dauphin county 50plus senior news dec. 2011
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
At Christmastime, George McMurty is always confronted with a
challenge: finding the perfect gift for his wife. The challenge is further
complicated by the couple’s wedding anniversary, which falls on Dec. 26,
turning every holiday season into the search for two special gifts.
One year, McMurty’s gift selection inadvertently sparked a tradition that is
now a favorite element of the Christmas scenery at their retirement
community.
That Christmas, McMurty asked his daughter to help him with his gift
search. While shopping, both were attracted to a collection of lighted
Dickens’ Village houses, and McMurty purchased two of the buildings for his
wife.
The Dickens’ Village Series was developed and produced in 1984 by
Department 56 as part of the company’s Heritage Village Collection.
Inspired by Victorian England, the series contained seven shops and a
church. Since that time, the Heritage Village Collection has been expanded
tremendously to include many new village series, including The New
England Village Series and The Alpine Village Series.
The result is a line of countless Christmastime houses, figures, and
accessories, many inspired by Victorian England or the works of Charles
Dickens. After his first purchase, McMurty quickly came to realize just how
extensive the village collections were.
Dickens-InspiredVillage Ushers in
the Holidays
PRSRTSTANDARDU.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Landisville, PAPermit No. 3
It takes about two weeks for George McMurty to set up
and add his own special touches to his 135-piece Dickens’ Village.
please see DICKENS page 19
Inside:
Dauphin County Edition December 2011 Vol. 13 No. 12
Divine Dedication
page 2
Christmas Travel
page10
2 December 2011 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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Rev. Dwight D. Edwards, 66, of
suburban Harrisburg, is a
Vietnam veteran who has devoted
his life to public service, counseling, and
ministry.
He enlisted in the Army on June 28,
1963, and was assigned to the 11th Air
Assault Division while in the U.S. He
completed one tour of duty in South
Vietnam from August 1965 to May 1966
with the 1st Cavalry Division, Delta
Company 1/12th Cavalry Airborne and
was discharged from the service in 1968
with the rank of E-4.
He served in a recon platoon and his
job was to acquire details about enemy
troop movements or other information
and report to the battalion commander.
Life expectancy in his unit was 17
seconds in combat. Two of three squads
in the platoon were decimated in a
matter of minutes during his tour.
Citations received included the
Combat Infantry
Badge, Parachutist
Badge, Air Medal,
Nation Defense Medal,
Good Conduct Medal,
Vietnam Gallantry
Cross with Palm,
Vietnam Campaign
Medal with two stars,
Vietnam Service Medal,
Presidential Unit
Citation, and the Air
Assault Badge.
After his discharge,
Edwards became a
welders’ helper at the
Naval Shipyard in
Philadelphia. In 1968,
he served as a veteran in public service as
a teacher intern with the Philadelphia
School District. From 1972 to 1974
Edwards was employed as a probation
officer in the juvenile division of the
Common Pleas Court
of Philadelphia.
Other early
employment included
therapist at the
Philadelphia
Psychiatric Center
(1974-77); director of
Safe Streets Inc., a
Philadelphia halfway
house (1977-78); a
counselor at
Philadelphia
Community College
(1978-80); counselor
at Philadelphia
Veterans Multi-Service
Center (1981-82); and
readjustment counseling specialist and
team leader/director at the Olney Vet
Center, U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs
(1982-88).
Edwards served as executive director
of the Vietnam Veterans Health Initiative
Commission of the Pennsylvania
Department of Health from 1988 to
1996 and was program administrator of
the Cancer Control Program in the State
Health Department, also in 1996. He
served as a counselor in the Harrisburg
School District from 1996 to 1999.
A native of Philadelphia, Edwards
attended Thomas Alva Edison High
School, receiving a GED in 1964 and his
diploma in 1968. Thomas Edison High
had the highest number of casualties in
the Vietnam War for high schools in the
United States. He received a BA degree
in elementary education from Temple
University in 1972. Edwards attended
Antioch University from 1975 through
1976 and received a Master of Education
in counseling, after which he attended
Lancaster Theological Seminary (1995-
2000), receiving a Master of Divinity
degree.
From Death and Devastationto Divine Dedication
Beyond the Battlefield
Alvin S. Goodman
Rev. Dwight Edwards
in an early photo.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2011 3
Dri-Masters Carpet Dry Cleaning(717) 545-4984/(717) 258-3123(717) 516-5004
Central PA Poison Center(800) 521-6110
Dauphin County Office of Aging(717) 255-2790
Gipe Floor & Wall Covering(717) 545-6103
Neill Funeral Home(717) 564-2633
Zimmerman Auer Funeral Home(717) 545-4001
Alzheimer’s Association(717) 651-5020
American Diabetes Association(800) 342-2383
Arthritis Foundation – Central PA Chapter(717) 763-0900
CONTACT Helpline(717) 652-4400
The National Kidney Foundation(717) 757-0604(800) 697-7007
PACE(800) 225-7223
Social Security Information(800) 772-1213
Tri-County Association for the Blind(717) 238-2531
PA Healthcare Cost Containment Council(717) 232-6787
Central Penn Nursing, Inc.(717) 361-9777(717) 569-0451
Home Instead Senior Care(717) 540-5201
Safe Haven Quality Care(717) 238-1111
Visiting Angels(717) 652-8899
Dreammaker Bath & Kitchen(717) 367-9753
Senior Home Repair(717) 545-8747
B’Nai B’rith Apartments(717) 232-7516
Dauphin County Housing Authority(717) 939-9301
Property Tax/Rent Rebate(888) 728-2937
Apprise Insurance Counseling(800) 783-7067
Keystone Elder Law PC(717) 691-9300
GSH Home Med Care(717) 272-2057
The Center for Advanced Orthotics &Prosthetics(800) 676-7846
CVS/pharmacywww.cvs.com
Spring Creek Rehabilitation & HealthCare Center(717) 565-7000
Country Meadows of Hershey(717) 533-1880
Dauphin County Area Agency on Aging(717) 255-2790
The Salvation ArmyEdgemont Temple Corps(717) 238-8678
American Lung Association(800) LUNG-USA
Bureau of Consumer Protection(800) 441-2555
Meals on Wheels(800) 621-6325
National Council on Aging(800) 424-9046
Social Security Office(800) 772-1213
Veterans Affairs(717) 626-1171(800) 827-1000
CAT Share-A-Ride(717) 232-6100
Wheelchair Getaways(717) 921-2000
Travel
Transportation
Toll-Free Numbers
Services
Retirement Communities
Rehabilitation
Orthotics & Prosthetics
Medical Equipment & Supplies
Legal Services
Insurance
Housing Assistance
Housing/Apartments
Home Improvement
Home Care Services
Healthcare Information
Health & Medical Services
Funeral Services
Floor Coverings
Emergency
Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning
Not an all-inclusive list of advertisers in your area.
Resource DirectoryThis Resource Directory recognizes advertisers who have made
an extended commitment to your health and well-being.
From 2001 to 2007, Edwards was
pastor of the Bethel African Methodist
Episcopal Church in Carlisle. Prior to
that, he was spiritual leader of AME
Churches in Parkesburg, Marietta, and
Mercersburg. A friend described Edwards
as a “riveting, old-time ‘fire and
brimstone’-type preacher.”
Among his numerous awards were the
Rosa Parks Community Service Award of
the Interdenominational Ministers
Counsel of Harrisburg (2009); Certificate
of Appreciation, Veterans of Graterford
(Prison), where he counseled inmates
(2007); Certificate of Appreciation,
Vietnam Vets of Mechanicsburg (1998);
Certificate of Congressional Recognition
for Community Service, U.S. House of
Representatives Congressional Black
Caucus (1996).
Also, Veterans of the Vietnam War
Service Recognition Award, Secretary of
Health Outstanding Employee Award,
Thomas Miller Outstanding Service
Award, Vietnam Veterans of America and
the Philadelphia Stand Down
Appreciation Award (1994),
Mechanicsburg Area Veterans Council
Service Award (1993), and a
Commendation for Service to Minority
Veterans from the Black Vietnam Era
Black Veterans of Western Pennsylvania
(2001).
In 1990, Edwards
received a Service
Recognition Award
from the Pennsylvania
Concerned Citizens for
POW-MIAs. He also
was the recipient of the
Chapel of the Four
Chaplains Legion of
Merit in 1989 and a
Commendation from
the U.S. Department of
Veterans Affairs,
Readjustment
Counseling Service for serving as acting
deputy regional manager of Region 2 in
1988.
Edwards developed a curriculum for
healthcare professionals regarding the
adverse health effects of Vietnam service.
He edited and revised The Vietnam
Experience, a nationally acclaimed
diagnostic and treatment manual for
physicians regarding the treatment of
diseases and psychological disorders
associated with Vietnam
service. He also prepared
a quarterly newsletter
for commonwealth
veterans.
Edwards was involved
in the preparation of
several TV
documentaries,
including a 1995 Emmy
Award-winning
program, Reunion, Class
of 1965; a 1992
documentary, Vietnam,
The Dream Shut Down;
a 1986 PBS Frontline program, The
Bloods of ’Nam; and was host of the
Veterans Recovery Hour WDAS radio
program from 1982 to 1989 in
Philadelphia.
Edwards married Carolyn
Brewington-Edwards. The couple has a
blended family of six children, Shawn,
Pam, Michael, Kevin, Kelly, and
Stephen, and 10 grandchildren.
Although retired from the active
pastorate, Edwards continues to be
involved in religious affairs. He said he is
thankful to the Almighty “and mindful
of all he has done for me,” adding: “If it
had not been for the Lord on my side, I
don’t know where I would be.”
Two years ago he authored a book
entitled Expressions of a Madman. It is a
compilation of poems he wrote over the
years on a variety of subjects. The book
sells for $15, including shipping, and can
be purchased by contacting Rev. Dwight
D. Edwards, 6664 Springford Terrace,
Harrisburg, PA 17111, or via his email
address, [email protected].
If you are a mature veteran and have
interesting or unusual experiences in your
military or civilian life, phone Al Goodman
at (717) 541-9889 or email him at
Edwards and his wife, Carolyn.
am afraid we’re robbing them of
dignity.
It seems to me that we have
them on lockdown.
After an hour I understand that
all of us, volunteer “hosts” and our
“guests,” are on lockdown.
Last week our local TV news
carried the story that one of our
churches had been forced to turn
away some homeless women from
their winter shelter because they did
not have enough volunteers to
accommodate them. They appealed
to the community for help. I call
and sign up for Friday night. My
shift is from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
My volunteer partner is Judy, a
warm and welcoming member of
the church. We are set up at a long
table to process the four female
guests expected. (Ten men are
staying on a separate floor.) Each
guest must read two pages of
detailed rules and sign a statement
that she comprehends the routines
and will abide by them.
She must surrender cigarettes,
matches, liquor, drugs, weapons,
and keys, all of which are sealed in
manila envelopes to be returned in
the morning. They are each handed
a plastic bag filled with basic
toiletries. This all proceeds
peacefully, and no one is patted
down. Still, I’m embarrassed at
putting them through such a
humiliating search.
The four women arrive fairly well
bundled against the icy February
night, lugging backpacks,
large plastic bags, and, in
one case, a small suitcase
on wheels. They have
walked 3 miles from the
central shelter, carrying all
their worldly possessions.
Laura* is a newcomer
to “the life.” This is only
her second night, and the
other three women help to
get her acclimated. She
clutches her lower rib,
bruised by a mugging. As
we chat, she abruptly
announces, “I bet you
wouldn’t believe I have a
degree in retail marketing.”
I reply, “Of course, I believe it. I
know any one of us, including
myself, could be down on her luck.”
Molly seems to be the oldest of
the four—perhaps 70—with white
hair growing through the dyed
strawberry blond. She is the most
meticulous about her appearance.
She plans to take a bus early
tomorrow to check on a house she
owns in a nearby town. Drug
dealers have taken over her property,
rendering her own home
uninhabitable to her.
Sheila is a pretty woman—big
eyes and a nice smile (although she
tells me she has no bottom teeth).
Her husband, an out-of-work
electrician, is also here tonight, just
two floors away.
Sheila has lupus. She has been
waiting for a long time for disability
compensation. Her lip is swollen
from a mugging. All of her cash and
her cell phone were stolen, and she’s
distraught because her phone had
her son’s number in Ohio. Now, she
can’t remember it and doesn’t know
how to reach him.
Sheila has brought cookies to
share with everyone. The church has
hot food waiting.
Betty is short, friendly, and
somewhat weather-beaten. She
seems the most savvy about how the
system works and is willing to share
her knowledge with Laura. Betty,
too, is waiting for a check, a
settlement from a car accident.
We get our guests settled with
relatively few glitches. They are to
sleep in a large seminar room. Judy
and I are stationed in the hallway
outside and are to take turns
sleeping in the adjacent small
nursery-school room. Sheila’s cot
collapses, which gives us all a good
chuckle, and we fix it easily. There
are no pillows. The blankets are thin
cotton, and we’re two short. We
send for extras.
By 10 p.m. all four guests are
asleep, but they wake up one by
one. Laura comes into the nursery
room to dry her hair over the
radiator.
Molly then disappears into the
powder room for over an hour. This
worries Judy. She wonders if Molly
has fallen ill, possibly even passed
out. Just as we’re contemplating a
discreet tap on the door to see if
she’s all right, Molly emerges, bangs
neatly pin-curled.
Next, Betty comes out into the
hall to report that the sleeping room
is freezing. We go in to investigate,
proceeding in whispers because
Laura seems to be deep in slumber.
With the help of Molly’s flashlight,
we read that the controls are set to
“heat on,” but icy blasts are spewing
out of the wall radiators and ceiling
fans.
There seems to be no choice but
to move all the cots into the
nursery, which is warmer but really
too small for six cots. There is some
giggling when I apologize for the
One Night Only
Balancing Act
Candace O’Donnell
I
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In honor of
World War II vets ...
and in memory of the
attack on Pearl Harbor
4 December 2011 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2011 5
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1205 South 28th Street � Harrisburg, PA 17111
Nursing services:
� Short-term rehabilitation
� Long-term skilled nursing
� Alzheimer’s memory care
717-565-7000
Care Through theContinuum of Life
We invite you to come see us for yourself … tours are given daily.
Respiratory services:
� Aggressive pulmonary therapy
� 24-hour licensed respiratory therapy
� 24-hour licensed nursing care
� Tracheostomy care
� Oxygen therapy to 10 L
� Wall suction
� Ventilator services
BiPAP/CPAP for sleep apnea
Medicated treatments
Short-term/permanent placement available
irony of the situation: We are supposed
to be keeping these ladies out of the
chill.
After these adjustments, our guests
fall back asleep with ease. I suppose they
are so exhausted from hours of shuffling
around from place to place, trying to
stay warm, that they can crash
anywhere.
Judy and I return to our posts at the
long table just outside the seminar room
and nursery. At least one of us must
remain awake “in case of an emergency.”
We understand that this is code for
actually being on guard. I can’t imagine
what harm these four beaten-down
women could possibly cause. Anything
remotely dangerous has been
confiscated. The adjacent hallways are
blocked off with yellow tape, and we
hostesses are ever vigilant.
Judy and I
sit up
whispering.
We are both
uncomfortable
in our role as
guards.
“Don’t all
these rules
seem a little
harsh to you?”
she asks.
“Yes,” I
sputter. “I feel
as if all of us
are in prison,
but I guess
there’s a fine
line between stripping them of dignity
and letting unsafe behavior slip by.”
I offer to take the first shift so Judy
can sleep from midnight to 3 a.m. This
is not purely altruistic. I am a night owl.
The night grinds on. I read, pray,
walk up and down the corridor, even file
my nails to keep awake. I feel a steadily
growing sense of claustrophobia—a new
sensation for me. This is illogical.
There’s plenty of space here. Why am I
such a wimp?
I’ve forgotten my watch. What time is
it? I stealthily open doors to all the
Sunday-school classrooms on my hall.
No clocks on the walls. Finally, I breakthe rules and slip under the yellow tape
and down a forbidden hall. Eureka—the
fifth-grade room has a working clock.
It’s only 1:20. Six hours and 10 minutes
to go. I return sheepishly to my post.
Shortly before 3 a.m., Judy comes
through the door. I wouldn’t have had
the heart to wake her. She is bleary-eyed
and estimates she’s slept a total of one
hour.
I feel my way to my cot. The room is
frigid. I shiver, fully clothed, under my
thin blanket and heavy coat.
I doze fitfully amid strange dreams.
As I slip in and out of sleep, the tune of
“One Night Only” keeps pulsing
through my brain. It’s from Dreamgirls,
which I have just seen with my
daughters, but it seems strange that this
risqué rock phrase would come welling
up from my subconscious in this
particular situation.
Then it hits me. I am in this prison
for “one night only.” Laura, Molly,
Sheila, and Betty, and all their fellow
homeless, are mired in this for the
foreseeable future—who knows how
many months or years?
I keep tiptoeing past the other cots to
peer through the stained-glass windows.
The outside world does exist and is
waiting for me. If tall buildings didn’t
intervene, I could see my own windows,
just four blocks away—my own lovely
condo with
its high
ceilings, and
Oriental
carpets, and
original art,
and framed
photos of my
grandbabies,
and, most
important,
my husband.
At last
morning
dawns, a
feeble gray
light. Our
guests awake
without any prompting. They know they
must be out by 7:30. Judy and I do not
remind them. They know it only too
well.
They gulp their coffee and tidy up in
the larger bathroom down the hall. They
thank us, and I hand each one a little
bottle of shampoo, unfortunately
marked from one of my cruises. Is this a
faux pas?
As I hug each one I whisper, “God
bless you. You’re in my prayers,” but I
feel guilty that I hadn’t found a way to
give them that modicum of comfort
earlier.
Judy and I hug goodbye and promise
to keep in touch, which we do. We go
down the elevator to the lobby and then
out into wind so piercing that every
filling in your teeth tingles.
I have only 10 minutes to John,
warmth, privacy, a hot bath, and all day
to sleep.
I head for home.
*Guests’ names changed.
Candace welcomes feedback via letter to 231
N. Shippen St., Unit 424, Lancaster, PA
17602 or by phone at (717) 392-7214.
6 December 2011 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Bethany Village – The Oaks
325 Wesley Drive
Mechanicsburg, PA 17055
717-766-0279
www.bethanyvillage.org
69 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
CCAC
EAGLE
LeadingAge PA
Maplewood Assisted
Living also available.
Claremont Nursing & Rehabilitation
Center
1000 Claremont Road
Carlisle, PA 17013
717-243-2031
www.ccpa.net
290 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �PACHA
PADONNA
Claremont offers long-term
and short-term rehab care,
VA contract and in-house
medical services. Serving
Cumberland County for
over 180 years.
Cumberland Crossings
1 Longsdorf Way
Carlisle, PA 17015
717-240-6013 • 800-722-0267
www.diakon.org/cumberlandcrossings
58 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �LeadingAge
LeadingAge PA
Comprehensive nursing
care from a dedicated
staff. Come tour our
facility and sample the
Diakon difference.
Mennonite Home Communities
1520 Harrisburg Pike
Lancaster, PA 17601
717-390-1301
www.mennonitehome.org
190 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �Equal Housing
LeadingAge PA
Person-centered care
with reputation for
compassion and
excellence. Established
in 1903.
Quarryville Presbyterian
Retirement Community
625 Robert Fulton Highway
Quarryville, PA 17566
717-786-7321
www.quarryville.com
110 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �LeadingAge
LeadingAge PA
The assurance of qualitycare in a secured, caring,
Christ-centeredcommunity. New: Great
Rock cottages.
Spring Creek Rehabilitation
& Health Care Center
1205 South 28th Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111
717-565-7000
www.springcreekcares.com
404 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
A charming campus
offering sub-acute
rehab, long-term skilled
nursing care, respiratory
care, and Alzheimer’s
memory care.
StoneRidge Retirement Living
440 East Lincoln Avenue
Myerstown, PA 17067
717-866-3200
www.stoneridgeretirement.com
194 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �
Continuing care
retirement community
with two Myerstown sites
convenient to Lebanon,
Berks, and Lancaster
counties.
The Village of Laurel Run
6375 Chambersburg Road
Fayetteville, PA 17222
717-352-2721
www.laurelrunliving.com
92 � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � �PHCACCRC
New addition for 2011:
“Stonebrook”
independent apartments
and cottages. Call for
appointment.
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Additional
Comments
This is not an all-inclusive list of agencies and providers.
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www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2011 7
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1. What holiday celebrates the end of slavery in the United
States?
A. Sweetest Day
B. Freedom Day
C. Kwanzaa
D. Juneteenth Day
2. Celebration of the Jewish New Year is known as what?
A. Yom Kippur
B. Rosh Hashanah
C. Ramadan
D. Purim
3. During what ancient festival did masters temporarily serve
their slaves?
A. Lupercalia
B. Saturnalia
C. Floralia
D. Agonia
4. What holiday was established in California in 1966 by
scholar/activist Dr. Maulana Karenga?
A. Earth Day
B. Flag Day
C. Kwanzaa
D. National S’mores Day
5. In the Netherlands, what is the name of Santa Claus’s helper
who judges which children were bad during the year?
A. Green Eric
B. Eli the Elf
C. Black Peter
D. Mrs. Claus
Braintwisters
This month’s answers on page 8
Source: UsefulTrivia.com
Cook’s Note: The secret to a smooth pastry cream is cooking over low
heat. It takes longer but prevents the egg yolks from curdling.
Whisking a little of the hot pudding into the yolks is called
tempering and warms them so that they don’t cook too fast and
curdle. Use a thermometer to prevent overcooking, and if you have
flecks of cooked egg, don’t hesitate to strain it out.
Copyright by Pat Sinclair. Pat Sinclair announced the publication of her second
cookbook, Scandinavian Classic Baking (Pelican Publishing), in February 2011.
This book has a color photo of every recipe. Her first cookbook, Baking Basicsand Beyond (Surrey Books), won the 2007 Cordon d’Or from the Culinary Arts
Academy. Contact her at http://PatCooksandBakes.blogspot.com
Cake (Serves 2 to 4)
4 slices (3/8-inch thick) pound
cake
1 tablespoon seedless
raspberry jam
2 to 3 tablespoons cream sherry
Pastry cream (see right)
1/3 cup whipping cream
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla
½ pint fresh raspberries
For trifle, spread the jam on
each slice of cake. Arrange the cake
in a small glass bowl, breaking to
fit, and drizzle with the sherry.
Spoon the warm pastry cream into
the bowl. Refrigerate until cool.
(You can also make individual
trifles in wine glasses.)
Whip the cream in a medium
bowl until soft peaks form. Add
the powdered sugar and vanilla and
continue beating until thick.
Spoon onto the trifle and garnish
with raspberries. Refrigerate until
serving, at least four hours.
Pastry Cream (Makes 1 cup)
¾ cup half-and-half
¼ cup sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 egg yolks
1 teaspoon vanilla
Additional flavoring
Heat the half-and-half in a small
saucepan until it almost comes to a
boil.
Mix the sugar with the cornstarch
in a small bowl. Whisk the egg yolks
in a medium bowl; slowly add the
sugar mixture and continue
whisking until the mixture lightens.
Slowly stir in the hot half-and-
half, beating constantly with a
whisk. Pour the sauce back into the
saucepan and cook over low heat
until the custard thickens. Do not
let the custard boil. (I use an
instant-read thermometer and cook
to 160 degrees F.)
Remove from heat and add the
vanilla. Stir until it cools slightly and
cover with plastic wrap until needed.
Raspberry TrifleBy Pat Sinclair
On Christmas Eve when my family gathers, we feast on hearty appetizers
and rich desserts. Everyone chooses a favorite appetizer and I provide dessert.
For many years, Raspberry Trifle has been my contribution for the center of
the table. This festive English dessert adds to the celebration, carefully arranged
in a large, glass trifle bowl and crowned with mounds of whipped cream. Fresh
raspberries and mint leaves mimic the colors of the season.
Here is a recipe for two to four servings. I have posted the recipe for 10 to
12 servings on my blog, Pat Cooks and Bakes (http://PatCooksandBakes.blog
spot.com). It’s from Baking Basics and Beyond, which has just been reprinted
and now includes new photos.
8 December 2011 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Winter To-Do List:
1. Pay utility bills(enough $ in account??)
2. Shovel walkway (try not to fall)
3. Brave bad weather to get to
the grocery store
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Braintwisters1. D. Juneteenth Day
2. B. Rosh Hashanah
3. B. Saturnalia
4. C. Kwanzaa
5. C. Black Peter
Questions shown on page 7
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I Married for Love, Sort Of
Such Is Life
Saralee Perel
One part I loathe about the
holiday season is that it’s usually
a time of reflection. From age 5
until 8, I reflected on hating my parents
because we were Jewish so I didn’t get
any Christmas presents.
From 9 to 15, I reflected on hating
my parents because they wouldn’t let me
bring one lousy tree in the house. Hey!
People have plant life indoors. So what if
it has lights and tinsel on it?
At age 16, my reflections changed. I
reflected on how rotten my parents were
because it was Christmas, for heaven’s
sake. How about forking over a huge
wad of dough so I could buy my own
presents?
And Chanukah? You think lighting
candles on a menorah was what I
dreamed of? No. I dreamed of jewelry
and boys. Well, I’d get one present. What
all teenagers die for. A new dictionary.
There’s nothing like the Christmas
lights in New England, where I now live.
Makes me reflect on
evening drives my
mom and I took
through the infidels’
decorated
neighborhoods in
Maryland, where I
grew up. It must
have brought her
joy while I’d scream,
“They’re just lights,
Ma! It’s not like
they’re satanic! Why can’t we have them?”
She must have loved the constant
fracas of changing radio stations from
Sinatra to Christmas carols. She’d nearly
drive off the road during our hand-
slapping battles while I’d shout, “PA
RUM PUM PUM PUM” over Sinatra’s
“My Way.”
And New Year’s? Oy vey. The Jewish
new year is as close to our national new
year as Big Macs are
to hamburgers made
from soy beans. On
Rosh Hashanah
(new year), we don’t
do fireworks. We go
to temple. I’d
pretend to listen to
the rabbi while I’d
play mind games—
imagining the
Hebrew letters in the
prayer book as people in weird
positions—when I was 40.
At some point, I focused on getting
married. Although love is important, I
needed something else too. I wanted a
man who not only adored me, but who
also had a characteristic I’d cherish as
much as love: a God-loving, present-
giving Christian.
Last month, my Christian husband,
Bob, and I celebrated our anniversary
with a whole bunch of presents (oh yeah,
we said “I love you” a lot too).
The finest present I’ve ever received
was from a sad and silent man—my
grandfather. I was his fundamental
source of joy. And I adored him. Other
than when he’d look at me, the only time
I’d see rapture on his face was while he’d
play his violin. When he’d visit from
Manhattan, we’d hug like there was no
tomorrow.
Born in 1885, he was 76 when I was
10. That Chanukah, he walked the aisles
of Woolworths, collecting 5- and 10-cent
“pearls” and “sapphires” and hundreds of
pieces of sparkling jewelry that he put in
a fancy jewelry box. What man would do
such a thing in that day and age?
As I write this, my eyes fill with tears.
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I see myself as that little girl opening the
magical box. I remember feeling the
strands of jewelry but only looking at
Grandpa. I needed him to see my face
filled with delight and adoration because
I knew, even then, there was something
more important than jewelry. I needed
to see him smile. His smiles were so rare.
I needed him to know how happy he
made me. For that would bring him
peace, if only for a few moments.
Late in his life, Grandpa was moved
to my parents’ house. I can still visualize
him, having arrived at the Baltimore &
Ohio Railroad Station. He was sitting in
a wheelchair outside the train, all alone,
while passengers and luggage carriers
rushed around. In his arms was his
beloved violin, though he could no
longer play it.
So nowadays, when Bob comes home,
we hug like there’s no tomorrow. Bob
has my grandpa’s soul. I must have
“sensed” that when we met.
I have learned that presents don’t
matter (oh, who am I kidding?). What
truly matters is the joy on Bob’s lovely
face as he tenderly opens a present yet
looks at me before seeing what it is. His
expression is identical to the look of
adoration I had for Grandpa.
I have a heart filled with treasures
from my grandfather and my husband.
And nothing, no matter what may lie
ahead, will diminish the wealth these
two loves of my life have permanently
etched in my heart.
Award-winning columnist Saralee Perel
welcomes emails at [email protected]
or via her website: www.saraleeperel.com.
Many Reasons to Celebrate
December is a month of many
holiday celebrations crossing a variety of
cultures, nationalities, and beliefs. Here’s
a quick snapshot of what people
celebrate, and why:
Al Hijra. The Islamic new year,
observed in 2011 from Nov. 26 through
Dec. 24. Al Hijra marks the emigration
of the Prophet Muhammad and his
followers from Mecca to Medina in 622
A.D.
Hanukkah. This Jewish holiday begins
in 2011 on Dec. 20 (at sundown) and
lasts through Dec. 28. Hanukkah
celebrates the rededication of the Temple
of Jerusalem after the Jewish victory over
the Maccabees in 165 B.C. Each night,
families light one candle on the
menorah, observing the traditional story
of how the oil for the temple’s eternal
flame burned for eight days.
Christmas. Observed on Dec. 25, this
Christian holiday celebrates the birth of
Jesus, probably between the years 7 and
2 B.C. The 25th may have been chosen
to correspond with a Roman holiday
honoring the sun during the same
period. Christmas became a federal
holiday in the United States in 1870.
Kwanzaa. A seven-day celebration of
African heritage and culture, Kwanzaa is
observed from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1.
Activist Ron Karenga created Kwanzaa
in 1966 to emphasize African-
Americans’ shared history and
experience. The name Kwanzaa is
derived from “matunda ya kwanza,” a
Swahili phrase meaning “first fruits.”
10 December 2011 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
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Traveltizers Travel Appetizers: Stories that
Whet the Appetite for Travel
By Andrea Gross
Martha Washington tops Martha
Stewart on my list of hostesses
extraordinaire. In order to
prepare for her Christmas guests, the first
Martha whipped 40 eggs, 4 pounds of
butter, 4 pounds of sugar, and 5 pounds
of flour into a massive cake.
Meanwhile, almost 2,000 miles away,
in a part of the country that was most
likely
beyond the
imagination
of the first
family,
Native
Americans
joined
Spanish
settlers in
serving
posole and
enchiladas.
Today,
modern
renditions of these
holiday festivities take
place at George and
Martha’s Mount
Vernon home in
Virginia and around
an adobe plaza in New
Mexico.
A Mount VernonChristmas
I don’t expect to see
a camel at Mount
Vernon. Christmas
trees, poinsettias, even
a gingerbread house …
sure. But a camel?
Then I learn that when
Washington wasn’t off
winning wars or
fathering a country, he enjoyed playing
with exotic animals and often rented a
camel to entertain his Christmas guests.
In 1789, George Washington spent
his first Christmas as president attending
St. Paul’s Church in New York City. The
following week he returned to Mt.
Vernon where he and Martha relaxed
with family and friends.
Camels aside, the president’s
Christmas, as most 18th-century
Christmases, was low keyed compared to
today. There would have been few gifts
and certainly no Santas or reindeer,
neither of which became popular
Christmas symbols until the 19th century.
Today, Christmas at Mount Vernon is
still mostly about welcoming guests. In
addition to the regular attractions, which
include tours of the mansion as well as
the slave quarters, stables, gardens, and
farm, the
holiday season
brings a host of
special delights.
I go into the
mansion, past
12 decorated
trees, through
the dining room
where a table is
set to
accommodate
guests, and up to
the garret
chamber, which
is only open during the
holidays.
“This is where Martha
lived the last years of her
life,” says a cheery
woman who’s dressed in
Colonial garb. “After
George died, she never
returned to their shared
quarters.”
The thought of a
lonely woman huddled
in an attic room saddens
me, so to lift my spirits, I
follow the smell of
chocolate and cinnamon.
In the kitchen a woman
is stirring chocolate by
an open fire, just as it
was done in Colonial
days.
Nearby there’s a large gingerbread
house designed to look like Mount
Vernon as well as Martha’s grand cake,
which was modeled after those
traditionally served on the 12th day of
Christmas (Jan. 6). A guide offers me the
recipe, but the mention of 40 eggs and 4
pounds of butter leads to thoughts of
calories and cholesterol, and I politely
decline.
Christmas Travel: ColonialCakes and Spanish Stew
MOUNT VERNON LADIES’ ASSOCIATION
A gingerbread version of Mount
Vernon is on display throughout
the holidays.
MOUNT VERNON LADIES’ ASSOCIATION
Washington rented a camel to entertain guests
during the Christmas holidays. Today, Mount Vernon
does the same.
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2011 11
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GAK STONN
Ledoux Street is filled with merrymakers and art lovers during the holidays.
TINA LARKIN OF THE TAOS NEWS
Christmas trees and luminarias decorate
the plaza during the holidays.
GRAHAM’S GRILLE
Posole is a traditional dish during the
holidays.
That night a costumed actor cajoles
me into dancing the Virginia reel, and a
costumed Martha leads a candlelight tour
of the mansion. I sing carols by the
fireplace, sip cider, and reluctantly bid
goodbye to Mount Vernon and George’s
Christmas camel.
www.mountvernon.org
A New Mexican Holiday
Santa has an easy time in Taos, N.M.,
where the town’s flat, adobe rooftops
provide sure footing for his team of
reindeer. But while the town welcomes
St. Nick, its holiday charm is rooted in
its blend of Native American, Hispanic,
and Anglo traditions.
The Hispanic culture is represented by
the farolitos (small bonfires) and
luminarias (paper bags lit with votive
candles) that shine from streets to
rooftops, bathing the town in a soft glow.
Las Posadas, a candlelight procession that
reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for
shelter, takes place from Dec. 16–24.
As for Hispanic holiday food, I
become addicted to biscochitos, the melt-
in-your-mouth Christmas cookies that
are flavored with anise and cinnamon.
The original recipe dates back to the
Spanish colonists. For heartier fare, I try
posole, a spicy stew of meat and corn
that’s served in most Taos restaurants
throughout the holiday season.
After the 16th century when
missionaries converted many of the
Natives to Catholicism, Spanish and
Native American customs blended and
eventually created traditions that are
distinctly New Mexican.
In this spirit, the 1,200-year-old Taos
Pueblo has a Christmas Eve vespers
service as well as Christmas and New
Year’s Day celebrations that feature the
Deer or Matachines (animal) dances.
Anglo customs are highlighted (pun
intended) with a gloriously tall Christmas
tree that dominates the town plaza. In
addition, the Taos Chamber Music Group
presents “A Classical Holiday Encore.”
But my favorite holiday activity is the
annual Lighting of Ledoux, a tradition of
mixed origins during which luminariasguide people up the winding road that’s
home to Taos’ famed art galleries and
studios. All the while, the piney aroma of
piñón smoke wafts through the chilly
desert air. For me as for many people,
that signals that Christmas has come to
Taos.
www.taos.org
Story by Andrea Gross (www.andreagross.com)
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The Squint-Eyed Senior
Theodore Rickard
Sometimes I think we have all
become unwitting victims of both
Charles Dickens and Norman
Rockwell or, at least, our vision of their
creations.
We became hopelessly self-convinced
that the roaring fireplace and jolly Mr.
Fezziwig might be real and that there
will surely still be a job there when we
go back to work on Dec. 26. And,
certainly, the smiling turkey carver at the
head of the table will still have room on
the Visa card for his spouse to hit the
post-holiday sales.
However, we who have survived
to retirement know
how wishful
these little
dreams
really
were in
our own
times of job
holding and
child raising.
Nevertheless, we treasured the
cozy fiction then and I, for one, still do
now.
The whole family knows that the son-
in-law’s employer is downsizing its
middle management—again. And the
oldest son’s business, once so promising,
is stuck in the doldrums, even though
the bank was willing to extend the loans
one more time.
I think I’ve heard this before: that was
in the ’70s when, besides a frozen
economy, we had the additional specter
of nuclear incineration threatened by a
madman tyrant sworn to destroy us. We
wondered then if Norman Rockwell’s
beaming holiday family would live long
enough for Easter. And we suspected Mr.
Fezziwig’s business would be in
bankruptcy by New Year’s.
But Santa came anyway in those
years. He brought more wardrobe pieces
for Barbie and extra straight track for the
electric train. International crises, vicious
political confrontations, and domestic
financial problems raged unabated.
But somehow there were tennis
rackets and first baseman’s mitts—and
skis followed by several weeks in a cast,
being chauffeured to school, and going
on crutches to the junior prom. This last
was first viewed as the depth of
embarrassment to the would-be femme
fatale. But the next day we noticed that
her cast had been signed by more than a
dozen new names, and all of them were
male.
At Christmas there may be bomb
threats in Bethlehem and terror in Wall
Street—each with the familiar ring of
years-ago disasters. However, for a single
day at least, we can leave hysteria
outside. And we will do so again this
year.
Now the once-children have children
of their own. The electric train has
been divided up
between two
of the boys
and, to
no one’s
surprise,
one
daughter.
And it has been
hugely expanded since. The
grandchildren aren’t terribly interested in
the tin crossing gate that actually goes
down when the train approaches, not
nearly as much as their fathers and their
uncles are. These folks join Grandfather
on hands and knees to watch the train
go through the tunnel and insist on
turning off all the lights so the sweep of
the train’s locomotive lights can be seen
more clearly—and fully appreciated.
A few years ago, Barbie’s original
wardrobe and personal property were
heartlessly sold on eBay by a college
senior facing eviction. Her sisters say
they have forgiven her. I think her
mother has, too. But I’m not so sure the
once-impecunious student has forgiven
herself. Not if we judge by what she gave
her nieces for Christmas: Paris Hilton
doesn’t have this kind of wardrobe.
The dinner table this year will once
more make room for a highchair and a
chubby, tow-headed occupant.
Highchairs now, I find, have seatbelts.
But I’m proud to say that this
grandchild has found a way to squirm
out of the chair, despite the belts, and
end up in Grandmother’s lap, where the
sippy cup is waved in juice-strewing
triumph and it’s much easier to pull at
Christmasby the Book
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2011 13
50plus Senior News continues to bring important information as well as entertaining
articles to the 50+ community. We at On-Line Publishers would like to express our
sincere gratitude and appreciation to the editorial contributors of 50plus Senior News:
It is through the varied interests and considerable talents of our contributors and
freelance writers that such a range of informative and entertaining content is available to
read each month. The pages of 50plus Senior News are enriched by your contributions.
Than
k Yo
u!
Chaz Allen (Little-Known Facts)
Angelo Coniglio (The Search for Our Ancestry)
Wendell Fowler (Preventive Measures) Al Goodman (Beyond the Battlefield )
Andrea Gross (Traveltizers)
Dr. Lori (Art and Antiques)
Gloria May (NurseNews)
Clyde McMillan-Gamber (The Beauty in Nature)
Myles Mellor (crossword puzzles)
Jim Miller (The Savvy Senior)
Candace O’Donnell (Balancing Act)
Victor Parachin (Fragments of History)
Saralee Perel (Such is Life)
Dr. Leonard Perry (The Green Mountain Gardener)
W.E. Reinka (Silver Threads)
Ted Rickard (The Squint-Eyed Senior)
Sy Rosen (Older But Not Wiser)
Pat Sinclair (Recipes for Two)
Walt Sonneville (My 22 Cents’ Worth)
Robert Wilcox (Salute to a Veteran)
Judith Zausner (Creativity Matters)
Sherra Zavitsanos (Social Security News)
Thank You, Columnists!
This Month in History:December
Events
• Dec. 5, 1933 – The 18th Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution, the Prohibition Amendment,
was repealed. For nearly 14 years, since Jan. 29,
1920, it had outlawed the manufacture,
transportation, and sale of alcoholic beverages in
the U.S.
• Dec. 17, 1903 – After three years of
experimentation, Orville and Wilbur Wright
achieved the first powered, controlled airplane
flights. They made four flights near Kitty Hawk,
N.C., the longest lasting about a minute.
• Dec. 18, 1865 – The 13th Amendment to the
U.S. Constitution was ratified, abolishing
slavery. It stated, “Neither slavery nor
involuntary servitude, save as a punishment for
crime whereof the party shall have been duly
convicted, shall exist within the United States,
or any place subject to their jurisdiction.”
Birthdays
• Dec. 6 – Photojournalist Alfred Eisenstaedt
(1898-1995) was born in Dirschau, Prussia.
He is best known for his Life magazine cover
photos, including the sailor kissing a nurse in
Times Square, celebrating the end of World
War II.
• Dec. 19 – British explorer William Parry
(1790-1855) was born in Bath, England. He
conducted Arctic expeditions and made three
attempts to find a Northwest Passage.
• Dec. 25 – Film actor Humphrey Bogart
(1899-1957) was born in New York City. He is
best known for The African Queen, The Maltese
Falcon, Casablanca, and To Have and Have Not.
the tablecloth and tip over the wine
glasses. That’s why there are mothers
and aunts: to do the mopping up.
Grandmother has the baby in her lap
and Grandpa is busy fixing the
crossing gate.
Dessert will be the traditional
choice of pies. Then there is a second
crisis—a decision involving whipped
cream or ice cream on top. A half-
whispered estimate of “at least 500
calories” will be made, with
appropriate scorn, by the high-school
freshman granddaughter who is
getting a “B” in home ec.
She is convinced that her parents
have managed to make it this far in
life only via miraculous divine
intervention—or hers. Then,
somewhere around her sophomore
year in college after two years of dorm
food, she will become a family dinner
enthusiast and we won’t hear any more
about calories.
Mr. Fezziwig didn’t count calories.
Not at Christmas. Why should we?
14 December 2011 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
Dauphin County
Calendar of EventsBistline Senior Center – (717) 564-5633
Edgemont Senior Center – (717) 236-2221
Friendship Senior Center – (717) 657-1547
Heinz-Menaker Senior Center – (717) 238-7860
Highspire Area Senior Center – (717) 939-4580
Hoy/Latsha Senior Center – (717) 939-9833
Hummelstown Senior Center – (717) 566-6855
Jewish Community Center – (717) 236-9555
Lick Towers Senior Center – (717) 233-0388
Lykens Senior Center – (717) 453-7985
Millersburg Senior Center – (717) 692-2657
Mohler Senior Center – (717) 533-2002,www.hersheyseniorcenter.com
Royalton Senior Center – (717) 944-4831
Rutherford House – (717) 564-5682,www.rutherfordhouse.org
Steelton Senior Center – (717) 939-0693
Dauphin County Library Programs
Dauphin County Department of Parks and Recreation
Dec. 4, 1 to 4 p.m. – Open Hearth Cooking Demonstrations, Tavern House Summer Kitchen
Dec. 7, 7 p.m. – Harp Concert, Fort Hunter Park
Through Dec. 18, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. – Festival of Trees, Fort Hunter Tavern House
Programs and Support Groups
East Shore Area Library, 4501 Ethel St., Harrisburg, (717) 652-9380
Elizabethville Area Library, 80 N. Market St., Elizabethville, (717) 362-9825
Harrisburg Downtown Library, 101 Walnut St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-4976
Johnson Memorial Library, 799 E. Center St., Millersburg, (717) 692-2658
Kline Branch, 530 S. 29th St., Harrisburg, (717) 234-3934
Madeline L. Olewine Memorial Library, 2410 N. Third St., Harrisburg, (717) 232-7286
Northern Dauphin Library, 683 Main St., Lykens, (717) 453-9315
William H. & Marion C. Alexander Family Library, 200 W. Second St., Hummelstown, (717) 566-0949Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m. – Novel Thoughts Book Club
Dec. 20, 1 p.m. – Novel Thoughts, Too! Book Club
Free and open to the public.
Senior Center Activities
Give Us the Scoop!
Please send us your press
releases so we can let our
readers know about
free events occurring in
Dauphin County!
Email preferred to:
(717) 770-0140
(717) 285-1350
Let
Help you get the word out!
Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m.Free Art Classes
Thrive
100 N. Cameron St., Harrisburg
(717) 238-1887 or [email protected]
Dec. 1, 6 to 8:30 p.m.Beyond Kubler-Ross: New Perspectives on Death, Dying,and Grief
Harrisburg Hospital
Brady Hall, Susquehanna Room
111 S. Front St., Harrisburg
(717) 231-8900
Dec. 10Teamster 776 Retirees Club Christmas Party
Union Hall
2552 Jefferson St., Harrisburg
(717) 233-8766
Call for time
Dec. 15, 1:30 p.m.Hershey Area AARP Monthly MeetingSpring Creek Church of the Brethren
335 E. Areba Ave., Hershey
(717) 832-3282
Dec. 27, 6 to 7:30 p.m.Parental Loss Support Group
AseraCare Hospice
75 S. Houcks Road, Suite 101, Harrisburg
(717) 541-4466
If you have an event you would like toinclude, please email information to
[email protected] forconsideration.
FFiirrsstt DDaayy ooff WWiinntteerr
BBuunnddllee UUpp!!
Dec. 22
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2011 15
Through the years, all that’s changedis our ability to do even more.
For over 80 years, Rolling Green Cemetery and Neill Funeral Homes have served the
Central PA area with the highest level of personal service. As a Dignity Memorial®
provider,
we’re pleased to offer a number of additional benefits exclusive to the Dignity network.
Like our 100% Service Guarantee, that assures you of service beyond expectation before,
during, and after the service. But what makes us even prouder is the way we work with each
individual family, helping to create lasting memorials as unique as the loved ones they honor.
ONE-OF-A-KIND MEMORIALS | GRIEF COUNSELING
BEREAVEMENT TRAVEL PROGRAM | SERVICE GUARANTEE
NEILL FUNERAL HOME, INC.
Steven Wilsbach, Supervisor3501 Derry Street
Harrisburg, PA 17111717-564-2633
ROLLING GREEN CEMETERY
1811 Carlisle Road Camp Hill, PA 17011
717-761-4055
NEILL FUNERAL HOME, INC.
Kevin Shillabeer, Supervisor3401 Market Street
Camp Hill, PA 17011717-737-8726
NurseNews
Gloria May, M.S., R.N., CHES
It took only hours after the news of
Steve Jobs’ death for the medical
journalists and bloggers to begin:
Did he “succumb to alternative
medicine”? Did he put his life in
jeopardy by choosing, as one writer put
it, “woo” over medicine? And, as his
biographer Walter Isaacson claims, did
he ultimately express regret over trying
for so long to beat his cancer with these
methods?
In 2003,
Jobs was
diagnosed
with
pancreatic
cancer—not
the Patrick
Swayze/
Michael
Landon/
Luciano
Pavarotti kind
(with the
grimmest of
prognoses),
but a rare form called islet cell
neuroendocrine cancer, which is much
more treatable if managed aggressively
from the get-go.
Jobs declined the surgery that was
initially recommended and instead
pursued a regime of acupuncture, diet,
herbs, and supplements. Months later,
when these remedies proved to have
been of no benefit, Jobs had surgery,
chemotherapy, and, eventually, a liver
transplant. But by that time, his odds of
survival had plummeted.
While the debate will probably go on
for years over what kind of care Jobs
chose, didn’t choose, or should have
chosen, the issue is really not his
treatment choices per se, but his right
to choose them, to be autonomous,
and, in this case, to follow his own
path—reportedly to the dismay and
distress of his doctors, family, and
friends.
Given that your spouse, partner,
parent, or best friend is competent (a
legal determination, not a medical one)
to make life and treatment decisions,
and given that they understand the
benefits and consequences of their
choices, whatever they decide to do or
not to do is their own decision. If we
try to take control of another
competent adult’s behavior, the
resulting resistance will not lead to
compliance or cooperation but to an
unwinnable power struggle with plenty
of anger and resentment to go around.
But that doesn’t at all mean that we
should give up. When it comes to
trying to help someone, to guide them,
to protect them, or to provide for them,
we can often
make a
difference and
affect change
if we first
realize that
the most
difficult task
is readjusting
not their way
of thinking or
behaving, but
ours.
Whether
you are
dealing with
your aunt who won’t wear her hearing
aids, your uncle who won’t quit
smoking, your spouse who won’t lose
weight, or your parent who won’t accept
outside help in their home (a common
concern), what we need to do, after
stepping back and taking a deep breath,
is to get help ourselves.
Yes, they are the one with the
problem, but we are the ones who need
help. And there is plenty out there:
doctors, nurses, social workers, case
managers, friends, other family
members, websites, even blogs.
In these ridiculously frustrating and
ludicrously exasperating situations
where we are only trying to help and
our efforts are met with resistance and
rejection, we often need to be reminded
and encouraged to value baby steps over
sweeping reforms, to appreciate the
value of patience over expediency, to
embrace flexibility over the hard line, to
choose negotiating over dictating, and
to share control rather than trying to
assume it.
Gloria May is a registered nurse with a
master’s degree in adult health education
and a Certified Health Education Specialist
designation.
Autonomy inTreatment
16 December 2011 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
• Breakfast with Ben Barber and News with Dennis Edwards
• John Tesh with Music and Intelligence for Your Workday
• Bruce Collier & The Drive Home
• Mike Huckabee Three Times Daily
WE PLAY OVER1500 GREAT SONGS!
Harrisburg’sOldies Channel!
Online 24/7 at whylradio.com
Are you 62+
or Older?
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130 South Third Street • Harrisburg
(717) 232-7516
Would you like
to advertise here?
Call: (717) 770-0140
Thank You, Volunteers!On-Line Publishers, Inc. and 50plus Senior News would like
to extend a heartfelt thank-you to all of the individual and
senior group volunteers who donated their
time and efforts at our 2011 50plus EXPOs.
Because of your assistance, we were
able to bring the contents and the mission
of 50plus Senior News to life for the
residents of Central Pennsylvania!
By Sherra Zavitsanos
Question: When a person who hasworked and paid Social Security taxesdies, are benefits payable on thatperson’s record?
Answer: Social Security survivors
benefits can be paid to:
• A widow or widower—unreduced
benefits at full retirement age or
reduced benefits as early as age 60
• A disabled widow or widower—as early
as age 50
• A widow or widower at any age if he or
she takes care of the deceased’s child
who is under age 16 or disabled and
receiving Social Security benefits
• Unmarried children under 18 or up to
age 19 if they are attending high school
full time; under certain circumstances,
benefits can be paid to stepchildren,
grandchildren, or adopted children
• Children at any age who were disabled
before age 22 and remain disabled
• Dependent parents age 62 or older
Even if you are divorced, you still may
qualify for survivors benefits. For more
information, go to www.socialsecurity.gov.
Question: I lost my Social Securitycard. Should I get a new one?
Answer: You
may not need to
get a
replacement
card. Knowing
your Social
Security number
is what is
important. However, you can replace
your Social Security card for free if it is
lost or stolen. Remember, you are limited
to three replacement cards in a year and
10 during your lifetime. Learn more at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
Question: How long does a personneed to work to become eligible forretirement benefits?
Answer: We base Social Security
benefits on work credits. Anyone born in
1929 or later needs 40 Social Security
credits to be eligible for retirement
benefits. You can earn up to four credits
a year, so you will need to work at least
10 years to become eligible for
retirement benefits. Learn more by
reading the
publication How
You Earn Credits at
www.socialsecurity.
gov/pubs/10072.
html.
Question: AreSupplemental
Security Income (SSI) payments paidonly to disabled or blind people?
Answer: No. In addition to people
with disabilities or blindness, SSI
payments can be made to people who are
age 65 or older and have limited income
and financial resources. For more
information, read our publication,
Supplemental Security Income, at
www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs/11000.html.
Question: If both my spouse and Iare entitled to Social Security benefits,is there any reduction in our paymentsbecause we are married?
Answer: No. We calculate lifetime
earnings independently to determine
each spouse’s Social Security benefit
amount. When each member of a
married couple meets all other eligibility
requirements to receive Social Security
retirement benefits, each spouse receives
a monthly benefit amount based on his
or her own earnings. Couples are not
penalized simply because they are
married.
If one member of the couple earned
low wages or failed to earn enough Social
Security credits (40) to be insured for
retirement benefits, he or she may be
eligible to receive benefits as a spouse.
Learn more about Social Security at
www.socialsecurity.gov.
Sherra Zavitsanos is the Social Security
public affairs specialist in Harrisburg.
“Learn more about
Social Security at
socialsecurity.gov.
“
Questions and Answers for December
Social Security News
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2011 17
1. Graphical userinterface feature
5. Latke ingredient
11. Attain
14. Game name
15. Trash container
16. Old Tokyo
17. Restrain
18. Calkins
19. Inflamed
20. Not extreme
23. Like old records
24. Choppers
25. Yellowfin, e.g.
28. 1995 hurricane
32. Its symbol is anomega
35. Present
38. Cartoon art
39. Taking drasticmeasures
42. Hitchcockian
43. Like some colonies
44. Harvester ___
45. First place?
46. Cargo boat type
48. Cherokee andWrangler
53. Foreign currency
56. Tolerance
62. One with asupporting role
63. More viscous
64. Way to go
65. Tide alternative
66. Short musical pieces
67. Mythologyanthology
68. Departureannouncement
69. Abandon
70. Textile worker
1. SALT concern
2. Demand
3. Best
4. “You ___ bother!”
5. Clip
6. Capital on a fjord
7. Grand ___
8. Decrease
9. Church donation
10. Attack
11. “My ___!”
12. It comes to mind
13. Sarah’s husband
21. Potter
22. River of Lyon
26. Excluding
27. Asian buffalo
29. Cotton fabric
30. Grace period?
31. In case
32. Double curve
33. Worked the soil
34. Slough
36. Mushroom you caneat
37. Departure
38. Historian Toynbee
40. Soldier of fortune
41. Black gunk
47. Alate
49. Just beat
50. Gush
51. Reverent
52. Like a snicker
54. “___ or not ...”
55. In reserve
56. Give away
57. Bank
58. Lothario’s look
59. Bucks
60. Start with while
61. Telephone button
Across
Down
Solution on page 18
By Myles Mellor
and Sally York
For Karns Quality Foods at 101 S. Union St.,Middletown:
Essex House – 320 Market St., Middletown
Kuppy’s Diner – Brown and Poplar streets, Middletown
Middletown Borough Building – 60 W. Emmaus St., Middletown
Middletown Public Library – 20 N. Catherine St., Middletown
Royalton Senior Center – 101 Northumberland St., Royalton
Turkey Hill – 158 E. Main Street, Middletown
For Karns Quality Foods at 761 Cherry Drive,Hershey:
Briarcrest Gardens Apartments – 999 Briarcrest Drive, Hershey
Central PA Eye Institute – 825 Fishburn Road, Hershey
Hershey Medical Cardiac Rehabilitation – Campus Drive, Parking Lot K, Hershey
Hershey Outpatient Surgery Center – 15 Hope Drive, Hershey
Mohler Senior Center – 660 Cherry Drive, Hershey
University Physician Group – 670 Cherry Drive, Hershey
For Karns Quality Foods, 6001 Allentown Blvd., Paxton Square, Harrisburg:
Charlton United Methodist Church – 5920 Jonestown Road,Harrisburg
CVS/pharmacy – 6007 Allentown Blvd., Harrisburg
Friendship Community Center – 5000 Commons Drive, Harrisburg
Old Country Buffet – 5083 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg
RSVP – 5301 Jonestown Road, Harrisburg
Turkey Hill – 707 N. Mountain Road, Harrisburg
Questions? Call (717) 285-1350 or email [email protected] for reading!
As of December 2011, 50plus Senior News
is no longer available at Karns Quality Foods.
For your convenience, the following is a list of
nearby alternative pickup locations in your area.
r
r
18 December 2011 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com
The Middletown HomeA Continuing Care Retirement Community
• Skilled Nursing
• Personal Care and Apartments
• Respite and Vacation Stays
• Physical, Occupational, and
Speech Therapy
• Pet Visitation
• Computer and Wii Availability
(717) 944-3351 • www.middletownhome.org999 West Harrisburg Pike, Middletown, PA 17057
Courtyard Gardens Nursing & Rehabilitation Center
Crescent View Personal Care
West View Terrace Apartments
Crossword
shown on page 17
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Give someone you love
the gift that entertains,
informs, and inspires,
month after month!
Or renew an
existing subscription!
Festive Foresight for Furry FriendsBy Laura Farnish
It’s the most wonderful time of the year …
Cheerful songs of the season fill the
radio as Christmastime approaches. The
newspapers are overflowing with sales
and specials on the latest toys, trends,
and technology. Children anxiously await
the arrival of Santa, snow, and school
freedom.
There are plenty of reasons to engage
in the happiest time of the year. Our
furry, feathered, and fishy friends,
however, can get caught in the holiday
hurricane. Be sure to keep your pets’
needs in mind as everyone enjoys this
holiday season.
There will be much mistletoe-ing …
Christmas wouldn’t be complete
without a Christmas tree, and for some,
it wouldn’t be complete without a tree
mishap. It is important to securely
anchor your tree, so that our pets cannot
pull it down. Pine needles can be
dangerous if ingested, as they may
puncture holes in the pet’s intestine.
Aside from injury sustained in the fall,
chemicals in the tree’s water can be
harmful to pets’ stomachs. Fertilizers, as
well as stagnant water, are additional
hazards.
Although a Christmas tree may be an
inevitable December purchase, other
plants around the home can be avoided
to ensure safety.
You will receive
much more than
a kiss if a pet
ingests
mistletoe, as the
berries are
extremely
poisonous. The
berries can cause
vomiting,
excessive
urination, and a
fast heart rate, among other reactions.
Like mistletoe, the berries on the holly
plant are poisonous and can cause
gastrointestinal upset and cardiovascular
problems. It is suggested that the berries
be removed before adorning your home.
Similarly, poinsettias are a danger for
both pets and people. The poinsettia
leaves themselves are not poisonous;
however, the sap on the leaves is
problematic if ingested. The sap can also
cause skin and mouth irritation and
vomiting.
And parties for hosting …
Decorations are a vital addition to
holiday parties; however, they may pose a
larger problem for
our pets. Kittens,
who can’t resist
sparkling toys,
can reap the
negative side
effects of
ingesting tinsel. If
swallowed, tinsel
can lead to severe
damage to the
digestive tract,
resulting in
nausea, vomiting, and potential surgery.
Although you can control what you
bring into your home around the
holidays, the same cannot be said for
your guests. The noise and commotion
of holiday parties may stress and frighten
your pet. Be sure to have a safe place
where the pet can seek refuge if the home
becomes overly crowded.
If your pet is brave enough to socialize
with your great-aunt or second-cousin-
twice-removed, ask your relatives to
refrain from feeding your pet holiday
food. Fatty meats, gravies, bones, and
chocolate pose problems to our furry
friends. If you suspect your pet has
consumed a dangerous substance, call
your veterinarian or poison control
center immediately.
Perhaps you are traveling for the
holidays. It is imperative to determine
what is best for the pet: Is the pet
welcome? Will the pet be in a safe
environment? It may be best to hire a pet
sitter.
When traveling, remember to give
your pet plenty of water, and try to keep
everyone on a regular schedule. Taking
your pet for walks can also help keep
nerves calm.
And hearts will be glowing, when loved
ones are near …
As the holiday season is filled with
cheer, it is important to include your pet
in the holiday festivities. Showing your
pet love is always the best medicine!
Be sure to keep these pet precautions
in mind to ensure that the holiday season
truly is the most wonderful time of the
year for all!
www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com 50plus SeniorNews e December 2011 19
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The benefit information provided herein is a brief summary, not
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Y0022_CCP_2012_4002_498_Final13 File & Use date: 10/23/2011
“I realized how many buildings there
were and I just started buying them each
year,” he said.
From that year on, McMurty
purchased four to eight buildings
annually, and his original gift set to his
wife soon grew into a sizeable collection.
He now has around 135 pieces.
Beside buildings, McMurty’s collection
includes figures of people, many
characters from Dickens’ novels. His
collection also features several large,
special pieces. Some of these are fictional
palaces and churches mentioned in
Dickens’ works, while some, like the
replicas of Big Ben, the Tower of London,
and Kensington
Palace, are wonderful
renditions of real-
world locations.
Every Christmas,
McMurty would
take the time to set
up his collection in a
winter display for his
house. As the
number of pieces in
his collection grew
each year, the task
became more and
more monumental.
McMurty recalls a
time when the collection became a
permanent fixture in the house.
“I was able to have a room in the
basement that we dedicated to the
Dickens’ Village. For four or five years, I
never took it down. I would change it a
bit each year, of course,” he said.
When the McMurtys moved to Willow
Valley Retirement Community, the
Dickens’ Village was put in storage, but
not for long. One year, residents began
looking for extra Christmas decorations to
use to decorate some of the building’s
common spaces. One such common space
is not far from McMurty’s apartment.
“It’s usually used as a place where a
jigsaw puzzle is set up that the residents
work on. At Christmastime they went to
decorate it a little differently. One woman
asked my wife if there was anything she
knew they could use to decorate it with,”
McMurty said.
McMurty’s wife immediately suggested
the use of the Dickens’ Village houses,
and, with her help, McMurty went to
work on a display.
McMurty spends a great deal of time
planning the community’s display. He has
developed a system of organization, with
each house and character holding a
specific place. The display contains three
tables, each representing three sections of
a Victorian town.
The first area is the residential section,
which contains houses, like Tiny Tim’s,
and some other related buildings, like
churches and the police department.
The second area, located next to the
residential section, contains what
McMurty calls the “clean” businesses.
These buildings in this section are
business oriented and include the jewelry
store, clothing store, candy store, and
leather shop.
The third area contains the “unclean”
businesses, like the blacksmith shop,
warehouses, and the brewery.
“I lay it out as much as I can as you
would expect a regular town to look,”
McMurty said.
The display,
which contains
around 60 houses in
total, also receives a
number of special
touches from
McMurty. He sets
up the lighting for
each building and
then cuts pieces of
cotton, which he lays
out between and on
the houses as a
blanket of snow. The
result is a beautiful
winter scene,
complete with children sledding in the
streets and workers coming and going
from their places of employment. The
entire process takes about two weeks.
The Dickens’ Village has been a huge
success and has become one of the
retirement community’s most favored
holiday displays. It is not advertised and
sits in what might be considered an out-
of-the-way location, but its popularity
continues to grow as residents spread its
story by word of mouth.
“Each year there have been more and
more people. I’ve had a lot of nice
compliments about it,” McMurty said.
McMurty has enjoyed the Dickens’
Village for years and takes pleasure in
sharing it with others.
“I just really enjoy putting it together
and looking at it afterwards. I never
started it as something to put on display
or show. It’s been a personal pleasure for
me to do. I get a big kick out of it,” he
said.
McMurty’s wife has occasionally
mentioned that the Dickens’ Village grew
out of hand over the years, taking over
entire rooms and storage cages. As
McMurty explains, however, the village
never would have come into being
without his need to purchase a gift for her.
“I think she secretly enjoys it,” he said.
The residents of Willow Valley and
their holiday visitors certainly do.
DICKENS from page 1
Bob Cratchit and Tiny Tim from
A Christmas Carol pose outside
their home.
20 December 2011 50plus SeniorNews e www.50plusSeniorNewsPA.com