50plus LIFE Lancaster County – December 2021

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Complimentary | Lancaster County Edition

December 2021

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From Holland to Hoboken, the Stars are the Same page 4

Special section: orthopedics & pain page 12

Combatting Fraud and Romance Scams page 22

It Didn’t Start with the Oreo Who doesn’t like a cookie every now and then? Cookies have a long history, but the first ones didn’t taste much like the treats we enjoy today.

According to some sources, the first cookies were made in Rome around the third century B.C. They were thin, hard, bland wafers that were twice baked, and the Romans ate them by dipping them Photo credit: S. Mitchell.

An example of a cookie-like pastry, in wine. common in England and abroad since Modern cookies may have the middle ages, which tends to have a originated in Persia during the relatively simple recipe of nuts, flour, seventh century, when sugar eggs, and sugar, with vanilla, anise, or became more common in that caraway seed used for flavoring. region.

They became popular across Europe in the 14th century, enjoyed by royalty and peasants alike. One reason for their appeal was that they traveled well in tins and boxes, making them a reliable source of food on trips.

The word “cookie” comes from the Dutch “koekje,” for “little cake.”

Cookies arrived in America in the 17th century in the form of macaroons, gingerbread cookies, and the “jumble,” a hard cookie that combined nuts, sweeteners, and water.

The cookies we’re most familiar with, made by creaming butter and sugar, became common in the 18th century.

Pet of the Month

Cooper

Waddling in is our newest pet of the month, Miss Cooper.

She is 20 pounds of nothing but love.

Don’t let her size fool you: Cooper can do pretty much anything a tinier cat can, from jumping around on our wall platforms to squeezing herself into a cat tree.

You may be thinking, “Cooper is a boy’s name,” but she got that name for the cutest reason. Ten years ago her family found her as a little kitten in their chicken coop, and the rest is history.

If you’re looking for a cat that loves to be petted and will chirp to greet you every day, then Cooper is your gal.

If you have space in your heart and home for this rotund torti, then please ask about her today.

Cooper’s ID number is 229527. Please send your application to adoptlancaster@humanepa.org, or give the shelter a call at (717) 393-6551 to learn more.

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Thank You, Columnists!

50plus LIFE continues to bring important information as well as entertaining articles to the 50+ community.

We at On-Line Publishers would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the editorial contributors of 50plus LIFE.

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December 2021

50plus LIFE

Tom Blake (On Life and Love after 50) Victor Block (Willing to Wander) Suzy Cohen (Dear Pharmacist) Jonathen J. David (Legal Ease) Bob DeLaurentis (Bob’s Tech Talk) Randal C. Hill (Sixties Flashback It Was 50 Years Ago Today The Reel Deal) John Johnston (Social Security News) Bill Levine (Booming Voice) Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature)

Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior) Doris Montag (The History of Ordinary Things) Melinda Myers (Melinda’s Garden) Robert Naeye (Soldier Stories) Victor Parachin (Grief Relief) Saralee Perel (Such is Life) Terri Schlichenmeyer (The Bookworm Sez) Nick Thomas (Tinseltown Talks) Dr. Lori Verderame (Art and Antiques) Arthur Vidro (The Cautious Consumer Guy)

It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors and freelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available to read each month. The pages of 50plus LIFE are enriched by your contributions.

www.50plusLifePA.com

You’ve got enough on your to-do list. Don’t let pain get in your way.

WellSpan Interventional Pain Specialists knows that when you are in pain, it’s all you can think about.

Whether your pain just started last week or has been a part of your life for a while – we can help. From evaluation to treatment, we’ll provide expert customized care so you can get the relief you need.

Schedule an appointment now so you can feel better and get back to focusing on what matters: living your life.

wellspan.org/painmedicine

www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE

December 2021

3

Cover Story

From Holland to Hoboken, the Stars are the Same

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

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50plus LIFE is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature.

Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.

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December 2021

50plus LIFE

steal food to deliver to starving Dutch families — and to Jewish families in hiding, including Anne Frank in Amsterdam.

Louis Meevers-Scholte was born in a windmill “We were all hungry, every one of us,” says in a small Dutch village in 1934. Eventually both Meevers-Scholte, explaining Meevers-Scholte and the his stomach was distended windmill would end up from starvation. in America, bearing scars He tells a chilling tale of of a war that defined his chopping down a pine tree childhood. to cook and eat the bark. As Yet, relying on his faith he dragged the tree home, and wits, Meevers-Scholte someone grabbed it. not only survived but thrived Meevers-Scholte, age 9, in dark times that would told him, “I’ll chop off your crush many. His life is a hand if you don’t let go.” The living embodiment of his hand came home with the personal philosophy: “Life is tree. what you make it — it’s your “I had nightmares for choice how you live it.” years about that day,” he says.

In 1940, when MeeversDespite these deprivations, Scholte was 5, Nazi Germany the family survived until the took over the country, a last day of the war in 1945. dark period of violence and Enemy soldiers rounded repression, especially against up his father, who the Jewish population. was Jewish, and 13 Only 38,000 of other men. They were the 140,000 Jews massacred, while their in the Netherlands families were forced survived violence and to watch. deportation to death Meevers-Scholte camps. was also injured.

Meevers-Scholte’s As he drew what he family was not spared. thought would be Soldiers shot into his his last breath, “Jesus home (one can find came into my soul,” six bullet holes in he explains. “I know the windmill, which I’m never alone.” now rests in Holland, He had found a Michigan, a gift from Louis Meevers-Scholte, here and on the cover, in a lifelong spiritual belief Queen Beatrix of few of his self-made Santa Claus ensembles, each representing a different country of origin. The pergola that has sustained Holland in 1955). and all its seasonal decorations are also his own him through many During the fiveconstruction and design. hardships. year occupation, After the massacre, Meevers-Scholte Meevers-Scholte knew he had to leave in order to and a gang of other boys joined the underground survive. At age 10, he stole away, skating down the resistance. He tells of hiding underneath a train long canal out of his village, with only a flashlight loaded with families heading for the death camps. and a bottle of water.

When the train started, the boys climbed up the Eventually he reached Belgium, just one of several cars to the section where the engine was coupled to countries in war-torn Europe he would pass through the rest of the train. on his way to America, his final destination.

Meevers-Scholte describes their heart-stopping Meevers-Scholte found ways to survive, from maneuver: “We stabbed the guard and uncoupled working on farms to selling abandoned newspapers the engine from the cars. The people in the cars he found in train stations. In France, he briefly slept were then able to run away. A lot of people’s lives in the Eiffel Tower. The swaying of the tower made were saved.” him seasick, so he moved on to an elevator in the The group of boys also found creative ways to www.50plusLifePA.com

Arc de Triomphe.

“I liked that better,” says Meevers-Scholte. “It was warm.”

Eventually he reached Spain. There, MeeversScholte begged for food at restaurants or hung out near the bullfight rings. After the bull was killed, poor people were able to divide up the meat.

“I ate too much steak at that time and now avoid it,” he says with a smile.

He filled an empty storefront within a few weeks by reviewing obituaries and offering to clean out the apartments.

“I’d auction off three items and send the family the money. The rest of the stuff was free!” he explains.

By the time Meevers-Scholte left the Bronx to seek a quieter life with fewer big-city problems, he had three stores and a bakery. In 1998, he sold everything and moved his family to Strasburg, Louis Meevers-Scholte Pennsylvania, his home ever since. will be performing as Kris Kringle A few years later, Meevers-Scholte at Root’s Country Market and and his first wife divorced. He Auction in Manheim, Pa., starting Hello, Hoboken eventually married a second time Nov. 30 and throughout December.

After three years of wandering and had five more children.

During the morning, he performs through postwar Europe, MeeversWhile he was busy with family in the market; in the afternoon, he Scholte arrived in Portugal, where and work, Meevers-Scholte never performs in the market restaurant. he stowed away on a ship he stopped learning. He exemplifies his On Dec. 7, Meevers-Scholte will thought was U.S. bound. Armed own motto, “The longer you live, perform as Kris Kringle in with a flashlight and pocket knife so the more you learn.” Along the way Colonial Williamsburg, Va. he could cut himself free, Meevershe learned to carve wood and sold Scholte hid in a canvas laundry cart. his toys and furniture at the Green Unfortunately, the ship stopped in Dragon Farmers Market in Ephrata, England, where Meevers-Scholte stayed Pennsylvania, until age 84. six months until he could stow away again.

He also entertained shoppers by playing He survived by sitting next to the same music on a keyboard he had taught himself woman every day for the eight-day trip. Meeversto play. Over the years, Meevers-Scholte became Scholte admits he was lucky. accomplished enough to produce 18 CDs of his own “The crew thought I was with her, and I ate with classical music. the other guests. She never told anyone, or I would have been “All my feelings go into my music, both the happiness and caught.” sadness,” he explains.

When the ship docked in Hoboken, New Jersey, Meevers-Scholte decided to hitch to the Bronx. There he found a friend, a homeless man named Andrew Call Me ‘Santa’ Jackson.

Meevers-Scholte also added making clothes to his portfolio of skills. His “A Black man taught me to speak English and to read with the help of favorites are three different Santa suits that he wears to play piano every Donald Duck and Archie comics. He didn’t see color, just a young boy who December at Root’s Market in Manheim, Pennsylvania, ready to sooth the needed help,” says Meevers-Scholte. soul of anyone who listens.

During the next three years, Meevers-Scholte and Jackson worked together, He also volunteers with hospice groups and is currently learning the viola. first selling newspapers, then selling umbrellas and roasted chestnuts in front At 86, he has learned that to make room for joy and new beginnings of Macy’s and Gimbels. requires “letting things go and forgiving. I’m not bitter about anything.

Since Meevers-Scholte didn’t have a bank account, he buried his money Bitterness will destroy your life.” in coffee cans in the Bronx Zoo or kept it in a money belt. By age 16, he had Meevers-Scholte is sustained by his faith and a group of close friends who made enough money for his first apartment until he left to join the service. meet weekly at Chick-fil-A. At night, he falls asleep looking at a blue ceiling “I continued to send Andrew money for the apartment and took care of him full of stars as he listens to an antique music box that lulls him to sleep. until he died when he was almost 90. I didn’t want him to live on the street,” Meevers-Scholte wants to be ready for what the new day brings. says Meevers-Scholte, explaining race and age were never issues.

“I have a lot more to do.”

“I just saw a man, and I loved him. He took care of me, I took care of him.

That’s the most important thing.”

A Citizen in 48 Hours At age 16, Meevers-Scholte lied about his age and forged his mother’s signature to join the National Guard.

One of his duties was to cook for the officers. Meevers-Scholte decided his meals needed a boost and used his own money to buy extras that substantially improved the flavor of his cooking.

His extra efforts paid off. When Meevers-Scholte was 17, his colonel found out he wasn’t a citizen. Since he liked Meevers-Scholte, he was able to procure citizenship papers for him within 48 hours.

Meevers-Scholte reenlisted for nine years. During this time, he married his first wife and had five children. By age 24, he was able to bring his mother, his sister, and her family to the United States to live with him and his family in a large house with a separate apartment.

A few years later, Meevers-Scholte wanted his own used-furniture business. www.50plusLifePA.com

Join the 2022 One Book, One Community campaign by reading The Life We Bury by Allen Esken.

40 libraries in Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York, and surrounding counties and their community partners present the regional reading campaign.

Read the book in January and attend free library programs and discussions throughout February and early spring!

50plus LIFE

December 2021

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Assisted Living Residences/ Personal Care Homes This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

Bethany Village — MapleWood

Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community

325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-766-0279 • www.BethanyVillage.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: Yes Personal Care Home: No Private: 100 Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes

Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: One-bedroom suites; secured memory support neighborhood; skilled nursing – The Oaks.

2990 Carlisle Pike • New Oxford, PA 17350 717-624-5436 • www.crosskeysvillage.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 123 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

Homeland Center

Homewood at Plum Creek

1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102 717-221-7727 • www.homelandcenter.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 56 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Providing exemplary care in a beautiful environment for more than 150 years. Our continuum of care includes therapy services, skilled rehab, 24-hour medical staffing, plus Hospice, HomeHealth, and HomeCare outreach programs. All-private rooms include a full bath and kitchenette.

425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331 717-637-4166 • www.homewoodplumcreek.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 92 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

The Campus of the Jewish Home of Greater Harrisburg

Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No

Landis Homes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 97 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes

300 West Lemon Street • Lititz, PA 17543 717-626-0214 • moravianmanorcommunities.org info@moravianmanor.org

1520 Harrisburg Pike • Lancaster, PA 17601 717-393-1301 • www.mennonitehome.org

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December 2021

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Supportive, encouraging environment. Various room types and suites available. Secure memory care offered.

50plus LIFE

Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Attached to wellness center and pool without going outside.

Moravian Manor Communities

Mennonite Home Communities

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 125 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Excellent care in a lovely environment.

Call to schedule a visit.

1001 East Oregon Road • Lititz, PA 17543 717-569-3271 • www.LandisHomes.org

4000 Linglestown Road • Harrisburg, PA 17112 717-657-0700 • www.jewishhomeharrisburg.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 60 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: No Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: A regional leader in all aspects of memory care and a program designed for optimal engagement and socialization.

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 55 Assisted Living Residence: Yes Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-Private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes* Comments: To schedule a personal appointment, please call Susan Brennan at 717-625-6126. *Pets are permitted on a case-by-case basis.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Assisted Living Residences/ Personal Care Homes This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

Pleasant View Communities

Tel Hai RETIREMENT COMMUNITY

544 North Penryn Road • Manheim, PA 17545 717-664-6237 • www.pleasantviewcommunities.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 96 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes* Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

1200 Tel Hai Circle • Honey Brook, PA 19344 610-273-9333 • www.telhai.org

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: *Three-year private pay spending. Maintain independence in an enriching and supportive environment.

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Providing daily assistance paired with clinical support for seniors to remain independent, safe, and secure.

vibralife senior living

707 Shepherdstown Road • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-591-2100 • www.vibralife.net amilburn@vibralifemc.com Total AL and/or PC Beds: 46 Assisted Living Residence: No Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-Private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes

If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your marketing consultant or call (717) 285-1350.

Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No

Social Security Announces 5.9% Benefit Increase Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for approximately 70 million Americans will increase 5.9% in 2022, the Social Security Administration announced recently.

The 5.9% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 64 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2022. Increased payments to approximately 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on Dec. 30, 2021.

The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the consumer price index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based

on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $147,000 from $142,800.

Social Security and SSI beneficiaries are normally notified by mail starting in early December about their new benefit amount.

Most people who receive Social Security payments will be able to view their COLA notice online through their personal My Social Security account. People may create or access their My Social Security account online at socialsecurity.gov/ myaccount.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. To read more, visit socialsecurity.gov/cola.

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50plus LIFE

December 2021

7

Grief Relief

Grieving and Celebrating in December Victor M. Parachin

As the month of December approached, Kenneth, who was recently widowed after a threedecade marriage, confided in a friend: “I feel like I could use a pause button so that I could put a hold on my grief from Dec. 1 through Jan. 1. Or, I wish I could use that pause button on my life for that month so I could just skip over those days and avoid having to deal with all the festivities around me.”

His feeling is a common one for those who are grieving the death of a loved one. While most other people are celebrating and socializing, grievers struggle with feelings of sadness and loneliness.

Yet, it is possible to celebrate and grieve in December. Here are some guidelines.

Be flexible. The first December after a loved one has died is not the time to be rigid about the celebration. Give yourself permission to be flexible and compromising.

Some people prefer to maintain exactly the same holiday traditions. This prevents the feeling of yet another change in lifestyle. Others, however, feel the need to change it up.

One woman, whose husband died in September, recalls: “I needed to do things differently. The very idea of the traditional family Christmas meal in my home felt awkward, as there would be an empty chair.”

She expressed her feelings to her family, and they supported her in opting to have the family holiday meal at a restaurant.

Know when to say “no.” More than any other time of the year, December is the month filled with social opportunities to celebrate with family, friends, and work colleagues.

Dr. Tali Berliner, a psychologist, says it is both important and appropriate for grievers to set boundaries for holiday events.

“You can participate and not participate in whatever feels right for you. While there may be pressure to attend a holiday party, family gathering, holiday show — remember to check in with your wants and needs to identify your readiness.

“It may be helpful to commit to something that sounds fun while reminding yourself that you don’t have to stay the entire time. It is also OK to opt out of certain things www.steinmetzcoins.com

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December 2021

50plus LIFE

altogether. Finding a balance between engaging and not pushing yourself is important.”

Practice self-care. That’s the advice of social worker Sophia Franklin, who says: “One of the most important things you can give yourself as a gift is self-care.

“Especially if you suffer from holiday blues, or even with clinically diagnosed depression, be sure to include time in your schedule to check in with yourself and how you’re feeling. Get outdoors, try to exercise, get some pampering with a massage, or even just take a long bath and indulge in aromatherapy.

“Self-care decreases your chance of feeling blue during the holiday season, and it increases your ability to thrive well beyond the holidays.”

Honor and include the deceased. Even though December is a busy, active month, you will still be aware of the “empty chair.”

Rather than dismissing those feelings and acting as if everything were the same, think of ways to honor and include the deceased person.

Others have done this by lighting a candle of remembrance; sitting quietly for one minute in reflection and prayer; placing a special holiday ornament on the tree; bringing out a photo album and having the family share thoughts about times together with the deceased; playing his or her favorite holiday music; preparing a favorite recipe of the deceased; or visiting the grave.

These kinds of actions will help the family feel connected to one another as well as to the one who is absent.

Perform kind acts for others. Although you’re in the pain of grief, remind yourself you still have something good and positive to offer others. Performing acts of kindness will lift and alter your own spirit.

Consider this insight from psychotherapist Miriam Greenspan, author of Healing through the Dark Emotions: The Wisdom of Grief, Fear and Despair: “Action can be strong medicine in times of trouble. If you are afraid, help someone who lives in fear. For example, volunteer at a battered women’s shelter. If you’re sad and lonely, work for the homeless. If you’re struggling with despair, volunteer at a hospice.

“Get your hands dirty with the emotion that scares you. This is one of the best ways to find hope in despair, to find connection in a shared grief, and to discover the joy of working to create a less broken world.”

Finally, do your best to remain hopeful and positive. “Hope is being able to see there is light despite all the darkness,” says Rev. Desmond Tutu.

Victor M. Parachin, M.Div., is a grief counselor, bereavement educator, and author of several books, including Healing Grief.

www.50plusLifePA.com

CROSSWORD

Puzzle Page

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 24.

SUDOKU

Across WORD SEARCH

Let’s Go Skiing

1. Scarf material 5. Overdue 9. Glimpse 13. Boredom 14. Macaws 15. Blue shade 16. Island in the road 18. Swallow quickly 19. Tender 20. Tipster 21. Smacks 22. Summer (Fr.) 23. Terrarium plant 24. Big game

25. Even, in verse 26. “Shucks!”

28. Young newt 31. Ohio, for one 34. Sicilian erupter 35. Niagara River source 36. Protect those within 39. Curved shape 40. Keats, for one 41. West Pointer 42. Kitten’s cry 43. Brass component 44. Club ___ (resort) 45. Mystery writer Ambler

47. Kimono sashes 49. Stew morsel 52. Dixie drink 54. Very, in Versailles 55. Jack-in-the-pulpit 56. Cutlass maker 57. In the way place 59. Old dagger 60. Dance bit 61. Torcher’s misdeed 62. R ichard Rodgers collaborator 63. Rocky peaks 64. Male turkeys

Down 1. Schnoz 2. Harden 3. Crescent 4. Youngster 5. Work 6. Make a left or right and you’re there 7. Tense 8. Time zone 9. Raptor 10. Land measure (Brit.)

11. Orange feature 12. Barks 13. Gaelic

17. Egyptian solar deity 21. Japanese coin 23. Touch 24. Doodle 25. Engrave 27. Dill seed 29. Penalty 30. Exam 31. Con game 32. Radial, e.g.

33. Machinist’s tool 34. Collar type 35. Cry of surprise 37. Colossal

38. Deck members 43. Energy 44. Soybean paste 46. Change, as a clock 48. Makes like a horn 49. Geometrical solid 50. Continental money 51. End of grace 52. One of the Brolins 53. Arm bone 54. Former Yugoslav leader 55. ’60s hairdo 57. WWII craft (abbr.)

58. Blubber

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December 2021

9

6 Homeownership Tips for Snowbirds

By Andrea Collins

wrong — during your past snowbird seasons.

If, for example, you overpacked last winter, you may want to make a list this season. Or if you’re renting your primary residence while you’re gone, you might want to put some of your personal items in storage.

Not to be confused with an actual bird, a snowbird is a person who moves to a warmer location during the winter to avoid the cold.

Traditionally, most snowbirds have been retirees; however, younger demographics who have the ability to work remotely have also started to claim the snowbird title.

Snowbirding is about having more freedom over your lifestyle, but it also comes with extra responsibility, usually in the form of a second home, RV, or vacation rental to maintain. That’s why it’s crucial to be prepared.

1. Inspect your insurance. To be a snowbird, you have to think ahead when it comes to your insurance, specifically your homeowner’s insurance.

When insuring your primary residence, second home, or any rental properties, it’s important to be honest about which properties you use for which purposes — and what the safety and insurance concerns are for each one.

Speaking with a trusted insurance professional can help you get the proper coverage for your homes and belongings, no matter where you spend the winter.

2. Downsize your stuff. Before you take flight for the season, downsize as much as possible. Consider where you’re going, what your day-to-day lifestyle will be, and what you’re leaving behind, and then what went right — or

3. Stick to a snowbird budget. Just as with a regular household budget, the key to creating a snowbird budget is to be realistic. The best budget should give you enough freedom to enjoy your winter retreat without blowing your savings.

To determine your ideal budget, work backward.

Start by imagining your dream environment; then research costs in the area. Think: average rentals, activity costs, transportation, groceries, and dining out.

Don’t forget to factor in your primary-residence costs as well. Even though you’re technically away from home, you’ll still have to pay your housing costs, as well as utilities, insurance, and upkeep.

Pro tip: Don’t forget travel costs. Whether it’s wear and tear on your vehicle, fuel costs, or plane tickets, travel expenses can eat into your snowbird budget.

4. Plan for proper home maintenance. As a snowbird, you have to be proactive about keeping your various residences in good condition.

If you have a residence in a warm-weather area, you may need to consider landscaping upkeep, pool maintenance, pest control, and mold checks. For cold-weather properties, you have to safeguard your home against harsh

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weather and freezing temperatures.

Before you leave for the winter — and during your stay — make sure you stay up to date with your home-maintenance checklists.

5. Invest in smart-home devices. Smart-home devices are a simple way to protect and preserve your home, not to mention give you peace of mind. These devices use the latest technology to provide you with security, comfort, and convenience — whether you’re at home or away.

You may want to consider installing leak detectors, smart lighting, programmable thermostats, or a fully monitored home security system. With your smartphone as a control center, you’ll be able to remotely monitor the safety and security of your home(s) at all times.

6. Get packed. Once you’ve chosen the perfect location for your snowbird season, nailed down a budget, and prepared your home, it’s time to get packed. Here’s a quick checklist to get you started: • Important documents – Gather your ID, insurance policies, contracts, any pertinent medical information, and contacts for utility companies at both your primary and snowbird residences.

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• Warm layers – Include light jackets, scarves, sweaters, and a raincoat just in case. As for shoes, don’t rely solely on sandals. Comfortable walking shoes, hiking boots, and a few dress shoes are sure to come in handy.

• Medications and a first aid kit – Along with a first aid kit, pack any medications in a safe and convenient location. It’s also a good idea to let your doctor know you’ll be out of town and ask how you can refill any necessary prescriptions.

• Tech devices – When bringing items like a laptop, tablet, or smartphones, make sure you pack the accompanying chargers, adapters, and batteries.

Pro tip: Consider what other household necessities you might need to bring to your destination. If you’re traveling to a second home, you probably already have a basic idea of what you need to bring.

However, if you’re vacationing somewhere new, it’s smart to ask the right questions ahead of time. For example, will you need towels and linens? What sizes are the beds? What can you buy easily once you arrive? You want to be as prepared as possible without overpacking.

Snowbird in Style Whether you’re choosing the snowbirding lifestyle for health reasons, adventure, or wanderlust, it’s critical to think proactively about the home you’re traveling to and the one you’re leaving behind.

Andrea Collins is a home insight expert at Hippo Insurance (hippo. com), an InsurTech company that’s reimagining home insurance through the lens of homeowners — building policies with more comprehensive coverage for today’s consumers at up to 20% less than competitors.

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December 2021

11

Orthopedics & Pain Savvy Senior

Acupuncture: Does It Work and Is It Covered

by Medicare?

Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior, Is acupuncture a viable treatment for pain and is it covered by Medicare? Since the pandemic hit, I have a lot of lower back and neck pain and am wondering if it’s worth trying. What can you tell me?

– Looking for Solutions

Acupuncture Treatment First used in China more than 2,000 years ago, acupuncture has become increasingly popular in the United States over the past decade.

While acupuncture isn’t a cure-all treatment, it is a safe, drug-free option for relieving many different types of pain, including low back pain, neck pain, osteoarthritis, migraine headaches, fibromyalgia, postoperative pain, tennis elbow, carpel tunnel syndrome, dental pain, and more.

Studies have also shown that it can be helpful in treating asthma, depression,

Dear Looking, Many studies over the years — funded by the National Institutes of Health — have found acupuncture to be very effective in easing pain and can help with a variety of other ailments too. Here’s what you should know.

Why Newspapers?

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of Baby Boomers have taken action as a result of seeing an ad in a print newspaper in the past 30 days.2

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Because in print or online, newspapers are

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Orthopedics & Pain digestive disorders, menopause symptoms like hot flashes, and nausea caused by chemotherapy or anesthesia.

Exactly how or why acupuncture works isn’t fully understood, but it’s based on the traditional Eastern theory that vital energy flows through pathways in the body, and when any of these pathways get blocked, pain and illness result. Acupuncture unblocks the pathways to restore health.

However, today most Western practitioners believe that acupuncture works because it stimulates the nerves, causing the release of endorphins, which are the body’s natural painkiller hormones. It’s also shown to increase blood circulation, decrease inflammation, and stimulate the immune system.

What to Expect During acupuncture, practitioners stimulate specific points on the body by inserting thin needles through the skin. The needles are solid, sterile, and disposable (used only once), and as thin as a cat’s whisker.

The number of needles used for each treatment can vary anywhere from a few up to a dozen or more. And where the needles are actually stuck depends on the condition being treated, but they are typically inserted about onequarter to 1 inch deep and are left in place for about 20 minutes.

After placement, the needles are sometimes twirled, manipulated, or stimulated with electricity or heat.

You may feel a brief, sharp sensation when the needle is inserted, but generally it’s not painful. Once the needle is in place, however, you may feel a tingling sensation, numbness, mild pressure, or warmth.

How many treatments you’ll need will depend on the severity of your condition — 12 treatments done weekly or biweekly is very common.

It’s also important to know that acupuncture can be used in conjunction with other conventional medical treatments or by itself.

Cost and Coverage The cost per treatment typically runs anywhere from $40 to $150, depending on where you are in the country and what style of treatment you are receiving.

Today, an increasing number of private insurance plans, including some Medicare Advantage plans and policies provided by employers, offer some type of acupuncture coverage.

You’ll also be happy to know that last January (2020), the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced that original Medicare will now cover up to 12 acupuncture sessions in 90 days for patients with chronic lower back pain. Eight additional sessions can be added if patients show improvement.

But in order to receive Medicare coverage, you must use a licensed acupuncturist who is supervised by a medical doctor, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner trained in acupuncture, who will need to process the acupuncture claim. Currently, licensed acupuncturists can’t directly bill Medicare.

To find an acupuncturist in your area, ask your doctor for a referral, or you can do a search online.

Two good resources are the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (nccaom.org) and the American Academy of Medical Acupuncturists (medicalacupuncture.org), which offers a directory of MDs and DOs who are certified to practice acupuncture.

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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FIND RELIEF FOR BACK AND N E C K PA I N Dedicated to providing the right treatment for you.

If you are dealing with pain that is not getting better, the spine specialists at Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health are here to help. Whether your pain is due to wear and tear or an injury, we are committed to providing you with the most accurate diagnosis and the most appropriate treatment plan to bring laughter, enjoyment and confidence back to your life.

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Pain Management Specialists Tonia Novosat, MD Madhavi Reddy, MD Robert Roberts, III, MD Daniel Sandusky, MD Tony Ton-That, MD Andrew Wong, DO

Request an appointment today at LGHealth.org/Spine or call 717-544-3148.

Lancaster General Health

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13

Orthopedics & Pain President Kennedy, Chronic Pain, and Me

By James E. Patterson In the 1990s, I had a serious spinal injury while serving in the U.S. Foreign Service. While recovering from neurosurgery for my injuries, a colleague suggested I read how President John F. Kennedy managed his chronic back pain.

According to the back-pain website SpineUniverse, Kennedy “underwent multiple spine surgeries, relied on daily use of a back brace (and sometimes crutches), and tried various alternative treatments.”

Coincidentally, Kennedy and I had similar spinal injuries. In 1995, I had discectomy at L5S1. Prior to surgery, I had intractable back and leg pain. The same was true for Kennedy, who underwent an L4-L5 laminotomy and L5-S1 discectomy in 1944.

Historians tell us that Kennedy found little relief from his surgery. I had relief for a period of years and continued to work.

The road of life contains more than a few curves …

… and confident decisions are informed decisions.

Throughout the year, 50plus LIFE includes Special Services pages dedicated to connecting you with these resources in our area: • CCRCs/Life Plan Communities • In-home Healthcare • Hospice Providers • Nursing/Rehab Communities • Assisted Living/Personal Care Communities • Elder Law and Estate Planning Attorneys

Please access this free and valuable information any time at

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In 2006, I was working in San Francisco when my spine demons returned. I was prescribed opioids. The physician wrongly said opioids were “non-addictive” and prescribed me tall bottles of 90 opioid tablets! Today, it is unlawful in some states to prescribe that amount.

Opioids caused more health problems for me.

They aggravated my preexisting ophthalmological and neurological conditions. My vision was seriously impaired for months. Fortunately, in 2015 I found the right medical professionals to diagnosis the problem and end the opioid “therapy.”

My difficult struggle through highly addictive opioid “therapy” frightens me still. There is life after opioids!

For anyone challenged by chronic pain, please be aware that physicians are prone to write prescriptions for pharmaceuticals. Drug manufacturers send salespeople to physicians’ offices. Ergo, physicians prescribe drugs to their patients.

Patients must ask for pain-management alternatives to drugs. Alternatives include chiropractic therapy, physical therapy, aquatic therapy, acupuncture, neuromuscular therapy, home exercise, yoga, tai chi, appropriate medical supplies and equipment, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) with a psychologist trained in chronic pain management.

Psychologists are great resources as they are not M.D.s.; they cannot prescribe drugs for chronic pain. Most psychologists prefer physical medicine rather than traditional drug “therapy.” Not everyone goes to a psychologist for depression.

Based on my experience as a working professional managing chronic pain, each day involves physical medicine, including exercise. My pain-management regime includes acupuncture and neuromuscular, aquatic, physical, and massage therapies.

Maintaining control over chronic pain requires discipline, resourcefulness, and persistence, among other personal traits. Chronic-pain psychologists can help develop these traits.

Psychologists can also help manage problems associated with chronic pain, including anxiety and depression, and can help with recovery from opioid addiction.

While in the U.S. Senate, Kennedy began using a therapeutic rocking chair, which he found relieved tension in his lower back as it kept his muscles contracting and relaxing. Kennedy became a believer in the Kennedy Rocker, and in 1960, he took his rocker to the White House.

While at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C., President Kennedy treated his chronic pain with a regime of physical medicine, including swimming, weightlifting, and massage therapy, among others.

If you or a loved one is managing chronic pain, consider how President John F. Kennedy managed his pain. It can be done successfully and effectively with physical medicine.

James E. Patterson is a Washington, D.C.-based writer and speaker.

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Serious conditions. Smart solutions.

People with conditions of the brain and nervous system have plenty of questions. Our Penn State Health Neurology team helps you find answers by providing expert care for:

We’ll meet with you in person or virtually through Penn State Health OnDemand.

• ALS and other neuromuscular disorders • Alzheimer’s disease, dementia and other cognitive disorders • Headache • Multiple sclerosis • Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders • Post-concussion conditions • Seizures and epilepsy • Stroke

Learn more at pennstatehealthondemand.com.

To make an appointment, call 717-531-3828.

Because we conduct research in partnership with Penn State College of Medicine, we can bring you the latest, most effective treatments. We’re committed to providing you with the highest-quality, compassionate care, while keeping you safe.

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December 2021

15

Orthopedics & Pain Is Your Pain Acute or Chronic? Knowing the Difference Will Help Healing

By David Wilkening Pain comes in all shapes and sizes. No one wants to suffer it. But if you had a choice of what’s the best kind to get, you’d choose “A” for acute. That sounds bad. But it’s better than “C” for “chronic.”

So why is that, and what’s the difference, anyway? And why should you care?

The simple reason is the bottom line: Knowing your kind of pain will help you get the best treatment.

Pain is the most common complaint encountered by healthcare practitioners. Some surveys found up to 80% of physician visits were attributed to pain. It’s generally the No. 1 reason Americans access the healthcare system.

Acute Pain Obviously, no one wants to suffer pain. But it

definitely should get your attention: Something is wrong.

At its simplest, acute pain happens quickly and goes away when the cause is no longer there. Say you touch a hot plate on the stove while preparing a meal. You burn yourself. You immediately pull your hand away. That’s good. Why? Because it tells you that you have an injury.

Acute pain is the most common type of pain, associated with most general injuries or illnesses.

This type of pain is most often linked to some type of trauma to the affected area, whether that is a car accident or a simple muscle strain.

Typical causes of acute pain can include surgery, dental work, broken bones, burns, and childbirth.

Common acute orthopedic conditions can include fractures, dislocations, hernias, sprains, and muscle strains.

Your hip, your knee, your shoulder — whatever has been holding you back, it’s time to make your move.

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Chronic Pain With acute pain, the pain goes away when there is no longer an underlying cause for it. There was some discomfort, but soon your life goes on.

Not so with chronic pain. This lingers for anywhere from three to six months or longer, although the definition and timeline of chronic pain are not precisely established. It remains an unwelcome stranger — even after the injury or illness that caused it has healed or disappeared.

Chronic pain, furthermore, does not have to be constant or consistent. In some cases, it can come and go.

Typical causes of chronic pain include anything from headaches to cancer.

Chronic orthopedic issues facing older patients include arthritis, osteoporosis, bursitis, lower back pain, joint pain, nerve damage, and past injuries.

Chronic pain also tends to create related issues, such as tense muscles, limited ability to move around, a lack of energy, and changes in appetite.

Other demons, such as depression, anxiety, anger, and fears, are also associated with chronic pain.

Chronic pain is more trying than the more common acute version. It can have a tremendous impact on people of all ages, interfering with your sleep patterns, creating all types of emotional distress, and affecting your everyday activities.

Treatments Both acute and chronic pain are enormous problems in the United States, costing 650 million lost workdays and $65 billion a year, according to some estimates.

When it comes to ordinary acute pain, most sufferers are handled by primary-care physicians. That’s because minor acute pain can be treated easily through over-the-counter medicines, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen; by physical therapy; or even with exercise or alternative treatments.

Chronic pain, however, often requires stronger medicines and more intensive therapies, which might include acupuncture, biofeedback, relaxation training (meditation and deep breathing), and even hypnosis.

Some treatment plans include physical therapy, focusing on muscle use.

Occupational therapy may be prescribed to focus on specific tasks, such as walking up and down stairs and getting in and out of a vehicle with less pain.

Massage therapy can also help for some types of pain relief.

Even more tools for helping chronic pain sufferers are being developed by the National Health Institute.

If you or your doctor decides your pain is not acute but chronic, know there are treatment options for relief. These often include pain relievers and other medications, but you might feel better knowing there are a variety of other methods available.

David Wilkening spent most of his working life on newspapers. He sometimes calls himself a former “newspaperman,” which in today’s world is an outdated designation.

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December 2021

17

The History of Ordinary Things

The Americanization of Santa Claus Doris Montag

Centuries ago, European little round belly.”

Christmas customs centered Moore read the poem to on St. Nicholas, a charitable his wife and six children but Turkish Catholic bishop considered the poem too born in the fourth century. frivolous to publish. A friend St. Nicholas was associated submitted it anonymously to with gift giving to children, The Sentinel, a Troy, New York, which occurred on Dec. 6, newspaper, in 1823.

St. Nicholas Day. As noted, St. Nicholas had In America, circa the been portrayed as a rather stern 1800s, the Puritans and bishop who visited children other Calvinists had to dispense both gifts and eliminated Christmas discipline. “The Night Before as a holy season under Christmas” transformed St. the premise that a Nicholas into a jolly, plumb, Christmas observance was rosy-cheeked character who Illustration to verse three of the From 1881-1886, political cartoonist Thomas Nast inconsistent with gospel brought gifts to children. children’s poem “Old Santeclaus drew a series of annual Santa Claus images for with Much Delight,” 1821.

Harper’s Weekly, a newspaper. These drawings worship. Presbyterians, The poem had portrayed an overweight Santa with flowing beard, Baptists, Quakers, and enormous influence on the fur garments, black boots, and a clay pipe. (The other Protestants regarded Americanization of the image pipe disappeared in images after 1960.)

Dec. 25 as a day without of St. Nicholas in a red suit and religious significance; in black boots. It also introduced fact, it was a day for normal business. his team of flying reindeer with their catchy names: “Now, The holiday season, coming after harvest, was a time when Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! workers and servants took the upper hand, demanding gifts On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!” for their labors. The season was characterized by raucous, As a historical note, the growth of Sunday schools by middrunken mobs roaming the streets, damaging property, and century had exposed hundreds of thousands of children to threatening and frightening the upper classes.

Christianity. To improve Sunday school attendance around During this period, a new understanding of family life the holidays, churches enticed children with a Christmas tree, and the place of children was emerging. Childhood began Santa Claus, and gifts. to be seen as a time in which greater protection, sheltering, By the 1850s, churches in America had reintroduced training, and education were needed. In this light, the holiday Christmas observances. season began to be tamed, turning toward home, family, and “The Night Before Christmas” was first illustrated in 1848. neighbors.

The poem of just 28 rhyming couplets (56 lines) provides only St. Nicholas, typically dressed in a bishop’s robe, took on a general description of Santa Claus, which has allowed many, new attributes in America. In 1821 an anonymous poem and many illustrators to interpret how Santa Claus looks. illustrations in the book The Children’s Friend proved pivotal Most people have different interpretations of Santa Claus’s Haddon Sundblom, an illustrator for the Coca-Cola in shifting the story and imagery away from saintly Bishop appearance, based on the edition of the book they grew Company, cast the familiar Nicholas. up with. In more recent versions, the pipe and smoke have Santa Claus of our generation.

In the poem, Sante Claus was portrayed in a didactic disappeared in the drawings, and often Santa Claus has lost mode, rewarding good behavior and punishing bad. Sante weight!

Claus aided parents by serving in judgment of whether children were naughty Haddon Sundblom, an illustrator for the Coca-Cola Company, cast the or nice. familiar Santa Claus of our generation with his wholesome and realistic Notably, the book had Sante Claus arrive on Christmas Eve, rather than image. It debuted in 1931, and Sundblom painted a new image each year Dec. 6. This Sante Claus came from the North in a sleigh with a single flying until 1964. reindeer.

Originally written as “happy Christmas to all,” the replacement with The image of St. Nicholas was recast in 1823 in a poem, “A Visit from St. “merry Christmas” was introduced in 1832.

Nicholas,” now better known as “The Night Before Christmas.” Its author In an ode to tradition, “Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night.” remained unknown until 1837, when it appeared in The New York Book of Doris Montag is a homespun historian and an exhibit curator who researches and Poetry credited to wealthy biblical scholar Clement Clarke Moore. displays historical collections of ordinary things, such as can openers, crochet, toy It is reported that he wrote the poem in 1821 in the sleigh on his way to sewing machines, hand corn planters, powder compacts, egg cartons, and more. buy the Christmas turkey and that the description of Santa Claus resembled Contact or follow her on Facebook, HistoryofOrdinaryThings. the Dutch handyman who drove his sleigh that night: “a broad face and a

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Statins Unhelpful in Reducing COVID Mortality, Severity In the worldwide effort to battle SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, researchers have often turned to medications used as therapies for other conditions in the hopes of finding ones that either kill the coronavirus or lessen the impacts from its infection.

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lowering agents.

“One plausible explanation for this finding is that statins increase cellular production of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 [commonly known as ACE2], the receptor on a cell’s surface through which SARS-CoV-2 gains entry,” says Karakousis.

“Therefore, statins may lower a cell’s resistance to infection and, in turn, increase the odds that the patient will have a more severe case of COVID-19.”

Karakousis says future studies should attempt to better define the relationship between statin use and COVID-19.

“All of the studies published to date, including ours, have been retrospective — and that means no matter how hard one tries to eliminate factors associated with poor COVID-19 outcomes other than statin use, some may still be at work,” says Karakousis.

“For example, there’s the fact that many statin users also are overweight, have diabetes, or experience high blood pressure — all things that can impact the severity of COVID-19 on their own.”

About Us – The Lancaster County Office of Aging (LCOA) was established 45 years ago as a

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Recent small-sample studies (fewer than 200 patients) have suggested that statins — drugs that lower levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), a form of cholesterol linked to heart disease and stroke — also may reduce the chances of severe disease or death from COVID-19.

However, the findings from a recent Johns Hopkins Medicine-led study of nearly 4,500 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 over a four-month period provide a stronger case for a very different conclusion: Statins likely do not confer any impact — positive or negative — on COVIDrelated mortality and may be associated with an significantly increased risk (nearly 1 chance in 5) of more serious illness.

The study was published Sept. 10 in the journal PLOS ONE. “Despite the apparent beneficial effect of statins on the outcomes of various infectious diseases, our study revealed that their specific use to treat COVID19 is probably not merited,” says senior study author Petros Karakousis, M.D., professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.

“Compared with earlier research, we looked at a larger and more widely varied inpatient population and had better criteria for defining disease severity, thereby enabling our results to be more relevant for predicting the impact of statins on COVID-19 outcomes in hospitalized patients.”

Of the 4,447 patients, ages 18 years or older, who were studied, 594 (13%) were receiving statins at hospital admission. Statin users were mostly men (57%) and older (ages 52–78, compared with ages 29–62) than the non-statin users.

The largest percentage of statin users were Black (47%), had hypertension (74%) or diabetes (53%), and were more likely to take medications for lowering blood pressure — along with statins to reduce their LDL cholesterol.

After accounting for other known factors that might skew the data, the researchers found statin use had no significant effect on mortality from COVID-19.

However, they did find that patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and taking statins had an 18% increased risk for having a more severe form of the disease than patients who did not take cholesterol-

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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.

• Long-term living assessments • 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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• 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.

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December 2021

19

Legal Ease

Lots of Reasons to Rethink This Plan Jonathan J. David

Those reasons include:

Dear Jonathan: I am a widower and have five adult children. Rather than engage in any formal and costly estate planning, I plan to keep it simple by adding my daughter’s name to the title of my assets.

My assets include my home and bank and investment accounts. I also have two life insurance policies and an IRA, and I plan to name her as the beneficiary of those investments.

This way, after I die, all of my assets will end up in my daughter’s name without having to go through probate, and then she can divide everything with her brothers and sisters.

She is willing to do that, and I trust her completely. What do you think?

Jonathan says: I know that adding your daughter to the title (and naming her as the beneficiary) of your assets seems like an easy solution and is tempting, but it is not a good plan to pursue for a variety of reasons.

1. Upon your death, your daughter would now be the legal owner of those assets and would not be legally required to share any of those assets with her siblings.

2. When you add your daughter to the title of your home and bank and investment accounts, you are in effect gifting her a 50% interest in those assets.

Under current law, an individual can make gifts of up to $15,000 per person per year gift-tax free; any amount in excess of $15,000 is deemed to be a taxable gift, which will require the filing of a gift tax return with the IRS. 3. When your daughter divides the assets with her siblings, she will in effect be making a gift to each of them, and any gift in excess of $15,000 will be taxable and require the filing of a gift tax return with the IRS.

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4. If your daughter is married and goes through a divorce after she has been added to the title of your assets but before she divides them with her siblings, those assets could end up getting caught up in the divorce proceedings.

Instead of adding your daughter to the title of your home and your bank and investment accounts, and naming her as the beneficiary of your life insurance policies and IRA, the better plan is for you to:

5. Your daughter’s ownership interest in your assets prior to her dividing them with her siblings could be made subject to a bankruptcy filing involving her or to the claims of any of her creditors.

• Set up a trust and retitle your home and your bank and investment accounts in the name of your trust.

6. Since your daughter would now be the legal owner of your bank and investment accounts, any interest generated by those investments before she divides them with her siblings will be taxable solely to her.

• Name your children as the beneficiaries of your IRA.

7. If your daughter passes away prior to dividing the assets with her siblings, those assets will pass through her estate, and your other children will end up getting nothing unless your daughter has named them as beneficiaries in her estate plan.

Naming your daughter as a co-owner of your home is problematic for many reasons. Since this requires a lengthier response than I have room for in this column, my next column will be devoted solely to this topic.

• Name your trust as the beneficiary of your life insurance policies.

Taking these steps will not only protect you, but will also serve to protect your daughter and your other children.

I recommend that you meet with an estate planning attorney, who can review all of this with you in more detail, as well as explain how engaging in estate planning, including the preparation of a trust, would be beneficial to you, your daughter, and your other children. Good luck.

Jonathan J. David is a shareholder in the law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C., 1700 E. Beltline N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49525.

It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘Brand New Key’ Randal Hill

At a London party in 1760, a Belgian violinist For a while, Melanie, who had skyrocketed to fame made a surprise entrance on a new invention called a year earlier with her rousing Woodstock anthem “roller skates” as he played his music. In doing so, he “Lay Down (Candles in the Rain),” railed against the smashed into a mirror worth a thousand dollars and idea of “Brand New Key” becoming Neighborhood’s damaged it beyond repair. debut disc, fearful that if it hit big, she would no Over the years, roller skates evolved into metal longer be taken seriously as a folk artist. (“I was sure I contraptions that included a simple tool — a key — was doomed to be cute for the rest of my life.”) to fasten them to a skater’s shoes.

Numerous listeners often snapped to attention In her chart-topping novelty song “Brand New when they first heard the lyrics of “Brand New Key,” Melanie (born Melanie Anne Safka in 1947) Key.” As a holdover from the ’60s, the drug scene tells of an enamored girl who skates to a boy’s house. remained prevalent into the next decade. This led He never seems to be home, though, and when the some people to think that Melanie’s tune was really lad’s mother opens the door and explains that her son about acquiring a “key” (a kilogram, or 2.2 pounds) is inside but isn’t alone, the young lady understands of marijuana. why the guy has been avoiding her: He is seeing Others dismissed her work as thinly veiled Publicity photo of singer, songwriter, and another girl he likes better. eroticism. Freudian symbols aside, Melanie maintains musician Melanie Safka.

There’s a little-known back story to Melanie’s that exploiting matters of the flesh were never her million-seller. In a search for enlightenment, she once intention.

“Brand New Key” went on a 27-day distilled-water fast. A vegetarian, “People read things into it,” she grumbled later.

By Melanie she broke her fast by munching on carrots but became “They made up incredible stories as to what the lyrics December 1971 overwhelmed by the seductive smells from a nearby said and what the song meant. In some places, it was McDonald’s, where she succumbed to a burger, fries, and soda meal. even banned on the radio.”

She claimed that the alluring aroma somehow conjured childhood memories ... of riding a bicycle and roller-skating and rationalized her visit to the fast-food chain by assuming that some kind of “spirit voice” was guiding her.

Well, I got a brand new pair of roller skates At home, Melanie dashed off “Brand New Key” in 15 minutes, giving the You got a brand new key melody a bouncy, ’30s-style lilt. She never considered the ditty as a potential I think that we should get together single release, planning to use it only during concerts to drop in as a surprise And try them out to see between her serious works about the trials of mankind.

But her record-producer husband, Peter Schekeryk, who had just started the Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be reached at wryterhill@msn.com. couple’s own label — Neighborhood Records — sensed a hit 45 here. www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE

December 2021

21

On Life and Love after 50

Tom Blake

2 Websites that Combat Fraud and Romance Scams

Do you know that a “friend request” you receive on Facebook or an offer for a free COVID-19 test on Instagram might be from romance scammers trying to steal your money?

Are you aware that a phone call from a number you don’t recognize might be from a con artist claiming to work for the IRS who declares that, if you don’t pay delinquent back taxes that very day, you will be jailed?

These con artists are experts at defrauding people.

Romance scammers slowly gain the trust of vulnerable, lonely people, often seniors or widows, and sooner or later start asking for money. Millions of dollars have been stolen from unsuspecting seniors.

The United States Senate Special Committee on Aging is so concerned about seniors being scammed that it publishes an annual free interactive Fraud Book that anyone, especially seniors, can view online.

The book can be viewed by searching online for “Senate Interactive Fraud Report,” and it is free to download. Do not download other fraud books that cost money that might appear on the search page.

In a 2020 Senate Fraud Book that I downloaded, the “Dear Friends” letter

Give someone you love the gift that entertains, informs, and inspires, month after month!

got my attention with these words: “In 2020, the FTC estimated that Americans ages 60 and older lost at least $602 million to fraud, scams, and financial-exploitation schemes.”

The Fraud Book supplies tips from the FBI, FTC, and FCC on how to spot romance scammers, information from the FBI describing common techniques used by romance scammers, and details about COVID-19-related romance scams.

The book also includes a toll-free fraud hotline to report scams: (855) 303-9470.

Another valuable tool for older adults for reading about romance and other scams is provided by the AARP Fraud Resource Center, which lists information on 76 different types of scams and fraud, plus other valuable information.

It can be accessed online at aarp.org/money/scams-fraud.

After studying the Senate Fraud Report and the AARP Scams & Fraud pages, I compiled a list of 11 tips for seniors to avoid fraud and romance scams: 1. Read and study the U.S. Senate Committee on Aging’s Fraud Report and the AARP Scams & Fraud pages.

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2. If a person on a dating site says they are working overseas, it’s a red flag.

Stop communications with them.

3. Trust your instincts. If someone sounds too good to be true, that person is likely a scammer.

4. If a person says that meeting you was fate and they are falling in love quickly, it’s a lie. You cannot fall in love with someone you’ve never met in person.

5. Do not send pictures of yourself or provide personal information to someone you’ve never met. Don’t give them your home address.

6. Don’t be fooled by simple trinket-type gifts. The scammer gets them for free from their scamming company.

7. If a person says they want to visit you, and then cancels, it’s a hoax.

8. Don’t let anyone talk you out of sharing information with your trusted friends.

9. Never send money to anyone you don’t know personally, and don’t help a friend send money.

10. Do not answer your phone if you don’t recognize the number calling you.

11. Discuss your doubts or suspicious activity with friends, or contact someone like me for an opinion. Or call the fraud hotline number listed in the Senate Fraud Report, (855) 303-9470.

Let’s put an end to romance scams. Beware of those social media “friend requests” and other warning signals.

Here are the two most important links I have provided to readers in 26 years of writing newspaper columns: AARP Fraud Watch Network: aarp.org/money/scams-fraud/about-fraudwatch-network U.S. Senate’s Fraud Report: aging.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/Fraud% 20Book%202021.pdf For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to findingloveafter50.com.

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Squishmallows: Collectible Toy of the Future Lori Verderame

Don’t know which contemporary toy is the best one Adults collect them too. In fact, I was interviewed to buy for everybody on your list this holiday season? about appraising collectible Squishmallows recently, While many toys make great gifts, some toys will be and the 20-something reporter admitted that she and collectibles of the future. her friends are wild about collecting the cuddly creature What is my pick for the holiday toy of choice in toys, too. That didn’t surprise me, as young adults are 2021? Squishmallows. enthusiastic plush-toy collectors for many reasons, one I think these soft, plush toys with cutesy and of which is that the age group grew up with the 1990s culturally significant names, complex backstories, and collectible-toy crazes. strong designs — and that second for cuddly pillows Kellytoy, the California plush-toy manufacturer that — are highly collectible and will hold their value with makes and markets Squishmallows, enjoys widespread collectors for the long term. interest and sales: more than 55 million have been sold Squishmallows are to the 2020s what Beanie Babies to date. were to the 1990s.

The complete Squishmallows Squad includes more Squishmallows are not only the next big toy craze, than 800 plush characters in various sizes. The toys they are the current big toy craze. Only a few years are simple in their design and feature colorful and since their introduction in the autumn of 2017, the textural attributes that make the them attractive to the Photo credit: Staff of www.DrLoriV.com collectible Squishmallows toys in their many versions collecting public. Squishmallows are made from superSquishmallow plush toy, Rocio the have achieved the type of widespread interest that was soft spandex EF and polyester stuffing. Each toy is dinosaur, Prehistoric Squad, collector enjoyed by Boyd’s Bears, Cabbage Patch Kids, and Ty washable.

No. 680.

Inc. Beanie Babies.

Collectors look for some of the same elements in a Squishmallows are organized and marketed differently from most plush Squishmallow as they did in Ty Inc. Beanies Babies. Tags are important to toys. For example, Squishmallows debuted in thematic squads, like the Fantasy authentication and value, since there are fakes out there trying to imitate the Squad, Prehistoric Squad, Buddy Squad, etc., with certain items included toys. within a category or squad.

To an appraiser and market analyst like me, Squishmallows have all the stuff Each Squishmallow has its own character name; “squishdate,” which is that will make them a mainstay in the collectible-toy market for many years to likened to a birthdate; collector number; character backstory; and, of course, come. Get yours now while you can. All the kids and adults on your holiday the all-important printed tag. shopping list will thank you for it.

The fun plush toys are available in four sizes — 5, 8, 12, and 16 inches tall — and range in price from approximately $5 to $20 each. The cost is attractive Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events nationwide and appears on The Curse of Oak Island to all ages. Kids can afford their low price in order to make additions to their on History channel. Visit drloriv.com, youtube.com/drloriv, or call (888) 431-1010.

Squishmallows collections. www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE

December 2021

23

Let the Stars Point the Way to a Long and Prosperous Life

By Chris Orestis

Puzzles shown on page 9.

Puzzle Solutions

There are two forms of age — chronological and physical — and they are not always the same.

On the morning of Oct. 13, William A person like William Shatner has the Shatner, who became an icon as Capt. James T. chronological age of 90, but his physical age Kirk in Star Trek, boldly went where no man is much younger. In fact, there are epigenetic at the age of 90 has ever gone before as he was tests people can use that can show them their launched in a Blue Origin rocket out of Earth’s actual physical age is different from their atmosphere. chronological age.

If anyone saw footage of him in press And the good news is it’s never too late conferences, or in training, or just ascending to start making changes that will improve the multiple levels of stairs to enter the space a person’s health (and their finances). Based capsule, he looked like someone in their 60s or on how a person lives, they can even modify 70s. How is it that someone his age can be so these differences with smart lifestyle choices. spry and actually be launched into space?

If someone quits smoking, starts working Well, there is a common thread with him out, improves their diet, and reduces stress in and many other iconic figures who are well into Photo credit: Raph_PH, Flickr.com. their life, they can set the clock back on their their “senior” years but seem to be eternally From left, Chuck Leavell, Mick Jagger, and Ronnie Wood physical age. young: They have all achieved balance in their of the Rolling Stones on stage It has been proven over and over that lives among finances, health, and their lifestyles in London. aging is not a one-way ticket to poor health, lived with passion and purpose. loneliness, boredom, and a declining quality of For example, Mick Jagger, 78, has just th life. The ability to adapt to the inevitability of changes launched a global 50 anniversary tour with the in almost all areas of life is one of the most important Rolling Stones. Paul McCartney is 79 and continues to ingredients to aging with success. put out records and tour the world, playing shows that Living a life making smart investments in financial, can last up to four hours. physical, and lifestyle health will culminate in a wellClint Eastwood is 90 and just directed and starred balanced retirement. A person doesn’t need to be a in his latest movie; he has now been in more than 60 star to make the right choices that will let them live movies over his career. Helen Mirren is an Academy like one. If Mick Jagger can rock the stage at 78, and Award-winning actress who, at age 76, is still making William Shatner can literally fly among the stars at age movies, with exciting things to come out in 2022.

90, then there are lessons we can all learn about how What do they all have in common? First of all, none to live a long, healthy, and meaningful life well into of them needs the money. They are pursuing their retirement. passions and determined to keep going full steam ahead Voyagers have looked to the stars to navigate their for as long as they can. way for eons, and people can look to these stars as They all operate with a mindset that age is just examples of what is possible as they navigate their way a number and that living with purpose, a positive through the years. attitude, and the ability to adapt to the constantly Photo credit: Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, Flickr.com. changing conditions of life can keep them much William Shatner at GalaxyCon Richmond Chris Orestis, known as the “Retirement Genius,” is younger than their years. in 2020. president of LifeCare Xchange and a nationally recognized These stars and many others now talk about how healthcare expert and senior advocate. He has 25 years’ they have made changes in their lives to eat healthier, experience in the insurance and long-term care industries and is the author of Help on exercise more, spend more time with their loved ones, and remain active, the Way and A Survival Guide to Aging. pursuing their passions. They have also been smart about their money.

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The Beauty in Nature

Winter Colors Clyde McMillan-Gamber

Winter seems drab to many people in southeastern Pennsylvania. Gray skies and deciduous trees, brown fields, and cold, ice, and snow dampen human spirits. But bright colors in nature beautify winter landscapes and lift people’s emotions.

Female American holly trees and winterberry shrubs, both wild and planted on lawns, have strikingly red berries that are decorative and a joy to see through winter.

The scarlet berries of American Holly bush. hollies are particularly attractive nestled among the deep-green foliage of those trees on lawns and in certain local woods. And the many breathtaking red berries of winterberries stand out vividly among their gray twigs, on lawns, and in some wooded bottomlands.

Red twigs of red-osier dogwood shrubs are lovely standouts among beige and brown wetland vegetation surrounding local ponds and marshes. Their clumps of slender, bright-red stems remind me of vertical red strokes in an oil painting.

Winter rye in fields, in grass, and on lawns and white radishes in gardens are hardy vegetation. They all hold down the soil and enrich it. Green shoots of rye are eaten by wintering and stately Canada geese, snow geese, and tundra swans, like sheep grazing grass.

And white radishes, with delightfully lush leaves in gardens, send thick roots into the soil. When radishes die in winter, leaves decay and fertilize soil and their tubers rot, creating holes in soil that conduct rain into the ground.

Red juniper trees grow in abandoned fields and along roadsides. They have what appear to be many pretty, light-blue berries nestled among their greenneedled boughs. Those decorative “berries” are tiny blue cones, each coated with wax that makes them look paler.

Field mice and attractive berry-eating birds, including American robins and cedar waxwings, feed on those small cones. The birds digest the cones’ pulp but pass the seeds in their droppings across the countryside, thus spreading red junipers.

Two-foot-tall clumps of broom grass are pretty associates of red junipers.

American robin.

Broom grass is beige-orange and particularly attractive in the lowslanting sunlight of winter.

Dead leaves clinging to twigs on American beech and pin oak trees in winter add beauty to bottomland woods and lawns they were planted on. Beech leaves are curled and pale-beige, while those of pin oaks are ginger-brown.

Beautiful cones hang on planted, needle-limbed pine, hemlock, fir, and spruce trees through winter. Pretty little birds, including chickadees and finches, eat winged seeds from the open

scales of those cones.

Snow, sunlight, and blue skies accentuate the lovely colors of plants and animals, helping make winter more tolerable, even more enjoyable. Winter is not as drab as it first appears. Go outside to see for yourself.

Clyde McMillan-Gamber is a retired Lancaster County Parks naturalist.

Happy Holidays We at On-Line Publishers, Inc. are grateful to our dedicated staff, loyal readers, and supportive advertisers who have all enabled us to continue our mission to serve the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50+ community in 2021.

We wish to thank each of you for helping to make 50plus LIFE a fun, interesting, and unique source of information and entertainment for our readers in central Pennsylvania.

At this special time of giving thanks and reminiscing, the staff of On-Line Publishers wishes you, our friends, warmest holiday wishes.

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

www.50plusLifePA.com

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December 2021

25

Booming Voice

Remotely Unsuccessful Bill Levine

My three closest former officemates from the 501 building and I recently met for our first gettogether dinner meeting post-COVID. We have kept in touch, even though two of my friends retired in 2007, seven years before my final logoff.

We passed around the annals of the old office coffee club, which included fake bios for members emphasizing their java creds, mixed with real newspaper articles about the club’s charitable donations to Globe Santa.

To this pleasant memory above, I want to add stats from a March 2021 Society for Human Resource Management (shrm.org) piece that listed what remote employees missed most: • 61% – In-person workplace conversations • 42% – The regular and daily structure of reporting to a worksite • 40% – Lunches and happy hours with colleagues • 37% – Reduced interruptions by kids during the workday

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These stats would indicate that rumors of the demise of the office are somewhat exaggerated, to abashedly paraphrase Mark Twain.

As an office desk jockey for most of my four decades, I am happy with the stats above.

There are clearly advantages to office life over remote working; I say this as a “looked at both sides now” guy who did work remotely at times during my last few working years.

Despite the remote-work advantages of no commute and no “subsidized” garage fees of $200 a month, and not having to dress for success, I missed all of the pluses that the stats above spoke to about working in the office.

(I would add to the work-from-home negatives “interruptions by dog fights as my wife ran a doggy playgroup while I was remotely solving IT problems in my basement.”)

There was also the burden of supervising workers while I was home and sometimes multi-role playing as an IT professional and a cook. This sometimes didn’t work out well, as I became so engrossed in work that I forgot to attend to lambchops until the smoke detector went off.

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My office at the 501 building was my workplace for 30 years. I figure I did about 5,000 daily stints there before being laid off. I got trapped in the elevator once and parked in the CEO’s spot once by mistake.

In the paternalistic years of the company, I bought stuff in the onsite company store. When we had a company cafeteria, I ate with colleagues and jointly discussed turkey bosses and turkey tetrazzini.

I participated in many baby showers and, from my cubicle, witnessed romances blossoming into marriages. I ate a bake shop’s worth of celebratory cake slices. I made friends for life.

But I also saw email addresses change back to maiden names and vibrant bachelorettes end up 30 years later still unattached.

I listened to my cancer-ridden colleague say in my cubicle in November that he was only staying at work because of the health benefits, and then I found myself offering condolences to his wife the following March.

Our office had a second-home vibe as we commented on: cars bought, movies seen, vacations taken, kids’ successes, kids’ heartbreaks, sports heartbreaks, good bosses, crazy bosses, and good-but-crazy bosses.

This was the richness of face-to-face work encounters that accompanied my 9-to-5 existence for more than 30 years.

Even when heavy attrition came to IT department the last year of my career and my second floor was a ghost town of deserted cubicles, I preferred coming into the office.

Two or three team members were still working on site, so we could commiserate on our layoff dates, explore the newfangled smartphones, and curate whatever slice of office gossip was left.

Then, at around 5 p.m. on Nov. 22, 2013, the three of us literally turned off the lights and sadly left the office for the last time.

This meant for the last three months of my tenure with the 501 company in the winter of 2014, I had to work from home. I disengaged from my wife’s doggy play-group business by working in my basement office.

I could concentrate down there, but there were no sounds of clacking keyboards, inside-joke laughter, or coffee-break chatter, only the hum of my space heater and the periodic whoosh of the oil burner.

Bill Levine is a retired IT professional and active freelance writer. Bill aspires to be a humorist because it is easier to be pithy than funny. He may be reached at wlevine0607@comcast.net.

Free Holiday Brass Concert Scheduled Lessons & Carols with the Heidelberg Brass, a traditional service of nine lessons and carols set by American composer Julian Wachner, will be held 6-7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 2151 Oregon Pike, Lancaster.

Presented by the choirs of Westminster Church and joined by the Heidelberg Brass quintet, the event is free and open to the public. A freewill offering will be received; no ticket is required.

For more information, call the church at (717) 392-5909 or visit westpca.com/concerts. www.50plusLifePA.com

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Why you need dental insurance in retirement.

Many Americans are fortunate to have dental coverage for their entire working life, through employer-provided benefits.

When those benefits end with retirement, paying dental bills out-of-pocket can come as a shock, leading people to put off or even go without care.

Simply put — without dental insurance, there may be an important gap in your healthcare coverage.

When you’re comparing plans ... f Look for coverage that helps pay for major services. Some plans may limit the number of procedures — or pay for preventive care only. f Look for coverage with no deductibles. Some plans may require you to pay hundreds out of pocket before benefits are paid. f Shop for coverage with no annual maximum on cash benefits.

Some plans have annual maximums of $1,000.

Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care.1

Previous dental work can wear out.

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Even if you’ve had quality dental work in the past, you shouldn’t take your dental health for granted. In fact, your odds of having a dental problem only go up as you age.2

Early detection can prevent small problems from becoming expensive ones.

The best way to prevent large dental bills is preventive care. The American Dental Association recommends checkups twice a year.

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1 “Medicare & You,” Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, 2021. 2 “How might my oral and dental health change as I age?”, www. usnews.com, 11/30/2018. 3 American Dental Association, Health Policy Institute, 2018 Survey of Dental Fees, Copyright 2018, American Dental Association.

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Includes the Participating (GA: Designated) Providers and Preventive Benefits Rider. Product not available in all states. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, LA, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN). Rider kinds B438, B439 (GA: B439B).

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