovens from rocks, found branches for fuel, and boiled seawater for two months, collecting enough preservative to safeguard their food for the rest of their trip. A month later the corps headed east, and the abandoned salt works thus became the expedition’s westernmost campsite. Today the reconstructed site is just a few blocks from the statue that proclaims Seaside as the end of the Lewis and Clark trail. We sit on the Prom, the ocean in front of us, the statue behind us. While I suspect Lewis and Clark were happy to return home, they couldn’t have found a more beautiful place to end their journey. As for us, we’d like to stay forever. www.seasideor.com
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Savvy Senior
Ergonomic Tools that Can Ease Gardening Pains Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good ergonomic gardening gear for seniors? I am a 72-year-old who loves to work in the garden, but I have been plagued by various gardening injuries this year. – Looking for Solutions
Here are several that can help.
Dear Looking, There’s no doubt that gardening can be tough on an aging body. Garden work often requires a lot of repetitive stooping, squatting, kneeling, gripping, and lifting, which can lead to back and knee pain, carpal tunnel syndrome, and various other injuries. To help make your gardening chores a little easier is a slew of new and improved gardening gear that’s lightweight, comfortable to use, and ergonomically designed to help protect your body from the physical strains of gardening.
Gloves: There are a number of specially designed gloves that can improve your grip and protect your hands while you work. Two of the best are the “Atlas Nitrile Touch Garden Gloves” (available at Amazon.com for less than $6), which are coated with a flexible, synthetic rubber. And the “ReliefGrip
A raised garden table is an option for more ergonomic gardening (Your Garden Solution).
Gardening” gloves (www.bionicgloves. com, $35) have extra padding in the palm and finger joints, which can improve grip and cause fewer calluses and blisters. Digging tools: There are ergonomic tools that can help protect your wrists by reducing the bending and twisting wrist movement that often comes with digging and weeding. Some good options include Radius Garden tools (www.radius garden.com), which
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make a variety of curved-handle hand tools (scooper, weeder, transplanter, cultivator, and trowel) and shovels that run between $10 and $50. And check out Corona tools (www.coronatoolsusa.com), which makes the ComfortGEL and eGrip hand garden tools. Another excellent product is the “Cobrahead Weeder and Cultivator” (www.cobrahead.com), an all-purpose digging and weeding tool, available in a short-handle version for close-up work for $25 and a long handle for standing work for $60. Knee and back aids: Kneepads and garden seats can also protect your knees and save your back when working close to the ground. Some popular products sold today through the Gardener’s Supply Company (www.gardeners.com) are the “GardenEase
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August 2014
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Kneeler” ($70), which is a kneeling pad with support handles; the “Garden Kneeler” ($35) that’s a kneepad/garden bench combo; and the “Deluxe Tractor Scoot with Bucket Basket,” which is a height-adjustable, swivel garden seat on wheels ($90). Pruning tools: Fiskars (www.fiskars. com) makes some of the finest ergonomic pruning tools that have also earned the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation because of their patented PowerGear mechanisms that increase leverage to make cutting three times easier than traditional pruners. The Fiskars PowerGear hand pruners, loppers, and hedge shears all run between $25 and $48. Bahco and Corona also make a nice line of ergonomic pruning tools and handsaws that you can see at www.bahcostore.com or www.coronatools usa.com. Watering: To help make your watering chores a little easier, there are lightweight garden hoses, soaker or drip hoses that can be snaked throughout the garden, and hose chests that can automatically rewind themselves.
Some good companies that make these products include Water Right Inc. (www.waterrightinc.com), which makes a variety of super lightweight garden and coil hoses; the DIG Corp. (www.digcorp.com), which makes convenient drip-irrigation kits and micro sprinkler kits; and Suncast (www.suncast.com), the leading maker of self-winding hose reels and hose carts. Container gardening: Raised garden beds, trellises, and container gardening are also easier ways to grow plants and flowers because it brings the garden to you, eliminating most stooping, squatting, and kneeling. The Gardener’s Supply Company (www.gardeners.com) offers a wide range of raised beds and garden containers at prices ranging anywhere between $10 up to $350. Locally, Your Garden Solution (www.yourgardensolution.org, (717) 919-1010) offers raised beds and garden tables in a similar price range. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org
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Jeffrey Dresely – Reg. Rep. 717-230-0629 Craig Watford – Agent 717-221-4313 William Gumbinger – Reg. Rep. 717-230-0648
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CCRCs offer a tiered approach to the aging process, accommodating residents’ unique and often changing needs.
CCRC Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Healthy adults entering a CRCC are able to live independently in a home, apartment, or condominium of their own within the community. When assistance with everyday activities becomes necessary, they can move into personal care, assisted living, rehabilitation, or nursing care facilities. Some CCRCs have designated dementia areas within the community. These units address the progressing needs of people who have any form of dementia. With a wealth of available resources, these communities give older adults the option to live in one location for the duration of their lives, with much of their future care already figured out — which equals both comfort and peace of mind.
The listings with a shaded background have additional information about their center in a display advertisement in this edition.
Bethany Village 325 Wesley Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Stephanie Lightfoot Director of Sales & Marketing (717) 766-0279 www.bethanyvillage.org
Church of God Home 801 North Hanover Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Sherry Heim Director of Development/PR (717) 866-3204 sherry.heim@ndccs.com www.churchofgodhome.org
Calvary Fellowship Homes
Chapel Pointe at Carlisle
502 Elizabeth Drive Lancaster, PA 17601 Marlene Morris Marketing Director (717) 393-0711 www.calvaryhomes.org
770 South Hanover Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Linda Amsley Director of Marketing/Admissions (717) 713-2201 www.chapelpointe.com
Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community
Garden Spot Village
2990 Carlisle Pike New Oxford, PA 17350 Amy Kirkpatrick Senior Retirement Counselor (717) 624-5350 a.kirkpatrick@crosskeysvillage.org www.crosskeysvillage.org
433 South Kinzer Avenue New Holland, PA 17557 Megan Farber Sales and Marketing (717) 355-6290 mfarber@gardenspotvillage.org www.gardenspotvillage.org
The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.
Salute to a Veteran
In WWII in the Pacific, There Was a Lot of Water to Fly Over Between Islands Robert D. Wilcox harles Wilson grew up in a small town near Bel Air, Md. Though he didn’t know it then, he was to spend a lot of time over the broad Pacific on the opposite side of the world from his home. In January of 1943, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps and entered the aviation cadet program. After basic, he went to classified, where he passed all the requirements to become either a pilot, a navigator, or a bombardier. He chose to become a pilot and started pilot training at Albany, Ga. He soon discovered that there were
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lots of ways to “wash out” of pilot training, and he then went to navigator training at Selma, Ala. There, in December 1943, he won his navigator wings and a commission as second lieutenant. The Air Corps was looking for navigators who had also qualified to be bombardiers, so he volunteered to attend bombardier school at
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2LT Charles A. Wilson in 1943 as he earned his navigator wings and commission.
Roswell, N.M. He there earned his bombardier wings before being assigned to a B-25 crew at Greenville, S.C. The standard B-25 crew was made up of eight men: pilot, copilot, navigator, bombardier, radio man, two waist gunners, and a tail gunner. In his case, however, it was only seven men, since he served as both navigator
and bombardier. Their route to combat took them to California, Hawaii, and New Guinea. How did they find their way across those great expanses of the Pacific? “That’s where I came in,” he grins. “By looking down through the Norden bombsight, I could see the waves, and that helped me estimate the direction and force of the wind.” And where did he learn to do that? “In Selma,” he says, “right out of the textbook.” But without any real waves to see? “Yeah,” he says airily, “but it worked www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Homestead Village
Homeland Center
CCRC
1901 North Fifth Street Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598 Barry S. Ramper II, N.H.A. President/CEO (717) 221-7902 www.homelandcenter.org
Enhanced Senior Living 1800 Marietta Avenue P.O. Box 3227 Lancaster, PA 17604-3227 Susan L. Doyle Director of Marketing (717) 397-4831 ext. 158 www.homesteadvillage.org
The Middletown Home
Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community
St. Anne’s Retirement Community
1700 Normandie Drive York, PA 17408 Joyce Singer Director of Sales & Marketing (717) 718-0937 www.normandieridge.org
3952 Columbia Avenue West Hempfield Township, PA 17512 Christina Gallagher Director of Marketing (717) 285-5443 cgallagher@stannesrc.org www.stannesretirementcommunity.com
Serving from the 999 West Harrisburg Pike Heart in the Spirit of Friendship, Love, Middletown, PA 17057 and Truth Andrea Henney Director of Residential Services (717) 944-3351 www.MiddletownHome.org
Willow Valley Communities 600 Willow Valley Square Lancaster, PA 17602 Kristin Hambleton Director of Sales (717) 464-6800 (800) 770-5445 www.willowvalleycommunities.org
Woodcrest Villa Mennonite Home Communities 2001 Harrisburg Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 Connie Buckwalter Director of Marketing (717) 390-4126 www.woodcrestvilla.org
Continuing Care Retirement Communities
If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your account representative or call (717) 285-1350.
The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.
out just fine when you had real waves to look at. And,” he adds, “I was able to ‘shoot the sun’ to judge our speed over the water.” With a smile, he says, “It had to work, because I didn’t even know how to swim.” After bombing the Japanese on New Guinea and nearby islands, he and his crew were relocated to Morotai Island, where it rained for a solid month. Everything—their clothing, their bedding, everything they had—was continually soaked. Although they flew missions through the weather, everybody got “jungle rot.” Their hands swelled up with the tropical infection so that they couldn’t even write. Fortunately, the medics had an ointment to treat it, but it was an experience that Wilson would prefer to forget. The crew moved again, this time to Palawan Island in the Philippines, where www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
they bombed Luzon and nearby islands. Wilson says all the island settlements were on the edge of islands, close to the water. So they would circle over the land, then, at treetop height, drop bombs on the facilities on their way toward the water so that, if they were hit, they’d be able to ditch in the water rather than crash on the land in Japanese hands. Not all missions involved bombs, though. The Japanese planted crops on some of the islands they captured. The food they produced was needed, because re-supply from Japan was so precarious. Wilson remembers flying missions to spray those crops with oil and destroy them. On another kind of mission entirely, their B-25s were fitted with auxiliary fuel tanks, and they flew a 16-hour mission, leading P-38s to a rendezvous with B-24s off the coast of China,
aircraft that went on to bomb Japanese bases in China. On one other key mission, they were to fly to Leyte Island to cover General MacArthur’s return to the Philippines. They ran into a huge monsoon they tried to climb over, but every time they neared the top of the clouds, they found that the clouds were climbing faster than they were. So they had to abort their shot at history being made. Did he ever get shot up in combat? “No,” he says. “The closest we came was when we were supporting the invasion of Borneo. I saw the B-25 to the left of us go down in flames. Then the same thing happened to the plane to the right of us. But we came through it without a scratch. “Then, after I had flown 53 missions, my tour was over, and I returned to the U.S. on a converted ocean liner. Just before we reached California, we got
news that the A-bomb had been dropped on Hiroshima. And the news that the Japanese had surrendered reached us on the day that I mustered out of the Air Corps at Fort Meade.” Wilson then entered the University of Maryland on the G.I. Bill and in 1950 graduated with a B.A. in mathematics. He taught high school mathematics for a couple of years, and then worked for three years at Aberdeen Proving Grounds using wind tunnels to study the effect of wind on missiles. For many years thereafter, he wrote computer programs for a major finance company. He often thinks of—but rarely discusses—all those hours he flew in the Pacific with nothing below him but water. Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.
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FELINES
Help 50plus Senior News spread your local news! Everyone likes to read good news, so tell us what’s happening in your part of the world so we can share it with others! Here are some ideas of what we hope you will contribute:
• a birthday or anniversary milestone • a volunteer who should be recognized • a photo of a smile that begs to be shared • a groundbreaking event • community activities • support programs • local news
We would love to consider your submission for an upcoming issue of 50plus Senior News*. Please note: submissions must be received by the 10th of the month prior to insertion. * Submissions will be included as space permits.
For more information or to submit your happenings, email Megan Joyce at mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail to: 50plus Senior News Megan Joyce 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512
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from page 1
In just months, Marcinko would In about four years, Steelton saved become closer to the felines that caused enough money to hire two police officers. her to sniffle. Marcinko, who retired from Dauphin To solve the problem of wasted tax County parole and probation, is able to dollars and control the growing cat get 200 community service hours a colonies, Marcinko adopted a popular month from people going through the track, spay/neuter, and return program. system for non-violent crimes. Instead of euthanizing feral cats, as the Some of them have been doctors, Humane Society often had to do, lawyers, and even veterinarians who Marcinko and a crew of volunteers took a return to help even after completing their more personal approach. required community service hours. Marcinko develops relationships with And even though the program those who feed and come to love the stray primarily caters to controlling the cats. population, Marcinko can’t resist helping Their first case was a woman pleading a hurt cat. for help with the Sometimes the 50 cats who had cats come to the congregated in her clinic with broken yard. It started tails or missing when her little boy eyes from fights didn’t like the within the crust on his peanut colonies. Pregnant butter and jelly cats might also be sandwiches. sent to the Tossing the Humane Society, scraps out in the so the kittens have yard for the birds a chance at In a single midsummer day, more than ended up avoiding the feral 70 feral cats await care from volunteer veterinarians inside the program’s facility. attracting a stray life. cat. The family More than continued to feed it but soon found they 3,300 cats have been spayed or neutered had attracted an entire colony of hungry since 2010 in Steelton and Highspire felines. boroughs, as well as Swatara and What seemed like a cute way to help Susquehanna townships, causing the one feral cat turned into an overwhelming population to drop by about 75 percent population of hungry felines. in that time. While they want the problem fixed, Since January 2010, Steelton has not the last thing on their minds was hurting sent one cat to the Humane Society, the animals. Marcinko said. “Most of these people are older and “I feel really alive when I do this,” she they don’t have anything else,” she said. “I said. “None of us is getting younger, but I used to take my business card and throw hope I can continue to do this, continue it in a mailbox and run, hoping that they to help the community, even as I age.” would call me. It’s a program that requires While the program avoids adopting a lot of patience and understanding.” the cats (most wouldn’t be happy in a Marcinko learned to pour out home anyway, Marcinko said), the love compassion for the people who longed to for these animals is evident. help the animals but didn’t want to lose “The reason why this program keeps them. going is because people love it,” Marcinko Entire colonies are taken to the said. “Even when I’m in there with my Steelton Community Cats clinic at the mask on, trying not to handle them, there caretaker’s permission. is love.” “You can’t just take one or two at a Not the type to sit at home in her time,” Marcinko said. “It doesn’t work to retirement, Marcinko hopes she can let everyone else stay behind to have fun continue to keep busy with the Steelton and make more cats.” Community Cats and maybe watch it be They are then spayed or neutered by a adopted by other municipalities. volunteer veterinarian, kept for several “My mother is 94 years old and lives days to recover, and released where they by herself, and we travel together,” were found. Marcinko said. “I’m just hoping I have Grant money and donations pay for her blood and can keep doing this as long the medical care, while volunteers shell as she keeps running circles around me.” out hundreds of hours a month to keep For more information on the Steelton the program running. PetSmart Charities Community Cats program, visit has been a big supporter, allowing them www.steeltoncats.org or call (717) 877to renovate an old bank for the surgeries. 4146. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
CROSSWORD
Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 14
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Deal Me In By Mark Pilarski
The Casino Returning Lost Loot is a No-Brainer Dear Mark: Your recent column about someone who found credits in a slot machine brought to mind an incident that happened to me a few weeks ago at the MGM Grand in Detroit. I accidentally left my $97 voucher on the bar. When I came back from the restroom, it was gone. I reported my loss to security. Within an hour, they caught someone on “the eye in the sky” cashing the ticket in. This is one time that I lost my money at a casino and they gave me my money back. – James B. Contrary to some mailbag response that didn’t quite believe what a casino does with the left-behind credits or vouchers, I must reiterate, it really isn’t smart customer service for a casino to pocket lost loot.
Returning player winnings to its rightful owner is one of many ways a casino builds on customer loyalty. Heck, handing a player $97 that justly belongs to him can keep him yanking handles in their casino for life. From the casino’s perspective, customer loyalty comes through having a strong relationship with its players. When a player sees them as a friend and ally, they are reluctant to jump ship to another casino, even if it means they can get a sweeter deal elsewhere. Given the competitive nature of the gambling business, casinos protect their
customers as a mother bear does her cubs. Customers will decide whether to trust a casino based upon their day-today behavior. Handing you back your $97 builds on that trust. Make that type of behavior consistent over time—and here is where many casinos fall short—and the management knows you can be counted on as “their” patron. If their behavior becomes unpredictable, you, the consumer, will find another joint to which you take your money. James, getting your $97 back was a no-brainer for the casino.
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Unfortunately, Charlie, though I have been in the Mac world since its infancy, I too have yet to find software comparable to Dancer’s Video Poker for Winners! It is specifically for that reason that I keep an old PC laptop lying around, as you should too. Besides using VP for Winners! as a video poker game that replicates the IGT machines you see in a casino, you can also use it as a tutorial, create strategies, focus on problem areas, check unusual hands, figure slot club paybacks, and a whole lot more.
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Puzzle Solutions
130 South Third Street • Harrisburg (717) 232-7516
Dear Mark: Are you aware of a good video poker program that will run on a Macintosh laptop? I had Bob Dancer’s program on my old PC, which I liked a lot, but it is not available in a Mac version. I would like to find a similar product, but I am not having any luck. – Charlie P.
August 2014
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www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
One of my favorite features of this software program is the ability to print out game-specific strategy charts that you can take to the casino with you. The money you save by never having to pay for another strategy chart alone will more than pay for the cost of the $50 program.
In addition, I like that VPW allows you to change pay tables and then analyze that game’s overall expected return. Finally, I like the ability to determine what your bankroll needs are to avoid going broke. There is no better way to master
video poker than with this software program. I recommend, Charlie, that you stick with it. Gambling Wisdom of the Week: “To be a winner, you have to really want to be a winner.” – Avery Cardoza, How to Play
Winning Poker (1987) 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
Social Security News
Is a New Social Security Card in Your Cards? By John Johnston o help combat the rising threat of fraud and identity theft, Social Security will no longer issue Social Security number printouts beginning in August 2014. If you need written confirmation of your Social Security number—perhaps your new employer needs verification— and you can’t find your Social Security card, you can apply for a replacement. But do you really need a replacement?
T
In most cases, you don’t need your card as long as you know your number. For all intents and purposes, your number is your card. Usually providing your number and identifying information is enough. In the event you really do want or need a replacement card, either for yourself or for a child, you can find all of
the details you need at www.socialsecurity.gov/ ssnumber. The “Social Security Number and Card” page provides information on how to obtain a replacement card and what specific documents you need to provide. Whether you need a Social Security card for yourself or a child, it’s easy—and free—to apply for one.
But consider whether a new Social Security card is really in the cards for you. It may be that your “card” is already with you—in your head. While you’re at the website, open your free “my Social Security” account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. It can help you plan for retirement, check your earnings history, request your Social Security statement, and more. John Johnston is a Social Security public affairs specialist.
Calendar of Events
Dauphin County
Programs and Support Groups
Senior Center Activities
Free and open to the public.
Mohler Senior Center – (717) 533-2002, www.hersheyseniorcenter.com Aug. 1, 5 to 9 p.m. – Oldies Dance Party
Aug. 12, 6 to 7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Graysonview Personal Care Community 150 Kempton Ave., Harrisburg (717) 561-8010
Aug. 26, 6 p.m. Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Walking Club Gander Mountain 5005 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 991-5232
Aug. 20, 1:30 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group on East Shore Jewish Home of Harrisburg 4004 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 441-8627
Aug. 27, 7 p.m. Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Middletown St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Spring and Union streets, Middletown (717) 915-5555 gsk1308@gmail.com
AARP Driver Safety Programs For a Safe Driving Class near you, call toll-free (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findacourse. Aug. 9 and 16, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Mohler Senior Center, 25 Hope Drive, Hershey, (717) 533-2002
Aug. 14, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Jewish Community Center, 3001 N. Front St., Harrisburg, (717) 2369555, ext. 3115
If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
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Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682, www.rutherfordhouse.org Mondays, 10 a.m. – Quilting Mondays, 11:30 a.m. – Sign Language Wednesdays, 9 a.m. – Computer Assistance Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.
Dauphin County Library Programs East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, (717) 652-9380 Aug. 26, 9:30 a.m. – Friends of the East Shore Area Library Meeting Kline Branch, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-3934 Aug. 21, 6:30 p.m. – Friends of the East Shore Area Library Meeting William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949 Aug. 5, 6 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book Club Aug. 19, 1 p.m. – Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club
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