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Maria Romano Marcinko stands with a couple of feral cats that will be spayed/neutered and then released where they were found. York Seniors Go for the Gold page 10 Ergonomic Tools that Can Ease Gardening Pains page 12 Inside: By Rebecca Hanlon Maria Romano Marcinko is severely allergic to cats. The itchy skin and shortened breaths would send most people running from these critters. But Marcinko can’t stay away. The 58-year-old energetic woman founded a community stray cat program in 2010 shortly after being appointed to a seat on the borough council. The first item on the agenda that was handed to her in September 2009 was for a municipal contract with the local Humane Society. Thousands of taxpayer dollars were being spent each year for the care of stray animals. More than 85 percent of those were feral cats. “I’ve always been an animal lover,” Marcinko said. “They hoped that because I had experience in dog rescue services that maybe I could help with the overwhelming cat population.” The challenge was “staying outside of the box,” Marcinko said. She tried to understand the concerns of residents who became attached to the cats, while at the same time relating to the frustrations of neighbors who wanted strays to stay off their lawns. Feisty feral cats can damage plants, outdoor furniture, and flowerbeds, she said. But there was a solution. please see FELINES page 16 Councilwoman Heads Successful Feral-Cat Program For the Love of Felines York County Edition August 2014 Vol. 15 No. 8
Transcript
Maria Romano Marcinko stands with a couple of feral cats thatwill be spayed/neutered and then released where they were found.
York Seniors Go for
the Gold
page 10
Ergonomic Tools that Can
Ease Gardening Pains
page 12
Inside:
By Rebecca Hanlon
Maria Romano Marcinko is severely allergic to cats.The itchy skin and shortened breaths would send most people running
from these critters.But Marcinko can’t stay away.The 58-year-old energetic woman founded a community stray cat
program in 2010 shortly after being appointed to a seat on the boroughcouncil.
The first item on the agenda that was handed to her in September 2009was for a municipal contract with the local Humane Society. Thousands oftaxpayer dollars were being spent each year for the care of stray animals.More than 85 percent of those were feral cats.
“I’ve always been an animal lover,” Marcinko said. “They hoped thatbecause I had experience in dog rescue services that maybe I could help withthe overwhelming cat population.”
The challenge was “staying outside of the box,” Marcinko said. She tried to understand the concerns of residents who became attached to
the cats, while at the same time relating to the frustrations of neighbors whowanted strays to stay off their lawns.
Feisty feral cats can damage plants, outdoor furniture, and flowerbeds, shesaid. But there was a solution.
please see FELINES page 16
Councilwoman Heads SuccessfulFeral-Cat Program
For the Love of
Felines
York County Edition August 2014 Vol. 15 No. 8
2 August 2014 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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he letter began: “Dear Saralee,I’ll get right to it. We arecousins.”
When I first read Robin’s words, Ididn’t believe her. How could I have afirst cousin I knew nothing about?
She found me by Googling my name. “I would love to speak with you and
share family memories,” she wrote. So Icalled her at her home in Pennsylvania.
Sure enough, her mother was myAunt Rebecca. I never even knew myaunt had a child.
When Robin and I spoke, it was liketalking to a sister. We used the sameexpressions, laughed and cried alike,related like we’d never been apart, andeven described ourselves in the samegoofy way: as lunatics.
Her children’s careers are in writingand psychology, just like my professions.We both sign our emails: “Love, me.”And we each include our dogs in the
family photos we send.Together, we figured out
why we never knew eachother existed.
I haven’t thought aboutmy mother’s melancholiain a while. Oh, how Iblame myself for waitinguntil it was too late tomake things better.
Mom’s history was oneof neglect and abuse. Shewanted so desperately to beloved, but her fury at herparents was unrelenting. Soshe took it out on the most importantpeople in her world—the ones she heldclosest to her heart.
Most of her family wouldn’t speak toher. She didn’t understand that byconstantly hanging up on relatives aftershouting at them, they’d stop calling.
She didn’t understand that being mean
didn’t solve problems; it justalienated people.
And I didn’t understandthat when Mom slammedher door each time I’d leave,it was because she wantedme nearby, in her home andin her heart.
My poor mothercrippled her own life whenall she truly wanted was thecloseness she never had.How immature and selfishof me, as an adult, not tosee the love she so deeply
longed for. When I told Robin thatMom ended her own life, she was notsurprised.
And so, Aunt Rebecca and herhusband, my uncle Jack, were includedin the sad picture of estranged relatives.Therefore, I had no idea Robin existed—until now.
Sadly, everyone, other than mybrother, stopped talking with me whenthey gave up on my mom. Although I’vetried to reconnect, no one has responded.But now, I’ve been accepted into a newfamily, with all the richness that goesalong with feeling welcomed by lovedones with a shared past.
In her first email, Robin wrote, “I wasawake all last night thinking of us. I findit unbelievable but wonderful andastounding! If you tried to write it, theywould call it fiction.”
I said, “I’m so happy you found me.”“So am I.”My mother would have treasured
being a part of this extraordinaryreunion. After all, the love I found is allshe ever wanted.
The truth is—my mother loved me asintensely as I loved her.
If only I had said, “I love you, Mom. Ididn’t mean to hurt you so much,
Such is Life
Saralee Perel
Finding a Family Again
Saralee and her motherin 1977.
T
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2014 3
This Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have madean extended commitment to your health and well-being.
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
Roth’s Farm VillageRoth’s Church Road, Spring Grove(717) 633-7300
Community Animal HospitalDonald A. Sloat, D.V.M.400 S. Pine St., York(717) 845-5669
Gordon’s Body Shop, Inc.10 Mill St., Stewartstown(717) 993-2263
Munchel Brothers Jewelry and CoinExchange351 Loucks Road, Suite G-7, York(717) 793-2110
Steinmetz Coins & Currency2861 E. Prospect Road, York(717) 757-6980
Low-Income Energy Assistance(717) 787-8750
Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre510 Centerville Road, Lancaster(717) 898-1900
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
Pennsylvania Office for the Deaf and Hardof Hearing(800) 233-3008 V/TTY
Elder Healthcare SolutionsServing South Central PA(717) 825-8828
Senior HelpersServing Adams and York counties(717) 920-0707
Visiting Angels Living Assistance Services(717) 630-0067 – Hanover(717) 751-2488 – York
Elm Spring Residence118 Pleasant Acres Road, York(717) 840-7676
Apprise Insurance Counseling(717) 771-9610 or (800) 632-9073
Asset Protectors1595 North Queen Street, York(717) 699-2336
Providence Place Senior Living3377 Fox Run Road, Dover(717) 767-4500
CVS/pharmacywww.cvs.com
A Life Transition Service(717) 799-0648
York County Area Agency on Aging(800) 632-9073
Lebanon VA Medical Center1700 S. Lincoln Ave., Lebanon(717) 228-6000 or (800) 409-8771
RSVP of Capital Region, Inc.(717) 847-1539
RSVP Lancaster County(717) 847-1539
RSVP Lebanon County(717) 454-8956
RSVP York County(443) 619-3842
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especially when I left for college. Younever meant to hurt me. You just wantedme to always be with you because youloved me in the purest sense. I shouldhave known this.”
I wish I had told her that even thoughwe didn’t shop, talk on the phone, orshare secrets and laughter the way manymothers and daughters do, we still lovedeach other profoundly—as strongly as
rivers can flow and birds can soar. Maybe, oh maybe, somewhere in her
tender, aching heart, she knew.
Saralee Perel is an award-winning, nationally
syndicated columnist. Her new book isCracked Nuts & Sentimental Journeys: StoriesFrom a Life Out of Balance. To find outmore, visit www.saraleeperel.com or [email protected].
By John Johnston
To help combat the rising threat offraud and identity theft, SocialSecurity will no longer issue
Social Security number printoutsbeginning in August 2014.
If you need written confirmation ofyour Social Security number—perhapsyour new employer needs verification—and you can’t find your Social Security
card, you can apply for a replacement.But do you really need a replacement?
In most cases, you don’t need your cardas long as you know your number.
For all intents and purposes, yournumber is your card. Usually providingyour number and identifyinginformation is enough.
In the event you really do want orneed a replacement card, either foryourself or for a child, you can find all of
the details you need at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.
The “Social Security Number andCard” page provides information on howto obtain a replacement card and whatspecific documents you need to provide.
Whether you need a Social Securitycard for yourself or a child, it’s easy—andfree—to apply for one.
But consider whether a new SocialSecurity card is really in the cards for
you. It may be that your “card” is alreadywith you—in your head.
While you’re at the website, open yourfree “my Social Security” account atwww.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. It canhelp you plan for retirement, check yourearnings history, request your SocialSecurity statement, and more.
John Johnston is a Social Security publicaffairs specialist.
Is a New Social Security Card in Your Cards?
Social Security News
4 August 2014 50plus SeniorNews t 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 17512
During the summer, it isimportant for everyone, especiallyolder adults and people withchronic medical conditions, to beaware of the dangers ofhyperthermia. The NationalInstitute on Aging (NIA), part ofthe NIH, has some tips to helpmitigate some of the dangers.
Hyperthermia is an abnormallyhigh body temperature caused by afailure of the heat-regulatingmechanisms in the body to dealwith the heat coming from theenvironment. Heat stroke, heatsyncope (sudden dizziness afterprolonged exposure to the heat),heat cramps, heat exhaustion, andheat fatigue are common forms ofhyperthermia.
People can be at increased riskfor these conditions, depending onthe combination of outsidetemperature, their general health,and individual lifestyle.
Older people, particularly thosewith chronic medical conditions,should stay indoors, preferably withair conditioning or at least a fanand air circulation, on hot andhumid days, especially when an airpollution alert is in effect.
Living in housing without airconditioning, not drinking enoughfluids, not understanding how torespond to the weather conditions,lack of mobility and access totransportation, overdressing, andvisiting overcrowded places are alllifestyle factors that can increase therisk for hyperthermia.
People without air conditionersshould go to places that do have airconditioning, such as senior centers,shopping malls, movie theaters, andlibraries. Cooling centers, whichmay be set up by local public health
agencies, religious groups, andsocial service organizations in manycommunities, are another option.
The risk for hyperthermia mayincrease from:
• Age-related changes to the skin,such as poor blood circulation andinefficient sweat glands
• Alcohol use
• Being substantially overweight orunderweight
• Dehydration
• Heart, lung, and kidney diseases,as well as any illness that causesgeneral weakness or fever
• High blood pressure or otherhealth conditions that requirechanges in diet. For example,people on salt-restricted diets maybe at increased risk. However, saltpills should not be used withoutfirst consulting a physician.
• Reduced perspiration, caused bymedications such as diuretics,sedatives, tranquilizers, and certainheart and blood pressure drugs
• Use of multiple medications. It isimportant, however, to continue totake prescribed medication anddiscuss possible problems with aphysician.
Heat stroke is a life-threateningform of hyperthermia. It occurswhen the body is overwhelmed byheat and is unable to control itstemperature.
Heat stroke occurs whensomeone’s body temperature
increases significantly (above 104degrees Fahrenheit) and showssymptoms of the following: strong,rapid pulse; lack of sweating; dry,flushed skin; mental status changes(like combativeness or confusion);staggering; faintness; or coma.
Seek immediate emergencymedical attention for a person withany of these symptoms, especiallyan older adult.
If you suspect someone issuffering from a heat-related illness:
• Get the person out of the heatand into a shady, air-conditioned,or other cool place. Urge the personto lie down.
• If you suspect heat stroke, call911. Apply a cold, wet cloth to thewrists, neck, armpits, and/or groin.These are places where blood passesclose to the surface of the skin, andthe cold cloths can help cool theblood.
• Help the individual to bathe orsponge off with cool water.
• If the person can swallow safely,offer fluids such as water or fruitand vegetable juices, but avoidalcohol and caffeine.
The Low-Income Home EnergyAssistance Program (LIHEAP)within the Administration forChildren and Families in the U.S.Department of Health and HumanServices helps eligible households payfor home cooling and heating costs.
People interested in applying forassistance should contact their localor state LIHEAP agency or go tohttp://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/liheap.
ER vs. Clinic: Which to Choose?Hospital emergency rooms are
stretched thin by almost 130million visits a year. Many of thesevisits are triggered by complaintsthat could be handled moreefficiently at same-day clinics orpharmacy care centers.
How do you know which tochoose?
Go to the emergency room (orcall an ambulance) if you or a friendexperience any of these serioussymptoms:
• Persistent chest pain• Persistent shortness of breath• Severe pain, especially in the
abdomen or the lower back• Loss of balance or fainting• Difficulty speaking or thinking
clearly• Sudden, severe headache
On the other hand, most same-day clinics are able to treat theseroutine health problems:
• Fever (except in the case of anewborn infant)
• Minor trauma such as cuts andsprains
• Urinary tract infections• Severe sore throat• Nausea and vomiting• Minor eye irritation
A clinic will also be able to adviseyou to go to the emergency room ifyour condition is more serious thanyou realize.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2014 5
Geriatric Care ManagementPower of Attorney & Professional Guardianship
SERVING SOUTH CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA!Contact us for a FREE consultation: 717-825-8828
From general care and entitlement information to ongoing,intense involvement and support, we provide the insight
and guidance you need to navigate the challenges of aging.
717-825-8828www.EHS-PA.com
Community Animal Hospital
Our caring, well-trained staff willtreat you and your pet like family
Donald A. Sloat, D.V.M.Vicki Boyd-Kyle, V.M.D.
Office Hours:7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
8 - 11:30 a.m. SaturdayDoctor’s Hours by Appointment
Serving the York community for over 40 years.
(717) 845-5669 • 400 South Pine Street • York
• Exhibitors •
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• Seminars •
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www.50plusExpoPA.com
(717) 285-1350 • (717) 770-0140(610) 675-6240
Limited SponsorshipOpportunities Available
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YORK COUNTY
Sept. 17, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.
York Expo CenterMemorial Hall East
334 Carlisle Avenue
York
12th Annual
CUMBERLAND COUNTY
Oct. 22, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Carlisle Expo Center100 K Street
Carlisle
15th Annual
LANCASTER COUNTY
Nov. 5, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Spooky Nook Sports2913 Spooky Nook Road
Manheim(Just off Rt. 283 at the Salunga exit)
18th Annual
FREEPARKING!
Your Changing Eyes
By Rebecca Mills
The primary cause of blindness in theUnited States, cataracts occur as the lensof the eye naturally breaks down withage. By the time you reach age 65, thereis a 50 percent chance you already have acataract.
Most people are born with a crystal-clear lens, and it stays relatively clearthroughout most of your life. Over time,this crystalline lens becomes more opaquebecause the water and protein that makeup the lens begin to clump together.
When looking at the pupils ofsomeone withcataracts, it looks liketiny clouds insidetheir eyes. Just asclouds block out ourvision of the sky,these small cloudsinhibit a person’sability to see clearly.
The symptoms ofa cataract can bequite subtle at first,only causing minimaldisruption to yourvision. Small parts ofyour field of view may be fuzzy and outof focus. Cataract sufferers often believetheir prescription is just changing, sothey opt for stronger glasses or lenses.Unfortunately, getting a strongerprescription only puts a temporarybandage on the problem.
Other symptoms may include: glarearound lights, double vision, poor nightvision, and poor color recognition.
While researchers are unsure whetheror not cataracts can be prevented, thereare steps a person can take in order tolower the risk of developing them. Theseinclude:> Wearing protective sunglasses> Not smoking> Reducing alcohol use> Maintaining a healthy weight> Including fruits and vegetables in your
daily diet
An optometrist can do some routineprocedures to determine whether apatient has cataracts. These include avisual acuity test, looking into the eyewith a light, and dilating the pupils tolook closely at the lens.
If cataracts are found on the lens, talkto your eye doctor about your optionsand see whether surgery would be thebest choice for you. Cataract surgery isrecommended if your life is beginning tosuffer. Many people decide to opt out ofthe surgery initially and then undergo itlater once their vision deterioratessubstantially.
The goodnews is thatcataract surgeryis a fairly simpleprocedure. Thesurgery involvesmaking a smallincision in thelens, removingthe cataract, andreplacing thelens with anartificial one.
Normally thedoctor will only
do the surgery in one eye at a time,waiting a month or so between the firstand second eye. As with any procedure,the surgery does come with a risk ofinfection and bleeding.
As many as 85-92 percent of adultswho opted to have cataract surgery weresatisfied with the results of theprocedure, and many of those whoweren’t satisfied had other preexistingeye conditions.
The surgery itself has a 95 percentsuccess rate, and the people who havetheir cataracts removed are relieved to beable to keep their vision for years tocome.
If you think you may be developingcataracts, please contact your eye careprofessional. For more information oncataracts, visit the National Eye Institutewebsite at www.nei.nih.gov.
More Seniors Documenting
End-of-Life WishesThe percentage of senior citizens with
living wills was 72 percent in 2010, arecord number and a substantial increasefrom 47 percent in 2000.
The figures come from a studypublished in the Journal of the American
Geriatrics Society, examining data fromthe Health and Retirement Studyconducted by the University ofMichigan Institute for Social Researchon behalf of the U.S. National Instituteon Aging.
CCRCs offer a tiered approach to the aging process, accommodating residents’ unique and often changing needs.
Healthy adults entering a CRCC are able to live independently in a home, apartment, or condominium of theirown within the community. When assistance with everyday activities becomes necessary, they can move intopersonal care, assisted living, rehabilitation, or nursing care facilities. Some CCRCs have designated dementiaareas within the community. These units address the progressing needs of people who have any form of dementia.
With a wealth of available resources, these communities give older adults the option to live in one location forthe duration of their lives, with much of their future care already figured out — which equals both comfort andpeace of mind.
The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.
CCRCContinuing Care
Retirement Communities
Bethany Village325 Wesley DriveMechanicsburg, PA 17055Stephanie LightfootDirector of Sales & Marketing(717) 766-0279www.bethanyvillage.org
Chapel Pointeat Carlisle770 South Hanover StreetCarlisle, PA 17013Linda AmsleyDirector of Marketing/Admissions(717) 713-2201www.chapelpointe.com
Church of God Home801 North Hanover StreetCarlisle, PA 17013Sherry HeimDirector of Development/PR(717) [email protected]
Cross Keys VillageThe Brethren Home Community2990 Carlisle PikeNew Oxford, PA 17350Amy KirkpatrickSenior Retirement Counselor(717) 624-5350a.kirkpatrick@crosskeysvillage.orgwww.crosskeysvillage.org
Garden Spot Village433 South Kinzer AvenueNew Holland, PA 17557Megan FarberSales and Marketing(717) [email protected]
Calvary FellowshipHomes502 Elizabeth DriveLancaster, PA 17601Marlene MorrisMarketing Director(717) 393-0711www.calvaryhomes.org
Charles Wilson grew up in a smalltown near Bel Air, Md. Thoughhe didn’t know it then, he was to
spend a lot of time over the broadPacific on the opposite side of the worldfrom his home.
In January of 1943, he enlisted in theArmy Air Corps and entered the aviationcadet program. After basic, he went toclassified, where he passed all therequirements to become either a pilot, anavigator, or a bombardier. He chose tobecome a pilot and started pilot trainingat Albany, Ga.
He soon discovered that there were
lots of ways to “washout” of pilot training,and he then went tonavigator training atSelma, Ala. There, inDecember 1943, he wonhis navigator wings and acommission as secondlieutenant.
The Air Corps waslooking for navigatorswho had also qualifiedto be bombardiers, so hevolunteered to attendbombardier school at
Roswell, N.M. He thereearned his bombardierwings before beingassigned to a B-25 crewat Greenville, S.C.
The standard B-25crew was made up ofeight men: pilot, copilot,navigator, bombardier,radio man, two waistgunners, and a tailgunner. In his case,however, it was onlyseven men, since heserved as both navigator
and bombardier.Their route to combat took them to
California, Hawaii, and New Guinea.How did they find their way across thosegreat expanses of the Pacific?
“That’s where I came in,” he grins.“By looking down through the Nordenbombsight, I could see the waves, andthat helped me estimate the directionand force of the wind.”
And where did he learn to do that? “In Selma,” he says, “right out of the
textbook.” But without any real waves to see? “Yeah,” he says airily, “but it worked
In WWII in the Pacific, There Was a Lotof Water to Fly Over Between Islands
Robert D. Wilcox
Salute to a Veteran
2LT Charles A. Wilson in 1943as he earned his navigator
wings and commission.
6 August 2014 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2014 7
The CCRC Communities listed are sponsoring this message. This is not an all-inclusive list.
CCRCContinuing Care
Retirement Communities
Willow Valley Communities600 Willow Valley SquareLancaster, PA 17602Kristin HambletonDirector of Sales(717) 464-6800(800) 770-5445www.willowvalleycommunities.org
Woodcrest VillaMennonite Home Communities2001 Harrisburg PikeLancaster, PA 17601Connie BuckwalterDirector of Marketing(717) 390-4126www.woodcrestvilla.org
Normandie RidgeSenior Living Community1700 Normandie DriveYork, PA 17408Joyce SingerDirector of Sales & Marketing(717) 718-0937www.normandieridge.org
Homeland Center1901 North Fifth StreetHarrisburg, PA 17102-1598Barry S. Ramper II, N.H.A.President/CEO(717) 221-7902www.homelandcenter.org
Homestead Village Enhanced Senior Living1800 Marietta AvenueP.O. Box 3227Lancaster, PA 17604-3227Susan L. DoyleDirector of Marketing(717) 397-4831 ext. 158www.homesteadvillage.org
The Middletown Home999 West Harrisburg PikeMiddletown, PA 17057Andrea HenneyDirector of Residential Services(717) 944-3351 www.MiddletownHome.org
Serving from theHeart in the Spirit of
Friendship, Love,and Truth
If you would like to be featured
on this important page,
please contact your
account representative or call
(717) 285-1350.
St. Anne’sRetirement Community3952 Columbia AvenueWest Hempfield Township, PA 17512Christina GallagherDirector of Marketing(717) 285-5443cgallagher@stannesrc.orgwww.stannesretirementcommunity.com
out just fine when you had real waves tolook at. And,” he adds, “I was able to‘shoot the sun’ to judge our speed overthe water.”
With a smile, he says, “It had towork, because I didn’t even know how toswim.”
After bombing the Japanese on NewGuinea and nearby islands, he and hiscrew were relocated to Morotai Island,where it rained for a solid month.Everything—their clothing, theirbedding, everything they had—wascontinually soaked.
Although they flew missions throughthe weather, everybody got “jungle rot.”Their hands swelled up with the tropicalinfection so that they couldn’t even write.Fortunately, the medics had an ointmentto treat it, but it was an experience thatWilson would prefer to forget.
The crew moved again, this time toPalawan Island in the Philippines, where
they bombed Luzon and nearby islands.Wilson says all the island settlementswere on the edge of islands, close to thewater. So they would circle over theland, then, at treetop height, dropbombs on the facilities on their waytoward the water so that, if they werehit, they’d be able to ditch in the waterrather than crash on the land in Japanesehands.
Not all missions involved bombs,though. The Japanese planted crops onsome of the islands they captured. Thefood they produced was needed, becausere-supply from Japan was so precarious.Wilson remembers flying missions tospray those crops with oil and destroythem.
On another kind of mission entirely,their B-25s were fitted with auxiliaryfuel tanks, and they flew a 16-hourmission, leading P-38s to a rendezvouswith B-24s off the coast of China,
aircraft that went on to bomb Japanesebases in China.
On one other key mission, they wereto fly to Leyte Island to cover GeneralMacArthur’s return to the Philippines.They ran into a huge monsoon theytried to climb over, but every time theyneared the top of the clouds, they foundthat the clouds were climbing faster thanthey were. So they had to abort theirshot at history being made.
Did he ever get shot up in combat? “No,” he says. “The closest we came
was when we were supporting theinvasion of Borneo. I saw the B-25 tothe left of us go down in flames. Thenthe same thing happened to the plane tothe right of us. But we came through itwithout a scratch.
“Then, after I had flown 53 missions,my tour was over, and I returned to theU.S. on a converted ocean liner. Justbefore we reached California, we got
news that the A-bomb had beendropped on Hiroshima. And the newsthat the Japanese had surrenderedreached us on the day that I musteredout of the Air Corps at Fort Meade.”
Wilson then entered the University ofMaryland on the G.I. Bill and in 1950graduated with a B.A. in mathematics.He taught high school mathematics for acouple of years, and then worked forthree years at Aberdeen Proving Groundsusing wind tunnels to study the effect ofwind on missiles.
For many years thereafter, he wrotecomputer programs for a major financecompany.
He often thinks of—but rarelydiscusses—all those hours he flew in thePacific with nothing below him butwater.
Colonel Wilcox flew a B-17 bomber inEurope in World War II.
8 August 2014 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
York County
Calendar of EventsSouth Central Senior Community Center – (717) 235-6060, http://southcentralyorkcountysrctr.webs.comAug. 5, 10 a.m. – Blood Pressure and Weight CheckupAug. 15 – Special Visit from “Elvis”Aug. 27, 8:15 to 9 a.m. – All-You-Can-Eat Public
Breakfast
Please contact your local center for scheduled activities.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. 7, 6:30 p.m. – Archaeology Program, Horn Farm Center for Agriculture, Hellam TownshipAug. 9, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Aug. 10, noon to 4 p.m. – Butterfly Weekend, Nixon County ParkAug. 24, 2:30 to 4 p.m. – Flintknapping Program, Nixon County Park
Programs and Support Groups Free or minimal charge
Aug. 5, 7 p.m.Surviving Spouse Socials of YorkCountyFaith United Church of Christ509 Pacific Ave., York(717) 266-2784
Aug. 21, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.Alzheimer’s Support GroupSenior Commons at Powder Mill1775 Powder Mill Road, York(717) 741-0961
Aug. 23 and 24, 1 to 5 p.m.Shrewsbury Flower Show: Birds ’n’BloomsShrewsbury Fire Hall25 W. Forrest Ave., Shrewsbury(717) 235-1130
Collinsville Community Library, 2632 Delta Road, Brogue, (717) 927-9014Tuesdays, 6 to 8 p.m. – Purls of Brogue Knitting Club
Glatfelter Memorial Library, 101 Glenview Road, Spring Grove, (717) 225-3220Mondays, 6 to 8 p.m. – Knitting and Spinning Group
Senior Center Activities
Give Us the Scoop!Please send us your press releases
so we can let our readers know about free eventsoccurring in York County!
Dear Mark: Your recent columnabout someone who found credits in aslot machine brought to mind anincident that happened to me a fewweeks ago at the MGM Grand inDetroit.
I accidentally left my $97 voucher onthe bar. When I came back from therestroom, it was gone. I reported myloss to security.
Within an hour, they caught someoneon “the eye in the sky” cashing theticket in. This is one time that I lost mymoney at a casino and they gave me mymoney back. – James B.
Contrary to some mailbag responsethat didn’t quite believe what a casinodoes with the left-behind credits orvouchers, I must reiterate, it really isn’tsmart customer service for a casino topocket lost loot.
Returning player winnings to itsrightful owner is one of many ways acasino builds on customer loyalty. Heck,
handing a player $97 that justly belongsto him can keep him yanking handles intheir casino for life.
From the casino’s perspective, customerloyalty comes through having a strongrelationship with its players. When aplayer sees them as a friend and ally, theyare reluctant to jump ship to anothercasino, even if it means they can get asweeter deal elsewhere.
Given the competitive nature of thegambling business, casinos protect theircustomers as a mother bear does her cubs.
Customers will decide whether to trusta casino based upon their day-to-daybehavior. Handing you back your $97builds on that trust.
Make that type of behavior consistentover time—and here is where manycasinos fall short—and the managementknows you can be counted on as “their”patron. If their behavior becomesunpredictable, you, the consumer, willfind another joint to which you take yourmoney.
James, getting your $97 back was ano-brainer for the casino.
Dear Mark: Are you aware of a goodvideo poker program that will run on aMacintosh laptop? I had Bob Dancer’sprogram on my old PC, which I liked alot, but it is not available in a Macversion. I would like to find a similarproduct, but I am not having any luck. – Charlie P.
Unfortunately, Charlie, though I havebeen in the Mac world since its infancy, Itoo have yet to find software comparableto Dancer’s Video Poker for Winners! It isspecifically for that reason that I keep anold PC laptop lying around, as youshould too.
Besides using VP for Winners! as avideo poker game that replicates the IGTmachines you see in a casino, you canalso use it as a tutorial, create strategies,focus on problem areas, check unusualhands, figure slot club paybacks, and a
whole lot more. One of my favorite features of this
software program is the ability to printout game-specific strategy charts that youcan take to the casino with you. Themoney you save by never having to payfor another strategy chart alone will morethan pay for the cost of the $50 program.
In addition, I like that VPW allowsyou to change pay tables and thenanalyze that game’s overall expectedreturn. Finally, I like the ability todetermine what your bankroll needs areto avoid going broke.
There is no better way to master videopoker than with this software program. Irecommend, Charlie, that you stick withit.
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
The Casino ReturningLost Loot is a No-Brainer
Deal Me InBy Mark Pilarski
The safety of our purchased food,and the certainty of its supply, islikely to cause more of us to
convert some or all of our backyard lawnsinto produce gardens.
In the 1930s, approximately 40 percentof the U.S. population lived on a farm.Today it is less than 2 percent. Thankfully,many city dwellers have not abandonedgrowing fruits and vegetables.
Backyard farming was common duringthe two World Wars and the GreatDepression. In 1917, the nation had a“war garden” campaign that resulted in thecreation of more than 5 million gardens.In World War II, “victory gardens” weregrown by 20 million Americans.
“These [victory] gardens produced upto 41 percent of all the vegetable producethat was consumed by the nation,” wroteLaura Lawson in her book City Bountiful:A Century of Community Gardening inAmerica.
Historically, the White House has beenthe site of both produce gardening andresident livestock husbandry. First LadyMichelle Obama planted a 1,100-square-foot “kitchen garden” in 2009, followingthe earlier examples of Abigail Adams,Eleanor Roosevelt, and Hillary Clinton.Presidents Harrison, Hayes, and Wilsonkept at least one goat on the White Houselawn.
Recent trends suggest growing numbersof city dwellers are becoming backyardfarmers. Droughts; floods; heat waves; thehigh costs and contaminations ofpetroleum-based fertilizers, pesticides, andherbicides; as well as concerns aboutpathogens residing in commercially raisedfood and the dearth of seed diversityprompt us to evaluate our food sourcing.
The National Gardening Associationreports the number of home gardenersgrowing vegetables increased 10 percent in2008 and 19 percent in 2009.
In 2012, at that time our nation’shottest year, almost half the counties werecertified as experiencing drought disasters.The U.S. Department of Agriculture, inthe summer of 2013, reportedsouthwestern states from Texas toCalifornia and eastward to Nebraskaexperienced drought that rangedindividually from severe to extreme toexceptional.
We are geographically over-dependent
on much of our food provisioning. SalinasValley, a 90-mile stretch of land inCalifornia, for example, raises more than90 percent of the lettuce we consume.
About 42 percent of our fresh tomatoes(not canned) are produced in Florida, withCalifornia producing 30 percent. Almostall the fresh tomatoes we purchase fromour grocers between October and Junecome from Florida. As much as 80 percentof our oranges are grown in Florida.
In cities where the law allows, somehome residents raise chickens, miniaturegoats, ducks, and rabbits. That provideseggs, meat, and specialty milk that satisfiesthe quality and freshness standards ofthese urban farmers.
More cities are considering andpermitting poultry on municipal homelots. Seattle, Wash.; Portland, Ore.;Portland, Maine; and Richmond, Va., aremunicipalities that allow a specifiednumber of hens. Richmond, for example,
allows up to four hens if one procures a$60 permit.
While hens do not crow, they doproduce significant manure and aresubject to diseases that are not wellunderstood. When they stop producingeggs they may be released by their owners,becoming feral fowl. Some cities have anexisting population of feral chickens,including Key West and St. Augustine inFlorida and Houston, Texas.
For those unwilling to commit therequisite time, and wishing to avoid theanxiety related to home-raised produceand farm animals, preferred alternativesinclude patronizing farmers markets andcommunity-service agriculture.
USA Today reported there are “nearly8,000 farmers markets in the USA.” Tothat one might add an unknown, butsizable, number of roadside vendorsoffering what purport to be locally raisedproducts.
Community-service agriculture,commonly called CSAs, are small farms inwhich consumers prepay a fixed sum toobtain shared amounts of vegetables,fruits, and eggs. According to Space Daily,“more than 12,000 CSAs operate acrossthe U.S.” (To find a CSA near you, go tohttp://www.localharvest.org.)
If increasing numbers of city dwellersraise produce and harbor farm animals,homeland-security issues may requireprotection from predatory foxes andcoyotes; herbivorous rabbits, deer, andraccoons; scavenging crows; andconfiscatory neighbors.
Walt Sonneville, a retired market-researchanalyst, is the author of My 22 Cents’ Worth:The Higher-Valued Opinion of a Senior Citizenand A Musing Moment: Meditative Essays on Lifeand Learning, books of personal-opinion essays,free of partisan and sectarian viewpoints.Contact him at [email protected].
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2014 9
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10 August 2014 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
By Molly Carl
If you happened to be near theCentral York High School soccerstadium on June 23, you may havethought the 2016 Summer Olympicscame early.
With an opening ceremony that hadeverything from a color guard andparade of athletes to a bannerdecoration contest and lighting of thetorch, the York Senior Games’ maindifference was the age of thecontestants.
The 13th annual York County SeniorGames took place from June 22–28with the opening ceremony takingplace June 23.
The once daylong activity hasexpanded to a weeklong affair since itsinception in 2002. Any York Countyresident who is 50 or older waswelcome to participate. Events weredivided into five-year age bracketsranging from 50 to 90 and above.
With over 20 activities and 48 eventsincluding poker, billiards, bocce, Wiisports, trap shooting, horseshoes, andbasketball, there was something foreveryone.
“Bocce, shuffleboard, basketball, andbowling were all popular,” said JennyNace, spokeswoman for the AreaAgency on Aging. “Our throws werealso popular, with the Frisbee, football,and softball events attracting manyparticipants.”
The majorityof the eventstook place atCentral YorkHigh School,with a fewexceptions; thebowling,shooting,golfing, billiards,and horseshoesevents were heldat other locationsthroughout thecommunity.
“This year we brought back a fanfavorite,” Nace added. “We were able tocoordinate better and, as a result, weonce again were able to offer doublesbowling.”
The Senior Games began as an effortfrom the York County Area Agency onAging and the Senior Games Planning
Committee to promote wellnessthroughout the senior community ofYork County.
“The whole mission is to providefitness and healthy living for seniors,”said Nace.
With events forboth thecompetitive andnon-competitiveparticipants, theSenior Gamespromote anenjoyableenvironment foranyone 50+ to getout, get somefresh air, andinteract with othermembers of thecommunity.
The SeniorGames may also be the start of someinteresting new family traditions.
“This year, for the first time, we hadfamilies with several generationscompeting,” said Nace. “One man whohad competed for years brought his sonand daughter-in-law who had justturned 50 with him.”
The Senior Games ended with afinal closing celebration on June 28,commemorating the week ofactivities. The participants and theirfamilies gathered at Central YorkHigh School for one final celebrationthat included recognition of medalwinners from each age groupalongside door prizes, special awards,and plenty of photo opportunities.
Many athletes chose to participatein more than one event during theSenior Games and as a result, theseniors competed in more than 3,000events, cumulatively. With all of theage divisions for each event, over1,000 medals were presentedthroughout the week to the gold,silver, and bronze winners.
“The Senior Games this yeardefinitely met our expectations,” saidNace. “We had more than 200volunteers and over 550 participants,whose ages ranged from 50 to 98.There were over 100 people in their80s, not to mention 16 who were 90and above. It was wonderful to seesuch diversity among theparticipants.”
For more information on the YorkCounty Senior Games or the AreaAgency on Aging, please visithttps://yorkcountypa.gov or call (717)771-9610.
York Seniors Go for the Gold
For more than 18 years, 50plus LIVING hasbeen the guide to living and care options.
Will they find your services there?
Call about Early Bird Savings!Must reserve ad space by Aug. 29, 2014
to receive early-bird savings.
Your guide to choosing the right livingand care options for you or a loved one:
• Active adult and residential living
• Independent and retirement livingcommunities
• Assisted living residences and personalcare homes
• Nursing and healthcare services
• Home care, companions, and hospicecare providers
• Ancillary services
To include your community or service in the 2015 edition,
call your representative or (717) 285-1350or email [email protected]
Online &In Print.
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www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2014 11
VolunteerSpotlight
VolunteerSpotlight
Do you know a 50+ volunteer who gives selflessly to others? Tell us what makes him or herso 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 [email protected] or mail nominations to 50plus Senior News, Volunteer Spotlight,3912 Abel Drive, Columbia, PA 17512.
Dorothy Rocker, Gene Shue, RogerStabley, and Mike Tate have beennamed Volunteers of the Month by theYork County Area Agency on Aging(YCAAA) for their ongoing service anddedication to the agency and YorkCounty’s older adults.
Dorothy Rocker’s long history as aregistered nurse with a geriatricscertification is a valuable asset in hervolunteer role as an agencyombudsman. She provides a listeningear and support to older adults.
Delivering the New Horizonsquarterly newspaper to manycommunity locations, Gene Shue helpsconnect people with YCAAA and itsmany services. With three sons and adaughter, Shue has done his share ofvolunteering over the years for hischildren’s sports leagues and band trips.
Roger Stabley has always been a“workaholic” and didn’t retire from theprinting business until he was 77 yearsold. Even though he still maintains apart-time job, Stabley finds time tovolunteer as a financial counselor andjudicial center tour guide for YCAAA.He looks forward to helping olderadults fill out the various forms toobtain benefits.
Volunteering as a friendly visitor,Mike Tate provides one-on-one visits tohomebound senior citizens living in thecommunity who need a listening ear toshare stories about their life, personalhistory, and current events.
Tate is a compassionate, goodlistener and encourages others to get toknow their clients. He has enjoyed thebenefits of volunteering by gaining newfriends while expanding his skills.
Dorothy Rocker Gene Shue Roger Stabley Mike Tate
YCAAA RecognizesVolunteers of the Month
Dear Savvy Senior,Can you recommend some good
ergonomic gardening gear for seniors? I ama 72-year-old who loves to work in thegarden, but I have been plagued by variousgardening injuries this year.– Looking for Solutions
Dear Looking,There’s no doubt that gardening can
be tough on an aging body. Garden workoften requires a lot of repetitive stooping,squatting, kneeling, gripping, and lifting,which can lead to back and knee pain,carpal tunnel syndrome, and variousother injuries.
To help make your gardening chores alittle easier is a slew of new andimproved gardening gear that’slightweight, comfortable to use, andergonomically designed to help protectyour body from the physical strains ofgardening.
Here areseveral that canhelp.
Gloves:There are anumber ofspeciallydesigned glovesthat canimprove yourgrip and protectyour handswhile you work.
Two of thebest are the“Atlas NitrileTouch GardenGloves”(available atAmazon.comfor less than$6), which are
coated with aflexible,synthetic rubber.
And the“ReliefGripGardening”gloves (www.bionicgloves.com, $35) haveextra padding inthe palm andfinger joints,which canimprove gripand cause fewercalluses andblisters.
Diggingtools: There are
ergonomic toolsthat can helpprotect your
wrists by reducing the bending andtwisting wrist movement that oftencomes with digging and weeding.
Some good options include RadiusGarden tools (www.radiusgarden.com),which make a variety of curved-handlehand tools (scooper, weeder, transplanter,cultivator, and trowel) and shovels thatrun between $10 and $50.
And check out Corona tools(www.coronatoolsusa.com), which makesthe ComfortGEL and eGrip hand gardentools.
Another excellent product is the“Cobrahead Weeder and Cultivator”(www.cobrahead.com), an all-purposedigging and weeding tool, available in ashort-handle version for close-up workfor $25 and a long handle for standingwork for $60.
Knee and back aids: Kneepads andgarden seats can also protect your kneesand save your back when working closeto the ground.
Some popular products sold todaythrough the Gardener’s Supply Company(www.gardeners.com) are the “GardenEaseKneeler” ($70), which is a kneeling padwith support handles; the “GardenKneeler” ($35) that’s a kneepad/gardenbench combo; and the “Deluxe TractorScoot with Bucket Basket,” which is a
Pruning tools: Fiskars (www.fiskars.com) makes some of the finest ergonomicpruning tools that have also earned theArthritis Foundation’s Ease of UseCommendation because of their patentedPowerGear mechanisms that increaseleverage to make cutting three timeseasier than traditional pruners.
The Fiskars PowerGear hand pruners,loppers, and hedge shears all run between$25 and $48.
Bahco and Corona also make a niceline of ergonomic pruning tools andhandsaws that you can see atwww.bahcostore.com or www.coronatoolsusa.com.
Watering: To help make yourwatering chores a little easier, there arelightweight garden hoses, soaker or driphoses that can be snaked throughout thegarden, and hose chests that canautomatically rewind themselves.
Some good companies that makethese products include Water Right Inc.(www.waterrightinc.com), which makes avariety of super lightweight garden andcoil hoses; the DIG Corp.(www.digcorp.com), which makesconvenient drip-irrigation kits and microsprinkler kits; and Suncast(www.suncast.com), the leading maker ofself-winding hose reels and hose carts.
Container gardening: Raised gardenbeds, trellises, and container gardeningare also easier ways to grow plants andflowers because it brings the garden toyou, eliminating most stooping,squatting, and kneeling.
The Gardener’s Supply Company(www.gardeners.com) offers a wide rangeof raised beds and garden containers atprices ranging anywhere between $10 upto $350.
Locally, Your Garden Solution(www.yourgardensolution.org, (717) 919-1010) offers raised beds and gardentables in a similar price range.
Jim Miller is a regular contributor to theNBC Today show and author of The SavvySenior Book. www.savvysenior.org
12 August 2014 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Veterans’ expoand Job Fair
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November 14, 20149 a.m. – 2 p.m.
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Please contact your account representative,call (717) 285-1350, or email [email protected]
Sponsor & Exhibitor Opportunities Available
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Reserve your space today!
Ergonomic Toolsthat Can Ease Gardening Pains
Savvy Senior
Jim Miller
A raised garden table is an optionfor more ergonomic gardening
(Your Garden Solution).
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2014 13
Enjoy Low-Maintenance Living!
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Regular readers will recall thatseveral months ago I sent asample of my DNA to
AncestryDNA, an offshoot of thesubscription genealogy site Ancestry.com.My hope was that I could use myexperience to inform readers about theuse of DNA analysis in genealogicalresearch.
Alas, after sending three separate salivasamples, all were rejected for “insufficientgenetic material.” That had mewondering if I was really a robot with noDNA, but I asked for and received arefund of the charges (about $100).
Last November, I decided to try again,with another vendor, 23andMe, also at acost of about $100.
This was not without its obstacles,since when I received my test kit, it camewith a warning that due to New Yorkstate law, my sample could not beaccepted if it was taken and/or mailedback from New York state.
This is because 23andMe not onlyanalyzes genealogical connections, butalso addresses medical and health
conditions of its participants, and NewYork requires such laboratories to involvea physician in the sample-taking.
Luckily, I had a planned trip toPhiladelphia at the time, so I preparedthe sample while there and mailed it infrom Pennsylvania, which had no suchrestrictions.
But that wasn’t the end of theproblems, because shortly after I gotacknowledgement of receipt of mysample by 23andMe, stories begancirculating that the firm was at odds withthe U.S. Federal Drug Administration(FDA) over the same concerns expressedby New York state.
That concern still exists, but 23andMehas received temporary FDA approval ofits operations as long as new customershave access only to their ancestryinformation, without health results.
Customers who purchase 23andMenow must do so with the understandingthat health results are not available tothem. Since I was never interested in themedical or health results, I am satisfiedwith that ruling.
About three months after sending inmy sample, I received an email from23andMe stating that my genealogicalresults were available online.
Before I get into the details of the23andMe testing and what it can showin a genealogical sense, consider thevarious reasons for having a DNA test:
• To determine a close familialrelationship between two specificindividuals (for example, a paternitytest). This requires that DNA from bothindividuals be tested.
• To determine whether a person issusceptible to a certain disease, apotential carrier of a disease, etc. Thiscan be determined by comparing one’sDNA with databases of DNA that showsimilar tendencies.
Neither of the above reasons aretypically genealogical in nature, andneither are appropriate for thiscolumn.The genealogical reasons forDNA testing include:
• The desire to know one’s broadethnic or national origins. Tests candetermine the regions where our ancestorslived from 5,000 to 25,000 years ago,again by comparison to databasescollected from thousands of donors andto the genetic characteristics of variousraces, etc.
• Determination of pedigrees, or familytrees of direct ancestors, from one’s self toseveral generations back. DNA testing inand of itself cannot do this. However, usedin conjunction with family treesdeveloped by conventional paper researchmethods, DNA analysis can fill ininformation, help confirm assumedrelationships, or help find living relatives.
More to come.
Coniglio is the author of a novella inspiredby his Sicilian research entitled The Lady ofthe Wheel, available in paperback atamzn.to/racalmuto or in an e-book atbit.ly/LadyOfTheWheelKindle. For moreinformation, check out his webpage atbit.ly/AFCGen or email him [email protected].
DNA Revisited
The Search for Our Ancestry
Angelo Coniglio
Training Offered for Volunteer Child AdvocatesYork County Court Appointed Special
Advocates (CASA) announces anupcoming training for prospectivevolunteers starting Sept. 11.
York County CASA recruits and trainsvolunteers to watch over and advocate forabused and neglected children. Thevolunteer advocates make sure childrendon’t get lost in the overburdened legal
and social service system or languish ininappropriate group or foster homes.
Volunteers stay with each case until it isclosed and the child is placed in a safe,permanent home. For this reason,volunteers must be willing to commit to18 to 24 months from the time they areassigned a case in order to see it throughits entirety.
For many abused and neglectedchildren, their CASA volunteer will be theone constant adult presence in their lives.
The CASA volunteer training is aneight-week session that preparescandidates for child advocacy independency court proceedings. YorkCounty CASA is offering its next trainingSept. 11 through Nov. 5 and will be held
every Tuesday and Thursday evening from6 to 9 p.m. at the York County JudicialCenter.
If you are 21 years or older and wouldlike to become a CASA volunteer, pleasecontact the York County CASA office at(717) 771-9754 or via email [email protected] to obtainmore information and an application.
14 August 2014 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Meals on Wheels Volunteers Needed
for Spring Grove, Hanover
Windy Hill on the Campus inSpring Grove is seeking volunteersfor its Meals on Wheels program toassist with meal delivery in SpringGrove and Hanover.
This program provides meals tovulnerable, homebound seniors inthe community.
Volunteers are needed onMondays, Wednesdays, and Fridaysfrom approximately 10 a.m. until12:30 p.m. for one to two times permonth.
For more information, pleasecontact Laura Fisher at (717) 225-0733.
If you have local news you’d like considered forAround Town, please email [email protected]
Everyone likes to read good news, so tell us what’s happeningin your part of the world so we can share it with others!
Here are some ideas of what we hope you will contribute:
• a birthday or anniversary milestone
• a volunteer who should be recognized
• a photo of a smile that begs to be shared
• a groundbreaking event
• community activities
• support programs
• local news
We would love to consider your submissionfor an upcoming issue of 50plus Senior News*.
Please note: submissions must be received bythe 10th of the month prior to insertion.
* Submissions will be included as space permits.
For more information or to submit your happenings,
All I have to do toget my grandkids’eyes rolling is talk
about the good old days. No, I don’t tell ’em how
far I walked to school(school was only a blockaway). But I might say Iremember when, if youwanted to change channelson the TV, you had to getup, walk over, and turn aknob.
Then I’ll tell them howyou had to adjust therabbit ears to get a betterpicture. They’re notcurious enough to ask mewhat rabbit ears were, or how great TheColgate Comedy Hour was. They don’tcare.
They don’t care if I never had atelephone that took pictures. Or howwe’d send film into Kodak and get printsback in a week. They’re too busy texting.And they never heard of Kodak. I
remember when text wasnot a verb and texting wasnot a word.
Yes, I have a cellphone. I’m not a Luddite.“Does it have a crank onit?” you’re probablyasking. No, it doesn’t. It’sa TracFone. No, it’s notsmart, but it only costsme $7 a month. Whenyou’re on a fixed income(a euphemism for beingbroke), things like thatmatter.
I have given up ongetting my grandkids tojoin me in a game of
checkers, dominos, or pickup sticks. ButI’ve learned to get their attention byasking them to show me their latest videogame—a game that interests me about asmuch as my games interest them.
We do have that in common.
Visit www.nostalgiaroad.com
Nostalgia Road
Dick Dedrick
When I WasYour Age
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2014 15
33. Norse deity35. Pres. Lincoln36. Stetson37. Personal pronoun38. Service personnel
(abbr.)39. Before (prefix)40. Fall behind41. Nitty-gritty43. Likewise44. ____ mater45. Ger. city46. Boils slowly48. Break out
50. Turkish monetaryunit
52. Large, fragrant, whiteor yellow flowers
56. Worship58. Egg-shaped59. Common fraction61. Looked62. Vehicle63. Medleys64. Skim through65. Roman date66. Jazz singing67. Indian buzzard
1. Downwind2. Goliath3. Social club type4. Blot again5. Hotshot6. DUI org.7. Supervise8. Pays9. Shellfish10. Balmy11. Weaponry12. Exploit15. Dependable
21. Affirmative23. Indian lodge27. Cruise28. Weight units (abbr.)30. Status symbol31. Streetcar32. Heroic tale33. Shaver34. Garden tools36. Starting at38. Expressive style39. Small dog, for short42. Conifer droppings
43. Famous ship44. Most desiccated46. Patters47. Highest note49. Bib. word51. Regions52. Mongolian desert53. Eager54. Another 34 Down55. Gr. portico57. Ferber, for one60. Presidential
monogram
Across
Down
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16 August 2014 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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In just months, Marcinko wouldbecome closer to the felines that causedher to sniffle.
To solve the problem of wasted taxdollars and control the growing catcolonies, Marcinko adopted a populartrack, spay/neuter, and return program.Marcinko and a crew of volunteers tooka personal approach. They developrelationships with those who feed andcome to love the stray cats.
Their first case was a woman pleadingfor help with the 50 cats who hadcongregated in her yard. It started whenher little boy didn’t like the crust on hispeanut butter and jelly sandwiches.
Tossing the scraps out in the yard forthe birds ended up attracting a stray cat.The family continued to feed it but soonfound they had attracted an entirecolony of hungry felines.
What seemed like a cute way to helpone feral cat turned into anoverwhelming population of hungryfelines.
While they want the problem fixed,the last thing on their minds was hurtingthe animals.
“Most of these people are older andthey don’t have anything else,” she said.“I used to take my business card andthrow it in a mailbox and run, hopingthat they would call me. It’s a programthat requires a lot of patience and
understanding.”Marcinko
learned to pourout compassionfor the people wholonged to help theanimals but didn’twant to lose them.
Entire coloniesare taken to thedesignated clinicat the caretaker’spermission.
“You can’t justtake one or two ata time,” Marcinkosaid. “It doesn’twork to leteveryone else staybehind to have funand make morecats.”
They are thenspayed or neuteredby a volunteerveterinarian, kept for several days torecover, and released where they werefound.
Grant money and donations pay forthe medical care, while volunteers shellout hundreds of hours a month to keepthe program running. PetSmart Charitieshas been a big supporter, allowing themto renovate an old bank for the surgeries.
In about fouryears, the townsaved enoughmoney to hire twopolice officers.Marcinko, whoretired fromcounty parole andprobation, is ableto get 200community servicehours a monthfrom people goingthrough thesystem for non-violent crimes.
Some of themhave been doctors,lawyers, and evenveterinarians whoreturn to helpeven aftercompleting theirrequiredcommunity service
Sometimes the cats come to the clinicwith broken tails or missing eyes fromfights within the colonies. Pregnant catsmight also be sent to the Humane
Society, so the kittens have a chance atavoiding the feral life.
More than 3,300 cats have beenspayed or neutered since 2010, causingthe local population to drop by about 75percent in that time.
“I feel really alive when I do this,” shesaid. “None of us is getting younger, butI hope I can continue to do this,continue to help the community, even asI age.”
While the program avoids adoptingthe cats (most wouldn’t be happy in ahome anyway, Marcinko said), the lovefor these animals is evident.
“The reason why this program keepsgoing is because people love it,”Marcinko said. “Even when I’m in therewith my mask on, trying not to handlethem, there is love.”
Not the type to sit at home in herretirement, Marcinko hopes she cancontinue to keep busy with the catprogram and maybe watch it be adoptedby other municipalities.
“My mother is 94 years old and livesby herself, and we travel together,”Marcinko said. “I’m just hoping I haveher blood and can keep doing this aslong as she keeps running circles aroundme.”
For more information aboutMarcinko’s stray cat program, please call(717) 877-4146.
FELINES from page 1
In a single midsummer day, more than70 feral cats await care from volunteer
veterinarians inside the program’s facility.
Information and support at your fingertips —
Call for your free copy — 717.285.1350or
view it online at www.onlinepub.com (under supplements)
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The 50plus EXPO committee is looking forvolunteers to help at our 12th annual York County 50plus EXPO on September 17,2014, at the York Expo Center — Memorial HallEast, 334 Carlisle Avenue, York, from 9 a.m. to2 p.m.
If you could help greet visitors, stuff EXPObags, or work at the registration desk, wewould be glad to have you for all or just part ofthe day. Please call On-Line Publishers at (717) 285-1350..YORK COUNTY
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Buffalo, N.Y. — A Vibrant City with Lots to Do and Discover
By Brian Hayden
Buffalo, N.Y., is a vibrant city filledwith lots to do and discover for people ofall ages.
At the Albright-Knox Art Gallery, youcan see one of the world’s mostimpressive collections of modern andcontemporary art, including works byVan Gogh, Picasso, and Warhol.
Across the street, you’ll find thestriking Burchfield Penney ArtCenter, which is committed to the artof Buffalo and Western New York.
As you walk around the city, you’llcome across some of the finestarchitecture of the late 19th and early20th centuries, featuring buildings byFrank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan,H.H. Richardson, Richard Upjohn,and Eliel and Eero Saarinen.
Buffalo’s emerging Canalsidedistrict showcases the city’s waterfrontand proud history of shipping alongLake Erie and the Erie Canal. Thecenterpiece of this district is thecommercial slip, the western terminusof the Erie Canal dating from 1825that has been re-excavated and restored.
A system of bike trails, parks, andboardwalks comprise Buffalo’s OuterHarbor and offer stunning views of thelake and city skyline.
On the subject of history, you canstand where Teddy Roosevelt took theoath of office at the recently renovatedTheodore Roosevelt Inaugural NationalHistoric Site or learn about Buffalo’sNative American, ethnic, and industrialheritage at the Buffalo History Museum.
Mark Twain spent time in Buffalo inthe late 19th century as a newspapereditor; leaves from the originalmanuscript of The Adventures ofHuckleberry Finn are on display in theMark Twain Room at downtown’s centrallibrary.
The city is also filled with African-American heritage; for starters, DukeEllington, Dizzy Gillespie, and othergiants of jazz performed at the ColoredMusicians Club, which is now a museumand still hosts regular gigs by areamusicians.
If performing arts are your thing,Buffalo has some two dozen theaters,anchored by the magnificent Shea’sPerforming Arts Center, which hosts an
annual Broadway Series. The Grammy Award-winning Buffalo
Philharmonic Orchestra is led by JoAnnFalletta, who has been hailed by the NewYork Times as one of the finestconductors of her generation.
While Buffalo is justifiably proud ofits chicken wings (and no trip to Buffalois complete without a stop at the AnchorBar, where wings first took flight 50years ago this year), the city also has 400independently owned restaurants,delicious local specialties, a pair of winetrails, and vibrant farmers markets.
Don’t miss some Western New Yorkculinary favorites, including beef-on-weck sandwiches, sponge candy, andcharcoal-broiled hotdogs.
Buffalo is also home to several
breweries, including Flying BisonBrewing Co. and Hamburg BrewingCompany. The first distillery in Buffalosince Prohibition, Lockhouse Distillery,opened in 2013.
Shoppers will find everything fromhip boutiques in Buffalo’s trendyElmwood Village, Allentown, and Hertelneighborhoods to major departmentstores at a number of local shoppingcenters and malls.
Sports fan? Buffalo has a wealth ofoptions, including the NFL’s Bills, NHL’sSabres, AAA baseball’s Bisons, world-classfishing, great skiing, and fantasticwatersports. Kayak through the city’shistoric grain elevator district on theBuffalo River or rock climb up thoseelevators on Silo City Rocks, which is setto open this year.
Spend a day in the natural splendor ofthe Tifft Nature Preserve, only minutesfrom downtown Buffalo, or admire floralbeauty during a stroll in the Buffalo andErie County Botanical Gardens.
A series of parks and parkwaysthroughout Buffalo designed byrenowned landscape architect FrederickLaw Olmsted provide a scenic respite inthe heart of the city.
The region also offers a host of family-friendly activities, from The Buffalo Zooand Buffalo Museum of Science to theExplore and More Children’s Museum inEast Aurora.
Military buffs will be amazed at thesubmarine, destroyer, and cruiserpermanently docked at the Buffaloharbor, part of the Buffalo and ErieCounty Naval and Military Park, thelargest inland naval park in the country.
And Buffalo seems to have afestival for everything, ranging fromthe National Buffalo Wing Festival tothe Allentown Art Festival to the Tasteof Buffalo, the largest two-day foodfestival in the country.
GardenWalk Buffalo, the nation’slargest free garden tour, is celebratingits 20th anniversary this year, and theErie County Fair is celebrating its175th.
Buffalo also offers a host of ethniccelebrations, from two St. Patrick’sDay parades to the Galbani BuffaloItalian Heritage Festival, reflecting thecity’s diverse roots. There’s evenDyngus Day, the day after Easter
Sunday, when polka bands, Polish food,and a parade ring in the end of theLenten season.
If incredible entertainment, dining, art,and culture aren’t enough for you, Buffalohas one of the wonders of the world—Niagara Falls—just 20 minutes away. AtNiagara Falls State Park, you can get up-close with the roaring waters at the Caveof the Winds or venture to the base of thefalls on a Maid of the Mist boat tour.
For more information about events,attractions, and things to do in BuffaloNiagara, go to www.visitbuffaloniagara.com or contact Visit Buffalo Niagara at(800) BUFF-ALO.
Brian Hayden is the communicationsmanager at Visit Buffalo Niagara.
Buffalo skyline Canalside district
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews t August 2014 19
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Older But Not Wiser
This story begins on a Sundayafternoon in my mom’s assistedliving facility.
An accordion player, Ramon, comesevery week. He is 50, good looking, andLatin and is the heartthrob of thefacility—and he definitely knows it. Hestruts, he prances, he winks, and theladies all put on an extra dab of rougewhen Ramon is there.
Lately, however, Ramon seems boredand is just going through the motions,like he would rather be somewhere else.When he played his half-hearted versionof “You Send Me,” he was really sendingeveryone to sleep.
I was sitting next to my mom, and Icould see that half of the seniors in thelobby weredozing, butRamon didn’tseem to care. Heknew he was theonly game intown.
And then thegame changed!My daughterAnn arrivedwith her 8-month-old baby,Summer. Mygranddaughter looked gorgeous. Even at8 months she was making a real fashionstatement with her bow matching heroutfit. Ann put my granddaughter in mymom’s lap. And there they sat, both ofthem smiling away.
And then a strange thing happened.All 60 gray heads in the lobby turned inunison and watched my granddaughterwith her great-grandmother. Ramon wasmomentarily forgotten. The heartthrobhad been replaced.
So what could the accordion playerdo? Of course he stepped up his game torecapture the audience. Nobody wasgoing to steal his thunder. He started toplay faster and louder as he bouncedaround the room, desperately trying toget everyone’s attention.
He played “Chattanooga Choo Choo”and “Great Balls of Fire.” Both songswere crowd pleasers and the seniorsturned toward him, but then Summerwould giggle and audience turned backto her. It was like the seniors were
watching a championship pingpongmatch, their heads turning right and left.
Ramon played his accordion fasterand faster. He would crescendo anddecrescendo. Everyone stared at him.Summer would answer with a coo and agurgle, and everyone would then stare ather.
Ramon’s fingers were now flyingacross the accordion. And then he didsomething he hadn’t done in years: aquadruple bellow shake. In the space ofone beat, he hit a note four times. It wasbreathtaking, and everyone watchedhim.
Summer then made a sound,“boeleebboobbaa,” and everyone turnedtoward her.
Finally,Ramondecided it wastime to stopfoolingaround. Hehad toestablish hissuperiority. Hehad to squashSummer andonce againbecome theKing of
Assisted Living. And he tried to do it byplaying “Bolero.” That’s right—he wasgoing for the tango!
And he didn’t just play “Bolero.” Healso grabbed one of the ladies from herseat and somehow danced with her whilekeeping his accordion at full blast.Everyone was watching.
And then Summer did somethingmiraculous. She yelped, “Whoooo,whooooo” and wiggled her body asthough she were dancing.
Game. Set. Match. Summer haddefeated Ramon. She had clearly becomethe Queen of Assisted Living. AndRamon had no choice but toacknowledge her superiority anddecided, “If you can’t beat ’em, join’em.”
He danced over to Summer whileplaying “You Must Have Been aBeautiful Baby.” All eyes were now onSummer and Ramon. But really, theywere just looking at Summer. All hail thequeen.
Sy Rosen
There’s a NewHeartthrob in Town
20 August 2014 50plus SeniorNews t www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
