York County Edition
February 2014
Vol. 15 No. 2
Expanding Minds, Broadening Horizons Discussion Group Coordinator Sees World through Great Writers, Travel By Chelsea Peifer The moment you finish a great book is the moment you want to tell someone about what you read. Certain books stir questions and create a desire for discussion. But after high school and college, many people lose the groups and resources they previously had at their disposal to share about what they are reading. Book clubs can be a good fit for some readers, but a club tailored to deep discussion is something of a treasure these days. For the last five years, Dan Tepsic has had the privilege of coordinating the Great Books Discussion Group at his local library. “It’s an opportunity to read all of the great thinkers in the past,” explained Tepsic. “You get to read a vast selection, including economics, classic literature, poetry, politics, and religion. “You realize after reading all of these things that while the context has changed, human nature has not,” he said. The themes in historical literature are the same themes found in stories told and written in the present time. Group discussions commonly return to timeless themes of reality versus imagination, lust for greed, and so forth. please see HORIZONS page 14 Dan Tepsic seated in the meeting place of the Great Books Discussion Group.
Inside:
How to Guard Against Wintertime Heart Attacks page 6
Salute to a Veteran: Gene George page 8
My 22 Cents’ Worth
Editing Our Given Names Walt Sonneville hy did FBI Director John Edgar Hoover not use his first name? He went by the name “J. Edgar Hoover.” Edgar? One explanation is that his cousin, John E. Hoover, who also lived in Washington, DC, had a bad credit record, and J. Edgar did not wish to be mistaken for him. It was not a case of J. Edgar being confused with his father, whose full name was Dickerson Naylor Hoover. Comedienne Lily Tomlin referred to Hoover as “Jedgar,” a name not likely to create confusion with someone else. Her creativity accords with the choice made by John Ellis Bush, son of President George Herbert Walker Bush. J.E. Bush merged his initials and is known as “Jeb.” This is a great country. One can edit the first and middle name without applying for official approval by a court or raising the suspicions of the secret police.
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Several of our political figures have jettisoned their first names, using only their middle name to be recognized. Would you know, if their middle name or nickname was not indicated, any of the following: President Stephen Grover Cleveland, Vice President James Danforth (“Dan”) Quayle, President Hiram Ulysses (“U.S.”) Grant, Governor James Richard (“Rick”) Perry, Governor Willard Mitt Romney, and President Thomas Woodrow Wilson? There are non-political figures, too, that are more easily identified when their middle names are stated. Among them are publisher William Randolph Hearst,
economist John Kenneth Galbraith, civilrights icon Martin Luther King, historian John Hope Franklin, musician James Paul McCartney, and CNN founder Robert Ted Turner. The first name of James has been spurned by Perry, Quayle, and McCartney. Is there an implication here that the name is a career liability? Occasionally, celebrities discard both their first and middle names, using only initials. Circus impresario Phineas Taylor (“P.T.”) Barnum and poet e.e. cummings (Edward Estlin Cummings) come to mind. Cummings, being impoverished,
possibly had a typewriter that could not produce capital letters. Less likely, he had an overwhelming sense of humility that he believed was best expressed by using only the lower case. A single name suffices for some whose fame is legend, but not for ordinary people. We have the examples of Prince, Liberace, and Madonna. Elvis did not need his last name to be recognized. Single names evoke a royal lineage. No one should address Queen Elizabeth II by her full name, which is Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor. If one were to do so, a chilling grimace can be expected from Her Majesty’s entourage. Europeans did not begin to adopt last names until the 11th to 13th centuries. The Irish were among the first, but they were centuries behind the Chinese. It was open season then on the crafting of family names. The opportunity will not return on this scale again.
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May 17, 2014 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. Spooky Nook Sports 2913 Spooky Nook Road, Manheim (Just off Rt. 283 at the Salunga exit)
The third annual women’s expo in Lancaster County will be held in spring 2014. It features lively demonstrations, shopping, free spa treatments, and a fashion show. A wide variety of exhibitors provides information that embraces the many facets of a woman’s life, including:
Health & Wellness Finance Home Shopping Technology Beauty Nutrition Fashion and more!
717.285.1350
FREE advance guest registration online. ($5 at the door.)
a G r e a t W a y To S p e n d M y D a y . c o m 2
February 2014
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Editing the last names of immigrants passing through Ellis Island was unintentionally done by officials incorrectly transposing names onto entry records. As a result, two adult siblings named Smith may have records showing one as Smith and the other as Smyth. Such errors generally became permanent changes. Families in our Southern states have the charming custom of calling their children by somewhat lyrically paired names. Fans of the television series The
Waltons may recall John Boy and Jim Bob. Betty Mae, Eddy Joe, Mary Alice, and Lila Sue are further examples. Names given to infants decades ago are rarely selected today. Understandably, Adolf (or Adolph), which is Teutonic for wolf, is a name most Americans abhor. Wolf Blitzer can be thankful he is not of Teutonic ancestry. He may not want either to be identified by his middle name, Isaac, had he been given the Teutonic “Adolf.” There are perfectly good names for boys not commonly used today. They
include Horace, Floyd, Seymour, Leonard, and Winthrop. Not likely to regain popularity soon are these venerable names for girls: Dagmar, Fannie, Fifi, and Gretchen. When these names reemerge as popular choices, subsequent editing of them can be anticipated. Senior citizens with archaic given names reveal their age group when communicating with strangers. To avoid potential age discrimination, they may use an age-neutral nickname, such as Skip, Buck, or Cookie.
Teens who dislike their given names soon edit them. Timing is critical. If seniors wait until they enter their golden years, others may regard name editing as a sure sign of dementia. Walt Sonneville, a retired market-research analyst, is the author of My 22 Cents’ Worth: The Higher-Valued Opinion of a Senior Citizen and A Musing Moment: Meditative Essays on Life and Learning, books of personal-opinion essays, free of partisan and sectarian viewpoints. Contact him at waltsonneville@earthlink.net.
Improve Your Health in the New Year Chronic diseases are ongoing health problems and include arthritis, asthma, diabetes, lung disease, heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, and others. The goal of “Better Choices,
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The goal of the program is to help people better manage their wide range of symptoms and conditions.
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The York County Area Agency on Aging will be offering a free six-week workshop series called “Better Choices, Better Health” for people with chronic diseases and their caregivers. The workshop series will be held on Tuesdays, beginning March 4 from 1 to 3:30 p.m. at the West Manchester Township Building, 380 East Berlin Road, West Manchester Township.
Better Health” is to help people better manage their wide range of symptoms and conditions. Led by trained instructors, participants will address topics
such as stress reduction, dealing with distressful emotions, planning for the future, locating and using community resources, and building communication skills. Preregistration is required by Feb. 28. For more information or to register, contact the Agency on Aging at (717) 771-9610, (800) 632-9073, or aging@yorkcountypa.gov.
Resource Directory This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being. Active Adult Communities Roth’s Farm Village Roth’s Church Road, Spring Grove (717) 633-7300 Adult Day Centers SeniorLIFE 1500 Memory Lane Ext.,York (814) 535-6000 Animal Hospitals Community Animal Hospital Donald A. Sloat, D.V.M. 400 S. Pine St.,York (717) 845-5669 Automobile Sales/Service Gordon’s Body Shop, Inc. 10 Mill St., Stewartstown (717) 993-2263 Sun Motor Cars 6677 Carlisle Pike, Mechanicsburg (877) 316-3030 Coins & Currency Steinmetz Coins & Currency 2861 E. Prospect Road,York (717) 757-6980
Energy Assistance Low-Income Energy Assistance (717) 787-8750 Entertainment Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster (717) 898-1900 Health & Medical Services Alzheimer’s Association (717) 651-5020 Alzheimer’s Information Clearinghouse (800) 367-5115 American Diabetes Association (800) 342-2383 CONTACT Helpline (717) 652-4400 The National Kidney Foundation (800) 697-7007 or (717) 757-0604 Social Security Information (800) 772-1213 Healthcare Information PA 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 Senior Helpers Serving Adams and York counties (717) 920-0707 Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services (717) 630-0067 – Hanover (717) 751-2488 – York Housing/Apartments Elm Spring Residence 118 Pleasant Acres Road,York (717) 840-7676 Housing Assistance Housing Authority of York (717) 845-2601 Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937
Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com Minnich’s Pharmacy 976 S. George St.,York (717) 848-2312 Salon Services Trimmer’s Hair & Nail Care 112 Brittany Court, Red Lion (717) 246-4844 Senior Move Management Life Transition Solutions (717) 799-0648 Services York County Area Agency on Aging (800) 632-9073 Veterans Services Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon (717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771
Insurance – Long-Term Care Apprise Insurance Counseling (717) 771-9610 or (800) 632-9073
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori Corporate Office: 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Phone 717.285.1350 • Fax 717.285.1360 Chester County: 610.675.6240 Cumberland County/Dauphin County: 717.770.0140 Berks County/Lancaster County/ Lebanon County/York County: 717.285.1350 E-mail address: info@onlinepub.com Website address: www.onlinepub.com
PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHER Donna K. Anderson
EDITORIAL VICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING EDITOR Christianne Rupp EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS Megan Joyce
ART DEPARTMENT PROJECT COORDINATOR Renee McWilliams PRODUCTION ARTIST Janys Cuffe
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Jill Hubler Angie McComsey Jacoby Susan Krieger Ranee Shaub Miller Sue Rugh SALES & EVENT COORDINATOR Eileen Culp EVENTS MANAGER Kimberly Shaffer
CIRCULATION PROJECT COORDINATOR Loren Gochnauer
ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGER Elizabeth Duvall
Stained-Glass Windows Lori Verderame esopotamian potters discovered the method for making multicolored, opaque glass beads around 2,750 BC. Circa 1,100 AD, a window of colored glass was documented in Germany. Colored-glass windows were used in churches, monasteries, and other places of worship. Artisans, like worshipping pilgrims of the day who made pilgrimages to holy sites, traveled from church to church to work on stained-glass window projects during the medieval period. Most stained-glass windows were made of colored glass with images of saints painted onto the glass itself. The colorful images for each glass panel were kiln fired. This firing made the colored images a permanent part of the glass. The Arts & Crafts movement of the mid-1800s blossomed in England and America. A strong interest in handmade objects and quality workmanship was embraced by William Morris (1834-1896) and his company, Morris & Company. A popular artisan of the movement was Sir Edward BurneJones, who produced stained-glass windows for the Victorian collectors of the day.
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50plus Senior News 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.
February 2014
Celebrity Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and award-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori hosts antiques appraisal events worldwide. Dr. Lori is the star appraiser on Discovery channel’s Auction Kings. To learn about your antiques: www.DrLoriV.com, www.Facebook.com/DoctorLori, @DrLori on Twitter, and (888) 431-1010.
Some Facts about Groundhogs
Awards
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Burne-Jones’ counterpart in America was an accomplished designer named John LaFarge (1835-1910), who worked along with W.J. McPherson. LaFarge made opalescent glass pieces and created stained-glass windows in opalescent glass in the late 1870s. This process made it unnecessary to paint the glass and fire it in a kiln. LaFarge’s stainedglass windows were highly detailed and highly decorative. Other stained-glass masters included the artisans Louis Comfort
Tiffany, who was commissioned to produce stained-glass windows for public institutions and private clients, and Frank Lloyd Wright, who integrated stained-glass windows into his architectural works. Tiffany first began experimenting with glass art in 1873 and established the Tiffany Glass Company in 1885. Tiffany windows were made using many different types of glassmaking techniques: opalescent, etched, and enameled glass. They featured landscapes and figures and were produced for significant buildings, such as churches and private homes. Today, stained-glass windows continue to attract collectors and enthusiasts as the art form has evolved. Contemporary artists, such as Clifford Ross, work in colorful, stained-glass window art forms with the aid of advanced digital imagery technology.
In honor of Groundhog Day on Feb. 2, here are a few fun facts about groundhogs gleaned from the official site of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club (www.groundhog.org), which celebrates the world’s most famous groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil: • The average groundhog is 20 inches long and normally weighs from 12 to 15 pounds. (Punxsutawney Phil weighs about 20 pounds and is 22 inches long.) • Groundhogs are covered with coarse grayish hairs (fur) tipped with brown or sometimes dull red. They have short ears, a short tail, short legs, and are surprisingly quick. Their jaws are exceptionally strong.
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• A groundhog’s diet consists of lots of greens, fruits, and vegetables and very little water. Most of their liquids come from dew on leaves. • A groundhog can whistle when it is alarmed. Groundhogs also whistle in the spring when they begin courting. • Insects do not bother groundhogs, and germs pretty much leave them alone. They are resistant to the plagues that periodically wipe out large numbers of wild animals. One reason for this is their cleanliness. • Groundhogs are one of the few animals that really hibernate. Hibernation is not just a deep sleep.
It is actually a deep coma, where the body temperature drops to a few degrees above freezing, the heart barely beats, the blood scarcely flows, and breathing nearly stops. • Young groundhogs are usually born in mid-April or May, and by July they are able to go out on their own. The size of the litter is four to nine. A baby groundhog is called a kit or a cub. • A groundhog’s lifespan is normally six to eight years. Phil receives a drink of a magical punch every summer during the annual Groundhog Picnic, which is said to give him seven more years of life. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Smile of the Month The February Smile of the Month belongs to Beverly Sheldon of Senior Commons in York. This smile was submitted by Karen Becker-Glatfelter of Mount Joy, who wrote that Sheldon, a phone company retiree and her husband’s cousin, is “one of the most emotionally honest people” she knows.
Windy Hill Members Collect Items for Children’s Home
Send us your favorite smile—your children, grandchildren, friends, even your “smiling” pet!—and it could be 50plus Senior News’ next Smile of the Month! You can submit your photos (with captions) either digitally to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or by mail to:
Windy Hill members boxing items to be delivered to the Children’s Home of York. Front row, from left, Martha Rahe, Spurgeon Shue, Linda Haberkam, and Jo Barck. Back row, from left, Pat Pomraning and Byron Pomraning.
50plus Senior News Smile of the Month 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 Digital photos must be at least 4x6'' with a resolution of 300 dpi. No professional photos, please. Please include a SASE if you would like to have your photo returned.
Windy Hill on the Campus senior center members recently collected H.U.G.S. (hats, underwear, gloves, and socks) for children at the Children’s
Home of York. More than 80 items were collected and presented to the home.
If you have local news you’d like considered for
Around Town, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com
Advertise in this vital community guide If your organization or business offers a product or service relevant to seniors, the disabled, caregivers, or their families, you should be included!
Ad closing date: April 18, 2014
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Contact your account representative or call 717.285.1350 now to be included in this vital annual directory. On-Line Publishers, Inc., 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512 • 717.285.1350 • 717.770.0140 • 610.675.6240 • info@onlinepub.com • www.onlinepub.com
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CCRCs offer a tiered approach to the aging process, accommodating residents’ unique and often changing needs.
CCRC Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Healthy adults entering a CRCC are able to live independently in a home, apartment, or condominium of their own within the community. When assistance with everyday activities becomes necessary, they can move into personal care, assisted living, rehabilitation, or nursing care facilities. Some CCRCs have designated dementia areas within the community. These units address the progressing needs of people who have any form of dementia. With a wealth of available resources, these communities give older adults the option to live in one location for the duration of their lives, with much of their future care already figured out — which equals both comfort and peace of mind.
Bethany Village 325 Wesley Drive Mechanicsburg, PA 17055 Stephanie Lightfoot Director of Sales & Marketing (717) 766-0279 www.bethanyvillage.org
Cornwall Manor 1 Boyd Street Cornwall, PA 17016 Jennifer Margut Director of Marketing (717) 274-8092 www.cornwallmanor.org
Calvary Fellowship Homes
Chapel Pointe at Carlisle
502 Elizabeth Drive Lancaster, PA 17601 Marlene Morris Marketing Director (717) 393-0711 www.calvaryhomes.org
770 South Hanover Street Carlisle, PA 17013 Linda Amsley Director of Marketing/Admissions (717) 713-2201 www.chapelpointe.com
Cross Keys Village The Brethren Home Community
Homeland Center
2990 Carlisle Pike New Oxford, PA 17350 Amy Kirkpatrick Senior Retirement Counselor (717) 624-5350 a.kirkpatrick@crosskeysvillage.org www.crosskeysvillage.org
1901 North Fifth Street Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598 Barry S. Ramper II, N.H.A. President/CEO (717) 221-7902 www.homelandcenter.org
The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.
Savvy Senior
How to Guard Against Wintertime Heart Attacks Jim Miller Dear Savvy Senior, When I had a mild heart attack about six months ago, my doctor told me I needed to be extra careful during the winter when recurring heart attacks are more common. Is this true? How can the seasons affect your heart? – Leery Senior Dear Leery, Everyone knows winter is cold and flu season, but most people don’t know that it’s also the prime season for heart attacks too, especially if you already have heart disease or have suffered a previous heart
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February 2014
attack. Here’s what you should know, along with some tips to help you protect yourself. Heart Attack Season In the U.S., the risk
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February is
American Heart Month
of having a heart attack during the winter months is twice as high as it is during the summertime. Why? There are a number of factors, and they’re not all linked to cold weather. Even
people who live in warm climates have an increased risk. Here are the areas you need to pay extra attention to this winter. • Cold temperatures: When a person gets cold, the body responds by constricting the blood vessels to help the body maintain heat. This causes blood pressure to go up and makes the heart work harder. Cold temperatures can also increase levels of certain proteins that can thicken the blood and increase the risk for blood clots. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Homestead Village
The Middletown Home
Enhanced Senior Living 1800 Marietta Avenue P.O. Box 3227 Lancaster, PA 17604-3227 Susan L. Doyle Director of Marketing (717) 397-4831 ext. 158 www.homesteadvillage.org
Serving from the 999 West Harrisburg Pike Heart in the Spirit of Friendship, Love, Middletown, PA 17057 and Truth Andrea Henney Director of Residential Services (717) 944-3351 www.MiddletownHome.org
Normandie Ridge Senior Living Community
Pleasant View Retirement Community
StoneRidge Retirement Living
1700 Normandie Drive York, PA 17408 Joyce Singer Director of Sales & Marketing (717) 718-0937 www.normandieridge.org
544 North Penryn Road Manheim, PA 17545 Amanda Eckinger Communications Coordinator (717) 664-6207 www.pleasantviewrc.org
440 East Lincoln Avenue Myerstown, PA 17067 Stacia Keith Director of Sales (717) 866-3553 www.stoneridgeretirement.com
Willow Valley Communities 600 Willow Valley Square Lancaster, PA 17602 Kristin Hambleton Director of Sales (717) 464-6800 (800) 770-5445 www.willowvalleycommunities.org
If you would like to be featured on this important page, please contact your account representative or call (717) 285-1350.
CCRC Continuing Care Retirement Communities
Woodcrest Villa Mennonite Home Communities 2001 Harrisburg Pike Lancaster, PA 17601 Connie Buckwalter Director of Marketing (717) 390-4126 www.woodcrestvilla.org
The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.
• Snow shoveling: Studies have shown that heart-attack rates jump dramatically in the first few days after a major snowstorm, usually a result of snow shoveling. Shoveling snow is a very strenuous activity that raises blood pressure and stresses the heart. Combine those factors with the cold temperatures, and the risk for heart attack surges. If your sidewalk or driveway needs shoveling this winter, hire a kid from the neighborhood to do it for you or use a snow blower. Or, if you must shovel, push rather than lift the snow as much as possible, www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
during the holiday season and winter months, all of which are hard on the heart and risky for someone with heart disease. So keep a In the U.S., the risk watchful eye on of having a heart your diet this attack during the winter and avoid binging on fatty winter months is foods and alcohol. twice as high as it is
stay warm, and take frequent breaks.
• New Year’s resolutions: Every Jan. 1, millions of people join gyms or start exercise programs as part of their New Year’s resolution to get in shape, and many overexert during the themselves too • Shorter days: summertime. soon. Less daylight in the If you’re starting winter months can a new exercise cause many people program this to develop seasonal winter, take the time to talk to your affective disorder or SAD, a wintertime doctor about what types and how much depression that can stress the heart. exercise may be appropriate for you. Studies have also looked at heartattack patients and found they usually • Winter weight gain: People tend to eat have lower levels of vitamin D (which and drink more and gain more weight comes from sunlight) than people with
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So stay warm this winter, and when you do have to go outside, make sure you bundle up in layers with gloves and a hat, and place a scarf over your mouth and nose to warm up the air before you breathe it in.
healthy hearts. To boost your vitamin D this winter, consider taking a supplement that contains between 1,000 and 2,000 international units (IU) per day. And to find treatments for SAD, visit the Center for Environmental Therapeutics website at www.cet.org. • Flu season: Studies show that people who get flu shots have a lower heartattack risk. It’s known that the inflammatory reaction set off by a flu infection can increase blood clotting, which can lead to heart attacks in vulnerable people. So, if you haven’t already done so, get a flu shot for protection. See www.flushot.healthmap.org to find a nearby vaccination site. Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org
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Salute to a Veteran
He Saw Up Close the Havoc from the A-bombs on Nagasaki and Bikini Atoll Robert D. Wilcox hen Gene George was in high school in Watertown, Mass., in the early 1940s, nobody
band and playing in a small combo that performed weekends at a Chinese restaurant. had ever When he heard of a graduated nuclear from bomb. The Watertown fact that we High School were in 1942, secretly however, the working to draft was in develop one full swing. was perhaps And in the bestSeptember kept secret 1942, he was of World drafted. The band put together by Charles E. (Gene) George War II. A friend (second from right, first row). But for had told him George, of the those were carefree days, with the wonders of service in the Coast Guard, greatest challenge being to play the so he thought he’d give that a try. But saxophone in his high school’s marching problems with his teeth caused the Coast
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You may already qualify for free, or reduced-cost, health care services and other benefits from VA. Enrolling for VA health care is easy.
Call: 1-717-228-6000 or 1-800-409-8771, ext. 6000 For more information: Lebanon VA Medical Center 1700 South Lincoln Avenue Lebanon, PA 17042 1-717-272-6621 or 1-800-409-8771
Web: www.lebanon.va.gov www.facebook.com/VALebanon www.twitter.com/VALebanon
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Guard to turn him down. The best they could offer him was to suggest he try the Navy. When he did, he found that the Navy was glad to have him. Soon he was on his way to Sampson Naval Training Base in New York state, a huge, 2,500-acre base where more than 400,000 men were to train during the war. George was part of a company that was assigned to KP (kitchen police). Remarkably, the Navy chief who was assigning men to specific jobs was Bob Daughters, who had played second base for the Boston Red Sox. More importantly, he had been one of the men to whom George had sold newspapers as a high schooler. So they were old friends, and that led to George’s being assigned to a cushy job in the “broom closet,” as the guy who passed out the brooms and mops rather then the guy who had to wield them. After basic, he trained at the Naval Medical Corps School in Portsmouth, Va., where he studied anatomy and first aid, learning to give shots and bandage wounds. And that led to an assignment at the naval hospital in Portsmouth, where he served in the orthopedic ward. “I made a lot of lifelong friends there,” he says. “The head corpsman
Gene George in 2003 while serving in a local honor guard.
there was my best man when I married.” His next assignment was to the USS Sanctuary, a brand-new hospital ship that was headed for the Pacific. He says he was in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, helping to load supplies for the ship, when a lieutenant asked him if he could form a band to perform on the ship. How did he even know that George was a musician? “I don’t know,” George says. “I suppose he spotted my saxophone that I carried with me. In any case, I rounded up a talented 17-member group, some of whom had played with the big bands.
The drummer, for example, had played with Glenn Miller and was a good friend of Glenn’s.” The Sanctuary passed through the Panama Canal and arrived in Hawaii four days before the surrender of the Japanese on Sept. 2, 1945. “We then sailed to Nagasaki, Japan,” he says. “Our band played every night on the promenade deck before the movies were shown. In Nagasaki, I remember that we played at an afternoon tea at the Consulate. “I looked out the windows of the Consulate and saw everything simply flattened, from the Mitsubishi Aircraft Factory to the rest of Nagasaki. Everything was just a wasteland. The blast went north and south and, for some reason, not so much east and west where the camps holding American POWs were. “We picked up sick, injured, and ambulatory cases to bring them home. I remember that the captain who was our chief medical officer told our skipper that we had room for 1,100. The skipper, who was only a commander, said flatly, ‘We’re taking them until they quit coming.’ And we left for San Francisco with 1,176 aboard from six different POW camps.
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Such is Life
Our Wacky House of Cats Saralee Perel ur cat, Dennis, opens drawers. looking tug of war one could ever We put a hook-and-eye lock envision. on the bathroom cabinet, Yet Jordy looks up at Bob with the which he quickly unhooked. He pulled innocence of a newborn. on the knob, opened the door, and “Jordy,” Bob says, “you are more fun ripped the toilet paper to shreds. than Disneyland. You teach me that Dennis swings from lampshades. He toys are not something we buy in a chucks objects off tables—at 3 a.m. store. They’re whatever we imagine Last night, he knocked over my them to be, my silly, lovable kitten. guitar. I heard screeching noises and Your tenderness melts my heart.” found him bouncing around on the We once had a cat named Eddie strings—trampoline style. My guitar is who set off two fires, causing the now in the attic. police and fire Yet every night, trucks to Dennis sleeps on arrive—sirens his back between blaring. His first my husband’s case of arson knees, purring was to turn on a while Bob rubs the gas burner. The happy cat’s belly. second involved “Sweet Dennis,” a flaming Bob says, “you have lampshade. an amazing joy for One time, he living. I couldn’t pushed our Murphy needs attention. love you more, my burglar alarm, little friend.” sending police Murphy is our orange cat. He’s not to our house again. My claim, “The smart. This cat would just keep cat did it,” was wearing pretty darn walking off a ledge without looking thin. down. When we have plastic bags in Yet Eddie will always be a part of the house, I grab them or he’ll scarf me. I still see a hole—a space that down the plastic. He’s endearingly moves around the house where his simple. He’ll walk straight into a closed form used to be. door, turn around, and do it again. As heart-wrenching as endings are, Yet when Murphy wants attention, they’re only so painful because the love he sits in front of the computer screen. was so grand. But love never goes Bob never pushes him away. Instead he away. gives Murphy the attention he wants. And so, I asked Bob why we keep “Goofy Murphy,” he says, “I will winding up with wacky creatures. keep you from harm’s way. I love you “Because we’re lucky,” he said. just the way you are.” “But they’re unpredictably insane.” While I was reading on the couch, “I married you, didn’t I?” Jordy, our kitten, trotted in with Bob’s Why do Bob and I adore these little underpants in his mouth. He flung beings of mischief and chaos, who them in the air and then settled down worry us with their exploits, who break to teethe on the waistband. Instead of things, who need extra care? Why do buying cat toys, we should just strew we love them so much? Bob’s drawers everywhere. Because everyone who has a fourThat night, while we were watching footed family does. TV in bed, Jordy was wiggling under Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally the covers. When his little head syndicated columnist. Her new book is popped out, his binky (Bob’s Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: Stories underpants) was in his mouth. From a Life Out of Balance. To find out “Can’t he keep them, Bob?” more, visit www.saraleeperel.com or email “No. They’re mine.” sperel@saraleeperel.com. And so ensued the most ridiculous-
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NurseNews
Buerger’s Disease and Tobacco Addiction Gloria May, M.S., R.N., CHES friend phoned me recently and told me her son-in-law has Buerger’s disease. I could see the unusual spelling in my head, so I knew I’d had some contact with it some time or other, but I really knew nothing about it. “I’m sorry; I am not familiar with Buerger’s. What is it?” I asked. “What do you mean you’re ‘not familiar with Buerger’s’? You went to nursing school, didn’t you?” she fired off. Whoa! I happened to be at the computer, so right away I typed “Buerger’s disease” into my search engine. If you do the same, let me caution you: Photos of gangrenous fingers and toes are tough to look at. Buerger’s disease is a rare condition of the arteries and veins wherein they become inflamed, swollen, and clogged up with clots. This causes an interruption in
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circulation, damages or destroys the tissues, and can lead to infection and gangrene, which then necessitates amputation. Finger and toes go first, and then it can work its way up the limbs. There is some suggestion that there’s a genetic predisposition to Buerger’s disease and some speculation that it’s an autoimmune disease, but the biggest risk factor is heavy tobacco use. In fact, although there are certain medications that help improve blood flow and some that stimulate growth of new vessels, the most important measure that will slow the progression of Buerger’s disease is to stop any form of tobacco use and, further, to diligently avoid even secondhand smoke. “He’s already lost two fingers, and I am so upset. He’s the breadwinner …” “I am so sorry. How did the quitting smoking go?” “Oh, he hasn’t quit smoking.”
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“You mean he’s having trouble quitting or he hasn’t tried?” “He’s not interested in quitting smoking, Gloria. He won’t even talk about it.” “OK. And his doctor has discussed this decision with him? Maybe suggested counseling of some sort?” “He won’t talk to the doctor about it, and he won’t talk about not talking either.” Now I understand why my friend was testy with me at the beginning of the phone call. She’s worried about someone she loves; she’s concerned about her daughter; and she’s scared that her grandson will lose his dad, bit by bit, piece by piece. And she is baffled by her son-in-law’s defiant, self-destructive behavior. “Gloria, why in the world would you not just quit smoking if you are going to lose your fingers and toes and then who
knows what else?” It’s not that simple, “just” quitting any addiction. It’s a complicated situation with denial, depression, defiance, and control issues probably all in the picture as well. My opinion is that you cannot force anyone else to change or to want to change. You can change their environment, and you can change your response to the situation, but you cannot make any adult do anything unless they, at least at some level, want to change. It seems that if the son-in-law won’t accept counseling, maybe the family should go to learn how best to deal with (or disconnect from) this very sad state of affairs. Gloria May is a registered nurse with a master’s degree in adult health education and a Certified Health Education Specialist designation.
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Fragments of History
The Man Who Taught the World to Sing and Swing Victor Parachin n New Year’s Eve 1913, a 12year-old boy celebrated the night by firing his mother’s .38 caliber pistol. He was arrested and sent to the Negro Waifs Home for 18 months. What could have been a devastating experiencing for a young boy proved to be an auspicious, life-changing time. The juvenile home had a band master who took an interest in the boy, giving him a bugle and teaching him to play. Louis Armstrong fell in love with the instrument, learned to read music, and, before a year ended, was playing the cornet while leading the home’s brass band. Though the introduction to music was important, perhaps as vital was the sense of discipline he picked up and carried with him for the rest of his life. When Armstrong was released from the Negro Waifs Home in 1915, he
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wasn’t old enough to work with a band, through the tiers of musical so he earned money from a variety of establishments, moving through sources: delivering coal and beer, selling nightclubs and riverboats to become one bananas, of the top brass February is peddling musicians in the newspapers, area. delivering milk, Then, in 1922, and foraging in his teacher and garbage cans for mentor, Oliver, food to bring invited Armstrong home or sell to to join his Creole restaurants. Jazz Band in Saving as Chicago. Though many pennies as he spent less than he could, two years with Armstrong began Oliver, the time to take trumpet was a huge boost lessons from Joe to Armstrong’s “King” Oliver, the outstanding exponent morale and provided him with greater of jazz in the New Orleans area. experiences in public performance. By age 16, Armstrong and his horn During this time he switched from the were inseparable, and he was playing cornet to the trumpet. nightly. Within five years, he glided Additionally, while playing with
-American History Mon n a c i r th Af
Oliver, Armstrong met and married his second wife, Lil Hardin, who convinced him to form his own band and to start making phonograph records. In 1925, Armstrong learned that Chicago’s Okeh Records wanted to assemble a small combo of New Orleans transplants to record jazz, and Armstrong invited a few friends to join him in cutting some records. That group—called the Hot Five and later the Hot Seven—revolutionized jazz. Armstrong and his group developed the melodic, rhythmic style that all the big bands of the 1930s and 1940s would adopt. He brought swing dancing to the world, and the world loved him in return. Armstrong became the first black crossover musician, whose music appealed widely to black and white audiences. He also brought scat singing into
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existence. Armstrong created scat during a recording session for the Okeh. After dropping his sheet music by accident, he had to improvise vocally until the recording director returned the sheets to him. As a result, Armstrong’s rasping, gravelly voice would eventually become as famous as the luxurious sound of his trumpet. In 1932 Armstrong made his first European tour; it was wildly successful, with Europeans gladly embracing his ebullient personality, talent, and natural public charm. It was during that European tour that he acquired the nickname “Satchmo”
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because a London music writer named P. Mathison Brooks inadvertently garbled his original nickname of “Satchelmouth,” which was given to him because of the size of his lips and teeth and the huge bellows his cheeks made when he played. As Armstrong became better and better known, an illustration of his lips and teeth on a billboard were enough to announce one of his coming performances. As his musical fame and reputation expanded, so did his opportunities. Armstrong began appearing in movies and Broadway shows and made guest appearances on various television shows
during the 1960s. In 1964 his recording of “Hello, Dolly” became a huge hit, selling 2,000,000 copies and displacing The Beatles from the top of the hit list of bestselling records. Though Armstrong was not on the frontlines of the civil rights movement, in his own way he tried to make a contribution. “There has always been a misunderstanding of Armstrong and his unbelievable courage,” says filmmaker Ken Burns. “Here he was, refusing to go on a goodwill tour at the height of the Cold War, and people like Sammy Davis
Jr. and Adam Clayton Powell denounced him. “You have this guy considered a throwback showing courage few AfricanAmerican entertainers were willing to do at the time.” Louis Armstrong died of heart failure July 6, 1971, at his home in Corona, N.Y. The house is now maintained by Queens College as the Louis Armstrong Archives. Very few people have ever risen as far in life as did Louis Armstrong. Beginning at the very bottom of American society, he emerged to become one of the most famous entertainers in the world.
wasn’t sick during that blow.” George later was assigned to the troop transport ship, the USS Wharton, when it sailed in the spring of 1946 to take observers to the Bikini Atoll for the first nuclear bomb tests since Nagasaki. The Navy needed to investigate the effect of nuclear weapons on naval ships. One bomb named Abel was detonated at 500 feet above the atoll, and another named Baker was detonated 90 feet under water. Each was the equivalent of
23 kilotons of TNT, and the radiation contaminated all the target ships. Wasn’t George concerned about the effects of the radiation? “Not then,” he says. “It was a question of ‘ignorance is bliss.’ None of us knew anything about what radiation could do.” And did he have any effect from it? “Well,” he answers with a shrug, “I’m anemic, and that might have had something to do with that.” George retired from the Navy in July
1963 as a chief hospital corpsman. In civilian life, he worked as safety officer at the Naval Supply Depot in Mechanicsburg and is proud of having long served in his local honor guard, which honors our fallen heroes. He now lives in an area retirement community—and still fits in his World War II uniform.
from page 9
“On the way, we were hit with a typhoon, and I have to say that I would never want to do that again. We had two destroyer escorts, and they tucked in close behind us so we could break the mountainous waves and prevent their taking water down their stacks and sending them to the bottom. “We were doing 21 knots, and the waves were coming at 22, so we were barely holding our own. I believe I might have been the only one on our ship who
Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in Europe in World War II.
Calendar of Events
York County
York County Department of Parks and Recreation
Senior Center Activities
Pre-registration is required for these programs. To register or find out more about these activities or any additional scheduled activities, call (717) 428-1961.
South Central Senior Community Center – (717) 2356060, http://southcentralyorkcountysrctr.webs.com First and Third Mondays, 12:30 p.m. – Card-Making Class Wednesdays, 9 a.m. – Ceramics Class Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – Dancersize
Feb. 14, 7 to 9 p.m. – Sweetheart Hike, Rocky Ridge County Park Feb. 15, 9:30 to 11 a.m. – Winter Bird Walk, Nixon Park Feb. 16, 1 to 3 p.m. – Susquehanna River Nature History Hike, Shank’s Mare Outfitters, Wrightsville
York County Library Programs Collinsville Community Library, 2632 Delta Road, Brogue, (717) 927-9014 Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. – Purls of Brogue Knitting Club Glatfelter Memorial Library, 101 Glenview Road, Spring Grove, (717) 225-3220 Mondays, 6 to 8 p.m. – Knitting and Spinning Group
Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.
What’s Happening? Give Us the Scoop!
Paul Smith Library of Southern York County, 80 Constitution Ave., Shrewsbury, (717) 235-4313 Feb. 6, 2 to 4 p.m. or 7 to 9 p.m.; Feb. 8, 10 a.m. to noon – Year of the Book Writers Workshop
Programs and Support Groups Feb. 4, 7 p.m. Surviving Spouse Socials of York County Faith United Church of Christ 509 Pacific Ave., York (717) 266-2784 www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Free and open to the public Feb. 20, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Alzheimer’s Support Group Senior Commons at Powder Mill 1775 Powder Mill Road, York (717) 741-0961
Please send us your press releases so we can let our readers know about free events occurring in York County! Email preferred to: mjoyce@onlinepub.com Let
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HORIZONS
from page 1
The group meets twice a month at their local library, and there are usually anywhere from six to 14 people in attendance. Each reading selection is between 20 and 40 pages, so the amount of reading required to be a part of the group is not overly intensive, said Tepsic. The Great Books Foundation in Chicago sponsors the discussion groups. The foundation began as a nonprofit organization in 1947 to promote critical thinking and to encourage the development of well-rounded individuals. Today the foundation continues to sponsor programs throughout the entire country, including some at high schools and colleges. Tepsic’s group is mostly retired individuals, but people of all ages are welcome to join the biweekly discussions. Variety makes the discussions more interesting, so people with all different backgrounds and personalities are encouraged to attend. “You can contribute as much as you want, or nothing,” said Tepsic. The group includes professionals ranging from a dietician to an accountant to lawyers, professors, and government managers.
“Everybody brings their own expertise to the discussion,” Tepsic said. “It’s interesting how different people interpret things.” One person is assigned to lead the conversation at each meeting. They provide some background on that particular selection or author and steer the discussion when need be. The foundation sends out a catalog with different genres for local groups to choose from. Tepsic’s group’s recent readings have included works from John Locke, Friedrich Nietzsche, Mark Twain, and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Tepsic himself is just the sort of “wellrounded individual” the foundation is looking to cultivate. Now 71, he retired at age 62 after working as the human resources coordinator for the Department of Corrections. He and his wife have two children and two grandchildren. They have always enjoyed traveling, but retirement has afforded them the time to take more trips than ever before. When it comes to world traveling, it can be hard to narrow it down to just one favorite, as each destination presents new experiences to savor. But if he had to choose, Tepsic said
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that New Zealand would be one of their favorite places to visit. They have traveled to about 20 nations so far, including Great Britain, Scotland, Ireland, France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Croatia, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Mexico. Still high on their wish list of places to visit are Turkey and Greece. “I enjoy travel within the United States as well,” he said. “Out West is some of the most beautiful country in the world, such as Yosemite National Park and the Grand Canyon.” A lot of their travels are coordinated through the Harrisburg Area Friendship Force, an organization founded by former United States President Jimmy Carter to promote personal relationships between different cultures and nations. It is a division of the People to People Ambassador Programs. The program sets you up with a family to stay with when you are in another country, instead of sleeping in a hotel or hostel. The people who host you are able to show you much more of the area than you would get to see without the friendship of locals, said Tepsic. He and his wife have made friends around the world through the Harrisburg Area Friendship Force. They have seen their friends from New Zealand several times since they stayed with them there, when they both happen to be visiting other countries and when the couple comes to stay with the Tepsics on their trips to the United States.
The Tepsics love hosting others at their home and taking them to local sites like the state capitol building and Gettysburg. “You really get to learn about people and their cultures and food,” he said. Food is a portion of the Tepsics’ retirement as well—not because they are suddenly indulging, but because they spend time each week delivering it to others through Meals on Wheels. Patricia is a coordinator and Dan is a driver. A natural outflow of their service has yet again been friendships. For some of the people Tepsic delivers to, that small interaction might, unfortunately, be the most social part of their week. “We wanted to give something back, and it’s just our way of contributing to the community,” Tepsic said. Playing tennis is another great joy in Tepsic’s life, and he has continued competing on several local teams even after having open heart surgery in 2004 and hip replacements in 2006 and 2008. He picked up the sport after serving in the Army for two years after college and has been competing in doubles ever since. Last year the team he is part of through the Harrisburg Academy went to the Eastern Regional Finals in Princeton. Having major surgeries has not slowed him down at all in tennis or in life. “I’ve been given a new lease,” Tepsic said. To find a Great Books Discussion Group in your area, visit www.great books.org or call toll-free (800) 222-5870.
Valentine’s Day: It’s for the Birds Saint Valentine, whose day we celebrate on Feb. 14, was a martyr. Although his story is well known, some say the real reason we associate him with the spirit of love comes from above— specifically, birds. Medieval Christians observed that many birds mated at the time of the Saint Valentine’s feast. From that rose a belief that all birds chose their mates on Feb. 14. From that belief, many people assumed a connection to human beings,
believing that everyone should choose a mate on that day—or at least celebrate the rituals associated with mating. The belief about birds mating on Feb. 14 has some basis in reality because many species of birds do begin to mate by this date. The birds’ behavior has little to do with romance, though, and everything to do with biology. But that may be at the heart of our behavior on Valentine’s Day, too. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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