50plus LIFE Dauphin County December 2018

Complimentary | Dauphin County Edition

December 2018 • Vol. 20 No. 12

Astronomy on the Susquehanna page 4

Vietnam Veteran Tried to Win Hearts and Minds page 6

special focus: orthopedics & pain

page 12

On Life and Love after 50

What Should Unwed, Age 50+ Couples Call Themselves?

Tom Blake

Greta and I look at each other and one of us responds, In the 24 years of writing newspaper columns about age “We’ve been together for 20 years.”

50+ dating and relationships, there is a question for which I’ve never had a good answer. Until now. Perhaps.

Most couples accept that answer, thinking we’re married.

It’s easier to leave it that way than try to explain that we The question: What do unwed, age 50+ couples call are “significant others” or “life partners” or whatever we are themselves? calling ourselves at that moment.

I was reminded of that question by Mark, who emailed: “Donna and I have been together for eight and a half years.

When Greta and I would visit my mom in her retirement community a few years back and we were out socially with We were having lunch with Wally Horn and his partner of 30 years, Bobbi, and this question arose: ‘What do we Mom’s friends, Mom would introduce Greta by saying, “This is Tom’s Greta.” call ourselves? Partners? Companions? Significant others?

That was her way of saying we were living together and not Boyfriend/girlfriend?’” married, which she probably wasn’t entirely thrilled about.

I can relate to Mark’s question. My partner, Greta, and I In his email, Mark added, “Donna and I are a LAT (living have been together for 20 years. We aren’t married. I still find myself wondering how to introduce her. apart together) couple. She is 69, still working. I’m 71, retired, and live a few miles away. We go back and forth between the Often, “life partner” comes to mind. It’s an OK term, but I still get a puzzled look from people who seem to be wondering Photo credit to Tom Blake. two cities a lot.”

Our friend Wally is 84 and Bobbi is 75. They are both what the heck a life partner is, or they think it’s a lame Tom calls Greta his “significant other.” retired and have been together for almost 30 years. When we explanation for why we aren’t married. were talking about what to call ourselves, I floated an idea I’ve Greta and I enjoy taking cruises. We always opt for open had for some time: “semispouse.” seating in the dining room, which means we are usually seated with different people every night. Frequently, tablemates ask, “How long have you two been It received a favorable response from our foursome. It isn’t perfect, but it seems to have qualities the other labels lack. married?”

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At first, I thought the semispouse term a little bizarre, visualizing a semitruck driver with his wife riding with him in the cab.

I looked up the term on the Urban Dictionary website. Its definition: “A significant other that plays the role of a spouse without being legally married.”

And then I decided, when written, the term semispouse would look better with a hyphen inserted: semi-spouse.

While semi-spouse for unwed, age 50+ couples will work for now, still, I’m all ears to hear suggestions from readers for what to call mature, unwed couples.

Just don’t call us, “Two old fogies living together.”

For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www.FindingLoveAfter50.com.

​ Conference Focuses on Alcohol, Opioid Addiction in Older Adults Pennsylvania Department of Aging Secretary Teresa Osborne recently attended and spoke at the Phoebe Institute on Aging’s Fall Conference, “Understanding Addiction and Older Adults,” at DeSales University.

The conference explored both the trend of addiction in older adults and insights into treatment modalities to offer hope in a time of crisis.

“Older Pennsylvanians may be a minority among those seeking treatment for substance abuse, yet alcohol and drug problems, in particular prescription drug abuse, among older adults is one of the fastest-growing health problems facing the country,” said Osborne.

Today, 2.5 million older adults have an alcohol or drug problem.

Widowers over the age of 75 have the highest rate of alcoholism in the U.S., and older adults are hospitalized as often for alcohol-related problems as they are for heart attacks.

Nevertheless, addiction in older adults can be difficult to detect, as warning signs mimic insomnia, forgetfulness, and other common, age-related health issues.

Growing older brings on many changes in health, lifestyle, family

obligations, work roles, and sources of support. It can also bring physical pain, stress, loneliness, and loss of mobility.

The very real difficulties of aging can become overwhelming and drive seniors toward an unhealthy reliance on alcohol or drugs. In other cases, a preexisting addiction may worsen over the years.

The state’s opioid disaster declaration, initiated earlier this year

by Gov. Wolf, expands access to evidence-based, medicationassisted treatment to help Pennsylvanians who suffer from the disease of addiction and ensure they have access to the care they need.

Pennsylvanians looking for information on treatment for themselves or a loved one can call (800) 662-HELP (4357) tollfree, 24/7, to be connected to resources in their community.

A live chat option is also available online or via text message at (717) 2160905 for those seeking help who may not be comfortable speaking to a helpline operator.

To learn more about the opioid epidemic and addiction treatment, visit www.pa.gov/opioids.

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 Funeral & Cremation Services Cremation Society of Pennsylvania Serving Dauphin County (800) 720-8221 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 www.50plusLifePA.com

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

The Salvation Army Edgemont Temple Corps (717) 238-8678 Toll-Free Numbers American Lung Association (800) LUNG-USA

Capital Blue (888) 989-9015 (TTY: 711)

Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555

Medicare (800) 633-4227

Meals on Wheels (800) 621-6325

Nursing/Rehab Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902

National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046

Personal Care Homes Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902

Housing/Apartments B’Nai B’rith Apartments 130 S. Third St., Harrisburg (717) 232-7516

Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com

Housing Assistance Dauphin County Housing Authority (717) 939-9301

Services Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 780-6130

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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Cover Story

Astronomy on the Susquehanna Corporate Office

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL

Vice President and Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor, 50plus Publications Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT Project Coordinator Renee McWilliams Production Artist Lauren Phillips

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Senior Marketing Consultants Joshua Binkley Jennifer Schmalhofer Angie Willis Marketing Consultant Joseph Herr Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer Marketing Coordinator Kelsey Fishburn

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall

Awards

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December 2018

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By Robert Naeye

Ryan went off to college at the University of Chicago, graduating in June 1972. In December 1976 he earned a law degree from the University of We live in a modern age awash in light. It’s inside Florida. For many years he practiced law in Chicago, our homes, on our streets, and on our computer eventually becoming screens. the chief environmental For amateur astronomers, attorney for the state of light is the bane of their Illinois. existence. It washes out the After changing jobs faint light of distant stars, several times, he ran his an environmental blight own law firm in Chicago known as “light pollution.” for eight years. His From a populated urban wife, Barbara, who is area, you can see a few originally from Harrisburg, dozen to a few hundred encouraged him to look stars at night. But venture for a job that would offer out into a remote area far steadier income. away from city lights, and Ryan ended up taking you can see thousands of Photo credit: Robert Naeye a position with the stars speckling the sky from Ryan, left, board member of the Philadelphia Electric Rittenhouse Astronomical Society, horizon to horizon. with Ted Williams, RAS president, Company in 1998, which With large cities such as outside the Muddy Run Observatory. later merged with a utility Philadelphia, Lancaster, and in Chicago to form Exelon.

Harrisburg, southeastern As he was moving Pennsylvania is not exactly around, Ryan was raising a haven for astronomical two daughters. The observatories. younger of the two, Layla, This posed a challenge developed a strong interest to the Exelon Corporation, in astronomy. She majored whose top executives in astrophysics at the decided several years ago University of Illinois. to construct an observatory Ryan credits her with as a vehicle for inspiring rekindling his childhood students to pursue careers in interest in astronomy. He science and engineering.

Photo credit: Robert Naeye built and bought telescopes, But with the help of Williams adjusts the Celestron telescope each scope larger than amateur astronomer Al inside one of the observatory’s two towers. the previous one. He later Ryan, also the company’s constructed an observatory assistant general counsel, in the backyard of his house Exelon found a good site on in Glenside, Pennsylvania. its own land: Muddy Run Al and Layla frequently Recreation Park, about 15 visited Exelon’s Muddy Run miles south of Lancaster Recreation Park. Layla once along the Susquehanna mentioned that a helicopter River. landing pad inside the park The Muddy Run would be a great place to Observatory is now hosting build an observatory. public events that draw “At the time, I didn’t hundreds of people. really think much of it,” Ryan, who spearheaded Photo credit: Robert Naeye On the observatory’s outdoor projection says Ryan. the effort to build the screen, speakers can show their photos and Tragically, Layla passed Muddy Run Observatory, telescope images to the public. away from a long-term grew up in Florida, not far illness in 2006 at age 24. To from Cape Canaveral. As a honor Layla, her parents established a scholarship for child, he built telescopes and watched NASA launch astronomy students at the University of Illinois. rockets into space, which inspired a lifelong interest As Exelon started toying around with the idea of in astronomy. www.50plusLifePA.com

building a public observatory, it turned to Ryan to advise the company on where to build it and what equipment to include.

Ryan recalled his daughter’s idea of building an observatory on the Muddy Run helipad. To test this idea, he partnered with local amateur astronomers to hold a stargazing event at the site in 2015.

“Even though there were thunderstorms, we had a huge turnout, which surprised company management. We had 100-125 people on a stormy, cloudy night. People didn’t realize that we have enough interest in the region, so we made it an annual event,” recalls Ryan.

The next year’s stargaze drew an even larger crowd — and that’s when the whole idea blossomed to build the observatory at Muddy Run. Besides the helipad, the park had a visitor center, facilities for handicapped people, and parking spaces for hundreds of cars.

The night sky is dark enough so you can see around a thousand stars on a clear, moonless night. And yet it’s close enough to major population centers that public events draw large crowds.

Exelon based the observatory’s landscaping on a design created by Ryan’s wife Barbara, while Ryan decided on two large amateur telescopes, one built by Celestron and the other by PlaneWave.

Construction began in 2016, and the doors opened to the public in October 2017.

The Rittenhouse Astronomical Society of Philadelphia is the primary amateur organization that runs the observatory. Ryan is a member of its board of directors, making him the perfect liaison between company and club.

RAS president Ted Williams says his group was involved in the project from the very beginning, calling the observatory “the perfect merger for an astronomy club that was trapped in Philadelphia that wanted a darker site.”

But Williams is quick to add that running the observatory is a team effort. The Astronomy Enthusiasts of Lancaster County and the Harford County Astronomical Society in Maryland play important supporting roles, providing telescopes and educators. www.50plusLifePA.com

Muddy Run hosts a monthly open house for the public, where people can come to stargaze using the observatory’s two telescopes and additional portable scopes brought by amateurs. These events include talks by scientists and amateurs and workshops in astrophotography.

Exelon modified the visitor center to include an astronomy section, comprising a hallway of astronomical photos and models to help educate the public about space science. The visitor center also has several classrooms.

The observatory itself has a giant outdoor projection screen, where speakers can show their photos and where telescope images can be displayed to the public.

The observatory has already attracted significant interest from local companies, libraries, and schools.

Ryan says that Exelon hopes that Muddy Run will serve as an inspiring example for what corporations can do to reach out to their communities.

There’s even talk about adding more telescopes and a planetarium to bolster education programs.

Astronomy is one of the few remaining fields of science where amateurs can play important roles in cutting-edge research. Using the observatory’s two telescopes, club members will soon be studying stars that vary in brightness, asteroids that pass in front of stars, and planets in other systems that pass in front of their host stars.

“We’re really proud of the facility,” Ryan says. “But we’re even more ecstatic about all the possibilities available to us for extending our vision to the community, enlightening minds, and inspiring others.”

The observatory’s next free open house is Saturday, Dec. 15. Call (717) 284-5850 or visit www.facebook. com/muddyrunobservatory or www. muddyrunobservatory.com for more information.

On the cover: To further his and his daughter’s shared interest in astronomy, Al Ryan, here beside the Celestron telescope inside the Muddy Run Observatory, once built an observatory in their backyard.

Now, Ryan heads a combined team of amateur astronomers instrumental in the development and operation of the observatory.

March 26, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Hotel York 2000 Loucks Road, York

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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Soldier Stories

Robert Naeye

Vietnam Veteran Tried to Win Hearts and Minds

Like many Vietnam War veterans, Rich Burton, of West Hanover Township, Dauphin County, feels he was victimized by government lies.

Those lies started with the war itself and continue to this day, Burton says, where every effort is made to deny our nation’s wounded warriors desperately needed healthcare.

Burton has responded by helping local veterans get the benefits they earned and by helping to form the Central Pennsylvania Vietnam Round Table.

Burton was born in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, just outside Philadelphia, in 1946. His father served in the Navy during World War II, but he never talked about his experiences as Burton was growing up.

Photo credit: Robert Naeye

Rich Burton with a display he uses when giving talks about his Vietnam experiences to various groups.

The family moved to suburban Harrisburg when Burton was about 10, and he graduated from Central Dauphin High School in 1964.

Burton joined the ROTC while attending Furman University in South Carolina, graduating in 1968. He decided early on that he wanted to be an Army infantry officer. At that young age, Burton believed the government propaganda that it was urgent for the United States to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.

Burton trained to become an officer at Fort Bragg and Fort Benning, where he earned his airborne jump wings and became a Special Forces officer. He flew to Vietnam in November 1969 to serve as a replacement. But when he arrived, an enlisted clerk told him that the Army didn’t need any more Special Forces lieutenants.

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We at On-Line Publishers, Inc. are grateful to our dedicated staff, loyal readers, and supportive advertisers who have all enabled us to continue our mission to serve the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50+ community in 2018.

We wish to thank each of you for helping to make 50plus LIFE a fun, interesting, and unique source of information and entertainment for our readers in Central Pennsylvania.

At this special time of giving thanks and reminiscing, the staff of On-Line Publishers wishes you, our friends, warmest holiday wishes.

Please contact Memory Music to book your next event!

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December 2018

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Looking at Burton’s military records, the clerk noticed that Burton had taken courses in psychology. He said the Marines were looking for psychological operations officers in the Da Nang area and asked Burton if he wanted to go there.

“I said to myself that I’d be dead in two months as an infantry lieutenant, so if I go with the Marines, maybe I’ll survive,” recalls Burton.

After being shipped to Da Nang, Burton joined the Army’s 7th Psychological Operations Battalion, which was attached to the 1st Marine Division.

During his one-year deployment, this unit went into villages and hamlets during the daytime. With help from a Vietnamese interpreter, they made broadcasts, dropped leaflets, and assisted Marines in treating locals for various ailments. At night they showed movies.

“I was out with the locals because my job was to win their hearts and minds,” says Burton.

Winning hearts and minds also meant playing soccer. Burton recalls four games between Americans and barefooted Vietnamese, with each side winning twice. But before the games could begin, Marines would have to clear the field of possible landmines.

Burton never had to fire his weapon. Marines protected his unit, and the enemy didn’t think it was prudent to attack while movies were being shown.

But Burton had the uneasy feeling that North Vietnamese and Viet Cong soldiers were sitting in the audience.

Even if the locals felt sympathy for the Americans, enemy guerillas would return at night to terrorize or murder any civilians who cooperated too closely with the foreigners. But on occasion, the locals would surrender weapons and ammunition to Burton’s unit that would have otherwise been used to kill Marines.

Burton points to a vast gulf between what the U.S. government was saying about the war and what he was seeing on the ground.

It was obvious to Burton that the U.S. was not winning. No matter how many enemy combatants were killed, they could always replenish their numbers while the American public was growing war weary.

“When I went over to Vietnam, I believed all the lies the government said that we’re winning the war, and we just need a few more troops to come in to pacify the country. But when I was there on the ground, it didn’t take very long to figure out that it was all a lie,” he says, with a tone of bitterness.

He came to believe many years later that the U.S. never should have been in Vietnam. According to Burton, it was a civil war between the Vietnamese, and that “58,000 American men and women died for no reason, and hundreds of thousands were screwed up mentally and physically.”

Burton is still angry at Johnson, Nixon, and Kissinger for prolonging the war for political purposes, even though they knew it was unwinnable.

“None of it happened the way the government said it did,” he says. “I know it’s shocking to some people that the government lies, but Vietnam was never a place we had to go.”

According to Burton, the Veterans Administration (VA) still doesn’t want to

compensate Vietnam vets for their physical and mental wounds. In particular, it continues to deny payments to veterans exposed to Agent Orange, a defoliant widely used by the U.S. military during the war that causes many forms of cancer and other diseases.

“It’s all about the money. If the VA would pay every Vietnam veteran, the VA wouldn’t have any money left in its budget,” says Burton, who is active with the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Burton says the VA hopes that veterans who are denied claims will give up.

Instead, he encourages veterans to consult an attorney or a veteran’s service officer. Vets who appeal over and over sometimes receive compensation.

Burton worked 27 years for Pennsylvania’s Department of Public Welfare, Labor and Industry, retiring in 2005. He and his wife, Evelyn, have two sons and three grandchildren.

Burton wrote many letters to his parents from Vietnam, but he didn’t read them until long after the war, when Evelyn encouraged him.

“I blocked out 90 percent of whatever I did in Vietnam. I didn’t remember because I didn’t want to remember,” he says.

Burton and several veterans founded the Central Pennsylvania Vietnam Round Table in January 2013.

This nonprofit is the only known Vietnam-specific oral history group in the country. Vietnam veterans share their stories every month at free meetings.

It also serves as a safe haven for Vietnam veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.

The round table has also donated $7,000 to local veterans’ organizations.

The meetings are held every second Thursday of the month at 8000 Derry St., Harrisburg.

For more information about the Central Pennsylvania Vietnam Round Table, visit http://centralpavietnamroundtable.com.

Robert Naeye is a freelance journalist living in Derry Township. He is the former editor-in-chief of Sky & Telescope magazine. advertisement

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Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes The listings with a shaded background have additional information about their center in a display advertisement in this edition.

Bethany Village — MapleWood

325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-766-0279 • www.BethanyVillage.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: Yes Personal Care Home: No Private: 100 Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes

Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: One-bedroom suites; secured memory support neighborhood; skilled nursing – The Oaks.

Colonial Lodge Community

2015 North Reading Road • Denver, PA 17519 717-336-5501 • www.coloniallodgepa.com Total AL and/or PC Beds: 70 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: A veteran-approved “home for heroes” facility, all in a beautiful, rural setting. Respite services available as space permits.

Homeland Center

1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102 717-221-7727 • www.homelandcenter.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 56 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes

Homewood at Plum Creek

425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331 717-637-4166 • www.homewood.com Total AL and/or PC Beds: 92 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Harrison House of Chester County

Landis Homes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 80 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 97 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

300 Strode Avenue • Coatesville, PA 19320 610-384-6310 • www.harrisonseniorliving.com Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Located in western Chester County, Harrison House provides an array of amenities with nursing care.

Mennonite Home Communities

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 114 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 150 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Nonprofit personal care community in downtown West Chester. Includes secure dementia care neighborhood. Call to schedule a personal tour.

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Excellent care in a lovely environment. Call to schedule a visit.

1001 East Oregon Road • Lititz, PA 17543 717-569-3271 • www.LandisHomes.org

The Hickman Friends Senior Community

400 North Walnut Street • West Chester, PA 19380 484-760-6300 • www.TheHickman.org

Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Providing exemplary care in a beautiful environment for more than 150 years. Our continuum includes a hospice program, therapy services, home care and home health services, and 24-hour medical staffing. All-private rooms with full baths and kitchenettes.

Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Attached to wellness center and pool without going outside.

1520 Harrisburg Pike • Lancaster, PA 17601 717-393-1301 • www.mennonitehome.org Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Supportive, encouraging environment. Various room types and suites available. Secure memory care offered.

This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes The listings with a shaded background have additional information about their center in a display advertisement in this edition.

Normandie Ridge

1700 Normandie Drive • York, PA 17408 717-764-6262 • https://normandieridge.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 35 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Our dementia care residence features the Kaleidoscope therapeutic engagement program designed for our residents.

Pleasant View Retirement Community

544 North Penryn Road • Manheim, PA 17545 717-665-2445 • www.pleasantviewrc.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 96 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes* Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: *Three-year private pay spending. Maintain independence in an enriching and supportive environment.

This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your account representative or call (717) 770-0140.

Social Security News

By John Johnston

Beware of Scammers Pretending to Be from Social Security

In the digital age, frauds and scams are an unfortunate part of doing business online.

During the holiday season, Social Security has traditionally seen a spike in phishing scams, and we want to protect you as best we can.

We urge you to always be cautious and to avoid providing sensitive information, such as your Social Security Number or bank account information, to unknown individuals over the phone or internet.

If you receive a call and aren’t expecting one, you must be extra careful. You can always get the caller’s information, hang up, and — if you do need more clarification — contact the official phone number of the business or agency that the caller claims to represent.

Never reveal personal data to a stranger who called you.

Please take note: There’s a scam going around right now. You might receive a call from someone claiming to be from Social Security or another agency. Calls can even display (800) 772-1213, Social Security’s national customer service number, as the incoming number on your caller ID. In some cases, the caller states that Social Security does not have all of your personal information, such as your Social Security number, on file. Other callers claim Social Security needs additional information so the agency can increase your benefit payment, or that Social Security will terminate your benefits if they do not confirm your information.

This appears to be a widespread issue, as reports have come from people www.50plusLifePA.com

across the country. These calls are not from Social Security.

Callers sometimes state that your Social Security number is at risk of being deactivated or deleted. The caller then asks you to provide a phone number to resolve the issue.

People should be aware the scheme’s details may vary; however, you should avoid engaging with the caller or calling the number provided, as the caller might attempt to acquire personal information.

Social Security employees occasionally contact people by telephone for customer-service purposes. In only a few special situations, such as when you have business pending with us, a Social Security employee may request the person confirm personal information over the phone.

Social Security employees will never threaten you or promise a Social Security benefit approval or increase in exchange for information. In those cases, the call is fraudulent, and you should just hang up.

If you receive these calls, please report the information to the Office of the Inspector General at (800) 269-0271 or online at www.oig.ssa.gov/report.

Remember, only call official phone numbers and use secured websites of the agencies and businesses you know are correct. Protecting your information is an important part of Social Security’s mission to secure today and tomorrow.

John Johnston is a Social Security public affairs specialist.

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Grief Relief

Grief Doesn’t Take a Holiday Victor Parachin

When my wife, Linda, died earlier in the year, her loss left my family and me feeling confused about how to celebrate because she was the driving energy behind our holiday gatherings.

– Neal After a long and happy marriage, my husband, whom I’d known since high school, died in October.

My grieving was intensified as I anticipated my first December without him.

– Paula The fact is that grief doesn’t take a holiday in December. While many of us are festive, those who grieve a loss often find their pain heightened during this time.

However, as many bereaved individuals can testify, it is possible to celebrate while grieving. Here are 10 tips for managing loss this month.

1. Avoid placing excessive expectations on yourself. Your energies are down as you grieve, so it may not be possible to do everything and be

everywhere. Pace yourself carefully. Give yourself permission to reduce the festivities and decline some invitations.

2. Consider all the options for celebrating. Some grieving families maintain their tradition. Others find it helpful to change things up.

Have a conversation with family members about how to best gather for the holiday. If family members live a distance away, have the “conversation” via a group email.

3. Balance family time with alone time. Because grieving is physically and emotionally draining, try to balance your time with family with some time alone.

Rest when you need to. Retiring to a quiet place, even for a few minutes, can be renewing.

4. Take care of your physical self. This means getting proper rest; eating nutritious meals, always a challenge during the holidays; and avoiding too much sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. Work in time to exercise several days a week.

5. Forgive yourself. The holidays can dredge up regrets and guilt feelings

Give someone you love the gift that entertains, informs, and inspires, month after month!

Or renew an existing subscription!

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Mail form to: 50plus LIFE, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Please start a gift subscription for: Beginning (month) _ ___________________________ Name_ _____________________________________ Street_ _____________________________________ Apt._ ______________________________________ City/State_ __________________________________ Zip_ _______________________________________ Sign card from: Your name___________________________________ Street_ _____________________________________ Apt._ ______________________________________ City/State_ __________________________________ Zip_ _______________________________________ Your phone number____________________________ Paper (or papers/$10 per edition): Expires 12/31/18 qChester qCumberland qDauphin qLancaster qLebanon qYork

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about things said or not said, things done or not done. Do all you can to let it go and forgive yourself.

6. Give yourself a break from grieving. Set aside time to read a good book, watch some movies, attend a holiday concert, get a massage, or take a yoga class or two.

Of course you need to deal with your grief, but you don’t have to focus every minute on it. Give yourself some breaks from grieving.

7. Speak your loved one’s name.

Some families try to ignore the fact of loss and grief by not talking about the deceased loved one. This is not productive.

A better approach is to speak about the person. Use his or her name. Some families report that it was helpful to take a few minutes before a meal to have members share favorite memories about the deceased.

8. Allow grief to move through you in a natural way. If you’re sad, be sad. If you find reasons to be happy (even briefly), be happy. If you need to shed tears, then cry. Don’t

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resist what is happening. Go with the ebb and flow of grief.

9. Remember that some relatives can be great resources. Because the holidays and family gatherings come together, remember that some of your extended family can be helpful.

Not every relative can handle a grieving person, while others can.

Gravitate toward the ones who understand, are supportive, and are comforting to you. Without being rude, gently distance yourself from those who just don’t get grief.

10. Buy a gift you would have given your loved one. Then, give it to a charity or someone who would truly appreciate the gift.

For example, one man had planned to buy his wife a new laptop computer. After her death in the fall, he still made the purchase and gave the laptop to a student at a community college.

Victor M. Parachin, M.Div., is a grief counselor, bereavement educator, and author of several books, including Healing Grief.

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Stop a Cold Before it Starts New research shows you can stop a cold in its tracks if you take one simple step with a new device when you ÂżUVW IHHO D FROG FRPLQJ on.

Colds start when FROG YLUXVHV JHW LQ \RXU nose. Viruses multiply fast. If you don’t stop Research: Copper stops colds if used early. them early, they spread and cause “one of the best presents ever.

This little jewel really works.� misery.

But scientists have found a Now thousands of users have simquick way to kill a virus. Touch SO\ VWRSSHG JHWWLQJ FROGV People often use CopperZap LW ZLWK FRSSHU 5HVHDUFKHUV DJUHH copper is “antimicrobial.â€? It kills SUHYHQWLYHO\ )UHTXHQW Ă€LHU .DUmicrobes, such as viruses and bac- HQ *DXFL XVHG WR JHW FROGV DIWHU FURZGHG Ă€LJKWV 7KRXJK VNHSWLteria, just by touch.

That’s why ancient Greeks and cal, she tried it several times a day (J\SWLDQV XVHG FRSSHU WR SXUL- RQ WUDYHO GD\V IRU PRQWKV ³6L[fy water and heal wounds. They WHHQ ÀLJKWV DQG QRW D VQLྡH ´ Businesswoman Rosaleen says didn’t know about viruses and when people are sick around her bacteria, but now we do.

6FLHQWLVWV VD\ WKH KLJK FRQGXF- VKH XVHV &RSSHU=DS PRUQLQJ DQG tance of copper disrupts the elec- QLJKW ³,W VDYHG PH ODVW KROLGD\V ´ trical balance in a microbe cell VKH VDLG ³7KH NLGV KDG FROGV JRLQJ URXQG DQG URXQG EXW QRW PH ´ and destroys the cell in seconds.

Some users say it also helps Tests by the Environmental 3URWHFWLRQ $JHQF\ (3$ VKRZ ZLWK VLQXVHV $WWRUQH\ 'RQQD JHUPV GLH IDVW RQ FRSSHU 6R %OLJKW KDG D GD\ VLQXV KHDGDFKH some hospitals tried copper for When her CopperZap arrived, she touch surfaces like faucets and tried it. “I am shocked!� she said. doorknobs. This cut the spread of “My head cleared, no more headMRSA and other illnesses by over DFKH QR PRUH FRQJHVWLRQ ´ Some users say copper stops half, and saved lives.

7KH VWURQJ VFLHQWLÂżF HYLGHQFH QLJKWWLPH VWXŕľśQHVV LI XVHG MXVW JDYH LQYHQWRU 'RXJ &RUQHOO DQ before bed. One man said, “Best LGHD :KHQ KH IHOW D FROG FRPLQJ sleep I’ve had in years.â€? &RSSHU PD\ HYHQ VWRS Ă€X LI on he fashioned a smooth copper SUREH DQG UXEEHG LW JHQWO\ LQ KLV XVHG HDUO\ DQG IRU GD\V /DE WHFKQLFLDQV SODFHG PLOOLRQ OLYH nose for 60 seconds. “It worked!â€? he exclaimed. Ă€X YLUXVHV RQ D &RSSHU=DS 1R YL“The cold went away complete- ruses were found alive soon after. &RSSHU HYHQ NLOOV GHDGO\ JHUPV O\ ´ ,W ZRUNHG DJDLQ HYHU\ WLPH KH IHOW D FROG FRPLQJ RQ DQG KH that have become resistant to antibiotics. If you are near sick peohasn’t had a cold since.

He asked relatives and friends SOH D PRPHQW RI KDQGOLQJ LW PD\ to try it. They said it worked for keep serious infection away. It them, too, so he patented Copper- may even save a life.

Zap™ and put it on the market.

The EPA says copper still Soon hundreds of people had works even when tarnished. It WULHG LW DQG JLYHQ IHHGEDFN 1HDU- NLOOV KXQGUHGV RI GLŕľľHUHQW GLVHDVH ly 100% said the copper stops JHUPV VR LW FDQ SUHYHQW VHULRXV RU colds if used within 3 hours after even fatal illness.

WKH ÂżUVW VLJQ (YHQ XS WR GD\V LI CopperZap is made in the U.S. WKH\ VWLOO JHW WKH FROG LW LV PLOGHU of pure copper. 90-day full money than usual and they feel better.

EDFN JXDUDQWHH ZKHQ XVHG DV GL8VHUV ZURWH WKLQJV OLNH Âł,W UHFWHG WR VWRS D FROG ,W LV VWRSSHG P\ FROG ULJKW DZD\ ´ DQG *HW Rŕľľ HDFK &RSSHU=DS ZLWK “Is it supposed to work that fast?â€? code PAFP4. and “No more colds for me!â€?

Go to www.CopperZap.com or 3DW 0F$OOLVWHU DJH UHFHLYHG call toll-free 1-888-411-6114. one for Christmas and called it Buy once, use forever. (paid advertisement)

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December 2018

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Orthopedics & Pain Dear Pharmacist

The 6 Best Foods to Eat if You Have Arthritis Suzy Cohen

If you have arthritis, you know what to expect every day when you get up in the morning: trying to find a comfortable way to sit; grocery shopping, where it’s one painful step in front of the other; or difficulty buttoning your shirt.

But wouldn’t it be nice to be flexible around the holidays? I don’t mean in terms of parties, events, and trips — I mean with your joints.

Eating certain foods reduces inflammation and pain. But first, here are three food groups you should avoid, since these harm your brain, joints, and cartilage: • Anything with artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners • GMO foods, which are so “hardy” they pierce the gut, leaching toxins into your body and poisoning your bloodstream • Pesticides (organic is better, especially if you have a PON1 gene SNP) Now, let’s look at six of the best foods to include in your diet if you have arthritis pain:

3. Garlic Garlic is good for so many healthpromoting effects in the body. It’s cancer preventative and a potent antiinflammatory food.

In one study of 1,082 twins, researchers found that those who ate the most garlic experienced the fewest symptoms from osteoarthritis.

4. Fennel Fennel has long been used as medicine, dating back to ancient Rome and Greece.

Fennel is a delicious way to spice up a salad, making it virtually cancerpreventative and helping to drastically reduce inflammation in the joints and tissues.

5. Beet Greens Dark, leafy greens, such as beet greens, are full of phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals that reduce inflammation all over the body.

Beet greens (not beets) are extremely high in vitamin K, another potent antiinflammatory. Two cups of these will deliver about 4,700 mg of potassium, which can help regulate blood pressure.

Sauté beet greens with garlic in some grass-fed butter. They wilt within a minute.

1. Organic ginger Ginger is highly anti-inflammatory.

Researchers found that ginger relieves pain in patients with osteoarthritis, helping 63 percent of participants.

Another study found that ginger can block the manufacture of inflammatory cytokines in the body. Make ginger tea or grate it into meals.

6. Spinach A 2017 study showed how kaempferol (which is found in spinach) reduces inflammation and prevents the progression of osteoarthritis, the wear-and-tear type of arthritis.

Kaempferol also decreases the effects of inflammatory cytokines associated with rheumatoid arthritis, the autoimmune form that affects bone marrow.

2. Tart cherries Like blueberries, cherries are rich in a compound called anthocyanin, which gives cherries their deep, blue-red hue.

A 2013 study found that patients who drink tart cherry juice found they improved levels of pain and stiffness from arthritis. It’s known to help with gouty arthritis too.

If you want to be more flexible, now and into the new year, think clean, green, organic, non-nitrate, natural foods as best you can. It may sound difficult, if not stifling, but if you set your mind to it, you’ll notice changes within a month.

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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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Orthopedics & Pain Advances in Treatment for Big Toe Arthritis Provide Pain Relief, Faster Recovery The big toe plays a crucial role in standing, walking, and many other daily activities. It makes it possible for humans to walk and run upright, and it absorbs forces equal to nearly twice a person’s body weight when walking.

With all that the big toe endures, it comes as no surprise that overuse can erode the joint cartilage and cause serious pain and even physical deformities.

Despite the obvious signs, big toe arthritis — which occurs when cartilage in the joints wears down and exposed bones rub against each other — is often overlooked.

Foot and ankle surgeons urge people

to pay attention to these signs early. With more treatment options and recent advancements, foot and ankle surgeons can help patients get back to doing the activities they love sooner.

According to Brett Sachs, D.P.M., a Colorado foot and ankle surgeon and fellow member of American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, big toe arthritis usually develops in adults between the ages of 40 and 60 years and is a progressive deformity that can be caused by regular wear-and-tear and sometimes even mechanical changes due to injury.

Symptoms include stiffness, loss of range of motion, swelling, and sometimes even noticeable cracking.

Individuals with mid- to end-stage arthritis

Cannabidiol and Other Treatments for Pain

By Susan Rosso, DPM

5148 East Trindle Road • Mechanicsburg

Don’t let your foot pain interrupt your daily activities.

Let us help you get back to your life.

We treat: • Bunions • Heel Pain • Hammertoes • Ankle Pain

• Achilles Tendinitis • Ingrown Nails • Flatfoot • Arthritis

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In the everyday treatment of foot and ankle pain, traditional modalities are used with good success. There is no doubt that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories or steroids—oral, injectable, and topical— can improve a majority of ailments, including tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and osteoarthritis.

The “cortisone injection” is popular because it is effective in reducing inflammation and pain.

These medications are often successfully used in combination with some change in function and with recommendations of physical therapy, shoe styles, and prefabricated or custom orthotics.

However, there is an increasing population looking for other treatments.

In some cases, the patient cannot use any type of anti-inflammatory or steroid because of an allergy, side effect, or interaction with other medications. Others simply have a personal preference for other solutions.

Cumberland Valley Foot and Ankle Specialists offers alternatives for this group of patients too.

Homeopathic medications have been used for many years as injectables, pills, and topical creams to relieve inflammation. There are no known interactions with other medications, making this a very safe alternative. I have found great success with use of Traumeel and Zeel injectables, especially in cases of Achilles tendinitis and plantar fasciitis.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is emerging as a popular treatment alternative. CBD does not contain THC, the psychoactive ingredient of marijuana, but reduces pain and inflammation through positively impacting the body’s endocannabinoid receptor activity.

CBD can be used in several forms, including pills, sublingual oil, and topical creams. We are using topical creams and sublingual oils for chronic arthritis and acute tendon injuries.

We look forward to providing treatment options that fit your comfort level. Call us at (717) 761-3161. www.50plusLifePA.com

Orthopedics & Pain tend to experience more severe pain because the cartilage has almost completely eroded, and the bones are actually rubbing together. For these cases, foot and ankle surgeons look to next-step treatments, including advancements in the area of implants.

down cartilage and uses plates and screws to hold the joint in the right position to alleviate pain.

Patients tend to fully recover in approximately six to eight weeks and usually return to all their regular activities, from walking to running marathons.

Joint implant (implant arthroplasty): This method of treatment tends to be utilized by individuals who are active and want to retain as much motion as possible.

Foot and ankle surgeons use a silicone implant that creates space between the bones, allowing for more movement than other alternatives. Patients who undergo implant surgery are usually able to walk and move the joint as early as the next day.

Newer, up-and-coming methods, including the use of synthetics and other types of implant materials, are also low risk and help patients with big toe arthritis return to their normal routine and activities.

For early-stage big toe arthritis, foot and ankle surgeons look first to conservative treatments to decrease pain in the joint, such as prescribing anti-inflammatory medication and increasing arch support with custom shoe inserts.

“The sooner patients see a foot and ankle surgeon, the better options there are to treat them,” said Sachs. “In a majority of the time, we can alleviate the symptoms and possibly slow down the progression of the disease with less invasive procedures.”

According to Suneel Basra, D.P.M., a New Jersey foot and ankle surgeon and fellow member of ACFAS, ultimately, patients should decide on the best treatment for their situation with their foot and ankle surgeon.

“There are standards and many different clinical studies that support each method,” said Basra. “But, there’s more than meets the eye, and depending on lifestyle, age, and other habits, some methods will be better than others.”

For more information on big toe arthritis and the latest treatments, or to find a local foot and ankle surgeon in your area, visit Foot Health Facts (www. foothealthfacts.org), the patient-education website of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Surgical removal (cheilectomy): To help give the toe better movement and relieve pain, foot and ankle surgeons surgically remove damaged cartilage around the joint, along with spurs or overgrowths, which may develop on top of the bone during mid-stage toe arthritis.

Patients are able to fully weight bear immediately after the procedure.

Joint fusion: Also called “arthrodesis,” this procedure removes the worn-

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9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY

Shady Maple Conference Center Smorgasbord Building 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl

May 28, 2019

20th Annual

annual maximum income limits in the PACENET program to $27,500 for a single person and to $35,500 for a married couple.

Current maximum income requirements for the PACENET program, which covers those individuals with incomes exceeding PACE maximums, are $23,500 for a single individual and $31,500 for a married couple annually.

This would be the first increase in the program since 2004.

Additionally, the bill would allow two new pharmacy-based programs to be developed under the PACE program to assist seniors in monitoring their prescription drug usage.

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DAUPHIN COUNTY

June 5, 2019

16th Annual

In late October, legislation to expand eligibility for the state’s PACENET prescription drug coverage program passed the House and Senate and is now awaiting the governor’s consideration.

House Bill 270 would increase the income eligibility guidelines for the PACENET program, extending prescription drug coverage to more than 17,000 older Pennsylvanians.

The PACE and PACENET programs provide low-cost prescription drugs to Pennsylvania seniors age 65 and older. Both programs are funded from proceeds of the Pennsylvania Lottery.

House Bill 270 would increase the

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Orthopedics & Pain Best Home Remedies for Back-Pain Relief

By Dr. Kaliq Chang With low back pain affecting 8 in 10 Americans at some point in their lives, many people wonder what their options are for treating the occasional back pain flare-up safely and effectively at home.

Fortunately, a wide variety of home-based treatments can ease the ache when your back acts up, according to Kaliq Chang, M.D., interventional pain management specialist with Atlantic Spine Center.

“Whether your back pain is caused by lifting something heavy, from bending the wrong way, or because of an ongoing issue like osteoarthritis, most back pain is mild and occasional,” Chang explains.

“For routine back pain, certain tried-and-true approaches can be done at home when you’re able, offering relief at a time that’s convenient for you.”

Home Treatments for Back Pain What remedies for back pain are accessible at home?

Pain relievers: Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), target not only back pain itself, but also the inflammation often fueling the hurt.

Check with your doctor of pharmacist about any potential drug interactions between these medications and others you may be taking.

Exercise: It may seem counterintuitive, but moving your body — within limits — actually helps ease back pain, Chang says.

“You may not feel like moving if your back aches, but your body will thank you for making the effort,” he says. “Spines are meant to move.”

Even everyday movement, such as taking a walk or making the bed, helps ease sore back muscles, and a light workout is certainly fine as long as you don’t overdo it, he says.

Stretching: Every 20 minutes or so, get up and bend lightly in various directions, carefully stretching out back muscles.

“This gentle stretching helps strains and sprains to recover gradually, keeping muscles limber,” Chang says. “Some people find back-pain relief by maintaining a regular stretching routine.”

Apply cold: Cold compresses or ice is optimal in the first 24-48 hours after a minor injury that results in back pain, Chang says.

“The cold will help dampen inflammation from developing as well as feel good,” he says. Apply cold packs in 20-minute segments.

Apply heat: Warmth (hot water bottle, heating pad) not only feels good on a sore back, but it helps relax muscles.

Heat therapy should only be used on older injuries, not right after a fresh injury, Chang notes. Again, apply in 20-minute periods.

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Physical therapy: While not strictly a home-based treatment, physical therapy often ends up continuing at home.

With a physical therapist’s advice and guidance, back-pain patients become aware of the best exercises to do at home to improve back pain and keep it away, Chang says.

If your back pain doesn’t subside after a week or so of home treatments — or becomes more severe, hurting even when you’re at rest — it’s time to call a doctor, Chang advises.

“Immediate medical attention is necessary if you have weakness or numbness in your legs or ‘saddle area’ of your crotch, or if you have trouble standing or walking,” he adds. “Forget home-based treatments at that point and seek an expert opinion.”

Prevention Starts at Home, Too Since prevention is always the best treatment, avoiding back pain can start at home as well, Chang notes. These measures can stop back pain from developing in the first place: • Watch your weight: Being overweight puts excess strain on the spine and back muscles.

• Quit smoking: Smoking ups the odds of bone problems in the spine and of suffering low back pain.

• Wear low heels: Heels higher than 1 inch can create unstable posture, increasing pressure on the lower spine.

• Pay attention to posture: Many of us slump without noticing, but this can make it harder for your back to support your weight, Chang says. Keep your back erect when walking or sitting, and don’t bend from the waist while lifting heavy objects.

• Ergonomics count: Design your desk and workspace to avoid needing to hunch forward while using your computer or reach for your mouse, Chang advises.

Use a desk chair that’s supportive of the lower back and allows you to keep your feet planted on the floor,” he adds.

• Exercise your core: Our core muscles support the lower back and abdomen, Chang says, and keeping them strong helps combat lower back pain.

“Proper posture and spine alignment is enabled by a strong core,” he says.

“Exercises, such as those in Pilates classes, help firm and tone these key muscles.”

Kaliq Chang, M.D., is an interventional pain management specialist board certified in anesthesiology at Atlantic Spine Center. www.atlanticspinecenter.com

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Dauphin County

Calendar of Events

Support Groups Free and open to the public 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 www.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 www.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 Dec. 5 and 19, 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

Dec. 6, 7-8 p.m.

Fibromyalgia Support Group LeVan Chiropractic 1000 Briarsdale Road, Suite C Harrisburg (717) 558-3500 Dec. 11, 6-7 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Greenfield Senior Living at Graysonview 150 Kempton Ave., Harrisburg (717) 561-8010 Dec. 12, 6-7 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Support Group Brookdale Harrisburg 3560 N. Progress Ave., Harrisburg (717) 671-4700 Dec. 17, 6:30 p.m.

Support Group for Families of Those with Memory-Related Illnesses Frey Village 1020 N. Union St., Middletown (717) 930-1218

Senior Center Activities Dec. 20, 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 Dec. 20, 6-8 p.m.

Harrisburg Area Parkinson’s Disease Caregiver Support Group Giant Food Stores – Second Floor 2300 Linglestown Road Harrisburg (717) 580-7772 Dec. 26, 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

Dec. 19, 2-4 p.m.

Parkinson’s Support Group The Residence of the Jewish Home – Second Floor Library 4004 Linglestown Road Harrisburg (717) 697-2513

Community Programs

Free and open to the public

Dec. 5, 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

Dec. 13, 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 centralpavietnamrt@verizon.net www.centralpavietnamroundtable.org

Dec. 6, 7 p.m.

Central Pennsylvania World War II Roundtable Meeting Grace United Methodist Church 433 E. Main St., Hummelstown If you have an event you would like to (717) 503-2862 include, please email information to charlie.centralpaww2rt@gmail.com mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration. www.centralpaww2roundtable.org Dec. 9, 4 p.m.

Cultural Series: An Irish Christmas Concert Derry Presbyterian Church 248 E. Derry Road, Hershey (717) 533-9667 www.derrypres.org

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PARKS & RECREATION Dec. 5, 7-8 p.m. – S aint Thomas Dulcimer Society in Concert, Fort Hunter Centennial Barn Dec. 8, 12:30-2:30 p.m. – Susquehanna Folk Music Jam Session, Fort Hunter Centennial Barn Dec. 16, 2-3 p.m. – Triumphant Brass in Concert, 2-3 p.m.

Friendship Senior Center – (717) 657-1547 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8-9 a.m . – Light Aerobics Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. – Mah Jong Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682 www.rutherfordcenter.org Mondays, 10 a.m. – Line Dancing Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – Art Class Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to noon – Computer Assistance Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com.

Library Programs East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, (717) 652-9380 Dec. 13 & 18, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Holiday Bell Ringing Elizabethville Area Library, 80 N. Market St., Elizabethville, (717) 362-9825 Dec. 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Friends of Elizabethville Area Library Meeting Dec. 15, 1-2 p.m. – Celebrating Holiday Traditions Johnson Memorial Library, 799 E. Center St., Millersburg, (717) 692-2658 Dec. 3, 6-7 p.m. – Estate Planning to Final Arrangements Kline Library, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, (717) 2343934 Dec. 1, noon to 4 p.m. – Game Day Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library, 2410 N. Third St., Harrisburg, (717) 232-7286 Dec. 17, 4-5 p.m. – Holiday Bell Ringing Dec. 17, 6-7 p.m. – Cookbook Book Club: All Things Citrus McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-4976 Wednesdays in December, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. – Midday Getaway Dec. 21, 6-7 p.m. – Holiday Music: Ray Holland and His Mountain Dulcimer Middletown Public Library, 20 N. Catherine St., Middletown, (717) 944-6412 Fridays in December – Science Fiction Book Club (Meets Online) Dec. 6, 6-7 p.m. – Book Club Dec. 17, 6-7 p.m. – Mystery Book Club Northern Dauphin Library, 683 Main St., Lykens, (717) 453-9315 Dec. 10, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Holiday Music: Ray Holland and His Mountain Dulcimer William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949 Dec. 8, 1-2 p.m. – Holiday Music: Ray Holland and His Mountain Dulcimer Dec. 12, 6-8 p.m. – Second Wednesday Cinema

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Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

The Market for Christmas Collectibles Lori Verderame

Many of us will be displaying our collection of Christmas collectibles — both old and new — this holiday season.

Personally, I am going to display a new holiday collectible, this Byers Choice Ltd. caroler in my likeness, which I expect will become a cherished holiday collectible for my family as time goes by.

I have many of these popular, handmade caroler figures made near my home in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Annually, they make their way onto windowsills, shelves, and holiday tables as seasonal decorations.

While this is the time to revisit Christmas collectibles, it is also the best time to sell off these items.

The values for your Christmas collectibles are high right now, and if you are a seller, you can help drive up the market prices by offering objects for sale that are seasonally themed for Christmas and in good shape.

Here are some of the popular holiday antiques and collectibles.

Since some of the most beautiful and handmade ornaments were made in that period of hand-blown glass, these ornaments are very difficult to find. So, if you discover one entangled in the garland, hold onto it. One antique ornament may be valued at $100 or more at Christmastime.

Starting your own holiday ornament collection will cost you a pretty penny. Some of the most popular ornaments are those made after World War II and represent everything from astronauts to zebras.

While seasoned collectors are looking for kugels and other glass-blown figural ornaments from Germany, new collectors are especially interested in vintage pieces made in America in the 1940s to the 1970s.

Holiday Villages Famous miniature holiday village “architectural firms,” Dr. Lori Byers Choice Caroler such as the McLoughlin Brothers and Built-Rite Toys firms,

by Byers Choice Ltd. sold miniature holiday town-and-village displays in the early 1900s. A Sears & Roebuck miniature Christmas village would have cost only 69 cents in the mid-1930s.

Ornaments Antique ornaments, produced from circa 1880 to 1940, are highly After World War II, Bachmann Brothers introduced the Plasticville line of miniature buildings to accompany model train setups. collectible.

These miniature Christmas villages command high prices today at auction and online, such as the Bliss Company village of lithographed cardboard featuring a pharmacy, opera house, bank, and post office, which sold for $16,500 recently.

That’s big money for some little cardboard houses.

Thank You, Columnists!

50plus LIFE continues to bring important information as well as entertaining articles to the 50+ community. We at On-Line Publishers would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the editorial contributors of 50plus LIFE:

Tom Blake (On Life and Love after 50)

Melinda Myers (Melinda’s Garden)

Suzy Cohen (Dear Pharmacist)

Robert Naeye (Soldier Stories)

Andrea Gross (Traveltizers)

Victor Parachin (Fragments of History, Grief Relief)

Randal C. Hill (Fifties Flashback, It Was 50 Years Ago Today)

Saralee Perel (Such is Life)

John Johnston (Social Security News)

Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser)

Bill Levine (Booming Voice)

Terri Schlichenmeyer (The Bookworm Sez)

Mark Pilarski (Deal Me In)

Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature) Nick Thomas (Tinseltown Talks) Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior)

Dr. Lori Verderame (Art and Antiques)

It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors and freelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available to read each month.

The pages of 50plus LIFE are enriched by your contributions.

Toys & Games Major board game companies, such as Milton Bradley, introduced games featuring Santa, including the seasonal favorite, The Santa Claus Game. Today, this holiday game in excellent condition is worth more at Christmastime.

When you decorate or display antique treasures during the holiday season, remember to consider pets, direct sunlight, warm fireplace hearths, and new traffic patterns made by hosting guests in your home so you retain those cherished objects in good condition for years to come.

Happy holidays.

Dr. Lori Verderame is an author, internationally syndicated columnist, Ph.D. antiques appraiser, and award-winning artifacts expert on the History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island. Dr. Lori appraises objects at her nationwide events (www.drloriv.com/ events) and on her YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/drloriv).

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Puzzle Page

CROSSWORD

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 20 SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

What Kind of Soup is That?

Across 1. Rich cake 6. Paroxysm 11. Criminal charge 14. Little green man 15. Small part 16. Hot temper 17. Euripides drama 18. Wonderland girl 19. Celestial altar 20. Dupin’s creator 21. Instant 23. Top banana 24. Part of HRH 25. Threshold

27. Lay eyes on 30. Future fish 31. Allege as fact 32. Gouda alternative 36. Cadences 40. Knights’ titles 41. Functions 43. Links pitfall 44. Church officer 46. Canvas cover 47. Snowman prop 48. Floor cleaner 50. Staggered 52. Summer camp activity

56. Detergent brand 57. Owl’s hangout 58. Jalousie part 60. Bunk 63. Needle 64. Conclude 65. French romance 67. Israeli weapon 68. Tobacco kilns 69. Like Eric the Red 70. Hanoi holiday 71. French seaport 72. La vita nuova poet

Down 1. Pack down 2. Toast topper 3. Hitchhiker’s quest 4. Golf ball prop or shirt type 5. Nail polish 6. Con game 7. Went white 8. Kind of acid 9. Pie chart part 10. Former Olympic skiing gold medalist 11. Cowboy’s rope 12. Impressive display 13. Nectar flavor

22. Words to a waitress 23. Flowering vine 24. Equestrian 26. Swindle 27. Pedestal 28. Bad to the bone 29. Rancher’s concern 33. Morse E 34. Menu words 35. Boulogne-sur-___ 37. Husk 38. Measurer 39. Hightailed it 42. Bender 45. Decay

49. Means of support 51. Gofer’s job 52. Gaming table cover 53. Comet’s path 54. Hangman’s rope 55. Blasts of air 57. Champagne designation 59. Sleeveless garment 60. Succotash ingredient 61. Dethrone 62. Arborist’s concern 64. Male swan 66. Bygone bird

Your ad could be here on this popular page!

Please call (717) 770-0140 for more information.

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Tech Talk

Emails: Fake or the Real Deal?

Mark Rinaudo

Question: I receive lots of emails on a daily basis, and some emails look like they are from legitimate companies but seem too good to be true. How do I know they’re really from that company?

Most browsers and email clients will display the real web address of that link toward the bottom of the page. The link in the email hides the actual address until you hover your mouse over it, and then it will display the address at the bottom.

The email pictured here is from FedEx, and the link’s address shows that it’s from www. fedex.com. This is a good sign that the email is legitimate.

Some links in the email could be valid, however, while others are not. It’s always a good idea to investigate links this way before clicking on them to make sure they are taking you somewhere you want to go.

The other image is an example of an email claiming to be from Target. If you hover your mouse over the link that they are eager for you to click for your $50 reward card, you’ll see you’re not going to target.com but to vhjzwv.tk, which is in Tokyo.

This should send a red flag up in your mind, and you would be better off deleting this email.

Another telling sign is the email address of the sender of the email. If the address of the sender doesn’t end with @target.com or something containing target.com, then it’s probably not from Target. This email is from someone in .tk — not from Target.

Use the clues to determine if the email is real or a fake.

Puzzles shown on page 19

Puzzle Solutions

All companies today utilize email as part of their marketing campaign. Sometimes companies send emails out providing notices about policy changes regarding your account with them. Most companies will not send emails requesting information.

If you do receive an email requesting information or stating that you need to click a link in the email to take you to their website, then you’re probably dealing with a phishing scam email.

Phishing emails are generated by robots the same way spam is generated and spread throughout the internet. These emails are fishing for information.

Move the mouse so that the cursor hovers over Most of the time they lead you to a website the link and look at the bottom left of your screen. that looks legitimate, but when you enter your This link goes to vhjzwv.tk, not target.com login and password, it doesn’t seem to know who you are.

This malicious activity is a way for your account information to be gathered and sold for money, or worse: to use your information to log in to your real account and progress the phishing game to a whole new level. The end goal is always money.

If you receive an email and you’re not sure it’s really from the legitimate company, there are things to check to determine its legitimacy.

Mark Rinaudo has been working in IT in Shreveport, La., for more than 20 If you receive an email with a link requesting that you log in to your account years. He is the owner and operator of Preferred Data Solutions. Email mark@ to review some activity, then move your mouse so that the cursor hovers over preferreddatasolutions.com to submit a question for this column. the link in the email without clicking on it.

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Savvy Senior

What You’ll Pay for Medicare in 2019 Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior, I know there will be a small 2.8 percent cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits next year, but what about Medicare? What will our Medicare Part B monthly premiums and other Medicare costs be in 2019?

– Curious Jim Dear Jim, The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services recently announced their cost adjustments for 2019, and you’ll be happy to know that the standard Medicare Part B monthly premium for most beneficiaries starting in January will be $135.50, a modest increase of just $1.50 per month over 2018’s standard premium.

There are, however, a small group of Medicare beneficiaries (about 2 million people) who will actually pay less than $135.50 because the 2.8 percent cost-ofliving increase in their Social Security checks will not be large enough to cover the full premium increase.

Thanks to the Social Security Act’s “hold harmless” provision, Medicare cannot pass along premium increases greater than the dollar increase in their Social Security checks.

In addition, there is also a small group of high-income beneficiaries (about 3 million people) who will pay higher Part B premiums because their income is above $85,000 as a single person or $170,000 as a married couple filing jointly.

Medicare uses modified adjusted gross income from your tax return from two years ago to determine your premiums, which means that 2019 Part B premiums are determined by 2017 income.

So, if your income was $85,001 to $107,000 (or $170,001 to $214,000 if filing jointly), your monthly premium will increase from $187.50 to $189.60.

Monthly premiums for singles with an income of $107,001 to $133,500

(joint filers with income of $214,001 to $267,000) will rise from $267.90 to $270.90.

And premiums for singles earning $133,501 to $160,000 ($267,001 to $320,000 for joint filers) will increase from $348.30 to $352.20.

If you had higher income than that, your monthly premium for 2018 was $428.60. In 2019, there will be an extra surcharge tier for people with the highest income.

If your income is between $160,001 and $499,999 ($320,001 to $749,999 for joint filers), you’ll pay $433.40 per month. Single filers with income of $500,000 or more ($750,000 or more for joint filers) will pay $460.50 per month.

If you fall into any of these high-income categories and you’ve experienced certain life-changing events that have reduced your income since 2017 — such as retirement, divorce, or the death of a spouse — you can contest the surcharge.

For more information about contesting or reducing the high-income surcharge, see Medicare Premiums: Rules for HigherIncome Beneficiaries at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10536.pdf.

In addition to the Part B premium increases, the annual deductible for Medicare Part B, which covers physician services and other outpatient services, will see a mild bump from $183 to $185 in 2019.

The deductible for Medicare Part A, which covers hospital services, will increase from $1,340 in 2018 to $1,364 in 2019.

For more information on all the Medicare costs for 2019, visit www. medicare.gov and click on “Find out how much Medicare costs in 2019,” or call (800) 633-4227.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

Are You Reading?

Join the 2019 One Book, One Community campaign by reading Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann.

40 libraries in Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York, and surrounding counties and their community partners present the regional reading campaign.

Read the book in January and attend free library programs and discussions throughout February and early spring!

Credit: Readers.com

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Photo credit: Michael Lionstar

Visit www.oboc.org or your library to learn more

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You’re not just a business.

You’re not just an organization.

You’re a resource.

You provide valuable services to seniors, the disabled, caregivers, and their families.

Help them find you by being included in your county’s most affordable annual directory of resources.

Dessert on the Ceiling (and Other Kooky Christmas Traditions)

By Randal C. Hill

Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.

More than 160 countries around the world celebrate Christmas. Overseas and elsewhere, some holiday traditions may seem wonderfully weird — and maybe even a bit bizarre.

For some chuckles, let’s check out the yearly happenings in:

Greenland: Folks relish holiday treats of mattak (whale skin with a strip of blubber inside) and kiviak, the raw flesh of auks (a type of Arctic bird) that has been buried whole in sealskin for seven months until it has reached a certain level of decomposition.

(Seconds, anyone?)

Slovakia: During Christmas Eve dinner, the oldest male resident tosses a spoonful of loksa pudding (a mixture of sweetened poppy seeds, bread, and water) onto the ceiling — the more that sticks, the better his crops or business will do during the next year.

Guatemala: Each neighborhood sweeps dirt into one large pile and then plants an effigy of the devil on top before setting it on fire.

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•O nline Resource Directory—Added benefit to all packages for greater exposure • Supports local agencies and promotes efficient coordination of services • Print edition distributed at hundreds of 50plus LIFE consumer pick-up sites, OLP’s 14 annual expos, and community events • Produced by a company that has been dedicated to the area’s 50+ community for more than 20 years

Sponsorships available for greatest exposure Individual full-color display ads and enhanced listings also available

Ad closing date: Jan. 11, 2019 Contact your account representative or call 717.770.0140 now to be included in this vital annual directory.

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England: The idea of kissing under the mistletoe began here. Refusing a smooch was said to bring bad luck, and one tradition required that, with each kiss, the participants pluck a berry from the mistletoe bunch.

New Zealand: Summertime Santa often appears in “jandals” (New Zealand sandals) and an All Blacks (their national rugby team) shirt. Kids leave beer and pineapple chunks for Mr. Claus and carrots for his reindeer.

Venezuela: Caracas streets close to all traffic when Christmas Eve arrives.

This is a safety measure as many city dwellers roller-skate — nobody seems to know why — to late-night Mass.

Norway: All brooms are hidden in order to keep witches from finding them and riding off into the Christmas Eve night. Men also fire their guns into the evening sky.

Japan: Since 1974 the power of persuasive American advertising has established a newer tradition: enjoying a Christmas Day feast at the nearest

Wales: Some villages in South Wales celebrate Mari Lwyd, a wassailing folk custom in which a local man parades through the streets, his identity hidden under a sackcloth while bearing a horse’s skull on the end of a stick.

Germany: Each Dec. 5, German children leave a shoe outside the house.

Well-behaved kiddies awake to find the shoe stuffed with sweets. Those behaving otherwise are likely to find a tree branch instead.

Canada: There’s an actual postal code used in Canada to send letters to the North Pole: HOHOHO. All the letters received, even those in Braille, are answered by thousands of volunteers who donate their time every year.

Czech Republic: Some folks fast on Christmas Eve in the hope that they will visualize a golden pig — a sign of good luck — appearing on a wall before dinner.

South Africa: After residents enjoy a traditional Christmas Day meal, they eagerly tuck into after-dinner treats of plump, fuzzy caterpillars that have been fried in oil.

Final thought: Doesn’t it make you wonder how some of our own Christmas traditions might seem strange to others, as well?

Randal C. Hill can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

www.50plusLifePA.com

The Beauty in Nature

Beavers and Porcupines Clyde McMillan-Gamber

Beavers and porcupines have and certain maples — with their strong much in common. These interesting teeth. They eat the twigs, buds, and species are large rodents that live in bark from those trees and use the logs Pennsylvania’s forests, as well as in and branches to make dams and lodges. woods across much of North America.

Dams back up streams and form Both have large, orange teeth they ponds. Beavers build secure homes use to consume tree bark, twigs, and of logs and limbs in the ponds, with other tough vegetation. Both are underwater entrances to their homes. fairly common in There, each pair woodlands these lives and raises days. young.

And, as with Porcupines all rodents, grow to be 3 feet their teeth grow long and up to throughout their 20 pounds. They lives, which is are solitary, except essential because when mating or of the wear those raising a single Beaver teeth sustain while young each year. gnawing bark and Each porky dens twigs. in a tree cavity But beavers or a hole in the and porcupines ground. have differences, Porcupines are too, which make famous for their them distinct white-tipped, species. Beavers black quills that live at ponds are modified hairs they create on used to protect Porcupine woodland streams these creatures. by damming those The tip of each waterways. quill is barbed, which allows it to be Porkies mostly dwell in tall trees better imbedded in an attacker. in the woods. These different niches When threatened, each porcupine reduce competition for living space and turns its back to the aggressor, lowers food between these woodland rodents. its head, raises the quills on its body Beavers have luxurious, dark-brown and tail, and swings its tail from side fur and weigh up to 50 pounds. Each to side. Few critters try to get through beaver has a 10-inch-long, 6-inch-wide, that defense! flattened, hairless tail that is covered Porcupines are also famous for their with scales. craving of salt and other minerals. They It uses its tail for steering while consume shed deer antlers for calcium swimming with its back legs, storing and other minerals. And they chew on fat, patting down mud on log-and-twig axe handles and other wooden tools left dams and lodges, and slapping water in the woods because of the salt on the surfaces to warn of danger. wood from sweaty human hands.

And its nostrils, eyes, and ears are Beavers and porcupines are big, set near the top of its head so it can interesting rodents that are part of breathe while smelling, watching, and many woods in Pennsylvania. Though listening for danger while the rest of its related, they follow different lifestyles; body is out of sight under water. this allows them to live in the same Beavers chew down young, soft trees forests with little competition for — including aspens, birches, willows, shelter and food. www.50plusLifePA.com

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This is care for generations.

Our goal is keeping the people of our communities healthy so they can live the way they want. This is why we’re continuing to innovate, and to expand and invest in the areas we serve, the conditions we treat, and the people we care for.

This is Penn State Health.

HEA-14040-19-102322-1018