York County 50plus LIFE – September 2021

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Complimentary | York County Edition

September 2021

Participating in the Arts Creates Paths to Healthy Aging page 4

Recognize the signs of ptsd page 8

50plus expo returns sept. 23 page 12

The Beauty in Nature

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September 2021

Clyde McMillan-Gamber

Interesting Local Insects

July to the end of October is the time of insects in southeastern Pennsylvania because those invertebrates are cold-blooded and active only during warmer weather.

Some of the more interesting, and obvious, insects in this area include fireflies, true katydids, Photo courtesy of Kenneth Dwain Harrelson snowy tree crickets, Pearl crescent butterfly. monarch butterflies, pearl crescent butterflies, differential grasshoppers, wooly bear caterpillars, ladybug beetles, and ashleafed maple, or box elder, bugs.

These insects are either courting for reproduction or preparing for winter, depending on the life cycle of each species.

Male fireflies flash their cold abdominal lights Photo courtesy of Micha L. Rieser as they emerge from Wooly bear caterpillar. vegetation most every July evening. Those fireflies continue lighting their beacons every few seconds as darkness descends across the countryside.

And, in the dark of night, their thousands of lanterns sparkle beautifully among trees and grass as males and females congregate to breed.

Male true katydids begin scraping their wings together continuously each evening in August and September to make a courting sound that resembles “katy-did, katy-didn’t.”

These treetop grasshopper relatives look like green leaves, which camouflages them, and are seldom seen. But their uproarious fiddling in woods and older suburbs, to bring the genders together for mating, is unmistakable.

Male snowy tree crickets live in shrubbery and chirp steadily every night during August and September to invite females of their kind for mating.

These pale-green, 1-inch crickets are also called temperature crickets. By counting their wing-produced chirps in 15 seconds and adding 40, one can estimate the outdoor temperature.

The handsome monarch butterflies are famous for migrating to Mexican forests each fall to avoid northern winters. But it’s only the fourth generation of monarchs each year that makes the trip south during September and October.

Each spring, monarchs that spent winter in Mexico push north, sip flower please see LOCAL INSECTS on page 6

50plus LIFE

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Avoid Being the Target of Financial Scams Being a victim of financial fraud can be devastating.

The Morningstar website offers these tips for avoiding disaster: Ask lots of questions.

Question everything, especially if a deal appears too good to be true (it usually is). Probe with questions like, “Why are you offering this to me? What’s in it for you? Can I wait a few days before making a decision?”

Keep an eye on your accounts. Check your credit card and other accounts often. Keep your passwords private. If you notice any discrepancies, start asking questions.

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Be careful on social media. Don’t share personal information, like your mother’s maiden name or the street on which you lived as a child, on social media. Scammers can use these to open accounts in your name.

Track your statements. Take a close look at your bank and credit card statements every month, looking for any charges you don’t recognize. Keep track of the dates you receive these statements so you can anticipate them, and react promptly to any delay.

Check your credit report. Credit reports are available for free once a year, so get them annually. You can also monitor your credit score from major bureaus, such as Transunion. If you notice an unexpected drop in your score, look into it.

Look closely at emails. You may get a special offer from a company whose name is suspiciously close to a legitimate business. Make sure there’s no extra “a” in “Amazon.com” before clicking any links or buying anything.

Beware of dating sites. Don’t get tricked into turning over personal information to a pretty face you met online.

Don’t send money to strangers. The “African prince” scam is well known, but other scams may ask for money to help refugees, veterans, the homeless, or victims of the coronavirus. Be skeptical before sending any money.

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Cover Story

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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.

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50plus LIFE

Participating in the Arts Creates Paths to Healthy Aging We all know to eat right, exercise, and get a good night’s sleep to stay healthy. But can flexing our creative muscles help us thrive as we age?

Ongoing research looking at singing group programs, theater training, and visual arts for older adults suggests that participating in the arts may improve the health, well-being, and independence of older adults.

“Researchers are highly interested in examining if and how participating in arts activities may be linked to improving cognitive function and memory and improving self-esteem and well-being,” said Lisa Onken, Ph.D., of the National Institute on Aging’s Division of Behavioral and Social Research.

Lifting Their Voices for Healthy Aging “Scientists are also interested in studying how music can be used to reduce behavioral symptoms of dementia, such as stress, aggression, agitation, and apathy, as well as promoting social interaction, which has multiple psychosocial benefits.”

“There’s a pressing need to develop novel, sustainable, and cost-effective approaches to improve the lives of older adults,” said Julene K. Johnson, Ph.D., of the University of California, San Francisco School of Nursing.

“Singing in a community choir may be a unique approach to promote the health of diverse older adults by helping them remain active and engaged.

It may even reduce health disparities.”

Johnson tested this approach, leading Community of Voices, the largest randomized clinical trial to test the impact of participating in a community choir on the health and well-being of nearly 400 culturally diverse adults, age 60 and older, from 12 senior centers in San Francisco.

The centers were randomly chosen to conduct the choir program immediately (six intervention groups) or six months later (six control groups).

Outcome measures were collected at baseline

(prior to starting the intervention), six months (end of randomization phase), and 12 months (one year after enrollment).

Each choir met once a week in 90-minute sessions for 44 weeks and performed in several informal concerts.

At weekly rehearsals, professional choral directors from the San Francisco Community Music Center trained in the intervention-led activities to promote health and well-being.

Researchers assessed participants’ cognition, physical function, and psychosocial function, as well as their use and cost of healthcare services, before they started the choir program and again after six and 12 months.

A unique aspect of the study was its use of community partners to engage, enroll, and retain a large group of racially and ethnically diverse and low-income older adults.

Participating in the community choir showed positive results within six months. In particular, it reduced feelings of loneliness and increased interest in life.

However, cognitive and physical outcomes and healthcare costs did not change significantly.

Johnson attributed the improvements to the choir providing a meaningful, regular opportunity to meet new people, build social support, and increase a sense of belonging.

“The study showed increased interest in life because singing in the choir provided a regular, structured activity for participants,” Johnson said.

“Access to regular activities in diverse, low-income communities is vital for older adults to remain active and engaged in their community.”

“As these studies continue, we expect the results to show us how we can implement cost-effective, community-based programs that benefit older people,” Onken said.

Theater Improvising to Cope with Dementia Northwestern University is looking to another art www.50plusLifePA.com

form, theater improvisation, to help older adults with early-stage dementia be social and improve their quality of life.

“The Memory Ensemble is for people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia who are looking for opportunities to engage in programs that fit their needs,” said Darby Morhardt, Ph.D., outreach, recruitment, and education core leader at Northwestern’s Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease.

The Memory Ensemble’s 69 participants learn how to use their instincts, creativity, and spontaneity to explore and create improvisational theater.

The program, developed in 2010 by Northwestern and the Lookingglass Theatre Company in Chicago, seeks to improve the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer’s and related disorders and to transfer these benefits to other communities.

As part of the eight-week program, groups of 10-15 participants, age 50-90, attend 90-minute sessions that are purposely repetitive and follow a specific pattern. Two facilitators — a clinical social worker and a master teaching artist in theater and improvisational techniques — guide participants through various activities.

Many Memory Ensemble exercises involve practicing observation, listening, and then using one’s imagination to find creative solutions. Here are some examples: •P articipants’ moods are assessed at check-in with “smiley faces” • A metaphor exercise: “If my feelings could be a color, they would be …”

•A gentle warmup of stretching and breathing •A skill-building exercise in which participants imagine a character in a challenging situation or pretend to turn an object into something else • Th e “checkout” activity, another smiley face assessment “We wanted participants to be in a safe but challenging environment,” said the program’s co-founder, Christine Mary Dunford, Ph.D., of Lookingglass Theater Company.

“We’re putting them in situations where they may feel anxiety. But our motto is, ‘When I feel anxious or uncertain, I can stop, breathe, observe, and turn to my imagination, and an answer will come.’ As a result, we’ve found they feel more successful and empowered.”

The program does not aim to slow decline or improve cognition but to help people with dementia enjoy their lives, according to Morhardt.

“There are limits to medical treatments for people with dementia,” she said. “Patients and families are looking for ways to continue to engage. For participants in the program, it’s about being in the moment and using their imagination. We enhance their remaining skills and mood.

“As the condition progresses, it can become challenging to communicate with words, so we really focus on nonverbal means of expression.”

Preliminary results show participation in the Memory Ensemble improves mood, decreases anxiety, and increases a sense of belonging, normalcy, and de-stigmatization, said Dunford. Participants also report feelings of achievement, empowerment, and self-discovery.

Future plans include developing an evidence-based curriculum for researchers, arts therapists, and theater professionals to replicate the program in other communities and a theater intervention program for caregivers.

Research on music, theater, dance, creative writing, and other participatory arts shows promise for improving older adults’ quality of life and well-being, from better cognitive function, memory, and self-esteem to reduced stress and increased social interaction.

For more information, visit NIA at nia.nih.gov. www.50plusLifePA.com

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50plus LIFE

September 2021

5

The History of Military Service Star Banners

By Doris Montag A service flag or banner is one that family members of those serving in the U.S. Armed Forces can display.

It is officially defined as a white field with a red border, with a blue star for each immediate family member serving during any period of war or conflict.

According to the Department of Defense code, the flag size ratio must be 10:19, the same as the American flag.

The service flag was designed and patented

by World War I Capt. Robert L. Queisser, whose two sons were serving on the front line. The flag was intended to be displayed in the front window of people’s homes to indicate one or more family members were in the Armed Services.

In 1918 President Wilson approved a request from the Women’s Committee of the Council of National Defense that American women who had lost a child serving in the war should wear a black mourning band on the left arm with a gilt star for each child lost.

This approval led to the tradition of a gold star covering the blue star on the service flag to show that the service member had passed. The gold star represented valor and sacrifice to the cause of freedom. (It is believed Wilson coined the term “Gold Star Mother.”)

Just after World War I, the Gold Star Mothers Club was formed by Grace Darling Siebold (her son was Lt. George Vaughn Seibold) to support other mothers who had lost children in the war.

The club’s other purpose was to give loving care/visits to hospitalized veterans confined in government hospitals far from home. American Gold Star Mothers, Inc. was founded in 1929 as a nondenominational, nonprofit, and nonpolitical organization.

Twenty-five mothers living in Washington, D.C., were original members of the group. Other clubs across the nation quickly requested membership. Still active today, there are over 900 members.

In 1936, the United States began recognizing mothers of fallen service members by observing Gold Star Mother’s Day on the last Sunday of September.

Amended in 2011, President Barack Obama made this commemorative day Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day. May 1 has been designated as Silver Star Service Banner Day to honor the sacrifices of combat-wounded, ill, and dying service members. For those who serve in the U.S. military, 1 in 10 suffers a severe injury. Most of those injuries are combat related.

Since World War II, the use of service flags and wearing of Gold Star pins (issued by the Defense Department) has declined, but their meaning as symbols of sacrifice remains significant and relevant yet today.

In a proclamation issued Sept. 24, 2015, Obama said that most Americans cannot fully comprehend the price Gold Star family members have paid: “Their sleepless nights allow for our peaceful rest, and the folded flags they hold dear are what enable ours to wave. The depth of their sorrow is immeasurable, and we are forever indebted to them for all they have given us.”

Sept. 26 is Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day

! r a e r u o y s u d Len 50plus LIFE and Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania have partnered to bring you weekly audio readings of 50plus LIFE’s editorial content!

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

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

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

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September 2021

50plus LIFE

LOCAL INSECTS from page 2 nectar, lay eggs on milkweed plants, and then die. The next two generations each summer consume milkweeds as caterpillars, pupate, and continue north, sipping nectar, laying eggs on milkweed, and dying.

But each year’s fourth generation journeys to Mexico to escape winter.

During October, many hundreds of fluttering, orange-and-brown pearl crescent butterflies, which have 1-inch wingspans, swarm upon thousands of lovely aster flowers in sunny fields, meadows, and roadsides to sip nectar.

Asters are one of the last big sources of nectar at the end of each growing season.

Also during October, as a response to colder nights, many differential grasshoppers and wooly bear caterpillars cross country roads.

The large, gray-green grasshoppers leap across those rural roads to find favorable places in soil to spawn eggs before they die in frost. Wooly bears undulate over the blacktop to find sheltered places in the ground to spend the coming winter.

By late October, swarms of attractive ladybug beetles and ash-leafed maple bugs, or box elder bugs, congregate in groups of their own in sheltered places, including under logs, leaf litter, or rock piles, where they will spend the winter in relative safety.

These great gatherings are seldom seen by most people, but it’s still interesting to acknowledge their presence.

These are just a few intriguing insects living in southeastern Pennsylvania.

There are many other kinds that offer interest to times spent outdoors.

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

www.50plusLifePA.com

CROSSWORD

Puzzle Page

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 21.

SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Words Ending in “KY” Chunky Dinky Ducky Dusky Frisky Gawky Hanky Husky Lucky Milky Perky Porky Risky Rocky Silky Sneaky Spooky Squeaky Tricky Wacky

Across 1. Blubber 4. Piggery 7. Church official 13. Actress Longoria 14. Potpie morsel 15. Flying charge 16. Political pork, usually 18. Whiskey type, once 19. Greek letter 20. Stair parts 22. Echelon 23. I love (Lat.) 24. Dodge Down 1. Charge 2. Greed 3. N.C. state name 4. Health resort 5. ___ cotta 6. Wash. city 7. Designer name 8. Irregularly notched 9. Astern 10. Ariz. neighbor 11. Mine find 12. Minus (abbr.)

15. Lincoln 17. Virtuous 21. Malcontents 22. Plaything

29. Bounding main 31. District 34. Distinctive flair 35. Banana color 37. Exceptional sight 39. Flammable mixture 41. Like some confrontations 45. Fit for farming 50. Partner of ready and willing 51. Afternoon affairs 53. Healing plants 54. Peachy-keen

56. Downturn 58. Getaway spots 59. Humiliates 62. Acquire 63. Gabfest 67. Big party 70. Paprika 71. Chinese principle 72. Eskimo knife 73. Gauge, as a work assignment 74. Barley bristle 75. L.A. clock setting

25. Neckline shape 26. Barley brew 27. Time period 28. Compass heading 30. Faux pas 32. Chow down 33. Eastern pooh-bah 36. Light bulb unit 38. Zhivago’s love 40. “Ulalume” poet 41. Summer shade 42. Japanese sash 43. Lord of the Rings figure 44. Asian holiday 46. Set straight

47. Studied 48. Soup ingredient 49. Double curve 52. Sonora snooze 55. Gapes 57. “Fiddlesticks!”

60. Flying mammals 61. Back then 63. Number cruncher, for short 64. Towel stitching 65. Computer communications (abbr.)

66. Maiden name 68. Charged particle 69. Kind of instinct

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50plus LIFE

September 2021

7

70% of Americans Have Experienced Trauma: Recognize the Signs of PTSD

By Brian Reese

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can affect any of us.

Recent statistics suggest that up to 70% of all adults in the U.S. — that’s 231 million Americans — have experienced a traumatic event that’s significant enough to cause PTSD or lead to the development of mental health symptoms.

While experiencing trauma doesn’t necessarily mean you have symptoms that warrant a PTSD diagnosis, you may benefit from getting help from your doctor, psychologist, or psychiatrist.

Several factors can increase the likelihood that someone will develop PTSD, many of which are not under that person’s control.

For example, while women are more likely to experience sexual assault and child sexual abuse, men are more likely to experience serious accidents, physical assault, combat, or disaster, or to witness death or injury. Children can develop PTSD, too.

What is PTSD? According to the American Psychiatric Association, PTSD is a mental health condition that may occur in people who have experienced or witnessed a traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, severe accident, terrorist act, war/ combat, or rape, or who have been threatened with death, sexual violence, or serious injury.

Those with PTSD typically have intense, disturbing thoughts and feelings related to their traumatic experience that last long after the traumatic event itself. People living with PTSD may relive the traumatic event repeatedly via flashbacks, nightmares, anxiety, depression, fear, anger, and detachment.

While a formal diagnosis of PTSD requires the person to have been exposed to a traumatic event, the exposure could be indirect rather than first-hand. For example, PTSD could occur in an individual learning about the violent death or suicide of a close family member or friend.

Common Signs and Symptoms of PTSD PTSD symptoms can begin at any time after exposure to a traumatic event, but sometimes symptoms may not appear until years afterward.

These symptoms can cause significant problems in your work, life, or social functioning. They can also interfere with your ability to accomplish routine tasks. In addition, the severity of your symptoms can vary from person to person over time.

The Mayo Clinic divides PTSD symptoms into four types: 1. Intrusive memories – These include: recurrent, unwanted, distressing memories of the traumatic event; reliving the event as if it were happening again (flashbacks); upsetting dreams or nightmares about the event; and/or severe emotional distress or physical reactions to something that reminds you of the event.

2. Avoidance – Symptoms may include trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event and avoiding places, activities, or people that remind

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50plus LIFE

you of it.

3. Adverse changes in thinking and mood – These may include: negative thoughts about yourself, other people, or the world; hopelessness about the future; memory problems, including not remembering important aspects of the traumatic event; difficulty maintaining close relationships; feeling detached from family and friends; lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed (depression); difficulty experiencing positive

emotions; and feeling emotionally numb.

4. Changes in physical and emotional reactions – Also called arousal symptoms, changes to these reactions could include: anxiety and depression; being easily startled or frightened; always being on guard for danger; selfdestructive behavior, such as drinking too much or driving too fast; trouble sleeping; trouble concentrating; irritability, angry outbursts, or other aggressive behavior; and overwhelming guilt or shame.

Living with PTSD I suffer from PTSD, and for me, it negatively impacts every aspect of my life. I have trouble sleeping and suffer from daily battles with anxiety, depression, anger, and disturbing thoughts and memories about the trauma.

In addition, I live with emotional detachment; I can be in a room full of people and feel completely alone.

I generally don’t trust people; I’m most comfortable in the confines of my own home and typically go out of my way to avoid certain situations.

When to Seek Help If you have disturbing thoughts and feelings about a traumatic event or if you feel you’re having trouble getting your life back under control, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional right away. Getting treatment as soon as possible can help prevent PTSD symptoms from getting worse.

If you or someone you know has suicidal thoughts, get help right away through one or more of these resources: • Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at (800) 273-8255 to reach a trained counselor 24/7/365. Use that same number and press 1 to reach the Veterans Crisis Line.

• Reach out to a close friend or loved one.

• Contact a pastor, spiritual leader, or someone in your faith community.

• Make an appointment with your primary care doctor or mental health professional.

Those with PTSD aren’t crazy or broken. It’s called life, and stuff happens.

You matter — your life matters. The truth is we all have things going on in our lives that others know nothing about. www.50plusLifePA.com

Getting help is not a sign of weakness; it’s a sign of strength. Mental health is health, and it must be prioritized in the same way we prioritize our physical and spiritual health.

I still take medications, go to therapy, and practice mindfulness. And it’s OK not to be OK. Please look out for each other and ask the hard questions of those around you. Doing so might save someone’s life.

A leading expert on veteran benefits, Brian Reese is the author of You Deserve It and founder of VA Claims Insider (vaclaimsinsider.com). He’s a former activeduty Air Force officer and received the Defense Meritorious Service Medal. He is a Distinguished Graduate of Management from the United States Air Force Academy and earned his MBA as a National Honor Scholar.

Tax Prep Volunteers Needed for Spring Tax Season Do you have experience doing your own taxes? Are you interested in learning about the new tax laws?

Are you looking for an opportunity to give back to your community?

The AARP TaxAide Foundation Program is expanding its team of volunteers in York County and is looking for capable, motivated, compassionate, and friendly volunteers to join its team for the upcoming tax season.

Tax-Aide is a program that offers free tax-filing help for those who need it most, especially adults 50 and older, during tax season. AARP membership is not required.

AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers receive training and

continued support in a welcoming environment. There are a variety of roles for individuals at every level of experience.

Volunteer tax preparers complete tax-preparation training and IRS certification prior to working with taxpayers.

There is also a need for grassroots leadership, onsite greeters, and interpreters who can provide language assistance.

The program is offered at 15 locations in: York, Hanover, Delta, Dover, Lewisberry, Manchester, Mount Wolf, Red Lion, Shrewsbury, Spring Grove, and Wrightsville.

For more information, contact Dick Hershey at (717) 640-5006 or yorkaarptaxaide@gmail.com.

Are you getting your share of the

SILVER ECONOMY? Which buyers make up the Silver Economy?

• 962 million men and women over the age of 60 • A group with 11 times more wealth than millennials • Persons with a life expectancy in the U.S. is about 78.87 years • Persons who prefer in-person contact when possible • A group that wants to age at home as long as reasonable

Why do you want to reach these buyers?

• They are free of many economic burdens • They like to take care of themselves, be active, eat well, be fashionable, and have fun • They have more free time • They are looking for products and services to help them age well

What sectors are on the rise?

The obvious:

The not-so-obvious:

• Home improvements/renovations • Tourism and leisure activities tailored for them • Caregiver solutions • Financial products geared for seniors • Retirement living

• Security technology – mobile apps, sensors, wearable devices, smart clothing, etc.

• Pet care – pet sitting, walking, grooming, food, accessories, etc.

• Gardening/lawn services combined with snow removal • Mobile esthetic and concierge services – hairstylist, manicurist, massage, facials • Personal services – running errands, shopping

What are you waiting for?

51% of people aged 52-70 spend fewer than 11 hours a week online.

While businesses need an online presence, print adds power to a media campaign.

Most boomers and seniors are open to and love classic media.

50plus LIFE—Covering Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties—is an excellent venue!

Call to learn how we can help you reach our 150,000+ readers of 50plus LIFE! 717.285.1350 or email info@onlinepub.com

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50plus LIFE

September 2021

9

The History of Ordinary Things

Doris Montag

The Legacy of Sears, Roebuck & Company Catalogs

In 1887, Richard W. Sears hired stubble plows (the 12-inch model for Alvah C. Roebuck to repair watches $8.50), egg incubators, blacksmith tools, while he established a mail-order and windmills. business to sell the watches using a free catalog. Two years later, R.W. Sears sold • Appliances in this era meant the watch business. iceboxes, coal and wood stoves, and In 1893, Sears, along with Roebuck, treadle sewing machines ($10.45). founded another mail-order operation Sears sold silverware, dishes, linens, known as Sears, Roebuck & Company. iron beds ($2.45 to $14.90), paint, Two years later, Julius Rosenwald and wallpaper. bought out Roebuck’s interest, but the company retained his name. Richard • Domestic wares included stockings Sears, meanwhile, wrote the company’s in cotton and wool, hats, corsets, soon-to-be-famous catalogs. suspenders, shoes, fabric (percale 10 The advent of Rural Free Postal cents per yard), and patterns.

The 1897 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Richard Warren Sears Service Delivery in 1896 and Parcel catalog.

(1863–1914), founder of Post in 1913 made distribution of the Sears also had a range of interesting Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalogs economical. The postal system pseudo-medical and related products: classified mail-order publications as “aids in the dissemination of • Dr. Worden’s Female Pills (35 knowledge,” qualifying the catalogs for cents per box) are described as the postage rate of 1 cent per pound. “a great blood purifier and nerve Sears was able to send its catalogs tonic; cures all diseases arising and merchandise across the country to from a poor and wasted condition even the most isolated customers, selling of the blood when worn down by a wide range of goods at low prices to overwork, worry, excesses, and people without access to retail outlets. indiscretions of living.”

The 1902 Sears, Roebuck & Co. Catalogue had 1,162 pages printed • Dr. Rose’s Arsenic Complexion in font size eight. Customers were Wafers (50 treatments for 35 cents) encouraged to “read the policies” and are described as “perfectly harmless to forgo sending nuisance letters when when used in accordance with our the information was provided in the directions.” The wafers reportedly Jiffy Way egg scale (weight determined assigned size of an catalog. “produced a transparency and egg). Farm Master by Sears, Roebuck & Co., circa 1950s.

Sears accepted “cash only — remit by pellucid clearness of complexion” post office money order, express money (while slowly poisoning the user). order, bank draft, cash, or stamps.”

At the time, a white complexion There were no installment payments. was a symbol of status.

Shipping was by post office mail — registered recommended — or by freight.

A few of the products sold in 1902 are named below. As a reference, $1 in • “If Nature has not favored you with that greatest charm, a symmetrically 1902 was equivalent to $30 in today’s money. rounded bosom, full and perfect,” then for only $1.50, you could get either Bust Cream and Food, or the Princess Bust Developer. Looking • A new price list for groceries came out every 60 days. They even sold much like a toilet plunger, the Developer was available in 3.5- and 5-inch Cracker Jacks at 82 cents for 24 packages! Groceries were discontinued in diameters and was guaranteed to get results.

1941.

• Sears manufactured guns and sold cartridges, automatic revolvers ($2.95), air shot rifles, derringers, shotguns, and more.

• There was a large section dedicated to horse supplies, harnesses, and saddles ($3.75 to $22.85), along with buggies and wagons.

• Farm goods ranged from cast iron pig troughs ($4.85) to horse-drawn

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Sears, Roebuck & Co. mail-order business was vital to meeting the needs of town and country folks for over a century, and many of us have fond catalog memories to be recalled with this history.

Doris Montag is a homespun historian and an exhibit curator who researches and displays historical collections of ordinary things, such as can openers, crochet, toy sewing machines, hand corn planters, powder compacts, egg cartons, and more.

Contact or follow her on Facebook, HistoryofOrdinaryThings.

www.50plusLifePA.com

The care you want, where you want it.

Right here.

Hampden Medical Center Opening on Oct. 1, 2021 • Emergency Services • Inpatient Care

• Surgical Services • Labor and Delivery

To learn more visit pennstatehealth.org/hampden

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50plus LIFE

September 2021

11

Boomers, Seniors, Caregivers Invited to York County 50plus EXPO

19th Annual

YORK COUNTY

The 50plus EXPO, central Pennsylvania’s one-day information and entertainment event focused on the 50-plus community, will return to York County this month.

The 19th annual York County 50plus EXPO will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 23, at the York Expo Center – Memorial Hall East, 334 Carlisle Ave., York.

Hosted by OLP Events, the EXPO’s exhibitors will provide up-to-date information focused on the health, lifestyle, and needs of the local 50-plus community. Admission and parking are free.

WellSpan Health will sponsor a Health & Wellness Area with free information, seminars, and health screenings. Additional free health screenings will include a BMI screening by Capital BlueCross and hearing evaluations conducted by Miracle-Ear. Hillcrest Pharmacy & Compounding will be administering flu shots during the EXPO on a first-come, first-served basis, and guests can enjoy onstage entertainment and educational seminars.

Sponsors include 50plus LIFE, Bellomo & Associates, Berkshire Hathaway, BUSINESSWoman, Capital BlueCross, Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of York, Highmark BlueShield, Homeland at Home, WellSpan Health, and WHTM abc27.

To check out door prizes and other updates for the 50plus EXPO, please visit 50plusExpoPA.com.

Sept. 23, 2021 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

York Expo Center Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Ave. York

Let’s safely come together again!

It’s time to get out and: • Be social again … safely • Discover new products and services • Learn about local businesses and organizations • Check out what’s new in retirement living

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Sponsored by:

Principal Sponsors:

Health & Wellness Sponsor:

Seminar Sponsors: Bellomo & Associates • Berkshire Hathaway Capital Blue Cross

Supporting Sponsors: Highmark Blue Shield Homeland at Home

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September 2021

Visitor Bag Sponsor: Encompass Health Rehabilitation Hospital of York

50plus LIFE

Media Sponsor: Dr. John Deitch WellSpan Orthopedics

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Don’t Miss the Great Lineup of Seminars and Entertainment at the EXPO! 9:45 a.m. – A Tribute to the King Presented by Jeff Krick, Elvis Presley Tribute Artist Award-winning Elvis Presley tribute artist Jeff Krick will bring the sights, sounds, charisma, and stage presence of “The King” to the EXPO stage. Since becoming a professional Elvis Presley tribute artist in 1990, Krick has toured across the United States and Canada as part of his Elvis in Concert Tribute and has performed with Presley’s own backup vocal group, The Stamps Quartet.

Plans starting at $0 Go to CapitalBlueMedicare.com to learn more.

Capital Blue Cross Medicare BlueJourney PPO is offered by Capital Advantage Insurance Company®, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in BlueJourney PPO depends on contract renewal. Capital Blue Cross and its subsidiary Capital Advantage Insurance Company are independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

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10:30 a.m. – Medicare 101 Presented by Tara Pew, Broker Manager, Capital BlueCross Do you find Medicare confusing? Unsure of how the program works? Attend this free seminar and learn the basics: what the differences are between Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplemental plans, when you should initiate the process of applying for Medicare Part B, how to avoid late-enrollment penalties, and more.

11:15 a.m. – Menopause Chat Presented by Melanie Ochalski, M.D., WellSpan Health Along with hot flashes and memory loss, menopause can bring on a host of emotional challenges. We’ll talk about both the common physical symptoms and emotional feelings that can accompany menopause. Participants are welcome to discuss their own concerns and ask questions.

A Spirit of Service, A Legacy of Trust

Enjoy more time with those you love and less worrying about future “what-ifs” with SpiriTrust Lutheran’s® family of services. Our spirit of caring has enhanced the lives of seniors and earned the trust of thousands for 70 years.

Noon – Ready, Set, Move: How to Prepare to Sell Your Home Presented by Paula Musselman, Realtor, Senior Real Estate Specialist, and Todd Krahling, Sales Manager, Homesale Mortgage – Berkshire Hathaway Homesale Services How do you determine what your home is worth? How long will it take to sell your home?

Where do you start the process to move? Learn the answers to these questions, and about loans available for home renovations, during this seminar.

SpiriTrust Lutheran® Life Plan Communities includes six campuses: • The Village at Gettysburg, Gettysburg • The Village at Kelly Drive, York • The Village at Luther Ridge, Chambersburg • The Village at Shrewsbury, Shrewsbury • The Village at Sprenkle Drive, York • The Village at Utz Terrace, Hanover

SpiriTrust Lutheran® LIFE, Living Independence for the Elderly, features a personalized program with medical and personal care assistance, recreation therapy, and social opportunities for those 55+. Services are conveniently provided in the participant’s home or at one of two LIFE Centers in Enola and Chambersburg. (Cumberland and Franklin Counties only)

These communities feature: • Maintenance-free retirement living in one of our residential neighborhoods • Support with daily activities in one of our personal care or assisted living neighborhoods • Specialized care in our memory support assisted living neighborhood • Short-term rehabilitation or nursing care in one of our skilled care centers

SpiriTrust Lutheran® Home Care & Hospice provides health care and related services to those striving to achieve the highest quality of life, as well as in-home medical, spiritual and emotional support from an interdisciplinary team of caregivers.

Come discover the SpiriTrust Lutheran not-for-profit, faith-based difference and expand life’s possibilities!

www.SpiriTrustLutheran.org www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus LIFE

Pet Friendly

September 2021

13

Social Security News

Do You Know These Social Security Terms?

By John Johnston

Some of the terms and acronyms people use when they talk about Social Security can be a little confusing. We’re here to help you understand.

We strive to explain your benefits using easy-tounderstand, plain language. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to communicate information clearly in a way “the public can understand and use.”

This can be particularly challenging when talking about complicated programs like Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicare. If there’s a technical term or acronym that you don’t know, you can find the meaning in our online glossary at ssa.gov/agency/glossary.

Here are a few examples. If you’re considering retirement, you may want to know your FRA (full retirement age) and your PIA (primary insurance amount). These terms determine your benefit amount based on when you start getting requirement benefits.

The PIA is the amount payable for a retired worker who starts his or her

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benefits at full retirement age. If you start your retirement benefits at your FRA, you’ll receive the full PIA. Most years, your benefit amount will get a COLA (cost-of-living adjustment), which usually means extra money in your monthly benefit.

What about DRCs (delayed retirement credits)?

DRCs are the gradual increases to your PIA that occur the longer you delay taking retirement benefits after your full retirement age. Every month you delay taking benefits, up to age 70, your monthly benefit will increase.

If one of these terms or acronyms comes up in conversation, you can be the one to help clarify the meaning, using our online glossary. Learning the terminology can deepen your understanding of how Social Security programs work for you.

John Johnston is a Social Security public affairs specialist.

Why Newspapers?

84%

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

Not ready for Medicare?

Go to DiscoverHighmark.com to learn about our individual plans.

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

Because in print or online, newspapers are

the most trusted source of news and information among all age groups.1

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

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To advertise your products and services, call 717-285-1350 or email info@onlinepub.com Sources: 1Coda Ventures; 2NAA

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The Reel Deal

Cry Macho Randal Hill

The new Clint Eastwood film Cry Macho — he directs and from 1958 to 1966. stars in it — is based on N. Richard Nash’s 1975 novel of the After it was axed, Eastwood turned his attention to movies. same name.

In Cry Macho, Eastwood becomes Miko, a washed-up Texas Nash had originally written it as a Western screenplay. When widower who had once been a celebrated rodeo star and a it didn’t sell as a film script, he turned his tale into a successful respected horse breeder. novel and later explained to the Orlando Sentinel, “I had a Bitter and broke, he is offered a small fortune — $50,000 — screenplay called Macho that nobody wanted. It occurred to me to by an ex-boss to go to Mexico City to kidnap and bring back his do a quick novelization. I got a $10,000 advance and completed it 11-year-old son Rafo (Eduardo Minett), whose mother (Fernanda as Cry Macho in two weeks …

Urrejola) is an alcoholic.

“When [a movie studio] asked me to do the screenplay, I gave On their journey back to America through the harsh rural them what they had rejected — didn’t change a word — and they landscape of Mexico, Miko teaches the boy what it means to be a loved it!” good man. In doing so, Miko comes to reflect on his own life.

Image © Warner Bros. Pictures.

Nash’s script ended up being passed around for decades, with Nick Schenk wrote the scripts for the Eastwood gems Gran such Hollywood heavyweights as Burt Lancaster, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Turino (2008) and The Mule (2018). Nash died in 2000, but screenwriter and Pierce Brosnan showing interest but never bringing the story to the silver Schenk has turned Nash’s story into a highly watchable tale. screen. (Eastwood had first considered Nash’s gritty story back in 1988.)

Nobody doubts that Mr. E, at age 91, can still “bring it” in a movie. Of Both Nash and Eastwood had been showbiz personalities since the 1950s. course he can. Still, he undoubtedly spoke with tongue planted firmly in cheek Nash had written the 1954 Broadway hit The Rainmaker, which years later when he recently proclaimed, “I think being able to age gracefully is a very was filmed as a musical under the title 110 in the Shade. important talent. It is too late for me.”

After Eastwood was drafted into the Army, he fulfilled his military The PG-13 Warner Brothers release opens Sept. 17. obligation as a Fort Ord (California) pool lifeguard. He found stardom at age Randal C. Hill enjoys getting sneak peeks of forthcoming movies from his home on 28 as Rowdy Yates on the blockbuster CBS-TV series Rawhide, which ran the Oregon coast. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

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| Harrisburg, PA September 2021

15

Sixties Flashback

The Misadventures of a Bottle(d) Blonde Randal C. Hill

It’s the 1950s. Gorgeous Barbara Eden sits in the Hollywood office of a Warner Brothers casting director.

“You’re a very nice girl from San Francisco,” the man explains with a grin. “But I really think you should go home and marry the boy at home.

This isn’t the town for you. You’re just not pretty enough.” ...

Eden didn’t follow his advice, however, and when she was cast later in the TV adaptation of How to Marry a Millionaire, Eden became a respected comedic actress.

Eventually, she won the role that brought her superstardom as the bottle-dwelling beauty on NBC-TV’s I Dream of Jeannie series.

The hit show was inspired by the 1964 movie The Brass Bottle. Originally a 1900 novel, it later became a film that featured Tony Randall, Burl Ives, and — lo and behold — Barbara Eden.

In Jeannie, Larry Hagman, the son of Broadway

Publicity photo of Barbara Eden from I Dream of Jeannie.

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legend Mary Martin, co-starred as straight-arrow astronaut Capt. (later Maj.) Tony Nelson. But Hagman often proved disgruntled during the 139 I Dream of Jeannie episodes, as we’ll see later.

The opening show, set on a deserted island beach, saw Capt. Nelson stumble across Jeannie’s bottle home, where she had been imprisoned for two millennia. Soon, in a puff of pink smoke, the striking beauty was set free — and that’s when the fun began.

The show’s success meant keeping network censors busy trying to maintain a morally upright offering. Even though Jeannie slept in her bottle and Tony in his bed, it could never be shown that the bottle was in the captain’s bedroom. (They weren’t married until the fifth and final year of the show.)

Also, Eden wasn’t supposed to expose her navel, although it did appear occasionally. Along the way, some morality-oriented gatekeepers groused about her parading around in a “nightie.”

Eden dismissed that, explaining, “It’s what she wore during the day. That was her dress; that was her

uniform.”

Finally, some feminists protested that Eden subjugated herself to Hagman.

This brought about her miffed response: “She called him ‘master,’ but who was the real master there? She was … She wasn’t his subject; she was his equal.”

Hagman’s solo star turn would arrive later when, in 1978, he became infamous as the ruthless oil baron J.R. Ewing on the CBS-TV nighttime soap opera Dallas. Its success allowed him to abandon comedy.

Jeannie creator Sidney Sheldon (later the author of 18 hit novels) has admitted that not all went swimmingly on the I Dream of Jeannie set during its five-year run.

“The problem was Larry Hagman,” Sheldon has candidly admitted. “He wanted to be the star … [But] it was Barbara who was getting all the magazine covers and interviews. Larry wanted to show the world that he could be as successful as his mother …

“I began to write scripts to build up Larry’s character and make him more prominent. But when an actor is in a show with a scantily clad actress as beautiful and enticing as Barbara Eden, it is very difficult to become the star.”

Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

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The Bookworm Sez

When Women Invented Television Terri Schlichenmeyer

Turn it up. several decades into a mere 276 pages of narrative, This is the best part of the whole series; it’s which doesn’t seem enough. a great bit, the funniest one. You’ve seen every Or maybe it’s because few of the stories come episode of this favorite show multiple times, and directly from the women themselves (three of them you know the must-watch scenes, every line, every are deceased). Perhaps streaming the shows or outfit change, new set, and new character. finding clips online might help give a better frame And in When Women Invented Television by of reference.

Jennifer Keishin Armstrong, you’ve still got a lot to And yet, if you’re hooked on TV, this is a book learn. for you.

Gertrude Berg clearly understood how much The remarkableness of these four women’s power she wielded — still, in the fall of 1948, when history-making achievements is clear when she walked into the Madison Avenue office of the Armstrong puts them into a time-perspective, Photo credit: A. Jesse Jiryu Davis man in charge of CBS, she knew she was taking a and it’s easy to get a bit outraged that their When Women Invented Television: chance. accomplishments have been forgotten. This book The Untold Story of the Female Powerhouses For years, she’d been the writer, casting director, fixes that oversight.

Who Pioneered the Way We Watch Today star, and force behind the network’s most popular And so ignore your streaming queue this

By Jennifer Keishin Armstrong radio show, The Goldbergs. Berg wanted to take that weekend, turn off the screen, and settle in to c. 2021, Harper popularity to the new medium of television, and watch a good story unfold. When Women Invented 334 pages she told William S. Paley so.

Television is must-read TV. Don’t turn it down.

He agreed, and by the end of 1949, The Goldbergs The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years was a hit with a solid sponsor, and Gertrude Berg was a television star. old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin It was not quite as easy for Irna Phillips. with two dogs and 14,000 books.

Today, we’d tell Phillips to slow down. She was a hundred-mile-an-hour single mother of two adopted children and the creator, solo writer, and daily juggler of multiple radio “soap operas.”

She saw the coming of television and its irresistible possibilities, but getting her work there was a struggle.

Hazel Scott had no problem transitioning from live concerts to TV: The DuMont Network had approached the piano “genius” with the offer of a primetime show.

No more dealing with Jim Crow laws. No more on-tour weeks away from her husband and son. A steady job close to home was a dream for Scott, until the Red Scare of the 1950s targeted this Black woman.

Betty White had one motto: “Always say yes.”

So when career opportunities were offered, she took them, transitioning from radio to TV easily and moving up the ladder to stardom. But, says Armstrong, White’s decisions affected her personal life for decades to come.

For a classic TV watcher, When Women Invented Television is gold. It’s a delight in ink and paper, like reading about the outtakes of your favorite shows.

But it seems to be … off. Like something is missing, perhaps because author and journalist Jennifer Keishin Armstrong chose to shrink four stories and

M� ��� ��� ���l� I �e�is� ���?

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

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SEPTEMBER 9 - NOVEMBER 6 The Broadway hit comes right to our stage! Told through ABBA’s greatest hits, this comical story finds Sophie, a bride-to-be, in search of her birth father on a beautiful Greek island. After reading her mom’s diary, Sophie secretly invites the three men her mom wrote about to her wedding. This enchanting and unforgettable tale of love, laughter, family and friendship is set to classic ABBA songs including “Dancing Queen,” “Take a Chance on Me,” “SOS,” and the title song “Mamma Mia!” Get Your Tickets Today!

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Fall breeze, autumn leaves ...

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Simply mail this form and $15 for an annual subscription to: 50plus LIFE • P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604 Call (717) 285-8131, or subscribe online at www.50plusLIFEPA.com!

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Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Lori Verderame

Donated David Bowie Painting Sells for Big Bucks

A circa 1995–97 oil-on-canvas portrait painting by the late music icon David Bowie sold at auction for $108,120 Canadian recently.

That statement in and of itself is not all that groundbreaking until the rest of the story is told.

The painting was purchased for $5 Canadian at a thrift store or donation center in northern Ontario.

David Robert Jones is the given name for the music legend David Bowie (1947–2016), who is best known, not for his fine art, but instead for his music.

His final album, Blackstar, was an international hit. Many of his albums entered the Billboard 200, including The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars, Hunky David Bowie on stage Dory, Let’s Dance, Aladdin Sane, Low, and The during the 1983 Next Day. Serious Moonlight tour Compilation albums like Best of Bowie are established hits. Bowie had the most albums in the Top 40 at one time with 12, along with the likes of Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson.

David Bowie died in Manhattan, New York, in 2016 after suffering from liver cancer for more than a year.

Early in his life, Bowie studied art and design as a young man, and throughout his life, he collected fine art of the 20th century, including pieces by the German Expressionists, Francis Bacon, and many British painters.

The painting that sold for $108,120 Canadian recently at Cowley Abbott auctioneers in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, was entitled DHead XLVI. An abstract portrait head in a turquoise, white, and red palette, DHead XLVI was part of a series of paintings dating to the mid-1990s.

The painting was discovered in the summer of 2020, when many people were donating objects galore as a result of the widespread home and storage cleaning sparked by lockdown time at home.

According to the auction house, which worked to authenticate the painting, DHead XLVI was purchased by an American collector for more than 10 times the pre-auction estimate.

Of course, the auction sales price sets a new record for a painting by David Bowie; a similar work from the series sold shortly after the musician’s death in 2016 for $39,000 Canadian in the United Kingdom.

It is not unusual to see active bidding when a celebrity name is attached to a work of art that is up for bid at auction. This painting was rare because not only did the piece come from a famous collection, but the artist had star power as well.

Even more interesting was the situation surrounding the discovery of the painting: at a Canadian donation center for a few dollars.

Such finds have been much more commonplace in the wake of the global COVID pandemic and resulting home cleanouts, with increased donations of unwanted vintage art and antiques.

Dr. Lori Verderame is the award-winning Ph.D. antiques appraiser on History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island. Dr. Lori offers free information about antiques appraisals and selling at drloriv.com and youtube.com/drloriv.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Living with Kidney Stones: Decreasing Your Risk and Navigating the Healthcare System

By Samantha Bowick, MPH

Kidney stones are hard mineral deposits that form in the kidneys. They are foreign to the body and can cause issues no matter their size or your age.

Kidney stones are usually 2-5 mm but vary in size and can cause horrible pain. About 1 in 10 people will suffer with a kidney stone sometime in their life.

There are different types of kidney stones, which can make it difficult to know what to do to decrease your risk.

If you’ve ever had a kidney stone, your chances of having another one increase.

Here are some important tips that can help you determine your next steps if you suffer with kidney stones or want to decrease your risk of ever getting one: • Stay hydrated. Drinking as much water as possible keeps your body hydrated and toxins moving out of your body. The American Urological Association recommends people who form kidney stones drink at least 2.5 liters of water every day.

• Urinate when you have to go, rather than holding it. Not urinating when you need to holds the toxins in your body longer than they should be there.

If the nerves in the bladder aren’t functioning properly, urine can leak out of the bladder and back into the kidneys, causing blood and bacteria to go back in with it.

• If you’ve had a kidney stone before and it’s been tested, you can change your diet to decrease the possibility of forming another stone. For example: In 2019, I had lithotripsy, a medical procedure that uses shock waves or a laser to break down stones, and my kidney stone was tested. I had a calcium oxalate kidney stone. I have changed my diet to avoid foods high in oxalate, like almonds and kiwi, to try to decrease my risk of having another kidney stone.

• A sk your family members for their medical history.

Because kidney stones can run in families, knowing if they run in yours can be helpful information.

• Do as much research as possible before and after your doctor appointment. It is important to know what treatment options are available for kidney stone management and to be prepared for your doctor appointment so you aren’t pressured into doing anything you don’t feel comfortable with.

• Call your insurance company to find out which services are covered and which aren’t. Navigating insurance companies can be difficult, and it’s important to know what they cover so you don’t receive an unexpected bill in the mail or you’re not expected to pay a large sum of money at the time of service.

Having kidney stones is a painful experience that nobody ever wants to go through again. With the steps above, you can decrease your chances of having a kidney stone and advocate for yourself while navigating the healthcare system.

Samantha Bowick, MPH, is an author and patient advocate. She is the author of four books, including Living with Kidney Stones: The Complete Guide to Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Treatment Options. Bowick founded Chronic Illness Support, LLC, which aims to advocate, provide education, and increase awareness for chronic illnesses.

The road of life contains more than a few curves …

• You can also talk to your doctor about possible supplements that may help your urinary system function at optimal level.

It’s important that we advocate for ourselves or have a loved one with us at doctor appointments who can do so.

Doctor appointments can be overwhelming, and it’s important we do what we can to decrease that stress as much as possible and receive the answers we need.

Here are some ways you or your loved one can navigate the healthcare system by advocating for your health: • Write down any questions you or your loved one has for your doctor. No question is ridiculous. Your doctor is there for you and should answer any question you have. Examples of questions for your doctor are: 1. What is causing my pain?

2. Can you test my urine to see if I have an infection or order a CT scan to see if I have a kidney stone?

3. Can you refer me to a urologist?

4. W hat are ways we can remove my kidney stone if it won’t move on its own?

• Keep track of all of your symptoms and when they occur. This information can be crucial in your care as it can give your doctor a better picture of what’s going on. www.50plusLifePA.com

… 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

50pluslifepa.com/special-services

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September 2021

19

Our America: Remembering 9/11 20 Years Later

By James E. Patterson

After the attacks of Sept.

11, 2001, author and TV personality Hugh Downs edited My World: What My Country Means to Me by 150 Americans from All Walks of Life.

Downs, who died in 2020 at age 99, explained the book’s purpose in his introduction.

“People might wish both to express and to hear from others how they feel about the nation in light of the jarring events of Sept. 11, 2001.”

Downs received a variety of responses from celebrities, 9/11 firefighters flag memorial. politicians, athletes, and religious figures. Some replies were “insightful.” Some were “philosophic.”

Some expressed “deep personal outrage.”

All of them, Downs wrote, had “a newborn or reawakened feeling about the country we live in.”

Many of the contributors, including poet Maya Angelou, civil rights leader Coretta Scott King, journalist Helen Thomas, and TV personality Art Linkletter, are now deceased. Each made memorable contributions to the book.

“Let us vow that Sept. 11 will only strengthen the bonds of solidarity between all of America’s races, religions, and cultures,” wrote King.

Linkletter, a professional lecturer in later life, wrote, “When I talk about our freedoms, our opportunities, and the wide horizons of life in the U.S.A., the [audience] response is like touching an electric switch.”

Angelou wrote about the courage of the first responders at the World Trade Center, who “gave us the handhold we needed to pull ourselves up.”

Grammy Award-winning singer Jose Feliciano wrote that America is

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9/11 memorial wall.

Trade Center.

“We have survived the most savage attack on our nation in modern times and have answered it swiftly and bravely,” he wrote. “I used to wonder if we had the guts and character of our predecessors. I don’t anymore.”

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, upon visiting Ground Zero, recalled the words of President Abraham Lincoln.

When Lincoln dedicated a portion of the Gettysburg battlefield for use as a cemetery, he said it was the duty of the living “to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they … have thus far so nobly advanced.”

Bloomberg noted that “the same spirit that guided the soldiers at Gettysburg flowed through the rescuers of Sept. 11.”

Hugh Downs did a great job editing My America. In these pages, readers will find encouragement for 2021 and beyond.

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

Flaggers, Greeters Needed for Historic Railway RSVP – York County is seeking Volunteer benefits include: mileage volunteers 55 and over for Northern reimbursement, free supplemental Central liability Railway insurance, The historic in New recognition Freedom. and attraction includes a Flaggers appreciation replica 1860s steam and greeters events, and are needed at assistance with locomotive and a the historic clearances.

GP9 diesel engine. attraction, For more which information, includes a replica 1860s steam contact Scott Hunsinger at (717) locomotive and a GP9 diesel engine. 893-8474 or yorkrsvp@rsvpcapreg.

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“a beacon of freedom and opportunity.” He added, “This title, however, seems not to be possible without criticism — even, at times, conflict.”

These words from 20 years ago are a valuable lesson for today. Feliciano ended with another valuable lesson: “We must band together in solidarity, for as a nation, there has never been an equal, and as a people, there will never be a dilemma that we cannot overcome.”

TV personality Regis Philbin, who died last year, wrote of his feelings of “sorrow, doubt, and fear” after seeing the planes go into the World

”

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Over 2 Million Americans May Have Undiagnosed Atrial Fibrillation To learn more about the risk factors for afib, how to identify it, and/or how to manage it for those who already have it, visit StopAfib.org.

In honor of National Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) Awareness Month, StopAfib.org recommends taking these steps: 1. Stop and listen to your heart for racing, palpitations, or an irregular heartbeat.

2. Visit the doctor if you suspect you might have afib.

3. Get checked for underlying risk factors, such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or sleep apnea.

4. If diagnosed, make a plan with your doctor for managing your afib so you avoid a stroke, heart failure, and even dementia.

Just as importantly, tell friends and family members about afib to help increase awareness, and visit stopafib.org for more information.

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Puzzle Solutions

More than a decade ago, afib was a little-known condition.

After creating Atrial Fibrillation Awareness Month, patient advocacy organization StopAfib.org worked with medical society partners to get the U.S. Senate to designate September as National Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) Awareness Month, which they did, in 2009.

“That’s why now is the perfect time to remind people what afib is and how to recognize it in themselves or others, so they can get treatment (or ensure their loved ones do) before they develop a stroke, heart failure, or dementia,” said StopAfib.org founder Mellanie True Hills.

Afib is the most common irregular heartbeat. Having afib increases a person’s stroke risk by 500%.

According to the Framingham Heart Study, after the age of 55, there is a 1-in-3 lifetime risk of developing afib. It affects over 6 million people in the U.S., a number that will increase as the baby boomers age.

Most people with afib experience palpitations, fatigue, shortness of breath, and sometimes a racing heartbeat. Some report that their heart feels like a fish that is flopping around in their chest.

“Still, about one-third (over 2 million people in the U.S.) may be walking time bombs … they don’t feel any symptoms at all but are at risk for an afibrelated stroke,” True Hills said.

“And because COVID-19 causes heart damage for many, including arrhythmias (heartbeat issues), we will likely see an increased number of people living with afib. That’s why it’s more important than ever that people know what it is and how to recognize it.”

After having a procedure that made her afib-free, True Hills founded StopAfib.org to help others living with afib and to prevent afib-related strokes.

Because afib can take a physical, emotional, and financial toll on patients and their family members, StopAfib.org has curated a collection of news stories, webinars, and masterclasses to help increase knowledge about afib, so those living with it can improve their quality of life.

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50plus LIFE

September 2021

21

Willing to Wander

History Tucked into the Suburban Present Victor Block

Stepping off the train serve as an art gallery. after a short ride from a The tower of the modern metropolis, I was Columbine Mill, built in immediately introduced 1901 as a grain elevator, to a world that no longer looks out over the town. exists.

The charming Louthan More than 50 houses, House (circa 1905business establishments, 1909), named for its churches, and other builder, is home to the buildings provide an Café Terracotta, one of a introduction to small-town number of restaurants that th America during the 19 make Littleton a miniand early 20th centuries. magnet for foodies.

The tower of the Columbine Mill, built in 1901, Louthan House (circa 1905-1909) is now home A tiny log home built in Shopping also has a looks out over Littleton. to the Café Terracotta.

1861 is dwarfed by a larger local focus. One example dairy spread. A general is Reinke Bros., a store that operated in the Halloween superstore with late 1800s stands near a a focus on ghosts, goblins, depot where trains of the and ghouls. Strolling fabled Atchison, Topeka, through the twisted tangle and Santa Fe Railway once of aisles brings shoppers stopped. face-to-face with skulls, This setting greets skeletons, and other passengers disembarking merchandise that ranges from light rail trains from fun to frightening. connecting Denver with Walking provides an Littleton, Colorado, 20 introduction to a virtual minutes away in time outdoor art museum. but more than a century Some three dozen removed in atmosphere. sculptures — plus friezes, Passages, painted by Michelle Lamb in 2000, Year of Sundays by Rich Sargeant The setting is akin to paintings, and other th is a 40-foot-wide mural sitting just below commemorated Littleton’s 100 anniversary entering a Norman works — adorn sidewalks, the historic Denver and Rio Grande railroad in 1990.

Rockwell painting of life buildings, and parks. depot. as it used to be and, in Not to be outdone some ways, still is. by art aficionados, The first view of Littleton that people arriving theatergoers are drawn to the Town Hall Arts by train encounter is displayed on a 40-foot-wide Center. Over time, that elaborately decorated mural on a wall of the railroad station platform.

Italian Renaissance building has housed the town The colorful composition depicts more than 50 offices, volunteer fire department, court, and jail. historic structures, some long gone and others still It’s now the site of theater productions, concerts, standing. and other cultural offerings.

The seeds of the settlement were planted in A very different aspect of the past is explored at 1859, when the Pikes Peak gold rush attracted the Littleton Museum. In keeping with its name, miners to the community, along with merchants that institution has permanent exhibits that trace and farmers who came to supply and feed them. the area’s history, from the time when Arapaho, Since that modest birth, Littleton has expanded Cheyenne, and Ute Native Americans passed into a suburban community. The action is through to the pioneer era to more recent days. centered around a stretch of Main Street.

Its role as an affiliate of the Smithsonian A walking tour is a good way to take in historic Institution, along with the attractions of two Since its start as a gold-rush settlement in 1859, buildings and get a feel for the setting. Begin Littleton has expanded into a suburban community living history farms, are part of the reason why centered around a stretch of Main Street. at the light rail depot, a Victorian-style stone it’s ranked among the most outstanding history building constructed in 1875. Another train museums in the country. station and a vintage caboose parked next door The favorite attractions for many visitors are

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two living history settings that recreate farm life in the 1860s and 1890s.

The older spread represents a pioneer homestead during the area’s settlement period. Wandering from a modest, and modestly furnished, cabin to a reconstructed log barn, sitting at a desk in a one-room schoolhouse and chatting with a blacksmith as he toils at his trade, increased my appreciation for modern-day amenities often taken for granted.

Adding to the realistic setting are costumed interpreters who demonstrate quilting, plowing, cooking over a fire, and other chores.

A virtual “zoo’s-who” of farm animals, including oxen, mules, sheep, chickens, and honeybees, enhance the experience. Also adding authenticity are livestock, crops, and plants that were common during the time.

The Hudson Gardens boasts a collection of beehives that held as much interest for me as its extensive plantings themselves — not that areas devoted to roses, herbs, fragrance, and nearly two dozen other floral themes aren’t eye-catching and aromatic, or that signs identifying displays with names like Balloon Flower and Fat Albert don’t elicit a smile.

It’s just that when a town resident is on hand to attend to one of the hives that locals are allowed to place in the garden, visitors are likely to learn more than they thought possible about the lifestyle of bees.

If learning that there are nearly 20,000 species of bees isn’t your cup of honey, perhaps reliving farm life from a bygone area will grab your attention.

Whatever your interests, you’re likely to find enough to fulfill them only a short train ride from downtown Denver.

For more information, log onto littleton.org.

After gallivanting around the world, Victor Block still retains the travel bug. He believes that travel is the best possible education. A member of the Society of American Travel Writers, Victor loves to explore new destinations and cultures, and his stories about them have won a number of writing awards.

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September 2021

23

Let’s Safely Come Together Again Face-to-Face!

2021 Expo Dates Exhibitor booths will be spatially distanced, and personal social-distancing and other CDC guidelines will be observed.

omen’s Expo

YORK COUNTY

Sept. 29

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY

Spooky Nook Sports 2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim

Oct. 13

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Carlisle Expo Center 100 K St. Carlisle

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9th Annual

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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

Sept. 18

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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Lebanon Expo Center 80 Rocherty Road Lebanon

Oct. 23

5th Annual

Sept. 23

10th Annual

22nd Annual

25th Annual

19th Annual

Caregiving • Finances • Health & Wellness • Home Improvements Leisure Activities • Nutrition • Retirement Living • Technology and more!

Health & Wellness • Finance • Home Shopping • Technology • Beauty Nutrition • Fashion and more!

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Spooky Nook Sports 2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim

omen’s Expo Cumberland County

Nov. 13

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Carlisle Expo Center 100 K St. Carlisle

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Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available!

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