50plus LIFE Chester County – August 2022 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

Complimentary | Chester County Edition

August 2022

Becoming daisy plotts page 4

Left in a right world page 6

Egypt: land of pyramids and pharaohs page 10

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Lori Verderame

Demand for Princess Diana Collectibles on the Rise this Summer

Over the course of Princess.” her short life, Princess The royal couple had Diana (nee Diana two sons, Prince William Spencer, 1961-1997) (William Arthur Philip inspired the production Louis), heir to the and manufacture of throne, who was born in many works of art, June 1982, and Prince antiques, souvenirs, Harry (Henry Charles and collectibles from Albert David), who was the time of her highly born in September 1984. Photo credits: Staff of drloriv.com publicized engagement After much turmoil Princess Diana postage stamps, circa late 1990s. to HRH Prince Charles both privately and in to her shocking death. the public eye, the royal While she is best known for her philanthropic and charity work during her couple divorced in 1996. On Aug. 31, 1997, Princess Diana, aged 36, died time as Princess of Wales, Princess Diana prompted the making of many items from her injuries following an automobile crash in Paris, France. based on her likeness and her informed good taste. Princess Diana was known for her fashion sense and jewelry, interest in In 1975, Lady Diana Spencer accepted her title when her father inherited his popular culture, humanitarian work, and various collections. Her clothes have title as Earl Spencer. On July 29, 1981, after a courtship that began in 1977, been featured in charity auctions, and her jewelry is part of the collection of Lady Diana Spencer and HRH Prince Charles of Great Britain married. the crown jewels. She had a flair for both the fun and the fashionable. Prince Charles was 13 years Diana’s senior. She was one of the most beloved Princess Diana’s spectacular engagement ring is an 18-karat white-gold members of the British royal family and was known widely as the “People’s ring featuring a 12-carat oval Ceylon blue sapphire surrounded by 14 solitaire

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August 2022

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diamonds. Handmade by British crown jeweler Garrard, the ring was inspired by a brooch given to Queen Victoria from Prince Albert for their wedding in 1840. Princess Diana’s high-end keepsakes characterized 1980s style. A few years ago, I had the good fortune to lecture with a high-ranking member of Princess Diana’s staff, Patrick Jephson, her chief of staff. Jephson was privy to much classified information about the princess that he did not reveal and was a kind colleague and fascinating gentleman. As we became friends, I asked Photo credits: Staff of drloriv.com him to tell me something about Time magazine, Princess Diana, December 1997. Princess Diana as a collector. He offered that she enjoyed collecting hand-painted Herend of Hungary porcelain figurines of animals. Like any mother of active young boys, she kept the delicate figurines out of reach yet on display in her private office within the living quarters of her Kensington Palace home. This year, as we mark the 25th anniversary of the princess’s untimely death, many collectors will be bringing objects associated with Princess Diana to market. Diana collectibles have continued to be among the most coveted items in the realm of royal collecting. Objects run the gamut and include Princess Diana paper dolls, costume jewelry tiaras based on the Spencer tiara, Wedgwood jasperware trinket boxes, porcelain dolls and figurines in her likeness, souvenir Charles and Diana engagement mugs, photographs of Princess Diana dancing with actor John Travolta, autographed biographical books, Ty Inc. Beanie Babies (“Princess”), royal wedding invitations, Photo credits: Staff of drloriv.com tickets to the 2007 Diana Prince Charles and Princess Diana mug, charity concert, postage circa 1980. stamps, commemorative coins, etc. These pieces will enjoy a spike in interest and value during the summer of 2022 leading up to the anniversary date of her death. Values for Princess Diana collectibles are expected to increase as much as 10% to 25% during this time, with collectors actively seeking to add to their collections. Anniversaries of any kind always impact interest, especially in the active royals and celebrity markets. This anniversary remembers the work of a humanitarian and celebrity of the late 20th century. Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori appeared on The Curse of Oak Island on History channel. She offers appraisals and advice at drloriv.com and www.youtube.com/drloriv. Visit drloriv.com or call (888) 431-1010.

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August 2022

Cover Story

Becoming Daisy Plotts By Lynda Hudzick Corporate Office

P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604 Phone (717) 285-1350 (610) 675-6240 Fax (717) 285-1360 Email address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com

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especially since this was her first auditioning experience, but was shocked when she got a call a few weeks later to tell her she got in. Jackie Holzel admits she’s always been a bit of a “I definitely had doubts if I’d be able to do it,” she ham and thought she would enjoy performing — said. “We had to learn six songs … that was a lot for but she never really did anything about it until last a ‘mature’ person to memorize lyrics and sing them year, when she decided to take a leap of faith and well.” audition to be part of the cast of the Pennsylvania The actors are encouraged to sing with the Renaissance Faire. accent assigned to their It was an experience character, and hers was she’ll never forget. Cockney, which was “I was on a bus trip new to her. back in 2019. As we “We also had to were on the road, people learn the real name, the were singing songs to character name, and pass the time,” she said. occupation of all the During a lull in castmates on the Shire the singing, Jonathan by heart,” she said. Heise, a friend of hers, Daisy Plotts, did a Shakespearean gardener to the Lady monologue. Mayor, was the “It was amazing character that Holzel because I didn’t even was chosen to play. know he liked acting,” Daisy was a perfect fit Holzel recalls. “We for Holzel because she got to talking about was more of a down-tohis ability to recite a earth character. long monologue of “I like to have fun, Shakespeare … and he so I think being a lady told me he worked at would have stifled me,” the Ren Faire.” she said. “I also have a Fast forward to more naturally ruddy February 2021, when complexion, which in Holzel received a call those days was not a from her friend, who treasured thing.” said auditions for the The costume took Renaissance Faire were Photo credit above and on cover: Michael Ulrich some getting used to. coming up. She decided “I loved that I could help make someone’s day by “People always wore to give it a try. joking with them,” Holzel said. “I love learning hats despite the season,” “I only had a week about others and hearing their stories.” she said. “I was told to prepare,” she said. that historically only “A week to get ready prostitutes would expose their salacious hair!” for something I had no experience doing was a little Even on the hottest days, Daisy was clad in a daunting. But I did it, and I’m proud I took the coif, a straw hat, and layers of clothing, including chance.” bloomers, leggings, socks, and boots, topped with a She had to audition in front of five directors, skirt and an apron, a blouse, and a vest. which was intimidating, but she said she’s glad she’s “It takes a long time to lace up a bodice until you a natural extrovert because that helped. She had to get the knack of it,” she said. perform a song, so she chose “If I Only Had a Brain” She did enjoy having a wooden rake as a part of from The Wizard of Oz. her costume, though, because “I decorated it with “I like quirky, fun songs, and it suits me well,” she flowers, and when it was raining, it was nice to said. have an extra support as I navigated the hills on the She also had to present a monologue. Shire,” Holzel said. “Since I only had a week to get it down, I just Being a part of the cast involves a great deal of recited ‘The Raven,’” Holzel said. “I learned that in commitment. high school and was able to do a few stanzas without “Our practices were two days a week from the having to learn anything new.” beginning of May till mid-August,” Holzel said. Holzel had no idea if she would be chosen, www.50plusLifePA.com

“Then once we opened, [the faire runs] every Saturday and Sunday from August through October.” She also had to perfect her Cockney accent and purchase boots, a set of more time-period-appropriate eyeglasses, and an appropriate mug to “fill up endless times with water,” Holzel said. The atmosphere created by the beautiful grounds helped her prepared before each performance, and although she was nervous at first, she said once the visitors came through the gates, she easily slipped into character. “The Shire in the morning with no visitors is so quiet and beautiful … you really feel like you’ve stepped back in time,” Holzel said. Her favorite part of the whole experience was interacting with the guests. She recalls dancing to a drum and bagpipe band, on stage, with a little girl who loves that kind of music because her dad is a drummer. “One time I was joking with two girls, probably about 10 years old and both dressed as princesses in beautiful gowns,” Holzel said. “Later I was walking in the Shire and the two girls caught sight of me and shouted, ‘Look, it’s Daisy’ and ran into my arms. That was so special, that they were excited to see me.” Because her experience was so positive, Holzel is now considering trying out for some local theater productions. Her work as Daisy Plotts brought much joy to Holzel, and she enjoyed sharing that joy with others. “I loved that I could help make someone’s day by joking with them,” she said. “I love learning about others and hearing their stories.” As far as trying something like this for the first time in her late 50s, Holzel said that although it was a little scary, “you are never too old to try that dream on for size,” she said. “What’s that worst that can happen? Instead, think of all the new friends you can make!” Holzel is excited about the possibility of participating in the coming 2022 Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire and encourages everyone to stop by and see her, no matter who she may become this year. She hopes to meet a lot of new friends and, as Daisy Plotts would say, “T’would be most merry!”

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August 2022

Left in a Right World By Nancy J. Schaaf, RN

only 9.2% of the world’s population, approximately 708 million people, are lefthanded. What do Tom Cruise, Julius Caesar, That low percentage has had some historic Barack Obama, Leonardo Da Vinci, and downsides for lefties. Manufacturers and Jack the Ripper have in common? They are companies have disregarded this minority left-handers, or southpaws. group by continuously making items that History is filled with famous and are designed for use by right-handed people. notorious left-handed people, including Those who are right-handed may not Joan of Arc, Napoleon Bonaparte, John think much about the difficulties leftF. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, handed people face. But think about it: Babe Ruth, Albert Einstein, Mark Twain, Most things are designed with right-handed Phil Mickelson, the Boston Strangler, and people in mind, everything from school Paul McCartney. desks to a pair of scissors. International Left-handers Day 2022 Many of us take simple things for will be observed on Aug. 13 to celebrate the granted, such as buttoning a shirt, wearing differences and distinctiveness of left-handed an oven mitt, ironing, or using a computer individuals. Aug. 13 is International Left-handers Day mouse, which can be tricky for left-handed Dean R. Campbell, the founder of Leftpeople. handers International, Inc., first celebrated Why 1 in 10 people favors their left hand this day in 1976. This worldwide holiday is a mystery. Theories include genetic factors aims to create awareness of the advantages predisposing a child to favor the right hand. A direct genetic link has not been and disadvantages of left-handedness. Have you ever wondered what it is like to see the world from a “left-handed” proven, and two right-handed parents can have a left-handed child. In 2019, scientists in the Netherlands conducted the most extensive study point of view? In a world dominated by right-handers, International Lefthanders Day brings attention to the daily struggles and challenges left-handers on the genetics of left-handedness. They found that a small number of genes played a role in the development of left-handedness. face. More boys than girls are left-handed, suggesting to some researchers that the The truth is that the world is made for the right-handed. Why? Because male hormone testosterone influences handedness. Another theory is modeling, since children learn to prefer their right or left hand by copying parents and others. Are you getting your share of the Many years ago, people thought that being left-handed was a curse. Many lefties were forced, against their natural inclination, to write with their right. They’ve been discriminated against and looked at with suspicion, as Which buyers make up the Silver Economy? evidenced in the language used to describe lefties. “Right” in English also • 962 million men and women over the age of 60 means “correct.” The etymology of the word “sinister” traces back to the Latin • A group with 11 times more wealth than millennials word for “left.” • Persons with a life expectancy in the U.S. is about 78.87 years • Persons who prefer in-person contact when possible There is no definitive reason for being left-handed, but what is known is that • A group that wants to age at home as long as reasonable it is neither a curse nor a burden. Did you know that left-handers are often more successful at sports than Why do you want to reach these buyers? • They are free of many economic burdens right-handers? This fact especially applies to the interactive ball-and-combat • They like to take care of themselves, be active, eat well, be fashionable, and have fun sports. Left-handers often win because their actions are more surprising to their • They have more free time opponents. A recent study found that lefties excel in sports such as water polo, • They are looking for products and services to help them age well boxing, and fencing. What sectors are on the rise? If you have a family member or a friend who is a leftie, you will find The not-so-obvious: The obvious: appropriate gifts — like kitchen items, gardening tools, school items, and • Home improvements/renovations • Security technology – mobile apps, sensors, wearable t-shirts — designed especially for southpaws at Lefty’s – The Left-Hand Store, devices, smart clothing, etc. • Tourism and leisure activities tailored based in San Francisco. for them • Pet care – pet sitting, walking, grooming, food, accessories, etc. • Caregiver solutions Left-handers certainly earned the right to have a day dedicated to them, and • Financial products geared for seniors • Gardening/lawn services combined with snow removal Aug. 13 is that day. So, if you are left-handed, grab your left-handed cup and • Mobile esthetic and concierge services – hairstylist, • Retirement living make a toast to all left-handers everywhere. manicurist, massage, facials

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Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18. SUDOKU

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Having a Barbecue

1. Bygone bird 4. Yawn 8. Pudding fruit 12. Tolkien creatures 14. Lamb alias 15. Denims 16. Computer info 17. Get hitched 19. Paradise 21. Closed, like an envelope 22. Singer Rawls 23. Bullfight cheer 25. Goose egg

26. Celestial altar 29. Crumb 30. Woody Herman’s “___ Autumn” 31. Deadlock 33. Rubber boats 35. Inadvisable action 36. Make certain 41. Decree 42. Gardens 43. Naval unit 46. Checkers color 47. Cot 50. Snout

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August 2022

The History of Ordinary Things

Steam-Powered Engines – Not So Ordinary Doris Montag

For many of us, summer means outings to the state fair and steam engine shows. But what do we know about the story and significance of steam power? For much of history, the only way people traveled was by foot or horse. There were no powered trains, boats, or vehicles. The large black cylinder, far right, is the machine’s This made travel piston. slow and difficult. In 1698, Thomas Savery, a British engineer, invented the first primitive steam engine to generate power. It was used to pump water out of mines. Because of the limited machining and materials of the time, his engine did not work effectively. There had to be revolutionary improvements in the smelting of iron. In 1748, John “Iron Man” Wilkinson, an English industrialist, pioneered the manufacture of cast iron. Made by adding alloys to native iron, the cast iron was a cheaper and less brittle material than wrought iron. Cast iron became an important structural metal essential to the advances of the Industrial Revolution. In the early 1700s, Thomas Newcomen invented an atmospheric-pressure piston engine. The irregularity of the piston in the cylinder casing allowed the steam to leak out rather than build up power. In 1764, James Watt, a Scottish engineer (1736-1819), performed a series of trials on a Newcomen engine, looking for ways to seal the piston in the cylinder. He created a design that was workable, but the boring methods of the time were too inaccurate to achieve smooth movement of the piston. This problem plagued Watt for over a decade.

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August 2022

same amount of power. In 1782, Watt patented the “double-acting” engine using steam to push the piston both up and down, for the push and pull action. A few years later, he added a centrifugal governor for automatic control of the speed of the engine. In 1790, the addition of a pressure gauge completed the Watt engine. Watt’s steam engine was initially used to operate rotary machines in factories such as textile mills. It was quickly adopted across multiple industries. By the early 1800s, high-pressure steam engines had become small enough to move beyond the factory. They found their way into boats, rail engines, steam tractors, and road vehicles. The first steam-powered locomotive was introduced in Britain in 1804. The United States put a passenger steamship on the water in 1807. The Watt steam engine became the prime mover of the Industrial Revolution (1760-1820). Steam power allowed society to move from primarily an agricultural and handicraft economy to one dominated by industry and machine manufacturing. Large-scale industry, mechanized manufacturing, and the factory system changed people’s lives and lifestyles forever. This author has stood by a full-scale model of the Wilkinson boring mill and a Watt steam engine built in the 1790s. The engine powered textile mills in England from 1827 to 1948. It was dismantled and shipped to the DoAll Company in Des Plaines, Illinois, in the 1950s. In early 2000s, it was obtained by the Cedar Valley Engine Club, Charles City, Iowa. Club members dismantled the 40-ton steam engine and put it back together on their grounds in Floyd County. Today, the engine, with its 16-foot flywheel, is powered by electricity with several gear-reduction units. One of only three in America, it is demonstrated at their Engine Club Show each Labor Day weekend. 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.

Membership starts as low as $36 a year for any individual over 50

Photo credit: Mark Less

The steam engine at the Cedar Valley Engine Club includes a 16-foot flywheel.

In 1775, John Wilkinson (see above) built a machine that could bore engine cylinders and cannon barrels with unequaled accuracy. His machine could bore the cylinders needed for Watt’s design. The tight fit of the piston in the cylinder allowed the steam to build up the pressure needed to generate power. This change used half as much coal to produce the

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Dear Pharmacist

Nootropics Can Make You ‘Wordle’ Faster Suzy Cohen

As I was doing my Wordle this morning it dawned on me that I was really doing this to grow new brain cells, not because I enjoyed it. Wordle is a favorite among those who like to exercise their brain using word games, but it’s not the only way to get smarter. There are other ways to improve cognitive function, gain better sleep, and reduce risk for Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. If you too want to grow a bunch of new neurons, don’t depend entirely on Wordle … or jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, or even crosswords! Feed your brain foods and nutrients that are proven to work. Today’s article covers the best-known natural nootropic vitamins and herbs. For example, blueberries contain flavonoids and anthocyanin, which promote neurogenesis. Red grapes (wash them very well) contain quercetin and resveratrol, and both of those compounds feed your brain cells. Walnuts are another, and they help because of the essential fatty acids. Perhaps the most well-known “brain food” is salmon and other wild-caught fatty fish; these help you because they are high in DHA fish oils. Here are some other natural nootropic compounds that support good memory and recall, and like I always say, please ask your doctor if they are right for you because these have multiple effects on the body, and some of them adversely interact with other medications and medical conditions. Lion’s mane – It’s great at making you think faster because it produces more mental energy. Basically it makes me solve problems and do Wordles much faster! I was able to get the word “shawl” on my second attempt! Most of the time it takes me three or four attempts to get the Wordle word. This can be purchased at the grocery store or farmers market, as a commercial tea, or concentrated in dietary supplements.

Bacopa monnieri – This herb has been studied quite a bit, especially for Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s, dementia, anxiety, and epilepsy. Besides being a fabulous neuron antioxidant, it increases acetylcholine activity and reduces beta-amyloid formation. Acetyl-L-carnitine – This anti-aging smart pill is a natural amino acid, and it’s a precursor to acetylcholine. You’ll find it as a dietary supplement at health food stores. It seems to work better when combined with other brain-nourishing supplements. Phosphatidylserine – Phosphatidylserine is a well-studied nootropic found in sunflower seeds and soybeans. You’d have to eat bucketfuls on a daily basis, so people purchase dietary supplements of this. It also helps with sleep. If you’d like to read the longer version of this article, sign up for my newsletter at suzycohen.com. This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more information about the author, visit suzycohen.com.

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Green tea or matcha – These drinks provide less caffeine than espresso and coffee; however, the caffeine still perks you up. This option provides EGCG, which has anti-tumor activity. Ginkgo biloba – This natural herb is categorized as a nootrope, but it does so many other good things. It increases dopamine activity and sends more blood to the brain.

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50plus Life

August 2022

Willing to Wander

Egypt: Land of Pyramids and Pharaohs, Part 1

Victor Block

My first impression on the ride from the airport to my hotel was: Big city. Cars and motorcycles battled for space, their horns raising a din. Signs for McDonald’s, Burger King, and other familiar fastfood restaurants vied for attention with billboards touting trendy women’s fashions. Gradually, other touches of the A camel roams near the pyramids at Giza. destination caught my attention. Street vendors maneuvered pushcarts laden with foods that were new to my eye. Towering minarets

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August 2022

50plus Life

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Later, Napoleon showed up and looted artifacts that were transported back to France. Following the two-week itinerary that my wife, Fyllis, and I took with Overseas Adventure Travel, we returned home with a sense Vibrant colors survive in a painting on the of awe at Egypt’s wall of a temple. iconic attractions and an appreciation of its people and their fascinating culture. It’s clear why the pyramids were included among the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, a listing first compiled in 225 B.C. The Great Pyramid, one of more than 100 throughout the country, is the largest of three at Giza, just Detailed artwork and hieroglyphics painted outside Cairo. It was on the wall of a tomb. built over 4,000 years ago to serve as the tomb of Pharaoh Khufu (Cheops). The massive structure soars to the height of a 48-story building. Standing at its base adds to the appreciation of what men using primitive tools created long ago. Workers cut 2.3 million enormous stones, moved them to the site, and elevated them up the sides of the pyramid as it grew. In the shadow of the Giza pyramids is another treasure. The Great Sphinx, a mythological creature carved from a single piece of limestone, dates back at least to 2,500 B.C. The 240-foot-long figure features a lion’s body and human head, which some Egyptologists claim resembles the Pharaoh Khafre. While Egypt’s pyramids and Giza Sphinx get much of the attention, temples dedicated to the worship of gods, and commemoration of the pharaohs, compete with them in size, beauty, and wonder. The temple complex of Karnak, on which construction began in the 19th century B.C., encompasses shrines and monuments dedicated to a series of rulers. Walls are covered by hieroglyphics that are as deeply etched as when they were carved, and paintings at temples and burial crypts are as bright as when they were created. The temple at Luxor was a center of power for a number of pharaohs. They included Ramses II, whose reign lasted 67 years, and Tutankhamen (“the boy king”), who took the throne at the age of about 8 and died nine years later. A wealth of information about everything Egyptian awaits discovery at two outstanding museums in Cairo. Displays at the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities range from coins and papyrus to life-size statues and sarcophagi, the outside containers of coffins. Speaking of coffins, the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization is the final resting place for 22 mummies. They include 18 kings and four queens, whose preserved bodies rest in repose. My imagination pictured them coming to life after the museum closes to reminisce about their days as leaders of a great civilization. Many of Egypt’s monuments to the past lie along the Nile River, and we www.50plusLifePA.com

Karnak is a complex of temples dedicated to various Egyptian gods.

traveled to some of them during a weeklong boat trip. Next month’s story will take you along that journey and provide an introduction to the people of the country. For information about Egypt, log on to egypt.travel. After gallivanting around the world, Victor Block still retains the travel bug. He believes that travel is the best possible education. A member of the Society of American Travel Writers, Victor loves to explore new destinations and cultures, and his stories about them have won a number of writing awards.

The 4,500-year-old Great Sphinx was carved from a single block of limestone.

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50plus Life

August 2022

The Beauty in Nature

2 Yellowjacket Wasps Clyde McMillan-Gamber

By late summer, most of us have been pestered by yellowjackets at picnics, and some of us noticed the gray, football-sized paper nests of bald-faced hornets attached to twigs in trees. I have seen an occasional yellowjacket tussling with a fly on a flower. And many of us are afraid of these bee-sized members of the yellowjacket wasp family because they deliver painful stings if threatened or if their nests of larvae are in jeopardy. These wasps are not hornets. We just call them that. Yellowjackets are yellow and black barred, while baldfaced hornets are black with white markings, especially on their faces. These related wasp species, which live across much of the United States, have characteristics in common, demonstrating their relatedness. Both kinds live in colonies, each community having a fertile, egg-laying queen; many sterile female workers; and a few males late in summer. Workers chew dead wood into pulp to make six-sided paper cells that house larval wasps until they mature. Workers catch and paralyze insects, tear them apart, and feed them to the larvae in their paper cells in each paper nest. Workers consume flower nectar themselves and feed it to males and the queen. The males’ only job is to mate with the new queen of the year.

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

August 2022

50plus Life

In spring, young queens of both species emerge from the soil they wintered in. Each queen of both kinds scrapes dead wood off trees and wooden products, chews it to a pulp, and makes a small, paper nursery with a few six-sided cells inside. Yellowjacket queens make their homes in the ground with a small entrance to the surface, while baldfaced hornet queens build theirs in trees, with a small hole in the bottom of the nest. Each queen lays fertile eggs and tends the first brood of larvae of the year herself, feeding them paralyzed insects. That first brood of the year, when mature, and succeeding broods of Yellowjacket sterile females, work together in harmony. They continue adding more paper cells, and more layers of paper protection against weather and predators, such as some birds and insects, around that mass of cells all summer. The queen’s only job then is to lay eggs. But her reign of laying is for one summer. As their populations and paper nurseries grow, one can see worker females constantly going to and coming from the entrances to their nests. Those workers are foraging for nectar for themselves, the males, and the queen of each colony and for insects to feed to the larvae in paper cells in that community. Late in summer, a new queen Bald-faced hornet matures in each paper community and is fertilized by one of the males in that colony. In the chill of autumn, old queens, workers, and males leave their paper homes and die. Only the new queens burrow into the protective ground to survive the winter. New queens are the only individuals to carry the genetic code of their respective species from one year to the next. They alone survive winter and emerge the next spring to start new colonies of female workers and males in new paper nurseries. This month and into fall, watch for yellowjackets around flowers and picnics, partly for your own protection, and look for the attractive and interesting paper nests of bald-faced hornets hanging picturesquely in trees. Those nurseries, however, are more obvious in winter when tree foliage is on the ground.

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Continuing Care Retirement Communities/Life Plan Communities

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Homestead Village 1800 Village Circle Lancaster, PA 17603 Christina Gallagher (717) 397-4831 cgallagher@hvillage.org www.homesteadvillage.org Willow Valley Communities 600 Willow Valley Square Lancaster, PA 17602 Margie Seagers Manager of Sales (717) 464-6800 info@willowvalley.org www.willowvalleycommunities.org www.50plusLifePA.com

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50plus Life

August 2022

Continuing Care Retirement Communities/Life Plan Communities

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On Life and Love after 50

Tom Blake

Single Senior Women Need Preprinted Calling Cards

Margaret, a 65-year-old single woman, is puzzled about a man she spent time with who didn’t ask for her phone number. Margaret emailed, “A couple weeks ago, two girlfriends and I went for line-dancing lessons to a well-known country and western bar. I arrived early. “A few minutes later, two men sat down at the table next to me and started a conversation. I was attracted to the man sitting closest to me (I’ll call him ‘John’). He and I chatted for 2.5 hours, and I even skipped one of the line-dancing lessons as we were engaged in an interesting conversation about a ranch property he had just purchased in the country. “He had lived in my city for 25 years before moving to a nearby city. He owns his own company. He spends weekends at his ranch property. He wore no wedding ring. As he was

August 2022

50plus Life

flipping through pictures on his phone of his ranch property to show me, I didn’t see any pictures of him with a woman. “He offered to buy drinks and food for me and my friends, which I thought was very generous. We had already eaten. He bought a glass of wine for me and sodas for my friends. He helped move our table a little so my friends would have some space to sit and helped me lower a window blind that was stuck with sun streaming into my friends’ eyes. Very chivalrous of him. “All of his qualities I found attractive, as well as his physical appearance. I guess his age to be close to mine, in his mid-60s. His friend kept urging him to dance with me, but he had informed me early in the conversation he did not line dance. “After 2.5 hours my girlfriends wanted to leave, so I thanked ‘John’ and said my friends wanted to please see SINGLE on facing page

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Sixties Flashback

Art Weirdo or Business Savant? Randal C. Hill

As a dominant figure in the 1960s New York collected scenes of car wrecks, electric chairs, and avant-garde art scene, Andy Warhol became race riots, all done in lurid candy hues. a tireless self-promoter who straddled a line His reputation and his bank account between bizarre media stardom and the straightgrew large. In 1964, he opened a Manhattan laced business world. warehouse loft that was covered in tinfoil and He was born Andrew Warhola Jr. in featured silver-painted walls. The Factory, as it Pittsburgh in 1928, the youngest son of was called, became the premier cultural hotspot Slovakian immigrants. At age 8, Warhola for creative counter-culturists, as well as a contracted the nervous-system disease Sydenham meeting place for the trendy rich and famous. chorea (also known as St. Vitus Dance). Weekends often found Warhol and his He spent months in bed recovering, during hangers-on at such “in” local nightspots as which time his artist mother taught him how Studio 54 and Max’s Kansas City, where those to draw. When she gave him a camera, the lucky enough to be allowed entrance often sickly lad also developed a passionate interest in mingled with artists, musicians, poets, and the photography. occasional politician. Andy Warhol with Archie, his pet Dachshund, in After high school, Warhola attended the Throughout the 1960s, Warhol experimented 1973. Photographed by Jack Mitchell. Carnegie Institute for Technology, where he with various forms of media, including studied pictorial design. Four years later, with publishing, television, music production, fashion, degree in hand, he moved to Manhattan to work and theater. for Glamour magazine. There he became a successful commercial artist who One favorite endeavor was the filming of underground movies. He now called himself Andy Warhol. released more than 60 works, some of which ran for 25 hours and appeared Always happy to embrace the controversial, he became a pioneer of “pop meaningless to traditional moviegoers; Sleep, for example, just showed a man art” with his now-iconic paintings of mass-produced consumer goods such as sleeping for several hours. cans of Campbell’s soup, Coca-Cola bottles, and boxes of Brillo soap pads. His world changed in 1968 when he was shot in the stomach by radical His development of a photographic silkscreen printing process allowed him to feminist writer Valerie Solanas, who was irate because Warhol had rejected repeat images and create multiple copies of a subject. a story she had written. Warhol survived the attack, which damaged several Warhol was fascinated with celebrityhood. Thanks to his printmaking organs, but the remainder of his days were spent wrapped in a surgical corset. skills, he produced an endless variation of stylized images — often done in When he died at age 58 in 1987 following gallbladder surgery, he left his vivid, garish colors — of Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley (his particular estate to what is now the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh. favorites), as well as such other superstars as Elizabeth Taylor and Jackie Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, Kennedy. Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com. He always remained an art-gallery favorite and was especially beloved by those who sought the unconventional. One typical Warhol exhibit featured

SINGLE from facing page leave. I lingered a bit hoping he would ask for my phone number or give me his phone number. He did not ask, so I said, ‘I hope to see you again,’ and I left. “That was one of the strangest experiences I’ve had with a man to whom I was attracted, and I certainly got the vibes that ‘John’ was attracted to me. My ego was a little hurt because he didn’t ask to call or see me again. “He wasn’t shy, as he initiated the conversation with me as soon as he sat down. “I haven’t gone back to that bar since this happened but will go sometime. “What should I have done?” I responded, “The best thing would have been to give him your contact information. You need to carry preprinted calling cards that show your first name, possible photo, and phone number. Before leaving, you could have handed a card to him and said: ‘I’d enjoy seeing you again; here’s how to reach me.’ “Or, you could have written your phone number on a cocktail napkin. www.50plusLifePA.com

“Who knows if you will see him again? If not, it wasn’t meant to be. But, in the future, be prepared to hand over your calling card if a similar situation arises.” For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to findingloveafter50.com.

Information and support whenever you need it View online at: www.onlinepub.com (under supplements)

50plus Life

August 2022

August is National

Make-A-Will Month

Savvy Senior

What Happens if You Die Without a Will? Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior, What happens to a person’s possessions if they die without a will? I’m almost 60 years old and have never gotten around to making one, but the coronavirus crisis has made it a priority. – Will-less Willie Dear Willie, The coronavirus crisis has lit a fire under many Americans when it comes to getting their affairs in order. Currently, fewer than half of American adults have prepared a will or living trust. If you die without a will, the state you reside in will determine what happens to your assets. Every state has intestacy

laws in place that parcel out property and assets to a deceased person’s closest living relatives when there’s no will or trust in place. But these laws vary from state to state. Here is a general breakdown of what can happen to a person’s assets, depending on whom they leave behind. Married with children: When a married person with children dies without a will, all property, investments, and financial accounts that are “jointly owned” automatically go to the surviving co-owner without going through probate, August is National Make a Will Month which is the legal process that distributes a deceased person’s assets. But for all other separately owned property or individual financial accounts, the laws of most states award onethird to one-half to the surviving spouse, while the rest goes to the children. Married with no children or grandchildren: Some states award the entire estate to the surviving spouse, or everything up to a certain amount (for example, the first $100,000). But many other states award only one-third to one-half of the decedent’s separately owned assets to the surviving spouse, with the remainder generally going to the deceased person’s parents, or if the parents are dead, to brothers and sisters. Jointly owned property, investments, financial accounts, or community property automatically go to the surviving co-owner. Single with children: All state laws provide that the entire estate goes to the children, in equal shares. If an adult child of the decedent has died, then that child’s children (the decedent’s grandchildren) split their parent’s share. Single with no children or grandchildren: In this situation, most state laws favor the deceased person’s parents. If both parents are deceased, many states divide the property among the brothers and sisters, or if they are not living, their children (your nieces and nephews). If there are none of them, it goes to the next of kin, and if there is no living family, the state takes it. Make a Will To ensure your assets go to those you want to receive them, you need to create a will or trust. If you have a simple estate and an uncomplicated family situation, there are do-it-yourself resources that can help you create all these documents. please see WILL on facing page

August 2022

50plus Life

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It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘You Don’t Mess Around with Jim’ Randal Hill

In Jim Croce’s brief career — he died at age 30 in a with Jim”! In Croce’s mind, he imagined a cartoonish 1973 Louisiana plane crash — Croce released five Top version of an intimidating New York City pool hustler 10 singles, the first of which was one of the best story — big and dumb as a man can come, but he’s stronger than songs of modern times. a country hoss. “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” on the ABC label Walker reigns supreme around town as “the king of brought music fans into Jim Croce’s fun-loving world, 42nd Street,” and he cruises his domain in a “drop top” one that was often replete with rather bizarre (but always Cadillac. memorable) characters. As the story unfolds, we learn that Big Jim hustles Born in Philadelphia, Croce played the accordion people for money with his well-honed pool skills. But before switching to guitar. After high school, he attended one day, a Southern boy nicknamed Slim comes to town, Villanova University, where he worked as a guitarist in explaining that Walker had recently hustled him and numerous bands. that Slim was there to get his money back. (Good luck, He graduated college in 1965, became a guitar Slim!) instructor at summer camps, and briefly taught at a Big Jim’s sycophants then explain some basic survival Philadelphia middle school. (One undocumented story tips to the visitor: has Croce being beaten up by a 250-pound girl student in front of the class.) You don’t tug on Superman’s cape Photo of Jim Croce from the second He met Ingrid Jacobson at a folk music party in 1966. You don’t spit into the wind anniversary of the In Concert music They married and began writing and recording their own You don’t pull the mask off that old Lone Ranger program. compositions, frequently touring and trying in vain to And you don’t mess around with Jim catch a break. “You Don’t Mess Around with Jim” Eventually discouraged, the Croces settled onto a A bloody melee erupts, and to everyone’s surprise, By Jim Croce Pennsylvania farm with their infant son, Adrian. Croce Slim manages to dispatch the fearsome bully. Big Jim’s August 1972 drove trucks and worked construction while Ingrid followers then acknowledge the new order, and the last finished college. All the while, Croce continued to write songs, never time we hear the catchy chorus, we’re made aware of one crucial change: abandoning a lifelong dream of having a music career one day. He turned to selling advertising time on Philadelphia radio stations. His You don’t tug on Superman’s cape work occasionally took him into the darker corners of the city, where he You don’t spit into the wind would sometimes visit less-than-savory pool halls. You don’t pull the mask off the old Lone Ranger Ingrid recalled later, “He would sit there and watch the pool games and see And you don’t mess around with Slim what people were doing. He ended up with a guy named Jim Walker, who Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be was one of the guys who used to play pool there.” And what a character Big Jim Walker became in “You Don’t Mess Around reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

WILL from facing page If, however, you want or need assistance or if you have a complicated financial situation, blended family, or have considerable assets, you should hire an attorney. An experienced attorney can make sure you cover all your bases, which can help avoid family confusion and squabbles after you’re gone. Costs will vary depending on where you live, but you can expect to pay anywhere between $200 and $1,000 for a will. The local advertisers in this section are eager to help you navigate the willcreation process. Additionally, the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (naela.org) and the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel (actec.org) websites have directories that may help you find someone in your area. 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.

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50plus Life

August 2022

Melinda’s Garden

Melinda Myers

Plant Alliums This Fall to Add Variety and Beauty to Your Garden

Puzzles shown on page 7.

Puzzle Solutions

Take your garden to new heights with alliums. are smaller than Globemaster, but Gladiator blooms This ornamental member of the onion family earlier and stands a foot taller, and the leaves are provides welcome color as spring bulbs fade and long lasting. Both are sure to grab your attention before summer perennials fill our gardens with and that of pollinators. colorful blooms. Stretch your enjoyment into early summer Most people have seen pictures of the giant with Ambassador. Its dense, 5- to 6-inch violetallium, but there are many other options of flower blue flowers are a deeper color than most alliums. sizes and heights suitable for any size and style What’s even more impressive is these large flowers garden. Most allium flowers are globe shaped and are atop 4- to 5-foot stems. Like the other alliums, all are made of tiny florets. They make great cut bees and butterflies love it. flowers, the pollinators love them, and deer tend to It’s no surprise that Allium christophii is a leave them be. favorite among gardeners. The 8- to 10-inch Plan for months of color by including a variety diameter, violet-pink flowers have spikey florets and of alliums that bloom from late spring through a silvery sheen that makes them look like globes in early summer. Longfield Gardens’ Planning Guide the garden. Though this allium is only 12-18 inches for Alliums (longfield-gardens.com) showcases the tall, it has a big presence in the garden and is very various alliums, their size, and bloom time to help long lasting. Photo credit: Longfield Gardens you plan. Allium schubertii produces even larger, 12-inch Purple Sensation allium. Add alliums to gardens in zones four to eight diameter flowers on stems of a similar height. in fall when planting your other spring-flowering Some of the star-like florets are closer to the center bulbs, like tulips and daffodils. of the flower than others, and this makes the Dress up the front of a flowerbed or rock garden with Allium karataviense. blossom appear to be expanding, like fireworks in the garden. Save some of the It may be small in stature at only 8-10 inches tall, but the broad gray-green seedheads and use them in dried flower arrangements. leaves and 5-inch round, silvery-pink flowers provide big impact in the lateThe flowers of heirloom Allium atropurpureum are dome-shaped rather spring garden. than round. Their dramatic, dark-burgundy color and upright stature add Add years of spring beauty with Purple Sensation. Its shimmering 4-inch structure to the garden. They are also long-lasting cut flowers. diameter, violet-purple flowers are held above the leaves on 24-30” tall stems. End the season with Drumstick allium. The egg-shaped flowers are It provides nice height and vibrant color to the early-season garden. You will raspberry on top and green on the bottom with long, slender stems. They are enjoy these alliums and their offspring for years to come. perfect grow-through plants and good companions for ornamental grasses. For something uniquely different, add Allium bulgaricum, also known as Add a variety of alliums to your garden this fall and enjoy the added color, Nectaroscordum bulgaricum, to perennial and informal gardens. The cluster texture, and height this group of plants provide. You and the pollinators will of drooping cream and burgundy bell-shaped flowers are followed by seedpods be glad you did. that lift themselves skyward. This provides an interesting vertical accent in the Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space garden. Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses’ How to Grow Anything DVD series and Gladiator and Globemaster are sure to have passersby and visitors stopping the Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio program. Myers is a columnist and to take a second look at your garden. Mix them in amongst perennials and contributing editor for Birds & Blooms magazine. melindamyers.com add to mixed borders. Gladiator has blue-violet, 6-inch diameter flowers that

August 2022

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Ants in Your House? How to Get Rid of Them Safely Most of us don’t want to share a home with ants, but we don’t want to douse the place with insecticide either. Keeping your sinks and counters dry and clean is a good start. Here are a few natural treatments to keep ants at bay:

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Cinnamon. Place a few cinnamon sticks anywhere you spot ants crawling into your house. The pleasant odor will send ants away. (Garlic cloves work as well, though you may not enjoy the scent as much.)

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Vinegar. Spray some apple cider or white vinegar on areas where ants have set up shop. Black pepper. Sprinkle a little pepper where you see ants. Watch where they run to, and treat that area as well to prevent them from returning. Mint. The scent of mint can disrupt ants’ sense of smell. Plant mint outside, especially near doors and windows, and place a few mint leaves in and around your windows.

Excited to be in person!

Pet of the Month

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