Dauphin County Edition
September 2015
Vol. 17 No. 9
Reap More than What You ‘Sew’ Sewing Group Has Donated More than 36,000 Items to Charity By Chelsea Peifer People like to say that sewing is a lost or dying art in today’s society, but Marcellene Currens and her friends in and around Harrisburg are evidence that the opposite may be true. Currens has been a sewing instructor for more than 40 years, and in 2011 she founded Sewin’ Sisters Sowing. “The idea that people are not sewing is a fallacy in my opinion,” said the 59-year-old Harrisburg resident. “People are continuing to sew, but it is different things.” People may not be sewing as many clothes, but they are sewing curtains, pillowcases, tablecloths, bedding, and all sorts of home décor pieces. And for Currens, one of the greatest joys that comes with sewing is the chance to pass along what she creates to someone who needs it. Nine years ago she formed the Sewin’ Sisters Sowing group, and since that time the women have sewn and given away 36,000 pieces ranging from blankets and pants to specially designed projects. “We are a sewing circle dedicated to sowing kindness. When we started out, we didn’t have a clue what the group would turn into,” said Currens, an ordained minister. “But it grew, and it evolved over time.” “The population of Harrisburg is about 42,000 people, so we’ve almost covered the entire population of Harrisburg,” Currens said. “The reality of the poverty in Harrisburg is astounding. We had no idea. please see SEW page 15 “We’re trying to break down the fear of the sewing machine,” said Marcellene Currens, founder of Sewin’ Sisters Sowing, a charitable sewing circle that has created and donated items to more than 54 local charities.
Inside:
Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair Highlights page 5
Break the Silence! Walk to End Alzheimer’s page 13
Deal Me In By Mark Pilarski
‘Loose Slots’ Aren’t Necessarily a Good Bet Dear Mark: In your recent article you told a reader that “there is no magic switch that’s flipped from some secret location” to get more dough out of people. My question is this. Here in Reno, casinos talk and advertise about “we’ve loosened our slots,” or “we have the loosest slots in town.” Is this a myth? – Steve As I stated in that column, Steve, it is not cost effective for casinos to vary their payouts on slot machines when the circus comes to town. Instead, let’s concentrate on your other inquiry, that of “loose slots.” When it comes to slot machines, there is no verifiable return for slot paybacks of any one machine or any particular casino in Reno, just for the geographic location. Fortunately for you, Reno casinos have always been competitive and liberal with
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I am skeptical of those “loosest slot” ads mainly because that term is never machine specific. Even explicit numbers such as “up to 98 percent return” should be labeled, without qualifiers, for that claim to be meaningful. Out of a bank of machines, “up to” could denote but one machine that is set to pay back at 98 percent, which technically complies with that advertisement. What is a certainty, Steve, is that casinos do not set every slot machine to the same payback percentage. Typically, they will have a mix of machines with both higher (looser) and lower (tighter) payouts scattered across their casino floor. Aside from the fact that, comparatively speaking, Reno does happen to have looser slots compared to other gaming jurisdictions, don’t be mislead by the notion of the term “loose slots.” Remember, in most instances, those loose
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is programmed to return a certain percentage, over a specific period, of the dollars wagered. “Loose” slot machines are only “loose” relative to other machines in that gaming jurisdiction, or even within that casino itself. The rub, Steve, is that even if some machines in Casino A are “looser” than Casino B next door, there’s no way to verify which machines on the floor pay back what. And keep in mind that slot machines hold some of the largest houseedge ratios for casinos no matter where you play.
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their returns. Nevada is home to the top three sections of America with the loosest slots, and Reno has remained No. 1 for eight years running. So, as for the general use of the term “loose slots,” there is no myth here. Essentially, Steve, the looser the slot machine, the more money it returns to the player. That said, a loose slot doesn’t mean the player has any additional advantage over the house. The casino still has an edge on your play, but looser slots offer better returns. Every slot machine in a casino
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717.285.1350
Carlisle Regional Medical Center • Freedom Auto Group • Freysinger Mazda Hyundai • Giant Food Stores Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology • The Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School • Tanger Outlets at Hershey
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slots are unidentifiable. Besides, since slot machines make up approximately 85 percent of a casino’s revenue, just because a casino says their machines are loose doesn’t mean they are a smart bet. The payback percentage of a loose slot is the overall percentage that
a slot machine will return over the long run, based on millions of spins, and not when your hind end is sitting front and center. Gambling Wisdom of the Month: There’s a place in the world for a gambler
There’s a burden that only he can bear There’s a place in the world for a gambler And he sees Oh yes he sees. – “There’s a Place in the World for a Gambler,” Dan Fogelberg
Mark Pilarski is a recognized authority on casino gambling, having survived 18 years in the casino trenches. Pilarski is the creator of the bestselling, award-winning audio book series on casino gambling, Hooked on Winning. www.markpilarski.com
Get the Full Impact from These Healthful Foods Certain foods have definite health benefits, but you have to eat them the right way to get their full impact. Here are some common foods you might be eating “wrong,” according to the CNN website: Flaxseed. Full of fiber and omega-3, these little seeds may improve your heart
health—as long as you grind them up first. Sprinkling them whole over your cereal or yogurt will keep their nutrients locked inside. Broccoli. Eat this raw or steamed, not cooked, to receive the full dose of vitamin C, chlorophyll, and antioxidants this vegetable offers.
Strawberries. Slicing this delicious fruit exposes its healthful nutrients to light and oxygen, which can dilute their effects. Eat them whole, or hold off cutting them until the last minute. Garlic. The enzyme allicin, found in garlic, may help ward off cancer, but its benefits are more pronounced when it’s
exposed to air. Let garlic sit for about 10 minutes after chopping to release this enzyme fully. Tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes are tasty, but you’re better off cooking them. The antioxidants in them increase in potency when they’re heated to about 190 degrees Fahrenheit.
Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being. Cremation Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc. 4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 545-4001 Emergency Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 780-6130 Floor Coverings Gipe Floor & Wall Covering 5435 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 545-6103 Funeral Directors Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc. 4100 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 545-4001 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383 Arthritis Foundation – Central PA Chapter (717) 763-0900 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 The National Kidney Foundation (717) 757-0604 (800) 697-7007 www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937
PACE (800) 225-7223 Social Security Information (800) 772-1213 Tri-County Association for the Blind (717) 238-2531 Healthcare Information PA Healthcare Cost Containment Council (717) 232-6787 Hearing Services Enhanced Hearing Solutions, LLC 431 E. Chocolate Ave., Hershey (717) 298-6441 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
Spas Polished Salon Spa & Wellness (717) 975-9036
Insurance Apprise Insurance Counseling (800) 783-7067 Medical Equipment & Supplies Medical Supply (800) 777-6647 Nursing/Rehab Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902 Personal Care Homes Homeland Center 1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg (717) 221-7902 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
Toll-Free Numbers American Lung Association (800) LUNG-USA Bureau of Consumer Protection (800) 441-2555 Meals on Wheels (800) 621-6325 National Council on Aging (800) 424-9046 Social Security Office (800) 772-1213 Veterans Affairs (717) 626-1171 or (800) 827-1000 Transportation CAT Share-A-Ride (717) 232-6100 Travel
Services Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging (717) 255-2790 The Salvation Army Edgemont Temple Corps (717) 238-8678
AAA Central Penn (717) 657-2244 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.
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Tinseltown Talks
Arlene Dahl’s Journey to Hollywood and Beyond
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September 2015
Nick Thomas
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enerally regarded as one of the classic beauties to grace the big screen throughout the ’40s and ’50s, Arlene Dahl’s career extended beyond the reach of the camera. “I’ve had many different careers,” said Dahl, who turned 87 in August, from her home in New York. “I was a writer for 20 years with a beauty column in the Chicago Tribune, which was syndicated in 180 newspapers around the world.” As an author, Dahl has penned 14 books and is currently working on more, including an autobiography. She was also the vice president of an advertising agency, and, in the 1960s, Sears hired her to visit their stores to offer customers beauty makeovers. “They are commonplace on many TV programs now,” she noted. “I also created my own perfume fragrance— ‘Dahlia’—before anyone else. So I started it all!” Dahl says she can trace her interest in performing to Minneapolis where, as a 5-year-old, she first experienced the joy of an appreciative audience during a family picnic at Minnehaha Falls. “My father put me up on a picnic table and asked me to sing. After hearing the applause, they couldn’t get me down.” At 17, she was discovered by Jack Warner, who spotted her singing and dancing on Broadway during the 1945 opening of Mr. Strauss Goes to Boston. “He came backstage and invited me to Hollywood to make a screen test, but I declined,” said Dahl, who expected the play to extend into a long run. “He said, ‘Give it two or three weeks and you’ll call me; here’s my card.’ He was right. I was soon out of a job.” Moving to Hollywood, the cameras loved Dahl, and audiences fell for her flaming-red hair and trademark beauty spot. She went on to appear in more than 30 films. Initially handed romantic comedies, Dahl eventually tackled
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Photo credit: MGM
Still from Three Little Words (1950). From left, Arlene Dahl, Red Skelton, Fred Astaire, and Vera Ellen.
Photo by Annie Watt, used with permission
Recent photo of Arlene Dahl and Marc Rosen.
Publicity still of Arlene Dahl from the 1940s.
more dramatic roles, such 1959’s subterranean adventure Journey to the Center of the Earth with James Mason and Pat Boone. The first day’s shooting with Mason was tense, however. “He didn’t want me for the part. I
found this out two days before I went to New Mexico to shoot the cave scenes at Carlsbad Caverns.” But her professionalism impressed Mason. “He came to my dressing room after our first scene to tell me I had done well. That was like an Academy Award from James Mason, and everything was OK after that.” Everything, except the hazards on the set. “I almost died in the underground ocean scene where the boat was going round in circles and waves were rocking it,” recalled Dahl. “Giant water balloons were supposed to hit our backs, but they hit me in the face, knocking me out. I woke up in the hospital with James and Pat holding my hand.” Between 1952 and 1976, that hand was given in marriage to several suitors, including two well-known actors, Lex Barker and Fernando Lamas—father of heartthrob actor Lorenzo Lamas. Today, Dahl is happily married to Marc Rosen, founder of Marc Rosen Associates, a New York firm specializing in the design and packaging of luxury cosmetic products. “I was working at Revlon, and a friend suggested meeting Arlene, and I ended up designing the bottle and packaging for her ‘Dahlia’ perfume,” explained Rosen. “We became great friends, and despite our 18 years’ age difference, were married. People said it wouldn’t last. Well, we just celebrated our 30th anniversary and proved them wrong!” “I’ve lived a very full and happy life, although there have been ups and downs,” says Dahl. “Many people don’t know about some of my experiences, but they’ll be in my autobiography. You have no idea the stories I can tell … and will!” Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written features, columns, and interviews for more than 600 magazines and newspapers. Follow @TinseltownTalks
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
A Place Where They Speak Your Language Vets and Active Military Turn Out for Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair
By Megan Joyce During her free seminar at the Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair in Camp Hill, Karen Francis, a global career development facilitator, could not impress upon her listeners enough the importance of abandoning military-speak when applying for civilian employment. She likened military jargon to its own distinct language—one that contains several different dialects, no less. “For instance, I was asked, ‘Get your playbook and kneeboard.’ What? I don’t speak Air Force. I speak Army. A little bit of Navy. Some Marine Corps, but Air Force is a totally different language to me,” Francis said. “So make sure when you’re talking to people or when you’re writing something down, don’t use jargon—because these recruiters have no idea what you’re talking about.” But for one day, at least, the language barrier was less of an obstacle for the hundreds of veterans and active military who attended to Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair at the Radisson Hotel Harrisburg. Composed of more than 100 exhibitors, the day was a two-for-one event presented by OLP Events and hosted by b magazine and 50plus Senior News; admission was free to the public. It was the first time the one-day event had come to the Capital Area. The event is also held in Lancaster in the fall and in York in the spring. Some servicemen and women came to connect with the local businesses, organizations, and community resources composing the Expo; some came for the Job Fair, on the hunt for new employment as civilians. One Job Fair guest attended the event on behalf of her husband, a Navy veteran whose 29-year job had recently been sent overseas. “He currently has a job, but it’s basically doing what he graduated from high school doing and not what [he’s trained in],” she said. “He can’t take off work to come because it’s a new job, so I came here to pick up information for him.” Ray Kalbach of Annville was perusing the Expo side of the event space. An Air Force vet now retired after 32 years with the Naval Support Activity in Mechanicsburg and six years at the Department of Revenue in Harrisburg, Kalbach was collecting information for those helped by the Berks-Lancaster-Lebanon LINK and the Lebanon VA Medical Center. Kalbach volunteers for both organizations. “Any information I can get that I can relay to somebody else is a big help,” Kalbach noted. Harrisburg resident Betty Watkins served in a branch of the Army that doesn’t even exist anymore: the Women’s Army Corps, which disbanded in 1978 after the Army integrated its male and female units. “I’ve retired and I’m bored and need extra money, so I’m looking for employment,” said Watkins, whose clerical and management background includes having managed one of the largest low-income housing communities in the state’s capital city. Watkins added she was hoping to find out more about Veterans Administration benefits. “It’s been really nice,” she said of the event. “I’ve been mainly in the job area. Everyone’s very friendly, very ready to give you information and sign you up for their company or whatever they’re representing.” In addition to Francis’s seminar, titled “Translate Your Military Skills into Corporate Speak,” job seekers were welcome to attend two other free seminars. Dennis Heinle, SCORE mentor, offered “Are You Ready to Own a Business?” and Tracey Jones, veteran and president of Tremendous Life Books, focused on interview skills and online job-search tools in “Launching Your Next Career.” Also, Steven Francis Photography offered veterans free professional headshots to help with their social media profiles and online job searches. Sponsors of the Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair – Capital Area were CBS21, Country Gold 1000/AM 960, Disabled American Veterans – Department of Pennsylvania, Fulton Financial Corporation, The Guide, Pennsylvania American Legion, Pennsylvania State Headquarters VFW, PHEAA, PinnacleHealth, The SYGMA Network, and Weis Markets. The Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair will return to Lancaster Friday, Nov. 13, at Spooky Nook Sports, Manheim. For more information, call (717) 285-1350 or visit www. veteransexpo.com. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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Salute to a Veteran
His Plane Snatched Our Spy Cameras from the Sky Robert D. Wilcox
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im Cunningham is a native of Central Pennsylvania, where he enrolled in Millersville State Teachers College. While a college senior there, he met an Air Force captain who changed his life. How did that happen? “Well,” he grins, “I had several special friends in college. And whenever we had a moment of spare time, a pinochle game was apt to break out. One day, we were playing cards when a young Air Force captain who was recruiting at our college told us of the wonders of becoming members of the Air Force. “Since we all faced the draft, what he had to say sounded pretty good to us. So, we all signed up in March of 1953 and were shipped to Sampson Air Force Base, in New York, to be evaluated as potential pilots. “As it turned out, I was the only one to be selected, but there were no openings
right then for pilots, aircraft of the day. From them were suspended so I accepted training to become a navigator. gondolas carrying highresolution cameras. When I completed The balloons were that, I was assigned as a navigator on a C-119 launched from Europe and would drift across and sent to Misawa Air Force Base in Japan for the Soviet Union on the winter jet stream a kind of exotic duty I covering nearly all of had never even heard the Soviet land mass. of.” It would take about That duty turned out to be playing a vital role three days for the balloons to clear Soviet in “Project Genetrix,” airspace. The gondolas a highly classified would then be cut program for obtaining James J. Cunningham in 1953 as an free from the balloons aerial photographs of aviation cadet at Ellsworth AFB in by radio signals, and, Communist China, Houston, Texas. while descending Eastern Europe, and the by parachute, they Soviet Union. We had developed large balloons that would be caught in midair by specially reached an altitude of 50,000 to 100,000 modified C-119s like the one in which Cunningham flew. feet, well beyond the altitude flown by
The program began on Jan. 10, 1956, and went on for 27 days. The Soviets were able to shoot down a great many of the balloons, but the 44 gondolas that were recovered provided 13,813 photos that covered 1,116,449 square miles of the USSR and China. And that was the only surveillance we had of the area at the time. That program ended when the CIA began flying the U-2 spy plane, which could fly above 70,000 feet, where it was invulnerable to Soviet anti-aircraft weapons of the time. There it took highresolution photos from the edge of the atmosphere. That program became famous when Gary Powers was shot down on May 1, 1960, after he had flown a U-2 over Soviet territory from a military base in Peshawar, Pakistan. In the meantime, Cunningham had returned to the U.S. and entered pilot
50plus Senior News’ “Salute to a Veteran” Columnist
Sept. 23, 2015
Sept. 30, 2015
2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim
Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Avenue York
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Spooky Nook Sports
(Just off Rt. 283 at the Salunga exit)
For 16 years, Bob Wilcox has faithfully chronicled the stories of almost 200 local veterans in the pages of 50plus Senior News— preserving their legacies and providing invaluable service to our community and to our publication. This fall, we would like you to help us thank him!
Please join us at the Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair on Nov. 13 at Spooky Nook Sports, Manheim, as we express our gratitude to Col. Wilcox during a special noontime ceremony. We especially encourage any profiled veterans or their loved ones to attend! For more information, please call (717) 285-1350. On-Line Publishers, Inc. • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 • www.onlinepub.com
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YORK COUNTY
LANCASTER COUNTY
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Oct. 21, 2015 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street Carlisle
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center
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training. After earning his wings, he Reserve, and then in 1966 he joined the was stationed at Hunter Air Force Base, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, where Savannah, Ga., where he flew the B-47 he retired in 1980 as a colonel. jet bomber for several years. Then he was Cunningham was an early member of reassigned to Westover Air Force Base in his area chapter of the Military Officers Massachusetts, Association of where he flew the America (MOAA), B-52, our longest serving as its range jet bomber. president in 2008 Didn’t the B-52 and 2009, and on fly exceptionally its board of directors long missions? for many more years “It sure did,” after that. Cunningham He also served for says. “A typical 11 years on a local mission was 12 to airport authority. The C-119, the plane Cunningham flew on 16 hours, but on when plucking spy cameras from the skies. And he and his wife, Airborne Alert, it Marge, have given was 24 to 26 hours, while the plane flew strong support for many years to a hostel across the Atlantic to refuel south of Spain for young people in India. with 100,000 pounds of fuel. It would Over his years of flying, Cunningham then fly around the Mediterranean twice, has amassed some 29,000 hours of time refuel again south of Spain, and return to in the air as navigator, flight engineer, and base at Westover.” pilot, with 15,000 hours of that time as In September of 1960, Cunningham pilot. left active duty in the Air Force as a He and Marge still make many lieutenant colonel and began flying for complimentary flights to vacation spots Pan Am, which was later absorbed by around the world with the U.S. Air Force United Airlines. During those years as an and United Airlines. He agrees that his airline pilot, he regularly flew to countries has been a charmed life … and says he literally around the world. He retired wouldn’t trade a day of it for any other. from United in 1988. Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in During all that time as an airline Europe in World War II. pilot, he had remained in the Air Force
The Year in Awards As 50plus Senior News celebrates its 20 anniversary this year, we hope you’ll enjoy a monthly peek back at the world in 1995! This month, some of the notable awards of 1995: th
• Nobel Prize: for Literature – Seamus Heaney, Ireland; for Peace – Joseph Rotblat and the Pugwash Conferences on Science and World Affairs (jointly) • Miss America: Heather Whitestone (Alabama) • Academy Awards: for Best Picture – Forrest Gump; for Actor in a Leading Role – Tom Hanks, Forrest Gump; for Actress in a Leading Role – Jessica Lange, Blue Sky • Golden Globe Awards: for Best Drama – Sense and Sensibility; for Best Musical or Comedy – Babe • Grammy Awards: Record of the Year – “All I Wanna Do” by Sheryl Crow; Album of the Year – MTV Unplugged by Tony Bennett; Song of the Year – “Streets of Philadelphia” by Bruce Springsteen • Emmy Awards: Outstanding Drama Series – NYPD Blue; Outstanding Comedy Series – Frasier • Tony Awards: Best Play – Love! Valour! Compassion!; Best Musical – Sunset Boulevard www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
November 13, 2015 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Spooky Nook Sports
2913 Spooky Nook Road, Manheim
They served us — now let us serve them! Reserve your space today!
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.
2 events — 1 location At the Expo
Veterans Benefits & Services Community Services Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services
At the Job Fair
Employers Job Counseling Workshops/Seminars Resume Writing Assistance
Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available To become a sponsor or exhibitor, please contact your account representative, call (717) 285-1350, or email info@onlinepub.com
www.veteransexpo.com 50plus SeniorNews H
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Savvy Senior
How to Search for Lost Pension Money Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you offer for tracking down a lost pension from a previous employer? – About to Retire Dear About, It’s not unusual for a worker to lose track of a pension benefit. Perhaps you left an employer long ago and forgot that you left behind a pension. Or maybe you worked for a company that changed owners or went belly up many years ago, and you figured the pension went with it. Today, millions of dollars in benefits are sitting in pension plans across the U.S. or with the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), a federal government agency, waiting to be claimed by their rightful owners. The average unclaimed benefit with PBGC is about $6,500.
To help you look for a pension, here are some steps to take and some free resources that can help you search if your previous employer has gone out of business, relocated, changed owners, or merged with another firm. Contact Employer If you think you have a pension and the company you worked for still is in business, your first step is to call the human resources department and ask how to contact the pension plan administrator. Ask the administrator whether you have a pension, how much it is worth, and how to claim it. Depending on how
complete the administrator’s records are, you may need to show proof that you once worked for the company and that you are pension eligible. Your old income tax returns and W-2 forms from the years you worked at the company will help you here. If you haven’t saved your old tax returns from these years, you can get a copy of your earnings record from the Social Security Administration, which will show how much you were paid each calendar year by each employer. Call (800) 772-1213 and ask for Form SSA-7050, “Request for Social Security Earnings Information,” or you
can download it at ssa.gov/online/ssa7050.pdf. The SSA charges $136 for this information. Some other old forms that can help you prove pension eligibility are summary plan descriptions that you should have received from your employer when you worked there and any individual benefit statements that you received during your employment. Search PBGC If your former employer went out of business or if the company still is in business but terminated its pension plan, check with the PBGC, which guarantees pension payouts to private-sector workers if their pension plans fail, up to annual limits. Most people receive the full benefit they earned before the plan was terminated. The PBGC offers an online
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pension-search directory tool at www. search.pbgc.gov/mp/mp.aspx. Get Help If you need help tracking down your former company because it may have moved, changed owners, or merged with another firm, contact the Pension Rights Center, a nonprofit consumer organization that offers seven free Pension Counseling and Information Projects around the U.S. that serve 30 states. For more information, visit www. pensionrights.org or call (888) 420-6550. If you, your company, or your pension plan happens to be outside the
30-state area served by the projects, or if you’re trying to locate a federal or military pension, use Pension Help America at www.pensionhelp.org. This resource can connect you with government agencies and private organizations that provide free information and assistance to help your search. For more pension-searching tips, see the PBGC’s free online publication called “Finding a Lost Pension” at www.pbgc. gov/documents/finding-a-lost-pension.pdf.
Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org
Trust. Honor. Integrity. Service. Serving the Dauphin County Community Since 1865 Traditional Funeral Service t Cremation Options Pre-Planning for Peace of Mind t Veteran’s Benefits Dale A. Auer, Supervisor
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(717) 545-4001
Amanda J. Seiders, Funeral Director
4100 Jonestown Rd., Harrisburg 17109 zimmermanauer@gmail.com www.zimmerman-auer.com
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Calendar of Events
Dauphin County
Support Groups
Free and open to the public
Sept. 8, 6 to 7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Graysonview Personal Care Community 150 Kempton Ave., Harrisburg (717) 561-8010 Sept. 9, 6 to 7 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group Emeritus at Harrisburg 3560 N. Progress Ave., Harrisburg (717) 671-4700
Sept. 16, 1:30 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group on East Shore Jewish Home of Harrisburg 4004 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 441-8627
Sept. 21, 6:30 p.m. Support Group for Families of Those with Memory-Related Illnesses Frey Village 1020 N. Union St., Middletown (717) 930-1218
Sept. 17, 6 to 8 p.m. Harrisburg Area Parkinson’s Disease Caregiver Support Group Giant Food Stores – Second Floor 2300 Linglestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 580-7772
Community Programs
Sept. 3, 7 p.m. Central Pennsylvania World War II Roundtable Meeting Grace United Methodist Church 433 E. Main St., Hummelstown (717) 503-2862 charlie.centralpaww2rt@gmail.com www.centralpaww2roundtable.org Sept. 10, 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
Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682, www.rutherfordhouse.org Mondays, 10 a.m. – Quilting Mondays, 11:30 a.m. – Sign Language Thursdays, 10 a.m. – Healthy Steps in Motion Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or visit their website for more information.
Sept. 15, 10 a.m. Trooper Adam Reed, Pennsylvania State Police Derry Seniors Derry Presbyterian Church 248 E. Derry Road, Hershey (717) 533-9667 www.derrypres.org Sept. 23, 7 p.m. Piecemakers Quilt Guild of Middletown St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Spring and Union streets, Middletown (717) 915-5555 gsk1308@gmail.com Sept. 29, 6 p.m. Susquehanna Rovers Volksmarch Walking Club Gander Mountain 5005 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg (717) 991-5232
Library Programs East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, (717) 652-9380 Sept. 15, 7 p.m. – Genealogy on the Computer Sept. 22, 9:30 a.m. – Friends of the East Shore Area Library Meeting Elizabethville Area Library, 80 N. Market St., Elizabethville, (717) 362-9825 Sept. 3, 6:30 p.m. – Friends of Elizabethville Area Library Meeting Sept. 10, 6 p.m. – Thursday Theater Kline Branch, 530 S. 29 St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-3934 Sept. 24, 6:30 p.m. – Friends of Kline Library Meeting th
McCormick Riverfront Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-4976 Sept. 22, 5:15 p.m. – Friends of the McCormick Riverfront Library Meeting William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949 Sept. 1, 6:30 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book Club Sept. 8, 6:30 p.m. – Friends of the Alexander Family Library Meeting Sept. 15, 1 p.m. – Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club September 2015
Mohler Senior Center – (717) 533-2002, www.hersheyseniorcenter.com Sept. 3, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. – Ice Cream Social Sept. 14, 2:30 p.m. – Holistic Healing: Acupuncture
Free and open to the public
Sept. 2, 7 p.m. Cuba – Historic Change and Competing Visions of Cuba’s Future World Culture Club of Central PA Penn State Hershey Medical Center Fifth Floor, Lecture Room B 500 University Drive, Hershey www.worldcultureclubpa.org
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Senior Center Activities
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Dauphin County Parks & Recreation Weekdays, Sept. 9 to Oct. 2 (plus Sept. 20), 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. – Archaeological Excavation, Fort Hunter Mansion Sept. 9, 6 to 7:30 p.m. – S tress-Relief Walk, Wildwood Park Sept. 20, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. – F ort Hunter Day, Fort Hunter Park If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
Have You Taken Your Fish Oil Today? Natural dietary supplements are big business in the U.S. As part of the National Health Interview Survey, researchers looked at the use of natural supplements other than vitamins and minerals. Comparing figures from 2002, 2007, and 2012, the trends they found include: Fish oil. This was the top product used by adults in 2012, as well as among children (though in 2007, Echinacea was the most popular supplement among children). Melatonin. This sleep aid came in second for children in 2012, increasing significantly from 2007. Glucosamine/chondroitin. Use of this decreased between 2007 and 2012, along with a drop in the use of Echinacea and garlic. Ginseng. This showed another large decline from 2002 to 2007, along with the use of gingko. Green tea and milk thistle. Use of these held steady (though low) between 2007 and 2012. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
CROSSWORD
Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 12 brainteasers
Advertising Slogans from the ’50s and ’60s In each of these advertising slogans from the ’50s and ’60s, there are two first-letter typos. You’re the editor and your job is to fix them. Example: Winston wastes food like a cigarette should. Answer: Winston tastes good like a cigarette should. 1. Schlitz: The deer chat made Milwaukee famous. 2. Pepsodent: You’ll ponder where the fellow went. 3. Coppertone: Coppertone gives you a letter man. 4. Banquet: Shank goodness for Banquet frozen hoods. 5. Hertz: Sore people by bar use Hertz Rent a Car. 6. Budweiser: Where there’s wife … there’s mud. 7. Tide: Side bets clothes cleaner than any soap. 8. Brylcreme: They’ll love to run their zingers through your fair. 9. Alka Seltzer: Belief is rust a swallow away. 10. Camel: I’d balk a pile for a Camel. Toys of the ’50s and ’60s Find these toys that were popular during, and in some cases before and after, the ’50s and ’60s: 1. L _ _ _ _ _ _ L _ _ _ 2. B _ _ _ _ _ D _ _ _ 3. Mr. P _ _ _ _ _ H _ _ _ 4. P _ _ _ - D _ _ 5. S _ _ _ _ _ 6. E _ _ _ - A - S _ _ _ _ _ 7. C _ _ _ _ L _ _ _ 8. V _ _ _ - M _ _ _ _ _ 9. C _ _ _ _ _ C _ _ _ _ 10. L _ _ _ _ _ E _ _ _ _ _ _ _ T _ _ _ _ Written by Alan Stillson. Please see http://stillsonworks.com SUDOKU
Across
1. Decree 5. Psyches 9. Auricles 13. Wander 14. Thaw 15. Coral reef 17. Forever 19. Bind again 20. Macadam 21. Actor Arkin 23. Behave 24. By way of 26. Optic 27. Thing, in law
28. Property part 33. Spot 35. Eng. river 36. Sp. uncle 37. Short nail 39. Religious ceremony 40. Gremlins 43. Polish lancer 45. Let it stand! 47. A Gabor 48. Entice 49. Bread spread 51. Non-disposable 53. Devotee
55. Genetic material (abbr.) 57. Greatest degree 58. Adherent (suffix) 59. Dried-up 61. Less complicated 66. Contour 68. Coming forth 70. Inheritors 71. Prayer word 72. Pain 73. Position 74. Store event 75. Wearing shoes
18. Dark blue 22. Affirmative 25. Seed covering 28. Soap measure 29. Bird (Lat.) 30. Rabbit 31. Genuflect 32. White Cliffs site 34. Abdul or Zahn 38. Wallenda or Malden 41. Level 42. White wine 44. Born
46. Most laconic 50. Singleton 52. Rug type 53. Anchovy 54. Fire leftovers 56. Regions 60. Eng. Actress Samms 62. Oceans 63. Linear unit 64. Resound 65. Woodwind 67. Expert 69. Moray, e.g.
Down
1. Worry 2. Scintilla 3. Swear 4. School year 5. Waste away 6. Mousse 7. Cantina cooker 8. Fashion plate’s concern 9. Sincere 10. Consumed 11. Service organization 12. Golf stroke 16. Leases
Your ad could be here on this popular page! Please call (717) 770-0140 for more information.
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Social Security News
80 Years of Social Security By John Johnston
S
ocial Security has provided critical financial help to people of all ages for the last 80 years, and despite our age, we’re far from retiring! As the Social Security program celebrated its historic birthday this August, we reflected on our diverse history, our current strengths, and ways we can continue to improve our services to you. On Aug. 14, 1935, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act into law. In doing so, he promised the law would protect “the average citizen and his family against the loss of a job and against poverty-ridden old age.” Today, we continue to provide financial security for our country’s most
vulnerable citizens. In fact, Social Security provides world-class service to millions of people every day—online, on the phone, and in our network of field offices across the country. As we celebrate 80 years, we’re proud to present our “Celebrating the Past and Building the Future” anniversary website. There, you can read 80 interesting facts about an agency that touches everyone’s life at some point or another! For example, did you know the original
name of the Social Security Act was the Economic Security Act? The anniversary website also includes a timeline of our history. It begins with the signing of the act in 1935 and ends with this year’s announcement of Vision 2025, our bold vision that will guide the agency as we work to meet the future customer-service needs of the public. A memorable spot on the timeline is Nov. 2, 2000, the date when we started taking retirement claims online. Since our agency’s beginning, we’ve relied on our passionate and hardworking
employees to face challenges and provide exceptional service. Throughout the 80 days leading up to our anniversary, we posted employee testimonials that answer the question, “Why do you serve?” We also invited you tell us how Social Security has made a difference in your life and/or the lives of your family and friends. When the Social Security program started 80 years ago, our goal was to provide an economic lifeline for people in need. Today, Social Security continues to protect millions of people. Join us in commemorating this significant milestone! Visit www.socialsecurity. gov/80thanniversary. John Johnston is a Social Security public affairs specialist.
Keeping Up with Current Events How much do you know about current events? The Pew Research Center News IQ survey examined the knowledge of more than 3,000 U.S. residents in
an interactive quiz that asked them to identify a series of photographs, charts, and maps. Here’s how the participants measured up when asked to ...
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Puzzles shown on page 11
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• Identify a photo of Martin Luther King Jr.: 91 percent
• Identify the proposed route of the Keystone Pipeline on a map: 73 percent
• Identify the country led by Kim Jong-il from a photo (North Korea): 82 percent
• Identify Malala Yousafzai from a photo (2014 Nobel Prize winner): 93 percent
• Identify the location of Guantanamo on a map (Cuba): 78 percent
• Identify Pope Francis’s home country on a map (Argentina): 52 percent
• Name the country the U.S. recently reestablished relations with (Cuba): 76 percent
• Give the correct number of female Supreme Court justices (three): 33 percent
Brainteasers 1. S chlitz: The beer that made Milwaukee famous. 2. P epsodent: You’ll wonder where the yellow went. 3. C oppertone: Coppertone gives you a better tan. 4. B anquet: Thank goodness for Banquet frozen foods. 5. H ertz: More people by far use Hertz Rent a Car. 6. B udweiser: Where there’s life … there’s Bud. 7. T ide: Tide gets clothes cleaner than any soap. 8. B rylcreme: They’ll love to run their fingers through your hair. 9. A lka Seltzer: Relief is just a swallow away. 10. C amel: I’d walk a mile for a Camel.
1. Lincoln Logs 2. Barbie Doll 3. Mr. Potato Head 4. Play-Doh 5. Slinky
September 2015
6. Etch-A-Sketch 7. Candy Land 8. View-Master 9. Chatty Cathy 10. Lionel Electric Train
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Break the Silence! Alzheimer’s disease is the sixthleading cause of death in the United States and the fifth-leading cause of death for individuals age 65 and older. This devastating and debilitating disease is the ultimate thief—of memories, independence, control, time, and, ultimately, life. And the disease is often dealt with in silence. Those facing the disease feel a stigma surrounding their diagnosis and often don’t seek the support they need. At the Alzheimer’s Association, we hear from individuals daily that they “feel alone.” Family and friends stop visiting because of “abnormal” behavior—a symptom of the disease—and caregivers become more and more isolated. We want patients and their families to know that there is hope, and there is help, through the Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Pennsylvania. There are more than 5 million Americans currently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia and more than 15 million caregivers. In Pennsylvania alone, there are more than 400,000 individuals diagnosed. We are here to provide education and support to the millions who face dementia every day, while advancing
critical research toward methods of treatment and prevention, ultimately to end Alzheimer’s disease. We have offices locally and support groups throughout the region for those facing this disease to meet with others in similar situations. We also host the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. This is the association’s largest annual awareness and fundraising event, which occurs during the fall. The Walk to End Alzheimer’s is a day of hope, an opportunity—a day we all come together to see that we’re not alone in our fight. Some walk to honor and remember those they have lost. Some walk to share stories of living with Alzheimer’s or related dementias. Some walk so that future generations won’t have to face the debilitating and devastating effects of the disease. Some walk because they want to help make a difference and bring this disease to the forefront. The money raised allows our chapter to contribute to research to find a cure. These funds also help support programs and services that advance accurate and timely diagnosis of people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In addition, money raised ensures
significant increases to affordable, highquality care and support for people with the disease and their caretakers. Help us break the silence and start the conversation. Join us, along with thousands of others in your community, at the Walk to End Alzheimer’s. Register today at www.alz.org/walk or call our Helpline, available 24 hours, seven days a week, at (800) 272-3900. Local walks include:
Saturday, Sept. 19 Harrisburg, City Island Registration at 10 a.m. Walk at 11:20 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 26 Lancaster, Clipper Magazine Stadium Registration at 9 a.m. Walk at 10:20 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 York, Morgan Cousler Park Registration at 10 a.m. Walk at 11:20 a.m.
September 19, 2015 City Island, Harrisburg
Registration at 10 a.m. • Walk at 11:20 a.m.
September 26, 2015
Clipper Magazine Stadium, Lancaster Registration at 9 a.m. • Walk at 10:20 a.m.
October 10, 2015
Morgan Cousler Park, York Registration at 10 a.m. • Walk at 11:20 a.m. Registration brochures, team packets, and sponsorship packets available. Please call (717) 651-5020 or email aforsburg@alz.org • Easy online registration at http://www.alz.org/walk • Volunteer opportunities available. • Teams and individuals welcome.
Chapter Sponsors Asheleigh Forsburg, Senior Events Manager Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 aforsburg@alz.org Alzheimer’s Association 2595 Interstate Drive, Suite 100 • Harrisburg, PA 17110 www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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The Beauty in Nature
Monarch Miracles Clyde McMillan-Gamber
E
very sunny day during September and October each year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate southwest or south through the United States to their wintering areas in certain forests on mountains in Mexico. But what is miraculous about monarch butterfly migrations is those young butterflies, the last generation of their kind for the year, go directly to those wintering sites of their ancestors, though they never were there before. Monarch migrations are another of nature’s miracles that defy understanding. Monarch butterflies are boldly patterned with orange and black and have 4-inch wing spans. They summer in sunny, open areas throughout the United States, wherever milkweed plants grow. Their caterpillars, which are vertically striped with bold, alternate bands of black, white, and yellow, only eat milkweed leaves.
Those larvae store chemicals they ingest from milkweed in their bodies as caterpillars and adults, chemicals that are toxic to birds and other predators that would eat monarchs. Bold color patterns on larvae and adults warn would-be predators against consuming monarchs. Monarchs overwintering in forests on Mexican mountains push north early in March, sipping nectar from a variety of flowers along the way. They barely get into the United States when they mate,
lay eggs on milkweed leaves, and die. Two more generations of monarchs continue north and east, each pursuing the same lifestyle and increasing their population. The fourth generation of monarchs, the last one of each year, does not mate and lay eggs. They begin migrating to Mexico in September. The total time for the development of the egg through larvae, pupae, and adult monarch is about four weeks. The last generation of
monarchs started life early in August. In southeastern Pennsylvania we see monarchs mostly from the middle of July (the third generation of them) through to mid-September (the last generation). We see the fourth generation of caterpillars on milkweeds during mid- to late August before they pupate and emerge as adults ready to head to Mexico. A few years ago, thousands of monarchs came through southeastern Pennsylvania during their September migration south. But in the last few years, monarch numbers have dropped due to a variety of causes, including cold weather during Mexican winters, drought in the southwestern United States, herbicides killing milkweeds, and pesticides destroying insects. Watch for monarchs this September. They are striking and interesting.
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SEW from page 1 “When Harrisburg runs out of a need for blankets, we will move on, but for now there is a need,” Currens said. “You can go right here in Harrisburg and find kids with no socks, gloves, hats, and shoes in the dead of winter.” Currens and the other group members believe in giving to others because they aspire to follow the Biblical principle of looking out for their neighbors. “We believe that starts with your family. If anyone in our group has a family member in need, we’ll help them first and move on from there into our local city,” she said. Using fabric they receive from donations, the group passes on the items they make to other organizations, which distribute the pieces to people in need. Last year an organization requested 350 sets of hats, mittens, and scarves for Christmas. “We were told of that need in midOctober, so we put out the word to everyone we knew who is willing to sew, and we did it,” said Currens. “We pulled it off.” Although the Sewin’ Sisters have worked with more then 54 different local charities, they primarily work with City of Refuge Evangelism and Lighthouse Ministries. Currently about 20 women ranging in age from their 50s to 80s are part of the group, but women of any age are welcome to join. “It gives everyone an outlet, a chance to be with people and leave all the other pressures behind,” she said. Even if a person does not like to sew, there are plenty of ways to become involved with Sewin’ Sisters Sowing. Volunteers who do not sew can sit and rip, count, cut, sort, iron, and launder fabrics according to the specific rules provided to the group. “Some people like to sew at home and
Currens’ living room, which doubles as Sewin’ Sisters Sewing’s workroom, is filled with sewing machines, project samples, and shelves stocked with rainbows of thread.
then drop it off, and that’s fine too,” she added. Their creations are 100 percent washable and double-stitched or more for durability and are designed to be completed within two hours—even for a beginner. This enables the group to give more without getting bogged down with complicated projects. “There’s always something to do,” said Currens. “And if you don’t know how to sew, we’ll teach you.” The group meets in Currens’ home, and she has converted her living room into a workroom and storage area for the Sewin’ Sisters. “For a lot of us, getting together and sewing and acting silly and crazy is the best escape,” she said. “And when a diehard sewer sits down at the sewing machine, she can escape from it all.” Currens designs many of the projects for the Sewin’ Sisters, and sometimes local organizations will approach her to request a specialized creation. About five years ago, the YWCA needed a specific type of bag made to hang on the back of the doors in their shelter. The bag needed to be able to fit supplies inside for a mother and baby in the event of a fire, so that the mother would be able to grab the bag and leave without wasting precious time gathering things. The Sewin’ Sisters created more than 30 bags using home-decorator fabric and sewed neckties together to create a
drawstring. “That was a cute piece, and they loved them,” Currens said. The ladies also set up 16 sewing machines and provided a sewing experience to more than 500 adults and children at the Harrisburg National Night Out for four years. Currens said the labor of setting all the machines up for the event was more than worth it for the response they received. “People stood in line for 15 minutes to do it, and then they had one-on-one instruction,” she explained. The Sewin’ Sisters planned two different projects to choose from that could be sewn by a 5-year-old in six minutes’ time or less. “That was really fun, and that’s still one
of my favorite projects that we’ve done together,” Currens said. “We’re trying to break down the fear of the sewing machine.” In many homes, the sewing machine is an oddly sacred item stored away in a room, and no one is really allowed to touch it. When some people finally get the chance to operate one, Currens said they tend to be overwhelmed with unnecessary fear. And if fear doesn’t stop people from sewing, sometimes a law can. A law stating that all fabric had to be tested for lead—a test that costs a large chunk of money—nearly put an end to the Sewin’ Sisters’ giveaways. But Currens and her friends lobbied for change in the lead law, meeting with a senator in his office to show him exactly why the lead test was getting in the way of their giving—not to mention how much old fabric would end up in landfills because of the law. Three weeks after their meeting, an exception to the law was made for home hobby businesses and volunteer groups. “I’m really proud of that,” Currens said. For more information on Sewin’ Sisters Sowing, visit http://sewinsisterssowing. blogspot.com or call (717) 561-9964.
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