50plus LIFE Dauphin County July 2019

Complimentary | Dauphin County Edition

bending with life’s flow page 4

50plus expo highlights page 12

VA Launches New Healthcare Options page 16

July 2019 • Vol. 21 No. 7

Little-Known Blood Disorder Mimics Typical Symptoms of Aging Aug. 27, 2019

Sept. 12, 2019

Radisson Hotel Harrisburg 1150 Camp Hill Bypass Camp Hill

Lebanon Expo Center 80 Rocherty Road Lebanon

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

This event is FREE to attend.

Veterans (of all ages), the military community, and their families are invited to join us!

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 to aid their organizations.

At the Expo

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

At the Job Fair

Employers Job Counseling Workshops Employment Seminars Resume Writing Assistance Hosted by:

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

www.veteransexpo.com

Brought to you by:

(717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com

New research has revealed that hemochromatosis — a genetic condition that causes more than a million Americans to absorb too much iron from their diets — is a much more serious cause of disease and disability than previously thought.

Hemochromatosis is an iron-storage disorder that can cause the body to July is absorb too much iron from Hemochromatosis foods and other sources, Awareness Month such as multivitamin supplements with iron.

This extra iron can gradually build up in the body’s tissues and organs, particularly in the liver cells, heart, pancreas, joints, and pituitary gland. If left untreated, this iron buildup may lead to tissue and organ damage over time.

Hemochromatosis is easy to detect through blood tests and is treated by blood withdrawals, but carriers suffer from a lack of nationwide awareness of the condition.

Two new studies, published in The BMJ and The Journals of Gerontology: Medical Sciences, showed that hemochromatosis, previously thought to be a lowlevel health risk, actually quadruples risk of liver disease and doubles the risk of arthritis and frailty in older people.

It also causes higher risk of diabetes and chronic pain, and a small number of patients develop liver cancer.

The research was led by a team from the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, the University of Connecticut, and the NIA Intramural Research Program.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is caused mainly by specific inherited alterations (mutations) in the HFE gene. When an individual inherits two altered copies of the gene — one from each parent — they are at risk of developing high iron levels, which may lead to illness or organ damage over time.

Are you 62+ However, most people born with or Older? two altered copies of the HFE gene will not develop serious complications.

Welcome to People who inherit an altered gene your new home! from only one parent are carriers for utilities included! the disorder, but are not typically Look at all we have to offer ... affected themselves.

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developed additional diseases as they got older, compared to those without the genes.

Symptoms of Hemochromatosis sufferers were Hemochromatosis also more likely to have chronic pain, • Lack of energy decreased muscle strength, and to be frail as they aged.

• Abdominal pain Hemochromatosis symptoms, such • Memory fog as fatigue and muscle and joint pains, are easily confused as part of typical • Loss of sex drive aging, and the disease often goes • Heart flutters undetected until damage is done.

Men and women have the same • Irregular heartbeat chance of inheriting two copies of the altered HFE gene. However, men are more likely than women to develop complications and at an earlier age because women lose excess iron in the blood naturally during menstruation and pregnancy.

Men usually begin displaying symptoms between ages 40 and 60, whereas women typically present symptoms after menopause.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is one of the most common genetic disorders in the United States. Known in Ireland as “the Celtic Curse,” people of Northern European descent have a higher chance of having an altered HFE gene.

Hereditary hemochromatosis is more common among U.S. non-Hispanic whites and is less common among African Americans, Asian Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and American Indians.

Researchers hope that this increased awareness of the scope of the problem can help lead to increased testing and treatment, which should improve quality of life and reduce frailty and disability rates for those with genetic risk for hemochromatosis.

Anyone with a family history of the condition should talk to their doctor and consider being tested for hereditary hemochromatosis if they are experiencing severe fatigue, unexplained cirrhosis, joint pain, arthritis, diabetes, heart problems, or erectile dysfunction.

For more information, visit Hemochromatosis.org.

Watch for These Hidden Causes of High Blood Pressure Many factors affect your blood pressure, including genetics, diet, and even your sleeping patterns.

The Healthline website advises you to be mindful of these possible contributors to high blood pressure as well: Over-the-counter medications. Common medications used to address everyday aches and pains can increase one’s blood pressure. These include anti-inflammatory drugs like Aleve, Advil, and Tylenol, as well as decongestants.

You don’t have to stop taking them, but check with your doctor.

Caffeine and alcohol. Both of these can heighten your blood pressure. Limit yourself to less than 300 milligrams of caffeine a day — two to three cups of coffee — and one alcoholic beverage a day for women and two for men.

Food ingredients and supplements. Some herbal supplements, for example, use licorice, which can raise blood pressure.

In addition, some cheeses, cured meats, and also soy products contain high levels of tyramine, which can interact with medications like antidepressants, causing a spike in blood pressure. www.50plusLifePA.com

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Cover Story

Bending with Life’s Flow Corporate Office

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Awards

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By Jason J. Tabor

restaurant, The Downtown Lounge.

After the birth of her first daughter, Sirae, Riley opened her first fitness studio, Jump with Joy, “We are at any given time a sum of our past when she was just 23. experiences. I like to tell my students to gather up She also started a dog-grooming business to help their pebbles of knowledge and eventually it turns into a hill, and that hill will continue to grow into keep the bar afloat during the lean early years of the studio’s operation. Her second daughter, Kayla, a mountain,” says fitness educator Joy Riley. was born shortly afterward.

Her own journey for knowledge and self“Striking a balance between family and career discovery most recently led her to the sandy has always beaches been very of Bali, important Indonesia, to me,” she surrounded says. “As busy by turquoise as I was, my waters, rice focus was on fields, and raising my lush greenery daughters to while she be happy and completed a good mothers 200-hour yoga themselves certification by serving as course. a good role Riley has model to spent most of them.” her life sharing Riley began the knowledge building she’s up her accumulated accreditation with others, and teaching currently as certifications, a professor Riley sitting in Sukhasana (comfortable seated pose) leading fitness of physical in the small, bamboo shala where she trained at the and exercise education Power of Now Oasis in Sanur, Bali, Indonesia. instruction at one of classes at Harrisburg her studio and local community centers before Area Community College’s campuses, and as becoming an instructor at HACC, where she has a country club’s director of tennis, a recreation taught for the past 15 years. center’s tennis pro, and a yoga instructor.

“I love teaching at HACC; each new group A lifelong central Pennsylvanian, Riley was a of students I teach is a new experience with its natural athlete as a child, excelling at swimming, own set of struggles and rewards,” she says. “It gymnastics, and tennis. She swam competitively as a student at Shippensburg University, where she is extremely gratifying to me as an instructor to studied early childhood education and then taught work with students who are working hard to make positive changes in their lives.” pre-k classes for two years after graduation.

Most recently, Riley became a yoga instructor at It soon became clear to her that her real passion The Healing Habitat yoga and wellness studio after for teaching revolved around physical education. completing her certification class in Bali.

“Even while I was in college, I realized that I “I had some of the world’s best teachers from had really fallen in love with physical fitness,” she India, and when I finished the four-week program, says.

I was feeling a bit overwhelmed, like I had so much Fittingly enough, Riley met her husband of 37 more left to learn,” she says. years, Pat, when they noticed each other working Riley traveled to Bali in March 2018 to study out at the local YMCA. while her husband, having recently retired after They married a year later, and Riley then selling the bar to one of his former employees, divided her time between starting a family, joined her. teaching fitness, and helping run Pat’s bar and www.50plusLifePA.com

“He got to have a fun vacation while I was hard at work each day,” she laughs.

The yoga instruction took place on the beach, starting at 6:30 each morning and lasting until 4:30 in the afternoon. She, along with a group of other students, studied breath work, cleansing meditation, nutrition, and physical exercise each day.

“It was very challenging, but so rewarding. Most of my classmates were in their 20s and from all over the world. I took on a bit of a motherly role within the group, but we were all equal as students and learners,” she says.

“That role switch — becoming a student again — renewed my compassion for my own students. It reminded me of the importance of empathy for others and understanding other people’s learning needs and individual struggles.”

She credits her friend Emilie Charlotte, owner of The Healing Habitat, for inspiring her to go for her certification.

“As we get older and joint pain becomes more of an issue, yoga can provide beautiful healing powers for the body. I really fell in love with it, and of course me being me, I had to get certified and teach,” she laughs.

Riley views yoga as a philosophy and lifestyle that promotes health of the mind, body, and spirit.

“People associate yoga with stretching and poses, and while that is part of it, the physical aspects serve as a way of preparing the body for what is arguably more important: meditation.

“When I came out of Emilie’s classes at Healing Habitat, I felt physically, mentally, and spiritually sound,” Riley continued. “It’s a special community that provides support, uplift, and kindness in a safe, welcoming space, and I knew it was something I wanted to be a part of.”

Riley tells yoga beginners that choosing an instructor or class isn’t one-stop shopping.

“You need to determine what you’re looking to get out of yoga, and give yourself time to find the instructor you’re comfortable with,” she says. www.50plusLifePA.com

One of the biggest lessons she’s learned from yoga is the importance of focusing on the here and now, being in the present, and appreciating the blessings in her life.

“We find ourselves spending so much time concerning ourselves with things in the past we cannot change or worrying about the future, but the only things we can truly control are happening in the present.

We can support other people by uplifting them with kindness right now.”

Riley now relishes the five grandchildren she and Pat spend time with each week.

“I’ve been a grandmother for seven years now, and I love every minute of it,” she says. “They’re the love of my life!”

When not doing fitness instruction, Riley likes to recharge during “Riley Sundays,” where family members take turns hosting dinner and spending time together.

They have also made a yearly tradition out of taking family trips to Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.

“I’d like to slow a little bit and spend more time enjoying life with our grandkids, but I’m not ready for retirement yet. The fitness world has a way of keeping you young!”

Riley will turn 60 this summer, a milestone that has her feeling reflective, grateful, and optimistic.

“I see it as a new chapter … I have raised my family, run my household, and had many exciting careers. I am a survivor, and I still feel strong and capable. Life is not over after 50.

“Because our bodies may not be what they once were, we may lose some of our confidence,” she continued. “But stop — and realize that with wisdom and courage, we can enter this chapter of our lives with humility, grace, and pride over everything we have been through and should never feel bad about getting older.

“It’s a privilege that is denied to so many. Don’t stop exploring all the possibilities life has to offer.”

On the front cover: Joy Riley in front of the Ubud Water Palace, a Hindu temple in Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, which was once the home of the royal family of Ubud.

Tom & Randi LaNasa “MEMORY MUSIC”

Attention: RETIREMENT HOMES, CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS. Looking for entertainment?

Now booking our Christmas, variety, and specialty shows for 2019.

We have many variety shows featuring the music from the 1930s to the 60s.

Songs by legendary artists like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Doris Day, Kay Starr, Dean Martin, Patsy Cline, and the Mills Brothers.

Specialty shows include …

Songs from the WWII Years • The Post WWII Years: 1945 – 1955 AMERICA: From Sea to Shining Sea Salute to the Rat Pack (or if you prefer, just Sinatra) Elvis & Patsy • Classic Country Please contact Memory Music to book your next event!

Phone: (717) 846-6126

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Simply mail this form and $15 for an annual subscription to: 50plus LIFE • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Call (717) 285-8131, or subscribe online at www.50plusLIFEPA.com!

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Fifties Flashback

Mr. Disney’s ‘Black Sunday’ Randal C. Hill

July 17, 1955, was intended as an invited-guests-only, media-oriented day to celebrate the long-awaited opening of Disneyland.

Technically it was called the “International Press Preview,” but Disney employees — and even Disney himself — would afterward come to label it “Black Sunday.”

During the 1930s and 1940s, Walt Disney had visited several amusement parks with his wife and their two daughters. What he saw often tended to be rundown, trash-littered places that usually focused on scary “thrill rides.”

Disney began to envision something better. In 1948, he sketched out a small place that he dubbed Mickey Mouse Park, its primary attraction to be a boat ride. Over the years, though, his

Photo courtesy Orange County Archives.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle, Disneyland, 1959.

Stories of ordinary men and women called to perform extraordinary military service.

From 1999–2016, writer and World War II veteran Col. Robert D. Wilcox preserved the firsthand wartime experiences of more than 200 veterans through Salute to a Veteran, his monthly column featured in 50plus LIFE. Now, for the first time, 50 of those stories— selected by Wilcox himself—are available to own in this soft-cover book.

Simply complete and mail this form with your payment to the address below to order Salute to Our Veterans.

On-Line Publishers • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Name_ _______________________________________________________ Address_ ______________________________________________________ City_______________________________ State_ ____ Zip_ ______________ Phone_ _____________________ Email______________________________ Number of copies_ ______ (Please include $20.80 for each copy) Credit card #______________________________________ Exp. date________ Signature of cardholder_________________________________CVV #________

Or send a check made payable to On-Line Publishers, Inc. You can also order online at www.50plusLIFEpa.com!

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once-simple plan morphed into a spectacular venue that would draw people from around the world.

To raise much-needed cash, Disney sold his vacation home and borrowed against a life insurance policy.

Then, in October 1954, the fledgling ABC-TV network helped by offering priceless promotion for Disney’s dream through an hourlong Wednesday-night show called Disneyland.

In 1953, Disney had purchased 160 acres of orange and walnut trees near the farming town of Anaheim, 22 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles. With a crew of 1,200 workers, construction began the next year.

By opening day in 1955, Disneyland’s price tag had reached $17 million (about $125 million in today’s money).

Disneyland officials expected 15,000 of their invited guests to show up for the opening, but over 28,000 excited folks, many wielding counterfeit tickets, jammed into the overcrowded park that day. One enterprising man charged $5 to people who wanted to climb a back fence by

using a ladder that he brought.

Much to Uncle Walt’s chagrin, his troubles were just beginning that day.

Around the park, workers frantically slathered on paint and hastily planted trees, and beds of weeds suddenly bore signs with Latin plant names.

Many rides were still under construction, and those that operated sometimes broke down. Too many passengers aboard the Mark Twain Steamboat nearly caused it to capsize.

Every park restaurant and concession stand ran out of food and beverages within hours.

A small fire broke out in Sleeping Beauty’s Castle. Adventureland, Frontierland, and Fantasyland had to shut down for the afternoon due to a gas leak.

The temperature that afternoon reached a sweltering 101 degrees, with the now-sticky fresh asphalt seizing women’s high-heeled shoes. While drinking fountains were available around the park, none worked on that fateful day. Plumbers had gone on strike, and Disney had to choose between working water fountains and working toilets.

“Well, you know they could drink Coke and Pepsi,” he grumbled, “but they can’t pee in the streets. Finish the restrooms.” ··· After opening day, adult park visitors paid a $1 admission fee — kids were 50 cents — while the park’s 35 rides each carried a separate cost of 25–35 cents each per adult, with children paying 10–25 cents each.

Two months after opening, the Magic Kingdom had welcomed its 1 millionth customer, the debacle of Black Sunday mercifully forgotten.

Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Bill Would Expand Access to Assistive Technology for Seniors, Disabled increasing,” said Collins. “Advances in technology are working to bridge the ‘care gap,’ improving function in activities of daily living, helping to manage multiple chronic conditions, reducing risk of hazards, and making homes safer for seniors.”

The 21st Century Assistive Technology Act (S.1835) Act would update the Assistive Technology Act by clarifying that the program serves all people with disabilities, including veterans and older adults who developed disabilities later in life.

The Assistive Technology Act would also increase the funding authorized for programs that serve rural areas.

Assistive technology refers to any piece of equipment, product, or service that helps someone with a disability or functional limitation accomplish their daily needs, such as wheelchair ramps, hearing aids, screen readers, and even smartphones.

In mid-June, Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), the ranking member and chairman of the Special Committee on Aging, and Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced the 21st Century Assistive Technology Act, which would increase access to assistive technology — devices or services that help seniors and people with disabilities maintain their independence and live where they choose.

The bill, which comes following a hearing in the Aging Committee on the topic, would also help reduce the low employment and high poverty rates of older adults and people with disabilities by helping them live independently and maintain employment.

“Assistive technology helps millions of people live independently and remain engaged in their community, and improves the quality of life for seniors and people with disabilities,” said Casey.

“It is important that we update this bill to support the advances in assistive technology over the last 15 years, so that those who need it can be full participants in every aspect of their lives.”

“As our population ages, the need for care and support is

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

Emergency Central Pennsylvania Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 780-6130 financial services Morgan Stanley Wealth Management (302) 573-4027 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383 Arthritis Foundation Central Pennsylvania Chapter (717) 763-0900 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 The National Kidney Foundation (717) 757-0604 (800) 697-7007 PACE (800) 225-7223

Social Security Information (800) 772-1213

Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937

Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania (717) 238-2531

Insurance Apprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067

Healthcare Information Pennsylvania Healthcare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Hospice Services Homeland Hospice 2300 Vartan Way, Suite 115, Harrisburg (717) 221-7890 Housing/Apartments B’Nai B’rith Apartments 130 S. Third St., Harrisburg (717) 232-7516 Housing Assistance Dauphin County Housing Authority (717) 939-9301

Services Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 780-6130 The Salvation Army Edgemont Temple Corps (717) 238-8678

Capital Blue (888) 989-9015 (TTY: 711)

Toll-Free Numbers American Lung Association (800) LUNG-USA

Medicare (800) 633-4227 Nursing/Rehab Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902

Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555

Personal Care Homes Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902

National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046

Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com

Veterans Affairs (717) 626-1171 or (800) 827-1000

Meals on Wheels (800) 621-6325

Social Security Office (800) 772-1213

Veterans Services Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771

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

www.50plusLifePA.com

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Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

Adaptive Gardening: Tips and Tools for Older Gardeners

Dear Savvy Senior, Can you recommend some good tools and tips for senior gardeners? My 77-year-old mother loves to work in the garden but over the past few years has been plagued by injuries.

– Concerned Daughter Dear Concerned, Aches, pains, and injuries are not uncommon among older gardeners. Because gardening is such a physical activity that often requires a lot of bending and stooping, squatting and kneeling, gripping and lifting, it can be extremely taxing on an aging body.

Back pain and knee injuries are most common among older gardeners, along with carpal tunnel syndrome and tennis elbow.

To help keep your mom injury-free this summer, here are some tips and gardening equipment ideas that can make gardening a little easier.

Warm Up With gardening, good form is very important as well as not overdoing any one activity. A common problem is that gardeners often kneel or squat, putting

extra pressure on their knees.

Then, to spare their knees, they might stand and bend over for long stretches to weed, dig, and plant, straining their back and spine.

To help your mom protect her body, she needs to warm up before beginning. Start by stretching, focusing on the legs and lower back.

And keep changing positions and activities. Don’t spend hours weeding a flowerbed. After 15 minutes of weeding, she should stand up, stretch, and switch to another activity, like pruning the bushes, or just take a break.

It’s also important that she recognizes her physical limitations and doesn’t try to do too much all at once.

And, when lifting heaver objects, she needs to remember to use her legs to preserve her back. She can do this by keeping the item close to her body and squatting to keep her back as vertical as possible.

Laborsaving Tools The right gardening equipment can help too. Kneeling pads can protect knees, and garden seats or stools are both back and knee savers.

Lightweight garden carts can make hauling bags of mulch, dirt, plants, or other heavy objects much easier. And long-handled gardening tools can help ease the strain on the back by keeping your mom in a standing, upright position versus bent over.

There are also ergonomic gardening tools with fatter handles and other design features that can make lawn and garden activities a little easier.

Easier Watering The chore of carrying water or handling a heavy, awkward hose can also be difficult for older gardeners.

Some helpful options include lightweight fabric hoses instead of heavy rubber hoses; soaker or drip hoses that can be snaked throughout the garden; thin coil hoses that can be used on the patio or small areas; a hose caddy and reel for easier hose transport around the yard; and a self-winding hose chest that puts the hose up automatically.

There are also a variety of ergonomic watering wands that are lightweight and easy to grip, and they reach those hard-to-get-to plants.

To find ergonomic gardening tools and the recommended watering aids, check with local retail stores that sell lawn and garden supplies or try online retailers like Gardener’s Supply Company (www.gardeners.com) or Radius Garden (www.radiusgarden.com).

Container Gardening If your mom’s backyard garden has become too much for her to handle, she should consider elevated garden beds or container gardening — using big pots, window boxes, hanging baskets, barrels, or tub planters.

This is a much easier way to garden because it eliminates much of the bend and strain of gardening but still gives her the pleasure of making things grow.

Trellises are another nice option that would allow her to garden vertically instead of horizontally.

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

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July 2019

9

Traveltizers

Starstruck in Hollywood South

By Andrea Gross

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

filmed there, thus showing the society as well as the scenery.

For millions of fans, Natchitoches represents the archetypical Southern community.

More important, the film pumped money into the town’s economy. State officials took note, and today Louisiana is one of the major film-producing areas in the world.

A shoot-out scene from Hard Target was filmed on Indeed, it is often Frenchmen Street near Decatur, not far from the called “Hollywood French Quarter.

South.”

Thus my husband and I embark on a road trip through Louisiana that takes us to places where many of these motion pictures were filmed.

We begin in New Orleans, hopping aboard a 10-passenger van that’s outfitted with video screens in front of each seat.

Please join us for these FREE events!

Sept. 18, 2019

23rd Annual

Some people prepare for trips by researching facts and reserving accommodations. I prepare for them by watching movies. I hope that, in some mystical way, the film will help me better understand the culture of the place I’m about to visit.

This explains why the night before my husband and I leave Elvis Presley sang “Crawfish,” the opening song for Louisiana, with in the 1958 movie King Creole, from a grillwork my suitcase still not balcony in New Orleans. packed, I’m watching Steel Magnolias.

The film takes place in Natchitoches (pronounced Nack-a-tish), a small town 75 miles southeast of Shreveport.

It was written by native son Bobby Harling, depicts local events, and was

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

Oct. 16, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

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Spooky Nook Sports 2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim

Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street Carlisle

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

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I look out the The most opulent window to see a pink plantation is Houmas building with a green House, home to a balcony, and then museum-quality switch my eyes to the collection of art, video screen to see magnificent gardens, Elvis standing on that and an awardvery balcony as he winning restaurant. croons the opening It’s mostly used as an song of his 1958 hit entertainment venue movie, King Creole. and wedding site, In short order, we which made it the see the French Market, perfect place to film where Clint Eastwood ABC’s Revenge of the filmed Tight Rope; Bridesmaids.

The antebellum mansion on Houmas House St. Louis Cathedral appears in reflected glory in Frenchmen Street, En route to Plantation, as well as the magnificent gardens, This Property is Condemned, a 1966 film starring Shreveport, the where Jean-Claude Van makes it attractive as a location spot for projects Natalie Wood and Robert Redford.

Damme had a shootnorthwest hub of ranging from films to TV series and commercials. out scene in Hard Louisiana’s film Target; and the cemetery where industry, we stop in Baton Peter Fonda rendezvoused with Rouge, the film site of Showing his dead mother in Easy Rider.

Roots, starring Elizabeth Jonathan Rae, owner of New McGovern and Cicely Tyson.

Orleans Movie Tours, hands out Like Steel Magnolias, Roots bags of popcorn, and we munch celebrates life in a small away as we drive through the Southern town, one where Garden District, where the real community — and beauty stars are the grand old houses. parlors — are a fact of life.

Scenes were filmed in But it’s in Shreveport where virtually every room of the we see the true magic of the film house that was used as a industry, for while New Orleans retirement center in The Curious can turn its business district into Case of Benjamin Button, a generic downtown, Shreveport possibly giving it more on-screen has doubled for the North Pole, time than the star-of-record, the Bering Sea, and even the Oak Alley Plantation has been featured in films and TV programs starring heavyweights Brad Pitt.

Biblical City of Sodom. such as Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Fay Dunaway, and John Travolta.

Finally, we drive down a Before ending our starstreet in the Central Business studded Louisiana tour, we District, which often is used to represent Chicago in one movie, Dallas or New make our way to Natchitoches. The houses that were used in the film are private York in another. homes, and the people strolling down Front Street don’t have the dazzling smile “People don’t notice details,” Rae explains. “A row of tall buildings could be of Magnolias star Julia Roberts. But the atmosphere still resonates. anywhere.”

I ask a resident what it’s like to live in Natchitoches.

Like French director Jean-Luc Godard said, “Cinema is the most beautiful “Have you seen Steel Magnolias?” she asks. “That’s what it’s like. We’re a small fraud in the world.”

Southern community.”

Sometimes it really is a good idea to prepare for a trip by watching a movie. ··· Photos ©Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (andreagross.com).

Of the hundreds of movies that have been filmed in Louisiana, only one has won the film industry’s big prize, the Oscar for Best Picture.

That’s 12 Years a Slave, which was filmed on 11 Louisiana sites: five in New Orleans and six on various Louisiana plantations.

We stop first at the closest of these, Destrehan, located on the Great River Road that runs 70 miles between New Orleans and Baton Rouge.

There we see the grand eight-columned main house, the slave quarters, and many of the outbuildings, including the mule shed that was used in the film to represent the gin house.

But it’s at Oak Alley, where films such as Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte and Interview with a Vampire were made, that I feel as if I’m living on a movie set.

There’s the stately plantation home filled with elegant antiques, six reconstructed slave quarters, and Oak Alley Plantation, with its quarter mile of 300-year-old trees that frame the house so perfectly as to please the soul of the pickiest cinematographer. www.50plusLifePA.com

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11

Education, Entertainment Emphasized at Dauphin County 50plus EXPO

By Megan Joyce Retirement encourages a reshuffling of priorities — and the freedom to dawdle a bit while accomplishing them.

This seemed to be the mindset of one visitor to the Dauphin County 50plus EXPO, who said it was her third year at the event, held recently at the Hershey Lodge.

“Being retired, I take my time and do what I want to do, and this was on my list of things to do,” she said.

Dauphin County’s baby boomers, seniors, and caregivers joined more than 90 area businesses and organizations at the free, oneday 50plus EXPO, which provided information and resources for the area’s 50+ community.

Co-hosted by OLP Events and the Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging, the EXPO gave guests the chance to speak with exhibitors about products and services in travel, housing, medical services, nutrition, home improvements, finances, healthcare, and more.

Exhibitor Michelle Stehman, marketing/sales representative with Patriot Home Care, said the 50plus EXPO is an ideal forum to reach caregivers or people in need of home care. The company is looking to expand beyond its home base in Philadelphia and has established a Harrisburg location.

“We’ve been there for about a year — so we’re just now trying to branch out now to get the word out about [us],” she said.

Attendees were eligible for door prizes and took advantage of free health screenings for lower back and sciatica pain; grip strength; blood pressure; genetic testing for cancer, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and more; and others.

Longtime visitor Roy Burkholder, of Mechanicsburg, had fond memories of the event.

“My late wife and I always enjoyed coming to the EXPO here at Hershey,” Burkholder said.

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Although he enjoyed all aspects of the EXPO, he admitted the puppy hugging was a special draw.

Harrisburg Kennel Club’s puppy hugging corner — “staffed” by friendly dogs in a variety of breeds — raised money to benefit the Purple Leash Campaign, which helps pet victims of domestic violence.

Onstage, the EXPO’s ongoing entertainment started with Jerry Mitchell, outreach specialist with the Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, who brought EXPO guests up to date on the newest scams targeting older adults — including calls from a phone number that appears local.

“Folks, this is a new technique called ‘neighborhood spoofing,’ where a phone call looks like it’s coming from your neighborhood but it’s not,” Mitchell said. “These calls are coming from out of the country, but they’re using call centers here in the U.S.” Next, Chad Madden, physical therapist and founder of Madden Physical Therapy, demonstrated a therapy technique for rotator cuff problems on an audience volunteer who had been experiencing pain in her neck and shoulder area for more than a year.

After Madden applied pressure combined with a few therapeutic movements, the volunteer demonstrated measurably increased range of motion in her arm and was surprised to notice a pain decrease.

Tiffany Penn, health and mental wellness educator at TrimLine Weight Loss Centers, spoke on the psychology behind emotion-based or stress eating and ways to rewire our minds toward a path of better nutrition.

Penn said that as children, we are conditioned to connect rewards with unhealthy foods, such as receiving an ice cream treat for a good report card.

“We focus on changing your relationship with food, because once you break the tie — your emotions

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tied to your food — then you’re free,” Penn said.

Graham Hetrick, Dauphin County coroner and star of the Investigation Discovery show The Coroner: I Speak for the Dead, shared with the audience how he wound up in his profession.

Hetrick focused most intently, however, on the troubling reason many Pennsylvanians end up on his autopsy table: the opioid epidemic and prescription-drug dependencies.

This will be the topic of a planned television series examining how society treats addicts and addiction.

“Pennsylvania is one of these states where there are more people dying of drugs than in accidents

or homicides,” Hetrick said. “It’s a major problem … The way people die tells us how we live and should be living, how we can correct some of these [problems].”

Finally, Chaz “The Entertainer” Matulonis wrapped up the day flexing some of his 29 vocal impressions, such Mohammed Ali and Neil Diamond, as well as performing a musical tribute to singers and comics of the past and the present.

OLP Events’ 50plus EXPOs will return in the fall with events in Lancaster, York, and Carlisle. For more information, call (717) 2851350 or visit www.50plusExpoPA. com.

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Older But Not Wiser

Just When We Are Getting Good Sy Rosen

I was standing in line at a fast food restaurant, and there was this older guy in front of me. I know, it’s kind of strange for me to say “older” because admittedly I’m older, but he seemed older-older (that’s not the technical term) — about 85.

Anyway, as he was paying his bill, he slowly said to himself, “Now, let me figure out the tip.”

Oh man, I thought, this is going to take forever.

And then the older-older man quickly told the cashier, “Since it’s takeout, I’m going with a 13% tip, so that’s $2.86, and I will round up to $3, which is actually 13.4%.”

“Wow,” I said, “that was great. How did you do that?”

“I used to be a CPA before they put me out to pasture.”

And then he winked at me. A wink that said, “You shouldn’t judge someone by their age, and I’m not older-older, you idiot.” OK, I may have read too much into the wink, but it did get me thinking.

First of all, I am an idiot — that goes without saying, although a lot of people have said it. Second, I hate the phrase “out to pasture.” I don’t want to be compared to a horse unless it’s Secretariat, Justify, or Mr. Ed (of course, of course).

And most important, often times, just when we are getting good at our jobs, we are asked or forced to retire. If you want to retire, that’s great. But if you want to stay in your chosen profession, you should be able to. Your expertise is needed and wanted and should be sought after.

If you’re a veteran teacher, you’ve learned over the years how to reach your kids through humor and empathy. If you’re an older lawyer, you’ve learned the intricacies of the system and how to best serve your clients. And if you’re a plumber, you’ve finally learned how to crouch under a sink without showing off your butt crack.

These days, there are lots of groups fighting to be heard, to be treated fairly.

And now it’s time for us seniors to initiate our own movement.

We have to hire one of those hot young public relations companies to — wait a minute, what am I thinking?

We have to hire a mature, experienced public relations company to change people’s attitudes and stereotypes — to let employers know that if we occasionally repeat ourselves, it’s because we’re adamant about our ideas.

And if we go to the bathroom a couple of extra times a day, that’s a good

thing, because everyone knows it’s in the bathroom where most great ideas occur.

We have to hold rallies and events and make phone calls and appear on the news and go door to door and flood the internet. Yes, older people know how to use the internet. We have to let employers know that we are still valuable!

And younger workers shouldn’t be intimidated, because there’s room for everyone. We will tell companies they should also hire younger people because even though it might take 20 or 30 years, they will eventually know what they are doing.

Sy Rosen has written for many TV shows, including The Bob Newhart Show, Taxi, M.A.S.H., Maude, The Jeffersons, Rhoda, Frasier, Northern Exposure, and The Wonder Years. He now spends much of his time telling jokes to his grandkids and trying to convince his wife that he’s funny.

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July 2019

13

1969: A Space Odyssey Some Little-Known Stories about the First Moon Landing, 50 Years Later

By Randal C. Hill By the early 1960s, America was trailing the Soviet Union in space development.

This undoubtedly played a part in President John F. Kennedy’s appeal on May 25, 1961, to a special joint session of Congress when he pronounced, “I believe this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to Earth.”

Rocks, Walks, Heat Following NASA’s directive, Armstrong and Aldrin loaded nearly 50 pounds of moon rocks and soil into the Eagle, took photographs, and conducted tests.

The hardest task then facing the two was the planting of the American flag (which had come from Sears). The moon’s surface was rock-hard, and the astronauts only managed to hammer Old Glory a few inches into the surface, where it subsequently fell over from the Eagle’s takeoff blast.

The pair spent 21 hours and 36 minutes — almost a full day — on the moon. They stayed in their craft for over six hours after they landed, and they also took frequent breaks when they walked on the surface.

The thermally cooled underwear they wore inside their spacesuits helped them fend off the potentially lethal 200-degree Fahrenheit lunar surface temperatures, but Armstrong and Aldrin were always aware that their cooling properties could fail at any moment, so they purposely kept their ambles brief.

400,000 Helping Hands Eight years later, at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center at 9:32 a.m. on July 16, 1969, Apollo 11 thundered off the launch pad in a billowy cloud of smoke, destined for immortality.

Neil Armstrong, a 38-year-old civilian research pilot, led the three-man crew, which also consisted of Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, 39, and Michael Collins, 38.

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin on the moon.

Media coverage naturally focused on the astronauts, but the total number of scientists, engineers, and service and Homeward Bound construction workers involved in the Apollo 11 project had surged to more than The men returned to the lunar module by 1:11 a.m. Then, just before they 400,000 by that crisp, clear summer morning. secured the hatch, Aldrin accidentally tripped the circuit breaker used to In the next 76 hours, the astronauts soared 240,000 miles, averaging over activate the main engine; after a moment of panic, though, he was able to push 3,100 miles per hour. They entered a lunar orbit on July 19, and the next day, the breaker back into the correct position with a felt-tip pen. at 1:46 p.m., their lunar module, Eagle, separated from the command module, Besides the American flag, the astronauts left behind several other items, Columbia, where Collins remained on board to monitor the situation. including a plaque that read: “Here men from the planet Earth first set foot on the moon — July 1969 A.D. — We came in peace for all mankind.”

25 Seconds to Go Armstrong and Aldrin reconnected successfully with Collins and Columbia, The Eagle began its descent to the lunar surface two hours later. and at 12:56 a.m. on July 22, Apollo 11 began its journey home, safely However, when Armstrong prepared to set the craft down, he realized splashing into the Pacific Ocean at 12:50 p.m. two days later. that boulders and craters were scattered throughout the landing site, posing a It is estimated that over 550 million people worldwide had followed the potential hazard. He eased his craft over to a flatter, safer place nearby, but that history-making event on television. maneuver burned fuel that was already running dangerously low.

When the Eagle finally settled onto the moon’s Sea of Tranquility, the I Don’t Believe It! remaining fuel would have only lasted another 25 seconds before the landing Though etched in our collective consciousness, the celebration this month would automatically have been aborted in order to guarantee adequate fuel for of the 50th anniversary of the historical milestone will probably not change the the return flight home.

Armstrong immediately radioed Mission Control in Houston with his now- minds of a small group of conspiracy theorists who, to this day, and contrary to abundant evidence available, believe that NASA faked the July 20, 1969, moon iconic announcement, “The Eagle has landed.” landing.

In 2002, the Washington Post featured a news item concerning Buzz Aldrin.

What’d I Say? The former astronaut was leaving a Beverly Hills hotel when he was accosted by At 10:39 p.m., Armstrong descended from the ship as a television camera a conspiracy theorist who shrieked, “You’re the one who said you walked on the attached to the Eagle beamed the astronauts’ progress back to Earth. moon when you didn’t!”

When he opened the hatch and stepped onto the moon’s surface, he After calling Aldrin a liar, the man waved a Bible in Aldrin’s face and maintained that he had intended to say, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” but a possible momentary microphone glitch had him insisted that he swear the truth on it. The former astronaut settled the matter by knocking the accuser to the ground with a well-placed right cross to the jaw. announcing to the world, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”

Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, Aldrin followed Armstrong 19 minutes later, being careful not to lock the Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

Eagle’s hatch, as there was no outer handle … and no Roadside Assistance number to call 240,000 miles away.

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Puzzle Page

CROSSWORD

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 16 SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Veggies

Across 1. Quiz 4. Discharge 8. Verb preceder 12. Roman god of war 14. Like the White Rabbit 15. Frost lines 16. Ivy League university 18. S-shaped moldings 19. Newton or Stern 20. Garment workers 22. Clock standard (abbr.)

23. Texas cook-off dish 24. Monty Python airer 27. “Cogito ___ sum”

29. Housefly larva 33. Baseball stat 34. Horse of a certain color 35. New money 36. Reindeer country 38. Bug 41. Turkish cash 42. Hospital supplies 43. ___ Anne de Beaupré 44. Mystery 47. Orchard item 48. Word on a Ouija board

49. Israeli port 51. Pen point 53. Floral envelope 56. Tabloid twosomes 59. Bring to bear 60. Painters’ equipment 64. College bigwigs 65. Disney output, briefly 66. Gin flavor 67. Concludes 68. Peccadilloes 69. Flock member

17. Photo starter 21. Deadeye’s forte 23. Bamboozle 24. Scarlett O’Hara, e.g.

25. Genius 26. Bay of Naples isle 28. Roam (about) 30. Bold 31. Emulate Cicero 32. Drinks too much, old style 37. Hats and chickens 38. Minute 39. Abadan natives 40. Blue moon, e.g.

42. Bathroom installation 45. Milkshake types 46. Be bedridden 50. Diets 52. Panhandles 53. Surrender 54. Yoked beasts 55. Interpret 57. Stubborn sort 58. Winter blanket 61. Polynesian paste 62. King Arthur’s lance 63. Bishop’s jurisdiction

Down 1. Concert prop 2. Delhi dress 3. Malayan dagger 4. Kind of microscope 5. Welcome ___ 6. Four-time Japanese prime minister 7. Common fraction 8. Peignoir 9. Sundae topper, perhaps 10. Exploitative type 11. Costner role 13. Glitch 15. “Behold!”

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July 2019

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VA Launches New Healthcare Options under MISSION Act The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched its new and improved Veterans Community Care Program on June 6, implementing portions of the VA Maintaining Internal Systems and Strengthening Integrated Outside Networks Act of 2018 (MISSION Act), which both ends the Veterans Choice Program and establishes a new Veterans Community Care Program.

The MISSION Act will strengthen the nationwide VA healthcare system by empowering veterans with more healthcare options.

“The changes not only improve our ability to provide the healthcare veterans need, but also when and where they need it,” said VA Secretary Robert Wilkie.

“It will also put veterans at the center of their care and offer options, including expanded telehealth and urgent care, so they can find the balance in the system that is right for them.”

Under the new Veterans Community Care Program, veterans can work with their VA healthcare provider or other VA staff to see if they are eligible to receive community care based on new criteria.

Eligibility for community care does not require a veteran to receive that care in the community; veterans can still choose to have VA provide their care.

Veterans may elect to receive care in the community if they meet any of the following six eligibility criteria: 1. A veteran needs a service not available at any VA medical facility.

2. A veteran lives in a U.S. state or territory without a full-service VA medical facility, specifically, veterans living in Alaska, Hawaii, New Hampshire, and the U.S. territories of Guam, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

3. A veteran qualifies under the “grandfather” provision related to distance eligibility under the Veterans Choice Program.

4. VA cannot furnish care within these designated access standards:

5. The veteran and the referring clinician agree it is in the best medical interest of the veteran to receive community care based on defined factors.

6. VA has determined that a VA medical service line is not providing care in a manner that complies with VA’s standards for quality based on specific conditions.

In preparation for this landmark initiative, senior VA leaders will visit more than 30 VA hospitals across the country to provide in-person support for the rollout.

The VA MISSION Act: • Strengthens VA’s ability to recruit and retain clinicians • Authorizes “Anywhere to Anywhere” telehealth across state lines • Empowers veterans with increased access to community care • Establishes a new urgent care benefit that eligible veterans can access through VA’s network of urgent care providers in the community VA serves approximately 9 million enrolled veterans at 1,255 healthcare facilities around the country every year.

For more information, visit www.missionact.va.gov.

Puzzles shown on page 15

Puzzle Solutions

• Drive time to a specific VA medical facility

• Thirty-minute average drive time for primary care, mental health, and non-institutional extended-care services • Sixty-minute average drive time for specialty care • Appointment wait time at a specific VA medical facility • Twenty days from the date of request for primary care, mental healthcare, and non-institutional extended care services, unless the veteran agrees to a later date in consultation with his or her VA healthcare provider • Twenty-eight days for specialty care from the date of request, unless the veteran agrees to a later date in consultation with his or her VA healthcare provider

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Dauphin County

Calendar of Events

Support Groups Free and open to the public Tuesdays, 9 a.m.

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous Church of the Redeemer 500 W. Chocolate Ave., Hershey (781) 932-6300 www.foodaddicts.org Tuesdays, noon Al-Anon Family Group at Work Meeting Penn State Hershey Medical Center Seventh Floor, Room C7521 500 University Drive, Hershey (717) 448-7881 Other meeting times/locations at https://pa-al-anon.org Wednesdays, 6 p.m.

Swatara Serenity Al-Anon Family Group Meeting Unitarian Church of Harrisburg 1280 Clover Lane, Harrisburg (717) 448-7881 Other meeting times/locations at https://pa-al-anon.org Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m.

Adult Children of Alcoholics Support Group St. Mark’s Lutheran Church 2200 Londonderry Road Harrisburg (717) 526-9252 ymt57@comcast.net July 3, 10-11:30 a.m.

Life Enrichment Group for Blind and Low-Vision Adults Vision Resources of Central Pennsylvania

1130 S. 19th St., Harrisburg (717) 238-2531 July 3 and 17, 7-8:30 p.m.

ANAD Eating Disorders Support Group PinnacleHealth Polyclinic Landis Building, Sixth Floor Classroom 1 2501 N. Third St., Harrisburg (717) 712-9535 July 5, 10:30 a.m.

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Helen M. Simpson Rehabilitation Hospital Second Floor – Pinnacle Conference Room 2 4300 Londonderry Road Harrisburg (717) 216-2730 elcassel@simpson-rehab.com July 9, 6-7 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Greenfield Senior Living at Graysonview 150 Kempton Ave., Harrisburg (717) 561-8010 July 10, 6-7 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Support Group Brookdale Harrisburg 3560 N. Progress Ave., Harrisburg (717) 671-4700

Senior Center Activities Frey Village 1020 N. Union St., Middletown (717) 930-1218 July 17, 2-4 p.m.

Parkinson’s Support Group The Residence of the Jewish Home Second Floor Library 4004 Linglestown Road Harrisburg (717) 697-2513 July 18, 6 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Support Group Country Meadows of Hershey Second Floor Training Room 451 Sand Hill Road, Hershey (717) 533-6996 astoner@countrymeadows.com

July 11, 7:30 p.m.

Central Pennsylvania Vietnam Roundtable Meeting Vietnam Veterans of America Michael Novosel MOH Chapter 542 8000 Derry St., Harrisburg (717) 545-2336 centralpavietnamrt@verizon.net www.centralpavietnamroundtable.org

July 30, 6 p.m.

Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Walking Club Bass Pro Shop – Hunt Room

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Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682 www.rutherfordcenter.org Weekdays, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Billiards Open to Members Mondays, 10 a.m. – Line Dancing Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. – Art Class Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com.

Library Programs

July 31, 7-8 p.m.

Connections Support Group: Families of Memory Impaired Ecumenical Retirement Community Building 3, Second Floor 3525 Canby St., Harrisburg (717) 561-2590

Elizabethville Area Library, 80 N. Market St., Elizabethville, (717) 362-9825 July 25, 6-8 p.m. – Knit 1, Crochet Too! July 30, 6-8 p.m. – A Starry Night Painting

Community Programs Free and open to the public July 24, 7 p.m.

Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Middletown St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Spring and Union streets Middletown (717) 915-5555 gsk1308@gmail.com

Mohler Senior Center – (717) 533-2002 www.mohlerseniorcenter.com Mondays and Fridays, 8:15 a.m. – SilverSneakers Tuesdays, 1 p.m. – Watercolor July 19, 11:30 a.m. – Christmas in July: Lunch and Games

July 18, 6-8 p.m.

Harrisburg Area Parkinson’s Disease Caregiver Support Group Giant Food Stores – Second Floor 2300 Linglestown Road Harrisburg (717) 580-7772

July 15, 6:30 p.m.

Support Group for Families of Those with Memory-Related Illnesses

July 3, 7 p.m.

World Culture Club of Central Pennsylvania Meeting Penn State Hershey Medical Center Fifth Floor, Lecture Room B 500 University Drive, Hershey www.worldcultureclubpa.org

Friendship Senior Center – (717) 657-1547 Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8-9 a.m . – Light Aerobics Wednesdays, 12:30 p.m. – Mah Jong

Harrisburg Mall 3501 Paxton St., Harrisburg (717) 805-9540

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

PARKS & RECREATION July 13, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Volunteer Work Day, Wildwood Park July 13, 10-11:30 a.m. – Stress Relief Walk, Wildwood Park July 14, 10:30 a.m. to noon – Flower Walk: Still More Blooms

East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, (717) 652-9380 July 23, 4-6 p.m. – Bank on Your Success: Family Budgeting July 26, 6-8 p.m. – Fandom Friday

Kline Library, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, (717) 2343934 July 11, 6:30-8 p.m. – A Solar System of Essential Oils July 12, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Microsoft Office Basics Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library, 2410 N. Third St., Harrisburg, (717) 232-7286 July 8, 6-8 p.m. – A Starry Night Painting July 15, 6-7 p.m. – Cookbook Book Club: Pop Culture Cooking McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-4976 July 9, 4-6 p.m. – Bank on Your Success: Family Budgeting July 19, 6-8 p.m. – Full Moon Folklore Northern Dauphin Library, 683 Main St., Lykens, (717) 453-9315 July 17, 6-7 p.m. – Cookbook Book Club: Pop Culture Cooking July 17, 7-8 p.m. – Liberty Hose Company No. 2 Band William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949 July 16, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Let’s Play Resonator Bells: Patriotic Tunes July 22, 6-7 p.m. – Let’s Talk about It: A Wrinkle in Time

50plus LIFE H

July 2019

17

The Bookworm Sez

The Trial of Lizzie Borden Terri Schlichenmeyer

sister, Emma, were reportedly very jealous and, although their father tried to soothe angry feelings and offered monetary gifts to the girls, the situation simmered for months.

But did it get so bad that, five years later, Lizzie Borden took an ax and … ?

At the inquest, most evidence pointed to a The Trial of Lizzie Borden: resounding “yes.”

A True Story District Attorney

By Cara Robertson c. 2019, Simon & Schuster Hosea Knowlton 400 pages questioned Lizzie at great length about where she was, what she was doing, and how it was that she saw and heard nothing while her father and ON AVERAGE, AARP MEMBERS ENJOY stepmother were bludgeoned to death. * During the questioning, she appeared to be either crafty or addled, contradicting herself, doublingON AUTO INSURANCE back on answers, and frustrating when they switch from companies like the district attorney with her GEICO, State Farm and Allstate befuddlement.

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Twelve people just like you.

At trial, each of them will hear the same words. They’ll see the same evidence and watch the same witnesses, but they’ll each embrace different things.

How will they judge? Guilt, innocence, or, as in The Trial of Lizzie Borden by Cara Robertson, will the end of the story come as a surprise?

Were she a child of today, Lizzie Borden would be considered spoiled.

Her father, Andrew, was a parsimonious, dour man of means who was quite surprisingly generous to his two motherless daughters, but he favored Lizzie, who once admitted that she always got what she wanted.

That was not the case, however, with Andrew’s second wife, Abby, a plump former spinster who was forced to make do with a small allowance

to run the family’s sizeable household.

Though Abby was, by most accounts, a pleasantenough woman, her existence seemed to upset the Borden girls, both of whom were disdainful of her.

As the girls matured, the atmosphere at the Borden home was often tense, becoming worse in 1887 when Andrew helped his wife’s halfsister financially: Lizzie and her

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outcome from more than a century ago. The evidence, presented at trial and again by author Cara Robertson, still overwhelmingly seems to point to guilt, but The Trial of Lizzie Borden, a day-by-day account of the thensensational courtroom proceedings, explains what happened.

And that’s a fork in the road for readers.

Generations of true crime fans have devoured the story of Borden’s supposed “hacks,” and they’ll be delighted with this detailed retelling of her life, of the bloody crime, and of the weeks before arrest and trial, all of which take up much of the front half of the book.

As soon as Robertson gets to the trial, however, this account becomes more about proceedings and legalities and less about the crime itself. That isn’t a bad thing at all for deep courtroom-drama fans, but it could overwhelm true-crime devotees.

Ultimately, be aware of what you want out of this book, and proceed accordingly. The Trial of Lizzie Borden is an excellent addition to this gruesome story, but wise readers will reserve their personal judgment.

The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer.

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

Q Lifetime renewability† Q Lock in your rate for a full 12 months Q New car replacement§§ The only national auto insurance program endorsed by AARP.

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AARP and its affliates are not insurers. Paid endorsement. The Hartford pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP membership is required for Program eligibility in most states.

The AARP Automobile Insurance Program from The Hartford is underwritten by Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affliates, One Hartford Plaza, Hartford, CT 06155. It is underwritten in CA by Hartford Underwriters Insurance Company; in WA, by Hartford Casualty Insurance Company; in MN, by Sentinel Insurance Company; and in MA, MI and PA, by Trumbull Insurance Company. Specific features, credits, and discounts may vary and may not be available in all states in accordance with state filings and applicable law. Applicants are individually underwritten and some may not qualify. The program is currently unavailable in Canada and U.S. Territories or possessions.

1 In Texas, the Auto Program is underwritten by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company, through Hartford Fire General Agency. Hartford Fire Insurance Company and its affiliates are not financially responsible for insurance products underwritten and issued by Southern County Mutual Insurance Company.

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July 2019

50plus LIFE H

www.50plusLifePA.com

Wolf Administration Visits Artist Residency Program for Seniors

Helping You Generate Leads!

E Department of Aging Acting Secretary Robert Torres views the work of a senior artist during his recent visit to the Jewish Community Center in Harrisburg.

Pennsylvania Department of Aging Acting Secretary Robert Torres and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Executive Director Karl Blischke recently visited the Senior Adult Club’s Artist Residency Program at the Jewish Community Center in Harrisburg to sit in on a professionally instructed art class with local seniors.

The program was developed by the Department of Aging and the PCA’s Creative Aging partnership for a research project, which ultimately found that seniors reported decreased instances of loneliness after participating in the classes.

Creative Aging’s purpose is to engage older adults age 55 and up

in professionally run art programs that focus on social engagement and varying skills mastery. This provides older adults with an opportunity to freely and creatively express themselves through visual, literary, and performing arts workshops.

“This class is a wonderful example of the ability of the arts to engage older adults in experiences that can enrich their lives and bring them together,” said Blischke.

Studies show the benefits of arts engagement for seniors include fewer doctor visits and hospital stays, less use of medication, better morale and decrease in feelings of loneliness and isolation, and a trend toward increased activity.

Oct. 5, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Lebanon Expo Center

80 Rocherty Road, Lebanon Please join us as a sponsor or exhibitor for the seventh annual women’s expo this fall. Women of all ages have enjoyed these annual events, finding helpful information for all the hats they wear in their everyday lives, including:

Health & Wellness • Finance • Home Technology • Beauty • Nutrition Spa Treatments

and more!

Face-to-face in a comfortable environment.

Property Tax and Rent Rebates Deadline Extended The deadline for older adults and Pennsylvania residents with disabilities to apply for rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2018 has been extended from June 30 to Dec. 31 this year.

The rebate program’s income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 a year for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded.

Spouses, personal representatives, or estates may file rebate claims on www.50plusLifePA.com

behalf of claimants who lived at least one day in 2018.

The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975.

Property Tax/Rent Rebate application forms and assistance are available at no cost from Department of Revenue district offices, local Area Agencies on Aging, senior centers, and state legislators’ offices.

Sponsor and exhibito r reservations now being accepted

717.285.1350

FREE advance guest registration online. ($5 at the door.)

aGreatWayToSpendMyDay.com 50plus LIFE H

July 2019

19

This is Krista’s happily ever after.

Finding new ways to help people like Krista beat cancer.

This is why we’re continuing to innovate, expand and invest in the people of Central PA. Because this is the health we need to live the way we want.

This is Penn State Health.

PennStateHealth.org/CancerInstitute

CAN-14388-19-111241-0319

Cancer Institute