York County 50plus LIFE January 2020

Complimentary | York County Edition

January 2020 • Vol. 21 No. 1

Are you ha Medica ppy with you r re cove rage?

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Read It, Love It, Pass It On page 4

Silver Anniversary: 50plus Life Turns 25 page 2

Gambling Problems in Older Adults page 21

Silver Celebration

25 Years of 50 plus LIFE and On-Line Publishers It is with great excitement and gratitude that we at On-Line Publishers, Inc. celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2020.

When President and CEO Donna Anderson began OnLine Publishers and its flagship publication, then called Senior News, from her home in 1995, it would have been impossible to predict the trajectory the fledgling company would take over the course of 2.5 decades.

From 1995-2005, Senior News’ coverage would expand to embrace six central Pennsylvania counties. Now called 50plus LIFE, the newsprint magazine’s current six-county coverage umbrella includes Chester, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, and York counties.

OLP’s line of niche publications eventually grew to include BusinessWoman, a professional women’s magazine; b magazine, a full-gloss, lifestyle baby boomer publication produced from 2008-16; 50plus Living, an annual guide of residences and care options; and beyond50, a county-specific directory of information about

local products, services, and support, as well as other annual specialty inserts.

In 1997, OLP branched out into events; the first 50plus EXPO (then called Celebrate Seniority Expo) brought businesses and the community together for face-toface interaction.

There are now six 50plus EXPOs, four Women’s Expos, and five Veterans’ Expo & Job Fairs each year.

The years have brought growth and transformation to our business, but our core mission remains unchanged: to spread needed information and foster community connectivity while uplifting the mind, heart, and spirit of the people we serve.

We were honored to receive these proclamations from the Office of the Governor and the Senate of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commemorating On-Line Publishers’ 25 years.

And special thanks to you, the central Pennsylvania community, for making our silver anniversary possible!

25 th

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www.50plusLifePA.com

Senior Commons Walks to Fight Alzheimer’s Employees and their families from Senior Commons at Powder Mill stepped out to raise awareness and funds to fight Alzheimer’s disease during the Walk to End Alzheimer’s, held at John C. Rudy Park in York County on Oct. 26.

The 2-mile walk was part of over 600 communities nationwide that hold the annual Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s.

The group collaborated by wearing yellow shirts.

The color yellow represents someone who is currently supporting or caring for someone with Alzheimer’s disease.

For this year’s fundraising goal, the senior living community set out to raise $1,000. By the time of the walk, the team had surpassed the goal.

Team members from Senior Commons at Powder Mill pose for a group photo at John C. Rudy Park on Oct. 26 during the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s. From left, Corey Hunt, Katrina Eicholtz, Kaitlyn Shoemaker, Charles Gentile, Doug Fouché, Sandy Hangst, Alice Wong, Mary Ann Lombardo, David Millen, Kaylee Rainey, Brittany Rainey, Kyle Rainey, Brianna Hicks, Phillip Maurer, Ronald DiAngelo, James Beck, and Sergio Lainez.

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

Animal Hospitals Community Animal Hospital Donald A. Sloat, D.V.M. 400 S. Pine St., York (717) 845-5669

Alzheimer’s Information Clearinghouse (800) 367-5115

Automobile Sales/Service Gordon’s Body Shop, Inc. 10 Mill St., Stewartstown (717) 993-2263

CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 The National Kidney Foundation (800) 697-7007 or (717) 757-0604

Energy Assistance Low-Income Energy Assistance (717) 787-8750 Entertainment Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster (717) 898-1900 Funeral preplanning Mount Rose Cemetery (717) 845-6618 Susquehanna Memorial Gardens (717) 244-7674 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020

www.50plusLifePA.com

American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383

Social Security Information (800) 772-1213 Healthcare Information Pennsylvania HealthCare Cost Containment (717) 232-6787 Hearing Services Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Home Care Services Homeland at Home Serving all of York County (717) 221-7892 Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services Hanover: (717) 630-0067

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Lancaster: (717) 393-3450 York: (717) 751-2488 HOME IMPROVEMENT West Shore Home 5024 Simpson Ferry Road Mechanicsburg (717) 937-1148 Hospice Services Homeland at Home Serving all of York County (717) 221-7890 Housing Assistance Housing Authority of York (717) 845-2601 Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937 Insurance Medicare (800) 633-4227 Vibra Health Plan (844) 660-2961 (TTY: 711) Insurance – Long-Term Care Apprise Insurance Counseling (717) 771-9610 or (800) 632-9073

Orthopedics OSS Health 1855 Powder Mill Road, York (717) 848-4800 PERSONAL CARE HOMES Family Care Personal Care Home (717) 373-5205 Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com real estate Berkshire Hathaway Paula Musselman (717) 793-9678 (Office) (717) 309-6921 (Cell) Services York County Area Agency on Aging (717) 771-9610 Veterans Services Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771 Volunteer opportunities RSVP of the Capital Region (443) 619-3842

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

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

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Cover Story

Read It, Love It, Pass It On Corporate Office

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 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 Renee McWilliams Production Artists Connie Molitor Lauren Phillips

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Senior Marketing Consultants Joshua Binkley Jennifer Schmalhofer Angie Willis Marketing Consultant Cassidy Galeone Events Manager Kimberly Shaffer

ADMINISTRATION Business Manager Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

Awards

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

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

Views expressed in opinion stories, contributions, articles and letters are not necessarily the views of the publisher. The appearance of advertisements for products or services does not constitute an endorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will not be responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within five days of publication.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to revise or reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may be reproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc. We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information not in compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State laws or other local laws.

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January 2020

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By Bart A. Stump Read it. Love it. Pass many, many books and it on. A premise that can our neighbors down the change a child’s world. street did not,” Rengert These simple words says. are found on a sticker Rengert had heard of attached to each book a group in the Midwest stored in a brightly that was providing free decorated cardboard box children’s books to located in a neighborhood impoverished caregivers, laundromat. This and an idea was spawned. inspiring message is the With the luxury of time guiding principle of the that retirement brings, Laundromat Library Rengert teamed up with A child enjoys LLL-supplied books inside a League. longtime friend Iacobucci laundromat in Mount Vernon, N.Y. Established in 2014, to create a plan. the LLL is the brainchild of co-founders Arlene “In the early summer of 2014, Karen and I were Rengert and Karen Iacobucci, both of southeastern chatting and reinforced the idea … We settled on Pennsylvania. It has one primary mission: making laundromats as logical distribution sites because children’s books available to children in homes that caregivers who have no laundry appliances at home have few or none. probably also lack children’s books and/or the time A decorated “library box” containing 60 books and budget to take children to libraries.”

— ranging from board books for toddlers, picture They shared the idea with friends, neighbors, and books for beginning readers, chapter books for anyone else who would listen — and the LLL came independent readers, and full-length books for teens to fruition. in both fiction and nonfiction topics — is placed in There are currently more than 200 LLL sites a laundromat once the owner has given permission. scattered across 26 states, most of which are in Signs on the box encourage children and southeast Pennsylvania. The books come from a caregivers to read a book there, take it home, and variety of sources, including libraries, schools, book pass it on to someone else. Books don’t need to be sale leftovers, youth groups, and private donations. returned, just utilized. Once or twice a month, a Over 100,000 books have been donated so far. volunteer steward refreshes the contents of the box, Hundreds of additional books in Spanish or with straightens the area, and removes anything that multicultural themes or images have been purchased doesn’t belong. to enrich the libraries. Financial support comes While volunteers are the backbone of the LLL, from donors, businesses, restaurant fundraisers, Rengert is its heart and soul. Raised in suburban youth organizations, and grants.

Illinois, she grew up in a town with a welcoming In 2016 the LLL incorporated as a 501(c)3 library and parents that read to her every evening. nonprofit so that monetary donations are tax Earning higher-education degrees in geography deductible. The basic operating budget covers and demography, she would go on to chair the storage rental, insurance, materials needs, and Department of Geography and Planning at West website maintenance but does not include purchase Chester University. While raising five children with of books or postage to mail them to distant sites. her spouse, George, their home was full of books.

There is no paid staff, and a local school provides “Reading to children was probably my favorite no-cost space for sorting and assembly of books and thing to do,” Rengert says. for dropping off book donations. The school is also Her favorite childhood book? where the decorated, filled boxes and replacement “The Little Engine that Could. The ‘I think I sets of books await pickup by volunteers who deliver can, I think I can’ is still something I quietly say to to local sites. myself when confronted with a problem.”

Over 500 volunteers ranging in age from 8-80 The problem became apparent early on. collect and organize the books, recruit and steward “My years in West Philadelphia as a young laundromats, or donate funds or their professional mother probably were when I became personally skills, such as graphic arts, accounting, translation, exposed to the greater advantages in reading and and the like. education that some children have. We had friends In September of each year there is a potluck social of all income levels and races, and yet our house had held to celebrate the LLL’s anniversary, where all www.50plusLifePA.com

participants within driving distance are invited. Twice-monthly updates are sent out with news and needs.

When asked what she considers the LLL’s greatest success to be, Rengert answers, “Growing itself.”

Rengert shares the story of a thirdgrade teacher at a backyard barbecue who related a story to gathered friends. The teacher had assigned students to bring to class something from home that they really loved and to explain why they loved it. One child brought in a book with the LLL book sticker on the front.

“This is my book,” he said. “It’s my only book, and that’s why I love it.”

As a result of hearing this story, a gentleman who had not previously heard of the LLL acquired a $500 grant for the organization.

Rengert listed multiple examples of individuals and groups that have helped grow the LLL. This continuing growth is what keeps Rengert motivated.

“Before I die, I want to have children’s books in at least one

Volunteers assemble collections of children’s books into boxes for placements in laundromats.

Laundromat Library League volunteers maintain a book-collection box at a local senior center.

Members of the Crow Peak Valley Rangers 4H Club in Whitewood, S.D., some of the LLL’s newest and youngest participants.

laundromat in all 50 states,” she says.

The growth and success of the program is getting noticed. In 2015 the LLL received a literacy award from the Keystone State Literacy Association.

Additionally, last March, the LLL was invited to send representation to the LaundryCares Foundation’s Literacy Summit. Here, laundromat owners partnered with the Clinton Foundation’s Too Small to Fail initiative and Libraries Without Borders to enhance early literacy efforts in local communities across the country.

The LLL (www. laundromatlibraryleague.org) is always looking for volunteers and donations. They can be reached at laundromatlibrary@gmail.com or by calling (610) 696-2282.

On the cover: Arlene Rengert, co-founder of the Laundromat Library League, with LLL books available inside the Family Laundromat in West Chester, Pa.

Senior Real Estate Specialist With 30 Years of Real Estate Experience • 2016 Realtor of the Year •2 014 President of Realtor’s Association of York and Adams County • Licensed in PA and MD

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Please call me – I’ll guide you every step of the way!

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Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

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Grief Relief

Tips for Facing the New Year While Grieving Victor M. Parachin

Grieving is taxing on mind, body, and spirit. While it can be tough to face each new day, the challenge can feel enormous when January emerges and a whole new year is stretching out before us.

Rather than allowing Jan. 1 to be a depressing date, consider these positive tips for facing the new year while still grieving.

“Tired minds don’t plan well. Sleep first, plan later.”

– Walter Reisch, director and screenwriter

1. Give yourself the physical rest you need. Grief is exhausting, so slow down your life and bring some relaxation into it, such taking time to read a book, view a movie, visit with a friend, and generally spend more time resting in your bed or on a sofa or armchair.

Please join us for these FREE events!

21st Annual

April 22, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

LANCASTER COUNTY

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

21st Annual

May 6, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

DAUPHIN COUNTY

Hershey Lodge 325 University Drive Hershey

17th Annual

June 10, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

CHESTER COUNTY

Church Farm School 1001 East Lincoln Highway Exton

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

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available (717) 285-1350 (717) 770-0140 (610) 675-6240

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www.50plusExpoPA.com

January 2020

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2. Give yourself the mental rest you need. Grief is a powerfully negative experience. Work to soften that by engaging yourself with positive thoughts, positive people, positive reading material.

“Affirm the positive, visualize the positive, and expect the positive, and your life will change accordingly.”

– Remez Sasson, selfimprovement author 3. Give yourself the emotional rest you need. Rather than go it alone, consider meeting with a grief support group where the members share your burden, provide inspiration, and generate encouragement that you, too, can and will overcome grief.

“Ten minutes with a genuine friend is better than years spent with anyone less.” – Crystal Woods, author and public speaker 4. Give yourself the spiritual rest you need. If being part of a faith community has been important to you, remain connected. Worship, pray, study religious texts, consult with your spiritual leader. If you’re the type of person who feels more spiritual than religious, consider spiritual practices such as meditation, yoga, and spending ample time outdoors in nature.

“You have to grow from the inside out. None can teach you, none can make you spiritual. There is no other teacher but your own soul.” – Swami Vivekananda, Hindu monk 5. Give yourself permission to make mistakes. No person grieves perfectly. Grief recovery is a work in progress. There will be some stumbles.

Be OK with those.

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world.

You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” – Neil Gaiman, author 6. Give yourself the choice to heal. While the majority of grievers get through bereavement successfully, there are some who remain “stuck” with their grief. please see New Year page 9

www.50plusLifePA.com

Balance: The Often-Ignored Element of Fitness

By Kathleen Trotter Balance training is a crucial — and too often Repeat step one while rotating your head ignored — element of training. over and then away from the lifted knee. Repeat Too often we associate “working out” solely step one while closing your eyes for two to three with traditional gym exercises, such as cardio, seconds. squats, lunges, weight machines, and stretching Use unstable equipment — such as a Bosu … all (obviously) critical, but not at the expense balance trainer, resistance ball, or balance board of balance training.

— within your regular routine. For example, Being able to bench press a certain weight or instead of doing push-ups on the floor, put your spend 30 minutes on the elliptical become fairly hands on either side of a Bosu, flat side up. Try to useless if you fall over putting away the weights or keep the Bosu stable as you do your push-up. getting on and off the elliptical.

Train barefoot to strengthen your feet; think Start to think of balance training as a of your feet as the “foundation” to your balance “nonnegotiable” — the fourth “pillar” of “house.” fitness that is as important as strength training, cardiovascular training, and flexibility.

Triangle balance toe lifts: Standing on your Why? Balance training is hugely functional, in right leg, engage your right butt cheek. Make sure large part because balance and proprioception are your knee is not caving in; keep the kneecap in intrinsically linked. line with your middle toes.

Balance training improves the feedback loop Pay attention to your right foot. Weight should (proprioception) between your body and your be evenly distributed between the ball of the big brain. This loop allows your brain to know where toe, the ball of the little toe, and your heel. Keep your body is positioned in space, thus allowing your arch lifted. your brain to instruct the body to “turn on” Maintain this position as you lift your right specific muscles. toes up and spread them. Leave the ball of your By challenging and training your balance, you foot on the floor.

When performing balance exercises, it is the also fine-tune your proprioception.

Lower and repeat 15 times. Then switch sides. “righting” element of wobbling and catching This proprioceptive neurological feedback loop yourself that strengthens your balance. is vital for everything from athletic maneuvers, Heel-toe walks: Start standing. Place your to fall prevention, to improved posture, to injury right heel on the ground in front of you. Flex prevention and foot strength. through your toes so the next portion of your body to touch the floor is the Fall prevention is key, especially as we age. According to the CDC, each ball of your big toe. year over 300,000 older people — those 65 and older — are hospitalized for As you transition to balancing on your right toes, lift your left foot off of hip fractures. More than 95% of hip fractures are caused by falling. the floor. Don’t roll your foot in or out. Balance for a moment.

A study published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Canada Repeat by placing your left heel on the floor in front. Repeat 10 times. followed up with more than 500 hip-fracture patients a year after their fractures.

Big-toe lifts: Lift your big toe up and down. Keep your other toes still. If Of community-dwelling hip-fracture patients more than 50 years of you need to, hold your toes down to teach your brain how to only lift the big age, 20% had died, 5% had had a second fracture, and 20% had been toe. institutionalized. The outcomes were even worse for those in long-term care.

Final Note Ways to Improve Your Balance If you are feeling overwhelmed — “too busy” to work out, let alone adding For all outlined exercises, allow yourself to (appropriately) wobble outside balance training to your life — try keeping a “time journal.” Record how you your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid to let yourself get slightly unstable. If you spend your time for two weeks. Most of us fritter away time. were training your biceps, you would let your muscles get tired.

As the famous business adage goes, “What gets measured, gets managed.”

Embrace that you have to let yourself fall out of balance (slightly) to train You can’t possibly manage your time if you don’t know where your time goes. balance — it is the “righting” element of wobbling and then catching yourself With awareness brings choice. that helps your balance get stronger.

If you want to get on top of your health, you have to get in control of your Incorporate a few balance drills into your workout warm-up or while you time. Too many of us let emergencies dictate how our time gets used or have brush your teeth or wait for the elevator. Warming up the loop between your no idea how we actually spend our minutes, hours, days, etc. brain and body will help you perform better during the rest of your workout Time is our most valuable resource — we can’t make more of it. and your day!

Kathleen Trotter (MSc) is a fitness expert, nutrition and life coach, media Stand on your left leg and lift your right leg off the ground. Hold for five personality, and author of two books, including her most recent, Your Fittest Future seconds. Lower the foot but don’t touch down. Repeat three to 10 times, and Self. Connect with her on social media at FitByKathleenT or through her website, then switch legs.

KathleenTrotter.com www.50plusLifePA.com

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Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

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Local Writer Ensures ‘Greatest Bowler’ Gets a Biography Professional Bowlers Association superstar Earl Anthony, who died in 2001 at age 63, finally has a biography: Luby Publishing recently published EARL: The Greatest Bowler of All Time by Barry Sparks.

“It’s mystifying how any athlete who is considered the greatest in his sport could go this long without a biography,” said Sparks. “Imagine if there were no biographies of Hank Aaron, Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky, Peyton Manning, Arnold Palmer, or Jimmy Connors.”

Sparks thought it was an injustice, and he set out to rectify it. He spent two years interviewing people, researching, and writing the biography.

Sparks, a writer from York, has covered bowling for the York County daily newspapers for more than 30 years. His articles also have appeared in Bowlers Journal International, Bowling Center Management, Pro Shop Operator, and Bowling Entertainment Center.

Anthony, a southpaw from Tacoma, Washington, forged a dominating career on the PBA Tour from 1970 to 1983, winning 43 titles. In 2008, he was named The Greatest Player in the PBA’s 50-year history by a panel of bowlers and media members.

Sparks says Earl Anthony was bowling’s unlikeliest celebrity. He didn’t pick up a bowling ball until he was 21. He didn’t go on the PBA Tour full-time until he was 31, an age when many athletes’ careers are ending.

After winning three Player of the Year awards, he suffered a major heart attack in 1978. With a fierce determination, he returned to the lanes to win Player of the Year three more times. PBA founder Eddie Elias called Anthony’s feat “one of the greatest comebacks in sports history.”

Sparks takes a season-by-season look at Anthony’s career, sharing the challenges Anthony faced, the reasons for his unparalleled success, his greatest achievements, and his frustrations.

The author interviewed more than 100 people, including 23 PBA Hall of Famers. Anthony’s peers shared stories about his work ethic, competitiveness, adaptability, temper, and humor.

Sparks’ 293-page book includes more than two dozen vintage photographs (www.earlanthonybook. com). Ten percent of the book’s profits will be donated to the Earl Anthony Scholarship.

Sparks is the author of two other biographies: Frank “Home Run” Baker: Hall of Famer and World Series Hero and Rick Riordan.

People are talking about us...

“A solid publication that is full of personality and useful information.”

“Columnists bring a wide set of interests and viewpoints.”

“The emphasis on variety seems to be a smart way to satisfy a diverse audience.”

On-line Publishers and 50plus LIFE just won 6 awards from the North American Mature Publishers Association!

50plus LIFE:

50plus Living:

• First Place: General Excellence

• OLP’s annual guide to residence and care options for the 50+ community won first place in its division in the Annual Senior Resource Guide or Directory – Design category.

• First Place: Best Overall Design • First Place: Front Cover Photo • First Place: Profile – “On Wings and Waves, His Life’s Path Led to Pa.” by Jason Tabor

Resource Directory for Caregivers, Aging, and the Disabled: • Produced in seven distinct county editions annually, the Resource Directory won second place in its division in the Annual Senior Resource Guide or Directory – Design category.

On-Line Publishers, Inc. • 3912 Abel Drive • Columbia, PA 17512 • 717-285-1350 8

January 2020

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New Year from page 6 The difference between the two comes down to choice: Give yourself the choice to adjust, adapt, and move your life forward.

“You can’t go back. You don’t get a do-over. This happened to you. So now what? Do you choose to live in pain and grief, or do you choose to heal? Make the choice, every day, every hour, sometimes every minute.” – Amy Florian, author 7. Give yourself the gift of patience. It’s going to take time to heal because the death of a loved one is deeply painful.

Pace yourself. Avoid pressuring yourself to “get over it.” And, don’t allow family and friends to rush you through grief, however well-meaning they may be.

“Recovery and adjustment can take much longer than most people realize.

We need to accept whatever form it takes, both in ourselves and in others.” – Julia Samuel, psychotherapist 8. Give yourself the freedom to express gratitude. A small dose of gratitude can offset a large volume of sadness.

“Even in the toughest of times, there is something for which you can be thankful. What can you give thanks for today? Did support come from an unexpected place? Did someone say exactly what you needed to hear? Did a robin stop and sing on your windowsill? Blessings come in many forms. You may even wish to begin a gratitude journal in which you record how each day blessed you. Gratitude heals at a very deep level.” – Donna Miesbach, author Victor M. Parachin, M.Div., is a grief counselor, bereavement educator, and author of several books, including Healing Grief.

March 31, 2020 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Wyndham Hotel York 2000 Loucks Road, York

This event is FREE to attend.

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

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

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

On-Line Publishers, Inc.

has earned 3 Mature Media Awards!

At the Expo

2019

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

Winners

At the Job Fair

Employers Job Counseling Workshops Employment Seminars Resume Writing Assistance

Bronze Award

Bronze Award

Merit Award

“A Path Well Carved”

by Jason J. Tabor

“Doing the Heart’s Work”

by Megan Joyce

Caregiver Solutions 2018

Thank you for supporting our award-winning publications! www.50plusLIFEPA.com www.50plusLifePA.com

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Hosted by:

Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available

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

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

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Your guide to choosing the right living and care options for you or a loved one.

Read it online, in print, and on mobile/tablet devices. onlinepub.com

24th annual edition

25 th

Call today for your free copy!

(717) 285-1350

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January 2020

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Rules: [NO PURCHASE NECESSARY; must be 18 or over and a legal US resident to enter. Only 1 entry per person.

All entries must be received by 1/30/20 at 11:59 pm ET.]

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The Reel Deal

The Last Full Measure Randal Hill

In 1999, Todd Robinson, the director/screenwriter of Finally, by 2017, things had fallen into place. Jeremy The Last Full Measure, learned the story of William H. Irvine would portray Pits, with Christopher Plummer Pitsenbarger. Robinson had been researching a military as Pits’s father and Diane Ladd as Pits’s mother. The movie and visiting training schools. cast was rounded out with such acting icons as Samuel “Nearly every place I went, the young trainees L. Jackson, William Hurt, Ed Harris, and (in his final wanted to be sure that I knew the story of William role) Peter Fonda.

Pitsenbarger,” Robinson explained to Air Force The Last Full Measure story unfolds through the Magazine. perspective of Scott Huffman (Sebastian Stan), a young Called “Pits” by his comrades, the 21-year-old medic, Pentagon official assigned to investigate the unique already a veteran of over 250 combat missions, was and complicated case that sought the elevating of the aboard one of two helicopters summoned to evacuate prestigious award. wounded soldiers after they were ambushed in a Roadside Attractions executives Howard Cohen Vietnam jungle in April 1966. and Eric d’Arbeloff proclaim, “Everyone should know When the last helicopter was ready to lift off, the about William Pitsenbarger’s bravery and life, and it’s a selfless Pits, already under heavy Viet Cong fire, privilege to bring this film to theaters, where it should volunteered to stay behind to tend to the wounded and be seen.” hold off the advancing enemy. He was killed within 90 The movie opens nationwide on Jan. 17. minutes.

Randal C. Hill enjoys getting sneak peeks of forthcoming Robinson later heard the airman’s father, William F. movies from his home on the Oregon coast. He can be “Frank” Pitsenbarger, speak about his son’s legacy at a reached at wryterhill@msn.com.

New Mexico airbase.

Images © Lionsgate or related entities. Used for publicity and promotional purposes. https://www.movieinsider.com/photos/552172 “The whole thing jelled for me at that moment,” said Robinson. “That’s when I knew there was a story to tell.”

Tom & Randi LaNasa “MEMORY MUSIC” The narrative was compelling to Robinson, as was the aftermath tale, when wives of the surviving soldiers learned that Pits had been given an Air Force Cross — the second highest honor — for his ultimate sacrifice. It wasn’t good enough, they protested.

Encouraged by their spouses, numerous veterans subsequently petitioned Congress to elevate Pits to the Medal of Honor, the nation’s highest decoration. On Dec. 8, 2000, the medal was posthumously awarded to William H. Pitsenbarger, 34 years after his death.

Robinson and producer Sidney Sherman pitched the movie idea to over 50 production companies, but nobody showed interest. Still, Robinson had such Attention: RETIREMENT HOMES, faith in Pits’s story that he went ahead and wrote a script anyway. He then embarked on over a decade of arm-twisting to line up funding.

CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS.

Looking for entertainment?

Did you know?

Now booking our Christmas, variety, and specialty shows for 2019.

is available online for anytime/anywhere reading!

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.

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!

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Phone: (717) 846-6126

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Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

11

York County

Calendar of Events

Community Programs / Support Groups Free and open to the public Sundays, 6:15 p.m.

Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous Luther Memorial Lutheran Church 1907 Hollywood Drive, York (781) 932-6300 www.foodaddicts.org Mondays, 7:30 p.m.

York Nar-Anon Family Group St. Matthew Lutheran Church Second Floor, Room 208/209 839 W. Market St., York (717) 845-2721 Tuesdays, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Dallastown Nar-Anon Family Group Bethlehem United Methodist Church 109 E. Main St., Dallastown (717) 244-1486 Thursdays, 7:30 p.m.

Shrewsbury Nar-Anon Family Group Grace Fellowship Church 74 E. Forrest Ave., Shrewsbury (717) 235-8390

Jan. 3, 10:30 a.m.

Partners in Thyme Herb Club of Southern York County Glenview Alliance Church 10037 Susquehanna Trail Glen Rock, (717) 428-2210 Jan. 6, 9:30 a.m.

Green Thumb Garden Club Meeting Emmanuel Lutheran Church 2650 Freysville Road, Red Lion (717) 235-2823 Jan. 7, 7 p.m.

Surviving Spouse Socials of York County Faith United Church of Christ 509 Pacific Ave., York (717) 266-2784 Jan. 21, 7-8 p.m.

Alzheimer’s Support Group Providence Place 3377 Fox Run Road, Dover (717) 767-4500

Arthur Hufnagel Public Library of Glen Rock 32 Main St., Glen Rock, (717) 235-1127 Jan. 8 and 22, 1-3 p.m. – Homeschooling Jan. 16, 1:15-3 p.m. – Tech Time Collinsville Community Library, 2632 Delta Road Brogue, (717) 927-9014 Jan. 2, 4-5:45 p.m. – Tech Time Jan. 2, 3-6 p.m. – Scanning Station Returns Jan. 14, 6-7 p.m. – Learn about Reiki Dillsburg Area Public Library, 17 S. Baltimore St. Dillsburg, (717) 432-5613 Jan. 6, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Natural Health Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, 6:30-8 p.m. – GFWC Dillsburg Women’s Club Knitting and Crochet Group Jan. 16, 6-8 p.m. – Learn to Play Cribbage Dover Area Community Library 3700-3 Davidsburg Road Dover, (717) 292-6814 Jan. 9, 10-11:45 a.m. – Tech Time Jan. 8, 15, 22, 29, 6-7 p.m. – Knitting Group Glatfelter Memorial Library, 101 Glenview Road Spring Grove, (717) 225-3220 Jan. 6, 6-6:45 p.m.; Jan. 11, 11:15 a.m. to noon; Jan. 17, 10-10:45 a.m. – Yoga and Mindfulness Class Jan. 23, 1:15-3 p.m. – Tech Time Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library Place Hanover, (717) 632-5183 Jan. 8, 6-8 p.m. – Commuter Services of Pennsylvania Jan. 10, 6-8 p.m. – Iris and Roy Johansen Jan. 21, 6-8 p.m. – Holocaust: 1939-45

January 2020

Crispus Attucks Active Living Center (717) 848-3610, www.crispusattucks.org Delta Area Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 456-5753 Dillsburg Senior Activity Center – (717) 432-2216 Eastern Area Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 252-1641 Golden Connections Community Center (717) 244-7229, www.gcccenter.com Weekdays, 9 a.m. – Games Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. – Pinochle Fridays, 9:15 a.m. – Computers 101 Golden Visions Senior Community Center (717) 633-5072, www.goldenvisionspa.com Heritage Senior Center, Inc. (717) 292-7471, www.heritagesrcenter.org Northeastern Senior Community Center (717) 266-1400, www.mtwolf.org/SeniorCenter Red Land Senior Center – (717) 938-4649 www.redlandseniorcenter.org

Library Programs

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Senior Center Activities

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Kaltreider-Benfer Library, 147 S. Charles St. Red Lion, (717) 244-2032 Jan. 2, 10-11:45 a.m. – Tech Time Jan. 7, 6-8 p.m. – Greeting Card Workshop Jan. 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m. – Adult Reading Club: The Red Address Book by Sophia Lundberg Kreutz Creek Valley Library Center 66 Walnut Springs Road Hellam, (717) 252-4080 Jan. 16, 4-5:45 p.m. – Tech Time Martin Library, 159 E. Market St. York, (717) 846-5300 Jan. 6 and 20, 5-6:30 p.m. – Tech Time Jan. 11, 10:30 a.m. to noon – Tech Time Power Session Jan. 14, 21, 28, 6-7 p.m. – Martin Community Online Book Club Mason-Dixon Public Library, 250 Bailey Drive Stewartstown, (717) 993-2404 Jan. 2, 1:30-3:15 p.m. – Tech Time Paul Smith Library of Southern York County 80 Constitution Ave., Shrewsbury, (717) 235-4313 Jan. 6-31, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. – World War I: Lessons and Legacies Exhibition Jan. 16, 10-11:45 a.m. – Tech Time Red Land Community Library 48 Robin Hood Drive, Etters, (717) 938-5599 Jan. 9, 4-5:45 p.m. – Tech Time Village Library, 35-C N. Main St. Jacobus, (717) 428-1034 Jan. 23, 3:30-5:15 p.m. – Tech Time

September House (717) 848-4417 South Central Senior Community Center (717) 235-6060 https://southcentralyorkcountysrctr.webs.com Mondays, 9:30 a.m. – Acrylic Art Class Wednesdays, 9:15 a.m. – Ceramics Thursdays, 8:45 a.m. – Walking through the Bible Stewartstown Senior Center (717) 993-3488, www.stewsenior.org Susquehanna Senior Center (717) 244-0340 www.susquehannaseniorcenter.org Mondays, 9:30-10:30 a.m. – Chorus Practice Tuesdays, 6-10 p.m. – Bluegrass/Country Music Jam Session White Rose Senior Center (717) 843-9704, www.whiteroseseniorcenter.org Windy Hill On the Campus (717) 225-0733 https://windyhillonthecampus.org Tuesdays, 1-2 p.m. – Ballroom Dancing Classes Wednesdays, 9:30 a.m. – Exercise Class for Parkinson’s Patients and Caregivers Jan. 21, 12:30 p.m. – Book Club Yorktown Senior Center (717) 854-0693, www.yorktownseniorcenter.org

Submit senior center events to mjoyce@onlinepub.com. www.50plusLifePA.com

Telescope Technology Captures Glaucoma-Related Eye Structure Using methods originally trabecular meshwork to developed by astronomers to function poorly. view stars more clearly through It also makes it difficult to Earth’s atmosphere, optometry study why certain glaucoma researchers at Indiana treatments that target the University have taken the first trabecular meshwork — such undistorted microscopic images as laser therapies or invasive of a part of the eye involved in surgical procedures — fail glaucoma. while others succeed.

The ability to clearly view More effective treatments this structure — known as for glaucoma are needed the trabecular meshwork — since the number of people could help improve treatment with the condition worldwide for glaucoma. The work is is expected to rise from reported in the journal of 76 million in 2020 to Translational Vision Science and over 111 million in 2040, Blind spots and loss of peripheral vision occur when glaucoma damages the fibers of the optic nerve.

Technology. disproportionally affecting “Normally, clear fluid people in Asia and Africa. circulates inside the eye to In the U.S., it’s estimated January is National supply nutrition and keep it that over 3 million people Glaucoma Awareness Month ‘inflated’ to its normal shape,” currently have glaucoma, said Dr. Brett King, chief costing the economy over of advanced ocular care services and associate clinical $1.5 billion annually. professor at the IU School of Optometry, who coTo view the trabecular meshwork, IU researchers authored the study. modified an existing ophthalmic laser microscope with “Alterations of the trabecular meshwork, which allows a programmable mirror able to deform in real time to fluid to drain, elevate pressure in the eye, leading to correct for the eye’s imperfections. glaucoma. The problem is the meshwork can only be Astronomers designed the laser to correct for the same seen poorly with the normal instruments in your doctor’s atmospheric distortions that make stars appear to twinkle. office, due to its location where the iris inserts into the “Thanks to this research, the ocular drainage area of wall of the eye, as well as the near-total reflection that the eye can now be seen with much-improved clarity, occurs when looking through the cornea.” which will improve our understanding of how this The result of this low visibility is a lack of essential drainage area is being altered or damaged with understanding about why age appears to cause the age,” King said.

Reading Makes People Better, Study Suggests Do you read a lot? If so, chances are you’re more kind and empathetic than most people, according to a study reported on the Peace Quarters website.

Researchers in Great Britain asked 123 people about their reading or television watching habits.

Then they analyzed participants’ social skills, asking questions like, “How often do you consider other people’s points of view versus your own?” and “Do you go out of your way to actively help others?” www.50plusLifePA.com

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The results showed that the book readers, usually considered introverted and antisocial, displayed more empathetic traits than people who primarily watch TV. The genre of books seemed to make a difference, with readers of romance and drama showing more empathy and skill at seeing things through another person’s eyes.

Of course, it could be that empathetic people tend to read more, instead of reading creating more empathy. Either way, it’s good news for bookworms.

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

13

Since 2000, 50plus LIFE (previously Senior News and 50plus Senior News) has won more than 130 awards for its editorial content and design. Here’s a look at an award-winning article from our archives.

Evelyn Ay – Where is She Now? October 2000 issue Mature Media Awards: Silver Award

By Meredith Westgate

It was September 1954 when 20-year-old Evelyn Ay, of Ephrata, became the pride of Lancaster County, and indeed, all of Pennsylvania. She was crowned Miss America in the Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey.

Ephrata may not have ever before or since seen such a grand celebration as the one that took place the day she returned to her hometown. Sixty thousand people lined the streets for a parade of flower-studded floats while area high school marching bands played triumphant tunes.

Carlo M. Sardella, a Press staff writer, called Ay “the People’s Choice.” He wrote, “Riding on a wave of popularity that began with her first public appearance in the [Miss America] parade … Ay copped the Miss America title … before a cheering, whistling, full house.”

Ay earned her place in the finals by winning the first-night trophy in the swimsuit competition and earning top points in talent with her dramatic reading of Leaves from My House, a poem about a house and life in the South Pacific. But, it was in the question-and-answer period that Ay clinched the title.

“She came through with colors flying so high that there were expressions of amazement up and down press row,” Sardella wrote.

As the last Miss America to be crowned before the pageant was televised, Ay represented the end of an era. With the title, Ay was awarded a $5,000 scholarship, a car, and some $40,000 in personal appearance fees during her reign. She traveled 390,000 miles across the U.S., England, France, and Germany, serving as “the headliner” at festivals and charity events.

At the time of her crowning, Ay was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania. She had never participated in a beauty pageant.

Approached by the Junior Chamber of Commerce in Ephrata, she was persuaded to compete in the local competition.

Advancing to the Miss America pageant was “one big, giant step,” Ay said. Winning was “a serendipity” in her life.

With no expectation of winning the pageant, Ay had become engaged on the Saturday before the Miss America pageant. Her fiancé, Carl Sempier, was in officer candidate school at Penn. A November wedding was planned.

On the night of the pageant, Sempier and some friends gathered around a radio in Newport, Rhode Island. Ay earned a place in the top 10, the top five, and then the Miss America title.

Sempier’s friends told him “he was history,” Ay said, laughing. “They said if I was decent, maybe I would return the ring.”

Ay and Sempier postponed the wedding, seeing each other only four

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January 2020

Silver Award

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times that year.

“I looked the world over, but didn’t find anyone better,” she said. They married a year later.

From her home in Malvern, Pennsylvania (the Sempiers have resided in the Paoli area since 1962), Ay reflected on the Miss America pageant.

The first pageant (1921) was organized by the merchants of Atlantic City to celebrate the most beautiful time of year, Ay said. The first contestants were daughters of summer residents. In 1945, the first scholarship was awarded.

“It was this step that enabled the pageant to celebrate 80 years,” Ay said.

Today, the Miss America pageant has the largest scholarship foundation exclusively for women in the world, awarding more than $30 million in scholarships annually.

In the ’50s, Miss America represented “the Age of Innocence — Donna Reed, family, neighbors, friends,” Ay said.

The contestants “were the show,” performing oratory, classical piano, ballet, tap — whatever was “available at their fingertips.” Ay observed, “Singing and dancing were only in the movies.”

After her reign, Ay was offered exciting opportunities, but preferred a quieter life.

“I enjoyed every minute of my year [as Miss America], but I wasn’t caught up in the glory,” Ay said. A life of “entertainment and exposure had neither the stability nor sincerity” she sought.

A devoted supporter of the Miss America scholarship program, Ay attends the Miss America pageant each year. She has judged local, state, and national pageants, and served as Miss America pageant commentator in 1985 and 1987.

She accepts numerous speaking invitations annually. She writes her own speeches and presents them from a “very, very personal perspective.”

According to her Miss America biography, “Ay is best known as an enchanting and captivating speaker.”

The Sempiers raised two daughters and six Great Dane dogs. Their daughters, who both live within 4 miles of their parents, are “beautiful and talented.” The couple enjoys their two young grandchildren. They love to travel and recently vacationed in Italy.

Ay, who calls herself a “gray-haired lady,” notes that she is “identifiable as an older person.” Gray-haired or blond, Ay is surely as gracious and charming as she was the day she was crowned Miss America.

She laments that life isn’t as carefree as it was then. Now, “young people race from work to daycare to the dry cleaner,” she said.

In her speeches, she encourages people to slow down and enjoy life. www.50plusLifePA.com

Join us in celebrating our silver anniversary by taking a look back at life over the last 25 years … as well as a blast from one of our covers past!

2017

25 th

Top Headlines

Entertainment

• In June, President Trump announced the U.S. would pull out of the Paris Climate Agreement.

• In a mix-up for the Oscar for Best Picture, La La Land was announced before it was revealed that Moonlight actually won the award.

• The opioid epidemic received major news coverage in 2017. In August, President Trump declared the epidemic a national emergency.

• Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria pummeled southeast Texas, Florida, and the Caribbean in late summer and early fall.

• The #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and sexual assault began in October with widespread abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein.

• C elebrity passings included musicians Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, Tom Petty, Gregg Allman, Chris Cornell, Chester Bennington, and Glen Campbell; actors Mary Tyler Moore, Bill Paxton, and Adam West; comedians Jerry Lewis, Don Rickles, and Dick Gregory; and Playboy founder Hugh Hefner.

• On Oct. 1, a gunman on the 32nd floor of a Las Vegas hotel opened fire on outdoor concertgoers, killing 59 people and injuring more than 500.

• According to the Nielsen ratings, the top five most-watched TV series of 2017 were NCIS, Young Sheldon, The Good Doctor, The Big Bang Theory, and, at No. 1, Sunday Night Football.

Sports • Tennis player Serena Williams defeated her sister, Venus, in the Australian Open final. It was her 23rd Grand Slam singles title, breaking a record set in 1968.

• The New England Patriots came back from a 23-8 deficit to beat the Atlanta Falcons, 34-28. It was the largest comeback and first overtime game in Super Bowl history.

• NFL players kneeling during the national anthem set off a national debate after President Trump criticized the players on Twitter.

• Former USA Gymnastics team doctor Larry Nassar was accused of sexual abuse by more than 150 women — including several Olympic athletes.

He would be sentenced to 40-175 years in federal prison.

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January 2017

Science & Technology • NASA ran a livestream of the Cassini spacecraft’s final moments as it succumbed to Saturn’s dense atmosphere and heat.

• Apple launched the iPhone X, which included facial-recognition technology as a security feature.

• A total solar eclipse passed across the United States in late August; it was the first to cross the country since 1918.

• A cyberattack on credit-reporting agency Equifax caused 145.5 million American consumers to have sensitive personal information stolen.

Join us next month to see what was happening in 2013!

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

15

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www.50plusLifePA.com 11/27/19 10:35 AM

Sixties Flashback

The Million-Selling Sloppy Sound Check Randal C. Hill

Music critics were never kind to one 1964, “Louie, Louie” sat at No. 2 on of the biggest hits of all time.

Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.

One writer proclaimed it “a When some listeners erroneously ridiculous piece of junk.” Another claimed that “Louie, Louie” contained grumbled that “it had all the charm of filthy lyrics, two FBI agents soon a clanging hubcap.” Strangely enough, visited Richard Berry, who later the Kingsmen, the band responsible explained with a chuckle, “They came for “Louie, Louie,” felt the same way. to the conclusion that the singer’s The three-verse ditty had originally words were indecipherable.” been a 1956 release by Los Angeles “I was never contacted about the R&B singer/songwriter Richard Berry, lyrics,” Ely grumbled in a postscript. whose Flip Records single told of a “Nobody ever wanted to talk to the lonely sailor lamenting to a bartender guy who actually sang the supposedly named Louie. dirty words.”

Berry’s 45 never cracked the Although Randal C. Hill’s heart lives national charts, but the tune lingered in the past, the rest of him resides in on — and on and on — into the early Bandon, Ore. He can be reached at 1960s, where it became a staple of wryterhill@msn.com.

The Kingsmen in 1966. Clockwise from lower left: three-chord garage bands throughout Lynn Easton, J.C. Rieck, Kerry Magness, Mike Mitchell, Dick Peterson. the Pacific Northwest.

The Kingsmen were a Portland, Oregon, rock quintet fronted by Jack Ely. Ken Chase, the Kingsmen’s manager, provided work for the outfit at a teen dance club he owned.

On a whim one night, the group played a nonstop 90-minute set of nothing but “Louie, Louie.” The dancers went wild and even demanded more. Chase recognized the song’s potential for the Kingsmen and scheduled time at Northwest Recorders, the only recording studio in Portland.

When a sound check was ordered to test the microphone levels, Chase raised the vocalist’s boom microphone to 15 feet off the floor, claiming this would offer a better “live” feel when the Kingsmen recorded.

Things quickly went south when the tape rolled. Ely had to lean back to sing — shout, really — up to the microphone far above him, resulting in a slurring of Berry’s simplistic lyrics. Drummer Lynn Easton lost the beat partway through.

And, following the instrumental break, Ely came in too soon on the song’s final verse and had to restart it. After two excruciating minutes, “Louie, Louie” mercifully ground to a halt.

Then came Chase’s jaw-dropping announcement.

“That’s it! That’s the take I want!” he enthused as he bolted from the control Simply mail this form and $15 for an annual subscription to: room, explaining that the sound check had exactly the raw edge that he 50plus LIFE • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 sought.

Call (717) 285-8131, or subscribe online at www.50plusLIFEPA.com!

The Kingsmen, understandably, were incredulous: This piece of garbage would become their debut single? Sadly, the answer was yes.

Name_ ________________________________________________________ Jerden Records in Seattle released the soundcheck version, which earned some airplay on Pacific Northwest radio before it fell off the playlists.

Address_ _______________________________________________________ Somehow, the forgotten 45 made its way across the country, and popular City_______________________________ State_ ____ Zip_ _______________ Boston rock DJ Arnie Ginsberg ended up spinning “Louie, Louie” on a Friday night feature he called “The Worst Record of the Week.”

Please specify edition: Surprisingly, several record stores phoned to ask about ordering the disc, oChester oCumberland oDauphin oLancaster oLebanon oYork and soon New York’s Wand Records leased the Jerden master. By January

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January 2020

17

CROSSWORD

Puzzle Page

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 26 SUDOKU

WORD SEARCH

Alaska

Across 1. Metal fastener 5. Part of an act 10. Old West casino game 14. Ancient Peruvian 15. Overhangs 16. Augury 17. Hoodwink 18. Met highlights 19. Barbecue fare 20. Type of service 23. The lowdown, to the police 24. Discharge 25. Brute 28. ’60s hairdo Down 1. Old 45 player 2. Any day now 3. Aberdeen native 4. 1948 Bob Hope comedy, with The 5. Rap session?

6. Solitaire unit 7. Iniquities 8. Approach 9. They, in Trieste 10. Relinquish 11. Nitrogen compound 12. Picture puzzle 13. Outbreak

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31. Gambled 33. UN financial agency inits.

36. UK politician 40. Java canvas 41. Brilliant feats 42. High point 43. Rewards for waiting 44. Extremely popular 46. Embellish 49. Group of trees 51. Hunting bird 57. Others, to Ovid 58. Take as one’s own 21. Maid’s cloth 22. Rigoletto composer 25. Crash site?

26. Snake, for one 27. Actress Miles 28. French friends 29. Quagmire 31. Wildebeests 32. Concert prop 33. Eczema symptom 34. Exec’s note 35. Stew 37. Cake topper 38. Elephant grp.

59. As a result 60. Knee-slapper 61. Tyrant bird 62. Cattail, e.g.

63. Beach shades 64. Stun gun 65. Jurisdictions of bishops

39. Equestrian suppliers 43. Goodies 44. Beam 45. Bambi character 46. In pieces 47. Novelist Ephron 48. Heavenly hunter 49. Precipitates 50. Home on the range 52. Engrossed 53. Brainwave 54. Canadian tribe 55. Double curve 56. Silent assents

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The Bookworm Sez

This Tender Land Terri Schlichenmeyer

“Tell me a story!”

It was never enough when someone read a story to you when you were a child: A tale from the heart was always better. Every time the story was told, it was a little bit different, a little braver and a lot more exciting, and with This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger, you’re in for a good one.

Every child at the Lincoln Indian Training School feared what Odie O’Banion called “the quiet room.”

They feared it, because it was rarely quiet: Usually, someone was sobbing from the beatings, or worse, that they endured in that dirt-floor cell, or because of the rats there, or because of the dark.

This Tender Land by The first time he was tossed into William Kent Krueger; c. 2019, the room, Odie was 8 years old and Atria; 450 pages his then-12-year-old brother, Albert, was inexplicably tossed in with him.

It was 1932, and they’d been told that they were the only white boys at the Indian school in northern Minnesota because the county had nowhere else to put them after their parents died.

Odie had only known a mother’s love for a few short years of his life; Mrs. Brickman, the owner of the school, didn’t love him, or any of the children there.

Odie doubted that the “Black Witch” was capable of love.

She was surely capable of cruelty, though, and part of that was in loaning children to work for nearby farmers. If the Black Witch meant to punish a boy, he was sent to the Bledsoe farm; if it was a good day, Odie, Albert, and their friend, Mose, would go to Mrs. Cora Frost’s farm, to help out there.

As far as Odie was concerned, Cora Frost was an “angel.” A widow with a 5-year-old daughter, Cora made the boys feel like family, and for story-loving Odie, that was heaven.

But when a tornado came through and took that family away, he knew that only one thing could happen next: It was time to escape …

Which is exactly what you want in a novel: to be transported to another time and place, to escape. Happily, www.gordonsinc.com you’ll find plenty of that inside This Providing trusted service for over 40 years!

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Complete and Skilled You’ll also find a lot of “ish” in Automotive Maintenance and Repair this novel: an Oliver-Twist-ish open COLLISION SERVICES with a Snape-ish character in charge.

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Photo Credit: Photography by Diane Krueger

Placing this all solidly on a factual base, author William Kent Krueger then plops his readers down in a period when the Depression caused families to disintegrate and roving bands of kids were not uncommon.

And we wander here, too, through a timeline filled with murder, crime, faith, heart-pounding chase scenes, and just a little magic.

That could feel overdone and may be a little overwhelming for some readers, so give yourself room with this book. You’ll want that anyway — some room to enjoy, if you love stories.

For you, This Tender Land is a good one told.

This Tender Land author William Kent Krueger.

The Bookworm is Terri Schlichenmeyer.

Terri has been reading since she was 3 years old, and she never goes anywhere without a book. She lives on a hill in Wisconsin with two dogs and 14,000 books.

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19

Art & Antiques by Dr. Lori

Snowy-Season Collectibles Lori Verderame

It’s funny, but everyone seems to have a different calendar when it comes to decorating for the season. Some stores start decorating for the holidays in mid-October, while others wait until the chilly winds of early December arrive.

Whether winter decorations brighten your home as early as Halloween or linger through Super Bowl Sunday, decking the halls is a tried-and-true seasonal favorite.

With guests coming and going as we usher out the old and ring in the new year, the age-old question of when to deck and when to deinstall the holiday wreaths, ornaments, figurines, etc., is one of personal preference.

Jimmy Durante and Jackie Vernon. The rest of this snowman celebrity story is corncob-pipe history.

Shakable Snow Globes Snow artistry has taken on many forms when it comes to winter collectibles, including the ever-popular snow globe.

Snow globes, snow domes, or, as the Germans call them, schneekugeln, were first introduced in France during the early 1800s as a successor to the hand-blown glass paperweight.

At the 1889 International Exposition in Paris, the snow globe got worldwide attention as a souvenir. This World’s Fair snow globe featured a model of the newly built Eiffel Byers Choice Ltd. Carolers Tower, designed by Gustave Eiffel, inside.

Winter collectibles are popular and speak to Initially, snow globes consisted of a heavy, our image of the holidays. lead-glass dome placed over a ceramic tableau.

Byers Choice Ltd. carolers, a Bucks County, The globes were filled with water and then Pennsylvania, mainstay and international sealed. The snow inside the globe was created favorite, are popular collectibles featuring with bone chips, porcelain pieces, or nonmoveable figurines on solid bases. The heads soluble soap flakes.

Photo credit: Staff photographer at www.drloriv.com. of the singing carolers are hand-painted and More recently, the snow inside a typical Vintage snow globe with snowman. made of clay. snow globe is produced from tiny pieces of Each caroler is handmade by a skilled artisan white plastic and enhanced with distilled water at the Byers Choice Ltd. workshop in Chalfont, Pennsylvania, and visitors and glycerin to make the water denser and the snow appear to realistically can watch figures being produced on the shop floor during a self-guided move within the globe atmosphere. tour of Byers Choice Ltd. In the Victorian era, the British called the collectible tableaus Carolers are produced and marketed by theme — carolers by the sea, “snowstorms” as they gained popularity from circa 1890 to 1901.

Charles Dickens characters, American patriots, etc. — relating to the Despite their European beginnings, snow globes were mass produced in Christmas holiday and are widely collected throughout the year. the U.S. thanks to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, native Joseph Garaja. The first mass-production patent for snow globes featured Garaja’s new base, which That Famous Snowman allowed the globe to be screwed into it like a light bulb.

It is widely believed that collectible snowmen were first catapulted into In the 1940s, snow globes were produced as advertising paperweights, the public eye in the early 1950s, well into the postwar period in America. travel souvenirs, and vacation keepsakes.

Today, many folks have taken snowman collecting to a new level.

Today, snow globes are traded and collected worldwide; specialty annual Arguably, the most famous snowman of all time is Frosty the Snowman. snow globes, featuring products and characters from companies like Louis This snowman was actually first introduced as a song before becoming the Vuitton, Chanel, and Disney, are big gifts with collectors. Some range in pop culture icon that we all know and love. value from $500 to $5,000 at auction.

The wintery-themed novelty song was produced by Steve Rollins and Jack Nelson and recorded by cowboy crooner Gene Autry in 1950. Trying to Whether your winter is filled with days building your own Frosty on the capture the success of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” a recording that front lawn or sipping hot cocoa by the fire, snowy-season collectibles are fine sold 2 million copies, Autry recorded the quintessential snowman’s theme additions to your home and will surely satisfy your need to decorate with a song. seasonal flair.

Related cartoons and children’s books about Frosty the Snowman soon Dr. Lori Verderame is the award-winning Ph.D. antiques appraiser on followed. In 1954, UPA animation studios made Frosty the Snowman the History channel’s The Curse of Oak Island and weekdays on Doctor and the central character of a three-minute animated short film.

Diva. Dr. Lori presents her Antiques Appraisal Comedy Show to audiences By 1969, the animation company of Rankin/Bass produced a half-hour nationwide. Visit www.drloriv.com/events or call (888) 431-1010.

TV special featuring Frosty the Snowman and the unmistakable voices of

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www.50plusLifePA.com

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

How to Know When an Older Adult Has a Gambling Problem

Dear Savvy Senior, I’m worried that my 76-year-old husband has become addicted to gambling. He spends at least two days a week at an Indian casino about a half-hour’s drive from his house playing slot machines. What can I do?

– Worried Wife

Anonymous (www.gamblersanonymous.org) offers a 20-question online test that he can take to help determine if he has a problem.

In the meantime, here are some questions you can ask to help evaluate his situation.

• Is he preoccupied with gambling, constantly talking about it, or planning to gamble versus doing his normal activities?

Dear Worried, Problem gambling among older adults is unfortunately on the rise. Studies suggest that more than 4 million Americans age 65 and older could have a gambling problem.

The reasons behind this growing problem are because seniors have time and money on their hands, and the influx of casinos that have cropped up around the country have made access to gambling much more convenient.

Here’s what you should know, along with some tips and resources that can help your husband if he does indeed have a problem.

• Is he gambling more and more money to get the same level of excitement?

• Is he using his retirement funds or other savings to gamble, or is he pawning or selling personal items to get money to gamble with?

• Has he lost control to the point that he can’t set a limit of time and money to spend in the casino, and stick to it?

Problem Gambling For most older adults, gambling is simply a fun recreational activity, but for those who become addicted to it, it can be a devastating disease that can financially wipe them out.

There are a number of reasons why seniors can be vulnerable to gambling problems. For starters, seniors are often catered to by casinos with free bus transportation, free drinks, discounted meals, special rewards, and other prizes as a way to entice them.

In addition, many seniors use gambling as a way to distract or escape feelings of loneliness, depression, or even a chronic health condition. Some may have financial problems they are seeking to overcome. And some may have cognitive impairment that interferes with their ability to make sound decisions.

Adding to the problem is that many seniors may not understand addiction, making them less likely to identify a gambling problem. Or they may be confused or embarrassed that they can’t control their urges to gamble and reluctant to seek help because they think that at their age, they should know better.

And even if they recognize that they have a problem, they may not know that help is available or where to get it.

You should also know that while there are many gambling options for people to get hooked on today, casino slot machines are far and away the most popular among seniors.

Slot machines are much more addictive then the old machines of yesteryear with spinning lemons, cherries, and melons. Many of today’s slot machines offer intense sensory stimulation with large video screens, music, and vibrating, ergonomic chairs.

Get Help How can you know if your husband has a gambling problem? Gamblers www.50plusLifePA.com

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• Does he become uncomfortable or angry or does he lie when you ask him about his gambling activities?

If your husband answers yes to any of these questions, he may have a problem.

To find help, contact the National Council on Problem Gambling (www. ncpgambling.org), a nonprofit organization that operates a 24-hour national hotline at (800) 522-4700.

They can direct you to resources in your area, including counselors who have been trained through the National Certified Gambler Counseling Program.

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

Are You Reading?

Join the 2020 One Book, One Community campaign by reading Heartland by Sarah Smarsh.

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

Read the book in January and attend free library programs and discussions throughout February and early spring!

Photo credit: Michael Lionstar

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

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

21

Dear Pharmacist

Suzy Cohen

What You Should Avoid Prior to Surgery and Lab Tests

I recently wrote about some impressive tests that you can self-order, thus taking the headache out of getting lab tests.

But what about the important instructions that come with some lab tests, and what are the best instructions to follow if you have a surgery scheduled?

Medication Cessation The most common inquiry is this: Do I really need to stop all my medications before this test?

This question isn’t easy to answer because some medications are needed for comfort and well-being. For example, what if you are reliant on your morning pill for acid reflux? You can safely stop it abruptly, but if you don’t take it, you will be very uncomfortable.

Another example is with analgesics like tramadol, oxycodone, and morphine. You can’t just suddenly stop those or you’ll slip into withdrawal

pretty quickly! Ask if you’re allowed to take those the morning of your procedure.

You also cannot suddenly stop an antidepressant or antiepileptic drug. These and many other medications all require slow tapering to get off. If you suddenly discontinue certain drugs, then you could encounter dangerous withdrawal symptoms, even seizures.

I can see why this question comes up a lot for patients. Ask well before your surgery so you don’t have to reschedule due to this type of oversight.

Blood thinners are the most dangerous ones to remain on if you’re having surgery or some procedure that requires an IV drip or a blood draw, like a colonoscopy, for example. You do not want your blood to be super thin when you go in for these procedures or the bleeding could become profuse or internalized. please see Avoid page 24

Melinda’s Garden

Melinda Myers

Grow Houseplants with Style and Convenience in Mind

It starts with one plant on a sunny windowsill and then morphs into an impenetrable jungle. You may feel you need a machete to reach each individual plant to water and tend.

But you can clear the way to improved growing conditions and convenient care while showcasing every plant with style.

Group plants with similar light and watering needs to make maintenance easier for you and increase humidity levels — something tropical plants need to thrive.

Set plants on attractive trays filled with pebbles to capture excess water. The pebbles elevate the containers above the water to avoid root rot. As the water in the tray Photo courtesy of Gardener’s Supply Company evaporates, it increases the humidity around Furniture-grade LED grow light gardens fit into small spaces the plants. and provide plenty of light to grow plants indoors.

Grow cacti and succulents in a cool, sunny location for winter. Give each plant enough room to capture the sunlight it needs and to show off its unique form and color.

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Expand your indoor growing space and enjoy greenery throughout your home by adding artificial lights. New furniture-grade LED light fixtures, like the Bamboo Mini LED Grow Light Garden, fit into small spaces and look great on countertops, work desks, and shelves. You’ll save energy with LED lights and add a bit of style to your home décor.

Increase your success with the popular fiddle leaf fig and other floor plants. These beauties are often used to decorate a bare wall, corner, or other space in need of a focal point.

Oftentimes these areas do not receive sufficient light for the plants to grow and thrive. Soon leaves begin to yellow and drop.

Keep them healthy and beautiful with please see Houseplants on facing page

www.50plusLifePA.com

The Beauty in Nature

Crows and Geese at Shopping Malls Clyde McMillan-Gamber

Late in the afternoon one day this past November, noisy multitudes of American crows and Canada geese were on a short-grass lawn behind a local shopping mall.

The crows were gathering on that lawn prior to going to roost for the night, while the geese were nibbling the grass.

At that same time, successive flocks of loudly bugling Canada geese, in tight strings and V’s, powered off a nearby pond and landed into the wind among their fellows on the lawn, while loose sheets of crows poured low over the pond and lawn, heading west.

Meanwhile, other groups of honking geese lifted off the short grass and flew out of sight. All those airborne crows and geese were beautifully silhouetted before the striking sunset.

And together the birds created exciting, inspiring natural spectacles in a human-made habitat where people wouldn’t expect them to be.

As time progressed, succeeding floods of crows from all directions became ever larger, noisier, and more dramatic as they flowed over the shopping center. Meanwhile, still other crows were perched on the buildings of that mall and on its parking lots and trees.

Again, the crows and Canada geese together were a wild sight in a built habitat as the sun set and darkness deepened. Wildlife

American crow

Canadian geese

in human-made habitats make those habitats part of the wild.

Being adaptable enough to take advantage of human-made habitats, for several years thousands of wintering crows and hundreds of wintering Canada geese have roosted each winter night from early November to midMarch among area shopping malls.

In this instance, some of the geese are permanent residents of the nearby pond, while the crows raised young in forests in Canada.

But both species became accustomed to traffic, lights, and people on their wintering grounds and learned to benefit from a little extra heat from the sun-heated blacktop parking lots, buildings, vehicles, and lights.

Plus, those birds enjoy wind breaks from the buildings and safety from predators and people shooting at them.

Wintering American crows and Canada geese consume corn kernels lying in harvested cornfields. But crows also ingest acorns off lawns, dead animals on roads, and edible garbage from garbage cans, dumpsters, and landfills. Geese also eat short grass on lawns, as stated earlier, and aquatic vegetation.

Wildlife is always exciting and inspiring to experience, including in human-made habitats. And great numbers of certain species create wonderful pageantry. Beauties and intrigues in nature are where you find them.

Houseplants from facing page supplemental light. Hang a pendant light above or set a plant light stand beside these large plants. Many are trendy decorative fixtures similar to those used to light your home.

Save time and increase success by growing houseplants in self-watering containers. These pots have built-in water reservoirs that extend the time between watering. They also help reduce the mess of water spilling over the saucer and onto wood or carpeted floors.

Take the hassle out of watering with an indoor coil watering hose and sprayer. These coiled hoses hook up to the faucet, allowing you to water houseplants and seedlings up to 50 feet away. You’ll eliminate the need to fill and lug watering cans from plant to plant, leaving a trail of water along the way.

Maximize time spent tending your plants by using the proper tools. Many indoor gardeners use old silverware or try adapting outdoor tools for indoor garden use. Having the right tool for the job provides better results in less time.

Indoor garden tool sets have perfectly sized tools for pruning, transplanting, www.50plusLifePA.com

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and tending houseplants. Many come with an attractive built-in case for easy storage and a tray for corralling the mess of potting and transplanting. You’ll waste less potting mix and spend less time sweeping up debris.

Increase your growing space and show off your plant collection with one or more plant stands. Many provide multiple tiers, allowing you to display plants of different sizes while positioning them in the light they prefer.

Set large plants on wheeled caddies or a collection of pots on a wheeled tray to move them out of the way when cleaning or hosting a gathering. Then wheel them back in place once your company has left.

Adding some convenience for easy care will allow you to spend less time keeping your plants looking their best and more time enjoying the individual beauty each plant provides as you grow them in style.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening. She hosts The Great Courses’ How to Grow Anything DVD series and the nationally syndicated Melinda’s Garden Moment TV and radio program. www.melindamyers.com, www.longfield-gardens.com

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

23

Help readers find you — Be included in York County’s most affordable annual directory of local resources.

Make sure you’re there!

• More information than ever is available to consumers. This publication zeroes in on a targeted market rather than using blanket advertising.

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is a collection of businesses that understands the mindset, special needs, and wants of older adults and who are willing to personalize their approach to the consumer.

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is not comprehensive: Because there are fewer organizations listed than in the Yellow Pages or on the internet, you are more likely to get noticed.

• The directory is cross-promoted in 50plus LIFE and in On-Line maximum Publishers’ other publications, giving exposure.

Celebrating 25 years serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50+ community. Please ask about our special anniversary rates!

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No Food or Drink?

Another important question is, “Should I really stop eating and drinking before a test?”

The blanket answer is yes! If the facility or hospital puts that request on your instruction sheet, you should follow it. Eating and drinking too close to surgery could force a reschedule of the surgery. The worry is aspiration.

As for other tests, it becomes less clear. For example, if you are scheduled to have a pelvic ultrasound to see your cervix or ovaries, I’m not sure why food would be a problem!

And likewise, I do not understand the need for “no food or drink” if you’re having a thyroid blood test. You probably should eat before that type of test; the results will be more realistic.

There are certain things you should not take or eat before a urine test. The list is very long, but generally speaking, avoid beets, coffee, caffeinated tea, and B vitamins.

For a much longer version of this article, sign up for my free newsletter (www.suzycohen.com) and I’ll send you the comprehensive article by email.

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

Literacy Council Tutors Needed

* * * Ad closing date: April 10, 2020 * * *

January 2020

So for sure, you do not want to be on these blood-thinning drugs for at least three days prior to some tests:

Another category of medications that people don’t usually warn about, but I feel should be included in this conversation, are those drugs that slow down your heart rate.

My reasoning is that anesthesia also slows down your heart rate, and the combo could lead to severe bradycardia. I’m referring to “beta” and “calcium” channel blockers.

delivers information about essential local resources, including health and wellness, legal, financial, home improvements, leisure, and, of course, living and care.

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Avoid from page 22

RSVP – York County is seeking volunteers 55 and over as tutors for the York County Literacy Council in York and Hanover.

Training will be provided.

Volunteer benefits include: free supplemental liability insurance, recognition and appreciation events, and assistance with clearances.

For more information, please contact Scott Hunsinger at (717) 893-8474 or yorkrsvp@rsvpcapreg.org. www.50plusLifePA.com

Department of Aging Warns Seniors of Genetic Testing Scam The Department of Aging is warning Pennsylvania seniors, their families, and caregivers about a new scam targeting older adults.

DNA testing has become extremely popular in the past few years for people looking to learn more about their family history and health, and scammers are now targeting Medicare beneficiaries with a fraudulent DNA-testing service.

These scammers offer “free” genetic testing, claiming it is covered through Medicare, as a means for the senior to avoid disease or to find the right medications. This is simply an effort to gain access to a senior’s personal Medicare information, which can lead to access to financial information and more.

The Administration for Community Living suggests the following tips to avoid being scammed:

• If you receive a genetic testing kit in the mail, don’t accept it unless it was ordered by your physician. Refuse the delivery or return it to the sender, and keep a record of the sender’s name and the date you returned the items.

• A lways review your Medicare Summary Notice or Explanation of Benefits. The words “gene analysis” or “molecular pathology” may indicate questionable genetic testing.

• Do not accept genetic testing services, including a cheek swab, from someone at a community event, a local fair, a farmer’s market, a parking lot, or any other large event.

• A lways be cautious about giving out your personal information, including your Medicare number.

The U.S. Department of Justice estimates that 1 in 10 older adults is a victim of elder abuse, and according to the Senate Special Committee on Aging, for every case of elder abuse reported, five go unreported.

This reporting rate is even more troubling in financial abuse cases, which estimates that only 1 in 14 cases is reported.

If you or a loved one has already received a genetic testing cheek swab or screening that was not ordered by a trusted provider, or if you have any concerns about possible fraud, find and contact your local Senior Medicare Patrol at www.smpresource.org or call (877) 808-2468.

Anyone can report elder abuse by calling the 24-hour statewide elder abuse hotline at (800) 490-8505 or by contacting their local Area Agency on Aging.

Pennsylvania law protects those who report suspected abuse from retaliation and civil or criminal liability; all calls are free and confidential.

Stories of ordinary men and women called to perform extraordinary military service.

From 1999–2016, writer and World War II veteran Col. Robert D. Wilcox preserved the firsthand wartime experiences of more than 200 veterans through Salute to a Veteran, his monthly column featured in 50plus LIFE. Now, for the first time, 50 of those stories— selected by Wilcox himself—are available to own in this soft-cover book.

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

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

Every Hero Has a Name.

Is your military hero also your spouse, child, grandchild, friend, or neighbor?

Help us put a face and a name to the courageous men and women who are currently serving or who have served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Salute to Service

is an online photo gallery honoring the military heroes in our lives.

Upload your hero’s picture, name, and information at VeteransExpo.com/salute-to-service.

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

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

50plus LIFE t

Serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50plus community for 25 years.

January 2020

25

Social Security News

By John Johnston

Online Reporting Form Now Available for Scam Calls requires an update to their record, or a person who has requested a phone call from the agency.

Social Security will not: • Tell you that your Social Security number has been suspended.

• Contact you to demand an immediate payment.

• A sk you for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.

• Require a specific means of debt repayment, like a prepaid debit card, a retail gift card, or cash.

• Demand that you pay a Social Security debt without the ability to appeal the amount you owe.

• Promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money.

If there is a problem with a person’s Social Security number or record, in most cases Social Security will mail a letter. If a person needs to submit payments to Social Security, the agency will send a letter with instructions and payment options.

People should never provide information or payment over the phone or internet unless they are certain of who is receiving it.

The Social Security OIG will also continue to take reports of fraud, waste, and abuse in Social Security’s programs and operations. A separate online form for those reports remains available at www.ssa.gov/fraudreport/oig/ public_fraud_reporting/form.htm.

John Johnston is a Social Security public affairs specialist.

Puzzles shown on page 18

Puzzle Solutions

Andrew Saul, commissioner of Social Security, and Gail S. Ennis, the inspector general for the Social Security Administration, announce the launch of a dedicated online form at https://oig. ssa.gov to receive reports from the public of Social Security-related scams.

These scams — in which fraudulent callers mislead victims into making cash or gift card payments to avoid arrest for purported Social Security number problems — skyrocketed over the past year to become the No. 1 type of fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and the Social Security Administration.

To combat these scams, Social Security and the OIG will use the new online form to capture data that will be analyzed for trends and commonalities. The OIG will use the data to identify investigative leads, which could help identify criminal entities or individuals participating in or facilitating the scams.

Saul and Ennis encourage the public to use the new online form to report Social Security phone scams, including robocalls and live callers, as well as email, text, and in-person scams.

The form allows people to create a unique personal identification number (PIN), so if OIG contacts a person about their report, they will know the call is legitimate.

Social Security employees do occasionally contact people — generally those who have ongoing business with the agency — by telephone for business purposes.

However, Social Security employees will never threaten a person or promise a Social Security benefit approval, or increase, in exchange for information or money. In those cases, the call is fraudulent and people should just hang up.

Generally, the agency mainly calls people who have recently applied for a Social Security benefit, someone who is already receiving payments and

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Tests Confirm Cats’ Attachment to Humans Do you ever wonder whether your cat really likes you?

Numerous studies have looked into the nature of attachments between dogs and people, but few have examined attachment in cats — probably because of the stereotype that cats aren’t social animals.

Researchers decided to study the bond between cats and their owners with a simple experiment: Eighty humans brought their kittens into an unfamiliar room, played with them for two minutes, then left. After two minutes, they returned to play with the kittens again.

The unfamiliar environment made many cats anxious, as

demonstrated by loud meowing and other stressed-out behaviors. Some of the cats remained anxious when their humans returned, while others avoided them.

But about two-thirds greeted their humans and relaxed, exhibiting playfulness and exploration of the environment. That’s about the same proportion that dogs and babies have displayed in similar tests of attachment.

The researchers point out that we can’t really know whether our cats truly like us, but the results do suggest that they form a real bond with their humans, much like dogs.

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This is Krista’s happily ever after.

Finding new ways to help people like Krista beat cancer.

This is why we’re continuing to innovate, expand and invest in the people of Central PA. Because this is the health we need to live the way we want.

This is Penn State Health.

PennStateHealth.org/CancerInstitute

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