Lancaster County Edition
July 2013
Vol. 19 No. 7
Life’s Second Draft Widowed Journalist Encourages Healing with Writing Circle By Chelsea Peifer Sometimes you create a life you’ve dreamed of and worked for, and something comes along that changes everything. In the aftermath, a person can choose to give up and stay put or to keep going forward, to find new meaning in a life with different circumstances. As a writer and journalist, Susan Weidener had not only heard the stories of people from all walks of life, but she had also articulated and retold their stories so others could hear and understand. Writing had always been a way for Weidener to connect with others and to nurture her own soul. So when Weidener was 44 and lost her husband—and love of her life—to a seven-year battle with cancer, she turned to writing as she chose to move forward. Weidener and her husband, John Cavalieri, had two sons, who were ages 7 and 11 at the time John passed away. “There were all of these messages then—and still are—that a single woman can’t raise boys alone,” said Weidener. “It’s not true. All a child needs is one charismatic adult in his or her life.” Weidener’s perspective on single parenting might sound like effortless perseverance, but she applies her hard work ethic to whatever she approaches, embracing the reality that one person can make a difference in a person’s life. please see DRAFT page 18 Susan Weidener, creator of the Women’s Writing Circle, inside the bookshop where the group meets monthly.
Inside:
Crafting the Roads and History of New Hampshire page 10
Salute to a Veteran: Vernon Barker page 12
The Beauty in Nature
The Inspiring Swallows Clyde McMillan-Gamber he swooping, graceful flights of groups of swallows dashing swiftly over fields and impoundments after flying insects are entertaining and inspiring. Each swallow weaves among its careening, diving relatives, often close to the ground and water, without collision. Barn swallows, tree swallows, and purple martens are the species of their family most often seen in our area during summer. They are common and obvious here because they adapted to nesting in colonies in human-made structures near our homes. Swallows eat flies, mosquitoes, gnats, and other pesky, even dangerous, insects, a reason they are endearing to us. Another is they have attractive plumages. Barn swallows are shiny, deeppurple above and pale-orange below. Male tree swallows are iridescent blue on
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top and white feathers in tree beneath. Their cavities and mates are similar single nesting but with grayishboxes. Martens blue on top. hatch youngsters Male martens are in apartment metallic deep birdhouses purple while their erected especially mates are gray for them. above and grayFast-cruising white flocks of underneath. swallows follow Swallows moving objects arrive here by in hay and grain April, pair off, fields to catch establish nesting flying insects A tree swallow. sites, and rear with their beaks, offspring. Barn one after another, swallows plaster mud-pellet nests to that were stirred into the air. They flash support beams in barns, bridges, and behind cutting machinery and raking other constructions. equipment. They zip around livestock to Tree swallows raise young on grass and grab insects stirred up by the animals’
hooves and swished off their bodies with tails and heads. Swallows even cruise over starlings and grackles foraging in short vegetation for invertebrates, snaring insects stirred into the air by those blackbirds. When full of insects, swallows perch together on tree twigs and roadside wires to rest and digest. But they’re on the wing again when hungry. Late in summer and into fall, swallows leave their breeding areas and drift south to find flying insects through winter. The martens go in August. Barn swallows leave during September, and tree swallows migrate from late August into October. Watch for flights of swallows. They are entertaining and inspiring. Clyde McMillan-Gamber is a Lancaster County Parks naturalist.
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717.653.6300 www.HelpingUHear.com www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being. Coins & Currency Steinmetz Coins & Currency, Inc. 350 Centerville Road, Lancaster (717) 299-1211 Dental Services Dental Health Associates 951 Rohrerstown Road, Lancaster (717) 394-9231 Lancaster Denture Center 951 Rohrerstown Road, Lancaster (717) 394-3773 Smoketown Family Dentistry 2433C Old Philadelphia Pike, Smoketown (717) 291-6035 Emergency Numbers Central PA Poison Center (800) 521-6110 Office of Aging (717) 299-7979 or (800) 801-3070 Employment Lancaster County Office of Aging (717) 299-7979 Entertainment Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster (717) 898-1900 Financial Services Internal Revenue Service (717) 291-1994 Funeral Directors Richard H. Heisey Funeral Home 216 S. Broad St., Lititz (717) 626-2464 Gastroenterology Regional Gastroenterology Associates of Lancaster (RGAL) 2104 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster 694 Good Drive, Suite 23, Lancaster 4140 Oregon Pike, Ephrata (717) 544-3400
Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Cancer Society (717) 397-3744 American Diabetes Association (888) DIABETES American Heart Association (717) 393-0725
American Red Cross (717) 299-5561 Arthritis Foundation (717) 397-6271 Consumer Information (888) 878-3256 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400
Physicians — OB/GYN
Eastwood Village Homes, LLC 102 Summers Drive, Lancaster (717) 397-3138 Marietta Senior Apartments 601 E. Market St., Marietta (717) 735-9590
Prudential Homesale Services Group Rocky Welkowitz (717) 393-0100
Medicare (800) 633-4227
Senior Move Management Jewelers
TLC Ladies (717) 228-8764
Leola Precious Metals 356-A W. Main St., Leola (717) 989-1799 Neurosurgery & Physiatry Lancaster NeuroScience & Spine Associates 1671 Crooked Oak Drive, Lancaster (717) 569-5331 or (800) 628-2080
Wiley’s Pharmacy Locations in Lancaster, Millersville, Quarryville, and Strasburg (717) 898-8804
Hearing and Ear Care Center, LLC 806 W. Main St., Mount Joy (717) 653-6300 Home Care Services Visiting Angels Serving Lancaster and surrounding counties (717) 393-3450
Passport Information (877) 487-2778
Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771
Domestic Violence (800) 799-7233
Hearing Services
Travel
Veterans Services
CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com
Health Network Labs 274-A Granite Run Drive, Lancaster (717) 560-8891
Transition Solutions for Seniors Rocky Welkowitz (717) 615-6507
Pharmacies
Disease and Health Risk (888) 232-3228
Flu or Influenza (888) 232-3228
May•Grant Obstetrics & Gynecology Women & Babies Hospital with other locations in Brownstown, Columbia, Elizabethtown,Willow Street, and Intercourse (717) 397-8177 Real Estate
Insurance
American Lung Association (717) 397-5203 or (800) LungUSA
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
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July 2013
Tales of Glenn Ford Nick Thomas f you’re a fan of old movies, “I have every letter he ever received you’ll recognize what the classics and copies of letters he wrote. I have Gilda, Blackboard Jungle, The his baby teeth, the lock of hair from Courtship of Eddie’s Father, and his first haircut, the dish he used as a Fastest Gun Alive all have in baby, and every report card from common: Glenn Ford. Oddly school. There [were] also thousands enough, though he appeared in of photographs and thousands of around 100 feature films, the first books. biography on Ford was only published in 2011. Ford’s son, Peter, authored Glenn Ford: A Life and talked about his dad and the book, which is an insightful Hollywood bio filled with stories of one of film’s most underappreciated actors. In addition to acting, Ford had a number of other interests, including Photo credit: Peter Ford a great fondness for women, which Peter Ford, center, with his parents, Eleanor Powell and Glenn Ford. Peter approaches with objective candor without ever turning the book into a trashy memoir. “He’s perceived by the public as a Jimmy Stewart—a wholesome, allAmerican guy,” Peter told me. “He was that, but he also had a lot of Errol Flynn in him. In reviewing all my sources, I counted 146 women he had a dalliance with, including Marilyn Monroe.” Those sources included Ford’s Ford with Rita Hayworth in Gilda (1946). own writings. “My father kept a diary every day of his life since 1933, and I have every one of them. So there was an enormous amount of material there,” explained Peter. “If you picked any day since then, I could tell you what he had for breakfast, where he went, what he did, what he thought, who he talked to, etc.” Glenn Ford was also a packrat of monumental proportions. When Ford Photo credit: Peter Ford died in 2006, Peter says he donated Ford, right, with Peter Ford on many of his father’s personal items to the set of Heaven with a Gun charities. Other items he sold, (1969). including a piano given to Ford by Judy Garland, a slot machine from “Wherever he went, he would Frank Sinatra, and a couch on which take scraps of paper and write his he “entertained” Monroe. thoughts. Often, he would stick In fact, an auction house hauled these randomly in books, along with off two 26-foot-long trucks filled with letters, Christmas cards, and even “stuff ”—and that still barely touched money.” the surface of the contents of Ford’s Peter donated hundreds of those 9,000-square-foot home in Beverly books to libraries but had to check Hills. each one in case his father had left “He saved everything,” said Peter. some long-forgotten treasure within
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its pages. In one, he found many letters from singer Sophie Tucker. Another Ford “hobby” was to secretly record telephone conversations. In the late 1950s, Ford, unbeknownst to his family and friends, installed a phone tap on the family’s phone. After his father died, Peter discovered hundreds of old reel-to-reel and cassette recordings of celebrities and politicians. “He has some of President Richard Nixon,” said Peter with a chuckle. “Isn’t that ironic? The most infamous taper himself getting taped!” Maybe we now know where Tricky Dick got the idea! Peter also recalls childhood Sunday-morning walks with his dad along Santa Monica Boulevard. The two would often stop under a leafy fichus tree, and Ford would ask his son if he wanted some chewing gum. Adept at sleight-of-hand tricks, Ford would appear to pull some chewing gum from the tree, leading young Peter to believe there really was such a thing as a “gum tree.” In another story, Peter remembers flying in a private plane with his dad to Cody, Wyo., for the dedication of the Buffalo Bill Museum. The ceremony culminated with a live buffalo dangling in a harness from a helicopter, flying over the crowd. But as the pilot hovered above the assembled dignitaries, the terrified animal’s bladder and bowels proved somewhat unstable. When combined with the downward force of the chopper’s rotor blades, Peter says it was a most memorable event! Glenn Ford was a complex man, which led to difficulties and intricacies in his professional and personal lives. Peter’s revelations about his dad—as well as his mom, the great dancer Eleanor Powell— provide a fascinating glimpse of the golden age of Hollywood. Thomas’ features and columns have appeared in more than 300 magazines and newspapers, and he is the author of Raised by the Stars, published by McFarland. He can be reached at his blog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com
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Moving Yourself or Moving Mom & Dad ... You Can Count on Rocky!
Wenger Receives Trustee of the Year Award J. Calvin Wenger, previous chairman of the board and resident of Pleasant View Retirement Community, was honored with the LeadingAge PA 2013 Trustee of the Year Award during a recent Life of Service Gala held in his honor at Pleasant View Retirement Community. The Trustee of the Year Award is given to voluntary leaders who have demonstrated a significant contribution by enriching the lives and well-being of seniors, displayed a personal commitment to the life of the organization, and provided outstanding leadership to the organization and the community at large. A Manheim native, Wenger dedicated his professional career to the health and wellness of the Lancaster community through his chiropractic practice, The Wenger Chiropractic
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Groups, founded in 1938 by his father. In 1993, Wenger joined the board of directors of Pleasant View and accepted the role of chairman of the board in 1996, which he held until Dec. 31, 2012, dedicating nearly two decades of time and energy in service and in leadership to Pleasant View.
Volunteers of All Ages Help Homeowner Displaced by Sandy A small group of local volunteers headed to Long Island, N.Y., several times this spring, where they helped rebuild a home for a man displaced by Hurricane Sandy. Garden Spot Village and The Community Church at Garden Spot Village partnered with the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) on the project. The team worked on the home of Keith Prescod, a deacon at the First Church of God in Far Rockaway. Like so many others in this neighborhood of Queens, the hurricane flooded the home with up to 8 feet of water, ruining the first floor. The team framed the ceiling and hung drywall throughout the first floor, including the bathroom and furnace room. They also painted and installed trim before installing flooring and new kitchen cabinets. The bathroom required extensive renovation. Each week, up to seven volunteers made the day trip. Volunteers included residents and employees of Garden Spot Village and their family members.
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Report Affirms Lifesaving Role of Colonoscopy – The New York Times February 22, 2012
The New England Journal of Medicine reported the results of a 20-year study, which shows that colonoscopy screening prevents death. visit www.RGAL.com to view and download the entire article.
Linda Dodge, director of development at Garden Spot Village, helps rebuild a storm-damaged home in Far Rockaway, N.Y.
Sometimes, prospective residents or members of local churches joined them. The oldest resident volunteer was in his early 80s; the youngest was a staff member’s daughter, age 13.
Three Locations • Lancaster Health Campus • Oregon Pike-Brownstown • Women’s Digestive Health Center www.RGAL.com • 717.544.3400
If you have local news you’d like considered for
Around Town, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Contact your family doctor or RGAL regarding your screening colonoscopy
50plus SeniorNews •
July 2013
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NurseNews
Hospital Gowns Get a Redesign Gloria May, M.S., R.N., CHES K, maybe it isn’t in the same league as the invention of the microscope, the discovery of penicillin, or the formulation of vaccines, but the creation of the hospital gown that closes in the back will certainly be applauded by every patient who has ever had to wear one and who has had to reach, pull, or twist it just so he can get to the bathroom without exposing his rear end to the world. When I was caring for patients in the hospital, we often used two of those flimsy, thin cotton gowns on our patients, one tying in the back and the second one over it, tying in the front. The patients were not as exposed as they were when they were forced to wear the single gown, and in addition, wearing two gowns made them feel a bit warmer. Sometimes we would let the patients bring pajama bottoms or boxer shorts from home and wear them under
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the gowns. The tiein-the-back version of the gown is handy for nurses and doctors, as it provides easy access to the patient’s back and makes it quick and simple to, for instance, listen to a patient’s lungs or Photos courtesy of Henry Ford Innovation Institute heart or to give an injection. And it makes it easier for the patient to use the bedpan if necessary.
50plus SeniorNews •
However, patients hate those darn gowns. And with good reason. And although they have provided fodder for cartoons for years, it’s time for them to go. I saw pictures of one kind of newly designed gown, and it looks more like a wraparound spa bathrobe. It has a crisscross V-neck closure in the front and elbowlength sleeves. There are snaps instead of
ties and, while it does close in the back, it also has an “access flap” from the neck down to the lower back. The particular gown I saw and read about was created at the Henry Ford Innovation Institute and is currently being used at a hospital in Detroit. So far, patient reviews have been positive. The goal now is getting the design licensed and sold to a manufacturer who can get this going on a grand scale. (I did a little research on the Internet and found that other designers and companies are working on this issue as well.) The current tie-in-the-back design goes back to the early 20th century, and while they were a great idea in a time when patients stayed flat in the bed much more than they do today, they haven’t changed much since then, and they certainly don’t offer any measure of privacy.
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And here’s another benefit of the spalike gown, beyond preserving patient dignity: The new gown is made of a thicker fabric, so using two gowns on patients who are cold (in addition to being embarrassed) would no longer be necessary, thus saving on the number of gowns the hospital needs to purchase. The manufacturing cost of the new gowns is comparable to those of the old
ones, and yes, the new gowns launder up well. So, while it may not win the Nobel Prize, a gown that closes in the back will be dearly loved. Way to go, designers! Gloria May is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in adult health education and a Certified Health Education Specialist designation.
Concession of a Novice e-Book Reader By Evelyn Merriam My husband and I now have a small, lightweight, basic e-reader. Although we were not excited about the prospect, we decided to try one because it seemed it might be convenient at times. With some coaching, we figured out the gadget sufficiently and then tentatively borrowed a few books from our library system’s collection. The lending period was brief, the books not compelling, and our library’s e-books not renewable, so they disappeared before we finished them. Not a very good start. Technical or scholarly e-books of sorts were available through libraries as early as the 1990s. But in 2003, U.S. libraries began to offer free, downloadable popular fiction and nonfiction to the public. However, a librarian tells us that the restrictions and expense of acquiring e-books limits libraries’ collections. We attended a brief class about using e-readers and learned the lingo (Adobe EPUB, Adobe PDF, Kindle e-books, “downloading from the cloud,” etc.). As we found our way further along, we purchased three books we actually wanted to read: Francona, a baseball autobiography; Life after Death, a book about a believer’s response to his personal grief; and Maggie’s Tale, a historical novel about the adventures of a young Irish girl earning her keep in England in 1900. Although we share the device as one would a daily newspaper, we are enjoying the books and find that reading without worrying about the books evaporating (as the library books did) more satisfactory. According to studies done in Germany, young adults show no difference in reading speed or brain activity when reading pages on an electronic device versus a traditional book. However, the backlit screens of ereaders (providing more contrast) are easier on elderly eyes than traditional books. Older eyes read more quickly and with less effort via e-readers. Nonetheless, perhaps it is no surprise www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
that traditional books are still twice as popular as digital devices with people over 60. Previously, British researchers found that, although mature users of ebooks found them more convenient, up to date, and easily available than traditional books, they believed them harder to read. The researchers concluded that reducing the pleasure of reading was not a cognitive phenomenon, but a cultural one. That may be so, but I would still rather turn paper pages, use actual bookmarks, and put the books in their places. Nonetheless, I concede that for travel, it is convenient to have a number of books and even a complete Bible at hand in a wafer-thin notecard size. It is also pleasant to have the options of reading books we do not necessarily plan to keep. But for me, the best thing about an e-reader is being able to access titles that are only available in electronic versions. More than a year after two writer friends in London told me about their ebooks, I am able to read them. One of them, Maggie’s Tale by Peter M. Cooke, is not exactly Downton Abbey, but fans of that PBS series would easily be able to visualize the lives of servant girls in a big, English house. The girls face unexpected, life-altering choices when lively evangelistic meetings and colorful characters stir up their formerly unassuming, orderly town. Wouldn’t it astound Victorians of all stations, most of whom had yet to see an electric toaster, to find me claiming to read about their lives while silently turning pages on a small, muted-gray tablet called an e-book?
is seeking an ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVE On-Line Publishers, Inc. has an opening for a highly motivated person with a professional attitude to sell print and online advertising as well as niche events. The successful candidate should: • Enjoy building and maintaining your own long-term business relationships. • Be highly motivated, detail oriented, and able to multitask. • Have good communication skills. • Show a willingness to learn and grow in a fast-paced environment. We offer a competitive compensation plan with a benefits package that includes health insurance and a 401(k) plan. If you have sales experience and are interested in joining our growing sales team, please send your resume and compensation history/requirements to danderson@onlinepub.com. On-Line Publishers, Inc. • 3912 Abel Drive • Columbia, PA 17512 • 717.285.1350 www.onlinepub.com
Before Evelyn and her husband recently retired to Lancaster County, they worked in Christian ministry for 40 years (including five years in Japan and eight in Pennsylvania). She has published educational and inspirational articles, book reviews, poetry, and Bible reading guides and is working on a collection of personal essays.
50plus SeniorNews •
July 2013
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The Search for Our Ancestry
DNA Interrupted Angelo Coniglio
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they graciously agreed to refund my Mormon FamilySearch Center. Recently money. I was helping a patron with an online Unfortunately, this episode throws a search for information about the death of monkey wrench into my plan to give a her grandfather. When I suggested that commentary on we try the subscription these pages site Fold3 about my DNA Shouldn’t everything (www.fold3.com), she testing and its referred to FamilySearch concerning genealogy results. I’ll take a (www.familysearch.org) moratorium on and asked, “Doesn’t be on one of the DNA columns FamilySearch have foremost online and resume them everything?” when I have In this day and age genealogy sites? decided which of information, I Not quite! DNA testing suppose it’s easy to fall venue to use into the notion that from the many available candidates. everything about everybody is somewhere Instead, I’d like to revisit a subject I online. So, shouldn’t everything have addressed previously: online concerning genealogy be on one of the genealogy resources. My reason for foremost online genealogy sites? Not returning to this topic is a conversation I quite! had recently. FamilySearch has millions of records I volunteer as a librarian at my local of all sorts on microfilm, and it is
“
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n my June column I described how I had sent a third DNA sample to AncestryDNA (a subsidiary of Ancestry.com), after being notified by them that the first two were not adequate. Since then, I received a third rejection email, asking me to send still another sample. The original order was about $100 for Ancestry.com subscribers, and although there was no extra cost for sending in the additional samples, I decided that three tries was enough. I asked for a refund. Ancestry’s first response was “that is not our policy,” and they suggested I have someone else’s DNA tested on my dime. That was not acceptable, as I want my DNA tested, not someone else’s, not even my son’s, whose DNA would contain genetic material (his mother’s) that is different than mine. When I explained this to Ancestry,
Job Opportunities LANCASTER COUNTY EMPLOYERS NEED YOU!! Age 55 or over? Unemployed? The 55+ Job Bank is one of three services offered by Employment Unit at the Office of Aging. Jobs are matched with those looking for work. Based on an evaluation of your skills and abilities, we can match you with a position needed by a local employer. Some employers are specifically looking for older workers because of the reliability and experience they bring to the workplace. There is a mix of full-time and part-time jobs covering all shifts, requiring varying levels of skill and experience, and offering a wide range of salaries. The other services available through the Office of Aging are the Senior Community Service Employment Program (SCSEP) and the regularly scheduled Job Search Workshops.
For more job listings, call the Lancaster County Office of Aging
at (717) 299-7979 or visit
www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lanco_aging
Lancaster County Office of Aging 150 N. Queen Street, Suite 415 Lancaster, PA 8
July 2013
50plus SeniorNews •
diligently indexing its images of original records so that they will be viewable online. However, I venture to state that “everything” will never be online, neither there nor at any other site. Some sites will have voluminous numbers of ships’ passenger manifests but nothing else. Some will have Civil War pension records but no passenger manifests. Some will have Irish records but no German records, and so on, and so on. Just as every family is different, its history is different, and a genealogy researcher must be prepared to dig out whatever sources are available that apply to his or her unique ancestry. I believe another widely held misconception is that, because many of the records we pursue are public documents, they should be available free of charge. Folks object to paying for copies of birth records or paying
E.O.E.
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VIEW OUR JOB LIST We list other jobs on the Web at www.co.lancaster.pa.us/ lanco_aging. To learn more about applying for the 55+ Job Bank and these jobs, call the Employment Unit at (717) 299-7979. SN-GEN.03
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— Volunteer Opportunities — Lancaster County Office of Aging offers several volunteer opportunities for people who are homebound. Most of those tasks involve phoning consumers of the agency. The phone calls may be of a social nature, for the purpose of gathering information, or to check on the safety of consumers. Phone Pal volunteers are assigned to call an agency consumer several times a week for the purpose of increasing the older person’s socialization opportunities. Those phone calls can brighten the day of a homebound person. Volunteers may also make calls to ask consumers about the services they’re receiving through the agency. Volunteers are provided with a survey form, and the gathered information is returned by mail at no cost to the volunteer. TAP (telephone assurance program) callers are assigned to call a consumer at the same time every day to check on the person’s well-being. If the consumer doesn’t answer the phone, there is a procedure to follow to ensure his/her safety. You determine how many and which days of the week you’re available for calling. If you are homebound and want to volunteer in a significant way by phoning, contact Bev Via at (717) 299-7979 or aging@co.lancaster.pa.us for more information.
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subscriptions to online venues before they can access information. This philosophy ignores the fact that even with public records, someone has to find them (labor), copy them (equipment and material), mail them (postage), and, in the case of online venues, digitize and organize them (labor and equipment), etc. I pay for an online service for no small annual fee. Using that service, I have found dozens of images of original birth, marriage, and death records for my ancestors, as well as for my wife’s. Much as I love visiting Sicily, If I
had had to travel there to collect the same information, my family tree would be bare indeed. Next time, I’ll review previously analyzed online sources, covering changes and additions to their sites. Write to Angelo at genealogytips@aol.com or visit his website, www.bit.ly/AFCGen. He is the author of the book The Lady of the Wheel (La Ruotaia), based on his genealogical research of Sicilian foundlings. See www.bit.ly/ruotaia for more information, or order the book at www.amzn.to/racalmuto.
Experience the convenience of one-floor living. 5 lots available ... going fast! Please join us at our
Open House Sunday, July 14th
• Spec home and pre-owned homes available to inspect •
1 to 3 p.m.
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Eastwood Village Homes LLC
*Details available at Sales Center.
102 Summers Drive Lancaster, PA 17601
717-397-3138
www.eastwoodvillagehomes.com
Directions: Rt. 30E – Greenfield Road exit, Right onto Greenfield Road to Fallon Drive. Right onto Fallon Drive; follow signs to Sales Center.
Beautiful, Comfortable “The Upper Hand” This phrase originated with the advent of sandlot baseball. In order to determine which team would bat first, one player would grasp the baseball bat at the lower end. A player from the opposing team would then place his hand directly above the first player’s hand. They would alternate hands up the bat until the end was reached and one of the players had the “upper hand.”
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RICHARD H. HEISEY FUNERAL HOME Richard H. Heisey Owner/Funeral Director Credit Cards Accepted • Handicap Accessible
216 S. Broad St., Lititz
(717) 626-2464
Humane League Pet of the Month
Tiger While he may share a name with a powerful feline predator, the fiercest thing about this tiger is the love he has to give. When you enter his room, Tiger is often the first one to greet you with bright eyes and an eager attitude. He loves soaking up attention from all of his human visitors, and he enjoys the company of other mild-mannered kitties too. At 3 years old, Tiger may be old enough to be considered an adult, but he’s not ready to set aside his playful personality any time soon. He is easily enticed into playtime, and his toy of choice is a fuzzy mouse. Tiger is a very healthy kitty because our vet staff discovered that he is diabetic and provided him with the medicine he needs. He will need an owner who can give him his eye drops three times a day on a regular schedule. His eye drops can be purchased at cost through the Humane League. Already neutered and litter-box trained, this sweet boy is hoping to be adopted into a loving home soon. Tiger excels at being a great friend and he can’t wait to bring so much love to his new owner’s life. Tiger ID No. 09738367 For more information, please contact the Humane League of Lancaster County at (717) 393-6551.
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50plus SeniorNews •
July 2013
9
Traveltizers
Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel
Crafting the Roads and History of New Hampshire honda Besaw carefully places three small pouches on her dining room table. They are meticulously adorned with very tiny beads. One has three flowers, another has a geometric design, and the third—my favorite—has sparkles of light that swirl across a black background. Besaw explains that the sparkles represent her people as they cross over the Milky Way to a place where they will be reborn. Besaw’s people are the Abenaki, a tribe that has lived in southern Quebec and northern New England since before the beginning of oral history. Yet many people are unfamiliar with their culture and contributions. Besaw, an award-winning Native artist whose work is regularly shown in galleries throughout the Northeast, is on a mission to change this. “The Abenaki are still here,” she says. “Through these beads, I hope to share the story of our survival.”
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Crafting takes people along the back roads, where scenes like this abound.
Award-winning artist Rhonda Besaw uses beads to tell stories of her people.
Dartmouth history professor Jere Daniell calls Hillsborough “a quintessential New Hampshire town.”
My husband and I are visiting Besaw in her home, which is in a small village in the north woods of New Hampshire. The drive took us through the Notch, an area where you can’t communicate by cell phone but where you can—if you’re good at this sort of thing—talk with moose and bear. We were, in all respects, on a “road less traveled,” and this, for us, is part of the joy of “crafting,” a word that we coined more than 20 years ago. Crafting is the art of getting to know a place—its history, its traditions, its people—through its handmade objects. New Hampshire is the perfect place for this type of travel. In 1932 it became the first state to officially support its artists by establishing The League of New Hampshire Arts and Crafts, and the state’s craft tradition—which includes Native, Colonial, Shaker, and contemporary work—is among the nation’s finest. Besaw’s work includes beaded bags, moccasins, leggings, and drool-worthy
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necklaces and earrings. Her images are not reproductions of traditional designs but rather interpretations of ancient themes. In this way she passes on not only stories of her ancestors, but also their spirits. Our quest to glimpse New Hampshire’s colonial heritage takes us to Hillsborough Center, a town that is New England to its core, right down to the white-steepled church and stacked-stone fences. Jon Gibson, a second-generation pewterer, greets us with a smile. “I’ll show you the old schoolhouse, and then we’ll go into my studio,” he says. This is how we come to spend the morning in a 200-year-old schoolhouse as well as in an equally old post-andbeam barn, all the while learning about a craft that was essential to the daily life of the early settlers. I pick up a porringer and admire its decorative handle. “Paul Revere worked in silver rather than pewter, but he made some of the most famous colonial porringers,” says Gibson. The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston has in its collection several pieces made by Paul Revere as well as a few items made by Jon Gibson, a fact of which
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Jon Gibson uses an old lathe to make pewter vessels in the traditional way.
Arched stone bridges near Hillsborough are examples of the dry-laid masonry that is a hallmark of what is aptly nicknamed “The Granite State.”
Sumner Bennett recalls New Hampshire’s Shaker tradition as he makes sets of nested boxes.
Gibson is rightfully proud. Some of Gibson’s pieces—which include bowls, plates, mugs, tankards, and candleholders—are cast, some are hammered, and some are spun on an antique lathe. From Hillsborough Center we travel to Amherst, where we meet Sumner Bennett, who painstakingly crafts individually fabricated Shaker boxes. The
Shakers, who arrived in the colonies in the late 1700s, believed in devoting their “hands to work and their hearts to God,” and thus became known for items that were made with utmost love and precision. I look at a set of oval nested boxes, perhaps the most well known of the Shaker crafts, and quickly realize the necessity for such precision. The top of
each box must not only fit snuggly onto the bottom of its handcrafted mate, but each box must also be sized to fit into the next larger one. Bennett makes sets that consist of up to 10 nested boxes. He is relaxed as he demonstrates the various steps required to make the boxes, from preparing the wood to cutting the ovals and distinctive finger-shaped joints that keep the boxes from buckling. As with Besaw and Gibson, Bennett’s willingness to share his knowledge, both technical and historical, gives me insight into the past, teaching me not only how people lived, but also how they thought. Like all our crafting journeys, we run out of time much too soon. There are more crafts to explore, more history to learn. We haven’t even begun to delve into the state’s thriving contemporary art scene. For that, we’ll have to return. The Annual League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair, which showcases the work of more than 350 craftspeople, takes place this year Aug. 3–11. Rhonda Besaw: www.rhondabesaw.com Jon Gibson: www.gibsonpewter.com Sumner Bennett: www.sbshakerbox.com Other NH craftspeople: www.nhcrafts.org Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).
50plus SeniorNews •
July 2013
11
Salute to a Veteran
From His Cruiser, He Saw Hundreds of Bodies Floating on the Sea Robert D. Wilcox hen Vernon Barker was still a junior in high school in 1943, he enlisted in the Navy. His brother had joined the Navy earlier and had told him about the high adventure of life aboard ship. And we were at war, and everybody else seemed to be going, so he couldn’t wait to become a sailor himself and see some of that action. He sure got his wish, since he later served in most of the major invasions of the war in the Pacific. His boot camp was at Naval Station Great Lakes in northern Illinois. Then he was sent to Newport News, where he was assigned to a brand-new light cruiser, the USS Mobile. In those days, the Navy was scrambling to build and man the hundreds of ships it would take to stand up to the powerful Japanese navy. So crews were being sent into combat as quickly as combat ships could
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come on line. extreme importance After a shakedown to Japan. Admiral cruise in the William F. “Bull” Chesapeake Bay to Halsey had spurred check out the ship’s his men on by guns, radio, and many saying, “We’re going other systems, the to show the Japanese Mobile sailed through what the Fourth of the Panama Canal to July is all about.” Hawaii, arriving there And they did, in June 1943. pelting the island After a month of with everything they training, they were had. deemed ready for The Mobile then combat and joined Task joined the fifth fleet Force 58 for a July 4 for the Gilberts Vernon Barker in boot camp at raid on Marcus Island, campaign. There, Naval Station Great Lakes. an isolated Japanese she screened the coral atoll some 1,150 ships of Task Force miles southeast of Tokyo. It was the 15 as they struck at Tarawa Atoll in the easternmost territory belonging to Japan. first offensive in the critical central And, although it was small, it was of Pacific region.
It was also the first time in the war that the United States faced serious Japanese opposition to an amphibious landing. The 4,500 Japanese defenders were well supplied and well prepared, and they fought almost to the last man. Barker remembers it best for the shock that came to him one morning when he went to go on deck for a little fresh air. “All I could see was bodies floating all over the place,” he said. “Tarawa was so small that they had no place to bury the Japanese, so they took the bodies out to sea 5 or 6 miles and dumped them into the sea.” Barker manned a 40-mm gun position that helped defend his ship from air attack, and in all the campaigns they were involved in, air attack was continuous. His ship’s major responsibility was to soften up the Japanese defenses against amphibious assault.
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For more information: Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 South Lincoln Avenue Lebanon, PA 17042 1-717-272-6621 or 1-800-409-8771
Why Participate? It’s the premier event for baby boomers, caregivers, and seniors in Lancaster County • Face-to-face interaction with 3,000+ attendees • Strengthen brand recognition/ Brought to you by: launch new products &
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After Tawara came than 1,300 ships gathered Wake, Bougainville, and for the naval bombardment Kwajalein, where the of the island. Mobile performed fire During the invasion, support and carriernearly 1,500 kamikaze screening duties. Joining flights were flown by the Task Force 58, she Japanese to sink 34 The light cruiser USS Mobile, American ships and pounded major enemy on which Vernon Barker bases at Eniwetok and damage 164 others. But served in World War II. Rabaul, and then helped naval gunfire was used devastate Truk, the base longer and in greater of the Japanese combined fleet. quantities than in any other battle in Then they sailed for the Marianna history. Islands, where they struck Saipan, After 82 days, the Okinawan Tinian, and Guam. By March 24, campaign was officially declared over on Mobile’s first anniversary, she had July 2, 1945, but to achieve that, more steamed more than 70,000 miles and ships were used, more troops put ashore, participated in 11 major operations more supplies transported, more bombs against the enemy. dropped, more Naval guns fired against But after having supported Allied shore targets than in any other operation landings in New Guinea and shelled in the Pacific. Wake Island, they were to face something On both sides, nearly 170,000 died. new and deadly. While raiding in the The Japanese lost 7,800 aircraft and 16 Philippines and Peleliu, they, for the first combat ships. And we now had a base time, were attacked by kamikazes, day for the planned invasion of the Japanese and night. They were the aircraft that mainland. unskilled Japanese pilots tried to fly into Then the U.S. dropped the two AAmerican ships and installations. bombs, and the war was over. Later, the Mobile faced the Kaiten Barker says, “Truman was right to one-man submarines, which, like the drop the A-bomb, because the projected kamikazes, were guided by their pilots to loss of life in attacking the Japanese certain death. They were launched from mainland was monumental.” larger submarines, and once in the The Mobile returned to San Diego, Kaiten, the pilot could not unlock the and Barker was discharged at Great Lakes hatches. He was to exchange his life for on Feb. 23, 1946. He later came to whatever damage he could do. Japan Lancaster to visit his sister, Eileen, and produced several hundred of those death there he met his future wife, Gloria. He traps during the war. liked Lancaster, too, so he decided to The last action for the Mobile was the stay. invasions of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Thinking back over his days in the Barker remembers seeing the famous flag Navy, he says he saw more combat than raised on Iwo Jima and the particularly he could ever have imagined. That had savage battle for Okinawa, where some earned him the Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon 100,000 Japanese troops were dug-in in with 12 Battle Stars and the Philippines caves, cement tombs, and fortifications, Liberation Medal with two Stars. He’s well protected from the pre-invasion proud of that … and truly thankful that bombardment. he came through it all in one piece. The invasion would see the Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in assembling of the greatest naval armada ever. In total, the American fleet of more Europe in World War II.
Workshops Planned for Prospective Volunteers Free volunteer-opportunity workshops will be held in the community room at Park City Mall on Monday, July 15, at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. The workshops are presented by RSVP (Retired Senior and Volunteer Programs). RSVP teams with not-for-profit agencies and community-benefit organizations to recruit and place volunteers (age 55+) throughout www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Lancaster County. RSVP is the local agency for Senior Corps of Pennsylvania. Volunteers are eligible for partial transportation reimbursement and receive supplemental health and liability insurance coverage. For further information, contact Jim Sanders at (717) 847-1539 or lancaster@rsvpcapreg.org or visit www.volunteer4lancaster.org.
Who Has the Best Bites in Central PA? 50plus Senior News readers have spoken! Here are the Lancaster County dining favorites for 2013! Breakfast: George’s Kendig Square Restaurant
Fast Food: McDonald’s
Lunch: Garfield’s Restaurant
Seafood: Red Lobster
Dinner: Horse Inn
Steak: Outback Steakhouse
Ethnic Cuisine: Lombardo’s Italian-American Restaurant
Outdoor Dining: T.J. Rockwell’s
Celebrating: Garfield’s Restaurant Bakery: Achenbach’s Pastry Shop Coffeehouse: Starbucks
Romantic Setting: The Log Cabin Smorgasbord/Buffet: Shady Maple Smorgasboard Caterer: Hess’s Barbecue Catering
Winner of $50 Giant Food Stores Gift Card: Linda Farley of East Berlin Congratulations!
Harrisburg’s Oldies Channel!
• Breakfast with Ben Barber and News with Dennis Edwards • John Tesh with Music and Intelligence for Your Workday • Bruce Collier & The Drive Home
Find us at AM 960 or at whylradio.com
WE PLAY OVER 1500 GREAT SONGS! 50plus SeniorNews •
July 2013
13
Calendar of Events
Lancaster County
Lancaster County Department of Parks and Recreation
Senior Center Activities
Pre-registration is required for these programs. All activities are held at the Environmental Center in Central Park unless otherwise noted. To register or to find out more about these activities or any additional scheduled activities, call (717) 295-2055 or visit www.lancastercountyparks.org.
Cocalico Senior Association – (717) 336-7489 July 10, 9 a.m. – Outside Picnic July 12, 9 a.m. – “Know Your Benefits” with Mindy Fee, State Representative July 19, 10 a.m. – Music with Sterling Lam
July 5, 9 to 10 p.m. – Nighttime Star Watch: Stars, Planets, Galaxies, and Constellations July 20, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. – Summer Reading for Adults: How to Compost July 21, 7 to 8 p.m. – The Call of the Loons
Library Programs Lititz Public Library, 651 Kissel Hill Road, Lititz, (717) 626-2255 July 8, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. – Scrabble Club July 15, 6 p.m. – Vintage Movie: Stand By Me July 23, 6:30 p.m. – Understanding Our Teens & Tweens: Social Media
Support Groups
Elizabethtown Area Senior Center – (717) 367-7984 July 3, 1:30 p.m. – Bingo for Bucks July 10 and 21, 9:30 a.m. – Zumba Gold Class July 11, 9:30 a.m. – Stamping Craft Class Free and open to the public
July 3, 7 p.m. Support for Caregivers Lancashire Terrace Retirement Village 6 Terrace Drive, Lancaster (717) 659-0565 July 3, 7 to 8:15 p.m. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Willow Lakes Outpatient Center 212 Willow Valley Lakes Drive Willow Street (717) 464-9365
July 8, 10 to 11 a.m. Alzheimer’s Caregivers Support Group Garden Spot Village Concord Room 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland (717) 355-6076 jmorton@gardenspotvillage.org July 18, noon Brain Tumor Support Group Lancaster General Health Campus Wellness Center 2100 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster (717) 626-2894
Community Programs July 1, 6 p.m. Red Rose Singles Meeting Park City Diner 884 Plaza Blvd., Lancaster (717) 475-3007 July 13, 8:30 a.m. Busy Buddies: Widows & Widowers Social Group Dutch Way Restaurant 365 Route 41, Gap Reservations required (484) 667-0738
July 22, 2 to 3 p.m. Parkinson’s Support Group Garden Spot Village Concord Room 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland (717) 355-6259 jshaffer@gardenspotvillage.org July 24, 6 to 8 p.m. Epilepsy Foundation of Eastern Pennsylvania Support Group Lancaster General Hospital Stager Room 5 555 N. Duke St., Lancaster (800) 887-7165, ext. 104 Free and open to the public
July 14, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pennsylvania Music Expo Continental Inn 2285 Lincoln Highway East Lancaster (717) 898-1246 www.recordcollectors.org Meet the Churches Series July 15, 7 p.m. – United Zion Church July 22, 7 p.m. – Moravian Church July 29, 7 p.m. – Early Huguenots Garden Spot Village Chapel 433 S. Kinzer Ave., New Holland (717) 355-6203
July 19, 6 to 9 p.m. Music Fridays 200 and 300 Blocks of North Queen Street 24 W. Walnut St., Lancaster (717) 341-0028
If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
What’s Happening? Give Us the Scoop! Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in Lancaster County! Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com Let
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help you get the word out! (717) 285-1350
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Columbia Senior Center – (717) 684-4850 July 9, 10:15 a.m. – Program on Underground Railroad July 25, 10:15 a.m. – Music & Memories July 25, 11 a.m. – Heat Advisories and What They Mean
Lancaster House North – (717) 299-1278 Thursdays, noon to 3 p.m. – Happy Hearts Club Pinochle Lancaster Neighborhood Senior Center – (717) 299-3943 July 11, 10:30 a.m. – Music & Memories July 18 – Trip to Union Canal July 24, 9:30 a.m. – Haircuts and Manicures Lancaster Rec. Center – (717) 392-2115, ext. 147 Fridays, 12:30 to 3 p.m. – Happy Hearts Club Bridge Lititz Senior Center – (717) 626-2800 July 3, 10:15 a.m. – Special Fourth of July Music July 8, 10 a.m. – Penn State Nutrition Program July 25, 10:15 a.m. – Music & Dancing LRC Senior Center – (717) 399-7671 July 10, 9 a.m. – Beach Party at Conestoga Pines Pool July 17, 10 a.m. – Indoor Shuffleboard Competition July 25, 10:15 a.m. – Sing-Along with JR Wehman Luis Munoz Marin Senior Center – (717) 295-7989 July 5, 9 a.m. – Independence Day Celebration July 13, 10 a.m. – Hospice and Community Care Millersville Senior Center – (717) 871-9600 July 3, 10 a.m. – Fourth of July Celebration July 12, 8 a.m. – Nursing Students Visit July 31, 10 a.m. – Haircuts and Manicures Next Gen Senior Center – (717) 786-4770 July 12, 10:30 a.m. – Mission Outreach Program July 23, 10:30 a.m. – Veggie Voucher Trip July 26, 10:30 a.m. – Movie: Where the Red Fern Grows Rodney Park Center – (717) 393-7786 Tuesdays, 1 to 3 p.m. – Happy Hearts Club Pinochle and Bingo Please call or visit the centers’ websites for additional activities. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
CROSSWORD
Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18
WORD SEARCH
SUDOKU
Across 1. Funnyman 5. Energy-efficient transportation 10. Kind of meet 14. State categorically 15. Paradigm 16. Forum wear 17. Soupçon 18. Fetid 20. Role models 22. Degrees 23. Midnight medley? 24. Buckle under 26. Font style, for short Down 1. Bivouacs 2. Characteristic of birds 3. Rocket type 4. Most gloomy 5. Silver wattle 6. Land on the Strait of Hormuz 7. Erb’s ___ 8. Anima 9. Dickens character, Artful ___ 10. Violin name, for short 11. Cherry, e.g. 12. Malarial fever 13. Bridge option
28. 29. 32. 35. 37. 39. 40. 41. 42. 44. 45. 46.
Debate position Ginger Stumps, once High dudgeon Book of Ruth figure Men of the cloth, briefly Soft shoe Call it a day Novelist Loos Cole Porter’s “___ Clown” Ill-natured ___ de tête
19. 21. 25. 27. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34.
Synthetic fiber Catches on Medicinal syrup Supple Decant Pianist Gilels Pathos Streetcar Rockfish “... there is no ___ angel but Love”: Shakespeare 36. Old World deer 38. Conduits 43. Took steps
47. 49. 51. 53. 57. 60. 62. 64. 65. 66. 67. 68. 69. 70.
Evita role Sugar source Ringo, for one Arena exhibitions Once-popular songs Flare-up Type of punch Designer Chanel ___ of Green Gables Door sign Bygone despot Fewer Squalid Dried-up
45. 48. 50. 51. 52. 54. 55. 56. 57. 58. 59. 61. 63.
Prig Chops up, as potatoes Major thoroughfare Trig functions Itinerary Notched Odd Couple character Salt away Nuncupative Kind of wolf Harasses for payment Expended Unified
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July 2013
15
The Green Mountain Gardener
A Garden Worth 10 Scents Dr. Leonard Perry ow do you describe scents or fragrance in flowers? There are probably as many ways as there are people, scent being very subjective. It was in the Victorian times at the end of the 19th century that fragrance in the garden became really popular for just that, not for any functional use. Prior to that time, fragrance was used medicinally and to mask unpleasant odors. It was also at this time (1893) that scents were first categorized by Count von Marilaun into six groups. Since then, these have been expanded to 10 scent groups, all of which are used for flowers. These groups are based on common essential oils for each group of plants. It is the volatile compounds from these oils that our noses register as “scents.”
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1. The indole group has flowers smelling like and resembling decayed meat or
carrion, such as the skunk cabbage (Lysichiton) and a wake-robin (Trillium erectum), and attracts dung flies for pollination. 2. The aminoid group also smells unpleasant to attract flies, smelling of decayed fish or ammonia, and includes many umbel flowers, such as giant fennel. 3. The heavy group smells similar to the last, only
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sweeter, and includes some of the oldest known fragrant flowers, such as some lilies and narcissus.
moss, it attracts no insects, as the flowers are self-pollinating.
4. The aromatic group has some of the most pleasantly scented flowers with scents of vanilla, balsam, almond, and cloves, such as in some primroses, peonies, stocks, and pinks.
7. The lemon group is more often found in leaves but also in some water lilies and evening primroses.
5. The violet group and smell is, of course, present in violets. Smelling of damp woodland
6. The rose group is pleasant and found in roses in addition to some peonies and scented geraniums.
8. The fruit-scented group includes many roses and some minor bulbs. 9. The animal-scented group usually is unpleasant and may smell of musk, as in some roses; human perspiration, as in valerian and ox-eye daisy; and animal fur, as in crown imperial. 10. The honey-scented group is similar to the last, only sweeter and often more pleasant. Some examples are the butterfly
Lancaster Couple Celebrates Silver Anniversary Oscar and Damaris Dumeng Torres of Lancaster will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary on July 9. They were married in 1988 in Puerto Rico. They are the parents of Luis E. Reveron, Florida; Yashira Y. Luciano, Lancaster; Zachkoren K. Rojas, Lancaster; Ozziejeanpierre O. Torres, Lancaster; Tiyananonsion Y. Torres, Lancaster; and Jes’se os A. Torres, Lancaster. They have five grandsons.
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bush (Buddleia), showy stonecrop (Sedum spectabile), and meadowsweet (Filipendula). As seen in most of these flower-scent groups, insects or pollinators are the main reason for scent. It basically attracts pollinators specifically needed to pollinate a flower, and at the right time. Usually if a flower is not ready or is past the time for pollination, or has been pollinated, it won’t have much fragrance. If a flower is fragrant at night, odds are that it is pollinated by moths or even bats. Sweet scents generally attract bees and flies for pollination, while those with fruity or musty-smelling flowers may attract flies or beetles for pollination.
While a species of plant may have fragrance, some of its highly bred offspring may not. These cultivars (cultivated varieties) may have been bred for other traits instead, such as flower size, shape, or disease resistance. Roses are a good example of such a plant. Often, where there are many cultivars to choose from—as with roses, peonies, daffodils, or crabapples—only some will have fragrant flowers. Fragrant summer perennials include bearded iris early in the season, tall garden phlox later on as well as some of the oriental lilies, and lavender (where hardy).
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• a full day of engaging activities • chef-prepared meals • special events • a chance to make new friends • the security of knowing someone is available to help if needed, 24 hours a day
JUNIPER VILLAGE AT MOUNT JOY SENIOR LIVING
607 Hearthstone Lane, Mount Joy, PA 17552
717.492.9692 www.junipercommunities.com
Dr. Leonard P. Perry is an extension professor at the University of Vermont.
Survey Finds Older Motorists Practice Safe Driving Nine in 10 older drivers buckle up when they get behind the wheel and more than a third have taken driver improvement courses, according to data surveying more than 7,000 seniors. Survey findings, collected by AAA, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), and AARP, also reveal that twice the number of women attended driver safety courses despite the fact that older men drove more often than older women by 12 percent. AAA is promoting the data to help debunk the perception that older drivers are a menace on the road. “The silver tsunami is often unfairly dubbed as risky and dangerous. These data tell us that they practice safe driving behaviors and that more than a third of older drivers have actively sought out and participated in programs to improve their skills,” says Jenny M. Robinson, manager of public and government affairs for AAA MidAtlantic. The findings were collected from drivers who participated in CarFit, a free program offered by AAA, AOTA, and AARP.
Residents in our short-term Summer Respite Getaway Program enjoy:
Typically offered at community events, CarFit runs drivers and their vehicles through a 12-point checklist with trained technicians who assess the fit of a driver’s car by checking for optimum and safe settings, such as distance from and sight line above the steering wheel and proper mirrors settings. According to CarFit participant data, the top four “fit” challenges for older drivers included improper distance from steering wheel (59 percent); adequate and safe views from side mirrors (32 percent); improper seat height (28 percent); and improper head restraint height (21 percent). After a run through the CarFit program, 97 percent of participants’ issues were resolved. Other survey data revealed that more than half (52 percent) of drivers 65 and older typically drive seven days a week. “Even when they’re driving every day, seniors do not pose a disproportionate threat on the roads,” said Robinson. “In fact, drivers in their mid-to-late 80s have lower crash rates per mile driven than drivers in their early 20s and roughly half the crash rate of teenagers.”
Denture Repairs While You Wait
You can get new dentures started, repaired, or relined the same day. With our on-site dental lab, most repairs are done while you wait. Initial consultation is free and most insurance plans are accepted.
Emergencies & New Patients Welcome Evenings Available
(717) 394-9773
951 ROHRERSTOWN RD., LANCASTER
Time is a Priceless Gift Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus Senior News’
Volunteer Spotlight!
Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
50plus SeniorNews •
July 2013
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DRAFT
from page 1
Her positive mind has forged the way for a positive life. And her natural charisma may be what prompted so many women to join the Women’s Writing Circle that Weidener began in November 2009. The Women’s Writing Circle began out of Weidener’s hope and dream of finding kindred spirits who could connect as a community of writers. “It is very important when you are a writer to ease the loneliness and isolation of the work and find a community of likeminded souls,” Weidener said. “All of these women have given me a new lease on life.” The group of women meets on the second Saturday of each month at a local bookshop. They share their writing with each other and offer support and validation—things essential to any writer’s success, both in their careers and as individuals. “The emphasis is on how writing can lead to healing, self-discovery, and empowerment,” she said. To merely say that Weidener loves writing would be an injustice to her true feelings, as she loves every aspect of it— “even the blood, sweat, and tears” that go into it. “I found that writing was a journey into the soul—a path to self-discovery, as well as a way to develop understanding and empathy for others,” she said. “When you put on paper what has tormented you, you take away the power
of painful memories and put them Philadelphia Inquirer before leaving the behind you.” paper in 2007. Weidener is quick to point out that While she is committed to freely the group meets to connect not only as cheering others on in their journeys—no writers, but also as matter what age wives, mothers, they may be— daughters, sisters, Weidener has also and friends sharing been so bold as to their journeys. share her own life The group has journey in its rawest since evolved into a form in two monthly critique memoirs. session with a Her first book, concentration on Again in a developing pieces of Heartbeat, was writing for potential published in publication, 2010—the same explains Weidener. Books authored by Weidener as well as year that she turned Workshops have 60. It is a memoir the entire Women’s Writing Circle have also been formed of love, loss, and been featured at the bookshop where from the Women’s dating again. they meet monthly. Writing Circle, Weidener has not where the focus is on the craft and remarried since losing her husband but alchemy of writing. still dates occasionally. The group recently published an “I never met a man as strong or as anthology of stories and poems, called confident, as kind and as honorable as Slants of Light: Stories and Poems From the John,” said Weidener. “What has kept Women’s Writing Circle. The anthology me going since John’s death is the can be purchased in some local memory of how he believed in me, my bookstores or at Amazon.com, and it will strength as a woman, and he never be available as an e-book on Aug. 1. doubted for an instant that I could raise Weidener brought in outside his sons on my own.” workshop instructors to teach on topics She learned a lot about herself as she like fiction and memoir writing and wrote Again in a Heartbeat and hopes the journaling. She shares her own skills and book can help anyone who is going experiences as well. Weidener worked as through the loss of a loved one. a news and feature writer for The “When a person we love has cancer, or
any chronic illness, we may not always live up to our own set of personal standards,” she explained. “My anger and grief should not have been directed at my husband for dying but at the cancer and how the disease impacted our family, our two little boys, and my own naïve dream of a happily-ever-after.” She points out in the book that when a person you love is dying, they will often distance themselves from you. “It would have helped me at the time if I had had someone to talk about it and why I felt so abandoned by him.” Weidener’s second memoir, Morning at Wellington Square, published in 2012, is the story of a woman’s search to find herself beyond traditional roles. She discusses the beginning of the Women’s Writing Circle and the end of her career as a journalist. Leaving the newspaper was painful in its own way; her time in the newsroom was so rewarding and felt like more of a calling than it did a job. “I am always amazed when I think of how an idea to start a writing circle has turned into a place where, over the last three and a half years, more than 200 women have read their work,” Weidener said. “Some come once or twice and don’t return to the circle, while others have been coming steadily for a year, two years, even three.” To follow the happenings of the Women’s Writing Circle, you may visit their blog at www.susanweidener.com.
U.S. Dementia Care Costs Reached $215 Billion in 2010
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estimates by researchers at RAND Corp. and the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. The researchers found these costs of care comparable to, if not greater than, those for heart disease and cancer.
The study, supported by the National Institutes of Health and published recently in The New England Journal of Medicine, totaled direct medical expenditures and costs attributable to the vast network of informal, unpaid care
that supports people with dementia. Depending on how informal care is calculated, national expenditures in 2010 for dementia among people older than 70 were found to be $159 to $215 billion.
Puzzles shown on page 15
Puzzle Solutions
The costs of caring for people with dementia in the United States in 2010 were between $159 and $215 billion, and those costs could rise dramatically with the increase in the numbers of older people in coming decades, according to
July 2013
50plus SeniorNews •
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
The Way I See It
Now Women Have a Choice
Birthday Thoughts Mike Clark celebrated my 62nd birthday on April 29, and I am still having trouble understanding how I could be two years immersed in my sixth decade. When I think about birthdays, I can’t remember a time when I said, “I wish I could be in my 60s.” I do remember saying that I wish I could be 21, for all the obvious reasons. I even thought that 30 was pretty good. By then I had a good job; I was married; I had a newborn son and a daughter two years later; I had a house and an inexpensive new car; and I felt that things were going well. It was hectic and chaotic, though. When I hit my 40s, things had begun to go wrong. I mean, I had been in my job for 12 years and I was actually making some money. A couple of bucks left over after household expenses were paid hinted that I was getting somewhere. But some serious health problems interfered with our lives by the time I was 43, and a couple of years later, the teenagers living in our home were overcome by hormonal madness and an omnipotent wisdom of all things that ever were and ever shall be. Controlling the demonic forces turned me into an unrecognizable figure of a man. Did I say there was anger? Oh, yes, and it was a righteous anger. With the patience of a saint, I taught both of my children to drive. And when each one passed their driver’s test, I was almost willing to buy each a good car and provide a year’s rent somewhere on the opposite side of the country. “Get there safely but get there as fast as you can,” I wanted to say, “and don’t come back until you realize how smart your mom and I actually are.” I remember when I was a teenager
I
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how folks who were the age that I am now would say, “Enjoy being young. Each new year flies by faster and faster.” And I would say, “Blah, blah, blah and blabbity, blabbity, blabbity.” Just like my teenagers, I knew everything. How frivolous and carefree and invincible I was. It’s the universal story of youth, isn’t it? I told my brother the other day that my new favorite song is “Yesterday, When I Was Young” by Roy Clark. Listen to it; you’ll see what I mean. A faded celebrity singer said one time on a talk show that there wasn’t one darned thing that was good about getting old. I suppose that’s true for once-famous people who have lost their luster and have been forgotten by the public. But I have never been famous or widely known by the public. Getting older for a regular guy like me is just routine; I have no delusions or flashbacks of glory. Look, I’m not saying that getting older is a dream. The inevitable loss of youth can be difficult. Many of you already know it; many more soon will. In sad resignation, I have often said good riddance to much of the foolishness and turmoil of that earlier time, while in my heart I yearn for one more stab at it. I don’t ever remember saying that I wish I could be in my 60s, but I sure hope I can be in my 70s. The alternative is difficult to ponder. Mike Clark writes a regular column for The Globe Leader newspaper in New Wilmington, Pa. He lives outside Columbia, Pa., and can be contacted at mikemac429@aol.com.
Women’s Digestive Health Center Introducing a facility designed exclusively for women, and staffed completely by women. Dr. Sadiya Cheshty of RGAL is board certified in Gastroenterology and Internal Medicine and specializes in women’s digestive health. For more information about the Women’s Digestive Health Center visit www.RGAL.com. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cheshty call 717.544.3406.
Dr. Sadiya Cheshty Medical Director
Women’s Digestive Health Center 694 Good Drive, Suite 23 Lancaster, PA 17601 (Adjacent to Women & Babies Hospital)
www.RGAL.com
11th Annual
Sept. 18, 2013 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Avenue, York
17th Annual
14th Annual
NEW LOCATION!
Oct. 24, 2013 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street Carlisle
Nov. 6, 2013 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Spooky Nook Sports 2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim (Just off Rt. 283 at the Salunga exit)
Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available 717.285.1350 717.770.0140 610.675.6240
50plus SeniorNews •
July 2013
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You bring the talent, We’ll provide the stage! Do you dance … sing … play an instrument … perform magic … do comedy? Do you think you’ve got what it takes to be called PA STATE SENIOR IDOL? Then we’re looking for you!
Pennsylvanians over 50 are invited to audition for the eighth annual PA STATE SENIOR IDOL competition at one of these locations:
Tuesday, August 27
Thursday, September 5
Holiday Inn Harrisburg East
Heritage Hotel – Lancaster
4751 Lindle Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111
500 Centerville Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
(Morning/Early Afternoon Auditions)
(Afternoon/Evening Auditions)
Win a limousine trip to New York City with dinner and a Broadway show! Finals to be held on October 14, 2013 at: Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster, PA 17601 • (717) 898-1900
For more information, updates, or an application:
911 Photo Graphics
717.285.1350 • www.SeniorIdolPA.com
20
July 2013
50plus SeniorNews •
Emcee:
Diane Dayton of Dayton Communications
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com