Lancaster County 50plus LIFE December 2019

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Complimentary | Lancaster County Edition

December 2019 • Vol. 24 No. 12

hat to see w 3 e g a p .

Go to o for you we can d

ensee endent Lic p e d In n a eCross is sociation Capital Blu Cross BlueShield As of the Blue

Elevate Your Expectations page 4

Military Shopping Benefits Expanded page 9

Special Section: Ortho & Pain page 16

Our troops deserve our help and to know they aren’t forgotten!

Keystone Military Families, a PA-based nonprofit, encourages you to brighten the holidays for our troops overseas by sponsoring a care package!

y ni 10 v e th rs ar

Sierra Club-Lancaster Group Polar Bear 5K Trail Run/Hike Date: Saturday, January 18, 2020 Race Start: 10 A.M.

Dogs on a leash are welcome!

Location: Lancaster County Central Park Pavilion 22 (Kiwanis Lodge)

Thousands of essential items have been received for veterans, but monetary donations to defray shipping costs are desperately needed.

Sending 10,000 stockings to troops all over the world.

Registered 501c-3

Please send your monetary donation by Dec. 15 The cost for one box is $27-$77, depending on the destination.

We need your help to make this happen!

An

Support the Troops This Holiday Season!

Donations can be made online at www.KeystoneMilitaryFamilies.org or mail checks to:

Keystone Military Families 331 Main Street, Shoemakersville, PA 19555

For more information, visit KeystoneMilitaryFamilies.org, call (610) 698-2122, or email keystonemilitary@yahoo.com.

Unique prizes and colorful ribbons will be awarded to the overall top three male and female finishers, the fastest runners in numerous age and gender categories, and the first three finishers (any age group) who race with dogs.

There’ll also be door and dog prizes for this milestone event.

Race fees: $25 through Dec. 25; $30 after this date through Jan. 17, 2020; and $35 for walk-ins on race day • Packet pickup available Jan. 17, 4-8 p.m., at Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lancaster.

• T-shirts are guaranteed for all people who register by Jan. 4, 2020.

• Proceeds benefit the Sierra Club — Lancaster Group’s green project grant program, as well as its environmental cleanup and education efforts in Lancaster County.

To register online or for more details, email SierraClubEvent@gmail.com, visit www.lancastersierraclub.org, or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sierraclublancaster.

By participating in this race you will be making tracks for change!

J O I N U S T H I S H O L I D AY S E A S O N !

DUTCH APPLE GIFT CERTIFICATES Sarah Rose Davis and Eric Ankrim in the 5th Avenue Theatre’s production of Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn. Photo by Mark and Tracy Photography.

ALWAYS GET A

STANDING OVATION! NOV 14, 2019  JAN 4, 2020 Based on the classic film with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, Holiday Inn is a whole year of holidays in one wonderful musical!

It features thrilling dance numbers, laugh-out-loud comedy, and a parade of Irving Berlin hits. Celebrate each holiday, from Thanksgiving to the Fourth of July in this heartwarming, high energy, tap dancing extravaganza!

Call 717.898.1900 or order online at DutchApple.com 510 Centerville Road • Lancaster, PA 17601 2

December 2019

50plus LIFE •

www.50plusLifePA.com

On Life and Love after 50

Tom Blake

The Importance of Appreciation in Relationships

Recently, a friend, age 72, said to me, “It will be nice to be appreciated by someone rather than be taken for granted. What’s your opinion?”

He was referring to a relationship that he had recently terminated. He and I had discussed the relationship three times previously. I felt I had heard enough information about his situation to intelligently respond to his question.

His decision had been difficult for him, one he pondered time and time again — because he cared about her — but each time he thought about it, he reached the same conclusion: He wasn’t being appreciated.

I said to him: “From what you’ve shared with me, it appears you tried hard to make the relationship work. You were always doing nice things for her. And, you accommodated her expressed wishes to dine in upscale restaurants, drink expensive wine, and stay in pricey hotels when you traveled together.

“Expressing appreciation to a mate, or actually, anyone, is a considerate, thoughtful, and kind act. It shows you are grateful for their efforts.

“People like to be recognized. When they do something nice for a mate, regardless of how small or minor, it’s good to hear that what they did was appreciated. Appreciation and recognition can go a long way to strengthen relationships.

“When people are appreciated, they will keep looking for ways to please their mates, because appreciation and recognition are positive taps on the shoulder. But, with your former woman friend, you didn’t get those shoulder taps. As you said, she was taking your kindness for granted.

“When people take their mates for granted, and don’t notice or appreciate the little things done for them, relationships can be adversely affected. That’s what happened with you.

“A lack of appreciation from a mate might be a red flag that the mate doesn’t care enough about the relationship. That doesn’t mean the mate is a bad person; it could be as simple as the mate isn’t in love.

“When a mate doesn’t appreciate you, and that behavior repeats itself, you may say to yourself: ‘I won’t take being treated that way anymore.’

“Lack of appreciation creates disappointment and disillusionment. When it happens too often to a person, he or she may slowly stop caring. The relationship suffers. It’s like decay in a tooth. Let it go long enough without remedial action, and you’ll lose it.

“I’ve written about new singles making a list of the qualities they require in a mate. High on their lists should be a partner who appreciates them. In return, they must do the same for the new partner. Appreciation works both ways in relationships.

“Your decision to move on was, in my opinion, what was best for www.50plusLifePA.com

you. Moving on is always hard, but when it’s the right thing to do, you’ve got to do it. All you wanted was appreciation; it wasn’t forthcoming.”

Lesson for all seniors in relationships: If you appreciate receiving appreciation, don’t overlook giving it. It’s a powerful love tool.

For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www.findingloveafter50.com.

BlueJourney Seminar Dates and Locations:

Dec. 3, 10 a.m. • Eden Resort, 222 Eden Road, Lancaster 17601 Dec. 4, 10 a.m. • Wisehaven Event Center, 2985 E. Prospect Road, York 17402 Jan. 9, 10 a.m. • Hampton Inn York, 1550 Mt. Zion Road, York 17402 Jan. 15, 10 a.m. • Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster 17601

BlueJourney Products Offer You: • • • •

Plans starting at $0 No referrals required $800 hearing benefit Dental coverage that includes dentures

Call now to reserve a seat at a seminar, or to learn more about how Capital BlueCross can get you the coverage you deserve!

1-888-989-9015 (TTY: 711) 8 a.m.– 6 p.m., Monday–Friday

BlueJourney PPO is offered by Capital Advantage Insurance Company®, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. BlueJourney HMO is offered by Keystone Health Plan® Central, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in BlueJourney PPO and BlueJourney HMO depends on contract renewal. Capital BlueCross and its subsidiaries Capital Advantage Insurance Company, Capital Advantage Assurance Company and Keystone Health Plan Central are independent licensees of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. Communications issued by Capital BlueCross in its capacity as administrator of programs and provider relations for all companies. You must continue to pay your Medicare Part B premium.

This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, copayments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits, premiums and/or copayments may change on January 1 of each year. The formulary, pharmacy and/or provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary.

Y0016_MK18_50plusAd Accepted

50plus LIFE •

December 2019

3

Cover Story

Elevate Your Expectations

Corporate Office

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

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL

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

ART DEPARTMENT Project Coordinator Renee McWilliams Production Artists Connie Molitor Lauren Phillips

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Senior Marketing Consultants Joshua Binkley Jennifer Schmalhofer Angie Willis Marketing Consultant Cassidy Galeone Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

Awards

50plus LIFE is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature.

Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.

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December 2019

50plus LIFE •

By Jason J. Tabor “Embrace your age! at WGAL 8 in Lancaster, Nobody wants to talk where she was a morning about how old they are, anchor, talk show host, but I love talking about and assignment reporter. it,” laughs Soni Dimond After establishing on a recent phone herself as a popular conversation discussing and respected local her life, her passions, and personality on TV, her whirlwind career.

Dimond was approached She recently celebrated by representatives in nd her 62 birthday Harrisburg to oversee and took the time to public relations and media reflect on an inspiring for the newly created career trajectory Pennsylvania Department that has included of Environmental stints in television, Resources. public relations, book She spent two years authorship, executive working for the state training, and modeling government before and most recently landed becoming a producer for her a job as a producer on Commonwealth Media WHTM 27’s Good Day Service, working on video PA show. promotional content A Dauphin County for various government native, Dimond has lived agencies and providing in various places around public speaking coaching the country but has for top government called Lancaster home officials. for close to 25 years She would then move Dimond on the set of Good Day PA. with her husband, Kevin to Washington, D.C., Martorana, a video production company owner. where she worked as a public affairs specialist for She recalls herself as an outgoing, energetic the labor union AFSCME, doing public relations, majorette during her high school years, more television, and radio ads on the national stage. interested in the arts than science, and heavily In 1995, Dimond started a new chapter in her life involved in the school theater when she enrolled at when she married her longtime friend and partner, Gettysburg College to study English.

Kevin Martorana. The couple returned to central Dimond’s affinity for the growing field of media Pennsylvania, where Dimond served as the manager studies led to a college internship at local television of media relations for the Pennsylvania Chamber station WTPA 27 (now ABC affiliate WHTM), of Business and Industry, the largest business which would then lead to her becoming one of the organization in Pennsylvania. first female TV anchors in the area.

In 2003, Dimond formed her own media “It was an amazing experience! Here I was going coaching, public relations, and marketing company to college full-time, getting paid to be on-air as a called Soni Dimond Multifaceted. She counts weekend anchor, running back and forth between among some of her local high-profile clients the station and campus … I’m not sure when I former Jeopardy! champion Brad Rutter and High found time to sleep,” she remembers.

Companies chairman and philanthropist S. Dale Her experiences as an intern opened doors to an High. industry that had previously been dominated by She has authored two books in her Life’s a Pitch men. series about marketing and PR; earned multiple “I really fell in love with TV during my professional awards, including Best 50 Women in internship, and I learned a lesson that I try to Business in Pennsylvania; and served as a board impart to people to this day: When you have a member of the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the passion for something, you can really become National Multiple Sclerosis Society. unstoppable,” she says.

“One of my favorite things about this business is For six years, Dimond worked in local television please see Elevate page 15 full-time, first at WHTM in Harrisburg and then www.50plusLifePA.com

Tom & Randi LaNasa “MEMORY MUSIC”

Happy Holidays!

Attention: RETIREMENT HOMES, CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS.

We at On-Line Publishers, Inc. are grateful to our dedicated staff, loyal readers, and supportive advertisers who have all enabled us to continue our mission to serve the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50+ community in 2019.

Now booking our Christmas, variety, and specialty shows for 2019.

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

We have many variety shows featuring the music from the 1930s to the 60s.

Songs by legendary artists like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Kay Starr, Dean Martin, Patsy Cline, and the Mills Brothers.

Looking for entertainment?

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

Specialty shows include …

Songs from the WWII Years • The Post WWII Years: 1945 – 1955 AMERICA: From Sea to Shining Sea Salute to the Rat Pack (or if you prefer, just Sinatra) Elvis & Patsy • Classic Country Please contact Memory Music to book your next event!

Phone: (717) 846-6126

E-mail: memrymusic@aol.com

People are talking about us...

“A solid publication that is full of personality and useful information.”

“Columnists bring a wide set of interests and viewpoints.”

“The emphasis on variety seems to be a smart way to satisfy a diverse audience.”

On-line Publishers and 50plus LIFE just won 6 awards from the North American Mature Publishers Association!

50plus LIFE:

50plus Living:

• First Place: General Excellence

• OLP’s annual guide to residence and care options for the 50+ community won first place in its division in the Annual Senior Resource Guide or Directory – Design category.

• First Place: Best Overall Design • First Place: Front Cover Photo • First Place: Profile – “On Wings and Waves, His Life’s Path Led to Pa.” by Jason Tabor

Resource Directory for Caregivers, Aging, and the Disabled: • Produced in seven distinct county editions annually, the Resource Directory won second place in its division in the Annual Senior Resource Guide or Directory – Design category.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. • 3912 Abel Drive • Columbia, PA 17512 • 717-285-1350 www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE •

December 2019

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Tinseltown Talks

A Lassie Christmas with Jon Provost Nick Thomas

During the seven years Jon Provost starred as little Timmy Martin in the CBS TV series Lassie from 1957 to 1964, several end-ofyear Christmas episodes aired. Most still stand out in Provost’s mind for one reason.

“The crazy thing is we would be filming a Christmas episode during summer in Photo provided by Jon Provost.

Southern California, Provost and Lassie pose where it was 90 for a Christmas episode. degrees,” said Provost from his home north of San Francisco.

“We were all bundled up like it was 30 degrees and just dying from the heat. But of course, you kept acting and did what had to be done for the episode.”

In the 1961 episode “Yochim’s Christmas,” where Timmy, Lassie, and a friend rescue a man trapped under an Photo provided by Jon Provost. overturned sleigh, there Jon Provost, June Lockhart, Hugh Reilly, was plenty of “snow” and Lassie pose for a Christmas photo. used for the scene.

“It was fake, of course,” explained Provost. “For snow on the ground, a machine almost like a firetruck was used to spray soap suds all over the hillside. We would have to shoot scenes before the suds turned back to liquid.

“Knowing that, if you go back and look at the episode again, you’ll notice it’s not really behaving like real snow.”

A different technique was employed for scenes depicting snowing.

“They would use little shreds of white plastic dropped from above that would appear like snowflakes coming down or landing on our clothes. That was the magic of Hollywood before computer-generated images.”

A frequent guest at autograph shows and classic film/TV events, Provost says he still gets asked the same questions about Lassie.

“People have the perception that we had three or four dogs on the set at the same time to do different things, but that was not the case. Rudd Weatherwax, Lassie’s owner and trainer, would only allow one real Lassie on the set at a time, although Lassie did have a double that was used for long shots like running, climbing, or swimming.”

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December 2019

50plus LIFE •

Photo provided by Jon Provost.

Provost, as Timmy Martin, watches crew make artifical snow made on set for a Christmas episode.

Photo provided by Jon Provost.

Provost displays a copy of his autobiography with the help of a couple of four-legged friends.

Provost worked with three different Lassies during his time on the show, and all were males rather than the females portrayed in the series.

Then there’s the running joke of Timmy falling down a well and being rescued by Lassie. It remains one of those Hollywood legends that just don’t seem to die, even after Provost penned his 2009 memoir with its tongue-in-cheek title Timmy’s in the Well: The Jon Provost Story, disproving the myth that his character ever disappeared down a well (see www. jonprovost.com).

“When I wrote my autobiography with my wife, Laurie, I looked through the synopsis of all 249 half-hour episode scripts, and there was no mention of Timmy ever falling into a well,” he said, adding its origin remains a

mystery. “But that one will follow me forever!”

Although it’s been six decades since the series first aired in 1954, reruns of the adventures of Lassie and Timmy still air in dozens of countries, including in the U.S. on cable.

As for the Christmas episodes, stories typically tugged on viewers’ heartstrings, such as “The Christmas Story” from 1960, where Timmy helped a homeless family.

“People tell me all the time about growing up with Lassie and the warm feeling they still have about the show,” says Provost. “The stories had morals and values attached to all the episodes, which are lacking in today’s television. I think that’s the reason it has retained its appeal.”

Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 750 magazines and newspapers.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Heating Assistance Program Now Open Residents who are struggling with their home heating bills can apply for assistance from the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally funded program that helps individuals and families pay their heating bills through home heating energy assistance grants.

It also provides crisis grants to help in the event of an emergency or if a resident is in danger of losing his or her heat due to broken equipment, lack of fuel, or termination of utility service.

The income eligibility guidelines for LIHEAP are set at 150% of the federal poverty income level. For example, the income limit for an individual is $18,735; for a couple, the limit is $25,365; and for a family of four, it is $38,625.

Residents may apply for LIHEAP online (www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/ heatingassistanceliheap) or by contacting their county assistance office.

County Assistance Offices Chester County

100 James Buchanan Drive, Thorndale (610) 466-1042

Lancaster County

832 Manor St., Lancaster (717) 299-7543

Cumberland County

Lebanon County

Dauphin County

York County

33 Westminster Drive, Carlisle (717) 240-2700

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130 N. Duke St., York (800) 991-0929

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Lancaster County Office of Aging Maintaining the independence and quality of life for seniors through information, services, and protection since 1974.

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

Melinda Myers (Melinda’s Garden)

Suzy Cohen (Dear Pharmacist)

Robert Naeye (Soldier Stories)

Andrea Gross (Traveltizers)

Victor Parachin (Grief Relief)

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

Saralee Perel (Such is Life) Mark Rinaudo (Tech Talk) Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser)

John Johnston (Social Security News)

Terri Schlichenmeyer (The Bookworm Sez)

Bill Levine (Booming Voice) Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature)

625 S. Eighth St., Lebanon (717) 273-1641

2432 N. Seventh St., Harrisburg (717) 265-8919

Thank You, Columnists!

Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior)

Nick Thomas (Tinseltown Talks) Dr. Lori Verderame (Art and Antiques)

It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors and freelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available to read each month. The pages of 50plus LIFE are enriched by your contributions.

About Us – The Lancaster County Office of Aging (LCOA) was established 45 years ago as a result of the passage of the Older Americans Act. This act directed states to develop a network of services and supports to help keep older adults healthy and independent.

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging was created to fulfill this mandate. In turn, a network of 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) was established throughout the commonwealth to carry out this mission at the local level.

Funding for aging-related services is a combination of state and federal monies, with the Pennsylvania Lottery providing the major source of funding.

In Lancaster County, the AAA is part of county government. We are dedicated to providing Lancaster County residents, 60 years of age and older, with a wide range of informational resources and services as well as advocacy efforts and elder abuse protection.

The LCOA offers the following services:

Our Philosophy: u

Support

the older person’s right to decide his/her own destiny. Encourage consumer self-determination and choice.

• Information and referral services • Long-term living assessments • H ome and community-based support services

u

Support

the older person’s right to risk.

• Protection from abuse and neglect

u

Promote

independence and dignity.

• A PPRISE, Medicare, and related health insurance counseling

u

Avoid

unnecessary/inappropriate institutionalization.

• Senior center services

• • • • • • • •

Adult daily living services Caregiver support Employment Ombudsman services Transportation Legal services Health and wellness programming Volunteer opportunities

For more information, please call us Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 717-299-7979/1-800-801-3070, visit our website at www.lancoaging.org, or email aging@co.lancaster.pa.us. www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE •

December 2019

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March 31, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Hotel York 2000 Loucks Road, York

This event is FREE to attend.

Veterans (of all ages), the military community, and their families are invited to join us!

The Expo brings federal, state, and local agencies together with area businesses to provide information and resources to veterans and their families.

The Job Fair brings veterans and spouses who need jobs together with employers who can benefit from this rich source of talent to aid their organizations.

At the Expo

Veterans Benefits & Services Medical/Nonmedical Resources Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services

At the Job Fair

Employers Job Counseling Workshops Employment Seminars Resume Writing Assistance Hosted by:

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

www.veteransexpo.com (717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com

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December 2019

50plus LIFE •

www.50plusLifePA.com

By Karen Jowers

3 Million More People Will Get Military Shopping Benefits in 2020

Starting Jan. 1, all service-connected disabled veterans, Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, and primary veteran caregivers will be eligible to shop at commissaries and exchanges, and officials from three federal agencies are preparing the way.

The newly eligible customers will also be able to use certain morale, welfare, and recreation activities.

It’s the largest patronage expansion in more than 60 years, said Virginia Penrod, principal deputy assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs, who spoke at a meeting of the American Logistics Association earlier this year.

The departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security have been planning for the expansion for more than six months, with four teams totaling about 70 people.

The fiscal 2019 National Defense Authorization Act expanded the pool of eligible shoppers. Because the expansion also applies to Coast Guard facilities, the Department of Homeland Security has been involved.

The law also included Medal of Honor recipients, but they already had shopping privileges. Previously, veterans with 100% service-connected disabilities were able to shop; now, all with service-connected disabilities can shop.

The benefit extends to Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs that are “revenue-generating facilities,” according to the law.

The expansion is about a 50% increase in customers. Currently, about 6 million total households are eligible for the benefit; this adds 3 million, said Justin Hall, director of the Department of Defense office of MWR and Resale Policy.

“That’s a huge lift across the entire system,” he said.

The impact assessments generally show there will be a low-to-moderate impact on military stores overall, said Penrod.

But she called on representatives of industry for their help to make sure the supply chain “remains responsive to the increased sales volume to ensure no out-of-stock situations occur” at stores in states with high populations of disabled veterans and in states with higher cost of living.

These new shoppers generally don’t have access to military bases. Officials have decided the best form of identification for these groups:

have scanning-swipe capability, he said.

Currently there are about 30,000 VA caregivers who will qualify for this benefit, but over the next several years the number could potentially grow to about 250,000, Patrick noted.

Credit Card Fee These new customers will pay a fee for using a credit card at commissaries, except for the military resale system’s Military Star card. The amount of the fee has not yet been determined.

By law, this expansion can’t include extra costs associated with using credit cards in commissaries; the cost must be passed on to the customer. Except for the Military Star card, credit card companies charge transaction fees to retailers when customers use their credit cards.

The fee applies only to new patrons using credit cards in commissaries, not to Medal of Honor recipients or others who were previously authorized to shop.

New customers can avoid the fee by paying by cash or check or by using the Military Star card. The fee only applies at the commissary, which is funded primarily by taxpayer dollars.

Reprinted with permission from MilitaryTimes (www.militarytimes.com).

We Want YOU! •K orean war veterans (of all service branches) who served anywhere in the world 1950–1955 • Veterans (of all service branches) who served in Korea 1945–present

Disabled and other eligible veterans: For access into the installation, and for access to the stores, they’ll use the veterans health ID card, Patrick said.

Officials have enabled technology at the front gate to scan those veteran cards, and commissary officials have adjusted their technology to enable systems to read the veterans health ID card.

Caregivers: The process will be different, initially, Patrick said, since caregivers are not directly affiliated with DoD or VA other than through their annual appointment to be a caregiver.

The benefit applies to the primary caregiver of wounded/injured veterans who are registered in the Department of Veterans Affairs caregiver program.

The VA will post a memo to VA.gov for caregivers, to be used for access at the front gate, along with a driver’s license or other authorized form of ID. The VA process will later transition to a caregiver-type ID card, which will www.50plusLifePA.com

The mission of the KWVA/USA is to defend our nation. Care for our veterans. Perpetuate our legacy. remember our missing and fallen. Maintain our memorial.

Support a free Korea.

Come and enjoy the camaraderie of your fellow veterans at a monthly meeting of the local chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association (KWVA).

We meet on the second Wednesday of each month at Wood Crest Villa — Eagle Commons, 2001 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601, starting with lunch at noon. This invitation includes spouses/companions and drivers. There is no charge for attendance. Dress code is casual.

We currently have 90+ registered members. Come join us. Hopefully, you will find it habit forming.

For more information call: Bill Kelley, VP (717) 560-9424

50plus LIFE •

December 2019

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Soldier Stories

Robert Naeye

Dead on the Drawing Board: The Controversial ‘Atomic Canal’

Like many young men of military age, Ken Weiler was fully prepared to serve in Vietnam. He had enlisted in the Army, received extensive training in tank warfare, and received orders to be shipped overseas.

But while on a two-week leave at home, he and his family received terrible news: Weiler’s older brother Alain had been killed in action in Vietnam.

Shortly thereafter, the Army notified Weiler that he was being granted a compassionate reassignment, meaning he was not permitted to enter a combat zone for a full year.

This photo of Weiler in uniform Weiler would avoid the risks was taken during his last days serving in the U.S. Army. of Vietnam, but this did not mean his remaining 2 ½ years of service would be dull. Among other things, he became involved in a project to use nuclear explosives to dig a new canal across Central America.

Weiler was born in the Bronx in July 1948 to an American father and a French-Canadian mother. He enjoyed a normal childhood on Long Island, playing baseball, football, and war games.

His father served in the Marines in World War II and had been wounded during the invasion of Saipan. But like many veterans, he rarely talked about his experiences.

An indifferent student, Weiler eventually found his true passion: military history. He devoured books about warfare, especially tank combat.

Weiler admits that he was drifting after graduating from Hempstead High School in 1966. He was taking the easiest possible courses at Nassau Community College to boost his grade-point average.

Realizing that many of his friends were receiving draft notices, Weiler decided “to beat the Selective Service to the punch” by enlisting in the Army in 1968.

“I went into the military rather than getting into trouble. The Army was the best possible thing that happened to me,” he recalls.

Better yet, by enlisting for three years instead of being drafted, he could join the branch specialty that fascinated him since childhood: the heavy armor.

Weiler was sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, for basic training and then to Fort Knox, Kentucky, for armor school. For Weiler, this training was like a childhood fantasy, where stories from his history books turned into reality.

“Driving and firing the Army’s main battle tanks, the M-48 and M-60 models, was a lot of fun for a 19-year-old,” he says.

Weiler traveled home to Hempstead, Long Island, for a two-week leave before he was scheduled to go to Fort Ord in California, where he would then be shipped to Vietnam.

It was in Hempstead that he learned the tragic news about his older brother,

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whom Weiler looked up to for guidance and inspiration. Weiler says Alain was “very religious.”

Alain was thinking of going into the priesthood but joined the Army to save the world from “godless communism.”

“I was so numb with all the levels of shock. I would just sit there and stare at the wall,” says Weiler, who is quick to add that despite his sense of trauma and sadness, he never felt helplessness.

After the funeral, the Army reassigned Weiler to Fort Belvoir in northern Virginia, not far from Washington, D.C. To Weiler, his new assignment Weiler is working on his fourth book made no sense. He reported to on the military history of World War II. the Department of Engineering & Military Science in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He never saw a tank in his two years there.

“Perhaps it was just the Army way of doing things,” he says.

Life at Fort Belvoir was much cushier than anything he had previously experienced. The food was good and plentiful, and the living accommodations were comfortable, with modern air conditioning.

The officers and enlisted men were highly educated engineers or involved in engineer training. Most were involved in projects such as building bridges and dams.

Weiler was assigned to type notes in meetings involving the most interesting and controversial project of all.

The Navy was building aircraft carriers and ships that could no longer fit through the Panama Canal. The Department of Defense was considering building a new canal through the small nation of Nicaragua, taking advantage of its large lake (Lake Nicaragua) to minimize construction.

What made the project controversial was the idea of detonating nuclear munitions from decommissioned warheads to excavate a trench.

“The engineering plan was conceived that the exploding nuclear charge would cause a vacant chamber to be created by the melting soil, which would then collapse, forming a crater. The series of craters would then form the canal,” Weiler recalls. “I thought it was the coolest project in the world.”

According to the plan, the liquefied soil would chill to form a hardened shell, which would prevent radiation from leaking to the surface.

But the project never really got off the drawing board.

“When news of the atomic canal reached public consciousness, the response was overwhelmingly negative, and there were few congressional supporters for the project. As such, the atomic canal died a slow and quiet death,” Weiler says.

Six months before his enlistment ended in February 1971, and after being please see Atomic Canal on next page

www.50plusLifePA.com

Grief Relief

You Can Grieve and Remain Optimistic Victor M. Parachin

Though you are grieving the death of someone greatly loved, try to remember that you can grieve and, at the same time, you can remain optimistic about life.

Dealing with loss skillfully means grieving fully while continuing to be positive, hopeful, and optimistic. Here are eight things optimists do regularly.

1. They express gratitude. When people were told to write and then personally deliver a letter of gratitude to someone who had been especially kind to them, but whom they had never thanked properly, they experienced a huge increase in happiness, according to a study at the University of Pennsylvania.

Even more, that happiness boost lasted an entire month.

2. They smile more. Smiling does more than make us look happy — it makes us feel happy, too.

Studies have found that smiling provides a variety of psychological and physical benefits including:

lowering stress levels, improving your mood, and helping you make more friends.

Researchers believe this is because smiling reduces stress hormones and makes you appear more approachable.

3. They forgive. Although it may be easier said than done, learning to forgive instead of holding a grudge leads to a more positive lifestyle, says David Mezzapelle, author of Contagious Optimism.

“Make peace with your past so that it won’t spoil the present. Once you accomplish this, you will close those chapters and live a more positive and happy life.”

4. They write down good things that come into their lives. Those who pay attention to the positive and write down the good that comes their way tend to be happier, notes psychologist Amy Przeworski, Ph.D. Even if it wasn’t a particularly great day, try to find something positive to say about it, she advises. please see Grieve page 21

Atomic Canal from previous page promoted to staff sergeant, Weiler was transferred to the Pentagon to serve with the Safeguard Anti-Ballistic Missile Project.

He had very little work to do but sometimes helped write reports for congressional aides. But this missile system was never built, mainly because the U.S. and the Soviet Union agreed to reduce their nuclear stockpiles.

During his time at Fort Belvoir, Weiler met a woman from central Pennsylvania named Sally. They married in 1972, shortly after he left the Army. Sally worked in the intelligence community.

Weiler later earned an undergraduate degree from George Mason University and then a graduate degree from the University of Virginia. In 2003, Weiler and his wife moved to their current home in central Pennsylvania. He worked various jobs, including management, until his retirement in 2008.

In recent years, Weiler has fulfilled yet another childhood fantasy: writing three books about World War II. He has taken particular interest in the Soviet-German conflict, by far the largest, deadliest, and most consequential front in the war.

Weiler is quick to point out a truth that many Americans fail to realize: the Red Army killed far more German soldiers and destroyed far more Nazi equipment than did their American and British counterparts.

Weiler is currently working on his fourth book (https://weilerpublications. com/meet-ken). He is happy to have plenty of spare time to work on his book projects, participate in his local historical society, and volunteer at the Eisenhower National Historic Site in Gettysburg. He also gives lectures on military history.

Robert Naeye visited Nicaragua for several days in February 2013 and took a twohour boat ride on Lake Nicaragua. He’s glad no canal was ever built there with atomic bombs.

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50plus LIFE •

December 2019

11

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

Bethany Village — MapleWood

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

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

Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community

1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102 717-221-7901 • www.homelandcenter.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 56 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes

Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Providing exemplary care in a beautiful environment for more than 150 years. Our continuum of care includes therapy services, skilled rehab, 24-hour medical staffing, plus Hospice, HomeHealth, and HomeCare outreach programs. All-private rooms include a full bath and kitchenette.

Homestead Village

2990 Carlisle Pike • New Oxford, PA 17350 717-624-5436 • www.crosskeysvillage.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 123 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Homeland Center

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: No Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: A regional leader in all aspects of memory care and a program designed for optimal engagement and socialization.

1800 Village Circle • Lancaster, PA 17603 717-397-4831 • www.homesteadvillage.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Harrison House of Chester County

Homewood at Plum Creek

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

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 92 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

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

425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331 717-637-4166 • www.homewoodplumcreek.org

The Hickman Friends Senior Community

Mennonite Home Communities

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

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

400 North Walnut Street • West Chester, PA 19380 484-760-6300 • www.TheHickman.org Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Nonprofit personal care community in downtown West Chester. Includes secure dementia care neighborhood. Call to schedule a personal tour.

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: One-bedroom deluxe and studio apartments available! New Harvest House Memory Support now available.

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

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

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

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

Normandie Ridge

Pleasant View Communities

1700 Normandie Drive • York, PA 17408 717-764-6262 • https://normandieridge.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 27 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

544 North Penryn Road • Manheim, PA 17545 717-664-6237 • www.pvcommunities.org

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

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 96 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes* Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

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

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

At Your Fingertips Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away.

Cancer care Lancaster Cancer Center Greenfield Corporate Center 1858 Charter Lane, Suite 202 (717) 291-1313 Emergency Numbers Central Pennsylvania Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Office of Aging (717) 299-7979 or (800) 801-3070 Entertainment Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster (717) 898-1900 Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (717) 291-1994 U.S. Financial (800) 595-1925, ext. 2122 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Cancer Society (717) 397-3744 American Diabetes Association (888) DIABETES American Heart Association (717) 393-0725 www.50plusLifePA.com

American Lung Association (717) 397-5203 or (800) LungUSA American Red Cross (717) 299-5561 Arthritis Foundation (717) 397-6271 Consumer Information (888) 878-3256 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228 Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233 Flu or Influenza (888) 232-3228 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Home Care Services Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services Hanover: (717) 630-0067 Lancaster: (717) 393-3450 York: (717) 751-2488

Home Improvement Haldeman Mechanical Inc. 1148 Old Line Road, Manheim (717) 665-6910 West Shore Home 5024 Simpson Ferry Road, Mechanicsburg (717) 937-1148 Housing Marietta Senior Apartments 601 E. Market St., Marietta (717) 735-9590

senior services Lancaster County Office of Aging (717) 299-7979 Supermarkets John Herr’s Village Market 25 Manor Ave., Millersville (717) 872-5457 Travel Conestoga Tours (717) 569-1111 Passport Information (877) 487-2778

Insurance Medicare (800) 633-4227 Vibra Health Plan (844) 660-2961 (TTY: 711)

Veterans Services Korean War Veterans Association (717) 506-9424 Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771

Nutrition Meals on Wheels (717) 392-4842

Volunteer opportunities RSVP of the Capital Region (717) 454-8647

Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Retirement Communities Harrison Senior Living Locations in Christiana and East Fallowfield (610) 384-6310

yoga Little Yoga Place Semi-Private and Private Yoga Landisville, Pa. (717) 471-8328

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

50plus LIFE •

December 2019

13

Scenes from the Veterans’ EXPO & Job Fair — Lancaster Did you join us Nov. 7 for the sixth annual Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair – Lancaster?

If so, you might find yourself here!

If not, see what you missed — and please, join us next time!

Proudly sponsored by:

Marketing Sponsors Disabled American Veterans Pennsylvania Veterans of Foreign Wars

Media Sponsors

Visitor Bag Sponsor Goldenberg Group Roundtable Sponsor Re-Bath

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December 2019

50plus LIFE •

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Elevate from page 4 it gives me the chance to help people and watch them develop, grow, and reach their full potential,” she says.

“I think the biggest lesson I’ve learned since starting my own company is realizing it’s very tough for one person to do everything or to even try to be an expert in every aspect of modern business. We can learn so much from younger people, especially about technology, social media, and the internet!

“We’re always taught to respect our elders, but I have also come to respect the younger generations … I love being around them, their energy, and their willingness to share. It’s OK to put younger people in the driver’s seat and let them lead.”

Dimond recently entered the world of “mature modeling,” a growing industry that connects with the baby boom generation’s interest in physical, mental, and emotional health as they age into a new era of their lives.

“Of course my friends all thought I was crazy, but I was given opportunities to do some modeling for some local boutiques, which I did for free, but one thing led to another, and now I have professional representation from the Reinhard Agency,” she laughs.

“I always wanted to be a model, and again, one of the lessons I learned when I was younger that I always took to heart: Always be ready for life’s opportunities and be prepared to accept them.”

One such opportunity recently presented itself, and Dimond jumped at the chance. Her most recent position at WHTM abc27 signifies a

She might find herself negotiating with or for her clients; recording video segments and conducting interviews; judging events, such as the Miss Pennsylvania pageant; doing guest speaking appearances; and continuing advisory work.

In her limited free time, she enjoys doing volunteer work, keeping up on trends in art and fashion, and finding ways to exercise and stay healthy.

Dimond credits her longevity with never taking herself too seriously and embracing the unique experiences in her life that have allowed her to continuously evolve and redefine herself and her career.

“I think it’s common for people over 50 to feel it’s time to manage their expectations about what life has to offer. I’ve always wondered why we do that. Why not raise our expectations as we become older? So that’s what I’ve chosen to do, and I hope to energize and inspire others to find their passions along the way! ” Dimond on the runway at Scene to be Seen: A Runway Art Show by the Naples Art Association in Naples, Fla.

Photo courtesy of Charlie McDonald Photography, Naples, Fla. Designer: Denise Cummings, New York City.

Dimond at a modeling shoot in New York City’s Penn Station.

40-year career looping back to where it originally started: on local TV. As a writer and producer on Good Day PA, Dimond divides her time between scouting shooting locations, interviewing guests in studio and on location, and post-production work.

Dimond’s jam-packed schedule keeps her calendar filled well into the future.

“I don’t really have a ‘typical’ day, which is a blessing for someone with my personality,” she says.

Introducing:

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Gift Certificates Online Now for the Holidays! www.emergenceskincarestudio.com 119 Oakridge Dr • Mountville, PA 17554 • 717-419-4766

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50plus LIFE •

December 2019

15

WHY

are you waiting months for pain relief?

Come to Argires Marotti Neurosurgical Associates of Lancaster and see why your neighbors and friends vote us the Best, year after year.

Louis A. Marotti, MD, PhD FACS Perry Argires, MD, FACS Voted Best Surgeon Voted Among the Best Surgeons (1st Place) (2nd Place)

Adam Truax, PA-C Voted Among the Best Physician Assistants of Lancaster

Brendan Garrett, MHS, PA-C Physician Assistant

160 NORTH POINTE BLVD., SUITE 200 • LANCASTER (717) 358-0800

AM_OnLinePubOrthoPain.indd 1

Steven M. Falowski, MD, FACS Nationally Recognized Brain and Spine Surgery

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ARGIRESMAROTTI.COM

10/29/19 8:08 AM

Orthopedics & Pain

By Sandra Gordon

Bye-Bye, Back Pain

Count yourself lucky if you’ve never groaned about your back. Fact is, the majority of us — 80% — will deal with back pain at some point. It’s one of the most common reasons for a doctor visit.

Deciding how to treat it, though, can be tricky. There’s simply no gold standard.

“We have a long history of medical interventions that didn’t work,” says spine surgeon Roger Chou, M.D. But today we know more than ever.

Check out the latest ways to avoid and deal with pain and implement easy prevention moves.

and hips that gets transferred to your spine because you limp or favor one side,” says pain specialist Perry G. Fine, M.D. It can also put excess stress on disks, ligaments, and back joints, causing osteoarthritis of the spine.

1. Don’t coddle yourself. Whether your back pain is excruciating or merely annoying, you probably won’t feel like doing much. But don’t take it easy for more than a day or two. Doing so can prolong and worsen pain.

Instead, take a prescription or over-the-counter pain reliever (acetaminophen or ibuprofen) and start moving, says Daniel J. Mazanec, M.D., associate director of the Center for Spine Health at the Cleveland Clinic.

“Low-impact activities, like walking or swimming, boost blood flow to your back muscles and help loosen them up.”

4. Work your core. Weak stomach muscles are often linked to back issues.

The best exercise to practice regularly is the plank. Lie face down on the ground and push yourself up on your forearms and toes to form a straight line with your back. Hold for 30-60 seconds.

Sitting on a stability ball for 30 seconds or more each morning helps align ligaments around your disks, says Fine.

5. Quit it. In case you need yet another reason to stop smoking, consider please see Back Pain page 20

2. Avoid the urge to be a weekend warrior. “In general, people who exercise regularly have less back pain than those who don’t,” says Mazanec.

But bingeing on exercise over the weekend — to make up for everything you missed during the week — can backfire because your muscles aren’t primed for the activity.

Instead, go on a power walk daily. It’s the best prescription for a strong, problem-resistant spine.

3. Stay slim. “Being overweight causes wear and tear on your ankles, knees,

For active adults when apartment living is all you need!

Affordable housing for those 62 and older, located in beautiful, historic Marietta Rents start at $715 and include all utilities (heat, electric, water, sewer, trash), off-street parking, on-site laundry, community room, and community garden.

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In our classes, we combine thoughtful sequencing, a dose of inspiration, and a spirit of playfulness to help you deepen your practice and awareness of your body. We seek to help others in nurturing their body, mind, and soul with yoga.

Our hope is that the practice you develop on mat will transfer off mat, leaving you feeling nourished, balanced, and refreshed.

For applications and information, please contact:

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717-471-8328

Landisville, PA

50plus LIFE •

December 2019

17

LIFE’S BETTER WHEN YOUR

KNEE DOESN’T HURT. UPMC Pinnacle’s orthopaedics team is here to help increase your mobility. From hip, knee, and joint issues to spine and back treatments, our knowledgeable team will work closely with you to establish goals and create the best path for your recovery.

To learn more about what UPMC Pinnacle can do for you, visit UPMCPinnacle.com/Ortho.

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Orthopedics & Pain Dear Pharmacist

Suzy Cohen

3 Tips to Survive on Hydrocodone and Other Opioids

Vicodin and Lortab are two brand names of one of the most popular drugs in the entire world.

Generically, it is called “hydrocodone with apap,” where the “apap” is an abbreviation for acetaminophen (a.k.a., Tylenol).

When I worked in a busy retail pharmacy, this medication was on the fast-mover shelf because it was dispensed by the thousands each day.

Hydrocodone/apap is a prescription analgesic and in the category of “opioids,” which you’ve been hearing a lot about lately. Opioids are manmade

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drugs intended to work similarly to the naturally produced opiates made in your body.

The opioid drug binds to the receptor on your cell’s outer membrane and unlocks a variety of feel-good, numbing compounds that relax your body, increase pleasurable feelings, and suppress pain signals.

If you require this medication, there are three important tips you should know about: 1. Never stop suddenly. If you’ve been please see Hydrocodone page 27

50plus LIFE •

December 2019

19

Orthopedics & Pain Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

Acupuncture Can Relieve Pain and Many Other Ailments

Dear Savvy Senior, Is acupuncture a proven treatment for arthritis pain? I have a lot of back and neck pain and am wondering if it’s worth trying.

What can you tell me about acupuncture?

– Afraid of Needles Dear Afraid, Many well-designed studies over the years — funded by the National Institutes of Health — have found acupuncture to be very effective in easing arthritis pain, and it can help with a variety of other ailments too.

First used in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture has become increasingly popular in the United States over the past 40 years.

While acupuncture isn’t a cure-all treatment, it is a safe, drug-free option for relieving many different types of pain, including osteoarthritis, low back pain, neck pain, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, postoperative pain, tennis

elbow, carpel tunnel syndrome, dental pain, menstrual cramps, and more.

Studies have also shown that it can be helpful in treating asthma, depression, digestive disorders, addictions, menopause symptoms like hot flashes, and nausea caused by chemotherapy or anesthesia.

Exactly how or why acupuncture works is still not fully understood, but it’s based on the traditional Eastern theory that vital energy flows through pathways in the body, and when any of these pathways gets blocked, pain and illness result. Acupuncture unblocks the pathways to restore health.

However, today most U.S. medical doctors tend to believe that acupuncture works because it stimulates the nerves, causing the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkiller hormones.

It’s also shown to increase blood circulation, decrease inflammation, and please see Acupuncture page 23

Back Pain from page 17 this: Nicotine constricts blood flow to spinal disks, causing them to age faster than normal.

Visit www.cancer.org/smokeout or call the national tobacco quit line at (800) 784-8669.

6. Reconfigure your computer setup. Looking down at a screen, what people often do when working on laptops, puts strain on neck and back muscles, says Carneiro.

Your monitor should be at eye level, elbows and shoulders at 90 degrees.

If you use a laptop, consider getting a separate keyboard to make these ergonomic adjustments.

7. Find pressure points. Studies indicate that acupuncture (the Chinese medicine technique of inserting thin needles into the skin) can help reduce back pain. If you shy away from needles, try shiatsu, which uses massage at acupuncture points.

“I typically recommend massage or acupuncture to patients with muscles that won’t relax, even with physical therapy,” says Heidi Prather, D.O. Find an acupuncturist or shiatsu therapist from the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine at www.nccaom.org.

8. Stress less. The neurochemicals that flood your system when you’re dealing with tough times can lead to emotional and physical pain.

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Reduce anxiety with regular exercise, a healthy diet, psychotherapy, and, if necessary, antianxiety/antidepressant prescription medication.

9. Consider steroids. When other attempts at relieving pain fail, especially if you have a herniated disc and sciatica (leg pain), steroid injections may provide relief.

“A shot of dexamethasone or methylprednisolone in the back can decrease inflammation and keep you moving,” says Wellington Hsu, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

These medications can ease discomfort for months.

10. Give your spine support. Your lower back naturally curves inward, but most chairs cause it to round out, which can throw off alignment.

“Cushioning your lumbar is the key to maintaining your spine’s neutral curvature,” says physical therapist Mary Ann Wilmarth.

Scoot all the way back in your chair with a roll of paper towels or a lumbar pillow wedged behind your waist. In a car or a public place, stuff your coat behind you.

“Once your low back is supported, your neck and upper back will stay in proper position,” Wilmarth says.

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Keep Winter Weather, Crowds from Ruining Travel Plans

By Chris Holbert November and December tend to be two of the busiest months to travel. It was reported that around 54.3 million people traveled for Thanksgiving, and 112 million people traveled for Christmas last year.

Crowded airports, crowded roads, people in a rush, and bad weather all make traveling during the holiday season stressful and potentially dangerous.

But, planning ahead, packing the right gear, and having the right travel strategy can help make sure you arrive at your destination safely and still in the holiday spirit.

Travel at Off Times – If possible, plan on traveling to your holiday destinations at off-peak times. Build a few extra days into your trip if necessary, or book a flight when the airport is usually less busy, late at night.

If you are driving to your destination, map out alternative routes you can take to avoid traffic jams. Don’t always rely on GPS to find you the best route once you’re already in heavy traffic.

Grieve from page 11 “Most situations can be seen in both a positive and negative light. You just have to find the positive one and keep reminding yourself of it in order to eventually believe it.”

Taking time to write down positive experiences is a way of training the brain to be more optimistic in general.

And, the benefits of being a positive person extend far beyond the writing exercise. A study of Catholic nuns who journaled regularly found that those who focused on more uplifting content ended up living longer.

5. They spend time around positive people. One study reported that 48% of the women surveyed strongly agreed they are happier when around optimistic people.

Good moods are contagious, as are bad ones. Associating with positive people breeds more positivity in your own life. It’s an upward spiral rather than a downward one when spending too much time with negative individuals.

And, in case you hit bad weather that prevents you from driving any farther, identify hotels along your route that you can stay at, especially if you are traveling with pets.

Keep Friends and Family Informed – Everyone has a cellphone, but you never know if you might get caught in a situation where you have no signal or the battery dies.

It is best to provide friends and family with your travel itinerary before you leave home. And then, if you have to make any changes, update them along the way.

A check-in every few hours with an updated location is a good idea when driving so that if anything does go wrong, people know a general area of where to look for you.

Call Ahead – Before you hit the road, call the nonemergency number for highway patrol, the local police, or forest service in the areas you’ll be driving please see Travel Plans page 24

Coolidge: “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not: Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: The world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

8. They remain confident. That means they are able to deal with challenges following their own intuitive sense rather than be directed by other voices that say “yes, no, maybe; do this, not that; go in this direction, not that one.”

They know that always following the opinion of others creates uncertainty, erodes individuality, and results in confusion.

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

6. They cultivate resilience. According to University of Miami psychologist Charles S. Carver, Ph.D., who has written extensively about optimism, when compared with pessimists, optimists are far more resilient.

Optimists bounce back from painful experiences faster than pessimists do, says Carver.

“They stay in the struggle because they expect the ship to right itself.”

7. They are persistent. No matter what storms enter their lives, optimists keep their focus on getting through. Inch by inch, they tap into inner strengths and find a way through the challenge. Optimists find ways to selfmotivate themselves day after day.

Their guiding credo is based on this wisdom from U.S. president Calvin www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE •

December 2019

21

Lancaster County

Calendar of Events

Support Groups Free and open to the public Sycamore North Recreation Room 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown (717) 367-1121, ext. 33576

Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m.

Lancaster Nar-Anon Family Group First United Methodist Church Second Floor, Room 214/215 29 E. Walnut St., Lancaster (717) 394-7231 Dec. 4, 7-8:15 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Willow Lakes Outpatient Center 212 Willow Valley Lakes Drive, Willow Street (717) 464-9365 Dec. 9, 10-11 a.m.

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Garden Spot Village Concord Room 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland (717) 355-6076 jmorton@gardenspotvillage.org Dec. 17, 10:30-11:30 a.m.

Dementia Caregiver Support and Education Group Masonic Village Health Care Center Courtyard Conference Room 1 Masonic Drive, Elizabethtown (717) 367-1121, ext. 33764 Dec. 19, 10-11:30 a.m.

Bereavement Support Group Masonic Village

Dec. 19, noon Brain Tumor Support Group Lancaster General Health Campus Wellness Center 2100 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster (717) 626-2894 Dec. 23, 2-3 p.m.

Parkinson’s Support Group Garden Spot Village Theater 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland (717) 355-6259 slapp@gardenspotvillage.org Dec. 24, 6-8 p.m.

Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania Support Group Community Meeting Room – Kohl’s Wing 142 Park City Center, Lancaster (800) 887-7165, ext. 104 Dec. 26, 6:30 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Support Group Keystone Villa at Ephrata 100 N. State St., Ephrata (717) 366-6330

Community Programs Free and open to the public Dec. 1, 4 p.m.

Lancaster Chamber Singers: Choral Evensong St. Edward’s Episcopal Church 2453 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster (717) 330-9025 https://lancasterchambersingers.org

Dec. 17, 2-3:30 p.m.

Willow Valley Genealogy Club Willow Valley Communities – Orr Auditorium 211 Willow Valley Square, Lancaster www.genealogyclubwv.com (717) 397-0439

Dec. 2, 6 p.m.

Red Rose Singles Meeting Centerville Diner 100 S. Centerville Road, Lancaster (717) 406-6098

Dec. 20, 6-9 p.m.

Music Friday Downtown Lancaster https://visitlancastercity.com/music-Friday

Dec. 11, noon Korean War Veterans Association Meeting Woodcrest Villa – Eagle Commons Room 2001 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster (717) 299-1990 pcunningham1841@verizon.net

Dec. 31, 7 p.m.

World War II Oral History Meeting St. Anne’s Retirement Community 3952 Columbia Ave., Columbia (717) 319-3430

Library Programs Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz, (717) 626-2255 Dec. 7 and 14, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Dec. 10 and 12, 3-6 p.m. – Holiday Train Display Dec. 9, 1-3 p.m. – Scrabble Meet-ups Dec. 9, 6:30 p.m. – History Book Club

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December 2019

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Senior Center Activities Columbia Senior Center – (717) 684-4850 Dec. 4, 10:30 a.m. – Pain Management with OSS Health Dec. 11, 10:30 a.m. – Music with Chuck Mummert Dec. 16, 9:30 a.m. – Holiday Event with Albright Life Elizabethtown Area Senior Center – (717) 367-7984 Mondays and Thursdays, 1 p.m. – Pinochle Club: Double-Deck Play Dec. 4, 1:30 p.m. – Bingo 4 Bucks Dec. 5, 10:30 a.m. – Music with Al Shade Lancaster House North Happy Hearts Club Senior Center – (717) 299-1278 Mondays, 9:30 a.m. – Senior Exercise Class Thursdays, 12:30 p.m. – Bingo and Pinochle Fridays, 12:30 p.m. – Party Bridge Lancaster Neighborhood Senior Center – (717) 299-3943 Tuesdays and Fridays, 10:30 a.m. – Bingocize Dec. 18, 10 a.m. – Christmas Music and Dance with Tony and Valerie Boffa Dec. 26, 10 a.m. – Chair Dancing Lancaster Rec. Senior Center – (717) 392-2115, ext. 147 Dec. 3, 1 p.m. – Ukulele Jam with Ukulele Uprising Dec. 11, 10:30 a.m. – Canvas Painting with Pottery Works Dec. 26, 10:30 a.m. – Ceramics with Pottery Works Lititz Senior Center – (717) 626-2800 Dec. 2, 10 a.m. – Older Driver Awareness Dec. 9, 9:30 a.m. – Nutrition Program with Giant Food Stores Dec. 28, 10 a.m. – Music and Dancing with Lost and Found Luis Munoz Marin Senior Center – (717) 295-7989 Wednesdays, 8:15 a.m. – Blood Pressure Checks with NCS Pharmacy Dec. 10, 9:30 a.m. – Community Health Choices Presentation Dec. 13, 10:45 a.m. – Fresh Express Millersville Senior Center – (717) 871-9600 Dec. 2, 10 a.m. – Decorate the Center, Pizza Party Dec. 3, 10 a.m. – Anxiety Reduction and Mindfulness with Mary Grace Lomboy Dec. 31, 9 a.m. – Countdown to Noon Next Gen Senior Center – (717) 786-4770 Dec. 10, 10:30 a.m. – Holiday Blues by Michelle Young Dec. 19, 10:30 a.m. – Smith Middle School Singers Dec. 20, 10:30 a.m. – Christmas Harp by Linda Bradley Rodney Park Happy Hearts Club Senior Center (717) 393-7786 Tuesdays, noon – Pinochle Wednesdays, 1 p.m. – Varied Activities Thursdays, noon – Bingo

Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com. www.50plusLifePA.com

Acupuncture from page 20 stimulate the immune system.

What to Know If the thought of getting needles stuck into your body makes you a little uneasy, you’ll be happy to know that an acupuncture treatment is nothing like getting a shot. In fact, it’s quite relaxing.

Here are some additional points you should know: The needles: They’re solid, sterile, and disposable (used only once), and as thin as a cat’s whisker. The number of needles used for each treatment can vary anywhere from a few, up to a dozen or more.

And where the needles are actually stuck depends on the condition being treated, but they are typically inserted about one-quarter to 1 inch deep and are left in place for about 20 minutes.

After placement, the needles are sometimes twirled or manipulated, or stimulated with electricity or heat.

Does it hurt? You may feel a brief, sharp sensation when the needle is inserted, but generally it’s not painful. Once the needle is in place, however, you may feel a tingling sensation, numbness, mild pressure, or warmth.

Treatments: How many treatments you’ll need will depend on the severity of your condition — 12 treatments done weekly or biweekly is very common.

It’s also important to know that acupuncture can be used in conjunction with other conventional medical treatments or by itself.

Cost and coverage: The cost per treatment typically runs anywhere from $50 to $100 or more. Unfortunately, most private health plans, including Medicare, do not cover acupuncture.

To find an acupuncturist in your area, ask your doctor for a referral, or you can do a search online at the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (www.nccaom.org) and Acufinder.com.

Both sites provide a national database of certified and/or licensed practitioners.

Or visit the American Academy of Medical Acupuncture (www. medicalacupuncture.org), which offers a directory of M.D.s who are certified to practice acupuncture.

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

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December 2019

23

Plan-Change Deadline for Community HealthChoices Approaching Department of Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller and Department of Aging Secretary Robert Torres are reminding Pennsylvania residents about the upcoming rollout of the Community HealthChoices program.

CHC, a managed long-term services and supports program, launches on Jan. 1, 2020, for residents of central, northeast, and northwest Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.

CHC is Pennsylvania’s managedcare program for individuals who are dually eligible for Medicaid and Medicare and for individuals who are 21 or older with physical disabilities requiring long-term services and supports.

CHC was developed to improve access to and coordination of medical and person-centered long-term services and supports with a goal of giving people choice, control, and access to a full array of services.

Pennsylvania residents who are eligible for CHC were notified and reminded of this transition, what it means for them, and important deadlines throughout the summer and fall.

Eligible participants had until Nov. 13 to select their managed care organization. After this, participants were automatically enrolled in one of the three MCOs providing services for CHC participants.

If a participant would like to change their MCO, they are able to do that at any time. Participants have until Dec. 20 to make a plan-selection change in order for it to be effective Jan. 1, 2020. After that point, MCO changes will

take effect beginning later in 2020.

The Wolf Administration encourages all future CHC participants to review their MCO selection and make necessary changes before Dec. 20, so they are effective when the new year begins.

“CHC is providing options for many eligible Pennsylvanians in their communities,” said Torres. “This is especially noteworthy because we know that the majority of older adults want to age in place. CHC is empowering more seniors to live the way they want, while having access to long-term services they need.”

The Wolf Administration launched CHC in Pennsylvania’s southwest region in January 2018 and in the southeast in January 2019; the program now includes about 210,000 participants.

Data from the southwest region shows that in CHC’s first year, the rate of individuals served in the community increased from 49.7% to 52.2%.

The rollout in the remainder of the commonwealth will include approximately 143,000 individuals. When fully implemented across the state, CHC will include approximately 400,000 Pennsylvanians, 94% of whom are dually eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.

For more information on plan selection, call (844) 824-3655 (TTY (833) 254-0690) or visit www.enrollchc.com.

For more information on the CHC program, visit www.healthchoices. pa.gov/info/about/community or call (833) 735-4416.

Travel Plans from page 21 through that day.

Talking to a real person will give you better insights into road and weather conditions in real time than you will get from searching online.

Pack the Right Gear – If you will be driving through freezing temperatures, rain, sleet, or snow during your trip, having the right gear in your car is essential. Blankets, snacks, a shovel, a flashlight, and water are basics.

You might also want to consider throwing in some kitty litter if you go off the road and need traction. And extra bottles of windshield wiper fluid; there’s nothing worse than running out while on a wet, slushy road with trucks driving past.

For air travel, make sure that you put any cellphone chargers, medication, travel paperwork, identification, etc., in your personal item instead of a checked bag or carryon. This way there is no chance of you being separated from them if luggage is lost or overhead bins are full and your bag must be checked.

Rely on Technology – Portable power is a must for the road or air travel to

24

December 2019

50plus LIFE •

ensure your phone is always powered.

And, keep any mobile personal emergency-response devices, or SOS button, you may have in an accessible garment pocket. This way, if you have an emergency and cannot dial your phone, it is within easy reach to call for help.

Consider downloading helpful weather, route guidance, gas station finders, and airline or airport apps to your phone. These can give you alerts about bad weather, where to find gas, if your flight is delayed, or let you check how long lines are at security checkpoints.

There is always a lot to get done during the holiday season. Between holiday get-togethers, endless trips to the grocery store, and holiday shopping, taking the extra time to prepare for travel can help to make the process a little easier.

While you cannot completely avoid heavy traffic and long lines this winter, you can minimize the frustrations of dealing with them by being ready ahead of time.

Chris Holbert is the CEO of SecuraTrac. As the CEO, he is responsible for leading the company’s vision of developing, marketing, and selling a suite of mobile health and safety solutions that bring families closer together and improve employee safety through state-of-the-art location-based services and mobile health technology.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Puzzle Page

CROSSWORD

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 28 SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Sailing Words

Across 1. Liturgical vestments 5. Dracula author

Stoker 9. Hints 13. Harvest 14. Disney dog 15. Ultimatum word 16. Ballet moves 18. Guitar relative 19. Slowpoke 22. Farm implement 25. Like some leaders 29. Chapel vow 30. Take back Down

34. Rap sheet abbr.

35. Stake driver 37. Hideaway 38. Crayola color 40. Compete 42. ___ de France 43. ___ Paulo, Brazil 44. Measures 46. Eyepiece 48. Pass over 51. Craggy peak 52. Waxworks Marie 55. Harem room

56. Flunkies 58. Dam builder 60. Suffix with sect 63. Newsman Rather 64. Collar type 67. Depth of wisdom 72. Stallion’s mate 73. Stan’s partner in comedy 74. Great Lakes city 75. Poses 76. Kind of prize 77. Ooze

1. Sculptor Jean 2. Hilo garland 3. Tavern 4. Thread holder 5. Deli sandwich 6. Dead-end jobs 7. Solar disk 8. Artistic olio 9. Quartet member 10. Eskimo knife 11. “C’___ la vie!”

12. Get the picture 14. Oceanic bird 17. Consumer 21. Seizure, e.g.

22. He was Tiny 23. Cretan peak 24. Jalousie parts 26. Lolita novelist 27. White House nickname 28. Elevator part 31. Flip response?

32. Steams up 33. Boxing venue 36. Back talk 39. More, in Madrid 41. Banana oil, e.g.

44. Hog haven 45. Corn site 47. Quell

49. Chemical suffix 50. Average 53. One-legged support 54. Student overseer 57. Flowing tresses 59. Chilean range 61. Folk singer Guthrie 62. ___ contendere 64. German spa 65. ___ chi (martial art) 66. Morsel 68. Evergreen 69. Hot temper 70. Dead heat 71. Slangy assent

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50plus LIFE •

December 2019

25

The Beauty in Nature

North American Jays Clyde McMillan-Gamber

We’ve had blue jays in our yard for the more than 30 years I’ve lived at my home.

Having blue feathering with black and white markings, blue jays are attractive and welcome on our lawn.

And, related to crows, as all species of jays are, our jays at home are adaptable, boisterous, and entertaining, as all jays are.

Blue jay Blue jays are the only kind of jay native to the northeastern United States. But five other species of jays live in North America, most of them in the American West.

All species of jays are intelligent and social and have other characteristics in common, demonstrating their common ancestry. Most jays are colorful and all are attractive, each type in its own way. All species are omnivorous, eating invertebrates, birds’ eggs, seeds, fruit, and most everything else, each kind in its own niche.

Each kind of jay has its own traits, making it a distinct species. Steller’s jays are 11 inches long and have dark-brown feathering in front and blue jay-like feathering on their wings, backs, and tails.

Each Steller’s has a dark crest on its head that makes it taller. Like blue jays, Steller’s imitate bird sounds. But this elegant species lives and nests only in coniferous forests along America’s Pacific Coast from Mexico to Alaska.

Ten inches long, scrub jays have long, blue tails and blue wings and heads but have beige-gray feathering elsewhere. This pretty species mostly inhabits pinyon pine-juniper woods in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the American West and Mexico. There, they mostly consume pinyon seeds and juniper cones.

Nine inches long, pinyon jays resemble small crows, but these handsome jays have blue-gray feathering all over. This kind of jay is well named because it lives among pinyon pines and relies heavily on those pines on mountains in the western United States.

These jays have large, stout beaks because their staple food is pinyon seeds.

Canada jay And they nest in pinyon pines.

Canada, or gray, jays are the plainest of North American jays. Ten inches long, they have gray feathering all over, except white on their foreheads and necks and black caps, which make them look a little like large chickadees.

Their plumages are thick and fluffy for great insulation during cold Canadian winters.

Gray jays live in the mixed coniferous/deciduous forests of Canada. They ingest anything edible and store food for winter.

Green jays are the most striking of their clan. They are light green all over, except for blue and black on their heads and black on their throats. They also have a few yellow feathers under their tails.

Green jays live and nest in brushy habitats from northern Central America to southern Texas. They mimic other birds and use sticks to pry loose tree bark to seize exposed invertebrates.

Jays are a colorful, intelligent, and interesting family of birds. They offer joy and intrigue to anyone who spots them.

Clyde McMillan-Gamber is a retired Lancaster County parks naturalist.

Are You Reading?

Join the 2020 One Book, One Community campaign by reading Heartland by Sarah Smarsh.

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

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

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December 2019

Photo credit: Michael Lionstar

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

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Traveltizers

An Unlikely Place for Miracles

By Andrea Gross

Alabama is not a place where I normally expect to find miracles. Bushes may burn, but angels don’t appear from the flames. Flowers are abundant, but they don’t rain from the sky.

And although the Tennessee River has less water some years than others, it has Northwest Alabama is known for water sports and hiking trails as well as for music and miracles. never parted to make way for an exodus of 5 million people.

Yet here I was, in northwest Alabama, witnessing the recreation of a miracle that happened more than 125 years ago, and in the next few days, I would witness miracles that have happened here more recently.

While these may not have been messages from a deity, they were at least miracles in an earthly sense.

Amazing Grace in Tuscumbia The small, black pump stands in front of a modest clapboard house. A 7-year-old girl reaches out and feels the cool water as it flows into her hands.

The audience is absolutely silent.

We’ve all seen The Miracle Worker, the play and movie that tell the story of Helen Keller. We know what’s going to happen, but we want to see it portrayed here, on the grounds of Ivy Green, the home where she grew up.

The house in the background is the one in which she and her teacher, Annie Sullivan, struggled; the gardens are the ones through which they walked, and the pump is the very same pump that spilled out the water that awakened

Helen’s brain.

With a frenzied cry, the young actress begins to fingerspell into the hand of the woman standing next to her. W … A …

T … E … R. Helen Keller has learned to communicate. A miracle has occurred.

For those in the audience, many who are deaf or blind, the Helen Keller was born in the house that was built by her grandparents in 1820. moment is electric.

After the play several of them walk over to a life-size statue of Keller and the pump.

A woman looks with her eyes, but asks questions with her hands. Her companion fingerspells the answers. A man who sees with his hands runs his fingers over the statue.

“I wish I could have met her,” he says.

Helen Keller still serves as an inspiration to everyone, but especially to those who need her most. Chalk it up to another miracle.

Resurrection in Muscle Shoals The word “resurrection” is always tinged with the miraculous, whether it’s used in the biblical sense or simply as a synonym for “restoration,” as when I speak of resurrecting my vintage bathtub from the garbage bin.

But here in Muscle Shoals, it’s an entire tradition that is being resurrected.

Back in the ’60s and ’70s, Muscle Shoals was a musical mecca, luring the country’s greatest artists to its small production studios. The Allman Brothers, please see Miracles page 28

Hydrocodone from page 19 supported on this medication for more than two weeks, do not stop suddenly.

It has to be weaned. Your body has already grown tolerant to the medication, and stopping suddenly could produce dangerous withdrawal effects.

Step down your dose due to the downregulation of receptors that normally process important neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, acetylcholine, glutamate, GABA, and dopamine.

2. Reduce side effects. Hydrocodone/apap (Vicodin) is known to cause constipation as its No. 1 side effect. You can and should anticipate it, and take a stool softener like docusate.

I recommend plenty of water each day and a diet that is rich in fiber, fruits like prunes, and even oatmeal. This may not help, and in that case, an over-the-counter laxative like Miralax (polyethylene glycol 3350) or a fiber supplement like Metamucil could help.

For those of you who have been on this medication or a similar one, such as oxycodone/apap (Percocet) or OxyContin, for a long time, be aware of a condition termed “Narcotic Bowel Syndrome,” or NBS. www.50plusLifePA.com

This condition causes gastrointestinal hypersensitivity. It’s terribly underrecognized! NBS is characterized by the progressive and somewhat paradoxical increase in abdominal pain despite continued or escalating dosages of narcotics prescribed in an effort to relieve the pain.

3. Never drink alcohol or take sleepers. Opioids are CNS depressant agents that slow everything down, including respiration. Alcohol does that too, and so do Benadryl and a host of benzodiazepine drugs.

You should never combine two or more CNS depressants because it could slow your breathing down or stop it completely! This is how unintended deaths occur.

By the same token, herbal sedatives are also CNS depressants, so do not combine your opioid medication with magnolia bark, skullcap, lavender, California poppy, lemon balm, valerian root, and others.

This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more information about the author, visit suzycohen.com.

50plus LIFE •

December 2019

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Miracles from page 27 Aretha Franklin, Otis Redding, and the Rolling Stones were among the many who made pilgrimages to Alabama to record songs that personified America.

But by the 1990s, technological advances had nearly decimated the recording business.

Music was no longer produced, distributed, or listened to in the As her teacher, Annie Sullivan, watches, Helen same way, and Muscle connects the word “water,” which Annie has Shoals was in danger of been fingerspelling into her hand, with the reality of the liquid flowing from the pump. losing its identity as well as its industry.

Then in 2013 a documentary celebrating the town’s musical legacy was released to critical acclaim at the Sundance Film Festival, and folks began clamoring to see the old sound studio at 3614 Jackson Highway.

The Muscle Shoals Music Foundation has restored it to look like it did during its glory Tom Hendrix used 8.5 million pounds of stone days, and it serves as to honor his great-great-grandmother. a museum as well as a studio and gathering place for musicians.

The rebirth of the Muscle Shoals sound as well as the Muscle Shoals town has begun.

Photos ©Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (andreagross.com). www.traveltizers.com

Puzzles shown on page 25

Puzzle Solutions

Renewal in Florence Tom Hendrix had heard stories about his great-great-grandmother all his life.

He knew how she, along with other Indians from the Southeast, had been relocated to Oklahoma in the 1830s, how she was determined to find her way back to nunnushae, the “singing river” that flowed near her Alabama home, and

how she walked more than 700 miles to do so, guided only by her dreams.

When he told this story to a tribal elder, her answer changed his life.

“You too will follow your path and sing your song,” she said.

Hendrix — who passed away in 2017 — set forth on his path more than 30 years ago, A man who is blind discusses the statue of and it resulted in the Helen Keller with a woman who is deaf. longest unmortared wall in America, one that winds 1.5 miles through the north Alabama countryside.

It contains 8.5 million pounds of stone — all put into place

by Hendrix, without help, without heavy machinery, and without complaint.

“We shall all pass through this earth.

Only the stones remain,” he said. “We honor our ancestors Hendrix’s wall runs 1.5 miles through with stone.” the north Alabama countryside.

Part of the wall is straight, as was his great-great-grandmother’s mandatory march along the Trail of Tears. Another part, which represents her return, is full of twists and turns.

In between are stone prayer circles, where visitors can sit, reflect, and dream.

Hendrix found his miracle in stones, and through his wall, he helped countless others find their miracles as well. (www.visitflorenceal.com)

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It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘Whole Lotta Love’ Randal Hill

Did you ever wonder how Led Zeppelin came up with “[Robert] kept gaining confidence during the session such a weird name for their band? and gave it everything he had. His vocals, like my [guitar] The group had their roots in the Yardbirds, the bluessolos, were about performance. He was pushing to see what based mid-’60s UK outfit whose members included, at he could get out of himself. We were performing for each various times, Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Jimmy Page. other, almost competitively.”

In 1968, with their popularity fading fast, they became Led Zeppelin abhorred the thought of having their the harder-edged New Yardbirds and, later that year, Led extensive album tracks become abbreviated 45s for the AM Zeppelin — after Who members Keith Moon and John radio audience; however, Atlantic Records did exactly that Entwistle teased the New Yardbirds that they would go in order to bring “Whole Lotta Love” to listeners who had over “like a lead balloon.” yet to embrace the FM rock world.

Proving the Who members wrong, Led Zeppelin soon The tune ran 5:33, which was acceptable for an album became concert headliners. They eventually dispensed with track but too long for an AM-radio-oriented single. Over “Whole Lotta Love” opening acts and instead offered fans three hours of highLed Zeppelin’s protestations, Atlantic trimmed the song to Led Zeppelin December 1969 decibel, mind-numbing rock, with blues shouter Robert a running time of 3:12.

Plant and guitar wizard Page radiating ultimate coolness As with the other band members, Page was livid. from the front of the stage.

“Weeks before its release, [Atlantic] sent me an acetate of the edit. I played Everything about the band seemed larger than life, and Led Zeppelin it once, hated it, and never listened to the short version again.” became the first rock group to become fully realized heavy-metal gods.

But Atlantic’s decision turned out to be a good one; the shortened “Whole The band’s first hit song would knock the standard rock ’n’ roll world back Lotta Love” shot to No. 4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. on its heels.

The story has a postscript. In 1985, blues guru Willie Dixon brought legal “I came up with the guitar riff for ‘Whole Lotta Love’ in the summer action against Atlantic Records, since much of “Whole Lotta Love” had been of 1968,” Jimmy Page explains. “I suppose my early love for big intros by gleaned from Dixon’s obscure 1962 Chess Records ’45 of “You Need Love.” (A rockabilly guitarists was an inspiration, but as soon as I developed the riff, I YouTube comparison bears this out.) knew it was strong enough to drive the entire song, not just open it.”

The writing credits on “Whole Lotta Love” always listed the four Led The song was recorded in one afternoon. Page recalls the watershed Zeppelin members — Plant, Page, John Bonham, and John Paul Jones — moment.

please see Whole Lotta Love page 31

Bipartisan Letter Urges VA to Track Scams Targeting Veterans During a recent hearing entitled “Veterans Scams: Protecting Those Who Protect Us,” Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging, highlighted his bipartisan letter that calls on the Department of Veterans Affairs to take a more active role in tracking these scams and educating veterans about these schemes.

According to a 2017 AARP report, 78% of veterans reported receiving a scam attempt related to their veteran status. The same study also found that veterans are twice as likely as civilians to lose money to a scam.

Senators Casey and Susan Collins (R-ME), chair of the Special Committee on Aging, joined by 11 members of the committee, are sending a letter urging the VA to play a more active role in combatting financial exploitation by scammers.

“We must fight back against unscrupulous con artists by ensuring that not one more veteran loses one more penny to a scam,” Casey said. “I urge the VA www.50plusLifePA.com

to do more to combat scams against veterans.”

In the letter, the senators cite an October 2019 Government Accountability Office report, which found that the VA does not centrally collect or analyze information assessing the threat of scams against veterans receiving pension benefits.

Casey invited Sgt. LaVerne Foreman, an 82year-old veteran from Herndon, Pennsylvania, to testify at the hearing about his experience losing money to a veterans charity scam.

“It isn’t easy to talk about being scammed, but what I am doing today is an extension of my service,” Foreman said.

“These scam artists rip off innocent people, and as a result, contributions are diverted away from the organizations actually doing the work of caring for those who served and who are now in need … On behalf of veterans, I ask everyone who can help to stop this activity to play their part.”

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December 2019

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Pulmonary Rehabilitation Can Help COPD Patients Breathe Better If you’ve been diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), you know that it can affect many different areas of your life.

While there is no cure for COPD, you may not know that early and consistent management of the disease can greatly improve outcomes and overall quality of life.

One disease-management option is pulmonary rehabilitation, which has the potential to offer life-improving benefits to patients at all stages of the lung disease, according to the experts at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

A team of healthcare providers, including doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, exercise specialists, physical therapists, dietitians, and psychologists, will work together to create a customized plan for your individual needs.

The majority of patients who participate in pulmonary rehabilitation report positive outcomes, including reduced COPD symptoms, increased physical activity, and an improved quality of life.

To learn more about the disease, visit COPD.nhlbi.nih.gov.

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Whole Lotta Love from page 29

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Santa by Another Name Santa Claus has been a fixture of Christmas for centuries, but he goes under many different names: Kris Kringle, St. Nicholas, Father Christmas.

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Atlantic, though, gave Dixon a one-time payment and writing credit on subsequent releases of “Whole Lotta Love.”

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This is care for generations.

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

This is Penn State Health.

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