U O Y T N E WA
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Complimentary | Lancaster County Edition
March 2022
More in common than we realize
age 2. p n o t s ou Check u
page 4
How much do you know about women in history? page 8
How and why to preserve your digital legacy page 14
Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori
Dr. Lori’s Art & Antiques Buying Guide Lori Verderame
When embarking on a new phase of life, What does that mean? How do you start a like a new marriage, a new home, a new job, collection without buying? a big anniversary, or retirement, many people First, visit museums, historical societies, chronicle the experience with the purchase of libraries, gallery exhibitions, and other places an important object. where fine art and antiques are on display but When looking for an investment object that are not for sale. is both fun and smart, art and antique objects You should learn about the various media immediately come to mind. It is that item you (e.g., pastels, watercolors, bronzes, oils on always wanted, and you are ready to “treat canvas, etc.), art movements (e.g., Surrealism, yourself.” Impressionism, Contemporary Realism, etc.), For the novice collector or even the seasoned and subjects (e.g., still lifes, seascapes, portraits, art and antiques lover, jumping into the market etc.) first so you have a good idea of what can be tricky. This is a great time to buy, so sparks your interest. here I will share my insider tips about starting Upon gaining this understanding, you’ll be Surfer, oil on canvas by Frank Lind, highly collected Pratt Institute art professor and American artist. an art collection. better equipped to invest in something good I’ve compiled an Art & Antiques Buying that you also like. This method will prevent you Guide to help you find, understand, negotiate, and collect the best examples of from buying something on impulse or just because the opportunity presents itself. fine art and antiques. Stick to Your Budget Learn from Masters Don’t think about buying a work of art or antique piece until you establish a First, learn as much as you can about art and antiques in places where you are budget. I know, I know … boring. Boring but necessary. not tempted to buy art or antiques. please see BUYING GUIDE on facing page
Pet of the Month King Hello! I’m King, a 4-year-old neutered male pit bull terrier who enjoys staying active. From romping around in the play yard at the shelter to taking long strolls with my new loving family, I’m sure to be a treat. As I search for my perfect match in a loving family, I’m keeping an extra close eye out for mature families who are also experienced dog lovers. Oh, and I don’t care for hairballs. So, no cats, please. Are you reading this and thinking, “Yes, he has to come home with me”? Don’t wait for another millisecond. Please send your application to the Humane League of Lancaster County at adoptlancaster@humanepa.org, or give the shelter a call at (717) 393-6551 to learn more.
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The Bookworm Sez
Lightning Down Terri Schlichenmeyer
The storm’s a-coming. his belt,” and he was looking forward to You can smell it in the air: Rain’s on the rotating out and going home. way, maybe thunder, maybe more, but the But on Aug. 13 — his 44th mission — high winds are what you hate. They make Moser was shot down and captured … you run for shelter and pray hard. The storm’s Now, here’s the thing: If author Tom a-coming, and in Lightning Down by Tom Clavin had stopped right there, you’d still Clavin, it’s never as mild as you hope it’d be. have a heckuva heart-pounder in your hands As a young man on the farm near with Lightning Down. Ferndale, Washington, all Joe Moser wanted But that’s not the end of this story, not by to do was to fly airplanes — the P-38 a long shot. Lightning, to be specific — but though it Clavin takes this tale beyond, not to a was his deepest desire, he knew it probably rugged POW camp run by the Red Cross, wasn’t possible: As the oldest son of a but into the Buchenwald Concentration widowed mother, Moser had to take care of Camp where Lt. Moser was sent after his the farm, and besides, piloting a P-38 was capture, then along a forced march that something only for college graduates. reads like a fever dream. Moser was doing chores when he heard of Not one single thing in this narrative is Lightning Down: A World War II Story of Survival the attack on Pearl Harbor, and, like most softened: Clavin relentlessly plunges readers By Tom Clavin young men then, he hastened to sign up to directly into the horror of the camp in c. 2021, St. Martin’s Press for the military. passages that are almost numbing in their 320 pages He tested for the Army Air Corps, but, content, number, and nightmarish detail but though the rules were relaxed, his scores were too low for pilot school, and it are broken up sometimes by moments of courage. looked like Moser was headed for the infantry until someone rechecked those We know how this ends — Moser is saved, right? Right? — but we really don’t scores. Suddenly, he was on his way to 20-plus months of training before being know, not until it actually happens. sent to England to pilot the P-38. This book is an absolute winner for your dad, your granddad, your uncle, That was a job he turned out to be good at. It didn’t take long for him to anyone who’s a veteran or a World War II buff, or readers seeking a tale of receive a Distinguished Flying Cross and, shortly after that, a promotion to first heroism. Find it now, and let Lightning Down strike you. lieutenant. Writes Clavin, “He was still only 22 years old.” The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years Surely, Joe Moser knew the danger of what he was doing, but he chose not to old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with dwell on it. He went out every day and did his job, hoping “he would get out of two dogs and 14,000 books. this thing yet in one piece.” By early August 1944, he’d had 43 missions “under
BUYING GUIDE from facing page When you have your budget in mind, settle on it, and stick to it. Do not waiver. Don’t convince yourself to overspend because you fell in love with a piece either. No matter what, you will be happy if you stick to your budget. Most of the time, you’ll get a good piece this way because you are not considering too many objects at once, which could cause confusion. Slow Down Forget life’s distractions when you are considering a major art or antique purchase. This work of art or antique object will become a part of your home life for years to come. Learn to look at the work of art or antique piece for more than just a few minutes. Don’t let a pushy dealer, encouraging friend, or other “background noise” distract or rush you into a major art or antique purchase. Take a minute and just stand there and quietly look at the work. Think about what you see and try to figure out what you like about it. Consider it, ponder it, and don’t rush it. www.50plusLifePA.com
Back to Basics Try to consider the basics, starting with black and white. Don’t be taken in by an artwork’s color or an antique’s various ornamental details. Some people who sell art or antiques will try to get you to like a particular work based solely on its colors or how it may fit into your home’s color scheme. Remember, a big part of buying something good is learning to recognize quality pieces. The goal is to buy something you like that is also of high quality. Buy Training Buy the work of the trained artists and established craftsmen. Better yet, buy the work of artists who teach other artists, like those established professors from prestigious art schools. When it comes to market success, those who can, teach! Appraisers know that the best quality art and antiques are always the best choice for a collection. Collecting quality art and antiques is always a good investment. Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori appears on The Curse of Oak Island on History channel. She gives appraisal value information at drloriv.com, youtube.com/drloriv, or (888) 431-1010.
50plus LIFE
March 2022
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Cover Story
More in Common than We Realize By Gabriele Amersbach 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
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson
EDITORIAL Vice President and Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor, 50plus Publications Megan Joyce
ART DEPARTMENT Project Coordinator Lauren Phillips
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Senior Marketing Consultant Joshua Binkley Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer
ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall
Member of
Awards
50plus LIFE is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community. On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.
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of experience.” Often the older adult becomes a mentor in a relationship not fraught with the power struggles that can make young adults feel resentful of parental advice. Cole has numerous examples of students who have been profoundly changed by their interaction with a program partner. One student told Cole that discussions with her older partner “literally made me change how I see my life.” The young woman was deeply touched by advice that resonated personally with her — to have a plan in life, not just to go through the motions.
For many young people, old age is impossible to imagine. Immersed in the challenges of going to school, choosing the right career, finding a supportive circle of friends, and dating potential life partners, what can a young person at the cusp of adulthood possibly have in common with an older adult who has long ago passed these critical milestones of youth? “We have more in common than we realize,” says Stephanie Cole, special assistant to the secretary of aging Nothing is Off-Limits at the Pennsylvania In another example, Department of Aging. Cole tells the story of a She is the architect young African American of the department’s football player who Intergenerational was paired with an University Connections older African American program, which links participant who had college students in social played football in his work, public health, youth. recreational therapy, and The older participant other academic programs felt such a strong to seniors who live alone connection that he or have other factors that took it on as a personal could make it difficult mission to help the for them to engage with student avoid his own others. early mistakes, like As part of their choosing the wrong required coursework, companions and each student in the dropping out of school, class is assigned to an advice valued by his older adult identified student partner. by a local area agency “Nothing is off-limits on aging. With support Young adult and program leadership met for induring these discussions,” and direction from the person events at both West Chester and Widener faculty member, students universities in 2021. Most older adults participated says Cole. “It’s OK for contact their paired in the events virtually. Similarly, senior participants both students and older adults to be vulnerable.” partner weekly for the conversed online or by phone with their student Kathleen Wildauer, a duration of the semester. matches throughout the semester. resident of Camp Hill, In the course of participated in the program when a professor from eight to 10 conversations, most participants build the program reached out to her. Her partner was a a friendship that helps them overcome ageist quiet, somewhat shy college senior, very different stereotypes and attitudes. from his outgoing female partner in her mid-70s. “Everybody benefits,” says Cole. “Older adults Initially nervous about participating in the often feel society doesn’t value the contributions program, Wildauer found she had an “instant they can still make. The program allows them to connection.” share their wisdom and insights based on a lifetime www.50plusLifePA.com
“We talked about rescue dogs, his classes, helping neighbors, sports, his internship, and some personal things,” she says. “The more we talked and listened, the more comfortable we became, and ultimately, there were very few lulls in our conversations. I believe age doesn’t have to be a factor in whether or not you get along.”
with their partners, some of which measured feelings of connectedness with others. “These and other anecdotal information reveal many older participants felt a greater sense of purpose in their lives. Society isn’t providing this,” she says. The success of the pilot led to an expansion of the program to four other universities: Penn State Harrisburg, West Chester University, and Widener University, and this Getting Comfortable with Older Adults semester, Penn State Scranton. Brooke Morales, a social work major at Widener In fall 2021, 250 students from four universities served University, felt disconnected and uncomfortable with older 250 adults around the commonwealth. adults before participating in the program through her “Intro Initially, students were limited to phone calls, but in the to Social Work and Social Welfare” class. fall 2021 semester, students were able to engage visually She quickly found she and her partner shared a Puerto with their partners using free iPads borrowed through Rican connection. Her father is Puerto Rican, as was her Pennsylvania’s Assistive Technology Act Program (techowlpa. older partner’s husband. That was just the beginning. org). This program allows older individuals and individuals Brooke Morales, a social work “(My partner) was so willing to talk about her personal living with disabilities to borrow equipment for up to nine major at Widener University and intergenerational program weeks, with connectivity, if needed. life, and she was excited to hear about mine,” says Morales. “We found we had a lot of things in common. I didn’t think participant, now feels confident Ultimately, program coordinators believe the aging in her ability to work with older that would happen.” population of Pennsylvania will benefit from more adults in the future. Morales explains that both she and her partner benefitted enthusiastic social workers and health professionals who from the program. choose to work with older adults. “My partner had lost connection with her family. With my weekly call, she And for both young and old alike, taking time to have an in-depth had something to look forward to, especially during the pandemic.” conversation with people at a different stage of life manifests a universal truth: Morales herself now feels more comfortable talking to older adults. We have more in common than we realize. “Before, I was timid and hesitant about a social-work career in this field. On the cover: From left, Intergenerational University Connections Program Now I know I’d be good at working with older adults.” participant Kathleen Wildauer; Dr. A. Patricia Aguilera Hermida, professor For Stephanie Cole, this willingness to consider a career serving aging overseeing the program at Penn State Harrisburg; Pennsylvania Secretary of adults is right in line with one of the essential goals of the intergenerational Aging Robert Torres; Holly Logan and Madison Adam, program participants; and program: making young students comfortable interacting with older adults. Dr. John Mason Jr., chancellor at Penn State Harrisburg. “Professors tell me they’ve never had so many students consider working with older adults until this program,” she says. Cole and her colleagues at the Department of Aging understand that introducing young students to careers that serve seniors is critical in an aging population. Currently, about 1 in 4 Pennsylvanians are over 60, but by 2030, 1 in every 3 people in the state will be over 60; this group is expected to grow by at least 1 million. With such an expanding older population, it is even more critical that younger people feel comfortable interacting with older adults. Research shows many older people experience loneliness and depression because they live alone (about 27% in the U.S., according to a 2020 Pew Research study), lack close family ties, or are too impoverished or physically disabled to actively participate in community activities. The Intergenerational University Connections Program is becoming a crucial part of the Pennsylvania Department of Aging’s response to addressing the psychological, social, and physical needs of adults as they age.
The ultimate resource for boomer and senior living and care options.
Exponential Growth The program has grown exponentially since Stephanie Cole first pitched the idea to Secretary of Aging Robert Torres in March 2020. Fueled by a pandemic that has intensified the isolation of senior adults and limited student access to in-person interactions, the Department of Aging was able to set up a pilot program by fall 2020 at Slippery Rock University’s School of Public Health. First and second-year students taking an “Aging and the Older Adult” course and fourth-year students taking a recreational therapy course (a total of 60 students) met weekly with older adults as part of their class requirements. Both students and their older partners were consistently enthusiastic about the program. Students reported feeling more “comfortable” interacting with older adults and were more likely to consider careers serving this population. According to Cole, in some cases, students conducted practice assessments www.50plusLifePA.com
26th Annual Edition
Read it online, in print, and on mobile/tablet devices. onlinepub.com
50plus LIFE
March 2022
5
2022 SENIOR GAMES REGISTRATION FORM
PLEASE PRINT
Please return ENTIRE form with signature.
Please check each event in which you wish to compete. Use only one form per person. A $10 registration fee must accompany each registration. Make checks payable to Lancaster County Office of Aging. (717) 299-7979. Registration and payment can be delivered to the Lancaster County Office of the Aging at 150 N. Queen St, Lancaster or Groff Funeral and Cremation Services at 528 W. Orange St, Lancaster from 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m., Mon.–Fri.
May 2-6, 2022 Spooky Nook Sports
Name Address Street # or Apt. # City Phone _________________________ Age on May 2, 2022 ______ Spectator Only? Yes First time participant Yes
Zip Gender: M__ F__
Township/Borough E-mail Address _________________________
75 Champ Blvd., Manheim, PA 17545
T-Shirt size (circle one): S M L XL XXL Lunch (circle days): Mon. Tues. Wed.
MONDAY, May 2, 2022
THURSDAY, May 5, 2022
DROP-IN EVENTS: 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Bench Press Bicep Curl Dead Lift 3-Point Shooting Darts Foul Shooting Wii
Pay at Leisure Lanes
9:30 a.m. 10: 00 a.m.
Badminton Age 55-69
7-9:30 a.m.
Golf Longest Drive
10: 15 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. 1:30 p.m.
Bocce Age 70-74 + Bocce Age 80-84 Badminton Age 75 Pinochle Tournament Bocce Age 85+ Swimming 25-yd Free 25-yd Breast 50-yd Free 50-yd Back 100-yd Free 100-yd Free Relay Badminton Age 70-74 Bocce Age 55-69
8:30 a.m.
Putting Contest
9 a.m.
Billiard Age 70+
10:45 a.m.
Putting Contest
11 a.m.
Billiard Age 55-69
1 p.m.
Singles Bowling Modified Bowling
1:45 p.m.
Bocce Age 75-79
Move Your Body Acrylic Painting Acrylic Painting Bingocize
Acrylic Painting
Ladder Golf Age 70-74 Ladder Golf Age 80+ Ladder Golf Age 55-69
Ladder Golf Age 75-79
Play Pickleball at Buchmiller Park (below)
TUESDAY, May 3, 2022 DROP-IN EVENTS: 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Frisbee Throw Football Throw Hotshot Basketball Softball Throw 7:30 a.m. 8:45 a.m. 9 a.m.
Walking-Men Walking-Women Table Tennis Age 55-69
10:15 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Noon
Table Tennis Age 70-74
12:30 p.m. 1p.m. 2 p.m.
Table Tennis Age 75 Cornhole Age 70-74
+
Silver Sneakers Silver Sneakers Horseshoes Age 70-74 Horseshoes Age 75-79 Horseshoes Age 80+
Tai Chi for Arthritis
Horseshoes Age 55-69 Bridge Shuffleboard Age 55-69
Zumba Gold
9 a.m.
Pickleball Age 75+
11 a.m.
Pickleball Age 70-74
1 p.m.
Pickleball Age 55-69
FRIDAY, May 6, 2022 7:30 a.m.
$7.75 9-Pitch N Putt* SHOTGUN START at Evergreen Golf Course GOLF FEES MUST BE PAID WITH REGISTRATION *Attach names if wishing to golf with others.
WEDNESDAY, May 4, 2022 DROP-IN EVENTS: 9:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (unless otherwise noted) Javelin Throw (8-11 a.m.) Shotput Frisbee Golf Home Run Derby Soccer Penalty Kick 8 a.m. 9 a.m. 10 a.m.
Running 100m 200m 400m 1600m 3000m Cornhole Age 55-64 Shuffleboard Age 80-84 Cornhole Age 75-79 Shuffleboard Age 85+
11:30 a.m. 1 p.m.
Cornhole Age 80 Cornhole Age 65-69 +
$29.00 18-Hole Golf* SHOTGUN START at Overlook Golf Course
9 a.m.
$7.00 9 Pin No Tap Bowling Pay at Leisure Lanes
1-3:30 p.m. Drop in
Celebration Dance at Longs Park Rt 30/Harrisburg Ave, Lancaster 17601
Drumming
Shuffleboard Age 70-74 Shuffleboard Age 75-79
RELEASE AND WAIVER OF LIABILITY • PLEASE READ & SIGN I, the undersigned, have voluntarily agreed to participate in Lancaster County Office of Aging’s Senior Games, which are further described in the Senior Games Booklet. To the best of my knowledge, information, and belief, I have no physical restrictions which would prohibit my participation in the events that I have selected to participate in the Senior Games. I hereby acknowledge and agree that I am participating in these events voluntarily and at my own risk and assume the risk of injury or harm in connection with participation in the Senior Games. This risk may include exposure to and/or contracting of COVID or other illnesses. In signing this Release and Waiver of Liability form, I assume the risk of participating in the Senior Games, and further agree to hold harmless the County of Lancaster, the Lancaster County Office of Aging, and any other co-sponsoring organizations or other representatives, including any staff members and volunteers for any of the named governmental entities or organizations, for any and all injuries, claims, suits, losses, and related causes of actions, related to my participation in the Senior Games. I execute this release in consideration for the sponsoring of these Senior Games by the County of Lancaster, the Lancaster County Office of Aging and any other co-sponsoring organizations. If a lawsuit is initiated on my behalf against the County of Lancaster, the Lancaster County Office of Aging or any other co-sponsoring organization, and said lawsuit results in a monetary award of damages to me or any other person or legal entity, I agree to reimburse the County of Lancaster, the Lancaster County Office of Aging or any other co-sponsoring organizations for any moneys required to be paid by them. I understand that Emergency Medical Staff may not be on site at events. I give permission to event volunteers, sponsoring organizations or Lancaster County Office of Aging staff to call 911 if deemed necessary. I further understand that any resulting costs will be my sole responsibility. I acknowledge that I was, prior to the date of the release, advised that the Lancaster County Office of Aging strongly recommends that each participant consult his/her doctor in regard to practice, preparation and competition in the Senior Games. I, the undersigned participant, hereby waive the right to any interest in pictures taken of me during the Senior Games to be held May 2-6, 2022, at the locations mentioned in the Senior Games Booklet, which I acknowledge I have received.
TOTAL FEES ENCLOSED: $__________ Couples can send one check.
Registration Fee: $10/participant Late Registration: $15 (after April 9) Golfing Fee: $______
_______________________________
___________________
Signature
Date
Please return this signed waiver with your registration form. 6
March 2022
50plus LIFE
www.50plusLifePA.com
CROSSWORD
Puzzle Page
Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18. SUDOKU
Across WORD SEARCH
5- and 6-Letter Word Cities
1. ___ few rounds 4. Forehead 8. Cool drinks 12. Small brook 14. French Sudan, today 15. Sugar portions 17. Everything’s OK 19. Foxy-faced primate 20. Flycatcher 21. Baseball players at the July classic 23. Before, poetically 24. Alias 27. Fizzles out
28. 31. 34. 36. 37. 38. 39. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 51.
Helpless statement Buck dispenser Diminutive suffix Uncle (Sp.) Balm ingredient Stadium sounds Forest god Dour Ticks off Driver’s aid Beetle Bailey pooch ___’easter Really nervous Danish cheese
52. Camera type, briefly 53. Color TV pioneer 56. Over a period of time 60. Bitter 62. Squirrel away 63. Conductor’s cry 66. Sleep disorder 67. Hints 68. Game equipment 69. Small whirlpool 70. Slangy assent 71. Waking ___ Devine (1998 film)
Down 1. Vineyard fruit 2. Gulf ship 3. Type of outdoor gear 4. Upscale wheels 5. Actress ___ Dawn Chong 6. Cantina cooker 7. Command answer 8. Good to go 9. Pairs 10. Mrs. Peel of The Avengers 11. Cowboy boot attachment 13. Fabrication
16. 18. 22. 25. 26. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 37. 40. 41.
12th graders (abbr.) Close, as an envelope Fleur-de-___ Young foxes China setting More or ___ Numbers game Type of bicycle Tipster Exec’s note Hibernia Poi source In awe Cravings Casting need
47. No restrictions on a ticket 48. DiCaprio, to fans 49. Madness 50. Ho-hum 51. Exposed 54. Odyssey sorceress 55. Extra 56. Triumphant cry 57. Easy gait 58. Touch down 59. Paste 61. Atlantic food fish 64. Grassland 65. Cigar residue
Your ad could be here on this popular page! Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information.
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50plus LIFE
March 2022
7
Savvy Senior
Do I Have to File Income Tax Returns This Year?
Jim Miller
Dear Savvy Senior, What is the IRS standard tax deduction for 2021? I didn’t file a tax return last tax year (2020) because I lost my job and my income in March due to COVID. But I got a part-time job in 2021 and am wondering if I made enough money that requires me to file this year. – Part-Time Retiree
separately — was below the threshold for your filing status and age, you may not have to file. But if it’s over, you will. • Single: $12,550 ($14,250 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2022)
Dear Retiree, Whether or not you are required to file a federal income tax return this year depends not only on how much you earned last year (in 2021), but also on the source of that income, as well as your age and your filing status. Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s IRS tax-filing requirement thresholds. For most people, this is pretty straightforward. If your 2021 gross income — which includes all taxable income, not counting your Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing
Why Newspapers?
84%
of Baby Boomers have taken action as a result of seeing an ad in a print newspaper in the past 30 days.2
• Married filing jointly: $25,100 ($26,450 if you or your spouse is 65 or older or $27,800 if you’re both over 65) • Married filing separately: $5 at any age • Head of household: $18,800 ($20,500 if 65 or older) • Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child: $25,100 ($26,450 if 65 or older)
How Much Do You Know about Women in History? Take this quiz and learn something about the roles of five particular women in U.S. history: 1. Which mother led a 125-mile march of child workers from the mills of Pennsylvania to President Theodore Roosevelt’s vacation home on Long Island? 2. What did Dolores Huerta do for farmworkers in the United States?
Because in print or online, newspapers are
the most trusted source of news and information among all age groups.1
To advertise your products and services, call 717-285-1350 or email info@onlinepub.com Sources: 1Coda Ventures; 2NAA
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50plus LIFE
3. Which Asian American physicist disproved a fundamental scientific law?
March is Women’s History Month
4. Who led the movement to improve conditions for poor immigrants? 5. Her 1939 Easter Sunday concert drew a crowd of 75,000 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Who was she? See answers on page 13. www.50plusLifePA.com
To get a detailed breakdown on federal filing requirements, along with information on taxable and nontaxable income, call the IRS at (800) 829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the “1040 and 1040-SR Instructions for Tax Year 2021,” or you can get it online at irs.gov. Check Here Too You also need to be aware that there are other financial situations that can require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirements. For example, if you earned more than $400 from self-employment in 2021, owe any special taxes like an alternative minimum tax, or get premium tax credits because you, your spouse, or a dependent is enrolled in a Health Insurance Marketplace plan, you’ll need to file. You’ll also need to file if you’re receiving Social Security benefits and onehalf of your benefits plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest exceeds $25,000, or $32,000 if you’re married and filing jointly. To figure all this out, the IRS offers an online tax tool that asks a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file or if you should file because you’re due a refund. It takes approximately 12 minutes to complete. You can access this tool at irs.gov/help/ita — click on “Do I Need to File a Tax Return?” Or you can get assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at (800) 829-1040. Check Your State Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, don’t assume you’re also excused from filing state income taxes. The rules for your state might be very different. Check with your state tax agency before concluding you’re entirely in the clear. For Pennsylvania, the agency is the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue at revenue.pa.gov or (717) 787-8201.
Building Trust. Reducing Stress. Delivering Reliability. Around the World. Building Trust. Reducing Stress. Delivering Reliability. Around the World.
Building Trust. Reducing Stress. Delivering Reliability. Around the World.
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717.492.4155
info.251@GoArmstrong.com
Tax Prep Assistance If you find you do need to file a tax return this year, you can free file through the IRS at irs.gov/freefile if your 2021 adjusted gross income was below $73,000. Or, if you need some help, contact the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (or TCE) program. Sponsored by the IRS, TCE provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call (800) 906-9887 or visit irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep to locate services near you. You can also get tax-preparation assistance through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide service. Call (888) 227-7669 or visit aarp.org/findtaxhelp for more information. 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
March 2022
9
How Old is Too Old to Drive? The aging process comes with its own set of challenges, from muscle movement to memory retention, and everything in between. The gradual loss of fine motor skills can impact driving abilities, leaving many older adults and their families concerned for their safety on the road. But what do older adults themselves think about their driving practices, and what are their thoughts on other older adults behind the wheel? In a recent survey by Coventry Direct, 500 adults aged 55 and older opened up about their driving abilities, safety concerns, and more. Driving Difficulties When asked if they believed driving had gotten more difficult with age, almost 40% of respondents said yes. Those who experienced increased difficulty driving were also most likely to cite seeing or reading signs at night as the driving task that had become the most difficult.
What was perhaps more surprising was that those on the younger end of the respondent pool were more likely than their older counterparts to cite trouble seeing or reading signs in general as an issue. This may be due to the fact that they either don’t possess a proper glasses prescription, or the one they are using is outdated. Studies show that after we turn 40, our vision may get worse in some regards, and our existing vision
prescription may need to be updated. Unfortunately for these drivers, Medicare does not cover any costs related to eye exams, eyeglasses, or contacts, leaving some 61 million enrollees to pay for these costs out of pocket or with supplemental insurance, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Driving Requirement Reactions For years now, there has been an ongoing debate around the question, “How old is too old to drive?”
please see HOW OLD on facing page
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March 2022
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The Beauty in Nature
Waterfowl in Flight Clyde McMillan-Gamber
Winter and early spring are the times turn to the other end, becomes airborne of waterfowl (ducks, geese, and swans) until the whole flock is in the air, with in southeastern Pennsylvania. every bird honking. The flock rises like These exciting flocks of handsome a sheet lifted off a bed by one end first. waterfowl are inspiring to see and hear Blizzards of bugling snow geese swirl lifting off from still water at dusk in over a feeding field, while individual winter, steering into the wind for flight geese float to the ground like giant control, their reflections on the water snowflakes. The field is soon white with doubling their beauty. snow geese. Seconds later, their lines and Elegant tundra swans fly in small V-shaped flocks, following each other lines and V’s, with long necks extended. across the sky as if on an aerial highway, Many times I’ve watched these are strikingly silhouetted black against magnificent birds set their wings like the sunset as they noisily head for parachutes and gently float down to harvested cornfields to scoop up corn water or soil. kernels. At sunset one winter day, I saw a In a few minutes, thrilling skeins of silhouetted group of mallard ducks Snow geese in flight. each kind of waterfowl gracefully circle racing across the sky. Suddenly they over their chosen field to watch for swept down into drifting snow, tinged danger. pink by the sunset, to a field to ingest corn. Soon each group, one after another, with every pair of wings stretched out One March morning years ago, many thousands of stately, loudly bugling like parachutes, swings into the wind and descends like a feathered waterfall to Canada geese, in flock after flock after flock, poured fairly low over my the field. Those ducks, geese, and swans add wild beauty and elegance to that neighborhood without break for about three hours! field. They were all going north to Canada to raise young. That morning, all of I have pleasant memories of the majestic flights of snow geese, tundra swans, Maryland’s Eastern Shore, where they wintered, emptied of Canada geese. mallard ducks, and Canada geese in southeastern Pennsylvania. Waterfowl in flight are an amazing, thrilling sight and exciting to hear! Look Thousands of snow geese often take flight at once, blocking out the for them this spring. background, and without collision with each other. One end of a flock takes flight first. Then every goose across their masses, in Clyde McMillan-Gamber is a retired Lancaster County Parks naturalist.
HOW OLD from facing page According to the CDC, older drivers are more likely to suffer from a decline in cognitive function as well as eyesight than other drivers. And every day, more than 250,000 older adults land in emergency rooms due to car accidents; with such staggering numbers, talking to loved ones about when they are too old to drive is necessary. Currently, Florida requires a vision test at age 80 in order to renew their license, and Illinois requires drivers 75 and older to retake both their road test and their vision test. When asked, 61% of respondents believed that individuals should have to retake their driver’s test once they hit a certain age, with the average age starting at 68 (just after the normal retirement age of 66-67 years old for Americans born in 1955 or later). While a majority of respondents believed individuals should be required to retake their driver’s exam at a certain age, just over 1 in 4 believed that at a certain age we should no longer be allowed to drive at all. On average, respondents decided drivers aged 84 or older should stop driving. The National Institute on Aging provides a well-curated checklist (nia.nih. gov/health/older-drivers) for older drivers to run through when it’s time to www.50plusLifePA.com
consider if they should still be behind the wheel. The NIA also offers helpful tips on how to talk to your loved ones about their driving abilities, as well as safe driving tips in general. Furthermore, they recommend seeing an eye doctor every year once you turn 65 and making sure your prescription is always up to date and correct. For the full survey results, visit coventrydirect.com.
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
50plus LIFE
March 2022
11
The History of Ordinary Things
Victorian Hair Receiver Bowls Doris Montag
Do you remember the early dresser sets with the comb, brush, mirror, and the matching bowl with a hole in its flat lid? In the Victorian era, this hair receiver bowl was kept on the dressing table to store hair removed from brushes and combs. Victorian women had much time on their hands with few raw materials available. Human hair art, called “hairwork,” became popular as a way of expressing sentiment and affection. It was much like saving a lock of hair from a child’s first haircut today. Hair was recycled and crafted in one of several ways:
decay. If properly cared for, hair will remain stable, making it sustainable for centuries. In 1861, when Prince Albert died, Queen Victoria plunged herself into deep, lifelong mourning. She made mourning fashionable and recognizable. A woman in a black crepe dress and veil signaled a household in mourning, and a woman in mourning black gained more respect. These cultural mourning practices became widely practiced by the English middle classes. Queen Victoria’s children and grandchildren were given jewelry made from her hair. Napoleon had a watch chain made from his wife’s hair. Today, we would describe this as 1. Used as stuffing for a hair pillow, Many Victorian women learned the art of a way of grieving and accepting the called a “rat,” which was used to bulk creating elaborate designs with hair. Finished pieces, such as this death. It was the Victorian way of up women’s hair. This pillow was the hairwork c. the 1850s, were framed and often hung in parlors. remembering their loved one. foundation of Victorian hairstyles. Mortality rates in the 1800s were much higher than today. In the U.S., 2. Enclosed in a locket, a hair jewelry was vogue after the Civil War, which had left millions of tradition that dates to hair memorials in the 16th century. grieving families. The deaths fostered a general mourning culture. Hair 3. Woven into hair jewelry, which was considered both sentimental and jewelry was popular because it was “decent” enough to be worn during mourning. fashionable. Hairwork fell out of favor with the outbreak of World War I. The economic hardships, Spanish flu pandemic, and patriotic volunteering By the mid-1800s, hairwork became a parlor craft among middle-class efforts shifted the emphasis away from over-the-top mourning and rituals. white women. The long hair strands were wrapped around a thin wire. The advent of funeral homes moved death out of the home. There were They could then be braided into detailed jewelry, woven into wreaths with also changes in fashion styles and new theories about hygiene. delicate floral designs, or arranged under glass in popular brooches. In the early 1900s, hair jewelry could be ordered from Sears & Roebuck Beads, buttons, and sometimes seeds could be incorporated. Wreaths Co. Today, hair wreaths and pieces can be found at antique stores, at estate were typically formed into horseshoe shapes, a Victorian symbol of good sales, and in a few museums. Their value continues to increase, with prices luck. Hair pieces were given as gifts to friends and loved ones as keepsakes. from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, depending on the size and condition. Hairwork was often shared at funerals because hair was a tangible Hairwork is now regarded as “hair art” that documents the way part of the loved one. In this era, photography was still in its infancy, and photos were a rarity. Human hair can keep its color and does not please see VICTORIAN on facing page
Time to Register!
May 2-6, 2022
PageSee 6.
“Exercising Body, Mind, and Spirit.”
www.lancseniorgames.org
www.lancseniorgames.org “Exercising Body, Mind, and Spirit.”
For registration information, please call 717-299-7979 or 717-299-8370.
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March 2022
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How Much Do You Know about Women in History? Answers to quiz on page 8: 1. Mary Harris Jones, who became known as “Mother Jones,” led the march in 1903 to call attention to the evils of child labor. 2. Dolores Huerta, a labor activist, co-founded the United Farm Workers union in 1962 and served for more than 20 years as its vice president, chief lobbyist, spokeswoman, and labor contract negotiator. 3. Chien-Shiung Wu came to Photo credit: Smithsonian Institution, Flickr.com the United States to study science Chien-Shiung Wu performing and become the world’s foremost experiments. female experimental physicist. Her most famous experiment showed March is Women’s that the principle of conservation of parity (which states that the History Month laws of physics in a right-handed system of coordinates are the same in a left-handed system) could be violated in nature.
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4. Jane Addams co-founded Hull House in Chicago in 1889, which sought to improve the lives of immigrants by providing English classes, childcare, health education, and recreation. Addams won the 1931 Nobel Peace Prize for her dedication to the cause of international peace. 5. Marian Anderson had earlier been barred from singing in Washington’s Constitution Hall because she was Black. Her open-air concert was a triumph over bigotry.
VICTORIAN from facing page
Victorian women regarded love and loss, a story of life and death rarely told. It also explains the hair receiver bowl in Victorianera dresser sets. Hairwork pieces can be viewed online to appreciate their amazing intricacy.
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Doris Montag is a homespun historian and an exhibit Hair receivers were typically made of curator who researches and ceramic, bronze, or crystal. 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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50plus LIFE
March 2022
13
Bob’s Tech Talk Extra
Bob DeLaurentis
How and Why to Preserve Your Digital Legacy
Imagine losing access to your phone and all the data you ever created. If that thought scares you, read on. The terms “digital legacy” and “digital inheritance” describe what happens to digital information created by someone who is deceased. Buried beneath the tech-speak is a very simple idea: Your digital information contains precious family photos, important PDFs, vital passwords, social network identities, and perhaps much more. As more records exist only in digital form, those records may be stored on devices that relatives may not know how to access. Moreover, every software update further blurs the line between where data is actually stored — either on-device or online. Many people may have already unknowingly created a situation where their personal data will be lost when they die. Leaving behind the password to your phone is a good first step, but it is not enough. With a little careful planning, you can secure your accounts and make it much easier for family members to preserve your digital legacy.
Let’s take a look at three of the most used services: Apple, Facebook, and Google. Apple’s Digital Legacy Program Apple’s Digital Legacy program is very new. It seems polished, but I would not be surprised if you encounter a few rough edges. It also does not have many options. If one of your devices has the latest software update (iPhone/iPad 15.2, Mac 12.1), you will be able to designate up to five people in your contacts list as legacy contacts. When you choose a contact, the device will generate a code to give the designee. By using that code along with a copy of a death certificate, your designee can request access to your account. From there, they will be able to retrieve any valuable data or delete the account. The entire process is a bit easier to set up if your designee is also an Apple user, but that is not a requirement. Nevertheless, I recommend finding someone who already knows iCloud if at all possible. Otherwise, leave instructions on how to retrieve the most important data. please see DIGITAL LEGACY on facing page
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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Please email story submissions to Megan Joyce, editor, at mjoyce@onlinepub.com or send via mail to 50plus LIFE, P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604. 14
March 2022
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Colcannon, Soda Bread, and an Irish Ditty By Sheila Velazquez
Once you taste it, you won’t want to wait until next St. Patrick’s Day to enjoy the caraway and raisin-rich bread that is appropriate for any meal, from breakfast to the evening snack.
The traditional St. Patrick’s Day feast is corned beef and cabbage. Potatoes round out the meal and can be boiled or mashed. I make them as Irish Soda Bread colcannon, mashed potatoes into which butter, milk, and cooked and chopped kale is mixed, • 5 C flour then seasoned with salt and pepper. • 1 C sugar So simple, so good. I used the remaining • 1 Tbsp. baking powder container of frozen kale from last year’s garden to make the batch shown. Make extra, because it • 1 1/2 tsp. salt goes well with everything. I especially like a scoop • 1 tsp. baking soda on a plate of eggs. • ½ C butter Corned beef comes as a point cut or a flat cut, • 2 ½ C raisins which is slightly more expensive per pound, but a • 3 Tbsp. caraway seeds better choice. Put it in a pot, cover with water, add St. Patrick’s Day • 1 egg the packet of pickling spices that came with it, bring all to a boil, then reduce heat and cook for • 2 ½ C buttermilk Thursday, March 17 about three hours. Into a large bowl, whisk or sift together flour, If you want to boil the potatoes and cabbage sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda. Cut in butter until it is in small wedges in the same pot, add them before the meat is fully cooked/fork tender. pieces. Stir in raisins and caraway seeds. The one-pot boiled dinner likely came about because Irish peasants did not Mix egg into buttermilk and add. Note: Soured milk can be substituted for have a lot of utensils. buttermilk. Make it by putting 1 Tbsp. of lemon juice or white vinegar for A good, big pot was critical to cooking the meals necessary to feed large each cup of “buttermilk” needed into an empty glass measure. Irish families. It is the subject of an old tune, “Who Threw the Overalls in Then fill with regular milk to the desired level. For this recipe, that would be Mrs. Murphy’s Chowder,” which can be heard sung by vaudevillian Edward 2 ½ Tbsp. of lemon or vinegar and enough milk to equal 2 ½ C total. M. Favor on a 1901 Edison phonograph and cylinder record from 1901. Blend by hand only until all is moistened. Spread in a large, buttered pan or I cannot listen to or sing this ditty without laughing. It’s easily found on divide between two buttered bread pans. YouTube if you’d like to listen and have a chuckle. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until a knife or toothpick inserted in the The other traditional dish that must be mentioned is Irish soda bread — center comes out clean. If it isn’t quite done and the top is well browned, lay a also simple, and nothing beats it toasted with lots of butter. If you don’t have piece of foil over it as it finishes up. a wide-slot toaster, run thick slices under the broiler for a bit. Once cold, a 15second microwave nearly duplicates that warm-from-the-oven flavor.
DIGITAL LEGACY from facing page To find out more about the scope and requirements for Apple’s Legacy program, visit support.apple.com/en-us/HT208510. Facebook Memorialization Facebook is a bit easier to set up because everything is stored online and can be accessed from just about any device. However, Facebook also allows an account to be converted into a memorial, which enables your digital presence to remain online long after you have passed. Your first step is to visit Facebook Settings & Privacy > Settings > General > Memorialization Settings. From this page, you can choose another Facebook user to take charge of your account. The page will explain the available options. They include deleting the account and managing any activity that occurs after your last post. You should contact your designee beforehand because Facebook will confirm the setting with the designee right away. Google’s Inactive Account Manager Google’s legacy settings are known as the Inactive Account Manager. This tool has been around for years, and it has a number of options. For example, it can be set up to activate under a number of different circumstances. Within your Google account settings, search for “inactive” to reveal the Inactive Account Manager, or select Data & Privacy, and scroll down to find the item named– “Make a Plan for Your Digital Legacy.” www.50plusLifePA.com
Click the Start button, and the Inactive Account Manager will step you though a number of decisions on how and when you wish Google to take actions on your behalf. Control over your email account is especially important, because most password-recovery tools require an email password to reset. You should consider your email account as a sort of indirect master key to your digital assets. Keep that in mind when telling Google when to grant access to your account. Apple, Facebook, and Google probably cover the largest group of important accounts for most people, but they are only a starting place. Not every service has legacy settings, but, at the very least, you should leave behind a list of your accounts, passwords, and a brief overview of what they contain. If you are the person who set up your home network, be sure to include info on base station passwords and service providers. Pay special care with accounts with backup services like Backblaze, storage lockers like Dropbox, and any other social networks, such as Twitter and Instagram. Also, leave special instructions for any accounts that use two-factor authentication. Data inheritance can be a complex topic. Hopefully this article will help get you started. You can learn more from the Digital Legacy Association (digitallegacyassociation.org). Bob has been writing about technology for over three decades. He can be contacted at techtalk@bobdel.com.
50plus LIFE
March 2022
15
Dear Pharmacist
5 Incredibly Fast-Acting Sore Throat Remedies
Suzy Cohen
When your throat hurts it’s because it has been irritated, which can happen for many reasons. Among the most common are postnasal drip, chronic allergies, pollution, or cold/flu. The discomfort is usually mild and selflimited; however, sometimes a sore throat gets so bad that you need more than a Popsicle®! My focus here is just to relieve the symptom of a non-serious sore throat. See your doctor if yours is accompanied by other symptoms, because it is an early symptom of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Here are five incredibly fast-acting ways to soothe your sore throat:
• 8 ounces cool water • 1 teaspoon baking soda • 1 teaspoon sea salt (or Real® salt if you have it) • Combine about 5 drops of essential oils into the saltwater using any of these: eucalyptus, peppermint, thyme, On Guard® or Thieves®, or even lemon. Stir together and gargle with this every three to four hours.
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please see SORE THROAT on facing page
About Us – The Lancaster County Office of Aging (LCOA) was established 45 years ago as a
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1. Saltwater Gargle Gargling with saltwater is a well-known remedy to help with throat pain. Saltwater helps by reducing inflammation and pain in the area. It can drive out some pathogens in the tissue simply by making your throat less hospitable to them! Here’s a recipe that’s even better than plain saltwater.
2. Lozenges The lozenge you choose is entirely up to you, but most of them contain menthol, benzocaine, dyclonine, honey, or eucalyptus, and more! Each ingredient does something slightly different, but they’re all similar in that they act to anesthetize your throat for a few minutes so you swallow better and find more comfort.
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Lancaster County Office of Aging Maintaining the independence and quality of life for Lancaster County’s aging population through information, protection, services, and community support.
result of the passage of the Older Americans Act. This act directed states to develop a network of services and supports to help keep older adults healthy and independent. The Pennsylvania Department of Aging was created to fulfill this mandate. In turn, a network of 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) was established throughout the commonwealth to carry out this mission at the local level. Funding for aging-related services is a combination of state and federal monies, with the Pennsylvania Lottery providing the major source of funding. In Lancaster County, the AAA is part of county government. We are dedicated to providing Lancaster County residents, 60 years of age and older, with a wide range of informational resources and services as well as advocacy efforts and elder abuse protection. The LCOA offers the following services:
Our Philosophy:
• Information and referral services
u Support
the older person’s right to decide his/her own destiny. Encourage consumer self-determination and choice.
• H ome and community-based support services
u Support
the older person’s right to risk.
• Protection from abuse and neglect
u Promote
independence and dignity.
• A PPRISE, Medicare, and related health insurance counseling
u Avoid
unnecessary/inappropriate institutionalization.
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• Long-term living assessments
March 2022
50plus LIFE
• Senior center services
• • • • • • • •
Adult daily living services Caregiver support Employment Ombudsman services Transportation Legal services Health and wellness programming Volunteer opportunities
For more information, please call us Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 717-299-7979/1-800-801-3070, visit our website at www.lancoaging.org, or email aging@co.lancaster.pa.us. www.50plusLifePA.com
Sixties Flashback
Where No Show Had Gone Before Randal C. Hill
When Star Trek premiered on NBC-TV in Boston-born actor Leonard Nimoy spent years September 1966, creator Gene Roddenberry was struggling for a breakout role in Hollywood, no doubt knocked for a loop when his muchwhere he once delivered newspapers and drove anticipated show tanked. It never rose above 52 a cab to make ends meet. By the time he joined in the ratings, and that was only during the first the Star Trek cast, he had acted in more than 50 season of its three-year run. “B” movies and in minor roles on numerous TV Yet much of the technology found within those shows. 79 original Star Trek episodes resonates now in As emotionless and logically minded Mr. Spock our everyday activities. on Star Trek, Nimoy became almost as popular In 1964, Hollywood scriptwriter Roddenberry as Shatner’s Kirk character. Spock, second in (he of Highway Patrol and Have Gun – Will Travel command on the Enterprise, was half-human, fame) set out to create something unique for half-Vulcan. (Vulcans were the first extraterrestrial television — a sci-fi series different from the usual species to make contact with humans.) doom-and-gloom “rocket operas” of the day. His split-finger Vulcan salute became iconic, Roddenberry had to work hard to sell his idea. with most viewers unaware that the gesture was Some NBC-TV honchos were initially lukewarm a Hebrew blessing that Nimoy conjured from his about Star Trek being a “cerebral” show (which synagogue youth. meant probably not generating much sponsor The series featured a groundbreaking, racially money). diverse cast, as well as American television’s first Other overly cautious executives objected interracial kiss between Capt. Kirk and Lt. Uhura to Spock’s pointy ears, claiming they looked (Nichelle Nichols). diabolical and satanic. Star Trek never downplayed its “message” Photo credit: NBC Television Star Trek was set in the Milky Way galaxy motifs concerning war, sex, religion, politics, and Publicity photo of Leonard Nimoy and William in the 23rd century, in a utopian future where racism. Yet the show’s ongoing theme seemed to Shatner as Mr. Spock and Captain Kirk from the divisions of race, gender, and nationality have consistently be that, in the end, good will triumph television program Star Trek. become concepts cast aside. over evil. The stories take place aboard the starship As to cultural influences, consider that much Enterprise as it journeys on a five-year mission of scientific exploration and of the Star Trek technology is commonplace now. Communication devices intergalactic diplomacy, zooming to distant planets in response to distress shown then are akin to today’s cellphones. Earpieces worn by Enterprise calls and confronting warmongering aliens. crew members have become today’s Bluetooth devices. Universal Translators The show’s spotlight fell primarily on Canadian actor William Shatner. He are replicated by modern voice-recognition software. And Zoom-type had trained as a Shakespearean actor but was willing to take whatever work videoconferencing first appeared on Star Trek’s interactive video screens. came his way, including a stint on The Canadian Howdy Doody Show. Who says that science fiction is fictitious? When Shatner moved to Hollywood, Roddenberry cast him as Capt. James T. Kirk, the take-charge commander who guided the Enterprise and its Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com. crew.
SORE THROAT from facing page Lozenges are not generally curative; they’re mainly for symptomatic relief, although eucalyptus does have some “kill” action. 3. A Big Spoonful of Honey For adults, a spoonful of honey is soothing to a scratchy, sore throat, especially if it is accompanied by a cough. Raw honey contains natural antibacterial agents, such as bee pollen and bee propolis. Do not give honey to babies younger than a year or two. 4. Herbal Tea You can have it iced or warm. The temperature of the tea is completely your preference. Even when my throat is sore, I still prefer warm herbal tea over iced tea. www.50plusLifePA.com
There are commercial tea bags made specifically for sore throats, or make your own spearmint and slippery elm bark tea. Add some dried orange peel for vitamin C. 5. Ibuprofen or Acetaminophen These analgesics are great antipyretics, which is why they’re useful for both fever and pain. Ibuprofen and acetaminophen reduce swelling, which affords you temporary relief so you can take in nourishment and food. In closing, if you develop a high fever or chills or see a buildup of pus near your tonsils, or any other symptoms that are indicative of infection, please see your practitioner and get proper antiviral or antibiotic treatment. If you would like to read a longer version of this article, please sign up for my newsletter at suzycohen.com and I’ll email it to you. This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more information about the author, visit suzycohen.com.
50plus LIFE
March 2022
17
Weight Loss Reduces Risk of Growths Linked to Colorectal Cancer
Puzzles shown on page 7.
Puzzle Solutions
Overweight and obese people who lose weight various cancers. may reduce their chances of later developing This current study used data from participants colorectal adenoma — a type of benign growth in the screening arm of the trial, who received a or polyp in the colon or rectum that could lead colorectal cancer screening test at baseline and to colorectal cancer. again three or five years later. The research findings were published in The investigators found that, compared to February in a new paper in JNCI Cancer stable weight, weight loss in adulthood (defined Spectrum, published by Oxford University Press. as loss greater than or equal to 1.1 pounds per Colorectal cancer is the third most common five years) was associated with a 46% reduced type of cancer and the third leading cause of risk for colorectal adenoma. death from cancer among men and women in the This was particularly true among adults who United States. were initially overweight or obese. Over the past 30 years, obesity has increased The investigators also reported that weight in the United States and worldwide, leading to gain in adulthood was associated with an increased development of many chronic diseases. increased chance of adenoma, particularly for Obesity is a known risk factor for colorectal weight gain greater than 6.6 pounds over five adenoma and colorectal cancer. years. Doctors recommend weight loss for overweight Findings for weight loss and weight gain and obese people commonly. Although weight appeared stronger among men than women. loss is thought to have some beneficial health The researchers believe the findings suggest March is National Colorectal effects, whether losing weight can reduce the the importance of healthy weight maintenance Cancer Awareness Month chance of developing colorectal adenoma has throughout adulthood in preventing colorectal been an open question. adenoma. Most studies have only investigated Additionally, adults who are colorectal adenoma risk in relation to overweight or obese may be able Colorectal polyps and colorectal cancer don’t always cause obesity or body mass index assessed to reduce their risk for developing symptoms, especially at first. Someone could have polyps or at one time point, with fewer studies colorectal adenoma by losing weight. colorectal cancer and not know it. assessing the role of weight change. “Our findings suggest that That is why getting screened regularly for colorectal cancer is so Researchers here assessed weight avoiding weight gain in adulthood important. change (including both weight gain may help lower someone’s chance of Symptoms may include: and weight loss) over three periods developing a precancerous growth • A change in bowel habits of adulthood in relation to colorectal called colorectal adenoma, which may adenoma using self-reported weight in turn reduce the risk of developing • Blood in or on your stool (bowel movement) data in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal colorectal cancer,” said the study’s and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial. senior author, Kathryn Hughes Barry. • Diarrhea, constipation, or feeling that the bowel does not The trial enrolled 154,942 men “Based on our findings, we would empty all the way and women in the United States ages not recommend weight loss for all • Abdominal pain, aches, or cramps that don’t go away 55-74 from 1993 to 2001 to evaluate adults. But the results suggest that the effectiveness of different screening overweight and obese adults may • Losing weight and you don’t know why approaches in preventing death from benefit from weight loss.”
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March 2022
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FEBRUARY 25 - APRIL 16 Set in Hollywood in the late 1920’s, the story focuses on Don Lockwood, his sidekick Cosmo Brown, aspiring actress Kathy Selden, and Lockwood’s leading lady Lina Lamont, who’s lessthan-pleasant vocal tones make her an improbable contender for stardom in the new talking pictures. This all-singing, all-dancing extravaganza includes memorable songs such as Good Mornin’, Make ‘Em Laugh and the show-stopping Singin’ in the Rain!
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omen’s Expo
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
DAUPHIN COUNTY
9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Wyndham Resort (Formerly Lancaster Host)
2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
May 4
Wyndham Resort LANCASTER COUNTY
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2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
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York Expo Center Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Ave., York
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