York County Edition
August 2012
Vol. 13 No. 8
Growing Community Spirit One Garden at a Time By Katie Weeber Some people enjoy plants, purchasing a few potted blooms each summer to decorate their backyards, while others are born with natural green thumbs. Francesca McNichol is one of the latter. McNichol has been using her greenery prowess to grow a new crop of gardeners. As a member of a local garden club, McNichol has helped organize and run several successful gardening initiatives that have brought the knowledge of growing living things to adults and children alike, including a community garden and a junior gardening class for inner-city youth. McNichol’s introduction to gardening came naturally, starting with her childhood home on Long Island, N.Y. “My mother loved roses. When I was younger, she had a beautiful rose garden,” McNichol said. In addition to the rose garden, there was a rock garden and other beautiful, growing plants that McNichol’s mother cultivated around their home. When she was 19 years old, McNichol’s older brother purchased a farm in upstate New York. He and his wife became avid gardeners caring for the property, and McNichol spent most of her summers sharing in their labors. please see GARDEN page 17 McNichol in the wooden gazebo positioned in the center of the 127-bed community garden she helped to organize.
Inside:
Second Opinions: When to Get One page 4
Senior Games: A Local Summer Staple page 18
Special Area at 50plus EXPO Aims for a ‘Falls Free York’ Through a successful partnership with the Falls Free York Coalition and the York County Area Agency on Aging, the 2012 York County 50plus EXPO on Sept. 19 will include a designated area entitled Falls Free York. This unique area will focus on fall prevention, with a range of free demonstrations, devices, screenings, and assessments available to all EXPO visitors. According to the Centers for Disease Control, one out of three adults age 65 and older falls each year—but less than half talk to their healthcare providers about it. Falls can cause moderate to severe injuries, such as hip fractures and head traumas, and can increase the risk of early death. In 2008, more than 19,700 older adults died from unintentional fall injuries. Falls Free York area will emphasize the importance of preventing falls in boomers and seniors. Highlights will include: • Bathroom hazards and solutions • Lighting options and safety precautions
• Medication review for fall risk – bring your medications or list of medications, including over-the-counter medications • Gait and balance screenings • Cane/walker safety checks • Physical fitness programs on Wii systems • Sloppy Slipper Swap – exchange old and unsafe footwear for one safety product • Portable ramp demonstrating proper ramp height • Chair lift demonstrations • Current resources for fall risk awareness and prevention • Stairway safety Falls Free York will be thoroughly staffed to ensure safety at all times. The 10th annual York County 50plus EXPO will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the York Expo Center, Memorial Hall – East, 334 Carlisle Ave., York. For more information on the EXPO or Falls-Free York, call (717) 285-1350 or visit www.50plusExpoPA.com.
Smile of the Month
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This month’s smile belongs to the late Norman Chester Brenneman of York, Korean War veteran, holding his first great-grandchild, James Gabriel Hoke Martin.
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Send us your favorite smile—your children, grandchildren, friends, even your “smiling” pet!—and it could be 50plus Senior News’ next Smile of the Month! You can submit your photos (with captions) either digitally to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or by mail to:
50plus Senior News Smile of the Month 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Digital photos must be at least 4x6'' with a resolution of 300 dpi. No professional photos, please. Please include a SASE if you would like to have your photo returned.
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August 2012
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The Search for Our Ancestry
The 1930 Census Angelo Coniglio
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answered “head,” “wife,” “son,” or that the “head” had been previously “daughter” but also may contain other married. If the stepchild’s surname is descriptions. different than that The surname of of the head, that’s a the wife is usually Some of the questions clue to the child’s not shown, or it may natural father’s on the 1930 census be written in as the name. A person same as the husband may be identified as were unique, and (or late husband). a “boarder,” responses to them can meaning the family However, if the name of a mother-in-law or augmented their be valuable in finding other in-law of the income by renting further information male head is given, space in the home. about the family. that surname could Next is a column also be the maiden headed “Home name of the wife. Data,” containing If the “Relation” column shows stepson four sub-columns: “Home owned or or stepdaughter, that obviously indicates rented,” filled in with an O or an R;
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ast time, I covered the 1940 U.S. census. I have, in an earlier column, also discussed the 1920 U.S. census. This month, I want to cover the intermediate one, the 1930 U.S. census. I’ll continue this discussion into next month, as well. The 1930 census had some basic information consistent with others that were taken since the first one in 1790. This included surname or family name, gender, and address. Some of the other questions were unique, and responses to them can be valuable in finding further information about the family. For example, there is a column headed “Relation – Relationship of this person to the head of the family.” This may be
“Value of home, if owned, or monthly rent, if rented,” filled in with a dollar amount; “Radio set,” filled in with an R if the family had a radio, left blank if they didn’t; and “Does this family live on a farm?” The answers not only tell something about the financial status of the family, but if the property was owned, it may also be possible to find land or probate records that further elucidate the family’s life or give names of relatives not living with the family at the time of the census. As an aside to the “radio set” question: On the 1930 census page where my family appears, there were seven households. Only one (not my parents’) please see CENSUS page 8
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The National Kidney Foundation (800) 697-7007 or (717) 757-0604
Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc (717) 851-0156 Otolaryngologists York ENT Associates (717) 843-9089 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com West York Pharmacy (717) 792-9312 Services York County Area Agency on Aging (800) 632-9073
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York Area Housing Group (717) 846-5139
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August 2012
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Savvy Senior
Second Opinions: Why Many Seniors Don’t, but Should, Get One
Corporate Office: 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 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
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August 2012
Dear Savvy Senior, Are second medical opinions worth the trouble or risk of offending your doctor? And does Medicare cover them? – Nervous Nelly Dear Nelly, Yes! A second opinion is good medicine and your right as a patient. Besides, good doctors welcome second opinions and will even offer referrals to help you get one. If they don’t, you probably ought to find another doctor. Here’s what you should know.
When to Ask The key times you should seek a second opinion are when: • Your doctor suggests surgery. You should always question elective procedures, especially if a less invasive alternative is available. • You’re diagnosed with a lifethreatening disease such as cancer or heart disease. • You’re not getting any better.
Second Opinions
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
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Jim Miller
There’s a mountain of evidence that shows that second opinions save lives, prevent mistakes, and cut costs. Yet most older patients choose not to get them because they’re either afraid of offending their doctor, don’t want to hassle with it, or fear their insurance won’t cover it. But getting a second opinion from a different doctor may offer you a fresh perspective, new information, and additional options for treating your condition so you can make a more informed decision. Or, if the second doctor agrees with the first, it can give you reassurance. Who Pays In most cases, Medicare pays for second opinions under Part B and will even pay for a third opinion if the first two differ. Most Medicare Advantage plans also cover second opinions, but some plans will require a referral first from your primary physician. If you have private insurance, you’ll need to check with your insurance provider.
50plus SeniorNews t
research and expertise in specific areas of medicine. To locate and research potential doctors, the American Medical Association (www.ama-assn.org) and the American Osteopathic Association (www.osteopathic.org) offer free doctor-finding services that list virtually every licensed physician in the U.S. Another good resource is Health Grades (www.healthgrades.com), which provides detailed reports on doctors for a small fee. Also see Vitals.com, a free service that lets you search for toprated doctors based on their training, expertise, consumer ratings, and recommendations from other doctors. Online Advice
• Your regular doctor can’t diagnose your problem. • You’re having trouble talking with your current doctor. • You’re having multiple medical problems. Where to Look When you opt for a second opinion, you can ask your first doctor for a referral or, if that makes you uncomfortable, seek one on your own. Whatever route you choose, it’s best to go with a doctor that has extensive experience in treating your condition and one that’s affiliated with a different practice or hospital than your original doctor. Hospitals and practices can be set in their ways when it comes to treatments and are likely to offer similar advice. Physicians from research and teaching hospitals are smart choices, especially for rare or complicated conditions, because of their ongoing
If you’re having a hard time finding or getting to another doctor for a second opinion, consider the Internet. Yes, Web-based second opinions are now available from top medical centers that allow you to consult with medical experts regardless of where they’re located. The cost for this online advice ranges between $500 and $1,000 and is usually not covered by insurance or Medicare. Savvy Tips: Before you get a second opinion, you’ll need to have your doctor’s office send your medical records ahead to the second doctor (you may have to pick them up and deliver them yourself ), and be sure he or she knows about your original diagnosis and the course of treatment recommended by your first doctor. If they disagree, you may want to seek that third opinion, or go back to your original doctor for further consultation. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org.
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Such Is Life
COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIRS
A Chevy to Remember Saralee Perel y husband, Bob, has gone so far as to name our car. He calls it Old Yeller. Whenever I suggest it’s time to retire it, he lovingly pets the steering wheel and asks, “You mean destroy Old Yeller?” We have a 1970-something yellowish Chevy Blazer. I can see the street whizzing by through the holes in the floorboard. I hear little clinking sounds whenever we drive, and if I look out the rear view, I see tiny pieces of Old Yeller leaving a wake behind us. I really hate this car. “It’s time,” I gently said to Bob last month, as we pulled in our driveway and the door handle came off in my hand. “Great!” he said and jumped out of the car. “I’ll start the gas grill.” I brushed clumps of foam rubber (the insides of the seat) off my pants. We went in the house. “You know what I mean,” I said. “A woodworking show’s on,” he said, and picked up the remote. “Sweetheart.” I took the remote. “Old Yeller’s had a really good life.” “He just needs a tune-up, that’s all.” He picked up the keys. “It put itself into park while we were driving 30 miles per hour.” “He stalled,” he said, fondling the keys. “It stopped, Bob. My forehead’s still bleeding.” He stood and looked out the front door. “I can’t,” he whispered. “It’ll be humane, honey.” “No it won’t,” he said. “No ceremony, no remorse. Nothing. Just a push of a lever and Old Yeller’s squashed like a pancake and dumped in somebody’s scrap heap.” Late that night, I heard him get out of bed and head to the kitchen. I put on my robe and tiptoed in. He was pouring himself a shot of whiskey from a bottle we’ve had over 10 years. He drank it in one gulp. After he finished his coughing fit, I
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held his hand. He said, “If anybody’s going to put Old Yeller to sleep, it will have to be me.” I knew then: I had to go against his wishes and take Old Yeller myself. The next day, I drove the Chevy away and got back to the house around noon. “It was quick, Bob. Painless.” “Old Yeller …” he moaned. Then he went back to the whiskey bottle, picked it up, changed his mind, and put it down. He opened the freezer and found a bag of mini Milky Ways and began stuffing five in his mouth at a time. “Honey. Don’t do this to yourself.” I tried to take the bag away but he grabbed it and ran out of the room, but not before snatching the peanut butter and Ritz crackers. It took two weeks to get Bob back on track. And that happened yesterday. He was still in bed at 11 o’clock when I called him to come into the living room. He was a wreck. Unshaven. Dirty. I wiped the chocolate off his lip. “There’s something for you outside.” “I need marshmallow fluff,” he said. I took his hand and led him out the front door. In the driveway was a car covered by a big brown tarp that I theatrically removed. There, all shiny and bright yellow, was the Blazer. New mirrors, chrome, paint, engine, transmission, and sparkling hub caps. Painted in script on the side was, of course, Old Yeller. Bob was overwhelmed, to say the least. He opened the door and saw the beautiful upholstered seats. Although he was too moved to say anything, I got the biggest hug in history. And though Bob refers to this as one of the best days of his life, I know it couldn’t have been half as good as it was for me. Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist. Her new book is Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: Stories From a Life Out of Balance. To find out more, visit www.saraleeperel.com or email sperel@saraleeperel.com.
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Celebrate Those Strongly Tied Knots!
Are you or is someone you know commemorating a special anniversary this year? Let 50plus Senior News help spread your news—for free! We welcome your anniversary announcements and photos. Anniversaries may be marking any number of years 15 and over. (Fields marked with an * are required.) *Anniversary (No. of years) _________________________________________ *Contact name __________________________________________________ E-mail ________________________ *Daytime phone ___________________ *Husband’s full name _____________________________________________ Occupation (If retired, list former job and No. of years held)___________________ _____________________________________________________________ *Wife’s full maiden name __________________________________________ Occupation (If retired, list former job and No. of years held)___________________ _____________________________________________________________ *Couple’s current city and state __________________________________________ *Marriage date_____________ Location ______________________________ Children (name and city/state for each)_________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________ Number of grandchildren________ Number of great-grandchildren___________ Photos must be at least 4x6'' and/or 300 dpi if submitted digitally. Completed information and photo can be emailed to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mailed to:
Anniversary Announcements 50plus Senior News 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like your photo returned.
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August 2012
5
Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel
Traveltizers
All-Important China By Andrea Gross ’m reading the newspaper when I realize that there are almost as many articles about Beijing as there are about Washington, DC. That’s when it hits me. If one of the main purposes—and pleasures—of travel is education, then I have to go to China. I need to learn more about the country whose actions will affect the way I live and, more importantly, the way my children will live. A friend recommends China Spree, a company that offers 12-day tours to Beijing and Shanghai that include air from San Francisco; all meals, admissions, and transportation within China; guide service; and, as I soon find out, very nice hotels. I do the math. Why, I can visit China for not a lot more than I’d have to pay for an all-inclusive two-week vacation in California. I take a deep breath and sign on the dotted line. In Beijing our guide leads our small
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The Forbidden City was home to 24 emperors during the Ming and Qing dynasties. The Great Wall was built to protect China from nomadic tribes to its north.
group to the must-sees: Tiananmen Square, where Mao proclaimed the birth of the People’s Republic of China in 1949; the Forbidden City, which was home to 24 emperors; and, of course, the Great Wall, which was designed to protect the country against foreign invaders. To learn about more current endeavors, we visit a jade factory, a silk factory, a tea plantation, and an herbal medicine museum. But my favorite moments occur when we mingle with ordinary folks, like the 76-year-old woman who hosts us for lunch. She shows us her home, which is in a hutong, one of Beijing’s fastdisappearing old neighborhoods. The next day we visit a park where we see seniors doing tai chi, dancing, fencing, and matchmaking. Their children, explains our guide, work such long hours that they don’t have time to search for a spouse. Therefore, the please see CHINA page 9
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August 2012
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Ephrata Manor 99 Bethany Road Ephrata, PA 17522 Admissions Department (717) 738-4940 www.ucc-homes.org Garden Spot Village 433 South Kinzer Avenue New Holland, PA 17557 Scott Miller Director of Marketing (717) 355-6000 www.gardenspotvillage.org Homeland Center 1901 North Fifth Street Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598 Barry S. Ramper II, N.H.A. President/CEO (717) 221-7902 www.homelandcenter.org Homestead Village Enhanced Senior Living 1800 Marietta Avenue P.O. Box 3227 Lancaster, PA 17604-3227 Susan L. Doyle Director of Marketing (717) 397-4831 ext. 158 www.homesteadvillage.org
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August 2012
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Community Animal Hospital
Book Review
Raw Nerves
Our caring, well-trained staff will treat you and your pet like family
By Saralee Perel
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August 2012
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ape Cod psychiatrist Dr. Sophie Green is a hypochondriac and a compulsive eater who comically quells her conflicts with leftovers. Now, Sophie has a problem of her own: One of her patients wants her dead. There’s Elizabeth, whose abusive husband blames Sophie for his wife’s independence. There’s Gracie, who is involved with a menacingly brilliant psychiatrist, and there’s Charlie, a man with obsessive-compulsive disorder who thinks he’s in love with Sophie. This is not your classic whodunit.
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CENSUS
For more information, visit her website, www.saraleeperel.com. Raw Nerves is available via Amazon.com. About the Author Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist. She is a regular contributor to Chicken Soup for the Soul and has been published in many of the nation’s leading magazines and newspapers, including 50plus Senior News. Although Saralee, a psychotherapist, claims that the central character, a neurotic psychiatrist, is not autobiographically inspired, readers who know her insist she is lying.
from page 3
had a radio. The question was designed to measure the extent of the nation’s leap into new home-appliance technology. According to the 1930 census, the total U.S. population at the time was 122,775,046, and only 12 million people, or less than 10 percent, had access to radios. Under “Personal Description,” in addition to “Sex” and “Color or race,” was the sub-column “Age at last birthday.” Take this into consideration when calculating a birth year. For example, the census was taken on April 12. My father’s age was given as 40, but his birth year was not necessarily “1930 minus 40 equals 1890.” He may not have yet reached his 41st birthday on April 12. Other information confirms this, as he was born on April 26, 1889. The remaining two sub-columns under this category were “Marital condition” and “Age at first marriage.” The condition column was marked M for married, S for single, or W for widowed. The age at first marriage can be used with other information on the census to determine whether the person was married before or after immigration to the U.S. Under “Education,” the census asked whether the person had attended school or college since September 1929, and whether he or she was able to read and write.
The “Place of Birth” columns are headed “Person,” “Father,” and “Mother,” with the description “Place of birth of each person enumerated and of his or her parents. If born in the United States, give State or Territory. If of foreign birth, give country in which birthplace is now situated. Distinguish Canada-French from Canada-English, and Irish Free State from Northern Island.” Usually, only the country or state is given; however, sometimes the name of a city or county is given. Don’t overlook the part about “country in which birthplace is now situated.” National boundaries in Europe were anything but fixed during this time, so, for example, a place may have been called Prussia when a person was born in 1890 but Germany in 1930. Next time, I’ll discuss the remainder of the 1930 census questions and explain how to interpret the information to uncover other information about ancestors. 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.
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CHINA
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parents must help. They make big signs proclaiming their child’s attributes and network with other parents. If the seniors spot a potential match, they arrange a date for their children. It’s a low-tech eHarmony. My husband and I deliberately chose an itinerary that included two free days for personal exploration. In Beijing we go to the Art District, where world-class galleries occupy Communist-era factory buildings. One heart-stopping exhibition focuses on prostitution; another has a disturbing display of soldiers toting machine guns camouflaged by flowers. There’s no thought suppression here. In Shanghai, the energy is palpable. We walk along the riverfront, through a shopping thoroughfare, and over to a public park that has carnival-style rides. After visiting a market, we go to an acrobatic show. Our days are packed. During our free day, we explore two contrasting neighborhoods: a workingclass area filled with small, slightly grubby shops and the French Concession, which has upscale boutiques and trendy restaurants. Our guides are remarkably forthcoming. They criticize their government but at the same time make clear that they admire it. They say that a U.S.-style democracy could never work in China because there are too many people. They speak to us about China’s onechild policy, religion, education, medical care, the lack of a social safety net, and, most of all, how hard they have to work in order to survive. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
“We work much harder than people in America,” says Chang.* We’re amazed at their misconceptions. Chang owns a condominium, can afford to fly his family from his village on the Yangtze to Shanghai for a holiday, and has a car that he bought new two years ago. His daughter has a new iPad as well as an iPod. I tell him that this is more than many people his age in the United States can afford, and yes, they work as many or more hours than he does. Another guide dreams of living on Wisteria Lane, the home of ABC’s Desperate Housewives, and we realize how television shapes Chinese views of the United States as well as our views of China. This, says my husband, is why it’s important for people to travel, to see things for themselves. We’re aware that we saw only two cities, and we spoke with only a handful of people. We didn’t visit the countryside, which, despite China’s rapid urbanization, is still home to the majority of the population. We didn’t visit the factory towns that are churning out goods that are flooding the world’s markets. That will have to wait until next time. But in the meantime, we treasure the glimpse we got of a country that is, and will continue to be, a major player on the world’s stage. Photos © Irv Green; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).
*Name has been changed
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Salute to a Veteran
The Bomb Dump on Saipan Blew Up in His Face Robert D. Wilcox hen Huie Petty grew up in Illinois, he was part of a family of eight boys. Two of the boys died early. The other six all served in combat overseas during World War II … two in the Army, two in the Navy, and two in the Marines. Petty says, “I always wanted to be a Marine.” Of course, he didn’t know much about what a real Marine did. But, one day, he was about to find out. When World War II broke out, he promptly went to Chicago and enlisted in the Marine Corps. After boot camp in San Diego, he was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division and shipped off to New Zealand. Why New Zealand? “Because,” he says, “the Japanese owned the rest of the Pacific. Even Australia had been bombed.” So the job of the Marines was to help take back the Pacific, a vast and highly
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Corporal Huie Petty, after discharge from the Marine Corps at Quantico after World War II.
problematic job. After more training, the 2nd Division left for Guadalcanal to reinforce the 1st Marine Division and the Army troops who had driven the Japanese from the airfield that they then named Henderson Field. Guadalcanal was of immense strategic importance, since the Japanese who occupied it could attack supply routes between the U.S., Australia, and New Zealand. The 1st Marines had suffered large losses in the invasion, and, by the time Petty and his division arrived, remaining resistance was from Japanese stragglers who, although virtually starving and existing by eating roots, still fought tenaciously, preferring to die rather than surrender. All told, 1,592 American troops died on Guadalcanal, and 4,183 were wounded. The Japanese lost 14,800 in
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Do you have a friendly face? The 50plus EXPO committee is looking for volunteers to help at our 10th annual York County 50plus EXPO on Sept. 19, 2012, at the York Expo Center — Memorial Hall East, 334 Carlisle Avenue, York, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you could help greet visitors, stuff EXPO bags, or work at the registration desk, we would be glad to have you for all or just part of the day. Please call On-Line Publishers at (717) 285-1350..
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battle and 9,000 from disease. Petty has today the pocket manual he took from a dead Japanese soldier, learning from a Japanese lady who translated it for him many years after the war that it was the Japanese Field Service Code—Senjinkun—issued to Japanese soldiers. It specifically forbade retreat or surrender. Petty says, “The Japanese weren’t the only danger on Guadalcanal, however. Almost the entire division contracted malaria, and we were all returned to New Zealand to recuperate.” The whole division had it? “Well,” he says, “I never knew anyone who didn’t have it.” When they were fit again, it was on to Tarawa, a tiny atoll whose main island was 2 miles long but only 800 yards wide at the widest part. It was important because it had to be taken in order to launch the invasion of the heavily defended Marianas Islands, which stood in the way of our setting up forward air bases capable of supporting operations across the mid-Pacific to the Philippines and into Japan. Tarawa proved a horrible place to fight. Taking it produced one of the fiercest and bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history. Anticipating an invasion, the Japanese had worked intensely for nearly a year to fortify the island, building 500 pillboxes, many of which
were reinforced with cement. firing everywhere. Because of coral atolls that ringed the The Japanese commander had told his island, the Higgins boats could approach troops, “It would take 1 million men 100 no closer than years” to conquer 1,000 yards from Tarawa. It took the shore. From there, Marines three most of the days, although Marines waded incurring nearly ashore through 3,000 casualties. waist-deep water Of the 4,700 over piercing, Japanese defenders, razor-sharp coral. only 17 survived. Others boarded The division small, rubber was sent to Hawaii boats and paddled to recuperate for a mile to the seven months; shore. then they were Many Marines sent to invade were lost in the Saipan. It was effort to man supposed to be those boats in the easy. There were choppy water. no atolls, so the Petty was one of Higgins boats A rubber boat like the one Petty manned in six Marines on were able to the assault on Tarawa during World War II. one such boat, approach the and it took them beach and drop a full six hours to reach the beach just as the ramps from which the troops night fell. streamed. Eight thousand Marines were They entered by a lagoon other landed from more than 300 LVTs during Marines had cleared earlier. Japanese had the first two hours after dawn on June gone out to vessels that had been 15, 1944. destroyed by the coral reefs. There, they The battle was fierce during the next fired at the backs of the landing troops, three weeks until it ended with a final and, because it was now dark, lead was suicidal banzai charge by 3,000 Japanese.
Almost the entire garrison of at least 30,000 Japanese died, while, of the 71,000 of our troops who landed, 2,949 were killed and 10,464 were wounded. And it was there that Petty’s war ended. Exploding ammo from a bomb dump caused head injuries and burst both his ear drums. With blood streaming down his face, he was evacuated to a hospital in Hawaii … and then to the Marine Detachment at the Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he was an outpatient. He was selected to attend Officer Candidate School at Quantico, but partway through, the atomic bombs dropped on Japan brought the war to an end, and his training was terminated. Petty left the Marines as a corporal and entered the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. After a few years as a pharmacist, he became a medical representative of Sterling Drug for 25 years before retiring in 1977. He lives today with his collection of war memorabilia. On the table sits his well-worn cap with the legend, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” When asked if that’s true, he looks at you sharply, and then with a thin smile says, “You better believe it.” Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.
Sept. 19, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center Memorial Hall–East • 334 Carlisle Avenue, York
Oct. 23, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street, Carlisle
Nov. 6, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Lancaster Host Resort 2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster
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NurseNews
Visual Examples Prove Persuasive Gloria May, M.S., R.N., CHES
J
ack is my friend Jenny’s companion. He’s a big bear kind of guy, handsome, but with dangerously high blood pressure, and he carries an extra 40 pounds.
If it weren’t so potentially threatening to his life and independence, it would be amusing the way he dismisses his hypertension. He’ll say it’s “white coat syndrome,” meaning it reflects the
September 8, 2012 City Island, Harrisburg Registration at 8:30 a.m. • Walk at 10:30 a.m.
September 15, 2012 Morgan Cousler Park, York Registration at 9:30 a.m. • Walk at 11 a.m.
September 22, 2012 Long’s Park, Lancaster Registration at 8 a.m. • Walk at 10:30 a.m. Registration brochures, team packets, and sponsorship packets available. Please call (717) 651-5020 or email tiffani.chambers@alz.org • Easy online registration at http://www.alz.org/walk • Volunteer opportunities available. • Teams and individuals welcome.
anxiety of seeing a doctor but which, away from the doctor’s office, is “just fine.” Or he’ll excuse it away as the consequence of the salty meal he had had the night before his appointment. Until last week’s checkup, Jack had brushed off both his doctor’s and Jenny’s clearly stated concerns and he’d not been at all interested in diet modifications or medication. Jenny told me that Jack saw a new doctor in the practice who, without muss or fuss or many words, brought out a graph that showed the direct and positive correlation between rising high blood pressure and the increased risk of strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure. Then the doctor dropped a zinger. “Jack,” he said, “I can safely predict you’ll have one of these ‘events’ within five years if we don’t get this hypertension and weight under control.” Now, Jack’s a man with an engineering background, so visual representations are what he’s comfortable with, what he understands. Jenny said he studied the graph for a moment, and then to everyone’s surprise, said, “OK. What do I need to do?” Is that all it took, for heaven’s sake? A graph? Or was it the one-sentence forecast? Or the combination? If you think this is merely an isolated incident of one man’s finally getting the picture, maybe. But also, maybe not. At a recent conference of heart doctors in Chicago, two studies were presented that
showed similar phenomena: Patients who were shown detailed pictures of their hearts and arteries (done by a heart CT scan) were 2.5 times more likely to take their medication as directed. And by the way, those who needed to lose weight were more than three times more likely to do so than those who were merely only told to. The underlying concern for these docs at the meeting was that between 50 and 80 percent of patients who have been prescribed cholesterolreducing medication fail to take it. And as far as losing weight and embracing a diet lower in saturated fat, just look around. What do you think? There is an abundance of evidence that indicates that visual communication is more effective than verbal, but the most effective style combines the two. In other words, we understand more if we see it; we understand the most if we can both see it and hear about it. Is this the future of patient education? Don’t be surprised if your next doctor’s appointment includes a PowerPoint presentation. After all, it does make sense. Instead of trying to decipher all the medical language, why not show pictures, charts, graphs, images— whatever it takes to drive the point home and help motivate patients to make necessary changes? Gloria May is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in adult health education and a Certified Health Education Specialist designation.
Chapter Sponsors Tiffani Chambers, Constituent Relations Manager Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 tiffani.chambers@alz.org Alzheimer’s Association 3544 N. Progress Avenue, Suite 205 • Harrisburg, PA 17110
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Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 17 WORD SEARCH
Across 1. Rushed 6. Church seat 9. Paddington Bear’s homeland 13. Convex molding 14. Popular activity at Heavenly in CA 15. Harold & _____ Go to White Castle 16. Army aid 17. Precedes senator 18. Circular gasket 19. Drum sound 21. Willy Wonka’s heir 23. Longest division of geological time 24. Pinocchio dreamed of becoming this type of boy 25. He floated like a butterfly? Down 1. Read-only storage 2. Affirm 3. Musical finale 4. Like last eight in college basketball 5. Dolittle’s title 6. Attention grabber 7. Increase 8. Make face in pain 9. Make like a cat 10. Astrid Lindgren’s ____ of Lonneberga 11. Raja’s wife 12. Strong desire 15. Eucalyptus-loving marsupials 20. Beside, archaic
28. 30. 35. 37. 39. 40. 41. 43. 44. 46. 47. 48. 50. 52.
Network of intersecting nerves Middle Eastern confection Like boys that lived in Neverland Lacking sensation “_____ the day” International Civil Aviation Organization Attempts Small ladies’ handbag Deep opening To strike a piece of stone sharply Deep-red variety of chalcedony Stay clear of Clobber Big Island flower necklace
53. 55. 57. 61. 64. 65. 67. 69. 70. 71. 72. 73. 74.
Of the highest quality 2000 lbs. Flying nanny Aunt Polly’s wayward nephew Fully informed Type of brew County across Golden Gate Bridge A pariah avoided by others To Kill a Mockingbird author “_____ and well” A cold ____ of weather “____’s the word” Having no cover
22. 24. 25. 26. 27. 29. 31. 32. 33. 34. 36. 38. 42. 45. 49.
Exclamation of suspicion What prompter does She followed the white rabbit Lakes in Scotland Asimov or Mizrahi, e.g. Syrian neighbor Plural of #70 Across ____ signs Light shade of blue Girl from the Swiss Alps Comedy Central’s ____.O Corduroy, e.g. Phlegms Strong point Who ___ the prize?
51. 54. 56. 57.
Robin Hood or Eragon, e.g. Bible song African antelope Toot and Puddle or Frog and Toad, e.g. ____ & Mzee: The True Story of a Remarkable Friendship Bear with the biggest chair Pre-college school Appear Viking name Tear violently Romanian money Flanders of The Simpsons
58. 59. 60. 61. 62. 63. 66. 68.
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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
Aug. 5, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Open House and Ice Cream Social, Wallace-Cross Mill
Eastern Area Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 252-1641 Golden Visions Senior Community Center (717) 633-5072
Aug. 11, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Open House: Gardens, John Rudy Park Aug. 19, 2:30 to 4 p.m. – Flintknapping, Nixon Park
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
Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library Place, Hanover, (717) 632-5183
South Central Senior Community Center (717) 235-6060 Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Pool Games Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – Wii Games Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. – Exercise Classes
Kaltreider-Benfer Library, 147 S. Charles St., Red Lion, (717) 244-2032
Stewartstown Senior Center – (717) 993-3488
Kreutz Creek Valley Library Center, 66 Walnut Springs Road, Hellam, (717) 252-4080
Susquehanna Senior Center – (717) 244-0340
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
Martin Library, 159 E. Market St., York, (717) 846-5300 Mason-Dixon Public Library, 250 Bailey Drive, Stewartstown, (717) 993-2404
White Rose Senior Center – (717) 843-9704 www.whiteroseseniorcenter.org
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
Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.
Programs and Support Groups Aug. 9, noon YCAAA Family Caregiver Support Group Codorus Valley Corporate Center Community Room 105 Leader Heights Road, York (717) 771-9058 Aug. 16, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group Senior Commons at Powder Mill 1775 Powder Mill Road, York (717) 741-0961
Aug. 21, 3 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Golden Visions Senior Community Center 250 Fame Ave., #125, Hanover (717) 633-5072 Aug. 21, 6 p.m. Free Knee and Hip Replacement Seminar Moyer House in Carroll Village 11 Tristan Drive, Dillsburg (717) 249-6112
Free and open to the public Aug. 25 and 26, 1 to 5 p.m. Shrewsbury Flower Show Shrewsbury Fire Hall 25 W. Forrest Ave., Shrewsbury (717) 235-1130
Give Us the Scoop!
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Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in York County! Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com
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GARDEN
from page 1
YWCA Junior Gardeners showing the fruits (or veggies) of their labor at the Ribbon Cutting Day ceremony in June 2012.
Flowers and vegetable plants coexist happily at the Penn-Cumberland Garden Club’s community garden at the Ames True Temper site.
The garden is outfitted with hoses that are connected to the water lines of the corporate office building, which help the gardeners enjoy prolific yields from their plots.
May 31, there was not a plot left in the garden. As of now, we have a three-year waiting list.” After her success with that garden project, McNichol was asked to act as chairman for the garden club’s Junior Gardening Committee. McNichol agreed, on the condition that she could establish a garden at a community nonprofit organization so she could work with inner-city youth. McNichol worked with the staff at the nonprofit organization to apply for funding for the garden. After receiving a private family donation, they were able to put in a number of garden plots, surrounded by a split rail fence with rabbit proofing. McNichol and her class of 30 students, ranging from kindergarteners to sixth graders, tend the plots. In addition to gardening, McNichol’s students are exposed to a world of information about the environment and how it works. Their projects have included building birdhouses and maintaining a worm farm and compost pile to help fertilize the garden plots. Thanks to some shelving donated by Home Depot, the class was able to begin growing plants indoors over the winter of 2011 and has since moved them outside. “They made wonderful arrangements out of greens and flowers that they brought home during Christmastime,” McNichol said. The students also received information about nutrition from Giant Foods’ nutritionist. They even had a class dedicated to sampling fruits and vegetables, many of them unique and new to the children. The students were asked to close their eyes and eat a piece of the fruit or vegetable, focusing on the texture and taste. They then wrote poems about the experience. The class has also been enjoying the fruits of their labor. “The children have already been eating what they have been growing,” McNichol said. She is very proud of her class and all that they have learned, including the basic principles of permaculture (a method of sustainable living that can be applied to countless aspects of human life). McNichol receives the loving support of her husband, Bill, and son, Tim. Tim is a professional beach volleyball player who has inherited his mother’s love of flowers. McNichol is certain that when he settles down and marries, he will have a beautiful garden of his own.
Puzzles shown on page 15
Puzzle Solutions
She has very fond memories of those summers, including times picking blackberries that would later be used to make baked goods. It is from her experiences on her brother’s farm that McNichol believes her interest in flower gardening comes. After their marriage, McNichol and her husband, Bill, lived in an apartment, which limited McNichol’s ability to garden. Eventually, they moved into a house on the south shore of Long Island, where McNichol was able to put in an expansive garden that included flowers, vegetables, and grapes. “People would come by and remark that I had a beautiful garden,” said McNichol. When the company that Bill had worked for in New York went bankrupt, the couple relocated to Pennsylvania, where McNichol became involved with the local garden club—and she was no ordinary member. McNichol has held almost every position available at the club, from secretary to vice president. “You name it, I did it,” McNichol said. What makes McNichol such a valuable asset to the garden club is her ability to organize and champion many of the group’s largest initiatives. In the winter of 2010, an area company that has produced gardening tools since the 1700s, asked for help with a community garden project. The company had $100,000 and a 1.7-acre plot of empty land next to its temporary headquarters. The CEO of the company at the time had envisioned using the money and the land to establish a community garden that the garden club would then manage and maintain. The garden contains 127 raised beds and is outfitted with hoses, connected to the water lines of the corporate office building, and a gardening shed filled with all the tools a gardener could possibly need. Community gardeners, therefore, need only bring their seeds and a willingness to work to have a successful plot. A set of rules and regulations was established and gardeners signed up for a specified plot. In addition, she helped organize bimonthly gardening talks, inviting local gardening experts to give lectures and hold discussions for the community garden members. “It turned out to be an incredible success,” McNichol said. “We had no idea we would be able to fill [all the plots] up. We opened up May 1, and by
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Senior Games: A Local Summer Staple By Megan Joyce Somewhere between a soggy start and a scorching end, the 2012 York Senior Games proved a successful outing for the county’s over-50 athletes in late June. A rainy Monday brought out the umbrellas during the games’ outdoor events, and by week’s end, the blistering summer sun replaced those umbrellas with broad-brimmed hats, sunscreen, and bottles of water—lots and lots of water. Organized by the York County Area Agency on Aging and the Senior Games Planning Committee, with a membership of community and business volunteers, the 11th annual games were held June 18 to 23. Each year, the Senior Games are a vibrant reminder of the mission of the Area Agency on Aging: to promote healthy lifestyles and fitness for York County men and women over age 50, said Jenny Nace, information specialist at the AAA and a member of the Senior Games planning committee. “It doesn’t matter how old you are—you can still remain active, mentally and/or physically,” Nace said. “Our oldest participant this year was 95.” Held over six consecutive days, the Senior Games were comprised of 48 events, their breadth reflective of the diverse interests and abilities of the county’s senior athletes. Nace said their most popular events were bocce, Wii bowling and Wii golf, bowling,
horseshoes, shuffleboard, throws (football, softball, and Frisbee), darts, basketball foul shooting and hot shots, and mini golf. Although the athletic ability is impressive—more than 1,250 gold, silver, and bronze medals were awarded—Nace finds the friendly nature of the games to be most inspiring. “It’s great to see the participants help each other out, regardless if a medal is on the line or not,” Nace observed. “It’s more about the camaraderie than the competition.” Two major changes to the structure of the games were implemented for 2012. The opening ceremony, formerly a closing ceremony held at the end of the week, now heralded the start of the games on the first day of events. Additionally, all of this year’s events were held at Central York High School, with the exception of seven offsite activities. This helped streamline the daily schedules of events and alleviated travel time for the games’ 543 participants. Year after year, Nace and her planning partners are rewarded with both helpful suggestions for next year’s games and sincere gratitude for the effort put in to pull off yet another week of sports, socialization, and sunshine—Mother Nature willing, that is. “Overall, the participants are very appreciative and very thankful to all the volunteers—which makes all the hard work worth it!”
2012 York County Senior Games The York County Senior Games would like to thank the 2012 sponsors whose contributions have made the events possible.
Platinum ManorCare Health Services
Gold Lutheran Social Services of South Central Pennsylvania
One Book , One Community
Silver WellSpan Geriatrics • SeniorLIFE-York
2012 Book Announcement
Bronze Glatfelter Insurance Group • Heritage Senior Center • Memorial Hospital Rest Haven-York Nursing and Rehabilitation Center • Visiting Angels
Please join 70 libraries and their community partners in celebrating the 2012 One Book, One Community book announcement and reception.
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Volunteer Spotlight
Nancy Eyster
Regalo Willoughby
Nancy Eyster, Regalo Willoughby, and Jill Lippiatt have been named volunteers of the month by the York County Area Agency on Aging for their ongoing service and dedication to the agency and York County’s older adults. A mother of three who worked in government for 20 years, Nancy Eyster enjoys the variety of things she does as general office assistant and special events volunteer. She has volunteered for the Agency on Aging since 2000. Eyster also volunteers for her church community and enjoys spending time with her children and grandsons. Regalo Willoughby has lived in York
Jill Lippiatt
since 2007 after moving from the Caribbean and living in New York and Maryland. As a financial counselor for the agency, Willoughby has seen the difficulties some older adults face without the help of family, friends, or programs such as this one. APPRISE volunteer Jill Lippiatt began volunteering in high school as part of a volunteer club. She enjoys the challenge of the APPRISE program and understanding Medicare so she can better educate and assist seniors to make well-informed choices. In addition to APPRISE, she also volunteers for her church and her children’s schools.
Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus Senior News’ Volunteer Spotlight! 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.
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credit cards and other documents, and take pictures of any jewelry or valuables you’re bringing with you (if you must bring them at all.) This will come in handy if they’re lost or stolen. Don’t let your luggage out of your sight. Take your laptop and other important items with you when you leave the room, or lock them in the hotel safe. Know where you are. Pick up a few business cards in the lobby when you check in, and keep them with you at all times. Leave one near your room phone as well. A large city may have more than one Westin or Sheraton, and if you get lost or need to tell someone where you are, you want to have accurate information readily available.
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