Dauphin County 50plus Senior News Sept. 2011 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

Dauphin County Edition

September 2011

Vol. 13 No. 9

A Voice for Central PA’s Pets Media Personality Devotes Decades to Animal Advocacy By Megan Joyce It’s a safe bet that Bob Rudy is one of those people who doesn’t often leave his house without a little pet hair on his clothing. And he probably doesn’t mind; in fact, he likely wears the strands proudly, each a tiny, individual talisman reminding him always of the animals he’s spent the better part of his 54 years loving and working to protect. And now, he’s not alone in his mission. In 2008, Rudy married his wife, Debra Vredenburg-Rudy, a psychology professor at Millersville University and the founder of Pet Guardians, a Lancaster County-based nonprofit that finds new homes for pets of the elderly or terminally ill. Rudy is now the treasurer and a board member of Pet Guardians. Together, the couple works daily to locate foster homes and, eventually, new permanent homes for animal lovers who are ill or entering assisted living or hospice care—so that, on top of everything else on their minds, they don’t have to worry about who will care for their pets. Although his charitable work on behalf of our furry friends is now at its zenith, Rudy’s dedication to animals began decades ago and has included so much volunteer work that in 2005 he received the Jefferson Award for Public Service in York County and the March of Dimes’ Community Spirit Award in 2007. please see PETS page 18 Bob Rudy with his pack. From left, Maggie the black lab, Taj the Afghan hound, Rudy the human, Rudy the lab/pit bull mix on bench, and Maggie the Irish setter, seated in front.

Inside:

Options for Retirees Headed Back to School page 10

Dumpster or No Dumpster page 16

Landisville, PA Permit No. 3

PAID PRSRT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE

What’s new for Medicare 2012? Join us for a community forum to stay informed. October 18, 2011

October 31, 2011

November 2, 2011

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Holiday Inn Harrisburg East

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Eden Resort & Suites

4751 Lindle Road Harrisburg, PA 17111

222 Eden Road Lancaster, PA 17601

9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Holiday Inn Conference Center of York 2000 Loucks Road, York, PA 17408

• Learn about changes in coverage • Meet with multiple Medicare specialists in one location • Easy, on-site enrollment • Convenient, comfortable setting Sponsored in part by:

For more information, call 717.285.1350 or email info@onlinepub.com.

September 2011

50plus SeniorNews e

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Social Security News

If It’s Not .Gov, It’s Not Social Security When you go on a road trip, you need to follow the signs to arrive at the right place. Going online can be very much the same. Look for the “.gov” at the end of the Web address—if it isn’t .gov, it isn’t the real Social Security website, www.socialsecurity.gov.

Countless consumers nationwide are victimized each year by misleading advertisers who use “Social Security” or “Medicare” to entice the public to use their services. In many cases, these

“

By Sherra Zavitsanos

Don’t be tricked into paying a fee for a service that’s free.

companies offer Social Security services for a fee, even though the same services are available directly from Social Security, free of charge. These services include:

• updating a Social Security card to show a bride’s married name • replacing a Social Security card • getting a Social Security number for a child please see .GOV page 14

Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being. Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning Dri-Masters Carpet Dry Cleaning (717) 545-4984/(717) 258-3123 (717) 516-5004

PACE (800) 225-7223

Cleaning Services HDM Cleaning Services (717) 602-9502

Tri-County Association for the Blind (717) 238-2531

Emergency Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Dauphin County Office of Aging (717) 255-2790 Floor Coverings Gipe Floor & Wall Covering (717) 545-6103 Funeral Services Neill Funeral Home (717) 564-2633 Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home (717) 545-4001 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383 Arthritis Foundation – Central PA Chapter (717) 763-0900 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 The National Kidney Foundation (717) 757-0604 (800) 697-7007 www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Social Security Admin. (Medicare) (800) 382-1274

Healthcare Information PA Healthcare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787 Home Care Services Central Penn Nursing, Inc. (717) 361-9777 (717) 569-0451 Home Instead Senior Care (717) 540-5201 Safe Haven Quality Care (717) 238-1111 Visiting Angels (717) 652-8899 Home Improvement Dreammaker Bath & Kitchen (717) 367-9753

Housing Assistance Dauphin County Housing Authority (717) 939-9301 Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937 Insurance Apprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067 Sterling Life Insurance Inc. (888) 858-8572 Legal Services Keystone Elder Law PC (717) 691-9300 Medical Equipment & Supplies GSH Home Med Care (717) 272-2057 Memorials Romberger Memorials (717) 232-1147

Four All Seasons (717) 545-8747

Orthotics & Prosthetics The Center for Advanced Orthotics & Prosthetics (800) 676-7846

PA Home Solutions (717) 412-4675

CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com

Senior Home Repair (717) 545-8747

Rehabilitation Spring Creek Rehabilitation & Health Care Center (717) 565-7000

Housing/Apartments B’Nai B’rith Apartments (717) 232-7516

Restaurants Old Country Buffet (717) 657-6290 Retirement Communities Country Meadows of Hershey (717) 533-1880 Ecumenical Community (717) 561-9982 Services Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 255-2790 The Salvation Army Edgemont Temple Corps (717) 238-8678 Toll-Free Numbers American Lung Association (800) LUNG-USA Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555 Meals on Wheels (800) 621-6325 National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046 Social Security Office (800) 772-1213 Veterans Affairs (717) 626-1171 (800) 827-1000 Transportation CAT Share-A-Ride (717) 232-6100

Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.

50plus SeniorNews e

September 2011

My 22 Cents’ Worth

Citizenship Tests: Can You Pass One?

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

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Christianne Rupp EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT PROJECT COORDINATOR Renee Geller PRODUCTION ARTIST Janys Cuffe

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Angie McComsey Susan Miller Ranee Shaub Miller Chrissy Smolenski SALES COORDINATOR Eileen Culp

CIRCULATION PROJECT COORDINATOR Loren Gochnauer

ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGER Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

Winner

50plus SeniorNews 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.

September 2011

Walt Sonneville an you pass a citizenship test? This country’s adult population, and apparently the voting sector of that population, appears to be inadequately informed regarding our form of government and current events. A number of polls reveal astounding misinformation among the electorate. Given the complexities of our country’s history and the time required to remain current in new developments, this is understandable but not acceptable. The voting-age population that participates in the presidential general election declined from 63.1 percent in 1960 to 56.8 percent in 2008. The latter year actually was an improvement from the 2000 election, when 51.3 percent of eligible voters bothered to do so. While the percentage of registered voters who exercise their franchise is of interest, it is crucial that the voting public has a basic understanding of our country’s government, its history, and its economic policies. A representative democracy must have an informed electorate. James Madison, the father of the U.S. Constitution, made the point when he declared, “A popular government, without popular information or the means of acquiring it, is but a prologue to a farce or a tragedy.” The lowest 20 percent of income earners had a 36 percent rate of voting in 2004. The percentage increased as incomes increased until it reached the top 20 percent of income earners, at which point it declined from 67 to 63 percent. This implies that higher income earners generally have the benefit of more education, better access to information, and, perhaps, easier transportation access to the polls. The “farce and tragedy” that worried President Madison are

50plus SeniorNews e

indicated by several polls taken over the past decade. Consider the ABC News Poll taken February 2000 when respondents placed Ronald Reagan as the fifth most effective president and George Washington as the sixth. In February 2005 the Washington College Poll had elevated Reagan to the No. 2 spot after Abraham Lincoln, while George Washington fell to eighth place, immediately behind George W. Bush.

Two years later, in 2007, the Gallup Poll ranked Reagan comfortably close behind Lincoln (20 percent and 15 percent) for first and second honors. George Washington was named the seventh most effective president (7 percent). George W. Bush had fallen to ninth place (2 percent). Voters in 1948 appear to have had a better understanding of the rankings of American presidents. A Schlesinger Poll at that time named Lincoln, Washington, FDR, Woodrow Wilson, and Jefferson as our top five most effective presidents. (Of course Reagan and George W. Bush were not nominees in the poll at that time.) When Oregon’s Tom Foley, speaker of the House of Representatives (1989-1995), lost his reelection bid, 30 percent of those voting against him believed his opponent would automatically succeed to the position. (Newt Gingrich succeeded him.) According to a September 2010 Pew Research Center survey, about

25 percent of U.S. voters did not know the Democrats had a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. Michael Delli Carpini, dean of the Annenberg School for Communications, states: “Public opinion polling since the 1930s has consistently documented low levels of political knowledge among the public.” Is civics still taught in high schools? Education emphasis today is placed on improvements in reading, math, and science. Should more attention be given to the fundamentals of our multi-layers of government? Could native-born high-school graduates pass the test given to naturalized citizens? Here are typical questions asked of those seeking to become new citizens. For citizens who are seniors, these should be easily answered. 1. What do we call the first 10 amendments to the Constitution? 2. How many U.S. senators are there? 3. We elect a U.S. senator for how many years? 4. We elect a U.S. representative for how many years? 5. If both the president and vice president no longer can serve, who becomes president? 6. Who is the current chief justice of the United States? At a minimum, schools should be encouraged to offer the same citizen-preparation program given to those who wish to become citizens. Anyone should be eligible to attend upon application. Walt Sonneville is a retired marketresearch analyst. He enjoys writing and reading non-partisan opinion essays. Contact him at waltsonneville@earthlink.net.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Beyond the Battlefield

He Served as a Soldier and Sailor and Survived the Brutal Battle of the Bulge Alvin S. Goodman eon I. Lock of Mechanicsburg is a World War II veteran who served twice in the Army, as an enlisted soldier and an officer, and once in the Navy. He is a survivor of the Battle of the Bulge in the winter of 1944-45. Lock, 87, is a Harrisburg native. He attended public schools in the city and is a 1942 graduate of William Penn High School. Lock entered the Pennsylvania State College, where he studied engineering. He wanted to attend the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md., and sought the assistance of his congressman. He took all his tests and physicals at the Philadelphia Naval Hospital. Unable to be admitted to the Naval Academy, Lock enlisted in the U.S. Army after completing his freshman year at Penn State. He received basic training at Ft. McClellan, Ala., and was sent to the Army Specialized Training Program at Hope College, Holland, Mich.

participated The in the Nazis’ ASTP was last big the Army’s offensive to college stop Allied education armed forces program to from give soldiers marching courses in into engineering, Germany. medicine, For the dentistry, Americans, psychology, with 840,000 and languages. Lock in Army uniform, left, and in his Navy uniform, right. men committed Lock studied and 89,000 casualties, including 19,000 engineering there for one semester, after which he was transferred to Camp McCoy deaths, the Battle of the Bulge was the largest and bloodiest battle in the war. Wisconsin to join the 76th Infantry Division, assigned to a light maintenance When Lock departed his transport ship company. In 1944, he was ordered to in France, he was given a pack filled with France with the division and then on to a mess kit, gas mask, and helmet. He Luxembourg. carried a 1916 Enfield rifle made by the From late 1944 to early 1945, Lock English originally for World War I. Some

soldiers were issued a carbine rifle, a shorter, lighter weapon that no one liked. Others were given a “grease” gun, a .45caliber submachine gun welded together and considered the worst gun to be issued. Lock and his comrades were ill equipped for the bitter cold they had to endure. He was given no long-johns or galoshes for warmth and protection from the cold—only a field jacket. When he arrived in Luxembourg, Hitler’s final attempt to defeat the Allies had begun. The battle lasted about five weeks. During the battle, it was cold all the time, sometimes -25 degrees. Lock sewed his field blanket shut to use as a makeshift sleeping bag. Many men froze to death when they lay down in the snow to sleep or rest. Lock suffered frostbite on his hands and feet. Food consisted of food rations of pork fat, lemonade powder, a biscuit, and a “hard as a rock” candy bar. please see HE SERVED page 7

Hey ... nice legs! Care Through the Continuum of Life

Locations in Dauphin, Lancaster & York counties

4601 Devonshire Rd., Suite 100, Harrisburg, PA

1-800-676-7846

Respiratory services:

Buy a Beverage and get 1 Adult Dinner for

$6.99 Limit 2 Adult Dinners, Each Coupon Expires 9/30/11 Not valid with any other offers, dine in, single use only. Not redeemable for cash or credit. Reproduction and release prohibited.

Also Try Our Great

BREAKFAST Sat.-Sun. Until 11 a.m. $

5.49

LUNCH Mon.-Sat. Until 3:30 p.m. $

7.19

* Beverage

Bar Not Included

Short-term rehabilitation Aggressive pulmonary therapy 24-hour licensed respiratory therapy Long-term skilled nursing 24-hour licensed nursing care Alzheimer’s memory care Tracheostomy care We invite you to come see us Oxygen therapy to 10 L for yourself … tours are given daily. Wall suction Ventilator services

BiPAP/CPAP for sleep apnea Medicated treatments Short-term/permanent placement available

Harrisburg – 5083 Jonestown Road ®2010 Buffets, Inc. Menu varies by location. Beverage and tax not included. Prices available at participating locations only. Not valid with coupons or other offers. No prior discount applies to this special promotional pricing.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Nursing services:

717-565-7000

1205 South 28th Street Harrisburg, PA 17111 50plus SeniorNews e

September 2011

Dauphin County

Calendar of Events Dauphin County Department of Parks and Recreation

Senior Center Activities

Sept. 4, 10 to 11:30 a.m. – Labor-Free Bird Walk, Wildwood Park

Bistline Senior Center – (717) 564-5633

Sept. 10, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Volunteer Work Day, Wildwood Park Sept. 18, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Fort Hunter Day, Fort Hunter Mansion & Park

Edgemont Senior Center – (717) 236-2221

Dauphin County Library Programs

Friendship Senior Center – (717) 657-1547

East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, (717) 652-9380

Heinz-Menaker Senior Center – (717) 238-7860

Elizabethville Area Library, 80 N. Market St., Elizabethville, (717) 362-9825 Sept. 27, 6:30 to 8 p.m. – Friends of the Elizabethville Area Library Meeting

Highspire Area Senior Center – (717) 939-4580

Harrisburg Downtown Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-4976

Hoy/Latsha Senior Center – (717) 939-9833

Johnson Memorial Library, 799 E. Center St., Millersburg, (717) 692-2658

Hummelstown Senior Center – (717) 566-6855

Kline Branch, 530 S. 29 St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-3934 Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library, 2410 N. Third St., Harrisburg, (717) 232-7286

Jewish Community Center – (717) 236-9555

Northern Dauphin Library, 638 Main St., Lykens, (717) 453-9315

Lick Towers Senior Center – (717) 233-0388

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949 Sept. 6, 6:30 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book Club Sept. 13, 6 to 8 p.m. – AFL Friends Meeting Sept. 20, 1 p.m. – Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club

Lykens Senior Center – (717) 453-7985 Millersburg Senior Center – (717) 692-2657 Mohler Senior Center – (717) 533-2002 www.hersheyseniorcenter.com

AARP Driver Safety Programs For a Safe Driving Class near you, call toll-free (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findacourse.

Royalton Senior Center – (717) 944-4831

Sept. 7-8, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Mohler Senior Center, 25 Hope Drive, Hershey, (717) 533-2002 Sept. 24, 1 to 5 p.m. – Boscov’s – Colonial Park, Route 22 and Colonial Road, Harrisburg, (717) 540-4222 Sept. 26-27, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Manor at Oakridge, 4500 Oakridge Blvd., Harrisburg, (717) 540-5319

Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682 www.rutherfordhouse.org

Programs and Support Groups

Steelton Senior Center – (717) 939-0693

Free and open to the public. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. Free Art Classes Thrive 100 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg (717) 238-1887 or cglover@jumpstreet.org

Sept. 17, 10 a.m. Teamster 776 Retirees Club Meeting Union Hall 2552 Jefferson St., Harrisburg (717) 233-8766

Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.

If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Give Us the Scoop!

New Medicare Fraud Alert Issued Senior Medicare Patrol programs in North Carolina, Iowa, and Pennsylvania have received reports from beneficiaries who have received phone calls from companies wanting to send them a free back brace. The beneficiary simply needs to give the caller a Medicare number. When the beneficiary tries to follow up with the company, the phone number

September 2011

given for the company has been disconnected. Remember: Do not give your Medicare number to telephone solicitors, salespeople, and people you are not familiar with. Once given, Medicare can be billed time and again with your number for services you do not want and have not authorized. To report Medicare fraud, call (877) 272-8720.

50plus SeniorNews e

Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in Dauphin County! Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com

(717) 770-0140 (717) 285-1350

Let Help you get the word out!

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

HE SERVED

from page 5

Even if they occasionally received regular food, the soldiers could not cook anything since they lacked the equipment. The soldiers were given cigarettes, toilet paper, and salt tablets to take in the morning. Because drinking water was scarce, they were told not to drink water during the day. The inclement weather made supply drops and bombings almost impossible for weeks. The soldiers rarely received mail because it took a month or more for letters to travel to Europe from the United States. The men also seldom saw any officers. Near the end of the Battle of the Bulge, when his unit was preparing to invade Germany, Lock received a note from the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force sending him back to the United States. He turned in his rifle, hitched a ride on a truck to the city of Luxembourg, and slept at the U.S. Headquarters there. His pants and field jacket were torn and filthy, and he carried two bags with him. He also carried two hand grenades at all times. With no money and no official orders, and wearing his ripped and soiled uniform, he managed to travel via military and public transportation to France, England, and eventually the States. At

various depots, he would seek out the that Lock was from the Harrisburg area, mess hall to grab a bite and take extra he made arrangements for his transfer to sandwiches to eat along the way. At one the Naval Supply Depot in English depot, he was given English Mechanicsburg. trousers to replace his ripped pants. He There, the base commodore sent Lock had to wait a month in Birmingham, to Camp Peary, Va., to attend the Naval England, for a ship bound for Norfolk, Academy Preparatory School group. He Va. sat in on the classes He thought that but did not need to his return to the take any tests because United States would of his credits from enable him to enroll Penn State and his at the Naval exemplary Army Academy. His service. congressman When the base apparently had kept commodore realized his name on file for that Lock would not four years. Lock was be accepted into the Lock served as parade marshal in this year’s USNA presumably sent to the Memorial Day Parade in Mechanicsburg. Philadelphia Naval because of his age, Hospital, where he he advised Lock to learned he had lost 40 pounds in only five leave the service as he had sufficient points months. He was discharged from the for discharge. Army and joined the Navy as a Seaman Lock returned to Penn State, where he First Class. Again, he was denied received a BS degree in civil engineering in admission to the Academy and was sent to 1949. While there, he joined the Army Boston, Mass. ROTC in 1946 and was assigned to the There Lock spoke to an old boatswain U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He retired mate about applying for underwater duty. from the Army in 1957 with the rank of The Boatswain advised against such captain after 14 years of military service. hazardous SCUBA duty after surviving the Lock was president of Chelsea Auto Battle of the Bulge, and when he learned Parts Co. of Harrisburg and Costa Mesa,

Calif., and was president of the S&L Automotive Warehouse. His father had established the auto parts business in 1916. Lock is a board member and past president of the Pennsylvania Automotive Wholesalers Association and former board member of the Penn State Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering Society. He is a member of the Hampton Township Cumberland County Veterans’ Committee, which is seeking a site for a veterans memorial and is planning a golf tournament, a gun raffle, and other fundraising efforts to establish the memorial. Lock served as marshal of this year’s Memorial Day Parade in Mechanicsburg. He is an active member of the Battle of the Bulge Association, which meets for lunch the first Wednesday of each month at the Carlisle Elks. In 1951, he married Doris Tobey, who started a school in Harrisburg for children with learning disabilities. She died in 1979. Lock has three children, Laura Wallace and Andrew and Jason Eric Lock, and two grandchildren. If you are a mature veteran and have interesting or unusual experiences in your military or civilian life, phone Al Goodman at (717) 541-9889 or email him at klezmer630@comcast.net.

Through the years, all that’s changed is our ability to do even more.

For over 80 years, Rolling Green Cemetery and Neill Funeral Homes have served the Central PA area with the highest level of personal service. As a Dignity Memorial® provider, we’re pleased to offer a number of additional benefits exclusive to the Dignity network. Like our 100% Service Guarantee, that assures you of service beyond expectation before, during, and after the service. But what makes us even prouder is the way we work with each individual family, helping to create lasting memorials as unique as the loved ones they honor.

ONE-OF-A-KIND MEMORIALS | GRIEF COUNSELING BEREAVEMENT TRAVEL PROGRAM | SERVICE GUARANTEE

NEILL FUNERAL HOME, INC. Steven Wilsbach, Supervisor 3501 Derry Street Harrisburg, PA 17111 717-564-2633

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

ROLLING GREEN CEMETERY 1811 Carlisle Road Camp Hill, PA 17011 717-761-4055

50plus SeniorNews e

NEILL FUNERAL HOME, INC. Kevin Shillabeer, Supervisor 3401 Market Street Camp Hill, PA 17011 717-737-8726

September 2011

Older But Not Wiser

Change Sy Rosen got an email from a guy I hadn’t heard from since high school. About 45 years ago we were best friends— two goofballs who did everything together. I remember spending hundreds of afternoons eating Eskimo pies and debating what superpower we would want most. We decided on invisibility because then we could go into the girls’ locker room. I told you we were goofballs. Anyway, as soon as I started reading the email my smile turned into look of bewilderment. He was using terms like transcendental meditation, peace, serenity, and love. He said he now feels a spiritual connection to the universe and has devoted his life to doing good deeds. My first thought was, Man, is this guy messed up. He no longer wants to be invisible.

And then I started marveling about how much he’d changed. The thing is, I don’t think my personality has changed much since I’ve been in high school. I still hate all the cool, popular people while wishing I were one of them. I began wondering if I was the only one stagnating … if everyone else is evolving and transforming. I decided to investigate the concept of personality change and therefore had to do something I usually try to avoid— talk to my relatives. I had lunch with my cousin Arnie.

“Heck yes, I’ve changed,” he told me. “I used to be stuck in a rut in that accounting job; everything I did was very predictable. But now that I quit, I’m spontaneous, I’m creative. I act, I write, I paint. You know what that means?” “I’m paying for lunch?” I asked. “Exactly,” he replied with a laugh. I went to see my Aunt Sarah at her apartment. “Oh yes,” she said, “I’m a changed woman. When I was married to Mort I really loved him, but I did everything he wanted. Now that he’s

passed away, may God rest his soul, I live my own life and do whatever I want to do.” “What do you do?” I asked. “Mostly I think about Mort,” she answered. I went to a coffee shop with my cousin Tommy. Tommy used to weigh about 350 pounds but now, because he exercises and eats the right kinds of food (stuff that tastes like cardboard), he’s down to about 210 pounds. “You know,” he said, “I used to hate myself. I thought everybody was laughing at me. And I was afraid to talk to people, especially girls. Now, I like myself and I’m not scared to ask a woman out. I’ve definitely changed.” He then asked the waitress out and she turned him down. He was still proud of himself for trying. I spoke to a few more of my relatives

When

I am home

ALONE

September 27, 2011 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. York Expo Center Memorial Hall–East, 334 Carlisle Avenue, York

I feel safe. I am protected. I have Life Alert .

help

October 25, 2011

One touch of a button sends quickly in the event of a medical emergency, fall, home invasion, ﬁre or carbon monoxide poisoning.

9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

New!

Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street, Carlisle

Now we have two systems available:

Your choice of help buttons

• Life Alert Classic for seniors • Life Alert 50+ for people 50+

November 8, 2011 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Lancaster Host Resort

For a FREE brochure call:

,¶YH IDO Q

September 2011

1-888-445-1693 50plus SeniorNews e

NEW: a Caregivers Forum

2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster Brought to you by:

Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available 717.285.1350 | 717.770.0140 |

50plusExpoPA.com

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

and they all thought they had changed in some way, becoming more adventurous … calmer … wiser … more optimistic … or more loving. This, of course, depressed the heck out of me, and I went to talk to my friend Larry about it. “I think I’m the only person in the world who hasn’t changed since high school,” I complained. Larry said that he’s pretty sure I’ve changed and grown. “Really?” I asked. “Oh yeah, you used to be a totally

self-absorbed jerk.” “Thanks,” I said. “But now look at you; you’re thinking about other people … what they’re going through … how they’ve changed.” I thanked Larry for his nice words and then spent the next three days thinking about how I was no longer self-absorbed. I then realized that if I’m thinking about not being selfabsorbed, I probably am self-absorbed. And I thought about that for another three days.

In Remembrance

When you patronize our advertisers, please let them know you saw their ad in

2001-2011

10%

Senior Discount on materials only

Sheet Vinyl • Floor Tile Carpet • Ceramic Tile Hardwood Flooring 5435 Jonestown Rd. Harrisburg

FLOOR & WALL COVERING

545-6103

GipeFloorAndWallcovering.com PA009846

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Harrisburg

Lancaster

361-9777

569-0451 50plus SeniorNews e

September 2011

Savvy Senior

Options for Retirees Headed Back to School Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Are there any financial resources available to retirees who are interested in going back to college? Since I retired, I’ve been thinking about going back to school to study some topics of interest to me, but, living on a fixed income, I could use some financial help. – College-Bound Senior Dear Senior, There are actually numerous discounts, tuition waivers, tax credits, and other deals that can help boomers and seniors go back to school. Here are some of the opportunities available. Lifelong Learning One continuing education option in the Central Pennsylvania area is the Pathways Institute for Lifelong Learning, which offers mental, cultural, and spiritual activities for anyone 55 and

older through various retirement communities in the region. These courses are open to the public, so you do not need to be a resident to participate. In addition to being a great example of learning for the pleasure of it, Pathways’ noncredit courses are often taught by seniors who are experts in their particular field. Topics include literature, religion, computers, hobbies/crafts, politics, music, environment, current issues, and culture.

The Adventure

Begins

For more information on Pathways programs, visit www.thepathways institute.org, email pathwayinquiry@the pathwaysinstitute.org, or call (717) 5917213. Another popular and inexpensive option for retirees is Lifelong Learning Institutes (LLIs). These are noncredit educational programs that involve no tests or grades, just learning for the pure joy of it. They are programs specifically developed for adults aged 50 and older. Usually affiliated with colleges and

WORRY~FREE SHOWERING TUB-TO-SHOWER CONVERSIONS

Harrisburg Region • Trains in the Valley • Learning from C.S. Lewis • Three Days in the Everglades • Digital Photography • Exploring Aging in Art • Astronomy & the Sun

universities, LLIs offer a wide array of academic courses in such areas as literature, history, religion, philosophy, science, art and architecture, economics, finance, computers, lifestyle issues, and more. To find an LLI, call your closest college or search the websites of the two organizations that support and facilitate them: Osher (www.osher.net) and Elderhostel (www.roadscholar.org/ein/ intro.asp). Together they support more than 500 LLI programs nationwide. If you don’t find an LLI in your area, depending on where you live, there are other organizations that offer non-credit older adult education courses like Oasis (oasisnet.org, (314) 862-2933), Shepherd’s Centers of America (shepherdcenters.org, (816) 960-2022), and SeniorNet (seniornet.org, (571) 2037100), which offers computer courses at learning centers around the country.

• • • •

Easy Step Entry Bench Seat Safety Grab Bars Lifetime Warranty

and much more! Lancaster County • • • • With nearly 100 learning opportunities in South Central PA for students 55+, there is something for every curious mind! The adventure begins in September. Register for a course or become a member today.

ThePathwaysInstitute.org • (717) 591-7213 Harrisburg Region Offered by

The Other Anabaptists Music & the Brain DNA is Family Fare Operation Passage to Freedom • The Golden Age of Hollywood

and much more! York & Adams Region • Self-Publish Your Book • Decorative Painting • The Other Side of Normandy • Dar al Islam • Contemporary Issues

20% OFF

250 Sheetz Gas Card

Offer expires 10/31/11. Not valid with other offers or on prior purchases.

PA0707823

and much more!

Lancaster County Offered by

York & Adams Region Offered by

Local, Trusted Company Owned & Operated in Central PA

September 2011

SENIOR DISCOUNTS AVAILABLE

Plus Free Safety Package

50plus SeniorNews e

1-877-648-BATH (2284) www.PaBathSolutions.com www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Also, be sure to contact your local public library to see if it offers any programs for seniors. Back to School More and more retirees are also heading back to the classroom, looking to pursue their interests, connect with other people, or retool for a new career. But with the high cost of college these days, paying for tuition, fees. and books can be a big strain for many older adults living on a fixed income. Here are some tips that can help you save. Discounted Tuition Your first step is to contact your nearby college to find out what, if any, deals they offer. Many community colleges and some four-year colleges, for example, allow people over 50 to audit classes for free and many offer significantly discounted tuition rates for those who take them for credit. In fact, according to Fastweb, a college financial aid resource, 21 states and Washington, D.C., offer free tuition for senior citizens at some or all of their public colleges. (Textbook costs and sometimes fees are not covered, however.) Credits and Deductions Uncle Sam can offer some assistance too in the form of tax credits and

deductions. For credits, check out the Lifetime Learning tax credit that allows students of any age to claim up to a $2,000 credit each year for college or other post-secondary school expenses. And the American Opportunity credit allows an annual tax credit up to $2,500. The government also provides tuition and fees deductions for students that can cover up to $4,000 in expenses. But, you can choose only one of these three tax breaks: Lifetime Learning credit, American Opportunity credit, or the tuition and fees deduction. To learn more about these benefits, visit the IRS’s Tax Benefits for Education Information Center, which you can access at TaxBenefitsForEducation.info.

“Providing quality care you can depend on at prices you can afford.” Providing skilled nursing & non-medical in-home support

Friendly faces, helping hands, warm hearts. That’s what we at Safe Haven bring to our clients.

24/7/365

Scholarships

Skilled Nursing • Personal Care • Homemaking Respite Care • Errands • Chores • Companionship ~ Free Consultations ~

While most scholarships are aimed at traditional undergraduates, there are a number of scholarships offered specifically to adult and nontraditional students. Two good websites to help you find them are fastweb.com and scholarships.com, both of which offer huge scholarship databases and easy-touse search tools.

Safe Haven Skilled Services LLC Safe Haven Quality Care LLC Serving Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties

Caregivers are supervised, licensed, bonded & insured

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org.

phone:

717-582-9977

www.safehavenqualitycare.com

“The Stain Removal Experts” We Dry Clean Your Carpets!! Serving all of Central PA

I told Grandmom to call Dri-Masters!

Fully insured • Prices guaranteed Safe for children and pets Eliminates mildew Non-toxic/Non-allergenic Carpets dry in about one hour Recommended by carpet manufacturers worldwide

Same-day se rvice when available

Harrisburg

Carlisle

717-545-4984

717-258-3123

West Shore

Toll-Free

717-516-5004 1-800-897-4032

Satisfaction guaranteed • We move your furniture • We do repairs • Water removal

Ad ditional

5%ponOraFteFs coup for seniors!

.95 69 2 Rooms and

Only

.95 79 3 Rooms and

Only

.95 99 4 Rooms and

Only

.95 1 19 5 Rooms and

Only

FREE HALLWAY

1-800-897-4032

With this coupon. Not valid with other offers. 3 room minimum. Max 200 sq. ft. per room. L-shaped rooms count as 2 rooms. Expires 10/15/11.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

50plus SeniorNews e

Only

79.95

Upholstery Cleaning Standard Sofa (3 cushions) & one chair

1-800-897-4032 With this coupon. Not valid with other offers. 3 room minimum. Max 200 sq. ft. per room. L-shaped rooms count as 2 rooms. Expires 10/15/11.

September 2011

A Legacy of Service Funerals • Cremation • Pre-Planning Ask about our: Sunset Funeral Plan - $3825.00 Complete Value Funeral Plan - $4425.00 Complete Value Funeral/Cremation Plan - $4425.00 Dale A. Auer, Supervisor 4100 Jonestown Road • Harrisburg, PA 17109

(717) 545-4001

Full Bath Remodel for Only $13,000* Designs to give value and fit your budget Touching up a room or giving it a whole new look, we have everything you need to remodel your home. We are Certified Aging in Place Specialists (CAPS) with a full line of products to give full-access comfort in your home. We are a “Certified Renovator” for lead paint clean up. Call or Visit Us Today!

717.367.9753

244 South Market Street • Elizabethtown, PA 17022

www.dreammaker-etown.com

#PA001625

Smile of the Month

This month’s smile belongs to Vincent, who is happily “chillin’ with the cats” at his grandmother’s house. Send us your favorite smile—your children, grandchildren, friends, even your “smiling” pet!—and it could be 50plus Senior News’ next Smile of the Month! You can submit your photos (with captions) either digitally to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or by mail to:

50plus Senior News Smile of the Month 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Digital photos must be at least 4x6'' with a resolution of 300 dpi. No professional photos, please. Please include a SASE if you would like to have your photo returned.

September 2011

50plus SeniorNews e

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Nicoise Salad By Pat Sinclair Nicoise salad comes from the south of France, near Nice, and typically includes tuna, tomatoes, green beans, garlic, and anchovies. Feel free to add some anchovies to the dish if you like. The end of summer is probably the best time to prepare the dish with juicy local tomatoes and snappy green beans. I prefer tuna packed in oil for this dish because it has the most flavor, but you can substitute tuna packed in water or slices of grilled fresh tuna. Embellish it with oil-cured olives, capers, and lemon wedges. The potatoes and green beans are also a great side dish for any meal.

All the winners from six years of PA STATE SENIOR IDOL will come together for an evening of astounding entertainment!

Makes 2 servings 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 1 teaspoon country-style Dijon mustard 1 clove garlic, minced 1/2 teaspoon sugar 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil 4 medium red potatoes, (about 8 ounces) 1/4 teaspoon coarse salt 1/2 pound fresh green beans, cooked 1 tablespoon chopped red onion 2 hard-cooked eggs, cut into wedges 1 ripe tomato, cut into wedges 1 can (6 1/2 ounces) tuna packed in oil, drained and flaked Combine the vinegar, Dijon mustard, garlic, sugar, and salt in a jar with a tight-fitting lid. Shake until the sugar is dissolved. Add olive oil and shake to blend. Scrub the potatoes and cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Place the slices in a small saucepan and cover with water and season with 1/4 teaspoon salt. Bring the water to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to low and simmer potatoes 6 to 8 minutes or until fork tender. Drain well. Place the warm potatoes, green beans, and onion in a medium bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of dressing and toss to mix. Serve warm or refrigerate until serving. Arrange the hard-cooked eggs, tomato wedges, tuna, and potatoes on a serving dish. Garnish with lemon slices and serve with remaining dressing. Kalamata olives are also a colorful garnish.

Monday, Sept. 19, 2011 5:30 p.m. – Dinner; 7 p.m. – Show Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster, PA

Dinner & Performance: $43 Adults; $32 Children 18 & Under

Performance Only: $28 (Limited Number Available)

Reserve your seats now before they’re sold out!

Cook’s Note: Select green beans that are free of blemishes and browning and snap when broken. Snap off the stem ends and cook them whole or cut into smaller pieces. For tender, crisp beans, cook them in salted, boiling water about 4 minutes. Test a bean and cook a little longer if needed. To maintain a bright green color, don’t overcook. Pat Sinclair announced the publication of her second cookbook, Scandinavian Classic Baking (Pelican Publishing), in February 2011. This book has a color photo of every recipe. Her first cookbook, Baking Basics and Beyond (Surrey Books), won the 2007 Cordon d’Or from the Culinary Arts Academy. Contact her at http://PatCooksandBakes.blogspot.com

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Please join us as the “best of the best” step into the spotlight to not only showcase their individual talents once again, but to also join together for blended musical renditions. Previous performances can be viewed at www.SeniorIdolPA.com! These gifted Pennsylvanians will deliver an evening of exceptional talent! Come, share the fun! To reserve your seats, call the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre at (717) 898-1900 now. 50plus SeniorNews e

September 2011

Register Today for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s Today, 78 million baby boomers are approaching the age of greatest risk of Alzheimer’s. In 2011, there are an estimated 5.4 million people living with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States. This includes 5.2 million people age 65 and over and 200,000 people under age 65 with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease. Every 69 seconds, someone is diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Currently, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s and no

treatment available to improve the quality of life for those affected by this debilitating disease. The Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Pennsylvania Chapter’s Walk to End Alzheimer’s is its signature event, attended by nearly 7,000 people across the 21 walks hosted in the 59-county territory served by the chapter. The goal is to expand the funds raised to meet the ever-increasing demand for chapter services and support.

But it can’t be done without your help! Take a stand. Make a difference: Come out to one of the Walks to End Alzheimer’s listed below: Saturday, Sept. 10 Harrisburg, City Island Registration at 8 a.m. Walk at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 17 York, Morgan-Cousler Park Registration at 10 a.m. Walk at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 24 Lancaster, Long’s Park Registration at 9 a.m. Walk at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 8 Chambersburg, Providence Place Registration at 10 a.m. Walk at 11 a.m.

September 10, 2011 City Island, Harrisburg Registration at 8 a.m. • Walk at 9 a.m.

September 17, 2011 Morgan Cousler Park, York Registration at 10 a.m. • Walk at 11 a.m.

September 24, 2011

Register now by calling (717) 6515020 or emailing tiffani.chambers@alz.org. The Alzheimer’s Association – Greater Pennsylvania Chapter provides a broad array of programs and resources to individuals, families, and health professionals in 59 of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. Within this area, there are an estimated 250,000 individuals with Alzheimer’s or a related dementia. In fiscal 2010, the chapter conducted 619 education programs attended by 12,116 individuals. There are 187 chapter support groups that meet monthly to

provide valuable answers and caregiving techniques to family members. The chapter also offers the Medic Alert + Safe Return training and enrollment program to register individuals with dementia who may wander and to train public service officials who assist in locating them. Proceeds from the Walk to End Alzheimer’s support these valuable services as well as funding research aimed at finding treatments and a cure for this disease. Your support ensures that those who are directly affected by dementia, as well as those who struggle with seeing their loved ones suffer, are able to find the compassion, education, and continued assistance they need from the chapter. The chapter also advocates for expanded services and eligibility for families affected by Alzheimer’s at the federal, state, and local levels. If you have any questions or concerns, please call (717) 651-5020. To register, go to www.alz.org/walk and type in your zip code to register for a walk near you. Alzheimer’s Association Greater Pennsylvania Chapter 3544 N. Progress Ave., Suite 205 Harrisburg, PA 17110 (717) 651-5020 (717) 651-5066 (Fax) (800) 272-3900 (Helpline)

Long’s Park, Lancaster Registration at 9 a.m. • Walk at 10 a.m. Registration brochures, team packets and sponsorship packets available, please call (717) 651-5020 or email tiffani.chambers@alz.org • Easy online registration at http://www.alz.org/walk • Volunteer opportunities available. • Teams and individuals welcome.

Chapter Sponsors Tiffani Chambers, Constituent Relations Manager Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 tiffani.chambers@alz.org Alzheimer’s Association 3544 N. Progress Avenue, Suite 205 • Harrisburg, PA 17110

September 2011

50plus SeniorNews e

.GOV

from page 3

These for-profit businesses may cleverly design their websites, so when people use Internet search engines, their advertisement pops up. They may even make their advertisement look similar to the real Social Security website. And some of these sites, at first glance, appear to be affiliated with Social Security. But upon closer examination, these are for-profit companies charging individuals for a service that is provided free by Social Security. For instance, a quick Google search on “replacing a Social Security card” brings up paid advertisements for websites that charge a fee just to get an application for a new card. That service is absolutely free from Social Security. The law that deals specifically with misleading Social Security and Medicare advertising prohibits people or nongovernment organizations, like for-

profit businesses, from using words or emblems that mislead others. Their advertising cannot lead people to believe that they represent or are somehow affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by Social Security or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (Medicare). But that doesn’t stop advertisers from trying. For more information, you can read our publication What You Need to Know about Misleading Advertising at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10005.html. When you go to www.socialsecurity .gov, make sure you look for the “.gov” sign along the way. Don’t be tricked into paying a fee for a service that’s free. And remember: If it isn’t .gov, it isn’t Social Security. Sherra Zavitsanos is the Social Security public affairs specialist in Harrisburg.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Number of Children Living with a Grandparent Has Increased In 2009, 7.8 million children lived with at least one grandparent, a 64 percent increase since 1991, when 4.7 million children lived with a grandparent, according to a new report from the U.S. Census Bureau. Among children living with a grandparent, 76 percent also were living with at least one parent in 2009, not statistically different from the 77 percent who lived with at least one parent in 1991. These statistics come from the household relationship module of the Survey of Income and Program Participation collected in 2009 and published in the report Living Arrangements of Children: 2009. In 1991, 5 percent of white, 15 percent of black, and 12 percent of

Hispanic children lived with at least one grandparent. By 2009, 9 percent of white, 17 percent of black, and 14 percent of Hispanic children lived with at least one grandparent, a significant change for white children but not for black or Hispanic children. Many children who do not live with a parent live with a grandparent. More than half of the children living with no parents were living with grandparents. Percentages for black children (64 percent) and nonHispanic white children (55 percent) did not differ from Hispanic children (61 percent), but the percentage of Asian children living with no parents who lived with grandparents was lower, at 35 percent.

National Grandparents Day

Sept. 11, 2011

The Middletown Home A Continuing Care Retirement Community Courtyard Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Crescent View Personal Care West View Terrace Apartments • • • • • •

Skilled Nursing Personal Care and Apartments Respite and Vacation Stays Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy Pet Visitation Computer and Wii Availability

(717) 944-3351 • www.middletownhome.org 999 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057

Braintwisters 1. What year was Rembrandt born? A. 1556 B. 1606 C. 1656 D. 1706 2. At what university was Rembrandt educated? A. Webster B. Leyden C. Cambridge D. Vrije

Harrisburg’s Oldies Channel! • Breakfast with Ben Barber and News with Dennis Edwards • John Tesh with Music and Intelligence for Your Workday • Bruce Collier & The Drive Home

3. What was the name of Rembrandt’s first wife? A. Helena B. Franceska C. Hendrickje D. Saskia 4. Rembrandt was the chief painter of what school? A. Italian School B. Dutch School C. Neoclassical School D. Pre-Raphaelite School 5. Rembrandt moved to what city in 1631? A. Amsterdam B. Rotterdam C. Maastricht D. Rome

• Mike Huckabee Three Times Daily

Online 24/7 at whylradio.com

WE PLAY OVER 1500 GREAT SONGS! www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Source: www.usefultrivia.com

This month’s answers on page 18

50plus SeniorNews e

September 2011

Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori

Baby boomers and seniors – the largest buying group in America.

Dumpster or No Dumpster Dr. Lori

Dual Marketing

Online

onlinepub.com

In Print

50plus Resource Directory — it’s the “yellow pages” for boomers and seniors in Dauphin County. Target your market with display ads and descriptive listings.

Reserve your ad or listing by Dec. 2

We have a wide array of promotional products that can be personalized with your company’s name and logo. Whether you’re looking for something to present to an associate or client or to use as giveaways, there are thousands of items from which to choose. From traditional to contemporary products, we can help you select something that says “Thank you,” “We appreciate your business,” “Job well done,” or “Remember me!” • Great Prices • Design Work • Convenient, Quick Turnaround • Custom Orders • Delivery to Your Location

OLP Products A Division of On-Line Publishers, Inc. Call for more information: 717.285.1350

www.OLPproducts.com • info@OLPproducts.com

Display Ad Sample

Flooring

LE P M SA

Heating & Cooling Specialists 1984 Coldwater Lane My Town, PA 17611 (717) 555-1313 (717) 555-1414 – Fax www.heatingandcoolingsp.com

We keep your heating and cooling system running in peak performance so your home is comfortable and energy-efficient ... saving you money. See Our Ad On Page 23

20-Word Descriptive Listing Sample

Resource

Directory

(the “yellow pages” for boomers and seniors) draws online traffic while still reaching the many baby boomers and seniors who continue to rely on printed material.

Online and in print. All at an affordable price to you ... priceless to consumers! If you’re an organization or business that offers a product or service relevant to baby boomers and seniors, call now to be included in the annual 50plus Resource Directory.

717.770.0140 • 717.285.1350 info@onlinepub.com • onlinepub.com 16

September 2011

50plus SeniorNews e

y antiques quiz game, You know that you should keep the Dumpster or No Dumpster™, lunchbox featuring Ritchie, the Fonz, and has become a mainstay for fans the rest of the Happy Days gang. They who play along at regularly sell online for a couple of www.Facebook.com/DoctorLori during hundred dollars in good condition. You’ll my TV appearances and at my antiques get a few more dollars for it if you sell appraisal events presented nationwide. yours around the time that the school I developed the game years ago so folks buses return to your neighborhood in can enjoy playing as they learn which early September. objects to trash and which they should So, what about the other back-totreasure. Remember, cleaning is not the school items? Remember that I made this same as trashing. While you will get rid of game easy on you. You only have to deal stuff by simply throwing it away, you may with a few items. Imagine how hard it is be liquidating some real to make these decisions money in the process. when you have an entire Typically, when you clean house filled with stuff to out a house, you have no sort through. That’s why idea what certain items people ask for my help are, their age, or their and get an appraisal from value. me first. Deciding what to If you are faced with do without any expert the decision of what to do help can really cost you! with the following items As you make decisions, relating to the back-toyou are pretty sure that school season, which you can throw away the objects should you throw child’s chalkboard and the away and which objects high-school yearbook. The should you keep? From chalkboard is in bad shape A Winnie the Pooh book and the list below, is it a so it can go. You are right! other examples of children’s In good shape, these sell “Dumpster” or a “no literature command big bucks. for $45 to $75. But, Dumpster” item? condition is directly 1. An original, not a first-edition, copy related to an object’s value and yours is in of a Winnie the Pooh book sorry shape. It’s a Dumpster piece. 2. A circa 1970s Happy Days television And, as you stand in the basement show lunchbox holding an old high-school yearbook, you 3. A small, easel-style chalk blackboard think, Wasn’t it silly that Mom kept this that is moldy from being stored in the around all these years? So, you don’t really basement since the 1950s have a sentimental attachment to it 4. Your high-school yearbook from anymore and you figure that it is a 1968 Dumpster item. One thing to remember about old Many people make the mistake of yearbooks: The only time that your highthinking that old books are worthless school yearbook might be of interest to unless you own a first-edition copy. Of buyers is if you share the pages with a course, first editions are highly sought celebrity. If you had home economics or after, but it is also true that later editions physical education class with Madonna, of favorite books are highly regarded. Julia Roberts, or the Prince of Monaco, it For example, children’s literature that is could be valuable. Otherwise, you can either antique (more than 100 years old) dump it! or vintage (less than 100 years old) is Keep playing Dumpster or No quite valuable. When it comes to the big Dumpster with me and find out what names in children’s literature or beloved your stuff is really worth! characters like Winnie the Pooh, the Velveteen Rabbit, or Curious George, Note: Dr. Lori will be hosting two free don’t be quick to dump it! antiques appraisal events in Pennsylvania

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

this fall: at the Laurel Mall in Hazelton on Sept. 17 and at the Suburban Fall Home Show at the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center in Oaks on Oct. 22 and 23. For information, call (888) 4311010 or www.DrLoriV.com.

Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and awardwinning TV personality, Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events nationwide and appears on the Fine Living Network and on TV’s Daytime. Visit www.DrLoriV.com or call (888) 431-1010.

Clarification

By Myles Mellor and Sally York

Photo: Kem Lee

The July 2011 article “How to Stop Junk Mail” by Jim Miller advised readers to contact the consumer credit reporting industry opt-out service to reduce unwanted mail. Thank you to readers who expressed concern over needing to give their Social Security number to this service to be removed from mailing lists. While it is generally true that personal information should not be given out, the opt-out service has been checked out and is legitimate. These industries identify consumers by Social Security number and use date of birth to verify the Social Security number; therefore, this information is needed to be removed from the lists. However, if readers are uncomfortable giving this information—then please do not do so.

Kathryn Stockett

One Book, One Community is a program through the public library systems in Central Pennsylvania designed to encourage dialogue about a particular book, foster lifelong learning, and develop strong community ties. The Help by Kathryn Stockett is this year’s selection. Readers in Central PA will read the book throughout September, with special events and group discussions to follow in October at your local library.

A great place to call home — or the care needed to remain at home. Will they think of you?

Call now to reserve your space! Closing date: Oct. 14, 2011 • Active adult and residential living • Independent and retirement living communities • Assisted living residences and personal care homes • Nursing and healthcare services • Home care, companions, and hospice care providers • Ancillary services

In print. Online at onlinepub.com. To include your community or service in the 2012 edition or for a copy of the 2011 edition, call your representative or (717) 285-1350 or email info@onlinepub.com www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Across 1. Like some columns 5. Strike 9. Cheerless 13. Paella pot 14. Maintain 15. Not fine 16. Acquisition method 19. Ones at the helm 20. “You don’t say!” 21. “___ time” 22. Old Icelandic literary work 23. Snubbing Down 1. Cries at fireworks 2. Map 3. Further 4. Watch feature, perhaps 5. Fourth letter of Hebrew alphabet 6. Exceedingly 7. “___ go!” 8. Bygone political cause 9. Tree type 10. **** review 11. Sheltered 12. Maryland stadium

31. West Indian folk magic 32. Catch 33. Farm call 34. Fabric 35. Acadia National Park locale 37. Bakery buy 38. Extreme suffix 39. Foofaraw 40. Ism 41. Eluding an officer 45. Feeder filler

46. 47. 50. 55. 57.

15. 17. 18. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 35.

39. Aggravation 40. Harsh Athenian lawgiver 42. King Mark’s bride 43. January’s birthstone 44. Old calculator 47. Does something 48. Dirty coat 49. Cut down 50. Coconut fiber 51. African antelope 52. Plaything 53. Capital near the 60th parallel 54. Adult-in-waiting? 56. U.N. workers’ group

Gregor Johann ___ Dander Certain federal tax Distinctive flair Show fear Having a lot to lose? Boxing blows Not dis Kind of jack Candidate’s concern Standards Reached Unaccompanied compositions 36. Passage 37. Lookout point

58. 59. 60. 61. 62.

Legal org. Catalog Eccentric Kamikaze run? X-Men villain, and namesakes Place Big name in pineapples Eyelid woe Leavings Abreast of

Solution on page 19

50plus SeniorNews e

September 2011

PETS

from page 1

With three college degrees to his name (an associate degree in police science; a bachelor’s in humanities/communications; and a master’s in education/training and development), Rudy has worked in radio and television for almost 30 years. But as is so often the case, his projected career path began elsewhere: with a goal to become a Pennsylvania state trooper after high-school graduation. “I’ve always had a heartfelt desire to help others,” Rudy said, adding that it is “just as well” that his policeman path didn’t pan out. “I would have probably spent more time helping stranded motorists change tires than writing speeding tickets.” His radio work started in the early 1980s and included stints at more than a dozen Pennsylvania radio stations, including, locally, WYCR and WSOX. Over the years, Rudy found ways to fuse his expertise as a communications professional with his passion for animal welfare, beginning with the Helen O. Krause Animal Foundation in Mechanicsburg. Rudy used his trained voice and honed people skills to host many of their fundraising Pet Walks as well as several other events for the organization. Rudy has also hosted numerous events for the York County SPCA, serving on their board of directors, as host of their holiday auction, and, beginning in 2000, as the host of Meet the Pets, a television show aimed at finding homes for pets at the shelter. “Nearly everyone I would run into would say, ‘How can you do that show every week and not want to take all those animals home with you?’” he recalled. “Well, I knew I couldn’t save them all, so I did my best to convince others to adopt them.”

In early 2001, Rudy had his first was put in touch with a family who had experience serving as an animal foster just had a litter of Afghan puppies. His parent when the executive director of the new dog was a blond male Afghan with SPCA asked him to take in Sheena, a AKC papers, so Rudy had to choose an Saluki whose owner unexpectedly ended AKC name to register the dog. up in intensive care. “I picked my dog’s AKC name, While Sheena’s owner was in the ‘Magic Carpet Ride,’ [after] one of my hospital, Rudy managed to “sneak” the favorite songs by Steppenwolf,” he said. dog up the back stairs to visit her ailing “After all, an Afghan hound lying down companion, much to the owner’s delight. does resemble a big rug!” Sadly, the owner passed away later that And it was a listener to Rudy’s year, and Rudy agreed to adopt Sheena morning show on Oldies 96.1 who until she herself passed two years later. called in with her idea for the new dog’s By that time, Rudy had already been exotic-sounding name: Taj. owned by several dogs In January 2004, in his lifetime, Rudy’s life took a beginning with a dramatic change I knew I couldn’t beagle named Trixie while hosting Meet during elementary the Pets when a save them all, so I school and Tina, a “crazy red Irish did my best to Chihuahua/terrier mix Setter came in high school. When bouncing into the convince others to he moved out on his video studio at the adopt them. own, Rudy adopted shelter,” said Rudy. Smokey, an Afghan “Maggie … was so mix, from the full of life that I Humane Society. could hardly hang onto her. As soon as Afghan hounds, an unusual breed we were done taping the segment, I ran with their long, thick hair, had always up to [the executive director]’s office and held a special place in Rudy’s heart, ever said, ‘I want to take that dog home!’” since his grandfather, a state forest fire It was during his nine years as half of warden, saved a kennel full of dogs in the “morning drive” team of “Mad Dog danger of being consumed by a forest and Rudy” on WSOX that Rudy decided fire. The kennel owner had given his to throw himself even deeper into grandfather Wendy, a Westminster Dog community service. Show award-winning Afghan, as a token “I volunteered to host just about of his gratitude. everything I could, helping every A few years later, a purebred Afghan, organization imaginable, which Ashley, joined Smokey in the Rudy eventually led to my being presented household. Six months later, Abby, with the Jefferson Award,” Rudy said. another Afghan, entered the canine mix. He was also the public service director Ashley and Abby passed away within at WSOX and host of a Sunday-morning three years of one another and, show called Music and the Message, heartbroken, Rudy wasn’t sure he could during which he interviewed people ever own another dog. But while hosting from the nonprofit community to help events for the York County SPCA, Rudy spread the word about their efforts. Knowing of Rudy’s love for animals, a listener contacted him about Pet Guardians. Rudy invited the founder and president, Debra Vredenburg, onto his show … and the rest, as they say, is history. “On May 31, 2008, Debra and I got married and began our mission together to save as many animals as possible,” said Rudy. “I continue to host events, but the Untwist Your Brain! deal is, if I’m there, Debra is there too 1. B. 1606 with a stand for Pet Guardians.” 2. B. Leyden The Vredenburg-Rudys combined 3. D. Saskia pets: his Afghan, Taj, and Maggie the 4. B. Dutch School Irish setter with her Rudy the lab/pit bull 5. A. Amsterdam mix (yes, Vredenburg-Rudy named her dog Rudy before she even met her Questions shown on page 15 husband) and Maggie the black lab—

September 2011

50plus SeniorNews e

“

Braintwisters

“

that’s two dogs named Maggie. Add in foster dog Bella and four cats, and the Vredenburg-Rudy household is brimming with well-trained, well-loved animal family members. “Two of the special things Debra and I do together include occasionally taking our pets to area nursing homes and retirement communities for pet therapy visits,” Rudy said. “And every other week, we take two of the dogs to visit with patients at a day treatment center. There’s nothing quite like an Irish Setter unexpectedly jumping up onto your lap and licking you in the face to make you love life!” Their household also now contains not one but two Jefferson Award winners—for her tireless efforts with Pet Guardians, Debra Vredenburg-Rudy was the recipient of the 2010 Jefferson Award for Lancaster County. “We strongly advocate preparing for your pets when you’re gone, just as you do with your estate,” advised Rudy. Because Pet Guardians is not a shelter or boarding service—they are essentially liaisons that help find temporary and permanent homes for the animals—they are always seeking foster families who will provide homes for the pets until a permanent adoptive pet parent is secured. To find out more about Pet Guardians, visit www.petguardians.org or email thepetguardians@yahoo.com. Rudy will be the master of ceremonies at WoofStock in Harrisburg on Sept. 18. A Central PA Animal Alliance event featuring live bands, pet contests, food, and rescue organizations from all over Central Pennsylvania, WoofStock will cover a nine-block area along Front Street from North Street down to the Walnut Street Bridge. Rudy and Pet Guardians will also be part of several local parades in the coming months, and Rudy will emcee the Dillsburg Farmer’s Fair Parade on Oct. 15. For Rudy, a lifelong animal lover and advocate, the payoff is in serving as a conduit for the human-animal bond, in perpetuating for others that special connection that has meant so much to him in his own life. “[I love] seeing the joy on the faces of the people who know that their pet will be taken care of as well as the joy of the people getting the pet,” he said. “And especially when they stay in contact with each other; it’s almost like bringing those two families together through the love of that one dog or cat—that’s overwhelming.” www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Are household chores a challenge?

We can help! We will tailor a service that fits your needs and your abilities. If you have found that there are certain household chores you still enjoy doing and others you just cannot seem to handle, we will customize a program that will best serve you.

Just some of the items we can help you with: Bathroom

Kitchen Crossword shown on page 17

This Month in History: September Events

Clean counters, cabinet exteriors, tables, and chairs Clean, scrub, and sanitize sinks Clean exterior of ranges, refrigerators, and small appliances

All Rooms:

Clean, dust, and vacuum Vacuum furniture Empty and clean ashtrays/wastebaskets

Clean, scrub, and sanitize showers and bathtubs Clean and sanitize vanities, sinks, and backsplashes Clean mirrors Clean and sanitize toilets Other services available, including: Wash and dry dishes, laundry, change bed linens, take trash to curb, clean refrigerator, etc.

If there are items you need help with and do not see them listed, please let us know. As always, our business is being built around you!

• Sept. 9, 1776 – The United States came into existence as the Continental Congress changed the name of the new American nation from the United Colonies. • Sept. 12, 1953 – John F. Kennedy, 36, married Jacqueline Bouvier, 24, in a ceremony before 750 invited guests at St. Mary’s Church in Newport, R.I., conducted by Archbishop Richard Cushing of Boston.

Ph/Fax:

717-545-8747

6203 Elaine Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17112 PA029774

Free estimates & insured

fashomeservices@msn.com www.seniorhomerepairs.com

• Sept. 14, 1901 – Eight days after being shot, President William McKinley died from wounds suffered during an assassination attempt in Buffalo, N.Y. He was succeeded by Theodore Roosevelt.

Birthdays • Sept. 5 – Wild West legend Jesse James (18471882) was born in Centerville, Mo. Following the American Civil War, James and his brother, Frank, formed a group of outlaws, robbing banks, trains, stagecoaches, and stores. In 1882, after the governor of Missouri offered a $10,000 reward for their capture dead or alive, a member of the gang shot 34-year-old James in the back of the head and claimed the reward. • Sept. 23 – American journalist and influential commentator Walter Lippmann (1889-1974) was born in New York. “Without criticism and reliable and intelligent reporting, the government cannot govern,” he once stated. • Sept. 26 – American folk legend Johnny Appleseed (1774-1845) was born in Leominster, Mass., as John Chapman. For 40 years, he traveled through Ohio and Indiana and into Illinois, planting orchards. He was a friend to wild animals and was regarded as a “great medicine man” by Native Americans.

For more than 143 years, Homeland has provided the highest level of quality care in a charming, home-like environment.

Provider and leader of quality healthcare in Central PA for more than 143 years. 50 renovated Personal Care Suites. Applications being accepted for a limited number. Skilled Nursing Care Unit accommodates 92, including a 20-bed Alzheimer’s Unit.

Exemplary personalized care for those who entrust the end of their lives to us. Respectful, considerate and heart-felt care that assures comfort of patients and families. Professional clinical and bereavement staff available to provide compassionate support.

717-221-7902

717-221-7890

www.homelandcenter.org

www.homelandcenter.org/hospice

“A Continuing Care Retirement Community.” 1901 North Fifth Street, Harrisburg, PA 17102

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

50plus SeniorNews e

September 2011

50plus SeniorNews e