Chester County 50plus LIFE - March 2020

Complimentary | Chester County Edition

March 2020 • Vol. 17 No. 3

Explaining How the Union Survived page 4

Traumatic Brain Injury A ‘Silent Epidemic’ page 3

Special Section: Cabin Fever Reliever page 11

On-Line Publishers Receives Anniversary Citation

Pennsylvania State Rep. Brett Miller recently stopped by On-Line Publishers’ corporate office to present a citation to Donna Anderson, OLP’s president and CEO, as well as employees to commemorate the company’s 25th anniversary.

Miller, who represents the commonwealth’s st 41 District, said he was honored to celebrate

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a successful small business, especially one with a mission of reaching and helping older adults and others in central Pennsylvania.

“The 203 state representatives give their blessing to this citation on behalf of the 12 ½ million people of Pennsylvania to say congratulations on 25 years,” Miller said, “and 25 — or 250 — more years to go!”

Rep. Brett R. Miller presents a commemorative citation to Donna Anderson, president of On-Line Publishers, in honor of the business’s 25th anniversary.

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Traumatic Brain Injury a ‘Silent Epidemic’ Among Older Adults Traumatic brain injury (TBI) happens when a bump, blow, jolt, or other • A headache that gets worse or does not go away head injury causes damage to the brain.

• Repeated vomiting or nausea Every year, millions of people in the U.S. suffer brain injuries, including • Convulsions or seizures people over 65, for whom TBI is serious and widespread enough to have been referred to as a “silent epidemic.”

• Inability to awaken from sleep In older adults, traumatic brain injury is responsible for more than • Slurred speech 80,000 emergency department visits each year, with three-quarters of these • Weakness or numbness in the arms and legs visits resulting in hospitalization, according to a research article by Hilaire J. Thompson, Ph.D.; Wayne C. McCormick, M.D., M.P.H.; and Sarah • Dilated eye pupils H. Kagan, Ph.D., and published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine (www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/ TBI, which requires emergency treatment, can also cause PMC2367127). a wide range of changes affecting thinking, sensation, March is National The report also found that adults aged 75 and older have language, or emotions. the highest rates of TBI-related hospitalization and death.

Brain Injury The American College of Emergency Physicians Falls are the leading cause of TBI for older adults (51%), and Awareness Month recommends that all elderly concussion patients undergo motor vehicle traffic crashes are second (9%). computed tomography (CT) scans to check for intracranial Symptoms of a TBI may not appear until days or weeks bleeding, because issues such as age-related cognitive decline following the injury. A concussion is the mildest type and can cause a or dementia can mask signs of bleeding-induced mental impairment. headache or neck pain, nausea, ringing in the ears, dizziness, and tiredness.

New research, however, published in the AACC’s The Journal of Applied People with a moderate or severe TBI may have those, plus other, Laboratory Medicine, shows that a blood test can differentiate elderly symptoms: please see Brain Injury page 7

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

Arthritis Foundation (215) 570-3060

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

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

National Osteoporosis Foundation (800) 223-9994 PACE (800) 225-7223

Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213

www.50plusLifePA.com

Retirement living Ashbridge Manor Senior Living 971 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown (610) 269-8800

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-3676

American Heart Association (610) 940-9540

Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200 Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801

Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852

American Cancer Society (800) 227-2345

Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com

Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711

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

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

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

Southeastern Pennsylvania Medical Institute (610) 446-0662 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY

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

Friends Home in Kennett 147 W. State St., Kennett Square (610) 444-2577 Harrison Senior Living 300 Strode Ave., East Fallowfield (610) 384-6310 Providence Place at the Collegeville Inn 4000 Ridge Pike, Collegeville (610) 222-5007 Senior Centers Coatesville Oxford (610) 383-6900 (610) 932-5244 Downingtown Phoenixville (610) 269-3939 (610) 935-1515 Great Valley Wayne (610) 889-2121 (610) 688-6246 Kennett Square West Chester (610) 444-4819 (610) 431-4242

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

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Cover Story 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 Connie Molitor Production Artists Renee McWilliams Lauren Phillips

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Senior Marketing Consultants Joshua Binkley Jennifer Schmalhofer Angie Willis Marketing Consultants Brittney Bonagura 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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Explaining America’s Bloodiest Battle and How the Union Survived

By Gabriele Amersbach How do you explain “I was a history major why 51,000 men were in college and was always killed, wounded, interested in the Battle of captured, or missing in Gettysburg,” says Fowler. just three days of fighting “America was the first in America’s bloodiest successful democracy. battle?

The Civil War was a The tour guides at the test whether or not we Gettysburg battlefield would tear ourselves provide answers that dive apart. It questioned if a deeply into the history democracy can endure. of the time, battlefield Can this really work? tactics and strategies, the “The outcome affected Photo credit: © Doug Kerr personality of the leaders, the whole world. If the The park was added to the National Register and the impact on the United States couldn’t of Historic Places in 1966. individual soldiers and survive the Civil War, civilians. other countries would “This battle was an be less willing to try our important turning point form of government.” in the Civil War,” says His interest led to a lot Les Fowler, a full-time of reading on his subject licensed battlefield — more than 3,500 guide for eight years at books have been written Gettysburg National about this battle.

Military Park.

“No, I haven’t read all He explains that it of them, but I’m working was the first time the on it!” says Fowler.

Southern army — the A deep level of Army of North Virginia knowledge is critical in Fowler’s Licensed Battlefield Guide badge — — was decisively beaten order to become one his “most prized possession” — which signifies and driven from the field of the 150 full-time he is officially licensed by the National Park Service to give tours on the battlefield. of battle. and part-time licensed The Union’s Army battlefield guides at of the Potomac, led by Gen. George G. Meade, Gettysburg. Throughout the national park system, clashed with the advancing Confederates from July there are only two other battlefield parks that 1, 1863, until July 4, when Gen. Robert E. Lee was employ licensed battlefield guides. forced to withdraw his battered army.

Each guide goes through a rigorous process of “The South had fewer soldiers and Robert E. self-study and federal testing that demands in-depth Lee lost many of his elite officers, the flower of knowledge on every historical aspect of the battle. the Confederate Army, during the battle. TwentyWhen Fowler began the process, he was living one months later, the South surrendered,” Fowler in his native Texas and was ready for a new stage of explains. life. He had worked in retail management and the computer industry. At the time he started studying A Passion for History to be a guide, he had his own mountain- and rockFowler is articulate, insightful, and climbing business. knowledgeable about all aspects of the battle, and Fowler took the exam three times until he his passion for his subject matter comes through passed it, over a period of six years. He eventually with every word. He even lives on the battlefield, followed his passion across the country and settled five minutes from the park’s visitor’s center. on becoming a guide at Gettysburg, which had www.50plusLifePA.com

absorbed his interest for much of his “We want to encourage leaders to adult life. learn about the battle,” says Fowler. The “It’s by far the most enjoyable job message? “People put everything on the I’ve ever had,” Fowler explains, after line for their beliefs, but were ultimately eight years on the job. “I can’t think of able to reconcile.” anything else I’d rather be doing.”

He points out that the Eternal Although the pay is modest, and Light Peace Memorial was built with guides do not get vacation or paid donations from both Northern and days off — battlefield guides are Southern states to honor Union and paid through the tours they lead, not Confederate soldiers. The monument through tax dollars — they relish the was dedicated by Franklin D. Roosevelt opportunity to educate their audiences on July 3, 1938, as a part of the about the significance of the battle at ceremonies for the 75th anniversary of Gettysburg. the Battle of Gettysburg.

“Guides can answer any questions The 6,000-acre park holds a total that come our way, from war strategies, of 1,328 monuments, markers, and to the impact of the geology of the memorials. landscape, and the political issues of Fowler concludes that while he loves Approximately 1,800 Union and Confederate veterans attended the time,” Fowler says. They judiciously educating his tour groups on all aspects the dedication of the Eternal Light Peace Memorial in 1938 on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. avoid modern political controversies. of the battle, he wants one takeaway With his deep font of knowledge, message to stand out.

Fowler is able to tailor each tour to meet the specific interests of the audience.

“We as Americans are all one country. The people who fought this terrible battle were able to get over their differences. The Union was restored, and our ‘Welcome to Your New Country — Here’s Your Gun to Defend It’ form of government survived,” says Fowler.

For example, when I mention my German heritage, Fowler quickly notes “The idea of the United States is much more important than our that thousands of Germans were fighting in the battle, as were units of Irish, differences, then and now.”

English, and other immigrant groups.

On the cover: Licensed Gettysburg battlefield guide Les Fowler with a “Sometimes you got off the boat, and then it was, ‘Welcome to your new 12-pounder Napoleon canon behind the Gettysburg Museum and Visitor country — here’s your gun to defend it,’” says Fowler.

Center. Both Confederate and Union armies used this type of canon during What we may have forgotten with the passing of time is that everyone was the Civil War. affected by the Civil War. The Battle of Gettysburg alone engaged 93,000 Union and 71,000 Confederate soldiers. While battlefield casualties were brutal, thousands more left the battlefield maimed and traumatized.

In the four years of the Civil War, 750,000 people died out of the 31 million people living in the U.S. at the time. With today’s population, that would be a death toll of almost 8 million people.

“It was a national tragedy,” says Fowler. “One of the reasons we want to keep history alive is so that it never happens again.”

He quotes George Santayana, the Spanish philosopher and poet: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

More than a Million Visitors Each Year More than a million visitors visit the Gettysburg National Military Park each year from all over the world.

This includes busloads of school children; visitors from Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York (about 60%, according to Fowler); a “fair share” of Southerners; and soldiers who study tactics (including units from other countries). About 10% of visitors are international.

“It is always a surprise how knowledgeable people from other countries are about our history and even this battle,” Fowler says.

The battle had such an impact on America’s history that most presidents visit the park. Fowler has a few presidential anecdotes ready.

Eisenhower retired in Gettysburg and gave tours of the park to world leaders. Kennedy was scheduled to come to the park for a major event in November 1963 but canceled to go to Texas for his ill-fated final visit. Fowler was there when then Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump visited the park on Oct. 22, 2016.

Fowler belongs to the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides, an organization that keeps in contact with legislators and gives them free tours, as well as promoting guiding in general. www.50plusLifePA.com

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Soldier Stories

Robert Naeye

Pilot Hit by AK-47 Fire While Evacuating the Wounded

As a medevac helicopter pilot during two war was raging, with about 500,000 Americans tours in Vietnam, Douglas Moore survived 1,874 stationed in South Vietnam. combat missions. Some of those missions left his Moore commanded a Dust Off unit near Cu Huey chopper riddled with bullet holes.

Chi that supported the 25th Infantry Division.

There, as Moore describes it, he “got to see the And in one particularly harrowing mission, war up close and personal.

Moore escaped death by a fraction of an inch.

“I remember being belly deep in a rice paddy Yet this pilot managed to evacuate 2,782 or wedged down in a tiny hole in the jungle wounded patients. someplace with blood-soaked soldiers being “I honestly believe that some of those guys crammed into the rear of my helicopter, and on went on living or had limbs saved because my many occasions, the bullets were coming through crew and I could help,” says Moore. the helicopter with us. And that made it rather Moore was born in the small town of Keiser, exciting at times. And it took a great toll on us,” Arkansas, in September 1936 and was raised Moore’s helicopter picking up patients from the 173rd he recalls. on a small cotton farm nearby. He recalls doing Airborne Brigade in the Hô Bò Woods in June 1965.

The Dust Off crews were going in where what all the boys did in this corner of northeast battles were raging. The combat loss rate was 3.3 Arkansas: joining the Boy Scouts and playing times higher than the rest of Army aviation. sports.

Moore vividly recalls an eventful 18-hour After high school, Moore attended Arkansas period in December 1968 when he flew four State University, where he graduated in February medevac missions: one just after lunch, one just 1959. During that period — the height of the after dark, another at about 10 p.m., and a fourth Cold War — all physically fit men were obligated around 4 the next morning. to take ROTC training during their first two “I think I can safely say these were four of the years in college. most dangerous missions that I flew in Vietnam.

But Moore volunteered for additional training We just got the crap shot out of us twice,” he during his junior and senior years because he says. anticipated military service and wanted to be an On the final mission, Moore’s unit got officer. He joined the Army right out of college A picture of Moore taken in early 1965 by a French photographer working a call saying a nearby Army battalion had so he could learn to fly airplanes. for the Le Monde newspaper chain. eight critically wounded men and they were “As a youngster, I had an urge to fly, and the surrounded by the enemy. Moore knew this mission would be treacherous. As military offered flight training,” he says. he flew toward the battle, he could see flares and flashes of artillery.

He first trained on airplanes at Fort Rucker, Alabama, where the instructors Moore radioed the battalion commander to shut off the flares long enough often put the students through difficult situations that they might actually to allow his Huey to land blacked out. The commander initially refused, encounter in combat. fearing his unit would be overrun. But they reached a deal where Moore could By the early 1960s, the Vietnam War was intensifying. The U.S. Army land with his helicopter’s lights turned off and then take off under temporary realized that helicopters were of greater need than airplanes, so it started darkness. training more helicopter pilots. In 1963, Moore was sent to Camp Wolters, While landing, Moore could see wounded men scattered over a large area, Texas, to learn to fly choppers. so it took a long time to load the injured men. While on the ground, the Moore was ordered to Vietnam in October 1964, where he served in the enemy began firing at his helicopter and he could hear bullets striking the tail 57th Medical Detachment out of Saigon. These medevac units were known as Dust Off, for their call sign. boom and back of his craft.

At this time, the American war effort was just gearing up; the U.S. role was When there was one last man to load, Moore radioed the commander to mainly advisory. Most of the patients that Moore flew to hospitals were South ask him to shut down the flares while he took off. This time, the commander Vietnamese. refused.

After a year in South Vietnam, Moore was transferred back to the U.S. and As Moore took off, tracers began coming up and all around his helicopter. then to Japan, where the U.S. built six large hospitals in the Tokyo-Yokohama As the Huey climbed, bullets started penetrating the cockpit. A round came area. up by his left knee and hit the lever that controls whether the helicopter goes Due to the poor road system in this heavily populated area, the Army up or down. It ricocheted and split his left thumb open. decided to use helicopters to move patients. In his two years in Japan, Moore’s “That hurt like a son of a gun,” says Moore. relatively small helicopter unit transported 63,000 patients.

Moments later he heard a scream right behind him. A round had hit one of After his time in Japan, the Army ordered Moore back to Vietnam for a the patients in the spine, inflicting a mortal wound. second tour of duty, from August 1968 to August 1969. At this point, the please see Pilot hit page 9

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Brain Injury from page 3 concussion patients with brain tissue damage from those without it.

The Food and Drug Administration had previously authorized a blood test that identifies head injury patients who have brain tissue damage that needs to be assessed via CT scan, but the blood test was not specifically designed for older patients.

So a team of researchers led by Robert H. Christenson, Ph.D., of the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore, set out to determine how well the test performs in patients age 65 years or older.

To do this, Christenson’s team retrospectively analyzed data from the Prospective Clinical Evaluation of Biomarkers of Traumatic Brain Injury (ALERT-TBI) study, in which 1,959 adult patients with a concussion underwent both a CT scan and blood test for brain tissue damage within 12 hours of their injury.

Christenson’s team compared the results of the CT scan and blood test — which measures two specific proteins — in patients 65 years of age or older and in patients younger than 65.

From this comparison, the researchers found the blood test predicts with 100% accuracy which elderly concussion patients do not have brain tissue damage and do not need a CT scan.

Hospitals can therefore use this test to triage elderly concussion patients so that clinicians can focus on those most likely to require urgent intervention for intracranial bleeding.

Importantly, however, the researchers also found that the test does not accurately identify elderly patients who do have brain tissue damage, which means that the test should only be used as a triage tool, not as a replacement for CT scans.

March 31, 2020 May 27, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Garden York 2000 Loucks Road York

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel 1741 Papermill Road Wyomissing

Veterans (of all ages), the military community, and their families are invited to this free event!

The Expo brings federal, state, and local agencies together with area businesses to provide information and resources to veterans and their families.

The Job Fair brings veterans and spouses who need jobs together with employers who can benefit from this rich source of talent.

Need to enroll in VA healthcare?

An enrollment specialist from the Lebanon VA Medical Center will be on hand to enroll veterans in the VA healthcare system during the

York County Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair March 31, 2020 • 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Garden York 2000 Loucks Road, York

At the Expo

Veterans Benefits & Services Medical/Nonmedical Resources Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services

At the Job Fair

Veterans wishing to apply for enrollment to VA healthcare should bring three items:

Employers Job Counseling Workshops Employment Seminars Resume Writing Assistance

• DD-214 • Last year’s federal tax return • A list of medical expenses from the previous year For questions or more information, call (717) 272-6621, ext. 4298

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CROSSWORD

Puzzle Page

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 26 SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Explorers

Across 1. Archaeological find 5. Lay an egg 9. Casablanca role 13. Four-bagger 14. Crowd noise 15. Yemeni city 16. One of the muses 17. Golden rule word 18. Riot spray 19. Most underweight 21. LaBeouf of Disturbia 22. Used a bench 23. Telephone bane

25. Hotel amenities 28. Winter warmer 30. Copier need 31. Like a money transport car 35. Family member 36. Game bird 37. New Zealand bird 38. Pork sausage 40. Informal jargon 41. Bathsheba’s husband 42. Decorative pitchers 43. Tailbone

46. Deli loaf 47. Paradise Lost, e.g.

48. Honest and sincere 55. Son of Leah 56. Foe for El Cordobés 57. Tot’s wheels 58. Ireland 59. Dr. Pavlov 60. Antique auto 61. Batman’s Christian 62. Horn or York, e.g.

63. Study

20. ___ Pensacola (mil. center) 24. ___’easter 25. Turn bad 26. Tolstoy heroine 27. Pasta choice 28. Collide 29. Forget about 30. Computer key 31. Subtle glow 32. Makeup artist?

33. Barley beards 34. Excavate 36. Idealistic and unrealistic

39. Humorous 40. Feel the heat 42. CBS symbol 43. V.I.P. 44. Wagner work 45. Kind of engineer 46. Geneva’s river 49. Scotia starter 50. Golf hazard 51. Gaelic language 52. MasterCard rival 53. Scratched (out) 54. Superman foe ___ Luthor

Down 1. Force unit, briefly 2. Poet Khayyám 3. Prefix with physical 4. Window shopper 5. Apples and oranges, e.g.

6. Kind of wolf 7. Feedbag feed 8. Etiquette 9. Dilapidated 10. Hells Canyon locale 11. ___ B. DeMille 12. Work dough 13. “For ___ a jolly …”

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Pilot Hit from page 6

hospital, got out, and went back to flying for the rest of my tour,” he says.

And just after that, another round came in and Moore survived several more close calls during his hit Moore hard. His head sprung back and smacked tour. Interestingly, Moore says that most of what he the back of the seat. He kicked a pedal to the floor remembers about Vietnam are the good things, and that put the chopper in a descending right turn only that most of the bad things have been washed out of about 100 feet off the ground. his mind over the years.

Moore instinctively grabbed the stick and pulled But he is quick to add, “When I think about it to start climbing. He told his young copilot that he Vietnam, I mostly think about the people I served had been hit, and the 20-year-old took control. with. I knew some crazy guys over there, and you If that weren’t bad enough, the fire warning light need people like that to make it fun when fun is started flashing. Somehow, the Huey limped back to about all you had left to keep you going.” base, about 25 miles away, but landed with 37 holes Moore stayed in the Army until March 1989 and Moore pointing to a bullet hole from AK-47 rounds. retired as a colonel. He earned numerous awards in the tail boom, January 1965.

“That old gal took us back to Cu Chi despite the and medals for his 30 years of service, including the fact she was leaking every fluid aboard the aircraft,” says Moore.

Distinguished Service Cross, two Distinguished Flying Crosses, a Bronze Star, But Moore was totally confused during the flight. He realized he couldn’t and a Purple Heart. see out of his left eye, triggering fears of blindness, which would end his flying He worked 25 years in healthcare administration but is now retired in the career. small town of Haymarket, Virginia, just south of the Washington metro area.

He later found out what had happened by looking at bullet holes in his He’s written a book about his Vietnam adventures, titled A Bullet through the flight helmet. An AK-47 round flew through the windshield, hit the very Helmet, with all the proceeds going to a museum for veterans in Indiana. lower edge of his helmet right between his eyes, penetrated the hard outer “I suppose Vietnam means different things to different people,” says Moore. shell, and then exited by his left ear.

“But for me, the two years I spent in Vietnam and the two years I spent in The bullet had shattered the windshield, and pieces of metal and Plexiglas Japan between those tours represent the most significant period of my life and hit the left side of his face, cut his nose, and left an inch-long piece of metal one I’m extremely proud of.” in the corner of his left eye. It also chipped out a piece on the left side of his Tragically, Moore lost his first wife of 53 years to Alzheimer’s disease. But head. on Veterans Day in 2013, he had a chance encounter with a woman named “I spent five days in the hospital while they picked the things out of my eye Debby Alexander, whom he had met in Vietnam in January 1969. They are and tried to determine whether I had been knocked unconscious. If that had now happily married. happened, my flying days would have been over. But I spent five days in the We will tell Alexander’s remarkable story in next month’s issue.

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50plus LIFE and Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania have partnered to bring you weekly audio readings of 50plus LIFE’s editorial content!

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

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

This audio broadcast is one of the many ways Vision Resources facilitates independence, enriches quality of life, and empowers individuals in our community who are visually impaired.

And it’s one more way 50plus LIFE and On-Line Publishers are continuing 25 years of serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community.

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Grief Relief

Victor M. Parachin

7 Effective Mind-Body Ways to Manage Grieving

The Harvard Men’s Health Watch newsletter recently reported on a study led by T.H. Eric Bui, M.D., Ph.D., associate director for research at the Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress Disorders and Complicated Grief Program at Harvardaffiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

The study, which was published in the American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, concluded that a specially designed eight-week mind-body program can help reduce stress in older adults who have lost a spouse.

Here are the seven mind-body techniques they found most effective to manage grief.

1. Yoga, tai chi, or qigong. Not only can these mind-body activities help you relax, but they can also reverse the effects of stress and anxiety on a molecular level, according to a study in the June 2017 Frontiers in Immunology.

In people who regularly engaged in these practices, researchers found less activity in genes that create inflammation in the body.

Many classes are designed specifically for stress reduction. To find one of these classes in your community, simply do an online search.

2. Maintain a healthy diet. Stress triggers cravings for sugar and fat, which is why you reach for feel-good, high-calorie, and high-fat processed food during stressful times. Yet these foods can make you feel worse.

Instead, focus on keeping up a well-balanced diet. This means eating vegetables, fruits, lean proteins, and drinking plenty of water.

3. Follow good sleep hygiene. Grief is emotionally exhausting, but after a loss, people often find that their sleep is disrupted. Either they have trouble getting to sleep or they sleep too much.

“Going to bed at regular hours, following a bedtime routine, and avoiding caffeine and alcohol in the evening helps with more restful sleep,” says Bui.

4. Get physical. Something as simple as a daily walk can help ease depression, agitation, and sorrow related to grief.

Because it’s often hard to find the energy go exercise, it’s important to find

ways to motivate yourself to do so, such as joining an exercise group or working out regularly with a friend.

5. Monitor your health. With so much else going on, it’s easy to ignore your general health when grieving. This includes skipping doctor visits and forgetting to take your medications.

“Schedule all exams for the coming year so you don’t miss them, and set timers on your phone or computer to help remind you to take your medications as scheduled, or ask a friend or family member to assist by checking in with you daily,” advises Bui. 6. Take on new responsibilities. The loss of a spouse or family member may mean you have to take over certain routine jobs.

For example, you now may be in charge of shopping, cooking, housekeeping, or organizing financial records.

While these tasks can be additional stressors, Bui suggests turning them into a positive experience.

“Taking on a new responsibility can keep your mind focused on a task and distract you from your grief,” he says.

7. Reach out to your social circle. Though you may wish to withdraw and isolate yourself as your recover from grief, it’s important to maintain connections with others.

“This reminds you that you are not alone, and even if you feel isolated, there may be family members, friends, or even neighbors who can give a supportive hand,” says Bui. Try to balance your need for isolation by remaining social. Set up a weekly lunch or coffee/tea time with a good friend. Make it a priority to communicate with a few people by email, text, or phone call.

Remind yourself that these strategies are ways of practicing self-compassion, reinvesting in yourself, and adapting, in positive ways, to loss.

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

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It may be March, but winter hasn’t released its grip on us just yet. If the weeks cooped up indoors have you experiencing the infamous “cabin fever,” prepare to soothe your restless mind!

The next few pages contain puzzles to get your brain’s neurons firing and those synapses sparking — a little satisfactory stimulation to sustain you through the last remaining weeks of cold-season doldrums.

Enjoy!

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Cabin Fever Reliever

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March 2020

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Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Art by Female Artists on Display

Cabin Fever Reliever

Lori Verderame

In a classical revival building designed by Wood, Donn & Deming in 1903 and located at 1250 New York Ave. in Washington, D.C., the National Museum of Women in the Arts remains the only major museum worldwide solely dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements in the visual, performing, and literary arts.

The museum was incorporated in 1981 by Wallace and Wilhelmina Holladay, and this month of March — Women’s History Month — is the time to focus on

Roses, Convolvulus, Poppies, and Other Flowers in an Urn on a Stone Ledge, 1680, by Rachel Ruysch.

Carousing Couple, 1630,

by Judith Leyster.

March is Women’s History Month

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women and their many contributions.

Female artists struggled to achieve equal footing in the art world with men.

Looking back to the 17th and 18th centuries, female artists’ work was rarely displayed or revered.

For instance, the National Museum of Women in the Arts has a strong collection of paintings and other art by artists working in the Netherlands during the 17th and early 18th centuries.

Paintings and prints by esteemed female artists such as Rachel Ruysch, Judith Leyster,

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Legend Senior Living

B P T P L D C X G T Y A R C E C L VCU R B Y Z H I R N J K M I X B A Q RW Z K S SAD R S T Q G L N PW Y WQ I R H D QM Q T O U J L D I H A M E C DWW F T Z R N E A I O O C PRP T X V U S G A R I C E CG C W A Y R WE I P Z I A A Y N G N Z F K V X NO V J U O V R E A OL T L U MC N I S A Z K I M I T T WE A X A L RYU D X X R R G V Y I G P D R Z C J C L S O Z T EA D L QH C A P EW A C OU H W Y E E D T K H I D U P MF Q G D E S H D Y A A R H R E M EWZ XP U E A K Q N X S I D W T V O L V VW L V R BCRMW J N Q E I Y N M K XM H I O U Q P P K GPX F R UO Z O S I V M H E B C U T G O E F N ORU D I G I N O L I I F M H E Y C R O R U X S I ZO A N N S L X L G T K E F T J P B S V N E Y FUNW N I S A J Z K I U G I R B R O R X F T O A J P E O R A N H Q I N J N C J P N L K U N Y P EKR S V A P C A H A G U W Z R A V V L Z S E E EU J D A CG A WM Y M G S V L B I Z R Y Y B L T ZG D T N I S R VM L Z I C L V N Q H A I K U FRDW I HC T B O E A A A MHW T G K E G F X V LG Z O CR E C C N N R R S B S B R A Z X O K YK L A N Z P R B H K E N X MY S T X N S G P E HVRQ K V R A S V J S E J D X L I F E S T Y L EUY F Q N A

Cabin Fever Reliever

Maria Sibylla Merian, Magdalena van de Passe, Clara Peeters, Maria nation, the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, Schalcken, Anna Maria van Schurman, and Alida Withoos are part of and made unescorted trips to Paris to paint and study at the famed the museum’s permanent collection.

Académie Julian.

The Netherlands saw unprecedented economic growth during the She painted with American and foreign colleagues — both men th late 16 century until the early 1700s. This growth saw a rise of a and women, including members of the French Impressionists — wealthy merchant middle class. The nouveau riche members of Dutch including her longtime friend and staunch supporter, Edgar Degas. society at this time sparked high demand for paintings and prints of Today, Cassatt’s paintings and prints focus on portraits and genre scenes, portraits, and still lifes. genre scenes and regularly command impressively high prices from To meet this demand, artists, including talented female artists, collections and at auction. produced some of the most captivating works of the Golden Age of The names of many 20th- and 21st-century female artists are Dutch art. more familiar to most art lovers, like the Representational artists th The 18 century in France also saw the rise of female artists such Grace Anderson and Della Bittner; the Modernists Georgia as the court painter, Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun, the famed artist who O’Keeffe, Elizabeth Grandin, and Imogen Cunningham; and the painted many portraits of King Louis XVI’s wife, the foreign-born Abstract Expressionists active in the 1950s: Grace Hartigan, Helen Marie Antoinette, and their children.

Frankenthaler, and Joan Mitchell. th By the mid- to late 19 century, the lives of women and of female Sculptors with influence, to name a few, include Mary Callery, artists changed as a result of reform movements in response to the Louise Nevelson, and Glenna Goodacre. Also, the Feminist art Industrial Revolution. program pioneers Judy Chicago and Miriam Schapiro became active With the primary role of women being that of wife and mother, in the 1970s and remain so to this day. only 10% of American women remained single. American These innovators helped open the doors for female artists who were Impressionist painter Mary Cassatt (1844-1926) and muralist Violet formerly shut out of major museums and the lucrative art market. As Oakley (1874-1961) both chose to devote their lives to their art art reflects our history, social change, and progress, March is a perfect instead of to marriage and children. time to reflect on art made by women and visit a museum or gallery The results of this decision were inspirational to other artists. Some highlighting their fine contributions. women of the era took classes and private art lessons. Cassatt studied Dr. Lori Verderame is the award-winning Ph.D. antiques appraiser on art privately and hired studio models to produce her work. She also History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island and weekdays on the Doctor was one of the first women to attend art school both at home and and the Diva. Dr. Lori presents her Antiques Appraisal Comedy Show to me:________Legend Senior Livign Date:_____________ abroad. audiences nationwide. Visit www.DrLoriV.com/events. Call (888) 431-1010.

From 1860-62, Cassatt studied at the oldest art school in the

SOME SEE A LIGHTHOUSE.

WE SEE THERAPY.

Our advanced therapies and activities look curiously like fun and games. But they’re all purposely designed to improve cognitive function, extend a high quality of life and generally keep you in the game.

Come see how Legend living works. Call and schedule your tour today.

Legend of Lancaster Caring Community Compassion Compassion Eldergrow Caring Community (717) 208-8655 Engaging Future Individual Innovation Eldergrow Engaging Future Legend of Lititz Inviting Lancaster Lifestyle Lititz Individual Innovation Inviting (717) 283-4255 Memory Care Passion Care Purposeful Lancaster Lifestyle Personal Lititz Service Social Support Value Residences of Legend Senior Living® LegendSeniorLiving.com Memory Care Passion Personal Care Purposeful Service Social www.50plusLifePA.com 50plus LIFE u Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

March 2020 Support Value

13

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!

2010 Top Headlines

Entertainment

• A 7.0 magnitude earthquake ravaged Haiti in January, devastating the country and leading to the deaths of an estimated 100,000 to 160,000 people.

• James Cameron’s epic 3D movie Avatar overtook Titanic to become the highest-grossing film to date.

• The Tonight Show conflict among Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, and NBC executives reached a conclusion. Leno resumed his former gig as Tonight Show host; O’Brien and his staff received a $32 million buyout and moved to TBS.

• One of the largest environmental disasters in American history, the Deepwater Horizon, or BP, oil spill released 210 million gallons of oil into the Gulf of Mexico in April.

• President Barack Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law in March. The act was the largest regulatory overhaul and coverage expansion of the U.S. healthcare system since 1965.

• The May 23 finale of Lost concluded the television series’ six-season run. The episode generated a polarized response among the 13.5 million fans who tuned in.

•

• In October, 33 Chilean miners, trapped 2,300 feet underground after the collapse of their copper-gold mine 69 days earlier, were rescued one by one in a specially built capsule as an estimated 1 billion people watched worldwide.

• The Senate voted to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” a 1994 military policy that forbid openly gay men and women from serving in the military, on Dec. 18.

The repeal became official Dec. 22.

• N otable passings included J.D. Salinger, George Steinbrenner, Rue McClanahan, Lena Horne, Tony Curtis, Leslie Nielsen, Lynn Redgrave, and Dixie Carter.

• Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, hosted the 21st Winter Olympics in February. Approximately 2,600 athletes from 82 nations participated in 86 events in 15 disciplines.

• The New Orleans Saints won their first Super Bowl by defeating the Indianapolis Colts, 31-17.

• In a televised ESPN special, NBA player LeBron James announced he would sign with the Miami Heat rather than return to his hometown Cleveland Cavaliers.

• South Africa became the first African nation to host the World Cup Tournament, which included an appearance

by Nelson Mandela and the world’s introduction to the vuvuzela horn.

• Pro golfer Tiger Woods’s personal and professional lives unraveled in 2010, beginning with an infidelity scandal that led to his divorce from wife Elin Nordegren. Woods also admitted himself for sex-addiction therapy and went on a 20-week hiatus from golf.

March 2020

I n November, England’s Prince William, second in line to the throne, and longtime girlfriend Kate Middleton announced their engagement. William proposed with the engagement ring that belonged to his late mother, Princess Diana. They would wed April 29, 2011, at Westminster Abbey.

March 2010

Sports

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Science & Technology • Apple introduced the iPad in January. Less than three months after its release, the tablet computer had already sold 3 million units and led to a boom in app software.

• A paleoanthropologist’s South African discovery of a new hominid, Australopithecus sediba, was announced to the public in April. Its fossilized remains date back 2 million years.

• Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” emerged as a source of controversy between environmentalists and economists. The well-stimulation technique uses high-pressure fluid injections to fracture deep rocks and release trapped natural gas and petroleum.

• After analyzing the plume that arose after a rocket booster crashed near the moon’s south pole, NASA learned the moon is about 50% wetter than previously thought, twice as wet as the Sahara Desert.

Join us next month to see what was happening in 2008! www.50plusLifePA.com

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.

Drawing on Experience

SeniorNews orNews www.SeniorNewsPA.com

April 2003 issue NAMPA Award: First Place, Profile

By Maria V. Snyder

FOR�AGES 50+ |

    

FIRST PLACE



Monthly information for & about Lancaster County�s Senior Citizens

Whimsical, magical, and colorful are He went through a number of jobs all the descriptors that come to mind before finding a draftsman position at when viewing Bill What�s Hoin’s artwork.

Emtrol. Bill worked for them for 15 Inside Upon closer inspection, the words years until he retired at age 62 in April Volume 9 No. 4 unbelievable and intricate also spring of 2001. Now Bill enjoys drawing fullApril 2003 to mind. time.

The multicolored drawings are “It’s essential that I draw every day.

Antiques & Nostalgia : ...22 crafted with different combinations I see an improvement in my work just of gel pen, coloredDining pencils,& fine-line over this past year and a half,” Bill markers, watercolors, and crayons. says.

Entertainment: ............16 “I use mostly gel pens,” Bill says of Just recently Bill had a picture in Healthy ..... .......32 his work. “People say that’sLiving: what kids the Trees Galore show at the Mulberry use, but anything an artist uses is a Studios in Lancaster. The picture House & Home:............4 tool.” is a Christmas tree decorated with Bill’s fluid drawings are bulging angel’s faces. He made copies for his Money Matters .............10 with life. Within the spirals of a Christmas card with the inside saying, Senior Center  picture, you might see many faces, “There’s an angel in your tree.”

Happenings: ................31 birds, and fish. His portraits are done “I was in the very first Lititz  in watercolor and gel pens and they Outdoor Art Show in 1967,” Bill says Travel ..........................26 can be very realistic or abstract. of his art career.

“I think most people like News: what I’m This past summer he displayed Veterans ..... ......28 doing because it’s so labor intensive,” 26 pictures at the Lititz show. He Volunteers & Careers : ...30 Bill says. “Sometimes I leave areas has exhibited paintings, prints, and undone so the people looking at it weavings in both one-man and group can add their own. I like to look shows. His work is also on display at artwork that you see something in the National Vietnam Veterans different when you come back to it Art Museum in Chicago in their each time.” permanent collection.  As a child, Bill spent hours drawing Bill views his art as a hobby.   Senior News P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604 tel: 717›299›7000 e›mail: srnews@onlinepub.com and painting, but eventually stopped “I haven’t really thought of it as www.SeniorNewsPA.com ' 2003 On›Line Publishers Inc. All rights reserved. as he grew older. money making. I don’t worry about “Vietnam is where I started getting interested in artwork again,” Bill what I’m selling, or going to galleries. It’s more for therapy and an outlet. says of his reacquaintance with art. “I visited villages and saw many artists Money isn’t the point of doing it.” and craftsmen at work. I bought artifacts from the weavers, and when I Working on one picture a day, Bill has no set hours. He likes to go to came back to the States, I started to do more myself.”

Central Market, where a friend runs a bread stand.

When Bill left the Army, he came back to Lancaster and earned “I’ll stand there and draw pictures all morning,” Bill smiles. “I have met Bachelor of Science degrees in industrial arts education and art education so many people in the last year. Sooner or later everyone is going to come from Millersville University. He then went on to earn a master’s degree in through the Central Market.” art from Glassboro State College in New Jersey.

Besides doing his artwork, Bill enjoys going to the health club, walking, And he’s still learning his craft. and being an extreme birdwatcher.

“I took a mono printing class and a papermaking class. If I come He is a volunteer on the board of directors for the epilepsy support unit across a medium that I don’t have experience in or the equipment for, like in Lancaster, where he helps others with information and referrals. He is sculpting, then I take a class.” the outdoor art chairman for the Lancaster County Art Association and He even took a course for making glass paperweights at Wheaton is planning art programs for the future, and he teaches art to a group of Village in New Jersey. homeschooled children.

After earning his degrees, Bill went on to teach high school art for five In his one-page bio, Bill wrote, “I plan to produce artwork, teach, and years. volunteer at various art associations in the area.”

“I came back with a problem from Vietnam. I was diagnosed with Bill is well on his way to accomplishing those goals, and it is a boon to epilepsy two years after Vietnam, and it made it very difficult to teach.” those of us who delight in art. www.50plusLifePA.com

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March 2020

15

Financial Focus

Planning for the Rising Costs of Healthcare Steven Brettler

Healthcare costs are rising, especially for retirees, and many will need long-term care. Learn the moves you can make to help prepare yourself.

Longer lifespans and escalating healthcare expenses are driving investors to control their financial exposure to uncovered bouts of care — particularly in retirement.

According to the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the U.S. spends approximately $3.5 trillion a year on healthcare, or nearly $11,000 per person.

Overall spending rose 3.96% in 20171, faster than the pace of inflation or wage growth.

As spending rises, patients are also shouldering a larger share of treatment costs — driving up out-of-pocket expenses. The elderly, who require the most care, often bear the brunt of the costs.

It is important to take steps to minimize your financial exposure to uncovered medical costs.

But whereas your incentives for saving for retirement are easy to digest — to be able to afford a desired lifestyle after your working years — planning for the less palatable aspects of old age can be more challenging.

Healthcare Costs Planning Many people turning 65 will need some type of long-term care services in their lifetimes.

One year in a private room in a nursing home costs $102,200 today and is projected to reach $184,585 by 2039.2 Even with a robust portfolio, you may have trouble handling such large costs with savings on hand.

Many adults nearing retirement age are concerned about healthcare costs but unsure how to budget for them. Many affluent older Americans are unsure or cannot estimate what their annual healthcare or long-term care costs in retirement will be.

Should they encounter serious medical trouble, the costs will be even higher. Many Americans are not even aware of the uninsured costs they may face in these cases. A stroke, for example, may cause paralysis, warranting expensive 24-hour assistance.

Medicare Part A covers nursing facility care for a limited time, but only after a qualified hospitalization.

However, Medicare will not pay for nursing homes when custodial care is the only care needed, nor will it pay for care for conditions such as Alzheimer’s’ disease. Patients suffering from Alzheimer’s or other cognitive ailments may live for many years, all the while requiring assistance and, as the disease worsens, expensive hands-on assistance.

Protection for Retirement Savings Investors in their 30s or early 40s may weight their retirement-funding strategies toward a portfolio of mutual funds or a managed-account solution to provide upside exposure to the market.

Given lower premiums for younger policyholders, long-term care insurance should also be a consideration, she says.

These days, only a handful of insurers offer long-term care insurance, so another option may be life insurance with a longterm care rider, which allows families to tap into the benefits they would receive upon the policyholder’s death while he or she is alive and requires care.

Another option for funding long-term care expenses is to withdraw or borrow money from life insurance policies or generate income from annuities. Note that either of these options would probably fall short of covering costs if someone needs care for many years.

Paying for Unexpected Healthcare Costs A final consideration is what to do when you’re faced with a large, unexpected medical bill today. One answer may be a securities-based loan, which allows qualified clients to use the eligible securities in a brokerage account as collateral for a loan or line of credit, often at a competitive rate.

When faced with a large healthcare expense, investors often liquidate financial assets to pay for immediate needs. However, this strategy may have unintended costs, such as tax consequences, loss of future growth potential, or an imbalance in your portfolio.

Once approved, a securities-based loan can provide quick access to funds for a variety of needs with the potential to maintain your long-term investment strategy. Your financial adviser can provide you with additional information and help determine if this is the right strategy for you.

Protect Your Finances and Your Health As healthcare costs continue to rise, it’s important to understand the options you have to help protect the assets you’ve spent a lifetime accumulating.

Your financial adviser has access to multiple long-term-care products from a wide variety of respected insurers and can help you choose the one that offers the optimal combination of cost and benefits.

Steven Brettler is a financial adviser and branch manager with Morgan Stanley in Greenville, Del. He may be reached at (302) 573-4027 or advisor. morganstanley.com/steven.brettler.

Disclosures Article by Morgan Stanley 1 Source: CMS.gov Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services https://www.cms.gov/research-statistics-data-and-systems/statistics-trends-and-reports/nationalhealthexpenddata/nhe-fact-sheet. html 2 Genworth 2019 Cost of Care Survey, conducted by CareScout®, June 2019 Cost estimate based on 365 days of care. Estimates how much care might cost in future years based on 3% annual inflation. https://www.genworth.com/aging-and-you/finances/cost-of-care.html Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is not implying an affiliation, sponsorship, endorsement with/of the third party or that any monitoring is being done by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (“Morgan Stanley”) of any information contained within the website.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC and its affiliates and their employees (including Financial Advisors and Private Wealth

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Advisors) are not in the business of providing tax or legal advice. These materials and any statements contained herein should not be construed as tax or legal advice. Individuals should consult their personal tax advisor or attorney for matters involving taxation and tax planning and their attorney for matters involving personal trusts and estate planning.

Borrowing against securities may not be suitable for everyone. You should be aware that there are risks associated with a securities based loan, including possible margin calls on short notice, and that market conditions can magnify any potential for loss. For details, please see the important disclosures below.

Securities based loans are provided by Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC, Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association or Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A, as applicable.

Important Risk Information for Securities Based Lending: You need to understand that: (1) Sufficient collateral must be maintained to support your loan(s) and to take future advances; (2) You may have to deposit additional cash or eligible securities on short notice; (3) Some or all of your securities may be sold without prior notice in order to maintain account equity at required maintenance levels. You will not be entitled to choose the securities that will be sold. These actions may interrupt your long-term investment strategy and may result in adverse tax consequences or in additional fees being assessed; (4) Morgan Stanley Bank, N.A., Morgan Stanley Private Bank, National Association or Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC (collectively referred to as ?Morgan Stanley?) reserves the right not to fund any advance request due to insufficient collateral or for any other reason except for any portion of a securities based loan that is identified as a committed facility; (5) Morgan Stanley reserves the right to increase your collateral maintenance requirements at any time without notice; and (6) Morgan Stanley reserves the right to call securities based loans at any time and for any reason.

No Need for Disguises.

We’re Pet Friendly!

With the exception of a margin loan, the proceeds from securities based loan products may not be used to purchase, trade or carry margin stock (or securities, with respect to Express CreditLine); repay margin debt that was used to purchase, trade or carry margin stock (or securities, with respect to Express CreditLine); and cannot be deposited into a Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC or other brokerage account.

To be eligible for a securities based loan, a client must have a brokerage account at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC that contains eligible securities, which shall serve as collateral for the securities based loan.

Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC is a registered Broker/Dealer, Member SIPC, and not a bank. Where appropriate, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC has entered into arrangements with banks and other third parties to assist in offering certain banking-related products and services.

Investment, insurance and annuity products offered through Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC are: NOT FDIC INSURED | MAY LOSE VALUE | NOT BANK GUARANTEED | NOT A BANK DEPOSIT | NOT INSURED BY ANY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AGENCY Insurance and annuity products are offered in conjunction with Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLCs licensed insurance agency affiliates.

Since life insurance and long-term-care insurance are medically underwritten, you should not cancel your current policy until your new policy is in force. A change to your current policy may incur charges, fees and costs. A new policy may require a medical exam. Actual premiums may vary from any initial quotation. Surrender charges may be imposed and the period of time for which the surrender charges apply may increase with a new policy. You should consult with your own tax advisors regarding your potential tax liability on surrenders.

Steven Brettler may only transact business, follow-up with individualized responses, or render personalized investment advice for compensation, in states where he is registered or excluded or exempted from registration, [FINRA Broker Check http://brokercheck.finra.org/Search/Search.aspx]. ©2019 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. All rights reserved. CRC 2763971 10/2019

At Harrison Senior Living, we believe that your four-legged friend can improve your overall health and happiness; that’s why we pride ourselves on being a pet-friendly community.

After all, your pets are family too.

www.Harrisonseniorliving.com

H

N

Independent Living Personal Care Respite Care 300 Strode Avenue East Fallowfield, PA 19320 610.384.6310

See our website for more locations and information.

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

March 2020

17

Study Indicates Colorectal Screening May Need to Begin in Mid-40s

By Keith Brannon A year-by-year age analysis of colorectal cancer rates among U.S. adults finds a 46% increase in new diagnoses from ages 49 to 50, indicating that many latent cases of the disease are likely going undiagnosed until routine screenings begin at 50, according to a new study in JAMA Network Open.

Researchers found that almost 93% of the cases discovered at age 50 were invasive, meaning that most would require more aggressive treatment, including surgery, and were likely lingering for some time before diagnosis.

Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States. As rates for younger adults continue to rise, there

is considerable debate about whether to lower the age for recommended screenings.

In 2018, the American Cancer Society called for routine screenings to start at 45.

However, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which sets federal screenings standards, currently recommends averagerisk screening begin at age 50.

Those against beginning screenings at age 45 have argued that incidence rates in those age 45-49 years have been considered relatively low compared to those aged 50-54 years.

Study authors suspected the risks for those in their mid- to late 40s are underestimated March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month because incident data for those age ranges would likely only include cases caught because they presented symptoms and/or have a family history of cancer, in contrast to those 50 and older, who have cancers also detected due to screening.

To assess this, they examined colorectal cancer incidence rates in one-year increments between the ages of 30 and 60 from 2000-2015. They suspected that if there were many asymptomatic cases of the disease undetected, there would be a marked increase in cases between 49 and 50, when screenings begin.

Researchers found a steep increase, from 34.9 diagnoses per 100,000 people Read it online, in print, at age 49 to 51 cases per 100,000 at age 50. Sharp increases were also seen in and on mobile/tablet both men (52.9%) and women (39.1%), in white (46.2%) and black (47.3%) devices. onlinepub.com populations, and in colon (51.4%) and rectal (37.6%) cancers in this one-year age transition. These incidence increases from age 49 to 50 were not seen in prior studies because only age-group ranges were analyzed.

Researchers also examined the stage at which the cancers were caught and found a spike in localized and regional cancers, which would require surgery and possibly chemotherapy and radiation treatment.

The study adds fuel to the debate about whether screenings should begin at age 45.

Lead study author Dr. Jordan Karlitz, associate clinical professor of medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine and staff gastroenterologist at the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System, said the combined burden of undetected and detected early-onset colorectal cancer cases for those 24th annual 45-49 may actually approach that of individuals in their early 50s. edition “Our data support that the incidence of colorectal cancer increases substantially among individuals in their early 50s compared with individuals in their late 40s, not because rates are truly lower among those aged 4549 years, but because colorectal cancers are present but undetected until diagnosed when screening is ultimately initiated,� he said.

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

25 th

Call today for your free copy!

(717) 285-1350

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Savvy Senior

Do I Have to File Taxes?

Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior, What are the IRS income-tax filing requirements for seniors this year?

I didn’t file a tax return last year because my 2018 income was below the filing requirements, but I got a parttime job late last year in 2019, so I’m wondering if I need to file this year.

– Semi-Retired

If your 2019 gross income — which includes all taxable income, not counting your Social Security benefits, unless you are married and filing separately — was below the threshold for your filing status and age, you may not have to file. But if it’s over, you will.

• Single: $12,200 ($13,850 if you’re 65 or older by Jan. 1, 2020)

Dear Semi, Whether or not you are required to file a federal income tax return this year depends not only on how much you earned last year (in 2019), but also the source of that income, as well as your age and your filing status.

Here’s a rundown of this tax season’s IRS tax-filing requirement thresholds.

For most people, this is pretty straightforward.

• Married filing jointly: $24,400 ($25,700 if you or your spouse is 65 or older or $27,000 if you’re both over 65) • Married filing separately: $12,200 at any age please see Taxes page 24

Free Tax Assistance Offered Through April 15, the AARP Tax-Aide program will offer free one-onone counseling as well as assistance on the telephone and internet to help individuals prepare basic tax forms, including the 1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, and other standard documents.

The following are locations in your area. Please call for an appointment (unless otherwise noted) or visit aarp.org/money/taxaide for more information.

Avon Grove Library 117 Rosehill Ave., West Grove Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

(610) 869-2004

Downingtown Senior Center 3503 Lincoln Highway, Thorndale Tuesdays – Thursdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

(610) 269-3939

Kennett Area Senior Center 427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square Tuesdays and Fridays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(610) 444-4819

Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville Mondays – Thursdays 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(610) 935-1515

Easttown Township Library 720 First Ave., Berwyn Mondays and Tuesdays 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(610) 644-0138

Oxford Neighborhood Services Center 35 N. Third St., Oxford Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(610) 932-8557

Surrey Services for Seniors 60 Surrey Way, Devon Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

(610) 647-6404

Henrietta Hankin Branch Library 215 Windgate Drive Chester Springs Fridays and Saturdays 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

(610) 321-1710

Oxford Senior Center 12 E. Locust St., Oxford Fridays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(610) 932-5244

Chester County Library 450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton Mondays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(610) 280-2642 Closed March 30.

Coatesville Senior Center 250 Harmony St., Coatesville Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

(610) 383-6900

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Paoli Library 18 Darby Road, Paoli Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

(610) 296-7996

West Chester Area Senior Center 530 E. Union St., West Chester Mondays – Thursdays 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Fridays, 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

(610) 431-4242

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

March 2020

19

Chester County

Calendar of Events

Support Groups Free and open to the public

Senior Center Activities

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

March 10 and 24, 6:30-8 p.m.

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

Tuesdays, 7 p.m.

No Longer Alone: Nar-Anon Family Group Church of the Nazarene 424 S. Darlington St., West Chester (610) 692-3120

March 11, 1:30 p.m.

Family Caregiver Support Group Sarah Care 425 Technology Drive, Suite 200, Malvern (610) 251-0801

Coatesville Area Senior Center – (610) 383-6900 250 Harmony St., Coatesville www.coatesvilleseniorcenter.org Weekdays, 9-10:30 a.m. breakfast, noon lunch – Nostalgia Kitchen March 5 and 19, 11 a.m. to noon – Veterans Coffee Club March 11 and 25, 1-2 p.m. – Bingo

March 3, 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Grief Support Group Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville (610) 327-7216

March 11, 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

March 3 and 17, 6:30-8 p.m.

Bereavement Support Group Brandywine Hospital Conference Room 2N 201 Reeceville Road, Coatesville (610) 998-1700, ext. 226 March 3, 17, and 31, 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.

March 17, 6 p.m.

Family Caregiver Support Group Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester (610) 399-4464 March 19, 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

March 4, 6 p.m.

Memory Loss and Dementia Support Group Sunrise Assisted Living of Paoli 324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern (610) 251-9994

March 25, 6 p.m.

Living with Cancer Support Group Paoli Hospital Cancer Center 255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli (484) 565-1253

March 9 and 23, 10:30 a.m. to noon Caregiver Coffee Break/Support Group Active Day of Exton 201 Sharp Lane, Exton (610) 363-8044

March 26, 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

Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com.

Community Programs Free and open to the public March 3, 11:30 a.m.

West Chester University Retirees Luncheon Call for location (610) 269-1503 March 5, 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

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March 7 and 21, 5-10 p.m.

Bingo Night Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St., Downingtown (610) 518-5375 March 17, noon AARP Valley Forge Chapter Meeting St. Luke Evangelical Lutheran Church 203 N. Valley Forge Road, Devon (610) 647-1823

Downingtown Senior Center – (610) 269-3939 983 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown www.downingtownseniors.org Mondays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – Balance and Flexibility Mondays and Fridays, 12:30-3 p.m. – Bridge Club Tuesdays, 11 a.m. – Chorus Great Valley Senior Center – (610) 889-2121 47 Church Road, Malvern 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 March 4 and 18, 6-7:30 p.m. – The Write Stuff Writing Workshop March 17, 7 p.m. – Young @ Heart Book Club March 19, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Book Club: A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave. Downingtown, (610) 269-2741 March 3 and 17, 6 p.m. – Knitters Club March 17, 6:30 p.m. – Crafters Maker Space March 26, 6:30 p.m. – Reading the Classics 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 www.50plusLifePA.com

The Reel Deal

The Way Back

Reach Active, Affluent Boomers & Seniors!

Randal Hill

Blending a classic Cunningham sports story with reluctantly accepts a tale of midlife the task, surprising crisis, Warner everyone, including Brothers’ The himself. As it turns Way Back isn’t a out, he has just as predictable Disneymuch to learn as his type sports drama players do, but, over or an updated time, the boys start Hoosiers but an to come together unflinching study as a team and even of life’s pitfalls that begin to win some can bring down the games. best and brightest Will his of us. newfound success In high give Jack the ability Images © Warner Bros. Pictures or related entities.

Used for publicity and promotional purposes. school, he had to finally conquer https://www.movieinsider.com/photos/550135 been a superstar. the demons that Handsome, whiphave plagued him smart, popular. And on the basketball for much of his life? Will these high court, nobody could match the jawschool victories be enough to heal dropping skills of Jack Cunningham the deep wounds in the former sports (Ben Affleck). By graduation, legend? Or is this merely a fleeting Jack had earned a full university respite from his inexorable slide into scholarship and a potential ticket to a oblivion?

24-karat dream life.

Comedian Al Madrigal portrays Then, suddenly, he walked away Dan, the school’s assistant coach who from his beloved sport and forfeited believes in Cunningham and offers his future. him unconditional support.

From an early age, Cunningham For Affleck, this movie must hit liked to drink. A lot. His imbibing awfully close to home. The son of an morphed from adolescent Animal alcoholic, he had become a problem House-type partying to quiet, fulldrinker as an adolescent, enrolling for blown alcoholism. treatment for the first time at age 18.

As a result, he experienced a fall Over the years, Affleck has candidly from grace that would devastate discussed his addiction, which he his marriage (which included a lifestruggles with to this day. altering tragedy) and any hopes for a “So proud of this one and the successful, or even satisfactory, life. incredible team behind it,” says Since Jack’s glory days more than Affleck, the holder of two Academy 20 years previously, the basketball Awards and three Golden Globes. team at his alma mater has fallen The Way Back is directed by Gavin with a thud. Then a possible break O’Connor, who last worked with materializes: The current coach has Affleck on 2016’s The Accountant. suffered a heart attack, and Jack — The script is by Brad Ingelsby. now a middle-aged, chain-smoking The movie opens March 6. construction worker who has never Randal C. Hill enjoys getting sneak left town — is offered a shot at peeks of forthcoming movies from his redemption: coaching a motley team home on the Oregon coast. He can be of troubled, undisciplined losers. reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

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Sponsor and exhibitor applications are now being accepted!

Reserve your space now for the 17th Annual

CHESTER COUNTY

June 10, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Church Farm School 1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton

Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars • Demonstrations Entertainment • Door Prizes

Why Participate?

Premier events for baby boomers, caregivers, and seniors • Face-to-face interaction with 1,500+ attendees • Strengthen brand recognition/launch new products

For sponsorship and exhibitor information: (610) 675-6240

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

March 2020

21

The Bookworm Sez

Mobituaries Terri Schlichenmeyer

Dust to dust.

That’s supposedly what we all become again when we exit, stage left: We are made of dust, and we’ll just be a pile of it when we die. But is that all, or can we hope to live on as a line in a page somewhere?

As in the new book Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving by Mo Rocca and Jonathan Greenberg, will someone remember?

Nothing lasts forever.

If you’re old enough to read that, you’re old enough to know its truth: Everything and everybody ends eventually, and some leave without fanfare. We might not even see them go because, as Rocca muses, “not everyone has gotten the send-off they were due …”

That set-things-right need for closure launched Rocca’s Mobituary, which is “an appreciation for someone (or something) who didn’t get the love she or he deserved the first time around.”

Take, for instance, “the long S,” which looks something like a small F and can be found in the Declaration of Independence. It ceased to be used in late 1803 and is gone but not forgotten.

Women don’t wear hobble skirts anymore, and men don’t wear codpieces; doctors don’t believe phrenology helps to diagnose your obsession with cats; encyclopedias won’t help a young author-to-be who thinks he’s gay; and you can no longer visit Prussia because it hasn’t existed since early 1947.

But things don’t just disappear. People do, too.

Once upon a time, every man wanted to dress like a guy named Beau Brummel. We don’t talk about Ada Lovelace these days, or her 19th-century computer programming work.

Few people know who Moses Fleetwood Walker is; and even in today’s political climate, Billy Carter’s name is rarely mentioned.

Reputations can die ignominiously, TV shows get canceled, and careers fade away (or sometimes end with a president’s life). Complacency can die, as can grace. But sometimes, just when we think life is filled Mobituaries: Great Lives Worth Reliving with nothing but death, demise, and unpleasantry, it

By Mo Rocca and Jonathan Greenberg can return on the tops of champagne bubbles … c. 2019, Simon & Schuster, 375 pages The first thing — perhaps even the only thing — you need to know is that Mobituaries is absolutely

delightful.

Promise yourself two minutes with this book, and you’ll close its covers a half-hour later. Dip in for a little nostalgia (when did station wagons depart, anyhow?). Step back in time to witness the acts of people who made big impacts but are now largely forgotten. See how celebrities can eclipse other celebs, even in death.

Like with a bag of potato chips, watch yourself reach into this book for King Lear may another handful because authors Mo Rocca and Jonathan Greenberg don’t have a regal name and wade in too deeply; instead, they give readers just enough to whet appetites the fetching looks of but not so much that we get full. royalty, but he wants And as with any feast, literary or otherwise, you can nibble without you to know he’s really thinking you must have a helping of everything. a simple, go-with-theRattle around and you’ll find that Mobituaries is gently humorous, kindly flow kind of guy. He’s inclusive, and plain fun to read. Have it nearby and you’ll know that this book a dog of the people, won’t collect dust. loving with everyone he The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer. Terri has been reading since she was 3 years meets. old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin King Lear has lived with two dogs and 14,000 books. with young kids, and he does super in the shelter’s dog playgroups, “Like” us on Facebook where he gets along with pretty much all the pups. King to receive a free Lear is just 2 years old and ready to fit into most families.

For more information, contact Brandywine Valley 6-month subscription!

SPCA, 1212 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, at (484) Plus, you’ll receive 302-0865 or bvspca.org. event updates, story

Pet of the Month

King Lear

links, and more!

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March 2020

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Melinda’s Garden

Melinda Myers

Early Spring Prep for a Beautiful Summer Garden

As winter fades into spring, the plants in your garden. gardeners can’t wait to get busy Protect yourself when preparing in the garden. Pruning, cutting the garden for spring so you back perennials and ornamental won’t lose time recovering from grasses, and preparing the injuries. garden for spring planting are And keeping the pollinators just a few of the tasks. and other beneficial insects Keep yourself and the safe will improve your garden’s pollinators overwintering in health and productivity your garden safe as you start the throughout the growing cleanup process. seasons.

Always prune with a purpose.

Melinda Myers has written Start by removing any damaged more than 20 gardening and diseased stems from shrubs books, including Small Space and roses. Watch for insects, Gardening. She hosts The Great such as swallowtail butterflies, Courses’ How to Grow Anything that overwinter in protective DVD series and the nationally Photo courtesy of foxglovesinc.com cocoons and the egg masses of syndicated Melinda’s Garden When pruning, start by removing the damaged and diseased stems of shrubs Moment TV and radio program. some, such as the hairstreak and roses and wear heavy-duty gloves to keep yourself free from scratches. www.melindamyers.com, butterflies. www.longfield-gardens.com Prevent problems by destroying overwintering nonnative pests like the gypsy moth. Search the internet and insect books for help identifying the good and bad guys you may find in your landscape.

Additional pruning may be needed to manage the size and shape or The help caregivers need to care encourage better flowering and bark color. Wait to prune spring-flowering for themselves and others! shrubs, like lilacs and forsythia, if you want maximum flowering. Prune these shrubs right after flowering before they set their floral buds for next spring.

Keep yourself safe by wearing safety glasses and gloves. It’s too easy to focus on the task and end up with a stick in the eye. Heavy-duty gloves protect and Features support your hands, allowing you to garden longer with less stress and fewer scratches and bruises.

• Directory of Providers Consider synthetic-leather, gauntlet-style gloves, such as Foxgloves extra• Books and Resources protection gloves (foxglovesinc.com), which protect hands and forearms from • Support Organizations harm yet are supple enough to allow you to work efficiently.

• Articles Lightly rake any debris off the lawn and add it to the compost pile. Check for damage and lightly tamp any disturbed areas back in place. Reseed bare spots so grass, not weeds, fills in these spots.

Brush leaves off the crowns of perennials but leave the rest in place for insects that spend winter or summer in the leaf litter. Plus, the leaves help preserve moisture, suppress weeds, and improve the soil as they break down.

Pull mulch away from tree trunks and shrub crowns that may have shifted over winter. Keeping mulch off the stems reduces the risk of future problems that can lead to decline and even death of the plants.

Let perennials and grasses stand as long as possible, since many are homes for beneficial insects. Bundle grasses for easy cutting and removal. th Also online at Once cut, loosely stack or stand perennial stems and grasses at the edge www.BusinessWomanPA.com of the garden or natural spaces. This allows any insects still present to safely emerge when it’s time to move to their summer homes. Plus, birds will Call for your free copy today! appreciate the easy access to nesting material.

Enjoy the changing of the seasons and the beauty of nature hidden among (717) 285-1350

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Taxes from page 19 • Head of household: $18,350 ($20,000 if age 65 or older) • Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child: $24,400 ($25,700 if age 65 or older) To get a detailed breakdown on federal filing requirements, along with information on taxable and nontaxable income, call the IRS at (800) 829-3676 and ask them to mail you a free copy of the Tax Guide for Seniors (publication 554) or see www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p554.pdf.

Check Here Too There are, however, some other financial situations that can require you to file a tax return, even if your gross income falls below the IRS filing requirements.

For example, if you earned more than $400 from self-employment in 2019, owe any special taxes like an alternative minimum tax, or get premium tax credits because you, your spouse, or a dependent is enrolled in a Health Insurance Marketplace (Obamacare) plan, you’ll need to file.

You’ll also need to file if you’re receiving Social Security benefits and onehalf of your benefits plus your other gross income and any tax-exempt interest exceeds $25,000 or $32,000 if you’re married and filing jointly.

To figure all this out, the IRS offers an interactive tax-assistant tool on their website that asks a series of questions that will help you determine if you’re required to file or if you should file because you’re due a refund. It takes less than 15 minutes to complete.

You can access this tool at www.irs.gov/help/ita — click on “Do I Need to File a Tax Return?”

Now that’s Cold You’re shut in due to the snow and cold weather, and your cousin in northern Florida calls to complain about the chilly 50-degree temps and having to wear a sweater.

Not to make light of their discomfort, but you might suggest they invest in fleece pajamas; then share this list of some of the coldest cities in the U.S.:

24

Place

Coldest average winter temperature (Fahrenheit)

Average number of days below freezing

Deadhorse, Alaska

-23.1

291.9

Crested Butte, Colorado

-7.6

265.7

Stanley, Idaho

-1.8

291.6

Allagash, Maine

-7.6

208.1

Embarrass, Minnesota

-6.2

227.2

Wisdom, Montana

1

277.2

Belcourt, North Dakota

-6.2

205.2

Coalville, Utah

4.7

258.4

Sutton, Vermont

-1

204.8

Bondurant, Wyoming

-3.1

264.9

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Or, you can get assistance over the phone by calling the IRS helpline at (800) 829-1040. You can also get face-to-face help at a Taxpayer Assistance Center. See www.irs.gov/localcontacts or call (800) 829-1040 to locate a center near you.

Check Your State Even if you’re not required to file a federal tax return this year, don’t assume that you’re also excused from filing state income taxes. The rules for your state might be very different.

Check with your state tax agency before concluding that you’re entirely in the clear. For links to state tax agencies, see www.taxadmin.org/state-taxagencies.

Tax Preparation Help If you find that you do need to file a tax return this year, you can get help through the Tax Counseling for the Elderly (or TCE) program.

Sponsored by the IRS, TCE provides free tax preparation and counseling to middle and low-income taxpayers, age 60 and older. Call (800) 906-9887 or visit www.irs.treasury.gov/freetaxprep to locate a service near you.

Also check with AARP, a participant in the TCE program that provides free tax preparation at more than 4,800 sites nationwide. To locate an AARP Tax-Aide site, call (888) 227-7669 or visit www.aarp.org/findtaxhelp. You don’t have to be an AARP member to use this service.

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.

Temperatures are Falling — in Your Body Most people think the average body temperature for humans is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, as the HealthDay website points out, that’s not quite the case. In fact, it seems to be going down.

The 98.6 degrees standard was established in 1851. A recent study of 25,000 British citizens, though, marked the average as 97.9.

Another study of more than 677,000 temperature measurements recorded in the United States between 1862 and 2017 found that the average body temperature of men born since 2000 is 1.1 degree lower

than in men born in the early 19th century.

Similarly, body temperatures for women born in the 2000s were, on average, about 0.6 degrees below that of women born in the 1890s. That adds up to a decrease of 0.05 degrees every decade since the 1800s.

Scientists speculate that improved healthcare and hygiene over time may have produced a reduction in the average metabolic rate, leading to an overall decline in inflammation, which tends to increase one’s body temperature.

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Classifieds

Education/Career Training COMPUTER & IT TRAINING PROGRAM! Train at home to become a Computer & Help Desk Professional now!

Call CTI for details! 888-449-1713 (M-F 8am-6pm ET) AIRLINES ARE HIRING - Get FAA approved hands on Aviation training. Financial Aid for qualified students Career placement assistance. CALL Aviation Institute of Maintenance 888-686-1704.

MEDICAL BILLING TRAINEES NEEDED! Train at home for a career as a Medical Office Professional at CTI! 1-833-766-4511 AskCTI.com Notice Miscellaneous Eliminate gutter cleaning forever! LeafFilter, the most advanced debris-blocking gutter protection. Schedule a FREE LeafFilter estimate today. 15% off and 0% financing for those who qualify. PLUS Senior & Military Discounts. Call 1-855-995-2490 SAVE BIG on HOME INSURANCE! Compare 20 A-rated insurances companies. Get a quote within minutes.

Average savings of $444/year! Call 866-695-8390! (M-F 8am-8pm Central) DENTAL INSURANCE. Call Physicians Mutual Insurance Company for details. NOT just a discount plan, REAL coverage for 350 procedures. 888-623-3036 or http://www.dental50plus.com/58 Ad# 6118 DISCOUNT AIR TRAVEL. Call Flight Services for best pricing on domestic & international flights inside and from the US. Serving United, Delta, American & Southwest airlines. Call for free quote now! Have travel dates ready! 855-638-3462 ARE YOU BEHIND $10k OR MORE ON YOUR TAXES? Stop wage & bank levies, liens & audits, unfiled tax returns, payroll issues, & resolve tax debt FAST. Call 888-626-3581

Stay in your home longer with an American Standard Walk-In Bathtub. Receive up to $1,500 off, including a free toilet, and a lifetime warranty on the tub and installation! Call us at 1-855-534-6198.

A PLACE FOR MOM has helped over a million families find senior living. Our trusted, local advisors help find solutions to your unique needs at no cost to you. Call 855-741-7459 BATHROOM RENOVATIONS. EASY, ONE DAY updates! We specialize in safe bathing. Grab bars, no slip flooring & seated showers. Call for a free in-home consultation: 888-912-4745 ATTENTION OXYGEN THERAPY USERS! Inogen One G4 is capable of full 24/7 oxygen delivery. Only 2.8 pounds.

FREE information kit. Call 877-929-9587 DIRECTV NOW. No Satellite Needed. $40/month. 65 Channels. Stream Breaking News, Live Events, Sports & On Demand Titles. No Annual Contract. No Commitment. CALL 1-866-825-6523 BECOME A PUBLISHED AUTHOR! We edit, print and distribute your work internationally. We do the work, you reap the rewards! Call for a FREE Author’s Submission Kit: 866-951-7214 WANTED Automobiles Donate Your Car to Veterans Today! Help and Support our Veterans. Fast - FREE pick up. 100% tax deductible. Call 1-800-245-0398 CARS/TRUCKS WANTED!!! 2002 and Newer! Any Condition. Running or Not. Competitive Offer! Free Towing!

We’re Nationwide! Call Now: 1-888-416-2330.

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Please join us for these FREE events!

21st Annual

April 22, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY

21st Annual

May 6, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

DAUPHIN COUNTY

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9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CHESTER COUNTY

25

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY

Spooky Nook Sports 2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim

Sept. 23, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

YORK COUNTY

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

Oct. 14, 2020

21st Annual

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Church Farm School 1001 E. Lincoln Highway Exton

Sept. 16, 2020

24th Annual

Resource Directory!

Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey

June 10, 2020

18th Annual

Check out our online

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

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Carlisle Expo Center 100 K St. Carlisle

Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars Demonstrations • Entertainment • Door Prizes Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available (717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140 • (610) 675-6240

Convenient Print Edition Plus Extensive Online, Searchable Directory

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Discover support and services available to meet challenges you may encounter as a senior, as someone who is caring for an older loved one, or as a person with a disability.

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GREECE & HER ISLANDS

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10 days, departs March - September 2020

12 days, departs year-round

Go back in time for a 10-day trip through the heart of ancient Greece. Start with 3 fascinating days in Athens, where you will enjoy visits to the Parthenon, the Acropolis and Acropolis Museum, and more, after meeting your fellow travelers at a delicious welcome dinner. Then it’s on to 2 of the most popular Greek islands—striking Mykonos, famous for its windmills, whitewashed buildings and domed churches; and Santorini, named by numerous publications as the world’s top island. Return to Athens by ferry for your final night in Greece.

Discover Hawaii on this island-hopping cruise tour. Spend 7 nights aboard Norwegian Cruise Line’s renovated Pride of America and enjoy freestyle cruising at its finest. Experience the lush Iao Valley on Maui, the beauty and charm of Hilo, Kona’s coffee-rich “Gold Coast,” and Kauai’s spectacular Na Pali coast and Waimea Canyon. Your land tour includes Pearl Harbor and Honolulu city tours, and time to relax on world-famous Waikiki Beach. Guided on Oahu by our friendly Tour Directors—your local experts.

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1,549 *

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1,499 *

1,299 *

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FREE ONBOARD CREDIT

CRIMSON CANYONS & MESAS NATIONAL PARKS TOUR Las Vegas • Grand Canyon • Bryce Canyon • Zion • Arches • Capitol Reef National Park • and more!

10 days, departs May - September 2020 Prepare to be awed as you experience the stunningly red rocks of these 6 iconic southwestern national parks. Formed by the elements over countless centuries, these natural treasures are still grand enough to make our jaws drop.

Experience several of the most popular National Parks in America, traveling through deserts, forests, mountains, and to the very edge of one of the natural wonders of the world.

GRAND ALASKAN CRUISE & TOUR Seattle • Vancouver • Ketchikan • Juneau • Skagway • Glacier Bay National Park • Anchorage • and more 12 days, departs May - September 2020 Enjoy a cruise & tour between Seattle and Alaska including 7 nights aboard Holland America Line’s ms Westerdam and 4 nights on land. You’ll cruise the Gulf of Alaska and the Inside Passage—a sea lane teeming with marine wildlife, where you’ll pass glaciers, mountains, and lush forests, with stops in Ketchikan, Skagway and magnificent Glacier Bay. On land, you’ll go deep into Denali National Park, tour Anchorage, and see the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center.

GUIDED TOUR EXPERTS � CALL FOR YOUR FREE BROCHURE TM

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CALL 1�855�400�0373

*Prices are per person based on double occupancy plus up to $299 in taxes & fees. Cruise pricing based on lowest cabin category after Instant Rebate is applied. Single supplement and season surcharges may apply. Add-on airfare available. Onboard Credit requires purchase of Ocean View or Balcony Cabin.

For Hawaiian Islands Cruise & Tour, Free Internet and Free Beverage Package offers vary based on cabin category purchased. Additional service charges are required and payable to YMT with final balance for select Set Sail offers. For full Set Sail terms and conditions ask your Travel Consultant. Offers apply to new bookings only made by 11/30/19. Other terms & conditions may apply.