50plus senior news chester county july 2012

By Megan Joyce

Most of us have encountered tough times in our lives where we were

encouraged to heed the old adage of “dusting ourselves off ” or “picking

ourselves up by our bootstraps.” We fall; we rise up; we move forward,

bruised but vertical.

These days, Vickie Kissinger’s bootstraps hang firmly hinged on a treble

clef and a cluster of eighth-notes.

The newly named 2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL and New Holland-area

resident is a lifelong music lover, having started on the organ at just 5 years

old.

“My grandparents actually got me started in music. My grandmother in

particular always had a love for music, and they took me for organ lessons,”

Kissinger recalled. “That was just always a dream of hers: She wanted me to

learn to play the organ.”

As she grew up, her musical studies expanded to include piano as well,

and by age 13 she was playing the organ in church; by 15, she was

substituting for two different local churches. By high-school graduation,

Kissinger was offered an organist position at a church in Akron.

As a teenager, Kissinger had become interested in singing, and her jazz-

piano teacher at the time encouraged her to embrace her voice. After she

2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL Vickie Kissinger performing “At Last” by Etta James.

Power Reigns Supreme

at Senior Idol

page 8

Is the Only-Child Trend

Desirable?

page 14

please see IDOL page 13

Inside:

Chester County Edition July 2012 Vol. 9 No. 7

Self-MadeSenior Idol

2012 Talent Competition Winner

Earned Music Degree at 45

2 July 2012 50plus SeniorNews � www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Smile of the MonthSmile of the Month

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

[email protected] or by mail to:

50plus Senior NewsSmile 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.

First catch!

This month’s smile

belongs to Greta, 6, of

West Chester. She is the

daughter of Stephen and

Kristina Reisinger and the

granddaughter of Steve

and Carol Reisinger, all of

West Chester.

atter swings like a rusty gate.”

That was me—I didn’t

need the other team to

remind me that I was what baseball

scouts call “good glove/no bat.”

But this rusty gate never lost his

enthusiasm for the game. Besides

marveling at how batters slam a wooden

cylinder against a speeding orb, I love the

cerebral aspects of baseball. Games turn

on strategies that work (or don’t).

Here are a few of baseball’s lesser-

known fundamentals that might enhance

your appreciation for the game.

Wasting a pitch. Rarely do you see a

three-pitch called strikeout. When a

batter is behind with a no-balls, two-

strikes count, he is prepared to swing at

almost any pitch that’s not over his head.

The pitcher intentionally throws out

of the strike zone hoping the batter will

“go fishing” and either miss for strike

three or hit a harmless roller. If you want

to see the epitome of rage, check out the

manager after

his pitcher

gives up an 0-2

homerun.

A hallowed

baseball story

tells how an

old-time

manager

vowed to fine

any pitcher

$50 who didn’t

waste a pitch.

In one game,

after the umpire called an 0-2 offering

“strike three,” the pitcher came running

in from the mound yelling, “That was a

ball!”

Curve versus slider. The classic

curveball breaks vertically from 12 to 6

on the clock. Batters tend to swing over

it unless it’s a “hanging curve” that takes

too long to

break and sits

there like an

apple on a

branch.

Sliders

break

sideways, low

and away

opposite the

pitcher’s arm.

Therefore, a

right-handed

slider breaks

into a left-handed batter or away from a

right-handed batter.

Breaking balls are thrown with a

twisting wrist that makes them slower

than fastballs, so a breaking ball that

doesn’t break is easy pickings for the

batter.

Fair versus foul. All four bases are in

fair territory. Home plate has the V-

shaped base because it nestles in the

confluence of the right and left foul

lines.

Balls that hit the “foul line” are fair.

Balls that hit the “foul pole” or its

extension screen are homeruns.

A runner on third takes his lead in

foul territory lest he get called out for

interference by getting hit by a fair ball.

Considerate umpires on the first and

third base lines position themselves in

foul territory because they are “in play”

and when hit by a fair ball might affect

the outcome of the play.

Alas, left-handers. In the Big

Leagues, left-handed throwers play only

five of the nine defensive positions: three

outfielders, first base, and pitcher. That’s

not a rule. It’s due to the

counterclockwise nature of the game.

Some Finer Points of Baseball

Silver Threads

W.E. Reinka

“B

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews � July 2012 3

Harrison Senior Living of Coatesville

(610) 384-6310

Simpson Meadows

(610) 269-8400

Auer Cremation Services of PA, Inc.

(800) 720-8221

Family Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry

(610) 692-8454

American Red Cross

Greater Brandywine

(610) 692-1200

Chester County Emergency Services

(610) 344-5000

Salvation Army Coatesville

(610) 384-2954

Salvation Army West Chester

(610) 696-8746

Central PA Poison Center

(800) 521-6110

Office of Aging

(610) 344-6350/(800) 692-1100

Internal Revenue Service

(800) 829-3676

Alzheimer’s Association

(800) 272-3900

American Cancer Society

(800) 227-2345

American Heart Association

(610) 940-9540

Arthritis Foundation

(215) 665-9200

Center for Disease Control Prevention

(888) 232-3228

Coatesville VA Medical Center

(610) 383-7711

Domestic Violence

(800) 799-7233

Gateway Medical Associates

(610) 594-7590

National Osteoporosis Foundation

(800) 223-9994

PACE

(800) 225-7223

Senior Healthlink

(610) 431-1852

Social Security Administration

(800) 772-1213

Southeastern PA Medical Institute

(610) 446-0662

Eastwood Village Homes, LLC

(717) 397-3138

Harrison Senior Living

(610) 384-6310

Community Impact Legal Services

(610) 380-7111

Housing Authority of Chester County

(610) 436-9200

Housing Authority of Phoenixville

(610) 933-8801

Lawyer Referral Service

(610) 429-1500

Legal Aid of Southeastern PA

(610) 436-4510

Meals on Wheels Chester County Inc.

(610) 430-8500

Pennsylvania Hunger Action Center

(800) 366-3997

Chester County Department

of Aging Services

(610) 344-6350

CVS/pharmacy

www.cvs.com

Gateway Medical Associates

(610) 594-7590

Coatesville

(610) 383-6900

Downingtown

(610) 269-3939

Great Valley

(610) 647-1311

Kennett Square

(610) 444-4819

Oxford

(610) 932-5244

Phoenixville

(610) 935-1515

Surrey Services for Seniors

(610) 647-6404

Wayne

(610) 688-6246

West Chester

(610) 431-4242

Senior Centers

Physicians

Pharmacies

Office of Aging

Nutrition

Legal Services

Housing Assistance

Housing

Health & Medical Services

Financial Services

Emergency Numbers

Disasters

Dental Services

Cremation Services

Assisted Living/Personal Care

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

This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made

an extended commitment to your health and well-being.

Resource Directory

You’ll understand immediately if you

pretend you’re a second baseman fielding

a grounder and throwing to first—see

how you must make an extra turn if you

throw left-handed? All those runners

who are thrown out by a step would be

safe against left-handed infielders.

Conversely, a left-handed first

baseman is in a better position to throw

to second and doesn’t have to sweep the

glove across his body to tag the diving

runner on a pick-off play. The theory

against left-handed catchers is that

they’re out of position on steal attempts

to third and that, with most batters

being right-handed, they must maneuver

throws around batters on steal attempts

to second.

A few baseball theorists even prefer

right-handed leftfielders on the theory

that, on throws to the plate, their tosses

tend to bounce to the right (into the

waiting catcher) rather than away from

the play.

Outfield arms. The pariah right

fielder of Little League transforms into a

respected player in the Bigs. Teams put

rifle arms in right and weak arms in left

because the throw from right field to

third base is a full 90 feet longer than the

throw to third from left.

3-foot line. That mysterious line that

extends to the right and parallel to the

foul line in the last half of the distance

from home to first base is the 3-foot line.

A runner who strays to the left of the

foul line or to the right of the 3-foot line

may be called out if he interferes with

the fielder taking the throw at first. The

runner is allowed to run outside of the

channel to avoid interfering with a

fielder making a play.

As of May 2012, a new Medicare

card scam has been brought to the

attention of the Pennsylvania Senior

Medicare Patrol (SMP) and the Center

for Advocacy for the Rights and

Interests of the Elderly (CARIE).

Residents from all over Pennsylvania

have received calls from scammers

claiming to be “from Medicare.” The

scammer states that Medicare is sending

out new cards and then instructs the

beneficiary to give the scammer their

checking account number in order to

receive the new card.

In at least two cases, the scammer

already had the beneficiary’s address,

bank name, and bank routing number.

Remember: Medicare will never call

to sell you anything and will never ask

for your checking account number. To

report a similar scam or other Medicare

fraud, please call the Pennsylvania

Senior Medicare Patrol at (800) 356-

3606.

Beware of New Medicare Card Scam


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.

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:

[email protected]

Website address:

www.onlinepub.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERDonna K. Anderson

EDITORIAL

MANAGING EDITOR

Christianne Rupp

EDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS

Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENT

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Renee McWilliams

PRODUCTION ARTIST

Janys Cuffe

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

ACCOUNT EXECUTIVES

Lori Lampert

Angie McComsey

Ranee Shaub Miller

Sue Rugh

SALES COORDINATOR

Eileen Culp

CIRCULATION

PROJECT COORDINATOR

Loren Gochnauer

ADMINISTRATION

BUSINESS MANAGER

Elizabeth Duvall

Winner

Member of

John W. Berglund saw plenty of

action in the Marine Corps

before the A-bombs, mercifully,

ended WWII in the Pacific. But he

all but missed the whole thing.

When Pearl Harbor was attacked,

he wanted to enlist in the Navy,

even though his father tried his best

to get him to finish his senior year at

Rutgers University. But his vision

was bad enough to cause the Navy

to decide that they could fight the

war without him.

Learning from that, he adopted

another tactic as he next tried the

Marine Corps. He simply

memorized the eye chart … and

passed with flying colors. Because of

his years of college, he was sent to

Officer’s Candidate School at

Quantico, Va., where he earned his

commission.

He then shipped to Camp

Pendleton, Calif., where he was

assigned to the 1st Battalion, 12th

Marines. He soon was on his way to

New Zealand, aboard a Liberty ship

that he says “made maybe 10 knots

when they pushed it.”

With a deckload of oil and

gasoline, and with 500 tons of high

explosive in the hold, they were

lucky to avoid attack during the 22

days it took them to reach New

Zealand.

After five months there, they were

sent up to Guadalcanal, which had

been declared secured—the fighting

over.

“Unfortunately,” he notes,

“nobody had told the Japanese Air

Force. They used to bomb us every

night, although our biggest problem

was the shrapnel from our own

antiaircraft that fell all around us.”

He explains that, unbelievably,

they trained by firing on themselves.

“We spent a day in the jungle,

digging splinter-proof shelters. We

then crawled in and called in fire

from our 75-millimeter pack

howitzers, one round at a time, until

we heard fragments crashing into

our shelter.”

They then shipped to

Bougainville, where they were

strafed as they landed.

“Our antiaircraft were using

proximity fuses that would go off

when 15 yards from any target,” he

says. “That permitted me to once see

five Japanese planes in flames at the

same time.”

It was also in Bougainville that

the Japanese plane dropped the 500-

pound bomb that landed 10 yards

from where he was.

“Yeah, it narrowly missed me,” he

says, “and dug a hole that was 26

feet in diameter and 10 feet deep. As

the round came in, I could hear the

click of the fuse arming. Scared? I

was so shook up that it took me half

an hour before I could light a

cigarette.

“I was then loaned to the 3rd New

Zealand division, where my job was

to supply them with naval gunfire to

allow them to get their artillery

ashore on Green Island. That was to

take a few hours but wound up

taking five days.

“One of those days, I was

working with a Navy lieutenant,

trying to dig a foxhole into the

coral. In two hours, we made it 9

inches deep. He was a bitter man.

He had enlisted in the Navy, where

he would sleep between sheets and

enjoy a hot shower. And now here

he was with the Marines in the mud.

“The New Zealanders were trying

to flush out the last of the Japanese

troops on the island. A day after I

left, I learned that they had found

about 80 of them and in 40 minutes

of fighting had wiped them out,

while losing only four of their own

men. Typically, the Japanese had

fought to the last man.”

When Berglund left Green Island,

he found that he had been chosen

by lottery to go back to the States to

form a new division. When he got

there, though, he was sent to Fort

Sill to take a course in sound and

flash ranging before being returned

to the Pacific, to the Corps Artillery

of the 5th Amphibious Corps on

Hawaii, the big island.

He was reunited there with a

buddy named Rick Ostrom, who

had been in class with him at Fort

Sill and was a privileged member of

the Walker family, one of the five

families who had originally owned

all of the Hawaiian Islands.

When Ostrom called Mrs. Walker

to tell her he was there, he and

Berglund were promptly invited to

come out to her palatial home in the

beautiful Nuuanu Valley, to find

that, because of the war, they were

reduced to having only five servants.

“Some sacrifice,” notes Berglund

drily.

On another occasion, they were

having cocktails with the Walkers

when some guests arrived. They

turned out to be Admiral Nimitz

and an Admiral Lockwood.

Berglund says, “You never saw

two lieutenants get sobered up so

fast in your life. After dinner, we

played nickel-and-dime poker with

the admirals, and I won the last

hand from Admiral Nimitz. Mrs.

Walker asked that we not tell anyone

about that, and I couldn’t help

wondering, ‘Who’s going to believe

us?’”

Then it was to Iwo Jima, where

he landed on D-Day plus two and

saw our flag flying from Mount

Suribachi. His unit coordinated all

the fire of 14 battalions of artillery.

He was on orders to be in on the

invasion of Japan, when we dropped

the A-bombs, and the war was over.

After he was discharged in 1969,

he entered the Lutheran Theological

Seminary. After being ordained, he

served the Grace Lutheran Church

in Philadelphia and came to a retired

living community in Elizabethtown,

Pa., in 1987 to enjoy his retirement.

Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in

Europe in WWII.

The Japanese Plane Droppeda 500-Pound Bomb that Landed

10 Yards from HimRobert D. Wilcox

Salute to a Veteran

Captain John W. Berglund in 1945,

newly back from the Pacific.


ADVERTISEMENT

CREMATION:the simple alternative.

IF YOU WANT A FUNERAL with an

expensive casket and embalming, go to a

funeral home! If you are interested in

affordable CREMATION SERVICES,

WE ARE THE NAME TO REMEMBER!

We specialize in cremation only,

statewide, no transportation fees.

NO EMBALMING • NO CASKETS

AUER CREMATION SERVICES OF PENNSYLVANIA, INC.For FREE brochures and pricing, call:

1-800-720-8221 (Toll-Free)or mail us ...

Please send me FREE brochures and pricing!www.auergroup.com

Name _______________________________________

Address _____________________________________

____________________________________________

Phone ( )_________________________________4100 Jonestown Rd.

Hbg., PA 17109Shawn E. Carper

SupervisorCode CSN

Super SummerHearing Aid Sale!

• Dispensing all types and models of hearing aids

• Financing plan available

• Price match guarantee

• 30-day trial period on all hearing aids

• 2-year warranty including follow-up appointments

Call for an appointment!

610.363.2532

Our Doctors of Audiology

are devoted to improving

the lives of our patients

by providing compassionate care

and comprehensive solutions

for each person’s unique type

and degree of hearing loss.

Four office locations in Exton,West Chester,

Coatesville, and Kennett Square.

www.entacc.com

Dear Savvy Senior,

What can you tell me about restless leg

syndrome? I’m 58 years old, and my wife

thinks I may have it because I sometimes

wake her up at night kicking my legs.

– Restless Larry

Dear Larry,

If an irresistible urge to move your legs

has you kicking in your sleep, you may

indeed have restless leg syndrome (RLS), a

common, under-diagnosed condition that

affects around 10 percent of Americans.

Here’s what you should know.

Do You Have RLS?

RLS is a neurological disorder that

causes unpleasant sensations in the legs

(usually in the calf area) and an

irresistible urge to move your legs when

resting or sitting still, and the symptoms

usually get worse with age. The main

complaint with RLS, other than it being

uncomfortable, is that it disrupts sleep.

While researchers have yet to pin down

a specific cause of RLS, they do know of

various conditions that are linked to it,

including: genetics (it often runs in

families), anemia, kidney problems,

peripheral neuropathy, diabetes, attention

deficit disorder, and even pregnancy.

Do you have RLS? If you answer yes to

most of these questions, you probably do.

• When you sit or lie down, do you

have a strong desire to move your legs?

• Does your desire to move your legs

feel impossible to resist?

• Would you use the words

“unpleasant,” “creepy-crawly,” “electric

current,” “itching,” “tingling,” “pulling,”

or “tugging” to describe your symptoms?

• Does your desire to move often occur

when you are resting or sitting still?

• Does moving your legs make you feel

better?

• Do these symptoms bother you more

at night?

• Do your ever have involuntary leg

movements while you are awake?

Tips and Remedies

While there’s no cure for RLS, there

are some things you can do to alleviate

the symptoms. Depending on the severity

of your case, here are some tips and

remedies that may help:

• Get a blood test: Studies show that

an iron or vitamin deficiency can cause or

worsen RLS. Your doctor can easily check

this with a simple blood test and may

recommend supplementing your diet with

vitamin E, iron, vitamin B12, or folate.

• Check your meds: Certain drugs that

treat high blood pressure, heart

conditions, nausea, colds, allergies, and

depression can make RLS worse. If you

take any of these, ask your doctor if

something else can be prescribed.

• Watch your diet: Pay attention to

what you eat to see if it may cause or

increase your symptoms.

• Limit caffeine and alcohol: Both of

these can make symptoms worse.

• Stretch: A good calf stretch and a

strong massage may provide some relief.

• Take a bath: For some people, a hot

or cold bath can help, or try using a

heating pad or ice pack.

• Try compression: Wrapping ace

bandages or wearing compression support

stockings around the problem area have

also been known to help.

• Exercise: Moderate exercise (20 to 30

minutes three or four times a week) can

also relieve symptoms and help you sleep

better. Exercising late in the evening,

however, can induce symptoms.

• Reduce stress: Stress can aggravate

RLS. Meditation and yoga are good

relaxation techniques you may want to

try, especially before going to bed at night.

Treatments

If the tips or remedies don’t improve

your condition, prescription medications

may help.

Requip (or its generic Ropinirole) and

Mirapex are two drugs approved by the

FDA to treat RLS, but there are several

other drugs that treat other conditions

(dopaminergic agents, sedatives,

anticonvulsants, and pain relievers) that

have also been found to be helpful.

Talk to your doctor about these

options, or consult an RLS specialist (see

rls.org to locate one) or a sleep specialist

(see sleepcenters.org).

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the

NBC Today show and author of The SavvySenior Book. www.savvysenior.org.

Tips and Treatments forRestless Leg Syndrome

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller


Chester County

Calendar of EventsCoatesville Area Senior Center – (610) 383-690022 N. Fifth Ave., Coatesville – www.cascweb.org

Downingtown Senior Center – (610) 269-3939983 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtownhttp://home.ccil.org/~dasc

Great Valley Senior Center – (610) 889-2121 47 Church Road, Malvern

Kennett Area Senior Center – (610) 444-4819427 S. Walnut St., Kennett Squarewww.kennettseniorcenter.orgJuly 8 and 22, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. – Latin Dancing and

Lessons

July 10, 2:30 to 4 p.m. – Tea Party: “United We Stand”

July 24, 11 a.m. to noon – “Caring Transitions”

Presentation

Oxford Senior Center – (610) 932-524412 E. Locust St., Oxford – www.oxfordseniors.org

Phoenixville Area Senior Adult Activity Center(610) 935-1515153 Church St., Phoenixvillewww.phoenixvilleseniorcenter.org

West Chester Area Senior Center(610) 431-4242 530 E. Union St., West Chesterwww.wcseniors.org

Just a snippet of what you may be missing … please call or

visit their website for more information.

Chester County Department of Parks and Recreation

Support Groups Free and open to the public

Tuesdays, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.The Wellness Community of

Philadelphia: Support Group for

People with Cancer

The Cancer Center at Paoli

Hospital

255 W. Lancaster Ave., Paoli

(215) 879-7733

July 3, 2 p.m.Grief Support Group

Phoenixville Senior Center

153 Church St., Phoenixville

(610) 327-7216

July 9 and 23, 10:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m.Caregiver Support Group

Adult Care of Chester County

201 Sharp Lane, Exton

(610) 363-8044

July 11, noonFamily Caregiver Support Group

Sarah Care

425 Technology Drive, Suite 200,

Malvern

(610) 251-0801

July 17, 6 p.m.Family Caregiver Support Group

Sunrise of Westtown

501 Skiles Blvd., West Chester

(610) 399-4464

Senior Center Activities

Give Us the Scoop!

Please send us your press

releases so we can let our

readers know about

free events occurring in

Chester County!

Email preferred to:

[email protected]

(610) 675-6240

(717) 285-1350

Let

Help you get the word out!

If you have an event youwould like to include, please

email information [email protected] for

consideration.

www.chesco.org/ccparks

Wednesdays, 9 to 10 a.m. – Warwick Walkers, Warwick County Park

July 29, 3 to 4:30 p.m. – Nature’s Best Anglers, Nottingham County Park

Community Programs Free and open to the public

July 3, 11:30 a.m.West Chester University Retirees

Luncheon

Old Country Buffet

1090 E. Lancaster Ave.,

Downingtown

(610) 269-1503

July 7 and 21, 5 to 10 p.m.Bingo Nights

Marine Corps League Detachment

430 Chestnut St., Downingtown

(610) 431-2234

July 10, 11 a.m.New Century Club Meeting

(Women’s Charity Club)

Days Hotel

943 S. High St., West Chester

(610) 436-9158

[email protected]

July 12The Social Butterflies Meeting: 50+

Men and Women

Harry’s Restaurant

2949 W. Lincoln Highway,

Parkesburg

Meeting time and reservations at

(484) 667-0738

[email protected]

July 30, 7 p.m.Medicare 101 Presentation by

APPRISE Program

Chester County Library

450 Exton Square Parkway, Exton

(610) 280-2615

Property Tax/Rent Rebate Deadline Extended

The deadline to apply for

Pennsylvania’s Property Tax/Rent

Rebate Program for older adults

and residents with disabilities has

been extended from June 30 to

Dec. 31.

The rebate program benefits

eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and

older; widows and widowers age

50 and older; and people with

disabilities age 18 and older.

The income limit is $35,000 a

year for homeowners and $15,000

annually for renters, and half of

Social Security income is excluded.

The maximum standard rebate

is $650, but supplemental rebates

for qualifying homeowners can

boost rebates to $975.

As of May 31, the Revenue

Department had received 529,023

rebate applications.

As specified by law, rebate

distribution began on July 1. After

June 30, rebates were distributed

as claims were received and

processed.

Applicants may obtain Property

Tax/Rent Rebate claim forms (PA-

1000) and related information

online at www.revenue.state.pa.us

or by calling, toll-free, (888) 222-

9190.

Forms and assistance also are

available at Department of

Revenue district offices (listed in

the government section of phone

directories), local Area Agencies on

Aging, senior centers, and state

legislators’ offices.

Claimants who already applied

for Property Tax/Rent Rebates may

check the status of claims online at

www.revenue.state.pa.us or by

calling, toll-free, (888) PA-TAXES.


ADVERTISEMENT

“I suffered 10 years with ill-fitting bottomdentures and broken upper teeth. Dr. Stallmade a new bottom denture held in by implantsand fixed all my top teeth. I now have a mouthfull of teeth that do not hurt and look great.Thank you, Dr. Stall, and your wonderfulstaff.”— Jane T., Coatesville, PA

e Implants are Surgically Inserted andRestored in the Same Office

e Replace Missing Teeth, StabilizeDentures—Virtually Pain Free!

e Immediate Placement ImplantsSecure Teeth the Same Day!

Finally End Any Discomfort, Embarrassment, and Frustrations You Have With Your Teeth!

DENTURE SUFFERERS:NEW HOPE AT LAST!

Actual Patient

David E. Stall, D.M.D, PC Family, Cosmetic, Sedation, and Implant Dentistry

1646 West Chester Pike, Suite 1,West Chester, PA 19382

Be one of the first 17 to call by 7/31/12,and Our Gift to You Will be a $200 Credit towards any dentureor dental implant treatment!

Call 610-692-8454 Today for Your

100% FREE, No-Obligation Exam

and Consultation (Reg. $125).

Eastwood VillageHomes LLC102 Summers DriveLancaster, PA 17601

771177--339977--33113388wwwwww..eeaassttwwooooddvviillllaaggeehhoommeess..ccoomm

Directions: Rt. 30E – Greenfield Road exit,

Right onto Greenfield Road to Fallon Drive.

Right onto Fallon Drive; follow signs to

Sales Center.

• Spec home and pre-owned homesavailable to inspect •

Experience the convenience ofone-floor living.

Six months’ lot rent

plus $1,000towards upgrades!*

*Details available at Sales Center.

7 lots available ... going fast!7 lots available ... going fast!

Great Decisions EngagesGroup Members

From left, John Bolendz, Walt Heppenstall, Ed Purdy, Ted Kircher, Bill Morling,

Herb Davis, Carl Necker, and Warren Martin. Not pictured: Tom McLay,

Ursula Stewart, and Tom Tracy.

Tel Hai’s Great Decisions

Discussion Group looks forward

to their monthly meetings on

campus. Staying up to date on

current, major global issues and

sharing their views with peers are

among the benefits of the lively

gathering.

If you have local news you’d like considered for

Around Town, please email [email protected]

“Knock on wood”

This phrase may have originated

during the Middle Ages, when pieces of

the cross on which Jesus was crucified

were supposedly in circulation.

Touching one of these was supposed

to bring good luck.


By Megan Joyce

Early on in the performance lineup for the seventh

annual PA STATE SENIOR IDOL finals competition, a

recurring theme became audible: power.

Out of the seven years of finals-night performances,

2012’s roster included more than a dozen musical

dynamos whose notes could likely hit the ceiling even

without the sonic aid of a microphone or the buoyancy

of dinner-theater acoustics.

Produced by On-Line Publishers, hosted by the Dutch

Apple Dinner Theatre in Lancaster, and emceed by

Diane Dayton of Dayton Communications, the 15

semifinalists for the evening’s show were culled from

nearly 100 contestants who auditioned at regional

tryouts in late April and early May.

Both the sold-out crowd and the panel of local

celebrity judges—RJ Harris of WHP580, Adrian

“Buddy” King of the former Magnificent Men, Valerie

Pritchett of abc27, and Janelle Stelson of WGAL-8—

were treated to almost three hours of impressive musical

talent, lively laughter, and powerhouse performances.

And Deb Olsen of Manheim got the night started

with a bang—many of them, in fact. The only drummer

ever to make the SENIOR IDOL semifinalist cut, Olsen set

what was to become the powerful tone for the evening as

she thundered through The Bee Gees’ “You Should Be

Dancing.”

“People don’t know how to judge drummers,” noted

King. “Basically it’s a matter of what you feel, and it felt

really good.”

Second in line was Margie Sheaffer of New

Providence, who tipped her fedora and added a few well-

placed pouts while performing “Makin’ Whoopee” by

Eddie Cantor.

“It’s always important to choose the right song here,

and I think you made a good choice,” said King. “You

communicate the song very well.”

“We’re off to a great start here; we’re going to have a

tough time [judging],” Harris predicted.

Third to the stage was Vickie Kissinger of Gap, whose

voice ran the gamut from gentle to formidable during

Etta James’ “At Last.”

“It’s one thing to have a good voice; it’s another to

know how to use it. Your dynamics are sensational,”

declared King. “You know how to build it, you knew

how to maintain it.”

Though Kissinger was an admittedly tough act to

follow, York’s Tom LaNasa did so with confidence and

finesse for Dean Martin’s “Bumming Around.” LaNasa’s

plaid sport coat and straw hat were appropriately “bum

chic,” his ensemble punctuated by a red handkerchief

sack tied to a stick.

“You can tell you’re a performer,” said Harris. “You

had a lot of fun up there and I think that was the best

part of your performance.”

Both power and control were evident in Lynn

Henderson Payne of New Freedom, who soared through

“Someone to Watch Over Me” by George Gershwin.

“The control in your voice is phenomenal, and

hanging on those notes—spectacular,” Pritchett

enthused. “That takes a lot of breath control.”

Pritchett also praised Lancaster’s Larry Gessler for his

vocal quality after his rendition of “A Nightingale Sang

in Berkeley Square” by Mel Torme.

“It was a very tender approach, and a very difficult

song for intonation purposes,” King agreed.

Jeff Mumma of York Haven brought forth another

kind of power—patriotic power—for “Where the Stars

and Stripes and Eagles Fly” by Aaron Tippin. And once

he conquered his nerves after the first few lines, his vocal

power was apparent as well.

“Once we got to your voice, we know why you got

here,” said Harris. “You have a great, smooth voice and a

passion for country music in particular … you can tell

it’s not a karaoke thing you did here. You really are good.”

Reading’s Mark Ettaro earned high marks for his

Sinatra-esque tones during “I’ve Got You Under My

Skin,” but it was also his comedic power that had the

judges and audience applauding. Ettaro frequently name-

dropped Stelson into the song’s lyrics and, during the

song’s instrumental interlude, he introduced the four

Power Reigns Supreme at Senior Idol

Strong Performances a Hallmark of Competition’s 7th Year

CChheerriiCCoolleemmaannCCaammppbbeellll

MMaarrkk EEttttaarroo

FFrraannkk FFeeddeellee

NNiicckk FFeerrrraarroo

CCoonnssttaanncceeKKuubbaa FFiisshheerr

LLaarrrryy GGeesssslleerr

DDaann KKeellllyy

TToomm LLaaNNaassaa


invisible members of his onstage “band”: the evening’s

judges.

“You have a really good voice, all joking aside,”

Stelson said. “And of course I’m susceptible to hearing

my name in a love song, but it was such a pleasure; it

was really smoothie-smooth.”

Power came back onstage in the guise of Cheri

Coleman Campbell of Coatesville, belting out the

gospel song “My Tribute” by Andrae Crouch. The

judges and the audience were moved by not only her

vocal power, but also her spiritual power—as Campbell

focused her eyes and voice on a higher power.

“You are one of these people who is just lit from

within,” Stelson said. “And I think that’s where your

music is born, too. And I don’t know what you’ve been

through in your life, but you’re obviously praising for

something, and I think you’re giving as good as you’re

getting.”

Harrisburg resident Nick Ferraro had a

commanding stage presence coupled with a robust

voice—even during the high falsetto notes of Jay & the

Americans’ “Cara Mia Mine.”

“That’s a tough song to sing, and a lot of nerve it

takes hitting those falsetto notes,” said King. “I know

what it’s like because I used to sing a lot of falsetto,

and man, you can’t fake those.”

Victoria Newcomer of Mount Joy rocked through

KT Tunstall’s “Black Horse and the Cherry Tree.”

Once again, the judges noted the power behind the

performance.

“I love that song, and you came out here and you

crushed it!” exclaimed Harris.

Stelson then observed that power can come in the

seemingly straight-laced visage of a suit and tie after

Philadelphia’s Dan Kelly used his theater chops to roar

through “Mack the Knife” by Bobby Darin.

“I liked the way you used the stage, and I really

liked your energy in your singing,” Pritchett said.

Next, Don “Duke” Larson showed that a powerful

stage presence isn’t dampened by age—in fact, it can

enhance it. At age 76, Larson’s voice soared confidently

through “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra, his fine suit

and fedora completing the effect.

“You are impeccably tailored; everything was

perfect,” said Stelson. “You look the part. That was a

great story to tell, and you know what? You kind of

have to be in your 70s to tell it.”

Constance Kuba Fisher of Mechanicsburg worked

the stage performing Jo Dee Messina’s kiss-off anthem,

“Bye Bye.” Her love of performance and her plentiful

stage experience helped carry her through the feisty

tune.

“You have a lot of soul and a lot of heart,” Harris

observed.

The evening’s last semifinalist to take the stage,

Frank Fedele of Williamsport crooned “Walk Away” by

Matt Monro, a performance Stelson called “very

natural and very comfortable.”

“I like the smoothness of your voice, and I also like

the flow. It’s so rhythmic,” complimented Pritchett.

After a brief intermission during which the four

judges’ scores were tallied, all 15 semifinalists lined up

on the stage … and Deb Olsen, Cheri Coleman

Campbell, and Vickie Kissinger were named the night’s

three finalists.

For their second selections, Olsen drummed “Dance

to the Music” by Sly and the Family Stone; Campbell

performed “The Lord’s Prayer”; and Kissinger sang

“My Heart Will Go On” from the movie Titanic.

The judges as well as the audience then voted for

their favorite, and after a brief intermission, Kissinger

was named the 2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL. This time,

it was the audience’s turn to exude some power as the

theater exploded in applause.

“I can see you have some training,” King said to

Kissinger, “but even all the training in the world

doesn’t make all that big a difference. It’s knowing how

to sing—and honey, you know how to sing.”

As the winner, Kissinger will receive a limousine trip

for two to New York City for dinner and a Broadway

show. Kissinger later said she was “floored” by her win,

even as she stepped forward to sing “At Last” one more

time.

“Now I know how some of these people must feel

on American Idol,” she laughed. “You’re enjoying the

moment, but you’re not quite sure you’re really in it. It

was exhilarating, actually. It really was.”

For more information and highlights from the 2012

PA STATE SENIOR IDOL finals competition, visit

www.SeniorIdolPA.com.

And a special thank-you to our sponsors!

Media Sponsors Brought to you by:

Presented by:

22001122 PA STATE

SENIOR IDOL

WWiinnnneerr VViicckkiiee KKiissssiinnggeerr

DDoonn ““DDuukkee””LLaarrssoonn

JJeeffff MMuummmmaa

VViiccttoorriiaaNNeewwccoommeerr

DDeebb OOllsseenn

LLyynnnnHHeennddeerrssoonnPPaayynnee

MMaarrggiiee SShheeaaffffeerr


FOR SALE

Misc.

MEMORY FOAM THERAPEUTIC NASA MATTRESSES T-$299 F-$349 Q-$399K-$499 ADJUSTABLES - $799 FREE DELIVERY LIFETIME WARRANTY 90NIGHT TRIAL 1-800-ATSLEEP1-800-287-5337 WWW.MATTRESSDR.COM

Bundle & Save on your CABLE, INTERNET PHONE, AND MORE. High SpeedInternet starting at less than $20/mo. CALL NOW! 800-291-4159

Get Century Link High Speed Internet! ONLY $14.95/mo. 12 mos. SAVE &Bundle your home Phone. Limited Time CALL NOW! 800-257-1431

AT&T U-Verse for just $29.99/mo! SAVE when you bundleInternet+Phone+TV and get up to $300 BACK! (select plans). LimitedTime Call NOW! 877-276-3538

Stop Paying too much for TV! Satellite is cheaper than cable! Packagesfrom $19.99/mo.-FREE movies, FREE upgrades & FREE HD: LimitedOffer-CALL NOW! 800-364-5192

AT&T U-Verse just $29.99/mo! Bundle Internet+Phone+TV & SAVE. Getup to $300 BACK! (Select plans). Limited Time CALL 800-418-8969 &Check Availability in your Area!

HELP WANTEDMystery Shoppers Needed Earn up to $150 per day Undercover ShoppersNeeded to Judge Retail & Dining Establishments Experience Not Required CallNow 888-380-3513

NOTICE

Garage/Yard Sale

www.Bookoo.com - The WORLD'S GIANT ONLINE YARD SALE is coming to yourtown. See www.Bookoo.com for details! (It's legit.)

www.YardSaleSearch.com - Come see EVERY GARAGE SALE ON THE PLANET thatwe know about on a humongo ginormous map!

REAL ESTATEAvailable Now 2-4 Bedroom Homes. Take Over Payments. NoMoney Down. No Credit Check. Call Now!! 1-866-319-5174

WANTED

Automobiles

A-1 DONATE YOUR CAR! Breast Cancer Research Foundation! Most highly ratedbreast cancer charity in America! Tax Deductible/Fast Free Pick Up. 1-800-771-9551 www.carsforbreastcancer.org

CARS/TRUCKS WANTED! Top $$$$$ PAID! Running or Not, All Years,Makes, Models. Free Towing! We're Local! 7 Days/Week. Call Toll Free:1-888-416-2330

DONATE A CAR - HELP CHILDREN FIGHTING DIABETES. Fast, Free Towing.Call 7 days/week. Non-runners OK. Tax Deductible. Call JuvenileDiabetes Research Foundation 1-800-578-0408

DONATE YOUR CAR to CANCER FUND of AMERICA to help SUPPORTCANCER PATIENTS. Tax Deductible. Next Day Towing. Receive VacationVoucher. Call 7 Days 1-800-835-9372

DONATE YOUR CAR to CHILDREN'S CANCER FUND of AMERICA and helpend CHILDHOOD CANCER. Tax Deductible. Next Day Towing. ReceiveVacation Voucher. 7 Days 1-800-469-8593

CASH FOR CARS: All Cars/Trucks Wanted. Running or Not! Top DollarPaid. We Come To You! Any Make/Model. Call For Instant Offer: 1-800-864-5960

WANTED JAPANESE MOTORCYCLE KAWASAKI 1967-1980 Z1-900, KZ900,KZ1000, ZIR, KZ1000MKII, W1-650, H1-500, H2-750, S1-250, S2-350, S3-400 Suzuki GS400, GT380, CB750 CASH PAID. FREE NATIONAL PICKUP.1-800-772-1142, 1-310-721-0726 [email protected]

MiscellaneousPurchasing and preserving all sorts of military items. World War I,World War II, Civil War, etc. US, German, Japanese, etc. All items caredfor to preserve their history. Buying uniforms, patches, metals, badges,helmets, daggers, swords, aviation items, paper items, photo albums,German and Japanese war souvenirs, flags, arm bands, and many otheritems. Not sure if I can use? Contact me, I will discuss. Call Don at 717-467-5286.

**OLD GUITARS WANTED!** Fender, Gibson, Martin, Gretsch, PrairieState, Euphonon, Larson, D'Angelico, Stromberg, Rickenbacker, andMosrite. Gibson Mandolins/Banjos. 1930's thru 1970's TOP CASH PAID! 1-800-401-0440

C l a s s i f i e d s

Your Name ___________________________________

Address ______________________________________

City ________________ State ____ Zip __________

Phone _______________________________________

Email ________________________________________

# of Months to Run ____________________________

Check Enclosed � or

Credit Card # _________________________________

Exp Date _______________

Authorized Signature __________________________

Placing your classified ad is as easy as 1,2,3!1. Choose a Category

2. Write Your Ad (45-Word Maximum)

3. Provide Your Information and Submit

On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to refuse any advertisement. A $30 service charge will be added for any returned checks.

FOR SALE

� Antiques� Appliances� Automobiles� Boats� Computers/Electronics� Furniture� Household Goods� Lawn & Garden

� Sporting Goods� Tools� Misc.

HELP WANTED

� Business Opportunities� General

NOTICE

� Announcements� Garage/Yard Sale� Lost & Found� Misc.

REAL ESTATE

� Apartment for Rent� Foreclosures

� House for Rent� House for Sale � Land� Misc.� Timeshares

WANTED

� Automobiles� Miscellaneous

COST$50 for up to

45 words.

PHONE717-285-8130

MAIL50plus Senior News

Attn: Classifieds3912 Abel Drive Columbia, PA

17512

married, Kissinger took a hiatus from her

musical pursuits for a few years to

concentrate on her family, but a series of

church positions soon had her back in the

organist fold.

Her love of vocal performance still

lingered as well, so much so that Kissinger

quit her job at a car dealership, went out

and bought herself musical equipment,

and started a “very busy” schedule of

playing “all over the place” at local gigs

such as restaurants, banquets, and clubs.

“Performers will tell you this: You get

out on stage and you kind of get the bug,

and you love it,” Kissinger said. “Then

you go back the next time, and you get

nervous and say, ‘What was I thinking?’

You do know why you’re doing this—

because you love it.”

At the time, Kissinger even flew to

Nashville and auditioned for a cable

talent-search show. But four weeks later,

the show was suddenly canceled.

“It’s my way to express who I am,” she

said of performing. “I get to express me.”

It was in 1991 that Kissinger’s life

screeched to a halt when her husband was

killed in an auto accident. In the

aftermath, Kissinger stayed home to focus

on raising her daughter.

“My life changed drastically. I didn’t

sing for two years,” she said.

It took another six years before

Kissinger grabbed tenuous hold of those

proverbial bootstraps by enrolling at

Millersville University in pursuit of a

degree in music education.

“When you go to school at 41, it’s a

little tough having a teenager at home

too,” she laughed. “I thought I wanted to

be a teacher, but I didn’t care to be in a

classroom so much, so I opened my

private studio.”

Kissinger teaches piano and voice as

well as beginner strings to a wide range of

students: her youngest is a first-grader and

her oldest is in his 70s. Her private studio

also includes a concentration on special-

needs students, a specialization that grew

after Kissinger received two phone calls

from parents of blind and autistic

children.

“How sad, I thought, that they wanted

to learn music and no one to teach them,”

she said.

Kissinger then took workshops on

autism and read everything she could

about learning disabilities. She now uses a

rote approach, where these students learn

by ear, and has taught voice and piano to

students with blindness, ADD, ADHD,

Aspberger’s disorder, pervasive

developmental disorder, and mental

retardation.

“Over the past 15 years I have learned

more from the students than I think they

learned from me,” Kissinger said. “Most

music teachers won’t teach special-needs

students. They are afraid to because they

don’t know how.”

It was for this reason that Kissinger

was a featured clinician at Penn State at

the Pennsylvania Music Teachers

Association Conference in 2005, where

she lectured on “The Fear of Teaching

Special-Needs Students.”

But the teacher is still a student, too.

Although her vocal training didn’t start in

earnest until she studied for her college

degree, Kissinger, now a classically trained

mezzo-soprano, has been a student of

renowned master voice teacher Dr.

Thomas Houser for the last nine years.

“You have to stay on top of your art;

you have to stay on top of your vocal

technique,” she explained. “You have to

keep your instrument in good shape.”

As for her personal taste in music,

Kissinger said she enjoys all types and has

performed everything from Patsy Cline

country songs to arias and oratorios like

Handel’s Messiah. For listening, she likes

Luciano Pavarotti, Andrea Bocelli, Celine

Dion, and Whitney Houston.

“I like the big voices, the people I see

really sing with their soul,” she said. “I

like listening to the powerhouses.

“What I really like to sing is what you

heard last night [at Idol],” she added.

“That’s where I feel my heart and soul.”

The judges and audience at the PA

STATE SENIOR IDOL finals competition

would likely group Kissinger herself in

with the powerhouse performers. Her

rendition of Etta James’s “At Last”

prompted Adrian “Buddy” King of The

Magnificent Men, a seven-year SENIOR

IDOL judge, to call Kissinger “one of the

best [he’s] heard on this stage.”

It had been the prompting of friends

and family that finally got Kissinger to try

out for the talent competition, now in its

seventh year. Backstage during finals

night, Kissinger enjoyed the quick

camaraderie that developed amongst the

15 semifinalists.

After she was named one of the

evening’s three finalists, Kissinger

performed “My Heart Will Go On” from

Titanic for her second song.

“It’s a very powerful song,” Kissinger

said. “And many people can relate to it,

and that’s what you want for your

audience: You want your audience to feel

what you feel.”

And what she was feeling that night,

after her win was announced, was

exhilaration.

“I was shocked, and it was a surreal

experience, it really was. I let out a

holler,” she recalled, laughing. “It was one

of those kinds of moments.”

Looking ahead at her upcoming year as

the reigning PA STATE SENIOR IDOL,

Kissinger is eager to perform, hoping

many singing engagements come her way

as a result of her win. But even as she

begins to look forward, she still glances

back at the rough road she has traveled

and is grateful for the place in which she

now finds herself—or, as those who know

her would likely say, the place in which

she has put herself.

“Obviously, I do have my grandparents

to thank, and my family, my daughter,

and my friends have just been the

ultimate support system for me. They

have been just wonderful,” Kissinger said.

“I really do praise God for the

blessings and thank him for the gift he’s

given me. I really do, because that’s where

it comes from. I don’t take the credit; I

just get the guidance from my teachers—

and I practice.”

IDOL from page 1

The three finalists react as Vickie Kissinger is named 2012 PA STATE SENIOR IDOL.

From left, Deb Olsen, Kissinger, and Cheri Coleman Campbell.



Breakfast:

Happy Days Diner

Lunch:

Baxter’s

Dinner:

Applebee’s

Ethnic Cuisine:

Kira Japanese Restaurant

Celebrating:

Eagle Tavern

Bakery:

Giant

Coffeehouse:

The Coffee Cup

Fast Food:

Wendy’s

Seafood:

Red Lobster

Steak:

Longhorn Steakhouse

Outdoor Dining:

Longwood Family Restaurant

Romantic Setting:

The Gables

Smorgasbord/Buffet:

Shady Maple Smorgasbord

Caterer:

Ruffini’s Restaurant

Winner of $50 Giant Food Stores Gift Card:Cathy Witmer of Newmanstown

Congratulations!

Who Has the Best Bitesin Central PA?

50plus Senior News readers have spoken!

Here are the Chester County

dining favorites for 2012!

A great place to call home — or the care needed to remain at home.

Will they think of you?

A great place to call home — or the care needed to remain at home.

Will they think of you?

• Active adult and residential living

• Independent and retirement livingcommunities

• Assisted living residences andpersonal care homes

• Nursing and healthcare services

• Home care, companions, andhospice care providers

• Ancillary services

In print. Online at onlinepub.com.

Call about EarlyBird Savings!

Must reserve by Aug. 24, 2012

To include your community or service in the 2013 edition

or for a copy of the 2012 edition, call your representative or

(717) 285-1350 or email [email protected]

While the number of families in

the United States continued

to grow in the period from

2000 through 2008, the share of families

with no children increased from 52 to 54

percent.

Among families with children, the

percentage of those having only one child

increased sharply from 41.4 percent in

2000 to 47.8 percent in 2008, according

to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Census Bureau found that

between 1976 and 2004, the percentage

of women aged 40 to 44 with only one

child almost doubled to 20 percent.

Should these trends be worrisome?

Does it suggest tomorrow’s seniors will be

given less personal care by their sole

offspring? Might it suggest that the only-

child trend will lead to a nation of more

adults who had been pampered by

permissive parents?

If an only child marries an only child,

their children have no cousins. Without

siblings and an extended family, how

does an only child develop rivalry skills

and interpersonal peer relationships prior

to school years?

There are many examples of celebrities

without siblings who rose above the

tumultuous circumstances of childhood.

Rudolph Giuliani’s father served time in

Sing Sing prison and, after his release,

became an enforcer for his brother-in-

law’s crime gang.

Alan Greenspan’s parents had a

troubled marriage, divorcing when he

was 5 years old. The father became

estranged from the son and ex-wife.

Cary Grant’s parents quarreled often,

causing the son to seek escape in

Saturday afternoon movies. His mother

was committed to a mental institution

when the boy was 10 years of age.

Franklin Delano Roosevelt was cared

for by a governess and tutored at home

Is the Only-ChildTrend Desirable?

My 22 Cents’ Worth

Walt Sonneville


until he was 14 years old, then sent off

to a boarding school.

These are examples from past

generations. What can be expected from

the adults of the Me Generation (the

1970s) and the Y Generation (1982-

2002)?

One writer characterized the Me

Generation as having an apparent

empathy deficit. In 2008 the TV show

60 Minutes had a program on the Y

Generation describing them as “cynical,

unaccustomed to hard work, and having

fragile egos because their childhoods

were filled with trophies and adulation,

unprepared for the cold realities of

work.”

Is there a cause-effect relationship

between the only-child trend and the

narcissistic sense of entitlement

attributed to the “Me” and “Y”

generations? We know an only child can

be hardworking and empathetic, but if

substantial numbers of them are not so

oriented, they can stigmatize their entire

generation and stunt a nation’s progress.

Our nation seems to be confronted

with conflicting values. While

overpopulation is a concern, having only

one child may create its own undesirable

effects.

There are several reasons why the one-

child trend has emerged. Economic

uncertainty, divorce, and the high costs

of childrearing are among them. The

percentage of U.S. children raised by one

parent (25.8 percent) is higher than any

of the 26 other industrialized nations.

Their average was 14.9 percent,

according to a study by the Organization

for Economic Cooperation and

Development.

One clear advantage of having an only

child is that it avoids the problems

associated with primogeniture—that is,

the age-old practice of giving the bulk of

one’s estate to the eldest son.

Walt Sonneville, a retired market-research

analyst, is the author of My 22 Cents’ Worth:The Higher-Valued Opinion of a SeniorCitizen, a book of personal-opinion essays,

free of partisan and sectarian viewpoints. AMusing Moment: Meditative Essays on Life andLearning, was released in January 2012.

Contact him at [email protected].

Celebrate Our Independence at the MoviesWhen the fireworks are over and

you’re out of hot dogs, what better way

to celebrate the Fourth of July than with

a good movie?

Match the following quotes to the

famous patriotic movie they’re from:

1. Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

2. Independence Day (1996)

3. The Patriot (2000)

4. Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)

5. Born on the Fourth of July (1989)

6. 1776 (1972)

A. “Whenever we get too high-hat and

too sophisticated for flag-waving, some

thug nation decides we’re a

pushover all ready to be

blackjacked. And it

isn’t long before we’re

looking up, mighty

anxiously, to be

sure the flag’s still

waving over us.”

B. “I have come to

the conclusion that

one useless man is

called a disgrace; that

two are called a law

firm; and that three or

more become a Congress!”

C. “People say that if

you don’t love

America, then get

the hell out.

Well, I love

America.”

D. “We are

fighting for

our right to

live. To exist.

And should we

win the day, the

Fourth of July will

no longer be known as

an American holiday, but

as the day the world declared in one

voice: ‘We will not go quietly into the

night!’”

E. “Liberty’s too precious a thing to be

buried in books, Miss Saunders. Men

should hold it up in front of them every

single day of their lives and say: ‘I’m free

to think and to speak. My ancestors

couldn’t, I can, and my children will.’”

F. “A shepherd must tend his flock. And,

at times, fight off the wolves.”

Answers: 1 (E); 2 (D); 3 (F); 4 (A); 5

(C); 6 (B)

50plus senior news chester county july 2012

Documents

senior newssmile

uif cjmjuz

idol page

ofwest chester

organ lessons

lifelong music lover

rusty gate

vickie kissingers bootstraps