York County Edition
July 2012
Vol. 13 No. 7
Self-Made Senior Idol 2012 Talent Competition Winner Earned Music Degree at 45 By Megan Joyce Most of us have encountered tough times in our lives where we were encouraged to heed the old adage of “dusting ourselves off ” or “picking ourselves up by our bootstraps.” We fall; we rise up; we move forward, bruised but vertical. These days, Vickie Kissinger’s bootstraps hang firmly hinged on a treble clef and a cluster of eighth-notes. The newly named 2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL and New Holland-area resident is a lifelong music lover, having started on the organ at just 5 years old. “My grandparents actually got me started in music. My grandmother in particular always had a love for music, and they took me for organ lessons,” Kissinger recalled. “That was just always a dream of hers: She wanted me to learn to play the organ.” As she grew up, her musical studies expanded to include piano as well, and by age 13 she was playing the organ in church; by 15, she was substituting for two different local churches. By high-school graduation, Kissinger was offered an organist position at a church in Akron. As a teenager, Kissinger had become interested in singing, and her jazzpiano teacher at the time encouraged her to embrace her voice. After she please see IDOL page 20 2012 PA
STATE
SENIOR IDOL Vickie Kissinger performing “At Last” by Etta James.
Inside:
Power Reigns Supreme at Senior Idol page 12
Discovery’s American Chopper at the Museum page 16
A Gardener’s Lament Sometimes the seeds I plant don’t sprout Or birds come by and scratch them out. And if there’s growth come from the seeds, There also are prolific weeds. Or when the plants get just so high, The cutworms come and make them die. I need to cultivate and yet I can’t do it. It is too wet. Then later on it’s hot and dry. Hook up the sprinkler and apply. The rabbits come and get their lunch. The coons upon my corn do munch. Green beans to pick, and more and more. My poor back’s getting very sore. I must spray for potato bugs. And on my lettuce are some slugs. Zucchini’s coming every day, And lots of them to give away. Beetles are everywhere I look. Some spray is what their goose will cook. What chewed on that, must be a mole? And here a groundhog dug a hole. You ask me why I don’t just quit. But don’t you see, I’m loving it.
Written and submitted by Hubert L. Stern
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Leader Heights Eye Center 309 Leader Heights Road, York, PA 17402
717-747-5430 www.lheyecenter.com Jeffrey R. Lander, MD Board certified with 27 years of experience Completed more than 5,400 cataract surgeries No shot, no stitch cataract surgery with all post-surgical care by the surgeon Medical eye care
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Trust your most precious sense to us www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Silver Threads
Some Finer Points of Baseball W.E. Reinka
“B
atter swings like a rusty gate.” That was me—I didn’t need the other team to remind me that I was what baseball scouts call “good glove/no bat.” But this rusty gate never lost his enthusiasm for the game. Besides marveling at how batters slam a wooden cylinder against a speeding orb, I love the cerebral aspects of baseball. Games turn on strategies that work (or don’t). Here are a few of baseball’s lesser-
known fundamentals that might enhance your appreciation for the game. Wasting a pitch. Rarely do you see a three-pitch called strikeout. When a batter is behind with a no-balls, twostrikes count, he is prepared to swing at almost any pitch that’s not over his head. The pitcher intentionally throws out of the strike zone hoping the batter will “go fishing” and either miss for strike three or hit a harmless roller. If you want
to see the epitome of rage, check out the manager after his pitcher gives up an 0-2 homerun. A hallowed baseball story tells how an old-time manager vowed to fine any pitcher $50 who didn’t waste a pitch. In one game, after the umpire called an 0-2 offering “strike three,” the pitcher came running in from the mound yelling, “That was a ball!”
curveball breaks vertically from 12 to 6 on the clock. Batters tend to swing over it unless it’s a “hanging curve” that takes too long to break and sits there like an apple on a branch. Sliders break sideways, low and away opposite the pitcher’s arm. Therefore, a right-handed slider breaks into a lefthanded batter or away from a righthanded batter. please see BASEBALL page 21
Curve versus slider. The classic
Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being. Adult Day Centers SeniorLIFE (814) 535-6000 Animal Hospitals Community Animal Hospital Donald A. Sloat, D.V.M. (717) 845-5669 Appraisals Steinmetz Coins & Currency (717) 757-6980 (866) 967-2646 Automobile Sales/Service Gordon’s Body Shop, Inc. (717) 993-2263 Stetler Dodge (717) 764-8888 Dry Cleaners Hanna Cleaners (717) 741-3817 Energy Assistance Low-Income Energy Assistance (717) 787-8750 Entertainment Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre (717) 898-1900 Eye Care Services Leader Heights Eye Center (717) 747-5430 USA Optical (717) 764-8788 www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Fitness YMCA of Hanover (717) 632-8211
Housing/Apartments Elm Spring Residence (717) 840-7676
Furniture
Otolaryngologists York ENT Associates (717) 843-9089
Housing Assistance
Pharmacies
Hakes Home Furnishings (717) 767-9068
Housing Authority of York (717) 845-2601
CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020
Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937
West York Pharmacy (717) 792-9312
Alzheimer’s Information Clearinghouse (800) 367-5115 American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383
Restaurants
York Area Housing Group (717) 846-5139 Insurance – Long-Term Care Apprise Insurance Counseling (717) 771-9610 or (800) 632-9073 Monuments Baughman Memorial Works, Inc. (717) 292-2621
CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 Elmwood Endoscopy Center PC (717) 718-7220 The National Kidney Foundation (800) 697-7007 or (717) 757-0604 Social Security Information (800) 772-1213 Healthcare Information PA HealthCare Cost Containment (717) 232-6787 Home Care Services Visiting Angels (717) 751-2488
Nursing Homes/Rehab Misericordia Nursing & Rehabilitation Center (717) 755-1964
Old Country Buffet (717) 846-6330 Retirement Communities Country Meadows of Leader Heights (717) 741-5118 Country Meadows of York (717) 764-1190 Services York County Area Agency on Aging (800) 632-9073
Orthotics & Prosthetics Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc (717) 851-0156 The Center for Advanced Orthotics & Prosthetics (717) 764-8737
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
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Savvy Senior
Tips and Treatments for Restless Leg Syndrome
Corporate Office: 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240
Jim Miller
Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson
EDITORIAL MANAGING EDITOR Christianne Rupp EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS Megan Joyce
ART DEPARTMENT PROJECT COORDINATOR Renee McWilliams PRODUCTION ARTIST Janys Cuffe
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Lori Lampert Angie McComsey Ranee Shaub Miller Sue Rugh SALES COORDINATOR Eileen Culp
CIRCULATION PROJECT COORDINATOR Loren Gochnauer
ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGER Elizabeth Duvall
Member of
Awards
Winner
50plus Senior News 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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July 2012
Dear Savvy Senior, What can you tell me about restless leg syndrome? I’m 58 years old, and my wife thinks I may have it because I sometimes wake her up at night kicking my legs. – Restless Larry Dear Larry, If an irresistible urge to move your legs has you kicking in your sleep, you may indeed have restless leg syndrome (RLS), a common, underdiagnosed condition that affects around 10 percent of Americans. Here’s what you should know.
• Does your desire to move often occur when you are resting or sitting still? • Does moving your legs make you feel better? • Do these symptoms bother you more at night? • Do your ever have involuntary leg movements while you are awake?
Do You Have RLS? RLS is a neurological disorder that causes unpleasant sensations in the legs (usually in the calf area) and an irresistible urge to move your legs when resting or sitting still, and the symptoms usually get worse with age. The main complaint with RLS, other than it being uncomfortable, is that it disrupts sleep. While researchers have yet to pin down a specific cause of RLS, they do know of various conditions that are linked to it, including: genetics (it often runs in families), anemia, kidney problems, peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, attention deficit disorder, and even pregnancy. Do you have RLS? If you answer yes to most of these questions, you probably do. • When you sit or lie down, do you have a strong desire to move your legs? • Does your desire to move your legs feel impossible to resist? • Would you use the words “unpleasant,” “creepy-crawly,” “electric current,” “itching,” “tingling,” “pulling,” or “tugging” to describe your symptoms?
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Tips and Remedies While there’s no cure for RLS, there are some things you can do to alleviate the symptoms. Depending on the severity of your case, here are some tips and remedies that may help: • Get a blood test: Studies show that an iron or vitamin deficiency can cause or worsen RLS. Your doctor can easily check this with a simple blood test and may recommend supplementing your diet with vitamin E, iron, vitamin B12, or folate.
• Limit caffeine and alcohol: Both of these can make symptoms worse. • Stretch: A good calf stretch and a strong massage may provide some relief. • Take a bath: For some people, a hot or cold bath can help, or try using a heating pad or ice pack. • Try compression: Wrapping ace bandages or wearing compression support stockings around the problem area have also been known to help. • Exercise: Moderate exercise (20 to 30 minutes three or four times a week) can also relieve symptoms and help you sleep better. Exercising late in the evening, however, can induce symptoms. • Reduce stress: Stress can aggravate RLS. Meditation and yoga are good relaxation techniques you may want to try, especially before going to bed at night. Treatments
• Check your meds: Certain drugs that treat high blood pressure, heart conditions, nausea, colds, allergies, and depression can make RLS worse. If you take any of these, ask your doctor if something else can be prescribed.
If the tips or remedies don’t improve your condition, prescription medications may help. Requip (or its generic Ropinirole) and Mirapex are two drugs approved by the FDA to treat RLS, but there are several other drugs that treat other conditions (dopaminergic agents, sedatives, anticonvulsants, and pain relievers) that have also been found to be helpful. Talk to your doctor about these options, or consult an RLS specialist (see rls.org to locate one) or a sleep specialist (see sleepcenters.org).
• Watch your diet: Pay attention to what you eat to see if it may cause or increase your symptoms.
Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
My 22 Cents’ Worth
Is the Only-Child Trend Desirable? Walt Sonneville hile the number of families in the United States continued to grow in the period from 2000 through 2008, the share of families with no children increased from 52 to 54 percent. Among families with children, the percentage of those having only one child increased sharply from 41.4 percent in 2000 to 47.8 percent in 2008, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau found that between 1976 and 2004, the percentage of women aged 40 to 44 with only one child almost doubled to 20 percent. Should these trends be worrisome? Does it suggest tomorrow’s seniors will be given less personal care by their sole offspring? Might it suggest that the only-child trend will lead to a nation of more adults who had been pampered by permissive parents? If an only child marries an only child, their children have no cousins. Without siblings and an extended family, how does an only child develop rivalry skills and interpersonal peer relationships prior to school years? There are many examples of celebrities without siblings who rose above the tumultuous circumstances of childhood. Rudolph Giuliani’s father served time in Sing Sing prison and, after his release, became an enforcer for his brother-inlaw’s crime gang. Alan Greenspan’s parents had a troubled marriage, divorcing when he was 5 years old. The father became estranged from the son and ex-wife. Cary Grant’s parents quarreled often, causing the son to seek escape in Saturday afternoon movies. His mother was committed to a mental institution when the boy was 10 years of age. Franklin Delano Roosevelt was cared for by a governess and tutored at home until he was 14 years old, then sent off to a boarding school. These are examples from past generations. What can be expected from the adults of the Me Generation (the
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1970s) and the Y Generation (19822002)? One writer characterized the Me Generation as having an apparent empathy deficit. In 2008 the TV show 60 Minutes had a program on the Y Generation describing them as “cynical, unaccustomed to hard work, and having fragile egos because their childhoods were filled with trophies and adulation, unprepared for the cold realities of work.” Is there a cause-effect relationship between the only-child trend and the narcissistic sense of entitlement attributed to the “Me” and “Y” generations? We know an only child can be hardworking and empathetic, but if substantial numbers of them are not so oriented, they can stigmatize their entire generation and stunt a nation’s progress. Our nation seems to be confronted with conflicting values. While overpopulation is a concern, having only one child may create its own undesirable effects. There are several reasons why the onechild trend has emerged. Economic uncertainty, divorce, and the high costs of childrearing are among them. The percentage of U.S. children raised by one parent (25.8 percent) is higher than any of the 26 other industrialized nations. Their average was 14.9 percent, according to a study by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. One clear advantage of having an only child is that it avoids the problems associated with primogeniture—that is, the age-old practice of giving the bulk of one’s estate to the eldest son. Walt Sonneville, a retired market-research analyst, is the author of My 22 Cents’ Worth: The Higher-Valued Opinion of a Senior Citizen, a book of personal-opinion essays, free of partisan and sectarian viewpoints. A Musing Moment: Meditative Essays on Life and Learning, was released in January 2012. Contact him at waltsonneville@earthlink.net.
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(717) 993-2263
Community Animal Hospital Our caring, well-trained staff will treat you and your pet like family
Donald A. Sloat, D.V.M. Office Hours: 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday 8 - 11:30 a.m. Saturday Doctor’s Hours by Appointment
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Serving the York community for over 40 years.
(717) 845-5669 • 400 South Pine Street • York
Harrisburg’s Oldies Channel!
• Breakfast with Ben Barber and News with Dennis Edwards • John Tesh with Music and Intelligence for Your Workday • Bruce Collier & The Drive Home
Online 24/7 at whylradio.com
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The Search for Our Ancestry
The 1940 Census Angelo Coniglio he United States Census has been taken every 10 years since 1790. It is used by the federal government for a variety of reasons, the primary one being to establish Congressional districts according to population. For protection of privacy, the census is not made public until 72 years after it is taken. Thus, this is the first U.S. census in which my name appears, as well as the names of many 50plus Senior News readers. Publication of the 1940 U.S. census has been a highly anticipated event by genealogists. It has also sparked an awareness in those who may not be that interested in the history of ancestors they never knew—because they can now find information they may not have known about their parents or even themselves. The 1940 census was the first taken after the start of Social Security, the first
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after the Great Depression, and the last before the nation’s entry into World War
II. It holds many nuggets of information about the “Greatest Generation.”
Many of the questions on the 1940 census are the standard ones: name, age, gender, race, education, and place of birth. But the 1940 census also asked many new questions. The instructions directed the enumerator to enter an X after the name of the person furnishing the information about the family; whether the person worked for the CCC, WPA, or NYA the week of March 24-30, 1940; and income for the 12 months ending Dec. 31, 1939. The 1940 census also has a supplemental schedule for two names on each page. The supplemental schedule asks the place of birth of the person’s father and mother; the person’s usual occupation, not just what they were doing the week of March 24-30, 1940; and for all women who are or have been married, if this woman has been married more than once and age at first marriage.
Does Your Marketing Reach Active, Affluent Boomers & Seniors? Reserve Your Space Now for the 10th Annual
Sept. 19, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center — Memorial Hall, East 334 Carlisle Avenue, York
Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars • Entertainment • Door Prizes Brought to you by:
Why Participate? It’s the premier event for baby boomers, caregivers, and seniors in York County • Face-to-face interaction with 3,000+ attendees • Strengthen brand recognition/launch new products
For sponsorship and exhibitor information: www.50plusExpoPA.com • (717) 285-1350 6
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The 1940 census is available online at several sites, including the free National Archives (NARA) (www.archives.gov/ research/census/1940); the free LDS site (www.familysearch.org/1940census); and the subscription site Ancestry.com. The demand for the NARA site has been so great that the 1940 census has been unavailable at the site while it was being reposted. It may be available by press time. Currently, all three sites are working feverishly to “index” the 1940 census: that is, to digitize the information so that users may search those databases by using the name of the person they are researching. Before that work is completed, the records must be “browsed,” or reviewed, page by page. That is not as daunting as it sounds, since federal censuses are recorded in a very organized manner, by state, county, town, and census “enumeration district” (ED). “Fine,” you may say, “but how do I know what enumeration district my parents lived in when I was born?” The task is made easier by that great friend of genealogical researchers, Stephen Morse. He has created a page (www.stevemorse.org/census/unified.html) that will help you find any enumeration district, if you have at least some idea of the address you’re researching. For researchers who have knowledge of the enumeration district of their ancestors in the 1930 census, it can be entered, and the 1940 ED will be returned. Otherwise, it allows you to enter a state, county, city or town, and then house number and street. This may result in several enumeration
districts, but the search can be narrowed if you enter the “bounding streets”; that is, the streets that define the city block for the searched-for address. If you’re not sure of the bounding streets, use a service such as Mapquest or Google Earth to find the street address, and then make a note of the streets that define the surrounding city block. Then enter them on the Stephen Morse site. An enumeration district number will be shown as a “live” link. Click on that link, and you will see links for five sites at which the records can be viewed, including the three mentioned above. The resulting ED may have 20 to 30 census pages that must be browsed until you find what you’re looking for—not really that boring a task, as you’re likely to awaken fond memories when you see the names of nearby families, including those of neighborhood kids you knew as a child. Readers:: I’m excited to announce that my first published book, The Lady of the Wheel (La Ruotaia), is now available. It’s historical fiction based on my genealogical research of Sicilian foundlings. See my page about it at www.bit.ly/ruotaia. Angelo Coniglio encourages readers to contact him by writing to 438 Maynard Drive, Amherst, NY 14226; by email at Genealogytips@aol.com; or by visiting www.conigliofamily.com/ConiglioGenealogy Tips.htm. His new historical fiction novel, The Lady of the Wheel, is available through Amazon.com.
Hey ... nice legs!
Locations in Dauphin, Lancaster & York counties
1590 Rodney Road, York, PA 17408
717-764 8737 • 1-800-676-7846
Nursing & Rehabilitation Center • Long-Term Care • Short-Term Rehab • Specialized Dementia Unit • In-house PT/OT/ST • In-house Pharmacy • Specialized Ventilator Unit with 24- hour Respiratory Care
Located at 118 Pleasant Acres Rd, York For More Information Call: (717) 840-7100
Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline Extended The deadline to apply for Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program for older adults and residents with disabilities has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31. The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded. The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. As of May 31, the Revenue Department had received 529,023 rebate applications. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
As specified by law, rebate distribution began on July 1. After June 30, rebates were distributed as claims were received and processed. Applicants may obtain Property Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-1000) and related information online at www.revenue.state.pa.us or by calling, toll-free, (888) 222-9190. Forms and assistance also are available at Department of Revenue district offices (listed in the government section of phone directories), local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers, and state legislators’ offices. Claimants who already applied for Property Tax/Rent Rebates may check the status of claims online at www.revenue.state.pa.us or by calling, toll-free, (888) PA-TAXES.
Efficiency apartments for seniors who want to enjoy independent living with the freedom to come and go without worry.
“The 50plus EXPO always attracts an interested and engaged audience by featuring a wide variety of exhibitors from the area, under one roof, in a convenient, central location. The Citadel staff always meets lots of current and prospective members during the event.” Tom Gugerty Business Director Citadel Federal Credit Union
For more information, call 717.285.1350 or visit www.50plusExpoPA.com
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York County
Calendar of Events York County Department of Parks and Recreation
Senior Center Activities
Pre-registration is required for these programs. To register or find out more about these activities or any additional scheduled activities, call (717) 428-1961.
Delta Area Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 456-5753 Eastern Area Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 252-1641
July 4, dusk – Multi-Borough Fireworks, Highpoint Scenic Vista July 11, 7 to 8 p.m. – Porch Talks: World War II Songbook and Station Memories, New Freedom Train Station July 15, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Open House and Corn Roast, Wallace-Cross Mill
Golden Visions Senior Community Center (717) 633-5072 Heritage Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 292-7471
York County Library Programs Arthur Hufnagel Public Library of Glen Rock, 32 Main St., Glen Rock, (717) 235-1127
Northeastern Senior Community Center (717) 266-1400
Collinsville Community Library, 2632 Delta Road, Brogue, (717) 927-9014 Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. – Purls of Brogue Knitting Club
Red Land Senior Citizen Center – (717) 938-4649
Dillsburg Area Public Library, 17 S. Baltimore St., Dillsburg, (717) 432-5613 Dover Area Community Library, 3700-3 Davidsburg Road, Dover, (717) 292-6814 Glatfelter Memorial Library, 101 Glenview Road, Spring Grove, (717) 225-3220 Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library Place, Hanover, (717) 632-5183
South Central Senior Community Center (717) 235-6060 Tuesdays, 9 a.m. – Quilting Thursdays, 9 a.m. – Computer Classes Thursdays, 10 a.m. – Senior Bowling League
Kreutz Creek Valley Library Center, 66 Walnut Springs Road, Hellam, (717) 252-4080
Stewartstown Senior Center – (717) 993-3488 July 10, 9:30 a.m. – Chair Massages July 12, 9 a.m. – Shopping at Shrewsbury Markets July 23, 10:30 a.m. – Wheel of Fortune
Martin Library, 159 E. Market St., York, (717) 846-5300
Susquehanna Senior Center – (717) 244-0340
Mason-Dixon Public Library, 250 Bailey Drive, Stewartstown, (717) 993-2404
White Rose Senior Center – (717) 843-9704 www.whiteroseseniorcenter.org
Kaltreider-Benfer Library, 147 S. Charles St., Red Lion, (717) 244-2032
Paul Smith Library of Southern York County, 80 Constitution Ave., Shrewsbury, (717) 235-4313 Windy Hill Senior Center – (717) 225-0733 Red Land Community Library, 48 Robin Hood Drive, Etters, (717) 938-5599 Yorktown Senior Center – (717) 854-0693
Village Library, 35-C N. Main St., Jacobus, (717) 428-1034
Programs and Support Groups July 3, 7 p.m. Surviving Spouse Socials of York County Faith United Church of Christ 509 Pacific Ave., York (717) 266-2784 July 11, 18, 25, and Aug. 1, 2 to 2:45 p.m. Fun Fitness Sampler Country Meadows of York 1920 Trolley Road, York Registration at (717) 764-1190
July 12, noon YCAAA Family Caregiver Support Group Codorus Valley Corporate Center Community Room 105 Leader Heights Road, York (717) 771-9058 July 17, 3 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Golden Visions Senior Community Center 250 Fame Ave., #125, Hanover (717) 633-5072
Free and open to the public
Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.
July 19, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group Senior Commons at Powder Mill 1775 Powder Mill Road, York (717) 741-0961
Give Us the Scoop!
If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
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Social Security News
Q&A’s for July By Doris Brookens Question: Recently, I was told I shouldn’t be carrying my Social Security card around. Is that true? Answer: We encourage you to keep your Social Security card at home in a safe place. Do not carry it with you unless you are taking it to a job interview or to someone who requires it. Identity theft is one of the fastestgrowing crimes in America, and the best way to avoid becoming a victim is to safeguard your card and number. To learn more, visit our Social Security number and card page at http://www.socialsecurity. gov/ssnumber. Question: My father receives Social Security retirement benefits, and I will be in charge of his estate when he dies. Should that occur, do I need to report his death to Social Security or will benefits automatically stop? Answer: When your father dies, please notify Social Security as soon as possible by calling us at (800) 772-1213. Another person, such as a spouse, may be eligible for survivors benefits based on his record. Also, we might be able to pay a onetime payment of $255 to help with funeral expenses. We suggest reading a copy of our online publication, How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/10008.html.
Question: I have been getting Social Security disability benefits for many years. I’m about to hit my full retirement age. What will happen to my disability benefits? Answer: When you reach “full retirement age,” we will switch you from disability to retirement benefits. But you won’t even notice the change because your benefit amount will stay the same. It’s just that when you reach retirement age, we consider you to be a “retiree” and not a disability beneficiary. Question: I’m on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and live with my two brothers in an apartment. My SSI payment is cut by one-third because the Social Security office says I don’t pay enough of the household expenses. How much of the expenses must I pay in order to get the full SSI rate? Answer: Under the rules of the program, you must be paying an equal share of the expenses. Because there are three of you in the household, you must pay one-third of the expenses. If you are not paying an equal share of the rent, utilities, groceries, and other household expenses, your SSI payment must be reduced.
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Doris Brookens is the Social Security office manager in Harrisburg.
The Origin(s) of a Summertime Treat Americans love hot dogs. Every year we eat about 7 billion of them between Memorial Day and Labor Day alone. And the typical American eats about 60 a year. Where do hot dogs come from (aside from ballpark vendors, of course)? Some sources say they date back to the first century, when the Roman Emperor Nero’s cook first experimented with stuffing the intestines of pigs with spiced meats. The word “frankfurter” comes from Frankfurt, Germany, where pork sausages in buns are said to have been served in the 15th century; “wiener” is from Vienna (Wien), home to pork sausages originally called “wienerwurst” (Vienna sausage) in the 1800s. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
In the United States, a German immigrant named Charles Feltman is credited with selling sausages in rolls around the year 1870 in Coney Island, N.Y. Another German native, Antoine Feuchtwanger, is said to have sold sausages in St. Louis at around the same time, offering a split bun to hold them, at the suggestion of his wife. And the term “hot dog” itself? According to one of the more popular tales, a newspaper cartoonist in 1900 drew a picture of a frankfurter with legs, a tail, and a head, but unable to spell “Dachshund,” he dubbed it a “hot dog.” The story is disputed, however.
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Who Has the Best Bites in Central PA? 50plus Senior News readers have spoken! Here are the York County dining favorites for 2012! Breakfast: Shilo Family Restaurant Lunch: Applebee’s Dinner: Olive Garden Italian Restaurant Ethnic Cuisine: Olive Garden Italian Restaurant Celebrating: Yorktowne Hotel Bakery: Giant Food Stores Coffeehouse: Starbucks Fast Food: McDonald’s Seafood: Red Lobster Steak: Texas Roadhouse Outdoor Dining: Heritage Hills Romantic Setting: Accomac Inn Smorgasbord/Buffet: Old Country Buffet Caterer: Porky’s Place BBQ Winner of $50 Giant Food Stores Gift Card: Cathy Witmer of Newmanstown Congratulations!
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Preventive Measures
Why Do We Dislike Water? Wendell Fowler hen wild animals, cavemen, Druids, Celts, kings, and princesses took a drink from their wells, your glass of water was part of those wells. Life-sustaining water has been here since the creation of Earth. Humans would not exist today if not for water. Greek philosopher Empedocles held that water is one of the four elements, along with earth, wind, and fire. Water is essential to your survival, as one cannot survive more than three days without it. We lose 2 to 3 liters of water per day under normal conditions but more in hot, dry, or cold weather. Got an energy shortage? That’s the first sign your blood, tissues, and organs aren’t getting adequate water, and your liver and brain are the least tolerant of dehydration. Blood is mostly water, not Mountain Dew, and your muscles, lungs, and brain all contain a lot of water. Your temple needs water to control body temperature and to provide a means for nutrients that nourish your organs. Water transports oxygen to your cells, helps you think clearly, removes waste, and protects your joints and organs. A headache or a strong odor to your urine, along with a yellow or amber color, indicate you’re not getting enough pure water. Water is necessary for your Earth suit to digest and absorb nutrients and, in addition, it detoxifies the liver and kidneys, flushing noxious waste
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from the temple. Slake your morning thirst with good ol’ plain water. First thing in the a.m., I gulp an 8-ounce glass of filtered water. You just woke up from an eight-hour nap and fast, so after rehydrating with water, blend a fresh fruit smoothie to replenish your glucose levels. Sugary, caffeinated frou-frou drinks and nasty juice boxes are not rehydrating. But you already knew they deplete your blessing of health. Caffeine has some virtues, so don’t throw the coffee grounds out with the dishwater; just ditch the sugar and whipping cream. Unfortunately, man treats the largest, most unexplored ecosystem, the ocean, as his personal dumping ground. Thoreau would freak out. Rope swinging from a tree as a giggling youngster and then plunging into a sundappled, tree-lined pond is but a memory of the past. Yep, we are seeing the future in our lifetime. Back in the ’60s, The Beach Boys warned us in song that lakes, ponds, creeks, rivers, estuaries, bays, and entire coastlines have all gone bad. From the earth or from the sky, miraculous water cleanses and purifies our holy temples as well as our mutual earth. Chef Wendell is an inspirational food literacy speaker and author of Earth Suit Maintenance Manual. To order a signed copy of his food essays and tasty recipes, contact him at chefwendellfowler@gmail.com or www.chefwendell.com.
The Politics of Cars In this election year, pollsters and political strategists are looking at all kinds of data to determine trends and attitudes. A two-year study by the research group Strategic Vision, for example, looked at how your choice of car correlates with your political affiliation. The results: Top five cars driven by Republicans Ford Mustang Convertible
Audi A8 Mercedes GL Ford Expedition Ford F-150 Top five cars for Democrats Honda Civic Hybrid Volvo C30 Nissan Leaf Acura TSX Wagon Ford Fiesta Sedan www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Celebrate Our Independence at the Movies When the fireworks are over and you’re out of hot dogs, what better way to celebrate the Fourth of July than with a good movie? Match the following quotes to the famous patriotic movie they’re from: 1. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939) 2. Independence Day (1996) 3. The Patriot (2000) 4. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) 5. Born on the Fourth of July (1989) 6. 1776 (1972) A. “Whenever we get too high-hat and too sophisticated for flag-waving, some thug nation decides we’re a pushover all ready to be blackjacked. And it isn’t long before we’re looking up, mighty anxiously, to be sure the flag’s still waving over us.” B. “I have come to the conclusion that one useless man is called a disgrace; that
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two are called a law firm; and that three or more become a Congress!” C. “People say that if you don’t love America, then get the hell out. Well, I love America.” D. “We are fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day the world declared in one voice: ‘We will not go quietly into the night!’” E. “Liberty’s too precious a thing to be buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men should hold it up in front of them every single day of their lives and say: ‘I’m free to think and to speak. My ancestors couldn’t, I can, and my children will.’” F. “A shepherd must tend his flock. And, at times, fight off the wolves.” Answers: 1 (E); 2 (D); 3 (F); 4 (A); 5 (C); 6 (B)
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Cheri Coleman Campbell
Mark Ettaro
Power Reigns Supreme at Senior Idol Strong Performances a Hallmark of Competition’s 7th Year Frank Fedele By Megan Joyce
Nick Ferraro
Constance Kuba Fisher
Larry Gessler
Dan Kelly
Tom LaNasa
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Early on in the performance lineup for the seventh annual PA STATE SENIOR IDOL finals competition, a recurring theme became audible: power. Out of the seven years of finals-night performances, 2012’s roster included more than a dozen musical dynamos whose notes could likely hit the ceiling even without the sonic aid of a microphone or the buoyancy of dinner-theater acoustics. Produced by On-Line Publishers, hosted by the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, and emceed by Diane Dayton of Dayton Communications, the 15 semifinalists for the evening’s show were culled from nearly 100 contestants who auditioned at regional tryouts in late April and early May. Both the sold-out crowd and the panel of local celebrity judges—RJ Harris of WHP580, Adrian “Buddy” King of the former Magnificent Men, Valerie Pritchett of abc27, and Janelle Stelson of WGAL-8— were treated to almost three hours of impressive musical talent, lively laughter, and powerhouse performances. And Deb Olsen of Manheim got the night started with a bang—many of them, in fact. The only drummer ever to make the SENIOR IDOL semifinalist cut, Olsen set what was to become the powerful tone for the evening as she thundered through The Bee Gees’ “You Should Be Dancing.” “People don’t know how to judge drummers,” noted King. “Basically it’s a matter of what you feel, and it felt really good.” Second in line was Margie Sheaffer of New Providence, who tipped her fedora and added a few wellplaced pouts while performing “Makin’ Whoopee” by Eddie Cantor. “It’s always important to choose the right song here, and I think you made a good choice,” said King. “You communicate the song very well.” “We’re off to a great start here; we’re going to have a tough time [judging],” Harris predicted. Third to the stage was Vickie Kissinger of Gap, whose
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voice ran the gamut from gentle to formidable during Etta James’ “At Last.” “It’s one thing to have a good voice; it’s another to know how to use it. Your dynamics are sensational,” declared King. “You know how to build it, you knew how to maintain it.” Though Kissinger was an admittedly tough act to follow, York’s Tom LaNasa did so with confidence and finesse for Dean Martin’s “Bumming Around.” LaNasa’s plaid sport coat and straw hat were appropriately “bum chic,” his ensemble punctuated by a red handkerchief sack tied to a stick. “You can tell you’re a performer,” said Harris. “You had a lot of fun up there and I think that was the best part of your performance.” Both power and control were evident in Lynn Henderson Payne of New Freedom, who soared through “Someone to Watch Over Me” by George Gershwin. “The control in your voice is phenomenal, and hanging on those notes—spectacular,” Pritchett enthused. “That takes a lot of breath control.” Pritchett also praised Lancaster’s Larry Gessler for his vocal quality after his rendition of “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” by Mel Torme. “It was a very tender approach, and a very difficult song for intonation purposes,” King agreed. Jeff Mumma of York Haven brought forth another kind of power—patriotic power—for “Where the Stars and Stripes and Eagles Fly” by Aaron Tippin. And once he conquered his nerves after the first few lines, his vocal power was apparent as well. “Once we got to your voice, we know why you got here,” said Harris. “You have a great, smooth voice and a passion for country music in particular … you can tell it’s not a karaoke thing you did here. You really are good.” Reading’s Mark Ettaro earned high marks for his Sinatra-esque tones during “I’ve Got You Under My Skin,” but it was also his comedic power that had the judges and audience applauding. Ettaro frequently namedropped Stelson into the song’s lyrics and, during the song’s instrumental interlude, he introduced the four
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2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL
Winner Vickie Kissinger
invisible members of his onstage “band”: the evening’s judges. “You have a really good voice, all joking aside,” Stelson said. “And of course I’m susceptible to hearing my name in a love song, but it was such a pleasure; it was really smoothie-smooth.” Power came back onstage in the guise of Cheri Coleman Campbell of Coatesville, belting out the gospel song “My Tribute” by Andrae Crouch. The judges and the audience were moved by not only her vocal power, but also her spiritual power—as Campbell focused her eyes and voice on a higher power. “You are one of these people who is just lit from within,” Stelson said. “And I think that’s where your music is born, too. And I don’t know what you’ve been through in your life, but you’re obviously praising for something, and I think you’re giving as good as you’re getting.” Harrisburg resident Nick Ferraro had a commanding stage presence coupled with a robust voice—even during the high falsetto notes of Jay & the Americans’ “Cara Mia Mine.” “That’s a tough song to sing, and a lot of nerve it takes hitting those falsetto notes,” said King. “I know what it’s like because I used to sing a lot of falsetto, and man, you can’t fake those.” Victoria Newcomer of Mount Joy rocked through KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.” Once again, the judges noted the power behind the performance. “I love that song, and you came out here and you crushed it!” exclaimed Harris. Stelson then observed that power can come in the seemingly straight-laced visage of a suit and tie after Philadelphia’s Dan Kelly used his theater chops to roar through “Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darin. “I liked the way you used the stage, and I really liked your energy in your singing,” Pritchett said. Next, Don “Duke” Larson showed that a powerful stage presence isn’t dampened by age—in fact, it can enhance it. At age 76, Larson’s voice soared confidently through “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra, his fine suit and fedora completing the effect. “You are impeccably tailored; everything was perfect,” said Stelson. “You look the part. That was a
great story to tell, and you know what? You kind of have to be in your 70s to tell it.” Constance Kuba Fisher of Mechanicsburg worked the stage performing Jo Dee Messina’s kiss-off anthem, “Bye Bye.” Her love of performance and her plentiful stage experience helped carry her through the feisty tune. “You have a lot of soul and a lot of heart,” Harris observed. The evening’s last semifinalist to take the stage, Frank Fedele of Williamsport crooned “Walk Away” by Matt Monro, a performance Stelson called “very natural and very comfortable.” “I like the smoothness of your voice, and I also like the flow. It’s so rhythmic,” complimented Pritchett. After a brief intermission during which the four judges’ scores were tallied, all 15 semifinalists lined up on the stage … and Deb Olsen, Cheri Coleman Campbell, and Vickie Kissinger were named the night’s three finalists. For their second selections, Olsen drummed “Dance to the Music” by Sly and the Family Stone; Campbell performed “The Lord’s Prayer”; and Kissinger sang “My Heart Will Go On” from the movie Titanic. The judges as well as the audience then voted for their favorite, and after a brief intermission, Kissinger was named the 2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL. This time, it was the audience’s turn to exude some power as the theater exploded in applause. “I can see you have some training,” King said to Kissinger, “but even all the training in the world doesn’t make all that big a difference. It’s knowing how to sing—and honey, you know how to sing.” As the winner, Kissinger will receive a limousine trip for two to New York City for dinner and a Broadway show. Kissinger later said she was “floored” by her win, even as she stepped forward to sing “At Last” one more time. “Now I know how some of these people must feel on American Idol,” she laughed. “You’re enjoying the moment, but you’re not quite sure you’re really in it. It was exhilarating, actually. It really was.” For more information and highlights from the 2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL finals competition, visit www.SeniorIdolPA.com.
Don “Duke” Larson
Jeff Mumma
Victoria Newcomer
Deb Olsen
Lynn Henderson Payne
Margie Sheaffer
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Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori
Discovery’s American Chopper at the Museum Dr. Lori went to a fabulous museum show recently. This exhibition featured the work of master artists, highlighted aspects of American culture, traced the history of the entire 20th century, and focused on advancements in technology. It had everything you’d expect from a great museum exhibition. What I didn’t expect: It was all about motorcycles. In Indianapolis, the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is a world-class museum that tells the American story through objects on a daily basis. Housing an impressive collection of Native American objects and western art, the Eiteljorg organized a special exhibition dedicated to American motorcycles dating back to the early 1900s. The exhibit included a 1905 HarleyDavidson, Evel Knievel’s motorcycle, and even a custom-built model from the Discovery channel’s popular TV show
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elements, and American symbolism is Chopper. no different In the for me as an “Steel Ponies” appraiser, exhibition, whether I am curators appraising a showed how 1905 singlemotorcycles cylinder played a Harley or a critical role in Wells Fargo developing Photo Courtesy of www.DrLoriV.com stagecoach the American Chippewa Indian Tribe custom chopper by shotgun. As dynamic. The Paul Teutul Sr. and Orange County Choppers, 2009. an expert high-caliber appraiser on artwork on Discovery’s Auction Kings, I use my these motorcycles is no different from background and experience to appraise Michelangelo’s carved marble of David, the detailed cast bronze on a 17th-century many different types of objects. ship’s cannon, the hand-painted flowers In the same way I appraise a signed on a 1890 Edison phonograph, or the Mickey Mantle baseball or a Civil War 1960s furniture highlighted on sword, I appraise motorcycles based on television’s Mad Men. various physical, artistic, and cultural Identifying materials, construction factors. The construction, condition,
Sept. 19, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center Memorial Hall–East • 334 Carlisle Avenue, York
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background, and design highlight a bike’s monetary value. Some of the motorcycle models on display were decorated with the same elements that you might see on images of Native American horses and riders dating back to the early 1900s. One could see the connections between motorcycle design and fringed animal hides worn by the plains Indians or chrome details on production motorcycles reminiscent of the metalwork found on spurs made by Garcia, a famous metalsmith and spur designer. Also on view were Evel Knievel’s motorcycle that he rode as he attempted to make many of his daredevil jumps and the Captain America bike featured in the 1969 counterculture classic Easy Rider. This Captain America bike was central to the American road movie’s plot. For me, the highlight of “Steel Ponies” was a chopper made by Paul Teutul Sr. of
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Orange County Choppers (OCC), best known for their custom rides and from American Chopper. The OCC bike was a 2009 custom piece made for the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe. Working with the Saginaw Ziibiwing Center, the bike captured the Native American artistry and symbolism known to the tribe, including fetish symbols of animals like turtles, eagles, fish, and deer. OCC artists working on this custom cycle used braided leather to wrap the large gas tank, a fringed-suede seat cover, and other natural materials. Their choice of materials and design for the custom bike conveyed the free-spirited feeling of the Native Americans and connected horseback riding with the contemporary chopper. On the rigid chopper frame used for the Saginaw Chippewa ride, dramatic artwork served to suggest stitched and tanned animal hides, Indian dream catchers, and eagle feathers. The look of woven imagery was borrowed from traditional Native
American objects like basketry and beaded shaman bags. The painted images of animal forms such as the fish, a symbol of long life, spoke to the prophetic beliefs and other teachings of the Chippewa tribe. The OCC bike, along with others, highlighted the revival of our interest in Native American culture, technical innovations, and sweet rides. Metalwork, design, and technology were all working in tandem on this major museum display of motorcycles. The Eiteljorg’s exhibit was impressive as it highlighted the American experience through the art of the motorcycle. If you are like me, this exhibit will “get your motor runnin’.” Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and awardwinning TV personality, Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events nationwide. Dr. Lori is the expert appraiser on the hit TV show Auction Kings on Discovery channel, which airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. Visit www.DrLoriV.com, www.Facebook.com/ DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.
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Book Review
Frogs in the Loo and Other Short-Term Missions Tales
Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
By Patti Olson
magine arriving in a foreign country with just a suitcase filled with the barest essentials, often not able to speak the local language, and looking through a crowd of strangers for someone you’ve never met but will be your host for the next few months. That was the scene the author and her husband, Dave, faced multiple times when they served as shortterm project missionaries in Christian radio. When the Olsons changed careers and became missionaries in their mid-50s, a lady told Patti that she only knew two things about missionaries: They write long, boring letters that are read aloud at church gatherings, and they wash their plastic wrap for reuse. Patti replied that she hoped her reports from the field would not be boring but did confess to washing her plastic wrap! After reading her monthly newsletters, many people encouraged Patti to record their adventures in a book. Frogs in the Loo and Other Short-Term Missions Tales is a collection of 91 stories
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relating the challenges, joys, and adventures of nine years living crossculturally in nine countries from 2001 through 2010. Travel along with the Olsons as they move from country to country across five continents. Patti captured the sights, sounds, and emotions of new discoveries as they experienced them, allowing her to recount them in rich detail in her book. Frogs in the Loo is available at Berean Christian Bookstore, Lancaster; Amazon.com; and at Barnes & Noble online (www.bn.com). About the Author Patti Olson is a freelance writer, teacher, and radio broadcaster. Her passion for writing began through her studies at the University of Alaska, Fairbanks, where she also worked as an all-night radio DJ. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education and spent most of her career as an office administrator. She and her husband served until 2010 as missionaries in Christian radio in nine countries. They reside in Lancaster, Pa.
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The Beauty in Nature
The Start and End of July Clyde McMillan-Gamber
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uly in southeastern Pennsylvania comes in with bird songs by day, as days have since the beginning of May, and firefly flashings at dusk. And July goes out with few birds singing and dwindling firefly numbers. But it also ends with bird migrations, the pulsing whines of annual cicadas in trees during the day and into evening, and the noisy fiddling of innumerable tree crickets and katydids at twilight and into the night. Sunset and dusk are magical through July. It is a time to experience the warmth of long, sunlit evenings and the intrigues of nature. The most enchanting bird choruses heard during early summer are at dusk in woods and older suburbs. Then, gray catbirds seem to sing quietly to themselves, wood thrushes and veeries
raise their of various flute-like kinds begin voices in returning ethereal from their choruses, and Arctic eastern wood tundra pewees softly breeding and repeatedly territories whistle “pee-aand collect wee” in the on the mud gathering flats of darkness. streams, Southbound ponds, and bird flooded migrations fields to eat Gray catbird begin in July. invertebrates. Local barn In July, swallows, tree swallows, and purple the genders of a variety of abundant martins gather into flocks to drift south insects signal each other to unite for for the winter, feeding on flying insects mating. Soon after sunset, millions of as they go. And thousands of shorebirds male fireflies rise from the grass of
woods, lawns, and meadows. They repeatedly flash their cold, abdominal lights to attract the attentions of females that glow back. To us their twinkling is a beautiful, silent symphony of tiny lights. At night, annual cicada grubs creep from the ground in suburbs and climb trees. Partway up, their exoskeletons split and winged cicadas crawl out. By morning they can fly. Males have plates under their abdomens that produce buzzing, pulsing whines when vibrated. Late in July, male tree crickets of various kinds and katydids rub their wings together to make trills or chants. The fiddling of these grasshopper relatives fills the woods and suburbs from dusk to midnight every night through August and September. July is an intriguing time, particularly at dusk. Enjoy the charms of that month.
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Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 20 WORD SEARCH
Across 1. Large, imposing house 6. “Lake” in France 9. “Que ____,” sang Doris Day 13. Unwritten exams 14. Spermatozoa counterparts 15. Hollywood legend quality? 16. Laker great 17. Judge on Dancing with the Stars 18. L on clothes 19. The Big Sleep leading lady 21. He played Spartacus 23. Before, old English 24. Ancient Greeks’ harp 25. Cattle prod 28. “For” in Spanish Down 1. Garland to Minnelli 2. United ____ Emirates 3. Hindu serpent deity 4. New York is famous for it 5. Protective embankment 6. Be lazy or idle 7. ____ Maria 8. Canadian funnyman 9. Ore smelting byproduct 10. Basketball great ____ “The Pearl” Monroe 11. Capital of Latvia 12. Greek god of war 15. Like a native speaker 20. Accidental holes
30. “Louie, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship,” in Casablanca, e.g. 35. Port of Yemen 37. Comedy Central’s 1990s animated series Dr. ____, Professional Therapist 39. Country singer _____ Tucker 40. Irritate 41. _____ of parsley 43. What Perkins did in the shower in Psycho 44. Accord or comport with 46. Yugoslavian communist 47. Location of Dante’s nine circles 48. Eastwood’s Josey Wales, e.g.
50. 52. 53. 55. 57. 61. 64. 65. 67. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74.
2009 Daniel Day-Lewis musical Charlotte of Facts of Life fame First, second, or third in baseball Follow ems Last name of two female legends He called for Stella Relating to axis Second person of “be” Unbearable Lightness of _____ Pulitzer winner _____ Cather Decorate cake Dam Flower holder Once around Undo
22. 24. 25. 26. 27. 29. 31. 32. 33. 34.
49. 51. 54. 56. 57. 58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 66. 68.
It engulfed the world in the 1940s Render capable Escargot Express contempt Hems and ____ Sign of escape Arrange in a stack Healing ointment Road Runner sound Cher or Celine Dion? Dollar bills AV manufacturer “____ whiz!”
36. 38. 42. 45.
Mine deposit Soldier’s bathroom Famous for her low, husky voice “Farewell” from Catherine Deneuve Blue and white pottery style Wholly engrossed 100m ____ Prefix for “among” African antelope He said, “Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.” A Broadway legend, given name Tubular pasta One who’s doomed Singular of tabulae
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IDOL
from page 1
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blindness, ADD, ADHD, Aspberger’s disorder, pervasive developmental disorder, and mental retardation. “Over the past 15 years I have learned more from the students than I think they learned from me,” Kissinger said. “Most music teachers won’t teach special-needs students. They are afraid to because they don’t know how.” It was for this reason that Kissinger was a featured clinician at Penn State at the Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association Conference in 2005, where she
The three finalists react as Vickie Kissinger is named 2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL. From left, Deb Olsen, Kissinger, and Cheri Coleman Campbell.
lectured on “The Fear of Teaching Special-Needs Students.” But the teacher is still a student, too. Although her vocal training didn’t start in earnest until she studied for her college degree, Kissinger, now a classically trained mezzo-soprano, has been a student of renowned master voice teacher Dr. Thomas Houser for the last nine years. “You have to stay on top of your art; you have to stay on top of your vocal technique,” she explained. “You have to keep your instrument in good shape.” As for her personal taste in music, Kissinger said she enjoys all types and has performed everything from Patsy Cline country songs to arias and oratorios like Handel’s Messiah. For listening, she likes Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Celine Dion, and Whitney Houston.
“I like the big voices, the people I see really sing with their soul,” she said. “I like listening to the powerhouses. “What I really like to sing is what you heard last night [at Idol],” she added. “That’s where I feel my heart and soul.” The judges and audience at the PA STATE SENIOR IDOL finals competition would likely group Kissinger herself in with the powerhouse performers. Her rendition of Etta James’s “At Last” prompted Adrian “Buddy” King of The Magnificent Men, a seven-year SENIOR IDOL judge, to call Kissinger “one of the best [he’s] heard on this stage.” It had been the prompting of friends and family that finally got Kissinger to try out for the talent competition, now in its seventh year. Backstage during finals night, Kissinger enjoyed the quick camaraderie that developed amongst the 15 semifinalists. After she was named one of the evening’s three finalists, Kissinger performed “My Heart Will Go On” from Titanic for her second song. “It’s a very powerful song,” Kissinger said. “And many people can relate to it, and that’s what you want for your audience: You want your audience to feel what you feel.” And what she was feeling that night, after her win was announced, was exhilaration. “I was shocked, and it was a surreal experience, it really was. I let out a holler,” she recalled, laughing. “It was one of those kinds of moments.” Looking ahead at her upcoming year as the reigning PA STATE SENIOR IDOL, Kissinger is eager to perform, hoping many singing engagements come her way as a result of her win. But even as she begins to look forward, she still glances back at the rough road she has traveled and is grateful for the place in which she now finds herself—or, as those who know her would likely say, the place in which she has put herself. “Obviously, I do have my grandparents to thank, and my family, my daughter, and my friends have just been the ultimate support system for me. They have been just wonderful,” Kissinger said. “I really do praise God for the blessings and thank him for the gift he’s given me. I really do, because that’s where it comes from. I don’t take the credit; I just get the guidance from my teachers—and I practice.”
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married, Kissinger took a hiatus from her musical pursuits for a few years to concentrate on her family, but a series of church positions soon had her back in the organist fold. Her love of vocal performance still lingered as well, so much so that Kissinger quit her job at a car dealership, went out and bought herself musical equipment, and started a “very busy” schedule of playing “all over the place” at local gigs such as restaurants, banquets, and clubs. “Performers will tell you this: You get out on stage and you kind of get the bug, and you love it,” Kissinger said. “Then you go back the next time, and you get nervous and say, ‘What was I thinking?’ You do know why you’re doing this—because you love it.” At the time, Kissinger even flew to Nashville and auditioned for a cable talent-search show. But four weeks later, the show was suddenly canceled. “It’s my way to express who I am,” she said of performing. “I get to express me.” It was in 1991 that Kissinger’s life screeched to a halt when her husband was killed in an auto accident. In the aftermath, Kissinger stayed home to focus on raising her daughter. “My life changed drastically. I didn’t sing for two years,” she said. It took another six years before Kissinger grabbed tenuous hold of those proverbial bootstraps by enrolling at Millersville University in pursuit of a degree in music education. “When you go to school at 41, it’s a little tough having a teenager at home too,” she laughed. “I thought I wanted to be a teacher, but I didn’t care to be in a classroom so much, so I opened my private studio.” Kissinger teaches piano and voice as well as beginner strings to a wide range of students: her youngest is a first-grader and her oldest is in his 70s. Her private studio also includes a concentration on special-needs students, a specialization that grew after Kissinger received two phone calls from parents of blind and autistic children. “How sad, I thought, that they wanted to learn music and no one to teach them,” she said. Kissinger then took workshops on autism and read everything she could about learning disabilities. She now uses a rote approach, where these students learn by ear, and has taught voice and piano to students with
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Beware of New Medicare Card Scam As of May 2012, a new Medicare card scam has been brought to the attention of the Pennsylvania Senior Medicare Patrol (SMP) and the Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE). Residents from all over Pennsylvania have received calls from scammers claiming to be “from Medicare.” The scammer states that Medicare is sending out new cards and then instructs the beneficiary to give the scammer their
checking account number in order to receive the new card. In at least two cases, the scammer already had the beneficiary’s address, bank name, and bank routing number. Remember: Medicare will never call to sell you anything and will never ask for your checking account number. To report a similar scam or other Medicare fraud, please call the Pennsylvania Senior Medicare Patrol at (800) 3563606.
BASEBALL from page 3 Breaking balls are thrown with a twisting wrist that makes them slower than fastballs, so a breaking ball that doesn’t break is easy pickings for the batter. Fair versus foul. All four bases are in fair territory. Home plate has the Vshaped base because it nestles in the confluence of the right and left foul lines. Balls that hit the “foul line” are fair. Balls that hit the “foul pole” or its extension screen are homeruns. A runner on third takes his lead in foul territory lest he get called out for interference by getting hit by a fair ball. Considerate umpires on the first and third base lines position themselves in foul territory because they are “in play” and when hit by a fair ball might affect the outcome of the play. Alas, left-handers. In the Big Leagues, left-handed throwers play only five of the nine defensive positions: three outfielders, first base, and pitcher. That’s not a rule. It’s due to the counterclockwise nature of the game. You’ll understand immediately if you pretend you’re a second baseman fielding a grounder and throwing to first—see how you must make an extra turn if you throw left-handed? All those runners who are thrown out by a step would be safe against left-handed infielders. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Conversely, a left-handed first baseman is in a better position to throw to second and doesn’t have to sweep the glove across his body to tag the diving runner on a pick-off play. The theory against left-handed catchers is that they’re out of position on steal attempts to third and that, with most batters being righthanded, they must maneuver throws around batters on steal attempts to second. A few baseball theorists even prefer righthanded leftfielders on the theory that, on throws to the plate, their tosses tend to bounce to the right (into the waiting catcher) rather than away from the play. Outfield arms. The pariah right fielder of Little League transforms into a respected player in the Bigs. Teams put rifle arms in right and weak arms in left because the throw from right field to third base is a full 90 feet longer than the throw to third from left. 3-foot line. That mysterious line that extends to the right and parallel to the foul line in the last half of the distance from home to first base is the 3-foot line. A runner who strays to the left of the foul line or to the right of the 3-foot line may be called out if he interferes with the fielder taking the throw at first. The runner is allowed to run outside of the channel to avoid interfering with a fielder making a play.
Fresh Berry Tart By Pat Sinclair Any combination of fresh berries, the more colorful the better, makes this tart irresistible. Local strawberries have an old-fashioned, sweet strawberry flavor and heavenly aroma that is often missing in supermarket berries. I usually double the crust recipe and make four tart crusts and then freeze the second two for later. Makes 2 tarts 1/2 cup all-purpose flour 2 tablespoons organic butter Pinch of salt 2 to 3 tablespoons organic sour cream 2 ounces organic cream cheese, softened 4 teaspoons sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla 1/4 cup organic whipping cream 1 cup sliced fresh organic strawberries Heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Place the flour, butter, and salt in the bowl of a mini-processor and process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the sour cream and process until the mixture comes together, about 10 seconds. Divide the dough in half. Press one half into the bottom of a 3/4-inch tart pan and repeat. Pierce the bottom of the crust generously with a fork. Bake 12 to 14 minutes or until golden brown. Cool to room temperature on a wire rack before filling. Beat the cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla in a small mixer bowl until light and creamy. Gradually beat in the whipping cream and continue beating until stiff peaks form. Spread about 1/4 cup filling in the bottom of each tart. Cover with fresh berries. Chill until serving.
Cook’s Note: You can also make the crust without a food processor. Mix the flour and salt in a medium bowl. Cut in the butter with a pastry blender until coarse crumbs form. Add the sour cream and stir until dough is uniform. Knead the dough gently to mix in the sour cream. Continue as directed in the recipe. Copyright by Pat Sinclair. Pat Sinclair announces the publication of her second cookbook, Scandinavian Classic Baking (Pelican Publishing), in February 2011. This book has a color photo of every recipe. Her first cookbook, Baking Basics and Beyond (Surrey Books), won the 2007 Cordon d’Or from the Culinary Arts Academy. Contact her at http://PatCooksandBakes.blogspot.com
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Salute to a Veteran
The Japanese Plane Dropped a 500-Pound Bomb that Landed 10 Yards from Him Robert D. Wilcox
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Battalion, 12th Marines. from our own antiaircraft that He soon was on his way fell all around us.” to New Zealand, aboard a He explains that, Liberty ship that he says unbelievably, they trained by “made maybe 10 knots firing on themselves. when they pushed it.” “We spent a day in the With a deckload of oil jungle, digging splinter-proof and gasoline, and with shelters. We then crawled in 500 tons of high explosive and called in fire from our 75in the hold, they were millimeter pack howitzers, one lucky to avoid attack round at a time, until we during the 22 days it heard fragments crashing into Captain John W. took them to reach New Berglund in 1945, newly our shelter.” Zealand. They then shipped to back from the Pacific. After five months Bougainville, where they were there, they were sent up to Guadalcanal, strafed as they landed. which had been declared secured—the “Our antiaircraft were using proximity fighting over. fuses that would go off when 15 yards “Unfortunately,” he notes, “nobody from any target,” he says. “That had told the Japanese Air Force. They permitted me to once see five Japanese used to bomb us every night, although planes in flames at the same time.” our biggest problem was the shrapnel It was also in Bougainville that the Japanese plane dropped the 500-pound bomb that landed 10 yards from where he was. “Yeah, it narrowly missed me,” he says, “and dug a hole that was 26 feet in diameter and 10 feet deep. As the round came in, I could hear the click of the fuse arming. Scared? I was so shook up that it took me half an hour before I could light a cigarette. “I was then loaned to the 3rd New Zealand division, where my job was to supply them with naval gunfire to allow Send us your favorite smile—your children, them to get their artillery ashore on grandchildren, friends, even your “smiling” Green Island. That was to take a few hours but wound up taking five days. pet!—and it could be 50plus Senior News’ next “One of those days, I was working Smile of the Month! with a Navy lieutenant, trying to dig a You can submit your photos (with captions) either digitally to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or by mail to:
ohn W. Berglund saw plenty of action in the Marine Corps before the Abombs, mercifully, ended WWII in the Pacific. But he all but missed the whole thing. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, he wanted to enlist in the Navy, even though his father tried his best to get him to finish his senior year at Rutgers University. But his vision was bad enough to cause the Navy to decide that they could fight the war without him. Learning from that, he adopted another tactic as he next tried the Marine Corps. He simply memorized the eye chart … and passed with flying colors. Because of his years of college, he was sent to Officer’s Candidate School at Quantico, Va., where he earned his commission. He then shipped to Camp Pendleton, Calif., where he was assigned to the 1st
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foxhole into the coral. In two hours, we made it 9 inches deep. He was a bitter man. He had enlisted in the Navy, where he would sleep between sheets and enjoy a hot shower. And now here he was with the Marines in the mud. “The New Zealanders were trying to flush out the last of the Japanese troops on the island. A day after I left, I learned that they had found about 80 of them and in 40 minutes of fighting had wiped them out, while losing only four of their own men. Typically, the Japanese had fought to the last man.” When Berglund left Green Island, he found that he had been chosen by lottery to go back to the States to form a new division. When he got there, though, he was sent to Fort Sill to take a course in sound and flash ranging before being returned to the Pacific, to the Corps Artillery of the 5th Amphibious Corps on Hawaii, the big island. He was reunited there with a buddy named Rick Ostrom, who had been in class with him at Fort Sill and was a privileged member of the Walker family, one of the five families who had originally owned all of the Hawaiian Islands. When Ostrom called Mrs. Walker to tell her he was there, he and Berglund were promptly invited to come out to her palatial home in the beautiful Nuuanu Valley, to find that, because of the war, they were reduced to having only five servants. “Some sacrifice,” notes Berglund drily. On another occasion, they were having cocktails with the Walkers when
“Knock on wood” This phrase may have originated during the Middle Ages, when pieces of the cross on which Jesus was crucified were supposedly in circulation. Touching one of these was supposed to bring good luck.
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some guests arrived. They turned out to be Admiral Nimitz and an Admiral Lockwood. Berglund says, “You never saw two lieutenants get sobered up so fast in your life. After dinner, we played nickel-and-dime poker with the admirals, and I won the last hand from Admiral Nimitz. Mrs. Walker asked that we not tell anyone about that, and I couldn’t help wondering, ‘Who’s going to believe us?’” Then it was to Iwo Jima, where he landed on D-Day plus two and saw our flag flying from Mount Suribachi. His
unit coordinated all the fire of 14 battalions of artillery. He was on orders to be in on the invasion of Japan, when we dropped the A-bombs, and the war was over. After he was discharged in 1969, he entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary. After being ordained, he served the Grace Lutheran Church in Philadelphia and came to a retired living community in Elizabethtown, Pa., in 1987 to enjoy his retirement. Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in WWII.
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