York County Edition
July 2015
Vol. 16 No. 7
Jim Breslin Has Stories to Share Story-Sharing ‘Competitions’ Draw Local Storytellers By Jason J. Tabor It may be a family member’s old yarn about growing up in a bygone era, repeated at every family gathering, or the knee-slapper of a tale that a friend proudly recites at parties. Everyone has at least one good story to tell, pulled from those funny, poignant, meaningful moments that happen in life. Writer Jim Breslin has created a forum to bring together storytellers and those who like to hear them. The Story Slam is a live storytelling competition inspired by events such as the Windy City Story Slam, the Philadelphia First Person Arts Story Slam, and NPR’s This American Life program. During the Slam, participants get up on stage and share their stories in front of a live audience. “It’s fun. We don’t take the competition too seriously; it’s more about sharing stories,” says Breslin, who held his first local Story Slam at his house in November 2009. “We heard 13 stories and had so much fun that I went to a local pub and asked about using a room on Tuesday nights,” he says. “The first two years we had a cult following, but then as word spread, the audience grew.” In its five-year run as a monthly event, the Story Slam stage has been home to more than 550 personal stories, some touching and some hilarious. please see STORIES page 15 Photo courtesy of Michelle Johnsen Photography
Jim Breslin on stage during a Story Slam storytelling event.
Inside:
Share Your Memories of V-J Day page 2
William Shatner’s Trek through Fatherhood page 10
Savvy Senior
How Seniors Can Tame Pet Care Costs Jim Miller
Share your memories of Aug. 14, 1945, and help us honor the legacy of the Greatest Generation. Name: _______________________________________________ Current town of residence: _____________________________ Your memories of 8/14/45. Where were you? How old were you? What sights, sounds, and feelings do you recall? (150-word limit): ______________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Entries may be edited for space and grammatical accuracy.
Contact information (phone and/or email): _______________ _____________________________________________________ All information will be kept confidential and is for OLP’s use only.
Deadline for entries is July 15, 2015. Please include a photo of yourself, from either today or circa 1945! (Not required.) Info and photo may be emailed to mjoyce@onlinepub.com, uploaded to www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com/VJDay, or mailed to: 50plus Senior News 3912 Abel Drive Columbia, PA 17512 If you would like your photo returned, please include a SASE.
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July 2015
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Dear Frankie, The high cost of veterinary care has become a problem for millions of pet owners today, but it can be especially difficult for seniors living on a fixed income. Routine medical care can cost hundreds of dollars, while urgent/specialized treatments and procedures can run into the thousands.
But it is possible to reduce your pet care costs without sacrificing their health. Here are some tips that can help you save. Shop around: If you’re not attached to a particular veterinarian, call some different vet clinics in your area and compare costs. When you call, get price quotes on basic services like annual exams and vaccinations, as well as bigger-ticket items, like repairing a broken leg, so you can compare. Also, check to see if you live near a veterinary medical school (see www.
Share Your Memories of V-J Day The United States—and much of the civilians from all over Central Pennsylvania. world—rejoiced on Aug. 14, 1945: V-J Submit your memories using the Day, the date that would be remembered form in the adjacent ad as the long-awaited along with a photo of end of World War II and the surrender of Do you remember yourself from either today or circa 1945 the Japanese forces. Aug. 14, 1945? (photo not required). This August will Mail submissions and mark 70 years since Where were you? American service photos to 50plus Senior How old were you? News, 3912 Abel Drive, members and civilians literally converged in What sights, Columbia, PA 17512. the streets in Submissions and sounds, and unprecedented photos can also be feelings do you celebration. emailed to Do you remember mjoyce@onlinepub.com recall? Aug. 14, 1945? Where or uploaded on 50plus were you? How old Senior News’ website were you? What sights, sounds, and (www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com/ feelings do you recall? VJDay). A PDF version of the form can 50plus Senior News will commemorate be downloaded there as well. the 70th anniversary of V-J Day with a Please share your memories of Aug. special spread in its August issue! The 14, 1945, for inclusion in this spread feature will include the V-J Day and help us honor the legacy of the recollections of both veterans and Greatest Generation!
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is commemorating the 70th anniversary of V-J Day with a special spread in its August issue!
Dear Savvy Senior, What tips can you recommend to help senior pet owners with their veterinary bills? I have two cats and a dog that are family to me, but their vet bills have become unaffordable. – Fixed-Income Frankie
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
aavmc.org for a listing). Many schools provide low-cost care provided by students who are overseen by their professors.
for low-income and senior pet owners. Call your local shelter or Humane Society to find out what’s available in your area.
Ask your vet for help: To help make your vet bills more manageable, see if your vet’s office accepts monthly payments so you don’t have to pay the entire cost up front. Also, find out if your vet offers discounts to senior citizens or reduces fees for annual checkups if you bring in multiple pets.
Look for financial assistance: There are a number of state and national organizations that provide financial assistance to pet owners in need. To locate these programs, the U.S. Humane Society provides a listing on their website that you can access (www.humanesociety.org/petfinancialaid).
Search for low-cost care: Many municipal and nonprofit animal shelters offer free or low-cost spaying and neutering programs and vaccinations, and some work with local vets who are willing to provide care at reduced prices
Buy cheaper medicine: Medicine purchased at the vet’s office is usually much more expensive than you can get from a regular pharmacy or online. Instead, get a prescription from your vet (ask for generic if possible) so you can shop for the best price.
Most pharmacies fill prescriptions for pets inexpensively, so long as that same drug is also prescribed to humans. And, many pharmacies offer pet-discount savings programs too. You can also save by shopping online at one of the Veterinary-Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites accredited by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, like 1-800-PetMeds (www.1800petmeds.com), Drs. Foster & Smith (www.drsfostersmith.com), KV Supply (www.kvsupply.com), and PetCareRx (www.petcarerx.com). Consider pet insurance: If you can afford it, pet insurance is another option worth looking into. You can get a basic policy for less than $10 per month, and some insurers provide discounts for insuring multiple pets.
See Pet Insurance Review (www.pet insurancereview.com) to compare policies. Membership discount plans like Pet Assure (www.petassure.com) are another way to save, but you’ll need to use a vet in their network. Look for other ways to save: In addition to cutting your veterinary bills, you can also save on pet food and other supplies depending on where you shop. Big-box and discount or dollar stores typically offer much lower prices than supermarkets and specialty pet retailers. You can also save on treats and toys at sites like Coupaw (www.coupaw.com) and Doggyloot (www.doggyloot.com). Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the NBC Today show and author of The Savvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org
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
Entertainment Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre 510 Centerville Road, Lancaster (717) 898-1900
Animal Hospitals Community Animal Hospital Donald A. Sloat, D.V.M. 400 S. Pine St., York (717) 845-5669
Financial Services Asset & Retirement Protectors (717) 792-9274; (800) 503-1028
Healthcare Information PA HealthCare Cost Containment (717) 232-6787
Nursing & Rehab Pleasant Acres Nursing and Rehabilitation 118 Pleasant Acres Road, York (717) 840-7412
Hearing Services
Patton Veterinary Hospital 425 E. Broadway, Red Lion (717) 246-3611 Automobile Sales/Service Gordon’s Body Shop, Inc. 10 Mill St., Stewartstown (717) 993-2263 Coins & Currency Steinmetz Coins & Currency 2861 E. Prospect Road, York (717) 757-6980 Dental Services Advanced Dentures and Dental 1720 S. Queen St., York (717) 843-6800 Energy Assistance Low-Income Energy Assistance (717) 787-8750
Funeral Services/Monuments The Tompkins Agency (717) 968-8908 Gifts Edible Arrangements 2300 E. Market St., York (717) 755-8200 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
Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (800) 233-3008 V/TTY Home Care Services Elder Healthcare Solutions Serving South Central PA (717) 825-8828 Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services Hanover: (717) 630-0067 Lancaster: (717) 393-3450 York: (717) 751-2488
Pharmacies CVS/pharmacy www.cvs.com 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 Volunteer Opportunities
Housing Assistance Housing Authority of York (717) 845-2601 Property Tax/Rent Rebate (888) 728-2937 Insurance – Long-Term Care Apprise Insurance Counseling (717) 771-9610 or (800) 632-9073
RSVP of the Capital Region, Inc. (717) 847-1539 RSVP Lancaster County (717) 454-8647 RSVP Lebanon County (717) 454-8647 RSVP York County (443) 619-3842
Medical Equipment & Supplies Medical Supply (800) 777-6647 Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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Is This Thing 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 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 EDITORIAL INTERN Pete Wisniewski
ART DEPARTMENT PROJECT COORDINATOR Renee McWilliams PRODUCTION ARTISTS Janys Cuffe Lauren McNallen
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES Angie McComsey Jacoby Amy Kieffer Ranee Shaub Miller ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Christina Cardamone Robin Gamby Jennifer Schmalhofer SALES & EVENT COORDINATOR Eileen Culp EVENTS MANAGER Kimberly Shaffer MARKETING COORDINATOR Mariah Hammacher
CIRCULATION PROJECT COORDINATOR Loren Gochnauer
ADMINISTRATION BUSINESS MANAGER Elizabeth Duvall Member of
Phishing is So Very Fishy Abby Stokes week doesn’t go by now that I don’t receive a fishy email, an email that appears to be from my email service or bank that carries an anxiety-inducing message. At tax time I even got an email that looked like it came from the IRS, but it did not. These are all phishing scams. Merriam-Webster’s definition of phishing: a scam by which an email user is duped into revealing personal or confidential information, which the scammer can use illicitly. A month ago I received a phone call from Switzerland. It was a student of mine. I don’t want to reveal his identity, so let’s call him Barnaby. Barnaby uses Yahoo as his Web-based email service. He went to the expense of making an international call to me because he could no longer access his email account and suspected he knew why but wanted my advice. It all started with an email he opened that looked like it was from Yahoo. The real problem is that Yahoo did not send this email. It was a “phishing” email. Much like fishing, with an f not ph, the person who sent the email is trolling to see if he (or she) can fool anyone to click on a link in the email. If you click through, the next page asks you to type your screen name and password or even your Social Security number. Unfortunately, once you’ve done
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that, you haven’t verified your email or bank account for security—you instead will have revealed your password or private information to the scammer. You may not be able to tell the difference between what you might normally fill out when on a website and a phishing scam—except for one very important detail: Your email service or bank will never ask you to confirm your password in an email or through a link in an email.
So, no matter how familiar or scary an email may look, do not ever confirm your password in an email or through a link in an email. Unfortunately, Barnaby did just that. He typed in his email address and his password. The next time he went to sign into his account, he wasn’t able to access his email. Within a few hours an email was sent from Barnaby’s hijacked Yahoo account, written by the “phisher,” to everyone in the address book. The email, appearing to come from Barnaby, stated that he, while traveling, had been robbed and was
Awards
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.
July 2015
Abby Stokes, author of “Is This Thing On?” A Friendly Guide to Everything Digital for Newbies, Technophobes, and the Kicking & Screaming and its companion website, AskAbbyStokes.com, is the Johnny Appleseed of Technology, singlehandedly helping more than 300,000 people cross the digital divide.
Trust in Others Rises as People Grow Older
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stranded without his wallet. It asked the recipient(s) to please send money using Western Union. Now, I know you’re saying, “Who would fall for that?” Truth be told, many could and do. And each phishing email is different—one more compelling than the other. Your first line of defense is to never confirm your password in an email or through a link in an email. (I promise I won’t say it again. You get the point.) If you discover that you’ve unwittingly succumbed to a phishing scam, you can forward the email to: reportphishing@antiphishing.org. Antiphishing.org is a volunteer organization devoted to helping people identify and avoid scams. You can imagine a phishing scammer’s glee when they discover that your email password is the same as your bank PIN. Your bank password should be used exclusively for the bank and not for anything else. In the next issue of 50plus Senior News, I’ll walk you through some tips of how to choose safe and memorable passwords.
In a cynical world, trust can seem hard to come by. But new research suggests it may grow as we get older. The World Values Survey, collecting data from more than 200,000 people in 83 nations, found that more than a third of people 80 years old or older agreed that most people can be trusted, although just a quarter of 20-yearolds said the same.
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The results were consistent regardless of nationality, gender, education, and income.
A similar study, analyzing data from the General Social Survey of 1,230 U.S. citizens over time, also found that our willingness to trust increases as we grow older. One possible explanation: As time goes on, most people tend to simplify their lives and spend more time with their families, resulting in a more positive and generous attitude about the world. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori
Appraisal Events Reveal Great Finds, Part I Lori Verderame nnually, I present about 150 antique appraisal shows throughout the United States. My appraisal events empower folks with information that they can use when cleaning out their homes, downsizing, handing down family heirlooms, or visiting estate and yard sales. The appraisal events are as interesting as they are amusing. Check out what I’ve checked out recently and plan to come to one of my events with your antiques or family heirlooms (schedule posted at www.DrLoriV.com/events):
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Reno, Nev. – A painting by Albert Blakelock, whose works are in the Brooklyn Museum and the Corcoran Gallery, was brought to my event by a gentleman whose grandfather received the painting in payment of a debt during the Great Depression. The painting has been displayed in his home ever since. I told the owner at my event that his Romantic landscape painting by Blakelock is now worth $30,000.
served with the famous military division. They were the American military division that liberated the Dachau concentration camp on April 29, 1945. Her colorful map and a yearbook of photos documenting the 42nd Rainbow’s service are treasured family keepsakes. Value: $5,000 Grand Island, Neb. – Tanner, age 5, brought his grandmother’s 1930s-era Bakelite pin in the shape of a squirrel to my event for an appraisal. Tanner told me it was OK for a boy to wear this pin because squirrels are scary animals. The not-so-scary value of that piece of costume jewelry was $275. Native American beaded moccasins, circa early 1900s
Fort Wayne, Ind. – A pair of beaded moccasins, in mint condition, had been in the owner’s family for generations and was lovingly stored with tissue paper out of direct sunlight for years. She was told to take care of them and she did. Value: $4,000
Atlanta, Ga. – Charles brought a Freemason’s apron that was handmade by the wife of one of Photos courtesy of the staff of www.DrLoriV.com his relatives who Dr. Lori with Andrea in Virginia Beach, Va., and her served in the Civil Hartville, Ohio – World War II map of Europe War. A couple married 35 Decorated with years brought an early the famous symbols of the secret society, 1900s Native American leather, wood, and beadwork baby papoose to my event. the antique was said to have saved the family from certain death as it hung in a When I asked the wife if anyone in her family was Native American, she said, front window during the burning of Atlanta. Historical value: Priceless “No.” Her husband, seated next to her, interrupted—“Hello, I am Cheyenne!” The Villages, Fla. – A World Series He was just as shocked by his wife’s umpire owned a 1947 New York ignorance of their family history as he Yankees/St. Louis Cardinals World Series was by the antique’s value. Value: ring featuring 14-karat gold and $10,000 diamonds. The owner/umpire was in his 90s Virginia Beach, Va. – A hand-drawn when I appraised the ring recently, and World War II map of Europe he was still cool under pressure. He didn’t documenting the sites where the 42nd Rainbow Infantry Division served was please see APPRAISAL page 12 brought to me by Andrea, whose father www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Same-Day DentureS & extractionS Asleep or Awake Free Adjustments 717-843-6800
Tompkins Agency
Monument Sales e highest quality doesn’t have to come at the highest price Selections can be made in the comfort of your own home or in our office at your convenience
Advanced Dentures & Dental 1720 S. Queen St., York
Serving the funeral profession for over 27 years Kent Tompkins
Burton Tucker, DDS Randy Kalp, DMD
(717) 968-8908
Expires 7-21-15
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www.tompkinsagency.com
Community Animal Hospital Our caring, well-trained staff will treat you and your pet like family
Donald A. Sloat, D.V.M.
Emily Russo, D.V.M.
Office Hours: 7 a.m. – 6:30 p.m. Monday–Friday 8 – 11 a.m. Saturday Doctor’s Hours by Appointment
65+ Senior Discount
Serving the York community for over 40 years. (717) 845-5669 • 400 South Pine Street, York • www.cah-york.com
Who Has the Best Bites in Central PA? 50plus Senior News readers have spoken! Here are the York County dining favorites for 2015! Breakfast: Stonybrook Family Restaurant
Fast Food: Wendy’s
Lunch: Round the Clock Diner
Seafood: Red Lobster
Dinner: White Rose Bar & Grill
Steak: Texas Roadhouse
Ethnic Cuisine: Aroma Buffet & Grill
Outdoor Dining: Great American Saloon
Celebrating: Yorktowne Hotel
Romantic Setting: Heritage Hills
Bakery: Giant Food Stores
Smorgasbord/Buffet: Old Country Buffet
Coffeehouse: Starbucks
Caterer: Porky’s Place BBQ Catering
Winner of $50 Giant Food Stores Gift Card: Nancy Capstick Congratulations!
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Salute to a Veteran
After His 1st Mission, They Counted 29 Flak Holes in His B-24 Robert D. Wilcox dward Johnson grew up in Abington, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia. Like other young men of the World War II years, he had visions of flying hot Air Corps airplanes. To fly the P-38, for example, was his dream of a life well lived. When he enlisted in 1944, however, he found that the Air Corps had more pilots than they could handle. So he found himself in radio school, where he spent six months mastering all the skills it would take to become a radioman in combat. That meant he not only had to know all about radio, but also how to fire a 50-caliber machine gun and be familiar enough with it to disassemble it and assemble it again while blindfolded. He then shipped to Charleston, S.C., where he was assigned to the crew of a B24 four-engine bomber. And they were
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Johnson’s B-24 crew. He’s second from the right in the top row.
soon on their way to Italy aboard a Liberty ship, where they were to be assigned to a 15th Air Force base in San Pancrazio on the southern coast of Italy. Johnson explains that the radioman on the B-24 occupied a position in the upper fuselage aft of the cockpit and the
Tech Sergeant Edward A. Johnson flew a B-24 like this out of Italy.
top turret. The radioman of lead crews (and deputy leads) would go for hours listening to incoming messages and giving position reports every 30 minutes. They helped the navigator in taking fixes and reporting to headquarters of targets attacked and results. When
needed, they would also man the second machine gun in the waist of the airplane. In other crews, the radioman would be at the radio only as needed, if the aircraft had to leave the formation, for instance. He was responsible for setting up the radios for each flight but spent most of his time manning the waist machine gun while in hostile territory. As we conquered the southern part of Italy, we had many airfields there from which we bombed targets in southern Germany and Austria. Bridges and airfields were prime targets. And, during the Battle of the Bulge in December 1944/January 1945, the B-24 launched a series of raids on the German troops in northern Italy, designed to prevent their being moved to join the fighting in the Ardennes. Johnson flew 23 missions from his base in San Pancrazio. When asked if he
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July 2015
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remembers one mission as being more hazardous than others, he promptly says, “The first one. It was a heckuva way to start out. Four squadrons of our B-24s were handed the assignment of knocking out an Alpine bridge that Germans were using to send supplies to Italian and German troops in Northern Italy. “We were flying at 20,000 feet, but in the Alps the ack-ack cannon were only 10,000 feet or so below us. For some reason, the lead bombardier failed to get his fix on the first pass over the target. So we all had to make a second pass, with the ack-ack this time just waiting for us. “As we got over the target, you could hear the flak tearing into our plane. It felt like someone hitting the plane with a two-by-four.
“It seemed like some kind of small miracle that, with all that damage, nobody aboard got a scratch. That, despite the fact that we later counted 29 major holes in the plane from the flak. The main thing, of course, was that the stream of 100-pound bombs from our squadrons had completely demolished the bridge that was our target.” Johnson flew 22 more missions after that and was often hit by flak. On one mission, they barely made it back after having two engines shot out. But his crew was one of the lucky ones, always returning to base in one piece … and with no crew members wounded. After Johnson’s 23rd mission, the war ended, and he went home in style. A packed B-24 flew airmen to Gander Field
in Newfoundland, and from there they went by train to the U.S. Johnson was discharged in November as a tech sergeant and returned home, where he then used the G.I. Bill to attend West Chester Teachers College. His skill there at playing third base on the baseball team led to his playing in the East’s team in the first annual East-West college allstar game at Boston’s Fenway Park. The newspaper reporting the game named him the “batting star” who scored one run and drove in another in the East’s 6-2 win. It also noted that he had been joined by Charley Trippi, of Georgia, and Glenn Davis, of Army, both nationally known football stars. After graduating from West Chester with a B.S. in social studies, Johnson
taught at Haverford (Pa.) Elementary School for six years before becoming the school’s principal. He retired in 1987 after 38 years as an educator. He and his wife, Dorothy, came to Central Pennsylvania in 2006 in order to be closer to their daughter, Sandra, who was teaching at an area high school. Asked if he often thinks back to his World War II experiences, he agrees that he does. He says that they somehow stay etched in his mind, while other reminiscences of those days tend to dim. With a grin, he says, “I wouldn’t want to go through that again, but those memories are sure nice to have.” 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.
Crispus Attucks Active Living Center – (717) 8483610, www.crispusattucks.org Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 to 10:30 a.m. – Musical Fitness (Seated Cardio/Strength Exercises) Wednesdays, 10 to 11 a.m. – 10-Cent Bingo Games, 25 Cents for Blackout Round
July 19, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Music at the Mill: Guitarist/Singer Carroll Swam, Wallace-Cross Mill July 22, 7 p.m. – Porch Talks: “Gallantry Beyond the Call of Honor,” New Freedom Train Station July 25, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Panning for Gold, Spring Valley County Park
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 Kreutz Creek Valley Library Center, 66 Walnut Springs Road, Hellam, (717) 252-4080 July 7 and 21, 6 p.m. – KC Knitting and Crocheters July 9, 1 to 3 p.m. – Chick Lit Book Club: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd July 9, 2 to 4 p.m. – Meet the Tech Guru: Computers, Tablets, eReaders, and Smartphones
Programs and Support Groups July 1, 6:30 p.m. Lawn Concerts @ the Mansion: It’s a Grand Old Flag! Hanover Area Historical Society Warehime-Myers Mansion 305 Baltimore St., Hanover (717) 632-3207 July 3, 10:30 a.m. Partners in Thyme Herb Club of Southern York County Picnic John Rudy Park 400 Mundis Race Road, York (717) 428-2210 www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
July 7, 7 p.m. Surviving Spouse Socials of York County Faith United Church of Christ 509 Pacific Ave., York (717) 266-2784 July 13, 9:30 a.m. Green Thumb Garden Club Meeting: “What’s New in the Garden” Emmanuel Lutheran Church 2650 Freysville Road, Red Lion (717) 235-2823
Free or minimal charge July 25, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Hanover Dutch Days at Chestnut/High Streets Hanover Area Historical Society Warehime-Myers Mansion 305 Baltimore St., Hanover (717) 632-3207 If you have an event you would like to include, please email information to mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.
Heritage Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 292-7471, www.heritagesrcenter.org Tuesdays in July, 9 a.m. – Healthy Steps in Motion Exercise Class Tuesdays and Fridays in July, 9 a.m. – Strong Bodies Exercise Class July 14, 10 a.m. – Health Speaker Bethany Guecara, Providence Place; Trivia Therapy with Prizes Red Land Senior Center – (717) 938-4649, www.redlandseniorcenter.org July 9, 12:30 p.m. – Trivia with Bob July 16, 11 a.m. – Music Entertainment by the Drucks Mondays and Fridays, 12:45 p.m. – Beginner iPad Classes South Central Senior Community Center – (717) 2356060, http://southcentralyorkcountysrctr.webs.com Tuesdays, 10 to 11 a.m. – Stretch Yoga Wednesdays, 9 to 9:45 a.m. – Intermediate Line Dancing Wednesdays, 12:45 p.m. – HoopFit Susquehanna Senior Center – (717) 244-0340, www.susquehannaseniorcenter.org Mondays, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. – Chorus Practice Tuesdays, 6 to 10 p.m. – Bluegrass/Country Music Jam Session Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.
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Report: Pennsylvania Ranks 25th for Senior Health
THANK YOU FOR VOTING US AS
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Pennsylvania ranked 25th for senior health this year, according to the third edition of United Health Foundation’s America’s Health RankingsŽ Senior Report: A Call to Action for Individuals and Their Communities. Nationwide, the report shows positive trends for senior health, especially for those measures that look at whether seniors are getting the right care in a setting of their choice. Seniors are experiencing lower hospital readmission rates and preventable hospitalization rates compared to last year, while hospice care use and the number of home healthcare workers have increased. “United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings Senior Report
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is a vital tool for understanding where we, as a state, are making strides in senior health and where key challenges for Pennsylvania’s seniors remain,� said Dr. Jerry Frank, chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s Strengths • High community-support expenditures: Pennsylvania spends an average of $1,917 per adult aged 65 and older living in poverty to support senior programs that address personal care, transportation, meals, and other needs. • Low percentage of low-care nursinghome residents: Many low-care nursinghome residents do not need the full suite
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of services offered by nursing homes and would be capable of living in their own homes with the help of community aid programs such as Meals on Wheels. • In Pennsylvania, only 6 percent of nursing-home residents are low-care, the fifth-lowest rate in the nation, which indicates that older adults have the support programs they need to remain independent. • Low geriatrician shortfall: With an aging baby boomer population, the number of geriatricians needed is
growing dramatically. The shortfall of geriatricians in Pennsylvania is 46.4 percent of the minimum number needed, the sixth-lowest shortfall among the states. Pennsylvania’s Challenges • High prevalence of obesity: 30.1 percent of Pennsylvania adults aged 65 and older are obese, which means that Pennsylvania ranks 45th among the states. Obesity predisposes older adults to chronic diseases such as heart disease, please see HEALTH page 12
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Tinseltown Talks
William Shatner’s Trek through Fatherhood Nick Thomas er father commanded a spaceship in a popular ’60s television series. Two decades later, in 1988, Melanie Shatner was featured alongside her dad in an Oldsmobile TV commercial revealing her own desire to zoom around in something “space age.” But it wouldn’t be the last time father and daughter acted together. The pair shared some on-screen time the following year when Star Trek V: The Final Frontier was released. Directed by her father, William Shatner, a.k.a., Star Trek’s Captain Kirk, Melanie can be seen wandering the Enterprise’s bridge throughout the film. “I actually auditioned for another part but was completely wrong for it,” recalled Melanie—now Melanie Shatner Gretsch after marrying actor Joel Gretsch in 1999. “My dad called and said I didn’t get the part, but there was another small role for the captain’s yeoman if I wanted it, and I said of course.” It launched her somewhat short adult acting career, which included two dozen movie and television roles over the next 10 years. “I didn’t fully enjoy acting,” she admitted. “I made a living acting for a while but wanted to be successful in other ways.” That success was soon seen on Ventura Boulevard in Studio City, Calif., in the form of Dari Boutique, which Shatner Gretsch opened 16 years ago.
H
Photo courtesy of Melanie Shatner
Melanie Shatner and father William Shatner at Dari Boutique in the early 2000s
Stocked with cutting-edge fashions, Dari quickly became a popular destination for trendy shoppers. Shatner Gretsch says her dad wasn’t too disappointed when she abandoned a career in entertainment for retail sales. “He was probably relieved because acting can be a brutal profession. But really, anything I wanted to do was OK by him. He even helped by loaning me the money to get the store started.” “She was always the kid wearing smart clothes,” recalled Bill Shatner from his home in Studio City. “She just knew about style. Her sisters and all the other kids used to ask her for fashion advice.” Although growing up with a busy, famous father had its drawbacks, Shatner Gretsch gives her dad high marks as a parent. “Ever since I was born he’s been on television, and his office was a movie or television set. When we were younger, he’d take one sister at a time away on
Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures
Still of Melanie and Bill Shatner on Star Trek V: The Final Frontier
location for a whole week. We all have such great memories of getting to hang out with him and watching him work.” Shatner and his first wife were divorced in 1969, but Shatner Gretsch says she and her two older sisters— Lisabeth and Leslie—remained close with their father. “We spent the weekdays with my mother and the weekends with him. He would do whatever it took to get home to see us, even if it meant driving all night. I think that illustrates what a wonderful, committed father he was and is.” “All divorces are traumatic,” added Shatner. “But the girls have turned out to be wonderful, smart women. Each is talented in some area: Melanie with Dari’s, Lisabeth is a lawyer, and Leslie works in advertising. We get together often as a family.” The Shatner clan expanded in 2005 when Andy Clement married Lisabeth, and he says he was a little surprised when
told who her father was. “But the first time I had dinner with them all, he welcomed me into the family even though Liz and I hadn’t been dating long,” recalled Clement, who founded Creative Character Engineering in Van Nuys. “It was incredible to see someone so attached to his kids.” Clement, whose recent movie work includes special effects for Interstellar, said he is also amazed by his father-inlaw’s inventive, restless mind. “He really is a dynamo, and his mind just never stops working. He always wants to get involved with a production to make it better. So many actors just turn it on when the cameras are rolling, but he’s always cranking.” Like most in the business, Shatner has had his share of project clunkers over the years. But, said Shatner Gretsch, “working is what keeps him young, excited, and creative. You’ve got to give him points for always trying something new.” And if there’s a lesson Bill Shatner has learned in more than 50 years as an actor, it’s one he willingly shares as a father. “You can only pass on endurance,” he said. “Everybody has to make their own mistakes and learn from them.” Thomas’ features and columns have appeared in more than 400 magazines and newspapers, and he is the author of Raised by the Stars, published by McFarland. He can be reached at his blog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com
Information and support at your fingertips —
CAREGIVER SOLUTIONS Call for your free copy — 717.285.1350 or
view it online at www.onlinepub.com (under supplements) 10
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Know Your State’s Signers The United States celebrates the ratification of the Declaration of Independence on July 4 every year. How well do you know the patriots who signed it? Try matching each signer of the Declaration to the colony he represented. (Note: There were two signers per colony. Answers are at the bottom of the page.) a. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. k. l. m. n. o. p. q. r. s. t. u. v. w. x. y. z.
Thomas Jefferson John Witherspoon Josiah Bartlett John Hancock Samuel Chase William Hooper Richard Stockton Caesar Rodney William Ellery Philip Livingston Edward Rutledge Benjamin Franklin John Adams Thomas McKean Richard Henry Lee Joseph Hewes Charles Carroll George Clymer Arthur Middleton Button Gwinnett William Whipple Lyman Hall Samuel Huntington Francis Lewis Oliver Wolcott Stephen Hopkins
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13.
Delaware Pennsylvania Massachusetts New Hampshire Rhode Island New York Georgia Virginia North Carolina South Carolina New Jersey Connecticut Maryland
August 20, 2015 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Radisson Hotel Harrisburg 1150 Camp Hill Bypass, Camp Hill
This event is FREE to attend. Veterans (of all ages) and the military community and their families are invited to join us!
At the Expo
Windy Hill Receives Grant
At the Job Fair
Windy Hill on the Campus was recently awarded a grant for $18,630 from the Hahn Home Fund through the York County Community Foundation. The grant monies will be used to fund a visual and performing arts intergenerational program with the Spring Grove Elementary School and to expand the center’s fitness room.
Employers Job Counseling Workshops/Seminars Resume Writing Assistance Hosted by:
Michael Hady, York County Community Foundation board director, left, and Tammy Miller, executive director, Windy Hill on the Campus. If you have local news you’d like considered for Around Town, please email mjoyce@onlinepub.com
Quiz answers: 1: h, n; 2: l, r; 3: d, m; 4: c, u; 5: i, z; 6: j, x; 7: t, v; 8: a, o; 9: f, p; 10: k, s; 11: b, g; 12: w, y; 13: e, q. www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Veterans Benefits & Services Community Services Products and Services Available Support/Assistance Programs Education/Training Services
Sponsored by: Fulton Financial Corporation • Pennsylvania State Headquarters VFW PHEAA • The SYGMA Network
Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available
www.veteransexpo.com (717) 285-1350 www.olpevents.com
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11
The Beauty in Nature
Wolf Spiders Clyde McMillan-Gamber helped a large, brown wolf spider across our street one evening this spring so it wouldn’t get squashed by a vehicle. I saw it on the blacktop in the light of a streetlight. I got it across safely and was reminded how interesting wolf spiders are. I experienced them before, mostly on local forest floors. There are more than 200 kinds of wolf spiders in North America. Like all spiders, they have two major body parts, the head and thorax grown together and the abdomen. They are hairy all over and have eight legs like all spiders do. They are robust and agile hunters of invertebrates on the ground, mostly on
I
HEALTH
forest floors at night. in three rows. The first Wolf spiders don’t row has four smaller spin webs to snare prey. eyes, and the other four Instead they are solitary eyes are large and wanderers and hunt arranged two in front alone by tracking down and two on the side, so invertebrates (as wolves they can see in front chase prey) on dead-leaf and on both sides of forest floors and their bodies. paralyzing them with Some types of wolf venomous bites. Those spiders make burrows Wolf spider bites cause swelling, mild in loose soil where they pain and itching on us hide during the day. humans. Other kinds spend days hiding under Wolf spiders have good vision that logs, rocks, brush piles, and other shelters helps in their hunts for food. They have on forest floors. eight dark eyes of unequal size arranged Each female wolf spider spins a large,
silken globe, a round, white egg sac within which she spawns scores of eggs. The sac remains attached to each female’s spinnerets on her rear, and she drags it behind her until her babies hatch. She raises her abdomen to keep the sac off the ground so it doesn’t tear open. When they hatch, the tiny babies crawl up their mother’s hairy legs and climb on top of her abdomen, where they stay until they are old enough to disperse on their own. We need not be unduly concerned about wolf spiders. If one is spotted, just leave it alone. In fact, they are interesting to experience on their native woodland floors.
falls, depression, and premature death.
malnutrition, and dehydration.
• Low percentage of quality nursinghome beds: In Pennsylvania, only 35.3 percent of nursing-home beds are rated at four- or five-star levels. Quality nursing-home practices can largely prevent hospitalizations related to falls, pressure ulcers, urinary incontinence,
According to the report, Vermont is the healthiest state for seniors, rising from fourth place last year. New Hampshire ranks second, improving one spot from last year. Minnesota fell to third after being ranked first for two years in a row, while Hawaii (4) and
Utah (5) round out the top five states. Louisiana ranks 50th as the least healthy state for older adults, followed by Mississippi (49), Kentucky (48), Arkansas (47) and Oklahoma (46).
of 1936 while the author was selling her books on an Atlanta sidewalk brought a signed first-edition copy of Gone with the Wind to my event. She retold the story of how her grandfather, though rejected by Mitchell,
bought the famous Civil War novel from the author. That book had it all: famous story, great condition, first edition, original cover, autographed, impeccable provenance. Value: $60,000
from page 9
diabetes, stroke, certain cancers, and joint pain. • High prevalence of physical inactivity: 36.7 percent of senior adults in Pennsylvania report doing no physical activity or exercise in the last 30 days. Physical inactivity increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity,
APPRAISAL
To see the rankings in full, visit: www.americashealthrankings.org/senior
from page 5
move a muscle when I appraised it for $20,000. Greensboro, N.C. – The granddaughter of a man who made a pass at Margaret Mitchell in the summer
Celebrity Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, and former museum director, Dr. Lori hosts antiques appraisal events worldwide. Dr. Lori is the star appraiser on Discovery channel. Visit www.DrLoriV.com/Events, www.Facebook.com/DoctorLori, or call (888) 431-1010.
Stress-free veterinary care for your cat! Do you dread bringing your cat to the vet because she is afraid of dogs? Introducing our new cats-only wing, Patton’s Cat Hospital. We offer quality care in a stress-free environment and are a certified cat-friendly practice. Please call for your appointment today! 425 East Broadway, Red Lion
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July 2015
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Efficiency apartments for seniors who want to enjoy independent living with the freedom to come and go without worry.
Located at 118 Pleasant Acres Rd, York For More Information Call: (717) 840-7100 www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Volunteer Spotlight The Year in Everyday Costs As 50plus Senior News celebrates its 20 anniversary this year, we hope you’ll enjoy a monthly peek back at the world in 1995! This month, the average costs of everyday life in 1995: th
Postage stamp: 32 cents Loaf of bread: $1.40 Gallon of milk: $2.59 Gallon of gas: $1.35 A dozen eggs: 87 cents Car: $12,800 Household income: $34,076 Monthly rent: $550 House: $111,000
Retiree Serves Students as Tutor, ‘Grandfather’ Larry Coghlan is a Jobie Bolden, teacher volunteer tutor for RSVP at the school, stated, of the Capital Region at “Mr. C brings a plethora Hanover Street of experiences to our Elementary School in the room, is the grandfather Hanover School District. a lot of these students Coghlan tutors students have been missing, and in math and helps them is that extra hand we with their homework. His Teacher Jobie Bolden, left, love having in our students call him Mr. C, classroom.” with volunteer Larry Coghlan. and they love the fancy RSVP, the nation’s hat he wears to the school. largest volunteer Coghlan has been a volunteer tutor at program for adults aged 55-plus, the school for the past two years. works with volunteers to help match He was in the Air Force for eight their time and talents with volunteer years and then worked for the federal positions in the community. government for 29 years, retiring in For more information, email 1999. He then worked as a contractor yorkadamsfranklin@rsvpcapreg.org or to the government for 13 years. call Scott Hunsinger at (443) 619He enjoys gardening, woodworking, 3842 or the statewide Senior Corps of and traveling in retirement. He lives PA toll-free hotline at (800) 870-2616. with his wife in Hanover. www.rsvpcapreg.org
Teacher Turned Pet Therapist Supports Hospice
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Nadine Miller began hospice program volunteering with the previously held by the York Visiting Nurse VNA, and the Association’s hospice volunteers transitioned program in 1988 after she to Hospice & saw the care her mother Community Care. received as she was Miller has been battling cancer. involved in almost every After her mother aspect of hospice Nadine Miller with passed, Miller wanted to volunteering: from Care Hospice & Community Care president Steve give back to the Conferences, to home Knaub as she received organization that was so and pet visits, to Pennsylvania Hospice helpful, and she began Network’s 2014 Heart of facilitating bereavement volunteering the following groups. Now she spends Hospice Award. year. her time at the York As a teacher at Dallastown High office providing data-entry assistance. School, Miller visited patients in their “You can’t help but feel the impact homes. She’s a dog lover and often on both sides. Being a hospice went to homes with pets. Her time volunteer is not depressing at all but with patients’ dogs gave caregivers an uplifting experience,” Miller said. more time with their loved ones. “You meet patients and families where Miller introduced pet therapy to they are and listen to what they need.” local providers and was active in it, Miller won the Pennsylvania bringing her own German shepherd Hospice Network’s 2014 Heart of therapy dogs to patients. Hospice Award. When Hospice & Community Anyone interested in volunteering Care associated with WellSpan with Hospice & Community Care Health, the organization took over the should call (717) 295-3900. Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or her so special and we will consider them for 50plus Senior News’ Volunteer Spotlight! Submissions should be 200 words or fewer and photos are encouraged. Email preferred to mjoyce@onlinepub.com or mail nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight, 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
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July 2015
13
The Way I See It
Junk Drawers Mike Clark have difficulty finding certain objects around the house. It has less to do with a failing memory than with the countless number of places where I could have put those objects after I used them last. It takes some time to sort through all the possibilities. If you remember my column called “My Workshop,” you are familiar with my struggles in organization and neatness. The other day I was looking for a tiny screwdriver (I have several) to fix one of my grandchildren’s toys. Before I started walking in circles and looking in the same places more than once, which is my usual routine, my wife suggested that I look in my junk drawer. “Gee, which one?” I asked. That’s right: I have more than one junk drawer. And who else but me should know better about going directly to a junk drawer when I need things that I could not find anywhere else?
I
After all, I am the creator of junk drawers. My wife should never have to suggest it. I’m of the impression, based on no scientific evidence whatsoever, that we all have junk drawers—special places where we keep small items that we will use, or even think we will use, in the future. I’m talking about little items that might include mini-tools, hooks and fasteners, pins and springs, strings and short lengths of rope, wires, cords, watch parts, favorite writing instruments that will probably never write again, and sometimes small boxes and containers that might someday hold a sentimental souvenir. The list of potentially purposeful items is endless. Take your own inventory when you get the time. We keep these things in drawers because there is not always a good, specific place for them; they cannot be
YORK COUNTY
LANCASTER COUNTY
Sept. 23, 2015
Sept. 30, 2015
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Spooky Nook Sports
9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center
2913 Spooky Nook Road Manheim
Memorial Hall East 334 Carlisle Avenue York
16th Annual
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Oct. 21, 2015 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. Carlisle Expo Center 100 K Street Carlisle
FREE PARKING!
Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars • Demonstrations • Entertainment • Door Prizes Limited Sponsorship Opportunities Available
(717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140 • (610) 675-6240
www.50plusExpoPA.com 14
July 2015
in the middle of a fix-it job who says, “I wish I still had that nifty little tool or that doohickey I threw away yesterday.” You know what I mean, right? I finally found the screwdriver I needed to fix my grandchild’s toy. But I found it in a junk drawer that had not been opened for a long time. And in that drawer I found a recipe for Maryland crab cakes; two miniature bungee cords; a compass for orienteering, which I never used; a battered watch that my sister bought for me at Christmas in 1964 (it will never again keep time); two pairs of bronzed baby shoes; romantic cards and notes that my wife and I had exchanged over the years; a small wooden box that my kids bought for me at a school Christmas bazaar many years ago (it has DAD stenciled on the lid); a few stray wedding pictures; and some old photographs of the mountain cabin we once owned.
13th Annual
19th Annual
(Just off Rt. 283 at the Salunga exit)
hung on a pegboard with larger tools and gadgets. And among the functional junk that is useful by itself, there are random parts and pieces that might not be functional alone, but added to other parts and pieces, we can create new things. Look at some of the great art created from junk. OK, that’s mostly created from much larger junk than we can keep in our drawers, but you get my point. The immutable truth is, the day after we get rid of anything in our closet cache of junk is the day we will need it. So, if I think there’s even a remote chance that I might need a piece, a part, or a tiny tool someday, it goes right to one of my junk drawers until that day rolls around. And, unbelievably, there were many times when I have found a use for something weird in my depository of miscellaneous junk. I just don’t ever want to be that person
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Underneath some of the other mementos and memorabilia, I found my dad’s Army Air Corps discharge paper (he was a military policeman) and the leather wallet that he had in his trousers the night he fell into a deep coma in January 1963; it was a coma from which he never escaped. The wallet contained his Social Security card, driver’s license, title transfer from a 1948 Pontiac to a 1954 Ford station wagon, a couple of social club membership cards, a ticket for the first annual Loyal Order of Moose chicken barbecue, a business card for the
STORIES
company from which he purchased my mom’s memorial stone seven months earlier, and pictures of my brother, my sister, and me. I thought about the meaning of the things I discovered in that so-called junk drawer. So I removed the junk and made a keepsake drawer.
Does Your Marketing Reach Active, Affluent Boomers & Seniors?
Mike Clark writes a regular column for The Globe Leader newspaper in New Wilmington, Pa. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in organizational behavior/applied psychology from Albright College. Mike lives outside Columbia, Pa., and can be contacted at mikemac429@aol.com.
from page 1
The event now has its own YouTube page and podcast and has branched out to several areas in Pennsylvania, including the West Chester, Lancaster, Delco, and Lehigh Valley Story Slams. “It’s been a joy to meet so many people and to record and archive their incredible stories on our website and podcasts,” says Breslin. He has advice for those who may be interested in participating in the event but are unsure of their own storytelling abilities. “Everyone has at least one or two amazing stories in their life. Story Slams are not just for writers. We often have someone sign up at intermission after watching a few stories. They didn’t plan on telling a story, but then they get up to the mic and tell this amazing story and win the event.” Breslin is also active in literary circles, serving as a member in two area writers groups and as vice president of one. “I love all types of stories and consider myself a writer first and a storyteller second. I’m a fan of short stories but read a lot of novels also.” Imagine going to a job each day where you find yourself meeting and working with celebrities such as Milton Berle, Richard Simmons, Joan Rivers, Annette Funicello, and Cal Ripken. You would probably come home with some interesting stories to tell. For 17 years, Jim Breslin did just that while working as a producer for QVC, the world’s largest home shopping television network, famous for featuring celebrity product endorsements during live broadcasts. “A favorite moment for me was when Florence Henderson kissed me on the cheek—I grew up watching her on television as Mrs. Brady,” he says. Breslin describes his experiences at QVC as fun and surreal, but after 17 years in such a high-pressure www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
environment, he decided to “exit corporate life and pursue more artistic projects.” In 2014, he published Shoplandia, a novel that draws on his experience in broadcasting and pulls back the curtain to reveal the inner workings of a shopping network. “It’s a humorous novel about the surreal life of those who work in the live studios of a home shopping channel and have to deal with celebrity guests and other mayhem,” says Breslin. Shoplandia was published by Breslin’s own Oermead Press, a micro-publishing project he founded in 2010 dedicated to the purpose of producing quality fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. Oermead has published five books to date, including Breslin’s novel, collections of poetry and short stories, anthologies, e-books, and podcasts. While attending to his own writing, Oermead Press, and the Story Slams, Breslin recently passed a personal milestone: his 50th birthday. “I’m not going to lie—turning 50 has messed with my head a bit,” he says. “My father died when he was 47, so I’ve been cognizant of his mortality. I mountain bike two or three times a week and hike also.” He also has some words of advice for aspiring writers who may be grappling with getting their own stories down on paper. “I recommend sitting in the chair every day. Set goals and write, write, write. The first draft is always terrible. Writing is about revising 30, 40, 50 times. Join critique groups that will be supportive but also honest. Don’t take criticism personally,” he says. “You won’t please everyone with your writing, but that’s OK.” Visit www.jimbreslin.com or www.wcstoryslam.com for more information.
Reserve your space now for the 13th annual
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until 6/30/15
September 30, 2015 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. York Expo Center Memorial Hall East • 334 Carlisle Ave., York
Exhibitors • Health Screenings • Seminars Entertainment • Door Prizes
Why Participate? It’s the premier event for baby boomers, caregivers, and seniors in York County • Face-to-face interaction with 3,000+ attendees • Strengthen brand recognition/launch new products
For sponsorship and exhibitor information:
(717) 285-1350 Brought to you by:
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