March 10, 20 Complimentary Lebanon County Edition
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9 a.m. – 2 p.m . Hershey Lodg e
325 University
FREE ADMISSIO
Drive, Hershey
March 2018 Vol. 13 No. 3
N WITH THIS CO
UPON
aGreatWayTo
SpendMyDay.
com
doing the heart’s work page 4
art & antiques: frank lloyd wright objects page 6
preventing colon cancer page 10
Tinseltown Talks
Nick Thomas
40 Years On, Debby Boone Still Lighting Up Our Lives
Debby Boone’s recording of “You Light Up My Life” not only became a monster hit of 1977, but also went on to become one of the most popular
songs of the decade. “I have a hard time believing it’s been 40 years,” said Boone. The album of the same title released
Volunteer Spotlight Friendship Matches Support Mental-Illness Recovery whom she can talk over Cindy Stager is the the phone. RSVP Lebanon County Another Compeer Volunteer of the Month; friend has been she has been a volunteer matched with Stager with Compeer of since the fall; since Lebanon County since neither friend drives, 2015. the two most often Compeer matches meet when Compeer volunteers with an holds their monthly individual in recovery socials. from a mental illness, Cindy Stager Being a Compeer such as depression friend has brought joy and or anxiety, in what are called awareness to Stager’s own life, “friendship matches.” and she provides indispensable Stager grew up in Lebanon city and graduated from Lebanon help at their monthly socials. Her friendship with other clients and High School. She knows the importance of volunteering and the volunteers is inspirational. Stager enjoys reading, writing, how the simple gift of time can and cooking; she also enjoys the transform another person’s life. great outdoors and visits to the Stager is a friendly, outgoing beach. Stager is mother to two person who helps people who are grown daughters and grandmother depressed and isolated make new to four granddaughters. friends. She has spoken several If you would like to volunteer times on behalf of Compeer at with RSVP of the Capital United Way events. Region, please contact Margie Stager is matched with two Groy, Lebanon development Compeer friends, providing coordinator, at (717) 454-8647 or client-specific social support. One friend prefers someone with lancleb@rsvpcapreg.org. Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus LIFE’s Volunteer Spotlight! Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus LIFE, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
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that year became certified platinum That all changed when she was (1 million in sales in the U.S.), yet it 14 and accompanied her father, Pat was never released on CD when the Boone, on a working trip to Japan new music so the family format became could remain popular in the together. ’80s. “He made “To celebrate a mistake and its 40th put me in his anniversary, show!” she said, we have just laughing. “I got released the a taste of the original album work and loved on CD for it, so that’s the first time, when I knew along with for the first additional time I had the tracks,” ability to be an Early photo of Debby Boone explained entertainer.” and her dad, Pat. Boone. Boone still Distributed recalls hearing by Real Gone the song for the Music in first time. December “I came (www. home to my realgonemusic. parents’ house, com), the disc and my mother features more said Mike Curb than a dozen (executive at bonus songs, Curb Records) including had brought several vintage a cassette of recordings this song they of ’60s pop wanted me to classics such as record. “He’s a Rebel” “At that Cover of Debby Boone's re-released and “Popsicles point, I had album, You Light Up My Life, and Icicles.” only performed available for the first time on CD. “It’s been with the such a long family, so I was time since these were recorded — shocked because we hadn’t talked some with my sisters — I didn’t even about me doing anything on my realize some had never been released own,” Boone said. “But I was pleased before.” when I heard this lovely song, and my Boone grew up in a musical family parents were supportive when I flew with three sisters, two parents, and a to New York to record it.” grandfather (Red Foley) who were all Just 21 when “You Light Up My singers. And while she may have been Life” became a hit, Boone had to destined for a career in entertainment, adapt to fame quickly (see www. it wasn’t her original goal. debbyboone.com). Since then, Boone, “I’ve been an animal lover since I now 61, says she’s probably performed was a little girl and thought I might please see BOONE page 5 become a veterinarian.” www.50plusLifePA.com
The Beauty in Nature
Easily Seen Predators Clyde McMillan-Gamber
American kestrels, red-tailed hawks, belted kingfishers, and great blue herons are common, easily spotted predatory birds here in southeastern Pennsylvania, as elsewhere. All these species are permanent residents in this area, nesting and wintering here. Kestrels and red-tails hunt rodents and other creatures in fields and along roadsides, and
the kingfishers and herons stalk fish and other aquatic creatures in local waterways and human-made impoundments. Kestrels are attractive, small hawks that are often seen perched on roadside wires, watching for mice along roadside shoulders through each year, and grasshoppers there in summer and autumn.
Interestingly, kestrels are also seen hovering lightly, rapidly beating wings into the wind, as they look for rodents and grasshoppers in fields and grassy medial strips of expressways and along the edges of country roads, where field mice can be plentiful. Red-tailed hawks perch high in lone trees in fields and along hedgerows between fields, where they
watch for field mice and gray squirrels to consume. Those hawks are most readily seen in winter when foliage is off the trees. And red-tails soar gracefully in circles high in the sky as they scan the ground for prey. When a potential victim is spotted, each red-tail dives please see PREDATORS page 11
At Your Fingertips Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away. Office of Aging Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging (717) 273-9262 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Senior Centers Annville Senior Community Center (717) 867-1796
Emergency Numbers Poison Control Center (800) 222-1222 Food Resources Food Stamps (800) 692-7462
Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (717) 787-7500
Medicaid (800) 692-7462
CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400
Medicare (800) 382-1274
Kidney Foundation (717) 652-8123
PennDOT (800) 932-4600
Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging Meals on Wheels (717) 273-9262
The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (717) 652-6520
Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers (800) 472-8477
Lupus Foundation (888) 215-8787 Hearing Services Melnick, Moffitt & Mesaros ENT Associates 927 Russell Drive, Lebanon (717) 274-9775
Recycling (800) 346-4242
Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Hospitals Medical Society of Lebanon County (717) 270-7500
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (800) 827-1000 Housing Assistance Housing Assistance & Resources Program (HARP) (717) 273-9328
WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital 252 S. Fourth St., Lebanon (717) 270-7500 Hotlines Energy Assistance (800) 692-7462
Lebanon County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities (717) 274-1401
Lebanon County Christian Ministries (717) 272-4400 Salvation Army (717) 273-2655 Funeral & Cremation Services Cremation Society of Pennsylvania Serving Lebanon County (800) 720-8221 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Cancer Society (717) 231-4582 American Diabetes Association (717) 657-4310 American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association (717) 207-4265 American Lung Association (717) 541-5864 Arthritis Foundation (717) 274-0754
Environmental Protection Agency Emergency Hotline (800) 541-2050 IRS Income Tax Assistance (800) 829-1040
Maple Street Senior Community Center (717) 273-1048
Social Security Information (800) 772-1213
Myerstown Senior Community Center (717) 866-6786
United Way of Lebanon County 2-1-1
Lebanon HOPES (717) 274-7528, ext. 3201 Insurance Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833 Legal Services Pennsylvania Bar Association (717) 238-6715
Northern Lebanon County Senior Community Center (717) 865-0944 Palmyra Senior Community Center (717) 838-8237 Senior Center of Lebanon Valley (717) 274-3451 Veterans Services Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681 Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771 Volunteer opportunitIes Compeer of Lebanon County 4 S. Fourth St., Lebanon (717) 272-8317 RSVP of the Capital Region (717) 454-8647
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
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50plus LIFE p
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Cover Story
Doing the Heart’s Work
Corporate Office
3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com
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50plus LIFE is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community. On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.
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By Megan Joyce
happen easily. Your quilt is a good coping strategy for them when they’re longing for their Grieving is a beautifully home.’” selfish act. Despite what we Serendipitously, the day were already so fortunate to Delp decided to leave her job share with our departed loved in the hospice field to start a one, like children we succumb nonprofit grief center for kids to the insistent, thunderous was also the day Sipe was laid pulse in our hearts that off from her job at a garden screams indignantly for more, center. They finally decided to more, more — but instead of go into business together. toys or candy, we crave more At the time, The Oprah time, more chances, more Winfrey Show was running a memories. contest offering startup money Although she can’t bring for female entrepreneurs. For you more, Jenni Sipe has four months in 2001, Delp found a way to help you and Sipe worked diligently on preserve what was. writing their grant proposal. A self-taught quilter, Sipe “We wrote the grant and has handcrafted more than mailed it, and on Sept. 10 it 50 healing quilts for families arrived at World Trade Center who have experienced loss. No. 1,” Delp recalled. “On These memory quilts are Sept. 11, it was in the air. All hand stitched from pieces of the confetti that was flying clothing, fabric, and mementos Two of Sipe’s quilts brighten in the street [on 9/11] — that from a loved one’s life. a children’s playroom inside included our grant.” “I try to capture the essence Olivia’s House. Though their plans of a of their loved one,” Sipe said. joint business dissolved, Delp “I tell them not to wash went on to found Olivia’s House, a grief and loss the clothing so their scent will still be on them. center for children, and Sipe went on to establish The Sometimes I use a photo in the quilt that makes it Work of My Heart Quilts, creating personalized, even more special.” handmade quilts for grieving families with the hope Growing up, Sipe had always been “crafty,” with they “might find comfort from something to ‘wrap design inspiration coming from her life on family up in,’” Sipe said. farms. Delp now refers families to Sipe when she thinks “My love of fabric goes back to my childhood a grieving child would benefit from having a quilt or when I made doll clothes out of fabric feed sacks on pillow made from their loved one’s personal items. my grandma’s treadle sewing machine,” Sipe said. Sipe first meets with the family to talk about the She discovered quilting in 1975, helping to make memories they’d like to have preserved and to decide a quilt for the U.S.’s bicentennial and making which pieces of clothing or fabric to include. patchwork potholders, pillows, and other quilted “They brought these items to me in bags and items to sell at craft fairs. boxes, and in a quiet, light-filled space, we sat Customers would sometimes send her photos of former homes or farms they wished to remember, and together, shared tears and laughter, and reminisced,” Sipe said. “I truly feel honored each time I am Sipe began recreating those images in wall quilts. invited to create a special story quilt that will become It wasn’t until decades later that Sipe and someone’s keepsake for generations.” friend Leslie Delp, a bereavement specialist, began “When they tell their life story to Jenni — picking discussing a way their two passions could collide, to out clothing, sharing the memories — it’s very beautiful and beneficial effect. cathartic, very healing,” Delp said. “It’s a process; Delp saw the healing potential in the creation of there are many steps along the way, and every one of personalized quilts for grieving families. “One time as she was showing [her quilts] to me, I those steps leads to healing.” Sipe said it usually takes two to three months said, ‘You know, that’s a grief and loss issue — when for her to complete a project, depending on its size, someone takes a picture of their house that they’re which can range from an 11- by 13-inch pillow to a moving out of or a family farm that’s being sold 50- by 60-inch quilt. out of the family,’” Delp said. “‘That means that Sipe must cut the cloth items into squares and a person has to process that loss, and that doesn’t www.50plusLifePA.com
On the cover, Jenni Sipe is seated beside one of three quilts she created for Olivia’s House, a grief and loss center for children. This quilt welcomes visitors into the organization’s waiting area.
BOONE from page 2 the song thousands of times, with her renditions evolving over the years. “When I was younger I had a more powerful voice, but now I have a lot more maturity in my voice, which I love. I think I command the lyrics better today than I did in my early 20s.” With a new year ahead, Boone says there are plans to release more albums as well as plenty of live performances in 2018. And looking back, she says she’s forever grateful for the success of her big hit four decades ago. “Some people still consider me to www.50plusLifePA.com
be a one-hit wonder with ‘You Light Up My Life,’ even though I’ve had No. 1 country records and won three Grammys,” she said. “But I’ve had a strong public persona over the years and am still performing and recording after 40 years. People remember that song, but they also remember who sang it!” Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for over 650 newspapers and magazines. Photos provided by Boone’s management.
Please join us for these FREE events! Always free parking! 19th Annual
May 2, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Hershey Lodge
325 University Drive Hershey
DAUPHIN COUNTY
19th Annual
May 9, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Shady Maple Conference Center Smorgasbord Building 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl
LANCASTER COUNTY
15th Annual
June 6, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Church Farm School
1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton
22nd Annual
CHESTER COUNTY
Sept. 19, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Spooky Nook Sports
2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim
LANCASTER COUNTY
Sept. 26, 2018
16th Annual
of loss and how Sipe’s quilt aided the healing process. The book was printed in fall 2017. The quilt Sipe made in memory of her grandmother is featured on the cover. Inside, each recipient of Sipe’s quilts recounts the life of their loved one who has passed and the variety of fabrics used to commemorate them: t-shirts, neckties, sweaters, pants, bathrobes, knapsacks, dresses, handkerchiefs, pillowcases, and more, representing hobbies, sports teams, places traveled, universities, and oftenworn items of clothing. Delp penned the book’s foreword and includes the story of her stillborn son, for whom Sipe created a memory quilt out of his unused baby clothes. “When you can look at or hug a quilt, it’s just a constant reminder of how important that person was, and it takes you into [the family’s] healing by virtue of that spiritual healing you’re creating for them,” Delp said. “They get to pick out the clothes, the design, and tell their story. They truly enjoy the process, and it is a gift.” For more information on The Work of My Heart Quilts, visit www.theworkofmyheartquilts. com, call (717) 993-6648, or email quiltinglady@hotmail.com. For more information on Olivia’s House, visit www.oliviashouse.org or call (717) 699-1133.
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
York Expo Center
Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Avenue, York
YORK COUNTY
Oct. 17, 2018
19th Annual
then machine piece and hand stitch the quilt, sometimes even recreating the loved one’s likeness in fabric. For years, Sipe crammed all her creativity and hard work into a small section of her living room, both meeting with families and constructing the quilts there. In 2004 she built a studio in the back of her home. “My heart would break each time I heard a new family story,” Sipe said. “Yet I was also uplifted by their courage to give voice and expression to their experiences.” Presenting the finished quilt to the family is a humbling and emotional experience for Sipe. “Everyone loves the quilts I make for them, and sometimes they cry when they see it for the first time,” Sipe said. “First of all, they’re very surprised that Jenni can capture the beauty of their loved ones,” Delp said. “They have no idea how much the quilt will still smell like the person; there’s the therapeutic value of the aroma in the clothes that really takes that child back. When you wrap yourself up in the quilt, it’s almost like you’re wrapping up in a hug from that person.” In 2005, Olivia’s House presented an exhibition called “Healing Hearts through Arts” at the Pullo Family Performing Arts Center. In addition to work from more than 50 local artists, the exhibit included 11 quilts Sipe had made for area families. And in January 2016, Sipe began collecting stories and photos from 17 families to compose a book, The Work of My Heart, which relates each story
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Carlisle Expo Center CUMBERLAND COUNTY
100 K Street Carlisle
Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars Demonstrations • Entertainment • Door Prizes
Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available
(717) 285-1350 (717) 770-0140 (610) 675-6240
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Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori
The Market for Frank Lloyd Wright Objects Lori Verderame
While Wright’s buildings were fascinating Frank Lloyd Wright’s buildings are examples of modern American architecture in the unmistakable. He designed private residences, early 20th century, he also charted a path for young buildings of worship, office buildings, schools and architects to follow. ateliers, urban civic architecture, and even a major Wright was a highly respected designer of art museum. Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) united an entire building, from the foundation to the the indoors with the outdoors in his buildings furnishings, and this became a mainstay in the history of architecture. highlighting landscape vistas, gardens, and waterfalls. Wright designed windows in stained and leaded His Prairie-style structures focused on the glass, chairs, tables, serving pieces, built-in seating and storage items, textiles, carpets, light fixtures, landscape, and his emphasis on what he called organic architecture made his buildings stand out planters, sculptures, etc. These objects have become Photo credit: Sailko of great interest to collectors. in the realm of 20th-century modernism. A Wright-designed dining table and six chairs from Wright’s designs reference history’s finest Here are 10 Wright objects that have sold on Robie House on the University of Chicago’s campus. structures, from Renaissance buildings, such as the market in the last year, showing the interest in Frank Lloyd Wright as a designer of objects: the Sistine Chapel, to ancient Japanese pagodas. He was interested in devising • Hanging lamp, John Storer House a plan that would encourage visitors to make a pilgrimage to in Hollywood, California, 1923 – $36,000 discover the front door of the private homes, as with the famous • Lounge chair, Clarence Sondern Frederick C. Robie House on House in Kansas City, Missouri, the campus of the University of 1939 – $15,000 Chicago. • Stained-glass window, Lake He thoughtfully designed Geneva Hotel in Lake Geneva, stained-glass windows to fit within Wisconsin, 1911 – $10,000 an overall design aesthetic. His colorful windows for the children’s • Stained-glass window, Avery playhouse of the Avery Coonley Coonley House in Riverside, Photo credit: Sailko Frank Lloyd Wright’s Darwin D. House in Riverside, Illinois, Interior and front door of the Illinois, 1908 – $8,500 Martin House in Buffalo, N.Y., focused on the family’s active Frederick C. Robie House. during reconstruction in 2006. • Leather chair, Francis W. Little lifestyle with young children. House in Wayzata, Minnesota, Wright’s buildings made the circa 1902-03 – $4,750 hearth the center of the home. The nucleus of his residential structures, the fireplace served as a meeting place in Wright’s home designs with ample seating • S tanding oak desk, Frank L. Smith Bank in Dwight, Illinois, 1905 – $4,500 and room for a large roaring fire, as is the case in Wright’s architectural design •U pholstered bench, Unitarian Meeting House in Madison, Wisconsin, 1951 of the massive hearth in the Darwin D. Martin House in Buffalo, New York. – $3,500
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•W astebasket, Larkin Building in Buffalo, New York, circa 1906 – $2,100 •B ound carpet remnant, Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix, Arizona, 1929 – $300 •B uffalo Pottery china plate with Larkin Company logo by Wright, circa 1905 – $150
Address_ _______________________________________________________
As Wright enthusiasts consider taking on the project of buying and updating a Wright home or building, many lovers of the Prairie style of modern architecture are quite satisfied with a planter, wastebasket, or carpet remnant designed by the great architect. Today, these architectural elements are becoming much easier to find and afford.
City_______________________________ State_ ____ Zip_ _______________ Please specify edition: oChester oCumberland oDauphin oLancaster oLebanon oYork
Dr. Lori Verderame is an antiques appraiser, internationally syndicated columnist and author, and award-winning TV personality on History’s The Curse of Oak Island and Discovery’s Auction Kings. Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events worldwide. Visit www.drloriv.com/events or call (888) 431-1010.
Simply mail this form and $15 for an annual subscription to: 50plus LIFE • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Call (717) 285-8131, or subscribe online at www.50plusLIFEPA.com! Name_ ________________________________________________________
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Fifties Flashback
Oh, You Beautiful Doll! Randal C. Hill
Barbara Handler Segal has recalled strangers saying to her, “So you’re the Barbie doll!” At first, she would turn and walk away; later, she learned to just stand and smile. “It is very strange to have a doll named after you,” Segal has admitted. “Much of me is very proud that my folks invented the doll; I just wish I wasn’t attached to it.” Californians Ruth and Elliot Handler manufactured dollhouse furniture, which they sold under their company name of Mattel. While successful, the Handlers were always casting about for one special item that would make Mattel an iconic name in the toy world. In the early 1950s the Handlers’ daughter, Barbara (b. 1941), had enjoyed playing with dolls. Not the run-ofthe-mill, cherubfaced, infant variety, but shapely teenage paper dolls that came with fashionable cutout wardrobes. Ruth told Elliot that Mattel should offer a three-dimensional doll, designed as a young woman and with an appeal to older girls. Elliot opined that the idea would never fly. On a 1956 trip to Switzerland, however, the Handlers serendipitously found a doll much like the one Ruth had envisioned. “Lilli” was a German adult novelty toy that — unbeknownst to the Handlers — was based on a cartoon character who was, in reality, a prostitute. Back home the couple spent three years developing a clean-cut counterpart to naughty Lilli, a doll that would proudly bear their daughter’s name. On Barbie’s “official” birth date — www.50plusLifePA.com
March 9, 1959 — the doll debuted at a New York toy convention. On that day Barbie’s real-life namesake was a shy 17-year-old attending Los Angeles’s Hamilton High School. First-version Barbie came dressed in a zebra-striped swimsuit and possessed a waterfall of blond or brown hair. She earned mixed reviews, with some critics grumbling that the voluptuous, long-limbed toy was too expensive ($3 at a time when the hourly minimum wage was $1) and, at 11 ½ inches — the original Lilli size — too small in comparison to traditional dolls. The main problem, though, was Barbie’s overt sexiness. Sears quickly declared her unfit for their store shelves. However, Barbie quickly flew off everyone else’s shelves and eventually became the bestselling doll in history, with worldwide sales of 1 billion units. Barbie offered an extensive optional wardrobe and, later, morphed through numerous occupations and ethnicities. Along the way, feminists often railed against her, labeling Barbie a vacuous bimbo and crying out that her proportional measurements (3618-33) were unrealistic and potentially unhealthy for impressionable young girls who wanted to emulate her. In 1961 Barbie’s boyfriend, Ken, arrived in stores. In doll form, he was California-beach cool, but the human Ken — named after Barbara’s real-life brother — once admitted, “I was a real nerd. I played the piano and went to movies with subtitles.” At age 18 Barbara Handler married Allen Segal. They had two children, including a daughter named Cheryl. There’s no doubt that Cheryl Segal
was raised with the usual delights of any typically well-off Southern California girl. Except for one. Cheryl never owned a Barbie doll.
Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.
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Colorful Caladiums Brighten Shade Gardens All Season
E
March 10, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Shopping Health & Beauty
Hershey Lodge
325 University Drive Hershey Look for
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April 14, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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Photo credit: Longfield-Gardens.com
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Caladiums planted in container gardens dress up patios and decks.
The Red Flash caladium grows about 20 inches tall and has brilliant red centers.
By Melinda Myers
Step up the color impact with caladium Red Flash. This full-size caladium grows about 20 inches tall and has brilliant red centers, decorated with pink dots that pop against the large, deep-green leaves. Use these anywhere you want a big splash of color in a garden bed or container. Combine caladiums with shadeloving annuals like begonias, coleus, and mildew-resistant impatiens or other summer bulbs like cannas and elephant ears. When planting caladiums directly into the garden, wait until at least two weeks after all danger of frost has passed. Nights should be warm, and the soil temperature should be at least 65 degrees F. Prepare the soil before planting. Add compost or other organic matter to improve drainage in clay soil and the moisture-holding ability in fastdraining soils. Plant tubers about 6 inches apart and 2 inches below the soil surface. Water thoroughly and often enough to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Those gardening in cooler climates may want to start the tubers indoors for an earlier show outdoors. Plant indoors four to six weeks before moving them into the garden. Set the tubers near the surface of a shallow container filled with a well-
Tuck them into the garden, pop some in a container, or dress up a window box. Then water as needed, add a bit of fertilizer, and wait for the color explosion. The showy heart-shaped leaves of caladiums come in combinations of pink, red, white, and green. These heat-loving plants provide beautiful color all season long. Best of all, no deadheading is needed. Caladiums can be used to create a stunning garden almost anywhere around your home. These tropical beauties grow well in full to partial shade, and some varieties grow equally well in full sun. Choose varieties that will provide the color, size, and look you want to achieve and that match the light conditions in your yard. Compact caladiums, such as lime and dark-pink Miss Muffet, grow about 12 inches tall and are perfect for lining a pathway, edging a flowerbed, or dressing up a container. Florida Sweetheart’s bright, rose-pink leaves have ruffled green edges, and Gingerland has creamy white leaves that are decorated with splashes of green and red. All of these miniature varieties combine nicely with larger caladiums and elephant ears.
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drained potting location for at least mix. Grow them a week. Label each in a warm, sunny variety, remove the spot indoors, foliage, and place keeping the soil tubers in a mesh barely moist. Move bag or pack loosely outdoors once the in dry peat moss. danger of frost has Store in a cool, dark passed and the soil location at around has warmed. 60 degrees. As the summer Make this the temperature year you add rises, watch your caladiums for caladiums shine beautiful splashes while many other of color throughout Photo credit: Longfield-Gardens.com flowers fade in the your landscape all Florida Sweetheart’s bright, summer heat and season long. rose-pink leaves have ruffled humidity. Continue green edges. Melinda Myers has to water as needed written more than and fertilize 20 gardening books, throughout the including Small Space Gardening. She summer to encourage new growth. hosts The Great Courses’ How to Those gardening in zones nine Grow Anything: Food Gardening For through 11 can leave their caladiums Everyone DVD set and the nationally in place year-round. Others can syndicated Melinda’s Garden either treat these colorful beauties Moment TV and radio segments. Myers as annuals or dig up the tubers and is a columnist and contributing editor overwinter them indoors. for Birds & Blooms magazine and was Dig tubers in early fall when soil commissioned by Longfield Gardens for her expertise to write this article. www. temperatures drop to 55 degrees. melindamyers.com Spread them out in a warm, dry
Reach Active, Affluent Boomers & Seniors!
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Preventing Colon Cancer – Don’t Be the 1 in 20 By Neal M. Shindel MD One in 20 people will get colon cancer in their lifetime. In fact, colon cancer is the second most common cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. But colon cancer can be prevented by regular colonoscopy exams, a visual examination of the colon and rectum performed by a physician. There are many tests that can detect colon cancer, but only a colonoscopy enables physicians to identify precancerous growths (polyps) and remove them before they develop into cancer. Colon Cancer, Polyps, and Colonoscopies: Basic Concepts • Approximately 50 percent of adults over the age of 50 have polyps growing silently in their large intestine (this includes the colon and the rectum). • Polyps are benign (noncancerous) growths that develop on the inner lining of the colon wall. They start small and grow slowly but have the potential to turn into cancer. • It is estimated to take between five and 15 years from when a polyp begins for it to grow into cancer. • A colonoscopy is a procedure that allows a specialized physician (a gastroenterologist) to examine the entire large intestine with a flexible, lighted videoscope. During the colonoscopy, almost all of the polyps that are found can be removed. • W hen colon cancer is found, it can be cured 95 percent of the time provided that it is found in its earliest stages. Most importantly: Removing polyps helps remove the risk of colon cancer developing. In fact, studies have shown that colonoscopies can reduce colon cancer deaths by as much as 90 percent.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month Many people have concerns about preparing for the procedure as well as fears about the procedure itself. However, when asked, patients who have had a colonoscopy say that the preparation was not too uncomfortable and the procedure itself was easy because they were sedated. Screening Options There are many types of screening exams, such as FIT testing, Cologuard, ColoVantage, CT colonography, and flexible sigmoidoscopy, but a colonoscopy is the only test that can prevent colon cancer as well as detect it in its early stages, when cure rates are about 95 percent. Who Should Be Screened? Every adult over 50 years of age should have colon cancer screening performed. It is now recommended that African-American individuals should start screening at age 45. Although colonoscopy is the preferred screening method in the United States, any screening is better than no screening. Individuals are considered average risk if they are over 50 years of age (45 years for AfricanAmericans) with no personal or family history of colon polyps or colon cancer, no history of familial
polyposis syndromes, and no history of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease. High-risk individuals are those with a personal or family history of colon cancer or precancerous colon polyps, a history of a familial polyposis syndrome, a personal history of ulcerative colitis, or Crohn’s disease. High-risk individuals should start screening at age 40 or 10 years younger than the youngest affected family member. Patients with a personal history of ulcerative colitis or Crohn’s disease or a family history of a familial polyposis syndrome may need to start screening significantly earlier. This should be discussed with your physician. How is a Colonoscopy Done? Generally, the physician will ask you to stay on a clear-liquid diet for 24 hours prior to the colonoscopy. A laxative drink will be prescribed, usually to be taken the evening before and the morning of the scheduled procedure. Sedative medications are given, and most patients sleep through the entire procedure. The visual examination of the colon and rectum takes approximately 20-30 minutes. Patients generally awaken within a few minutes after the procedure and feel alert and ready to eat within 20-30 minutes. Even though patients may have concerns about having a colonoscopy, it is the most valuable tool for preventing any form of colon cancer. When people understand how effective a colonoscopy is in preventing colon cancer and saving lives, they will usually put aside their concerns and reservations and undergo this potentially lifesaving procedure. Neal M. Shindel, MD, is chief of gastroenterology at PIH Health and director of the Colon Cancer Prevention Alliance in Whittier, Calif. In practice for 32 years, he has performed over 50,000 colonoscopies.
Check out our NEW Online Resource Directory! Convenient print edition plus extensive online access. Discover support and services available to meet challenges you may encounter as a senior, as someone who is caring for an older loved one, or a person with a disability.
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Credit: Readers.com
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Fresh Fare
Simple Seafood Solutions for Lent With people across the country observing Lent, a religious tradition observed during the 40 days before Easter, it’s time to rethink the standard family meal menu. This nearly eight-week period typically calls for a special diet. Specifically, red meat is cut out on Fridays for some and for the entirety of Lent for others. According to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, research shows eating seafood two to three times per week reduces the risk of death from any health-related cause. Seafood also provides unique health benefits as a lean protein and is a quality source for omega-3 fatty acids, which are healthy fats essential to human health and development. This simple recipe for Blackened Catfish with Quinoa and Citrus Vinaigrette can help you on your way to a more nutritious meal plan that includes consuming seafood twice per week. If you can’t find catfish or prefer to substitute, any white fish—such as cod, mahi-mahi, or flounder—will work. For more seafood recipes and
golden brown. Add edamame and sautéed corn to quinoa and set aside. Blackened Catfish • 1 tablespoon peanut oil • 1 pound catfish, cut into four fillets • 5 tablespoons blackening seasoning
Photo courtesy of Getty Images
Lenten meal inspiration, visit www. seafoodnutrition.org.
Combine salt, pepper, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, and thyme.
Blackened Catfish with Quinoa and Citrus Vinaigrette Recipe courtesy of Chef Tim Hughes on behalf of the Seafood Nutrition Partnership.
Quinoa Salad • 1 tablespoon peanut oil • 1 cup corn, canned and drained or frozen and thawed to room temperature • salt, to taste • pepper, to taste • 1/2 cup edamame, shelled and thawed to room temperature • 3 cups quinoa, cooked
Servings: 4 Blackening Seasoning • 1 tablespoon salt • 1 tablespoon pepper • 1 tablespoon cayenne pepper • 1 tablespoon garlic powder • 1 tablespoon thyme
Heat and oil skillet. Add corn; salt and pepper, to taste, and sauté until
Heat cast-iron skillet to mediumhigh heat with 1 tablespoon peanut oil added. Coat both sides of catfish fillets with blackening seasoning. Add catfish to skillet and cook 5-6 minutes per side, or until well done. Citrus Vinaigrette • 2 tablespoons lemon juice • 1 teaspoon lemon zest • 1 tablespoon honey • 1/2 teaspoon thyme • 2 tablespoons olive oil Whisk together lemon juice, lemon zest, honey, and thyme. Slowly add olive oil, whisking until dressing is formed. Serve blackened catfish on top of quinoa salad and drizzle with citrus vinaigrette. Family Features
PREDATORS from page 3 rapidly with claws extended to catch the critter. Red-tails and kestrels both snare prey with their eight sharp, curved talons. Belted kingfishers perch on tree limbs that reach over ponds and waterways to watch for frogs, crayfish, and small fish. And, like kestrels, kingfishers hover on quickly beating wings facing into the wind as they look for prey animals. When a potential victim is spotted, each kingfisher dives beak-first into the water to grab the victim with its long, stout bill. Stately great blue herons stand about 5 feet tall and wade cautiously in waterways and impoundments www.50plusLifePA.com
American kestrel.
Great blue heron.
to catch fish, frogs, crayfish, water snakes, and other water creatures with their lengthy beaks. Since these herons are much larger than kingfishers, they are able to snare bigger fish, thus reducing competition for food with kingfishers. Great blues also catch goldfish and koi from backyard goldfish ponds, much to the dismay of the pond owners. These permanent-resident, predatory birds are easily seen in cropland and farmland waterways and impoundments, where they watch for prey animals to eat. They help make those local habitats interesting, as they do through much of North America.
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The Bookworm Sez
Aging Thoughtfully Terri Schlichenmeyer
Kicking and screaming. That’s how you’ll go into your twilight years: The calendar might say one thing, but you’re not going to pay it any mind. There’s still a lot of pep in your step, so, as in the new book Aging Thoughtfully by Martha C. Nussbaum and Saul Levmore, shouldn’t the way you spend your golden years be your decision? Once upon a time in the not-too-distant past, the average life expectancy was around 50 years, while the median retirement age was 74. Back then, retirement didn’t involve Social Security or other government programs; instead, people worked until they couldn’t. Today, there are “more choices, and this book is about these choices.” First of all, why retire at all? There are laws in the U.S. that say you don’t have to, says Levmore, but he’s in favor of changing them — especially if businesses institute “defined benefit plans,” which are often seen in government jobs but rarely in the private sector. These changes would benefit employers, who could better maintain productivity; younger workers needing jobs; and older workers, if Social Security was tweaked a bit. It would also help with “the people normally labeled as the elderly poor,” since defined benefit plans would give them more month-to-month income. But retirement … one can only golf so much. What next? Retirement allows for a “second career,” says Nussbaum, either one that pays or one of volunteerism. For those kinds of choices, she looks at Finland, where retirement is mandatory at a relatively young age. It works because the Finns have excellent healthcare, because they have ample time for better retirement preparation, and because they are treated equally.
Aging Thoughtfully: Conversations about Retirement, Romance, Wrinkles, & Regret By Martha C. Nussbaum and Saul Levmore c. 2017, Oxford University Press 264 pages
Photo credit: Lloyd Degrane
Aging Thoughtfully authors Nussbaum, left, and Levmore.
Statistically speaking, as we age, we rely less on plastic surgery and more on the idea that wrinkles are “glamorous” — a notion that can absolutely be pushed “too far.” We tend to live our lives “backward,” which is OK; doing so offers time to deal with negative emotions and unfulfilled regrets. Here, we learn the reasons for those pearlclutching May-December romances we see in the tabloids. And we get advice on giving while we can still say where our assets should go. I struggled a lot with this book, and I’m ultimately disinclined to recommend it. Here’s why: Though Aging Thoughtfully is a series of “conversations” about getting older, its basis is really old — as in, ancient philosophy and Shakespeare. While that doesn’t make it a bad book by any means, it does mean that its usefulness is limited. Readers looking for advice will have to look harder because that’s buried in Cicero and King Lear; those in search of solid research will find it scattered between philosopher John Rawls and Cato the Elder. Yes, there are conversations within these pages, and they’re thought-provoking, maybe even comforting, but they’re not really accessible for the average reader. Should you decide to tackle this book, do so with awareness of what you’re in for here. Aging Thoughtfully isn’t bad but, for most people, it’s going to make you scream. The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 14,000 books.
Free Tax Assistance Offered in Lebanon County Through April 17, the AARP Tax-Aide program will offer free one-on-one counseling as well as assistance on the telephone and internet to help individuals prepare basic tax forms, including the 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, and other standard documents. The following are locations in your area. Please call for an appointment (unless otherwise noted) or visit www.aarp.org/money/taxaide for more information. Lebanon Area Evangelical Free Church 600 Shepherd St., Jonestown (717) 274-2596 Call on March 8, 22, and 29 or April 5 and 12 for an appointment.
Myerstown Church of the Brethren 51 W. Stoever Ave., Myerstown Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (717) 274-2596
Lebanon Senior Citizen Center 710 Maple St., Lebanon Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (717) 274-2596
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church 22 S. Sixth St., Lebanon Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (717) 274-2596
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Lebanon County
Calendar of Events
Community Programs/Support Groups Free and open to the public
Senior Center Activities
March 13, 7-8:30 p.m. Historical Lecture: Spanish-American War Cornwall Iron Furnace Cornwall Manor – Freeman Auditorium 1 Boyd St., Cornwall (717) 272-9711 www.cornwallironfurnace.org
Annville Senior Activity Center (717) 867-1796 200 S. White Oak St., Annville March 14, 10 a. m. to 1 p.m. – St. Paddy’s Day Céilidh: Piano Entertainment March 22, 12:30 p.m. – Easter Hat Lunch at the Hearth March 26, 12:30 p.m. – Pinochle Party
March 28, 6-7 p.m. Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support Group Linden Village 100 Tuck Court, Lebanon (717) 274-7400 If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
March 25, 3-4 p.m. Lebanon Valley College Concert Choir Performance Lebanon Valley College – Miller Chapel 101 N. College Ave., Annville (717) 867-6034
Library Programs Annville Free Library, 216 E. Main St., Annville, (717) 867-1802 Tuesdays, 6:15-8 p.m. – AFL Knitters March 5, 6:30-8 p.m. – The Mindful Foodies March 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Class: Ways to Pay Your Bills Lebanon Community Library, 125 N. Seventh St., (717) 273-7624 Matthews Public Library, 102 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, (717) 865-5523 March 21, 3-4 p.m. – Intro to Excel, Part II March 27, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Book Club Myerstown Community Library, 199 N. College St., Myerstown, (717) 866-2800 March 15, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Social Media for Seniors, Part I March 22, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Social Media for Seniors, Part II Palmyra Public Library, 325 S. Railroad St., (717) 838-1347 Richland Community Library, 111 E. Main St., Richland, (717) 866-4939 March 1, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Social Media for Seniors, Part I March 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Social Media for Seniors, Part II
parks and recreation All events held at the Park at Governor Dick unless noted. March 4, 1-4 p.m. – Music by the Fireplace March 17, 9 a.m. to noon – Volunteer Work Day March 25, 1:30 p.m. – Golden Eagle Hikers (Over 50)
Rehab after Heart Attack is Often Ignored Approximately 790,000 adults in the United States suffer heart attacks every year, and about 210,000 of them are repeat attacks. Cardiac rehabilitation is crucial to preventing a second heart attack, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report that only 1 in 3 survivors opt to participate in it. Cardiac rehab includes exercise counseling, lifestyle advice for a healthy heart, and stresswww.50plusLifePA.com
reduction tips, all of which can reduce those chances of a second (or third or fourth) attack. Cardiac rehab also means extended medical supervision after discharge from the hospital, according to the WebMD website. If you or someone you know has suffered and survived a heart attack, keep in mind that rehab might prolong life and prevent a new crisis.
Maple Street Senior Community Center (717) 273-1048 710 Maple St., Lebanon March 3, 7-11 p.m. – Dance at Jonestown VFW for Cancer Relay March 7, noon – Body Mass Index Program March 16, 11 a.m. – Woman’s Awareness Lunch Myerstown Senior Community Center (717) 866-6786 Myerstown Baptist Church, 59 Ramona Road Myerstown March 2, 1:15 p.m. – Bowling at the Goodwill March 14, 7:45 a.m. – Breakfast Club at Railroad Diner March 15, 10:30 a.m. – Painting Class with Karen Northern Lebanon Senior Community Center (717) 865-0944 335 N. Lancaster St., Jonestown www.jonestownpa.org/senior.html March 7, 10 a.m. – Dance to the Oldies March 14, 11:30 a.m. – St. Paddy’s Day Lunch at Jersey Joe’s Boardwalk Café March 15, 8:30 a.m. – Breakfast Bunch at Cedar Grill Palmyra Senior Community Center (717) 838-8237 101 S. Railroad St., Palmyra March 5, 10:30 a.m. – Universal Human Beings Week Quiz March 21, 10 a.m. – Movie: Superman IV: The Quest for Peace March 28, 10:30 a.m. – Spring Scavenger Hunt and Pizza Social Privately Owned Centers Senior Center of Lebanon Valley, Inc. (717) 274-3451 710 Maple St., Lebanon Washington Arms – (717) 274-1401 303 Chestnut St., Lebanon Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information. 50plus LIFE p
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Savvy Senior
Income Tax Filing Requirements for Retirees Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior, What are the IRS income tax filing requirements for seniors this year? I didn’t file a tax return the past two years because my income was below the filing requirements, but I got a part-time job late last year, so I’m wondering if I’m required to file this year. – Part-time Retiree Dear Part-time, Whether or not you are required to file a federal income tax return this year will depend on how much you earned last year (in 2017) and the source of that income, as well as your age and filing status. Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s (2017) IRS tax filing requirement thresholds. For most people, this is pretty straightforward. If your 2017 gross income — which includes all taxable income, not counting your Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately — was below the threshold for your filing status and age, you probably won’t have to file. But if it’s over, you will.
• Single: $10,400 ($11,950 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2018)
• Married filing jointly: $20,800 ($22,050 if you or your spouse is 65 or older or $23,300 if you’re both over 65) Stories of ordinary men and women
called to perform extraordinary military service. From 1999–2016, writer and World War II veteran Col. Robert D. Wilcox preserved the firsthand wartime experiences of more than 200 veterans through Salute to a Veteran, his monthly column featured in 50plus LIFE. Now, for the first time, 50 of those stories— selected by Wilcox himself—are available to own in this soft-cover book.
Simply complete and mail this form with your payment to the address below to order Salute to Our Veterans. On-Line Publishers • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Name_ _______________________________________________________ Address_ ______________________________________________________ City_______________________________ State_ ____ Zip_ ______________ Phone_ _____________________ Email______________________________ Number of copies_ ______ (Please include $20.80 for each copy) Credit card #______________________________________ Exp. date________ Signature of cardholder_________________________________CVV #________
Or send a check made payable to On-Line Publishers, Inc. You can also order online at www.50plusLIFEpa.com!
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• Married filing separately: $4,050 at any age • Head of household: $13,400 ($14,950 if age 65 or older) • Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child: $16,750 ($18,000 if age 65 or older) To get a detailed breakdown on federal filing requirements, along with information on taxable and nontaxable income, call the IRS at (800) 829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the Tax Guide for Seniors (publication 554), or see www.irs.gov/pub/ irs-pdf/p554.pdf. Check Here Too There are other financial situations that
can require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirement. For example, if you had earnings from selfemployment in 2017 of $400 or more, or if you’re receiving Social Security benefits and half your benefits plus all other income, including tax-exempt interest, exceeds $25,000 (or $32,000 if you are married filing jointly), you’ll probably need to file. To figure this out, the IRS offers an interactive tax assistant tool on their website that asks a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file or if you should file because you’re due a refund. It takes less than 15 minutes to complete. You can access this tool at www.irs.gov/filing; click on the “Do I Need to File?” button. Or, you can get assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at (800) 829-1040. You can also get face-to-face help at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. See www.irs.gov/localcontacts or call (800) 829-1040 to locate a center near you. Check Your State Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, don’t assume that you’re also excused from filing state income taxes. The rules for your state might be very different. Check with your state tax agency before concluding that you’re entirely in the clear. For links to state tax agencies, see www.taxadmin.org/ state-tax-agencies. Tax Preparation Help If you find that you do need to file a tax return this year, you can get help through the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program. Sponsored by the IRS, TCE provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle- and lowincome taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call (800) 9069887 or visit www.irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep to locate a service near you. Also check with AARP, a participant in the TCE program that provides free tax preparation at around 5,000 sites nationwide. You don’t have to be an AARP member to use this service. To locate an AARP Tax-Aide site, call (888) 2277669, visit www.AARP.org/findtaxhelp, or check out the local listings included in this issue of 50plus LIFE. 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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Vietnam War Veterans Day Returns March 29 For the second year, American flags should be displayed March 29 to mark National Vietnam War Veterans Day. The 2017 Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act was the first federal statute that specifically provides for the honoring of Vietnam War veterans. Last year, both chambers of Congress unanimously passed bipartisan legislation authored by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) and Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-Ind.). President Trump then signed National Vietnam War Veterans Day into law. The Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act represents the first federal statute recognizing the bravery and sacrifice of veterans who served during the Vietnam War. Vietnam Veterans of America and Veterans of Foreign Wars supported the act, as did AMVETS Department of Pennsylvania. Sgt. Harold Redding, a Vietnam veteran from York, came up with the concept of the legislation. March 29, 1973, was the day the last combat troops were ordered out of Vietnam. While numerous troops remained behind before the fall of Saigon, March 29 holds great meaning for many Vietnam veterans.
April 9, 2018 May 30, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wyndham Hotel York
NEW LOCATION!
• Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. • Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. • Sunday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Through the helpline, AFA’s social workers field questions, offer tips and www.50plusLifePA.com
Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel 1741 Papermill Road Wyomissing
Please, join us! This combined event is FREE for veterans of all ages, active military, and their families. • The official Vietnam era lasted from Aug. 5, 1964, to May 7, 1975. • Total U.S. casualties: 58,220 • Total Pennsylvania casualties: 3,147 • Year of greatest casualties: 1968 (16,899) • 2,709,918 Americans served in uniform in Vietnam. • Average age of the men killed: 23.1 years • 97 percent of Vietnam veterans were honorably discharged. Sources: U.S. Wings, National Archives
Alzheimer’s Helpline Expands Hours The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America is expanding its national tollfree helpline to seven days a week to provide individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and their caregivers with assistance, support, and resources. The helpline, which was previously open Monday through Saturday, now includes Sunday hours. The new helpline hours, all listed in Eastern Time, are:
2000 Loucks Road York
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
strategies, and provide referrals to local services in the caller’s area, no matter where in the United States they live. AFA’s social workers are also available via Skype, live chat, and email. “Alzheimer’s disease doesn’t only affect people during normal business hours; oftentimes, nights and weekends are when families need help the most,” Charles J. Fuschillo Jr., AFA’s president and CEO, said. To reach AFA’s national toll-free helpline, call (866) 232-8484 or visit www.alzfdn.org to connect with AFA’s socials workers through email, live chat, or Skype.
At the Expo
Veterans Benefits Community Services Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services
At the Job Fair
Employers Job Counseling Workshops/Seminars Resume Writing Assistance Principal Sponsors: Sponsored by:
Disabled American Veterans • Pennsylvania American Legion Pennsylvania National Guard Outreach Office • Pennsylvania State Headquarters VFW Vibra Health Plan • Worley & Obetz, Inc.
Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available
www.veteransexpo.com (717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com
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DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company
A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for about $1 a day* Keep your own dentist! You can go to any dentist you want No wait for preventive care and no deductibles – you could get a checkup tomorrow
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*Individual plan. Product not available in MN, MT, NH, NM, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6096E-0917 MB17-NM008Ec