50plus LIFE Lebanon County February 2019

Complimentary | Lebanon County Edition

February 2019 • Vol. 14 No. 2

UKES ON THE RISE page 4

Writing to Preserve and Revive Memory page 9

can you deduct medicare costs? page 18

Soldier Stories

Robert Naeye

Vietnam Medevac Pilot Faces His Toughest Challenge

John Travers was once a larger-than-life character.

This Vietnam War hero was a star basketball player, prolific prankster, and an outgoing husband and father who was admired by almost everybody who came in contact with him.

Yet today, this Harrisburg native is living in a California healthcare facility due to exposure to Agent Orange, a defoliant widely deployed

by American aircraft during the war. This toxic chemical has caused physical ailments and brain damage that limit his activities, speech, and quality of life.

Travers’s story is one of resilience and hope in the face of daunting odds. And it’s a story powerfully Photo credit: Anwar Saeed Photo credit: Calvin Ligh documented in the new film All Were Forgotten and John Travers holding a After more than Then Came John. photo of a challenge coin 30 years, Kathleen Travers was born in Harrisburg in 1948. His created in his honor.

Torchia and John father, John Sr., was a B-17 bomber pilot in World Travers reconnected at War II. “Big John,” as he was known to family a high school reunion and friends, later became a highly regarded sports committee meeting. writer and editor for Harrisburg’s two major daily They married in 2005. newspapers: The Patriot-News and The Evening News.

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| Harrisburg, PA

Big John’s love of sports filtered down to his son.

The father recommended that John Jr. focus all of his energy and attention on one sport. Travers decided on basketball. He chose well, leading an undersized Bishop McDevitt High School squad to the Pennsylvania state championship game in 1966, his senior year.

During his high school years, he befriended his fellow student Kathleen Torchia. Travers would frequently walk her home from school. They went to the senior prom together but lost touch after high school and would not see each other for 36 years.

“I had a huge crush on him; a lot of girls did,” recalls Torchia.

Penn State and Notre Dame offered Travers an athletic scholarship. He chose to stay close to home.

His parents had raised him as a strict Catholic and did not allow him to date in high school. That all changed when he got to State College.

“They turned me loose on a campus with 20,000 females and all this alcohol and then expect that I was going to have some kind of bodily control,” Travers said years ago.

Travers neglected his classes and became academically ineligible after his freshman year. He and Penn State agreed to part ways. Shortly thereafter, Travers received a draft notice in the mail.

“I said to myself, ‘I’m not going to get drafted,’” he recalled. After speaking to an Army recruiter, he signed up to be an Army helicopter pilot.

Travers became a Dustoff pilot, flying medevac missions into active combat zones. Travers’s chopper frequently took hits from enemy fire. But he flew these incredibly dangerous missions 10 hours a day, six days a week.

He estimates that he evacuated more than 2,100 patients during the war.

Time was of the essence because 99 percent of wounded Americans who survived the first 24 hours after their injuries would live.

One of Travers’s fellow Dustoff pilots, Bernie Goldensweig, said of him, “John had a reputation as an excellent Dustoff pilot. He was very competent and fearless. Like all of us, he would accept any mission and would do whatever was necessary to help the wounded soldiers on the ground.”

“You’re talking about a real, true American hero,” adds retired Sgt. Joseph Novak Sr., president of Vietnam Veterans Association Chapter 542, to which Travers belongs.

Travers’s exemplary service did not end when he returned to Harrisburg.

During 1972’s Hurricane Agnes, Travers was based at Fort Indiantown Gap while serving in the National Guard. He flew helicopter missions to rescue people from their roofs. During one mission, he flew his chopper under a bridge to save people trapped in the Susquehanna River.

Travers returned to Penn State. This time, he earned a master’s degree in European history, graduating summa cum laude.

Travers had married and had a daughter before going off to war, but he received a “Dear John” letter while serving in Vietnam. He remarried and had another daughter after his return, but this marriage did not last, although he still maintains a very close relationship with his daughter.

Then, in 2002, Travers attended a high school reunion committee meeting. www.50plusLifePA.com

It was there that he laid eyes on Kathleen Torchia for the first time since 1966.

She had returned to Harrisburg from California to stay with her father, who was living alone.

“I walked in the door and there was John Travers,” she recalls.

They talked for two hours. Torchia found him very interesting and intelligent and a man with strong moral values. The two became best friends.

Travers asked Torchia if she would consider dating him, but she was turned off by the smoking and drinking he used to cope with his war memories.

Eventually, he agreed to refrain from smoking and drinking in her presence.

After an 18-month courtship, they married in September 2005.

“We were so happy. We were best friends and we had a beautiful, beautiful marriage, and I just couldn’t have been happier,” says Torchia.

During this period, Travers was deeply active in veterans’ affairs. He helped breathe new life into the struggling Harrisburg chapter of the Vietnam Veterans Association, tripling its membership and expanding its activities while serving as president.

“John Travers got the Vietnam vets in south-central Pennsylvania organized; he got them out of their shells. He got them to take pride in the service they had provided to the country. And he gave them a unified voice,” says former

Harrisburg mayor Stephen R. Reed.

Travers also lobbied the Army and Congress on behalf of the hundreds of Dustoff crews who served valiantly in Vietnam but who were never awarded their own Combat Medical Badge. Inexplicably, this campaign has yet to bear fruit.

Just six months after their wedding, Torchia started noticing that her husband was behaving abnormally. Travers was at first reluctant to visit a doctor, but finally he received a diagnosis of a rare form of lymphoma — the result of exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam.

“He had already seen so many of his comrades die from various cancers caused by Agent Orange. He thought now it was his turn. It was horrible,” says Torchia.

And this was just the start of Travers’s medical ordeals. His treatments for lymphoma were successful and have kept him alive to the present day.

But around the same time, his speech began to slur, and then he had trouble walking. A neurologist diagnosed him with a form of brain degeneration, also triggered by Agent Orange. The brain damage would eventually affect his speech, emotions, and impulse control. please see PILOT page 16

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

Emergency Numbers Poison Control Center (800) 222-1222 Food Resources Food Stamps (800) 692-7462 Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging Meals on Wheels (717) 273-9262 Lebanon County Christian Ministries (717) 272-4400 Salvation Army (717) 273-2655 Funeral & Cremation Services Cremation Society of Pennsylvania Serving Lebanon County (800) 720-8221 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 American Cancer Society (717) 231-4582 American Diabetes Association (717) 657-4310 American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association (717) 207-4265 American Lung Association (717) 541-5864 Arthritis Foundation (717) 274-0754 Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (717) 787-7500 www.50plusLifePA.com

CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 Kidney Foundation (717) 652-8123 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (717) 652-6520 Lupus Foundation (888) 215-8787 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Home Care Services Homeland at Home Serving all of Lebanon County (717) 221-7892 Hospice Services Homeland at Home Serving all of Lebanon County (717) 221-7890 Hospitals Medical Society of Lebanon County (717) 270-7500 WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital 252 S. Fourth St., Lebanon (717) 270-7500 Hotlines Energy Assistance (800) 692-7462 Environmental Protection Agency Emergency Hotline (800) 541-2050 IRS Income Tax Assistance (800) 829-1040

Medicaid (800) 692-7462 Medicare (800) 382-1274 PennDOT (800) 932-4600 Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers (800) 472-8477 Recycling (800) 346-4242 Social Security Information (800) 772-1213 United Way of Lebanon County 2-1-1 U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (800) 827-1000 Housing Assistance Housing Assistance & Resources Program (HARP) (717) 273-9328 Lebanon County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities (717) 274-1401 Lebanon HOPES (717) 274-7528, ext. 3201 Insurance Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833 Legal Services Pennsylvania Bar Association (717) 238-6715

Office of Aging Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging (717) 273-9262 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com real estate Heart & Home Properties (717) 276-9951 Senior Centers Annville Senior Community Center (717) 867-1796 Maple Street Senior Community Center (717) 273-1048 Myerstown Senior Community Center (717) 866-6786 Northern Lebanon County Senior Community Center (717) 865-0944 Palmyra Senior Community Center (717) 838-8237 Senior Center of Lebanon Valley (717) 274-3451 Veterans Services Governor’s Veterans Outreach (717) 234-1681 Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771 Volunteer opportunitIes RSVP of the Capital Region (717) 454-8647

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

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Cover Story

Ukes on the Rise

Corporate Office

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com

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Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.

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February 2019

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By Megan Joyce In America, the ukulele has struggled to attain a cachet of legitimacy since folk musician Tiny Tim employed the petite, stringed instrument to score his kitschy pop single, “Tiptoe through the Tulips,” more than 50 years ago.

Members of Ukulele Uprising!, a community ukulele orchestra based in Lancaster, love that the uke is a simple — but not simplistic — instrument, and know that much of its charm lies in its relative ease of play.

Dana Edsall, a retired postal employee from Washington Boro and integral member of UU!, first picked up a ukulele more than a decade ago while visiting Hawaii. He found the fingering to be similar to that of a traditional guitar, which Edsall had played — “albeit poorly,” he said — for a number of years.

“The uke is easy to learn,” Edsall said.

“It only has four strings, and these are generally made of nylon, which is easier on the fingers than guitar strings. That ease of playing and the sweetness of sound are what attract so many people.”

Fellow Lancastrian Steve Patterson founded Ukulele Uprising! in 2012, and since its inception, the group has grown from just four attendees at the group’s first weekly meeting to now more than 75, about 20 of whom are “regulars.”

UU! is open to anyone interested, and membership is free. Novices can learn on loaner ukuleles, funded through the group’s collaboration with Music for Everyone, a nonprofit charitable organization that raises awareness and resources to strengthen the role music plays in local schools and communities, according to its website (musicforeveryone. org).

UU! players’ skill levels range from complete beginner to intermediate; membership age also spans a wide range.

“Right now, our youngest regular is 14, and on any given week, at least a couple of Medicare-eligible players are there,” Edsall said. “We also have one family represented by three generations: a father, daughter, and granddaughter.”

The club’s weekly strum sessions feature a variety of musical genres, from folk, standards, and Hawaiian and Latin songs

Photo credit: Eric Max

Dana Edsall, right, with wife Sherry Getz at the 2017 Ukulele Harmonic Convergence.

Uke players of all ages and skill levels are welcome to attend the group’s Tuesday-evening practices in the lobby of VisionCorps in downtown Lancaster.

Photo credit: Eric Max

Members of Ukulele Uprising! perform on stage during the 2018 Ukulele Harmonic Convergence held at Tellus360 in Lancaster.

www.50plusLifePA.com

to Bob Dylan, the Grateful Dead, and the Beatles. as performances at Barnstormers games, the Ware “Rock ’n’ roll is well represented,” Edsall said.

Center, and the Red Rose Run. “We’ve added a ukulele version of Guns N’ Roses’ Summertime is usually busiest, when the demand ‘Sweet Child of Mine’ that’s really pretty. A couple of for luau-themed parties is higher. our members become ‘Axlettes’ in the chorus on that “Our favorite venue, though, is playing on the one.” street for one of MFE’s Music Fridays,” Edsall said.

Edsall said the group is eager to expand the “Those are vibrant evenings in downtown Lancaster, diversity of its members; Music for Everyone has with lots of people wandering around and lots of undertaken targeted outreach programs to connect energy in the air. We play for others those nights, but with the rich cultural diversity in Lancaster city. we play for ourselves, too.”

“Every new member brings their own tastes, The group will also be participating in its fourth expressed through song,” he said. “Expanding our annual Ukulele Harmonic Convergence on March cultural base would help us grow and improve as 2 from noon to 6 p.m. at Tellus360 in Lancaster. musicians and people.”

UU! co-hosts the event with Hummelstown’s Central Bringing authentic culture to Ukulele Uprising Pennsylvania Ukulele Club and the Philadelphia is Hawaiian native Mika Cox McDougall, now a Main Line Ukulele Group. longtime UU! member who adds hula dancing to “Everyone is welcome, it’s free, and you’ll hear over some of the group’s performances.

100 ukuleles from across Pennsylvania and nearby McDougall, now of Peach Bottom, moved to states playing together,” Edsall said.

Philadelphia in 1997 and then to Lancaster in 2002.

Ukulele Uprising! meets at 7:30 p.m. each Tuesday “When I moved … I was missing home, and going in the lobby of VisionCorps at 244 N. Queen St., back to hula dance and Hawaiian music really kind Lancaster. The group pays VisionCorps a lease of $1 Photo credit: Eric Max of helped me with my homesickness and made me per year and, in return, teaches ukulele classes to kids Native Hawaiian Mika Cox McDougall adds hula dancing to some of the feel more in touch with back home,” McDougall, a who are part of the VisionCorps community. group’s performances.

Hawaiian hula dance instructor and mother of two “You can’t help smiling when you play a ukulele,” daughters, said.

Edsall said. “Being around so many people, singing, Although the instrument originated on the playing, and smiling together is just wonderful.” islands, its appeal has extended beyond Hawaiian music, McDougall said, For more information on Ukulele Uprising!, email uke.rise@gmail.com, call with many millennials being drawn to the “bright, happy instrument.” Each (717) 872-7991, or visit sites.google.com/site/ukeuplanc or www.facebook.com/ year, McDougall teaches a master class on the ukulele at Franklin & Marshall ukuleleuprising.

College.

“Of course, [people] don’t take it seriously; they think it’s a toy,” she said of the ukulele. “But it has a really rich history to the islands, and it’s really changed Hawaiian music through the years.”

McDougall joined Ukulele Uprising! several years ago, bringing not only her cultural heritage, but also her musical chops to the burgeoning group of uke players. In addition to playing her six ukuleles of varying shapes and sizes, McDougall has played the violin since childhood.

“I’m able to easily play music [on the ukulele] without being such a trained musician like you kind of have to do on the violin,” she said. “It’s just more casual and inviting.”

A welcome side effect of the group’s visibility is the increased interest and “legitimization” of the ukulele in the local community.

Read it online, in print, and UU! contributes to a summer arts program run by the YWCA, and they on mobile/tablet devices. have “started getting requests for ukuleles in schools,” McDougall said. “Even onlinepub.com some of our members — a lot are elementary school music teachers — now teach the ukulele to their students.”

Ukulele Uprising!’s performance schedule is busy and includes regular gigs at parties, fundraisers, senior centers, retirement homes, and weddings, as well

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Dear Pharmacist

Suzy Cohen

Can You Eat Dark Chocolate with a Milk Allergy?

Dark chocolate is a staple in my house. What are you supposed to do if you’re allergic to milk and want to eat dark chocolate?

It’s a good question.

Milk is actually allowed as an ingredient in “dark” chocolate, but sometimes it produces a harmful allergy in dairy-sensitive individuals.

The reality is that most chocolates contain some milk, and it’s undisclosed.

The FDA actually tested 100 different brands of dark chocolate bars, and they specifically tested it for the presence of milk. Of these 100 bars, only six of them listed milk as an ingredient!

The other 88 bars did not disclose milk as an ingredient, yet 51 of them contained milk.

Dairy-tainted chocolates are among the most frequently reported allergic reactions.

It’s unfortunate but true that milk can get into a dark-chocolate product even when it’s not directly added. The problem happens because dark chocolate is often produced on the same equipment that makes

milk-chocolate bars, and traces of milk often inadvertently wind up in the dark-chocolate batter. It’s essentially a problem of crosscontamination.

My best suggestion to you is to completely avoid dark chocolate (if you’re allergic to milk or dairy) unless the brand you’re buying is made on equipment dedicated to dark-chocolate bars only. This is hard to find, but possible.

The food industry doesn’t mean to make people sick, but these oversights can lead to pain and suffering for some of you. As a result, you see warnings on the label that serve as a wink of sorts: This product “may contain dairy” or “may contain traces of milk,” or this one: “manufactured in a facility that uses milk.”

There are others, but if you’re my best friend, I would tell you to replace the word “may” with “probably”!

The take-home message is you should not assume that your dark chocolate is free of milk, and you should not consume it if you have serious allergic reactions to milk, regardless of the label.

I have a checklist of 14 alias names for milk-derived ingredients that may be hidden in your food. My list will help you find undisclosed milk in your candy bars and chocolates. Visit my website (suzycohen.com) for more information.

I’ll also tell you why some chocolate bars aren’t good for vegans. Here’s a fun fact: White chocolate doesn’t contain any cacao whatsoever. It’s just a combination of cocoa butter, sugar, and milk, but it contains no cocoa solids, like dark and milk chocolate have. It’s definitely something to avoid if you’re dairy intolerant or allergic to milk.

In closing, when it comes to dark chocolate, the dairy-free claims and statements on the label are best completely disregarded if the manufacturer fails to use dedicated machinery and equipment to avoid cross-contamination.

Valentine’s Day: Thursday, Feb. 14

The April issue of 50plus LIFE will include a special focus on foot health in recognition of

National Foot Health Awareness Month.

Many adults don’t give their feet the attention they deserve!

This information is not intended to diagnose, prevent, or treat your disease. For more information about the author, visit SuzyCohen.com

Reach up to 150,000+ monthly readers — let them know about the services and products you provide that can treat their foot conditions and improve their quality of life!

Are You Reading?

Join the 2019 One Book, One Community campaign by reading Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann.

Share your advertising message in 50plus LIFE’s special feature ­­—

40 libraries in Cumberland, Dauphin, Perry, York, and surrounding counties and their community partners present the regional reading campaign.

National Foot Health Awareness Month Ask about promotional rates!

Online and in print

www.50plusLIFEPA.com

Space Reservation Deadline: March 1, 2019.

Contact your account representative today, call (717) 285-1350, or email info@onlinepub.com

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Attend free library programs and discussions throughout February and early spring!

Photo credit: Michael Lionstar

Visit www.oboc.org or your library to learn more

www.50plusLifePA.com

Tech Talk

Mark Rinaudo

Internet Not Working?

Here’s How to Troubleshoot

Question: What steps should I take to troubleshoot when my internet isn’t working before calling my internet service provider?

We’ve all been there. At the most inopportune time when you need your internet to be working, it’s either completely off or it’s cutting in and out.

Internet access is another utility almost as important as electricity.

If you’re without it, you’re stuck disconnected from the outside world. As more internet service providers are offering other products to piggyback on your internet access, such as phone service, these outages are causing more of a disconnect for their customers.

There are a few simple steps you can perform at home that may help bring your service back without having to call your internet service provider.

If you find that your computer or smartphone is not connecting to the internet, the first step is to look at your modem/router. If this device is not lit up, that can definitely indicate a problem on your end.

Power cycling the modem, which means unplugging its power and then plugging it back in after 30 seconds, is usually the first step given by internet service providers’ support staff.

Service interruptions are commonly caused by work being performed in the area, and a simple power cycle of your modem can restore the service. The modem would eventually perform a reset after a certain amount of time, but manually power cycling the modem speeds up the process and restores your service sooner.

If you find that your modem is lit up, everything looks like normal, and a power cycle does not fix the issue, then you may have a problem somewhere else on your system. If you only have a computer that’s using your internet service, then you may have an issue with the computer itself.

The first step I usually recommend to customers when something is acting awry on a computer is to reboot it. The beauty of rebooting a computer is that it’s like starting over new and fresh, leaving behind whatever bugs have crept in and possibly caused the issue.

If after rebooting you still have no internet access, the next thing to check is whether you have connectivity to your modem. Your computer may be connected via wired connection or a wireless connection.

If your computer is connected via a wire, you can always trace from the modem back to your computer to ensure both ends of the cable are plugged in.

Sometimes hardware can lock up, and simply unplugging the cable and plugging it back in can reset the hardware. Find the place on your modem where the cable from your computer is plugged in. Unplug from there and then simply plug it back in.

Most modems have a set of status lights on the front that give a good indication of whether your service is up or if it’s experiencing an issue. If power cycling does not change the status lights on your modem, then it’s most likely an issue on your service provider’s end. www.50plusLifePA.com

All service providers have a way for their customers to check if any outages are occurring on their network by visiting their website.

This, however, does you no good when your internet is down.

But if you have a smartphone with a data plan, you can simply turn off your WiFi connection on your phone and then you’ll be able to use your carrier’s data network to visit your service provider’s website to see if they are indeed having trouble.

With a little troubleshooting, it’s quite possible that you can restore your internet service on your own when you need it the most.

Mark Rinaudo has worked in IT in Shreveport, La., for more than 20 years. He is the owner and operator of Preferred Data Solutions. Email mark@preferreddatasolutions. com to submit a question for this column.

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CCRCs/ Life Plan Communities Designed with their residents’ changing needs in mind, CCRCs (Continuing Care Retirement Communities)/Life Plan Communities offer a tiered approach to the aging process.

Healthy adults entering these communities can live independently. When assistance with everyday activities becomes necessary, they can transition to personal care, assisted living, rehabilitation, or nursing care facilities.

Some CCRCs/Life Plan Communities have designated dementia areas that address the progressing needs of people who have any form of dementia. In addition, some communities have sought out and earned accreditation from CARF International, signifying they have met CARF’s stringent set of quality standards. CCRCs/Life Plan Communities enable older adults to remain in one care system for the duration of their lives, with much of their future care already figured out—creating both comfort and peace of mind.

The listings with a shaded background have additional information about their center in a display advertisement in this edition.

Bethany Village

Cornwall Manor

Homeland Center

Pleasant View Retirement Community

Woodcrest Villa Mennonite Home Communities

Zerbe Retirement Community

325 Wesley Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Stephanie Lightfoot Director of Sales & Marketing (717) 766-0279 www.bethanyvillage.org

544 North Penryn Road Manheim, PA 17545 Amanda Hall Sales & Marketing Manager (717) 664-6207 ahall@pleasantviewrc.org www.pleasantviewrc.org

1 Boyd Street, P.O. Box 125 Cornwall, PA 17016 Jennifer Margut Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations (717) 274-8092 info@cornwallmanor.org www.cornwallmanor.org

2001 Harrisburg Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 Connie Buckwalter Director of Marketing (717) 390-4126 www.woodcrestvilla.org

1901 North Fifth Street Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598 Barry S. Ramper II, N.H.A. President/CEO (717) 221-7902 www.homelandcenter.org

2499 Zerbe Road Narvon, PA 17555 Lynne Bickta Director of Independent Living (717) 445-8741 lbickta@zerberetirementcommunity.com www.zerberetirementcommunity.com

If you would like your CCRC/Life Plan Community to be featured on this page, please contact your marketing consultant or call (717) 285-1350.

The CCRCs listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.

Study: Chronic Kidney Disease Linked to Increased Fall Risk People with chronic kidney disease are more likely to fall and suffer serious injuries because the ailment causes the body to significantly weaken, say researchers at Indiana’s Ball State University.

Brandon Kistler, a Ball State nutrition professor, led a multi-university research team that conducted an analysis of almost 158,000 adults — about 6 percent with CKD — age 65 or older, surveyed in the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

“Falls and Fall-Related Injuries Among U.S. Adults Aged 65 or Older with Chronic Kidney Disease,” which was recently posted by the CDC, found that people with CKD were at increased risk of falls and fall-related injuries even after adjusting for differences in demographic characteristics, health conditions, and lifestyle factors.

“Numerous physiological changes associated with CKD, such as muscle wasting and weakness, may explain the increased risk of falling,” said

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Kistler, who conducted the research project with Jagdish Khubchandani, a health science professor, along with faculty at the University of Illinois.

“Furthermore, changes in bone and mineral metabolism causing weak, brittle bones may lead to an increased propensity for fall-related injuries in people with CKD, especially those with end-stage kidney disease,” Kistler said.

The study also found that among people with CKD, women and people diagnosed with diabetes or arthritis were more likely to fall and be injured.

Khubchandani believes people with CKD can significantly reduce spills by incorporating exercise in their daily routines.

“Physical function and exercise are potentially modifiable, cost-effective, and evidence-based strategies to enhance mobility. Our study suggests that as in other populations, exercise programs that target strength and balance may be an effective strategy for preventing falls and fall-related injuries among people with CKD, but prospective trials are needed.” www.50plusLifePA.com

Writing to Preserve and Revive Memory

By Beth N. Carvin If you’re old enough to remember the John F. Kennedy assassination or the Cuban missile crisis, you’re probably realizing that your memory isn’t what it used to be.

Indeed, the Centers for Disease Control has reported that 1 in 8 Americans over the age of 60 complains of worsening memory loss. The problem may be related to a medical condition, emotional problems, cognitive impairment, or simply the indignities of aging, but it’s distressing regardless of the cause.

As it turns out, one way to preserve and in some cases even enhance memory is to proactively revisit your past. One form is a technique called reminiscence therapy, which is widely used in applications ranging from mental health interventions to memory care in nursing homes.

But simply committing your life experiences to paper (virtual or otherwise) can be helpful and even therapeutic.

Research also shows the health benefits of writing. Over a decade ago, the American Psychological Association published a study indicating that expressive writing reduces “intrusive and avoidant thoughts about negative events and improves working memory.”

Researchers concluded that these improvements help individuals cope more effectively with stress, because they have freed up cognitive resources.

More recently, in discussing the use of writing in education, neurologist Judy Willis, M.D., noted that writing can “enhance the brain’s intake, processing, retaining, and retrieving of information … it promotes the brain’s attentive focus … boosts long-term memory, illuminates patterns, gives the brain time for reflection, and when well guided, is a source of conceptual development and stimulus of the brain’s highest cognition.”

In other words, writing can transform an individual’s brain and memory.

Whether you or someone you know is impacted by a memory deficit, or you are simply looking for a way to tell your own story for yourself and your family, here are five simple strategies for preserving and sharing your memories in writing.

1: Choose a writing aid.

Today’s technology offers a variety of writing platforms to help you organize your thoughts and store them in one place. There are personal blogs, journaling applications, memoir-writing software, and reminiscing platforms that offer predefined topics to help trigger memories.

Many of these solutions are free and can give you the structure you need to both simplify and encourage the process.

2: Use prompts.

When people sit down to write for the first time, they often don’t know where to begin.

A prompt like, “Who was your childhood best friend?” or “What was the first pet you owned?” can provide direction as well as get the memory juices flowing. The same thing can be accomplished by using prompts like objects or photos.

3: Don’t worry about chronology.

Recording your memories doesn’t always have to follow a chronological order. Sometimes attempting to follow a timeline can prevent you from writing about what you’re feeling or affect what you’re inspired to share.

Maybe it’s your first car or your first kiss. Your favorite pets or favorite trips. Family holidays or family problems. Write what you want, when you www.50plusLifePA.com

want, and break it up into pieces to avoid feeling overwhelmed by the size of the project.

4: Find your writing sweet spot.

Some people write better after their first cup of coffee. Others are more productive midday or at night. Start by recognizing what works best for you.

Ask yourself when your words seem to flow best.

Is it as soon as a memory pops into your head? Is it when you wake up each morning, or before you go to sleep each night? Try different approaches until you find the one that clicks.

5: Invite others to contribute.

Several years ago, my family began reminiscing via a group email.

We wrote about an old bar in Boston that my grandfather owned, which prompted an engrossing series of stories from my dad and uncles about the barmaids, the keys to the liquor cabinet, and some incidents involving local law enforcement that many of us had never heard.

The more we wrote, the more everyone wanted to share and chime in, and the more we learned.

This kind of collaboration, made easy by today’s online environment, helps unearth details you may not remember or may not have known. With or without memory loss, it enriches the experience of taking a trip down memory lane.

Beth N. Carvin is CEO and co-founder of JamBios (jambios.com), a collaborative writing application and social platform for reminiscing, sharing, and preserving memories.

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No matter your situation or the condition of your home, we are ready to help! Call us today! (717) 276-9951

Helping Hands Through Difficult Times www.heartandhomeproperties.com 50plus LIFE p

February 2019

9

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Reach Active, Affluent Boomers & Seniors!

Pets for the Presidents Lori Verderame

Reserve your space now!

April 30, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Shady Maple Conference Center LANCASTER COUNTY

Smorgasbord Building 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl

May 28, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Hershey Lodge

DAUPHIN COUNTY

325 University Drive Hershey

Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars Entertainment • Door Prizes

Why Participate?

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

For sponsorship and exhibitor information:

(717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140

www.50plusExpoPA.com 10

February 2019

50plus LIFE p

With Presidents since the middle Day upon us, there of the 1900s is an interest in followed in the ways that our the paw-steps presidents relax of President and enjoy family Franklin Delano time.

Roosevelt’s Eisenhower faithful played golf and companion painted landscapes, named Fala, a Reagan rode black Scottish horses, and Obama terrier. played basketball.

Fala traveled But, many of our with Roosevelt past presidents also on trips abroad Millie’s Book (Barbara Bush) enjoyed downtime and was often with a first family photographed Presidents Day: pet. by the press.

Monday, Feb. 18 During the He did tricks first decades of and entertained the 1900s, the White House was full the president, diplomats, and others of pets. President William McKinley during the period before and during owned an exotic Mexican yellowWorld War II. headed parrot.

Fala resembled Miss Beazley, President Teddy Roosevelt, a Rough another Scottish terrier that arrived Rider and big-game hunter who at the White House in January 2005 decorated the State Dining Room during George W. Bush’s time in with his taxidermy hunting trophies, office. Miss Beazley was a birthday brought pets to the White House. present for first lady Laura Bush.

The Roosevelts kept owls, lizards, Like her daughter-in-law, first roosters, badgers, guinea pigs, snakes, lady Barbara Bush also had a dog raccoons, hyenas, ponies, and a macaw in the White House, a springer named Eli Yale at 1600 Pennsylvania spaniel named Millie. In 1992, Ave. Millie “penned” a New York Times William Taft brought the last cow, nonfiction bestseller entitled Millie’s the most common U.S. presidential Book: As Dictated to Barbara Bush, pet at the time, to the White House. describing presidential life.

President Wilson let sheep graze on In terms of animal vigor, Teddy the White House lawn, along with a Roosevelt’s pony Algonquin not only tobacco-chewing ram named Old Ike. took a ride in a White House elevator, Not to be outdone, President Calvin but also rivaled Caroline Kennedy’s Coolidge maintained a mini-zoo at pony named Macaroni, a gift from the White House with many breeds Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson. of dog and various canaries, geese, Macaroni was one of many pet gifts and mockingbirds. Foreign dignitaries that the Kennedy children received brought exotic pets to the White during their father’s term.

House as gifts, such as a wallaby, In 1960, Premier Nikita pigmy hippo, bear, and lion cubs.

Khrushchev of the Soviet Union The Roosevelts, the Coolidges, and gave Caroline Kennedy a 6-monththe Kennedys had a great many — old white, mixed-breed dog named nearly 25 — pets.

Pushinka (“Fluffy”), as noted on the Some of the most interesting dog’s Russian passport. Pushinka had presidential pets at the White House please see PETS page 14 www.50plusLifePA.com

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February 2019

11

The Beauty in Nature

Woodchucks and Gray Squirrels Clyde McMillan-Gamber

March 26, 2019 May 30, 2019 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Hotel York 2000 Loucks Road York

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel 1741 Papermill Road Wyomissing

These events are FREE to attend.

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

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

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

At the Expo

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

At the Job Fair

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

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

www.veteransexpo.com

Brought to you by:

&

12

February 2019

(717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com

50plus LIFE p

Woodchucks and are camouflaged. gray squirrels are Chucks are brown common, daytime to blend in with rodents in farmland soil, and the in southeastern squirrels are gray Pennsylvania. like the tree trunks Chucks inhabit they circle to some hay fields, escape enemies. while the grays live Certain kinds in woods, parks, of mammals live and older suburban and give birth in areas with their abandoned chuck many tall trees. holes, including And both these foxes, skunks, Woodchuck mammals live opossums, mink, among the trees, and other species. I shrubbery, and have seen red foxes weeds of hedgerows and mink using between fields and deserted chuck along woodland holes as nurseries. edges in cropland.

Chucks and Chucks dig deep, gray squirrels insulating burrows prepare for winter in the ground, in different ways. where each one Chucks put on lives alone, except layers of fat in fall mothers with their and sleep down in dependent young. their burrows in Gray squirrels winter.

Gray squirrel either dwell in tree Squirrels stash cavities or make nuts and seeds in nests of dead twigs tree hollows or and leaves among twigs in tall trees. bury them in the ground. Squirrels are Again, each creature lives alone, active all winter, finding the food they except mothers and their offspring. stored.

Obviously, chucks and squirrels can Woodchucks and gray squirrels live in the same habitats without mate in February. Male chucks do competition for shelters. emerge from their dens during that Woodchucks mostly eat grass, month. Each female chuck has one clover, and other green plants. Gray litter of about four young. squirrels, however, feast on nuts and Gray squirrels, however, breed a seeds for the most part. These rodents second time and have about four don’t compete for food, either. young in each litter.

Both these handsome, interesting Try to enjoy the adaptable and mammals are part of food chains in prolific woodchucks and gray squirrels. their shared habitats. Several predators They are interesting and entertaining prey on some of them, including around farmland woodlots and coyotes, red foxes, bald eagles, and hedgerows, and elsewhere. red-tailed hawks. Young chucks are There, both species have shelters caught and consumed more often than and food without competing with adults are. each other for them. And like many However, chucks and squirrels other creatures, they help bring a bit of have dens to retreat into, and they the wild close to home. www.50plusLifePA.com

It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘Proud Mary’ Randal Hill

Creedence Clearwater Revival lead singer John Fogerty once recalled seeing a Will Rogers movie about old-time paddle-wheelers.

“I believe at one point they actually sing ‘Rolling on the river,’” Fogerty says. “I know that buried deep inside of me are all these little bits and pieces of Americana. It’s deep in my heart, deep in my soul. As I learned in English 101, write about what you know.”

Fogerty stayed behind that day and overdubbed all the background vocal parts himself after the other members had left the studio.

A longtime fan of black music, he sought a more authentic feel and claimed to channel rhythm-and-blues icons Wilson Pickett and Howlin’ Wolf for the rerecording. It was Wolf’s bluesy influence that led Fogerty to pronounce turnin’ as toinin’ and burnin’ as boinin’.

•••

•••

Starting in the late 1960s, Fogerty’s band “Proud Mary” — a Billboard No. 2 chart brought images of rural America to the world hit — came from CCR’s second album, Bayou with a unique musical style dubbed “swamp Country, a million-seller that fed the music-fromrock,” which featured Southern country music, the-South rumor even more.

“Proud Mary” gritty blues, and a heavy, danceable beat.

For Ike and Tina Turner, their sizzling 1971 Creedence Clearwater Revival CCR hailed from California, and none of its remake became a million-seller — and their February 1969 members had ever been to the South before fame biggest single ever. came their way. The Bay Area quartet had started Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be as the Blue Velvets and then became the Golliwogs before military obligations reached at wryterhill@msn.com. caused a temporary breakup.

When the band members came together again, they gleaned a new name from three sources: Creedence from mutual pal Credence Newball, Clearwater from a TV beer commercial that promoted the brew as coming “from the land of sky-blue waters,” and Revival for the band members’ commitment to their Stories of ordinary men and women reformation. called to perform extraordinary military service.

The group’s debut album — Creedence Clearwater Revival — featured the minor swamp-rock hit “Susie-Q,” a tune first recorded by Louisianan Dale From 1999–2016, writer and World War II Hawkins in 1957. veteran Col. Robert D. Wilcox preserved the Music fans hailed CCR’s music as a refreshing breakthrough, and many firsthand wartime experiences of more than were convinced — erroneously — that the band must have come from the 200 veterans through Salute to a Veteran, his South, so authentic was their sound. monthly column featured in 50plus LIFE. •••

Fogerty had a small notebook in which he scribbled song-title ideas.

“My first entry was ‘Proud Mary,’” he says. “I didn’t know what those two words meant, but I liked how they sounded together.”

Fogerty took his guitar and began playing a song introduction he had been working on, the chord riff based on the opening to Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony.

“I didn’t like how Beethoven had composed it. I preferred hitting the first chord hard for emphasis, not the fourth … When I added rhythm to the chords, the song had the motion of a boat. I had always loved Mark Twain’s writing and the music of Stephen Foster, so I wrote lyrics about a riverboat …

“I finished most of the song in two hours. Then I opened my notebook for a song title. There was ‘Proud Mary.’”

Not happy with the way the tune sounded when his band recorded it,

Now, for the first time, 50 of those stories— selected by Wilcox himself—are available to own in this soft-cover book.

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

On-Line Publishers • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Name_ _______________________________________________________ Address_ ______________________________________________________ City_______________________________ State_ ____ Zip_ ______________ Phone_ _____________________ Email______________________________ Number of copies_ ______ (Please include $20.80 for each copy)

Subscribe Online At:

50plusLIFEPA.com www.50plusLifePA.com

Credit card #______________________________________ Exp. date________ Signature of cardholder_________________________________CVV #________

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

50plus LIFE p

February 2019

13

A New Year’s Resolution for Fiscal Fitness Most New Year’s resolutions revolve around getting fit. Although that frequently means losing weight, one area you want to fatten up is your money supply.

Here are some simple resolutions for adding some healthy heft to your overall financial profile: Pay down your mortgage. You can save more than $63,000 on a 30-year, $200,000 mortgage by paying just $100 more a month.

Save 10 percent. Put aside 10 percent of your income for longterm investments and retirement savings before paying any bills.

Track your expenses. Record every dollar you spend, for at least one week.

You’ll get a clearer idea of where the money goes and what you can cut back on.

Energize your house. Look for ways to make your house more energy efficient.

You’ll save on heating and cooling costs and help the environment.

Stay home. Resist the temptation to eat out. Cook more meals at home. Instead of going to the movies, stream a video, read a book, or a play a game with your whole family.

Don’t rely on credit cards. Credit card debt can eat up your savings and your future. Start reducing your debt, and don’t buy anything on credit if you don’t have the money to pay the bill off promptly.

PETS from page 10 gone into space on Sputnik 2.

The Clintons had a dog and a cat. President Obama had two large Portuguese water dogs, Bo and Sunny. In 2009, Bo was a gift from Sen. Ted Kennedy, who helped Obama keep a promise to his young daughters that if he won the 2008 election, they would get a puppy.

When it comes to pet names, President Johnson had two beagles whose names were hard to forget. The pair were national celebrities, the focus of press photos and magazine articles, lived in a newly redesigned doghouse, and had the run of the Johnson White House.

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February 2019

1-888-508-4879 50plus LIFE p

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The beagles were named simply “Him” and “Her.” Happy Presidents Day! Dr. Lori Verderame is an author and award-winning TV personality who appears on History channel and Fox Business Network. With a Ph.D. from Penn State University and experience appraising 20,000 antiques every year from audiences nationwide, Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events. Visit www.DrLoriV.com or call (888) 4311010.

Pet of the Month

Miley Introducing beautiful, independent Miley! This gorgeous, spayed female is 6 years old. Miley has been at the shelter over a year.

Miley would thrive best in a quiet home with lots of freedom and room to roam.

Quite simply, a few special cozy spots to call her very own are all she is asking for.

A home with adult humans would be ideal for this girl.

Staff feel she might do OK with a feline sibling, as long as they understand her love of being an independent girl.

Please consider adding this beauty to your heart and home. She truly deserves her second chance!

For adoption process details, please visit www. lebanonhumane.org, call (717) 628-1369, or stop in Humane Society of Lebanon County, 150 N. Ramona Road, Myerstown. www.50plusLifePA.com

Tinseltown Talks

Living with Rodney Dangerfield Nick Thomas

The Christmas season may be over, but last periods of recovery with Joan by his side throughout.

December held special significance for Joan “He joked that, at his age, all the phone numbers Dangerfield, who married comedian Rodney in his little black book were doctors,” she said. “It was Dangerfield 25 years ago on Dec. 26. certainly true and brought out my nurturing side. I The pair had dated for 10 years following a chance did everything I could to comfort him.” meeting in 1983 when Dangerfield strolled passed Dangerfield died in 2004, aged 82, and Joan has Joan’s Santa Monica flower shop. since worked to keep her husband’s memory alive.

“Being a diehard fan, I recognized Rodney His website (rodney.com) has been revamped, and the immediately,” Joan recalled from her West Hollywood Rodney Dangerfield Institute for the Study of Comedy home. is now housed at Los Angeles City College and offers “I was 16 when I first saw him on The Tonight Show, classes including standup, improvisational comedy, and suddenly there he was, 14 years later, walking and joke writing. towards me, the funniest man in the world.

“Rodney’s social media presence is building, and “For me, it was love at first sight, the holy grail of it’s fun to see the reaction from his loyal fans as well encounters. He was fascinating and had those soulful, as new ones,” she says. “I am also very excited that Photo provided by Aaron Stipkovich at Stipko.com. Paradigm Talent Agency is currently fielding offers azure-blue eyes, the color of the sky on a clear day. I Rodney and Joan Dangerfield. couldn’t look at him without smiling.” for a biopic or documentary film about Rodney’s The bug-eyed, tie-fidgeting comedian who cracked remarkable life. I am sure that will deepen his up audiences for decades with his often self-deprecating, “no respect” style of impression on the world.” rapid-fire one-liners began dropping by each morning to watch Joan arrange Nick Thomas teaches at Auburn University at Montgomery, Ala., and has written flowers. features, columns, and interviews for over 700 magazines and newspapers.

Despite their clearly different backgrounds — Joan was raised in a Utah Mormon family — the two hit it off immediately.

“I felt like the luckiest person in the world,” she said. “To have your own personal comedian constantly surprising you, I couldn’t wait to wake up each day.”

Joan remembers Dangerfield working hard at his craft, writing his own standup material and often taking months to perfect a joke. He would dash 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. off to local comedy clubs in the evenings, sometimes two or three a night, to Shady Maple Conference Center try out a new joke and experiment with its delivery and placement within a Smorgasbord Building routine.

129 Toddy Drive, East Earl LANCASTER COUNTY Although Dangerfield experienced an unhappy childhood, Joan says he used humor to tackle depression.

“If you can lift everyone’s spirits around you, you can feel a bit better too.”

Toward the end of their two-decade marriage, Dangerfield’s physical health 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. declined, requiring multiple aneurysm, brain, and heart surgeries and long Hershey Lodge

Please join us for these FREE events!

20th Annual

April 30, 2019

Applications for nominations to the Lebanon County Musicians Hall of Fame are being accepted by event sponsor Harmonia Music Association.

Applicants should be a native of Lebanon County and/or have been active in Lebanon County music for at least 15 years.

To sponsor an applicant, complete and submit the official form by Feb. 11. Applications received after the deadline will be held for next year’s consideration.

Those applicants not selected in this current year will be held on file for seven years and will be considered in succeeding years.

Applications may be obtained at Marty’s Music Store, 1245 E. Main St., Annville, (717) 867-1000. www.50plusLifePA.com

20th Annual

325 University Drive Hershey

DAUPHIN COUNTY

June 5, 2019

16th Annual

Nominations Sought for County Musicians Hall of Fame

May 28, 2019

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CHESTER COUNTY

Church Farm School 1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton

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

www.50plusExpoPA.com 50plus LIFE p

February 2019

15

Calendar of Events

Lebanon County

Community Programs/Support Groups Free and open to the public

Senior Center Activities

Feb. 27, 6-7 p.m.

Alzheimer’s and Dementia Family Support Group Linden Village 100 Tuck Court, Lebanon (717) 274-7400

Annville Senior Activity Center (717) 867-1796 200 S. White Oak St., Annville Feb. 5, 11 a.m. – Tai Chi Class Feb. 11, 12:30 p.m. – Pinochle Feb. 14, 11 a.m. – Line Dancing Class

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

Library Programs Annville Free Library, 216 E. Main St., Annville, (717) 867-1802 Feb. 5, 6:30 p.m. – Adult Coloring Club Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m. – Kindle Fire for Beginners Lebanon Community Library, 125 N. Seventh St., Lebanon, (717) 273-7624 Mon days except Feb. 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Tech Help Feb. 4, 6 p.m. – Homesteading, Part Two Feb. 6, 6 p.m. – Cybersecurity Class Matthews Public Library, 102 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, (717) 865-5523 Feb. 26, 1 p.m. – Facebook for Seniors Myerstown Community Library, 199 N. College St., Myerstown, (717) 866-2800 Feb. 7 and 14, 1 p.m. – iPhone for Seniors, Parts Three and Four

Feb. 25, 6 p.m. – Spotted Lanternfly: Stopping the Invasion Palmyra Public Library, 50 Landings Drive, Suite B, Annville, (717) 838-1347 Feb. 16, 10 a.m. – Spotted Lanternfly: Stopping the Invasion Feb. 23 and March 9, 10-11:30 a.m. – iPads for Seniors, Parts One and Two Feb. 28, 1 p.m. – Kindle Fire for Beginners Richland Community Library, 111 E. Main St., Richland, (717) 866-4939 Fe b. 5 and 12, 1 p.m. – Homeschool and Cyber School: What I Should Know, Parts One and Two Feb. 23, 10 a.m. to noon – Beekeeping 101

parks and recreation Feb. 3, 1-4 p.m. – Bluegrass Music by the Fireplace

PILOT from page 3 Travers was bedridden for two years and was prone to outbursts of screaming.

“The PTSD was just raging at this point,” recalls Torchia, referring to post-traumatic stress disorder.

Travers spent time in a Veterans Administration hospital in California, but his conditioned worsened due to neglect. His situation started to improve after Torchia transferred him to another hospital, where he received more attention and medication.

Torchia later took him to the Brain Treatment Center in Newport Beach, California. There, he received experimental stem cell and regenerative medicine treatments. Miraculously, Travers’s physical and mental condition has improved dramatically in the past few years thanks to these treatments.

During these 12 years of ordeal and anguish, Torchia has patiently stood by her husband, constantly searching for the best possible care.

“Many others would not have had the courage, the stamina, the persistence, the devotion, the love to do such things. But Kathy has,” says Reed. “Frankly, John Travers would probably not be around today if Kathleen had not stayed by his side.”

In a recent email, Torchia wrote, “John is currently the best he has been mentally, since the onset of his illness.”

She says he is present, sharp, and able to carry on conversations despite impaired speech. She describes his demeanor and attitude as “pleasant,” and says he smiles and laughs more.

These medications and treatments have given Travers and Torchia new hope.

“John is a fighter!” Torchia says. “He has physical therapy three times a week, and he hopes and prays that he will walk again one day. I continue to encourage him in his hope of coming home and being a husband again.”

To learn more about Travers’s inspiring story and the documentary film All Were Forgotten and Then Came John, visit katalinafilmworks.com.

Robert Naeye is a freelance journalist living in Derry Township. He is the former editor-in-chief of Sky & Telescope magazine.

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February 2019

50plus LIFE p

Maple Street Senior Community Center (717) 273-1048 710 Maple St., Lebanon Feb. 13, 12:30 p.m. – The Missing Apron Lunch Club at Longhorn Steakhouse Feb. 27, 10 a.m. – Chalk Talk and Tea Carpool Feb. 28, 9 a.m. – Juice Up Your Morning at Mel’s Diner Myerstown Senior Community Center (717) 866-6786 Myerstown Baptist Church, 59 Ramona Road Myerstown Feb. 5, 8 a.m. – Walking and Breakfast Feb. 13, noon – Valentine’s Day Luncheon at Dutch-Way Restaurant Feb. 20, 10 a .m. – Planetarium at Cedar Crest High School, Lunch at Hilltop Café Northern Lebanon Senior Community Center (717) 865-0944 335 N. Lancaster St., Jonestown www.jonestownpa.org/senior.html Feb. 1 and 15, 12:30 p.m. – Finding Joy Feb. 5, 10:30 a.m. – Chinese Legends: Zodiac and Chinese New Year Feb. 28, 11:30 a.m. – Winter Picnic Lunch Palmyra Senior Community Center (717) 838-8237 101 S. Railroad St., Palmyra Thursdays, 11:15 a.m. – Tai Chi Feb. 12, 10:30 a.m. – Valentine Craft Feb. 20, 10:30 a.m. – MindMatters Video Lecture: Memory as We Age Privately Owned Centers Senior Center of Lebanon Valley, Inc. (717) 274-3451 710 Maple St., Lebanon Washington Arms – (717) 274-1401 303 Chestnut St., Lebanon Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Puzzle Page

CROSSWORD

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18 SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Sea Creatures

Across 1. Squabble 5. Invoice amount 8. Pennant 12. Fable writer 14. Falls behind 16. Ready for picking 17. Cousin of a loon 18. Fair-sized garden 19. Fairytale villain 20. Collar inserts 21. Like some lingerie 23. Part of H.R.H. 24. Tease 26. Railroad support 28. Mentor

31. It’s a wrap 33. Slight 34. In awe 35. Chums 37. Brusque 40. Eskimo knife 41. DiCaprio, to fans 42. Elderly 43. Type of mob 46. Summoned 48. Offshoot 49. Twosome 51. Barbell abbr.

52. Chip in 53. Scorched

56. Western Indians 58. Irritation 59. Rich tapestry 61. Indian state 65. Black, to poets 67. Shed 68. Medicinal plant 69. Adjoin 70. Monroe flick, ___ Like It Hot 71. Silas Marner author 72. Don’t believe it 73. Average 74. Healthful retreats

15. Mediums 22. It’s overhead 25. Kind of story 27. Seek damages 28. Celt 29. Hideous 30. Traffic circle 32. Perfect 36. Farmer 38. Open, as an envelope 39. Head start 44. Mongrel 45. Mother of Ares

47. Extreme suffix 48. Sword knots 50. Conditions 53. Coffee extra 54. Spouse, affectionately 55. Slump 57. Facilitate 60. Diva Gluck 62. Salon sound 63. Small buffalo 64. Gym equipment 66. Utmost degree

Down 1. Droops 2. Flippant 3. Between ports 4. Drinking mug 5. Photo equipment, once 6. Apiece 7. Everglades bird 8. To and ___ 9. Ecru 10. Spring month 11. Honkers 13. Cancún coin

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February 2019

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Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

Can You Deduct Medicare Costs on Your Income Taxes?

Dear Savvy Senior, Can I deduct my Medicare premiums, deductibles, and copayments on my income taxes? I had a knee replacement surgery last year and spent quite a bit on medical care out of pocket and would like to know what I can write off.

– Frugal Dave

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

Puzzles shown on page 17

Puzzle Solutions

Dear Dave, The short answer is yes, you can deduct your Medicare costs, but only if you meet certain conditions required by the IRS. Here’s how it works.

As a taxpayer, you’re allowed to deduct many medical and dental expenses as well as your Medicare out-of-pocket costs. But you can deduct only those expenses that exceed 7.5 percent of your 2018 adjusted gross income (AGI), and you’ll also need to itemize your deductions.

Next year (2019 tax season), the threshold will rise to 10 percent.

Here’s an example. Let’s say that your AGI in 2018 was $50,000. Of that, 7.5 percent is $3,750. If your total allowable medical expenses last year were $8,000, you’d be able to deduct $4,250 ($8,000 minus $3,750).

But, if your medical expenses were less than $3,750, you couldn’t claim any as a deduction.

You also need to understand that when taking a medical expense deduction, you don’t actually get back every dollar you claim.

While a tax credit reduces your taxes dollar-for-dollar, tax deductions simply reduce your taxable income, and your savings ultimately depend on the effective rate at which you’re taxed.

So, for example, if you qualify for a $4,250 deduction and your effective tax rate is 22 percent, you would get $935 in savings from that particular deduction.

To get this deduction you will need to file an itemized Schedule A (1040) tax return. You cannot claim medical expenses on Form 1040A or Form 1040EZ.

Allowable Medical Expenses The list of allowable medical expenses, as defined by the IRS, is long and fairly flexible.

As a Medicare beneficiary, you can deduct your monthly premiums for Part B, Part C (Medicare Advantage plans), Part D drug plans, and any supplemental (Medigap) insurance you have.

If you have to pay a premium for Part A, that’s allowed too. You can also deduct the cost of all your deductibles, coinsurance, and copayments under Medicare.

In addition, you’re also allowed to deduct the cost of medical services not covered by Medicare, including dental treatment, vision care, prescription eyeglasses, hearing aids, and even long-term care.

They also allow transportation to and from medical treatment to count as an eligible medical expense. And if necessary, you may even be able to deduct home alterations and equipment — such as entrance ramps, grab bars, stair lifts, etc. — that can help you age in place.

Some things, however, you cannot deduct, such as vitamins and supplements, unless recommended by a physician to treat a specific medical condition.

You are also unable to deduct Medicare late penalties added to Part B or Part D premiums. Medicare beneficiaries who fail to sign up during their initial enrollment period are typically hit with a penalty that gets added to their monthly premiums, but these additional costs won’t count for tax purposes.

For more information, including a detailed rundown of allowable and unallowable medical expenses, see IRS Publication 502 Medical and Dental Expenses at irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p502.pdf or call the IRS at (800) 829-3676 and ask them to mail you a copy.

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February 2019

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On Life and Love after 50

Senior Dating Guilt: Let It Go Tom Blake

It surprises me how many seniors contact me regarding their guilt over dating. Take Donna, for example.

A widow since 2011, Donna emailed, “My friend passed away from cancer two years ago. Her ex-husband is the man I am writing to ask you about. We live in two different eastern states, not too far from each other. We are both in our early 60s, and at the end of 2018, we retired.

“I didn’t know him at all. I have seen him three times in the past 30 years for about 10 minutes just to say hi.

My friend said she and he never got along during 25 years of marriage.

“My friend — rest her soul — was very opinionated, controlling, and bossy with her husband and the children, which I witnessed one of the three times I saw him. ​It got to a point that when my friend and I talked over the phone, we never talked about him.

“We talked three times​a year, but I was the one who would call, until​that one day she called me to tell me she had cancer. By this time, she and he had been separated 10 years.​Now she is gone … their​children are grown and on their own and are not close to him, because of her.

“He and I have been talking over the phone for two years. We have become​good friends and have a lot in common​. I would like to see him, but I have the guilt​that he was my friend’s​husband hanging​over my head.

“Now, we are just friends. ​But what I am feeling ​guilty​​about is: If we do start​seeing each other, how would his www.50plusLifePA.com

grown children feel about us being​ together?

“His marriage and family life were​ calmly dysfunctional​, if you can picture that. We are both reluctant, but I know we will see each other soon. We are not getting any younger.

“We are both​healthy​​and able to still have fun before we die​, so why not? But the guilt?”

My response to Donna: Your friend had been separated for 10 years. She had a miserable marriage. Why worry about his children?

You say he is not close to them. They probably won’t care if you two start dating.

If you enjoy each other, go for it, now!

Live in the present.

Have you been together in person at all? Do that. You might find you want to be together or you may find you don’t.

You and your friend weren’t that close, talking to each other only three times a year.

One concern: If the family is dysfunctional, do you want to get involved in that?

For people age 60 and older, it’s hard enough to meet potential mates.

You’ve met a man you have much in common with.

Ditch the guilt. Wait no longer.

Get together in person and see what happens.

For dating information, previous articles, or to sign up for Tom’s complimentary, weekly e-newsletter, go to www.

FindingLoveAfter50.com.

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