50plus Life Cumberland County – December 2023

Complimentary | Cumberland County Edition

December 2023

Life on the ice page 4

Orthopedics & Pain special focus page 12

Dodge winter at the world’s best beaches page 18

Survival Guide for a Stress-Free Holiday Season

By Kimberly Blaker

your list again.

Once you’ve decided which parties you’ll attend and the commitments you’ll make, plan how you’ll say no to all the others, so you’re not caught off guard.

Do you dread the hustle and bustle of another holiday season? Between shopping, wrapping, baking, holiday cards, parties, and many other obligations and tasks, surviving the season can be a feat, let alone finding the time to enjoy it with your family.

This year, why not make a pact to eliminate stress by following these tips?

Early Planning First, close your eyes and think back to the last couple of years and how hectic and stressful they felt.

What percentage of holiday activities and tasks would you need to eliminate to make the season truly enjoyable and relatively stress-free? During this process, don’t think about what you can’t remove. Just determine the percentage of reduction you need to make.

Next, make a list of everything you need to do during the holiday season, to which parties you’ll be invited, and how much money you’ll spend. Now cross off the least important, least necessary, and least popular events and tasks.

Then review the list, and calculate how much time and expense you’ve shaved off. If you haven’t reached your predetermined reduction, go through

Share in the Preparation Enlist your family to help prepare for the holidays, and divvy up the tasks.

Don’t expect perfection from yourself or your family. Remember, you probably don’t notice or mind the imperfections in others’ holiday gatherings. They’re just as unlikely to see any in yours.

Also, keep in mind the holiday season isn’t the time to be head cook. Plan potluck gatherings. Then, either suggest what each person should bring or, to avoid duplicates, ask guests to let you know what they’ll bring.

Holiday Time-and-Energy Savers Save time in gift-wrapping by setting up a station in a spare room or the basement. Or stock a large box or basket with wrapping paper, ribbon, bows, tags, tape, scissors, and pens, so everything is stored in one place. Have extras of everything on hand.

Keep cleaning to a minimum during the holidays. Dismiss unused areas

Planning ahead is simple. The benefits are immense.

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Erin Young, Supervisor

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guests won’t see or use, and clean only the obvious in rooms that will be seen. The barely visible layer of dust on your baseboards is unlikely to be noticed with all the holiday decorations and festivities.

Make everyday meals quick and easy throughout the season. Soups, sandwiches, fresh fruit and vegetables, cottage cheese, precut veggies and dip, and other prepared or semi-prepared healthy foods will suffice for one month of the year.

Do your holiday shopping early in the day on weekdays while your energy is high and crowds are small.

Shop online or by catalog. If an item lacks details, search for a manufacturer’s website to get the information you need.

Give gift cards. Hard-to-shop-for recipients will appreciate something practical. Gift cards to restaurants, department stores, sporting good outlets, and specialty shops or for a massage, pedicure, or round of golf make great gifts.

Don’t overdo the baking. Your guests will likely have had their fill of holiday treats long before your gathering arrives. As for the warm gesture of taking a plate of baked goodies to friends or neighbors, instead, show they’re in your thoughts by visiting or calling them to wish them a happy holiday season.

Money Saver Does your gift list grow each year?

Decide with whom it’s essential to exchange gifts. Then talk to extended family, friends, coworkers, and others about forgoing gift exchanges, putting a cap on the price, or doing a drawing instead. You’ll likely learn many feel the same as you do.

Care for Yourself Enjoy holiday treats in moderation. High-fat and sugary foods and the lack of healthy meals can lead to tiredness and stress. Keep goodies stored in the freezer where they’ll be less of a temptation.

Have plenty of convenient, healthy snacks such as raw vegetables and nuts on hand. Prepare low-fat meals that won’t bog you down.

Pace yourself, and don’t try to do everything in one day.

Finally, give yourself a break. Get plenty of exercise, such as a brisk walk in the fresh air, and set aside time for relaxation, like a long bubble bath.

Finally, remember the holiday season should be a joyful time for everyone, including yourself, to join in the good cheer with family and friends. Maximize ways to ease your stress to keep the “happy” in your holidays!

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.

�ank You, Columnists!

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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 (Sixties Flashback It Was 50 Years Ago Today The Reel Deal)

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

50plus Life

December 2023

3

Cover Story

Life on the Ice

By Lynda Hudzick Corporate Office

P.O. Box 8049, Lancaster, PA 17604 Phone (717) 285-1350 (610) 675-6240 Fax (717) 285-1360 Email address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com

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did ballet for off-ice training, working on posture, grace, and flexibility.”

That may seem like too It all started because of her much to handle for a young sister. girl, but “not for me,” this “She was upset when I natural athlete said. “I loved went to kindergarten, so my it and wanted to do it. I was mom enrolled her in skating also lucky to be able to play lessons,” Cindy Ginkinger field hockey and lacrosse Mulholland said. “Of course, after school.” She also tried then I wanted to do that too, the piano, violin, and guitar so that’s where it all began.” in her “spare” time.

What started out as “To be a successful a whim born of sisterly competitor, you really have jealousy has now turned into to excel in all the avenues a lifelong love of ice skating of skating,” Ginkinger for this Harrisburg resident.

Mulholland said. “You “Skating just gets in your probably have heard about blood,” she said. skaters getting up in the Ginkinger Mulholland wee hours of the morning or recalls that she became skating late into the night? serious about competitive That’s because they have to! skating when she was about The only way to get really 7 years old after a skating good is ice time, ice time, ice instructor took an interest in Ginkinger Mulholland, 13, executing a time.” her and her natural talent. mazurka, a small jump skaters use to Her talent and dedication “My mom allowed me to connect steps together, 1970. to the sport helped her take two 15-minute lessons a make it to sectionals every week,” she said. “Very little year, except for her last year compared to the kids these as a senior, due to injury. days. But anyway, I was then Each time she competed, off to the races!” she placed among the top Early on, she participated nine skaters participating in in both dance and freestyle Eastern Sectionals. competitive skating, but soon “Sectionals is comprised of it became evident there was the competitors who qualify only time for one, so she by placing in the top three chose freestyle. of their respective regional Ginkinger Mulholland competitions,” Ginkinger gives a lot of the credit for Mulholland explained. her success to “a really good “I never made it to … teacher, Maude White. She nationals, but I’m still happy guided me, my sister, and my with my success.” mom through the ropes,” she After high school said. graduation, Ginkinger The commitment for Mulholland decided that competitive skating, as with “college was the way to any sport in which an athlete go,” so she stopped skating wishes to excel, is a big one. competitively and headed Those initial 15-minute Ginkinger Mulholland, age 12, and to Penn State, where she lessons turned into many partner Steve Balbus competing in a graduated with a Bachelor of hours on the ice, honing her bronze-level ice dancing competition Science degree in health and skills every day before and at the former Old York Skating Club in physical education. after school.

Cheltenham Township, Pa., in 1969.

“I decided to start teaching “Not to mention before ice skating as opposed to church on Sundays,” teaching in a school setting,” she said.

Ginkinger Mulholland said. “Summers were also Enjoying a successful and rewarding career spent at the rink for an all-day camp, and I also www.50plusLifePA.com

throughout her young adulthood, Ginkinger Mulholland didn’t marry until she was 50, and said that for her, that is proof that you never give up hope because you don’t know what’s around the corner.

“I ended up marrying a good friend of mine who I had known for over 20 years,” she said. And as for her unusual middle name?

“My maiden name was Ginkinger, and I didn’t want to lose that name, as that was the only name all of my skating cohorts knew me by. So I decided to make it my middle name.”

Today, Ginkinger Mulholland teaches at Twin Ponds Ice Rink at the Hershey Arena and at the Ginkinger Mulholland proudly Giant Center. It’s something holding the trophies from an annual that she finds very rewarding, Philadelphia-area competition, her and of course it helps that she name now engraved with all past understands the skating world winners, 1969. so completely, having been immersed in it for much of her life.

“My teaching philosophy is simple,” she said. “I believe in building a strong foundation. It really doesn’t matter what the long-term goals of the students are. If you build the foundation correctly, the rest will fall in line.”

The bottom line, no matter whether a new student wants to pursue figure skating or play hockey, is that they have to learn to skate. There are many options, from private lessons to group lessons or clinics, but Ginkinger Mulholland does believe that “if you can find a quality teacher, you will be better off,” she said. “Not all teachers are created equal.

“Competitive skating is weird — any skater will tell you that,” Ginkinger Mulholland explained. “Choreography is a collaborative event. In my day, it was usually just the student and coach, but now kids might have more than one coach, one just for choreography.”

Ginkinger Mulholland works with students of all ages, from 3 years old up through adults, and she does teach both figure skating and skating for ice hockey.

“All of them are rewarding in their own way,” she said. “But basically the chance to see any student progress and reach their own individual dreams is what makes it rewarding to me.”

Although it might seem like a sport for the younger crowd, Ginkinger Mulholland said that “it actually is a lifetime sport; you can do it at all levels and ages.”

Many retirees enjoy the sport and often skate during the day.

“It’s less crowded, and the comradery is fantastic,” she said. “It can be a low-impact sport, so muscle injury is rare.”

Of course, any adult student can always go further and push themselves to higher heights if the desire is there.

“There are many teachers who would love to help adults improve, no matter what level they are at,” she said.

Just as important as learning the physical skills needed to be a safe and successful skater are the lessons learned in other ways that can be applied off the ice, Ginkinger Mulholland believes.

“Skating teaches poise and self-confidence,” she said. “Just think, these kids go out and skate in front of an audience all by themselves. It teaches them how to use their time wisely … for example, get their homework done so they www.50plusLifePA.com

From left, skating coach Amy Henderson; Learn to Skate mascot Snowplow Sam; skating assistant Annie Donachie; and Ginkinger Mulholland, 2015.

can skate.”

Learning to respect others both on and off the ice is an important lesson as well, Mulholland said.

“They have to talk and listen to judges … they learn to win and sometimes, more importantly, how to lose gracefully. The life lessons are immeasurable.”

Ginkinger Mulholland boasts a long list of students with success stories that she is proud to have helped write.

“I have students that have gone on to teach skating themselves,” she said. “They have also become schoolteachers, pharmacists, Eagles cheerleaders, mothers, and fathers … too many paths to mention. I firmly believe skating helped them each and every one.”

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December 2023

5

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

Misleading Medicare Advantage Ads: What to Look Out For

Dear Savvy Senior, I’m currently enrolled in original Medicare but have been thinking about switching to a Medicare Advantage plan during the open enrollment period.

Many of the Medicare Advantage ads I’ve seen offer lots of extra benefits beyond what traditional Medicare offers and no monthly premiums. What are your thoughts?

– Considering a Switch

that plan’s network, or you may end up paying out-of-pocket for medically necessary care.

This past September, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services began cracking down on these ads, but you still need to practice selfdefense. Here are some tips to help you make a good decision.

Dear Considering, Be very leery of the Medicare Advantage ads on TV, radio, and social media and that come in the mail.

While many of these ads may tout free vision, hearing, dental, and other benefits with zero monthly premiums, they aren’t always what they claim to be.

Advantage Basics Medicare Advantage or MA plans (also known as Medicare Part C) are government-approved health plans sold by private insurance companies that you can choose in place of original Medicare.

The vast majority of Advantage plans are managed-care policies, such as HMOs or PPOs, that require you to get your care within a network of doctors in a geographic area. You can sign up for one of them during open enrollment season from Oct. 15 through Dec. 7.

MA plans have exploded in popularity in recent years as insurers have flooded the airways with advertisements, often by celebrity pitchmen, that promote low-cost options with lots of extra benefits.

But be aware that the federal government has deemed many claims in MA ads fraudulent and misleading. Some ads imply that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services endorses or prefers a specific plan. Others promise more cost savings than you really get.

And if you choose the wrong plan, your doctor may not be a member of

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Cover your needs: When evaluating MA plans, make sure the ones you’re considering cover the doctors you like and the healthcare facilities you normally go to. Also, make sure all of the prescription medications you take are on the drug plan’s formulary.

To help you compare plans, a good first step is to call the office managers of the doctors you use and find out which Advantage plans they accept and which ones they recommend.

Then go to the Medicare Plan Finder tool at medicare.gov/plan-compare to compare plans in your area.

Understand the details: Some MA plans promote no monthly premiums, but the reality is that you are still responsible for your original Medicare costs, including your Part B premium and deductibles and copays for covered services.

Moreover, you may have to pay more out of pocket if you see a doctor outside the network.

Also, if the plan is an HMO, it generally doesn’t cover non-emergency care out of network, so an individual may be responsible for full costs. A PPO, on the other hand, allows people to go out of network, but they generally have to pay more to do so.

Do some digging: Many MA plans tout free vision, hearing, and dental benefits that are not covered by traditional Medicare, but these benefits are often limited.

For example, a plan that offers free dental coverage may cover only cleanings and x-rays. Extensive procedures, such as root canals or caps, may not be covered, or the plan may limit the dollar amount it pays. Find out the coverage details so you’re not surprised later.

Get help: Reach out to your local State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) at shiphelp.org or call (877) 839-2775. These are nonprofit programs that provide unbiased, one-on-one Medicare counseling and assistance.

You can also report any misleading MA claims to the Senior Medicare Patrol Resource Center at smpresource.org or by calling (800) 447-8477.

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

CROSSWORD

Puzzle Page

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 18.

SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Words after Water

Across 1. Hydroelectric project 4. Captain of the Pequod 8. Motivate 12. Agitate 13. Game on horseback 14. Falcon’s home 16. Condo division 17. Camp Swampy dog 18. Besmirch 19. Puts away 21. Musty 23. Red letters?

24. Amount past due?

25. Inventor Sikorsky 27. German spa Down 1. Tunisian coin 2. Still in the game 3. Apportion, with “out” 4. G.I.’s mail drop 5. Frank 6. Hitching post 7. Blessing 8. Dance step 9. Romulus’s twin 10. Loads from lodes 11. “Buenos ___” 12. Pipe problem 15. Stumble 20. Endorse 22. Coal oil

29. Bug-eyed 30. Historic period 31. Oklahoma city 34. Vegas attraction 37. Scheme 38. EU language 39. Kind of car 40. Furry pinnipeds 42. Quick 43. Quilting party 44. Buck 45. Spain and Portugal 47. Easy mark 48. Bottom line 49. Old dagger

50. Children’s game 51. Squint 52. Priest’s robe 55. Literary lioness 58. Pluck 60. Ruckus 62. Idaho city 64. ___ meridiem 66. Cream additive 67. Tree trunks 68. Kind of call 69. It’s overhead 70. Left at sea 71. Rose part 72. Soapmaker’s need

26. Zero 28. Yoga class need 29. Abet 30. Building annex 31. Thickening agent 32. He loved Lucy 33. Ionian gulf 34. Chicago team 35. On the briny 36. Exude 37. Foot the bill 41. Little wriggler 42. Retainer 44. Some trial evidence

46. Road shoulder 49. Agree out of court 50. Stun gun 51. Burgundy grape 52. Hamlin’s ___ Oop 53. Western director Sergio 54. Borscht vegetable 55. Outward flow 56. Aerial maneuver 57. Missile housing 59. Vermin 61. Nobleman 63. Ultimate ending 65. Shade tree

Your ad could be here on this popular page!

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50plus Life

December 2023

7

Bob’s Tech Talk

Bob DeLaurentis

Music Subscriptions and Purchases, iPhone Camera Tricks

Q. What is the best way to enjoy music on my smartphone or tablet?

A. Digitizing audio CDs and copying them to a smartphone is still supported on desktop computers, but as more people move to a smartphone-only lifestyle, this may no longer be an option for you.

There are two major ways to get music on a smartphone: purchases and subscriptions. Of the two, subscriptions are the simplest to manage over time.

The leading services are Apple Music and Spotify, both of which are available on all the major platforms, and both cost about $10 a month.

Subscribers have access to millions of songs, along with other features such as radio stations, music recommendations, exclusive content, live lyrics, and karaoke modes, just to name a few.

When it comes to choosing between the two, my advice is to try the free trials. See for yourself which one fits best into your life.

One caveat: Once you have used a service for a while, it becomes difficult to switch.

If you love music, a music-service subscription will put the largest record collection in the world in your pocket.

Q. Apple Music and Spotify are not good options for me. Are there others?

A. Yes. There are many different options, and they can be less expensive than a subscription if you maintain a modest music collection.

If you just want a few albums or a playlist of favorite music, the individual songs and albums can be purchased.

On Apple devices, use the iTunes Store app. The purchases will show up in the same app used by Apple Music.

For Android, you can purchase MP3 music directly from Amazon’s website. This requires an extra step of manually downloading the purchases

Did you know?

is available online for anytime/anywhere reading!

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and installing them on the Android device. On the plus side, the purchases can also be installed on Apple devices.

There are also a couple of other subscription services to consider.

However, except for the catalog offered with Amazon Prime, the prices are similar to Apple Music and Spotify.

Amazon Music may work better for you, especially if you use Echo or Fire devices. They offer a “free” catalog bundled with Prime, as well as an unlimited plan.

When Google Play Music shut down, their services were folded into YouTube Music, another premium-priced subscription service.

For some users, purchasing is a good alternative.

Amazon Prime Music catalog is a good deal if you already use Prime.

But most users will find the best value with either Apple Music or Spotify subscriptions or by purchasing their favorite songs.

Q. The iPhone camera is my all-time favorite camera. It takes excellent photos, but I feel like I am missing out on some of its features. For example, what do the icons that appear on the image itself mean?

A. You are correct that your iPhone camera has many tricks up its sleeve besides making images.

Some of the info in the viewfinder is there to help compose the photo — for example, tools like lens choice, a horizon indicator, and exposure adjustments.

But the composition controls barely scratch the surface.

If you point the camera at a barcode the phone understands, such as a QR code, a yellow button will appear. That button will open a website or an app.

Many restaurants use QR codes to display menus, and some codes can process payment for the check.

The iPhone camera also understands text. If a small square icon appears in the lower right corner of the image, the camera has detected text it can read.

Tap the square icon, and the text is highlighted. If the text is not in the phone’s default language, it may offer to translate it with another button marked “Translate.”

I have seen text recognition and translation work on everything from giant traffic signs to the tiny text on a laundry label.

Keep a sharp eye out for other icons, like a paw print or a leaf. These indicate that the camera can label a plant species or a specific dog breed.

Some of these features appear in the viewfinder before the shutter is tapped. Existing photos have image recognizers as well.

In the Photos app, look for a small icon, a circle with a lowercase letter “i” and a small star. It will appear blue in the bottom menu if the recognizer identified something. For details, see support.apple.com/en-us/HT213088.

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

www.50plusLifePA.com

It Was 50 Years Ago Today

‘Time in a Bottle’ Randal Hill

One night, Ingrid Croce sat her husband down at the kitchen table on their Pennsylvania farm. For five years, the two had tried in vain to have a child. That night, though, Ingrid had good news: They were about to become parents.

Jim Croce was so overcome with emotion that he composed “Time in a Bottle” on the table that night, telling how he wished that fleeting moment of euphoria could last forever: If I could save time in a bottle The first thing that I’ d like to do Is to save every day till eternity passes away Just to spend them with you Of course, as we all know, life doesn’t work that way, and we are given only a certain number of days together: But there never seems to be enough time To do the things you want to do once you find them I’ve looked around enough to know That you’re the one I want to go through time with

Jim Croce in concert, 1973.

Their blessed event was a boy. The happy couple named him Adrian.

Jim Croce was a struggling singer/songwriter who first performed with his wife.

In 1966, the two recorded an album — Facets — and released it on their own Croce Records label. The disc went nowhere.

Three years later, they signed with Capitol Records, but their Jim and Ingrid Croce LP met the same fate, and Capitol dropped them.

Croce decided to try his luck as a solo artist, in the meantime driving trucks, working construction, and teaching middle school to make ends meet while waiting to make music his full-time occupation.

“Time in a Bottle” ended up on Croce’s first successful album, You Don’t Mess Around with Jim. The title track on ABC Records had been a rollicking Top 10 novelty hit, but “Time in a Bottle” ended up being buried on the second side of the LP. Nobody at ABC Records ever thought of it becoming a 45 someday.

Fast-forward a couple of years, and Croce had become a musical superstar. In September 1973, he and his small backup band were headlining shows at various college campuses in the South. All were scheduled to fly from a venue in Louisiana to another in Texas, but their small chartered plane struck a tree on takeoff from a regional airport, and everyone on board perished.

Adrian Croce had turned 2 years old just eight days earlier.

Coincidentally, one week before the crash, ABC-TV had aired a now-forgotten Movie of the Week. It was called She Lives! and starred Desi Arnaz Jr. in a story of a young woman stricken with cancer.

The film’s producers had come across “Time in a Bottle” from Croce’s first hit album and had secured permission to add it to the movie’s soundtrack.

The following day, radio stations were bombarded with callers asking to hear the heartbreaking tune again. ABC Records quickly issued “Time in a Bottle,” which raced to the peak of the Billboard chart and became Croce’s signature single.

Randal C. Hill is a rock ’n’ roll historian who lives at the Oregon coast. He may be reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

www.50plusLifePA.com

I Have Knee-Joint Arthritis and Pain — Do I Need a Knee Replacement?

Read on as Steve Miller, PT, and owner of Cardin & Miller PT, now ACCESS PT, answers this question.

The answer is: not necessarily. Many people as they age will develop arthritis in the knee joint, some to a greater degree than others. But what does arthritis really mean? Simply stated, arthritis is the inflammation and deterioration of the joint surface(s). Arthritis may be present for years without even causing any symptoms or pain.

When someone is sent for X-rays or other diagnostic tests and arthritis is found, it is often immediately blamed for the pain the patient is having. Arthritis can cause irritation, inflammation, stiffness, and pain in the knee joint. However, tight muscles, weak muscles, and poor joint mechanics can also cause knee joint pain and are often present in conjunction with arthritis.

Often times, just stretching the tight muscles and strengthening the weak ones as well as restoring normal joint mechanics can alleviate knee joint pain and restore functions, even when arthritis is present. Basically, just because you have knee pain and are told you have knee joint arthritis (or are told your knee joint is bone-on-bone), it does not mean your only option is a knee replacement.

The first thing to do when you have knee pain, whether you know for sure you have arthritis or not, is to seek out a physical therapist. At ACCESSS PT, we perform a one-hour evaluation to determine the root cause of your knee pain. Is it tight muscles? Weak muscles? Poor joint mechanics? Once we identify the cause of the knee pain, we instruct the patient in proper exercises to address these issues as well as perform hands-on manual therapy.

Often, as mentioned earlier, just addressing these issues resolves the pain, without the need for surgery, medication, or injections.

Are you tired of suffering with knee pain?

Have you spent too much time not knowing what is really going on with your knee?

Are you ready to take care of it?

We might have your ticket to a pain-free life right here!

Call to get your free screening now!

STEVE MILLER PT, C.PED Owner

BRIAN CARDIN PT, C.PED Owner

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December 2023

9

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Childhood Holiday Vehicles: Sleds & Wagons Lori Verderame

No matter your age, getting a new vehicle as a holiday gift is always exciting. Automobiles, motorcycles, or bikes are tried-and-true holiday offerings that will thrill a close friend or family member.

While these vehicles stir the senses, two other modes of transportation say “holiday” like no other. What are the vehicles that prompt both childhood and holiday memories?

Sleds and wagons.

Painted sleds boasting hand-colored images of running horses, reindeer packs, or Santa Claus debuted in the Victorian era, circa mid- to late 1800s. These handsome sleds were used for fancy winter trips for children and adults.

Around 1800, a sled for the purpose of carrying people was invented. Known as a cariole, it featured enclosed sides, a sturdy back, and a partially covered top or hood.

On the secondary antiques market, special 19th-century examples of cariole sleds and handSleds for Snowy Fun painted sleds with metal runners range in value For centuries, sleds were among the most from $250 to $2,500. efficient ways to transport loads in snowy parts Over time, sleds were used for recreational Photo credit: Staff of www.drloriv.com of the world. Distinguished by their long and purposes with variations on the basic form. One Steiff wagon with logo, circa 1950-60s. narrow runner blades, sleds reduced friction and of the first sled patents was obtained by the S.L. were able to carry heavy loads across the miles.

Allen Company of Philadelphia in 1889.

Today, sleds are not used as much anymore for transport, but they are When it comes to the engineering behind recreational sleds, most had flat a symbol of wintry fun. More likely, sleds are used by students on snowrunners until about 1907, and then wooden bumpers emerged. cancelation days or are transported from the garage to the front porch as part An articulated bumper for steering was introduced in 1928, and straight of a winter-welcoming decoration for the house’s exterior. runners were all the rage until the mid-1930s. One model, the Lightning

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Speedster, had a rounded wooden front for easy turning by children during its time of manufacture, circa 1939-1942.

By the mid-20th century, speed was king. The Speed King and Radio Flyer sleds were all about fast-moving wintertime fun. In the American suburbs of the 1950s through the 1970s, many companies introduced cool sleds for hilltop exhilaration.

For instance, in the 1970s, the Radio Flyer Company marketed the Ski Sled, which was intended for adults. The sled had a hand brake for safety, which made parents happy (but which kids rarely used), and two skis beneath the raised seat for a ride that simulated skiing. The two skis allowed for edge turns, and the sled gave a ride that was like experiencing the giant slalom.

Support the Troops This Holiday Season!

Our troops deserve our help and to know they aren’t forgotten!

Keystone Military Families, a PA-based nonprofit, encourages you to brighten the holidays for our troops overseas by sponsoring a care package!

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Thousands of essential items have been received for veterans, but monetary donations to defray shipping costs are desperately needed.

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Vintage oak sled, circa 1960s-70s.

Wagons for Winter Travel Where sleds offered speed, wagons provided comfort. Wooden wagons were some of the most inviting vehicles for children of the 20th century.

Wagons allowed kids to carry their most important treasures with them wherever the holidays took them. Toys, security blankets, teddy bears, and even baby sisters were hosted in a child’s new and preferably red holiday wagon.

First originating in the early 1900s, Radio Flyer’s little red wagons remain a favorite with kids.

The company was started by Antonio Pasin, an Italian immigrant, with the introduction of the Liberty Coaster wagon, named for the Statue of Liberty. His firm grew throughout the 20th century to make Radio Flyer wagons known to millions of children.

Today, they show up at yard sales, estate sales, and auctions and bring good market value from collectors and sentimental shoppers.

By the 1950s, the red wagon became an iconic American toy vehicle. At that time, Radio Flyer wagons were marketed to specialty audiences like the Mouseketeers from the Mickey Mouse Club or adventurous kids who wanted to ride in a Davy Crockett-style wagon.

Steiff, the popular German toy and teddy bear manufacturer, manufactured wagons featuring their teddy bear logo to accommodate every child’s holiday gift haul of toys. This marketing strategy helped the collectibles market for the wagons, prompting many collectors to add them to a long list of must-haves.

By the end of the 1960s, Radio Flyer had turned 50 and introduced the Skat Racer to a dedicated audience. The Skat Racer was a new children’s vehicle that offered innovations where the earlier pedal cars fell short.

Kids of the trendy 1960s and 1970s could, in a Skat Racer, enjoy a lightweight design, a safe ride, and a sleek new look. This vehicle was a perfect addition to the host of cool toys parked in many suburban America garages.

Move over, pedal cars: Sleds and wagons are making a comeback. Happy holidays!

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Happy Holidays 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 2023.

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.

At this special time of giving thanks and reminiscing, the staff of On-Line Publishers wishes you, our friends, warmest holiday wishes.

Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning media personality Dr. Lori presents antique appraisal events nationwide and appears on Netflix’s King of Collectibles and History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island and Pawn Stars Do America. Visit drloriv.com, watch videos at youtube.com/drloriv, or call (888) 4311010.

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Orthopedics & Pain Osteoporosis Pain Can Arise Sooner than You Think Susan Fuschino, an elementary school teacher in Pennsylvania, experienced early menopause and, at 47 years old, was forced into early retirement after suffering from extreme back pain.

She initially attributed the back pain to being on her feet every day while teaching; however, the pain was excruciating to the point that Fuschino couldn’t walk.

She was ultimately diagnosed with compression fractures caused by osteoporosis and became dependent on her daughter to handle daily tasks.

“There are so many things I can’t do on my own anymore,” said Fuschino. “Emptying the dishwasher, doing laundry, picking up items off the floor, really any activity that causes pain or puts me at risk of falling.”

70s or 80s to get osteoporosis.

Despite being a major public health problem for women worldwide, Fuschino had never heard of postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMO) before her injury.

Many people mistakenly assume that osteoporosis (OP) symptoms, like low back pain and fractures, are typical signs of aging and first learn they have OP after breaking a bone.

“You may not know that you even have osteoporosis until it’s too late — until you have a break or two,” Fuschino explains.

Many women are unaware that bone loss begins at menopause, and you don’t have to be in your

An Unmet Need OP is a common and serious disease, and about half of women 50 years and older will sustain an osteoporotic fracture, according to the Mayo Clinic. The clinic also found that for U.S. women 55 years and older, the hospitalization burden of osteoporotic fractures is greater than that of many other serious diseases combined.

Even after a bone break, many women are not appropriately diagnosed, and about 80% of women are still not treated for OP, according to the International Osteoporosis Foundation.

Unfortunately, many healthcare systems lack a systematic approach to identifying or treating patients for their OP-related issues.

Don’t Wait to Treat Decreasing the risk of osteoporotic fractures is important. Some steps women can take to beef up brittle bones include: • Ensure calcium and vitamin D are incorporated into your daily diet to maintain bone mass • Participate in regular weight-bearing and muscle-strengthening exercises to strengthen bones • Talk with a doctor about getting a bone density test to learn about personal risk for OP and discuss if OP treatment might be right for you If you’ve already suffered an osteoporotic fracture, you may be five times more likely to fracture again within a year, according to a study published in the Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

Treatment Options Bring Hope OP is a serious condition, but there is hope with appropriate treatment, please see OSTEOPOROSIS on facing page

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December 2023

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Orthopedics & Pain Dear Pharmacist

Suzy Cohen

How 5 Simple Strategies Ease Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain

Rheumatoid arthritis, or RA, is an autoimmune condition that leads to joint damage. A complete workup, physical exam, and medical history are important because blood tests have shortcomings.

Here are the two main tests: Rheumatoid factor. Measuring levels of rheumatoid factor (RF) is important, but despite the name, it is nonspecific to RA, meaning that other disorders can cause a positive result.

People with diabetes, endocarditis, or cancer may have increased RF levels in the absence of rheumatoid arthritis.

You can see why that makes this test problematic for diagnosing.

The anti-CCP antibody test. This antibody test is good, but it may be elevated in other autoimmune disorders like lupus and Sjogren’s syndrome, so it’s not specific.

It stands for anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides. If it’s high, but you’re not symptomatic, then it could be predictive of the future if you don’t try to lower it now.

For that matter, many studies have proven that low D increases autoimmunity for other diseases, not just rheumatoid. Give your liver a break by avoiding alcohol, nicotine, weed, junk food, and refined sweets.

3. Collagen supplementation may help, but it must be the right type. There have been some positive benefits seen anecdotally with collagen supplementation. It makes sense because that’s where the attack is targeted. The problem is that people take the wrong type of collagen for their cartilage.

The joints, ligaments, tendons, and cartilage can only take a very specific type of collagen, notably Type II. You can avoid a mistake by learning more.

Read the longer version of my article, which you can receive by email after signing up for my free health newsletter at suzycohen.com.

4. Employing TNF alpha blockers. The use of TNF-blocking medications for RA is common. These are called DMARDs (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs). But there are two potent, natural TNF blockers: black seed oil and EGCG supplements.

As for staying well, and feeling better, there are many interventions today that can keep you strong and healthy. Now let’s go over five strategies to help rheumatoid arthritis:

5. Doing yoga or tai chi. These types of exercise and movements help stretch your muscles and keep you in good shape, not to mention reducing inflammatory cytokines.

1. Vitamin D is helpful. If your vitamin D levels are low, try to figure out why. Low D levels correlate with elevated anti-CCP levels and a potential misdiagnosis of rheumatoid! Supplementation with D may reduce anti-CCP in some cases.

In closing, having a complex disorder like rheumatoid arthritis is a challenge.

Advice to reduce stress, stretch, and eat right is certainly wise.

Many people suffering from the pain of arthritis find comfort and relief from stiffness by taking a warm bath and integrating supplements into a clean diet and healthy lifestyle.

2. Improving liver function may help. Your liver health determines how well you activate the sunlight-derived vitamin D. And vitamin D is critical for rheumatoid patients.

OSTEOPOROSIS from facing page according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation.

Now 51 years old, Fuschino, with the help of specialists, found treatment options that helped her improve bone density. She continues to share her story to raise awareness in hopes of helping other women impacted by this disease. www.50plusLifePA.com

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

If you or a loved one has osteoporosis and is at high risk of fracture or have already suffered an osteoporotic fracture, speak with your doctor about possible treatment plans.

Visit osteoporosis.foundation and understandop.com to understand treatment options, find resources, and learn how to start a conversation with your doctor. (BPT)

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December 2023

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Orthopedics & Pain Pain in Your Foot or Ankle? It Could Be Arthritis Arthritis in the feet and ankles can produce swelling and pain, deformity, loss of joint function, and loss of mobility.

Whereas previous generations had to accept this as a normal part of aging, an explosion of new therapies and surgical treatments is offering patients today both hope and relief.

For best results, however, foot and ankle surgeons urge early intervention.

“When it comes to arthritis, it’s important not to tough out symptoms or bear the pain,” says Danielle Butto, DPM, FACFAS, a foot and ankle surgeon and fellow member of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

“Earlier treatment is not just about alleviating symptoms sooner. In many cases, we can even slow the progression of the symptoms and use less invasive procedures to treat the condition than we would otherwise.”

Understanding the early warning signs of arthritis, the progression of different forms of

the disease, and the new treatments available is important for getting the proper treatment and managing your symptoms.

Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis is a degenerative condition characterized by the breakdown and eventual loss of cartilage in the joints.

One common area where osteoarthritis occurs is the big toe. The big toe makes it possible for you to walk and run upright, absorbing forces equal to nearly twice your body weight when walking.

With all it endures, it’s no surprise that overuse can erode cartilage, causing serious pain and even physical deformities. Nevertheless, many people confuse big toe arthritis, also known as hallux rigidus, with bunions.

Early signs of hallux rigidus include pain and stiffness during use or during cold, damp weather; difficulty with activities like running and squatting; Photo source: (c) Staras / iStock via Getty Images Plus and swelling and inflammation around the joint.

Additional symptoms may develop over time, including pain during rest, bone spurs, limping, and dull pain in the hip, knee, or lower back due to changes in gait.

Conservative treatments like shoe modifications, orthotic devices, and physical therapy may prevent or postpone the need for surgery.

If you have mid- to end-stage arthritis in your foot or ankle, you may require next steps, such as cartilage regeneration treatment, implant surgery, or the surgical removal of damaged cartilage and spurs, all of which have quick recovery periods.

“People with this disorder tend to suffer much longer than they need to,” says Butto. “They’re often pleasantly surprised when they find out their problem can be fixed.”

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Rheumatoid Arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease in which certain cells of the immune system malfunction and attack healthy joints. Foot problems caused by RA commonly occur in the ball of the foot near the toes, although RA can also affect other areas of the foot and ankle.

The most common signs and symptoms are pain, swelling, joint stiffness, and difficulty walking, as well as a range of deformities, including rheumatoid nodules, dislocated toe joints, hammertoes, bunions, heel pain, Achilles tendon pain, and flatfoot ankle pain.

As part of a team that includes a primary doctor or rheumatologist, your foot and ankle specialist can develop a treatment plan aimed at relieving associated pain, which may include orthotic devices, accommodative shoes, aspiration of fluid build-up, and steroid injections.

When RA produces foot pain and deformities are not relieved through other treatments, surgery may be required.

“With today’s scientific advances, treatment can reduce pain and restore you to your previous mobility, strength, and functionality,” says Butto.

For more information on foot and ankle arthritis, visit FootHealthFacts.com.

(StatePoint) www.50plusLifePA.com

The History of Ordinary Things

Holiday Ornaments and Festive Decorations Doris Montag

Decorations like wreaths, candles, and evergreens are mentioned in descriptions of the Roman feast of Saturnalia, which originated in the fifth century BC and was held in mid-December to honor Saturn, the god of agriculture.

Later, these evergreen adornments were associated with pagan rituals and were scorned by Christians until sixth-century Pope Gregory the Great brought green boughs into the church’s celebrations.

Locally available holly, ivy, and mistletoe were adorned with candles and often homemade food and sweets.

The modern tree tradition was a Christian ritual from 16th-century Germany. Small evergreen trees were used as “paradise trees” in church plays. They were decorated with candles, apples, nuts, and berries.

Over time, decorated trees were brought into homes during the holiday season.

In the mid-1800s, Queen Victoria was depicted with her German-born husband, Prince Albert, around a large, decorated evergreen tree. This created a fashionable trend across Europe.

Public notice from 1659 in Boston regarding In early America, circa the banning the celebrations of Christmas: 1800s, the Puritans and “The observation of Christmas having been Calvinists had dropped deemed a sacrilege, the exchanging of gifts Christmas as a holy season. and greetings, dressing in fine clothing, Christmas observances were feasting and similar satanical practices are seen as inconsistent with hereby forbidden with the offender liable gospel worship. to a fine of five shillings.”

Presbyterians, Baptists, Quakers, and other Protestants regarded Dec. 25 as a day without religious significance, a day for normal business. This is associated with the Industrial Revolution, which emphasized work, work, and work; thus, employers gladly discontinued traditional holidays.

German immigrants brought their tree traditions to America in the 1800s.

Early ornaments were made of whatever items families had available: fruit held over from fall, nuts, strings of popcorn and cranberries, paper streamers, candles, and metal foil. The German traditions were rejected by Puritanical religious groups for their historically pagan connotations.

This began to change as a new understanding of family life and the needs of children appeared by mid-century. Childhood started to be seen as a time in which greater protection, sheltering, training, and education were needed. In this light, the season began to be tamed, turning toward shops, gifts, and home and holiday decorations.

Inventive entrepreneurs soon realized the ornament’s commercial potential. www.50plusLifePA.com

The Industrial Revolution produced affordable, mass-produced toys, gifts, and decorations, turning Christmas into the festival we know today.

Enter F.W. Woolworth, an American retail mogul who imported large quantities of glass baubles (balls) and stars produced by family workshops in Germany. Alongside these came paper garlands, decorative Christmas stockings, and painted tin toys.

Tinsel, also introduced in Germany, was originally fine, sparkling strips of silver to catch the light. Later, tinsel was mass produced from cheaper metals, and then plastic. Another decorating invention, “fairy” lights, arrived with electric lighting Photo credit: “Christmas bauble” by in the 1890s.

David Singleton, licensed under CC-BY-2.0.

By the 1900s, Woolworth’s Department Store was selling $25 million a year in German-imported ornaments made of lead and handblown glass. Families created homemade ornaments, but the wealthy wanted extravagant sparkle for their festivities.

Unique Keepsake ornaments were introduced

by Hallmark in 1973.

The Keepsake designation created the sense that the decorations had “collectible value.” Under this successful marketing strategy, Hallmark Illustration for the article “Putting Up has produced over 8,500 the Christmas,” Once a Week magazine, ornaments past and present.

November 1860.

Some have been valued up to $300 online.

Dig out those boxes of happy treasures. It is that time again!

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.

Visit Our Website At:

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Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

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

Bethany Village — MapleWood

Country meadows retirement community

325 Wesley Drive • Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 • 717-766-0279 www.BethanyVillage.org • eltorres@asbury.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 100 Assisted Living Licensure: Yes Personal Care Licensure: No Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease/Respite: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Outdoor Areas/Walking Paths/ Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Telemedicine Available: No Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Featuring private accommodations with aroundthe-clock assistance to help you stay active and engaged.

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 696, across 5 communities Assisted Living Licensure: No Personal Care Licensure: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease/Respite: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Walking Paths/ Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

evergreen estates retirement community On-call Medical Service: Yes Telemedicine Available: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Respite Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes

1901 North Fifth Street • Harrisburg, PA 17102 717-221-7901 • www.homelandcenter.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 56 Assisted Living Licensure: No Personal Care Licensure: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease/Respite: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Walking Paths/ Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes

Homewood at Plum Creek

On-call Medical Service: Yes Telemedicine Available: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No

1001 East Oregon Road • Lititz, PA 17543 • 717-844-9766 www.LandisHomes.org • admissions@landis.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 97 Assisted Living Licensure: No Personal Care Licensure: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease/Respite: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Walking Paths/ Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

Spiritrust lutheran, the village at kelly drive

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December 2023

Medication Management: Yes On-call Medical Service: Yes Telemedicine Available: No Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No

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On-call Medical Service: Yes Telemedicine Available: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Attached to wellness center and pool without going outside.

Spiritrust lutheran, the village at Shrewsbury

750 Kelly Drive, York, PA 17404 717-854-5010 • www.spiritrustlutheran.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 60 Assisted Living Licensure: No Personal Care Licensure: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease/Respite: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Walking Paths/ Fitness Center: Yes

Telemedicine Available: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Providing exemplary care in a beautiful environment for more than 155 years, our continuum of care includes therapy services, skilled rehab, and 24-hour medical staffing, plus Hospice, Palliative Care, HomeHealth, and HomeCare outreach programs. All rooms include a full bath and kitchenette.

Landis Homes

425 Westminster Avenue • Hanover, PA 17331 717-637-4166 • www.homewoodplumcreek.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 95 Assisted Living Licensure: No Personal Care Licensure: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-private Rooms: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease/Respite: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Walking Paths/ Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

Telemedicine Available: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes Comments: Family owned and managed for over 35 years and now proudly led by the third generation. Tenured co-workers providing quality care and service.

Homeland Center

1600 East King Street • Lancaster, PA 17602 • 717-394-2208 www.evergreenestatesrc.com • john@evergreenestatesrc.com Total AL and/or PC Beds: 125 Assisted Living Licensure: No Personal Care Licensure: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease/Respite: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Outdoor Areas/Walking Paths/ Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

Communities in Hershey, Mechanicsburg, Wyomissing, and two in York • 800-322-3441 www.countrymeadows.com • countrymeadows@ countrymeadows.com On-call Medical Service: Yes

800 Bollinger Drive, Shrewsbury, PA 17361 717-227-3000 • www.spiritrustlutheran.org Assisted Living Licensure: No Personal Care Licensure: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: Yes Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: No Short-term Lease/Respite: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Walking Paths/ Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Telemedicine Available: No Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No

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Assisted Living Residences/Personal Care Homes Listings with a screened background have additional information about their services in a display advertisement in this edition.

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

Spiritrust lutheran, the village at Sprenkle drive

Spiritrust lutheran, the village at utz terrace

1802 Folkemer Circle, York, PA 17404 717-767-5404 • www.spiritrustlutheran.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 56 Assisted Living Licensure: Yes Personal Care Licensure: No Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: Yes Private Pay: Yes Short-term Lease/Respite: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Walking Paths/ Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Telemedicine Available: No Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No

2100 Utz Terrace, Hanover, PA 17331 717-637-0633 • www.spiritrustlutheran.org Total AL and/or PC Beds: 46 Assisted Living Licensure: No Personal Care Licensure: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: Yes Private Pay: Yes Short-term Lease/Respite: Yes Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: No Outdoor Areas/Walking Paths/ Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Telemedicine Available: No Health Fee-for-Service Available: Yes Alzheimer’s Care: No Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: No

St. Anne’s Retirement Community 3952 Columbia Avenue West Hempfield Township, PA 17512 717-285-1404 • www.stannesrc.org

Total AL and/or PC Beds: 75 Assisted Living Licensure: No Personal Care Licensure: Yes Private Rooms: Yes Semi-Private Rooms: No Private Pay: Yes SSI Accepted: Yes Short-term Lease/Respite: No Entrance Fee/Security Deposit: Yes Outdoor Areas/Walking Paths/ Fitness Center: Yes Medication Management: Yes

On-call Medical Service: Yes Telemedicine Available: Yes Health Fee-for-Service Available: No Alzheimer’s Care: Yes Social Programs: Yes Housekeeping/Laundry Service: Yes Transportation (Scheduled): Yes Personal Car Permitted: Yes Pets Permitted: Yes

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

Social Security Announces 3.2% Benefit Increase for 2024 Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 71 million Americans will increase 3.2% in 2024, the Social Security Administration announced recently.

On average, Social Security retirement benefits will increase by more than $50 per month starting in January 2024.

More than 66 million Social Security beneficiaries will see the 3.2% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA).

Increased payments to approximately 7.5 million people receiving SSI will begin on Dec. 29.

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages. Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $168,600 from $160,200.

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

Individuals who have a personal my Social Security account can view their COLA notice online. They 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 (ssa.gov/myaccount).

Information about Medicare changes for 2024 will be available at medicare. www.50plusLifePA.com

gov. For Social Security beneficiaries enrolled in Medicare, their new 2024 benefit amount will be available in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.

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, as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

To read more, visit ssa.gov/cola.

Information and support whenever you need it View online at: www.onlinepub.com (under supplements)

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Willing to Wander

Dodge Winter at the World’s Best Beaches Victor Block

Puzzles shown on page 7.

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A stretch of golden beach, be aware that sand lies against a the choice of inviting backdrop of colorful alternatives is long, Art Deco architecture. varied, and, in some Further north, people cases, surprising. stroll, jog, and pedal It’s no wonder that bicycles along a one-half of Dr. Beach’s boardwalk that parallels top 10 choices for 2023 an oceanfront beach and are located in Florida and passes amusement parks, Hawaii. fast-food eateries, and Leading the list is St. gambling casinos.

George Island Park in the Miami Beach.

On the other U.S. Sunshine State, which coastline, sun worshipers has “some of the whitest, alternate working on their tan with checking out their surroundings for finest sand in the world” and water that is “crystal clear and clean.” Nature sightings of seals and sea lions, elk and deer, and migrating whales. trails, birding, fishing, and boating add to the appeal, along with limited When people think of a beach vacation, they often picture relaxing on soft nighttime light pollution, which makes it a prime spot for stargazing. sand, soaking up the sun, and cooling off in salty surf. As inviting as these Second place goes to tongue-twisting Duke Kahanamoku Beach on the scenes are, they only scratch the surface of what awaits those who would Hawaiian island of Oahu, which is named for a swimmer who popularized like to exchange the coming winter cold for the welcome warmth of a beach the sport of surfing. Ironically, an offshore coral reef keeps the water calm, destination. and Diamond Head Volcano rises in the distance, adding to the magnificent Take that Art Deco destination. Miami Beach boasts more than 7 miles setting. of palm-tree-shaded sand. Atlantic City offers enjoyment and entertainment Third on the list is, to some, an unlikely choice. Coopers Beach in options that make up for its somewhat narrow, if inviting, shoreline.

Southampton, Long Island, offers white-quartz-sand shores backed by large When visitors to the northwestern peninsula of Washington state aren’t dunes. Overlooking the setting are imposing mansions that serve as summer relaxing on an Olympic National Park beach, they’re often keeping their eyes retreats for wealthy Manhattanites. peeled for the abundant wildlife that frequents the area.

Other surprises around the country also wait to welcome visitors. Despite Along with their differences, these places share something in common. its name, about half of the surface of Sand Beach consists of crushed bits of They’re among strands of sand that have been recognized and lauded by the mussel and crab shells and parts of other sea creatures. leading expert in beach lore.

However, this natural pocket coastline, tucked into a cove in Acadia Dr. Stephen Leatherman is director of the Laboratory for Coastal Research National Park in Maine and backed by a pristine setting of evergreen trees, at Florida International University. His decades of research, which includes has been described as a “saltwater gem.” creation of a “50-criteria evaluation list,” have earned him the unofficial, but The gradually sloping sand and gentle swells that wash up on Carpinteria very fitting, nicknames of “Dr. Beach” and “Doctor of Beachology” (drbeach. State Beach in California, 12 miles south of Santa Barbara, make it one of org). the safest on the West Coast. Tide pools often teem with starfish, crabs, If you’re thinking of taking a respite from Mother Nature’s winter-white and other sea life, and seals, sea lions, and an occasional gray whale may be snow in exchange for the milky froth of waves crashing on a sun-drenched spotted during winter and early spring.

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For many people, the word “beach” conjures up images of islands in the Caribbean Sea. Palm-fringed bays, clear water, and year-round summer temperatures combine to make this a sun and sand magnet. While the challenge of Sand Beach, Acadia National Park, Maine. choosing where to plop down a blanket can be daunting, it’s almost hard to go wrong.

The 17-Mile Beach on Barbuda is famous for its exceptional, pinkhued sand that sets off the blue-to-grayto-green color of the water offshore.

This epic stretch Mansions line the beach in of silky-smooth Southampton, Long Island, N.Y. beach separates the ocean from the Condrington Lagoon.

The white dunes of Aruba’s secluded Boca Prins Beach contrast with the rocky shoreline of Arikok National Park, which is home to ancient Arawak paintings and plant and animal species that live nowhere Shelling on a beach. else. The compact beach overlooks a bay known for strong currents and high waves and is named for a former plantation.

For those who want more action than vegging out in the sun, there is hope.

Along with best beaches for swimming, walking, and simply soaking up the rays, sandy enclaves can offer a surprising variety of choices.

Looking for sand volleyball, beach biking, or parasailing? Wild about wildlife, or wish to wander through wilderness? Are you a beachcomber on the lookout for semiprecious minerals or multicolored shells?

Whatever your beach preferences, it’s likely there are stretches of sand that can fill your longing and many hours of oceanfront pleasure.

After gallivanting around the world, Victor Block still retains the travel bug. He believes that travel is the best possible education. A member of the Society of American Travel Writers, Victor loves to explore new destinations and cultures, and his stories about them have won a number of writing awards.

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