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Complimentary | Dauphin County Edition | October 2019 • Vol. 21 No. 10
nsee dent Lice n e p e d is an In ciation lueCross BlueShield Asso B l a it p a C eCross of the Blu
Hooked on Fishing Lures page 4
veterans’ expo & job fair highlights page 14
special section: funeral preplanning
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Oct. 16, 2019 FREE PARKING!
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Dear Pharmacist
Suzy Cohen
4 Powerful Medicinal Herbs for Breast Cancer
There’s no time like the present to begin the changes necessary for better breast health. The take-home message today is that you can change the way you break down estrogen in your own body. You have direct control over it, and that’s important because estrogen breakdown is different for everyone. Let’s start with the basics. When you say the word estrogen, that’s actually three compounds: estradiol, estrone, and estriol. Of the three, estradiol is more strongly associated with causing cancer than the other two. Men and women both make estrogen. It’s the breakdown product from testosterone, actually. If you have low testosterone, you’ll have low estrogen too. Your body breaks down estrogen into metabolites, and some of those are more
likely to cause cancer than others. Like I said, you can change the way your body breaks down the circulating estrogen. Here is some valuable information about how to manufacture your own healthy estrogen metabolites and make it such that you break it down into forms that are less likely to cause cancer. If you are currently undergoing chemotherapy, please ask your doctor if these are right for you. Rosemary – I recommend this as a fresh herb from your grocery store. Cook with it, and make tea with it. Rosemary is a powerful antioxidant that has antiinflammatory effects similar to a COX-2 inhibitor drug. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Rosemary has antimicrobial and direct benefits for breast and prostate health. It also has anti-tumor benefits. Rosemary works by helping you break down estrogen into the safer anti-cancer metabolites. Broccoli – It’s impossible to eat 4 pounds of broccoli every day, so take the supplement called indole-3-carbinol (I3C) or DIM, I3C’s metabolite. It helps to balance estrogen levels in the body and appears to have anti-cancer effects, particularly for the breast and prostate. Too much of it, however, can crash your thyroid levels, due to its goitrogenic effect.
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717-221-7900
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Flax seed – This is kind of like plant-based estrogen (termed phytoestrogen), which kicks off dangerous estrogens from your cells. Men with prostate problems could benefit. Women with estrogen dominance — hallmarked by heavy periods, breast pain, cramping, and anxiety — might benefit from flax seed. I recommend buying fresh flax seed, grinding it in a coffee grinder, and sprinkling it on yogurt or oatmeal. Sage – Salvia officinalis is the botanical name. Just like rosemary, sage contains a lot of “carnosic acid.” This compound was shown in numerous clinical trials to exert apoptosis, which means cancer cells die off. When combined, the breast cancer drug Tamoxifen and carnosic acid work more effectively together at slowing down cancer growth. You can buy fresh sage herb to cook with or herbal extract at any health food store. There are many other alternatives that I haven’t elaborated on, such as vitamin D, curcumin, and iodine, so if you’re interested in those, come to my website and sign up for my newsletter. Please ask your physician or oncologist if these are right for you. Cooking with the fresh herbs should be just fine. This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more information about the author, visit suzycohen.com.
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Medicare Open Enrollment Clinics Scheduled The Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging will conduct Medicare annual open enrollment period clinics this fall. APPRISE counselors will be available at these events to assist with Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plan comparisons and enrollment. Individuals should bring the following information to their appointment: Medicare card; other health insurance cards, such as PACE, ACCESS, veterans, supplemental insurance, etc.; and a complete list of medications, including dosage amounts and frequency. Contact Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging at (717) 780-6130 to register for a clinic location.
Oct. 30, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Millersburg Senior Center 109 Edward Drive, Millersburg
Nov. 21, noon–3 p.m. Rutherford House Senior Center 3300 Parkview Lane, Harrisburg
Nov. 1, 9 a.m. –2 p.m. (private) Case Management Unit 1100 S. Cameron St., Harrisburg
Nov. 25, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Nothern Dauphin Human Services 295 State Road, Elizabethville
Nov. 4, 10:30 a.m.–3 p.m. East Shore Area Library Lower Level 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg
Dec. 2, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Rutherford House Senior Center 3300 Parkview Lane, Harrisburg
Oct. 17, 9 a.m. –2 p.m. Rutherford House Senior Center 3300 Parkview Lane, Harrisburg
Nov. 12, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Rattling Creek Apartments 15 S. Second St., Lykens
Oct. 21, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Northern Dauphin Human Services 295 State Road, Elizabethville
Nov. 15, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Millersburg Senior Center 109 Edward Drive, Millersburg
Oct. 24, noon–3 p.m. Mohler Senior Center 25 Hope Drive, Hershey
Nov. 18, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Mohler Senior Center 25 Hope Drive, Hershey
Nov. 7, 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Mohler Senior Center 25 Hope Drive, Hershey
Did you know? is available online for anytime/anywhere reading!
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At Your Fingertips Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away. Emergency Central Pennsylvania Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 780-6130 financial services Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (302) 573-4027 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383 Arthritis Foundation Central Pennsylvania Chapter (717) 763-0900 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 The National Kidney Foundation (717) 757-0604 (800) 697-7007 PACE (800) 225-7223
Social Security Information (800) 772-1213
Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937
Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania (717) 238-2531
Insurance Apprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067
Healthcare Information Pennsylvania Healthcare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Hospice Services Homeland Hospice 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg (717) 221-7890 Housing/Apartments B’Nai B’rith Apartments 130 S. Third St., Harrisburg (717) 232-7516 Housing Assistance Dauphin County Housing Authority (717) 939-9301
Services Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 780-6130 The Salvation Army Edgemont Temple Corps (717) 238-8678
Capital Blue (888) 989-9015 (TTY: 711)
Toll-Free Numbers American Lung Association (800) LUNG-USA
Medicare (800) 633-4227 Nursing/Rehab Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902
Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555
Personal Care Homes Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902
National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046
Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
Veterans Affairs (717) 626-1171 or (800) 827-1000
Meals on Wheels (800) 621-6325
Social Security Office (800) 772-1213
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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October 2019
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Cover Story
Hooked on Fishing Lures 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 Email address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson
EDITORIAL
Vice President and Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor, 50plus Publications Megan Joyce
ART DEPARTMENT Project Coordinator Renee McWilliams Production Artists Connie Molitor Lauren Phillips
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Senior Marketing Consultants Joshua Binkley Jennifer Schmalhofer Angie Willis Marketing Consultant Cassidy Galeone Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer
ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall
Awards
50plus LIFE 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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By Bart Stump The expression family members into “gone fishing” has approaching areas of taken on a whole tall grass along the new meaning for shore with promises Dale and Gail of “that looks like a Stump. good spot,” only to Since 1999 the sit back and heartily retired couple has laugh as nesting, taken their love territorial Canada of kayaking and geese loudly hiss and fishing in a whole boisterously attack new direction: their kayaks. finding and Perils during the The main display contains some of Dale and Gail’s recovering lost winter have included favorite finds and larger-than-life gag gifts. fishing lures from becoming stuck lakes throughout atop sheets of ice, south-central requiring sharp blows Pennsylvania. from their kayak All told, they paddles to break have amassed through. a collection Dale has containing over developed an 4,200 lures and ingenious method 6,500 bobbers. of retrieving items Visitors’ reactions caught high up in to seeing the tree branches. Using collection for the a three-pronged first time vary from gardening scratcher an audible gasp to a attached to three Gail adds a new addition to a display containing over stunned, slack-jawed threaded sections of 200 sinkers of every size and style. silence. tube and a piece of Hitting the PVC pipe, he can water with their reach up to 20 feet green two-person in the air, pulling kayak, the pair snagged items from slowly paddles the branches. along the shore, “Many a lure sharp eyes scanning would fall down the water’s edge, right on top of Gail underlying roots, or in the water if I and overhanging didn’t hook it just branches for lost right,” states Dale lures and bobbers. with a chuckle. “It’s good exercise During the Dale Stump attempts to free a tangled lure from a tree. drought of 1999, and very relaxing,” says Dale. Dale and Gail would Sometimes recovery is as simple as plucking the walk along the newly exposed shoreline looking for object from the water or using a paddle to coax it out lost fishing items. That year they found 507 items, from under some vegetation or among tree roots. including the contents of an unfortunate fisherman’s More adventurous approaches include leaning boat that had tipped over. precariously over the edge of the boat or plowing Other unusual finds include an ornate .22 rifle headlong into brambles as large spiders and snakes that was turned over to the proper authorities, golf fall from overlying branches. clubs, complete tackle boxes, and a radio-controlled During the spring, Dale, being quite the toy racing boat. prankster, has been known to trick unsuspecting Finding the lures and bobbers is only the first www.50plusLifePA.com
step. When the pair gets the items “It was neat to go down early in home, Gail dutifully records the the morning when no one else was on number and type of each item the lake. The sound of the breaking found in her journal and then ice echoed across the lake,” she says. carefully cleans them. Dale fondly recalls seeing large Dale is in charge of making numbers of carp noisily splashing any needed repairs and replacing in the shallows during the spring missing hooks. spawning season and making a game The next step is putting the lures out of trying to catch leaves in the and bobbers on display in a section boats as they fell from the trees in the of their basement affectionately fall. called the “shrine.” “It was something — you never “I decided we had too many lures knew which way the leaves were Lures of every type and color hang from the Gail Stump with the lure that landed her in the sitting around, and I wanted to going to go. It was a real workout, rafters. emergency room. display them,” explains Gail. but a lot of fun.” Various hanging wire baskets and Overall, being hooked on fishing clear jars house hundreds of brightly lures has provided a plethora of colored round bobbers. Stick delightfully memorable experiences bobbers are artistically hung on a for Dale and Gail and has started wall display while still other bobbers a wonderful tradition that is being are carefully sorted into smiley face carried on by the entire family. and light-up styles. Bart Stump, a history teacher, writes A dazzling array of lures in every from York, Pa., and has been published color of the rainbow hangs on in numerous magazines. chains strung from the rafters or On the cover – Gail and Dale Stump arranged by style in displays backed have amassed a collection of 4,200 by underwater scenes. Rapala fishing lures and 6,500 bobbers, minnows swim next to imitation all housed in a section of their crayfish. Lead-headed jigs hang basement affectionately called beside rubber worms. “the shrine.” Baskets of bobbers hang near vintage and modern fishing tackle. Various spinners and spoons All photos courtesy Bart Stump. dangle from the ceiling, light and grandchildren have gotten into gleaming off their shiny gold and the act. Not only do they retrieve lost silver blades. Multicolored poppers, lures and bobbers, they also provide The December issue of LIFE surface plugs, and artificial frogs are fishing-related gag gifts, such as a will include a special focus — suspended nearby. larger-than-life bobber cooler and a Dale points out his favorite lure, a gigantic Rapala fishing lure. white mouse. More importantly, the collection “I had to get out of the kayak to provides Dale, Gail, and their family get it. It was up in a tree near the with a compelling reason to get dam breast. It was really neat.” outside on the water and enjoy the An assortment of fishing fresh air and sunshine. lure catalogs add to the overall Gail keeps a detailed journal Whether you provide relief through standard care, compleatmosphere, and a brightly colored describing each outing. She includes mentary and alternative medicine, therapies, fitness opyellow-and-green tin sign has been the location, weather, wildlife seen, tions, or specialty products ... slightly altered to advertise Stumpy’s and other noteworthy observations. 50plus LIFE is the perfect venue to reach an ideal demoBait and Tackle. Highlights include deer grazing graphic who can benefit from your information. An adjacent wall display contains and bedding down along the shore, dozens of lead sinkers meticulously a snapping turtle laying eggs on the arranged by size and style. bank, bald eagles and ospreys soaring Closing date for advertorial: Oct. 25, 2019 Certain items have a place of overhead, beaver-cut trees, snakes Closing date for ad copy: Nov. 1, 2019 honor in the display, including the and turtles sunning on rocks, flocks small grasshopper lure that landed of geese and cormorants swimming Gail in the emergency room after it nearby, and even a chipmunk eating Let our readers know what their options are became embedded in her thumb. raspberries under a tree. and to whom they can turn when they hurt. “He [Dale] wanted to cut it out, When asked about their favorite but I wouldn’t let him,” states Gail. memories, Gail fondly reminisces Please contact your sales representative at 717.285.1350 “The doctor at the ER told me I was about a winter jaunt in which a thin or info@onlinepub.com today the first patient that year to have a layer of ice covered the lake and to reserve your space! hook taken out.” how melodious it sounded as the The collection has become a family ice cracked and broke apart as they affair, as Dale and Gail’s children Online & In Print. onlinepub.com paddled through it.
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The Beauty in Nature
October Farmland Clyde McMillan-Gamber
Autumn reminds us that winter is coming, with its short daylight each day and cooling temperatures. And in spite of fall’s many beauties — including lovely flowers, colored leaves and berries, exciting bird migrations, and crop harvests — autumn sometimes conjures sad feelings in me because it represents summer’s end and winter’s coming. The first subtle signs of fall occur in southeastern Pennsylvania during the middle of August, with shorter amounts of sunlight per day, migrating swallows, and some leaves on black gum and red maple trees turning red. But autumn climaxes in the unique and attractive month called October. There is no other month like it. October is the month between summer’s warmth, green plants, and beautiful flowers and winter’s cold,
which brings those grays and browns when deciduous trees are bare. October is the time of dying vegetation and wildlife preparations for winter. But there is beauty in the dying and excitement in the preparations. Several kinds of pretty flowers still bloom along sunny country roadsides, stream sides, and cornfields and in abandoned fields in October. Some of those attractive blooms are yellow ones on goldenrods, evening primroses, and butter and eggs; pink blossoms on smartweeds, bouncing bets, red clovers, and knapweeds; and white flowers on white asters. The small, white blossoms of white asters dominate some meadows and fields in October to the point that those open habitats look like snow fell only on them. These aster blooms are the last great source of nectar for
bees and a variety of other insects, particularly pearl crescent butterflies that ate the tissues of asters when they were larvae. Because pumpkin and soybean fields are not plowed until later, there is an abundance of decorative colored leaves in those sunny, human-made habitats in October. Tall red root, lamb’s quarters, and pokeweeds sport red leaves in those fields. And foxtail grasses turn yellow on those same lands. Seeds form on weeds and grasses that are edible to mice and a variety of seed-eating birds, including sparrows and horned larks. Red foxes, American kestrels, red-tailed hawks, and screech owls catch and eat some of those mice and small birds through fall and winter. And along rural roadsides in October, staghorn sumac tree leaves
are red while the foliage on sassafras trees are red, orange, and yellow. Meanwhile, Virginia creeper leaves are red, and poison ivy foliage is red, orange, and yellow on roadside fences and poles, adding more beauty to farmland. Staghorn sumac also produces red berries, and poke and sassafras grow purple ones that are pretty to us and edible to mice, American robins, cedar waxwings, and starlings. Grasshoppers, field crickets, woolly bear caterpillars, yellow sulphur butterflies, and other kinds of invertebrates are noticed among the roadside grasses in October. They help make farmland more interesting and are food for kestrels and skunks. When riding or walking along local farmland roads in October, watch for these lovely plants and animals. They will lift spirits and brighten days.
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Pennsylvania Ranks 34th in Recent Senior-Friendly Analysis By Dave Fidlin | The Center Square When it comes to retirement-friendly accommodations, Pennsylvania ranked toward the bottom of a recent study. The state overall scored above the median for safety and culture but was below the pack in affordability, wellness, and weather. According to the analysis from financial website Bankrate, Pennsylvania wound up at No. 34, behind neighboring state Ohio, which was No. 26 overall, but ahead of New York, which was second-to-last in the comparison. Pennsylvania’s overall below-the-median ranking is attributed to several factors, including affordability, where it ranked No. 28 across the country from a retirement-friendly lens. In its analysis, Bankrate gave weighted averages to each of the categories. Affordability constituted 40% of the total score. Data from the Council for Community and Economic Research was used for the affordability ranking, according to Bankrate analysts. When asked to comment on Pennsylvania’s rank for this story, Ray Landis, advocacy manager with the state AARP office, said he believes it is at least based on some misconceptions. “I’m actually surprised it ranks as low as it does,” Landis said. While the state’s tax rate is a common issue of concern from residents of all ages, Landis said there are multiple mechanisms in place through state law that
help Pennsylvania’s older adult population. Landis pointed out Pennsylvania does not tax retirees’ income from pensions and other sources. The Pennsylvania Lottery also has been used as a lever to fund programs benefiting older adults in the state. “The reality is a lot of seniors do OK with taxes here in Pennsylvania,” Landis said. However, real-estate taxes have been seen in recent years as disproportionately affecting Pennsylvania’s senior citizens. Because many seniors live on a fixed income, lawmakers have worried that increases in property taxes could lead them to lose their homes. Pennsylvania’s lowest categorical rank in Bankrate’s study was weather, where it notched a No. 31. Also ranking lower was wellness, at No. 28. Weather and wellness accounted for 15% and 2%, respectively, of Bankrate’s weighted average. The state performed better in other metrics, including crime, where it ranked the 13th safest state, and culture, which came in No. 15 in the analysis. Crime contributed 5% to the total rank, while culture was 15%. Florida, loosely considered the haven for many retirees, was among the top retiree-friendly states in Bankrate’s analysis, though the Sunshine State did not earn the top spot. That honor went to Nebraska, followed by Iowa, Missouri, South Dakota, and, at No. 5, Florida. The five least senior-friendly states in Bankrate’s analysis were Washington, Illinois, Alaska, New York, and, at No. 50, Maryland.
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Attention: RETIREMENT HOMES, CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS. Looking for entertainment?
Now booking our Christmas, variety, and specialty shows for 2019. We have many variety shows featuring the music from the 1930s to the 60s. Songs by legendary artists like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Kay Starr, Dean Martin, Patsy Cline, and the Mills Brothers. Specialty shows include …
Songs from the WWII Years • The Post WWII Years: 1945 – 1955 AMERICA: From Sea to Shining Sea Salute to the Rat Pack (or if you prefer, just Sinatra) Elvis & Patsy • Classic Country Please contact Memory Music to book your next event!
Phone: (717) 846-6126
E-mail: memrymusic@aol.com
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October 2019
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Melinda’s Garden
Melinda Myers
Plan Ahead for Amaryllis Blooms All Winter Long
Let amaryllis fill your home with flowers for the holidays and keep the blossoms coming all winter long. When you plant several different types of amaryllis bulbs, from both the southern and northern hemispheres, you can be sure to get a long-lasting, colorful show that will brighten your mood and surroundings throughout the winter months. Kick off the holiday season with amaryllis bulbs that are imported from growers in Peru. As we enter autumn, it’s springtime in South America, and these bulbs are eager to start blooming. Pot them up before early November for flowers in December. Amaryllis varieties grown in the southern hemisphere include deep-red Mandela, frostywhite Denver, coral-pink Bolero, and two-tone Charisma. Combine these impressive blossoms with greens, poinsettias, candles, and other holiday décor, or give them as living gifts to friends, family, and neighbors.
Most amaryllis bulbs that are grown in the U.S. are imported from Holland, and their natural bloom time is January through March. Exactly when the flowers will open is impossible to predict. The best strategy is to choose a number of different varieties and plant them three to four weeks apart during November, December, and January. This way you will always have flowers coming into bloom. Start your indoor flower display with an early bloomer such as Evergreen, which is always quick to break out of dormancy. Its flowers have narrow, lime/chartreuse petals on 20-inch plants. Enjoy the impressive display as each bulb produces two stems with four to six blooms. Minerva’s extra-large, cherry-red flowers have a white star in the middle and an applegreen throat. They are eye-catching from afar Photo credit: Longfield Gardens and spectacular up close. Amaryllis Double King Apple Blossom is a longtime favorite with snow-white petals brushed with pink and a lime-green throat. Or grow a double amaryllis, such as Double King, with layers of burgundy-red petals and up to a dozen flowers. Enjoy some of the more unusual amaryllis colors and flower styles by planting varieties such as Naranja, with its tropical red-orange blossoms, or Sweet Nymph, a romantic double amaryllis with stunning, coral-pink petals. Add elegance to your indoor garden with Picotee. Its 8-inch flowers are white with a thin, red line around each petal. As winter turns to early spring, celebrate with an explosion of indoor blooms from Red Pearl, Spartacus, and other proven performers. The velvety, burgundy-red flowers of Red Pearl have a deep maroon throat that sets off the glittering gold stamens. Spartacus turns heads with its crimson petals and bold, white stripes. Display your amaryllis on a mantle, kitchen counter, or entryway table where you can watch the amazing show as the first sprout appears, followed by buds and the spectacular trumpet-shaped blooms. Amaryllis are also beautiful, long-lasting cut flowers. For best selection, order your bulbs early and store them in a cool, dry, dark place until you are ready to plant. Once you pot up the bulbs and place them in a warm, bright location, flower buds should appear in about six to 10 weeks. Protect yourself from the winter blahs by investing in amaryllis. You can count on their big flowers and bright colors to lift your spirits and ease your way to spring.
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Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses’ How to Grow Anything DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio program. www. melindamyers.com, www.longfield-gardens.com
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Booming Voice
Cursed by Cursive Bill Levine
In sixth grade I was forced to miss at least a week’s worth of recess periods. I stayed in the classroom, while outside, my classmates were frolicking. What’s worse, I hadn’t even committed a detention-deserving act. Not even a worthwhile classroom misdemeanor, like passing a note to a cute girl. But actually, I would be embarrassed to pass a note to anyone because it would probably be unreadable. Alas, that’s why I was missing the great outdoors. I was in remedial cursive-writing class. There were a half dozen of us “illegibles” assembled by Mrs. F, based on classroom writing samples that had the clarity of filled prescription pads. The class was terribly unstimulating as we had to attempt to copy Mrs. F’s perfect, chalk-gliding script on the blackboard onto our own cursive workbooks. My pencil, instead of gliding, hesitated between loops and curves, producing poorly shaped cousins of Mrs. F’s letters. My preference would have been to doodle in my workbook, but Mrs. F came around to inspect our efforts. Heading into college, I felt I had been able to limit the academic damage of my bad cursive handwriting, ignoring the oncoming 20-page collegiate term paper. Thus, I left my Olivetti portable typewriter behind when leaving for school. Plus, my typing speed, if you include words off for mistakes, was about 0 per minute. Of course, I found early on that there were students who would type papers for you, but I foreswore this chance to give my gnarled submissions a facelift until one day in my junior year. The incentive for this positive step was my well-thought-out term paper for a bio class on evolution. I didn’t want to jeopardize 50% of my grade because my prof confused my written “survival of the fittest” for “survival of the fattest,” etc. — so I needed a typist. Luckily, I hired a friend to type it who had the patience to work with my cursive draft. A couple of weeks later, I picked up a B+ on my evolution paper, my highest term-paper grade. I certainly thanked my typist with the enthusiasm of an Oscar acceptance speech. It was an academic crutch to be sure, but as a grade booster, my legibility gain rivaled my frat’s copies of old exams. But I couldn’t escape my problematical penmanship during final exam week. The two challenges in filling up perhaps two blue books were formatting my answers in my head and then formatting the writing of the answers legibly under an intimidating time constraint. I had to write as fast as I could, exacerbating the unreadability of my test answers. But I would hand in my final exam, invoking my ongoing rationalization that professors would not mark me down for filling two books with scrawl. They would decipher the keys words of my solid arguments, and I would be OK. Once I graduated college, my cursive ceased to be my most worrisome www.50plusLifePA.com
elementary school subject, as it was no longer involved in high-leverage situations. It has, though, slowed down my creative writing process, as I like to write first-draft-like notes for an essay in a mixture of cursive and print lettering, which later makes rereading these notes difficult. This was also a minor problem in college, as I would write notes in class, only to struggle to read them at exam time. One day on the internet, I found out that in 2018 academia, I would qualify for a personal scribe to take notes for me in class. This pinch-writer accommodation was based on my having a learning disability. I wasn’t diagnosed with this LD until 2000, 37 years after Mrs. F’s class. On learning this, I cut myself some slack, as my poor penmanship was much more congenital than careless, but the modern accommodations for poor handwriting bothered me. That I would be scribe-eligible today meant that experts believed compromised handwriting could compromise grades. I have wondered since if maybe I was too optimistic back in college about my handwriting obscuring my obviously brilliant exam answers. I surmised that in my small college, without teaching assistants, my history and government profs had, say, 200 or so blue books to read at finals times. Thus, perhaps out of waning stamina, they gave up trying to figure out my answers, leading to a lower grade. I was very concerned when I entered college that my lack of high school math mastery would be my Achilles heel, but now I’m wondering if my biggest weakness was in fact my poor cursive, an elementary school skill. Mrs. F would have probably agreed. Bill Levine is a retired IT professional and active freelance writer. Bill aspires to be a humorist because it is easier to be pithy than funny. He may be reached at wlevine0607@comcast.net.
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Home Care Services & Hospice Providers Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.
Homeland at Home
Pleasant View Care at Home
www.homelandathome.org Homeland Hospice: (717) 221-7890 Year Est.: 2008 Homeland HomeCare: (717) 221-7892 Year Est.: 2016 Homeland HomeHealth: (717) 412-0166 Year Est.: 2017 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland*, Dauphin*, Franklin, Fulton, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon*, Northumberland, Perry*, Schuylkill, Snyder, York* *Homeland HomeHealth currently serves five of 13 counties. RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs/Home Aides: Yes
(717) 664-6646 www.pleasantviewrc.org/care-at-home Homeland at Home is a community outreach of Homeland Center, a nonprofit CCRC that has served our region with excellent and benevolent care since 1867. Our expert team is dedicated to providing a continuum of At Home services—from nonmedical personal assistance to skilled nursing and compassionate hospice and palliative care. We are privileged to care for you and your loved ones … any place you call “home.” We offer community and staff educational programs, including a “My Reflections” end-of-life planning workshop, as well as 15 unique bereavement support groups.
Year Est.: 2007 Counties Served: Lancaster, Lebanon RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No
Surrey Home Care Services (610) 647-9840 www.surreyhomecare.org
Medicare Certified: Yes
Year Est.: 1981 Counties Served: Chester, Delaware, Montgomery RNs: Yes LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No
Hospice & Community Care
Visiting Angels
Direct Care Workers: Yes PT/OT/Speech Therapists: Yes Social Workers: Yes Spiritual Counselors: Yes Complementary Therapies: Yes
(844) 422-4031 www.hospicecommunity.org
Year Est.: 1980 Counties Served: Adams, Berks, Chester, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: Yes
Hospice & Community Care provides personalized hospice and palliative care in homes, senior living facilities, and hospitals and at the Bob Fryer & Family Inpatient Center for 24-hour hospice care. Clinical staff on-call 24/7 with 24-hour admissions. Physicians and nurse practitioners boardcertified in hospice and palliative medicine. Grief support available free at Pathways Center for Grief & Loss.
Caring and professional staff provide supportive services to help maintain independence within the comfortable setting of home. Personal services, companion care, dementia care services, and transitional care offered — call for a free consultation.
Surrey, a nonprofit, provides in-home services including personal care, social companions, medical procedure transportation, geriatric care management, RN care management, and live-in caregivers. We also offer housecleaning and weekend respite care.
(800) 365-4189 www.visitingangels.com Year Est.: 2001 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Perry, and York RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No
Visiting Angels provides seniors and adults with the needed assistance to continue living at home. Flexible hours up to 24 hours per day. Companionship, personal hygiene, meal prep, and more. Our caregivers are thoroughly screened, bonded, and insured. Call today for a complimentary and informational meeting.
Landis at Home
(717) 509-5800 www.LandisAtHome.org Year Est.: 2007 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No
A licensed home-care agency, offering a variety of services to persons in their homes within 15 miles of the Landis Homes campus. Services, provided by carefully screened and qualified caregivers with oversight from RNs, may be used for a short visit or up to 24 hours a day. Call for a free, in-home consultation. Landis at Home is an affiliate of Landis Communities.
If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your account representative or call (717) 770-0140.
This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.
Tips to Keep You Safe from Medicare Fraud By Brian O’Connell
With Medicare open enrollment season about to begin, it’s a good idea for enrollees to recognize and take action to stop Medicare fraud against them in its tracks. Just how bad is the Medicare consumer fraud problem? According to the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, Medicare fraud — against consumers, government, and private health insurers — is the “largest type of insurance fraud by far,” with tens of billions of dollars lost each year by consumers. Forms of Medicare Fraud There are several ways that Medicare enrollees can be victimized by fraud. These scams are at the top of that list: Via phone — Identity fraudsters often target older Medicare enrollees via a phone call, telling seniors they’re with the government or a doctor’s office, and try to steal Medicare account data that they later use to commit fraud. Via email — Medicare fraud artists also frequently use email “phishing” techniques to reach out to Medicare enrollees, again claiming to be from the government or from a local hospital or doctor’s office. The scammers often try to elicit a Medicare enrollee’s personal data through email directly, claiming they need the user’s personal data to complete some important paperwork, and ask the Medicare beneficiary’s Social Security number and/or bank account and credit card account information. Or, they’ll attempt to get a senior to click on a malware-loaded email link, which then steals the consumer’s data. Actions to Protect against Medicare Fraud The good news? Medicare enrollees can take direct action to mitigate or even eliminate Medicare fraud, experts say. Get started with these tips: Lock down your medical information. “Be suspicious if anyone other than your doctor or medical www.50plusLifePA.com
provider asks for billing Medicare, your information, advising especially because procedures with this includes your higher rates of Social Security payment, and number,” says filing false claims Diana Golub, a have been on the licensed medical rise in the last professional decade.” and director Be careful of options at with all AIA Direct physician in Bradenton, Medicare Open Enrollment Period interactions. Florida. On its fraudOct. 15 – Dec. 7 “Make sure prevention you protect your webpage, Medicare card, and don’t share your Medicare.gov advises Medicare Medicare number. Think of it like a enrollees to not allow anyone, except credit or debit card number. Be aware your doctor or other Medicare of online or phone scammers. You providers, to review your medical don’t have to pay a processing fee or records or recommend services. purchase a temporary card should you “Also, don’t contact your doctor to misplace your Medicare card.” Review your Medicare claims. Review your Medicare claims to make sure there aren’t any errors or suspicious activity, advises Justin Lavelle, chief communications officer at BeenVerified, an online background-check platform. “Each time you receive healthcare services, write the service date on your calendar and save all the statements or receipts you may get back from your providers,” Lavelle says. “Check them for errors by comparing your healthcare service dates — as listed on your calendar — with what is listed on your statements.” In addition, check to ensure the prescriptions you’ve filled match the ones listed on your statements. If you find any errors, call (800) MEDICARE, Lavelle says. Don’t accept any services you don’t need. If your provider is putting pressure on you to get healthcare services you feel you don’t need, you can refuse the care and request another physician give you a second opinion. “Don’t feel that because it is your physician, someone you’ve trusted in the past, that you must move forward with all of their healthcare recommendations,” says Lavelle. “Medical professionals falsely
request a service that you don’t need, and don’t let anyone persuade you to see a doctor for care or services you don’t need,” the agency states. If you believe that you’ve been victimized by Medicare fraud, take these action steps: • Call CMS at (800) MEDICARE or (800) 633-4227. • Report it online to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General. • Call the Office of the Inspector General at (800) HHS‑TIPS or TTY: (800) 377‑4950. • Call your state insurance department or local law enforcement. Brian O’Connell is an analyst at InsuranceQuotes (www.insurancequotes. com).
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BlueJourney PPO is offered by Capital Advantage Insurance Company®, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. BlueJourney HMO is offered by Keystone Health Plan® Central, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in BlueJourney PPO and BlueJourney HMO depends on contract renewal. Capital BlueCross and its subsidiaries Capital Advantage Insurance Company, Capital Advantage Assurance Company and Keystone Health Plan Central are independent licensees of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. Communications issued by Capital BlueCross in its capacity as administrator of programs and provider relations for all companies. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or copayments may change on January 1 of each year. The formulary, pharmacy and/or provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. Y0016_MK18_50plusAd Accepted
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Stingy Jack Carves Out His Legacy By Randal C. Hill Every Oct. 31, we see suburban homes displaying fat orange pumpkins aglow with light pouring through triangular eyes and jagged teeth. They stand guard over the house, ready to ward off whatever evil spirits might be lurking about. It’s a good thing that those silent sentinels are on duty. After all, one of those spirits just might be Stingy Jack. — His story starts out in ancient Irish mythology. In the tale, the local blacksmith in one particular village was a notorious drunk who lied, cheated, played pranks, manipulated people, and did what he could to avoid spending his money. Locals called him Jack the Smith to his face but Stingy Jack behind his back. Lucifer had heard of Jack’s vile reputation and decided to seek out the rascal for himself. When the devil met Jack, the town con artist invited him to the town tavern for a drink.
True to his name, Jack claimed to be broke when the drinking was done. The wily scoundrel then convinced Satan to turn himself into a coin so Jack could settle the evening’s tab. The bemused devil took on the requested shape, and Jack slipped the coin into his coat pocket — and right next to a silver crucifix. The cross kept Satan from shifting back to his original form. Jack then slipped out of the tavern without paying the bill. Jack eventually let Lucifer loose, but only after making him promise to not bother him for one year. And,
oh yes, not to claim the blacksmith’s soul when he died. Jack was still up to his usual machinations one year later. When the devil came to collect the reprobate’s soul, Jack begged for a single last request: a juicy red apple. While Lucifer was climbing a nearby tree, Jack hurriedly carved the sign of the cross into the tree’s trunk. As a result, the devil couldn’t return to solid ground until he promised once more to leave Jack alone, this time for a full decade. Predictably, Jack wasted the next 10 years drinking, causing problems, and annoying people.
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October 2019
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When he finally died and met St. Peter at the Pearly Gates, the good saint turned him away, convinced that God wouldn’t want such a miserable hunk of humanity in heaven. And when Jack turned up at the gates of hell, Satan, who was still smarting from the tricks Jack had pulled on him earlier, refused to admit him. After all, the devil smugly maintained, that had been part of their original bargain. The devil sent Jack off into the night to “find his own hell” in the dark and mysterious netherworld. The hapless penny-pincher stumbled into the darkness, his path dimly lit by a single chunk of burning coal that the devil had snatched from the fires of hell and given to him to create a makeshift lantern. Jack plucked a turnip from the ground, carved an opening in it, and placed the ember inside. Ever since that night, Stingy Jack has been roaming the earth, finding neither peace nor a resting place. The Irish began referring to his ghostly figure as “Jack of the lantern,” which was eventually shortened to “Jack o’ lantern.” In Ireland, then later in Scotland and England, people began replicating Jack’s lantern by carving scary faces into turnips, potatoes, gourds, and beets. Eventually, migrants brought the Irish tradition of Stingy Jack to America. It was here that newly arrived folks found that pumpkins, which were native to America, made perfect jack-o’-lanterns. — Today, the Stingy Jack legend has taken a back seat to costumes, candy, and Charlie Brown cartoons at Halloween. However, that doesn’t mean that the creepy codger isn’t still wandering about in the darkness somewhere. Maybe even in your own neighborhood. Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com. www.50plusLifePA.com
Department of Aging Distributes Food Boxes for Hunger Action Month For Hunger Action Month in September, Department of Aging Secretary Robert Torres visited Morrison Tower in Harrisburg with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank to distribute food boxes to seniors, in addition to Fresh Express options that include short shelf-life foods, such as fresh produce and dairy products. Morrison Tower is approved by the Department of Housing and Urban Development as an elderly-only housing option. Torres worked with the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and Morrison Tower staff to organize and distribute Commodity Supplemental Food Program and ElderShare food boxes to residents, all while dressed in orange in honor of Hunger Action Month. “Lower-income seniors shouldn’t have to worry about getting the nutrition they need, or choosing cheaper, unhealthier foods because it seems like the only option,” said Torres. “The Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s senior programs don’t just give seniors access to nutritional options but provide a convenience in bringing those options right to them, like we are doing today.”
Department of Aging Secretary Robert Torres, middle row, third from left, with Central Pennsylvania Food Bank and Morrison Tower staff.
Pet Insurance on the Rise The North American Pet Health Insurance Association reports that total premiums for pet insurance have hit a new level, reaching $1.42 billion in 2018. In the United States, pet insurance increased 18% for 2.43 million pets. In Canada, the rate grew 10.9% for 277,000 pets.
The most common coverage was for accident and illness plans. Accident and illness premiums for dogs came in at $566 yearly in the U.S. and $734 in Canada. For cats, the U.S. premium was $354, and the Canadian rate was $400.
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Capital Area Veterans Convene in Search of Jobs, Resources By Megan Joyce “Our mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing quilts of valor,” Jo Garvin, from the Quilts of Valor Foundation, said to the quieted crowd. Garvin spoke in front of exhibitors, employers, and veterans who filled the ballroom of the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg recently for the fifth annual Veterans’ Expo and Job Fair – Capital Area. Garvin presented a Quilt of Valor to Harrisburg-area resident and Vietnam veteran Rev. Dwight Edwards, who served with a recon platoon in the U.S. Army from 1965-66. Crafted by the Middletown PieceMakers Quilt Guild, the quilt is a lifetime award bestowed upon deserving veterans and active service members for their service to the nation. Following his service, Edwards became a teacher, probation officer, and talk show host, all in the Philadelphia area, before earning his Master of Divinity degree from Lancaster Theological Seminary and pastoring several African Methodist Episcopal churches in central Pennsylvania. The tribute was a fitting inclusion to the Veterans’ Expo and Job Fair, a free-admission event hosted by OLP Events with the goal of connecting veterans, transitioning military, and their families to benefits, resources, and job opportunities. At the Job Fair, veterans and employers met face-to-face to discuss available positions. “I’m looking for a job where I would end up being able to … develop my education so that I have a skill set that’s necessary for the company that hires me,” said a jobseeking Army veteran.
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Company representatives were looking to fill openings in sales, labor, management, tech, medical services, transportation, clerical, manufacturing, engineering, construction, retail, financial services, and more. Students from Barber Styling Institute helped interested attendees look their best for a job interview by providing free haircuts. George Wollard, human resources manager for Carlisle Construction Materials — the event’s visitor bag sponsor — is himself a Marine veteran. “So I know the work ethic you get from returning service people. They’re used to working long hours, hard jobs,” Wollard said. “They’ve matured in two, three, four years [of service]. So a 22-yearold person who comes back is much different from a 22-year-old person that has not been in the service — the discipline, the work ethic.” The Job Fair’s Resource Center provided information for translating military careers to civilian opportunities. George Dillman, investor education coordinator for the Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities, discussed financial services and planning. Also available in the Resource Center were Donald Poligone, economic development analyst with the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, who offered small-business counseling; and representatives from the Lebanon VA Medical Center were on hand with information on veteran benefits and resources. Veteran Aaron Morano, of Enola, had recently moved to central Pennsylvania from North Carolina. “I’m looking for computer/ IT or maybe light manufacturing
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[positions], something to actually start paying the bills and get me established in the area,” Morano said. The Veterans’ Expo and Job Fair will return to Lancaster County
Thursday, Nov. 1, at the Farm and Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster. For more information, call (717) 285-1350 or visit www.veteransexpo.com.
Proudly sponsored by: Principal Sponsors Visitor Bag Sponsor
Carlisle Construction Materials Co.
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Marketing Sponsors
Media Sponsor
Disabled American Veterans (DAV) Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars
www.50plusLifePA.com
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Elder Law Attorneys
Specific areas of elder law in which the firm concentrates:
Bellomo & Associates, LLC 3198 East Market Street, York, PA 17402 717-845-5390 fax 717-845-5408 info@bellomoassociates.com www.bellomoassociates.com
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Estate planning; wills and powers of attorney; Medicaid and long-term care planning; probate and estate administration; guardianship.
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Estate planning, wills, trusts, powers of attorney, estate administration, guardianships. York County Bar Association Estate Planning and Probate Law Section, chairman since 2001, friendly and efficient service and staff.
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Compassionate guidance with Alzheimer’s planning, Medicaid benefits, wills, powers of attorney, estate administration, and care coordination. Nurse on staff. Care crisis? Call for a free consultation with our care coordinator.
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Advanced estate planning and all aspects of administration and probate, including all tax returns (CPA on staff); asset protection: Medicaid planning; all trusts, including special needs and charitable giving; guardianships; veterans’ benefits. 16 convenient locations in PA and MD with evening and weekend appointments available, and we make house calls too!
Blakey, Yost, Bupp & Rausch, LLP David A. Mills, Esquire
17 East Market Street, York, PA 17401 717-845-3674 fax 717-854-7839 dmills@blakeyyost.com www.blakeyyost.com
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Daley Zucker Meilton & Miner, LLC 635 North 12th Street, #101, Lemoyne, PA 17043 330 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17111 717-724-9821 fax 717-724-9826 ppatton@daleyzucker.com www.daleyzucker.com
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Keystone Elder Law P.C. 555 Gettysburg Pike, Suite B-200, Mechanicsburg Satellite office in Carlisle 717-697-3223 toll-free 844-697-3223 karen@keystoneelderlaw.com www.keystoneelderlaw.com
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Mooney Law
HARRISBURG: 105 North Front St.; YORK: 40 East Philadelphia St. CARLISLE: 2 South Hanover St.; SHIPPENSBURG: 34 West King St. GETTYSBURG: 18 E. Middle St.; HANOVER: 230 York St. Additional offices in Duncannon, Frederick (MD), Greencastle, Halifax, Lancaster, Lebanon, Mercersburg, New Oxford, Stewartstown, and Westminster (MD) 717-200-HELP; toll-free 877-632-4656 — CALL 24/7 info@mooney4law.com www.PAElderIssues.com; www.Mooney4Law.com
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If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your marketing consultant or call (717) 770-0140. This is not an all-inclusive list. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services. * Indicates that at least one attorney in the firm is a member. Information contained herein was provided by the firm.
Two Hours a Week in Nature Boosts Well-being Staying healthy isn’t all about exercise and diet — as important as they are. An article on the Science News website suggests that spending just two hours a week in nature is crucial to your health and well-being. A study of data from 20,000 people in England, conducted by the University of Exeter, found that folks who spend 120 minutes a week out in nature tend to report significantly better health and psychological well-being than those who don’t commune with nature at all in a typical week or who www.50plusLifePA.com
spend less than two hours outside in parks, woodlands, and beaches. Your two hours don’t have to happen all at once, either. The findings showed that the benefits accrued in either a single visit or several short periods. The benefits also were evident across the board regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, financial status, and disability. The bottom line: Get outside now, and you’ll feel better soon. 50plus LIFE H
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October 30th is Create a Great Funeral Day Baby Boomers are Catalyst in Shift Beyond Traditional Burial By the year 2035, adults age 65 and older are projected to outnumber children for the first time in American history, according to the 2019 Cremation and Burial Report, released by the National Funeral Directors Association. With this large of an aging population comes a natural increase in the death rate. This rise is concurrent with the ever-growing popularity of cremation, which, for the fourth consecutive year, has outpaced the rate of burial. By 2040, according to the report, the cremation rate in the U.S. is projected to be 78.7% while the burial rate is predicted to be just 15.7%,
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Over 1,800 American veterans die each day, many of whom do not receive all of the VA benefits they have earned. The Dignity Memorial® network offers comprehensive services to help eligible veterans and their families receive all of the VA burial benefits provided by the U.S. government, including free, informative Veterans seminars. Your Dignity Memorial provider knows more about obtaining everything that is owed to you, including monetary burial benefits, a government-issued marker, presidential certificate, and much more. We also offers a FREE Veterans planning guide that includes worksheets and valuable information on how you can receive an additional 10% off services not covered by your VA benefits! Qualified veterans are also eligible to receive a flag case, 24-Hour Compassion Helpline®, aftercare planner, and memento box (spouse). Regardless of whether you choose to be buried in a national or private cemetery, your Dignity Memorial provider can help you receive everything you’ve earned.
Neill Funeral Home Stephen Wilsbach, Supervisor
3501 Derry Street Harrisburg, PA 17111 717-564-2633 www.neillharrisburg.com
signifying that cremation is no fading trend — it is the new norm, set in motion by baby boomers’ evolving end-of-life preferences. “The main reasons for the continued rise in cremation rates are cost, the perceived environmental impact, an increasingly transient population, weakening of traditional religious prohibitions, and changing consumer preferences,” said Mike Nicodemus, licensed funeral director and NFDA vice president of cremation services. “Baby boomers have been a significant factor in this shift, and their preferences will inform decisions made by the funeral profession for years to come.” This shift has given funeral-home owners a unique opportunity to adjust business practices to address the impact of cremation and meet changing consumer preferences. The number of licensed crematories in the United States increased 8.9% over the last two years, and approximately one-third of funeral homes operate their own crematories, with another 11% planning to open their own in the next five years. The increase in the cremation rate also raises the question of what happens to cremated remains after the fact. Families have many options and, according to the report, as of 2019, approximately 42% of cremated remains are returned to families, 35.2% are buried at a cemetery, 16% are scattered at non-cemetery locations, and 8.1% are placed in a columbarium. As the cremation rate rises in the coming years, non-burial options for cremated remains are expected to gain popularity as well.
e Neill Funeral Home Kevin J. Shillabeer, Supervisor
3401 Market Street Camp Hill, PA 17011 717-737-8726 www.neillcamphill.com
24 Hour Compassion Helpline is provided by Charles Nechtem and Associates, Inc.
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October 30th is Create a Great Funeral Day The FAQs of Funeral Preplanning 50plus LIFE spoke with Michael C. Baublitz, funeral director/preplanning counselor at Etzweiler Family Funeral Service in York, to get some quick answers to common questions asked by those considering a preplanned funeral.
Does an individual have the option of planning ahead without paying ahead? Anyone has the ability to plan their own or loved one’s funeral; however, without prepaying, the cost is not guaranteed — but it does provide guidance to a family.
What are the general advantages of preplanning your funeral? The services are specific to the individual’s thoughts, needs, and wants, while eliminating the burden to loved ones during a very stressful time. I always enjoy creating a unique and one-of-a-kind service for individuals and their families. How does preplanning help the person’s survivors? Preplanning avoids confusion, anxiety, and conflicts during a very emotional time for families. Having a plan to follow allows the family certainty of a loved one’s wishes. How lengthy is the usual preplanning process? The preplanning consultation typically takes about an hour per person. The meeting can take place at either the funeral home or the individual’s residence, wherever they are comfortable. What are some of the chief considerations for someone wishing to preplan? There are many options available to choose from, such as traditional services, which typically include casket, viewing, religious service, and burial, or memorial service and cremation. Another consideration is the amount of funds available to prepay for their final wishes. Prepaying options include lump-sum or a monthly payment plan. Can changes be made to the plan after it’s been “finalized”? Yes, the plan is a blueprint, as such, until the time comes to implement the services.
What advice do you have for someone wishing to broach the subject of preplanning with a loved one, such as a parent or spouse? Broaching the subject of preplanning a funeral is half of the battle. It begins with educating oneself of the options available via a funeral preneed counselor. This can make the conversation less stressful and more productive for the individuals.
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Does preplanning protect against cost inflation? The simple answer is yes, if prepaid through a funeral home. Services and merchandise are guaranteed against any cost increases/inflation. How are funeral prepayments protected? For example, what if the funeral home goes out of business? The prepayment or money is protected by being placed into a funeral escrow account. It can be transferred at any time or for any reason.
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Dauphin County
Calendar of Events
Support Groups Free and open to the public Tuesdays, 9 a.m. Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous Church of the Redeemer 500 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey (781) 932-6300 www.foodaddicts.org Tuesdays, noon Al-Anon Family Group at Work Meeting Penn State Hershey Medical Center Seventh Floor, Room C7521 500 University Drive, Hershey (717) 448-7881 Other meeting times/locations at https://pa-al-anon.org Wednesdays, 6 p.m. Swatara Serenity Al-Anon Family Group Meeting Unitarian Church of Harrisburg 1280 Clover Lane, Harrisburg (717) 448-7881 Other meeting times/locations at https://pa-al-anon.org Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. Adult Children of Alcoholics Support Group St. Mark’s Lutheran Church 2200 Londonderry Road, Harrisburg (717) 526-9252 ymt57@comcast.net Oct. 2, 10-11:30 a.m. Life Enrichment Group for Blind and Low-Vision Adults Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania 1130 S. 19th St., Harrisburg (717) 238-2531
Oct. 2 and 16, 7-8:30 p.m. ANAD Eating Disorders Support Group PinnacleHealth Polyclinic Landis Building, Sixth Floor Classroom 1 2501 N. Third St., Harrisburg (717) 712-9535 Oct. 3, 7-8 p.m. Fibromyalgia Support Group LeVan Chiropractic 1000 Briarsdale Road, Suite C Harrisburg (717) 558-3500 Oct. 4, 10:30 a.m. Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital Second Floor – Pinnacle Conference Room 2 4300 Londonderry Road Harrisburg (717) 216-2730 elcassel@simpson-rehab.com Oct. 8, 6-7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Greenfield Senior Living at Graysonview 150 Kempton Ave., Harrisburg (717) 561-8010 Oct. 9, 6-7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group Brookdale Harrisburg 3560 N. Progress Ave., Harrisburg (717) 671-4700
Senior Center Activities Oct. 16, 2-4 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group The Residence of the Jewish Home Second Floor Library 4004 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 697-2513 Oct. 17, 6 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group Country Meadows of Hershey Second Floor Training Room 451 Sand Hill Road, Hershey (717) 533-6996 astoner@countrymeadows.com Oct. 17, 6-8 p.m. Harrisburg Area Parkinson’s Disease Caregiver Support Group Giant Food Stores – Second Floor 2300 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 580-7772
Oct. 3, 7 p.m. Central Pennsylvania World War II Roundtable Meeting Grace United Methodist Church 433 E. Main St., Hummelstown (717) 503-2862 charlie.centralpaww2rt@gmail.com www.centralpaww2roundtable.org Oct. 10, 7:30 p.m. Central Pennsylvania Vietnam Roundtable Meeting Vietnam Veterans of America Michael Novosel MOH Chapter 542 8000 Derry St., Harrisburg (717) 545-2336
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centralpavietnamrt@verizon.net www.centralpavietnamroundtable.org Oct. 19, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sewin’ Sisters Sowing Charity Event Trinity United Methodist Church 210 W. Main St., Hummelstown (717) 561-9964 Oct. 20, 4 p.m. Concert: Falling for Flute Classics Derry Presbyterian Church 248 E. Derry Road, Hershey (717) 533-9667 www.derrypres.org
Mohler Senior Center – (717) 533-2002 www.mohlerseniorcenter.com Oct. 13 – Roast Beef Dinner Oct. 24, 9 a.m. – Medicare 101 Oct. 29 – HCC Spaghetti Dinner Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682 www.rutherfordcenter.org Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Billiards (Open to Members) Mondays, 10 a.m. – Line Dancing Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – Art Class Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com.
Oct. 21, 6:30 p.m. Support Group for Families of Those with Memory-Related Illnesses Frey Village 1020 N. Union St., Middletown (717) 930-1218
Library Programs
Oct. 30, 7-8 p.m. Connections Support Group: Families of Memory Impaired Ecumenical Retirement Community Building 3, Second Floor 3525 Canby St., Harrisburg (717) 561-2590
Elizabethville Area Library, 80 N. Market St., Elizabethville, (717) 362-9825 Oct. 10, 6-7:30 p.m. – Cooking with Essential Oils Oct. 23, 6-7 p.m. – Lively Minds Workshop: Halloween Storytelling
Community Programs Free and open to the public Oct. 2, 7 p.m. World Culture Club of Central Pennsylvania Meeting Penn State Hershey Medical Center Fifth Floor, Lecture Room B 500 University Drive, Hershey www.worldcultureclubpa.org
Friendship Senior Center – (717) 657-1547 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Frida ys, 8-9 a.m. – Light Aerobics Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. – Mah Jong
Oct. 23, 7 p.m. Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Middletown St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Spring and Union streets, Middletown (717) 915-5555 gsk1308@gmail.com Oct. 29, 6 p.m. Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Walking Club Bass Pro Shop – Hunt Room Harrisburg Mall 3501 Paxton St., Harrisburg (717) 805-9540
East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, (717) 652-9380 Oct. 6, 2-4 p.m. – Crazy for Coloring Oct. 15, 1-2:30 p.m. – Job Seeker Resources
Johnson Memorial Library, 799 E. Center St., Millersburg, (717) 692-2658 Oct. 1, 6-7 p.m. – PodClub Kline Library, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-3934 Oct. 4, 6-8 p.m. – Mini Golf in the Library Oct. 16, 6-8 p.m. – Knit 1, Crochet Too! Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library, 2410 N. Third St., Harrisburg, (717) 232-7286 Oct. 10, 5-6:30 p.m. – Th e Life and Works of Hari Jones Oct. 21, 6-7 p.m. – Cookbook Book Club: Culinary Mysteries McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-4976 Oct. 10, 2-3:30 p.m. – Job Seeker Resources Oct. 29, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Device Club
PARKS & RECREATION
Northern Dauphin Library, 683 Main St., Lykens, (717) 453-9315 Oct. 16, 6-7 p.m. – Cookbook Book Club: Culinary Mysteries Oct. 19, 6-7:30 p.m. – Dying for Love: A Library Mystery
Oct. 3, 7:30-9:30 a.m. – Bird Walk: Fall Migration at Wildwood, Wildwood Park Oct. 13, 1:30-2:30 p.m. – Tree Identification Walk, Wildwood Park Oct. 20, 1:30-3 p.m. – Fall Foliage Hike, Detweiler Park
William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949 Oct. 9, 6-9 p.m. – Second Wednesday Cinema Oct. 28, 6-8 p.m. – Crazy for Coloring
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Across 1. Horse course 5. Egg on 9. Crowning point 13. Judicious 14. Fishing need 15. Annuls 17. Sites 19. Sesame Street Muppet 20. Yale student 21. Typos 23. Jim-dandy 24. Chiang Kai-shek’s capital 26. Collars
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50 Plus Senior News 10/19 Sudoku
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On Life and Love after 50
MarriageTovs. aSudoku Committed Relationship solve the puzzle, each row, column and box must contain the numbers 1 to 9.
Tom Blake
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As a senior-relationship columnist, relationship and living together. We are surprised I receive many interesting questions from older at the number of friends who ask, ‘When is he singles. going to make me legal?’ Recently, Nancy emailed, “Are you married “We don’t feel the need to be married. Our legally to Greta?” kids don’t care one way or the other. I wear a ring (The “Greta” to whom Nancy was referring has on my wedding-ring finger. We are turning 65 been my life partner for 21 years.) this year and have earned the right to do as we Nancy added, “I’m 65 and have a man I’d wish.” like to spend the rest of my life with. We’ve been Nina stated, “I’m in my mid-50s, six years together — on and off — for eight years. We divorced, alone, have great friends, a pretty don’t want to marry legally, but we would like a good life, and am fine with this for now. I don’t commitment ceremony. want to remarry, even if I find someone with “I stayed home raising my ex-husband’s and whom love is real and mutual. I would like to be my children for 25 years. We were divorced in in a committed, loving relationship.” 1996; he remarried. After he passed away, I started Jennifer shared, “Older people have already receiving his Social Security benefits because of completed the child-raising task. They don’t need the length of time married to him. If I were to to nail down a reproductive agreement. marry legally, I’d lose the benefits. “They have often spent a lifetime working and “Is there a way to be together with my guy accumulating assets, and they frequently like without legally marrying so I don’t lose my exto keep their finances separate. Sometimes, it’s husband’s Social Security benefits?” simpler just to remain single, even while living together. Before addressing Nancy’s questions, I strongly suggest she contact an “Those who, for religious or other reasons, are uncomfortable with this Copyright PuzzleJunction.com attorney to ensure she doesn’t do anything to jeopardize receiving her deceased©2019 arrangement can still get married.” husband’s benefits. Marcia wrote, “Russ and I did not marry for myriad reasons. We know of My answer to Nancy’s initial question: No, Greta and I are not “married couples who’ve had religious ceremonies under God, and they are happy.” legally.” We aren’t even married illegally. We’ve been together 21 years and Final thoughts to Nancy: have lived together 18 of those years, 13 of them in her home and the last five Getting married would likely cause you to lose the Social Security benefits in my home. you are receiving. Don’t marry. We have been blessed with the relationship the way it is. We travel often Another reason not to marry: You said your eight-year relationship has been and share many expenses. Our life is as good as it gets. We see no reason to “on and off.” That’s not a good omen for marriage. marry. 50 PlusASenior Newsceremony? 10/19 Crossword commitment If you wish. Just be sure it’s not legally binding. Nancy also wanted to know if Greta and I have had a commitment Exchange rings, invite family and friends, have a ball — whatever you choose. ceremony. No, again. Every day is a commitment to each other; we don’t feel The most important thing for seniors is to appreciate life, whether single, the need to have a ceremony. Word Search Solution PuzzleJunction.com married, or in a committed relationship. Other readers have shared thoughts on the marriage-vs.-committedSolution For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s relationship topic. complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www.findingloveafter50.com. Annie said, “I met my partner five years ago. We are in a committed
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It Was 50 Years Ago Today
‘Suspicious Minds’ Randal Hill
The King of Rock ’n’ Roll was pretty much washed up as a recording star by the late 1960s, especially in comparison to the days when he seemed to own the radio airwaves. Many offered their own opinions for the decline of Elvis Aron Presley: The explosive arrival of the Beatles. His choice of weak “Suspicious Minds” recording material. Each Elvis Presley, October 1969 film a bigger disappointment than the last. But in late 1968, things changed. Suddenly Presley found himself on a roll. His December television special, Singer Presents … Elvis (better known as “the ’68 Comeback Special”) was viewed — and enjoyed — by 42% of America’s total television audience. People seemed ready to re-embrace the Grand Old Man of Rock who, in pop-music years, was in his dotage at age 33. In January 1969, Presley left Hollywood and RCA Victor’s recording studio and came to his hometown of Memphis to cut a series of tracks at the American Sound Studio. Maybe — just maybe — he could get his groove back there. A dozen of the tunes that Presley recorded over a 10-day period that January ended up on his June 1969 LP, From Elvis in Memphis. The album’s highlight had been the single “In the Ghetto,” his only recorded nod to social consciousness. One of the songs left off the album had been “Suspicious Minds,” which had been written a year earlier by Texas-born songwriter Mark James. In a 2017 interview, James recalled how the tune came about. “Late one night, fooling around on my Fender guitar and using my Hammond organ pedals for a bass line, I came up with a catchy melody. I was married to my first wife then but still had feelings for my childhood sweetheart, who was married back in Houston. “My wife suspected I had those feelings, so it was a confusing time for me,” James said. “I felt as though all three of us were caught in this trap that we couldn’t walk out of.” James was so pleased with his creation that he decided to record “Suspicious Minds” himself. But the song quickly died a quiet death after it was issued on New York’s little Scepter Records label. When someone at American Sound Studio showed Presley the failed James 45 during a recording break, Presley immediately felt that this was the song — if done right — that could return him to the “big time.” He made eight attempts to get things right with “Suspicious Minds,” with everything coming together perfectly sometime between 4 and 7 a.m. on the day that he recorded the future classic that would quickly change the arc of his latter-day career. After a 13-year absence, Presley returned to the concert stage that July and premiered “Suspicious Minds” at the Las Vegas International Hotel. The audience loved it. In August, RCA Victor released what would become the King’s 18th and www.50plusLifePA.com
final No. 1 Billboard single. “Suspicious Minds” became a centerpiece of Presley’s live performances, and he offered it with high-octane enthusiasm right up to his final concert in 1977. Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.
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October 2019
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Soldier Stories
Robert Naeye
He Survived Firefights, Hepatitis, and a Landmine that Failed to Detonate
Hummelstown resident Dan Dorsheimer had been in Vietnam for only three weeks when he went out on his first patrol as an Army infantryman. The events that followed would be seared into his memory. His platoon destroyed a South Vietnamese village and killed a young Vietnamese girl. He stepped on a landmine, which miraculously failed to explode. But despite experiencing Dorsheimer at a fire support base, 1968. intense combat and becoming severely ill twice, he would survive his tour and return to his hometown. Dorsheimer was born in Harrisburg in February 1948. He was raised in Hummelstown in a family with a distinguished history of military service. His maternal grandfather served during World War I. His father fought in the brutal Battle of Okinawa in World War II, where he earned a Purple Heart. His brother also served in Vietnam. “When our country called, we answered the call, and I’m very proud of that,” says Dorsheimer. Dorsheimer graduated from Lower Dauphin High School in June 1966. Almost one year later to the day, he was drafted. He went into the Army so he would only have to serve two years. He spent eight weeks in basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, followed by nine weeks of advanced infantry training at Fort McClellan, Alabama. “We didn’t hear a lot of positive things in those 17 weeks of training. They really beat us up physically and emotionally. That’s just how it was,” says Dorsheimer. At the end of his training, Dorsheimer’s worst fears became reality: He received a letter ordering him to report to Fort Lewis, Washington, in the first week of November 1967. He realized he was going to ’Nam at a time when the war was intensifying and American casualties were starting to mount. After a brief period of rest back home, Dorsheimer’s parents drove him to Baltimore for the flight to Washington. “My mother watched the news; she knew what was going on in Vietnam. She was a mess. She didn’t know if she was ever going to see me again alive,” recalls Dorsheimer. After stops in Hawaii, Wake Island, and Guam, Dorsheimer landed at Cam Ranh Bay in November 1967. He wondered why men were cheering as he got off the plane but then realized they were going home. They told him “to have fun.” Dorsheimer recalls being scared to death. The next day, Dorsheimer flew on a cargo plane to the village of Pleiku in South Vietnam’s Central Highlands. There, he was assigned as a replacement to a company in the Army’s 4th Infantry Division. To some extent, Dorsheimer lucked out. During his 366-day tour of duty, the North Vietnamese Army and Viet Cong concentrated their forces to the north and south of the Central Highlands, so, as Dorsheimer says, “We didn’t see a whole lot of combat for an infantry unit.” Still, he saw horrible things and watched some of his buddies die. He calls
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his first three weeks in Vietnam “a nightmare,” and that experience included watching a fellow 19-year-old kid blow himself up while mishandling a grenade. On his first patrol, his platoon went out in the morning on a search-anddestroy mission to a nearby village that was thought to be sympathetic to the Viet Cong. The 40 or so men crossed a river and entered the village. Dorsheimer with two ARVN (Army of the The inhabitants lived in Republic of Vietnam) soldiers. primitive conditions, with thatched dwellings and dirt floors. The Americans only saw old men, women, and young children. As a newcomer, Dorsheimer depended on the officers and hardened veterans for his survival. But right away, he worried that his comrades were having too much fun searching and destroying. Before departing the village, the commanding officer ordered the men to burn it down. The men set fire to the grass with their lighters, which then lit the hatched dwellings. Dorsheimer admits that he helped. “These people had nothing — they were primitive peasants,” he recalls. “And that wasn’t the worst of it. We killed their chickens, their pigs, and we shot their water buffalo. These people had nothing. We destroyed absolutely everything in that village. Everything.” Dorsheimer was only 19, but he understood that ruining the livelihood of the locals was not exactly the best way to establish their faith in democracy. Walking back to the base camp, the line of men suddenly stopped. The point man looked at Dorsheimer, who heard a “poof.” He realized he was in trouble. He looked down to see smoke coming out from his right boot. He was told not to move. He had stepped on a small landmine consisting of plastic explosives. Fortunately for the rookie soldier, the mine failed to detonate. Even if it did, Dorsheimer probably would have survived. “It wasn’t meant to kill you. It was meant to put a hole in your foot and put you in the hospital.” As the men neared base camp, they saw a Vietnamese person cross their path in a rice paddy. Someone behind Dorsheimer yelled, “Go ahead and fire.” After turning over the body, they realized they had killed a young girl. Making matters worse, some of the men laughed. “I’m thinking, ‘What the hell is going on here?’” recalls Dorsheimer. “I wasn’t brought up that way.” Dorsheimer’s company went on numerous jungle patrols but rarely made contact with the enemy. Still, these were arduous missions, with the soldiers carrying heavy loads, going many days without showers, and eating the same dreary rations day after day. About five months into his tour, Dorsheimer contracted hepatitis and had to be medevacked to an aid station. By the time he got there, he was lapsing in and out of consciousness. He was freezing, but his head felt like it was on fire. He was running a high fever, so the medical personnel packed him in ice www.50plusLifePA.com
“like Charlie the Dorsheimer. Tuna.” But the attacks While ceased. recuperating This young at Cam Ranh soldier would Bay, he had survive several an incredibly more firefights unlikely chance and a bout encounter with of malaria. fellow Lower Dorsheimer Dauphin received several graduate Rick ribbons and Criswell, who a letter of was serving commendation Taking a meal, August 1968. in the Army’s for his service, st 101 Airborne but he is quick Division. to dismiss any The two notion that he spent several was a hero. days together “I didn’t do at the hospital more than any and had a photo of the guys taken. They sent beside me. a copy to the People back at Hummelstown base camp wrote Sun weekly this stuff up newspaper, to try to build which published morale,” he Rich Burton, left, and Dan Dorsheimer. insists. it on the front page of the April Despite 19, 1968, issue. everything he endured and all his Tragically, Criswell died in unpleasant memories, Dorsheimer action four months later. Shortly has built a successful postwar life. after returning home from the war, He retired in 2011 after working 22 Dorsheimer landed a job with a small years for Coca-Cola, and he has been bottling company in Harrisburg. married to his wife, Fran, for 28 years. By an extraordinary coincidence, he Their son, Sage, currently lives in discovered that Criswell’s mother Williamsburg, Virginia. worked there too. He went to see her Like many Vietnam veterans, and saw that she was reading the paper. Dorsheimer has found it difficult for “I turned around and said, ‘Mrs. other people to relate to his wartime Criswell, hi, I’m Dan Dorsheimer.’ The experiences. tears rolled down her cheeks. It was “For 46, 47 years, I didn’t talk Rick’s mother, probably two years after about it because no one cared. Even she buried her son. That picture in the the veterans in Hummelstown really Sun was quite possibly the last picture didn’t acknowledge us at the Legion she saw of her son before she saw him and the VFW. Yeah, they signed us up, dead in that casket. but they told us, ‘That’s not a real war.’ “She never came back to work, and Yeah, tell that to the 58,000 people I have never seen her to this day. Why who died.” did that happen?” But like most Vietnam veterans, his Dorsheimer vividly recalls a war experiences remain a defining part pitched firefight after recovering of his life. from his illness. He watched one of “I was 19 when I landed, 20 when his fellow soldiers die from a bullet I left. I’m proud of my service, as is fired from a nearby village. Suddenly, my father, my grandfather, and my two American jets zoomed by at low brother. I’m not proud of some of the altitude and dropped canisters of things that we did. We did some really napalm on the village, incinerating nasty things.” everything. Derry Township resident Robert Naeye “No fireworks display can do writes regularly for The Hummelstown what these two canisters did,” says Sun. www.50plusLifePA.com
Nov. 7, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Farm and Home Center
1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster
This event is FREE to attend. Veterans (of all ages) and the military community and their families are invited to join us!
The Expo brings federal, state, and local agencies together with area businesses to provide information and resources to veterans and their families.
The Job Fair brings veterans and spouses who need jobs together with employers who can benefit from this rich source of talent to aid their organizations.
At the Expo
Veterans Benefits & Services Medical/Nonmedical Resources Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services
At the Job Fair
Employers Job Counseling Workshops Employment Seminars Resume Writing Assistance Hosted by:
Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available
www.veteransexpo.com (717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com
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October 2019
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