Chester County 50plus Senior News December 2013 by On-Line Publishers, Inc.

Chester County Edition

December 2013

Vol. 10 No. 12

A Colorful Marriage On Canvas and Off Couple Blends Artistic and Domestic Living By Alicia Morrissey Something about Barbara Pillette caught Robert Buchanan’s eye at an art show in Mount Gretna in 1981. Maybe it was her beautiful artwork, or perhaps it was her kind smile. Either way, neither of them had any idea what was in store for them at the moment their eyes locked. “She was in one booth and I was in another,” Robert reminisced. “I helped her carry her work out to her car.” After that sweet gesture, Robert and Barbara began dating, despite the two-hour commute it took to see each other. A couple of years later, they tied the knot. After that, the two artists had to figure out how to mesh not only their lives, but also their artistic styles and habits. “I always have to have music on—Barb doesn’t,” Robert said. “I enjoy music, but I do like complete quiet,” Barbara agreed. Laughing, Robert added, “Barb cooperates. She just acquiesces.” Despite their differing preferences for work environment, Robert and Barbara have found they coexist quite well. They both continued to thrive in their artwork, often asking each other advice on how to improve a piece. please see CANVAS page 10 Robert and Barbara Buchanan in the studio in their home.

Inside:

Chicago’s Christmas Magic page 8

Female Film Pioneers page 11

Savvy Senior

Simple TV Remotes Designed for Seniors Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some easy-to-use television remote controls for seniors? I got my 74-year-old mother a new HDTV for her birthday, but the remote control is very confusing for her to operate. – Shopping Son Dear Shopping, It seems like most television remote controls today come with dozens of unnecessary buttons that make them very confusing to operate. Add in the fact that many people use two or three remotes to operate their home entertainment equipment (TV, cable box, VCR, DVD player, etc.) and it compounds the problem even further. Fortunately, there are several universal TV remotes available today that are specifically designed for seniors and the technically challenged. These remote controls have bigger buttons and fewer

options that make them much easier to see, program, and operate. Simplified Remotes Two popular senior-friendly products to consider are the Flipper Remote and the Super Remote SR3. The Flipper (www.flipper remote.com) works all major TVs, including cable, satellite, and digital TV receiver boxes with only one remote. Available for $25, it offers a tapered design that makes it easy to hold, and for simplicity it has only six large, color-

coded buttons that are exposed (on/off, channel up and down, volume up and down, and mute). All other buttons are accessed by sliding the top panel down, so they won’t get in the way during day-to-day TV watching. Flipper also has an optional feature that lets you program up to 30 of your mom’s favorite channels for easy access. The Super Remote SR3 from Universal Remote Control, Inc. (sold through Amazon.com for around $13) is a slightly more sophisticated, userfriendly remote that can control three devices: TVs, cable or satellite boxes, and DVD players. It offers a lightweight, ergonomic design; large, easy-to-see numeric buttons, each in the shape of the number it represents; and a centrally located “my button” that gives your mom the ability turn on the TV and set the tuner to her favorite channel with a single button press. It also provides four “favorite” buttons for one-touch access to her favorite channels and an “all off ” button that lets her shut down the entire homeentertainment system with a single button press.

Super-Sized Remotes There are also a number of oversized TV remotes that are ideal for seniors with vision problems. The Tek Partner, Big Button, and Tek Pal remotes, all made by the Hy-Tek Manufacturing Company (www.bigbuttonremotes.com, (630) 4667664) in Sugar Grove, Ill., are three solid options to consider. If you’re interested in an extra-large remote control, the $40 Tek Partner— which is 5.5 inches wide and 8.5 inches long—is their biggest. It offers huge, brightly lit buttons with big, readable characters and a narrowed center (3.5 inches), which makes it easy to handle for a big remote. It also contains only the essential functions, making it easy to use and program, and it operates any combination of TVs, VCRs, DVD players, cable boxes, and satellite dishes. If you’re looking for something a little smaller (2.5 by 9.5 inches) there’s the $25, rectangular-shaped Big Button remote that offers the same large and illuminating buttons as the Tek Partner and the exact same features. Or, if you only want a basic remote for the TV, there’s the Tek Pal that comes with just six large buttons (on/off, mute, channel up and down, and volume up and down buttons) that light up when pushed. Available for $19, the Pal will only work with televisions that have cable wired directly into the TV. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org

Donate Toys at Sunrise of Westtown Sunrise of Westtown is a 2013 drop-off location for donations for Toys for Tots. Deadline for donations is the week of Dec. 16. Bring your new, unwrapped toys to Sunrise of Westtown, 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester. For more information, call (610) 399-4464.

December 2013

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Christmas Traditions: The Real Story The December holidays are a time to honor traditions handed down over the centuries. You might be surprised to learn that many Christmas customs actually originated in older traditions and pagan celebrations. Here’s a quick look: Christmas Day. Dec. 25 was designated as Christmas Day by Pope Saint Julius I in the fourth century, reflecting a decision to combine several pagan festivities into one Christian celebration. Dec. 25 previously marked the Roman Saturnalia, as well as the purported birth date of Mithra, the Persian sun god, and the mythical first appearance of the Norse god Odin to the world.

Food and drink. Parties, overeating, and general mayhem are also related to the Saturnalia. This Roman festival was named for Saturn, an agriculture god, and was celebrated with feasting and general revelry. Christmas pudding. The Celts celebrated their god of the harvest by

Resource Directory Dental Services Family Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry 1646 West Chester Pike, Suite 1,West Chester (610) 692-8454 Disasters American Red Cross Greater Brandywine (610) 692-1200

making a pot of porridge and stirring it for him. Later, plum pudding was made by adding prunes to the porridge, which evolved into what we now know as Christmas pudding. Tradition says that each member of the family should stir the pot in an east-west manner (as the sun moves across the sky). Flaming brandy poured onto the pudding is also a

D’Anjolell Memorial Homes & Crematory 392 Lancaster Ave., Frazer (610) 356-4200 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (800) 272-3900 American Cancer Society (800) 227-2345

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

Eastwood Village Homes, LLC 102 Summers Drive, Lancaster (717) 397-3138

Salvation Army West Chester (610) 696-8746

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

Housing Authority of Chester County (610) 436-9200

Coatesville VA Medical Center (610) 383-7711

Housing Authority of Phoenixville (610) 933-8801

Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (800) 829-3676 Funeral & Cremation Services Auer Cremation Services of Pennsylvania 4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (800) 722-8200

Housing Assistance

Legal Services Lawyer Referral Service (610) 429-1500 Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (610) 436-4510

PACE (800) 225-7223

Nutrition

Senior Healthlink (610) 431-1852 Social Security Administration (800) 772-1213 Southeastern PA Medical Institute (610) 446-0662

CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Senior Centers

Community Impact Legal Services (610) 380-7111

National Osteoporosis Foundation (800) 223-9994

Chester County Department of Aging Services (610) 344-6350 Pharmacies

Arthritis Foundation (215) 665-9200

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

Office of Aging

Housing

Salvation Army Coatesville (610) 384-2954

Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233

Christmas trees. Decorating Christmas trees has its origins in Germany. During the winter, the populace wanted to encourage tree spirits to return to the trees and reawaken them in the spring. The practice originally focused on oak trees but later came to be associated with fir trees by Christians, who associated the triangle outline of the firs with the Holy Trinity.

Hearing Services

American Heart Association (610) 940-9540

Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110

Christmas stockings. The first Christmas stocking was supposedly derived from the charity of a kindly Turkish bishop, who slipped a bag of gold into the stocking of a girl in need of a dowry.

This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being.

Chester County Emergency Services (610) 344-5000

Emergency Numbers

symbol of the sun’s energy.

Meals on Wheels Chester County Inc. (610) 430-8500

Coatesville (610) 383-6900 Downingtown (610) 269-3939 Great Valley (610) 889-2121 Kennett Square (610) 444-4819 Oxford (610) 932-5244 Phoenixville (610) 935-1515 Wayne (610) 688-6246 West Chester (610) 431-4242

Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center (800) 366-3997

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

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December 2013

Salute to a Veteran

The Viet Cong Kept Finding New Ways to Kill You

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50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community. On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature. Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.

December 2013

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Robert D. Wilcox om McInnes served two tours in Vietnam … and found out that no one was ever really safe there, not even chaplains. Of course, there was the everyday reality that the Viet Cong wore no uniforms and looked like every other Vietnamese person, while their fondest wish was to slit your throat if they ever had the chance. That was enough to give you the feeling that every day might be your last. But for McInnes, something else occurred that was not at all expected. On his first Vietnam tour in 1963, he was a chaplain assigned to the 9th Assistance Advisory Group. One of his main efforts was to help the Vietnamese people in any way he could—which, as it turned out, didn’t help him a whole lot. One day, he was to help in taking food to the Vietnamese in a small, nearby village. He was to travel by “Jeepster” (an enclosed Jeep that carried people and cargo) with a GI driver, a gunner, and a Green Beret medic officer who could speak French and thus could speak to some of the Montagnard people they intended to help. Four 100-pound sacks of rice were squeezed into the Jeepster and held the quantities of rice that were to be distributed to the ill-fed Montagnard people, who were our allies. McInnes explains that, although the Montagnards were Vietnamese, they were a lot like our Native Americans. “Just as the Apaches were separate from the Cherokees,” he says, “so were the Montagnards from each other, with different tribes having their own language, dress, and culture. But, because of the previous French occupation of their land, a few of them spoke a little French, and that’s where the Frenchspeaking medic came in.” As their loaded Jeepster started down the steep hill from their camp, they suddenly found they had no brakes. During the night, the Viet

Cong had apparently severed the lines to the brakes, so they barreled down the hill, continuing to gather speed until they came to a hairpin turn and an even steeper drop at the bottom. There the Jeepster took off, hurtling through the air and coming to a crashing halt on its back, with men and rice bags piled one on top of another.

Lieutenant Colonel Thomas J. McInnes in 1972, home from Germany

“There were plenty of strains and bruises,” he says, “but, fortunately, nobody needed to be hospitalized.” His tour of duty was for only a year, and he was the only Protestant chaplain in the 2nd Corps, which spanned an area about half the size of New Jersey. He routinely flew in helicopters of all kinds to hold services in the field and to work to help the local Vietnamese. He did counseling and also advised the commander on morale. He enjoyed serving as a sort of ombudsman for the troops, hearing their complaints and serving their interests. The year passed rather quickly, and he was returned to Fort Dix, N.J., where he served for two years before his second one-year tour in Vietnam in 1967. Before joining the military, McInnes had graduated from high

school in Buffalo and then had two years at Rochester University, where he was working toward a degree in chemistry. And it was there that he enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1946 and served for 18 months before being discharged in August 1947. He had remained in the Reserve, however, and after he entered Houghton College for his junior year, he was recalled for 21 months. He was then discharged as a staff sergeant and was able to return to Houghton to finish his senior year. It was then that he felt the call to the ministry. So, in 1953 he entered Eastern Baptist Seminary in Philadelphia, graduating with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. There he also became an Army second lieutenant before his graduation as a chaplain in 1957. After serving as a first lieutenant in the Reserve, he was recalled to active duty in 1962 as a captain and served as a chaplain at Fort Belvoir before going to Vietnam. He smiles as he recalls that they noted that on his “dream list,” he had said that he would like to serve in exotic places like Hawaii or Thailand. “The interviewing officer said, ‘I see you said you’d like to serve in Thailand. Well, you’re getting your wish. We’re sending you to Vietnam, just a little east of Thailand, where you picked to be.’” So he was off to Vietnam, where he was assigned to the 9th Assistance Advisory Group … and where his career almost ended in the sabotage to his Jeepster. After his one-year tour there, he was glad to be back in the U.S., where he spent two years at Fort Dix before being returned to Vietnam for his second one-year tour. After returning to the U.S., he then shipped to Germany for duty during the occupation. Returning to the U.S. in 1972, he entered the chaplain’s school at Fort Hamilton, N.Y., to earn his master’s degree. And after service at other bases, he was assigned to www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Aberdeen Proving Grounds for two years and retired as a colonel in 1979, having served his country for 33 years. McInnes now lives in a retirement

community in Central Pennsylvania, after a man he taught in a Bible class gave McInnes a ton of material extolling the wonders of the area.

“My wife, Ruth, and I came to look it over and couldn’t imagine a more wonderful place to live,” McInnes grins. “So, we came here, and we wouldn’t

trade it for any other place in the world.” Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.

My 22 Cents’ Worth

Silver Linings on Our Aging Shadow Walt Sonneville o mark the International Day of Older Persons in 2012, several organizations, including some United Nation agencies, collaborated in a report entitled “Ageing in the TwentyFirst Century: A Celebration and a Challenge.” That intriguing title provokes one to question: What is there to celebrate about aging, and what are the challenges? The report limited examination of celebration and challenge to a single perspective: “access to, and enjoyment of, the full range of human rights.” Let us look at a broader spectrum of challenges and the silver linings on the shadow of aging that we care to celebrate. Human rights, which we seniors generally enjoy as Americans, are left aside. From our own personal experiences we can easily identify several physical, mental, and social challenges commonly associated with aging, some of which worsen as age increases. What we recognize less easily is that most elderly Americans are self-reliant, leading content and productive lives. The American Psychological Association’s report (April 1998), from its “Working Group on the Older Adult,” states that only 9 percent of those between ages 65 and 69 need personal assistance, while up to 50 percent of those over 85 need assistance with everyday activities. The implication is that fewer than half of those over 85 may not need personal assistance. The comforting data for those under 85 are supported in detail by the federal government’s Administration on Aging in its report “A Profile of Older Americans – 2011.” The profile shows that for noninstitutionalized elderly ages 65-74, 6 percent have difficulty bathing or showering, 5 percent have difficulty dressing, 2 percent eating, 9 percent getting in/out of bed, and 17 percent walking. For those ages 75-84, the respective

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had higher Other studies, reported by the same percentages are percentages of source, found that “older adults report 14, 10, 4, 15, those dissatisfied less distress than other age groups … and and 28 percent. “... emotional happiness than the 65 or emotional happiness improves with age.” The statistical improves with age.” older group. It seems true, as John Webster wrote odds The elderly (Westward Ho) in 1607, “Old wood does significantly may have more burn brighter.” favor the absence health issues than of such Walt Sonneville, a retired market-research those younger, dependencies for analyst, is the author of My 22 Cents’ Worth: but they find those under the The Higher-Valued Opinion of a Senior more satisfaction with life. A United age of 85. Citizen and A Musing Moment: Meditative Kingdom publication, The Telegraph, Before our celebration carries us too Essays on Life and Learning, books of cited research that “the elderly brain has far, one should acknowledge the personal-opinion essays, free of partisan and the ability to let negative memories fade commonly reported challenges of aging. sectarian viewpoints. Contact him at more quickly than the young.” They include diminished hearing and waltsonneville@earthlink.net. vision, higher blood pressure, diabetes, a decrease in muscle mass, and, on average by the age of 80, a loss of 2 inches in ADVERTISEMENT height and almost half of our sense of smell. For most of us, these are limitations with which we can function adequately, the simple alternative. thanks to prescribed health products and services and to an increased capacity to IF YOU WANT A FUNERAL with an cope with routine adversities. expensive casket and embalming, go to a Seniors 65 years of age and older apparently are more satisfied with their funeral home! If you are interested in lives than those in the 50-64 age group. affordable CREMATION SERVICES, This is the conclusion of a survey asked WE ARE THE NAME TO REMEMBER! of respondents, aged 50 years or older, in all 50 states, conducted in 2006 by the We specialize in cremation only, Centers for Disease Control and statewide, no transportation fees. Prevention in its study “The State of Mental Health and Aging in America: NO EMBALMING • NO CASKETS Life Satisfaction” (2006). Nationally, 5.8 percent of respondents UER REMATION ERVICES F ENNSYLVANIA NC in the 50-64 age group said they were For FREE brochures and pricing, call: “dissatisfied” or “very dissatisfied” with their life. Only 3.5 percent of respondents (Toll-Free) among those 65 years or older said they or mail us ... were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. The two states having the highest Please send me FREE brochures and pricing! percentages of dissatisfied or very www.auergroup.com dissatisfied respondents, among those 65 Name _______________________________________ years or older, were California (4.7 percent) and New Jersey (4.6 percent). Address _____________________________________ Hawaii (1.8 percent) and Iowa (2.1 ____________________________________________ percent) had the lowest percentages for 4100 Jonestown Rd. Hbg., PA 17109 this age group. Phone ( )_________________________________ Shawn E. Carper In every state, the 50-64 age group Supervisor Code CSN

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December 2013

NurseNews

Mohs Method a Viable Option for Skin-Cancer Surgery Gloria May, M.S., R.N., CHES

wound, and then sends the whole section necessary and thus he may have been left to a pathologist. with a cosmetically unsatisfying result. That specialist examines it under a Here’s where the Mohs surgical method microscope and then, weeks later, sends comes in. the surgeon a “path This specialized report” that ideally procedure isn’t some This procedure is a shows that the new kid on the “margins are clear.” slower process, but it surgical block. It was Only then can the developed in the leads to a very high surgeon confidently 1930s by Dr. Frederic tell the patient, “I cure rate and a better Mohs, but as its use got it all.” today is limited to cosmetic result. The problem with skin cancers, it isn’t this traditional twowell known among step method is that not only does the the general public. patient have to wait weeks to find out if A Mohs-trained surgeon is also skilled the surgery was successful, but there is in pathology, and he himself is able to also the potential for two unfavorable examine the tissue he has removed. This outcomes: The patient may have to means he can make make sure, right there undergo further surgery because the on the spot, that he took out enough to surgeon didn’t, in fact, remove all the give the patient a very high probability of involved area, or the patient may have a cure, and it also means he can see when had a larger area removed than was really to stop before he takes too much around

“

Thank You,Columnists! 50plus Senior News continues to bring important information as well as entertaining articles to the 50+ community. We at On-Line Publishers would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the editorial contributors of 50plus Senior News: Mike Clark (The Way I See It) Angelo Coniglio (The Search for Our Ancestry) Wendell Fowler (Preventive Measures) Al Goodman (Beyond the Battlefield ) Andrea Gross (Traveltizers) Dr. Lori (Art and Antiques) Gloria May (NurseNews) Gamber (The Beauty in Nature) Clyde McMillan-G Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior)

Victor Parachin (Fragments of History) Saralee Perel (Such is Life) Dr. Leonard Perry (The Green Mountain Gardener) Ted Rickard (The Squint-Eyed Senior) Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser) Pat Sinclair (Recipes for Two) Walt Sonneville (My 22 Cents’ Worth) Robert Wilcox (Salute to a Veteran) Judith Zausner (Creativity Matters)

It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors and freelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available to read each month. The pages of 50plus Senior News are enriched by your contributions.

“

y friend Mike is a working actor, so when a suspiciouslooking growth on his cheek, up near his right eye, was diagnosed as a form of skin cancer, and his doctor told him it had to be removed, Mike was understandably out of his mind with worry. His face, after all, is a big part of his ability to earn a living, and he was “not ready to play monsters or slasher victims,” he said. Mike asked me if I knew anything about what he thought was a “moze.” He said he remembered his doctor said something that sounded like that, but that at the time, Mike was just not listening and now was embarrassed to have to ask the doctor to repeat himself. Whenever a bump or lump or any area of damaged tissue needs to be taken out, the surgeon also removes some of the surrounding area as well, closes the

the target area. This procedure is a slower process (slice by slice, so to speak), but it leads to a very high cure rate and a better cosmetic result. While the same surgeon can do the closing, sew up the area, and even evaluate the area, many times a plastic (reconstructive) surgeon comes in to assist, especially on areas involving the lips or the nose, areas with curves and folds. This often leads to an even better result. Mohs is not for every kind of skin cancer, and that’s something your doctor can explain. However, the Mohs procedure is certainly an approach that is worth discussing, and not just for those for whom “their faces are their fortunes,” as they say. Gloria May is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in adult health education and a Certified Health Education Specialist designation.

Thank You, Volunteers! On-Line Publishers, Inc. and 50plus Senior News would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all of the individual and senior group volunteers who donated their time and efforts at our 2013 50plus EXPOs. Because of your assistance, we were able to bring the contents and the mission of 50plus Senior News to life for the residents of Central Pennsylvania!

Time is a Priceless Gift Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus Senior News’

Volunteer Spotlight!

Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.

December 2013

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Older But Not Wiser

I Have a Granddaughter Sy Rosen y daughter, Ann, gave birth last week to a beautiful baby girl. Ann was in labor for 29 hours, which is longer than I held my first job. In the middle of the night (while Ann was still in labor), my wife, Wanda, and Ann’s husband, Edward, fell asleep. Just my daughter and I were up. So in the semi-darkness of the room, where the only light was coming from the hospital monitors in the background, we talked. We talked about important matters: “So you’re having a baby,” I said. “You figured that out, huh, Dad?” OK, it wasn’t a great start, but this was my time to pass on some knowledge to my daughter, to share my years of wisdom. However, for some reason I went into this rambling monologue about just one event: “I remember when you were growing up, we always tried to make you feel very

special. We treated you like you were the center of the universe, but we couldn’t stop the world from sometimes changing that. “When you were about 5 years old, I took you to this children’s show where this guy, who was playing a guitar, was taking requests from the kids in the audience. And you kept yelling that you wanted to hear ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider,’ but he didn’t pay any attention to you and you started to cry. I mean cry so loudly they could hear you in outer space. “So I took you into the lobby and hugged you tightly. And Ann, I wanted to maturely explain to you that even though you were very special, there are people who won’t treat you that way and that maybe they’ll even ignore you, but

that’s OK; it’s not a big deal and it’s their loss. “Instead, I told you that the guy playing the guitar was a stupid, doo-dooheaded jerk. OK, that probably wasn’t the most mature thing to say, but I would do it again. “Anyway, Ann, the point is—and I do have a point; it just takes me a while to get to it—is that there will be times when you unfortunately can’t protect your daughter from the insensitivity of the outside world, but if you raise her right and love her enormously, she’ll be able to handle it. And your backup position is to call those insensitive people doo-doo heads.” It was a long-winded story, and it didn’t really make that much sense, but it

seemed to take Ann’s mind off of the labor. The next day, Ann gave birth. I, of course, wasn’t in the delivery room. Edward, the father, had that honor. Also, I was afraid I would faint. The next day, Ann and Edward officially named their daughter. After much debate, they decided to name her Summer. And it has become the season of Summer. Two days later, I held Summer for the first time. I was a little afraid because she is so small and fragile. She weighs 6 pounds, 15 ounces, which we rounded up to 7 pounds. I guess in a few years we’ll round up her IQ to genius level. I whispered in Summer’s ear that I’ll take her to the movies and the park, and I’ll feed her ice cream even though her parents tell me not to. And then I started singing to her. Of course I sang “Itsy Bitsy Spider.”

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December 2013

Traveltizers

Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

Chicago’s Christmas Magic department stores in the world. It offered the first bridal registry, he day is frosty cold, and I the first personal shopping say a silent thanks to the assistants, the first department-store unknown goose that restaurants, and the first escalators donated his feathers to fill my and was the first store to create parka. holiday window displays for the My husband hands me a mug sole purpose of spreading joy. filled with Glühwein. The hot, This holiday tradition, which spicy drink burns my throat in a began in the early 1870s, holds true nice, cinnamonny way and, as the today. There are no windows filled name implies, makes me glow with with glitzy clothes, new appliances, holiday cheer. or tempting foods, no attempt to We, along with several hundred lure folks to the cash register. The other folks, are braving the weather displays are meant to bring smiles, Bugles herald the holiday Diners at Macy’s historic The mall at Water Tower Place at Christkindlmarket, Chicago’s not to extract cash. Now how nice season on State Street. Walnut Room sit under a draws crowds with a largest open-air Christmas festival. is that? 45-foot-tall tree. combination of festive decorations and popular stores. The atmosphere is distinctly When, in 2005, after a series of European, with chalet-style stalls corporate changes, the iconic store offering a mind-boggling selection was acquired by May Company, the of the Christkindlmarket crowd, I’m theaters, public art, parks, restaurants, of Alpine delicacies and crafts. skyscrapers, and, yes, retail establishments terms included the requirement that more interested in having fun than in We taste-test a variety of wursts, many Marshall Field’s traditions be seriously shopping. both big and small. schnitzels, strudels, and chocolates and continued. Afterward, well fortified with another But again, we’re not here to shop. gaze longingly at the imported cuckoo So although the Chicago store, which We’re here to see the former Marshall mug of Glühwein, we move on to “The clocks and nutcrackers. I buy a small is the third largest department store in Field’s, which was once one of the most Loop,” where we walk along streets lined ornament for my brother, but, like most the world, now goes by the name of renowned and most innovative with government buildings, museums,

By Andrea Gross

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As On-Line Publishers, Inc. sees the conclusion of yet another year, we are grateful to our dedicated staff, loyal readers, and supportive advertisers who have all enabled us to continue to grow in our mission to serve the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50+ community. We wish to thank each of you for helping to make 50plus Senior News a fun, interesting, and unique source of information and entertainment for our readers in Central Pennsylvania. At this special time of giving thanks and reminiscing, the staff of On-Line Publishers wishes you, our friends, warmest holiday wishes.

December 2013

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Macy’s on State Street, their Christmas windows continue to delight hundreds of onlookers. We walk slowly, carefully admiring each animated scene, and then enter the store to view the celebrated domed ceiling that’s made of more than 1.6 million pieces of iridescent glass. Designed by Louis Tiffany in 1907 and hand-set over a two-year period, it’s a glorious mosaic of serpentine swirls and graceful ovals in tones of amber, blue, and gold with touches of red. I stare in awe until my neck begins to hurt, after which we take the escalator up to the fifth floor, where I can see the details more clearly. Eventually we make our way to the historic Walnut Room, known for the classic chicken potpie that was first served in 1907. As always during the Christmas season, a 45-foot tree festooned with more than 1,000 ornaments brightens the room. We try to get a table, but no luck. The restaurant doesn’t take reservations, and the wait, according to the very nice hostess, will be more than an hour. Instead we satisfy our hunger by purchasing—and devouring—some Frango chocolates. The minty truffles have been associated with the store since Marshall Field’s acquired the original candy company in the late 1920s.

Hot spiced wine helps people stay warm as they enjoy Christkindlmart.

The display at Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry features trees that represent Chicago’s—and the world’s— various cultures. Macy’s window displays capture the magic of Christmas.

Although they are no longer made instore, in my mind there’s no doubt about it: Chocolate beats chicken potpie any season of the year! Our final stop is at the Museum of Science and Industry, which hosts

Christmas Around the World, an annual exhibit that celebrates the world’s—and Chicago’s—cultures and traditions. The first such display took place in 1942 when Chicagoans of all ethnicities wanted to show that they supported

America’s World War II allies. The museum placed a single pine tree in the rotunda, and volunteers representing various nationalities changed the decorations on a daily basis. The result: a rotating display that honored diversity as well as community. In the 70-plus years since then, that single pine has morphed into a 50-tree exhibit that lasts from mid-November until the end of December. We walk slowly, admiring the ornaments on each tree. The tree representing Kenya is adorned with wood animal carvings. The one from Denmark is laden with woven hearts, while the one from Bosnia-Herzegovina has miniature dolls and skis. And on it goes … Russian matryoshkas (nested dolls), Romanian snowmen … an international display for an international city. As we head back to our hotel, a gentleman who is sitting behind me on the train begins humming an old Frank Sinatra lyric, “Chicago is my kind of town.” My sentiments exactly. For the latest information on Chicago’s 2013 Christmas activities, go to www.choosechicago.com Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).

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50plus SeniorNews

December 2013

CANVAS

from page 1

Occasionally, Robert and Barbara combine their distinctive skills and create a work of art together. When they do this, Robert does the basic painting before letting Barbara take over with the details. Robert prefers to work in watercolor and oil; Barbara prefers to work in pastel and oil. They both do a lot of realism and frequently paint general scenes, such as farmhouses or nature scenes. They have found people have a connection with those pieces because the scene reminds them of their childhood home or a place they used to vacation. Even though Robert and Barbara are both successful painters now, their journeys to their success were quite divergent. In his undergraduate years, Robert studied illustration at University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Later in 1990, he got his master’s degree in illustration from Syracuse University. Robert has truly been making a name for himself through his work. He has received numerous awards, has been published countless times, and is included in many collections, such as his pieces in the corporate collection at The

EastmanKodak Corporation and in The HarleyDavidson Museum. In addition to creating pieces for others to enjoy, Robert has also been sharing his knowledge through teaching. For more than 30 years, he has taught courses in fine art, illustration, painting, and life drawing at the Art Institute of York. His teachings and

work have not gone unappreciated; the school’s art studio was recently named the Robert E. Buchanan Illustration Studio. It is his A view of the couple’s home studio work as a and some of their works in progress. teacher, out of all the honors and recognitions, that Robert deems his greatest accomplishment. He feels pride in knowing he helped students get a start to a Various examples of Robert’s sketches. successful career by increasing their knowledge of the field and honing their skills. Barbara’s background, on the other hand, hasn’t always included painting. For 24 years she worked in graphic design, and before that, she took a twoyear course in fashion illustration at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. It wasn’t until 2000, when the York Art Association contacted her to teach drawing classes, that she began doing art on a regular basis. Once she started, she didn’t rest. She stopped doing graphic design and began teaching and painting full time. Barbara taught at the Lancaster

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Museum of Art for a few years and has done a great amount of commission work for a variety of clients, including Pfaltzgraff and the Hope Lodge in Hershey. “Art is the focus of my life now,” Barbara said. “The older I get, the stronger my desire to create in the form of painting becomes.” Aging seems to have had a great effect on Barbara’s confidence as well. As her interest in painting has increased, so has her knowledge of the field. “You have to keep growing and learn new things,” Barbara said. “There’s always going to be more to learn, and I’m never going to learn it all. “Every time I do a painting, I try to do it better than I did before. Doing the artwork has made me very content and happy in my life.” Robert has found that aging has given him a new drive to produce artwork. When he was younger, he was impatient; he always wanted to be doing something and going somewhere. He was not as motivated to paint as he is now. “You know you don’t have forever,” Robert explained. “[Age] drives you a little harder to realize you want to make a statement.” When they got married, Barbara and Robert combined not only their love for each other, but also their love for art. And through their marriage, they saved each other emotionally. “My greatest satisfaction,” Robert said, “is I’ve changed and helped one life on this earth, which is my wife.” Barbara and Robert will be showing their work in December and January at the Blue Moon Restaurant at 361 W. Market St., York. For more information, email Robert at rbuchanan@aii.edu, call at (717) 2240973, or visit www.robertebuchanan.com.

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“Solace for Wounded Spirits” BY LORI VAN INGEN

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December 2013

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Fragments of History

Female Film Pioneers Victor Parachin eginning in 1895 and continuing until 1919, Alice Guy-Blaché—the first female filmmaker in history— directed and produced nearly 300 films. Among her groundbreaking cinema contributions were:

• One of the first science-fiction films, titled In The Year 2000 (1912), in which women rule the world • The first director in movie history to make a narrative film (a fictional story put to film), The Cabbage Fairy (1896) • One of the first movies shot in color, The Spring Fairy (1906) • Some 100 sound movies, all done from 1906 to 1907; each movie ran one to two minutes in length using an early sound device called the “Chronophone,” which combined sound recorded on a wax cylinder with the filmed image • Working with a wide range of genres, including Westerns, musicals, romances, comedies, fantasies, and religious themes • Developing the use of “trick” films— for example, audiences were delighted to see a house demolished and then rebuilt on screen (the “trick”: Guy-Blaché ran the film backward) Though women have always been a part of film production since its inception in the late 19th century, their contributions have been overlooked and understated. Here is a glimpse of some female pioneers in film. First millionaire actor, male or female. Mary Pickford (1894-1979) was the first actor—male or female—to become a millionaire. Born in Toronto, Ontario, Pickford began acting at age 5. By her 16th year, she was a major boxoffice draw, playing leading roles in the silent-film era. Though she was affectionately described as the “girl with the curls” and “America’s sweetheart,” Pickford was an astute businesswoman. She founded United Artists with her husband, Douglas Fairbanks, and their mutual friend, Charlie Chaplain. She not only ran the www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Helen Thurston, stuntwoman. As stars became more and more popular with audiences, studio owners didn’t want to risk their stars being seriously injured in movie shots. As a result, the need for stuntmen and -women emerged. One of the early and most successful stuntwomen was Helen Thurston (1909-1979). Always Mary Pickford First woman to physically active and direct, star, coauthor, and produce a adept, Thurston was a swimming and film. Long before Barbra Streisand diving champion as a young teen. By 16 accomplished this, there was Lois Weber she joined a traveling acrobatic group (1882-1939) from the silent-film era. At touring the U.S. and Europe. She ended her peak in 1920, this remarkably up in Los Angeles, believing her acrobatic talented woman was under contract by career was over. Paramount Studio for $50,000 per However, she was discovered by a picture. studio official who asked her if she was Born in Pittsburgh, Pa., in 1881, she afraid of wild animals. Saying no, she was ran away from home to pursue a singing told, “That’s good, because you are just career in New York. There, she struggled Katherine Hepburn’s height, and the and lived in poverty. Oddly, she found an studio is looking for a girl to tease the outlet for her musical and speaking leopard for her in Bringing Up Baby.” talents as a street-corner evangelist in That was in 1938 and, from then on, New York, where she sang hymns and she had a highly successful career as a delivered sermons. stuntwoman. Thurston had a continuous In 1908 she secured a position with a role in the Jungle Girl series in the 1940s, film studio in Fort Lee, N.J., where where she doubled for Francis Gifford, filmmaking began in this country. Always who had the leading role. That meant she socially progressive and inclined toward had to tumble from boulders, cliffs, and activism, Weber found the perfect trees and swing from vines. Previously, medium for her social views. such roles were done by men disguised as Between 1913 and 1916 she made women. nearly 50 films, often with a focus on Across the years, Thurston doubled for women and dealing with controversial all the major female stars of her era: Bette subjects: corruption, birth control, Davis, Joan Bennett, Lucille Ball, and abortion, marriage, divorce, capital Marlene Dietrich. punishment, and religious hypocrisy. She was often in trouble with various city June Mathis, screenwriter. A study censorship boards for both her topics and done the Writers Guild of America her views. revealed that from the beginning of the As film shifted from silent to sound, 20th century until the mid-1920s, women Weber’s career came to an inglorious end. outnumbered men as screenwriters by 10 to one. She is largely forgotten and, sadly, died From that era, one of the highest-paid alone and penniless at the age of 58. screenwriters and studio executives was However, for her major contributions to June Mathis (1892-1927). She began her the motion picture industry, she was film career after her father’s death. In honored with a star on the Hollywood order to help support her mother, she Walk of Fame. studio, but also served as star, director, and producer. From 1910 through the 1920s, she was often referred to as “the most famous woman in the world.” Pickford starred in 52 feature films and, at her height, was paid $10,000 per week. Her career waned as the silent era came to an end.

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acted in movies and on the stage. Sensing there was a need for fresh scripts, she transformed herself into a screenwriter. Within seven years of making that decision, she had become so valuable to the MGM Studio that owner Samuel Goldwyn insured her life for $1,000,000. Her talent revealed itself when she took a popular war novel, The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse, and adapted it for film after every other major studio had tried and determined it was impossible to adapt. She persuaded MGM to pay $20,000 for the rights, promising she could turn it into a successful screenplay. Released in 1921, it became one of the most profitable silent movies ever made. Mathis continued on, writing more than 30 highly successful screenplays. By the time she was 35, she was the highestpaid studio executives in Hollywood. Sadly, she died in 1927 of a heart attack at the age of 35. First woman to direct sound films. Dorothy Arzner’s (1900-1979) father owned a small café in Hollywood, where she met people connected to film. Her first position was that of stenographer for William De Mille of Famous Players. In rapid succession, she was promoted to script clerk, film cutter, and film editor. Her first directing position came from Paramount Pictures, where she directed the studio’s first sound film, The Wild Party (1929). During the 1930s, Arzner was the only female director of that period, directing 14 sound films. In 1975, when she was 75 years old, the Directors Guild of America honored her with “A Tribute to Dorothy Arzner” in Los Angeles. From the inception of cinema, women have been around and involved in films. Though many of them helped shaped filmmaking, recognition of their talent and achievement has not been properly acknowledged. Yet, their work has not been in vain. Because of them, doors were opened for today’s generation of women to enter film arts as actresses, writers, musicians, editors, directors, producers, and more. December 2013

Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes Bethany Village — Maplewood

Homeland Center

325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 717-766-0279 • www.bethanyvillage.org

1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102 717-221-7727 • www.homelandcenter.org

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Residence: Yes Private: 100 Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 50 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: 1-bedroom suites; secured memory support neighborhood; skilled nursing – The Oaks.

Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Exemplary care in a caring, beautiful environment has been provided for more than 140 years. Our continuum includes a hospice program.

Brandywine Senior Living at Longwood

Homewood at Plum Creek

301 Victoria Gardens Drive • Kennett Square, PA 19348 484-734-6200 • www.brandycare.com

425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331 717-637-4166 • www.homewood.com

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 70 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 98 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

On-call Medical Service: No Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: At Brandywine Senior Living – life is beautiful!

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Excellent care in a lovely environment. Call to schedule a visit.

Chapel Pointe

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Total AL and/or PC Beds: 53 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: No Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: No Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: No Pets Permitted: No

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Come discover a wonderful, faith-based community that has been voted No. 1 retirement community by readers of the Daily Local newspaper!

Colonial Lodge Community

Mennonite Home Communities

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Total AL and/or PC Beds: 70 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 150 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: A veteran-approved “home for heroes” facility all in a beautiful, rural setting.

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Supportive, encouraging environment. Various room types and suites available. Secure memory care offered.

This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers. These advertisers are eager to provide additional information about their services.

December 2013

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Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community

VibraLife

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Total AL and/or PC Beds: 55 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 46 Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Part/Totally Refundable: Yes Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No Comments: Private or shared living in spacious rooms with private baths. Friendly staff assist where needed to help maintain your independence.

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St. Anne’s Retirement Community 3952 Columbia Avenue West Hempfield Township, PA 17512 717-285-6112 • www.stannesrc.org Personal Care Home: Yes Private: Yes Semi-private: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Minimal Part/Totally Refundable: No Outdoor Areas/Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

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Such is Life

The Help Was a Source of Love Saralee Perel llen, the woman who raised me, had live-in quarters in our 15room, red-brick house. I do believe that my mother would have enjoyed tending to me, but she conducted herself in ways that Caucasian women in her society were taught to behave. Nonetheless, I don’t think she liked it. Within five minutes of Ellen serving dinner in the formal dining room, I’d become such a whiny irritant that my mother would let me leave the table and eat supper with Ellen in the kitchen. We’d talk and laugh and put together cardboard puzzles while we ate. I bet Mom would have loved to be excused from the table and have had her meals with us instead. In the night, I’d run, frightened, to

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me giggling while having Ellen’s room. I’d be afraid me perform a pirouette. to go back to sleep after Then I’d do a goofy, long, having a bad dream. She’d drawn-out bow to which say, “Baby, God gave us she’d respond by dreams so he’d have a enveloping me in her place to talk to us. When arms. God talks to us, there’s I think Mom would nothing to be scared of.” I would then fall asleep have gotten a big kick out next to her in her bed. of dressing me for parties. Whenever my mother I also bet she would have Saralee and Ellen discovered me there, she wanted to be the one who never made me go back to my bedroom. I put Mercurochrome on my constantly think she not only loved Ellen, but was scratched knees or who’d raid the also happy for me that I received maternal refrigerator with me in the night and eat love from someone so wonderful. the tuna noodle casserole right from the Ellen put up with my fidgeting when baking pan. she’d dress me to go to girlfriends’ My mother’s main undoing was that birthday parties. When done, she’d get she was convinced her lot in life was laid

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out for her. And that there was not a damned thing that she thought she could do about it. I married someone who was not like my relatives—not Jewish, not wealthy, not even employed. What did I have that my mother didn’t? Love. Happiness. And society’s support that it was OK to make my own path. I know that Mom would have been just as nurturing as Ellen. I wish for her sake she had known that too. Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally syndicated columnist. Her new book is Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: Stories From a Life Out of Balance. To find out more, visit www.saraleeperel.com or email sperel@saraleeperel.com.

December 2013

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December 2013

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Calendar of Events

Chester County

Chester County Department of Parks and Recreation

Senior Center Activities

www.chesco.org/ccparks

Coatesville Area Senior Center – (610) 383-6900 22 N. Fifth Ave., Coatesville – www.cascweb.org Dec. 7, noon to 3 p.m. – Holiday Shopping Extravaganza Dec. 11, 11:30 a.m. – Holiday Luncheon

Dec. 14, 10 to 11 a.m. – Winter Dog Hike, Springton Manor Farm

Support Groups Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The Wellness Community of Philadelphia: Support Group for People with Cancer The Cancer Center at Paoli Hospital 255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli (215) 879-7733 Dec. 3, 2 p.m. Grief Support Group Phoenixville Senior Center 153 Church St., Phoenixville (610) 327-7216 Dec. 4, 6 p.m. Memory Loss and Dementia Support Group Sunrise Assisted Living of Paoli 324 W. Lancaster Ave., Malvern (610) 251-9994

Free and open to the public Dec. 5 and 19, 7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group The Solana Willistown 1713 West Chester Pike Willistown (610) 725-1713

Dec. 11, noon Family Caregiver Support Group Sarah Care 425 Technology Drive, Suite 200 Malvern (610) 251-0801

Downingtown Senior Center – (610) 269-3939 983 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown – http://home.ccil.org/~dasc

Dec. 9 and 23, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Caregiver Support Group Adult Care of Chester County 201 Sharp Lane, Exton (610) 363-8044

Dec. 17, 6 p.m. Family Caregiver Support Group Sunrise of Westtown 501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester (610) 399-4464

Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819 427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Square – www.kennettseniorcenter.org Dec. 5, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Free Medicare Counseling Clinic Dec. 10, 10 to 11 a.m. – Book Club: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak Dec. 12, 11 a.m. to noon – “Country Christmas” Show

Dec. 10 and 24, 5 to 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.

If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Community Programs Dec. 1, 7, and 8, 1 to 5 p.m. Annual Model Railroad Open House Schuylkill Valley Model Railroad Club 400 S. Main St., Phoenixville (610) 935-1126 www.svmrrc.com Dec. 3, 11:30 a.m. West Chester University Retirees Luncheon For restaurant location, please email darsie@verizon.net

Free and open to the public Dec. 6, 1 p.m. Treatment Options for Joint Pain Tel Hai Retirement Community Garrett Community Center 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook (610) 273-9333 Dec. 7 and 21, 5 to 10 p.m. Bingo Nights Marine Corps League Detachment 430 Chestnut St., Downingtown (610) 431-2234

Dec. 13, 1 p.m. Christmas Traditions with Marilyn Nettles Tel Hai Retirement Community Garrett Community Center 1200 Tel Hai Circle, Honey Brook (610) 273-9333

Here are the top 10: 1. Denmark 2. Norway 3. Switzerland 4. Netherlands 5. Sweden 6. Canada 7. Finland

Oxford Senior Center – (610) 932-5244 12 E. Locust St., Oxford – www.oxfordseniors.org Phoenixville Area Senior Center – (610) 935-1515 153 Church St., Phoenixville – www.phoenixvilleseniorcenter.org West Chester Area Senior Center – (610) 431-4242 530 E. Union St., West Chester – www.wcseniors.org Please call or visit the centers’ websites for additional activities.

Chester County Library Programs Downingtown Library, 330 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, (610) 269-2741 Dec. 10, 6:30 p.m. – Film Forum Dec. 19, 6:30 p.m. – Downingtown Library Writers Group Dec. 24, 1 p.m. – Senior Book Club Paoli Library, 18 Darby Road, Paoli, (610) 296-7996 Mystery Book Club – Call for dates/times

Happiness May Depend on Where You Live Are you happy? The answer may depend on where you live. The United Nations’ World Happiness Report measures well-being across a range of economic, psychological, and statistical factors. The United States came in at No. 17 in the 2013 report.

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

8. Austria 9. Iceland 10. Australia At the bottom of the list, the five least happy nations are Rwanda, Burundi, Central African Republic, Benin, and Togo.

What’s Happening? Give Us the Scoop! Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in Chester County! Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com

Let help you get the word out! (610) 675-6240

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50plus SeniorNews

December 2013

50plus SeniorNews