50plus LIFE Lebanon County April 2018

Complimentary | Lebanon County Edition

April 2018 • Vol. 13 No. 4

Senior Volunteers Close the Generation Gap page 4

Traveltizers: finding india in artesia page 8

the amazing survival stories of chieu le page 14

It Was 50 Years Ago Today

Please join us for these FREE events!

‘Honey’ Randal Hill

19th annual

May 2, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Hershey Lodge

325 University Drive Hershey

DAUPHIN COUNTY 19th annual

May 9, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Shady Maple Conference Center Smorgasbord Building 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl

LANCASTER COUNTY

Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars Entertainment • Door Prizes

Fun! Informative!

Sponsored by:

Principal Sponsors:

Visitor Bag Sponsor: UPMC Pinnacle

Automotive Sponsor: Enterprise Car Sales

Seminar Sponsors: Ameriprise Financial/Turner Wealth Advisors Capital BlueCross Madden Physical Therapy

Supporting Sponsors: ClearCaptions • Gateway Health Lancashire Terrace Retirement Village • Landis Communities Orthopedic Institute of PA • Regional GI • RetireSafe

Media Sponsors:

(717) 285-1350

www.50plusExpoPA.com 2

April 2018

50plus LIFE p

Many music fans think “Honey” is studio and nailed “Honey” on the a true story. It isn’t. first take. In three weeks, Goldsboro’s Nashville songwriter Bobby Russell version rocketed to the top of the one day just happened to notice how Billboard charts, where it remained tall a tree planted in his front yard had at No. 1 for five weeks and became grown since it was a sapling. From Goldsboro’s signature song — and that serendipitous observation came biggest single ever. the inspiration to write the world’s Songwriter Russell’s biggest success bestselling song of 1968. has since been recorded by country --royalty (Eddie Arnold, Roger Miller, Born in Marianna, Florida, in 1941, Tammy Wynette, Lynn Anderson), Bobby Goldsboro mainstreamers (Dean spent his teen years Martin, Patti Page), in Dothan, Alabama, and even some soul where he excelled in stars (Four Tops, baseball at Dothan Aaron Neville).

High and dreamt of Half a century later, a career in the major though, “Honey” often league. appears on “worst But music also drew songs of all times” his attention, and lists, along with such Goldsboro formed a ridiculed recordings rock band called the as “MacArthur Park,” “Honey” Webs. (“We had a “Convoy,” and “Disco Bobby Goldsboro big spider web on the Duck.”

April 1968 drum.”) The Webs So why, like Rodney often backed up Dangerfield, does musicians who drifted through town.

“Honey” get no respect from some One such artist was Roy Orbison, who folks? would later hire Bobby in the early While many people feel the song 1960s as part of his backup band. is a touching tribute to the idea of As a solo artist Goldsboro later appreciating those we love while they signed with United Artists Records are still with us, others have blasted and, beginning with the Top 10 song the storyline as being schmaltzy and “See the Funny Little Clown” early in often deride such lyrics as, “She was 1964, racked up half a dozen Top 40 always young at heart/Kinda dumb discs before spending 1967 without a and kinda smart” or “One day while I single hit and finding his career on the was not at home/While she was there wane. and all alone/The angels came.”

Bobby Russell was one of These last lines prompted one Goldsboro’s pals. Russell had written Internet wag to ask, “Did this babe “Honey” for ex-Kingston Trio die or did she leave with the Hell’s member Bob Shane. Russell wasn’t Angels?” impressed with Shane’s version and Bobby Goldsboro has his own take later admitted, “It didn’t really thrill on the song, one that is no doubt me all that much because it was so shared by most people: “Actually, overdone, overproduced, lots of drums what it is, very simply, is just a and things.” guy remembering little things that But Goldsboro felt that Russell’s happened while his wife was alive.” tune had the potential to return him to the hit charts with a different, Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian simpler approach. who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be When Shane’s version bombed, reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

Goldsboro rushed into a Nashville www.50plusLifePA.com

Recent Community Forum Held to Help Older Pennsylvanians Avoid Scams Three cabinet secretaries from the Wolf administration recently traveled to Pottstown for a community discussion protecting older Pennsylvanians from scams and financial exploitation.

Secretary of Aging Teresa Osborne, Secretary of Banking and Securities Robin L. Wiessmann, and Revenue Secretary Dan Hassell offered tips that all Pennsylvanians can use to protect themselves from common scams and other schemes that are prevalent during the tax-filing season.

The town-hall style event at the TriCounty Active Adult Center also afforded those in attendance the opportunity to ask questions and discuss their own experiences.

Wiessmann noted that elder financial abuse is one of the most significant financial crimes of the 21st century, estimated to cost older Americans $36 billion each year.

She also shared the accounts of seniors from Berks and Bucks counties who were victimized and lost thousands of dollars to criminals using the “Grandparent Scam.”

The scam involves a phone call placed to a grandparent by a stranger. The stranger claims to be an attorney, a law enforcement official, or a friend who says a grandchild has been arrested or is in legal trouble.

The ploy is designed to trick grandparents into wiring money to a faraway city to help the grandchild they believe is in trouble. The Department of Banking and Securities has please see FORUM page 9

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

Office of Aging Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging (717) 273-9262 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Senior Centers Annville Senior Community Center (717) 867-1796

Emergency Numbers Poison Control Center (800) 222-1222 Food Resources Food Stamps (800) 692-7462

Bureau of Blindness and Visual Services (717) 787-7500

Medicaid (800) 692-7462

CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400

Medicare (800) 382-1274

Kidney Foundation (717) 652-8123

PennDOT (800) 932-4600

Lebanon County Area Agency on Aging Meals on Wheels (717) 273-9262

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (717) 652-6520

Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers (800) 472-8477

Lupus Foundation (888) 215-8787 Hearing Services Melnick, Moffitt & Mesaros ENT Associates 927 Russell Drive, Lebanon (717) 274-9775

Recycling (800) 346-4242

Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Hospitals Medical Society of Lebanon County (717) 270-7500

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (800) 827-1000 Housing Assistance Housing Assistance & Resources Program (HARP) (717) 273-9328

WellSpan Good Samaritan Hospital 252 S. Fourth St., Lebanon (717) 270-7500 Hotlines Energy Assistance (800) 692-7462

Lebanon County Housing & Redevelopment Authorities (717) 274-1401

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

Environmental Protection Agency Emergency Hotline (800) 541-2050 IRS Income Tax Assistance (800) 829-1040

Social Security Information (800) 772-1213

Myerstown Senior Community Center (717) 866-6786

United Way of Lebanon County 2-1-1

Lebanon HOPES (717) 274-7528, ext. 3201 Insurance Medicare Hotline (800) 638-6833 Legal Services Pennsylvania Bar Association (717) 238-6715

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

www.50plusLifePA.com

Maple Street Senior Community Center (717) 273-1048

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 Compeer of Lebanon County 4 S. Fourth St., Lebanon (717) 272-8317 RSVP of the Capital Region (717) 454-8647

50plus LIFE p

April 2018

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Cover Story

Senior Volunteers Close the Generation Gap 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

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL

Vice President and Managing Editor Christianne Rupp Editor, 50plus Publications Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT Project Coordinator Renee McWilliams Production Artist Lauren McNallen

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Account Executives Wendy Letoski Janette McLaurin Jessica Simmons Angie Willis Account Representatives Matthew Chesson Jennifer Schmalhofer Gina Yocum Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer Marketing Coordinator Martha Lawrence

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

Awards

50plus LIFE is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc. and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirement communities, banks, grocers, libraries and other outlets serving the senior community.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. will not knowingly accept or publish advertising which may be fraudulent or misleading in nature.

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

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April 2018

50plus LIFE p

By Lori Van Ingen

some at the center, and some in their school.

Besides therapy services Chalk it up to the and its preschool/daycare intergenerational allure of programs, Schreiber also cuddly babies and snuggly runs summer camps, a toddlers. bowling program, a social The new infant-care skills program, kids yoga, program at Schreiber and Club 65, a program Pediatric Rehab Center for youth and young has expanded volunteer adults with disabilities to opportunities for area seniors Valerie Korman spends time with experience such activities — in addition to providing Schreiber’s infants, as a swim buddy, and in the center’s preschool program, as going to the movies, out much-needed services for pictured here. to eat, or to a trampoline parents with newborns. park.

Dan Fink, director of Last August, Schreiber marketing and public opened an infant room relations at Schreiber, admits after receiving a $250,000 it’s an easy sell. grant from the Donald “It has been pretty B. and Dorothy L. successful,” Fink said. “Who Stabler Foundation and wouldn’t want to hold a fundraising matching baby, feed a baby?” donations from the Seniors Nancy Vogel, community.

Valerie Korman, Mary Alice Prior to opening the Gerfin, Peggy Toms, and state-of-the-art infant Leon Hutton all agree that room, Schreiber was volunteering at Schreiber’s unable to accept children preschool and new infant younger than 12 months room is an enjoyable old into its daycare experience that keeps them program, Fink said. coming back week after Being a nana is senior week.

Nancy Vogel’s thing, and Schreiber “loves having As swim buddies, volunteers the Rock-A-Baby program seniors in the building, Sherry Sweigart, top, and Colette is “good for nanas and and they love being here.

Lind, bottom, help children learn good for the kids. I dearly It’s been a very successful important swimming techniques. love rocking them. They partnership,” said Fink. need a nana to rock Schreiber Pediatric, them,” Vogel, 74, said. “They just want to be held.” originally known as the Society for Crippled Vogel has volunteered at Schreiber for six months, Children and Adults, began in 1936 as a vision of when she moved to a senior living community. Vogel Edna Schreiber in response to the polio epidemic. said she enjoys volunteering in the Rock-A-Baby Schreiber was a polio nurse (a profession today that program so much that she often goes early and stays would be similar to a physical therapist) and ran the after her 9-11 a.m. shift. clinic until the late 1960s, when she retired.

“There are several ladies who work there, and I The outpatient clinic, which by the 1980s help them feed and get the babies to sleep by rocking was associated with the National Easter Seals them.”

Society, began focusing on specialized pediatric She doesn’t change diapers, but “I usually end up therapy services for children from birth to age 21 on the floor playing with the kids.” with developmental delays and disabilities. The There are generally nine babies, some of whom are organization also began a preschool to include both toddlers who are busy playing with toys and can feed children with and without disabilities. themselves, and some of whom are “lie down” babies In 1994, it disassociated with Easter Seals and who need bottles fed to them, she said. moved to its current location in Lancaster. At that Vogel said she doesn’t like to see babies left to cry time, it was renamed Schreiber Pediatric Rehab to go to sleep, so she rocks them. The toddlers are Center for its founder and first executive director. usually ready to nap and will lie down because they Today, 3,000-4,000 children receive services from want to sleep.

Schreiber Pediatric — some in their own homes, www.50plusLifePA.com

“It’s amazing there are no screamers,” she said. “I couldn’t get that done at home. These girls (Schreiber employees) are so good.”

Senior Valerie Korman was an elementary school teacher for many years.

“You become younger as well when you begin to deal with kids,” Korman said. “After retirement, when you can’t interact with kids, it’s like losing your left arm.”

Therefore, rocking babies after she retired in 2012 was her goal.

But because of HIPAA regulations, Korman said hospitals wouldn’t accept people coming in to rock their babies.

So she started volunteering at Schreiber Pediatric Rehab Center instead. When Schreiber opened its infant room, Korman, 62, jumped at the chance to rock the babies there.

While Schreiber doesn’t mind if its volunteers miss shifts, she said she has missed only a handful of times when traveling.

“I want to go (to rock the babies); it’s very settling. You don’t mess with the time I go to Schreiber.”

Korman tries to find the babies who are extra fussy to help the women who work in the infant room. She feeds the babies with bottles as well as with spoons, puts the babies to sleep by rocking them, and plays.

“I sing songs, read poems, and do art projects,” she said.

Korman also volunteers in the preschool room. The children have free play and are then off to the room’s various centers to learn about the alphabet, numbers, counting, colors, and shapes. She also helps with hand washing, giving the kids snacks, filling backpacks, and zipping coats.

“I look forward to going. It’s so varied between the two programs,”

Korman said.

Once a month, Korman also serves as a swim buddy with the 3- to 5-year-olds.

“I help change 10 kids into their swimsuits, take off their shoes and socks, and stay with the children. I do whatever I can to help,” she said.

When they get into the warm, 85degree pool, they have group time and then practice jumping up and down, putting their faces in the water, doing back and front floats, kicking their legs, and jumping into the pool and getting out of it — survival techniques. Then they enjoy 45 minutes of playtime.

Schreiber is a special place for 75year-old Mary Alice Gerfin: Her 15year-old grandson has been going to Schreiber for years, and her husband, Michael, had been treated by founder Edna Schreiber when he was a young man.

For the past few years, Gerfin and her husband have volunteered for Schreiber’s annual Rubber Duckie Race. While she sells tickets, her husband, who is a member of Schreiber’s board of directors, prepares the local park for the fundraising event.

In addition to the race, the retirement community resident now also volunteers in Schreiber’s new infant room. For two hours every Wednesday, she cuddles the babies, helping them to settle down, and feeding them.

“When I saw they were opening an infant center, it was just a normal thing to do for me,” said Gerfin, who has been volunteering in the infant room since the first week it opened.

“It’s natural for me. I love babies and love to cuddle them. It uplifts me to see their dear little faces smile at

opportunities Make a Volunteer for Seniors 55+ throughout Difference Lebanon County, with non-profits, agencies Volunteer schools, and community Today service organizations.

Contact for further information:

Margie Groy

717.454.8647 LancLeb@rsvpCapReg.org

www.50plusLifePA.com

you. I can’t imagine not wanting to do this.”

Every Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., “cuddler” Peggy Toms also can be found in Schreiber’s infant room.

“I sit in a rocker and they bring the babies to me,” the 89-year-old said.

“I sit there and hold them close until they settle down. I also feed them with a bottle to settle them down.”

Prior to her retirement, Toms worked with children at the Intermediate Unit for 20 years and always enjoyed children of any age, she said.

Now Toms has found that rocking babies is something she loves doing.

“I really do,” she said. “It’s something I’m able to do without a problem, and, fortunately, they say they can use the help.”

Retirement community resident Leon Hutton also enjoys sharing his time with the young children at Schreiber’s preschool.

When the weather is good, the older children go outside to shoot basketball, pick up sticks, or pretend to make a fire, Hutton said. There’s also a gym set that they can walk on, plus a sliding board.

When inside, Hutton reads books to them. He learned to read familiar stories, such as Frosty the Snowman, upside down so the children could see the book’s pictures.

“The good Lord wants us to help someone else. We can express ourselves and help them a little bit.

It’s also a generational thing. Their grandparents may not be here, so we can fill in and be part of their learning and see their growth,” Hutton, 89, said.

Not only does volunteering help the children, but “it does me so much good to associate with the youth, their cuteness, innocence. They are beautiful children,” Hutton said.

“When you are in a retirement home with no car, no wife now — it’s good to get out. The kids are good for you. It’s terrific therapy for me.

It keeps me active, my mind going, my legs going ... They do wonders for you.”

On the cover: From left, volunteers Valerie Korman, Peggy Toms, and Nancy Vogel spend time each week in Schreiber Pediatric’s infant room, rocking, feeding, and playing with the center’s infants and toddlers.

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April 2018

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Please join us for these FREE events!

Always free parking!

19th Annual

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Hershey Lodge

325 University Drive Hershey

19th Annual

May 9, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Shady Maple Conference Center LANCASTER COUNTY

Smorgasbord Building 129 Toddy Drive, East Earl

15th Annual

June 6, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Church Farm School

CHESTER COUNTY

1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton

Sept. 19, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Spooky Nook Sports

LANCASTER COUNTY

2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim

Sept. 26, 2018

16th Annual

22nd Annual

Natural Ways to Get a Good Night’s Rest

May 2, 2018 DAUPHIN COUNTY

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

York Expo Center

YORK COUNTY

Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Avenue, York

19th Annual

Oct. 17, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street Carlisle

CUMBERLAND COUNTY

Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars Demonstrations • Entertainment • Door Prizes

Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available

(717) 285-1350 (717) 770-0140 (610) 675-6240

6

Fresh Fare

www.50plusExpoPA.com

April 2018

50plus LIFE p

With nearly one-third of Americans suffering from sleep disturbances, according to research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, now is the time to rethink your bedtime routine and consider more natural ways to get a good night’s rest.

However, implementing those changes doesn’t have to mean overhauling the way you live.

Consider these simple tips that can help you sleep better and longer: Set a comfortable temperature.

Making changes in different aspects of your life to achieve better sleep is a fine plan, but it may not make much difference if you aren’t comfortable in your own bed.

Be sure to maximize comfort for a full night of sleep by finding a temperature that works for you, but in general, the National Sleep Foundation recommends a bedroom temperature between 60-67 degrees F. Tweak your diet. Making simple changes to what you eat and drink can be a positive, health-conscious decision that helps you get better sleep.

For example, Montmorency tart cherries, which are available yearround, are one of the few natural food sources of melatonin, a sleepregulating hormone. New research from the American Journal of Therapeutics shows that insomniacs who drank U.S.-grown Montmorency tart cherry juice for two weeks extended sleep time by 84 minutes.

Consuming two 8-ounce glasses of Montmorency tart cherry juice as part of your daily diet, once in

the morning and once at night, can help enhance your sleep time and efficiency.

It can also be added to your favorite morning smoothie or a soothing nighttime beverage, such as this Tart Cherry Moon Milk. For additional information and recipes, visit www.choosecherries.com.

Try bedtime yoga. Rather than scrolling on your smartphone or staring at the TV, consider a different routine before heading to bed.

Implementing a brief yoga session is one way to clear your mind each night prior to getting quality shut-eye.

Tart Cherry Moon Milk Recipe courtesy of Amanda Paa of Heartbeet Kitchen Prep time: 5 minutes Cook time: 5 minutes Servings: 1-2 • 6 ounces almond milk • 4 ounces Montmorency tart cherry juice • 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup • 1/2 teaspoon ashwaganda (Indian ginseng) • dried culinary rose petals In a small pot, heat almond milk and tart cherry juice over medium heat.

Remove from heat and whisk in honey and ashwaganda. Top with rose petals and drink warm.

Note: For a frothier beverage, blend mixture in blender before topping with rose petals.

Family Features

www.50plusLifePA.com

On Life and Love after 50

Tom Blake

Should Widow Allow Her Man-Friend to Move in?

Sally, a widow of four years, emailed: “I am financially secure, healthy, fit, and attractive. I have been doing volunteer work for the last two years, which is how I met the man I am now seeing.

“In April 2017, a man I will refer to as D walked into the museum where I volunteer as a docent. We talked at length, and when he returned to the museum three weeks later, I was on duty again. We exchanged phone numbers. He lives 34 miles away.

“After a few good phone conversations, we had a picnic. Our next date was a classic-car show! We have seen one another almost every weekend since the middle of May. “I like the way our relationship is now. He is 56 and I am 69! He says the age difference is not important.

“He is patient, kind, and loving.

He loves my dog and helps me around my home. We took some swing dance lessons and went to a few dances. We have had some misunderstandings but have worked through them and grown our relationship as a result.

We have built friendship and trust between us.

“We took a trip together last November to Kansas to visit his mother and sister. We enjoy being together and doing ‘ordinary life’ activities, and are planning trips to Hawaii and California.

“D is very affectionate, a good listener, and we are able to talk and resolve differences so far. He is hard working and loves his 86-year-old mother and his sisters.

“He is not as financially secure as I and he still works full time, which is good. I am a retired teacher and I own a nice, large, mortgage-free home.

“We get a chance to miss one another because we don’t live together.

He has never married. My late husband and I had a solid and loving marriage for 39 years, and then he became ill and died suddenly. www.50plusLifePA.com

“I always felt I would never marry or live with a man again, but I did want to find a special person with whom I could share a committed relationship.

“I think D is that person for me. We have been serious about one another for eight months. He wants to move in with me, and so we are ‘discussing’ it.

“I know what it is like to be married and D does not. He has had live-in relationships of a few years a few times, and I wonder, is this a red flag? I used to think there was something wrong with a man who had not been married by age 50.

“What are your thoughts on his moving in with me?”

Tom’s response: In my complimentary e-newsletter, I asked my readers for their opinions. Thirtytwo subscribers, of whom seven were men, responded. Not one of the 32 thought it was a good idea. And I don’t either.

The readers’ reasons included: Dating only eight months is too soon, his previous live-in relationships haven’t worked out, and even though you only see each other on weekends, you’ve already had differences.

In my opinion, the main issues are: You enjoy your LAT (living apart together) relationship the way it is.

You look forward to seeing each other; you have fun and do things together.

Does he think, by moving in, the relationship will get better?

I also worry about his track record with the “few” live-in relationships he’s had; none has lasted more than a few years. What is different here?

Twice, you mentioned you’ve already

had differences in eight months.

I also feel the age gap is significant. Why is he interested in a woman 13 years older? With all due respect to you and your wonderful qualities, I think he likes that your home is paid off and you are financially set.

Do you want to risk the financial security you worked so hard to accumulate by having a man living under your roof?

Keep in mind that moving

someone into your home is easy.

Getting them to move out can be a nightmare.

If he moved in, would that mean he would commute 68 miles roundtrip to work? Or, would he retire and be around the house seven days a week?

That would drive you crazy because you treasure your private time.

Too risky, and too many issues, Sally. Give it some time. Take more trips together. See how you get along.

And, even then, proceed with caution; you’ve got too much to lose and too little to gain.

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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April 2018

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Traveltizers

Finding India in Artesia

By Andrea Gross

I pass on wearing a bindi (red dot) on my forehead, because in many parts of India it has a religious significance, but I do want to don a sari.

I raise my arms as a salesperson takes a 9-foot strip of ruby-red silk, makes a few deft moves, and within minutes transforms me from a khaki-bedecked tourist to a classically clad Indian Artesia’s Little India is woman. approximately 20 miles from “Try putting it on downtown Los Angeles. yourself,” she says.

I do, and after a halfhour of winding, pleating, and tucking, I look like a Christmas present that’s come undone.

I admit defeat and go outside to further explore “Little India,” a community that looks as if it’s thousands of miles away in south Asia but instead is in

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Artesia, California, just 20 miles from downtown Los Angeles.

Here, within a fiveblock stretch along Pioneer Boulevard, women with brightly colored saris (the traditional dress of southern India) stroll the streets alongside others in salwar kameez, the tunicand-pants ensemble that is increasingly popular in northern India.

Indian fabrics come in vivid colors, from majestic They shop in familymauve and royal purple to deep turquoise owned businesses filled and rich gold. with fabrics that are so vividly colored, richly embroidered, and laden with beads that they are as much works of art as items of apparel.

My husband and I inhale the sweet smell of incense, as a turbaned man, carrying a tall stack of white bakery boxes, rushes by.

“Pardon,” he says in heavily accented English.

I ask him what’s in all the boxes. He smiles and points to a nearby shop. We follow his finger to Bombay Sweets & Snacks, where we’re confronted with a near-overwhelming choice of tempting pastries.

Do we want cardamom or coconut, dry or syrupy, crunchy or chewy? We settle on a lime-green cookie and a pale-pink mini-cake before heading down the street to try another one of Artesia’s most popular desserts: ice cream.

Ice cream isn’t a traditional treat in India, where many people don’t eat eggs, but Saffron Spot makes an eggless version that features Indian-inspired flavors such as jackfruit, lychee, masala tea, and mango.

In line with our philosophy that we should test foods that have names we can’t pronounce, we share a small scoop of rajbhog ice cream, which contains a chunky mix of pistachios, cashews, and almonds spiced with saffron and cardamom. Delicious.

But we really don’t want a meal of snacks and sweets; we want something more substantial. My husband has read about thali, an Indian specialty consisting of several small dishes surrounded by various condiments. I want a frankie, a popular street food in India that’s usually made from vegetables wrapped in a crepe. (Think Indian burrito.)

We finally decide on Ashoka the Great, a lunch buffet that offers a wide variety of choices. There we taste-test everything from chicken tikka masala to saag paneer, vegetable samosa to goat stew.

Afterward, we wander into a market, intending to buy take-home spices, but we’re distracted by bins of veggies with unfamiliar names like karela, tindora, raviya, and turai. There are also seven kinds of mango pulp, several brands of ghee, and piles of fresh roti (unleavened bread).

We finally find the spice section and, after much sniffing, select small bags that a young woman tells us are “Bombay Masala” and “Tandoori Spice.”

A sign directs us upstairs to a shop called “Moon, Gems, and Rudraksh,” where we find items related to astrology (the moon), 22-karat gold jewelry inset with brilliant rubies, emeralds and sapphires (the gems), and necklaces made www.50plusLifePA.com

from seeds of the Before we rudraksh tree. head back to downtown Los “These seeds Angeles, we have medicinal return to the store power. They are where we began used for prayer,” our day. I’ve given says storeowner up on outfitting Mahesh Goel. myself in a sari He gives us a and opt instead crash course in for a salwar Hindu philosophy kameez. before suggesting “Easier to that we visit Markets in Little India are filled with the nearby veggies that are unfamiliar to most put on,” says the salesperson, Swaminarayan visitors. chuckling as she Hindu Temple, remembers my the closest of four tangled tries with Hindu temples a sari. in the vicinity of Artesia.

“Easier to use,” I say, as I imagine We enter to myself gracefully find men and serving guests women sitting masala tea while separately but outfitted in exotic praying together Indian clothes. to the rhythm of But first I’ll have beating drums to learn to make and shaking The Swaminarayan Hindu Temple rajbhog ice cream. tambourines. welcomes visitors.

Despite the Photos © Irv Green syncopated unless otherwise noted; story by Andrea sounds, the atmosphere is relaxed, Gross (www.andreagross.com). almost tranquil.

FORUM from page 3 published tips to help people recognize the scam and avoid falling victim to it (https://tinyurl.com/y75wnzfj).

“Scammers will play on your emotions and push you to act quickly, but there are few faraway emergencies that require you to act immediately,” Wiessmann said.

Hassell discussed steps the Department of Revenue has taken to strengthen the systems it uses to detect fraudulent tax returns and refunds.

He also spoke of a new scam that involves cybercriminals stealing client data from tax professionals and filing fraudulent tax returns in the name of identity-theft victims.

The new twist: Rather than routing fraudulent tax refunds to a separate account, the criminals are directing the refunds to the taxpayers’ real bank accounts through direct deposit.

They are using threatening phone calls to trick taxpayers www.50plusLifePA.com

into “returning” the refunds, but unsuspecting victims in some cases have forwarded the money to the criminals. The Department of Revenue has issued tips to avoid being victimized (https://tinyurl.com/ yd288z8u).

“If any phone call or email appears suspicious, take a moment and think through the situation. If something doesn’t feel quite right, follow your first instinct and don’t take any immediate action,” Hassell said.

Anyone can contact the Department of Banking and Securities at (800) PA-BANKS or (800) 6000007 to ask questions about financial transactions, companies, or products.

If you are a victim of identity theft or discover a fraudulent Pennsylvania personal income tax return was filed using your identity, contact the Department of Revenue’s Fraud Investigation Unit at (717) 772-9297 or RA-RVPITFRAUD@pa.gov.

“Be a friend. Change a life.”

Volunteers NEEDed Make a difference and be a friend to someone who is lonely and isolated. All it takes is 4 hours per month, with training and support provided.

Caring adults like you are matched in one-to-one supportive friendships with people of the same gender who are living with mental illness.

Are you a veteran?

We need your help to be a friend to a fellow veteran who is living with a mental illness.

You can help a person in mental health recovery by being a friend!

4 South 4th St., Lebanon

(717) 272-8317

www.compeer-lebanon.org 50plus LIFE p

April 2018

9

Home Care Services & Hospice Providers Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

All Hands Home Care

Homestead Village Home Care Services

(717) 737-7905 www.allhandshomecare.com

Year Est.: 2014 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, York RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: We provide trained caregivers for in-home care for personal, respite, hospice, 24-hour, live-in, and companionship-care services to seniors and individuals of all ages in the Central Pennsylvania region.

Our company is fully insured and bonded. Call now for a free in-home consultation!

Comfort Keepers

(717) 299-4007 www.lancaster-402.comfortkeepers.com Year Est.: 2001 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: We provide compassionate, in-home care that helps seniors live safe, happy, and independent lives in the comfort of their own homes. Companion care, light housekeeping, personal care, in-home safety solutions, incidental transportation, dementia/Alzheimer’s care, ongoing staff training. Member: Home Care Association of America

Homeland at Home

Homeland HomeCare: (717) 221-7892 Year Est.: 2016 Homeland HomeHealth: (717) 412-0166 Year Est.: 2017 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland*, Dauphin*, Franklin, Fulton, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon*, Northumberland, Perry*, Schuylkill, Snyder, York* *Homeland HomeHealth currently serves five of 13 counties.

CNAs/Home Aides: Yes Direct Care Workers: Yes PT/OT/Speech Therapists: Yes

Other Certifications and Services: Health and wellness coordination, transition services, homemaking services (shopping/ errands, companionship/conversation, cooking, laundry, light housekeeping, gardening, pet care), transportation services, personal care services (bathing, dressing, personal hygiene), medication reminders and coordination.

Landis at Home

(717) 509-5800 www.landisathome.org Year Est.: 2007 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: A licensed home-care agency, offering a variety of services to persons in their homes within 15 miles of the Landis Homes campus. Services, provided by carefully screened and qualified caregivers with oversight from RNs, may be used for a short visit or up to 24 hours a day. Call for a free, in-home consultation. A home-care service of Landis Communities.

(717) 560-5160 www.mediqueststaffing.net

Homeland Hospice: (717) 221-7890 Year Est.: 2008

LPNs: Yes

Year Est.: 2009 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: No LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

MediQuest Staffing & Homecare

www.homelandathome.org

RNs: Yes

(717) 397-3044 www.homesteadvillage.org/home-care

Other Certifications and Services: Homeland at Home is a community outreach of Homeland Center, a non-profit CCRC that has served our region with excellent and benevolent care since 1867.

Our expert team is dedicated to providing a continuum of At Home services—from non-medical personal assistance to skilled nursing and compassionate hospice and palliative care. We are privileged to care for you and your loved ones … any place you call “home.”

We offer community and staff educational programs, including a “My Reflections” end-of-life planning workshop, as well as 15 unique bereavement support groups.

Social Workers: Yes Spiritual Counselors: Yes

Year Est.: 2002 Counties Served: Lancaster RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Other Certifications and Services: Our experienced caregivers will provide the level of care for your specific needs, including memory care, transportation to and from appointments, outpatient procedures, personal care, respite, and more. Services are provided wherever you reside. All caregivers are comprehensively screened, bonded, and insured. Call for a FREE RN assessment. Member: Pennsylvania Homecare Association.

If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your account representative or call (717) 285-1350.

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

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www.50plusLifePA.com

Home Care Services & Hospice Providers Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

Pleasant View Care at Home

Visiting Angels

Year Est.: 2007 Counties Served: Lancaster, Lebanon RNs: Yes LPNs: Yes CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

Year Est.: 2001 Counties Served: Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York RNs: No LPNs: No CNAs: Yes Home Aides: Yes Medicare Certified?: No

(717) 664-6646 www.pleasantviewrc.org/care-at-home

(800) 365-4189 www.visitingangels.com

Other Certifications and Services: Caring and professional staff provide supportive services to help maintain independence within the comfortable setting of home.

Personal services, companion care, dementia care services, and transitional care offered — call for a free consultation.

Other Certifications and Services: Visiting Angels provides seniors and adults with the needed assistance to continue living at home. Flexible hours up to 24 hours per day. Companionship, personal hygiene, meal prep, and more. Our caregivers are thoroughly screened, bonded, and insured. Call today for a complimentary and informational meeting.

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

10 Keys for Surviving a Parkinson’s Diagnosis

By Robert W. Smith What should you do when you’re diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease?

Author and Parkinson’s patient Robert W. Smith, author of The Parkinson’s Playbook, offers the following 10 guidelines for effectively managing your diagnosis.

behavior changes that arise from how the medication is interacting with your basic physical and mental makeup.

Make for a safe home. The first priority is to make your home safe to move around in by keeping walkways clear of obstructions, as well as removing rugs or other floor obstacles that are tripping hazards.

Install grab bars and railings where there are critical areas of movement or changes in April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month direction.

Form a team. You cannot do it alone. From physicians to family, it takes teamwork and specialists to put Parkinson’s on the defense.

Work on postural alignment.

Better known as posture, this can be improved by sitting up straight with your shoulders back, chest out, and head back.

Remind yourself every day to be conscious of your posture, and over time you will see a difference.

Standing tall with your shoulders back presents the image that you are Parkinson’s-free. People will notice your improved posture and it will have a positive impact on your attitude.

Know your medications. There are two basic categories of Parkinson’s medications: dopamine agonist and carbidopa/levodopa.

Over time, the type and dosage of your Parkinson’s medications will change as effectiveness evolves. Pay special attention to any compulsive

Follow a fitness plan. The goal of a fitness plan is to have a body that is lean, flexible, and strong.

The ideal fitness plan encompasses a variety of exercises for the entire body. Going to the gym five days a week for two hours will enable you reach an ideal level of fitness.

Understand your diagnosis. Take a deep breath and ask what stage you are and what symptoms were used to make the diagnosis.

Based on your condition, determine which medications are recommended and their side effects. Ask about alternative natural treatments for Parkinson’s (versus traditional medicine) and their availability.

Ask what type of lifestyle changes slow down Parkinson’s, such as level of fitness, the role of exercise, and what types.

www.50plusLifePA.com

Pay attention to nutrition. A balanced diet is important to provide your body with the fuel and strength necessary to deal with Parkinson’s.

Ideally, meals should be spread out throughout the day to provide a steady flow of nutrients. Snacks of nuts, fruits, and berries supply a boost during the day. Reducing alcohol consumption, sugar, and fried foods will also benefit your health.

Get a good night’s sleep.

Nighttime sleep is critical for the body to restore and rejuvenate the energy needed for the continual fight with Parkinson’s.

Unbroken sleep for seven to eight

hours is a necessity and does not include daytime naps.

Master the mental and emotional game. One of the hardest parts of Parkinson’s is dealing with depression, stress, and anxiety.

Patients are constantly barraged with negativity throughout the day, from the Parkinson’s itself to the news to diminishing physical and cognitive influences.

One way to combat this is through the field of positive psychology, which teaches us how to incorporate happiness into our lives on a daily basis.

Stay committed. Improving your health and daily life requires an unwavering commitment. The most important factor in putting Parkinson’s on the defense is to make a commitment to fitness and exercise on a daily basis. It will fuel your happiness and lead to a fuller life.

Robert W. Smith is the author of The Parkinson’s Playbook (https://goo.gl/ WGNN44). Smith’s own diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease has inspired him to be a mentor to those suffering from the same condition. Smith is also a fellow in the American Society of Landscape Architects. He currently lives in Denver, Colo.

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April 2018

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Calendar of Events

Lebanon County

Community Programs/Support Groups Free and open to the public

Senior Center Activities

April 3, 7 p.m.

Keystone Capital Chorus Concert Traditions of Hershey 100 N. Larkspur Drive, Palmyra (717) 838-2330

Annville Senior Activity Center (717) 867-1796 200 S. White Oak St., Annville April 4, noon – No Bull: How to Deal with Bullies A pril 13, noon – MindMatters Video: Shackleton’s Antarctic Adventure – The Greatest Survival Story April 19, 12:30 p.m. – Lunch at Moose’s Bar & Grill

April 25, 6-7 p.m.

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

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 Tuesdays, 6:15-8 p.m. – AFL Knitters April 10, 6:30-8 p.m. – Uke Jam Night April 25, 6:30-8 p.m. – The Spectacular Spinners of Annville Lebanon Community Library, 125 N. Seventh St., (717) 273-7624 April 5, 5:30-8 p.m. – Urban Gardening with Garden Writer Andrew Weidman April 11, 6-7 p.m. – Job Searching in a Digital Age April 30, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Tech Class: Smartphone and Computer Help Matthews Public Library, 102 W. Main St., Fredericksburg, (717) 865-5523 April 18, 6-7 p.m. – Windows 10, Part I April 24, 5:30-6:30 p.m. – Book Club Myerstown Community Library, 199 N. College St., Myerstown, (717) 866-2800 April 19, 6-7 p.m. – Introduction to eBay April 26, 6-7 p.m. – Windows 10, Part II Palmyra Public Library, 325 S. Railroad St., (717) 838-1347 April 10, 3-7 p.m. – Tech Help April 24, 6-7 p.m. – Canva Graphic Design Class Richland Community Library, 111 E. Main St., Richland, (717) 866-4939 April 17, 3-7 p.m. – Tech Help

parks and recreation All events held at the Park at Governor Dick unless noted.

April 7, 6-8 a.m. – Sunrise Saunter April 12, 2 p.m. – Living Well Nature Rx April 15, 2 p.m. – Birds for Your Backyard

Just 5 Percent Makes a Big Difference If you’re overweight — like many Americans — you may be intimidated and overwhelmed by the thought of just how many pounds you have to lose in order to get healthy.

How much is enough?

Twenty pounds? Thirty?

Good news: According to NBC News’ Better website, losing just 5 percent

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April 2018

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of your body weight can have significant health benefits. It can decrease your total body fat, including visceral fat that hugs your organs, as well as liver fat.

In addition, it can lower your blood pressure and also increase your insulin sensitivity — all of which can cut your risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Maple Street Senior Community Center (717) 273-1048 710 Maple St., Lebanon April 12, noon – Meet and Mingle Pizza Party April 13, 11 a .m. – Planning Meeting with MindMatters Program and Bag Lunch April 20, 11 a.m. – Woman’s Awareness Luncheon (Must Preregister) Myerstown Senior Community Center (717) 866-6786 Myerstown Baptist Church, 59 Ramona Road Myerstown April 3, 8 a.m. – Walking at Fairlane Avenue April 11, 7:45 a.m. – Breakfast Club at Brickerville Restaurant April 12, noon – Spring Luncheon at Tulpehocken UCC, Millardsville Northern Lebanon Senior Community Center (717) 865-0944 335 N. Lancaster St., Jonestown www.jonestownpa.org/senior.html April 3 and 24, 10 a.m. – Meditation April 4 and 27, 10 a.m. – Dance to the Oldies April 4 and 27, 11:30 a.m. – Lunch and a Movie Palmyra Senior Community Center (717) 838-8237 101 S. Railroad St., Palmyra April 16, 10: 30 a.m. to 5 p.m. – Bus Trip: Shady Maple, Flower & Home Marketplace April 18, 10:30 a.m. – MindMatters Video: Snack Stronger April 24, 10:45 a.m. – Diet and Cognitive Ability Consumer Education 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 14 SUDOKU

Across WORD SEARCH

1. Elec. unit 4. Veneration 7. Conger 10. Sports official (abbr.)

13. Eggs 14. Gazelle 15. Chocolate treat 17. Craft fairs 19. Obstructing 20. Norse deity 21. Fast 23. Month (abbr.)

24. Adolescent 25. Abominable snowmen 27. Hebrew patriarch

30. Fumble 32. Taxied 33. Caviar 34. Conifer 36. Cool!

38. Compass point 39. Tough question 41. Without restraint 43. Girl, to some 44. Stride 47. Woodwind, for short 48. Football player 49. Wordplays 51. Tinted 54. Allot

56. Ringworm bush 58. Metric weight unit 60. Feverish 62. Dewdrop 63. Jane Austen novel 64. Caribbean island 67. Musician 69. Spoon, e.g.

70. Via 71. Fish catcher 72. Eur. language (abbr.)

73. Suffer 74. Delicious 75. Golfer Ernie

18. Chafes 22. Brit. school 26. Secures 28. First-rate 29. Carve 31. Secret look 35. Enfolds 37. Frog 39. Window glass 40. Graybeard 42. Water component 43. Jewel 45. Billiard item 46. Fem. suffix

50. Dapper 52. Short-tailed weasel 53. Maiden 55. Flair 57. Goodbye 59. Broderick and Modine, for short 61. Actress Eichhorn 64. Bottle 65. Consumed 66. 102, Roman 68. Branch

Down 1. Automaton 2. Dodged 3. More slothful 4. Turk. title 5. Verbose 6. Cushier 7. Reflux 8. Period of time 9. Duke 10. Horse-like imaginary creatures 11. Time period (abbr.)

12. Oarlock 16. Small brown bird

Your ad could be here on this popular page!

Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information.

www.50plusLifePA.com

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April 2018

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Soldier Stories

The Amazing Survival Stories of Chieu Le Robert Naeye

For the next several years he flew hundreds of combat missions on Huey helicopter gunships, with a co-pilot and two gunners. Most of his missions involved infantry support or medical evacuation.

Le would need all of his training.

His Huey chopper was shot down by enemy ground fire on Jan. 27, 1973, the day the Paris Peace Accords were signed to end direct Le, seated far right, at a refugee camp American involvement in the war. in May 1975.

Le says his crew was observing a ceasefire.

“They were shooting at us, but we were not allowed to shoot back,” he says.

“That’s how I got shot down.”

And that was just the first of four times his helicopter was shot down.

Each time he was able to land safely by using a maneuver learned in training called autorotation, in which the rotors turn without engine power, somewhat analogous to gliding.

Le was flying a mission on April 30, 1975, when his country’s president went on the radio and ordered all South Vietnamese forces to surrender to the communists. But for Le, surrender was not an option.

“I would have been put in a concentration camp, or I might have been killed,” he explains. “Either way was terrible.”

Instead, he took off with his crew from his base at Sóc Trăng for the island of Côn Son, 50 miles off the coast. The island was a scene of chaos, packed with refugees desperate to escape the communists. He refueled and picked up 23 passengers, joining his three crewmates. With all the added weight, his chopper was barely able to take off.

He knew the U.S. 7th Fleet was in international waters, but he didn’t know where. He flew east-northeast at 1,000 feet for nearly two hours through thick clouds and rain, burning precious fuel every second.

And then his 20-minute fuel light came on. Suddenly, the rain stopped and the chopper emerged into sunlight. The U.S. fleet had picked up his Huey on radar. A radio officer on the USS Midway guided Le to a safe landing — the first time he had ever touched down on an aircraft carrier. He had about 15 minutes of fuel to spare.

Puzzles shown on page 13

Puzzle Solutions

It’s difficult to imagine a more desperate situation than the one facing South Vietnamese Air Force pilot Chieu Le on April 30, 1975.

Fleeing the communist forces who were taking over his country, Le was flying his jam-packed helicopter in thick clouds over the South China Sea, looking for the U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet.

Then the 20-minute fuel light came on. Unless Le could find a ship Le in a TH-55 helicopter at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas, in 1971. soon, he would be forced to ditch his chopper in the ocean, with dim prospects for rescue.

And that was not even his closest brush with death. That would come 26 years later, when he literally died at his local hospital.

“I’m not afraid of being killed; I should have been dead already,” says Le. Le was born in 1951, when Vietnam was fighting for independence from French colonial rule. Le’s father was captured by the French that same year.

After his release in 1954, he allied himself with revolutionary leader Ho Chi Minh and remained in North Vietnam. Le never met his father, who died in 1984.

Le grew up with his mother and half-brother in the hamlet of Ben Tre, in the far southern part of Vietnam. The first few years of childhood were peaceful. But at age 8, Le and his relatives had to flee across the Mekong River by boat to escape Viet Cong guerillas.

“We ran around — we kept avoiding the VC. I was too young to understand, but the eldest people knew the danger of living with the VC, so I just tagged along,” recalls Le. Le joined the South Vietnamese army at age 18, in 1969. He started off in the infantry but later passed English-language and physical tests to join the air force as a helicopter pilot, despite being told that “helicopters fall like autumn leaves.”

As Le explained, “You’re going to die sooner or later, but you don’t want to die a coward.”

After training at two U.S. Air Force bases in Texas and then an Army air field in Georgia, he returned to Vietnam in February 1972.

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“I owe my life to the U.S. Navy mother in Vietnam to let her know and to God,” says Le. “I think my he was still alive. But she thought whole life is in God’s hand; he carries someone was pretending to be her me everywhere.” son because nobody in Vietnam Le was flown to the Philippines could have survived his illness. and then Guam for processing. He To confirm he was still alive, Le spent nearly a year working odd visited Vietnam with his wife for the jobs at Fort Chaffee Army Base in second and final time in 2003. His Arkansas. mother died the following year.

He settled permanently in central Le has been in better health ever Pennsylvania in 1976 and became since. He retired from Armstrong a professional photographer and an and the U.S. military in 2006, with a electronic technician for Armstrong rank of chief warrant officer 3.

World Industries. He earned his U.S. Le says Vietnam today “is at the citizenship in bottom.” He 1982. thinks South In 1985 Vietnam would he resumed have prospered his career as like South Korea a military and Singapore helicopter pilot, had his nation this time in the and its American Pennsylvania allies prevailed.

Army National He says North Guard. He Vietnamese feels deep and Viet Cong patriotism and communists gratitude toward constantly America for the lied and broke opportunity it negotiated gave him to build agreements. a good life.

To Le, Chieu Le now serves as a member of the Red Rose Honor Guard, which American Le returned to performs military honors at local involvement in Vietnam in 1998 veterans’ funerals. with his wife.

Vietnam was a He enjoyed an noble endeavor emotional reunion with his mother, to save his country from communist the first time he had seen her in 23 poverty and oppression. And with years. But he was diagnosed with most of his family long gone, he has hepatitis after his return to the no reason to return to his native States. He believes he contracted this land. potentially deadly liver disease during “You have to watch who you talk this trip. to and where you go,” he says of Le’s health was rapidly Vietnam. “There are always eyes on deteriorating while he was you. I watch myself like a hawk.” hospitalized in late December 2001.

Le appears on both episodes of On Dec. 27, he was legally dead The Vietnam War: WITF Stories, for nearly a minute after a piece half-hour programs produced by the of chopped meat lodged in his Harrisburg public television station windpipe. that aired before episodes of the But doctors revived him, and he recent Ken Burns series The Vietnam came back to life. But thoughts were War. racing through Le’s mind during To learn more about the those fleeting moments: experiences of Chieu Le and other “I went through a tunnel to a veterans, visit https://vietnam.witf. bright area. I saw my history, my life, org/stories. in front of me like a screen. It was fast forward; it only stopped at the Robert Naeye is a freelance journalist important points of my life. It was living in Derry Township. He is the amazing.” former editor-in-chief of Sky & Telescope Le received a liver transplant a few magazine. weeks later. Soon after, he called his www.50plusLifePA.com

April 9, 2018 May 30, 2018 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Hotel York

NEW LOCATION!

2000 Loucks Road York

9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel 1741 Papermill Road Wyomissing

Please, join us!

This combined event is FREE for veterans of all ages, active military, and their families.

At the Expo

Veterans Benefits Community Services Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services

At the Job Fair

Employers Job Counseling Workshops/Seminars Resume Writing Assistance Principal Sponsors: Sponsored by:

Disabled American Veterans • Fulton Financial Corporation • Pennsylvania American Legion Pennsylvania National Guard Outreach Office • Pennsylvania State Headquarters VFW Vibra Health Plan • WFYL • WHTM ABC27 • Worley & Obetz, Inc.

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

www.veteransexpo.com (717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com

50plus LIFE p

Brought to you by:

&

April 2018

15

DENTAL Insurance Physicians Mutual Insurance Company

A less expensive way to help get the dental care you deserve If you’re over 50, you can get coverage for about $1 a day* Keep your own dentist! You can go to any dentist you want No wait for preventive care and no deductibles – you could get a checkup tomorrow

Coverage for over 350 procedures – including cleanings, exams,

fillings, crowns…even dentures

NO annual or lifetime cap on the cash benefits you can receive

FREE Information Kit

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*Individual plan.

Product not available in MN, MT, NH, NM, RI, VT, WA. Acceptance guaranteed for one insurance policy/certificate of this type. Contact us for complete details about this insurance solicitation. This specific offer is not available in CO, NY; call 1-800-969-4781 or respond for similar offer. Certificate C250A (ID: C250E; PA: C250Q); Insurance Policy P150 (GA: P150GA; NY: P150NY; OK: P150OK; TN: P150TN) 6096E-0917 MB17-NM008Ec