Chester County 50plus LIFE January 2020

Complimentary | Chester County Edition

January 2020 • Vol. 17 No. 1

Read It, Love It, Pass It On page 4

Silver Anniversary: 50plus Life Turns 25 page 2

Gambling Problems in Older Adults page 10

Silver Celebration

25 Years of 50 plus LIFE and On-Line Publishers It is with great excitement and gratitude that we at On-Line Publishers, Inc. celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2020.

When President and CEO Donna Anderson began OnLine Publishers and its flagship publication, then called Senior News, from her home in 1995, it would have been impossible to predict the trajectory the fledgling company would take over the course of 2.5 decades.

From 1995-2005, Senior News’ coverage would expand to embrace six central Pennsylvania counties. Now called 50plus LIFE, the newsprint magazine’s current six-county coverage umbrella includes Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties.

OLP’s line of niche publications eventually grew to include BusinessWoman, a professional women’s magazine; b magazine, a full-gloss, lifestyle baby boomer publication produced from 2008-16; 50plus Living, an annual guide of residences and care options; and beyond50, a county-specific directory of information about

local products, services, and support, as well as other annual specialty inserts.

In 1997, OLP branched out into events; the first 50plus EXPO (then called Celebrate Seniority Expo) brought businesses and the community together for face-toface interaction.

There are now six 50plus EXPOs, four Women’s Expos, and five Veterans’ Expo & Job Fairs each year.

The years have brought growth and transformation to our business, but our core mission remains unchanged: to spread needed information and foster community connectivity while uplifting the mind, heart, and spirit of the people we serve.

We were honored to receive these proclamations from the Office of the Governor and the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commemorating On-Line Publishers’ 25 years.

And special thanks to you, the central Pennsylvania community, for making our silver anniversary possible!

25 th

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www.50plusLifePA.com

Balance: The Often-Ignored Element of Fitness

By Kathleen Trotter Balance training is a crucial — and too often ignored — element of training.

Too often we associate “working out” solely with traditional gym exercises, such as cardio, squats, lunges, weight machines, and stretching … all (obviously) critical, but not at the expense of balance training.

Being able to bench press a certain weight or spend 30 minutes on the elliptical become fairly useless if you fall over putting away the weights or getting on and off the elliptical.

Start to think of balance training as a “nonnegotiable” — the fourth “pillar” of fitness that is as important as strength training, cardiovascular training, and flexibility.

Why? Balance training is hugely functional, in large part because balance and proprioception are intrinsically linked.

Balance training improves the feedback loop (proprioception) between your body and your brain.

This loop allows your brain to know where your body is positioned in space, thus allowing your brain to instruct

When performing balance exercises, it is the “righting” element of wobbling and catching yourself that strengthens your balance.

the body to “turn on” specific muscles.

By challenging and training your balance, you also fine-tune your proprioception.

This proprioceptive neurological feedback loop is vital for everything from athletic maneuvers, to fall prevention, to improved posture, to injury prevention and foot strength.

Fall prevention is key, especially as we age. According to the CDC, each year over 300,000 older people — those 65 and older — are hospitalized for hip fractures.

More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling.

A study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada followed up with more than 500 hipfracture patients a year after their fractures.

Of community-dwelling hip-fracture patients more than 50 years of age, 20% had died, 5% had had a second fracture, and 20% had been institutionalized.

The outcomes were even worse for those in long-term care. please see Balance page 18

At Your Fingertips Helpful numbers, hotlines, and local businesses and organizations eager to serve you—all just a phone call away.

Disasters American Red Cross Greater Brandywine (610) 692-1200 Chester County Emergency Services (610) 344-5000 Salvation Army Coatesville (610) 384-2954 Salvation Army West Chester (610) 696-8746 Emergency Numbers Central Pennsylvania Poison Center (800) 521-6110

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (800) 232-4636

Housing Assistance Community Impact Legal Services (610) 876-0804

Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com

Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711

Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801

retirement living Friends Home in Kennett 147 W. State St., Kennett Square (610) 444-2577

National Osteoporosis Foundation (800) 223-9994

JEWELERS American Gold & Estate Buyers, Inc. 363 E. Lincoln Highway, Exton (484) 872-8216

PACE (800) 225-7223 Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852

Office of Aging (610) 344-6350/(800) 692-1100

Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213

Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-3676

Southeastern Pennsylvania Medical Institute (610) 446-0662

Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (800) 272-3900

Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY

American Cancer Society (800) 227-2345 American Heart Association (610) 940-9540 Arthritis Foundation (215) 570-3060 www.50plusLifePA.com

HOME IMPROVEMENT West Shore Home 5024 Simpson Ferry Road Mechanicsburg (717) 937-1148 50plus LIFE u

Legal Services Lawyer Referral Service (610) 429-1500 Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (610) 436-4510 Nutrition Meals on Wheels Chester County Inc. (610) 430-8500 Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (800) 366-3997 Office of Aging Chester County Department of Aging Services (610) 344-6350

Harrison Senior Living Locations in Christiana and East Fallowfield (610) 384-6310 The Hickman Friends Senior Communities of West Chester 400 N. Walnut St., West Chester (484) 760-6403 Senior Centers Oxford Coatesville (610) 932-5244 (610) 383-6900 Phoenixville Downingtown (610) 935-1515 (610) 269-3939 Wayne Great Valley (610) 688-6246 (610) 889-2121 West Chester Kennett Square (610) 431-4242 (610) 444-4819

Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

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Cover Story

Read It, Love It, Pass It On 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 Email address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL

Vice President and Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor, 50plus Publications Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT Project Coordinator Renee McWilliams Production Artists Connie Molitor Lauren Phillips

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Senior Marketing Consultants Joshua Binkley Jennifer Schmalhofer Angie Willis Marketing Consultant Cassidy Galeone Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

Awards

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

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

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

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

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By Bart A. Stump Read it. Love it. Pass many, many books and it on. A premise that can our neighbors down the change a child’s world. street did not,” Rengert These simple words says. are found on a sticker Rengert had heard of attached to each book a group in the Midwest stored in a brightly that was providing free decorated cardboard box children’s books to located in a neighborhood impoverished caregivers, laundromat. This and an idea was spawned. inspiring message is the With the luxury of time guiding principle of the that retirement brings, Laundromat Library Rengert teamed up with A child enjoys LLL-supplied books inside a League. longtime friend Iacobucci laundromat in Mount Vernon, N.Y. Established in 2014 to create a plan. in West Chester, the LLL is the brainchild of co“In the early summer of 2014, Karen and I were founders Arlene Rengert and Karen Iacobucci, both chatting and reinforced the idea … We settled on of Chester County. It has one primary mission: laundromats as logical distribution sites because making children’s books available to children in caregivers who have no laundry appliances at home homes that have few or none. probably also lack children’s books and/or the time A decorated “library box” containing 60 books and budget to take children to libraries.”

— ranging from board books for toddlers, picture They shared the idea with friends, neighbors, and books for beginning readers, chapter books for anyone else who would listen — and the LLL came independent readers, and full-length books for teens to fruition. in both fiction and nonfiction topics — is placed in There are currently more than 200 LLL sites a laundromat once the owner has given permission. scattered across 26 states, most of which are in Signs on the box encourage children and southeast Pennsylvania. The books come from a caregivers to read a book there, take it home, and variety of sources, including libraries, schools, book pass it on to someone else. Books don’t need to be sale leftovers, youth groups, and private donations. returned, just utilized. Once or twice a month, a Over 100,000 books have been donated so far. volunteer steward refreshes the contents of the box, Hundreds of additional books in Spanish or with straightens the area, and removes anything that multicultural themes or images have been purchased doesn’t belong. to enrich the libraries. Financial support comes While volunteers are the backbone of the LLL, from donors, businesses, restaurant fundraisers, Rengert is its heart and soul. Raised in suburban youth organizations, and grants.

Illinois, she grew up in a town with a welcoming In 2016 the LLL incorporated as a 501(c)3 library and parents that read to her every evening. nonprofit so that monetary donations are tax Earning higher-education degrees in geography deductible. The basic operating budget covers and demography, she would go on to chair the storage rental, insurance, materials needs, and Department of Geography and Planning at West website maintenance but does not include purchase Chester University. While raising five children with of books or postage to mail them to distant sites. her spouse, George, their home was full of books.

There is no paid staff, and West Chester Friends “Reading to children was probably my favorite School provides no-cost space for sorting and thing to do,” Rengert says. assembly of books and for dropping off book Her favorite childhood book? donations. The school is also where the decorated, “The Little Engine that Could. The ‘I think I filled boxes and replacement sets of books await can, I think I can’ is still something I quietly say to pickup by volunteers who deliver to local sites. myself when confronted with a problem.”

Over 500 volunteers ranging in age from 8-80 The problem became apparent early on. collect and organize the books, recruit and steward “My years in West Philadelphia as a young laundromats, or donate funds or their professional mother probably were when I became personally skills, such as graphic arts, accounting, translation, exposed to the greater advantages in reading and and the like. education that some children have. We had friends In September of each year there is a potluck social of all income levels and races, and yet our house had held to celebrate the LLL’s anniversary, where all www.50plusLifePA.com

participants within driving distance are invited. Twice-monthly updates are sent out with news and needs.

When asked what she considers the LLL’s greatest success to be, Rengert answers, “Growing itself.”

Rengert shares the story of a thirdgrade teacher at a backyard barbecue who related a story to gathered friends. The teacher had assigned students to bring to class something from home that they really loved and to explain why they loved it. One child brought in a book with the LLL book sticker on the front.

“This is my book,” he said. “It’s my only book, and that’s why I love it.”

As a result of hearing this story, a gentleman who had not previously heard of the LLL acquired a $500 grant for the organization.

Rengert listed multiple examples of individuals and groups that have helped grow the LLL. This continuing growth is what keeps Rengert motivated.

“Before I die, I want to have children’s books in at least one

Volunteers assemble collections of children’s books into boxes for placements in laundromats.

Members of the Crow Peak Valley Rangers 4H Club in Whitewood, S.D., some of the LLL’s newest and youngest participants.

Storm has 11 years’ experience being a best friend.

She is a calm, sweet girl with a sunny personality.

Storm would likely do well as an only pet but may do well with an older, relaxed dog.

Storm came to us when shelters devastated by a hurricane needed room for newly displaced pets. She has been here long enough. Come in and take her to her forever home.

For more information, contact Brandywine Valley SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, at (484) 302-0865 or bvspca.org.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Laundromat Library League volunteers maintain a book-collection box at a local senior center.

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laundromat in all 50 states,” she says.

The growth and success of the program is getting noticed. In 2015 the LLL received a literacy award from the Brandywine Valley Forge Council of the Keystone State Literacy Association.

Additionally, last March, the LLL was invited to send representation to the LaundryCares Foundation’s Literacy Summit. Here, laundromat owners partnered with the Clinton Foundation’s Too Small to Fail initiative and Libraries Without Borders to enhance early literacy efforts in local communities across the country.

The LLL (www. laundromatlibraryleague.org) is always looking for volunteers and donations. They can be reached at laundromatlibrary@gmail.com or by calling (610) 696-2282.

On the cover: Arlene Rengert, co-founder of the Laundromat Library League, with LLL books available inside the Family Laundromat in West Chester, Pa.

Find out why Ashbridge Manor was voted #1

by Readers’ Choice 3 years in a row.

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

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CROSSWORD

Puzzle Page

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 22 SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Alaska

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6. Solitaire unit 7. Iniquities 8. Approach 9. They, in Trieste 10. Relinquish 11. Nitrogen compound 12. Picture puzzle 13. Outbreak

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31. Gambled 33. UN financial agency inits.

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26. Snake, for one 27. Actress Miles 28. French friends 29. Quagmire 31. Wildebeests 32. Concert prop 33. Eczema symptom 34. Exec’s note 35. Stew 37. Cake topper 38. Elephant grp.

59. As a result 60. Knee-slapper 61. Tyrant bird 62. Cattail, e.g.

63. Beach shades 64. Stun gun 65. Jurisdictions of bishops

39. Equestrian suppliers 43. Goodies 44. Beam 45. Bambi character 46. In pieces 47. Novelist Ephron 48. Heavenly hunter 49. Precipitates 50. Home on the range 52. Engrossed 53. Brainwave 54. Canadian tribe 55. Double curve 56. Silent assents

Your ad could be here on this popular page!

Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information.

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Grief Relief

Tips for Facing the New Year While Grieving Victor M. Parachin

Grieving is taxing on mind, body, and spirit. While it can be tough to face each new day, the challenge can feel enormous when January emerges and a whole new year is stretching out before us.

Rather than allowing Jan. 1 to be a depressing date, consider these positive tips for facing the new year while still grieving.

2. Give yourself the mental rest you need. Grief is a powerfully negative experience. Work to soften that by engaging yourself with positive thoughts, positive people, positive reading material.

“Affirm the positive, visualize the positive, and expect the positive, and your life will change accordingly.” – Remez Sasson, self-improvement author

1. Give yourself the physical rest you need. Grief is exhausting, so slow down your life and bring some relaxation into it, such taking time to read a book, view a movie, visit with a friend, and generally spend more time resting in your bed or on a sofa or armchair.

“Tired minds don’t plan well. Sleep first, plan later.” – Walter Reisch, director and screenwriter

3. Give yourself the emotional rest you need. Rather than go it alone, consider meeting with a grief support group where the members share your burden, provide inspiration, and generate encouragement that you, too, can and will overcome grief.

“Ten minutes with a genuine friend is better than years spent with anyone less.” – Crystal Woods, author and public speaker please see New Year page 8

People are talking about us...

“A solid publication that is full of personality and useful information.”

“Columnists bring a wide set of interests and viewpoints.”

“The emphasis on variety seems to be a smart way to satisfy a diverse audience.”

On-line Publishers and 50plus LIFE just won 6 awards from the North American Mature Publishers Association!

50plus LIFE:

50plus Living:

• First Place: General Excellence

• OLP’s annual guide to residence and care options for the 50+ community won first place in its division in the Annual Senior Resource Guide or Directory – Design category.

• First Place: Best Overall Design • First Place: Front Cover Photo • First Place: Profile – “On Wings and Waves, His Life’s Path Led to Pa.” by Jason Tabor

Resource Directory for Caregivers, Aging, and the Disabled: • Produced in seven distinct county editions annually, the Resource Directory won second place in its division in the Annual Senior Resource Guide or Directory – Design category.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. • 3912 Abel Drive • Columbia, PA 17512 • 717-285-1350 www.50plusLifePA.com

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Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

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The Reel Deal

The Last Full Measure Randal Hill

In 1999, Todd Robinson, the director/screenwriter of decoration. On Dec. 8, 2000, the medal was posthumously The Last Full Measure, learned the story of William H. awarded to William H. Pitsenbarger, 34 years after his Pitsenbarger. Robinson had been researching a military death. movie and visiting training schools.

Robinson and producer Sidney Sherman pitched the “Nearly every place I went, the young trainees wanted movie idea to over 50 production companies, but nobody to be sure that I knew the story of William Pitsenbarger,” showed interest. Still, Robinson had such faith in Pits’s Robinson explained to Air Force Magazine. story that he went ahead and wrote a script anyway. He Called “Pits” by his comrades, the 21-year-old medic, then embarked on over a decade of arm-twisting to line up already a veteran of over 250 combat missions, was aboard funding. one of two helicopters summoned to evacuate wounded Finally, by 2017, things had fallen into place. Jeremy soldiers after they were ambushed in a Vietnam jungle in Irvine would portray Pits, with Christopher Plummer as April 1966.

Pits’s father and Diane Ladd as Pits’s mother. The cast was When the last helicopter was ready to lift off, the selfless rounded out with such acting icons as Samuel L. Jackson, Pits, already under heavy Viet Cong fire, volunteered to stay William Hurt, Ed Harris, and (in his final role) Peter Fonda. behind to tend to the wounded and hold off the advancing The Last Full Measure story unfolds through the enemy. He was killed within 90 minutes. perspective of Scott Huffman (Sebastian Stan), a young Robinson later heard the airman’s father, William F. Pentagon official assigned to investigate the unique and Images © Lionsgate or related entities. Used for “Frank” Pitsenbarger, speak about his son’s legacy at a New complicated case that sought the elevating of the prestigious publicity and promotional purposes. https://www. movieinsider.com/photos/552172 Mexico airbase. award.

“The whole thing jelled for me at that moment,” said Roadside Attractions executives Howard Cohen and Eric Robinson. “That’s when I knew there was a story to tell.” d’Arbeloff proclaim, “Everyone should know about William Pitsenbarger’s The narrative was compelling to Robinson, as was the aftermath tale, when bravery and life, and it’s a privilege to bring this film to theaters, where it wives of the surviving soldiers learned that Pits had been given an Air Force should be seen.”

Cross — the second highest honor — for his ultimate sacrifice. It wasn’t good The movie opens nationwide on Jan. 17. enough, they protested.

Randal C. Hill enjoys getting sneak peeks of forthcoming movies from his home on Encouraged by their spouses, numerous veterans subsequently petitioned the Oregon coast. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

Congress to elevate Pits to the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest

New Year from page 7 4. Give yourself the spiritual rest you need. If being part of a faith community has been important to you, remain connected. Worship, pray, study religious texts, consult with your spiritual leader. If you’re the type of person who feels more spiritual than religious, consider spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga, and spending ample time outdoors in nature.

“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.” – Swami Vivekananda, Hindu monk 5. Give yourself permission to make mistakes. No person grieves perfectly. Grief recovery is a work in progress. There will be some stumbles. Be OK with those.

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.

You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” – Neil Gaiman, author 6. Give yourself the choice to heal. While the majority of grievers get through bereavement successfully, there are some who remain “stuck” with their grief.

The difference between the two comes down to choice: Give yourself the choice to adjust, adapt, and move your life forward.

“You can’t go back. You don’t get a do-over. This happened to you. So now

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what? Do you choose to live in pain and grief, or do you choose to heal? Make the choice, every day, every hour, sometimes every minute.” – Amy Florian, author 7. Give yourself the gift of patience. It’s going to take time to heal because the death of a loved one is deeply painful.

Pace yourself. Avoid pressuring yourself to “get over it.” And, don’t allow family and friends to rush you through grief, however well-meaning they may be.

“Recovery and adjustment can take much longer than most people realize.

We need to accept whatever form it takes, both in ourselves and in others.” – Julia Samuel, psychotherapist 8. Give yourself the freedom to express gratitude. A small dose of gratitude can offset a large volume of sadness.

“Even in the toughest of times, there is something for which you can be thankful. What can you give thanks for today? Did support come from an unexpected place? Did someone say exactly what you needed to hear? Did a robin stop and sing on your windowsill? Blessings come in many forms. You may even wish to begin a gratitude journal in which you record how each day blessed you. Gratitude heals at a very deep level.” – Donna Miesbach, author Victor M. Parachin, M.Div., is a grief counselor, bereavement educator, and author of several books, including Healing Grief.

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Telescope Technology Captures Glaucoma-Related Eye Structure Using methods originally It also makes it difficult to developed by astronomers to study why certain glaucoma view stars more clearly through treatments that target the Earth’s atmosphere, optometry trabecular meshwork — such researchers at Indiana as laser therapies or invasive University have taken the surgical procedures — fail first undistorted microscopic while others succeed. images of a part of the eye More effective treatments involved in glaucoma. for glaucoma are needed The ability to clearly view since the number of people this structure — known as with the condition worldwide the trabecular meshwork — is expected to rise from could help improve treatment 76 million in 2020 to for glaucoma. The work is over 111 million in 2040, reported in the journal of disproportionally affecting Translational Vision Science and Blind spots and loss of peripheral vision occur when people in Asia and Africa. glaucoma damages the fibers of the optic nerve.

Technology.

In the U.S., it’s estimated “Normally, clear fluid that over 3 million people circulates inside the eye to currently have glaucoma, January is National supply nutrition and keep costing the economy over Glaucoma Awareness Month it ‘inflated’ to its normal $1.5 billion annually. shape,” said Dr. Brett King, To view the trabecular chief of advanced ocular care services and associate meshwork, IU researchers modified an existing clinical professor at the IU School of Optometry, who coophthalmic laser microscope with a programmable authored the study. mirror able to deform in real time to correct for the eye’s “Alterations of the trabecular meshwork, which allows imperfections. fluid to drain, elevate pressure in the eye, leading to Astronomers designed the laser to correct for the glaucoma. The problem is the meshwork can only be same atmospheric distortions that make stars appear to seen poorly with the normal instruments in your doctor’s twinkle. office, due to its location where the iris inserts into the “Thanks to this research, the ocular drainage area of wall of the eye, as well as the near-total reflection that the eye can now be seen with much-improved clarity, occurs when looking through the cornea.” which will improve our understanding of how this The result of this low visibility is a lack of essential drainage area is being altered or damaged with understanding about why age appears to cause the age,” King said. trabecular meshwork to function poorly.

LWV Hosts ‘Government in Action’ Program Elected officials had an opportunity to tell about their journeys into politics, and how their offices impact the community, at the League of Women Voters of Chester County “Our Government in Action” program, held recently at Crosslands in Kennett Square.

Speaking to about four dozen league and community members were: Tom Hogan, district

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From left, Kay Sharp checks in with Carole Mackrell, LWVCC treasurer; Susan Carty, board member; Barbara Lathroum, vice president; and Pam Gray, president, for the recent League of Women Voters “Government in Action” event at Crosslands in Kennett Square.

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attorney; Michelle Kichline and Terence Farrell, commissioners; Terri Clark, register of wills; Matt Holliday, prothonotary; Margaret Reif, controller; Yolanda Van de Krol, clerk of courts officer; Patricia Maisano, county treasurer; Dianne Herrin, mayor of West Chester; Stephen Barrar, Chris Sappey, and Kristine Howard, state representatives; and Andy Dinniman, state senator.

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

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Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

How to Know When an Older Adult Has a Gambling Problem

Dear Savvy Senior, I’m worried that my 76-year-old husband has become addicted to gambling. He spends at least two days a week at an Indian casino about a half-hour’s drive from his house playing slot machines. What can I do?

– Worried Wife Dear Worried, Problem gambling among older adults is unfortunately on the rise. Studies suggest that more than 4 million Americans age 65 and older could have a gambling problem.

The reasons behind this growing problem are because seniors have time and money on their hands, and the influx of casinos that have cropped up around the country have made access to gambling much more convenient.

Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources that can help your husband if he does indeed have a problem.

Problem Gambling For most older adults, gambling is simply a fun recreational activity, but for those who become addicted to it, it can be a devastating disease that can financially wipe them out.

There are a number of reasons why seniors can be vulnerable to gambling problems. For starters, seniors are often catered to by casinos with free bus transportation, free drinks, discounted meals, special rewards, and other prizes as a way to entice them.

In addition, many seniors use gambling as a way to distract or escape feelings of loneliness, depression, or even a chronic health condition. Some may have financial problems they are seeking to overcome. And some may have cognitive impairment that interferes with their ability to make sound decisions.

Adding to the problem is that many seniors may not understand addiction,

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making them less likely to identify a gambling problem. Or they may be confused or embarrassed that they can’t control their urges to gamble and reluctant to seek help because they think that at their age, they should know better.

And even if they recognize that they have a problem, they may not know that help is available or where to get it.

You should also know that while there are many gambling options for people to get hooked on today, casino slot machines are far and away the most popular among seniors.

Slot machines are much more addictive then the old machines of yesteryear with spinning lemons, cherries, and melons. Many of today’s slot machines offer intense sensory stimulation with large video screens, music, and vibrating, ergonomic chairs.

Get Help How can you know if your husband has a gambling problem? Gamblers Anonymous (www. gamblersanonymous.org) offers a 20-question online test that he can take to help determine if he has a problem.

In the meantime, here are some questions you can ask to help evaluate his situation.

• Is he preoccupied with gambling, constantly talking about it, or planning to gamble versus doing his normal activities?

• Is he gambling more and more money to get the same level of excitement?

• Is he using his retirement funds or other savings to gamble, or is he pawning or selling personal items to get money to gamble with?

• Has he lost control to the point that he can’t set a limit of time and money to spend in the casino, and stick to it?

• Does he become uncomfortable or angry or does he lie when you ask him about his gambling activities?

If your husband answers yes to any of these questions, he may have a problem.

To find help, contact the National Council on Problem Gambling (www. ncpgambling.org), a nonprofit organization that operates a 24-hour national hotline at (800) 522-4700.

They can direct you to resources in your area, including counselors who have been trained through the National Certified Gambler Counseling Program.

Send your senior questions to: Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, OK 73070, or visit www.savvysenior.org. Jim Miller is a contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior book.

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Please join us for these FREE events!

21st Annual

April 22, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY

Shady Maple Conference Center Smorgasbord Building 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl

21st Annual

May 6, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

No Need for Disguises.

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Join us in celebrating our silver anniversary by taking a look back at life over the last 25 years … as well as a blast from one of our covers past!

2017

25 th

Top Headlines

Entertainment

• In June, President Trump announced the U.S. would pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

• In a mix-up for the Oscar for Best Picture, La La Land was announced before it was revealed that Moonlight actually won the award.

• The opioid epidemic received major news coverage in 2017. In August, President Trump declared the epidemic a national emergency.

• Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria pummeled southeast Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean in late summer and early fall.

• The #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault began in October with widespread abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein.

• C elebrity passings included musicians Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Tom Petty, Gregg Allman, Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington, and Glen Campbell; actors Mary Tyler Moore, Bill Paxton, and Adam West; comedians Jerry Lewis, Don Rickles, and Dick Gregory; and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

• On Oct. 1, a gunman on the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel opened fire on outdoor concertgoers, killing 59 people and injuring more than 500.

• According to the Nielsen ratings, the top five most-watched TV series of 2017 were NCIS, Young Sheldon, The Good Doctor, The Big Bang Theory, and, at No. 1, Sunday Night Football.

Sports • Tennis player Serena Williams defeated her sister, Venus, in the Australian Open final. It was her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, breaking a record set in 1968.

• The New England Patriots came back from a 23-8 deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28. It was the largest comeback and first overtime game in Super Bowl history.

• NFL players kneeling during the national anthem set off a national debate after President Trump criticized the players on Twitter.

• Former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar was accused of sexual abuse by more than 150 women — including several Olympic athletes.

He would be sentenced to 40-175 years in federal prison.

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January 2017

Science & Technology • NASA ran a livestream of the Cassini spacecraft’s final moments as it succumbed to Saturn’s dense atmosphere and heat.

• Apple launched the iPhone X, which included facial-recognition technology as a security feature.

• A total solar eclipse passed across the United States in late August; it was the first to cross the country since 1918.

• A cyberattack on credit-reporting agency Equifax caused 145.5 million American consumers to have sensitive personal information stolen.

Join us next month to see what was happening in 2013!

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

13

Since 2000, 50plus LIFE (previously Senior News and 50plus Senior News) has won more than 130 awards for its editorial content and design. Here’s a look at an award-winning article from our archives.

Evelyn Ay – Where is She Now? October 2000 issue Mature Media Awards: Silver Award

By Meredith Westgate

It was September 1954 when 20-year-old Evelyn Ay, of Ephrata, became the pride of Lancaster County, and indeed, all of Pennsylvania. She was crowned Miss America in the Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Ephrata may not have ever before or since seen such a grand celebration as the one that took place the day she returned to her hometown. Sixty thousand people lined the streets for a parade of flower-studded floats while area high school marching bands played triumphant tunes.

Carlo M. Sardella, a Press staff writer, called Ay “the People’s Choice.” He wrote, “Riding on a wave of popularity that began with her first public appearance in the [Miss America] parade … Ay copped the Miss America title … before a cheering, whistling, full house.”

Ay earned her place in the finals by winning the first-night trophy in the swimsuit competition and earning top points in talent with her dramatic reading of Leaves from My House, a poem about a house and life in the South Pacific. But, it was in the question-and-answer period that Ay clinched the title.

“She came through with colors flying so high that there were expressions of amazement up and down press row,” Sardella wrote.

As the last Miss America to be crowned before the pageant was televised, Ay represented the end of an era. With the title, Ay was awarded a $5,000 scholarship, a car, and some $40,000 in personal appearance fees during her reign. She traveled 390,000 miles across the U.S., England, France, and Germany, serving as “the headliner” at festivals and charity events.

At the time of her crowning, Ay was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. She had never participated in a beauty pageant.

Approached by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Ephrata, she was persuaded to compete in the local competition.

Advancing to the Miss America pageant was “one big, giant step,” Ay said. Winning was “a serendipity” in her life.

With no expectation of winning the pageant, Ay had become engaged on the Saturday before the Miss America pageant. Her fiancé, Carl Sempier, was in officer candidate school at Penn. A November wedding was planned.

On the night of the pageant, Sempier and some friends gathered around a radio in Newport, Rhode Island. Ay earned a place in the top 10, the top five, and then the Miss America title.

Sempier’s friends told him “he was history,” Ay said, laughing. “They said if I was decent, maybe I would return the ring.”

Ay and Sempier postponed the wedding, seeing each other only four

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times that year.

“I looked the world over, but didn’t find anyone better,” she said. They married a year later.

From her home in Malvern, Pennsylvania (the Sempiers have resided in the Paoli area since 1962), Ay reflected on the Miss America pageant.

The first pageant (1921) was organized by the merchants of Atlantic City to celebrate the most beautiful time of year, Ay said. The first contestants were daughters of summer residents. In 1945, the first scholarship was awarded.

“It was this step that enabled the pageant to celebrate 80 years,” Ay said.

Today, the Miss America pageant has the largest scholarship foundation exclusively for women in the world, awarding more than $30 million in scholarships annually.

In the ’50s, Miss America represented “the Age of Innocence — Donna Reed, family, neighbors, friends,” Ay said.

The contestants “were the show,” performing oratory, classical piano, ballet, tap — whatever was “available at their fingertips.” Ay observed, “Singing and dancing were only in the movies.”

After her reign, Ay was offered exciting opportunities, but preferred a quieter life.

“I enjoyed every minute of my year [as Miss America], but I wasn’t caught up in the glory,” Ay said. A life of “entertainment and exposure had neither the stability nor sincerity” she sought.

A devoted supporter of the Miss America scholarship program, Ay attends the Miss America pageant each year. She has judged local, state, and national pageants, and served as Miss America pageant commentator in 1985 and 1987.

She accepts numerous speaking invitations annually. She writes her own speeches and presents them from a “very, very personal perspective.”

According to her Miss America biography, “Ay is best known as an enchanting and captivating speaker.”

The Sempiers raised two daughters and six Great Dane dogs. Their daughters, who both live within 4 miles of their parents, are “beautiful and talented.” The couple enjoys their two young grandchildren. They love to travel and recently vacationed in Italy.

Ay, who calls herself a “gray-haired lady,” notes that she is “identifiable as an older person.” Gray-haired or blond, Ay is surely as gracious and charming as she was the day she was crowned Miss America.

She laments that life isn’t as carefree as it was then. Now, “young people race from work to daycare to the dry cleaner,” she said.

In her speeches, she encourages people to slow down and enjoy life. www.50plusLifePA.com

The Bookworm Sez

This Tender Land Terri Schlichenmeyer

“Tell me a story!”

It was never enough when someone read a story to you when you were a child: A tale from the heart was always better. Every time the story was told, it was a little bit different, a little braver and a lot more exciting, and with This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, you’re in for a good one.

Every child at the Lincoln Indian Training School feared what Odie O’Banion called “the quiet room.”

They feared it, because it was rarely quiet: Usually, someone was sobbing from the beatings, or worse, that they endured in that dirt-floor cell, or because of the rats there, or This Tender Land by William Kent because of the dark.

Krueger; c. 2019, Atria; 450 pages The first time he was tossed into the room, Odie was 8 years old and his then-12-year-old brother, Albert, was inexplicably tossed in with him.

It was 1932, and they’d been told that they were the only white boys at the Indian school in northern Minnesota because the county had nowhere else to put them after their parents died.

Odie had only known a mother’s love for a few short years of his life; Mrs. Brickman, the owner of the school, didn’t love him, or any of the children there.

Odie doubted that the “Black Witch” was capable of love.

She was surely capable of cruelty, though, and part of that was in loaning children to work for nearby farmers. If the Black Witch meant to punish a boy, he was sent to the Bledsoe farm; if it was a good day, Odie, Albert, and their friend, Mose, would go to Mrs. Cora Frost’s farm, to help out there.

As far as Odie was concerned, Cora Frost was an “angel.” A widow with a 5-year-old daughter, Cora made the boys feel like family, and for story-loving Odie, that was heaven.

But when a tornado came through and took that family away, he knew that only one thing could happen next: It was time to escape …

Which is exactly what you want in a novel: to be transported to another time and place, to escape. Happily, you’ll find plenty of that inside This Tender Land.

You’ll also find a lot of “ish” in this novel: an Oliver-Twist-ish open with a Snape-ish character in charge. Adventure that’s quite Mark-Twain-ish and a sweet, puppyish love story.

There’s history and culture that may be newish to the unversed, wrapped into a tale that alternates between sentimentalism and wincing.

Placing this all solidly on a factual base, author William Kent Krueger then plops his readers down in a period when the Depression caused families to www.50plusLifePA.com

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disintegrate and roving bands of kids were not uncommon. And we wander here, too, through a timeline filled with murder, crime, faith, heartpounding chase scenes, and just a little magic.

That could feel overdone and may be a little overwhelming for some readers, so give yourself room with this book. You’ll want that anyway — some room to enjoy, if you love stories. For you, This Tender Land is a good one told.

Photo Credit: Photography by Diane Krueger

This Tender Land author William Kent Krueger.

The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer.

Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 14,000 books.

Your guide to choosing the right living and care options for you or a loved one.

Read it online, in print, and on mobile/tablet devices. onlinepub.com

24th annual edition

25 th

Call today for your free copy!

(717) 285-1350

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

15

Chester County

Calendar of Events

Support Groups Free and open to the public Mondays (except holidays), 10-11:30 a.m.

Sunshine Memory Café United Methodist Church of West Chester 129 S. High St., West Chester (610) 349-3401 adean0413@gmail.com Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

No Longer Alone: Nar-Anon Family Group Church of the Nazarene 424 S. Darlington St., West Chester (610) 692-3120 Jan. 7, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Grief Support Group Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville (610) 327-7216 Jan. 7 and 21, 6:30-8 p.m.

Bereavement Support Group Brandywine Hospital Conference Room 2N 201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville (610) 998-1700, ext. 226 Jan. 7 and 21, 5-6:30 p.m.

Bereavement Support Group Main Line Unitarian Church 816 S. Valley Forge Road, Devon (610) 585-6604 phoenixbereavement@yahoo.com Nondenominational; all are welcome.

Jan. 8, 1:30 p.m.

Family Caregiver Support Group Sarah Care 425 Technology Drive, Suite 200, Malvern (610) 251-0801 Jan. 8, 7-8:30 p.m.

Hearing Loss Support Group Christ Community Church, Second Floor 1190 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester (484) 402-4907

hlaaachesco@gmail.com www.hearinglosschesco.com Jan. 13 and 27, 10:30 a.m. to noon Caregiver Coffee Break/Support Group Active Day of Exton 201 Sharp Lane, Exton (610) 363-8044

Jan. 4 and 18, 5-10 p.m.

Bingo Night Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St., Downingtown (610) 429-8174

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Coatesville Area Senior Center (610) 383-6900 250 Harmony St., Coatesville www.coatesvilleseniorcenter.org Mondays, 11 a.m. – Mindful Mondays Tuesdays, 10:45-11:30 a.m. – Tai Chi for Life Jan. 9 and 23, 1 p.m. – Baking Club

Jan. 14 and 28, 6:30-8 p.m.

Bereavement Support Group Jennersville Hospital Conference Room B 1015 W. Baltimore Pike, West Grove (610) 998-1700, ext. 226

Downingtown Senior Center – (610) 269-3939 983 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown www.downingtownseniors.org Weekdays, 2 p.m. – Aquatics Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – Chorus Thursdays, 2-3 p.m. – Soul Line Dancing

Jan. 16, 12:30-2:30 p.m.

To Live Again … Support and Socialization for Widows and Widowers Surrey East Goshen 1201 N. Chester Road, West Chester (610) 389-1124

Great Valley Senior Center – (610) 889-2121 47 Church Road, Malvern

Jan. 21, 6 p.m.

Family Caregiver Support Group Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester (610) 399-4464 Jan. 29, 6 p.m.

Living with Cancer Support Group Paoli Hospital Cancer Center 255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli (484) 565-1253 Jan. 30, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Elder Care Support Group Ruggiero Law Offices Paoli Corporate Center 16 Industrial Blvd., Suite 211, Paoli (610) 889-0288 beth@paolilaw.com If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Community Programs Free and open to the public Jan. 2, 7:30 p.m.

Compassionate Friends Valley Forge Chapter Good Shepherd Lutheran Church 132 E. Valley Forge Road, King of Prussia (484) 919-0820 www.tcfvalleyforge.org

Senior Center Activities

Jan. 7, 11:30 a.m.

West Chester University Retirees Luncheon Call for location (610) 269-1503 Jan. 21, noon AARP Valley Forge Chapter Meeting St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church 203 N. Valley Forge Road, Devon (610) 647-1823

Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819 427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square http://kennettseniorcenter.org Oxford Senior Center – (610) 932-5244 12 E. Locust St., Oxford – www.oxfordseniors.org Wednesdays, 8:30-11:30 a.m. – Paint Class Phoenixville Area Senior Center – (610) 935-1515 153 Church St., Phoenixville http://phoenixvilleseniorcenter.org West Chester Area Senior Center – (610) 431-4242 530 E. Union St., West Chester http://wcseniors.org Thursdays, 1 p.m. – WCASC Chorus

Library Programs Avon Grove Library, 117 Rose Hill Ave. West Grove, (610) 869-2004 Jan. 2 and 9, 6 p.m. – Craft and Create Jan. 6, 3 p.m. – Sit and Knit Jan. 16, 6 p.m. – Book Club Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave. Downingtown, (610) 269-2741 Jan. 7 and 21, 6 p.m. – Knitters Club Jan. 16, 6:30 p.m. – Downingtown Library Writers Group Jan. 21, 6:30 p.m. – Crafters Maker Space Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road Paoli, (610) 296-7996 Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times West Chester Public Library, 415 N. Church St. West Chester, (610) 696-1721 Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com.

www.50plusLifePA.com

The Beauty in Nature

Crows and Geese at Shopping Malls Clyde McMillan-Gamber

Late in the afternoon one day this past November, noisy multitudes of American crows and Canada geese were on a short-grass lawn behind a local shopping mall.

The crows were gathering on that lawn prior to going to roost for the night, while the geese were nibbling the grass.

At that same time, successive flocks of loudly bugling Canada geese, in tight strings and V’s, powered off a nearby pond and landed into the wind among their fellows on the lawn, while loose sheets of crows poured low over the pond and lawn, heading west.

Meanwhile, other groups of honking geese lifted off the short

American crow

grass and flew out of sight. All those airborne crows and geese were beautifully silhouetted before the striking sunset.

And together the birds created exciting, inspiring natural spectacles in a human-made habitat where people wouldn’t expect them to be.

As time progressed, succeeding floods of crows from all directions became ever larger, noisier, and more dramatic as they flowed over the shopping center. Meanwhile, still other crows were perched on the buildings of that mall and on its parking lots and trees.

Again, the crows and Canada geese together were a wild sight in please see Crows page 18

On-Line Publishers, Inc.

has earned 3 Mature Media Awards!

2019

Winners

Bronze Award

Bronze Award

Merit Award

“A Path Well Carved”

by Jason J. Tabor

“Doing the Heart’s Work”

by Megan Joyce

Caregiver Solutions 2018

from

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17

Crows from page 17 a built habitat as the sun set and parking lots, buildings, vehicles, darkness deepened. Wildlife in and lights. human-made habitats make those Plus, those birds enjoy wind habitats part of the wild. breaks from the buildings and Being adaptable enough safety from predators and people to take advantage of humanshooting at them. made habitats, for several years Wintering American crows thousands of wintering crows and and Canada geese consume hundreds of wintering Canada corn kernels lying in harvested geese have roosted each winter cornfields. But crows also ingest night from early November to acorns off lawns, dead animals on mid-March among area shopping roads, and edible garbage from malls. garbage cans, dumpsters, and In this instance, some of the landfills. Geese also eat short grass geese are permanent residents of on lawns, as stated earlier, and the nearby pond, while the crows aquatic vegetation. raised young in forests in Canada.

Wildlife is always exciting and But both species became inspiring to experience, including Canadian geese accustomed to traffic, lights, and in human-made habitats. And people on their wintering grounds great numbers of certain species and learned to benefit from a little extra heat from the sun-heated blacktop create wonderful pageantry. Beauties and intrigues in nature are where you find them.

Balance from page 3 Ways to Improve Your Balance For all outlined exercises, allow yourself to (appropriately) wobble outside your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to let yourself get slightly unstable. If you were training your biceps, you would let your muscles get tired.

Embrace that you have to let yourself fall out of balance (slightly) to train balance — it is the “righting” element of wobbling and then catching yourself that helps your balance get stronger.

Incorporate a few balance drills into your workout warm-up or while you brush your teeth or wait for the elevator. Warming up the loop between your brain and body will help you perform better during the rest of your workout and your day!

Stand on your left leg and lift your right leg off the ground. Hold for five seconds. Lower the foot but don’t touch down. Repeat three to 10 times, and then switch legs.

Repeat step one while rotating your head over and then away from the lifted knee. Repeat step one while closing your eyes for two to three seconds.

Use unstable equipment — such as a Bosu balance trainer, resistance ball, or balance board — within your regular routine. For example, instead of doing push-ups on the floor, put your hands on either side of a Bosu, flat side up. Try to keep the Bosu stable as you do your push-up.

Train barefoot to strengthen your feet; think of your feet as the “foundation” to your balance “house.”

Triangle balance toe lifts: Standing on your right leg, engage your right butt cheek. Make sure your knee is not caving in; keep the kneecap in line with your middle toes.

Pay attention to your right foot. Weight should be evenly distributed between the ball of the big toe, the ball of the little toe, and your heel.

Keep your arch lifted.

Maintain this position as you lift your right toes up and spread them.

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Leave the ball of your foot on the floor.

Lower and repeat 15 times. Then switch sides.

Heel-toe walks: Start standing. Place your right heel on the ground in front of you. Flex through your toes so the next portion of your body to touch the floor is the ball of your big toe.

As you transition to balancing on your right toes, lift your left foot off of the floor. Don’t roll your foot in or out. Balance for a moment.

Repeat by placing your left heel on the floor in front. Repeat 10 times.

Big-toe lifts: Lift your big toe up and down. Keep your other toes still.

If you need to, hold your toes down to teach your brain how to only lift the big toe.

Final Note If you are feeling overwhelmed — “too busy” to work out, let alone adding balance training to your life — try keeping a “time journal.” Record how you spend your time for two weeks. Most of us fritter away time.

As the famous business adage goes, “What gets measured, gets managed.”

You can’t possibly manage your time if you don’t know where your time goes.

With awareness brings choice.

If you want to get on top of your health, you have to get in control of your time. Too many of us let emergencies dictate how our time gets used or have no idea how we actually spend our minutes, hours, days, etc.

Time is our most valuable resource — we can’t make more of it.

Kathleen Trotter (MSc) is a fitness expert, nutrition and life coach, media personality, and author of two books, including her most recent, Your Fittest Future Self. Connect with her on social media at FitByKathleenT or through her website, KathleenTrotter.com

www.50plusLifePA.com

Sixties Flashback

The Million-Selling Sloppy Sound Check Randal C. Hill

Then came Chase’s jaw-dropping Music critics were never kind to one of the announcement. biggest hits of all time.

“That’s it! That’s the take I want!” he One writer proclaimed it “a ridiculous piece enthused as he bolted from the control room, of junk.” Another grumbled that “it had all explaining that the sound check had exactly the charm of a clanging hubcap.” Strangely the raw edge that he sought. enough, the Kingsmen, the band responsible The Kingsmen, understandably, were for “Louie, Louie,” felt the same way. incredulous: This piece of garbage would The three-verse ditty had originally been become their debut single? Sadly, the answer a 1956 release by Los Angeles R&B singer/ was yes. songwriter Richard Berry, whose Flip Records Jerden Records in Seattle released the single told of a lonely sailor lamenting to a soundcheck version, which earned some airplay bartender named Louie. on Pacific Northwest radio before it fell off the Berry’s 45 never cracked the national charts, playlists. but the tune lingered on — and on and on — Somehow, the forgotten 45 made its way into the early 1960s, where it became a staple The Kingsmen in 1966. Clockwise from lower left: Lynn Easton, J.C. Rieck, Kerry Magness, across the country, and popular Boston rock of three-chord garage bands throughout the Mike Mitchell, Dick Peterson.

DJ Arnie Ginsberg ended up spinning “Louie, Pacific Northwest.

Louie” on a Friday night feature he called The Kingsmen were a Portland, Oregon, “The Worst Record of the Week.” rock quintet fronted by Jack Ely. Ken Chase, the Kingsmen’s manager, Surprisingly, several record stores phoned to ask about ordering the disc, provided work for the outfit at a teen dance club he owned. and soon New York’s Wand Records leased the Jerden master. By January On a whim one night, the group played a nonstop 90-minute set of nothing 1964, “Louie, Louie” sat at No. 2 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart. but “Louie, Louie.” The dancers went wild and even demanded more. Chase When some listeners erroneously claimed that “Louie, Louie” contained recognized the song’s potential for the Kingsmen and scheduled time at filthy lyrics, two FBI agents soon visited Richard Berry, who later explained Northwest Recorders, the only recording studio in Portland. with a chuckle, “They came to the conclusion that the singer’s words were When a sound check was ordered to test the microphone levels, Chase indecipherable.” raised the vocalist’s boom microphone to 15 feet off the floor, claiming this “I was never contacted about the lyrics,” Ely grumbled in a postscript. would offer a better “live” feel when the Kingsmen recorded.

“Nobody ever wanted to talk to the guy who actually sang the supposedly Things quickly went south when the tape rolled. Ely had to lean back to dirty words.” sing — shout, really — up to the microphone far above him, resulting in a slurring of Berry’s simplistic lyrics. Drummer Lynn Easton lost the beat partway through.

Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, And, following the instrumental break, Ely came in too soon on the song’s Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com. final verse and had to restart it. After two excruciating minutes, “Louie, Louie” mercifully ground to a halt.

Chili Cook-off Benefits Local Charities of Chester County; Kathleen Sanger, Home of the Sparrow; Kathy Sullivan, West Chester Area Senior Center; Robin Meixner, Friends Association for the Care and Protection of Children; Jeanne Meikrantz, ARC of Chester County; and Laura Aloisio, co-chair, Rotary CPC.

Following a recent luncheon meeting, the Rotary Club of West Chester awarded grants totaling $36,000 to several local charities from proceeds of its annual Chili Cook-off.

The Rotary Club of West Chester presented grants to the following charity representatives.

Standing, from left, Rob Malone, co-chair, Rotary Community Philanthropic Committee; Beverly Raspanti, Chester County Children, Inc.; Victoria Dew, West Chester Public Library; Capt. Jesus Corraliza, The Salvation Army; Judy Jeffords-Homitz, Safe Harbor of Chester County; Rotary President Matt Holliday; Dolly Wideman-Scott, Domestic Violence Center

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Seated, from left, Jaime Atkins, Charles A. Melton Center; Hallie Romanowski and Denise Antonelli, Act in Faith of West Chester; Capt.

Maria Corraliza, The Salvation Army; Carolyn “Bunny” Welsh, Chester County Children’s Academy; Maryann Schwab, Laundromat Library League; and Glenda Brion, Community Warehouse Project of Chester County.

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

19

Looking on the Bright Side

By Dr. Erica Miller Living long and living well require individuals to adopt a positive attitude and hopeful outlook for the future.

And that means facing a certain harsh reality: Even the healthiest person can drop dead from an undetected, asymptomatic brain aneurysm or get broadsided by a drunk driver.

Life is full of risks and uncertainties, even for the ones determined to live the longest.

The chronologically gifted, those who age well, don’t fear death because they know that life is not infinite.

The past is gone, and the future may never be, so the goal is to live in the moment — as if you’ll live forever.

Changing Perspectives The chronologically gifted have what psychologists call a “growth mindset.” This is an attitude of continual self-improvement, always preparing today for a better tomorrow.

If people simply set their minds to it, they can discover creative ways to live their lives without limitations. For example, consider the following opportunities to see things differently.

• Changing bodies means a loss of beauty and attractiveness. Another perspective is: Adopt the belief that attractiveness, at any age, goes far beyond outward appearances.

• Aches and pains can make life difficult. Another perspective is: Become realistic about life’s challenges without becoming pessimistic about them.

• For some people, getting older means realizing how many opportunities they’ve squandered over the years. Another perspective is: There’s no time like the present to seize the day and make new memories.

This is the way longevity all-stars think about life — as something for which they can be authentically grateful, treasuring past memories while looking forward to making new ones, savoring the pleasures of today.

There’s no question about it: Positive thinking patterns can form the basis for a cultivated discipline of optimism that, quite literally, can change the world.

Time to Get to Work!

No one goes from being a pessimist to being an optimist overnight; thought patterns are ingrained habits tied to our environment and personality.

But the good news is that even the most deep-rooted habits can be changed.

That means if someone is unhappy with the routine thoughts that fill their head today, they can bend their will toward becoming the kind of thinker who consistently opts for hope, where others settle for despair.

In time, they’ll find that their routine thoughts — their equilibrium state — will have changed to reflect a more optimistic outlook on life, and they’ll have more resources for dealing with adversity.

Here are a few ideas for increasing optimism.

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1. Keep a thought journal. Start thinking critically about your thought patterns. Some people may be more optimistic than they realize, in which case a thought journal may help replicate more positive thoughts throughout the coming weeks.

But others might discover they’re far more pessimistic than they imagined. In that case, a thought journal can be documentary evidence to motivate individuals to look for new ways to frame the way they deal with their world.

2. Inventory the chronic stressors in your life. Make three columns to help keep your list organized: places where you feel tense, things that stress you out, and people who create tension in your life.

Places can be general, like crowds, or specific, like movie theaters. The “things” column could include tangible objects you see and touch as well as intangibles, like ideas, categories, and discussion topics.

The people column is often the most difficult to name. You know deep inside the damage some can cause but are reluctant to list and release them.

This realization is itself a source of stress.

When people have relationships with those who are toxic to their goals of living longer, better lives, it is important to move toward ridding themselves of those negative individuals.

3. Smile more often. It has become a cliché at this point, but it’s actually true. Laughter is powerful medicine for the body as well as the soul. Just the physical act of smiling makes our neurons fire and can literally make us feel better.

The Bottom Line People who live longer, more fulfilling lives know that pursuing personal goals regularly is a huge secret to longevity. It removes chronological age from your mind and calls attention to the better person you’re becoming.

And that helps keep your thoughts optimistically focused toward realizing your inner potential — something that comes with age the longer you live.

It’s not difficult to work out the profound behavioral ramifications of learned helplessness and explanatory style. Optimists are the ones who can “take the hit” of adversity without missing a beat, while pessimists will be defeated every time.

For pessimists, adversity is the norm, and even the biggest victories are just exceptions to the rule. For optimists, victory is normal, and adversity is just a challenge to overcome.

What kind of person do you want to be? Decide now, because your life depends on it.

Dr. Erica Miller holds her Ph.D. in clinical psychology and has written extensively on topics of positive psychology, longevity, overcoming challenges, and living life to its fullest. Her most recent book, Chronologically Gifted: Aging with Gusto, made her an international bestselling author. For more information, visit www.drericamiller. com.

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Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Snowy-Season Collectibles Lori Verderame

It’s funny, but everyone seems to have a different calendar when it comes to decorating for the season. Some stores start decorating for the holidays in mid-October, while others wait until the chilly winds of early December arrive.

Whether winter decorations brighten your home as early as Halloween or linger through Super Bowl Sunday, decking the halls is a tried-and-true seasonal favorite.

With guests coming and going as we usher out the old and ring in the new year, the age-old question of when to deck and when to deinstall the holiday wreaths, ornaments, figurines, etc., is one of personal preference.

Jimmy Durante and Jackie Vernon. The rest of this snowman celebrity story is corncob-pipe history.

Shakable Snow Globes Snow artistry has taken on many forms when it comes to winter collectibles, including the ever-popular snow globe.

Snow globes, snow domes, or, as the Germans call them, schneekugeln, were first introduced in France during the early 1800s as a successor to the hand-blown glass paperweight.

At the 1889 International Exposition in Paris, the snow globe got worldwide attention as a souvenir. This World’s Fair snow globe featured a model of the newly built Eiffel Byers Choice Ltd. Carolers Tower, designed by Gustave Eiffel, inside.

Winter collectibles are popular and speak to Initially, snow globes consisted of a heavy, our image of the holidays. lead-glass dome placed over a ceramic tableau.

Byers Choice Ltd. carolers, a Bucks County, The globes were filled with water and then Pennsylvania, mainstay and international sealed. The snow inside the globe was created favorite, are popular collectibles featuring with bone chips, porcelain pieces, or nonmoveable figurines on solid bases. The heads soluble soap flakes.

Photo credit: Staff photographer at www.drloriv.com. of the singing carolers are hand-painted and More recently, the snow inside a typical Vintage snow globe with snowman. made of clay. snow globe is produced from tiny pieces of Each caroler is handmade by a skilled artisan white plastic and enhanced with distilled water at the Byers Choice Ltd. workshop in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, and visitors and glycerin to make the water denser and the snow appear to realistically can watch figures being produced on the shop floor during a self-guided move within the globe atmosphere. tour of Byers Choice Ltd. In the Victorian era, the British called the collectible tableaus Carolers are produced and marketed by theme — carolers by the sea, “snowstorms” as they gained popularity from circa 1890 to 1901.

Charles Dickens characters, American patriots, etc. — relating to the Despite their European beginnings, snow globes were mass produced in Christmas holiday and are widely collected throughout the year. the U.S. thanks to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native Joseph Garaja. The first mass-production patent for snow globes featured Garaja’s new base, which That Famous Snowman allowed the globe to be screwed into it like a light bulb.

It is widely believed that collectible snowmen were first catapulted into In the 1940s, snow globes were produced as advertising paperweights, the public eye in the early 1950s, well into the postwar period in America. travel souvenirs, and vacation keepsakes.

Today, many folks have taken snowman collecting to a new level.

Today, snow globes are traded and collected worldwide; specialty annual Arguably, the most famous snowman of all time is Frosty the Snowman. snow globes, featuring products and characters from companies like Louis This snowman was actually first introduced as a song before becoming the Vuitton, Chanel, and Disney, are big gifts with collectors. Some range in pop culture icon that we all know and love. value from $500 to $5,000 at auction.

The wintery-themed novelty song was produced by Steve Rollins and Jack Nelson and recorded by cowboy crooner Gene Autry in 1950. Trying to Whether your winter is filled with days building your own Frosty on the capture the success of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” a recording that front lawn or sipping hot cocoa by the fire, snowy-season collectibles are fine sold 2 million copies, Autry recorded the quintessential snowman’s theme additions to your home and will surely satisfy your need to decorate with a song. seasonal flair.

Related cartoons and children’s books about Frosty the Snowman soon Dr. Lori Verderame is the award-winning Ph.D. antiques appraiser on followed. In 1954, UPA animation studios made Frosty the Snowman the History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island and weekdays on Doctor and the central character of a three-minute animated short film.

Diva. Dr. Lori presents her Antiques Appraisal Comedy Show to audiences By 1969, the animation company of Rankin/Bass produced a half-hour nationwide. Visit www.drloriv.com/events or call (888) 431-1010.

TV special featuring Frosty the Snowman and the unmistakable voices of www.50plusLifePA.com

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Volunteer Spotlight

Retired WCU Professor Receives Service Award Each year the Philadelphia as organization of a docent and faculty retirees at Bryn Mawr from West Chester Hospital, where University presents he is a patient a service award to transporter. a member who has Weiss also been retired for at serves on least five years and the board of does significant directors of Arts volunteer work Holding Hands that is not an and Hearts, Mike Weiss, of Bryn Mawr, extension of his/ a Coatesvilleis the recipient of the 2019 Service Award from the West based nonprofit her pre-retirement Chester University chapter professional life. dedicated of APSCURF. The 2019 to serving awardee is Mike Weiss, of Bryn disadvantaged Chester County Mawr, who retired from WCU’s children and families by Department of Communicative promoting and providing arts, Sciences and Disorders in 2013. yoga, and literature to them.

Since then he has been In addition, for the past six volunteering at the National years Weiss has been judge of Constitution Center in elections in Radnor.

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