york county 50plus senior news august 2012

20
By Katie Weeber Some people enjoy plants, purchasing a few potted blooms each summer to decorate their backyards, while others are born with natural green thumbs. Francesca McNichol is one of the latter. McNichol has been using her greenery prowess to grow a new crop of gardeners. As a member of a local garden club, McNichol has helped organize and run several successful gardening initiatives that have brought the knowledge of growing living things to adults and children alike, including a community garden and a junior gardening class for inner-city youth. McNichol’s introduction to gardening came naturally, starting with her childhood home on Long Island, N.Y. “My mother loved roses. When I was younger, she had a beautiful rose garden,” McNichol said. In addition to the rose garden, there was a rock garden and other beautiful, growing plants that McNichol’s mother cultivated around their home. When she was 19 years old, McNichol’s older brother purchased a farm in upstate New York. He and his wife became avid gardeners caring for the property, and McNichol spent most of her summers sharing in their labors. Growing Community Spirit One Garden at a Time McNichol in the wooden gazebo positioned in the center of the 127-bed community garden she helped to organize. Second Opinions: When to Get One page 4 Senior Games: A Local Summer Staple page 18 please see GARDEN page 17 Inside: York County Edition August 2012 Vol. 13 No. 8

Upload: on-line-publishers-inc

Post on 19-Mar-2016

219 views

Category:

Documents


1 download

DESCRIPTION

50plus Senior News, published monthly, is offered to provide individuals 50 and over in the Susquehanna and Delaware Valley areas with timely information pertinent to their needs and interests. Senior News offers information on entertainment, travel, healthy living, financial matters, veterans issues and much, much more.

TRANSCRIPT

By Katie Weeber

Some people enjoy plants, purchasing a few potted blooms each summer

to decorate their backyards, while others are born with natural green thumbs.

Francesca McNichol is one of the latter.

McNichol has been using her greenery prowess to grow a new crop of

gardeners. As a member of a local garden club, McNichol has helped

organize and run several successful gardening initiatives that have brought

the knowledge of growing living things to adults and children alike,

including a community garden and a junior gardening class for inner-city

youth.

McNichol’s introduction to gardening came naturally, starting with her

childhood home on Long Island, N.Y.

“My mother loved roses. When I was younger, she had a beautiful rose

garden,” McNichol said.

In addition to the rose garden, there was a rock garden and other

beautiful, growing plants that McNichol’s mother cultivated around their

home.

When she was 19 years old, McNichol’s older brother purchased a farm in

upstate New York. He and his wife became avid gardeners caring for the

property, and McNichol spent most of her summers sharing in their labors.

GrowingCommunity Spirit

One Gardenat a Time

McNichol in the wooden gazebo positioned in the center of the

127-bed community garden she helped to organize.

Second Opinions:

When to Get One

page 4

Senior Games:

A Local Summer Staple

page 18

please see GARDEN page 17

Inside:

York County Edition August 2012 Vol. 13 No. 8

2 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Brought to you by: 717.285.1350

Gold

Silver

Memorial Hospital

Visitor Bag Sponsor

Orthopaedic & Spine Specialists

Sponsored by:

Health & Wellness

Media

WDAC

WHYL

Bronze

Lutheran Social Services – South Central PA

Misericordia Nursing & Rehabilitation Center

Powder Mill & Springetts Apartments

RetireSafe • Sprint CapTel

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.

This month’s smile belongs to the late Norman Chester Brenneman

of York, Korean War veteran, holding his first great-grandchild,

James Gabriel Hoke Martin.

Special Area at 50plus EXPO

Aims for a ‘Falls Free York’Through a successful partnership with

the Falls Free York Coalition and the

York County Area Agency on Aging, the

2012 York County 50plus EXPO on

Sept. 19 will include a designated area

entitled Falls Free York.

This unique area will focus on fall

prevention, with a range of free

demonstrations, devices, screenings, and

assessments available to all EXPO

visitors.

According to the Centers for Disease

Control, one out of three adults age 65

and older falls each year—but less than

half talk to their healthcare providers

about it.

Falls can cause moderate to severe

injuries, such as hip fractures and head

traumas, and can increase the risk of

early death. In 2008, more than 19,700

older adults died from unintentional fall

injuries.

Falls Free York area will emphasize the

importance of preventing falls in

boomers and seniors. Highlights will

include:

• Bathroom hazards and solutions

• Lighting options and safety precautions

• Medication review for fall risk – bring

your medications or list of medications,

including over-the-counter medications

• Gait and balance screenings

• Cane/walker safety checks

• Physical fitness programs on Wii

systems

• Sloppy Slipper Swap – exchange old

and unsafe footwear for one safety

product

• Portable ramp demonstrating proper

ramp height

• Chair lift demonstrations

• Current resources for fall risk awareness

and prevention

• Stairway safety

Falls Free York will be thoroughly

staffed to ensure safety at all times.

The 10th annual York County

50plus EXPO will be held from 9 a.m.

to 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the

York Expo Center, Memorial Hall – East,

334 Carlisle Ave., York. For more

information on the EXPO or Falls-Free

York, call (717) 285-1350 or visit

www.50plusExpoPA.com.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2012 3

SeniorLIFE

(814) 535-6000

Community Animal Hospital

Donald A. Sloat, D.V.M.

(717) 845-5669

Gordon’s Body Shop, Inc.

(717) 993-2263

Stetler Dodge

(717) 764-8888

Hanna Cleaners

(717) 741-3817

Low-Income Energy Assistance

(717) 787-8750

Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre

(717) 898-1900

Leader Heights Eye Center

(717) 747-5430

Hakes Home Furnishings

(717) 767-9068

Gastroenterology Associates of York

(717) 484-2143

Alzheimer’s Association

(717) 651-5020

Alzheimer’s Information Clearinghouse

(800) 367-5115

American Diabetes Association

(800) 342-2383

CONTACT Helpline

(717) 652-4400

The National Kidney Foundation

(800) 697-7007 or (717) 757-0604

Social Security Information

(800) 772-1213

PA HealthCare Cost Containment

(717) 232-6787

Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services

(717) 751-2488

Elm Spring Residence

(717) 840-7676

Housing Authority of York

(717) 845-2601

Property Tax/Rent Rebate

(888) 728-2937

York Area Housing Group

(717) 846-5139

Apprise Insurance Counseling

(717) 771-9610 or (800) 632-9073

Ability Prosthetics & Orthotics, Inc

(717) 851-0156

York ENT Associates

(717) 843-9089

CVS/pharmacy

www.cvs.com

West York Pharmacy

(717) 792-9312

York County Area Agency on Aging

(800) 632-9073

Lebanon VA Medical Center

(717) 228-6000

(800) 409-8771

Veterans Services

Services

Pharmacies

Otolaryngologists

Orthotics & Prosthetics

Insurance – Long-Term Care

Housing Assistance

Housing/Apartments

Home Care Services

Healthcare Information

Health & Medical Services

Gastroenterology

Furniture

Eye Care Services

Entertainment

Energy Assistance

Dry Cleaners

Automobile Sales/Service

Animal Hospitals

Adult Day Centers

Resource Directory

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.

Last time, I covered the 1940 U.S.

census. I have, in an earlier column,

also discussed the 1920 U.S.

census. This month, I want to cover the

intermediate one, the 1930 U.S. census.

I’ll continue this discussion into next

month, as well.

The 1930 census had some basic

information consistent with others that

were taken since the first one in 1790.

This included surname or family name,

gender, and address. Some of the other

questions were unique, and responses to

them can be valuable in finding further

information about the family.

For example, there is a column headed

“Relation – Relationship of this person to

the head of the family.” This may be

answered “head,” “wife,” “son,” or

“daughter” but also may contain other

descriptions.

The surname of

the wife is usually

not shown, or it may

be written in as the

same as the husband

(or late husband).

However, if the name

of a mother-in-law or

other in-law of the

male head is given,

that surname could

also be the maiden

name of the wife.

If the “Relation” column shows stepson

or stepdaughter, that obviously indicates

that the “head” had been previously

married. If the stepchild’s surname is

different than that

of the head, that’s a

clue to the child’s

natural father’s

name. A person

may be identified as

a “boarder,”

meaning the family

augmented their

income by renting

space in the home.

Next is a column

headed “Home

Data,” containing

four sub-columns: “Home owned or

rented,” filled in with an O or an R;

“Value of home, if owned, or monthly

rent, if rented,” filled in with a dollar

amount; “Radio set,” filled in with an R if

the family had a radio, left blank if they

didn’t; and “Does this family live on a

farm?”

The answers not only tell something

about the financial status of the family,

but if the property was owned, it may also

be possible to find land or probate records

that further elucidate the family’s life or

give names of relatives not living with the

family at the time of the census.

As an aside to the “radio set” question:

On the 1930 census page where my

family appears, there were seven

households. Only one (not my parents’)

The 1930 Census

The Search for Our Ancestry

Angelo Coniglio

“Some of the questions

on the 1930 census

were unique, and

responses to them can

be valuable in finding

further information

about the family.

please see CENSUS page 8

4 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

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

Awards

Dear Savvy Senior,

Are second medical opinions worth

the trouble or risk of offending your

doctor? And does Medicare cover them?

– Nervous Nelly

Dear Nelly,

Yes! A second opinion is good

medicine and your right as a patient.

Besides, good doctors welcome

second opinions and will even offer

referrals to help you get one. If they

don’t, you probably ought to find

another doctor.

Here’s what you

should know.

SecondOpinions

There’s a

mountain of

evidence that

shows that

second opinions

save lives, prevent

mistakes, and cut

costs. Yet most

older patients

choose not to get

them because

they’re either afraid of offending

their doctor, don’t want to hassle

with it, or fear their insurance won’t

cover it.

But getting a second opinion

from a different doctor may offer

you a fresh perspective, new

information, and additional options

for treating your condition so you

can make a more informed decision.

Or, if the second doctor agrees

with the first, it can give you

reassurance.

Who Pays

In most cases, Medicare pays for

second opinions under Part B and

will even pay for a third opinion if

the first two differ. Most Medicare

Advantage plans also cover second

opinions, but some plans will require

a referral first from your primary

physician.

If you have private insurance,

you’ll need to check with your

insurance provider.

When to Ask

The key times you should seek a

second opinion are when:

• Your doctor suggests surgery. You

should always question elective

procedures, especially if a less

invasive alternative is available.

• You’re diagnosed with a life-

threatening disease such as cancer

or heart disease.

• You’re not getting any better.

• Your regular doctor can’t diagnose

your problem.

• You’re having trouble talking with

your current doctor.

• You’re having multiple medical

problems.

Where to Look

When you opt for a second

opinion, you can ask your first

doctor for a referral or, if that makes

you uncomfortable, seek one on your

own.

Whatever route you choose, it’s

best to go with a doctor that has

extensive experience in treating your

condition and one that’s affiliated

with a different practice or hospital

than your original doctor. Hospitals

and practices can be set in their ways

when it comes to treatments and are

likely to offer similar advice.

Physicians from research and

teaching hospitals are smart choices,

especially for rare or complicated

conditions, because of their ongoing

research and expertise in specific

areas of medicine.

To locate and research potential

doctors, the American Medical

Association (www.ama-assn.org) and

the American Osteopathic

Association (www.osteopathic.org)

offer free doctor-finding services that

list virtually every licensed physician

in the U.S.

Another good resource is Health

Grades (www.healthgrades.com),

which provides detailed reports on

doctors for a small fee.

Also see Vitals.com, a

free service that lets

you search for top-

rated doctors based on

their training,

expertise, consumer

ratings, and

recommendations from

other doctors.

Online Advice

If you’re having a

hard time finding or

getting to another

doctor for a second

opinion, consider the

Internet. Yes, Web-based second

opinions are now available from top

medical centers that allow you to

consult with medical experts

regardless of where they’re located.

The cost for this online advice

ranges between $500 and $1,000 and

is usually not covered by insurance or

Medicare.

Savvy Tips: Before you get a

second opinion, you’ll need to have

your doctor’s office send your

medical records ahead to the second

doctor (you may have to pick them

up and deliver them yourself ), and

be sure he or she knows about your

original diagnosis and the course of

treatment recommended by your first

doctor.

If they disagree, you may want to

seek that third opinion, or go back to

your original doctor for further

consultation.

Jim Miller is a regular contributor to the

NBC Today show and author of TheSavvy Senior Book. www.savvysenior.org.

Second Opinions: Why ManySeniors Don’t, but Should, Get One

Savvy Senior

Jim Miller

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2012 5

York•Village Green

2300 Market St.•2460 S. Queen St.

Call 1-800-755-8685•460 Shrewsbury Commons, Shrewsbury

•1918 Carlisle Road, ShilohRed Lion

•Cape Horn Square615 Lombard Road

10% OFFYour cleaning bill

Maximum discount $5.00 per coupon.Please Present Ad With Order

W/Coupon Only • Offer Expires 8/31/12

COMPLETE COLLISION REPAIRS

BBOODDYY SSHHOOPP,, IINNCC..

24-HOUR TOWING & RECOVERY

PA EMISSION TEST

PA STATE INSPECTION

MECHANICAL REPAIRS

SSTTEEWWAARRTTSSTTOOWWNN

((771177)) 999933--22226633

Celebrate Those Strongly Tied Knots!

Are you or is someone you knowcommemorating a special anniversary this year?

Let 50plus Senior News help spread your news—for free!

We welcome your anniversary announcements and photos.

Anniversaries may be marking any number of years 15 and over.

(Fields marked with an * are required.)

*Anniversary (No. of years) _________________________________________

*Contact name __________________________________________________

E-mail ________________________ *Daytime phone ___________________

*Husband’s full name _____________________________________________

Occupation (If retired, list former job and No. of years held)___________________

_____________________________________________________________

*Wife’s full maiden name __________________________________________

Occupation (If retired, list former job and No. of years held)___________________

_____________________________________________________________

*Couple’s current city and state __________________________________________

*Marriage date_____________ Location ______________________________

Children (name and city/state for each)_________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________

Number of grandchildren________ Number of great-grandchildren___________

Photos must be at least 4x6'' and/or 300 dpi if submitted digitally.

Completed information and photo can be emailed to [email protected]

or mailed to:

Anniversary Announcements50plus Senior News

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512

Please include a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you would like your photo returned.

A Chevy toRemember

Such Is Life

Saralee Perel

My husband, Bob, has gone so

far as to name our car. He

calls it Old Yeller. Whenever I

suggest it’s time to retire it, he lovingly

pets the steering wheel and asks, “You

mean destroy Old Yeller?”

We have a 1970-something yellowish

Chevy Blazer. I can see the street

whizzing by through the holes in the

floorboard. I hear little clinking sounds

whenever we drive, and if I look out the

rear view, I see tiny pieces of Old Yeller

leaving a wake behind us.

I really hate this car.

“It’s time,” I gently said to Bob last

month, as we pulled in our driveway

and the door

handle came

off in my

hand.

“Great!” he

said and

jumped out of

the car. “I’ll

start the gas

grill.”

I brushed clumps of foam rubber (the

insides of the seat) off my pants. We

went in the house. “You know what I

mean,” I said.

“A woodworking show’s on,” he said,

and picked up the remote.

“Sweetheart.” I took the remote.

“Old Yeller’s had a really good life.”

“He just needs a tune-up, that’s all.”

He picked up the keys.

“It put itself into park while we were

driving 30 miles per hour.”

“He stalled,” he said, fondling the

keys.

“It stopped, Bob. My forehead’s still

bleeding.”

He stood and looked out the front

door. “I can’t,” he whispered.

“It’ll be humane, honey.”

“No it won’t,” he said. “No ceremony,

no remorse. Nothing. Just a push of a

lever and Old Yeller’s squashed like a

pancake and dumped in somebody’s

scrap heap.”

Late that night, I heard him get out

of bed and head to the kitchen. I put on

my robe and tiptoed in. He was pouring

himself a shot of whiskey from a bottle

we’ve had over 10 years. He drank it in

one gulp.

After he finished his coughing fit, I

held his hand. He said, “If anybody’s

going to put Old Yeller to sleep, it will

have to be me.”

I knew then: I had to go against his

wishes and take Old Yeller myself. The

next day, I drove the Chevy away and

got back to the house around noon.

“It was quick, Bob. Painless.”

“Old Yeller …” he moaned. Then he

went back to the whiskey bottle, picked

it up, changed his mind, and put it

down. He opened the freezer and found

a bag of mini Milky Ways and began

stuffing five in his mouth at a time.

“Honey. Don’t do this to yourself.” I

tried to take the bag away but he

grabbed it and

ran out of the

room, but not

before

snatching the

peanut butter

and Ritz

crackers.

It took two

weeks to get

Bob back on track. And that happened

yesterday. He was still in bed at 11

o’clock when I called him to come into

the living room. He was a wreck.

Unshaven. Dirty. I wiped the chocolate

off his lip.

“There’s something for you outside.”

“I need marshmallow fluff,” he said.

I took his hand and led him out the

front door. In the driveway was a car

covered by a big brown tarp that I

theatrically removed. There, all shiny

and bright yellow, was the Blazer. New

mirrors, chrome, paint, engine,

transmission, and sparkling hub caps.

Painted in script on the side was, of

course, Old Yeller.

Bob was overwhelmed, to say the

least. He opened the door and saw the

beautiful upholstered seats. Although he

was too moved to say anything, I got

the biggest hug in history. And though

Bob refers to this as one of the best days

of his life, I know it couldn’t have been

half as good as it was for me.

Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally

syndicated columnist. Her new book is

Cracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: StoriesFrom a Life Out of Balance. To find out

more, visit www.saraleeperel.com or email

[email protected].

• Breakfast with Ben Barber and News with Dennis Edwards

• John Tesh with Music and Intelligence for Your Workday

• Bruce Collier & The Drive Home

WE PLAY OVER1500 GREAT SONGS!

Harrisburg’sOldies Channel!

Find us at AM 960 or at whylradio.com

When you

patronize our

advertisers,

please let them

know you saw

their ad in

6 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Traveltizers Travel Appetizers: Stories that Whet the Appetite for Travel

By Andrea Gross

I’m reading the newspaper when I

realize that there are almost as many

articles about Beijing as there are

about Washington, DC.

That’s when it hits me. If one of the

main purposes—and pleasures—of travel

is education, then I have to go to China.

I need to learn more about the country

whose actions will affect the way I live

and, more importantly, the way my

children will live.

A friend recommends China Spree, a

company that offers 12-day tours to

Beijing and Shanghai that include air

from San Francisco; all meals,

admissions, and transportation within

China; guide service; and, as I soon find

out, very nice hotels.

I do the math. Why, I can visit China

for not a lot more than I’d have to pay

for an all-inclusive two-week vacation in

California. I take a deep breath and sign

on the dotted line.

In Beijing our guide leads our small

group to the must-sees: Tiananmen

Square, where Mao proclaimed the birth

of the People’s Republic of China in

1949; the Forbidden City, which was

home to 24 emperors; and, of course, the

Great Wall, which was designed to

protect the country against foreign

invaders.

To learn about more current

endeavors, we visit a jade factory, a silk

factory, a tea plantation, and an herbal

medicine museum.

But my favorite moments occur when

we mingle with ordinary folks, like the

76-year-old woman who hosts us for

lunch. She shows us her home, which is

in a hutong, one of Beijing’s fast-

disappearing old neighborhoods.

The next day we visit a park where we

see seniors doing tai chi, dancing,

fencing, and matchmaking. Their

children, explains our guide, work such

long hours that they don’t have time to

search for a spouse. Therefore, the

All-Important China

The Forbidden City was home to

24 emperors during the Ming and

Qing dynasties.

The Great Wall was built

to protect China from

nomadic tribes to its north.

Students welcome American

visitors to their classroom.

please see CHINA page 9

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2012 7

CCRCContinuing Care

Retirement Communities

CCRCs (Continuing CareRetirement Communities)have so much to offer thevibrant, active, semi- orretired individuals of today.These communities present avariety of residential livingoptions in addition tocomprehensive medical andnursing services. Residentsmove between independentliving, personal care orassisted living, and nursingcare based on changingneeds. CCRCs can rangefrom all-inclusive monthlyrates to pay-as-you-go orfee-for-service.

These communities may alsooffer scheduled activities,programs, swimming pools,banks, chapels, fitnesscenters, walking paths,computer rooms, and more.More important, thesecommunities strive to providethe best in care, whichincludes a professional staff.

Bethany Village

325 Wesley Drive

Mechanicsburg, PA 17055

Stephanie Lightfoot

Director of Sales & Marketing

(717) 766-0279

www.bethanyvillage.org

Calvary Fellowship Homes

502 Elizabeth Drive

Lancaster, PA 17601

Marlene Morris

Marketing Director

(717) 393-0711

www.calvaryhomes.org

Ephrata Manor

99 Bethany Road

Ephrata, PA 17522

Admissions Department

(717) 738-4940

www.ucc-homes.org

Garden Spot Village

433 South Kinzer Avenue

New Holland, PA 17557

Scott Miller

Director of Marketing

(717) 355-6000

www.gardenspotvillage.org

Homeland Center

1901 North Fifth Street

Harrisburg, PA 17102-1598

Barry S. Ramper II, N.H.A.

President/CEO

(717) 221-7902

www.homelandcenter.org

Homestead Village Enhanced Senior

Living

1800 Marietta Avenue

P.O. Box 3227

Lancaster, PA 17604-3227

Susan L. Doyle

Director of Marketing

(717) 397-4831 ext. 158

www.homesteadvillage.org

The Middletown Home

999 West Harrisburg Pike

Middletown, PA 17057

Jennifer Binecz

Director of Residential Services

(717) 944-3351

www.middletownhome.org

Normandie Ridge Senior Living

Community

1700 Normandie Drive

York, PA 17408

Joyce Singer

Director of Marketing

(717) 718-0937

www.normandieridge.org

Willow Valley Retirement Communities

600 Willow Valley Square

Lancaster, PA 17604

Kristin Hambleton

Sales Manager

(717) 464-6800

(800) 770-5445

www.willowvalleyretirement.com

Woodcrest Villa

Mennonite Home Communities

2001 Harrisburg Pike

Lancaster, PA 17601

Connie Buckwalter

Director of Marketing

(717) 390-4126

www.woodcrestvilla.org

Woodland Heights Retirement Community

2499 Zerbe Road

Narvon, PA 17555

Lynne A. Bickta

Director of Marketing

and Sales

(717) 445-8741

www.retireatwoodlandheights.com

The CCRC Communities listed

are sponsoring this message.

THERE’S NO NEWS LIKE

Help yourself to a

50plusSenior News

and a shopping basket.

Now there are even more places to get

your FREE copy of

50plus Senior News!!!Check out your local

CVS/pharmacy stores

and look for

this display.

8 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Community Animal Hospital

Our caring, well-trained staff will

treat you and your pet like family

Donald A. Sloat, D.V.M.Office Hours:

7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday8 - 11:30 a.m. Saturday

Doctor’s Hours by Appointment

Senior or

Multi-Pet

Discounts

Serving the York community for over 40 years.

(717) 845-5669 • 400 South Pine Street • York

Book Review

Cape Cod psychiatrist Dr. Sophie

Green is a hypochondriac and a

compulsive eater who comically

quells her conflicts with leftovers.

Now, Sophie has a

problem of her own: One

of her patients wants her

dead.

There’s Elizabeth,

whose abusive husband

blames Sophie for his

wife’s independence.

There’s Gracie, who is

involved with a

menacingly brilliant

psychiatrist, and there’s

Charlie, a man with

obsessive-compulsive

disorder who thinks he’s in

love with Sophie.

This is not your classic whodunit.

For more information, visit her

website, www.saraleeperel.com. Raw

Nerves is available via Amazon.com.

About the Author Saralee Perel is an

award-winning, nationally

syndicated columnist. She

is a regular contributor to

Chicken Soup for the Soul

and has been published in

many of the nation’s

leading magazines and

newspapers, including

50plus Senior News.

Although Saralee, a

psychotherapist, claims

that the central character, a

neurotic psychiatrist, is not

autobiographically inspired, readers who

know her insist she is lying.

Raw NervesBy Saralee Perel

CENSUS from page 3

had a radio. The question was designed to

measure the extent of the nation’s leap

into new home-appliance technology.

According to the 1930 census, the total

U.S. population at the time was

122,775,046, and only 12 million people,

or less than 10 percent, had access to

radios.

Under “Personal Description,” in

addition to “Sex” and “Color or race,”

was the sub-column “Age at last

birthday.” Take this into consideration

when calculating a birth year. For

example, the census was taken on April

12. My father’s age was given as 40, but

his birth year was not necessarily “1930

minus 40 equals 1890.” He may not have

yet reached his 41st birthday on April 12.

Other information confirms this, as he

was born on April 26, 1889.

The remaining two sub-columns under

this category were “Marital condition”

and “Age at first marriage.” The condition

column was marked M for married, S for

single, or W for widowed. The age at first

marriage can be used with other

information on the census to determine

whether the person was married before or

after immigration to the U.S.

Under “Education,” the census asked

whether the person had attended school

or college since September 1929, and

whether he or she was able to read and

write.

The “Place of Birth” columns are

headed “Person,” “Father,” and “Mother,”

with the description “Place of birth of

each person enumerated and of his or her

parents. If born in the United States, give

State or Territory. If of foreign birth, give

country in which birthplace is now

situated. Distinguish Canada-French

from Canada-English, and Irish Free State

from Northern Island.”

Usually, only the country or state is

given; however, sometimes the name of a

city or county is given. Don’t overlook

the part about “country in which

birthplace is now situated.” National

boundaries in Europe were anything but

fixed during this time, so, for example, a

place may have been called Prussia when

a person was born in 1890 but Germany

in 1930.

Next time, I’ll discuss the remainder of

the 1930 census questions and explain

how to interpret the information to

uncover other information about

ancestors.

Angelo Coniglio encourages readers to

contact him by writing to 438 Maynard

Drive, Amherst, NY 14226; by email at

[email protected]; or by visiting

www.conigliofamily.com/ConiglioGenealogy

Tips.htm. His new historical fiction novel,

The Lady of the Wheel, is available through

Amazon.com.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2012 9

MAKING LIFE ALITTLE EASIER!

$599Reg. $699

Model#LC200

Up to 325 lbs.

$699Reg. $799

Infinite Position Lift ChairUp to 325 lbs.

$699Reg. $799

Model#LC300

Up to 375 lbs.

Featuring:

HAKESHome Furnishings

0% FINANCING AVAILABLEW/ APPROVED CREDIT

Chairs with 500 lb. capacity are available!

2200 Carlisle Rd., York, PA • (717) 767-9068HOURS: M-W-TH-F 10–8; TUE: 10–5; Sat 10–6; SUN 1–4

www.HakeHomeFurnishings.com

FREE DELIVERYHakes Home Furnishings

With coupon. Expires 8/31/12.Not valid on previous purchases. One per customer.

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 free copy of the 2012 edition, call your representative or

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

CHINA from page 6

parents must help. They make big signs

proclaiming their child’s attributes and

network with other parents.

If the seniors spot a potential match,

they arrange a date for their children. It’s

a low-tech eHarmony.

My husband and I deliberately chose

an itinerary that included two free days

for personal exploration. In Beijing we go

to the Art District, where world-class

galleries occupy Communist-era factory

buildings. One heart-stopping exhibition

focuses on prostitution; another has a

disturbing display of soldiers toting

machine guns camouflaged by flowers.

There’s no thought suppression here.

In Shanghai, the energy is palpable.

We walk along the riverfront, through a

shopping thoroughfare, and over to a

public park that has carnival-style rides.

After visiting a market, we go to an

acrobatic show. Our days are packed.

During our free day, we explore two

contrasting neighborhoods: a working-

class area filled with small, slightly grubby

shops and the French Concession, which

has upscale boutiques and trendy

restaurants.

Our guides are remarkably

forthcoming. They criticize their

government but at the same time make

clear that they admire it. They say that a

U.S.-style democracy could never work in

China because there are too many people.

They speak to us about China’s one-

child policy, religion, education, medical

care, the lack of a social safety net, and,

most of all, how hard they have to work

in order to survive.

“We work much harder than people

in America,” says Chang.*

We’re amazed at their misconceptions.

Chang owns a condominium, can afford

to fly his family from his village on the

Yangtze to Shanghai for a holiday, and

has a car that he bought new two years

ago. His daughter has a new iPad as well

as an iPod.

I tell him that this is more than many

people his age in the United States can

afford, and yes, they work as many or

more hours than he does.

Another guide dreams of living on

Wisteria Lane, the home of ABC’s

Desperate Housewives, and we realize how

television shapes Chinese views of the

United States as well as our views of

China. This, says my husband, is why it’s

important for people to travel, to see

things for themselves.

We’re aware that we saw only two

cities, and we spoke with only a handful

of people. We didn’t visit the

countryside, which, despite China’s rapid

urbanization, is still home to the

majority of the population. We didn’t

visit the factory towns that are churning

out goods that are flooding the world’s

markets. That will have to wait until

next time.

But in the meantime, we treasure the

glimpse we got of a country that is, and

will continue to be, a major player on

the world’s stage.

Photos © Irv Green; story by Andrea Gross

(www.andreagross.com).

*Name has been changed

Shanghai’s Nanjing Road attracts a

humongous number of shoppers,

especially during weekends and

holidays.

Shanghai’s waterfront is the face of modern China.

Beijing’s streets are a mix

of old and new.

10 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Leader Heights Eye Center

309 Leader Heights Road, York, PA 17402

717-747-5430www.lheyecenter.com

Jeffrey R. Lander, MD

Board certified with 27 yearsof experience

Completed more than 5,400cataract surgeries

No shot, no stitch cataractsurgery with all post-surgicalcare by the surgeon

Medical eye care

Trust your most

precious sense to us

TThhee 50plus EXPO ccoommmmiitttteeee iiss llooookkiinngg ffoorr

vvoolluunntteeeerrss ttoo hheellpp aatt oouurr 1100tthh aannnnuuaall

YYoorrkk CCoouunnttyy 50plus EXPO oonn SSeepptt.. 1199,, 22001122,, aatt

tthhee YYoorrkk EExxppoo CCeenntteerr —— MMeemmoorriiaall HHaallll EEaasstt,,

333344 CCaarrlliissllee AAvveennuuee,, YYoorrkk,, ffrroomm 99 aa..mm.. ttoo 22 pp..mm..

IIff yyoouu ccoouulldd hheellpp ggrreeeett vviissiittoorrss,, ssttuuffff EXPO bbaaggss,,

oorr wwoorrkk aatt tthhee rreeggiissttrraattiioonn ddeesskk,, wwee wwoouulldd bbee

ggllaadd ttoo hhaavvee yyoouu ffoorr aallll oorr jjuusstt ppaarrtt ooff tthhee ddaayy..

PPlleeaassee ccaallll OOnn--LLiinnee PPuubblliisshheerrss

aatt (717) 285-1350..

Do you have a friendly face?

When Huie Petty grew up in

Illinois, he was part of a

family of eight boys. Two of

the boys died early. The other six all

served in combat overseas during World

War II … two in the Army, two in the

Navy, and two in the Marines.

Petty says, “I always wanted to be a

Marine.” Of course, he didn’t know

much about what a real Marine did. But,

one day, he was about to find out.

When World War II broke out, he

promptly went to Chicago and enlisted

in the Marine Corps. After boot camp in

San Diego, he was assigned to the 2nd

Marine Division and shipped off to New

Zealand. Why New Zealand?

“Because,” he says, “the Japanese

owned the rest of the Pacific. Even

Australia had been bombed.”

So the job of the Marines was to help

take back the Pacific, a vast and highly

problematic job.

After more training, the 2nd Division

left for Guadalcanal to reinforce the 1st

Marine Division and the Army troops

who had driven the Japanese from the

airfield that they then named Henderson

Field. Guadalcanal was of immense

strategic importance, since the Japanese

who occupied it could attack supply

routes between the U.S., Australia, and

New Zealand.

The 1st Marines had suffered large

losses in the invasion, and, by the time

Petty and his division arrived, remaining

resistance was from Japanese stragglers

who, although virtually starving and

existing by eating roots, still fought

tenaciously, preferring to die rather than

surrender.

All told, 1,592 American troops died

on Guadalcanal, and 4,183 were

wounded. The Japanese lost 14,800 in

The Bomb Dump on SaipanBlew Up in His Face

Robert D. Wilcox

Salute to a Veteran

Corporal Huie Petty, after discharge from the Marine Corps

at Quantico after World War II.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2012 11

Sept. 19, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.York Expo Center

Memorial Hall–East • 334 Carlisle Avenue, York

www.50plusExpoPA.com717.285.1350

Oct. 23, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.Carlisle Expo Center

100 K Street, Carlisle

Nov. 6, 2012 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.Lancaster Host Resort

2300 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster

battle and 9,000 from disease.

Petty has today the pocket manual he

took from a dead Japanese soldier,

learning from a Japanese lady who

translated it for him many years after the

war that it was the Japanese Field Service

Code—Senjinkun—issued to Japanese

soldiers. It specifically forbade retreat or

surrender.

Petty says, “The Japanese weren’t the

only danger on Guadalcanal, however.

Almost the entire division contracted

malaria, and we were all returned to New

Zealand to recuperate.” The whole

division had it? “Well,” he says, “I never

knew anyone who didn’t have it.”

When they were fit again, it was on to

Tarawa, a tiny atoll whose main island

was 2 miles long but only 800 yards wide

at the widest part. It was important

because it had to be taken in order to

launch the invasion of the heavily

defended Marianas Islands, which stood

in the way of our setting up forward air

bases capable of supporting operations

across the mid-Pacific to the Philippines

and into Japan.

Tarawa proved a horrible place to

fight. Taking it produced one of the

fiercest and bloodiest battles in Marine

Corps history. Anticipating an invasion,

the Japanese had worked intensely for

nearly a year to fortify the island,

building 500 pillboxes, many of which

were reinforced with cement.

Because of coral atolls that ringed the

island, the Higgins boats could approach

no closer than

1,000 yards from

shore. From there,

most of the

Marines waded

ashore through

waist-deep water

over piercing,

razor-sharp coral.

Others boarded

small, rubber

boats and paddled

a mile to the

shore.

Many Marines

were lost in the

effort to man

those boats in the

choppy water.

Petty was one of

six Marines on

one such boat,

and it took them

a full six hours to reach the beach just as

night fell.

They entered by a lagoon other

Marines had cleared earlier. Japanese had

gone out to vessels that had been

destroyed by the coral reefs. There, they

fired at the backs of the landing troops,

and, because it was now dark, lead was

firing everywhere.

The Japanese commander had told his

troops, “It would take 1 million men 100

years” to conquer

Tarawa. It took the

Marines three

days, although

incurring nearly

3,000 casualties.

Of the 4,700

Japanese defenders,

only 17 survived.

The division

was sent to Hawaii

to recuperate for

seven months;

then they were

sent to invade

Saipan. It was

supposed to be

easy. There were

no atolls, so the

Higgins boats

were able to

approach the

beach and drop

the ramps from which the troops

streamed. Eight thousand Marines were

landed from more than 300 LVTs during

the first two hours after dawn on June

15, 1944.

The battle was fierce during the next

three weeks until it ended with a final

suicidal banzai charge by 3,000 Japanese.

Almost the entire garrison of at least

30,000 Japanese died, while, of the

71,000 of our troops who landed, 2,949

were killed and 10,464 were wounded.

And it was there that Petty’s war

ended. Exploding ammo from a bomb

dump caused head injuries and burst

both his ear drums. With blood

streaming down his face, he was

evacuated to a hospital in Hawaii … and

then to the Marine Detachment at the

Naval Academy in Annapolis, where he

was an outpatient.

He was selected to attend Officer

Candidate School at Quantico, but

partway through, the atomic bombs

dropped on Japan brought the war to an

end, and his training was terminated.

Petty left the Marines as a corporal and

entered the University of Maryland

School of Pharmacy. After a few years as

a pharmacist, he became a medical

representative of Sterling Drug for 25

years before retiring in 1977.

He lives today with his collection of

war memorabilia. On the table sits his

well-worn cap with the legend, “Once a

Marine, always a Marine.”

When asked if that’s true, he looks at

you sharply, and then with a thin smile

says, “You better believe it.”

Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber in

Europe in World War II.

A rubber boat like the one Petty manned in

the assault on Tarawa during World War II.

12 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2012 13

Visual Examples Prove Persuasive

NurseNews

Gloria May, M.S., R.N., CHES

Jack is my friend Jenny’s companion.

He’s a big bear kind of guy,

handsome, but with dangerously high

blood pressure, and he carries an extra 40

pounds.

If it weren’t so potentially threatening

to his life and independence, it would be

amusing the way he dismisses his

hypertension. He’ll say it’s “white coat

syndrome,” meaning it reflects the

anxiety of seeing a doctor but which,

away from the doctor’s office, is “just

fine.” Or he’ll excuse it away as the

consequence of the salty meal he had had

the night before his appointment.

Until last week’s checkup, Jack had

brushed off both his doctor’s and Jenny’s

clearly stated concerns

and he’d not been at

all interested in diet

modifications or

medication.

Jenny told me that

Jack saw a new doctor

in the practice who,

without muss or fuss

or many words,

brought out a graph

that showed the direct

and positive

correlation between

rising high blood

pressure and the

increased risk of

strokes, heart attacks,

and kidney failure.

Then the doctor

dropped a zinger. “Jack,” he said, “I can

safely predict you’ll have one of these

‘events’ within five years if we don’t get

this hypertension and weight under

control.”

Now, Jack’s a man with an engineering

background, so visual representations are

what he’s comfortable with, what he

understands. Jenny said he studied the

graph for a moment, and then to

everyone’s surprise, said, “OK. What do I

need to do?”

Is that all it took, for heaven’s sake? A

graph? Or was it the one-sentence

forecast? Or the combination?

If you think this is merely an isolated

incident of one man’s finally getting the

picture, maybe. But also, maybe not. At

a recent conference of heart doctors in

Chicago, two studies were presented that

showed similar phenomena: Patients who

were shown detailed pictures of their

hearts and arteries (done by a heart CT

scan) were 2.5 times more likely to take

their medication as directed.

And by the way, those who needed to

lose weight were more than three times

more likely to do so

than those who were

merely only told to.

The underlying

concern for these docs

at the meeting was

that between 50 and

80 percent of patients

who have been

prescribed cholesterol-

reducing medication

fail to take it. And as

far as losing weight

and embracing a diet

lower in saturated fat,

just look around.

What do you think?

There is an

abundance of evidence

that indicates that

visual communication is more effective

than verbal, but the most effective style

combines the two. In other words, we

understand more if we see it; we

understand the most if we can both see it

and hear about it.

Is this the future of patient education?

Don’t be surprised if your next doctor’s

appointment includes a PowerPoint

presentation. After all, it does make

sense. Instead of trying to decipher all

the medical language, why not show

pictures, charts, graphs, images—

whatever it takes to drive the point home

and help motivate patients to make

necessary changes?

Gloria May is a registered nurse with a

master’s degree in adult health education and

a Certified Health Education Specialist

designation.

September 8, 2012City Island, Harrisburg

Registration at 8:30 a.m. • Walk at 10:30 a.m.

Tiffani Chambers, Constituent Relations Manager

Alzheimer’s Association

(717) 651-5020 [email protected]

Alzheimer’s Association

3544 N. Progress Avenue, Suite 205 • Harrisburg, PA 17110

Registration brochures, team packets, and sponsorshippackets available. Please call (717) 651-5020 or email

[email protected]

Easy online registration at http://www.alz.org/walk

Volunteer opportunities available.

Teams and individuals welcome.

Chapter Sponsors

September 15, 2012Morgan Cousler Park, York

Registration at 9:30 a.m. • Walk at 11 a.m.

September 22, 2012Long’s Park, Lancaster

Registration at 8 a.m. • Walk at 10:30 a.m.

14 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Never Miss Another Issue!

Subscribe online at

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2012 15

1. Rushed6. Church seat9. Paddington Bear’s homeland13. Convex molding14. Popular activity at Heavenly in CA15. Harold & _____ Go to White Castle16. Army aid17. Precedes senator18. Circular gasket19. Drum sound21. Willy Wonka’s heir23. Longest division of geological time24. Pinocchio dreamed of becoming

this type of boy25. He floated like a butterfly?

28. Network of intersecting nerves30. Middle Eastern confection35. Like boys that lived in Neverland37. Lacking sensation39. “_____ the day”40. International Civil Aviation

Organization41. Attempts43. Small ladies’ handbag44. Deep opening46. To strike a piece of stone sharply47. Deep-red variety of chalcedony48. Stay clear of50. Clobber52. Big Island flower necklace

53. Of the highest quality55. 2000 lbs.57. Flying nanny61. Aunt Polly’s wayward nephew64. Fully informed65. Type of brew67. County across Golden Gate Bridge69. A pariah avoided by others70. To Kill a Mockingbird author71. “_____ and well”72. A cold ____ of weather73. “____’s the word”74. Having no cover

1. Read-only storage2. Affirm3. Musical finale4. Like last eight in college basketball5. Dolittle’s title6. Attention grabber7. Increase8. Make face in pain9. Make like a cat10. Astrid Lindgren’s ____ of

Lonneberga11. Raja’s wife12. Strong desire15. Eucalyptus-loving marsupials20. Beside, archaic

22. Exclamation of suspicion24. What prompter does25. She followed the white rabbit26. Lakes in Scotland27. Asimov or Mizrahi, e.g.29. Syrian neighbor31. Plural of #70 Across32. ____ signs33. Light shade of blue34. Girl from the Swiss Alps36. Comedy Central’s ____.O38. Corduroy, e.g.42. Phlegms45. Strong point49. Who ___ the prize?

51. Robin Hood or Eragon, e.g.54. Bible song56. African antelope57. Toot and Puddle or

Frog and Toad, e.g.58. ____ & Mzee: The True Story of a

Remarkable Friendship59. Bear with the biggest chair60. Pre-college school61. Appear62. Viking name63. Tear violently66. Romanian money68. Flanders of The Simpsons

Across

Down

WORD SEARCH

Solutions for all puzzles can be found on page 17

Your ad could be here! Sponsor the Puzzle Page!

Please call (717) 285-1350 for more information.

16 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

York County

Calendar of EventsDelta Area Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 456-5753

Eastern Area Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 252-1641

Golden Visions Senior Community Center(717) 633-5072

Heritage Senior Center, Inc. – (717) 292-7471

Northeastern Senior Community Center(717) 266-1400

Red Land Senior Citizen Center – (717) 938-4649

South Central Senior Community Center(717) 235-6060Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. –

Pool Games

Monday through Friday, 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. –

Wii Games

Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. – Exercise Classes

Stewartstown Senior Center – (717) 993-3488

Susquehanna Senior Center – (717) 244-0340

White Rose Senior Center – (717) 843-9704www.whiteroseseniorcenter.org

Windy Hill Senior Center – (717) 225-0733

Yorktown Senior Center – (717) 854-0693

Just a snippet of what you may be missing …

please call or visit their website for more information.

York County Library Programs

York County Department of Parks and Recreation

Pre-registration is required for these programs. To register or find out more about these activities or anyadditional scheduled activities, call (717) 428-1961.

Aug. 5, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Open House and Ice Cream Social, Wallace-Cross Mill

Aug. 11, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. – Open House: Gardens, John Rudy Park

Aug. 19, 2:30 to 4 p.m. – Flintknapping, Nixon Park

Programs and Support Groups Free and open to the public

Aug. 9, noonYCAAA Family Caregiver Support

Group

Codorus Valley Corporate Center

Community Room

105 Leader Heights Road, York

(717) 771-9058

Aug. 16, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.Alzheimer’s Support Group

Senior Commons at Powder Mill

1775 Powder Mill Road, York

(717) 741-0961

Aug. 21, 3 p.m.Caregiver Support Group

Golden Visions Senior Community

Center

250 Fame Ave., #125, Hanover

(717) 633-5072

Aug. 21, 6 p.m.Free Knee and Hip Replacement

SeminarMoyer House in Carroll Village

11 Tristan Drive, Dillsburg

(717) 249-6112

Aug. 25 and 26, 1 to 5 p.m.Shrewsbury Flower Show

Shrewsbury Fire Hall

25 W. Forrest Ave., Shrewsbury

(717) 235-1130

Arthur Hufnagel Public Library of Glen Rock, 32 Main St., Glen Rock, (717) 235-1127

Collinsville Community Library, 2632 Delta Road, Brogue, (717) 927-9014Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. – Purls of Brogue Knitting Club

Dillsburg Area Public Library, 17 S. Baltimore St., Dillsburg, (717) 432-5613

Dover Area Community Library, 3700-3 Davidsburg Road, Dover, (717) 292-6814

Glatfelter Memorial Library, 101 Glenview Road, Spring Grove, (717) 225-3220

Guthrie Memorial Library, 2 Library Place, Hanover, (717) 632-5183

Kaltreider-Benfer Library, 147 S. Charles St., Red Lion, (717) 244-2032

Kreutz Creek Valley Library Center, 66 Walnut Springs Road, Hellam, (717) 252-4080

Martin Library, 159 E. Market St., York, (717) 846-5300

Mason-Dixon Public Library, 250 Bailey Drive, Stewartstown, (717) 993-2404

Paul Smith Library of Southern York County, 80 Constitution Ave., Shrewsbury, (717) 235-4313

Red Land Community Library, 48 Robin Hood Drive, Etters, (717) 938-5599

Village Library, 35-C N. Main St., Jacobus, (717) 428-1034

Senior Center Activities

If you have an event youwould like to include,

please email information [email protected] for

consideration.

Give Us the Scoop!

Please send us your press

releases so we can let our

readers know about

free events occurring in

York County!

Email preferred to:

[email protected]

(717) 285-1350

Let

Help you get the word out!

Visit Our Website At:

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.comCentral Pennsylvania’s Award-Winning 50+ Publication

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2012 17

Pu

zzle

s sh

ow

n o

n p

age

15

Puz

zle

So

luti

on

sShe has very fond memories of those summers,

including times picking blackberries that would later be

used to make baked goods. It is from her experiences on

her brother’s farm that McNichol believes her interest

in flower gardening comes.

After their marriage, McNichol and her husband,

Bill, lived in an apartment, which limited McNichol’s

ability to garden. Eventually, they moved into a house

on the south shore of Long Island, where McNichol

was able to put in an expansive garden that included

flowers, vegetables, and grapes.

“People would come by and remark that I had a

beautiful garden,” said McNichol.

When the company that Bill had worked for in New

York went bankrupt, the couple relocated to

Pennsylvania, where McNichol became involved with

the local garden club—and she was no ordinary

member. McNichol has held almost every position

available at the club, from secretary to vice president.

“You name it, I did it,” McNichol said.

What makes McNichol such a valuable asset to the

garden club is her ability to organize and champion

many of the group’s largest initiatives.

In the winter of 2010, an area company that has

produced gardening tools since the 1700s, asked for

help with a community garden project. The company

had $100,000 and a 1.7-acre plot of empty land next to

its temporary headquarters.

The CEO of the company at the time had

envisioned using the money and the land to establish a

community garden that the garden club would then

manage and maintain.

The garden contains 127 raised beds and is outfitted

with hoses, connected to the water lines of the

corporate office building, and a gardening shed filled

with all the tools a gardener could possibly need.

Community gardeners, therefore, need only bring

their seeds and a willingness to work to have a

successful plot.

A set of rules and regulations was established and

gardeners signed up for a specified plot. In addition, she

helped organize bimonthly gardening talks, inviting

local gardening experts to give lectures and hold

discussions for the community garden members.

“It turned out to be an incredible success,”

McNichol said. “We had no idea we would be able to

fill [all the plots] up. We opened up May 1, and by

May 31, there was not a plot left in the garden. As of

now, we have a three-year waiting list.”

After her success with that garden project, McNichol

was asked to act as chairman for the garden club’s

Junior Gardening Committee. McNichol agreed, on the

condition that she could establish a garden at a

community nonprofit organization so she could work

with inner-city youth.

McNichol worked with the staff at the nonprofit

organization to apply for funding for the garden. After

receiving a private family donation, they were able to

put in a number of garden plots, surrounded by a split

rail fence with rabbit proofing. McNichol and her class

of 30 students, ranging from kindergarteners to sixth

graders, tend the plots.

In addition to gardening, McNichol’s students are

exposed to a world of information about the

environment and how it works. Their projects have

included building birdhouses and maintaining a worm

farm and compost pile to help fertilize the garden plots.

Thanks to some shelving donated by Home Depot,

the class was able to begin growing plants indoors over

the winter of 2011 and has since moved them outside.

“They made wonderful arrangements out of greens

and flowers that they brought home during

Christmastime,” McNichol said.

The students also received information about

nutrition from Giant Foods’ nutritionist. They even had

a class dedicated to sampling fruits and vegetables,

many of them unique and new to the children. The

students were asked to close their eyes and eat a piece of

the fruit or vegetable, focusing on the texture and taste.

They then wrote poems about the experience.

The class has also been enjoying the fruits of their

labor.

“The children have already been eating what they

have been growing,” McNichol said.

She is very proud of her class and all that they have

learned, including the basic principles of permaculture

(a method of sustainable living that can be applied to

countless aspects of human life).

McNichol receives the loving support of her

husband, Bill, and son, Tim. Tim is a professional

beach volleyball player who has inherited his mother’s

love of flowers. McNichol is certain that when he settles

down and marries, he will have a beautiful garden of his

own.

GARDEN from page 1

YWCA Junior Gardeners showing the fruits

(or veggies) of their labor at the

Ribbon Cutting Day ceremony in June 2012.

Flowers and vegetable plants coexist happily at the

Penn-Cumberland Garden Club’s community

garden at the Ames True Temper site.

The garden is outfitted with hoses that are connected to

the water lines of the corporate office building, which

help the gardeners enjoy prolific yields from their plots.

18 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com

Senior Games: A Local Summer StapleBy Megan Joyce

Somewhere between a soggy start and a scorching

end, the 2012 York Senior Games proved a successful

outing for the county’s over-50 athletes in late June.

A rainy Monday brought out the umbrellas during

the games’ outdoor events, and by week’s end, the

blistering summer sun replaced those

umbrellas with broad-brimmed hats,

sunscreen, and bottles of water—lots

and lots of water.

Organized by the York County Area

Agency on Aging and the Senior Games

Planning Committee, with a

membership of community and

business volunteers, the 11th annual

games were held June 18 to 23.

Each year, the Senior Games are a vibrant

reminder of the mission of the Area Agency on

Aging: to promote healthy lifestyles and fitness for

York County men and women over age 50, said

Jenny Nace, information specialist at the AAA and a

member of the Senior Games planning committee.

“It doesn’t matter how old you are—you can still

remain active, mentally and/or physically,” Nace said.

“Our oldest participant this year was 95.”

Held over six consecutive days, the Senior Games

were comprised of 48 events, their breadth reflective

of the diverse interests and abilities of the county’s

senior athletes. Nace said their most popular events

were bocce, Wii bowling and Wii golf, bowling,

horseshoes, shuffleboard, throws (football, softball,

and Frisbee), darts, basketball foul shooting and hot

shots, and mini golf.

Although the athletic ability is impressive—more

than 1,250 gold, silver, and bronze medals were

awarded—Nace finds the friendly nature of the

games to be most inspiring.

“It’s great to see the participants help

each other out, regardless if a medal is on

the line or not,” Nace observed. “It’s more

about the camaraderie than the

competition.”

Two major changes to the structure of

the games were implemented for 2012.

The opening ceremony, formerly a

closing ceremony held at the end of the

week, now heralded the start of the games

on the first day of events.

Additionally, all of this year’s events were held at

Central York High School, with the exception of

seven offsite activities. This helped streamline the

daily schedules of events and alleviated travel time for

the games’ 543 participants.

Year after year, Nace and her planning partners are

rewarded with both helpful suggestions for next year’s

games and sincere gratitude for the effort put in to

pull off yet another week of sports, socialization, and

sunshine—Mother Nature willing, that is.

“Overall, the participants are very appreciative and

very thankful to all the volunteers—which makes all

the hard work worth it!”

PlatinumManorCare Health Services

GoldLutheran Social Services of South Central Pennsylvania

SilverWellSpan Geriatrics • SeniorLIFE-York

BronzeGlatfelter Insurance Group • Heritage Senior Center • Memorial Hospital

Rest Haven-York Nursing and Rehabilitation Center • Visiting Angels

The York County Senior Games would like to thank the 2012 sponsors whose

contributions have made the events possible.

A Special Thanks to All Our Volunteers!

York CountySenior Games

2012

Media50plus Senior News /On-Line Publishers, Inc.

WGAL 8 • NewsRadio 910 WSBA

SupporterAddus Health Care

OOnnee BBooookk,, OOnnee CCoommmmuunniittyy

2012 Book AnnouncementPlease join 70 libraries and their community partners

in celebrating the 2012 One Book, One Community

book announcement and reception.

Wednesday, August 22 at 4 p.m.at the

Manheim Township Public Library595 Granite Run Drive

Lancaster, Pa. 17601

RSVP by August 17, 2012 online at www.mtpl.info.

www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2012 19

Financial Insurance?

What about

Experts are agreeing that gold and silverhave another 10 years to grow.

TAKE CONTROL, PROTECT YOUR HARD EARNED DOLLARS WITH PHYSICAL GOLD & SILVER.

You have Home, Health, Car, and Life Insurance...

(877)219-0763FOR YOUR FREE EDUCATIONAL GUIDE TODAY!

CALLNOW

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

[email protected] or mail nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight,

3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.

Nancy Eyster Regalo Willoughby Jill Lippiatt

Nancy Eyster, Regalo Willoughby,

and Jill Lippiatt have been named

volunteers of the month by the York

County Area Agency on Aging for their

ongoing service and dedication to the

agency and York County’s older adults.

A mother of three who worked in

government for 20 years, Nancy Eyster

enjoys the variety of things she does as

general office assistant and special events

volunteer. She has volunteered for the

Agency on Aging since 2000. Eyster also

volunteers for her church community

and enjoys spending time with her

children and grandsons.

Regalo Willoughby has lived in York

since 2007 after moving from the

Caribbean and living in New York and

Maryland. As a financial counselor for

the agency, Willoughby has seen the

difficulties some older adults face

without the help of family, friends, or

programs such as this one.

APPRISE volunteer Jill Lippiatt

began volunteering in high school as

part of a volunteer club. She enjoys the

challenge of the APPRISE program and

understanding Medicare so she can

better educate and assist seniors to make

well-informed choices. In addition to

APPRISE, she also volunteers for her

church and her children’s schools.

Travel Safety TipsWhen you’re traveling, whether on

business or vacation, your hotel should

be a safe sanctuary. But thieves can rob

you of your security along with your

valuables unless you’re careful.

Take these simple precautions to

prevent your trip or vacation from

becoming a nightmare:

Check your security. Make sure the

doors are secure, self-closing, and lock

automatically. Deadbolts should have at

least a 1-inch bolt. Make sure your

windows close and lock firmly and that

any balconies can’t be accessed from the

room next door. Don’t be afraid to ask

for another room if necessary.

Watch your valuables. Before

leaving on your trip, photocopy your

credit cards and other documents, and

take pictures of any jewelry or

valuables you’re bringing with you (if

you must bring them at all.) This will

come in handy if they’re lost or stolen.

Don’t let your luggage out of your

sight. Take your laptop and other

important items with you when you

leave the room, or lock them in the

hotel safe.

Know where you are. Pick up a few

business cards in the lobby when you

check in, and keep them with you at all

times. Leave one near your room phone

as well. A large city may have more than

one Westin or Sheraton, and if you get

lost or need to tell someone where you

are, you want to have accurate

information readily available.

20 August 2012 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com