Janice Ballenger, volunteer EMT and former deputy coroner. The local ambulanceassociation was on the scene with Ballenger during the aftermath of the shooting at the

West Nickel Mines School in October 2006.

By Chelsea Peifer

Whenever Janice Ballenger’s name was listed on the schedule as deputycoroner, the 911 dispatchers joked that they knew they were in for ademanding day.“My initial years as deputy coroner were filled with a lot of horrific calls,”

said Ballenger. “Scenes that I can never erase from my mind.”Ballenger, 62, had been working at a bank for 23 years when she read a

headline stating a need for volunteers for emergency situations—noexperience necessary.She began volunteering as a vehicle rescue technician before becoming an

emergency medical technician and then serving as her county’s first femaledeputy coroner from 2004 to 2008.“It was quite the struggle to balance working full time, volunteering as an

EMT, and doing deputy coroner calls 24 hours a week,” Ballenger said. “Theamount of time that is required to be a volunteer is unbelievable.”Ballenger volunteered for nearly 20 years. While beginning in her 40s was

a “late start,” she said that just proves that it is never too late to follow yourdreams.Volunteers are the world’s greatest unsung heroes, and many people have

no idea how much money is saved thanks to volunteer efforts, said Ballenger.“If I could say something to those aspiring to enter any of these fields, it

Volunteer EMT, Former Deputy

Coroner Heals by Writing Memoir

Penning a‘New Normal’

Dauphin County Edition January 2015 Vol. 17 No. 1

please see NEW NORMAL page 14

Costars RememberElvis the Actorpage 10

How to Fight AgeDiscriminationpage 12

Inside:

2 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews H www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

from

Year of the Sheep

Best Wishesfor a Joyful

2015!

Simply mail this form and $12 for an annual subscription to:

50 plus Senior News • 3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

Or, subscribe online at www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com!

Name: _______________________________________________________

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Please specify edition:

o Chester o Cumberland o Dauphin o Lancaster o Lebanon o York

Jan. 24 – The criminal trial of O.J. Simpson began inCalifornia. On Oct. 3, the Los Angeles jury found him notguilty of the murders of his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson,and her friend, Ronald Goldman. A civil court would award awrongful-death judgment against Simpson in 1997.

April 19 – A car bomb detonated outside the MurrahFederal Building in Oklahoma City, Okla., killing 168 people.Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were later convicted ofthe antigovernment plot to avenge the Branch Davidianstandoff in Waco, Texas, exactly two years prior.

Oct. 16 – The Million Man March, a political demonstrationto promote African-American unity and family values, drewhundreds of thousands of African-American men toWashington, D.C. Louis Farrakhan organized the event;speakers included Jesse Jackson, Maya Angelou, and Rosa Parks.

Dear Readers,Notice anything different on this issue’s front cover? It’s been 20 years since

the first issue of 50plus Senior News hit newsstands, and some traces of a rich,green hue signal the arrival of our “emerald anniversary”! A lot has changed for us in two decades. 50plus Senior News has expanded

to encompass six counties in Central Pennsylvania. Its contents now “come tolife” at six annual 50plus EXPOs. This publication that began as a humble yet passionate local effort to bring

news and entertainment to Central Pennsylvania’s seniors has gone on to garnerdozens of national awards.The designs of our logo, pages, and cover have evolved over the years, but

our commitment to serving the mind, heart, and spirit of the 50-plus communityhas stayed the same.Keep an eye out in the coming months for some special retrospective

features as we peek back at our beginnings in 1995—while still focusing on2015 and the exciting future ahead.

Happy New Year,

Donna Anderson, President On-Line Publishers, Inc.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews H January 2015 3

Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc.

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Central PA Poison Center

(800) 521-6110

Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging

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Gipe Floor & Wall Covering

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Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home, Inc.

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Alzheimer’s Association

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American Diabetes Association

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Arthritis Foundation – Central PA Chapter

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CONTACT Helpline

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The National Kidney Foundation

(717) 757-0604

(800) 697-7007

PACE

(800) 225-7223

Social Security Information

(800) 772-1213

Tri-County Association for the Blind

(717) 238-2531

PA Healthcare Cost Containment Council

(717) 232-6787

Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hard

of Hearing

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3-D Consultants

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Senior Home Repairs

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Homeland Hospice

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B’Nai B’rith Apartments

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Dauphin County Housing Authority

(717) 939-9301

Property Tax/Rent Rebate

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Apprise Insurance Counseling

(800) 783-7067

Daley Zucker Meilton & Miner, LLC

Attorneys at Law

635 N. 12th St., Lemoyne

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Homeland Center

1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg

(717) 221-7902

Homeland Center

1901 N. Fifth St., Harrisburg

(717) 221-7902

CVS/pharmacy

www.cvs.com

Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging

(717) 255-2790

The Salvation Army

Edgemont Temple Corps

(717) 238-8678

American Lung Association

(800) LUNG-USA

Bureau of Consumer Protection

(800) 441-2555

Meals on Wheels

(800) 621-6325

National Council on Aging

(800) 424-9046

Social Security Office

(800) 772-1213

Veterans Affairs

(717) 626-1171 or (800) 827-1000

CAT Share-A-Ride

(717) 232-6100

Lebanon VA Medical Center

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(717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771

Legal Services

Home Modifications

Personal Care Homes

Hearing Services

Nursing/Rehab

Pharmacy

Funeral Directors

Cremation

Veterans Services

Hospice ServicesTransportation

Toll-Free Numbers

Services

Insurance

Housing Assistance

Housing/Apartments

Healthcare Information

Health & Medical Services

Floor Coverings

Emergency

This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made an extended commitment to your health and well-being.

Resource Directory

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

By John Johnston

Happy New Year from Social Security!Put down the champagne and ring in theNew Year with a COLA! And we don’tmean the soda. In 2015, nearly 64 million Americans

who receive Social Security orSupplemental Security Income (SSI) willreceive a 1.7 percent cost-of-livingadjustment (COLA) increase to theirmonthly benefit payments.

The average monthly Social Securitybenefit for a retired worker in 2015 is$1,328 (up from $1,306 in 2014). Theaverage monthly Social Security benefitfor a disabled worker in 2015 is $1,165(up from $1,146 in 2014). For people who receive SSI, the

maximum federal payment amountincreased to $733 (up from $721 in2014).Other Social Security changes in 2015

are also worth noting. For example, the

maximum amount of earnings subject tothe Social Security payroll tax willincrease to $118,500 (up from $117,000in 2014). A worker will earn one credit toward

Social Security coverage after paying taxeson $1,220 in earnings in 2015 (up from$1,200 in 2014). As a reminder,eligibility for retirement benefits stillrequires 40 credits (usually about 10 yearsof work).Information about Medicare changes

for 2015 is available at www.medicare.gov.The Social Security Act outlines how

the COLA is calculated. To read moreabout the COLA, please visitwww.socialsecurity.gov/cola. To learn more about other changes in

2015, read our fact sheet atwww.socialsecurity.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2015.html.

John Johnston is a Social Security publicaffairs specialist.

Social Security Announces 2015 COLA

Social Security News

4 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews H www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

50plus Senior News is published by On-Line Publishers, Inc.and is distributed monthly among senior centers, retirementcommunities, 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 ofadvertisements for products or services does not constitute anendorsement of the particular product or service. The publisher will notbe responsible for mistakes in advertisements unless notified within fivedays of publication. On-Line Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to reviseor reject any and all advertising. No part of this publication may bereproduced or reprinted without permission of On-Line Publishers, Inc.

We will not knowingly publish any advertisement or information notin compliance with the Federal Fair Housing Act, Pennsylvania State lawsor other local laws.

Corporate Office:3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512Phone 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:

717.285.1350E-mail address:

info@onlinepub.comWebsite address:

www.onlinepub.com

PRESIDENT AND PUBLISHERDonna K. Anderson

EDITORIALVICE PRESIDENT AND MANAGING EDITOR

Christianne RuppEDITOR, 50PLUS PUBLICATIONS

Megan Joyce

ART DEPARTMENTPROJECT COORDINATORRenee McWilliamsPRODUCTION ARTIST

Janys Cuffe

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENTACCOUNT EXECUTIVESAngie McComsey Jacoby

Amy KiefferRanee Shaub Miller

ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVESChristina CardamoneKristy Neideigh

SALES & EVENT COORDINATOREileen Culp

EVENTS MANAGER

Kimberly Shaffer

CIRCULATIONPROJECT COORDINATORLoren Gochnauer

ADMINISTRATIONBUSINESS MANAGER

Elizabeth Duvall

Member of

Member of

Winner

Pete Billis was born in Greece.His home was the island ofChios, one of those

picturesque Greek islands that todaydraw millions of tourists to sharetheir beauty.In 1970, however, his dad found

the U.S. a lot more attractive, andhe, with his wife and three children,left for Central Pennsylvania. Whyhere? “Because that’s where my dad’s

sister and friends of our family wereliving,” Billis says.The area quickly became home to

Billis, and he was soon speakingEnglish without an accent. Aftergraduation from McCaskey HighSchool in 1982, he enteredMillersville University, graduating in1986. He then “wanted to do something

for his country and to see theworld,” as he puts it. So he enlistedin the Air Force.He had basic training in Texas at

Lackland Air Force Base. Whilethere, an Air Force master sergeanthe knew suggested that he take in-flight refueling as a career field. Normally, you had to complete a

more basic assignment for three ormore years after basic training beforerequesting assignment to in-flightrefueling, but a special Air Forceprogram briefly opened the programup, and Billis took it.After air crew training at

Sheppard AFB in Texas, and thenland- and water-survival training atFairchild AFB in Washington, he wasassigned to advanced training as anin-flight fueling specialist at CastleAFB in California. Upon graduation, he was qualified

to fly in KC-135 Stratotankers asthey refueled aircraft in flight. Hewas home-based at Grissom AFB inIndiana while flying missions inmany parts of the world.The KC-135 was the Air Force’s

first jet-powered refueling tanker. Itwas needed in order to keep up withthe speed of the Air Force’s new jetfighters and bombers. Holding more than 30,000

gallons of aviation fuel, it was able to

transfer the fuel in flight that ourbombers and fighters needed inorder to extend their range for longflights or, for the fighters, to extendthe loiter time on station.The fuel was transferred through a

boom at the tail section of the KC-135, with the receiving plane onlyfeet from the tail of the tanker. Thepilot of the KC-135 and thereceiving airplane had to carefullymaintain exactly the same speed andposition throughout the refueling. The boom operator of the KC135

lay on his belly while he peered out asmall window and carefullymaneuvered the boom through asmall port near the nose of theairplane following behind and belowhim. At that time, the success of themission was literally in his hands.

Did it take a lot of skill to do hisjob? “Not according to the Air Force

after all the training they gave us,”Billis says with a grin. “But livesdepended on our ability to do itright. Both bombers and interceptorsroutinely flew missions that requiredin-flight refueling. And thathappened around the world.” Did Billis ever have a time when

things didn’t go well? “Well,” he reflects, “there was one

time when our F-16s were scrambledto meet Russian bombers off Icelandthat were trying to penetraterestricted airspace. It was nighttime,and we were at 30,000 feet when Ineeded to refuel an F-16 whose lighton the receiving port had failed, andI had to find the port in the dark. “It was touch and go, but

fortunately, I was able to handle that,and the F-16 pilot was saved from astark experience, since the F-16s,because of the foulest weather atIceland, had to fly on to England toland after the mission.”Often they were called upon to

refuel the AWACS aircraft we used inorder to conduct missions in Iranand Afghanistan. And they weresometimes tasked to fuel aircraftbeing flown in efforts to control drugtrafficking.In October 1993, Billis, by then a

sergeant, was discharged and camehome to Central Pennsylvania. Hebecame a distributor of PepperidgeFarm products, and then in 2002established his own eBay business,selling collectibles, mostly stamps andcoins.Asked what he thinks about his

years in the Air Force, he says, “Theywere wonderful years. I met some ofthe finest people in this world. Infact, one of my greatest regrets is thatI didn’t stay in until retirement. “It’s not that I’m not happy now

… but for me, the Air Force was awonderful and very special place tobe.”

Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber inEurope in World War II.

In an Air Force Plane, He Brought theGas to You … 30,000 Gallons at a Time

Robert D. Wilcox

Salute to a Veteran

Sgt. Peter Billis in the pilot’scompartment of a KC-135 Stratotanker.

Sgt. Billis on leave in 1992.

A herniated spinal disk can causesevere pain. Spinal disks act as cushionsbetween your vertebrae, and if theybecome damaged or slip out of place,they can irritate surrounding nerves. The result: weakness, numbness,

and/or pain in arms, legs, or back. Watchfor these risk factors to assess yourvulnerability:

Age. Spinal disks degenerate over time,becoming less flexible and more likely totear as you grow older.

Weight. Extra weight puts more of astrain on your lower back.

Lifting. If your job (or your personallife) requires you to do a lot of heavylifting, be sure to pick objects upproperly and safely to avoid injury.

Genetics. The Mayo Clinic websitepoints out that some people inherit atendency to develop disks that herniateeasily.

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id you get a piece of jewelrythis holiday season? Jewelry is a very popular type

of collectible. In addition to sprucing upan outfit, jewelry pieces, precious metals,and gemstones hold their value well inthe antiques and vintage marketplace. So, storing these valuables is

important. Gold and silver

pieces can get scratchedwhen stored next toeach other or next toother pieces in a jewelrybox. These preciousmetals can damagefragile jewelry items,like pearls and shells,too. Store gold pieces by themselves or in a

felt- or velvet-lined box when possible.Gold necklaces ideally should be storedhanging up by their clasp to preventdamage. Gold bracelets should be storedflat when possible. Bangles need their own storage boxes

to prevent dents and damage too. Always store pearls separately in a

padded case or jewelry compartment.This will prevent damage to the soft,cultured pearl’s luster surface.

And, pearls should be restrung as soonas you notice that the individual knotsare getting stretched out or loose. Youwill lose the pearls if the string breaks—Iguarantee it. For gemstones set in rings, use ring

holders that separate set stones and theirsettings from one another. This will

prevent scrapes andscratches and retain astone’s clarity, too. Watches should not be

stopped when stored. Letthe watch run so you donot damage the battery ormovement. Store watchesflat, and use a soft clothto cover the dial andprotect the crystal face

when storing them. When it comes to fine jewelry,

protecting your investment goes hand inhand with proper storage.

Celebrity Ph.D. antiques appraiser, author, andaward-winning TV personality, Dr. Lori hostsantiques appraisal events worldwide. Dr. Lori isthe star appraiser on Discovery channel’s TVshow Auction Kings. Visit www.DrLoriV.com,www.Facebook.com/DoctorLori, Lori Verderameat Google+, or call (888) 431-1010.

Jewelry Storage Tips

Art and Antiques by Dr. Lori

Lori Verderame

D

Disk Damage: Watch Your Back

SPRING 2015: It’s Just Around the Corner!

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Dear Mark: I know that you haveclearly stated multiple times in yourcolumn that casinos do not cheat. I amstill leery of your belief. I guess myquestion is: Who monitors the casino

to ensure their slot machines are on theup-and-up? – Jared J.

Every state that offers land-basedcasinos has some form of a gaming

regulatory agency that provides you, thecasino patron, with protection fromplaying on a rigged machine.Let’s begin with the machine itself.

Each new slot machine goes throughroughly a six-month process to beapproved before it hits thecasino floor.A state’s gaming

regulatory agency tests themachine to make sure that itoperates randomly byscrutinizing how it selectsthe reel stops on a slotmachine. The agency does a

thorough inspection of the machine’ssource code for any possible problemsand then peeks at the principles behindhow the random generation occurs. Only then is the machine placed out

in the field (casino) for more testingbefore final approval.

After the proverbial two thumbs up,the manufacturer can then sell thatconfiguration of that slot machine to thecasino. Testing then continues once themachine is placed into operation.For starters, the machine will run self-

tests to make sure ithasn’t been tamperedwith; plus, it makessure it runs withincertain parameters—meaning it doesn’tpay out too little ortoo much. These internal

tests also look outfor the casino’s best interest in that theymake sure the slot machine isn’tsusceptible to cheating.In most (if not all) states, machines

are also subject to random spot checks inwhich someone from gaming verifies thata machine is identical to the approved

6 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews H www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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On a separate sheet, please type or print in ink:

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• A name, address, and phone number for the nominee(s)—no photos, please

No posthumous selections will be made.This form must be used for all entries but may be photocopied.

For more information, please call (717) 285-1350.

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Who Watches Them?‘Them’ Being the Casino

Deal Me InBy Mark Pilarski

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews H January 2015 7

Kenneth Leroy Dietrich and Ruth Elizabeth(Pannebaker) Dietrich of Harrisburg recently celebratedtheir 67th wedding anniversary. They were married inHarrisburg on Dec. 13, 1947.Mr. Dietrich, of Lykens, retired from Brenner

Motors and is a World War II veteran. Mrs. Dietrich,of Thompsontown, retired from the state ofPennsylvania.They are the parents of three daughters: Janice

Brown, Gillett, Pa.; Nancy Jo Dietrich, Harrisburg; andPatti Roberts, Pottstown. They have five grandchildren.

Harrisburg Couple

Marks 67 Years

configuration, it has not been tamperedwith, and the chips in the machine matchthe reference chips approved by theagency.Agents in the field show up

unannounced and armed with a laptopcomputer that has a database of all thechip signatures. Each chip has a codenumber that contains all its attributes,including its return percentages. Agents will know on the spot if the

chip is legit by inserting the chip intotheir specialized laptop; it reads the chipand all its contents to certify that it is anapproved value chip. Any hanky panky (Tommy James and

the Shondells, 1966), and we’re talkingthe possible loss of a gaming license.Besides, most casinos today are publiclytraded companies not interested inexposing their gaming license to loss withany suspicion of monkey business goingon.Furthermore, in some states, casinos

can’t even access the logic boards in theirmachines. Only the gaming authority caneither make the change or witness theswap.Some states do allow casinos to make

variations to slot machines under thatstate’s regulations. By variations, I meaneither a paytable modification or a chipswap inside a machine to make it returnmore or less.

As long as “approved” chips are used,and the payback is within the minimumlimit set by each state’s law, it is legit.Another reason the slot machine is on

the up-and-up is that every machineoffered is mathematically in the casino’sfavor. It is the way they make theirmoolah—by paying you less than the trueodds on every machine on the casinofloor. Why cheat? There isn’t any need to

swindle you beyond what the statealready allows them via the casino hold.They don’t call slot machines “one-armedbandits” for nothin’.Please take into account, Jared, that

my above answer is to some degreegeneralized. Each gaming jurisdictionmay use a slightly different approach, butyou can rest assured that who’s watchingwhom is watching out for you.

Gambling Wisdom of the Month: “Slotmachines are the cotton candy and theMcDonald’s of the casino. Everyoneknows that they’re bad for you, but fewcan resist their junk-food appeal.” –Andrew Brisman

Mark Pilarski is a recognized authority oncasino gambling, having survived 18 years inthe casino trenches. Pilarski is the creator ofthe bestselling, award-winning audio bookseries on casino gambling, Hooked onWinning. www.markpilarski.com

We may not be moving toward acashless society, but for some people,paying with plastic is the preferred wayto go. A survey from CreditCard.com found

that 51 percent of adults under 30 willuse a credit or debit card for purchasesless than $5, while 77 percent of people50 or older prefer to pay cash whenbuying something for $5 or less.

Debit cards are more popular thancredit cards among the youngergeneration by a 3-to-1 margin and holda 2-to-1 lead among users of all ages. Americans held balances on credit

cards in the amount of half a trilliondollars by the end of the first half of2014, according to the Federal ReserveBank of New York.

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Traveltizers Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

By Andrea Gross

I’m a sucker for superlatives. Mypersonal bucket list demands that Ivisit as many “ests” as possible, places

that hold the record for being thehighest, hottest, or in some way the verybest of their category. I thought compiling the list would be

simple, especially after I limited it to theUnited States, but of course it wasn’t. Iran into myriad problems ofmeasurement and definition. Eventually I came up with my own

criteria, based as much on practicalityand desirability as on quantifiable data.Here, my recommendations for the

Best of the Ests:

Highest I have no intention of actually

climbing the tallest peak, which rules outAlaska’s Mt. McKinley (20,237 feet), yetI want to do more than peer toward theheavens. Thus I head for Colorado’s Mount

Evans. At 14,265 feet, Mount Evans is apigmy among giants, but—and this isimportant—it’s home to the highestpaved road. This means I can drive almost all the

way to the country’s highest parking lot,

walk a mere quarter mile to the summit,and voila, I’ll be standing atop thehighest reasonably accessible peak in theU.S.The highway was built between 1917

and 1927 as a means of drawing tourists.

It worked. Today, the scenic drive—atwo-lane ribbon that winds betweentowering evergreens, open meadows, andlovely alpine lakes—is one of Colorado’stop attractions. (www.mountevans.com)

Lowest Choosing the lowest spot is easy. Since

I quickly rule out deep-sea diving anddescending into a mine, I’m left withDeath Valley, Calif., which is the lowestpoint of dry land that was formed bynature as opposed to by man-and-shovel.The valley’s precise lowest point (282

feet below sea level) is near BadwaterBasin, which sits amidst nearly 200square miles of salt flats. A boardwalk lets visitors walk part

way into the basin, but most folks stepdown onto the actual flats. Thelandscape is bizarre but beautiful, apattern of interlocking shapes created bythe valley’s unique combination ofextreme heat, minimal rainfall, and lowelevation. (www.nps.gov/deva/index.htm)

A Quest for the Ests: Visiting the Extremes of the United States

Photo courtesy of National Park Service

A boardwalk at Badwater Basin leads froma parking lot to the salt flats that mark the

lowest point in the United States.

Photo courtesy of National Park Service

The salt flats of Death Valley are nothospitable to plants or animals.

People who take a short hike fromthe highest paved parking lot in theU.S. to the summit of Mt. Evans canbrag that they’ve climbed one ofColorado’s famous Fourteeners(mountains that rise more than14,000 feet above sea level).

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews H January 2015 9

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Photo courtesy of Forks Chamber of Commerce

Forks, Wash., is the gateway to therainforests of Olympic National Park.

Great Sand Dunes National Park has thetallest dunes in North America.

Photo courtesy of Mount Washington Observatory

Scientists at the Mount WashingtonObservatory work in a place that’sreputed to have the worst weatherin the world.

DriestHere I run into trouble. Calexico, a

small town on the California-Mexicoborder, has the lowest annual rainfall,but Death Valley has the mostconsecutive days with no rainfall. In the end I opt for neither. In my

mind, “dry” suggests a place where I canmount a camel and ride endless milesacross towering sand dunes. Calexico isdune-less, and while Death Valley hasdunes, they aren’t record-setters. For that I have to go to Great Sand

Dunes National Park in Colorado,which, although devoid of camels, has750-foot-tall sand piles, the highest inNorth America. Later I learn that the dunes aren’t

really dry. In fact, it’s the moist layer ofsand right under the surface that holdsthe upper dry sand in place. But that’s OK. At this point in my

Quest-Est, I’m more concerned withimagery than scientific accuracy.(www.nps.gov/grsa/index.htm)

Wettest As for the wettest place, I must choose

between the soggiest land or the drippiestsky. Since I don’t have a pair of wet bootsbut own several umbrellas, I decide onHawaii’s Mount Waleleale. Then I learn that the mountain’s

average rainfall exceeds 38 feet a year—afact that greatly dampens my enthusiasm(pardon the pun)—so I restrict my searchto the contiguous United States and endup on Washington’s Olympic Peninsula.While the Aberdeen Reservoir is the

rainiest place, with 130.6 inches a year,Forks is the rainiest town, with 120inches a year.

More important, it’s given thisaccolade not only by the NationalClimatic Data Center, but also byStephenie Meyer, who used it as a settingfor her Twilight book series. Why, I may even spot a vampire along

the shore or amidst the trees, and thismakes Forks a double superlative—winner of both the wettest and theweirdest categories. (www.forkswa.com)

ColdestOnce I exclude non-contiguous

Alaska, Rogers Pass, Mont., holds therecord for a one-day temperature low(minus 70 F), but the peak of NewHampshire’s Mount Washington winsthe title for all-time year-around cold(annual average temperature of 27 F). In addition, with wind gusts that

sometimes reach more than 230 mph,it’s also considered the windiest place inthe United States.Therefore, with masochistic

determination I head to the summit. Theroad is steep, narrow, and bordered withdeadly drop-offs. But am I glad I went? Absolutely. The

view on top is spectacular and, what’smore, at the Weather Discovery Centerin nearby North Conway I learn thatMount Washington holds braggingrights to the best Est of all: Home of theWorld’s Worst Weather.It’s a perfect way to end my search.

The title of “worst” makes MountWashington the “best.”(www.mountwashington.org)

Photos © Irv Green unless otherwise noted;story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com).

10 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews H www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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STARTING AT

For many, the title “King of Rock’n’ Roll” is reserved for one man:Elvis Presley. Had he lived, the

King would have celebrated his 80thbirthday on Jan. 8, 2015.Unlike most departed singers who are

remembered largely for their music,Presley lives on through a phenomenalnumber of appearances in scriptedmotion pictures—31 in all—beginningwith Love Me Tender in 1956 and ending13 years later with Change of Habit in1969. His movies provide a unique glimpse

into another dimension of one of the 20thcentury’s greatest entertainers.Although his films were often

dismissed due to weak and predictablescripts, critics generally regarded Presleyas a surprisingly good actor. But whatdid costars think about working withPresley?In 1966, 10-year-old Donna

Butterworth costarred in Paradise,Hawaiian Style, the second Presley filmset in Hawaii.“My mom and dad took me to see

Blue Hawaii when I was just a little girl,and I fell in love with him right then andthere,” said Butterworth. “I used to listen

to his records, and I couldn’t get enoughElvis.”Butterworth recalls filming her first

scene on the cliffs of Makapuu, onOahu.“I had to run up into Elvis’s arms and

call out, ‘Uncle Rick, Uncle Rick.’ But I

had only met him a few minutes beforethat. So when the director called ‘action,’I ran up and got in his arms and his facewas about 4 inches from my face. “After all the anticipation of meeting

Elvis Presley and working with him, Ijust froze. I couldn’t believe I was so closeto this beautiful man! All the crewcracked up because they knew I was soenamored. In fact, Elvis laughed thehardest—he just loved to laugh.”Unlike Butterworth, 7-year-old Susan

Olsen wasn’t a Presley fan when shebriefly appeared in the talent-contestaudition scene in Presley’s second-to-lastfilm, The Trouble with Girls (1969).“I couldn’t understand all the hype

over him, and I didn’t even think he wasgood-looking!” said Olsen, who went onto play youngest daughter Cindy on thepopular ’60s TV show The Brady Bunch.That changed after their first brief

encounter.

Costars Remember Elvis the Actor

Tinseltown Talks

Nick Thomas

Donna Butterworth and Elvis inParadise, Hawaiian Style

Marlyn Mason and Elvis in The Trouble with Girls

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews H January 2015 11

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“I remember that a bunch of the kids’mothers suddenly started screaming.Elvis had come out of his dressing room,and they crowded around him forautographs. So I thought, ‘What theheck! I’ll get one too.’ “So I went up to him—and I’m not

making this up—when he looked at me,I thought, ‘Oh, I get it! I see why theylike him so much.’ He had this specialaura about him. I was just dumbstruck; Icouldn’t say anything. He signed thephoto, handed it to me, and said, ‘Hereya go, darling.’”Presley’s leading lady in The Trouble

with Girls came away with more thanjust an autograph. Marlyn Masonsnagged an on-screen kiss.“It was a comedy kiss,” said Mason,

indicating that the only fireworks werethe real ones in the movie scene.“He was great fun to work with,

because I could throw anything at himand he’d just throw it right back.”She also recalls a private moment

when Presley shared thoughts about hisacting.“The saddest thing Elvis said to me

was, ‘I’d like to make one good filmbecause I know people in this town laughat me.’ I’ll never forget that,” she said. “But he was always down to earth and

comfortable with himself. Some of that

dialogue wasso corny, buthe managedto bring arealness to it.And I thinkthat’s justhow he wasin real life.He was anaturalcomedian,and histiming wasjustimpeccable. Ijust found him tobe a very genuineperson.”Despite his

fame, WillHutchins saysPresley didn’t playthe celebrity,although he wasusuallyaccompanied onmost of his filmsby pals—the so-called MemphisMafia.“On the set, Elvis was like a host—a

Southern gentleman—making sure

everyone washaving a goodtime,” saidHutchins,who firstworked inSpinout(1966).The

following yearhe costarredwith Presleyin Clambake,whichfeatured a lotof ad-libbing

and foolingaround on the set.“It was more

or less a de factostag party becauseElvis was gettingmarried soon afterthe filming wasfinished,” recalledHutchins. “Elvisand his buddieswould set offfirecrackers. It waspretty wild, but a

lot of fun. For the director’s birthday,they had a cake and pushed it right in hisface!”

Wilda Taylor appeared in three ElvisPresley films but strutted into Presleymovie history as exotic dancer LittleEgypt in Roustabout (1964).“We rehearsed for about two weeks,”

said Taylor. “Elvis was in and out of therehearsal hall every so often between hisother busy filming days for the otherscenes. He knew his material and musicwell, and I grew to admire him a greatdeal. “It’s amazing, through the years, how

many people know about me and LittleEgypt from that film. Oddly enough, Ireally didn’t know much about Elvisbefore we worked together, but I foundhim to be a lovely, darling person, and Iwas just pleased to be a small part of hislife.”With each passing decade since his

death in 1977 at age 42, the Elvis Presleylegend and legacy continue to grow.When viewed in the context of the oftenzany ’60s TV and film period, it isgratifying that there exists such anextensive film library of the mostcelebrated entertainer in history.

Thomas’ features and columns have appearedin more than 400 magazines and newspapers,and he is the author of Raised by the Stars,published by McFarland. He can be reachedat his blog: http://getnickt.blogspot.com

Wilda Taylor as Little Egypt with Elvis in Roustabout

Will Hutchins and Elvis in Clambake

12 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews H www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Dauphin County

Calendar of EventsPrograms and Support Groups

Dauphin County Department of Parks and Recreation

Jan. 6, 7 to 8:30 p.m. – Winter Lecture Series: “The Power of One Voice: A 50-Year Perspective on RachelCarson,” Wildwood Park

Jan. 20, 7 to 8:30 p.m. – Winter Lecture Series: “Gifford Pinchot: More than a Forester,” Wildwood ParkWednesdays, Jan. 28 to March 18, 6 to 8 p.m. – Fly-tying Classes with Doc Fritchey Chapter of Trout

Unlimited, Wildwood Park

Free and open to the public.

Senior Center Activities

Jan. 13, 6 to 7 p.m.Alzheimer’s Caregivers SupportGroupGraysonview Personal CareCommunity150 Kempton Ave., Harrisburg(717) 561-8010

Jan. 15 1:30 p.m.Hershey Area AARP Chapter No.3466 MeetingSpring Creek Church of theBrethren335 E. Areba Ave., Hershey(717) 832-3282

Jan. 21, 1:30 p.m.Parkinson’s Support Group on EastShoreJewish Home of Harrisburg4004 Linglestown RoadHarrisburg(717) 441-8627

Jan. 27, 6 p.m.Susquehanna Rovers VolksmarchWalking Club Gander Mountain5005 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg(717) 991-5232

Jan. 28, 7 p.m.Piecemakers Quilt Guild ofMiddletownSt. Peter’s Lutheran ChurchSpring and Union streets,Middletown(717) 915-5555gsk1308@gmail.com

If you have an event you would like toinclude, please email information to

mjoyce@onlinepub.com for consideration.

Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682,www.rutherfordhouse.orgWednesdays, 10 a.m. – AerobicsThursdays, 10 a.m. – Healthy Steps in MotionFridays, noon – Chair Yoga

Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.

Dauphin County Library Programs

Kline Branch, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-3934Jan. 22, 6:30 p.m. – Friends of the Kline Library Meeting

William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library,200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949Jan. 6, 6:30 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book ClubJan. 14, 6 p.m. – Second Wednesday CinemaJan. 15, 6 to 8 p.m. – Knitting Club

Dear Savvy Senior,What constitutes age discrimination in

the workplace, and where can I turn forhelp if I think I’ve got a case?– Demoted at 64

Dear Demoted,Age discrimination has become a

much more frequent complaint in recentyears as more and more people areworking into their retirement years. But, you need to be aware that proving

it is extremely difficult to do, especiallysince the 2009 Supreme Court decisionthat raised the bar for the type of legalproof that workers need to win age-discrimination lawsuits.With that said, here are the steps you’ll

need to take to fight age discrimination ifyou think you’ve been treated unlawfully.

ADEAProtectionThe Age

Discriminationin EmploymentAct (ADEA) isyour firstdefense againstagediscrimination.This is a federallaw that says anemployercannot fire,refuse to hire, or treat you differentlyfrom other employees because of yourage. Some examples of age discrimination

include:

• You werefired becauseyour bosswanted tokeep youngerworkers whoare paid less.

• You wereturned downfor apromotion,which went tosomeone

younger hired from outside the company,because the boss says the company“needs new blood.”

• When company layoffs are announced,most of the persons laid off were older,

while younger workers with less seniorityand less on-the-job experience were kepton.

• Before you were fired, your supervisormade age-related remarks about you.

• You didn’t get hired because theemployer wanted a younger-lookingperson to do the job.

The ADEA protects all workers andjob applicants age 40 and over who workfor employers that have 20 or moreemployees—including federal, state, andlocal governments as well as employmentagencies and labor unions.If your workplace has fewer than 20

employees, you may still be protectedunder your state’s anti-age-discrimination

How to Fight Age Discrimination

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews H January 2015 13

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law. Contact your state labordepartment or your state’s fairemployment practices agency for moreinformation.Another protection for older workers

is the federal Older Workers BenefitProtection Act. Under this law, anemployer cannot reduce health or lifeinsurance benefits for older employees,nor can it stop their pensions fromaccruing if they work past their normalretirement age. It also discourages businesses from

targeting older workers when cuttingstaff and prohibits employers fromforcing employees to take earlyretirement.

What to DoIf you think you are a victim of

employment age discrimination, yourfirst step is to file a charge with theEqual Employment OpportunityCommission (EEOC) usually within180 days from the date of the allegedviolation. You can do this by mail or in person

at your nearest EEOC office (seewww.eeoc.gov/contact) or by calling (800)669-4000. They will help you throughthe filing process and let you know ifyou should also file a charge with yourstate anti-discrimination agency.

Once the charge is filed, the EEOCwill investigate your complaint and findeither reasonable cause to believe thatage discrimination has occurred or nocause and no basis for a claim. After the investigation, the EEOC

will then send you their findings alongwith a “notice of right to sue,” whichgives you permission to file a lawsuit ina court of law.If you decide to sue, you’ll need to

hire a lawyer who specializes inemployee discharge suits. Lawyers.comand FindLaw (www.findlaw.com) are twowebsites that can help you locatediscrimination attorneys in your area.Another option you should consider

is mediation, which is a fair and efficientway to help you resolve youremployment disputes and reach anagreement. The EEOC offers mediation at no

cost if your current or former employeragrees to participate. At mediation, youshow up with your evidence, youremployer presents theirs, and themediator makes a determination withina day or less.

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to theNBC Today show and author of The SavvySenior Book. www.savvysenior.org

Your guide to choosing the rightliving and care options for you

or a loved one.

19th Edition Now Available!

Call today foryour free copy!(717) 285-1350

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14 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews H www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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would be that these ‘jobs’ are not asglamorous as portrayed on television,”Ballenger said. “They require a hugeamount of commitment and an ever-larger amount of caring and compassion.“They are not for the faint of heart,

but you will make a difference—andthat’s what it’s all about.”Her goal was to express empathy and

caring on every call she responded to.“Even if it was a man with knee pain

he’d had for three weeks and [he then]decides to dial 911 at 3 a.m.,” saidBallenger. “In their opinion, when theydial 911, it is one of the worst days oftheir lives, and I respect that.”Performing CPR on calls for people

she knew was very difficult.“I literally had to be pulled off of the

one man by the doctor at the hospital ashe announced time of death,” Ballengersaid. “A little bit of you dies with theperson.”Successful and unsuccessful suicides, as

well as calls involving children, are alwaysthe most difficult, she said.But on Oct. 2, 2006, she responded to

a call that nothing could have preparedher for.Ballenger was one of the first

responders to the shooting at the West

Nickel Mines School, where a manentered the schoolhouse and lined up 10young Amish girls before shooting themexecution style. Five of the girls died; thegunman later took his own life.“I was one

of the few toenter theschool withthe deadbodies stillinside,”Ballenger said.She asked

the localambulancecrew to cleanone of thegirl’s facesbecause shedid not wantthe child’s mother to see her face entirelycovered in blood.“They said they had been told not to

touch her. I said, ‘I will take fullresponsibility and will risk my job on it,’”Ballenger recalled. “They agreed and wereflawless in their work. I am foreverindebted.“I was on scene from approximately

11 a.m. until midnight,” she said. “I still

have no idea how I made it home.”That night, Ballenger had to complete

her reports from the haunting tragedythat she had barely begun to process.“As I downloaded the pictures, it all

seemed surreal,”said Ballenger.Before she

could beginprocessing anyfurther, herphone began toring nonstop. “CNN called

to say they wereon their way tomy home. Isaid, ‘Absolutelynot.’”Ballenger

took two weeksoff from everything. She visited theambulance crew to thank them foreverything that they did for the victimsand families.“It was very emotional. I couldn’t

thank them enough for cleaning herface,” Ballenger said. “And I didn’t get introuble.”She met with counselors and visited

with the Amish families who lost their

children on that day.“I still keep in contact with them. I

always leave their homes feeling a littlebetter,” Ballenger said.Her mind kept revisiting the inside of

the Amish school, and in an effort to finda “new normal,” Ballenger decided tomove and sell nearly everything that sheowned.“In hindsight, I wish I hadn’t done

that,” Ballenger said. “But I was desperateto try to find a normal place in mymind.”She tried crafts and other endeavors to

occupy her mind, but writing a memoirabout her experiences was what finallygave her a greater sense of peace.Ballenger had been keeping journals of

her experiences since she startedvolunteering.“As I began seeing some gruesome

sights, I needed a way to vent myemotions. My brother, John, gave me alined journal and when I would returnhome from a call, I recorded myemotions in the journal—which turnedinto many, many journals,” Ballengerexplained.She spent the next two years writing

her first book, Addicted to Life & Death:Memoirs of an EMT & Deputy Coroner.

NEW NORMAL from page 1

Ballenger gives talks in the community about herexperiences and about her memoir, Addicted to Life

& Death: Memoirs of an EMT & Deputy Coroner.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews H January 2015 15

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She gives free talks in the communityabout her book and experiences andbrings a guest speaker with her to discusssuicide and its effects on those leftbehind. She includes instructions ongiving CPR in her talks.“Some people have said, ‘I guess you

get used to seeing the things you see.’No, you never get used to it. If you do,then it is time to get out of doing thatwork,” Ballenger said. “Others ask how I could do that

work. I reply, ‘Everyone has their placeon Earth. I am blessed that I was able todo that work for many, many years.

Someone has to do it. But don’t ask meto be a dental hygienist—I could neverdo that work.”Ballenger is a still a certified EMT but

does not run on calls. She works at askilled nursing facility near Ephrata. Ballenger is available to speak about

her experiences and can be reached at(717) 606-3494, janiceballenger@yahoo.com, or at her Facebook page:www.facebook.com/AddictedToLifeDeathMemoirsOfAnEmtDeputyCoroner.Her book is available online or can be

purchased directly through Ballenger; shewill sign them as requested.

VolunteerSpotlight

VolunteerSpotlight

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.

RSVP of the CapitalRegion has namedShirley Disend as itsDauphin CountyVolunteer of the Monthfor January.Disend has been a

volunteer with RSVP forfour years and hasvolunteered in severalcapacities. Initially, shevolunteered as a clericalassistant at the Hospice of CentralPennsylvania. Soon after, she added to her service

to the community as a knitter,knitting and crocheting items to bedonated to veterans or children inneed. Currently, she spends most of her

time maintaining the Five SensesGarden on the Capital Area Greenbeltin Harrisburg, a one-of-a-kind sensoryexperience started in 1996. The garden has held its ground

(and flowers and wildlife) despitetorrential floods and environmentaladversity because of Disend’sleadership in concert with the effortsof other volunteers and the skillfulhands of its groundskeepers.

Disend turns in anaverage of almost 20hours per week duringthe height of the growingseason and can be foundin the garden as early asFebruary and as late asThanksgiving. In cases where the

weather doesn’t permither to be in the garden,she returns to knitting

and crocheting to let others know theyare thought about. RSVP would like to thank Shirley

Disend for her willingness to share hertime and talents in service to thegreater Harrisburg community. Herdedication is exemplary and inspiringto all who want to lead by exampleand become leaders in thecommunity.

For more information on volunteeropportunities with RSVP, thenation’s largest volunteer programfor adults aged 55-plus, emaildauphinrsvp@rsvpcapreg.org, visitwww.rsvcapreg.org, or call RSVP’s CampHill office at (717) 541-9521 or thestatewide Senior Corps of Pennsylvaniahotline toll-free at (800) 870-2616.

Shirley Disend

Volunteer CultivatesCommunity Garden

16 January 2015 50plus SeniorNews H www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com