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Complimentary | Chester County Edition
April 2022
He’s a real Phillies fanatic
more. o learn t 1 1 e g a Go to p
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5 things retirees wish they’d known sooner page 16
Willing to Wander
Happy Trails for You Victor Block
Some people are traipsing through lovely landscapes, as others explore history from days of Native Americans to the present. Avid birders use binoculars to spot colorful feathered friends in flight, while canoers and kayakers dip paddles into the water. Along with its attractive beaches, Panama City, At the end of the day, Fla., boasts a variety of appealing walking trails. many of these visitors to Panama City, Florida, belly up to an oyster bar to enjoy freshly shucked bivalves that have been prepared in a variety of ways. These seemingly disparate activities and attractions have one thing in common: They’re all taking place along designated trails that focus upon a single thing to do, see, or eat. Countless trails around the country are available to people with a particular
interest. From food to fashions, covered bridges to Kentucky bourbon, they offer something-for-everyone variety. No matter how esoteric someone’s passion, there may be a walking, driving, biking, paddling, or other trail somewhere that focuses upon it. Image credit: Fields of Gold Consider The Fields of Gold Farm Trail promotes the many Panama City agritourism sites and activities in Virginia’s (destinationpanamacity. Shenandoah Valley. com), a community of about 37,000 residents perched along Florida’s northwestern coast. For a smallish municipality, that town provides a surprising choice of routes that both locals and visitors may explore. The Oyster Trail alone has enough appeal to bring some travelers to town. A
You know a good story when you hear it. Think you or someone you know would make an interesting profile story for 50plus Life? We are looking for central Pennsylvanians over age 50 who have a unique hobby, passion, or history of volunteer work, or who are a part of an interesting local club. Ideal story candidates are willing to talk about themselves and to be photographed. Your name: _______________________________________________________________ Your address: ____________________________________________________________________ Your phone: ________________________________________ Email:_____________________________________________ Nominee’s name (if not self): ____________________________________________________________________________ Nominee’s town of residence: ___________________________________________________________________________ Nominee’s phone: __________________________________ Email: _____________________________________________ Why they would make a great story: _____________________________________________________________________ Note: Please get your nominee’s permission before submitting them!
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dozen restaurants, ranging sites associated with the from a 10-stool oyster bar to Underground Railroad and a casual grill to a fine-dining the antislavery movement of establishment, serve the that time. fresh-from-the-sea food raw, Not to be outdone, trails baked, fried, and prepared in that make their way through other ways. Ohio (trails.ohio.org) focus Whether visiting Panama upon interests as diverse as City for the bivalves or birds, shopping and steam trains, hiking or history, you might Italian food and ice cream. find a trail with appeal. Given the love of nature Restaurants along by many residents of a different oyster trail, Oregon, it’s not surprising which runs through Gulf that among trails within its Shores and Orange Beach, borders are paths for hiking Alabama, bring their own and biking, seeing wildlife The Oregon Trail was laid by fur traders and Distilleries along the Kentucky personal touch to their and wildflowers, and dozens trappers from about 1811 to 1840 and was only Bourbon Trail celebrate the recipes. In addition to of other routes. passable on foot or by horseback. commonwealth’s designation as traditional preparations, Most famous is the stretch “the birthplace of bourbon.” some serve them barbequed, of the Oregon Trail (nps.gov/ fire-roasted, Alfredo style, oreg) in the state, part of the historic wagon route that began in Missouri and on and in ceviche (gulfshores.com). which, in the early 19th century, an estimated 400,000 settlers, farmers, miners, It’s Louisiana’s rich gastronomic culture that is celebrated along the Cajun ranchers, and others followed in their quest for a new life. Bayou Food Trail (lacajunbayou.com). It comprises restaurants that serve local From seafood to sweets, berries to beverages, it’s likely that somewhere in the favorites like gumbo, jambalaya, and pecan pralines. Some family-run eateries country there may be one or more driving, walking or other trails focused upon follow recipes that have been passed down for generations. an interest of yours. Variety of a different kind greets visitors to the Fields of Gold Farm Trail in After gallivanting around the world, Victor Block still retains the travel bug. He Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley (fieldsofgold.org). People may stroll through a believes that travel is the best possible education. A member of the Society of American farmers market, tour a working spread, enjoy a locally grown meal at a gardenTravel Writers, Victor loves to explore new destinations and cultures, and his stories to-table restaurant, or pick their own fruit at an orchard. about them have won a number of writing awards. Fresh-picked apples, pears, grapes, and cherries are sold at more than two dozen stands located along the colorfully named Hood River County Fruit Loop in Oregon (hoodriverfruitloop.com). The 35-mile trail passes forests, farmlands, and orchards. Vendors also offer flowers, pies, jam, and local artisan gifts. Berries are used in different ways on a route that leads through Surry County, North Carolina. The colorfully named Surry Sonker Trail (sonkertrail.org) connects a bakery, general store, winery, and other places that serve that quaintly named dessert. It’s believed the sweet treat was created in the early 1800s by homemakers Chewie is a big seeking to stretch the use of fruit or use it before it rotted. Recipes include fruit sweetheart who loves sweetened with sugar, molasses, and other ingredients blended into unshaped taking over your side of dough so, like snowflakes, no two are exactly alike. the bed. He also loves Where there’s food there often are beverages, and the birthplace of one is attention and affection acclaimed along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail (kybourbontrail.com). Guests from people and gets may visit a distillery that traces its ancestry back to the 18th century and another along well with kids. where they have a tasting while standing in the largest bourbon barrel in the Chewie has basic world. commands — like “sit,” Those who like the word “soft” before their drink may prefer to set their sights “stay,” “down,” “out,” on the Coca-Cola Trail (thecocacolatrail.com). Places related to that worldand “enough” — down famous beverage are described in a book of the same name, which can serve as pat. He’s done well in a guide to museums, historic bottling plants, and other destinations around the dog playgroups at the country. shelter and would be The story began in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where the concoction was first open to meeting other bottled in 1894. Other stops can include the Dawson & Stevens Diner in dogs. Grayling, Michigan, which doubles as a Coca-Cola museum, and a former Plus, his adoption fee is covered. bottling plant in Los Angeles that was built in the shape of an ocean liner. Come meet this big hunk of love and make him your Not surprisingly, state tourism offices promote the trails concept as a way to newest family member. attract visitors. For more information, contact Brandywine Valley For example, Maine (visitmaine.com) has a driving tour that leads to 34 SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, at (484) outdoor sculptures strung out along 273 miles of its coastline; a Thoreau302-0865 or bvspca.org. Wabanaki Trail, which includes canoe routes the author followed during trips to that state in the mid-1800s; and a Freedom Trail in Portland that leads to
Pet of the Month Chewie
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Cover Story
He’s a Real Phillies Fanatic By Barry Sparks Corporate Office
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National League ballpark. His girlfriend, Lauri, who is now his wife, invited him to see the Phillies play at Wrigley Field in Chicago. Her parents live Bob Bogart’s friends tell him he’s the real in the Chicago suburbs. Phillies Phanatic. They drove to Chicago on a Wednesday, and the No, he doesn’t dress up in a green mascot Phillies had a game against the St. Louis Cardinals costume, ride an ATV around the outfield, or that night. Bogart listened to the game on KMOX taunt opponents. But he does fit the description of that evening and figured he would be able to hear a Phillies fanatic. the following afternoon Consider the game on the same definition of the word station. fanatic: One having The next afternoon, excessive zeal for or an however, turned out to irrational attachment to be a frustrating one, as a cause or position. even the 50,000 watts “Since I’ve watched of power of KMOX or listened to 5,558 wasn’t enough for him consecutive Phillies to pick up the game games, I guess it’s safe to on his radio. So he sat call me a fanatic,” says in his future in-laws’ the 60-year-old Glen house waiting for CNN Rock, Pennsylvania, Headline News to give man. him updates every Entering the 2022 30 minutes. He was season, he hadn’t missed miserable not knowing a game since Aug. 7, the details of the Phillies 1986. That’s more than game. 35 years. And, before Photo credits: Barry Sparks The following he missed that game (of Bogart with the 1952 Topps baseball cards of the course, there’s a story Philadelphia Phillies. He has the Topps cards of all afternoon, he was much happier sitting behind that), he had a the Phillies since 1954. in Wrigley Field with three-year streak. Lauri, watching the Phillies and keeping score. So, in 38 years, Bogart has missed just one His dedication hasn’t gone unnoticed by Phillies game. the Phillies. In 2000, he was named “Fan of Bogart’s not the casual fan who typically catches the Century” as a result of a contest the club part of a game. He’s there from the first pitch to conducted on its website. The Phillies bestowed the the last pitch. He religiously follows the Phillies on honor on 10 fans, one born in each decade of the their West Coast trips, through rain delays, day20th century. Bogart, representing the 1960s, was night doubleheaders, extra innings, and every other honored in an on-field ceremony on Opening Day. imaginable situation. Technological advances have made Bogart’s When Bogart worked, he scheduled his vacation quest to watch or listen to every Phillies game days to correlate with the Phillies’ West Coast much easier. When he started his streak in 1986, trips. He would use vacation time to leave work satellite television, the internet, and streaming early when the Phillies played midweek afternoon capabilities were rare or didn’t exist. games. At the time, Mike Schmidt, Darren Daulton, He typically attends six to 10 Phillies games a and Steve Carlton led the Phillies. Since then, year. hundreds of players have worn the Phillies To document his incredible streak, the retired uniform. Last season, only three Phillies were born government employee keeps score of every game. before Bogart’s streak started. “Keeping score of the game is a practice my Bogart admits his streak would have ended grandfather, Kenneth Tebo, taught me,” says years ago if not for technological advances. Those Bogart, who grew up in Blossburg, Tioga County. advances have helped him keep the streak alive “He was a Phillies fan as well. He introduced me while on business trips to Hawaii, England, and to the Phillies in 1966 when he took me to Connie New Zealand. On those trips, he would either Mack Stadium when I was 5 years old.” watch the games on a delayed basis (but always So, how did Bogart miss that game on Aug. 7, before the next game) or wake up in the middle of 1986? the night to watch the games on his computer. One of his goals was to see the Phillies in every www.50plusLifePA.com
Does Bogart feel He also owns any pressure from his an impressive streak? collection of Phillies “Not at all,” he memorabilia. Bogart responds. “The has every Phillies Phillies are part of yearbook from 1968 my life and have to the present, all been for as long as Phillies Topps baseball I can remember. cards since 1954, and Incorporating them every issue of Phillies into my life is no Report, plus loads of more pressure than other items. taking a vitamin every Bogart has day.” compiled a weekly How long will the Phillies Updater, streak continue? And, which he emails to Photo credits: Barry Sparks Bogart keeping score during a Phillies game while his dog, Opal, sits beside him. how might it end? friends upon request, Bogart doesn’t have to for more than 20 worry about being knocked out of the lineup by back spasms, groin pulls, or years. It includes a recap of the week’s games, the television schedule for the being beaned. But there’s always the chance the streak might end. upcoming week, statistics, notable events, oddities, and trivia. “I really think it would take a life-threatening situation, like me being in Even though the Phillies have lost more games than any other National an accident and ending up in the hospital, for the streak to end.” League team in history, Bogart’s enthusiasm hasn’t waned. Yet, the streak did survive an emergency surgery and hospitalization in “I’m not tired of following the Phillies, and I can’t imagine a scenario in 2019. After falling at home, Bogart was transported to York Hospital, where which I would be,” he says. he underwent knee surgery. “I savor every nugget of Phillies news I can find during the offseason, and After surgery, he asked his son, Ryne, to bring his scorebook from home. I look forward to every Phillies game. I can’t imagine not knowing what’s Later that night, he was able to watch the Phillies game and keep score. happening with the Phillies.” Another time, his daughter, Christy, helped save his streak. His flight to Spoken like a real Phillies fanatic. Chicago was diverted to Rockford, Illinois, because of thunderstorms. On the cover: Bob Bogart at home with some of his baseball cards, yearbooks, The plane was sitting on the tarmac while Bogart listened to the Phillies media guides, and the Phillie Phanatic. game on XM Radio. He lost the signal and called his daughter at home. She held the phone up to the television so he could hear the audio from the game. Once the plane started to fly toward Chicago, he was able to pick up the signal on XM Radio. His wife, Lauri, and family and relatives are very supportive of his Phillies addiction. “Everyone is great,” he says. “They understand what it means to me. They go out of their way to accommodate me.” It helps that his wife is a baseball fan who grew up rooting for the Chicago Cubs. When she and Bogart met at work, baseball was one of their common interests. “Lauri’s the first woman I ever met who could explain the infield fly rule,” laughs Bogart. Predictably, Bogart’s love of the Phillies isn’t limited to watching or listening to their games.
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CROSSWORD
Puzzle Page
Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 19. SUDOKU
Across WORD SEARCH
Elephants
1. Tennis great Arthur 5. Carry 9. Harpoon 12. Fired a gun 13. Change for a five 14. Oklahoma city 16. Gentle 17. 1961 Hayley Mills family flick 20. Get older 21. Washer cycle 22. Tristan’s love 23. Following 25. Gender (abbr.)
26. Japanese coin 27. Aviator 28. Coffee order 30. Kind of prize 31. 1985 Eastwood epic 35. Surrealist Max 37. Skater Midori 38. Itsy-bitsy 39. 1992 Charles Grodin doggie flick 41. Preserve 42. Sp. Mr. 43. Big name in oil 45. Nile viper
Down 1. The Thin Man canine 2. Carpet type 3. 1990 Macaulay Culkin silliness 4. Season, in France 5. 1937 Cary Grant comedy 6. Walking ___ 7. Sea swallow 8. Compass pt. 9. 2008 Steve Carell movie remake of TV series 10. Division word 11. Young females 15. Florida’s Miami-___ County
18. 19. 21. 24. 25. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 36.
Bridget Fonda, to Jane Corral ___-Foy, Que. Beginnings Crook Duffer’s cry Office stamp Big party Cotillion girl Turning point 1974 Bronson flick Jealousy Bread type 1963 Hitchcock classic
48. Wager 49. Vaughan of jazz 50. French composer 52. Sharpen 53. Marry 56. 1992 Anthony Hopkins film 58. Loathsome 59. Make one’s way through a crowd 60. Asian nurse 61. Emerald ___ 62. Thing, in law 63. Persian spirit 64. Attention-getter 40. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 49. 51. 52. 54. 55. 57. 58.
Nonstop 1982 Ben Kingsley epic Bard’s “before” “___ du lieber!” Vegas attraction Might Navigational aid French door part Blood pigment Fashion magazine View as Dupe By means of
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Savvy Senior
Jim Miller
How to Protect Yourself against Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Dear Savvy Senior, Can you tell me about stomach aneurysms? My father died from one about 10 years ago, and I’m wondering if that can increase my risk of developing one myself. – Almost 60 Dear Almost, While you don’t hear much about them, stomach aneurysms, also known as abdominal aortic aneurysms, are very dangerous and the 10th leading cause of death in men over 55. They also tend to run in families, so having had a parent with this condition makes you much more vulnerable yourself. An abdominal aortic aneurysm (or AAA) is a weak area in the lower portion of the aorta, which is the major artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. As blood flows through the aorta, the weak area bulges like a balloon and can burst if it gets too big, causing life-threatening internal bleeding. In fact, nearly 80% of AAAs that rupture are fatal, but the good news is that more than 9 in 10 detected early are treatable.
The ultimate resource for boomer and senior living and care options.
Risk Factors Around 200,000 people are diagnosed with AAAs each year, but estimates suggest that another 2 million people may have it but not realize it. The factors that can put you at increased risk are: • S moking: 90% of people with an AAA smoke or have smoked. •A ge: Your risk of getting an AAA increases significantly after age 65 in men and after age 70 in women. •F amily history: Having a parent or sibling who had an AAA can increase your risk to around 1 in 4. • Sex: AAAs are five times more likely in men than in women. • Race: White people develop AAA more commonly than people of other ethnicities.
please see PROTECT on facing page
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It Was 50 Years Ago Today
‘A Horse with No Name’ Randal Hill
We’ve all been through this before. You hear a America album dominated the LP charts for over a new tune on the radio, and it grabs you by the collar, month. demanding your attention. Soon it’s burrowing deeply The song’s imagery had emerged from Bunnell’s inside your brain, to reside there forever. It’s a song you childhood at an Air Force base on the damp central never forget. California coast. But sometimes, when you get to thinking later about “We’d drive through Arizona and New Mexico,” he its rather puzzling lyrics, you end up scratching your head recalls. “I loved the cactus and the heat. [In the song] I and asking, “What is this really all about?” was trying to capture the sights and sounds of the desert.” We’re talking here about “A Horse with No Name” by His free-flowing lyrics were painted with a broad brush U.K.-based America, a trio of U.S.-born folk singers — and ranged from the elementary-school simplicity of: Dewey Bunnell, Gerry Beckley, Dan Peek — who each had fathers who frequently relocated to military bases There were plants and birds and rocks and things around the world. and “The song was born out of pure boredom,” admits The heat was hot and the ground was dry Photo credit: AVRO, Beeld en Geluid Wiki, an initiative leader Bunnell, a Neil Young-soundalike who was just 19 by the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. when he created the million-seller. to the Dylaneque denseness of: Gerry Beckley and Dan Peek performing “I had just graduated high school in London, and my on Dutch TV series TopPop in 1972. family moved up to Yorkshire … I wanted to stay in The ocean is a desert with its life underground “A Horse with No Name” London, so I moved into the home of a friend and his And a perfect disguise above By America family … I wrote the song alone in this guy’s bedroom April 1972 that I share … Dewey saw the desert as an existential epiphany but “I wanted to capture the imagery of the desert, because I was sitting in this later admitted, “The song was a travelogue with an environmental message in room in England, and it was rainy. I wanted to capture the heat and the dryness.” there about saving the planet.” First called “Desert Song,” Bunnell built his odd tale on a foundation of three As to the enigmatic image of the horse? guitar chords. “I see now that this anonymous horse was a vehicle to get me away from all the In 1971, the trio released their self-titled debut album in the U.K. but, since no confusion and chaos of life to a peaceful, quiet place.” issued single had caught record buyers’ attention yet, sales proved lackluster. Come to think of it, though, after all that time spent in peaceful desert However, when “Horse” became a successful British 45 that November, the solitude, wouldn’t the narrator have eventually come up with a name for his steed? America LP was reissued to great success, thanks to the Bunnell-composed hit Just wondering. track. When Bunnell’s creation was released in the States, it too became an overnight Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be reached at wryterhill@msn.com. winner; the Warner Records 45 reached No. 1 here for three weeks, and the
PROTECT from facing page • Health factors: Atherosclerosis (also known as hardening of the arteries), high blood pressure, and high cholesterol levels also increase your risk. Detection and Treatment Because AAAs usually start small and enlarge slowly, they rarely show any symptoms, making them difficult to detect. However, large AAAs can sometimes cause a throbbing or pulsation in the abdomen or cause a deep pain in your lower back or side. The best way to detect an AAA is to get a simple, painless, 10-minute ultrasound screening test. All men over age 65 who have ever smoked, and anyone over 60 with a first-degree relative (father, mother, or sibling) who has had an AAA, should talk to their doctor about getting screened. You should also know that most health insurance plans cover AAA screenings, as does Medicare, for beneficiaries with a family history of AAAs and for men between the ages of 65 and 75 who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes during their life. www.50plusLifePA.com
If an AAA is detected during screening, how it’s treated will depend on its size, rate of growth, and your general health. If caught in the early stages when the aneurysm is small, it can be monitored and treated with medication. But if it is large or enlarging rapidly, you’ll probably need surgery. AAA Protection While some risk factors like your age, sex, race, and family history are uncontrollable, there are a number of things you can do to protect yourself from AAAs. For starters, if you smoke, you need to quit — see Smokefree.gov or call (800) QUIT-NOW for help. You also need to keep tabs on your blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and if they are high, you need to take steps to lower them through diet, exercise, and, if necessary, medication. Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit SavvySenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.
50plus Life
April 2022
9
The Beauty in Nature
Peeping Peepers Clyde McMillan-Gamber
I visit the shallows of certain ponds and concerts, add to our enjoyment of the soft, warm wetlands in, and bordering, woods in southeastern charms and beauties of April evenings. Pennsylvania a couple evenings every April. Some people, including myself, look forward to I sit by those shallows in increasing darkness listening to and enjoying the wild, overwhelming and listen to the wild, almost incessant, chorusing concerts of spring peepers. That ageless peeping is of male spring peepers, a kind of small frog. I inspiring to hear on lovely April evenings and into even imagine the peepers’ charming, primordial the night. concerts transporting me back millions of years to Every peep is caused by each male peeper the age of amphibians. bulging his throat while his mouth is shut. The The loud, simple peeping of many male enlarged throat amplifies the sound made by each peepers, in each of several shallows, pulses on love-struck male peeper. and on through the night and on rainy days. I’ve seen only a few peepers in my lifetime Those ancient, unchanged concerts attract female because they are tan, have 1-inch bodies, and are peepers to males in the shallows to spawn scores well camouflaged in the wetland vegetation they of eggs per female. Many of those eggs soon hatch live among while consuming small invertebrates into tiny, brown tadpoles that ingest aquatic through the warmer months. vegetation. Listen for the wild, ageless dins of male spring An adult spring peeper. Many of the ear-splitting evening dins of male peepers this April in local, wooded bottomlands. peepers are accompanied by the background Or be content to know those primordial concerts music of bugling Canada geese, the singing of American robins, and the still exist after many millions of years. And it’s nice to know that peeping melodious trilling of American toads. Those creatures, along with peeper peepers are another herald of spring!
Nature’s Wonders
by Clyde
A nature blog by Clyde McMillan-Gamber, retired Lancaster County Parks naturalist and longtime 50plus LIFE columnist
Each story is like a walk with your own naturalist. NaturesWondersByClyde.BlogSpot.com
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50plus Life
April 2022
11
The History of Ordinary Things
Spring Means Baseball Doris Montag
The first official game of baseball was held in 1846 in Hoboken, New Jersey. The evolving rules of the game govern the materials, form, and dimensions of a regulation baseball bat and ball. Major League Baseball (MLB) requires wood bats, typically made of white ash, maple, or hickory. American bat manufacturing has been dominated by Hillerich & Bradsby Co. and Adirondack.
the registered trademark for the Hillerich bat. In 1905, Honus Wagner, “The Flying Dutchman,” signed a contract with Hillerich as the first player to endorse a bat (or any athletic product). Wagner was a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1897-1917. Frank Bradsby joined the business in 1911 to add sales and marketing expertise. In 1916, the company was renamed Hillerich & Bradsby Co. (H&B). During World War I, H&B retooled to Hillerich & Bradsby and the Louisville make equipment for the armed services. Slugger During World War II, H&B produced M-1 Andrew “Bud” Hillerich was born in carbine gunstocks, track pins for tanks, and Louisville, Kentucky, in 1866. His dad had a billy clubs. woodworking shop, where Hillerich became The Louisville Slugger bat was the stick an apprentice. of choice for many MLB players, including A Louisville Slugger bat, engraved in Cooperstown, N.Y., and In 1884, at 17, Hillerich made his Babe Ruth, Joe DiMaggio, Ted Williams, gifted to Doris Montag from a St. Louis Cardinals collector. first professional bat for Pete Browning, Jackie Robinson, Roberto Clemente, Hank a megastar for the Louisville Eclipse. Aaron, Ken Griffey Jr., and Derek Jeter. Browning’s nickname was the “Louisville Slugger.” In 1894, this logo became In 2015, Wilson Sporting Goods bought the Louisville Slugger brand from H&B. They continue to produce the Louisville Slugger bat in Louisville, Kentucky.
Are you getting your share of the
SILVER ECONOMY? Which buyers make up the Silver Economy? • 962 million men and women over the age of 60 • A group with 11 times more wealth than millennials • Persons with a life expectancy in the U.S. is about 78.87 years • Persons who prefer in-person contact when possible • A group that wants to age at home as long as reasonable
Why do you want to reach these buyers? • They are free of many economic burdens • They like to take care of themselves, be active, eat well, be fashionable, and have fun • They have more free time • They are looking for products and services to help them age well
What sectors are on the rise? The obvious:
The not-so-obvious:
• Home improvements/renovations • Tourism and leisure activities tailored for them • Caregiver solutions • Financial products geared for seniors • Retirement living
• Security technology – mobile apps, sensors, wearable devices, smart clothing, etc. • Pet care – pet sitting, walking, grooming, food, accessories, etc. • Gardening/lawn services combined with snow removal • Mobile esthetic and concierge services – hairstylist, manicurist, massage, facials • Personal services – running errands, shopping
What are you waiting for? 51% of people aged 52-70 spend fewer than 11 hours a week online. While businesses need an online presence, print adds power to a media campaign. Most boomers and seniors are open to and love classic media.
50plus LIFE—Covering Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties—is an excellent venue!
Call to learn how we can help you reach our 150,000+ readers of 50plus LIFE! 717.285.1350 or email info@onlinepub.com
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April 2022
50plus Life
Adirondack and the ‘Big Stick’ Adirondack was developed by Edwin McLaughlin of Dolgeville, New York, who made billets for baseball bats. In 1945, in partnership with George Millard, McLaughlin introduced quality white-ash wooden bats under the name Adirondack. They added the Adirondack logo in 1958. In 1969, Adirondack introduced the bat-mobile, an Airstream trailer equipped to hand-turn bats at Major League spring camps. The onsite availability converted big leaguers to the “Big Stick” bat. Between 1968 and 1975, the Big Stick logo appeared with the player’s name on the bat. Personal/signature models were made for recognized players, including Rico Carty, Tommy Harper, Cleon Jones, Willie Mays, Willie McCovey, Felix Millan, Don Money, John Roseboro, Ron Santo, and Joe Torre. Adirondack made standard models for Aaron, Alou, Cash, Cepeda, Horton, Howard, Rose, Hundley, Kaline, Mantle, Musial, Robinson, Staub, and Yastrzemski. In 1971, Rawlings bought Adirondack Industries. The logo was not changed to Rawlings until 1983. Regulations for Bats and Balls Regulations for baseball equipment were introduced in 1876. Today, the MLB regulations require each bat to be a round stick made of solid wood with a smooth surface. As of 2010, the maximum diameter of a Major League Baseball bat was set to 2.61 inches. In 1869, the maximum length of a regulation baseball bat was set at no more than 42 inches. This rule continues to this day in MLB. (Youth leagues range from 26-31 inches; high school and college, 32-36 inches.) The handle of the bat can be covered with any substance or material, such as pine tar, which improves the grip of the bat. Material for the grip helps to please see BASEBALL on facing page
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3 Easy Tips on How to File Taxes Securely Online According to the data, over 91% of the 165 million tax returns in the U.S. were filed electronically last year. Due to the ongoing presence of coronavirus, it is expected that an even greater percentage of tax documents will be submitted online this year. Unfortunately, cybercriminals have become more active than ever this tax season. People doing business online, especially accounting firms, are now prime targets for hackers looking to exploit any vulnerability. Oliver Noble, a cybersecurity specialist at NordLocker, says that whether you do taxes on your own or employ an accountant, protecting your personal documents should be a priority. “Many people have lost hundreds or even thousands of dollars and had their personal data stolen through tax scams. It is vitally important to take security into consideration when going about this annual taxpayer duty,” he explains. Noble offers three basic tips for avoiding tax-filing risks online. 1. Don’t fall for a phishing scam. Phishing is an attempt to steal confidential data from internet users through impersonation. This criminal technique is most often used in emails and text messages. According to the FTC, the imposter scam is the No. 1 type of fraud in the U.S., costing Americans hundreds of millions of dollars. To avoid having your money or identity stolen through phishing, remember this: • Never click on links you receive in emails, text messages, or social media posts claiming to be from the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). The IRS does not ask for personal or financial information from taxpayers through these channels. • Never send your personal information to any “official” or “representative” by email or a text message. • W hen in doubt, before doing anything, contact your bank to check the legitimacy of the required actions. Don’t forget that banks, like the IRS,
BASEBALL from facing page absorb the sting from a hit. In the early history of the game, pitchers typically made their own baseballs. When standards were defined, A.G. Spalding, a pitcher for Boston, convinced the league to adopt the ball he had been making as the official baseball. His ball was used for the next 100 years. Today, MLB baseballs weigh between 5 and 5.25 ounces and are 9-9.25 inches in circumference. The center of rubber or cork is wrapped in yarn and covered with natural white horsehide or cowhide or synthetic composite leather. It is bound together by 108 handwoven, typically red-dyed stitches. That number of double-threaded stitches has been shown to generate the best air pressure for the pitcher’s special throws. www.50plusLifePA.com
never ask for your personal information by phone or email. 2. Use a VPN when connecting to your online accounts. As a rule of thumb, never file taxes, submit any personal information online, or log in to your bank accounts over public Wi-Fi. If there’s no other choice, you should use a reliable VPN service to protect your connection. VPNs (virtual private networks) replace your IP address with a virtual one that fraudsters cannot trace back to you and your data. But the risks aren’t limited to just public networks. Even your home Wi-Fi may be breached by skilled hackers, so you should always use a VPN to keep your information private. 3. Protect your tax forms and bills. If you’re sending your files to someone, make sure to encrypt them first. Tax documents can give away a lot of personally identifiable information, which is why they should never be stored unprotected on your computer or in the cloud. Start to employ user-friendly file-encryption tools to effectively protect all your valuable information from prying eyes. The IRS requires taxpayers to store all documents used for tax credits or deductions for three years. Luckily, they accept digital copies, so you don’t have to worry about blurry receipts or digging through piles of paper — simply keep your tax return documents, including photocopies of receipts, in a private encrypted folder either on your computer or in the cloud. “Cyberattacks may be on the rise, but they don’t have to necessarily happen to you. As a taxpayer, you can easily protect your sensitive data with the tools designed for that purpose. Adopting these practices for your online tax returns will also help you watch out for other online threats,” says Noble. NordLocker is the world’s first end-to-end file encryption tool with a private cloud. It was created by the cybersecurity experts behind NordVPN — one of the most advanced VPN service providers in the world. With NordLocker, files are protected from hacking, surveillance, and data collection. For more information: nordlocker.com
Now it’s April. Let’s play ball! Doris Montag is a homespun historian and an exhibit curator who researches and displays historical collections of ordinary things, such as can openers, crochet, toy sewing machines, hand corn planters, powder compacts, egg cartons, and more. Contact or follow her on Facebook, HistoryofOrdinaryThings.
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Central Pennsylvania’s Award-Winning 50+ Publication
50plus Life
April 2022
13
On Life and Love after 50
Tom Blake
Pennsylvania Woman, 63, Would Like to Meet a Mate
With spring in the air and the COVID-19 pandemic easing, single seniors are starting to think about romance. Sonia, a Pennsylvania resident, recently emailed me: “I’ve read your articles for years and love them. I am 63 and would like to date someone my age or some years younger.”
Fish) doesn’t initially charge unless you upgrade, but it has a reputation for lots of scammers. When using dating sites, keep your search area within the suggested 50-mile radius. And speaking of scammers, be careful no matter what online site you choose. There are scammers on every site. They prey on lonely seniors, primarily widows, so there is risk in online dating. Trust your instincts. If a man sounds too good to be true, he likely is. If you find someone of interest, do background research on that person to be sure he is who he claims to be. Don’t ever send a stranger money.
I replied: With winter behind us and COVID cases declining, singles will find it easier to meet potential mates as people reenter the dating scene. I suggest you focus on meeting someone who lives within a 50-mile radius of your Pennsylvania home, which would be within a reasonable driving distance. Long-distance relationships for seniors are difficult; they often require traveling by airplane to see each other. Here are four tips for you to meet potential partners. 1. Try online dating. No masks required. In fact, masks are discouraged. We haven’t heard that said in a while! Use sites that cater to older adults, such as Silver Singles, eHarmony, Senior Dating, or OurTime (owned by Match. com). Most sites will charge a monthly fee. POF (Plenty of
Lend u
! r a e r u s yo
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Sonia
2. To meet new people, get off the couch. Get out of the house and involved in activities you enjoy. When senior singles venture out, their chances of meeting a possible mate increase. If you see a man who appears to be single — no wedding ring, for example — and he appeals to you, be assertive by saying hello or asking him a question like, “Which wine please see PA WOMAN on facing page
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April 2022
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To be included in the July 2022 edition, please call 717.285.1350 or email info@50plusLIFEPA.com www.50plusLifePA.com
Grief Relief
Dealing with the Death of a Grandchild Victor M. Parachin
It is estimated that more than 160,000 American grandparents lose a grandchild to death every year. And when that happens, the grief of a grandparent is doubled. They grieve not only the death of a grandchild but, additionally, they grieve for their child whose child has died. In spite of this double-grief experience, grandparents are often ignored, neglected, overlooked, and sidelined as invisible grievers. Support and comfort is directed entirely at those regarded as the primary mourners: the parents and the siblings of the child who died. Here are some suggestions for grandparents who are dealing with the death of a grandchild. Be understanding when your grief as a grandparent isn’t acknowledged. People don’t intend to be unkind or dismissive of your grief. In reality, they are untutored in the area of grief, particularly that of a grandparent. As a result, they erroneously think it is not your child who died, so your pain must be less intense. Also, because grandparents have more life experience, they simply assume you, as a grandparent, have better skills for dealing with bereavement. Expect a bumpy ride because grieving generates a wide range of confusing and conflicting feelings. “Grief is a roller coaster of emotions. You may be in denial one day and then sad or angry the next. Unfortunately, experiencing such a painful loss can’t be summed up by one idea or emotion,” Dr. Alejandra Vasquez, J.D., a certified grief counselor, says. “This process will change often and usually when you least expect it. As time goes on, you’ll begin to have good days … Given enough time, with conscious grief recovery, the pain will subside, and your grandchild will forever be in your heart.” Read up about grief and the process of grief recovery. Visit a bookstore or library to locate books about loss. The information you glean will be empowering and provide you with an “emotional GPS” for finding your way through grief.
PA WOMAN from facing page goes best with this salad?” Start a conversation by being assertive — not aggressive. Be pleasant; always smile. Smiles help open many doors. Also, volunteering is a wonderful way to meet new people. And you’ll be helping others as well. 3. Network. Ask your friends, co-workers, and acquaintances if they know of someone who is near your age and single and who might be a nice mate for you. And don’t stop asking, because as we age, people’s lives change in an instant. Some become widows or widowers, and others have relationships that end. www.50plusLifePA.com
Some good books include Healing a Grandparent’s Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas After Your Grandchild Dies by Alan Wolfelt; Grieving the Loss of Someone You Love: Daily Meditations to Help You Through the Grieving Process by Raymond R. Mitsch and Lynn Brookside; Healing Grief by Victor M. Parachin; and Grieving: Your Path Back to Peace by James R. White. Learn from others who are like you. Try finding other grandparents in your community or your place of worship who have had the sad experience of losing a grandchild. Two excellent online resources where you can learn from other grandparents are the Compassionate Friends organization (compassionatefriends.org/thegrief-of-grandparents) and the American Association of Retired Persons (AARP) (aarp.org). Honor your grandchild by doing something in their memory. Plant trees; establish a scholarship; self-publish a small photo book of their life; make a donation to a nonprofit in their name; advocate for a cause that relates to their death. Honor your grandchild in whatever way feels comfortable to you. Remain hopeful that your journey through grief will come to an end. Vasquez reminds grandparents: “Where there’s light, there’s hope. While you may feel the pain will never end, seek comfort in knowing that there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Although you’ll never quite get over losing your loved one, the heartbreak will subside as you learn to accept the loss. “There’s no actual timeline as to when you’ll get through your grieving process,” she says. “Have patience and know that emotions will improve with time. Learning to appreciate every moment of every day is a great way to keep the memory of your loved one alive. In time, your life will develop new meaning.” Victor M. Parachin, M.Div., is a grief counselor, bereavement educator, and author of several books, including Healing Grief.
4. Attend classes. When the weather is warmer, you can sign up for classes such as tai chi, yoga, and pickleball, for example. You’ll get exercise, and you’ll meet new people. So, Sonia, be as visible as possible. Keep your expectations in check. Don’t go out with the express purpose of meeting a partner. Go out to enrich your life. Be friendly and have a positive attitude. Don’t give up hope. Sonia shared her photo with us. If any of our Pennsylvania-area readers would like to contact her, email me at tompblake@gmail.com, and I will forward the email to her. For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to findingloveafter50.com.
50plus Life
April 2022
15
5 Things Retirees Will Wish They Had Known Sooner Many people planning for retirement anticipate those post-working years eagerly, ready to veg out after a life of toil. Others plan with greater anxiety, unsure whether they even have an identity without their jobs. But it may be that retirement these days is far different from what either point of view envisions. “We all have made decisions based on the information we had at the time, but later realized we would have planned differently if we knew then what we know now,” says Patti Hart, co-author with her husband, Milledge, of The Resolutionist: Welcome to the Anti-Retirement Movement. “That’s definitely true when it comes to planning for retirement.” The Harts don’t even think of themselves as retirees, but as “resolutionists,” constantly challenging themselves to improve. “I’m busier now than I’ve ever been,” Milledge Hart says. “I’m using this time to be a better me than I could when my days were structured and my time was spoken for.” With that said, the Harts share five things future retirees may wish they had known sooner: 1. Retirement isn’t what it used to be. Most people’s vision of retirement is built on what the people around them did, but that vision is outdated. “Many of us watched our parents or grandparents settle into a quiet, nondescript life,” Milledge Hart says. “We’ve seen the stereotypical portrayal of
The road of life contains more than a few curves …
… and confident decisions are informed decisions. Throughout the year, 50plus Life includes Special Services pages dedicated to connecting you with these resources in our area:
2. People have more time in this phase of life than previous generations. Anyone who expects retirement to be a few short years tacked on to the end of their working life could be in for an awakening. In actuality, this period could last 20-30 years or more. The average 65-year-old man can expect to live another 18 years, and the average 65-year-old woman nearly 21 more years, according to the Social Security Administration. And those, remember, are averages. “Some people could spend more years in their postcareer life than they did building their career,” Patti Hart says. “Knowing and understanding what that means will help you plan better.” 3. It’s important to constantly prepare for the next phase. The Harts acknowledge they should have been planning earlier than they did. Instead, time slipped by. “The horizon is closer than it looks,” Milledge Hart says. So, when should you get serious about planning for those post-career years? “Right now would be a good time,” he says. “But definitely, the sooner the better.” 4. Retirees need to redefine their metrics. The Harts say it’s important for people to redefine how they measure success in this phase of life because it’s different from how they likely measured success in their career days. “The goals are likely to be more qualitative than quantitative,” Patti Hart says. “For example, one of our metrics one year was to enhance our celebrations. We found that many holidays and special events were filled with unnecessary stress and were too materially focused. We decided to eliminate event-driven gift giving.” That simple change, she says, improved their lives substantially. 5. Being a “resolutionist” is fun. If someone had told the Harts when they were in their 30s that their “retirement” years would be filled with so much fun, laughter, and fulfillment, they would have been skeptical. “We laugh more now than we’ve laughed at any other stage in our life,” Milledge Hart says. “This phase is instilled with so much adventure, and it’s a feeling that comes from within rather than the happiness of achieving a certain stock price.”
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“I wish I had known sooner that I could say goodbye to the corporate world and still be interesting and relevant,” Patti Hart says. “I wish I had known that retirement is yours to define. I successfully defined my role in the business world, but it didn’t dawn on me that I could also reinvent retirement. I don’t know why. It seems perfectly obvious now.”
Please access this free and valuable information any time at
Patti and Milledge Hart, co-authors of The Resolutionist: Welcome to the Anti-Retirement Movement (antiretirement.com), spent more than 30 years as executive leaders in numerous technology and investment-banking businesses. Today, in what they call the “Resolutionist” — rather than retirement — phase of their lives, they are applying their resources and skills to global philanthropic and corporate activities.
50plusLifePA.com/special-services 16
aging and irrelevant ‘retirees’ on TV shows and in the movies.” But many retirees today are much more vibrant than those stereotypes and have no intention of sitting quietly on a front porch while the world passes them by.
April 2022
50plus Life
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50plus Life
April 2022
17
Why Letting My Aging Father Make Bad Decisions Was a Very Good Decision By Amy Cameron O’Rourke
When my father was in his 80s, he experienced ongoing numbness in his feet due to neuropathy. His legs stopped working well, and he had difficulty getting around, even with a walker. Simply trying left him exhausted. But he believed there was a cure. So when his cardiologist recommended heart valve surgery, he convinced himself the surgery would improve his legs, too. His trusted, longtime dermatologist told him, “Your life will not be the same if you go through with this surgery.” My sister, a nurse, and I also explained the risks. To all of our dismay, Dad went ahead with the operation. No surgery is minor or routine for a patient in their 80s. After my father’s surgery, he was never as strong mentally or physically again. In what is known as the “flat affect” that can result from medications and anesthesia, he seemed to lose a lot of his spark and developed a lingering, vacant look. Sadly, none of his mobility or stamina problems improved. Yet, aside from making our cases about the surgery’s risks, those of us who were close to him did not try to control his actions or impose our will. From my 40 years of experience as a care manager to older adults, I know all too well that most efforts to control aging parents’ behavior are met by resistance. Time and again I’ve seen my clients try to protect their parents from countless potential dangers: driving when their eyesight and reflexes are not what they used to be, climbing ladders to clean out the gutter of their home, keeping — and eating — expired food in the fridge. These things happen. All the time. So do lifestyle changes affecting older loved ones’ health and fitness that younger generations wish they could fix. Refrains like “Stand up straight, Mom,” “Let’s go to the gym together,” “Try walking three times a day,” and “What if you got meals delivered?” are all too common. But adults in their fragile years resist attempts by their children to help them stay healthy and safe because they fear help is a sign that the end of life is approaching and that they’re no longer in control. Watching a parent who was once strong, upright, and clear-thinking diminish is painful and sad. And trying to get the parent to not decline, and to stay clear of dangers, is a normal response. But when is — or isn’t — it the right thing to do? I’m a firm believer that it’s best for adult children to give up any thought of “controlling” their aging parents, even if this means allowing them to make bad decisions. Trying to control them will ultimately prove as futile as telling kids what to do over and over again. Instead, my advice is to work with them to help them feel more comfortable with assistance and advice. Navigating this process takes patience and skill. Here are a few steps I recommend, from my experience as both a professional caregiver and a daughter: Get involved early in the game. For years I made trips once or twice a year from my home in Florida to visit and stay with my dad in Michigan. He would also come visit me in Florida each winter. This ongoing involvement
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50plus Life
helped him trust me and open up more about his condition as he grew older. In contrast, I was once assessing an older woman on her daughter’s request, and the woman said to me, “My daughter thinks I am dying, doesn’t she?” The daughter hadn’t visited in three years. Her sudden involvement was a red flag. If you are involved on a regular basis over the years, your presence and support will not be alarming, and your parent will be more inclined to cooperate with your initiatives rather than resist. Spend some extended periods of time with your parent. During one of his trips to Florida, my dad did not want to play golf — one of his all-time favorite activities. Because I had spent extended stretches of time with him, I knew this was unusual. In his book My Mother, Your Mother, Dr. Dennis McCullough lays out a 72-hour visit concept, encouraging adult children to spend time with their parents over extended periods of time. No judgment, no convincing them to do anything; just be there. You can observe, get a better sense of your parent’s capacities, and build trust. Just listen — and don’t try to fix anything. When my dad said he didn’t want to play golf, I simply listened, refraining from trying to troubleshoot or offer solutions. This helped me gain valuable information about his condition and reinforced for him the notion that my presence was a safe place for him to talk about the changes he was experiencing — laying the groundwork for me to better assess new situations as they arose. Proceed slowly. When it came to talking about touchy subjects, such as money or my father’s medications, I found it best to start by testing the waters. I’d make a comment in passing and see how he reacted. If a conversation started, I would not push to take it further than my father was ready for. Ratcheting down and going slowly can allow you to seek solutions that are small in size and build from there. Pick your battles. Looking back, there is only one battle I would have fought if needed: the decision to move my father into a nursing home. Fortunately for us, it wasn’t necessary; my father took that initiative on his own. I’m certain that letting my father make his own decisions — no matter how bad they seemed — was the best choice I could have made for our relationship and quality of life. Our relationship remained steady and affectionate throughout his fragile years, and my family and I had the gift of accompanying him lovingly to a peaceful end-of-life. Amy Cameron O’Rourke (agingexpert.com) is a nationally known pioneer and advocate for senior care in the U.S. A professional care manager with over 40 years of experience, she is founder and president of The Cameron Group: Aging Life Care Services in Orlando, Fla., and author of The Fragile Years, which is available on Amazon.
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Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori
Big Bucks for Pokémon Lori Verderame
Pokémon, or Pocket Monsters, the famed card evaluators who are also collectors or dealers who game and collectibles that originated in Japan, want to buy your cards may not have your best remain popular with collectors. interest at heart. Make sure your appraiser is not Pokémon cards are widely traded and derived also a Pokémon collector. from Japanese anime art. The trading card game How do you tell if your Pokémon card is and collecting category have dedicated collectors, valuable? It isn’t just one factor that impacts value; and they are ready to spend big for that important it is many. For instance, when considering the value card. of Pokémon cards, collectors look for cardstockRecently, a rare Pokémon card brought $375,000 paper thickness, no ink-loss areas or print skips, no from a collector with deep pockets. Judging from rips or tears to the card. Creases are a no-no too. this sale, that collector wanted to line his pockets And yes, there are fakes out there. Fake cards with a collection of pocket monsters. don’t have the quality printing that authentic The very valuable Pokémon card that sold for Pokémon cards have. If a card is printed on a type nearly $400,000 actually was a card that featured a of see-through paper, it’s probably a fake too. print error. The card was supposed to show the title Like the all-important tags on collectible Ty Inc. at the top as Trainer, yet it reads Illustrator instead. stuffed toys that feature printing errors, Pokémon This unnumbered card was rare because only trading cards that have printed errors are the talk of a limited number of them were made. It was also the collectibles market, too. Mistakes and misprints rare because it was sold from the collection of may appear on Pokémon trading cards, so look for one of Pokémon’s developers. This card was first them. distributed to those elite few who participated in And the presence of certain print techniques is Photo credit: Staff of drloriv.com Pokémon contests. important to establishing authenticity of Pokémon The back of a Pokémon trading card. The prize card was one of only 41 ever made, and trading cards, such as a shadow placed around the it has some special symbols and information that pocket monster’s image. For instance, a printed excite Pokémon collectors. shadow placed around an image of Pikachu or Magikarp on a trading card When it comes to valuable Pokémon cards, your collection of trading indicates the card is not the rarest type, as the earliest Pokémon cards did cards can have good value too. What are some of the traits to look for when not have shadows. identifying the most valuable Pokémon cards? When it comes to Pokémon cards, make sure you know what you have Look at the front and the back and make sure the printing and imagery before you trade or sell them. Keep collections together, and remember that are crisp and sharp. Condition is always a vital factor, and those Pokémon the condition of your Pokémon trading cards will contribute to their value in cards that are PSA graded will command the highest values in the the market. marketplace. There’s more information about the complexities of Pokémon cards on my Get an appraisal before you invest money in a Pokémon card or any YouTube channel. trading card that is PSA graded. You’ll be glad you did. If you are going to Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori sell valuable cards, grading is a must. appears on The Curse of Oak Island on History channel. She gives appraisals at While many factors impact Pokémon card values, remember that
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