Lebanon County 50plus LIFE - March 2020

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Complimentary | Lebanon County Edition

March 2020 • Vol. 15 No. 3

Explaining How the Union Survived page 4

DO I HAVE TO FILE TAXES? page 15

Traumatic Brain Injury A ‘Silent Epidemic’ page 16

Please join us for these FREE events!

21st Annual

April 22, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY

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

21st Annual

May 6, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

DAUPHIN COUNTY

Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey

17th Annual

June 10, 2020

Your Choice. Our Privilege.

Devotion. Compassion. Dignity. When your loved one needs help, join hands with Homeland at Home.

We are privileged to be part of your caregiving team.

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CHESTER COUNTY

Church Farm School 1001 E. Lincoln Highway Exton

24th Annual

Sept. 16, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY

Spooky Nook Sports 2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim

717-857-7400 | HomelandatHome.org Hospice volunteers are always welcome.

Community Outreach of Homeland Center

Homeland Hospice A Toast to the 10th … An Encore for More!

Save the date! Nov. 10

| Harrisburg, PA

18th Annual

Sept. 23, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

YORK COUNTY

York Expo Center Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Ave., York

21st Annual

Oct. 14, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Carlisle Expo Center 100 K St. Carlisle

Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars Demonstrations • Entertainment • Door Prizes Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available (717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140 • (610) 675-6240

www.50plusExpoPA.com 25 th

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Tax-Aide Sites Scheduled for Lebanon County Through April 15, AARP Foundation is providing free tax assistance and preparation in Lebanon County through its Tax-Aide program, the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service.

Tax-Aide volunteers have served taxpayers in Lebanon County for more than 20 years.

There are four tax sites in Lebanon County:

Lebanon Area Evangelical Free Church 600 Shepherd St., Jonestown Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Lebanon Senior Center 710 Maple St., Lebanon Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Myerstown Church of the Brethren 51 W. Stoever Ave., Myerstown Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Holy Trinity Lutheran Church 723 Lehman St., Lebanon Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

please see TAX-AIDE page 7

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

Emergency Numbers Poison Control Center (800) 222-1222 Food Resources Food Stamps (800) 692-7462 Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging Meals on Wheels (717) 273-9262 Lebanon County Christian Ministries (717) 272-4400 Salvation Army (717) 273-2655 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020

American Diabetes Association (717) 657-4310 American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association (717) 207-4265 American Lung Association (717) 541-5864

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (717) 787-7500

www.50plusLifePA.com

Lupus Foundation (888) 215-8787

PennDOT (800) 932-4600

Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY

Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers (800) 472-8477

Home Care Services Homeland at Home Serving all of Lebanon County (717) 221-7892

Social Security Information (800) 772-1213

Hospice Services Homeland at Home Serving all of Lebanon County (717) 221-7890

Recycling (800) 346-4242

United Way of Lebanon County 2-1-1 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (800) 827-1000 Housing Assistance Housing Assistance & Resources Program (HARP) (717) 273-9328

PennState Health this.pennstatehealth.org/research

Lebanon County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities (717) 274-1401

WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital 252 S. Fourth St., Lebanon (717) 270-7500

Lebanon HOPES (717) 274-7528, ext. 3201

Hotlines Energy Assistance (800) 692-7462

Arthritis Foundation (717) 274-0754

Kidney Foundation (717) 652-8123

Medicare (800) 382-1274

Hospitals Medical Society of Lebanon County (717) 270-7500

American Cancer Society (717) 231-4582

CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (717) 652-6520

Environmental Protection Agency Emergency Hotline (800) 541-2050 IRS Income Tax Assistance (800) 829-1040 Medicaid (800) 692-7462

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Insurance Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833 Legal Services Pennsylvania Bar Association (717) 238-6715 Office of Aging Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging (717) 273-9262

Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com real estate Heart & Home Properties (717) 276-9951 retirement LIVING Providence Place at the Collegeville Inn 4000 Ridge Pike, Collegeville (610) 222-5007 Senior Centers Annville Senior Community Center (717) 867-1796 Maple Street Senior Community Center (717) 273-1048 Myerstown Senior Community Center (717) 866-6786 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 Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771 Volunteer opportunities RSVP of the Capital Region (717) 454-8647

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

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Cover Story 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 Connie Molitor Production Artists Renee McWilliams Lauren Phillips

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Senior Marketing Consultants Joshua Binkley Jennifer Schmalhofer Angie Willis Marketing Consultants Brittney Bonagura 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.

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Explaining America’s Bloodiest Battle and How the Union Survived

By Gabriele Amersbach How do you explain interested in the Battle of why 51,000 men were Gettysburg,” says Fowler. killed, wounded, “America was the first captured, or missing in successful democracy. just three days of fighting The Civil War was a in America’s bloodiest test whether or not we battle? would tear ourselves The tour guides at the apart. It questioned if a Gettysburg battlefield democracy can endure. provide answers that dive Can this really work? deeply into the history “The outcome affected of the time, battlefield the whole world. If the tactics and strategies, the United States couldn’t Photo credit: © Doug Kerr personality of the leaders, survive the Civil War, The park was added to the National Register and the impact on the other countries would of Historic Places in 1966. individual soldiers and be less willing to try our civilians. form of government.”

“This battle was an His interest led to a lot important turning point of reading on his subject in the Civil War,” says — more than 3,500 Les Fowler, a full-time books have been written licensed battlefield about this battle. guide for eight years at “No, I haven’t read all Gettysburg National of them, but I’m working Military Park. on it!” says Fowler.

He explains that it A deep level of was the first time the knowledge is critical in Southern army — the order to become one Army of North Virginia of the 150 full-time Fowler’s Licensed Battlefield Guide badge — — was decisively beaten and part-time licensed his “most prized possession” — which signifies and driven from the field battlefield guides at he is officially licensed by the National Park Service to give tours on the battlefield. of battle.

Gettysburg. Throughout The Union’s Army the national park system, of the Potomac, led by Gen. George G. Meade, there are only two other battlefield parks that clashed with the advancing Confederates from July employ licensed battlefield guides.

1, 1863, until July 4, when Gen. Robert E. Lee was Each guide goes through a rigorous process of forced to withdraw his battered army. self-study and federal testing that demands in-depth “The South had fewer soldiers and Robert E. knowledge on every historical aspect of the battle.

Lee lost many of his elite officers, the flower of When Fowler began the process, he was living the Confederate Army, during the battle. Twentyin his native Texas and was ready for a new stage of one months later, the South surrendered,” Fowler life. He had worked in retail management and the explains. computer industry. At the time he started studying to be a guide, he had his own mountain- and rockA Passion for History climbing business.

Fowler is articulate, insightful, and Fowler took the exam three times until he knowledgeable about all aspects of the battle, and passed it, over a period of six years. He eventually his passion for his subject matter comes through followed his passion across the country and settled with every word. He even lives on the battlefield, on becoming a guide at Gettysburg, which had five minutes from the park’s visitor’s center. absorbed his interest for much of his adult life.

“I was a history major in college and was always “It’s by far the most enjoyable job I’ve ever had,” www.50plusLifePA.com

Fowler explains, after eight years on the job. “I can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing.”

Although the pay is modest, and guides do not get vacation or paid days off — battlefield guides are paid through the tours they lead, not through tax dollars — they relish the opportunity to educate their audiences about the significance of the battle at Gettysburg.

“Guides can answer any questions that come our way, from war strategies, to the impact of the geology of the landscape, and the political issues of the time,” Fowler says. They judiciously avoid modern political controversies.

With his deep font of knowledge, Fowler is able to tailor each tour to meet the specific interests of the audience.

message? “People put everything on the line for their beliefs, but were ultimately able to reconcile.”

He points out that the Eternal Light Peace Memorial was built with donations from both Northern and Southern states to honor Union and Confederate soldiers.

The monument was dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt on July 3, 1938, as a part of the ceremonies for the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

The 6,000-acre park holds a total of 1,328 monuments, markers, and memorials.

Fowler concludes that while he loves educating his tour groups on all aspects of the battle, he wants one takeaway message to stand out.

Approximately 1,800 Union and Confederate “We as Americans are all one country. veterans attended the dedication of the Eternal The people who fought this terrible battle Light Peace Memorial in 1938 on the 75th ‘Welcome to Your New Country — were able to get over their differences. anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Here’s Your Gun to Defend It’ The Union was restored, and our form of For example, when I mention my government survived,” says Fowler.

German heritage, Fowler quickly notes that thousands of Germans were “The idea of the United States is much more important than our fighting in the battle, as were units of Irish, English, and other immigrant differences, then and now.” groups.

On the cover: Licensed Gettysburg battlefield guide Les Fowler with a “Sometimes you got off the boat, and then it was, ‘Welcome to your new 12-pounder Napoleon canon behind the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor country — here’s your gun to defend it,’” says Fowler.

Center. Both Confederate and Union armies used this type of canon during What we may have forgotten with the passing of time is that everyone was the Civil War. affected by the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg alone engaged 93,000 Union and 71,000 Confederate soldiers. While battlefield casualties were brutal, thousands more left the battlefield maimed and traumatized.

In the four years of the Civil War, 750,000 people died out of the 31 The help caregivers need to care million people living in the U.S. at the time. With today’s population, that for themselves and others! would be a death toll of almost 8 million people.

“It was a national tragedy,” says Fowler. “One of the reasons we want to keep history alive is so that it never happens again.”

He quotes George Santayana, the Spanish philosopher and poet: “Those Features who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

More than a Million Visitors Each Year More than a million visitors visit the Gettysburg National Military Park each year from all over the world.

This includes busloads of school children; visitors from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York (about 60%, according to Fowler); a “fair share” of Southerners; and soldiers who study tactics (including units from other countries). About 10% of visitors are international.

“It is always a surprise how knowledgeable people from other countries are about our history and even this battle,” Fowler says.

The battle had such an impact on America’s history that most presidents visit the park. Fowler has a few presidential anecdotes ready.

Eisenhower retired in Gettysburg and gave tours of the park to world leaders. Kennedy was scheduled to come to the park for a major event in November 1963 but canceled to go to Texas for his ill-fated final visit. Fowler was there when then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump visited the park on Oct. 22, 2016.

Fowler belongs to the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides, an organization that keeps in contact with legislators and gives them free tours, as well as promoting guiding in general.

“We want to encourage leaders to learn about the battle,” says Fowler. The www.50plusLifePA.com

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• Directory of Providers • Books and Resources • Support Organizations • Articles

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CROSSWORD

Puzzle Page

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18.

SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Explorers

Across 1. Archaeological find 5. Lay an egg 9. Casablanca role 13. Four-bagger 14. Crowd noise 15. Yemeni city 16. One of the muses 17. Golden rule word 18. Riot spray 19. Most underweight 21. LaBeouf of Disturbia 22. Used a bench 23. Telephone bane

25. Hotel amenities 28. Winter warmer 30. Copier need 31. Like a money transport car 35. Family member 36. Game bird 37. New Zealand bird 38. Pork sausage 40. Informal jargon 41. Bathsheba’s husband 42. Decorative pitchers 43. Tailbone

46. Deli loaf 47. Paradise Lost, e.g.

48. Honest and sincere 55. Son of Leah 56. Foe for El Cordobés 57. Tot’s wheels 58. Ireland 59. Dr. Pavlov 60. Antique auto 61. Batman’s Christian 62. Horn or York, e.g.

63. Study

20. ___ Pensacola (mil. center) 24. ___’easter 25. Turn bad 26. Tolstoy heroine 27. Pasta choice 28. Collide 29. Forget about 30. Computer key 31. Subtle glow 32. Makeup artist?

33. Barley beards 34. Excavate 36. Idealistic and unrealistic

39. Humorous 40. Feel the heat 42. CBS symbol 43. V.I.P. 44. Wagner work 45. Kind of engineer 46. Geneva’s river 49. Scotia starter 50. Golf hazard 51. Gaelic language 52. MasterCard rival 53. Scratched (out) 54. Superman foe ___ Luthor

Down 1. Force unit, briefly 2. Poet Khayyám 3. Prefix with physical 4. Window shopper 5. Apples and oranges, e.g.

6. Kind of wolf 7. Feedbag feed 8. Etiquette 9. Dilapidated 10. Hells Canyon locale 11. ___ B. DeMille 12. Work dough 13. “For ___ a jolly …”

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The Bookworm Sez

Mobituaries Terri Schlichenmeyer

Few people know who Moses Fleetwood Dust to dust.

Walker is; and even in today’s political That’s supposedly what we all become climate, Billy Carter’s name is rarely again when we exit, stage left: We are mentioned. made of dust, and we’ll just be a pile of Reputations can die ignominiously, it when we die. But is that all, or can TV shows get canceled, and careers fade we hope to live on as a line in a page away (or sometimes end with a president’s somewhere? life). Complacency can die, as can grace.

As in the new book Mobituaries: But sometimes, just when we think life is Great Lives Worth Reliving by Mo Rocca filled with nothing but death, demise, and and Jonathan Greenberg, will someone unpleasantry, it can return on the tops of remember? champagne bubbles …

Nothing lasts forever.

The first thing — perhaps even the If you’re old enough to read that, you’re only thing — you need to know is that old enough to know its truth: Everything Mobituaries is absolutely delightful. and everybody ends eventually, and some Promise yourself two minutes with this leave without fanfare. We might not even book, and you’ll close its covers a half-hour see them go because, as Rocca muses, “not later. Dip in for a little nostalgia (when everyone has gotten the send-off they were did station wagons depart, anyhow?). Step due …” back in time to witness the acts of people That set-things-right need for closure who made big impacts but are now largely launched Rocca’s Mobituary, which is “an forgotten. See how celebrities can eclipse appreciation for someone (or something) other celebs, even in death. who didn’t get the love she or he deserved Like with a bag of potato chips, watch the first time around.” yourself reach into this book for another Take, for instance, “the long S,” which handful because authors Mo Rocca and looks something like a small F and can be Jonathan Greenberg don’t wade in too found in the Declaration of Independence.

Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving deeply; instead, they give readers just It ceased to be used in late 1803 and is

By Mo Rocca and Jonathan Greenberg enough to whet appetites but not so much gone but not forgotten. c. 2019, Simon & Schuster, 375 pages that we get full.

Women don’t wear hobble skirts And as with any feast, literary or anymore, and men don’t wear codpieces; otherwise, you can nibble without thinking doctors don’t believe phrenology helps to you must have a helping of everything. diagnose your obsession with cats; encyclopedias won’t help a young authorRattle around and you’ll find that Mobituaries is gently humorous, kindly to-be who thinks he’s gay; and you can no longer visit Prussia because it hasn’t inclusive, and plain fun to read. Have it nearby and you’ll know that this book existed since early 1947. won’t collect dust.

But things don’t just disappear. People do, too.

Once upon a time, every man wanted to dress like a guy named Beau The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years Brummel. We don’t talk about Ada Lovelace these days, or her 19th-century old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin computer programming work. with two dogs and 14,000 books.

TAX-AIDE from page 3 Tax appointments can be made at any of these Lebanon County tax sites by calling (717) 274-2596 or (717) 376-4664. These phones will be answered during the following times: Mondays, 9 a.m. to noon; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; and Wednesdays, noon to 3 p.m.

During the tax year 2018, 16 Lebanon County volunteer counselors completed 1,228 tax returns for taxpayers whose average adjusted gross income www.50plusLifePA.com

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was between $20,208 and $30,525. The program is also supported by the help of six volunteer tax-site greeters and 10 volunteer appointment schedulers.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers are trained and IRS-certified each year to ensure they know about and understand the latest tax laws.

To find another Tax-Aide site or for more information, including which documents to bring to the tax site, visit aarp.org/findtaxhelp or call (888) AARPNOW or (888) 227-7669.

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

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Soldier Stories

Robert Naeye

Pilot Hit by AK-47 Fire While Evacuating the Wounded

As a medevac helicopter pilot during two But Moore volunteered for additional tours in Vietnam, Douglas Moore survived training during his junior and senior years 1,874 combat missions. Some of those because he anticipated military service and missions left his Huey chopper riddled with wanted to be an officer. He joined the Army bullet holes. right out of college so he could learn to fly And in one particularly harrowing mission, airplanes.

Moore escaped death by a fraction of an inch.

“As a youngster, I had an urge to fly, and Yet this pilot managed to evacuate 2,782 the military offered flight training,” he says. wounded patients.

He first trained on airplanes at Fort Rucker, “I honestly believe that some of those guys Alabama, where the instructors often put the went on living or had limbs saved because my students through difficult situations that they crew and I could help,” says Moore. might actually encounter in combat.

Moore was born in the small town of By the early 1960s, the Vietnam War Keiser, Arkansas, in September 1936 and was intensifying. The U.S. Army realized Moore’s helicopter picking up patients from the 173rd Airborne Brigade in the Hô Bò Woods in June 1965. was raised on a small cotton farm nearby. that helicopters were of greater need than He recalls doing what all the boys did in this airplanes, so it started training more corner of northeast Arkansas: joining the Boy Scouts and playing sports. helicopter pilots. In 1963, Moore was sent to Camp Wolters, Texas, to learn to After high school, Moore attended Arkansas State University, where he fly choppers. graduated in February 1959. During that period — the height of the Cold Moore was ordered to Vietnam in October 1964, where he served in the th War — all physically fit men were obligated to take ROTC training during 57 Medical Detachment out of Saigon. These medevac units were known as their first two years in college.

Dust Off, for their call sign.

Pet of the Month

Buttons Introducing a gorgeous, curvy girl we call Buttons.

Buttons is oh-sofriendly! She will surely greet you when visiting our cat colony room. Buttons is a sturdy adult spayed female. Curvy girls need love too.

Opt to adopt Buttons!

For adoption process details, please visit www. lebanonhumane.org, call (717) 628-1369, or stop in the Humane Society of Lebanon County, 150 N. Ramona Road, Myerstown.

Your guide to choosing the right living and care options for you or a loved one.

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At this time, the American war effort was just And just after that, another round came in gearing up; the U.S. role was mainly advisory. and hit Moore hard. His head sprung back and Most of the patients that Moore flew to hospitals smacked the back of the seat. He kicked a pedal were South Vietnamese. to the floor that put the chopper in a descending After a year in South Vietnam, Moore was right turn only about 100 feet off the ground. transferred back to the U.S. and then to Japan, Moore instinctively grabbed the stick and where the U.S. built six large hospitals in the pulled it to start climbing. He told his young Tokyo-Yokohama area. copilot that he had been hit, and the 20-year-old Due to the poor road system in this heavily took control. populated area, the Army decided to use If that weren’t bad enough, the fire warning helicopters to move patients. In his two years in light started flashing. Somehow, the Huey limped Japan, Moore’s relatively small helicopter unit back to base, about 25 miles away, but landed transported 63,000 patients. with 37 holes from AK-47 rounds.

A picture of Moore taken in early 1965 by a French photographer working After his time in Japan, the Army ordered “That old gal took us back to Cu Chi despite for the Le Monde newspaper chain.

Moore back to Vietnam for a second tour of the fact she was leaking every fluid aboard the duty, from August 1968 to August 1969. At this aircraft,” says Moore. point, the war was raging, with about 500,000 But Moore was totally confused during the Americans stationed in South Vietnam. flight. He realized he couldn’t see out of his left Moore commanded a Dust Off unit near Cu eye, triggering fears of blindness, which would th Chi that supported the 25 Infantry Division. end his flying career.

There, as Moore describes it, he “got to see the He later found out what had happened by war up close and personal. looking at bullet holes in his flight helmet. An “I remember being belly deep in a rice paddy AK-47 round flew through the windshield, hit or wedged down in a tiny hole in the jungle the very lower edge of his helmet right between someplace with blood-soaked soldiers being his eyes, penetrated the hard outer shell, and then crammed into the rear of my helicopter, and on exited by his left ear. many occasions, the bullets were coming through The bullet had shattered the windshield, and the helicopter with us. And that made it rather pieces of metal and Plexiglas hit the left side of his Moore pointing to a bullet hole exciting at times. And it took a great toll on us,” face, cut his nose, and left an inch-long piece of in the tail boom, January 1965. he recalls. metal in the corner of his left eye. It also chipped The Dust Off crews were going in where battles were raging. The combat out a piece on the left side of his head. loss rate was 3.3 times higher than the rest of Army aviation.

“I spent five days in the hospital while they picked the things out of my eye Moore vividly recalls an eventful 18-hour period in December 1968 when and tried to determine whether I had been knocked unconscious. If that had he flew four medevac missions: one just after lunch, one just after dark, happened, my flying days would have been over. But I spent five days in the another at about 10 p.m., and a fourth around 4 the next morning. hospital, got out, and went back to flying for the rest of my tour,” he says.

“I think I can safely say these were four of the most dangerous missions that Moore survived several more close calls during his tour. Interestingly, I flew in Vietnam. We just got the crap shot out of us twice,” he says.

Moore says that most of what he remembers about Vietnam are the good On the final mission, Moore’s unit got a call saying a nearby Army things, and that most of the bad things have been washed out of his mind over battalion had eight critically wounded men and they were surrounded by the the years. enemy. Moore knew this mission would be treacherous. As he flew toward the But he is quick to add, “When I think about Vietnam, I mostly think about battle, he could see flares and flashes of artillery. the people I served with. I knew some crazy guys over there, and you need Moore radioed the battalion commander to shut off the flares long enough people like that to make it fun when fun is about all you had left to keep you to allow his Huey to land blacked out. The commander initially refused, going.” fearing his unit would be overrun. But they reached a deal where Moore could Moore stayed in the Army until March 1989 and retired as a colonel. He land with his helicopter’s lights turned off and then take off under temporary earned numerous awards and medals for his 30 years of service, including the darkness.

Distinguished Service Cross, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star, While landing, Moore could see wounded men scattered over a large area, and a Purple Heart. so it took a long time to load the injured men. While on the ground, the He worked 25 years in healthcare administration but is now retired in the enemy began firing at his helicopter and he could hear bullets striking the tail small town of Haymarket, Virginia, just south of the Washington metro area. boom and back of his craft.

He’s written a book about his Vietnam adventures, titled A Bullet through the When there was one last man to load, Moore radioed the commander to Helmet, with all the proceeds going to a museum for veterans in Indiana. ask him to shut down the flares while he took off. This time, the commander “I suppose Vietnam means different things to different people,” says Moore. refused.

“But for me, the two years I spent in Vietnam and the two years I spent in As Moore took off, tracers began coming up and all around his helicopter.

Japan between those tours represent the most significant period of my life and As the Huey climbed, bullets started penetrating the cockpit. A round came one I’m extremely proud of.” up by his left knee and hit the lever that controls whether the helicopter goes Tragically, Moore lost his first wife of 53 years to Alzheimer’s disease. But up or down. It ricocheted and split his left thumb open. on Veterans Day in 2013, he had a chance encounter with a woman named “That hurt like a son of a gun,” says Moore.

Debby Alexander, whom he had met in Vietnam in January 1969. They are Moments later he heard a scream right behind him. A round had hit one of now happily married. the patients in the spine, inflicting a mortal wound.

We will tell Alexander’s remarkable story in next month’s issue. www.50plusLifePA.com

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March 2020

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Lebanon County

Calendar of Events

Community Programs / Support Groups Free and open to the public March 2 and 16, 7 p.m.

From Fear to Serenity: Nar-Anon Family Group St. John’s United Church of Christ 120 W. Market St., Jonestown (717) 865-4453

March 25, 6-7 p.m.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support Group Linden Village 100 Tuck Court, Lebanon (717) 274-7400

Submit events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com.

Library Programs Annville Free Library 216 E. Main St. Annville, (717) 867-1802 March 3, 6:30 p.m. – Adult Coloring Club Lebanon Community Library 125 N. Seventh St. Lebanon, (717) 273-7624 March 10, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Tech Help March 17 and 24, 1:30 p.m. – Android Phones for Seniors, Parts One and Two Matthews Public Library 102 W. Main St. Fredericksburg, (717) 865-5523 March 9 and 16, 6:30 p.m. – Intro to Excel, Parts One and Two

Myerstown Community Library 199 N. College St. Myerstown, (717) 866-2800 March 12 and 19, 6:30 p.m. – Android Phones for Seniors, Parts One and Two Palmyra Public Library 50 Landings Drive, Suite B Annville, (717) 838-1347 Richland Community Library 111 E. Main St. Richland, (717) 866-4939

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Parks and Recreation All events held at Park at Governor Dick unless otherwise noted.

March 1, 1-4 p.m. – Music by the Fireplace March 8, 8 a.m. – Fitness Hike

Temperatures are Falling — in Your Body Most people think the average body temperature for humans is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. However, as the HealthDay website points out, that’s not quite the case.

In fact, it seems to be going down.

The 98.6 degrees standard was established in 1851.

A recent study of 25,000 British citizens, though, marked the average as 97.9.

Another study of more than 677,000 temperature measurements recorded in the United States between 1862 and 2017 found that the average body temperature of men

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born since 2000 is 1.1 degree lower than in men born in the early 19th century.

Similarly, body temperatures for women born in the 2000s were, on average, about 0.6 degrees below that of women born in the 1890s. That adds up to a decrease of 0.05 degrees every decade since the 1800s.

Scientists speculate that improved healthcare and hygiene over time may have produced a reduction in the average metabolic rate, leading to an overall decline in inflammation, which tends to increase one’s body temperature.

Senior Center Activities Annville Senior Activity Center (717) 867-1796 200 S. White Oak St., Annville March 3, 11 a.m. – 1960s-Theme Lunch at the Hilltop Café March 18, 10 a.m. – St. Patrick’s Breakfast and Bingo March 20, 9:45 a.m. – Informative Talk: The Life of a Coffee Bean Maple Street Senior Community Center (717) 273-1048 710 Maple St., Lebanon March 4, 9:30 a.m. – Pickleball Court Line Party March 13, 10:30 a.m. – Veteran Info and Resource Fair March 27, 10 a.m. – Pickleball Tournament Myerstown Senior Community Center (717) 866-6786 Myerstown Baptist Church, 59 Ramona Road Myerstown March 24, 11 a.m. – Health Presentation: Shingles March 25, noon – Carpool Trip to Murder at Mount Hope Mansion March 31, noon – Everyone’s Birthday Party at Hebron Banquet Hall Northern Lebanon Senior Community Center (717) 865-0944 335 N. Lancaster St., Jonestown Wednesdays, 1 p.m. – Walking Group at Lebanon Valley Mall Fridays, 10:30 a.m. – Exercise to Improve Balance March 9, 1 p.m. – Play at Northern Lebanon High School Palmyra Senior Community Center (717) 838-8237 101 S. Railroad St., Palmyra Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m. – Band Together Resistance Training Exercise Wednesdays, noon – Pinochle and Phase 10 Games March 9, 10:30 a.m. – Lyme Disease Prevention Presentation Privately Owned Centers Senior Center of Lebanon Valley, Inc. (717) 274-3451 710 Maple St., Lebanon

If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration. www.50plusLifePA.com

Join us in celebrating our silver anniversary by taking a look back at life over the last 25 years … as well as a blast from one of our covers past!

2010 Top Headlines

Entertainment

• A 7.0 magnitude earthquake ravaged Haiti in January, devastating the country and leading to the deaths of an estimated 100,000 to 160,000 people.

• James Cameron’s epic 3D movie Avatar overtook Titanic to become the highest-grossing film to date.

• The Tonight Show conflict among Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, and NBC executives reached a conclusion. Leno resumed his former gig as Tonight Show host; O’Brien and his staff received a $32 million buyout and moved to TBS.

• One of the largest environmental disasters in American history, the Deepwater Horizon, or BP, oil spill released 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in April.

• President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in March. The act was the largest regulatory overhaul and coverage expansion of the U.S. healthcare system since 1965.

• The May 23 finale of Lost concluded the television series’ six-season run. The episode generated a polarized response among the 13.5 million fans who tuned in.

•

• In October, 33 Chilean miners, trapped 2,300 feet underground after the collapse of their coppergold mine 69 days earlier, were rescued one by one in a specially built capsule as an estimated 1 billion people watched worldwide.

• The Senate voted to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a 1994 military policy that forbid openly gay men and women from serving in the military, on Dec. 18.

The repeal became official Dec. 22.

I n November, England’s Prince William, second in line to the throne, and longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton announced their engagement. William proposed with the engagement ring that belonged to his late mother, Princess Diana. They would wed April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey.

•

otable passings included J.D. N Salinger, George Steinbrenner, Rue McClanahan, Lena Horne, Tony Curtis, Leslie Nielsen, Lynn Redgrave, and Dixie Carter.

March 2010

Sports

• Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, hosted the 21st Winter Olympics in February. Approximately 2,600 athletes from 82 nations participated in 86 events in 15 disciplines.

• The New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl by defeating the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17.

• In a televised ESPN special, NBA player LeBron James announced he would sign with the Miami Heat rather than return to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.

• South Africa became the first African nation to host the World Cup Tournament, which included an appearance

by Nelson Mandela and the world’s introduction to the vuvuzela horn.

• Pro golfer Tiger Woods’s personal and professional lives unraveled in 2010, beginning with an infidelity scandal that led to his divorce from wife Elin Nordegren. Woods also admitted himself for sex-addiction therapy and went on a 20-week hiatus from golf.

www.50plusLifePA.com

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Science & Technology • Apple introduced the iPad in January. Less than three months after its release, the tablet computer had already sold 3 million units and led to a boom in app software.

• A paleoanthropologist’s South African discovery of a new hominid, Australopithecus sediba, was announced to the public in April. Its fossilized remains date back 2 million years.

• Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” emerged as a source of controversy between environmentalists and economists. The well-stimulation technique uses high-pressure fluid injections to fracture deep rocks and release trapped natural gas and petroleum.

• After analyzing the plume that arose after a rocket booster crashed near the moon’s south pole, NASA learned the moon is about 50% wetter than previously thought, twice as wet as the Sahara Desert.

Join us next month to see what was happening in 2008!

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

March 2020

11

On-Line Publishers Receives Anniversary Citation

Pennsylvania State Rep. Brett Miller recently stopped by On-Line Publishers’ corporate office to present a citation to Donna Anderson, OLP’s president and CEO, as well as employees to commemorate the company’s 25th anniversary.

Miller, who represents the commonwealth’s 41st District, said he was honored to celebrate

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a successful small business, especially one with a mission of reaching and helping older adults and others in central Pennsylvania.

“The 203 state representatives give their blessing to this citation on behalf of the 12 ½ million people of Pennsylvania to say congratulations on 25 years,” Miller said, “and 25 — or 250 — more years to go!”

Rep. Brett R. Miller presents a commemorative citation to Donna Anderson, president of On-Line Publishers, in honor of the business’s 25th anniversary.

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www.50plusLifePA.com

Since 2000, 50plus LIFE (previously Senior News and 50plus Senior News) has won more than 130 awards for its editorial content and design. Here’s a look at an award-winning article from our archives.

Drawing on Experience

SeniorNews orNews www.SeniorNewsPA.com

April 2003 issue NAMPA Award: First Place, Profile

By Maria V. Snyder

FOR�AGES 50+ |

    

FIRST PLACE



Monthly information for & about Lancaster County�s Senior Citizens

Whimsical, magical, and colorful are He went through a number of jobs all the descriptors that come to mind before finding a draftsman position at when viewing Bill What�s Hoin’s artwork.

Emtrol. Bill worked for them for 15 Inside Upon closer inspection, the words years until he retired at age 62 in April Volume 9 No. 4 unbelievable and intricate also spring of 2001. Now Bill enjoys drawing fullApril 2003 to mind. time.

The multicolored drawings are “It’s essential that I draw every day.

Antiques & Nostalgia : ...22 crafted with different combinations I see an improvement in my work just of gel pen, coloredDining pencils,& fine-line over this past year and a half,” Bill markers, watercolors, and crayons. says.

Entertainment: ............16 “I use mostly gel pens,” Bill says of Just recently Bill had a picture in Healthy ..... .......32 his work. “People say that’sLiving: what kids the Trees Galore show at the Mulberry use, but anything an artist uses is a Studios in Lancaster. The picture House & Home:............4 tool.” is a Christmas tree decorated with Bill’s fluid drawings are bulging angel’s faces. He made copies for his Money Matters .............10 with life. Within the spirals of a Christmas card with the inside saying, Senior Center  picture, you might see many faces, “There’s an angel in your tree.”

Happenings: ................31 birds, and fish. His portraits are done “I was in the very first Lititz  in watercolor and gel pens and they Outdoor Art Show in 1967,” Bill says Travel ..........................26 can be very realistic or abstract. of his art career.

“I think most people like News: what I’m This past summer he displayed Veterans ..... ......28 doing because it’s so labor intensive,” 26 pictures at the Lititz show. He Volunteers & Careers : ...30 Bill says. “Sometimes I leave areas has exhibited paintings, prints, and undone so the people looking at it weavings in both one-man and group can add their own. I like to look shows. His work is also on display at artwork that you see something in the National Vietnam Veterans different when you come back to it Art Museum in Chicago in their each time.” permanent collection.  As a child, Bill spent hours drawing Bill views his art as a hobby.   Senior News P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604 tel: 717›299›7000 e›mail: srnews@onlinepub.com and painting, but eventually stopped “I haven’t really thought of it as www.SeniorNewsPA.com ' 2003 On›Line Publishers Inc. All rights reserved. as he grew older. money making. I don’t worry about “Vietnam is where I started getting interested in artwork again,” Bill what I’m selling, or going to galleries. It’s more for therapy and an outlet. says of his reacquaintance with art. “I visited villages and saw many artists Money isn’t the point of doing it.” and craftsmen at work. I bought artifacts from the weavers, and when I Working on one picture a day, Bill has no set hours. He likes to go to came back to the States, I started to do more myself.”

Central Market, where a friend runs a bread stand.

When Bill left the Army, he came back to Lancaster and earned “I’ll stand there and draw pictures all morning,” Bill smiles. “I have met Bachelor of Science degrees in industrial arts education and art education so many people in the last year. Sooner or later everyone is going to come from Millersville University. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in through the Central Market.” art from Glassboro State College in New Jersey.

Besides doing his artwork, Bill enjoys going to the health club, walking, And he’s still learning his craft. and being an extreme birdwatcher.

“I took a mono printing class and a papermaking class. If I come He is a volunteer on the board of directors for the epilepsy support unit across a medium that I don’t have experience in or the equipment for, like in Lancaster, where he helps others with information and referrals. He is sculpting, then I take a class.” the outdoor art chairman for the Lancaster County Art Association and He even took a course for making glass paperweights at Wheaton is planning art programs for the future, and he teaches art to a group of Village in New Jersey. homeschooled children.

After earning his degrees, Bill went on to teach high school art for five In his one-page bio, Bill wrote, “I plan to produce artwork, teach, and years. volunteer at various art associations in the area.”

“I came back with a problem from Vietnam. I was diagnosed with Bill is well on his way to accomplishing those goals, and it is a boon to epilepsy two years after Vietnam, and it made it very difficult to teach.” those of us who delight in art. www.50plusLifePA.com

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Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

March 2020

13

Study Indicates Colorectal Screening May Need to Begin in Mid-40s

By Keith Brannon A year-by-year age analysis of colorectal cancer rates among U.S. adults finds a 46% increase in new diagnoses from ages 49 to 50, indicating that many latent cases of the disease are likely going undiagnosed until routine screenings begin at 50, according to a new study in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers found that almost 93% of the cases discovered at age 50 were invasive, meaning that most would require more aggressive treatment, including surgery, and were likely lingering for some time before diagnosis.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. As rates for younger adults continue to rise, there is considerable debate about whether Vibra Health Plan Seminar Dates and Locations:

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

March 24th 1:00 PM — Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA April 23rd 1:00 PM — Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA April 27th 1:00 PM — Wyomissing Public Library, 9 Reading Blvd., Wyomissing, PA May 6th 1:00 PM — Farm & Home Center, 1383 Arcadia Road, Lancaster, PA

Vibra Health Plan offers Medicare Advantage plans starting at $0*and include a Member Advocate.

A Member Advocate offers you: • Assistance with care navigation and resource referral • Personalized attention to get you to the right services at the right time • Information to make healthcare decisions that are right for you and your family • 7-day-a-week support Call now to reserve a seat at a seminar, or to learn more about how Vibra Health Plan is in your corner. 1-844-660-2961 (TTY 711) Vibra Health Plan is a PPO Plan with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Vibra Health Plan depends on contract renewal.

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*Not available on all plans.

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to lower the age for recommended screenings.

In 2018, the American Cancer Society called for routine screenings to start at 45. However, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which sets federal screenings standards, currently recommends average-risk screening begin at age 50.

Those against beginning screenings at age 45 have argued that incidence rates in those age 45-49 years have been considered relatively low compared to those aged 50-54 years.

Study authors suspected the risks for those in their mid- to late 40s are underestimated because incident data for those age ranges would likely only include cases caught because they presented symptoms and/or have a family history of cancer, in contrast to those 50 and older, who have cancers

also detected due to screening.

To assess this, they examined colorectal cancer incidence rates in one-year increments between the ages of 30 and 60 from 2000-2015. They suspected that if there were many asymptomatic cases of the disease undetected, there would be a marked increase in cases between 49 and 50, when screenings begin.

Researchers found a steep increase, from 34.9 diagnoses per 100,000 people at age 49 to 51 cases per 100,000 at age 50. Sharp increases were also seen in both men (52.9%) and women (39.1%), in white (46.2%) and black (47.3%) populations, and in colon (51.4%) and rectal (37.6%) cancers in this one-year age transition. These incidence increases from age 49 to 50 were not seen in prior studies because only age-group ranges were analyzed.

Researchers also examined the stage at which the cancers were caught and found a spike in localized and regional cancers, which would require surgery and possibly chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

The study adds fuel to the debate about whether screenings should begin at age 45.

Lead study author Dr. Jordan Karlitz, associate clinical professor of medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine and staff gastroenterologist at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, said the combined burden of undetected and detected early-onset colorectal cancer cases for those 45-49 may actually approach that of individuals in their early 50s.

“Our data support that the incidence of colorectal cancer increases substantially among individuals in their early 50s compared with individuals in their late 40s, not because rates are truly lower among those aged 4549 years, but because colorectal cancers are present but undetected until diagnosed when screening is ultimately initiated,” he said.

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50plusLIFEPA.com www.50plusLifePA.com

Savvy Senior

Do I Have to File Taxes?

Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior, What are the IRS income-tax filing requirements for seniors this year?

I didn’t file a tax return last year because my 2018 income was below the filing requirements, but I got a part-time job late last year in 2019, so I’m wondering if I need to file this year.

– Semi-Retired Dear Semi, Whether or not you are required to file a federal income tax return this year depends not only on how much you earned last year (in 2019), but also the source of that income, as well as your age and your filing status.

Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s IRS tax-filing requirement thresholds. For most people, this is pretty straightforward.

If your 2019 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 may not have to file. But if it’s over, you will.

• Single: $12,200 ($13,850 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2020) • Married filing jointly: $24,400 ($25,700 if you or your spouse is 65 or older or $27,000 if you’re both over 65) • Married filing separately: $12,200 at any age • Head of household: $18,350 ($20,000 if age 65 or older) • Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child: $24,400 ($25,700 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, however, some other financial situations that can require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirements.

For example, if you earned more than $400 from self-employment in 2019, www.50plusLifePA.com

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owe any special taxes like an alternative minimum tax, or get premium tax credits because you, your spouse, or a dependent is enrolled in a Health Insurance Marketplace (Obamacare) plan, you’ll need to file.

You’ll also need to file if you’re receiving Social Security benefits and one-half of your benefits plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest exceeds $25,000 or $32,000 if you’re married and filing jointly.

To figure all 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/help/ita — click on “Do I Need to File a Tax Return?”

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-taxagencies.

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 (or TCE) program.

Sponsored by the IRS, TCE provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call (800) 906-9887 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 more than 4,800 sites nationwide. To locate an AARP Tax-Aide site, call (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findtaxhelp. You don’t have to be an AARP member to use this service.

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.

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

March 2020

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Traumatic Brain Injury a ‘Silent Epidemic’ Among Older Adults TBI, which requires emergency Traumatic brain injury (TBI) treatment, can also cause a wide happens when a bump, blow, jolt, or range of changes affecting thinking, other head injury causes damage to the sensation, language, or emotions. brain.

The American College of Emergency Every year, millions of people in the Physicians recommends that all elderly U.S. suffer brain injuries, including concussion patients undergo computed people over 65, for whom TBI is serious tomography (CT) scans to check for and widespread enough to have been intracranial bleeding, because issues referred to as a “silent epidemic.” such as age-related cognitive decline or In older adults, traumatic brain dementia can mask signs of bleedinginjury is responsible for more than induced mental impairment.

80,000 emergency department visits However, CT scans are very each year, with three-quarters of these expensive and expose patients to visits resulting in hospitalization, radiation, and both the healthcare according to a research article by system and patients would benefit from Hilaire J. Thompson, Ph.D.; Wayne C. reduced CT scan use.

McCormick, M.D., M.P.H.; and Sarah New research, however, shows that H. Kagan, Ph.D., and published by a blood test can differentiate elderly the U.S. National Library of Medicine concussion patients with brain tissue (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ damage from those without it.

PMC2367127).

This finding, published recently The report also found that adults March is National Brain Injury in the special brain health collection aged 75 and older have the highest Awareness Month of AACC’s The Journal of Applied rates of TBI-related hospitalization and Laboratory Medicine, could help death. Falls are the leading cause of ensure that elderly patients with severe TBI for older adults (51%), and motor concussions receive crucial treatment for their injuries. vehicle traffic crashes are second (9%).

The Food and Drug Administration had previously authorized a blood test Symptoms of a TBI may not appear until days or weeks following the that identifies head injury patients who have brain tissue damage that needs injury. A concussion is the mildest type and can cause a headache or neck to be assessed via CT scan, but the blood test was not specifically designed for pain, nausea, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and tiredness. older patients.

People with a moderate or severe TBI may have those, plus other, So a team of researchers led by Robert H. Christenson, Ph.D., of the symptoms: University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, set out to determine • A headache that gets worse or does not go away how well the test performs in patients age 65 years or older.

To do this, Christenson’s team retrospectively analyzed data from the • Repeated vomiting or nausea Prospective Clinical Evaluation of Biomarkers of Traumatic Brain Injury • Convulsions or seizures (ALERT-TBI) study, in which 1,959 adult patients with a concussion underwent both a CT scan and blood test for brain tissue damage within 12 • Inability to awaken from sleep hours of their injury.

• Slurred speech Christenson’s team compared the results of the CT scan and blood test — • Weakness or numbness in the arms and legs which measures two specific proteins — in patients 65 years of age or older and in patients younger than 65.

• Dilated eye pupils From this comparison, the researchers found the blood test predicts with 100% accuracy which elderly concussion patients do not have brain tissue Did you know? damage and do not need a CT scan. is available online for Hospitals can therefore use this test to triage elderly concussion patients so anytime/anywhere reading! that clinicians can focus on those most likely to require urgent intervention for intracranial bleeding.

Importantly, however, the researchers also found that the test does not accurately identify elderly patients who do have brain tissue damage, which means that the test should only be used as a triage tool, not as a replacement for CT scans.

For more information, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s TBI webpage at www.cdc.gov/traumaticbraininjury/index.html. www.50plusLIFEPA.com

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Check out our online Resource Directory!

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March 31, 2020 May 27, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Garden York 2000 Loucks Road York

Convenient Print Edition Plus Extensive Online, Searchable Directory 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 as a person with a disability.

www.ResourceDirectoryPA.com

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel 1741 Papermill Road Wyomissing

Veterans (of all ages), the military community, and their families are invited to this free event!

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.

Need to enroll in VA healthcare?

An enrollment specialist from the Lebanon VA Medical Center will be on hand to enroll veterans in the VA healthcare system during the

York County Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair March 31, 2020 • 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Garden York 2000 Loucks Road, York

At the Expo

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

At the Job Fair

Veterans wishing to apply for enrollment to VA healthcare should bring three items:

Employers Job Counseling Workshops Employment Seminars Resume Writing Assistance

• DD-214 • Last year’s federal tax return • A list of medical expenses from the previous year For questions or more information, call (717) 272-6621, ext. 4298

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Hosted by:

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

www.veteransexpo.com

Lebanon VA Medical Center www.50plusLifePA.com

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Brought to you by: &

(717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

March 2020

17

Melinda’s Garden

Melinda Myers

Early Spring Prep for a Beautiful Summer Garden

Puzzles shown on page 6.

Puzzle Solutions

As winter fades into spring, gardeners can’t wait to get busy in the garden. for damage and lightly tamp any disturbed areas back in place. Reseed bare Pruning, cutting back perennials and ornamental grasses, and preparing the spots so grass, not weeds, fills in these spots. garden for spring planting are just a few of the tasks.

Brush leaves off the crowns of perennials but leave the rest in place for Keep yourself and the pollinators overwintering in your garden safe as you insects that spend winter or summer in the leaf litter. Plus, the leaves help start the cleanup process. preserve moisture, suppress Always prune with a weeds, and improve the soil purpose. Start by removing as they break down. any damaged and diseased Pull mulch away from tree stems from shrubs and roses. trunks and shrub crowns Watch for insects, such as that may have shifted over swallowtail butterflies, that winter. Keeping mulch off overwinter in protective the stems reduces the risk of cocoons and the egg future problems that can lead masses of some, such as the to decline and even death of hairstreak butterflies. the plants.

Prevent problems by Let perennials and grasses destroying overwintering stand as long as possible, nonnative pests like the since many are homes for gypsy moth. Search the beneficial insects. Bundle internet and insect books for grasses for easy cutting and Photo courtesy of foxglovesinc.com help identifying the good removal.

When pruning, start by removing the damaged and diseased stems of shrubs and and bad guys you may find Once cut, loosely stack or roses and wear heavy-duty gloves to keep yourself free from scratches. in your landscape. stand perennial stems and Additional pruning may grasses at the edge of the be needed to manage the size and shape or encourage better flowering and garden or natural spaces. This allows any insects still present to safely emerge bark color. Wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs, like lilacs and forsythia, if when it’s time to move to their summer homes. Plus, birds will appreciate the you want maximum flowering. Prune these shrubs right after flowering before easy access to nesting material. they set their floral buds for next spring.

Enjoy the changing of the seasons and the beauty of nature hidden among Keep yourself safe by wearing safety glasses and gloves. It’s too easy to focus the plants in your garden. Protect yourself when preparing the garden for on the task and end up with a stick in the eye. Heavy-duty gloves protect and spring so you won’t lose time recovering from injuries. support your hands, allowing you to garden longer with less stress and fewer And keeping the pollinators and other beneficial insects safe will improve scratches and bruises. your garden’s health and productivity throughout the growing seasons.

Consider synthetic-leather, gauntlet-style gloves, such as Foxgloves extraMelinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space protection gloves (foxglovesinc.com), which protect hands and forearms from Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses’ How to Grow Anything DVD series and harm yet are supple enough to allow you to work efficiently. the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio program. www.

Lightly rake any debris off the lawn and add it to the compost pile. Check melindamyers.com, www.longfield-gardens.com

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www.50plusLifePA.com

Volunteer Spotlight Retired Professor Serves County in Many Capacities After retiring 14 years ago from Lebanon Valley College, where he taught English for 35 years, John Kearney keeps very busy volunteering throughout Lebanon County.

Over the past 10 years he has been an invaluable volunteer for RSVP (Retired Senior Volunteer Program), helping individuals every tax season for VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance).

In addition, Kearney has volunteered for the past 15 years with Habitat for Humanity and the Quittapahilla Nature Park. He also cooks meals at the Lebanon Rescue Mission.

Kearney enjoys volunteering because it is a chance to give back for all the advantages he has been given in his life.

Volunteering also allows him to work alongside interesting, talented people, while seeing the smiles on the faces of people who needed help filling out their tax forms, obtaining

affordable housing, and securing meals.

Kearney spends free time enjoying his large family: five living children, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. His wife of 48 years, Carol, died in 2012.

In any spare time left, Kearney exercises regularly and runs 3 miles several times a week. He also enjoys gardening, reading, and traveling to Europe, especially France. This spring, he will be making his second trip to northern Italy, where he hopes to do some hiking in the Alps.

Lebanon County is proud to have Kearney and his endless energy to serve as a volunteer in so many capacities.

If you are over 55 and would like to volunteer in your community, contact Margie Groy, Lebanon/ Lancaster RSVP development coordinator, at (717) 454-8647 or lancleb@rsvpcapreg.org.

There’s no bu$ine$$ ... like your bu$ine$$!

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E April 4, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Hershey Lodge

325 University Drive, Hershey Please join us this spring as a sponsor or exhibitor for the seventh annual Dauphin County Women’s Expo.

Women of all ages have enjoyed these community events, finding helpful information for all the hats they wear in their everyday lives, including:

Health & Wellness • Finance • Home Technology • Beauty • Nutrition Spa Treatments

and more!

Face-to-face in a comfortable environment.

Sponsor an Exhibito d Reserva r tio Now Bei ns ng Accepte d

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.

“Like” us on Facebook to receive a free 6-month subscription!

FREE advance guest registration online. ($5 at the door.)

Brought to you by:

Supporting Sponsor:

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Visitor Bag Sponsor:

(717) 770-0140

Plus, you’ll receive event updates, story links, and more!

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Principal Sponsors:

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Seminar Sponsors: BeBalanced Thrivent Financial

UPMC Pinnacle

aGreatWayToSpendMyDay.com

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

March 2020

19

Financial Focus

Planning for the Rising Costs of Healthcare Steven Brettler

Healthcare costs are rising, especially for retirees, and many will need long-term care. Learn the moves you can make to help prepare yourself.

Longer lifespans and escalating healthcare expenses are driving investors to control their financial exposure to uncovered bouts of care — particularly in retirement.

According to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the U.S. spends approximately $3.5 trillion a year on healthcare, or nearly $11,000 per person. Overall spending rose 3.96% in 20171, faster than the pace of inflation or wage growth.

As spending rises, patients are also shouldering a larger share of treatment costs — driving up out-of-pocket expenses. The elderly, who require the most care, often bear the brunt of the costs.

It is important to take steps to minimize your financial exposure to uncovered medical costs.

But whereas your incentives for saving for retirement are easy to digest — to be able to afford a desired lifestyle after your working years — planning for the less palatable aspects of old age can be more challenging.

Healthcare Costs Planning Many people turning 65 will need some type of long-term care services in their lifetimes.

One year in a private room in a nursing home costs $102,200 today and is projected to reach $184,585 by 2039.2 Even with a robust portfolio, you may have trouble handling such large costs with savings on hand.

Many adults nearing retirement age are concerned about healthcare costs but unsure how to budget for them. Many affluent older Americans are unsure or cannot estimate what their annual healthcare or long-term care costs in retirement will be.

Should they encounter serious medical trouble, the costs will be even higher. Many Americans are not even aware of the uninsured costs they may face in these cases. A stroke, for example, may cause paralysis, warranting expensive 24-hour assistance.

Medicare Part A covers nursing facility care for a limited time, but only after a qualified hospitalization.

However, Medicare will not pay for nursing homes when custodial care is the only care needed, nor will it pay for care for conditions such as Alzheimer’s’ disease. Patients suffering from Alzheimer’s or other cognitive ailments may live for many years, all the while requiring assistance and, as the disease worsens, expensive hands-on assistance.

Protection for Retirement Savings Investors in their 30s or early 40s may weight their retirement-funding strategies toward a portfolio of mutual funds or a managed-account solution to

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March 2020

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provide upside exposure to the market.

Given lower premiums for younger policyholders, long-term care insurance should also be a consideration, she says.

These days, only a handful of insurers offer long-term care insurance, so another option may be life insurance with a longterm care rider, which allows families to tap into the benefits they would receive upon the policyholder’s death while he or she is alive and requires care.

Another option for funding long-term care expenses is to withdraw or borrow money from life insurance policies or generate income from annuities. Note that either of these options would probably fall short of covering costs if someone needs care for many years.

Paying for Unexpected Healthcare Costs A final consideration is what to do when you’re faced with a large, unexpected medical bill today. One answer may be a securities-based loan, which allows qualified clients to use the eligible securities in a brokerage account as collateral for a loan or line of credit, often at a competitive rate.

When faced with a large healthcare expense, investors often liquidate financial assets to pay for immediate needs. However, this strategy may have unintended costs, such as tax consequences, loss of future growth potential, or an imbalance in your portfolio.

Once approved, a securities-based loan can provide quick access to funds for a variety of needs with the potential to maintain your long-term investment strategy. Your financial adviser can provide you with additional information and help determine if this is the right strategy for you.

Protect Your Finances and Your Health As healthcare costs continue to rise, it’s important to understand the options you have to help protect the assets you’ve spent a lifetime accumulating.

Your financial adviser has access to multiple long-term-care products from a wide variety of respected insurers and can help you choose the one that offers the optimal combination of cost and benefits.

Steven Brettler is a financial adviser and branch manager with Morgan Stanley in Greenville, Del. He may be reached at (302) 573-4027 or advisor. morganstanley.com/steven.brettler.

Disclosures Article by Morgan Stanley 1 Source: CMS.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services https://www.cms.gov/research-statistics-data-and-systems/statistics-trends-and-reports/nationalhealthexpenddata/nhe-fact-sheet. html 2 Genworth 2019 Cost of Care Survey, conducted by CareScout®, June 2019 Cost estimate based on 365 days of care. Estimates how much care might cost in future years based on 3% annual inflation. https://www.genworth.com/aging-and-you/finances/cost-of-care.html Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement with/of the third party or that any monitoring is being done by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) of any information contained within the website.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates and their employees (including Financial Advisors and Private Wealth Advisors) are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any statements contained herein should not be construed as tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their personal tax advisor or attorney for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving personal trusts and estate planning.

Borrowing against securities may not be suitable for everyone. You should be aware that there are risks associated with a securities based loan, including possible margin calls on short notice, and that market conditions can magnify any potential for loss. For details, please see the important disclosures below.

Securities based loans are provided by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association or Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A, as applicable.

Important Risk Information for Securities Based Lending: You need to understand that: (1) Sufficient collateral must be maintained to support your loan(s) and to take future advances; (2) You may have to deposit additional cash or eligible securities on short notice; (3) Some or all of your securities may be sold without prior notice in order to maintain account equity at required maintenance levels. You will not be entitled to choose the securities that will be sold. These actions may interrupt your long-term investment strategy and may result in adverse tax consequences or in additional fees being assessed; (4) Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association or Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (collectively referred to as ?Morgan Stanley?) reserves the right not to fund any advance request due to insufficient collateral or for any other reason except for any portion of a securities based loan that is identified as a committed facility; (5) Morgan Stanley reserves the right to increase your collateral maintenance requirements at any time without notice; and (6) Morgan Stanley reserves the right to call securities based loans at any time and for any reason.

Please join us for these FREE events!

21st Annual

With the exception of a margin loan, the proceeds from securities based loan products may not be used to purchase, trade or carry margin stock (or securities, with respect to Express CreditLine); repay margin debt that was used to purchase, trade or carry margin stock (or securities, with respect to Express CreditLine); and cannot be deposited into a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC or other brokerage account.

To be eligible for a securities based loan, a client must have a brokerage account at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC that contains eligible securities, which shall serve as collateral for the securities based loan.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is a registered Broker/Dealer, Member SIPC, and not a bank. Where appropriate, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has entered into arrangements with banks and other third parties to assist in offering certain banking-related products and services.

Investment, insurance and annuity products offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC are: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY Insurance and annuity products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLCs licensed insurance agency affiliates.

LANCASTER COUNTY

April 22, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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

Since life insurance and long-term-care insurance are medically underwritten, you should not cancel your current policy until your new policy is in force. A change to your current policy may incur charges, fees and costs. A new policy may require a medical exam. Actual premiums may vary from any initial quotation. Surrender charges may be imposed and the period of time for which the surrender charges apply may increase with a new policy. You should consult with your own tax advisors regarding your potential tax liability on surrenders.

Steven Brettler may only transact business, follow-up with individualized responses, or render personalized investment advice for compensation, in states where he is registered or excluded or exempted from registration, [FINRA Broker Check http://brokercheck.finra.org/Search/Search.aspx].

21st Annual

©2019 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. All rights reserved. CRC 2763971 10/2019

DAUPHIN COUNTY

May 6, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey

Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars • Demonstrations Entertainment • Door Prizes

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

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www.50plusExpoPA.com

(717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140 • (610) 675-6240 www.50plusLifePA.com

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March 2020

21

The Reel Deal

The Way Back Randal Hill

Blending a classic sports story with a tale of midlife crisis, himself. As it turns out, he has just as much to learn as his Warner Brothers’ The Way Back isn’t a predictable Disneyplayers do, but, over time, the boys start to come together as type sports drama or an updated Hoosiers but an unflinching a team and even begin to win some games. study of life’s pitfalls that can bring down the best and Will his newfound success give Jack the ability to finally brightest of us. conquer the demons that have plagued him for much of his In high school, he had been a superstar. Handsome, whiplife? Will these high school victories be enough to heal the smart, popular. And on the basketball court, nobody could deep wounds in the former sports legend? Or is this merely a match the jaw-dropping skills of Jack Cunningham (Ben fleeting respite from his inexorable slide into oblivion?

Affleck). By graduation, Jack had earned a full university Comedian Al Madrigal portrays Dan, the school’s scholarship and a potential ticket to a 24-karat dream life. assistant coach who believes in Cunningham and offers him Then, suddenly, he walked away from his beloved sport unconditional support. and forfeited his future.

For Affleck, this movie must hit awfully close to home.

From an early age, Cunningham liked to drink. A lot.

The son of an alcoholic, he had become a problem drinker His imbibing morphed from adolescent Animal House-type as an adolescent, enrolling for treatment for the first time at partying to quiet, full-blown alcoholism. age 18. Over the years, Affleck has candidly discussed his As a result, he experienced a fall from grace that would addiction, which he struggles with to this day. devastate his marriage (which included a life-altering “So proud of this one and the incredible team behind it,” Images © Warner Bros. Pictures or related entities.

Used for publicity and promotional purposes. tragedy) and any hopes for a successful, or even satisfactory, says Affleck, the holder of two Academy Awards and three https://www.movieinsider.com/photos/550135 life.

Golden Globes.

Since Jack’s glory days more than 20 years previously, the basketball team The Way Back is directed by Gavin O’Connor, who last worked with at his alma mater has fallen with a thud. Then a possible break materializes: Affleck on 2016’s The Accountant. The script is by Brad Ingelsby.

The current coach has suffered a heart attack, and Jack — now a middle-aged, The movie opens March 6. chain-smoking construction worker who has never left town — is offered a Randal C. Hill enjoys getting sneak peeks of forthcoming movies from his home on shot at redemption: coaching a motley team of troubled, undisciplined losers. the Oregon coast. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

Cunningham reluctantly accepts the task, surprising everyone, including

! r a e r u o y s u d Len

50plus LIFE and Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania have partnered to bring you weekly audio readings of 50plus LIFE’s editorial content!

Listen to the livestream Thursdays from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at www.vrocp.org!

The program will repeat 3 times that day and Saturdays from 11-11:30 a.m.

This audio broadcast is one of the many ways Vision Resources facilitates independence, enriches quality of life, and empowers individuals in our community who are visually impaired.

And it’s one more way 50plus LIFE and On-Line Publishers are continuing 25 years of serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community.

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For more information, call Vision Resources at (717) 238-2531 and listen at visit www.vrocp.org.

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March 2020

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March 2020

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This is how we restore hope.

Developing new technologies to give premature babies the support they need to survive, and thrive. This is why we’re always researching, learning and innovating: to find solutions that help the people of our community and beyond.

Because this is the health we need to live the way we want.

This is Penn State Health. thisispennstatehealth.org/research

HEA-15124-20-130786-0120