50plus Life December 2024

Complimentary | December 2024

Words from the Publisher and EditorS page 4

Personalized Gifts Grandkids Can Make — That Won’t Break Their Piggy Banks

By Kimberly Blaker

of taking out the trash, making their sister’s bed, pet sitting, lawn mowing, ironing, or another task they can do.

As the holidays approach, are your grandkids scrounging to buy gifts they can’t afford?

If so, here are some fun craft ideas you can work on together next time they visit that are great gifts your grandkids can make and give.

Shape decorative soaps. Grate bars of inexpensive white soap. Then mix approximately a half cup of warm water with a cup of shredded soap. Add food coloring to the water to create colored soap. Knead the mixture. Add additional warm water as necessary until it forms like dough.

Next, fill cookie cutters with the mixture or flatten it on a sheet of waxed paper and trim into shapes.

Let the soap dry slightly. Then press with small leaves or other designs.

Allow the decorative soaps to dry for 24 hours, flipping them occasionally.

Tell a story with photos. Create a memory page to add to a friend or relative’s scrapbook. Buy a package of blank scrapbook pages. Then choose a theme such as “my best friend,” “sports car shows,” or “when I was little.”

Design each page using stickers, markers, colored pencils, construction paper, photos, magazine pictures, and fun sayings or descriptions that fit the theme.

Design their own pens and pencils. Purchase sheets of large white labels and cut them into 1.5-

Present service coupons. Offer a free evening of babysitting, a week

Thank You, Columnists!

We at On-Line Publishers would like to express our sincere gratitude and appreciation to the editorial contributors of 50plus Life.

It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors and freelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available to read each month.

The pages of 50plus Life are enriched by your contributions!

Tom Blake (On Life and Love after 50)

Bill Levine (Booming Voice)

Kimberly Blaker

Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature)

Victor Block (Willing to Wander)

Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior)

Fred Cicetti (The Healthy Geezer)

Doris Montag (The History of Ordinary Things)

Suzy Cohen (Dear Pharmacist)

Melinda Myers (Melinda’s Garden)

Jonathen J. David (Legal Ease)

James Patterson

Bob DeLaurentis (Bob’s Tech Talk)

Nancy Schaaf (Nurse Nancy)

Randal C. Hill (‘70s Flashback Blast to the Past The Reel Deal)

Terri Schlichenmeyer (The Bookworm Sez) Dr. Lori Verderame (Art and Antiques) Arthur Vidro (The Cautious Consumer Guy)

TH AL 14 NU AN

Sierra Club-Lancaster Group Polar Bear 5K Trail Run/Hike DATE: Saturday, January 18, 2025 RACE START: 10 A.M.

Dogs on a leash are welcome!

LOCATION: Lancaster County Central Park Pavilion 22 (Kiwanis Lodge) This is the 5K fun race that awards numerous unique prizes and colorful ribbons.

Recipients include the overall top three male and female finishers, the first, second and third place winners in numerous age and gender categories, and the first three finishers (any age group) who race with their dogs. Special door and dog prizes also are presented!

RACE FEES: $30 through January 5, 2025; and $35 from January 6, 2025, through race day (also the fee for race day walk-ins).

Each Participant will receive a commemorative mug included with their entry.

• All money raised by this event, the Sierra Club - Lancaster Group’s major fundraiser, supports local efforts to ease climate change, the reason polar bears and other creatures are at risk of extinction. Funds raised in the 2025 race will help finance the Group’s popular “green project” grant program, which (over the past nine years) has awarded grants of up to $500 to 95 Lancaster County organizations with environmental preservations projects. The money also will help support the Group’s free-to-the public outdoor activities and educational programs.

For more information and to register, visit runsignup.com/Race/PA/ Lancaster/SierraClubLancasterGroupPolarBear5KTrailRunHike, or Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sierraclublancaster.

By participating in this race you will be making tracks for change!

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December 2024

50plus Life

www.50plusLifePA.com

inch strips. Design the pieces with colored markers. Then wrap the design around the length of the pens or pencils.

Personalize them by adding a smaller label to the center of the pencil with “World’s Greatest Grandma” or another catchy phrase. To protect the pencil design, wrap it with transparent scotch tape.

Make a placemat. Choose a subject of interest to your gift recipient, such as model cars or Barbie dolls. Clip pictures from magazines and catalogs.

Then glue them to an 11x17-inch sheet of paper. Overlap the images to create a collage, or spread them apart and share details about each.

When they’re done, laminate the design with self-adhesive laminating sheets or have it laminated at an office supply store.

Create bookmarks. Cut colored paper into 2x7-inch strips and then design the pieces with colored pencils and markers. Or clip fancy borders from magazines.

Find out the gift recipient’s favorite author, artist, or historical figure. Then look the person up in a book of quotations. Select a quote, type or write it out, and add it to the bookmark. Then laminate it for protection.

Give magnetic photos. Cut a piece of cardboard from a cereal box to match the size of a photo. Then glue it to the back of the photo for support.

Last, glue a small magnet to the cardboard. Now it’s a photo magnet.

Fashion a holiday pin. Buy a package of large safety pins and a small bag of multicolored beads. Open one safety pin. Then dangle several safety pins onto it through the eye at the bottom of those pins. Close the open pin. Then thread colored beads onto the dangling safety pins.

The kids can design a Christmas tree, heart, flag, or whatever their imaginations desire.

Construct a puzzle photo frame. Cut a piece of firm cardboard to the desired size of the frame. An adult should then trim out the center with a razor knife, leaving a 1- to 2-inch-thick frame.

Next, trace the outside edge of the frame onto another piece of thin cardboard, and cut it out. Place a sheet of colored paper between the two pieces of cardboard. Glue the paper and two pieces of cardboard together.

Glue jigsaw puzzle pieces around the frame, overlapping each other to cover the entire thickness of the frame. Let the frame dry. Then brush a layer of glue over the puzzle pieces to prevent them from falling off. Stick the photo in the opening of the frame with double-sided tape.

Compose a memory book. Buy a composition book from the office supply store. Cover it with construction paper, then design and decorate the cover. Inside, have the kids write memories of special times they’ve had with the person to whom they’ll present it.

Kimberly Blaker is a freelance writer. She also owns an online bookshop, Sage Rare & Collectible Books, specializing in out-of-print, scarce, signed, and first editions; fine bindings; ephemera; and more at sagerarebooks.com.

Information and support whenever you need it

2024

Presented by in partnership with Area

———— THANKS TO

Agency on Aging.

OUR SPONSORS ————

View online at: www.onlinepub.com (under supplements)

www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus Life

December 2024

3

Cover Story

Words from the Publisher and Editors Dear Friends, Neighbors, and Colleagues, FINAL PUBLICATION All subscriptions will be reviewed to determine refund status.

As appropriate, partial refunds may be issued.

Please call (717) 285-1350 with questions.

Corporate Office

P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604 Phone (717) 285-1350 Fax (717) 285-1360 Email 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 Lauren Phillips

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Senior Marketing Consultant Joshua Binkley Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer

ADMINISTRATION

Hello, Readers,

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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December 2024

For nearly 30 years, I’ve been privileged to work with a wonderful team of individuals to produce publications and events in south-central Pennsylvania that bring consumers, businesses, and service organizations together.

It was a difficult decision to conclude the journey of On-Line Publishers, but as they say, all good things must come to an end. I will be retiring and closing the business at the end of 2024.

In 1995, I began a journey to serve the mind, heart, and spirit of the senior community in Lancaster County. Volunteering at the Lancaster County Office of Aging led to the creation of Senior News (now 50plus Life), a free monthly publication with content specific to the interests of mature consumers.

Fortunately, local businesses who serve this demographic were interested in advertising their products and services, which funded the publication.

The journey continued and the audience grew as we reached surrounding counties, including Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York.

Over the years we added 50plus EXPOs to bring readers and advertisers together in person to further discuss their needs and the products and services that could enhance their lives.

We also added a focus on professional women with

50plus Life

Opportunities present themselves in our lives, and we don’t know where they will lead. About 27 years ago I took a part-time position that turned into a wonderful and whirlwind 27-year experience.

I started out doing some bookkeeping and editing 50plus Life (then Senior News). As the company grew, Megan Joyce took over as the editor of 50plus Life, and I turned my attention to new publications we were introducing, such as BUSINESSWoman magazine, beyond50 , Caregiver Solutions magazine, 50plus Living guide, b magazine, and Lancaster City Living … as well as other specialty focuses. And of course we were hosting expos and expanding our coverage into new counties.

In addition to her work as the editor of 50plus Life, Megan was instrumental in proofing all of our publications and event materials. Lauren Phillips, our production artist of many years, and Renee Petros (a past but longtime production artist) kept their creative juices flowing, coming up with new cover ideas and formatting and laying out our many publications, as well as the plethora of work associated with marketing our publications and events.

I have met many wonderful people during my

BUSINESSWoman magazine and Women’s Expos; b

magazine, a full-gloss magazine for baby boomers; and the Veterans’ Expo & Job Fair to connect our area’s veterans with resources and employment opportunities.

Many, many publications and more than 200 events later, we arrive at today, where we deliver the final edition of our 50plus Life publication, and just last month we wrapped up our final expo.

“Thank you” just doesn’t quite express the immense gratitude I feel for the many wonderful relationships that have evolved over the years. I am eternally grateful to our readers, advertisers, sponsors, exhibitors, and expo attendees who allowed this journey to continue for nearly three decades.

No one individual can be credited with our success, but it surely wouldn’t have been possible without the commitment of our team: Christianne Rupp, Vice President and Managing Editor; Elizabeth Duvall, Business Manager; Stanley Anderson, CFO; Kimberly Shaffer, Event Manager; Megan Joyce, Editor; Lauren Phillips, Production Artist; and Joshua Binkley, Senior Marketing Consultant.

As I close, I will wish that the good things of life will be yours in abundance, not only at Thanksgiving but throughout the coming years.

years as managing editor and account representative.

I will miss those I have worked with over these many years and members I’ve come to know at the monthly SOS meetings. And since we’ve hosted more than 200 50plus EXPOs and Women’s Expos, I’ve come to recognize many of you and enjoyed seeing your smiling faces from year to year.

It’s hard to make the decision to retire. What started out as a small part of my life, became a great source of fulfillment. Many of the staff of On-Line Publishers are now my extended family.

And thank you to our loyal readers, advertisers, exhibitors, and expo guests. It has been a pleasure serving you over these many years.

May the road rise to meet you. May the wind be always at your back. May the sun shine warm upon your face; the rains fall soft upon your fields. And until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of his hand. – Traditional Irish Blessing Wishing you the best in life, Christianne Rupp

Vice President & Managing Editor www.50plusLifePA.com

Dear Readers, It is with both sadness and gratitude that I announce that this issue of 50plus Life will be On-Line Publishers’ last.

Started in 1995 out of the home of company president Donna Anderson as a way to connect seniors with information and resources, 50plus Life (originally Senior News) has served central Pennsylvania’s older adults for nearly 30 years.

Its initial success enabled OLP to eventually expand its outreach with the creation of our 50plus EXPOs, in-person community events that made manifest the company’s original mission: “serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community.”

I have served as 50plus Life’s editor for more than 17 years, taking over the mantle from longtime editor Christianne Rupp, now OLP’s vice president, who showed me the ropes and then handed over the reins (how’s that for a mixed metaphor?) to let me make the publication my own.

For me personally, producing this publication has given me the deep satisfaction of putting to noble use the language skills I sought a degree for — but more importantly, 50plus Life gave me a means to honor the genetic gifts I inherited from my maternal grandmother, who worked well into her later years as a copyeditor and never met a piece of punctuation she didn’t like.

I am grateful she lived long enough to see me continue her occupational legacy and that she and I could enjoy “talking shop.”

We owe a special thank you to the many talented writers and columnists who have contributed to 50plus Life over the years, whose wordsmithing gave

our pages both variety and vibrancy.

And we offer sincere gratitude to the advertisers whose support enabled us to offer this publication to our community free of charge for nearly three decades.

I owe both professional and personal thanks to Renee Petros and Lauren Phillips, production artists and graphic designers extraordinaire, who were my workplace “other halves” these last 17+ years in the monthly creation of 50plus Life. I brought them each issue’s words; they blended them with ads and images and artistry to give the publication its architecture and its visual signature.

I deeply enjoyed the monthly challenge of crafting each issue into something I hoped people of all ages would find value in — but that spoke most directly to our region’s older adults, with both the focus and respect they deserve.

I’ve wanted 50plus Life to be a thoughtfully created, entertaining, and truly helpful monthly funnel for information and resources, a special blend of lifestyle, health and wellness, financial, and fun content in each and every issue I produced — all 213 of them.

With gratitude, Megan R. Joyce

Editor, 50plus Publications

The evolution of 50 plus Life’s name and look over the years.

www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus Life

December 2024

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Savvy Senior

Best CPAP Alternatives for Sleep Apnea Jim Miller

Dear Savvy Senior, I’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea and have been trying to use a CPAP device for the past six months but can’t tolerate it. Are there any alternative treatment options you can tell me about?

– Sleepy Sam Dear Sam, I’m sorry to hear your CPAP mask is keeping you awake at night, but I’m happy to hear you’re addressing your obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) problem.

Left untreated, OSA is linked to daytime sleepiness and an increased risk of anxiety, diabetes, hypertension, and stroke.

For those whose aren’t familiar, OSA causes your breathing to pause during sleep because something blocks your airway, like your tongue or relaxed throat muscles. Losing weight, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol can all help ease obstructive sleep apnea symptoms, such as snoring.

The primary treatment for people with moderate or severe OSA is a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which keeps your airway open by pumping air through a mask you wear over your mouth and/ or nose when you sleep.

But many people, like yourself, have difficulty tolerating CPAP and don’t stick with it. CPAP machines have become smaller and quieter, however, with more comfortable options available.

And for some people with mild to moderate OSA, less invasive alternatives to CPAP may be worth considering. Here are several to ask your doctor about.

Dental device: This is designed to move the jaw so the tongue shifts toward the front of the mouth to help keep the airway open. It’s one of the primary alternatives to CPAP and can also be used with CPAP to help make severe obstructive sleep apnea milder.

A dentist who specializes in sleep medicine (find one through the American

Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine at dentalsleep.org) will be able to customize its fit to help your breathing without causing harm to your bite or teeth. These custom-made oral appliances can cost between $2,000 and $4,000 but may be covered by insurance.

There are much cheaper options available online to treat snoring, but experts say these may not help with OSA and could move teeth out of place or cause jaw issues if they’re not properly fitted.

shirt back — can sometimes help.

Tongue trainer: In 2021, the Food and Drug Administration approved a tongue-stimulating device for mild sleep apnea called eXciteOSA (exciteosa. com), which people wear for 20 minutes a day for six weeks and then 20 minutes a couple of times a week indefinitely. It costs $1,650 and is not covered by insurance.

Surgery: Those who can’t tolerate CPAP could have upper airway surgery to reduce the size of their soft palate or other tissue in their throat. But such options don’t always work, have serious potential complications, and cannot be reversed. So, in general, they should not be first-line treatments.

A newer option is a surgically implanted device called Inspire (inspiresleep. com). Approved in 2014, it stimulates a nerve that moves your tongue to keep your airway open. Inspire can be removed if it is not tolerated, but it should also be tried only if someone is unable to use CPAP, and it is not an option for everyone.

Drug therapy: A new study, recently published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that tirzepatide — the main ingredient found in Type 2 diabetes medication Mounjaro and weight-loss treatment Zepbound — helps reduce symptom severity by almost two-thirds in adults with obesity and obstructive sleep apnea. Ask your doctor about this option.

Dennis Steinmetz dsteinco@aol.com

LANCASTER 350 Centerville Rd. 299-1211 or 800-334-3903

www.steinmetzcoins.com

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December 2024

50plus Life

Position therapy: For some, sleeping on the back can make obstructive sleep apnea dramatically worse. In these cases, switching to side sleeping — perhaps using pillows or a tennis ball attached to a

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

www.50plusLifePA.com

Puzzle Page

CROSSWORD

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 24.

SUDOKU

Across

WORD SEARCH

For the Sweet Tooth

1.

Scored on serve

29. Musical group

54. Station identification?

5.

Billiards stroke

32. Bohr’s study

57. Area unit

10. Sobriquet for Haydn

33. Vase

58. ___-Magnon

14. Reactor part

34. Needle

59. Rowels

15. Utopian

36. Cupolas

62. Eucalyptus eaters

16. Arab chieftain

40. Wife of Osiris

66. Epitaph starter

17. Mangle

42. Waste allowances

68. V.I.P.

18. Unwavering

44. Menu option

70. Severe blow

19. Competent

45. Crowns

71. Verse form

20. Leave out word

47. “Nothing ___!”

72. Honshu port

22. Dog pest

49. It’s made in Japan

73. Form of ether

24. Extended period

50. Shipshape

74. Repose

25. Ventilates

52. Caribbean Islands group

75. Fertilizer ingredient

27. Ancient military hub

76. Stagger

Down

Almond joy baby ruth big hunk caramello dots galaxy heath

kit kat life savers marathon milk duds milky way mounds mr goodbar

www.50plusLifePA.com

nerds oh henry payday power house skittles skor snickers

starburst tootsie roll twix whoppers zagnut zero

1.

Pinnacle

23. Footless animal

48. Greek sandwich

2.

Wheedle

26. Well built

51. Church official

3.

Rock’s Clapton

28. Andy’s sidekick

53. Scanty

4.

Humiliate

29. Wisecrack

54. Yellow-orange

5.

Abuse

30. Bear dipper

55. French pancake

6.

Commotion

31. “What’s ___ for me?”

56. Pamplona runners

7.

Narcissist’s love

32. Ancient Greek state

60. He loved Lucy

8.

Go yachting

35. Modern (prefix)

61. Thin strip

9.

Firstborn

37. Poet Angelou

63. Rural route

10. Stew morsel

38. Balanced

64. African flower

11. Color of honey

39. D.C. group

65. Order to a broker

12. Kitchen light

41. Moss capsule

67. Guinness suffix

13. Combat zone

43. Commissary

69. Scratch (out)

21. Sweeney Todd creator

46. Spill the beans

50plus Life

December 2024

7

Social Security Announces 2.5% Benefit Increase for 2025 The Social Security Administration Social Security benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments for more than 72.5 million Americans will increase 2.5% in 2025.

On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by about $50 per month starting in January.

Over the last decade, the COLA increase has averaged about 2.6%.

The COLA was 3.2% in 2024.

Nearly 68 million Social Security beneficiaries will see the cost-ofliving adjustment beginning in January 2025. Increased payments to nearly 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on Dec. 31, 2024. (Note: Some people receive both Social Security benefits and SSI).

“Social Security benefits and SSI payments will increase in 2025, helping tens of millions of people keep up with expenses even as inflation has started to cool,” said Martin O’Malley, commissioner of Social Security.

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are

Tom & Randi LaNasa “MEMORY MUSIC”

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

Booking shows for any occasion!

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

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

based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) is slated to increase to $176,100 from $168,600.

Social Security begins notifying people about their new benefit amount by mail starting in early December.

This year, for the first time, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a newly designed and improved COLA notice that makes it easier for customers to find the information they need most.

The simplified COLA notice is now only one page, uses plain and personalized language, and provides exact dates and dollar amounts of a person’s new benefit amount and any deductions.

Individuals who have a personal my Social Security account can view their COLA notice online, which is secure, easy, and faster than receiving a letter in the mail.

People can set up text or email alerts when there is a new message — such as their COLA notice — waiting for them in my Social Security.

People need to have set up a personal my Social Security account by Nov. 20 to see their COLA notice online.

Information about Medicare changes for 2025 will be available at medicare.gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, the 2025 benefit amount was available via my Social Security’s Message Center starting in late November.

Those who have not opted to receive messages online will receive their COLA notice by mail in December.

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated. The act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Source: Social Security Administration

Almost 6 million people in the U.S. care for an ill or disabled partner

Specialty shows include …

Songs from the WWII Years • The Post WWII Years: 1945 – 1955 AMERICA: From Sea to Shining Sea Salute to the Rat Pack (or if you prefer, just Sinatra) Elvis & Patsy • Classic Country

Please contact Memory Music to book your next event!

Phone: (717) 846-6126 8

December 2024

E-mail: memrymusic@aol.com 50plus Life

WSA addresses the unique challenges that well spouses face every day. If you could benefit from this information, please join us!

Meetings held 2nd & 4th Wednesdays of the month 7:00 p.m. – Wegmans, 2000 Crossings Blvd., Lancaster, PA 17601 www.50plusLifePA.com

Blast to the Past!

‘Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds’ Randal Hill

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Picture yourself in a boat on a river With tangerine trees and marmalade skies www.50plusLifePA.com

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AC Y

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Lucy O’Donnell was 4 years Somebody calls you, you old when she attended the answer quite slowly upscale Heath House School in A girl with kaleidoscope eyes Weybridge, Surrey, England.

One of her best friends there Lucy O’Donnell (later was John Lennon’s son, Julian, Lucy Vodden) appreciated the who arrived at school each day Beatles’ music but did once in a Rolls-Royce. admit, “As a teenager, I made Years later, in a BBC the mistake of telling a couple interview, O’Donnell recalled, of friends at school I was the “I remember Julian and I both Lucy in the song. They said, doing pictures on a double‘No, it’s not about you. My sided easel and throwing parents said it’s about drugs.’ paint at each other, much to And I didn’t know what LSD the horror of the classroom was at the time, so I just kept it attendant. Julian painted a quiet, to myself.”

Photo credit: Steve Morley-Redferns picture of me.”

Elton John and John Lennon share the stage at Madison Square Garden 1974.

Although Randal C. Hill’s heart The lad’s 5”x7” paper lives in the past, the rest of him artwork showed O’Donnell “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” resides in Bandon, Ore. He can be floating in an orange haze

By Elton John reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

December 2024 among stars that he called “diamonds.” That afternoon, the boy took his creation home and proudly showed it to his dad.

Lennon loved the image. It reminded him of a scene from Lewis Carroll’s NG DIGN AGI ITY classic Through the Looking Glass, in which Alice floats in a boat beneath a VE TI sunny sky. Lennon immediately summoned Beatles partner Paul McCartney to work up a song inspired by Julian’s picture.

Four days later, the two had “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” ready to be added to what would become the quartet’s LP masterpiece, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely M Hearts Club Band. (The name supposedly derived from the Dr Pepper drink, T PO RO WE RMENT P unavailable in the U.K. until 1982 and enjoyed by the Beatles whenever they toured America.)

Lancaster County Recording at London’s Abbey Road studios, the Fab Four spent 700 drugLANCASTER COUNTY Office of Aging fueled hours recording psychedelic-inspired music that would, in essence, EMPLOYERS NEED YOU! sweep away traditional rock ’n’ roll and usher in sophisticated “rock art.”

Much of the creation of Sgt. Pepper was McCartney’s idea, including the Are you a Lancaster County resident who is 55 years and older seeking wearing of marching-band uniforms and displaying the songs’ lyrics on the full or part-time employment? The 55 + Job Bank program through back of the 1967 album. the Employment Unit at the Office of Aging offers various Although drugs had fueled the “Lucy” recording, the tune itself, according employment possibilities to meet your goals. Based on an evaluation to Lennon, had nothing to do with lysergic acid diethylamide — LSD. of your skills and abilities, we can match you with a position needed “Until somebody pointed it out, I never even thought of it,” he said later. “I by a local employer. Some employers are specifically looking for mean, who would ever bother to look at the initials of a title?” mature workers because of the dependability, reliability, and experience As 1974 drew to a close, Elton John’s version of “Lucy in the Sky with they bring to the workplace. Full-time and part-time positions require Diamonds” gave him his third No. 1 American single when his MCA Records varying skill levels and experience, with a wide range of financial disc topped the Hot 100 chart for two weeks. compensation. Interested candidates should contact the Office His friend (and the song’s co-creator) John Lennon had provided some of Aging Employment Unit at 717-299-7979 or by guitar work and backup vocals along the way, although Lennon forgot some of email aging@lancastercountypa.gov the chords during the recording session.

OK, so “Lucy” supposedly wasn’t about drugs, but no one can deny that many of the lyrics are “trippy”:

Lancaster County Office of Aging 150 North Queen St., Suite 415 Lancaster, PA 17603

50plus Life

December 2024

9

Dear Pharmacist

Find Holiday Tranquility with 5 Herbal Teas Suzy Cohen

With the bustling holiday season, finding calm amidst the festive chaos is essential.

While wine and cocktails are popular choices, the serenity brought by herbal teas should not be underestimated. I always carry a selection of high-quality, organic herbal teas, especially during travels, as they offer a personalized touch that hotel teas don’t provide.

Herbal teas, known for their soothing qualities, are ideal for the holiday rush. They’re not only calming, but they also carry medicinal benefits.

Their universal appeal is evident across cultures, each with its unique herbal traditions. My collection of herbs in mason jars is a testament to my passion for natural remedies!

The cultural significance of herbal teas is profound. From chamomile

Merry christmas We at On-Line Publishers, Inc. are grateful to our dedicated staff, loyal readers, and supportive advertisers who have all enabled us to continue our mission to serve the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50+ community in 2024.

We wish to thank each of you for helping to make 50plus Life a fun, interesting, and unique source of information and entertainment for our readers in central Pennsylvania.

The staff of On-Line Publishers wishes you, our friends, warmest holiday wishes.

Let’s talk about that next.

in ancient Egypt to the green tea ceremonies in Japan, these brews have been central to wellness practices for ages. Their health benefits and diverse flavors are recognized worldwide.

Why choose herbal teas for the holidays? It’s an understandable question when there’s a dazzling array of alcohol everywhere. And the obvious answer is that herbal teas don’t damage your liver or intoxicate you and make you unfit to drive!

Incorporating herbal teas into your holiday regimen (as opposed to liquors) offers various advantages too. They’re often hydrating, which is vital for our bodies during colder months, and they also benefit mind and body.

1. Chamomile: Known for its calming effect, it’s perfect for relaxing during holiday activities. However, pregnant women should limit their intake, and those allergic to certain flowers should avoid it. Chamomile’s apigenin content aids sleep and reduces insomnia.

2. Peppermint: Beyond its festive flavor, peppermint tea aids digestion and eases stomach discomfort, making it ideal after holiday feasts.

3. Cinnamon: This spice isn’t just for pies. Cinnamon tea’s warming quality is great for chilly nights. It also helps regulate blood sugar, which is beneficial during holiday indulgences.

4. Ginger: Known for its digestive and immune-boosting properties, ginger extract adds zest to your holiday table.

5. Rosehips: A lesser-known choice, rosehips are rich in vitamin C and antioxidants and add a unique tangy flavor to holiday blends. Rosehips grow at the base of the blossom of roses.

Creating a personalized tea blend is an art; that’s why I’ve listed five herbs above. Balance the flavors and consider the desired health benefits. Choose organic, fresh herbs for potency. Opt for loose-leaf over bagged teas for a fuller experience.

Herbal teas can enhance holiday gatherings, like post-dinner tea sessions or holiday tea parties. They can even be mixed into festive cocktails for a unique twist.

These natural remedies offer a historical connection and a source of relaxation during the holiday season.

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

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The Beauty in Nature

Two Hollies Clyde McMillan-Gamber

American holly trees and winterberry exposing the females’ red berries to our shrubs (a type of deciduous holly) are adoring eyes. This holly’s habitat is in two kinds of hollies that are native to swamps of bare, deciduous trees. the eastern United States, including The females’ scarlet berries are a readily southeastern Pennsylvania. noticeable, inspiring highlight in those And they are appropriate to winter woods through winter and into spring. and the holiday season because of These shrubs grow up to about 10 feet the attractive, deep-green foliage on high and bear many berries that brighten American hollies in winter and the their wooded habitats. decorative, bright-red berries on female Raccoons, opossums, rodents, and plants of both these related species. other kinds of mammals ingest many Wild American hollies grow sparingly holly berries through winter and into in woods along the Susquehanna River in early spring. And a variety of berry-eating Lancaster and York counties, including birds — including American robins, on the Lower Susquehanna’s islands. And starlings, cedar waxwings, and other they are common in forests in Maryland species — consume many of them as American holly and farther south. well. I’ve seen large, exciting flocks of Interestingly, many American holly starlings and robins stripping trees and trees have leaf-covered shapes that bushes of their delightful red berries. resemble partly opened umbrellas. Those The birds digest the pulp of berries trees offer shelter to small birds from but pass the seeds, often miles from the snow, rain, cold wind, and predators. parent plants. As a result, I’ve seen many American hollies have thick leaves young, volunteer American hollies in throughout the year, which add to their woods and on lawns, including our own winter beauty. And that appealing foliage lawn! highlights the eye-catching red berries American hollies and winterberries on green-leafed female hollies through bear tiny white flowers late in spring. winter and into early spring.

Insects sip nectar from those blooms, Individual plants of both these related pollinating the blossoms in the process. kinds of hollies are either male or female.

American hollies and winterberries are Pollen blows from male flowers onto delightful woody plants to experience female blooms, which form green berries in winter and around the holidays. The that grow and ripen to bright, wonderful dark-green foliage of American hollies Winterberry red. If people want lovely holly berries and the scarlet berries of both species are of either kind on their lawns, they must truly delightful to behold! plant at least one male plant among the females.

Clyde McMillan-Gamber is a retired Lancaster County Parks naturalist.

Winterberries shed their leaves in autumn and are bare through winter,

Nature’s Wonders

by Clyde

A nature blog

by Clyde McMillan-Gamber, retired Lancaster County Parks naturalist and longtime 50plus Life columnist

Each story is like a walk with your own naturalist.

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December 2024

11

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Vintage Holiday Brooches Lori Verderame

During the holidays, we Of course, gold jewelry dress in our best clothes, pieces — including rose gold, shoes, and hats. Yet, when it yellow gold, or white gold — comes to jewelry, albeit fine are always in fashion. These or costume, a big statement pretty and precious metals piece makes a holiday outfit are the basis for any goodstand out. looking brooch.

Earrings, necklaces, and bracelets are must-have Settings accessories for holiday style, When choosing a holiday and a brooch tops off any brooch, the importance of a blouse, blazer, sweater, or brooch’s setting is important. coat.

Look for classic settings like When evaluating holiday wreaths, circles, or natural brooches, there are some forms, such as poinsettias, aspects of the popular holly, evergreen trees, etc.

Credit: Staff of drloriv.com Assorted holiday brooches. keepsakes that should not be Prongs are a quality overlooked. Gemstones, like indicator for both fine and rubies and emeralds, are often the choice of the season because of their red and costume jewelry brooches. Remember, the more prongs on a brooch to hold a green colors. gemstone or faux gemstone in place, the better. Most faceted-cut gemstones are Precious metals, like silver, are popular during the winter holidays. It’s true set with at least four prongs; it is better to have six or more. Prongs should be that if it’s good enough for the bells, then it’s good enough for the bling. curved and tightly secured to the gemstone on a brooch.

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Styles For holiday brooches, prevalent styles are those that resemble wreaths, candles, or winter-themed objects like sleighs, snowmen, or snowflakes. Figural brooches of Santa Claus, elves, reindeer, Hanukkah menorahs, dreidels, and other seasonal objects are popular.

Collectors know that brooches are making a big comeback on the vintage fashion scene. Today’s holiday fashion demands that a bigger vintage brooch is a better brooch. These big brooches, called statement brooches, command high values on the market.

Vintage brooches from the mid-1900s to the end of the 20th century enjoy a very active resale market online on platforms like eBay, Etsy, Thrilling, and

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Poshmark, among others.

Gemstones The most popular gemstones or faux gemstones used in holiday brooches are red and green stones.

Red stones, such as garnets and rubies, and green stones, like emeralds, peridots, and jades, highlight the holiday color scheme.

These color pairs attract the eye using color theory: red and green are complementary colors that stimulate the optic nerve and attract one’s eyes to the color pair.

Colorless or white gemstones, such as pearls, crystals, rhinestones, and diamonds, are used by holiday jewelry designers to recall a wintery mood suggestive of white snow, crystals, or angels’ sparkling wings.

Blue topaz and aquamarines are often paired with pearls in holiday brooches to conjure the feeling of the season’s cold and icy wintry weather, too.

In addition to these precious gems, faux gemstones are integrated into holiday brooch design, like blue Austrian crystals or carved cabochon stones such as carnelian, chalcedony, and aventurine.

When it comes to fine jewelry, look for high-quality materials, gemstones, and stunning modern designs by some of the most impressive designers like David Yurman, Chanel, Cartier, etc.

For vintage costume or faux jewelry collectors, brooches

by Hattie Carnegie, Miriam Haskell, Ben Amun, Trifari, and Eisenberg have good value and strong market interest.

Happy holidays.

Credit: Staff of drloriv.com

Assorted holiday brooches.

Dr. Lori Verderame is a Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning media personality. Dr. Lori appears on Netflix’s King of Collectibles and History channel’s Pawn Stars Do America and The Curse of Oak Island. She presents her live stage show, Dr. Lori’s Antiques Appraisal Comedy Tour, at venues nationwide. See youtube.com/drloriv and drloriv.com or call (888) 431-1010.

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December 2024

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December 2024

15

Colorful Creativity

By Lynda Hudzick Although the art of tie dye goes back almost 2,000 years — originating with the art of shibori, an ancient Japanese dying technique — we still tend to think of it as something that began just a few decades ago as a way for young people to express themselves.

Today, expressing himself creatively is exactly what Ed Dodds does through his work with tie dye. But he does also admit that “I guess most people would call me an old hippie,” he said. “I do make tie dye and enjoy the music of the Grateful Dead.”

This Lancaster County native, a proud father of four and grandfather of 10, has always enjoyed sharing his creative side.

He began playing guitar at a young age and has since mastered several musical instruments.

For more than three decades he has also worked as a chef, where he enjoys doing elaborate plate and buffet presentations.

Although both of those passions are definitely considered art forms, Dodds said, “I have always appreciated art but was never able to draw or paint very well.”

So he found an art form that suited him and his unique skill set very well, and one that didn’t involving painting or drawing.

He became a tie dye artist.

Dodds believes he’s been tie dyeing for about 35 years, having gotten involved with it with his first wife. He recalls hosting tie dye parties in those early days, even before his children were born.

“I found a photo of my son wearing a nice dye as an infant,” he said. “He is now 31, so it’s been a while.”

Known for his unusual and intricate design work, Dodds explained some of the differences between the simple tie dye process of using paint on fabric, which we’re all a bit familiar with, and what he likes to do.

“Most of the cheaper dyes are surface dyes,” he said. “They sit on top of the fabric and eventually wash out. I use fiberreactive dye that requires natural fabric.

Fiber-reactive dyes bond with the natural cellulose molecules and form a permanent bond.”

Dodds also likes to use something called an ice dye process that gives his work a unique look. Most people think of the process of applying dye in terms of squirting liquid on a shirt, but ice dyeing

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50plus Life

Photo credit: Abby Holbach

Ed Dodds and just a few examples of his tie dye creations.

is different.

“Think of a color like purple,” he said.

“The dye powder may be made up of four to five colors. I use the dye powder and cover the shirt in ice — sometimes with the powder under the ice, sometimes on top of the ice, sometimes both. With ice, you will see those colors separate.”

One of the hardest parts with an icedyed project is waiting to see how it turns out. A project “needs to sit for at least 24 hours after the ice melts,” Dodds said.

“When it is ready, you need to rinse, rinse, and rinse. I wash it once in cold and twice in hot water to make sure all the dye is removed. I wouldn’t want someone to have a shirt bleed into their other laundry.”

Shirts aren’t the only items that have been touched by the creativity of Ed Dodds.

“I’ve dyed just about anything that will take dye,” he said. “Tapestries are fun.

Socks are a popular item. Also yoga pants, onesies, shoes, tote bags, and scrunchies.

I like thrifting for dresses and men’s dress shirts. My first wife is a talented seamstress, and she would take pieces of dyed fabric and make pillow covers or purses.”

Dodds has taught classes in tie dye, sharing his love of the art with others.

“I’ve done classes for a couple that wanted to do a family picture of everyone in tie dye,” he said. “My daughter and I once taught a group of about 200 people over six hours. That was interesting.”

How does he come up with design ideas for all those various items?

“There is a ton of inspiration out there,” Dodds said. “I usually start the folding process with an idea in my head of what the shirt will look like. The shirt doesn’t always cooperate, which is part of the beauty of tie dye.”

He also likes to build on a technique he has used before, trying variations of it or combining it with another.

“Geode-looking dyes are great,” Dodds said. “I also like gravity dyes. This is where the shirt actually hangs off the side of a table or something else, and the dye slowly runs down.”

Some of his designs are more popular than others, and so when he is going to an art show, for example, “I make the design of a shirt that has sold well in the past and that I know people will buy. Sometimes the balance of art and business don’t please see COLORFUL on page 19

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Be an Advocate in the Life of a Long-Term Care Resident Become a Volunteer Ombudsman

The Lancaster County Office of Aging trains community members to serve as Volunteer Ombudsmen, advocating for residents of long-term care facilities.

Call us for the next training schedule

Duties include: • Educating residents about their rights

• Encouraging and assisting residents to ask questions and express concerns • Helping them reach solutions, in collaboration with facility staff and family

Background checks and online/virtual training by PA Department of Aging are required.

Schedule and assignments are flexible, based on volunteer’s availability. Visits can be made days, evenings, and/or weekends.

To learn more about this unique volunteer opportunity, contact Robin Work, LTC Ombudsmen Volunteer Coordinator at 717-299-7979 or 1-800-801-3070 or by e-mail at RWork@lancastercountypa.gov. www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus Life

December 2024

17

The Cautious Consumer Guy

Minimizing Mortgage and Car Expenses Arthur Vidro

There are ways to save on mortgage expenses.

Are you making one large mortgage payment every month? Try taking half the amount and paying it every two weeks. Is that doable for you? It is for many.

The advantage is that instead of making 12 monthly payments per year, you end up making the equivalent of 13 monthly payments per year.

Because there are 52 weeks in a year, by making a half-payment every two weeks, you end up making 26 biweekly halfpayments — which corresponds to 13 monthly payments.

This pays off your loan principal faster and decreases the overall amount of interest you pay for the privilege of having borrowed the money.

Let’s illustrate. If you have a $200,000 mortgage with a 30-year term and a 5% interest rate, switching to the biweekly method would pay off the mortgage in about 25 years instead of 30 and would save you about $34,500 in overall interest.

Remember, the longer the duration of your mortgage payments, the more you end up paying in interest.

Since you’re not contracted to make the payments every two weeks, there is no punishment if you need to lapse back into the monthly method.

It’s also more economical to make a larger down payment or buy a smaller

house. Or both.

Now let’s look at car loans.

We drive a car we bought with 70,000 miles on it. We were able to scrape together just enough money to buy it without taking out a loan.

But our prior car, a Saturn, was bought new in May 2002.

The purchase price was roughly $17,000; I did not make a down payment, but my trade-in netted $2,800, so the amount financed was $14,200.

I borrowed from General Motors and agreed to a 48month payback schedule at $331.78 a month. But I rarely paid that amount. Usually I was able to swing two payments at once, and pay off $663.56 at a time, once each month. In a little over two years, the car was paid off, and we had saved a good amount of money in interest.

Once the title transferred fully to me, I canceled much of the car’s insurance.

No longer insured it against windshield breakage. Or theft. Or getting banged up in a collision. I kept the insurance for any damage we might cause to other vehicles or other people. (Not that this insurance ever came into play.)

By buying a cheaper car, I saved money. By paying off the car loan quickly, I saved more money. By reducing my insurance coverage (which you can’t do until you fully own the car), I further cut back my expenses.

But for reasons I don’t understand, most people buying a car don’t look at the low end of the market. They want the biggest, flashiest, most advanced car they qualify to buy.

Then they spread the payments out as far into the future as possible — often six years! — solely to reduce the size of the monthly payment. As a result, they end up spending far more for the car itself, far more for loan interest, and far more for insuring the car.

Right now, more than 17% of new loans for cars require monthly payments exceeding $1,000.

People are buying vehicles that are big, fancy, and expensive.

Remember, the longer the duration of your car payments, the more you end up paying in interest.

It’s more economical to make a larger down payment or buy a less fancy car. Or both.

If you want to avoid big payments, don’t buy a $50,000 vehicle. Buy one that costs $30,000 or less.

Arthur Vidro worked for a decade in the stock industry.

Before and after, he wrote newspaper articles and edited a few books. He has served as treasurer of theater and library organizations. He’s been cautious with money ever since a dollar was worth a dollar.

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COLORFUL from page 16

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always line up,” he said.

Dodds enjoys doing local art shows and hopes to do about 35 of them this year alone.

“I found that more and more people wanted to buy my dyes,” he said.

“I realized if I could get my work and myself in front of more people, this could grow. I found that not only my work, but my enthusiasm in what I do and discussing it led to even more sales.”

He also has done some custom work but said that can be tricky.

“People can have a vision in their head, and often tie dye doesn’t work that way … and I don’t like to work that way,” Dodds said. “I tell people, ‘I’ll get you in the neighborhood.’ It’s like live music. Create something right in front of me that will never be exactly the same. There’s the beauty, the art, the creativity.”

Having a creative outlet, no matter what form it takes, is important for all of us.

“In August of 2020 my second wife passed away,” Dodds said. “I was in a really dark place and needed help.”

At the treatment center where he sought that help, Dodds recalled they provided guitars and a keyboard, which helped him rediscover his longtime love of music. But he also discovered something else.

“One day they did tie dye, and I rediscovered the passion I had for creating art. It was a huge part of my recovery and still is to this day.

Folding and dyeing becomes a meditation.

“Having great passion in creating for yourself is amazing, and when you share it — bonus. When you can make money doing it — wow! I have a strong belief that everyone needs some creativity in their life, whatever form that takes.”

OT

Lancaster County Office of Aging Maintaining the independence and quality of life for Lancaster County’s aging population through information, protection, services, and community support.

result of the passage of the Older Americans Act. This act directed states to develop a network of services and supports to help keep older adults healthy and independent.

The Pennsylvania Department of Aging was created to fulfill this mandate. In turn, a network of 52 Area Agencies on Aging (AAA) was established throughout the commonwealth to carry out this mission at the local level.

Funding for aging-related services is a combination of state and federal monies, with the Pennsylvania Lottery providing the major source of funding.

In Lancaster County, the AAA is part of county government. We are dedicated to providing Lancaster County residents, 60 years of age and older, with a wide range of informational resources and services as well as advocacy efforts and elder abuse protection.

The LCOA offers the following services:

Our Philosophy:

• Information and referral services

 Support the older person’s right to

decide his/her own destiny. Encourage consumer self-determination and choice.

• Long-term living assessments • Home and community-based support services

 Support the older person’s right to risk.

• Protection from abuse and neglect

 Promote independence and dignity.

• APPRISE, Medicare, and related health insurance counseling

 Avoid unnecessary/inappropriate

• Senior center services

• Adult daily living services • Caregiver support • Employment • Ombudsman services • Transportation • Legal services • Health and wellness programming • Volunteer opportunities

institutionalization.

For more information, please call us Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m. at 717-299-7979/1-800-801-3070, visit our website at www.lancoaging.org, or email aging@co.lancaster.pa.us. www.50plusLifePA.com

50plus Life

December 2024

19

’70s Flashback

Bobby Riggs Said Whaaaaat?

Randal C. Hill

On Sept. 20, 1973, over favorite target of his 30,000 people crowded bombast. into Houston’s cavernous Some of his jawAstrodome. At the same dropping proclamations time, TV viewers around back then included such the world switched on over whoppers as, “Women 90 million sets. belong in the kitchen The reason? To witness and the bedroom, in that a tennis match that order,” and “Women promoters had trumpeted don’t have the emotional as the Battle of the Sexes. stability to win.”

The contestants were His first tennis coach 55-year-old Bobby had been a woman.

Riggs, at one time Riggs usually trained the nation’s best male rigorously for his matches, tennis professional, and but he had slacked off Billie Jean King, age with the King contest.

29, consistently ranked While King spent practice among the greatest time playing skilled male female players of all time. players, Riggs chased The winner would take women, went to parties, Photo credit: Associated Press Billie Jean King is carried on a litter onto the tennis court at the Houston Astrodome before home $100,000 — about knocked back cocktails, the 1973 Battle of the Sexes against Bobby Riggs. $700,000 today. puffed on cigars, and In Las Vegas, sports gained 15 pounds. bettors heavily favored When asked about King Riggs; Jimmy the Greek declared, as an opponent, he chortled, “There’s no “King money is scarce. It’s hard to find way that broad can beat me.” a bet on the girl.”

Riggs ended up eating his words.

Riggs boasted that he could beat any From the match’s outset, King forced female player on the planet. King felt Riggs to cover the entire court as she had a duty to accept Riggs’ highly she ran him from side to side, always publicized challenge for the event after playing to his weak backhand and thinking, “It would set us back 50 years rocketing shots past the out-of-shape if I didn’t win that match. It would opponent. affect the self-esteem of all women.”

Winning three straight sets, King (At the time, a woman could still not had simply ground down her much obtain a credit card without a man’s older rival, a man the same age as her signature.) father.

Riggs, though, viewed the quirky Riggs declared himself a “bum” contest as a springboard to easy cash and sank into a six-month funk before and a late-in-life career launch playing becoming a tennis pro and greeter at exhibition matches against easily a Las Vegas casino. King continued to defeated women. mow down the competition and retired Both players hailed from Southern with 39 Grand Slam titles.

California. Riggs had begun playing “To beat a 55-year-old guy was no tennis at age 12, and by 1946 he was thrill for me,” King said later about the the world’s top professional. King also match. “The thrill was exposing a lot of proved to be a natural at the game new people to tennis.” and, at 17, won the women’s doubles Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives in title at Wimbledon, the first of 20 such Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs in 1973. the past, the rest of him resides in Bandon, victories for her there.

Ore. He can be reached at wryterhill@msn.

Riggs had always loved the media com. spotlight, and by the early 1970s female tennis players had become a

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Legal Ease

Use Caution when Attempting a DIY Trust Jonathan J. David

Dear Jonathan: I am proud of myself. I just finished preparing my own trust. It wasn’t that hard to do with all the various forms to pick from on the internet.

I do have one question, however.

How do I put my home into my trust? Do I simply include a paragraph in my trust that says that at my death my home is owned by my trust? I want to make sure I get this right so my house doesn’t go through probate.

Jonathan says: No, including a paragraph in your trust stating that your home is automatically owned by your trust at the time of your death will not be effective to transfer your home to your trust.

When you purchased your home, the prior owner conveyed its ownership interest in the home to you by executing a deed. You will need to do the same thing here — prepare and execute a deed conveying your interest in the home to your trust or, to be more exact, to the trustee of your trust.

You didn’t ask for my advice regarding the trust you prepared using the online forms you found, but it is important that you have that trust reviewed by an estate planning attorney. There are thousands of forms that can be found on the internet, but those forms are by their nature generic and will not address a person’s specific personal circumstances.

Another problem with generic internet forms is that if you pick the wrong form or insert the wrong provisions, you can end up hurting rather than helping yourself.

This is because there are many different types of trusts that are utilized for very different purposes, so you have to know what type of trust you are trying to prepare and make sure that whatever forms you are looking at are consistent with that type of trust.

For example, I recently had a client attempt to prepare his own trust just like you and, in so doing, he pulled provisions from a variety of different types of trusts he found on the internet. These trusts included revocable trusts, a variety of different types of irrevocable trusts, and certain other specialized trusts that were totally different from the type of trust he was trying to prepare.

Consequently, the trust he created turned out to be a hodgepodge of different trusts and a complete mess.

Further, unless you are knowledgeable about trusts and how to prepare them, you will have no way of knowing whether you included the correct provisions for the type of trust you wanted to create. In other words, you don’t know what you don’t know.

I recommend you have an estate planning attorney at least review the trust you prepared to make sure there are no problems with that instrument. If problems are found, that attorney can help correct those problems.

That attorney can also help with preparing the deed conveying your home to the trust. Preparing a deed may appear to be a simple matter, but deeds are www.50plusLifePA.com

more complicated than you think and are easy to screw up if you don’t know what you are doing.

Finally, if you decide to engage an attorney to review your trust, you should consider asking that attorney to review with you the other types of estate planning documents that should be included as part of your overall estate plan. Having a trust can be beneficial, but it is not necessarily the most important estate planning document to have.

Whether you choose to follow that attorney’s advice is up to you; however, at least you will have had the opportunity to hear what types of other estate planning documents are available to you. Good luck.

Jonathan J. David is a shareholder in the law firm of Foster, Swift, Collins & Smith, P.C., 1700 E. Beltline N.E., Grand Rapids, MI 49525.

Pet of the Month PJ Hey there, I’m PJ, a distinguished 9-year-old gentleman with a heart full of love and a whole lot of purrs to give!

I may be a little older, but I’m as friendly and sweet as can be, always looking to settle down beside you or keep you company. My dream is a cozy, caring home where I can enjoy my “old man” lifestyle: sunny spots for naps, tasty treats, and gentle head scratches.

If you’re looking for a relaxed, loving friend, I’m your guy!

Thanks to a wonderful anonymous sponsor celebrating National Senior Pet Month, my adoption fee is completely waived, which means you can bring me home without a cost — just a promise of love and snuggles.

PJ’s ID number is 238222. Please send your application to the Lancaster Center for Animal LifeSaving at adoptlancaster@humanepa.org, or give the shelter a call at (717) 393-6551 to learn more.

50plus Life

December 2024

21

Bob’s Tech Talk

Bob DeLaurentis

Apple Photos, Better Holiday Pictures, Qi Chargers

Q. The Apple Photos app is really different after this last update. Is there a way to change it back?

A. Apple revamped the Photos app this year. All the same functions are there, but the initial screen presents them differently.

Although it might seem like change for change’s sake at first, let’s take a deeper look.

In many ways, the old app wasn’t that great. The new design makes it easier to find the major part of the app more quickly. Rather than simply showing the photos, it presents the major parts of the app in a single scrolling window.

The photos remain at the top, and the tabs from the previous app are now sections in a list. Things like Albums, Shared Albums, Memories, and more are there.

The biggest improvement is that now you can customize the main screen with the sections you want.

To do this, scroll all the way down to the bottom of the main screen and tap on the Customize and Reorder button.

From the resulting screen, you can sort the sections in the order you prefer, and hide items you do not use often.

The other big feature this year is a new editing tool called “Clean Up.” To use it, select a single photo to view. At the bottom of the screen, tap the Edit button (immediately to the right of the Info button). The rightmost button that appears in the edit mode is labeled “Clean Up.” Tap that button, and then touch any object you want removed from the photo.

Q. I want to make the most of my holiday pictures this year. What simple things can I do to take better photos?

A. Get closer. Fill the frame with your subject. Almost every photo will look better if the camera is closer to the subject. This can be done while shooting, or afterward by cropping the photo.

Take more photos. The more photos you attempt, the more images will be successful. Instead of taking a single shot of a subject, take several. Move the camera to capture a different angle or look for a different pose. Often unique images result from placing the camera somewhere other than eye level.

Group photos are some of the most difficult, but you can make it easier by interacting with everyone. Direct your subjects so their faces are close to one another. Take a dozen or more shots, hopefully catching one with everyone looking their best.

Edit ruthlessly. Do not share every image you take. The numbers vary, but a good rule of thumb is 10%. Aim for taking a few hundred images, and only share the best 10 or 20 of them.

If you move a little closer, take more photos, move the camera high and low, and be patient with groups, your photos will look better than typical snapshots.

Q. Is there any benefit from charging my smartphone battery with a cord? My phone can use either a cable or a magnetic charging stand. Is one method better than the other?

A. Phones that charge wirelessly use a round-shaped coil known as a Qi (pronounced “chee”) charger. These chargers use magnets to cinch the device to the charger, and magnets are generally better than stands that rely on you placing the device on the charger.

When it comes to Qi chargers, position matters. And if the coils inside the devices are not aligned, the charge may never finish.

As for which method is better, there are advantages and disadvantages to each.

please see PHOTOS on facing page

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Melinda’s Garden

Melinda Myers

Give the Gift of Preserving the Garden’s Harvest

Give a gift that helps your favorite Avoid plastic bags that retain moisture gardeners enjoy the flavors of their garden and can shorten these vegetables’ storage well past the end of the growing season. life. Breathable potato and onion storage Both new and experienced gardeners baskets have been used by gardeners for often spend their gardening budget on centuries. Boost the style and space savings plants and seeds, leaving little or none to with the Stackable Bamboo Harvest invest in food-preservation equipment and Storage Basket with Lid. Just stack as supplies. needed and place on the rolling base for Canning jars, freezer containers, spice easy storage and accessibility. cubes, and airtight bottles for canning, Help your gift recipient turn their freezing, and storing dehydrated herbs and harvest into something delicious. vegetables are always welcome gifts. These Fermentation is a relatively easy supplies come in handy throughout the preservation technique that has been used harvest season and are often in short supply for thousands of years. Preserve some of when food preservation is at its peak. your cucumbers as pickles, cabbage as Most gardeners grow their own fresh sauerkraut, and berries as preserves with herbs, and drying is the easiest way to fermentation. preserve the harvest. Simply gather stems, For most projects you just need the fruit secure with a rubber band, and suspend or vegetables, water, salt, and spices. The in a warm, dry location. As the stems dry desired ingredients are placed in a covered and shrink, the rubber band does as well, vessel like a stoneware pickling crock. keeping the stems secure.

Weights are used to keep the fruit and Use a spring clothespin to secure the vegetables submerged in water throughout herb bundles to wires or other support. the fermentation process.

Create your own drying setup or invest in Consider smaller fermentation kits for one of the commercial herb-drying racks. those with limited space. A 3-liter glass jar If space is limited, your gift recipient will with an air-lock lid and ceramic weights appreciate a system like the Stack-it Herb will allow you to ferment small quantities Drying Rack (gardeners.com) that allows of vegetables. them to dry lots of herbs in a very small Reduce the workload and boost the footprint. The drying system you purchase enjoyment for those making tomato juice, Credit: Gardener’s Supply Company/gardeners.com or create should provide the needed space sauces, and soups. Hand crank and electric Tomato press and sauce makers turn garden-ripe tomatoes for the harvest and allow sufficient air tomato presses, strainers, and sauce makers into seed-free, skin-free sauce with the turn of a handle. circulation for fast drying. allow gardeners to separate the skins and Herbs with high moisture content — seeds from the tomato meat for quicker and like basil, oregano, lemon balm, and mints — will mold if not dried quickly. easier processing.

If this has been a problem in the past, try placing a small bunch in a paper bag Giving a gift that helps preserve flavors from the recipient’s garden will be with holes in the side and stems outside the bag. Hang these from a drying useful and remembered for seasons to come. rack, or speed up the process by using a microwave or food dehydrator.

Melinda Myers is the author of more than 20 gardening books and hosts The Great Many gardeners grow onions, garlic, and potatoes for long-term storage.

Courses’ How to Grow Anything instant video and DVD series and Melinda’s Garden All three of these vegetables prefer cool, dark storage locations with good air Moment TV and radio program. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor for circulation. Separate potatoes from onions that give off pungent gases that can Birds & Blooms magazine. melindamyers.com taint the potatoes’ flavor.

PHOTOS from facing page Cords are significantly faster and use less energy. In general, they are more reliable. Cords can break with heavy use, however, and cord connectors are one of the few parts of your smartphone likely to wear out or break.

Qi chargers are slower, which can be an advantage since battery life is extended with slow charge times. They avoid the frayed-cable or bentconnector problems entirely, which is also a plus. www.50plusLifePA.com

They do waste energy compared to a cord. Placement and alignment are the other downsides, although that can be eliminated by magnets or cradles with precise guides.

In my household, Qi wins overall for convenience and less clutter. But for Qi without alignment support, I recommend cables.

Bob has been writing about technology for over three decades. He can be contacted at techtalk@bobdel.com.

50plus Life

December 2024

23

Nurse Nancy

Can You Stand Like a Flamingo?

Nancy J. Schaaf

Research shows that these programs reduce falls that cause injuries by 37%, serious injuries by 43%, and broken bones by 61%.

Improving your balance can be challenging but rewarding.

Enjoy the process. You can do these exercises throughout the day and find creative ways to incorporate them into your daily life. Consistent effort makes these exercises more effortless, and you can gradually increase the number of repetitions as they become easier.

If you practice balance, you are more likely to maintain it.

It doesn’t require special equipment, only effort!

Here are nine balance exercises for seniors to improve mobility and stability: 1. Sit-to-stand exercise: Helps improve dynamic balance, strength, and coordination.

2. Single-leg balance exercises: Stand on one leg to enhance balance.

3. Toe stand exercises: Rise up on your toes for balance.

4. Heel-to-toe walks: Walking heel to toe strengthens legs and improves balance.

5. Side leg lifts: Lift one leg sideways to work on balance.

6.

Back leg raises: Lift one leg backward to improve balance.

7.

Wall pushups: Use a wall for stability while doing pushups.

8.

Tai chi: A gentle exercise that promotes balance and flexibility.

9.

Rock the boat: Shift weight from side to side to challenge balance.

Nancy J. Schaaf, a retired RN, worked as a school nurse, a nurse supervisor at a men’s prison, and a health educator. She earned her BSN at Edinboro University. She is a freelance writer whose health articles appear in magazines throughout the U.S. and Canada. She can be reached at nancyjschaaf@gmail.com.

Puzzles shown on page 7.

Puzzle Solutions

How long can you stand like a flamingo?

A new study suggests that maintaining balance on one leg may be a key indicator of well-being and healthy aging. As we age, balance changes provide a more revealing measure of aging than changes in strength or gait, a new Mayo Clinic study found.

The study assessed grip strength, knee strength, gait, and balance. The research indicated that standing on one leg, specifically the nondominant leg, showed the highest rate of decline with age. Balance is an important measure because it requires all your body systems to work together in addition to muscle strength.

Good balance makes daily activities more accessible, such as climbing stairs or carrying heavy items. A strong and stable center allows you to move with more coordination and flexibility.

Developing good balance helps improve overall health and fitness. These improvements can prevent the risk of injury and falls, especially in older adults, allowing you to maintain your independence longer.

The good news is that working on your balance is simple and can be done anywhere. You can do this at home while washing dishes or brushing your teeth. Just time yourself to see how long you can spend on one leg. Ensure you have a chair or a wall nearby to steady or catch yourself.

You are doing well if you can stand on one leg for 30 seconds. In a group of people over age 65, they averaged 11 seconds. The number that causes concern would be below five seconds. That signifies you are at risk of falling.

By standing on one leg, you are training to coordinate your muscle and vestibular responses to maintain correct balance. The vestibular system includes structures inside your inner ear and semicircular canals that detect head movements. Your brain uses this information to help you balance.

When older adults fall, the consequences can be severe and even deadly.

Statistics show that each year, numerous older Americans die from broken hips due to falls, and many more experience a loss of independence after a fall.

Older adults can use balance exercise programs to reduce and prevent falls.

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Pursuing a Passion after Parkinson’s

By Julie Steffen, Director of Dynamic Living

do what I want. And there’s a great freedom in that, but this is a phase in life that you kind of wish never happened, but it did. But I look out my window here, and it’s a really good experience, a good place to be.”

Now, Barker would like to try painting large-scale pieces, such as 40-foot by 60-foot canvases, and exhibit in a gallery.

“I can’t predict where my art is going to go next. So, I hope it goes someplace that pleases me. I’m a passenger on the train.”

He also dreams of transforming a shed (currently destined to be a woodworking shop) on the community’s property into an art studio.

“It’s a beautiful space,” he says.

Barker encourages the old and

Bob Barker spent much of his professional career as a graphic designer in and around New York City.

“I had always wanted to be a painter but never gave myself permission,” he says.

It was only after his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease, followed by the passing of his longtime partner, that he took up oil painting about three or four years ago.

He rented office space, bought some color paints, and “let the paint speak for itself.”

For Barker, it is almost a Bob Barker sits surrounded by his artwork. spiritual experience.

“What comes out of me, I say, ‘I young alike to follow their passions. didn’t do that. I just helped it be created.’”

“There may be something you haven’t tried. Try it and fail. It’s OK. It’s no Barker relocated to central Pennsylvania about a year ago and is a resident fun to fail, but there’s no telling what might pop up in your world if you give of Country Meadows of Hershey, where he can receive care for his Parkinson’s.

There, Barker was inspired to transform a large walk-in closet into an art studio. it a try. I always tell people, ‘It’s not what you think it’s going to be. It’ll be something else. And be open to the something else.’

Although painting in his apartment has meant changing mediums from oil “That’s my story and I’m sticking with it.” painting to acrylic because of the odor of oil paint, there is an advantage to being able to bring a piece out day or night to reevaluate his work.

“Because many times I don’t like what I did, and then I stop,” he says. “And then a voice says to me, ‘Go back and put another layer of paint on.’ And that’s where the magic happens. That’s where I see things that I hadn’t seen before.”

Barker had never considered an exhibit of his artwork, but when the idea was Eye Associates suggested to him, he quickly embraced it.

His work was on special display at Country Meadows of Hershey through Medical the month of September and as part of a commemoration of National Active • Diagnostic testing Aging Week.

• Disease evaluation Staff members who helped organize the show hoped to use Barker as their • Routine eye care • Emergency care and treatment “poster child” to show residents it’s never too late to try something new — and that they should be confident in pursuing their talents and passions.

“I’m glad to be the representative,” he says, “because you learn about old Surgical people by being one.”

• Cataract removal and intraocular lens implants He adds, “One good thing about this stage in life is that I can pretty much

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December 2024

25

The History of Ordinary Things

The What & Why of Mistletoe Traditions Doris Montag

Mistletoe isn’t a normal plant. and porcupines seek mistletoe berries when It is a parasite, which means it grows on other food is scarce. other trees to survive. Mistletoe grows best Raw mistletoe berries are poisonous and on tall trees in sunshine; its favorite host tend to fall off the plant easily. They contain trees include apple, hawthorn, and poplar. a toxic substance called phoratoxin, which Mistletoe does injure the host tree, however, is particularly concentrated in the leaves. and can kill it.

If ingested, mistletoe can cause seizures or The plant name “mistletoe” comes from death. It is especially lethal to children and two Anglo-Saxon words: “mistel,” which pets. means dung, and “tan,” which means twig Mistletoe has been considered a symbol or stick. Translated, mistletoe is “poo on a of life because it is evergreen and bears fruit stick.” in the winter. Druid priests thought it was a This is quite literally the case, because sacred plant because it didn’t grow from roots birds eat the red mistletoe berries and carry in the ground. the seeds in their poop. If the sticky seed The faithful would wear mistletoe charms A traditional Christmas card entitling the recipient to one kiss today. Ireland, circa 1880s. lands on a tree branch, it sticks and begins to for good luck and protection from witches grow. and evil spirits. Sprays of mistletoe were hung The mistletoe plant begins using photosynthesis to provide the energy it over the doorway to ward off bad spirits and to ensure that only happiness needs to grow. The seedlings then burrow roots into the bark of the tree and could enter the home. begin to sap nutrients and water from its sponsor.

The modern story of mistletoe is one of romance. Kissing under the Across the world there are more than 900 mistletoe species. In some mistletoe was first referenced in 1784 in a song from a musical comedy called locations, certain species contribute to the habitat. Birds, deer, elk, squirrels, Two to One.

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Credit: “PhoradendronLeucarpum4.jpg,” by Douglas Goldman, licensed under CC-BY-SA-4.0.

American mistletoe, or oak mistletoe, native to Mexico and the continental U.S.

The custom appears to have started in England around the 1720s. Mistletoe has been included in English wreaths called the “Christmas bough” or “kissing bough” since the 1700s.

In the 1800s, Washington Irving wrote, “Young men have the privilege of kissing the girls under [mistletoe], plucking each time a berry from the bush. When the berries are all plucked, the privilege A bare tree overcome by clusters of ceases.” mistletoe in Germany.

There were illustrations of kissing under the mistletoe in the first book version of A Christmas Carol, published in 1843.

One of the most popular mistletoe songs is “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus,” sung from the viewpoint of a young child catching his mother canoodling the mysterious red-clad suitor “underneath the mistletoe last night.”

The tune, written by British lyricist Tommy Welsh boys collecting holly and mistletoe to Connor and performed by sell, 1959.

13-year-old Jimmy Boyd, debuted in December 1952.

Frank Sinatra brought us “Mistletoe and Holly” in 1957 as a Capitol 7-inch single. “Mistletoe and Wine” by Cliff Richard was the biggest-selling single in 1988. Justin Bieber released a single, “Mistletoe,” in 2011.

Mistletoe, a toxic parasite, has become a nostalgic fantasy of the season.

Somehow it does not seem so special under a dried-up sprig or plastic facsimile, but that kiss might be nice!

The Lancaster County Office of Aging is currently recruiting volunteers for the PA Medi (formerly APPRISE) Program.

PA Medi offers beneficiaries assistance navigating the oftenconfusing Medicare system. They also help with Medicaid and other insurance questions. Topics are discussed in an unbiased and easy-to-understand manner. Our volunteer counselors provide these objective services for free.

One must be available weekdays for online and face-to-face training, shadowing a mentor, and conducting counseling by phone and in person in our interview rooms at the Office of Aging. Most volunteers donate at least 4 hours per week.

Volunteers are trained in these areas: • Medicare eligibility and enrollment • Medicare benefits, services through Parts A and B and Medigap • Prescription Drug (Part D) plans • Medicare Advantage Plans • Medicaid, PACE and other financial assistance programs • Assistance with the Medicare appeal process • Long-Term Care policies • How to make presentations during Open Enrollment

If you have questions or would like to join this fulfilling team of volunteers, please contact the Office of Aging Volunteer Coordinator at (717) 299-7979.

We are located at: Lancaster County Office of Aging 150 North Queen St., Suite 415 Lancaster, PA 17603

Doris Montag is a homespun historian and an exhibit curator who researches and displays historical collections of ordinary things, such as can openers, crochet, toy sewing machines, hand corn planters, powder compacts, egg cartons, and more.

Contact or follow her on Facebook, HistoryofOrdinaryThings.

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