Lancaster County 50plus Senior News August 2012 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

Lancaster County Edition

August 2012

Vol. 18 No. 8

Growing Community Spirit One Garden at a Time By Katie Weeber Some people enjoy plants, purchasing a few potted blooms each summer to decorate their backyards, while others are born with natural green thumbs. Francesca McNichol is one of the latter. McNichol has been using her greenery prowess to grow a new crop of gardeners. As a member of a local garden club, McNichol has helped organize and run several successful gardening initiatives that have brought the knowledge of growing living things to adults and children alike, including a community garden and a junior gardening class for inner-city youth. McNichol’s introduction to gardening came naturally, starting with her childhood home on Long Island, N.Y. “My mother loved roses. When I was younger, she had a beautiful rose garden,” McNichol said. In addition to the rose garden, there was a rock garden and other beautiful, growing plants that McNichol’s mother cultivated around their home. When she was 19 years old, McNichol’s older brother purchased a farm in upstate New York. He and his wife became avid gardeners caring for the property, and McNichol spent most of her summers sharing in their labors. please see GARDEN page 22 McNichol in the wooden gazebo positioned in the center of the 127-bed community garden she helped to organize.

Inside:

Lancaster Senior Games page 8

Second Opinions: When to Get One page 16

The Beauty in Nature

Insects in Red Clover and Alfalfa Fields Clyde McMillan-Gamber

Other kinds of don’t damage common that crop. butterflies— Honeybees, including alfalfas, bumblebees, and buckeyes, carpenter bees monarchs, silverbuzz among spotted skippers, hayfield common and blossoms, gather meadow fritillaries, nectar and pearl crescents, and pollen, and take black and tiger those foods to swallowtails—also larvae in their flit among the nests. clover and alfalfa Honeybees make blooms to get six-sided, wax Alfalfa Butterfly nectar and pollen. cells in hives or The striking, tree hollows; orange-and-black monarchs are famous bumblebees raise larvae in deserted, for their caterpillars’ only eating chewed-grass mouse homes on the milkweed leaves and the adults’ ground; and carpenter bees create migration to Mexico for the winter. nurseries by chewing round holes in dead Skipper larvae eat soybean leaves, but wood. Photo by Greg Hume

ed clover and alfalfa fields in Lancaster County cropland are lovely with pink clover blooms and lavender alfalfa blossoms, when mowing is delayed. Alfalfa flowers also have a faint, sweet scent. And clover and alfalfa blooms are made more attractive and inspiring in August and September when colorful butterflies, bees, and other insect species flit from flower to flower in warm sunlight to sip sugary nectar from them. Butterflies are most abundant and diverse in August and September, making flowering hayfields shimmer with their colorful multitudes on warm, sunny days. Cabbage whites and yellow sulphurs are the most common butterflies in hayfields. These two types of butterflies alone make the fields flutter with their flitting from blossom to blossom.

Differential, meadow, red-legged, and Carolina grasshoppers live in local hayfields. Male Carolinas hover in flight for a few seconds while making a fluttering sound to attract females for mating. Grasshoppers are most visible in August and September when they are full size and can fly. They spend summers eating hayfield vegetation but aren’t destructive to the hay. After mating late in summer, female grasshoppers lay eggs in clusters in loose soil. Grasshoppers overwinter only in the egg stage because adults are killed by frosts in October. Stop along red clover and alfalfa fields during August and September to experience their lovely flowers and intriguing insects. Those fields at that time lift human spirits. Clyde McMillan-Gamber is a Lancaster County Parks naturalist.

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Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being.

Dental Services Dental Health Associates (717) 394-9773 Smoketown Family Dentistry (717) 291-6035 Emergency Numbers Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Office of Aging (717) 299-7979/(800) 801-3070

Gastroenterology

Healring Services

General Surgery Practice & Hemorrhoid Clinic Hiep C. Phan, MD FACS (717) 735-9222

Hearing and Ear Care Center, LLC (717) 653-6300

Regional Gastroenterology Associates of Lancaster (RGAL) (717) 544-3400

Visiting Angels (717) 393-3450

Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Physicians — OB/GYN

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May•Grant Obstetrics & Gynecology (717) 397-8177

Home Improvement Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020

DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen (717) 367-9753

Planned Charitable Giving Lancaster County Community Foundation (717) 397-1629

Hospice Providers Employment Lancaster County Office of Aging (717) 299-7979 Entertainment Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre (800) 638-6833 Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (717) 898-1900 Funeral Directors Richard H. Heisey Funeral Home (717) 626-2464 Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc. (717) 393-9661/(717) 872-5041 (717) 627-8668 Kearney A. Snyder Funeral Home (717) 394-4097

American Cancer Society (717) 397-3744 American Diabetes Association (888) DIABETES American Heart Association (717) 393-0725 American Lung Association (717) 397-5203/(800) LungUSA

Prudential Homesale Services Group Rocky Welkowitz (717) 393-0100

Eastwood Village Homes, LLC (717) 397-3138 Insurance

Restaurants Splits & Giggles (717) 399-3332 Senior Move Management

Medical Equipment & Supplies

Arthritis Foundation (717) 397-6271 Consumer Information (888) 878-3256 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400

GSH Home Med Care, Inc. (717) 272-2057

TLC Ladies (717) 228-8764 Transition Solutions for Seniors Rocky Welkowitz (717) 615-6507

Medical Services Travel

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Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228

Flu or Influenza (888) 232-3228

Housing

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Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833

American Red Cross (717) 299-5561

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Hospice of Lancaster County (717) 295-3900

Passport Information (877) 487-2778

Neurosurgery & Physiatry Lancaster NeuroScience & Spine Associates (717) 569-5331 (800) 628-2080

Veterans Services Lebanon VA Medical Center (717) 228-6000 (800) 409-8771

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August 2012

The Search for Our Ancestry

The 1930 Census

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

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August 2012

Angelo Coniglio ast time, I covered the 1940 U.S. census. I have, in an earlier column, also discussed the 1920 U.S. census. This month, I want to cover the intermediate one, the 1930 U.S. census. I’ll continue this discussion into next month, as well. The 1930 census had some basic information consistent with others that were taken since the first one in 1790. This included surname or family name, gender, and address. Some of the other questions were unique, and responses to them can be valuable in finding further information about the family. For example, there is a column headed “Relation – Relationship of this person to the head of the family.” This may be answered “head,” “wife,” “son,” or “daughter” but also may contain other descriptions. The surname of the wife is usually not shown, or it may be written in as the same as the husband (or late husband). However, if the name of a mother-in-law or other in-law of the male head is given, that surname could also be the maiden name of the wife. If the “Relation” column shows stepson or stepdaughter, that obviously indicates that the “head” had been previously married. If the stepchild’s surname is different than that of the head, that’s a clue to the child’s natural father’s name. A person may be identified as a “boarder,” meaning the family augmented their income by renting space in the home. Next is a column headed “Home Data,” containing four sub-columns: “Home owned or rented,” filled in with an O or an R; “Value of home,

if owned, or monthly rent, if rented,” filled in with a dollar amount; “Radio set,” filled in with an R if the family had a radio, left blank if they didn’t; and “Does this family live on a farm?” The answers not only tell something about the financial status of the family, but if the property was owned, it may also be possible to find land or probate records that further elucidate the family’s life or give names of relatives not living with the family at the time of the census. As an aside to the “radio set” question: On the 1930 census page where my family appears, there were seven households. Only one (not my parents’) had a radio. The question was designed to measure the extent of the nation’s leap into new homeappliance technology. According to the 1930 census, the total U.S. population at the time was 122,775,046, and only 12 million people, or less than 10 percent, had access to radios. Under “Personal Description,” in addition to “Sex” and “Color or race,” was the sub-column “Age at last birthday.” Take this into consideration when calculating a birth year. For example, the census was taken on April 12. My father’s age was given as 40, but his birth year was not necessarily “1930 minus 40 equals 1890.” He may not have yet reached his 41st birthday on April 12. Other information confirms this, as he was born on April 26, 1889. The remaining two sub-columns under this category were “Marital condition” and “Age at first marriage.” The condition column was marked M for married, S for single, or W for widowed. The age at first

marriage can be used with other information on the census to determine whether the person was married before or after immigration to the U.S. Under “Education,” the census asked whether the person had attended school or college since September 1929, and whether he or she was able to read and write. The “Place of Birth” columns are headed “Person,” “Father,” and “Mother,” with the description “Place of birth of each person enumerated and of his or her parents. If born in the United States, give State or Territory. If of foreign birth, give country in which birthplace is now situated. Distinguish Canada-French from Canada-English, and Irish Free State from Northern Island.” Usually, only the country or state is given; however, sometimes the name of a city or county is given. Don’t overlook the part about “country in which birthplace is now situated.” National boundaries in Europe were anything but fixed during this time, so, for example, a place may have been called Prussia when a person was born in 1890 but Germany in 1930. Next time, I’ll discuss the remainder of the 1930 census questions and explain how to interpret the information to uncover other information about ancestors. Angelo Coniglio encourages readers to contact him by writing to 438 Maynard Drive, Amherst, NY 14226; by email at Genealogytips@aol.com; or by visiting www.conigliofamily.com/ConiglioGeneal ogyTips.htm. His new historical fiction novel, The Lady of the Wheel, is available through Amazon.com.

Volunteers Needed at Office of Aging The Lancaster County Office of Aging needs volunteers to assist older adults and individuals with disabilities with property tax and rent rebate applications. This program, administered by the PA Revenue Department, provides rebates to eligible

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homeowners and renters for the past year’s property taxes or rent. Basic math skills, patience, and a desire to help others are the only requirements needed. Training will be provided, and office staff are always nearby to answer questions. Volunteers would work in the

downtown office any time between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. For additional information, please call the Lancaster County Office of Aging at (717) 299-7979 or (800) 801-3070. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Moving Yourself or Moving Mom & Dad ... You Can Count on Rocky!

Columbia Senior Center Has New Co-Managers Starr Brubaker and Carrie Kitchen have been named the new co-managers of the Columbia Senior Center by the Community Action Program (CAP) of Lancaster County. Brubaker is a graduate of Harrisburg Area Community College, where she earned an associate’s degree in paralegal studies. While studying at HACC, Brubaker completed an internship at the Columbia Senior Center. She is a resident of Lancaster and is currently attending Elizabethtown College, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in human services. Kitchen is a graduate of Millersville University and previously worked with young children in positions with Head Start, Lancaster County Mental Health/Mental Starr Brubaker, left, and Carrie Kitchen Retardation/Early Intervention, and the will serve as co-managers of Columbia Lancaster IU-13. Kitchen resides in Marietta. Senior Center.

Harnish Farmhouse Successfully Relocated The historic Harnish House, built in 1858, ready to roll just before its journey begins at 8:59 am.

On a morning in early July, the historic Harnish Farmhouse building was relocated from its former location on Locust Lane in Willow Street to a new location 300 feet away as part of the new Providence Park development. The historic farmhouse was originally constructed in 1858 and had served as a residence until Willow Valley Retirement Communities purchased the property in 1970. Rather than demolish the building to clear space for the Providence Park addition to the Manor Campus at Willow Valley, WVRC has sought the advice of the

West Lampeter Historic Preservation Society in repurposing the building and incorporating this historic landmark into the new Providence Park expansion project. The move involved excavating the building’s foundation in order to lift the house onto a frame of steel beams with attached wheels that were then used to carefully transport the building across the grounds. Though the move was expected to take about six hours to complete, the building pushed off at 8:59 a.m. and ended its journey at 10:44 a.m., for a total of just two hours and 45 minutes.

If you have local news you’d like considered for Around Town, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com

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August 2012

Social Security News

If Facebook Can’t Help, Maybe Social Security Can By Doris Brookens People who use social networking websites know that it can be exciting to reconnect with long-lost friends and relatives over the Internet. Such surprise connections can be fun and conjure up memories of times forgotten. But what if you have a more serious situation and you need to locate a particular person? Perhaps Social Security can help. Social Security is in the business of paying benefits, not reconnecting people. But, in some cases, we will do what we can to help. We will attempt to forward a letter to a missing person under circumstances involving a matter of great importance, such as a death or serious illness in the missing person’s immediate family or a sizeable amount of money that is due the missing person. Also, the circumstances must concern a matter about which the missing person

is unaware and would undoubtedly want to be informed. In less dire cases, such as when a son, daughter, brother, or sister want to establish contact, we will write to the missing person, rather than forwarding a letter. Because this service is not related in any way to a Social Security program, its use must be limited so that it does not interfere with our regular program activities. There is no charge for forwarding letters that have a humanitarian purpose. However, we must charge a $25 fee to

cover our costs when the letter is to inform the missing person of money or property due. This fee is not refundable. The fee should be paid by a check made payable to the Social Security Administration. We must read each letter we forward to ensure that it contains nothing that could prove embarrassing to the missing person if read by a third party. Letters should be in plain, unstamped, unsealed envelopes showing only the missing person’s name. Nothing of value should be enclosed. To try to locate an address in our records, we’ll need the missing person’s

Job Opportunities LANCASTER COUNTY EMPLOYERS NEED YOU!! Age 55 or over? Unemployed? The 55+ Job Bank is one of three services offered by Employment Unit at the Office of Aging. Jobs are matched with those looking for work. Based on an evaluation of your skills and abilities, we can match you with a position needed by a local employer. Some employers are specifically looking for older workers because of the reliability and experience they bring to the workplace. There is a mix of full-time and part-time jobs covering all shifts, requiring varying levels of skill and experience, and offering a wide range of salaries. The other services available through the Office of Aging are the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) and the regularly scheduled Job Search Workshops.

For more job listings, call the Lancaster County Office of Aging

at (717) 299-7979 or visit www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco_aging

Lancaster County Office of Aging 150 N. Queen Street, Suite 415 Lancaster, PA 6

August 2012

50plus SeniorNews •

Social Security number or identifying information such as date and place of birth, father’s name, and the mother’s full birth name. Unless a missing person is receiving benefits under a program Social Security administers, we would not have a home address for them. Usually, we forward a letter in care of the employer who most recently reported earnings for the person. Requests for letter forwarding should be sent to: Social Security Administration Letter Forwarding P.O. Box 33022 Baltimore, MD 21290-3022 Learn more about this service at www.socialsecurity.gov/foia/html/ltrfwdin g.htm. Doris Brookens is the Social Security office manager in Harrisburg.

E.O.E.

NIGHT AUDITOR – PT Check-in/out hotel guests. Prepare reports and handle other activities related to guest services including data management, group tour relations/promotions, and providing informational materials. Need 1-3 mos. related experience. Hours are 11 p.m. – 7 a.m. SN07013B.01 SALES ASSOCIATE – PT Local thrift organization is seeking a reliable person to provide customer service, operate a cash register, and organize merchandise. Work a flexible schedule and receive generous store discounts. SN07023N.02

VIEW OUR JOB LIST We list other jobs on the Web at www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco_agi ng. To learn more about applying for the 55+ Job Bank and these jobs, call the Employment Unit at (717) 299-7979. SN-GEN.03

CUSTODIANS – FT School district needs experienced persons for custodial/janitorial tasks and other related duties. Must be able to operate related equipment, lift up to 60 lbs., walk/stand for an entire shift, and follow written/verbal instructions. Various shifts are available. SN07027N.03

— Volunteer Opportunities — There are several specialized volunteer opportunities available at Office of Aging. You can become an APPRISE volunteer and assist older persons with issues involving Medicare, health insurance, and prescription drug coverage. Or you can become an ombudsman volunteer, informing residents of assisted living and nursing facilities of their rights and reporting any violations of those rights to staff ombudsmen. Volunteers enrolled in both these programs receive training at both the state and local levels to prepare them adequately for the roles they assume. Both positions are challenging and rewarding and provide ongoing chances for assimilating new information. APPRISE volunteers are asked to commit to a weekly block of time in the office assisting consumers, and ombudsmen volunteers commit to visit facilities of their choice on a regular basis. If you enjoy empowering older people as they deal with health insurance issues or adjust to life in a facility, contact Bev Via at (717) 299-7979 or email aging@co.lancaster.pa.us for more information.

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CCRC Continuing Care Retirement Communities CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities) have so much to offer the vibrant, active, semi- or retired individuals of today. These communities present a variety of residential living options in addition to comprehensive medical and nursing services. Residents move between independent living, personal care or assisted living, and nursing care based on changing needs. CCRCs can range from all-inclusive monthly rates to pay-as-you-go or fee-for-service. These communities may also offer scheduled activities, programs, swimming pools, banks, chapels, fitness centers, walking paths, computer rooms, and more. More important, these communities strive to provide the best in care, which includes a professional staff.

The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message.

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Bethany Village 325 Wesley Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Stephanie Lightfoot Director of Sales & Marketing (717) 766-0279 www.bethanyvillage.org

The Middletown Home 999 West Harrisburg Pike Middletown, PA 17057 Jennifer Binecz Director of Residential Services (717) 944-3351 www.middletownhome.org

Calvary Fellowship Homes 502 Elizabeth Drive Lancaster, PA 17601 Marlene Morris Marketing Director (717) 393-0711 www.calvaryhomes.org

Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community 1700 Normandie Drive York, PA 17408 Joyce Singer Director of Marketing (717) 718-0937 www.normandieridge.org

Ephrata Manor 99 Bethany Road Ephrata, PA 17522 Admissions Department (717) 738-4940 www.ucc-homes.org Garden Spot Village 433 South Kinzer Avenue New Holland, PA 17557 Scott Miller Director of Marketing (717) 355-6000 www.gardenspotvillage.org Homeland Center 1901 North Fifth Street Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598 Barry S. Ramper II, N.H.A. President/CEO (717) 221-7902 www.homelandcenter.org Homestead Village Enhanced Senior Living 1800 Marietta Avenue P.O. Box 3227 Lancaster, PA 17604-3227 Susan L. Doyle Director of Marketing (717) 397-4831 ext. 158 www.homesteadvillage.org

Willow Valley Retirement Communities 600 Willow Valley Square Lancaster, PA 17604 Kristin Hambleton Sales Manager (717) 464-6800 (800) 770-5445 www.willowvalleyretirement.com Woodcrest Villa Mennonite Home Communities 2001 Harrisburg Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 Connie Buckwalter Director of Marketing (717) 390-4126 www.woodcrestvilla.org Woodland Heights Retirement Community 2499 Zerbe Road Narvon, PA 17555 Lynne A. Bickta Director of Marketing and Sales (717) 445-8741 www.retireatwoodlandheights.com

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August 2012

Quick Thinking, Quick Players at 2012 Senior Games according to Diller. “The games give the When it comes to rescuing seniors the opportunity to stay a rained-on schedule of active and healthy. Many outdoor fun, the art of participants try a new event improvisation can save the and then they want to play day. more and seek out the Such was the case with the locations to continue to play,” 2012 Lancaster Senior Diller said. Games, held June 11 to 15 at “This has happened Franklin & Marshall’s especially with pickleball, Alumni Sports & Fitness badminton, bocce, and John Fellenbaum and Mike Beaudet playing pickleball. Center, Leisure Lanes of horseshoes. With seniors Lancaster, Willow Valley wanting to continue in the Sally Patterson playing tennis. Evie Brown playing shuffleboard. activities, it gives recreation Cultural Center, Overlook Golf Course, and Evergreen departments the opportunity Golf Course. for programming the events But Tuesday’s itinerary—which was to and keeping them active,” she noted. include outdoor favorites like football Though many participants are truly throw, softball throw, and Frisbee skilled athletes, the competition is always throw—looked to be ruined by a damp friendly and good natured at the Senior forecast. Instead of throwing in the Games. Players enjoy the opportunity for metaphorical towel, however, Senior exercise almost as much as the chance to Games staff tried a new approach. reconnect with old friends and make “Instead of canceling the events, we some new ones. brought them inside and made Diller said the recurring sentiment adjustments to the events—i.e., softball during each Senior Games—and even throw for distance became a wiffleball throughout the year that passes in Isabell Boone playing pinochle. Bam Ratmoko playing table tennis. throw for accuracy,” said Jill Diller, between—is gratitude. director of family recreation at the “Participants are really appreciative Lancaster Recreation Commission. that the games are held each year and “And the participants loved that we did look forward to competing and seeing not cancel but did a fun thing, and many their once-a-year friends and competitors,” she said. told us that they enjoyed the different “As I and the other committee event,” Diller added. members see participants throughout the Organized each year by the Lancaster summer, they make a point to tell us County Office of Aging and Lancaster how much they appreciate what we do Recreation Commission, the Senior and ask when next year’s games will be Games are open to all Lancaster County held, so that they can get it on their residents age 55 and older. Along with classics such as badminton, calendars.” For more information on the golf, swimming, tennis, and bowling, the WGAL Lancaster Senior Games, visit 24th annual games added a new event: www.lancseniorgames.org. three-point shooting. Among the 835 registered participants, the most popular Photos courtesy of Bob Diller and Mike events were foul shooting, bocce, soccer Brethren Village • Charles F. Snyder Funeral Homes & Crematory Occhinero. CPRS Physical Therapy • Gentiva Home Health penalty kick, and homerun derby, By Megan Joyce

2012

Lancaster Senior Games

Thank you to the following businesses & organizations for your support:

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Silver Landis Homes • M&T Bank • Masonic Village • RGAL Gastroenterology Specialists The Long Community at Highland • Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community

AseraCare Hospice • Citadel • Dermatology Associates of Lancaster Easton Coach Company • Elite Coach • Home Helpers Hospice of Lancaster County • Humana • Lancaster Regional Medical Center Red Rose Screen Printing & Awards Red Rose Segway A Special Thanks to All Our Volunteers!

Coordinated by the Lancaster County Office of Aging and the Lancaster Recreation Commission

August 2012

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Gloria May, M.S., R.N., CHES

ack is my friend Jenny’s companion. He’s a big bear kind of guy, handsome, but with dangerously high blood pressure, and he carries an extra 40 pounds. If it weren’t so potentially threatening to his life and independence, it would be amusing the way he dismisses his hypertension. He’ll say it’s “white coat syndrome,” meaning it reflects the anxiety of seeing a doctor but which, away from the doctor’s office, is “just fine.” Or he’ll excuse it away as the consequence of the salty meal he had had the night before his appointment. Until last week’s checkup, Jack had brushed off both his doctor’s and Jenny’s clearly stated concerns and he’d not been at all interested in diet modifications or medication. Jenny told me that Jack saw a new doctor in the practice who, without muss or fuss or many words, brought out a graph that showed the direct and positive correlation between rising high blood pressure and the increased risk of strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure. Then the doctor dropped a zinger. “Jack,” he said, “I can safely predict you’ll have one of these ‘events’ within five years if we don’t get this hypertension and weight under control.” Now, Jack’s a man with an engineering background, so visual representations are what he’s comfortable with, what he understands. Jenny said he studied the graph for a moment, and then to everyone’s surprise, said, “OK. What do I need to do?” Is that all it took, for heaven’s sake? A graph? Or was it the one-sentence forecast? Or the combination? If you think this is merely an isolated www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

incident of one man’s finally getting the picture, maybe. But also, maybe not. At a recent conference of heart doctors in Chicago, two studies were presented that showed similar phenomena: Patients who were shown detailed pictures of their hearts and arteries (done by a heart CT scan) were 2.5 times more likely to take their medication as directed. And by the way, those who needed to lose weight were more than three times more likely to do so than those who were merely only told to. The underlying concern for these docs at the meeting was that between 50 and 80 percent of patients who have been prescribed cholesterolreducing medication fail to take it. And as far as losing weight and embracing a diet lower in saturated fat, just look around. What do you think? There is an abundance of evidence that indicates that visual communication is more effective than verbal, but the most effective style combines the two. In other words, we understand more if we see it; we understand the most if we can both see it and hear about it. Is this the future of patient education? Don’t be surprised if your next doctor’s appointment includes a PowerPoint presentation. After all, it does make sense. Instead of trying to decipher all the medical language, why not show pictures, charts, graphs, images—whatever it takes to drive the point home and help motivate patients to make necessary changes? Gloria May is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in adult health education and a Certified Health Education Specialist designation.

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Find us at AM 960 or at whylradio.com

WE PLAY OVER 1500 GREAT SONGS! 50plus SeniorNews •

August 2012

Lancaster County

Calendar of Events Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation

Senior Center Activities

Pre-registration is required for these programs. All activities are held at the Environmental Center in Central Park unless otherwise noted. To register or to find out more about these activities or any additional scheduled activities, call (717) 295-2055 or visit www.lancastercountyparks.org.

Cocalico Senior Association – (717) 336-7489 Aug. 2, 6 p.m. – Cocalico Jam at Reamstown Community Center Aug. 7, 10 a.m. – Crime Stoppers Program Aug. 17, 10 a.m. – Music with Bonnie Koons

Aug. 11, 10 to 11 a.m. – Carnivorous Plants Aug. 18, 10 to 11 a.m., 1 to 2 p.m. – A “Scent”uous Walk Aug. 31, 9 to 10:30 p.m. – Blue Moon Night Hike

Columbia Senior Center – (717) 684-4850 Aug. 17, 10:15 a.m. – UCP Telephone Program for the Disabled Aug. 24, 10:15 a.m. – Crimes Against Seniors with Sgt. Fry Aug. 31, 9 a.m. – Trip to Lancaster Market and City Tour

Library Programs Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz, (717) 626-2255 Aug. 13, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Scrabble Club Aug. 21, 6:30 p.m. – Jane Austen Society Aug. 28, 7 p.m. – Village Art Association: Caricature Drawing

Support Groups

Free and open to the public

Aug. 1, 7 to 8:15 p.m. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Willow Lakes Outpatient Center 212 Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow Street (717) 464-9365 Aug. 13, 10 to 11 a.m. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Garden Spot Village Concord Room 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland (717) 355-6076 jmorton@gardenspotvillage.org

Aug. 16, noon Brain Tumor Support Group Lancaster General Health Campus Wellness Center 2100 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster (717) 626-2894 Aug. 22, 6 to 8 p.m. Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania Support Group Lancaster General Hospital Stager Room 5 555 N. Duke St., Lancaster (800) 887-7165, ext. 104

Community Programs

Aug. 27, 2 to 3 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group Garden Spot Village Village Square Board Room 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland (717) 355-6259 jshaffer@gardenspotvillage.org

Lancaster House North – (717) 299-1278 Thursdays, noon to 3 p.m. – Happy Hearts Club Pinochle

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

Lancaster Rec. Center – (717) 392-2115, ext. 147 Fridays, 12:30 to 3 p.m. – Happy Hearts Club Bridge

Free and open to the public

Aug. 7, 7 p.m. Red Rose Singles Meeting Farm & Home Center 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster (717) 397-2047

Aug. 17, 6 to 9 p.m. Music Fridays 200 and 300 Blocks of North Queen Street 24 W. Walnut St., Lancaster (717) 341-0028

Aug. 12, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pennsylvania Music Expo Continental Inn 2285 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster (717) 898-1246 www.recordcollectors.org

Aug. 21, 6:15 p.m. Red Rose Singles – Dine Out Mick’s All-American Pub 1411 Columbia Ave., Lancaster (717) 397-2047

What’s Happening? Give Us the Scoop! Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in Lancaster County! Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com

Let help you get the word out! (717) 285-1350

August 2012

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Elizabethtown Senior Center – (717) 367-7984 Aug. 2, 9:30 a.m. – Marshmallow Festival Aug. 11, 11 a.m. – The ABCs of Aging Aug. 30, noon – Back Porch Barbecue and Covered Dish

Lancaster Neighborhood Senior Center (717) 299-3943 Aug. 14, 10:30 a.m. – Hortencia’s Exercise with Weights and Bands Aug. 23, 8 a.m. – Picnic at Lancaster County Park, Lodge 22 Aug. 30, 10:30 a.m. – Learning Spanish

Lititz Senior Center – (717) 626-2800 Wednesdays, 9:15 a.m. – Zumba Gold Exercise with Rae Aug. 9, 10:30 a.m. – Frank Sinatra Music with Norman Spangler Aug. 16, 10:30 a.m. – Music and Dancing with Lost & Found LRC Senior Center – (717) 399-7671 Aug. 9, 10:15 a.m. – Sing-Along with JR Wehmen Aug. 15, 10 a.m. – Indoor Shuffleboard Aug. 21, 9 a.m. – First Aid Basics Luis Munoz Marin Senior Center – (717) 295-7989 Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. – Shopping at SACA Market Aug. 6, 9:30 a.m. – Zumba Gold Demonstration Aug. 14, 9:30 a.m. – Blood Pressure Checks Millersville Senior Center – (717) 871-9600 Mondays and Fridays, 9 a.m. – Exercise with Jim Aug. 22, 9:30 a.m. – Bingo Aug. 29, 10 a.m. – Town Meeting Next Gen Senior Center – (717) 786-4770 Aug. 7, 11 a.m. – Celebrate Golf Month: Wii Golf Aug. 17, 10:30 a.m. – Voucher Trip to Kreider’s and Lunch Aug. 24, 10:30 a.m. – Luau Party with Mika Rodney Park Center – (717) 393-7786 Tuesdays, 1 to 3 p.m. – Happy Hearts Club Pinochle and Bingo www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Such Is Life

A Chevy to Remember Sept. 19, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Saralee Perel

York Expo Center y husband, Bob, has gone so far as to name our car. He calls it Old Yeller. Whenever I suggest it’s time to retire it, he lovingly pets the steering wheel and asks, “You mean destroy Old Yeller?” We have a 1970-something yellowish Chevy Blazer. I can see the street whizzing by through the holes in the floorboard. I hear little clinking sounds whenever we drive, and if I look out the rear view, I see tiny pieces of Old Yeller leaving a wake behind us. I really hate this car. “It’s time,” I gently said to Bob last month, as we pulled in our driveway and the door handle came off in my hand. “Great!” he said and jumped out of the car. “I’ll start the gas grill.” I brushed clumps of foam rubber (the insides of the seat) off my pants. We went in the house. “You know what I mean,” I said. “A woodworking show’s on,” he said, and picked up the remote. “Sweetheart.” I took the remote. “Old Yeller’s had a really good life.” “He just needs a tune-up, that’s all.” He picked up the keys. “It put itself into park while we were driving 30 miles per hour.” “He stalled,” he said, fondling the keys. “It stopped, Bob. My forehead’s still bleeding.” He stood and looked out the front door. “I can’t,” he whispered. “It’ll be humane, honey.” “No it won’t,” he said. “No ceremony, no remorse. Nothing. Just a push of a lever and Old Yeller’s squashed like a pancake and dumped in somebody’s scrap heap.” Late that night, I heard him get out of bed and head to the kitchen. I put on my robe and tiptoed in. He was pouring himself a shot of whiskey from a bottle we’ve had over 10 years. He drank it in one gulp. After he finished his coughing fit, I

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held his hand. He said, “If anybody’s going to put Old Yeller to sleep, it will have to be me.” I knew then: I had to go against his wishes and take Old Yeller myself. The next day, I drove the Chevy away and got back to the house around noon. “It was quick, Bob. Painless.” “Old Yeller …” he moaned. Then he went back to the whiskey bottle, picked it up, changed his mind, and put it down. He opened the freezer and found a bag of mini Milky Ways and began stuffing five in his mouth at a time. “Honey. Don’t do this to yourself.” I tried to take the bag away but he grabbed it and ran out of the room, but not before snatching the peanut butter and Ritz crackers. It took two weeks to get Bob back on track. And that happened yesterday. He was still in bed at 11 o’clock when I called him to come into the living room. He was a wreck. Unshaven. Dirty. I wiped the chocolate off his lip. “There’s something for you outside.” “I need marshmallow fluff,” he said. I took his hand and led him out the front door. In the driveway was a car covered by a big brown tarp that I theatrically removed. There, all shiny and bright yellow, was the Blazer. New mirrors, chrome, paint, engine, transmission, and sparkling hub caps. Painted in script on the side was, of course, Old Yeller. Bob was overwhelmed, to say the least. He opened the door and saw the beautiful upholstered seats. Although he was too moved to say anything, I got the biggest hug in history. And though Bob refers to this as one of the best days of his life, I know it couldn’t have been half as good as it was for me. Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist. Her new book is Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: Stories From a Life Out of Balance. To find out more, visit www.saraleeperel.com or email sperel@saraleeperel.com.

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August 2012

Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

Traveltizers

All-Important China By Andrea Gross ’m reading the newspaper when I realize that there are almost as many articles about Beijing as there are about Washington, DC. That’s when it hits me. If one of the main purposes—and pleasures—of travel is education, then I have to go to China. I need to learn more about the country whose actions will affect the way I live and, more importantly, the way my children will live. A friend recommends China Spree, a company that offers 12-day tours to Beijing and Shanghai that include air from San Francisco; all meals, admissions, and transportation within China; guide service; and, as I soon find out, very nice hotels. I do the math. Why, I can visit China for not a lot more than I’d have to pay for an all-inclusive two-week vacation in California. I take a deep breath and sign on the dotted line. In Beijing our guide leads our small

Students welcome American visitors to their classroom.

The Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Great Wall was built to protect China from nomadic tribes to its north.

group to the must-sees: Tiananmen Square, where Mao proclaimed the birth of the People’s Republic of China in 1949; the Forbidden City, which was home to 24 emperors; and, of course, the Great Wall, which was designed to protect the country against foreign invaders. To learn about more current endeavors, we visit a jade factory, a silk factory, a tea plantation, and an herbal medicine museum. But my favorite moments occur when we mingle with ordinary folks, like the 76-year-old woman who hosts us for lunch. She shows us her home, which is in a hutong, one of Beijing’s fastdisappearing old neighborhoods. The next day we visit a park where we see seniors doing tai chi, dancing, fencing, and matchmaking. Their children, explains our guide, work such long hours that they don’t have time to search for a spouse. Therefore, the parents must help. They make big signs proclaiming their child’s attributes and

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August 2012

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network with other parents. If the seniors spot a potential match, they arrange a date for their children. It’s a low-tech eHarmony. My husband and I deliberately chose an itinerary that included two free days for personal exploration. In Beijing we go to the Art District, where world-class galleries occupy Communist-era factory buildings. One heart-stopping exhibition focuses on prostitution; another has a disturbing display of soldiers toting machine guns camouflaged by flowers. There’s no thought suppression here. In Shanghai, the energy is palpable. We walk along the riverfront, through a shopping thoroughfare, and over to a public park that has carnival-style rides. After visiting a market, we go to an acrobatic show. Our days are packed. During our free day, we explore two contrasting neighborhoods: a workingclass area filled with small, slightly grubby shops and the French Concession, which has upscale boutiques and trendy restaurants. Our guides are remarkably forthcoming. They criticize their government but at the same time make clear that they admire it. They say that a U.S.-style democracy could never work in China because there are too many people.

Shanghai’s Nanjing Road attracts a humongous number of shoppers, especially during weekends and holidays.

Beijing’s streets are a mix of old and new.

Shanghai’s waterfront is the face of modern China.

They speak to us about China’s onechild policy, religion, education, medical care, the lack of a social safety net, and, most of all, how hard they have to work in order to survive. “We work much harder than people in

America,” says Chang.* We’re amazed at their misconceptions. Chang owns a condominium, can afford to fly his family from his village on the Yangtze to Shanghai for a holiday, and has a car that he bought new two years

ago. His daughter has a new iPad as well as an iPod. I tell him that this is more than many people his age in the United States can afford, and yes, they work as many or more hours than he does. Another guide dreams of living on Wisteria Lane, the home of ABC’s Desperate Housewives, and we realize how television shapes Chinese views of the United States as well as our views of China. This, says my husband, is why it’s important for people to travel, to see things for themselves. We’re aware that we saw only two cities, and we spoke with only a handful of people. We didn’t visit the countryside, which, despite China’s rapid urbanization, is still home to the majority of the population. We didn’t visit the factory towns that are churning out goods that are flooding the world’s markets. That will have to wait until next time. But in the meantime, we treasure the glimpse we got of a country that is, and will continue to be, a major player on the world’s stage. Photos © Irv Green; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).

*Name has been changed

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50plus SeniorNews •

August 2012

Older But Not Wiser

There Goes Granny Sy Rosen anda and I went to the county fair, which was kind of odd for us. We’re not big fair people, although I was looking forward to the pig races. Wanda has been on a kick to try new things, to live life to the fullest. I tried to convince her that lying on the couch and watching the new fall TV season is an exciting adventure, but for some reason, she just wouldn’t buy it. The fair was kind of fun but a little dangerous. Everywhere I looked there was food—hotdogs, corndogs, sausage dogs, beef ribs, pork ribs … Just by breathing, I was filling my body with secondhand cholesterol. And the rides were a little scary. You see, I’m afraid of heights. Well, actually, that’s not true. I’m afraid of falling from heights. Wanda, on the other hand, was fearless, especially when we came to this 60-foot giant slide where you had to

climb to the top, put a blanket under your butt, and then hurtle down to the bottom. Wanda insisted that we both try it, so we trudged up to the top. Being a manly man, or at least pretending to be, I said I’d go first. I pushed off and the wind was in my face— it was exciting and thrilling and the best 4 feet of my life. That’s when I somehow managed to stop myself and crawl off. Slightly humiliated, I told Wanda I’d wait for her at the bottom and I began my walk of shame downward. When I reached the bottom, I waved up to Wanda and she began her fastpaced decent. She was really flying and had a look of total exhilaration on her

face. I was smiling just watching her, when I heard a young couple talking next to me. The guy, referring to Wanda, said, “There goes Granny!” The thing is, I’m not exactly sure why I took it as such an insult. Our daughter got married about 6 months ago and we definitely want grandchildren. But it was the way he said it—it was mocking, condescending, and patronizing, like Wanda didn’t belong on that slide. He was definitely making fun of her. Luckily, she didn’t hear him. I was mad, but I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it. I wanted to handle the whole situation maturely, and I think I did that by not directly confronting

him. Since the guy was overweight, I simply mumbled under my breath, “The pig races are starting in 10 minutes. You better scurry on down there if you want to participate.” The chubby guy thought he heard something but wasn’t quite sure, so he said, “Huh?” I very forcefully said “huh” back. I then took Wanda’s arm and we went on our way. When we passed tubby, I may have made a snorting sound, but it was done very tastefully and maturely. The rest of the day was a lot of fun. Wanda went on several different rollercoasters and I watched her while eating several different sausage dogs. As we were leaving the fair, Wanda said, “I went on a lot of rides today.” “Yes, you did,” I replied. “Not bad for an old lady!” she exclaimed. And when Wanda said it, it was OK.

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In print. Online at onlinepub.com. To include your community or service in the 2013 edition or for a free copy of the 2012 edition, call your representative or (717) 285-1350 or email info@onlinepub.com 14

August 2012

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Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 16 WORD SEARCH

Across 1. Rushed 6. Church seat 9. Paddington Bear’s homeland 13. Convex molding 14. Popular activity at Heavenly in CA 15. Harold & _____ Go to White Castle 16. Army aid 17. Precedes senator 18. Circular gasket 19. Drum sound 21. Willy Wonka’s heir 23. Longest division of geological time 24. Pinocchio dreamed of becoming this type of boy 25. He floated like a butterfly? Down 1. Read-only storage 2. Affirm 3. Musical finale 4. Like last eight in college basketball 5. Dolittle’s title 6. Attention grabber 7. Increase 8. Make face in pain 9. Make like a cat 10. Astrid Lindgren’s ____ of Lonneberga 11. Raja’s wife 12. Strong desire 15. Eucalyptus-loving marsupials 20. Beside, archaic

28. 30. 35. 37. 39. 40. 41. 43. 44. 46. 47. 48. 50. 52.

Network of intersecting nerves Middle Eastern confection Like boys that lived in Neverland Lacking sensation “_____ the day” International Civil Aviation Organization Attempts Small ladies’ handbag Deep opening To strike a piece of stone sharply Deep-red variety of chalcedony Stay clear of Clobber Big Island flower necklace

53. 55. 57. 61. 64. 65. 67. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74.

Of the highest quality 2000 lbs. Flying nanny Aunt Polly’s wayward nephew Fully informed Type of brew County across Golden Gate Bridge A pariah avoided by others To Kill a Mockingbird author “_____ and well” A cold ____ of weather “____’s the word” Having no cover

22. 24. 25. 26. 27. 29. 31. 32. 33. 34. 36. 38. 42. 45. 49.

Exclamation of suspicion What prompter does She followed the white rabbit Lakes in Scotland Asimov or Mizrahi, e.g. Syrian neighbor Plural of #70 Across ____ signs Light shade of blue Girl from the Swiss Alps Comedy Central’s ____.O Corduroy, e.g. Phlegms Strong point Who ___ the prize?

51. 54. 56. 57.

Robin Hood or Eragon, e.g. Bible song African antelope Toot and Puddle or Frog and Toad, e.g. ____ & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship Bear with the biggest chair Pre-college school Appear Viking name Tear violently Romanian money Flanders of The Simpsons

58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 66. 68.

Your ad could be here! Sponsor the Puzzle Page! Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information.

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August 2012

Savvy Senior

Second Opinions: Why Many Seniors Don’t, but Should, Get One Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Are second medical opinions worth the trouble or risk of offending your doctor? And does Medicare cover them? – Nervous Nelly

(www.osteopathic.org) offer free doctorfinding services that list virtually every licensed physician in the U.S. Another good resource is Health Grades (www.healthgrades.com), which provides detailed reports on doctors for a small fee. Also see Vitals.com, a free service that lets you search for top-rated doctors based on their training, expertise, consumer ratings, and recommendations from other doctors.

Dear Nelly, Yes! A second opinion is good medicine and your right as a patient. Besides, good doctors welcome second opinions and will even offer referrals to help you get one. If they don’t, you probably ought to find another doctor. Here’s what you should know.

Online Advice

Second Opinions There’s a mountain of evidence that shows that second opinions save lives, prevent mistakes, and cut costs. Yet most older patients choose not to get them because they’re either afraid of offending their doctor, don’t want to hassle with it, or fear their insurance won’t cover it. But getting a second opinion from a different doctor may offer you a fresh perspective, new information, and additional options for treating your condition so you can make a more informed decision. Or, if the second doctor agrees with the first, it can give you reassurance. Who Pays

The key times you should seek a second opinion are when: • Your doctor suggests surgery. You should always question elective procedures, especially if a less invasive alternative is available. • You’re diagnosed with a life-threatening disease such as cancer or heart disease. • Your regular doctor can’t diagnose your problem. • You’re having trouble talking with your current doctor. • You’re having multiple medical problems.

Where to Look When you opt for a second opinion, you can ask your first doctor for a referral or, if that makes you uncomfortable, seek one on your own. Whatever route you choose, it’s best to go with a doctor that has extensive experience in treating your condition and one that’s affiliated with a different practice or hospital than your original doctor. Hospitals and practices can be set in their ways when it comes to treatments and are likely to offer similar advice. Physicians from research and teaching hospitals are smart choices, especially for rare or complicated conditions, because of their ongoing research and expertise in specific areas of medicine. To locate and research potential doctors, the American Medical Association (www.ama-assn.org) and the American Osteopathic Association

Savvy Tips: Before you get a second opinion, you’ll need to have your doctor’s office send your medical records ahead to the second doctor (you may have to pick them up and deliver them yourself ), and be sure he or she knows about your original diagnosis and the course of treatment recommended by your first doctor. If they disagree, you may want to seek that third opinion, or go back to your original doctor for further consultation. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org.

Puzzles shown on page 15

Puzzle Solutions

When to Ask

• You’re not getting any better.

In most cases, Medicare pays for second opinions under Part B and will even pay for a third opinion if the first two differ. Most Medicare Advantage plans also cover second opinions, but some plans will require a referral first from your primary physician.

If you have private insurance, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider.

If you’re having a hard time finding or getting to another doctor for a second opinion, consider the Internet. Yes, Webbased second opinions are now available from top medical centers that allow you to consult with medical experts regardless of where they’re located. The cost for this online advice ranges between $500 and $1,000 and is usually not covered by insurance or Medicare.

August 2012

50plus SeniorNews •

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50plus SeniorNews â&#x20AC;˘

August 2012

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Ms. PA Senior America Chosen

Have you photographed a smile that just begs to be shared? Send us your favorite smile—your children, grandchildren, friends, even your “smiling” pet!—and it could be 50plus Senior News’ next Smile of the Month! You can submit your photos (with captions) either digitally to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or by mail to:

50plus Senior News Smile of the Month 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Standing, from left, Marie Tennant, 2010 state winner; Inge Richard Kiebach, contestant; Peggy Pablon, contestant; Ilene Gentzler, state first runner up; Willie Breeze, contestant; Patti Kuhn, 2006 winner; and Barbara Ann de Leon, co-director and 2011 state winner.

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.

Seated, from left, Nannette Swanson, 2011 state winner; Kimberley Moore, Ms. Senior America 2010; Linda Bullock, 2012 state winner; Shirley Karinch, 2001 state winner; and Doris Ulrich, co-director and 2007 state winner.

Linda Bullock, 65, of Berks County was recently chosen Ms. Pennsylvania Senior America at the Elks Lodge in York. Bullock was chosen out of six contestants who competed for the title to compete in the national Ms. Senior America competition in Atlantic City at Harrah’s in October. The competition is open to women over the age of 60 who are U.S. citizens. Each contestant is expected to speak, sharing her philosophy of life; appear in an evening gown; and present her special talent for the audience.

Bullock volunteers her time to Alzheimer’s patients. Her duties for the next year in Pennsylvania will be to entertain and work with the Ms. Pennsylvania Senior America organization. Under the direction of two state directors, the Ms. Pennsylvania Senior America organization prepares programs for senior centers, nursing homes, and assisted living facilities in Pennsylvania. For further information, visit: www.mspennsylvaniasenioramerica.com or call Doris Ulrich, MSPA 2007 and co-director, at (717) 926-1322 or email dulrich@paonline.com.

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Humane League Pet of the Month Shockley Shockley is a big boy with an even bigger heart. This handsome German shepherd has a gorgeous black coat and gentle eyes that beg for your approval. Shockley accepts treats politely and obeys basic obedience commands. At 3 years old, Shockley is an active and athletic boy who will blossom in a home with owners who share his love of the outdoors. This outgoing pup loves playtime and is always up for adventure. He can’t wait to show off his good leash manners on a trot through the neighborhood or a fun hike through the woods. When the day’s activities wind to a close, Shockley will enjoy cuddling in close to steal a moment of affection at your side. Brought to the shelter as a stray over a month ago, Shockley longs for a home where he will once again be accepted and loved for his wonderful personality. Being the social butterfly that he is, Shockley enjoys frequent trips to our offsite adoption center located in That Fish Place, That Pet Place. If you are interested in meeting this handsome fellow, please feel free to call the Humane League to confirm where Shockley is anxiously waiting to meet you! Shockley ID No. 16283470 For more information, please contact the Humane League of Lancaster County at (717) 393-6551.

Richard H. Heisey Owner/Funeral Director Credit Cards Accepted • Handicap Accessible

216 S. Broad St., Lititz www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

(717) 626-2464 50plus SeniorNews •

August 2012

Salute to a Veteran

The Bomb Dump on Saipan Blew Up in His Face Robert D. Wilcox hen Huie Petty grew up in Illinois, he was part of a family of eight boys. Two of the boys died early. The other six all served in combat overseas during World War II … two in the Army, two in the Navy, and two in the Marines. Petty says, “I always wanted to be a Marine.” Of course, he didn’t know much about what a real Marine did. But, one day, he was about to find out. When World War II broke out, he promptly went to Chicago and enlisted in the Marine Corps. After boot camp in San Diego, he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division and shipped off to New Zealand. Why New Zealand? “Because,” he says, “the Japanese owned the rest of the Pacific. Even Australia had been bombed.” So the job of the Marines was to help take back the Pacific, a vast and highly

Corporal Huie Petty, after discharge from the Marine Corps at Quantico after World War II.

problematic job. After more training, the 2nd Division left for Guadalcanal to reinforce the 1st Marine Division and the Army troops who had driven the Japanese from the airfield that they then named Henderson Field. Guadalcanal was of immense strategic importance, since the Japanese who occupied it could attack supply routes between the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. The 1st Marines had suffered large losses in the invasion, and, by the time Petty and his division arrived, remaining resistance was from Japanese stragglers who, although virtually starving and existing by eating roots, still fought tenaciously, preferring to die rather than surrender. All told, 1,592 American troops died on Guadalcanal, and 4,183 were wounded. The Japanese lost 14,800 in

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August 2012

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battle and 9,000 from disease. The Japanese commander had told his Petty has today the pocket manual he troops, “It would take 1 million men 100 took from a dead Japanese soldier, years” to conquer Tarawa. It took the learning from a Japanese lady who Marines three days, although incurring translated it for him many years after the nearly 3,000 casualties. Of the 4,700 war that it was the Japanese Field Service Japanese defenders, only 17 survived. Code—Senjinkun—issued to Japanese The division was sent to Hawaii to soldiers. It specifically forbade retreat or recuperate for seven months; then they surrender. were sent to invade Saipan. It was Petty says, “The Japanese weren’t the supposed to be easy. There were no only danger on Guadalcanal, however. atolls, so the Higgins boats were able to Almost the entire division contracted approach the beach and drop the ramps malaria, and we were all returned to from which the troops streamed. Eight New Zealand to recuperate.” The whole thousand Marines were landed from division had it? “Well,” he says, “I never more than 300 LVTs during the first two knew anyone who didn’t have it.” hours after dawn on June 15, 1944. When they were fit again, it was on to The battle was fierce during the next Tarawa, a tiny atoll whose main island three weeks until it ended with a final was 2 miles long suicidal banzai but only 800 yards charge by 3,000 wide at the widest Japanese. Almost part. It was the entire garrison important because of at least 30,000 it had to be taken Japanese died, in order to launch while, of the the invasion of the 71,000 of our heavily defended troops who landed, Marianas Islands, 2,949 were killed which stood in the and 10,464 were way of our setting wounded. up forward air And it was there bases capable of that Petty’s war supporting ended. Exploding operations across ammo from a the mid-Pacific to bomb dump the Philippines and caused head into Japan. injuries and burst Tarawa proved A rubber boat like the one Petty manned in both his ear a horrible place to drums. With the assault on Tarawa during World War II. fight. Taking it blood streaming produced one of down his face, he the fiercest and bloodiest battles in was evacuated to a hospital in Hawaii … Marine Corps history. Anticipating an and then to the Marine Detachment at invasion, the Japanese had worked the Naval Academy in Annapolis, where intensely for nearly a year to fortify the he was an outpatient. island, building 500 pillboxes, many of He was selected to attend Officer which were reinforced with cement. Candidate School at Quantico, but Because of coral atolls that ringed the partway through, the atomic bombs island, the Higgins boats could approach dropped on Japan brought the war to an no closer than 1,000 yards from shore. end, and his training was terminated. From there, most of the Marines waded Petty left the Marines as a corporal and ashore through waist-deep water over entered the University of Maryland piercing, razor-sharp coral. Others School of Pharmacy. After a few years as boarded small, rubber boats and paddled a pharmacist, he became a medical a mile to the shore. representative of Sterling Drug for 25 Many Marines were lost in the effort years before retiring in 1977. to man those boats in the choppy water. A friend introduced him to a Petty was one of six Marines on one retirement home in Lancaster, where he such boat, and it took them a full six lives today with his collection of war hours to reach the beach just as night memorabilia. On the table sits his wellfell. worn cap with the legend, “Once a They entered by a lagoon other Marine, always a Marine.” Marines had cleared earlier. Japanese had When asked if that’s true, he looks at gone out to vessels that had been you sharply, and then with a thin smile destroyed by the coral reefs. There, they says, “You better believe it.” fired at the backs of the landing troops, Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in and, because it was now dark, lead was Europe in World War II. firing everywhere. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

DO YOU KINDLE? Step into a young, itinerant engineer’s world as he travels from state to state accepting cost reduction projects at manufacturing companies for a stay of 4 to 6 weeks. During job assignments he meets two young women near Decorah, Iowa, and one in Lancaster, PA. All of them like him very much and enjoy his company, but he will be leaving their towns in a few weeks, so ... Choices and Decisions by Carl Nilsen

This 365-page story is based on actual experiences ... with a dash of wishful thinking.

Available from Amazon.com KINDLE ($9.99) or Paperback ($20)

Do you have a friendly face? The 50plus EXPO committee is looking for volunteers to help at our 16th annual Lancaster County 50plus EXPO on Nov. 6, 2012, at the Lancaster Host Resort, 2300 Lincoln Highway East, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you could help greet visitors, stuff EXPO bags, or work at the registration desk, we would be glad to have you for all or just part of the day. Please call On-Line Publishers at (717) 285-1350..

“The 50plus EXPO always attracts an interested and engaged audience by featuring a wide variety of exhibitors from the area, under one roof, in a convenient, central location. The Citadel staff always meets lots of current and prospective members during the event.” Tom Gugerty Business Director Citadel Federal Credit Union

For more information, call 717.285.1350 or visit www.50plusExpoPA.com

50plus SeniorNews •

August 2012

GARDEN

from page 1

She has very fond memories of those summers, including times picking blackberries that would later be used to make baked goods. It is from her experiences on her brother’s farm that McNichol believes her interest in flower gardening comes. After their marriage, McNichol and her husband, Bill, lived in an apartment, which limited McNichol’s ability to garden. Eventually, they moved into a house on the south shore of Long Island, where McNichol was able to put in an expansive garden that included flowers, vegetables, and grapes. “People would come by and remark that I had a beautiful garden,” said McNichol. When the company that Bill had worked for in New York went bankrupt, the couple relocated to Pennsylvania, where McNichol became involved with the local garden club—and she was no ordinary member. McNichol has held almost every position available at the club, from secretary to vice president. “You name it, I did it,” McNichol said. What makes McNichol such a valuable asset to the garden club is her ability to organize and champion many of the group’s largest initiatives. In the winter of 2010, an area company that has produced gardening tools since the 1700s, asked for help with a community garden project. The company had $100,000 and a 1.7-acre plot of empty land next to its temporary headquarters. The CEO of the company at the time had envisioned using the money and the land to establish a community garden that the garden club would then manage and maintain. The garden contains 127 raised beds and is outfitted with hoses, connected to the water lines of the corporate office building, and a gardening shed filled with all the tools a gardener could possibly need. Community gardeners, therefore, need only bring their seeds and a willingness to work to have a successful plot. A set of rules and regulations was established and gardeners signed up for a specified plot. In addition, she helped organize bimonthly gardening talks, inviting local gardening experts to give lectures and hold discussions for the community garden members. “It turned out to be an incredible success,” McNichol said. “We had no idea we would be able to fill [all the plots] up. We opened up May 1, and by

YWCA Junior Gardeners showing the fruits (or veggies) of their labor at the Ribbon Cutting Day ceremony in June 2012.

Flowers and vegetable plants coexist happily at the Penn-Cumberland Garden Club’s community garden at the Ames True Temper site.

The garden is outfitted with hoses that are connected to the water lines of the corporate office building, which help the gardeners enjoy prolific yields from their plots.

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May 31, there was not a plot left in the garden. As of now, we have a three-year waiting list.” After her success with that garden project, McNichol was asked to act as chairman for the garden club’s Junior Gardening Committee. McNichol agreed, on the condition that she could establish a garden at a community nonprofit organization so she could work with inner-city youth. McNichol worked with the staff at the nonprofit organization to apply for funding for the garden. After receiving a private family donation, they were able to put in a number of garden plots, surrounded by a split rail fence with rabbit proofing. McNichol and her class of 30 students, ranging from kindergarteners to sixth graders, tend the plots. In addition to gardening, McNichol’s students are exposed to a world of information about the environment and how it works. Their projects have included building birdhouses and maintaining a worm farm and compost pile to help fertilize the garden plots. Thanks to some shelving donated by Home Depot, the class was able to begin growing plants indoors over the winter of 2011 and has since moved them outside. “They made wonderful arrangements out of greens and flowers that they brought home during Christmastime,” McNichol said. The students also received information about nutrition from Giant Foods’ nutritionist. They even had a class dedicated to sampling fruits and vegetables, many of them unique and new to the children. The students were asked to close their eyes and eat a piece of the fruit or vegetable, focusing on the texture and taste. They then wrote poems about the experience. The class has also been enjoying the fruits of their labor. “The children have already been eating what they have been growing,” McNichol said. She is very proud of her class and all that they have learned, including the basic principles of permaculture (a method of sustainable living that can be applied to countless aspects of human life). McNichol receives the loving support of her husband, Bill, and son, Tim. Tim is a professional beach volleyball player who has inherited his mother’s love of flowers. McNichol is certain that when he settles down and marries, he will have a beautiful garden of his own.

August 2012

Dauphin

Lancaster Lebanon York

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Book Review

Raw Nerves By Saralee Perel

ape Cod psychiatrist Dr. Sophie Green is a hypochondriac and a compulsive eater who comically quells her conflicts with leftovers. Now, Sophie has a problem of her own: One of her patients wants her dead. There’s Elizabeth, whose abusive husband blames Sophie for his wife’s independence. There’s Gracie, who is involved with a menacingly brilliant psychiatrist, and there’s Charlie, a man with obsessive-compulsive disorder who thinks he’s in love with Sophie. This is not your classic whodunit. For more information, visit her

website, www.saraleeperel.com. Raw Nerves is available via Amazon.com. About the Author Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist. She is a regular contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul and has been published in many of the nation’s leading magazines and newspapers, including 50plus Senior News. Although Saralee, a psychotherapist, claims that the central character, a neurotic psychiatrist, is not autobiographically inspired, readers who know her insist she is lying.

Calling All Authors If you have written and published a book and would like 50plus Senior News to feature a Book Review, please submit a synopsis of the book (350 words or fewer) and a short autobiography (80 words or fewer). A copy of the book is required for review. Discretion is advised. Please send to: On-Line Publishers, Inc., Megan Joyce, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512. For more information, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com.

Travel Safety Tips When you’re traveling, whether on business or vacation, your hotel should be a safe sanctuary. But thieves can rob you of your security along with your valuables unless you’re careful. Take these simple precautions to prevent your trip or vacation from becoming a nightmare: Pick the safest room. Generally, higher rooms are safer from thieves and criminals. Though if you’re nervous about fires or other possible emergencies, you may want to be closer to the ground where rescue is more practical. Check your security. Make sure the doors are secure, self-closing, and lock automatically. Deadbolts should have at least a 1-inch bolt. Make sure your windows close and lock firmly and that any balconies can’t be accessed from the room next door. Don’t be afraid to ask www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

for another room if necessary. Watch your valuables. Before leaving on your trip, photocopy your credit cards and other documents, and take pictures of any jewelry or valuables you’re bringing with you (if you must bring them at all.) This will come in handy if they’re lost or stolen. Don’t let your luggage out of your sight. Take your laptop and other important items with you when you leave the room, or lock them in the hotel safe. Know where you are. Pick up a few business cards in the lobby when you check in, and keep them with you at all times. Leave one near your room phone as well. A large city may have more than one Westin or Sheraton, and if you get lost or need to tell someone where you are, you want to have accurate information readily available.

September 8, 2012 City Island, Harrisburg Registration at 8:30 a.m. • Walk at 10:30 a.m.

September 15, 2012 Morgan Cousler Park, York Registration at 9:30 a.m. • Walk at 11 a.m.

September 22, 2012 Long’s Park, Lancaster Registration at 8 a.m. • Walk at 10:30 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

50plus SeniorNews •

August 2012

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